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. 190

week ending May 4, 2014

“Walter Rodney's death was expected” Guyana revokes - PNC gov't had issued several threats work against WPA members, says De Souza permit of LEAD project head Page 10

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LEAD project head Glenn Bradbury

Nearly half of New Yorkers are struggling to get by, study finds Page 13

Former WPA member Karen De Souza huddles with Lead Attorney for the Inquiry, Glen Hanoman and his assistant, Latchmie Rahamat before her Rodney CoI testimony

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NEWS

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“House of Israel was a ‘hit squad’” – Edward Rodney P

olice had often turned a blind eye to the thuggish behaviour of members of the House of Israel – a cult group that was formed in Guyana in the early 1970s

by US fugitive David “Rabbi Washington” Hill which was allegedly used by the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government to subdue opponents and break up their political meetings.

This was revealed by Lawrence Edward Rodney who testified on Day Two of the Dr Walter Rodney Inquiry being held at the Supreme Court Library.

Edward Rodney told Commissioners that the House of Israel not only operated as a religious group but as a “hit squad”.

Asked to elaborate, Edward Rodney recalled the murder of Father Bernard Darke who was knifed to death in 1979 in Brickdam. He said the assailants were proved to be members of the House of Israel.

Leader of the House of Israel, Rabbi Washington were among a few members who were charged with Darke’s death.

Commentators have said that the House of Israel had expressed its loyalty to the PNC and its members while being allegedly involved in

better working conditions.

Edward Rodney, now a member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), said the House of Israel – located on Light Street, Alberttown – had emerged during a dark period of the country. He said it was a time when the PNC led by the late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, was using the reins of power to trample on the poor and working class.

Gregory Smith had an agenda

Lawrence Edward Rodney giving testimony at the Inquiry

numerous violent acts against political opponents of the regime. Their actions included the violent breaking up of Opposition public meetings, attacking anti-government demonstrations and working as strike-breakers whenever Government workers went on strike for improved wages and

Edward Rodney told the Commission that the man accused of killing his brother, former Army Sergeant Gregory Smith and now PPP Member Joseph Hamilton were part of this organisation. According to Edward Rodney, his first encounter with the now dead Smith was in 1974, a few minutes before a public meeting was held by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). “What I could see and experience with him, was that he was there for a purpose. What he said to me as I was streaming the wires was whether I wanted a meeting, a real meeting without the Police… ‘Do you want to have a meeting without the Police?’”

Edward Rodney continued: “I saw him in early 1979, walking along Russell Street

in the House of Israel black, red and green uniform.”

Edward Rodney noted that it was the first time he had seen Smith in the House of Israel uniform. He said his encounter with the accused revealed that he must have been connected with an organisation or group that was bent on disrupting meetings and inciting violence.

And that is exactly what was being done by the House of Israel organisation, Rodney told the Inquiry. The church, according to Edward Rodney, was filled with bullies who had little regard for authority.

Rising to fame sometime after 1971, the House of Israel organisation was established after Rabbi Washington came to Guyana. Edward Rodney said upon his arrival, Washington had closely aligned himself with the hierarchy of the PNC and was involved in mobilising and organising “African Guyanese” for religious and political purposes.

According to Edward Rodney, the multi-class group was given preferential treatment by the ruling Government. He cited the easy access the organisation had to the state-owned radio to air its programme “The Voice of Prophecy”. He said it

Dr Walter Rodney

was difficult for other bodies, opposed to the Government, to have access to the radio station during that “dark period”.

Never at peace

Speaking about the disruptions of the WPA meetings, Edward Rodney said the party was never at peace during its public meetings. “I recalled there used to be meetings held by the WPA where Dr Walter Rodney would be featured as the main speaker. These were massive meetings; never before in Guyana, have so many people gathered to hear political discussions. After dark or in the early afternoon…

Thousands of people. The House of Israel would be used at times to try and break up continued on page 25

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EDITORIAL

Legal basis for reparations

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n a recent paper, “Unearthing the legitimacy of Caricom’s Reparations Bid”, British Virgin Islander, Antonius R Hippolyte, a PhD candidate at the University of Hull Law School, addressed concerns that there might not be a legal basis for reparations. Below are some of his arguments.

“Whether international law recognises the mass annihilation of the native people of the Caribbean and the mass kidnap and enslavement of Africans from their homeland and transportation to plantations in the Caribbean as crimes against humanity, the following propositions cannot be denied. First, the mass genocide of the region’s native people and the kidnap and enslavement of Africans were two of the most wicked criminal enterprises in recorded human history.

“Second, no compensation was ever paid by any of the perpetrators of these vile acts to any of the sufferers. Third, that the effects of the crime continue to be massive, both in terms of the enrichment of the descendants of the perpetrators, and in terms of the impoverishment of their descendants in the Caribbean today.

(The legal implications are as follows:) “First, native genocide of the region’s native peoples and slavery and the slave trade, both constituted crimes against humanity; second, international law recognises the right of victims of crimes against humanity to reparation; third, international law does not recognise any legal barrier to prevent those who still suffer the consequences of crimes against humanity from claiming reparations, even though the crimes were committed against their ancestors; fourth, reparations agenda should be directed against the governments of those countries, which promoted and were enriched by the slave trade and the institution of slavery.

“While crimes against humanity might not have a remedy right now, new structures have often been devised to give effect to recognised principles: ubi jus, ibi remedium: where there is a right, there must be a remedy. The Charter of the Nuremberg Tribunal, which later compensated the Jews for the atrocities of Hitler’s Third Reich, defined crimes against humanity in these words: ‘Murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other inhumane acts committed against any civilian population… whether or not in violation of the domestic law of the country here perpetrated’.

“The Charter also gave jurisdiction to the Tribunal to try perpetrators for, among other crimes, deportation to slave labour or for any other purpose of civilian population of or in occupied territory. The tribunal found that acts so reprehensible as to offend the conscience of mankind, directed against civilian populations, are crimes in international law. In 1948, the UN promoted the Convention of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. “(There is some) uneasiness that all the victims of slavery or native genocide must have perished by now. So how is Caricom going to overcome the hurdle of establishing itself as the claimant in this lawsuit on behalf of citizens of its Member States? These citizens are the descendants of the victims of these atrocities. However, international law does not recognise any legal barrier to prevent those who still suffer the consequences of crimes against humanity from claiming reparations, even though the crimes were committed against their ancestors. Whether the descendants of the immediate victims of a crime have a right to reparations, will depend on the nature of the claim being made.

“Israel successfully claimed reparations from West Germany for the costs of resettling Jewish refugees – even though the state of Israel did not yet exist at the time when the Nazi regime committed its crimes against the Jews. If international law harbours this level of ingenuity and creativity, to allow a state, which was not, created at the time an atrocity was committed to successfully claim against another state whose frontiers were fundamentally different at the time the atrocities were committed; then it should not take any feat of genius to allow Caricom to bring claims against states that are more or less the same today as when these atrocities were committed.”

Crane Pond is located not far from Karanambu Ranch, Rupununi; its visual spectacle is equalled only by the diverse chatter of its various avian and aquatic inhabitants, making the area one of the impressive features of the Rupununi region. The above photo shows a crane flying above the pond.

ECLAC predicts 4.6% growth for Guyana T

he Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has predicted a 4.6 per cent growth rate for Guyana this year, one per cent less than the 5.6 per cent projected by the country, even as it announced that Latin American and Caribbean countries will grow an average of 2.7 per cent due to limited dynamism of the region’s principal economies.

The regional United Nations organisation released on Tuesday its “Updated Economic Overview of Latin America and the Caribbean 2013”, which reviews information on the key economic variables of 2013 and presents new growth estimates for the region.

During his budget speech, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh had stated that Guyana’s economy is projected to expand by 5.6 per cent in 2014, with the non-sugar economy projected to grow by 5.2 per cent.

He told the National Assembly that the inflation rate is pegged at five per cent compared to 0.9 per cent last year, the lowest rate in decades. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.2 per cent last year while the non-sugar GDP rose by 6.3 per cent.

In 2013, the country’s economy recorded its eighth consecutive year of growth. “Mr Speaker, it is significant to note that the eight years from 2006 to 2013 represent the longest period of uninterrupted real economic growth in independent Guyana,” Dr Singh told the National Assembly.

Viability and profitability

However, while the economy as a whole continues to show sustainable growth, the sugar industry continues to struggle.

According to him, a more concerted effort is needed to return the industry to a growth trajectory that would be consistent with viability and profitability.

Meanwhile, ECLAC says that the 2014 regional growth

rate would be slightly higher than 2013’s (2.5 per cent), but lower than the rate forecast in December (3.2 per cent), due to an external context still marked by uncertainty and lower growth than expected for the region’s larger economies, Brazil and Mexico, which will expand by 2.3 per cent and three per cent respectively.

In addition, the economic growth projection was reduced for Argentina (one per cent), a country that took several steps in early 2014 to counter the imbalances of recent years, causing its economy to contract. Likewise, the impact of Venezuela’s complex economic situation will result in a contraction of -0.5 per cent of that nation’s activity.

Nevertheless, highly varied expansion levels are predicted for the region’s countries. According to the Updated Economic Overview, Panama, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic will have growth figures equal or higher than five per cent, while a significant number of nations will register expansion of between three per cent and five per cent.

In its report, ECLAC says that activity indicators for developed countries – especially the United States, United Kingdom, Korea, Germany and several others from the eurozone – have shown a recovery.

There is caution, however, on the situation in China, one of the region’s main trade partners, which set a minimum growth goal of seven per cent for this year.

Limited demand for commodities

In addition, the demand for commodities is forecast to remain limited, especially mining and food products, which, combined with currency appreciation in developed countries, would cause commodity prices to drop modestly. The decrease would affect the economies that export these products, like

those of South America.

ECLAC’s document points out that the United States’ recovery will have a positive impact on the economies of its closest neighbours, especially Mexico and other Central American countries, considering its importance as a trade partner. At the same time, the upturn of developed countries will benefit the Caribbean nations, more specialised in service exports, due to better performance by the tourism sector.

St Kitts and Nevis will grow by 3.1 per cent; the Bahamas, 2.5 per cent; St Vincent and the Grenadines, 2.3 per cent; and Trinidad and Tobago, 2.1 per cent, the same figure projected for the whole group of Caribbean countries. The perspectives for the year show a global scenario with lower liquidity, which entails important challenges in matters of macroeconomic policy and external financing for the Latin American and the Caribbean region, the report expresses.

In terms of inflation, while there are no sharp changes expected, a rise in the regional average is forecast due to the indexing changes in Argentina, the moderate rise in several countries’ prices – despite which, inflation remained between three per cent and six per cent – and the high indicators shown by Venezuela. This regional increase was already observed during the first two months of 2014, when average accumulated regional inflation over 12 months rose to 7.6 per cent compared to 7.3 per cent last December. In this context of modest regional economic growth, there will not be a meaningful recovery of employment levels. ECLAC emphasises this could translate into an increase in unemployment rate – which in 2013 registered a new minimum of 6.2 per cent – only if the drop in labour force participation seen last year is reverted.

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Five-day farewell for ANR Police questioned about Robinson ongoing in TT delay in charging Smith

for Rodney's assassination

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Members of the Defence Force raise their swords in salute to former President and Prime Minister Arthur NR Robinson as his body lay in State in the lobby of the Parliament, Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port-of-Spain Tuesday (TT Newsday photo)

rinidad and Tobago Tuesday began the five-day process of saying a final farewell to its third president and prime minister, Arthur NR Robinson, who died on April 9 at the age of 87.

As Robinson’s body lay in State in a flagdraped casket in the lobby of the Parliament, Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port-of-Spain, Tuesday, President Anthony Carmona, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar and Opposition Leader Dr

Keith Rowley were among those who paid tribute.

Four soldiers of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force in ceremonial tunics stood guard with heads bowed at the four corners of the casket.

Robinson’s body was taken back to the Parliament Tower Wednesday for the second day of lying in State before Thursday’s ecumenical service at the National Academy for the Performing Arts.

After the service the body will then be taken

to the Ulric Cross Air Station to be flown to Tobago by helicopter.

Robinson’s body will then lie in State at the Tobago House of Assembly administration building and on Saturday it will be taken to the Dwight Yorke Stadium where another ecumenical service will be done.

The family will have a private service at the Scarborough Methodist Church, after which he would be laid to rest in the cemetery plot next to his late wife, Patricia.

(TT Newsday)

C

Crime Chief Leslie James on the stand

rime Chief Leslie James told the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) probing the death of Dr Walter Rodney that there was enough evidence to lay charges against the late Army Sergeant Gregory Smith, who had been accused of giving the politician a bomb that exploded in his lap.

It took the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration 16 years after the killing to formally lay charges against Smith, who at the time had already fled to neighbouring French Guiana.

James made the disclosure while giving testimony at the inquiry which opened Monday morning at the Supreme Court Library. He is one of nine persons slated to testify during the four-day session. Shortly after taking the oath, James who was only recently appointed Crime Chief, described his role in the evidence gathering and dissemination to the Commission.

James told the Commission that since being appointed Crime Chief on April 8, he was entrusted with the responsibility of perusing “all pertinent files relating to the Walter Rodney inquiry”. These include files from the Special Branch, the intelligence gathering arm of the Guyana Police Force; files from the former Head of the Criminal Investigation Department; and files produced by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). According to James, the files were all gathered in 1980, the year Rodney was killed.

Meanwhile, Senior Counsel and Commissioner in the Walter Rodney CoI Seenath Jairam raised concerns about the level of police work carried out by officers regarding investigation and the laying of charges on the accused Gregory Smith after Rodney’s death.

Based on evidence presented by the Crime Chief, the warrant for Smith was issued 16 years after Rodney’s death. Jairam asked: “Can you say what may have contributed to that length of time before the Police finally fingered Gregory Smith.” James said he could not answer since he joined the Force some six years after Rodney was killed. He said too that based on the files he perused, there was sufficient and reasonable evidence to lay a case against Gregory Smith.

Jairam also questioned if whether, in the instance of an unnatural death, an inquest is usually launched. The Crime Chief said that it is a normal practice of the Police to recommend an inquest. However, in relation to the continued on page 7

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Guyana’s commercial sector feeling squeeze of int’l sanctions

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Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Vice Chairman, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine was correct when he said the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment (AML/CFT) Bill has evolved into a highly political matter; however, this is at the cost of the commercial sector.

Currently, the private sector is feeling the heat with stricter systems being instituted by international financial institutions, due to Guyana’s continuous failure to pass the AML/CFT Amendment Bill of 2013.

Though many believe that the consequences are not being felt, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Trade, Intelligence and Investment Sub-committee Ramesh Dookhoo had a different story to tell. During an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International, at his Banks DIH Thirst Park office on Monday, Dookhoo said since November 2013 when Guyana was blacklisted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), the private sector has been feeling the consequences.

He explained that it is becoming difficult to access reinsurance within the insurance industry. From

the onset, the Insurance Association of Guyana stated that non-passage of the AML/ CFT Amendment Bill would cause intense financial pressure, noting that insurance and banking transactions will become nearly impossible. It was further pointed out that all sectors requiring life, health, motor, cargo, marine, aircraft, liability, accident, fire and catastrophic loss insurance will be severely limited. Today, this is not a matter of the future but of the present as the system is gradually becoming inflexible.

“Banks are being questioned constantly regarding their correspondent partners especially in the US. Many questions are being asked regarding ordinary payment of bills overseas by commercial people and manufacturers alike,” Dookhoo said as he further alluded to the challenges being faced.

But not only the Guyana Government and private sector are worried about the future of the country if the bill is not passed by the new deadline, May 29, 2014.

According to the PSC Subcommittee Chairman, within the Caribbean, the concerns of the private sector are growing. These regional bodies are asking about the

PSC’s Trade, Intelligence and Investment Sub-committee Chairman Ramesh Dookhoo

future of Guyana as a trade partner, Dookhoo said.

The Amendment Bill is currently before the Parliamentary Special Select Committee. Since February 9, the Committee led by Government Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had agreed upon the Bill. However, the Opposition has moved to incorporate amendments to the principal Act of 2009. Changes are still being made at the level of the Committee.

APNU and the Alliance for Change (AFC) have further made their positions clear, stating that they will not sup-

port the Bill in the National Assembly until the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) is put into operation and equipped with the requisite human and financial resources to ensure sustainability and effectiveness.

They also want President Donald Ramotar to assent to key Opposition bills that were passed in the National Assembly, but were rejected

by Ramotar.

President Ramotar has refused to assent to the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2012; Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2013; Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2013; and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2012, contending that based on the advice of the Attorney General Anil Nandlall, the bills are unconstitutional.

Parties must compromise

While stating that the political parties must compromise on the issue to safeguard Guyana, Dookhoo said it was not likely that the Government would accede to the request of the Opposition as it relates to the rejected bills.

“They have taken a principled position, where they do not believe constitutionally these bills are in keep-

ing with what is required in Guyana. So they have offered up a technical answer to the local government bills, but I think what Guyana would like to see is an alternative solution,” he said.

The PSC, however, supports the operationalisation of the Procurement Commission, saying greater transparency within Guyana would enhance the country’s economy and integrity.

“We believe in the whole issue of transparency and accountability without taking away executive powers; that is required under the Constitution, we believe that the Procurement Commission is a good thing, we support the formation of the Commission, a Commission that adds transparency to the whole procurement procedures,” he posited.

Over the weekend, CFATF Chairperson Allison Maynard-Gibson and Executive Director Calvin Wilson met with the Government, Opposition and private sector and indicated that Guyana will face draconian measures if it fails to pass the AML Bill by May 29.

From May 25 to 29, there will be the staging of the XXXIX CFATF Plenary Meeting in Miami before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Plenary June 15-20.

Children hurt as aunt loses control of bike O

ne child is seriously injured while another sustained less serious injuries after being involved in an accident.

Reports are that on Monday evening, the two sisters, two-yearold Kumarie Sukhai, and one-year-old Nalinie Sukhai were pillion riders on a motorcycle ridden by their aunt at Mibicuri, South Black Bush Polder, when she lost control of the bike.

According to the mother of the children, Lillawattie Ornesto, 21, after her sister lost control of the motorcycle it turned turtle and subsequently landed in a nearby drain. “The motorbike fall on dem two girls and me sista fall on the bike…when me see that, me holler and run to get them out,” she recalled.

Ornesto said when she arrived at the scene of the accident, which happened just a stone’s throw away from where they lived, she saw her sister in an uncon-

Two-year-old Kumarie Sukhai is critical at the NA Hospital

One-year-old Nalinie Sukhai received less serious injuries

scious state with her two daughters pinned under the motorcycle.

The woman said her screams brought the neighbours running and with their assistance, her sister was pulled out from the motorcycle.

After getting the two children out of the drain, Ornesto said, the family gave them baths and upon seeing the state of the elder, it was decided that they would be rushed to the Black Bush Polder Hospital.

The doctor in charge

was forced to transfer the injured sisters to the New Amsterdam Hospital for further treatment, since they both had respiratory difficulties and suffered burns about their bodies.

According to a medical source, the two sisters suffered first-degree burns from the hot exhaust of the motorcycle. The source also disclosed that owing to the mud and stagnant water ingested, the elder sister developed pneumonia.

7 TT’s National Security Minister plans war against gangsters “W news

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

e don’t neg o t i a t e with criminals.” This was the statement made Monday by TT’s National Security Minister Gary Griffith as he plans to wage war against gangs leaders and other criminal elements. He was speaking in the wake of recent shootings by gang members against law enforcement officers in the past month. Last

week Saturday, gunmen opened fire on officers who were parked at the side of a road in John John, Laventille, which injured three people, including an eight-year-old boy. The day before that officers were subjected to rapid gunfire by gunmen at Beverly Hills, Laventille.

In a phone interview Monday with TT media, Griffith said when officers defended them-

Police questioned about delay in charging Smith for Rodney... from page 5

death of Dr Rodney, no inquest was neither held nor recommended. But Jairam submitted that an inquest into Rodney’s death was held in 1988.

James then responded that it may have begun, but never completed.

Camp St Prison

Dr Rodney died in a car in the vicinity of the Georgetown Prison on June 13, 1980, after a walkie-talkie he was holding, which had been given to him by Smith, exploded. His brother Donald, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, escaped serious injury. In a subsequent statement, Donald Rodney said that Smith, at that time an acting Sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force, had given his brother the walkie-talkie, and had instructed him to test it near the perimeter of the Georgetown Prison so he could observe whether the extensive metal wall would interfere with the transmission.

Guyana Times International was told that Dr Rodney might have been in contact with Smith through his brother Donald Rodney, who was in the driver’s seat outside Camp Street jail when the bomb hidden in the walkie-talkie exploded.

According to reports on the fateful day, Donald had revealed that a brown paper bag was given to him

by Smith to take to Dr Rodney and he was instructed that Dr Rodney should come out of the car and walk alongside the Camp Street Prison fence to test it. However, Dr Rodney did not do as was instructed and the bomb eventually exploded in his lap.

Gregory Smith disappeared from Guyana soon after Rodney’s death, re-

appearing in French Guiana. In 1987, he told reporters in an interview that Rodney’s death had been the result of an accident. He said then that he had joined the army as a Private in 1975, and that he had been sent to England by the GDF to study electronics. After building an important Surveillance Unit for the Army, he said, he had been promoted to acting Sergeant.

A charge of murder was laid against Smith when the PPP/C Government was in office on the anniversary of Rodney’s death in 1996.

On October 30 of that same year, then Senior Counsel Doodnauth Singh was appointed Special Prosecutor to lead the case against him. However, according to media reports then, the Government never succeeded in extraditing Smith from French Guiana to stand trial in his homeland, since there is no extradition treaty between Guyana and France.

According to media reports, the French Government had indicated that it would be prepared to consider returning Smith here if it was satisfied that the information on which the charge of murder had been based met the criteria required by France’s judicial system.

However, there was another consideration, and that was the fact that French law prohibited the extradition of persons to countries where capital punishment was in force. France had also required, therefore, an assurance from the Guyana Government that Smith would not have been executed if found guilty.

selves, members of the public protested against it. “What happens is when the officers retaliate it is the same individuals who associate with them (criminals) jump up and defend them.

They are not helping society, they are leeches and parasites.

“If they want to fight, they pick the wrong one.

The law enforcement agencies need to fight back and let them know their place,” he said.

Griffith said he had no plans for TT to end up like Jamaica where gang members controlled communities.

He added: “TT would not end up like Jamaica where certain gangs took control of commu-

TT’s National Security Minister Gary Griffith (TT Guardian file photo)

nities and called it their turf. They don’t own that and if they want turf let them pay for it and it is

not through the barrel of a gang. This would not be a place where in communities no one has access to it.

I am not talking the talk. I am demanding that no criminal elements involved in criminal activity should get contracts from the State in any way. The reason is the principles of war. You don’t financially support them and pay for their drugs and their gang members.

“How can we now ask law enforcement officers to take care of the enemy. My concept is to cut their financial supply which feeds their support base.

“We don’t negotiate with criminals and I need

support from members of the public for evidence for successful arrests,” the minister noted.

Crime had been reduced by 38 percent and homicides by 25 percent, he said. “I can cut it to 60 percent. A handful of figures are manipulating the younger ones and they are the big fish.

I am calling on the public to assist. They want fight...they will get one,” he indicated.

Griffith added that his ministry was forming a National Security special operation group of highly trained task force officers to deal with criminal activity, terrorism, explosives and gang-related activities.

(TT Guardian)

8 news We will go after criminals with full force, new crime chief warns N week ending May 4, 2014| guyanatimeSinternational.com

ewly-appointed Crime Chief Leslie James has taken over the Criminal Investigations Department at a time when there is a high ratio of unsolved murders, but he is assuring the public that all criminals should be concerned since his team of investigators will be going after them with full force.

James, who has taken over from Acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, said with the support of the public for the work of his department, the crime situation will be tackled head on.

He intends to bring to the table new ideas and strategies that will help to reduce the high percentage of unsolved murders, even if it means him going out to hunt the perpetrators.

In an interview with media operatives on Thursday, James said his main focus is to follow the laws that govern the country and is certain that with the relevant training in capacity-building, his team will be more equipped, thus, their expertise will be put into

Slain Guyanese designer Trevor Rose

practise.

Recently, the Guyana Police Force indicated that serious crimes for the year has increased by 38 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.

James has his work cut out and will have to get on top of several matters which have still not been brought to closure.

Additionally, the reform

Slain money changer Bridgelall Persaud

Crime Chief Leslie James

process is continuing within the Guyana Police Force and there has been talk about the need to reorganise and restructure the Criminal Investigations Department, by increasing staff and their resources.

Recently, the department was able to arrest the two men who robbed and killed a salesman attached to the Patsan Trading.

The men were nabbed at a city hotel with a .38 Revolver and four matching rounds.

Standstill

However, to date, they are at a standstill in the investigations into the killings of designer Trevor Rose and Eccles money changer Bridgelall Persaud.

They have not issued a wanted bulletin for anyone in the matters, which means that they are not in posses-

sion of the identities of the suspects. Recently, the Police stated that they were looking for two men for the execution of the Eccles businessman and one for the execution of the designer.

The main witnesses in the Trevor Ross murder reportedly failed to positively identify the shooter during an identification parade at the Police Headquarters, but the Police are optimistic that they will make a breakthrough in the case at some point in time.

Rose was gunned down on the morning of January 26, when a lone gunman opened fire on the car he was in while in the vicinity of the traffic lights at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

On the other hand, on February 20, about 08:10h, Persaud, also called “B Boy” was gunned down in the vicinity of Builder’s Lumber Yard, Lombard Street, Georgetown after he was attacked by two gunmen. The robbers then made good their escape with a bag containing at least Gy$1 million.

Sharma “doesn’t mind” rejoining APNU for next elections

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he Justice For All Party led by Chandra Narine

Sharma is open to rejoining the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)

to contest the General Election in 2016.

The Justice for All

Party severed ties with the coalition in April with the resignation of its member Jaipaul Sharma from the National Assembly. Sharma tendered his resignation after Education Minister Priya Manickchand had refused to offer a direct apology to him following heckling in the House by Manickchand.

During an interview with Guyana Times International on Monday, Sharma had said: “We don’t mind” rejoining the coalition in the future, but said key answers will be required.

“If Mr CN Sharma is still alive, and we are in dialogue with the coalition on any new partnership, they will have to say clearly what they will do when a Minister utters these words, what stance they will take,” he explained.

Disgust

After tendering his resignation as an MP, Sharma had expressed disgust over the coalition’s failure to represent him in the National Assembly, when he was heckled. It was pointed out that none of the frontbenchers on the Opposition’s side of the House defended Sharma at the time.

Asked to disclose the real reason the Justice for All Party has severed ties with the coalition, Sharma maintained

Former APNU MP Jaipaul Sharma

that he simply wanted to safeguard the coalition from attacks by the Government.

In 2010, CN Sharma faced the courts over rape allegations involving a 13-year-old. In a sworn affidavit, the 13-year-old girl had alleged that Sharma had sexually molested her and her sisters, with the consent of their mother.

After conducting the act, the businessman reportedly offered the teen Gy$2000 on a weekly basis. The teen had alleged that the series of abuse came to an end when she refused to return to her mother’s Alexander Street residence. In May 2013, the matter was moved to the High Court.

It is still gaining the attention of the court.

Based on the allegations against his father, Jaipaul Sharma is contending that the People’s

Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) could use the matter to gain political mileage to defame APNU. “I don’t want that stigma that is attached to me and attached to CN Sharma, the leader of the Justice for All Party, to be attached to the APNU. The PPP would always utilise that advantage they have with that stigma created against the leader of the Justice For All Party…”

Nevertheless, to signal its independence, the JFAP on Monday officially declared opened its Constituency Office at Robb Street. Through its popular Voice for the People Programme, the party is hoping to muster up more party support.

The former APNU MP explained that the party would be taking up the concerns expressed by citizens and making representation as a party on behalf of the people.

“So we want to extend that opportunity as a political party to further support them and extend our membership.”

The party is hoping to increase its presence in Regions Three and Four to win at least one seat each at the regional level when elections are held again in Guyana. The next General Election is due in 2016.

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

9

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

PNC should use the Rodney COI to clear its name given widespread allegations of culpability Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) welcomes the commencement of the Commission of Inquiry into the death of Guyanese historian and revolutionary Dr Walter Rodney which began on Monday, April 28, 2014 at the Supreme Court Law Library in Georgetown.

The PPP takes this opportunity to urge all Guyanese who have evidence and whatever information at their disposal to boldly come forward and provide same to the Commission.

In this regard, the Party feels encouraged by the decision taken by key leaders of the WPA, the Trade Union Congress as well as other interest groups, both at home and abroad, to participate in the work of the Commission.

It has not, however, escaped the attention of the PPP that the PNC has opted not to appear before the Commission. This is, indeed, disappointing though not surprising, given the obvious discomfort the PNC has, firstly, with the setting up of the Commission and secondly with the Terms of Reference of the Commission, more particularly Article Four which sought to “specifically examine the role, if any, which army officer Gregory Smith played in Rodney’s death and if so to inquire into who may have ‘counselled, procured, aided and or abetted him to do so, including facilitating his departure from Guyana after Rodney’s death.”

It would appear that this particular aspect of the Inquiry has touched a raw nerve as far as the PNC is concerned and could possibly unearth information and facts that the PNC would have preferred to have buried under the sand.

One would have thought that the Inquiry would have provided the PNC with an opportunity to clear its name especially, given widespread allegations regarding that Party’s involve-

ment in Dr Rodney’s death. Instead, for reasons best known to itself, the PNC has opted to stay away from the work of the Commission, a position that clearly has not gone down well with a wide cross-section of the Guyanese community.

The Stabroek News, for instance, in its editorial of Tuesday, April 22, 2014 said that “the PNC owes it as much to itself as to the nation to be part of an inquiry that will pronounce, hopefully, conclusively and once and for all, on the matter of the killing of Dr Rodney. Otherwise, it will simply have to live with such demons as will continue to derive from not facing a proper Inquiry.’

This is a piece of advice that any self-respecting political party, especially one with a sordid past like the PNC, can only find useful or chose to ignore at its own peril. The PPP is hopeful that the findings of the Commission of Inquiry would heal the wounds of a past period in our history when fear, terror, and darkness prevailed over this land. Contrary to what the PNC and its Leader, David Granger, may wish to project, the brutality and oppression which obtained at the time of Rodney’s death stands in sharp contrast to what obtains today, when there is complete freedom of expression and respect for the constitutional and democratic rights of all Guyanese.

Mr Granger seems to be afraid to go under cross-examination at the CoI knowing that Rodney’s assassination was during his 43 years in the PNC. The PPP urges the PNC Leader, David Granger to seriously reconsider the Party’s position regarding the Rodney Inquiry and own up to its responsibility to come clean with the Guyanese people on this issue of concern to the Rodney family and for that matter, the nation as a whole.

Sincerely, PPP, Freedom House

The rice industry needs a bigger budget Dear Editor, Over the years, I observed that the Government has been bailing out rice millers with large sums of money to pay rice farmers, although there is an EU Financial Facility fund which was set up for millers to access loans at Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry.

The finance under the EU-Financial Facility can be utilised for working capital for millers and exporters (Gy$420 million) and as revolving loans for input suppliers (Gy$300 million); purchase of machinery and equipment related to rice production (Gy$200 million) and rice milling (Gy$300 million).

For rice producers, (Gy$437.5 million) rehabilitation and expansion of facilities related to rice production and milling. In total Gy$1657.5 million or 6.5 million euros .

Farmers want to know if these loans are still active at GBTI and how much of this money was utilised by millers, exporters and rice farmers in achieving and sustaining production.

I have witnessed over the last decade billions being invested by millers to upgrade their mills, wharehouse, laboratory, dryers and improved efficiency using new and modern technolo-

gies, while farmers have not been paid for years.

The Government, mindful of the industry, announced in the 2014 Budget that it would inject Gy$500 million towards funding crucial research and subsidising fertilisers to assist farmers.

Although this is a good move, I’m very optimistic this fund will not filter down to the ordinary rice farmers, the goal should be an investment fund offering loans at below market rates to small and medium-size farmers and to promote a well capitalised and efficient industry.

Training and education are important in helping farmers to adopt new technologies in rice production methods.

Indeed, the industry continues to play no small role in feeding the Guyanese population, its multifaceted role in the country’s economy touches every citizen. Through rice, the economy secures a sizeable part of the country’s foreign exchange and should receive more money than the failing sugar industry.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan

Dr Suresh Narine does not owe the Opposition an apology Dear Editor, I read Dr Suresh Narine’s letter dated April 23 in which he expressed his frustrations with the outcomes of the budget deliberations. He expressed his disappointment with the Opposition for cutting out the allocation to IAST and rightly so.

His critics argue that the Government is to be blamed for this and one of them, namely Mr Alfred Bhulai, even suggested that he apologises to the Opposition. I disagree because I believe that the Opposition, in the interest of the country and its people, should have offered some explanation on the way forward for this agency, instead of callously dismissing the affected agency as “collateral damage”.

Given that the work of this institution is to promote the development of renewable energy technology or green technology, which has the capacity of expanding the economic prospects of Guyana, I know that the Opposition will not hold on to its position that this is just collateral damage.

It would be very unpatriotic to do so.

I am also certain that the Opposition, like me, would not want to see Professor Narine leave, as I do believe that we are lucky to have such an accomplished and internationally renowned Guyanese directing this institution.

Some of the critics of his letter also suggested that he is caught up in political propaganda. Again you are wrong

because if you truly knew Professor Narine, you would know that he really does not have to do that. His “plate is full”. His main concern is to see Guyana develop economically and to see its people prosper.

I must say that I was heartened to read in Guyana Times dated April 27 that the Opposition will consider reinstating funding for UG because I was also concerned about all the students who would be affected by the cuts in the Student Loan Subvention.

The majority of students depend on student loans to attend UG, so you can well imagine how heartless it would be if they are to be deprived of this.

In any case, given the shortage of human resources in Guyana, Guyana can ill afford not to have its young people trained at this institution because they cannot finance their studies.

I know without a doubt that both Mr David Granger and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine care about the University of Guyana and the students’ welfare so I am appealing to them to put aside politics and do what is right for this institution.

I cannot believe that they could dismiss this as collateral damage. It reminds me of the innocent victims of war who are described as collateral damage.

I do not believe that we have become so indifferent.

Yours faithfully, Bibi Ali

911 issues must be dealt with based on facts Dear Editor, GT&T expresses our appreciation to be afforded an opportunity to respond to Captain Gerry Gouveia’s letter captioned “GTT must fix the 911 system”. Whilst we are not privy to the time, date nor location associated with Mr Gouveia’s reported investigations on behalf of the PSC, none of which were cited in his communiqué, we presume the following: * That Mr Gouveia’s visit was at Brickdam Police Station. * That Mr Gouveia’s visit and investigation did not occur in 2014. The Guyana Police Force officially requested in March 2006 that there be four dedicated lines for 911 at Brickdam, hence Mr Gouveia’s claim of six lines for 911 is not based on current reality at the Brickdam Police Station.

GT&T is of the view that this matter ref. 911 must be dealt with based on principles of professionalism, intellectual honesty and facts. Consequently, we wish to advise that and reiterate the following: * There are currently four dedicated lines for 911 service at Brickdam Police Station – all are working. * There are no current fault reports associated with the 911 lines at Brickdam. As we have indicated, all emergency numbers: 911, 912 and 913 are tested weekly across the country and when faults are detected, GT&T treats same as a matter of priority. * This is without prejudice to the fact that any non-working service that occurs between periods of routine testing by GT&T at any Police facility is reported via established communications’ and operating protocols and are immediately flagged as priority by

GT&T. * There are no such reports currently nor are there any verifiable/substantiated reports emanating from the Guyana Police Force of fault reports year to date of “intermittent” faults associated with public voice access to the four 911 lines at Brickdam Police Station.

We trust that the above clarifies and will not be responding to any further missives from Captain Gouveia on this subject since we believe that the public interest is best served by GT&T continuing to professionally cooperate with the relevant competent authorities at the appropriate forums with regards to initiatives associated with improving the 911 and indeed the entire First Responders’ infrastructure, and not engaging in such exchanges in the media.

We restate this commitment for the record.

Yours sincerely Russell Davis Director, Technical Operations & Planning Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company, Ltd

10

NEWS

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

“Walter Rodney's death was expected” - PNC gov't had issued several threats against WPA members, says De Souza

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ocial and former Working People’s Alliance (WPA) activist, Karen De Souza, testified at the Walter Rodney Commission of

Inquiry (CoI) on Tuesday during which she said the historian’s death was “expected” since the then Government, People’s National Congress (PNC),

had begun issuing public threats against the party.

De Souza was the third witness to testify in the Inquiry when it resumed on Tuesday. The

Inquiry is being chaired

by Barbadian Queen’s Counsel, Sir Richard Cheltenham; Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline Samuels-Brown from Jamaica, and Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam from Trinidad and Tobago. The Inquiry began on Monday at the Supreme Court’s Law Library building.

During her testimony, De Souza said owing to the strained relationship between the WPA and the PNC, Rodney’s death was expected and so was that of other WPA members, including herself. The social activist said that when she saw Rodney’s body on June 13, 1980 after the blast, she thought to herself “he had finally been killed by the Government”.

She was asked by a lawyer for the Commission, Attorney Latchmie Rahamat, who led the evidence in chief, to explain why she believed that the historian was killed by the Government and why she used the word “finally”.

The Social Activist pointed out that there were several reasons for her position, noting the “seriously adversarial posture” between the WPA and the PNC at that time. She added too that the fact that two WPA members had already been killed had informed her conviction, especially since the then President, Linden Forbes Burnham had publicly issued threats against the party.

“At one or more than

Former WPA activist Karen De Souza

one of the PNC rallies,…

[Burnham] had been uttering threats about making your wills and sharper steels and so forth,” she said. De Souza explained that Burnham had said “people, in the Worst Possible Alternative, should make their wills” and “the steel of the PNC was sharper than any steel the WPA might have had”. According to De Souza, Burnham had made the threats at the Square of the Revolution where a PNC anniversary rally was being held.

De Souza further spoke about WPA activists Ohene Koama and Edward Dublin, who were both shot and killed by members of the Guyana Police Force’s ‘Death Squad’, which she said was under the control of the PNC-led Government.

She added that the PNC Government also had a public attitude that says “this is what happens when you oppose us”, referring to the deaths of the two WPA members.

De Souza went on to say that prior to his death, Dr Rodney had said at a public meeting that the PNC must go, a cry which, she noted, was popular.

Fateful day

De Souza also spoke about the day Rodney was killed, relating that she was with another activist, Andaiye, at her Lot 45 Croal Street, Georgetown home when around 20:00h, she heard a loud explosion. She said she initially dismissed it, because there was no other sound such as sirens immediately after. But, a few minutes later, Rodney’s brother, Donald, frantically banged on her door. De Souza related that he told her there was an accident with Walter and that she should go. De Souza said she and Andaiye left for the scene, but were separated along the way. She noted that she observed many people gathered on John Street, closer to Hadfield Street, but they were mostly members of

the Police Force’s ‘Death Squad’.

The Social Activist then described what she saw when she got a little closer. “There was a car, the roof was blown off and a shape that had seemed kind of boneless was in the car with its face forward. I… recognised that it was Walter and I tried to get closer to the car.” De Souza said that while at the scene, she was identified by “one of the death squad people” and eventually returned home.

De Souza added that when she returned home, Donald was still there and he was bleeding, so she tended to his injuries.

She also spoke about ill-treatments meted out to her and other members of the WPA, including Rodney and leader of the party, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine. De Souza said that she had first met Rodney in 1978 and continued to see him at various meetings held by the WPA. According to her, these meetings were many times disrupted by members of the police’s “Death Squad” and the House of Israel. She disclosed that she was arrested many times during that period, but specifically spoke of her arrest in relation to the burning down of the Ministry of National Mobilisation building on Camp Street. She recalled that she was the last of some nine persons arrested, including a four-yearold child; however, she noted that only three persons were charged. These three persons were Dr Roopnaraine, Dr Rodney and Dr Omawale. De Souza added that this trial had gone on for years and then it “kind of disappeared”. In addition, the Social Activist also recollected being arrested and charged for larceny of a National Service kit. That matter, she said, went on for approximately six years before it ended without any convictions. (vahnum@guyanatimesgy.com)

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WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Antigua PM now ready to call election in best interest of nation

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rime Minister Baldwin Spencer said Monday that he would be naming the date for the general election soon, saying it is in the “best interest of the nation to do so”.

In a radio and television broadcast on Monday night, he urged citizens to allow the Electoral Commission to discharge its duties and responsibilities “in an atmosphere of peace, calm and objectivity as we prepare for the general election which are to be held shortly”.

Spencer was commenting on the rulings of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court that had earlier Monday dismissed one of two appeals filed by Opposition Leader Gaston Browne while upholding another.

The court, sitting in the British Virgin Islands, dismissed Browne's constitutional challenge of the decision of Parliament to amend the Representation of the People Act 2010.

But the Court upheld the appeal filed by the leader of the main opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) as to whether the Boundaries Commission was fair in its preparation of its report, which the ALP said was biased and unfavourable to the party's political candidates.

In his broadcast, Prime Minister Spencer said he is aware that the population is disappointed that the ruling was not handed down prior to the automatic dissolution of the Parliament as had

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer

been expected.

He stated that the uncertainties which had gripped the nation over the issues have come to an end and he urged citizens “to graciously and magnanimously accept the ruling of the Court in the spirit in which they have been handed down, and to carry on with their normal daily responsibilities with a renewed level of confidence and assurance that all the arms of government are working together in the pursuance of their respective mission and objectives."

He said with regards to the registration of voters, it was important for the Electoral Commission to complete the full exercise including hearing and determining claims and objections and must publish thereafter a full list of the registered electors in each constituency before he could responsibly call the election date. (Excerpted from Caribbean News)

PM Portia promises Jamaicans 21,000 new jobs during 2014/15

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rime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said Tuesday that her government will create some 21,000 jobs during 2014/15.

The prime minister, who was speaking in the Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, explained that close to 80 percent of the jobs will be created under the government's minimum wage emergency works scheme, the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), and its rural food production-boosting agro parks development programme.

Simpson Miller explained the job numbers as follows: JEEP to employ 12,000; over 5,000 to be employed on the Agro Parks projects; 2,000 direct and indirect jobs generated by the scrap metal trade; and 2,000 more spaces for Jamaicans on the overseas employment programmes in the United States and Canada.

The government had originally stated that some US$5 million (Ja$5 billion) of the US$353 million (Ja$35.3 billion) which will be spent on the threeyear Major Investment D e v e l o p m e n t Programme would be allocated to JEEP this financial year. Minister of Transport, Works and Housing Dr Omar Davies told the contract-signing ceremony at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston on March 18 that the first round of

until minister of Labour and Social Security Derrick Kellier speaks in the sectoral debate on June 10. But the prime minister said that, based on information from the labour liaison service covering Canada and the United States, the total will be increased from 14,000 last year to 16,000 this year.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller speaking in the Budget Clarification of Debate in the House of Representatives Tuesday (JIS photo) the 2,000 direct and indirect jobs unthe new phase of JEEP, ous that the 5,000 der the scrap metunder a project involv- agro parks jobs in- al trade is not expected ing the 63 members of clude the 225 farm- either until Minister of parliament (MPs) each ers and 839 labour- Industry, Investment being allocated Ja$10 ers already employed and Commerce Anthony million, or a total of to the seven parks in Hylton speaks on May Ja$630 million, which operation.

Minister 21. began in March, would of Agriculture Roger However, Simpson employ a total of 12,000 Clarke told the House Miller said that the govpeople. of Representatives last ernment was aware that Tuesday also, the week that the other two it would not be able to prime minister did not agro parks, which will create all the jobs that refer to any other JEEP complete the total nine the nation needs. project planned for parks envisaged under "We, however, ac2014/15, raising some the programme, will be cept that that we have concerns about whether implemented this finan- the responsibility to the entire Ja$5 billion, cial year. create the enabling originally announced It is unlikely that business environment for the programme this the additional 2,000 in which the private year, will actually be jobs expected from over- sector can create jobs," spent. seas employment pro- she said. (Excerpted It was also obvi- gramme will be clarified from Jamaica Observer)

12 news Grenadian jobs promised with hotel project to start by year-end A WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Grenadian businessman, who is part of a group planning to invest in hotel construction on the island, has said that work on the first project should begin before yearend.

Danny Fakhre, a ship owner and international meat and livestock trader, was quoted in the latest issue of Caribupdate Weekly as saying that drawings and designs are being finalised for constructing a five-star resort on the famous Grand Anse Beach, on a site that formerly housed the Silver Sands Hotel.

“We expect groundbreaking and the start of work on the project

Danny Fakhre

around November of this year. And 18 months to two years after that, the hotel will be opened and operational,” Fakhre said in a Caribupdate

news story.

“We expect anywhere between 250 to 400 people to be employed during the construction phase. When the hotel is operational, we expect there to be about 200 people employed fulltime.”

Another project, Fakhre said, is slated for the former Riviera Hotel, which is also on Grand Anse Beach.

In each case, he explained, “we have foreign investors who are very familiar with the tourism and hotel industry”.

Caribupdate Weekly reported that the foreign investors include Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, who is

also an American citizen; and a German citizen Hamed El Chiaty, owner of Travco–a leading global hotel wholesaler.

Fakhre told the paper that he and his partners want first to complete the new Silver Sands’ project, to “make sure it is up and running”, and then they will give undivided attention to the Riviera initiative.

“In the meantime,” he said, “we’re going to start clearing the Riviera land, landscaping it, and preparing the drawings.

We’ll probably start construction of a high-end restaurant and beach bar on Riviera, which would eventually be incorporated in the resort.

That would, in itself, start a lot of economic activities on the site. But the proper construction of the hotel on Riviera would start only after we finalise the Silver Sands’ one.”

According to Fakhre, he and his group have consulted and received “professional advice” on environmental concerns expressed by some on the proposed hotel projects for Grand Anse Beach; and they don’t believe the projects in any way will impact negatively on the beach, he said.

Fakhre said the investor group is encouraged by the support re-

ceived from the Grenada government of prime minister and minister of finance, Dr Keith Mitchell.

“We’re very comfortable with the support the government is giving,” he said.

“This is obviously a government that is very keen to see investment in Grenada and to see Grenada booming again.

And, Grenada really does deserves to boom.

Every investor, guest or friend that I bring to Grenada, says this place is the best-kept secret in the world. And by the way, I agree with them.”

(Caribbean News)

Mother, two sons stabbed to death in Jamaica

Undertakers remove one of the three bodies from the crime scene (Jamaica Observer photo)

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olice in Jamaica are investigating Tuesday’s brutal murder of a woman and her two sons in Ramble District, near Porus.

Police said the three— Nadine Carridice, 42, and her sons Jevaughn Thomas,16, and Roshane Ellis,11,—were found about 7:20 am outside of their home with stab wounds all over their bodies. The mother's body was found at the doorway to the house while her children were reportedly found at different places in the open space outside the yard.

"It's a sad day. It's a wicked act," said Damion Carridice, a relative of the deceased.

Several residents from Ramble and adjoining communities who visited the death scene were in shock as they quietly discussed the loss of three community members.

Aboutho Carridice, who said that Nadine

was his only child, struggled for words as he questioned the motive for the murder of his daughter and two of his grandchildren.

A man, who was taken in by the police for questioning in connection with the three deaths, was said to be the father of three of the woman's children, including 11year- old Ellis. However, residents said they did not believe that he was the "real perpetrator of the crime" and wanted the "true criminal" to be found as soon as possible so that justice could be served.

They claimed that the death of the three could be linked to disagreements which the deceased woman had with another man with whom she had a relationship.

The killer, they claimed, may have killed the two children because they witnessed the murder of their mother. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

13 Nearly half of New Yorkers are struggling to get by, study finds M news

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

ayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) announced on Wednesday that they have submitted to the City Council the Mayor’s Annual Poverty Report. The 2005-2012 analysis, incorporating the latest data available, placed the city’s poverty rate at 21.4 percent – statistically unchanged from 2011. While the city’s economic and employment conditions improved since the 2008 recession, a large percentage of the city’s population (45.6 percent) continued to live near the poverty line in 2012, compared to 30.7 percent in the official federal measure. The Mayor’s poverty report employs the CEO Poverty Measure, a more accurate metric that reflects the cost of living in New York City.

The report shows a troubling rise in poverty among workers and working families. The poverty rate for working age adults (18-64 years of age) who were employed full-time, year-round,

rose by 1.8 percentage points from 2008, reaching 8 percent in 2012.

Rates also increased for working families with two full-time workers by 1.3 percentage points (to 5.2 percent); one fulltime and one part-time worker by 2.6 percentage points (to 14.8 percent); and one full-time worker by 1 percentage point (to 17.1 percent).

The report also highlights statistically significant increases in the poverty rate across nearly every demographic group over the 2008 to 2012 time period. Increases in poverty were particularly pronounced for Asian New Yorkers (a 6.6 percentage point increase, totaling 29 percent) and non-citizens (a 5.3 percentage point increase, totaling 29.9 percent).

These two demographic groups have significant overlaps—nearly one-third (32.9 percent) of the city’s Asian population falls into the noncitizen category.

“This report highlights the urgency of our policy and legislative agenda,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The data

clearly shows that too many New Yorkers are struggling to get by, and the city must do more to address their needs. We are committed to helping level the playing field, while ensuring that New York continues to be a vibrant economic city for all.”

“Reducing inequality and poverty in New York City is our motivating force and the basis of our platform. Whether it is by expanding paid sick leave and prevailing wage, or implementing a municipal ID, or,

in the longer run, implementing universal preK and afterschool programs for middle school students, we are trying to deal with these issues at scale, and the CEO data will inform specific policies and programs to address the issues identified in the poverty report,” said First Deputy Mayor Anthony Shorris.

Despite fiscal constraints, the de Blasio administration says it has made the fight to reduce poverty and inequality a priority. With significant support from

the City Council, the administration has already taken steps toward addressing the issues raised in the report, including securing funding to implement universal pre-K, which will prepare more children for academic success while achieving child care savings for their parents; extending paid sick leave protections to hundreds of thousands of additional working New Yorkers; increasing the number of jobs paying living wages; and developing a municipal ID that will increase

access to basic services for all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status.

The de Blasio administration says it will continue to implement initiatives that address needs and specific trends identified in this report.

The city will seek opportunities to lift wages and increase labour market participation, as well as continue efforts to improve access to basic services for immigrants, including expanding language access programs to better assist non-English speaking New Yorkers in obtaining social benefits. Expanding language access will help thousands of Limited English Proficient New Yorkers access health care services, housing, small business support, and educational initiatives.

This year’s report is the first issued since the New York City Charter was revised in December 2013, requiring the Mayor to submit an annual report on poverty with a description of the city’s strategy and resources aimed at alleviating poverty.

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news

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

TravelSpan adds another aircraft to GT-NY route

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ravelSpan has announced that it will be adding another aircraft to service the GeorgetownNew York route to help with the peak season in Guyana.

The aircraft will complement the current aircraft plying the Georgetown route to facilitate the extra flights that TravelSpan added for the July/August peak season.

The airline stated that this move was intended to build a reliable air service for all Guyanese. TravelSpan, in collaboration with Vision Airline, currently offers a wide-body 767/200 aircraft for its nonstop service between Georgetown and New York.

The new larger 767/300 aircraft has a more spacious interior that allows for extra leg-

room.

The second aircraft, which was on a JFKGEO-JFK round trip last Saturday (April 26), is configured with a 30-seat business class, with full reclining bed seats and 191 economy seats.

The company currently has flights scheduled for Tuesdays and Saturdays, and for July and August there will be flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The company also has flights scheduled for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays to and from Port of Spain, Trinidad for July and August.

According to TravelSpan, it will also offer all-inclusive vacation packages at hotels in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic on Tuesdays in July and August.

PAC headquarters officially commissioned

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he Protected Areas Commission (PAC) building at the National Park was declared open on Tuesday evening with much talk of sustainable bilateral relations between Guyana and Germany from Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud, and German Ambassador Stefan Schlueter.

Speaking at the opening of the building, which was dedicated to German Geographer and Surveyor, Robert Schomburgk, Persaud highlighted that Guyana continues to strengthen bilateral ties with the European nation of Germany.

“Our partnership with Germany, which represents one of the only bilateral cooperation agreements in the Caribbean, is now into a €5.15 million Phase II of GPAS, with €4 million serving as an endowment to the Protected Areas Trust Fund,” said Minister Persaud.

Persaud pointed out that, it was with the aid of the German Government and members of the German private sector that Guyana has managed to pursue extensive works.

Acting President Samuel Hinds, along with Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud and German Ambassador Stefan Schueleter, reveals the plaque at the entrance to the PAC building

In 2004, Germany and Guyana implemented phase one of the €2.56 million Guyana Protected Areas System (GPAS), funded by the aforementioned entities.

“The innovation fostered under this bilateral relationship will, no doubt, be applicable to other member states in Caricom, and others in the developing world” Minister Persaud said, while addressing the gathering.

“So, this is not just about building offices, it is about transforming the way we view our environment and its role in our development as communities, as a nation, and as citizens of the earth,” Persaud said,

while explaining that the project supported sustainable livelihood projects in more than 30 Amerindian communities.

He added that the initiative also led to the drafting of the National Protected Areas Act, demarcation plans for both the Kanuku Mountains and Shell Beach Protected Areas, and a draft Kanuku Mountains Management Plan.

He further pointed out that work on the project will be in tandem with the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

As such, the Minister related, a world-class National Protected

Areas System will put Guyana on par with other nations at the forefront of new and novel approaches to preservation and sustainable development.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Hinds pointed out that Guyana is not heading into the area of industrialisation but rather into tourism.

“Make Guyana into a park for the world,” said Acting President Hinds.

He posited that forest protection and development of natural areas must be placed on the front burner as it relates to development.

Further, Ambassador Schlueter related that he was delightful that steps were taken to open the building in honour of the late geographer that “literally put Guyana on the map”.

He said Germany is looking forward to continued initiatives in conjunction with the Government of Guyana.

In his remarks, PAC Commissioner Damien Fernandes related that the building will not only improve the work of PAC, but also that of the Three Parks Initiative, which will be used as a window for the protected areas.

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week ending May 4, 2014| guyanatimeSinternational.com

PM Hinds tours Aurora Gold Mines - pleased with investment and progress

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rime Minister Samuel Hinds over the weekend visited the Guyana Gold Fields project, the Aurora Gold Mines located in the north-west of the country in CuyuniMazaruni, Region Seven where he was given an update on the progress of work for the soon to be established open pit and underground mining operation.

“The activities have moved from prospecting 10 years ago, and now they are moving into the construction of a plant, and if all goes as planned about 14 months from today they should have their first bar of gold,” the Prime Minister stated, according to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release.

The Aurora Gold Project is designed to produce 3.29 million ounces of gold, averaging 194,000 ounces yearly.

Development of the mining area, was known for 100 years before its development, the Prime Minister stated, and “when I visited 10 years ago they were prospecting, and we saw some equipment from some ac-

tivities from way back.”

The Prime Minister added that the operation would start with open pit and then continue into an underground operation and they will soon look at the possibility of extending the life of the plant or make way for a bigger one. The Aurora Gold Mines has a project life of 17 years.

Meanwhile the company’s General Manager Vic Rozon, said the company started construction in January of this year and has a completion date of May 2015.

Thus far, the company has seen investments from companies, in Australia and Peru, and provides employment for hundreds of Guyanese.

“Construction of a road project has begun and we were working on other infrastructure area such as dams and bridges and airport strip and also getting the mine areas ready for production.

There is a lot of work ahead of us, so far we are committed,” Rozon said. Also, Rozon, stated that he was pleased with the Government’s commitment towards the company in terms of providing the neces-

Dr Rowley wants probe at AG office

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T’s Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is demanding the removal of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan from office while Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar initiates a full investigation into allegations of wrong-doing by lawyers involved in prison litigation in his ministry.

Rowley made the call during a People’s National Movement (PNM) leadership campaign meeting at Signature Hall, Longdenville, Chaguanas, on Monday night.

He said if the PM did not accede to the request he would lead citizens on the streets in protest.

Rowley was referring to the now ongoing saga between Ramlogan and former solicitor general (SG) Eleanor DonaldsonHoneywell.

D o n a l d s o n Honeywell, in a letter to the PM last August, had accused attorneys in the Office of the AG of collusion in prison litigation matters and called for a probe. She claimed there were concerns about a breach of professional

TT’s Attorney General Anand Ramlogan (TT Guardian file photo)

ethics for indirect or direct financial gain, adding she was concerned the attorneys were engaged in an unethical business venture.

After the AG produced a second letter to the media over the weekend, which seemed to suggest DonaldsonHoneywell had withdrawn her request after being satisfied the matter had been dealt with following a probe by the AG, DonaldsonHoneywell countered that she never did that and expected the probe to continue. (TT Guardian)

sary duty- free concession and other support.

Guyana Goldfields is one of South America’s largest gold mines and Guyana’s second largest gold extracting operation since the departure of OMAI in 2005.

It has been operating in Guyana since 1996, conducting explorations and surveys. Up to 900 staff will be employed, the majority of them Guyanese, during the period of 2013 to 2014 for the construction phase.

Routine operations will see as many as 500 staff being employed, and according to company officials, up to 95 per cent of the workforce will be local employees.

From its initial

launch in 1996 to 2013, about US$192 million has been invested. The sum of US$249 million will be invested from 2013 to 2014, with US$153 million to be spent from 2015 to 2017.

The mine is projected to be in operation until 2031. Guyana Gold Fields has undertaken a comprehensive ESI and the necessary permits to ensure compliance with local laws and international best practices. The com- Minister Samuel Hinds, and Vic Rozon, General Manager for Aurora Gold Mines during the tour of the construction site pany’s management team took a decision ares. The Environmental will be upgrading their to reduce the “carbon Protection Agency (EPA) monitoring capability footprint” of the site’s and the Guyana Geology and enforcement capacimining plant from 2000 and Mines Commission’s ty to manage and ensure hectares to 1200 hect- Environmental Division compliance.

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WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

17 Guyana Police investigating alleged gold scam G news

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

uyana’s acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud said investigations into allegations of gold tampering at the Guyana Gold Board, Bartica, Region Seven office is ongoing, noting that it is too early to pronounce on the matter.

The acting Police Commissioner related that although several arrests have already been made, the investigations are in its early stages.

A week ago, the Natural Resources Ministry announced that a forensic audit has been launched into the operations of the Guyana Gold Board office at Bartica.

In a release at that time from the Gold Board, its Chairman, Dr Gobind Ganga had said the audit will aid the current investigations by the Guyana Police Force.

Dr Ganga also maintained that “all gold purchased by the Guyana Gold Board are first stored under the strictest security systems”, adding that it is virtually “impossible to allow for

Guyana’s acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud (Guyana Times photo)

any tampering”.

Seven employees from the Bartica and Georgetown offices were detained by Police for questioning in the earlier stages of the investigation.

It was also reported that one of the employees of the Gold Board has gone into hiding after the scam was brought to light. To date, no information has surfaced about the missing employee.

In the mean-

time, Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association President Patrick Harding said the Association is advocating for an efficient and expeditious Police investigation into the claims so that business at the Guyana Gold Board can return to normalcy.

Harding said it was important that the investigation be wrapped up quickly and business resumes at the Bartica Branch of the Gold Board since that particular branch accounts for some 40 percent of gold bought from miners by the Gold Board.

“Whatever irregularities found needed to be sorted out once and for all,” Harding said, as he explained that miners have developed a sort of distrust for the Gold Board as a result of the recently unearthed scam.

He contended that at the conclusion of the investigation and restoration of the credibility of the Board, miners will be comfortable, because the Gold Board is the most certain market that the miners have. Harding

Illegal adoption rampant in Dominica

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llegal adoption has become a “big business” between Dominica and the neighbouring French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique.

Francis Joseph, advocate for the protection and welfare of children,

from the press, the baby was found in Martinique by the French Embassy in St. Lucia and returned to its birth mother.

According to Joseph, the true core of the problem is not the adoption but the illegality of how the children enter the

Dominican cases of illegal adoption are most dominant among the country’s indigenous people, says a local advocate

youth, women and the family touched on the issue at a film viewing and discussion on “Voices of Abused Children,” held last Thursday at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus.

He related to the gathering his first encounter with the situation.

Joseph said he pursued the case and, after a long struggle that gained much attention

foreign countries.

Joseph said that Dominican cases of illegal adoption are most dominant among the country’s indigenous people.

However, it is not an issue that is confined solely to Dominica, but he has witnessed it in many other countries of the world.

According to Joseph, there are many more unresolved cases of illegal adoption in the country.

However, he is not au-

thorised to hand over any names and thus has left the investigations in the hands of the French embassy.

(Caribbean News)

explained that since the investigation has begun, the Association has been keeping a keen eye on progress and steps tak-

en, since the miners have been directly affected.

He indicated that he has since received several complaints from min-

ers in the Diaspora who are enquiring about the proceeding of the Gold Board. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

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news

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

New List of Pre-qualified Pharma suppliers soon - to be chosen from seven bidders

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n an effort to provide the best health care for the citizens of Guyana, the procurement process for pharmaceuticals and medicines by the Government of Guyana through the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC) and the Health Ministry is being revisited for the third time in the past decade.

In Guyana, medicines and medical supplies are procured through two mechanisms: open bidding and via bidding by pre-qualified suppliers. The latter was recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Bank for comprehensive country purchases so as to address the complexities and scale of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

The last change in procurement was at the end of 2010, when, following the recommendation of the Auditor General, medicines and certain medical supplies began to be procured through a system of competitive bidding to produce the list of prequalified suppliers.

This list would be

compiled after an open tender process, using public tendering modelled after the WHO. It was stated quite clearly that the list would be valid between 20112013.

A “Pre-qualification Questionnaire” by the National Procurement Administration and Tender Board spells out the criteria necessary for compliance, even as it notes that the traditional international suppliers PAHO/WHO, the UNICEF, UNFPA,

Caribbean; be “principally” involved in the distribution of drugs, and be in a position to supply at least 75 per cent of the number of line items on each list.

The questionnaire also requested business, manufacturing, quality and product information.

There were several local and Caribbean suppliers that applied, including the International Pharmaceutical Agency, but only two local companies were able to be

Workers busy at work inside the NEW GPC Bond at Farm, East Bank Demerara

UNDP and IDA were automatically qualified.

Suppliers also had to be legally registered in Guyana and the

added to the five international suppliers.

These were the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation and

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

MediPharm.

Even though there were strident criticisms of the results of the PreQualification process, no one has been able to dispute then Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy’s contention that “Guyana has successfully procured items through pre-qualification and other methods at 20 to 30 per cent less than the International Average Reference prices”. These average prices are established on publicly available WHO Guidelines on “Country Pharmaceutical Pricing Policies”.

2014-2016 Criteria

This feature of the process that com-

pares prices to the International Average Reference yardstick is strenuously ignored by local critics. Some of these critics harp on the need for “cheap” or “cheaper” drugs, not understanding that if prices are significantly at variance from the WHO prices, something is amiss. More than likely, these drugs are expired or made from inferior formulations or are not packaged properly.

In line with the expiration of the 2011-2013 Pre-qualified List, towards the end of 2013, there was an advertisement soliciting suppliers for 2014- 2016, from Guyana and members of

Caricom to be pre-qualified and be added to the list of international suppliers that once again were defined as being compliant.

What this meant was that the NEW GPC would have to once again stand in line and be evaluated along with other local and Caricom companies. The other bidders are Trinidadian companies ANSA McAL and Western Scientific Company as well as locally-based Telcom Solutions (Guyana) Inc, Meditron Scientific Sales, International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) and Global Healthcare Supplies Inc.

news

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WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

PPP lauds Abrams Zuil Secondary for outstanding performances at Science Fair T

he Abrams Zuil Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast was highly praised by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for its outstanding performance during the recently concluded 2014 National Science, Mathematics and Technology Fair.

The secondary school emerged the winner in both the Oral Presentation and Best Project categories after it captivated the judges’ attention with its project “Husk particle board factory,” in the Industrial Category.

Speaking at the PPP/C weekly press conference, the General Secretary Clement Rohee applauded the Education Ministry for the successful staging of the event held at the Anna Regina Secondary School on Friday under the theme “Science, Mathematics and Technology: Providing solutions for the 21st century”. However, the party was keen on singling out the Abrams Zuil Secondary School, saying the school continues to shine in the academic arena.

“This is the most laud-

top CXC students in the Caribbean is indicative of the strides made in education delivery in the region and the country as a whole,” he said.

He said too that the Education Ministry ought to be applauded in this regard, explaining that the trend of only having top students from the central locations is a thing of the past.

Dividends

Proud winners! Students of Abram Zuil Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast last Friday emerged winners in both the Oral Presentation and Best Project categories at the conclusion of 2014 National Science, Mathematics and Technology Fair

able performance given the fact that the school until recently was not considered as one of the high achievers both by national and regional standards.

The fact that the school was successful in producing the overall best CXC student in Guyana and the Caribbean and has now excelled at the 2014 Science, Mathematics and

Technology Fair, speaks to the enormous strides the school has made,” Rohee said while addressing the press at Freedom House on Monday.

Deserving commendation

He said the school’s administration, students and parents ought to be proud of themselves and be given full credit. Other

winners in the secondary level were Queen’s College and the Mackenzie High School.

The Taymonth Manor Primary School also of Region Two received the PPP/C’s recognition. The school copped the first place for Best Oral Presentation in the Primary Category.

Turning to the overall per-

formance of Region Two, Rohee said the PPP/C is particularly happy with its growing success in the field of education. The region, he added must continue to strive for excellence in quality education delivery.

“The fact that the Anna Regina Multilateral School venue of the competition has produced

“The interventions made by the Education Ministry over the years are yielding dividends, gone are the days when only a few city schools shone at national and regional examinations. Today, there is a much better spread of student performance throughout the country, including coastal and regional schools,” the PPP/C General Secretary further explained.

PPP/C strongly believes that the future of Guyana is linked to the advances made in the areas of Science and Technology. “Our capacity to apply the latest advances in science and technology would determine the pace of our growth and development,” he added.

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NEWS

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Opposition willing to Demerara Bank reinstate funding for UG records 32 per

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Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader David Granger and Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan have said that the voting down of the University of Guyana (UG) Student Loan subvention last week was not a premeditated act.

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

The two leaders were responding to questions regarding the Gy$450 million that the Opposition voted against last week in the Committee of Supply, during the 2014 Budget Debates.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader David Granger said he would be willing to give an in-depth explanation to the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) concerning the decision which may have left them puzzled.

Rock and a hard place

“On this occasion in the 2014 Budget, the Minister of Finance

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

bunched several items together and in this case under Heading 03, under Capital Expenditure, proposals for student loans of Gy$450 million have been included with other items that A Partnership for National Unity was dissatisfied with.”

According to him, when questioned by the Speaker regarding the approval of the expenditure, the party was thrown between a rock and a hard place.

“The result is when the question was posed by the Speaker, we could either approve all or none

at all,” he said, noting that the Student Loan, which was not a target of disapproval by APNU, suffered because items such as the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) were bunched together.

According to him, it was never the party’s intention to trample on students’ education.

Meanwhile, Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan told this publication that the Government is “behaving irresponsible now”.

In an invited comment, the party leader said the Government was advised

to return to the National Assembly with supplementary provisions.

However, nothing has been discussed in this regard. He too declared that there was never any intention to stifle students’ growth. He said the Government made a smart move when it bundled the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and some other items into one.

Last week, the combined parliamentary Opposition voted against funding for several Finance Ministry programmes, including the Gy$450 million allocated to UG for student loans.

cent profit

UG Vice Chancellor Professor Jacob Opadeyi had said that if the decision to axe the budgetary allocation is not soon reversed, a severe crisis would ensue at the country’s premier tertiary institution. Professor Opadeyi had explained that the situation was further complicated, since loans to students are issued on a yearly basis.

He said if the situation is not urgently addressed, some 3500 students will not be able to enrol in the new academic year, which commences in September.

“The university not having this money to cushion our expenditure is a big blow. On the other hand is to know that over 3500 students will be affected by this development… in real terms that is over 50 per cent of our students… If we do not have that income to come in, we’ll have implications”.

emerara Bank Limited has performed remarkably well in the first half of the financial year ending March 31. The bank is reporting profit after taxation of Gy$760.6 million against profit of Gy$577.6 million in 2013, an increase of 32 per cent.

The deposit base of the bank was Gy$40.4 billion compared to Gy$38.3 billion as on March 31.

The bank in a release said significant improvements are reflected in the areas of loans and advances which increased to Gy$19.7 billion from Gy$16 billion, registering a rise of 23 per cent when compared to 2013 corresponding year while, investment increased to Gy$19.1 billion from Gy$18.1 billion.

Demerara Bank’s total net assets for the half-year totalled Gy$49.5 billion com-

Crisis looms

D

Chairman Clifford Reis

pared with Gy$45.7 billion at the end of March 2013. Its interest earned on income for the period under review totalled Gy$1.6 billion, representing interest earned on both loans and advances and investments.

This shows a rise of 23 per cent over the previous half-year.

As a consequence of the bank’s solid performance for the first half of the year, shareholders’ earnings per share (annualised) increased by 31.5 per cent, to $3.38 per share, the release said.

The bank will soon be celebrating 20 years of existence and has shown great fortitude during its tenure.

“At present, the bank is having a network of six branches countrywide and we have plans to expand our network, including a spacious head office premises by early 2015.

“The solid performance … for the first half year was also due to the commitment and dedication of the management and staff of the bank. Our major assets are our human resources. We continue to provide training at all levels at the bank, which will take us to greater heights in the future with an expanded network of branches,” the release said.

Demerara Bank, Guyana’s first indigenous commercial bank, opened for business in November 1994.

NEWS Duo charged with murder of Patsan’s salesman

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he two men accused of robbing and killing a salesman of Patsan Trading were remanded to prison when they made their first appearance before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

The man had allegedly killed Bharrat Ramcharran.

The charges alleged that the duo, Randolph Marques and Kevin France, murdered Ramcharran in the course of a robbery on April 24 in Campbellville, Georgetown.

The two were not required to plea to the indictable charge. Marques’ attorney is Adrian Thompson while France is represented

by Attorney-at-law James Bond. However, Marques’ attorney was not present at court and Bond represented his client on his behalf.

Marques is 20 years old while France is 26 years old and works at a wash bay.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant asked the magistrate for three weeks before proceeding with the Preliminary trial as the investigations are still incomplete.

Meanwhile, for his part Bond said his clients are making allegations against police officers that they were beaten and tortured while in custody.

Magistrate SewnarineBeharry instructed the prosecutor to take note of the allegations made

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Case of slain biker likely to be reopened D

Dead: Bharrat Ramcharran

against the ranks that were named and launch an investigation into the matter.

The two men are remanded until May 9.

Police had reported that Ramcharran was about to enter the business place when he was attacked by two men, one of whom was armed with a firearm.

Ramcharran was shot to his back by the armed man and the perpetrators took away a bag with an undisclosed sum of cash and escaped on a motor cycle.

The injured man was immediately rushed to the Woodlands Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Ramcharran worked at Patsan for 19 years. This newspaper understands that the man usually spends all day collecting payments before heading back to the office in the afternoon. He usually conducts businesses on his own.

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irector of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack has requested an additional statement from the main witness in the case involving Rondy Jagdeo, who was accused of murdering super biker, Kirk Davis.

As such, she added that the file was sent back to the Police to obtain the statement after which she asked that the file be returned to her. The DPP will make her recommendations based on the new evidence garnered. A reliable source told Guyana Times International that the matter is likely to be reopened.

The DPP recalled that recently she instructed the preliminary inquiry (PI) of freed murder accused, Carlyle Barton to be reopened after she found sufficient evidence to do so. Similar, she added that if the evidence is overwhelming, the PI into the murder of Davis can be reopened.

Jagdeo, 28, of Lot 159, Third Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown, was freed by Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry on March 20. All charges against Jagdeo were dropped which stated that he allegedly killed his friend, Kirk Davis on September 3, 2013.

The pre-trial matter engaged the attention of the court for a little over one month and some seven witnesses were called to take the stand on behalf of the Prosecution. On March 20, the

In Commissioner’s court

Rondy Jagdeo

Prosecution was ordered to close its case after failing on three occasions to produce its two remaining civilian witnesses to the court.

Davis was reportedly killed because the accused had reasons to believe the deceased and his wife were having an affair. He was shot at least 16 times.

Jagdeo subsequently left the country after the Guyana Police Force alleged that he was the main suspect in the murder. Jagdeo returned home from Holland on October 23, 2013 and submitted himself to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on October 28, 2013, in the company of his lawyers.

On the other hand, it has been three months since the DPP advised the courts to reopen the case of the freed cricketer, but to date, the accused Carlyle Barton cannot be located. When asked if that is the end of the matter, the DPP suggested that the question with respect to the re-arrest of the accused be thrown at the acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud.

Magistrate Fabayo Azore had announced that she was forced to set Barton free, owing to the lack of evidence since the witnesses failed to show up. Barton made his first court appearance on May 28 before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell and was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on May 27 at Orange Walk, he murdered Nelson.

The matter was then transferred to another court where the PI commenced. As the PI continued, several prosecution witnesses did not show up to testify, which brought a halt to the proceedings and forced the case to be adjourned.

The entire shooting incident was captured by surveillance cameras and based on the evidence, the cricketer was charged with the man’s death. The surveillance recording that was collected from a nearby business was reportedly not presented in court.

The changing face of the global banana trade D

espite the continued importance of multinational companies in the global trade of bananas, their involvement in banana production has fallen dramatically over the past three decades, shifting their sphere of action to favour other areas in the sector and opening the door to opportunities for other companies.

This view of the changing nature of the global banana trade is captured in a new Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) information note and based on analysis of information gathered from the annual reports of the largest multinational banana trading companies.

FAO’s review of the three largest banana traders (Chiquita, Dole and Del Monte), shows that the combined market share of the top three companies was at its highest in the 1980s, when they controlled almost two-thirds (65.3 per cent) of global banana exports, while in 2013, their market share was slightly over one-

third (36.6 per cent).

In 2013, the market share of the top five companies was 44.4 per cent, down from 70 per cent in 2002.

“The competition among banana producing countries is fierce and many have struggled to remain competitive, but there are also new opportunities, as the market is no longer dominated by big players and new buyers are entering the market,” said FAO Trade and Markets Division Economist Ekaterina Krivonos.

Economists in the secretariat of FAO’s Intergovernmental Group on Bananas and Tropical Fruits conducted the analysis amid a flurry of reports on the merger last month of Chiquita, the largest banana trading company in the world and the dominant company in the US market (61 per cent of the company’s sales), and Fyffes, one of the main suppliers to the European market.

Trading places

The information note shows that the scope of operations of the big

given the importance of other market actors, in particular in Europe and Russia”.

Support for smaller producers

multinationals has also undergone a significant shift, away from plantation ownership and production, and more towards post-production logistics, including purchasing from producers, transportation, facilities to ripen the fruit, and marketing.

Major supermarket chains in the US and the European Union, meanwhile, have become “important players in the global banana trade as they dominate the retail market in the main banana-consuming

countries and are also increasingly purchasing from smaller wholesalers or directly from growers,” the note underscores.

This shift of market power away from the major banana brands towards retailers was facilitated by the establishment of direct container liner services from banana producing regions to the main destination markets.

Moreover, there is a parallel trend towards less concentration among the exporting firms in the

major banana producing countries, for example in Ecuador.

In the information note, FAO points out that while the merger that formed Chiquita Fyffes made the new company an undisputed leader in the banana market, with 18.7 per cent control of global banana exports, “it is unlikely that the merger will give the new company sufficient market power to exert pressure over the banana market and influence either producer prices or import/wholesale prices,

As banana markets become more fragmented and new players continue to enter the fray, there is an important message for banana producers.

“In order to seize opportunities in an increasingly competitive market, banana producers need to be better informed and better prepared, including smallholder producers and any cooperatives or other organisations that represent them,” said FAO Intergovernmental Group on Bananas and Tropical Fruits Secretary Kaison Chang.

“FAO is working with governments and producers to help them build their viability by maintaining good cultivation practices, preventing and fighting plant diseases, strengthening producer organisations and developing both domestic and international marketing strategies,” Chang said.

22 news “I never threatened Squatters told to anyone” – Dharamlall get off CJIA land WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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Amerindian Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Nigel Dharamlall and Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy joining Amerindians in protesting the Opposition’s voting down of the Amerindian Development Fund

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m e r i n d i a n Affairs Ministry P e r m a n e n t Secretary Nigel Dharamlall has strongly denied using any form of coercion against Amerindians who formed part of a meeting organised to discuss cuts to the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) and the potential impact.

Dharamlall, speaking with Guyana Times International on Saturday, poured cold water on some of the concerns raised by the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) and sections of the media following the surfacing of a recording of some of the comments he reportedly

made at the meeting.

He said that both the media and the APA were blowing the situation out of proportion and were reading far too much into the “conversation” he had with the elected representatives of several indigenous and hinterland community leaders as well as Amerindian residents.

“I never threatened anyone at the meeting.

I never sought to intimidate anyone. I believe the context of my conversation with the audience was lost and taken out of context,” he told Guyana Times International.

He maintained that he was merely seeking to emphasise the importance of the elected

representatives informing their villages of the setbacks and the hardships they could endure from the actions by the Opposition to stymie their development.

Dharamlall explained that he was also trying to clarify the need for the Amerindians to be told the truth as he sought to end the misinformation and confusion that the Community Development Projects (CDPs) were being funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“This is not true.

These projects are being executed and funded by the Government of Guyana. In fact, we are

he Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Sunday said that despite several warnings, a number of farmers are squatting on lands earmarked for the airport expansion project.

This was discovered following a joint visit last Friday and the farmers were again warned about this practice. The visit was undertaken by CJIA, Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force officials.

Prior to the ground tour, a flyover was done by the officials to ascertain the extent of the illegal practice. A particular squatter, whose activities are close to compromising army facilities in the area, was cautioned to stop. This squatter admitted to not having any lease or permit for the land he is occupying, but promised to stop all operations and undertook to heed the advice he was given.

Three other squatters who are operating in the area also promised to comply with the request.

Meanwhile, CJIA said follow-up visits will

An area of CJIA land slashed and burnt by the farmers for cultivation

continue to ensure that the advice is adhered to.

Over the past five years, CJIA and the Public Works Ministry have actively engaged squatters and farmers on their illegal occupancy of lands, which are crucial for the airport expansion project.

A committee, chaired

by Transport Minister Robeson Benn, was established in 2013 to review and pursue options for squatter relocation.

Squatting is extensively done on CJIA lands, including the land required for the runway extension.

Production target for Caribbean seen as next turmeric, ginger set at 10,000 continued on page 26

global breadbasket

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atin America and the Caribbean region can help feed a global population of nine billion people in 2050 provided the region implements key policy actions to bolster agricultural productivity, according to a new report released last week by the Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

Drawing on knowledge and experience from more than 30 public and private sector partners, The “Next Global Breadbasket: How Latin America Can Feed the World” outlines challenges, recommendations and action items for policymakers, the donor community, farmers, agribusiness, and civil society.

Population growth and dramatic diet changes will, over the next several decades, place great stress on agriculture worldwide. The Next Global Breadbasket describes the role of Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) in addressing this challenge, as well as its opportunity to increase development, reduce poverty, and support social progress across the region.

“Latin America has immense potential to help meet our planet’s growing demand for food, feed, fibre and fuel in a sustainable, productive way. By putting in place a comprehensive agenda of pro-agriculture policies, Latin America can attract the investments and innovations to become the 21st Century global breadbasket,” said Dr Margaret

M Zeigler, Executive Director of the Global Harvest Initiative.

The LAC region contributes 11 per cent of the value of current world food production and represents 24 per cent of the world’s arable land. The region has about 28 per cent of the world’s land that has been identified as having medium to high potential for sustainable expansion of cultivated area, and a 36 per cent share of land that is within six hours travel time to a market.

“Already the largest net food exporting region in the world, LAC has achieved only a fraction of its potential to expand agricultural production for regional consumption and global export,” according to Ginya Truitt Nakata, Operations Senior Specialist at the IDB. “The next 10 to 20 years offer a critical window of opportunity to advance new forms of productive and environmentally sustainable agriculture in the region.”

Key areas for policy action and investment in which the public and private sectors can and must move forward together include: agriculture science, research, and development; knowledge and extension services for farmers; transport and logistics infrastructure; irrigation, water management and mechanisation technology; regional and global trade; farmers’ access to financial services, cooperatives and producer associations; and reduction of post-harvest losses.

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s a component of diversification of the crop sector, the Agriculture Ministry through the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has been focusing on increasing production and productivity of some of the traditional agriculture crops, as well as trying as far as possible to reduce the importation of crops which can be grown locally.

The cultivation of spices is one aspect of diversification, and the Ministry has especially targeted the hinterland communities in this regard.

Commodities like turmeric, ginger, and black pepper have been identified for cultivation in communities in Regions One, Seven, and Eight, but at present, the initial focus is on Region One. Such commodities are responsible for close to US$2 million in importation on an annual basis.

The Agriculture Ministry, however, has developed a strategy of support that will realise increased production

NAREI Chief Executive Officer, Dr Oudho Homenauth

with a focus on value added, and in the case of turmeric, and ginger, the production of the powdered form of these for marketing.

The ultimate goal of the Ministry is to at least by 2020 have minimal importation of these commodities and their value added products.

Overcoming challenges

The Ministry’s central location, with regards to its spice activity in Region One is at Hosororo. There, farmers are engaged in the production of turmeric, and while, the growing of the commodity has

not been an issue, constraints with regards to processing have limited farmers’ enthusiasm to the spice’s cultivation.

NAREI Chief Executive Officer, Dr Oudho Homenauth explained that the issue is that farmers are not accustomed to doing the processing, which involves, the boiling, drying and grinding the dry turmeric root into powder. The drying must be carried out for days and can become tedious.

The Agriculture Ministry, taking into consideration these issues, in 2013 invested in mechanical equipment to support the spice’s production in Hosororo.

Equipment was procured for boiling, and a solar drier was obtained to assist in the drying of other products like black pepper and ginger to some extent.

Focus was also placed, not only on supporting the industry through the introduction of new modernised equipment, but on advancing it through the provision of a technical support officer.

news WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014

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| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Granger warns PNCR about efforts to create internal strife A mid reports of deep divisions within the ranks of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), its Leader, David Granger on Saturday called on “every party member to work to resist efforts internally and by external forces to divide” the party.

Granger was speaking at the party’s second General Council Meeting for this year at Congress Place, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Granger himself is allegedly caught up in strife with his Finance and Economics Spokesman, Carl Greenidge who had challenged him for the leadership of the party back in 2010. There are also other divisions among the youth faction of the party and several

members have been allegedly ostracised over the years – including the likes of Aubrey Norton and James Mc Allister.

Granger reminded the General Council that the heart of the organisation was the group. He said that the PNCR must remain strong, because it is the “sword and the shield of the working man and woman in Guyana”. He noted that it was not by accident that 2014 was designated the year for workers. He said the PNCR will continue to work for unity in the labour movement.

Granger, in declaring 2014 the year for the workers, had said that this country’s economic future lies in their hands. “Many of our working people, however, are underemployed

Opposition Leader David Granger

and unhappy and are not as productive as they could be. Workers face unsatisfactory labour relations in the sugar and mining industries and in the public and private sectors.

Artisanal fisherfolk, craftsmen, small farmers, and miners found themselves in difficult circumstances during 2013. Life must be better for all in 2014,” the PNCR Leader had said

in his New Year’s message.

The Opposition Leader had pointed out: “Guyana’s ‘Year for Workers’ must be one in which our working people should be able to look forward to a good life. It should be one in which they could look forward to living in safety, to working for ‘living wages’ to cope with the cost of living and to enjoying adequate social protection in their old age.”

He stated too that this year must be one in which workers can feel free to join trade unions of their choice; in which collective bargaining agreements between their employers and their unions will be respected and one in which the state will enforce labour laws fair-

ly but firmly to protect them from adversity and from delinquent employers.

Winning back the reins

The General Council meeting, which was held under the theme: “Achieving Inclusionary Democracy and Respect for Workers through a Social Contract”, was called to order and chaired by Party Chairman, Basil Williams. In his welcome remarks, the PNCR Chairman reminded party leaders that the welfare and well-being of ordinary people was of paramount importance and a founding principle of the PNCR. The Chairman said that after 21 years, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) 2014 Budget had nothing for the workers.

UN body puts forward agenda for development in Caribbean

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c o n o m i c Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena last week put forward a strategy for achieving development with equality in the region, while reducing the risks of economic turmoil or natural phenomena and increasing resilience in the face of such shocks.

Bárcena took part in the Third meeting of the Caribbean Development Round Table, which was held on Wednesday and Thursday in Kingston, Jamaica, where she gave a presentation on “Strategies to Stimulate Growth and Build Resilience Among Caribbean SIDS [Small Island Developing States] “.

According to the senior United Nations official, the region suffers from structural gaps reflected in financing restrictions, growing inequality, insufficient social protection, limited human capital, and low levels of productivity and investment.

Furthermore, unemployment remains high, while foreign debt on average is 60 per cent higher than Gross Domestic Product (in countries such as Jamaica, Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis, it is more than 100 per cent).

In this context, the Caribbean faces two major challenges: stimulating growth and reducing the risks and uncertainties resulting from destructive natural phenomena, whose effects

are aggravated by climate change, and the consequences of such disasters for tourism (which is a key sector in the region) – which in turn increase the volatility of income.

According to the Executive Secretary, there are also risks associated with increased economic openness, which exposes countries to external turmoil and a smaller fiscal space, thereby reducing their capacity to make economic adjustments.

Besides this, most of these countries are considered middle-income countries on the basis of their per capita income, and this is the main criterion used to allocate financial resources of official development aid.

This has resulted in a

ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena

gradual reduction of these flows towards the Caribbean.

ECLAC is, therefore, suggesting that the region’s countries develop industrial policies accompanied by fiscal and

labour reform to promote equality and development, encourage partnerships between the public and private sectors and establish linkages with other international trade actors to diversify markets and reduce the impact of external shocks.

In addition, the Commission proposes redirecting services so that they target not only the domestic market but also the broader global market, while also strengthening economies of scale by working with other developing small island states and improving coordination between public institutions at the national and regional levels to avoid an overlap of efforts.

The meeting was also attended by the

Director of the ECLAC Subregional headquarters for the Caribbean, Diane Quarless; Jamaican Finance and Planning Minister Peter D Phillips; and the Foreign Ministers of Jamaica, Arnold J Nicholson; Guyana, Carolyn RodriguesBirkett, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, Camillo Gonsalves.

In a week packed with meeting with regional officials, Bárcena attended the launch of the Commission’s third Handbook for Disaster Assessment on Thursday in Kingston, and on Friday, she spoke at the 25th session of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC), which is a subsidiary body of ECLAC.

Ramotar hails Webster as genuine development partner P

resident Donald Ramotar has hailed the late Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman, Ronald Webster as a genuine partner in national development.

Ramotar made the comments in a statement following the death of Webster early Sunday morning at a city hospital. “Today I offered condolences to the family and friends of the late Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Ronald Webster, who passed away after

Ronald Webster

losing the fight to cancer.”

“I learnt with shock and sadness of the death of Mr Ronald Webster….

On behalf of myself, family, and people of Guyana, I extend most profound condolences to his family and the private sector community.”

The President said Webster was admired for his values which under- pinned his commitment to public service and the promotion of national development, mainly through private enterprise activities. “He left an indeli-

ble print on the private sector society which will be sorely missed. Mr Webster will always be remembered as a genuine partner in national development, a true patriot, and as someone who has given unequivocal support, above narrow, selfish interests.

Once again, my condolences and may his soul rest in peace”.

Webster was also Head of Caribbean Container Inc, the only integrated paper recycling and cardboard package manufacturing mill in the Caricom, up

to the time of his passing. He was also a former Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and once served as the President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association from which he received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Webster passed away at 03:30h at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital. He was admitted a day earlier for post-operation recovery after undergoing surgery in Trinidad (He returned to Guyana from Trinidad on Friday).

24 News Guyana revokes work permit of LEAD project head T WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014

he Government of Guyana announced on Wednesday morning that it had revoked the work permit and extension of stay for the Chief of Party for the USAID Leadership and Democracy Project, Glenn Bradbury.

The announcement was made by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon and comes at a time when the Guyana government appears to be stepping up its opposition to the project which is funded and organised by the U.S Government through its United States Agency for International Development-USAID. Dr. Luncheon told a press conference at the Office of the President that “Mr. Glenn Bradbury who is the Principal Official of the International

| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Republican Institute, contracted by USAID to implement the LEAD project, in the meanwhile, Mr. Bradbury has had his extension of stay and his work permit in Guyana revoked.”

The Cabinet Secretary said he met with the U.S Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt, last week, and once again expressed the government’s concerns about the LEAD project.

He said he told the U.S Ambassador that the Government of Guyana was willing to re-engage on the project but would only do so, once the project is put on hold. He said that position has been dispatched officially to the U.S Government.

It is unclear whether the government’s decision to revoke the work permit and the extension of stay for the Canadian

Glenn Bradbury

born, USAID official, will impact on the US Government’s response to the request that the project be put on hold.

The Government of Guyana has continuously opposed the US Funded Leadership and Democracy project and has refused to partici-

pate in it or provide the project with its blessings. Opposition parties and other stakeholders have embraced the project and have been lending their support.

Despite the concerns of the Government of Guyana, the US Embassy in Georgetown

has been implementing the project. Community outreaches and workshops on democracy and leadership have started in several communities across the country.

The Government of Guyana believes the move by the local US Embassy is an affront to the sovereignty of Guyana.

In July 2013, when Glenn Bradbury was introduced the Chief of Party for the project, U.S Ambassador Brent Hardt sought to explain the decision behind the project.

He said “the United States recognised back in 2011 that this new scenario — in which for the first time in Guyana’s independent history – all parties had a seat at the table and an ability to shape governance, offered hope for

a “win-win” scenario for the people of Guyana.

But we also recognised that this new configuration would pose many challenges which, if not handled with a spirit of compromise and a focus on the national interest, could lead to stalemate and frustration.”

The Ambassador added “that’s why we asked the State Department and USAID in Washington to support a specially tailored democracy and governance program, to enhance the National Assembly’s functioning and encourage consensus building. We were pleased that USAID shared our view and was willing to support a program to strengthen parliamentary democracy, local governance, and youth and women’s engagement”.

Evergreen Adventure hosts APNU calls for complete media trip to Kaieteur overhaul of GuySuCo

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Members of the media posing for the cameras at Kaieteur Falls

he Correia Group of Companies hosted a complimentary familiarisation tour for media operatives on Friday, taking them to the majestic Kaieteur Falls and the beautiful Baganara Island Resort for a day of relaxation.

The FAM tour was done through Evergreen Adventures and Trans Guyana Airways. The trip began with a little disappointment due to bad weather at the falls, causing the flight to delay.

However, about an hour after, the weather had cleared and the reporters boarded the caravan plane for a one hour flight to Kaieteur.

After flying over the rich forest for about an hour, the Trans Caravan ventured into the Pakaraima Mountain range, flying over the breathtaking Kaieteur.

Upon landing at the Kaieteur National Park, the media relaxed at the Kaieteur house while munching on a light snack before venturing off on the

two-hour trail to the falls.

On the journey, the tour operator highlighted to the media operatives details of the unique flora and fauna along the way. One such fact that they were told by the guide is that “teur” is an Amerindian word, meaning falls, hence, the saying Kaieteur Falls is redundant; it’s either Kaie Falls or Kaieteur.

The trip continued with three stops to view the falls from different angles. This was the most enjoyable part of the trip for the media operatives as they took photographs in abundance and even went into the water flowing off Kaieteur.

This was then followed by the tiresome hike back up the hill to the runway.

They then boarded the plane and headed to the Baganara Resort in the Essequibo River. Upon landing, they were briefed about the resort while sipping on a special drink − “Lime Splash”.

It was lunch time immediately after, with the

reporters being served a scrumptious meal buffet style. Some of the media members opted to play pools, some went kayaking in the Essequibo River, while some chose to just relax on the island shore, enjoying the atmosphere.

According to Consultant of the Group of companies, Frank Willison, the tour was a way of giving back to the media as he mixed and mingled with the reporters as they relaxed.

“Every time we just calling the media to do stuff for us, but we never really give back to them and I always wanted to do something like this, so we did it,” Willison said. He noted that the media deserved the relaxation trip for their hard work, especially since Parliament concluded a few weeks ago.

To this end, the media operatives were given an aerial tour of Georgetown as they flew back to the Ogle International Airport.

g r i c u l t u r e Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Shadow Agriculture Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine have recently met on the appointment of the new Board of Directors for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

And the Opposition Spokesman is calling for root and branch overhaul of the industry once the Board is in place.

The Board will be appointed by President Donald Ramotar on July 1. In the absence of Alliance For Change (AFC) Agriculture Spokesperson Khemraj Ramjattan, Dr Roopnaraine stressed the importance of having a Board that is not politically-appointed.

Speaking with Guyana Times International on Sunday, the APNU Shadow Agriculture Minister said the intended tripartite meeting ended on a good note, with the subject Minister opening up to the concerns raised by the Opposition.

Alluding to the appointment of the new GuySuCo Board, he said persons should be appointed based on their expertise in the field of agriculture and ability to market and manage the sugar industry. “It, therefore, should not be based on their loyalty to a particular party. What we don’t need is a politically-appointed Board,”

Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

Dr Roopnaraine said.

Human capital

However, the importance of human capital must not be ignored, he stated. With the installation of the new Board, Dr Roopnaraine posited that there must be a “root and branch overhaul” of the entire industry, to bring it out of its current state of crisis. “If we are going to move the industry forward, we need to ensure that we identify the mistakes that have been made in the past and correct them.”

Support

During the recently concluded consideration of the 2014 National Budget, amid much scepticism, APNU and AFC supported the Gy$6 billion subvention for GuySuCo. However, Dr Roopnaraine expressed disappointment that the Sugar Corporation was unable to state clearly how previous subventions were disposed. This

must be an issue of the past, he said while advocating for greater transparency and accountability at all levels of the sugar industry. In recent years, GuySuCo has not submitted any annual report to the National Assembly.

Additionally, it has been years since the Corporation appeared before the Economic Services Sector Committee of the National Assembly.

“I think the time is right for them to make another appearance before that Committee so they could lay out the premier plan to bring about the revitalisation of the industry, this is what we want to see.”

Key changes

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, the Agriculture Minister said key changes will be made throughout the industry, pointing out that Dr Rajendra Singh has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation since March. While some persons have already been selected to sit on the Board, Dr Ramsammy said he will await the announcement of the President.

“There are other changes, but I wouldn’t go into the details. We are focusing on the overall management of the industry and due to that, you will see several changes, people would change position or new people will be added.”

News from page 3

“House of Israel was a ‘hit squad’”... these meetings,” he said.

Edward Rodney told the Commission that the WPA had worked out a tactic at that time to surround the speakers with groups of people, preventing members of the House of Israel from penetrating the meetings. He said there were many instances when House of Israel members would begin lashing out at persons at the meetings, especially when solidarity was being paid to Dr Rodney. Many persons, he recalled were beaten by members of the cult. “Usually when there was a meeting going to be disrupted, there would be, first of all, a group of House of Israel representatives being transported to the site in vehicles and they would attempt to intimidate the speakers, throw bricks. They would lash out with sticks.” He said while the members are known to wear their uniforms, on these occasions they were dressed in civilian clothing.

Failure of police

What was bothersome, Edward Rodney noted, was the failure of the Police, who were always present at the

rallies, to restrain the House of Israel members from attacking persons at the meeting. It was at this point that Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam sought to find out why the fully armed Police were unable to restrain the House of Israel members. Edward Rodney responded: “The House of Israel did not respect the Police, the Police couldn’t tell them anything.

So the Police were there, but they were virtually neutralised in controlling any violent behaviour. The Senior Counsel then said: “That leaves it hanging for me, Police have more arms and they usually have the support of the State, they will have side arms.

If you say the House of Israel members only had sticks, how could they overpower the Police.”

He posited: “Either there was cooperation from the Police, or the Police turned a blind eye or something, but the police could have been in a superior position to control those who misbehave.”

Rodney then openly declared that the organisation and the Police were working together.

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WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Prominent St. Lucian hotelier feared murdered - charred remains found in Range Rover

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prominent local hotelier is believed to have been murdered in St. Lucia.

The victim’s charred body was found in the burnt-out wreckage of a Range Rover in an exclusive resort area in the north of the island.

The remains discovered hours after the hotelier was reported missing last Friday are believed to be that of Oliver “Ollie” Gobat, 38, whose family own the luxury Cap Maison resort. Gobat was also the executive director of The Landings Hotel, once described as one of the Caribbean’s top 25 luxury resort hotels.

It is believed he was shot twice in the head before he was doused in petrol and set alight.

Although he has not been formally identified by the St. Lucian authorities, the Daily Mail has released his name following reports from local sources.

A source on the island said nearby residents had reported hearing sounds of gunshots before spotting flames from the burning vehicle.

A short while later the burnt vehicle was discovered with a body of a man in the passenger seat.

Sources said there were no keys in the vehicle and the doors were locked.

A St. Lucia police spokeswoman said: “The badly burnt body of a

Oliver “Ollie” Gobat (Caribbean News photo)

man was found in a car in the Cap Estate at the roadside but we have no identity for the victim. We can confirm that we are searching for a missing man called Oliver Gobat but we cannot confirm the identity of the dead man because of the state of the body.”

Minister for Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries Lorne Theophilus said: “The government of St. Lucia is deeply saddened by the tragic news of an incident which took place on the weekend

where a body, widely believed to be that of a prominent St. Lucian resident associated with the tourism sector, was found burnt in a vehicle in the north of the island.

“We wish to assure family and friends of the deceased and the nation as a whole, that no effort will be spared to investigate this accident as with any incident involving the loss of life.

“The matter will be thoroughly investigated and all necessary action taken.”

The death comes three months after Brit Roger Pratt was murdered while defending his wife from attackers in St. Lucia.

Pratt and his wife, Margaret, were sailing round the world and had moored their yacht at the town of Vieux Fort when they were attacked by three armed men.

The discovery of the charred remains also brings to three the number of dead bodies to have been found in the north of the island so far this month.

Previously, the body of a 22-year-old man was found, with residents near the area claiming that there was a sack over the head and the hands were bound.

In a separate incident, the decomposed body of a yet unidentified individual was found in bushes. (Excerpted from Caribbean News)

26 NEWS Luela Figueira crowned Linden Town Week queen A WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

mid loud cheering by hundreds of spectators who gathered at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground (MSC) in Linden on Saturday evening, Delegate Number One, Luela Figueira was crowned Miss Linden Town Week 2014.

Figueira copped the top prizes, which include a plot of land and a motorcycle.

She also won the prize for “Best Smile”, which include a digital camera, in addition to being “Miss Congeniality”. She will take home US$100 for the latter.

The third runner-up spot went to Delegate Number Five, Keyana De’Souza, who represented Block 22; while Delegate Number Four, Chelsea Venture, who represented Amelia’s Ward, copped the second runner-up position. The first runner-up went to Delegate Number Three Manouska Vyfhuis, who represented Nottinghamshire.

Shanti Paul and Wrenta Sydney, Delegates number Six and Two respectfully, who both participated in the pageant last year, did not make it to the final four.

In addition to copping the second runner-up position, Venture also received the titles of “Most Improved” and “Most Intelligent” delegate, while Sydney was named delegate with the “Best Body”.

Sydney will receive US$50.

Seven delegates were initially set to grace the stage on Saturday evening, however, Delegate Number

was evidently a crowd favourite, caught the audience’s attention when she performed a dramatic poem which she wrote herself.

Crowd pleaser

Newly-crowned Miss Linden Town Week Queen Luela Figueira

Seven, Jahvina Lam, dropped out of the competition, leaving the other six participants. Lam was expected to represent the Wisroc community. The contestants’ platform was centred on “Women Empowerment”.

While each of the contestants entertained the crowd with various talent pieces, Figueira, who

She remained a crowd pleaser throughout the evening and was able to capture the “Best Talent” prize for her piece.

The delegates also lit up the stage, as they modelled in uniform two-piece beach wear, which included tiger print tops and white bottoms.

The evening gown segment saw contestants displaying elegant and sophisticated gowns, each uniquely designed. They all contributed to the design of their outfits which were sewn to compliment their individual fancys. In addition to intelligence and poise, the delegates were also judged by how well their gowns fitted and were displayed. In the end, the “Best Evening Gown” prize went to Venture.

In the final question segment, Figueira was asked what advice she would give to girls who post semi-nude photos on social network site Facebook and to share her views on the issue. She responded by saying that she could not believe that young people should do such a thing.

“My advice, know your worth, self-worth is the first worth you need if you need others to respect you. So respect yourself before you expect others to respect you,” she responded.

from page 22

“I never threatened anyone” – Dharamlall paying a large amount of money to the UNDP to work with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to implement the Projects,” he stated.

So far, the Government has more than 27 projects designed and implemented in Amerindian communities following detailed consultations with residents. Another 160 projects are in the pipeline.

Clarifications

The Permanent Secretary said this was the context in which he was reprimanding those toshaos and village leaders who were seeking to mislead Amerindians by telling them distorted truths when many of them were part of these projects from the inception.

“The issue has nothing to do with me threatening anyone, I was emphasising the importance of accountability in the villages,” he said.

He clarified the comments he made with respect to some leaders who continued to misrepresent the truth about the CDPs to their communities, explain-

ing that these individuals could not benefit from his office if they did not provide quality leadership to their constituents.

No apology

Meanwhile, he said that he would not be offering any apology for the role he played in protesting against the unjust cuts that were made to the ADF and other entitlements.

“I will go out again with our people to protest against any action that hampers their development,” the PS related.

Dharamlall believes that the APA and its political agents are clutching at straws, contending that it was clear that the entity has an agenda to discredit the stellar work being done by the Amerindian Affairs Ministry.

He dismissed comments that the Government had organised the meeting with Amerindians staged at the International Conference Centre, while also denying that it had paid or bullied them to protest.

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NEWS

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Dark future looms for Guyana - if Anti-Money Laundering Bill not passed before deadline

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uyana can be formally and permanently blacklisted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) if the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism ( A m e n d m e n t ) (AMLCFT) Bill is not passed by the last and final deadline of May 29 given by the regional watchdog.

This was disclosed to media operatives by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Members of Parliament (MPs), Basil Williams and Carl Greenidge, among others at a press conference on Saturday at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, following a meeting with the CFATF’s Chairperson Allison MaynardGibson.

Maynard-Gibson and CFATF’s Executive Director Calvin Wilson were on a two-day visit to the country to emphasise the need for the passage of the AMLCFT Bill.

Williams disclosed that the Opposition was informed by CFAFT of the “draconian” circumstances which Guyana

APNU MP Carl Greenidge

APNU MP Ronald Bulkan

will face if the AMLCFT (Amendment) Bill of 2013 is not passed.

“They have indicated the perils of the nonpassage of the Bill to us.

The picture they painted seemed to be very draconian and the future of Guyana is one that is dark,” Williams disclosed.

APNU Co-Chairman, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, another member of the coalition, noted that while the CFATF was in Guyana to assist in the passage, much cannot be achieved since the team can only give advice on technical matters.

“The Chairman was careful to maintain that they could only offer ad-

vice on technical matters. The fact of the matter is that we are confronted in Guyana with more than technical matters. It is a political matter… and she is not familiar with Guyana’s political environment. A political solution is needed,” Dr Roopnaraine related.

Asked whether the Opposition will now give in to the Government’s demands to have the amendment passed in its original state to avoid permanent blacklisting, Greenidge and colleague MP Ronald Bulkan stated that the Opposition remains firm on its position, contending that it is now left up to the Government

to decide whether they will accept the changes made by the Opposition.

Bulkan said: “We maintain our position.

The situation requires the action of both sides and the bill needs to receive the agreement of the majority. If the legislation is deficient, it will serve no purpose.”

The politicians noted that while there is a possibility that the Bill can be passed before the May 29 deadline, it is very unlikely to happen.

Guyana has thus far failed to meet any of the CFATF deadlines due to the non-passage of AMLCFT Bill.

The passage of the Bill seems to have turned into a political game with the Government laying the blame at the feet of the opposition, saying that the Bill is being held hostage at the level of the parliamentary Special Select Committee with the introduction of proposed amendments to the AMLCFT Act of 2009, while the Opposition is contending that the Government should be blamed if the Bill is not passed as it is not heeding to its amendments.

Bringing citizens, police together is a work in progress, says Rohee

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he Golden Grove/ Diamond Station Management Committee on Saturday held a fundraising exercise on the lawns of the Golden Grove Police Station, the proceeds of which will go towards enhancing the station’s infrastructure.

This committee was established in 2008 by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee with the overarching aim of improving the relations between the Police and citizens, since public support is seen as vital in intelligence gathering which will in turn enable the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to be more efficient.

The Committee’s Chairman Sewchand explained that their membership also plays an oversight role in the management of the station, and even acts as an advisory committee from time to time to improve operations.

He added that since 2008 to present, the committee has remained vi-

brant and has managed to garner the support of surrounding communities; noting that without residents’ support, it would be difficult to accomplish their goals and objectives.

Meanwhile, Minister Rohee who was also present at the event, said activities such as these help to bring communities together and allow for residents to really understand the roles and functions of a Station Management Committee.

The Minister said that these committees, which have been established across the country, allow for a harmonious relationship between the Police and civilians; whereby they assist each other towards the building of safer neighbourhoods.

“To bring the citizens and the stations closer is a continuing exercise and a work in progress… both the Police, as well as residents stand to benefit,” Minister Rohee said.

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he North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) is assiduously pursuing its Arapaima Management Plan in an effort to help protect the Arapaima, known as one of the largest freshwater fish, population in Guyana.

The NRDDB was given a small grant from the Global Environmental Fund’s Small Grants Programme for the project. This grant is called “Strengthening Capacity to Support Local Implementation of Fisheries Monitoring and Management in the North Rupununi Wetlands”.

The project aims to ensure effective co-management of fisheries in the North Rupununi through stakeholder consultation regarding general fisheries management and a review of the Arapaima Management Plan (AMP).

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Richardson Haynes, Fisheries Project Coordinator (NRDDB), said that local and international scientists worked together to survey the existing population of arapaima in the

tant local income source because Arapaima was abundant and the government of Guyana lacked resources to enforce the regulations.

However, by 2001, local livelihoods and ecosystems were threatened as the population of these key wetlands predators was reduced to an estimated 822 individuals.

The NRDDB recognises that fisheries are a shared resource and have been working with the Ministry of Agriculture,

source. The management plan is recognised by the government of Guyana as the only inland fisheries management policy in the country.

Additionally, the National Inland Fisheries Policy has recognised this initiative.

“This project seeks to continue work on implementing the North Rupununi Community Based Fisheries Management Plan and the Arapaima Management pro-

Documenting pertinent data on the Arapaima

North Rupununi wetlands, and then based on this extremely low figure, the AMP, a conservation, monitoring and management plan was developed.

Haynes added that 16 Amerindian communities are located in the North Rupununi and fishing is an extremely important activity.

As such, over-harvesting as a result of continued illegal exploitation of Arapaima has depressed the stocks in the last four decades.

“Today, local livelihoods and ecosystems are threatened

as the population of these key predators was reduced drastically. Clearly defined control over the Arapaima of the North Rupununi is needed for the implementation of a legal comanagement system, because Arapaima population cannot be recovered while considered a common property for all Guyanese,” Haynes revealed.

Regulations made under the 1953 Fisheries Act forbid the exploitation of Arapaima in Guyana. The people of the North Rupununi did not harvest Arapaima

Adventure angler Steve Townson (right) is amazed with the size of the Arapaima in Guyana

before 1960; harvesting began with trading to Brazil in the early 1960s.

The Arapaima fishery developed into an impor-

Department of Fisheries and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for co-management of fisheries re-

gramme by providing support for community consultation regarding fisheries plan and on-gocontinued on page 33

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he first hatchlings from this year's batch of 348 eggs began to emerge earlier this month at the Caiman House in the Rupununi. The headstarting programme is still going strong in its third year.

While travelling up or down the Rupununi river one may only get a glimpse of Podocnemis unifilis sunbathing before it plunges into the water from its riverside perch.

As a juvenile it is quickly identifiable with its yellow spotted head. Often referred to as ‘sidenecked’, this turtle cannot pull in its head fully into its shell and therefore turns it head to the side to protect itself.

It is classified on the IUCN Red List as “vulnerable” and in the Rupununi region there is little question as to why.

To a degree, its conservation in the region hinges on the fact of how good it tastes, whether it’s the scrumptious turtle porridge in the Christmas season or roasted eggs during their nesting season. These turtles have to navigate the waters very carefully in order to not find themselves on the local menu.

In Yupukari, a team of local villagers, with the support of a visiting volunteer, took it upon themselves to start monitor-

Children in the Rupununi actively participate in the programme

ing the local situation. To better plan the methods for their project, the team got in touch with expert Samantha James to hear more about similar efforts carried out by groups in Rewa in the north Rupununi and Dadanawa in the south.

The team would camp out on the Rupununi River to monitor turtle nesting in their preferred nesting habitat- sandbanks along the river. Each morning the team would visit different sandbanks to look for turtle tracks and nests. When a nest was found, it is very carefully excavated. The eggs are counted, depth of the nest

measured, and the distance of the nest to the river was measured in addition to a dozen other data points. After the team collects all the necessary data, the eggs are put back in the nest, and the nest is covered with mesh to prevent Tegu lizards and iguanas from raiding the nests.

Another conservation and management tool that has been proven successful for river turtles all over South America is called “headstarting”. In headstarting, a small percentage of wild hatchlings are collected and raised in a protected environment.

With access to plenty of food and protection from predaYellow-Spotted River Turtle babies being monitored

tors, the turtles grow fast and their shells harden. When they reach a certain size, they are released back into the river. Since they are larger than their wild counterparts, they have a higher survival rate and increased chances of reaching reproductive age.

Future plans for turtle monitoring in Yupukari include the expansion of the monitoring area, work with neighbouring communities in the watershed, and realising a funding method to sustain what is proving to be a locally positive monitoring programme.

For more information on this monitoring programme, visit the Rupununi Learners page on Facebook.

feature

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WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

G

uyanese born Dr Karen King-Aribisala is the daughter of the late Dr Kenneth and Joyce Miller King. Her father was the former minister of economic development and Guyana's ambassador to the European Union.

King-Aribisala is a writer married to a Nigerian, and a professor of English at University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Two of her published works, “Our Wife and Other Stories”, and “The Hangman's Game”won the Commonwealth Writer's Prize, Best First Book for African Region in 1991, and the Best Book Africa in 2008 respectively.

Her inspiration was her very influential father. He was instrumental in determining the course the writer’s life has taken. At the age of eight, King-Aribisala first began writing creatively, and would read the stories she had written to him.

Her father would comment on them and encourage her. As she grew up, her family came to live in Nigeria. That was about the time of the Nigerian Civil War. They lived in Ibadan and she attended the International School, Ibadan.

During the holidays her father would teach her particular parts of the Bible, particular books of poems by heart.

They discussed poems togeth-

er. All of these helped to encourage King-Aribisala to write.

The writer’s passion for writing originated largely from growing up as an outsider in many of the places she lived in. Whether it is in Nigeria, the West Indies, Italy where she met her husband as a teenager, she has always been an outsider, somebody who was not born in that particular place. This has led to her trying to understand the position of the outsider, whether it’s in terms of gender, religion, race, culture.

In explaining the aim of her writing, she stated: “…

There are several messages.

In ‘Our Wives’ the title story deals with this African concept that when you are married into a family you become the wife of the family. Meeting somebody like me who has been trained in Western institutions, this is an appalling idea because it means that you lose your identity and you become swallowed up by a larger family. So, I tried to explore that in that story, and to show what I’ve said in other interviews, which is that, to me, nation, race, culture, class are all dresses which we put on, in fact, out of pride.

These dresses disguise the bare, core truth of humanity – things like pride, things like

Guyanese writer Karen King-Aribisala

selfishness which prevent us from occupying the extended family, if you like, to which we all belong. It’s okay to be individual, to say that you are a Nigerian, West Indian,

or whatever. But often these are barriers which we use to fight against each other. And so, my position is that all of these barriers should be broken down. And that is actu-

ally one of the thrusts in my book ‘Kicking Tongues’.”

The author skilfully uses the vehicle of literature to examine the African West Indian, African American and African notions of slavery and imprisonment; to analyze the aspired nature of destination freedom. The conflicts expressed in her texts are essentially a clash between the material and spiritual worlds in the attainment of material or spiritual freedom. She believes it is a struggle in which all humanity is engaged.

Her book ‘The Hangman's Game’ was long-listed for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. King-Aribisala is the recipient of numerous awards from many institutions such as the Ford Foundation, the Commonwealth Foundation and the British Council.

She has received grants and fellowships such as the James Mitchener West Indian Writer's scholarship and fellowship. She has represented Nigeria as a poet in Rome and in Italy at poetry Festival, ‘ROMAPOESIA’. She has also been awarded artist’s residencies at the prestigious MacDowell Colony and Djerrassi Foundation in the US; a residency at the Camargo Foundation in France where she performed her poetry at the inauguration of the Mayor of Cassiss.

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Feature

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

A review by Robert Sauvé

By Petamber Persaud Part Two

C

yril Dabydeen also understands that fate makes

pilgrims of us all, some more than others. This is the human condition— to be in exile, to be on the way towards an unknown destiny. I like this

most about Dabydeen’s writing; he is a consistent and eloquent witness of the man-on-theway, the traveller, the pilgrim.

Professor Cyril Dabydeen

In this way he captures the spirit of the displaced, the dislocated, and the alien within the Canadian experience.

And if we read carefully and listen to the voices he enables, we may recognize our own. There is an unexpected spirituality in his disarmingly simple stories. Surely the Caribbean plays a large role in the lived experience of Dabydeen’s characters; larger still is the human experience of being in exile.

Dabydeen gives his stories lives of their own; he takes the measure of lives at once amorous, longing, dissonant, displaced, questioning, combative, and clearly in transit. Dislocated, perhaps even feeling alien, but not without voice.

This is the gift that I most appreciate in this collection.

The voices that Dabydeen gives his characters are not from central casting — they are real, immediate and authentic. Most of all, they are not betrayed by his own authorial voice.

These characters are real, they are my fellow

travellers. They continue to exist whether in the chance encounters I have with my fellow pilgrims or with friends sharing life’s moments over a beer.

In one of his stories, “Living in Exile”, the reader is personally addressed. It is like receiving a letter from a dear friend. We read with interest, happy to see ourselves referenced, reading on to see, to imagine, from where the letter is sent and the what and why of the letter. In the

Disbelief! Disbelief? Not on your life. The irony of that word is all the more stirring given the tone and tenor of this collection. The author gives voice to our inner grapplings toward a sense of self. After all is said and done, we may recognize our better selves when we recognize the nature of our exiles and that this grappling is in itself a perfection. With this ironic “disbelief”, Dabydeen also allows his own grappling to peek through. In a sense it is

‘My Multi-Ethnic Friends and Other Stories’ by Dabydeen

last few lines of this touching story, the “narrator”, wistful and sad, reflects on what might have been with a loved fellow traveller; she has moved on, she too is living in exile, looking for home: “Then the images no longer come. Oh, I want to go back to listen to the open-set poets, the same poseurs, dilettantes … to seek inspiration from them, in their manner and style. I close my eyes and listen to the rhymes, more new rhythms, words, metaphors, everything “yoked.” They will ask me what I think.

Oh, what do I really think? I am no longer an exile, I say. Disbelief.”

The narrator is at a loss for words. He seems desperate for soul-stirring images, for companionship, for a fellow traveller. Aren’t we all?

The last word of this story and of this collection is “Disbelief.”

the artist’s thumbprint.

Dabydeen underscores the spirituality of that theme in the epigraph he chose for “Living in Exile”: “He is perfect to whom the entire world is as a foreign place.” — Hugo of St. Victor, 12th C. Saxony monk Sauvé, a retired professor, is an independent scholar and philosopher. He is currently a freelance researcher and lecturer in art-related subjects and gives presentations through the National Gallery of Canada.

Responses to this author, call (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: • The 2013-2014 issue of The Guyana Annual Magazine is now going into production; for further information, please contact me at the above telephone number and email address.

FEATURE

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WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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he collection of rainfall data was the only hydrometeorological information that commenced in late 19th century. This was done under the auspices of Crown Agents.

Beginning in the 20th century, other parameters were recorded and these were collected by a number of ministries, sugar estates and private citizens.

It was recognised that a more holistic and coordinated approach would be most beneficial to the country and the international community. Thus a proposal was made by ECLAC for an expert William Peterson from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to coordinate activities and to develop a proposal for the creation of a new entity. He worked with a committee comprising of representatives from the Ministry of Communication, Ministry of Forest, Lands and Mines, Ministry of Works and Hydraulics, Booker Tate Estates, Demerara Bauxite Ltd and other stake holders.

The committee recommended that portfolios of meteorology and hydrology held respectively by the Ministry of Communication and Ministry of Works and Hydraulics, be cancelled and that a portfolio of hydrometeorology be established as a department in the Ministry of Works and Hydraulics.

On 5 October 1965, at the 50th Meeting of Cabinet, approval was given to establish a central hydrometeorological service within the government structure of the then British Guiana.

It was envisaged that the department’s general responsibilities were to monitor and evalu-

Over 49 years of aiding the development of our nation

The Doppler Radar facility at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport improves weather monitoring and forecasting

ate weather and water resources in Guyana.

These responsibilities grew in the early 70s to include aeronautical forecasting and later included agriculture meteorology, hydrological engineering and other aspects related to sustainable economic development of the country.

The office was housed at Fort Street Kingston from 1965 until 1991 when it was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture after an evaluation of its relevance. Ken Potter was appointed the first Chief Hydrometeorological Officer. Under his direction the Hydromet Service developed rap-

idly into a well coordinated and dynamic entity with a solid core of professional personnel.

Since the service formation there have been six confirmed Heads of Department (Potter, John Bassier, Chander Persaud, Sheik Khan and Dilip Jaigopaul) and quite a number of supporting staff.

T h e Hydrometeorological Service is a department attached to Ministry of Agriculture. This department’s general responsibility is to monitor and evaluate the weather and water resources in Guyana and to actively support the government in disaster risk

management and aeronautical, water, agriculture, engineering and other agencies for the socio-economic development of the country. It is the official provider of weather, water and climate information, and related products and services for Guyana.

The department’s activities include observation and data collection to meet the needs of future generations for reliable, homogeneous national climatological, hydrological and oceanographic data; research directed to the advancement of hydrological, oceanographic and meteorological sciences and the development of a com-

A plan to protect the... ing Arapaima counts, monitoring, review, update and implementation of the 2002 AMP. Past experience has proven that the population of this fish has grown through local management,” Haynes noted.

So far, activities completed include general fisheries meeting hosted; Arapaima stock assessment completed; Arapaima monitoring commenced; counters hired; new counters trained; monitors hired; review of the Arapaima Management Plan hosted.

The project’s future plans, according to Haynes, are com-

munity consultation to review the AMP; the continuation of Arapaima monitoring; among others.

The NRDDB

The NRDDB is a registered trust and an established non-governmental, non-profit, community-based organisation representing 16 communities. It is an autonomous body, initially comprising of representatives from 12 indigenous communities in the North Rupununi. In 1996, it was legally established to link the 12 communities with the Iwokrama

International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development, government agencies, and other institutions, on issues relating to community development in the North Rupununi.

The NRDDB provides a mechanism for community leaders to meet, discuss, and make decisions relating to the NRDDB operation for their respective communities.

The NRDDB is recognised as one of the leading community based organisations in Guyana. Since the formation of the NRDDB, membership

prehens i v e description and scientific understanding of Guyana's weather, climate and water resources; provision of hydrological, meteorological, oceanographic and related data, information, forecasts, warnings, investigation and advisory services on a national, as well as international basis; and coordination of Guyana's involvement in regional and international hydrology, meteorology, oceanography and related conventions.

Significant milestones since 1965 include the establishment of the Aeronautical Meteorology Section in 1971 (Weather Forecasting Office as it commonly referred to) at Timehri. R Lalbeharry, Specialist Meteorologist, and Frassinetti, who was a UNDP-sponsored expert, were instrumental in its formation.

This section operates 24 hours daily and provides local and international aviation forecasts and daily forecasts for the Guyanese public. Today, this section has been expanded to the National Weather Watch Centre located at Hyde Park.

Then there is the installation of the first weather radar at Timehri in 1971. This radar well functioned until the late 1980s (until replacements parts become a challenge to find in the international market). The Hydromet Service then competed with Caribbean neighbours for this Doppler radar was not easy task.

The service retired heads of department (Khan and Jaigopaul) and few colleagues at Caribbean Meteorological Council lobbied and diligently worked to ensure

Guyana benefited from one of the four radars.

Their persistence finally bore fruit in December 2003 when an MOU was signed between Guyana and CARIFOURM resulting in the installation of the current S band Doppler Weather Radar, which was commissioned on 5 October 2009. It was funded by the European Union, implemented by Caribbean Meteorological Organization in Trinidad, and supported by government of Guyana. The government also contributed approximately $100 million dollars on this project.

With the expansion of the monitoring network, there is a need to ensure that there is adequate and proper storage of one of the Hydromet Service’s most valuable resources, which is hydrometeorological data.

On 5 August, 2011, the Hydrometeorological Service launched the NWIS, which is a composite web database that allowed for the integration of the service’s existing climatological and hydrological databases.

Combining these two databases has allowed for the easy comparison of data and trends that can facilitate enhanced decision making and planning for stakeholders of the department.

To date, the Hydrometeorological Service produces a Farmer’s Weather Bulletin, which is disseminated on a monthly basis. The yearly hydromet calendar also consists of monthly forecast for each administrative region of the country, which aid in assisting farmers in their decision making.

from page 29

has increased from 12 to 16 communities.

The NRDDB meetings are open to government, NGOs and other agencies and relevant organisations would usually be invited to attend the monthly meetings based upon the specific issues to be addressed. Membership representation of the board has been changed to 16 community leaders, one other elected community member from each village, a youth group leader, Toshao for Annai District, an elder and one woman leader.

This type of decision-mak-

ing structure is innovative for communities in the North Rupununi. This model allows for the sharing of ideas and experiences, problem-solving, decision-making, highlighting problems and issues to find solutions relating to their respective communities. The NRDDB is recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a legitimate body that serves the purpose of consultation and collaboration for social and economic development in the North Rupununi.

For more information on the project, call 648-2811.

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News

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Trini artiste breaks new grounds with soca in NY

F

Sonu Nigam returns to Guyana on Sunday May 4

ollowing his magnificent sold-out performance in 2012 at the Guyana National Stadium, renowned Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam returns to Guyana on Sunday, May 4 for another fabulous concert organised by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha. The concert is the Guyana leg of his 2014 world concert tour titled “Klose to My Soul”; the proceeds of the concert will go to the Sabha’s Bal Nivas home for vulnerable children.

Described as Bollywood’s biggest musical extravaganza to date, “Klose to My Soul” will feature tributes by Sonu to Indian musical legends like Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar, RD Burman and Kishore Kumar, along with a healthy dose of Sonu’s own chartbusters ranging from up-tempo dance numbers to his latest hit “Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin”, a song which

swept all of the Indian musical awards last year. Sonu will also be taking requests from the audience. A 25-member troupe from Mumbai, including a large selection of Bollywood’s best musicians, will be in Guyana for the concert.

Also performing will be upcoming Bollywood playback singer, Jonita Gandhi. Following the success of the title track of “Chennai Express”, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, and a series of concerts with Sonu worldwide, Jonita has been making waves in the Bollywood music scene. She has done vocals for the upcoming film “Highway” starring “Student of the Year”’s Alia Bhatt, with musical director, the Oscarwinning AR Rehman calling the shots.

Jonita’s success as a singer is also thanks to the video-sharing site, YouTube. She has posted several covers of popular songs and her acous-

tic versions of “Tum Hi Ho” and “Pani De Rang” got over two million hits!

Her recent renditions of “Suhani Raat” and “Chaudvin ka Chand” are simply beautiful.

The concert is also being held to commemorate the 176th Anniversary of Indian Arrival in Guyana and the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s 40th anniversary.

The show is supported by Digicel, ICEE, E-Networks, Sunburst, Aruwai Plaza and Resort, Annjees, Maharaja Restaurant, BK International Inc, Princess Hotel, NTN, Nescafe, Countryside Agri Centre, Brandi’s Home Furnishings, Rent-A-Tent, Digicom, Smalta, Kanhai’s Electrical Guyana, Metro Office Supplies, Prem’s Electrical, Puran Brothers Waste and Chand’s Printing.

Worthy cause

Meanwhile, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is proud to announce that Bal Nivas,

its shelter for children who are victims of abuse, at Ankerville, Berbice, will be opened at a special ceremony on Monday, May 5 at 16:00h.

The opening ceremony will feature cultural performances by children and talented youths, music by the E-Networks Orchestra, speeches and much more. The feature address will be delivered by President Donald Ramotar.

The Sabha’s Voices Against Child Abuse programme was launched in 2010 and the building plan for the shelter unveiled in April 2012 by President Ramotar and Sonu.

The contract for construction was awarded to Kascon Engineering Service and works commenced in March 2013.

Now complete, the beautifully-constructed building can accommodate up to 66 persons at any one time.

In addition to being a safe haven for vulnerable children, Bal Nivas boasts of a skill training centre for women and counselling facility, which will be open to all Guyanese.

The Sabha wishes to thank all of the businesses and persons who have donated generously to Bal Nivas, and those persons who have supported its series of mega concerts, the proceeds of which funds the project.

The Sabha urges all to support the “Klose to My Soul” Sonu Nigam Concert. All of the concert proceeds will be dedicated to the shelter.

Machel happy with soca's international flavor

A

lthough dancehall and reggae are the dominant music forms in the Caribbean, soca artiste Machel Montano is confident that his genre is on the rise worldwide.

Montano, who was in Jamaica recently to perform at Pandemonium, says that following his stay in Jamaica, he will be doing shows in various countries.

High on the list of places he will be visiting are Germany, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, London, Toronto and New York.

"I am fully booked. I am recording two albums right now, just signed to Universal France, and I am recording an album there. I am in the studio and I am on tour.

Every city will see me this year," he told the media.

"Well, soca is on the rise right now, and we have the West Indian communities. The fact is that soca is in a position to blossom right now and we are following the heat."

With soca on the rise interna-

Machel Montano performing at Pandemonium in Jamaica last Thursday night (Jamaica Gleaner photo)

tionally, Montano is still enjoying his recent successes and describes his musical year thus far as awesome. "It's awesome. I came out on top. I won the Road March, I won the Soca Power Monarch, came second in the Groovy Soca Monarch, and I had a wonderful

No. 1 album, so I had a good season," he said.

And having started in the music business well over two decades ago when he was just 11 years old, Montano credits his longevity to passion. (Excerpted from Jamaica Gleaner)

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Darryl “Farmer Nappy” Henry

oca music continues to break new ground in the U.S. mainstream markets and rocked the city of New York recently, as Trinidadian soca star, singer and songwriter, Darryl “Farmer Nappy” Henry officially launched his new album ‘Big People Party’ to a crowd at the legendary New York City concert venue known as Sounds Of Brazil (SOB’s) two weeks ago.

‘Big People Party’ is Henry’s third, full-length studio effort and was officially released worldwide (in stores and online) on February 25, by FOX FUSE. Henry explained that because his album was released in the midst of the Carnival season, his performance schedule was “too hectic” to allow him to journey to the media capital of the world, New York City, in order to promote the album there at the time.

“I am extremely grateful for all the support you have shown me over the years,” said Henry during his performance at SOB’s, “and I thank you very much for coming out to support me and my album.”

Presenting a soca showcase and a free event at that, Farmer breaks new ground for soca music and the culture of Trinidad and Tobago, as he takes full aim at exposing soca to the masses and capturing his spot in the limelight, in the North American market. (Excerpted from TT Express)

De US wanna LEAD Guyana somewhere

D

e US is a country that believe in democracy.

At least so dem seh. Obomber seh so and all dem other US presidents used to seh de same ting one after de other. But de US does play a smart game when it come to de principles whah it does tell other countries to follow.

Well, smart supposed to be a nice way to describe somebody if dem do some ting good. But in this case, it really mean sly. When people seh a man or woman sly, it mean that dem got some ting to hide, or dem got some ting up dem sleeve, as old people does seh.

De US is a country that like to tell other countries whah to do, how to do and when to do, and even what not to do. And if yuh don’t do whah de US tink yuh must do, and stop doin whah de US seh yuh must stop, then all hell does break loose.

Haiti, Cuba and Egypt is only a few examples. De same ting is whah happenin right now in Guyana next door neighbour Venezuela and even as far as Ukraine. When de U.S. don’t want a guvament to stay in office, dem does do all kinda secret stuff to knock dem out…in de name of intelligence.

One a dem Bush Man kill people in Iraq, but he never get arrest and charge before de I-See-See. That is wheh all de poltician criminals does go, and any politician who kill so much a people musbe a big time criminal. But accordin to de US, that was fightin against weapons of mass destruction. Up to now, dem can’t tell de world wheh de a** de weapons of mass destruction deh. That is whah de US call democracy.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! But democracy is when yuh leff people to decide fuh dem selves whah dem wanna do. Yet in de name of democracy, de US demandin to LEAD Guyana somewhere, and de Pee-P-P seh dem aint goin!

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WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Simply the Truth

Integrity… …and tests President Ramotar shook up the Police Force when he declared that henceforth “integrity tests” would be given to them. But it seems to have shaken up the leader of the PNC even more. Here it is, the former army head’d been jumping up and down like a fowlcock in heat about polygraph tests and now he outrightly rejects integrity tests?

Why! This in itself is rather conclusive of Granger hiding something, no?

You see, dear readers, in the US where most of these human resource innovations originate, polygraph tests were rejected since the 1980s.

Without rehearsing all the reasons why, the issue of their reliability was much ventilated. And in their place integrity tests were introduced. With pen and paper, the individual answers questions designed to assess honesty, dependability, trustworthiness, conscientiousness, and reliability.

We wonder which of these qualities Granger believes are unnecessary in Senior Police Officers?

Integrity tests are of two types – one backwards – looking that susses out past behaviour and attitudes about theft and other negative activities.

And the other gauges proclivity to such behaviour based on personality traits. And as for reliability, there you haven’t heard much of an outcry from the Americans, have you? And you know they would’ve yelled bloody murder if their “rights” were violated.

So when Granger rejects integrity tests without even discussing them, you know he doesn’t have the foggiest notion about what he’s talking about.

Now at first glance it would seem that Granger thought that integrity testing and polygraph testing were the same thing since he carried on about the need for introducing “integrity legislation” rather than “integrity testing”. And also that the Government should appoint people with integrity in the first place.

Now isn’t that what the testing is all about? You can introduce all the legislation in the world but if you test before appointing at least you have an idea as to the fella’s inclination in the area you’re sceptical about and can head off transgressions before the fact.

But we’ll tell you what Granger’s really afraid of: that the tests will reveal all the moles and sleepers his “security adviser” Winston Felix would’ve left in the GPF to maintain the Burnhamite legacy of using the organisation to do the bidding of the PNC No one could’ve forgotten Felix’s secretly recorded conversation on the Agricola massacre with the now Chairman of the PNC Basil Williams, right, Bannuh? “I head them off,” the man said. “Them”, of course, being the PPP. …and Granger?

But while on the subject of integrity tests and Granger’s reflexive rejection of them, it would be interesting to analyse the former Brigadier in light of those tests. Past behaviour and actions? Well we know from his outright rejection of giving testimony before the CoI on Rodney’s assassination, he has a lot to hide there.

As we’ve pointed out time and again, Burnham’s elevation of him to head the army just before the dastardly act couldn’t be coincidental.

Especially when the man that allegedly committed the murder most foul, Gregory Smith, was from the army itself. And the army official, reporting directly to Granger, denied that Smith was even a member. A lie soon exposed.

Personality traits? Well we’re talking about a real dictator in the making here: authoritarian personality. This was the man, who as a junior officer was responsible for SPIC – the unit that was to ensure that everyone in the Disciplined Forces toed Burnham’s line.

How’d you think Collins and Felix are part of the “old boys’ network” that now runs the PNC?? And not so coincidentally even Corbin of the YSM has to pass through his hands. …and rules Granger lauds “the group”, as the backbone of the PNC. He’s now the leader of the PNC. Was he a member of any party group??? Like, say, Norton, who he’s locked out? Integrity and Granger in the same sentence? Snort!!!!

S

Rum Culture

omebody in parliament went on about the “rum culture” in Guyana. We need to admire such penetrative insight, of course. Finally, light has been shone on that which was already seen.

Now we finally know that there is a rum culture, domestic and child abuse, driving under the influence (DUI), and so on.

This is the Guyanese version of Revelations!

We reveal that which the world has known for decades. We do it in no less a place than parliament too. Hallowed halls and such. Hollowed halls in which we find hollow folk. We know all of this.

Let’s talk “rum culture”.

Alcohol does not and cannot bring out what is in you already. Liquor simply loosens the inhibitions and turns loose that which is in us anyway. If we are a rotten nation of too many rotten people and we all dive in the bottle, it all comes out.

In fact, too many of us have no composure in the first place. We are violent in words and actions and on all occasions. We listen to the intelligent debate of our “representatives” and they are very much like drunken hooligans.

Except they are in some well-appointed building and they have these titles. Their behaviour allows us to justify our own bestial behaviour.

There has been so much babble about domestic violence and child

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By Professor Daizal Samad

abuse that it is commonplace. There have been so many “workshops” and “seminars” and “conferences” and “meetings” and “consultations” that we now fail to be astonished by our own cruelty and callousness.

We do not understand that domestic violence and child abuse (nice term for the rape and destruction of children!) cannot and will not stop because we sit down in nice rooms and “discuss stuff”. Neither will it stop by those placard-carrying, noise-generating road-side protests. It can only stop when we look at ourselves in calm and cold and honest ways.

The genius VS Naipaul has written that there can be no analysis without self-analysis. Spot on! We do not dare analyse ourselves because we are terrified of the truth we would

atiricus was so proud. He knew he was just an ordinary grunge in the news business. But when he saw the news about that fearless leader of the “new news” hounds, Tennis Jabral, he had to wipe away a tear from his eye. Discreetly…since real newsmen don’t cry. Tennis had broken new ground in the business.

While Satiricus and his buddies were still hustling to put together ink on paper that smeared on your hands, Tennis had moved on to putting news in hyperspace. He called his spot “Demerara Staves”.

Satiricus sighed. He wished he had the brains to understand things like “HTML” and “codes” and such like. He’d also been proud when Tennis was joined in hyperspace

by RubBert with his cutting edge “HiNews”. It was such a friendly name…excepting that Satiricus never figured how RubBert got his e-mail address. Now his “inbox” was

see. Therefore, we numb ourselves with drugs, drinks, noise, and vulgar pretence. We lie to ourselves and to everyone else.

There is no rum culture! There is a culture of moral decrepitude in which intelligence, imagination, honesty and integrity have no place.

The rum thing is just a symptom of the disease.

We bury these things beneath the debris of lies, refusing to confess our own panic.

Our male and female citizens go to bars and rum shops, drink up and behave in ways that would land them in prison in other countries.

Not here! It is all ordinary, all acceptable, all cool. Even as I am typing this out, there are 19 cars parked along both sides of this ribbon of road in Rose Hall Town.

There are several cars with their trunks

open, each playing their own version of hysteria that they call music. The arguments are loud, the violence just beneath the back-slapping camaraderie. The noise rattles the doors and windows of the place where I live.

The Police outpost is not far away, but there is no self-respect much less respect for the law.

And each of these drunken people will slither into their cars and drive! Only the heavens can protect any innocent that went out for a fried rice and chicken or to take their babies out for an ice cream.

As it happens, there are only THREE breathanalysers in this country that are in concord with the laws. One is in Linden, one in New Amsterdam, the other in Brickdam. So more liquid than liquor, I can drive. But I read of fanfare at the donation of dozens of breathalysers that have been donated to our Land of Many Waters. Lots of smiles, handshakes, self-congratulations, pictures.

All useless.

In the face of this, I feel sorry for good law enforcement officers.

They are in a lose-lose situation. If they enforce the law, they are the bad guys! If they don’t, they are the bad guys! We do not provide promotional opportunities nor provide opportunities for educational advancement, nor attend to modern training. We give them the worst and expect from them the best.

Media Messiah always filled with the latest gossip about everyone. Satiricus never wanted to know. “But that’s the price for progress,” sighed Satiricus.

But Satiricus came back from his musings to the news that Tennis had been selected by the US Embassy for some special training stateside.

Tennis was back and now he would “highlight the role of civil society in political decision making”. Satiricus’ eyes welled with tears again. “A superpower’s job is never done,” he sobbed. Look how the US was running trillions of dollars in debt to China and yet they were spending money to spread democracy here.

They were already spending millions of dollars (“US dollars,” Satiricus moaned.) with their LEAD programme to teach us about democracy. And now they had flown Tennis all over the states, putting him up in fancy hotels and eating at gourmet restaurants to get ordinary

folks like Satiricus to be involved in “political decision making”.

Satiricus always wanted to make “political decisions”. “Wouldn’t it be nice if I could pick my son to hand out contracts?” he thought.

But he’d always been taught that the Constitution specified who could make political decisions. “But hey! If the great US of A says there was a new way to make political decisions,” Satiricus thought, “Well so be it.”

And now Tennis would be teaching everyone how to get power by this new way, on his Demerara Staves. Why just this morning Tennis taught ordinary Amerindians that they had been threatened by some big, bad ones in the Government!

The Government was always bad!

But then Satiricus had a thought.

“Why did the US Embassy pick Tennis And not RubBert to teach people to make “political decisions”?”

36

fun time

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

J k es

SWAT Team blues

“As team leader of the Police Tactics and Rescue Unit, I directed officers late one night to strategic positions around a building where a dangerous suspect was hiding.

Believing the culprit to be on the roof, I decided to have an officer shine his flashlight in that direction on my command.

At just the right moment, I whispered to him, "Okay, throw a light on the roof."

The officer hurled his flashlight to the top of the building.”

Only chocolate

Can't eat beef... mad cow Can't eat chicken... bird flu Can't eat eggs... again, bird flu Can't eat pork...fears that it won’t be properly cooked Can't eat fish...heavy metals in the water has poisoned their bodies Can't eat fruits and veggies... insecticides and herbicides Hmm… I believe that leaves chocolate!

Important farming issues

All of the farmers in a small town had gathered at the town hall to discuss some important farming issues. About midway through the meeting, a wife of one of the farmers stood up and spoke her piece.

One of the farmers, attempting to show the woman to be ignorant on the subject of farming, stands up and says, "What does she know about anything? I would like to ask her if she knows how many toes a pig has. Well, lady?"

Quick as a flash, the woman replies, "Take off your boots sir, and count them yourself!"

Lost cell phone

This week's Puzzle

“When a customer left his cell phone in my store, I scrolled through his saved numbers, stopped at "Mom" and pushed send. His mother answered, and I told her what happened.

"Don't worry," she said, "I'll take care of it."

A few minutes later, the cell phone rang. It was "Mom." "Martin," she said, "you left your cell phone at the convenience store."”

Attention, please!

A businessman who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to church to pray for the money. By chance he knelt next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt.

The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man's hand.

Overjoyed, the man got up and left the church.

The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed: "And now, Lord, that I have your undivided attention..."

The usual questions

A property manager of single-family residence was showing a unit to prospective tenants and asking the usual questions. "Professionally employed?" he asked.

"We're a military family," the wife answered.

"Children?"

"Oh, yes, ages nine and twelve," she answered proudly.

"Animals?"

"Oh, no," she said earnestly. "They're very well behaved."

Wonderful eulogy

see solution on page 46

The old man had died. A wonderful funeral was in progress and the country preacher talked at length of the good traits of the deceased: what an honest man he was, what a loving husband and kind father he had been.

The widow meanwhile was ever so slightly shaking her head, as she intently listened to the preacher's words.

Finally, the widow leaned over and whispered to one of her children . . .

“Erica honey, go on up there, take a look in the coffin, and see if that's your pa in there."

Fashion

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D

esigner Marcie De Santos’ collection was a show-stopper at the recently held New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2014, one of the world’s premier fashion weeks.

The runway show featured renowned designers such as Michael Costello, winner of Project Runway All Stars 2012, and Leanne Marshall, Project Runway contestant, and other international designers.

Marcie’s collection aptly named ‘Autumn Fiesta’, since it brought a bright, happy, playful Caribbean aesthetic to the season, received rave feedback from organisers and viewing public alike, which included several celebrities. She was immediately invited by the show’s organisers to return to participate in the New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 to be held in September 2014.

The Guyanese designer counts her participation in the New York Fashion Week as one of the best moments of her career. The recognition of her work and feedback received has proven that she is capable of holding her own on the international fashion scene.

Marcie started designing over five years ago. She always had a passion for unique clothes, so she started by designing for herself and soon realised that she had a flair for designing.

She specialises in cotton

and linen garments, enhanced by unique and exquisite fabric painting. She prides herself in the uniqueness of the colour blends she uses. Her target is mainly women whose desire is to exude femininity in unique, exuberant, eye-catching styles.

The Guyana Fashion Week (GFW) 2008 was her debut runway show where she presented her line ‘Contours’, which won her the award for the most promising designer. She continued to impress at GFW 2009 with her line ‘Mosaique’ and in 2010 with ‘Rhapsody in Grey’.

In 2009, Marcie was a member of the Guyana’s delegation led by CEO and founder of GFW, acclaimed designer Sonia Noel that participated in 13th Ningbo International Fashion

in Ningbo, China, one of the biggest fashion and trade fairs worldwide.

In 2011, she showcased her talent regionally through participation at the USVI Fashion Week, and the Bridgetown Barbados Fashion Weekend in October, and in the Antigua and Barbuda Fashion Weekend in November. April of the following year saw her participating in the Tobago Fashion Weekend. Her work received excellent feedback at all regional runway shows.

Her applauded line, ‘Evolution’, debuted at the Tobago Fashion Week 2013.

This line was later showcased at the Dominicana Moda 2013 in the Dominican Republic, through the sponsorship and support of Caribbean Export.

Despite her schedule and the competitive nature of the fashion design business, Marcie ensures that she finds time to give back; she is a permanent fixture in various charity shows and events organised by the GFW. Marcie is currently the treasurer of the recently formed Guyana Fashion Design Council, which is gearing to significantly move the Guyana fashion industry forward.

Currently, she is busily preparing her collection for her next runway show in September.

For more information, visit MARSAE by: Marcie De Santos on Facebook.

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Travel & Tourism

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rane Pond is located not far from Karanambu Ranch, Rupununi; its visual spectacle is equalled only by the diverse chatter of its various avian and aquatic inhabitants, making the area one of the impressive features of the Rupununi region.

For birding enthusiasts, excellent bird watching is available at Crane Pond. Hundreds of boisterous ibis, anhinga, heron and egret birds can be seen roosting, which is a highlight on the trip to the pond. There is also the beautiful spread of Victoria Amazonica flowers on the water that increases the beauty of this natural water feature.

Boating on the pond offers an unparalleled opportunity to observe upclose the unique ecosystem existing there. The view from the pond provides an amazing backdrop of hills, mountains, and savannah. That makes the area for tourists to experience the biodiversity at Crane Pond a treat when visiting the Karanambu Ranch.

Panoramic view of Crane Pond

Calm day at the pond

The pond is home to a variety of tree species

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WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

LEGAL corner

Your bank accounts and bankruptcy

By Richard Kistnen, Esq.

E

very single person who comes to my office thinking about filing for bankruptcy will, invariably, ask the following question: what happens to my bank account if I file?

The answer (not surprisingly, in the legal industry) is, “it depends.”

When a person files for bankruptcy, a theoretical estate is created that belongs to the trustee that is assigned to the case. All of a person’s interests in property (houses, cars, money, lawsuits, etc.) at this point belong to the estate, which is controlled by the trustee. (Certain property defined by law, such as some social security benefits, are never part of the estate. They are specifically excluded from the estate by law.)

When a person files for bankruptcy, exemptions are used to remove that property from the estate.

That is, although all of the property combined creates the estate under control of the trustee, the law also states that

a person can use exemptions to remove certain property from the estate and protect it. There are state law exemptions and federal law exemptions. A person that files for bankruptcy must choose one or the other.

If the exemption limits are enough to cover the value of the asset, that property is protected.

In the case of bank accounts, both state and federal exemptions do not specifically protect bank accounts.

New York State law allows a debtor to exempt $1,000.00 in cash or bank account monies if no exemption for a house is taken. Also, any money that is in a bank account that is traceable to a non-estate source or exemptible source (again, such as social security) is protected.

Federal law gives a debtor a lump sum amount to protect any and all property, including what may be in a bank account. (Federal law also protects money in a bank account traceable to a non-estate or exemptible source.)

Some banks will jump to freeze a bank account when a person files for bankruptcy. Most will also prohibit access to any safe deposit box that may be held by a debtor.

Credit unions are notorious for taking money in a deposit account to set off against any loan that may exist. What all this means is that some planning should be done. If possible, a person about to file for bankruptcy should reduce the funds in a bank account (on necessary expenses), especially if they owe that bank for a debt (such as for a credit card issued by the same bank). If possible, arrange for direct deposits to be entered into a new deposit account at a new bank prior to filing, so that the bank does not freeze access to an account.

Planning could help avoid any issues with banks when filing for bankruptcy. To speak with a lawyer about bankruptcy or other concerns, contact the Law Office of Richard Kistnen, (718) 738-2324, www.kistnenlaw.com.

J

Revellers in the spirit (Jamaica Observer photos)

amaica’s Bacchanal Carnival Road March 2014 seemed bigger than ever, with thousands of revellers and bystanders turning to the streets of Kingston and St Andrew to indulge in a day filled with music, beautiful people, and colourful costumes.

The road march on Sunday started at minutes after 10 a.m. and grew with every step of the journey, with persons joining in from different locations around the Corporate Area.

The colourfully decorated trucks were armed with refreshments as the day promised much perspiration.

This year, there was no rain threat, and the rays of the sun worked well with the costumes.

Some trucks had more excitement than others, with revellers moving from place to place in an attempt to find the best place to be.

The Digicel truck was followed by a sizeable audience, and its DJ got strong responses from songs like ‘Worst Behaviour’ by Skinny Fabulous and ‘Live Mi Life’ by Machel Montano.

The staff on the Pure Country Juice truck were kept busy as patrons flooded its counters for beverages. The juice brand, which has been very visible during the carnival season, also provided entertainment from its huge truck, the single, 'Baccahanalist', earning much attention.

The police and security officials were out in

numbers, ensuring revellers were not disturbed by persons who sought to hijack the proceedings.

Patrons without costumes still enjoyed the event by either staying at the extreme back of the parade or by flanking the sides of the trucks.

At minutes after 3 p.m., the march came to a halt at Waterloo Close, and the revellers were given the chance to show their ability to dance for 15 minutes before heading to Half-Way Tree.

The road march still continued to grow in size and even in HalfWay Tree, more persons joined the parade as they headed to the New Mas Camp, where the revelling ended with one final party. (Jamaica Gleaner)

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G

Times Notebook

uyana has been a victim – and continues to be a victim – of climate change and has taken steps to adapt and to mitigate climate change. But sadly too many countries are showing sloth in responding to climate change.

In many ways, certain countries are fiddling in the face of enormous dangers and damage and in the face of possible extinction of some countries. This is a global justice issue because many counties that have suffered losses of property and lives so far and countries that face washing away by rising sea levels as a consequence of climate change are not responsible for the greenhouse gases that have

led to global warming.

Many meetings have been held and another one was held in the first week of April in Yokohama in Japan. One of the outcomes of the meeting was the prediction that sea levels will rise about three feet by 2100 and as much as six feet in some places.

This means that many coastlines will be lost and millions of people will lose their homes, land and lives. But we do not have to wait until 2100 for such dire consequences, since sea levels are already on the rise and the predicted disasters are already happening.

Weather chaos

One reason for rising sea levels is the melting of snow caps in

Greenland. The summer melting of snow in

Greenland lasts for more than 70 days now. In

Developed countries are not immune to climate change – within a decade, it is expected that the ocean which the village of Kivalina in Alaska has so relied on will completely destroy it – creating America’s first climate change refugees – yet they dither. Whole countries like Tuvalu will share Kivalina’s fate if no action is taken (as this Tuvalu citizen (right) knows

1970, the summer melting of snow in Greenland lasted for only 35 days.

These are not predictions, these are real phenomena and they are occurring in full view of humanity, with weather chaos all around us.

Outside of some debilitating impact on Guyana, countries like the Maldives, Kiribati, and Fiji are reeling from rising sea levels which threaten to wipe out large parts of their territory , if not the whole country.

The experience of Bangladesh is one that Guyana and other countries must view with great alarm, because it is symptomatic of what can happen to us. But it is not only developing countries like Guyana, Kiribati, Fiji, Tuvalu, Maldives, Vanuatu and Bangladesh that are threatened. Rich cities like London, Venice and New Orleans face similarly dire consequences.

Global justice dictates that the world act in unison on a danger that impacts on the whole world.

But in this global justice thrust we must recognise that we are where we are, because developed countries were, and continue to be, reckless in the emission of greenhouse gases.

The greatest impact of climate change as of now is on developing countries which, in fact, contribute marginally to global greenhouse gas emissions. The greatest sloth in response to climate change is from those countries that are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, the root of the climate

change phenomenon.

Washed away Take the case of Bangladesh. Its greenhouse gas emissions amount to only 0.3 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions. But Bangladesh has already had large parts of its coastline inundated by rising sea levels.

Scientists are also predicting the complete washing away of countries like Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Maldives by 2100. Closer to home, the San Blas Archipelago, a chain of about 350 islands along the Coast of Panama, is threatened with extinction in 20 to 30 years because scientists have measured sea levels rising about an inch each year.

The United States has been one of the major culprits in the global greenhouse gas emissions scandal. Yet the United States has also been one of the nations demonstrating the greatest sloth in response to climate change.

President Barack Obama has declared publicly that climate change is real. He has tried to change the way America is responding to climate change, but America is far from reacting with the urgency it must. It is putting itself and the whole world at risk for submersion by the sea of whole countries or large parts of countries. What kind of global justice and good governance is America promoting?

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

feature

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Founder and lead vocalist of Canadian reggae band Tasman Jude, Caleb "Bravehart" Hart, right, with bandmate and guitarist Al Peterson (TT Guardian photo)

L

ike breathing, music is vital to Canadian-born Tobago-bred singer/ songwriter, Caleb Hart, aka Bravehart, the 23-year-old founder and lead vocalist of NorthAmerican roots reggae band Tasman Jude.

On a brief visit to his former homeland, he told TT media he’s been in love with singing for as long as he could remember.

Retracing his steps, he said: “I have been on the stage with a mic in my hand since I was four years old.”

Those tender years spent at church with his family growing up in Tobago were what he

described as a blessing, because the opportunity to do music was always there. He would eventually write his first song, titled ‘Angel’, at the age of 12, which is actually one of his band’s current singles.

But Hart’s biggest break came when he met Canada’s first double Grammy hip-hop nominee and winner of over 80 international musical awards, Robert Fresh IE Wilson, in 2012.

The two became acquainted and Hart was featured on Wilson’s tenth anniversary of his first Grammynominated album, ‘Red Letterz’, which gained two gospel music awards

in Canada in November 2013. He also became a member of Wilson’s outreach movement, the Kingdom Music Family (KMF), Since the official formation of the band on January 17, 2013, Tasman Jude has toured most of Canada.

Later this month it will venture outside of Canada for the first time to perform at the All Ages Australia Music Festival, a venture fully funded by their fans.

But no matter where music takes the band, Hart makes sure he is always representing for the Caribbean.

“When I’m on stage, 50 percent of what I sing and talk about is TT. From stories of my childhood to the delicious food, rich culture and beautiful beaches. It makes Canadians want to visit,” he said.

Hart also spent time as a youth in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on the island of Canouan, so he jokes about being a Caribbean boy to his heart.

Several collaborations

To date, the band has collaborated with awardwinning Canadian bands/artists such as Earl Pereira of the

Steadies and is currently working on a “collab” EP that will be released for free download on the band’s Noise Trade account online.

They are also planning an eastern Canadian tour where they are billed to perform alongside reggae acts such as Beenie

Man, Raging Fyah, the legendary Third World band and others.

It is Hart’s hope that the band will do more collaborations with Caribbean bands and artists to keep the Caribbean connection alive.

“Caribbean music is the sweetest kind of

music you can find anywhere. It does something for people. I don’t know if it’s the instruments used or the stories told through the songs, but wherever you go people appreciate that music and I am living proof that they do,” said Hart.

(Excerpted from TT Guardian)

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FEATURE

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A

- Jamaica’s Tessanne Chin pulls off good show too

n hour-long acoustic set by American soul singer John Legend got the thumbs up from the majority of fans who turned up to see the superstar as he headlined the Tobago Jazz Experience at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park last Friday night.

Opting to perform with just his piano, the 35-year-old went for a stripped-down format that lent a more intimate feel to the performance.

He delivered some of his biggest hits like ‘Used To Love You’, ‘Ordinary People’, ‘Tonight (Best You Ever Had’), ‘So High’, ‘Green Light’, and of course, his recent chart-topper ‘All Of Me’.

Some felt the performance was too low key, and missed the excitement of a band, but most seemed not to mind, as they sang along—word for word—with great enthusiasm. Sadly, Legend didn’t return for an encore even though the MC and some of the patrons near the stage called for him to return.

Legend didn’t per-

Ramnarine and his band Dil-E-Nadan. They got the crowd on their feet with a set that included pop songs from the 80s and 90s, and recent soca hits. The last minute pullout of Bunji Garlin, his wife Fay-Ann and the Asylum Vikings was not announced to the audience, so there were a lot of disappointed faces when Neil “Iwer” George appeared onstage to close the show.

Park on Saturday night.

The newest addition to the TJE calendar, Youthopia was billed as a night dedicated to the celebration of youth in music and entertainment, where young performers were to stage

a number of young people who got what they came out for, with the highlight being the performance of Chin best known for winning Season 5 of NBC’s reality TV singing competition The Voice as part

Biggest fest

Jamaican recording artiste Tessanne Chin headlined the Youthopia night of the Tobago Jazz Experience 2014 on Saturday night at the Pigeon Point Beach facility, Tobago (TT Newsday photo)

form the song ‘Quickly’, a collaboration with Brandy who preceded him onstage. Brandy, who is known to a lot of locals as the star of the sitcom ‘Moesha’, found it difficult to keep the attention of the nearly 10,000-strong audience.

She went back to the 90s and drew on hits like ‘I Wanna Be Down’, ‘Sitting Up In My Room’ and ‘Baby’, which went

down well with some of the younger patrons who knew her songs. At one point, she even commented, “you guys look bored” and urged her band to pick up the tempo. The crowd responded best when she did a segment of Whitney Houston covers.

Keeping the audience engaged was not a problem for 2013 Chutney Soca Monarch Raymond

In recent weeks, the organisers, the Tobago House of Assembly, proudly announced that with 10,000 tickets sold, this was the biggest night ever in the history of the Tobago Jazz Experience.

The events finished Sunday night with appearances by Earth, Wind and Fire and Keyshia Cole.

M e a n w h i l e , Jamaican songbird Tessanne Amanda Chin had fun on stage at Tobago Jazz Experience (TJE) during a show entitled: “Youthopia” held at Pigeon Point Heritage

American recording artist Brandy performs one of her selections during the World Music Night of the Tobago Jazz Experience at Pigeon Point Heritage Park, Tobago last Friday (TT Guardian photo)

and show off their vocal and instrumental talent in various genres, ranging from soca and reggae to soul and jazz.

The show attracted

of Adam Levine’s team, though she had already released eight singles of her own. (Excerpted from TT Guardian and TT Newsday)

News

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Ten visually-impaired students set to write CXC T

en children of varying visual impairment are now prepared to sit the Caribbean Secondary Examinations Council (CSEC) exams this month after they took part in an 18-month project by the Guyana Society For the Blind.

The project saw them using Information Communications Technology as a learning gateway.

Speaking with this newspaper last Thursday, Coordinator of the Education Ministry-funded project, Ganesh Singh, explained that the initiative was the offspring of another project that sought to teach visuallyimpaired children to use computers.

He said a few years back the Guyana Society For the Blind and One

Singh went on to indicate that the ministry was contacted and after some deliberations, agreed to fund the project by paying the instructors and subsequently paying the examination fee for the students.

Pilot phase

Project coordinator Ganesh Singh

Laptop Per Family Project embarked on an initiative to teach visually-impaired children the proper usage of computer systems using the Jaws software. From that, he explained, he thought “why not use these same systems to teach the children so they can write CXC?”

Since this is the pilot phase of the project, Singh said only five subjects are being offered to the students currently, but this may change in the future as other resources become available.

The project had started with 15 students from Regions Three and Four, but owing to circumstances and resources only 10 remain to write the examinations this month.

Cecil Morris, who is also one of the project coordinators, underscored the importance of the

Caricom seeks strategy to reduce teen pregnancy Adolescent birth rates remain relatively high in the Caribbean.

The birth rate ranges from 26 to 97 per 1,000 among girls aged 15 to 19 years old

R

epresentatives from the 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) met in Gros Islet, St Lucia Tuesday and Wednesday as they sought to agree on a strategy and action plan to reduce adolescent pregnancy in the region.

The meeting was a follow-up to the highlevel multi-stakeholder consultation on the reduction of adolescent pregnancy in the Caribbean that was convened in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad last December.

At that meeting, a draft strategic framework on adolescent pregnancy, commissioned

by Caricom's Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) in May, 2013 was presented for inputs and consensus from the wide cross section of stakeholders. These included representatives from government, including ministers and technical personnel, civil society, the private sector, youth organisations, the United Nations System and other internation-

al development partners. The meeting earlier this week was another stage of the consultative process aimed at securing broad-based multistakeholder engagement and support before the strategic framework is presented to COHSOD later this year.

Director of the UNFPA Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean Sheila Roseau said the meeting provided an opportunity for the region to effectively respond to the call of the 47th Commission on Population and Development for governments to develop, strengthen and implement effective strategies to address the needs of vulnerable groups including adolescents and youth who are a major resource for development and key agents of social change.

"We cannot talk about sustainable development without addressing, in a serious way, the needs of young people who make up over 60 percent of the popula-

tion of Caricom. Teenage pregnancy is one of the major challenges standing in the way of girls' education and their ability to achieve their full potential, especially when the necessary support systems are not in place," said Roseau.

Despite the fall in total fertility rate, adolescent birth rates remain relatively high in the Caribbean. The birth rate ranges from 26 to 97 per 1,000 among girls aged 15 to 19 years old.

The meeting was organised by Caricom, with support from UNFPA. (Jamaica Observer)

project, stating that it will enable visually-impaired young people to make noteworthy contributions to society.

"Young folks don’t have the opportunities they should have and we want to afford them that opportunity so they can take their right place in society…and contribute to the development of our country."

Morris also related that some of the students have indicated that they will be pursuing tertiary studies at the Cyril Potter College of Education and the University of Guyana, while others have said that they will be seeking employment to provide for their families before considering tertiary ed-

ucation.

He said he remained hopeful that there will be some infrastructural improvements for the next batch of students since they currently use makeshift classrooms.

Gateway

This publication took the opportunity to speak with a few of the students attending classes.

They collectively highlighted that they took the class because they are of the opinion that an education would make them better people and they would be equipped to make valuable contributions to society.

One such student, Leroy Phillips, an aspiring journalist, explained that when he got the opportunity to write CXC,

he “grasped at it with both hands”. Phillips pointed out that it has been approximately four years since he has been out of the education system and he was delighted to be a part of the project. He related that after he completes the examinations, he will proceed to the University of Guyana where he will further pursue his journalistic career.

The Guyana Society For The Blind is set to commence the registration process for the second batch of CXC students this year. Both the coordinators and students alike are appealing for visually-impaired young people to visit the society and enrol in the classes.

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News

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

St. Kitts defends Citizenship by Investment Programme following U.S. probe

T

he St. Kitts-Nevis government says while it has not been officially informed by the United States of an investigation into how three Iranians had in their possessions passports of the twin island Federation, it is not worried over the probe.

“We haven’t been informed officially that this is happening and we don’t see anything unusual about this. Several persons, several citizens from several countries across the world occasionally are the subjects of investigations. So there is nothing unusu-

al here,” Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas said.

Opposition politicians claim that the investigations are threatening the St. Kitts Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), but Prime Minister Douglas said “it does not damage our pro-

St. Kitts-Nevis’ Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas

gramme at all.

“If that person or those persons were already on a watch list and they were able to obtain our citizenship then that is something you question…or if they are subject to an investigation without necessarily an offence being committed then we consider that to be quite normal and that in anyway should not hurt our citizenship by investment programme,” he stated.

Dr. Douglas said he wanted to emphasise that the CIP is “one of the oldest in the world,

it is the most credible to date in the world, it is the leading programme globally and we could not have attracted these accolades if there wasn’t something that we were doing that wasn’t right.

“And so from time to time you do have these situations where a citizen of St. Kitts-Nevis is being investigated,” Dr. Douglas said.

But former government minister and activist Dwyer Astapahn disagrees, saying “the trouble for me is while we are…little fishes in the ocean we need par-

ticularly to be careful that we don’t get painted with the same brush and the people of this country are not jeopardised as a result”.

Astaphan speaking on WINN FM radio, said the three Iranians are “part of a bigger picture that people at present understand.”

The disclosure that Washington is investigating the three Iranians comes a few months after another Iranian was denied entry into Canada using a St. Kitts Nevis diplomatic passport.

The Iranian, Alizeera Moghadhan, reportedly told immigration authorities that he paid one million dollars for the passport.

But Dr. Douglas maintained that anyone on a watch list of the United states, the European Union or the United Nations would not qualify for a local passport under the CIP. “The point I am trying to make is that no one who has that intention…will come to St. Kitts and Nevis in order to sue that as a means of getting into the United States to do business,” he added. (Caribbean News)

Health FEATURE

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The dangers of particle pollution particle pollution can cause these sensitive ir quality afgroups to visit emerfects the way gency rooms and be we breathe admitted to hospiand live. There are tals more frequently. many air pollutants In worse case scenarthat contribute to an ios even die. In addiunhealthy air qualtion, it can cause peoity (e.g. ground-level ple in these sensitive ozone, particle pollugroups to experience tion, carbon monoxchest pain, palpitaide, sulfur dioxide). tions, fatigue, coughHowever, for the puring, and shortness of pose of this article breath. Healthy peolet’s consider partiple may experience cle pollution. Particle these effects too, but pollution, also known they are less serious. as particulate matFor the general popter, is a mixture of ulation, particle poltiny solid particles Here is an illustration of how particles enter and affect the human body lution increases the and liquid droplets gerous than inhalable coarse parrisk of respiratory insuspended in the air. It is one of ticles. This is because these are fection. In sum, the Environmental the major types of air pollution af- the ones that can pass through Protection Agency concludes that fecting air quality in the United the nose and mouth and enter the fine particle pollution causes earStates today. lungs. They are even small enough ly death (from both short term As stated previously, particle to pass through the lungs and into and long term exposure), cardiopollution consists of both solid and the blood stream. Common exam- vascular harm (e.g. heart attacks, liquid matter. These components ples include those found in smoke strokes, heart disease, congestive vary in size, which influences the and haze from sources such as mo- heart failure), respiratory harm potential health problems one may tor vehicles, forest fires, and pow- (e.g. worsened asthma, chronic obencounter. Coarse particles are be- er plants. structive pulmonary disease, intween 2.5 and 10 micrometers in Particle pollution can harm flammation), cancer, and reprodiameter. Common examples in- your health and even kill you be- ductive and developmental harm. clude those found near roadways cause they negatively affect the Particle pollution is a severe and dusty industries, as a result growth and work of the lungs. threat to public health. It aggraof dust stirred up by moving ve- According to New York City vates our respiratory system and hicles, and crushing and grind- Environmental Protection, air pol- puts people with lung and heart ing operations, respectively. Our lution contributes to about six per- disease, as well as older adults natural defenses such as sneez- cent of the annual deaths in NYC. and children, at greater risk. ing and coughing help to keep Individuals with heart or lung dis- Hence, it is important for us to be these particles at bay. On the oth- ease, older adults, and children aware of our local air quality and er hand, fine particles are 2.5 mi- are considered more sensitive to adopt practices to help reduce air crometers or less in diameter and particle pollution and therefore, pollution, like particle pollution, are considered to be more dan- are at greater risk. Exposure to and exposure to it.

By Tisha Boston

De stone man want a stick

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ust de other day, de Bell Crier was crying bout how people appealin against every ting in de courts these days. Now just as de Bell Crier mouth done talk, Roy Stone who believe he is a king turn round and appeal again.

Now all de time de Stone Man didn’t want de Town Clerk to be de Town Clerk, because he heself wanna be de Tongue Clerk. And de C-Jay agree wid he – not bout he bein de Tongue Clerk, but bout de Town, who couldn’t de Town Clerk. Some body seh is because she can’t talk like town people. But de Stone Man still run and appeal whah de C-Jay decide.

Talk bout still havin yuh cake and eatin it at de same time, although de Stone Man not interested in any kinda cake. One a dem Councillors tell a reporter that de Stone Man more interested in de ting whah does stick de cake, becuz he like when he cake get stick.

Well, as far as cake concern, de Gee-C-B puttin icin pun dem own cake even before de cake done bake.

Any businessman or sensible manager does only tek on more people fuh a job when de wuk too much. In other words, is only when de wuk overwhelmin that people does need more people to do de wuk whah can’t get done.

Now de Gee-C-B want a See-E-O at a time when every body see that Guyana come last in de regional cricket. That mean that de people who deh in de cricket set-up not doin whah dem suppose to do.

This is de time when de people who deh in de system suppose to buckle down and do de wuk whah dem see supposed to get done. But as every body suspect, no body in de Gee-C-B seein any ting. Every body blind.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! And de Bell Crier believe that de See-E-O who gon get de job gon be a man who also can’t see, except fuh dem bottles whah does be pun de Gee-C-B bar shelf.

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history

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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Queen Victoria statue located in the compound of the High Court

he 120-year-old Queen Victoria statue located in the compound of the High Court, formerly known as the Victoria Law Courts, has a unique but today, little-

acknowledged history.

The marble sculpture of Queen Victoria was unveiled 4 September 1894 by then governor of British Guiana, Sir Charles Cameron Lee. It was constructed and

mounted to honour the monarch of Britain and its colonies, by her sole territory on the South American mainland, British Guiana.

Sculpted by H R Hope Porter of London,

(some say Hope-Pinter), the statue, then resplendent with her orb and sceptre, was not always present at its current site. On 26 May 1954, two illegal explosions destroyed its head and

the left hand that bore the orb. With other sections slightly damaged, the statue was sent to Britain to be repaired.

Once fixed and returned, it was put back in the law court compound.

However, 12 years later, after British Guiana gained its independence 26 May 1966, a political movement to remove all things felt to symbolise colonialism meant the banishment of the statue to the back of the Botanical Gardens.

Unfortunately, it was not to display the monument in this oasis in the city, but to effectively dump it, as, for more than 20 years, it lay face down and covered in weeds and vines among the thick bushes during the Forbes Burnham era.

It was not until 1990, when an effort by then mayor of the city Compton Young to re-display the monu-

ment was approved by Burnham’s successor Desmond Hoyte, that the statue was cleaned up and placed in the City Hall compound, just about a stone’s throw from its original location.

The neglect was evident in the destruction of its nose and left arm – damaged, it is believed, either when it was manhandled during its removal, or carelessness when transported to City Hall – and the effects of years of exposure to sun, wind, rain and other environmental factors.

At some point, the statue was returned to the lawns of the courts, and despite discussions to have the statue repaired since, nothing has been done; the statue remains an incongruous, broken figure in often-unkempt surroundings that reflects our own ambivalence towards our history.

Modern Educational Institute, New Amsterdam, British Guiana

Modern Educational Institute, New Amsterdam, British Guiana

Queen Victoria, photographed here for her golden jubilee in 1877, died 22 January 1901 after an almost 64-year reign, so far the longest in British history

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

feature

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WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The ‘mark’ revealed …on PNC’s motivation The PNC just completed their General Council meeting. This body’s the inner core of the party – the heavy hitters. No Roopnaraines and David Scotts and other fig leaves to disguise the mark of the PNC. They gather in solemn conclave at their sequestered redoubt in Sophia, under the baleful, hooded gaze of the Founder Leader. Few outsiders know what transpires at these midnight gatherings. We have to read between the lines from their press releases.

Normally these are the most anodyne and sanitised of statements. But sometimes the mark of the PNC slips through. Maybe the stirring of the cauldron went too far into the night? In the press statement from the recent coven, Chairman Basil Williams revealed: “the PNCR’s primary motivation must be to win back the reins of Government.” We can only imagine what really went on (down?) in that dark and cavernous hall in Congress Place.

The PNC’s “motivation” is not to govern better; not to improve the lot of the people (even of their own supporters); not to stop cutting the wherewithal for “development” from the Budget. No Siree!!

Their motivation is to get their hands on the reins of power! How vintage PNC! The last time we heard such candour from the bowels of Congress Place was in 1979, when Burnham threw down the gauntlet to the WPA. He even published his unabridged and expurgated remarks.

“Make your wills!!” he’d screamed at Walter Rodney, after mocking Rodney’s “skill” at hurdling fences when pursued by Burnham’s goons from House of Israel, after violently breaking up the meetings. He’d referred jealously to Rodney being a champion high-jumper at Queen’s.

Burnham, of course, was notoriously unathletic at Queen’s – for which deficit he’d, not surprisingly, been ragged. Obviously, he knew he suffered by comparison with Rodney not only intellectually. His final, published warning to Rodney was, “My steel is sharper.” Just months later, Rodney’s face was blown apart.

Burnham said what he said and did what he did because he was unabashed in announcing that, as a disciple of Machiavelli, his quest was one for power.

In his book, Destiny to Mould, he declared: “Whoever says he doesn’t seek power, is a fool or a hypocrite!”

The latest “Declaration of Sophia” shows that Burnham’s disciples have kept his faith in lusting for power. To the people of Guyana your Eyewitness advises, “Hint to Quashie mek Bekeba tek notice.” …in Parliament Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman bemoaned: “The word of the Parliament had tremendous power. It was respected and honoured. Over the years what I have seen is the erosion of respect for the word of the National Assembly.” Not surprisingly, he cast all the blame on the Government. It’s obvious he can’t forget his Opposition comrades in the PNC put him there. His own AFC had proffered Nagamootoo.

Even though he was referring to compliance to the Auditor General (AG) Report, he didn’t even mention that the AG had taken the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) , headed by PNC’s Carl Greenidge, to task for moving at a “snail’s pace” on his reports.

The 2014 Report is about to be laid and the PAC still hasn’t completed examining the one from 2012. This sloth, of course, is part of the PNC’s mark.

The Speaker also failed to point out that the main reason for the loss of respect for Parliament is the Opposition’s refusal to obey the rulings of the Judiciary not to chop the Budget. Oops!!! That’s because he’s inciting the refusal? …with CFATF As we predicted, the importuning of the top officials of the CFATF for the Opposition to sign the AML/CFT Bill was to no avail. Even though they were warned of the dire consequences for Guyana and Caricom. For the PNC, it’s “back to back, belly to belly; Ah don’t give a damn, Ah done dead already!”

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amaica-born, New York-based cofounder and chairman of Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music Inc (CPR), Sharon Gordon, is among five distinguished women who will receive a 2014 Emerald Award from the Woman of Great Esteem organisation.

Gordon, who migrated to the United States (U.S.) with her family from Jamaica in 1979, will share the spotlight with the director of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Dominican native, Dr Carissa F. Etienne; U.S. Virgin Island's Dr Suzette Graham, a cardiologist and professor at Downstate SUNY and Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn; St Maarten's first ombudsman, Dr Rachnilda Lynch-Arduin; and native New Yorker and attorney Yolande Nicholson, known for her 'Turnaround Plan' with Chase Manhattan Bank.

Gordon joins the ranks of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who has been a recipient of the Emerald Award.

Special ceremony

The five will be recognised at a special ceremony Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton New York , Battery Park, in New York City.

The Woman of Great Esteem 2014 Emerald honourees represent women who develop and advance their communities without regard for race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, gender, age or national origin.

Since 1995, more than 150 women from 27 countries have been honoured with the Emerald Award for their relentless efforts to nurture and serve their communities.

Women from diverse fields, including medicine, politics, law, academia and science have been honoured. Gordon will receive her award in recognition of her accomplishments in the field of arts and entertainment as well as journalism.

In addition to cofounding and chairing the nine-year-old CPR, Gordon is president of TSO Productions LLC, and has been an accomplished journalist, radio personality, media specialist and event producer for more than two decades.

Effective communicator

Since 1992, her distinctive voice has been heard on several ra-

Sharon Gordon (Photo contributed)

dio and television programmes.

Currently, she hosts the popular 'Reggae Calling', on CPRLive and her role as host and moderator of the CPR 'Community Conversation' series aptly demonstrates her prowess as an effective communicator.

Gordon's writing has graced the pages of several publications. She is a regular contributor to the North American edition of 'The Jamaican Weekly Gleaner,' where she writes a weekly col-

umn, 'Views on the News'.

She is also a proficient publicist and event coordinator whose tried and proven guerrilla tactics spearheaded some of the most successful reggae concert marketing campaigns in the Tristate area, long before social media existed.

She has also been producer, road manager, MC and publicist for entertainers, touring with the likes of Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Marcia Griffiths and oth-

ers.

She has consulted with numerous media and production houses on Jamaican music and culture and has served as Caribbean consultant and marketing consultant for films includingBrooklyn Babylon (1999), Africa Unite (2008), and Better Mus' Come (2013).

She recently fulfilled dual roles as consultant and actress in a principal role for the soon-tobe-released, ‘Respect The Jux’. (Jamaica Gleaner)

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Bollywood

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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ays after it was reported that Shah Rukh Khan's vanity van rammed into TV actor Karanvir Bohra's car parked outside a city studio, there have been reported that Team SRK gave the actor a car for temporary use.

Karanvir confirmed, "Yes, Shah Rukh's team sent a car the very next day and told me I could use it till mine gets fixed. It's at the workshop now.

They have also promised to bear expenses that aren't covered by insurance and they have taken care of everything."

So, all okay now? "There was no need to drag SRK's name into this in the first place, as he wasn't even in the van. And the driver, who was at fault,

apologised. Everything's been resolved now," the actor said. (TOI)

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daughter Narmada has refused 30 films in three years.

Narmada has been planning to make her debut for a long time and when asked when will she be launched, Sunita said: "She has refused 30 films in last three years. She wants to do Govinda kind of films. She wants to do comedy films. She is in talking terms with many people now let's see."

"Narmada doesn't like to work under pressure. Yes being a star kid there will be a lot of expectations from her as she will also be compared to her father Govinda," she added.

Sunita, who has been a strong pillar in Govinda's life, says that the actor does consider her advice before signing a film. (TOI)

ctor Govinda's wife Sunita, who accompanied her husband to International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2014, says that her

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Sanjay Dutt's three-year-old son to make his acting debut

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ctor Sanjay Dutt's three-yearold son Shahraan seems to share his father's passion for acting and will be making a debut in his father's home production 'Hasmukh Pigal Gaya'.

A Mid-Day report says the cute boy will be a part of the song Kisi Ki Muskuraton Par Ho Nisar. Though the song is originally from Raj Kapoor's film, 'Anari', it will be played twice in 'Hasmukh Pigal Gaya'. The report adds that when the song is played for the first time, it will feature Shahraan and debutant actor Armaan Ralhan, and the second time it will feature megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

Quoting choreographer Ahmed Khan, the report further adds that the song required a little boy, and

I

n the three decades that she has been around, Madhuri Dixit-Nene has proved her mettle as an actor. Recently, she decided to lend her vocals to a song in 'Gulaab Gang'. And now, there are reports that there is yet another hidden facet to the yesteryear diva's personality. She is said to be writing poems.

“It could be something that she has read in a newspaper or has observed, which she pens down in verse. Madhuri is possessive and secretive about her collection. She does not share it with anyone except family and close friends," revealed a source. (TOI)

bhishek Bachchan and his beautiful bride Aishwarya Rai Bachchan recently completed seven years of matrimony. The couple is blessed with a baby girl Aaradhya but, if the rumours are true, it is allegedly being said that Aishwarya is pregnant yet again!

According to a news report in Sahara Samay, Aishwarya, who stepped out to cast her vote in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Mumbai with husband Abhishek, was apparently looking chubbier than usual. The picture shows Ash dressed down in a grey top. After she stepped out of her house to vote, Aishwarya posed for a

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ecently, there have been many speculations about Vidya Balan.

In a recent interview, she addressed some of these rumours. The following is an excerpt: Are you pregnant?

I'm fed up of these rumours. These days people look at my stomach when they talk to me. Why are actors and

customary picture with her inked finger. (TOI)

actresses treated differently in this industry?…I'm not mentally ready for motherhood yet. It's a daunting task to be responsible for another human being.

But you are in your 30s Motherhood has nothing to do with age. This is a predicament most working women face today since they are getting married in their 30s. Many of my friends have told me that it's fulfilling to wake up in the morning and look at your baby, clean him/her up--but it's all so consuming. This would leave you with little energy for anything else. I don't know how I'll deal with that.

Has life changed after marriage?

I go to my parents' house everyday and I'm back by dinnertime to be with Siddharth. I am enjoying the best of both the worlds. My sister, her husband and their kids have shifted to Khar. The kids are so fascinating. But as I said, I am not mentally ready to have my own kids yet. Give me some time, please. (TOI)

Akshay wants martial arts training compulsory for school kids

B Maanyata was happy to let them shoot with Shahraan. The song reflects the changing moods of Mumbai. (TOI)

ollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who studied martial arts in Thailand, has urged the government to make this mandatory in Indian schools too as it is crucial for self defence.

"I urge the government to make it compulsory for boys and girls.

I look forward to that day where every student compulsorily learns martial arts in schools

for at least three years and martial arts be-

comes more famous than cricket. It is my dream," Akshay said during a workshop on Russian knife fighting system called Tolpar.

In China and Singapore, martial arts training is a must and after the programme, a certificate would be handed over, recalled Akshay, who has appeared in more than 100 films in Bollywood. (TOI)

N

ational Award-winning Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who attended a panel discussion on acting with Hollywood actor-filmmaker Kevin Spacey at International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards, says she has a huge fear of failure.

Priyanka has proved her mettle through films like ‘Saat Khoon Maaf’, ‘Barfi!’, ‘Fashion’, but says she always had the fear of failure.

"I have a huge fear of failure.

Failure drives me. If the film fails, it feels bad. I stay in a room for two weeks. When I was doing 'Barfi!', people told me it is not a heroine kind of a film, don't do it. But I was sure I will do

it and I am happy with the response," she said. (TOI)

Hollywood

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WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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C

ameron Diaz has confessed that she has had "encounters of sexual nature" with the same sex.

When the 41-yearold actress was asked by 'Watch What Happens Live's host Andy Cohen if she has ever "swam in the lady pond", she first said that she didn't know what lady pond meant and then asserted that she has been with a lady, Us Magazine reported.

When Cohen pressed further for more information and asked her how many times she

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ctress Kristen Stewart is thoroughly amused at rumours about her sexuality.

It was reported that

was with a woman, 'The Other Woman' star added that he didn't ask explicitly how she was with a lady.

Diaz had earlier ad-

she's getting intimate with her best friend Alicia Cargile.

"Kristen couldn't stop laughing when she saw the reports that she's in

mitted that she thinks women are absolutely beautiful and it's natural to be sexually attracted to another woman at some point. (TOI)

a lesbian relationship with Alicia. She said,'If I was a lesbian, I wouldn't hide it---it's nothing to be ashamed of! Alicia and I are just good friends!

That's all'," showbizspy quoted a source as saying.

"Kristen and Alicia have been having a good giggle," added the source.

Last week, it was rumoured that romance between and Cargile and Stewart has began following the actress' devastating split from actor Robert Pattinson last May. (TOI)

Matthew McConaughey rescues baby seal

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atthew McConaughey recently came to the rescue of a baby seal.

The Oscar-winning 'Dallas Buyers Club' star reportedly told a group of teenagers to ''back off'' after they began poking the animal with a stick while he was surfing on the beach in Malibu, California.

A source told the National Enquirer: ''Matthew told the kids the seal wasn't hurt, it was resting and sunning itself--and that young pups do this all the time while the mother seal's swim close by until they are ready to re-enter the sea. ''After a 20-minute lecture on sea

life, the kids were so anxious to get away that they didn't even bother to ask the star to pose for a photo.'' (TOI)

ollywood star L e o n a r d o DiCaprio's latest girlfriend Toni Garrn recently did a photo shoot with six naked men.

The German model, 21, also posted a photo of herself in a bikini top and jean shorts on Instagram surrounded by the male models.

Garrn was spotted vacationing with the 'Wolf of Wall Street' actor, 39, in Bora Bora earlier last month where they held hands and kissed while walking along the shore, reported Us magazine.

The Victoria's Secret stunner has been dating him since May 2013 but has not publicly spoken

S

arah Jessica Parker reportedly tried tequila for the very first time in her life at the age 49 on Saturday.

The 'Sex in the City' star was out in the Meatpacking District for some sort of fancily exclusive book club when a source overheard her saying that she had never tried tequila and wanted to try it for the first time, The Huffington Post reported.

The actress is married to actor Matthew Broderick since 1997. (TOI)

S

alma Hayek is reportedly worried that she might be sued for millions of dollars over a deadly car crash that involved her younger brother, Sami, and art director pal Ian Cuttler Sala, who was killed on the spot.

A U.S. lawyer told the Daily Star that the 'Frida' star could be on the hook for millions if Sala's family decides to sue since Hayek's brother, was driving her 2006 Ford GT sports car at the time of the accident.

The 47-year-old actress' friend told the publication that Sala was close friends with her brother, but the actress fears that his relatives might decide to go after her and her husband Francois-Henri Pinault who is also listed as a co-owner of the Ford GT. (TOI)

Gwyneth Paltrow 'feels cursed' post Chris Martin split

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wyneth Paltrow feels "cursed" since her split from rocker hubby Chris Martin, it has been revealed.

A source told Closer Magazine that the 41-year-old actress, who had a scary encounter with her alleged stalker earlier in April, has told her pals that things seem to be going wrong ever since she and Martin announced their separation.

Though she's relieved to have a restraining order on her stalker, she's still bothered of what he might do next, the insider asserted.

The source also said that the mum-of-two has even considered moving on from her lifestyle website Goop, which had suffered huge money loss. (TOI)

about their relationship.

DiCaprio recently hinted he is ready to settle down. (TOI)

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ctor Johnny Depp will no longer be required to testify at a murder trial after lawyers concurred that he was not in a relationship with the accused.

Nancy Lekon was accused of killing a pedestrian with her car in 2009, and she has pleaded not guilty by the court for reasons of insanity. Lekon said she is in a relationship with Depp, reported contactmusic.com.

The prosecution and defence lawyers have now agreed that the actor has no connection with Lekon and neither does he have any involvement in the case. Hence, he is no longer required to give evidence.

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star was served with legal papers relating to the case while attending a film premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month and Lekon's lawyer was expecting that the actor would reinforce her insanity plea with his testimony. (TOI)

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Sport

WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Alpha United crowned NAMILCO football champs

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Dwayne Lawrence

searing left-footer almost from midfield off the boot of Mark Miller rocked the nets to hand Alpha United a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in the final of the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) One Love Classic football tournament on Sunday evening.

Playing in front of the largest crowd to attend the competition this year at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda, overtime was required to separate the eventual champions and the Guyana Defence Force after both teams failed to score during the 90 minutes regulation time.

In the third-place playoff, host club Fruta Conquerors outplayed

Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill presents the Alpha United players with the championship trophy in the presence of NAMILCO’s CEO Bert Sukhai (second right) and Director of Sport Neil Kumar (extreme right)

Riddim Squad 4-2.

As Alpha United and GDF battled for the elusive goal, there were several missed opportunities as both teams came agonisingly close to scoring.

However, it was Alpha United who found success through Miller, who ended as the game’s only scorer; his strike in the 121st minute handed

the Georgetown-based side the Gy$1.2 million top prize.

The victory solidified Alpha United’s status as the competition’s most successful team with four titles under their belt.

While the final produced just a solitary goal, the third-place playoff counted six with Fruta Conquerors being

the successful team.

Dwayne Lawrence was the star for Fruta Conquerors, scoring a double in the 18th and 60th minutes. Delon Williams and Jahall Greaves added one apiece in the 51st and 63rd minutes respectively. Scoring for Riddim Squad were Seon Hope in the 13th minute and Amos Ramsey in the 48th minute.

At the conclusion of the competition, Chief Executive Officer of NAMILCO, Bert Sukhai, declared that the final was one of the best in the

tournament’s history. He also pointed out that the event was an overall success in 2014.

Sukhai also promised to continue sponsoring the knockout tournament, which is usually used by the Fruta Conquerors club as an avenue to raise funds for development works at its Tucville ground.

President of the Fruta Conquerors club, Wayne Forde, pointed out that they will be working along with NAMILCO to make the tournament the number one club competition in Guyana.

Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill and Director of Sport Neil Kumar, who witnessed the final and later assisted in the presentation of prizes, congratulated the organisers on a well-run tournament, while they lauded NAMILCO for its investment in football.

NAMILCO injected Gy$5 million into this year’s competition, a sponsorship package that has steadily increased since the first year when the company had invested Gy$1.6 million. (Avenash Ramzan)

GSL Independence Cup on this weekend

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ecently crowned G u y a n a Floodlights Softball Cricket Association/Trophy Stall champions Regal XI, Trophy Stall Angels and Floodlights XI are some of the teams registered in their respective categories to compete in this weekend’s Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) inaugural Independence Cup. The tournament, which will see teams battle in three categories, namely Masters, Open and Female, is set for May 3, 4 and 5, at various venues in the city, culminating with the finals at the Everest Cricket Club next Monday.

This was disclosed on Monday by Assistant Secretary/Treasurer of the GSCL Inc., Russell Jadbeer, who said only eight male teams will be doing battle for supremacy in the Open category, while six strong

female teams will be battling for supremacy.

“We were targeting 12 teams in the Male Open category, but unfortunately only eight of the country’s softball teams responded to the call. The show must go on so we accepted the eight teams, even though it forced us to reduce the initial prize money that was up for grabs” Jadbeer said.

In the Open category, Regal XI, who defeated Wolf Warriors by 47 runs to take the GFSCA crown last Saturday night, will compete against the same opponents along with Trophy Stall, Speed Boat, Smith’s XI, Memorex, Farm and Karibee Boys for the top prize of Gy$500,000 and a trophy, with the secondplaced team pocketing Gy$100,000.

Trophy Stall Angels will go up against Mike’s Wellwoman, Karibee Girls, 4R Lioness, Regal

and Lady Jags for the female category prize of Gy$50,000 and a trophy with the runner-up pocketing Gy$25,000.

Floodlights Masters were forced to work overtime in the GFSCA/ Trophy Stall final against Success Masters, before they came out victorious by three wickets with one ball to spare and with teams such as Regal Masters, Parika Defenders, Industry Super Kings, Frontline Rangers and Superior Woodmasters entering this competition, another interesting battle can be anticipated as well.

The top prize in this category is Gy$400,000 and a trophy, with the losing finalists pocketing Gy$100,000 and a trophy, making it more exciting, since several players will be looking to bring their talent to the fore in order to be selected as a guest player for teams in this year’s GFSCA’s Guyana Cup 4.

SPort

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WEEK ENDING May 4, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Atwell heads to New York in preparation for world title fight

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orld title contender Clive “The Punisher” Atwell will head to Gleason’s Gym in New York this week to step up preparations for his title fight against Mexico’s Jhonny Gonzalez on May 24 in Mexico.

Speaking at a press conference at Millenium Manor Hotel on Hadfield Street on Tuesday, the 25-year-old pugilist said he is in top shape at the moment, and travelling to New York is all part of fine-tuning as he attempts to become Guyana’s next world champion.

The eloquent boxer will face the toughest challenge of his fledgling career next month, when he takes on Gonzalez for the World Boxing Council’s Featherweight world title in Mexico.

The fight was sealed by Atwell’s camp, Dog Pound, earlier this month, handing the Guyanese a golden opportunity to become the country’s next world champion.

In order to make that dream a reality, Atwell’s camp has decided to fly the boxer to New York where he will undergo training under the eyes of such experts as New Yorkbased Guyanese, Lennox Blackmore, among others.

“As it relates to the immediate plans, Team Atwell is expected to depart the shores of Guyana at the end of the week to begin the final stage of preparations in Gleason’s Gym in New York, where we also will be working with Leon Moore, a champion of Guyana, and Delon Carew, one of the best

beliefs and customs and rally around the cause, which is to obtain a world title,” Atwell reiterated.

Atwell said he is unfazed by the “negative reporting”, as his focus is on the task ahead, but lamented the effect the bad publicity has had on his management team.

Records

Clive Atwell’s team, comprising Ronald Burch Smith (left) and Andrew Arjoon, is leaving no stone unturned in an effort to ensure the boxer is adequately prepared for Johnny Gonzalez’s challenge

coaches and cut man in that gym, who is expected to join our team to Mexico,” Atwell divulged.

Meanwhile, Atwell had a few words for his detractors, some of whom have been penning articles in the local press, condemning the move by Dog Pound to sign the fighter against the more experienced Gonzalez.

However, Atwell lauded his corner for sealing the fight and

offering him the opportunity to land Guyana another world title.

It was also highlighted that the defence by Gonzalez was “voluntary” and not “mandatory”, leading Atwell to praise Dog Pound, headed by Guyana Squash Association presidents Ronald Burch-Smith and Andrew Arjoon, for their ability to land such a high- profile contest.

Atwell admitted that

Burch-Smith and Andrew Arjoon had “little or no ground” to lobby for such a bout given that he had been involved in just 13 professional fights as compared to Gonzalez’s 60odd, yet they were successful in securing the deal.

“They would have done the job in terms of securing the fight in an effort to crown Guyana’s next world champion and I believe it’s fair that we put aside differences, put aside

Based on their records and experience, one would definitely be tempted to give Gonzalez the favourite’s tag, along with the fact that he will have home crowd support.

The 32-year-old Mexican is vastly experienced with a total of 63 fights, 55 of which he has won with 47 knockouts and eight defeats.

At 25, Atwell is now building what has been a fantastic career to date, with 12 wins and a draw from 13 trips to the square jungle.

However, Atwell was given a massive boost when renowned boxer turned trainer Lennox Blackmore declared that the Guyanese is ready for the task at hand. Blackmore argued that Atwell seemed mentally focused and prepared, and noted that it is imperative the boxer is given enough time to acclimatise to Mexican conditions.

Another overseas-based Guyanese boxing enthusiast, Seon Bristol, has thrown his weight behind Atwell, noting that he will be offering as much support as possible to ensure the belt is wrapped around the Guyanese on fight night.

Lighting project on track at Sabina Park

K

ingston, Jamaica - Work is on track for the installation of four lighting towers at Sabina Park Limited, Kingston, Jamaica, according to the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), project managers appointed to act on behalf of the Government of Jamaica and Sabina Park Holdings Ltd. (SPHL).

According to Desmond Malcolm, general manager, UDC "The corporation has an enviable record in the refurbishing and development of several sporting landmarks, including the National Stadium, G.C. Foster College and the Montego Bay Sports Complex, and this has equipped the team with the requisite experience to bring this project to a successful completion."

He noted that "the UDC is working with its partners, including Jentech Consultants and the Tourism Enhancement Fund, to ensure that a number of key milestones in

the project are met, inclusive of preliminary works such as geotechnical study, preliminary excavations, the delivery of imported electrical material and equipment, completion of mast foundations, and the installation, testing and commissioning of mast and towers."

Performance Guidelines

The US$3.2 million project entails the design, fabrication and installation of the international standard lighting towers to illuminate the Sabina Park cricket field and is inclusive of all necessary civil, electrical and mechanical works to enable the installation in accordance with specified performance guidelines. The four-month contract commenced on April 1, with projected completion and handover by July 25, 2014.

The UDC provided an update to members of Sabina Park Holdings Ltd, a joint venture partnership of the Jamaica Cricket Association and Kingston Cricket Club

on April 24 during a specially convened meeting.

A full outline and overview of the project was presented by the UDC project team.

Cecil Foster, managing director of Fosrich, project contractors' said, "We have a team that is committed to ensuring this project is completed for the benefit of the country. Our international partner, Phillips, is working with us to ensure deadlines and specifications are met."

Sabina Park has been named as one of the venues for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Cricket Tournament, which starts in July, 2014.

Eight night matches are expected to be played at the venue, which is the home ground for the Jamaica Tallawahs franchise, captained by Chris Gayle.

The Government of India and Government of Jamaica, through the Tourism Enhancement Fund, have provided funding for the project.

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Mumbai Indians call PPP/C congratulates Carifta team up Lendl Simmons G

M

umbai Indians have signed West Indies opener Lendl Simmons in an effort to rekindle their struggling campaign in the 2014 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The IPL technical committee approved Simmons as a replacement for Jalaj Saxena who has been ruled out of the season after sus-

Lendl Simmons

taining a finger injury in his right hand during a training session.

Simmons, who has played close to 100 international matches for West Indies, had a stellar season with Guyana Amazon Warriors in last year’s inaugural Caribbean Premier League.

He emerged as the team’s highest run-getter with 263 runs, from

nine matches, to power them into the final which they eventually lost against Jamaica Tallawahs.

Simmons joins fellow T&T player Kieron Pollard on the Mumbai line-up.

They have lost all their matches so far in the competition and are rooted at the bottom of the IPL table.

(CMC)

eneral Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Clement Rohee, on Monday during a press conference congratulated the junior Carifta Games team on their fourthplace performance at the event which was held in Martinique.

“The People’s Progressive Party salutes the Guyana team which participated in the recently concluded Carifta Games held in Martinique.

“Congratulations are extended in particular to Cassey George, who won two gold medals in the 1500 metres and 3000 metres competition and Kadecia Baird for winning a gold and silver medals at the 400 and 200 metres respectively,” Rohee stated.

Rohee, who lauded the other members of the team that helped Guyana finish fourth which is a national team’s best per-

General Secretary of the PPP/C Clement Rohee

formance at the event, posited that the PPP’s input with youth was part of the reason the Carifta team was a success.

“The growth and success of Cassey and Kadecia and all the other budding sportsmen and women are a testimony to the heavy investment the PPP government has made towards the development of our young people and sports in general.

“We believe that these investments are bearing fruits and the PPP/C administration will be further motivated to invest in the development of our young people who displayed unwavering commitment in keeping Guyana on the world map,” Rohee stressed.

Further, Rohee highlighted that the synthetic track being being built in Leonora will advance the sport even further.

“We are confident that the investment of the world -class synthetic track at Leonora will boost even further our athletes’ performances and growth in sport over the years and it’s the PPP’s position [that] investing in our young people is a worthwhile allocation of resources,” Rohee stated.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s fourth- place finish at the recently concluded games, was the country’s highest finish at the meet.

Glittering start to Antigua Sailing Week

Canadian wins triathlon cup in Barbados

F

C

The Pan American Sprint Triathlon Cup series took place at the Spring Garden Highway in Barbados on Sunday (Barbados Today photo)

a n a d i a n Alexander Hinton swept all before him to emerge winner of the Pan American Sprint Triathlon Cup series at the Spring Garden Highway in Barbados on Sunday.

Barbadian entrant Matthew Wright had to settle for ninth position in the three-dimensional event that included a 20k ride, 750m swim and a 5k run.

Mexican Ariana Barraza took the glory among the female competitors in a time of one hour, three minutes and nine seconds.

Wright, returning from a lay-off following an injury, was among the front-runners entering his strongest event– the 5k–but faded badly.

He later complained of not being 100 percent fit as a result of his previous injuries.

Hinton’s main competition came from Puerto Rican Manuel Huerta, who eventually came third, and the second-placed Tommy Zaferes. The winner completed the event in a time of 56 minutes, 53.12 seconds.

Among the female competitors Australian Ellie Salthouse finished second and Erin Jones of the United States was third. (Barbados Today)

Tom Wilson racing British Swan 44, Selene (Photo: Ted Martin/ Photofantasyantigua/Antigua Sailing Week)

ine weather prevailed for the first day of Antigua Sailing Week, but the competition on the water was as close as ever.

Start Boat A ran courses from Windward Beach towards Shirley Heights and beyond to Willoughby Bay. The breeze was pumping up and calming down all day and teams that could change gear with the varying wind speed made the best of the conditions.

In CSA 4, Ian Hope Ross' Melges 32, Kick 'em Jenny 2 took the gun and the win on corrected time by just over a minute. Ian's team from St Maarten is returning to Antigua Sailing Week after racing there last year.

"We have a good setup on the dock, we have sailed down with a cata-

maran and it's our mother ship for the week," explained Ian. In Class Zero, British Farr 100, ICAP Leopard with owner Mike Slade at the helm, got away to a blistering start and quickly pulled away from the chasing pack including Andy Budgen's Volvo 70, Monster Project.

Leopard hit the turbo button off the breeze to take line honours by half an hour and the pro-crew was joined by Mike's wife, Heather and four friends who enjoyed a high speed sail on one of the world's fastest yachts.

"I love coming here, what is there not to like?" quizzed Slade. "We have been coming to Antigua since 1990 and it is one of my favourite places to sail. Leopard has been very busy since the start of the year, giving many

guests the perfect way to enjoy the Caribbean and Antigua Sailing Week is a marvellous way to round off the season."

Piet Vroon's Dutch Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens 3, has enjoyed plenty of success in the Caribbean this season and corrected out to win CSA 0 in Race 1 by three minutes from Rob Date's Australian RP52, Scarlet Runner.

Start Boat B ran courses from Rendezvous Bay past Curtain Bluff and Old Road. The breeze was from the southeast and a shifting breeze kept drivers and trimmers on their toes.

In CSA 6, Tom Wilson racing British Swan 44, Selene corrected out to win Race 1. Selene's owner Adrian Lower was on board and over the moon about the win. (Excerpted from Caribbean News)

Sport

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Another dominant display by Jamaican schools at Penn Relays

A

new Penn Relays high school boys 4x100m Championships of Americas record by Jamaica College and two wins by Edwin Allen girls highlighted yet another brilliant Penn Relays for Jamaican high schools at the 120th renewal of the Relays Carnival held in Philadelphia last weekend.

The Jamaican high schools won five relays with the high school girls' 4x800m title the only one to slip through the

grasp, as well as seven victories in individual events made for a lot of celebrations by the Jamaicans, who were among the three-day crowd of 108,660 that turned in chilly conditions all three days.

In addition to Jamaica College's 4x100m win that took most by surprise, St Jago lived up to expectations and won the 4x400m, while Calabar won the 4x800m among the boys, with Edwin Allen High winning the girls' 4x100m and 4x400m

Jamaica College’s victorious 4x100m team (from left) Waseem Williams, Devaughn Baker, Keneil Patterson and Tyler Mason pose with minister Natalie Neita Headley during the medals presentation ceremony on Saturday (Jamaica Observer photos)

events.

St Elizabeth Technical boys also equalled the Small Schools 4x100m record 41.13-second set

by Manchester High in 2009, while The Queens School won the girls' Large School final.

After being ignored in the build up to the 4x100m relays, Jamaica College sent a strong signal in last Friday's qualifications with a smooth 40.97-second run, the best of all the teams taking part.

Fastest time

(From left) Rajay Hamilton, Norman Pittersgill, Jorel Bellafante and Alex Hutton display the Penn Relays plaque after winning the 4x800 relays in 7 minutes 37.36 seconds on Saturday

JC went even faster in cool conditions on Saturday when just under 50,000 showed up, clocking 39.72 seconds in the fastest high school boys' 4x100m

race ever. Incidentally, the top five finishers were among the top eight times ever run in Jamaica, with the six Jamaican teams in the race finishing ahead of the two American schools.

This was JC's second win in the event and first since 1985, as Waseem Williams, Tyler Mason, Keneil Patterson and Devaughn Baker crossed the line first.

Calabar, who were second in 40.23 seconds, the third fastest time ever; St Jago, who were third in 40.23 seconds now have the sixth fastest, St George's College were fourth with 40.32 seconds, now hav-

ing the seventh fastest time, while Kingston College, who were fifth in 40.35 seconds, are the eighth fastest ever, with Wolmer's Boys sixth.

The St Jago team of Ivan Henry, Martin Manley, Shamar Barnes and Nathon Allen clocked 3 minutes 11.73 seconds, slower than expected by coach Danny Hawthorne, who told the media, "a win is a win and that's what we came here for".

St Elizabeth Technical were second in 3 minutes 13.07 seconds with Calabar, without Javon Francis, third in 3 minutes 13.70 seconds. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

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plans bigger, better women’s Guyanese boosts Vikings Cricket TT football league for 2014 Club’s team this season T

By Ravendra Madholall

T

ypically defiant opening batsman Ryan Ramdass is set to link up with Vikings Cricket Club (VCC) for the 2014 Toronto and District Cricket Association (T&DCA) Elite 50over competition.

The former West Indies cricketer represented Islanders Cricket Club over the years, but will now join fellow Guyana national players Royston Crandon, Rajindra Chandrika, Zaheer Haniff and Hemnarine Chattergoon.

One of the club’s senior and veteran players Ian Baldeo, said team members are eager to welcome the right-hander in this year’s edition, which is slated to get cracking later this month.

“Yes, definitely we [are] excited to have Ryan in our club this year; certainly he has been a consistent scorer in Canada over the years so he will be coming with lots of experiences,” Baldeo stated.

In his one-time appearance for West Indies at the test level, Ramdass failed to make an impression against hosts Sri Lanka, and since then he has been overlooked while he had suffered injuries with his lower back and right shoulder which kept him out of the game for two successive years. His subsequent surgery and rehabilitation were however successful.

He scored handsomely for Guyana at the regional four-day tournament during his 21 match-

Ryan Ramdass

es before encountering the physical glitches.

Nevertheless, Baldeo feels Ramdass is a still a quality batsman who has the capability of producing great performances for his club, country and by extension the West Indies. Ramdass is 30 and eager to attire in the prestigious maroon colours again, too.

“I think Ryan has possessed good temperament as a solid opener and coming and representing a

high-standard club will certainly boost his confidence as an ambitious cricketer; he was up there but just injuries played a part, unfortunately, but I am confident he will make an impact for Vikings this season,” the genuine allrounder Baldeo indicated.

He added, “we have a great reputation as one of the top clubs in the T&DCA Elite league and having player of his international experience would be more than a privilege to have Ramdass, and as I said we are [excited] to have him among us this year; once we put in our work, I am very optimistic we will come out as champions.”

Only last year Ramdass’ fellow Everest club-mate Chandrika made his debut for Vikings while Crandon has been a frequent visitor to North America for the past five years.

Chattergoon and Haniff have also been committed to Vikings for a lengthy period too, and the club has seen a bulk of Guyana and international players featuring for them. Some of the names included, Clayton Lambert, Sunil Dhaniram, Nicolas DeGroot, Krishna Deosaran, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Esuan Crandon, Kenneth Wong, Jermine Neblett, Jeremy Gordon, Damodar Daesrath, Krishna Arjune, among others.

VCC last won a major title in 1997 but they have had advanced to a high number of quarter and semi-finals.

he organising committee, led by TT Women’s Football president Sharon O’Brien is moving ahead with plans to stage another season of the TT Women’s Football League (Wolf).

O’Brien is expecting the interest in the league to be greater than years gone by given this year is a World Cup qualifying year for the national senior women’s team, along with the Caribbean Football Union’s final qualifying round slated to be held in TT in August.

Additionally, the strong showing by the women’s national Under-20 team in the Concacaf finals earlier this year, is expected to attract more young players to the league.

“We are expecting that the appetite for women’s football will be better this year and this is largely due to some of the promising performances we have seen by our national teams,” O’Brien said.

The league is expected to start on May 24 and the national women’s U-15 team will participate in the premier division alongside defending champion Real Dimension, Trincity Nationals, Malick City, St Ann’s Rangers, St Augustine FC, Defence

TT Women’s Football president Sharon O’Brien (TT Newsday file photo)

Force and newly-promoted teams Central FC and Civic Centre Pioneers.

Caledonia AIA will be producing a team in the first division this year.

“From an administrative standpoint, we are looking to improve things and to ensure we have a properly run league which can attract players and ensure that the current ones are able to play the game in a well staged league.

The senior women’s has a busy season ahead of them and our youth teams also have a lot to look forward to and I am expecting all of these factors to contribute to the interest developing in local women’s football,” O’Brien said. (Excerpted from TT Guardian)

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