Guyana Times International 15-NOV-19

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US-based physician donates G$4.7M in medical books to UG

INTERNATIONAL

Jagdeo threatens street protests THE BEACON OF TRUTH

for FRee distribution guyanatimesinternational.com

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 17, 2019

ISSUE NO. 474

See story on page 19

...if President delays dissolution of Parliament ahead of March 2020 polls Guyana-born Virginia Mayor calls on PPP/C’s Presidential Candidate

Page 20

Hon. Kwasi Fraser, Mayor of the Town of Purcellville, Virginia paid a courtesy call on PPP/C Presidential candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on Wednesday. The Mayor was on a one-week visit to Guyana to explore avenues of cooperation between Virginia and Guyana

‘I’m now GT to the bone’

Page 3

– Harmon says US citizenship officially relinquished

“In the end, he was heartless for her” - sister of slain NYC Guyanese

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

‘I’m now GT to the bone’ – Harmon says US citizenship officially relinquished

D

irector-General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon has confirmed that his United States citizenship has been officially relinquished by the United States Government and he is now ready to serve his country again as a member of the National Assembly post 2020 elections.

During a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, the former Minister of State said that he received a response from the US Embassy on October 8th that his application had been approved and the revocation took effect from July 31, 2019.

“I am now GT to the bone”, Harmon said.

Harmon had written to the US Embassy in Georgetown asking that

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon

his US citizenship be revoked following the hullaballoo created after former Government MP Charrandas Persaud, himself a dual citizen MP at the time, sided with the Opposition PPP to vote the Coalition Government out of office in December 2018.

Harmon was among four Ministers who were forced to resign as MP and their Ministerial portfolio after the Court ruled that it is illegal for the holder of dual citizenship to serve in the Parliament.

This latest development now paves the way for Harmon’s return to his Ministerial portfolio if the APNU/AFC coalition is returned to power at the March 2020 elections. It also paves the way for Harmon’s return continued on page 10

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A scene from Monkey Mountain 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 Preferred method of contact via EMAIL Guyana Office Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana.

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

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EDITORIAL

GECOM must get

the voters’ list right

T

he Chair of GECOM, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, held her first press conference and focused on the state of readiness of the voters’ list for the general elections which are due on March 2, 2020 –less than four months away. For a country with only ¾ of a million citizens, the comments exposed severe weaknesses in the registration system in which a process of “continuous registration” was initiated since 2001 and supplemented in 2005.

This was supposed to produce an Official List of Electors (OLE) such that general elections could be held within three months of an announcement, as mandated by the Constitution. The system provided for citizens who reached 14 years of age to be added to the created Registrants (NRR) and for those who died to be removed.

In 2008, a House-to-House Registration exercise was conducted to update the NRR from which the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE), comprising all registrants eighteen years and over, was extracted. Following the procedures, the PLE was subjected to a Claims (to add names) and Objections (to remove names) process to finally produce the OLE. There were several subsequent C&O cycles. In 2015, the Local Government Elections (LGE) was held with no objections by any of the participating parties with the OLE containing 570,708 names.

But President Granger, under pressure from the NCM constitutional requirement, upheld by the CCJ on June 18 that elections must be held within three months, claimed that the list was “bloated by 200,000 names”. The GECOM CEO, in charge of the responsible Secretariat, declared that he was unaware of that figure and elections could be held with the then extant list. But pursuant to a secret decision by the illegally appointed GECOM James Patterson, GECOM Secretariat yet decided to conduct House-to-House Registration from July 20 in order to “sanitise” the list.

And it is this exercise, clearly intended to address Granger’s delaying ploy, which opened the can of worms still roiling the political climate. The H2H exercise was halted by the new GECOM Chair with 370,000 names collected in the absence of PPP scrutineers after the Court decided that a new NRR would unconstitutionally remove registrants via an implicit residence requirement. Rather than dumping those names, the new Chair decided to code and compare them with the NRR names in two tranches.

The first tranche of 179,000 names produced 29,000 unmatched names. These putatively “new additions” were posted at Registration Centres to be “scrutinised”. If the second tranche of 191,000 names produces a comparable metric, another 31,000 names would be added and the list would now be increased to 630,000 names before the C&O data are factored in. The PNC has been unable to identify their claimed 200,000 “bloating”.

However, there has been no decision by GECOM on these “new” names and their fate hangs like the Sword of Damocles, over the hope of credible elections.

Another spanner was thrown into the works with the announcement of “uncollected ID cards”, boiling down to some 19,000 persons registered since 2008. The GECOM Chair decided to circulate these names in yesterday’s national newspapers in addition to sending notices to the recorded addresses. The registrants were informed to show up at GECOM registration offices to “verify” their existence by producing passports or birth certificates. Addressing fears that these persons disenfranchised, she announced that the names of those who did not uplift their IDs by December 2 would be extracted from the OLE and listed in a supplementary addendum. If these persons attempt to vote, they will be required to produce other forms of ID such as passports.

While the Chair’s decisions may appear to be reasonable measures to facilitate a “cleaner list” to address caretaker President Granger’s “bloating” claims, there are valid fears they may become grounds for challenging the results of the general elections, as was the case with the Parliamentary agreement to used ID cards in the 1997 elections.

The OLE must be fixed to constitutional satisfaction.

Monkey mountain is located in Region Eight -Potaro-Siparuni, in the vicinity of the Brazilian border where it lies seventeen hundred feet above sea level.. The Potaro-Siparuni Region gets its name from the Potaro and Siparuni Rivers, which are tributaries of the Essequibo River. It is a predominantly forested highland with a small portion of hilly sand and clay, this region is home to the famous Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls. Monkey mountain forms part of a community in the interior savannah. The village consists of approximately over 1000 residents and is managed by a Toshao and district development officer for the region. Source: Things Guyana (Photo by DPI)

Our courts need to regain the confidence of the public Dear Editor, Paragraph 5 of the judgment of the Caribbean Court of Justice delivered on July 12, 2019, on consequential orders flowing from the passage of the No-Confidence Motion passed by the National Assembly on December 21, 2018, stated: “The Judiciary interprets the Constitution. But as we intimated in our earlier judgment, these particular provisions [Article 106 (6) and 106 (7)] require no gloss on the part of the Court in order to render them intelligible and workable. Their meaning is clear and it is the responsibility of the constitutional actors in Guyana to honour them. Upon the passage of a vote of no confidence, the Article requires the resignation of the Cabinet including the President. The Article goes on to state that notwithstanding such resignation, the Government shall remain in office …. “ Seeming to me to be more a pronouncement than an intimation, paragraph 56 of the judgment on the substantive issues rendered on June 18, 2019, said: “The provisions of Article 106 (6) and (7) are clear on their face. They hardly require further interpretation on the part of the Courts.”

The average person reading paragraph 56 would understand as Justice Roxane George, CJ, in her judgment of January 31, 2019, in the case in the High Court did, “that the provision (regarding the resignation of the Cabinet) requires that the resignation of the Cabinet takes effect with immediate effect on the success of a NCM.”

Yet, having said that no further interpretation was required by the Court, the region’s eminent jurists chose to put not only an unwarranted gloss on the provision but created confusion and undermined a motion of the National Assembly by stating that “Article 106 envisages that the tenure in office of the Cabinet, including the President, after the Government’s defeat, is on a different footing from that which existed prior to the vote of no confidence”.

Except if I buy without question the old, worn and disproved adage “as wise as a judge”, it is a mystery how these five judges could perceive with such a degree of certainty what Article 106 “envisages” without any consideration or analysis. In so doing, they felt confident enough to overturn by implication the ruling of the Chief Justice without any arguments on the matter. As an officer of the Court but also as a litigant in the matter, I cannot help but hold that the CCJ has taken a provision on which no gloss was needed, created a climate of confusion and showed the Court to be timorous and careless about the consequences of their judgment.

As wise as they are, the five judges collectively could not see the distinction between Article 106 (6) dealing with the Cabinet and Article 106 (7) dealing with the Government, not on something that the Constitution envisages but as a clear distinction which itself needs no gloss. In my view, that failure alone makes the CCJ largely responsible for

the crisis now confronting our country in which the life of the Government has expired but which behaves with gay abandon and total disregard of the CCJ and its ruling.

Having read both judgments of the CCJ more often than ought to be necessary, I state confidently that the timing of the resignation of the Cabinet was not among the questions the CCJ considered or addressed in the ruling of the Court or the separate concurring judgments by three of the judges in the substantive decision delivered on June 18, 2019. Those questions set out in paragraph 12 and the paragraphs of the judgment addressing them are as follows: (a) Does Article 106(6) apply to ‘No Confidence Motions’?

Addressed in paragraphs 13 to 22. (b) What is the majority necessary for the passage of a No-Confidence Motion?

Addressed in paragraphs 23 to 27. (c) Does the Court have jurisdiction to inquire into the issue of Mr Persaud’s disqualification from being a member of the National Assembly?

Addressed in paragraphs 27 to 45. (d) Was Mr Persaud precluded from voting in the manner he did in light of the anti-defection provisions (Art 156(3) of the Constitution?

Addressed in paragraphs 46 to 52. (e) Does Article 165(2) of the Constitution preserve the validity of Mr Persaud’s vote?

Addressed in paragraphs 53 to 55.

Continued on page 6

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 5

Virginia Mayor wraps up one-week visit to Guyana M ayor of Purcellville, Virginia, Kwasi Fraser, on Wednesday, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karen Cummings.

They discussed an initiative to foster collaboration between the town of Purcellville, the state of Virginia and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister Cummings expressed her gratitude to Mr. Fraser, a Guyanese by birth, for his interest and noted that the Government was committed to is delivering a better standard of living and quality of life to Guyanese. Mr. Fraser, in turn, shared that he was committed to making available the intellectual capital and resources at his disposal to ensure the successful transfer of knowledge and skills to Guyanese.

Mr. Fraser has concluded a week-long trip to Guyana during which he sought to explore the possibility of forming a town twinning arrangement with Linden and establish close cooperation with the city of Georgetown on comprehensive planning and zoning. He indicated that his visit stemmed from a discussion with the Senator of Virginia, Richard H. Black, on the Guyana’s future in light of the recent discovery of hydro-carbons. Through cooperation, they hope to highlight alternate revenue streams to the oil and gas sector.

Minister Cummings and Mayor Fraser

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBE 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

GECOM desperately needs oversight in its data processing department Dear Editor, It remains a serious concern that Claudette Singh, the GECOM Chairperson plans to integrate the highly flawed and incomplete House-to-House (H-t-H) Registration dataset with the existing voters’ list. This move will never yield fair and credible elections. The H-t-H exercise lacked integrity on many fronts. The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was never even invited to scrutinise such an important exercise, even though it was a requirement. The H-t-H

Registration exercise was monitored exclusively by the PNC (APNU). How can this ever be fair? On this basis alone, the H-t-H data is deemed defective and should never be used.

To make matters worse, this database is also incomplete.

The GECOM Chair invoked fears of rigged elections when she announced plans of merging the flawed H-t-H Registration data into the voters’ list. Why is the GECOM Chair hell-bent on merging such an unfair dataset in which the PNC was

the only political party monitoring data collection during the H-t-H Registration exercise?

How can this ever lead to credible elections?

How can Guyanese ever trust GECOM? I urge my fellow Guyanese to speak out against GECOM. GECOM desperately needs oversight in its data processing department.

Also, the GECOM Chair even announced that she cannot comprehend why the PPP Commissioners wanted early elections. How unfair of the Chairman to take such an unrea-

sonable position. Like my fellow Guyanese, I completely understand the need for early elections. GECOM denied this. How cruel of GECOM! I must remind the GECOM Chair that the Constitution demands early elections in response to the successful passage of the NoConfidence Motion in December of last year.

Is there any respect for our Constitution? Why is GECOM this biased?

Where are our rights in this country?

And because of the lawlessness in GECOM, Guyana is without a le-

PNC grabbing what they can get on their way out Dear Editor, Does Mr Ganger, who likes to say he is following the Constitution while he is actually trampling on it, understand that in a lame-duck status, the Government cannot give away such large tracts of land to favoured friends? The CCJ said Government is now on a different footing.

But since Parliament has not extended their stay, the PNC is now an illegal Government.

First, they gave away 400 acres in No 19, Corentyne; 700 acres in Wales; other acreages given here and there.

What’s going on here?

Are we witnessing the last-minute looting of State lands before the PNC is kicked out in March 2020? Can the PNC explain its actions to the nation and all those people it told that land was not available for house lots? Will the PNC now drop all made up, fictitious charges against Dr Ali, since it is doing the same thing and worse than what they are accusing the Presidential Candidate of doing?

Aren’t these the folks who have come up with trumped-up charges against Dr Ali to demonise him and sully his

name, for far less acreages, decided upon by the legal PPP Cabinet?

At least the PPP was a legal Government.

Can some good public-spirited person step up to sue and stop this sale and passing of transport?

Let’s see if all those Johnny-come-lately “paper” parties will say anything about this new land grab. These parties need to start talking about all these things going on that are not right. While the PPP will never fail to call out these abuses, it’s not just the PPP’s job to do so. These new so-

called parties should make public statements about what they will do, and if they support rescinding these giveaway deals and other contracts signed during the time of the PNC’s lame-duck status. You now see why the PNC fought hard to extend its time in office to facilitate all these last-minute shenanigans, grabbing what they can on their way out. And with GECOM’s help, the PNC got 15 months of extra time after its defeat in the no-confidence vote.

Sincerely, J Jackson

The most progress in Guyana occurred during the Jagdeo era Dear Editor, Dr Irfaan Ali’s disclosure that he will consider former President Bharrat Jagdeo as a Vice-President is good news. The former President is quite experienced, well known internationally, and has “been there, done that”.

He has proven to be a formidable Opposition Leader, has access to networks of support, and has the PNC on the ropes. How quickly Mr Jagdeo’s leadership as Opposition Leader saw the PPP trash-

ing the PNC at Local Government Elections in 2016 and 2018, walloping them by margins of 25,000 and 45,000 votes, and defeating the PNC in 2018 through a motion of no-confidence.

President Jagdeo was able to bring back supporters into the PPP’s fold, who had strayed in 2015 by voting for the PNC. Additionally, he is much younger than those on the PNC side and has a lot more to offer the country. Truth be told, the most progress in Guyana occurred un-

der the Jagdeo era.

As the PNC clings to power illegally, President Jagdeo is fighting hard to keep our democracy, through international action and local protests against Granger and his henchmen wherever they go.

Backed by Attorney General Anil Nandlall and other good people such as Mr Christopher Ram, the PPP has stood against the illegal PNC regime, fighting hard to restore constitutional rule, while the people in the new “paper” parties

are nowhere to be seen.

Both Dr Ali and Jagdeo are smart enough to know that once they regain election to office, serious moves have to be made to govern with more consensual structures that involve the Opposition, local civic society, and going beyond rhetoric to tapping into the pool of talent in the Diaspora.

They must be willing to seek talent beyond their own party.

Sincerely, Jerry Singh

gal and constitutional Government. Today, Mr Granger lingers on in power illegally in hopes that GECOM will deliver an unfair election where he will be victorious. What bullies!

Where is our decency in this country? To this end, I urge my fellow

Guyanese to speak out against GECOM, before it is too late. The protest against GECOM and an illegal (APNU/PNC/ AFC) Government must continue.

Sincerely, Annie Baliram (PhD)

Our courts need to... from page 4

(f) What consequences attend the answers to the above questions?

On this latter question, all the main judgment stated was that Leading Counsel for both sides had asked, and the Court had agreed to hear further submissions before deciding what consequential orders it should make.

The declarations and orders were set out in paragraph [9] of the judgment delivered on July 12, 2019, and all the Court found it necessary to declare in respect of Article 106 was that the motion was properly passed and that the clear provisions of Article 106, which they managed to confuse, “immediately became engaged” – whatever that means.

Many persons have concluded that the consequential orders were of no consequence. I am not even so sanguine.

In fact, the Granger Government has used it to legitimise their brazen, unlawful and illegitimate conduct. No wonder, therefore, that the CCJ’s strange ruling has done little to recommend them for acceptance by those countries in the region which have preferred to keep the Privy Council as their highest appellate court.

While I find that reluctance most regrettable, I have to be truthful and state that I find it perfectly understandable.

As a consequence of the CCJ’s failure, democracy at the legislative and national level in Guyana has suffered grave damage while at a personal level, I have sympathy for Mr Anil

Nandlall, the former Attorney General, the victim of collateral damage. Nandlall had approached the High Court for an Order compelling the Cabinet to resign as the Court had ruled several months earlier, a decision which was never fully canvassed by the CCJ but on which it made its most unfortunate statement. Not only did the High Court refuse to entertain what seemed to me to be a reasonable request, but it imposed one of the highest costs ever awarded in such a matter – G$500,000 – in favour of the Attorney General, Mr Basil Williams.

Hopefully that award would not have a chilling effect on future constitutional and public interest cases.

Fortunately for Mr Williams, no costs were awarded against him when he and his highpriced team spent so much valuable Court time and taxpayers’ money to make some illogical, unsound and baseless arguments to support their hopelessly perverse claim that the majority of 65 is 34.

My hope is that the Guyana Court of Appeal would recognise its duty to hear Mr Nandlall’s appeal with unusual speed. After all, all our courts need is to regain the confidence of the public, which to varying degrees has been shaken by some of their rulings in the NCM cases.

Unfortunately, the damage done to democracy cannot be so easily repaired.

Yours truly, Christopher Ram Attorney-at-Law and litigant

news 7

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Thousands of false objections’ made in Region 5 - PPP A

s the objections component of Claims and Objections has ended, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is raising concerns over the thousands of objections made in two particular areas and fears that they are part of a ploy to disenfranchise thousands.

It was revealed on Tuesday by Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner Sase Gunraj that approximately 13,000 objections have been made.

According to Gunraj, these objections were made primarily at the Fort Wellington GECOM offices in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice).

In an interview with this publication, PPP’s Chief Elections Scrutineer Zulficar Mustapha revealed that for Region Five, over 9000 objections were made at Fort Wellington, while over 3000 were made at the Mahaicony offices.

It is understood that Belladrum and Rosignol Secondary schools are just some of the lo-

PPP Chief Scrutineer Zulficar Mustapha

cations that GECOM used for the Claims and Objections, which ended on November 4 and 11

Baby reportedly dies after falling out of hammock

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two-day-old baby is now dead after falling from a hammock in which his mother was rocking him to sleep.

Dead is Lance Douglas of Murabisi Creek, Mouth Island, Issano, Middle Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Reports are that on Saturday at about 05:30h, the baby’s mother, 29-year-old Vinese Sutton, gave birth to her bouncing baby boy at their Issano home.

The following day (Sunday) about 17:00h, she tied a hammock inside of their house, placed her one-day-old son inside, and began rocking the hammock in an attempt to put the baby to sleep.

While she was in the process, one of the ropes attached to the ceiling became loose and this resulted in the child falling from the hammock and onto the ground.

This newspaper was told that the new mother did not take her baby

to obtain medical attention since the child appeared uninjured.

However, on Monday at about 05:00h, Sutton once again placed her baby inside of the hammock and was attending to him when he suddenly became motionless.

This prompted her to notify her relatives and they rushed the infant to a health facility for medical attention. A community health worker, who is stationed at the Issano Health Post pronounced the child dead on arrival.

According to medical practitioners, the baby boy’s body was examined and it was observed that there was discolouration to his shoulder and his back. The infant’s body is expected to be transported from the Issano Health Post to the Bartica Regional Hospital soon where the post-mortem examination (PME) will be conducted.

Meanwhile, the police have since launched an investigation.

respectively.

“They made thousands of objections and I can say they were unsubstantiated. Because the only way someone’s name can be removed from the list is if they’re dead and you have to produce a valid death certificate, or in case of insanity, you have to produce a certificate from a qualified doctor,” Mustapha said.

He added, “Now, in Region six, they made thousands of objections which they had to withdraw because they had no evidence. In region

five, they made close to 13,000 objections. These people are objecting wildly and they want to take off people’s name from the list”.

Criminal offence

Mustapha noted that it is a criminal offence to object wrongfully to someone’s name on the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE), such as in cases where the objection is that the person is dead, when, in fact, they are alive and well. He explained that the PPP itself has done some digging and found

the persons being objected to.

“And I intend to attend the hearing myself in Region Five, whenever those hearings are held, and I intend to produce those persons. I am hoping that GECOM will report (wrongful objections) to the Police and the necessary action be taken”.

Even with the unusually high number of objections in a particular registration area, the total number of objections is in stark contrast to the often-repeated statement from the

Government that the voters’ list was bloated by as many as 200,000 names, thus, necessitating the controversial House-to-House exercise.

The Government side and President David Granger have repeatedly claimed that the existence of 200,000 extra names necessitated House-to-House Registration, an exercise that ended up delaying GECOM’s preparations for elections as both sides struggled for and against the exercise.

On the sidelines of a GECOM court case back in July, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, himself, had admitted that he never advised the President that the voters’ list was bloated with 200,000 names, raising questions about where President Granger got such information.

“I have not engaged His Excellency on the numbers game. And I cannot pronounce on that…it’s speculative. I would want to do an exercise to determine that amount,” Lowenfield said when asked about the President’s comments.

In addition, the very voters’ list which was derived from the National Register of Registrants (NRR) was used for Local Government Elections (LGE) last year. The elections were held with only minor hiccups, leading many to question whether the advocacy for H2H was nothing more than a delaying tactic.

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

GECOM awaiting approval of foreign observers

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s preparations continue for the hosting of next year’s March 2 General and Regional Elections, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is awaiting the accreditation of foreign observers before going ahead with approving local observers.

This is according to GECOM Chair Retired Justice Claudette Singh, who, at her first press conference last Friday, dismissed claims that the Commission does not want observers around leading up to next year’s polls and has been blocking foreign bodies from scrutinising its work.

“That is not true.

GECOM welcomes all elections observers,” she insisted.

The GECOM Chair went on to point out that it is not the function of the Elections Commission to accredit foreign observers.

“That is an executive function, so that will be done by the President and Foreign Affairs [Ministry], not GECOM. Our duty is

er their requests to observe the upcoming polls were approved.

However, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield explained that there is a process in accrediting agencies as elections observers.

“For anyone to suggest that we’re delaying their accreditation, should know there is a process. For example, we don’t know what our OLE (Official List of Electors or voters’ list)

Meanwhile, the GECOM Chair noted that in addition to the observers, GECOM has also accepted advisory assistance to oversee its operations heading into the March 2020 elections.

She revealed that the Commonwealth Secretariat has made two advisors available, former Chief Elections Officers of India and Ghana, who are expected to arrive in Guyana

expertise of former Chief Electoral Officer of Canada’s elections body, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, who started working last month.

However, Kingsley, who has 17 years of electoral experience under his belt, is not staying in Guyana but remains in contact with GECOM and will have periodic visits leading up next year’s elections.

He is expected back here on November 18.

It was noted that the terms of reference (ToR) of Kingsley’s appointment do not allow him to meet with political parties.

Meanwhile, the ToR for the two advisors from the Commonwealth Secretariat has not been finalised but is expected to be completed before their arrival here later this month.

While GECOM welcomes this assistance, Justice Singh said that persons can be assured of the credibility of the March 2 elections with or without outside help.

“Everything is being done by GECOM to produce free, fair and credible elections. No one should have doubts about that. Everything

will look like, we don’t know how many polling stations we will have and things as such.

So once these processes are satisfied… the Commission will deliberate and provide the approvals for these groups to submit whatever else is required, long before elections.

It’s too early in the process for us to do that at this point in time,” Lowenfield stressed.

Advisory assistance

later this month and will be in the country leading up to, during and after the upcoming polls.

“Those people are coming as advisors to GECOM as a whole – the Commission, Secretariat and myself.

They would oversee everything, all operations before, during and after elections,” Justice Singh noted.

Already, GECOM is benefiting from the

is being done [to ensure credible elections] and so we welcome everyone to have a look – all these foreign and local observers. We’re not shutting the door on anyone,” the Chairperson stated.

Only recently, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Opposition had underscored the urgency for international oversight in the electoral preparation process to ensure credibility.

GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh and Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield at Friday’s press conference, along with DCEO Roxanne Myers (far right) and PRO Yoland Ward

to accredit local observers and that would be done as soon as the foreigners are accredited,” Justice Singh said.

At Friday’s press conference, GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward disclosed that thus far, four local organisations have expressed their interests in observing the elections. These are the American Chamber of

Commerce (AmCham) Guyana, Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Private Sector Commission (PSU) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

Last week, the PSC and GCCI said that it has been weeks since their applications were sent to GECOM and they are yet to receive a response as to wheth-

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

IMF says Guyana’s debt to foreign reserves ratio higher than most countries in hemisphere

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recent report conducted and released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) shows that compared with most countries in the Region, Guyana’s external debt to foreign reserves ratio is among the highest.

The IMF report in question is the Regional Economic Outlook of 2019 for the Western Hemisphere.

While the report notes that Guyana’s economy will grow when first oil arrives, the country currently does not compare well with others in terms of external debt and its reserves.

Guyana, according to the report, is expected to record a Public Sector gross debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) percentage of 55.5 per cent for the year 2019, although the IMF estimates that this will be reduced to 24.6 per cent.

Out of 22 countries examined by the IMF, it found that Guyana had the second highest external financing requirements for public and private. And when compared with Guyana, 17 other countries have more foreign reserves than they do debt.

These 17 countries include Guatemala, Haiti, Peru, Bolivia, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Brazil. When it comes to debt exceeding reserves, Guyana is in

for countries to manage their fiscal affairs, the report states that “given the challenging global environment and still negative output gaps in the Region, policies will need to strike a balance between supporting growth and rebuilding policy space”.

“Fiscal consolidation to lower public debt remains a priority in several countries. Monetary policy can continue to support growth given the stable inflation outlook and well-anchored expectations.”

thing Guyana is all too familiar with, when it comes to sugar.

It, therefore, advised countries in the hemisphere to rely on domestic growth to accelerate recovery. Such a recovery, according to the report, will depend on increased private consumption and investments that indicate confidence in the economy.

In its Article IV consultations in Guyana earlier this year and subsequent report, the IMF had found that Guyana’s foreign reserves were inadequate to cover the

the company of countries like Argentina, Chile, and El Salvador.

Since the previous Administration, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic left office, it has increased by 62 per cent.

In providing advice

The report also notes that global dynamics remain an impediment for economic prospects in the Region. It pointed to sluggish global growth, volatile access to capital and reduced prices for commodities – some-

recommended three months of imports.

According to the report, Guyana has projected 2019 official reserves of US$643 million, with this figure projected to rise to US$857.8 million by 2020. In terms

Graph showing Guyana’s debt-to-reserve ratio and how it stacks up to other countries

of 2018, the figure was US$528.4 million.

The report had pointed out that gross reserve coverage declined to 2.1 months of imports, mainly as a result of higher imports. As a rule of thumb, economists recommend

that Governments keep enough foreign reserves to be able to cover three months of imports.

According to the IMF, the balance of weaker exports and higher imports owing to oil- related investments was such

that the external current account deficit rose to 17.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Government has, however, endeavoured to downplay these statistics, with Finance Minister Winston Jordan claiming a few months ago that with the revenue the Government is expecting from first oil next year, there is no need to worry about the state of the foreign reserves since they will be replenished.

Guyana’s profit-sharing arrangement with ExxonMobil, the oil giant that will be producing oil from offshore Guyana, is for 50 per cent of profit oil. But with Exxon reclaiming its investment costs as cost oil, it means Guyana will initially get 12.5 per cent of profit.

Originally scheduled for 2020, first oil production has been moved up to next month. It is understood that the initial crude lifts will be one million barrels.

With the first lift going to ExxonMobil, Guyana is not expected to get its share until February/ March.

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Tullow’s find of low quality oil raises viability question …company’s shares tumbles by over 27%

T

he quality of oil discovered offshore Guyana by British-owned Tullow is now under question after tests found that the heavy crude has a high sulphur content and, thus, is not commercially viable; dealing a blow not only to

coveries, which were announced in August and September respectively, were found to be heavy crude containing high amounts of Sulphur after further tests were conducted.

Crude with high Sulphur content is a variety of oil that is

Both the Jethro and Joe wells were drilled in the Orinduik Block, which is located just a few kilometres from ExxonMobil’s discoveries. Despite the close proximities of the blocks, however, Exxon has not had the same issues with oil impurities.

strong overpressure”.

When questioned as to what options are available to Tullow now that these tests have raised questions about the two discoveries, Tullow’s Head of Corporate Affairs, George Cazenove on Wednesday said that

Tullow Head of Corporate Affairs, George Cazenove

any customers that we might have. The Carapa well is drilling currently and we expect a result before year-end,” Cazenove added.

Shares

hopes that the wells would bring revenue for Guyana but also to Tullow’s shares.

This was revealed in a statement issued by the company on Wednesday.

Tullow revealed that it’s Jethro and Joe oil dis-

less economically viable than the light, sweet crudes found in the United States and Saudi Arabia, or even the oil found by ExxonMobil right offshore Guyana in the neighbouring Stabroek Block.

In light of the latest analysis, Tullow said in the statement that it would weigh “the commercial viability of these discoveries considering the quality of the oil, alongside the high-quality reservoir sands and

they will depend on the commercial viability of the oil.

“We are examining our options at the moment and looking at commercial viability.

This is a heavy crude and has high Sulphur and this will affect our ability to both develop and sell this oil,” he explained in an interview with this publication.

“I should be clear that we would never refine this crude ourselves.

That would be done by

When Tullow had announced it found oil in commercial quantities in the Jethro well back in August, Tullow’s shares had jumped by over 19 per cent on the London Stock Exchange.

In fact, it was the biggest gainer on the index.

But in the wake of Wednesday’s announcement, Tullow’s oil shares plunged by a fifth.

Shares in Eco Atlantic, one of Tullow’s partners on the project, also tumbled. Up to press time, Tullow’s shares had fallen on the index by 27.32 per cent.

However, the oil company said in its trading statement that while the results from the Jethro and Joe wells continue to be evaluated, the petroleum system models are being updated in pursuit of additional

prospects and lighter oil in the area.

Tullow, in conjunction with its partner Repsol, is currently drilling the Carapa well in its Kanuku Block holdings. The well started at the end of October, with results expected before this year-end.

In an article on commoditytrading.com, it was explained that crude oil has a wide range of grades, and heavy sour crude describes those with a Sulphur content greater than 0.5-1%, compared to the light, sweet variation (with Sulphur less than 0.5%).

According to the article, the significance of this higher Sulphur content is that it is more difficult to refine the crude into its various distillate products, particularly the in-demand unleaded gasoline.

One of the main impurities in sour crude oil is toxic hydrogen sulphide along with other mercaptans (Sulphur containing compounds), the article stated.

‘I’m now GT... to the National Assembly as a MP post-March 2020 general elections.

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira and fellow PPP MP Adrian Anamayah had also resigned as members of the National Assembly.

Teixeira has since started the process to relinquish her Canadian citizenship.

Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states that “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of

the National Assembly who (a) is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, in her rulings earlier this year, made it clear that by swearing allegiance to another State, a dual citizen is not qualified to be elected to serve in the National Assembly.

Government sup-

from page 3

porter Compton Reid had challenged the validity of the vote cast by Charrandas Persaud in the National Assembly on the basis that he breached Article 155 of the Constitution, which debars MPs from having dual citizenship. It was this case that brought the issue to light, and the courts in Guyana eventually ruled that dual citizens are not permitted to sit as parliamentarians in Guyana.

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

More needs to be done with data from polling day - CEO C hief Elections Officer Keith Lownfield said that the Elections Secretariat will be moving to obtain more analytical data from the results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Lowenfield underscored the need to take elections management to a place where data from polling day is more than just who won and lost. He explained that post-elections, after obtaining the final result figures, the ballot boxes are locked away.

But, he noted, this is something that will have to change.

“We don’t go back to the boxes post-elections and for example, the boxes I have from [2015 elections] it’s locked away until year is done. But clearly it’s a move we can make,” Lowenfield posited.

According to the Chief Elections Officer, previous Chairmen of the Guyana Elections

Persons waiting to verify their information before they are allowed to vote

who want us to move in that direction so that we will have not only who won or lost [the elections] but specific data…,” Lowenfield stated.

GECOM’s resolve to undertake better elections management comes on the heels of numerous

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lownfield

Commission (GECOM), particularly Dr Steve Surujbally, have been pushing to get more specific details from the results of the elections such as the number of youth votes and other categories of grouping.

“We need data to emerge from these elections. Youths; in particular areas – the largest turnout. Well we get a general turnout but specifics. How many persons used their ID [identification] cards in let’s say Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and in which are the areas. We have not done that as an agency and I agree with those

and repeated recommendations over the years to undergo reforms.

In fact, elections observer groups both internationally and regionally have been insisting that while GECOM’s purpose for existence is to administer free and fair electoral processes, Guyana should consider reforms that would reduce or eliminate the politicised composition of the elections body in order to ensure independence and impartiality.

Currently, the elections oversight body is comprised using the Carter Center model that was introduced for the 1992 elections to

guide the composition of GECOM. This model provides for three members each from Government and the Opposition, and the Chairman to be appointed by the President from a list of names submitted to him by the Opposition, a process which many say have since exhausted its usefulness.

Another area that GECOM has come under heavy criticism over the years for is its failure to deliver timely elections results.

In fact, former Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, in June had told this publication that the country needs to have better tabulation and compilation processes so as to reduce the lengthy delays in delivering the polling results.

Mahalingam had observed the 2015 General and Regional Elections as well as two Local Government Elections – 2016 and 2018 – during his five-year tenure and as such, noted that fast-tracking the tabulation process and the way in which the results from each polling station get to the elections headquarters could ensure the timely delivery of elections results.

“I’ve seen definitively [the delays in declaring elections results here].

It’s not desirable for the anxious voters to wait for a week to get to know their results because it can lead to other complications. So, therefore, it is advisable, and it is better, to have to a bet-

ter system of compilation of the votes from each polling centre to a centralised location in a secured way, which can be used for declaring the results in the fastest way possible,” the Indian diplomat asserted.

However, he noted that while it is up to Guyana to decide on

whether to pursue e-voting, finding a less time consuming and efficient way of tabulating elections results would be an “extremely useful step” for Guyana at this point in time in the absence of electronic voting.

The Indian High Commissioner is not the only foreign diplomat to

recommend faster tabulation of elections results in Guyana. Last year, former United States Ambassador Perry Holloway had also touted the idea.

“I’m still a big believer that electronic tabulation can go a long way towards getting the results quicker… It would be nice to be able to almost have near or as close as to instantaneous [results] as you could… I think electronic tabulation go a long way for that and I think it’s a way to ease in the greater electronic voting… The tabulation, I think, is very doable and I think it’s a way to get started,” Holloway had contended.

The need for electoral reform, and Constitution reform as a whole, has long been highlighted and during its campaign trail leading up to the 2015 elections, where which got it into office, the APNU/AFC coalition had committed to have these reforms but is yet to take tangible steps to do so – something which it has received much criticism for.

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Companies obligated to have mitigating oil spills high on agenda – insurance executive

C

ompanies currently drilling for oil in Guyana have an obligation to ensure that mitigating oil spills is high on their agenda, while Government has a duty to scrutinise these plans.

This view was expressed by Mark Kabierschke, the energy industry’s regional leader for Latin America at multinational insurance

and mitigating agenda.

So they will have mechanisms to either try to mitigate that risk or insure against something happening,” Kabierschke said.

“Oil companies will, in short, have proper insurance in place to make sure that any impact is either corrected or paid,” Kabierschke further explained to this publication during an exclusive

as is the case in Guyana.

Kabierschke acknowledged that while oil companies tend to be proactive and engage communities affected by oil spills, it is ultimately up to the Government to ensure that operators comply with their obligations.

“There’s an insurance market catering with specific products.

Insurance companies can

low up the process and ensure [compliance]. The main advice, us coming from the risk advocacy side, is make sure that you have a good understanding, a good map if the risks involved with the oil sector.”

It was reported in sections of the media earlier this year that ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana

Regional Insurance Executive Mark Kabierschke

Participants in a Volunteer Emergency Response Team training in May 2019

company, Willis Towers Watson. He was at the time speaking at the conclusion of an oil and gas insurance seminar recently.

“In general, oil companies will have anything to do with pollution and oil spills, high up on their risk management

interview.

He noted that in some cases, bigger companies can self-insure.

However, he pointed to the importance of transparency and scrutiny to ensure the practice is sustainable when an entire industry is being built up from the ground,

also self-insure. I would, in any case, recommend that there’s enough transparency and scrutiny to make sure it is a sustainable practice when you’re building up your industry.”

“Definitely a developed oil industry will have Governments fol-

Limited (EEPGL) had secured local insurance.

In fact, reports had indicated that they were pursuing allowing coverage exceeding the insur-

ance sum to be assumed by the parent company.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director, Dr Vince Adams, has, in fact, said that oil spill liabilities will be covered by the oil operators responsible.

According to Adams earlier this year, the companies’ environmental permits spell this out.

Since ExxonMobil announced its oil find in the Liza-1 well in 2015, a pertinent question has been the capacity of the relevant agencies to protect the environment in case of an oil spill. It is a topic that has regularly been raised at public lectures.

An EPA study had found that while an oil spill is possible, factors such as the location of

ExxonMobil’s affiliates’ operations, combined with the region’s water temperature would minimise the effects.

Work has been ongoing on a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP), with Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Director, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, promising that the plan will be completed by this month.

The draft plan sets out a three-tier system of dealing with oil spills.

There is a tier one level that deals with the local and facility-level response; the tier two level, which is a national response to the oil spill and the regional and international response to an oil spill.

Albouystown man to face High Court trial for shooting dog food vendor

A

n Albouystown, Georgetown man was on Tuesday committed to stand trial in the High Court after a prima facie case was made out against him on a charge of attempted murder at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Naresh Samaroo is accused of attempting to murder Shane Cooper, a dog food vendor, at Stevedore Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown in September 2018.

The Preliminary Inquiry was conducted by Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus, who on Tuesday said that after consideration of the prosecution’s evidence, the court is of the opinion that a case had been made out against the 21-year-old welder.

Cooper, of Bamboo Drive, Meadow Brook Squatting Area, Georgetown, was shot to his abdomen and left leg during the course of a robbery. Reports are the 26-year-old man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was shot on Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown.

Reports at the time were that about

Naresh Samaroo

20:40h at Aubrey Barker Road and Stevedore Street, North Ruimveldt, Cooper was selling dog food when Samaroo allegedly robbed him and shot him in the process.

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt must invest in making local private sector more competitive – Ali

W

ith the coming of oil, Guyana has become a magnet for many in the Caribbean seeking to profit from the sector. But with Guyana facing difficulties to export certain commodities, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential candidate Dr Irfaan Ali believes now is the time to knock down these trade barriers.

Ali was at the time making an appearance on a local radio programme, where he was asked if he would be willing to consider giving the local Private Sector the same incentives enjoyed by foreign investors.

He added that there must be an equal playing field. “But we have to look beyond that. We have a Private Sector that we need to invest in to make them competitive to even get on an equal playing field. And we cannot ignore that responsibility.”

Government, he added, has said they have a lot of investors rapping on the door but “I’ll give you a story. There was a group of farmers producing lime. And they came to me and said, two years now we’re trying to get lime into Trinidad and we can’t get in”.

Ali related that he called the relevant authorities in Trinidad and Tobago seeking answers for his compatriots’ struggles to export to the twin-island republic. He noted that an investor eventually stepped forward and exported limes.

“The lime was left to rot on the wharf. By the time bureaucratic delays were looked at, the lime was left to rot. This new energy in Guyana offers us an opportunity.

And those same Private Sector bodies who come to Guyana and want to talk about opportuni-

PPP Presidential candidate Dr Irfaan Ali

ties here, must be willing to go out of Guyana and break down those barriers,” Ali, a former Housing and Tourism Minister said.

“They must be willing to go out of Guyana and to their Government, ensuring that Guyanese get an equal playing field when our goods and services is exported to those jurisdictions. We have energy, fine. We must be open; we must embrace all investors. But in the same breath, we must ensure that our interests are protected.”

Barriers

Even with oil, it is important for Guyana to diversify its economy and find markets for other commodities. Of recent, however, Guyana has had to contend with protectionist measures from the United States, United Kingdom and Trinidad. In the case of the US, the country imposed a ban on the importation of catfish from Guyana.

In explaining the reasons for the ban’s imposition, Veterinary Public Health Unit Director, Dr Ozaye Dodson had said

that Guyana fell short of the US standards in three areas. In the first

place, there were issues regarding the presence of inspectors.

There were also issues with insufficient documentation to verify the steps being taken in the sanitation and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) process. There was also insufficient documentation specifying how the industry manages adulterated catfish products.

When it comes to the UK, its Environment Agency imposed restrictions on greenheart importation since 2015. At the time, it was claimed that proof of sustainable sourcing of the forest product was inadequate, and this has since resulted in a drastic decrease in export of the product to the UK. In December 2016, the EA relaxed the re-

strictions on greenheart, but only began to accept Category A FSC 100 per cent greenheart from Iwokrama. Guyana has, however, been involved in talks under the Guyana-European Voluntary Partnership Agreement to lessen the restrictions In 2019, Jamaican authorities also rejected some 70 metric tonnes of white rice.

Panama rejected some 20 containers of rice from Guyana back in September 2018.

Rice is a major contributor to the Agriculture Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Guyana. Guyana is presently a major paddy producer, and one of the leading exporters of rice in the region.

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Uncollected ID cards

‘No one will be disenfranchised’ - GECOM boss C

hair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) retired Justice Claudette Singh has defended the decision to remove thousands of persons from the voters’ list who failed to pick up their National Identification (ID) Cards, saying that this verification process is provided for in the laws.

Speaking at a press conference last Friday, her first since taking up the post at the helm of GECOM, Justice Singh pointed out that in addition to ruling that GECOM cannot remove names from the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRD), acting Chief Justice Roxane George had also ruled back in August that the Commission can use any form of verification to verify the names on the voters’ list either in conjunction with the House-to-House Registration exercise (which she had ruled was lawful and not unconstitutional) or separately.

It was on that basis, the GECOM Chair said that they employed the current process to cleanse the voters’ list of persons who have not uplifted their ID cards since the 2008 House-to-House Registration exercise. This, she noted, is provided for in the Proviso to Section 66 (a) of the National Registration Act Chapter 19:08 as amended by Act 14 of 2005, which states that the Commission can utilise verification of the list at any time.

GECOM Chair Justice (rtd) Claudette Singh taking the oath-of-office

“So this is the procedure being utilised to cleanse the list…

We just want to verify the existence of these people. They should come forward and say well I’m alive,” she contended.

GECOM had revealed that close to 20,000 ID cards have been uncollected since 2008 and as such, a decision was taken to remove the names of those persons if they do not verify their existence.

Commencing today, the Commission will be publishing the names of these persons in the four national newspapers

as well as sending, via registered post, a notice to them.

They will then be given a 21day period to go in and verify their existence.

However, concerns have been mounting over GECOM’s intention to remove thousands of persons from the voters’ list for not uplifting their ID cards.

But according to the GECOM Chair, it is not about the uncollected ID cards but really about the verification of these persons.

“If these people do not appear, their names will be tak-

en off the OLE (Official List of Electors or voters’ list) and place on a list which is supplemental. It will still be the OLE or schedule or whatever you want to call it, but a supplemental list to the OLE and if they should turn up on elections day, they will be allowed to vote,” Justice Singh noted.

However, she explained that these persons will have to show up with a valid passport or some other form of identification that will be outlined in the publications in the newspapers. She noted that in ad-

dition to the supplemental list, there will also be a Folio at the polling station containing the names of those unverified persons.

According to Justice Singh, the supplemental list will be at the polling stations on elections day for “greater scrutiny” since those persons were never verified.

“We need to verify, the law says that… So it is not GECOM’s intention to disenfranchise anyone and this exercise is not a witch-hunting exercise… It’s just a verification process and all we want is the person to come forward and verify their existence. That is all there is to this exercise and this is provided for by the law,” the GECOM Chair contended.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that a total of 19,502 names will be published of persons who failed to uplift their ID cards over the past 11 years.

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield told reporters at Friday’s press conference that 2008 recorded the highest number of uncollected ID cards with 12,079. He added that 1404 uncollected cards were recorded from last year’s two registration cycles.

“The largest amount, I should say, still remain from 2008. What has happened progressively from 2008, the uncollected numbers, they have reduced significantly to where we are at in 2018,” the CEO posited.

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Georgetown chamber questions relevance of CARICOM in trade negotiations

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on-tariff barriers that target Guyanese exports remain a sore issue for the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), with the Chamber questioning the relevance of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) when little help is forthcoming.

This was related when the GCCI held a press conference at its Waterloo Street, Georgetown office on Wednesday, featuring executives and even a former President. GCCI Senior Vice President Timothy Tucker noted that the Chamber is at a point where it has to question the relevance of Caricom.

According to Tucker, throughout the history of Caricom, “we’ve had situations where we are limited in what we can export to the Caribbean, even to Trinidad. They’ve put non-tariff barriers on honey, they just released the ones on pepper and pineapple. There’s still a lot of barriers on honey, pineapple, pumpkins.

Also, you had situations where, when Guyana

was exporting coconut water and its products, they, themselves, shut that industry down”.

“I would have spoken about the suspected hepatitis case in Guyana and then, suddenly, the ban on all poultry products. When Guyana was approved to export poultry products throughout the Caribbean, we had even Jamaica… they used one of their laws talking about water being used. In the height of all of this, why isn’t Caricom unravelling these problems? Is Caricom still relevant in terms of trade negotiations in the Caribbean?”

Added to this, he explained that neighbouring countries like Trinidad moved to get certain tariffs suspended by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).

Other new hurdles have also been raised.

“I think Trinidad just did an application to COTED to waive the Common External Tariff (CET) on safety equipment coming into Trinidad. And Guyana, on the other end, we’re now going on the coat-

GCCI Vice President Timothy Tucker

tails of Trinidad to get that removed so we can continue to be competitive”.

“Now COTED, they’re now relooking at front labour, after most of our manufacturers would have gone forward and gone up with their standard, you see things raised by some Caribbean nations trying to move the goalpost. So I think we’ve reached to the point from the trading and investing stand-

point, we have to sit back and assess the relevance of Caricom”.

Oil

Tucker noted that his sentiments are shared by most in the GCCI, particularly the Trade and Investment Committee, and since Guyana is about to become one of the world’s newest oil producers, he expressed the view that Guyana dropped the ball not only with negotiating trade

deals but also even developing its local content framework.

According to Tucker, Guyana’s newfound influence should have been leveraged to help other sectors and remove needless trade barriers.

This is a view recently expressed by People’s Progressive Party Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali. “Now, an official request to remove safety items (from CET) has been made. Now when that is removed, then our local suppliers – because we don’t have any local content legislation or policy that says you have to buy stuff locally— they will go to Trinidad where 40 per cent (of the price) has been removed.

So you know where the competition will go,” Tucker said.

“All of the offshore people, oil and gas people or anyone dealing with safety equipment, will buy from Trinidad because they are the only country in the Caribbean that has requested to have the 40 per cent CET on safety equipment removed. Without Local Content Policy or legisla-

tion to protect local business, that’s the purpose of it. We have to fight the tariffs, taxes, VAT, so by the time something comes in here to sell, it’s uncompetitive”.

Even with oil, it is important for Guyana to diversify its economy and find markets for other commodities. Of recent, however, Guyana has had to contend with protectionist measures from the United States, United Kingdom, Jamaica and Trinidad.

In 2019, Jamaican authorities also rejected some 70 metric tonnes of white rice. It was reported that after samples of the rice shipment were sent to the division’s microbiology lab for testing, the results from the tests demonstrated that the rice contained microbial levels which are beyond the accepted limits, thus, making it unfit for human consumption.

This seizure was the first for the year but an epidemic of poor quality rice exiting Guyana was seen in the recent months when Panama rejected some 20 containers of rice from Guyana back in September 2018.

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Rising debt-to-GDP ratio a matter of concern – financial analyst

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uyana’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio has been increasing under the current Administration and according to a financial analyst, Guyana’s rising debt should be cause for concern, when oil money may have to be diverted away from the people to paper the cracks.

In an interview with this publication, analyst and Chartered Accountant Sase Singh noted that the projected increase of debt to 55.5 per cent of GDP, despite years of warnings from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to settle this figure, does not bode well for the future.

A recent report from the IMF had identified Guyana as a country with one of the highest debt-to-GDP ratios in the hemisphere. Singh noted that with debt being added from Bank of Guyana overdrafts to National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) bonds, it’s not surprising.

“It’s an abnormal increase.

It is a problem. What we know is, there has been a rapid increase in our debt over the last few years. And I can name two portions of debt that are really concerning. One is the almost US$300 million in overdrafts at the Bank of Guyana,” Singh

Financial analyst Joel Baghwandin

told this publication.

The IMF, he added, “had recommended that we urgently settle this. And it’s now 2019 and we haven’t settled it. There is also a public debt of US$145 million for the loan issued to NICIL to restructure Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

So between the two of them alone, over US$400 million has been bolted to our debt.”

Singh noted that it will take a lot of oil money to fill these gaps left by debt. This money, he pointed out, already has to compete with Guyana’s infrastructural and social needs and to use it for settling debt

can leave little for the people.

“When the oil funds come, it has to go towards paying some of these hefty debts. It has to go towards restructuring some of the underperforming sectors in the economy. It has to go towards bolstering the public infrastructure deficit in the country.”

“So while they’re counting on this oil money for so many things, [little] will be left for the people. Because so much clean-up operations have to be done upon the assumption of office of the new Government, whoever is the new Government. The next two years will basically deny Guyana the policy space it deserves to think expansion.”

By comparing what a country owes with what it produces, the debt-to-GDP ratio indicates its ability to pay back its debts. A high debt-to-GDP ratio may make it more difficult for a country to pay external debts, and may lead creditors to seek higher interest rates when lending.

The higher the debt-toGDP ratio, the less likely the country will pay back its debt and the higher its risk of default. A specific debt-to-GDP ratio demonstrates an ideal position has not been agreed to, but instead, it is typically focused on the sustainability

Financial analyst Sase Singh

of certain debt levels.

Previous Administration vs Govt

In Guyana’s case, while debt-to-GDP has seen slight increases over the years, this number continues to grow, and local economists have warned that Guyana’s increased debt could complicate things.

According to calculations from financial analyst Joel Baghwandin, the external debt to net foreign asset ratio has doubled from 2009 to now. External debt increased from US$933 million in 2009 to US$1.3 billion in 2018.

Foreign assets, meanwhile, went from US$751 mil-

lion in 2013 to US$528 million in 2018. Data indicates that when the ratio between these two indicators is calculated, it increased from 163 per cent in 2009 to 247 per cent in 2018.

The recent IMF report shows that compared with most countries in the hemisphere, Guyana’s external debt compared to foreign reserves is among the highest. The IMF report in question is the Regional Economic Outlook of 2019 for the Western Hemisphere.

While the report notes that Guyana’s economy will grow when first oil arrives, the country currently does not compare well with others in terms of external debt and its reserves.

Guyana, according to the report, is expected to record a public sector gross debt-toGDP percentage of 55.5 per cent for the year 2019, although the IMF estimates that this will subsequently be reduced to 24.6 per cent.

Out of 22 countries examined by the IMF, it found that Guyana had the second-highest external financing requirements for public and private.

And when compared with Guyana, 17 other countries have more foreign reserves than they do debt.

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jagdeo says PPP to hit the streets again if President delays dissolution of Parliament

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he Opposition P e o p l e ’ s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has threatened to resume protest actions if President David Granger does not dissolve Parliament come next month.

Having already set March 2, 2020 as the date for the much anticipated General and Regional Elections and issuing the election proclamation, pressure has been mounting on the caretaker President to also dissolve the 11th Parliament.

But according to Article 61 of the Constitution, “An election of members of the National Assembly under Article 60 (2) shall be held on such day within three months after every dissolution of Parliament as the President shall appoint by proclamation.”

Nevertheless, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo contends that come December 2, President Granger will have to dissolve Parliament.

“When the time comes, he will have to dissolve. I’m just making sure that he understands one thing that December 2 is the day… He has to dissolve

File: PPP supporters protest Government’s refusal to abide by the Constitution

Parliament; he has to issue a proclamation. Let him delay that and we’ll resume protest because that’s part of the holding of elections – the dissolution of Parliament,” the Opposition Leader stated at his recent press conference last week.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/

AFC) coalition has been acting as a caretaker government for nearly one year since the December 21, 2018 passage of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against it.

Despite having named March 2 as Election Day, the President is yet to have his Cabinet resign and dissolve Parliament.

Asked last week about

the latter, President Granger indicated that he could not say when Parliament would be dissolved.

“I will stay away from dissolution as long as there is a likelihood that we will need the vote of the whole parliament to pass any measure – financial measure. Unfortunately, for time to time because

of urgent matters such as flood or fire, we may need funds and only Parliament could authorise disbursement of funds which have not been provided for,” he stated.

The Head of State further reminded that in light of the circumstances, Government has not drafted a budget for 2020 and as such, has to

be prudent in its expenditure.

“It means that if there is any extraordinary expenditure, rising out of any unanticipated situation, whether it’s an act of God, force majeure, or any other, I feel it is prudent to keep the Parliament opened as long as possible,” the President noted.

However, the following day, Jagdeo rubbished Granger’s contention as a “silly excuse” to hold onto office. He pointed out that the Contingency Fund was there for the Government to access in the case of such emergency funding.

“I can’t imagine that a President would be so ill-informed that he doesn’t understand that there is a Contingency Fund for things [like] emergency spending, disasters, etc… that Parliament doesn’t have to exist to have access to the Contingency Fund.

In any case, he can’t pass a budget so the one-twelfth provision kicks in next year. But he has, like with everything else, a very vague understanding of how Government runs,” the Opposition Leader, who is a former two-term President, asserted.

20 news

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

“In the end, he was heartless for her” - sister of slain NYC Guyanese

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aybe she saw the best in him – “he promised her he’d change”, Donne Dojoy’s grieving sister recounted Saturday.

But Dojoy’s husband was so filled with senseless rage, he assaulted her weeks after they wed in July, and took her life Friday night by stabbing her over and over in his Queens apartment.

“I guess she wanted to give him another chance,” said Dojoy’s sister, Fannita Barakat, who flew in from Texas to join horrified relatives as they mourned a woman Barakat remembers as “great, hardworking and funny, and just very generous and loving.”

“I guess in the end, he was heartless for her,” said Barakat.

Dojoy, 27, had an order of protection against her husband, 33-year-old Dineshwar Budhidat.

The order came in a court case that stemmed from his arrest August 21 for slapping and strangling Dojoy a week earlier inside their apartment on Albert Road near Whitelaw Street in Ozone Park.

At a court appearance Wednesday, Budhidat pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. He was to

Donne Dojoy and her husband, Dineshwar Budhidat in happier times (New York Post photo)

be sentenced in January, and the order of protection remained in place until then, sources with knowledge of the case said.

Dojoy, one of seven siblings and a bartender at Gemini’s Ultra Lounge in Ozone Park, moved out of the mari-

tal home to a house in South Ozone Park. She died Friday night visiting her estranged husband’s pad — despite his history of attacking her, and despite the court order meant to keep them apart.

Budhidat texted a cousin to say he’d killed

Dojoy and was going to kill himself.

The cousin called 911, and soon Police found Dojoy dead.

Cops found Budhidat’s body a short time later, hanging from a tree in Brooklyn’s Spring Creek Park, about a mile and a half

away from the bloody murder scene.

“Tears can’t stop pouring for you baby girl, you didn’t deserve this,” Wanda Garib, a co-worker at Gemini’s Ultra Lounge in Queens, wrote on Facebook early Saturday.

“I knew you since you

first came to this country; we once lived under the same roof and we share many laughter’s (and) memories together,” Garib wrote. “Not only were u my co-worker but u were also a friend.”

“She’s full of positive vibes. She always had a loving, nurturing personality,” said a cousin, Anthony Dojoy, who visited a makeshift shrine outside Gemini’s Ultra Lounge.

“It has to be jealousy,” the cousin said.

“Because there’s nothing else –she’s sincere, genuine, honest.”

Dojoy’s neighbours were stunned to learn of her death. “In a neighbourhood that is quiet and safe that is really painful to see this happen,” said neighbour Giuseppe Buccellato.

If Budhidat was so unhappy, he should have just taken his own life and left his wife alone, Buccellato, 52, said.

“If you want kill yourself, just walk away,” he said. “But there is no good reason to kill anyone else.”

“No one should take the life of another person,” he said. (Reprinted from New York Daily News )

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

GPA disappointed over President’s approval of conditional boycott for media

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he Guyana Press Association (GPA) has come out in criticism of recent statements made by President David Granger, in which he said that State ads should be given to media houses based on fairness and balance.

In a statement last Saturday, the GPA expressed disappointment in the President’s statements. The President’s statement was made during an interview on a local radio programme.

However, this did not go down well with members of the media fraternity in Guyana.

“The gist of the President’s remarks appears to be that the allocation of paid State advertising is contingent upon favourable coverage of his administration,” GPA said, adding that Granger’s statements do not differ from previous problems the association encountered.

According to the GPA, it has always been the body’s position, which is in keeping with international thinking on this matter, that State advertising should neither be employed as a form of reward nor as punishment for perceived media transgressions.

While Granger did say on the radio programme that State ads should be given to media houses based on fairness, in the same breath, he contradicted himself by saying that he did not support the withholding of State ads.

“President Granger said he does not support the withholding of ads and the GPA encourages the Government to examine how all media houses can benefit

President David Granger speaking to members of the media (DPI photo)

from such ads,” the Press Association said.

“In this very critical time in Guyana, when all should be informed, media houses ought to be reminded of their need to provide the truth and fact-based journalism.

Editorial activism has its place but citizens’ right to be informed must always triumph,” it added.

Mere hours after the GPA released its statement on the issue, Ministry of the Presidency called for the Association to retract its statement. It denied that the President was seeking “favourable” coverage for his Government while continuing to call for “fair” coverage.

Duplicity The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), in a statement on its social media, also called the President out by claiming that his calls for

fair coverage run counter to content put out by the State media. According to the Party, such content is anything but fair.

“The recent statement by the Ministry of the Presidency, attacking the Guyana Press Association over its comments about the withholding of State advertisements from the private media houses, exposes the hypocrisy of the APNU/AFC coalition,” the PPP said.

The PPP noted that while the David Granger-led coalition insists that the placement of State advertisements should be based on fair coverage, it continues to use the State media – the Guyana Chronicle, the Department of Public Information (DPI) and national radio stations – as its propaganda arm.

The issue of sections of the media be-

ing deprived of State ads raised its ugly head after complaints were made by Guyana Times and Stabroek news. In the case of this publication, advertisements generated through DPI reached an all-time low by the end of October.

In fact, in the month of September, this newspaper only received one ad from the DPI and none in October.

This issue of declin-

ing ads from the DPI, through which many of the State’s ads pass, was raised in a letter sent to the Director of DPI, Imran Khan, by this publication. The letter, dated October 23, 2019, outlined that since an earlier letter in August 2019 regarding outstanding balances owed to Guyana Times, the number of ads that were once received from the DPI is no longer forth-

coming.

“This is a cause of great concern for us, as comparatively, based on the information released by your agency, the Guyana Times newspaper received on average only 10 per cent of the State advertisements.

That percentage reflects an already minuscule allocation to the Guyana Times newspaper,” the letter stated.

The correspondence further pointed out that after the first letter was sent in August, the publication only received a total of G$20,930 in ads from the State agency in September. This, it was outlined, is against the backdrop of advertisements being proliferated consistently to the other dailies, especially to the State-owned Guyana Chronicle and Kaieteur News, during the same period.

To compound matters, DPI had racked up a total debt of G$11.4 million for the period of March 2019 to the end of September 2019. This newspaper was promised a payment of G$900,000 from a total amount of G$1.4 million owed for the month of March 2019. That part payment of G$900,000 has since been received.

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Another young miner killed in Guyana after pit caves in A nother young miner has died after the walls of the pit in which he was working collapsed and covered him alive.

Dead is 21-year-old Deon Henry of Triangle Backdam, Baramita, Region One (BarimaWaini).

According to reports, Henry was in the pit with several other persons, but his colleagues were unable to save him as the eastern wall of the pit caved in on him.

The men managed to pull Henry from under the slush but were not able to resuscitate him.

The police were called and his body was taken to the Port Kaituma Hospital mortuary.

In October, a geologist attached to the Troy Resources mining operations at Karouni, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), was killed after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed.

Dead is 33-yearold Ryan Taylor of Lot 85 Lamaha Street, Alberttown, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, Taylor and three others were working on the construction of a “bench” in a mining pit, when there was a slippage, which allegedly resulted in him falling and being covered.

Earlier this year,

A mining pit in Guyana’s interior

54-year-old miner, Timothy Hunter of Jawalla Village, Upper Mazaruni River, Region Seven, also died after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed and he was covered with mud.

On December 27, 2018, 11-year-old Tairon Terryl De Souza of Big Creek, Port Kaituma, Region One (BarimaWaini), died at Big Creek during a mining pit accident.

In October 2018, Lennox Douglas, 33, of

Canvas City, Wismar, Linden, met his demise when a portion of rocks from a mining pit reportedly fell onto his head.

He was, however, quickly picked up and rushed to the Issano Health Centre where he succumbed to his injuries. In September 2018, two miners lost their lives after they were covered by mud when a pit in which they were working caved in at the Mowasi Backdam, Konawaruk, Potaro, Region Eight (Potaro-

Siparuni).

Dead are Deon Sproston, called “Jersey Joe”, 36, of Lot 133 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and a miner only known as “Shawn”.

Guyana Times International understands that the two men and other persons were working the walls of the pit with metal detectors searching for gold while it was raining heavily.

While working, a large portion of the pit wall suddenly broke off

and fell on both men, burying them alive.

In January 2018, 23-year-old Handel Payne, also called “Daggie”, of Kaneville Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), died after the mining pit in which he was working at 35 Miles, Konawaruk Backdam, collapsed.

In April 2018, a miner named Kevin Adams, 25, of Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) died at Chinese Creek Backdam, Mazaruni River, after a

pit caved in and buried him alive.

One month later, in May, Ken Ranny, 20, a resident of Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni River, died after he was covered by mud after the wall of a mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Pepper Camp Backdam, Upper Mazaruni River.

Again, one month later, in June, miner Elmo Adams died after he too was buried alive after the walls of a pit in which he was working caved in at Imbaimadai, Upper Mazaruni.

Back in 2015, 10 persons died in a mining pit in the Konawaruk area after it collapsed. The incident saw 17 miners being buried under a pile of dirt and rubble but seven managed to escape alive with various injuries.

The others remained trapped under the dirt, where they perished.

The ten miners were Leyland Jones, Jason Trotman, Vick Bernard, Frank Bernard, Desmond Martins, Raymond August, Brian Bank, Trevon Phillips, Nanmore Kurt and another man identified only as “Michael”.

The deaths were blamed on heavy rains in the area, improper mining design and poor safety practices at the mining camp.

Gender based violence increasing in Guyana, T&T and Jamaica – UN A senior United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) official Wednesday said that there's a growing problem of gender based violence in Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

According to a CMC report, UNFPA Caribbean Director, Alison Drayton, who is attending the Nairobi Summit on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25), said that there's need for different strategies to counter this practice in the Caribbean region.

Drayton said gender-based violence has harmful and lasting consequences for victims, families, communities and nations, adding “the realisation of this increase is starting to change perceptions of the need to look at the region in a different way”.

The UNFPA Caribbean Director, who was speaking on the sidelines of the summit, said “it's an uphill battle.

Gender based violence is one of five themes of the Nairobi Summit, which has been convened to mobilize

UNFPA Caribbean Director, Alison Drayton

the political will and financial commitments urgently needed to finally and fully implement the ICPD Programme of Action.

These commitments centre on achieving zero unmet need for family planning information and services, zero

preventable maternal deaths, and zero sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls.

Research findings released at the conference on Tuesday revealed that ending gender-based violence in 132 pri-

ority countries will require an investment of US$42 billion dollars over the next 10 years, CMC reported.

The organisers said that the funding would go towards programmes that provide psychosocial assistance, medical treatment and rape kits to

survivors. It would also fund the promotion of the right of all women and girls to live free of violence and abuse.

The study was conducted by the UNFPA and the Johns Hopkins University in collaboration with Victoria, the University of Washington and Avenir, CMC reported.

Gender-based violence includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, threats, coercion, and economic or educational deprivation. It is an issue faced by people all over the world, but women and girls are disproportionately harmed by this practice.

According to CMC, Kenya and Denmark as well as UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, have organised this high-level political summit, which is being attended by a record 11, 500 participants from over 150 countries.

They include representatives from member states, local governments, youth networks, civil society organisations, private sector partners and academics, CMC reported.

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Energy Dept boss says steps being taken to verify Exxon’s oil production

E

ven as the details of the crude lifting agreement between Guyana and ExxonMobil is being finalised, the Department of Energy intends to push for a third-party representing Guyana’s interest to be on board to verify how much crude oil Exxon extracts.

This is according to Department of Energy Head Dr Mark Bynoe, who hosted a press conference recently and explained that verification is an important part of the whole crude lifting process.

“So in the event there is any issue when the fuel is shipped, whether quality or quantity wide, we will be able to have our own evidence to push back against that,” Bynoe further explained at his press conference.

According to Bynoe, many of the mechanisms to carry out the crude lift are covered under the crude lifting agreement. This includes the facilities, technology and how the samples will be stored aboard the FPSO. Guyana’s profit-sharing arrangement with

Exxon’s Liza Destiny FPSO

ExxonMobil is for 50 per cent of profit oil. But with Exxon reclaiming its investment costs as cost oil, it means Guyana will initially get 12.5 per cent of profit.

Originally scheduled for 2020, first oil produc-

tion has been moved up to next month. It is understood that the initial crude lifts will be 1 million barrels. With the first lift going to Exxon, Guyana is not expected to get its share until February to March.

According to Bynoe, the Energy Department is also gearing up to sign two agreements which will directly impact how much money Guyana really gets from the oil sector. One is an agreement to have a firm audit

Exxon’s cost oil claims, which is known to be around US$460 million.

Crude lift agreement When it comes to the system governing the crude lifting, which simply means the oil is loaded onto the vessel for

transport, Bynoe had provided some key information. For one, the crude lifting agreement is near completion. He also laid down timelines for first oil and lifting of the crude.

“The Department has signed a contract with a crude marketing specialist, and a commercial specialist, who will be assisting the Department’s preparations for first oil.

The Department is working to conclude a similar contract with a petroleum accounting specialist and a contract administrating specialist.”

“The crude lifting agreement is being finalised and has advanced significantly. The CLA is expected to be completed in the new week and Government will be a signatory as a lifter of crude, along with the Stabroek co-venturers.”

According to Bynoe, their agreement will be based on the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators crude lifting agreement.

He explained that it will be customised to reflect the reality of Guyana’s sector.

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana Govt approves salary hike for public servants

I

n the coming year 2020, public servants will get a salary increase, as Government has approved an acrossthe-board salary hike, including retroactive payouts.

President David Granger made the announcement that the increases would be tax free and retroactive from January 2019. This was after a meeting was facilitated on Tuesday between the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and senior Government officials. The Union had called out the coalition Administration on its arbitrary increases after it failed to deliver its promise of a consensual approach.

The President’s announcement comes mere days after Finance Minister Winston Jordan said that the public service has too many workers and about 15,000 can be fired. These persons are from the public service, Guyana Power and Light and Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

He claimed that the APNU/AFC is “generous” by not firing 15,000 immediately but said that the terminations will be phased over a period of time.

Meanwhile, giving a breakdown on Wednesday, Granger stated that the minimum wage for public servants swould be increased to G$70,000 from G$64,220 per month. Persons in this category will be receiving G$69,336 this December – a sum in excess of their base salaries. This is a nine per cent increase from the current wages and is extended to sweeper-cleaners in the public education system.

Other public ser-

vants earning between G$100,000 and under G$1 million will receive an 8.5 per cent increase; and those earning less than G$100,000 will receive a nine per cent increase in their salaries.

Meanwhile, Cabinet also recommended increases in several stipends, with station allowances increased from G$2800 to G$10,000; hinterland allowances will be increased from G$4000 and G$12,000 to G$24,000 and the risk allowance increased to G$5000. The clothing allowance for teachers will move from G$13,000 and

President David Granger

G$22,135 to G$15,000 and G$30,000 respectively. On-call allowances for doctors will be raised in the coming year, the President said.

“Public servants, including teachers, nurses, doctors, members of the defence force, police force and the security services will benefit from these permanent salaries increases…The income tax rate has been reduced and the tax on employers’ contribution to NIS (National Insurance Scheme) was removed,” Granger said in his address to the nation.

Erosion of household wealth

Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party Presidential candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday said that the destruction of the economy, eroding of household wealth and disposable income cannot be addressed with this increase.

“Take for example the level of taxation which plays an important role in the decline of private consumption.

Since 2015, total tax revenue is expected to in-

crease in 2019 by more than G$98.7B or 55 per cent. Of this total VAT represents G$17.7B or 18 per cent. Indeed, the increase is worrisome since total output or GDP has increased by a mere 9 per cent or $35 Billion. What this means is that the government have been taking away more from the people than what is actually being produced,” Ali said on Wednesday. He added that clearly more personal and household resources is used to pay taxes hence less disposable income. “To make matters worse job loss-

es of roughly over 30,000 nationwide. The sugar industry and forestry sector which employ a large majority of low-income and low-skilled workers, were among the hardest hit sectors with roughly 7,000 and 5,000 job losses, respectively. The entire productive sector is in decline as a direct result of poor policies and bad governance.”

He added that when adjusted for inflation the net increase in salaries would be even less. Take for example, the price of food and clothing, two of the basic necessities, are expected to increase by 3.5 per cent and five percent , respectively in 2019.

Upon the announcement last week that Government would increase public servants’ salaries, GPSU President Patrick Yarde said that the Union was “fed up” with the outcome yet again.

“This is most disturbing to us. We would wish to state that we will respond to any arbitrary increase in a most vigorous manner …We are fed up with arbitrary impositions,” he had positioned.

He also reflected on Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s budget speech some four years ago, which recognised the inadequacies in the public service, which were never addressed.

“If you look at Minister Jordan’s speech in 2015, you’ll see a commitment based on a mutually-arrived-at decision that we had with him. He recognised how woefully inadequate certain conditions were in the public service.

Today, four years after, they’re still the same.”

US-based physician donates G$4.7M in medical books to UG

D

r Keith Cummings, an overseas-based Guyanese physician, has gifted the University of Guyana Library (UG) medical books to the tune of G$4.7 million, as they cover areas inclusive of medicine, biology, and social sciences.

Like his past donations, Dr Cummings is hoping that the medical books and journals provided will improve the quality of education, research and training for new physicians in Guyana.

This donation was accepted by the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr Emanuel Cummings on behalf of the university. He expressed gratitude to the

Dr Keith Cummings (4th from left) presenting a book title to Dr Emanuel Cummings

donor and his collaborators, namely: Dr Stephen Carryl, Dr Ali Hassoun,

Dr Dwain Wood, Dr Dhanna Etwaru, Dr Phillip McPherson, Dr

Sherly Abraha, and Dr Leon Lewis, for their continued kindness

and commitment to the University.

Having graduated

as part of the institution’s medicine field in 2003, Dr Cummings frequently has returned to Guyana to provide medical education sessions on a variety of topics in Linden, Georgetown and Berbice over the past four years, as well as philanthropic work with several churches in Berbice and at his former primary and secondary schools.

In 2017, he accepted a teaching assignment in Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked as an assistant professor of medicine and academic hospitalist in one of the southern US premiere healthcare systems— Emory University Hospital. Dr Cummings is now practising in New York.

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T

he 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

In support of this civil society initiative, under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign (UNiTE campaign) calls for global actions to increase awareness, galvanize advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations

2019

In 2019, the UNiTE campaign will mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December, under the theme, “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape!”

While the names, times and contexts may differ, women and girls universally experience rape, sexual violence, and abuse, in times of peace or war.

Rape is rooted in a complex set of patriarchal beliefs, power, and control that continue to create a social environment in which sexual violence is pervasive and normalized. Exact numbers of rape and sexual assaults are notoriously difficult to con- firm due to frequent latitude and impunity for perpetrators, stigma towards survivors, and their subsequent silence.

In recent years, the voices of survivors and activists, through campaigns such as #MeToo, #TimesUp, #Niunamenos, #NotOneMore, #BalanceTonPorc, and others, have put the spotlight on the issue of sexual violence and have reached a crescendo that cannot be silenced or ignored anymore.

That is why, under the umbrella of UN Women’s Generation Equality campaign that marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the UNiTE Campaign is calling on people from all walks of life to learn more and take a stand against the pervasive rape culture that surrounds us.

Main principles of UNiTE advocacy:

1. Honour and acknowledge women’s movements and their leadership in 16 Days of Activism in preventing and ending violence against women and girls.

2. ‘Leave No One Behind’: apply a human rightsbased approach and focus attention on the most underserved and disadvantaged groups of women and girls in efforts to prevent and end violence against women and girls.

3. Survivorcentred: take a respectful and ‘do no harm’ approach to the telling and retelling of survivor stories, only with their permission and under the conditions which they have agreed to. This principle is vital for

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the engagement of survivor advocates in activism. All UNiTE partners must ensure that survivor advo-

cates’ rights, safety, dignity and confidentiality are upheld.

4. Multi-sectoral: everyone in society has an important role to play in ending violence against women and girls, and we all must work together across sectors to address the various aspects of violence against women and girls.

Broader Umbrella

Next year, 2020 will see an important milestone for the issue of gender equality and work on preventing and ending violence against women and girls, 25 years of the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action.

The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing marked a significant turning point for the global agenda for gender equality. The Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, adopted unanimously by 189 Member States at this conference, is today an agenda for women’s empowerment and it is considered the key global policy document on gender equality. It sets strategic objectives and actions for the advancement of women and the achievement of gender equality in 12 critical areas of concern: Women and poverty, Education and training of women, Women and health, Violence against women, Women and armed conflict, Women and the economy, Women in power and decision-making, Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women, Human rights of women, Women and the media, Women and the environment and the girl-child.

On the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, UN Women’s “Generation Equality: Realizing women’s rights for an equal future” campaign demands equal pay, equal sharing of unpaid care and domestic work, an end to sexual harassment and violence against women and girls, health care services that respond to their needs, and their equal participation in political life and in decision-making in all areas of life. The UNiTE Campaign will align its advocacy activities with the broader umbrella of the Generation Equality campaign to support broader advocacy for gender equality with its specific lens on preventing and ending violence against women and girls. (UN Women)

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WEEK ENDING november 17 , 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Minding…

T

…PNC’s business rade unions were formed to agitate for workers’ rights at the turn of the century in Europe, responding to the socialist “exploitation” critique of capitalism – especially by Karl Marx. They were a safety valve to stave off the explosion – such as what had taken place in Russia in 1917. Our first trade union was formed just 2 years later by Critchlow and by and large, slowly achieved incremental improvements for their charges.

Since 1979, however, there’s been a kickback by free-market-oriented governments— led by Reagan in the US and Thatcher in the UK – and trade unions started to lose their influence. Now you’d think that trade unionists would be spending their time pressuring the powers-that-be to take care of workers’ travails, wouldn’t you?? After all, they’re paid by those poor slobs. Take this fella, Lincoln Lewis, who’s the General Secretary of one of the two umbrella trade union bodies in Guyana.

In the neo-liberal dispensation that was imposed here, under Lewis’ watch, trade unions were severely decimated. And he did take up cudgels on behalf of some groups of workers – especially against the PPP government – whether they were directly involved or not. Like when the GPSU struck in 1999, or the workers at Rusal during the last five years, or for bauxite workers at Linden and their pension fund. In the latter instance, he accused the PPP of committing ‘economic genocide’ against – not workers – but African Guyanese!!

The trade unionist Lewis had transmuted a “workers’” struggle into a “racial” struggle. It’s not coincidental that all the unions he’d agitated for were all dominated by African Guyanese. But a strange thing happened to Lewis after the PNC took office in 2015. While, to his credit, he criticised the PNCled government for their callousness for firing 7000 sugar workers — and even pointed out the POLITICAL implications — he’s studiously avoided labelling the firings as ECONOMIC GENOCIDE!!

But yet, from his OWN statements about the PPP and bauxite workers, a far stronger case can be made for so describing the tragedy in the sugar belt. After all, these mostly-Indian workers had absolutely no alternative employment prospects. Isn’t “genocide” for the (Indian-Guyanese) goose the same as “genocide” for (African-Guyanese) gander? But of recent, in the wake of the NCM, his behaviour has become even weirder. Suddenly, he’s forgotten trade union concerns, even in African-dominated areas – such as the GPSU’s complaint against the PNC Govt for ignoring their salary increase demand.

All his energies are geared to attacking the PPP’ refusal to legitimise to the PNC’s illegal squatting on their office by returning to Parliament.

You’d think he was on their payroll, wouldn’t you?? …a battered reputation But it’s possible that Lewis might’ve been preoccupied from carrying out his trade union duties, ‘because evidently, he wasn’t just completing MEDICAL studies, but also SPECIALISING in Psychiatry!!

Responding to one columnist who’d questioned his stance on the PNC’s obduracy on the NCM – in addition to insisting that the PPP was equally to blame for the present mess, he’d also insisted 33 wasn’t a majority of 65! – Lewis opined categorically: “I’ve always had the inclination to believe he was sick. The content of the instant letter leaves no shadow of a doubt that he is indeed sick; a very sick man. It is obvious that the previous exchange between him and me has left him emotionally battered and psychologically bruised”! And how did he arrive at this diagnosis?? He described the clinical symptoms he detected: “So he (the columnist) comes out in a frenzied flaying of hands, screaming and frothing at the mouth, throwing abuse left, right and centre, thinking he will take his opponent by surprise. But, once again, he enters the ring recklessly”.

Dr Lincoln Lewis?? Later for trade union business!! …the leftist rout Another leftist government that supported Maduro bites the dust in South America!! Columbia and Brazil have now been joined by Bolivia after Evo Morales stepped down after massive protests.

A hint to Beneba…

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By Lakhram Bhagirat

D

omestic violence has been an epidemic in Guyana for a number of years, but very few strides have been made in combating the scourge. Every day, there are reports of women suffering at the hands of men who promised to love and care for them.

In her young life, Vashti Mahase has had two relationships and both of those relationships could be considered as outside of the norm. Vashti’s story came to the fore earlier this year when it was reported that she was severely chopped by her reputed husband after serving him with a restraining order.

Vashti’s life has always been filled with challenges and, according to her, they have somewhat shaped her path. She grew up in the village of Good Hope on the East Coast of Demerara with her six siblings and single mother Zorina Mahase. Being the youngest child did not mean that she was spoiled or showered with privileges, rather she, like the rest of her siblings, felt what it was like to live below the poverty line.

Their mother worked hard to ensure that there was food on the table and clothes to cover their backs, but their education had to suffer to facilitate that.

Vashti only attended school until she was in Grade Six and she came out, because the family could not have afforded it.

“I had a rough time growing up, because my mother was a single parent, but she was trying for me. I went to the Lusignan Primary School, but when I was in Grade Six, I had to come out because of my mother’s situation; she did not have money to continue to send me to school, so I come out,” the now 22-year-old recounts.

While she was out of school, Vashti became social and at the age of 15, she began her first real relationship.

That relationship would result in two children, but the amount of suffering she would eventually endure was overwhelming.

She had moved in with her lover when she was 17 years old and at first, everything was fine.

She knew that her lover had a mean streak, but never thought that she would become the target of that aggressiveness. The first few months of their new common-law relationship was everything she could have dreamt of, but soon her world would become grey.

It started with mean words which later transformed into actions and it was then she knew that she was in trouble. So, after enduring endless nights of beatings, verbal assault and financial abuse, Vashti decided that enough was enough and she packed her bags, took her children and left.

“He was always abusive and used to punish me for money and food and all kind of things. He used to accuse me of cheating and all kind of things. He would sit down just so and then fly in a passion and want to beat and cuss me. I never get no peace. One day he beat me so bad that I could not take it anymore, and I just leave and walk out. I went back to my mother house and I was living there with my children.”

After she walked out on the father of her children, Vashti thought she had another opportunity at starting over. She did exactly that.

Shortly after, a neighbour realised that she was back home with her parents and seized the opportunity to arrange a marriage. The woman went to Vashti’s mother with the idea of getting her settled with her single brother, Fazil Oosman which would later turn out to be a train wreck of a relationship.

“This lady lived two houses away from my mother in Good Hope and one day

feature 33

she come home and tell my mother that her brother looking for somebody to settle down with. She said that how he got two children, but when me mother find out, she realise that he had more than two children,” she said.

Nevertheless, the ball was placed in Vashti’s court and she chose to embark on a new journey with Oosman since he seemed like a person who was capable of building a life with her.

She moved out from Good Hope and went to Lima Dam, Mahaica to live with Oosman.

There, she was isolated from her family and it seemed like déjà vu’ all over again.

“He used to live good at first, but then he never used to treat me children them right. He always used to beat them and don’t want give them food on time and everything else.”

The maltreatment of Vashti’s children pushed her over the edge and she began retaliating. However, Oosman did not give up and went as far as falsifying a report to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) against Vashti that resulted in her children being taken away.

The children were returned to their father’s custody much to Vashti’s dismay. Their father had no interest in their well-being which meant that she would have to visit them often to ensure that they were taken care of.

One day as she was preparing to go and visit her children, Oosman was in a foul mood and intensified his antics to prevent Vashti from going. But she was having none of his attitude and in the end, called her mother to rescue her.

Before her mother could have gotten there, Oosman took a cutlass and broadsided her resulting in visible marks and intense pain. She was rescued and returned to her mother’s house, where she decided once again to end another relationship because of the abuse.

Oosman continued to call Vashti and threatened her life. So, she decided to make a report to the Police as well as visit the Social Protection Ministry’s Welfare Office.

“I went to the welfare and they give me two paper. One to take to Vigilance Police Station and one to Mahaica Police Station and when I go to serve him the restraining order on 22nd February, they told me to go back the 24th to serve and when I go to serve he, that is when he chop me up.

“I went there with a female Police and he wasn’t around and he mom call him and told him that a Police Officer is there to carry the protection order against him. He come with a bicycle and while she (the officer) was reading it out, he started to cuss up and I just turn away from him and when I turn away from him, my friend scream ‘run’ and I couldn’t even get chance to run and there was [when] he started to chop me up in front of the Police,” she remembers.

The years of abuse never prepared her for that day and Vashti said it was perhaps the most horrifying experience of her life. She was chopped 15 times and her wrist was broken. After he chopped her, Oosman escaped, but was later apprehended and charged with attempted murder.

He is currently on bail and Vashti fears for her life.

Nevertheless, she is trying to pick up the pieces and recover.

34 FEATURE

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

he World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1 in every 3 women will experience some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. This number is staggering and calls for a comprehensive plan of action in addressing the global epidemic.

However, as conversations surrounding domestic violence roar on, one woman, Camille Cox is using her status as a former victim to reach out and empower other women who are in situations where they are subjected to violence at the hands of their partners.

WHO reports that violence against women is a major public health problem, and global estimates indicate that about 1 in 3 or 35 per cent of women worldwide has experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.

“Globally, as many as 38 per cent of murders of women are committed by a male intimate partner.

Violence can negatively affect women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health, and may increase the risk of acquiring HIV in some settings.

There is evidence that advocacy and empowerment counselling interventions, as well as home visitations, are promising in preventing or reducing intimate partner violence against women. Situations of conflict, post-conflict and displacement may exacerbate existing violence, such as by intimate partners, as well as/and non-partner sexual violence, and may also lead to new forms of violence against women,” WHO said in a November 2017 fact sheet.

Knowing these facts, coupled with her experiences, Camille started the Silence Hides Violence

WEEK ENDING November 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Foundation (SHVF) to empower particularly women to become independent. The Foundation not only caters for women it focuses on all victims of abuse and children as well.

Though relatively new in its formation, SHVF has always been a dream for Camille since she wanted to use her experiences as a victim of both physical and sexual violence to help change the world.

Going back to her formative years, Camille grew up in Plaisance on the East Coast of Demerara and has always had a promising future. While a student at the Cummings Lodge Secondary School, she was an athlete. One day when she was training on the seawalls, she was violated.

“I was 16 when I went one afternoon to train on the seawall and I was raped b y someone who knows m e .

Nothing came out of that, because at that time it was taboo to discuss such and to bring it out in the open. I was injured and my legs got broken in the process and that was it. It was never discussed in the family,” she remembers.

“I felt disgusted. I felt worthless because I was a virgin at the time and I processed it and got over all by myself. I didn’t go to any counselling or anything like that and it did affect me until after I got my kids.

I used to remember it and cry even when I was in my 30s. I used to rethink and then say I shouldn’t listen to my parents, but now that person is dead,” she added.

At 21, Camille moved to New Amsterdam where she continues to live to date. There, she met the father of her son and although they did not live together, he was a controlling man.

“One day he slapped me and he said he was sorry

about it. My eyes were swollen and my parents asked me what happened and I gave the usual excuse: I got stung by a maribunta (wasp) and he was very apologetic and whatever. He took me out and so on, but then he did it again and when he did it again, then was when I said to myself ‘this is it, this is the end of it’.”

It got messy because her child’s father hit her with such force that her mouth was filled with blood.

She retaliated by connecting an ashtray to his eyes.

The couple then parted ways and it was then she decided to channel her experiences towards helping those who need it. The idea was there for a while, but it came to fruition in July when she officially launched SHVF. “Persons are suffering and they are doing it in silence because they have nowhere to turn to. Yes, you have the Help and Shelter and various organisations, but do they listen? Do they help the victim in the aftermath? Do they help the victim?”

“I find most persons after being abused, they have nobody to talk to. Persons need to have someone to listen to them. Some persons just want somebody to listen. We help to gain employment, support for their kids, and that is our goals,” she explained.

Camille intends to continue providing relief to those in need.

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Lakhram Bhagirat

J

ust over a week ago, on October 29, Malenie Pierre and her 15-year-old son were sitting in the Juvenile Court as Magistrate Dylon Bess delivered what they think is a proverbial slap in the face of justice. Magistrate Bess sentenced the two boys who punctured Pierre’s son’s lungs with a pair of scissors to two years for their crime, but instantaneously suspended that sentence and left his bench while the victim sobbed as he realised that justice was not served.

“When I saw my son there in that courtroom and he broke down after he heard that these boys got a suspended sentence, I was angry.

The justice system failed us and I feel like I have failed my son as a parent. I am so angry I do not want to talk about it,” Malenie remembers.

On February 28, a group of four boys who are believed to be part of a gang ambushed Shemuel Pierre as he was sheltering from the rain at Prospect on the East Bank of Demerara. Shemuel, a student of Covent Garden Secondary School, was stabbed twice to the chest region by the group of boys who were brought there by one of his school colleagues.

In order to understand the events that led to that fateful day, one has to go back to February 27 when a student in a lower class than Shemuel began bullying him. The student is reported as an aggressor and would often bully students because he was covered by immunity because of his close association to the Guyana Police Force.

On February 27, he crossed paths with Shemuel, but before a physical confrontation could have occurred, a teacher escorted Shemuel to a bus and sent him home. Feeling as if that encounter was in the past, Shemuel returned to school the following day and the day went by smoothly until school was dismissed to facilitate a Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) meeting.

As he was making his way out of the street which housed his school, the rain began falling forcing him to seek shelter at a nearby shop. While at the shop, he was ambushed by his assailant from the previous day, but the startling difference was that his bully was accompanied by three other boys.

The quartet that attacked Shemuel is believed to be part of a school gang that operates in the area. Despite being outnumbered, Shemuel retaliated when his attackers pounced on him.

However, he was beaten to the ground, held in a vice by one of them, and stabbed twice by another two while they continued beating him.

It is unclear whether anyone came to his rescue while he was being attacked, but shortly after, one of his teachers noticed the commotion and upon checking, found her student on the ground struggling to breathe.

Quick action resulted in him being taken to the Diamond hospital for emergency treatment only to be told that he was fine and would be sent home.

By that time, his family had been summoned and arrived at the institution; they realised that Shemuel was in no condition to go home rather he seemed as though he needed emergency medical assistance.

They offered to take him to a private institution only to be told by ranks from the Providence Police Station that he would be taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital instead. When he arrived at the Georgetown Public Hospital, it was discovered that both of his lungs were punctured and he would require emergency surgery to repair the rapidly deteriorating organs.

He would go on to spend five days in the hospital, but that was the least of his worries. After being discharged, a few days later, he revisited the hospital for a check-up and was given the medical stamp of approval.

“That night when we came home from the hospital, we had to rush him back to a private hospital (name provided) because dark blood was gushing out of the

FEATURE 35

wound and he was in pain. The doctors there told me that they (GPHC) took out the tube too early and not all the blood drain out and that he may have to do another surgery. But they said they will treat him first and see how it goes. They treated him and he got better, but you see how I could have lost my son?”

Malenie lamented.

To date, Shemuel is still in pain and has not fully recovered.

Failed justice

When Shemuel was attacked, the teacher who rendered assistance visited the Grove Police Station to report the incident, but was referred to the Providence Station, since they had jurisdiction over the matter. The report was made and Shemuel provided the names of his attackers to the Police.

However, the family was not prepared for the reluctance on the part of ranks at Providence when it came to the investigation. They visited the station on a daily basis to get updates only to be met with rudeness from the ranks there and no update.

When Shemuel was readmitted to the hospital, his mother decided that enough was enough and began taking steps to get answers. She first visited the A Division Headquarters at Brickdam and reported her distress, but that still did not impact the non-movement of the investigation. Answers came only after Malenie met with then Crime Chief Lyndon Alves and he began looking into the case.

That was almost two months after the initial report was made. Meanwhile, Shemuel was out of school and his attackers roamed the area, threatening his friends into silence.

Following Alves’s questioning, Providence ranks apprehended two of the attackers and both admitted to stabbing Shemuel.

They were charged and placed before the courts.

“From the time they read the charge, I was angry. They charged these boys with unlawful wounding and both of my

son’s lungs were punctured. We think that it should be attempted murder, because that is what they tried to do. These two boys are brothers and they have other cases before the court,” Malenie said.

The case came to a conclusion on Tuesday last, but it was a verdict the family was not prepared for.

“I was so mad when he read that charges and suspended it. I say if they get their two years, let them go and spend it and think about what they did.

Because a lot of youths have been doing things and walking free. The two boys have matters before the court and the one that confessed. Both of his lungs were punctured and they had to do emergency surgery to reconstruct the puncture, but they charged the boys with wounding instead of attempted murder. That was the first thing that get me angry because they put unlawful wounding and both of my son’s lungs were punctured – both!”

Shemuel was in court on the day the verdict was read. At no point in time, his attackers expressed genuine remorse and when he heard the verdict, all his walls came crashing down. He broke down and sobbed while his infuriated mother watched him helplessly.

That day, Malenie said she felt as though the justice system was not designed for justice, because more emphasis was placed on the attackers as opposed to the victim. The attackers, according to her, got the royal treatment since they are back on the streets with very little obligations and they have been receiving counselling among other benefits.

Meanwhile, her son, the victim, is yet to receive the promised counselling to help deal with the trauma of being brutally stabbed.

“Like I left stupid after he suspended the sentence. I went up to the Prosecutor and asked if that was the decision and then I start talking because it had over 20 Police in the room. I said this is not fair, those could never be fair to me and my child. Even if he got his two-year sentence, then why he suspended it? And then afterwards, the counsellor and Prosecutor telling me that the justice system did not fail me. It actually failed me, especially my son, because my son started crying. He started to cry. I waited eight months to get some sort of satisfaction or justice.”

The family is yet to decide their next move in their quest for justice, but is contemplating an appeal of the suspended sentence.

36 FEATURE

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

An Indentureship Story

By Lakhram Bhagirat

P

o n g a v a n u m Munsammy or Auntie Chalma as she is lovingly known was the oldest surviving worker of the Leonora Sugar Estate. On November 03, 2019, at the age of 92 Auntie Chalma passed away.

In April of 2018, Sunday Times Magazine published Auntie Chalma’s story. In her memory, we share that story once more: Pongavanum Munsammy or Auntie Chalma as she is lovingly known is a 92 year old former estate worker, who even in her old age, enjoys an active life and is dependent on no one. Auntie Chalma came into the spotlight a few years ago when she was honoured as the oldest surviving worker of the Leonora Sugar Estate and since then, she has enjoyed national recognition.

Auntie Chalma and her daughter Golin Born on February 17, 1927 to indentured immigrants Andikan and Chinganie at Leonora Pasture, West Coast Demerara, Auntie Chalma remembers growing up in a logie with her two siblings and their parents.

When the Sunday Magazine caught up with Auntie Chalma at her Lot 21 Leonora Pasture home, she was sitting on the bridge, over the small gutter, overlooking the road and “taking breeze”.

At 91, most elderly people would complain about constant aches, pains and lack of mobility but that is not the case with Auntie Chalma; she is still able to move briskly, tend to her flower garden and make meals for herself. She lives alone and despite her daughter, Golin Singh, living in the same yard Auntie Chalma insists on doing everything for herself, as long as she is able to.

Chatting with Auntie Chalma with our backs to the setting sun and faces caressed by the soft Atlantic breeze, she related how different it was while growing up in the early 1900s. Taking me back to a different era, she beautifully explained how her father and mother were hardworking and respected people within the Indian community and how she and her siblings fought internal battles to prove their how hardworking they were.

A u n t i e Chalma explained that

because of her old age she is unable to hear properly and urged me to speak louder. She began sharing her story even without my prompting.

She explained that while growing up, there was the unmatched level of camaraderie among everyone within the then tiny village of Leonora. “When me bin a lil gyal when anybody got dead here nobody does go wuk. Them does stay home and take care of the dead and same thing with wedding but today everybody ah do dem own thing and nah talk to mattie (one another),” she said Struggles Auntie Chalma’s life, like most people in the early 1900s, was categorized by constant struggles. At 12 years old, during the Great Depression following the First World War, life became so tough that her parents began looking for a suitor for her. It was then she was introduced to the only man she ever loved Munsammy called Tambie. Mere months after they were married and embarked on a new chapter and moved Cane Grove on the East Coast of Demerara.

Tragedy would force Auntie Chalma and Tambie to move back to

Leonora after their first born mysteriously died and they were unable to cope. When they returned they set up their life once again and she then birthed six children and now lives to see four generations.

Taking us back to her earlier life, Auntie Chalma says she worked hard to provide for her children. Golin explains that her mother worked hard and they were able to buy cattle but as life was getting better for them, their life took an unexpected turn.

Tambie became an alcoholic and began selling out their tools and other thing just to get money for him to buy alcohol. He would soon pass away and Auntie Chalma worked tirelessly to provide for her children.

“Dem days lang time bin hard, everybody bin a wuk and plant and suh not like now.”

Golin explains that her mother enjoys the life she currently lives but adds that she is slowly losing some of the memories she had.

Auntie Chalma begins everyday by waking up at the crack of dawn, picks flowers from her bountiful garden, showers and goes to her altar where she thanks god for every moment she gets. She enjoys practicing Hinduism and goes to Mandir every Sunday morning.

Now Auntie Chalma just takes everyday as it comes and enjoys every moment.

“Ayo young people got to live together more and nah be selfish.”

NEWS 37

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Iwokrama encourages students to be guardians of Guyana’s environment

A

s part of its annual school outreach programme, a team from the Iwokrama International Centre visited students of the Kingston, Tutorial and Dolphin’s High Schools and the Ptolemy Reid Centre last week According to a release from the organisation, as it relates to the high schools, the Iwokrama team interacted with higher-level students who hail from the agriculture, science and arts streams.

The aim of the initiative is to enlighten students across the country about Guyana’s rich biodiversity and how they can play a part in protecting it.

The outreach informed the students about the country’s protected areas; the Iwokrama Forest, the Kanuku Mountains, Shell Beach, the Kaieteur National Park and the Konashen Amerindian Protected Area – which is home to the country’s most remote Indigenous tribe, the Wai-Wais.

The students, according to the release, were amazed to learn various fascinating details like the country’s oldest protected area is the Kaieteur National Park, which was established in 1929.

They were also given a brief history of Iwokrama and the work it does in the areas of sustainable forestry management, research and tourism.

In highlighting the significance of the Iwokrama Forest Reserve, Dr ThomasCaesar explained that it lies within the heart of the Guiana Shield – which is one of the of only four remaining large tracts of intact rainforest ecosystems in the world.

The students were also enlightened about the importance of protected areas to the global ecosystem.

As such, Dr ThomasCaesar, Director, Resource Management and Training, charged the students to be guardians of their environment.

In one instance, she encouraged them to speak out against littering. She explained the harmful effects of improper garbage disposal, especially for marine animals like sea turtles who mistake plastic in the oceans for food.

Caren Wilfred, organiser of the school outreach and tourism

Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar, Caren Wilfred, and Huichang Yang pose with some of the students of Tutorial High School

staffer, in her presentations to the students, spoke about proper solid waste management.

She reiterated the dangers of littering, such as pollution to the airways and waterways. In addition to posing health threats, littering can block the drainage system and can lead to severe flooding, she explained.

Biologist, Huichang Yang sought to encourage students to pursue a career in biology, as she delved into the exciting aspects of working at Iwokrama.

She underscored the importance of protecting animals, and showed students some of the activities which are undertaken right at Iwokrama to ensure these animals are protected.

Moreover, she spoke about the importance of the Iwokrama Forest to the country’s biodiversity.

She highlighted that of the 225 species of mammals in Guyana, some 130 are found at Iwokrama; of the 814 species of birds in the country, 476 are found at Iwokrama; of the 176 species of reptiles, 82 are found at Iwokrama; of the 148 amphibians, 59 are found at Iwokrama; of the more than 800 species of fish, 400 are found at Iwokrama; and of the more than 8000 species of plants, 1250 are found at Iwokrama.

These figures, she explained, are based on 2005 data.

Therefore, to date, the numbers may be significantly higher.

Some Tutorial High School students expressed an interest in setting up their own environmental club and the Iwokrama team committed to provide assistance in the establishment of the club.

Further, the Iwokrama team hand-

ed over several informative materials to all the

schools visited, including guides to the birds,

mammals and plants of Iwokrama and educational posters.

According to the release, Iwokrama will be reaching out to other secondary schools such as Charlestown, Central High, St John’s College, North Georgetown and Christ Church. A session will also be held with The Blind Society.

This is an annual activity but this year it has extra significance as the Iwokrama International Centre celebrates its 30-year commemoration of the pledge of the one million-acre Iwokrama Forest to the international community for research and development as it relates to tropical rain forests.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Protecting…

E

…small businesses ven without oil in sight, Chinese were starting to enter the supermarket business in Guyana. Early on, your Eyewitness had raised red flags about the phenomenon: he’d been in Suriname and seen that within a decade of their entry into that trade there, they’d displaced locals, and were running 90% of supermarkets by 2015!! There hasn’t been a survey done in Guyana on the control of supermarkets

by Chinese immigrants, but from his (wide) travels across his homeland – including the interior, he’s willing to hazard a guess that we’re approaching the Surinamese numbers here.

But your Eyewitness isn’t concerned only about supermarkets, he’s looking ahead at what’s in store for Guyanese small businesses as the oil money enters the real economy within the decade. In the oil industry, foreigners – especially Trinis – have already strategically positioned themselves by registering all sorts of companies to service ancillary needs. Others are looking ahead at what our needs will be as the economy expands – on infrastructural development alone! – and getting ready to grab our cake.

The point about all of this is that the politicians – especially from the two dominant parties – should be forced to make pronouncements on their policies on three of the factors of production – labour, entrepreneurship, and capital. The last factor, land, is about all we got, but it can trump the others, since we can regulate what is to happen on that land.

Immigration concerns labour and entrepreneurship, and capital is…well…capital!!

The problem with capital is that our economy was completely liberalised after 1989 by the IMF “conditionalities”, which have left us with almost zero controls on capital entering and leaving our shores.

While we got a taste of what this can do with the shortage of US greenbacks, this could lead to all sorts of even more devastating consequences in our new oil-based economy. As, for instance, like the collapse of the Far Eastern economies in 1997, when “hot money” suddenly fled.

On labour, there must be an immigration policy to determine who we would allow to enter Guyana to work and set up businesses. If they’re entrepreneurs who’ll open up businesses that Guyana doesn’t have – and hire locals – then for sure they should be allowed in. But running supermarkets?? Naaah.

That’s not going to develop us a whit. Fact of the matter is that every country that’s now “developed” had some sort of “infant industry protection” regime in place in its early days. And even for lower level jobs and services, Malaysia and most countries in Africa – including South Africa after their riots –have legislated enumerated restrictions in a host of activities.

No new Government can allow a Wild West situation to develop here! We’d perish in the shoot-out! …AFC’s nether orifice How much more humiliation can Ramjattan take?? Nagamootoo, we know, has an infinite capacity for being abused, since he’s clearly masochistic!!

Granger clearly doesn’t want Ramjattan as his PM – even though Ramjattan was his party’s choice by acclamation. Why else would Granger have not one, but TWO meetings with him after the AFC’s decision to call the PNC’s bluff? The deadline has now expired.

But, in his studied silence since the last meeting, when he would’ve obviously known what Granger’s verdict is, it’s clear that more humiliation is in store for him, and he’s willing to take it. We don’t even have to know the exact terms of Granger’s dictat; we know that even if he gets the PM’s nod, the position will be made even more anaemic than under the caponed Nagamootoo.

Some say it’ll be on an explicit agreement for him to do the three-step-shuffle they’d derided Sam Hinds about. Others say it’ll be a drastic reduction of Ministries.

Your Eyewitness frankly thinks Ramjattan is out like the micro-mini from the 1960s!! …Patterson GPL has run out of fuel. Imagine that!! You’d think that it’s elementary to have sufficient reserve stocks on hand. And Patterson still isn’t fired!!

But in the triage situation created, Berbice will suffer first!

Wonder why!!

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

World War 11 veterans pass President David Granger on Main Street, Georgetown shortly after the Remembrance Day ceremony had ended

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40 NEWS

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Scanners and spot checks at schools in Barbados after student is fatally stabbed

T

he Ministry of Education in Barbados is looking at introducing hand held scanners and random spot checks at a secondary school where a 16-year-old student was stabbed to death by a 15-year-old on the compound last week. And other schools could also be in line for those measures.

The disclosure was made by Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw during a press conference at the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College where teachers from the Frederick Smith Secondary School received counselling throughout the day.

Some of the students are scheduled to return

to the school, on the country’s West Coast, from tomorrow. Others return the following day, and the remainder next Monday.

“One of the concerns that have been expressed [by teachers] is a major challenge in relation to the school plants in terms of security issues.

We have looked at not metal detectors in the strict sense of the word in terms of framed metal detectors, but we are exploring the hand detectors as an option particularly for the return to school on Thursday,” Minister Bradshaw said.

“We want to ensure that the plant is safe at this stage. While this tragedy has happened, I can give no assurances to the country that

Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw

students may not have weapons on them next week. Therefore, it is important persons who have to work in the environment as well as stu-

dents who are not engaged in such activities in terms of possession of weapons, feel comfortable and their parents must feel comfortable coming back to the Frederick Smith School.”

The Education Minister further indicated that the hand held scanners could be introduced at other schools which have been experiencing challenges with deviant behaviour.

She said the Boards of Management as well as the principals of these schools were reviewing the issue to determine if the scanners would be required. However,

Bradshaw cautioned that it was not a case of “one fit for all”.

She added that the Ministry owed it “to all concerned” to take the necessary steps to weed out deviant behaviour.

And she said the Royal Barbados Police Force would be working with the Ministry to address the issues affecting not just Frederick Smith Secondary but several other schools in relation to frequent patrols, possession of weapons by students and a general police presence.

Bradshaw said this would send “the very strong message” that vi-

olence would not be tolerated in any form at educational institutions.

She also warned parents that their failure to work with the Ministry and schools was not in the best interest of their children, and stressed that cooperation from all stakeholders was needed to arrest violence.

“Parents also must see themselves as equal stakeholders in this exercise. We need to have a situation in this country where there is greater vigilance of our students.

We have to ensure that we have greater participation in the Parent/ Teacher Associations and when the principals and others call parents to find out what is happening with students, I am asking you as parents to ensure that you attend the institution to find out what is going on to be able to find solutions to any problems the students may be encountering,” the Minister implored.

Bradshaw said it was the goal of the Ministry of Education to “do all within our power to ensure that an incident of this nature does not recur again in the history of this country”.

(Caribbean360.com)

NEWS 41

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese seeks to venture around the world by bicycle world know that anything is possible despite the difficulty. He added that anyone can do it as long as they pursue their dream.

Williams added that he has already visited the neighbouring coun-

A

Carlos Williams and Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt

Guyanese man, who dreams of riding around the world, met with Region Two’s Regional Chairman, Davanand Ramdatt, at Charity, Essequibo Coast, Region 2 (PomeroonSupenaam).

Carlos Anthony

Williams, who is popularly known as “Lucky B”, resides at Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara.

According to Williams, his bicycle, which he named “Carlos Tall Cycle”, is his message to the world that “you can climb above

your problems”. He added that his bicycle is a compilation of two and was designed to look difficult to ride.

Further, he said that his bicycle tells the story of life. It represents his perseverance to motivate people. He aims to let people around the

try Suriname and wanted to make Europe his next trip. He said that because of winter, he decided to trek around Guyana before making that planned trip.

Among some of the places he visited on the

Essequibo Coast was the New Opportunity Corps at Onderneeming where he had a chance to speak to the juveniles there and lecture that they can live their dreams and beware of a life of crime.

42 NEWS

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Professor Edward Greene is new UG Chancellor P rofessor John Edward Greene was named as the new Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG) putting an end to the year-long search following the end of Chancellor Emeritus Nigel Harris’ term. The University also named British Parliamentarian Rt Hon David Lammy as the University’s First Envoy Extraordinaire.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the University’s Council on Saturday.

Professor Greene is a former United Nations Special Envoy and CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General.

Chancellor (elect) Greene is expected to be installed in a simple ceremony during this year’s Convocation exercise on Saturday, November 16, 2019.

Professor Greene was born in Guyana and attended Queen’s College. He is currently CEO, Global Frontier Development and Advisory Services (GOFAD) a Think Tank, is a former UN

Chancellor (Elect), Professor John Edward Greene

Secretary General Special Envoy for HIV in the Caribbean 20122017. He was previously Assistant Secretary General, Human and Social Development, at the Caribbean Community Secretariat (2000-2010) and Senior Adviser, Public Policy, Health and Human Development, PAHO/

WHO (1995-1999).

His distinguished academic career at UWI included: service as Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Development and Alumni Relations; University Director, Institute of Social and Economic Relations (ISER); Interim Director, Consortium Graduate School for the

Social Sciences in the Caribbean (1984-1986); and appointments to the rank of Professor (1988), and Inaugural Professorial Fellow, ISER (1994).

He has authored 10 books and over 60 articles in refereed journals and is Professor Emeritus of UWI. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics (University of London), MSc Political Economy (Mc Master University), and PhD (University of British Columbia) and held visiting Professorships at UCLA, University of Havana, and University of British Columbia.

Meanwhile, Lammy who was born to Guyanese parents began serving in the British Parliament in 2000.

He studied law at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.

He earned an LL.M from Harvard Law School.

Envoy Extraordinaire David Lammy

Lammy has served as Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills and later as

Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills. He had continuously maintained active interests in Guyana.

CARICOM calls for elimination of roaming charges across region

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a r i b b e a n Community (CARICOM) ministers with responsibility for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have agreed to collectively approach the region's telecommunications providers to eliminate roaming charges throughout the 15-member grouping.

A statement issued here said this is one of the priorities the ministers have identified as an early benefit with respect to achieving a CARICOM Single ICT Space.

The statement noted that the matter had been discussed at a special meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development last weekend by videoconference and that the meeting agreed that the elimination of the roaming charges would provide “social and economic benefits to the people and to the region”.

Grenada's Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, who has lead responsibility for Science and technology in the CARICOM quasi-cabinet, said this was an issue which would give a real boost to regional integration and had the

potential to drive growth and development in the Community.

CARICOM SecretaryGeneral Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, who agreed with Mitchell, said this should be viewed as a low-hanging fruit in achieving the Single ICT Space which should be realised as soon as practically possible.

The Single ICT Space will allow for harmonisation of the ICT and other legislative frameworks in CARICOM, the removal of roaming charges, the encouragement of digital entrepreneurship, equipping all CARICOM nationals as digital citizens and looking at ICT financial solutions among oth-

er regional benefits.

The statement said that the ministers emphasised the importance of cyber security in underpinning the Single ICT Space and also agreed on a “Ministerial Understanding on the Single ICT Space in which they identified priorities as: developing the ICT sector as a catalyst to foster closer regional economic integration; enhancing the competitiveness of the Region through a vibrant ICT industry; and using the Single ICT Space as a driver of the CARICOM digital economy and the transformation of key sectors”.

(CMC)

NEWS 43

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana asks Eastern Airlines to post US$450,000 bond before commencing operations

E Riding…

C …with the hounds aretaker President David Granger, in a vain attempt to cover up his DPI withholding State ads to punish the private media, claimed he was really “supportive” of a free press. They quoted a statement of his from 2016: “Independent media act as watchdogs of the Government. They promote transparency by ensuring that information is provided to the public on the work of the Government”. Your Eyewitness won’t rehearse the hypocrisy of that claim but contrapose the state of journalism in the free press versus the State press – the Chronicle – which is the remnant of the free press which Burnham had nationalised back in the day during his communist foray. We’ll check which of the two practices “fairer” journalism is.

The MotP announced the standard: “Fairness and balance are the hallmarks of good journalism.

Fairness, in a journalistic context, entails accurate reportage and examining every possible angle and perspective. Selectively using parts of quotes and information to frame a story presents a false and misleading account to readers on that particular issue or person”. They say, “Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”, and if we pick up any edition of the Chronic, the hypocrisy of Granger’s “fairness” criticism of the free press will just jump out on you.

Let’s examine its Friday edition front-page headlines – the day of the MotP’s homily. The banner across the page quotes Finance Minister Jordan, “SALARY HIKE SOON”. Then there’s one quoting the leader of the LJP, “PPP abused, exploited Toshaos”; another emphasising that the President is “An advocate for professional, free press”. The front page pic was of Granger with schoolchildren at President’s College promising them, “Guyana belongs to you”. Not a word about the Chair of GECOM and the Opposition Leader’s pronouncing of the voters’ list – an issue that has transfixed the country – on the same day Granger was at President’s College. Nor about 2000 sugar workers on strike at Albion.

Rather than quoting from any academic sources on journalism – which Granger seems to have forgotten from his days as a Hubert Humphry Fellow – your Eyewitness will cite the everyman’s source: Wiki on the dangers of a state-owned media to fair journalism. It posits: “Within countries that have high levels of government interference in the media, it may use the state press for propaganda purposes: to promote the regime in a favourable light, to vilify opposition to the government by launching smear campaigns, giving skewed coverage to opposition views, or act as a mouthpiece to advocate a regime’s ideology”.

Hasn’t that single Chronic front page a) promoted the regime in a favourable light? b) vilified the opposition? c) given skewed/no coverage to the opposition and d) pushed the regime’s ideology?

The Govt should get out of the media business!!! …and running with the hares There is a discussion going on in some quarters about the “value” of the AFC to the PNC going forward into the next elections. “Value”, of course, is a subjective term – which was conclusively proven by the AFC when it insisted it was still “owed” the PM spot on the PNC coalition ticket!!

Imagine Nagamootoo and Ramjattan are lawyers and are making this demand from an agreement (Cummingsburg) that is expired and they’re supposed to be re-negotiating!!

Which part of “re-negotiating” they don’t get??

Everything starts sui generis, baby!! And it’s a whole different ballgame from 2011. Then, the PNC wanted “multiracial” credentials, which the AFC had with their 10% in the Indian community. Now? That formulation’s been evaporated like dry ice in the sun!!

Ironically, more by the PNC’s actions against that community than anything else! You’d think the PNC was torpedoing the AFC’s chances!!

The new “multiracial” is Indigenous, baby!! …Trotman’s folly You think Trotman boasting about getting 50% of profits from the Stabroek oil block – which was 50% of the 25% left after 75% expenses, which is 12.5% — was bad??

Guyana has to pay the oil company’s taxes: 27.5% of 12.5%. Another 3.44% gone leaving us with 9%!!!

astern Airline LLC, which emerged from bankruptcy in 2018 from Dynamic International Airways who previously owned the rights to the name and logo, will once again be serving the Guyanese populace in December with scheduled flights, but before doing so, it has to post a US$450,000 bond.

Director General of the Ministry of Presidency, Joseph Harmon, said that the Cabinet has finally given its approval for that airline to provide scheduled services between New York, USA and Georgetown, Guyana once again but not before it pays a hefty bond to the government.

However, prior to this implementation of a bond for Eastern Airline, other airlines were never required to do such, but in light of the Eastern Airline LLC’s negative history with Guyanese, Harmon stated that this measure had to be put in place to safeguard Guyanese passengers.

He explained that since the Eastern Airline LLC first made its application to return to Guyana,

the relevant authorities were concerned about the possibility that Guyanese passengers who use that airline’s services could be left stranded at locations in New York or Georgetown, and that the hefty sum will aid in preventing such.

Nevertheless, this approval for Eastern Airlines comes six months after an earlier applica-

tion had been rejected by Cabinet.

Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Egbert Field has recently told the media that the company is no longer connected to Dynamic Airways and has followed international regulations and transitioned and restructured itself under new management.

44 news

WEEK ENDING NOVember 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Logos Hope returns to Guyana in December T

he world’s largest floating book fair, Logos Hope, is set to make a return to Guyana in just two weeks after a successful run back in 2017, which captured the attention of many.

From December 2 to 8, the ship will be docked at the La Penitence Wharf, giving Guyanese a chance to hop on board and experience over 5000 titles from children’s classics, cooking, biographies, adventure, mystery, travel, science, history, anthologies, poetry, encyclopaedias and much more. They are also known for a vast selection of Christian literature. With this, it has promised to spark inter-

Logos Hope

est in persons of all ages.

During the last visit, there were long lines leading onto the ship and books were quickly flying off the shelves.

Most of the books are donated from different publishing companies who agree with their vision to educate and bring help to coun-

tries through HIV/AIDS awareness or construction and community development projects.

The ship, Logos Hope, launched into active service in February 2009 from Koege, Denmark.

Other preceding ships include the Logos, Doulos and Logos II. Logos Hope is operated by GBA Ships e.V, an international charitable organisation registered in Germany.

Since 1970, the organisation has welcomed over 45 million visitors up the passages in over 150 countries and territories around the world.

The ship usually visits 12 countries every year, offering quality books at affordable prices.

Aboard the docked ship, persons can look forward to other attractions.

The organisation accepts donations of fuel, practical help for communities, and financial support for participants, water filters and book donations which are forwarded to schools, libraries and churches.

Woman who allegedly stabbed Jamaican Reggae Girl Tarania Clarke charged with murder

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Tarania Clarke

wenty-year-old Russelle Foster, who was charged with the murder of 23-year-old national footballer, Tarania Clarke, was remanded in custody when she appeared before the court on Wednesday.

Foster was ordered to return to court on Monday, December 9 when her case will again be mentioned.

Reports are that about 8:50 p.m. on Thursday, October 31, both women

had a dispute over a cellular phone in Half Way Tree, St Andrew when a knife was used to stab Clarke, otherwise called ‘Plum Plum’.

The Reggae Girl midfielder who was also the captain of the Waterhouse Football Club’s women’s team was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Foster was later arrested and charged.

(Jamaica Observer)

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

45

46 NEWS

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144 persons trafficked already in 2019 – Guyana’s Top Cop W ith 21 cases of trafficking in persons recorded for the year so far, traffic ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were on Thursday trained to identify and respond to suspected incidents.

During the opening ceremony of the training exercise, Police Commissioner Leslie James revealed that from the 21 cases, there were 144 victims.

Of the 144 victims, a whopping 142 were sexually exploited. One person was exploited for labour purposes. “…made to work under slave-like conditions,” the Police Commissioner explained.

And, of the victims, 12 were Guyanese, four were Dominicans, three Cubans and 124 were Venezuelans.

The Top Cop revealed that to date, there have been 30 charges with 8 convictions.

The training is being coordinated by the Ministry of Social Protection’s Counter Trafficking in Persons’ Unit.

Commissioner James

Police Commissioner Leslie James

urged ranks to pay special attention to suspicious activities when on duty.

“You, the traffic ranks, are the persons who will engage directly with the motorists … so while you are on the road, part of your duty, you can cause those vehicles to be checked,” the Police Commissioner

stated.

Unit Coordinator Tanisha WilliamsCorbin said the training is a first for Guyana.

She also underscored the importance of getting traffic ranks involved in the fight against this crime.

“Victims of trafficking in Guyana, given our geographical make-

up, must traverse our roadways at some point, whether to or from their places of exploitation or on a journey to provide some service or receive some service. Therefore, it is important that you are provided with the relevant skills to be able to identify, assist and refer appropriately suspected cases,” she explained.

Guyana is ranked Tier 1 on the US State Department report on TIP as a result of its efforts to tackle the scourge.

Commissioner of Police Leslie James said he wants the country to remain at this position.

However, he noted that where there is work to be done, the Police Force

will spare no effort in helping to wipe out the scourge completely.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had announced that in 2018, some 243 persons were trafficked locally.

“There were 243 victims and on one occasion, they [officials] went to a club…39 were found in small rooms, obviously the presumption [was] that they were being trafficked, and of course alleged victims under 18, you have 11 out of that 243. The suspects involved, if I may breach some confidentiality of the Police here, you have 57 of them,” the Minister divulged.

Minister Ramjattan explained that the regions where these cases were found are from Region Four, specifically Georgetown; Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

He added that the countries of origin from which these victims originate have revealed that Venezuela is at the top of the list. He added that 162 of the TIP victims in 2018 are Venezuelans.

Over 500 persons search for employment at El Dorado Offshore career fair

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he skyrocketing unemployment rate in Guyana has been the centre of discussion in recent time, as many youths are completing their studies without much opportunity to acquire a lucrative job.

As such, hundreds of persons flocked the El Dorado Offshore career fair on Thursday at Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Park, which was geared at lowering these statistics and providing human resources to the budding oil sector.

The company would have partnered with other stakeholders in the oil industry to engage Guyanese on the fields that are available, as well as training if they are not satisfactorily qualified.

There was a queue of persons waiting to submit their resumes, records and CVs (curriculum vitae), all with the intention of securing a job. By the end of the morning session, officials calculated that over 350 persons would have been processed after submitting their recruitment documents.

According to Business Development Director

Scores of youths engaged at the career fair to learn about the available jobs

of El Dorado Offshore, Mariska Jordan, support is provided through a number of means.

SMB Offshore, the Matpal Institute, and the Offshore Training Institute were some of the agencies to forge partnership to extend information about other aspects of the oil and gas industry.

It was noted that some persons were indecisive on the career path which they want to pursue.

“Here, you can have a one-on-one because we have some persons coming in that don’t know what exactly they’re looking for, what offshore po-

sitions are available, how to get involved. We’re directing persons that need a few additional credentials to build up their resume”.

Some of the attention was also placed on the preparation of a resume and other skills that can assist an individual in securing a job.

Guyana Times International caught up with one of their partners, the Offshore Training Institute, which is known primarily as the operational skills provider. Managing Director Neil Bispat admitted that there is a great demand for training in Guyana.

“We provide train-

ing and certification for equipment operators, both for the offshore and onshore industries.

We have a very high demand from individuals in Guyana for the particular courses because the oil and gas is a new industry and the safety standards are being lifted,” Bispat pointed out.

He added, “If El Dorado Offshore is looking for employees in whatever skill area, we have persons who would have completed training on a database so we shortlist and bridge that gap”.

Recent figures from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have

estimated youth unemployment in Guyana to be almost 23 per cent. To further compound this, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) has found that 80 per cent of prosecuted crimes here are committed by youths between the ages of 19 and 29.

However, a new Guyana Labour Force Survey in 2018 had found that the unemployment rate here to be 12 per cent in the third quarter of 2017, with high disproportions of both women and youth.

The survey was first of its kind in Guyana in recent years and highlighted that unemployment during that period was 37,119. This figure includes 15.3 per cent of eligible females against 9.9 per cent of eligible males and 21.6 per cent of youth aged 15 to 24 and 28 per cent of young women.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had flagged Guyanese for crying foul over the lack of job opportunities when foreign nationals are entering the country and getting jobs.

This statement did not go down well with Opposition Leader

Bharrat Jagdeo, who later opined that Guyanese are settling for high wages, hence, jobs often go to those foreigners who are willing to accept meagre salaries.

“Is this the Government’s policy that we must allow immigrants to come in to undercut the labour market.

I hope the TUC (Guyana Trades Union Congress) hears this, that we must undercut Guyanese who are working… He’s saying that bringing in immigrants here, because they work for cheaper, would be beneficial to the economy so that they can undercut Guyanese labourers because they work for less wages than they do.

So, our people must not get employment or they must lower their wages to match those of the immigrants who are coming in to work,” he stated.

Very soon, another 2200 students will be graduating from the University of Guyana, during its 53rd convocation. This amount is far superior to 1700 recorded last year and these persons will also enter the job market in keeping with their majors.

47

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ouster…

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…by the people vo Morales has been ousted as Bolivia’s President and has fled to Mexico where he’s been given asylum. An ignominious ending for a regime that moved its country from being the sick man of South America to its fastest-growing economy for the last decade. One where 1 million persons were lifted out of poverty since 2005 when Morales took over and cut the poverty rate – admittedly still high – by 25%.

A regime which was the first to be run by Indigenous peoples and directed developmental efforts to that community.

So imagine that such a regime could be ejected and, yet, here in Guyana, David Granger – who has allowed the economy to drift aimlessly and is causing the business climate to stagnate – is boasting that he’ll increase his party’s parliamentary seats by at least 10% to 36 seats!! Either he’s taking medicinal marijuana, those opioids that have become so popular, or he has something up his sleeve!!

So why was Morales ousted if he did so well by the usual economic metrics?? Very simply, he overreached when he refused to accept the Constitution’s restriction on presidential terms and railroaded the system to place him on the ballot. And isn’t Granger committing the equivalent constitutional sin here??

Wasn’t he supposed to resign immediately upon the passing of the NCM and call elections in three months?

But like Morales, he’s filled with hubris and seized with a messianic complex, which convinces him he’s the only one meant to rule Guyana.

But what raised the ire of the people – and like Guyana, Bolivian society is very polarised and his majority wasn’t that massive – was when Morales had the Elections Commission halt the count halfway after the parties were running neck-to-neck. Upon resumption, Morales’ party amazingly shot ahead by the 10% majority necessary to not have a run-off election!! The people poured out in their numbers in the streets with increasingly heightened anger at Morales’ high handedness with their franchise.

And once again, we see the parallels with what’s unfolding in Guyana under David Granger, who refuses to accept his caretaker status now that he’s bullied his way to a year beyond the 3 months he was given by the Constitution on December 21, 2018. From the beginning, we knew the GECOM Secretariat was controlled by the PNC and with the decisions the new Chair has been making, the Commission’s also in their hands. To mess around with the computers in GECOM (like Morales) and deliver a PNC victory after March 2 is only ONE of the ways in which the PNC’s fix is in.

The people will have to be ready to protest this PNC-rigged power-grab!! …from the oil league?

In the oil business, there’s a lot that can slip between the cup and the lip. When the British oil company Tullow announced two strikes not far from the Exxon consortium’s finds off our shores, their stock went through the roof. They’d been struggling with technical issues over in Ghana. Not unreasonably, their reaction was, “happy days were here again” since the Exxon finds were all light, sweet (low sulphur) oil that’s easy to extract and refine. And is sold for top prices – presently@ $56/bbl.

Tullow, however, just announced that its finds are heavy sour crude (with high sulphur content). This is far costlier to extract and refine. It presently sells @$32/bbl– and may not be worth extracting. The moment Tullow announced the news, its stocks fell by more than one-quarter of its value – 27%!! – on the London Stock market yesterday.

The question is whether there’s something to Energy Czar Bynoe’s off the cuff remark about “quality concerns” with the Exxon finds.

Heavy sour crude?? If so, what’ll Granger promise now?? …of Troy?

Troy Resources is one of the largest gold miners in Guyana but it’s fallen on hard times. Primarily from poor prospects going forward and some local deadly mining accidents.

What does Granger say to the loss of jobs and income?

Discourse on race and racism

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ith elections imminent, “race” has inevitably taken centre stage.

In Guyana, the concept of “race” is a legacy of European rule. And it is not coincidental that its modern usage is bound up with the history of the West Indies: “race” and “African slavery” are modern twins, as are “White” and “Black” as racial categories.

The early civilisations such as Greek, African and Indian, etc, did not distinguish so much on physical characteristics, as on cultural characteristics of peoples. For instance, outsiders were “Barbarians” to Greeks.

When Europeans first encountered Africans, the latter’s physical characteristics were not evaluated negatively even though they obviously had to be aware of those characteristics.

“Race” was a key concept formulated during the Renaissance and was used as one of many hegemonic elements to convince the groups they encountered and subjugated in their explorations, starting with Africans, to accept their subordinate condition.

After all, the “inferior races” were being done a favour as the White man laboured mightily to lift up his “burden”.

The paradigmatic use of racism, of course, was used to justify the enslavement of Africans, after the Spanish clerics purported to discover vestiges of a soul in the Amerindians (after they died off like flies and proved unwilling to labour for the Europeans) as so possibly capable of receiving salvation. The Africans were adjudged to be beyond this pale.

A classification, we must always remember, is an analytic tool.

In itself, distinguishing between individuals on physical or other criteria is not a problem – but becomes one when we make a social evaluation on the physical characteristics.

By the 19th century, the European classificatory schemes of science were imbued with the evolutionary paradigm proposed by Darwin in “the origin of species”. This presumed a hierarchical ordering of phenomena and objects from the atoms of Mendelev to the races of man in a great “chain of being”, where the African was at the bottom.At its logical conclusion, it was used to justify the extermination

of whole civilisations since, if evolutionary theory showed that only the “fittest” survived, maybe it was the duty of the self-selected fittest to move the process along. While conquerors have always concluded that the conquered were in some way inferior, it was the first time the rationale for the inferiority was given as physical characteristics. This invidious notion of race still survives in Guyana, deeply embedded in all of our European enlightenment-centric education that deepened the Renaissance concepts. It is this usage that must be eradicated.

This racist discourse encompassed all other non-white groups as the colonial expansion spread exponentially and is the beginning of “racism” in the modern sense of the word. Indians, for

instance, were “wogs” to the British – indistinguishable in its import from the “N” word. Race and racism were born as inseparable twins: racism could never be disjuncture from race (in the sense that the latter could merely be a neutral descriptive term). It is for this reason I have preferred to distinguish humans on the basis of their cultural characteristics or ethnicity, which is fluid and contextual.

To maintain consistency with their definition of themselves as the superior group, the Europeans in Guyana performed all sorts of semantic gymnastics on “race”. Terms such as “Caucasian” – used by the British in other contexts – were jettisoned since it could have lumped them with the Portuguese and, the horror of horrors, the

Indians! The Portuguese were not even classified by the geographical term “European” by the British colonials since this would have signalled the commonality of race.

The hegemonic European paradigm continues to oppress all non-White groups, to one degree or another in Guyana. Not in the sense that we were merely scorned by the Whites but were oppressed by being forced to accept subservient, inferior, internalised roles.

This negative evaluation coupled with discrimination and oppression constitutes “racism”.

We all deploy absorbed European prejudices and their terminologies to evaluate each other – as that UG student demonstrated. Happens every day with most of us, let us not be hypocrites.

But while he was “racist” in his views – judging Africans socially by their physical characteristics; he could not exhibit “racism” by our usage. He did not have the power to oppress African Guyanese. On the other hand, the PNC coalition government has persistently discriminated against IndianGuyanese based on their race, to dominate them.

This is racism in action but has not been denounced across the board.

48 Bollywood

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ani Mukerji is gearing up to return as cop Shivani Shivaji Roy in the sequel to her 2014 hit film Mardaani, that goes on floors on March 18.

As per sources, Rani, who played a Senior Inspector in the previous movie, will now be seen as a Superintendent of Police fighting a vicious battle with a 21-year old merciless villain in its part two.

“Mardaani 2’s shoot starts in Mumbai in March and this will be a short schedule. Rani is raring to go and it will be quite thrilling to see her back in action as Shivani Shivaji Roy. She is taking on a 21-year-old villain who knows no mercy or empathy. It’s an edge-ofthe-seat showdown that audiences will surely love,” a source re-

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

vealed.

Mardaani released months after Rani Mukerji tied the knot with YRF honcho Aditya Chopra.

The film had Tahir Raj Bhasin playing the main antagonist.

Produced by Aditya Chopra, Mardaani was helmed by Pradeep Sarkar and also starred Jisshu Sengupta and Saanand Verma.

Mardaani 2 will also be bankrolled by Chopra’s YRF and will mark the directorial debut of Gopi Puthran, who wrote the first film.

Rani Mukerji was last seen in 2018 film Hichki, where she played a teacher suffering from Tourette syndrome. The 40-yearold actor also had a cameo in Shah Rukh Khan starrer Zero. (Indian Express)

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eteran actordirector Amol Palekar is all set to return to the stage after 25 years with a Hindi play titled Kusur.

The crime-drama, brought to the audience by BookMyShow, has been written and co-directed by Sandhya Gokhale along with Palekar.

In the play, the actor will be seen portraying the role of a retired ACP. “The fast pace story whirls us through the twists and turns disturbing our complacency and overturning our assumptions. The deep subtext will linger in our minds beyond the curtain drop,” Amol Palekar said in a statement.

The actor, who will be

turning 75 on November 24, said the play is physically and emotionally demanding.

“As an actor, the role poses an enormous challenge, demanding tremendous emotional and

physical energy at my age,” he added.

Gokhale said the play, adapted from the Danish film Den Skyldige, can be described as a “social thriller” which illuminates the multicultural complexities of a contemporary life in a modern Indian city like Mumbai.

“Kusur The Mistake is a spectacular offering and we are thrilled to be able to bring to audiences, this gripping thriller helmed by none other than Amol Palekar, as he makes a come back to the stage after 25 years,” Kumar Razdan, Head – Theatricals, BookMyShow said.

The show will open on November 24 at TATA Theatre, NCPA. (Indian Express)

es she has to show softness on her face and be strong at the same time.

Deepika surprised me…

She has never done that kind of combat action earlier,” Kaushal, who has directed the action sequences of “Krissh” franchise, said.

For Ranveer, whom he has worked in action-drama “Gunday”, Kaushal said had to tell Ranveer to mellow down.

“…Bajirao has to be rough and a hard man.

With Ranveer, I had to tell him to control his energy. His energy is inbuilt we don’t have to tell him to charge up ever.

They both have done a great job,” he said.

“Deepika is like daughter to me and I call Ranveer, Tiger. They are like my kids. They have faith in me… We share a great rapport. They are hard working.”

Ranveer injured his shoulder while shooting for “Bajirao Mastani”.

“It was in February when he got injured. He fell down from a horse.

He injured his shoulder..

It was an unfortunate incident. When he came back to shoot after fourfive months we all behaved as if nothing had happened, we appeared normal,” Kaushal said.

The much awaited film opens in theatres on December 18. (Indian Express)

R

euniting with the two protagonists of “Bajirao Mastani”, ace action director Sham Kaushal said he was surprised to see Deepika Padukone executing the combat scenes with perfection, while he had to ask Ranveer Singh to mellow down for the action sequences. (Read: Activist seeks stay on release of Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone starrer ‘Bajirao Mastani’) Director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Bajirao Mastani” has Ranveer as Peshwa Bajirao and Deepika playing Mastani. It features Priyanka Chopra as Kashi Bai, the wife of Bajirao.

“The action in the film is very authentic. You can’t compare it with the modern day or past. We had to keep it real. The technique is modern but the way of doing it is old,” Kaushal told PTI in

an interview here.

The 59-year-old action director has worked with both Ranveer and Deepika in several films but said the dedication the two actors brought for “Bajirao Mastani” was commendable.

“Deepika is dedicated, committed and intelligent. She gets into nittygritties. It is not easy to portray ‘Mastani’. When going for war sequenc-

Y

ami Gautam’s phone hasn’t stopped buzzing since the release of Bala, with adjectives like “revelation and game changer” being used to describe her performance in the film.

The actor says the response has made her realise the importance of waiting for good projects and turning down work which doesn’t have her heart.

Yami started the year with Uri: The Surgical Stirk as an undercover agent and has closed 2019 with the Amar Kaushik-directed comedy.

Both the films were critically well received and while Uri is one of the biggest hits of the year, Bala is already clocking huge numbers.

“With Vicky Donor, I chose a path which established me as an actor first, before anything else. But then in the middle… You try to figure things out. It was an overnight success, you don’t know anyone here.

It took me a while to understand this place, to find my voice.

“The ability to say no is very important which I have realised. If you don’t believe in something don’t do it. I’d never go back and disrespect my certain professional choices because at that point for me, they mattered. But Uri and Bala showed me as an actor in a light which I wanted people to notice,” Yami told PTI. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana as a young man with receding hairline, Bala featured Yami as a small town TikTok star, enamoured with beauty and Bollywood.

Her endearing, selfaware performance as model Pari Mishra has made people look at Yami in a different light and the actor feels

a “rush of joy” with the praise coming in.

“It feels gratifying as an actor. ‘I am happy’ will be an underwhelming answer. All this while I’ve been trying to look for roles which showcase the kind of films I want to do, the versatility I want to show. This year, it finally happened.”

Yami said her interpretation of Pari was of a girl who is larger than life but her attempt was never to ridicule her.

“The girl is ditsy, funny, does drama and everything is larger than life for her. Yet, she isn’t annoying. She’s entertaining but not a caricature. She’s loud in her actions but isn’t slapstick funny.

“There was a very fine thread between not overstepping that line.

The script was so well written, the screenplay and the dialogues, it became easy for me.”

What helped the actor was Niren Bhatt’s script and Amar’s vision of how her character would be.

“He was clear that Pari cannot come across as a made-up character.

Her story with Bala is believable and so is what she does. There can’t be a ‘projection’ of Pari, I had to feel it. From that I started my journey, reading the script every morning and imagine how she’d walk, flip her hair, make TikTok vidoes, every basic thing.”

The actor, who will next feature in the romcom Ginny Weds Sunny, is thankful that directors are giving her opportunities beyond the conventional.

“There’s a happy responsibility now when people look forward to my work. My effort will always be to be versatile. I knew my capability as an actor but it takes time. I have to be patient and I will be,” she added.

(Indian Express)

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

C

hris Evans says he would never say never to coming back as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the possibility would not get an “eager yes” from him.

The actor, who has essayed Steve Rogers aka Cap in 11 MCU films, concluded the character’s journey with 2019 blockbuster Avengers: Endgame.

When his Endgame co-star Scarlett Johansson, who plays Black Widow, asked Evans if he would come back, he responded with a question: “To Marvel?”

He even joked that his character is “an old man now” post Endgame. “Everything clicks when I get up, recovery is not the same,” Evans quipped.

But when Johansson prodded, he gave a more serious answer.

“You never say never. I love the character. I don’t know. It’s not a hard no, but it’s not an eager yes either,” he said during Variety Actors on Actors segment.

Evans also elaborated on his career after Captain America’s supposed swansong in “Endgame”.

“There are other things that I’m working on right now. I think Cap had such a tricky act to stick the landing, and I think they did a really nice job letting him complete his journey.

“If you’re going to revisit it, it can’t be a cash grab. It can’t be just because the audience wants to be excited.

What are we revealing? What are we adding to the story? A lot of things would have to come together,” he said.

The actor, who now stars in whodunnit mystery Knives Out, said he was dying to direct a film, he doesn’t have a story.

I’m dying to direct, but I don’t have the courage or focus to write, and the hardest thing is finding material. The good material isn’t just sitting there untouched. When I directed, one of the trickiest things was I found some little broken-bird script and thought, Oh, I can nurse this thing back to health’. In retrospect, I do think even the best version of the movie I directed, there may still have been a ceiling based on the material,” he said.

He made his directorial debut in 2014 with Before We Go, in which he also featured with Alice Eve. (Indian Express)

HOLLYWOOD 49

J

ohn Legend has been named the Sexiest Man Alive

by People magazine and the Grammy winner says he is under “pressure” as he succeeds actor Idris Elba.

The 40-yearold musician was chosen as the Sexiest Man Alive for 2019 by People Magazine.

Legend said he is “excited” and a “little scared” about receiving the title.

“I was excited, but I was a little scared at the same time because it’s a lot of pressure. Everyone’s going to be picking me apart to see if I’m sexy enough to hold this title. I’m following Idris Elba, which is not fair and is not nice to me!” he told the magazine.

Legend also took to Twitter to share the news with his old photograph and tagged Elba in the post.

“1995 John would be very perplexed to be following 2018 @IdrisElba as #SexiestManAlive.

Hell, 2019 John is about as equally perplexed but thank you @People for finding me sexy. I’ll take it,” the All of Me hitmak-

er wrote.

Elba retweeted his best wishes to Legend and quipped Dwayne Johnson still believes he has the title.

“My G Congratulations brother! You deserve it. DO NOT TELL @TheRock.

He still thinks he’s got the title, I didn’t have the heart to tell him when I took it,” he wrote of his Hobbs & Shaw costar who won the title in 2016.

Johnson also congratulated Legend and joked Elba bought the mention with half of his future earnings.

“Congratulations brother! Welcome to the

club. You earned this one. Just like I did. And unlike @idriselba who paid @people 50% of his future earnings for his sexy title. The three of us will raise a tequila glass soon. Congrats again you sexy SOB,” he replied in a tweet.

John Legend earned his first Emmy at the Creative Arts Awards for his turn as the star and executive producer of NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live.

He is one of the few talents to have an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony each.

He currently features as a coach on The Voice.

(Indian Express)

The decision came just a few weeks ahead of the DC Comics show’s second season finale, which is scheduled to premiere on November 29.

Titans is backed by Weed Road Productions

and Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

The series was developed by Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, Greg Berlanti, based on characters from DC. (Indian Express)

D

irector Rawson M a r s h a l l Thurber says actress Jennifer Aniston was totally up for steamy stripping scenes in her new comedy We’re the Miller.

The ‘Friends’ actress plays a saucy dancer in the new comedy, which centres on a drug dealer, reported Contactmusic.

“I just thought it would be a fun moment. It didn’t take any persuasion to get her to do it.

She really liked the script and wanted to play the part.

“She was up for it…

It’s this bizarre moment of the ‘mum’ being able to save her family by stripping. We were shooting it in a shack in 120-degree heat and it was a long day for her, but she’s a pro. She’s in great shape and com-

fortable in her own body, and she nailed it,” he said.

The director hints there may be a sequel to the films also.

“With good characters I think it’s always a good thing to continue a story,” he added. (Indian Express)

L

ive-action drama series Titans has been renewed for a third season at DC Universe.

The third season of the first original series of the streaming platform will premiere in 2020.

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Glenn Maxwell has 'set the right example for cricketers around the world' - Virat Kohli V

irat Kohli has come out in support of Glenn Maxwell following the allrounder's withdrawal from Australia's recent series against Sri Lanka for mentalhealth reasons. Kohli called Maxwell's openness about his issues "remarkable", and said he was "absolutely for" players asking for time away from the game in such situations.

Maxwell's withdrawal was met with public backing from Australia coach Justin Langer, captain Aaron Finch, and many other voices that revealed a healthy culture around mental health as an issue.

Shortly after Maxwell, the 27-year-old batsman Nic Maddinson also withdrew from the Australia A team, the second such instance in Maddinson's professional career.

Kohli's words on the issue are among the few originating from the subcontinent, where discussions on mental health are rare, both within and outside cricket circles. Kohli said he experienced this when he was struggling for runs

during India's tour of England in 2014, and didn't have anyone to confide in.

"I'm absolutely for it," Kohli said on the eve of the first IndiaBangladesh Test. "To be very honest, you guys have a job to do, we have a job to do, and every-

one is focused on what they need to do. So it's very difficult for anyone to figure out what's going on in another person's mind.

"I've gone through a phase in my career where I felt like it was the end of the world. In England 2014, I didn't

know what to do, what to say to anyone, and how to speak and how to communicate. And to be honest, I couldn't have said I'm not feeling great mentally and I need to get away from the game.

Because you never know how that's taken.

"So I think these

things should be of great importance. Because if you think that a player is important enough, for the team or for Indian cricket to go forward, I think they should be looked after. When you get to the international stage, every player needs that communication, that ability to just speak out.

"And I think what Glenn has done is remarkable. And [he has] set the right example for cricketers around the world that if you're not in the best frame of mind you try, and try and try, but as human beings you reach a tipping point at some stage or the other.

And you need time away from the game. Not to say you give up, but just to gain more clarity."

Numerous Australian cricketers have spoken publicly about mentalhealth-related issues recently, which follows the noteworthy precedent set around mental health in cricket in England.

Moises Henriques, Nicole Bolton and Will Pucovski have all taken time out from the game over the last two years, and England's Sarah

Taylor, one of the biggest stars in modern cricket, retired aged 30 earlier this year after struggles with a long-term anxiety issue.

Apart from Kohli's thoughts on the issue, mental health has not been a widely discussed topic in Indian cricket. The associated taboos and insecurity act as major deterrents against players either coming out or asking for breaks. Kohli said players should be encouraged to be open and seek help when needed. "[...] In my opinion, [a break] is quite acceptable." he said. "And quite nice to do when you're not able to carry on any more. So I think these things should be respected and not taken in a negative way at all because this is happening at a human level, it's got nothing to do with what you do on the field. It's just not having the capacity any more to deal with things, which I think can happen to any person in any walk of life. I think it should be taken in a very positive way."

(ESPNCricinfo)

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WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

GFF extraordinary congress, elections…

Forde gets 2nd term at helm of Guyana football

W

ith his slate running unopposed, Wayne Forde will serve a second term as President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) following elections held at the GFF’s extraordinary congress last week.

This extraordinary congress, which raised many eyebrows and fuelled controversy in other sections of the media, was hosted on Saturday at the Pegasus Hotel.

The election saw only one slate contesting – the one being led by Forde –and that slate was re-elected with only one change being made to the executive committee.

Those returned to office are as follows: Julian Lovell, First Vice President (1stVP); Rawlston Adams, Second Vice President (2ndVP); Thandi McAllister, Third Vice President (3rdVP).

Executive Committee members returned to office are: Dion Inniss, Magzene Stewart, Rayan Farias, Carmel Williams;

and newly elected member Terrence Mitchell, who replaces Keith O’Jeer.

In the days leading up to the congress, many had asked questions regarding the legality of the elections being conducted. After the elections, those qualms were put to rest

by CONCACAF’s Chief Director of Member Associations, Marco Leal, who noted that the need for elections at an extraordinary congress is fully in compliance with FIFA rules. He also explained that current FIFA President Gianni Infantino was elected at an extraordinary congress.

“Just to inform you, in accordance (with) the statutes: First, there is no prohibition to host an election at an extraordinary congress. In fact, there’s a specific part in the statute of the extraordinary congress which speaks of elections at an extraordinary congress. So it is in conformity with the statute,”

the CONCACAF representative detailed. ”Second, the (GFF) is supposed to hold their ordinary congress in May of the year. Mr. Forde’s slate was selected four years ago in November, so holding the election in May of this year would have stolen many valuable months from his mandate. So it makes logical sense to hold the election later in the year, when his term is over,” he said.

In the spotlight once again, two-time President Forde shared some of his plans for his next tenure as GFF boss. While plans have been made to complete the National Training Center, the president disclosed that the new executive are focused on maintaining a tight budget.

“But, going into 2020, we’ve established a balanced budget, and it would be my job and the job of the board to hold the operation of the secretariat accountable to that budget. So we be-

Re-elected GFF President Wayne Forde and CONCACAF’s Marco Leal following the extraordinary congress

lieve (that) in 2020 we will have a more stable financial situation, because we will not engage in some of the over-ambitious projects that we may have engaged in in 2018 and 2019,” Forde noted.

Another issue on the GFF agenda is the hosting of tournaments within the member associations. Forde has

promised that the member associations will be held accountable if they fail to meet their mandate.

“For the first six months of my tenure, we will be making investments finance-wise, capacity-wise and resource-wise, to help our members get to the level of organizing football within their jurisdiction.

Thereafter, we will hold our members accountable to the constitution of their jurisdiction, because each member of the GFF has a constitutional obligation to organize football, and we have been very accommodating to the challenges they’re experiencing,” the re-elected GFF Boss has affirmed.

(Jemima Holmes)

GSCL/Prime Minister’s T20 Cup III…

Grill Masters, Regal All Stars declared joint Open champions – Regal teams make clean sweep of titles in 2019 tournament

T

he third edition of the annual Prime Minister’s Twenty20 Softball Cup (PM T20 Cup) tournament concluded on Sunday, November 3, at the Everest Cricket Club ground, but questions continue to swirl over the result of the Open final, which ended prematurely.

The Legends and the Masters finals were played during the day, but the highly anticipated Open final between the Grill Masters of Berbice and Regal All Stars of Campbellville was scheduled to begin at 18:00h under artificial

lights. Both teams were, however, hesitant to begin play under the eight floodlights, because two were alternating on and off while the others were just inadequate for the large outfield.

Nevertheless, being strongly encouraged by the mammoth crowd of spectators, the teams decided to begin the game, more so since the possibility of a reserve day was a difficult consideration for the hosts, the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (GSCL).

The Open final was eventually called off because of inadequate

lighting, but at that stage, Grill Masters were 67-0 from seven overs, after Regal All Stars had won the toss and had invited Grill Masters to take first strike.

At the presentation ceremony following culmination of this tournament, host Inderjeet Persaud told the audience, including acting Prime Minister the honourable Khemraj Ramjattan, that the teams were given two options: share the title, or return another day to have the match played solely in natural daylight. However, up to the time when specta-

Regal All Stars have won their first PM T20 Cup this year

Grill Masters played unbeaten in this year’s tournament

tors left the venue, the teams had not agreed on a decision.

The GSCL issued a media release on Wednesday, November 13, declaring Grill Masters and Regal All Stars joint champions.

As such, the two teams would share the title and the prize money equally.

The GSCL release stated that: After more than 48 hours had passed since the match had ended abruptly; and after the teams had still not decided on the way forward; and since the GSCL had concluded that it was logistical-

ly challenging to replay the game another day, the best decision was for the teams to share the title and the prize money equally. Each of the two teams would be considered the champion, and each would get G$300,000 for the win.

The GSCL has said that the three-day tournament — in which 26 teams had participated and a total of 48 games had been played – had been well executed; and apart from the issue of lights on the final night, the tournament was a success.

The organizers are pledging that, unless the

floodlight mechanism achieves a high standard of reliability, all future tournaments would be played only in daylight.

The result of the Open final therefore means that Regal teams have made a clean sweep of the titles this year. In the Legends Over-50 categories, Regal Legends were crowned the first ever champions, since this is a new category that was introduced this year; while in the Masters’ category, Regal Masters took their third consecutive championship with an easy victory over Wellman Masters in the final.

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Budhan Memorial Sports Complex all set for November 24 horse race meet T he Budhan Memorial Sports Complex at Number 66 Village, Corentyne is the venue for a one-day horse racing extravaganza on November 24.

There are six races carded for the exciting afternoon of horse racing, beginning at 13:00h.

The categories for the meet are as follows: the L Open, the feature event in which the animals will race for a top prize of $170,000. The other events are the L2, L3, Unclassified A, Unclassified B and Unclassified C. The track will be in good shape, since the ground staff have been working round the clock despite the unpredictability of the rains.

The event is particularly important to jock-

C

aptain Kieron Pollard has praised West Indies' killer instinct after they completed a

Horses’ preparation being fine-tuned

eys, who will be looking to cash in ahead of the busy Christmas season.

The Budhan Memorial Sports Complex will be

the place to be as some of Guyana’s top horses will feature in the race meeting. It is a place where the fami-

rare series whitewash on Monday by sweeping the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against

Afghanistan.

The Caribbean side had wrapped up the series last Saturday when they took a winning 2-0

ly can come out and enjoy themselves and enjoy a prime day of horse racing. In a past event, the Sports Complex fea-

tured top names such as Strike Again, Daddy’s Dollar, Victoria Secret, Red Region, Something Special, Call She Is

Captain Kieron Pollard

lead but produced another clinical effort in the third ODI to come away with a five-wicket win.

“Winning is a habit and anything we want to do in terms of coming out and playing a cricket game, it's a process and it's a process we want to follow each and every time,” Pollard said.

“Despite the result that may happen, it's a matter of improving as we go along. We knew we hadn't [whitewashed a team] in a while but again, when teams have us in these sort of positions, they put their foot on our throats so it was a perfect opportunity to come out and show we have that venom inside of us.”

He continued: “We knew as well we would be going into this game with an inexperienced bowling line-up so give and take 20, 30 runs, if you look at it, it was the most Afghanistan scored in this series.

“We knew we had to rally as a team and again in conversations, we spoke about batting 50 overs and again we proved we can bat 50 overs and once we bat 50 overs we're going to score runs and win games.”

Set 250 for victory, West Indies were in trouble when they lost two cheap wickets with just four runs on the board in the third over, but opener Shai Hope stroked his seventh ODI hundred to rescue the run chase.

He finished on 109 not out to move his aggregate for the series to 229 and his career average to 50, and was subsequently adjudged Man-of-the-Match.

Pollard said the successful run chase was evidence of the team plans, which the players executed efficiently.

“Everything we do we try and do it with a method. Sometimes it's going to work, sometimes it's

Royal, Lucky Lucky, Uprising, Up Front, Irish Boy, Baby Girl, Machine Girl, Plane Land, Royal Spice, No Surprise and Red Wessel, and was likely to repeat this feat once again.

Three horses must start the event before a second-place prize is paid. On account of lesser entries, reduced prizes will be paid with the approval of the owners whose horses will be taking part in these races. The event will be governed by the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.

For more information, interested individuals can contact Neville Budhan on 338-2283 or 615-3336; Quacy Henry, 603-1027; Isabella, 6937812; Dalloo, 689-0629 and Niketa Ross, 6624668.

not going to work but once you have a process and you're thinking, I think that's better than coming out and looking sort of brainless,” Pollard explained.

“Well batted to Shai, he continues to show the sort of batsmen he is; Roston Chase at the end [was also great]…

Brandon King, the way he looked at the crease and the bowling lineup, restricting any opposition to 240-odd in a 50-over game was always good, and again I just want to commend the guys and the management staff for coming out here and winning this series.”

West Indies have had a rough time this year in ODIs, finishing ninth of 10 teams at the ICC World Cup in England then suffering a 2-0 series loss at the hands of India in the Caribbean last August.

Pollard, appointed in the wake of that series as part of an overall leadership shake-up, said the win over Afghanistan represented a new direction for the team.

“I was pleased after the first game and I am still pleased at the end of the series,” he stressed.

“We came here with a sort of a mission of how we want to play cricket and specific roles for specific individuals. I think the guys responded brilliantly and all kudos and all praises must go to the guys.” (CMC)

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Pooran banned for four T20Is for ball-tampering; says it was "an extreme error in judgement" W

est Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran has been banned from four T20Is after being found guilty of attempting to change the condition of the ball during West Indies' third ODI against Afghanistan on Monday.

Pooran admitted the charge, which deals with a breach of level 3 of the ICC's Code of Conduct, and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Chris Broad. He had violated Article 2.14 of the code, which relates to "changing the condition of the ball" after video footage showed him scratching the surface of the ball with his thumbnail.

Pooran will now miss West Indies' three-match T20I series against Afghanistan and the first game of their subsequent three-match series against India. He will also have five demerit points added to his record. The earliest he will be available to play for West Indies is the second T20I against India, on December 8 in Thiruvananthapuram.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Bismillah Shinwari and Ahmed Durrani and third umpire Ahmed Pakteen as well as fourth umpire Izatullah Safi.

Calling his act "an extreme error in judgement", Pooran said he accepted the penalty while promising this incident was a one-off.

"I want to issue a sincere apology to my teammates, supporters and the Afghanistan team for what transpired on the field of play on Monday in Lucknow," Pooran said in a statement issued by Cricket West Indies. "I recognise that I made an extreme error in judgement and I fully accept the ICC penalty. I want to assure everyone that this is an isolated incident and it will not be repeated.

I promise to learn from this and come back stronger and wiser."

West Indies had completed a 3-0 sweep against Afghanistan in the ODIs, winning the third game by five wickets with eight balls to spare. Pooran had a successful series with the bat, and was the Man of the Match in the second game for smashing 67 off 50 balls. He was likely to have kept wickets for West Indies in the T20Is, but they have Denesh Ramdin in the squad as back-up, and the 34-year-old will now get to add to his 68 T20I caps, the last of which came a year ago, in November 2018. (ESPNCricinfo)

N

NEW GPC’s Mohammed Rahaman

EW GPC, Kings’ Bistro and Viva are among a long list of sponsors who have made it possible for the Titans Table Tennis Club to host a high-performance training camp.

The camp is seeing the input of International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) instructor Christian Lillieroos.

The high-performance training camp began on November 9 and will run until November 22. The 14-day camp will see young players putting in 70 hours of work with two-and-a-halfhour training sessions twice a day.

As such, President of the Titans Table Tennis Club, Dwayne Dick shared the reason why the club executives moved to have such an event.

He noted that after much deliberation, they decided a training camp would best suit their target areas.

“The whole idea of keeping this camp came about from conversations that we had and looking at tennis en-

vironment and infrastructure and the needs of tennis. We decided for 2019 that we wanted to come up with programmes that were guided by expertise that would help the development, mostly of our young players,” Dick explained.

Noting that he was a great fan of the sport, NEW GPC’s Mohammed Rahaman explained that owing to the company’s vested interest in sport, it had no issue jumping o n board with the table tennis camp.

While disclosing that NEW GPC was sponsoring the camp under its Whizz brand, Rahaman also commended the co-sponsors.

“We just recently completed our Limacol football tournament and when we got word of the Titans hosting this

WI batsman Nicholas Pooran

ITTF Instructor Christian Lillieroos

camp, we jumped on board and we want to commend them because table tennis definitely needs more spectators and coverage in Guyana. These youngsters put a lot into developing their skills and I’m a personal fan of the sport, so I can tell you that they really work hard. We also would like to commend the co-sponsors of the event,” Rahaman shared.

Coach Lillieroos is a Sweden-born player who now resides in the United States.

Lillieroos w o r k s closely with the ITTF to provide such opportunities in various countries.

While the camp was conducted as normal, Lillieroos took the opportunity on Monday last to conduct a tournament whereby he could assess the

Guyanese players. As a result of this, he was able to identify some weaknesses that he is sure to work on.

“What I noticed is, it’s a little bit to deal with variations. What happens is in a smaller country like Guyana when you’re competing with China and India, you don’t have the variety of styles and play styles. So, everybody kind of plays the same. When I saw the tournament on Monday, my main analysis was that the athletes didn’t have good enough serves,” Lillieroos disclosed.

Close associate and sponsor of the Titans Club, Ramdeo Kumar shared that the table tennis club is keen on laying out an entire calendar of activities in order to ensure that players are continuously developing.

“Our plan is to have a calendar of activities at Titans or driven by Titans for table tennis in Guyana. They aim only to develop our potential and our current crop of junior players especially,” Kumar noted. (Jemima Holmes)

54 SPORT

Barnwell, Reifer take Jaguars to 13-run win over USA G

uyana Jaguars rebounded from a defeat against Red Force with a 13-run win against United States of America (USA) on Monday at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Jaguars recorded their second win of the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup, compliments of Christopher Barnwell and Raymon Reifer, who were the standout performers, stroking 80 with the bat and taking 5-35 with the ball respectively.

Batting first, Jaguars scored 226 all out in 50 overs. Barnwell, batting at number 5, smashed 80 off 63 balls, including seven fours and four sixes. Leon Johnson scored 43 while Tagenarine Chanderpaul hit 40 from 104 balls. The consistent Jonathan Foo scored 39 for Jaguars, batting at number seven. Karima Gore had 3-38 while Saurab Netravalkar and Ian Holland had two wickets each.

In reply, USA ran into a Reifer roadblock and were restricted to 2139 when 50 overs expired. Monank Patel top-scored with 43 for the USA while former Guyana Under-19 player Akshay Homraj scored 32. Reifer ended with 5-35 while Chandrapaul Hemraj had 2-31 in seven overs. Guyana will play their next match on Friday, November 15 against the Windward Islands Christopher Volcanoes.

Barnwell West Indies Emerging Players trounced Windward Islands Volcanoes by 107 runs at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in

WEEK ENDING november 17, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Tarouba in the twin-island republic. It was 20-yearold Trinidadian, Joshua DaSilva who chalked up his maiden century, taking the Emerging Players to 2613 in 50 overs. DaSilva scored an unbeaten 103*, following up his half-century while Gidron P o p e scored an even 50 and Roland C a t o scored 49*.

In response, Volcanoes, which included Bhaskar Yadram, were bowled out for 154 in 38 overs. Only Shane Shillingford (41) and Keron Cottoy offered resistance to Keon Harding’s 4-45 and Kevin Sinclair’s 3-19 in a dominant effort from the young West Indies Emerging Players.

Raymon Reifer

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