Guyana Times International

INTERNATIONAL

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 201

week ending July 20, 2014

'It's a blatant lie'

Jagdeo’s medical evacuation was NOT paid for by Gov’t - KN, Stabroek News peddling mischief

See story on page 17

Limacol CPL party heats up in Guyana

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS PM, Finance Minister to answer APNU’s questions at next sitting of House

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

APNU MP Ms Amna Ally

rime Minister Samuel Hinds, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, will respond to questions posted by APNU MP Joseph Harmon at the next sitting of the National Assembly.

Harmon is questioning the financial arrangements made with the National Communications Network (NCN) to facilitate live coverage of the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) weekly press conferences.

Harmon’s sec-

ond question is for the Prime Minister to provide details of payments made by the PPP for the facilities provided by NCN. At the recent Budget debates, the combined Parliamentary opposition voted down the entire Gy$5.1B Office of the President (OP) budget for administrative services, sinking funding for NCN and GINA. Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh is likewise scheduled to respond to two questions on the

P

continued on page 15

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Two dead in Linden Highway crash

T

wo persons are now dead and several injured after a minibus suffered a blowout on the SoesdykeLinden Highway on Wednesday evening, causing the vehicle to flip several times before coming to a halt.

The accident occurred shortly after 18:00h. Dead are Roger Hutson, 29, of Retrieve, Mackenzie, who was the driver of the minibus at the time and Cathleen “Cathy” Marks, 36, of Wisroc Housing Scheme, Mackenzie.

They were pronounced dead upon arrival at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

Those injured and admitted to the LHC include Kerry Fraser, 35, of 331 Berbice Road, Mackenzie; Yuannie Robinson, 26, of 48 D’Urban Street, Georgetown; Telisha Scott and Marlon Washington of 183 Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar; Ceon Anthony, also of Wisroc Housing Scheme; Marlyn Alley, 29, of 626 West Bank, Demerara; Mark Nurse of 92 Half Mile, Wismar;

One of the injured being escorted to the LHC

Seon Lamazon and Shondell Chand, 45, of 527 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Marvin Luckerish, 30, and Jenelle Gordon, 25, of 114 First Alley Hill, Wismar.

According to reports, a Pit Bull minibus heading to Linden at the time, suffered a blow-out in the vicinity of Long Creek, Linden, SoesdykeLinden Highway.

At the LHC, large crowds gathered, some to get a glimpse of the injured while family and friends wept. Many were also in shock and wailed as the dead and injured

were being transported. Relatives of Marks said that it was her son’s birthday, noting how saddened they were at the incident.

“She just built she house, she ain’t even get to enjoy it,” one relative remarked. She is survived by her four children and a grandchild. The driver was said to be the only child for his mother, Barbara Hutson. The woman was admitted to the LHC due to shock upon learning of her son’s death.

The ill-fated minibus involved in the accident

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

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

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

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EDITORIAL

Hassle-free movement

G

uyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett was quoted in a June 1 article in Guyana Times as saying that free movement within the Caribbean Community (Caricom) has improved over the years, with more people reportedly migrating intra-regionally to find better opportunities.

Rodrigues-Birkett even went further to state that the free movement initiative in Caricom has been one of the “highlights” of the Community and offered clarity regarding the difference between free movement and hassle-free movement. We are not unmindful of the fact that as Foreign Affairs Minister, RodriguesBirkett automatically becomes a key officer within the Caricom structure, and perhaps she feels the need to defend the initiative of this institution.

But we in Guyana and those of our countrymen who have had to travel from time to time across the Caribbean would have a different view from that of the Minister. Caricom was founded upon the principle of integration, of which free and hassle-free movements ought to be key components. Forty-one years after the Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed in Trinidad and Tobago to bring into effect this body, the average Guyanese citizen is hardly ever able to travel hassle-free to some of our Caricom countries.

The constant humiliation Guyanese and Jamaicans, in particular, have had to face when travelling to countries such as Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago has made a mockery of what the regional leaders had hoped to achieve with the implementation of the free movement mechanism.

Hassle-free travel refers to the freedom of Caricom nationals to travel “into and within the jurisdiction of any Member State without harassment or the imposition of impediment”. This is intended to foster a greater sense of community. It is also designed to encourage greater intra-Caricom tourism. Caricom has acknowledged that implementing hassle-free travel has not proven as easy as might be expected, but not much has been done to improve the system and make it work, except for the usual platitudes the long speeches on integration.

Only recently, Guyana at the highest level had had to take the fight to Barbados for its stance on free movement. Though there has been a softening up by the authorities in Bridgetown, largely due to the fact that not many of our citizens have been seeking employment in that country, owing to its weak economy, there still exist numerous cases that go unreported of Caricom citizens being hassled at these jurisdictions.

If nothing else, the landmark decision by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the Shanique Myrie case delivered on October 4, 2013 should serve as a awake-up call to countries that preach free movement but do not practise it.

As the CCJ powerfully pronounced in its decision in favour of Jamaican Myrie, “If binding regional decisions can be invalidated at the Community level by the failure on the part of a particular State to incorporate those decisions locally, the efficacy of the entire Caricom regime is jeopardised and effectively the States would not have progressed beyond the pre-2001 voluntary system that was in force.”

If Caricom nationals in many of the Community’s states were to leave, the economies of these states would decline in myriad ways. Not only would they lose skilled and unskilled labour that they need, they would lose the taxes these people pay, the services they use such as rented houses, and the money they spend in the economy on items such as food, clothing, transportation, utilities, and medical care.

It is high time that we wake up out of our sleep and let that 1989 Grand Anse Declaration we often speak of begin to take root, that in “these critical times at every level of our society, in every area of endeavour, we enlarge our vision beyond our individual countries and assume the habit of thinking in regional terms”.

Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister ANR Robinson said at that meeting, and we say now, “the time is propitious for major reexamination of where we have reached in our efforts at integration and of where we want to go”.

President Donald Ramotar with the Leaders of the world's emerging market economies posing at the 6th BRICS meeting where the New Development Bank, which will be based in Shanghai, will open with an initial US$50B and will expand to US$100B.

BRICS launches US$100B Development Bank L

eaders of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations launched a US$100 billion Development Bank and a currency reserve pool on Tuesday in their first concrete step toward reshaping the Western-dominated international financial system.

The bank, aimed at funding infrastructure projects in developing nations, will be based in Shanghai and India will preside over its operations for the first five years, followed by Brazil and then Russia, leaders of the five-country group announced at a summit, Reuters reported. Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh attended the summit.

The bloc also set up a US$100 billion currency reserves pool to help countries forestall short-term liquidity pressures. The long-awaited bank is the first major achievement of the BRICS countries since they got together in 2009 to press for a bigger say in the global financial order created

by Western powers after World War Two and centred on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

Coordinated action

The BRICS were prompted to seek coordinated action following an exodus of capital from emerging markets last year, triggered by the scaling back of US monetary stimulus. The new bank reflects the growing influence of the BRICS, which account for almost half the world’s population and about one-fifth of global economic output. The bank will begin with a subscribed capital of US$50 billion divided equally between its five founders, with an initial total of US$10 billion in cash put in over seven years and US$40 billion in guarantees. It is scheduled to start lending in 2016 and will be open to membership by other countries, but the capital share of the BRICS cannot drop below 55 per cent.

The contingency currency pool will be held in the reserves of each BRICS country and can be shifted to another member to cushion balance-of-pay-

ments difficulties. This initiative gathered momentum after the reverse in the flow of cheap dollars that fuelled a boom in emerging markets for a decade.

“It will help contain the volatility faced by diverse economies as a result of the tapering of the United States’ policy of monetary expansion,” Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said.

“It is a sign of the times, which demand reform of the IMF,” she told reporters at the close of the summit. China, holder of the world’s largest foreign exchange reserves, will contribute the bulk of the contingen-

ers. In the end, Brazil and India prevailed in keeping equal equity at its launch, but fears linger that China, the world’s number two economy, could try to assert greater influence over the bank to expand its political clout abroad. China, however, will not preside over the bank for two decades.

Facing efforts by leading Western nations to isolate Russia for annexing Crimea and stirring revolt in eastern Ukraine, the BRICS summit provided President Vladimir Putin with a welcome geopolitical platform to show he has

From left: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Jacob Zuma talk at a group photo session during the Sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza on July 15

cy currency pool, or US$41 billion. Brazil, India and Russia will chip in US$18 billion each and South Africa $5 billion. If a need arises, China will be eligible to ask for half of its contribution, South Africa for double, and the remaining countries the amount they put in.

Negotiations over the headquarters and first presidency were reached at the 11th hour due to differences between India and China. The impasse reflected the trouble Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have had in reconciling stark economic and political differences that made it hard for the group to turn rhetoric into concrete action.

“We pulled it off 10 minutes before the end of the game.

We reached a balanced package that is satisfactory to all,” a Brazilian diplomat told Reuters.

Negotiations to create the bank dragged on for more than two years as Brazil and India fought China’s attempts to get a bigger share in the lender than the oth-

friends elsewhere, economic powers seen as shaping the future of the world. The BRICS abstained from criticising Russia over the crisis in Ukraine and called instead for restraint by all actors so the conflict can be resolved peacefully.

World trade

Last week, Guyana Times International reported that Guyana will be looking to broaden relations with the BRICS nations at the summit which it was invited to attend. President Donald Ramotar had told this newspaper that Guyana will definitely be a part of the summit since the bloc is continuing to play “a bigger role” in world trade.

President Ramotar further pointed out that “it is important for Guyana to be there as part of the UNASUR [Union of South American Nations] and to broaden relations”, noting that the new Development Bank being developed will be pivotal for Guyana, since it will be another developmental avenue.

news

5 Gov’t hoping to clinch deal with 3 major mining firms – Persaud

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

BY JOMO PAUL

A

mid tumbling gold prices internationally and a virtual standoff between the Government and local miners over low declaration, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud on Wednesday announced that three new companies are expected to join the sector.

He said the Government is currently in the process of finalising arrangements with the three “major companies” which will soon be looking to commence operations in Guyana’s mining sector.

Persaud, who was at the time speaking at a Land Reclamation consultation on mining and the forest sectors, reinforced the importance for expansion and new investments in the mining sector.

“We made it quite clear; we have no intention, absolutely none… of curtailing mining activities. In fact, the opposite is true, that is, we want to see an expanded mining sector… we

Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud

are not in the business of slowing down, clamping down, or reducing mining activities,” said Persaud.

This sentiment by the Natural Resources Minister comes at a time when gold prices and declaration have seen a marked decline while miners are complaining of other issues affecting the sector, such as the withdrawal from the use of mercury in the mining process.

But against this backdrop, the Minister reinforced the need for expansion in the sector.

A section of the stakeholders at the consultation on Wednesday

He contended that the resources are there to be “exploited” and this is what should be done.

He noted that while there are some sections of society that are opposed to the idea of expansion of the mining sector, Government is registering its call for expansion.

Environmentallyfriendly methods

It also wants the miners to adopt more environmentally-friendly methods to mining and

practice land reclamation.

In this regard, he contended that the Government will be working side by side with the miners to ensure that responsible farming techniques are developed.

He plugged the need for Guyana’s natural resources to be harnessed in a way that will not leave any permanent scars on the country or the economy. The Minister urged that the

miners practise “sensible, sustainable and responsible mining”.

He said: “We don’t want more mining, just for the sake of more mining, but we want better mining, we want mining that takes into account the responsibility that all of us should have, whether we are miners or not… it is about having more responsible mining.”

Recently, the Minister had revealed that the Bosai Minerals Group

Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI) US$100 million expansion project is still on stream and recent discussions with BMGGI have indicated that the company is still proceeding with its expansion project.

Minister Persaud said the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry is in the process of finalising the licence which will pave way for the company to have access to Block 37.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Remembering a Champion …House pays tribute to Debra Backer

T

he National Assembly last T h u r s d a y paid tribute to former Deputy Speaker and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentarian Debra Backer for her sterling contributions to the work of Parliament and Guyana as a whole.

Backer passed away earlier this year after a battle with cancer.

Leader of the Opposition, retired Brigadier David Granger, said his party lost a valuable member in Backer, for whom public life was an extension of her professional life which was always a good thing. “She was ever eager to seek justice for women and children she felt were being treated unjustly.”

Backer retired from the National Assembly on February 7 due to her prolonged illness, to which she succumbed several weeks later.

Amna Ally, Chief Whip of the Opposition, gave a solemn address on behalf of the APNU in the presence of Backer’s family, stating that they

Former Deputy Speaker and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentarian Debra Backer

were all very much affected by the passing of such a lively colleague.

She reflected on the times spent with Backer as though she was still very much alive and stated that she was now the missing link in the Parliament of Guyana.

Indomitable

Ally described Backer as being an extraordinary individu-

al, as she was not only a doting wife, but also a caring mother, a soldier of justice, a champion of women’s rights, and a true patriot. She noted that Backer was a lawyer by profession, but served with many other organisations that she thought were trying to make Guyana a better place. Other than being a member of the Lions Club, she

was also a Councillor of Georgetown and Vice Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), before joining the National Assembly in 1997.

Ally went on to say that “Debbie” took her parliamentary work very seriously, and where her party was concerned, she never wavered, as she was never one to miss the opportunity to represent the people of Guyana. During

her parliamentary life, Backer was involved in several parliamentary committees, such as the Committee of Privileges, the Parliamentary M a n a g e m e n t Committee, and the Anti-Money Laundering Committee. Ally noted that Backer’s commitment to all these attachments illustrated her commitment to the Guyanese people.

Continuing in her address, Ally reflected that she never knew Backer to be a silent woman, as she was always vocal and ready to represent any cause she deemed worthy. “Her interventions were always timely, relevant, and sometimes humorous, but she never lost focus.”

She recalled the various antics of the vivacious Backer in the Assembly, such as making and displaying a “dunce” cap and offering cornflakes to her opponents. Describing her as a significant contributor to parliamentary debates in Guyana, Ally went on to mention that Backer had participated in almost 87 important debates inclu-

sive of budget debates and amendments bills and was the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs. In the 10th Parliament of Guyana, Backer was appointed Deputy Speaker and she served diligently before falling ill.

Ally stated that though Backer has left physically, she left many lessons, from which all can gain.

On behalf of the Government of Guyana, Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall expressed condolences to the family of Backer and said she was a woman of varying personalities. He explained that as a lawyer she was radically different to when she was a mediator in the National Assembly and even more different than when she was Deputy Speaker. He described her as being very animated, passionate, and very aggressive in her debates and presentations, noting that she made an impact on the lives of many young persons who would one day want to venture into the world of politics.

Nandlall stressed the fact that Backer was a wonderful mediator.

Sooba fearful for life after death threats A

cting Town Clerk of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council Carol Sooba has expressed fear for her life amid several anonymous calls and death threats she has received in the past weeks.

Speaking to media operatives on Tuesday, Sooba related that her social life has now become cramped due to the fact that she cannot venture out in public with her family, as she fears the worse.

Sooba claimed that she was told by an anonymous caller that if she does not vacate her seat, she will regret it.

She believes the persons making the calls are out to intimidate her into surrendering her position.

“I received a call last week with the person telling me that the Town Clerk must leave, vacate this chair or else they will take my neck off as well as that of my bodyguard and that they will throw our bodies under the big tree where they had found the businessman,” Sooba related to the media.

She said too that she has also received several other calls on many occasions telling her that she must demit the office as soon as possible or herself and family will suffer.

Sooba remains adamant, however, that while she is concerned, she will not be giving up her fight against corruption at the Council and will continue to occupy her Town Clerk Office.

It was just some months ago that

Sooba disclosed that she has learnt of plans to disfigure her through the use of corrosive acid and to fire bomb her house when she is not at home.

She had noted too that her vehicle has been trailed while on her way home since the verbal attacks began and is it a matter of her safety that she had hired Sean Hinds as her body guard.

Sooba said that she has no reason to doubt her source of information since her neighbours and other observers have also informed her that strange and unknown characters have been lurking around her premises while she was out.

She has since lodged several complaints with the Police for them to initiate an investigation into the matter.

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

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Burnham cannot be compared with Jagdeo New York

Dear Editor, When will Freddie Kissoon experience enlightenment? He is now trying to get in on the Rodney Commission of Inquiry. This man behaved as though he knew it all as regards the assassination of Dr Rodney. He threatened that he would not have anything to do with the ongoing Inquiry and this was the pompous position he took.

The reason is that in no facet of politics was this man a major player. He is more like a gleeful Brian Lara fan who keeps boasting that he was around when Lara made his 400 not out. Kissoon is not privy to any special knowledge. Has anyone even made mention of him thus far?

I think he is feeling how insignificant he truly is. However, he goes on with his empty ranting.

I see he wrote that “it is not credible Rodney was assassinated by state actors and Burnham didn’t know about it”. This is supposed to be any kind of deep analysis? I think not, but why am I tak-

ing him up? He is claiming that his statement that Burnham “was a seriously committed nationalist who cared intensely about the life and condition of the working people. He was committed to the preservation of the African race but he was not racist against East Indian people.”

First problem I have is that I need facts regarding what he did for the working people. The sugar workers were always on strike and at one juncture, Burnham had to call on his Army to go out and cut the cane. Then he emptied the kitchen of the Indian workforce – dhaal and flour mainly were banned. This had a terrible impact on Hinduism as well. So I cannot see how Freddie’s Burnham was so nice, compassionate, worker-oriented and patriotic.

The next thing is that of comparing Burnham with Jagdeo. Just for starters, I am going to ask Freddie to go to the international community and let the ones in leadership come out and say who was confided in (more) and why. The magni-

tude of Bharrat Jagdeo is so extra immense that Burnham pales in comparison. Then what nonsense Freddie is saying about lust for power?

If Burnham had not died so early, Guyana may have never ever enjoyed fair and free elections.

Desmond Hoyte, Burnham’s successor, was less power crazy, but he too was not really for fair and free elections. I tell people that Jagdeo never even hinted at disenfranchising the people and always pushed for fair and free elections.

I can go on to other areas of comparison but my point will be the same. It is that only under the PPP/C leaders can Guyana be termed a democratic nation. The fact that so many people now have loud mouths and that they can even abuse freedom of speech/expression is more than enough to set apart this Government as one that is most respectful of its people.

Yours truly, Baldeo Mathura

Guyanese remain ready for Local Gov’t Elections Dear Editor, Over the past year and a half, at every public forum, the GECOM Chairman has confirmed to the nation that once the Local Government Minister announces a date for Local Government Elections (LGE), GECOM is ready to administer such elections in a six months timeframe.

Also, reaffirming this position at a recent forum hosted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) was the Commission’s Chief Elections Officer Mr Keith

Lowenfield. At that forum, Mr Lowenfield noted that funding was already allocated for the hosting of LGE and he and his team are ready to proceed with the necessary preparations once the Local Government Minister gives the directive to the Commission.

Now we hear publicly from politically appointed Commissioners of the Commission that the agency is not ready and that caution should be exhibited in respect to pronouncements and assumptions of GECOM’s

readiness.

This begs the following questions: Why after 17 years of the last elections being due, these Commissioners did not ensure that GECOM’s systems were in a state of constant readiness in the event the elections were called?

How could the Chairman and the CEO get it so wrong in their estimation and make such faulty “assumptions” concerning the agency’s preparedness? Or is this whole episode just a symbolic reminder of the flaw

and Achilles heel of this supposedly “independent” agency?

Whether the Chairman responds and disagrees or agrees with his colleagues’ assessment, this episode confirms that it is time to end the practice of appointing nominees whose loyalty rest with the political party that appointed them.

Let’s have a professional and above board GECOM. In the meantime, the Guyanese public remains as ready as ever for LGE. Sincerely, Clinton Urling

All of us must work towards peace and unity Dear Editor, In all the debates on the various issues which are attracting our attention and interest from time to time, whether it be the opinion-makers in our newspaper columns and readers’ letters, between leaders of rival political parties, or among members of the public, we can see clearly that everyone is so convinced of the rightness of his/ her own position, and so intent on converting everyone else to his/her own views, that people are simply not listening to one another.

This has been never so manifest as in the recent past, especially in the debates on the national budget in Parliament, when even those projects that we can all agree would lead to the benefit of all our citizens have been abandoned.

We have witnessed this obduracy in the behaviour of members of both sides of the House on the various issues

that come up, from whom we should have least expected some example and open-mindedness, so that others below may follow their lead in order to arrive at positions which are acceptable, or at least able to be tolerated, by the general populace. The opposing forces are instead directing their efforts towards upstaging their “enemies” on every issue, rejecting all arguments and proposals which they believe would lead to some loss of interest on their part.

It is clear that all those involved in these “debates” believe that their side of the story is always correct, and that the other side is always wrong, and not worth listening to.

If there is an absolute truth, none of us mortals has been blessed with it, and we can only add to the fund of knowledge and experience if we genuinely endeavour to listen closely to those with whom we engage in our

debates.

I would like to posit here that the prerequisite for attaining peace, harmony and progress in any group of human beings, whether a couple, an organisation, a community, a society, or a nation, is not so much whether they can come up with practical solutions, but more that they are willing to forget differences, willing to cooperate for the good of the whole, and willing to sacrifice their own preferences and compromise so as to work out solutions which would be of mutual benefit and acceptable to all concerned.

This means that our salvation depends not so much on our wisdom and knowledge of what we are engaged in as on the spirit that we must cultivate what inspires us to work unselfishly in every situation for the greater good of everyone. This is the law of community that we must follow or be doomed to failure, no matter how intensive

and efficient are our efforts to solve our problems.

Yours sincerely, Roy Paul

Guyanese team had successful medical mission to homeland

Dear Editor, The New York Guyanese Medical (NYGM) outreach had a successful programme throughout Guyana late last month. The team visited several communities rendering humanitarian, educational and medical assistance to underprivileged individuals.

Clinics and humanitarian activities were conducted in urban, rural and outlying areas of all denominations and ethnicities. The team visited schools; the University of Guyana (Tain Campus); orphanages; senior centres; and health centres, as well as religious establishments to provide them with financial and material assistance. They also provided counselling on suicide.

The NY based team has been carrying out humanitarian and medical missions to Guyana for over a decade. The team is led by former UG Professor, Dr Tara Singh who has been rendering yeoman service to underprivileged and neglected communities throughout Guyana, Jamaica and other Caribbean societies for almost 20 years.

He has also been involved, through other organisations, in cultural activities in the greater New York area. With

regard to the Guyana mission, Region Five Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth said he was most grateful to NYGM for conducting clinics in the Mahaicony River.

“We cannot thank you enough. I will like to request that your team visit Region Five to conduct more medical clinics when you return to Guyana,” he said.

As part of its humanitarian thrust, NYGM made donations of supplies to the Palms Geriatric Home and the Diamond Hospital (eyeglass frames).

This year, the team conducted a community project by providing materials and also painting the concrete fence of the Mahaica Mosque. The Mosque leadership was overjoyed by NYGM’s benevolence.

NYGM Vice President and Project Manager Holly Persaud notes: “The 2014 mission has been the most productive and rewarding so far: we’ve achieved more than we had scheduled.”

NYGM’s success was due in part to the active support it received from various individuals, too many to mention. The organisers thank them all for their assistance in making the mission a success.

Respectfully, Vishnu Bisram

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news

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Three students in Trinidad charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery

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O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Two of three students arrested and charged with; attempted murder, kidnapping and robbery in Trinidad were granted bail in the total sum of TT$180,000 by a Sangre Grande magistrate, while the third student was refused bail and remanded in custody.

Dennis Mohammed, 17, of Miller Street, Carenage; Kendon Mc Carthy 17 of Vega de Oropouche, Toco Main Road, and Jeremy Joseph 20, of Manzanilla/ Mayaro Road are all from Tech/Voc Institution in east Trinidad.

They appeared before magistrate Enjenny Espinet in the Sangre Grande First Magistrate Court, charged jointly with, attempted murder, kidnapping and robbery with violence. The charges were laid by Detective Police Constable Larry Mc Queen of Sangre Grande CID. Espinent reminded the three students that they will not be called upon to plead as the matter was laid indictably, she then read the charges which were attempted robbery, kidnapping and

Over 700 teenage-headed households in TT

P The three students will not be called upon to plead as the matter was laid indictably

robbery with violence, of a 30-year-old taxi driver.

Espinet refused bail to Joseph, while Mohammed and Mc Carthy were granted bail in the total sum of TT$180,000 with a surety.

Mohammed was granted bail in the sum of TT$90,000 and Mc Carthy also was granted bail in the sum of TT$90,000 with surety.

The trio is to reappear in court later this week.

It is alleged that the three students abducted a taxi driver in Sangre Grande two Saturdays ago.

The three were arrested following a report by a 30-year-old taxi driver of Vega de Oropouche. The taxi driver was found on

a river bank by farmers in the Charuma Forest, Biche.

Police reported that the three accused students boarded the victim’s taxi at about 7 pm and agreed to pay for the trip. The driver took off from Vega de Oropouche taxi stand in Sangre Grande and was ordered to proceed to Cunapo Southern Main Road.

They subsequently tied him up and later threw him off a precipice in the Charuma forest.

The farmers telephoned the police, who responded from Sangre Grande Police Station.

The victim was taken to Sangre Grande District Hospital where he received medical attention and was discharged. (TT Newsday)

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: The 2010 National Census in Trinidad and Tobago has reported that 730 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 are heads of households, due to circumstances beyond their control, with some having their own children.

“They bear the charge of making major decisions for their families, including being the breadwinners of their homes", Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development Clifton De Couteau said.

De Couteau spoke last week at the handing over of TT$129,000 to assist studentyouth participants taking part in the 2014 Global Young Leaders Conference in China, USA, and in Europe.

The handing over took place at the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development, Tower C, International Waterfront Centre, Port-of-Spain.

Noting that the local participants on the Global Young Leaders programme may not have experienced the reality of the teenagers who head households, De Couteau told them “as current and future leaders, your planning has to incorporate their concerns and needs.”

The 15 to 19 age group, he said was a small fraction of the lo-

TT’s Youth Minister Clifton De Couteau (TT Newsday photo)

cal population numbering just about 98,300.

From that number, he said the 730 are already breadwinners for their families.

Congratulating the participants of the programme, De Coteau said their acceptance on the programme involving young people from 145 countries “is a testament of your leadership potential and academic excellence.”

He noted that their parents made sacrifices, some taking out loans to facilitate their participation and urged them not to let them, or their country down.

De Coteau also congratulated the number of fathers who were present, noting that many times most-

ly mothers accompany their children to such functions.

“Your influence has encouraged these yong men and women to not only dream great things” he told the parents, “but to pursue and attain those dreams.”

The Global Young Leaders Conference is a ten-day leadership development programme for “motivated and accomplished students.”

The students were required to raise funds for their airfares and other incidentals.

Government’s assistance is for tuition costs, housing, conference material, two meals per day, English-speaking guide service, entrance fees, and ground transportation. (TT Newsday)

Pakistani teenage activist Malala to visit Trinidad

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Seventeen year old Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai will visit the twin island republic on July 31.

This was confirmed on Monday in a news release from the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training.

Malala gained worldwide attention in 2012, when a Taliban gunman, who opposed the teenager’s advocacy for women’s rights to education, entered the school bus in which she was travelling and shot her in the head.

She survived the attack and went on to continue her advocacy work, most recently campaigning for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram.

Malala has received

Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai (AP photo)

numerous awards for her work as an activist, including the National Youth Peace Prize, the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice and International Prize for Equality and NonDiscrimination among others.

Her birthday, July 12, has been named “Malala Day”.

Praising Malala’s initiative, Tertiary

Education Minister Fazal Karim said, “We in Trinidad and Tobago are extremely fortunate to live in a country where all of our citizens are offered universal, free access to education from the pre-school to tertiary levels and as such we can be seen as a model of what this young lady is advocating for, across the world.”

A news release from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) confirmed that Malala will be hosted by the institution in celebration of its tenth anniversary.

“She is a transformative voice in this generation—an advocate for the rights of girls in all countries and cultures to be able to access quality education,” the release stated.

9 No sign yet of missing fishermen news

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jamaican appointed RBC’s Caribbean point man in Toronto

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O R O N T O , CANADA: Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) confirmed last Friday that Roger Cogle, former head of its Jamaica operation, has been appointed the new Head, Business and Client Strategies for RBC Caribbean Banking and has repatriated to Toronto, Canada.

"In this new role, Roger will continue to contribute to RBC in the Caribbean through the development of client and product strategies, and support of key channel strategies for the bank across the Caribbean region," the bank stated.

The position took effect on July 1.

Cogle was managing director of RBC Royal Bank Jamaica prior to and during the transition of ownership to Sagicor Group Jamaica, which bought the operation for Ja$9.5 billion. The operation was merged with Sagicor Bank Jamaica and the expanded group was launched on June 30.

"In early 2014, when RBC senior management considered Sagicor's interest in RBC Jamaica, Roger was asked to carry on and lead the team," said Kirk Dudtschak, Royal Bank's president of Caribbean Banking.

"He played a key leadership role in the effective transition of the bank during the recently concluded acquisition that created Sagicor

Roger Cogle

Bank, the newest bank in Jamaica."

Cogle had worked with RBC Royal Bank Jamaica since March 2012, but has two decades of experience in banking-spanning retail and small business banking, commercial banking, portfolio management, risk management, business intelligence, marketing, process re-engineering and sales and service management.

"Over the past two years, I have been fortunate to work with some of the best talent in Jamaica and across the region, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Caribbean Banking team," he said last Friday.

It is his second tour of duty in Canada; the first, however, happened when he was working for Scotiabank Jamaica.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

By Bhisham Mohamed

N

ine days after a Guyanese vessel was allegedly attacked and robbed in Surinamese waters, four of the five crew members remain missing and relatives are fearful that they may be dead.

The men: Andrew Goppie, of Lusignan; Vinesh Drunarine, also known as Monkey Brain, of Uitvlugt; Raymond Gomes, 37, and Chandrapaul Jallim, 19, of Recht-Door-Zee, West Bank Demerara were reportedly chopped, beaten and thrown overboard last Tuesday evening.

The captain of the boat, Feroze, of Double Road, Lusignan, braved the deep waters and reached shore after spending some 19 hours in rough waters.

He immediately contacted the owner of the boat, Deochand Bharat, relating the horrific experience.

Speaking with Guyana Times International on Wednesday, Bharat said Feroze used his more than 20 years’ experience at sea to his advantage on the night of the pirate attack. Bharat told this newspaper on Wednesday that the captain remained in custody in Suriname, but was given the opportunity to seek medical attention.

Curiously, the boat owner said while he remained optimistic that the missing men were alive, he was bracing himself for the worst, claiming that they could not survive the rough waters.

“Even if they are on land, they will not make it…,

Vinesh Drunarine

Andrew Goppie

Chandrapaul Jallim

he argued. He pointed out that he was in contact with the captain of the vessel and law enforcement officers in Suriname who told him that they searched the area on Tuesday and Wednesday, but they came up emptyhanded.

Guyana Times International understands that a group of local Police ranks travelled to Suriname to assist in the investigation.

However, Bharat is claiming the men who carried out the attack are Guyanese.

He said that after speaking with the injured captain, he has concluded that Guyanese were involved in the attack. “The captain said that based on their voices, you will know they are Guyanese… if bin a different people, they accent woulda be Dutch…

You must know since the language is Guyanese,” the man added.

During the attack, the pirates were wearing pieces of black cloth around their faces and had toques on their heads. In this case, he said the sea bandits were armed with cutlasses and upon get-

ting onto his vessel, they ordered the crew members to lie face down and bound them with a coarse rope which the men managed to untie after they were thrown overboard.

Bharat went on to say that by this time, all the fishing equipment and catch for the day were removed from the boat and it was cut loose. Pulled by the current, the boat drifted quite rapidly away, he was reportedly told. The boat was later found at De Hoop, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

Upon realising that the men were loose, the pirates went after them, causing the separation.

The captain claimed that he swam from 02:00h last Tuesday to 23:00h until he reached land at Copenaam.

Bharat said the captain told him that the young fishermen were begging for their lives, but the pirates did not have mercy upon them. He said the men were new to the fishing business and that might have worked to their disadvantage.

Pamela Maikoo, the mother of Raymond Gomes, told GTI that

she met with the owner of the boat who was only complaining about the amount of money he lost as a result of the incident.

She said her son has been working with the man for the past two months and was fairly new to the job.

In addition, she claimed that she went to the Police Station where she was told that the captain of the boat was held in Suriname and was assisting with the search.

They are of the opinion that the captain might have had a hand in the attack, questioning his survival.

The local Police are in constant contact with their counterparts in Suriname, but they have exhausted every avenue in searching for the missing men. A Police source related that they are now focusing their attention on recovering the bodies and not rescuing the men.

Meanwhile, the owner of the boat, is calling on the law enforcement bodies to look into piracy in Guyana, claiming that it has increased over the years. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy.com)

Canadian band gains popularity in Caribbean

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ORONTO, CANADA: As the Canadian fused reggae, pop and R&B band, Magic!, continues to create a stir internationally, it is also making a big impact in the Caribbean, the home of reggae music.

Magic! comprises four members; Nasri Atweh-the lead vocalist, Mark Pellizzer-guitarist, Ben Spivak on bass and Alex Tanas-drums.

“Rude”, their first single, was released in 2013 but did not make an international impact until March this year, but once it hit the song shot up charts globally. It has been on the top ten hit lists of many countries like Australia, the U.S., New Zealand and of course their native Canada.

The song is currently ranking at number two on Billboard’s top 100 charts and its video has over 33 million views. Their album titled ‘Don’t Kill The Magic’ was released on July 1 and is also available on

Canadian band Magic! has taken the world by storm with their runaway hit single, “Rude”

iTunes.

The men of Magic! are all originally from Toronto and had each been down their own

musical paths before coming together. Atweh in particular, has helped put others in the spotlight by writing songs

for artistes like Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera, Pitbull, David Guetta and Justin Bieber. He worked in the com-

pany of Adam Messingeranother Grammy award winning songwriter and together they called themselves “The Messengers.” The song writing duo was quite unstoppable which resulted in Grammy nominations and winnings for those artistes who have sung the words that they wrote.

Atweh had moved on to a solo career where he created some of his own hits as well but realised his true potential after he met his fellow band mates. The four different individuals seemed to mesh really well because of their artistic and unique sound and not after went on tour with artiste, Matisyahu as a support act and were later signed by Sony Music Entertainment.

Some of their other hits that have taken its toll on the world are “Cut me deep” with Shakira, “This is our time” and “One love; One rhythm” which is featured on the 2014 FIFA World Cup Official Album.

10

NEWS

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Massive housing development contributing to East Bank transformation

BY ALEXIS RODNEY

H

ousing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali is quite confident of the prospects of emerging communities on the East Bank of Demerara, indicating that a new zone of development is expected, as Government seeks to further invest in the housing sector.

The Minister was speaking directly to the progress made so far in the Perseverance Housing Scheme, which was recently established.

During an onsite visit to the area on Monday, less than quarter mile off the East Bank Public Road, Minister Ali informed reporters about the ongoing work.

“In the 2014 Budget, we spoke of expanding affordable housing and the Turn Key Homes Project. We launched the 1000 homes project which was launched one month ago and we are pleased that it is moving at a rapid pace,” Minister Ali informed.

Actual construction on the project commenced just over a month ago in May, and so far some 50 homes are close to completion. Minister Ali divulged that persons are becoming increasingly interested in the Turn Key Housing Project, especially those who fall within the low and middle income bracket. He pointed out that they could not have made wiser choices, as he boasted about the level of infrastructure present in the community, which was

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali

at one time considered a dead end.

Unfortunate

He spoke of the new Collector’s Lane Highway, which connects the East Coast to the community and another alignment for a new alternative highway connecting Diamond Housing Scheme to Ogle. Ally said too that Government is also seeking to expand the Gy$8 million home project, which is also close to

put down these developments for selfish and political purposes.

The Perseverance area will turn out to be an equity valued property because of its closeness to the alignment set out by President Donald Ramotar.

Meanwhile, Central Housing and Planning Authority Chief Executive Officer Myrna Pitt said the East Bank Project is a comprehensive one in itself as a number of private developers, as well as Government projects are being undertaken.

In addition to the work on the East Bank, she said the Ministry is also into the second year of the implementation of the Low Income Settlement Programme, which has been very successful since its inception.

“We have successfully implemented three pilots, one of which is the core house pilots. The contracts for the 400

Government’s heavy investments in the housing sector have significantly improved the standard of living of Guyanese

completion.

The Minister said it is sad that persons would

house have already been signed and just about 100 houses remain to be completed,” she said.

Trinidad Boys’ Home under probe after ghastly sex allegations

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The St Michael's Home for Boys in Diego Martin, Trinidad, is now the subject of a criminal investigation after reports showed instances of violence and abuse, some of which were allegedly perpetrated against the youthful inmates by their caretakers (TT Newsday photo)

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Aghast at what he has found in the death of a boy incarcerated at the St Michael’s Home for Boys in Diego Martin, Trinidad's, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Tuesday announced that he has called on acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard to launch criminal investigations into the operations of this Home.

Among the startling revelations is that a female worker took a young male from the Home to her home. She later became pregnant and has since given birth to a baby, believed to have been fathered by the underaged inmate.

Speaking at a press

briefing at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre in Port-of-Spain, during the Senate lunchbreak, Ramlogan said he has asked Williams and Gaspard to investigate St Michael’s following allegations of sexual abuse, theft of boys’ property by staff and neglect including staff ignoring fights between boys, all unearthed in the probe into the untimely death of Brandon Hargreaves, 14, who fell from a roof at St Michael’s last April 8, even as two supervisors allegedly sat nearby.

The AG bemoaned that there has never been any investigation into that particular matter, as he revealed more shocking claims.

“There are allegations about boys being taken by staff members to hotels to have private rendezvouses,” he said.

“There have been allegations that during these rendezvous pictures were taken using cell-phones of some private parts of the boys themselves and circulated among members of staff.” He urged disciplinary action against errant staff, with due process.

Ramlogan said unsupervised boys abused other boys in violent initiation rites where in some cases a sheet was thrown over victims.

Sleeping boys had bleach thrown in their faces or had fires lit between their toes by other boys, all while the Home’s authorities allegedly did nothing.

Violence, the AG said, has escalated to the point of stabbings as he noted boys have been beaten with ropes and bits of wood. (TT Newsday)

Drinking schoolgirls plague the Caribbean

P

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Schoolgirls comprise a significant proportion of the teenage population now developing a drinking habit, according to the findings of a regional study highlighted by Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in Trinidad last week.

The Chief Magistrate—who presides over the most serious criminal cases at the Magistrates Court— disclosed that the study conducted by the InterAmerican Drug Abuse Control Commission in 2010 found that more girls in secondary schools are turning to alcohol than boys.

As it relates specifically to Trinidad and Tobago, the study obtained by TT media showed that overall, 82 percent of students sur-

Chief Magistrate in Trinidad Marcia AyersCaesar (TT Newsday photo)

veyed had turned to alcohol. This was well above the regional average of 70 percent and was the second-highest in the region. (Haiti’s rate was 86.2 percent.)

Speaking at the launch of a two-day workshop at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, St Ann’s last Thursday on implementing a planned juvenile drug treatment court, continued on page 22

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

5 vie for PNCR leadership position … Norton seen as most formidable challenge to Granger

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

F

ive persons have been nominated to contest the post of leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) at the close of the official nomination process on Saturday last.

The party’s General Secretary Oscar Clarke told Guyana Times International on Monday that letters have been dispatched to all those who have been nominated, with the aim of first informing them and ascertaining whether they will accept or decline.

“We are giving all those who were nominated up to Saturday, July 19 to respond… they are being given enough time and if they

fail to respond then their names will not appear on the ballot at the Congress,” Clarke related.

He said that a lot of documentation and verification of information is being done in the lead up to the Congress.

Clarke declined to name those persons who have been nominated for the party’s top leadership post, but promised to make an official declaration ahead of the Congress. However, this newspaper understands that David Granger, Aubrey Norton, Carl Greenidge and Basil Williams have been nominated.

When contacted on Monday, Greenidge would neither confirm nor deny that he was running for the post.

of votes at the last biennial Congress.

Norton

PNCR Chairman Basil Williams

Former PNCR General Secretary Aubrey Norton

“I am not ready to comment at this point,” he responded, but persons in his camp have confirmed that Greenidge is mustering up support within the ranks of the party to embolden his chances

of defeating Granger at the upcoming Congress.

Norton was a key backer of Greenidge at the last Congress.

Greenidge had secured 55 group nominations which represented the second highest amount

Norton has also kicked off a campaign to rally support at the grassroots level to relieve Granger of the added responsibility of managing the affairs of the party and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition. He has already expressed the view that there is need for urgent changes to be made to the party with the interest of bringing it closer to a grassroots support base. He managed to get one group nomination, along with Williams and Volda Lawrence.

When contacted, PNC Member James Bond, who had challenged Granger for the

presidential post of the party back in 2011, said he was not interested in challenging Granger again for the post. He said that he was given the opportunity to serve in the 10th Parliament by Granger and is satisfied at the moment. Bond opined that Granger was doing a good job, and as such, he will be supporting his candidacy. However, he will vie for a post on the party’s Central Executive.

Asked to comment on Granger apparent ‘elitist’ style of managing the affairs of the party, Bond said: “He’s not a dictator. This is no one man party,” he proclaimed as he dismissed concerns raised by the party’s grassroots base as “not legitimate”.

Aviators urge speedy completion of CJIA expansion

L

eading agencies in the aviation industry are

the Expansion Project is the appropriate response to the dire safe-

cient parking space for aircraft adversely affects their on-time per-

The stakeholders’ meeting with Public Works Minister Robeson Benn in progress

pushing for the US$155 million Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project to be completed without further hindrance.

The Opposition in the National Assembly, primarily the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has been up in arms against Government’s decision to proceed with the Project.

However, during a high-profile meeting with Public Works Minister Robeson Benn last Thursday, key stakeholders within the aviation sector reaffirmed their commitment to the expansion of the industry, but said the airport must be expanded to mitigate the challenges currently faced.

“We recognise that

ty, security and efficiency challenges faced at the existing facility and pledge to fully lend our support and expertise to advance the progress of the multimillion-dollar national endeavour,” the stakeholders said in a joint statement issued on Wednesday.

It was explained that the existing runway creates many limitations in safety due to the absence of the Runway Extension Safety Area (RESA) and its inability to accommodate larger widebody aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft. The congested terminal and parking space constraints for aircraft were among other issues laid on the table when the meeting was convened. The airlines said that insuffi-

formance.

“International air travel plays a critical role in the economic and social development of Guyana; hence there is an urgent need for the continued expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) facility,” the stakeholders posited.

As partners in the industry, the stakeholders have pledged to maintain close ties with the Public Works Ministry and CJIA’s Board and Management.

Caribbean Airlines, Roraima Airways, Insel Air, Dynamic Airways, CONVIASA, Copa, Fly Jamaica, LIAT, Surinam Airways and TravelSpan were the airlines present during the meeting last week.

Other agencies includ-

ed the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU); New Timehri Handling Service; Guyana Tourism Authority; GUYOIL; Guyana Civil Aviation Authority; and

CJIA. According to the Government, CJIA’s expansion is a national project engineered to modernise the CJIA into a hub for inter-

national and regional travel. This is in keeping with its vision to develop the CJIA into a world-class airport with high standards of hospitality and service.

12 news Guyana-Venezuela border controversy affecting oil exploration activities WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Svetlana Marshall

T

he GuyanaVenezuela territorial controversy which sparked another round of international debate when the Venezuelan Navy seized RV Teknik Perdana in Guyana’s waters, continues to affect offshore oil exploration in the country.

RV Teknik Perdana, which was contracted

by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, was conducting a 2D-Marine Seismic Survey in the Roraima Block on October 9, 2013 when it was detained.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

GGMC Commissioner Rickford Vieira addressing the Committee in the presence of the Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud (second right); Natural Resources and Environment Ministry Permanent Secretary Joslyn Mackenzie (third right); and GGMC Chairman Clinton Williams

made this disclosure on Monday during the Natural Resources Sectoral Committee at

the Parliament Building.

“It has created some level of setback in those particular areas where

we have seen the intrusion by the Venezuelan Naval representatives,” Minister Persaud told

the Committee chaired

by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Odinga Lumumba.

However, the Natural Resources Ministry is optimistic that Guyana and Venezuela would be able to resolve the border issue.GGMC Commissioner Rickford Vieira told the committee that other offshore and onshore exploration companies are moving ahead with their operations. He pointed out that Spanish oil exploration giant REPSOL, which is operating in the Kanaku Basin offshore Guyana, has completed its 2D and 3D seismic surveys. “They did 890 line kilometre of work and 3.2 square kilometre of 3D seismic survey,” he further explained, noting that the company is in the process of screening the data.

Commissioner Vieira also revealed that Esso Exploration, which is operating in the Stabroek Block, has contracted TDI Brooks International

to conduct a seabed and geotechnical exploration exercise. This process should have been completed by the end of June but is currently ongoing. Additionally, Esso Exploration is pursuing an Environmental Permit to drill a well in the Stabroek Block.

Training

Meanwhile, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentarian Joseph Harmon, upon learning of the applications, questioned the Natural Resources and the Environment Minister and his team on GGMC’s ability to assess the applications for prospecting licences and simultaneously monitor exploration operations in the country.

In response, Persaud said the GGMC works closely with the University of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat in addition to international experts in its quest to develop Guyana’s hydrocarbon potentials.

Guyanese to be charged for huge ganja bust in Caribbean Sea

T

he five crew members of the Guyanaregistered vessel AnNur which was intercepted in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday last with 2500 pounds of compressed marijuana on board are expected to be charged by the end of the week.

Information reaching Guyana Times International revealed that international law enforcement officers are preparing the legal documents to be sent to a court in Costa Rica. Local drug enforcement officials are also assisting with investigations.

However, when contacted, Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh, said he could not comment on the issue at the time since it might affect their investigations in Guyana. He confirmed that the Guyanese crew is expected to be slapped with several charges before the end of the week.

He also noted that the crew has been cooperative and, as such, local law enforcement is working on several leads with the aim of apprehending the mastermind behind the operation.

The vessel, which is registered to a Guyanese businessman, was inter-

cepted in an operation comprising local and international drug enforcement officers in the Caribbean Sea, with an estimated G$300 million of Jamaican marijuana. The five crew members onboard were immediately taken into custody and interrogated.

According to information received, that vessel operates between Guyana and Jamaica to transport rice and was on its way to Georgetown, Guyana when it was stopped and searched. It is not clear if the vessel was removed from international waters but it was to be towed to Costa Rica. From all indications, the vessel had been under surveillance for some time.

Exactly one week ago, CANU had a successful operation at Diamond and Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara which unearthed 2900 pounds of Jamaican marijuana and 4.2 kilograms of cocaine.

Dexter Daniels, of Kara Kara, Linden, was later sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, while a wanted bulletin was issued for Reginald Brown’s arrest. He reportedly turned himself in with his lawyer last Thursday, and was being grilled.

CANU is continuing its investigations.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

St. Lucian Opposition urges religious groups to address spate of suicides

Since the start of the year, the St.Lucian authorities have reported no fewer than 14 suicide cases

C

ASTRIES, ST. LUCIA: The small Opposition Lucian People's Movement (LPM) has called on the religious community to do more to help stem the wave of suicides on the island.

"We are making a plea for greater spiritual involvement in the lives of those who are not sufficiently socio-economically endowed to weather the blistering burden of social discord and economic hardship which is destined to claim more lives," LPM Leader Therold Prudent said in a statement.

His call came as the authorities are dealing with the latest spate of suicides in which a man and a woman died in separate incidents.

Since the start of the year, the authorities have reported no fewer than 14 suicide cases.

Prudent said that no responsible religious or-

ganisation can afford to ignore the urgency of the situation, noting that in an island with a population of 182,675, many have had their hopes for a better future dashed by the policies of politicians more interested in pursuing narrow partisan agendas.

"Therefore, given the current state of affairs in the country, we are of the view that since St. Lucians are not immune to the historical consequences of what usually occurs in nations in which prolonged social and economic depression have often prompted citizens to riot or even take their own lives, this may well be an opportune moment for all spiritual leaders and other religiously affiliated organisations to broaden their outreach programmes to include the most vulnerable among us," he said.

(Jamaica Observer)

PPP, GECOM differ on elections preparedness

A

mid claims and counterclaims about the Guyana Elections Commission’s readiness to host Local Government Elections, the ruling People’s Progressive Party /Civic (PPP/C) on Monday said some 10,000 persons who have changed their home addresses have not yet been correctly placed on the voters’ list.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee made the disclosure during the Party’s weekly press conference on Monday. Rohee reiterated the Government’s position that GECOM was not amply prepared to host any election in the country since the agency, first and foremost, did not have any proper mechanism in place to ensure that every eligible voter was placed on the constituency list. He said the groundwork the Commission has been doing left much to be desired.

Rohee noted that it was the Party’s general belief that the agency had not set the environment for an election.

This includes a lack of proper education and groundwork, he said.

The General Secretary said that 10,000 persons are yet to be correctly placed on the voters’ list as a result of transfers and changes to their addresses in at least five regions.

“There are about 10,000 persons yet to be transferred to their new housing schemes particularly in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six. It is the Party’s expectation that no effort will

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

be spared by GECOM to drastically reduce or remove this number through hard work,” the General Secretary said.

Fully prepared and committed

In a continued rebuttal of claims of non-readiness, GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally said the Commission is fully prepared and committed to move formally into election mode with immediacy, if and when the Commission is mandated to conduct Local Government Elections. Accordingly, the Chairman said: “it is essential to note that, insofar as a date

for the conduct of Local Government Elections is concerned, Section 35 of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03 provides that “an election shall be held on such a day as the Minister may by order appoint”, and obviously after the Minister would have consulted with GECOM.” He said with respect to preparations for the conduct of Local Government Elections, GECOM has developed its Work Plan, which puts the timeframe for the conduct of the elections at 180 days commencing from the appointment of a date, by the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development.

“The 180 days’ timeframe has nothing to do with GECOM’s “preparedness” per se. This timeframe is largely a result of the sequential statutory requirements and other prerequisite activities for the conduct of the elections.

“GECOM’s Work Plan for Local Government Elections, which is being reviewed constantly, contains several major statutory and administrative

tasks – some of which will be implemented concurrently, eg, the acquisition of non-sensitive Election Materials, advertising/training/evaluation/hiring of Election Day workers, Public Education, Claims and Objections, etc. Each of these activities can be undertaken concomitantly and, indeed, are currently being addressed,” Dr Surujbally asserted.

He said it was important to note that these Plans (with changes as they emerge) were developed and were in the possession of the Commission, since the approval by Parliament of the new System for Local Government Elections.

He noted that year after year, GECOM has consistently been presenting Local Government Elections budgets, and Parliament has always approved funds for conducting these polls. The Commission has again budgeted for the conduct of Local Government Elections in 2014, and, again, Parliament has given its approval.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

AFC is focused on 'narrow self-interest' – PPP D

ays after the Alliance For Change threatened to bring a no-confidence motion against the Government if it did not agree to their 10 conditions, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement

Rohee has accused the party of pursuing selfish political goals while pretending to care about the concerns of Guyanese.

Speaking at the ruling party’s press conference on Monday at Freedom House, Rohee related that the

Government has noted that through that action, the AFC has developed a penchant for making brazen demands of Government in its own self-interest. “Our party remains cognisant of the terror that was unleashed on Guyanese along parts

of the East Bank corridor, following a previous demand/ultimatum by the AFC.

Fateful afternoon

During that fateful afternoon, many were beaten and robbed and denied their constitutional right to freedom of movement and lawenforcement officers were subjected to wanton abuse”, Rohee said.

He noted that the Government has been taking note of the party’s demands but is not concerned, since the AFC was not serious about nation-building or supporting development within the Government.

Rohee has called on the AFC to cease playing games with Guyanese and to put the nation first over its political self-interest.

Just last month, the AFC said that if their 10 demands were not met, they would be taking steps to table the motion of no confidence against the Government, which may garner the support of the main Opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity.

The AFC in a release had noted that even af-

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

ter “more than a year after the November 28, 2011 General Elections, the Donald Ramotar Administration has resolutely refused to carry out reforms to tackle rampant corruption, enhance good governance, and ensure transparency in public expenditure, improve security of citizens and increase public sector wages.”

Included on the list of demands is the Government setting a date for the holding of Local Government Elections this year.

Additionally, high on the list are demands

for an “immediate” establishment of the Public Procurement Commission and appointment of all members of the Integrity Commission.

The party is also demanding that the Government perform a forensic audit of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) and Guyana Sugar Company (GuySuCo). Also among the list was a demand for the Government to reduce the toll at the Berbice River Bridge, which has also been a topic of heated debate.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014| guyanatimeSinternational.com

DNA testing on the cards …as Gy$1.4B Forensic Lab is commissioned

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

A

fter much delays and setbacks, Guyana’s first state-of-art Forensic Science Laboratory was commissioned on Monday to the tune of Gy$1.49 billion and Guyanese can also expect DNA testing being offered at the facility in the future.

The laboratory, which is located in the compound of the University of Guyana, was commissioned by Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, along with InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) Country Representative Sophie Makonnen and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the facility, Rohee said that while the laboratory does not offer DNA testing now, it is currently engaging the IDB to have this component in the near future.

“Based on a mandate given to us by the President and the Cabinet, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked with the responsibility to work assiduously to introduce DNA laboratory testing,” he stated.

He went onto say that the laboratory will be utilising scientific techniques to solve crimes, something that is new to crime-fighting in Guyana.

“These new techniques is all part of mod-

The new Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory at the University of Guyana Complex, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown

ernising a system in keeping with international best practices as well as an instrument to deterring would-be criminals and their activities in our country, all aimed at reducing the level of crime and I have no doubt that this laboratory will have a significant contribution in that respect,” he stated.

Delivering the feature address, Dr Luncheon noted that it is not by co-incidence that the Forensic Laboratory is located in the country’s premier educational institution.

Advanced national development

He explained that the facility signifies a step towards advanced national development, while pointing out that development cannot be gained without emphasis and recognition on Science and Technology.

“They go handin-hand,” he said. Dr Luncheon also pointed out during the 2006-2011

PM, Finance Minister to answer... from page 3

University of Guyana Student Loan Fund tabled by Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Ms Amna Ally, at the next sitting of the National Assembly.

Ally, shadow Education Minister, tabled the questions on June 19 and requested the Finance Minister to provide a detailed statement of the Student Loan Fund.

Ally also seeks a response to her second question on the current requirement for students to obtain loans in 2014, and the current balance of the fund

to meet such requirements.

The Finance Minister had only last month revealed that millions of dollars are still owed to the University of Guyana Student Loan Facility, since graduates have taken an escape route and are not repaying outstanding debts.

Prior to the Minister’s declaration on the Student Loan Fund, the combined opposition, APNU/AFC, had voted down this crucial student facility, justifying their actions on the ground that the fund was tied to several contentious projects.

term of former President Bharrat Jagdeo; devel-

opment during this period was unparallel in the

history of Guyana.

The Head of

the

Presidential Secretariat did not emphasise much in his remarks about the importance of the laboratory to law enforcement and national security, contending that this is self-evident.

Meanwhile, the IDB Country Representative noted that the commissioning of the laboratory represents another milestone between the bank and the Government of Guyana. She recalled that during the negotiation stages, one of the findings was the limited capacity of the Police and courts to properly investigate and prosecute matters.

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Jagdeo’s medical evacuation was NOT paid for by Gov’t - KN, Stabroek News peddling mischief

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esponding on July 10 to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Desmond Trotman’s question in Parliament on expenses incurred by former President Bharrat Jagdeo that were covered by the state, the Minister of Finance released the pertinent figures. However, these were immediately and totally distorted and sensationalised by what has been described by the Government as the “Opposition Media”.

The payments were made under the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act. The figures revealed that there were absolutely NO Government payments related to a medical evacuation of the President back in February of this year, which the Opposition had claimed while engaging in a veritable orgy of negative speculation and innuendos.

When the former President took ill, upon

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

medical advice, he was flown on a private aircraft to a hospital in Florida in the US to be treated and upon his recovery, returned to Guyana. Immediately, the Kaieteur News reported on the flight and declared, “This publication understands that the chartering of a Lear Jet, from Florida to Guyana and back for a medivac, would cost between US$35,000 (G$6 million) and US$40,000 (G$8 million).”

Former Opposition Leader Robert Corbin

It then went on to suggest the mentioned monies were paid for by the Government. “On May 28, 2009, then President Jagdeo assented to the Former Presidents (Benefits and Facilities) Bill bringing it into to law. Under that Act, he would receive free medical attention and medical treatment, paid for by the State, or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by him for the medical attention or treatment of himself

APNU Member of Parliament Desmond Trotman

and the dependant members of his family.”

Negatively slanted

Taking note of all the NEGATIVELY SLANTED statements over the claimed Government’s funding of Jagdeo’s trip by the Kaieteur News, the Stabroek News and the Opposition, the PPP pointed out, “The ruling party has never questioned the urgency or necessity of any opposition politician or public offi-

AFC's Chairman Nigel Hughes

cial to travel abroad upon the instruction of their medical advisors or caregivers. The PPP wishes to remind the Opposition that several of its members, including former Opposition Leader Robert Corbin and the late Sheila Holder, benefited from assistance from the State to seek medical attention abroad when it became necessary.

“In the most recent past when former Deputy Speaker Deborah Backer

was ill and flown abroad for medical attention, this party offered nothing but best wishes and hopes of a speedy recovery.”

The party neglected to mention that the same courtesies had been extended to Alliance For Change’s Chairman Nigel Hughes when he fell ill in the interior.

Even to this day, the selfproclaimed “independent press” has never questioned the quantum of Corbin being medivaced.

Against the background of the Minister not mentioning any payment in Parliament earlier this month for the Florida medical trip, the Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News obdurately refused to report the truth of the source of the medical payments.

They again went on to imply that they had been covered by the State.

Rather than investigating, the KN speculated wildly, “In February last, the month that reflected continued on page 26

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GCCI to do survey on impact of blacklisting

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

T

he Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) will soon be conducting a survey to measure the impact the country’s blacklisting is having on its membership.

The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has referred Guyana to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) after it failed to pass the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill of 2013, within a specified timeframe.

Many have argued that the impact would be far reaching; affecting those at the realm of the financial sector, down to the regular man in the street.

Speaking to Guyana Times International, GCCI President Lance Hinds said the chamber will make a public statement on the impact after conducting a survey.

GCCI has a membership of 118, ranging from micro to macro entities.

Leading financial institutions and business-

GCCI President Lance Hinds

es form part of its membership, including ANSA McAL Trading Limited, Banks DIH, the Bank of Nova Scotia, Caribbean Airlines, Caribbean Containers Inc, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T), John Fernandez Limited, the Machinery Corporation of Guyana (MACORP) and Republic Bank, among others.

According to Hinds, the GCCI will be “polling” members to determine whether they are facing challenges in the execution of the business due to the country’s blacklisting status. In November, Guyana was blacklisted on the regional level by

CFATF while it has been referred to FATF in May. He explained that members will be asked whether procedures at the commercial banks have been changed or whether there have request for additional information and reporting.

GCCI’s member, First Global Money had said there is a high possibility that money transfer agencies will experience significant challenges due to public statements made

by CFATF on Guyana.

It was explained that licensed money transfer companies or parent companies in the US, Canada or the United Kingdom may rescind their decisions to conduct business with agents or pair companies in Guyana following a risk assessment.

Stark reality

If money transfer agencies are forced to scale down operations, or even closure, it therefore means workers would have to down tools.

In 2012, Guyana received approximately US$400 million in remittances, accounting for 17 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). By 2013, it ac-

counted for 15.7 per cent of the GDP after reducing to US$353.2 million.

With heightened or limited money transfer agencies, First Global Money said the regular man in the street would feel the consequences; they will be unable to transfer monies to their families and friends in Guyana. It was opined that blacklisting can also lead to Guyana developing a black market or the illegal transfer of money within the financial system.

Cognisant of the challenges being faced at the level of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee that is considering the AML/CFT Bill, the GCCI maintains the view that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) should not cease negotiations, but should continue to work towards striking a compromise.

In May, the work of the committee led

by Government’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira came to an abrupt end after the political representative expressed fundamental differences on the amendments to the principal act – the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act of 2009.

GCCI, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Insurance Association of Guyana and the Government of Guyana are among institutions that have made public statement calling for the AML Bill to be passed. (svetlanatimesgy.com)

Elderly woman crushed by beverage truck

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73-year-old woman made her last journey to collect her seven-year-old grandson on Monday as she was fatally struck by a beverage truck in the vicinity of Robb Street and Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.

Moments after the accident, Rajmattie Ram also called “Dora” of Lot 177 Dr Miller Street, Triumph, East Coast Demerara was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead. She reportedly sustained severe head and bodily injuries since she was dragged a short distance before the truck came to a halt.

At the time of the accident, the elderly woman was holding onto her grandson’s hands as they crossed to the other side of the busy roadway.

The child who attends the Green Acres Primary School is still traumatised but was able to give an account to the Police of what occurred, resulting in the death of his grandmother.

Mother of the lad, Bonita Ram told Guyana Times International that the family received news about the accident around 15:00h. She said that by the time they arrived at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the elderly woman was already dead. She confirmed that her mother has been collecting her son since he started to attend nursery school and have been taking the same route every day. “They normally cross Avenue of the Republic and head towards the East Coast minibus park where they board a bus for home”, the woman

Dead: Rajmattie Ram

added.

The lad reportedly told investigators that he was holding onto his grandma’s hand and suddenly he felt her hands pulled away from him as he looked around, he saw her under the truck. It is a norm for the elderly woman to hold onto her grandson’s hand whenever they are using the roadways.

The seriously injured woman was picked up by public-spirited citizens, placed into a car and taken to the hospital but unfortunately, she took her last breath before receiving medical attention.

The driver of the lorry was taken into Police custody and is expected to be charged shortly.

He reportedly claimed that the child ran across the road and the elderly woman was attempting to grab him when she was struck and killed.

Bonita described her mother as a quiet and peaceful individual who took care of her children and grandchildren well.

She was an active member of the Life Spring Ministries and celebrated her 73rd birth anniversary on July 8. She leaves to mourn her seven children, 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

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Missing Jamaican children US to boost local found dead in Trelawny pond port security

Omari Sterling, whose body was found in the pond with his hands bound behind him (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

T

RELAWNY, JAMAICA: A heavy pall of grief hung over this town in Jamaica Tuesday night after police confirmed that the bodies found floating in a pond in the Martha Brae area of Trelawny early Tuesday were those of the two St James children, who were reported missing on Sunday after they went on a beach trip in Montego Bay. They have been identified as 10-year-old Meleeka Mitchell, oth-

erwise called 'Jody', and 12-year-old Omari Sterling, both of Paradise Norwood, St James. A police source close to the investigation told the media that the boy, who was found in the water with his hands bound behind him, had a stab wound to the chest, while the girl, who was found in the nude, is believed to have drowned.

The bodies were found in one of several ponds situated near a section of the Martha Brae River by two men

who went crab hunting.

According to Meleeka's mother, Devona Kerr, her daughter was among a number of community members who were at the 'One Man Beach' in Montego Bay when she and Omari were lured away by a man whose hands and feet were heavily tattooed.

She claimed that she heard that the man, who positioned himself under the tree where the children donned their swimwear, sent a little boy from the group to call her daughter.

After doling out cash to the rest of the group to purchase hamburgers, the man allegedly made off with Meleeka and Omari.

She described her daughter as "friendly with everybody" and theorised that that contributed to the man being able to kidnap her.

The Office of the Children's Registry (OCR) said it was troubled by the children's killing and urged parents and caregivers to provide proper supervision for children in their care. (Jamaica Observer)

A

US port security officials and their local counterparts

s part of efforts to boost port security in Guyana, the US Embassy in Georgetown facilitated a week-long workshop on auditing management systems.

The training was conducted in partnership with the US Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration of Guyana (MARAD). It represents the third of four courses delivered to Guyanese officials from multiple agencies.

The workshop was based on international standards for auditing and will assist employees of the port, Customs, port Police, health, the Guyanese Coast Guard, and MARAD to perform effective inspections and audits and ensure that ports remain secure.

Secure ports reduce the risk of threats to the shipping community, which in turn keeps the price of shipped goods lower by potentially reducing insurance costs to shippers, and reducing the time it takes to get

cargo in and out of Guyana’s ports. The efforts of Guyana’s newly-trained auditors will strengthen the security of Guyana’s ports by identifying security vulnerabilities and developing solutions through the auditing of security management practices.

The broad representation of members from Guyanese ports and the Guyanese Government represent a strong commitment to port security and the facilitation of trade between Guyana and the US. The programme, funded through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), helps strengthen capacity and provide practical skills to relevant security officials working in this critically important area. Through such CBSI partnerships, the US and Guyana seek to enhance the bilateral security relationship to create a partnership to combat transnational crime, develop strong security institutions in Guyana, and advance the safety and security of the citizens of Guyana.

NEWS

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Guyanese movie Soloman mum on ‘Forgotten Promise’ Adams’ allegations premiers on July 26

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egion 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Chairman Sharma Solomon is silent on accusations that were levelled against him by People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Linden Coordinator Sandra Adams.

Adams had accused Sharma Solomon and aggrieved A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Vanessa Kissoon of factionalism and attempting to create rifts between the party and its Region 10 supporters.

Adams said that there are a few members who had openly raised objections about her appointment as Regional Coordinator. She said they were not completely cognisant of the party’s structure and her responsibilities in the post.

“They were personally misled by the Regional Chairman and Vanessa Kissoon. They’re in ignorance of party structure and procedure. The RDC

T

he latest Guyanese movie, “Forgotten Promise – A Story of Redemption” is set for an official launch on July 26, at the National Cultural Centre and would continue at the same venue the next day at 19:00h each night.

According to a release, the movie is another effort to contribute to the development of a local film industry.

Patrons will be afforded the opportunity to experience the red-carpet walk, which is generally associated with movie launches overseas and which has been in place for similar endeavours in the past under the auspices of Mahadeo Shivraj Productions and the Dramatic Arts Academy.

“Forgotten Promise” follows “Till I Find A Place”, “A Jasmine For A Gardener”, “83 Million Gees” and “Brown Sugar Too Bitter For Me” released in 2010, 2012 and 2013 respectively, all produced, directed and starring Mahadeo Shivraj.

This new venture provides a launching platform for many new budding actors, including Yanitra Raghubir, Tonya Singh, Anand Persaud and Lakshmee Singh.

They are supported by Nazim Hussain, Margret Lawrence, Neaz Subhan, Nadeer Bacchus and Paul Budnah, who together, bring many decades of experience.

Written by Guyanese, Somnauth Narine, “Forgotten Promise” chronicles a seemingly forced trip to examine one’s past following an unfortunate development in the present.

How the future would eventually evolve seems

to be pivoted on the outcome of what venturing into the past may reveal, making it a story of utmost redemption.

Sometimes what may be forgotten can become a haunting reality.

“Forgotten Promise” features a number of popular Bollywood songs, all of which were redone by Guyanese residing in the New York. Renowned singer Devindra Pooran leads in this regard and is melodiously complemented by Seeta Panday-Pooran, Michael Muneshwar, Princess Anisa and Shiva Nayan.

The background score and the musical accompaniment are the result of the artistry of Avinash Singh of the Supertones Band.

“Guyanese from all walks of society have supported the four previous movies and the producers would like to encourage such support for this latest venture and remain humbled by the kind words of congratulations and well wishes.

The producers would like to take this opportunity to express profound gratitude for the responses and for the kind support of Mr Geroge Subraj of the Zara Foundation of the US. The movie will be screened at the Anna Regina Multilateral School on August 2 and the Aurora Primary on August 3.

On August 9, it will be screened at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus and on August 10, at the Bath Settlement Primary School.

Tickets for the two screenings at the National Cultural Centre are available at the venue.

Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon

Chairman does not know his position. I was appointed by the Central Executive Committee of my party to serve as Regional Coordinator.

Region 10 has been out of a party structure for the last eight years,

whether interim or full structure.”

But Solomon, when contacted

by Guyana Times International on Saturday, flatly refused to make any comments with respect to the new Regional Coordinator as the obvious discontent within the PNCR continues to grow.

Solomon said: “I wouldn’t comment on anything Sandra Adams has to say.”

Although he refused to comment on the issue with respect to Adams, when questioned by GTI with respect to the recent suspension controversy surrounding Kissoon, Solomon said that “as a responsible party comrade, I am working with every effort and all that is available to bring this matter to a conclusion and resolution”.

At an APNU press conference on Friday, Granger had said that there were some elements in Region 10, who were not interested in observing the core ideals of the PNCR. continued on page 22

Taxi driver arrested for Lusignan teen’s murder

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taxi driver was on Tuesday afternoon arrested for the suspected murder of 19-year-old Ashminie Hariram who was executed about a week ago after exiting a minibus on Lusignan Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara.

According to information reaching Guyana Times International, the suspect is of mixed race and operates his burgundy car as a taxi on the East Coast of Demerara, but after the shooting incident, he stopped doing so.

The description given to the Police by the victim’s cousin reportedly matches that of the suspect hence investigators believe that they finally have a breakthrough in their investigation.

The suspect will be interrogated in the hope of obtaining a confession and more so, the motive for killing the teenager.

Crime Chief Leslie James on Monday con-

seen parked some distance away from the teenager’s home for some time, but the shooter exited after recognising his target.

Unknown motive

Ashminie “Manisha” Hariram

firmed that statements were taken from several persons, including the teen’s cousin who was with her at the time of the shooting. Those statements were analysed and are guiding the investigation.

Initially, the matter was being treated as a robbery/murder, but the Police are now treating the incident as coldblooded murder.

It was reported that the burgundy car was

Investigators also established that the shooter would have had possession of Hariram’s mobile phone when he shot her and this has led them to believe that she had been a target and it had not been a case of mistaken identity.

While the motive behind the shooting remains a mystery, the dead teenager’s mother, Khemwattie Somwaru, had stated that her daughter had been seeing someone from her son’s place of employment for a month now, she was not sure if her death was related.

Somwaru said both parties were in love, but a decision was not taken with respect to marriage and more so, she was not sure that her daughter had a previous relation-

ship. In tears, she stated that the manner in which her daughter met her demise is baffling.

On the day in question, the grieving mother recalled seeing her daughter’s motionless body on the roadway with a single gunshot wound to the neck. “Manisha”, as Hariram was also known, was a cosmetologist who operated from home. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital around noon last Thursday.

She was reportedly returning home from Georgetown with a cousin when a man emerged from a car parked along the Railway Embankment, some six houses from where she resided, snatched her mobile phone and then shot her once to the neck.

She reportedly fell to the roadway after which the perpetrator entered the car and sped away, without anyone seemingly getting a look at his licence plate.

Edghill shrugs off resignation calls

M

inister within the Finance Ministry Juan Edghill has strongly rejected calls made by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) for his removal from his governmental position.

This call was made close to a month after the Minister spoke as a guest on the INews Radio programme “Hard Talk”, and voiced his disapproval from a religious perspective of the gay lifestyle.

Minister Edghill said he does not intend to give attention to a matter that is undeserving, noting that his attitude to the matter will be guided by a scripture from the Bible; Mathews 5:11: “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of

evil against you because of Me. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Minister Edghill said the facts will show that he was invited in his capacity as a Christian leader, thus his opinion, to which he is entitled like anyone else, was expressed in that context.

Dismissing SASOD’s statement that his comments were tantamount to “hate speech”, he challenged anyone to listen to the programme and point out where any such facet of his remarks were indicative of the accusation.

“Let Guyana judge me, Let the tape roll,” he stated, adding that SASOD should have the decency to

be accurate in reporting what he said.

Describing the homosexual lifestyle as “un-natural”, Minister Edghill said his words should not be twisted by a group that is seeking to move from being a non-governmental organisation to one with political aspirations. The church, he said, has always maintained its belief of the sanctity of marriage as a union between a male and a female, hence, the unwavering view that homosexuality is un-natural, given the fact that, in the case of humans, two of the same sex are unable to reproduce. “It is biologically impossible.”

Notwithstanding his views, the Minister said that he will never be the one to pry into persons’ personal lives and the church is not about to do any such thing.

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‘All-Guyanese’ concert billed for August 10

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he Tourism, Industry and C o m m e r c e Ministry on Friday morning launched the first ever “All Guyanese artistes concert” billed for August 10, the last day for the Guyana Festival.

According to Entertainment Coordinator of the Ministry, Lennox Canterbury, the concert dubbed the “Generation Next Concert” will exclusively feature the existing and emerging talent of the country.

The names confirmed thus far for the event are reigning Road March winner, Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts, Jumo Primo, Tennicia De Freitas, Kwace “Ace” Edmondson, Charmaine Blackman, Michelle “Big Red” King, First Born and Genesis and Chutney singer, Pooran Seeraj.

Canterbury noted that while the Ministry was approached by various artistes from the United Kingdom and the US who wanted the opportunity to perform at the event, it is more focused on pushing local talent since the festival is a Guyanese one.

“We have been contacted by people from as far as London wanting to come and perform. They say they feel excluded. It is not that we are excluding anybody but we have to work within a timeframe and there is only a certain amount of persons we can work with at a time. Secondly, this is the ideal team for now, it’s the Guyana Festival and that is what we need to reflect. We are promoting our local culture, our local music, our local artistes,” he said.

Meanwhile, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali related that the concert is one which will see Guyanese being able to appreciate their country and their culture even more than before. He noted too that

Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts

Terry Gajraj

the Ministry is hosting the event in an effort to bring togetherness; irrespective of ethnic, social or cultural backgrounds.

Ali said the idea of a concert was born out of the need for the artistes to be placed on the international market, so that they can put Guyana on the map.

“This concert will consist of a multi-faceted group of people. It will be exciting because we are bringing all of them on the same stage….

They will be battling for our country, to show off our culture and our music and to put Guyana on the map. There is nothing else that can bring us together in one place as one people except for this concert,” Ali said.

The Minister expressed positive thoughts of the festival becoming a major part of the Guyanese culture, while serving as a hub for tourists.

own, it starts from here.

And of course, I will be bringing something new and hot,” Mellisa “Vanilla” Roberts told media operatives.

The event will begin on August 8 with an aerial show by the Guyana Defence Force, followed by the National Concert, games and the opening of the food, art and craft booths.

On Saturday, August 9, an exciting cricket match has been planned between the Legends and the President’s XI for the Festival Cup. Players for the team are expected to include Lennox Cush, Travis Dowling and Reyon King. Soon to follow will be a football match between Slingerz and the GDF. The “Night of Legends” Concert has been scheduled for the evening, featuring the likes of Devendra Pooran, Dave Martins, his band and Terry Gajraj.

The last day being Sunday will see the National Cook off between villages and overseas-based groups, vying for the coveted title. The festival will then close with the Generation Next Concert.

Persons are being encouraged to purchase their Festival Passports as soon as possible for only Gy$3000. The passport allows for entry into all of the events, entitlement of discounts from all of the participating companies and a chance to win a brand new motorcar.

Come out an support

The artistes have promised to bring their best to the concert and pleaded with the Guyanese public to come out and support the show.

“This concert is all about local acts and this is new. We don’t really have concerts with just local acts taking up the entire programme.

When international artistes come, people rush to the National Stadium and the shows are sold out, so they should come out and support the local artistes, support our

Soloman mum on Adams’ ...

from page 21

Responding to a question about party camaraderie in the region, Granger said “there are some elements” but he noted that “there are more persons interested in a united party; there are more persons interested in discipline among party members than persons who are not interested in those values”.

Kissoon is maintaining that Granger does not have the power to

suspend her from the party following allegations that there was misuse of the party’s property at Linden, and a spat she had with the party’s General Secretary Oscar Clarke.

“I am a member of the PNCR and not an employee…. The leader of the party did not appoint me and, so respectfully, has no power to suspend me. If I am to be made the sacrificial lamb to uphold

the Party’s Constitution, I am prepared to face the consequences.”

To this, Granger had responded: “I can’t?… I did,” adding: “I have operated always with advice in accordance with the Constitution of the People’s National Congress Reform… any decision has to be ratified by the Central Executive Committee, I have never behaved outside of the Constitution.”

Guyana may have to contribute financially to Hugh Wooding – President

BY GOMATIE GANGADIN

P

resident Donald Ramotar said the Government is looking at the possibility that it may have to make a financial contribution to the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and Tobago to solve the uncertainty of acceptance faced by Guyanese students.

Speaking to Guyana Times International in an interview on Friday, the Head of State noted that at the recently concluded Caricom Heads of Government Meeting, the issue was discussed extensively, but no solution has thus far been reached.

“We discussed the matter and the situation still remains the same. It is not that they do not want to accept the Guyanese students. It is an issue of space which has been mentioned before. They cannot accommodate more students; space is the problem,” Ramotar said.

He assured this newspaper though that the Government was doing everything in its power to ensure that a suitable agreement is drawn up so that the students will not be affected.

To this end, the President noted that while Guyanese students currently pay their full tuition fees in cash as compared to the other countries, the Government will consider making a financial contribution to the school if it will assist in easing the uncertainty of students being able to attend the institution.

“We have a year to

President Donald Ramotar

solve this because the agreement we got from HWLS was that the students will only be accommodated for this year; but we are working to fix this by next year so that the students will not be affected… if the need arises that we have to make a financial contribution to the school, we will consider it,” President Ramotar said.

The President further related that the leaders of the participating countries, however, have assured him that there are at least two other institutions at which Guyanese students could be accommodated should the need arise in future.

“We have facilities in Barbados and Trinidad where they can go.

However, these will need to be expanded, but that should not be a problem.

Additionally, we were informed that there is an upcoming law school in Trinidad so they can also be accommodated there if there is a need,” he said.

Legal education review

Ramotar also disclosed that a decision has been taken by the Heads of Government for a comprehensive re-

view of legal education in the Caribbean to be undertaken and this will be done in the coming months. At a meeting which was held in June with the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall; Head of the Department of Law Programme at the University of Guyana Sheldon McDonald and Chairman of the Council of Legal Education Jacqueline SamuelsBrown via teleconferencing under the guidance of Caricom Chairman, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the fate of the 25 students was discussed and Chairman SamuelsBrown related to the Attorney General that the Council has decided to honour its agreement with the Government of Guyana to accept the students.

It was related that while the Council is ready to accept the students; it was conditional. That condition was that the students will be accepted, but the Caribbean Community has to work on expanding the facilities of the institution if they were to continue accepting students. from page 10

Drinking schoolgirls plague... the Chief Magistrate also noted the prevalence of marijuana use in schools was also found to be high.

“A higher proportion of girls were experimenting with alcohol than boys,” the Chief Magistrate told participants of the workshop. She cited the results of the 2010 study, which was entitled, ‘Comparative Analysis of Student Drug Use in Caribbean Countries’.

That study represents the most recent statistical breakdown of the problem of teenage drinking, a National Drug Council spokesperson stated.

An analysis of alcohol prevalence by gender showed 83.16 percent of

females (as opposed to 80.82 percent of males) reported alcohol use.

A total of 3,909 Trinidadian students were sampled out of the total regional sample of 38,534. About half the local sample comprised students under 14-yearsold. One third was between the ages of 15 years old and 16 years old. The remaining students were 17-years-old or older.

Countries sampled included: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Other findings of the study highlighted by the Chief Magistrate includ-

ed findings that: marijuana use “was found to be high” in some countries; students reported having “easy access” to drugs and there was a correlation between drug use and behavioural problems.

The Chief Magistrate, who chairs a youth-focused sub-committee of a multi-sectoral judicial team on implementation of a drug treatment court pilot, said tackling drug addiction from an early stage was necessary.

The Chief Magistrate’s comments came just one week after TT’s Minister of Health Dr Fuad Khan stated there was an increased rate of alcohol consumption among teenagers.

(TT Newsday)

news WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014

23

| guyanatimeSinternational.com

ID cards for New York-Caribbean immigrants N

ew York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has signed legislation to create a municipal identification card for Caribbean and other immigrants living in the city, including undocumented persons.

“Even for those who already have IDs, we’re going to make sure that this card brings a lot to the equation, a lot of benefits that will go with it,” said de Blasio, whose wife, Chirlane, traces her roots to Barbados.

“But for those who don’t have ID, it’s going to be crucial,” he said when signing on to the new law last week Thursday.

The municipal identification card is meant to ease access to New York City services for illegal immigrants and others.

When rolled out in early 2015, the city’s ID system will be the largest programme of its kind in the US, offering a photo identification card with less stringent documen-

tation standards than driver’s licences or state IDs. Cities such as New Haven, Connecticut; Los Angeles; San Francisco; and Oakland, California have launched similar programmes.

De Blasio has made the ID card one of his signature initiatives, saying reliable identification is necessary to make the city’s libraries, schools and other core services more accessible to groups such as illegal immigrants, homeless New Yorkers, and transgender people.

As he signed the legislation, de Blasio said a lack of ID has made life difficult for the city’s estimated half-million illegal immigrants. “We are going to change that, once and for all,” he said.

Calling New York “a beacon of hope and inclusion”, the Mayor said the city ID would serve as a national example on immigration reform,

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio

“since we so often can’t depend on our federal Government”.

But launching the programme successfully could be tricky.

City officials are pushing large banks to allow the cards to be used to open accounts, making it useful to illegal immigrants who often do not have accounts

Berbice girl wins E-networks singing competition

V

ishalie Sookram of Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice was declared winner of the inaugural E-Networks Emerging Voices singing competition on Friday evening, when the show was aired on E-Networks Channel 1 and the Little Rock Television Station in Berbice.

Vishalie wowed celebrity judges Jeffrey Iqbal, Dr Vindhya Persaud and Purnash Durgaprasad with her melodious renditions of the AR Rehman super hit song “Kehna Hi Kya” and the test piece of the competition, Lata Mangeshkar’s classic “Mose Chal”.

The beautiful, petite singer, dressed in a white and red sari, delivered her songs effortlessly and received thunderous applause from those present in the studio.

She received a cheque for Gy$1 million, a trophy and a specially designed stone encrusted microphone ornament.

In smiles, a proud Sookram posed for photographs with her family, well wishers and fellow contestants after the lively competition.

Gaining second position was the other competition favourite, Artie Sookhai. Elegantly attired in a pink and turquoise sari, Artie exuded confidence and wowed the audience with her energetic and lively per-

Vishalie Sookram

formance of the folk melody “Ali More Angana”.

However, her composure visibly slipped when she stumbled in the middle of her second song — the test piece.

She received a cheque for Gy$250,000 and a trophy.

Both Vishalie and Artie will benefit from a six-week stint in India, inclusive of musical exposure and the opportunity to receive training, compliments of E-Networks.

The third position was captured by Gail Ann Singh, whose song choice was the popular “Lal Duppatta”. She was appropriately bedecked in a beautiful gold lehenga and red dupatta. Both of her songs were well received. Gail received a cheque for Gy$150,000 and a trophy.

Also performing at the grand finale were judges Jeffrey Iqbal and Purnash Durgaprasad, who generated much ex-

citement with their spirited renditions of the classics “Mast Kalandar” and “Chap Tilak”.

The Dharmic Nritya Sangh added their bit with a fabulous performance of a Marathi folk dance. The show was hosted by the beautiful Zahrah Alli. Among the audience in studio were many of the contestants who participated in the series.

E-Networks launched the reality television series “Emerging Voices” in an effort to discover good voices, fresh talent and energetic young performers who will give a boost to Guyana’s budding music industry.

Focusing on Hindi and Bollywood music, auditions were held countrywide following which 22 persons were selected by judges Jeffrey Iqbal, Purnash Durgaprasad and Dr Vindhya Persaud to take part in the series.

An added bonus for all the participants has been the training provided by Bollywood playback singer Jeffrey Iqbal and outstanding Guyanaborn singer Purnash Durgaprasad, who had worked long hours with the contestants to ensure that quality performances were delivered.

Emerging Voices was also supported by Torginol Paints, Sujata Curry Powder, NTN Television and King’s Jewellery World.

and are sometimes targeted by criminals because they tend to carry large amounts of cash.

Michael Smith, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the New York Bankers Association, said the ID programme would have to meet federal criteria meant to prevent fraud and terrorism in order

for banks to accept the card. For example, a non-US citizen must provide documents such as a tax ID number, a passport number, an alien ID card number and an unexpired photo ID from his or her country of origin.

“These regulations are stringently enforced,” Smith said.

Smith said his group has met with the de Blasio Administration and that banks are willing to work with the city to make sure the ID satisfies the requirements.

City officials said they had yet to finalise the list of documents needed to apply for the ID. They have said it is likely to include documents like a utility bill, or a document stating the person has a child enrolled in public school, and a kind of photo-identification such as a foreign passport.

A spokeswoman for de Blasio said the municipal ID would meet

the federal rules, saying the city would not accept expired documents, for example, and would provide a unique number for each card holder. Another concern is making sure the IDs are widely adopted, so they do not become an indicator of immigration status.

Could backfire

The New York Civil Liberties Union declined to back the final version of the bill passed by the City Council last month, saying it could backfire – leaving illegal immigrants’ personal information accessible to law enforcement.

“While the ID will likely have great benefits for many New Yorkers, it is ultimately an invitation to gamble with the stakes as high as prosecution or even deportation,” said Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

(Wall Street Journal)

Still no trace of missing teacher I

t is now eleven days since senior teacher at the Saint Stanislaus College Nyozi Goodman has disappeared, leaving no trails or tales behind.

Speaking to Guyana Times International on Monday evening, Crime Chief Leslie James said that while the Guyana Police Force has been pursuing all angles in the case and are carrying on an active investigation, nothing substantial has yet been found.

He assured, however, that the Police Force is doing everything possible at this time to locate the missing woman.

Nyozi Goodman, 34, of William Street, Kitty was last seen last week Sunday sending off the school’s basketball team after leaving the National Sports Hall where she had taken them to participate in the Inter-Secondary School’s Basketball Championships with another teacher.

She reportedly told the group to move ahead since she was waiting on someone to pick her up.

Meanwhile, relatives are holding out that the teacher did not disappear just like that and believe that foul play is involved since all of her personal belongings are intact, except for her two mobile phones and iPad.

Still missing: Nyozi Goodman

Her sister Nestor Thompson told Guyana Times International that based on information received from Digicel, the last time Goodman used her mobile phone was about 23:00h on Sunday.

The telephone company also said that the sim card was either destroyed or removed from the handset.

The worried sister, who is also a teacher, told this publication that she was at school on Monday last when she received a telephone call from her mother, enquiring about the missing woman.

She immediately went to her sister’s home only to find her house tightly locked, but she requested a spare key from the landlord to enter the house where she found everything intact.

The woman said even

if her sister was going out for the week, she would have taken her stuff. Upon inquiring from the landlord, she was told that her sister had a frequent visitor, but based on the description, he is not known to the family.

The family has since lodged a missing person’s report at the Kitty Police Station, but after they requested a letter be taken to Digicel to get a print out of her sister’s recent calls, they were directed to A Divisional Commander Clifton Hicken.

Relatives are urging the Police to move with alacrity in investigating the matter. Goodman has been teaching at the St Stanislaus College for the past four years, but has been in the education system for quite a while.

24 News CAL is official airline for Limacol CPL 2014 C

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

aribbean Airlines (CAL) is the official airline of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2014 cricket tournament which commenced on Friday.

The event is being hosted throughout the Region and will see six exciting Caribbean-based teams battle for supremacy. The tournament will be played at the various stadium grounds in Grenada, Antigua, Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad, St Lucia, St Kitts and Jamaica.

The airline in a release stated that this is the first year it has come on board as the official airline of the tournament. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael DiLollo said the relationship between Limacol CPL and Caribbean Airlines will be a strong one, as they provide airlift for the teams and fans.

As the official airline of the tournament, players and sport enthusiasts alike will be able to connect to any match location, via key Caribbean destinations, the CEO added.

“When you look at the challenges of holding a major international sports league across the Caribbean islands, it becomes obvious that the most strategic partner for any such event is the airline. With that in mind we are delighted to have Caribbean Airlines onboard as official airline of the [Limacol] CPL,” Limacol CPL Commercial Director Jamie Stewart said.

He added that whether it is in terms of getting the players across

Guyana hosting US military cadets to foster cultural understanding

F

Airlines Chief Executive Officer Michael DiLollo

the region as part of their hectic playing schedule, or making sure that fans can follow their teams as they progress, Caribbean Airlines has an important role to play and Limacol CPL is delighted to have their support.

CAL encourages all cricket fans to book their travel early either through its website www.caribbean-airlines. com or via its reservations call centre at 1-800- 744-2225 (toll free within the Caribbean) or 868-625-7200 (Trinidad and Tobago).

Members of the US team with US Charge’ D Affaires, Byran Hun

or the second year in a row, Guyana is hosting the Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP) Programme as part of the longstanding partnership between the Florida National Guard, the US Army Cadet Command, the US Embassy in Guyana’s Security Cooperation Office, and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

The CULP Programme in Guyana is planned for 47 personnel (42 Cadets and five instructors), comprised of soon-to-be-commissioned Florida National Guard (FLNG) Cadets, between July 11 and August 6.

In a release, the US Embassy said the US Army recognises the need for young leaders to develop cultural awareness and foreign language proficiency skills. Through the CULP Programme, hundreds of US military cadets have the opportunity to spend up to three weeks immersed in foreign cultures, learning more about how oth-

ers around the world view the US and, in the process, to be able to operate more effective in international environments. The CULP programme gives cadets an opportunity to help develop the skills required to support global operations. In 2013, over 1200 cadets participated in the CULP Programme in over 40 countries worldwide.

The CULP Programme seeks to build a foundation to support understanding, cohesion, and meaningful partnership between the next generation of US and Guyanese military officers. During the CULP Programme in Guyana, US Cadets will live, work, and have cultural exchanges with fellow Guyana Defence Force Cadets, as well as other elements of the GDF. Activities under the CULP Programme typically include humanitarian service with the host population, military-tomilitary training, and education on the social, cultural, and historical aspects of the community.

“Copa is committed to the Guyanese market” - will offer two flights weekly

By Svetlana Marshall

A

mid the collapse and struggles of some airlines, a top official of Panamabased air carrier Copa Airlines said that they are no “fly by night” operation and has committed to the Guyanese market for the long haul.

Guyanese can explore 67 destinations in 30 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean with the airline that launched its service in Guyana last week Friday. With a strong employment base of 3, 000 personnel, Copa, established back in 1947 in Panama, recorded a net income of US$151.4M for the first quarter of 2014. Excluding special items, Copa Holdings would have reported an adjusted net income of US$153.6M or US$3.46 per share, signalling a 23.5% increase over the operating income of US$124.4M and US$2.80 per share for the first quarter in 2013.

World-class service

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International, Regional Sales Manager Diego Bermudez said Copa’s

Copa’s Regional Sales Manager Diego Bermudez

ability to offer a worldclass service at competitive prices would allow the airline to withstand the prevailing challenges within Guyana’s aviation sector, thereby capitalising on the existing opportunities. Even as Dynamic Airways suspends its operations in the country, Bermudez expressed confidence that “Copa is here for the long haul”.

“We are not a chartered airline which seeks some kind of seasonal business; we are a world-class company that is here for the long term,” the Regional Sales Manager told this newspaper. On Friday, the Panama-based air

carrier graced the tarmac of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on its inaugural flight to Guyana with 100 passengers on board.

The Boeing 737-700 aircraft touched down at 14:15h. With all systems in place, Copa is currently offering flights twice weekly. “We are trying to get the highest load factor,” he said. The aircraft has the capacity to transport 124 passengers.

The Local Sales Manager Nadine Oudkerk said Copa presents many opportunities for the Guyanese populace and international travellers alike. “It gives travellers all over the world the opportunity to

The first set of passengers disembarking the aircraft on Friday carrying the Golden Arrowhead and the Panamanian Flag

connect with a reliable carrier…for example in the past, persons coming from Spain would have had to spend more than 24hrs travelling to get here, but now they have an option that would provide them ease of access and a stress-free travel,” she explained. She added the airline is also a gateway for tourists to get a taste of Guyana’s rich culture and simultaneously view the country’s breathtaking tourism sites.

The same day that Copa Airlines commenced operations in Guyana, it also launched its service between Fort Lauderdale and Panama

City, Panama. The airlines will be offering four non-stop flights a week between the two cities.

In Latin America, Copa Holdings is one of the leading Airline Services as it bridges the gap between travellers and the rest of the world through its principal operating subsidiaries, Copa Airlines and Copa Colombia.

Dubbing the Tocumen International Airport in Panama, the “Hub of the Americas,” because of its strategic location, Copa said the airport provides convenient connections to the principal markets in North, Central and South America and the

Caribbean, enabling it to consolidate traffic to serve several destinations. “We believe that Copa’s hub in Panama allows us to benefit from Panama City’s status as a centre for financial services, shipping and commerce and from Panama’s stable, dollar-based economy, freetrade zone and growing tourism,” the company said.

In its quest to grow profitability, Copa will continue to build on its operations as it provides superior customer service, convenient schedules and competitive fares.

News

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Spiralling sugar production cost a major challenge for GuySuCo – CEO tells parliamentary committee

By Svetlana Marshall

Target surpassed

T

he Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) continues to operate at a loss, despite more than 15 years of billions of dollars in investments.

Back in 1995, GuySuCo was producing sugar at a relatively high cost; today, the situation remains the same. From 1995-1996, the cost of production was US$0.23 per pound with the figures dropping to US$0.22 by 1997. When compared with production costs in Guatemala, the United States, North-East Brazil and India, the cost of producing sugar in Guyana is most unfavourable.

On Friday, when GuySuCo appeared before the Economic Services Committee at the Parliament Buildings, Chief Executive Officer, Dr Rajendra Singh disclosed that the cost of production stood at US$0.34 per pound of sugar. Recognising the

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy delivers opening remarks during the Economic Services Committee in the presence of GuySuCo CEO, Dr Rajendra Singh (right) and General Manager of Agriculture Services, Raymond Sangster

high cost of productivity, Dr Singh assured the Committee that mechanisms are in place in the 2013-2017 Strategic Plan to reduce the cost of production to US$0.26 per pound.

But before reeling out the ambitious plans of the corporation, the CEO told the Committee chaired by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Shadow

Finance Minister Carl Greenidge, that the industry has a history of poor profitability. With the exception of 2006 and 2007, GuySuCo has operated at a loss for the past 10 years.

After investing approximately Gy$9 billion into the industry in 2005, GuySuCo recorded a profit of Gy$476 million in 2006. In that same year, an addition-

al Gy$12.5 billion was pumped into the industry, raking in a profit of Gy$630 million in 2007.

The high cost of production coupled with a history of poor profitability is linked to the Corporation’s inability to meet its production targets. For the past three years, GuySuCo has failed miserably to achieve its annual targets.

Initially in 2013, GuySuCo had set an ambitious target of 240, 000 tonnes of sugar, but this figure was subsequently revised to 190,000 tonnes. Despite this significant reduction, the industry fell short in achieving the target.

But according to the newly appointed CEO, 2014 will be the turnaround point for the industry. Dr Singh said GuySuCo will be breaking the tradition of reducing the initial targets, noting that this year the revised target will move from 216, 000 tonnes to 219, 000 tonnes.

In the presence of the Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Dr Singh pointed out that the industry has surpassed the target set for the first crop by 5000 tonnes. During the first crop, the industry produced 79,995 tonnes of sugar with 139, 049 tonnes expected to be produced by the end of the second crop, tak-

ing the total tonnage to 219,045.

It was indicated that the production target for 2014 has been revised, but the other strategies laid out in the 2013-2017 Strategic Plan have remained intact. Similar charges are expected to be made for 2015 and 2016 when the Board of Directors comes into operation shortly.

Greenidge, with support from his Committee members, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Manzoor Nadir and APNU’s Desmond Trotman, said GuySuCo before appearing before the Economic Services Committee, should have submitted the revised Strategic Plan.

Nevertheless, the CEO reiterated that the changes being made to the targets would be a step in the right direction. He said while production and operation costs appear unfavourable at the moment, steps are being made to reduce costs.

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NEWS

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com from page 17

No need for inquiry into rice Jagdeo’s medical evacuation... sector, says Ramsammy

T

he call by A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) Leader, David Granger for the Government to convene a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the woes plaguing the rice sector is nothing more than “ridiculous.”

This was the view posited by the Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, when contacted by Guyana Times International on Sunday. The Minister said that there was no need for the convening of a CoI into the issues affecting the sector when the issue was clear.

According to Ramsammy, the only issue affecting the rice industry is that of payment to paddy farmers who have not been in receipt of monies from millers for their produce in a timely manner. Ramsammy said that the Government and all the stakeholders are aware of this problem and are cognisant of the efforts of the Government to bring closure to the issue.

“What is it they want to investigate?” questioned Ramsammy, as he contended that “the rice sector has one issue and we know what it is and that is what we are trying to resolve” Further, the Agriculture Minister argued: “Why should we spend our time and resources on a Commission of Inquiry?” He contended that the convening of a CoI into the rice sector would be a waste of resources that could be used in another regard and quite possibly go towards eradicating the problem affecting the sector.

He argued that while there might have been some production hiccups over the years, the rice sector has seen

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

“phenomenal”, consecutive growth with each crop being bigger than the other. Recently, a spate of protests by paddy farmers has marred the rice industry. The farmers have been protesting the inability of rice millers to pay them for their produce.

The most recent protest action by farmers in Region Two saw tyres being burnt on the roadways and 19 farmers subsequently appearing before the Magistrate’s Court to face charges.

There were four other recorded protests this year which have ensued because of conflicts between millers and farmers. In a few instances, farmers were protesting the prices being offered them by millers for paddy.

the highest transportation cost, Jagdeo was medivaced to United States, Florida, where he was reportedly treated for Dengue.”

The Stabroek News was no better. TAKING LEAPS IN LOGIC, THEY CLAIMED, “There were no expenses listed under the category of health for the former President. In February this year, Jagdeo had flown to the US on a private jet for medical treatment. There had been public interest in whether taxpayers were going to have to pay this bill. However, for the month of February 2014, Jagdeo’s transportation cost is a whopping $7.5M, far above the monthly average. This appears to include the cost for the medivac. No explanations were provided with the expenses.”

Neither newspaper thought it fit to enquire as to whether their UNFOUNDED speculation, which then led to statements of “outrage” from the Opposition parties and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), had any basis in fact.

The Guyana Times International made a decision to check the claims

of Government paying for the medivac flight and found no monies came from that source.

From the onset of the former President’s medical evacuation, the Opposition, led by APNU’s Carl Greenidge, refused to even consider that the trip might have been privately funded.

While the media sensationalised the Gy$45 million that had been expended on the former President over the past 27 months – Gy$1.6 monthly – none of the newspapers took the time to explain that during this time, the President was engaged in a number of initiatives to represent Guyana’s interest at several international fora.

The President’s pension package was merely passed in 2009 to formalise an existing policy and to codify and staturorise the benefits and facilities which have been enjoyed by every past president – including Arthur Chung and Desmond Hoyte and will accrue Sam Hinds, Donald Ramotar and any other person who served as President when they retire. All presidents receive a pension amounting to five-eights of

their salary along with the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Judiciary, the Chief Justice, Judges of the High Court, Members of Parliament, Government Ministers, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Commissioner of Police and the Auditor General, among others.

This salary of the President is the same as the Chancellor of the Judiciary, the Chief Justice and the Attorney General. It is not remarked that the latter, apparent anomaly was introduced into the Cabinet when PRESIDENT Forbes Burnham desired to make his Chancellor, Keith Massiah, into his Attorney General and the latter demanded that his Chancellor’s salary be carried over. On the FUNDS SPENT that are being criticised so vehemently, these living expenses, without any limit, were always part of the PAST AND PRESENT PRESIDENTS’ pension package. Ironically, the legislation introduced by President Jagdeo spelled out the benefits most specifically, in an attempt to remove the ambiguities.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

28 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Gy$63.3M spent to President welcomes establishment upgrade hinterland of Caricom ‘ganja’ committee airstrips last year P – Public Works Ministry

T

he Public Works Ministry last Thursday confirmed that Government has spent Gy$63.320 million for the maintenance of hinterland airstrips for 2013.

One of the airstrips that benefited from the allotted sum was the Kurupung Airstrip which was upgraded in 2013 to the tune of Gy$640,000.

The airstrip is 1365 feet long and 43 feet wide, but is bordered by a deep valley on the eastern end and a creek on the western side, which hinders the possibility of expansion.

The Ministry in response to questions posed

by A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) Parliamentarian, Dr Karen Cummings, related that the maintenance of the airstrip happens all year round, and is being overseen by a resident contractor.

The hinterland airstrips are periodically examined by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority

APNU Parliamentarian, Dr Karen Cummings

(GCAA) and aviation inspectors within the Public Works Ministry.

Questioned about the accident involving a commercial plane at the Region Seven Airstrip, the Ministry said contrary to the possible reason given as “hard landing”, the mishap occurred as a result of short landing by the Pilot.

The contributing factors of the incident were given as wind share and down draught.

In a document circulated in the National

Assembly last Thursday, it was stated that the accident involving the Trans Guyana Airways BN2A-27 Islander, with registration 8R-GHM took place on May 16 about 13:57h. The crew and four passengers were not injured.

In giving a synopsis of the crash, it stated that the Pilot landed before the threshold, which resulted in damages to the left landing gear.

The landing gear reportedly moved rearward by 39 inches, tearing the nacelle. There were also wrinkles to both surfaces of the wing and flaps.

However, to minimise the event of hard landing, it was suggested that training and experience must be the main focus by the relevant companies and must include airman proficiency checks every six months, and route and aerodrome checks must be done within every 12 months in accordance with the requirements of the GCCA.

resident Donald Ramotar said the move by Caricom to establish a committee to look into the use of marijuana for medical purposes is a step in the right direction and is welcomed by the Guyana Government.

“I think it is something that we need to examine thoroughly… it is a good thing. The United States has already implemented this in many of their states across the country and a lot of people are pushing for it. A lot of emphasis has been placed on the positive side of it,” Ramotar said.

The President; however, highlighted that while is seems as a good idea thus far, there is need for adequate information on its effects before steps can be made to legalise the contraband.

“Many are pushing for it and people are looking at all the positives, but the question is how do we control and maintain the health of the citizens and how it is used? We need to look at the negatives too and see which one outweighs the other before we make a decision, but we have definitely welcomed the initiative,” he said.

The Caribbean trade bloc has created

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves

a Commission to study whether the Region’s 15 million people should be allowed to use medical marijuana and how courts should handle possession of small amounts of the drug.

The accord was reached at the semi-annual summit of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in Antigua. The Commission is expected to submit reports by Caricom’s next summit, scheduled for February 2016.

The Heads of Government agreed to establish a regional Commission on Marijuana to conduct a rigorous inquiry into the social, economic, health and legal issues surrounding marijuana use in

the Region and to advise whether there should be a change in the current drug classification of marijuana, thereby making the drug more accessible for a range of users.

A recent preliminary report from Caricom found that decriminalising medical marijuana could help boost the Region’s economy.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who was key in getting the issue on the agenda during his chairmanship of Caricom, expects the Commission to study reforms taking place around the world on marijuana policy, including Jamaica, the US, Sweden and Uruguay.

Feature

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Petamber Persaud

Part Two Racing With The Rain

by Ken Puddicombe, MiddleRoad Publishers, 2012. Reviewed by Frank Birbalsingh.

P

rofessor Emeritus Birbalsingh is an anthologist and the author of many scholarly publications including From Pillar to Post: The Indo Caribbean Diaspora, Passion and Exile: Essays in Caribbean Literature, The Rise of West Indian Cricket: From Colony to Nation, and two anthologies of Indo-Caribbean writing Jahaji and Jahaji Bhai.

His latest book on cricket, Indian-Caribbean Test Cricketers and the Quest for Identity is now available. Birbalsingh is an acknowledged book reviewer.

Puddicombe is both diligent and skilful in documenting the beauty of Guyana’s tropical vegetation, and the flavour and idiom of local speech and public banter that are part and parcel of everyday life, social habits

and customs observed, for example, in a typical scene outside a cinema in Georgetown: “The aroma of black pudding, boiled corn and channa, ripe tamarind, freshly baked cassava pone drifted across to Carl as an old woman dispensed her snacks from a tray perched on top of a wooden soft drink crate.” (p.165). The sentence captures both the simple, improvised quality of the old woman’s business, and the mouth-watering appeal and natural warmth of her service. As for tropical rain, it gives the novel its title when, as boys, the narrator and his friends hear the roll of thunder, precursor to rain, and in the middle of their game, grab their marbles trying: “to outrun the rain before the eruption”. (p.41) But the politics of the novel and its characters are central. In such a maelstrom of political opinions and loyalties, objectivity is impossible, and Carl’s entire narrative including his acceptance of a Reform Party scholarship to study in communist Cuba declare his moderate, left-

of-centre political sympathies, quite unlike the fanaticism of his father who believed that: “They [caterpillars] were like Communists, preying on people and taking everything away until the cupboard was bare.” (p.52) Augusto Dias also

boasted: “I’m not abandoning it [Guyana] to a Communist takeover.

They’re going to have to take me out of here in a pine box.” [p.194) Augusto reflects the real fanaticism that caused destruction, looting and mayhem in the 1960s. It

turns out he may even has supported a terrorist group – the X13.

More than that, Carl discovers his half-brother Earl Singh and realises Augusto was not as upright as he claimed. Yet Augusto’s portrait, because of its hypocrisy, is all the more convincing.

While in Guyana, Carl is suspected of membership in a Toronto-based organisation - Restoration of Democracy (the Association of Concerned Guyanese) – which is believed to plan the overthrow of the Republican Party régime. Carl did attend one meeting of the group in Toronto, and although he did not join, the friend who invited him entered his name as a member which is now used by Guyanese security forces to accuse him of being a spy. Carl is trapped and helpless, in grave danger of never seeing his family again.

Suspense builds as he is interrogated and tempted by intrigue and desperation. One of his interrogators, however, is a neighbour who, as a delinquent boy was helped by Augusto, and

now comes to Carl’s rescue. Carl is then able to make amends to his halfbrother Earl before he leaves. Whatever else it may be, racing is an act of filial piety – one man’s loving homage to his father, warts and all.

Ken Puddicombe is a professional accountant who provided controllership for a number of companies in the private sector before he retired to pursue his love of writing. His writing has appeared in newspapers and literary journals in Canada and the UK. Originally from British Guiana [now Guyana], he immigrated to Canada in 1970 and still lives there with his family. Racing With The Rain is his first novel. He is working on a second novel Junta and a collection of short stories entitled Down Independence Boulevard for early release. His genre is fiction, based on international locations but especially focused in Canada, the Caribbean and Guyana.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

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Travel & Tourism

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A view of the Kumuni Creek from Santa Mission

View of Santa Mission from the creek

Children enjoy a refreshing bath in the creek

A sharp turn on the Kumuni Creek

A house nestled between the trees along the creek

ravelling along the Kumuni Creek, which leads to small Amerindian villages of Aratak and Santa Mission, is an enthralling journey that every Guyanese should experience.

Popular resorts such as Timberhead and Arrowpoint are found about an hour up the creek by speedboat and about two hours with the ‘engine boat’. After travelling to Timehri, just before reaching the airport, there is a turn that leads to a stelling where a boat takes you over the brown mud waters of the Demerara River to the black water creek. It is said that black water does not mix with the muddy water and that is vividly seen between the Demerara River and the Kumuni Creek.

Along the creek, houses are tucked neatly between towering trees, and children bathe in the chilly waters. Life seems simple and pleasant, as days are spent fishing or swimming in the ice-cold black water.

About 45 minutes upstream, Aratak village is inhabited by a few houses filled with families of about two and four. These families are related to each other and are relatively self-sufficient, with poultry and fruits farms.

Villagers go to a small church early in the morning because the sun is scorching as the day progresses. Residents say Aratak existed hundreds of years ago and was passed down from generation to generation. Life is quiet with no criminal strife in this close-knit community.

From Aratak, the adventure continues to Santa Mission, which is about 15 minutes away. Santa Mission was established in 1858 residents say, and has a health care centre, a craft shop, a school and a few houses. About 15 minutes away from Santa Mission are Timberhead and few minutes away from that is Arrowpoint.

A day filled with nutritious pear (avocado) eating, sightseeing and swimming in cold black water is indeed a true escape from the often jaded concrete jungle.

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arts & Culture

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Celebrating Guyanese artist Aubrey Williams

An artistic legacy lives on

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Late Guyanese artist Aubrey Williams

he late Aubrey Williams has significantly placed himself as a celebrated Guyanese artist among prominent international artists. His work is valued worldwide, and although he has passed on, his legacy still lives.

Williams was born in Guyana in 1926, and began painting and drawing from the age of five.

He joined the Working People’s Art Group while still at school, studying under E. R. Burrowes, a man he credited as “opening the Guyanese eyes to art”.

A trained agronomist, Williams’ work took him to the northwest rainforests of Guyana, where he lived for two years among the indigenous Warrau people, a period which proved one of the most formative of his life and where he said, “I started to understand what art really is.”

By 1952, when he returned to Georgetown at

the age of 26, Guyana was nearing the end of its time as a British colony and Williams sailed to London, initially on six months paid leave, to become a painter, and began life drawing at St Martin’s School of Art. As a painter with detailed knowledge of flora and fauna, with personal experience of momentous political change, and with a growing interest in pre-Columbian cultures, he arrived in London with a unique visual and intellectual vocabulary. Over the following years he took the opportunity to travel extensively around Europe, returning to London and to opportunities to exhibit his work.

He was also part of the spectacular explosion of creativity, optimism and productivity generated by the influx of Caribbean writers, artists and intellectuals to London at the time. This cultural fo-

ment was exemplified in the Caribbean Artists Movement (CAM), founded in 1966 by poet and historian, Kamau Braithwaite; poet and activist John La Rose, and novelist and journalist Andrew Salkey.

Williams was a founder member and participated fully in CAM’s activities, as did sculptor Ronald Moody.

Within this mutually supportive network, Williams founded, and contributed to an enriching framework of ideas and discussion, including debates on visual sources, strategies for change, and the stifling effects of being categorised as either a quintessentially Caribbean or British artist.

When Williams had arrived, London was a city with few apparent signs of a black presence, and as such, the visibility of Williams’ work represented one of the first challenges to the white dominance in the British art establishment. Over the years that followed however, Williams found himself increasingly confronted by ‘institutional indifference’, his work framed and discussed solely in terms of ‘otherness’.

By the late 1950s and 1960s, Williams was winning acclaim in the UK for his abstract canvases. During the 1970s and 1980s, he worked and exhibited regularly overseas, in Jamaica, Guyana and Florida. By the early 1980s, he had com-

'Dawn & Evening Star' (Olmec Maya series), 1982. Oil on canvas.

'Hymn to the Sun IX' (Olmec Maya Series), 1984. Oil on canvas.

pleted a series of luminous abstract paintings based on the music of Shostakovich. The subsequent “Olmec-Maya” series drew deeply on his broad knowledge of historic Central and South American cultures. He broke the artistic norms of the time by merging representa-

tional elements within abstract painting.

His paintings have always resisted classification, evolving through many distinct phases over the course of his career. From immaculately accomplished depictions of birds, to figurations, to explosive, vibrant abstracts, Williams drew influence from abstract expressionism, from Olmec, Maya, and Warrau imagery, from science fiction, from the symphonies and quartets of Russian composer Dimitri Shostakovich, and from artists such as Jackson Pollock, Arshile Gorky, Diego Rivera, Yves Klein and Rufino Tamayo.

Williams was a visionary artist far ahead of his time, and his work expresses the urgency of his concerns about the destruction of the global ecological balance by far predating our current rudimentary realisation as to the complexity of the problems we face.

The artist’s vital concerns inform all of his work from his painterly musings on the destruction of the Mesoamerican Olmec, Maya, and Toltec cultures, to the beautiful-

ly depicted visions of the natural world seen in his “Cosmos” canvases– breathtaking pictures of galaxies against the inky darkness of the night skies– and his brilliant portraits of birds, some of which are on the brink of extinction.

In the UK, Williams’ work has been exhibited at the Whitechapel Gallery, the Royal Festival Hall, the Commonwealth Institute and the Hayward Gallery. Of note is the October Gallery, UK, which has represented Williams work since 1984. But it was not until after his death in 1990 that a major retrospective of his work was held in 1998 at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, so serving to confirm his unique place in British art history.

Additionally, his work is represented in major public and private collections throughout the world.

Williams was honoured in Guyana with the award of the Golden Arrow of Achievement in 1970 and then with the Cacique Crown of Honour in 1986.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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Cricket!

Go Aamazon Warriors

“R

By Anu Dev

ally, rally round the Amazon Warriors.

Never say never. Pretty soon the runs are going to flow like water” – Adapted from David Rudder, “Rally Round the West Indies” Cricket’s always been one of the things that have brought us together as Caribbean people – never mind that it’s the source of some of the fiercest arguments you can imagine. Now the Limacol CPL is back – and we’re all rallying around our Warriors to raise the Trophy this year. They’ve already won their first game, a game that had us all perched on the edges of our seats, cheering on our tail-enders to do the job our batsmen couldn’t.

One of the many things that I really like about this tournament is that some of our young, local cricketers are getting a chance to play. This opportunity will both give them a chance to experience what it’s like playing against International players and also a chance to shine and be recognised. With the other tournaments like the IPL, CLT20, and Australia’s Big Bash, there are so many new players that impress us who eventually make it onto the national team.

Hopefully, the same will happen for the West Indies – we’ll discover some new talent to revive the current team.

With the Limacol CPL we’re rooting for our country – GUYANA! The Guyana Amazon Warriors are OUR TEAM!!! It’s Guyana versus Trinidad, or Guyana vs Barbados – not West Indies against the rest of the world. It’s a powerful thing, this nationalistic feeling – I’m getting chills just sitting down writing about it, remembering what it was like when our Warriors kept winning last year. It’s a whole new adrenaline rush when it’s your country’s team that wins. It’s your country’s flag that you’re waving; your country’s colours that the players are wearing; it’s you, the Guyanese people who are being represented. All within the Caribbean family of course!

In Guyana, we don’t have trouble ensuring soldout matches with a jam-packed stadium, we’re always starved for more cricket. I’ll bet my bottom dollar this set of matches in the Limacol CPL will be the same. So it’s a wonder we got only three games this year and Grenada got three games as well – they don’t even have a Limacol CPL team!! As the camera panned around the Grenadian National Stadium during that first match, the number of empty seats was simply astounding. I couldn’t believe they chose to kick off the Limacol CPL in a country where the ‘fans’ didn’t even bother to show up. An empty stadium surely can’t be encouraging to the players.

But we Guyanese know that the Limacol CPL is a wonderful opportunity for families or friends to hang out together, to enjoy a sport that’s brought together so many generations of sports enthusiasts.

And we’ll show up to cheer on our boys.

There’s this indescribable feeling of pride you get when you’re looking at your home team play. Never mind all of the players on the team aren’t Guyanese: they’re wearing our uniform, our colours, we feel that same sense of them being a part of our team, of being ours.

Another nice thing I have noticed about the LCPL, is that there are so many of the older West Indian players from the “golden age” of West Indian cricket getting involved, whether in coaching capacities or giving their inputs in other ways. It’s like three sets of West Indian players being brought together- the past, current and future.

So let’s wave our flags, let’s raise our glasses, and let’s lift our voices and shout, “Go Amazon Warriors!”

Dr Ashni Singh

D

r Ashni Singh is a young Guyanese scholar and a brilliant financial manager. He has distinguished himself as Finance Minister and has managed Guyana’s finances expertly during a period in which Guyana is about to record nine straight years of economic growth. No other country in Caricom has matched Guyana’s performance.

It is appalling that the Opposition is trying to demean this brilliant Guyanese son for the sake of scoring political points. The Opposition has decided that the Minister must be discredited as they continue to use Guyana’s Parliament for victimisation, blackmail and harassment.

It is preposterous that the Opposition’s vile attacks target young and brilliant Guyanese like Dr Singh, Priya Manickchand, Irfaan Ally, and Dr Frank Anthony. One of their own, Vanessa Kissoon, would not follow the script, and they have given even her a taste of their nastiness.

With support from

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), Carl Greenidge has moved a motion to refer the Finance Minister to the Privileges Committee of Parliament. Indeed, Minister Singh did the right thing in ensuring that the Government is able to pay for the development works and the regular services of Government. The Minister did not violate the Constitution nor the Parliamentary Standing Orders.

Harassment and political stunts The motion is intended to continue their brand of harassment and political stunts, designed to create deadlock and make Guyana ungovernable. In so doing, APNU and AFC have combined their votes to stymie development and hurt Guyanese citizens.

In the face of intimidation by the Opposition and having to decide in a manner that serves the welfare of the people, Minister Singh did the noble thing – he decided in the interest of the country.

When the Opposition voted a sum of zero for the Presidential Guard, what does the Government do? Close down the Presidential Guard? This is not an option since one cannot have a President and no security. When the Finance Minister released money from the Consolidated Fund to

pay for the Presidential Guard, he released money for a legitimate Government service.

The Opposition argues that the issue is not whether he released the money from the Consolidated Fund for a legitimate Government service, but rather that the issue is he released money not voted and appropriated by the Parliament. Yet the Presidential Guard is a regular service and is paid out of the budget of the Presidential Secretariat.

In the circumstances, the Finance Minister must recognise that this is a legal expenditure that has existed since independence. In cutting this expenditure, APNU and the AFC were being reckless and vindictive.

The case is made here for the Presidential Guard, but the same kind of case can be made for all the other expenditures.

The Amerindian Fund was approved as a programme several years ago and budgets have previously been approved. The Government, therefore, must continue to serve the people and ensure that this important programme continues. It would be an abdication of the Government’s duty to end the programme.

Reckless withholding The framers of the Constitution wanted to ensure that an Opposition did not act in any manner inimical to the welfare of Guyana

M

ona Williams is a storyteller, children’s writer and educator whose action-packed stories and dramatic presentations enthral audiences of all ages. She covers a vast spectrum of stories including myths, legends and heroic tales; folk, fairy and wisdom stories, fables, riddles and autobiographical adventures.

Born in the town of Mackenzie, Linden, on 27 July 1943, Williams secured a place at the exclusive girls’ school Bishops. The school lends it name to her autobiography, “Bishops: My Turbulent Colonial Youth” (1995), which recounts her experiences at the school, both destructive and enriching.

She was educated in Guyana and at Stanford University, California, U.S.A.,

Mona Williams

where she was a Fullbright and Ford Foundation scholar.

In one of her interviews, Williams said in primary school,

through reckless withholding of funds to victimise the Government.

The Constitution created provisions that ensure when a Government requires additional funding for legitimate programmes and activities, they could use funds from the Consolidated Fund through three means: supplementary budget requesting more money to implement certain programmes; contingency funds for emergency expenditure; or monies for which not enough or none were appropriated (statements of excess).

Minister Singh has utilised provisions in the Constitution that the framers of the Constitution envisaged in order to prevent anyone from recklessly stalling the machinery of Government.

These provisions in the Constitution are deliberate and seek to prevent reckless behaviour and political stunts like the ones being perpetuated in Guyana’s Parliament today. It demands reasonableness from all and forces compromise. Where the Opposition refuses to compromise and be reasonable, the Constitution allows Government to govern.

This is what Minister Singh did – he acted responsibly as guided by the Constitution.

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

for the most part, she was highspirited. In high school she was “confused, angry, a misfit, often on detention and under threat of expulsion”. She was also “suicidal”. However, things changed for the better when she learned ballet, from 13 years onward.

When asked to identify her favourite childhood book, Williams said, “My childhood did not have books. It had the Bible only, and my great-grandmother told me the stories again and again. I discovered books in high school and loved a collection of poems by Stephen Spender.”

Williams is the author of more than 24 books, mostly for children. She has performed at storytelling festivals, and at numerous schools as part of the New Zealand continued on page 34

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The Imam Bacchus Library serves as a foundation in the learning process for numerous youths in Essequibo, and is the only one of its kind there

he library was opened on 30 May 2011 in the village of Affiance, Essequibo.

Fundraising and book acquisition began a year earlier, said founder Imam Baksh in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

Baksh said he has been a teacher, on and off, since 1997. “My students often struggled to learn because of low literacy. When you spoke to them you could tell they were intelligent and curious, but the basic skill of gleaning information off a page was not there.

Reading is a foundational skill. Everything you accomplish in academics requires you to read well, with fluency and comprehension,” he mentioned.

The library was named in honour of Imam Bacchus, a man who grew up as an illiterate coconut picker and learned to read at age 50.

He was a booklover and an enthusiastic reader from then on. Bacchus was the founder of Imam Bacchus and Sons Ltd in Essequibo, which is operated today by his descendants. He was Baksh’s grandfather. The fact that this man, who was already successful and had no real need to learn to read, learnt how to read at age 50, is an example of the real value of reading.

Baksh was trained as a literacy specialist in Toronto, Canada, but when he returned to Guyana, he was faced with severe eye problems and was unable to be a fulltime teacher. He decided to continue in the area of literacy with the

Imam Baksh discusses with a teacher ways a science book could be used in her class

support of his family.

It seemed clear to him that if a child did not love reading by age ten, they almost never would gain that love, so the key was to introduce a wellfounded literacy early in their life. The library, he saw, was a way to bring literacy to the community as a whole, but especially to young students at that key age of four to seven when they are most likely to develop into lifelong readers.

“I often refer to the library as a literacy project, because the goal is much more about promoting a love of learning and developing critical thinking skills than about simply making books available. The Imam Bacchus Library hopes to become a centre where people engage with ideas through books, public debates and discussion, digital media, performance and art,” he assured.

The library’s primary aim is to provide literacy, communication and crit-

ical thinking tools, especially to students. The library’s specific objectives are to promote reading among kindergarten and early primary students; offer research support to students at high school level; help those school drop-outs who have low literacy so that they can re-enter the academic world, and improve the way parents think about literacy through the many literacy programmes so that they prioritise it.

The library is the largest in the area. There is a community library in Queenstown village about two miles away and other small private libraries and school libraries in Essequibo.

The national library also has a small branch at Anna Regina about three miles away from the Imam Bacchus Library.

The difference with those libraries and the Imam Bacchus Library is that the latter provides a larger physical space as well as computer services. It

also has a ‘Kids’ Corner’, a carpeted section with low shelves where young children can escape to

with a projector and sound system.

The remedial literacy programme, Baksh noted, is one of the library’s main programmes. It is used as an investigative tool to find out the reasons behind children’s illiteracy, and the library seeks to correct these.

The programme started with oral storytelling, since Baksh felt that bringing in the books right away would be a challenge for some of the children. Also, verbal communication gave them a chance to develop their focus and comprehension skills, so they were able to analyse stories and understand them, which is a key ingredient of true litera-

that on Monday, 14 July, the library’s ‘Summer Camp’ will commence.

Through this programme the children attending will be helped to become tech savvy. One such area is learning about the video camera and making movies using one.

The Imam Bacchus Library is a non-profit operation. It is primarily funded by Imam Bacchus and Sons, but is not part of the company itself. All the money donated to the library and all the money earned in fees is used to support the library. The company has spent over $1 million on the library so far, including books, computer equipment and renovating the library

Colouring pictures during Saturday's storytime in the Kids' Corner

their world of imagination. Story telling sessions are held there also.

In addition, there is a central hall that is used for lectures, classes, debates and is equipped

cy. The children acted out stories and become involved in the stories in a way that they cannot when they see it on a page.

Baksh mentioned

building, which also belongs to the company.

For more information visit The Imam Bacchus Library on Facebook.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

from page 33

Book Council’s Writers in Schools Programme.

She has taught English at primary and secondary schools for 15 years and has lecture at university level. She was the 1993 Waikato University Writer-inResidence. Her San Francisco television storytelling programme, Roots and Branches, won an Emmy Award.

Her list of books include: “How we made a colour television show” (1973); “The turtle who longed to be a bird” (1973); “Christmas in Guyana” (1974); “The day I swam the river” (1974); “How the goat lost his voice” (1974); “Old Medicine” (1974);

“The ant who refused titles” (1975); “Granny” (1975); “Father Martin Heale” (1975); “Old Bell” (1975); “When I went to the pictures” (1975); “Stealing the gooseberry jam” (1975); “Thinking about it” (1975); “Speaking the truth” (1975); “You really saw my father?”

(1976); “A tale to match” (1977); “Spell wool” (1977); “Sharing” (1977); “The outsider” (1977); “Secrets” (1978); “The Bicycle” (1978); “Old Mrs Davidson” (1983); “The strange cure” (1984); “Two of a kind” (with Joy Cowley) (1984); “Bishops: My Turbulent Colonial Youth” (1995).

As of 2013, Williams

has visited over 50 foreign countries.

She taught writing in the Middle East for ten years, and performed as a storyteller at various festivals, conferences and weddings around the world in Rotterdam, Edinburgh, Zurich, Selkerk, Salmiya (Kuwait), Bergen (Norway), Ontario (Canada), Tembagapura (Irian Jaya), and Norfolk Island.

Williams is now a citizen of New Zealand, and a foundation vicepresident of the NZ Storytellers’ Guild and a pioneering contributor to the Glistening Waters Storytelling Festival.

The published author is

a mother of two daughters and grandmother of five.

“I come alive when I write. I see colours; I become silent and hear exactly how people speak; I become aware of the connections between things. I love life. But I withdraw into myself, I don’t see friends for months and I keep losing my house/car keys.

I become completely absent-minded. My advice to aspiring writers is to read, read, read. Think about the ways the writer constructs his/her story. Look carefully at the words she uses. Write a little every single day.”

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Her book based on her experiences at Bishops' High with her as a student on the cover

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This week's Crossword

J k es

Placing your order

A friend and I were standing in line at a fast-food restaurant, waiting to place our order.

There was a big sign posted. "No bills larger than $20 will be accepted."

The woman in front of us, pointing to the sign, remarked, "Believe me, if I HAD a bill larger than $20, I wouldn't be eating here."

Those who don't know

The world is divided into two groups.

There are those who know, and those who don't know. Those who know are no problem.

Those who don't know are also in two groups.

One is those who don't know and know they don't know. Well, they can learn!

But then, there are those who don't know, and don't know they don't know. And they become unit managers!

Never talk to the parrot

This week's Puzzle

Mrs. Peterson phoned the repairman because her dishwasher quit working. He couldn't accommodate her with an "afterhours" appointment and since she had to go to work, she told him, "I'll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dish washer, leave the bill on the counter, and I'll mail you a check. By the way, I have a large Rottweiler inside named Killer; he won't bother you. I also have a parrot, and whatever you do, do not talk to the bird!"

Well, sure enough the dog, Killer, totally ignored the repairman, but the whole time he was there, the parrot cursed, yelled, screamed, and about drove him nuts.

As he was ready to leave, he couldn't resist saying, "You stupid bird, why don't you shut up!"

To which the bird replied, "Killer, get him!!!"

Commanding the dumb

As we stood in formation at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, our Flight Instructor said, "All right! All you dummies fall out."

As the rest of the squad wandered away, I remained at attention.

The instructor walked over until he was eye-to-eye with me, and then just raised a single eyebrow. I smiled and said, "Sure was a lot of 'em, huh sir?"

The bum on a street

A bum asks a man for $2. The man asked, "Will you buy booze?" The bum said, "No." The man asked, "Will you gamble it away?"

The bum said, "No." Then the man asked, "Will you come home with me so my wife can see what happens to a man who doesn't drink or gamble?"

What should they say?

see solution on page 46

Three buddies die in a car crash, and they go to heaven to an orientation.

They are all asked, "When you are in your casket and friends and family are mourning upon you, what would you like to hear them say about you? The first guy says, "I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor of my time, and a great family man."

The second guy says, "I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher which made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow."

The last guy replies, "I would like to hear them say, "Look! He's moving!"

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Fashion

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S-based Guyanese doyenne of fashion, Michelle Cole, under her brand Colefacts, has launched her new costume line “ Colefacts Carnival” in New York City. Her first costume collection, “Lotus”, for Sesame Flyers, will be featured in this year’s Labor Day Parade on 6 September on Brooklyn’s famous Eastern Parkway.

Pink, yellow, and gold are the official colours for Cole’s “Lotus”. Her designs are all handmade and eco-friendly. Bold colourful feathers with gold accents complement the beautifully crafted wire bent headpieces.

“Lotus” for Sesame Flyers provides options for all body types for both men and women.

Cole loves creating her deigns with natural fabrics and also specialises in hand designed, painted and decorated fabrics. Her ability to create such exquisite and fashionable designs has taken carnival fashion to the

next level.

Cole is a trendsetter in creative fashion; her designs display statements of elegance and class. She is no stranger to the fashion world as she is famous for her show-stopping couture gowns, jewellery, swimwear, and ready-to-wear fashion.

Colefacts has been featured in numerous fashion shows across the globe and worn by pageant contestants, finalists and queens.

Currently settled in New York, Cole continues to shape and mark her brand to fashion houses and various high-end runway events. She currently sits on the committee of the Miss World Guyana pageant as one of its executive directors.

Modelling Cole’s collection are Miss World Guyana 2014 Rafieya Husain, Miss World Guyana 2014 first runner-up Atisha Gaskill, and Guyanese fashion designer Andrew Harris Jr.

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Feature

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O R O N T O , CANADA: In chronicling his life from humble beginnings on the sugar plantation to his incredible achievements in Guyana’s economic and social sectors, Dr. Yesu Persaud has released his autobiography in Volume 1 of his book, ‘Reaching for the Stars’.

During the book’s launching in Toronto, members of the Guyanese community and friends not only came out to obtain a copy of the publication, but also to meet a man whose far-reaching vision in Guyana’s business industry and other sectors has reached exceptional heights.

The event was initiated and led by Ms. Leila Daljit, former President

and current Chair of the Indo Caribbean Golden Age Association.

Guyana’s Honorary Consul General in Toronto Sattie Sawh spoke about the tremendous impact that Dr. Persaud has had in Guyana’s development, both economically and socially.

The businessman has placed Guyana on the world map with the award-winning 15-yearold El Dorado rum. Now in his 80s, he retired from the DDL Chairmanship last year. Still, he continues to contribute to the success of DDL by remaining on the Board of Directors.

Speaking at the Anand Bhavan Building near the Vishnu Mandir

From left: Dr. Doobay, Dr. Ian Mcdonald, Dr. Yesu Persaud, Consul General Sattie Sawh, Ms. Janet Naidu, Dr. Nandini Daljit and Mrs.Leila Daljit at the book’s launching

on Sunday, Dr. Persaud said that he started to write his biography many years ago at the encouragement of friends and relatives.

The many roads he

had travelled have given him the opportunity to accomplish a great deal--not only in business, but also in life where he has been able to give back to the community.

The book reveals many historical happenings in Guyana, through his lenses, covering moments from1960s to the 1980s.

Significantly, this volume wonderfully contains Dr. Persaud’s sincere account of his private life within the family circle, as well as among his friends and relatives. There are honest and personal details that he provides concerning those close to him.

Dr. Persaud was born at Diamond, East Bank Demerara and after studying abroad, he returned to Guyana and worked in the public service.

Subsequently, he joined DDL and

the Demerara Sugar Company where he put his energy, vision and created one of the most modern distilleries in the world–DDL. Subsidiaries of the company are in the UK, Holland, USA and St. Kitts.

His mark in the financial sector can also be observed as being a driving force behind the Demerara Bank Limited where he is the Chairman.

He is the recipient of many awards, including the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman from India in 2006 for his outstanding contributions to business and Indian history and culture. He was mainly responsible for creating the Monument Garden, marking the arrival of Indians as indentured labourers to Guyana in 1938. He is also a founding member of the Indian Arrival Committee.

The University of Warwick has renamed its Centre for Caribbean Studies after Dr. Persaud.

He also created the Institute for Private Enterprise Development (IPED), an institution that encourages and finances entrepreneurs as well as small businesses in Guyana.

Kissoon fighting fuh she right

G

uyana gotta a lotta Kissoons and dem mekkin de news big time these days. Any where yuh twist and turn is Kissoon name yuh hearin. Any where yuh go, it must gotta Kissoon. Yuh go to Parliament, it gotta Kissoon. Yuh go to Linden, it gotta Kissoon. Yuh go to de CON-gress Place, it gotta Kissoon.

Yuh go to de mud paper, it gotta Kissoon. Yuh look at de letter columns in some of de daily newspapers, it gotta Kissoon…every day it seems. Yuh go to court, it gotta Kissoon. Yuh go to de library, it gotta Kissoon who lookin to walk out wid book in he brief.

Of course, if yuh go to de John Lewis suit place, it gotta Kissoon who want a free suit, plus he ain’t want to pay fuh de one whah he buy. Yuh go to de Mario’s pizza place, it gotta Kissoon who lookin fuh a free pizza.

Yuh lookin fuh a soup drinker, it gotta Kissoon. And dependin on the kinda soup yuh give he, that is de kinda farticle he gon write bout yuh. Good soup, good farticle. Bad soup, bad farticle. This Kissoon even drink soup from de Pee-P-P/Cee and Nagga Man one time.

But now he tryin to drink two setta soup from two different place one time, that is, from de KFC and from de Pee-N-C. Is no wonder he dribblin so much and can’t control he mouth. Old people always seh too much of one ting never good fuh any body. Includin soup.

Well, de Linden people seh that these two Kissoons remind dem of de good, de bad and de ugly. Dem seh one of de Kissoons good and de other one bad and ugly all in one. But dem not sure if de bad more ugly or de ugly more bad.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! After all, one of dem from Linden and de other one, of unsound mind, come from some where in GT. One fightin fuh she right and de other one tink he always right!

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feature Rudolph Dunbar (1902-1988)

R

udolph Dunbar, born in Agricola on the East Bank Demerara circa 1902, died in London in June 1988, but will forever be remembered as an outstanding Afro-Guyanese; enduring the many challenges he faced due to the colour of his skin in becoming one of the world’s greatest clarinettists.

For many, we know little of the older great Guyanese in Guyana who have made a name for themselves abroad.

Guyana Times Sunday Magazine aims to highlight these persons and dedicates this week’s feature to the renowned clarinettist, Rudolph Dunbar. Let us take away after reading his story, the talent we possess as Guyanese and the determination to be great despite challenges that are hurled upon us.

Dunbar was a classical musician in New York, Paris, Berlin and London, but to reach that stage he had to endure the challenges he met. He grew up in Georgetown, near to the place where the British Guiana Militia Band rehearsed. He was impressed and influenced by the music of Wagner and Elgar. From an early age, he wanted to be a concert pianist. His mother encouraged him by taking him to visit a German pianist who was living in Georgetown.

His father did not consider music to be a worthwhile career for a “black” person, and said it would make him a “no good”. He wanted Dunbar to become a barrister. However, if Dunbar wanted to be a musician, he would have to be the best, as it would be the only way he could be successful in the British colonial era.

His family was financially deprived and could not afford to send Dunbar to learn music. At the age of 14, he joined the British Guiana Militia Band as an apprentice where he became a clarinettist. In a 1988 interview with Grenadian broadcaster Alex Pascal, Dunbar stated that he did not enjoy his stay with the band. He felt that the regimentation was counter-productive and sometimes abusive. However, he did admit that the discipline he learnt benefited him for the rest of his life.

Dunbar later migrated after five years, leaving the band to go to the US to study music at the Institute of Musical Arts,

New York, known as The Julliard School. There Dunbar studied composition, clarinet, piano, and other musical subjects, and was recognised for being a talented clarinettist. He graduated after five years.

While in the US, he developed a long-lasting relationship with the African-American composer, William Grant Still. His correspondence with Still could be found within the William Grant Still and Verna Avery Papers at the University of Arkansas.

Dunbar also experimented with jazz, and in the mid-1920s was a clarinet soloist in recordings by The Plantation Orchestra.

His musical journey did not stop there.

In 1925, he travelled to Paris for post-graduate studies in music. His musical instructors were the best in France. He even described his clarinet teacher as one of the best in the world at that time. Dunbar was resolute to become the greatest, and as he played his clarinet his fame grew.

Madame Debussy (wife of the composer Claude Debussy) invited Dunbar to give a private recital in her apartment in 1930 as she had learnt of his musical talents. She invited some of the members and faculty of the Conservatoire.

The media of the time, reviewing Dunbar’s talent, called him a “gifted clarinettist”.

In 1931, Dunbar moved to London, where he established a school for clarinettists. It was the only such school in the world at that time.

He had students from South Africa, India, and countries in Europe.

He was commissioned to write a textbook on

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

London Philharmonic Orchestra and other symphony orchestras including the BBC Symphony, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Orchestra du Conservatoire. On June 12, 1945, Dunbar conducted The Orchestra du Conservatoire and Jenne Marie Darre for the premiere of William Grant Still’s In Memoriam and The African American Symphony at the Theatre des Champs Elysees. The performance was a benefit to raise funds for the anticolonial struggle.

In addition to performing classical music, Dunbar also played jazz.

Between 1931 and 1934, he led two orchestras

On his clarinet

the clarinet. The book, ‘Treatise on the Clarinet (Boehm System)’ is now a collector’s item. After recognising that he might not always be able to perform as a clarinettist, Dunbar branched into conducting, which he had studied in New York and Paris.

After a stint as a war correspondent during World War II, Dunbar returned to conducting, and became the first conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra after World War II. According to Dunbar, that act was one of the final nails in the coffin of Hitler’s anti-Negro propaganda. He also felt that it was also an act that brought significant pride to peoples of African descent globally.

He conducted several of Britain’s leading orchestras. Dunbar also conducted the

43

in the United Kingdom: the All British Coloured Band, aka Rumba Coloured Orchestra, and Rudolph Dunbar and his African Polyphony.

Dunbar was part of a pioneering group of West Indians in the United Kingdom that had to fight the blight of racism.

He returned to British Guiana in the mid-1950s for a tour. Among his activities were conducting the BG Militia Band, the BG Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Christ Church Diocesan Youth Movement Choir.

Dunbar also organised several concerts, including the All-Star Concert held on September 16, 1951, to support the Jamaican Hurricane

Relief Fund.

When Dunbar died, he was writing his memoirs. This project is being completed by his nephew Ian Hall, another important Guyanese musician in the United Kingdom.

“He was a good orator, generous, ambitious and a champion for black achievement,” said Hall.

Dunbar’s memory is kept alive in the United Kingdom through The Lord Pitt Foundation and the Bloomsbury Society (UK) Rudolph Dunbar Award. The BBC produced a documentary on him for the series, ‘Eye to Eye’ broadcast in 1989. (Source: Alex Pascal’s interview with Rudolph Dunbar, June 16, 1988)

44

feature

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

ter of health called me at Burrowes School of Art because she knew of my work I had done in stimulating children through art. She asked me if I could get some children to paint a mural on the walls at GPHC and I readily accepted,” Khan recalled.

Khan randomly selected children from the surrounding East Street environs, and from different schools such as Stella Maris and St Mary’s. He stated that he wanted a universal theme for the continued on page 47

O

Children in 1995 painting Unityville

nce known as the largest child art mural in the Caribbean, ‘Unityville’, painted on the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) wall, East Street entrance, has been to patients a section in the hospital that serves in the healing process.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, artist and lecturer at the University of Guyana Michael Khan, said the children’s art mural painted in the Ambulatory Unit was done 19 years ago when then health minister Gail Teixeira requested that some sort of art be done on the wall of the new section before it was officially opened.

Professional artists were contacted, but exorbitant sums of money were

attached to that. The next suggestion was to get children to draw on the wall with the idea of helping sick patients, when they look at it, to feel better.

“When you’re sick you look forward to something to make you feel better. A want for a soothing, healing, naturistic ambience; because children’s art is universal - it goes beyond ethnicity and language - it was ideal for the wall. The then minis-

Completed artwork in 1995 at GPHC

feature

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Everybody want more of something

S

ome people never satisfy in life. Any where yuh go in de world, some body does always want some ting more than whah dem have.

Even if yuh give some people some ting, some of dem does still want more. Some would even ask yuh fuh more, then talk yuh name if yuh don’t give.

Dem ain’t different from de dog whah had de bone in he mouth and then want de one in de shadow too. Dem does end up losin bone and shadow like de dog. Old people ain’t wrong when dem seh ‘give people one inch and dem does come back fuh a foot’.

Is greedy minds does tink like that, and it got nuffa dem around in de Guvament, in de Opposition, and even among dem who ain’t know wheh dem deh, like dem I-Hay-Cee people, de Blue Cap fella, and not fuhgettin Nasty Mento.

Accordin to a preacher, de Creator don’t recreate whah he done create one way, but it still got people who does even want more than whah God give dem. De man pun de Essequibo Coast who drop he pants pun de public road turn out to like that.

Every body see de man had one inch, but he do all de wrong tings he coulda do fuh de pullice to lock he up so he could get de other 11. So was real lick up in de lock up when he tell he cell mate that he prefer to keep he one and tek de 11 on the other side.

De KFC want more protest after dem done protest arready. Green Jah want more Commission of Inquiry, although he hidin like cat from one Inquiry. And of course de Mayor-fuh-Life want more terms as Mayor. That is, 20-year terms.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Now GuySuCo want more of some ting…a plan, because de board got bored readin de wrong plan de other day. But de Bell Crier feel de board gon be bored all over again even wid de right plan!

T

O R O N T O , CANADA: The wildly popular Island Soul festival returns to Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Canada on August 1-4 for its annual four-day celebration of Caribbean music, dance, film, art, games and more.

Visitors are invited to explore island traditions and celebrate the continuance of Caribbean soul from one generation to the next, according to the organisers.

“Island Soul offers a diverse, multidisciplinary programme informed by the stories that have sustained and inspired generations of communities who call these island nations home,” the organisers stated in a release.

The festival will feature diverse artistic expressions, independent voices and thinkers who have created a rich legacy and who continue to influence island culture today.

Revelers of all ages can enjoy the rich artistic and cultural offerings of countries and communities of the Caribbean islands, including the widely-anticipated per-

Edwin Yearwood and Krosfyah

formance by Edwin Yearwood and Krosfyah.

Island Soul also features top Canadian and international calypso, reggae and soca musicians including Marcia Griffiths, Joy Lapps and Calypso Stars.

On Sunday August 3, Festival Kompa Zouk Ontario returns to Island Soul, celebrating the diversity of the Creole cultures of the Caribbean; and on Monday August 4 fes-

tival patrons celebrate the cultural heritage of Tobago, supported by the Tobago Tourism and Transportation.

“The Caribbean may be one of the most multicultural places on earth.

These islands have a culturally rich legacy that informs arts practices in their own backyard as well as globally,” explained Harbourfront Centre guest artistic associate Nadine McNulty.

“Island Soul always

strives to be a meeting place for communities to express and explore their unique identities.

This year, Island Soul features diverse artistic expressions, independent voices and thinkers. We’re looking at those who have influenced the past and present and also to those who will no doubt impact the future of Caribbean island culture throughout our programming,” McNulty added.

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history

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A

ccording to most historians, the hammock was first introduced to the rest of the world in a letter from the second voyage of Christopher Columbus to the “New World”.

Its origins are said to have come from the indigenous peoples of Central and South America, where hammocks were first made from the bark of the hamack tree. Some scholars believe the hammock dates back to some 1,000 years ago among the Mayan peoples of Central America.

The English word “hammock” came from the Spanish conquistadors, who derived the word “homoca” of the present day “hamaca” from the Carib Indians, who wove fibres of the hamack tree.

More than 500 years ago, Columbus discovered the indigenous Taino Indians of Bahamas sleeping “in nets between the trees”, which were suspended off the ground. Some historical sources suggest it was among the Taino Indians of Haiti (Santo

Hammock in Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés, La Historia general y natural de las Indias... (Seville, 1535)

Hammocks gather as villagers from all around come together for a church celebration in Aishalton, Rupununi 2009 (jmbroscombe.blogspot.com)

Domingo) that Columbus first saw and experienced the hammock.

In 1500, Portuguese explorer Pero Vaz de Caminha noted in his journal that “in their thatched houses the natives sleep in nets that are attached with cords to wooden beams above.”

Later 16th-century accounts speak of people “[placing] hot coals or [kindling] small fires under their hammocks to stay warm or ward off in-

sects as they slumbered.”

“Suspended beds”, says history.com, “prevented contact with the dirty ground and offered protection from snakes, rodents and other poisonous or simply pesky creatures.”

Hammocks could be found throughout the New World regions.

Hernan Cortes, conquistador of Mexico, observed the hammock as a staple of Indian life in the region. Vasco Nunez

Queen's College Grammar School (n.d)

Balboa wrote of “hammocks of cotton” as he made his way through the Isthmus of Panama towards the Pacific Ocean. He observed that every hut, every village had hammocks as the primary source of bedding.

By the end of the 16th century, colonists began their widespread use of the hammock from Mexico through the Caribbean to Brazil in South America. In

Method of slinging hammock without suitable trees available (After Crevaux) Walter Roth Museum

1570, Portuguese colonist Pero de Magalhaes observed that “most beds in Brazil are now hammocks, hung in the house from two cords. This custom they took from the Indians of the land”.

Throughout these regions, the hammock varies in materials and techniques as well as among its western adaptations.

Hammocks are said to have been woven from cotton, Ité, tucum, awarra, same and kuraua, to sisal to wool and polyester blends and canvas in modern times. By the late 16th century, the hammock was being used in the English navy, and entered the English dictionary as “a piece of canvass, hung at each end, in which seamen sleep.”

Today it has become a symbol of relaxation, with its iconic depiction in vacation travel brochures or home and gar-

den advertisements derived from war-time propaganda photos of a soldier resting in between two palm trees in the South Pacific.

According to the Walter Roth Museum, the Carib, Makushi and Wapishana communities here make cotton hammocks, while Arawak and Warrau hammocks traditionally use tibisiri fibre, and Waiwai hammock makers use kraua string.

These hammocks are also often decorated with fringes, tassels or feathers, and are coloured using the juices from the barks of trees such as the wallaba, red mangrove and genipa.

The humble “hamaca” is just one of the many contributions Amerindian traditions have made to worldwide culture. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

New Amsterdam circa 1870-1931

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Young Trinidadian actress makes it to NY stage

M

ANHATTAN, UNITED STATES: Sydney Sainte (Sen-tay), age 22, is a teaching artist at the Atlantic Acting School in Manhattan, United States.

She is the daughter of former Trinidad and Tobago radio and television personality, Gail Bindley-Taylor and Haitian-American dad, Frantz Sainte’, an IT specialist at GE Capital Corporation.

A 2014 graduate in acting from New York University’s (NYU) renowned Tisch School of the Arts, Sydney is American-born with dual TT citizenship.

Last May, having just the day before landed her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), she was chosen to co-star in a separate ritual lauding 2014 drama with graduates who had earned exceptional success.

She teamed with three fellow players to be gifted with plaque awards for “Outstanding Achievement in Studio.”

This prestigious award now firmly in hand and joyously stunned, the beam-

to build up in theater first, definitely, because I think theater…although film is a specific kind of acting, I think if you’re thinking generally, theater teaches you how to act. I think film teaches you how to act on film, which is why it’s a lot harder to go from film to theater than it is to go from theater to film.”

ing honoree strode off that stage and into her thespian Utopia where daily she’s being immersed in a whirl of activity.

With her cherished acting a signal element in this performance milieu, Sydney tutors, sings, prepares to explore the “scary” landscape of improve and, inter alia, is open to eventually directing.

Acting roles

Writing

Though avowing a love/hate affair with creative writing, her implacable soul has yielded to penning a recently enacted, favorably received, 0ff-Off Broadway production.

“My friends just did a play that I wrote,” she disclosed, “They just put it up, which is great. It’s called Indirect Objects which they performed here in New York in a festival of plays of original work.”

The reception had been quite encouraging.

“It was received very, very well,” she affirmed.

The winsome, uncannily smart

Sydney Sainte

NYU alum referenced the large numbers of fellow thespians out of work in the Big Apple who’ve lived there for twenty-something years with similar stats obtaining in Los Angeles.

Affirming her view that film is a great idea and a medium she loves, the practically minded young artist proclaimed, “There’s a career that I want

Sainte recalled a glorious semester spent at London’s venerable Royal Academy of Dramatic Art studying Shakespeare and a city luncheon date with iconic TT actor, Rudolph Walker OBE, which provided a sought-after learning experience.

In January 2014, she landed a prominent acting role in the critically acclaimed month-long Off, Off Broadway production “Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner.”

Back in October/November 2012, she played a role in the operatic production “The Marriage of Figaro” staged at New York University. (TT Newsday)

from page 44

art mural, and with the children, thought of one thing that is wanted around the world - unity.

They then decided that they will name the mural ‘Unityville’.

“I stimulated their creativity by placing a scenario. I told them if a person comes in with a heart attack and looks at the mural they should be instantly healed. It took a lot of dramatics from me in stimulating the senses. I gave them various scenarios of people in accidents and looking at the mural and how they should feel and what the children should draw to get that effect. I gave them a scenario like: a little boy comes in sick and he’s all alone, what would he like to see to make him feel better. Maybe a little girl waving at him so that he doesn’t feel lonely anymore - and one of the kids actually drew a girl waving. And at the time we didn’t know the children’s ward was opposite where the mural would have been painted, so that was ideal also,” the art lecturer stated.

After school, parents brought their children and they would spend about an hour or two painting. About 25 children ranging from age three to late teens participated. They took about eight weeks to complete it. Notably, they worked diligently on Saturdays to get it completed. Both emulsion and emulsion acrylic Harris and Torginol paints were used, for longevity of the mural.

After 19 years, the mural still stands out brightly and is in excel-

lent condition; it is neither chipped nor flaked.

Characters and images painted by the children are indicative of peace, joy and happiness. Khan mentioned that every child knew what they had to draw and although they did not understand what the huge sections were or what they were going to be used for, they knew what they wanted to draw to make patients feel better.

“We shouldn’t teach children to draw; we stimulate them so that they can. Children are conscious of their environment, and when they understood that sick people can come to the mural and can feel better, they drew their vision of happiness. The purpose of Unityville wasn’t to make them anything great but to find themselves in a way that they would understand their role in society. Each had their own sections to paint to form Unityville. My daughter Michaela was also part of the group of children. She drew the sun. Parents and my sister and a few friends helped in the realisation of the project and I’m thankful to them,” expressed Khan.

In response to the mural, there were many good and negative comments.

Some said it should have been done by professional artists. Khan was a bit dismayed by the negative comments, but what motivated him was when doctors and nurses saw the mural and said it was refreshing to the hospital.

“The good things I heard made me more assured to continue de-

spite negative comments.

The Minister of Health was very pleased with the artistry and quality of work done by the children. These children painted their perspective of ‘Unityville’ on that bare 20 feet by 10 feet wall, reflecting their idea of happiness and joy, and it served in the healing process of patients at the hospital,” Khan said proudly.

Art can be used as therapy, and Unityville definitely serves as that in the healing process for the patients at GPHC. Khan believes it is a “silent partner in the healing process”.

“I have a colleague who works with abused and homeless kids in the US and he uses care of animals and art to make them better persons and help in the healing and therapeutic process. So if our kids scribble on a piece of paper, don’t throw it away, keep it.

It can just be the making of a great artist. I still have my daughter’s artwork since she was 18 months until she was about eight. I see bare walls in businesses and I often think how ideal it would be if they can incorporate an idea like Unityville to bring the childhood back to adults.

We rarely have children’s artwork in public places and we need more of it,” he encouraged.

Some of the children who participated in making Unityville a reality have gone on to be lawyers and doctors, fulfilling their civic duties.

One parent, Elizabeth Hinds, commented on Khan’s pictures

of the children painting Unityville in 1995 when he posted them on Facebook. “I was around when you supervised this project. I later visited the hospital in 2010 and felt so good seeing that it was still there. I can't imagine what it means

to the children who actually did the painting.

My kids, Delano and Maxine, are both proud of what Mr Khan led them to achieve.”

Khan is irked that, for some, children’s art is not appreciated as it is in other countries.

He hopes persons going to the hospital will take some time to stop and observe the mural to appreciate and try to understand what those children wanted to do in helping sick ones recover. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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hollywood

WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Is Ryan Gosling done with movies?

R

yan Gosling, who is expecting his first child with long time girlfriend Eva Mendes, once said that he will continue making movies until he has babies.

According to the U.S. magazine, the 33-yearold actor said in an interview back in 2011 that it would be harder to make movies when a baby comes along but he was fine with that.

He further stated that he had no idea when the handover would happen but till then he would concentrate only

on movies.

The couple has been dating since 2011 and Mendes is about seven

months along, however, she has been concealing her pregnancy ever since. (TOI)

'Glee' stars remember Cory Monteith on death anniversary

L

ea Michele and 'Glee' stars marked CoryMonteith's death anniversary on Sunday by remembering the tragic star.

Michele posted a picture of her former boyfriend.

"We hold you in our hearts today, and every day we remember your

smile. We will love you and miss you always," she captioned the picture.

Showrunner Ryan Murphy took to Twitter early Sunday to write simply, "Miss you," with a title card remembering the actor who rose to stardom as Finn Hudson on the Fox musical.

Monteith, 31, was found dead in a Vancouver hotel a year ago. The actor died of drug toxicity.

Matthew Morrison, who played former glee club teacher Will Schuester, said he missed Monteith. (TOI)

F

ormer 'Baywatch' star Pamela Anderson, who has filed for divorce from Rick Solomon, is reportedly trying to rekindle her romance with ex-boyfriend Chuck Zito.

Anderson, 47, and Zito, 61, were spotted heading out of the Rainbow Room last Friday night and, shortly after, the duo was pictured face to face in Pam's car, reports tmz.com.

They were clicked hugging and getting intimate with each other in the car.

Pamela and Zito briefly dated in 2007, a year when she hired the former boxer as her family bodyguard while seeking protection from her estranged husband Kid Rock.

Anderson filed for divorce from pok-

ctress Lindsay Lohan says if she had her way, she

wouldn't be a "celebrity".

"People have certain

perceptions of me. For a long time, people looked at me as kind of a celebrity, which is something I never wanted. That's not what I got into this industry for," she said in an interview to BBC, reports huffingtonpost. com.

The 28-year-old spoke about her image in Hollywood and her innate desire to come back to acting.

"I've been doing this since I was three years old and I've been on set since I was six. People kind of forgot that, and I think now is a good time," she said of restarting her career.

(TOI)

ctor Charlie Sheen, who has five children already, plans to increase his brood further, says his fiancĂŠe Scottine Rossi. However, the pair is in no hurry to have kids just yet.

Sheen, who already has a grown-up daughter Cassandra with exgirlfriend Paula Profit, daughters Lola and Sam with ex-wife Denise Richards and twin sons Bob and Max, from his marriage to Brooke Mueller, is preparing to tie the knot with Rossi, former porn star.

They are also keen to start a family of their own, but not so soon.

"Yes. Yes, that's pretty much as far as we have got though," Scottine told

TMZ when asked if they have planned to have a baby, reports femalefirst. co.uk.

"He has five amazing

kids. That's as far as we got. I think we should focus on this awesomeness that we have right now," she added. (TOI)

A A

Kim Kardashian says pregnant women comment was joke

K

er player and 'One Night in Paris' star Solomon this week, the second time they have split. (TOI)

Selena Gomez slams bully on Instagram

S

elena Gomez has slammed her bully who had posted a hateful cancer message on Instagram, it has been revealed.

The 21-year-old singer stated that one could not dislike someone but to wish something that could happen to them or their family was uncalled for sweetheart, the Mirror reported.

The American songstress added that one could not win anyone heart that way.

The message had been since been deleted, but Gomez screen shot her retaliation and posted it for all to see. (TOI)

im Kardashian says she was "joking" when she advised that pregnant women should hide their bodies in "a big blanket".

She caused a stir earlier this week by claiming pregnant women should "never leave the house", and hide their bodies in a "huge blanket".

But Kim has now taken to Twitter to defend her comments, insisting that she was being "sarcastic" with her tongue-in-cheek maternity recommendations, reports mirror.co.in.

She wrote: "I guess you can't be sarcastic when doing interviews!

I was asked about tips on pregnancy style...I jokingly said pregnant

woman should hide/stay in if they looked like I did lol. I said ask Kourt her tips bc she has the best preg style."

She added: "I really

should start videotaping the interviews I do & post on my website so u can see the laughs & how it's really said."

(TOI)

bollywood

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WEEK ENDING JULY 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Arjun Kapoor: My phone is 24X7 entertainment for me

R

ani Mukerji, 36, has never ever spoken a word about Aditya Chopra.

Despite being insinuated of being a home-breaker, she maintained an elegant silence. But in a recent interview, she opened up for the very first time in her life about the man she fell in love with and who today is her husband. The following is an excerpt: Why did you duck the question of Adi for the past so many years?

Being an actor, I understand that for my fans, reading about my personal life makes for an interesting read, but I too am like any other regular girl who

wants to protect her life not because she wants to hide it, but because I didn't want to put my parents, who I am very close to, through the turmoil of talking about their daughter's life.

How long did you see each other before getting married?

We saw each other for the last three years though we were very friendly much before that.

Were you romantically inclined towards him before his divorce? …It is surreal in a way that due to the rumours doing the rounds that we were seeing each other, we actually started seeing each other.

Four Bollywood actresses who hide their age

B

ollywood's young and raring actor Arjun Kapoor terms his mobile phone a "necessity more than a luxury", saying it provides him his dose of entertainment in between hectic work schedules.

"There are so many gadgets available in the market, but the most important remains the phone---at least for me!

We work for long hours, so we literally can't do anything else but be on

K

the phone. It's 24X7 entertainment for me and you can never get bored of your phone," Arjun told IANS. The 29-year-old, who recently attended the launch of ASUS ZenFone, a smartphone series, went to the extent of saying: "You can forget your clothes, but you can never forget your phone! A good phone is a necessity more than a luxury."

(TOI)

Anil Kapoor saves Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra from 'feeling orphaned'

atrina Kaif: Katrina's true age is a mystery all Bollywood divas are trying to solve. In an exclusive interview with TOI Katrina had revealed that she was only eight years old when the Berlin Wall fell. So if we calculate, Katrina was born in 1981. If we go by this detail, Katrina should be 33 today. But what caught us off guard was when Katrina said, "Just because I've acted with Akshay and Salman doesn't make me older. I'm younger than Ranbir." If we go by the data again, Ranbir is born in 1982, so Katrina indeed is older than Ranbir.

Sherlyn Chopra: Sherlyn Chopra has made it very clear that she does not like hiding behind her clothes, but there is just one thing she likes to hide: her age. Sources claim the actress has celebrated her 22nd birthday many times. While actresses like---Aishwarya and Shilpa proudly talk about their age, Sherlyn definitely does seem too inspired by them. According to IMDB, the actress is 30 years old.

Bipasha Basu: Bipasha Basu grabs the third position in this list. The curious case of Bipasha's mysterious age is another one to look out for. A few years back the actress claimed that she was 28. It was at this point that one of her juniors from school came out in the open and said that Bipasha was three years older to her and in no way she could be 28 then. As per IMDB, the actress is 35 now.

Mallika Sherawat: Apart from her bold statements there is one more thing that keeps the actress in the news, her fluctuating age. While Mallika claims to be 'very young,' her IMDB account says she is born in 1976. That makes the actress 38 years old now. (TOI)

‘If someone proposes to me, it has to be with a bloody good diamond’ - Sonam Kapoor

Salman Khan admires Sanjay Dutt’s singing skills

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riyanka Chopra and Ranveer Singh almost felt orphaned when actresses like Madhuri Dixit and Raveena Tandon refused to play their mother in Zoya Akhtar's ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’.

PeeCee recalls how both Ranveer and she were feeling quite let down. "But Anil Sir, who is playing our father in the film, stepped in to say 'Don't feel orphaned, I'm there for you,'" she says. (TOI)

ith her taste in jewellery and all things elegant, it's not easy for a suitor to impress Sonam Kapoor.

In fact, the actress says that whenever someone proposes to her, it must be with a "bloody good diamond". After all, her mother Sunita is a jewellery designer, and the fashionista has had years of exposure to beautiful baubles. That's also why she makes for the perfect brand ambassador for the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the body that hosts the India International Jewellery Week.

Over the years, IIJW has emerged as one of India's premier events in the gem and jewellery industry, promoting India as the leading design hub globally. (TOI)

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aving enjoyed lending his voice to a song in 'Kick', Salman Khan is now taking keen interest in singing.

When the actor was asked about the singing skills of other stars, he praised Sanjay Dutt. "Sanju is a good singer. He also plays bongo, tabla and harmonium," he said.

And what about his other friend, Aamir Khan?

"Aamir ne toh gaana bola tha, gaaya nahi," said Salman, in his characteristic humour. (TOI)

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Digicel hosts Guyana Amazon Warriors’ players

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s the resumption of the second annual Limacol Caribbean Premier League draws closer, one of the League partners Digicel on Tuesday hosted six members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors at its Avenue of the Republic location in the city.

The Amazon Warriors players- spinners Sunil Narine and Veerasammy Permaul; all-rounders Christopher Barnwell, James Neesham and Navin Stewart; and leftarm seamer Krishmar Santokie- turned up at the Digicel venue and afforded customers and staff an opportunity to have photographs and autographs.

Six of the Guyana Amazon Warriors players share a moment with staff of the Digicel office on Avenue of the Republic on Tuesday (Photo: Carl Croker)

This was just one of several promotional activities the players will be involved in during the lead-up to the match against Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on Thursday

at the National Stadium, Providence, starting at 19:30h.

Sponsorship and Events Manager, Gavin Hope, said Digicel was pleased to welcome the players and afford mem-

bers of the public an opportunity to interact with the Warriors.

Apart from Tuesday’s activity, Hope said Digicel will also have a strong presence at the National Stadium on

match days when patrons can cash in on a few promotions that will be held. The Digicel cheerleaders will also be present to entertain fans.

Digicel is one of sev-

eral companies that have come on board as a League partner for the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, the second edition of which started last Friday and will run until August 16.

Captain’s seminar sees fruitful interaction – Ramdin, Hafeez, Johnson and Clive Lloyd share expertise

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yes beaming with enthusiasm and the reality of sharing a room with some high profile cricketers, including former Pakistan T20 skipper Mohamed Hafeez and West Indies Test captain and Amazon Guyana Warriors skipper Denesh Ramdin, participants of the Captains’ Seminar

held at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue in Georgetown on Tuesday made full use of the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s best as they fired questions to the head table.

The seminar was an initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in collabora-

From Left: Former Pakistan T20 skipper Mohamed Hafeez, former West Indies Under-19 skipper Leon Johnson, West Indies Test captain and Amazon Guyana Warriors skipper Denesh Ramdin, Limacol CPL Operations Manager Omar Khan, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony, Limacol Brand Ambassador and former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, and Director of Sport Neil Kumar

tion with the Limacol Caribbean Premier League and was aimed at increasing the knowledge of captains and vice-captains in the development of cricket captaincy.

Another objective was to expose captains and vice captains to the tools and methods required for managing teams for successful match outcomes.

Among those present were former West Indies Under-19 captain Leon Johnson, former West Indies Test great and one of the most successful captains, Clive Lloyd, Sport Minister Frank Anthony, CPL Operations Manager Omar Khan and Director of Sport Neil Kumar.

The seminar was aimed at increasing the knowledge of captains and vice-captains in the development of cricket captaincy All of the players at the head table were of the opinion that it was important to motivate their players even when they would have erred on the field and that captaincy was about being able to maintain composure while making decisions under pressure.

Mr Lloyd said one of his reasons for success was that he was able to think the game ahead by at least an hour and ensured that the players were well briefed in advance on their fielding positions based on who

was batting or bowling.

Some of the participants wanted to know about the experience captaining a team that consisted of players from different countries and who would have been engaged in rivalry before. Ramdin said it was about being professionals and sports men at the same time, knowing that persons have invested in a unit of different players and it was their job to work together and give of their best.

At the end of the session, the participants, mostly youngsters, did not hesitate to ensure they get a moment and photograph with some of their icons. (Reuben Stoby)

The seminar was aimed at increasing the knowledge of captains and vice-captains in the development of cricket captaincy

SPort

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West Indies legends declare long- WICB welcomes new term support for Limacol CPL Director Azim Bassarath – considers proposal for annual curators award programme

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Sir Garfield and Sir Viv are widely regarded as two of the greatest cricketers of all time

est Indies cricketing knights, Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Viv Richards, have confirmed their long-term support for the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, after being appointed to the Senior Management Team. Sir Viv has been appointed as Performance Director, and Sir Garfield assumes the role of CPL Brand Ambassador.

Sir Garfield and Sir Viv are widely regarded as two of the greatest cricketers of all time, and their support speaks volumes for the success of the CPL, which began its second season with a thrilling opening weekend in Grenada, which saw wins for Guyana Amazon Warriors, the Red Steel, and the Jamaica Tallawahs, for whom, Chris Gayle scored the first ever CPL century.

Dubbed ‘The Biggest Party in Sport’, CPL thrilled sell-out crowds

across the Caribbean in 2013. The tournament is set to be even bigger and better this year, with global stars including Chris Gayle, Ross Taylor, Kevin Pietersen, Sunil Narine, Shoaib Malik and Marlon Samuels among the world class cricketers on show.

Damien O’Donohoe, CEO, Limacol Caribbean Premier League, said: “The support of these two giants of the game is a ringing endorsement for the CPL. The opening weekend showed we’re going from strength to strength, and we will benefit hugely from the vast cricketing expertise that Sir Viv and Sir Garfield will bring.”

Sir Garfield Sobers, CPL Brand Ambassador, said: “I’m proud to be associated with the CPL, ahead of what promises to be a thrilling 2014 tournament. The CPL has been absolutely fantastic for cricket in the Caribbean, and this year’s tournament looks

set to win even more fans across the region, and around the world.”

Sir Viv Richards, Performance Director, CPL said: “I’ve seen first hand the benefits the CPL has had on the Caribbean. Up and coming youngsters get the chance to play with and against some of the best players in the world, and the next generation of cricketers can cheer on their heroes in packed stadiums. 2014 is going to be even bigger and better than last year, so the future is bright for the CPL.” The Limacol Caribbean Premier League runs from 11th July to 16th August, with 30 matches taking place over 37 days. In addition, the final week of the tournament, in St. Kitts and Nevis, will host Beefy’s Bash, an all-star charity match featuring Sir Ian Botham, Brian Lara and Piers Morgan, as well as a concert by hip-hop megastar, Rick Ross.

Jamaica’s Asafa Powell back on track

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U Z E R N , SWITZERLAND: Former world record holder, Jamaican Asafa Powell, clocked a slow 10.30 seconds (0.8m/s) for fourth place at a low-keyed meeting in Luzern, Switzerland, Tuesday in his first race in 11 months on his return after a drug suspension.

A day after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced an 18-month ban imposed by the Jamaica AntiDoping Disciplinary Panel (JADDP) to six months, Powell looked race-rusty, but had a broad smile on his face after the race that was won by Cayman Island's Kemar Hyman in 10.23 seconds.

Meanwhile, there were no Jamaican winners on the programme, but Julian Forte in the

men's 100m, Rasheed Dwyer in the men's 200m, and 400m hurdler Roxroy Cato all finished second, while Schillonie Calvert was third in the women's 100m.

Running in a twotoned blue top with no sponsor's logo, Powell, who had pulled out of the Jamaican Championships and a Diamond League meeting in Europe, managed to stay with the field for about 70 metres, but lacked the speed and stamina to challenge the top runners late in the race.

Forte ran 10.24 seconds to win the third of three races, but was edged by Hyman, who won the second race in 10.23 seconds, while a number of other Jamaicans finished down the order.

Andrew Fisher was seventh overall in 10.33 seconds. Michael Frater ran 10.56 seconds, while Kemarley Brown, the fastest Jamaican this season with 9.93 seconds, ran 10.57 seconds.

Calvert, who qualified for the Commonwealth Games in both sprints, ran 11.32 seconds (0.7m/s) in the 100m that was won by Trinidad's Michelle-lee Ahye in 11.09 seconds ahead of American Tianna Bartolleta in 11.20 seconds, with Simpson eighth overall with 11.57 seconds.

Dwyer clocked 20.76 seconds in the 200m that was called back after the athletes had run at least 70 metres, but no one was disqualified for a false start.

(Jamaica Observer)

resident of the West Indies Cricket Board Mr Dave Cameron welcomed new director Mr Azim Bassarath. Mr Bassarath has joined the Board of Directors replacing Dr Allen Sammy.

Bassarath, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, attended his first meeting at the weekend when the Board of Directors met in Antigua. “On behalf of the Board of Directors I welcome Mr Bassarath and we look forward to his contribution to West Indies Cricket in the capacity of WICB Director,” Mr Cameron said.

“I wish to also thank Dr Sammy for his years of outstanding service as Director and wish him well in his future endeavours. Dr Sammy is a stalwart whose most notable contributions will remain his work in piloting the development of umpires and match referees,” Cameron added.

“Mr Bassarath is following in some rather large footsteps but we have every confidence that his contributions will be similarly exemplary,” Cameron charged.

Bassarath, who had previously participated in teleconference meetings of the Board, said he was honoured to have

New WICB Director, Azim Bassarath

been nominated by the TTCB for the position.

“It is a distinct honour to be appointed as a WICB Director. I thank the Board for the appointment which I accept with humility and I give my solemn commitment to serve with integrity,” Bassarath said.

At the two day meeting at the Tradewinds Hotel, the Board of Directors received reports from the Chief Executive Officer, Michael Muirhead, Director of Cricket, Richard Pybus and reviewed and agreed in principle the proposed budget for the 2014-2015 financial year.

It also approved a recommendation for an annual Curator’s Award for the most outstanding regional curator.

Further details will be

announced subsequently pending the approval of the structure of the award programme.

The Board reviewed a proposal to appoint a Regional Chief Curator who will be responsible for the oversight of the preparation of all international pitches and outfield to ensure compliance with requisite standards and requirements.

This initiative is projected to have attendant benefits such as training and education of and knowledge transfer among national curators in the region. A further projected benefit is the improvement of pitches for First Class matches.

Approval was also given to a recommendation for the WICB First Class Competition to consist of the six premier regional teams – Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands. A recommendation for six teams along with the Combined Campuses and Colleges along with other invitational teams to participate in the 2015 edition of the NAGICO Super50 was also approved.

The Board gave approval for the schedule for the New Zealand White Ferns tour of the Caribbean in September.

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U.S.-based company takes TT’s Michelleover Jamaica Tallawahs Lee Ahye

speeds to gold

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Reigning champions of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, the Jamaica Tallawahs, stand proudly with officers of their new owners, the Chalak Mitra Group (Jamaica Observer photo)

INGSTON, JAMAICA: Following thrilling opening weekend for the Limacol Caribbean Premier League 2014, Chalak Mitra Group (CMG) has been announced as the new franchise owners of reigning Limacol CPL champions, the Jamaica Tallawahs.

Manish Patel, chairman and president of CMG, said he was happy that his company was able to buy into such an attractive brand, a welcome addition at the sporting portfolio of the Indian grounded company.

"We're delighted to become the new owners of the Jamaica Tallawahs franchise. As a group we are passionate about cricket and after seeing the success of the CPL last year, we knew this was something we want-

ed to be a part of.

"The unique and vibrant culture of Jamaica drew us towards the Tallawahs, and given that Indo-Jamaican culture has flourished for many years, we knew it was the right choice.

We can't wait to get involved with the team and become a part of the Jamaican community," Patel was quoted as saying.

The Jamaica Tallawahs emerged as champions from the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League last year, and last Saturday, set the stage for an exciting second season with a first game win over the St. Lucia Zouks, with Tallawahs captain, Chris Gayle, scoring the first ever CPL century.

Grenada, known for its vibrant culture and hospitality, served as

the opening venue to showcase the region's most exciting domestic Twenty20 tournament, which sees global stars including Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Kevin Pietersen and Mohammad Hafeez taking part in the "Biggest Party in Sport".

CPL CEO Damien O'Donohoe noted, "It's a testament to the strength of the CPL and the Jamaica Tallawahs that we are able to welcome such a respected new franchise owner."

"CMG is a hugely successful organisation with vast experience and a passion for sport. We're looking forward to working with them as they help us reinforce the success of the CPL and develop new audiences for the Biggest Party in Sport," said O'Donohoe.

The Jamaica

Tallawahs play their next match against the Antigua Hawksbills at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Thursday.

CMG was founded by a group of dynamic entrepreneurs from India, who are passionate about cricket. The group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, owns and operates restaurant concepts across America, including one of the largest KFC franchises in the country, as well as raising private equity capital for strategic growth and acquisition initiatives.

The group is no stranger to sport as, through its restaurant businesses, it has sponsorship deals with NBA teams, the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies, as well as several initiatives at collegiate and grass-roots levels. (Jamaica Observer)

Neesham enjoying CPL experience

By Avenash Ramzan

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newcomer to the Limacol C a r i b b e a n Premier League, New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham says he is enjoying the experience of playing in the ‘Biggest Party in Sport.’

The Black Caps player, who featured in the recently concluded Test series against the West Indies, is wearing the colours of the Guyana Amazon Warriors this year.

The left-handed middle-order batsman and seamer had a decent outing in the first match against the Antigua Hawksbills, capturing 3-33 and scoring a brisk 11 in the Guyana Amazon Warriors twowicket win in Grenada.

The performance launched Neesham into the Limacol Caribbean Premier League after he

James Neesham came in as a late replacement for fellow countyman, Corey Anderson (Photo: CPLT20)

came in as a late replacement for fellow country-

man, Corey Anderson.

“It’s been good so far;

obviously to come away with a win in the first game of the season was what we were aiming for and [we’re] just trying to keep the momentum going to those next three games,” the 23-year-old said of his experience so far in the League.

Neesham did not have the best of starts in the League, being hammered for 29 runs from 2.1 overs before pulling it back nicely during the last 1.5 overs, conceding just four runs and snapping up three wickets.

“There were a few balls from that spell that I would love to pull back, but I was a little bit rusty off not a whole lot of bowling so the rust sort of blew out and I got back into my work in the last two overs,” he explained.

Despite a tense twowicket victory in the opening game against continued on page 53

TT’s Michelle-Lee Ahye, left, celebrates winning the women’s 100m on day two of the Diamond League Meeting at Hampden Park, Glasgow, last Saturday (AP photo)

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LASGOW: TT’s Michelle-Lee Ahye cemented her burgeoning sprinting reputation by winning the 100 metres at the Glasgow Grand Prix last Saturday.

Although the 24-yearold Trinidadian fell to the Hampden Park track seemingly in disbelief, the winning feeling is becoming very familiar. A time of 11.01 seconds secured a ninth unbeaten final in 2014 for the year’s fastest woman. Ahye finished 0.09 seconds ahead of ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce, the Jamaican sprinter stepping up her recovery from a left leg injury.

While the injury is restricting Fraser-Pryce to the relay race back later this month at the Commonwealth Games, Ahye will return to Glasgow as a gold medal contender.

“It’s a lot of pressure on me but I’m getting used to it now,” Ahye said. “It was shocking to me at first but I know what kind of potential I have so I’m working harder.”

As for Fraser-Pryce, finishing second with a season-best time exceeded her expectations.

“It’s has been a rough two months but I’m really pleased I executed it,” she said. “It felt good as coming back has been a slow, long process.” Still, though, Fraser-Pryce isn’t fully fit.

Fraser-Pryce’s smooth race was in contrast to fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake who pulled up during the men’s sprint last Friday night clutching his thigh and leaving the track in a wheelchair. Despite fears of a fresh hamstring injury, the sprinter’s manager allayed fears last Saturday.

“It seems to be initially cramp. The doctors here in Glasgow

were excellent,” said Blake’s manager Cubie Seegobin. “They did an ultra-scan, and it showed no damage.”

Blake had already ruled himself out of returning for the Commonwealth Games, but many competitors were using this Diamond League meet as preparation for the July 23– August 3 event.

After winning the 800-metre title at the 2012 London Olympics, David Rudisha is on course to add Commonwealth gold to his collection after showing he has overcome recent knee troubles to win in 1:43.34. The 25-yearold Kenyan was more than two seconds faster than Andre Olivier of South Africa.

Isaac Makwala of Botswana maintained his strong progress by winning the 400 in 44.71, and Silas Kiplagat crossed first in the 1,500 in 3:32.84.

There was an American one-two in the women’s 100 hurdles as Queen Harrison was a tenth of a second ahead of Lolo Jones. Compatriot Ajee Wilson emerged victorious in the 800, but Californian Allyson Felix had to settle for second place behind Dutch runner Dafne Schippers in the 200 sprint. An injury in the warm-up last Saturday prevented Greg Rutherford competing in the long jump, which was won by Jeff Henderson with a leap of 8.21 metres.

Also last Saturday, TT’s Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott had a best effort of 79.62 to finish sixth in the javelin event. Winning was Thomas Rohler with winning toss of 86.99, while Vitezslav claimed the second spot with 85.23 and third was Tero Pitkamaki with 84.95.

(CMC)

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Limacol CPL tickets, Amazon Warriors merchandise on demand The prices for tickets are Gy$2000 for Grass Mound, Gy$4000 for the Red and Green Stands and Gy$5000 for the Orange Stand, renamed the Palm Court VIP Party Stand.

Meanwhile, as pa-

trons got their tickets on Wednesday, they also used the opportunity to purchase their Guyana Amazon Warriors merchandise, making it abundantly clear which team they will be rooting for on match days.

When Guyana Times International visited the upper flat of the OPCO building, staff members were busy ensuring customers’ requests were met and they were adequately prepared to cheer on the Amazon Warriors.

Guyanese braved the hot sunshine on Wednesday to get hold of their Limacol Caribbean Premier League tickets at the OPCO office on Middle Street (Photo: Carl Croker)

By Avenash Ramzan

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imacol Caribbean Premier League tickets and Guyana Amazon Warriors merchandise were in high demand on Wednesday ahead of this weekend’s three games at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

With the Amazon Warriors, Red Steel clash set to kick off the Guyana leg this (Thursday) evening, Guyanese flocked the OPCO CPL office to get hold of their tickets for the games in Guyana.

Persons have been constantly going to the venue ever since ticket sales started earlier this month, but Thursday’s build-up was a clear indication that Guyanese were not going to miss out on the ‘Biggest Party in Sport.’

As news got around that limited tickets were now available, a line developed outside the

OPCO office on Middle Street as patrons braved the hot sunshine just to ensure a valid form of entry for the games in Guyana.

“I was in the interior so I didn’t get a chance to come earlier and get tickets. I’m thankful that tickets are still available and I can go see all the games,” one patron told this publication.

Another fan, who was strong in his support of the Denesh Ramdinled Guyana Amazon Warriors, said, “I going to the Stadium to shout for one team and that is my own Guyana Amazon Warriors. We miss out last year, but this year we going all the way and win the title.”

Ticketing Officer of the Guyana leg, Natasha Khan, told this publication that a substantial amount of tickets have been sold for all three days.

She urged patrons not

Neesham enjoying...

from page 52

the Antigua Hawksbills in Grenada last Friday, Neesham is confident the Guyana Amazon Warriors will rebound with better performances during the six-team franchise tournament.

“I think we’ve got a very good chance; the key will be to take it one game at a time, but saying that there’s a couple of strong team, but I think every team has players who can win games on their own… so it’s just a case of taking each individual game and hopefully that can take us into the business end of the tournament,” the all-rounder reasoned.

Given his experience and comeback performance in the first match, Neesham is sure to be among the starting XI today (Thursday) against Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel from 19:30h. It will be Neesham’s maiden match in Guyana, and he was questioned on his

approach playing at the venue for the first time.

“I think just stick to the basics; we’ve had reasonably limited practice over the last couple of days because of the weather so it’s just a case of staying excited mentally and sticking to the same routine you have going into any game,” he said.

The powerfully-built Neesham has enjoyed success in the T20 format. After 38 games, he has a phenomenal strike rate of 146.91 and a decent average of 27.52.

He has also picked up 30 wickets at an economy rate of 8.26.

Neesham said he is looking to enjoy the Limacol CPL experience, but more importantly play his part in ensuring the Guyana Amazon Warriors go one step further and win the title this year, after finishing runner-up to the Jamaica Tallawahs in 2013.

to wait on the last minute rush, as that does not guarantee them seats of their choice or the possibility of being grouped together with family and friends.

An Amazon Warriors fan ensures he gets the right size at the merchandise shop on Middle Street on Wednesday (Photo: Marceano Narine)

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