Guyana Times International

The origin of America’s annual Thanksgiving Day

INTERNATIONAL

Page 43

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

for FRee distribution guyanatimesinternational.com

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 170

week ending december 1, 2013

Windsor Estates launches multibillion-dollar housing scheme Census Bureau See story on page 7

releases new mobile app

Heavy downpour hits sections of Georgetown, coastal areas

- will help users find local statistics on-the-go Page 15

This photo, which was taken on November 27, shows Camp Street inundated with flood waters.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers

Director John Thompson

‘No record of U.S couple’s adoption application’ Page 32 – Greene

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NEWS

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President says flaws in justice system aiding violence

President Donald Ramotar addressing the gathering at the forum on the prevention of interpersonal violence on Monday

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

P

resident Donald Ramotar said flaws in the judicial system are contributing in a major way to the high level of interpersonal violence in the country. He made the comment on Monday while addressing a forum to commemorate International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women.

The forum hosted by the Home Affairs Ministry at the

Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, sought to examine and adopt current violence prevention methodologies, develop a national plan of action towards violence prevention and establish a body to coordinate violence prevention efforts in Guyana.

The conference was attended by diplomats and stakeholders from all sections of society. President Ramotar told the conference that while there is no fixed

approach in addressing interpersonal violence, he is counting on those participating in the conference to work as a cohesive unit to develop a strategic plan to tackle violence in all its forms.

The president said interpersonal violence is becoming a major economic burden on Guyanese as too many young people are being cut down by the senseless acts of their fellow citizens.

Public security concern

“Interpersonal violence is not just a per-

A section of the gathering at the conference centre on Monday

sonal and social matter; it is also a public security concern. The state has a general responsibility for law and order and for the protection of its citizens… interpersonal violence presents a threat to the social order and the safety of citizens and is therefore a legitimate concern to those entrusted with ensuring public safety,” the president said.

He added: “Everyone has a role in reducing violence in our country, it is therefore the responsibility of all sectors of

society and all stakeholders to take a stance against violence and contribute towards ensuring public safety and security… it is vitally important for there to be a multi-sectoral and multistakeholder approach to this problem. Together, we must reject and condemn all forms of violence,” Ramotar stated.

He pointed out that while there may be a vast array of factors contributing to violence, prevention should be practised in the homes, and parents must not al-

low their children to play video games with violence.

Flaw

The president also noted that placing first time offenders with hardened criminals contributes to interpersonal violence, and is a flaw in the judicial system.

The president reminded the participants to take into account their own experiences, along with those of other countries, when determining resolutions and suggestions to curb this social stigma.

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INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

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

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

Fax (592) 225-8696, 227-0685 Email: guyanatimesint@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

New elections now

A

t the very best, it could have been said that the standoff between the opposition and the government, since the last elections of November 2011, was not doing the country any good. We would have ignored the damage wrought by the opposition’s intemperate response in Linden to the government’s proposal to equalise the electricity tariffs to that of the rest of the country.

But after the ruling by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), in the wake of the opposition’s refusal to approve the required legislation for compliance, its Anti- Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCTF) recommendations, the standoff is actually now doing harm to the country in ways that can prove fatal.

Our financial system just does not have the resilience to withstand the level of scrutiny to which it will now be subjected.

But it is the posture of the opposition in executing its agenda that signals that the crisis will worsen rather than recede.

The legislation in question concerned an issue that the opposition itself had long complained about – money laundering. In fact, an executive of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), a member of the larger member of the opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), had for years been writing on it and the attendant dangers it posed to our state.

Secondly, Guyana was not the first Caribbean state to have been asked by CFATF to modify its legislative regime to deal with the new contingencies in this area. Trinidad, for one, had actually been cited and then forced to comply. The legislation, then, had the imprimatur of CFATF, which was working on behalf of the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and which had examined the Guyanese efforts since 2009 before making its recommendations.

The process was an ongoing one, with FATF issuing reports three times annually to alert member states on its latest assessment of compliance of countries. APNU, therefore, was being disingenuous, when it callously stated it needed more time to “check with its stakeholders” even as the deadline was breached and sanctions imposed.

Whatever additional measures its “stakeholders” might have decided were necessary could have been tabled subsequently and be enacted using the parliamentary majority it commands, courtesy of the Alliance For Change (AFC). The refusal of its members on the Special Select Committee reviewing the legislation to attend meetings confirms that APNU was essentially filibustering, to ensure the legislation would remain in limbo and Guyana receive sanctions.

The position of the minor opposition party, AFC, was just as callous to the country’s need of the hour. This party did not even deign to pretend that it had any substantive problems with the legislation: it simply demanded a quid pro quo.

If the government would drop its demand for a Cabinet “noobjection” role to the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), it would support the legislation. It was as coldly calculating as that.

The two issues were totally unrelated, save by the opportunism of the AFC. At the first sitting of Parliament the day after the CFATF’s sanctions on the country were announced, the combined opposition uttered not a word of remorse for the predicament into which they had catapulted the country.

Instead they proceeded blithely to propose an action which is expressly forbidden them by the Constitution – to initiate legislation that would lay charges on the Consolidated Fund. They passed a motion to establish a “Veterans’ Commission” that would do just that.

It is obvious that the opposition has become increasingly emboldened by the one-seat majority it has in the National Assembly and will definitely, through acts of omission (as on AMLCFT) or commission ( Veterans’ Commission) not only try to usurp the prerogative of the executive, but actually harm the country.

The government of the day must not permit this state of affairs to continue a day longer. It must announce forthwith a date for new general elections.

A scene from the play “Dancing Bells of Rekha”, which was written and directed by a Guyanese, was staged in New York with a Guyanese-American cast to a packed audience over the weekend

Global food prices down by six per cent

G

lobal food prices declined by six per cent over the last quarter, but are still not far from their historical peaks, according to the World Bank Group’s (WBG) latest Food Price Watch report. Wheat markets remain tight; and weather-related concerns in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation may further drive up wheat prices over the next few months.

Domestic prices showed typically large variations across countries, mainly attributable to seasonal trends but also due to a combination of factors including bad weather, public procurement policies, local supply shortfalls and currency devaluations.

“Sustained declines in prices are welcome - we have a lot to be pleased about,” said World Bank Group, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network acting Vice President Ana Revenga.

“But these gains are fragile.

Persistent concerns around erratic weather or currency fluctuations keep us far from claiming victory over food prices. We need to continue to pay close attention, since this progress can quickly be reversed if concerns become reality.”

All-time high

According to the latest edition of Food Price Watch, the bank’s Food Price Index in October 2013 was 12 per cent lower than a year ago and 16 per cent below the all-time peak in August 2012. Despite this decline, however, prices remain close to their all-time high.

Stronger demand for wheat, especially from China, a weaker U. S. dollar, and increasing concerns following the recent adverse weather have affected prices in a negative way.

Initially, price increases were almost imperceptible in August and September, but then increased sharply in October.

Global wheat stocks are expected to partially recover from last year’s declines, but major

exporters’ closing stocks continue to remain low, still reflecting tight export availabilities. Rice and maize stocks, on the contrary, continue to be robust and are expected to remain that way through the end of the year.

This issue of the Food Price Watch also explores the role that extra-large scale farming, popularly known as “super farms” may play in boosting agricultural productivity and poverty reduction.

The jury is still out on whether this trend has a positive or negative effect on boosting shared prosperity, especially in those countries with fragile institutions and poor oversight: social, environmental and animal welfare concerns must be weighed with potentially promising benefits such as jobs and efficiency gains.

The World Bank Group said it is committed to boosting agriculture and agriculture- related investment. In 2013, new bank group commitments to agriculture and related sectors were US$ 8 billion.

For the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IBRD/ IDA), assistance to agriculture and related

sectors has risen from an average of nine per cent of total lending in FY10-12, to 12 per cent in FY13.

Food supply chain

IFC made US$ 4.5 billion in private sector investments across the food supply chain in FY13. These investments supported projects that promote access to finance, access to inputs like seeds, equipment and advice, and access to markets through infrastructure and foodprocessing facilities.

The WBG also supports the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP).

Eight countries and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have pledged about US$ 1.3 billion over three years, with US$ 1.1 billion received. Besides, the bank said the GFRP has reached 66 million people in 49 countries – through US$ 1.6 billion in emergency support.

As of July 2012, the bank’s emergency response is channelled through IDA’s Crisis Response Window and the Immediate Response Mechanism.

Boosting IBRD/ IDA allocations to safety nets (rose sixfold from US$ 1.2 billion in the FY06-08 pre-crises period to over US$ 10 billion in FY09-12).

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Male sex worker murdered in Berbice National Drama Festival culminates – battered body found on street after party on high note

BY BHISHAM MOHAMED

T

A scene from the play "Creative Burial Ground"

T

he finals of the 2013 National Drama Festival culminated at the National Cultural Centre on Friday evening with three interesting plays, which for the most part, commanded the attention of the sizable audience.

The three plays were “Creative Burial Ground”, “Duplicity” and “Deep Wounds”. They were all fairly well executed by quite a young cast, who appeared eager to display their theatrical talents.

The cultural centre intermittently exploded during the productions either with laugher or

disgust.

Nevertheless, after several hours of drama, the curtains were drawn on the junior category.

Creative Burial Ground received great reviews from the judges, and despite some technical glitches, this did not stop the young actors from doing what they love. The play was filled with a thriller, and understandably, won the nod of the judges.

Creative Burial Ground was written by Rae Wiltshire and directed by Nickose Layne.

Its stage managers were Candacy Baveghems and Randolph Critchlow, continued on page 17

he battered body of a male sex worker was on Tuesday morning discovered in a street in the vicinity of Day Clean Bar, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice hours after he left a party at a friend’s house.

The dead man was identified as Nandkumar Poonwassie, 33, also called “Vishal” and “Darshanie” of Lot 132 Tain Settlement, Port Mourant. At the time of his discovery, he was clad in a plaid short pants and a white t-shirt, bracing a metal pipe on the roadside.

A piece of wood with blood stains suspected to be the murder weapon was retrieved from the scene and lodged at the Whim Police Station as evidence.

According to information received, the man, along with his friends, went to a party in the area, but he left in the company of a male about 20: 30h, claiming that he was heading home. He was not drunk, according to reports.

His cousin with whom he shares his grandpar-

Dead: Nandkumar Poonwassie

ents’ home did not see him at home after 22: 00h and attempted to telephone him, but the call was disconnected.

Several other attempts to make contact with Poonwassie proved futile.

However, passersby reportedly discovered the man’s body in a pool of blood and immediately contacted his relatives and the police.

“Dato”, an aunt of the dead man, said she last saw him about two weeks ago after he performed a pooja at a mandir. The tearful woman explained that about 06: 30h, she received a call from a woman who lives close to her nephew, informing her of the murder.

She panicked, but went straight to the mortuary where she saw her nephew’s body.

“He hand went behind he head like he de sleeping and he face bin full ah blood… He look like he de sleeping…

Meh can’t believe that they kill am.” Dato went on to say that her nephew would leave home and return before 22: 00h, claiming that wherever he is, or whichever party he was at, he is always time conscious. She cannot recall him having any trouble with anyone in the community.

Liming spot

Guyana Times International understands that the road where Poonwassie was found is sometimes dark

and is a liming spot for drug addicts and vagrants.

His father, David Poonwassie told this publication that he does not keep in contact with his son, nor does his son contact him, mainly because of the latter’s lifestyle. He explained that it has been a while since he last saw his son.

The father said he received a call about 06: 00h, indicating that his sister wanted to see him.

He lives in Chesney, Corentyne, thus it took a few minutes to reach her house. Upon arrival, he was told the devastating news; his son was beaten to death.

Poonwassie Sr recalled that he was shocked, but in the same breath, said “There is nothing we can do now… he is gone.”

This publication was informed that the male sex worker’s aunt and mother were also murdered a few years ago in the same house he resided. The man leaves to mourn his father and four siblings.

Police are investigating the matter, but an asset is yet to be made.

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Fly Jamaica loses appeal against direct flight ban

By Svetlana Marshall

T

he United States Department of Transportation (DOT) is standing firm on its decision not to permit direct Fly Jamaica flights between Guyana and New York, denying the airline for a second time.

In July, Fly Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines (CAL) applied for an exemption under 49 U. S. C 40109 for extra-bilateral authority to conduct seventh-freedom turnaround service between Guyana and New York but their applications were rejected by the U. S. Department of Transportation on September 30.

Fly Jamaica subsequently filed a petition for Review of Staff Action arguing that there was a high demand for direct flights, as it alluded to the reason behind the Open-Skies agreement signed between the U. S. and Guyana. However, the initial decision was upheld.

“We have decided to grant Fly Jamaica’s petition for review, and on review, to affirm the action of the staff.

After reviewing the record… we fully endorse

U.S. DOT Director of the Office of International Aviation, Paul Gretch

the director’s statement of the applicable standards and his decisional analysis and public interest determination,” the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, Susan L Kurland stated in a DOT document dated November 22.

It was explained that the extra-bilateral seventh-freedom turnaround service is only granted when the circumstances show compelling public interest considerations, which Fly Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines (CAL) were unable to provide in their applications from the initial stage.

U.S. DOT Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, Susan L Kurland

No compelling need – U. S. DOT

“We do not find now that Fly Jamaica in its petition has demonstrated a compelling need for additional GeorgetownNew York services… notwithstanding the lack of services provided by U. S. carriers, Fly Jamaica has not provided any new evidence that demonstrates unmet demand in the market,” the U. S. transport regulatory body explained.

Alluding to the U. S.-Guyana Open-Skies Agreement, Kurland said Fly Jamaica’s argument was weak. The Airlines for America (A4A) had also stated

that Fly Jamaica was unable to provide any new information.

Similarly, Delta Airlines pointed out that the Georgetown-New York market is served with four nonstop flights per week in each direction, positing that Fly Jamaica’s request is based purely on reaping commercial benefits.

In the initial statement when Fly Jamaica and CAL applications were denied on September 30, the Director of the Office of International Aviation, Paul Gretch said the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and A4A had

objected to the applications put forward by the two regional air carriers.

“ALPA asserts that the request of Fly Jamaica and CAL are extra-bilateral, and that the department should deny the applications.

ALPA further asserts that CAL’s operations are being subsidised by the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

“In this regard, ALPA cites a press article in which Trinidad and Tobago’s finance minister is reported to have acknowledged a $ 40 million fuel subsidy paid to CAL in 2012.

ALPA asserts that a foreign subsidy of the alleged type would impede the ability of the U. S. carriers to compete,” the director explained.

A4A had cited similar reasons behind its objection, emphasising that fuel subsidies can be damaging to U. S. carriers’ ability to compete.

It was on these grounds that the DOT decided to signal its objection. However, the TT government had announced early in September that the CAL subsidy was to be removed, effective October 1.

Fly Jamaica was turned down a second time

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Windsor Estates launches multibilliondollar housing scheme in Guyana Inc is currently situated at Bel Air Park, Georgetown; however, it is the sister company of Stonewall Contracting Corporation in College Point, New York.

Windsor Estates is optimistic about providing a new quality of liv-

Navigant Builders Inc Chief Executive Officer Danny Sawh explains the details of the house to Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Mrs Hinds at the offical launch on Saturday

W

indsor Estates, a multibilliondollar housing scheme, was officially launched in Guyana on Saturday, with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds being the first person to get a tour of one of the eight North Haven model houses.

After touring the “Heritage�, a luxurious 1900-square-foot twostorey, three-bedroom house, inclusive of a kitchen, dining room, liv-

ing room, bathrooms and a garage, Prime Minister Hinds expressed appreciation that the developer of Windsor Estates, Navigant Builders Inc, can meet the housing needs of the diaspora and even locals.

Navigant Builders Inc Chief Executive Officer Danny Sawh, a U. S. based-Guyanese entrepreneur said Windsor Estates seeks to bring a new style of living to the Guyanese populace

based on designs developed in North America.

During the construction process, keen attention will be given to details and quality.

Additional persons who capitalise on the offer to be part of the Windsor Estates family will be given a five-year warranty on the foundation and the exterior of the house, in addition to a 10-year warranty on the roof.

Navigant Builders

ing to Guyanese through the provision of a superior environment parallel to that of the U. S. According to Navigant Builders Inc, the initial phase of its gated community includes the provision of spacious living quarters that will receive

24-hour security, via the gated entrance, street lighting and night-vision Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras strategically placed in key locations of the community.

The North Haven homes range from Gy$ 25 million onward.

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First phase of energy efficiency project nears completion

T

he landmark Energy Efficiency Management Project being conducted by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) is approaching the end of its initial stages. A key seminar/ workshop targeting chief executive officers, senior managers in decision-making positions, and high ranking operatives in the banking and financial sector, will be held this Thursday at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (Red House), Kingston, Georgetown.

The workshop will be facilitated by energy management specialist, Dr Carl Duncan.

He is, among other things, a fellow of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

Dr Duncan is highly trained in power station operation and maintenance and non-conventional electricity generation. He has been conducting the crucial second phase of the proj-

tures.

Prudent management

GMSA’s President Clinton Williams

ect – the energy audit and study – in the five companies serving as the pilots. The project is jointly funded by the Multilateral Investment Fund of the IDB (70 per cent) and the GMSA (30 per cent).

Dr Duncan has been adamant about the importance of the involvement of senior management personnel in any company that has recognised the need to charter a new, modern course for their energy supply and usage if they are to save on their energy expendi-

“Energy has to be managed in the same way as finance, production and other aspects of business,” he pointed out, and explained that it is for this reason that bankers and financing entities must also be given the requisite information to secure their commitment to bringing Guyana’s energy sector in line with the developments taking place, especially in the Caribbean region.

He said that there is need for the financial sector to buy-in and facilitate investment in energy measuring and auditing equipment, online systems and more efficient components even in their own institutions.

Energy monitoring is the first step towards careful management of consumption.

During the seminar on Thursday, the consultant and his team of technical specialists will present the findings from his interventions in several local companies representing the food

The rains are here

processing, manufacturing and services sectors.

He is also expected to offer advice on the way forward with respect to required national energy policies and regulations, required technical skills and necessary investments to enhance energy efficiency.

National business model

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who holds the ministerial portfolio for the energy sector, is expected to deliver the opening remarks and GMSA’s President Clinton Williams, will present the project overview and its anticipated results.

According to the project designer and administrator, Clement Duncan, the data accumulated throughout the project will be morphed into a national business model, applicable to the wide spectrum of enterprises on the Guyanese business landscape. In addition, the awareness and sensitisation programme is being extended to the business communities in Berbice and Essequibo, where similar seminars have been scheduled for Tuesday 3 and Thursday 5 December respectively.

Dr Duncan, a native of Guyana, is a highly regarded energy management specialist across the Caribbean and in the U. S., having been certified as a regulatory specialist by the Institute of Public – Private Partnerships in Washington, D. C. (with assistance from the World Bank and the University of Loughborough).

His areas of expertise also include 1811- WA auditing and review of regulated utilities, tariff setting and regulating electric and water utilities.

He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in industrial and electrical engineering and a PhD in business administration.

His work experience in Guyana included stints in the bauxite, sugar and timber industries and the electricity company.

From 2003, he has been executing projects in the utilities and corrugated box industries in St Lucia, Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados, and plays a major role in the regulatory commissions in the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica, where he resides.

By Anu Dev

I

Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.

- John Updike

must confess that I love the rain. Not to walk in the rain or anything like that... even though libraries are filled with poetry about that experience.

I just love the rain when I’m in bed. Really! Some of the most pleasurable moments of my life have been waking up when the rain’s just started to fall and then burrowing down into the sheets for a little more of that sweet slumber. This is how I imagine heaven to be.

The downside of that is the rain starts just when my mom decides to rouse me from bed for school or some such mundane reason. The iniquities of life!

It’s cruel and inhuman punishment, I think.

I mean, lying in bed, sometimes in that inbetween reality connecting the dream world and this harsh one here: isn’t this when you have your most creative ideas? The only problem is that we don’t remember anything when we’re roused. But we do retain that feeling of thinking “deep thoughts”.

I was very pleased to read later (in a chemistry text, of all places) that one of the greatest of discoveries in organic chemistry (which was the bane of my life in the sixth form) occurred to the scientist Kekule while he was dozing. I won’t bore you with the details save that it had to do with a snake seizing its own tail.

My parents sadly were never convinced that they were preventing me from possibly making a similar scientific breakthrough . The Nobel Prize lost! The rains have arrived over here in Trinidad... just as I am informed it has in Guyana. But I discovered I’m not having the exact reaction.

And I’m not referring to the scary fact that even though I have no one to rouse me... I roll out of bed on my own volition. Is this the beginning of “turning into your mother” that I heard about? Or is it the responsibility of adulthood? Either way, it’s disconcerting.

But what it is, is that the sound of the rain over here is different. It took me a while to figure that out. In Guyana, I’d gotten used to listening to the patter of the raindrops on our galvanised roof.

Even through the wooden ceiling, it makes a very distinctive sound... one that I now know is connected to all my memories of sleeping in the rain.

We all know of Pavlov’s contentions on conditioning... and I can now attest (fervently) to its veracity. I guess if I’m over here long enough I’ll get used to it.

But thinking about the rains in Guyana also brought back some unpleasant memories: having to pass through Georgetown on the way to Queen’s and being assaulted visually and olfactorily. Ok... the sights and smells of garbage floating in the canals and on the streets, since the least bit of rain makes Georgetown flood.

I do hope somebody, somehow will fix this. I read on the Internet that the three political parties promised to get together and do this.

Maybe now that the season of goodwill is nigh upon us, we’ll witness this miracle. Even though I haven’t glimpsed any star in the East yet.

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

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Keep the duck curry competition going Dear Editor, The King’s Jewellery World Clash of the Past Champions Duck Curry Competition was long anticipated by many. It is unfortunate that the event was not broadcast live, but nevertheless I must commend the organisers and sponsors for ensuring a successful event.

The competition comprised participants from many countries including Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Patrons came out in large numbers to support and witness the competition.

Additionally, I must congratulate the Surinamese team for claiming this year’s title. Praise must also be given to the other teams who managed to perform exceedingly well at

the competition.

The curry cuisine is a universal dish that often comprises spiced meat.

Aside from the different spices, curry powder is the key ingredient that is used to flavour the dish. This Asian oriented meal can be eaten with rice, roti, bread and even biscuits.

Many people have different ways of making curry meals and it is for this reason that a competition was thought of. The competition allowed for a variety of curry dishes to be prepared.

The actual spiciness and gravy content of the curry can be altered depending on how individuals prefer it.

Some people prefer their curry spicy, while others like it mild.

“Surwah”, is a Creolese

term that refers to the gravy content of the dish and some people indeed prefer a watery curry dish, while others prefer it dry, primarily if it’s being accompanied with dhal.

Curry is a fantastic dish that sometimes requires a special touch in preparing it. Many say that the art behind a good tasting curry is the way in which one would “chunkay” the ingredients before actually adding the meat to the pot. Curry has always been and will continue to be a favourite dish for many worldwide.

Congratulations to King’s Jewellery World and all the supporting sponsors.

Keep this duck curry competition going.

Sincerely, Azeema Zabeeda Haniff

The use of force in crime prevention Dear Editor, The crime rate in Guyana continues to escalate and our opposition continues to condemn all measures proposed to help battle crime. Under a guise of being concerned about a seemingly bad police force and human rights violations, it has become apparent that the opposition parties are not supporting anti-crime measures implemented by government.

Many of the members of the Guyana’s Police Force (GPF) try their best to perform their duties with dedication and integrity. There be a few indiscriminating ones, but that does not mean that our police force is incompetent.

Too often, Guyanese are at the mercy of criminals who threaten to steal from them, inflict violence and even exe-

cute them. It is the government’s responsibility to put measures into place that will protect and shield our nation from such encounters.

In 2013, during the Linden protest, several accusations pertaining to being responsible for the death of a few individuals were hurled at Clement Rohee, the home affairs minister.

Shortly after, the commissioner of inquiry himself exonerated the said minister from the accusations made against him. The opposition at this point was highly infuriated.

On a daily basis, police officers risk their lives to protect citizens.

It is also their prerogative to protect themselves when they are under attack.

After all is said and done, the A Partnership for National Unity

(APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) continue to blame the government for crime in Guyana.

Globally, police enforce social order through the legitimised use of force. This refers to the amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by an unwilling subject. Police officers have the right and discretion to use the amount of force necessary to control an incident, warrant an arrest, or protect themselves or others from harm or death.

It is a government’s responsibility to protect its citizens, and I can only hope that the opposition parties will comprehend the importance of the proposed measures outlined to help fight crime in Guyana.

Sincerely, Lorris Beaton

Additional measures need to be taken to curb drunk driving Dear Editor, Just recently, three school students were victims of a road accident, after an intoxicated driver proceeded to knock them down while manoeuvring his vehicle.

Driving under the influ ence (DUI) has, for some time, been an atrocious habit of many people in Guyana.

Some drivers physically go into bars and shops and have a few drinks before getting behind the wheel; others simply drink while they are driving.

People who sell alcohol must display some amount of concern, common sense, and responsibility. They must refuse to sell people who appear under the influence of alcohol.

Additionally, those who sell to already intoxicated persons should be charged. In many countries, it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone who shows signs of being visibly intoxicated. We must consider implementing proper laws to address individuals guilty of DUI and also one which will implicate individuals who serve alcohol to such persons.

Too many lives have been claimed on Guyana’s roadways and so it is imperative that we seek such additional measures to curb drunk driving and those who contribute to such occurrences.

Yours respectfully, Kwesi Joseph

Appreciation, gratitude lead to happy relationships

Dear Editor, To understand what makes for happy relationships, and it applies to all interpersonal relationships, we need to understand why we form them. What do we expect to get out of our relationship? These expectations are typically at the foundation, and if they cannot be fulfilled, the relationship will end or turn destructive.

What we usually refer to as love is a depth of appreciation for the other, and while love can take on many powerful forms, this valuing appreciation remains at the core of all of them. It sounds very noble and romantic to talk about unconditional love, but chances are this is only hinted at in parent/ child relationships, and perhaps in the first blush of new love.

Our happy relationships are likely very conditional and dependent upon an ongoing appreciation of our relationship partner, and if we are to have a happy relationship, these expectations need to be met on an ongoing basis.

Generally speaking, we value and appreciate in others those qualities that we value in ourselves, and wish to experience more of. In practical terms, this translates into a partner who seems to possess qualities that we recognise, because they are in fact present within us, but which we have not been able to adequately express or experience.

For example, an extrovert may be drawn to an introvert, or an intellectual type may be drawn to a feeling type, and so on.

So, in the appreciation of, say, an emotionally expressive person for a partner who is more grounded or logical, there is in the expression and experiencing of those qualities, and whether we want to admit it or not, the expectation that we

will experience this. There is also the subtle and often unrealised expectation that we will become more of those qualities that the partner seems to express.

One of the reasons a partner may fail to fulfil our expectations is if our image of that person is not accurate. In our desire to find happy relationships, we sometimes form fantasy images, which are often reinforced by the partner as he/ she begins to understand what it is you are looking for.

At some point, this fantasy is bound to collapse and then there is an unhealthy relationship.

Another reason authentic happiness may be compromised is when it is realised that experiencing these valued qualities in the partner is not at all the same as being able to experience and express them within ourselves, as they are not our dominant mode of being in the world, and are in fact in opposition, resulting in a degree of internal conflict.

Attempting to integrate more latent qualities into our expression can be a very difficult process, and if this fails, then what was originally appreciated in the partner may actually become a source of resentment.

Last but not least, happy relationships can be compromised by the expectations themselves, which both partners are going to feel the pressure of living up to. The ideal relationship, in fact, requires nothing at all of the other, and when this becomes the foundation, then there is genuine love, harmony, appreciation, gratitude and enjoyment of all that is expressed.

Sincerely, Pandit Suresh Sugrim Humanitarian Mission, New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir

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Guyanese play gets rave reviews in New York

BY VISHNU BISRAM

T

he play “Dancing Bells of Rekha” involving a cast of Guyanese-Americans, and written and directed by a Guyanese, was staged in New York to a packed audience over the weekend.

It is a theatrical drama that showcases the cultural survival and journey of indentured immigrants to the Caribbean.

The audience was emotionally-driven as “Dancing Bells of Rekha” tells the sad story of the indentured Indian who were brutalised in the Caribbean. It is about the indentureship system – the recruitment and experience of Indians on the ship and the plantations in Guyana – overcoming hardship, torture and persecution.

As so many historians have penned, the indentured servants survived the horrors of the passage

across the Indian and Atlantic oceans in small ships in which they were packed like sardines for months and then made enormous contributions to the societies they were consigned. They toiled long hours for little pay and were stricken with

all kinds of diseases that they overcame to build a society.

The play received rave review from commentators and the packed audience.

Everyone loved it and offered encouragement to the script writer, pro-

ducer and actors to continue with a follow-up on the theme. The play is written and directed by Ramesh Deochand of West Demerara. The play is a production of the Nirvana Humanitarian Foundation, founded

by Ramesh Deochand,

Pandit Ramdular Singh and others.

Under the astute leadership of Pandit Ramdular, the Nirvana Humanitarian Foundation has become an exemplary group, comprising individuals of integrity, volunteering their

skills in the fields of music, dance, and drama to raise funds for educational and humanitarian activities.

The Nirvana H u m a n i t a r i a n Foundation previously staged highly acclaimed plays such as “Laff Till Yuh Belly Bust”, “Visa Wedding” and “Parika Market Starboy”. The proceeds of the latest play were meant for the Swami High School in West Demerara, but were redirected to the victims of typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Dr Somdath Mohabir described the show “as a masterpiece”. Members in the audience agreed with Dr Mohabir, saying it was a magnificent play filled with emotion that drove them to tears, knowing how their foreparents were ill-treated and what they went through to leave a rich legacy behind for their descendants to enjoy.

More than 220 graduate from UG Tain Campus M ore than 200 students graduated from the Tain, University of Guyana (UG), Berbice Campus on Saturday at the staging of the 12th convocation exercise.

Addressing the ceremony, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony noted that since the start of the campus, there has been growth in the physical infrastructure, student population, staff and the range and quality of education offered.

He said that growth does not come without

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

challenges, and it was pleasing to see that the challenges did not over-

whelm the campus.

While highlighting the importance of

the campus, Minister Anthony stressed that it represents one of the government’s primary mandate of making tertiary education accessible and affordable.

The minister highlighted that the government recognises that development could only be sustained if investments are made in the people.

“The late Cheddi Jagan had a mantra, that we must have development with a human face – meaning that we must consistently and continuously invest in our people and our peo-

ple reciprocally must use their knowledge and skills for development; this has been a guiding principle of the PPP government,” he said.

This graduation comes at a time when the university is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The minister explained that when the concept of tertiary education was introduced, many felt that it was too ambitious, and that a small colony like Guyana must be shackled to external universities that are devoid of cultural particularities, that adumbrate paradigms of development that were alien to Guyana’s local needs.

Critics

Minister Anthony indicated that the critics refused to recognise that paid education to the external institutions was teaching the people to stay subservient to and to perpetuate the policies of the colonial empire.

He added that Dr Jagan always advocated for a better and equitable education system.

He thought that the time had come for British Guiana to have its own university and with independence on the horizon that this university would help to mould the new Guyanese man and woman.

This also saw the PPP/ C government passing the University of Guyana Ordinance in the Senate on March 18, 1965 and then in

the Legislative Council on April 9, 1963, bringing into effect the legislative framework for the establishment of the University of Guyana.

Humble start

In October 1963, the first 164 students started their classes at Queen’s College. At that time, the skeptics used a derogatory epithet to rename the institution instead of the University of Guyana – the “Jagan Night School”. “Today, you graduate from an institution that has a proud history, that has withstood the scorn of the critics at its conception, and has now grown to be the main provider of tertiary education in Guyana,” Minister Anthony said.

He pointed out that the graduating class is joining more than 15,000 other managers, scientists, entrepreneurs, engineers, agriculturalists and educators who lead and manage various national and international organisations to make the country and the world a better place.

In this regard, the graduates were urged to carry with them the philosophy of the founding fathers.

Minister Anthony lauded the lecturers for their efforts and working beyond the call of duty. He also applauded the parents for supporting and encouraging their children, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

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Ogle Airport boss announces expansion plans

By Samuel Sukhnandan

B

oasting increased revenue since regional carrier LIAT began operations there, the Ogle International Airport is now looking to expand its operations in the coming years.

This was disclosed

by Ogle International Airport Inc (OAI) Chief Executive Officer Anthony Mekdeci during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International.

Mekdeci said any regional carrier that was interested in operating out of Ogle was welcome.

“Regional carriers, especially those from neighbouring countries, can come no problem. We are happy to receive them.”

At present, LIAT operates daily flights out of the airport.

The OAI chief said since the commencement of these flights from the Caribbean in May, the airport has seen an increase in daily flights, revenue and passenger traffic (about 1500),

with a possibility of annual traffic moving from 60,000 to 80,000.

“I understand Brazil and Suriname are interested in on ward traffic out of here into the Caribbean,” Mekdeci said.

According to him, Caribbean Airlines has had discussion with OAI, looking to operate a flight to that airport to deliver luggage for its passengers.

In addition, Surinam Airways has expressed interest.

Mekdeci said while no concrete decision had been made by the two airlines, he was optimistic that more carriers were likely to seek meetings with OAI about operating out of the airport.

As demand increases, OAI will look at further expanding its runway, to accommodate additional flights and carriers.

According to Mekdeci, the airport can expand its 4000-foot runway to a maximum of 5500 feet.

On November 5, 2001, OAI, comprising

OAI CEO Anthony Mekdeci

a group of aviation pioneers, entered into a 25year lease agreement with the government for the management, operation, and development of the airport. This lease agreement is renewable for two more 25-year periods.

OAI assumed management of the airport on December 1, 2001.

It was given the mandate to develop the airport to comply with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

This involved a private investment by the

shareholders of some US$ 3 million.

The airport gained international status in 2009 after completion of its phase one development.

International scheduled passenger flights then commenced.

In the same year, government and OAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the funding of the second phase of development, with funding from a 2007 European Union grant of 1.5 million euros.

In May, OAI was declared a regional hub and presented with a runway Class Two C certificate by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

The airport, which is closer to Georgetown than the main Cheddi Jagan International Airport, gives LIAT a competitive advantage, in terms of reduced flying time and an annual fuel reduction.

The OAI currently accommodates aircraft like the Turbo Prop, Dash 8s and ATRs, as well as executive-class aircraft.

30 Haitians die, 110 rescued after boat capsizes

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t least 10 Haitian migrants were killed and 110 were rescued, after clinging for hours to the hull and mast of an overloaded wooden sloop that capsized in The Bahamas, U. S. and Bahamian officials said on Tuesday.

Rescuers were still searching for potential survivors from the 40-foot (12-metre), sailpowered coastal freighter that ran aground and capsized near Staniel Cay in the central Bahamas on Monday night, officials said.

It was unclear how many people had been aboard the ship and how many had died. The U. S. Coast Guard said 30 migrants were reported to have died and 110 had been rescued.

A Royal Bahamas Defence Force spokesman, Lieutenant Origin Deleveaux, said at 20 passengers were confirmed dead, but confirmed that 110 had been rescued.

Thirteen severely dehydrated survivors were hoisted aboard a U. S. Coast Guard helicopter and taken to Staniel Cay for treatment, U. S. and

Bahamian officials said.

Crews in U. S. Coast Guard planes and helicopters dropped 10 quick-inflating life rafts into the water to help keep the other survivors afloat until a Royal Bahamas Defence Force patrol boat could take them aboard, said Petty Officer Mark Barney, a Coast Guard spokesman in Miami.

“They drop it right next to them and they can swim over. Once they’re out of the water they have a better chance of surviving,” Barney said. “There’s just so many people in the water.”

Tilted over

Coast Guard photos from the scene showed the vessel tilted almost completely over on its side, with passengers tightly packed and holding on.

Some sat on the gunnels and others climbed the mast. Bad weather and rough seas were hampering rescue efforts, Deleveaux said.

Winds were up to 30 miles per hour with waves up to five feet, the Coast Guard said.

The cause of the acci-

dent was unknown and will be investigated by Bahamian authorities, Barney said.

Migrants from Haiti, Cuba and other Caribbean countries frequently sail through The Bahamas in an attempt

to reach the United States, often in overloaded and unseaworthy vessels. Miami is more than 600 miles from Haiti’s northern coast, where such voyages frequently begin. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T& T’s agri pre-nup

S

atiricus smiled as he saw the two agri ministers sign off their pre-nup agreement. Progress. It used to be – people just rushed into marriage, thinking that love gon conquer all. Then after the first few months of waking up and seeing a face with no makeup or smelling a breath with no mouthwash...

Baddam! ... Messy breakup and fighting over the property – and kids.

As in so many things, the Americans showed we how it should be done: they invent the “pre-nuptial agreement”. The Americans don’t like “long story”, so they shorten it to “pre- nup”. The movie stars in Hollywood start it – they were always cutting edge when it came to marriage.

You learn a thing or two when everybody marry six or seven times – like the law of averages. If you know you’re gonna breakup almost for sure, you’d better prepare, no? Hence the “pre- nup”. Some people think it took the charm out of marriage... But what the heck? If three out of four marriages ended on the rocks among the stars... hey, it wasn’t the individuals’ fault... it was a social issue! Since there’s not a lot of Solomons nowadays, it saved having to cut babies in half. You can understand how messy that can be.

So we come back to our agri ministers and their pre-nup.

Imagine that! We in the Caribbean are now cutting ahead – taking the pre-nup from between “people couples” (it used to be between man and woman, but America led the way there too – now same-sex couples are OK) to “country couples”. But why not?

When it came to country “break ups” we in the Caribbean were no slouches – we were cutting edge.

After all, we broke up the granddaddy of all marriages between states – the West Indies Federation. Even the Americans couldn’t break up their federation – Abe Lincoln took care of that! Since then we’ve had breakups over airlines, sugar, cement, Guyanese travelling, rice, Jamaicans travelling – not to mention agri.

And here we can come to the pre-nup specifically over agri. Last time agri came up, the then Guyanese prezzie just shake hands when he offered land at giveaway prices to the Caribbean. And before you could say “Rum till I die”, the Trini prime minister started mega farms right in his country. Dissed us!

They failed miserably, of course.

Trinis don’t know a fork from a hoe.

So now that they want marriage and land, its best we sign a pre-nup. When the breakup comes – and it will – they won’t get to take we land back to TT.

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Guyana pulls out of USAID governance project

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he Guyana government has pulled out of the 2012 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) project, citing flaws in the agreement, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon has said.

During his post-Cabinet media briefing last week, Dr Luncheon said the project proposal presented to Guyana did not reflect the input of the government, as well as that of USAID, and on that basis considerable reservations were expressed by the administration.

He explained that the design was considered by Cabinet and both project and design were rejected.

“The project that habitually and conventionally is an engagement between Guyana and its development partner USAID – this one in 2012 departed from that convention. Firstly, we were presented with an agreement to sign, over which we had zero contribution.

“Secondly, when we officially got the design, there was considerable objection, as far as the administration was concerned. This design would have never ever been provided for in any bilateral relationship, as a consequence it was rejected.”

The HPS added that the design allowed for the involvement of USAID in the national life and politics of Guyana. The

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon

US$ 13.1 million bilateral agreement was to advance development in health, economic growth, and democracy and governance.

LEAD project

Meanwhile, it was unclear whether a

U.S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt

US$ 1.5 million governance project, the Guyana Leadership and Democracy Programme (LEAD), launched back in July is separate from the 2012 agreement or part of the package. The project, which was launched at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street,

Georgetown, is aimed at bolstering the functioning of the National Assembly.

Its focus is fortifying the National Assembly by encouraging consensus building; and working with civil society and the public to boost citizens’ engagement with the National Assembly and all parties to support the legislature’s role as an effective deliberative body.

Speaking at the launching, U. S. Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt had expressed excitement, deeming the project as timely.

“Guyana’s National Assembly is grappling with serious issues that will shape the future of the country; how suc-

cessfully the parties navigate these will help shape the future for the people of Guyana,” he had noted.

Political engagement

The ambassador made reference to whether the parties can have effective local governance or reliable, environmentally friendly power, or deter crime and violence, and prevent financial crimes that distort economic development.

He underscored that his country recognised that the new dispensation in Parliament could pose many challenges which, if not handled with a spirit of compromise and a focus on national interest, can lead to a stalemate and frustration.

96 per cent of banks in Caribbean view small enterprises as important clients – IDB

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n annual survey of banks in Latin America and the Caribbean regarding the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector shows overwhelming interest in SMEs as banking clients. Ninety-six per cent of the 100 banks interviewed in 21 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean consider SMEs to be a strategic part of their business, and 92 per cent have a dedicated financing policy for SMEs in place.

The sixth edition of the survey “SMEs in Latin America and the Caribbean: Closing the Gap for Banks in the Region” was commissioned by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group. It was produced with support from the InterAmerican Investment Corporation (IIC), the IDB’s Structured and Corporate Finance Department (SCF), and the Latin American Banking Federation (Felaban). It is the sixth in a series of banking surveys on SME finance and was again conducted by the Argentinean consulting firm D’Alessio.

Eighty-two per cent of the banks surveyed have specialised loan programmes for SMEs, and 67 per cent consider themselves to be specialised in SME financing.

Additionally, the banks’ outlook for the SME sector is optimistic. More than half of the banks interviewed (54 per cent) believe that SMEs’ economic situation will improve in the next two years.

The majority of the banks forecast increases in their own SME

ated services for each of the small and medium enterprise segments, such as establishing adequate marketing strategies, internal procedures, underwriting methodologies, and risk management for each segment.

Eighty-five per cent of the respondents have

loan portfolios – half of respondents predict a growth rate between one and 20 per cent, and another one- fourth believe it will grow between 21 and 40 per cent.

Differentiated services This year’s survey shows that banks in the region have begun to develop differentiated services for small enterprise and for medium enterprise clients.

Seventy-two per cent of the banks interviewed have differenti-

a different risk analysis tool for small enterprises from that of medium enterprises.

One in four banks cites the informality of many SMEs as the main constraint to serving SMEs. Some banks have begun to develop innovative under writing methodologies and credit scoring models, such as “psychometric” tests, to overcome the restrictions that informality may cause.

For the second year

in a row, the survey included questions about the presence of SMEs managed or led by women in bank portfolios.

Analysing this issue remains a challenge, as more than half of the

banks in the region (51 per cent) do not collect data disaggregated be gender. However, of the banks that do collect such data, 65 per cent use it to make decisions.

SME financing

Other topics explored in detail by the survey include trends in SME financing and products, credit methodology, and financing sources.

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Political parties likely to renegotiate antimoney laundering bill

Education Ministry to roll out plan on special education delivery

By Svetlana Marshall

T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C); the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU); and the Alliance For Change (AFC) are likely to return to the negotiating table to plot the way forward on the passage of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill.

This round of discussion is critical to prevent Guyana from experiencing a financial crisis owing to the move by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) to blacklist the country for non-compliance with anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism standards.

After voting down the bill in the National Assembly on November 7, the APNU and the AFC have since indicated that they will support the retabling of the bill, but it must be recommitted to the parliamentary special select committee.

The onus is on the PPP/ C to retable the defeated bill.

Addressing the press at Freedom House on Monday, Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said the government of Guyana will be assessing the possible avenues to be taken, indicating discussions with the two opposition political groupings are possible.

Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

APNU Leader David Granger

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

With Guyana being blacklisted by CFATF during its November 20 Plenary in The Bahamas, Nandlall said it was essential for the country to take the necessary steps to reduce the impact.

ed by the opposition in the National Assembly ought to be passed even before February, so that Guyana will no longer be a country with those identified deficiencies,” Nandlall posited.

Guyana, along with Belize, was blacklisted

by CFATF due to its failure to rectify key strategic deficiencies in its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act. Initially, an action plan was developed to address the deficiencies, but Guyana failed to adhere to the plan.

CFATF has advised its members to consider the implementation of counter-measures to protect their financial systems from the ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks emanating from Guyana.

It was pointed out that commercial banks in Trinidad and Tobago have already heightened their security systems

for transactions with Guyanese companies, following a warning letter from the Trinidad and Tobago Central Bank. The legal affairs minister indicated that a commercial bank in the U. S. has severed ties with a local commercial bank as a result of Guyana’s failure to comply with the CFATF requirements.

Greater sanctions

CFATF’s next plenary is set for May 2014; however, Guyana could be placed under the microscope in February 2014 when the global anti-money laundering body, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meets. Hence, the bill which incorporates CFATF recommendations should be passed

by February to avoid further uncertainty.

CFATF has already indicated that if the bill is not passed in May 2014, Guyana will be handed over to FATF’s International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG), resulting in greater financial sanctions.

“The amendments which have been reject-

Return to normalcy

“If we are able to pass this bill – if not before February – by May, then Guyana can extricate itself from this list that it finds itself on and we can be restored to some level of normalcy,” he reiterated.

Questioned on whether government should share the blame for Guyana being blacklisted, Nandlall responded in the negative, claiming that the PPP/ C took the necessary step to prevent blacklisting, but did not garner the needed support of the APNU and AFC.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

C

hief Education Officer Olato Sam said the Education Ministry is in the process of rolling out a plan for improving the delivery of quality education to special needs children.

He made the announcement during a sensitisation session hosted

by National Commission on Disability (NCD) on the Disability Act of 2010 held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston, Georgetown on Monday.

According to a release, Sam however acknowledged that much work still needs to be done in the area of teacher education, as it relates to special needs education.

The main purpose of the session was to explain the content of the Disability Act of 2010, and to underline the roles and responsibilities of the Education Ministry, in compliance with the act. The session was led by a number of brief insightful remarks from leading personnel both from the NCD and the ministry.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who also addressed the workshop, said Guyana is in a far better place today than it was 10, 15, 20 years ago.

She said Guyana, as a nation is making considerable progress in all spheres, even amid challenges.

Commitment

The minister contended that it has always been the commitment of the ruling party to fight for the poor and vulnerable in society.

She expounded on this by highlighting that one of the first major acts of the government in addressing the poor and vulnerable, was the establishment of the universality of Old Age Pension.

“Immediately upon entering office, the PPP/ C said we will give every single person over the age of 65 living in Guyana

an Old Age Pension. At that time, it was a small amount. That Old Age Pension has now grown to the highest it has ever been in the country,” Manickchand boasted.

The minister went on to cite other measures that have been put in place by government to tangibly help the poor and vulnerable.

She said pensioners, for example, are given considerable reductions on their water and electricity bills, and they also have access to free health care.

And these are not all, the minister stressed, noting that relief is also provided through the Public Assistance programme.

Recognition

The minister said the government’s resolve to working with the poor and vulnerable is known, and recognised by independent sources.

“In 1991, the World Bank did a study in Guyana in which it states that 67 per cent of the Guyanese population was living in poverty. That meant that out of every 100 persons, 67 were living in poverty.

“In 2008, they did another study, which showed that 35 per cent were living in poverty.

And even though that 35 per cent is still too much to accept, what it specifically says is that as a government we will serve our poor first and equalise their lives as much as we can. Today, we as a government have cut poverty in half in this country!”

Education Ministry Chief Planning Officer Evelyn Hamilton, who also serves as NCD chairperson, acknowledged that the ministry has a very important role to play in supporting the Disability Act of 2010.

The government has broadened its focus on persons living with disabilities in establishing the Disabilities Act of 2010, accented to and signed into law by then President Bharrat Jagdeo.

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U.S. Census Bureau releases new mobile app - will help users find local statistics on-the-go

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Census Bureau Director John Thompson

he U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday released dwellr, a new mobile app that delivers onthe-go access to key demographic, socio-economic and housing statistics for thousands of places across the nation.

Powered by American Community Survey statistics, dwellr can pull up a list of U.S. locations that matches users’ preferences for such variables as city size, geographic region, job type and income. Users can also learn more about where they are by a simple tap of the screen that reveals educational levels, housing values and commute times.

“With dwellr, people considering a move, homebuyers, travelers and military families can easily access and explore information on U.S. towns and cities based on data compiled through the American Community Survey,” Census Bureau Director John Thompson said. “With dwellr and our previously released America’s Economy app, the Census Bureau is using 21st century technology to accomplish our centuries-old mission to

measure America and make the results accessible to the public anytime, anywhere on any device.”

The customizable demographic and community variables featured in dwellr include: • city size • commute type • housing value • income • educational attainment and • demographic variables including age, race, marital status and family type The mobile app is now available for download through the Apple app store and Google Play store for Apple iPhones and iPads and Android phones and 10-inch tablets. Privacy protection is built into the app, and all information is stored only on the user’s device.

Other Census Bureau Digital Initiatives

The Census Bureau’s first mobile app — America’s Economy — provides smartphone and tablet users with real-time releases of the economic statistics that drive decisions on employment, housing, construction, international trade, retail sales and manufacturing, and are important tools for businesses, economists, planners and policymakers.

The statistics that drive dwellr and America’s Economy are available through the Census Bureau’s application programming interface (API), which allows developers greater ability to build more shareable content for public use. The interface, which has been used 100 million times since it began in July 2012, allows developers to make their own apps using two of the Census Bureau’s most powerful, useful statistics — the American Community Survey and the 2010 Census.

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Caricom suspends DR’s application for membership

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aricom on Tuesday said it would defer consideration of the application by The Dominican Republic to join the regional integration grouping, as the fallout continues from the Constitutional Court ruling in the Spanishspeaking country that could render stateless, thousands of people of Haitian descent living there.

Leaders of the three-member Caricom Bureau, comprising host country Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Haiti, met in Port of Spain on Tuesday and said the 15-member regional grouping would also seek to raise the court ruling with several bodies, including, CARIFORUM, the Association of Caribbean states (OAS), the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC), as well as maintain “our interest”.

“We look forward to the outcome of the visit to The Dominican Republic of the Inter- American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which

Caricom Chairman, TT Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar

will travel to that country in early December,” Caricom Chairman and TT Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told a news conference.

Repugnant

Persad-Bissessar said the decision on deferral was taken in light of the values and principles which have underpinned the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs Caricom.

A subsequent statement by Caricom condemned “the abhorrent and discriminatory ruling of September 23, 2013, of the Constitutional Court of The Dominican Republic on nationality which retroactively strips tens of thousands of Dominicans, mostly of

Haitian descent, of citizenship rendering them stateless and with no recourse to appeal.”

Caricom said it is especially repugnant that the ruling ignores the 2005 judgement made by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights (IACHR) that The Dominican Republic adapt its immigration laws and practices in accordance with the provisions of the American Convention on Human Rights.

“The ruling also violates The Dominican Republic’s international human rights obligations. Furthermore, the ruling has created an environment where, with the abrogation of rights that flow from citizenship, arbitrariness can flourish as illustrated by recent media reports of the forced deportation to Haiti of persons claiming to be Dominican and with no linguistic or familial ties to that country,” the regional grouping said.

Redress

“The Caribbean Community reiterates its call to the government of The Dominican Republic continued on page 22

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NEWS

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National Drama Festival culminates on... from page 5

Actors in "Duplicity" on stage on Friday

with costumes done by Cindy Legall.

It depicts an avantgarde theatre, set entirely in a cemetery and chronicles the life of four friends who died in a war.

The second play of the evening, Duplicity, related to sensitive and real life experiences. It was marked well for plot and scenery.

Duplicity was written

by Keron Bruce and directed by Natasha Azeez and Marissa Primo. In the play, one of the characters – Janice was having an affair with her sister’s lover, Ryan. Ryan decided to end the relationship, but Janice got upset and lost her mind, killing Sherry’s daughter and severely injuring

Ryan, who subsequently dies. She then commits suicide, but not before confessing her sins to her sister.

The final play of the evening saw a more or less confusing act, which left certain sections of the audience stunned as it featured a lot of violence.

Deep Wounds written by Melinda Primo Solomon, was directed by Melinda Primo Solomon and Marissa Primo. It centres on a young girl who lost her brother.

The finals of the drama festival started more than a week ago at the National Cultural Centre and saw at least 34 plays. The winners will be announced on November 30.

Guyana commits to working with Suriname to improve relations

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resident Donald Ramotar and Surinamese Ambassador to Guyana Nisha Kurban on Saturday evening toasted to the solid partnership between the two countries at a celebration to mark Suriname’s 38th independence anniversary, which was observed on Monday.

President Ramotar said Guyana remained committed to working with Suriname to enhance the level of cooperation that exists between the two nations.

He noted that they have developed a culture of sharing experiences and cooperating to achieve mutual development and peace. The relationship encompasses the trade, culture, health, and security sectors.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the president applauded the Surinamese government for its innovative strides over the years, particularly in the field of economic development.

“This is evident in the recently-released Debt Sustainable Analysis published by the Surinamese Bureau of State Debt which indicates the economic

Surinamese Ambassador Nisha Kurban, President Donald Ramotar and the ambassador’s husband cut a cake to mark Suriname’s 38th independence anniversary

prospects for Suriname are promising during the period 2013 to 2017, with an expectant economic growth of 5.5 per cent.

“Not only is this testimony to the economic policies, but also the embracing of some fundamental values of democracy, equality and social justice which transcends political differences, religious affiliations and social class.

“It is these values that make the relationship a rewarding experience for both countries,” President Ramotar stated.

Guyana is pleased to be in the company of

Suriname, which, along which other countries, has led South America in terms of recent economic growth.

As the only two Caricom countries to share a border, Guyana and Suriname’s relationship has seen the largest movement of persons between the two. This, the head of state said, will be further enhanced with the building of a bridge across the Corentyne River; plans for this structure are closer to becoming a reality.

Ambassador Nisha Kurban, reflecting on her country’s achievements since independence in

1975, said Suriname will continue to advance its integration agenda and formal ties with numerous countries.

Suriname has revitalised the region with creative and innovative ideas which have strengthened Caricom; the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR); and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the ambassador noted.

She also called on the private sectors of both nations to forge closer ties and explore new opportunities.

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week ending december 1, 2013

| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS week ending december 1, 2013

Two perish in Demerara River boat collision

T

wo persons are now dead following a boat collision in Demerara River, in the vicinity of Parapee, located approximately 25 miles from Linden on Sunday.

The accident reportedly occurred about 21: 30h.

Dead are Dale Duggin, 27, of Parapee and Williamson Felix, 37, also known as “Smally” of Malali, Demerara River.

Telford Lim survived the accident without any major injuries and is assisting police with the investigations.

The body of Duggin was recovered in the vicinity of Major Boat Landing, Linden, about 11: 30h on Monday, while Felix’s body was reportedly recovered from inside the speedboat he was travelling. Duggin was clad in a brown jersey and had visible marks of injuries on both hands and knuckles.

When the body arrived at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), family members wept and comforted each other.

Duggin’s grief-stricken mother, Melvina Duggin was unable to make it to the LHC, relatives say.

His aunt, Ronda Fleming, appeared traumatised and had to be es-

| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana govt mulling review of gun laws – says licence renewal should not be automatic

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

H

Dale Duggin

corted inside the LHC in a wheelchair. She also wept uncontrollably, fainting several times.

According to Duggin’s relatives, the now dead men were on their way to Linden when the mishap occurred.

The boats reportedly collided head-on but the two passengers in the vessel driven by Lim escaped unhurt.

According to reports, Felix, a St Lucian, was on his way to Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden. He was working on a house being built in the area.

“He lives in Georgetown, but would travel up on weekends back and forth. They were going back to Dale’s uncle house which is currently building,” a relative of Duggin said.

19

ome Affairs M i n i s t e r Clement Rohee is calling for the country’s gun laws to be reviewed and the firearms licence renewal process to be reassessed in light of the recent upsurge in gun-related crimes.

Addressing a conference on the prevention of interpersonal violence held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Geogetown, the minister said everyone wants a firearm but some have been using it illegally, making reference to the businessman who killed his wife before turning the gun on himself over the weekend.

“People are behaving in this country as though this is the United States where they have the right to bear arms, but you don’t! And I’m considering approaching the president to ask him, let us review these gun laws, irrespective of what the hell Granger might think, whether Granger supports us

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee addressing the conference on Monday

in Parliament or not,” Rohee added.

The minister pointed out that it should be debated whether persons have the right to carry firearms, and if not, what are the alternatives for them in terms of their security.

Crackdown

He noted that the police should step up their intelligence and aggressively go after those who sell, buy, lend and trade firearms.

Rohee said those with firearm licences should

be reviewed, pointing out that he had requested for his ministry to be included in this process.

“Right now, we don’t have a say, but we are looking at that. The Home Affairs Ministry in conjunction with the Firearms Licence Approval Board should have a say on whether to renew or not to renew a firearm licence. It should not be something automatic like the visa in the United States… there should be no automaticity attached to this.

We have to begin taking strong measures against this because people with guns in their hands are taking strong measures and embarrassing this country,” Rohee said.

The minister also urged the conference to focus intensely on the fight and prevention of violence, noting that fighting violence is much broader than crime fighting. He challenged the conference participants to channel their attention during the two-day forum on prevention and protection against violence. He stated that education is a vital key in tackling violence and should be encouraged at every forum.

Rohee disclosed that to assist the police in their quest to end violence, the force has employed some 500 neighbourhood police to act as watchdogs for violence in their communities.

“The police can’t be there 24/ 7 so the neighbourhood police are in the neighbourhoods on a daily basis and they ought to know what is happening in each neighbourhood, it is their business to know,” he stated.

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News

week ending december 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Gouveia blasts political Canje basin lands allocated parties for blacklisting for TT agri project – says govt must set up procurement body

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

G

overnment and the opposition have been irresponsible in tackling the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing the Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, Private Sector Commission executive member Gerry Gouveia said, as he complained bitterly about the country being blacklisted.

“I am furious, I am extremely disappointed in our Parliament,” Gouveia said during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International. He said it is a shame that Guyana has been formally blacklisted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) due to the carelessness of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C), the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) at the level of the National Assembly.

The anti-money laundering bill was read in

Private Sector Commission executive member Gerry Gouveia

the National Assembly for the first time on April 22. It was subsequently read on May 7 when a decision was made to send the bill to a parliamentary special select committee.

But from the onset, the AFC made its position clear, that it would support the bill only if government establishes the Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

Poor bargaining tactics

However, the PSC executive member rubbished the AFC bargaining tactics, describing it as poor.

“I say don’t bargain for things like this, I understand politics… but on issues like this, when we have to meet international standards, we should not be playing political games with the image and economy of Guyana,” he lamented.

According to Gouveia, the AFC is not only holding the government, but the entire Guyana at ransom.

The same can be said for the APNU and the PPP/ C, which have all employed poor tactics in their attempt to pass the continued on page 23

T

he Guyana government has made available lands in the Canje Basin for farmers in Trinidad and Tobago to invest in largescale agriculture projection, TT Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj has said.

According to a statement by the Government Information Agency (GINA), Maharaj pointed out that there would be scientific and empirical data regarding the potential for farming in accordance with the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) before the land is offered to investors.

“It’s not farmers, but we want investors to come in to farm with their primary function to invest,” Maharaj emphasised.

Maharaj, who is on a visit to Guyana, said discussions with his local counterpart, Dr Leslie Ramsammy had been fruitful. He said the working meeting was to further cement the agreement between the two countries, which follows through on the Jagdeo Initiative proposed to Caricom decades ago.

Despite TT receiving most of its revenue from the blooming oil sector, he said the Kamla PersaudBissessar administration has revisited its strategy, hence the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Guyana earlier this year.

Maharaj added that the objective of the initiative is to use it as an example for Caricom.

Standardisation of policies

Both ministers have now agreed to the areas in which entrepreneurs could look to invest.

These include: cultivation of corn, soya, other legumes, and root crops; livestock rearing; value-added products such as cassava flour; and aquaculture.

A technical team will meet in two weeks to agree on the harmonisation and standardisation of policies and strategies that would facilitate importation of products and crops from Guyana to Trinidad.

TT will advertise for expressions of interest among local entrepreneurs there. Site visits will be arranged, plans solicited, and those proposals evaluated by both

TT Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj

sides before a final allocation is made.

Processing plants may be set up in Guyana for products that would require some processing before export, including meat.

This, he noted, would provide economic opportunities for both countries. “These strategies being utilised are geared towards the goal of TT, and also Guyana, reducing our food import bill from countries outside of the region, increasing our own food security interregional and bringing down food inflation in respective countries – all with the backdrop of creating sustainable employment and diversification of our economies,” the Trinidadian minister added.

News

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week ending december 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt gets tough on illegal mining

N Rallying... .. the troops resh from their “victory” on the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) (Amendment) Bill, the opposition parties are determined to press what they see to be their advantage. Never mind the country’s on the verge of an economic shutdown caused by their push for power. It must be they think the coming hardships on the average man-in-the-street will be blamed on the government... and they can milk the frustrations for their political gain.

Recent moves by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) support this contention. In the first sitting of Parliament after their courting of economic sanctions against Guyana, they passed a motion to form a commission to look into the state of Guyanese veterans.

Now this is nothing but cheap politicking – designed to stir up ethnic hostilities. It’s no secret that most of the members – past and present – of the disciplined forces are from APNU’s ethnic constituency.

In our ethnically fractured polity, this sort of action translates into the accusation that the government of the day, supported in the main by another ethic group, is neglecting APNU’s group. This is very incendiary... and is reminiscent of the tactics used to raise the temperature in Linden last year. We all know what damage was done to the country and, in the end, to the very people who were stirred up.

The government rightfully pointed out that in every area the opposition claimed neglect – education, pensions and employment, among others – the government has been very protective of the needs and rights of veterans. All programmes in all societies have to take into account, the needs of all members of the society. This will set Guyanese against Guyanese and can only bring the country down.

Hard on the heels of that move in Parliament, APNU then proceeded to lambast the government for offering a five per cent raise to public servants. This is higher than the projected rate of inflation of the country – and a full one per cent more than the offer to sugar workers.

Yet APNU was mum on the latter. Here again the ethnic breakdown of these two groups fall along the political cleavage. And APNU’s championing of one and not the other is sure to exacerbate ethnic tensions – which is exactly what the party wants.

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has already called the public servants out on strike... selectively at this time. The union has demanded a whopping 25 per cent increase. The whole scenario is eerily (and frighteningly) reminiscent of 1999 when strikes by the public servants were made coincident with street protests by the People’s National Congress (PNC) in a move to bring down the government.

It looks like a hard rain’s about to fall. ... insularism Just like the flu, ever so often we in the Caribbean seem to get infected with bouts of insularism. You know... when we lash out at others and just refuse to have anything to do with them. Even though we may be all “one family”. Take the case of Bajan Industry and International Business Minister Donville Inniss, who cussed out the Jamaica Gleaner for daring to suggest that the arrest of the Editor-in-Chief of the Barbados Nation Roy Morris might have a political nexus. “Keep your nose out of Bajan affairs and look after the rot in Jamaica!!”

Now what could’ve brought this on? Maybe the utter humiliation of the West Indies team by India plunged the Bajan minister into a blue funk? We don’t think so. More likely it’s that Bajan conviction of superiority to its fellow Caribbean citizens – especially from Jamaica and Guyana.

Ditto for the Trinidad and Tobago immigration agents who turned back 16 Jamaicans on one flight from Jamaica. All we’ll say to them is – “time longer than twine”. ... rice farmers Now that we’ve surpassed the old production targets in rice and gone past 500,000 tonnes by far... it’s time for the mostly small rice farmers to take a bow. Maybe it points the way for the sugar industry... small is beautiful.

F

atural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud said there will be no tolerance for illegal mining since his ministry is doing a lot to improve the state of the sector. The minister was at the time speaking to a gathering of miners and business operators at Port Kaituma, Region One. He said that persons found involved in irresponsible mining will be penalised.

“We will promote and we will support legal mining, we will promote and support safe mining, we will promote also mining that takes into account social issues as well as very important environmental issues,” he stated.

Persaud pointed out that the government has been criticised for being

there is a resource that is utilised in a responsible and environmentallyfriendly way and we put the necessary controls and regulations, there ought to be absolutely no reason why we should frustrate and prevent the development of that resource for the wealth and prosperity of our nation.”

Crack down

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

too facilitative of mining and pays no attention to its challenges; however, he noted that it will make no apologies for being committed to the development of the sector.

“We believe that if

He explained that one of the mechanisms government is using to crack down on illegal mining is a lottery system. Persaud said the ministry recently held a lottery, targeting those miners who do not have mining properties, so that miners cannot use that as an excuse for their illegal work.

The natural resources minister disclosed that in Region One, some 65 mining licences were

issued.

In addition, close to 430 medium scale permits, 30 mining permits and 63 special mining permits have been issued, and currently in excess of 123 permits for blocks awarded during a recent lottery process are being processed.

“This is indicative of the government’s and ministry’s commitment, working through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, facilitating the orderly development of the mining sector,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Persaud emphasised that with the introduction of integrated solutions in mining equipment, suppliers should not only focus on profits and sustain ability, but also support responsible mining.

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week ending december 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Venezuela’s national air carrier enters Guyana market

C

ONVIAS, Venezuela’s national air carrier has begun operations between Caracas and Georgetown, landing its first flight at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Saturday. The inaugural flight was welcomed by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir, Guyana Tourism Authority Director Indranauth Haralsingh and dignitaries from the Venezuelan embassy in Georgetown.

Minister Benn hailed the flight as a historic occasion, noting that it was made possible through negotiations between President Donald Ramotar and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro.

The two presidents signed a Memorandum of Understanding in August 2013, paving the way for the Venezuelan air carrier to operate the Guyana route.

Minister Benn noted that the realisation of the partnership was achieved in a short time, which is testimony of what can be done if partnership and cooperation remain paramount in all relations between the

CONVIASA, Venezuela’s national air carrier, made its inaugural flight to Guyana, touching down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Saturday

two countries.

More importantly, Minister Benn contended that CONVIASA’s entrance into the local market is a “leap forward” for Guyana as it opens up new routes and access to South America.

“What will spring up from this is a strengthening of economic ties, business, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries that will

benefit all,” Minister Benn explained.

He assured that every effort will be made to ensure the partnership is sustainable and visitors experience a lasting positive impression.

Haralsingh, who spoke on behalf of acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, noted that through the airline, more visitors will come to Guyana.

“This is an indication of the con-

Simply the Truth

fidence in the market as our arrivals continue to increase; this will also add to the growing figure,” he said.

Haralsingh said the timing was perfect as it comes during Tourism Awareness Month and coincides with National Geographic Traveler magazine ranking Guyana among the top 21 destinations to visit in 2014.

“We look forward to closer collaboration as we foster healthy air traffic between the two countries.”

Meanwhile, CJIA CEO Ramesh Ghir welcomed the Venezuelan airline, pointing out that it aids the airport’s strategy of becoming a next generation hub, attracting new services.

“This is a great achievement for bilateral relations and improving transport and enriching ties between the two countries,” Ghir stated.

CONVIASA President Luis Carabello thanked the representatives from the two countries, particularly President Maduro and President Ramotar for making the deal possible.

The airline will begin operations with one flight weekly, and according to Carabello, this will be expanded to twice weekly.

from page 15

Caricom suspends The Youth: Talent must be ICED DR’s application ...

By Professor Daizal Samad

O

ne of our habits in Guyana is to bemoan the idea that all the finest Guyanese minds have left for other places.

We really mean the U. S. A., the UK, and Canada. I do not know too much about the brain drain, as we call it. While we moan and groan about that, we pay little attention to the talent right in front of our eyes.

Talented people in all kinds of areas: mechanics, plumbers, farmers, business people, cooks, nurses, teachers, sportsmen and women, policemen and women, students, the children. We cry about loss and forget what we have. And we really have no idea of what to do with talent when we do see it. And so the youth feel abandoned, set adrift on a wide, wide ocean.

Hopelessness in the young leads to horrible consequences for any nation. So we need to show them that which they most long to see: their own possibilities!

Talent must be ICED. That is, it must be identified, cultivated, employed and deployed.

If we look carefully outside of ourselves for a second, we would see talent everywhere. A boxer in a ring, an athlete striding, a young woman with grace, a student bright with promise, a honeybee keeper coaxing honey, a young person with a talent for science or a gift with language, and so on.

It is easy to identify talent if we remove ourselves from our own self-concerns. Yet, it is not easy to spot precisely where the talent may be; too many parents vaunt their children for the most ordinary things. Pride blinkers us.

Once talent is identified, it must be cultivated. Without being properly cultivated or nur-

Professor Daizal Samad

tured, talent withers and dies.

The cultivation of talent necessitates proper attention by all involved. Parents, teachers, elders, community leaders, coaches, trainers, religious leaders, sports and educational bodies. And all ministries must be front and centre! Especially the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. Cultivation does not mean dragging children away from normalcy. It means creating academies of all sorts that would look to the welfare of talented children, irrespective of what area in which that talent might be. Sports managers and academic leaders must be on board, as well as psychologists and time management specialists. Of course, we have to nurture those people as well.

I have seen too many of our academic, policing and sports people being thrown by the wayside. Two enormously talented cricketers with all kinds of knowledge are now driving hire cars! One of our national amateur boxing champions is now cutting cane. One of the best police trainers is just sitting at home. Employ them as mentors, coaches, trainers. A nation that

honours not its heroes is a nation that remains in darkness. I know of one great contributor to the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC), and to education in Berbice, who was simply cast aside – with no ceremony.

Just used like a piece of tissue and thrown on the roadside.

Age does not make us crippled to give. The developed nations that have all kinds of resources and talent do not do this.

We do! Would their nations throw away people like Ricky Ponting, Michael Jordan, Sachin Tendulkar, Ian Botham, Imran Khan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Donovan Bailey, Alexis Argüello, just to name a few sportsmen? So let us identify talent, then cultivate talent. Then we employ that talent. We pay them and cherish them for doing us proud as a nation.

Let us establish job creation programmes that place people in places where they can give. Most of the time, these people do not want much. They simply want to give what they have. It is up to us to accept with grace and gratitude. Our youth will gain.

If our youth gain, Guyana’s future is assured. If we do not, this nation is condemned to the mediocrity we see parading itself shamelessly each and every day.

Identified, cultivated, employed. Then we deploy that talent. We send those talented people to every corner of this nation.

Our nurses, doctors, teachers, coaches, trainers, academics, farmers, fishermen and businessmen and women.

We do this in order that more talent could be identified, cultivated, employed, and deployed again.

Even if they teach us about discipline and self-discipline, our nation is better off.

Blessings and all good things shall rain upon this land.

to take the necessary political, legislative, judicial and administrative steps urgently to redress the grave humanitarian situation created by the ruling.

“The community also calls on regional and hemispheric countries and organisations to lend their voice to urge The Dominican Republic to right this terrible wrong.

The community welcomes the intervention

by Venezuela to assist in resolving the issue, but given the grave humanitarian implications of the court ruling, the community cannot allow its relationship with The Dominican Republic to continue as normal…

It cannot be business as usual.”

According to Caricom, it supports the visit of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and will request an advisory opinion from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

The community will also consider the introduction of a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly condemning the ruling.

Moreover, “we call on the global and regional community to pressure the government of The Dominican Republic to adopt urgent measures to ensure that the jaundiced decision of the Constitutional Court does not stand and that the full citizenship rights of persons of Haitian descent born in The Dominican Republic

are guaranteed. The Caribbean Community accords this matter the highest priority.”

Caricom said it was prepared to engage The Dominican Republic but the government of The Dominican Republic must show good faith by immediately taking credible steps as part of an overall plan to resolve the nationality and attendant issues in the shortest possible time.

The Constitutional Court in Santo Domingo has ruled in favour of stripping citizenship from children of Haitian migrants. The decision applies to those born after 1929 – a category that overwhelmingly includes descendants of Haitians brought in to work on farms. But in defending the ruling, Dominican Republic officials said it ends uncertainty for children of Haitian immigrants, allowing them to apply for residency and eventually for citizenship.

The Geneva-based office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on authorities in Santo Domingo to ensure that the ruling did not leave persons of Haitian descent in “constitutional limbo”. A UN-supported study, released this year, estimated that there were around 210,000 Dominican-born people of Haitian descent and another 34,000 born to parents of other nationalities.

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APNU urges govt to set up bipartisan border and security commission

A

mid the recent fallout over the seizure of a seismic vessel and ongoing chatter about the Essequibo, Opposition Leader David Granger on Friday issued a warning to the government to safeguard Guyana against the peril of a renewed Venezuelan position to block economic development in the Essequibo.

Granger said his coalition, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), strongly believes that the move by the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela PC 23 Yekuana vessel to seize RV Teknik Perdana was intended to bar economic development in Essequibo. At the time, the vessel was conducting seismic surveys in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone on October 10 when it was intercepted.

The leader of the opposition said the seizure was unlawful; in particular, the unwarranted use of force goes against the Charter of the United Nations.

Granger suggested that Venezuela’s action is consistent with past occurrences as he alluded to the ‘Essequibo Annexation’. “The Venezuelan government, under President Raúl Leoni Otero (1964-1969), placed an advertisement in the Times newspaper of London on June 15, 1968 to the effect that the Essequibo be-

RV Teknik Perdana, the vessel which was seized by the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela PC 23 Yekuana vessel when it was conducting seismic surveys in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone

longed to Venezuela and that it would not recognise economic concessions granted there by the Guyana government,” Granger explained.

He further stated that President Leoni had also issued Decreto No 1.152 on July 9, 1968 claiming a ninemile wide belt of sea along Guyana’s entire Essequibo coast. Additionally, President Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodriguez (1969-1974) had blocked Guyana’s attempt to permit petroleum exploration rights in the Essequibo to DEMITEX, a German company.

“Mazaruni obstruction”

In flipping back the pages

of history, the opposition leader alluded to the “Mazaruni obstruction” when President Luis Campins prevented the development of the Upper Mazaruni Hydropower project.

Granger explained that “he issued a communiqué in April 1981 stating that, because of “Venezuela’s claim on the Essequibo territory”, it “asserted the rejection of Venezuela to the hydroelectric project of the upper Mazaruni.”

In supporting the Venezuelan government position, Foreign Minister José Alberto Zambrano Velasco wrote a letter giving the President of the World Bank an ultimatum to refrain from financing the Upper Mazaruni

Hydro-Electric Project.

In 1978, President Carlos Andres Perez Rodriguez had indicated Venezuela’s willingness to financially support the hydropower Project, when he visited Guyana. But at the same time, Rodriguez made known his country’s geopolitical interest in gaining access to the Atlantic from the Orinoco delta by offering to reduce the territorial claim to about 31,000 square kilometres in return for the Essequibo coast.

“President Pérez then signed the Treaty between the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Republic of Venezuela on the Delimitation of Marine and Sub-Marine Areas on April 18, 1990 with Prime Minister Arthur Robinson. Both states sought to protect their own economic interests without resorting to a more appropriate multilateral mechanism by consulting Barbados, Grenada and Guyana which the determination of maritime boundaries warranted. Venezuela sought a strategic Salida al Atlántico and Trinidad and Tobago sought access to new areas of potential hydrocarbon resources.”

Despite Venezuela’s generosity, Granger pointed out that the country has never altered its maritime strategy or policy relating to the Essequibo.

Guyanese-Canadian granted privilege to bestow Diamond Jubilee Medal

N

arine Dat Sookram, who received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, came of no surprise to many, because of his love and passion to serve people. However, instead of celebrating that prestigious moment, he did something very unique and a little different.

Sookram actually advocated for the privilege to bestow the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal to other deserving recipients.

When Sookram was asked as to why he did what he did, he said, “I did not like the fact that certain officials received the medal automatically, because I feel as if the medal is deceiving its purpose. I have known of so many deserving recipients and if I do not give a voice to them, I’ll feel as I am depriving the people, especially the ones who have worked so hard behind the scene and have never been recognised for their work.”

Sookram was granted the privilege to present 33 medals, more than anyone in the

tle different compared to the normal formal awards presentation.

Instead, he went directly in a community college, a community church, at work and even in the recipient’s home to present the medal.

Lifetime opportunity

Narine Dat Sookram (left) honouring one of the recipients Devanand Ram

country (Canada) and has presented the medals to deserving recipients from a variety of backgrounds, such as Guyanese Indians, Africans, Portuguese, transgender, the homeless, the young and the old.

Sookram said he took this approach because he believes in diversity and inclusion, but besides, it also fits with the Canadian values.

He said he was also looking for recipients who have some connection with ACTION VISION Charity Association, an organisation he founded two decades ago to help schoolchildren in Guyana and to promote the rich cultural heritage in Canada.

The approach Sookram took in presenting the Diamond Jubilee Medal was a lit-

Sookram said he wanted to give the opportunity to as many people as possible to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity, but also he wanted to motivate others to contribute to the community by utilising their resources and skills to maximise their potential.

Though Sookram received the prestigious medal himself, he said he was more excited to present the medal to the recipients.

“I was able to notice how empowered the recipients were. One of the recipients said to me that ‘I have never thought that I was worthy of such of an award’,” Sookram said.

It is stories like these that make Sookram contiune doing what he loves best, which is to bring out the best of every individual he meets.

“Its quest for access to the Atlantic Ocean is critical to understanding last October’s Yekuana incident,” he posited.

APNU is also calling on Venezuela to comply with Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations for the Pacific Settlement of Disputes and to desist from resorting to force in the Guyana-Venezuela matter. The coalition is also calling on the PPP/ C to adopt a bipartisan approach regarding all territorial matters, as it emphasises the importance of a Border and National Security Commission.

“APNU further calls on Guyana’s diplomats to remain awake and alert so as not to sleepwalk into another economic blockade. Guyanese must not be mesmerised by the mirage of Venezuelan magnanimity.”

APNU Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Debra Backer said, as Venezuela attempts to command naval power, Guyana must remain resolute.

While APNU, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) share different views, all parties must work together to safeguard the integrity of the nation. She stressed that Guyana must have a solid position – a collective position to guard against aggression by Venezuela.

Gouveia blasts political parties for... from page 20

anti-money laundering bill.

“This is the highest display of irresponsibility and recklessness I have seen by our Parliament.

I am extremely disappointed, it’s irresponsible and it is reckless,” Gouveia said as he blasts the three main political parties.

On November 7, the APNU and AFC voted down the bill, despite the government’s attempt to comply with CFATF’s November 18 deadline.

APNU said more work is needed to be done on the bill, although it has not tabled one amendment at the level of the parliamentary special select committee.

Their decisions have now resulted in Guyana being blacklisted.

However, Gouveia is hoping that good sense will prevail before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meets in February 2014.

CFAFT, however, will meet again in May 2014.

Days before the opposition voted down the anti-money laundering bill, the government had announced that a Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) will

be established to investigate financial transactions suspicious of money laundering and financing of terrorism.

It was stated that the unit will also be working closely with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

Procurement commission

Turning his attention to the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), Gouvia said the government must not underestimate the importance of the body.

“The government ought to be told to get off their tail and get the procurement commission up and the Integrity Commission and Office of the Ombudsman up, we need those things as well,” he said.

Less than a week ago, AFC executive member Dominic Gaskin had called for the appointment of the Ombudsman, the establishment of the Human Rights Commission and the Public Procurement Commission.

According to Gaskin, to leave these critical offices vacant is to betray democracy and the oath taken to uphold the Constitution of the country.

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week ending december 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Mothers in Black’ calls for tougher Digicel wins Corporate Citizens enforcement of traffic laws of Americas award charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Bhagwandin was driving the sand truck that crashed into a route 72 minibus, killing four persons on the spot.

According to Dias, there are many more young drivers like Bhagwandin, who have little experience in driving, but are taking up driving jobs in taxi services, driving minibuses and trucks.

By Samuel Sukhnandan

F

ounder of ‘Mothers in Black’ Denise Dias is calling on government to make road safety a national priority, in order to reduce the increasing number of road accidents in Guyana, while lamenting that too many “lil’ boys” were being licensed to drive trucks and busses.

Dias, in a recent interview, told Guyana Times International that while the current administration has made some steps to curb the issue, a more concerted effort is needed for real results.

Dias asserted that unless the matter is addressed in a holistic manner, the issue will continue to be a serious problem. She believes that there are many loopholes in the system, which contributes to unsafe roads.

According to her, the laws are not being enforced enough, and there continues to be high levels of corruption (bribery), among other issues.

“How can we avoid the bribery and corruption?

It’s there and it’s blatant,” she said.

Reports have indicated that Guyana is

Need for retesting

Mothers in Black founder Denise Dias

losing many young people – especially men between the ages of 18-25 – to drunk driving. “And imagine we have youngsters behind the wheel who never had any experience, but they are driving our loved ones in buses and cars.”

There continues to be a high number of drivers who have not gone through driving school, or have even taken the driver’s examination.

On that note, Dias referred to the accident which occurred on the Coverden, East Bank Demerara Public Road that saw Rupesh Bhagwandin, 20, being

The Mothers in Black founder is also calling on government to move swiftly to have minibus and hire car drivers retested. “Let them do the test over. I know people are going to be crying and wailing and saying no, but unfortunately, it’s getting more and more on peoples doorsteps… where we got this can’t happen to me attitude, but it can happen to any family in Guyana, I think that everybody that drives a public vehicle should be called back in and retested, because I know for a fact that many of those people have bought their drivers license.”

Dias said a system should be developed, whereby drivers, when

renewing their licences, would have to retake the test, in order to be issued a new licence. She noted that computerising the system will help to achieve many of these goals, noting that the judicial system is currently inundated with cases of speeding.

It is a known fact that during the Christmas season, the number of road fatality increases.

Dias is therefore pleading with drivers, especially young people, that if they go out to party, they should take a reliable taxi or minibus operator, rather than drive home alone.

Breathalyser progamme

When asked whether she believes that the breathalyser programme of the Guyana Police Force is as effective as it should be, Dias said in some cases it has been effective.

However, she thinks that a proper structure should be put into place.

She explained that in most cases, drunk drivers are out in the evening and suggested that more police presence is needed during that period.

This, she said, is something that has been lacking.

Four Guyanese charged for US$ 50M Ghana cocaine bust F our Guyanese and one Ghanaian pleaded guilty last Friday to charges related to the seizure of a ship carrying tens of millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine, a senior legal official said.

Ghanaian authorities impounded the Guyana-registered MV ATIYAH last Tuesday and arrested the five when they discovered the vessel was carrying 400 kilos (880 pounds) of cocaine worth around US$ 50 million, according to a statement by the Ghana Narcotics Control Board (NACOB).

The five men were charged by a High Court judge with several offences, including engaging in a criminal conspiracy and transportation of narcotics without authority, said an official, who was in court.

“The case was adjourned for three weeks, because the full results of the substance (tests) have not been brought back from the laboratory,” the official said. The men, who were remanded, told the court they could not afford a lawyer, he added.

The vessel was monitored at sea and intercepted with the illegal cargo by anti-narcotics officers working with the Ghana Navy once it entered the country’s territorial waters, NACOB said, without giving further details.

The MV ATIYAH was previous-

ly called “Island Princess”. Reports reaching this newspaper had suggested that the trawler left Guyana on October 22 empty.

The vessel is believed to have been registered as a fishing trawler in James Town, a suburb of Accra, and part of the boat was customised to haul the cocaine.

Guyana Times International understands that the Custom AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) has been working with its counterparts in Ghana to garner information on the bust.

This publication further learnt that CANU is presently hunting for a Guyanese living in the city in whose name the boat was registered. The plumber by trade, who is also a carpenter, is not known to CANU and it is believed that other persons are connected.

Back in 2009, the “Island Princess” was found drifting off the coast of Grenada by the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) after days of no contact. At the time the “Island Princess” disappeared, it was believed that Mahendra “Sunil” Singh, Ryan Chin, Rickford Bannister and Titus Buckery Nascimento were part of the crew.

The bodies of Singh, Chin and Nascimento were later recovered at various locations in the Essequibo River with several gunshot wounds. Later, Prince and Rohan “Jango” Paul, to whom the vessel was contracted, denied that the vessel had any drug links. He had offered Gy$ 5 million for information that could lead him to the vessel, which he felt could have clues as to what happened to the crew on board.

Digicel Haiti Foundation’s CEO Sophia Stransky and head of Projects, Rachel Pierre Champagne

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igicel was named a winner at the 2012/ 13 Corporate Citizens of the Americas (CCA) Award last Wednesday night at a glittering gala in Washington, DC. The CCA awards are an initiative from The Trust for the Americas with support from the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and AES Corporation.

Digicel was named the winner in the Vulnerable Communities Category for its Digicel Foundation education programme in Haiti which sees it on track to build 150 schools by 2014 and deliver training to over 600 teachers who each received more than 450 hours of training, mentorship and professional development.

Other winners were IBM Latin America for its “Corporate Service Corps” programme in the Economic Opportunities Category and CEMEX for its “Comprehensive Assisted Auto Construction” programme in the Citizen Security Category.

The Trust for the Americas is a non-profit organisation affiliated with the Organisation of American States (OAS).

It was established in 1997 to promote public and private sector participation in social and economic development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Its initiatives, implemented through local partner organisations, seek to improve access to economic opportunities for vulnerable communities in the hemisphere.

To this end, the trust also promotes social in-

clusion and good governance.

Commenting on the Digicel Foundation’s work in Haiti, Digicel chairman and founder, Denis O’Brien, said “We are deeply committed to helping the people of Haiti to build a brighter future for themselves.

Our education programme in Haiti sees between 80,000 and 90,000 children being given the opportunity to receive a much-needed education and teachers receiving proper training and support. We would like to thank the Trust of the Americas and its partner organisations for this kind recognition of our efforts.”

Digicel Group Limited is a leading global communications provider with operations in 31 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific.

After 12 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$ 4.5 billion worldwide.

The company is renowned for delivering the best value, the best service and the best network.

Digicel runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel foundations in Jamaica, Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams and individuals, including the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt and Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel also sponsors the West Indies cricket team.

News GPHC gets first emergency specialist

Dr Zulficar Bux

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uyana’s health sector is celebrating another milestone as it receives its first emergency medicine specialist, who will be looking to improve the services of the Accident and Emergency (A& E) Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Dr Zulficar Bux underwent three years of training at the GPHC under the supervision of professionals from the Vanderbilt University, Tennessee, U. S. A. He has been recently appointed head of the hospital’s A& E Unit.

Dr Bux said prior to his training, he recognised that there is a need for improved medical care in emergency medicine and an emergency medicine specialist will be helpful in this regard.

As such, he decided to pursue training through a scholarship from the Vanderbilt University in 2010.

The doctor pointed out that emergency medicine has a prominent place in Guyana, noting that over the years, emergency training has improved at the GPHC in the areas of patient management, and correct and timely diagnosis.

“I’m going to be the leader for the rest of the emergency room with the guidance of the professionals from Vanderbilt.

The idea though, is to move this process forward and to make sure it doesn’t fall apart.

However, the entire change in the emergency room will not be done just by me, I am just here to guide and assist the rest of the residents and work as a team to actually improve the services of the emergency room,” he stated.

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Guyana among world’s top destinations to visit in 2014 N

ational Geographic Traveler magazine has named Guyana on its annual Best of the World list, featuring 20 destinations plus a bonus readers’ choice destination to visit in 2014. The list reflects what is authentic, culturally rich, sustainable and superlative in the world of travel today. The destinations are featured in the December 2013/ January 2014 issue of Traveler magazine, available on newsstands on December 3, and online at travel.nationalgeographic.com/ travel/ besttrips-2014.

“Our annual Best of the World list doesn’t reflect hot spots drawn from celebrity sightings or travel statistics,” said National Geographic Traveler magazine Editor-in- Chief Keith Bellows.

“It reflects the expertise and experience of National Geographic Travel’s huge network of global travel experts. If you want to explore places worth visiting now, this is a great place to start.”

The destinations featured in the 2014 Best of the World list are Alentejo, Portugal; Arbil, Iraq; Bolaven Plateau, Laos; Cacao Trail, Ecuador; Cape Verde; Cathar Country, France; Córdoba, Argentina; Derawan Islands, Indonesia (readers’ choice); Guyana; John Muir Trail, Scotland; Liechtenstein; Nahanni National Park, Canada; New

National Geographic Traveler magazine Editor-in-Chief Keith Bellows

Orleans, Louisiana; Northern Territory, Australia; Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda; Puglia, Italy; Ranthambore National Park, India; Riga, Latvia; Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado; Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Sochi, Russia.

National Geographic Traveler magazine’s global community of writers, editors and explorers selected 20 of the destinations, and for the first time, a readers’ choice submission was also included.

National Geographic Travel is the travel arm of the National Geographic Society, one of the world’s largest non-profit scientif-

ic and educational organisations, founded in 1888.

National Geographic Travel creates meaningful and engaging travel content and experiences through National Geographic Traveler magazine; National Geographic Expeditions; travel books; maps; apps; digital media; and travel photography programmes.

National Geographic Traveler (eight issues per year) is the world’s most widely read travel magazine and has 14 international editions.

It is available by subscription, on newsstands in the U. S. and Canada, and digitally for tablets.

National Geographic Expeditions, the travel programme of the society, offers a variety of unique travel experiences led by top experts to more than 60 destinations across all seven continents.

Travel opportunities include family and student expeditions, active adventures, private jet trips and voyages on the six expedition ships in the National Geographic-Lindblad fleet, as well as photography workshops, expeditions and seminars.

The National Geographic Travel digital group offers inspiring and authoritative digital travel and adventure content such as trip ideas, photo galleries, blogs and apps. National Geographic Travel Books bring readers curated travel advice and inspiration.

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Jagdeo, UN Secretary General discuss urgent need for climate action

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ollowing last week’s presentation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, former President Bharrat Jagdeo has travelled to Warsaw, Poland – the location of this year’s United Nations (UN) climate meeting.

In Warsaw, the former president has joined with other world leaders to emphasise the urgency of global action on cli-

mate change.

On Wednesday morning, he met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki- moon to specifically focus on the needs of the smallest and most vulnerable states, including those in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). The former president supported Nauru’s delegation, who currently holds the chair of AOSIS, in their conversations with the secretary general about the

threats to their members.

Jagdeo also briefed the secretary general on the discussions about climate finance that took place among Commonwealth Heads of Government – and they specifically addressed the report of the Commonwealth Expert Group on Climate Finance, which the former president chaired.

Speaking after the meeting, Jagdeo echoed

Former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo is greeted by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at Caricom member states Mini Summit with the UN secretary general on September 26, 2009 in New York (file photo)

a theme he had stressed with the Commonwealth heads of government – the need for heads of government engagement if climate change is to be addressed.

Heads of govt issue

He said “The world has committed to finalising a legally binding climate agreement by 2015 - that is now just two years away. If we are to have a chance of averting catastrophic climate change, climate change has to become a heads of government issue between now and then.

"Leaving it to environment ministers or officials will be inadequate. That is why I fully support Secretary General Ban Kimoon’s plans for a Climate Summit in New York next year,” said Jagdeo.

At the same time, the former president emphasised that the international community could do much more between now and 2015 to make a practical difference for the world’s most vulnerable countries.

He said: “In my engagements with the

leaders of AOSIS, they emphasised their practical needs today – not in 2015. There is a lot the world can do to help the world’s most vulnerable countries. Negotiations for a post-2015 agreement are an important part of that.

"But so are practical interventions today, to help build hurricane-proof hospitals and schools; to make agriculture and other economic activities more resilient to climate events; to create new financial mechanisms that make clean energy more attractive.

"These are practical solutions that can be delivered today. Not only do they make moral and economic sense – but they are indispensable to building trust within the international community that the world is serious about addressing climate change,” he said.

In parallel with his advocacy for the more vulnerable countries, the former president continued to highlight the important role that forests can play in future climate solutions. On several occasions, he emphasised the power of partnerships between developed countries and forest countries on deforestation.

Ambitious partnership

He joined an announcement by the governments of Colombia, Norway, the UK and Germany, which will be working together through an ambitious partnership to provide performance-based payments across Colombia’s Amazon region.

This partnership potentially covering 40 million hectares of the Amazon - will join with Brazil’s Amazon Fund and Guyana’s national forest mechanism to significantly expand the proportion of the Amazon that is generating payments for climate services.

At the same meeting, the governments of the U. S., UK, Germany and Norway announced their commitment of US$ 280 million to a new World Bank Bio-Carbon Fund to support more sustainable agriculture in countries like Colombia and

Indonesia.

Jagdeo praised both Colombia’s vision and the new donor programme, and highlighted the importance of continuing to spread the good examples of partnership that are starting to emerge.

The meeting was addressed via video by U. S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who emphasised the importance of tackling deforestation as part of a global climate agreement – points which were also picked up the UK secretary of state for the environment, Ed Davies, Chief U. S. Negotiator Todd Stern, Indonesian Presidential Advisor Pak Heru and the Norwegian and German environment ministers.

High- level event

On Thursday night, the former president attended a high-level event hosted by the Indonesian government; whose US$ 1 billion forest programme is one of the three largest in the world (the other two being in Brazil and Guyana).

The former president joined the Indonesian and Norwegian environment ministers, as well as the head of the United Nations Environment Programme Achim Steiner as the Indonesian government provided a detailed overview of their work to date.

The former president spoke again of the importance of leadership from forested countries such as Indonesia and spoke of how Guyana was starting to see the fruits of several years of hard work as funds from the Guyana-Norway partnership start to flow into Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

However, he highlighted that partnerships should not be limited to countries like Indonesia, Guyana, Brazil and Colombia, but should include countries in Africa which were left out.

He also re-iterated the importance of a functional REDD+ mechanism in a global climate agreement, noting that negotiations to achieve this were ongoing in Warsaw and must be completed there.

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NEW GPC Inc/Limacol CPL cops tourism investment award

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he NEW GPC INC/ Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) on Wednesday evening copped the President’s Award for Investment in Tourism, as the Tourism Ministry hosted its annual awards ceremony at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

The award comes as NEW GPC continues to demonstrate vision and courage in investing its resources in the tourism sector.

NEW GPC was successful in its bid for the Guyana franchise for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and subsequently secured the title sponsorship for the T20 tournament resulting in the event being renamed Limacol CPL. The Guyana Amazon Warriors were one of six teams who participated and one of the finalists in the recently concluded inaugural Limacol CPL. The team were named in keeping with Guyana’s pursuit of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which has as one of its core objectives, the preservation

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, and Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) President Christopher Nascimento pose with the Guyana Tourism Awardees 2013 on Wednesday evening at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown

of the Amazon rainforest and the environment in general.

The Limacol CPL was based on a franchise system similar to that used by the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other professional sports. The Amazon Warriors team comprised both local and international players, coached by Roger Harper, former West Indies all-rounder, and legendary fast bowler Curtly Ambrose.

With Limacol CPL being beamed across the globe, tourism stakeholders concurred that the investment would have given Guyana tremendous international tourism exposure.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, currently performing presidential duties, presented the awards to two representatives of the NEW GPC – Marketing Manager Trevor Bassoo and Human Resources

Manager Faye SmarttScott.

In an invited comment, Basso stated that the company is “elated” to have been nominated for, and eventually won, the award. He said the award comes at an opportune time and the company welcomes the honour.

Over the years, the NEW GPC has been supporting cricket in particular and sports in general throughout Guyana.

Basso told Guyana Times International that the Limacol CPL 2013 was, by far, one of the largest and most celebrated events across the Caribbean.

“On behalf of the executive chairman, the board of directors, management and staff of NEW GPC, I want to thank Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, the Tourism Ministry and the Guyana Tourism Authority for the award,” Bassoo said.

Several other persons and companies were also given awards for their outstanding contributions to the tourism sector. Colin Edwards received the award for Pillar of Tourism Industry; Leon Moore was named the Tour Guide of the Year; and the Tourism Entrepreneur Award went to Frank Singh.

Leader of the popular Tradewinds band, Dave Martins was given the Tourism Ambassador Award and the Mangrove Reserve Producers Co-op was given the Most Outstanding Community Tourism Project Award. Stacey Dos Santos-Rahaman received the Destination Guyana Promotion Award and Conservation International, the Community Based Tourism Development Award. The tourism recognition awards went to Grand Coastal Inn for Service in Tourism Establishment, Loaknath Singh of King’s Jewellery World for International Event Promotion, and Garage De Eenhied for the Largest Inbound Operator.

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NEW GPC INC/Limacol Marketing Manager Trevor Bassoo and Human Resources Manager Faye Smartt-Scott (centre) receive the President’s Award for Investment in Tourism, which was bestowed on the company in the presence of Prime Minister Hinds and Minister Ali

Minister Ali presenting the Destination Guyana Promotion Award to Stacy Dos Santos-Rahaman

Prime Minister Hinds, Minister Ali with the Ontario Cricket Team

Looknauth Persaud of King's Jewellery World is honoured with the Tourism Recognition for International Event Award

THAG President Christopher Nascimento presenting the Tour Guide of the Year Award to Leon Moore

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‘No record of U.S couple’s adoption application’ – Greene

A

n American couple in Knoxville, Tennessee have started a fundraising drive in their hometown to complete the adoption of a child from Guyana, but the Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency in Guyana, Ann Greene

is maintaining that the agency which overlooks all adoptions has “absolutely no record of the couple making any application to adopt a child in Guyana”.

The couple Allen and Stephanie Harden have launched a website to raise over US$15,000 to

offset all the expenses of the adoption. But in Guyana there are no fees attached to adoptions.

Persons looking to make adoptions would have to make court filings once they would have been approved but there is no way those fees would amount to anything close

to the figures.

The Harden family were reporting as telling the media that the adoption is being processed through an American adoption agency based in Texas. They said they were sent documents from that agency which shows a breakdown of the costs and among the costs they are being charged by the agency, are costs for adoption services in Guyana.

The Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency says that her agency has no record of the agency making any application for any adoption. She explained too that it must be made clear that in Guyana there are no costs attached to the adoption of children.

“We do not charge

Allen and Stephanie Harden

for adopting children.

There are no costs. The persons adopting once they would have been approved would have to take on court and legal costs but this agency does not charge for adopting children. That does not happen and we have no record of that family’s name in any adoption document”, Ms. Greene said.

The Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency is concerned about the reports of the family being charged in Guyana for the adoption. She said even if the couple come through an agency, their names would have to be submitted to the agency.

Ms. Greene said her officers will continue going through records to see if

there is any trace of the American couple’s names or the agency that is representing them.

Allen and Stephanie Harden appeared on one of the television newscasts in Tennessee talking about their efforts to adopt a child from Guyana.

They have launched a fund-raising website to assist them with the costs and also have plans to visit Guyana as part of the adoption process explained to them by the agency in Texas.

On the agency’s website, Guyana is listed as one of eight countries where it has “Waiting Child programs available”. The agency boasts of having facilitated 8,000 adoptions worldwide.

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By Deomattie Seeram

T

he village of Enmore, known during the 19th century as Plantation Enmore, plays an integral part in the history of Guyana. Located in Region Four, on the East Coast of Demerara, it is about two square miles, 16 miles away from the capital city Georgetown, and comprises about 3,000 residents.

Enmore, in the 19th Century, was primarily a cotton and sugar plantation, owned by Henry Porter. The estate became a community sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s when villagers were granted plots of land. These plots of land were an upgrade from the primitive logies (mud huts) of the old village, which bunched together.

The village is wellknown for the Enmore martyrs incident, which marked the turning point in industrial relations within the sugar industry and heralded the improvement of working conditions.

On Thursday, June 16, 1977, the Enmore Martyrs Monument was

Speaking to 82-year-old Latchman Bissessar who was born in Enmore

result of the numerous riots, murders, vandalism, looting and civil disputes. Enmore was populated with a further one thousand refugees from neighbouring villages during these riots, and between 1964 and 1965 was able to satisfy the basic needs of the refugees, but became taxed and impoverished.

In 1970, a community centre was added under the control of Bookers’ Sugar Estate and soon after, community leaders were permitted control of the centre. Today, it is owned and operated by the community.

In 1992, Guyana became a democratic state

the sugar estate. He recalled people on the plantation saying that Henry Porter was a kind person. He remembers that as a child growing up on the Estate everyone lived like one big family. No one referred to each other by name but as “maa”, “pita”, “chacha”, “chachee”, “didi”, and “bhai”.

Plantation life was very rough in the older days, and he remembers the logies, which his and other families lived, this made of wood, had a mud floor and a zinc roof. The logies were divided into rooms and each room was given to a family. They could not

Nursery school in Enmore

unveiled by the then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the death of the 5 gallant sugar workers.

The monument stands raised on a concrete base six feet high with five repetitive verticals each adorned with brass symbols reminiscent of cutlasses and inscribed with the names of the 5 martyrs. There is also a plaque designed by Guyanese artist Stanley Greaves, cast by BACIF (Brass Aluminium and Cast Iron Foundry).

In the 1950s, Enmore steadily developed and within a decade, its population more than doubled.

In 1964, political strife between Indians and Africans emerged, and government and economy came to a standstill. Enmore was forced to segregate its people.

This segregation was a

with a change in government and ruling political party. Development in Enmore began again after twenty-eight years of stagnation.

But overpopulation had once again become a problem and the current government has begun selling lands east and west of Enmore to its residents, bringing relief to the overcrowded community.

In the beginning, the culture of Enmore resembled very much that of India, but as African and Chinese populated the village, a slight variety was added. After the 1964 riots, Enmore became an Indo-Guyanese village. However, over the years Indians lost their mother tongue and the English language, with a slight Creole touch, has replaced it.

Latchman Bissessar an eldery villager, 82, was born and grew up on

afford beds and so slept on the floor. They used latrines which were not private and more than one person went at a time- there were no bathrooms. Cooking was done on fireside. Water for drinking, cooking, washing and all other household chores had to be fetched from the trenches, through which sugar cane punts were channelled. This water, he recalled, was black water.

There was also a hospital that provided free medical services and a school for the children.

Bissessar started working on the sugar estate at 13, in the building and maintenance department at a daily rate of 48 cents. A few years after, he was told by the estate’s management that he was no longer needed in that department and was left with no other option but to cut cane. This work he said was very

hard for him as he was not accustomed to it. He recalls the strike of 1948 to be a famous event where the workers completely stopped working on the estate. He said luckily for him, when the shooting took place, he was in Georgetown, but recalled the news spread like wild fire. He will ever be grateful for the sacrifice made by those martyrs.

Latchman’s wife, 76-year-old Jamunah Devi, moved to Enmore in 1968 after they married. She recalls walking from the estate to the train station to go to Georgetown, and also remembers that they had planted a kitchen garden to get vegetables to eat. She assisted her husband’s family in rice

need arises they are still helpful to each other.

Eighty-seven-yearold Joyce Persaud was another Enmore resident who shared her story. She was born in Kitty but moved to Enmore at the age of 16, after she got married. Her father was from Hyderabad and her father-in-law from Punjab. She attended the same school as the late LFS Burnham, and was friends with his sister. Joyce was a teacher for “Second Standard” for about two years, before she was married.

Life was difficult for Joyce after moving to Enmore because she was accustomed to good roads, potable water and electricity, which were available in Kitty. She assisted her husband

Satsanghs.

The health sector in Enmore today comprises a poly clinic, estate dispensary and two pharmacies. The religious community consists of two mosques, four mandirs and four churches.

There are three nursery schools: Blossom Scheme Nursery, Hope Nursery and Ghandi Nursery. The two primary schools are Enmore Newtown Primary and Hope Primary. The private schools are Ebascol, Institute of Business Education and Enmore Islamic Academy.

The business community here is quite large: there are bakeries, hardware stores, restaurants and beverage distribution outlets in Enmore.

The Enmore estate is the

The community centre

cultivation but after a number of years the rice factory stopped purchasing paddy, and the Bissessars had to start planting fruit trees.

Bissessar and his wife are both happy about the many infrastructural developments that have taken place from the 1970s to present. They are happy that there are better housing accommodations, potable water, better roads, and easy access to transportation, electricity, and health care through the Poly Clinic in Enmore.

They said life in Enmore is a lot better today than it was in the olden days.

They have found that people strive to keep the community clean, and though the residents do not live as closely-knit as before, whenever the

with the rice cultivation while he worked as a cane cutter on the sugar estate. She remembers the estate having a distillery. She said that the paddy was transported by donkey cart and sold to the rice factory which was located in Lusignan.

She also sewed her family’s clothes.

She also recalls that in the “olden days” you could have scolded anyone’s child but not today.

What she is happy about is that today, when villagers are called upon for help in situations of need, they respond quite willingly.

Today, Joyce walks from her home in Haslington, extreme south, to the Enmore Shiv Mandir of which she is a devotee. She is also a devout singer at

site of a brand new packaging plant that packages high quality sugar mainly for export. The community also houses a community centre ground and a building with gym and library facilities. The village is made secure by the presence of a police station.

A playground is being built for the children of Enmore where the first village puja was done under a peepal tree. Though the original tree is no longer there, residents have planted a replacement tree. Looking at all these developments and the way the residents of Enmore live, one can definitely see that this is a thriving village. (First Published in 2013 Horizons Guyana Magazine)

Plantation Enmore, East Coast Demerara circa 1900

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Thanksgiving 2013 TV Schedule: Movies and Turkey Day specials to watch on Thursday, Nov. 28

T

V on Thanksgiving isn’t just football! After a hard day of working in the kitchen (and devouring an extravagant dinner), kick back and unbutton your pants for some holiday specials and movies that will be playing throughout Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 28.

TIME: 8:00 a.m.

Hallmark – “The Thanksgiving House” – A new homeowner must fight to keep her house from turning into a historic site after discovering the first Thanksgiving took place there. (2013) TIME: 9:00 a.m.

CBS – “Thanksgiving Day Parade” – Watch Kevin Frazier and Thea Andrews anchor with performances by Lady Antebellum and the casts of Broadway’s “Cinderella,” “First Date” and “A Night With Janis Joplin.”

NBC – “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” – Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie anchor with performances by Kristin Chenoweth, Gavin DeGraw, Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Fallon and the Roots, Goo Goo Dolls, Ariana Grande, Megan Hilty and Kellie Pickler.

ABC – “The 6ABC Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day parade” – Watch the 94th annual parade through Philadelphia.

CW – “March of The Wooden Soldiers” – 1934 movie.

Disney – “Toy Story 3” – 2010 movie.

TIME: 11:00 a.m.

TBS – “Friends” – Watch fan favorite Thanksgiving episode, “The One with the Football.”

ABC Family – “Nanny McPhee” – 2005 movie.

Comedy Central – “South Park” – Watch fan favorite Christmas episode, “Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo.” (airing at 11:11 a.m.)

TIME: 11:30 a.m.

TBS – “Friends” – Watch fan favorite Thanksgiving episode, “The One with Chandler in the Box.” AMC – “The Godfather” – 1972 movie Comedy Central – “South Park” – Watch fan favorite Christmas episode, “Merry Christmas, Charlie Manson!” (airing at 11:42 a.m.)

TIME: Noon NBC – “National Dog Show” – Two thousand dogs representing over 150 breeds compete for the winning title.

TBS – “Friends” – Watch fan favorite Thanksgiving episode, “The One with the Thanksgiving Flashbacks.”

FX – “Kung Fu Panda” – 2008 movie.

Comedy Central – “South Park” – Watch fan favorite Christmas episode, “A Very Crappy Christmas.” (airing at 12:12 p.m.)

TIME: 12:30 p.m.

TBS – “Friends” – Watch fan favorite Thanksgiving episode, “The One Where Ross Got High.”

Comedy Central – “South Park” – Watch fan favorite Thanksgiving episode, “Helen Keller! The Musical.”

TIME: 1:00 p.m.

ABC Family – “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” – 2004 movie.

WE TV – “Will & Grace” – Watch Thanksgiving episode “Lows in the MidEighties: Part 1.”

TBS – “Friends” – Watch fan favorite Thanksgiving episode, “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs.”

MTV – “Nightmare before Christmas” – 1993 movie. (airing at 1:09 p.m.)

Comedy Central – “Coneheads” – 1993 movie. (airing at 1:11 p.m.)

TIME: 1:30 p.m.

WE TV – “Will & Grace” – Watch Thanksgiving episode “Lows in the Mid-

Eighties: Part 2.”

TBS – “Friends” – Watch fan favorite Thanksgiving episode with Brad Pitt in “The One with the Rumor.”

TIME: 2:00 p.m.

NBC – “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” – repeat FX – “Kung Fu Panda 2” – 2011 movie.

WE TV – “Will & Grace” – Watch Thanksgiving episode “Moveable Feast: Part 1.”

TBS – “Friends” -- Watch fan favorite Thanksgiving episode with Christina Applegate in “The One with Rachel’s Other Sister.”

Hallmark – “A Family Thanksgiving” – A career-driven attorney learns the importance of family thanks to a mystical stranger. (2010 movie) TIME: 2:30 p.m.

TBS – “Friends” -- Watch fan favorite Thanksgiving episode, “The One with the late Thanksgiving.”

WE TV – “Will & Grace” – Watch Thanksgiving episode “Moveable Feast: Part 2.”

TIME: 3:00 p.m.

CW – “March of the Wooden Soldiers” – 1934 movie.

ESPN – “World Series of Poker” – Wsop Apac Series: Caesars Cup. TIME: 3:30 p.m.

AMC – “The Godfather, Part II” – 1974 movie.

Syfy – “The World Is Not Enough” – 1999 movie.

TIME: 4:00 p.m.

FX – “Kung Fu Panda” – 2008 movie.

ABC Family – “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” – 2005 movie.

Hallmark – “Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade” – Sparks fly between a woman planning Chicago’s Thanksgiving parade and a consultant brought in to keep “the

event’s expenses in check.” (2012 movie) Lifetime – “Because I Said So” – 2007 movie.

TIME: 4:30 p.m.

VH1 – “Sixteen Candles” – 1983 movie.

Bravo – “Legally Blonde” – 2001 movie.

TIME: 5:00 p.m.

E! – “Mrs. Doubtfire” – 1993 movie.

TIME: 6:00 p.m.

FX – “Kung Fu Panda 2” – 2011 movie.

Lifetime – “A Walk To Remember” – 2002 movie.

Nick – “Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed – 2004 movie.

Syfy – “Die Another Day” – 2002 movie.

Hallmark – “The Thanksgiving House” – 2013 movie.

TIME: 6:30 p.m.

VH1 – “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” – 2009 movie.

Bravo – “How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days” – 2003 movie.

TIME: 8:00 p.m.

CBS – “The Big Bang Theory” – Watch a fan favorite Christmas episode, “The Santa Simulation.”

Fox – “The X Factor” – Live show.

ABC – “Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” – 1973 movie.

DISC – “Punkin Chunkin 2013” – Watch a new episode to see which engineer can launch a pumpkin the farthest.

Disney – “Despicable Me” – 2010 movie.

TIME: 9:00 p.m.

Fox – “Glee” – new episode.

TIME: 9:30 p.m.

ABC – “Lady Gaga & The Muppets’ Holiday Spectacular” – Lady Gaga performs songs from her new album, “ARTPOP,” with members of the Muppets.

(Taken from International Business Times online edition)

Overseas-based Guyanese gives back to childhood community

I

t is commendable when Guyanese who have left their homeland years ago return to give back to their communities. One such notable person is Ganesh Ramraj, who was born, and grew up in, Independence Boulevard in La Penitence.

Ganesh migrated to Canada when he was 23 years old. After much soul searching as an adult, and overcoming a few of life’s challenges, Ganesh decided it was time to return home to give back to his childhood community.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, the philanthropist said his initiative, Youth Development Projects, is the starting point of his vision to help in developing his community and eventually expand his efforts countrywide.

“My motto is, ‘Building communities one child at a time’. My objective is to help children in my childhood community and the West

Ganesh Ramraj

La Penitence area, also known as the “island”, to have opportunities I didn’t have as a child. I see racial division within the communities; that is why I am focused on providing children with the necessary guidance they need to become individuals who effect changes within their communities,” he pointed out.

Through his projects, Ganesh mentioned that his aim is to foster lasting relationships among children because he believes by doing this there will be fewer conflicts and violence, where everyone will work cohesively and as a result will ultimate-

ly build the community.

“The community I grew up in was known for its violent nature, but I hope with these initiatives, this will eventually be erased. For the past eight years I am doing this, and I have seen improvements in these areas. Over the years I was able to transform dumpsites into playgrounds.

I have evidence of injuries on my body sustained while playing because of the garbage people once threw where the playgrounds are now.

But now they are cleared and safe for playing. It is still work in progress as I work assiduously to do more in transforming these playgrounds. I have cleared two playgrounds and now working on the third one,” Ganesh outlined.

Noting the medical help needed in his community, Ganesh has brought medical professionals who have rendered voluntary aid. He said they were impressed with the work he is doing and willingly offered

their services for free.

Ganesh has also donated sporting equipment such boxing and soccer gears and continues to do this whenever he raises funds.

Additionally, around Diwali he welcomes over 500 persons to his

in centre. With increased funds, which he hopes to raise when he gets back to Canada, he would like to also set up a projector for movie nights at the playgrounds with the intent of bringing the community together.

Ganesh noted that his

for as long as I can. Some of my friends in Canada, who have visited and saw my outreach work, also share my sentiments and promise to do whatever they can to help me do more for my community.

I also work with my relatives in Guyana who help

A playground being built by Ganesh in his childhood community

home in Independence Boulevard to celebrate the festivities of that holiday. Lovingly called “coach” in his community, Ganesh stated that whenever he visits he would plan fun and entertaining activities for children at the playgrounds and over 100 of them would attend.

His next plan is to build a community drop-

humanitarian work gives him inner strength, renewed passion and motivation to keep doing what he loves. According to Ganesh, his work in his community gives him “life”.

“Life is about enjoying doing things you love and a passion for doing it without even looking at the return. All I want is happiness and I will do it

me to distribute items and maintain the playgrounds. I am grateful to Dexter Kosh, Robin David, Eon Souvenir and Jamal Morgan for their invaluable support,” he declared.

For more information on Ganesh’s charitable efforts email ganesh_jag@hotmail.com (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Feature

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The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

2012 Guyana Prize for Literature VII

By Petamber Persaud

(Extract of an interview with Cassia Alphonso, October 2013, Georgetown, Guyana.

Alphonso won the 2012 Guyana Prize for Literature in the category of poetry, a shared-prize with Dr Ian McDonald) PP Guide us through this phrase – winning the Guyana

go on to win – I was overwhelmed.

PP There are a number of things we can read into this Guyana Prize – for the first time in the history of the prize, four locally based writers have won, and three of the four winning entries were manuscripts. So it is like a new era, a new beginning for Guyanese literature and you are part of this new movement. You

tween Georgetown and Pomeroon.

PP So that’s how we have a poem called “lime picking” CA Yes, that’s funny because we have a citrus farm up the Pomeroon River and that to me is my most favourite place to be in – so peaceful and quiet and everything, and my mom used to explain to me what happens when “plimpa” gets into

her about them, I guess because I was little then and had no sort of filter, and she explained she used to work in the cane fields. We talked a lot about her marriage and her kids and things of that nature, so I got to understand her. And over the years, my view of her changed, so ‘Aunty Baby’ came out of that experience. ‘Maddie Carla’ was someone I don’t actually

time. I wrote about her – that was kind of funny but sad at the same time.

‘Miss Claudenne’ is about something that has happened to a few women and I captured all of that in this one poem.

PP Were you aware you were writing as described by the chief judge?

CA Some of it, yes.

But you know what I learnt by being in workshops what you read in

What’s happening: • “An Introduction to Guyanese Literature” is now available from the above contacts and at the National Library.

This book is an up-to-date guide featuring significant literary landmarks from the 16th century to the new millennium. This 150-page book including over 100 photographs is an attempt at bringing

The 2012 Guyana Prize for Literature poetry category winner Cassia Alphonso, (third from right) who shares the category prize with Ian Mc Donald, poses with (l –r) Al Creighton, secretary of the Guyana Prize for Literature; Professor Jane Bryce chairman of the panel of judges; President Donald Ramotar; University of Guyana VC Professor Jacob Opadeyi, and other prize winners Ruel Johnson, Ian Mc Donald, Mosa Mathifa Telford and Chaitram Singh.

Prize for Literature in the category of poetry with your manuscript “Black Cake Mix” which captured people and places from the Pomeroon to Cuffy Monument...

CA (Delightful giggle) PP There you go – conjuring images you have created in your poetry. And there are some exceptional pieces but before we go into the poems let me read what the chief judge had to say: “Alphonso’s poetic range includes dramatic monologues, dialogues and first person narratives which form a device in which she clarifies an imaginative world. She tackles big subjects from an original but also acceptable perspective, using words carefully to create rhythm and flow and with an eye on social history. She is concerned about language and the representation of power which means she seeks to allow things to be themselves. She does not use language to contain, reduce or to claim power over others. Alphonso’s poems are real - tangible and material and sensuously enjoyable.”Then she declared you as the winner [a prize shared with Ian McDonald]. How did you feel at that moment?

CA It felt like a dream. It felt unreal. I didn’t think that I would even make the shortlist for the category I entered – it was a manuscript – and I wasn’t even a published writer! So when I made the shortlist, I was so surprised; and then to

are a new guide [in our literature]; now guide us through these poems.

CA Well, the whole collection is titled “Black Cake Mix”, taking the name from one of my poems. I so named the collection because that poem is my favourite – it’s about my relationship with my mom, which I find very sacred and very valuable. And black cake is a Guyanese thing, that’s what we’re known for; when Guyanese come home from the diaspora, they look forward to a good Guyanese Black Cake. So the title captures Guyana – most of my poems are like odes to Guyana, the people, the places; stories I heard from relatives and filter into my poetry.

PP And the language?

CA I tried, I really tried writing dialect in my poetry for the Guyana Prize because it was mentioned that the judges would come from all over the world; so I wanted to design it so that anyone from anywhere could relate to it.

PP And you did just that...

CA Yes because we all have relatives and friends, we all make errors, we have met memorable characters, we all have good and bad moments in our lives and “Black Cake Mix” is about all these things....

PP Cassia, you are from the Pomeroon....

CA My mom is from Charity and my dad grew up in the Pomeroon, so Pomeroon is a great part of me although most my life I spend be-

your finger while picking fruits (I didn’t write thorn in my poem) is because this is what I know about...

PP ...And “tambrin balls” and “Castor Oil Holiday”.

CA (clearing throat) Every Christmas and sometimes during summer especially during July/August, my mom would make my brothers and I drink castor oil – it was the worst experience ever, and my brothers, there is one in particular, would not be moved because it was so horrible and we knew it was coming, come Christmas, we knew it was coming, we knew before hand that it has to come and we had to drink it. So...ugh... even now to think about it makes my stomach turn.

PP It was a good thing you had the lime farm...

CA Yes, it came in useful to take the taste away. But nothing could take the taste of castor oil out – nothing, not all the oranges or limes...

PP Cassia, you have also created a number of characters in your poetry like ‘Miss Claudene’, ‘Maddie Clara’ and ‘Aunty Baby’, real characters – not flat descriptions of people; they are alive, full of life.

CA ‘Auntie Baby’ was like my mom’s second mom and she was really close to us and she was like a grandmother. But she passed now; she was amazing. In that poem, I wrote about her toes because her toes were very interesting because they always looked clamped down, so I asked

know but I have seen – I like looking at people – so I would look at her and try to image what she was thinking. She was always in this one position, so I wondered what she was thinking all time, sitting in one place all the

your work is not the only way to see it; others may see it differently.... (To be continued) Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

to the fore little known facts about lesser known aspects of our literature.

The big books, the big authors and the big success stories in Guyanese literature are also featured.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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fun time

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This week's Crossword

J k es

Frankly speaking

May I take your order?" the waitress asked.

"Yes, how do you prepare your chickens?"

"Nothing special sir," she replied, "we just tell them straight out that they're going to die."

Musings

1. Life is too short to remove the USB safely.

2. A clean tie always attracts the soup of the day.

3. Money can’t buy you happiness but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.

The thinker

Q: Why did the boy stare at the orange juice container for 15 minutes?

A: It said "concentrate".

The diagnosis

A man goes to the doctor and says: “Doctor, wherever I touch, it hurts.”

“What do you mean?” Doctor asks “When I touch my shoulder, it really hurts. If I touch my knee - OUCH! When I touch my forehead, it really, really hurts.”

“I know what’s wrong with you - you’ve broken your finger!” Doctor replies.

Riddles for kids

Where do geologists go for entertainment?

To rock concerts.

What did the candle say when he was down on his luck?

I’m at my wick’s end.

What happened to the boy who drank eight cokes?

He burped 7-Up.

The lucky gent

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 46

There is a mental institution that every year picks two of its most reformed patients and questions them. If they get the questions right they are free to leave.

This year the two lucky gents were Patty and Mike. They were called down to the office and left there by the orderly. They were told to wait as the doctor got their files.

The doctor came out and motioned for Patty to come in for his questioning. When Patty came into the office he was instructed to sit in the seat across from the doctor.

"Patty you know the tradition of this institution so I imagine you know why you are here. You will be asked two questions, and if you get them right, you will be free to go. Do you understand all that you have been told?" said the doctor with a rather sly grin.

Patty nodded and the doctor began to question him. The first question was this. "Patty if I was to poke out one of your eyes what would happen?"

"I would be half blind of course," Patty answered without much thought.

"What would happen if I poked out the other eye?"

"I would be completely blind," said Patty knowing that he had just gotten his freedom.

The doctor then sent him outside while he drew up the paperwork and accessed Mike files.

When Patty got into the waiting room however, he told Mike what the questions would be and what the correct answers were.

The doctor calls in Mike and he followed the same procedure that he had with Patty. "Mike the first question is what would happen if I cut off your ear?"

"I would be blind in one eye," he said remembering what he had been told.

This received a perplexed look from the doctor but he just simply asks the other question so that he could figure out what the man was thinking. "Mike, what would happen if I cut off your other ear?"

"I would be completely blind," he answered with a smile as if he knew he had passed.

But then the doctor asked him what his reasoning was, and he said flatly, "My hat would fall down over my eyes."

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arts & Culture

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A

group of talented and vibrant dramatists, the Buxton Arts Theatre are adamant on showing that great talent can come out from a village that regularly faces stigmatization.

The group of youths are known for their thrilling and comedic performances wherever they goes. The recent play, “Mother Island” written

by Uso Telford and directed by Chrisandrea Limburgh-Fernandes, received many accolades from the audience at the Drama Festival held at the National Cultural Centre. Although it was

unable to cop an award, the audience were totally in love with the group’s “unforgettable” performance.

The group started about six years ago with just a few and have grown to now have about 18 members. In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Uso Telford, vice president of the group, said a group of very close friends who share a similar love for acting formed the group.

“Most of us grew up acting in church. It is something that comes naturally. We would usually do plays in our church and at church

events. Basically the drama is a spin-off from our acting in church. We have held concerts in Buxton and have participated in the National Drama at National Cultural Centre for our third year now,” stated Telford.

Members include president Trevon Graham, secretary Chrisandrea LimburghFernandes, treasurer Renautha Sampson, assistant treasurer Tia Telford, public relations officers Jermaine Walton and Zola Telford, also Donelle Phillips, Alistair Cozier, Timmeker Porter, Jason Fortunes and Sharona Pundt.

Some of the Buxton Arts Theatre members

Telford, a writer and dramatist, mentioned that through the group they have gained the respect of certain notable members in the performing arts arena. The group’s activities have also brought members

closer and have also built their confidence.

“Our group also provide an extra activity for children who would otherwise have been occupied with bad activities.

They enjoy the training and friendship we offer,” said Jermaine Walton, the group’s public relations officer.

The members noted that all plays they have written have a message at the end as they aim to encourage youths to follow the straight path and build their self-esteem while entertaining. They view the fun of putting together plays and concerts as a “therapy session” and “stress relief after a hard day’s work”.

The group’s members are either fulltime employees or University of Guyana students.

However, the members pointed out that they always dedicate time to meeting in evenings so as to promote and develop the group’s talents.

“Through the art of drama we are showing that we are a force to reckon with. Regardless of the community we come from and the stigma attached to it, through our work we show that not only bad things come from Buxton. Buxton has talent and educated youths. Within our group we have learnt from each other because we don’t have the backings of professionals. We have also shown that we are good as any group in Georgetown. We would welcome assistance but they don’t seek us out. We were somewhat discouraged to participate in the Drama Festival this year because so far we haven’t received any awards for our performance although the audience totally loved us. However, we made up our minds to not allow that to stop us from showcasing our talents and we will continue to do so,” declared the vice president.

Members also claim that they have seen an amount of “prejudice” and “favouritism”

at events such as the Drama Festival but they are determined to continue to showcase their talents for the dramatic arts and to eventually take their performances countrywide.

“We want to keep concerts in other venues.

Recently, we added the art of dancing and drumming and we’re pleasantly amazed at the talents coming out of Buxton.

We also hope to take what we know to schools and encourage students to develop a love for the performing arts,” expressed Telford.

Currently, the members are trying to raise funds, most likely taking from their personal savings, to continue their feeding project. This is an annual initiative during Christmas time to hand out goodies to the homeless and needy in Georgetown. This will be their 7th year.

“Last year we identified three persons in Buxton and donated hampers. It totally brought us joy to see how happy they were to receive them. I hope we can get more funds to keep on doing this and even cover a larger population,” Telford related.

Also in planning is their annual “Skin teeth nah done yet” event scheduled for December in Buxton. Last year, the members said they had an overwhelming response and encore performance.

“Persons were literally falling out their chairs with laughter and were calling us back for more.

Seeing this has renewed our confidence that what we are doing brings joy and laughter to people and so we will continue to do so. Although we are not getting the support and exposure this talented group deserves we are determined to press on in developing our talents,” Telford affirmed.

For more information on this group visit Buxton Arts Theatre on Facebook. (Guyana Time Sunday Magazine)

Feature

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Star of the week

I

Paul De Nobrega

n a career that has spanned more than four years, 19-year-old Paul De Nobrega has already established himself as a potent force on the local cycling scene. In 2009, Paul started off as a junior cyclist. In his first year of competition, the pro cyclist achieved three major victories. He took the junior category in the annual Three-Stage road race held on May 15-16; junior category at the annual Five-Stage contest November 4-6 and on November 21 he was triumphant in the Inter-Guiana Games 40-mile road race beating opponents from Suriname and French Guiana. Earlier this year he ventured into the elite category. Notably, combining both local and international meets, his wins/titles would be in the vicinity of just over 200. Paul’s motivation to get into cycling came from Ricky Kissoon, his brother, uncle

Joe of Canada, his coach Mr Henry, and the late Errol Gonsalves. The cyclist’s unforgettable moments so far in his career is capturing the Caribbean Junior Champion 2012 title and being awarded the 2012 Guyana Junior Sportsman trophy. For Paul, cycling contributes significantly to his personal development.

Other than cycling, Paul’s interests are motor racing and taking care of animals. So what’s next for this cycling star? Paul hopes he will have the opportunity of gracing more regional and international racing meets. Additionally, he continues to focus on furthering his studies and hopes to one day start his own business. The athlete’s advice to youths is to be responsible from an early age, be disciplined, show respect and work hard. He strongly believes these are important factors for healthy growth.

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FASHION

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‘B

lue Intensity’, a recent collection, says local designer Andy Cummings, is inspired by a mysterious dream of love and lust.

Describing the inspiration for his latest clothing collection, Andy said: “The midnight blue sky put me in a dream to remember love where blue was the favourite of someone that I had love so much. But the sweetest thing is that I never see the real face of the person up to this day. The person brought me blue roses in all different shades of blue tied in a black and white ribbon. Through the cool breezy night, standing on the seawall of Guyana where the water gushed up on the rock, my lover came with a scent of lust. By the time I knew it, it was morning.”

He added that his dream continued the following night with even more intensity, and still he never saw an identifiable face.

However, the designer used the dream as an inspiration to create one of his best collections to date. The vibrant blue he in his dream enthused him to design bespoke pieces for the stylish man and the contemporary woman.

Andy graduated from the Burrowes School of Art in 2012 with a major in Ceramics and minor in Textiles. He was awarded best graduating student and best ceramic student for his year.

In that same year, he won the Guyana Model Search/Designers Portfolio, which gave him the opportunity to be fashion

partner with veteran Guyanese designer Sonia Noel. This year, the designer was voted most promising young designer.

The designer’s other dream, which he is working feverishly to make a reality, is pursuing a fashion degree from an accredited university.

He wants to work for an international fashion company with the aim of one day operating his own establishment.

For more information on this collection call 2263099. (Photos by Donn Thompson)

feature

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The origin of America’s annual Thanksgiving Day T

he Pilgrims left Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620. Their destination? The New World. Although filled with uncertainty and peril, it offered both civil and religious liberty.

For over two months, the 102 passengers braved the harsh elements of a vast stormtossed sea.

Finally, with firm purpose and a reliance on Divine Providence, the cry of “Land!” was heard.

Arriving in Massachusetts in late November, the Pilgrims sought a suitable landing place. On December 11, just before disembarking at Plymouth Rock, they signed the “Mayflower Compact”— America’s first document of civil government and the first to introduce selfgovernment.

After a prayer service, the Pilgrims began building hasty shelters.

However, unprepared for the starvation and sickness of a harsh New England winter, nearly half died before spring. Yet, persevering in prayer, and assisted

by helpful Indians, they reaped a bountiful harvest the following summer.

The grateful Pilgrims then declared a threeday feast, starting on December 13, 1621, to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends. While this was not the first Thanksgiving in America (thanksgiving services were held in Virginia as early as 1607), it was America’s first Thanksgiving Festival.

Pilgrim Edward Winslow described the Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving in these words: “Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling [bird hunting] so that we might, after a special manner, rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as many fowl as… served the company almost a week… Many of the Indians [came] amongst us and… their greatest King, Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted; and they went out and

killed five deer, which they brought… And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD WE ARE… FAR FROM WANT.”

Church, of which President Washington was a member, announced that the first Thursday in November would become its regular day for giving thanks, “unless another day be

In 1789, following a proclamation issued

by President George Washington, America celebrated its first Day of Thanksgiving to God under its new constitution. That same year, the Protestant Episcopal

appointed by the civil authorities.” Yet, despite these early national proclamations, official Thanksgiving observances usually occurred only at the State level.

Much of the credit for the adoption of a

later ANNUAL national Thanksgiving Day may be attributed to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale, the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book. For thirty years, she promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day, contacting President after President until President Abraham Lincoln responded in 1863 by setting aside the last Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving.

Over the next seventyfive years, Presidents followed Lincoln’s precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day. Then, in 1941, Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday.

Lincoln’s original 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation came— spiritually speaking— at a pivotal point in his life. During the first week of July of that year, the Battle of Gettysburg occurred, resulting in the loss of some 60,000 American lives. Four months later in November, Lincoln delivered his famous

“Gettsysburg Address.”

It was while Lincoln was walking among the thousands of graves there at Gettysburg that he committed his life to Christ. As he explained to a friend: When I left Springfield [to assume the Presidency], I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.

As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving each year, we hope they will retain the original gratefulness to God displayed by the Pilgrims and many other founding fathers, and remember that it is to those early and courageous Pilgrims that they owe not only the traditional Thanksgiving holiday but also the concepts of self-government, the “hard-work” ethic, self-reliant communities, and devout religious faith. (Taken from Christiananswers.net)

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Travel & Tourism

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| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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ational Geographic Traveller magazine announced this month its annual ‘Best of the World’ list, featuring 20 destinations plus a bonus readers’ choice destination to visit in 2014. The list reflects what’s authentic, culturally rich, sustainable and superlative in the world of travel today.

Guyana earns a coveted spot on this exclusive list for the very first time.

National Geographic says that Guyana may be the “best-kept secret in South America, with most of the coun-

try still covered in wild forest.”

Stunning natural wonders – stretching from newly restored mangroves near Georgetown to the mighty Kaieteur Falls to the pristine Iwokrama rainforest, Guyana offers curious travellers an opportunity to experience one of only four remaining intact rain forest ecosystems on the planet.

An article on Guyana, published on National Geographic website, points out: “Chances are you’ll have the place to yourself; Guyana has yet to make it onto bucket lists, in part because it remains, as Surama guide Gary Sway puts it, “blessedly undeveloped. Even many Guyanese have little idea how vast our rain forest is.

The Iwokrama reserve, down the road, covers a million acres.”

“It can feel like a lost world here,” says Englishman Colin Edwards, who moved to Guyana after he fell in love with the vast Rupununi savannah, and built Rock View Lodge.

“Sir Walter Raleigh, when he came upon this magnificent landscape, thought he’d found El Dorado, the fabled land of gold”, the article quotes.

It goes on to list locations to visit, facts about Guyana and helpful links.

For more information visit http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/bestIwokrama rainforest gained much praise as a trips-2014/

naturistic destination in Guyana (Photo by Matt Hallett)

Scenic view of a section of the Pakaraimas

Surama Eco Lodge was mentioned on National Geographic’s website as an ideal location for relaxation

Splendid beauty of Moco Moco village, Rupununi (Photo by Matt Hallett)

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U

nited to effect change in their communities and develop themselves as well-rounded individuals are the aims of the vibrant youth group, Youths in Unison, an arm of Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre located in Berbice.

Youths in Unison is a group of young peer educators who are working towards positive changes in their communities.

These vibrant youths are involved in awareness sessions in communities and religious groups on gender based violence, HIV/AIDS Education and other related social issues.

According to Roadside, the group will be officially launched on December 2, 2013.

Recently, the youths were trained in the areas of gender based violence and HIV/AIDS prevention during project years 2009-2013 with USAID and Global Fund. Since then they have been sharing information on a one-on-one basis and in small groups in their communities or whenever invited to do so. In

addition, they give support to youths who have suicidal tendency or to those who live in abusive homes.

Some of the areas of discussion were suicide prevention self esteem, work ethics, being empowered to speak out and stand for one's rights, reconciliation with family members and recognizing that change begins with them and they do not have to be suppressed by cultural or religious traditions.

Another timely programme recently held was to train the group on how to be responsible individuals as they carry out their duty as role models for other youths.

The Commonwealth Youth Programme identified November 4-10 as Commonwealth Youth Work Week. It aimed at highlighting the role of youth work to support young people to unlock their productive potential, acquire decent work, start their own businesses and develop relevant skills and attitudes for ‘the world of work’. This year, Youth Work Week was focused

on building skills for employability.

“Time and again the private sector bemoans the extremely poor if any at all, work ethics of their employees. This is especially so in cases of new recruits who boast of their qualifications and are blinded by their youthful quest for reaching the stars overnight with no thought as to the processes involved in getting there. It is nothing strange to see employees turning up to work late on a regular basis, clients waiting in offices for services because the officer responsible is still not at work yet or is busy catching up with some “gyaff” on the phone

Some of the members of Youths in Unison

and the list goes on.

That is why this training programme was vital because it taught the youths that they need to be forces of change and help others do the same,” said programme facilitator Rebekah Timram in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

Youths in Unison therefore used the Commonwealth Work Week as an opportunity to conduct a symposium on work ethics.

The leaders through their website, www.peereducounselor.webs.com, and Facebook page ‘Peer educators, Counsellors’, advertised the proposed activity and invited youths

to enrol for the symposium.

Timram said the response was overwhelming. Within a very short time, 33 youths from Crab Wood Creek to Rose Hall and upper, lower and central Corentyne enrolled to participate.

She added that some of them called for more information and expressed delight at the opportunity and the programme planned. Timram noted that they were thrilled to learn that the entire programme was going to be planned, organized and implemented by Youths themselves.

Outlining Youths in Unison’s current plans, Timram stated that they

are focused on the preparation and launching of the group next month and also will be distributing gifts and “goody” bags for 20 children at Canaan Children's Home, Port Mourant.

They will also be participating in a march and symposium held to recognize "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women" on November 25, 2013. Additionally, awareness sessions will be held with school dropouts.

For more information visit www.peereducounselor.webs.com or Peer Educators, Counsellors on Facebook. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Act Now weekly rates are at their lowest

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feature

week ending december 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Emancipation Compensation and Slave Owners Former British Guiana plantation owners benefitted – and their descendants still do – from Britain’s compensation policies for slave owners

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he true scale of Britain's involvement in the slave trade has been laid bare in documents revealing how the country's wealthiest families received the modern equivalent of billions of pounds in compensation after slavery was abolished.

The previously unseen records show exactly who received what in payouts from the government when slave ownership was abolished by Britain – much to the potential embarrassment of their descendants.

Dr Nick Draper from University College London, who has studied the compensation papers, says as many as one-fifth of wealthy Victorian Britons derived all or part of their fortunes from the slave economy.

As a result, there are now wealthy families all around the UK still indirectly enjoying the proceeds of slavery where it has been passed on to them.

Dr Draper said: "There was a feeding frenzy around the compensation."

A John Austin, for instance, owned 415 slaves, and got compensation of £20,511, a sum worth nearly £17m today. And there were many who received far more.

Prominent names

Among those revealed to have benefited from slavery are ancestors of the Prime Minister, David Cameron, for-

mer minister Douglas Hogg, authors Graham Greene and George Orwell, poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and the new chairman of the Arts Council, Peter Bazalgette.

Other prominent names which feature in the records include scions of one of the nation's

bought or maintained their country houses, and some used the money for philanthropy.

George Orwell's great-grandfather, Charles Blair, received £4,442, equal to £3m today, for the 218 slaves he owned.

Mr Cameron, too, is revealed to have slave

James, who was the son of one of Mr Cameron's great-grand-uncle's, the second Earl of Fife, was awarded £4,101, equal to more than £3m today, to compensate him for the 202 slaves he forfeited on the Grange Sugar Estate in Jamaica.

The British government paid out £20m to compensate some 3,000 families that owned slaves for the loss of their "property" when slaveownership was abolished in Britain's colonies in 1833. This figure represented a staggering 40 per cent of the Treasury's annual spending budget and, in today's terms, calculated as wage values, equates to around £16.5bn.

Biggest Payouts

John Gladstone (1764 – 1851). Gladstone was very active in the demand for slave compensation, and, being involved in four Jamaican estates and the five plantations: Success, Wales, Vreeden hoop, Met-en-Meerzorg and Vreedenstein in British Guiana, received one of the biggest slave compensation awards from Britain.

oldest banking families, the Barings, and the second Earl of Harewood, Henry Lascelles, an ancestor of the Queen's cousin.

Some families used the money to invest in the railways and other aspects of the industrial revolution; others

owners in his family background on his father's side. The compensation records show that General Sir James Duff, an army officer and MP for Banffshire in Scotland during the late 1700s, was Mr Cameron's first cousin six times removed. Sir

A total of £10m went to slave-owning families in the Caribbean and Africa, while the other half went to absentee owners living in Britain.

The biggest single payout went to James Blair (no relation to Orwell), an MP who had homes in Marylebone, central London, and Scotland. He was awarded £83,530, the equivalent of £65m today, for 1,598 slaves he owned on the [Blairmont] plantation he had inherited in British Guiana.

But this amount was dwarfed by the amount paid to John Gladstone, the father of 19th-century prime minister William Gladstone. He received £106,769 (modern equivalent £83m)

Preserving our heritage through pictures Sacred Heart Church, Georgetown (no date)

Quintin Hogg (1845–1903).

Hogg owned Bel Air and De Kindred plantations in British Guiana, and was also owner of the area now known as Queenstown, which was bought from him by the town council in 1887. It is said that he modernized sugar production in Demerara and gave generously in the colony, including endowments to the ‘Coolie Mission’; Hogg Island it is also claimed, was named after him.

for the 2,508 slaves he owned across nine plantations.

His son, who served as prime minister four times during his 60-year career, was heavily involved in his father's claim.

Quintin Hogg

Another illustrious political family that it appears still carries the name of a major slave owner is the Hogg dynasty, which includes the former cabinet minister Douglas Hogg.

They are the descendants of Charles McGarel, a merchant who made a fortune from slave ownership.

Between 1835 and 1837 he received £129,464, about £101m in today's terms, for the 2,489 slaves he owned.

McGarel later went on to bring his younger brother-in-law Quintin Hogg into his hugely successful sugar firm, which still used indentured la-

bour on plantations in British Guyana established under slavery.

And it was Quintin's descendants that continued to keep the family name in the limelight, with both his son, Douglas McGarel Hogg, and his grandson, Quintin McGarel Hogg, becoming Lord Chancellor.

Dr Draper said: "Seeing the names of the slave-owners repeated in 20th‑century family naming practices is a very stark reminder about where those families saw their origins being from. In this case I'm thinking about the Hogg family. To have two Lord Chancellors in Britain in the 20th century bearing the name of a slave-owner from British Guiana, who went penniless to British Guiana, came back a very wealthy man and contributed to the formation of this political dynasty, which incorporated his name into their children in recognition – it seems to me to be an illuminating story and a potent example."

The TV chef Ainsley Harriott, who had slaveowners in his family on his grandfather's side, said he was shocked by the amount paid out by the government to the slave-owners. "You would think the government would have given at least some money to the freed slaves who need to find homes and start new lives," he said.

"It seems a bit barbaric.

It's like the rich protecting the rich."

The database is available at: ucl.ac.uk/lbs.

(From: ‘Britain's colonial shame: Slaveowners given huge payouts after abolition’, by Sanchez Manning. The Independent, Sunday 24 February 2013)

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

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week ending december 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

First Guyanese female civil engineer of East Indian descent, Jean Ramkhelawan, looks back at her career

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ivil engineers have one of the world’s most important jobs: with creativity and technical skill, civil engineers plan, design, construct facilities essential to modern life, ranging from roads, bridges, to highway systems and are responsible for shaping our country’s infrastructure.

Jean Ramkhelawan holds not only the title of civil engineer, but the coveted title of the first female civil engineer of Indian descent in Guyana.

With determination and resiliency demanded by this taxing profession, as a civil engineer Jean

(Government Technical Institute) in 1978.

In 1980, she graduated with a technician diploma in building and system civil engineering (City and Guilds). Still maintaining her full-time job at the ministry and not satisfied with just a diploma, she enrolled at the University of Guyana in 1982 to study civil engineering.

At that time engineering, which was her passion, was a field dominated by males. In her class, she was the only female among 16 males. Not intimidated by the male presence, she was able to hold her own, as she was treated equally, and gar-

Brothers and DIPCON Engineering Services, before returning to the public sector in 2000.

At the same time, she started lecturing at the Faculty of Technology at the University of Guyana. In 2005, she simultaneously lectured and did a short course in Project Planning and Project Management at the Critchlow Labour College. She resigned from the University in 2006 and enrolled for the Masters programme at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad. Jean graduated in January 2009 with a distinction in construction management.

Jean and colleagues showcase their certificates of recognition from the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers

has been able to tangibly contribute to Guyana’s development.

On May 13, 1955, Jean entered the world as the third child of her East Coast Demerara resident parents. There were many rough patches for this large family living in Industry, as her father was a cane cutter and her mother was a housewife. Overcoming those hurdles, she attended Cummings Lodge Secondary School on the East Coast from 1966– 1972 where she successfully attained four GCE O’ Levels. Her first job was as a typist/clerk at the Ministry of Public Works in 1974.

In 1975, she took another step in life when she married. Shortly after her marriage in 1976, she was transferred to the materials division of the public works ministry as materials technician in the lab. Her curiosity about the field was aroused while working in the civil engineering lab at the ministry. This innate inquisitiveness and quest to learn more propelled her join GTI

nered their respect. After four years of hard work and keeping the same pace with the men, she graduated in 1986 with her civil engineering bachelor’s degree.

While she was breaking barriers in her academic and professional life, she was also a wife, and had become a mother in 1976, when her first son was born. She has five children.

By this time, her contract with the Ministry of Public Works was also up, but she decided to remain there with an upgraded position as Foils Engineer. In 1992, she was promoted to Chief Materials Officer and then Deputy Chief Road Officer before resigning from the ministry in 1994.

She left public service completely in 1994 and started consultancy for a series of private firms.

Her first consultant job for E and A Consultant Services entailed supervising construction of roads and minor design works. She later worked for a series of companies including Seeram

The professional’s distinguished career and achievements were augmented with time as she continuously worked for the development of Guyana’s infrastructure. From 2010 to March 2012 she served as president for the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) and, on concluding her two-year service, she remained as an executive member for GAPE. She is also a member of the IDB Civil Society Consulting Group and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Jean stated she is currently employed as a site engineer on the East Bank Four-Lane Expansion Project.

Outlining her challenges during her career, Jean disclosed that during her career she worked with both contractors and consultants. “Some of the challenges I face are, supervising male workers on projects, performing to the same status as my male counterparts,

and being the leader of a team of foreign workers.

On construction sites, the culture is that men are the dominant species.

The Guyanese culture is so cut out that men are the bosses. To be taking orders from a female engineer on site was something many co-workers were not too pleased about. But on site these workers were told to respect an individual's position and be co-operative, even if they do not appreciate the individual,” she recalled.

She also revealed that she was expected to perform just as equal as her male counterparts as they were all at the same level. Being in the men's domain and earning a salary at the same scale and with almost the same educational background, Jean said she had to give her best at all times.

She noted that this was one of the toughest positions she held during her career. She recalled that at one time she had about 10 foreign workers under her supervision for

First female civil engineer of Indian descent, Jean Ramdulari Ramkhelawan

a special task for the company she was employed with. Although she met with some resistance at first, through motivation, determination and good leadership, she was able to help the team improve on their performance.

This exemplary woman certainly is someone who should be emulated.

Her advice for women is to have a sound educational background and

develop skills so that they can be their best.

“It is said that for a woman ‘beauty without brains is a waste of time’. However, education is knowledge, and our knowledge increases every day, while beauty fades as we age.

Knowledge can take anyone to great heights,” she declared.

(Information from 2012 Horizons Guyana Magazine)

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Bollywood

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| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Kissing scenes not required in Indian films’- Saif Ali Khan

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ctor Saif Ali Khan, who locked lips with co-stars in ‘Hum Tum’ and ‘Salaam Namaste’, believes Indian movies can do without kissing scenes as it doesn't "suit us".

During a conversation on TV show, host Anupama Chopra asked Saif about a statement that he and his now wife Kareena Kapoor gave before marriage--about a commitment that there won't be any kissing onscreen for either of them.

Chopra asked Saif if there are any other rules as actors that the couple has imposed on each other.

He said: “No. I wouldn't even say that's in place. I don't think it's a function of being in a relationship. I have done films like ‘Salaam Namaste’ a long time ago. In India, it is not required in our films to have kissing scenes. I don't think it's required to be overly sexual.

It doesn't suit us.”

Kareena has also kissed on screen in ‘Tashan’, ‘Jab We Met’, ‘3 Idiots’ and ‘Heroine’. But her husband believes "it

B

doesn't work onscreen".

“Nobody looks comfortable doing it. And slowly, slowly reports filter through that when somebody has tried to be a little risque, that people don't seem to like it. I think the kind of cinema we have, we are a hypocritical culture.” (TOI)

‘I have no issues with Anushka’ - Rajkummar Rao

‘K

ai Po Che’ actor Rajkummar Rao has cleared the air about recent casting controversy that he has been ousted from upcoming film ‘NH 10’ on the insistence of actress and co-producer Anushka Sharma.

The 25-year-old ‘Band Baaja

Baaraat’ actress is co-producing the action thriller about a road trip gone wrong with Phantom Films.

Rajkummar, 29, said the decision to back off from the much-delayed project was mutual as he had already committed to another film, and he has no issues with Anushka.

“I never signed ‘NH 10’ officially. I was supposed to do it. Then it got delayed. Then I moved on to other films like ‘Kai Po Che’ and ‘Shahid’. Then I started working on another film. I can't do two films at the same time. I prefer doing one film at a time,: Rajkummar said in a recent interview.

“So it was a mutual decision. I share a very good relation with the team. I think Anushka is also a very sensible girl. She is a really good actor and I don't think she will do anything like that,” he added. (TOI)

A

ctor Hrithik Roshan, who underwent a brain surgery some months back, says he will take time to recover from recurring headaches that have resurfaced.

Hrithik, who is basking in the success of his superhero flick ‘Krrish 3’, has decided to take some time off before he starts shooting for his upcoming films.

“I am extremely overwhelmed by the tremendous support and love extended by everyone to ‘Krrish 3’. Before I get ready to resume the shooting of my next, ‘Bang Bang’, in early January 2014 and later ‘Shuddhi’, as both are physically demanding, I will be taking some time off to recover completely from the recurring headaches that

K

ollywood diva Aishwarya Rai has been living as a dutiful daughter-in-law since she got married to Abhishek Bachchan in 2007.

She is known to share a strong bond with both her father-inlaw Amitabh Bachchan and his wife Jaya Bachchan. However, if rumours are to be believed, then Aishwarya is keen to move out of the family home and live separately with her husband and daughter.

A report in Indian Express said that things are not smooth between Aishwarya and Jaya. The report further added that Jaya allegedly keeps a tab on all activities of her bahu and keeps on interfering in her professional as well as personal

matters. It is said that Aishwarya is expected to update Jaya about all her professional activities, something that Aishwarya does not appreciate.

There are also rumours that both of them

A have resurfaced in the last couple of weeks,” Hrithik said.

“I am confident that your love and prayers will heal me completely. I wish everyone a great end to 2013 and a fabulous start to 2014,” he said. (TOI)

Lady Gaga because I am an actress and she is a pop star,” said Kangana.

“But every woman today is very powerful when it comes to fashion, be it Miley Cyrus or Lady Gaga---all of them are experimenting with their looks. I think in India also we should do a lot more of these looks and clothes and make women look very strong,” Kangana added. (TOI)

are very uncomfortable in each other's company at public events. It was also reported a few days back that Jaya scolded a reporter who called Aishwarya by her name, creating quite a scene at a party. (TOI)

Salman Khan ignores his exgirlfriends, avoids running into them

fter dating a string of Bollywood beauties like Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif, Sangeeta Bijlani and Somi Ali, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is looking for a serious relationship.

Speaking candidly to director Karan Johar in his talk show ‘Koffee

‘Don't compare my style with Lady Gaga’ - Kangana angana Ranaut makes many quirky fashion statements, and her style is sometimes also compared to that of international singer Lady Gaga. However, the Bollywood actress says comparison is not right.

Gaga is known worldwide for her fashion antics.

“Comparisons keep happening. I don't think I should be compared with

Is there an Aishwarya/ Jaya Bachchan’s rift?

with Karan’, Salman allegedly admitted that he wants stability in life and to be in a serious relationship. However, he said things haven't worked in his favour in the past.

The episode to be aired soon will see the superstar talking about his personal life to his close friend Karan.

A Desimartini report said that the superstar avoids meeting any of his former girlfriends. He said that he either ignores his ex-girlfriends or just simply avoids running into them.

Considered as one of the most eligible bachelors of the country, Salman has always been in the news for dating the most gorgeous women. His latest arm candy was Romanian girlfriend Lulia Vantur. However, he broke off with her too.

Salman, known for avoiding questions about his girlfriends and marriage, will talk candidly with Karan Johar about his past affairs. It will be the first time that he will open up about his desire to get into a serious relationship. (TOI)

K

areena Kapoor, who is known for her straight forward answers, recently spoke candidly about her friends, and claimed that she has a life beyond Bollywood.

On being asked about her friends, Bebo said, “My friends are not from Bollywood. I spend time at home, I don't go to big parties and all. Even in festivals I spend time with my family.”

“I don't socialize with anyone. We are here to work and we should socialize with the ones we like. I love my school friends. When I meet them we chat, but I don't prefer going out often.

I am a home bird and we friends like to watch films and be at home,” added Kareena.

The actress believes that breaks

are very important. “We need a break always as you can't be stuck in Bollywood. I love going out and get to know so much about different places,” concluded Kareena. (TOI)

Hollywood

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Baldwin's stalker says obsession Paula Patton not surprised hubby Robin Thicke on the List with actor ruined career

A

of People's Sexiest Men Alive

lec Baldwin's alleged stalker, Genevieve Sabourin, who has been convicted of stalking Baldwin, has admitted that her obsession with the actor has ruined her acting career.

The French-Canadian woman told a U.S. publication that no one was ready to hire her because of the conviction, TMZ.com reported.

Sabourin added that she has become an international target because of the infatuation, asserting that she can't even hide in Japan. (TOI)

P

‘I was little too pudgy in my teens’ - Jennifer Aniston

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ctress Jennifer Aniston says she never took good care of her hair during her teenage years and experimented with hair colours.

The 44-year-old, who started the "Rachel hairstyle" after her stint in the popular sitcom ‘Friends’, went for some worst hair styles as a teenager, reported femalefirst.co.uk.

“I didn't take good care of my hair, and I had some of the worst hairstyles you can imagine, with some of the worst colours,” said Aniston.

“There was a cheap deep burgundy that faded out to orange. Then there was the day I got a mini mohawk from a place in downtown New York that did $6 haircuts. Let's just say I was a little too pudgy in my teen years to be sporting a short haircut,” she added.

The actress recently got a bob haircut, which was the result of a treatment that went wrong. (TOI)

aula Patton has always known that her man has it ‘goin' on’.

Adam Levine may have snagged the ultimate title of People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2013, but he wasn't the only handsome Hollywood hunk recognized for a droolworthy appearance.

Many other studly stars were noted for generously gracing the world with their sexiness each and every day, including a smooth singin', blue-eyed hottie by the name of Robin Thicke.

So what did the ‘Baggage Claim’ actress think about seeing her hubby getting a nod for his good looks?

“Just acknowledges what I always knew was true,” the actress said Tuesday.

Patton was always aware of her man's massive sex appeal, even from a very young age.

The ‘Blurred Lines’ sing-

Keanu Reeves’ film based on true Japanese story

When Hemsworth, Hutcherson vomited together

T

he ‘Hunger Games’ co-stars Liam Hemsworthand Josh Hutcherson got closer to each other after eating a stack of burgers and then throwing up together.

The actors decided to get together before shooting the first movie in 2011 and soon became friends after gorging on burgers.

According to contactmusic.com, Liam told Bliss magazine: “When we shot the first ‘Hunger Games’, Josh took me to his place in Kentucky. There was a White Castle (burger restaurant) right by his house and we bought three or four briefcases of burgers, took them back to his house and ate them.

“About half an hour later, we went out into his garden and we threw up together!”

They play Jennifer Lawrence's love interests in the franchise. (TOI)

T

he director of the Keanu Reeves’ 3-D film, ‘47 Ronin’, says he hopes his adaptation of a true

Japanese story becomes a Hollywood blockbuster.

Director Carl Rinsch, Reeves and other actors of the film appeared together in front of a Tokyo audience recently.

Reeves said ‘47 Ronin’ is a story where “people share this journey to reclaim their land, their honor, their way.

It was very special to me to be part of it,” he said. Reeves reportedly grew up attracted to martial arts movies.

His directorial debut this year was a martial arts action movie, ‘Man of Tai Chi’. (TOI)

Gwyneth Paltrow wants her kids to speak in Spanish

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‘I’m vain, crazy and narcissistic as every other actor’ - Sandra Bullock

S

andra Bullock is one of the most likable, bankable stars in Hollywood, but even she has room for improvement. Recently named Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer of the Year, the 49-year-old actress told the magazine's Dec. 6 issue that she's her own toughest critic.

Bullock's latest movie, ‘Gravity’, has earned more than US$536 million to date—not to mention plenty of Oscar buzz for the single mom. Yet in spite of her success, the actress has a tough time acknowledging her strong presence onscreen.

“I nitpick every aspect of my performance. I'm an actress! We're vain, narcissistic creatures. You look at yourself at 17 feet and you're going to be riddled with insecurity,” Bullock said.

“Maybe when I'm old and go back to

er has been with his wife since they were 14 years old, and they haven't lost their spice.

“We're overspiced.

We could probably take a few spices off the shelf,”" Thicke has said, admitting that they have sex to his music.

Thicke has also discussed the size of his manhood in a recent interview with Ellemagazine, since the 36-year-old musician made references to how gifted he is in his ‘Blurred Lines’ music video and new song ‘Give It 2 U.’ “Listen, compared to my son, I'm packing.

If I'm next to LeBron James? It's probably not quite as impressive,” Thicke joked. (TOI)

ctress Gwyneth Paltrow reportedly wants her children to be bilingual and she encourages them to speak with her only in Spanish at times.

Recently, when Paltrow was spotted at actress Cameron Diaz's house for a wedding, the ‘Iron Man’ star urged her children-- Apple, 9, and Moses, 7--to speak

in Spanish rather than English.

“Gwyneth reminded them through the party. At one point, Apple came to her table and asked, in Spanish, if she could sit on her lap,” usmagazine.com quoted a source as saying.

The Hollywood actress has been married to British singer Chris Martin since December 2003. (TOI)

DiCaprio donates $3 million to save tigers in Nepal

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my youth, I'll go back and say, 'Oh, look at her, bless her heart.’” (TOI)

eonardo DiCaprio has donated three million dollars to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) via his charitable foundation to help save tigers in Nepal.

The 39-year-old singer said that he is hopeful that the money will help exceed the goal of doubling Nepal's tiger population, the BBC reported.

The ‘Great Gatsby’ star's donation will help enforce anti-poaching patrols and protect and restore areas for the tigers to breed in Nepal.

Nepal's tigers are classified as endangered and--as with the general tiger population--are under threat from

"habitat destruction and escalating illegal poaching". (TOI)

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Sport

week ending december 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Cricket for Change making an impact

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ingston, Jamaica - Cricket can change the lives of disadvantaged youth.

This is the message of Cricket for Change (C4C), a British Airways community partner, which aims “to take young people on a journey of self-development using cricket and rugby.”

C4C CEO, Andy Sellins, accompanied by West Indies and international cricketer Chris Gayle, took time out last week to update British High Commissioner to Jamaica David Fitton about C4C activities in the Caribbean and the planned collaboration

between C4C and the Chris Gayle Foundation.

In Jamaica, to carry out capacity-building initiatives at the Foundation, Sellins explained that the plan is to, next year, engage atrisk youth, 16-20 years old, in an intense learning programme using cricket as a tool which makes them work-ready.

A similar programme exists in the United Kingdom supported by former English cricketer-turned-television personality Phil Tufnell.

C4C uses the “Sportwork Impact Assessment App” – the first sustainable shared measurement tool for the

Sport for Development Sector, which provides evidence of the impact and cost savings attributed to their interventions, many of which are highly rated for effectively reducing youth crime and antisocial behaviour.

Sellins and Gayle were accompanied on their visit to the High Commission by Diane Corrie, commercial manager, Caribbean, British Airways; Radcliffe Haynes, head, Chris Gayle Foundation; and Donovan Miller, Cricket for Change programme manager and head coach of the Chris Gayle Academy in London.

(From left) British High Commissioner to Jamaica David Fitton (third left) makes a point at a function of Cricket for Change and the Chris Gayle Foundation at the British High Commission on Knutsford Boulevard recently. Also pictured are (from left) Donovan Miller, programme manager, Cricket For Change and head coach, Chris Gayle Academy; Andy Sellins, CEO, Cricket for Change; West Indies batsman Chris Gayle; Diane Corrie, commercial manager Caribbean, British Airways; and Radcliffe Haynes, head of the Chris Gayle Foundation

Zaheer returns to India Test squad

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aheer Khan has been recalled to the India Test squad for the forthcoming tour of South Africa. Zaheer is one of five fast bowlers for the two-Test series, and the only newcomer to the 17-member squad is the batsman Ambati Rayudu.

However, there was no place for the opener Gautam Gambhir, who scored a century for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy

days before the selection meeting. It is learnt that the team management didn’t want Gambhir in the squad.

Zaheer, who last played for India during the home Tests against England last December, was recently omitted from the list of centrally contracted players for the current season. The injury-prone left-arm seamer made a return to the longer format this

season with 13 wickets in three Ranji games for Mumbai, including a five wicket haul. However, he was not considered for the one-day squad.

Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh - two other players who were not handed central contracts - have been left out of both squads.

The Test squad also has Wriddhiman Saha as the backup wicketkeeper for MS Dhoni,

the captain. Saha last played for India during the Adelaide Test of 2012.

Ravindra Jadeja, the allrounder, returns after sitting out the West Indies Tests to rest his injured shoulder. He is the third spinner in the squad after R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha.

Rayudu, 28, made his international debut during the one-day tour of Zimbabwe in August, where he scored one fifty. Amit Mishra, the leg spinner, remains in the oneday team but was not included for the Tests.

The surprise inclusion in the one-day squad is the fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who was expensive during the seven-match ODI series against Australia recently.

Ishant leaked 189 runs in three matches and was dropped after he conceded a whopping 30 runs in one over, which cost India the Mohali ODI. Ishant was part of the Test squad against West Indies but lost his place to the impressive Mohammed Shami, playing his first Test series.

Ishant and fast bowler Umesh Yadav were included in the one-day squad in place of seamers Jaydev Unadkat and

Zaheer Khan last played a Test during the home series against England last December

Vinay Kumar. Batsman Ajinkya Rahane has been included in both squads.

Yadav said he was pleased with Zaheer’s return to the Test squad, as the latter’s experience was invaluable to the young pacers in the team.

“Zaheer has had a great influence on youngsters with his ability to guide us through the bump and grind of international cricket,” Yadav told PTI .

“I have got a lot of valuable tips on fast bowling and there is no better exponent of reverse swing than Zak. He is like a mentor to us and it is an honour to play international cricket alongside him.

Zaheer’s advice in match situations is invaluable as he is a brilliant reader of opposition batsmen.”

The tour gets un-

derway with the first of three ODIs starting December 5, followed by the two Tests.

Test squad: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha ODI squad: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ambati Rayudu, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra (Cricinfo)

NY Better Hope wins Guyana...

from page 53

They were immediately put under pressure by the Better Hope bowlers as they were bowling tight spells. Ronald Evelyn once again proved to be too much for the oppositions as he ran through the Super Kings lineup claiming 3 wickets for only 15 runs in his 4 overs. With wickets falling at constant intervals, Industry Super Kings were eventually bowled out 117. With this being the lowest score that they

had to chase during the entire tournament, Better Hope felt good about their chances of winning.

Gus Gordon and K. Sanichar got the chase off to a flying start adding 48 for the first wicket before Sanichar was dismissed for 28. Gordon would go on to score 47, but a few late wickets by the Super Kings stifled Better Hope’s chase.

Three wickets fell for 15 runs as D. Harper and G. Persaud restricted

the batsmen. Eventually Better Hope reached their total in the 20th over and emerged as champions. Making the journey from New York to Guyana, Better Hope was rewarded for their travels as they were the undisputed victors of the Guyana Softball Cup Masters Category. They truly did save their best performance for last as the bowlers had their best performance of the tournament.

SPort feature

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Nationals in retrospect

W

ith the 53rd national schools championships now over, our reporter Treiston Joseph looks back at the event, its highs and lows and what can be done to make 2014 better After four days of hard, intense and tough competition at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, defending champions North Georgetown (District 11) retained their title in a close finish with Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani (District 10) that saw them becoming the most successful district with 14 titles. With the championships now over, it is time to put the event into retrospect.

Competition and

petitiveness was only witnessed by a handful of people who flocked to the stadium, especially on days two and three.

More needs to be done by the organisers to enthuse the public into attending the event and the public should become

ly at various venues, the event was smooth flowing without many hitches compared to previous years.

The area of judging nevertheless, needs to be improved. A clear case in point was the close finish between Hamzah Eastman and Paul DeNobrega in the cycling road race. While video and photographic evidence revealed that Eastman was clearly ahead, the race was deemed a tie.

Such mishaps must be stamped out for the event to reach its pinnacle.

On track, judging seemed fairly acceptable, except for some occasions when the call room was moving a bit slow in get-

Jamal Johnson of Linden broke the Boys’ Under-16 800 metres record with a sprinkling of spectators in attendance

crowd support

The championship, the competitive atmosphere and the individual rivalry all added to the event that was brilliant in the final three days, as the athletes definitely made the 2013 edition of the championships a success.

This was amplified by the close race for the overall title between North Georgetown and Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani as the athletes ran with a sense of urgency and determination.

However, it was unfortunate that such com-

more interested in their athletes; after all, should one of these athletes win Olympic gold, it would not just be the sporting nation’s pride, but that of all Guyanese.

Organisation and judging.

The organisers had only about four weeks to put together the event, which was not to be hosted this year. However, with the limited time to prepare, the organisers did a good job, especially on the final three days of the meet at the stadium.

Other than a confusing first day with events being held simultaneous-

ting events on the track, which at times caused a lull in proceedings.

There should also be a clear ruling on how athletes are allowed to celebrate after winning events since it has caused some districts to feel that judges are biased when a ruling of sort does not go their way.

However, despite some issues with identifying records the track judging on the final three days for the most part always seemed accurate and fair.

Memorable moments and standout performances

Part of the crowd on the final day of the championships (Photos: Treiston Joseph)

The most memorable moment that will be etched in most people’s minds would be Jason Yaw’s 4x400 metres final leg run. The 6’ 3”, 16year- old came from approximately 20 metres behind to run past a talented 400 metres runner in Arinze Chance. Yaw clocked 48.1s on the final leg that brought the stadium to its feet.

but obviously tried to make a comeback too early and pulled the right hamstring.

Hopefully, the talented 16-year-old recovers fully and returns to peak form in 2014.

Jevina Sampson was a class act as she looked to be her usual explosive self, returning to form.

Sampson won all three of her sprint events in the

With North Georgetown winning again this year, it is now 23 years since any district besides North Georgetown or Upper D e m e r a r a / K w a kw a n i that has won. The last time another district won was in 1990 when East Coast Demerara (District Four) lifted the title.

Against this back-

Jevina Sampson was easily dominant in the field, in the Under-16 sprints

Yaw’s remarkable comeback crowned a sprint treble as he had earlier crowned record breaking performances in the Boys’ Under-18 200 and 400 metres.

Tirana Mitchell’s hamstring pull left the stadium in shock when the 200 metres Carifta bronze medalist grasped at her leg 40 metres into the race and fell to the ground in the Girls’ Under-18 100 metres.

Mitchell’s picked up the injury in September,

Girls’ Under-16 category and capped it off with a brilliant 4x400 metres final leg to win the relay for North Georgetown.

Jamal Johnson of Linden broke two middle distance records in the Boys’ Under-16 800 and 1500 metres.

Johnson is a bright star and prospect, and after basically going unnoticed for the past couple years, his performances at “nationals” definitely caught the eyes.

Fascinating fact

drop, it is safe to conclude that more needs to be done to enable the other districts to compete more meaningful at the premier schools championships.

Moreover, the sport needs an injection of new life and the Education Ministry must collaborate more with their counterparts from the Sport Ministry in order to get the best results out of the event, that has become one of Guyana’s main staples in sport.

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Guyana, Gore take CMRC titles G

uyana came from behind to secure the 2013 Seaboard Marinesponsored Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) country title, while Jamaican Doug Gore took the driver’s championship top honours after the event concluded

on Sunday at the South Dakota race track.

With home turf advantage, the Guyanese scored a whopping 464 points on Sunday to win the overall championships with 508 points, ahead of closest rival Jamaica, who finished on 392 points, while Barbados ended the

Some members of team Guyana pose with the championship trophy after copping the country title at the 2013 Seaboard Marine CMRC (Photos: Rohindra Mahase)

GMR&SC Supervisor Desiree Lee presents the 2013 Seaboard Marine CMRC Champion Driver trophy to Doug Gore

championships on 343 points.

In the individual segment, Gore finished on 118 points ahead of Kevin Jeffery, who amassed 70 points, Gore took the championship from David Summerbell Jr who won it last year.

Barbadian Doug

Maloney (60 points), Guyanese Mark Vieira (58 points) and Jamaican Peter Rae (57 points) rounded off the top five drivers for this year’s championships.

Meanwhile, Barbados won the CMRC Group Two Class with Kurt and Mark Thompson leading

the points standing with 104 and 92 points respectively.

The overall local group winners for 2013 are: Group 1-Mohamed Ali (118 points); Group 2A- Mohamed Roshandin (150 points); Group 2B-Afraz Allie (168 points); Group

3-Paul Vieira (90 points); Group 4-Paul Vieira (128 points); Superbike A- Joel Neblette (153 points); Superbike BNikel Seebeeran (200 points); Go- kart- Stanley Ming Jr (125 points) and 125 cc motorcyclesHeemand Boodhram (75 points).

Warner: I went too far Guyana 1-2 in Suriname marathon with Trott comments – Gardner, Morgan also impressive

A

ustralia batsman David Warner has admitted he “went a little bit too far” when he described Jonathan Trott as “poor and weak” during the first Test. Warner was speaking before it was announced Trott had left England’s Ashes tour with a longstanding stress- related condition.

“I made those comments for a reason,” Warner said. “[On Sunday] the bounce and pace got to them again.

David Warner

“It is Ashes cricket – probably went a little bit too far with the comments.”

England captain Alastair Cook accused Warner, 27, of being “disrespectful” when he made the comments during a news conference at the end of the third day.

Trott scored only 19 runs in the match as England crumbled to a 381run defeat inside four days at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Following Trott’s second-innings dismissal, when he struggled against the pace of Mitchell Johnson, former England captain Michael Vaughan was also critical of the England number three’s performances.

However, Vaughan admits he now regrets making those comments in light of what the player has been dealing with off the pitch.

“The hardest thing about it is that it’s [stress] not visual,” Vaughan told BBC Radio 5 live.

“I was involved in the England

team a few years ago when Marcus Trescothick went through some terrible times and it all came out all of a sudden.

“I don’t know how long it’s been going on for Jonathan but clearly this week he wasn’t right. I riticize him in the second innings and I wished I hadn’t. I wish I had known he was going through so many troubles.”

Trott’s England teammates Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann have both tweeted their support for the player, as has Australia coach Darren Lehmann who wrote on social media: “I wish Jonathan Trott a speedy recovery from a tough situation, a safe flight home to be with family!”

Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison, who also endured problems while on tour with his country, believes Warner’s comments about Trott were “bang out of order”.

“Just remember this guy has a short memory,” Harmison told BBC Radio 5 live.

“Six months ago this guy attacked an England cricketer and every time any England player was asked they said Cricket Australia were dealing with it. He might be a fantastic, explosive cricketer but every time that bloke opens his mouth something stupid comes out of it.

“I’ve defended him a lot as I used to play with him but that was the final straw, it was horrendous. To try and humiliate a fellow cricketer was bang out of order.”

Warner, who has scored 1,574 runs in 23 Tests, was suspended by Australia on their Ashes tour to England in the summer after punching England’s Joe Root in a bar. He returned to the team for the third Test at Old Trafford.

Former Derbyshire and Lancashire wicketkeeper Luke Sutton, 37, also offered his support to Trott, who he called “a quality person and player”.

Sutton was treated for depression and anxiety during the 2011 county season, and he used his Twitter account to riticize Warner’s comments during the first Test. (BBC Sport)

O

Top performers! From left: coach Leslie Black, Lionel D’Andrade, Alika Morgan and Kelvin Johnson pose with their trophies

verseas-based Guyanese Lionel D’Andrade ran away with the 10th edition of the Suriname Marathon on Saturday.

D’Andrade clocked a time of two hours, 45 minutes, 19 seconds (02h: 45m: 19s) to win the event ahead of overseas-based Guyanese Kelvin Johnson, who finished second in a time of two hours, 49 minutes, 35 seconds (02: 49m: 35s).

Udenhout Guillermo of Suriname was third in a time of two hours, 50 minutes, 20 seconds (02h: 50m: 20s).

D’Andrade, who took over the lead with approximately four kilometers left, noted that despite cramps during

the final stage of the race he was able to pull off the win.

“I was prepared for it; Kelvin lead all the way and with about four km I made my move… I got some cramps but I ran six minutes faster than last year so it was a good race for me,” D’Andrade told Guyana Times International Sport.

Johnson also noted that cramps got the better of him which made him give up the race in the latter stages.

“It was good; it was just the cramps in the last four kilometers to go, I was running with a gel but the cramps were there,” Johnson stated.

Meanwhile, top local distance athlete Alika

Morgan recorded a time of three hours, 50 minutes, 30 sec onds (03h: 50m: 30s) to finish second overall in the female category while winning the 18-21 category.

“Actually I did not really prepare for the race; it was a last minute something so I took it easy because I have the South American 10k second leg next Sunday,” Morgan told this publication about her performance.

Llewellyn Gardner was also at the event and finished 10th overall while running away with the top prize for the Masters’ category in a time of three hours, 29 minutes, 57 seconds (03h: 29m: 57s).

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| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NY Better Hope wins Guyana Softball Masters Cup A s one of the biggest softball tournaments was taking place in Guyana, softball teams here in New York were stirring with excitement. For the foreigners, it gave them the opportunity to showcase their talents and prove to their excountrymen that their skills had not faded since they migrated from “The Land of Many Waters.”

For the home teams, it gave them a chance to defend their home turf. If pride and glory were not enough, a prize of $800,000 GYD and $600,000 GYD for the Open and Masters categories would have been enough incentive for the players to provide an exciting three-days of cricket. All of these was at stake in the Guyana Softball Cup. The tournament, which is in its third consecutive year of competi-

tion, showcases some of the best softball talent that Guyana and United States have to offer.

The NY Better Hope team led by Ronald Evelyn and managed by Alfred Madray was loaded with some best softball talent in New York.

Team members were on a mission to capture the Masters titles as they overcame an early round loss to claim the championship.

In their first match, Better Hope went up against Floodlights Cricket Club at the DCC, Floodlights elected to bat first and reached 134 in their 20 overs. Openers

L. Ganda and R. Persaud got them off to a fantastic start as they scored 27 and 31 respectively; however they were removed in quick succession of each other and Better Hope bowlers kept the pressure mounting from that point.

Ronald Evelyn was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with figures of 4-0-12-2. In response to the modest total, Gus Gordon got Better Hope off to a terrific start with 56 but no other batsman was there to stick around with the skipper as wickets fell steadily.

E. Dodson eventually brought them home in the 20th over as Better Hope claimed a narrow victory of 2 wickets.

In the second match of the day, Better Hope went up against Kayume Savage Cricket Club.

Better Hope took the strike and mustered up a score of 149 in their 20 overs. J. Arjune led the way for Better Hope with 36 but it proved not to be good enough as Kayume Savage chased it down in the 19th over. Led by F. Mohamed, 50, and B. Lakram 36, Kayume Savages reached their total with ease as the Better Hope bowlers could only claim two of their wickets.

With day one of the competition coming to a close, Better Hope found themselves splitting the day’s honors af-

ter winning the first game and losing the second. With the dawn of a new day, they looked to rebound from their late night loss as they went up against fellow New York team -The Brooklyn Legends. Batting first, Legends were kept in check by opening bowlers E.Dodson and R.Etwaroo.

The two bowled webs around Legends’ batsmen as they accounted for the first four wickets.

Some late hitting from G. Gowlarhan, 51, and V. McLonnon, 27, along with 25 Better Hope extras saw Legends reach 146 in their 20 overs.

In response Better Hope got off to a horri-

ble start as Gordon was bowled for 1 in the first over. J. Arjune, 59, and K. Sanichar, 54, saw that the early setback wouldn’t cause Better Hope the game, the two had a 128-run second wicket partnership as Better Hope reached their total comfortably in the 16th over.

In the second match of the day Better Hope squared off against Wellman Cricket Club.

Having lost their previous night’s match, Better Hope was looking to avoid losing under the stars once again for consecutive nights.

Batting first, they got off to a horrible start

as K. Sanichar was run out for 0 and in walked J. Arjune looking to rebuild the innings for the second time that day.

As they say, “the stars shine brightest at night” and so was the case for Arjune as he lit up the DCC ground with boundary after boundary. He single-handedly demolished the Wellman bowling line up and would eventually go on to reach 96 as he was run out late in the innings, robbing him of a well-deserved ton .

R. Sugrim, 32, provided some late hitting as Better Hope reached a competitive total of 162. Wellman Cricket Club in response kept the match interesting as M. Chumundath , 56, and H. Wright, 33, kept the team in the chase.

However, Better Hope bowlers were able to hold their nerve as they held Wellman to 154.

A 3 and 1 record earned Better Hope a place in the finals the next day against the Industry Super Kings.

The stage was set for a grand finale between the two teams as Industry Super Kings took the strike.

continued on page 50

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55 Scotiabank Kiddy cricketers ready for camps S Sport

week ending december 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

T JOHN’S, Antigua – Over 600 Scotiabank Kiddy cricketers are set to participate in camps in the coming weeks. The aspiring cricketers will be part of training sessions in Antigua and St Maarten.

The activities in Antigua will start on Saturday, continue on Sunday, and also run on December 7 and 8.

The training in St Maarten will be held from December 2-5.

Earlier this year, sev-

eral hundred Scotiabank Kiddy cricketers completed another year of summer camps all across the region as part of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Scotiabank Kiddy cricket programme.

The camps were hosted from July 1 to August 30 in eleven territories across the region. The participating territories were Anguilla, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis, St Kitts, St Lucia,

K J Singh

Simone Hull

St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

An investment of more than US$ 150,000 was made by title sponsor Scotiabank to host the eleven Kiddy Cricket summer camps which were geared at giving the top performing boys and girls at the grade six level exposure to advanced cricket concepts and skills development training. They were also prepared for the next level of development (Grassroots

Cricket) in the WICB development pathway.

The camps included sessions on the history of cricket, nutrition, personal development and hygiene, the dangers of illegal substance use and the rules of the cricket.

The practical side of the camp introduced Kiddy cricketers to advanced cricket equipment and gear, including new cricket skill development and training concepts in batting, bowling, wicketkeeping and fielding.

DMW International indoor hockey commences in...

have clearly improved with every outing.

Judging from their last performance in 2011, they are not to be taken lightly. They are spearheaded by former Barbados national captain Rohan “Teno” Thomas who honed his hockey skills for some years in the United Kingdom before returning to the island.

Newcomers Queens Park is a top indoor side from Trinidad who will be testing the waters for the first time in Guyana and local national champions GCC round out the solid pool of top class sides.

Equally competitive

Gabriella Xaviery plays a shot

In the Women’s competition, the Canadians once again seem the side to beat as several of the players from last year’s victorious Toronto Academy return under the banner of the Toronto

Toros this year. The side founded in 2011, field a full squad of top players from their home city of Toronto, including national midfielder Krie Sher. Last year’s silver medallists Magnolias of

Trinidad with their superstar striker Stacey Sui-Butt return with a vengeance to improve on their second place finish. The inaugural victors have a good crop of young players who are sure to make them genuine contenders for the crown once again.

Three-time festival champions and local top side GCC have entered their strongest side to date in this year’s festival.

The team feature a number of players who have trained on the Guyana national squad over the past few years, including national sweeper Ulrica

Sutherland and dynamic striker Gabriella Xavier.

Moving up from the junior ranks is the skillfull Aliyah Gordon, who will complete a potent GCC attack.

Malvern Hockey Club of Trinidad have also worn the festival crown in the past and will produce one of the more experienced sides in the festival, while the rebuilding Hikers will be looking to establish a name for themselves this time around.

The Carib Veterans Challenge will feature the largest collection of teams with eight sides vying for the top honours. Local sides GCC,

from back page

Hikers and Old Fort feature among the most consistent sides, but former champs Fatima along with Malvern, Carib, TT Defence Force and TT Police forge a strong Trinidadian challenge.

Defending champs the Hikers will be strengthened this year by the inclusion of Jerazeno “Skillaxe” Bell, but will have their hands full with the challengers abound.

The tournament will begin this evening with three matches between local sides and will continue until Sunday when the finals will be contested.

guyanatimeSinternational.com

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

week ending december 1, 2013

BBC award shortlist announced

T

en contenders have been shortlisted for next month’s 60th BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Athletes Mo Farah, Christine Ohuruogu and Hannah Cockroft are included along with tennis star Andy Murray and cyclist Chris Froome.

Golfer Justin Rose, sailor Sir Ben Ainslie, jockey AP McCoy, cricketer Ian Bell and rugby union player Leigh Halfpenny also make the list.

The public will vote for their favourite on December 15.

Voting for the main award will be by phone and, for the first time, online during the programme, which will be presented by Gary

Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan.

In front of an expected 12,000 crowd at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, the latest name to join an illustrious roll of honour will be announced.

With an array of candidates to choose from, an expert panel faced some difficult choices finalising the shortlist.

Ainslie helped mastermind an America’s Cup sailing victory, Bell won cricket’s Ashes with England, and there were World Championship doubles for athletes Cockroft (wheelchair racing) and Farah (5,000m and 10,000m).

Froome ruled in cycling’s Tour de France, Halfpenny starred in the British and Irish

Lions’ triumphant tour of Australia and McCoy rode an unprecedented 4,000th winner.

Murray ended Britain’s 77-year wait for

a Wimbledon men’s singles winner, Ohuruogu regained her world 400m title and Rose secured his maiden golf major at the US Open.

In addition to the main prize, there will also be seven other awards: Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Overseas Sports Personality of

the Year, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Sports Personality of the Year Diamond Award, Helen Rollason Award and Sports Unsung Hero.

Three former Sports Personality nominees were on an expert panel which decided the shortlist - and the winner will be decided by the public vote on the night.

Baroness GreyThompson, Dame Kelly Holmes and Marcus Trescothick were joined

by Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport, and representatives from the BBC and the newspaper industry.

The panel of Judges were put together following criticism of an all-male list decided via a different method in 2011. (BBC Sport)

DMW International indoor hockey WI U-19s to play commences in Georgetown against Sagicor HPC

B

RIDGETOWN, Barbados – The West Indies Under-19 team will face the Sagicor West Indies High Performance Centre in two 50-over matches before departing for their tour of Bangladesh. The matches will be played on Thursday and Friday at the 3Ws Oval at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies. First ball is 09: 00 hours (08: 00 hours Jamaica Time).

The West Indies Under-19s will then depart on Saturday evening for their tour of Bangladesh which will feature seven 50-over matches against the Bangladesh Under19s.

Both teams are using the series as preparation for the ICC Under-19 World Cup to be played in United Arad Emirates in February, 2014.

“We are happy to be able to play these matches before we head off to what we ex-

Roddy Estwick

pect will be a tough series in Bangladesh, but one which we believe we can win,” said Head Coach Roddy Estwick.

“We want our players to get a ‘feel’ and before we head off. All 15 players will get an opportunity so no one will be left out. We will look to continue the work we started when we played against Bangladesh in Guyana last month.”

Estwick added: “We have to get better at rotating the strike, creating singles, hitting the gaps and looking to bat out the 50 overs. These are the main areas of concern and we want to

make sure we get better in this department.”

The West Indies Under-19s leave Bangladesh on December 21.

The squad reads: Ramaal Lewis (Jamaica), Jeremy Solozano (T& T), Fabien Allen (Jamaica), Tagenarine Chanderpaul (Guyana), Bryan Charles (T& T), Tristan Coleman (Jamaica), Jonathan Drakes (Barbados), Shimron Hetmyre (Guyana), Jerome Jones (Barbados), Ray Jordan (Windwards), Brandon King (Jamaica), Preston McSween (Windwards), Marquino Mindley (Jamaica), Gudakesh Motie (Guyana) and Nicholas Pooran (T& T) The team management is Altamont Solomon (Manager), Roddy Estwick (Coach), Robert Samuels (Assistant Coach), Dwain Gill (Analyst), Janel Springer (Physiotherapist) and Ronald Rogers (Fitness Trainer)

T

he Diamond Mineral Water (DMW) international indoor hockey festival will be graced this year with the presence of as many as 11 foreign teams from Canada, Trinidad and Barbados.

These, coupled with top local qualifying clubs, Hikers, Old Fort and GCC are sure to put on an impressive show of high quality, entertaining indoor hockey for which the Festival has become known.

This year the Canadians, Revamp Hockey Club, led by Guyanese Jonathan Roberts pose the strongest challenge for the gold in the Men’s division.

Roberts migrated to Canada some 13 years ago and has represented his adopted home internationally, including the last indoor World Cup in Poland in 2011.

Another member of the team of Guyanese lineage is a Canadian international, Scott Sandison, whose mother has represented Guyana several years ago before

Players at a practice session

migrating to Canada herself. Both Roberts and Sandison have competed and were victorious in the local festival on two occasions, including the inaugural one in 2004.

The Canadians are further strengthened by several other internationals and junior internationals completing a side that will be difficult to defeat.

Local Men’s indoor giants, the Hikers, boast the best results in the festival, winning a record four times. The defending champions have regained the services of indoor national Shane

Samuels, who will anchor the youthful additions of Jamarj Assanah and Aroydy Branford to produce a solid contingent.

Former champions Old Fort of Guyana will hope to regain their glory of 2010, and much will be riding on the shoulders of the phenominal Aderemi “Dove” Simon, whose misfortune left him on the injured list for the recently concluded national championships.

Not to be taken lightly

The YMCA of Barbados have competed in the festival before and continued on page 55

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