Guyana Times International

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

for FRee distribution guyanatimesinternational.com

President says Guyana stands ready to support hurricane-hit territories Page 39

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

IDB flags Audit Office capacity ahead of oil money WEEK ENDING September 10, 2017

ISSUE NO. 362

See story on page 8

...says transparency and accountability are required now more than ever 2017 Guyana Folk Festival a hit in NYC

A scene from the Family Fun Day held to culminate Guyana Folk Festival 2017 in Brooklyn, New York.

The event was held at the Old Boys High School Ground, Brooklyn, on September 4. The event was also attended by officials of the Guyana Cultural Association, members of the Brooklyn community, Ministers of Government; Catherine Hughes and Winston Jordan and, New York State Senators.

President will “respect�

High Court ruling on GECOM Chairmanship- Harmon

Mother of 2 gets G$150,000 bail for dousing exlover with acid Page 21

Page 3

President David Granger

2

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

President will “respect” High Court ruling on GECOM Chairmanship- Harmon

G

President David Granger

overnment’s chief spokesman Joseph Harmon on Thursday said that President David Granger will respect the ruling of the High Court and will not step outside the boundaries established by acting Chief Justice Roxanne GeorgeWiltshire.

Acting Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire

Addressing the media at his weekly post-cabinet press briefing, the Minister of State said that the President’s position has not changed and he believes that the position of chairman of GECOM is a very important constitutional office.

Harmon confirmed that

President David Granger’s selection of GECOM’s next chairman will be guided by the court ruling, which states that not all of the nominees must be a former judge, a present judge or possess the qualifications to be a judge.

On submitting the third list, on August 25, Opposition

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had said he was hopeful that the President would take into consideration the ruling of the acting Chief Justice in regard to the constitutional stipulation governing the appointment of a Chairman for GECOM. This third list of nominees for the GECOM chair-

manship comprises Major General (retired) Joseph Singh, Attorneys-at-law Teni Housty and Sanjeev Datadin, Businesswoman and Conservationist Annette Arjune-Martins, Pastor Onesi LaFleur and former Magistrate Krishnadatt Persaud.

4 views

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Say cheese!

INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

New York Office 106-15 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica NY 11435 Email: guyanatimesnyint@gmail.com Tel no: 718-658-6804 Fax no: 718-849-2286

Cheerleaders pose for a ‘selfie’ during the Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Jamaica Tallawahs match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad on Wednesday evening. The Warriors went on to win the game with 5 wickets in hand and 13 balls to spare.

Preferred method of contact via EMAIL Guyana Office Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana.

Tel no: (592) 223-7230/1, 225-7761.

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

EDITORIAL

Retracting the promised bridge

T

he Demerara Harbour Bridge is conceded by all to have long exceeded its promised life after it was thrown across the Demerara River in 1978. Sections of the purported “longest floating bridge in the world” were floating down the river long before the People’s National Congress Government demitted office in 1992 and in the 25 years since, it was only a rigorous and continuous retrofitting and maintenance schedule by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government and its new successor, has kept it afloat.

In the meantime, commercial activity on both sides of the river has increased exponentially, reflected by the figure of 9000 plus vehicles crossing either way up from the few hundreds in 1978. The commercial activity has also engendered a huge number of heavily laden trucks with produce and goods that have to be restricted and controlled so as not to place too much pressure on the decrepit structure. But we did not arrive at this impasse overnight and back in 2013, the then PPP Administration commissioned a prefeasibility study to advise on a way forward. This was done by the Public Works Ministry and the Demerara Harbour Bridge staff with a minimum of fuss and submitted its report in October 2013.

Pertinently, the study pointed out: “Daily retraction for a period of about one hour causes severe road traffic congestion at both ends of the bridge, as well as delays and inconvenience to ocean going vessels. Consultations with various Private Sector agencies and NGOs that represent a wide cross section of production and manufacturing sectors in Guyana have indicated a strong desire for a new FIXED bridge structure across the Demerara River. The new structure would not only relieve road and marine traffic congestion, but would also facilitate and catalyse improved mobility, sector growth, and planned development at the Georgetown Harbour.”

And it concluded, “This prefeasibility study has shown that a new high level four-lane fixed bridge structure at Houston to Versailles is the only economically feasibility alternative, providing benefits to society that can amount to a minimum of some US$222 million over a 70-year life cycle at a capital cost of around US$264.5 million. The other alternatives proved to be uneconomical over the period. User tolls were considered to increase at a rate of two per cent per year above the existing regime.”

This present Government recently commissioned the necessary feasibility study at a cost of G$143 million and to every stakeholder’s surprise, this turned the pre-feasibility upside down on the most critical feature for no stated reason. Rather than a “fixed High level four-lane bridge” that would allow ships to pass under the bridge at all times and preclude the objected need for retractions, the feasibility study is recommending a non-floating three lane bridge – but one that still has a retracting portion for passing ships.

As has already pointed out by several commentators, while the three-lane would allow two lanes each way for traffic during rush hours, this would in no way be significantly different than the present situation when both lanes are used but there are yet massive pile ups that occur. With Guyana still importing 10,000 cars per annum and increasing, this situation can only get worse.

Then more critically, the need for retraction would still create the enormous traffic back-ups and confusion that has now turned the moveable high tide periods into nightmares for crossDemerara commuters and truckers. As the Chairman of the Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Chamber of Commerce commented, the Government should at least look at logistical development of the Demerara River traffic for the foreseeable future.

While all the details are not released, Suriname was able to build a high level fixed bridge 20 years ago and they have been well served by their structure. The technology and costs are not much different from the low level bridge now being proposed. The major difference is the possibility that ships may run into the supporting structures when passing underneath.

That is not a fatal objection as Suriname has shown.

Reasons why the Parking Meters Project should be rejected

T

he controversial parking meter project is once again in the spotlight, as the report on that issue done by the Commission of Inquiry appointed by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) had been published.

The M&CC is now expected to deliberate on the content of the report, and make a decision on the way forward based on the various options provided by the Committee, taking into account its contractual obligations and so on. So far, the M&CC seems to be shying away from tackling the issue frontally, as it has further delayed any decision on the project until sometime this month, when the matter will come up for discussion again.

The parking meter project attracted much controversy when it was officially rolled out in January 2017.

Due to the several concerns regarding the contract and the actual implementation of the project itself, citizens, led by the Movement Against Parking Meters, formed large protests, demanding that the contract be rescinded. These sustained protests resulted in Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan ordering that the paid parking initiative be suspended and a committee be formed to have the contract revised.

The Committee held several consultations with individuals and various stakeholder groups, and even though the sessions were poorly attended, it was clear that majority of persons were against the project and favour a complete termination of the contract. It should be mentioned that the report laid out five or six options, ranging from rejection to acceptance of the parking meter project; but the Commission, on its part, did not recommend any position.

By J ainarine D eonauth

The Guyana Consumers Association (GCA), which speaks on behalf of all consumers, had from the inception pointed out that there is no social or economic justification for such a project to be imposed on the City, and had called for the contract to be revised or scrapped altogether. On this basis, the GCA had listed several valid reasons why the project in its present form should be rejected; these include: (1) Smart City Solutions (SCS) had refused to disclose any financial information, including investment, except the Commission took an oath of non-disclosure of such information. This refusal to provide any financial and accounting information

by SCS hindered the work of the Commission, and went counter to the Government of Guyana’s policy on transparency.

(2) In the Contract between SCS and M&CC, SCS was allotted 80% of the returns and M&CC 20%. SCS would notionally have made an investment of US$10M, while the City Council’s investment would have been the road system of Georgetown, worth many billions of dollars, plus the cost of the continuous maintaining of the roads over the next 20 years of the Contract. In

other words, SCS would have invested less than 1% of the cost of the Scheme but would have been collecting 80% of the revenues! Such a giveaway of public funds is unacceptable.

(3) The owners of the Parking Meter Scheme would have been harvesting hundreds of millions of dollars per year, which would be sent abroad, causing a constant drain of the foreign exchange on the country. Such a net foreign exchange drain would lead to a weakening of the Guyana currency, resulting in increases in prices of goods and services.

(4) The Parking Meter Scheme would have caused businesses great losses.

Their customer parking would have been eliminated, and the acceptance and delivery of goods at their premises would have become more expensive and time-consuming.

Any contraction of business could result in unemployment and increase in prices of some consumer goods. The business community were therefore against the Scheme.

(5) Business in Georgetown would have further dried up, since business people and folk from the countryside who usually came to the City to shop and participate in entertainment activities would find it too expensive to do so, and would no longer come.

Finally, we agree with the GCA that the overwhelming majority of the population of Georgetown, as well as the tens of thousands who visit the City every day for business or pleasure, are against parking meters. This is good enough reason for the project to be scrapped. The M&CC should therefore proceed in making the tough decisions, and do what is necessary to relieve us of this monster which no doubt would add more stress to an already burdened population.

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese must demand local content input at every stage - oil expert

F

oreign oil companies are not doing Guyanese a favour by fronting the capital required for the exploration and development of its oil resource since the commodity is in fact natural patrimony and the monies will be repaid with interest by this nation.

As such, Guyanese have a right to demand that local content is protected and fully exploited even in the early stages of development through monies initially being fronted by, in this case, US Oil Giant Exxon Mobil, currently gearing for production by 2020.

This is the view of industry expert; Trinidadian based Anthony Paul, the author of Guyana’s draft Local Content Policy.

Paul was at the time addressing a Local Content Policy Stakeholder Engagement held at the Georgetown Marriott on Tuesday.

Speaking to the gathering of stakeholders present, Paul cautioned Guyanese to be wary of the fact that any money invested by Exxon Mobil will in fact have to be repaid with interest using revenues earned from the oil owned by Guyanese.

He said even at the

early stages of development of the sector, there are numerous opportunities for Guyanese to ensure the protection of local content.

Paul gave as example, a drill ship to be used.

According to the industry expert, while this operation is in the beginning stages of the operations, it will require support services including the supply of fuel and rations, which provides an opportunity for Guyanese input—a right that must be demanded.

Paul, in presenting his draft policy to stakeholders reminded that policies are not necessarily enforceable and rather provide guidelines for stakeholders which will require a strong regulator of the industry. “Policy is a piece of the puzzle” he said.

He noted too that the administration of the sector will entail more than just the input of the Ministry of natural Resources but will require a “whole of government approach.”

He reminded that in Guyana’s case, the oil discovery is potentially transformational in its magnitude and as such will require ‘all hands on deck.’

Speaking to some of the objectives of the draft policy for local content, Paul used the occasion to impress on the gathering that running an oil industry is not the same as managing an asset and as such requires a business approach—an approach that involves long term strategies.

On the matter of local content, Paul spoke to the usefulness of Joint Venture arrangements which would lend to the capacity building of local personnel and services provided inclusive of the transfer of technology to build local competency in the field.

This, he said, will lead not only to the building of local competency for the local sector but will also position Guyana and Guyanese to be able to export its services on a global scale.

He noted that securing local content can also relate to infrastructure and spoke to the use of wharves by entities outside of the oil and gas sectors.

Paul observed too that many of the skill sets acquired through the oil and gas sector, inclusive of managerial and other procurement competen-

cies, can be transitioned to other local sectors and also forms part of securing local content through the industry.

He noted that Oil companies generally secure the services of and in many cases own the best companies in the world not only in operations but in training and development, the management of large projects.

“These are the things that we need to learn as Caribbean people to continue building ourselves,” according to Paul.

He explained that Local Content Policies aim to also capture this knowledge and competency of the large international companies in order to have this transferred to local sectors. This, he said, will inherently create more revenues and jobs for Guyana.

According to Paul, “that is why we invite foreign companies, because we don’t know how to do it ourselves....if we can learn from the industry and do that ourselves then we can take that into the broader economy and that is the rational for creating joint ventures.”

He explained that “in a joint venture you have the right to ask questions as to

Trinidad-based Anthony Paul, the author of Guyana’s draft Local Content Policy

how key activities happen and to how decisions are made...you don’t have that right if you are an agent or a vendor.” According to Paul, in a Joint Venture the partners share the equity and risks involved.

Paul used the opportunity to speak specifically to the Guyana context and Exxon Mobil and pointed to the negative cash flow period where the investments are made at the initial stages.

According to the industry expert, the initial investments constitute significant sums of money and countries such as Guyana must be cognizant of how they can benefit from that end of the spectrum. “There are ways to do that and the policy addressed that.”

The industry expert explained that during production, the oil which is owned by Guyana, is sold and from that revenue earned all the costs that went into developing the fields and sector are recov-

ered, and what remains is then shared.

In Guyana’s case, government has agreed to accept two per cent royalty of the gross production after which initial investments and expenditure will be recovered and whatever remains as profit oil will then be shared 50/50.

According to Paul, “you pay for all these things” in reference to the initial investments which in this case has been fronted by Exxon Mobil.

“You are paying for this, the companies help giving the money upfront and then recover it with interest, so ultimately you pay for it.”

With this in mind, Paul sought to point out that Government revenue earned is not the only source of development and protection for local content since there are other sources of benefit to Guyanese since they inherently have a right to be a part of determining how the initial investments are spent.

6

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana should learn from experiences Delay in hearing of Texas and Louisiana and elections petition adequately prepare for flooding could undermine Guyana’s democracy

Dear Editor, The disaster caused by the tropical storms in Texas and Louisiana — seen on TV — should be a wake-up call for the Government of Guyana to immediately begin planning and preparing for annual flooding, which affects our country.

We should learn from the Texas disaster as indeed from the many disasters that struck Guyana in the recent past. Guyana has been devastated by intense rainfall at various times during the year and over the last couple of decades.

May we be reminded of the recent intense flooding that hit parts of the interior over the last month, displacing people and causing billions in damage to property and infrastructure. Action is needed now; enough with the talk.

The many storms that hit Guyana and the US and other parts of the world show climate change is real, and that one can expect more severe storms and flooding at any time of the year.

Thus planning should be ongoing, to protect life and property.

Several Guyanese and other Caribbean people live in the

flood-affected areas of Texas and Louisiana, and one hopes that all is well with them. Indeed, one wishes well for all the victims of the storm, irrespective of national origin; Guyanese and other Caribbean people like myself are contributing to relief efforts to assist the victims. The flooding that hit the south of the US is not new or strange; it is an annual phenomenon caused by tropical storms, although this particular storm has perhaps been the worst to have hit Texas.

Guyana (and even neighbouring Trinidad) has been prone to similar flooding. True, Guyana and Trinidad do not face the same ferocity of (hurricane) storms, (being south of the hurricane belt) that annually hits coastal California, Texas, Louisiana or the eastern shore of the US. But Guyana and Trinidad do face annual heavy rainfall. And while the US states do make preparations to brace for the annual hurricanes or major storms, limited measures are taken in Guyana (and Trinidad) to mitigate the effects of similar flooding.

Guyana, like Trinidad, needs

a massive works programme to clean drains and build mega reservoirs (conservancies) to collect water. It is the only way to deal with frequent destructive weather patterns that we have been experiencing over the last decade. A tropical storm deluge is no longer an uncommon occurrence; it happens several times in a year, and is no longer predicted. It can happen at any time, as we have experienced in Guyana over the last several years. Instead of waiting for floods and then scramble for money for relief efforts and rehabilitation, or to pump water, we can plan to prevent flooding by managing water flow.

During colonial times, proper action was taken to prevent flooding. There is no reason why it can’t be done now. It is dismaying that not much has been done to protect against flooding, especially when we know flooding is expected during the rainy season. We must learn from our flood experiences as well as from the current one in Texas and Louisiana.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

Enough of this charade from Minister Bulkan Dear Editor, In any society, following the rule of law is always the optimal course of action to take.

However, this concept seems alien to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, when it comes to the establishment of the Local Government Commission. Article 78A of our Constitution makes provision for the coming into being of such a Commission, something the Minister in 2017 appears very resistant to. If you observe his public utterance in 2012, it is clear as day and night that he was singing a different tune then.

In 2012, as the then Opposition spokesperson for local government, Bulkan argued for the local democratic organs to “breathe freely and that the oversight… should not be suffocating and subject only to ministerial control”.

But today as Minister, he is solely responsible for this lack of freedom and more so these grave acts of suffocation in the local government system. What do you call such a character? In the Oxford Dictionary, such a character is defined as a hypocrite. In Guyanese parlance, such a character is defined as a double-dealing counterfeit who speaks from both sides of their mouth.

Listening to Bulkan in 2012 and Bulkan in 2017 is like listening to Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde. It

was Bulkan in Parliament in 2012 who said: “these local democratic organs must be empowered, as is required by our Constitution”.

But today he has the power to empower them but has utilised every opportunity at his disposal to frustrate the establishment of the Local Government Commission.

Isn’t this what his boss is doing on the GECOM Chairman issue?

Isn’t this mental corruption of the highest order?

Quite duplicitously, Bulkan declares in Parliament in 2012 that the establishment of the Local Government Commission is “… in the best interest of their respective communities, not of some political party; it is all about local democracy.” But five years later, he has singularly kicked those ambitions to the curb and today it is all about his People’s National Congress (PNC) party and not about local democracy anymore.

The people will surely remember this grave betray from the PNC in 2020.

Finally, I must commend the Granger Administration for holding Local Government Elections in 2016; it was a seismic deliverable that has to be acknowledged. But since those elections, as a nation we have gone backward on local democracy and I will cite two acts to represent this declaration – one, how the Minister interfered in

the process of the elections of the Mayor of Mabaruma and secondly, how the Minister has denied the nation a Local Government Commission. Enough of this charade from Minister Bulkan.

I am therefore calling on the Minister to free himself of this great imposition where he pretends to be the Local Government Commission, because under the Constitution he is not.

Democracy is a medicine with much pain, but on any day it is better than centralised autocracy as is being practiced by this Granger regime in the local government system.

When everyone thought the 2016 elections would have brought new life to the local government system, since then because of the interference from Bulkan’s Ministry, much inefficiency has been imported into the delivery of public service at the local level.

Using the Minister’s words from 2012 “for the old and the young…” please do the right thing and establish the Local Government Commission and stop this autocratic system of centralisation in the local government system when the Constitution and the spirit of the rule of law recommend differently.

Regards, Sase Singh

Congratulations to West Indies Dear Editor, Congratulations to the West Indies cricket team for a magnificent win over England at Edgbaston.

According to some renowned cricket analysts when all the circumstances were taken into considerations

the success can be classified as the greatest-ever comeback victory.

As we jubiliate, we must remember that all was not well with the performance of our team. In England’s second innings, we dropped seven catch-

Dear Editor, I have noted the decision of the Kenyan High Court in relation to the recently held presidential elections in that country. The Court pronounced the elections null and void.

The Court came to that decision because of the many irregularities that were found.

The Parties would go to the poll in two months’ time. This is a historic decision and it spells well for democracy, not only in Kenya, but in Africa and the world.

It is apposite to note that the reasons for pronouncing the elections null and void has many similarities with the elections in Guyana, held on May 11, 2015.

The Kenyan Court found credible evidence of fictitious polling places and statements of poll. In Guyana, one of the charges was that fake statements of poll were used to determine the election results.

In Kenya, the charge was that the IT system was hacked. In Guyana the IT section was shut down. It was not used to tally the votes to determine the results of the poll as the law prescribed.

Both the Kenyan and Guyanese elections clearly instructed that international observers need to be more thorough in elections observation.

It should be noted that the Carter Centre was there; headed by John Kerry, former Secretary of State in the US Government.

The European Union was also present.

In Guyana we have had international observers, including the Carter Centre. Yet significant fraud took place in Kenya and in Guyana.

I wish to point out

that in the case of Kenya in less than a month the Kenyan Court heard the case and pronounced on it.

This is indeed a giant step forward in the advancement of democracy and the rule of law.

Guyana, afIn ter more than two years, the case cannot be heard. This is due mainly to the manoeuvring of the Secretariat of the Elections Commission and the sloth of the Judiciary.

In normal circumstances, the CEO and Secretariat of the Elections Commission would be pushing to vindicate themselves in the courts and in public opinion. It is therefore, strange and monstrous that the body is trying to frustrate a hearing by the court.

I wish to once more call on the Elections Commission/ Secretariat to stop frustrating the hearing and urge the courts to hear this case immediately.

The delay will further undermine our democracy and lead us back to a period of similar to what we had from the late 1960s to 1992, when Guyana’s Government was regarded as dictatorship due mainly to electoral fraud.

I wish to express my congratulations to the Court of Kenya in the professional and efficient way in which it conducted itself. This is a great example to all countries striving for democratic government, separation of powers and the rule of law.

es; We allowed their tail to wag like a ferocious English bulldog on the loose, while over the years our tail appears to start from deep in the neck. There were too many tactical blunders committed by our captain when England batted for the second time.

Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainty.

One columnist opined that we must not read too much into the West Indies victory. It may

or may not be a flash in the pan. The arrival of one swallow does not mean that it is summer.

However, as we luxuriate in the victory and hopefully look towards Lords and onwards, we must remember that there is Hope.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

Yours faithfully, Clinton Conway A s s i s t a n t Commissioner of Police (Retired)

news 7

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

T&T Police seize 2,000 illegal NY East Canje Reunion honours top NGSA students guns in 36 months

M

ore than 2,000 illegal firearms, mostly pistols and revolvers and approximately 37,000 rounds of assorted ammunition have been recovered by the police in the past 36 months.

Most of the illegal guns come through the South American mainland originating from North America.

This was disclosed yesterday by acting ASP Vernly Gift of the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB) during the T&T Police Service’s weekly media briefing.

Giving a breakdown, Gift said in total 2,158 firearms were recovered from January 2015 to August 2017, “In 2015, 691…in 2016, 765 and from January 2017 to August 31 2017, 702… of the nine divisions, the majority of seizures were

made in the Northern, Western and Southern divisions.”

Gift also said that during the period January 2016 to August 31 2016, a total of $109,637,067 in cocaine and marijuana were seized, while in 2017 during the same period, $30,727,305 were seized.

He said that despite the fact that the T&T Police Service (TTPS) has had notable success in the recovery of illegal arms and ammunition, it is difficult to measure the quantity of firearms entering the country.

“Whilst the threat of firearms is real and ever so evident, the effects of the narcotic scourge is equally as devastating and contribute to the loss and diminishing quality of life locally,” Gift said.

With respect to marijuana eradication exercises, police have in-

creased its initiative from 29 exercises in 2016 from January to August 31 to 41 exercises in the same period this year.

“In 2016 233,330 fully grown trees were destroyed while this year same period 1,108,737 fully grown trees were destroyed…a 41 per cent increase in exercises and 375 per cent increase in trees being destroyed,” Gift said.

When asked if the Police Service had full co-operation with the Customs and Excise Division with respect to carrying out exercises at the respective ports of entry throughout T&T, Gift replied: “Yes. We often have meetings and they are fully cooperative” He, however, could not give any statistics with regards to the amount of illegal firearms and narcotics seized from those respective ports of entities.

“The effort in drug supply reduction by local agencies such as Customs and Excise, T&T Coast Guard, security agencies at all ports of entry should not go unnoticed and for this the TTPS commends them for their efforts,” Gift said.

(Trinidad Guardian)

T

Coordinator Anil Beharry and others surrounded by happy students

he NY East Canje Reunion of the USA recently honoured the top performers of the six primary schools in the East Canje area. The ten-year-old organisation, for the sixth time, is providing financial support for the top students.

This year the group went one step further by recognising the top four students from each school as against the top three as was done in previous years.

At a simple, but significant ceremony held recently at the Rose Hall Estate Training Building, cash incentives totaling US$2,925 was distributed among the twenty four students.

The event was coordinated by Anil Beharry on behalf of the donors.

The top student of the area was John Andrew Ramdin of Cumberland

Primary School notching up 510 marks, earning a spot at Bishop's High School.

Beharry read a prepared message on behalf of the organisation which congratulated the kids, their parents and teachers. The organisation also pledged continued support. He took the opportunity to personally thank the NY East Canje Reunion for this fine gesture and is positive that the cash will go a far way in helping the families to prepare the kids for Secondary School education.

Beharry also mentioned that this initiative will surely motivate others to do well. Special thanks was in place for the parents who played a major role in their children’s success, teachers and the media for their support. He also commended the manage-

ment of the Estate for their willingness to provide a lovely venue for this annual event.

Speaking on behalf of the Regional Democratic Council and the Department of Education; Sattish Audit showered praises on the organisation and promised the Region's support for the continued success of the students. He urged the parents, teachers and children to strive for excellence and reminded them that education is the way out of poverty.

Top student; Ramdin in response, thanked the organisation for the support given to the students and promised that they will put the cash in good use and continue to strive for more success, thus making everyone proud.

Engraved pens were distributed to all persons who were in attendance.

8 news

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

IDB flags Audit Office capacity ahead of oil money ...says transparency and accountability are required now more than ever

T

he independence and capacity of the Auditor General’s Office is one of the priority areas to be addressed by Guyana, in order to ensure there is Transparency and Accountability with regards the oversight of the nation’s revenue and expenditure of public resources, especially in light of the imminent influx of monies into the economy as a result of Oil and Gas production.

This was disclosed by Resident Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Sophie Makonnen, as she brought the curtains down on a multi-year capacity building programme funded primarily by that International Financial Institution (IFI) and venued at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel.

Echoing Makonnen’s sentiments was President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Deodat Indar, who went a step further in calling for the strengthening of the internal audit mechanisms at the Ministry of Finance’s Accountant General’s office.

Oil Revenues

The IDB representative in her remarks to the participants was adamant, “institutional capacity in the public sector is one of the priorities that will ensure growth social and economic development of Guyana, this is really important in the current situation in which Guyana finds itself and I refer to oil revenues which you are expecting in the next few years.”

Makonnen told those in attendance,—inclusive of Internal and External Auditors along with Ministry of Finance staffers—transparency and accountability are required (now) more than ever with the advent of the oil revenues.

She explained that the US$2M that the IDB plugged in the capacity building programme for the Audit Office, is but a component of the wider assistance provided to Guyana with regards capacity building for the Public Sector.

Makonnen used the opportunity to stress the importance of “control functions” in the public sector, adding that this “cannot be over emphasized as importance in the

decade to come.”

GCCI President Indar, in his unrestrained keynote address to those gathered sought to remind that the Office of the Auditor General of Guyana stands as a vanguard against threats to its democracy and also called on that body to strengthen its internal deficiencies.

“The Audit Office is a vanguard in any thriving democracy; its office audits the use of tax payers’ dollars and report the same to the Parliament of the people led by the Speaker...We would be comfortable at any moment in time in the history of Guyana when the collective wisdom of Guyana’s decision makers sees the value of this audit office and the benefits it dispenses.”

Speaking to the need for greater controls with regard the internal auditing mechanism of the Ministry of Finance, Indar sought to underscore the need for the Auditor General’s Office to be able to rely on the accuracy of the information provided especially in light of its own resource and personnel constraints.

Inter -American Development Bank's Country representative, Sophie Makonnen

As such, he used the opportunity to welcome the support of the IDB to the Auditor General’s Office, in order to “strengthen this major constitutional body so that it becomes competent as much as it could be, independent in the true sense of the word.”

Quality Assurance

Speaking to the relationship between the Ministry of Finance’s Accountant General’s Office and that of the Auditor General, the GCCI President reiterated, “the Ministry of Finance has a corps of internal auditors which is the central corps of internal auditors and they are mandated to work with the Audit office to make sure that their programs align, work is not duplicated, the external auditors can use the work of

the internal auditors providing that that work is proper...and there is quality assurance in the work of the internal auditor so the external auditor can rely on that work.”

He was at the time addressing specifically, the Accountant General (ag) Jennifer Chapman and appealed for that officer to ensure that resources are channeled in order to be able to better use cross functional resources, in order to reduce the workload on the staff of the internal auditors.

According to Indar, “in a national environment where they have rife, where they have strife, where they have back and forth, the Audit Office will come under fire.”

He called on the Auditor General Deodat Sharma, to remain strong in the task at hand, namely the efficient audits of the national spending by government in the public sector.

Accountant General, Jennifer Chapman, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, also used the occasion to underscore the importance of the Audit Office.

She said it was government’s responsibility to provide quality public service to its citizenry since it is the custodian of public

finances and properties.

Conceding that governments are constantly under pressure to improve the services provided while reducing the cost to the tax payer, Chapman told the closing ceremony, “based on this premise and in keeping with the statutory mandate the Ministry of Finance and the Audit Office have an inter-agency coordination and cooperation.”

This, she said, is aimed at improving public management controls and accurate oversight of the public accounts.

“Strong public financial management is essential to improved public service delivery, speed-up poverty reduction and to achieve sustainable development goals,” she said.

Effective public financial management systems have also strengthened transparency and accountability and financial efficiency, according to Chapman, who concluded that this provides an important element of truth in public finances.

The multi-year capacity building programme commenced in March 2004 and was financed through four tranches of disbursements from the IDB to the tune of US$2M with the support of Government to the tune of US$145,000.

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Causing death driver granted G$300,000 bail

CH&PA hauls Baishanlin boss to court over Providence lands

…as former Housing Minister slams KN over misrepresentation of facts

S

A

Dead: Kalicharran Goordial

driver accused of causing the death of a carpenter was on Tuesday released on G$300,000 bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Ryan Seecharran was charged for causing the death of Kalicharran Goordial, a carpenter of Creekdam, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The 48-year-old man died on June 24, 2017 at Third Street, Herstelling when Seecharran allegedly drove motor vehicle PVV 4911 in a manner dangerous to the public.

Seecharran, 24, of Lot 361 Herstelling, was also charged for failing to stop his vehicle to lend assistance to the injured man. It is further alleged that on the same day, being the driver of PVV 4911 and having been involved in an accident, he failed to render assistance by taking the injured to a registered medical practitioner.

Defence Attorney Glen Hanoman made a

Ryan Seecharran

successful bail application on his client’s behalf informing the court that his client was previously granted station bail in the sum of G$100,000 and has since been reporting to the Providence Police Station.

Prosecutor Arvin Moore had no objection to bail. As such, the defendant was released on G$300,000 bail.

Seecharran is expected to make his next court appearance on September 13.

Reports are Goordial was reportedly lying on the roadway in a drunken state when Seecharran allegedly drove over him.

The injured man was subsequently taken to the Diamond hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Seecharran had reportedly fled the scene after hitting the man.

However, he was later arrested and taken into custody. A breathalyser test was conducted, and no trace of alcohol was found.

T&T granny was stabbed, strangled

S

Dead: Ramdevi Singh

eventy-six-yearold Ramdevi Singh was stabbed once in the back of the neck, a wound which paralysed her before her killer/s used her pajama pants to strangle the remaining life out of her.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian after completing her autopsy yesterday, pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov said Singh might have been chased by her attacker/s after they broke into her Imamshah Street, Chaguanas

home Monday morning.

Singh’s cause of death was a combination of the stabbing and the strangulation, Alexandrov said.

“In death certificate I indicated that this was a ligature strangulation, combined with a stab wound to the upper cervical spinal cord. What I am trying to say, even if she survived she would have been paraplegic, which was unlikely,” Alexandrov said.

Relatives of Singh said on Monday they had been lamenting the state of the country and reading the comments made by Broadbridge’s son Stephen just before being told of Singh’s murder. Police suspect Singh’s killing took place around 3.30 am but was only discovered around 9 am Monday morning.

The retiree was the second woman killed during a home invasion.

(Trinidad Guardian)

unset Lakes Inc, a company owned by controversial Chinese businessman, Chu Hongbo, has been hauled before the court by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) in order to repossess the 100 acres of land it had secured, as well as to rescind the Agreement of Sale.

News of the court action comes just days after a court appointed Receiver/Manager was appointed to sell off the lands in order to secure monies owed by Chu to a local bank.

Chu Hongbo, the General Manager of Baishanlin logging company, had purchased the shares in Sunset Lakes Inc from local business tycoon Brian Tiwarie who had originally secured the 100 acre plot of land aback the Providence National Stadium for the development of a housing scheme.

Chu was subsequently taken to court by Tiwarie over his failure to pay some US$4 million owed on the US$8 million transaction.

The Baishanlin boss subsequently had the property placed in receivership over his failure to make good on bank loans even as CH&PA has now commenced separate court action in order to repossess the property.

CH&PA, in a public missive on Wednesday, following recent reports over the advertised sale of the 100 acre plot of land by the Receiver/ Manager, Nigel Hinds, said it has commenced court proceedings in an

Chinese businessman Chu Hongbo

effort to repossess the plot of land, which was recently advertised for sale by Sunset Lakes.

The Housing Authority which falls under the Communities Ministry, in drawing reference to the advertisements inviting bidders to submit proposals for the purchase of the property, pointed out that “on July 20, 2017, CH&PA through an external attorney Robert Ramcharran, attached to the law firm Luckhoo and Luckhoo, initiated legal action in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature against Sunset Lakes Inc.” Among the demands from the CH&PA is a declaration by the High Court that it is entitled to rescind the Agreement of Sale and Purchase made and entered into, between the CH&PA and Sunset Lakes Inc on February 7, 2014, with respect to the property situated at Plantation Providence.

CH&PA is also petitioning the court for an order rescinding the said Agreement of Sale and

Purchase made and entered into at Georgetown Guyana between the two entities and that the monies paid, some G$458,180,000 be refunded.

The refund, according to the CH&PA demand, will be less the sum equivalent to 10 per cent as a penalty for breach of the terms and conditions of the said Agreement of Sale and Purchase.

CH&PA has also demanded an order directing the Registrar of Lands to recall and cancel the Certificate of Title registered to Sunset Lakes Inc. The transaction has in recent weeks attracted significant media scrutiny leading the then subject Minister, now Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee and Opposition Member of Parliament, Irfaan Ali, to lend his voice to the debate.

According to the former Minister with responsibility for the housing sector, “In relation to the Providence land, I continue to read with shock the continuous misrepresentation of facts by the Kaieteur News [KN]… These facts have been in the public domain on many occasions for years now.”

Lashing out at the KN newspaper, the former Minister questioned, “Why is it that you continue to ignore the fact that the names of all private developers were made public on many occasions… This is not a new discovery.”

According to Ali, the list was requested in the

Former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali

National Assembly and submitted even as he reminded that “all these proposals by developers and investors were responses from ‘expressions of interest’.”

He said too, the terms and conditions of all the contracts are the same and that all the developers are bounded by the same conditions.

“It is a total misrepresentation to suggest otherwise and at some point basic decency and honesty must be adhered to.”

According to the former Minister, the only motive of the then Housing Ministry was to facilitate private investment and capital in expediting and expanding the housing and construction sector to the benefit of the economy.

“In relation to how companies are owned and operated, the Ministry did not involve itself in the operations of the developers… The conditions of sale is listed in the agreement with the developers and any Government can act based on the agreement,” he contended.

10 news

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Illegal aircraft in North Rupununi: Brazilian, Colombian IDs, passports found

D

ocuments found in the Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft that was found in the Upper Takutu region last month may have links to Guyana’s South American neighbours Brazil and Colombia.

This was revealed by acting Top Cop David Ramnarine, who told reporters on Monday morning that the identification documents found aboard the illegal aircraft belonged to nationals from the two South American countries.

“The two passports that were found relate to two persons because their IDs were also found there and they corresponded with what was in the passport…

One Brazilian and one Colombian national,” he disclosed.

However, the acting Top Cop was unable to say who the individuals were that brought the illegal aircraft into Guyana.

“I know some collaboration is being done

Acting Top Cop David Ramnarine

with the Civil Aviation Authority and another agency, but I don’t have the benefit of those details at this point in time… I know a few persons were in custody, and I think one or two brought to CID [Criminal Investigation Department] headquarters and interviewed, questioned and so on, but I will await the outcome of the report,” the acting Police Commissioner said.

Three weeks ago, Police ranks in F Division (Interior Locations) went to an area in North

Rupununi, where they discovered a 5400 foot x 45 foot airstrip. As they were leaving the site, an aircraft landed and upon seeing the Police approaching, the occupants escaped into the nearby bushes.

In addition to the identification documents, several pieces of communication equipment, including cellular phones; flashlights; a quantity of dried rations and medical supplies were found aboard the aircraft.

A search of the area unearthed three abandoned camps, in which canned food and other items, were found along with containers of suspected aviation fuel.

An inter-agency probe has since been launched, and it was discovered that the aircraft, which initially had a Colombian registration number, was actually registered to Brazil’s third largest bank, Banco Bradesco.

However, an official from the Bank said that they do not

The illegal aircraft that was found last month in Region Nine

own any planes, but it is registered to them since the owner may have acquired a loan to purchase it. A mining company named Riwa SA Incorporated Investments and Participants operated the aircraft.

Records show that the aircraft was owned by 11 companies in the past 27 years.

Ramnarine said investigators were expected to wrap up the probe within the coming days.

“At this point in time, our investigators are wrapping up that report. They’ve spent some time, a better part of a week and a half, in that area; a number of persons were interviewed, a number of leads were pursued.

“At this point in time, based on the advice given to me by the Crime Chief just yesterday (Sunday), in a matter of a few days’ time, we’re wrapping up that report and we will send to the relevant authorities, including the legal advisor if necessary,” he stated.

The discovery of the plane has raised concerns within Government, and during a recent visit to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Base Camp Kanuku, located at the border town of Lethem, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), Commander-in-Chief, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger told army officers to be vigilant at the country’s borders.

He also called on various stakeholders in the Region to work together to protect the borders against intruders.

SOCU wrapping up Gold Board probe

BY SHEMUEL FANFAIR

M

onths after senior staff members of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) were sent on leave to facilitate a probe of alleged links to an embattled gold dealer, investigators are expected to conclude their work in the coming days and seek legal advice on the way forward. This was indicated by Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Sydney James who hinted on Monday that the next step of the case involving the GGB staffers could soon be determined, as SOCU is wrapping up investigations into the matter.

“Investigations [are] being finalised, and should be submitted shortly to either the [Director of Public Prosecutions] DPP or Police Legal Advisor,” James disclosed.

Guyana Gold Board General Manager Lisaveta Ramotar, Deputy General Manager Andrea Seelochan and Legal Officer Suzanne Bullen were all sent on administrative leave in April following reports of that entity’s staffers being linked to licensed gold dealer, Saddiqi Mohamed Rasul, who was charged for the G$956 million fraud at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI).

Shortly after Rasul was granted G$3 million bail on the fraud charges in April, reports surfaced that he sold gold to the Gold Board regularly. There were also reports that he allegedly purchased yellow metal above the London Fix; deposited and withdrew millions of dollars from his company’s bank account, and was allowed to pay only the five per cent royalty and not the two per cent tax.

In light of these allegations, the Natural Resources Ministry has since called in the Police Force to prove the “alleged linkages with personnel at the Guyana Gold Board.” SOCU has been leading that probe but its Head was tightlipped when reporters asked what investigators were so far able to unearth.

“I can’t say what are some of the findings of

Guyana Gold Board General Manager Lisaveta Ramotar was sent on leave

that probe; I guess when we get the advice from the Police legal advisor, I might be able to elaborate further… we should be completing the file shortly and send it over to the legal advisor,” the SOCU Head affirmed.

SSS Minerals Trading Inc owner Rasul had deposited cheques totalling G$290 million, G$96 million, G$138 million, G$89 million, G$298 million and G$45 million, into his GBTI bank account even though the cheques were from Citizens’ Bank. The then Manager at GBTI’s Bartica office, Tanzy Powell went ahead and effected payment without the cheques being cleared. She was subsequently dismissed.

Meanwhile, Rasul is believed to have conned several gold dealers of hundreds of millions of dollars and he presently has several lawsuits from clients who claimed that he had taken their money to purchase gold, but instead fraudulently converted it to his own use.

Lisaveta, the daughter of former President Donald Ramotar, was appointed General Manager at the GGB in December 2014 and she, earlier this year, proclaimed her innocence of any wrongdoing, saying that she professionally discharged her duties adding that frontline employees were the ones who interacted with customers and were best to indicate if an activity was suspicious.

Ramotar had further disclosed that the GGB’s Finance Department was directly responsible for making payments to miners. The General Manager also denied that she had given instructions to GGB’s Legal Officer, Bullen to incorporate Rasul’s gold company. The businessman is out on G$3 million court bail while the Gold Board officials remain off the job.

news 11

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

No gov’t policy in place to ban night work by female security guards, says Harmon

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

F

ollowing the barrage of criticisms levied on Government over Junior Social Protection Minister Keith Scott’s plan to bar single mothers from working the night shift for private security firms, State Minister State Joseph Harmon is now saying that there is no ban on the employment of women working at nights.

The Minister made the comment at his Ministry of the Presidency Office

on Thursday 7th September 2017.

Harmon said that in relation to the question about a night work ban for women working in private security companies, the Minister of Social Protection is responsible for the protection of all Guyanese including women, and therefore it is quite appropriate for concerns to be expressed about the condition under which women work at nights.

He however, made it clear that there is

no policy position approved by Cabinet where there is to be a ban on any females working in security services at night.

Harmon said, “as far as the government is concerned we have had no debate on the matter. The senior Minister of Social Protection in that regard would have to bring a paper to Cabinet and Cabinet will have to debate on it. Until such time that that occurs the situation remains as it is and that is to say that women will continue to work either day or night and there is no restriction on them”.

Harmon's dissuasive position follows pronouncements made by Minister Scott, in a missive, that his Ministry made it clear that it planned to minimise and eventually eliminate night work for single mothers within the private security industry and as such, directives were issued to other Ministries.

“In pursuit of this noble idea, the Hon

Accomplice in botched Liliendaal robbery remanded

A

23-year-old convict who was implicated in a recent botched robbery on the Railway Embankment at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, was on Monday arraigned at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Mark Griffith of 31 Sheet Anchor, Canje, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Seepaul-Ally and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on the day in question – August 29, 2017 – he attempted to rob a businesswoman at the said location.

The court also heard that earlier this year, Griffith was sentenced to two years in abstentia for armed robbery by a Berbice Magistrate. He was remanded until October 4.

On the day in question, Griffith and his 24-year-old accomplice, Trydon Munroe, attempted to carry out a brazen robbery on a 42-year-old interior flight services supervisor and her security escort (bodyguard), who had travelled to the Eugene F Correia International Airport to uplift a package containing valuables.

Reports indicated that the woman was cornered along the Railway Embankment, in Liliendaal, in the vicinity of the Giftland Mall junction when a dark-coloured vehicle drove into her path, blocking her.

Two men then exited that vehicle bearing weapons, and pounced on the businesswoman, unaware that her armed escort was seated in the vehicle.

Dismissed Prison Officer Trydon

Shot and killed, Trydon Munroe of East Canje, Berbice

Munroe of Levi Dam, Angoys Avenue, New Amsterdam, was shot and killed by the businesswoman’s bodyguard during the robbery attack, while his accomplice – Griffith – escaped with gunshot wounds, but later surfaced at a city hospital.

Munroe’s lifeless body was found by detectives near a .32 pistol with three live matching rounds. He allegedly had been dismissed from the Guyana Prison Service after several breaches of the rules and regulations of that entity.

Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott

Minister is with immediate effect requesting his colleagues and other senior Government functionaries to take all feasible steps to give efficacy to the initiative,” the missive said.

“Accordingly, they are asked to ensure that with immediate effect the contracts for the provision of private security services provide for the exclusion of single mothers from night

work,” it continued.

Minister Harmon has instead indicated that Government is calling on security companies to acknowledge and recognize that there are special conditions under which women should work and therefore those facilities for women should also be acknowledged and recognized by security firms. “There is no restriction on their right to work, what we will ask and we will

insist is that the employers who employ women must ensure the conditions under which they work that they provide for the special arrangements which have to do with women in the workforce.”

The Minister of State added too that Government is always opened to advice as he stressed that the rights of workers must always be protected in the actual payment which they receive for the work that they do; he noted too that “these persons’ national insurance contributions must be paid. So there is an obligation on the part of the employer and an obligation on the part of the employee.”

Harmon said that the State will provide the legislative and regulatory framework within which that relationship between employer and employee exists.

12 news

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Culture preservation Linden/Georgetown hire car vital in consolidating drivers protest relocation national identity – Social Cohesion Minister

C

Social Cohesion Minister George Norton was all smiles as he joined the Indigenous Dance Group of Annai, Region Nine in a tribal dance

ulture preservation is vital in consolidating national identity, therefore, it is imperative that we as Guyanese continue to practise the culture of our foreparents as opposed to embracing the culture of foreign countries which undoubtedly would lead down the path to identity erosion.

This sentiment was expressed by Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton, during the inaugural Harmony Festival on Sunday, hosted under the theme, “Inter-Denominational Unity for a Cohesive Guyana”.

The event was hosted by the Social Cohesion Ministry in partnership with the Harmony Group, at the Family Federation for World Peace in Thomas Street, Georgetown.

Dr Norton expressed his support for cultural events which facilitate cross-interaction between cultures hence nurturing greater appreciation among the diverse ethnicities in Guyana.

Meanwhile, Programme

Coordinator of the Social Cohesion Ministry, Sharon Patterson said the event aimed to enlighten the general populace that diversity was not limited to race and ethnicity, but rather inclusive of all other differences, such as age, geographical location and gender.

Harmony Fest 2017 featured religious items and crafts on display and cultural pieces performed

by Indigenous dance troupes hailing from Annai, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo); the Elim Pentecostal Church; the Unified Tassa Group; the Guyana Police Force’s steel orchestra and the Shelita Dance Group among others.

The Harmony Festival was conceived earlier this year when several Christian groups around Georgetown completed training in diversity education and inclusion conducted by the Social Cohesion Ministry which required the trainees to develop a community project projecting Guyana’s cultural diversity.

S

Protesters meeting with Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland

everal hire car drivers plying the Linden/ Georgetown route have on Monday staged protest action outside the office of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) to register their opposition to a decision by the Council to relocate them from being stationed along the Coop Crescent roadway to the Linden/ Georgetown minibus park.

The decision went into effect on September 1st but the dissatisfied drivers are up in arms, hoisting placards and voicing their concerns over the move, citing issues such as safety and what they described as the “illprepared state” of that section of the park to facilitate them. Some drivers have also posited that the LMTC did not have the authority to move them.

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland invited the protesters into his office for discussion shortly after the protest started, and has noted that discussions were “fruitful.” He refuted claims that the Council did not have the authority to relocate drivers, and

explained that after several consultations with the drivers and their association, an agreement was arrived at to facilitate the move.

He, however, said there appeared to be some miscommunication between some drivers who were not involved, and he deemed them “misguided”. The Mayor said the Council, in an effort to bring order to the system of operation, facilitated the move, adding that the Linden-Georgetown park was also underutilized.

He said the Council is seeking to have proper systems in place to better facilitate the drivers, such as proper separation and different entry and exit points for minibuses and cars. Holland said proper park markings are also expected to be completed soon, and the Council would be ensuring security measures by having constables present to maintain order on the park. He added that the Police have also pledged to do their part in ensuring security at the location.

news 13

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana Police Force continues efforts to reform operations

A

s the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues with efforts to reform its operations, the capacity building department of the Force’s Strategic Planning Unit was commissioned on Monday and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan called on the hierarchy of the law enforcement agency to build on its leadership and professionalism.

The Minister gave this encouragement at the police officers’ training centre in Eve Leary, Georgetown, where he said that under the United Kingdom’s Security Sector Reform Programme (SSRP), the GPF would be able to implement the reforms.

“Our Police Force needs an improved capacity and capability in the area of professional strengthening in leadership, which will empower the Force to initiate reforms and to strategically plan out for the realisation of these objectives,” he noted.

Ramjattan expressed appreciation for the UK’s support in assisting the security sector, calling the nation one of Guyana’s allies.

The capacity-building department was opened as Britain continues to carry out its objectives by providing assistance under the SSRP. Referencing the recently-halted Police promotions that followed the commencement of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into an

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

alleged assassination attempt against the President, the Public Security Minister noted the need for an overhaul of the guidelines that govern the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force.

“Indeed with all that has happened recently and highlighted in the news concerning our Police Force, especially its upper echelons, there is need for strategic rethink,” Ramjattan asserted.

UK experts Paul Mathais and Andy Odell are in Guyana to offer support in matters of security and to assist in the sector’s reforms under the guidance of Presidential Advisor under the SSRP, Russell Combe.

After he carried out

Linden taxi driver remanded to prison for alleged rape of girl, 12

T

he suspect in the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl from Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) has been charged and remanded to prison.

Maurice Johnson, a taxi driver, appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Monday and was remanded to prison until October 19.

Reports are the incident allegedly took place on August 12. However, the defendant turned himself in to Police a little over a week ago after reportedly eluding the lawmen for some time.

The prosecution is contending that the 12-year-old, who attended an event with three friends, caught a taxi of the type commonly called a ‘$100 car’ or ‘short drop car’ at Co-op Crescent, Mackenzie, Linden about

22:00h to go to her home.

According to the prosecution, the taxi driver reportedly drove past the destination. The three friends who were seated in the back seat reportedly forced their way out of the car, leaving the victim who was seated in the front seat.

The victim was reportedly taken to a lonely road at Lower Kara Kara by the taxi driver where she was allegedly forced out of the vehicle and sexually assaulted.

The suspect reportedly then dropped the victim off at the Kara Kara bridge where she was left to walk home.

The family of the victim was said to be looking for her after her friends alerted them as to what transpired. She was taken to the Linden Police Station, then to the hospital for medical examination.

an assessment of the reforms that were needed within the local Police Force, Combe handed over his preliminary findings to the Guyana

Government in June 2017. One of the advisor’s key focal points related to the prison system where it was noted that many prisoners were on remand for longer than the prison sentence they would receive if they were convicted.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn also addressed Monday’s commissioning of the department.

He informed the gathering that the launch was just one of several initiatives planned over the next few months to assist the country’s security sector.

“It also adds to the support we are giving to other areas of the security sector – the Prison Service, Defence Force, and specialised agencies such as the Special Organised Crime Unit,”

Quinn disclosed.

“We also expect it to support and sustain relevant reform programmes and the implementation of those reform action plans for broader security reform within the Police,” the Ambassador added.

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine welcomed the addition to the unit, indicating his willingness to see the realisation of strategies recommended under the programme.

“More and more, every sector of society is depending, requesting, demanding improved services from the Police Force,” he told the participants.

An initial training exercise with stakeholders followed Monday’s launch and two officers from the Surinamese Police Force were pres-

ent to support and train locals, along with the UK experts under the Strategic Planning Unit’s Capacity Building.

It was during a meeting with former British Prime Minister David Cameron in September 2015 that President David Granger requested that the multimillion-dollar SSRP be revived.

After this request, an analysis was subsequently conducted on the current state of the local security sector and how the UK Government could assist Guyana.

As part of the implementation phase, UK security expert Combe was first recruited on a one-year programme where he guided and advised the Guyanese Government on reforming the security sector.

14 news

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Doctors, nurses stage sitin over deplorable state of Diamond hospital

Doctors and nurses demanding improved conditions in a meeting with officials

By Shemuel Fanfair

A

fter months of complaints over poor working conditions and no positive response from health

officials in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), doctors and nurses attached to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital, commonly known as the Diamond Diagnostic Centre or Diamond Hospital, staged strike action on Wednesday.

During the strike, the workers demanded that their concerns be addressed. Several elderly patients were among those turned away from the Diamond Hospital as a result the ‘sit-in’ which was observed by both medical and custodial staff.

Their complaints included the medical facility’s deplorable conditions observed since February of this year, coupled with repeated issues over drug shortages. Guyana Times International understands that the staffers had been urging regional officials to look into their plight but their calls fell on deaf ear. However, after word spread of the sitin, Region Four officials including the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Regional Heath Officer (RHO) and members of the Public Health Ministry rushed to the East Bank Demerara facility to hold an emergency meeting with the staff.

The meeting, which lasted some four hours, had heated exchanges between staff and health officials. The employees berated the hospital’s unsanitary state, with many saying their complaints prior to the strike were ignored. The staff reminded the officials of overflowing toilets, water leaking onto the floors from air conditioning (AC) units and no working AC units in the dressing room which could lead to spread of infectious diseases. “If you’re working in an environment where you have faeces pulping up, how the people gon get proper treatment?” one staff attached to the facility questioned.

Moreover, the doctors expressed their dissatisfaction with the state of affairs at the facility, noting their difficulties with having to inform their patients that much needed medications are unavailable.

“It’s rough having to tell people we do not have the drug or tablet, or strip that they need, and having to turn them away. It’s constant. This shortage is all the time.

But it’s hard on us doctors because it bothers us to know that we know what is wrong with a patient but we can’t help them because we don’t have the right treatment. Then you got to send them away to buy it… and most of these people that come public hospitals can’t afford to buy medication,” a male doctor stated.

A female nurse said she has been employed at the facility for a number of years, and throughout the period, there have been many instances where they were forced to make complaints. She however claimed that this prolonged situation was the worst they have experienced. Some staff members were heard leaving the meeting in anger saying, “it’s the same nonsense and promises.”

Wednesday’s strike action is not the first such action taken by staff as conditions at the facility have been in a similar state in the past.

At one point, former Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton had decried the Ministry’s Materials Management Unit (MMU) for not supplying drugs in a timely manner. In May last year, reports surfaced of deplorable conditions at the Diamond facility, including broken doors, non-functional air-conditioning units, leaking roof, insufficient equipment and medication in the ambulances, black mould forming on the ceilings and the lack of water.

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

15

16 news

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

8 Chinese fined, deported for 3rd time

The defendants (pictured above) all came to Guyana via Suriname

E

ight Chinese were fined and deported when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for illegally entering Guyana three times.

Gangming Fing, Zingju Gen, Zoxie Wong, Zheng Xing, Jun Quing, Aihea Wang, Pin Yen and Wu Jua all stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge against them alleged that on September 1, 2017, at Georgetown, they attempted to use permits, which were not issued by the lawful authority, that is the immigration department of Guyana, and which they were not permitted to use.

Prosecutor Arvin Moore read the facts of the matter, which revealed that the Chinese were all previously deported from Guyana on two other occasions.

On August 22, the defendants all came to Guyana illegally via Suriname. On the said day, according to Prosecutor Moore, ranks were conducting a road block at Fort Wellington, Berbice where the minibus that the defendants

were travelling in was stopped and searched.

An inspection of their passports revealed that they did not present themselves to an immigration officer and as such they were taken to the Central Immigration Department at Eve Leary. They were later charged and placed before the Springlands Magistrate’s Court where they were fined G$20,000 and deported after pleading guilty to the offence.

However, while in Suriname, they all applied there for tourist visas and on August 30, 2017 returned to Guyana via a vessel.

They were again apprehended and it was discovered that they were the ones previously deported. As such, their passports were all stamped with a deportation order which is valid for a one-year period and they were deported for a second time.

On September 1, Police acting on information swooped down on a popular hotel and found the said defendants. They were charged and this time taken before the Chief Magistrate.

However, Attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat explained to the Chief Magistrate that his clients applied for permits, which would allow them to stay in Guyana and was unaware that they were given a deportation stamp on their passports.

He petitioned for his clients not to be sent to prison. Magistrate McLennan fined the defendants G$70,000 or a default of eight weeks in prison and ordered that they all be deported.

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

17

18

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

19

20

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 21

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jamaica in cash for guns programme

P

rime Minister Andrew Holness on Sunday announced a massive national firearm recovery reward programme as well as a five-day grace period for illegal weapons found on premises in the Mount Salem community, which was last Friday declared Jamaica’s first zone of special operations (ZOSO).

“This is being done to encourage the citizens to work with the security forces and tell them where the guns are,” said Holness, who toured Mount Salem before hosting a press conference at which he spoke on a range of ZOSO-related matters.

Of the moratorium, he said, “After the five days, the police will return to the strict application of the law.”

The prime minister nonetheless noted that, in instances where a gun found during the grace period can be traced to a crime and its ownership can be determined, that person is liable for prosecution.

Speaking on the reward programme for the recovery of weapons, Holness said it was one of two major incentivised initiatives that will take effect today. The other is a fugitive apprehension scheme.

“The first is a $100-million reward programme for information from the public leading to the recovery of firearms, ammunition and explosives,” said Holness.

“The funds will be administered by the Ministry of National Security.”

With regard to the Fugitive Apprehension Scheme, the prime minister said a $20-million reward scheme will be put in place for assistance in apprehending high-profile criminals. “We will be identifying the top20 violence producers in Jamaica and we will be offering $1 million for each of them,” said Holness.

“The list will be published by the security forces in short order.”

In giving a first-hand assessment of the situation in Mount Salem, the prime minister said while there were some areas of concern outlined by the residents, they were happy that something substantial was finally being done to restore order.

“There were concerns raised about entry and exits and the matter of identification, but for the most part, the people are satisfied with the conduct of the security forces and understanding of the operation,” said Holness.

With regard to today’s back-to-school exercise, which Holness said was a concern raised by some residents, special provision will be put in place for the next seven days to create a hassle-free environment. Some of the measures decided on are as follows: – Students in uniform will be allowed entry and exit without a request for an ID for the first seven days. However, they will be subject to search.

Prime Minister, Andrew Holness

– Police and soldiers will have the authority of truancy officers and have been tasked with looking out for children not in school.

As part of an initiative to assist residents who might be faced with back-to-school financial challenges, the prime minister also announced a special fund to assist them with their expenses.

Holness also stated that the social intervention aspect of ZOSO, which is key to restoring normality in the community, will have its first major intervention next weekend with a community service fair, which will see key government agencies coming into the area to offer much-needed services.

“We will have the RGD (Registrar General’s Department), the EOJ (Electoral Office of Jamaica), tax office, SDC (Social Development Commission) HEART and the health services,” said Holness. “We are bringing in the services so that the people can take advantage of these services.”

(Jamaica Gleaner)

Repeat DUI driver’s licence suspended

T

he driver’s licence of a Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) hire car operator has been suspended for one year after he was caught driving under the influence for the second time within months.

Solomon Stoby, a 58-yearold taxi driver of Mongrippa Hill, Bartica, appeared before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to the DUI charge, and in addition to being suspended from driving for the next 12 months, he was also fined G$7500.

According to Police reports, this was the defendant’s second offence of this nature. Back on February 18, 2017, Stoby was taken to court after he was found driving while being above the legal limit of alcohol consumption. He had pleaded guilty, and was fined G$7500, while his licence was endorsed.

Then on September 1, 2017, the defendant, who owns and operates

DUI offender Solomon Stoby

motor car HC 2999, was stopped at Fifth Avenue, Bartica, during a routine stop-and-search operation.

The slurred speech and the strong smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath caused an officer to administer a breathalyser test, which confirmed his suspicion. The test showed he had .122 micrograms of alcohol in his system when the legal limit is .035 micrograms.

Mother of 2 gets G$150,000 bail for dousing ex-lover with acid

A

mother of two was on Wednesday made to stand before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after she allegedly doused her ex-lover with acid when she found him in bed with another woman.

Lisa Fraser of Lot 241 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, made her appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was not allowed to plea to the indictable charge of attempted murder.

The charge stated that on September 2, 2017, at Ruimveldt, Georgetown, she unlawfully and maliciously wounded Kellon Hinds with intent to murder him.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore told

the court that on the day in question, Fraser went to the home of her ex-lover but was angered when she met him with another woman.

As such, she entered the man’s house, picked up the substance and doused him with it. Hinds was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he is presently hospitalised.

The woman who was represented

by Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam was granted bail in the sum of G$150,000 and was ordered to stay away from the witnesses in the matter.

Fraser is scheduled to reappear in court on September 18.

Onderneeming to get 40 new houses

T

he Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is expected to begin construction on some 40 houses at Onderneeming, on the Essequibo Coast in Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam), according to Junior Communities Minister, Valerie AdamsYearwood. Construction is expected to commence in the following month.

Minister Adams-Yearwood, during an outreach in the Region, said the houses are to fulfill the needs of State employees, youths and low to middle-income earners adding that of the 40 houses, half will be flat houses, which will be three feet off the ground, and the other half will be on stilts (columns).

The houses would be sold at G$6.1M and G$7.1M respectively and includes the cost of the house-lot. The Minister indicated that thus far, four persons have shown interest in acquiring the houses and that the CH&PA have already initiated the process.

“The persons who indicated their interest in the houses that we are going to build, we have issued them with letters to go to the commercial banks here to be prequalified for those houses,” she explained.

Some 758 units of 530 duplexes and 228 town houses will be built under this government, to maximize land use and increase affordability, while building cohesive communities in 10 locations across six regions. The construction of the houses is a part of the government’s plan to make affordable housing available to every citizen particularly public sector employees and youths. In May, the CH&PA held its inaugural Housing Expo in its Model Village at Perseverance on the East Bank of Demerara. On Tuesday, the Minister handed over the keys to Deborah Wilson and Winston Persaud who are now occupying their new duplex model homes at Perseverance.

The housing authori-

Junior Communities Minister, Valerie Adams-Yearwood

ty is expected to construct an additional 40 duplexes at Perseverance and is expected to be completed by the end of the year with each apartment costing G$7.1m inclusive of the cost for the house-lot.

Interested persons are urged to visit the CH&PA Brickdam Office on Tuesday and Wednesday where they would be able to prequalify for the 40 duplexes so they could be able to source financ-

ing. The CH&PA are also in talks with the financial institutions to be more lenient with persons applying for loans to build or purchase homes.

Meanwhile, the CH&PA along with the Police in Region 2 said that they are still investigating the house-lot fraud in the Region. On Thursday, Deputy Regional Housing Officer, Safeia Razak, was taken into Police custody. Razak along with her boss, Regional Housing Officer Omesh Sasenarayan, are accused of taking monies from residents for house-lots and issuing them with fake receipts.

According to reports, earlier in the year, Sasenarayan allegedly collected the sum of G$50,000 as payment for a house lot but issued a personal receipt instead of an official one, converting the money to his own use.

On Thursday, Minister Adams-Yearwood met with the victims of the alleged fraud.

Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA, Lelon Saul, had

earlier said that they are also investigating to determine whether this was an isolated incident or part of a pattern of corruption. He informed that the Authority is currently conducting audits of all their offices and would ensure that their regional offices are much more closely monitored. He added that there would be regular audits by the Regional Audit Departments and at least one managerial visit per month.

He also stated that the housing authority is not going to offer compensation to the victims of the fraud.

Except for the CH&PA office in Georgetown and Linden, all payments for house lots must be made at the Regional Democratic Offices in Regions Two, Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). Given this report, ongoing investigations are being carried out at all those offices. (Lakhram Bhagirat)

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Kwe-Kwe Nite a hit at Guyana DDL records G$936M after-tax profit Folk Festival in Brooklyn The bride and groom chosen for the Kwe-Kwe celebrations

T

he auditorium of the St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, New York was last Friday evening transformed into a grand Kwe-Kwe, so planned as one of the main events for this year’s Guyana Folk Festival.

Both the local and Guyanese communities gathered to participate in this African Guyanese tradition, which has been an annual event of the fest.

The Kwe-Kwe is a celebration that takes place on the night before the marriage ceremony of a couple, and involves the singing of traditional songs, dancing, eating and drinking.

The festivity allows the two families opportunity to become acquainted whilst they share marriage advice to the potential bride and groom.

Friday night’s Kwe-

Kwe kicked off with ‘a ganda’, wherein the celebrants sprinkled rum on the floor to invite the spirits of the dead to come and be part of the celebration. This was followed by the greeting song “Good Night Ay”, then by the general invitation to all the visitors attending: “Come to My Kwe-Kwe.” The buying of the bridegroom followed with much laughter and banter, as advice on matrimonial mat-

ters was dispensed and a demand for a demonstration of the couple’s sexual skill was made when the song “Show Me Yuh Science” was chanted.

The evening closed with the departure song “Las Wan, Las Wan”.

The Department of Public Information said last Friday evening’s festivities saw persons of all ethnic backgrounds participating, including the

Karao indigenous troupe which graced the occasion with a cultural dance as they encouraged persons to embrace Guyana’s diverse cultures.

“Culture is the framework that defines…it is the framework for history,” remarked New York State Senator Kevin Parker, who took time out to attend the function. While Kwe-Kwe celebrations are not as popular as they once were, the hosting of a Kwe-Kwe night as part of this year’s fest serves as a reminder of Guyana’s rich African cultural roots and traditions.

The Department of Public Information has said it is the aim of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York to encourage Guyanese at home and abroad to make Kwe-Kwe, with its distinctive music and dance, part of their educational and cultural experience.

Persons dancing and joining the Kwe-Kwe celebrations

T

he Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Group has realised some G$936 million in taxed profits for the first half of the 2017 financial year.

According to Chairman Komal Samaroo, in the company’s 2017 Interim Report, the Group’s profit for the year before taxation was G$1347 million, compared to G$1193 million in 2016, thus reflecting an increase of G$154 million, or almost 13 per cent. The after-tax profit was recorded at G$936 million, compared to G$805 million earned in the first half of the previous year, representing a 16 per cent increase in profit.

The Chairman noted that the Group continued to experience intensified competition in most markets and it is from this perspective that these results should be viewed.

Samaroo reported that turnover for the first half grew by seven per cent over the previous year, increasing from G$8.5 billion to almost G$9.1 billion. While turnover in the domestic market was relatively flat, increasing marginally by 0.5 per cent in the period, turnover in its international markets grew by an impressive 20 per

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo

cent.

The Group Chairman said, therefore, that DDL would continue to place great emphasis on the development of its brands, particularly, in its overseas markets. In order to sustain growth of its aged rum portfolio, the Group, according to Samaroo, will be investing in a new warehouse to accommodate an additional 30,000 barrels of rum for aging.

The Group said in its half-year report that it also planned to phase several projects to modernise its distribution business as well as its production operations so as to maintain its competitive edge while expanding revenue.

Additionally, the development of its human resource capacity to meet future demands continues apace.

For the 2016 financial continued on page 23

NEWS 23

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Region 3 Chamber urges Jagdeo accuses Govt of incentives for rice farmers not spending enough …calls for removal of VAT to boost economy on education & utilities expected to grow during the second half of 2017, as millers reduce their inventories.

VAT

B

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

udget 2018 is expected to be presented in November this year and as Guyana is in the pre-budget season, agencies and groups would have been submitting their proposals for which areas the Government should invest money in.

However, it turns out that the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry was not consulted on submitting any budget proposals. According to the Chamber’s President, Radesh Rameshwar, this could be attributed to the Chamber’s fairly new status.

“Only of recent, we have resuscitated back this chamber,” he stated, in a recent interview with Guyana Times International. “Because it was defunct over a period of time, I am certain that next year they will (consult).”

While the Chamber did not submit a budget plan, Rameshwar did have some suggestions on what the Government should pay attention to in its budget. Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) has significant rice farmlands, but according to Rameshwar overall, business is slow.

“The Government can do a lot of things to help resuscitate business in Region Three and try to restore back confidence in some of the businesses here,” he said. “We’re asking for them to assist the farmers in Region Three.”

“If they can grant them some form of duty-free concessions for spares, for diesel, because the price for the paddy is not there.

So these are things they can include in their budget to restore back some confidence into the farmers and businesses in Region Three, to boost their business.”

In the 2017 Mid-Year report, it had been reported that the local manufacturing sector recovered in the first half of 2017,

growing by 9.9 per cent following a decline of 14.1 per cent in the corresponding period in 2016. It was said that this was mainly the result of expansion in the rice sector.

According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan in the report, rice production in the first half of 2017 was recorded at 349,867 tonnes. This is an increase of 31.6 per cent over production in the first half of 2016.

This noteworthy performance, he had said, was attributed to a rise in acreage sown in all regions, especially in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice)

Rameshwar also touched on the Value Added Tax (VAT) the Government had imposed on private educators, as well as the VAT on water and electricity, in the 2017 budget.

These measures were not popular ones and had touched off a number of protests until assurances were given by the Alliance For Change (AFC), whose office was also picketed, that it would intercede to have the tax removed next year.

The parliamentary Opposition had submitted a motion to the Clerk of the National Assembly calling for the revocation of VAT on education. This came as parents protested the imposition of the tax.

The motion was moved by former Education Minister Priya Manickchand. In the motion, Manickchand called for the immediate revocation of the 14 per cent tax imposition on private education.

The particulars of the

A

s Government continues its budget preparations for the next fiscal year, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has berated the Administration for its management of the economy, suggesting that much of the country’s money is being invested towards the perks and benefits of Ministers. Jagdeo, a former President, made these comments when he addressed sugar workers and their families at a Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) public meeting at Enterprise, East Cost Demerara (ECD) during last week.

“This Government spends large sums of money but it doesn’t spend it on the economy; it doesn’t spend it on enhancing welfare for people,” Jagdeo claimed in his address.

Government has repeatedly noted that it has expended significant allocations to sugar but Finance Minister Winston Jordan suggested last year that it would be money wasted if finances were given out in similar fashion to the ailing industry. Jagdeo however countered that sugar was not a burden to the G$250 billion 2017 Budget, telling the gathering that allocations to the industry were a small portion. He also suggested that the coalition Government is misplacing budgetary allocations.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

“Sugar gets a tiny fraction of the budget but when you look at where the money is going – G$40 billion increase in recurrent expenditure; non-productive, wasteful expenditure. Over G$100 million on building a fence around the Office of the President; millions more spent of fleets of vehicles for Ministers and drivers and everybody else; fixing up State House and the Prime Minister’s Office [and] trips abroad,” Jagdeo told the crowd.

The Opposition Leader further referenced that some Ministers have sought trips for medical care to Ireland in Europe and elsewhere.

“Just a couple weeks ago, they have decided to insure Ministers [for] G$38 million a year,” he noted.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had however defended the move of the foreign medical care, suggesting that Ministers were footing their own bill.

Jagdeo later criticised

DDL records G$936M...

Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Radesh Rameshwar

where acreage sown rose by 30 per cent to 42,595 hectares.

Overall, the agriculture, fishing, and forestry sectors grew by 6.4 per cent in the first half of 2017, underpinned by the recovery in the rice industry and improved performance in the fishing industry.

It is important to note, however, that when compared to the first half of 2016, rice export earnings declined by US$11.1 million to US$77.2 million in the first half of 2017.

This, Jordan said, was caused by a decline in volume exported despite higher export prices. The Minister noted, however, that given high levels of production, exports are

motion stated that the impact of the onerous budgetary measures has caused great consternation and anxiety for parents and students and affected the future of students’ rights to access education of their choice, inclusive of private education, as provided for in the Constitution.

“One of the things we would like (the Government to look at) is the situation with the VAT on education,” the business executive said.

“We’re hoping that in 2018 it’s going to be removed completely. We’re asking the Government if they can continue to relax the VAT on electricity and water (for) the elders, the senior people.” (Jarryl Bryan)

year, the Group accumulated G$296 million in taxed profits. Profit for the year before taxation was G$2.920 billion, compared to G$2.797 billion in 2015, thus reflecting an increase of G$123 million, or almost 4.4 per cent.

The after-tax profit was recorded at G$2.191 billion, compared to G$1.895 billion earned in 2015, representing a 16 per cent increase in profit.

In that same year, the Group’s subsidiaries recorded a profit before tax of G$358 million in 2016, as against G$313 million in 2015. However, this increased profitability escaped the Demerara Shipping Company Limited (DSCL), which made a profit of G$102 million in 2016, compared with G$146 million in 2015. This decline, Samaroo explained, was as a result of the reduced volume of cargo handled by the lines represented by the shipping company.

The profitability trend completely evaded Tropical Orchard Products Co Ltd (TOPCO), which experienced a loss of G$16 million last year, whereas it had recorded a G$20 million profit the previous year.

“This was due primarily to the loss of the school feeding programme contract (which had already been awarded to an overseas company), a matter which TOPCO successfully contested at the Bids Protest Committee…TOPCO

the President’s bus programme, saying that resources would have been better allocated to the G$10,000 school voucher programme which had existed under the previous Administration.

“They took away G$1.6 billion from the children of this country when they removed the G$10,000 grant. In the three years, it would have been G$5 billion.

They could have bought over 1000 busses with the G$5 billion but they took it away claiming they couldn’t afford it but they afford a 50 per cent increase for Ministers,” the former President stressed.

Months after assuming office in 2015, Cabinet Ministers were allocated salary increases amounting to 50 per cent, which saw their monthly earnings rising to G$870,000 from the G$579,000 which was handed out monthly under the previous Administration.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo was allocated a G$2 million increase to G$20,580,000 per annum, while other Vice Presidents are paid just over G$11.1 million per year.

Members of Parliament with no specific portfolio were awarded a 20 per cent increase in salaries which reflected an uptick to G$2,402,532 which moved from the previous G$2,002,116.

from page 22

had to write off inventory totalling G$21.2 million in packaging material and finished product,” the Chairman explained.

He explained that the performance of the Group’s overseas subsidiaries had nevertheless made up for these losses by contributing G$185 million in profit before taxation for 2016, compared with G$172 million recorded in the previous year. The Demerara Distillers St Kitts Ltd recorded a profit of G$25 million; Demerara Distillers USA Inc recorded G$41 million in profit; Demerara Rum Company Ltd recorded G$31 million profit, and the subsidiary in Europe recorded a profit of G$88 million.

According to the Chairman, notwithstanding the Group’s complete withdrawal from the commodity bulk rum market in 2016 and the consequent absence of any sales in that segment for the year, the Group’s overall revenue for 2016 increased, though marginally, over 2015 by G$89 million, or 0.5 per cent.

Samaroo had said Guyana’s economic outlook has been improved with the announcement of significant petro-carbon deposits offshore. To this end, the DDL Group would be expanding its several businesses to take full advantage of the opportunities that may arise from improvement in the domestic economy.

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

24 news

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Exxon promises to submit Local Content Plan by year-end – in accordance with 6-month Govt deadline

By Jarryl Bryan

I

nternational oil giant ExxonMobil has indicated its intention to toe the proverbial line and submit its Local Content Plan by December of this year, in accordance with a Government-stipulated deadline.

This document will chronicle all the company plans to do for the individual development of the people of Guyana.

According to the Senior Director of Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington, the company will be ad-

Senior Director of Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington

hering to the deadline and submit its plan exactly six months after

being granted its production licence.

Authorities have reviewed the technical and environmental aspects of the Liza Project Development Plan submitted by Exxon affiliate Esso Exploration and Production (Guyana) Ltd in December 2016.

Following those reviews, Government had granted the oil giant a formal production licence in June.

“So that’s December (when we are scheduled to submit our plan). We are required to submit our Local Content Plan to the Government six months from the

Content Plan will focus on development.

Local Content

Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman

(date of) approval of the production licence,” Brasington explained, adding that the Local

The Local Content Plan and what it will do for Guyana has been a burning question since it was announced that oil was found in the Stabroek Block.

Expectations were initially tempered by statements to the effect that few job opportunities would be created by commercial exploitation of this oil find, but the company has since said it will help with Local Content delivery.

When ExxonMobil was granted a production licence in June of this year, Minister Trotman had given the company a six-month deadline in which to submit its Local Content Plan to the Government.

ExxonMobil’s newly appointed Guyana Country Manager, Rod Henson, had recently announced that the company would be relocating its onshore operations, which were used for support services, from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana.

He had told participants at a meeting it was not the case that ExxonMobil would be looking to build a facility for its support services, but would rather put out tenders, and anyone interested in providing the shorebased services could present a proposal.

Trotman had, in 2016, announced that Cabinet had given its ‘no objection’ to the establishment of the onshore industrial site on Crab Island, in the mouth of the Berbice River. He had said it would be forged through the joint efforts of the ministries of Natural Resources, Public Infrastructure and Business.

Construction was announced for early this year, and the investments from the private sector and Government’s infrastructural work and support were to be equivalent to US$500 million; but the Crab Island facility is yet to materialise.

According to information released in March by the Government’s Department of Public Information (DPI), the construction of an onshore oil-and-gas facility seeks to cater to the expansion of exploration and subsequent produc-

tion of oil in Guyana.

That report had said Government would be investing US$500 million to construct the onshore facility during the course of this year, and that the facility would serve as a logistics and supply base to the offshore production, creating crucial areas of opportunity for Local Content.

What is happening now is that an onshore facility to service Exxon is being constructed

by Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI) at Houston, EBD. GYSBI is acting in partnership with Muneshwer’s Limited, Pacific Rim Constructors, Total Tech Oil Field Services, and LED Offshore.

Guyana’s policy

For its part, Guyana has formulated its own draft Local Content Policy, which was seen by this publication.

According to the policy, legislation is likely to be enacted to set out how Guyanese will benefit.

The document also sets out that the policy will be enforced by a regulatory institution that is well-funded and resourced. The regulator, in turn, would be overseen by a multi-stakeholder group representing local bodies that are involved in the sector.

The regulatory agency would also have to report to Parliament, as is customary for most regulators who report to the Public Accounts Committee, or are overseen by the Auditor General and the Social Services Committee.

And if contracts are awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), the regulator would also be tasked with ensuring international operators manage their work according to the Local Content strategy. This, it says, will apply from the developmental stage of the project to its operational stage.

The agency’s duties would include monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on the licensing and registration process for all suppliers. It will also be in charge of creating databases for suppliers, local professionals and technicians, as well as projects. It is proposed that the body will also set targets for these projects.

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

25

26

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Cop charged for drunk driving

S

Quintin Anderson remains a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital

atrohan Gowkarran, a Police Constable who struck a pedestrian at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD) in a drunken state late last week, plead guilty and was fined for driving under the influence (DUI) when he appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The Policeman admitted that while being under the influence of alcohol, he drove his motorcar HC 2850 which hit and caused injuries to Quintin Anderson, 49, of Uitvlugt, WCD on Friday last.

Gowkarran entered a plea of guilty at his arraignment before West Demerara Magistrate Roshell Liverpool. He was fined G$7500 and his driver’s licence was endorsed, given that this was the first such offence.

It is unclear how the endorsement was entered since most of the new and renewed licences for motor vehicle drivers are digital. Under the old system, the endorsements were entered in the licencee’s book.

Nevertheless, the Police disclosed on Tuesday that the matter has not yet concluded since the investigation into the accident is still incomplete. Meanwhile, the victim, Quintin Anderson, was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital and is said

to be in a stable condition.

Reports indicate the accident occurred around 22:40h on the night in question. Gowkarran was proceeding East along the northern carriageway of the road when he struck the pedestrian who was at the time crossing the road from South to North. Anderson fell onto the road, receiving injuries and a fractured left foot. He had been rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he remained before being transferred to Georgetown.

In August, two accidents involving junior Police ranks were recorded which resulted in the death of 58-yearold Pulmattie Ramotar, of Success, East Coast Demerara, who had succumbed two days after she was struck down on the Success Public Road; and Eno David, 22, of Matthew’s Ridge, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini). He was struck down at the Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara by a Police rank who was reportedly transporting an injured colleague, who himself was involved in a separate car accident in the early morning hours. However, Police noted that no alcohol was traced when breathalyser tests were conducted on those two ranks.

news 27

28

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

29

30

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

31

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Wedding cacophony

S Spoilsport

S

atiricus was still smiling after looking at the Tridents vs Patriots game. He still hadn’t gotten used to seeing Gayle on a team other than the Tallawahs, but this was Franchise cricket, he’d reminded himself. Before the game he’d known his Warriors were practically a shoo in to get into the playoffs, but that “practically” grated on his nerves.

Now that the Tridents had been dented beyond recognition, his heroes were on their way to go all the way!! “Hey! That was some shellacking that kid Evans unleashed on the Tridents, wasn’t it?” said Satiricus with the broadest grin this side of the Joker, as he started on his beer at the Back Street Bar. “I couldn’t believe anybody could leave Gayle in awe at big hitting!” exclaimed Hari, clinking his beer bottle to his friends’. “Me glad abee Warriah get in de playaff,” said Bungi, who wasn’t smiling. “But ayuh na talk ‘bout de bigges’ play in de game!”

“What’s that?” asked Satiricus and Hari simultaneously. “Da nasty trick Pollard plan pan da bai Evans,” complained Bungi. “Da a wan dutty, dutty t’ing ‘e do! Dem shoulda punish am.” “But Polly didn’t break any rules,” said Satiricus.

“How could they punish him?” “Well if dem na gat wan rule fuh dat low class behavyah”, protested Bungi. “Den dem shouilda pass waan now!!”

“Bungi has a point, you know Sato,” said Hari.

“That last ball wasn’t in the spirit of cricket.”

“Spirit?! Spirit?!” exclaimed Bungi in exasperation. “De man foot half-way down de pitch and den ‘e bowl de ball wide! Da na “spirit”, da a jumbie!!” “OK” conceded Satiricus. “Maybe Polly wasn’t being sportsmanlike. But what can we do?”“Well fram now aan, wheneva he show up fuh play,” proposed Bungi.

“All abee in de Caribbean shou’d boo ‘e tail!” “Let’s drink to that!” said Hari.

atiricus was exhausted.

He shuffled into the Back Street Bar as if in a daze, as his buddies watched him anxiously. As he plunked down into his seat, they waved frantically to the waitress to bring a cold beer in the hope it could revive the clearly “out of it” Satiricus.

“Ah wha’ wrang, Budday?” asked Bungi solicitously. “Yuh look like yuh bin a wuk a backdam fuh wan week!”

“Worse!” groaned Satiricus, as he downed the beer in one swig and signalled the waitress to bring another.

“So what is it?” queried Hari. “Your editor had you covering the Bangladesh and Australia match that ended at 2 in the morning?”

“Worse!” mumbled Satiricus between gulps of his second beer. “My neighbour’s daughter got married, and they’ve been blasting music for THREE NIGHTS IN A ROW TO 2 IN THE MORNING!” “Me hear am too,” said Bungi. “But me t’ink yuh bin like music?”

“I like music all right,” said Satiricus. “But not when it shakes my whole house! I haven’t slept in three nights!”

“But what about all the noise the police have been making about NOT making noise?” grinned Hari. “Didn’t you call them to complain?”

“Police?!” snorted Satiricus so loudly his beer almost came through his nose. “The police were sporting more than my

neighbours!”

“But wha’ yuh a complain about, Sato?” asked Bungi, not so sympathetically anymore.

“Na ayuh custom fuh play music ‘fuh dig dutty’ day, weddin’ day and then ‘meat day’?”

“I know our weddings stretch over several days,” confessed Satiricus a bit defensively. “But I don’t think the custom was to blast the music to deafen

people!”

“Customs change,” said Hari rather smugly. “You can’t stop progress!”

“OK fellas. But remember what the “mumma” pig said to her piglet when he asked why her snout was so long?” asked Satiricus.

“What?” said Bungi and Hari.

“You’ll grow it out!” smiled Satiricus. “Wait till YOUR neighbours have a wedding!”

32

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

feature 33

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Indigenous Heritage Month 2017

‘Guyana’s First Peoples: Sustaining a Rich Cultural Environment’

G

uyana is a nation that has a colourful history, and is home to several cultures. For this reason, it is critical to preserve our heritage and the month of September has been designated to do just that.

Declared by the late President Cheddi Jagan, Indigenous Heritage Month has been celebrated grandly with activities throughout the month, since

1995.

Throughout this month, various indigenous villages will engage in activities, such as sports, traditional dancing, exhibitions of art, crafts and food, as part of the customary festivities in recognition of our indigenous peoples.

Under the theme, “Guyana’s First Peoples: Sustaining a Rich Cultural Environment”, Indigenous Heritage

Month 2017 will showcase the rich culture of our "first peoples".

From September 1-5, there will be a Cultural Extravaganza and an Indigenous Food and Craft Exhibition at the Indigenous Village at the Sophia Exhibition Centre.

Then on September 6, an Indigenous Heritage Art Exhibition will be held at the National Gallery of Art, Castellani House, Vlissengen Road. On September 9, all are invited to St Cuthbert’s Mission, also known as Pakuri Village, for the Heritage Village Day celebrations.

The life and works of Guyana's first indigenous parliamentarian, Stephen Campbell, will be celebrated on September 13 at the Indigenous Village, Sophia Exhibition Centre. On September 11-15, various hinterland schools will be participating in educational tours in Georgetown.

The Umana Yana will house several educational lectures from September 11 to 22.

At the Everest Cricket Ground, there will be

Indigenous Heritage Month logo 2017

Winner of the Heritage Jingle Competition, Julian ‘The Mighty Pakuri’ Kattow (Photo by Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs)

exciting heritage/indigenous games and sports from September 22 to 24. On September 29, the annual Heritage Fundraising Dinner will be held at the Georgetown Club.

Several beauties will showcase their tal-

ent and heritage at the Indigenous Heritage Pageant at the National Cultural Centre on September 30.

A noteworthy win during this Indigenous Heritage Month was the newly-crowned Heritage Jingle

Competition champion, Julian ‘The Mighty Pakuri’ Kattow.

For more information on the activities during this month, contact the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs on 225-6646.

Indigenous youths performing a traditional dance at a past Heritage Day event

Preserving our literary heritage

Remembering Stephanie Correia (1930 – 2000)

By Petamber Persaud

I

t will never be known how many arrows were left in the quiver of Stephanie Correia when she died in 2000. But those she utilised, Correia fired with unwavering accuracy, acquiring many trophies. In whatever field of human endeavour – teaching, pottery, poetry, painting or motherhood - she participated with distinction.

“Arrows from the Bow” was Correia’s first and only book of poems. Published in 1988, some 500 years after Columbus, this collection of poems may be the first of such book written in English by an indigenous woman writer. Significantly, the book was published by Red Thread, a Guyanese women’s network, to coincide with the historic retrospective exhibition ‘Sixty years of Women Artists in Guyana’ organised by the Guyana Women Artists’ Association.

The poems in this slim volume were like ‘arrows’ from a bow and were described by the author as “images playing hide-and-seek within my head”. Images of her father taking her to various indigenous reservations where she became acquainted with the rich folklore of her heritage; of her father teaching her to boat, fish and farm: “I followed him, small footsteps placed in his/and listened enchanted to his forest lore, secrets of bark and root and leaf and flower/I learned…to understand the laws of sustenance/a farmer’s patient waiting/and after dark he wove a spell with singing strings’ playing mari mari”.

Images of her father, Stephen Campbell, an Arawak from Santa Rosa

on the Moruca Reservation who became the first indigenous legislator in the National Assembly of British Guiana, serving for nine years until his death in 1966.

Images of her mother, Umbelina, the daughter of Portuguese "Vase" (1981)

by Stephanie Correia

immigrants from Madeira, encouraging Stephanie and her siblings to sing harmonies together. Images of her mother with her beautiful voice passing on to them the deep feeling found in Portuguese fados.

Images of Cabacaburi children dancing in the sun... finding a place in the sun.

Stephanie Helena Correia was born in April 1930 in Pomeroon, Essequibo, Guyana. She was the third of nine children.

Her parents were Stephen and Umbelina Campbell. She attended Martindale R. C. Primary School and was only 14 when she was appointed pupil teacher at the same institution.

In 1950, she was called to the Teachers’

Training College in Georgetown. Two years later, she graduated as a Class 1 Trained Teacher. Correia won the Bain Gray Prize for the most outstanding student, placing first in both years at the college. It was at the college she came under the influence of the late E. R. Burrowes who was her tutor in art.

Her teaching career was short; shortened by marriage that frequently ruins the aspirations of many women. Fresh out of college, her first teaching assignment was at Sacred Heart R. C. Primary School in Main Street in 1953. For the next couple of years, she taught at St. Joseph, Mabaruma, North West District.

In her marriage to Vincent Jerome Correia in 1955, Guyana lost a teacher, but gained an artist, painter, ceramicist and anthropologist. The job of her husband, who was attached to the Interior Department, entailed frequent uprooting and resettling. It was during these trips that Correia started a database of sketches and notes on various nations of the region.

Marriage has its own blessings and frequently offspring become extensions of the parents, of the aspirations of the parents, a fulfilment of life. Stephanie and Vincent had eight children together, all of whom are involved in the fine arts, four becoming excellent potters.

In 1969, after the birth of her eighth

child, she decided to revisit her artistic desire.

The decision was not easy for she had to balance her dedication to her family, her devotion to her art and fight for creative space, all against the backdrop of the indigenous woman in a somewhat unaccommodating mainstream male-dominated Guyanese society.

Except for short courses in Canada and U.S.A., Correia was virtually self-taught.

She was like “that clay pot… ground, washed, blended, kneaded, moulded, carved, caressed, burnt… a battle-scarred warrior”!

In the poem, “A Part of Me”, she described her creations “a sculpture conceived in the mind and moulded permanently into form/a poem written down in the dawn after a sleepless night/a painting emerging stroke by stroke into a lasting statement”.

For her dedication to the arts and for creative use of indigenous materials and designs, she was awarded in 1980 a Medal of Service by the Government of Guyana. In 1996, she was again honoured by her country, this time with the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA).

Before she died in 2000, Stephanie Helena Correia was researching the history of indigenous pottery in Guyana. It is hoped that the arrow in her quiver will hit the public soon for a nation ought not to diminish the import of its artistic heritage.

Responses to this author, call 592-226-0065 or by email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

34 feature

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Heritage Village 2017

St Cuthbert’s Mission

Black waters of the Mahaica River flow through the village

A section of houses in the village

E

lage stemmed from his disvery year, during like of the “governance the Indigenous Heritage Month structure that exists in indigenous celebrations, a “hericommunity”. tage village” is identified, where many would In Canada, converge to celebrate indigShuman served as a commercial pilot. He enous culture. This year we celebrate St Cuthbert’s Mission, graduated from a college there with a business diploalso known as Pakuri Village, ma and a commercial pilot’s located on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. license. Since 1999 he has St Cuthbert’s Mission is been flying.

He has been a pilot for one of the most easily accesvarious airline companies, sible indigenous villages along including Fly Jamaica. He the East Bank. The site of was then re-employed with this quaint village emerges after about a half-hour travel Sunwing Airlines, which through a scenic sandy trail. flies out of Toronto, and managed to get a threeOn entering the village, year leave of absence one will quickly notice to serve as Toshao how serene it is. No of St Cuthbert’s. noise nuisance or traffic, just village He, his wife and St Cuthbert's Toshao, Lennox Shuman, life at its best. three children live in a very traditional wearing one of his traditional headresses Arawak home.

One interesting Asked how he and his family have feature that brings many tourists to the village is the pitch black wa- adapted to a more simplified life, the Toshao exters of the Mahaica River, which flows through the pressed: “I enjoyed a really nice life as a pilot, but village. It is a serene site where the famous “wash this is better. I believe one can never fulfil their soul down” happens during Heritage Day celebrations. with materials.”

At this year’s heritage celebrations, which will be held on September 9, visitors to St Cuthbert’s will get to enjoy ‘bush’ meat, traditional culinary dishes, indigenous arts and crafts and sports.

The village has a health centre, nursery, primary and secondary schools, a youth centre, a huge benab, a community playfield, a church and several shops.

Sunday Times Magazine had interviewed St Cuthbert’s Toshao, Lennox Shuman, back in 2015, the same time the village was celebrating 127 years of recognition as an indigenous community. However, Schuman pointed out that St Cuthbert’s existed centuries before that.

Shuman has been St Cuthbert’s Toshao since July 2015, and hails from a long line of chiefs. One of the founders of St Cuthbert’s was his great, great grandfather Johnson Bernard.

The current Toshao migrated from the village when he was almost 17 years old to Canada, where he lived for 25 years.

Shuman said his inspiration to return to his vil-

The Village benab

In addition to being Toshao, Shuman is the vice chairman of the National Toshaos Council. His focus is to amend and revise the Amerindian Act so that it falls in line with international law. He said although he is not a lawyer he has studied the Act and, along with colleagues from the Council, aims to effect change in laws and other Acts concerning indigenous communities.

Craft from St Cuthbert's

The youth centre

One of the schools in the village

feature 35

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Kendra Seignoret

O

ne of the interesting things about being able to stay a long time in one place is that you get to be a part of people’s everyday lives. And in doing so, it is more likely you will see parts of those lives that a ‘lightning strike’ tourist won’t.

While volunteering in Guyana, my group and I met a woman who had a little shop in Pakuri, a Lokono village, also known as St. Cuthbert’s Mission. She had a farm, located in the surrounding rainforest. About two months into our stay, she invited us to see it.

I, for one, was delighted to receive the invitation – it was a way of life I knew nothing about and not to mention, it’s a farm in the middle of the rainforest!

The trip to the farm was a mini-epic adventure in itself. Tromping through the rainforest,

getting covered and almost trapped by sucking mud, keeping an eye out for giant insects, traversing overgrown tracks, struggling to keep up with porters carrying way more things that we were; it almost felt like we were old-time explorers.

After traipsing through the jungle for over an hour, we came to a river, a tributary of the Mahaica River, which itself is a tributary of the Essequibo River. Here, we were introduced to the traditional dugout canoe. The canoe was about 5ft long and can fit four people and some gear. It’s quite shallow and it sits low in the water. It is quite the balancing act to climb in and out of the canoe.

However, its position in the river meant that it was easy to stick my hand in the dark waters, trailing it behind me as I was ferried deeper into the rainforest. As it fit

Fruit trees in the rainforest

Preparing land for farming

into my idea of adventure, I loved every minute of it.

Due to its isolated location, the rainforest farm had a fairly developed camping area – a small structure to escape the rain, some benches, hammocks, and a covered cooking area. The farm itself consisted primarily of fruit trees such as paw paw (also known as papaya) and citrus, ground fruits such as pineapple, and vegetables like pumpkin.

Wandering around the farm, it is very evident how labour intensive it is to upkeep without machinery. They also have to deal with produce destruction by animals and insects as well as possible theft by people. Since this farm is so spread out among the rainforest trees, much of the farm is unattended most of the time. As such, it is pretty easy for someone to steal what they want – though the farm’s isolation makes the prospect of human

theft minimal.

A day at a rainforest farm can be surprisingly relaxing. I stuffed myself with food, I explored the farm and surrounding rainforest, I tried fishing for the first time (stick and string style), and I most definitely lounged in a hammock.

I chatted with the farm owner about her idea of making her farm into an eco-lodge as the basics of it were already there. I personally love the idea.

It was fascinating to see how farming is done when one has no access to fancy tools and equipment. What I also realised was that this is the kind of place where you want to be when the world eventually goes to pot!

At the end of the day, we took the dugout canoe back to the village, slowly paddling our way through the tall trees and dense vegetation, listening to the birds call

out to each other.

Guyana is definitely a country that could do well in eco-tourism and this farm is a prime example of this.

Kendra Seignoret is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, but currently lives in Canada.

You can find more of her adventures on her blog Rusty Travel Trunk (www.rustytraveltrunk. com) or on Instagram @ rustytraveltrunk

A colourful bunch of juicy tomatoes

36 feature

Basket for storing personal belongings made from the Ite Palm exhibited at the Walter Roth Museum

F

rom a refreshing beverage to a tasty delicacy, the source of a staple to material for clothing, shelter and jewellery, the Ite Palm has truly been the tree of life for the indigenous society, providing all the necessities of daily living.

Upon entering the Walter Roth Museum, just to the left of the entrance, one can find an interesting exhibition on the Ite Palm. Several items created from the by-products of the palm are displayed, coupled with the ecological and historical background

of the tree in English and Portuguese respectively.

Before the Arawaks brought cassava to Guyana, the wonders of the Ite Palm were explored by the Warrau tribe. “To the Warrau, the Ite was called the ‘tree of life’ and we can see why with its benefits and the fact that just about every part of the palm can be used,” explained Guyanese archaeologist Jennifer Wishart in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Sitting in the cosy gallery of the museum,

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

surrounded by a beam of natural light, enveloped by a cool breeze, Wishart stated that the palm, scientifically called Maurita flexuosa and is generally known as the ‘Morichi’, can be found growing in moist acidic soils in the North Western regions along the coast and in the interior savannah of Guyana.

A wide variety of market and household products, as well as various environmental, ecological and economic benefits, can be derived from the tree itself. Even the by-products of the tree are also be used as a good source of protein and starch.

“The tree provided a source of starch before cassava because the Arawaks were the ones who brought the knowledge of cassava here as the Warrau were already using their Ite. That is why they are called Arawak meaning the ‘cassava root’ in Warrau,” noted Wishart.

According to Roxanne Skeete, a resident of the Barabina Village, “when the fruit is in season it is used for several purposes

Ite Palm seeds

around the village. The drink is very tasty when chilled and the otocumba [tacuma worm] is used in tumapot (pepperpot) or is fried to be eaten with bakes or cassava bread”.

Even left to rot, the tree proves its worth.

“In event the dugout tree trunks are left to rot, the Rhyncophorus palmarum beetle comes and lays eggs in the holes. These larvae that feed off the tree trunk develops into the otocumba worms, which are prepared as a great delicacy,” stated Skeete.

“The tacuma worms come from the fallen palm trees. We would dig out holes in the trunk, cover it with the leaves from the tree and let it rest for about six weeks. Within the six weeks we check it constantly. When we hear them buzzing, we take the axe burst it open and take all you can get,” Elysha, who worked at the local indigenous restaurant Tuma Sala, explained.

Traditionally, the Warrau would dig out the heart of the trunk and is usually eaten raw or cooked. This pith would later be drained through a matapi and its juice is used to make the Ite drink.

When the juice settles, the remnants would also produce a powderlike substance that the Warrau use as flour to make bread and cakes.

Additionally, they utilised the dugout trunks to make canoes and planks to build houses and structures.

“Even the fibre of the leaves were utilised to make tibisiri, which creates intricate baskets, hammocks, furniture, carpets, thatch and warishis [haversacks],” Wishart out-

lined.

The shoots of the leaves could be boiled to weave clothing and the ribs used to make kite frames during the Easter season.

Today, the tradition of using the tree’s fanshaped leaves to bake cassava bread continues to be a dominant part of the indigenous culture.

Notably, the redbrown rounded fruit of the Ite tree, usually available in the dry season, is picked and consumed as fresh fruit or dried to make oil or vegetable ivory - both economical and sustainable alternatives to otherwise expensive and environmentally hazardous products.

“The Brazilian Indians are using the seed of the Ite Palm to make vegetable ivory,

a sustainable alternative to elephant ivory,” Wishart mentioned.

When dried, the seeds can be carved and dyed just like elephant ivory to make figurines, beads, buttons and jewellery. This is a tremendous ecological and environmental benefit in preventing the deaths of hundreds of elephants who are killed yearly for the ivory found in their tusks.

Unfortunately, only a few Warrau along the Venezuelan border and their families know how to extract starch from the Ite Palm, although historically it was their staple according to an excerpt from Marileen Reinders’ “Medicinal Plants and their uses and the Ideas about Illness and healing among the Warao of Guyana”.

Mat made from tibisiri

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

What now…

O

…with the mess in health?

h…what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive! And God knows the government’s been doing better than Spiderman with their lies to the Guyanese people from the moment they snuck into office …and gave themselves a 50 per cent raise. They’re not “practicing” any more…APNU/AFC are now experts in the art of deception!

It’ll make you dizzy, dear reader, if your Eyewitness were to regale you with even 1/1000 of what they’ve slipped over on us. So let’s just discuss one whopper that’s risen to the top of their ocean of sins: in the health sector. The lies in this area are so odious, of course, not just because of the money – which is nothing to sneeze at! – but because of people dying like flies from pharmashortages caused by greed for that money.

The rental of the pharma Albuoystown warehouse – which wasn’t a warehouse, but a bottom house – was never reversed. Larry Singh’s still collecting G$12.5 MILLION every month but pharma’s still stored and shipped from the Government’s warehouse at Diamond. Even though the East Bank highway is even more congested than ever!! The PM’s nose must be reaching to Berbice by now!!

But it’s the shocker on the G$632 million pharma contract that was given to the Trini firm, ANSA that takes the cake. First were the firm denials that there were shortages of critical pharma in the country – after contracts weren’t issued for bidding – but just cancelled time and again. Suddenly – surprise! surprise! – there was an “emergency” and the GHPC bigwigs bypassed their Board and Tender Board gave the contract to ANSA – and revealed it only AFTER the goods arrived in Guyana!!

After a lot of hemming and hawing, the GHPC Board fired a few folks including the CEO but it was clear that there were a lot of other heads than needed to roll. Well, it took months for the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) to be established; more months for it to look into the ANSA scam but finally it came back and confirmed that “laws were broken”. Well if laws are broken involving G$632 million, you’d expect action, wouldn’t you? Well, not necessarily!

After all, a CoI looking into other frauds in pharma confirmed: “The Permanent Secretary (of the Health Ministry) was willfully deceptive in his testimony when questioned by the Board of Inquiry and he made inconsistent and deceptive statements during his testimony.” But guess what, the fella was just discovered to be “the Coordinator of the Maternal and Child Health Improvement Project.”

Imagine that – he was promoted!! And the web widens – to catch more loot!! …that Police Reform is on again?

“The British are coming! The British are coming!!” That, of course, was the midnight cry of Paul Revere as he rode through the New England towns after the American colonies had declared Independence in 1776. Of course, he didn’t actually scream the words since that would’ve let the cat out of the bag to the Brits! Longfellow’s poetic licence and all that.

Well over in in THIS former British colony which WAS GIVEN its independence 190 years after the Americans fought for theirs, the Government has just announced the Brits are coming to reform our Police Force. They’d offered once before, of course, but the then PPP Administration objected to elements of the plan on the grounds it interfered with our “sovereignty”.

Now ironically, “sovereignty” is one of those words we learnt from the Brits and it’s a word they hold dear. You can do whatever you want to a Brit, but don’t mess with his “sovereignty”.

So did our Government big up the sanctity of OUR sovereignty? …for dear old Queens field If the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton, then we hope this Government realises they can’t keep dallying with the playing fields of Queens.

The battle of Exxon is nigh upon us!!

37

38

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

news 39

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

President Granger says Guyana stands ready to support hurricane-hit territories

Hunting with P the hounds…

T

…and getting bitten here’s the old English observation about those who want to “run with the hare and hunt with the hounds”. The saying goes back to that quintessentially English sportsmanlike fun activity of having a pack of hounds (beagles) leading a pack of Englishmen to run down a poor hare or rabbit that would be killed and eaten at the end. The moral of the saying, of course, claims there are some who want to have it both ways – but it just can’t be done!!

If not for anything but you’ll end up being bitten by the hound! The poor hares, of course, can’t do anything when the putative two-timer is in their midst!! In Guyana, some in the PNC think WPA’s David Hinds exemplifies this schizoid tendency by insisting he supports the Government yet, on occasions, gives comfort to the enemy PPP! Hinds, however, insists he’s actually an “objective” analyst, so he has to criticise the Government on occasion. And he can’t understand why the Government snipes at him!

Hinds has a point. He’s NEVER ever supported the PPP – and in fact has vowed to oppose it to the bitter end, come what may. Take his latest supposed “pot shot” at the Government that claims the latter isn’t giving its partners in the coalition enough space at the table. The caption to his column in the Chronic says it all: “The coalition parties must be empowered if the PPP is to be stopped”. He’d merely insisting for more power to destroy the PPP. He ain’t running with THAT hare!

Describing the PPP as “a party that ruined Guyana”, he asserts they’ve been able to deploy “narratives” that have placed the Government on the back foot and threatened their chances of winning in 2020. All he’s pleading for is a chance to be “empowered,” to create some “counter narratives” to neutralise the PPP! So the PNC government hasn’t actually committed substantive actions that hurt Guyana – it’s just PPP’s PR (narratives) that’ve made it SEEM so!!

It would then appear the economy isn’t REALLY in a free-fall and the production of gold by some foreign firms isn’t being manipulated to suggest otherwise!!

That 10,000 sugar workers won’t lose their jobs.

Or the G$632 million pharma contract to ANSA isn’t really illegal – even though the Procurement Commission, headed by Mrs Corbin, says it is! Or the Exxon contract isn’t being released for the “good of Guyana”. Or insisting the Chief Justice’s interpretation of the Constitution on the GECOM Chair is her “perception” – not superior to Pressie’s!

Will Hinds ever realise, notwithstanding his sycophancy, the party of “sharper steel” will never hand him a sword!? …to claim ruination But it’s such a shame that Hinds, who claims he’s a “Rodneyite”, has strayed so far from the latter’s praxis.

Let’s take his claim “the PPP ruined Guyana”. By what measure? The PPP removed the US$2.1billion debt the PNC left on the Guyanese people like a collective “goadie” in 1992. Ruination? They moved Guyana from a Highly Indebted Poor Country to an Upper Middle Income Country. Ruination?

The HIES surveys from 1992, 1999 and 2006 confirmed granularly that poverty was increasingly reduced and that urban residents (majority AfricanGuyanese) had higher incomes than rural and hinterland residents – Indians and Amerindians!

Ruination? Inequality in 1992, as measured by the GINI coefficient (“1” is perfect inequality; “0” is perfect equality) was .44 whereas by 2006 the UNDP confirmed it was down to.35! AND IMAGINE THE REST OF LAC WAS .48!! Ruination?

Schools, hospitals, community centres, etc were rebuilt, and the budget for social spending skyrocketed from the PNC days when rats were gnawing at children’s toes at GPHC. Ruination?

Schuups!! …in Cricket Pollard of the Tridents betrayed the unsportsmanlike conduct of the English hare-hunters when he deliberately bowled a no-ball that was also wide to Patriots’ Evans, to deny the latter a shot at a well-deserved century.

What a wanker!!

resident David Granger has committed Guyana’s support for Caribbean States, which have been severely affected by Hurricane Irma.

A release from the Ministry of the Presidency said the Government of Guyana stands in solidarity with the people of the hurricane-ravaged territories of the Caribbean.

President Granger has expressed condolences to his colleague Heads of Government and residents of affected states and to the relatives of those who lost their lives as a result of this storm.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, who is responsible for the disaster relief agency, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), informed that Guyana stands ready to lend technical and other forms of support. He disclosed that the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has already sent out Situation Reports (SITREPS) to all its member states but thus far, there has been no direct request for assistance as needs assessments are being completed.

With category-five winds and rain, Irma is one of the most powerful hurricanes every recorded over the Atlantic Ocean. It has completely devastated Barbuda and also affected jurisdictions such as St. Maarten, St. Barts, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands.

The United States National Hurricane Centre predicted that

The Island of Barbuda left 'a rubble' by Hurricane Irma as Prime Minister says 90 per cent of buildings were destroyed (Photo: Mirror Online)

Irma is likely to remain at category four or five for the next day or two while

it passes to the north of the Dominican Republic and Haiti as it heads in the

direction of the Bahamas and Florida in the United States.

40 feature

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Dentistry and Bottle Painting

...a winning combination from Dr Clive Jagan

F

or Dr Clive Jagan, a veteran dentist, bottle painting is not only an ingenious way to ‘upcycle’ discarded bottles, but serves as therapy and a means of keeping his mind active.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Dr Jagan said he has been practising dentistry for the last 40 years.

His career began in January 1978, and to date, he has continued to practise at the Jagan Dental Centre on Lamaha and Light

Streets, alongside his three sons - Drs Shane, Kyle and Ian Jagan.

“As a child, I was strongly influenced by my father and uncles, Cheddi and Sirpaul, who all worked in the field of dentistry. My father described it as a ‘noble profession’ and I shared that same advice with my sons.

We are now three generations of dentists.

Looking back, I would say dentistry chose me,” Jagan recalled.

The expert dentist mentioned he always had an “appreciation Dr Jagan (right) presents Rayad Emrit, Guyana Amazon Warriors' captain, with one of his painted bottles with the Warriors' colours and logo (Carl Croker photo)

for the arts”; however, it was “merely a passing hobby”. Now, due to his sons managing the dental clinic, Jagan said he has more free time. And as a “firm believer in keeping the mind active by constantly learning new skills”, he started pursuing painting again.

“I painted my first bottle back in 1997, but it is only within the last year that I have been consistently painting and producing pieces. I have no specific design preference as my pieces are wide-ranging in theme and design. However, I do enjoy working with intricate patterns,

where one piece can tell multiple messages and each time you look at it you discover something new hidden in the patterns,” he explained.

The self-taught artist stated he actively uses the internet for inspiration and enjoy using apps, such as Pinterest, to garner ideas as well as share his own artwork.

“I have always had an interest in art, but it is only now that I am actively painting that I have an appreciation for the value of art and artists and the time invested in bringing these pieces to life,” he admitted.

Recently, Jagan presented one of his artistic bottles to Amazon Warriors’ captain, Rayad Emrit.

Jagan mentioned that the bottle was sitting on his desk for a while, and he could not find a fitting theme for it.

However, with the current cricket fever and being a fan, he decided to paint the bottle showcasing the colours and logo of the Amazon Warriors.

Jagan said the celebrated cricketer, Rayad Emrit, was appreciative of his artistic piece and commended him on a job well done.

“Painting has been therapeutic for me, and for that reason alone I want to continue exploring it refining my skills. Keeping the mind and body active is essential for both physical and mental health. In addition to painting, I meditate daily and enjoy yoga and I believe a healthy hobby can also help keep the doctor away, so I would strongly encourage other professionals to take up a hobby. For future plans for my art, my sister, Sonita Jagan, has been strongly encouraging me to market my pieces, so that is a possibility,” Jagan noted.

A few of Dr Clive Jagan's artistic bottles

41

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

I

End of the Plantation?

t appears the days of the plantations, the raison d’etre for Guyana’s existence, are numbered. As one who grew up on one, I really do not mourn their passing, save for the callous way this administration has gone about the job. Surely, we cannot accept the neoliberalism dogma that decisions rendering 10,000 persons jobless must be made by the “market”.

The plantation has been

By Ravi Dev described by some as a “total institution” that acted to socialize, through force and other coercive methods, the workers into an organized “machine” for production.

There is no question the planters had a clear picture of what the ideal plantation worker ought to be: docile, industrious, concerned about the plantation’s interests ahead of his own, and willing to follow orders. That the workers would have resisted this dehumanisation of their being was also not unexpected, and the plantations were structured to overcome this resistance.

The plantation, founded on slave labour, was predicated on violence backed by the always available State coercive institutions. The demands of the sugar plantations required comparatively large investments, which in turn demanded consistent and cheap production to deliver demanded high returns. Violence and coercion were integral features of the plantation economy, to discipline individuals into this new technology of production. The abolition of slavery, while a landmark change in the legal relations between planters and workers as owner and chattel, simply forced changes in the methodology of applying the violence to extract production during the indentureship period and after.

Workers were organised into “gangs” under the direct supervision of “drivers,” who were selected for the position by white overseers recruited from the underclasses of Scotland and Ireland. Drivers were men most willing and capable of obtaining the greatest amount of labour for the least amount of money from their fellow workers – by any means necessary. This arrangement was crucial, since the nature of sugar cultivation and harvesting created variable conditions necessitating daily bargaining over the content of the “task” that had to be completed for a day’s pay.

Drivers of women’s gangs, as well as the White overseers, were notorious for taking advantage of the women in their gangs. These two issues — wages and women — were at the heart of most of the “official” violence against the Indians during their sojourn on the plantations, when they protested the quotidian injustices.

The managers had a tactic of initiating the issuance of summons for any infraction, with its withdrawal contingent on the worker agreeing to pay costs. Up the 1880s, the majority of drivers over Indian gangs were Africans, and there were many reports of these drivers assaulting Indians. The plantation discipline featured floggings, assaults etc. that helped to fix in the Indian mind the image of the African driver as a “bully”, which was not alleviated when the Police Force formed in 1839 was staffed overwhelmingly from that section of the population.

The attitude of the planters towards the sugar workers was exemplified by the planter William Russell, who agreed with the view of plantation managers that indentured workers should be “at work, in hospital, or in goal”. These locales defined the three institutions over which total control of discipline and domination could be exercised over the immigrant: the “overseer/driver” system to deal with the immigrant at work; and the medical and judicial systems to impose the planters’ wish and will over them within the “hospital and goal”.

In his indictment of the immigration system in 1869, Des Voux not only castigated the magistrates (who would typically have lunch with the local manager before presiding over his court that imposed criminal penalties on civil charges, and beside whom the manager would sit if charged by an immigrant) but the medical doctors who conspired to ensure that immigrants get back into the fields. The hospital became part of the system and surveillance of the immigrants to ensure that the ideal worker was available to the plantation.

In the one hundred years following the end of indentureship in 1917, not much has changed in social relations on the plantations that were now ironically dubbed “estates”, invoking the “estates” of the English nobility with their serfs. Even local managers became “nobility”!

Motifs in Akawaio basketry A

motif is a decorative image or design, especially a repeated one, forming a pattern. In Guyana, motifs are artistically incorporated in a variety of indigenous items, especially basketry.

Faye Case, author of “Akawaio Basketry Techniques”, specifically looked at motifs used in Akawaio basketry. She mentioned in her book that to interpret correctly the motif designs employed in Akawaio art, knowledge of the fauna of Guyana is necessary.

This is made manifest when studying the motifs on basketry or beadwork from the Amerindians surroundings.

Representation of the artificer’s attempt to mimic nature can be seen in his designs of the stem of the yam plant, palm seed skin, pimple tree, butterfly mouth and

The motif of a butterfly's mouth

many more objects which are common to his everyday life. These motif designs are usually handed down from father to son. The caterpillar motif is delineated on fans and around the waracoba baskets. Snail tracks can be found on fans. The design of the crab-back is also called the crab-chest and is also seen on fans.

The body markings of the Awolly snake are depicted around the warishi and on beaded aprons.

The design of the butter-

fly mouth is sometimes manufactured on a fan or delineated on obas [type of Akawaio basketry] and on beaded aprons. This design is also referred to as A-LA-MA-LE-MUDA-NU meaning snake mouth pattern.

The designs of the bird shoulder and the bird tail can be found on obas and warishi’s back.

The bird shoulder can also be seen on the beaded apron. Water beetles are seen on fans. The two headed Aramale snake is

usually depicted on obas.

Akawaio designs on the finished products differ from Arekuna designs, the former using mainly designs of birds and some animals, but not monkeys and frogs, while the latter use all types of designs.

The traditional designs of the Akawaio are the butterfly mouth, crab back, Awolly snake and the Aramale snake.

(Excerpted from “Akawaio Basketry Techniques” 1977 by Faye Case)

42

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

43

44

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

45

46 feature

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Indigenous and Nature

An Enduring Organic Relationship

I

ndigenous culture, unlike others, is a process of accommodation with nature.

Their concern for ecology and the environment, and the balance of nature, is part of their belief system.

Ecology is woven seamlessly into the fabric of their culture.

Everything in the forest and the surrounding area has a role to play in the overall scheme of things and nothing is wasted. They live in harmony with nature and do not adulterate the landscape or endanger plants or wildlife. One example: they once hunted fish for survival only until they were confronted with a market economy when their entire cultural landscape changed.

Their rich indigenous

heritage and culture greatly impacted others. Many of the technological contributions of their societies have already been recognised by the native terminology, which has also entered our culture. In Guyana, quite a number of native products became current only after the Europeans and other immigrants settled on the coast: pepperpot, hammocks, balata, medicinal herbs, íte palms, and troolie leaves (for thatching roofs).

In their widely differing environments, indigenous peoples adapted and produced a stream of unique inventions, each one a distinct response to a local necessity: asphyxiating fish with ground leaves and roots of specific plants in the absence of hooks

A selection of natural products produced by a group of indigenous women from North Rupununi

and nets, for example, or bending twigs to mark a trail or preventing one from getting lost in the forest and to mark their route.

It was through these bent twigs in Guyana and an indigenous line as a guide, that the cattle trail was cut (1916-1920) from Surama in the Rupununi to Takama in Berbice. Also, these bent twigs helped explorers find their way in the dense jungles and, enabled the discovery of many Amazonian tribes, bringing them to civilisation.

Some indigenous persons can be superb mimics of animals and bird sounds.

They can mislead even the jaguar. They bring the yarrow fish to the surface, for instance, through a slow seducing whistle, and can

even reproduce the mating call of the tapir. They bring other fish to the surface by splashing the water in such a way to mimic the falling of ripened seeds. They showed settlers a range of dishes based from the forest plants and animals, e.g., food from root crops like cassava and yams, and oil from turtle eggs.

Their intimate knowledge of forest resources is extensive and remarkable. They can recognise medicinal properties in hundreds of plants – knowledge that is a priceless resource of the rainforest.

From oral contraception to insect repellent, scientists are still to analyse the scientific properties of Amazonian plants.

Armed with the knowledge of thousands of medicinal plants, shamans and piaimen fought goitre, headaches, malaria, constipation and oth-

Professionalism

‘Being a professional is doing the things you love to do, on the days you don’t feel like doing them.”

– “Dr J” – (Julius Erving – basketball legend)

N

ow that I’m approaching the end of the road in Med School, and am soon to enter the “real world”, I’ve decided to revisit a piece on being a “professional,” which I wrote some time ago, when I was still a callow youth! We’ve all had those experiences: going to the doctor’s office, shopping in some store, or visiting a travel agency, where we probably went through the worst ordeal of our lives because of the way we were treated.

It’s really the pits to go somewhere on a chore and you end up

being treated like some lesser being. Call me melodramatic, but after some jarring encounters with sales clerks, I started paraphrasing Shylock’s speech from Merchant of Venice to myself: “Hath not an Anu eyes? Hath not Anu fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases?”

As I rise up in righteous indignation, vowing never to return to that store (at least not until next week!).

It can really leave a bad taste in your mouth, and makes you wonder if that offensive person

had an overabundance of bile – or, more likely, absolutely no training.

But the thing I don’t understand is it’s not like they’re doing you a favour; you’re paying them for the service. If it’s a doctor, it’s not like he/she is diagnosing you for free. You’ve already had to wait an hour in the waiting room, inhaling everybody else’s germs, and now the doctor is treating you like you’re an errant 3-yearold? What? That’s not being a professional, and I hope I don’t succumb to that hauteur!

And professionalism goes beyond treat-

Anu Dev ing your patrons like they’re actual human beings.

It includes things like punctuality, accountability, and being able to carry out your tasks efficiently.

We really need to break the mould of things always starting ½ hour late in Guyana (and the rest of the Third World).

Sure, it’s a running joke that always manages to get a few laughs, but, in reality, it’s a sad reflection of how we’ve ac-

er illnesses. Ipecac from Amazonian roots cured amoebic dysentery.

Quinine from the cinchona bark cured malaria.

Curare killed without affecting the heart. These medicinal plants were eagerly sought by the early colonists to supplement the old world’s pharmacies.

Apart from introducing the benefits of forest resources to the world, the indigenous’ greatest contribution to modern Guyana was the help they gave to colonists and subsequent coastlanders in penetrating and understanding its hinterland.

All expeditions into the heart of the country and beyond relied on indigenous skills as guides, hunters, boat hands, woodsmen or canoers knowing every treacherous rapid, jungle trail, mountain, hill, tree, cataract or watercepted our tardiness, and aren’t prepared to do anything to change.

In whatever profession we choose, we must always also have accountability. And not just being able to account for finances – we should be able to account for our actions.

We’re not living in our own personal vacuums.

Our actions and decisions affect the people around us, sometimes more than we could ever imagine.

Nothing has disproved Aristotle’s dictum that we’re social beings.

(Incorrectly interpreted nowadays as “political beings”) But it can be difficult; sometimes you’re just having an “off day”.

Some days you can’t be all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. But in some professions, that’s exactly what’s expected of you as a professional.

To be a true professional, you have to be

fall. Indeed, it was these expeditions that opened Guyana to its non-indigenous settlers and showed the riches of the interior – forest products, minerals, natural scenes and other phenomena that brought tourists.

Text provided by overseas-based Guyanese author, Lal Balkaran - MBA, FCPA, FCGA, FCMA, CGMA. Balkaran worked as a teacher in the Rupununi in the 1970s and travelled throughout the interior. He is the author of “Encyclopaedia of the Guyanese Amerindians”, “A Photojournal of the Guyanese Amerindians”, “The Rupununi - A Visual Journey” and several documentaries including “Historical and Contemporary Georgetown – Guyana’s Heartbeat”. He can be reached at lalbalkaran@ rogers.com professional in the way you dress, the way you carry yourself, the way you relate to the people around you. It could’ve been that little girl in the Bank who came in with her mom might’ve gotten inspired by the way you carried yourself, and now she wants to work in a Bank when she grows up, to be just like you.

As professionals, you’re representing your profession. You’re the ones who either inspire us to want to do what you do, or who make us swear never to touch, for instance, “the law” with a tenfoot pole.

And in some professions, you only ever meet some of your patrons for once in your life. Do you really want to be remembered as the impolite, scruffy sales clerk? Or, like Dr J, who can still soar and dunk the ball in his sixties?

feature 47

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Interesting animals of the Rupununi

K

nown for its rich biodiversity, the Rupununi is an ideal tourists’ destination with some of the most interesting animals. Below are some fascinating facts on a few of the animals found in the Rupununi.

Stingrays Stingrays spend majority of their time inactive, partially buried in sand, often moving only with the sway

sense the natural electrical charges of potential prey. Many rays have jaw teeth to enable them to crush mollusks such as clams, oysters, and mussels.

When they are inclined to move, most stingrays swim by undulating their bodies like a wave; others flap their sides like wings. The tail may also be used to maneuver in the water, but its primary purpose is

Stingray caught in the Rupununi River near Rewa Village

of the tide. The stingray's colouration commonly reflects the seafloor's shading, camouflaging it from predatory sharks and larger rays. Their flattened bodies are composed of pectoral fins joined to their head and trunk with an infamous tail trailing behind.

While the stingray's eyes peer out from its dorsal side, its mouth, nostrils, and gill slits are situated on its underbelly. Its eyes are therefore not thought by scientists to play a considerable role in hunting. Like its shark relatives, the stingray is outfitted with electrical sensors called ampullae of Lorenzini. Located around the stingray's mouth, these organs

protection.

The stingray's spine, or barb, can be ominously fashioned with serrated edges and a sharp point. The underside may produce venom, which can be fatal to humans, and which can remain deadly even after the stingray's death. In Greek mythology, Odysseus, the great king of Ithaca, was killed when his son, Telegonus, struck him using a spear tipped with the spine of a stingray.

Savanna Hawk Savanna hawks are commonly seen flying around savannah and swampy areas in from Central America to the Caribbean to Southern South America. It is a carnivore, feeding on

Savanna Hawk near Sand Creek village, Rupununi

meat such as small mammals and insects.

The savanna hawk has very long legs and thus is able to easily walk on the ground to catch its prey, or, like other birds, it can swoop down from the sky or a tree.

They are known as opportunistic feeders – they eat when there is an easy opportunity to do so. For example, they follow forest fires and feed on escaping animals or steal food from other birds.

Savanna hawks build their nests out of sticks in palm trees, thorny trees or mangroves and use this same nest year after year. Its eggs however are sometimes eaten by larger birds, snakes and other animals that live in trees.

Boa Constrictor Boa constrictors wear some of the most distinctive markings of all reptiles.

Depending on the habitat they are trying to blend into, their bodies can be tan, green, red, or yellow, and display cryptic patterns of jagged lines, ovals, diamonds, and circles.

Boas are nonpoisonous constrictors found in tropical Central and South America. Like their anaconda cousins, they are excellent swimmers, but prefer to stay on dry land, living primarily in hollow logs and abandoned mammal burrows.

Significantly smaller than anacondas, boas can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh more than 100 pounds.

Their jaws are lined with small, hooked teeth for grabbing and holding prey while they wrap their muscular bodies around their victim, squeezing until it suffocates.

Boas will eat almost anything they can catch, including birds, monkeys, and wild pigs. Their jaws can stretch wide to swallow large prey whole.

Female boas incubate eggs inside their bodies and give birth up to 60 live babies.

Boas are about 2 feet long when they are born and grow continually throughout their 25 to 30-year lifespan. The largest boa constrictor ever found measured 18 feet.

Hunted for their fine, ornate skin and for sale in the exotic pet trade, some boa constrictors are endangered and most have protected status

in their range.

Black Piranha Outsized jaw muscles allow the black piranha to exert bite force equivalent to 30 times its bodyweight, a feat unmatched in the natural world.

In fact, the muscle complex makes more than two percent of the black piranha's total body mass.

In fact, relative to their size, piranhas outperform even prehistoric monsters like Tyrannosaurus rex and the whale-chomping megalodon, a massive shark that preceded the great white, according to a research done in the US in 2012.

The measured bite force of the black piranha was nearly three times greater than that exerted by an American alligator of comparative size, said the study.

Black Caiman The black caiman ranges through Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela, and in French Guiana, and can be found in shallow, freshwater habitats such as slow-moving rivers, creeks and lakes, and would venture into flooded sa-

Boa constrictor in the yard at Caiman House, Rupununi

vannah and wetlands.

Black caiman typically hunt at night, using their acute sight and hearing to locate their prey. Fish comprise the major part of the black caiman’s diet, particularly catfish and the muchfeared piranha, but adult black caiman also tackle much larger prey such as capybara, turtles and deer.

This aquatic hunter is the largest of all alligator species, with

reports of individuals measuring six metres (19 feet 8 inches). Domestic animals such as dogs and pigs may be taken by large adult caiman, and there are even reports of people being the victim of an attack.

Juvenile black caiman stick to smaller foods, including crustaceans, other invertebrates such as snails, and fish. (Photos by Rupununi Learners on Facebook)

Black caiman among some Victoria amazonica lilies in Yupukari, Rupununi

Black piranha caught in Mapari Creek

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Priyanka Chopra is off to Toronto with her mom

Soha Ali Khan looks cute as a button in her latest pregnancy photoshoot

…but her hot photos are also making the rounds

P

riyanka Chopra is feeling like a nomad girl. She is always on the go and we so know this. She is busy shooting for her Hollywood projects and thus gets very little time with her family and friends in Mumbai.

Priyanka, who was in Mumbai to spend some quality time with her family, has now left for Toronto.

Priyanka shared a selfie and the caption along read, “So… where do we go from here… #traveler #nomadgirl.” Another post

of our global star, where she is seen with mother Madhu Chopra, informed us that she is off to Toronto to attend the Toronto International Film Festival. At the film festival, Pahuna: The Little Visitors, produced

by Priyanka Chopra and Madhu Chopra, will have its world premiere.

This is a Sikkimese production of Priyanka and happens to be her fifth production venture too.

To have it screened at the prestigious film festival on an international platform must be a true honour for the ‘Quantico’

star and thus she shared the happiness in the picture caption that read, “Toronto bound. #tiff here we come @purplepebblepictures @madhuchopra #pahuna.”

This is not it, Priyanka also shared cute clicks with her pet Diana, who recently celebrated her first birthday.

“It’s been a year since you came into my life and it’s never been the same since! Happy happy first birthday my lil @ diariesofdiana miss you loads but will see you soon,” wrote Priyanka.

In other news, we also saw Priyanka Chopra on the cover of Vogue India’s latest issue and thus a few more sizzling stills of the actor is served to us via some fan clubs.

Priyanka Chopra never disappoints us!

(Indian Express)

S

oon-to-be mother Soha Ali Khan is flaunting her baby bump yet again and this time she looks cute like a doll herself. The Rang De Basanti actor posed for a fun-filled photoshoot with Filmfare and her pictures will definitely make your day.

Looking cute as a button, the 38-year-old actor gave fans a sneak peek of the photoshoot in this month’s issue of the magazine. Holding a baby’s pacifier in her hand and donning a super stylish

attire, Soha looks nothing less than gorgeous in the picture she shared on her Twitter handle. She wrote, “Keeping calm and carrying on … @ filmfare @meetesh_photography.”

And on further digging, we found another drool-worthy picture of the glowing lady in photographer Meetesh Taneja’s album. Sporting a pink dress filled with butterflies, Soha is holding a life-size baby’s bottle in this one. And let us tell you, she definite-

ly has that extra glow to her face in these pregnancy pictures.

Only recently, we saw Kareena Kapoor Khan take Bollywood by storm with her pregnancy style which was chic yet comfortable. And it looks like Soha is following her sister-in-law diligently here. Last month, we also saw the pictures from Soha’s grand baby shower which was held at her residence in Mumbai. It was attended by Kareena, Karisma, Neha Dhupia and Konkona Sen Sharma among others.

Soha Ali Khan got married to Kunal Khemu in 2015 and now is all set to have her first baby with the Bhaag Johnny actor. Soha made her name in the industry with her roles in films like Rang De Basanti and Antarmahal. (Indian Express)

Arjun Kapoor looks simply adorable in throwback photo

Emraan Hashmi: Nobody should take actors as role models

E

mraan Hashmi who plays a sassy mavali Daliya in Milan Luthria’s multistarrer Baadshaho feels there is nothing grand about acting in the movies. The actor feels there are many others who are doing noteworthy things in their lives but are never acknowledged.

In an exclusive chat with indianexpress.com, Emraan said, “There is nothing grand about what we are doing. I think the most prominent people are those who don’t get written about. They are the ones who accomplish something in their lives.

Ours is only a high profile job.”

Taking his point further, he added, “I don’t think anyone should use us as their role models. And if they have to be fans of someone they should be fans of themselves.”

Emraan is a down to earth person for his three times co-actor Esha Gupta. Emraan and Esha have starred together in Jannat 2, Raaz 3 and now Baadshaho. On being asked what is that which she likes about Emraan, Esha said, “He was a great actor then and he is a great actor now. But

the good thing is, he never acted starry. There is an aura of him which speaks for him. He never says that I am a star. He is the most humble person in the industry.” The actor also doesn’t miss a chance to praise his co-actor and her work. “Esha has grown as an actor and has become an easier person on the sets in the last four five years,” said Emraan.

The 38-year-old actor also talks about Ajay Devgn with whom he has shared the screen in Milan Luthria’s another gangster saga Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai.

When asked what is that one thing which the audience doesn’t know about Ajay, Emraan remarked, “He has a set ways of doing things. He loves ending his shoot dot on time. You won’t see Ajay working till 8 in the evening. He comes on time and prefers leaving the sets on time.” (Indian Express)

M

ubarakan actor Arjun Kapoor and his sister Anshula do not need a Thursday to relive the golden days of their childhood.

The brother-sister duo can do it on a Tuesday evening as well. This we say after scrolling through the Instagram profiles of both Arjun and Anshula who have shared the same family portrait.

In the picture, we see Arjun, his father Boney Kapoor, mother Mona Shourie Kapoor and sister Anshula. And what grabbed our attention were the missing front teeth of Arjun as he smiled ear to ear while standing beside his father-filmmaker. He looks super cute in his denim shorts and those leather shoes.

Anhsula posted the photo with the caption, “Because there’s no such thing as too many throwbacks #MiFamilia #JuniorKapoors #WhereThemEyesAt?” Arjun took no time in resharing sister’s post. Unlike his other childhood clicks, here Arjun looks fit and unrecognisable.

This is not the first time that we have

got a sneak peek from Arjun’s childhood days. Earlier, the actor shared a photo with his cousins, Sonam Kapoor and Harshvardhan Kapoor where he was all chubby and wore spectacles. On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, we read his sweet note for Anhsula which said her sister protects him and takes care of him. Earlier in an interview, Arjun has said about his late mother, “My mother has been both my strength and weakness. I have reached where I am because of the sacrifices that she made in life. I am an independent person, yet very emotional. Only my mother could understand my emotions, even before I could say a word. She was my best friend. I think my personality is a lot like her in many ways.”

On the work front, the 32-year-old will next be seen in Namastey Canada, opposite Parineeti Chopra. The film will be directed by Vipul Shah, who helmed Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif starrer Namastey London. (Indian Express)

Aryan Khan’s ‘game day’ look is too cool to be missed

A

ryan Khan is a handsome young man and there is no doubt about this. Every time we see a new click of Shah Rukh Khan’s teenage son, we go gaga over his personality and look. Aryan also has a huge fan following already, and many feel that he is just a carbon copy of his dad; SRK. Once again this handsome lad is stealing our hearts with a recent click in which he is seen posing with two other friends.

It was just a few days back when SRK’s wife Gauri Khan shared Aryan’s picture, but she was afraid of getting fired by her young son as she posted the image

without his permission. But the latest post on Aryan Khan’s Instagram is a visual treat for all of us, yet again. In the picture one just cannot miss to spot the

fit body of Aryan Khan, and thus it is capable enough to go viral on the Internet. In just one day, Aryan’s latest picture has over 58,400 likes.

If you follow Aryan Khan on Instagram, you must be a fan of his hot bod already. He keeps sharing shirtless clicks and selfies quite often.

Aryan is currently pursuing a course in filmmaking at the University of South California. Time and again we also keep hearing that the young Khan might plan to make a career in Bollywood too. (Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Happy birthday Idris Elba: Five times this British actor rocked on the screen

I

dris Elba is a strikingly good-looking guy, but let’s not get into that or we won’t be able to talk about anything else here. The description of his looks deserves another article entirely. The Wire actor turns 45 and here we’ll limit ourselves to having a look at some of the best performances of this ridiculously talented actor. These performances span both TV and cinema as this British actor has left an indelible impression on both mediums. Let’s start with the best, but the list does not have a particular order.

1) When Idris Elba taught us how to die like a badass in The Wire: According to many critics, The Wire is the best drama anybody ever saw on television, and this scribe heartily agrees.

Idris Elba’s performance as the drug trafficker Stringer Bell is probably the best of his career.

Somebody somewhere said if you make Idris Elba sit on a donkey, and dressed in skirts

– he’ll manage to rock that look and his looks are a big part of his character in The Wire – the suave, businesslike man who straddles both the worlds of drug trafficking: the high rises and the streets. For me, after Michael K. Williams’s Omar Little, Stringer Bell is my favourite character in the series and that is all thanks to Idris Elba’s measured performance and very believable street American accent.

2) When he became a charismatically brilliant detective: Idris Elba stars in this BBC crime drama as a Detective Chief Inspector who, while brilliant and dedicated, is prone to violent outbursts. Apart from the horrible crimes he solves, he also has to deal with the estrangement and he is certainly not good at dealing with things. This is not Sherlock – a cold, calculating mind, although both men share a resemblance in terms of their ability to nail the culprits. An engaging dra-

ma, Luther is a must watch if you’re bored with run of the mill crime shows and want to watch a nuanced drama instead.

3) When the gatekeeper of Asgard decided to fight: Let’s face it. Idris Elba looks as amazing as a drug dealer as he looks as a freaking Norse god.

Heimdall to be precise – protector of the Asgardian gods. In this scene, when Asgard is invaded, Heimdall rises to the ocassion. This was the first real action Heimdall saw in the film and it was like watching a usually calm tiger going all ferocious on.

4) When he encapsulated what being somebody like Nelson Mandela is about: Idris Elba as Madiba was like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle fitting together perfectly. Even though the film itself was a little muddled, there is no denying the fact that Idris Elba was absolutely perfect as Nelson Mandela.

5) When he exuded unadulterated menace as Shere Khan in The Jungle Book: The tiger is the biggest and most powerful cat in the jungle and for a live-action version, the villain of the story needed a deep voice that could believably scare the hell out of other animals. Enter Idris Elba. Turns out, the dude sounds as good as he looks. (Indian Express)

Meghan Markle opens up about relationship with Prince Harry

U

.S. actor Meghan Markle, the girlfriend of Britain’s Prince Harry, has said they are in love and happy together, in her first honest comments about their relationship since they became a couple last year.

In an interview with Vanity Fair magazine published on Tuesday, Markle said she began dating Harry, fifth in line to the British throne, in July last year after she met him through friends.

“We’re a couple,” Markle told the U.S. magazine. “We’re in love.

I’m sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us.

It’s part of what makes it so special, that it’s just ours. But we’re happy.

Personally, I love a great love story,” she added.

The relationship between Harry, 32, the younger son of heirto-the-throne Prince Charles and his first wife Princess Diana and actor Meghan, became public knowledge last November when the Prince issued a rare warning to the media to leave his 36-year-old girlfriend and her family in peace, reflecting his own battles with the press.

He was once pictured scuffling with paparazzi

outside a London nightclub and in 2012 was photographed partying naked and playing billiards in a private room in Las Vegas. Asked how she coped with media intrusion, Markle, a divorcee best known for her role in the US TV legal drama Suits, said, “I can tell you at the end of the day I think it’s really simple. We’re two people who are really happy and in love.”

She added, “We were very quietly dating for about six months before it became news and I was working during that whole time and the only thing that changed was people’s perception. “Nothing about me changed. I’m still the same person that I am, and I’ve never defined myself by my relationship.”

The British royals, and particularly their often tangled love lives, provide worldwide fascination and on Tuesday, a French court was ordered to pay damages to Harry’s elder brother William and his wife Kate for breaching her

privacy by publishing topless photos of her.

Markle said the attention of being involved with the prince had its challenges. “It comes in waves – some days it can feel more challenging than others,” she said.

“And right out of the gate it was surprising the way things changed.

But I still have this support system all around me, and, of course, my boyfriend’s support.”

Harry, once the wild child of the royal family who admitted smoking cannabis and getting drunk when under the legal age limit, has secured a place as one of Britain’s most popular royals since enjoying a successful military career which saw him on active service twice in Afghanistan.

The interview fuelled speculation among bookmakers that the couple could get engaged soon and comes a day after William revealed that he and his wife Kate were expecting their third child. (Indian Express)

Gal Gadot: Wonder Woman is a great character because she is real and flawed

A

ctor Angelina Jolie is all set to return to work after taking a year off for her children in the wake of her split from Brad Pitt. The 42-year-old star filed for divorce from Pitt on September 19 last year, citing irreconcilable differences with the Moneyball actor.

The official statement from Jolie read the reason for her decision was the health of the family.

Speaking to Hollywood Reporter at the Telluride film festival, where her latest directorial, First They Killed My Father was screened, she said, “Right now I don’t have anything to direct that I feel passionate about like this, so I’ll do some acting. “I’ve taken over a year off now, because of my family situation, to take care of my kids.

When they can have — when I feel it’s time for me to go back to work, I’ll be able to go back to work. I’ve been needed

A at home. I hope (to work again) in the months to come.”

Recently, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s biographer Ian Halperin had claimed that the two are consciously recoupling after intense rehab and spiritual counselling. Apparently seven weeks ago, the actors were spotted outside a modest three-bedroom house in Beverly Hills.

The pair stood face-toface for the first time in 10 months after the split.

When asked what she would be working on, she said, “Maleficent (sequel), we’re working on, most likely. And I look forward to having some fun with that. Cleopatra, there is a script. There’s a lot of different things floating around. But I haven’t committed.”

(Indian Express)

ctor Gal Gadot says she believes Wonder Woman is a great character because she is real and flawed. The 32-year-old actor, who plays Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman in the Patty Jenkins-directed film, says the reason why she could relate with her part was because Diana did not hide the chink in her armour, reports Contactmusic. “What I love about this character is she’s not perfect. She allows herself to show her flaws. She’s this open character. So I think this is something that I relate to. I’m a person who’s very open. I love people,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say that I enjoy showing my flaws but I don’t mind showing my weaknesses to the outside world because each and every one of us has their own weaknesses and flaws. So for me it’s natural, and the more we feel comfortable with it the more lovely it is,” Gadot added.

Recently, filmmaker James Cameron had called Wonder Woman an “objectified icon” and described the film “a step backwards”. Jenkins, however, had dismissed the Avatar director’s criticism in a Twitter statement, saying there is “no right and wrong kind of powerful woman”.

Wonder Woman, which released in May earlier this year, received untold commercial and critical success. It was the first positively received film in DC Cinematic Universe and may have livened up the shared universe which was struck with failures like Batman vs Superman and Suicide Squad.

Gal Gadot, who also appeared as Wonder Woman in Batman vs Superman will reprise the role in upcoming DCEU film Justice League which is slated to be released on November 16 this year. (Indian Express)

50 sport

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

Warriors send defending champions packing Lendl Simmons who put on 40 for the opening wicket in 28 balls that set the brand new stadium alight.

Emrit got the break-through after Veerasammy Permaul and Sohail Tanveer were roughed up in the first four overs. The powerfully built right hander, Lewis found Permaul at deep backward square.

Trevon Griffith joined forces with the attacking Simmons and at

By John Ramsingh at Tarouba in Trinidad and Tobago

L

uke Ronchi and Chadwick Walton gave the Guyana Amazon Warriors their fifth straight victory in this year’s Hero Caribbean League (CPL) with a five-wicket thrash-

ing of defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs in the Eliminator at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Wednesday night in Trinidad.

With the win, the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) will now meet Trinbago Knight Riders in qualifi-

er two for a place in the final against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Set 169 to win, the three-time finalists got home with five wickets and 13 balls to spare.

Assad Fudadin flicked Santokie for a maximum to seal the deal, but it was Walton who was ul-

tra-aggressive from the start of the run chase that set up the clinical run chase. Walton, the GAW’s most successful batsman this year, added 67 runs for the second wicket with Ronchi in just over five overs that really knocked the winds out of the Tallawahs’ sails.

The Warriors had a slight stumble when they lost three wickets in four overs. Walton was first to go, dismissed for 40 from 23 balls with five fours and two sixes at 90-2 at the start of the ninth over and was followed by Jason Mohammed for seven and Gajanand Singh for 6. However, Man-of-the-Match Ronchi continued to mix aggression and caution before he was dismissed with just 14 runs needed from 22 balls still available.

In all, Ronchi faced 33 balls hitting five fours and a similar number of sixes. He got to 50 from 20 balls, the second fastest this year.

After his dismissal, Assad Fudadin with 29 from 24 balls and Roshon Primus played smartly to ensure the GAW deny the defending champions a shot at a third title.

Earlier on, the Tallawahs were out of the blocks in a hurry after being sent in by Rayad Emrit on a good batting track and big lush outfield. The bowlers had a continuous battle with heavy dew all night, but it was debutant Kennar Lewis and

the Power Play, the Tallawahs were 55-1 with Simmons on 34 and Griffith on four before the off-spin of Steven Jacobs was introduced.

Simmons drove to extra cover where Emrit flung himself to the right and took a one-handed catch on the second attempt, and Jacobs and the Amazon Warriors were suddenly on the hunt. Four balls later, Mahmudullah picked out Permaul at deep midwicket and the Tallawahs have lost three for 19 runs in 13 balls.

Meanwhile, Kumar Sangakarra, the Tallawahs captain, who is their leading run scorer, was assessing the conditions and beginning to accumulate his runs as wickets were falling at the other end.

At the end of 10 overs, he was on 17 from 10 and his team on 84-3.

There was a keen battle for control of the

game throughout the innings, but as soon as the Griffith and Sangakarra partnership was looking threatening, Roshon Primus was introduced into the attack. With his ‘slingy’ action, Primus got Griffith to mishit, but Chadwick Walton failed to hold on running back from fine-leg but five balls later, Griffith got another top edge and wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi made no mistake to end the 39-run partnership.

At 111-4 in the 14th over, Sangakarra, the defending champions’ captain, was warned by Umpire

Gregory Brathwaite for running down the middle of the pitch and in the next over, he was in box seat when Rashid Khan got a hat trick.

Andre McCarthy was the first victim when he was bowled by a googly as he played down the wrong line at 116-5. His replacements, Jonathan Foo and Rovman Powell, followed in identical fashion over the next two balls as Khan completed the first hat trick of this year’s CPL. Sangakarra then found another good partner in Krishmar Santokie to put on 35 for the eighth wicket before the Sri Lankan veteran brought up his fourth half-century this season.

The innings then ended when 13 runs came off the final over bowled

by Tanveer to push the 2013 and 2016 champions to 168-8, a score that they felt was good enough to keep them alive in the tournament before Ronchi and Walton crashed the party.

The GAW will now play home team, Trinbago Knight Riders tonight (Thursday) in qualifier two with the winners going on to play against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Saturday’s final.

Sport 51

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

CPL 2017: Patriots storm into final after stellar bowling show …St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 149 for 7 (Gayle 54*, King 30, Dwayne Bravo 4-38, Beaton 2-22) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 111 (Darren Bravo 29, Cottrell 3-17) by 38 runs

S

t Kitts and Nevis Patriots are one step away from completing a remarkable worst-to-first turnaround after defeating Trinbago Knight Riders by 38 runs on Tuesday night at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Coming off the back of a last-place finish in 2016, and having never made the playoffs prior to this season, the win over Knight Riders put Patriots into Saturday night's final.

As was the case on the opening weekend in Florida, Chris Gayle turned in a slow, but steady, half-century that proved especially valuable by the end of play.

The captain's fifty was backed up by three wickets from seamer Sheldon Cottrell as the Knight Riders batting order was left exposed by the absence of the injured Brendon McCullum.

Ronsford Beaton opened the match with a superb maiden to Gayle, but it arguably should have been a wicket maiden. Bowling over the stumps to the left-hander, Beaton swung a yorker into Gayle's left toe in front of middle stump.

Perhaps surprised at his good fortune, Beaton

gave a mild appeal and umpire Johan Cloete responded in kind with a mild shake of the head to give it not out. Replays confirmed the ball would have cannoned into middle and off stump.

Instead, Gayle went on to craft a patient 54 not out off 51 balls in a total of 149 for 7, earning himself a repeat trip to the final after leading the Tallawahs to the CPL title in 2016. The knock was reminiscent of his 66 not out off 55 balls against Guyana Amazon Warriors in a total of 132 for 3 earlier this season at Lauderhill. He dedicated the win to the people of Leeward Islands, who are bracing for Hurricane Irma.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Super Dan Dan Christian was drafted in as a replacement for McCullum.

Fresh off the plane from England, where he helped Nottinghamshire to the Natwest T20 Blast title, Christian gave Fabian Allen a stiff challenge for catch of the tournament.

Evin Lewis skied a drive over extra cover off Beaton in the third over, that appeared as if it would fall safely with no protection on the off side boundary. But Christian would not be denied. The ball hung in the air for six seconds, enough time for Christian to sprint 40 yards to his right from mid-off. He called off

Colin Munro, who had also been running back from cover, and lunged to pull off a dramatic catch before giving Munro a piggyback ride into the circle for raucous celebrations as Knight Riders had struck a key blow early on.

Bravo's mixed bag

Despite Christian's heroics, Knight Riders paid the price for being unable to dislodge Gayle.

Dwayne Bravo ended with four wickets on the night, but he also conceded at least one boundary ball in each of his four overs. In almost every instance, the sequence started with a boundary, before a wicket to bounce back. It began in the 14th

with a six over square leg by Brandon King, followed next ball by a topedge that was taken by Denesh Ramdin.

Carlos Brathwaite drove Bravo twice down the ground in the 16th and again to start the 18th, before Bravo nabbed him on the second ball of the 18th, splicing a catch to cover. Mohammad Nabi was beaten by a Bravo yorker to end the over to leave the score on 122 for 5 with 12 balls to go. But Patriots clipped 17 runs in a crucial final over, in which Gayle finally brought up his fifty with another straight four.

Devon Thomas cracked a six over midwicket before he was caught at long-on off the last ball of the innings.

Not so super sub

William Perkins, who had yet to play this season, opened the batting with Sunil Narine but the results couldn't have been worse.

Perkins was already twitching after three scratchy dots in the first over; and his nerves were even more evident when he set off for a run off the fourth ball from Cottrell.

He connected well and Lewis only needed to

take four strides to his left at cover, before gathering and firing a direct hit at the striker's end.

Narine had given up and was well short of his ground. Perkins' forgettable night ended soon after, when he feathered a pull shot to Thomas down the leg side off Ben Hilfenhaus. Knight Riders were 2 for 2, seven balls into the chase.

Operation Knight Fall

Military man Cottrell accomplished his mission of tying down Knight Riders even further to help secure the victory.

Munro's attempted flick ended as a leading edge that floated tamely back to Cottrell, putting the hosts in a deep hole at 6 for 3. By the halfway point of the chase, the required rate had climbed to more than 10.

By the end of the 14th over, the Knight Riders were seven down when Dwayne Bravo attempted to resuscitate the chase, smashing Nabi's first two balls of the 15th over deep midwicket for six.

But Cottrell dismantled the final threat posed by the Knight Riders, claiming Javon Searles at longoff and Bravo at third man in the space of three balls. (ESPNcricinfo)

Ms World Guyana extends benevolence to sport organizations in Berbice M s.

Guyana World 2017 Vena Mookram as part of her personal platform for the upcoming Ms. World Contest in China on Thursday last donated sports gear to three sports organisations in the ancient county. The presentation was made during a massive Health Fair organised

by Ms. World Guyana, the cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, with the support of Namilco and the Region 6 Ministry of Health.

Ms. Mookram donated a quantity of footballs to the Rose Hall Town Football Club, Basketballs to the Guysuco Training Centre and cricket balls to Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and its cricket teams. The elegant Ms. World Guyana in handing over the gear stated that involvement in sports is a form of healthy lifestyle and urged the massive gath-

Ms. World Guyana Vena Mookram makes a donation to one of the football teams

ering to get involve in sporting activities.

Mookram whose personal platform is healthy lifestyles stated that she hopes that the sports equipment would assist youths to not only play the game but to also fulfill their potential. In

a well-received presentation, the 2017 Queen spoke broadly on the importance of being physically fit and the danger of diseases such as diabetes. She urged the three organisations to use the donations for its intended purposes.

Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club. MS, Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to the queen for her donation of the cricket balls which would be used in the club’s massive Cricket Development Programme.

He added that they are pleased to work along with Ms. Mookram as the Club shares her view that a healthy lifestyle is crucial to living longer. Levi Nedd of the Guysuco Training Centre hailed the donation of basketballs to the

Centre as the game is very popular among students.

Coach of the Rose Hall Town Football Club, Troy Paul noted that the Footballs were most welcomed as most of the players were from less fortunate background.

Special emphasis was being placed on developing football in Guyana’s smallest township and the donation of footballs would serve as an inspiration. Paul expressed confidence that football would join cricket shortly as the pride of Rose Hall Town and wished Ms. Mookram well in her participation at the Ms. World Contest in China during the month of November.

M a r k e t i n g Consultant of the National Milling Company (Namilco) Bert Sukhai stated that his Company was proud to support Ms. Mookram in her quest to promote a healthy lifestyle and educate Guyanese about the effects of Diabetes.

52 sport

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Gibson understands pressure to land World Cup for South Africa O

ttis Gibson believes there is "no reason" South Africa can't win the 2019 World Cup and understands a major part of his mandate as the new head coach is to ensure they break their major tournament duck.

He will start his tenure in mid-September and his contract runs until the end of 2019 tournament which will be held in England and is South Africa's next opportunity to claim global silverware.

Gibson has only had one head coach position before but enjoyed success at an ICC event in that stint. He oversaw West Indies' win at the World T20 in 2012 and aims to transfer some of the lessons from that experience to South Africa.

"Only one team can win the World Cup in 2019 and that's been a massive part of how CSA pitched the job," Gibson said on the eve of his final Test as England's bowling coach against West Indies. "Every team wants to win a global tournament, South Africa has never won one and that's obviously one of their big things.

When I went back to the Caribbean, we had the makings of a great team, we had all the players, the IPL superstars and all that but we had never really won a T20 World Cup either. We were able to put a team together that went and won it in 2012 and that was fantastic," "You look at South Africa, you look at the players that they potentially put on the field and there's no reason why

they can't win the fifty-over World Cup in 2019, here in England.

That would be something great for me as a coach but more than that, great for the country. They have a very strong sporting culture in South Africa so to be able to do something like that would be amazing."

South Africa have long been labelled one of the best teams to never become world champions and are set to field another gallery of stars in 2019.

Though AB de Villiers has chosen to step down as ODI captain following an extended hiatus from Test cricket, he has made himself available across all formats from mid-October and remains committed to playing in the 2019 World Cup. Faf du Plessis, who is expected to take over from de Villiers as he has done in Tests and T20s, has cited the tournament as a final event for himself and several others which could include Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir. Steyn will be a particularly interesting case as he returns to action this summer following 10 months on the sidelines after suffering a broken shoulder on South Africa's tour to Australia last November.

Should South Africa's senior core remain fit they will have several headliners at the 2019 tournament but concerns over a player drain remain. After South Africa's senior side and A team lost series in all formats in England over the last few months ques-

Ottis Gibson

tions over their depth are mounting, especially against the backdrop of further Kolpak signings which saw eight recently-capped Test players abandon their international careers for secure incomes in the UK. CSA has launched the Global T20 league - a privately-owned 20-over competition - with the aim of retaining players and Gibson is not too worried about the lack of resources he may face.

"When you think of South Africa, you think of the sort of immediate stuff of all the players that have left, that are Kolpaking and you can't help but hear the rumours of other people that are considering Kolpaking," he said.

"Every player would say he is making a decision for his family. When people say that they don't think they can get an opportunity and move on there's not a lot that me as a coach can do and that's something for CSA to look into. My job is to try and work with the players that are there, try and make sure they are ready to win match-

es for South Africa so if one person leaves then it gives an opportunity to someone else."

Again, he cited West Indies as an example of a team that are leaning to perform despite challenges.

"You might think it weakens the team but we also said that about West Indies at the start of this series.

We also said because we didn't see Lara, Ambrose, Walsh, we didn't see the household names on the team sheet, we said this is the worst West Indies team in history but those players stuck together and believed in themselves and in what Stuart Law as a coach was instilling in them and then they went on to cause what some people are now calling one of the greatest upsets in sport.

"If the players that are on the outside think of it that way, that it gives me an opportunity and if I get an opportunity, I am going to go and

stamp my authority on it and I can fill the void.

Household names don't always guarantee you success and that's my message to the guys on the outside. If you get an opportunity, you should really make the most of it."

Gibson also dismissed the other major challenge on the South African landscape: transformation. It was believed to have dissuaded other foreign coaching applicants and is an aspect Gibson knows he will have to learn to work with.

"Transformation was mentioned and it's a government policy. There's nothing I can do about it. I have to work with it. I know what it is so I can't go in and say I want to change that. I know that it is there and I understand why it is here. Whether I like it or not is irrelevant because it's there and we have to work with it."

Since the start of the 2015-16 season, CSA requires the national team to field a minimum aver-

age of six players of colour, including two black Africans, over the course of a season. They exceeded that amount in the first season and are now into the second period of review.

It was initially thought CSA would also look to appoint its first home-grown black African coach following the end of Russell Domingo's time in charge. Lions' coach Geoffrey Toyana was thought to be the frontrunner and was interviewed for the position but was unsuccessful.

Instead, CSA head-hunted Gibson, who was recommended by a five-man panel including two former national coaches, Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons.

"I believe when CSA did their search for a coach, they felt I could be a person that would come in there and take the team forward. I am absolutely looking forward to that, can't wait to get over and get started," Gibson said.

(ESPNCricinfo)

'Embarrassing' gamesmanship of legendary Windies aided team's steep decline – Lara

W

est Indies batting great Brian Lara has sensationally suggested that “gamesmanship” used by great teams of the past is likely to have led to the steep decline of the Caribbean team in subsequent decades.

In a wide-ranging MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey lecture at Lord's, Lara was at times highly critical of the great Windies teams of the 80s and 90s, insisting that he was at times “embarrassed” by their approach to the game, despite their unquestionable success.

During the address, Lara, the region’s record Test runs scorer, pointed to individual incidents like the 1980 series against New Zealand when Colin Croft barged an umpire and the 1990 series against England when Michael Holding kicked over the stumps.

However, while pointing out the responsibility of great teams to ensure ‘that the integrity of the game is upheld every single time they play,’ he also pointed to questionable series results.

The batting legend referenced the 1988 series against Pakistan where he believes umpiring decisions benefited the team in the form reprieves for Viv Richards and Jeffrey Dujon. He also spoke of the 1990 series against England where the visitors won the first Test in Jamaica and seemed on course for a win in Trinidad after rain.

However, time-wasting tactics by the Windies, including the ground staff,

eventually led to a draw. The hosts went on to win the series in Antigua.

"As a West Indian, I was truly embarrassed. As a young cricketer who looked up to a lot of the individuals in the team, it was one of the saddest

Brian Lara

moments in the world. For me, I felt the West Indies being the best team in the world needed to play cricket in a different way,” Lara said of the series.

The Trinidad and Tobago native believes the game being played in that manner hid some of the issues that the team faced at the time, which could have been addressed earlier had it lost fair and square.

"People talk about the Tests series we lost in 1995 as the time we began to spiral," Lara said.

"I felt we started to spiral years before that when the great players were playing,” he added.

"And if Pakistan or England got what they deserved in 1988 and 1990, I feel the West Indies officials would have taken a different look into what to do to save West Indies cricket at a time we had senior players who could have guided the younger players to have ensured we were on the right footing. But that didn't happen."

(SportsMax)

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

53

54

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 10, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

55