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Press association hammers Govt over broadcast bill WEEK ENDING August 6, 2017

ISSUE NO. 357

See story on page 9

‌stands in support of local broadcasters

Members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors with Chairman, Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop at their farewell dinner prior to departure for their opening matches in the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in Lauderhill, Florida. (John Ramsingh photo)

Three nabbed attempting to smuggle ganja, cigarettes into Lusignan Prison Page 3

Guyanese shot dead in NY

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CAUGHT: Three nabbed attempting to smuggle ganja, cigarettes into Lusignan Prison found in the driver’s pants pocket.

The waste disposal company has since distanced itself from the incident, citing the behaviour of the employees fingered as “embarrassing” and against the image of what the company stands for.

The driver, 25, of Middle Walk, Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) along with the porters; a 26-year-old

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male from Russel Street, Charlestown, Georgetown and the 32-year-old female of ‘C’ Field Reserve, Sophia, are assisting with the investigation.

The Lusignan Prison is currently housing hundreds of prisoners from the Camp Street Prison which was damaged significantly during the July 9, conflagration and unrest.

The three employees, who have not yet been identified, were seen acting in a suspicious manner at the Prison

hree workers attached to Cevons Waste Management were taken into police custody after attempting to smuggle contraband into the Lusignan Prison on Thursday morning. This is according to Prisons Director, Gladwin Samuels.

The three employees were at the “old compound” of the Lusigan Prison to conduct waste disposal services when the prohibited items concealed in a haversack were found after a search of the vehicle owned by the waste disposal company was conducted.

Police confirmed in a subsequent release that the haversack contained in excess of 860 grams of cannabis and two cartons of cigarettes.

According to the police, the driver and two porters, one being a female, were searched and 24 grams of cannabis was

The items that were discovered included ganja, cigarettes and cellphones

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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EDITORIAL

Prolegomena for Constitutional Design

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overnment has finally tabled a Bill for initiating its longpromised constitutional change. It will authorise a broadlybased Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission to accept submissions from across the country. Guyana has experimented with various constitutional arrangements, starting with the constitution it was given by Britain at Independence on May 26, 1966.

That it has become clear that further changes are necessary should not be surprising. As far back as the 18th century, the philosopher Immanuel Kant succinctly posed the dilemma of constitutional design in these terms: “The problem is, given a multitude of rational beings requiring universal laws for their preservation, but each of them is sincerely inclined to exempt himself from them, to establish a Constitution in such a way, although their private intentions conflict, they check each other, with the result that their public conduct is the same as if they had no such intentions.”

The initiative, or set of initiatives, that will be offered to address Guyana’s political crisis in the coming hearings will have to engender broad acceptance across the political, ethnic and other divisions in the people, and especially among the politicians. This implies that the various groups, as they define themselves, would have to agree on the proposals for establishing the institutions to govern them.

Guyanese are attuned to the British contractual tradition of Liberalism, which envisages individuals bargaining rationally to produce a “contract” that would protect their interests.

Kant, then, was proposing that the solution to the inevitable conflicts in organised human societies such as ours lies in the design of appropriate institutions. Kant proposed that institutions, as with all normative behaviour, would have to satisfy some moral principle to which all citizens can more or less agree. Unless we have this moral commonality, no constitution will be able to bring stability to Guyana. Kant called his touchstone moral principle the “categorical imperative” – a principle of justice.

Most commentators who followed him agreed with his stricture: that institutions constituting a state must be organised in accordance with the principle of justice; but there were interminable discussions as to whether particular proposals satisfied, or did not satisfy, the “categorical imperative”.

John Rawls, the most influential of modern liberal political philosophers, came up with another formulation to guide the formation of social institutions nearly two centuries later, in 1971. It had the great virtue of simplicity, and we commend it to Guyanese as they embark on their search for a more appropriate constitution.

In the opening line of his first section in his magnum opus, A Theory of Justice, Rawls boldly declared that the principle of “justice” is the standard that would generate the broad acceptability for the establishment of any institution necessary to implement any initiative for enduring stability: “Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.”

Recognising that Guyana does not even reach Rawls’s definition of a society as “a cooperative venture for mutual advantage, it is typically marked by a conflict as well as by an identity of interests.”

His definition of “justice” is very pertinent to our effort to construct a democratic state in Guyana: “…a way of assigning rights and duties in the basic institutions of society, and they define the appropriate distribution of the benefits and burdens of social cooperation.”

More importantly, Rawls introduced a methodology for arriving at substantive principles for making decisions in divisive situations, such as we have in Guyana, where it is vital that the decisions are seen as not favouring any one constituency. Procedurally, Rawls proposed that we make our suggestions about the fundamental principles that would structure and govern society from behind a metaphorical “veil of ignorance”, which precludes us from taking into consideration our personal position, class, gender, race, religion, even intelligence or interests in the matter under consideration.

With such principles, we would be willing to go along even if our opponents assign us positions in the society arising out of the contract.

A peaceful community set deep in the heart of the mountains in Region 9, Guyana (Photo by Department of Public Information)

UG School of Medicine regains CAAM-HP accreditation for 4 years T

he School of Medicine at The University of Guyana (UG) has announced that it was recently “accorded Accreditation for four years from 20172021 by the Caribbean Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP)."

The decision to grant re-accreditation with a few conditions to the UG School of Medicine was made at the July 2017 meeting of CAAM-HP. The School of Medicine first gained accreditation in 2008 and functioned as a professionally accredited institution up to 2015.

The re-accreditation of the School, located in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Turkeyen campus, follows a site visit to UG in November of 2016, by a team of evaluators from CAAM-HP, to conduct a comprehensive re-evaluation of the teaching/learning facilities available at the School and meet with the various administrative sections of the University and medical students.

The team comprised Team Chair, Professor Christopher Stephens, Emeritus Professor of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK; Team Secretary, Professor Jonas Innies Addae, former Head of Preclinical Sciences Dept. and former Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago; and Professor Trevor McCartney, Professor of Surgery and Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica and former Medical Chief of Staff, University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica.

The team was accompanied by Ms Lorna Parkins,

Professor Ivelaw Griffith

Executive Director of CAAMHP and Professor Emerita Marlene Hamilton, Chair of the CAAM-HP Council.

In commenting on this long awaited announcement Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith in a released statement congratulated the faculty, students and staff of the School of Medicine “on this signally important decision” and expressed appreciation to personnel and students of the School, the University Library, Registry, Estate Management, Information Technology, Personnel Division and other units, President David Granger, the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Education , PAHO/WHO, and the Georgetown Public Hospital, for their contributions to this successful outcome.

He stated that "this investment of time and resources by the university in the re-accreditation of the School of Medicine is a tribute to the entire university and it strengthens our brand overall as we pursue Project Renaissance."

He further said, “however, substantial amounts of time and money will be required to complete the needed enhancements of one of our flag-

ship programmes."

This sentiment was echoed by the Director of the School Dr Ronald Aaron who emphasised that the accreditation was due to "community effort, now the real work begins".

Shafali Milton, President of the University of Guyana Medical Students’ Association, expressed pride in the role played by the students in the eventual outcome. She said, “The road to regain our status as a regionally accredited medical school was filled with countless challenges, however, we, the student body were undaunted and did everything in our power to assist.

"We are elated at the result of hard work from both the administration and the student body and on this note; we would like to thank everyone who contributed in the process. The UGSM has regained its position as a prestigious institution in the Caribbean, one which the current students as well as its alumni can be proud to be associated with. We look forward to new endeavors as the journey continues".

Dean of The Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr Emanuel Cummings, noted in his brief history of the School that it was established in 1985 in the Faculty of Health Sciences as a Medical Practitioners programme which included four years of medical training and two years of internship.

This was upgraded in 1990 to a five-year programme followed by a one-year internship.

To date, the School has graduated more than 500 doctors who are working in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, Australia, the CARICOM Region and locally in leading positions in the Health Care Sector.

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T&T man chased, killed by car -after row with girlfriend’s ex

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25-year-old Arouca man died on Tuesday after being chased and knocked down by a man driving a car, moments after he was forced to flee his girlfriend’s home following an argument with her former boyfriend.

According to police reports, around 10 am officers from the Tunapuna Police Station were contacted and told that three men were being chased by a group of men, including one in a car and one on a motorbike, along St John’s Road, St Augustine. When they arrived they found Akeem Reid in a ditch bleeding. He was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where he later died.

Despite the circumstances surrounding Reid’s death, police are yet to classify it as a murder as they are awaiting instructions from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, one of Reid’s friends, who

was with him before he was attacked, said he had earlier questioned Reid’s girlfriend, identified only as Melissa, about the stability of her ex-boyfriend, who lived in the area. The man, who did not want to be named, said after being assured by her that the ex-boyfriend was of no threat, he appeared at her home in a hostile manner.

“Somebody come and see we there and went back and tell him and he come and start to quarrel and fight.

He fight with my next friend and he (Melissa’s ex-boyfriend) called his friends. They came so we had to run and leave the car we come in,” Reid’s friend said.

“When we was running one of the man friends jump in we car and bounce down Akeem and crash the car down a precipice.

While we was running I was talking to the police and telling them what happening. I went by a neighbour, who tell me how to get to the river to get to the main road and me and my next friend run straight to the police station.”

Melissa, a mother of two, confirmed the friend’s claim, adding that her ex-boyfriend’s behaviour was uncalled for since they had broken up for over four years. She said before she could have quelled the situation it escalated into a fight, in which she got involved and punched her ex-lover in the face.

Melissa said Reid and his two friends arrived at her home around 6.30 am on Tuesday from a party and she allowed them to sleep over, as she knew the men had been drinking during the event and wanted to give them time to “ketch themselves.”

During the course of the morning, she sent her fouryear-old daughter to her grandmother’s home because she found her own home was “crowded with men.” After doing so, she said she was called by her former boyfriend, who later showed up at her home.

Melissa said the man had seen Reid at her home before, so she found his argument this time to be baseless. She said she eventually got Reid and his friends to

leave, but while doing so one of Reid’s friends got into a scuffle with her ex-lover and she stepped in and punched him in the face. This angered him and he called for his friends, she said.

When the man’s friends arrived and Reid and his friends attempted to flee, one of her ex-lover’s friends jumped into a Toyota motorcar owned

by Reid’s friend and later run over him.

“Right now I just want justice, because I real love Akeem and every time I see my daughter I will see his (her ex-boyfriend) face and I love my daughter too, so this is very hard for me right now. I just blaming myself. I studying I should not have let them sleep, but they was drinking and was tired” Melissa sobbed, adding she could no longer face the father of her child.

She added: “I have a lot of hate inside because Akeem did not deserve this no way no time. When I saw him in the ditch I was just telling him ‘Baby I want you to fight you know I love you and I really didn’t mean for all of this to

Akeem Reiid

happen’. I had no signs this was going to happen. Akeem accustomed coming by me and sleeping and it never had any kind of tension before.”

She added, with a noticeable joyous pep in her voice, that Reid was the clown in her group of friends and a “real dancer boy” who made her laugh with ease.

She said they met at the Tunapuna Regional Corporation and Akeem was a very hard worker.

Reid’s killing comes weeks after teenager David Sancaro, 17, was allegedly run over by the driver of a pick-up along Southern Main Road, Otaheite, on July 16, after attempting to part a fight between two lovers. Anthony Sinanan, 37, a father of two, is currently in custody charged with murdering Sancaro and is to re-appear in court on August 21. (Trinidad Guardian)

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Ramjattan is an utter Emergence of ‘Guyanese failure in managing Diaspora’ term Guyana’s security sector Dear Editor, I deliberately kept away from this debate on “Ministerial Responsibility” after the second or maybe the third prison unrest in Guyana under Khemraj Ramjattan because I felt there was no need for debating this issue when the nation was in the middle of a security operation.

But now that all the prisoners have been removed from the “cow pasture” at Lusignan, I wish to join the debate, because horrible history was made under Ramjattan over the last few weeks. Guyana is now classified as having one of the worst prison systems in the Caribbean, with one of the worst break-out records.

The 2016 prison unrest in which 17 prisoners died should have been the trigger to cause any portfolio head to more effectively manage the system until the risk levels were de-escalated. Under Ramjattan, the opposite happened over the last 12 months.

Under Ramjattan, the conditions for a breakout in the prison system actually got worse, because of a lack of prop-

er investments and executive lethargy at the policy conception and implementation level.

For that reason alone, if Ramjattan has any dignity and honour left, he should offer his resignation to the President forthwith.

Ramjattan has brought great shame to all his predecessors, especially Balram Singh Rai, one of Guyana’s foremost intellectuals and the most celebrated Home Affairs Minister.

Under Ramjattan, the cabinet found the resources to divert billions towards building a billion-dollar Durban Park (project), to fund ministerial travels, to increase their personal salaries by 50%, and to provide ministers with executive vehicles. But even after all that comfort, these people continue to fail the nation on many fronts, especially the security front; whereas they had presented themselves as the security barons of Guyana on the 2015 campaign trail.

The evidence clearly reveals they are security baboons when it comes to managing the security sector, as they continue to mismanage the systems to protect the people of Guyana.

For that reason alone, Khemraj Ramjattan should go, because his poor leadership failed resoundingly to put systems in place to serve and protect the people.

On April 20, 1653, when Oliver Cromwell made a speech upon the dissolution of the Long Parliament, he said these words: “Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you (who) were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, JUST GO!” I am truly disappointed in Ramjattan. He can so better serve the society by going back to his law practice, where he is fantastic, rather than clinging on to a siren and a portfolio at which he is an utter failure. I am convinced that he is no longer fit to conduct the affairs of the nation as the Minister of Public Security. As Cromwell said, “You have sat too long here for any good.

Depart, I say, and let us be done with you!”

Regards, Sase Singh

The WPA remains silent on APNU/AFC’s wrongdoings Dear Editor, I read in the Thursday, July 27, issue of the Guyana Times a report of the press conference hosted by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). In it, Dr David Hinds called on the Government to withdraw against Donald Rodney the charges which were made in 1980. Donald Rodney was charged in relation to the death of Walter Rodney.

When the Commission of Inquiry was set up in 2014, this matter was raised with me. I was ready to withdraw any charge.

However, on the advice of my then Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, I was told that I could not do so.

Mr Donald Rodney was not only charged, he was tried in his absence and convicted. Indeed, he was sentenced to a prison term. All this was done in his absence.

It meant, therefore, that Mr Donald Rodney could have been arrested

by the police once he arrived in Guyana.

The other option open to me at the time was to pardon Mr Rodney.

That I did. That allowed Donald Rodney to come to Guyana and to give evidence to the CoI. Actually, there are no charges now against Donald Rodney that could be withdrawn. I am therefore surprised that the WPA, and its most vociferous commentator Dr Hinds, did not call for the report to be made public. True, the report has been laid in the House after the PPP/C Opposition made a tremendous push to get that to happen.

However, the process has been stalled at this point.

The public is unaware of where to go to get a copy of the report.

Neither the Parliament nor the Government has made it available online.

Nor is it readily available at the Parliamentary Office.

As far as I am aware,

it was not sent to the libraries. The University of Guyana and the University of the West Indies do not have this report, I am told.

I, as President, established the CoI, but was never given a copy of the report, even out of courtesy.

The present leaders of the WPA only pay lip service to Walter Rodney. In practice, they treat him as dead and gone. He has become more of an inconvenience to them at this time.

I say this because, from all their actions in Government, it is clear that the PNC/APNU has not changed. We see them using their appointed speakers to stifle debate and discussions in the National Assembly.

The present leaders of the WPA are happy with the open racial and political discrimination that is being practised by the regime of which they are a part.

The destruction of the

Dear Editor, I applaud the University of Guyana for hosting a Diaspora engagement conference last week. I attempt to explain how the concept of “Guyanese Diaspora” developed.

Guyanese Diaspora is relatively new and it was introduced during the 1980s by New Yorkbased Guyanese involved in the struggle for the liberation of their country from the dictatorship. The term Diaspora was widely restricted for use among Jews – referring to dispersion of Jews. Other ethnic groups have also found themselves scattered, but the term was not widely used to refer to their migration. The term became popular during the 1990s when other national groups in America began to refer to themselves as the Diaspora of their former homeland.

So the term Diaspora is relatively new among Guyanese. It was introduced by Indo-Guyanese in NYC in our meetings with nationals and Government officials from India during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Indian nationals used to use NRIs to describe overseas Indians but the term was not meant to include IndoCaribbeans, since we were not born in India.

Indo-Caribbeans like Dev, myself and others introduced the term PIO to Indian nationals and politicians, and later we introduced the term Indian Diaspora to them; we had recognised that both terms would include Indo-Guyanese and other Indo-Caribbean people.

Other groups in the US have emulated the usage of the term Diaspora.

The term Diaspora was not in the vocabulary of Guyana – Government or Guyanese at home or abroad – until about a decade ago. Prior to that, Guyanese who have migrated were referred to as overseas-based

Guyanese similar to the term overseas-based Indians, Brazilians. The term Guyanese Diaspora was first introduced in discussions among a group of us in NYC during the mid 1980s in the heydays of our struggle for the restoration of democracy in our former homeland. The term was even used in the name of a Caribbean organisation formed in 1986 – East Indian Diaspora Steering Committee which was officially registered as a non-profit in 1987.

In late 1986, a group of Indo-Caribbeans met with Professor Brinsley Samaroo at CUNY Graduate School on 42nd Street to establish and launch a planning committee to commemorate the 150th anniversary since the first indentured immigrants landed in Guyana. Dr Samaroo was a Minister in the NAR Government in Trinidad and made a special trip to NYC to help plan and organise what would the fourth conference of Indians in the Caribbean. We met at CUNY doctoral centre.

The three (1975, 79, 84) previous conferences (all held at UWI) were on Indo-Caribbeans. We felt the 1988 conference should be broad based to include the global Indian community. We came up with the term Diaspora conference borrowing it from the Jews to include all Indians (regardless of region or nationality, and, hence, the coinage of the Indian Diaspora which we would introduce to nationals from India. This term was introduced in interactions we held with academics and activists from India in the US including at an Indian conference in 1989 at the Sheraton Center in Manhattan.

The term Guyanese Diaspora would similarly be used to refer to Guyanese abroad in meetings.

At that CUNY meet-

ing, a formal name of our group was not taken. But Professor Prem Misir (LIU and St John) was nominated by myself and Ravi Dev to be President of the planning committee. I also nominated Professor Mahin Gosine (Fordham and CUNY) as Chair of the Academic Sub-Committee.

Both nominees were elected.

I was elected General Secretary.

At a subsequent meeting at the Research Institute for Study of Man on 5th Ave in Manhattan, two names for the organisation were proposed – Asian Indian Diaspora Steering Committee or East Indian Diaspora Steering Committee.

The acronym of the first – AIDSC – was not acceptable with the objection being that it was too close to the disease AIDS which had just arrived on the health scene. The acronym of the second organisation – EIDSC – was considered more acceptable and it was unanimously carried in a vote.

Some Professors from Columbia University attending the meeting offered their university as host of a week-long conferences.

EIDSC was subsequently registered as a NGO co-hosting the Indo-Caribbean Diaspora conference at a hotel in Queens.

There was a conflict in the group. Another conference was held on the same dates at Columbia University as planned.

Dr Cheddi Jagan and Basdeo Panday attended both conferences.

It was through the 1988 conferences that the term Diaspora was introduced to Guyanese and would gradually be used in the vocabulary of Guyanese in NYC. It frequently appeared in my voluminous writings on Guyanese in the USA in our ethnic publications from then onward.

sugar industry – even though the CoI, which cost more than G$80M did not recommend closure – is taking place mainly on racial and political grounds.

Instead of condemnation, we often hear some of them spewing what can only be described as racial sentiments.

After he resigned as a Minister of the PNC Government, Martin Carter wrote: ‘the mouth is muzzled by the food it eats…’

Our boys and girls in the WPA now prefer to stay quiet because they are also enjoying heavy perks – big cushy jobs being paid princely salaries. Their children are enjoying scholarships overseas and many other such benefits.

They have taken a stand on the side of the growing dictatorship, against the masses of working people of Guyana.

Walter Rodney, therefore, has become a

huge inconvenience to them.

Calling for the Government to drop non-existing charges against Donald Rodney is just another smokescreen to hide the new anti-people positions that they have adopted.

It is not the PNC/ APNU that has changed, rather, it is the WPA that has lost its way.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Be committed to quality healthcare’ -Minister Harmon charges new graduates of Rajiv Gandhi

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inister of State, Mr. Joseph H a r m o n , on Monday evening, charged the graduating class of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Science and Technology’s School of Medicine, to be committed to the provision of quality healthcare, wherever they may be called to serve.

The Minister was at the time delivering the feature address at the Pegasus Hotel on the occasion of the first Convocation ceremony for the University’s School of Medicine, from which five have graduated.

Speaking before the handing over of certifi-

cates, Minister Harmon told the graduands that even as they embark on their journey into the world of work, they must seek to develop the skills they have gained and strive to let each day of their career be better than the day before. Noting that society expects doctors to be role models, Minister Harmon said that it is the duty of every doctor and every other professional to aim for the delivery of high quality services.

As the Government continues to create opportunities for equal access to health, education and social services across the country, the

The first batch of graduates of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Science and Technology School of Medicine

Minister of State noted that they must be willing to serve to the best of

GTUC calls for constructive political engagement to address prison crisis …says no need for another CoI

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he Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has said the problems facing the prison system are of a national emergency nature, and they necessitate a bipartisan approach through debates and engagements in and out of the National Assembly.

Because it perceives the situation as very grave, the GTUC recommends constructive engagement between Government and the Opposition to address the problems at reference.

According to the GTUC, the current situation is a “national security crisis.” “This nation does not need another Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to admit what has been known for years and not being attended to. In the last 16 years, there were several commissioned reports and discussions on the prison system,” the GTUC said in a statement.

The GTUC deems the following reports as notable: Guyana Prisons Ten-Year Strategic Development Plan (2001-2011); British Prison Reform (2001); Justice Cecil Kennard CoI (2002 jailbreak); Disciplined Services Commission Report (2004); Lloyd Nickram Study (2009); and Justice James Patterson CoI (2016 jailbreak).

“Sitting on the 2004 Commission was Mr David Granger, who is now President (of Guyana) and Commander- in-Chief. It is not lost on GTUC that recommendations in the 2016 CoI which could have easily been implemented were only acted on after the 9th July unrest. The other reports were done during the Bharrat Jagdeo presidency. Recommendations from

the stated reports must now be used in determining the future of the prison system,” the GTUC statement has declared.

The GTUC has also said it recognises improvements in the techniques used to recapture the escapees, which resulted in the minimising of causalities; and the overall handling of situations which clearly had potential to get worse was also noted. However, the Trade Union representative body has accused both the past and present governing administrations of putting prison reform on the back burner, prioritising other issues of lesser import and ignoring the problems that have been festering for years.

Reiterating its commitment to the wellbeing of the prisoners, the GTUC proceeded to highlight the inhumane treatment to which they are subjected, and spoke of the absence of proactive and carefully-thought-out-and-implemented policies that continue to result in logistical nightmares. Hopefully, the GTUC has said, the welfare of the prisoners is not lost on the administration, whose actions are signalling the existence of human rights and environmental crises.

The GTUC has said that, in many instances, conditions are not better than animals being held experience, which animal rights activists will rightly condemn.

The GTUC has said it rejects the idea of privatising the prison system, and has urged the Government to equip prison officers to be able to deal with crises.

their abilities.

“I must appeal to you for a commitment to health care delivery in the context of our national policy. A key element of Government’s policy on health care is equal delivery of all services across Guyana; to all villages and communities in the most remote parts of Guyana on the coastland and in the hinterland. We need doctors, who do not flinch or baulk when assigned to these remote areas in our rural countryside or hinterland. This is the spirit and approach that we must adopt to enable us to provide a good life for all of our people,” he said.

The Minister also encouraged the graduands to commit themselves to selfless and dedicated service as enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath, which every doctor is expected to take as he noted that they must strive to make positive contributions in their every undertaking.

“As we celebrate Emancipation Day, you have taken the step to as Bob Marley said, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.

None but ourselves can free our minds.” Be a part of your communities beyond your own workplace. Be good citizens full time, all the time and do not be lured

and fooled by quick fixes. Your just completed training would have taught you that nothing good comes easy and the profession that you have chosen eschews quick fixes. Never forget that medicine is an art as well as a science to be practiced by you as doctors and researchers and that you should bring that practice not only technology and training but also your humanity, caring and concern,” he encouraged.

Meanwhile, the Minister said that the Government of Guyana remains committed to providing an enabling environment in which institutions such as the Rajiv Gandhi University of Science and Technology can deliver quality tertiary education and training.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, in her remarks, echoed similar sentiments, noting that the medical profession is a noble one and as such, the best possible standards must be adhered to in the process of administering healthcare services.

“In your service to humanity and as you gradcontinued on page 11

8 news

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Berbice murder suspect was wanted by cops for attempting to murder ex-girlfriend T

wo years ago on Valentine’s Day, Aszeema Ali of Lot 21 First Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown, then 19, was stabbed several times by Ryan Singh, who is now wanted for the murder of 16-yearold Parbattie Lakhpal of Lot 369 Number Two Village, East Canje, Berbice.

Singh was wanted by the Police in 2015 for attempted murder, and now he is on again running from the police, this time for committing murder.

Having long moved on with her life, Ali recounted that the relationship she shared with Singh was very violent. She described him as “an arrogant and selfish individual.”

After the gruesome attack she had endured at the hands of Ryan Singh, she was hospitalised for a long peri-

Dead: Rasanna Lakhpal

od, during which her relatives had kept her guarded at the hospital out of fear that Singh might have showed up there. But ever since that horrific experience, Ali has neither heard from Singh nor from any member of his family, although he resides at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

After she was discharged from hospital, Ali had visited the Police on several occasions with the hope

that she would receive news of Singh’s apprehension, but each time the Police told her they were still trying to locate him.

She is firmly convinced that, had the lawmen employed more robust effort to arrest the then 28-year-old Singh, he would not have been involved in another relationship, which ultimately has led to him committing murder.

Ali became aware of Singh’s whereabouts when she read about the murder of the 16-yearold female in Berbice.

“For the past two years, I have not heard from him, I have not seen him, I did not hear from his family, and we had no idea where he was; until the death of the teenager,” Ali told this publication in an interview.

Having experienced violence at the hands of

Wanted: Murder accused, Ryan Singh

someone who had professed love and care for her, Aszeema Ali is urging other young women to be careful not to fall prey to Singh’s portrayed “loving and caring attitude. He did it once, he did it twice, he might do it again,” she stated.

Ali was reportedly attacked and stabbed at Singh’s home during a party. He allegedly had lured her into his room, and had attempted to

force himself on her, but she had reportedly told him that the relationship was over and she was seeing someone else. This had angered Singh, and he had reportedly pulled out a knife and started to stab Ali about the body. She had managed to raise an alarm, and Singh’s sister had come to her rescue.

After committing the act, Singh had fled the scene. Ali was 13 when she became involved in the relationship with Singh.

Parbattie Lakhpal, however, was only 15 when she fell in love with Singh and moved in with him. Two years after , she was brutally murdered. Her lifeless body was discovered lying on the floor of her mother’s No 2 Village, East Canje home in Berbice.

Reports are that, two days prior to the

Ex-girlfriend: Aszeema Ali

incident, the now dead teen and the suspect had been heard arguing over his lack of interest in finding a job, and her mother had demanded that he leave the home.

On the day in question, the teen’s mother had left for work at a hotel in New Amsterdam, and the suspect had forced his way into her yard and ultimately into her house, where he committed the act.

Region 9 “picking up the pieces” after devastating flood A s residents of Region Nine (Upper TakatuUpper Essequibo) grapple with the effects of the months long flooding, donor agencies are throwing in their support to help communities get back on their feet. The flood has caused significant damages to homes and farmlands, rendering many living quarters uninhabitable for weeks.

Just over a week ago the water receded

in the region, although water from the Ireng and Rupununi rivers continue to flow into the township from time to time.

Region Nine Chairman Brian Allicock told this newspaper on Wednesday residents are now recovering from the effects of the flood. At the same time, regional officials are assessing the damages and are involved in the distribution of items to the far flung affected villages.

According to Allicock, the Council has so far received lists of damages from 42 of the 56 villages in the region, representing some 2100 households.

More lists are expected to come in, he said.

While attention is now focused on the small villages in the far flung areas, the Chairman said the larger villages have indicated that they will soon need assistance as well, as their stocks are running out.

“The lists are coming in from the large villages and they are reporting that within the next month and a half they will have to start getting relief because all of their crops are damaged and they try to solve it as much as possible and that will last until the next month and half,” Allicock told this newspaper.

Allicock said there is no food shortage at the moment except for a few small villages that are far away that have been receiving flood relief.

According to him, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has been assisting greatly by getting the donations from the organisations to the region.

“We have various organisations, various business places including the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Ministry of Public Health, the Chambers of Commerce of Region Three along with Fly Jamaica said it will assist through the Amerindian People’s Association,” he said.

Allicock took the opportunity to encourage persons or organisations that wish to make donations, to do so through the CDC. He said this will allow for proper accountability.

Allicock said the damage to farms in the various villages has

Region Nine Chairman, Brian Allicock

been severe.

“The farms that were flooded, we cannot harvest the cassava that spoils after three days. We are trying to get the food to the small villages,” he reiterated.

He said while the water receded in the town just about a week ago, it was still going over the roadways into the savannahs, overtopping from the Ireng and the Rupununi rivers.

Meanwhile, the Regional Chairman said the region is also battling another problem and hopes that by today some relief could be had. He explained that the flood water has created havoc on the main access road between Georgetown and Lethem, making it very

hard for fuel in particular to reach the village.

“We have another problem where the access road from Georgetown to Lethem is in a state where we are unable to have fuel come into the villages for the Lethem Power Company (LPC),” he stated.

He said a contract had already been awarded to a contractor who was hoping to start some work on Wednesday.

“Water has receded but has left the road soggy and soft and we are having a lot of difficulty getting food and fuel to the township.

We are hoping that this trip the work will be done much better,” he told this publication.

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Exciting times’: Press Association hammers Guyana lauds Govt over broadcast bill CXC connect app …stands in support of local broadcasters

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E

Education Minister (ag) Nicolette Henry

ducation Minister (ag) Nicolette Henry has lauded the launch of the Caribbean Examination Council’s (CXC) mobile application ‘CXC connect’, saying education is now thriving in “exciting times”.

The app was launched in Barbados last Thursday, and on Monday the Minister and other officials of the Education Ministry met at the Giftland Mall to praise the initiative.

“We are truly in exciting times, where ICT is, at last, providing a chance for our countries to be globally competitive in innovation and education,” the Minister told officials.

According to Minister Henry, educators must not fail to embrace and apply new technology to education. According to her, the new app will bring much easier access to results to students.

“The website will no doubt be transformative to the child with a laptop, a smartphone, and an Internet connection.”

With the newly launched Connect app, not only will students be able to access examination results as soon as they are released, they will also be able to carry them in their pockets wherever they go, via their smartphones and other mobile devices.

Students, parents and even educators have over the years complained about the late arrival of the examination results, and though efforts were made to see the early release of grades, the new app will reduce that waiting time to an all-time significant low.

The app will be available to students as early as August 12.

Students, who sat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) during the May/ June 2017 exams, will be able to utilise the app to access their results on

August 12.

Meanwhile, students who wrote the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) exam will be able to access their results via the app on August 15.

Assistant Registrar, Webmaster Ayodele Pompey, gave a demonstration of the app at the launching event. He said beyond results students can also get information, advice and guidance as well, via CXC Connect.

In terms of the benefits for persons who sat CXC exams prior to 2017, Pompey said there is currently no archive for past students, however, that should be ruled as an addition to the second or third generation versions of the CXC Connect app.

“One of the things the app does is to enhance the communication perspective between CXC and its various stakeholders, students included. Part of that whole process is to be able to deliver information as it happens,” he said Regarding results and the timing of results, the Assistant Registrar said CXC has always been seeking to shorten the time from the examination to the results cycle. He assured that is something that will be ongoing.

“But with respect to the app, whatever result immediacies we can be able to improve on certainly the app will provide that information at that time. For example, if we determine in the future and I believe that this is something that we will be able to do, if we determine that we can be able to enhance our delivery times, the app will be the most ideal thing to use.”

In terms of what the future holds, he reiterated, “there will definitely be a shortening of time.”

Parents and guardians can also receive tips to help their children and be guided on charges using the mobile app.

ne day after private broadcast companies came out to criticise the Government over the proposed Broadcast Amendment Bill and asked for the deferral of the debate and passage of a recently-tabled bill, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) has come out in support of these companies.

“We stand in solidarity with local broadcasters on this issue and will be seeking further legal advice to convince the Government of the need to halt or reverse this process given the severe consequences these amendments pose to freedom of the press in Guyana and the commercial viability of private radio and television stations,” the GPA said in a strongly worded statement.

The press body claimed that the amendments being sought will essentially introduce an unwarranted “programme manager” position by the State in the daily schedules of radio and television stations.

It said, “The overall provision for the allocation of 60 minutes for public service programmes will disrupt and violate contractual obligations that stations will have with advertisers and programme sponsors.”

While recognising that private broadcasters have an important role to play in cases of emergencies and disasters, including matters of public health, the GPA said it out-rightly opposed the actual allocation of times or the need to inform the

President of the GPA, Neil Marks

authority about this or for the authority to dictate time slots if it does not agree with those allocated by the stations.

“The GPA strongly objects to the Guyana Government seeking to redefine what constitutes “public service programmes” as this is in direct contradiction and a violation of the letter and spirit of the definition of public service broadcasting as laid down by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) of which Guyana is a member,” it explained.

In referring to one of UNESCO’s factors in determining public service broadcasting is independent and free from State and political control, the Press Association asserted that public broadcasting is a forum where ideas should be expressed freely, where information, opinions and criticisms can circulate.

This is, according to the body, possible only if the broadcaster is independent, thereby allowing the freedom of public

broadcasting to be maintained against commercial or political influence.

“If the information provided by the public broadcaster was influenced by the Government, people are less likely to believe the content.

Likewise, if the public broadcaster’s programming were designed for commercial ends, people would not understand why they are being asked to finance a service providing programming that is not substantially different from those provided by commercial broadcasters.”

The GPA also thinks President David Granger and the rest of the Cabinet may have been ill-advised by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo of what constitutes “public service programmes.”

Nagamootoo holds the portfolio of Broadcasting and Information Minister.

Further legal advice from local and international experts is being sought by the GPA. The Association also plans on raising this matter with its affiliates such as the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) and the International Press Institute (IPI), and other global press freedom bodies.

Several private media owners and operators have expressed several concerns about the Bill.

Most of them have said that this Bill could negatively impact their operations, particularly as it relates to the licensing fee structure, the imposition on property and infringement to determine broadcast content. They

also claimed that they were not consulted on the amendments.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said that the Bill in its current form is a direct attack on press freedom while urging broadcasters not to sit idly by and allow the Government, through its one-seat majority, to get its way with the passage of the Bill; but rather seek recourse through the courts.

Part two of the Bill sets out that broadcast agencies will be mandated to broadcast public service programmes for a total of up to one hour daily.

Broadcast agencies will be airing these public service programmes free of cost and as requested by the Government between 06:00h and 22:00h.

It is also states that the GNBA reserves the right to direct a broadcasting agency to broadcast emergency notices or disaster warnings for any length of time, and regularly during peak or prime advertising time periods, depending on the nature of the emergency and having regard to public safety.

Revoking the 2014 broadcasting regulations, the Act also puts those broadcasters who are already licensed at the mercy of the Authority.

It mandates that any licensed entity carrying out broadcast services immediately before the act went into effect will have no choice but to reapply within 30 days for a licence in accordance with the amended law, and plethora of other restrictions.

10 news

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Time has come for Dr Roopnaraine Assassination to step down – Gaskin claim: Motion

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utspoken political and social commentator Ramon Gaskin has said the time has come for Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine to step down from Government and allow for a more competent individual to take over his position. Gaskin’s rationale is that Dr Roopnaraine’s performance as a minister has been “extremely poor”.

Conceding that Dr Roopnaraine is the most highly educated person in the Cabinet, Gaskin says his extremely poor performance has in many ways outweighed his academic achievements. Dr Roopnaraine is a highly-respected Guyanese scholar who was educated at both the University of Cambridge and Cornell University.

“He has been a total failure as a minister. He is a bright person, he has written a lot, he is academically accomplished, but he has failed as a Minister. And he should be replaced of course,” is Gaskin’s expressed opinion.

The outspoken social commentator believes that Dr Roopnaraine had realised he was not performing, and that may have been the chief reason why he had submitted his resignation to President David Granger. However, the President later talked Dr Roopnaraine out of resigning, and he rescinded his resignation a few days later.

Gaskin said, “The President doesn’t want him to go, although he demoted him (Dr Roopnaraine) to a senior clerk in State Minister Joseph Harmon’s minis-

defeated to have Chang removed …on grounds of conflict of interest

Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine speaking with the media on Thursday at Parliament

try. Granger must have encouraged him to stay on because it wasn’t looking good. This is although his party, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), might have had different views. But the man actually does nothing.”

Executive members of the WPA were recently asked at a press conference whether they believe the President had refused to accept Dr Roopnaraine’s resignation because the President was afraid that Dr Roopnaraine would have been replaced by a more radical-thinking candidate.

Gaskin is of the opinion that this might have been one of the reasons.

“Granger, in his mind, must have said that if Rupert did go and he needed to put somebody there to replace him, then he (Granger) might have ended up with someone whom he (Granger) is not comfortable with.”

And that argument could be true, according to Gaskin, because, over the years, the public had seen how Dr Roopnaraine and the President had become

close, and worked well together as a team despite their different political ideologies.

But Gaskin told this publication that if Dr Roopnaraine were to take advice and step down from Government, the next WPA candidate would have become as comfortable working with the President as Dr Roopnaraine presently is.

“Once you go there you get just as comfortable; because the perks are nice, the ambience, the environment is conducive, and you get a new Prado. So everything becomes relaxing,” he explained.

Gaskin is also convinced that the sudden meeting that was called by the constituent parties of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) was meant to address the Dr Roopnaraine issue — nothing more nor less. He said what is even more embarrassing is that he has never heard of a WPA congress.

Gaskin is of the firm view that the APNU meetings, if there are any other going forward,

would not produce any success, because there still remain several major differences among parties within the coalition, and that is not an issue that could be ironed out easily.

It was announced on June 13, 2017 that Dr Roopnaraine would be removed from his post as Education Minister and reassigned to head the Department of Public Service within the Ministry of the Presidency. While no reason for this relocation was given, many had speculated that it had to do with Dr Roopnaraine’s deteriorating health.

However, some days after being reassigned, the senior minister refuted those claims and said “nothing” was wrong with his health.

Most recently, the minister defended his decision to remain in office and Government. He has made this clear: “I’m not at death’s door”, and assured that he is in perfect form and order to undertake the responsibilities of his new portfolio — Minister of Public Service.

A

Ian Chang

ttorney Selwyn Pieters, on behalf of Travis Chase, filed a motion to have retired Chief Justice Ian Chang removed as Counsel for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) due to conflicts of interest, including being a possible witness in the proceedings.

However, Paul Slowe, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the plot to assassinate President David Granger, denied the motion.

The Attorney had argued that the Legal Practitioners Act Chapter 4:01 of the Laws of Guyana provides that an attorney shall not devise or represent more than one interest in a matter nor shall he act or continue to act in a matter when there is or is likely to be a conflicting interest; which includes, but is not limited to the financial interest of the attorney or his associate, and his duties and the loyalties of the attorney to any other client or prospective client, including the obligation to communicate information.

Andrif Gillard, who alleges that he was offered G$7 million to kill the President, while giving his testimony on July 21, said that he would like to put Chang on the stand as a witness.

Pieters used Gillard’s testimony as the basis of his motion.

“The character of

these people, so the public should know that any, everybody Mr Imran Khan, Mr Nizam Khan is connected to the mining pit tragedy,” Gillard told the Commission.

He went on to say that, “These two guys [Imran and Nizam Khan] just wicked because they know they have the law behind them, so they can do anybody anything they feel like. I think these two men in this country are the reason for corruption, because they have the three most reliable, strong backing, the Chief Justice could stop any court matter, the DPP can cancel any station file or file that went to the court and the Commissioner of Police, the assistant, this gentleman here Mr Ian Chang. These are powerful men, they are friends of course, but they know not the evil demon that they are creating, and people in our community and our Guyanese are suffering.”

Pieters also argued that Chang could bring the administration of justice into disrepute, adding that Chang has acted a reference for one of the Khan brother’s in a gun licence application.

P o l i c e Commissioner Seelall Persaud hired Chang to represent the interest of the GPF in the proceedings.

Travis Chase became a party in the CoI after he was summoned to appear since he did a television interview with Gillard following the allegations against Nizam Khan. Chase had submitted a DVD copy of the interview to the Police to assist with their investigation before airing the interview on his newscast.

news 11

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Terror gang member to know fate soon A

12-member jury which has heard Basil Morgan’s High Court trial is expected to return a verdict on Friday. Deliberations will proceed after presiding Judge, James Bovell-Drakes sums up the matter in the morning session. The case has been ongoing for the last three weeks.

Morgan is accused of murdering Woddet “Buck Man” Roberts, who was killed during the course of a robbery between November 3 and November 4, 2009, along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

Roberts died from asphyxiation the court was told. Reports are several gang members had tied up Roberts and other occupants of a Toyota Tacoma before they stole it and made their way to Georgetown, where other crimes were committed. Morgan was believed to have been part of the gang, which carried out several terror-related crimes including setting fire to the Supreme Court of Judicature’s Registry department.

Morgan’s defence attorney, Lyndon Amsterdam and State Prosecutor Tuana Hardy made passionate closing arguments before the jury. Amsterdam reminded the 12 members of the jury that Police never stated where Roberts had actually died. The attorney also highlighted that there were gaps in the evidence, suggesting that the post-mortem examination (PME) was inconclusive.

He further encouraged the jury to carefully address the evidence provided by the prosecution, which according

Murder accused: Basil Morgan

to Amsterdam, had “failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt” that Morgan was indeed responsible for Roberts’ killing. The Prosecutor however maintained that the jury should find the defendant guilty of the crime for which he is indicted. It was late last week that Prosecutor Hardy closed the State’s case.

Though Morgan denied being responsible for Woddet’s murder, other members of the alleged gang have admitted to their terror-related crimes.

These include David Anthony Watson, called “Tupac”; Randy Mars, known as “Ratty”; and Jafar Simpson, who were all sentenced to 19 years imprisonment in April after pleading guilty to manslaughter for Roberts’ killing. They were additionally sentenced for other terror-related crimes.

Meanwhile, gang leader Colin Jones admitted guilt for the 2009 terror acts and was sentenced to 80 years imprisonment for the offences he inflicted between 2009 and 2010. The summing up of the case will commence on Friday at 09:00h.

‘Be committed...

from page 7

Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry presents one of the graduating students with his certificate.

uate and enter the world of work, it is important that you put into practice all that you have learnt over the years. Now you stand on the threshold of greatness that will give you a title that will place a great sense of responsibility on your shoulders. From here on you will be the ones chartering your own course in life and how you are perceived in life will be as a result of your actions, and in some cases, your inactions. I urge you as a medical doctor to give of your best and ensure that at all times, that you uphold this noble profession, maintain high standards for yourself and colleagues,” she said.

Dr. Cummings said

told the graduands that their entry into the medical field could not come at a more opportune time, as the Government continues to embark on numerous programmes aimed at further strengthening the public health system so as to deliver the best quality healthcare possible to the citizens.

“The Ministry of Public Health is trying to make universal primary healthcare a reality in Guyana by 2020.

I urge you, as you take the Hippocratic Oath, honour it, live it. Let the patient be the centre as doctors. Patients need a physician who not only offers great knowledge and skill in the advances of medical technology but

your humanity, genuine care and authentic concern.

Professionalism, high ethical standards and compassion should forever remain the driving forces propelling you forward,” Dr. Cummings noted.

She further encouraged them to keep expanding their horizons through education and training so that they can become specialised in their fields of work.

Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry, who also delivered brief remarks, said that the role of a doctor, just like an educator, cannot be overestimated. She also spoke on the significance the work the University is doing.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. Sherlock Peter Rawana, in his remarks, encouraged the students to return to their communities and villages and serve as he noted that true success can be found in one’s ability to inspire and motivate others.

Valedictorian, Mr. Abid Ally, who hails from East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) said that he will endeavour to use his profession to not only touch lives but also leave a legacy of care and humanity. (MoTP)

Assassination claim CoI

Ramjattan likely to give evidence

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ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is more than likely to take the stand before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to give evidence, following a request by Attorney Christopher Ram to have him invited to do so.

Ram, who represents the interest of businessman Imran Khan, made the request before CoI Commissioner Paul Slowe on Wednesday. He told the Commission that given Ramjattan is responsible for the Guyana Police Force (GPF), him giving testimony might be pertinent to the work of the Commission.

Slowe promised to take that course of action and will extend the invitation to Minister Ramjattan to make an appearance before the CoI sometime during next week.

On March 29, Andrif Gillard reported that his neighbour Nizam Khan offered him G$7 million to kill President David Granger. In June, President Granger decided to launch a CoI into the alleged plot to assassinate him and named Slowe as Chairman of

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

the Commission.

The CoI seeks to inquire into persons, places, time and circumstances and events by and through which allegations and reports came to be made of an intention to assassinate the President; investigate the full range of the actions and responses of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to the reports and the extent to which such actions were conducted or executed with due diligence; determine whether any person, and in particular, officers of the GPF had information before and after reports were made of a plan to assassinate the President and whether any such officers communicated that information

to a superior authority.

Commissioners will also record and report on what official action was taken on the basis of the information received and whether there was due diligence by the officers of the GPF in the investigation of the plan to assassinate the President and determine whether there was failure, neglect or omission to thoroughly and properly investigate the plan to assassinate the President and determine whether such failure or omission was intentional.

The Commissioners will seek to also determine the blameworthiness for the failure or neglect of officers or persons involved in the investigation and recommend action to be taken against persons found to be blameworthy.

They will also recommend steps that can be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incident and identify systemic issues, if any, in the GPF’s competence to investigate matters of this nature. The report is due to be submitted to President Granger on August 18.

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese shot dead in NY A

n emotionally disturbed US-based Guyanese was on Monday shot dead by officers attached to the NYPD after it was alleged that he attacked them with a kitchen knife in his Brooklyn apartment.

The dead man has been identified as 32-year-old Dwayne Jeune of Flatbush Gardens Apartment Complex, NY and of Lot 433 Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara.

He was shot once to the chest by an officer, who only last year was involved in a similar fatal shooting. Fox News reported that the man was acting erratic and as such, his mother was forced to contact the Police.

However, as the Police ranks arrived

Dead: Dwayne Jeune

at the scene, Jeune allegedly charged at them with his kitchen knife resulting in one rank deploying a Taser which proved ineffective. It was at this time that another rank discharged a round, mortally hitting the mentally ill man.

The now dead man was no stranger to his neighbours who recalled hearing odd behaviour,

but no violent outbursts.

The now dead man left Guyana in 1992 and only last year became a US citizen.

His sister, Glenda Jeune, who resides in Guyana explained that her brother was an easy going person and totally the opposite of how he was described by the media.

“He was caring, loving and a very calm individual… He reaches out to his family and I am not too sure what went on before he was shot dead,” the sister noted.

She however, received the news of her brother’s demise on Monday afternoon and was told that the shooting incident took place around 14:00h in the presence of her mother.

The aggrieved sister explained that her

brother was distressed and in such a situation, her mother would call 911 and the paramedics would take him to get his medication. However, on the day in question, the ranks who responded to the call, barged into the house using a bright torch light.

“My mother told me that she was sitting with my brother when the cops entered the house… they had a bright light… they shine the light in her face and she couldn’t see so she moved away from her son a little and it was then she heard two gunshots,” the sister related.

After hearing the gunshots, her mother went into the room because she was scared but later came out and it was then she realised that her son was killed.

“My mother said that at no point in time, my brother attacked the Police with a knife… the knife was in the kitchen and it is believed that after my mother was escorted out of the house, the Police ranks planted the knife and to make it look as if he attacked them”.

The family, she not-

ed, is in disarray as a result of the shooting incident and have since contacted a lawyer to look into the case, since they believe the man was murdered.

A year ago, the trigger-friendly Police rank had killed a mentally ill woman whom he claimed had attacked him.

Upgraded security systems for new Camp Street Prison

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hile there was already a security system in place at the time of the July 9, 2017 Camp Street Prison fire, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said on Monday that Government will be seeking to improve the system when the new holding buildings are constructed.

Speaking to journalists at a press conference at his Brickdam office, Ramjattan said “we plan to upgrade the security system for those who will be in the new brick prison and the infirmary and administrative buildings prefabricated as they will come there.

We will have to enhance the camera system and all the other security surveillance equipment,” he said.

Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels said on Monday that at the time of the fire, systems were already in place. In fact, during the fire persons were on the ground upgrading the system, he told journalists.

Funding for the new security systems is included in the G$756 million supplementary funding requested by Government for rehabilitative works to be carried out on both the Georgetown and Lusignan Prisons.

Security at the Camp Street Prison will cost some G$62 million.

Meanwhile, pressed about the whereabouts of the gun used in the shooting incident on the afternoon of the fire, Samuels said as far as he is aware, there is no information that shows where the prisoner got the handgun from. Up to this point also, the gun has not been retrieved.

“Because of the magnitude of the fire, I assume that the handgun could have been totally destroyed. The method also used to remove the debris could have

also resulted in it being removed undetected. Efforts were made to comb the area to find the gun,” Samuels said.

Police are working on information obtained from several injured prison wardens that ex-officer, Uree Varswyk had used a gun to shoot four of them. Questions still linger about the events that led to prison warden Odinga Wickham’s shooting to death and the injuring of his colleagues.

Samuels revealed that it was ex-Police Officer and murder accused, Uree Varswyk who shot four of the injured officers.

Officer Jason Maltay was stationed in the Administrative building while officer Hubert Trim said he was beaten and stabbed about the body by prisoner Shawn Collins. He also confirmed that he was chopped by Bartica massacre convict Mark Royden Williams, who is also known as “Mark Durant” and “Smallie”.

The media was told that all four prison officers corroborated the account of the ex-Policeman shooting them.

Prison officers believe Williams was the mastermind of the riot which led to the escape of several prisoners from Camp Street; three of whom remain on the run. Another prisoner who was transferred to Lusignan remains on the run.

As it relates to the shortage of officers at the prison, efforts are being made to address the staffing situation.

According to Samuels, the recruitment board has already interviewed a few persons but the training school is currently being used to house staff providing additional support at the Lusignan Prison. “It will be unfair for us to bring raw civilians off the road and put them there,” he said.

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

176 years after Emancipation

news 13

African Guyanese still have a long way to go – Hinds

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lmost 18 decades after Emancipation, the general condition of African Guyanese is not as encouraging as one would want it to be. And with the economic and social evolution happening globally, Guyanese of African descent are a far way off.

Cultural and African rights activist, Dr David Hinds weighing in on the issue on Monday said there has been a significant decline in the general standard of living in the African communities across Guyana, which has led to a general sense of alienation and frustration.

According to him, a lot of the problems in these communities have to do with the challenges that the African-Guyanese economy has had to face historically.

“We must start with the challenges within the context of the colonial economy, which saw the African village economy as a direct affront to the interests of colonialism.

Second, we must look at it within the context of the ethnic competition — from decolonisation to the present– whereby the ethnic demarcation of the Guyanese economy, itself a legacy of colonialism, has made economic progress in the separate ethnic communities a victim of the larger ethnic politics,” he told this newspaper.

Hinds said although the decline in AfricanGuyanese communities was not just economic, their economic condition has a lot to do with it.

Zooming in on the last set of data published some two decades ago revealed that 43 per cent of African Guyanese were living below the poverty line, while their unemployment rate stood at 13.6 per cent – two per cent above the national rate of 11.7 per cent.

“There is every reason to believe that those numbers have not changed – in fact, things are more likely to have become worse,” the African rights activist said.

Another area of concern, he said, is the fact that African Guyanese are not well represented in the business sector.

He explained that most African Guyanese are employed in the Public Sector, which has seen the highest reduction of jobs over the last two decades and which because of structural adjustment pays less than other sectors, both public and private.

“More than any other group, African Guyanese work for others. The African Guyanese com-

EMANCIPATION FEVER: These lovely young ladies took the time for a photo op before hitting the stage at the African Cultural and Development Association's Emancipation Day celebrations 2017 in the National Park, in Georgetown

munity has one of the highest rates of functional illiteracy and homelessness.

They own less transported land than other races and live in the most run-down houses in both the urban and rural areas,” he remarked.

Hinds said it was the combination of all these things that was at the heart of the “crisis” in the African-Guyanese community. In addition, he posited the evolution of a culture of accommodation where “political bribery” has led to a weakening of group solidarity, pride, and dignity. Finally, he said heavy migration has had a negative effect on the community.

One of the devastating consequences, he said, has been the loss of role models who live day to day in the communities.

He said one could not discount the impact of some negative group habits, but these should be seen within the larger dynamics of post-plantation evolution among the formerly enslaved.

“It is clear to me then that the emancipation of African-Guyanese has become a very urgent necessity for that group and for Guyana at large. There is definitely need for some form of Affirmative Action to correct the structural changes facing AfricanGuyanese, particularly in the business sector.

Unless African-Guyanese can compete again in the business sector, that community would remain dependent and empowerment would be an elusive dream,” Hinds said.

He added the Government must muster the courage to implement policies and create institutions that cater to this particular problem, noting that in the country’s fragile ethnic environment, such a course of action was fraught with political risks, including charges of “favouritism” being laid by the political Opposition and the ethnic

commentators. However, he said he saw no other way out.

Hinds said if AfricanGuyanese were to return

to agriculture, then the infrastructure in the villages must be repaired or put in place where it did not exist.

Another area in which investment should be made, he said, is the creation or improvement of small businesses. “There

is urgent need for a banking institution that provides low-interest loans.

The situation with the vendors should be solved, so that their location offers them commercial benefits. They must be able to sell in areas where buyers traverse; confining them to a yard, which is away from the path of buyers is counter-productive,” he stated.

Hinds said African people must understand that Governments were important and the larger institutions of society were important. However, it is only through their collective effort, they can draw attention to their situation and thereby can begin to do something to repair it. Once you begin to do something to repair it, then you begin to put pressure on those who are in authority, he said.

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President urges Guyanese to honour ancestors by preserving legacy

Worshippers at the Glory Light Tabernacle in Plaisance, East Coast Demerara decked out in their African wear as they sang praise and worship songs at the Sunrise Worship Breakfast on Tuesday morning

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peaking at the Glory Light Tabernacle’s annual Sunrise Worship Breakfast in the East Coast village of Plaisance on Tuesday morning, President David Granger called on the pastor and congregation of the Glory Light Tabernacle to ensure that the community remembers their ancestors who made the village a reality while showing the present generation the heights that can be achieved with

hard work and commitment.

Granger urged the gathering to lead the way to hold a prayer service for this village this year, the 175th anniversary and reminded the populace that the task of nation-building does not end with the 89,000 persons, who fought and won their liberation. “Nation-building is a continuous process.

We have to carry on the work that they started but we have to evaluate our ef-

forts,” the President posited.

While recognising that the freed slaves were poor and uneducated, the Head of State noted that they were rich in their understanding of their responsibility to maintain their families; the sole reason why they pooled their resources and started the Village Movement.

Within the first decade post-Emancipation, freed slaves purchased 15,000 acres of land at the value

of G$1 million, which they transformed into communities overtime; Plaisance which sits on approximately 300 acres of land, purchased by 65 persons in 1842.

“This nation’s ancestors purchased these villages.

They helped to transform what was then a series of plantations into a nation…

We have inherited a beautiful gift and I urge you to celebrate that gift. I urge you on this Emancipation Day to consider what would have been going through the minds of your ancestors 179 years ago when they gained their freedom.

They saw their freedom as an instrument not to have fun, but as an instrument to make their children and grandchildren happy for eternity,” the President said.

Moreover, he told residents that the best way to

pay homage to their ancestors would be by preserving the four pillars of a strong community, which was bestowed upon them by the people who endured the inhumane horror of slavery.

The annual event was well attended by members of the community in patri-

otically attired in colourful African prints, as a special tribute to the rich culture that was brought to Guyana by their predecessors. In attendance were Attorney General Basil Williams and Chairperson of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Genevieve Allen.

Govt looking at rehiring retired officers to boost prison security

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he Guyana Prison Service has issued a call for retired, senior non-commissioned officers of the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force or the Prison Service to return in wake of a fire that destroyed the Camp Street Prison and multiple jail breaks.

This is according to a statement from the Government, in which Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels announced that applications from these individuals were welcome. This, he said, was in order to strengthen the capacity of the prisons.

“Recent challenges which the Guyana Prison Service has been faced with require us to look at all possibilities in strengthening our internal capacity,” he stated.

“We know that there is a core of experienced security services officers who have expressed a willingness to continue to give service to the nation and we believe it would be eminently sensible to engage these officers at this time,” he said.

Samuels invited these retired officers wanting to join the Guyana Prison Service to submit written applications to his office at 46 Brickdam, Stabroek.

Following the fire at the Camp Street Prison that razed the prison and resulted in a number of dangerous prisoners escaping, it was announced that steps had been taken to boost up the security at other jails such as the Mazaruni prison, where a complement of prisoners were moved.

It is understood that since the fire, over 400 prisoners have been transferred to penitentiaries in Mazaruni, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), New Amsterdam in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and Timehri, East Bank Demerara, Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). The officer to prisoner ratio has, how-

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels

ever, always been a challenge, with it being revealed to be 10 to 1000 or one to 100.

In March 2016, a fire raged through the Camp Street Prison and claimed the lives of 17 prisoners. Afterwards, a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) which cost the Treasury some G$13 million was ordered by President David Granger.

According to the report compiled by the Commissioners, the combination of overcrowding, uncomfortable and unhygienic confinement are all ideal conditions for epidemics, for gangs to prosper and to propagate discontent.

Moreover, the CoI found that reducing numbers in prison to manageable levels is the single most important priority for establishing safe, humane and purposeful prisons.

It was further noted that repeat offenders have increased by over 100 per cent, “indicating not only a waste of taxpayers’ dollars but also the need for a more comprehensive and structured partnership within the wider justice system.”

But despite these recommendations, the Director of Prisons himself confirmed that at the time of the fire, which gutted Camp Street Prison, over 1000 prisoners were being housed at the prison. The Camp Street Prison was originally built to house nearly half that number.

The amount of prison officers on duty at the time is still unclear, as records were destroyed in the inferno.

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PPP confident of victory at 2020 elections – Jagdeo

By Samuel Sukhnandan

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ith more than three years left before the next General Election in Guyana, the Opposition has made known its intention to get the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government out of office when Guyanese head to the polls in 2020.

While making several points about the perceived weaknesses of the current Administration, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo argued that Guyanese from all walks of life were not pleased with the performance of the Government, and these people were not just supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Jagdeo claimed that many people who voted for the new Government were now regretting their decision and have openly expressed how they feel about its performance in several areas.

He said the “good life” which was promised was nowhere close to being realised and Guyanese were cognisant of that fact.

The former Head of State, who is also General Secretary of the PPP, made these remarks on Sunday while addressing a massive crowd of supporters at a public meeting at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

He said while the PPP recognised that its support base was mainly people of Indo-Guyanese origin, there was also much support from the first peoples of Guyana – the Amerindians.

However, Jagdeo observed that the Party has had trouble in attracting a large support base in Afro-Guyanese communities because it has been often peddled by its opponents that the Party was racial.

But the Opposition Leader claimed that that was far from the truth because the PPP was a multi-cultural party, whose members come from all races in Guyana, including AfroGuyanese.

While claiming that the 2015 election was not fair, Jagdeo said the PPP was defeated only by 4500 votes. “We are going to take this country back. One year later, at Local Government Elections, we swept the polls with 28,000 votes.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

But they didn’t say anything about that. If we go to the polls now, there would be 50,000 difference (more votes),” Jagdeo confidently boasted during the public meeting.

He said Government officials were claiming that the Americans were on their side and have guaranteed them 10 years in office, but he knew that was “not true because I have spoken to the people.”

Further, the former President claimed that the Government’s plan for sugar could be an attempt to get people to migrate, but promised supporters that the PPP would get the APNU/ AFC coalition out of office.

Jagdeo was critical of the Government removing the G$1.67 billion grant for schoolchildren, stating that the tax write-off given to companies could have been used to keep that subsidy instead.

He also referenced the removal of subsidies for electricity and water from 44,000 pensioners, claiming that the Government was not spending money where it was needed.

The APNU/AFC narrowly won the 2015 General Election, securing 206,817 votes while the PPP/Civic accumulated 201,457 votes, a difference of 5360 votes.

The coalition’s gain created a devastating loss for the PPP/C, which held political power for over 23 years.

The PPP/C’s grip on political power was strong until the 2011 General and Regional Elections when it lost parliamentary control.

As a result, a few years before the 2015 election, then President Donald Ramotar ruled Guyana in a minority government. The APNU/ AFC secured 33 seats in the 11th Parliament of Guyana, while the PPP/C received 32 seats.

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“Can you please help me?” …9-yr-old appeals for assistance to undergo lifesaving surgery

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an you please help me," these were the words of a nineyear-old, who, along with his mother is appealing to the public for financial assistance to offset expenses to be incurred in his much needed live-saving liver transplant procedure.

Jamal Williams of Lot 248, West Indian Housing Scheme, Bartica had, in January 2016, been diagnosed with a tumor on his liver, sustained when he was injured during an accident at school.

It was not until he was rushed to the hospital crying out in pain that a tumor was discovered on his liver. The nine-year-old has since been the object of a series of medical emergencies, forcing him to frequent hospitals.

Natasha Williams, the mother of the ailing child, is now left jobless as she is occupied with caring for her child, who suffers with a swollen stomach and a series of medical complications that affect his daily life.

The distressed mother explained her experience ever since Jamal was diagnosed. “He was a normal child, but since he was diagnosed with this tumor, it became a real difficulty for me,” she explained.

She added, “It got times with Jamal take in you don’t know what to do, life don’t be easy for me. I does got to run up and down in hospital with him, because Jamal’s complains are very serious.”

She has resigned herself to dedicating her time to caring for her one son, who is sickly. She related that the task is difficult, espe-

cially since it often results in the neglect of his five other siblings.

Meanwhile, the nine-yearold, in his cry for assistance, outlined his plight brought on by the tumor.

“Sometimes my belly start to hurt, I faint away, I can’t breathe, I get short of breath,” the young man said. His condition has caused him to not attend school for more than a year.

As his condition continues to deteriorate, Jamal is in urgent need of surgery; but his family is unable to afford the costly procedure, especially since it cannot be conducted in Guyana.

The cost of the surgery, which will be performed in India, is US$50,000.

However, given that the organ sample needed for the transplant would most likely be donated by one of his parents, they now need to raise additional funding to cater for travel, accommodation and other expenses during the journey to India.

As such, Williams is asking the public to assist in ensuring her son receives the surgery he needs to survive. “…I am a poor woman, so I am pleading with the public in Guyana so that they can see with me to just save a life. It could’ve been anybody’s child. Life is what matters…,” she declared.

Adding to the appeals of his mother, Jamal is reaching out to citizens to aid in his fight to stay alive.

“Can you help me?

I want to live to grow up and see my mother get good, and I want to go back to school,” the child said as he seeks help for his surgery.

Persons desirous of making a donation towards Jamal’s surgery can do so by depositing their contributions in Scotiabank account #175-441 or contact his family at +592-6905092, +592-689-0957, +592-673-4238 or +592661-6106 for further information.

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

’s poor financial performance Paternity leave among 22 NICIL due to Govt’s mismanagement, recommendations from neglect, says PPP/C Gender Commission I

– as 5th and 6th annual reports tabled in National Assembly

By Jarryl Bryan

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he fifth and sixth annual reports of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, covering 2015 to 2017, was recently tabled in the National Assembly.

Paternity leave for men is among the 22 recommendations the Commission wants the Government to take action on.

According to the reports, the Commission wants the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to implement this measure, a move that will be seen by many as a progressive one. At present, only women benefit from any leave covered under the law, specifically for early child care.

In fact, even the threemonth maternity leave currently being offered runs counter to calls from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for six months’ leave.

Last year, then Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence had identified the extension of maternity leave and the provision of paternity leave as two likely items on the parliamentary agenda for this year.

Better for all

In 2015, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) had called for more employers to support breastfeeding mothers in the Caribbean and the Americas. The Organisation stated that the employers were more than likely to reap the benefits for their businesses and their countries’ economies.

PAHO had stressed the need to support women in balancing work and family, especially where breastfeeding their babies was concerned.

Empirically researched public health recommendations have articulated the health benefits of breastfeeding, which ranged from reduced infections and improved IQ (intelligence quotient), in babies, to lowering the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in mothers.

The Health Organisation stated that promoting breastfeeding in the workplace increased benefits for employers, including employee loyalty to companies as a result of gratitude and satisfaction, and reduced absenteeism because breastfeeding employees’ babies

The Commission is chaired

by Indranie Chandarpal

get sick less often and less severely.

Therefore, it recommended that employers employ policies, specifically paid maternity leave, paid breaks for breastfeeding, a dedicated room for breastfeeding in the workplace that is private and hygienic, and flexible or reduced working hours for breastfeeding mothers.

Domestic violence and juvenile justice

In the wake of the recent murder of 17-yearold Parbattie Lakhpal, allegedly at the hands of her paramour; the additional recommendation from the Commission for the full enactment of the Domestic Violence Act gains added weight.

The Commission also recommended the vigorous enforcement of protective orders and that breaches be dealt with accordingly. In April, a protective order was not enough to save 29-yearold Dhanwantie Ram of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, who was found strangled with a bed sheet. Her husband has since been charged. Her case is not an isolated one.

The Commission also urged the speedy enactment of the Juvenile Justice Reform Bill. The Government has taken action on this, as it is expected to be laid in the National Assembly in October.

There were also recommendations for Government to sign on to the optional protocol of women. The Commission also recommended that Government initiate pilots of Counselling Centres and Friendship Benches in communities.

Other recommendations The other recommendations from the Commission are for Government to enact legislation and formulate policy that caters for sexual harassment in the work-

place and to strengthen gender focus in the Public Service. In fact, all programmes and policies should reflect gender mainstreaming for all Government employees.

Parliament is not left out, however. According to the Commission, it wants gender parity in both Parliament and Local Government bodies to be instituted and maintained. This, it stated, is in keeping with Guyana’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number five: achieving gender equality.

The Commission also wants more comprehensive sexual and reproductive age-appropriate health and rights education to be included in schools. It also called for “gender mainstreaming” to be incorporated into the school curriculum.

“Promote parenting skills training in pre- and postnatal clinics in all health centres,” the report urges. “(And) encourage more male-friendly health centres such as the pilot project in Region Five.”

“Gender sensitivity training should be mandatory for all judicial, protective services, health and social services personnel, especially those who interact with the public as part of their job,” the report recommends.

The report also chronicles the need for a National Gender Advisory Committee to be established, for Government to implement more “gender responsive” budgets and for a workplace policy on flexible working hours for all caregivers.

Not forgetting those with disabilities, the Commission recommended that all public buildings should be made accessible to persons with disabilities. In addition, it called for all Government documents to be clearly understandable. It identified the use of braille as an example.

The Commission is chaired by Indranie Chandarpal of the Women’s Progressive Organisation.

The Deputy Chairperson is Cheryl Sampson from the National Congress of Women.

The other Commissioners are drawn from the labour unions, regional women’s affairs committees, culture and ethnic groups and the Private Sector.

n observing recent media reports about the poor financial performance of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has criticised Government, saying the agency’s performance is reflective of two years of mismanagement.

The PPP/C said in a statement that under its leadership, the Privatisation Unit of NICIL contributed tens of billions of dollars to the Treasury from dividends and privatisation receipts.

However, under the coalition Government, NICIL’s finances have been allowed to dwindle due to grave mismanagement and neglect. It was also noted that legal proceedings involving billions of dollars against the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/Alliance For Change (AFC) are not being actively pursued.

“Valuable real estate that could have been sold or rented are poorly managed and are allowed to deteriorate,” the Opposition PPP further pointed out.

The Party said given the billions of dollars NICIL contributed to the Treasury, it is still to be known, “How much has been transferred under APNU and where the audited accounts are.”

NICIL produced and laid in Parliament clean audit reports, for both NICIL and its subsidiaries, up to the time that the PPP left Government. As such, the Party is now questioning what APNU/AFC has done.

The PPP recalled that when former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran’s report on NICIL was handed back to him, it contained over 100 plus pages of responses. However, the APNU/ AFC has never published these responses or similar type responses to the many forensic audits.

It was however noted that the Privatisation Unit has published details on all its transactions, including details relating to transparency and transaction values.

Under the PPP the Party said, NICIL made economic contributions and investments and loss-making entities were restructured, privatised or improved and NICIL found ways to ensure that its assets were properly managed and contributing financial and economic returns.

“Under the PPP, NICIL was not handed a golden spoon – it was innovative and created substantial value; it investments were not white elephants like the D’Urban Park project,” the PPP statement said.

The Opposition party said if NICIL’s investments in the Berbice Bridge, Marriott or Skeldon Energy have not performed in accordance with its feasibilities, there is a clear connection with how the APNU/AFC policy decisions, incompetence, or action, have directly contributed to any sub-par performance.

“The PPP calls on these matters to be debated in the National Assembly and for APNU to provide all relevant information,” the statement added.

Saving bauxite The Opposition said NICIL/PU was relentless in saving the bauxite industry, where hundreds of millions of dollars were injected to maintain the operations in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) from Linmine, Bermine and then Aroaima Bauxite.

Even after privatisation, from 2004, the now acting Chief Executive Officer of NICIL, Horace James, and a large secretariat, were maintained

NICIL CEO Horace James

and funded by NICIL to ensure that all matters relating to Linmine were fully addressed and that maximum development was achieved.

“No one mentions these today.

Government similarly injected billions of dollars for decades. Linden residents receive electricity at highly subsidised rates today relative to the consumers who pay GPL for power, including power generated by SEI of almost 90 billion KWH,” the PPP noted.

The party said for decades monies were used for support; saving jobs and keeping bauxite alive.

Despite the Marriott, Berbice Bridge and Skeldon Energy Inc as described as “blunders” by NICIL, the PPP/C said Marriott today provides many jobs and is the largest taxpayer in the hospitality sector.

“It is no secret that the Marriott project was handicapped when the APNU/AFC Government shelved completion of the casino that was going to be operated by Marriott; funding was already arranged from Republic Bank but it was delayed by court proceedings filed by an APNU Member of Parliament.”

The party said shortly after the APNU/AFC took office, the coalition Government immediately withdrew the legal proceedings and signed the debenture – yet the monies were never utilised to complete the casino and reimburse NICIL for its investment.

No blunder In respect of Skeldon Energy Inc (SEI), the Guyana Suagr Corporation (GuySuCo) is yet to transfer the energy assets, which have been held up by its Chairman Clive Thomas. The Opposition party believes therefore that GuySuCo should pay back the monies advanced by GPL and NICIL, since Clive Thomas has breached this agreement.

A few months ago, SEI Chairman Lloyd Rose exposed that GuySuCo had never transferred the assets that GPL and NICIL had paid for.

The PPP/C said that means that the US$20 million plus in funds paid by GPL and GuySuCo, have benefited the 50,000 persons that are affected

by GuySuCo. In making reference to the Berbice Bridge Project, the PPP/C said when it left office in May 2015, NICIL had no investments in the Berbice Bridge.

However the coalition Government attacked the Berbice Bridge project and breached the agreements with the many Private Sector investors.

The Party also thinks Government was simply playing politics when it reduced tolls, especially since in less than one year, it passed on massive tax increases and fees including the Demerara Bridge toll increase, and attempted to push through the Parking Meter Contract.

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt moves to National Assembly to request millions for procurement commission – as Cabinet continues to grant ‘no objections’ to contracts

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he Government has moved to the National Assembly to seek some G$54.1 million in supplemental funding for the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). The money is intended to pay the salaries of the Chairperson and other officials, among other expenses.

This was revealed when Finance Minister Winston Jordan laid Government’s financial paper Number Two in the National Assembly on Thursday last. The requests form part of the schedule of supplementary provisions totalling G$2.5 billion for January to December 2017 and come under line item three of the current estimates.

An examination of the financial paper reveals that funds are being sought to pay the salaries of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and three Commissioners. A request was also made for funds to pay auxiliary staff, including those from the accounting and engineering sections.

Requests were also made for funding to cover expenses related to

From left: Carol Corbin; Sukrishnalall Pasha; President David Granger; Ivor Burnette English; former Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Kishore Gopaul and Emily Dodson at the Ministry of the Presidency when the Public Procurement Commission was sworn in last year

the rent, security, telephone, electricity, water, materials, equipment and supplies incurred by the Commission.

Fuel, local travel and subsistence, as well as vehicle spares, janitorial and cleaning supplies, equipment maintenance and cleaning, extermination and training for the months August to December 2017 also factor into the request.

According to the financial paper, the PPC was in the process of being established during the 2017 budget preparation and was not functional at the time.

Procurement Act

The PPC was established last October. It is tasked, as set out by the Procurement Act, to “mon-

itor and review the functioning of all procurement systems to ensure that they are in accordance with law and such policy guidelines as may be determined by the National Assembly”, among other duties.

It is also tasked with promoting “awareness of the rules, procedures, and special requirements of the procurement process among suppliers, contractors and public bodies, and safeguard the national interest in public procurement matters, having due regard to any international obligations”.

The Act also stipulates that “it will, as well, monitor the performance of procurement bodies with respect to adherence to regulations and efficien-

cy in procuring goods and services and execution of works; approve of procedures for public procurement, disseminate rules and procedures for public procurement, and recommend modifications thereto to the public procurement entities”.

Specifically, section 54(6) of the Procurement Act, Chapter 73:05 states, “Cabinet’s involvement under this section shall cease upon the constitution of the Public Procurement Commission except in relation to those matters referred to in subsection (1) which are pending.”

The members of the Commission currently are Emily Dodson, Carol Corbin, Ivor English, Nandkishore Gopaul and

Sukrishnalall Pasha.

When the Commission was installed last year, President David Granger had said, at that time, that it would take the brunt of work off the shoulders of Government Ministers.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has been vocal against Cabinet continuing its no-objection’ arrangement.

However, although the Commission has settled in, Government continued to grant its no objection to contracts. When he was asked about the situation earlier this year, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had said the group had indicated that it was not in a position to begin its work.

“The Public Procurement Commission indicated that some time in January they will be ready to execute their mandate. Right now, they are not ready, because there are still some critical appointments to be made in the Commission and, therefore, the role of granting no objection to contracts remains with Cabinet,” he told the media.

In an about-turn soon after, however, the PPC had indicated that a lit-

eral interpretation of the Constitution would not allow it to take over the Cabinet’s function in giving approval to contracts.

It had zeroed in on Section 54 of the Act. “A literal interpretation of this section directs the immediate cessation of Cabinet’s role once the PPC is constituted. (It does not), however, provide for the PPC to take over that function from Cabinet. The role of the PPC is limited to approving the format of the streamlined report to be sent to Cabinet and if all of Section 54 (1) is to prevail, reviewing the threshold of the value of contracts to be reviewed by the Cabinet,” it had said in a statement.

“Based on the foregoing, the Commission is not empowered by the Constitution or the Act to grant no objection or to award contracts. The awarding of contracts is the responsibility of the Procuring Entities and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board. These agencies are responsible for the public advertisements of contracts, evaluation of bids and ultimate approval and award of contracts.”

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Cadet Corps to be introduced Govt’s Broadcast Bill a threat to press freedom – Jagdeo in Guyana’s high schools

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F

ollowing up on a commitment made

by President David Granger, secondary schools in Guyana could soon see the implementation of the National Cadet Corps, an initiative to be spearheaded by the Education Ministry and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

The reimplementation of the National Cadet Corps is the brainchild of President David Granger, who was himself a member of the Queen’s College Cadet Corps while a student there. The objective of the programme is to provide students with basic leadership skills, while affording them the opportunity to travel the country.

The process commenced on Friday in the boardroom of the GDF headquarters, Camp Ayanganna, where acting Education Minister Nicolette Henry was briefed on the programmes by Chief-of-Staff (CoS) Patrick West and

Education Minister (ag) Nicolette Henry being briefed by Army officials last Friday

other military officials.

Last year when President Granger announced the re-introduction of the programme, he said his intention was not militarisation, but giving the youth an opportunity to explore the country.

“I do believe that in secondary school youngsters should be exposed to leadership skills, teamwork, to sport, (and) to travel.”

All these, the President said, could prepare them for a military or civilian career in the future, as the experience they would gain will take them through life.

The Corps will also provide recreational and

Destroying…

…democracy Over the last few centuries, there’s been much discussion as to why England, a small island on the periphery of the then developed economies in Asia (China and India), was able to incubate the “industrial revolution” that made that country leapfrog over them all. England, then Europe, and then the US, was able to sustain economic growth rates that had never been achieved by mankind.

You’d think our leaders in Guyana would’ve followed that discussion and tried to apply the lessons here, wouldn’t you? Well, if you did think that but read about the latest law passed by this Government, you’d realise you wasted a thought.

Imagine, this PNC-led coalition government had the temerity to mandate that PRIVATE BROADCASTERS — who pay and therefore own their assigned portion of broadcast spectrum — must hand over one hour of programming every day to content that they — the Government — would designate!!

Now this one hour is above and beyond emergency broadcasts — like if the Venezuelans are attacking, or the escaped bandits are sighted in Buxton, or such like. Folks need to know about that, and broadcasters could understand. It’s even above and beyond broadcasts of Presidential messages to the nation — those must be carried, and those times do not count. This one-hour that’s being expropriated is for WHATEVER the Government says must be broadcasted.

And your Eyewitness arrives at connecting this action to the undermining of development.

When England and Europe forged ahead developmentally back in the day, it was all based on three principles that had been made sacrosanct: life, liberty and PROPERTY! It was only when property could be owned privately by individuals, and the government couldn’t arbitrarily seize it, that self-sustaining growth and development was possible.

The USSR tried a different way, in which there was no respect for private property, didn’t they? They called it ‘communism’. Look where it got THEM! While the Chinese give lip service to communism, ask why they have the most

learning opportunities for youths between the ages of 12 and 18 during the August holidays.

President Granger said too that the Corps would also play up the importance of teamwork, and all the good traits which come with public service.

The Head of State noted, however, that the National Cadet Corps would not be compulsory, but would be open to all youths.

Over the years, at least three Cadet Corps – the Army Cadet Company, the Queen’s College Cadet Company and the National Cadet Corps were formed, but all had been dissolved.

billionaires on Planet Earth today! Heck, why even look abroad?? Didn’t Burnham also had his government interfere with private ownership of property, which torpedoed our economy?? From which we still haven’t recovered?

And in fact, his seizure of private property included several media houses — now “the Chronicle”, Guyana Broadcasting Services and NCN — so his successor’s seizure of private broadcasting rights is just rubbing salt into the wound of the bases of democracy and the free enterprise system.

Where will this end? Taking over businesses to serve as Knowledge Sharing Institutes? This recent attack on our right to property puts us on the road to serfdom.

We must stand together to defend property and democracy! …security credibility While there have been strident calls for Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to resign in the wake of three prison breakouts from “big jails” — and one from the “trainee” one at Onderneeming — the problem goes way beyond him. Maybe he SHOULD commit political hara kiri — which has precedence in the British Parliamentary system — but we’d still have the structural problems that caused the breakout, wouldn’t we?

And from the role Pressie played on the Disciplined Forces Commission back in 2004, he knows what those problems are.

Heck, even back when he headed the army as a Brigadier, he knew. Fundamentally it all comes back to the deprofessionalisation of our security forces through their politicisation. For instance, Burnham inherited the nucleus of an army from the British; it was constituted just two years before independence — the Special Forces Unit.

This was ethnically representative of the country’s population. But Burnham disbanded it and formed an army in his image.

As he told them — and by default the other forces — the “professionalism” of the British had to go! …the nation’s spirit The blackouts of the Burnhamite years symbolised the political darkness into which the nation had been plunged.

Is the present spate a harbinger of a new political darkness?

he Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017 was laid in the National Assembly on Thursday, but concerns have been raised about its far-reaching powers ever since it was revealed to contain provisions that compel private media to air Government broadcasts.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press conference on Friday, zeroed in on the bill — which he referred to as an “expropriation of property and time” – adamantly contending that even when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was in office, it would not have dared make such a bill law, even though TV stations had refused to air programmes the then Government was willing to pay for.

“You would recall that when the coalition Government was in charge of the Parliament, between 2012 and 2015, they argued that GINA (Government Information Agency) was carrying too many Government programmes and that (a) minister doing their work was propaganda,” Jagdeo said.

He reminded that the then Opposition, which had a one-seat majority in Parliament, cut the GINA budget, leaving that entity penniless.

“At that time, a minister visiting a project was propaganda. Now the GINA budget is bigger than it was before, and private radio stations and television stations are required to give one hour per day for free to the Government to broadcast those programmes,” Jagdeo lamented.

Touching on the 24hour timeframe that a broadcasting entity has to register with the Guyana Broadcasting Authority (GBA) its objection to carrying a particular broadcast, Jagdeo noted that a “win-win” situation has been created for the Government, because even if the GBA rules that the broadcast is not a public service announcement, the only outcome would be that the Government has to pay for its airing.

“So it doesn’t say, ‘You can’t carry it’, ‘(Government) just have to pay for it’. So automatically the Government gets your time, whether it is a (PSA) or not, for free; or they can pay for it. You don’t have any control over (that situation).

“This,” he continued, “is the beginning of the expropriation of public airwaves and getting

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Government propaganda to all parts of this country for free. These are just two elements of this bill that we will have to oppose.”

Jagdeo urged broadcasters not to sit idly by and allow the Government, through its one-seat majority, to get its way with the passage of the bill; but broadcasters should seek recourse through the courts.

“This will not stand anywhere; it’s tantamount to expropriation of property in respect to the power it gives the authority to take away people’s licences and, secondly, to expropriate the times they have on television,” the Opposition Leader said.

The bill

Part two of the bill sets out that broadcast agencies will be mandated to broadcast public service programmes for a total of up to one hour daily. Broadcast agencies will be airing these public service programmes free of cost and as requested by the Government between 6:00hrs and 22:00hrs.

It is also states that the GNBA reserves the right to direct a broadcasting agency to broadcast emergency notices or disaster warnings for any length of time, and regularly during peak or prime advertising time periods, depending on the nature of the emergency and having regard to public safety.

A broadcaster will have the right to file a complaint with the GNBA within 24 hours of being asked to broadcast a programme free of cost if, in the agency’s judgment, it is not considered a public service broadcast programme.

The GNBA, according to the draft provisos, “shall investigate and determine a complaint, and issue a ruling that the programme can be reasonably considered a public service broadcast programme, and direct the broadcasting agency to air the programme free of cost”.

Further, the broadcaster can “be granted an interim order to broadcast the announcement as a public service broadcast programme; and

where the programme is not so considered to be a public broadcast programme”, the GNBA can order payment of regular programme cost for broadcasting the said programme.” But there is even a warning for broadcasters daring to oppose the legislation: the bill states that any broadcaster the GNBA finds to have “arbitrarily refused” to broadcast a public service broadcast programme without lodging a complaint has committed an offence.

However, there is no mention of what the penalty for said breach actually is. Reports have indicated that the draft legislation contained provisions for the GNBA to deem the broadcaster in breach of their licence.

When contacted about the missing penalty, GNBA Chairman, former Magistrate Leslie Sobers, indicated that in the absence of a general penalty clause, punishment for arbitrarily refusing to air a PSA would be up to the courts.

Reapply

Revoking the 2014 broadcasting regulations, the Act also puts those broadcasters who are already licensed at the mercy of the authority.

It mandates that any licensed entity carrying out broadcast services immediately before the act went into effect will have no choice but to reapply within thirty days for a licence in accordance with the amended law.

“Where a person fails to make an application for a licence within the time specified, or where an application for a licence is not granted by (GNBA), he shall immediately cease to carry on the broadcasting service,” Section Nine, subsection three of the bill states.

Failing to cease operations if they are not granted a new licence by the GNBA would cause to be imposed on that broadcaster, on summary conviction, a fine of G$1M and imprisonment for one year. In addition, all machinery and equipment used for broadcasting by the entity can be seized.

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Opposition Leader slams Govt for ‘seeking to control’ Legislature, Judiciary

PPP/C Member of Parliament and Region Three Representative, Irfaan Ali addressing the meeting. Seated at right is Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

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p p o s i t i o n Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has hit out at the coalition Government for allegedly making moves to control the legislature and the Judiciary, terming the acts as

attacks on democracy and saying that the country was heading towards dictatorship, which obtained in the past during the Forbes Burnham regime.

“If they succeed in that, then no

Government action in the future we would be able to challenge in the courts and get a fair hearing. And they can do whatever they want to any citizen of this land,” Jagdeo told a public meeting hosted

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo mobbed by supporters at Leonora, West Coast Demerara on Sunday

in Leonora, West Coast Demerara on Sunday.

Making reference to the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) metre case which is currently before the courts, Jagdeo claimed that the Government was

given preference in that matter since the case was brought forward for an early hearing.

“We have seen cases where all the matters that we have before the courts now are deliberately delayed like the elections petition and so many other issues,” he explained.

Jagdeo continued: “We have to be careful that this does not become a trend because in free societies, an independent judiciary is indispensable,” the former President said, explaining that even in the case that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) wins the next elections, there still could be what he termed a “perversed decision by a court”.

He alleged, “If they go to the court – if a private citizen has a civil matter with the Government, they can direct the Judiciary to give a particular ruling.” Jagdeo said it was, therefore, important that citizens paid close attention to what was going on and ensure that they watch the Government’s moves.

“And we have seen this President for one year delaying the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) until he had his design rolled out,” Jagdeo said, claiming that certain members of that new body were selectively chosen to be part of the team, which may have some preference for the Government.

The Opposition Leader also drew the crowd’s attention to recent comments made

by Attorney General Basil Williams, who allegedly said the Judges were put there by the Government and ought to rule in its favour. “We have heard the President (David Granger) say there is

nothing wrong with the Attorney General threatening a judge in the court,” he added.

Speaking on the ongoing issue concerning the selection of a new chairman to head the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Jagdeo said citizens must not take lightly the words uttered by President Granger following the acting Chief Justice’s ruling, when he said that despite the mostly favourable judgment in relation to the issue, he would act in accordance with his perception.

Jagdeo also accused Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland of being a partisan individual and possibly being easily seen as the 34th Member of Parliament of the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) when in fact he should have been an independent arbiter.

“Almost any matter that seeks to question the Government, to hold them to account, he rules in their favour. Now when you look at the debates in Parliament, almost every single matter the Government gets its way,” he lamented, reminding supporters that Scotland did not find a debate on the future of sugar an issue of national importance.

The Opposition Leader further pointed out that complex bills were also rushed through Parliament, while accusing Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo of being the lead person to guide that hurried process. He said these issues were important for everyone to pay attention to, because “they may be very well watching us too…This is how dictatorship goes too.”

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Jilted T&T man to hang for murdering ex-wife, lover

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jilted husband and his friend were sentenced to death by hanging on Monday, for soliciting and contracting a hitman to murder the man’s ex-wife and her lover for $30,000 some 11 years ago.

Basdeo “Bas” Ramlochan and Siewkumar “Bobby” Chankapersad remained stone faced when Justice Malcolm Holdip twice sentenced them to death, but their relatives broke down in tears in the San Fernando First Assizes.

Their sobs, however, escalated into piercing screams as they stepped out of the courtroom.

It took the 12-member jury less than an hour to return guilty verdicts against both men, who went on trial in May for the murders of Sunita “Michelle Ramlochan, 29, and her common-law husband Rahim “Bam” Abraham, 46, a car dealer.

The State’s case was not that Ramlochan and his friend Chankapersad pulled the trigger, but that they sought out and hired a hitman to do the killings. The actual killers, who shot the couple in the bedroom of their Fyzabad home on the night of October 15, 2006, are still at large.

The evidence was that Sunita, Abraham and her 11-year-old daughter, who is also Ramlochan’s child, returned to their Kuldip Trace, St John’s Village, Avocat home around 11 pm after visiting the Divali Nagar site. They lived in a downstairs apartment at Sunita’s father’s home. Sunita’s father, who lived upstairs, told the police that five minutes after they got home he heard a bang and Sunita bawl “Oh God.” The father then heard Abraham ask: “What you doing here?” followed by four to five explosions.

The father started walking down the step, he said, when he saw two people going to the back of the house.

State attorneys Stacy Laloo-Chong and Anslem

Alexander led evidence from police officers that Chankarpersad confessed to soliciting and paying a hitman, on behalf of his co-accused, to murder the couple.

He gave the police an account of the role he played in the slayings.

The State also led evidence from a civilian witness (whose name has been withheld to protect him) that he was approached by Ramlochan on six occasions between 2004 and 2006 to help him find someone to carry out the murders.

The witness, a security guard, testified that Ramlochan complained that he was having marital problems and his wife wanted to take his money, house and child.

The State led evidence that Ramlochan and Sunita eventually separated and got a divorce.

Another civilian witness testified that in 2006 Ramlochan complained to him about his marital problems and told him he paid a man he called fatman $90,000 to carry out the murders, but nothing happened. The man also testified that Ramlochan told him that Chankapersad arranged a meeting with a hitman and he (Ramlochan) took the hitman to where his ex-wife was living. He further testified that in October 2016, he was at Ramlochan’s home when he (Ramlochan) threw a bag containing $30,000 on a table, saying, “You think is joke I does be making.”

Ramlochan, who was represented by attorney Rekha Ramjit, did not give evidence, but Chankapersad opted to testify. He admitted to soliciting a man named Strong from Marabella to do the killings for $30,000 and arranging for him to meet Ramlochan.

Both accused were arrested and charged by detective Peter Ramdeen in December 2006.

Chankapersad was represented by attorneys Bindra Dolsingh. The State called 21 witnesses and read and admitted into evidence the

statements of seven other witnesses, including Sunita’s deceased father.

Sunita’s mother, Elsie Beharry, also shed tears yesterday, but they were tears of joy that she finally got justice.

“My daughter was my happiness. This is all I wanted,” she said.

(Trinidad Guardian)

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Emancipation 2017

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Honouring an African Country: Democratic Republic of Congo

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Aerial view of the Democratic Republic of Congo capital, Kinshasa

he African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) honours an African country annually in celebration of Emancipation Day. This is done because most Guyanese of African descent cannot trace their ancestral roots to a particular African nation.

In choosing a particular African country to highlight every year, ACDA seeks to educate young and old about African countries and to remind them that Africa has 54 countries and is

not a single country like China or India or the United States.

Traditionally, ACDA honours an African country every Emancipation Festival by building an educational booth for that country. This year, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) was chosen as it is the second largest country in Africa with a very rich history and culture, something ACDA will proudly showcase during the observance of this year’s Emancipation Day. DR Congo is a vast

country with immense economic resources. It is for this fundamental reason that the African Cultural and Development Association has selected DR Congo as the country of focus. This country, which is located in Central Africa, shares many parallels with Guyana; it has a vast natural resource wealth which enables most of the world’s technology to exist. In addition, the Congolese people that reside in Guyana are direct descendants of settlers who came to Guyana as

indentured labourers after slavery. DR Congo and Guyana share a common past. Due to their similarities, their futures may as well be aligned.

With one of the largest populations in Africa, spread across a huge area, the people of DR Congo are made up of many hundreds of different groups, speaking a variety of Bantu languages. It is the second largest country on the continent.

With over 215 different mother tongues, the DR Congo is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. More than 250 ethnic groups have been identified and named, of which the majority are Bantu. The four largest groups - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu) - and the Mangbetu-Azande make up about 45 per cent of the population.

Although 700 local languages and dialects are spoken, the linguistic variety is bridged both by the use of French and the intermediary languages, such as Kongo, Luba-Kasai, Swahili, and Lingala.

The capital, Kinshasa, is located on the Congo River about 320 miles (515km) from its mouth.

The largest city in central Africa, Kinshasa serves as the country’s official administrative, economic, and cultural centre.

The country is often referred to by its acronym DRC or called Congo (Kinshasa) with the capital added parenthetically to distinguish it from the other Congo republic, which is officially called the Republic of the Congo and is often referred to as Congo (Brazzaville).

Most of Congo lies within the inner humid tropical, or equatorial,

DR Congo flag at the Rockfeller Center, US

climatic region extending five degrees north and south of the Equator.

Southern Congo and the far north have somewhat drier subequatorial climates. The seasonally mobile inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is a major determinant of the climate. Along this zone, the trade winds originating in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet, forcing unstable tropical air aloft. The air that is forced upward is cooled, and the resulting condensation produces prolonged and heavy precipitation.

At independence in 1960, the formal economy of Congo was based almost entirely on the extraction of minerals. The abundance of minerals in Katanga province was among those factors that attracted European powers to Congo in the 19th century. Minerals found in Katanga include copper, cobalt, zinc, cassiterite (the chief source of metallic tin), manganese, coal, silver, cadmium,

germanium (a brittle element used as a semiconductor), gold, palladium (a metallic element used as acatalyst and in alloys), uranium, and platinum. The region west of Lake Kivu contains cassiterite, columbotantalite, wolframite (a source of tungsten), beryl, gold, and monazite (a phosphate of the cerium metals and thorium). Lake Kivu also harbours vast reserves of methane, carbonic, and nitrogen natural gases. There are deposits of iron ore and gem-quality diamonds in south-central Congo, while the central regions are rich in industrial diamonds. In the northeast, there are gold, coal, and iron-ore deposits; there are prospective deposits of gold.

For more information on DR Congo, contact ACDA on 225-8420 or visit the Emancipation Festival on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at the National Park. (Text provided by ACDA)

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roverbs are an integral part of African culture, notes the BBC. Passed on from generation to generation for centuries, they are still in wide use today and are very much part of everyday speech.

Proverbs are used to illustrate ideas, reinforce arguments and deliver messages of inspiration, consolation, celebration and advice.

The great Nigerian author Chinua Achebe once wrote: “Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten.”

Here are a few proverbs to ponder on: “Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable” - (Kenya) “Wood already touched by fire is not hard to set alight” (Ashanti) “Beautiful words don’t put porridge in the pot” - (Botswana)

“Rain beats a leopard’s skin but doesn’t wash off the spots” (Ashanti) “Don’t sweep another’s house whilst your own is dirty” (Kenya) “You can wash the basket in the stream but you can’t carry water home with it” - (Nigeria) “A skunk does not smell itself” - (Xhosa/Ndebele) “Make some money but don’t let money make you” - (Tanzania) “If you lift yourself up, that’s better than if others lift you up” - (Bantu) “Someone with more firewood than you also has more ash than you” - (Kenya) “Sheep wander together but have different prices” - (Ivory Coast) “Never mind if your nose is ugly as long as you can breathe through it” - (Zaire)

“A man who uses force is afraid of reasoning” - (Kenya) “Wealth, if you use it, comes to an end; learning, if you use it, increases” - (Swahili) “Marriage is like a groundnut; you have to crack it to see what is inside” - (Ghana) “War has no eyes” - (Swahili) “A single bracelet does not jingle” - (Congo)

“Bad friends will prevent you from having good friends” (Gabon) “By labour comes wealth” (Yoruba) “One cannot both feast and become rich” - (Ashanti) “If there is character, ugliness becomes beauty; if there is none, beauty becomes ugliness” (Nigeria)

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

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xtract of an interview with Dorothy Irwin, Georgetown, Guyana, March 2017. Ms Irwin compiled and edited the book “Years of High Hopes: A portrait of British Guiana, 19521956” from family letters, mostly written by her mother.

DI: … I thought it is wrong for me to be the only one to know of this – the people who wrote them were not around, the people who received them were not around, it was just me reading them and that’s no good; they really belong here. And I would not have come to that conclusion if it weren’t for, as you said, “They covered significant years of Guyana’s history – ‘52 to ‘56, pushing towards its independence”. And I said this has to be published; I had to make this happen. Well, it is fun to have the conviction; it’s difficult to make it happen.

PP: What factors assisted in seeing it to fruition?

DI: I just felt intuitively that it was important to do. I didn’t have the support of friends, who felt it was confusing, thinking I was writing a novel. My dad was supportive of the idea and that helped me along. He read the transcript and so did his second wife –

that was good for me to get their response.

PP: Any particular goal(s) in mind preparing the manuscript?

DI: I had two goals in mind: first, get it in the hands of Guyanese and, second, try to capture the interest of Americans.

PP: Are there some things in this story that Americans can relate to?

DI: Well that was part of the chore: figuring out how to get them to connect.

I knew just reading the letters wasn’t enough. They wouldn’t be enough to get in… into the story, but I felt once they got in, they’d be hooked. Some of the conundrums I found in 1994: it was a struggling period then, certainly economically, between then and the ‘50s and I say that’s the way to make the connection - the contrast which I couldn’t understand, so then it becomes an adventure to try to know the place.

PP: We all like a bit of adventure and it presented itself to you just like that…

DI: Yes, so true.

PP: There are certain values to a book.

We could look at “Years of High Hopes” from different angles: historical, social, cultural and literary. From which angle did you compile this book?

DI: I think I used them all; I don’t think I

was analytical enough to separate them in my mind. I just knew that as I went, I kept finding things in the letters - references to people, places and events. I didn’t know what they were; sometimes my parents didn’t know what they were. But I told myself the information is out there and if I’m to do this right, I must find out and write the endnotes and make the whole story clear.

For instance, my mother mentioned cassareep, but didn’t know what it was. Then there was Richard Allsopp, one of the masters at QC, referring to a man who came from Africa. Where

the English stationed him was more critical of ‘blacks’ than in Guyana, and that man was transferred to British Guiana [BG]. He was so outrageous and disliked that he lost his position and got transferred somewhere else. Who could this be? After a bit of poking around, I found out. So it kept growing – my quest to build a real narrative.

PP: Your mother carried the narrative. She was a remarkable person; judging from what you said about the way she sorted, tagged and stored those letters. Talk about your mother’s role in carrying this narrative.

DI: She was very young, 22 years old, when they moved to Georgetown. Her baby was five months old, and she was alone a lot because my dad would go off on field trips at St Cuthbert’s and other places collecting botanical specimens. This was nothing she’d anticipated doing as a wife, and these letters were a sort of response of being cut off. She really wrote from her heart to her mother, her parents.

I wish I had their letters in response to hers, but I don’t. And then as she got more acclimated to BG, and by the time I was born in the fall of ‘55, she seemed more confident and more in charge within her household. But loneliness was a big part of it.

PP: Let’s locate your father, your family in Georgetown. Your father was attached to QC and QC was central to the family life.

DI: He was the first American to come to BG on a Fulbright [scholarship]. There were several who followed, but he was the first. There was no one teaching biology at the time at Queen’s College for about three years, so dad was consumed right away with work.

My parents lived for a short time in a guest house in Waterloo Street. It didn’t survive even in ‘94 that

was gone. Then they moved to Parade Street and lived there quite a while, which was conveniently located near to the school. They decided to move out to Atkinson Field when there was agitation building after the elections; they discovered that they were been overcharged for their apartment and at the same time they thought it would be better to be out from the centre of the city. So they were able to rent a house at Atkinson Field, the old name for the airport, and they were very happy out there. Politically things were happening, and at that the time the British troops came in and those houses were needed for offices. There was a tremendous house shortage problem, so they had to get out of Atkinson Field.

There wasn’t anywhere else to go, so they went on leave for six months.

When they came back, they lived on Third Avenue, Subryanville, for a while before moving to Queen’s College compound, which was my first home.

PP: We have talked about your mother and your father, getting a background into the story. Let’s now talk about your story in compiling this book… (To be continued)

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

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Promoting Culture and Community Development WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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he Miss Emancipation pageant, launched in 2012, aims to showcase the beauty of African culture while promoting community development, edifying patrons on African heritage, challenges and solutions.

It is a highly-anticipated occasion that takes the form of an “African gala”. It is one of few occasions in which Guyanese adorn themselves in their African attire showcasing the richness of the culture.

The show takes the format of an Introduction Segment, where delegates introduce themselves adorned in beautiful African wear, reciting a spoken-word introduction written by them on the Emancipation theme of the year; the Business Wear Segment showcases the delegates’ choices of African styles that are appropriate for the working environment; the Project Presentation Segment gives the delegates an opportunity to present their projects and answer questions relating to them; the Evening Gown Segment showcases the rich beauty of African culture via the delegates’ choices in African lace designs; the questions asked in the Question and Answer Segment assess the contestants’ knowledge during the culture awareness and leadership development classes, workshops and seminars they participated in from March to July.

The Miss Emancipation’s Community Development Project, which accounts for 30% of the competition, requires delegates to design and execute a community-based project centred on the aims and objectives outlined by the pageant’s committee. The project holds the largest single score card for the competition and the winner will automatically become a finalist.

The aim of this year’s project is to

Delegate 1, Rachel Alfred

Delegate 4, Tinesha Trotman

Delegate 2, Emaley Nurse

Delegate 5, Amaniah Cort

design and execute a community development project that will directly impact the lives of residents, especially women and children. The objectives are to promote the importance of STEM and to assist in the increase of students enrolling in the science stream. Notably, the delegates have to focus on underprivileged communities, such as those with larger percentages of single-parent households.

Marks will be awarded to the delegate who showed compassion and dedication towards execution of the project; to the delegate who has fulfilled the aim and objectives of the project; the project that showed unique characteristics; the project that showed long term benefits to the community; the delegate who demonstrated that she will follow through with the project beyond the competition.

According to the pageant’s president, Dr Melissa Varswyk, Miss Emancipation is once again being celebrated this year under the theme of the United Nations' International Decade for People of African Descent.

She mentioned that the delegates have already created their spoken-word rendition for the Introduction Segment based on the United Nations’ theme for this Decade, “Justice, Recognition and Development”.

The delegates will also be attending African cultural lectures with Dr Norman Ng-AKeisha Jackson, a 2015 delegate, renovated the Qui, of Cuffy 250 Committee, bridge joining A Field and B Field Sophia

Delegate 3, Sceantell Alder

Delegate 6, Ayana Glasgow

and Varswyk.

This year, the delegates will be working collaboratively on their community project to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) – a pertinent feature of the pageant. Additionally, they will be collaborating with STEM Guyana to make its community projects a success.

The pageant is hosted during the month of Emancipation (August) and is incorporated in the national calendar of activities.

The Miss Emancipation show will be held at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday, August 12, 2017. Tickets cost $1000.

For more information, visit Miss Emancipation on Facebook. (Photos by DW Photo Studio)

Miss Emancipation 2016, Delisha Wright

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he African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) is celebrating its 24th anniversary this year, and since its establishment plays a pivotal role in the preservation of Guyanese African culture.

Founded in 1993 as a non-governmental organisation constituted to promote equity, equal access, accountability, shared governance and citizen’s participation at the local and national levels, the organisation was officially registered under the Friendly Societies Act of Guyana in 1995.

All Guyanese of African descent, regardless of class, religion or political affiliation, are eligible to be members of ACDA. ACDA has members in all parts of Guyana as well as in the Guyanese diaspora. ACDA also is very active in African diaspora organizations. The society’s mission at its inception was to “empower African Guyanese to become more productive citizens through cultural, social, economic, educational and vocational enhancement”.

The centre’s primary goal is to improve the well-being of African Guyanese and to seek sustainable improvement in their quality of life.

Johnson's friend, Charles Blair served as the main koker operator in 1951

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Another important goal is to seek national reconciliation through “shared and good” governance through which there is genuine reconciliation with other ethnic and cultural groups in Guyana.

ACDA, located on Thomas Lands, is governed by an executive steering committee that meets on a weekly basis.

This committee comprises founding and select active members, and by the heads of each of five operational committees.

The education management committee of ACDA, comprising experienced educators, parents and concerned individuals, is committed to making a difference in the lives of African Guyanese by assisting in implementing a solid well balanced academic programme that includes cultural, emotional and moral education. The goal is to ensure the Guyana curriculum is met and far exceeded by ACDA students through experienced teachers.

ACDA is focused on Afro-Guyanese youths and provides a solid value-driven education through its Centre of Learning and Afro-centric Orientation (COLAACO) which is designed to equip

ACDA's Akwaaba Centre

young children from early childhood to primary school with the necessary skills to make them excellent productive citizens who are well-balanced socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically and morally.

The vision for COLAACO is to build an institution that will be a centre of excellence in providing the highest quality education and Afro-centric education and life skills in Guyana and the Caribbean.

The Akwaaba Youth Centre is the heart of ACDA continual development of cultural, educational, economic, Information technology and sports pro-

grammes for young people. ‘Akwaaba is a Ghanaian word meaning ‘welcome’.

Apart from these tailored activities, the youth centre is also available for conferences, meetings, seminars, birthdays, weddings, thanksgiving services, award ceremonies, graduations and anniversaries. The Akwaaba Centre is the key facility for outreaching to African Guyanese and those in the diaspora.

Akwaaba is an extension of ACDA’s educational philosophy of academic and cultural excellence. It will re-focus on the mission and goals of ACDA as emphasized in its founding documents.

H

opetown, a village in West Berbice, approximately 97 kilometres from Georgetown, was bought by the Blaire brothers, who pooled their money to purchase the village. It was said that the men loaded their pennies and other savings on to a wheelbarrow and pushed it all the way to Georgetown, a journey that took four days. They named the village ‘Hopetown’ in pursuit of hope for a bet-

Joan James, a retired headteacher, showing a register with Hopetown slaves' names

ter life after slavery.

After the community was purchased, it was divided into Fybrace, St. John and Number 22 Village where farming and bartering to earn a living were done.

Additionally, roads and streets were allotted.

The community already had in existence a church and school, and the occu-

pants subsequently established a governance system to facilitate the smooth running of the village.

Today, Hopetown is known for the traditional annual soiree which is by far the biggest event of its kind held in Guyana.

The soiree started many years ago, and had its inception with the newly

freed slaves to eventually become an annual event.

This year’s Emancipation Day Festival at the National Park, scheduled for August 1, will have many interesting artefacts from slavery as well as pictures of villages bought by freed slaves.

The Emmanuel Congregational Church in Hopetown

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Escalating…

Y …authoritarianism

our Eyewitness, writing this on “Emancipation Day”, is struck by the irony of having to comment about the Government curtailing the most important freedom of all: the right over one’s property.

Government obviously sees “emancipation” as just “dressing up”. The most invidious characteristic of slavery was not just that planters owned slaves, but that the slaves couldn’t own anything. This has led to the structural condition that still channels the descendants of slaves into “conspicuous consumption”.

If you couldn’t own and pass down anything to your children, why save?

In its latest example of escalating authoritarianism, the PNC-led coalition Government just introduced a Bill that would COMPEL private broadcasters to broadcast 1 hour of Government programming every day of the week. The Government is using the excuse that broadcasters are licensed all over the world and they’re also “regulated”. So far, so good. But the Government is disingenuously ignoring that, everywhere, such ‘regulation” is only introduced to serve the public good.

And, as a matter of fact, the Government has to explicitly show how the public interest is being furthered by the particular “regulation”. “Public interest” announcements?? No problem!! All broadcasters understand that the public must be informed about emergencies and suchlike? But the Government “messages” are over and beyond these.

Government will be sole arbiters of what they will broadcast – and when they will broadcast it!! This is the action of a Government that is determined to control the thoughts of the citizenry.

And it’s not like the Government doesn’t have its own avenues to broadcast its messages. In fact, this was the reason offered when the then PNC government nationalised the broadcasting industry back in the day. So here it is, the Government owned TV and radio stations – which are heavily subsidised by taxpayers’ dollars – compete with private broadcasters for commercials – and those private broadcasters must now broadcast the Government’s propaganda?

Pleease!!

What makes it worse is that, all over the world, regulations over broadcasting are being loosened because of the proliferation of new means of disseminating information – such as the Internet. To rub salt into the open wound, this MULTIPLICATION of distribution channels for information is being exploited to the hilt by the government, and every Ministry has followed the Ministry of the Presidency in fielding massive public relations units. The GINA websites and social media are already flooded with Government propaganda.

The Government doesn’t allow the Opposition equal access to its broadcasting channels, and so already enjoys an unreasonable advantage.

There’s definitely some imperative operating beyond just broadcasting the Government’s messages.

It’s just another step in creating “Big Brother” in Guyana. …prison challenges Sounding rather chuffed about the 13 prisoners who’ve been recaptured from the 17 who eased their way out of the Camp St and Lusignan jails, Public Security Ministry Ramjattan cautioned, “We’re not out of the woods as yet.” Your Eyewitness wondered whether he was signalling (“wink, wink”) that the four hardened criminals from Camp St – murderers all – are now in our jungle (“woods”).

After all, these four fellas are the ones who planned and executed the conflagration that brought down the curtains on the ancient jail in the middle of our (notso-fair) city. They wouldn’t have such a detailed and elaborate breakout plan, and would not have a hideout in mind, would they? Don’t forget the Bartica and Lusignan murder convict (28 victims?) Mark Royden traversed the “woods” of the Hilly Sand and Clay belt after the Bartica bloodbath.

Or was Ramjattan just being figurative and signalling us that there’s still a lot to be done before the situation is brought under control?

In that case then, he’s the king of understatement!! …Venezuelan crisis So Maduro was able to have a “Constituent Assembly” elected so he can change the Venezuelan Constitution? OK. Now, will he change Art 8, which fixes their ridiculous claims on our Essequibo??

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Scenes from Emancipation Day celebrations in Guyana

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ver the years, in celebration of Emancipation, the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) honours many villag-

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es that have a common history of being purchased by freed slaves. This year, the Association honours Union Village No. 53 on the Corentyne River, Berbice with

Residents of Union Village listen to the rhythms of the Conga drums, while reflecting on their African heritage Beating the Conga drums

special focus on Conga drums.

Conga drums of

Union Village Drums provide the soundtrack to the rhythm of life in a village that maintains most of the small, close-knit, communal way of life. Union Village, a name evocative of the unity of its founders who purchased the abandoned cotton estate, is located on sandy reefs that embrace the Atlantic Ocean, about 34 miles from New Amsterdam and 14 miles from Plantation Skeldon.

Drums are the heartbeat of Union Village residents as they labour in the fertile fields that produced ground provision of all kinds: eddoes, cassava and sweet potato, plantains and bananas, long mangoes, cherries, citrus fruits, paw-paws and even rice, which was planted in Sandy River.

This tradition of cultivation wanes now in the face of villagers trading the uncertainty of the market forces in favour of employment in large scale rice cultivation. And of course, the Atlantic Ocean continues to provide bountiful catches of fish, supplementing the sheep, goats and cattle reared for their meat by some villagers.

Drums beat out rhythms joyful and full of promise in celebration of achievements in the cooperative spirit for which Union Village is famous for, even in these days when it is called by another name, No. 53 Village, after the introduction of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council system of gover-

nance. These drums produce mournful beats in times of trouble, grief or remembrance of things less welcomed, but still drummed into the consciousness of a people unwilling to forget.

The drums weave myriads of echoes of pattern dances, keeping the tradition of the ‘Cake Walk’, the ‘Shove Down’ and other folk dances alive. These dances were performed when former slave masters were made to pay wages to the emancipated slaves, but still forced them to dance for their earnings, tied in cotton rags and tossed bit by bit into the circle of dancers who stomped and weaved and moved to the sounds of the drums to sweep up their hard-earned rewards.

Drums speak the names of those who hold it as close as their heartbeat and performed celebratory dances to Queen Elizabeth II, under whose reign they were emancipated, and danced for Kenneth Kaunda and other African leaders when they visited Guyana. These cultural icons include Phylis Hope, Samuel Chisolm, Aunt Belle Douglas, Kathy and Reuben Welch.

Today, Murlene Welch, Susan George, Ingrid Harvey, Josephine Johnson and Elise Williams are keepers of the flame.

And drums continue to echo their soundtrack across the sands of time.

(Text and photos provided by ACDA)

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Scenes from Emancipation Day celebrations in Guyana

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Jewellery directly from Africa

Kpelige Mask, Senufo Tribe, Mali, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso

T

he African Museum of Heritage in Barima Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown is said to be the first of its kind in the Caribbean, and there are many fascinating artefacts on exhibition at the museum Ceramic water containers, Akan, Ghana

that tells of our historical and cultural connections to Africa.

The exhibits include paintings as well as everyday items and ceremonial artefacts that symbolize mostly West African art in daily African life and

culture: from combs to iron and wooden masks to the carved door and sculptures.

A visit to the museum will prove worthwhile for many students or persons interested in African art and history.

One of the many interesting artefacts on display is the group of Kpelige masks. According to the museum, these are characterised by a central portion, which is essentially a natural human face. Such masks are worn with a costume made of plant fibre, which completely covers the wearer. The projections on the sides of the

Painting by Guyanese artist C. Nurse (1991) showing freed slaves transporting money in cans in wheel barrow to purchase land housed at the Museum of African Heritage

face represent bird wings and projections at the bottom represent legs.

The lower lip has been pierced by a lip labret or plug. The top of the mask has horns symbolising power. A bird at the top represents the clan emblem of the people who performed with it.

Brass weights used for measuring gold dust, drums, musical instruments, games and clothing are just a few of the museum’s many captivating exhibits.

Originally called the Museum of African Art and Ethnology, the Museum was established in 1985 with the purchase of collections of African art from Hubert

H. Nicholson, owner of the building that currently houses the African Museum, and Desiree Malik.

These collections were annotated and accessioned through UNESCO

by Dr William Seligman, Curator of African and Oceanic Art, Brooklyn Museum.

In 2001, the Museum of African Art and Ethnology was renamed the Museum of African Heritage in order to open its doors to a wider audience and address the African experience in Guyana.

Much of the art in the collection are examples of the kind of art objects found in West Africa, and

help to educate us as to the meanings and reasons behind African art traditions.

Some of the exhibits came from Africa, brought directly to Guyana by Nicholson.

In celebration of Emancipation 2017, the Museum of African Heritage will host exhibitions and support speakers who travel from village to village to give talks on the history of Emancipation, the Village Movement and other important historical topics.

Opening hours are Mondays to Thursday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Call 226-5519 for more information.

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The threat of NCDs

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he issue of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the impact they are having on countries, particularly those in the Caribbean region, recently took the spotlight once again when a leading health expert, Dr Alafia Samuels, disclosed that, based on a recent study, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago were found to have the highest mortality for premature cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the Americas.

For Guyana, in particular, this is indeed quite worrisome, and must serve as a wake-up call for the authorities here to take the issue of fighting NCDs more seriously; as, from all indications, efforts in this regard are being weakened or minimized to some extent.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of all the major health threats that have emerged over the years, “none has challenged the very foundations of public health so profoundly as the rise of chronic non-communicable diseases”. Due to poor lifestyle choices — such as tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity — NCDs have resulted in large numbers of young people dying. Another significant number has also fallen ill, and therefore cannot contribute to their families or the development of their communities in any way.

Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic

respiratory diseases — once linked only to affluent societies — have affected, and continue to affect, every country in the world; with the poor suffering the most due to the lack of proper medical care and access to drugs etc. In 2007, CARICOM leaders signed what they described as the “ground-breaking” Port of Spain Declaration, aimed at uniting countries to stop the epidemic of NCDs. The declaration was recently evaluated by a team which included Dr Samuels and other regional and international experts.

Based on the Caricom Health Commission team’s findings, Dr Samuels noted, death from non-communicable diseases of persons between the ages of 30 and 69 in the Caribbean is double the rate in North America. The expert noted that of the four areas, the region was able to record success in only one, which was having tobacco consumption reduced. The other three areas, she added, are worse than they were 10 years ago, when the declaration was signed. She pointed out that the risk factor across the region remains poor, and is even more worrisome among children.

In relation to Guyana’s case, while there have been some positive moves in tackling NCDs — such as finalising the Tobacco Control Legislation etc. — some experts believe that enough is not

being done in the fight against NCDs. It could be recalled that there was an NCD Strategy in the years 2003-2008, and again in the period 2008By Jainarine Deonauth 2015, which had outlined a comprehensive and effective programme to fight NCDs. It is not clear if these strategies are still being used as a guide by health authorities.

Former Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, was recently quoted in this newspaper as saying that some of the crucial programmes that were previously in place to tackle NCDs appear to have been reduced or totally abandoned. He in particular pointed to the aggressive education and awareness campaigns that were very visible some years ago. Also, community health fairs, school programmes and other initiatives which were used to address such issues as positive lifestyles are becoming less visible.

These are all useful strategies in ensuring the message of healthy lifestyles continues to reach everyone in every community across the country. From all indications, they are being done in a limited fashion. However, for such efforts to be successful, they must be done on a consistent basis, utilising the most effective methods.

Discussions surrounding NCDs should constantly be kept on the national development agenda, where serious efforts should be made at all levels to reduce the large numbers of persons suffering or facing death. On this basis, there is need for more collaborative efforts among all stakeholders, including support from private sector bodies, to tackle NCDs, since all of them are affected by loss of labour force etc.

The findings of the recent study which places Guyana as having the highest mortality for premature cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the Americas is yet another reminder that we cannot afford to treat chronic NCDs lightly.

His Master’s Voice

S

atiricus, as usual of late, was girding his loins to enter the Back Street Bar. With the fellas cutting him no slack because his fearless leader, Rum Jhaat, was under fire for presiding over not one, but THREE prison crises, he knew what was ahead. So he was surprised, when he sat back after chugging his first cool one, that Bungi asked, “Ah wha schupidness Nagga Man deh pan now?”

“What exactly are you talking about?” asked Satiricus with some relief, as he clinked glasses with Bungi and Hari.

“Was he caught drinking in public again?” asked Hari. “It’s Emancipation, you know! The man had to take his libations!!”

“Na da!” said Bungi. “Me ah talk ‘bout how ‘e wan’ fo’ce all dem TV an’ Radyo stay-shan fuh play wha’ de guvment wan’ dem fuh play!”

“Oh, you mean the Broadcast Bill Nagga Man introduced in Parliament?” asked Satiricus, trying to reorient his thoughts from escaped murderers on the run.

“Yes, da wha’ me a talk about,” agreed Bungi.

“Nagga Man waan all dem private stay-shan fuh braadcyaas wha’ ‘e guvment waan fuh seh!”

“What’s wrong with that?” asked Satiricus.

“Governments have to get their message to the people!”

“But de Guvment waan de stay-shan fuh braadcyaas dem message fuh free!!” Bungi pointed out.

“So, it’ll be OK with you if the Government pays?” asked Hari, trying to smooth things over as usual.

“Well de appasition PPCEE gat fuh pay de guvment stay-shan,” said Bungi. “Do fuh do na obeah!”

“But the Government and the Opposition are not the same,” protested Satiricus. “The Government run their station!”

“Me na know ‘bout da,” replied Bungi. “Ah abee tax money ah spen’ pan de guvment stay-shan” Satiriucs thought it best not to say anything further.

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Emancipation

No slavery can be abolished without a double emancipation, and the master will benefit by freedom more than the freed-man – Thomas Huxley

Anu Dev

O

n August 1st, we celebrated Emancipation Day! Slavery was abolished 183 years ago. 183 years! But yet, oftentimes, I wonder what has happened to the promise of that seminal event.

Studying Caribbean History back at Queen’s, we spent a lot of time learning about conditions on the sugar plantations during slavery and after Emancipation. It was a descent into horror. It was an eye opener to learn about the slave trade and about the terror of the Middle Passage which, when contraposed against

the societies from which the slaves were snatched, becomes an object lesson of “man’s inhumanity to man.”

I was surprised (but vindicated that I chose to write History at CSEC!) when, in my first year in med school, one of the required classes (they’re all “required” incidentally) was “Caribbean Civilisation”. Quite a lot of my new friends found the going quite strenuous and unfamiliar, but to me it was quite familiar territory — but with a twist.

The professor, Dr John Campbell, chose as his foundational text a book he’d written: Beyond Massa.

The book dealt with the running of the sugar plantation Golden Grove in eastern Jamaica during the years 1770-1834. The

setting and timeframe are both significant since, at the time, Jamaica was the most profitable British colony in the Caribbean, and yet there were pressures developing in England for the abolition of slavery, the “peculiar institution” from which the wealth from sugar was generated.

Most intriguingly, Campbell used as his primary source of data the correspondence from the manager of the plantation, Simon Taylor, and the absentee owner, Chaloner Arcedeckne. These letters are on the Web… and they are fascinating. But what made the work interesting was his use of ideas from the contemporary Human Resource Model (HRM) of managing workers. Slavery was more nuanced than I had been taught.

Discovering yourself

A

s a young woman just having finished CAPE, the first question off the tip of the tongue of every person I encounter is the same; “So, what’s next?” This is a deceptively simple question.

It seems as though, by the age of 18, we are expected to know what we want to do for the rest of our lives. I think the truest tragedy that we face as young people is ignorance.

There is a great pressure for us to know what our next step is without much guidance being given as to the options available.

Consequently, I do not believe that many youths reach their fullest potential.

The average Guyanese is not aware of many “good” career options.

Most push their children to become lawyers, doctors or engineers.

While these professions are distinguished in their own right, not everyone who is good at science is suited to be a medical doctor, or not everyone who enjoys Mathematics is fit to become an engineer.

The problem is, however, that we simply do not know what else there is.

I think that for an individual to contribute the most to society they have to enjoy providing whatever service they are.

It is important for both the health of the individual and the quality of work that they will produce. No one wants to be treated by a doctor who doesn’t give his or her work first priority, and no one wants a lawyer to defend him or her who

He placed emphasis on the social interactions between the enslaved and the managers, rather than the now conventional historiographical focus on the economic aspects of plantation society.

He emphasised that there was a two-way negotiated space where the enslaved people had more ‘agency’ than previous studies had accredited to them: they were subjects, and not just objects.

The study also contended that the differences between the West African form of slavery, from which the slaves were brought, and Caribbean chattel slavery were crucial in the new dyadic masterslave relationship. In the West African form, the slave was still considered a person, while under the

chattel slavery system, the slave was completely dehumanised and considered “property”.

And it is because the enslaved people were accustomed to this more benign concept of slavery that HRM techniques could work. There could be opportunities for bargaining and negotiation.

Taking the logic to its denouement, the author posits a third and controversial thesis – that the enslaved people did not want to end slavery itself, they simply “wanted to change the tone of British West Indian slavery”.

The historiography on the institution of West Indian slavery was initially dominated by British writers, who focused on the “civilising” mission of the enterprise for the African slaves, who

were not considered fully human. This is in our high school textbooks.

This perspective was challenged by historians such as Eric Williams, who later became the first PM of TT. He proposed a more Marxian economicbased approach, which stressed the role of slavery in laying the material foundation of Britain’s industrial revolution. This is now being supported by modern scholars who are relooking at what Marx called “primitive accumulation”. We don’t hear much of this.

Now Campbell offers another perspective. It’s worth checking out.

As our Caribbean prophet Bob Marley sang, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.”

Amerindian Act, CoI to top agenda

– at 2017 Toshao’s conference

T would rather be doing art.

This is why I feel that taking time to discover yourself is important. Life is not a race. Many professionals will speak of the years that they spent studying to become who they are.

Does it make sense to rush into a career to which you have to dedicate nearly a decade of preparation and millions of dollars if you are unsure? Even if you need to take an entire year to figure out what you’re ultimately going to pursue and where you’re going to study it, a year of uncertainty is better than a lifetime of regrets.

Finally, I think we need to strive to become less judgmental of the paths that people take with their lives. They may have to forgo tertiary education due to finance; they may decide to take some time off working because their mental health, or they may just be searching for their passion. In any case, the point of the matter is that just because you don’t know what your next step is right now, doesn’t mean that you’ll be perpetually lost. If you really use the time productively searching for your passion, I promise it will not be wasted.

he controversial Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into Amerindian land titling, along with the Amerindian Act are among the top issues that will form the basis of this year’s National Toshao’s Conference, Chairman Joel Fredricks has said.

The Conference is scheduled for August 21-26 at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and will be held under the theme “Good governance – A brighter future for Guyana’s first peoples”.

Speaking to this publication on Wednesday, Fredricks said the “burning issues” that have been a burden to members of the Indigenous community will be brought to the fore at the five-day confab.

“Some of the burning issues that will be discussed are the revision of the Amerindian Act, mining and health issues, education and the CoI,” he told Guyana Times International during a telephone interview on Wednesday.

Even among that list, Fredrick said there are matters that will take precedence, such as the revision of the Amerindian Act. The Chairman said there still remain issues with land titling and the Act must be addressed.

Earlier this year the Toshao’s Council had

begun a process, collaborating with the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) to begin consultation for the revision of the Act, which both bodies believe is very much outdated. Details of the Act include focus on land rights, mining, logging, decisionmaking and governance, among other things.

Following the Amerindian Act is the Commission of Inquiry set up by Government in March to investigate land titling in Amerindian communities. And although the Toshao’s Council was able to influence the tempo-

rary halting of the investigation, Fredricks said the Council and residents are not clear about the functions of the CoI. He maintains too that there was no consultation.

Mining and land titling remain issues of deep concern for residents in the Amerindian communities. Those will also take preference at the Conference.

Meanwhile, Fredricks said apart from the hiccup of finding a venue for the Conference, systems have already been put in place for the smooth running of the five-day event.

48 Bollywood

Shah Rukh Khan enjoys breaking away from fast-paced lifestyle

J

ust before getting into the hectic multi-city promotional tours for his forthcoming Bollywood entertainer Jab Harry Met Sejal last month, superstar Shah Rukh Khan took a family vacation in Los Angeles. He said it was a “refreshing experience”. During the holiday, the actor and his family members chose to stay in an Airbnb home — a Beverly Hills estate — instead of a high-end hotel.

Talking about it, Shah Rukh said in a statement: “There’s no place like home to disconnect from the outside world, and spend some time with oneself. Being able to break away from a fast paced lifestyle, several thousand miles away from the city has been a refreshing experience.”

Shah Rukh, who is currently on a

whirlwind itinerary trying to keep the buzz on for his latest film, which is releasing on Friday, said in Los Angeles, he enjoyed living like the locals and it was “an ideal break”.

The home where the Bollywood ‘Badshah’ stayed came with a tennis court and pool. In between his vacation, Shah Rukh kept fans updated through social media about how he was unwinding.

Jab Harry Met Sejal, directed by Imtiaz Ali, also features Anushka Sharma. Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma visited Varanasi to promote their upcoming movie Jab Harry Met Sejal.

Shah Rukh enthralled the crowd that had gathered to cheer for both the actors. Shah Rukh and Anushka indulged in some fun activities while promoting the movie. SRK’s production house Red Chillies Entertainment shared some pictures and videos on Twitter that suggest that the duo enjoyed their Varanasi trip.

Shah Rukh and Anushka recently went to Dubai to promote the movie too. The team also promoted it in London and Australia. The movie is scheduled to release on 4th August 2017. (Indian Express)

Esha Gupta turns up the heat again in her latest photoshoot

E

sha Gupta’s Instagram account is something to be opened with caution at one’s work place. You must be wondering why are we warning you in advance?

Well, you will know once you scrolled through the many pictures of the hot and sensuous actor on her social media account.

It all started with a video captioned, “Coming Soon.. film by @arjun.mark” where Esha blew our minds in her luscious avatar.

Following it were some other drool-worthy clicks where the Commando 2 actor posed in a black lingerie flaunting her tattoo. And now, once again, the Bollywood’s ‘badass bombshell’ is raising the temperature as she shares more racy pictures from her latest photoshoot. The passion in her eyes and the seductive looks are enough to tag her as the new sultry diva of tinsel town.

However, this is not the first time that Esha has grabbed eyeballs with her many steamy pictures and videos. Earlier when the Rustom actor took lessons in pole dancing and shared the video with her followers flaunting her sexy curves, she became the queen of hearts.

Next, you will see her spilling her charm on the silver screen on September 1 in Milan Luthria’s Baadshaho.

The film will see her stepping into the shoes of yesteryear starlets Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi.

It will be for the first

time that the actor will share the screen with Ajay Devgn. She has worked with Emraan Hashmi and Ileana D’Cruz in other projects.

Recently, the former Miss India participant made news for revealing the identity of Arsenal’s next big signing. While she was in London to unveil the Highburybased football club’s new kit, she was asked if she knew any transfer news related to the club. To that, she said, “I’m not sure if I should say the name. But we are signing another player and I’m sure the boss is gonna do well this time.”

(Indian Express)

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Sunny Leone on working with Emraan Hashmi: My fans are extremely happy to see us together

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f Sunny Leone brings the hotness quotient to a film, Emraan Hashmi promises his patent kissing scenes.

The two enjoy a unique fan base but their fans also wished to see them together on screen. With Baadshaho’s “Piya More”, the wish of all the fans was granted as Sunny and Emraan romanced each other for the first time in the song. While fans are showering love on this hot number, the actors too are all praise for each other.

Recently, the duo went live on Facebook.

During the interaction with their fans, Emraan was questioned about his first reaction when he got to know that he would be working with Sunny.

The actor said, “I couldn’t contain my excitement. I did a couple of jumps and my director thought I have gone mad.

I have been following her work. She is very talented. The song was actually recorded way before we started shooting for the film. It was the first sched-

ule. Milan (Luthria) told me she is going to dance with me.”

Emraan continued that though he was happy, he was scared too. “I was scared that I would step on her because I am a terrible dancer. I was tensed through the entire dance sequence. I was nervous. I have stepped on people always.”

When Sunny Leone was asked about her experience, she shared that she is extremely thankful about not being trolled for this song. “For most of my fans, it was unbelievable to see Emraan and me together. I got all good comments. I did not get trolled. So, thank my fans for that.”

Recalling the first moment when she saw Emraan on screen, Sunny said, “One of the first films I watched when I came to Bollywood was Dirty Picture, I saw you for the first time then. So, that’s always on my mind.”

(Indian Express)

Did Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan turn down ‘Abhimaan’ remake?

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mitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan starrer Abhimaan was an iconic film and there is no doubt about it. Thus, when their son Abhishek Bachchan and daughter in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan were offered the film’s remake, they turned it down saying, ‘Abhimaan should not be touched.’

Abhishek and Aishwarya’s fans are dying to see the couple together on the silver screen but no confirmation about their next film is out yet.

As per a report

by Deccan Chronicle, Abhishek and Aishwarya were approached to star in the remake of Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan starrer Abhimaan, but the couple has turned it down. A source close to the stars was quoted as saying, “Abhishek and Aishwarya are still bombarded with a plethora of scripts. However, they are quite wary of the kind of films they would like to do together. Abhishek especially was of the opinion that Abhimaan is the kind of

cult classic that should remain untouched.”

As of now, it looks like Aishwarya and Abhishek’s fans might have to wait a little longer to see any confirmation of their next film together. Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan last worked together in Mani Ratnam’s Raavan in 2010. They were in talks for Anurag Kashyap’s production Gulab Jamun. But as per a few reports Ash and Abhishek are not too impressed with the script.

The duo has been away from the big screens for a while now but whenever they step out, they make sure that they make heads turn. A few images from the couple’s recent holiday in New York with their darling daughter Aaradhya made rounds on social media. (Indian Express)

proved Jhanvi’s choice of Bollywood as her career, but she received quite a backlash on her statement. Later, the MOM actor clarified that she has

been always encouraging her daughters to be independent and have a life of their own but as a mother, she is bound to worry.

(Indian Express)

Sridevi showers love on daughters during US vacation

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fter her recent release MOM, Sridevi is taking some time off from work with a vacation in the US. The 53-year-old actor is busy spending some quality time with her family, especially her daughters Jhanvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor. She has been sharing some candid pictures with them on Instagram calling them

her ‘angels’ and ‘babies.’

Sridevi has often shared how she has a more than special bond with her two daughters, and her pictures make us believe her even more. The actor recently posted a new picture with Jhanvi and has written, “My angel.”

Earlier, she had put up a picture capturing a perfect family moment from their lunch date.

She wrote, “Family lunch joined by my favourite @ raviudyawar .”

Well, we can’t help but notice how fabulous Jhanvi Kapoor looks in all of the snaps. Jhanvi is one of the few star kids who has managed to create buzz even before she debuted in Bollywood. Not only is she always clicked with her mother but is even attacked by paparaz-

zi when she steps out for the most everyday things, like going for a workout or the salon.

Recently in an interview, Sridevi expressed how unfair it was to compare the two considering her enormous experience in the industry. She added that Jhanvi is completely unaware about the pros and cons of being an actor.

Sridevi even disap-

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ryan Reynolds: Josh Brolin will be epic as Cable in ‘Deadpool 2’

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ctor Ryan Reynolds believes the character Cable — to be essayed

by Josh Brolin — will be “epic” in the upcoming film Deadpool 2.

Reynolds, 40, will be reprising his role as Wade Wilson and his alter ego the antihero Deadpool in the upcoming sequel to 2016 successful film Deadpool.

Reynolds promised fans that they won’t be disappointed by the introduction of the movie’s antagonist, essayed by Brolin, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Previously he was involved in a movie based on a DC superhero and Justice League member Green Lantern directed by Martin Campbell.

The film was a failure both critically and at the box office. DC have now rebooted the character and Green Lantern will get its own movie in 2020. The character may appear in the upcoming Justice League movie as well. Ryan Reynolds is also involved in The Hitman’s Bodyguard, a film in which he stars alongside Samuel L Jackson and

Gary Oldman. The film is directed by Patrick Hughes and is slated to be released on August 18 this year.

“I think it’s going to be very interesting. I’ve spent this last week on the business end of many Josh Brolin punches.

Both verbal and physical and literal… and it’s going to be pretty fantastic. He’s going to be epic.

He’s going to be an epic Cable,” Reynolds told Fandango, an online entertainment portal about Deadpool 2. Reynolds’s praise comes just after the movie’s director David Leitch last month said he “couldn’t be happier” with the casting of Brolin. Brolin’s character Cable has time travelling capabilities.

Deadpool 2 is slated to be released on June 1, 2018. (Indian Express)

‘The Dark Tower’ starring Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey premieres in New York

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merican horror author Stephen King played a key role in translating his book series The Dark Tower into a Hollywood film, director Nikolaj Arcel said at the film’s premiere on Monday.

The fantasy movie follows the eight-book series in crafting the classic story of good versus evil. Gunslinger Roland Deschain, played by actor Idris Elba (known for The Wire and Thor), battles his nemesis, the Man in Black, who is determined to destroy the Dark Tower, which holds all the worlds together. Roland Deschain is aided in his quest by a boy called Jake played

by Tom Taylor “He was very involved and had a lot of ideas. He never dictated anything, but he always had good opinions,” Arcel said of King’s role

Megan Fox sparks debate with eldest son Noah wearing a dress

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ctor Megan Fox stirred a debate among fans as she let her eldest son Noah wear a dress in a photograph she shared on social media. The actor shared the photograph on Instagram, reports aceshowbiz.com.

The image featured several polaroid images of the Jennifer’s Body actor and her husband Brian Austin Green as well as their three sons Noah, Bodhi and Journey.

Her eldest, four-yearold Noah Shannon confidently pulled off Elsa’s dress from Frozen. Bodhi looked adorable as he sported a red moustache while staring at the camera, while Journey seemed comfortable as he was being carried by Brian. In another image, Fox could be seen striking a sultry pose for the camera.

Fans were happy to see Fox’s family as she rarely shared photo-

graphs of her children, but some of them thought that she shouldn’t have “forced” Noah to wear a dress. “Kids they don’t know (anything) so you honestly think they’re gonna pick their clothes?

Not all her kids would want to dress in dresses,” a fan wrote. Another added: “well, he looks like a little girl and you don’t think that is odd?”

However, other fans quickly came to the ac-

tress’ defense.

“It’s 2017, let the boy live. If he wants to wear an Elsa costume then so be it. Megan is obviously doing an amazing job raising them,” one of them commented.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles star is known for wanting to break the stereotypes.

She previously said how roles that female actress could play were very limited. (Indian Express)

Actor and playwright Sam Shepard dies from ALS complications in bringing the series to the big screen. Actor Matthew McConaughey (known for Interstellar, True Detective) said he enjoyed portraying the villainous Man in Black. “Bad guys are real fun to play because they are limitless,” he said. “They don’t pander. They’re not trying to make friends. They’re not trying to have their manners and graces.”

The Dark Tower does not follow the book saga exactly but is a mix between an adaptation and sequel. The titular

Dark Tower is a tower that stands on the nexus of all worlds and every possible reality. In the book series, Roland has two other companions apart from Jake. In Roland’s past there were another three characters, two his friends and one the one and only love of his life.

There is no indication yet that these characters will appear in the following movies. The Dark Tower will hit the theatres on August 4.

(Indian Express)

Kylie Jenner gets her bust measured every week

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eality TV personality Kylie Jenner reportedly gets her bust measured every week. A source told Heat magazine that the 19-yearold reality TV star, who is alleged to have undergone three breast operations in the past, is very proud of her assets, and monitors them closely to ensure they are always looking their best, reports metro.co.uk.

“Kylie knows they’re one of her best assets, so she takes special care of them. She has them measured every week for any difference in size or sag, and is immediately at her surgeons if there’s something out of place,” said the source.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star is said to spend $250,000 a year on keeping her breasts perky. The source added, “Kylie doesn’t care about the cost, she only cares about the results and she’s very happy. Her

breasts are slowly but surely expanding and they look completely natural.”

She also reportedly spends almost $10,000 a month on laser treatments to keep her skin looking smooth. The source said, “She has regular laser treatments with her dermatologist to remove stretch marks, veins, or wrinkly tissue. The laser treatments are very pricey and something that most people do once every few months. But Kylie has it done every week – she spends nearly 10 grand a month.”

She was last dating rapper Tyga and they recently ended their romance about seven months ago surrounded by a lot of mystery. Kylie had also previously admitted she went “too far” with lip fillers. Speaking to her older halfsister, Kim Kardashian West, she had said, “Well, I definitely made my lips a little too big at one point.” (Indian Express)

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ctor and Pulitzerwinning playwright Sam Shepard has died from complications related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a representative for his family said on Monday.

Shepard, 73, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1979 for his play “Buried Child,” died last week at home in Kentucky on Thursday, surrounded by his family, spokesman Chris Boneau said in a statement to Reuters.

“Buried Child” was the story of a family’s dark secret and, like many of his works, touched on disillusionment and broken families. His other plays included the Tonynominated “True West,” “Curse of the Starving Class” and “Fool for Love.”

Shepard’s stoic manner and rugged good looks made him a solid choice to play test pilot Chuck Yeager in the 1983 film “The Right Stuff” – a role that earned him an Oscar nomination.

His other films included “Days of Heaven,” “August: Osage County,” “The Notebook,” “Black Hawk Down” and “Steel Magnolias.”

Shepard also wrote the script for “Paris, Texas,” the 1984 film directed by Wim Wenders that won the grand prize at the

Cannes Film Festival in 1984, and Robert Altman’s screen version of “Fool for Love.”

Most recently, he played patriarch Robert Rayburn in Netflix’s thriller “Bloodline,” his final on-screen role, and released a novel, “The One Inside,” in February.

Shepard grew up in the West and Midwest with a father he described as a violent alcoholic. After dropping out of college, he spent a few months with a traveling theater company and in 1963 at age 19 moved to New York with little money and no connections. He fell into New York’s off-off-Broadway scene while working as a bus boy at the famous jazz club the Village Gate and his first plays were staged that year.

Shepard, who shortened his playwright name from Samuel Shepard Rogers Jr., wrote more than 40 plays.

Shepard also delved

into the music world, spending part of the 1960s as the drummer in the eccentric folk band the Holy Modal Rounders, living with Patti Smith, who collaborated on the play “Cowboy Mouth” with him, and writing the song “Brownsville Girl” with Bob Dylan.

Music often was incorporated into his plays and he said the key to writing them was to “find all the rhythms and the melody and the harmonies and take them as they come.”

Shepard was married to actress O-Lan Jones from 1969 to 1984 and they had one child.

He had a relationship of nearly 30 years with Jessica Lange, who starred with him in the 1982 film “Frances,” that ended in 2009. They had two children.

Funeral arrangements remain private, and no plans have been made yet for a public memorial, Boneau said.

(Indian Express)

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Warriors’ Khan plans to cause nightmare for opponents

By Akeem Greene

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ince his introduction on the international scene for Afghanistan, Rashid Khan has been touted as the teenage leg-spinning sensation who bamboozles batsmen with cutting edge accuracy and guile.

Now suiting up for the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the fifth edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which begins on August 4, Khan is planning on causing more nightmares for opposition batsmen.

Khan’s career has been on the upswing since making his T20 International debut in October 2015. He boasts figures of 5 runs for 3 wickets from 2 overs in an Afghanistan match against Ireland.

The precocious legspinner fetched the highest ever bid for an Associate player in the 2017 Indian Premier League Auction. He was snapped up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 4 crores (US$597,000), and performed exceptionally, as was expected.

This leg spinner has shown great enthusiasm during the simulation sessions

From 14 matches, he snared 17 wickets at an economy rate of 6.62; and has had a best showing of 3 for 19, which placed him sixth on the leading wicket-takers’ list.

“What I did for the last two years I will try my best and do the basics right, and let’s see what happens.

Hopefully, this will be a good year”, the 18-yearold disclosed in an interview with Guyana Times International Sport.

“It is a pleasure to be a part of the Amazon Warriors. They took me in, and having teammates like [Sohail] Tanveer and Babar Azam is really good”, he

added.

Most recently, in the 50-Over format, he etched his name in the annals of history by ripping West Indies to shreds in St Lucia with figures of 7 for 18, the fourth best in the format.

“It was good for me playing against West Indies; I performed well in St Lucia. What I did was try to bowl the basics right based on the conditions, and it brought wickets,” he explained.

But what makes his leg spin so special?

According to the player, it is the quick-arm action. “I think it is a bit different from the other leg spinners. I’m too

quick in the air, with a quick-arm action which makes it difficult for them [batsmen] to pick the spin; and that is helping me to get lots of wickets and (to) trouble the best,” Khan ex-

plained.

“The Biggest Party in Sport” is known for having mammoth crowds enjoying a festive atmosphere, and Khan has promised to bring his ‘A-Game’ to the party.

“For the debut season, I’m really looking forward to deliver good performances and to be (at my) best in CPL”, he disclosed.

His message to the fans is: “Well, all fans of Guyana Amazon Warriors, wherever you are, keep supporting us.

Inshallah, we will do the best to perform well and win (the) title. And don’t forget us in your prayers!”

Along with Steven Jacobs and Veerasammy Permaul, Khan will form the core of the Warriors’ talented spin attack.

The trio should receive great assistance from the Caribbean pitches.

Uganda’s 800m Olympian Mutenkanga to highlight Boyce & Jefford Classic VIII

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Uganda’s 800m Olympian Mutenkanga to highlight Boyce & Jefford Classic VIII (Daily Monitor photo)

he Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic VIII will be staged at the MSC Ground in Linden on August 12-13, and a major event will be the International Men’s 800m race, as one of Uganda’s top middle distance athletes, Julius Mutenkanga — who represented his country at the 2012 Olympic Games in London — will be competing therein.

USA-based Guyanese athlete Kevin Bayley is the defending champion in this event, and he has every intention of defending his esteemed title, even with the inclusion in this event of Trinidad and Tobago’s Ashton Gill, who was second to Bayley last year.

With Mutenkanga in the mix, a mouth-watering prospect of fantastic performances promises to be one of the highlights of the 2017 Championships in Linden.

Mutenkanga runs the 800m in a time below 1:50.00; and just last year, he broke Uganda’s national 600m record. His personal best time is 1:46.30, which he ran to qualify for the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF’s) World Championships in Daegu in 2011.

Ironically, 2011 is the year that

Dennis Horatio established the Boyce and Jefford 800m record with a time of 1:55.90.

With such an international field in the race this year, along with the quality of local athletes, Horatio’s record seems to be under serious threat.

Apart from the World Championships and Olympic Games, the 29-year-old Mutenkanga also ran at the World Indoor Championships.

He competes as an elite athlete for the Central Park Track Club in the United States, which is sponsored by New Balance.

However, Guyanese contenders in this event would be eager to ensure that the prize money up for grabs stays at home. As such, Guyana Defence Force standout athlete Anfernee Headecker, along with the GPF’s Quacy Morian and Samuel Lynch, cannot be ruled out of the top three finishers. The race is also likely to include Desmond Amsterdam and Daniel Melville. The winner of the race pockets US$250, while second and third place finishers get US$150 and US$100 respectively.

The male 800m event is one of six international events scheduled for this meet.

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 6, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Six players to watch out for in CPL 2017

By Deivarayan Muthu

Kesrick Williams (Jamaica Tallawahs)

Red Steel, he bowled a nerveless last over to stun centurion Dwayne Smith and Barbados Tridents. A strong showing in this CPL could put him on the radar for West Indies’ limited-overs series against England in September.

Rahkeem Cornwall (St Lucia Stars)

A member of the Coast Guard in St Vincent, Williams has kept batsmen wary for the past two years. His tally of 17 wickets last season, including an incredible triple-wicket maiden for Jamaica Tallawahs against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, earned him a call-up to the West Indies T20 squad.

He impressed immediately, claiming 2 for 15 on debut against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in September 2016. Later that year, he was part of the Rajshahi Kings side that finished runners-up in the Bangladesh Premier League.

More recently, in his second ODI, Williams denied MS Dhoni at the death and helped West Indies defend 189 with his assortment of variations.

He is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is this year with 14 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 6.69. His celebratory antics – the selfiebration run and the page flipper – have made him a popular character, too.

At 6 feet, 5 inches, Cornwall towers imposingly over most team-mates and opponents alike. His frame may have attracted the inevitable comments, but he has mighty shots to match. Ask the visiting English side against whom he hit 59 off 61 balls, including six fours and three sixes, in a practice match in February 2017.

His offspin is more decent than deadly. He topped the wickets charts in West Indies A’s unofficial Tests in Sri Lanka last year, grabbing 23 wickets in three matches at 19.82. He was also consistent in West Indies’ domestic 50-over competition, the Regional Super50, scoring 252 runs at 50.40 to add to 10 wickets at an economy rate of 3.63. His all-round consistency hasn’t missed the eyes of chief selector Courtney Browne but he conceded Cornwall’s “conditioning” was a hindrance to higher honours.

Jesse Ryder (St Lucia Stars)

Steven Taylor (Guyana Amazon Warriors)

Born to Jamaican immigrants and raised in South Florida, Taylor is a bruising opening batsman who lays claim to USA’s two centuries in T20 cricket. In 2015, he became the first player from America to secure a CPL deal when he was signed up Barbados Tridents, coached by his former USA

Remember New Zealand’s wild child, whose international career has been blighted by a spate of off-field problems? He last played for the country in January 2014. His chances of playing for New Zealand again look grim, but a CPL gig, which follows a stint in the Hong Kong Twenty20 Blitz, gives him

Shadab Khan (Trinbago Knight Riders)

All of 18, Shadab already boats an enviable CV: Champions Trophy winner, the toast of the PSL, and the backing of captain Sarfraz Ahmed and former captain Wasim Akram, who had worked with him in the PSL. He has a deceptive wrong’un, and his unorthodox bowling action – he shapes up

Ronsford Beaton (Trinbago Knight Riders)

A tall quick with a smooth action, Beaton can consistently hit speeds north of 140kph and bowl accurate yorkers in the slog overs. He was called up to the West Indies squad for the T20Is against Afghanistan at home, but did not get a game. While sheer pace is his calling card, he also has a cool head. In 2014, two nights after conceding a last-ball six in a heartbreaking loss against Trinidad & Tobago

Berbice youth cricketer Umrao receives sponsorship from US-based Guyanese

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ifted Albion Cricket Club, Berbice and National U-17 left arm spinner and lower order batsman Kelvin Umrao is the latest young Berbice cricketer to receive sponsorship from Guyanese living in New York.

The career of Umrao, like other young promising cricketers from Berbice, is being closely followed by a group of Guyanese living in the State of New York, USA and in response to his rapid progress and discipline; he was presented with a bag of cricket gears to assist with his further development.

The gears consist of one cricket bag, one New Balance bowling boots, one Nike batting boots, one thigh pad, one CA bat, one elbow guard, bat rubbers and other cricket related items.

The sponsorship was provided by: Chin Singh, David Sookrah, Ramo Singh, Chris Ganesh, Brodo Kunjal, Mukesh Matai, Goordial Matai, Valdat, Buddy Permaul, Katch, Pampo Karan, Wally Bascom, Devan Ramlall, Shan and Dowlatram.

The sponsors wished Umrao well in his future and revealed that it is their hope that this gesture can motivate

somewhat like an offspinner – only makes it tougher for batsmen to pick it. He has already had a taste of the Caribbean pitches, having taken 10 wickets for 75 runs in his first four T20Is this year. His partnership with Sunil Narine in the Trinbago line-up forms an engaging subplot in the tournament. Good luck to the batsmen.

Kelvin Umrao

others to do the same. They promised to continue to make significant contributions to young cricketers based on the recommendations.

an opportunity to show the rest of the T20 world that he still has those powerful short-arm jabs and wristy pickup shots. Ryder has also been named in New Zealand’s squad for the Indoor Cricket World Cup, which begins in September this year in Dubai.

coach Robin Singh. Chances have been limited for Taylor in the CPL, but an injury to Chris Lynn might brighten up his prospects this season and push him closer in his pursuit of representing West Indies. He comes into the tournament, having scored 264 runs at a strike-rate of 93.61 in the Regional Super50 for Jamaica. That he has another string in his bow – offspin – makes him a valuable asset in T20s.

(Espncricinfo)

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Warriors ready for battle

12-yr-old wins trip to Spain to train with FC Barcelona …courtesy of Nestle Milo

The Warriors after their final practice match

Mr Economical; Steven Jacobs was busy for the Warriors in yesterday’s final practice match

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uyana Amazon Warriors showed that they are well prepared in final practice match with convincing win over a Select XI on Tuesday at the National Stadium.

The Warriors recorded their highest score of 160-5 in 20 overs then returned to restrict their counterparts to 88-7 in 20 overs to claim their only success in

three practice matches before they departed for Florida on Wednesday.

Opener Martin Guptill led the way for the Warriors with 47 from 25 balls inclusive of two sixes and six fours while receiving support from Jason Mohammed (45) and Babar Azam (41).

Gudakesh Motie 2-23 from four overs and Chandrapaul Hemraj

1-21 were the key bowlers for the Select XI. In pursuit of the target, the Select XI lost skipper Leon Johnson for 10. That was in the fourth over and off the bowling of Steven Jacobs with the score on 22.

Everything went downhill afterwards.

Medium pacer Rayad Emrit 3-12 and left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul 2-17 combined to capture five victims as the Select XI found scoring very difficult.

Anthony Bramble made 19 while three of the Select XI batsmen made it to double figures in a failed attempt to hunt the target.

Guyana Amazon Warriors will play their first match on August 5 against St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Lauderhill.

The match is scheduled to start at 11:00h.

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GFF President Wayne Forde and, Nestle Representative Mark Clarke pose with the top 10 competitors of the Tournament

welve-year-old Martin King has won the chance of a lifetime — to train with Futbol Club Barcelona in Spain. It is a chance most adults only dream about.

King, coincidentally, was the last child to register for the Nestle Milosponsored Skills Tournament for children in the Caribbean.

The children were made to go through three skill sets: dribbling, short passing and control. As they went through the drills, they were judged based on skill and accuracy, and were awarded points based on their performances.

Called “Messi” by his peers, King amassed 215 points from his three skill sets, while his closest challenger, 11-year-old Renaldo Adams, scored 160 points.

The Nestle Milo Skills Tournament resulted from Nestle Milo teaming up with FC Barcelona to host the tournament, wherein five lucky children from across the Caribbean are given a chance to win a trip to Barcelona to attend a 2-day training camp with the FC Barcelona coaches.

Earlier, before the winner of the tournament was announced, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President

Wayne Forde congratulated the Nestle group for pulling off the event; and congratulated the parents of the children as he noted that “this is the kind of commitment we want to see from parents in supporting the children that have an interest in playing football.”

Below are the top ten competitors of the tournament. Aside from first placed King, the others received cash prizes and Nestle products.

First Place”- Martin King (Age 12) – 215 points 2nd- Renaldo Abrams (Age 12) – 160 points 3rd- Makhaya Munroe (Age 12) – 155 points 4th- Shaquille Dalrymple (Age 8) – 140 points 5th- Keshawn Andrews (Age 12) – 140 points 6th- Daniel Lowe (Age 12) – 135 points 7th- Shane Dalrymple (Age 8) – 130 points 8th- Akeem Francois (Age 7) – 130 points 9th- Malik Barker (Age 10) – 130 points 10th- Clarence Lucius (Age 12) – 125 points

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