Guyana Times International

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 194

week ending June 1, 2014

It’s a blatant lie!

Rohee challenges Glenn Lall to show visa rejection letters of Indian engineers Page 6 Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

Burnham had declared war on WPA - Kwayana Page 3

Guyanese diaspora in US remember Page 8 struggle for Independence Over the past week, Guyanese in the US have been attending various events to celebrate Guyana’s 48th Independence Anniversary. In photo are members of the New Jersey Humanitarian Mission, (from L-R) Prabha D. Gossai, Nadina Persaud, Shakuntla Sawh, Nowrang Balgobin, Prabhu Dutt, Pandit Sanjay Mittal, Consul General Mr. Brentnol Evans, Councilman Khemraj "Chico" Ramchal, Honorable Steven M. Fulop (Mayor) and Pandit Suresh Sugrim holding the country’s national flag after hosting a high level event in NJ.

Page 10 National powerlifting champion busted with cocaine at JFK

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NEWS

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Burnham had declared war on WPA - Kwayana - says it was necessary for PNC to survive

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eader of the People’s National Congress 1970s regime, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, had made public his intention to crush the country’s political opposition and had declared war on the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), co-founder of the party, Eusi Kwayana said on Wednesday.

He was at the time continuing his testimony at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, being held at the Supreme Court Library.

Kwayana, who began his testimony on Tuesday, was at the time referring to a publication tendered to the commission as evidence in which Burnham publicly declared his intention to anillihate the Working Peoples’ Alliance, and the Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) led by the late Dr Cheddi Jagan.

Strongholds

Burnham, he recalled, was addressing his party’s Third Biennial Congress at the

National Exhibition Park Sophia on August 26, 1979. Kwayana quoted from Burnham’s speech to his party, referring to the WPA as the “Worst Possible Alternative”.

“The Worst Possible Alternative has no use, as their pickets outside Eve Leary last month showed, for the formal Opposition because they say the leader of the formal Opposition does not know what he is doing,” Burnham said. He continued, “Comrades, we are now in the Roman Amphitheatre. The lion and the gladiator cannot both survive; one must die and we know that the People’s National Congress will live”.

Asked to explain the statement, Kwayana surmised that Burnham must have been speaking to the Working People’s Alliance.

He spoke of the formal and informal Opposition that Burnham had mentioned, referring to the People’s Progressive Party and the Working People’s Alliance respec-

Eusi Kwayana

tively. “Let me tell the formal Opposition this”, Kwayana read to the inquiry, “the worst possible alternative has held its last meeting at Linden; that is the last meeting that they have held at Linden, and the PPP has also held its last meeting

in Linden.

“Why this attack on the PNC proletarian strongholds? They realise that we hold the urbanised proletarian working class. They realise further, that we have made substantial in-roads amongst the ru-

ral agricultural workers, as successive elections have established and proved. Therefore, it is the hope that, with glossy radical rhetoric, they, the PPP, can ride into office on the backs of the Worst Possible Alternative. But comrades, let me say this: “Never the day canoe bore punt”, Kwayana reported Burnham as saying.

It continued: “Comrades, they had better make their wills, because so far as we are concerned, we are not asking them for quarter and we will not give them any”.

The former leader of the Working People’s Alliance, when asked what he thought of that statement said: “We knew it was a threat, we didn’t know to what extent the threat would go in 1979.

It was a declaration of war, let them make their wills… it was directed to the Working People’s Alliance”, Kwayana testified.

Kwayana, whose birth name is Sydney King, related that the PNC Government, con-

sidered a capitalist form of leadership was publicly rejected by citizens.

He spoke of the then Government establishing its own constitution, which citizens referred to as the “PNC constitution”.

He pointed to the doctrine of party paramountcy which the PNC government had embraced, declaring that whatever rules were made were hard and fast. He cited comments made by Burnham when he travelled to two Caribbean countries.

While in Jamaica, Kwayana related that Burnham had said that he was running a “one party government in a multi-party system”. While in Barbados, the former President declared “we don’t tell people what to drink, we tell them what not to drink”.

He said that the then Opposition Leader, Dr Cheddi Jagan had raised concerns about his actions; however, Burnham responded that he had continued on page 22

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INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

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

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

Fax (592) 225-8696, 227-0685 Email: guyanatimesint@gmail.com CDB President, Dr Warren Smith greets President Donald Ramotar upon his arrival at the opening of the CDB's 44th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on Wednesday, in the presence of Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh (Carl Croker photo)

EDITORIAL

Reparations in USA High electricity cost stymieing region’s growth – CDB President D on Rojas, long time Caribbean activist, reported on the state of the reparations movement in the USA. The progress in the USA should give heart to our local Reparations Committee.

“On April 19, at Chicago State University, Professor Sir Hillary Beckles delivered the keynote speech to hundreds assembled and thousands around the world viewing the live webcast of a reparations rally organised by the Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW).

In the late 1990s through the early 2000s, the reparations movement in the United States had generated significant momentum, which came to a head at the UN’s global conference on racism in Durban, South Africa, in the fall of 2001. Shortly thereafter came 9/11 and later, in 2008, the election of Barack Obama as America’s first black President, two seminal events in contemporary US history that considerably slowed that momentum. Now as the Obama era comes to a close and with social and economic conditions in black America stalled, and in many cases receding, the US reparations movement, inspired by what’s happening in the Caribbean, is starting to stir into life again.

Sitting on the Chicago stage listening to Professor Beckles was a stellar row of other speakers, including Minister Louis Farrakhan, Leader of the Nation of Islam and Congressman John Conyers, Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus and author of HR-40, the landmark Reparations Bill he introduced in Congress some 15 years ago.

During his one-hour address, the audience sat in rapt attention, listening to Beckles…articulate a well-documented argument about how Britain and other European countries used slavery to build their empires on the backs of Africans. He noted how British slave ships transported 3.3 million Africans to the plantations in the new world, and discussed how France abolished slavery in 1794, but reinstated it in 1802 after Josephine, a white Creole from Martinique who became Napoleon’s wife and Empress of France, successfully pushed to have France reinstate slavery to assist her family’s failing sugar plantation in the Caribbean.

There are plenty of historical precedents for reparations to ‘repair the damages’ done as a consequence of crimes against humanity. Like the Jewish Holocaust, African slavery in the Caribbean and the rest of the Americas were also crimes against humanity. In 1945, Israeli authorities made a claim to the four powers occupying post-war Germany regarding compensation and reimbursement, based on the fact that Israel had absorbed and resettled 500,000 Holocaust survivors. They calculated that since absorption had cost US$3000 per person (almost US$27,000 in today’s dollars), they were owed US$1.5 billion (some US$13.4 billion in today’s dollars) by Germany.

Following negotiations, an agreement was signed by West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett and World Jewish Congress President Nahum Goldmann on September 10, 1952, in the town hall of Luxembourg.

The German Parliament (Bundestag) passed the agreement on March 18, 1953, by a large majority, 239 for and 35 against.

Reparations for centuries of brutal oppression and exploitation of enslaved African people, in the Americas, is undoubtedly one of the great moral imperatives of the day. It is inextricably connected to growing income and wealth inequality in the United States, the Caribbean and other parts of the Americas that President Obama has famously described as the ‘defining challenge of our time’.

The so-called pragmatists who argue that the question of reparations is impractical, unachievable, utopian, a waste of time and energy are those who are ignorant of the moral power of a cause whose time has come. In the United States, a revitalised reparations campaign can and must become a critical component of the civil and human rights movements of the 21st century.

Like its counterpart in the Caribbean, the US reparations movement is not a thing of the past. It is about historical justice for today and tomorrow, and until justice is done reparations will always be relevant, will always be a struggle to right the wrongs of a tortured past.”

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aribbean Development Bank (CDB) President, Dr Warren Smith, said the region must unlock the opportunities for competitiveness and growth through the capitalisation of renewable energy, contending that for far too long, Caribbean countries have been affected by the high cost of electricity.

Delivering an insightful presentation during the opening ceremony of the 44th Annual Meeting of the Caribbean Development Bank’s Board of Governors meeting, Dr Smith contended that the region’s inability to achieve high rates of economic growth is due to its lack of competitiveness, which is linked to the high cost of electricity.

According to an enterprise survey conducted by the World Bank in 2010, at least 30 per cent of Caribbean firms identified electricity costs as a major constraint to doing business.

“The combination of high diesel and heavy fuel oil costs and the inherent inefficiency of diesel technology, which accounts for the majority of the generation in Borrowing Member Counties (BMCs), are the principal contributors to these high electricity prices.

Further, these fuel prices are subject to the volatility of international oil markets, which are highly responsive to shifts in geo-politics,” Dr Smith explained.

This problem, he said, is further compounded by small market size and the absence of economies of scale in the generation of electricity; with many of the generation facilities gradually approaching the end of their useful lives. As a result, these facilities do not benefit from the efficiencies inherent in the new technologies built into generators of more recent vintage.

“The macroeconomic impact of the high cost of imported fuel and the consequential high electricity price are reflected in deteriorating performance indicators in most BMCs. High levels of debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and depletion

of foreign reserves are directly related to this dependence on imported oil. High electricity prices erode the competitiveness of the regional economies and, therefore, their ability to earn the required foreign exchange to pay for imports, including oil,” Dr Smith further explained.

Frontal attack needed

If the region is to transform its competitiveness landscape, there must be a frontal attack on energy costs and the poor state of the existing electricity infrastructure.

The CDB President ruled out the perception that with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean is energy poor. In support of his argument, Dr Smith said: “Guyana alone has enough renewable energy potential, mainly in the form of hydropower to meet all of its electricity requirements for the foreseeable future; supply all of the needs of immediate neighbours, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago; and still have enough left over to sell to neighbouring Brazil. The situation is similar for Suriname.”

He said too that Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines have great potential to generate their entire base-load electricity requirements from geothermal sources.

Act now

“Although their domestic markets are quite small, technological advances in the development of undersea transmission cables would allow these countries to exploit their relatively large geo-thermal reserves for export to neighbouring countries,” he further explained.

It is time the region creates the requisite path for the effective development of renewable energy technology, allowing for the needed transformation of the energy landscape. According to Dr Smith, Jamaica has the potential to meet up to 30 per cent of its electricity needs from renewable sources such as wind, solar, mini-hydro and waste-

to-energy. But this is not limited to Jamaica, but to other countries within the region.

However, in moving forward, there is need for legislative and regulatory changes.

“We need to change the legislative framework, at the national level, in order to facilitate access for renewables by altering the monopoly on generation where this exists in BMCs. Revisions in the framework should ensure equitable pricing for supply from independent power providers or small, distributed renewable generators of electricity.”

According to him, all BMCs should follow in the footsteps of Barbados and Jamaica, which have already enacted the supporting legislation.

Countries should ensure equitable tariffs and rules for optimal performances are in check, thereby ensuring that there is a level playing field among consumers, investors and the Government.

For the past decade, the region’s economic expansion rate per annum has remained below the global rate of 3.8 per cent; lower than the four per cent average for other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and even below the average for emerging and developing countries. The region’s economic expansion rate has stood at two per cent.

Alluding to The World Bank’s “Doing Business” Survey and the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index, the CDB President said the Caribbean’s ranking does not compare well with other countries in the area of competitiveness.

From a total of 189 countries surveyed for the Doing Business index, the average ranking for the Caribbean is 100.

The rankings confirmed that BMCs will have difficulty maintaining existing markets and penetrating new ones, unless there is radical transformation in the way business is done. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

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Marriott Hotel manager appointed - venture will be profitable, says Luncheon

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long-serving executive of Marriott International, Roberto Grisi has been appointed General Manager of the local Marriott Hotel.

Grisi will assume his new post from June 1, according to a press release issued by the company on Wednesday.

Presently, he is General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba over which he has presided since its opening in 2013. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is an independently operated division of Marriott International.

According to the company’s website, Grisi brings a wealth of experience to the position complemented by a highly respected operational excellence and strong leadership background after serving in many executive hospitality positions around the globe, including Washington, DC; Venezuela; Mexico; and the Dominican Republic.

He began his career in 1984 in food and beverage and subsequently garnered numerous management positions at several Marriott properties, including Hotel Manager at CasaMagna Marriott in Cancun, General Manager at the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel in Santo Domingo and most recently, Venezuelan Country Manager, responsi-

Members of the AHI and Marriott Hotel team paid a courtesy call on President Donald Ramotar on Wednesday to introduce General Manager of the Marriott Hotel Guyana Roberto Grisi. (From left to right) AHI Chairman Winston Brassington, President Ramotar, General Manager Grisi, Company Secretary of AHI Marcia Nadir-Sharma, and Area Vice President - South America Rahul Vir

ble for the successful operations of the three renowned Marriott resorts there.

A native of Bolivia and fluent in Spanish and English, Grisi is a graduate of the esteemed Aspen Institute of Leadership and has received many sales and marketing accolades throughout his career, including the prestigious Mustang Award.

This new development in the Marriott Hotel saga comes, as the Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon lashed out at the continued criticism of the Government’s decision to invest money from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL)

into the project.

Assured investors

“Investors in equity and in debt assured themselves beyond any reasonable doubt about the project’s viability and other important considerations,” said Dr Luncheon.

He said Republic Bank’s decision to fund the project should also be a source of “definitive assurance” in the area of profitability.

Dr Luncheon stressed that there is a lack of A Grade facilities to accommodate visitors and the Marriott Hotel will change that, and at the same time, offer overseas visitors another familiar name in accommodations.

In that regard, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat pointed out that acquiring “accommodations with a capital A” for the delegates of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) proved to be tasking, given that a lot of the hotels offer substandard service.

“I can tell you about the mad scramble to find accommodations and not any kind of accommodation… accommodation with a capital A,” said Dr Luncheon, adding that “it is clear that the offerings are inadequate and as Guyana becomes more and more a destination for tourists, and as the tourism brand improves”, it is evident that

entities such as the Ramada and Marriott Hotels are needed.

He said when officials make enquiries at hotel businesses in Guyana a “litany of woes are thrown up” as their management try to defend the unavailability of certain pertinent resources and facilities that are prerequisites in effectively operating a hotel.

In this regard, he pointed out that when one considers the steps being taken by the Government to market Guyana’s tourism sector and significantly boost the tourism project, “investments along the line of Marriott become necessary”.

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It’s a blatant lie! T

Mayor breaks up meeting after seeing Shawn Hinds in City Hall compound

Rohee challenges Glenn Lall to show visa rejection letters of Indian engineers

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ome Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has denounced statements made

by Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall, accusing the Guyana Government through former President Bharrat Jagdeo, and the Home Affairs Ministry of rejecting the visa applications of two Indian engineers, whom he had contracted to help him set up a confectionery factory in Guyana.

Rohee made the comments while speaking in his capacity as General Secretary at the People’s Progressive Party weekly news conference on Tuesday.

He was at the time responding to questions raised by Kaieteur News Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris, which stated that the former President had failed to grant visas to two Indian Engineers.

“I totally reject that, I totally reject that. And I say it is a confounded lie. I don’t know where that is coming from, and I think it’s all meant to undermine the Ministry of Home Affairs.” He continued, “let them produce the rejection letter, I want the rejection letter to be produced and

published in the Kaieteur News”.

The engineers were being brought into the country by Lall to work on a confectionery factory. The allegation is that the former President and his High Commissioner to India, Ronald Gajraj, had denied visas to the Indian engineers that he (Lall) contracted to go to Guyana to set up the machinery and provide technical assistance.

At the launching of Sueria Manufacturing Inc, the confectionery company, at its Eccles Industrial Site location last week, Lall had said that the visa denials by the Jagdeo regime were because the company was connected to him. The company is owned by Lall’s daughter and son-in -law.

When Guyana Times International made contact with Lall last Friday for a comment, he told this publication that all he had to say was already published in the Kaieteur News. GTI was attempting to find out the names of the engineers and the reason he (Lall) had taken such a long time before lodging his complaint.

he struggle for power and control of the Georgetown City Council continued on Tuesday, when the weekly statutory meeting of the local government body was convened but was called off shortly after as the Deputy Mayor and Mayor concluded that the environment was not “conducive” to holding a meeting.

It was on those grounds that the Mayor made the decision to adjourn the meeting indefinitely.

According to Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase Green, there had been sightings of “shady characters” in and around the compound of the City Council and as such, several of the councillors have since spoken out expressing fear for their lives.

“I came into the statutory meeting today and there were shady characters inside of the building, which has over the period of time caused some staff members and councillors to be fearful for their lives” said the Deputy Mayor.

In that respect, Mayor Hamilton Green related that he has instructed the constabulary to heighten security in order to ensure the safety of the city councillors is not jeopardised.

“I asked the constabulary to be cognizant of those facts and to take appropriate action… it is a matter of concern

Mayor Hamilton Green

Town Clerk Carol Sooba

to us…that intervention is part of a wider scheme to distract us from our duties and to make the council, duly elected, impotent” said the Mayor.

Town Clerk Carol Sooba in a subsequent interview with Guyana Times International, related that the shady character that the Mayor and Deputy Mayor were making reference to was her bodyguard Shawn Hinds.

Sooba pointed out that the Mayor had raised an issue about the register being absent when the meeting was called to order, but the queries were not directed to her so she did not respond. Sooba told GTI that had the Mayor directed the question to her, then she would have responded accordingly, informing him of the whereabouts of the councillors’ register.

Amid all of this however,

Royston King was nowhere to be seen. King had filed legal action on May 13, after acting Chief Justice Ian Chang had ruled that Sooba is allowed to act as de facto Town Clerk until someone moves to have her removed from the post.

However when the ‘quo warranto’ was called before the acting Chief Justice, he recused himself from the matter saying that it was a conflict of interest, since he would have made the initial ruling that Sooba could continue to function in her post.

As such, the matter was sent to Justice Diana Insanally who last week Thursday granted the ‘quo warranto’ to King’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, in her chambers. Sooba will now have to, through her attorney, show cause as to why she should not be removed from the post.

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WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Climate change park for Jamaica J

AMAICA: Last Friday, 15 acres of open lot across from the Portmore Mall in Jamaica was unveiled as the site for a climate change park.

It is a joint venture between the city of Hagen in Germany and the municipality of Portmore in St Catherine, and is one of several projects to be completed under the Municipal Climate Partnership Programme.

Hagen and Portmore were twinned in 2012 during the second term of Mayor George Lee, who died last year while in office.

No date has yet been set for the completion of the facility, but last Friday, German ambassador Josef Beck, representatives from central and local government and

German ambassador to Jamaica Josef Beck (left) and Jamaica’s Climate Change Minister Robert Pickersgill shake hands at the unveiling of the sign declaring the open lot across from the Portmore Mall the site of the Climate Change Park last Friday (Jamaica Observer photo)

an outpouring of Labour Day volunteers started the process by planting 100 Lignum Vitae, Blue Mahoe, Mahogany and Poui trees along the area's periphery.

As acting Portmore mayor Leon Thomas ex-

Several Caribbean countries get EU visa waiver

The European Union has lifted visa requirements for several countries when travelling to the Schenegen zone in Europe

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RINIDAD AND T O B A G O : Trinidad and Tobago is among 19 countries, including countries in the Caribbean and Pacific, for which the European Union (EU) has lifted visa requirements when travelling to the Schenegen zone in Europe.

The Schenegen zone covers 25 countries.

According to the Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council which was released Monday, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago are five Caribbean countries that will benefit from the visa waivers.

The other countries from the western hemisphere are Colombia and Peru. From other regions are Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga,

Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu.

The report said in February the co-legislators reached an agreement on amending the Regulation 539/2001 to lift the visa obligation for citizens of 16 small Caribbean and Pacific island nations, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Peru and Colombia.

This amendment, the report said, “will enter into force before midJune, but effective visafree travel for nationals of these countries will only become a reality once visa waiver agreements between the EU and each of the countries enter into force.”

A release from the EU council said, “This exemption will come into force only when bilateral agreements on visa waivers between the union and the countries concerned have been concluded in order to ensure full reciprocity.” (TT Newsday)

plained it, the park will be a virtual poster child in the fight against climate change as it will feature rainwater harvesting, solar and wind power, and an under-

ground wastewater treatment plant which will be used for irrigation.

It will also feature a jogging trail, a water fountain, and park

benches.

Thomas said he and a team will be journeying to Hagen in July to iron out the details of the agreement as, at the moment, only a "concept" exists.

"The Germans were here in March and they planted a few trees so this is our way of saying to the Germans: 'We're ready and we are serious on our side'," the acting mayor said, adding that an announcement regarding the details will be made by year-end or next January.

Environment and climate change minister Robert Pickersgill said the park will address both the mitigation and adaptation aspects of climate change.

"…There will be roof gardens on the buildings.

There is an amphitheatre in which there will be performances. In fact, the site has been identified as the venue for an international reggae climate change festival which is a public education and awareness tool for climate change that will showcase national and international artistes over a two-day period," Pickersgill said.

In addition, he said the entrance to the park will house a museum which will reflect the history and culture of Portmore and Hagen, as well as a climate change exhibition on mitigation and adaptation projects in both cities. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

8 news Guyanese diaspora in US remember struggle for Independence H week ending June 1, 2014| guyanatimeSinternational.com

undreds of Guyanese in the US diaspora turned out over the weekend to celebrate Guyana’s 48th Independence Anniversary in various parts of the county, including New York and New Jersey.

Many attended church services, parties and even picnics. In New York, a special church service was held in honour of the country at the St Gabriel’s Episcopal Church on Hawthorne Street in Brooklyn.

According to a release, representatives from several Guyanese organisations and agencies were very much

in attendance. Apart from the reciting of the National Pledge and the singing of the National Anthem, a special message from President Donald Ramotar was shown on large television monitors located throughout the church.

During the service also, a brief history of Guyana was read to the largely mixed (Caribbean) congregation by Ann Chance. Following the church service, a fabulous Guyanese brunch was served in the Golden Hall of the church.

Over in New Jersey, another high level event was held to celebrate the country’s Independence anniversary. A welcome

Guyanese and other members of the Parish of St Gabriel’s Church during the Communion period

was done by the first elected Guyanese Born councilman Khemraj “Chico” Ramchal who thanked the New Jersey Arya Samaj (NJAS) for hosting the event at City Hall.

Nadina Persaud from the planning committee of the NJAS welcomed the Honorable Mayor Steven M. Fulop, the Jersey City Municipal Council, Members of Congress and other dignitaries attending the event.

The chairperson Pt. Suresh Sugrim praised the Mayor and his administration for allowing the organisation to use the City Council Chambers and to be a part of Guyana and the Independence celebrations. Pandit Sugrim used the opportunity to assure the City Council Chambers and his team that the NJAS is committed to addressing the many social issues af-

fecting citizens.

The young and dynamic first term Mayor, Honourable Steven M. Fulop, expressed words of gratitude to President Donald Ramotar for sending a personal message to those attending the event. The Mayor thanked the Guyanese diaspora for the significant contributions they have made to the City of Jersey. A message from President Ramotar was read by Prabha D. Gossai who thanked the organisation for hosting the event.

Consul General Mr. Brentnol Evans spoke on Guyana’s struggle for independence and thanked all those who have fought for it.

In his message, Congressman Albio Sires said that since its independence from Great Britain in 1966, Guyana has and continues to be a nation with a rich history and diverse culture. He also showered praises on the NJ Arya Samaj for the work it is doing in various fields.

The NJAS received Special Congressional Recognition from Honorable Congressman Donald M. Payne Jr., Senate recognitions and over a dozen of Proclamations, Citations, Resolutions from the State Government and other local Government agencies.

Barbadians being recruited for jobs in Dubai

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ARBADOS: Barbadians are being given the opportunity to take up employment in Dubai.

Trinity Recruitment Services, located in Mall 34, Bridgetown has been appointed the local agent for

Trinity Recruitment Services of Barbados has been handling the recruitment process for the Emirates Group

the Emirates Group, which is the largest airline in the Middle East.

Judeen Scantlebury, CEO/Founder of Trinity said her company has been taking applications for the Emirates Group and conducted a pre-screening process on May 22 in preparation for the upcoming arrival of the Emirates Group Managers, who will be selecting the final candidates.

"Based on what is currently happening with our economy and persons being sent home from their jobs, I think this would be a good opportunity for anyone that is in a position to go. It gives you a chance to explore new employment opportunities and make new connections; it will give the individual an opportunity to grow–the Emirates Group is doing very well and has grown rapidly within the last few years," Scantlebury point-

ed out.

Assisting with the interview process were the Deputy Principal of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP), Ian Drakes; Kevin Bourne, Caribbean Aircraft Handling; Beverley Rouse, Manager of Pinnacle Safety Solutions; and Apostle Lynroy Scantlebury.

Scantlebury noted that these professionals were chosen because of the wide range of positions that are available which include– Flight Attendants, Senior Maintenance Planning Assistants, Customer Service Professionals, Ground Support, as well as positions for Auto Mechanics and Auto Electricians.

She further stressed that the Emirates Group was seeking well-rounded individuals, 21 years and over who are ready to work.

(Barbados Advocate)

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times International, Industrial Site Ruimveldt Georgetown, Guyana or guyanatimesint@gmail.com

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After a long wait, an elevator will be installed at Lefforts Dear Editor, After much awaited time, the elevator will be installed at Lefferts Boulevard/Liberty Avenue, a train stop and improvement along the Liberty Avenue A line.

We have waited 24 years (American Disability Act 1990) and with continued support from the Richmond Hill Economic Development Council

(RHEDC), we were able to get a firm commitment from the MTA announcing that there will be a presentation on the installing of the elevator.

This will be held on May 29 at the Liberty Palace, 130-11 Liberty Avenue, Richmond Hill, NY 11419 at 19:00h.

People with disabilities will be guaranteed fair and equal access to all

public services. The disabled, who are often isolated and their mobility restricted, will not be the only beneficiaries.

People with baby carriages, as well as those with luggage, will also benefit. This renovation will greatly increase train accessibility for residents of our community, while also providing more neighbouring residents access

to the shops on Liberty Avenue.

We encourage all businesses and residents to attend this meeting to understand the process and stay connected with all the organisations who will be connected to this major project.

Sincerely, Vishnu Mahadeo RHEDC President/ Executive Director

No compelling reason to delay Local Gov’t Elections Dear Editor, The President’s refusal to assent to the Local Government (Amendment) Bill should not hold up the hosting of Local Government Elections.

All that is required now is for the President to instruct the Attorney General to move the case to the Judiciary.

There, the court can decide whether certain functions conferred to the Local Government Commission exceeds the constitutional authority of Article 78A, thus making Local Government (Amendment) Bill No 12 of 2012 “null, void and of no effect” as articulated by the Attorney General.

No amount of political grandstanding, rhetoric and declarations in the press will resolve this issue, as we approach a year since Parliament approved the four Local

Government Reform Bills. If the President and his Government are serious about determining the legislation’s constitutionality, then move to the courts quickly for resolving, once and for all, the essential legal questions.

Notwithstanding the need to clarify the Bill’s constitutionality, there is no compelling reason to delay establishing and announcing a date for holding Local Government Elections.

The Government must act now.

I say this not only because I agree with the statement that “threequarters of a loaf is better than none,” as advanced by Opposition Parliamentarian Khemraj Ramjattan, but also because the disputable issues do not affect the hosting and execution of local elections.

In fact, while we wait for a ruling on the outstanding Bill’s constitutionality, the Government and parliamentary Opposition can agree, in terms of mutual national interests, to proceed with the elections under the old laws where the powers still reside with the Minister of Local Government instead of the Local Government Commission. A healthy dose of political maturity and political will from our elected policymakers can facilitate this process quickly.

I have seen in the press and in other public forums the belief of some that the contested pending bill is the one containing the provisions establishing the Local Government Commission’s roles and functions. I wish to reiterate that this is not so.

The Local G o v e r n m e n t Commission Act was passed and assented to last year by the National Assembly and the President, respectively, and the structure and roles of the Commission have been elucidated.

Among its many powers is the Local Government Commission’s responsibility to “deal with all matters relating to staffing of local government organs” including “employment, transfer, discipline and dismissal of staff” and approving “remuneration, superannuation, training, leave and promotion of staff”.

What the outstanding bill seeks to do is confer additional powers onto the Commission. Moreover, once the Minister of Local Government signs the commencement order, then the nomina-

tion process of commissioners under the Local Government Commission Act would begin.

I personally have an issue with either the Minister of Local Government or the Local Government Commission deciding on who gets to run the administrative affairs of the municipalities around the country. That responsibility should be left to those elected authorities, who are closest to the citizens, and which, in this case, would be the elected mayor and councillors.

The buck should stop with the Mayor, in particular. This is what local self-government is all about: the ability of local authorities to regulate and manage a substantial share of public affairs under their own

responsibility and in the local population’s interests. Powers given to our municipalities should be full and exclusive, allowing discretion for them, as far as possible.

One pragmatically cannot expect to hold our mayors and councillors responsible for the overall interests of their respective areas and communities and then deny them the right to decide who gets to execute policy on their behalf. Thus, the Minister or the LGC should only have a supervisory role in this process.

However, that is a discussion for another time. At the moment we have sufficient laws to work with and it is time for the Minister to call a date for Local Government Elections.

Sincerely, Clinton Urling Blue CAPS

The Cricket administration Bill Dear Editor, I welcome the Cricket Administration Bill (CAB) which was recently passed by the National Assembly of Guyana. I took note of the fact that it passed with the support of both the Government and the main Opposition party.

This Bill has been some three years in the making. It is the fruit of serious thinking about the future of Guyanese cricket and consultation with the widest possible cross section of the Guyanese public, including a parliamentary select committee.

Quite apart from this, even before the Bill was approved, important stakeholders in the cricketing community and important individuals and recognised cricket authorities, such as the former West Indies all rounder Roger Harper, supported the Bill on the basis of its known inputs and the objectives it is intended

to achieve: the restoration of a game that has made a significant contribution to the development of our country.

I am encouraged by the fact that the CAB seeks to bring transparency, honesty and accountability to the ad-

ministration of the game. I do not believe that there is a single Guyanese citizen who would not wish to see cricket so administered in our dear land. It is a given that a new administration can act as a spur to the develop-

ment of cricket. And no one can seriously contend that in our current circumstances our cricket does not need a shot in the arm.

Without being too parochial, I am constrained to note that when the New Zealand cricket tour starts in a few weeks time, there will be no Guyanese cricketer among the 11 representatives.

During my tenure as captain, my focus was always about WI cricket and not any one territory. Contrast this with the era in my lifetime when we had as many as six players in the West Indies team, and could offer to West Indies cricket six Test captains, including myself, Maurice “Pacheo” Fernandes, Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kalicharran, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Let me note here also that apart from the great batsmen who have graced the cricket field

with our colours, Lance Gibbs was the first spin bowler to break the world record. Guyana has a proud and enviable record as a component of West Indies cricket. We must do everything to sustain that record.

That record can only be sustained if we grapple with our current problems and as a nation, accord cricket the importance it deserves.

The Bill is an important step in this direction. It can remedy the problems and difficulties facing the game and allow it to flourish as part of the cultural tapestry of this nation.

The need for Guyana’s cricket to be provided with an environment in which it can flourish does not need an elaborate argument. Cricket in Guyana has been an agent for national unity, for bringing communities together, for ensuring Guyana’s recognition beyond its borders and

for providing the means by which our individual cricketers could realise an upward movement in their social status.

In addition, Guyana must be able to return to the position in which it is a major contributor of talent, both in terms of cricketers and administrators, to West Indies and world cricket.

That great American patriot, Thomas Paine, said that the American Revolution was an opportunity to make the world new again. The Bill is certainly not a revolution but it can decidedly offer this nation the opportunity to make Guyana great again as a contributor to regional and world cricket.

I am confident that the Bill can do this and I look forward to an era in which our cricket is again properly administered and a credit to every Guyanese citizen.

Clive H Lloyd Former West Indies Captain

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National powerlifting champion busted with cocaine at JFK

G

uyana’s National Power Lifting Champion Colin Aubrey Chesney of the mining town of Linden is now in the custody of drug enforcement officers in the US after he admitted to swallowing

cocaine pellets.

The national athlete was busted on May 24, moments after disembarking a Caribbean Airlines Flight out of Guyana at the John F Kennedy International Airport during a routine

search by custom officials.

So far, based on reports received, the man had passed 33 pellets in his intestinal passage.

On the day in question, Chesney was seen acting in a nervous man-

Colin Aubrey Chesney

ner which drew the attention of a few custom officers. He was subsequently escorted to a private room where he was questioned, during which he started to sweat profusely.

He admitted to custom officials that he had swallowed “foreign bodies”, thus he was taken for an X-ray where the objects were detected.

He was taken to a medical facility where he excreted 33 pellets containing a whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine. The actual weight has not been re-

leased.

However, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) said that they are assisting with the local investigations with the hope of finding the source of the drug in Guyana. A senior official stated that Chesney remains in a medical facility under guard. He is expected to be charged shortly.

The official added that they were not in possession of the actual weight of the cocaine that was trafficked, but confirmed that Chesney admitted to swallowing

the cocaine moments after boarding the flight to the US. In April last, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested Godfrey Cassius, who arrived on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana, with an alleged US$300,000 worth of cocaine.

Drug agents at the JFK International Airport found nearly 18 pounds of cocaine concealed in a bag of custard powder in his suitcase.

CBP officers arrested Cassius and after inspecting his bag, they found eight packages of “Champion” custard powder. Officers opened the bags and found a white powder that had a strong chemical odour.

The powder was tested positive for cocaine.

Cassius, of Guyana, was arrested for the importation of a controlled substance and was turned over to Homeland Security investigations.

He was later prosecuted and remanded to prison.

The total weight of cocaine was about 18 pounds.

Enmore woman was murdered – autopsy T

he post-mortem examination performed on the body of Keila Persaud, who was found dead in her Lot 29 Enmore North, East Coast Demerara home on Monday revealed that she was

Keila Persaud

stuck to her head.

The autopsy was performed by Dr Nehaul Singh on Wednesday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary. He gave the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head and haemorrhage of the brain.

With this new development, the Police are expected to continue grilling the main suspect, Persaud’s reputed husband, Nazeer Khan, who reportedly found the woman’s body on Monday on the floor of their bedroom around 11:00h with several marks of violence.

S Persaud, the daughter of the dead woman, is alleging that Khan is re-

sponsible for her mother’s death and is calling on the police to institute charges against him.

The distraught daughter stated that her mother had a bruise on her face, with black and blue marks which indicated that she was beaten.

“If my mother had fallen, then her body would not have other marks as if someone beat her….”

Crime Chief Leslie James said now that the post-mortem examination has been completed, a decision will be taken whether or not to institute charges against the woman’s reputed husband. If this is to be done, he noted, the Police will have to gather enough evidence.

It was reported that Persaud went to bed on Sunday evening as normal, but in another room. Khan, who was in the other room, reportedly fell asleep and when he woke up the following morning, he found her lying on the floor near the bed.

The woman leaves to mourn her five children, siblings, and other relatives.

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Guyana can tap into Green Climate Fund

WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese injured in Suriname accident transferred to homeland

T Executive Director from the Green Climate Fund Secretariat, Hela Cheikhrouhou (R) and Climate Change Finance Advisor from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Selwin Hart at the National Communications Network’s studio

A

senior official of the Barbadosbased Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says the operationalisation of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) will provide an important opportunity for regional countries to not only adapt to climate change but also to mitigate its effects.

Selwin Hart, the Climate Change Finance Advisor with the CDB said the fund could also assist the Caribbean’s move towards renewable energy and energy efficiency. “The cost of energy in the Caribbean is the highest in the world. This represents a serious strike on competitiveness, economic growth and job creation and the GCF presents a once in a lifetime opportunity for countries to have a stable source of financing to address the vulnerabilities, both as it relates to importing fossil fuels, as well as the impacts of climate change,” he said.

Hart, who was at the time speaking on a National Communications Network programme, said one of the major problems Caribbean countries faced in the past was the lack of capacity to effectively access and use funds, even when such funds were available. “Many of the requirements for accessing global funds lie outside, off the reach of the many small capacityconstraint countries of the region. You have to undertake a rigorous examination in terms of fiduciary standards and social and environmental safeguards,” Hart said.

The CDB, as part of its climate resilient strategy, has been assisting countries to build

that capacity. However, in some instances, it is more feasible for that capacity to be built at a regional level, rather than at the level of individual countries.

The Bank has also been tasked by regional heads to lead the resource mobilisation effort on behalf of the region in terms of climate financing. In this regard, the CDB is trying to position itself to serve as a regional financial intermediary. The CDB will undertake the responsibility of meeting the fiduciary standards and social and environmental safeguards and this will assist countries in crafting GCF-ready project proposals. It will also undertake the responsibility to manage projects on behalf of countries of the region.

The GCF will support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in a developing country using thematic funding windows.

It is intended to be the centre piece of efforts to raise climate finance of US$100 billion a year by 2020.

Concessional financing

Meanwhile, also speaking on the programme was Executive Director from the GCF’s Secretariat Hela Cheikhrouhou who said that this is an important development which will put in place a multilateral financing institution that is focused on providing concessional financing to both private and public sector beneficiaries in developing countries. This will help them to invest in low emission and climate resilient development (cleaner technologies for producing in their economies and for transportation), and to be able to better adapt to changes

in the climate that are already being experienced.

“We hope that the developed countries will be there to provide grants and concessional loans to the fund to enable it to fulfil its mandate in the initial few years… now is the time for action and actual pledging,” Cheikhrouhou said.

In 2009, the initial announcement was made that developed countries will scale up their financial transfers to developing countries to help them cope with climate change. It was envisaged that this process would start with about US$10 billion per year, increasing to about US$100 billion by 2020 and beyond.

The GCF was structured to act as one of the main conduits for these resources, and today it is ready now that all of the requirements set out by the board and developed countries have been met.

The Executive Director said that from GCF’s engagements with some of the developed countries represented on its board, there is a reasonable level of interest and commitment to come through with financial contributions, even though several of them are still recovering from the global financial crisis. She said that while developed countries are willing to make contributions to developing countries to move to cleaner energy pathways, they will be looking for value for money, in terms of impact. “The GCF has put in place some policies and procedures that make sure that when we are selecting an activity or project for support, its merits are significant,” she said.

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Vanessa Foo being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital

he six Guyanese who were reportedly involved in a serious vehicular accident in neighbouring Suriname on Tuesday have been transferred to Guyana on Wednesday.

According to information reaching this publication, the Toyota Hilux owned and driven

by Kevin Foo, a Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) manager was on its way back to Guyana from Nickerie, when the vehicle suffered a blowout and flipped several times before coming to a halt at the side of the road.

They all reside in Vreed-en-Hoop, but went on a weekend trip to Suriname to meet with church members.

The driver, his wife Vanessa Foo and another relative, all suffered serious injuries, while three other relatives received minor injuries.

They were rushed to a hospital in Nickerie; however, on Wednesday, they were taken in an ambulance from Nickerie to the border, where they were picked up by an ambulance from the Skeldon Hospital, and taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

However, due to her condition, Vanessa Foo was immediately transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Her husband and a relative up to press time were still waiting to be transferred to the Georgetown hospital.

According to the De Ware Tijd online news, the Toyota Hilux with Guyanese number plate was heading to Nickerie, when the accident occurred.

Police said that about 175 miles from Nickerie, the vehicle suffered a blowout and flipped before coming to a rest at the side of the road.

De Ware Tijd said that five women and a man were injured. Two of the persons were said to be in serious condition.

There has been a significant increase in the number of Guyanese and Surinamese using the ferry service at Moleson Creek crossing. A bridge that will link the two countries is now seriously being considered.

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Guyanese celebrate 48th SMEs are a gateway Independence Anniversary in Toronto out of poverty – Ali

By Ravendra Madholall

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O R O N T O , C A N A D A : The Guyana Festival Committee under the auspices of the Consulate General of Guyana in Toronto held a dinner and dance on Saturday evening to celebrate the country’s 48th Independence Anniversary at the Empire Banquet Hall, Toronto.

President Donald Ramotar, in a message to the Guyanese community in Canada, reflected: “the attainment of political independence represented a historic landmark in our country’s history and it was the inevitable culmination of centuries of

Mrs Sawh and others get ready to cut the 48th Independence Anniversary cake (Photos: Courtesy of Bobby Ramlagan)

heroic struggles by our people for freedom and

for an end to servitude and colonial bondage; so

I wish all success to the continued on page 20

H

Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali

ousing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday lauded the initiative of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, (SMEs) pointing out that the stigma attached to it must be changed.

The Minister was at the time delivering brief remarks at a conference being held at Princess Hotel. Ali cited the development of the many major companies around the world, including Google and Microsoft, noting that they had all sprung from very tiny initiatives.

He pointed that SMEs have such power to assist persons in reaching their fullest potential. “There is a regional thinking that SMEs are associated with being poor, with poverty, having less access. And there is a culture being developed around SMEs that there are persons looking for grants, looking for free money coming at if not at no, little costs”.

He pointed out that leaders have the responsibility to change that growing thought and create a more modern and scientific understanding of SMEs. He noted the concept embraced by many is that the SMEs are existing to aid in poverty reduction, empowerment, the creation of employment and political promises. “How often do we hear the driving force of profit-driven, productive efficiency, maximisation of effort being associated with SMEs?” Ali asked. He said if SMEs are to become the development of entrepreneurs and organisations to become sustainable, then “defining SMEs will have to change”.

This, he said, will ensure that there is a more comprehensive outlook of SMEs, since one should not believe that the programme could

survive without creating efficiencies, and a culture of profit-driven approaches to business development as part of the driving force.

He surmised that many SMEs are equal to large enterprises. He cited the developments in countries such as China and India that are successfully driven by combined efforts and a national policy.

M e a n w h i l e , Caribbean Technologies Consultancy Services (CTCS) Network coordinator Kenneth Harvey told the group of small business operators gathered for the consultancy seminar, that the whole purpose of the seminar was to increase communication and to accept recommendations from its emissaries.

He said that coming out of the meeting all of the small business operators that benefit from grants from the CDB will be able to share their take on the recommendations, after which a decision will be made whether to approve the recommendation or not.

“You will not be standing alone” he reminded the entrepreneurs. As a result, he said that the persons accessing grant funds will be privy to the “maximum combined effects” of the grants.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Institute for Private Enterprise Development (IPED), Ramesh Persaud, related that such consultations were welcomed by the private sector and IPED as a small business financing body. “As we develop as a region and as a country, focusing on what small and medium businesses can offer to the economy is significant… We should not forget them,” he said.

news Jamaican taxi driver found guilty of Trinidadian school teacher’s murder

J

AMAICA: A twelve-member jury in Jamaica last week found Westmoreland-based taxi operator Ivan Taylor guilty of the murder of Trinidadian schoolteacher Michelle CoudrayGreaves, whose burnt remains were found in a Montego Bay cane field in June 2012.

The verdict was arrived at some three hours after High Court Justice Courtney Daye completed his summation and handed the case to the jury, which had sat through 17 days of testimony from 38 prosecution witnesses.

"You have been found guilty on the charge of murder. Sentencing is postponed until July 23, and that is in Kingston in the Home Circuit Court," Justice Daye said to Taylor, who stood expressionless in the prisoner's dock.

Defence attorney Lavern Walters, who appeared on behalf of Taylor, asked the court that a social enquiry report and a forensic psychiatric report be done for Taylor. The request was granted, and the test is to be done prior to Taylor re-

Trinidadian schoolteacher Michelle Coudray-Greaves burnt remains were found in a Montego Bay cane field in June 2012 (TT Guardian file photo)

turning for sentencing.

Taylor, who operated as an on-call taxi driver for the Trinidadian, who at one time taught language at Cornwall College in Montego Bay, was slapped with murder charges on June 30, 2012.

He was the last known person to have seen Coudray-Greaves alive.

Coudray-Greaves, the daughter of Trinidadian government minister Marlene Coudray, went missing three days after returning from vacation in Trinidad. She was slated to take up a new teaching post at Cornwall College in September 2012.

In its case, the prosecution relied heavily

on circumstantial evidence, as the body was burnt beyond recognition.

Technology and medical experts were among the witnesses called.

Among those were world-renowned orthodontist Dr Christopher Ogunsalu, who used Coudray-Greaves' dental records to identify her, and consultant forensic pathologist Dr Murari Saranji, who provided the court with testimony about the perceived cause of death.

Both medical experts agreed in their respective testimonies that Coudray-Greaves died from blunt force trauma to her head. Ogunsalu testified that there were several broken bones in her skull.

In addition to telephone evidence given by two telecommunications experts which placed Taylor in the vicinity of where the body was found on the night the Trinidadian went missing, two civilian witnesses testified that they saw Taylor driving out of the canefield in the wee hours of the morning CoudrayGreaves went missing.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

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Rafieya Husain crowned Miss Guyana World

No sabotage in Trinidad oil spills - report

T

he National Cultural Centre (NCC) erupted just after midnight on Monday, as the audience rebelled against the judges’ decision to crown Rafieya Husain, Miss World Guyana 2014, instead of the highly favoured Ayana Whitehead.

The evening, which was riddled with technical glitches and poor organisation, ended in an uproar with the majority of patrons voicing their displeasure with not only the poor quality of the pageant but ultimately, the decision by the judges to crown Husain queen.

Some sections of the audience thought that the decision was taken before the actual pageant was held, as seemed to be the case in the Miss Guyana Universe 2013 pageant, where Whitehead came in as first runner-up to Katherina Roshana.

Loud outbursts followed by the abrupt exit of patrons notwithstanding, the judges’ decision, as always, was still final.

The newly crowned Miss World Guyana will represent Guyana in London for the international pageant, where she will compete against 139 other

In this TT Newsday file photo, fisherman Gopaul Balkissoon uses a stick to lift a net covered with oil which was being washed ashore at Queen Beach, La Brea, from a Petrotrin oil spill last December

T Rafieya Husain, Miss World Guyana 2014, flanked by first runnerup Atisha Gaskill (left) and Denicia Williams (right)

delegates for a shot at the Miss World title.

The 23-year-old queen also copped the Beauty with a Purpose Award as well as the Missology People’s Choice Award.

Apart from capturing the judges’ hearts with her well-executed Indian contemporary dance as her talent piece, Husain took to the stage with a body-hugging evening gown designed by Lauraine Welch, which accentuated her petite figure perfectly.

She also stunned in her swimsuit, but it was Atisha Gaskill who owned the swimsuit segment without a doubt, working the stage well as she ex-

ecuted her routine effortlessly to the music.

Moments after being crowned, Husain said that she worked hard and would have brought her A game on pageant night, as she saw all the contestants as strong competitors.

She promised to work with various organisations to fight the scourge of domestic violence, by tackling it from the grassroots level. In addition, she is optimistic that she has what it takes to bring home the Miss World crown later in the year.

The newly-crowned queen noted that in any competition, the judges’ decision is final and even

she too was shocked at being selected queen. The elated queen will now have a few months to prepare for the international pageant.

Coming in as first runner-up was Atisha Gaskill who also copped the beach beauty and fitness awards, followed

by Denicia Williams and rounding off the top four was Miss Region Six, Ayana Whitehead who was awarded the best talent prize for her dramatic presentation on suicide.

Miss Region Nine, Tiffany Megnath copped the best interview prize and Miss Region Seven, Gericia Francis copped the multimedia video award.

RINIDAD: An interim report prepared by the National Environmental Assessment Task Force has unearthed no evidence of sabotage in relation to the oil spills in Trinidad—involving Petrotrin and energy facilities—which affected southwest Trinidad last December.

The interim report, which was submitted to Minister of the Environment and Water Resources Ganga Singh last Friday, was due to be tabled in Cabinet this week. It is understood that the interim report contains findings of fact as well as several recommendations. However, it is understood that no evidence of sabotage has been unearthed, based on the materials before the task force.

“An interim report

was submitted (last) Friday afternoon. There are several recommendations and findings, but it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage,” Singh told TT media Monday.

The Task Force was appointed in February in the wake of almost a dozen oil spills which, across various sites, saw in excess of 7,000 barrels of fuel oil spill into the Gulf of Paria.

Minister of Energy Kevin Ramnarine, in the wake of the spills, announced that one Petrotrin contractor, Trinity Oil, had reported sabotage to the police in relation to its Rancho Quemado operations.

Petrotrin was fined TT$20 million by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) in relation to the spills. (TT Newsday)

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Gov’t will continue to make huge investments in education and training – PM Hinds

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esidents of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and surrounding communities on Tuesday welcomed the commissioning of a spanking new, state-of-the-art nursery school built at a cost of Gy$98.8 million. Architecturally, the building is the first of its kind in the country, built specifically with all the necessary amenities to accommodate nurseryage children.

Funding for the school was made possible through the Caribbean Development Bank’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF). Prior to the construction of this school, nursery-age children were housed at the Tuschen Primary School.

The school currently has an enrolment of 180 students.

Also present at the commissioning ceremony were Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Denzil Douglas; Minister

sistance to other vulnerable groups, such as old age pensioners and other dependent groups, the way to overcome poverty is to make people more productive. This, he said, can only be done through education and training.

Investing in young people

Similar sentiments were expressed by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh who said there is no more important an investment to be made than that in young people. As such, despite pressing fiscal challenges, the Government has persevered with missionlike zeal in increasing investment every year in the social sector, particularly education, which receives the largest single allocation in the national budget. This level of investment has enabled the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of universal access to primary education, and is well on its

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh delivering remarks at the commissioning of the Tuschen Nursery School

within Guyana’s Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill; CDB President, Dr William Warren Smith, and members of the bank’s Board of Governors.

Delivering the feature address, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said education and training is the way to greater production and productivity and will no doubt result in people becoming better citizens. He said that from very early on, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration recognised this and committed to ensuring that education and training remain its most important goal.

“Today, the quality of our school buildings is altogether much better than when we started off; there has been a steady increase in expenditure… we have made great progress in this area,” the Prime Minister said.

He noted that while the Government recognises the need to grant as-

way to achieving universal secondary education.

“These are not investments whose returns we will see immediately, but they are investments that are absolutely critical and unavoidable if the long-term future of Guyana is to be protected and preserved… our Government’s commitment to the people of Guyana is to continue to invest in the education of the young people of our country so that they individually can be assured of brighter prospects,” Minister Singh posited.

Meanwhile, Dr Smith was quoted by the Government Information Agency (GINA) as saying, “We at the CDB have made the education of our people a priority for our institution; all of the evidence suggest that in the Caribbean there is no other investment that provides enduring benefits for our people, like education. It is the principal vehicle through which the cycle of generational poverty is most effectively broken.”

The Gy$98.8 million Tuschen Nursery School

The facility represents a major improvement over the previous school arrangements where children of nurs-

ery school-age shared facilities with older children. It is completed with nine classrooms fully furnished with indoor

and outdoor assets; including a staffroom, food preparation area, parents’ waiting room, water storage facilities, open

multi-purpose space with carpet for playing, administration area, sanitary blocks, and storage space.

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“Please return my baby” P

olice in Berbice have intensified their search for the infant who was abducted on May 24, and have been pursuing all avenues based on the information received thus far from the family and relatives of little Avi. This is according to B Division Commander Brian Joseph in an invited comment with Guyana Times International. According to Commander Joseph, even though they came up empty handed thus far, they are not fazed and won’t rest or ease up the investigation. He had an opportunity to look at the surveillance footage provided by a businessman of Rose Hall Town that captured the crime.

B Division has also liaised with the other di-

visions to pursue all avenues so as to reunite the family with their son as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, the griefstricken mother, 22-yearold Sandra McLean is pleading with the abductor to return her child “If she is a mother, she would never have done something like this. She should have known how to treat a mother and not punish me like this, because she is a woman; she wouldn’t want somebody to punish her like this. This is four days now; me nah eat, drink, or sleep because when I start to eat me a study if me baby eat, if he comfortable, if he does sleep.

Me a beg she no matter where she deh, me a beg she to bring back me baby,” McLean pleaded.

The young mother

Three Guyanese students for UWI’s highflyers Science course

T

Cecil Cox

Benedict Sukra

he Education Ministry is pleased to announce that three outstanding students: Cecil Cox who topped the Caribbean in the Sciences in 2013; Benedict Sukra; and Lawrence Faria have been accepted to the Programme for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE), which is held on the campus of the UWI, Cave Hill, Barbados.

SPISE is a four-week residential summer programme for Caribbean high school students who are gifted in Science and Engineering, and who are interested in studying and exploring careers in these fields.

During the four weeks, students will be completely immersed (24/7) in university-level calculus, physics, biochemistry, entrepreneurship, Mandarin,

one-Caribbean studies, and hands-on projects in robotics and electronics and computer programming.

The three young ambassadors will be exposed and coached by role models from the Diaspora and the Region on career paths and choices, and assisted with their university application packages and internship applications to research centres in the Region and abroad.

The goal is to help address the low numbers of Caribbean students pursuing advanced degrees in science and engineering.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand said she was proud of the students who were selected: “I am extremely proud of the students who were selected to an academically elite programme and who will be ambassadors of Guyana continued on page 19

- mother of abducted infant pleads

a bad mind for anybody no matter if she do this to me, still can sorry for she; me just want she to bring back my baby.

Even if she nah give me, give any family to give me or drop him off or all and me go collect he.”

Search continues

Sandra McLean

The infant kidnapped

in tears refuted claims that she sold her baby for Gy$200,000 based on

comments made by some people. “I want back my baby safe. I don’t have

As family members also continue their search, the father of the baby, Ravikan Bistonauth is hoping that he can see and touch his baby boy soon. Owing to religious beliefs, he could not see the baby until after the ninth day.

Since Saturday, Bistonauth and others have been searching several villages house-tohouse, but have come up empty handed. On May 24, a woman who gave her name as Bibi Khan befriended the family and abducted the nineday-old baby boy at the Port Mourant Market after she sent the mother to buy some Hassa while she kept the baby a short distance away. She made good her escape while the mother ventured into the fish section of the market.

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Hotel Tower likely to reopen soon H

ead of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) Sherwood Clarke said the management of Hotel Tower is hoping to reopen the facility on Monday following talks with the union on Wednesday.

Speaking to Guyana Times International shortly after the meeting, Clarke related that company Director Salim Azeez said management plans to reopen the hotel on Monday, but it can only do so with the support of its staff.

Clarke said the proposal made by Azeez was rejected, noting that the Director wants the workers to return to the company without being paid salaries that were owed to them.

“They want the workers to go back without pay and the workers said ‘no’, they are not going,” said Clarke.

Previously, Clarke had stated that the decision of staffers at the Hotel Tower to accept the proposal made by the company is left up to them, pointing out that a complaint has since been lodged with the Labour Ministry.

Subsequent to the meeting on Wednesday, the doors of the hotel remained locked and the workers once more had gathered in anticipation of receiving their salaries after the deliberations.

On Monday, the hotel in a release said that it will be mak-

have sufficient cash to pay its employees, hence, the temporary suspension of operations.

Regret

CCWU President Sherwood Clarke

ing steps to facilitate payment to staff members who were affected by the abrupt closure of the hotel.

The cash-strapped entity had explained that the decision taken by management was a last resort.

“It was taken, especially given the number of employees that were likely to be affected. In recent times, the hotel has seen a dramatic decline in business and despite the best efforts of management; the hotel was still unable to meet certain financial obligations.”

The company explained that although it is “asset rich”, it did

“Management is aware that the employees have families and dependents to provide for and sincerely regrets any hardship caused by the decision to close the hotel,” the company had said.

It was also pointed out that as a result of a lack of funds; electricity at the company was cut on May 24. With respect to the guests who were staying at the hotel when the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) disconnected electricity to the building, it was related that arrangements were made for them to access “alternative” facilities.

Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle said the company by not paying the workers puts itself at risk of being sued.

He suggested that the company sells some of its assets to pay the workers.

Just about 40 Hotel Tower workers on Saturday took to the streets in front of the establishment, protesting the decision by the company to abruptly close its operations, and for not paying them.

“We want we money, all of we money…lock out with no pay,” the workers shouted in protest, calling the action by the hotel’s management an injustice.

The blame game going on

D

e whole world gettin to be a place wheh no body ain’t wanna accept responsibility fuh dem actions or sometimes even dem thoughts. And de thoughts does come before de actions, except fuh de Mayor-fuh-Life, who never yet tink in he life before he do some ting.

Every body wanna pass de buck to some body and it does end up wid nobody tekkin blame. Right now de You-G law students can’t get to study at U-Wee, and TT and Guyana blamin one another.

De US guvament creatin problems all over de world and dem always sayin it wasn’t dem. Is not dem who create problems in Iraq and is not dem who run down Egypt. Is also not dem who got Afghanistan in de gutter and is not dem who stiflin Cuba.

That is just how people in Guyana turn now. Dem fellas in de Pee-N-C don’t wanna tek blame fuh runnin down de country, but dem blamin this guvament. Dem don’t wanna tek blame fuh killin Rodney, although de whole world know is dem who do it.

De Opposition don’t wanna tek blame fuh causin de blacklistin wid de A-M-Hell Bill. Rum Jhaat blamin one ting and Green Jah mekkin excuses bout some ting else.

Even when de See-FAT people come and tell dem that is dem is de problem, dem start bobbin and weavin like how Mayweather runnin from de Pacman.

When it come to de East Bank Road, that is another blame game wid all who got some ting to do wid de project.

Bee-Kay wuk men can’t put down he stones because GeeW-High got pipes in de way. Then, Gee-TnT ain’t movin dem wires.

And G-Pee-Hell poles fallin down, but dem still ain’t movin dem. De G-Pee-Hell wuk men seh dem have to pick up Din Dhaal pole fuss because he pole fall down long before dem ones pun de East Bank.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie!

De problem is dem can’t get Din Dhaal pole fuh stand up again so dem have to hold it up, while de whole road project gettin screwed!

news

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WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Region 10 Chairman says “little Three Guyanese students for UWI’s progress made on Linden agreement” high-flyers Science... …Teixeira says Solomon postponed several meetings from page 17

Lawrence Faria

for their stay there.”

Minister Manickchand also expressed approval of the continuous development of the education sector. “I am pleased that our system has improved so tremendously, evidenced by the fact that our Guyanese boys and girls are repeatedly competing internationally and shining,” the Minister notes.

Visionaries Challenge

This programme, along with the Sagicor Visionaries Challenge (SVC), is one of the initiatives of the Caribbean

Science Foundation (CSF) with the longterm goal of helping to diversify the economies of the Region and raising the standard of living of the people by stimulating more technologybased entrepreneurship within the Region.

Key important partners of the CSF are the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). SPISE is modelled after the wellknown and highly successful Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) programme.

The SPISE environment discourages rote learning, and teaches students how to focus on understanding and applying the fundamentals to achieve mastery of the material, and thus to be able to solve complex problems. Grades are not emphasised; mastery of the subject is.

Cox, Sukra, and Faria are expected to commence their training on July 19.

C

lose to two years after the inking of the August 21, 2012 Agreement, which brought an end to the deadly protest over a proposed hike in electricity tariffs in the mining town of Linden, little progress has been made.

Speaking with Guyana Times International, Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon said in a letter addressed to President Donald Ramotar, the Office of the President was reminded of key aspects of the agreement.

In the letter, he addressed the issue of the technical team set up to investigate the electricity situation in Linden, the Economic Committee and the programme which was agreed to by both parties to sustain economic development in the town; a dish and transmitter for the establishment of a television station to be handed over to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the Regional Land Selection Committee, which has so far been established. In recent months, there have been no re-engagements between the Government

Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira

Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon

and the region.

Despite the challenges being faced, the region remains committed to the cause, Solomon said.

With support from regional officials, the RDC is addressing issues that it can facilitate, he told this publication.

In accordance with the August Agreement, the region is moving to employ the system of Land Selection and Land Management. The Land Selection Committee is currently working along with the Land and Surveys Commission to address issues affecting the region.

Meanwhile, while the region has acquired the dish, it has not yet re-

ceived the transmitter.

On August 21, 2012, the Donald Ramotar Administration and Region 10 agreed to establish a Technical Committee to investigate the electricity situation in Linden. Under the Terms of Reference (ToR), it states that the Technical Committee would be tasked with the responsibility of reviewing the existing provision and consumption of electricity in the mining town, including the history, the costs, the tariff structure and the subsidies.

Study

Part of the work also includes a study of the region’s economic circumstances and its ability to

facilitate an increased cost of electricity, consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the integration of supply of electricity in Linden on the national grid and recommendations, among other duties.

However, failure by both parties to agree on the membership of the committee is hindering the activation of the committee. This comes after both the Government and the region have agreed to “cooperate to ensure that all documents, persons and resources required are provided to the Technical Team.”

M e a n w h i l e , Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira said the Government had responded to Sharma’s letter, pointing out several inaccuracies and misrepresentations to him.

She also noted that Sharma had postponed several meetings on the agreement, and that aside, he was aware that Cabinet Secretary, Roger Dr Luncheon, who is the Government’s focal point on the agreement, was ill, and as a result would have contributed to some delays in the discussions.

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NEWS

WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Teen wins trip to UEFA 2015 Champions League A

n ardent fan of Real Madrid will be heading to Europe for the UEFA Champions League 2015, compliments of ANSA McAL through its Heineken Brand.

Seon Mc Almont, 19, of 35 D’ Urban Street, Lodge, Georgetown, was selected from among thousands who participated in the Heineken Promotion which culminated at the Gravity Lounge with the viewing of the Champions League Final and afterparty.

The young man won the prize after a dramatic draw, which was done by several patrons who flocked to the venue to be part of the action. The first three digits, 119 were pulled by three persons and after an elimination process, only three people had tickets with the first three digits. After the third pull to get the last digit, Mc Almont emerged the luckiest contender.

In all smiles, he reiterated that he is an ardent supporter of Real

Guyanese celebrate 48th Independence Anniversary...

from page 12

Honorary Consul General for Guyana to Toronto Sattie Sawh addressing the gathering Sean Mc Almont poses with ANSA McAL General Manager Beverly Harper and Heineken Brand Coordinator Robert Hiscock after winning the grand prize

Madrid and thought that his luck stuck twice, the first being Real Madrid’s 4-1 trouncing of Atlético Madrid and then his capture of the grand prize.

The prize caters for him and a companion to travel to Europe to witness one match of his choice, providing air tickets, hotel accommodations and more importantly, spending

money.

While it is too early to decide who he will take along on the unforgettable journey, he was thinking of a close relative. He thanked ANSA McAL for giving him the opportunity to visit Europe, which will be his first. Heineken Brand Coordinator Robert Hiscock said the brand was extremely pleased to have been a part of the organising

team for the grand affair, noting that next year will be bigger and better.

He said the last viewing party was kept at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground (GCC), but this year they upped their game and hosted the event at the popular Gravity Lounge.

He thanked the patrons for their overwhelming support of the event and encouraged them to continue drinking Heineken in a responsible manner.

After the presentations, patrons were entertained by Jamaican reggae artiste Tanya Stephens, who had the audience gyrating to her vibes.

She dished out almost two hours of nonstop music from yesteryear to present time. As usual, she said that she loves to perform before her Guyanese fans.

Guyana Independence 2014 and a happy anniversary.”

Honorary Consul General for Guyana to Toronto Sattie Sawh, in her remarks, highlighted the country’s many achievements since gaining independence in 1966 and lauded the Festival Committee for maintaining the observances in Canada.

“I must acknowledge the monumental work of the Independence Festival Committee in helping to stage all of our annual independence observances; this group of volunteers gives their all to see their homeland represented with pride and our community owes them a debt of gratitude,” Sawh stated.

G u y a n a ’ s Ambassador to Canada Harrinarine Nawbatt, who also graced the occasion, congratulated the Festival Committee too for their efforts over the years and ex-

tended best wishes to the Guyanese people in Canada for another year of independence celebration.

Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne sent a congratulatory message, saying: “on behalf of the government of Ontario, I am delighted to extend warm greetings to our Guyanese community as you celebrate Guyana’s 48th Independence Day anniversary with this dinner and dance; this gathering is not only an opportunity to commemorate Guyana’s birth as a sovereign nation, but also a chance to reflect on its accomplishments and look to the future with confidence.”

During the event, Clifton Aaron and his spouse Olga were recognised for their voluntary services to the Independence Festival while Victor Yacoob was given an award for his contribution and his longevity with the committee.

NEWS

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WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Copa Airlines announces appointment of Sales and Marketing Manager

T

New Copa Sales Manager Nadine Oudkerk

he Management of Copa Airlines has announced the appointment of Nadine Oudkerk as the local Sales Manager for Copa Airlines in Guyana. The appointment became effective on May 19.

According to the airline, “Ms Oudkerk is a Guyanese national who brings a wealth of marketing experience to the job. She has been in the marketing and tourism field for more than 10 years and has made significant strides in producing results.

Prior to joining Copa Airlines, she was the Senior Marketing Officer with the Guyana Tourism Authority.”

In the press release issued by the airline, Oudkerk said: “Copa offers an incredible oppor-

tunity for the people of Guyana to experience a higher and distinctive level of travel and service. With 69 destinations in 30 countries, Copa’s offers to the market will connect us in ways that were never before possible and at very competitive prices. I am looking forward to working with this dynamic airline and the passionate team to ensure the success of Copa Airlines in Guyana.”

Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia, subsidiaries of Copa Holdings, are leading Latin American providers of passengers and cargo services. The airlines currently offer service to 69 destinations in 30 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

UG workers preparing for industrial action if demands not met

T

he University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and Workers Union (UGWU) are prepared to take industrial action if the university’s administration fails to recommence the negotiation process on workers’ welfare.

The unions have been championing the cause for better wages, salaries and working conditions for all categories of employees on the Turkeyen and Tain campuses since 2012, but to no avail, as negotiations have broken down.

During a recent press conference at the Turkeyen Campus, UGSSA Vice President Melissa Ifill disclosed that on May 2, the unions wrote Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi requesting an urgent meeting with the administration’s negotiating team, but to date a response is still forthcoming.

Considering the apparent turmoil that has been felt by the university at the governance level, Ifill said the unions have been quite patient with the administration.

But now they are of the opinion that Dr Opadeyi, who was appointed as Vice Chancellor last December, has had sufficient time to familiarise himself with the burning issues plaguing the academic and non-academic staff of the university.

Since his appointment by the UG Council, Dr Opadeyi reportedly met once with the unions in March with the promise of having monthly meetings, but thus far the administration has failed to make good on its promise.

“We are serving notice that unless the meeting is convened almost immediately, that the staff will take the necessary action. We have been attempting to negotiate with the university to improve salaries and working conditions

UGSSA President, Dr Patsy Francis

UGSSA Vice President Melissa Ifill

since January 2012. We have exercised enormous patience, we have been extremely understanding of the circumstances within which this university finds itself… and we are serving notice that we are no longer prepared to do so,” Ifill said in no uncertain terms.

The UGSSA Vice President made it clear that if the meeting is not reconvened and progress made, industrial action would be taken. “We are prepared to close the university down because we are very unhappy with the current administration and the Council’s action.”

According to her, these senior administrative officers are being paid “fat salaries” while academic staff members are awaiting better salaries. “We are demanding better pay!”

The unions have agreed that they are geared to shut the university down, if the Vice Chancellor moves ahead with plans to shelve programmes at the institution due to the cash shortage. Dr Opadeyi had indicated that lowly subscribed programmes at the university will be cut off and the services of lecturers terminated, if the institution experiences a major shortfall in enrolment due to students’ inability to access loans for the Academic Year 2014/2015. This is a direct result of the 2014 budget cuts inflicted by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC).

Dr Opadeyi said if the Government fails to return to the Assembly for supplementary funding to the tune of Gy$450 million for the Student Loan Programme before the House goes on recess in August, programmes will be cut.

Concern

UGSSA President, Dr Patsy Francis said too that the unions are concerned over moves by the administration to hire senior administrative officers who are being paid huge sums of monies for their services.

“These senior administrative staff are coming at very high prices, most of them are paid more than half a million dollars a month. I cannot see what value they will add that we the 600 academic and unacademic staff cannot do,” Dr Francis complained.

NGOs enlisting more businesses in HIV fight

T

he United States Agency for International Development (USAID)supported Advancing Partners and Communities project (APC) and the Guyana Business Coalition against HIV and AIDS (GBCHA), launched a campaign to expand and strengthen collaboration between the local business sector and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) responding to HIV and AIDS last week.

The event was held at the DDL Building, 44 High Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

APC Chief of Party Folami Harris said the campaign is about expanding and strengthening partnerships between the business sector and the NGOs. “We want to improve the visibility of NGOs responding to HIV and AIDS and keep the busi-

ness sector informed about successes in the national response without burdening them with rhetoric. Through the campaign, we hope to stimulate a broader range of partnerships between them for sustaining the NGOs response.”

Guyana’s impressive achievements in HIV prevention and treatment has resulted in solid declines in new HIV infections, down from 1258 in 2006 to 758 in 2013. AIDS-related deaths have reduced from 475 in 2002 to 194 in 2010.

“These gains would not have been possible without the combined effort of Government, NGOs, development partners and the business sector,” said GBCHA Chairperson Tracey Lewis.

Lewis also stated that “Guyana’s Private Sector Response” serves

APC Chief of Party Folami Harris addressing the audience

as a model for partnerships aimed at reducing the spread of HIV and the associated stigma and discrimination. In the face of declining external funding, Guyana’s business and NGO sectors are being called on to expand and strengthen partnerships to support the goal of zero new

HIV infections.

A total of 83 persons attended the event from 44 businesses, 12 NGOs, the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) and international development partners USAID, US Peace Corps, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the United

Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP).

P A N C A P Coordination Unit Director Dereck Springer commended APC and GBCHA for “rebranding and reinvigorating the business-NGO partnership in health and wellness in Guyana”.

Members of the business sector in attendance also expressed their appreciation for the effort.

“It is commendable that an event of this nature was held to sensitise and encourage the business community to participate in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” Smith, a representative from Courts Guyana Inc said.

“It’s important for companies to get on board and exercise corpo-

rate social responsibility,” added Gregory Shaw of California Stucco, another business representative in attendance.

Advancing Partners and Communities (APC) is a five-year project funded by USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health and implemented by JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc, in partnership with FHI 360.

APC’s core funding covers grants management and capacity-building for NGOs, providing services for HIV prevention, care and support.

In Guyana, APC supports 11 NGOs across eight of the 10 administrative regions: Artistes in Direct Support, Agape Network, Comforting Hearts, the FACT Group, G-Plus, Hope for All, Hope Foundation, Lifeline Counselling, Linden Care, United Bricklayers and Youth Challenge Guyana.

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WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Budget cuts bite deep

from page 3

Hundreds of public sector workers not paid

C

abinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon has expressed concerns over the large number of workers in the public sector who have not been paid as a result of disapprovals to estimates in the 2014 National Budget.

Speaking at his postCabinet media briefing on Wednesday at the Office of the President, Dr Luncheon said the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government would not sit idly by and allow workers to suffer as well as struggle as a result of actions taken by the Opposition parties during the 2014 Committee of Supply proceedings.

“It is not the intention of this administration to sit idly, talking about what to do as the livelihood of employees, many of them, pensionable civil servants appointed by the Public Service Commission are adversely affected,” Dr Luncheon said.

He also pointed out that the Government will be taking steps in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana and in conjunction with rulings that were made by the High Court and Court of Appeal.

He noted that it is “our contention that leads us to the expected course of action” as

Burnham had declared war on... other way to win elections.

Leadership

Hundreds of public servants protest Budget cuts that put them out of jobs

he explained that the Constitution and court rulings “point literally and unambiguously to the solution” to the current problem faced by the Government.

Dr Luncheon said the Finance Minister will soon be approaching the House with a supplementary budgetary paper so as to restore funding to entities such as the Office of the President, the Government Information Agency (GINA), the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Public Works Ministry.

Public servants to those bodies have not been in receipt of salaries as a result of the budgetary disapprovals, made by the Opposition in the National Assembly.

“My anticipation is that the Minister of

Finance buttress by the powers and the authority conferred in him in the Constitution, armed with the ruling of the constitutional courts would be providing a response in what essentially we hope would be a shortlived denial,” the Cabinet Secretary said.

Both of the Opposition parties, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) had previously established that it would support a supplementary paper coming from Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh that does not include funding for a few projects that were voted down by the Opposition.

No support

However, it must be noted that the Opposition parties have

expressed disapproval for the monies that were going to NCN, GINA and the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

They have repeatedly said that they will not support funding for NCN and GINA, contending that these are propaganda machines of the Government.

With respect to the University of Guyana (UG) Student Loan programme that was also disapproved by the Committee of Supply, Opposition Leader David Granger and AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan said their actions were not premeditated.

They indicated that if the Government brings a Supplementary Bill to the House, they will most willingly reinstate funding for the university.

Speaking on his role in the Working People’s Alliance, Kwayana informed the commission that he was a member of the collective leadership of the party.

He joined the party many years after leaving the two main opposition parties. He said he was ousted from both the People’s Progressive Party and the People’s National Congress as he was deemed a racist.

He noted that his only wrong was seeking to bind the two main races together, since he had an innate interest in multi ethnicity.

He spoke too of Rodney’s alleged assassin, Gregory Smith, whose book Assassination cry of a failed revolution, had presented several pieces of incredible evidence, which according to him, he had used to clear himself of the allegation laid against him.

The allegation states that he, Gregory Smith had, on June 13, 1980, approached Dr Walter Rodney while he sat in his brother’s car outside the Georgetown Prison and handed over a brown paper bag containing a bomb hidden in a walkietalkie device. However, in his book, which was coauthored by Ann Wagner, Smith had denied ever giving Rodney a brown

paper bag.

According to him, Smith was also trying to tie the Working People’s Alliance to him, saying that two party members, on the day of Rodney’s death had gone to his house informing him of this “terrible accident”.

According to Smith’s book, he claimed that the gentlemen had told him that he needed to get out quickly and had “spirited him away to Kwakwani”.

Kwayana said that while Gregory Smith had indeed gone to Kwakwani, he had lied about being sent there by members of the WPA. He said it was incredible too that Smith had claimed that he was offered a faked passport by the WPA to flee Guyana to French Guiana.

Kwayana heckled at the thought as he informed the inquiry that that was even more strange, since it was impossible for members of the WPA at that time to access a passport, because of the political situation. “We could not leave the country”, he said.

Kwayana said, prior to the 1980 incident, he had never heard the name Gregory Smith.

In fact it was not until the explosion that he saw the suspect’s photograph in the Catholic Standard.

He said Smith in his book continuously denied his involvement in Rodney’s death.

Digicel (Guyana) recommits to providing more support to local NGOs

A

s Social Life Issues, a NonGovernmental Organisation celebrates its first anniversary, Digicel Guyana, one of its major sponsors, has recommitted its support to the entity in the fight against drug and alcohol abuse among teenagers.

At the celebratory dinner at the Georgetown Club on Saturday evening, Digicel Senior Sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope reiterated that the company remains resolute in its support to the organisation, noting his company’s satisfaction with the work the charitable organisation has done in its first year.

He recalled that in 2013, when his superior Jacqueline James took the sponsorship documents to him, he saw it as a great opportunity to support a worthy cause.

Against the backdrop of his experience as a young national hockey player, he jumped upon

Digicel’s Sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope

the opportunity and did not hesitate to approve the sponsorship.

He recounted that it was due to his parents’ guidance that he did not indulge in smoking and drinking while on the team, noting that those days were challenging and many young people were involved in extracurricular activities.

Hope expressed satisfaction with the work the organisation has been doing in the various schools and com-

munities. He said when Digicel sponsors a programme, it looks forward to its money’s worth and without a doubt, the organisation has lived up to expectations; hence, will continue to lend its support.

Hope further stated that the organisation had never refused when it was called upon, recalling that it has conducted counselling sessions with footballers and basketball players in four regions during the

Social Life Issues Chairman John Greaves addressing the gathering

company’s school tournament.

Gratitude

Speaking at the dinner, Chairman and Director of the organisation, John Greaves expressed his gratitude to the sponsors for their overwhelming support of the organisation.

The organisation is the brainchild of Greaves, a coordinator and well-known counsellor, who worked for several years with

the Salvation Army’s Drug Rehabilitation Programme.

Greaves noted that the organisation was established to address a range of issues that plagues society, to bring about changes in family life, and to create a better society for all.

He also noted that the organisation has introduced its Drug Prevention Education Programme in five schools, two branch-

es of the Institute of Business Education, the Josel Educational, Chase Academy and the Institute of Professional Studies.

He said in the year ahead, he intends to double the programme in schools and more so, conduct community outreaches in various regions.

Greaves said he is confident that his team is competent to oversee, plan and execute programmes of the organisation.

He, however, noted that financial support is necessary and called for the support of corporate Guyana.

Some of the sponsors, he noted, are Digicel, DaSilva House of Optics, Lucky Dollar, Food Shop and a number of private individuals.

Others who spoke at the event were Reverend Ronald McGarrell, Dr Faith Harding and other officials of Social Life Issues.

23 Over 20,000 Guyanese screened for cervical cancer since 2007 M news

WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014

ore than 20,000 women in Guyana have been screened for cervical cancer since 2007, former Regional Health Services Director, Dr Narine Singh disclosed on Sunday.

In February, the Health Ministry reported that cancer is the third leading cause of mortality in the country with Ischemic heart diseases coming at second and cerebrovascular diseases at number one. Prostate, breast, lung and cervical cancers are the main categories affecting the Guyanese population.

But it was keen on pointing out that Guyana has the third highest rate of cervical cancer in the Western Hemisphere.

Speaking at Our Lady of Fatima Parish Hall on the topic “The Challenge of Cervical Cancer”, Dr Singh said the Health Ministry has been aggressively tackling the

| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Nine of the 17 resident doctors participating in the Master’s Degree Programme in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

issue.

He explained that the Health Ministry has been capitalising on preventative measures such as immunisation and screening. According to him, more young women are undergoing the visual inspection using Acetic Acid (VIA).

According to Dr

Singh, the Guyanese public is now responding positively to the administration of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to young girls.

When it was introduced by the Health Ministry in 2011 under the leadership of the then Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, many par-

ents had responded negatively towards the initiative. The HPV vaccine is said to prevent cervical cancer.

In addition to the interactive session on cervical cancer, some of the obstetrics and gynaecology resident doctors were introduced, one of whom hails from Nigeria and

another from Antigua.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Residency Master’s Degree Programme in Obstetrics and Gynaecology is being facilitated in collaboration with the Case Western University Hospital Cleveland, Ohio. The programme, which is in its

third year, has six firstyear resident doctors and six second-year students, with the remaining five in their third year. At the end of their fourth year, the medical certificate will be issued by the University of Guyana, which is also a partner in this initiative.

Director of the residency Master’s Degree Programme in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Margaret LarkinsPettigrew, who is based at the Case Western University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, was also present at the seminar, in addition to senior Georgetown Public Hospital official, Dr Ruth Derkenne.

The seminar was organised by Bishop Francis Alleyne and Monsignor Terrence Montrose of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Georgetown in collaboration with the Georgetown Public Hospital.

More Guyanese learning Portuguese T

he Education Ministry on Friday launched a Portuguese training programme for teachers that will be implemented into the foreign language curriculum in 21 secondary schools.

The programme will run for approximately 12 weeks and is designed in three phases, the first of which will cover all of the topics while the other two will be used as interactive and revision sessions for the participants. This programme will see 36 teachers being trained in the area.

These sessions, which will commence in two weeks, will be held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), twice weekly. After each phase of the programme, the participants will undergo an assessment which will aid the administrators in identifying weaknesses and strengths.

These individuals, after being trained, will be the first to prepare the initial batch of students in the Caribbean to sit the subject at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, which was held at the Theatre Guild, Deputy Chief Education Officer Doodmattie Singh highlighted that the Ministry last year introduced Portuguese into six schools, but this was limited to Central Georgetown because of the lack of trained professionals to deliver the curriculum.

However, this will no longer be a challenge due to the

A cultural performance by the National Dance School and the Nitryageet dancers

implementation of this programme. In 2013, the language subject was introduced to Queen’s College, the Bishops’ High, St Stanislaus College, St Roses High, Saint Joseph High and North Georgetown Secondary. It will now be expanded to Regions Three, Four, Five, Eight, Nine and 10.

were chosen in the region. He said that his staff are willing to be trained and will cooperate fully to ensure that this programme is a success.

Speaking at the launch, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said: “We at the Ministry of Education are very

conscious that we have a huge responsibility to make sure we meet the needs of Guyana today, as well as prepare our young people to meet the needs of Guyana tomorrow,” the Minister said.

She said that just after nine months of introducing this lan-

Willingness

The schools targeted in these regions are Region Three, Zeeburg and West Demerara Secondary; Region Four, Hope, Annandale, Diamond Secondary and President’s College; Region Five, Rosignol and Bygeval Secondary; Region Eight, Mahdia Secondary; Region Nine, St Ignatius Secondary; and Region 10, MacKenzie Secondary. The students of Grades Seven and Eight and in some cases Nine will be exposed to this new language.

Also sharing his views was Principal of West Demerara Secondary School, Region Three, Harry Narine, who expressed happiness that his school was one of two which

A section of the gathering at the event

guage into those six schools, she was surprised at the reception from the students as she recalled being greeted by a few students in the language and could not understand what they were saying.

The Minister said that despite the criticisms, it can be proudly said that the Education Sector in Guyana is at its best stage ever, while at the same time noting that there is still room for improvement.

The introduction of this language to Guyanese will not only build the self-confidence of the persons pursuing their studies in this area, but will also expand their job opportunities. It will also strengthen Guyana’s relationship with Portuguese-speaking countries such as one of its closest neighbours, Brazil.

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| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Lawyers, police begin training to combat arms trafficking

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everal officers from the legal system are currently undergoing a three-day training course on combating illicit firearms, ammunition and explosives in Guyana.

The training session which began on Wednesday, is being hosted by the Home Affairs Ministry and is funded by the US Embassy. The course will be conducted by instructors from the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC).

The course will see 24 participants from various agencies, including: the Home Affairs Ministry, Legal Affairs Ministry, Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Guyana Police Force.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, UNLIREC instructor, Juliet Solomon, said that this course will provide guidance to judges, Police and prosecutors when handling trafficking of firearms cases. She noted that persons from each agen-

Juliet Solomon UNLIREC representative, Bryan Hunt US Embassy Deputy Chief of Missions and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

cy will have the opportunity to interact with each other and exchange information, which will strengthen their relationship.

The UNLIREC representative pointed out that because of the proximity of the countries surrounding Guyana, traffickers find an easy conduit to transport illicit arms and ammunition between the countries. She went on to say that this is one of the challenges that the UN faces when tackling the crime of trafficking.

Solomon thanked the Guyana Government for allowing this exer-

cise to be held, noting that it will benefit the participants in curbing crime in Guyana, while the country continues to work along with other countries regionally, in order to combat the illicit trade in firearms, ammunition and explosives.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Bryan Hunt, noted that the issue of illicit trafficking is a serious problem, as such, countries should collaborate to address it. He explained that such security programmes that are done in collaboration with the Guyana Government are an in-

Acting Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, and other high ranking officials of the Guyana Police Force at the forum on Wednesday

dication of how important bilateral relationships are in combating such issues. Hunt added that highlights the true meaning of partnerships we have to have with countries in the Region under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) programme.

The Deputy Chief of Mission pointed out that illicit trafficking is a global problem, particularly in the US as he made reference to the recent shooting in the state of California. However, he noted that while the US is not in a position to lecture anyone on this, given its recent history of gun-related crimes, particularly shooting incidents, they opted to bring UN experts to conduct the training so that an international perspective is brought to the table, all the best strategies that can be used collectively to investigate, to successfully prosecute and to bring to justice those who choose to engage in gun violence or trafficking in illicit firearms, ammunition and explosives.

IDB seeks proposals from Guyanese for community projects

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President hails opening of Confucius Institute at UG

he Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is seeking proposals from Guyanese civil society and nongovernmental organisations to fund innovative community-based projects, starting from US$300,000 to a maximum of US$750,000.

Project proposals should focus on highly innovative solutions that will solve community problems and support communitybased development, the bank said in a release. Community Support Organisations (CSOs) and NGOs will have the opportunity to pitch and present their most innovative solutions to the IDB, and the winners will get the IDB´s support to incubate, develop or scale-up those solutions.

This year’s call for proposals places emphasis on the IDB strategy for social innovation in the two categories: financing productive development of microenterprises and strengthening prevention

against community violence.

Project solutions must focus on innovative approaches that will target poverty reduction and social development activities that respond directly to the needs of socially and economically disadvantaged people, stimulate widespread civil society stakeholder group participation at the community level and pilot partnerships with CSOs as implementing agencies to reach groups currently not being reached by other programmes.

Local and international civil society organisations legally constituted and registered in Guyana with a minimum of five years, since legal constitution and registration under either the Friendly Societies Act, Companies Act or Trust Deed and the ability to prove their financial soundness by evidence of the latest external audit report of the financial statements, no later than 2011 are eligible to apply.

The IDB has posted call documents on its website and started accepting questions for clarification from May 15 to 28 and, applicants can submit their questions by email to nexso@iadb.org.

The IDB will start a competitive process to accept innovative project concepts from June 10. The IDB will only accept proposals received until 23:59h (Guyana time) June 24 or the day it reaches 500 received concept solutions, whichever is earlier.

The IDB Guyana Country Office will host briefing sessions in Georgetown, Berbice and Linden between May 27 and June 6, open only to organisations that meet the minimum of five years legal constitution and registration to clarify the submission process, eligibility requirements, assessment criteria and proposal writing tips. Eligible organisations interested in participating in the briefing session are advised to contact the IDB.

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Limin presenting books to UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi

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resident Donald Ramotar has hailed the opening of the Confucius Institute at the University of Guyana as another example of the close and valued relationship between Guyana and China.

The President noted that the relationship has been productive in politics, engineering, economics and culture.

Explaining that the new facility will serve to inform Guyanese, the President said that the theme of enlightenment holds special significance for Guyana, as it did in the time of the renowned philosopher and teacher whom it is named after.

“The historians tell us that Confucius lived in a society characterised by warfare and politics of fierce rivalry, sounds familiar? But on many occasions, his wisdom, diplomacy and moral influence managed to prevail in conflicts and disputes.”

The teaching of Confucius can educate the world about relations between nations and can counsel in human and international relations, President Ramotar added.

He recalled that from the first arrival of Chinese indentured labourers in 1853, when they were recognised as hardworking, adaptable people and civilised, it was the beginning of a rich contribution to Guyanese nationhood.

He added that Guyana has had a long history of distinguished Guyanese of Chinese lineage such as its first President Arthur Chung and Parliamentarian and Educator Rudy Luck.

Contributions to the business sector were also noted by the President as was the fact that they provided UG’s first two scholarships for students.

With regards to pol-

itics, he noted that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government has always had a close relationship with the country’s Communist Party.

In brief remarks, the Chinese Ambassador Zhang Limin said the institute will serve to inform and promote his country’s culture, and thanked all of those who made it a reality. The Ambassador also handed over a quantity of books to the institute.

Chinese Director, Professor Jan Yuhua and UG’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi made remarks at the launch.

Fully accredited

The programme is fully accredited and is available as part of the degree programme, he added. There are currently 272 students enrolled and this number exceeded what was initially expected due to the trend of less persons electing to study foreign languages.

This has put great pressure on available classroom space and the lecturers. These include Chinese Director Ma Toa, Tie Zhiya and Peng Zhe, who conduct classes in languages and the Taichi Martial Arts.

In addition to attracting immigration officers and members of the public service, Chinese nationals who speak other dialects and wish to learn standard Mandarin are taking up studies.

The Confucius Institute is a joint venture with UG, Dalian University of Foreign Languages and Hanban.

The latter, Hanban, the Office of Chinese Language Council International, is affiliated with the Chinese Education Ministry and serves as the Confucius Institute headquarters.

It sponsors Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms around the world.

News

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Colourful cultural display ushers in Guyana’s Independence Anniversary

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hen the clock struck 12 midnight and Guyana celebrated its 48th Anniversary as an independent nation on 26th May, the thousands of Guyanese who were gathered in the National Park rose to their feet as they recited the National Pledge and the National Anthem.

It was indeed a moving moment for those Guyanese citizens when the Golden Arrowhead reached to the top of the flag pole and fluttered gracefully in the wind. The thousands of Guyanese who turned out to the Independence Day celebrations were proof

that despite all the political turmoil and perceived factionalism, Guyanese still loved and are proud of their country.

Prior to the Golden Arrowhead being hoisted, patrons were treated to a rich cultural presentation, which wowed the crowd at the National Park. Some of the presentations included performances from renowned local poet Randolph Critchlow, Soca Monarch 2014 Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson, Calypsonian Young Bill Rogers, the Aspara dancers, the National School of Dance, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, and the Guyana

Fire Service.

One of the more notable performances was that of the Soca Monarch, who proved that he was “Still In The Game”.

“This place is crazy, all these people asking me these questions, stupid questions,” sang the excited crowd when Edmondson performed his 2012 breakout single “Stupid Questions”.

His performance helped put the spectators in gear for the subsequent performance of musical chairs by the Guyana Police Force.

Frenzied laughter

The horse-mounted officers rode around a group of chairs, fall-

A Guard of Honour for President Donald Ramotar on his arrival at the National Park

ing multiple times, sending the crowd into a frenzied laughter. The performances from the Joint Services did not end there. Shortly after

The presidential party looks on as the National Flag is being hoisted

the combined Police and Defence forces took to the tarmac and blew the crowd away with an orchestra-like performance of flutes, trumpets, drums, and all the works.

The Joint Services officers also stood out, as they stood at rapt attention, as President Donald Ramotar inspected the Guard of Honour.

If the performers were competing, they would have come in second to the presentation from the Guyana National School of Dance.

It started with a dance, showcasing the six races of Guyana. First, the Amerindians, alone in the perceived wilderness and soon after the

other races followed with dancers clad in green with artificial leaves, depicting the sugar cane plant.

Then came the cane harvesters, singing as they arduously chopped at the sugar cane plants with their plastic cutlasses.

The other races followed in succession, according to history, with each depicting the contribution made to Guyana’s societal fibre.

The highlight of the performance, however, was when all of the six races took to the tarmac and together formed the number 48, drawing resounding applause from the crowd.

26 NEWS Gold continues to struggle internationally WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

…declaration dips in Guyana

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here has been a reported drop in gold declaration in Guyana even as international market prices remain flat for successive weeks, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud has said.

He said while gold mining operations continue, there has been a “slow down” in sales to the Guyana Gold Board and other legitimate entities when compared to 2013. The Minister called on Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) President Patrick Harding to take note, stating that small and medium scale miners must maintain the “good track record”.

Approximately 136,240 ounces of gold were declared between January and April 2014, while during the same period last year, some 151,758 ounces were declared.

Flat

At the time, he was speaking at the Omai Wharf in Linden, Region 10, where reporters were briefed on the US$86.8 million Karouni Gold

tor will remain economically viable, as it holds tremendous promise. He had also announced that the latest gold declaration was just over 28,000 ounces for January, which is about eight per cent above the same period last year.

Optimistic

Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud

Project being executed by Troy Resources Guyana Inc, an Australian-based mining company.

As of Monday, international markets reported that gold continues to struggle below US$1300 an ounce after ending flat for two straight weeks, but the metal could gain from developments in Ukraine where pro-West billionaire Petro Poroshenko notched an emphatic win in the presidential election. Poroshenko, a bil-

lionaire chocolate manufacturer, claimed the Ukrainian presidency on Sunday, taking on a fraught mission to quell pro-Russian rebels and steer his fragile nation closer to the West.

It remains unclear how the tycoon can square the circle of turning firmly westward as long as Russia, Ukraine`s major market and vital energy supplier, seems determined to maintain a hold over the second most populous ex-Sovi-

There has been a reported drop in gold declaration in Guyana even as international market prices remain flat for successive weeks

et republic, occupying a vast swathe of the borderlands between East and West.

“The relationship between Russia and the newly-elected President in Ukraine will be key for gold prices,” said Helen Kau, an analyst at UOBKay Hian Securities in Hong Kong.

“Since the new President is not proRussia, it could make Ukraine more divided.

There is still a lot of un-

certainty and political risk there, which could boost gold’s safe-haven appeal.”

Spot gold was steady at US$1293.01 an ounce at 0354 GMT, after ending flat for a second straight week. The metal has closed between US$1291 and US$1296 in the last seven sessions.

Persaud himself back in January had said that despite the challenges in the mining sector, he was optimistic that the sec-

“Our goal is to ensure that we have the sector being very aware of its environmental and social responsibility, and at the same time, being very strong economically,” Minister Persaud said then.

In 2013, gold output in Guyana reached a record production of over 481,000 ounces. He did acknowledge that it was a challenging year for persons involved in the sector because of the tremendous fall in the price of the mineral.

Persaud had said there has been some level of recovery in terms of the prices for 2014 and had anticipated that there will be conditions which would allow for a more profitable mining sector, which also includes diamond, bauxite (which has also been doing well), and manganese.

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28 NEWS Guyana should not support legalising marijuana - Counselor T WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

here should be no attempt to legalise the use of marijuana in Guyana given the negative and debilitating impact such a decision could have on the country’s socio-economic development.

This is the view of Narcotics Anonymous Chief Counsellor Steve Sookraj, who has endorsed the position adopted by the Government of Guyana on the mounting calls for the drug to be legalised in Guyana and the Caribbean.

Sookraj’s stance is in sharp contrast with the views of several scholars and professionals, who believe that there is much benefit that could be derived from the legislation of the drug.

As a matter of fact, Caricom has initiated dialogue and a Special Committee to look at the matter with a view of understanding the impact such a move could have on the region.

But the Chief Counsellor is standing his ground as he called on local and regional legislators and governments to think about the

Narcotics Anonymous Chief Counsellor Steve Sookraj

concomitant challenges that could be faced if marijuana was made legal.

“So, they legalise it and say this man is only allowed to smoke at x time; when he gets home, what happens when the child sees that?

Are those the types of role models we want for our younger generation?”

Sookraj asked, adding: “If the child see’s the father smoking, more than likely the child is going to smoke too.”

Speaking with Guyana Times International at his Kingston, Georgetown

St Vincent Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves

office, Sookraj explained that marijuana continues to be one of the leading causes of addictions in Guyana and any move to legalise the herb would be detrimental to Guyana.

He explained that 23 out of 25 persons at the rehabilitation centre are there because they are addicted to marijuana and crack-cocaine.

He further explained that the addiction to these substances is an across the board problem affecting a lot of Guyanese.

Recently, regional researchers have found that decriminalising

The report finds that marijuana is “gaining global prominence”

marijuana and exploring its use for medicinal purposes could aid in boosting the region’s sluggish economy.

Competitive advantage

The experts said the Caribbean already has a competitive advantage with marijuana cultivation, noting that Jamaicans have piloted the way forward with the launching of a company that produces therapeutic and cosmetic products derived from the marijuana plant.

Jamaica’s Health Minister recently stated he was “fully on board” with plans to implement the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

In September 2013, St Vincent Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves had written, calling on Caricom for a discussion on the medicinal and other uses of marijuana.

The report from the Cannabis Reform Collaborative, which began reviewing drug laws in the British island territory in December, concluded that prosecutions for non-violent offenses related to marijuana are overwhelming the criminal justice system and disproportionately target non-white and immigrant populations.

It called for phasing out penalties for marijuana possession and

eventual legalisation for people 21 and older.

The report finds that marijuana is “gaining global prominence” as a medicinal substance and called on regional governments to immediately allow its use, but with prescription.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee in January had restated that the Government has zero-tolerance with respect to marijuana legalisation.

He said the administration will continue to pursue persons found with the illicit drug in their possession because of the fact that it is still illegal in Guyana.

feature

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LEGAL corner

Have a Business? Need a Trademark?

By Richard Kistnen, Esq.

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lmost every business owner would agree that what makes a business successful isn’t necessarily the product or service offering, but often it’s how well your product or service is marketed. I noticed this recently in my neighborhood.

In the past year, it seems like a new restaurant or bar is opening up shop every month. Many of these happen to be frozen yogurt shops. Some seem to be buzzing with activity and customers on a daily basis, while others tend to be empty. When you roughly compare these yogurt shops, they are all fairly similar – they offer frozen yogurt, pricing is similar, hours are similar. The differences are evident in how they market themselves. For any business, small or large, a big component of that marketing might (and should be) its intellectual property, starting with trademark.

A trademark is pretty much what the name implies – some word and/or image combination that helps to identify your business in the marketplace. There are federal and state trademark laws which aim to accomplish the same goal: prevent competitor businesses from causing confusion in the marketplace and taking sales away from the rightful user of the mark.

To obtain trademark

protection, generally, the party must demonstrate that its mark would not cause confusion in the marketplace, and that such mark is not already in use.

Further, the laws prevent certain terms (such as terms that only serve a descriptive purpose) from receiving trademark protection. For instance, assume a new chicken restaurant opens shop, called “Wings ‘n’ Things Chicken.” The term “Wings ‘n’ Things” may receive trademark protection (assuming it isn’t already in use) but not the word ‘Chicken’ since ‘chicken’ is a generally descriptive term. The more unique a mark, the stronger the protection it receives. A common weak mark tends to be those that include names of a person (such as “Mary’s Pies”).

When thinking about marketing for a business, marketing and branding must be included in the planning and execution. As part of that, if you think you have created a mark that would merit trademark registration and protection, you should consult with a lawyer as soon as practicable. Especially with internet commerce, names and marks are being put into use faster than ever. If you have questions about trademark, or would like to speak to a lawyer, contact the Law Office of Richard Kistnen, (718) 738-2324, www. kistnenlaw.com.

Styleweek closes with a bang in Jamaica

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AMAICA: Saint International's Styleweek came to another stunning climax with Fashionblock on Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston, Jamaica, on Sunday.

The event transformed the city's financial district into a fashion block with massive catwalk for all to see.

"Kingston is the cultural mecca of the Caribbean and it continues to be amazing that we can hold such an event here every year so far," Deiwght Peters, CEO of the Saint International model agency, told Jamaican media.

Peters indicated that the focus is now on capitalising on the wave of exposure Styleweek has given Saint International with its stable of models, and that plans are already in action to outdo the event next year.

"Things don't end here. We push forward with the ambitions of our designers and models. Next year, I assure you, will be beyond anyone's imagination," Peters said.

With fashion as its focus, Fashionblock hit all the targets as Saint paired heavy hitters from its roster and an eclectic mix of fashion. Nish, New York's Donovan Depass, and TNT Fashion all made their presence felt.

Most of the fashions fell

The Courts Optical moment had the ladies out of their seats

into the female and swimwear categories, but few played it safe. Designers Jennifer Wiliams, Rochelle Lindsey and H.O.D were two of those that pushed the boundaries.

Lindsey's inspiration was pulled from 90s dancehall and her final piece bearing a clear plastic see-through skirt had mouths open. Wiliams closed her collection out in similar style, at mesh top showing off plenty of skin. H.O.D's went the opposite way providing superhero-like methods of body coverage.

The piece of the night, based on crowd response, would have to go to Kevin OBrian's rath-

er flashy gold dress that closed out his Illusion of Luxury collection. Lots of applause came the way of the offerings from Princess Alecia Fashions, who blended traditional Jamaican, Rastafari colours with crochetbased dresses and swimwear.

In between the clothing, there wasn't much of a breather as host Jerry D kept things flowing smoothly with humour and giveaways from Courts Optical. Of the musical performances, T.O.K was the clear victor over I-Octane with their quartet supplying the crowd with their brand of reggae harmonising. (Jamaica Observer)

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health corner

Bone Function and Maintenance

By Tisha Boston

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he presence of bones in living organisms helps to distinguish vertebrates from other animals. As humans, we fall into this category. The function of our bones can be placed into four categories: support, protection, movement, and storage. All functions are of equal importance, which is why bones need to be kept healthy and strong.

Our bones make up the skeletal system and serve many purposes.

One of its functions is support. Our bones provide structural support and framework for our body. For instance, they are able to support organs like the heart and

lungs.

This brings us to another important function of our skeleton. Our bones do not only provide structural support, but they also help to protect our internal organs.

For example, our rib cage helps to protect our heart, lungs, and stomach and our skull helps to protect the brain.

Another function of our skeleton has to do with movement. Our bones form attachment sites (joints) for muscles, allowing movement of our limbs. For instance, the ball-and-socket joint formed at our shoulders allows us to move our arms in rotation while hinge joints formed by the bones at our knees and elbows allow move-

ment in one direction.

In relation to storage, our bones serve as a mineral reservoir for calcium and phosphorous, which helps to keep our bones strong. They also help to trap dangerous minerals like lead.

It is interesting to note that our bones are very much alive; old bones break down and new ones are formed in its place. However, with age, our body’s ability to replace old bones slows down. This increases our risk of getting osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease in which our bones become fragile and more likely to break, due to low bone density.

Some ways of maintaining healthy bones involve your diet, phys-

ical activity, and good health and safety practices. A well-balanced meal, rich in calcium and vitamin D helps to improve bone health. Good sources of calcium include: low fat dairy products (e.g., milk, cheese, and yogurt); green leafy vegetables (e.g., broccoli, brussel sprouts, mustard greens, kale); calcium fortified juices (e.g., orange juice); sardines and salmon. Some main food sources of Vitamin D include: egg yolks, saltwater fish, liver, and milk.

Vitamin D is important because it helps the body use the calcium in your diet.

Exercising regularly also helps to make bones stronger. According to the NIH, the best types of exercises to develop healthy bones are strength-building exercises and weight-bearing exercises. Examples of such exercises include: walking, climbing stairs, lifting weights, and dancing.

In addition, living a safe and healthy lifestyle can contribute to proper bone health. Not smoking, not drinking too much, and preventing falls will lower the risk of damage to your bones.

In sum, our bones are there to provide our bodies with support and protection. They also allow us to move and store important nutrients like calcium and phosphorous. Hence, it is of grave importance that we keep them healthy and strong through a calcium rich and vitamin D diet, exercise, and healthy life practices such as not smoking.

Notable quotes on Guyana’s independence

“I

am determined to retrace our footsteps and build a united nation for all our people. We must break down prejudices and barriers. These hopes and aspirations of our ancestors and past generations to build our country into One People, One Nation, One Destiny have again come alive under our new government.” – Dr Cheddi Jagan “Independence Day was the culmination of centuries of struggles by our people.

Generations of our forbears dreamt of this day. Many paid dearly with their own lives.

The slaves battled daily for freedom. Many were felled in the process. The Indentured labourers fought gallantly to improve their lot, and as a result, many made the ultimate sacrifice. Our working people and our national leaders also fought strenuously to end colonial domination. Here too, great sacrifices were made...

Independence meant that at last we had created the most fundamental condition necessary to pursue the aspirations of those who came before us, those who dreamt of building and living in a free and prosperous country.” – H.E. President Donald Ramotar “The lowering of the British flag and the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead was an emotional-filled moment, which brought memories of the hard and bitter battles fought to make Guyana ours.”

- Prime Minister Samuel Hinds “The attainment of independence on 26 May 1966 remains, and will always be, an outstanding landmark in the long history of the struggles of our people for freedom. It was the culmination of centuries of monumental battles...”Former President Bharrat Jagdeo “As citizens we must cherish our political independence, our freedom and responsibilities, our democracy and our unique brand of culture and history.

This is a time for understanding and tolerance. This is a time to renew our faith in our people and country and to pledge by those who fought for our freedom, to build a united, prosperous and free Guyana.”

– Janet Jagan “Today is historic, primarily because we are indulging in an exercise which is the first of its kind by the Parliament of Guyana. After 150 odd years of British rule, and in some cases misrule, we are now independent. But we harbour no bitterness... It is difficult and impossible to change the facts of past history and, in the circumstances, though we welcome with enthusiasm our new status, we are prepared not to spend the time ahead of us abusing those who once dictated to us, but rather to seek means of cooperating with them to our mutual advantage - shall I say, selfinterest.” – L F S Burnham “What our experience of independence has proven is that we are a people of strong moral fibre with the patience to preserve the capacity to achieve.” – Desmond Hoyte

FEATURE

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Independence and what it means

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By Anu Dev

n May 26, 1966 our country became an independent nation. I was not even a gleam in my father’s eye! It was a great day for all Guyana, one of the most significant dates in our history.

On Independence Day, we got our very own Coat of Arms, our National Flag, National Bird and all of the other symbols that signalled the start of a new era for our fledgling state. We were finally masters of our fate and captains of our destiny and all that.

Apparently the celebrations began four days before the 26th and all the way until the 29th.

And there was good reason for the extended celebrations. There’s something so very special about having your independence – whether it’s independence as a nation, or independence as an individual. And it was something that had been dreamt about for three centuries, through the vicissitudes of slavery and indentureship Without fail, any narrative includes the hero/ heroine being given advice by some wise, wizened figure. And independence was a narrative – one overcoming and redemption against unimaginable hardships and exploitation. Oftentimes, this advice is something along the lines of, “With great power comes great responsibility”.

And that can be directly applied to independence.

Independence IS Power. With independence you have power to make your own decisions, to make your own choices, to decide your next steps all on your very own.

But sadly it is also ruefully accepted that, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

If being an independent entity is somewhat like having absolute power over your future decisions, there’s always the chance that we might lead ourselves or our country down corrupt paths with rather disastrous consequences.

And that’s where the great responsibility part comes in. You have a responsibility to yourself to be the best version of yourself. You have a responsibility to do right by your country. And if you’re in a leadership position, you’re responsible for putting your people first. Selfless service should be expected from our leaders and politicians.

After all, they’re the ones making decisions about our country’s future. It’s a pity really when so many of them turn out to be self-serving and only concerned with furthering their own interests.

But we’re a country full of free-thinking individuals – independent, free and intelligent – and young. So we don’t necessarily have to carry the baggage of history unquestioningly on our backs. We have the right to vote, so when the time comes, let’s make sure that we exercise that right and choose leaders that will do right by us and our country.

48 years ago, our future was spread out in front of us. People danced in the streets as the Union Jack was lowered and the Golden Arrowhead was raised. We had a vision for a happy and prosperous Guyana. So let’s remind ourselves about that future this Independence Day. And let’s do our part as independent individuals to be better citizens, to help each other and to give our country a chance at a bright future.

People get the leaders they deserve.

Brindley Benn

Creator of the National Motto T

he struggle for independence was never easy, but those who struggled relentlessly made it appear that way.

To many, the fighters for our independence were the late Dr Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham, but there were many others who ensured similar fates.

Brindley Benn, CCH, who died in December 2009, is one of those who struggled alongside the two late presidents and others; he was downtrodden, imprisoned and restricted in different quarters in the fight for our independence from colonial rule.

Benn was born in the village of Kitty, Georgetown, and attended the St. James-the-Less Primary School (now F. E. Pollard) also in Kitty.

After leaving school, Benn worked with the bauxite company in Kwakwani. His parents were living there at the time. He returned to Georgetown in the early 1940s when the bauxite company started to scale down the workforce.

He taught at a high school in Georgetown before owning his own school, Georgetown Secondary School, which he ran for a few years.

He also led a strong religious life and was in fact a Chorister

The late Brindley Benn

out his work among the working class and party members he was harassed and his work hindered.

During this time there was much strife, and people need to be reassured and comforted.

“You had to be consistent and let the people know that you are taking care of their needs,” Benn said, adding “...so you did everything to make it come proper.”

When the constitution was suspended in 1953, Benn was detained and put under restriction orders in New Amsterdam, where he had to conduct party activi-

Benn (left) with Dr Jagan circa 1960s

at St. James the Less Anglican Church and later became Choir Master at the St. Sidwell’s Anglican Church around 1945. He served in that capacity until the choir was disbanded.

Subsequently, Benn started teaching at the Indian Education Trust, now Richard Ishmael Secondary School. At the time the Indian Education Trust was situated at the corners of Church and Carmichael Streets, where the Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre is now located.

One evening, Benn attended a public meeting at Norton and John Streets, and listened to Dr Cheddi Jagan, who was criticising what was happening in the bauxite industry and in the colony generally. He was impressed by Dr Jagan’s speech and joined the PPP the same night. He immediately became very involved in politics.

When Guyana Times Sunday Magazine visited him at his Ogle East Coast Demerara home in early 2009, Benn could still remember what he endured during colonial rule for Guyana’s Independence.

He said it was not easy as on several occasions while carrying

ties. He was ordered to report to the police daily between 8am and 10am except Sundays.

Initially his wife and children visited him, then after several raids by the army and the police on his brother’s home where he lived during his restriction period, it was decided that his wife and family would move to New Amsterdam. Mrs Benn and her children relocated to New Amsterdam, where they lived for about two years. .

She recalled, in the 2009 interview with this publication, how the family struggled to maintain their support to him in the fight for independence.

“It was rough. After the split in the PPP, the struggle had to continue to press for independence, especially, [since] the British government wanted to give us piecemeal.”

Nonetheless they continued supporting Benn and the efforts Guyana for independence.

“At times when he could not make it to his meetings, I had to continue his work – going to meet with people, have continuous talks with them to raise their morale, selling the Party’s papers and so on to keep the PPP machin-

ery operating,” Mrs Benn recalled.

When the family returned to Georgetown in 1956, Benn was elected Chairman of the People’s Progressive Party and Member of the Executive Committee. The Party contested the 1957 elections with Brindley as the representative of the Essequibo Islands and the Interior, and won the elections in that constituency.

He was appointed Minister of Community Development and Education in 1957, and during this time he organised the National History and Culture Week under the theme, ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’.

Benn said he wanted to emphasise the need for development, patriotism and unity hence he coined the phrase.

After the change of Government in 1964, the theme was carried forward and at Independence it was made the National Motto of Guyana.

He said he always felt that “as long as people know what is best for us we should work towards achieving that best”; part of that is having one nation of one people with a common destiny.

Mrs Benn said she and her family are proud that her husband could make such a significant contribution to our country as then “he felt it was very right that in a land with such a diverse people there was a need to forge the nation as one and this is still applicable even today”.

Benn also served as Minister of Agriculture after the 1961 elections which the PPP also won, and formed the Guyana School of Agriculture during his tenure as he felt “it was necessary for people (farmers) to be given scientific information among other things to develop the agriculture sector”.

During the disturbances in the early 1960s, when the British managed to successfully split the PPP along racial lines, he was imprisoned by the British. He became the most prominent AfroGuyanese to remain with the PPP, making a statement against the divide-and-rule tactics of colonialism. He and several ministers and other important persons were detained at Sibley Hall, Mazaruni Prison for several months.

After his release in 1965, Benn moved away from the PPP and established the Working People’s Vanguard Party. In the 1970s he joined with Walter Rodney, Eusi Kwayana, Andaiye, Moses Baghwan and Rupert Roopnaraine, to form the Working People's Alliance.

After the 28 years of PNC rule when the PPP won the 1992 elections, Dr Jagan offered Benn to be on the PPP’s List of Candidates and he won a seat in Parliament.

He was later appointed Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada, a position he held with distinction from 1993 to 1998, and for which he was awarded the Cacique Crown of Honour.

After his return to Guyana, he served as Chairman of the Public Service Commission for three years. He was also a member of the Teaching Service, Police Service and Guyana Lotteries Commission.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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s we celebrate the 48th anniversary of Guyana’s independence, it is a fitting time to see how it began.

Certainly the seeds of seeking an end to colonialism must have been planted in the hard days of slavery and indentureship when life was unbelievably difficult and the reason for the crushing oppression and cruelty was easy to define.

Billions of words have been written about slavery, the middle passage,

day, 15 of them were burnt to death over a slow fire and 16 were broken on the rob rock.

The remaining 22 persons were hanged...”

After slavery was abolished, indentured labourers for the many sugar estates were brought to this country.

Their conditions were slightly better than the slaves. Dr. Jagan in his book quotes Elizabeth Caesar, a labourer of Pln. Vreed-en-Hoop: “... the Coolies were locked up in the sick house and

pickle on their backs.”

With these experiences and much more, the spirit of resistance against those who caused the sufferings was inlaid and would later be expressed in a desire ‘to be free of such exploitation.

Guyana’s history shows that the very beginning of the recognition of the need to be independent of Britain began with the formation of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 1950. The ‘concept of a struggle to free British

and Belgium colonies in all parts of the world to follow suit.

As early as 1945 Cheddi Jagan, in an article wrote: “It therefore behoves the working class people to get control of government through their Constitutional ballots in our forthcoming election, with a view towards complete independence.”

And after the PPP was founded, in its first Manifesto, the Party declared: “The People's Progressive Party recThe young couple that fought for a free Guyana - Janet and Cheddi Jagan

An article published in 'The Times' on Guyana's independence and Dr Cheddi Jagan

the unbearable cruelty of the slave masters and the many uprisings against slavery. These were dealt with in ways which are almost beyond belief. Cheddi Jagan in his book “The West on Trial” writes about the prisoners in the Berbice uprising: “...53 of the defendants were condemned to death. Next

next morning they were flogged with a cat-o’nine tails; the manager was in the house, and they flogged the people under his house; they were tied to the post of the gallery... I cannot tell how many licks; he gave them enough. I saw blood. When they were flogged at the manager’s house they rubbed salt

Guiana of colonialism probably had its origin in Cheddi Jagan’s studies, while a student in the USA, of the writings of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. At that time, India was on a course aimed at complete independence from British rule. The struggle inspired many in the British, Dutch, French

ognising that the final abolition of exploitation and oppression, of economic crises and unemployment and wars will only be achieved by the socialist reorganisation of society, pledges itself to the task of winning a free and independent Guianese society in which security, plenty, peace and freedom shall

be the heritage of all.”

Thus began the struggle in the then British Guiana for independence.

Somewhere in the psyche of the onetime slaves and indentured workers lay the elements of resistance to those who brought about the misery of their forefathers. It took time for most Guyanese to accept the idea that Guyana could be a free and independent nation.

Many scoffed at the advocacy, by the PPP, of independence from Britain. British Guiana is too small to be independent they said. There was talk of an amalgamation of the three Guianas - British, Dutch and French - into one country.

Conservatives and recipients of favoured positions from the British, the business and religious community (Christian), were against such an “outrageous” idea. There was, indeed, a lot of opposition to the concept of independence. The PPP pursued its objective through the years. Former allies

fell out and I can recall, would only support independence if Jagan were not at the head of government. The Cold War, too, had its negative effects which led to political interference and a nation in dire conflict.

Despite the long and difficult struggle for independence, which many countries also experienced, Guyana became a free and independent nation 40 years ago and proudly took its place in the United Nations and other organisations, like the Non-Aligned Movement, the OAS, etc.

All Guyanese can be proud that we have overcome oppression, exploitation and attempts at a dictatorship. Guyana is a democracy that upholds all the finest principles of a democratic state. We have our problems, serious problems, but they will be overcome. Unity is the password to our future. (An article written by the late and former President Janet Jagan and published in GINA’S 40th Independence Anniversary magazine)

The First Day of Freedom

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he first day of freedom, Thursday 26 May 1966, opened a packed programme for the new nation.

A religious service was held at St. George’s Cathedral.

A fly-past by Guyanese, American and British aircraft took place.

The Governor-General Sir Richard Luyt, Chancellor of the Judiciary Sir Kenneth Stoby, and ministers of the government took their oaths of office at Guyana House.

The National Assembly was declared opened. The Duke of Kent read the speech from the throne and handed over the

instruments of independence to Prime Minister Burnham.

In addition, there were various functions throughout the country, but particularly in Georgetown, the capital. Some of them were: An independence horse racing meeting at D’urban Park; an independence reception at the Prime Minister’s residence at which the celebrated Miriam Makeba sang; a state ball in the Queen’s College auditorium in the evening; and the Prime Minister launched 100 community projects through the country: bridges, community centres, hospitals, markets, playgrounds. Roads and schools were opened.

Sir Richard Luyt hands over the instruments of independence to the then Prime Minister Burnham

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Simply the Truth

Connect! Only Connect!

I Different times …the best of times And here it is, on our Independence Day, we got the news that some fellas from Hong Kong, with very deep pockets, are the investors behind the new Marriott. For years there’ve been all kinds of speculation by the inveterate naysayers in the Opposition camp that somehow, there was some “cockishness” going on.

Of course, we can now confirm that even if pure, distilled water is poured into a dirty bottle – filthy water’s gonna come out. Exactly like the utterances from the MuckrakerKN and Ramjattan, for instance.

And it makes sense as to who the investors are. In any business of this size, it makes sense to know what it’s all about. Heck, even in a sugar cake stand, you’d better know about the coconuts that’re going into the sugar cake. If the nuts are even a bit overripe, customers gonna be spitting out the rancid mess!

Everyone knows at this time we’re not exactly the Bali of tourist destinations. But we do know also to get our numbers up, we need top name, branded hotels that’ll signal to far-off tourists they’re in good hands.

That’s what the Marriott Brand delivers.

But it’s a chicken and egg question, no? Which businessman’s going to plunk down his money if the return isn’t there – immediately? It’ll take some time for even our more well-to-do overseas Guyanese to fill the hotel. But right in front of us was the answer: just look at how the Princess was able to become self-sustaining. Casinos.

This was the route Suriname took – big time.

But casinos are a specialised business and need people who are already in the ring – to steer some of their patrons down our way. Like the Turkish owners of Princess.

So former President Jagdeo, who understood the need for us to have a flagship hotel, had the testicular fortitude for his Government to put up the seed money to get the Marriott going. Even against the sustained attacks of the know-nothing brigade, he stood his ground. And now we know that the Hong Kong investors are the principals in REXLOT – with more than US$1 billion in casino related assets. These fellas know what they’re doing.

There’ll be loud lamentations by the Opposition and their camp followers that the Government should own the hotel – because of its initial investment. This is the old PNC state capitalism model that brought us to ruin in the 1970s. Guyanese should all thank Jagdeo for his vision and Ramotar for sticking with the plan. …the worst of times And while the Marriott was securing billionaire investors, the oldest hotel in Guyana – the Tower, closed its doors. Literally. Its staff and even its guests had to fend their way out… since its owners didn’t deign to inform them of their plans.

Maybe there is a lesson for all Guyanese – not just the naysayers – in the denouement to the story of this hotel, founded exactly 100 years before independence.

We believe the biggest lesson is the one we made above: in the modern world, you’d better know the business you’re getting into. Seems to your Eyewitness that the local fellas who plunked their money into the downtown hotel, were into other businesses. They were looking at the Tower in the traditional manner – and took the embellishment to spice up the entertainment lounge as “innovative”.

But any cash flow analysis would’ve shown, these patrons were never going to be enough to service the loans on the hotel.

It’s a good thing the Marriott’s opening in a few months.

n my many talks and addresses over the last five years or so in Guyana, there has been one theme that kept coming up in different ways. That theme is exploring ways to establish effective and lasting linkages between various socio-educational bodies, including the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC), law enforcement agencies, the private sector, the education sector, the agriculture sector, religious and charitable bodies, and so on.

From the time I was asked to assume the position of Director of UGBC, my over-riding philosophy was to broaden the scope of positive influence and cooperation between this university campus and the Berbice community and all of Guyana that pays for it to exist.

This meant working closely with just about every segment of the society. Unlike the larger campus and many other universities I could name, the few staff at UGBC that actually cared attempted consciously to have an immediate and lasting impact on the real lives of real people. The young lecturers and technicians rose to the challenge; the older ones tended to squat.

This philosophy of being responsible and answerable to taxpayers meant that we had to seek concrete ways to

S

Professor Daizal Samad

make a positive impact on all levels of education: from kindergarten to primary to secondary. We reached out our hands in assistance to Cyril Potter College of Education and the Felix Austin Police College.

We worked with the private sector as well as with individual farmers, banks, health bodies, religious bodies and state enterprises. We worked with officers of the law, several of whom have distinguished themselves by protecting and serving with honour.

One of our failures in Guyana is that we tend to think in compartmentalised ways. Matters of primary education are kept apart from secondary education; teacher education is kept apart from university-level education; and agricultural experiments are kept within the walls of campuses and apart from those who may gain most from these experiments.

Health care and health-care delivery is kept apart; banking is a

atiricus was a sentimental fella. He often wished he weren’t so. But he was a sucker for stories of love and redemption and forgiveness and all that jazz. So here he was, wiping a tear or two discreetly from his cheeks as he read the newspaper. It was about Pressie spending millions and millions to fix up a park named after that long, gone President BurntHam. Satiricus had grown up smack in the middle of the feud between Pressie’s party the PeepSee and BurntHam’s party PenSee. They both had the same surname because they both came out of the same womb.

“And I know the bitterest fights are between family,” sniffed Satiricus. He recalled that his brother Hyder hadn’t spoken to him since that time 10 years ago when Satiricus had eaten the last piece of chicken curry from their mother’s pot. “Bitter man,” sighed Satiricus.

thing by itself; the private sector has its thing; and so on. The thinking is compartmentalised and territorialised.

And of course, the Police seem to be apart from all of us.

And yet, Community Police and formal officers of the law are all members of our society. They belong to us as much as we belong to them. They are sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters.

When cut, they bleed – like us.

The time has come for us to think in more imaginative ways; the time has come for us to open our own areas to others and to find ways to contribute to areas other than our own, to find spaces where we can all work for the betterment of all.

For, in the final analysis, we are all involved in one primary task: and that task is the creation or re-creation of a civic society where each citizen is law abiding and caring of his neighbour,

where each schoolchild is as our own children, where each officer of the law speaks with the voice of all law-abiding citizens.

The Community Police is an important part of this equation between society and those who serve and protect.

Teachers and nurses are also mothers and fathers and daughters and sons.

We hear much about how much they must do and how much more they must do to serve. We seldom hear about how we too may serve them.

And no matter how willing and how well we are willing to serve and no matter how much we love what we do, we get tired from lack of appreciation and some kind of recognition. When we get tired, we slow down or stop. The whole country loses.

It is the same with all sectors. We also make the mistake that all rewards are monetary rewards. Monetary reward is good, and it should be given for excellence.

Yet, my own experience has been that a word of thanks and a small gesture of appreciation refreshes the motivation to do more and do better for greater numbers of people.

First though, we need to see that all things are connected in some way.

Second, we need to find objective ways to measure excellence. Can we begin by defining what we mean by excellence?

Duh fuh do So imagine after 50 years of fighting, clawing and scratching – including some hair pulling – it looked like peace was on the air!!!

And Satiricus wanted peace. He’d often signalled that he was willing to give his brother a piece of chicken curry, but the fella never responded positively.

“Bitter man,” sighed Satiricus again. “But back to the matter at hand,” he thought sternly. For Pressie to spend all that dough on BurntHam Park, this had to be an olive branch.

So Satiricus wondered how BurntHam’s successors would react.

Well, he didn’t have to think too long. Even as Pressie was cutting the ribbon (not at the sweetie factory) but at BurntHam Park in Berbice, he was sure that GrainJa and GreenBridge were racking their brains to reciprocate. He imagined the scene.

“Do fuh do, nah obeah,” said GrainJa sagely to GreenBridge, who

nodded even more sagely. The two of them did tend to get competitive with everything.

“Let we buy a bouquet fuh Pressie,” said GreenBridge. “Pressie gun like duh!”

“Yuh just too cheap, GreenBridge,” retorted GrainJa. “This is not the bruk-up Guyana you left in 1992, you know. We gat money, you know – and we controlling de money!”

“OK! Mr Last-of-the-big-timespenders!! Tell me wha we should do so we don’t leff shame. The Founder Leader had said, “Tek first gift, but give back last gift!”

“What a leader!!!” exclaimed GrainJa. “Such wit! Such wisdom! I think we should vote to give them the money to fix up Cheddi Jagan Airport. That is “do fuh do”’ right?”

GreenBridge looked up at GrainJa who towered over him. “Is what de arse, wrang wid yuh? Like goat bite yuh or wha. We is PenSee Party. We does tek, we don’t gee.”

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This week's Crossword

J k es

Frog date

A frog telephones the Psychic Hotline and his Personal Psychic Advisor tells him: "You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you."

The frog is thrilled, "This is great! Will I meet her at a party?" "No," says his Advisor, "in her biology class."

The story of evolution

A little girl asked her mother, "How did the human race appear?"

The mother answered, "God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so was all mankind made..."

Two days later the girl asked her father the same question... The father answered, "Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved."

The confused girl returned to her mother and said, "Mom, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?"

The mother answered, "Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his."

Fix it yourself

When a guy's printer type began to grow faint, he called a local repair shop where a friendly man informed him that the printer probably needed only to be cleaned.

Because the store charged $50 for such cleanings, he told him he might be better off reading the printer's manual and trying the job himself.

Pleasantly surprised by his candour, he asked, "Does your boss know that you discourage business?"

"Actually, it's my boss's idea," the employee replied sheepishly, "We usually make more money on repairs if we let people try to fix things themselves first."

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 46

Farmer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company (responsible for the accident) to court. In court, the trucking company's fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. "Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine?" questioned the lawyer.

Farmer Joe responded, "Well I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favourite mule Bessie into the..."

"I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, “’I'm fine!'"

Farmer Joe said, "Well I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road..."

The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question."

By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favourite mule Bessie."

Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favourite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans.

Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, "Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?"

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Travel & Tourism

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A village of unspoiled beauty

Ant hill on Moco Moco road

T

Looking down the Moco Moco Falls (Photo by Michael Hackett)

A thatch-roof house in Moco Moco (Photo by James Broscombe)

he trip from Lethem to Moco Moco is under 30 minutes, and along the way visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the Kanuku Mountains.

When in Moco Moco, keep your eyes peeled and you might just spot the Moco Moco plant from which the community gets its name, or if you are really lucky, a giant anteater stalking the mounds for her favourite snack.

The drive through the village provides a glimpse into village life. A community on the edge of the township, Moco Moco is a blend of traditional and modern life; with electrical lines running from the nearby town of Lethem, thatch roofs sit side by side with zinc, and tractors work alongside bullock

carts.

As you cross the village, the scene transforms from savannah into rainforest as the trail wanders through the communities' favourite farmlands to the falls at the base of the mountains.

Leaving your vehicle parked at the now abandoned hydro-power station, local guides are on hand to escort you along the ‘999 Steps’ that emerge at a scenic plateau. From here you can observe the vast savannahs and Kanuku mountains from above or look across for a spot of majestic ‘Black Rock’. This is a spot to relax, sit and take in the view while enjoying some snacks.

Later you can return to the base of the falls to enjoy your lunch, and swim in one of the pools of brisk fresh water.

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n celebration of Guyana’s 48th independence anniversary, Castellani House is presently hosting an art exhibition by iconic artist Bernadette Indira Persaud, A.A. Persaud’s work last graced Castellani’s galleries almost a decade ago in 2005 in a solo exhibition – sponsored by the High Commission of India- titled ‘India: A Glimpse’. By then, she had already accomplished significant achievements and gained recognition in the region and in the diaspora. Yet, her most recent painting in the National Collection is ‘Going

Artist Bernadette Persaud

Masjid’, which is dated 1994 – two decades ago. It is only now, with this exhibition, that this lapse can be corrected.

Winning the National Award for painting in 1985 and being the

of Persaud’s canvases is detailed with brush strokes that could engage years of study.

Persaud began painting seriously in the early 1980s after being forced out of her teaching career. For the artist, painting became an instrument which, not merely seduced, but pricked and prodded the individual/collective conscience.

“The scope of my work later broadened into an investigation of not only political oppression, but cultural identity and the ephemerality of life. In retrospect

'The lotus of my great grandmother -Myth and memory' (1992)

first woman to do so, Bernadette Persaud refused to entertain a dull moment in her artistic career, which saw her mounting six solo exhibitions and participating in more than 20 group exhibitions. Through the decades, she won many awards and recently has been bestowed with the Caribbean Hall of Fame Award in Jamaica for excellence in the visual arts.

Although Persaud’s paintings have evolved over the years, their daring allegorical content continues to forge and provoke dialogue.

Her ‘Gentleman in the Garden’ series of paintings in the 1980s have perpetuated the notion of militancy, subtly commenting on the pervasive militarism under the regime of the day.

This local political commentary was extended in the painting, ‘Gentleman Under the Sky’ when militarism on the world’s stage captured her attention. Recently, her allegorical content has evolved into a more complex configuration of spiritual, social and political undertones in her ‘Forest’ series, which may seem very unorthodox to many.

Her tenaciously stippling brush strokes have grown shorter in her recent series of paintings as compared to the longer brush strokes in the ‘Bird Island’, ‘Gentleman in the Garden’ and ‘Lotus’ series. Every inch

it was a quest – integral to post-colonial societies – tied up with that complex of needs for creativity, originality and an authentic self,” expressed Persaud at the opening of the exhibition.

She went on to say that her submissions to this new project represents ‘new and old’ works, which subsume philosophical, political, aesthetic and ecological concerns, from the perspective of an artist located in a particular historical, geographical and cultural space.

“These works challenge, critique and subvert existing notions about our art and more specifically perceptions about the nature of our socio-political reality – a reality more poignantly voiced by Martin Carter: ‘New and old is the face of the world’s great grief, and current notions about ‘climate change’ – as seen through the lens of Hindu mythopoeics and metaphysics,” Persaud disclosed.

Persaud’s applauded paintings are now on show at Castellani House, Vlissengen Road.

The exhibition ‘As New and As Old’, an exhibition of selected works (1984-2014), is presently opened to the public. Admission is free.

Gallery hours are 10a.m. to 5p.m. Monday to Friday and 2 to 6p.m. on Saturday; the gallery is closed Sundays and holidays. (Text by Curator Ohene Koama)

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feature

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The first house built in Prashad Nagar

Part 2

I

n 1970-1971, when John Ford was Mayor of Georgetown, he initiated a campaign to have the name Prashad Nagar removed and to be renamed by some obscure sounding appellation. I protested and reminded those to whom it concerned that Prashad Nagar was a privately developed housing estate and no one had the right, authority or else to dictate a name for the project.

The Hon Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham requested that Ford quietly back away from any intention to change the name. It may not be inappropriate for me to mention that Ford later had his name inscribed when the East Street Canal was filled in and then renamed John Ford Car Park.

Incidentally, I must point out, the owners of the scheme lost control of the administration of the area when by the Municipal and District Council Act, 1970, the area became vested in the Georgetown City Council.

As a matter of fact, the boundaries of the city of Georgetown, by that piece of legislation, were extended on the south to cater for all properties up to and including Plantation Rome on the East Bank of Demerara, and on the east up to and including Cummings Lodge on the East Coast of Demerara.

Wiser counsel must have prevailed and there was no attempt to extend the boundary northwards or westwards! Six areas of land were reserved and dedicated for social, cultural and religious purposes. Regrettably, all the lands were not utilised for the purposes for which they were intended.

Sachibazaar Street was identified as the commercial centre of the scheme, but it did not attract entrepreneurs at that early stage in its development. The

Georgetown “Green Belt” was violated without objection from the authorities and businesses of all shades and description began to mushroom in areas east of Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.

An area named Gandhi Park, Plot “A”, was dedicated as a children’s playground. It is south of Premniranjan Place and was fenced.

It is opposite the Vedic Mandir which is on the North side of the street.

The public has little or no access to it as it was vandalized and used for pasturing donkeys, horses, and it now appears to be some sort of a parking lot.

Plot “B”, an area west of Plot “A”, was identified as a car park, but has since been converted for residential purposes.

Plot “C” is a public park and situated in Shribasant Street and bounded on the east and west by Amla Avenue East and Amla Avenue West and on the south by Cede Street.

Plot “D” is at the junction of Amla Avenue East and on the south by Purshottam Street.

It was dedicated as a site for a Church and School, and vested in the Diocese of Guyana. It had remained unoccupied for many years and eventually; quite recently, it was used as a residential complex. Plot “E” is called Nehru Park. It runs north to south from Bissessar Avenue to Sachibazaar Street. This plot is beautifully kept by residents and a kindhearted Sheriff Street business enterprise and it is serving the purpose for which it was dedicated.

Plot “F” is not without considerable interest.

It is a plot dedicated for Local Administration and Community Centre. The land immediately south of this plot was reserved for a car park. The land is in Sachibazaar Street, on the south side. This plot was given over to the Mahatma Gandhi Youth

Organisation (GYO) in 1961 and in that year the cornerstone for a huge structure was laid by the then Governor Sir Richard Luyt. (He had loved his dal puri, which he called “flattened bake”.) Scores of steel rods and tons of stone and sand were stored on the grounds for construction to begin. But some residents, three in number and who were very closely related to officials of the Gandhi Youth Organisation protested.

The Attorney General’s Office of the day intervened and filed an action in the High Court.

A restraining order was granted by the Judge and all operations ceased.

The objection taken by the authorities was that the land should not be given to any particular organization and should be reserved for use by members of the public.

The matter never went to trial and remained in limbo.

Shortly after, Viola Burnham, wife of the Prime Minister, ap-

proached me with a request for the land to be given over to her organisation, the Women’s Revolutionary Socialist

Movement. They needed a place to house a workplace/factory to produce wares. I respectfully declined on the ground that the matter was pending before the court, but in any event it was first given to the GYO. They eventually found a place on the East Bank of Demerara, at Coverden, where a factory was set up and they produced Vanceram wares, and so on.

Prashad Nagar is a relatively quiet and peaceful community.

There are religious organisations established there, namely, the Sanskritik Kendra of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha in Ganges Street, the Arya

Samaj movement with its Central Vaidik Mandir in Premniranjan Place, and the muslim community catered for by the East Georgetown Sunatul Jamaat in Sachibazaar Street. There are also the Georgetown American School at Delhi and Chandranagar Streets, and the New Guyana School in Delhi Street.

The foregoing is a short history of Prashad Nagar, which I have attempted to do as a result of requests from a number of citizens who wish to be aware of all aspects of life in Guyana, more especially during the “good old days”. (Article first published in the Horizons)

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The pullice need to get tight

I

t gotta a Mayor in Canada who name Rob Ford. That is a man who can’t get he hands off de bottle no time. And de bottle does move fast from he hand to he mouth. So after all, it got Canadians who does live hand to mouth too.

Is some a dem same kinda bottle whah Rum Jhaat does hold on to at 7-Owe-4 from seven till four. Just that Rum Jhaat hand does move faster than Ford from he hand to he mouth.

De other ting whah Ford can’t get he hand off is crack. Even de media in Canada seh Rob Ford tekkin crack till he heself crack. De Guyana Mayor-fuh-Life Green Ham crack wid out tekkin any crack. Dem should send he fuh rehab wid Ford fuh de crack problem.

And talkin bout crack, that is a big pullice problem.

De pullice in Guyana ain’t crackin nutten. De way tings goin, some body might have to crack de pullice, because dem ain’t crackin no case whah dem supposed to crack.

De pullice only lookin to interfere wid people crack.

Harding sue dem fuh usin a baton. De lil boy who jump up pun a newspaper roof top seh de pullice pull he in a crack by de big market. Fuh a lil boy like that jump up so high and open he mouth so big, any body got to be crack not to believe he crack story.

Somehow de pullice tekkin longer to crack dem own pullice. Is only now Ken Hard come out and admit that de pullice does crack one another different from how dem does crack other people. Every body wanna know how de pullice does crack one another. And nuff people wanna see!

But Feel Licks seh that it ain’t got nutten to see, because de pullice too slack and it ain’t got nutten to crack! And Feel Licks would know because he heself was slack. Some ting musbe done to mek de pullice more tight.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! But not de kinda tight how dem does be in dem Chinese shop!

G

Congratulations GuySuCo

uySuCo recently surpassed their first crop target of 74,000 tons of sugar, ahead of the time scheduled for the end of the first grinding season of 2014. By May 24, the time for the end of the crop, GuySuCo should have attained a production of more than 80,000 tons, more than 10 per cent higher than its target.

GuySuCo should be congratulated for achieving its target. It has been mercilessly criticised for the failure to reach its own targets in the last few years. Many of those who made it their business to be critical of GuySuCo are now damning GuySuCo, ignoring that the company reached its target, and being critical that the target was too low.

There were loud noises from the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), both of which could not find the decency to praise the workers and managers of GuySuCo for reaching a target that, not so long ago, these same entities believed was an unreachable one.

The target for the first crop of 2014 was announced a long time ago.

The first indication of the target was mooted in October 2013 and confirmed in November 2013. Thus, it has been at least six months since the target was established. At that time, no one suggested that the target of 74,000 tons sugar was too low.

At the beginning of the crop, GuySuCo experienced difficulties with the weather and the season started shakily, with most of the factories starting their operations later than expected. Since not all of the estates were in grinding mode at the start, the initial production figures were

lower than projected.

Prominent headline stories were carried in the local media about the dismal performance of the sugar corporation and two newspapers took the position that GuySuCo was on pace for another failing season. Not to be outdone, the GTUC and politicians also predicted another failing season for GuySuCo. Now faced with the reality that the Sugar Corporation surpassed its target for the first crop in 2014, these same critics have sought to ignore the success and instead criticise GuySuCo for establishing a target that was too low. In the first crop of 2013, GuySuCo struggled to reach 48,000 tons. During that crop, it was forced to start late and curtailed the first crop of 2013 earlier than the scheduled end date. In fact, during the first crop of 2013, GuySuCo only had about 50 per cent of its projected production days.

During the first crop of 2014, the Sugar Corporation had full or partial use of about 85 per cent of its projected production days, because the weather has been suitable for most of the season, since the start of the crop. Given these conditions, GuySuCo lifted its performance level. What has made the difference for this crop compared to the first crop of 2013?

It is the same workers and managers, the same unions, the same factories, the same cane fields, yet GuySuCo’s performance in the first crop of 2014 is almost double the one in 2013. The only difference is that the company had generally fair weather to work with.

Given the relatively good weather, GuySuCo reminded us of its capacity to

produce sugar that still remains a fixture on the GDP profile of Guyana. Glimpses of their ability were on show during good weather conditions in the second crop of 2013 and in the second crop of 2012.

Albion has continued to excel and produced more than 2000 tons of sugar in excess of its first crop target. Rose Hall and Blairmont Estates also surpassed their targets. The West Demerara Estates fell just short of their targets.

The Skeldon Factory, with more than a week to go in this first crop, is about to surpass its target for the first time since its commissioning.

The critics have been brutal in their attacks on the Skeldon Factory. But the factory has produced energy for Guyana Power and Light (GPL) since its commissioning in 2008. Not only is the co-gen plant generating energy that feeds into GPL’s grid that supplies electricity from Moleson Creek to Mahaica, but 25 per cent of the energy that Skeldon provides for GPL’s National Grid comes from bagasse-based energy – “green” energy.

There remains vast room for improvement. But we should be unhesitant in giving praise. We should avoid changing the goalpost when the results are not what we want. The critics wanted GuySuCo to fail. GuySuCo did not grant them their wishes but they found another angle of attack.

Times Notebook reserves our right to be critical when the relevant and appropriate circumstances dictate. On this occasion, GuySuCo deserves our congratulations.

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

46

history

WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

S

oon after the introduction of postage stamps in 1840, countries began using them to portray details about the country in particular, and the move to independence was one event that was particularly highlighted on many a country’s postage stamps.

Guyana issued a new set of stamps to commemorate its Independence on May 26, 1966; new stamps were also required because the country’s name was being changed.

Quite appropriately, the Independence stamps depicted the country’s map and new flag, and it’s new Coatof-Arms in a set of four stamps – 5c, 15c, 25c & $1.00 (the catalogue numbers for stamp collectors using the British system being SG408, SG409, SG410 and SG411, respectively).

In the set, the 5c and 15c depict the map of Guyana (with surrounding countries named) and the Golden Arrowhead, whilst the 25c and $1.00 portrays

Guyana 1966 5c

Guyana 1966 25c

Some of the Guyana's Independence Overprints

the new Coat-of-Arms of the country, each stamp having the words “Independence 1966” on a flying banner.

All multicoloured photographic printing,

the 15c and $1.00 issues have a brown background, whilst the 5c has a dark blue background and the 25c a light blue background.

These stamps were

designed by Victor Whiteley, once described (in 1982 by James Mackay) as the third most prolific stamp designer in the world having then designed 1,033

Street scene with New Amsterdam omnibus (British Guiana)

Victoria Hotel, 7 and 18 High Street, Georgetown (British Guiana)

Guyana 1966 15c

Guyana 1966 $1

stamps, and printed by the British stamp printers, Harrison & Sons of London.

An interesting inclusion in the design of these stamps is the inscription “South America” in small letters below the word “Guyana.” This would have been necessary then, to ensure the mail reaches these shores.

Technically, however, these new stamps are not Guyana’s first Independence stamps.

Issued on the same date, May 26, 1966, but listed by Stanley Gibbons 2009 Catalogue Commonwealth & British Empire Stamps 1840-1970 before the new Independence stamps, are thirty-two “new” stamps comprising the fifteen stamps of the 1954-1963 issue with a number of varieties, with catalogue numbers SG378 – SG407b.

These British Guiana stamps of 1954-1963

were reprinted with the inscription “Guyana Independence 1966” overprinted in bold, black capital letters on the face of the stamps, the stamps having unchanged values. This issuing of current stamps with “Independence” overprints seems to have been a regular approach of newly independent countries.

One can put together a neat, informative collection of our Independence stamps issued on May 26, 1966; a collection of thirty-six stamps – this could be a project for our young people.

En passant, I should mention that only one other issue of stamps was made in 1966; two stamps, 5c and 25c featuring the Bank of Guyana building for the opening of the Bank of Guyana, and issued on October 11, 1966. (Text

by Lennox J Hernandez)

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

feature

47

WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

Ian McDonald reading one of his poems

By Petamber Persaud

‘E

xpressions’ by GEMS Theatre Productions is the latest performance platform for poetry, with a promise of better things to come, especially with the commitment by the producer to remunerate the artistes, another nail in the coffin of the lamentation ‘starving artist’. For too long that cry has flooded this land, eroding creativity, thwarting the development and exposition of the creative artist.

It is time to change that sad refrain to a trend of smiling all the way to the bank. This newest literary venture is a promising start cognizant that “waan waan dutty buil dam”.

‘Expressions’, an ambitious venture, was launched at the Theatre Guild, Parade Street, Kingston, on Friday May 16, 2014, with wide ranging display of poetry by some outstanding artistes in the field of literary entertainment.

The producer, Gem MadhooNacimento, declared she was inspired to launch such an event after witnessing the resoundingly successful, ‘See More Poetry’, at the playhouse to mark the birth centenary of A. J. Seymour.

That activity was staged by the National Library on Sunday January 12, 2014. A note from the producer on the printed programme reads hopefully ‘Expressions’ will become a regular feature on the Theatre calendar.

There are many reasons why ‘Expressions’ ought to become a regular feature on the calendar of events of this country. Foremost is the fact that many similar acts, serving their time and purpose, have gone dormant. There is a need to fill those gaps, gap left by the popular ‘evening of poetry’ staged by the former British High Commissioner to Guyana, Edward Glover, when he was stationed in Guyana; gap left by ‘The Journey’ an evening of literature, staged by National Art Gallery, Castellani House.

There are many good reasons why ‘Expressions’ ought to become a regular feature on the calendar of events of this country. Foremost is the fact that the Upscale Open Mic Poetry is still going strong a decade and counting. And the annual staging of World Poetry Day by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has taken hold of the Guyanese literary psyche. All three activities, indirectly or directly, supporting of each other could push the frontiers of poetry in Guyana.

It is not without significance that I reproduce the programme showing

Ron Robinson performing at the event

Vanda Radzik presenting

Yaphet Jackman performing

scope and range of the production: ‘Mooma Mooma’ by Victor Questel (Trinidad), production concept - Ken Corsbie.

Performed by Mark Luke-Edwards, Randolph Critchlow & Cast. Drums - al Creighton.

‘No Sense of identity’ written and performed by Yaphet Jackman.

‘The Sun Parrots are late again this year’ written and read by Ian McDonald.

Excerpt from ‘Pantomime’ by Derek Walcott, performed by Ron Robinson & Mark Luke –Edwards.

‘When Trouble tek man’ by Louise Bennett, performed by Nuriyyih Gerrard.

‘Dhaal puri and alloo choka’ by Rooplal Monar, performed by Leza Singh’ ‘Fear no more the heat o’ the sun’

by William Shakespeare and ‘The lass with the delicate ear’ by Michael Arne, 1762. Performed by Kimberley Samuels accompanied by James Samuels on the keyboard.

‘Woman I am’ written by Mariatha Causway (Jennifer Thomas), performed by Mariatha Causway, Sheron Cadogan-Taylor, Kimberley Fernandes, Keisha Sam. ‘Ain’t I a Woman’ written by Sojourner Truth, performed by Kezra Boyal.

‘Men and Women’ by David Dabydeen, modified and performed by Petamber Persaud.

‘Motherland’ written by Mark Luke -Edwards and Yerrodin Bowen, performed by-Mark Luke –Edwards.

‘Revolution and Waves’ by Ivan Forrester, performed by Robert Forrester.

Excerpt from Julius Ceasar by William Shakespeare, performed by Russell Lancaster, Dereck Gomes, Ayanna Waddell, Kimberley Samuels, Nuriyyih Gerrard, Mark LukeEdwards, Keon Heywood, Robert Forrester & Ron Robinson.

‘Sea shell, until…’ by Mahadai Das, read by Vanda Radzik.

‘This is the dark time, my love’ by Martin Carter, production concept by Ken Corsbie, performed by Mark LukeEdwards, Nuriyyih Gerrard & chorus.

Drums - al Creighton.

‘Ol’ higue’ by Wordsworth McAndrew, Production concept by al Creighton, performed by National School of Theatre Arts and Drama - al Creighton (drums).

Ayanna Waddell, Nicola Moonsammy, Tashandra Inniss, Tonaisea Robertson, Esther Hamer,

Linden Isles, Javel Mayers and Keon Heywood.

‘I am no Princess’ written and performed by Salimah Husain.

‘Pen to paper’ written and performed by Randolph Critchlow.

‘Runaway from my shadow’ written and performed by Mark Luke Edwards.

‘Dem- a watch mih 2’ written and performed by Petamber Persaud.

‘Our World Written’ performed by Yaphet Jackman.

‘Name’ poem by AJ Seymour performed by Lloyd Marshall.

‘Wuk hand’ by Paul Keens Douglas performed by Ron Robinson.

‘If only I were…’ written by Randolph Critchlow and performed

by Randolph Critchlow and Nuriyyih Gerrard of Camp Refuge.

Excerpt from ‘The Temptest’ by William Shakespeare, performed by Derek Gomes.

‘Thank you’ by Randolph Critchlow, Mark Luke Edwards and Nuriyyih Gerrard’ Hats off to all stakeholders.

‘Expressions’ will find a way to stay…..

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

48

Bollywood

WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A

ctress Swastika Mukherjee, who is all set to make her Bollywood debut with Sushant Singh Rajput in Dibakar Banerjee's ‘Detective Byomkesh Bakshi’, was hospitalised recently.

A Mid-Day report stated that the Bengali actress was admitted to Apollo Hospital on Saturday with a wrist and forearm injury. Quoting Dr Kaushik Nandy, who operated on the actress, the report added that there were pieces of glass in her wrist and forearm. They have removed it and the actress is stable now.

Though he has not said whether the injury was due to an accident or self inflicted, gossipmongers are saying the actress allegedly tried to commit sui-

A

nupam Kher is celebrating 30 years in showbiz with a second book, ‘Lessons Life Has Taught

S cide after she had a fight with her boyfriend, who is a filmmaker. Her sister has however dismissed the suicide reports. (TOI)

Me Unknowingly’. He hopes to wrap it up in the next six months.

"It will have between 15-20 chapters to encapsulate all the lessons I have learnt from my parents, the movies I've made, the people I've journeyed with, my plays, soon-to-air TV show ‘Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai’ and even my experiences as a life coach. It's a book for youngsters so while the content will be meaningful and serious, the writing will be light. Things that I had once laughed off as trivial, turned out to be life-changing experiences," explained the actor-turned-author, revealing too that his debut novel, ‘The Best Thing About You Is You!’, has already run into 14 editions and has been translated into 10 languages.

P

riyanka Chopra is on a cruise with her mother, Madhu Chopra.

Madhu will be spending time with the actress on the cruise for two months. The two plan to spend some quality time as the actress has had a hectic schedule promoting her single and shooting and dubbing for ‘Mary Kom’. Before leaving for her cruise, the actress managed to complete all of her assignments and in just 20 days had finished all of her commitments.

Priyanka said, "due to my hectic schedule I have not been able to spend time with my mom so hopefully this will give us enough time to catch up."

(TOI)

uperstar Hrithik Roshan overcame stammering and he is currently in the midst of a divorce with his estranged wife Suzanne Khan.

Challenges may be many, but the actor says facing them and moving on is made easy when he looks at the fighting spirit of his elder sister Sunaina, a cancer survivor.

"I am so proud and blessed to have a sister like my 'didi'. I've seen her battle through challenges, and gain victory over things that could devastate any of us. My sister is the bravest person on earth," Hrithik said to an eclectic gathering on Monday night.

The occasion was spe-

cial for the Roshan family---it was the launch of ‘To Dad, With Love’, Sunaina's book on their father and actor-filmmaker Rakesh Roshan.

Hrithik and Sunaina's mother, Pinkie, was also present for the event.

A

bhishek Bachchan seems to have fallen in love with his wife all over again. The actor, who joined the former beauty queen in the French Riviera, quipped "I make her look good".

At the amfAR gala last Thursday night, the star couple made a stunning appearance, with Abhishek dressed in all black and Aishwarya making a style statement in an elegant shimmering gown. Picture perfect, Bollywood's star couple made for a cosy and romantic eye-in-eye candid photograph at the gala.

Junior Bachchan shared the 'moment' with his Twitterati, and posted: "I make her look good!!

Then again...anybody compared to me will look good." (TOI)

‘Doing a sex comedy doesn't make you a sex maniac’- Akshay Kumar

B

ollywood’s action star Akshay Kumar, who’s equally good at comedy, has a pragmatic approach towards the movie genres and says that he is open to doing sex com-

edies because for him it would be just “a character”.

“Nobody is forcing you to watch such films. ‘Grand Masti’ (2013) did well at the box office, but if you don’t like it, then don’t watch it. If I get a good script, I will also do it. At the end of the day, it’s just a film. It’s just a character that you are following. You do not become a sex maniac or anything as such.

Take a film as a film, let it be reel not real,” said the 46-year-old.

“If it’s a sex comedy, don’t feel shy about what the audience will think and all! If you are making such a film, trust yourself and go with your conviction rather than thinking that you will lose a few fans with this film,” he added. (Hindustan Times)

Unlike most siblings, Hrithik took to the stage and introduced his "real superhero" Sunaina to the audience, and the spectators made the evening truly special by applauding her. (TOI)

R

ani Mukerji wrapped up a major portion of the shoot of director Pradeep Sarkar’s ‘Mardaani’ before she left for Italy where she got married to producer Aditya Chopra on April 21.

However, the remaining portion of the shoot was put on hold due to this break. But now, a source close to the production house has revealed that the actor is all set to resume work later this week.

"Rani was away for almost two weeks. She came back to India a fortnight ago and will resume shooting for the film this week," informed the source.

Only the last portion of the film needs to be shot. "The schedule was planned well in advance since no one knew about the wedding. Usually actors tend to take a longer break after tying the knot, but Rani wants to wrap up this commitment sooner," added the source.

The ‘Talaash’ (2012) actor will team up with Sarkar, seven years after they worked together on ‘Laaga Chunari Mein Daag: Journey Of A Woman in 2007.’

(Hindustan Times)

Hollywood

49

WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

P

H

ollywood funnyman Jim Carrey received an honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts Honoris Causa from Maharishi University of Management last Saturday.

The 52-year-old comic turned serious and emotional while making his commencement speech to graduates of the Iowa's Maharishi University of Management. He talked about his personal life lessons, reported U.S. magazine.

"So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant," Carrey said to the students.

But when Carrey was just 12, his father lost that "safe job" and his family was forced "to do whatever we could to survive" in the aftermath.

"I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which, was

looking into his most incredible, twinkling eyes. I cannot think of a bigger treat than that.” (TOI)

B

tery of her demise.

The 87-year-old, who had paid for a private toxicology report that detected the metals, found 10 heavy metals that are contained in many over-the-counter rat poisons in samples of her hair and is now convinced that his daughter was poisoned, the Daily Express reported.

The ‘8 Mile’ star's British husband of two years, screenwriter, director and producer Simon Monjack, 40, died in the same house five months later from exactly the same causes.

California law allows relatives to order an exhumation at their own expense and Bertolotti will make the agonising decision to open Murphy's grave if his latest plea fails. (TOI)

that you can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love," Carey said. (TOI)

O

scar-winner Jennifer Lawrence was reportedly longing to meet pop star Justin Bieber at the Cannes Film Festival.

The 23-year-old actress was apparently starstruck after meeting him at Vanity Fair's 100-guest dinner during the festival last week, reported U.S. magazine. “(Jennifer) was dying to meet him. She told him she's a big fan---and that she finds him cute," a source said. (TOI)

Is Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes' relationship on the rocks?

E

va Mendes' conspicuous absence from the Cannes Film Festival where her boyfriend Ryan Gosling promoted directorial debut, ‘Lost River’, has set the rumour mills churning on the status of the couple's relationship.

The 33-year-old Gosling was seen on the red carpet instead with actress Christina Hendricks, who also appears in the movie, which is set in an urban wasteland.

Mendes, 40, and Gosling haven't been clicked together since last November, People magazine reported.

In February this year Mendes had playfully shot down the breakup rumors, telling Ellen DeGeneres that her

atrick Swayze's widow got remarried Sunday.

Lisa Niemi, who was married to the ‘Dirty Dancing’ actor for 34 years before his death from pancreatic cancer in September 2009, tied the knot with jeweler Albert DePrisco in Palm Beach, Florida.

The couple--who started dating two years ago and got engaged on Christmas Eve last December-exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony at The Mar-a-Lago Club in front of more than 50 guests.

The ‘Beat Angel’ actress, 57, told PEOPLE.com last Friday “What I most look forward to on my wedding day is walking up, standing at our altar, and

Valentine's Day plans involved "watching ‘The Notebook’ or something." (TOI)

rittany Murphy's father, Angelo Bertolotti , wants to exhume her body more than four years after her mysterious death to solve the mys-

M

att LeBlanc has said that he had to face "dark times" after his much loved TV series ‘Friends’ ended.

The 46-year-old actor said that at that time he dealt with several issues in his personal life.

LeBlanc said that it was a dark time as the ‘Friends’ spinoff 'Joey' had an undue amount of pressure on it, Contactmusic reported.

He said that the series was meant to fill the shoes of ‘Friends’ but when there are six pairs of feet, and five are taken away, it becomes harder to walk.

Also, the same year his show ended, LeBlanc officially separated from wife Melissa MCKnight.

An additional problem surfaced after the couple's daughter, Marina, was diagnosed with a form of dysplasia, a brain disorder that affects neurologi-

cal functions, at just eight months old.

(TOI)

zoo three nights Freida Pinto has obscene number of shoes Jolie, kids slept inTaronga Zoo in Sydney during their

F

reida Pinto has an “obscene” number of shoes.

The ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ beauty admits to an obsession with footwear and has so many different pairs she can't count them all.

She told Harper's Bazaar Arabia: “They're my biggest obsession but I don't even know how many I have. It's a bit obscene for me, but I'm sure there are people that have way more. 'It's really weird though, because my love for shoes isn't because I want to wear them all. I mean, there are only so many days in the year, so it's impossible to wear all of them, but I have them because they're so beautiful, like works of art, and I love looking at them.” (TOI)

A

ctress Angelina Jolie said that she and her six children spent three nights sleeping at

visit to Australia.

The Hollywood's power couple can pretty much sleep wherever they like, but Jolie and her partner Brad Pitt are also famous for doing things differently and mixing it up.

And the 38-year-old has admitted that during her Australia visit to film World War II biopic ‘Unbroken’, they stayed at Taronga Zoo, not once, but three times, reported dailymail.co.uk.

"I loved working there (Australia).

The children learnt how to surf and skate. We loved the zoo (Taronga)--I slept in the zoo three times by the time we left, with your crazy birds," the actress told news.com.au. (TOI)

50

Sport

WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Synthetic Track a landmark achievement – PPP/C

T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has described the construction of the synthetic track at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, as a “landmark achievement” for the government and the fulfillment of a promise in its manifesto.

This is according to General Secretary and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, speaking at the party’s weekly press briefing at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown on Tuesday.

Rohee said the PPP/C has always stated its firm commitment to the development and expansion of sport and the requisite facilities to help the country’s sportsmen and women reach their full potential and continue to represent Guyana well internationally.

He said, “This stateof-the-art facility will see Guyana hosting more international athletics competitions, which fit into

The track at Leonora is in an advanced stage of construction

the PPP/Civic government’s ongoing efforts to promote another tourism product- sports tourism.”

“We wish to state as

a matter of public record that the successive PPP administrations have never shirked their responsibilities when it

comes to the promotion of sports and support for our athletes. The evidence is in the public’s domain to show. Under the

PPP/Civic, the Guyana National Stadium at Providence was constructed; the Albion Sports Complex was re-

furbished and fitted with floodlights, making it ideal for night cricket, football and other sporting events,” he said.

Rohee further stated that the government has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into sport and facilities since it assumed office in 1992, noting that under the previous administration, there were no proper facilities in the country.

“Since the PPP/C took office, the budgetary allocations for this sector, like every other, continuously increased every single year. The PPP/C recommits itself to continuously improving the landscape to help our athletes reached their full potential,” remarked Rohee.

As part of its commitment to the development of sports, Government this year allocated Gy$300m towards the upgrade of community grounds across the country.

Marian Academy tops QC in old students encounter

By Treiston Joseph

M

arian Academy took a trip down memory lane and came away with a

pulsating overtime victory over old rival Queen’s College (QC) 60-53 on Monday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Dubbed the old students alumni encounter by the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG), the night of basketball also featured Plaisance Academy

Taquain Vieira goes up for a fast break lay-up to help Marian Academy defeat their old rivals (Treiston Joseph photos)

who fell to President’s College 57-51.

However, in the Marian game, Jonathan ‘shooter’ Beaton brought back old memories with a game changing dagger from downtown in overtime that gave Marian the lead for good.

Taquain Vieira followed with a fast break layup for a quick 5-0 run that would hand Marian the win.

During regulation, as time wound down, QC, who were dominating the boards the whole game gave up three offensive fouls that sent Marian to the line each time to cut into the

lead before Vieira corralled another board off a missed free throw for a lay in to put Marian up by one with 26.2s to play.

Marian then fouled Kiev Chesney of QC, who sank one of two from the line to tie the game.

Marian then made a crucial mistake by fouling as time expired, but Kareem Critchlow could not hit the clutch free throws to win the game for QC that ended regulation time with both teams on 49.

Dominic Vincente had a team high 18 points for Marian, while Beaton had 13 points and Vieira 10 in the

overtime win.

Chesney ended with a game high 22 points, while Akil Lewis had eight points for QC in the losing effort.

M e a n w h i l e , Nyamebekyene Bacchus dominated Plaisance Academy in the low post to lift President’s College (PC) to victory.

Plaisance Academy always stayed in the game by running the basketball, but relied heavily on isolation basketball that allowed PC’s defence to collapse on the ball handler, who more times than not forced a tough shot. continued on page 51

SPort

51

WEEK ENDING June 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guinness Greatest of the Streets football…

Exciting national playoff billed for this weekend

Gold, silver for TT’s Bovell in Canada C

East Coast Branch Guinness Supervisor, Clive Pellew (second right) presents the championship trophy and cash to Melanie ‘A’ captain Dwight Peters in the presence of Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste (second left), Tournament Coordinator Troy Mendonca (right) and teammates after the final on Sunday evening

M

elanie A has joined seven other teams from two zones to contest the national playoff of the annual Guinness Greatest of the Streets football competition this weekend.

The Melanie boys earned the right to compete for a chance to represent Guyana at the Guinness Caribbean Street Challenge early next month by defeating Beterverwagting B in the final of the East Coast leg on Sunday.

In a keenly contested final, the Melanie lads prevailed 1-0 in front of another large crowd at the Haslington Market Square Tarmac.

The eventual champs were indebted to national striker Dwight Peters, who found the

small goal as early as the second minute of the game to hand his team the Gy$300,000 first prize, and more importantly, a place in the national playoff.

Beterverwagting B had to settle for the Gy$150,000 runner-up prize.

Earlier in the night, Melanie B team walked away 1-0 victors over Victoria Church Yard United with Rondell Assanah’s 14th minute strike sealing the game. Melanie B collected Gy$100,000, while Victoria Church Yard United, who finished runner-up to Plaisance last year, pocketed Gy$50,000.

With the victory, Melanie A will now face Georgetown zone champions Queen Street-

Tiger Bay, runnerup Stevedore Housing Scheme, third place finisher Hope StreetTiger Bay and fourth place Albouystown B, along with Linden zone winners Eagles, runner-up Retrieve Unknowns and winner of the third place playoff, Scheme at the national playoff.

According to Guinness Brand Manager, Lee Baptiste, the national playoff is billed for Saturday and Sunday utilising the knockout format. The winner will then represent Guyana at the Guinness Caribbean Street Challenge in Trinidad and Tobago.

That event is expected to be streamed on Sportsmax across the region.

Marian Academy...

from page 50

Nyamebekyene Bacchus hits a fade away jumper over some tough Plaisance defenders

Bacchus ended with a game high 24 points and five rebounds for PC to secure the win.

Nikkoloi Smith had a double-double performance for Plaisance

with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Andrew Williams had 11 points in the losing effort.

According to Director of YBG Chris Bowman, he is hoping to launch a

more detailed format of the old students’ tournament, where past students can give back to their Alma Mater over the July-August holidays.

ANADA: TT Olympic bronze medal swimmer George Bovell won gold in his pet event, the 50m freestyle at the 51st Mel Zaljac Meet held at the University of British Columbia Aquatic Centre, University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on Saturday night.

Bovell finised in 22.91 seconds, well ahead of his Club Wolverine team-mate Geoff Cheah who was second in 23.32 while Yuri Kisil and Zach Hayden were joint third in 23.33.

The others in the final were Andrew Poznikoff (23.50), Kyle Troskot (23.60), David Hibberd (23.63) and Hassaan Abdel-Khalik (23.87).

Earlier, Hayden was the top qualifier in 23.29 ahead of Bovell (23.51), Kisil (23.71), Cheah (23.79), Hibberd (23.80), Troskot (23.83), Poznikoff (24.00) and Abdel-Khalik who won a swimoff with Sean Fletcher after both clocked 24.09.

The 30-year-old Bovell III, also won silver in the men’s 50m backstroke in 26.97 behind Russell Wood (26.66) while Jeffrey Swanston took bronze in 27.10.

Last Thursday night when the meet began, Bovell was the sixth

George Bovell III (TT Guardian file photo)

fastest qualifier in the 50m backstroke heats in 27.66 seconds after being seeded second with a time of 25.96 behind Wood (25.69).

Wood lived up to his top seeded and was the fastest in the heats in 27 seconds, followed

by Swanston (27.02), Cheah (27.13), Tim Zeng (27.48), Best (27.55), Fletcher (27.75) and Thormeyer (27.82).

And in the 50m butterfly B-final last Friday, Bovell, won in 25.55 followed by Rohan Jacobs (25.85) and Stephen Calkins (25.91).

Cheah won the A-final in 24.81 followed

by Fletcher (24.84) and Troskot (25.14).

Sunday night, Bovell lined up in the 50m breaststroke gold medal swim after he qualified as the fifth fastest from the heats with a time of 29.53, well adrift of the third seeded time

of 28.22 last Thursday night.

The qualifiers to finish ahead of Bovell were his Club Wolverine teammate Richard Funk (28.48), Zach Hayden (29.08), Rafa Van Leeuwaarde (29.25) and Poznikoff (29.52) while Nick Kostick (29.61), Sergey Holson (29.62) and Antoine Bujold (30.20) were sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.

Bovell is using the meet in Canada to gauge his progress since he last competed in November 2013 at the FINA World Cup in Beijing, China.

Following this meet Bovell will compete at USA Santa Clara Grand Prix at the end of June to assess his form before heading into the French Open in early July and the Commonwealth Games at the end of July in Glasgow, Scotland.

(TT Guardian)

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Lindeners to represent Guyana at Thompson clocks World U.S. Open Beach Soccer C’ships Junior qualifying time

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UYANA: Two Guyanese players of the Lindenbased Cool Running Beach Football Club (CRBFC), Keon Sears and Ron Fiedthkhou, are expected to depart Guyana on June 5 to represent their homeland in the annual U.S. Open Beach Soccer Championships, slated to be held in Virginia USA, VA beach. The tournament is expected to kick off on June 6 and end on June 8.

Rollin Tappin, President of the CRBFC, said the two seasoned beach footballers were invited by the Florida Beach Soccer Club to play under the team’s roster. He said the tournament is one of the most prestigious tournaments held annually in the USA. Teams from Africa and Central and North America are also expected to be competing this year.

No stranger to the tournament, Sears will be appearing in the championships for the second time around, having played under the Tobago beach soccer team in the Bagosports Invitational tournament held in Tobago in 2012.

Keon Sears

Ron Fiedthkhou

Fiedthkhou however, will be making his debut in this form of competition.

Tappin related that although both players would have gained meaningful experience from participating in various beach football tournaments, in and out of the country, the executives of the club wish them success and hope their participation will raise awareness about Guyana’s potential in this format of football.

“We also would like to register our deepest disgust at the way in which the sport is seemingly being neglected by the authorities. One issue to note is that Guyana was invited to participate

in the South American beach games in Vargas, Venezuela and it was most disheartening that beach soccer was omitted, even though it is known that Guyana has quality players with international exposure, but instead beach rugby was given the nod.

Even more glaring was that both teams, beach volleyball and beach rugby had their final work-out at the recently commissioned Linden beach football facility.

As president of the club, I call on the Guyana Football Federation to bring about administrative normalcy to the sport, so it true potential can be realised,” he stated. (Guyana Times)

S- based sprinter Brenessa T h o m p s o n clocked 11.79s on Sunday at the PSAL City Games at the Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island.

The time has met the qualifying standard to represent Guyana at the World Junior Games set for later this year.

Thompson also clocked a 24.70s in the 200 metres, but did not make the qualifying time for that event.

Thompson will now join Kadecia Baird and Jason Yaw, who have qualified for the event.

Thompson is one of the rising stars in sprinting at the high

Brenessa Thompson

school level and competes for the Medgar Evers College in New York.

Whether the star will be able to travel to the prestigious champi-

onships where Guyana has found success only once from Baird with a silver medal, will be left in the hands of the Athletics Association of Guyana.

Golden finish for Jamaica at World Relays

Doping ban...

Jamaican sprinters appeal for reduced penalties

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AUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (CMC): Jamaican sprint star Asafa Powell has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, asking for his 18-month ban to be reduced to three months.

The 31-year-old tested positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine at last year's national championships and was slapped with the suspension by the Jamaica Anti-doping Commission in April.

However, Powell subsequently branded the ruling as "unfair and unjust" and said he would appeal.

Fellow Jamaican sprinter Sherone Simpson, who was also banned for 18 months following a positive drugs test for the same substance, has also appealed to CAS for a reduction in the JADCO suspension.

"The athletes put forward that the offence committed is minor and request that the suspensions be reduced to (three) months," CAS said in a statement.

Yohan Blake reacts after Jamaica won and set a new world record of 1:18.63 in the men's 4x200-metre relay at the IAAF World Relays (and) Monica Hargrove in action on her leg of the women's 4x400-metre relay (then) Rasheed Dwyer in full flight during his run in the men's 4x200-metre relay (AP photos)

N Asafa Powell (Jamaica Gleaner file photos)

“The CAS has initiated an arbitration procedure in each case and the parties have been invited to file written submissions in accordance with the Code of sportsrelated arbitration. No hearing date has been fixed yet,” it added.

Following the positive test, Powell blamed Canadian physical trainer Chris Xureb for providing him with the supplements, that included the banned substance.

However, a threemember JADCO disciplinary panel said the

sprinter had been "negligent" and had been "at fault", and banned him until December 28 this year. The suspension was dated to the time of the positive test last year.

Powell immediately vowed to fight the ban, pointing out it was the first time in his 12-year career that he had ever tested positive.

Powell has never won a World or Olympic title, but holds the world record for the most windlegal sub-10 clockings, with 81.

A S S A U , BAHAMAS: Jamaica capped the IAAF World Relays with a comfortable win in the men’s 4x100m relay, easing the disappointments of a day that saw the men’s 4x400m and the women’s 4x200m teams fail to live up to expectations inside the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

Nesta Carter, Nickel Ashmeade, Julian Forte and Yohan Blake powered Jamaica to a 37.77 win in the men’s 4x100m relay, with Trinidad and Tobago, 38.04 and Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 38.19 completing the top three.

The win ensured that Jamaica remains unbeaten on the world stage in the event that they have laid siege upon since 2008 at the

Beijing Olympics.

In the women’s 4x400m, the world got a glimpse of one of the island’s most promising talents, as 19-yearold Shericka Jackson anchored Jamaica to a 3:23.26 second place finish behind the United States, 3:21.73, as Nigeria took third place in 3:23.41.

Jackson was surprisingly given the responsibility with the team’s coaches deciding to maximise speed at the top of the race, with the experienced Kaliese Spencer and Novlene WilliamsMills running the first two legs with Anastasia Le-Roy on third.

The women’s 4x800m team did themselves no shame, crossing the line in fifth place in 18:17.22.

The event was won by the USA in 8:01.58 ahead of Kenya, 8:04.28

and Russia, 8:08.19.

Things didn’t go too well for Jamaica in the women’s 4x200m final, as Shelly-Ann FraserPryce–clearly hampered by a leg injury that had her participation in doubt for much of the week, could not pull the Jamaicans above third place.

The Jamaicans finished in 1:30.04–a national record in the event, with the USA taking the race in 1:29.45 ahead of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1:29.61.

The real disaster came, however, in the men’s 4x400m final, as a mix-up on the first exchange saw Jamaica finishing last in 3:10.23, as the USA, 2:57.25, The Bahamas, 2:57.59 and Trinidad and Tobago, 2:58.34 took top spots.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

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Guyanese Travis Blyden promises good showing in Canada this season

By Ravendra Madholall

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arquee allrounder Travis Blyden is promising his fans another good showing in Canada this season after wrapping up his recent stint in Trinidad and Tobago.

Since his first appearance in North America three years ago, the right-hander has done impressively well and is confident of replicating those performances for Civics Cricket Club.

His instrumental role last year will see the club moving up to the Elite Level in the 2014

Toronto and District Cricket Association tournament, which has started.

Meanwhile, Blyden’s desire to wear the Guyana colours at the highest level still remains strong and he feels that he has been a consistent scorer over the years in club cricket, which grants the opportunity to display his talent.

“I want to play for Guyana at the highest level and I know runs are very important; I travel around to be involved in the game on a regular basis and get the

Travis Blyden is a former Guyana under-19 reserve athlete

necessary exposure, but as I said getting at the top I have to keep making runs and maintain a disciplined attitude,” the former Guyana under-19 reserve athlete stated.

During his time in TT, Blyden said his team Evergreen Cricket Club played brilliant cricket in both the two-day and limited-over tournaments. In the longer format, Blyden emerged as one of the top-batsmen accumulating over 800 runs from 11 games inclusive of three centuries (162, 139 and 105 not out).

According to the Guyana Defence Force player, these innings will definitely be inspirational for him to churn out greater performances for Civics as soon as he starts off the season.

“I want to continue with this good form; I love playing in Canada and those performances for my club in Trinidad should impress the selectors back home; I shall be in Guyana later this year to vie for a spot in the inter-county team which will be used to select the national squad,” Blyden related.

Injury worries for Gayle as first Test looms

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U M B A I , I N D I A (CMC)—West Indies batsman Chris Gayle is expected to consult a specialist in Germany about a troublesome back problem, as he races to be fit ahead of his 100th Test in his hometown Jamaica next month.

The left-hander struggled throughout the recent Indian Premier League, man-

aging just 196 runs at an average of 21 and a highest score of 46, and says he needs to get the injury issue resolved.

"It was tough. It (injury) happened just before IPL at the end of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. It became even worse later. I thought it was a simple thing when I went back and then when I started training in UAE it

became difficult bending and sprinting between wickets. It was a problem, but I tried my best and missed the first four games," the 34-year-old opener said at the launch of his own shoe brand, CG. "I am just trying to get this injury sorted out. Even now I am struggling. I could not move too much, bend too much. I am going to

Germany…to see a specialist to resolve this issue, to try and get fit now."

If Gayle is fit for selection for the opening Test against New Zealand starting June 8 at Sabina Park, he will become only the ninth West Indies player to suit up in 100 Tests. He is also 67 runs short of becoming the eighth West Indies batsman to pass 7,000

runs in Test cricket.

"One hundredth Test will mean a lot to me. I first played for West Indies 13 years ago and I am going on to my 14th year to get to the milestone. I should have got past this a long time ago but for injuries. But these things happen. You pick up injuries as a cricketer," Gayle said.

Gayle has been picked in a 15-man

training squad which is currently in camp in Barbados. He, along with fellow IPL star Sunil Narine, is scheduled to join the camp Sunday.

The camp ends June 4.

West Indies face New Zealand in three Tests, with the second scheduled for Trinidad and Tobago from June 16-20 and the final one carded for Guyana from June 26-30.

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