Guyana Times International 22 February 2019

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Canada-based Guyanese man accused of murdering daughter dies Page 7

Constitutional crisis looms in Guyana

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ISSUE NO. 437

WEEK ENDING February 24, 2019

See stories inside

The Chiefs of Mission of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and European Union, on Thursday, met with the Chairman and Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to discuss the agency’s preparations for the conduct of General and Regional Elections which are constitutionally due by March 20, following the passage of the no-confidence motion which saw the toppling of the APNU/AFC Government on December 21, 2018.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Constitutional crisis looms …as Guyana Govt, electoral body frustrate timeline for March polls …Int’l community urged to take action

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he Opposition P e o p l e ’ s Progressive Party (PPP) has said it will push for international action against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) following the vote to inform President David Granger that elections cannot be held in 90 days as constitutionally mandated.

The PPP said the time is opportune for international action – as was needed in 1990 to ensure constitutional compliance. The Party is referring to the intervention of former United States (US) President Jimmy Carter which saw the return of free and fair elections in 1992.

As was the case then, Guyana is faced with a situation where

Seated left to right: Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the United States of America Terry Steers Conzales, High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana Lilian Chatterjee, Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Guyana Ray Davidson, and Minister Counsellor / Deputy Head of Delegation, European Union Philippe Coessens.

GECOM is dominated by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the Party said in a statement.

According to the PPP, this puts the democratic gains that have been made over the past two decades in Guyana at

great risk.

“We call on all Guyanese, as well as the international community, to condemn the PNCR’s call for “war” and GECOM’s complicity in the violation of our Constitution,” the Party statement read.

The Opposition party feels the country is heading into a constitutional crisis based on the actions taken by GECOM and the Government.

It said President David Granger will be held solely responsible for this and the attendant

negative consequences for the Guyanese people.

Only Tuesday, GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson used his deciding vote and sided with Government Commissioners to pass a motion that new elec-

tions could not be held in 90 days as constitutionally mandated. The second issue that was voted on and passed had to do with funding for elections, and the third was for GECOM to return to normalcy. continued on page 9

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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EDITORIAL

The illegitimate Natural Resources Fund

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resident David Granger has just signed the “Natural Resources Bill”, which is the name of our “Sovereign Wealth Fund” and which arguably deals with the most important issue since the granting of our independence.

The fundamental question is how are the funds that would be generated from our oil reserves be utilised to deliver the greatest benefits to Guyanese of this and following generations. But just as arguably, while the President might have signed the Bill, he did not sign it in law.

The substantive contents of what should be covered in this Bill had been widely discussed ever since oil was struck by the Exxon Consortium in May 2015. It had been drafted under the aegis of Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, then responsible for oil, and passed on to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, two years ago to pilot through the National Assembly.

However, Jordan sat on it until the sitting of the Assembly on January 3 of this year, which followed the December 21, 2018, sitting during which the No-confidence Motion brought by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had been successfully passed. And as mandated by Article 106 (6), the “President and Cabinet shall resign”.

The Opposition PPP had indicated that it would not be attending that January sitting on the grounds that the Noconfidence Motion had unleashed a governmental regime where new elections had to be scheduled (by March 19) as precedent dictated in other parliamentary democracies such as Britain and India. However, under cover of requesting the Speaker to reverse his ruling that the NCV was legitimate (he refused to so rule) the PNC-led coalition scheduled the session and slipped in the NRF Bill, which was passed in the absence of the Opposition.

But the Government’s own consultants from the foreign non-governmental organization “Natural Resources Governance Institute” (NRGI) had explicitly warned them at a public lecture organised by the Guyana Revenue Authority discussing the Green Paper on the NRF, that there must be “an open discussion and consensus building between the political parties to look at these rules that will be governing your money… and agree on how Guyana as a whole will be managing its money.”

The consultants were very clear as to why they recommended this democratic consensus: Guyana would not want a new administration to change the rules of the NRF because of the lack of a wide legitimacy of those rules. This would wreak havoc on Guyana’s return on investment and only benefit the Fund Managers. The consultants had also indicated that in this world of Wall Street Gordon Gecko types, there should be explicit strictures against investing in highly risky investments just for their purported high returns. But there was an even more pressing reason why Jordan should not have rushed through the NRF Bill: as Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said, it was “illegal” because the status of the PNC-coalition Government, which as in other democracies after a no-confidence vote, dictated that they only conduct routine business until a new Government is elected and certainly not wide ranging business such as the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

But what made President Granger’s signing of the NRF Bill at this point in time very unsavory, is that after an initial period of bluff and bluster, he has conceded it is not “business as usual” for his Government in that, for instance, there could be no Cabinet meetings and Ministers were now meeting in a “Ministerial Plenary”, whatever that may be. The signing of the NRF Bill is just another in a long string of illegalities committed by the PNC-led Government in refusing to acknowledge the supremacy of the Constitution. As several scholars have adumbrated, the filing of appeals against the rulings of the Chief Justice against his Government’s contentions cannot stay the ruling of the Speaker of the National Assembly that the No-confidence Motion was validly passed.

We will have to go back to the drawing board on a new, legitimate, NRF.

Backdam: Leonora, West Coast Demerara, Guyana (Girendra Persaud photo)

An opportunity to showcase Guyana’s beauty

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aturday, February 23, will mark the 49th anniversary since Guyana became a Republic.

That historic moment almost five decades ago officially severed ties of governance with the British colonial power. It’s a national holiday, Mashramani, which basically connotes celebrations after hard work.

It offers the opportunity to showcase national efforts of hard work for the spectacular costume and float parade through some streets in the city as splendour, creativity, vibrancy and revelry take the spotlight. All involved must be commended for their efforts to bring much joy to the nation and its people.

Over the years, direct participation in the parade has generally been a majority by one group, while Guyanese from all walks of life flock the route to savour the glamour which reflects the fruits of the hard work by designers, organisers and of course the revellers. Very conspicuous throughout the route are families in a picnic-like atmosphere saturated with the aromas of a variety of Guyanese cuisine.

It is a day that Guyanese generally look forward to the excitement and the demonstration of pride and nationalism. It also brings to an end the official activities for the festival barring a few regions that hold their parades afterwards. What has been a bone of contention over the years is that the grandeur of the floats and costumes along the route gets lost ironically as a result of the infiltration of those who are out to feast their eyes.

Many bands have been forced to implement measures, including roping, to prevent onlookers and passers-by from moving in and out. With narrow streets

and the growing multitude over the years, the problem has worsened, making it extremely difficult for other onlookers and the media from capturing the true beauty of what was laboriously designed to please the eyes. It is also dangerous given the presence of low-bed trucks and other vehicles which are important parts of the show. For many families along the route and who do not encroach, viewing the parade becomes very challenging; the same for those following on television. The best vantage point to therefore the view the grand spectacle and to be in awe of the designers, is D’Urban Park where it culminates and facilitates final judging. Surely there must have been discussions on how to maximise unhindered viewing which becomes even more imperative, especially when looking at a parade in the USA; whether it’s Thanksgiving Day or Rose Bowl. There, the onlookers are clearly separated from the participants of the parade making for satisfied viewing whether on spot or on television.

An argument can be made that better resources and facilities are available in the developed countries and that’s only fair. However, the route of Thomas Lands into Vlissengen Road and onto D’Urban Park offers an advantage which hasn’t been fully capitalised upon.

For starters, both carriageways are one-way allowing for onlookers to be accommodated on the opposite site.

Also, the streets that lead to the carriageways which the parade progresses along can be blocked and manned to prevent encroachment.

If that were to be fully effective as well as putting onlookers on the opposite sides and which can be shared with the commer-

cial ventures, then it will be a significant step forward.

Key would be the manpower and effective barricades to so enforce accompanied by an awareness and education programme. Importantly, it can only start with a decision to the effect by those in charge if an unhindered parade and its much anticipated viewing are the desired outcomes.

If the visible demarcations for the allotment of commercial stalls along the said carriageway of the route were to be realised, then the current challenges will be repeated in an ongoing cycle. The reality is that a tremendous amount of resources including finance, creativity and time, are expended over a demanding period, to create the spectacle that has come to epitomise Mashramani. The visuals of that hard work must not be allowed to be lost.

In as much there is a disparity in what is available in Guyana and in the developed countries, organisers have to make hard decisions and make maximum use of what is at their disposal.

The festival is one that attracts international tourists and media and overseas-based Guyanese. One would believe that they, like locals, would not want to be impeded by the growing encroachment of the parade which also inevitably stalls the pace.

All it takes is a start in trying something different to help improve visibility and for the beauty of what’s on show to further overwhelm. 2020 will be the jubilee year for the country’s status as a Republic. With digits that connote good vision, it would be extremely pleasing to many, including sponsors, to see that parade devoid of the encroachment mentioned. Maybe it’s time to begin a Mash challenge!

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘We need ExxonMobil moving ahead with refocused plans justice’ …after Venezuelan navy interruption

…family calls for independent probe into death of baby burnt at GPHC

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Before and after Quavon Forde was burnt

he life of a newborn baby boy was recently cut short due to alleged negligence of practitioners at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after he succumbed shortly after burns received from a headlamp in one of the incubators.

Little Quavon Forde was born in December 2018 in what was termed a premature birth since he arrived one month earlier than expected.

His grandmother, Sharon Harding, in an interview with this publication on Wednesday, explained that the baby was incubated until he was fully developed and his parents were allowed to visit every day. On a subsequent visit some days later, his mother, Odessa Forde, went to check on her baby and made the shocking discovery that he was severely burnt about his body.

According to the grandmother, the child’s mother immediately called on nurses on duty, who shrugged off the matter, insisting that they were unaware of the circumstances. Relatives later learnt that a headlamp would have caused the injuries after doctors briefed them on what transpired.

“I told her to ask the nurses around and she kept asking but all the nurses would tell us is that they wasn’t there or they don’t know about that,” the aggrieved grandmother relayed.

Asserting that “specialists” would be present to treat the burns, the child was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where he was later discharged on January 21, 2019, while his wounds were yet to be healed.

“She saw a doctor and the doctor told her that it was a headlamp that fall and burn the baby and she must not worry because they brought in specialists to take care of the baby burns,” the grandmother relayed.

“I’m assuming that they noticed themselves

that the child couldn’t make it and they subsequently discharged this baby and handed it over to her.”

A few days later, she noticed that the baby was in agony and was constantly crying. He was readmitted to the hospital where doctors failed in their attempts to save him on February 8.

“He was groaning and the burns on the foot wasn’t healed. They discharged this baby wrapped in gauze so we took him back where he was admitted to the ICU. However, later, they said they couldn’t save him,” Harding explained.

The grandmother said she contacted the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, George Lewis, but he refuted claims that the baby died as a result of the burns sustained about his body, but rather from the fact the he was born premature.

Harding said their troubles did not end there, saying that they faced numerous encounters when the post-mortem examination was due.

On Wednesday, efforts by this publication to get a comment from GPHC’s officials proved futile.

The death of the baby comes amid mounting calls for public health officials to be sanctioned for negligence.

A series of protests have been held outside of the Public Health Ministry after three children, all cancer patients, died under questionable circumstances at the Georgetown Hospital last month.

An investigation has since been launched into that incident.

Devastated family members are calling for transparency in the investigation and for the family to be informed of the outcome. Adding to that, Harding said such matters require urgent attention to ensure that there is never a recurrence.

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nited States (US) oil giant ExxonMobil has refocused its efforts ever since Venezuela’s navy “intercepted” a ship exploring for oil on behalf of the company and said it plans to stick with those plans until the issues are resolved by the countries involved.

Speaking at the sidelines of an oil and gas forum on Wednesday hosted by American Chambers of Commerce (AmCham), Upstream Geoscience Manager of Esso Exploration Guyana Limited, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, Dough McGhee said that it is a Government problem right now and they are hoping that it will be resolved.

“We just refocused our efforts down in the southeast. There is a lot of data we are still acquiring down there, so we continue to explore in the Stabroek block,” he explained.

Venezuela’s navy stopped two exploration vessels that the company had hired late last year.

The navy halted seismic data collection.

Government said Venezuelans tried to land a helicopter on the deck of the Ramform Tethys, a seismic ship hired by ExxonMobil that had a total of 70 crew members on board and the captain.

It said the ship was intercepted in the Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf of Guyana at approximately 140 kilometres from the nearest point to the middle line with Venezuela.

Following that incident, ExxonMobil had moved to redirect its efforts in other parts of the Stabroek Block in which they are licenced to conduct exploration.

Guyana had called on Venezuela to withdraw its decree against Guyana’s rights to explore its territory; a call that is also fully supported by the Opposition.

Government had urged the Spanishspeaking country to cease these types of military actions and join Guyana in submitting its territorial case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

EPA permit

Meanwhile, when asked to comment on a possible timeline for the company’s permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), McGhee said he is hopeful that they will get it soon.

He said, “We are hop-

Upstream Geoscience Manager of Esso Exploration Guyana Limited, Dough McGhee addressing a forum organised by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) held at Duke Lodge on Wednesday to discuss ExxonMobil’s exploration work

ing to get that soon. We have provided them with a lot of information. We have a good dialogue going on with them right now…we would like to see it in the first quarter”.

Earlier this month, ExxonMobil announced positive results from the Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells offshore Guyana, bringing the total number of discoveries on the Stabroek Block to 12.

The previous 10 discoveries on the Stabroek

Block established the potential for at least five floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels producing more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025.

The Liza Phase 1 development is progressing on schedule and is expected to begin producing up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day in early 2020, utilising the Liza Destiny FPSO. Liza Phase 2, which

will use a second FPSO designed to produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day, is expected to start up by mid-2022. A third development, Payara, is expected to start up as early as 2023.

When US oil giant ExxonMobil announced the first of multiple oil finds in local waters in 2015, Venezuela renewed its claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.

Venezuela has been against oil exploration in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, where multiple oil deposits were found

by ExxonMobil, and has since renewed claims to the Essequibo region.

On January 30, 2018, Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres concluded the Good Offices Process – which the parties had engaged in for almost 30 years, but did not achieve a resolution to the controversy – and chose the ICJ as the next means of settlement, for which Guyana had long been advocating.

Guyana has moved to the ICJ and is now awaiting the matter to take its rightful course.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

GECOM still APNU/AFC must has time to do come clean on the the right thing US$18M oil bonus?

Dear Editor, The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has a sordid history. It was a tool in the hands of the PNC in rigging elections in the pre-1992 days.

One of the deals brokered by the Carter Centre in the early 1990s was to make GECOM independent. That was done in the way the Commission was composed. The formula, three Commissioners appointed by the President in his own judgment. Three others through the recommendations of the Leader of the Opposition. The Chairperson to come from a consensus mechanism whereby the President would choose a person from a list presented to him by the Leader of the Opposition.

GECOM was also made into a constitutional Body in May 2000 to ensure that elections could be held whenever required and in a professional manner.

That arrangement worked well and gave us free and fair elections from 1992-2011.

The behaviour of GECOM today is very disturbing. This Body, given powers by our Constitution, has done nothing to discharge its responsibility since the passing of the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018. By its actions, it is sabotaging the will of the people and objectively imposing an undemocratic regime on the Guyanese people.

This statement is not made lightly.

I am convinced that GECOM is ready and can conduct elections in less than ninety days. That Body has been set up to deal with situations as we have now.

In a previous article, I had pointed out that since 2005 GECOM has been: Doing continuous registration. I also know of persons who died whose names were removed from the list.

This is a continuous process. This was happening up to very recently.

Moreover, immediately after the no-confidence motion, Public Relations Officer, Guyana Elections Commission, Ms Yolanda Ward assured the nation that GECOM was ready to conduct elections to the highest standards.

On December 27, 2018, in an interview with the Chronicle, Ms Ward was quoted as saying; “With this no-confidence motion, it means once a date is set, it will be held (the elections) … it is our constitutional mandate to conduct the General and Regional Elections and Local Government Elections (LGEs) … so whether it is in the 90 days then it is GECOM responsibility to conduct elections …”

In the same article, she is further quoted to have said; “…what the law says GECOM has to do we will have to follow, it is conducted within the confines of the law … our guiding principle will be what it is rooted in chapter 103 … critical will be the timeline which we will use to guide us to ensure we stay within the specific timeline…”

She is also reported to have told Guyana Times on the same date: “… If that is the decision then we will have to ensure that those elections are held as required …”

Ms Ward is not alone in her views that the elections could be held within the time stipulated by the Constitution.

The United Nations team that was here last year at the request of GECOM on a scoping exercise implied the same. True, it did not say so specifically because this situation caused

by the “no-confidence” motion did not yet arise.

However, in their recommendations, they made no reference to any need for a new house-to-house registration.

Clearly then, the talk about new house-to-house registration is only an excuse to extend the life of this regime.

It is a red herring. What is even more disturbing is that GECOM appears to be changing its position as the PNC-led APNU/AFC positions change.

Recall that both the President and Prime Ministers made statements saying that they would respect the Constitution. It was at the same time that Ms Ward made her bold assertions.

Now that they, by their actions, seem to have moved away from that position, they are doing all they can to frustrate the process.

GECOM, in concert, has moved away from its position. Now they have been avoiding the holding of meetings and also joining with the PNC-led APNU/AFC in their efforts to hang on to power. It is sabotaging the people’s will.

I am of the firm view that GECOM can hold the elections in time. Indeed, the time that they had to conduct the 2015 elections was also three months (90 days) and it was done.

These situations were anticipated and laws were made to put them into effect. The same Article that Ms Ward referred to is explicit on it. Article 103 (5) states that GECOM has the power to reduce the time for certain transactions if need be. For instance, the time for nomination day can be reduced so too is the time for “Claims and Objections”.

Therefore, it is clear that GECOM’s secretariat seems to be facilitating the PNC-led regime to frustrate the will of the Guyanese people.

Once more, GECOM is subjugating itself to the dictates of the PNC/APNU regime. This is a throwback to the PNC dictatorial days.

I believe that it is criminal to deliberately act in a manner that subverts the Constitution. There should be serious consequences for this offence.

GECOM’s senior officers must be held responsible for this sabotage.

I wonder if the leadership of the Government and GECOM are aware of the dangers they are placing all the people of our country. The Head of State is a historian, but he seems to have learnt little from the history of rigged elections in Guyana. He seems not to care that his Administration is presiding over a process of the subversion of our Constitution.

Actions such as these inevitably lead to damaging the economy and condemning masses of people to a life of poverty and misery.

Instead of returning to the sordid period of undemocratic Government, we should be putting that era behind us. We must move forward.

The only way to do so is to respect our Constitution and hold free and fair elections now.

There is still time for GECOM to redeem themselves.

Yours sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

Dear Editor, Several weeks ago, I asked where is the $30 billion the Government, through SPU/NICIL, took on behalf of GuySuCo. To this day, no one in Government is providing answers to the people. Now I am asking again, where is the $US18 million Exxon bonus money?

These enormous sums of money, amounts that exceed the total amount paid to the entire public service as salaries and benefits for an entire year, have become State secrets. People ask these questions not because they are prying into other people’s business, but because it is their right to want to know about their assets. While people are still waiting to hear an answer for the $30 billion GuySuCo loan, they also want answers for the US$18 million Exxon money.

Why is APNU/AFC so secretive about the Exxon US$18 million?

Where is the money?

How has it been spent, if any has been spent?

The stewardship of the $US18 million Exxon money has been illegal from the start and is in total violations of all the relevant laws of Guyana. As the Leader of the Opposition, Bharat Jagdeo, reminded people, the money was not accounted for in the 2017, 2018 and the 2019 Budgets as required by law. Political malfeasance is a horrendous indiscretion by any Government, but the unaccountability and non-transparency with

which the US$18 million Exxon money has been handled is totally illegal, breaching all the laws of Guyana. The State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) and Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) have become complicit in the breaches because neither of them sees it fit and proper to be even a little inquisitive.

APNU/AFC kept the Exxon contract a secret for almost two years. They received US$18 million from Exxon and hid it in a secret account at the Bank of Guyana. Later, the Finance Minister claimed the money was in a secret account in a secret foreign bank. As the Opposition and civic society demanded answers and transparency, Raphael Trotman dug in and claimed the contract had to be kept secret because of national security. When the secret bank account with the US$18 million was exposed, Trotman led the denial and even the President denied, even though the truth was staring at every Guyanese citizen. It turned out to be a secret in plain sight. The contract was then released, as APNU/AFC succumbed to the intense political and civic pressure. We have now known the details of the contract for almost two years, we know there was an Exxon payment of US$18 million since 2016. We do not know where the money is and if any has been used.

Trotman now admits that hiding the

contract and the payment was wrong. Now that the successful no-confidence motion of Parliament has forced APNU/AFC into caretaker status, Ministers who for almost four years, since May 2015, were too busy to visit and discourse with the people have found time to do so. They are suddenly regretting many things they know were corruption, mismanagement and incompetence, not because of any genuine epiphany, but in a continued effort to fool people. Trotman still insists they were correct because of national security reasons. Yet for almost two years now, since they were forced to release the contract and concede they received the money, he cannot show us what national security was compromised.

More importantly, he still refuses to tell the nation where the US$18 million is. Guyanese people want to know. The Parliament demanded answers. People have gone to court for answers. Mr Jordon, Mr Trotman, Mr Greenidge come clean and account for the $US18 million.

President Granger, you have a duty to let the Guyanese people know what happened to the US$18 million Exxon money. The nation does not need admission and regrets, the nation wants a simple, plain answer.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

What happens if constitutionally due elections are not held?

Dear Editor, If National and Regional Elections are not held by March 21, 2019 — as ruled by the Chief Justice (Ag) — and there is no twothirds majority (by the way, what number is two-thirds of 65?) vote in Parliament for elections to be deferred beyond the date stipulated above — as outlined under Article 106 (7) of the

Constitution of Guyana — will the new elections be deemed unconstitutional?

Will the new Government formed by the party which wins the elections be deemed illegal? What will be the constitutional issue/s if any?

I am no expert as it relates to Constitutional Law. I do not have the competence to debate

complex legal issues. I am only an ordinary layman; but, as a citizen of Guyana, my conscious is pricking me. I am wondering. Perhaps I am just a lonely wonderer.

Let the confabulation continue.

Yours faithfully, Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

news 7

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

“Mango Man” murder: Jury Canada-based Guyanese finds massacre convict man accused of “Smallie”; “Catty” not guilty murdering daughter dies

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Mark Royden “Smallie” Williams and Sherwin Nero, called “Catty” being escorted from court

fter more than a month of trial amid multiple adjournments, notorious gang member Mark Royden “Smallie” Williams and Sherwin Nero called “Catty” were both found not guilty of the 2007 murder of Kumar Singh called “Mango Man” who was shot dead after gunmen robbed his Cove and John, East Coast Demerara home.

The jury’s decision was returned after several hours of deliberation at the High Court on Wednesday.

The matter was presided over by Justice James Bovell-Drakes and Attorney Nigel Hughes defended the accused.

Though they were absolved of this crime, the two are still returning to jail since “Smallie” was committed to death by hanging for the February 2008 Bartica massacre while Nero was remanded pending other matters before the court.

They were implicated in the murder of “Mango Man” whilst executing a robbery on August 30, 2007, when the man’s relatives were visiting from neighbouring Suriname.

During the trial, the jury had been told that an ex-police rank transported the duo from Kumar Singh’s home via horse cart which the defence argued was implausible. Singh was killed after gunmen stormed his premises and allegedly made off with cash and jewellery.

When “Smallie” had taken the stand, he implicated Inspector Suraj Singh and other ranks of torturing him. His account to the jury was that upon his 2008 arrest, he was handcuffed, beaten and shocked into signing the police caution statement which he claimed was not freely given.

Prosecutors Tameika Clarke and Tiffini Lyken led the State’s case.

This long-delayed tri-

Deceased: Kumar “Mango Man” Singh

al concerning “Mango Man’s” death was one of much contention and constitutional challenges that disallowed the case from moving forward on multiple occasions when called up at various Assizes. One such halt came in November 2017 when the duo made a second appearance before Justice Brassington Reynolds but the State was at that time prevented from laying the murder indictment against the duo. This was owing to a then pending matter that was before acting Chief Justice Roxane George, which was brought on by Defence Counsel Nigel Hughes on behalf of Nero.

It had been contended that waiting nine years for a trial violates Article 144 of Guyana’s Constitution. Section 1 of the Article states: “If any person is charged with a criminal offence, then, unless the charge is withdrawn, the case shall be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court established by law”.

However, the “Mango Man” murder case did come up for High Court trial in June 2014 before another judge but was prevented from continuing owing to an objection by one of the accused. It was in July 2008 that the two suspects were initially charged for the capital offence but Williams’ brushes with the law extended beyond his February 2017 death sentence.

In July 2017, he along with others staged a daring escape from the Camp Street Prison which housed death row inmates. During this ordeal which gripped the nation, Prison Officer Odinga Wickham was killed, and the Camp Street Prison was reduced to ashes. Williams was recaptured on October 9, 2017, on his way to Suriname. He was a passenger in a minibus which was intercepted at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice, by investigators.

During the Bartica Massacre trial that predated his escape, Williams was identified as the one who handed a gun to gang leader Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins to shoot five persons at the Bartica Ferry Stelling, at close range.

These five were among 12 persons who had been slaughtered whilst watching a game of 20/20 cricket. Among the dead were three policemen after the Bartica Police Station was shot at and invaded.

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Roopesh Rajkumar, 41 and his 11-year-old daughter Riya Rajkumar

he father of an 11-year-old girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert last week has died.

Roopesh Rajkumar had been in hospital since suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound the night his daughter, Riya, was found dead in his Brampton home after she went missing on Valentine’s Day. An Amber Alert was issued after Riya’s mother had gone to police after Rajkumar allegedly failed to return the girl on time after taking her out for her birthday. She told police that she had received concerning comments from Roopesh about harming himself and his daughter.

Rajkumar was arrested by Provincial Police in a high-risk takedown some 130 ki-

lometres away in OroMedonte shortly after Riya’s body was found. Peel Regional Police say his injury wasn’t discovered until he was transferred into their custody. It wasn’t until he was brought to hospital that the gunshot wound was discovered.

The province’s Special Investigations Unit was contacted but declined to invoke their mandate.

The news of Rajkumar’s death comes on the same day his daughter was laid to rest.

About 100 mourners gathered Wednesday to listen to speeches, poems and songs as the community remembered the young girl.

“My daughter Riya was taken from me too early,” Priya Ramdin, who did not attend the vigil, said in a state-

ment read by Peel police Deputy Chief Chris McCord.

“She never liked to be negative and always saw the good in every situation. If I’m ever upset, she would say ‘Mama, don’t be sad, look at the positives.”’

Ramdin described her daughter as her best friend and a social butterfly who loved to spend time with her family and friends.

“She was a little princess who loved dressing up, having her hair curled and done up,” Ramdin said.

“She touched a lot of lives with her laughter and contagious big smile. It breaks my heart to know I will no longer be seeing that smile, hearing her voice and never having her in my arms again.” (City News)

8 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Trial of Muslim scholar accused ‘People who hold of abusing 9 boys for March 7 public offices should be held accountable’ T …Chairman of Integrity Commission ups pressure on defaulters to submit declarations

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Chairman of the Integrity Commission Kumar Duraisami along with Commissioner Rosemary Benjamin-Noble to the left and Commission Secretary Amanda Jaisingh at Wednesday’s press conference

hairman of the Integrity Commission Kumar Duraisami said there are still some 716 public officials who have not submitted their declarations to the Commission.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Duraisami pointed out that a total of 1306 declaration forms were sent out to public officials and so far, only 590 submissions have been made.

According to the Chairman, they have since published five lists of the various categories of public officials who are yet to make their declarations. He added that there are two more lists – Finance Ministry and Judiciary – to be published.

Duraisami explained that the publication of these names seems to be effective since more defaulters have been filing their declarations after their names were made public, a process that is catered for in the Integrity Commission Act. “These publications were very effective because the public found it astonishing that, since its existence, the Commission had the courage to publish the names of defaulters,” the Chairman stated.

He went on to outline that from the first published list of 87 public officials, 41 still have not made any submissions; from 80 in the second list, there are still 19 outstanding; from 86 from the third list, 73 are yet to make declarations; from 159 names in the

fourth list, 132 are still to submit and from 66 in the fifth list, 50 officials are yet to make their declarations.

The Chairman noted that while there is a need for awareness on the Integrity Commission, most public officials have a general idea of the Commission’s functions and their obligations.

But there are some, he contended, who are willfully withholding declaring their assets to the Commission.

“Sometimes people think it’s a big jokery. We’re not concerned about the private person, people who hold public offices must be accountable to the people who pay them their monies…

We are asking those public officers, it is in their interest to make these declarations. If they don’t make these declarations to the Commission, the Commission will not be in the position to secure their integrity,” Duraisami implored.

However, he noted that there are some defaulting officers, particularly in the Judiciary, who are questioning whether the function of the Commission is infringing on their constitutional rights by publishing their names.

“I am in no position or this Commission is in no position to use a discretion as to whether or not we should publish the names. If they think that they ought not to make their declarations to the Commission then they can go the court and say ‘my position is secured by the Constitution and I’m not obliged or obligated to submit to the

Commission’…

This Commission has no discretion. We will have to publish their names if they don’t submit,” the Chairman insisted.

Duraisami further posited, however, that before the Commission can go after those who did not make their declaration, they first have to publish their names.

While five lists have already been published, the Commission still needs investigators to look into the defaulters.

“Once we have the investigative officers, we will be fully armed to go after those declarants, some of whom got their declarations done but they don’t put in all they ought to put in. We have to ensure that they comply fully with the law and if they don’t then the next stage is what the law recommends.

Prosecution,” he stated.

With such staff, the Chairman said, steps are being taken to recruit five investigators, noting that there may be need for additional ones in the future. However, he noted that with a meagre budget of G$45 million approved, there is a lot that needs to be done including training of the Commission’s staff.

“This is not sufficient to run this organisation at full capacity. We need approximately G$86 million so that we can cater to all eventualities…

We have to hire investigative officers so we may have to apply for a supplemental budget in order to accommodate these and other expenditures,” he asserted.

he Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Tuesday confirmed that the trial of Muslim scholar, Nezaam Ali, who was accused of sexual lymolesting nine boys between 2011 and 2012 will be heard on March 7, before Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court. The defendant appeared before Justice Singh but his lawyer, Stanley Moore, requested a deferred date for the commencement of trial.

He is expected to be formally indicted on nine counts for the offence of sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust, with an alternative count of rape of a child under 16 years.

The State indicated that all of its witnesses in the matter were present in court on Tuesday. The matter is listed for trial but could not be heard by Sexual Offences Court Judge, Jo-Ann Barlow due to her tenure as former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions as she would have been familiar with the case.

The DPP’s announcement follows concerns that the mother of three of the boys who were allegedly molested is being offered some G$8 million by an Islamic organisation to have the matter settled. Ali, of Lot 268 Section C 5 South Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, was charged back in 2012 with raping the nine boys.

The charges alleged that between December 2011 and January, 2012, Ali, being a teacher attached to the Turkeyen Masjid, had engaged in sexual activity with the children, abusing a position of trust.

However, after being committed to stand trial in 2013, the matter was stalled for some time after birth certif-

Accused: Nezaam Ali

icates and medicals for the boys had gone missing from each of the nine files. The parents and relatives of some of the alleged victims had publicly expressed their frustration at the situation in the past. One parent has even claimed that there has been a deliberate attempt to drag the matter out.

In 2017, however, there was a turn of events when the DPP’s Chambers in a letter had ordered that the case be reopened. He was later re-committed to stand trial at the Demerara Assizes in 2018.

The mother of three of the alleged rape victims had told sections of the media that persons had been taking photographs of her sons and she regarded this act as bullying. Shortly after his previous committal, Ali’s then lawyer, Nigel Hughes, had filed in the High Court an action to have the committal overturned. This was rejected by the court and it was ruled that the committal would remain.

SOCU, SARA staff among public officers to be asked to declare assets

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t a time when stringent efforts are being made to weed out corruption within the public sector, the Integrity Commission is looking to expand the range of public officers who are required to declare their assets.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Chairman of the Commission, Kumar Duraisami said that certain officers are not included on the list of declarants since most of these posts were nonexistent when the Integrity Commission Act was established.

Nevertheless, Duraisami noted that recommendations have been made to have Schedule 1 of the Act, which contains the list of public officers required to make declarations, expanded.

Among those public officials are those within agencies that investigate money laundering and other financial crimes such as the controversial Special Organised Crime

Head of SOCU Sydney James

Unit (SOCU) and the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA).

“The Financial Crimes Unit (FIU), we’re hoping to have those officers in that unit to be included in the schedule among others. We’re hoping to get SARA and SOCU; these organisations and these officers, who are public officers, should be accountable to the Integrity Commission,” the Chairman asserted.

In addition, Duraisami also outlined that a number of top-ranking officers

within the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are also among those to be added to the Schedule.

These include Deputy Commissioners, D i v i s i o n a l Commanders, Assistant Commissioners, and the Divisional Crime and Traffic Heads.

“The Schedule before only states that the Commissioner of Police submit [declaration] but I think that’s because the police departments are so large and they have so many sections, we should include these people,” continued on page 10

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

GCAA launches probe into plane crash on WBD

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Senior Police ranks alongside Mark Grimmond at the hospital on Tuesday

ollowing the crash-landing of a Cessna 182 aircraft bearing registration number N8704T that is owned and operated by Guyana Adventist Medical Aviation Services (GAMAS) on Monday evening, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into the incident.

The crash has left Policeman Mark Grimmond with multiple fractures to his face and lacerations about the body while the pilot, Lincoln Gomez, suffered a broken jaw and other bodily injuries. Gomez is a patient at Georgetown Public Hospital, while Grimond has been admitted to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital.

Reports are the two were transporting the body of the Director of Kaikan Bible School, Christopher Matthews, who died on Monday after falling off a mountain at Arau in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The aircraft departed the interior location at 17:06h and was heading to the Eugene F Correia International Airport when the pilot made a “mayday” call to the Timehri Control Tower reporting a fuel emergency at about 18:45h.

However, the aircraft, according to the GCAA, went down shortly after that and the Police rank telephoned and reported that both him and the pilot were injured, but could not confirm their location.

The Aeronautical Search and Rescue Coordination Centre at Timehri was activated with assistance from the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, the Civil Defence Commission, GCAA, Guyana Fire Service and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority.

The crash site was identified by a reconnaissance flight conducted by a Roraima Airways aircraft and as a result, Captain Gomez firing one of his distress flares from his location.

“The first responder team from the

Injured Pilot: Lincoln Gomez

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) landed as close as possible to the crash site. Due to the conditions of the terrain, the rescue team had to trek for more than an hour cutting through thick vegetation to reach the crash site from the landing zone’, the GCAA said on Tuesday.

After several hours, the rescue team recovered the injured pilot and the Policeman, and after stabilising them, returned to the landing zone for evacuation with the Bell 206 helicopter. The injured men were flown to Base Camp Ayanganna and subsequently transported to the hospitals.

However, the body of Matthews could not be removed from the site during the first extraction due to constraints of terrain and weight. His body was flown out of the site on Tuesday.

The investigations are being led by the Guyana Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Unit which has committed to examining all possible factors that could have contributed to the accident.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Welfare Officer, Deputy Superintendent Jewel Sullivan along with Public Relations Officer (PRO) Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan; his deputy, Cadet Officer Ike Grandison; and other members of the Guyana Police Force visited Constable Grimmond.

Taxi driver charged for raping 14-year-old girl

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32-year-old taxi driver appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, charged for having sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl.

It is alleged that Jowell Williams, of Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), between January 1, and February 15, 2019, while in the vicinity of Farm, EBD, engaged in sexual penetration of a child who is under the age of consent.

It is alleged that the 14-year-old was left in Williams’ care when the alleged rape occurred. Reports are the teen informed her parents of the incident and was taken to the Police station where a report was made. Williams was arrested and charged after a medical examination revealed the child was penetrated.

The taxi driver was remanded to prison and the case will continue on March 11.

Constitutional crisis looms...

from page 3

But while this is happening, the international community has been paying close attention to these developments. As such, the US Embassy had written GECOM on behalf of itself and other Western countries including Britain, Canada and the European Union (EU) for a meeting.

That meeting took place on Thursday but so far there have been no indications as to what exactly was the outcome.

Thursday’s meeting marked the second time that these Western countries met with GECOM to discuss the political situation in Guyana following the no-confidence vote in December 2018 and the need for all parties to abide by the constitution; the last meeting was held around January month-end.

Representatives from The Cater Center have also met with GECOM, and officials from both Government and the Opposition on the same issues.

Subservient

The PPP has said GECOM is subservient to the Constitution of Guyana, not the other

way around. The Party is also of the view that the situation at GECOM, with this sort of action, will undoubtedly guarantee that Guyana is pushed towards a constitutional crisis.

It said GECOM’s refusal to begin preparations for General and Regional Elections, after the December 21, 2018 vote on the Noconfidence Motion, finds it complicit in frustrating the timeline for the constitutionally due elections.

Additionally, the PPP pointed out that there has been no effort to make a decision on what obtains in the short-term. There has also been no decision at the level of the Commission on when GECOM will be ready for elections.

As it relates to funding, the PPP is of the view that this is the latest hurdle thrown up by the Governmentinfluenced parties at GECOM. The first hurdle introduced was the call for new house-tohouse registration – which it said has been exposed as unnecessary at this time.

“The People’s Progressive Party maintains that the laws of Guyana are clear on funding for constitutional agencies like GECOM. Act 4 of 2015 – the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act 2015, Section 80B (8) – makes it clear that: “The appropriation of a constitutional agency approved by the National Assembly shall be disbursed as a lump sum by the end of the month, following the month in which the appropriation was approved.”

Section 80B (7) of the same act states that: “The annual budget of a constitutional agency approved by the National Assembly shall not be altered without prior approval of the National Assembly.” This section clearly prohibits the Finance Minister from altering the appropriation to GECOM, as he is empowered to do with the appropriations of non-constitutional agencies, but does not prevent GECOM from utilising the “lump sum” as it sees fit to carry out its functions.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Blatant abuse of taxpayers’ money’ …APNU/AFC Ministers campaign on State resources in Region 9

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he A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition is campaigning heavily on State resources; and some observers have noted that that this a blatant abuse of taxpayers’ money and a possible violation of the law.

What was labelled as ‘Government business’ turned out to be a massive elections campaign, when a large ministerial convoy ventured to Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) at the weekend.

Nineteen Ministers spent three days visiting various communities, making grand promises in exchange for votes.

At the community of Tiger Pond, Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix made it clear that he was there simply to garner votes.

“You understand why it is important for us to come and convince you that you should vote for this coalition,” Minister Felix remarked.

He added: “If I wanted to go to church, I’d go to church in Georgetown. I wouldn’t come here for Sunday school. While I

wouldn’t mind worshipping with you, but I come here to ask for your vote, let’s understand that clearly. Vote coalition!”

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan recalled that only 39 residents voted for the APNU/AFC coalition at the last General and Regional Election in 2015. He urged that, this time around, more residents vote for the coalition.

“To the approximately 96 per-

sons who did not support us on that occasion but rather cast their votes for the then Government, I’d like to ask you… to do the same this time, which is to give their support to the Government because this time around, we are the Government,” Minister Bulkan said.

The coalition Government has been accused by many, including Opposition members and indepen-

dent political commentators, of using taxpayers’ money to fund its elections campaign.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon recently denied that these outreaches are part of the coalition’s elections campaign strategy. He insisted that it was strictly Government business.

But the outreach in Region Nine, which was branded ‘Government business’, shows that APNU/AFC is campaigning on State resources.

Both APNU and AFC, when they were in Opposition, strongly criticised the use of State resources for campaigning – a practice they are openly engaging in today.

The coalition has also been accused of forcing State agencies, such as the Guyana Revenue Authority, to attend party sponsored events.

Only recently, outspoken Attorney Christopher Ram blasted the Government for misusing public money and reiterated the need for modern campaign financing laws which will prevent this kind of abuse from happening.

However, he noted that there are existing laws which can be enforced to penalise defaulters.

Failed execution attempt SOCU, SARA staff suspects remanded among public …alleged mastermind released on station bail officers to...

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wo men, who allegedly failed in their attempt to kill a Chinese businessman in Corriverton, were refused bail when they appeared at the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Sheldon Adams of Lodge, Georgetown; and Delwin December, of Work-en-Rust, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore and denied they unlawfully wounded Jili Sun at Springlands, Berbice, on February 14.

Sun was hit in the face with a hammer when the suspects allegedly attacked him at his business premises.

The two were also jointly charged with larceny from the person. It is alleged that on the same day and at the same time, they stole one cellular phone worth G$100,000 from Chan Xai Wang.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Orin Joseph in his submissions told the court that a medical certificate shows Sun suffered a fractured skull and other injuries.

He objected to bail on the grounds that the Police are in possession of statements – both written and recorded – from both accused, confessing to the offences.

Prosecutor Joseph informed the court that

from page 8

Sheldon Adams

Adams was apprehended in a car and there was what appeared to be blood on the front passenger seat. He also informed the court that when December was arrested, there was what appeared to be blood on his shoe.

He said Police and civilians placed both accused at the scene.

Further, he noted that by the utterances of the accused saying they had an altercation with the victim, placed them at the scene.

He said Sun was still in medical danger.

However, Adams in a bail application on his own behalf told the court that the caution statement has nothing to do with the charges before the court but rather an altercation with the Chinese national.

Magistrate Moore remanded the duo to pris-

Delwin December

on. The case will continue on April 8 at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

This newspaper had previously reported that the two men had allegedly hit the businessman in his face with a hammer in what was believed to be a robbery attempt at Skeldon. They later reportedly confessed that it was a case of being hired to kill the businessman.

On Thursday last, the duo allegedly drove up in a heavily tinted Toyota Premio motorcar and entered the window-making factory. Guyana Times International was told that the men allegedly walked up to the businessman and reportedly hit him to the face with a hammer.

According to reports, the men were seen rushing out of the building and hurriedly entering the waiting car before it sped away. The busi-

nessman was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital where he was admitted.

Meanwhile, based on the description of the vehicle and the licence plate given to Police by persons in the area, a car was intercepted at a roadblock on the Corentyne. According to Police, only the driver was in the vehicle and his address was given as Lodge, Georgetown.

However, at Number 50 Village, Police arrested another man who could not give a reasonable explanation for being in Berbice. He is from Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.

On Friday, a Police source informed this publication that both men confessed that they were reportedly promised to be paid by a Corriverton businessman to kill the Chinese businessman.

It had also been reported that the Police were able to arrest the businessman.

However, on Tuesday, senior Police sources in the division have expressed disappointment over what they call external interference after they were allegedly ordered to release the businessman on station bail.

Reports are the businessman allegedly owes the Chinese businessman some $4 million for windows he had credited.

the Chairman posited, while adding “…These are people in position who can be susceptible somehow to people approaching them and we’ve heard all kinds of allegations [against] them… So I think they ought to be [in the Schedule] because the Commissioner of Police is not the only person who ought to be accountable to the public.”

Furthermore, the Integrity Commission also wants to include the Registrar as well as Deputy and Assistant Registrars of Lands; the Deputy and Assistant Registrars of Deeds; and the Deputy and Assistant Commercial Registrars on the expanded Schedule.

Asked about plans to make public officials from the Department of Energy, which falls under the Ministry of the Presidency, declarants as well, Duraisami pointed out that the oil and gas sector is now coming on stream. But he noted that this will be done when there is a fully operational sector.

“As that sector develops, we will have to look at it; look at those public officials, who in our opinion, ought to declare… We haven’t produced a drop of oil yet. It’s ‘til next year

we’re supposed to produce oil and once that department gets functioning fully, we will be aware of all the public officials who are involved in it,” he stated.

However, according to Duraisami, while there is a need for the Schedule to be expanded, the Integrity Commission can only make recommendations to the subject Ministry, which is Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

“The Prime Minister is responsible for Commission so all Schedule changes and changes to the Act will go to him…

As soon as this thing in Government smooth out, somehow, we will make recommendations to the Prime Minister and he will discuss with his colleagues…,” the Chairman stated.

But even as the Integrity Commission is looking to expand the list of declarants, there are still hundreds of defaulters on the current list who are yet to make their declarations.

According to Duraisami, in accordance with the Act, the Commission has already published five lists of defaulters, with two more to be published before they can move to prosecution.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

No-confidence resolution

news 11

Judge orders AG to ‘get your house in order’

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…as appeal for stay of execution is halted

iven the national importance of the challenges to the no-confidence case, stakeholders have been calling on the Judiciary to ensure the matter is fast-tracked. However, defects in the summons filed in the Appeal Court by Government to stay last month’s High Court rulings on the no-confidence resolution means Attorney General Basil Williams will have to refile one of the summons in the matter. This was the order handed down by Justice Rishi Persaud in preliminary proceedings on Wednesday ahead of the overall case.

The Attorney General is expected to file the corrected documents at latest today (Thursday) as he holds out the stay and conservatory orders are necessary to preserve Government’s continuance in office for the foreseeable future. Justice Persaud said moments prior that the summons must be filed without defect and be corrected. The Attorney General was seeking to amend the appeal to include the names of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of State Joseph Harmon that were not included as named respondents.

Williams was arguing that it could still be included by way of amendment but Justice Persaud reminded him that he had no jurisdiction to carry out such an order since only the full bench of Judges could make such amendments. Senior Counsel Neil Boston, attorney for Government supporter, Compton Reid, who challenged the validity of the no-confidence vote passed in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018, contended that he would need some 10 days to properly prepare his case but this was not entertained by the court.

However, the proceedings had the Opposition’s Leader’s Attorney, Anil Nandlall, venting over the delay. He earlier told the court that it is the appellant’s responsibility to properly include all named parties in an appeal as he too observed that the single Judge could not make amendments to the appeal.

Nandlall later pointed out that he will be briefed with his input in this case as he does not intend to file affidavits in the appeals.

“We would like a decision as early as possible, my intervention is going to be very brief, I don’t intend

defeated on a vote of no-confidence”.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Opposition Leader were both added to the matters at the High Court level. Reid, the private citizen, was challenging the validity of former AFC Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud’s vote on the No-confidence Motion given his dual citizenship status.

On December 21, 2018, Persaud voted with the Opposition and unseat the current Administration.

As a consequence, elections are meant to be called within three months as per the Constitution of Guyana. However, the Administration has been unmoved by this confirmed interpretation by Justice George, saying that the status quo of Government should be preserved until the final determination of the matter should it reach the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). On Wednesday, Justice Persaud re-

Justice Rishi Persaud

to file any affidavits in the matter, I didn’t file any in the High Court and I would not file any here, I believe that the matter raised pure issues of law which can be addressed quickly, quicker than we have done in the High Court because this issue here is even narrower than that in the High Court,” Nandlall expressed.

Last month, acting Chief Justice Roxane George refused the Attorney General’s request for a stay and conservatory order prior to her rulings, but Government is moving ahead with asking the Appeal Court to stay those rulings while it considers setting aside the judgements made by Justice George.

The first case called on Wednesday was the Attorney General v Christopher Ram, who had successfully sought to have the High Court validate the no-confidence resolution and have Government call elections within three months as the court declared.

The other appeal deals with the Attorney General v Speaker of the National Assembly and Opposition Leader, concerning the 33 to 32 majority that was used to pass the No-confidence Motion. Williams is arguing that “there was a miscalculation of the majority of all elected members as required under Article 106 (6) of the Constitution for the Government to be

Attorney General Basil Williams

marked that “we have to get our house in order” if the matter is carried all the way to the CCJ.

12 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

“A constitutional travesty” GECOM Chair …Nandlall says of President and sides with Govt Ministers meeting in ‘Plenary ‘ Commissioners to F further delay elections

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GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson

uyana is on the brink of a constitutional crisis after the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson used his deciding vote and sided with Government Commissioners to pass a motion that new elections could not be held in 90 days as constitutionally mandated.

This decision was made during a meeting of GECOM Commissioners on Tuesday at the Commission’s Kingston, Georgetown headquarters, where they put three issues in relation to elections preparation to a vote.

Commissioners

vot-

PPP Commissioner Sase Gunraj

ed against the call for funding of the elections, explaining again that monies could be transferred to GECOM.

PPP Commissioner Bibi Shadick

The first being elections cannot be held in 90 days; the second issue had to do with funding for elections, and the third was for GECOM to return to normalcy.

Commissioner Robeson Benn, who represents the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic, said the votes from Commissioners of both sides created a deadlock, the Chairman had the deciding vote.

“All the votes and motions were carried … our side voted against them, but the motions were carried based on the vote of the Chairman supporting the other side,” he explained.

Benn said that he and the two other Opposition-nominated

is normal activity, it brings in a suggestion of house -to-house registration.”

However, he denied that that vote was to give permission to begin that process.

M e a n w h i l e , Government-appointed GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander said that GECOM’s position was simply to state its readiness for an election and Opposition Commissioners had agreed to take the matter to a vote. Alexander

“Our position on that is that it is an abandonment of the constitu-

said that the meeting helped to break the stalemate and move onto the other issues.

Constitutional crisis Meanwhile, the PPP has said in a statement that it was of the view that the situation at GECOM would certainly guarantee that Guyana is pushed towards a constitutional crisis.

It said too that the action by GECOM is intended to influence the court proceedings set to continue this week in the Court of Appeal.

The Constitution makes clear that the Judiciary cannot extend the deadline by which General and Regional Elections are constitu-

PPP Commissioner Robeson Benn

tional mandate and its duties and responsibilities,” he stated.

As it relates to the vote to return to normalcy, Benn said, “The thing is when they say

tionally due; such an act remains in the remit of the Legislature.

According to the Party, GECOM in its refusal to hold elections continued on page 24

ormer Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has accused the David Grangerled Administration of practising “constitutional heresy” by still holding Cabinet meetings but under a different name while ignoring the recent ruling by acting Chief Justice (CJ) Roxane George.

Nandlall said that in her ruling, the CJ stated clearly that in accordance with the Constitution and upon the successful passage of the no-confidence motion, on December 21, 2018, the President (David Granger), as well as the Cabinet, was taken to have resigned.

“To circumvent the CJ’s ruling and to subvert the express language of the Constitution, the Government continues to meet and make decisions, but they are not calling those meetings Cabinet, but a ‘Ministerial Plenary and the Secretary to this extra-constitutional body who used to be the Secretary to the Cabinet (Edward Persico), that person is now called Secretary to the plenary,” he explained.

This move, according to Nandlall, highlights how Government is making a mockery of both the acting CJ’s decision, as well as the express provisions of the Constitution.

He reminded that the Constitution provided for an institution called Cabinet and that institution is to advise the President on the direction in which the Government should go policy-wise and in accordance with good governance.

He argued, “Cabinet has been disbanded so to speak by the CJ’s ruling and by the express lan-

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

guage of provision of the Constitution by the passage of the no-confidence motion. You can’t concoct another agency calling it a name and imbuing it with the power to perform the functions that Cabinet used to be performing. I’ve never heard anything like this, nowhere in the Caribbean or Commonwealth…”

The former AG also described the situation as a constitutional travesty.

Constitutional heresy

Meanwhile, in making reference to statements made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, where he told the press that the plenary of Ministers had the same powers as Cabinet, Nandlall said he disagreed with that reasoning.

“Where did they get that from? Where did the plenary of Cabinet Ministers, whatever that amorphous organisation is, is not provided anywhere in the laws. The Constitution creates a Cabinet and it ascribes to Cabinet the functional responsibilities that Cabinet is to perform,” he added.

Again, Nandlall said that it could only be seen as constitutional heresy at its worst. His reasoning for this is that all of the decisions which are now being made are un-

constitutional and illegal.

“At some time they will have to set aside that as illegal and unlawful, because it is,” he stated.

Minister Harmon was the first to reveal this information, stating that the plenary of ministers have met as a collective to note contracts from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and give approval for various official government appointments.

The Minister revealed that the plenary approved diplomatic relations with San Marino, the appointment of a new Indian High Commissioner and a non-resident Ambassador from Kuwait.

The plenary gave its consent for the reconstitution of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA); a Value Added Tax (VAT) Appeal tribunal and also approved the Customs and Trade Single Window System Bill 2019. This Bill, Harmon explained, will pave the way for improved processing of data.

Harmon defended the meeting of the plenary, noting that such meetings were also held last year. The Minister was asked to explain under which law is a plenary of Ministers authorised to meet and ‘note’ contracts.

Bible college student slapped with rape charge

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student of a Georgetown Bible college on Monday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was slapped with a rape charge.

Samuel Whaul of

Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. The case was heard in camera.

The prosecution is contending that the 25-year-old theology stu-

dent reportedly raped his 21-year-old colleague.

It is alleged that Whaul, on October 25, 2018, while in the vicinity of Georgetown, engaged in sexual penetration with the young woman without her consent. Following the incident, a report was made to the police and Whaul was recently arrested. He was released on G$200,000 bail. As a condition for bail, the unrepresented man was ordered to stay away from the VC. The case will continue on February 25, 2019.

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‘We will make realistic promises and fulfill them’ - Jagdeo tells historic stakeholders’ forum

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s it gears up for the constitutionally mandated General and Regional Elections, the People’s Progressives Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has commenced promised public consultations.

During a stakeholders’ forum for a framework on national development held at the New Thriving Restaurant at Providence, East Bank Demerara on Saturday, the Party’s leaders emphasised the need to be realistic in delivering promises to the people.

Addressing the packed gathering which included a wide cross section of Guyanese, Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the PPP, Bharrat Jagdeo, said these stakeholder engagements are important and could have a defining influence on the future of the country. He pointed out, however, these consultation have not only now started but was prevalent even when the party was in office and was significant in the transformation of Guyana from a poor country to middle-income and this was done without oil.

He went on to say that during these consultations, there will be hundreds of ideas coming in, but nothing will get

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

into the manifesto that cannot be funded.

“We’re not going to do like APNU and make all sorts of promises to the people to get their votes and then you can’t deliver. It must be realistically costed and be deliverable,” he asserted.

The Opposition Leader pointed out that the coalition Government made seven promises for large-scale infrastructural projects in the 2019 Budget that have no source of funding such as the

paved road from Linden to Mabura and a bridge across the Kurupukari River.

“A PPP Government will never do that sort of thing.

If we make a promise, we will know where the money is coming from and how we will fund it. So when we talk about 50,000 jobs, we’ve already identified which sectors they will come from, what will be the policy-making environment that will allow the Private Sector to create those jobs and how many can come

from Government itself by a reorientation of this budget which has a ton of wasteful expenditure. We can cut G$30 billion out of this budget without harming development objectives and the welfare of our people…” he said.

Against this backdrop, Jagdeo emphasised that realism is vital.

Turning his attention to the impending oil and gas, Jagdeo contended that one of things a PPP government will ensure is that Guyanese benefit equally from the sector.

“One thing on local content is to ensure that Guyanese actually benefit from opportunities there and that that is not just on paper. This Government has abandoned Guyanese and we will never allow Guyanese to become second class citizens in Guyana,” Jagdeo said to resounded applause from the gathering.

He added, “We as a country, all of us together, have to ensure that the people who come here to invest that they are treated well and they make money – the oil companies – but the share of the wealth come to our people.”

According to the PPP’s General Secretary, the party is working on a framework that will make every

Guyanese, despite their political affiliation, feel that they are part of its vision and will benefit from what is coming in the future.

Among those at the stakeholders’ forum on Saturday were the business community, religious organisations, non-governmental organisations and other members of civil society.

Also addressing the packed venue was the party’s presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali, who posited that this consultative and inclusive approach is part of the PPP’s national big tent strategy in getting as many stakeholders’ views.

“A manifesto is a serious national document and not an imaginative compilation of unachievable and unrealistic promises. Governments have a moral and ethical responsibility to implement their manifesto… We take seriously this document, hence your participation here today. As we move forward as a country, it is vital that we take ownership and feel part of the development pathway…,” he said.

The presidential candidate noted that a manifesto must be one that is realistic, achievable, time-bound, implementable and measurable.

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Children’s death at GPHC

news 15

Aunt claims family of Sharezer Mendonca offered compensation to bury matter

By Samuel Sukhnandan

T

he family of Sharezer Mendonca, the third child to have died after receiving pre-chemotherapy treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in January, claimed that they were offered a compensation from a senior hospital official to bury the matter.

The aunt of the six-year-old child, Sherry Ann Mendonca, said that the family has also been kept in the dark, which leads them to believe that the investigation may not be as independent as it should be. Mendonca feels that top officials at the hospital may be trying to cover up the alleged wrongdoings.

“Right now, what they are trying to do, is to have us take compensation for the issue and that obviously means sweeping it under the rugs afterwards,” she told Guyana Times International, explaining that the family is not looking for any financial compensation, rather, they want to know what really led to Sharezer’s demise.

Compensation

Asked what type of compensation was offered, Mendonca said, “At first they were telling us they will pay for the funeral and when the swapping of the bodies happened, and they realised that things went wrong and they telling us any amount… any amount we can call it.”

The girl’s aunt was referring to January 25, when Sharezer’s body was given to the wrong family, resulting in an unauthorised autopsy. Eventually, the family discovered the body, which was on its way to Parika, being transported by a family from Bartica in place

Six-year-old Sharezer Mendonca

of another deceased young girl.

It was related that when the body was returned to the family, she was identified as young Mendonca. But to make matters worse, there were visible incisions made on her body which indicated that an autopsy had been performed. The family claimed that the preliminary autopsy found that she died as a result of heart failure and not from leukaemia, the disease she was being treated for.

The family is currently seeking legal advice and said that there seems to be a lack of professionalism and due diligence at the GPHC. The family’s legal team has also requested that the

hospital make the young girl’s medical records available but they were told that it will be provided after the investigation.

As for the investigation, Mendonca told this newspaper that they were told that the investigation would have wrapped up on Saturday, but when they inquired, they were informed that it is still in process. The family said that they have spoken to the people carrying out the investigation.

She said they questioned their knowledge of the situation and asked them to explain what may have gone wrong.

“We did notice that during the interview they were baffled by certain things that were already out there like the swapping of the bodies. They acted as though it was not out…,” she stated, explaining that despite several checks with the medical authority and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), they have not updated them on what is taking place with the investigation.

The family has also moved to hire a private pathologist and lawyer, but both of these individuals hit an impasse because they were told that all documents and information regarding the case will only be provided upon completion of the investigation being carried out.

Mendonca confirmed that the family was interviewed by the authorities, but claimed that based on the line

of questioning, they are not confident that it will produce the facts.

“We met with the persons, but if you are doing an investigation you’ll try as much as possible to get enough information before they begin. It shows that it is bias at the moment. It’s like they are actually trying to see how much you (we) know, and how much they can actually clear them self of.”

Investigation

Meanwhile, GPHC Public Relations Officer Mitzi Campbell told this publication that she is not sure that the investigation is complete because officials at the hospital who are part of the investigative team are meeting with other families. She also denied that the family is being kept in the dark.

“I don’t think they are being kept in the dark. They were invited here. They had a discussion with the team and at the end of it all, it’s when the committee will complete its final report,” she explained, adding that she is not certain that there is a timeframe in which the investigation should wrap up.

Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings had told this publication that the investigation into the deaths of six-year-old Sharezer Mendonca, three-year-old Roshani Seegobin and Curwayne Edwards is progressing well and would have been concluded last week. Sharezer was taken to the Paediatric Ward on January 3, where she was administered with an injection before undergoing treatment for leukaemia. However, shortly after, she became unresponsive. She was later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, where she subsequently died.

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Bulkan should take responsibility for ‘chaos’ at LGC – Ganga Persaud

By Rupa Seenaraine

F

ormer Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud has placed the blame for the chaos at the Local Government Commission squarely at the feet of Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, which, he noted, has been stymied due to the withholding of funds for its operations.

During an interview with Guyana Times International on Monday, Persaud noted that prior to the budget hearings, the Communities Minister was supposed to submit pertinent documentation, which would recognise the agency as a constitutional body. However, this was never executed and the organisation remained under the Ministry.

“The Local Government Commission is a constitutional agency. However, there was need for the necessary documentation to be presented by the Ministry of Communities so that it could be recognised as independent of the Ministry.

That didn’t happen. The budget was presented and the Minister of Finance in his wisdom reduced the allocation to that agency but the agency received an allocation which was approved by Parliament,” he said.

He added that there were high hopes on the part of the coalition Government that the Commission would have functioned as it was designed to, but this is not the reality. Questioning where the fault lies, he pointed towards the leadership of the Minister since Parliament is a legislature which cannot make such missteps.

“The Local Government Commission promised a lot according to the Government and expectations were extremely high.

Unfortunately, all those expectations have resulted in zero benefit and the only thing that came out of that process is frustration and uncertainty. The performance of that agency is seemingly stymied by the Ministry and one has to hold the Minister accountable. Where does the fault lie? Certainly, it cannot be the Parliament. It has to be the Administration, the de facto Government and more specifically, at the feet of the Minister,” the former Minister stated.

Stymied

Now that a reduced budgetary allocation was presented to the Commission, instead of the budget they requested, their work is being sty-

Former Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud

mied due to lack of finances and moreover, staffers have been unpaid for their months of service.

“If this Government can react to its Commission and the 27 staff members that it has done, then I think it is really unjust. It is a travesty and an injustice against the working people of this country. It is a crime against humanity.”

According to Persaud, this move is aimed at leaving the Commission with no other option but to relinquish its responsibilities to the Ministry; another way for Government to take control of local democratic organs. All entities under the Commission are also deprived of payments for this time.

Persaud said to rectify this issue, the budgetary allocations must first be released to the Commission by the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Emile McGarrell, since these monies were allocated during the budget. Adding to that, the Commission must be duly established to function as any other constitutional body.

“The Permanent Secretary needs to sign off on the request by the Commission so [the Commission] can continue to do what they have to do. The budget allocations that were approved by Parliament needs to be released forthwith. In order to avoid a recurrent of this incident, we need to move this Local Government Commission from the present schedule that it is on and place it on the schedule in which all the other statutory entities has in place.”

According to Chairman of the LGC, Mortimer Mingo, McGarrell said that the 2019 budget of the Commission for salaries was not in agreement with that of public service workers, hence he would not sign off for payments.

Persaud related that this was not an excuse since employees of other commissions are not being paid with accordance to a public service scheme.

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Berbice labourer who killed wife in 2016 jailed for 20 years

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Corentyne, Berbice labourer, who stabbed his reputed wife to death back in 2016, asked the court for a just penalty in the Berbice Assizes on Wednesday.

Michael Benjamin, 45, of Ulverston, Corentyne stood seemingly satisfied in the docks when the sentence was handed down to him

by Justice Brassington Reynolds.

He was charged for killing his reputed wife, Yunsen Brush, on October 17, 2016, and when the matter was called up for hearing, he pled guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Reports were that on October 17, 2016, Benjamin went to a shop in his community where he met his reputed wife and after a conversation, an argument ensued. He then whipped out a knife and stabbed her. At the time of the murder, Benjamin had alleged that his reputed wife had taken a large sum of money from him and gave it to her mother to build a house.

The convict and his 39-year-old wife had been living together for more than 20 years.

The former cane harvester and his wife had four children together and at the time of the woman’s death, the youngest child was four years old.

When the matter was called up in the Berbice

Jailed: Michael Benjamin

High Court, Benjamin declined to have a probation report on himself and asked the court to do what it thinks is just.

In handing down the sentence, Justice Reynolds used the United Nations life expectancy for Guyanese males, which is 63 years nine months and said he is expected to live for another 19 years.

Using several factors, that is, three years representing the time he had already spent in prison and two years for not wasting the courts’ time, the sentence was reduced to 14 years. However, the Judge added a further five years for the aggravating way in which the crime was committed.

A post-mortem report on the dead woman’s body had indicated that there were six incise wounds.

The trial Judge, before handing down the sentence, told Benjamin that he had deprived his young son of the nurture of his mother. (Andrew Carmichael)

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UG launches new centre to boost lecturerstudent relationships

Guyana aims for expansion in air connectivity …as air services agreements signed with 16 States

Education Minister Nicolette Henry and other officials and lecturers at the launch

T

he University of Guyana on Wednesday launched its Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning at its Turkeyen Campus with the aim of providing an atmosphere for students and lecturers to work together.

Education Minister, Nicolette Henry stated that the University has evolved into a tertiary institution that is more competitive as well as respected. She added that the University plays a pivotal role in being responsible for qualifying the country’s human resources.

“This University has, over the years, been evolving into a more competitive and respected tertiary institution in the region and is certainly responsible for a lot that is required for this country’s human resource development. I believe that this achievement is no small part due to the emphasis that the University places and providing a dynamic highly student centred learning environment” she remarked.

Additionally, the Education Minister noted that there is a greater need for diversification in higher educational levels as the country is becoming a petroleum-based economy.

“On the eve of a petroleum-supported economy, there’s an unprecedented demand for a great diversification in higher education as well as increased awareness of its vital importance for sociocultural and economic development.”

Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith in his remarks positively stated that project renaissance completion is the finished product of building partnerships.

“So many things we have begun to do on project renaissance could not be done just by UG resources, Government of Guyana resources and so we’ve been building partnerships with academic institutions within and beyond Guyana” Professor Griffith stated.

The launching of the centre together with the inaugural teaching and learning symposium was held under the theme “New era, new strategies to enhance teaching and learning as we journey along the renaissance road”.

The Centre will fall under the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus.

Tourism body in Guyana signs MoU to attract Diaspora

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he Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the United Guyanese Diaspora Global Network Corp (UGDGN) have entered into a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to engage the Guyanese Diaspora in various forms of tourism.

The collaboration agreement is the first of its kind between the GTA and a Diaspora organisation, and promises attractive travel packages for the Diaspora community and information regarding travel opportunities.

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the signatory for the UGDGN, Wayne Forde, “Signing this MoU with the Guyana Tourism Authority gives the United Guyanese Diaspora Global Network Corp a focused vision on

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The Guyanese delegation at the signing of the Air Services Agreement with the sixteen States

he Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) between December 10-14, 2018, attended the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation (ICAN) event, which was hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.

The annual ICAN event, in which seventy-one ICAO contracting States participated, specifically provides a gathering of these member States so as to conduct multiple bilateral and plurilateral air services negotiations, consultations and networking opportunities.

The Guyanese group comprised of Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Col (Ret’d) Egbert Field, and Director for Air Transport Management, Saheed Sulaman. They would have conducted twenty-six meetings at ICAN. As a result of these meetings, Guyana signed sixteen Air Services Agreements (ASAs) with states including Luxembourg, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, United lise a shared vision coupled with an execution game plan along with an

Kingdom and Mozambique, among others.

Additionally, Guyana also signed a Code Sharing Agreement with Australia and a Technical Cooperation Agreement with Ghana for the exchange of knowledge and technical expertise in the area of civil aviation.

These negotiations are aimed at setting the framework for expansion in air connectivity of Guyana with the rest of the world and aid to Guyana’s efforts in becoming a strong international air traffic hub.

While these agreements were initialled and memoranda of understanding were signed with these countries, signatures at the Ministerial level are still pending. Moreover, airlines from other countries can commence flights to Guyana at any time provided that the airlines are operating by the conditions outlined in the ASAs. Negotiation of these agreements is complementary to the work started at the ICAO Air Transport Meeting which was held in Guyana in 2018.

grading its web presence (www.ugdgn.org) to transform it into a central

One of Guyana’s tourism destinations – the Kaieteur Falls

how we can infuse fresh energies and aspiration for the greater good of Guyana. The ingredients to ignite the prosperity engines of Guyana will

take a united effort from all of our affinity groups signing up as evangelists for our homeland and coming together using technologies to crystal-

innovative edge.”

Forde further enthusiastically stated that UGDGN would be up-

opportunity and information hub for happenings within the Diaspora and the homeland.

Currently, he noted that the database consists of 400+ Guyanese Diaspora Organisations in New York, Atlanta, Toronto, London and beyond, thereby giving Guyanese a critical tool to consolidate their virtual community and grow it into an engaged powerhouse.

“The alliance with the UGDGN will ensure that the GTA is positioned to more effectively and efficiently reach the Guyanese Diaspora, raise awareness of the growing variety of tourism attractions and experiences, and strengthen Diaspora engagement and visitation to Guyana in the process,” he noted.

North America and the United Kingdom are Guyana’s core markets with a growing number of Diaspora and leisure travellers seeking out authentic and meaningful cultural heritage, nature and adventure experiences in unspoilt destinations.

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PPP promises to adhere to dual citizenship law regarding MPs

P

eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has committed to ensure that the laws regarding dual citizenship for Members of Parliament (MPs) are upheld.

While Jagdeo said the PPP has no intentions of returning to the National Assembly, when asked how he hopes to deal with the situation if they had to return, he said, “We will uphold the law.”

At present, the PPP has three MPs who have dual citizenship. They are Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who is a Canadian citizen; and Adrian Anamayah and Odinga Lumumba who are both US citizens.

However, he said that if there was need to return for the handling of issues relating to the holding of elections, those who want to hold on to their dual citizenship would be recalled and replaced.

He told the press that his Party has not yet decided on who would be the three replacements, but said that such matters could be discussed quickly and decisions could be made in no time.

Jagdeo said that the executive would first have to discuss the matter and if it led to replacements, then they would have to refer to the electoral list.

It is not clear if any of the PPP/C MPs plan to give up their dual citizenship, ex-

of the vote cast by Persaud in the National Assembly on the basis that he breached Article 155 of the Constitution which bars MPs from having dual citizenship.

This argument also formed part of the opinions presented to Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland in the hopes that he would reverse the ruling – something the Speaker ultimately refused to do.

According to the acting

cept for Teixeira who is a long-standing member of the Party and has served in high-level positions such as presidential advisor.

In the meantime, the lone Alliance For Change (AFC) MP who holds dual citizenship is Business Minister Dominic Gaskin. He was born in the United Kingdom, but is a citizen of Guyana by descent.

The AFC has argued that the issue of renouncing citizenship does not apply to

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

Guyanese who were born in another country. It believes that Gaskin could remain an MP because of this.

On the other hand, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) members including Minister of State, Joseph Harmon holds American cit-

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

izenship and so does Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence. Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and Minister of Public Service, Rupert Roopnaraine are also dual citizens. They are citizens of the United Kingdom.

However, none of the APNU members have indicated a willingness to give up their citizenship.

The controversy concerning persons with dual citizenship in the National Assembly surfaced after former Government MP Charrandas Persaud voted in favour of a no-confidence motion, which was tabled by the Opposition and validly passed in the National Assembly.

A private citizen, Compton Reid, challenged the validity

cause of his dual citizenship, at the time of his vote on the motion, he was a valid MP; hence, his vote was valid.

This issue is not peculiar to Guyana, because most recently the world was made aware of a similar situation in Australia.

That country was pitched into a political crisis in 2018 after a court ruled that a senator was ineligible to sit in Parliament because she had failed to renounce her British citizenship, triggering a spate of MP resignations.

Some 14 parliamentarians have resigned or been ruled ineligible since mid-2017 when renewed scrutiny on a constitutional clause set politicians scrambling to prove they only had Australian citizenship.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Chief Justice Roxane George, by swearing allegiance to another State, a dual citizen is not qualified to be elected to serve in the National Assembly.

She noted that while Persaud should not have been a sitting parliamentarian be-

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Guyana Surendra Persaud records replaced as Chairman of another mining Berbice Bridge Company tragedy

…17-yr-old latest fatality

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D

r Surendra Persaud, who had pushed for toll increases at the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) in order to avert the company from becoming bankrupt, has been replaced as the Chairman.

The new BBCI Chairman is the current Chairman of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), John Seeram. Back in December, Seeram was appointed the new Chairman of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) after the life of the Dr Persaud’s Board ended.

Dr Persaud, who was a strong advocate for the Alliance for Change during the 2015 elec-

tions, took on Government when he announced new tolls for the Berbice Bridge.

The then Chairman had disclosed that BBCI was facing bankruptcy and as such, proposed to increase its tolls, as much 300 per cent in some cases, to keep the Berbice Bridge afloat. He said Government’s refusal to entertain consultations on the toll hike which would have prevented the continuing heavy financial losses of BBCI forced the company to announce the increases.

A move which was strongly opposed by Government, which called the toll hikes burdensome

and draconian, and eventually, on November 5, 2018, took over operations of the facility to stop the BBCI’s increase from taking effect on November 12.

While Government still assumes responsibility for the operation of the bridge to date, the bridge company in November had moved to the High Court, asking it to grant several orders to reverse the takeover and bar the Minister from carrying out functions of maintaining and operating the bridge.

That matter is still being heard in the High Court and is coming up for hearing on February 26.

17-year-old Mazaruni miner lost his life Wednesday afternoon when the walls of a mining pit in which he was working caved in.

Dead is Romeo Ruben of Imbaimadai Landing Upper Mazaruni River. He was at the time employed by 25-yearold, Kevon Kellman of Scottsburg Housing Scheme, Berbice at Gold Hill Backdam Upper Mazaruni.

This publication understands that around 14:00hrs, Ruben along with two others, 29-yearold Virgil Andrews and 26-year-old Delby Perry, were

working in the mining pit when suddenly the eastern wall collapsed.

According to information received, the teen was reportedly covered for a five minutes period before he was pulled from the rubble alive.

He was rushed to the Imbaimadai Health Post where he died while receiving medical attention.

His body was escorted to the Lyken Funeral Parlour where it is awaiting a Post mortem Examination (PME).

The Police are said to be investigating.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘More tension in Lethem Airport set Coalition camp’ for major upgrade

…WPA’s overseas chapter threatens to leave PNC-led APNU

Dr Clive Thomas

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he People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has come in for heavy criticism from the Diaspora chapter of one of its five partners – the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

In a statement on Friday, the WPA Overseas Associates (WPAOA) has stated that the party would leave the APNU alliance if steps are not taken to have a more inclusionary partnership.

The five-party APNU consists of: majority members PNC, the WPA, the Justice For All Party (JFAP), the National Front Alliance (NFA) and the Guyana Action Party (GAP).

Back in 2010, David Granger contested for and came out victorious as the PNCR’s presidential candidate for the November 2011 General Elections, leading the APNU alliance. However, he was defeated at that election. The Granger-led APNU subsequently join forces with the Alliance For Change to form a coalition, which went on to win office at the 2015 elections.

Since then, however, there have been reports of building tension between the two coalition partners. But now, there seems to be an in-house rift within the APNU alliance – something which the WPA has long been complaining about.

In Friday’s missive, the WPAOA demanded that there be a new concrete agreement between the PNC, the WPA and other members of APNU that would actively embrace all the constituents as equal partners in the coalition.

“The WPAOA views this request as a matter that needs to be addressed urgently. Should there be no movement by the PNC in the “partnership” then our position is that the WPA should immediately leave the APNU,” the party’s overseas chapter asserted.

The WPAOA noted that since the May 2015 victory of the Coalition, the APNU of which the WPA is a founding partner, has been managing the Partnership as if it was a single entity, namely the PNC. “There have been several attempts by the WPA to get the leadership of the APNU/PNC to take the coalition seriously. These calls fell on deaf ears resulting in the APNU meeting infrequently during the past three years.

As a result, the Government, of which the PNC is the leading constituent, lost the opportunity to hear and address the complaints of citizens. The Local Government Elections of 2018 is a testament to the sidelining of constituents,” the WPA’s overseas associates pointed out.

It further stated that now with

Rupert Roopnaraine

the APNU preparing for new General Elections, it appears as though party leaders are not willing to move away from behaving as though the APNU is made up entirely of the PNC, while the other alliance partners are sidelined.

According to the WPAOA, clear evidence of this trend was highlighted at a recently held meeting of the APNU executives, where the smaller parties were invited and told what the agenda would be. It noted, however, that the subsequent launching of the elections committee with less than 48 hours’ notice was another clear indication of a continuation of this fait accompli.

“Questions of inclusion and participation by all parties in the APNU election planning are answered with the explanation that there is a need for immediacy and consequently the preservation of the status quo. These explanations and dismissive responses by the (PNC) APNU leadership are not satisfactory and should not be allowed to continue. “Staying the course” should not result in the continuing embrace of a philosophy that perceives the smaller parties in the coalition as less than useful but necessary appendages,” the WPAOA posited.

It went on to note too that in the original APNU agreement, a commitment to regular meetings of the APNU was also given but that seems to have been completely disregarded.

The WPA’s overseas chapter further reflected at the launch of the APNU in June 2011, when the party’s co-leader, Dr Clive Thomas made the following remarks on behalf of the WPA: “In life, as in politics, it is clearly easier to work with those who share your own point of view and are prepared in effect to echo solutions you offer for creating reconciliation, peace, and harmony. But just as in life, you reveal your “humanity” by embracing diversities of views, different outlooks and different participants; so too in politics you reveal your “political culture” through a willingness to embrace diversities and differences in promoting strategies aimed at reconciliation, harmony, and the reduction of conflict.”

The threat by the WPA’s overseas associates comes just over a year after the AFC’s Canada Chapter pulled out from the minority party in the coalition administration. This followed the resignation of several executives of the party’s New York Chapter.

On February 14, 2019, the APNU/ AFC celebrated its 4th anniversary since signing the Cummingsburg Accord. However, the AFC in recent years has come under fire for the submissive role it has been playing since joining forces with APNU.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

L

ethem has been earmarked as the next major transport hub in the country, and according to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, the money has already been allocated for the project.

Speaking at a public meeting at the Amerindian Hostel in Lethem, Region 9 on Friday evening, Minister

Patterson said the facility will bear similarity to the Eugene Correia International Airport at Ogle.

"Four million U.S dollars [GYD $834M] has been allocated to bring Lethem up-to-standard" noted Minister Patterson.

The upgrade will include a new runway, new terminal and indoor fa-

cilities.

Minister Patterson says these developments are in keeping with what is required for an international hub, as the airport already caters to regular domestic and international flights on a daily basis.

"In a next month public consultation will start for this project," said Min. Patterson.

The Public Infrastructure Minister joined Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge and Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry for a public meeting with residents of Lethem.

The ministers are part of the 19-member contingent of government ministers and officials on an outreach in the Region 9 over the weekend.

GECOM Chair sides...

from page 12

Government Commissioners Desmond Trotman, Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin

demonstrated its illogical willingness to toe the Government’s line. In so doing, it has made the Constitution of Guyana subservient to the will of the Commission and this should not be the case.

GECOM’s mandate, as stipulated by the Constitution, clearly states in Article 162 (1) of the Constitution that: “The Elections Commission shall have such functions connected with or relating to the registration of electors or the conduct of elections as are conferred upon it by or under this Constitution or, subject thereto, any Act of Parliament.”

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo recently stated that President David Granger should

announce a date for the hosting of elections.

“The Legislature has spoken.

The Judiciary has spoken.

The President, over the weekend, seems to believe that none of this matters. And so we have to show him that we are serious about having him respect our Constitution,” Jagdeo stated.

Jagdeo had stated too, “GECOM has a moral and ethical responsibility to get elections done before March 19. What is before the Commission now is to come up with actions to ensure this. So, I don’t know where this thing about July is coming in.

There is only one way that date can be extended. And Opposition

and Government have to agree by a two-thirds majority.”

GECOM had given July as a timeline for the hosting of elections, but at the same time, it stated that the present voters’ list would expire on April 30.

Although the Opposition has been calling for elections within the constitutional time frame, the Government claimed that it was up to GECOM’s readiness to host same.

Since the passage of the no-confidence resolution, GECOM has been dragging its feet with respect to elections preparation. It has also been calling for house-tohouse registration which could take months.

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Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, on Wednesday evening, attended an Appreciation ceremony for the Local Organising Committee staff and volunteers of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Seventeenth Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 17).

The Conference was held from January 28 to 30, 2019 and saw Guyana coming in for high praise for a well organized and successful event.

In photo: Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon hands over a token of appreciation to Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Cui Jianchun in recognition of China's contribution to the hosting of CRIC 17. China contributed US$1.1M.

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ur culture, our language, our history, and our values are vital to uniting us as a nation, as a people, and as the melting pot that we are. Nothing unites us more than a celebration of everything that is in that pot and one such celebration is Mashramani.

Mashramani translates as “celebration after hard work” and it is a time where we as Guyanese take the time to go out into the streets and celebrate everything that truly makes us unique as a people. It is a time when we forget race, politics and everything else that divides us daily. It is truly a celebration of harmony and unity.

The annual Costume and Float Parade is the main attraction of Mashramani. It is a time when people deck themselves out in extravagant costumes, join large bands or flock the streets that are part of the parade route just to get a glimpse of the glittery costumes depicting different messages.

The stage is usually set for the large parade with the commencement of the Children’s Mashramani activities. As has been the tradition for some time, the Children’s Mashramani activities are among the most anticipated, and schools from the various regions participate in various activities, including dramatic poetry, dance, and calypso.

The young generation of revellers proudly represent their schools and regions with enthusiasm, drive and creativity. The Children’s Mashramani activities officially became the responsibility of the Education Ministry in February 1992. The Unit of Allied Arts

within the Ministry was tasked with implementing programmes to showcase the talents of children in Guyana.

The Unit is the centre for coordination and integration of the Expressive Arts – Dance, Music, Physical Education and Visual Arts – in sequenced modules into the school system of Guyana.

Because of its mandate, the Allied Arts Unit expanded the scope of the Children’s Mashramani activities to include competitions of Dance, Dramatic Poetry, Calypso, Costume, Steel Pan, Physical Education, and Masquerade for children. The objectives of the programme are to promote the Expressive Arts through a National Event; encourage schools, parents and communities to work together in a creative artistic manner; provide an opportunity for

the display of talent by students and to foster a sense of pride in our national identity.

The competitions are held at the regional and national levels for primary and secondary schools. Children at the nursery level also participate in some of the activities, but only at the regional level. What a joy it is to see the nation’s youth embracing the occasion.

The finals of these competitions are held in Georgetown and all Regional Education Districts participate. These activities usually run for a period of three weeks in the month of February and the outstanding performances are recognised and rewarded at all levels.

The Children’s Costume Parade was

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introduced in 1996. It is a spectacular colourful activity that showcases the talents and creativity that exist among young people. This parade culminates the series of activities and involves approximately 4000 children from schools and youth groups throughout Guyana. It is a collaborative effort of the Education Ministry, the Private Sector and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

The main (adult) parade is on February 23, which is also the date Guyana achieved Republican status. It is usually a plethora of colours as the revellers in the various bands snake their way through the streets of Georgetown. It is usually a tough competition as the revellers battle for top prizes.

It is also a time where local designers are given a chance to exhibit their creativity and show exactly what Guyanese are capable of. They are given the theme by the owners of the band and they let their creativity run amok to come up with breath-taking pieces.

The vibe on Mash Day with loud music and masqueraders gyrating through the streets of the capital city is one that cannot be experienced just by sitting and watching the parade on the television, rather you have to be in the midst of the crowd and feel it to experience it.

So this Mash Day, grab your friends and go out on the road to experience true unity and celebrate our rich Guyanese culture. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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Rate…

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…of Public Sector discrimination

here’s a story in the press about the Bertrand Collins Public Service College, wherein the Director— (Retd) Col Lawrence Paul — says they “face a diversity problem” in their student body!!

To be fair to Col Paul, he did say it wasn’t easy figuring out the ethnicity of some recruits.

The Director, however, also mentioned that they make a special effort to ensure “hinterland” students are aware of the opportunity. This, of course, is very commendable, because he’s obviously trying to recruit more Amerindians into the Public Service, where they’ve been severely underrepresented from “time immemorial”.

But how come Col Paul didn’t also try to directly address the atrocious underrepresentation of other ethnic groups in the Public Service overall, and especially in the cadets being recruited for fast tracking? After all, following a long, convoluted story about the skewed numbers, he acknowledged that, back in 2004, the Disciplined Forces Commission had found the same situation in the institution of which he was part. And had recommended specific steps to rectify the imbalance – namely affirmative action. Did he try then? He certainly hasn’t tried now!!

When the Public Service College was launched, your Eyewitness had hoped that in addition to attempting to inject some higher level of professionalism into the Public Service, it would also address the imbalance.

After all, in any country – but especially in our institutionally underdeveloped Third World nation – the government services delivered by its bureaucracy is crucial to improving the lives of the masses of the people, and a balanced Civil Service goes a long way towards ensuring that equitable distribution.

But, sadly, this PNC-led Government has reverted to the policies of the Burnhamite regime of the 1970s, when the Bureaucracy and the Disciplined Forces were massively expanded – and staffed from the PNC’s base constituency.

The People’s Militia and the Cadet Corps, for instance, have been resuscitated and staffed as of yore.

It’s all part and parcel of maintaining the PNC’s authoritarian rule over the country.

To cut off the option from the PPP of challenging the PNC’s destruction of the Constitution and democracy. …of suicide Suicide rates in Guyana are once again in the news. Back in 2012, a rate of 44.2 was reported, making us the number 1 country in the world for suicide. Once again we became infamous, as the opportunity was seized by the international media to regurgitate the Jim Jones tragedy. Well, the Clinical Psychologist attached to the Public Health Ministry, Balogun Osunbiyi, has reiterated the Health Ministry’s claim that suicides have decreased — with 2016 figures standing at 29 per cent; and, in 2017, 24.67 per cent. While the data for 2018 isn’t completed, he claimed at least 50 persons less had committed suicide.

Now, if these statistics reflected reality, it would’ve been fantastic; but sadly, it isn’t. And the representative of the Caribbean Voice was brave enough to point out (again) that Osunbiyi wasn’t wearing any clothes.

Actually, persons ingesting gramoxone and monocrotophos (always fatal, but take several days to die) are discharged.

When they do die, the cause of death is then recorded as “heart failure or something”! Sick! …of constitutional flouting The rate of this PNC-led Government’s traducing of the Constitution has (unsurprisingly) skyrocketed. Once ignoring that the Court can’t stay the clear command of Art 106 (6) for the President and Cabinet to resign, every dictat is illegal!!

Fruit of the poisoned tree!!

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FEATURE 33

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Preserving our literary heritage

(Part one featured Ivan Van Sertima, N. E. Cameron, Jan Carew, O. R. Dathorne and Beryl Gilroy. Part two features another five names.)

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here are as many ways to celebrate as there are appropriate ways to celebrate. The tenor of Black History Month should be celebrated with books.

Here’s a short (but in no way a comprehensive) list of Guyanese works and their authors which could be used to commemorate the above.

Egbert Martin

the first Guyanese to publish a collection of short stories. That collection, Scriptology, was published in 1885. That collection was lost but recently recovered, credit going to Manu Chander who is in Guyana at the moment and David Dabydeen.

Walter MacArthur Lawrence

He gave us ‘Oh, Beautiful Guyana’, and ‘My Guyana, El Dorado’ among other significant patriotic songs. In 1920, the Daily Chronicle published his first poem, commemorating the arrival in the colony of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales.

In 1929, he published ‘Meditations’ with a subtitle ‘Thoughts in the Silence’, solidifying his position on the landscape of Guyanese literature.

Two years later, in

Egbert Martin was a remarkable writer on many fronts. His was a short life of less than thirty years, most of it lived from a sick bed, but he managed to write and publish a significant amount of poetry, songs and some short stories.

Eric Walrond His first poems were published when he was only nineteen. His first collection of poems, Leo’s Poetical Works, was published in 1883, when he was only twenty two.

His second collection of poems, Leo’s Local Lyrics, was published in 1886, laying claim to the honour as the first collection of poems to be published locally by a Guyanese writer.

Another first for Martin was that he was

1931, Lawrence produced ‘Threnody’, a song of lamentation for his dead son, exploring trauma as part of his heritage - a healing poem.

The following year, 1932, his ‘delightfully nostalgic’ poem ‘Unreclaimed’ was published in the Chronicle Christmas Annual.

The 1930s was definitely the most notable of Lawrence’s short life. During this period, his poetic output was remarkable – long sentences and very long poems in Greek and Latin traditions, examples in titles of poems like ‘Threnody’, and ‘Meromi’.

In ‘Meromi’, Lawrence displayed an uncommon gift of telling a story in verse, matching Keats’ ‘Isabella’, Tennyson’s ‘Princess’ and Egbert Martin’s ‘Ruth’. Also in ‘Meromi’, he employed a technique that has become quite useful in Caribbean poetry – borrowing and modifying; he transposed a local heroine into the Garden of Eden.

Eric Walrond

Eric Walrond was expected to write the Great Negro Book – a grave responsibility. How come a black person in the early 20th century from a little known country was strapped with such a responsibility? Walrond’s life was one of paradoxes engen-

dered by his writings. He gravitated to the editorship of ‘New World’ after he won a fiction contest sponsored by Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (U. N. I. A.) for his piece, ‘A Senator’s Memoirs’.

Later he fell from grace when he penned, ‘Imperator Africanus, Marcus Garvey: Menace or Promise?’

But it was the publication in 1926 of his short story collection, ‘Tropic Death’, which brought him to prominence.

‘Tropic Death’ was valued alongside ‘The Quest of the Silver Fleece’ by W. E. B. Du Bois, ‘The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man’

by James W. Johnson and ‘Harlem Shadow’

by Claude McKay. The other notable writers at that time supporting the Harlem Resistance included Marcus Garvey, Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, Arna Bontemps, Zora Neale Hurston, W. E. B. Du Bois.

Denis Williams

crisp use of language endeared the reader to the issues, catapulting many persons to action, improving their condition, righting wrongs. Some responses to his writing were, however, distasteful especially the ban of his books in apartheid South Africa.

E. R. Braithwaite

As it was in the novel, ‘To Sir With Love’ (1959), so it was in the novels, ‘Paid Servant’ (1962), ‘A Kind of Homecoming’ (1962), ‘A Choice of Straws’ (1965), ‘Reluctant Neighbours’ (1972), and ‘Honorary White’ (1975) – E. R. Braithwaite’s poignant exploration of all forms of discrimination especially social conditions of and racial discrimination against Black people.

Braithwaite’s frank and

Denis Williams

Artist, art historian, archaeologist, anthropologist, biographer and novelist, Denis Williams was born in 1923 in the capital city of Guyana.

He lived on three continents at crucial times times of intellectual upsurge, times of political ferment and times of creativity in arts.

Williams was caught up in the action wherever he went, sharpening his perception of the living and the past as reflected in the innovations found in his art, craft and writing – ‘Other Leopards’ and ‘The Third temptation’.

Responses to this author please telephone 226-0065 of email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com (to be continued)

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine) E. R. Braithwaite

34 FEATURE

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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ne of my favourite movie stars Denzel Washington famously said, “At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.”

For Ryan Lochan, he feels a particular affinity with the words of Denzel as he is in the giving back mode. He is giving back to a school that has given his two boys so much to make him a proud father. Ryan has been in the creative field for over 15 years now, but never

t o o k up the task to actually design costumes for a parade.

Being an avid masquerader for a number of years in the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, Ryan believes that he needs to do something to up the game of the Children’s Mashramani Costume and Float Parade. He was sitting around one day and just came up with the idea of bringing change to the parade since most of the costume styles are repetitive.

“I have been doing Carnival in Trinidad for a number of years and I have been watching the children jumping up

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and down in the Kiddies Carnival and was always amazed. I was sitting and came up with idea and told a friend of mine and we decided to approach Ketley Primary with some samples,” Ryan said.

He chose Ketley because it is the school that gave his two boys the best education possible. He said that he felt that it was his way of giving back to the school because it has given him so much to be proud of.

When he approached the school, his idea was readily accepted by the Head and staff there, since they had been unable to participate in the competition for the past two years.

However, the School’s administration already had a theme in mind as outlined by the Education Ministry which was the Lost City of El Dorado. They chose to focus on the Queen of El Dorado which meant that the carnival theme Ryan had in his mind had to be changed to fit the theme. He imme-

diately got back to the drawing board and came up with unique pieces to fit that theme.

However, it was not without challenges as Ryan explained that he was venturing into uncharted territory so he needed to familiarise himself with what needed to be done. The School also did not have much funding which meant that resources were scarce but being a stickler for quality, Ryan decided to tap into his ex-

tensive clientele.

While the School provided funding, through contributions from the Parent-Teachers Association, with the help from his clients and from his pockets, Ryan completed the costumes.

The costumes are spectacular and you would not believe from looking at them that it is the first time Ryan has done that.

Ryan is hoping to hone his newfound skill to make it something he does on a regular basis.

He brings vast carnival knowledge and would have seen thousands of different costumes that all speak to different themes. Just imagine with that knowledge what he will bring to the local scene and how it can change, but for now he is focusing on making the children of Ketley Primary School the best in the parade. A task he successfully completed.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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uyana is a melting pot of cultures and every celebration takes on some part of that melting pot. It is no different with Mashramani since it is a time to showcase our unity as a people and truly live as “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”. This year, Mashramani is being observed under the theme, “Celebrate Mash 49 With Victory In Mind.”

Mashramani is an Amerindian word which means “celebration after hard work”, and is usually observed on February 23 in observance of Guyana’s Republic status, which was achieved on that date in 1970.

Mashramani, commonly referred to as “Mash”, is the most colourful, dynamic, inclusive, cultural and energetic of all the festivals in Guyana.

Scene from the first Mashramani celebration in Linden (1969)

tumes and joining the float parades and has evolved in terms of creativity over the years.

Many activities are held prior to the main event on February 23; these include the children’s parade, Panorama, Chutney Soca Monarch competition and other cultural activities.

Each year, since 1970, Guyana has observed its Republic anniversary by hosting a series of activities. These activities usually culminate on Republic Day, February 23, with a grand display of costume bands, accompanied by Caribbean music, watched by thousands of spectators who either line the routes along where the revellers pass, or occupy the grass verges with their families and friends to picnic while they enjoy the festivities of the day.

Over the past years, the street parties have continued well into the night. The flag-raising ceremony, which takes place on the eve of the Republic celebrations, is attended by the President, Prime Minister and other Government officials, as well as

Members of Parliament, the Judiciary and the Armed Forces. Later in the day, around 09:00h, the day's main feature, the "Mashramani Float Parade", begins.

The celebration came out of the Junior Chamber of Greater Mackenzie, which was already celebrating Guyana’s independence in Linden with a similar event since Independence in 1966.

It proved so successful that by 1972 it was declared a national event, and the following year, it was held nationally for the first time and annually ever since, in the capital city of Georgetown under the auspices of the Government, although there are events held in Berbice and Linden.

It is a time of revelry and dressing up in cos-

Mash origins

The origin of the word Mashramani has been a source of some dispute that has in the past led to various efforts to clarify the term.

According to historians, the word Mashramani was borrowed from the Arawak word to describe their celebratory period of feasting and dancing after a successful preparation and planting season; meaning, “celebration after hard work”, though other coinages include “celebration of a

work well done”, “a venture”, or “cooperative effort”, and “a celebration after a harvest”.

However, it has also been said that the word is not directly an Arawak word, but sounds similar to a word used to describe a festival such as one when the village gets together to celebrate a young couple’s approaching marriage.

Regardless, the term Mashramani was officially chosen in 1972 to symbolise the celebrations of the new Republic’s birth.

The first national celebration was described as a “a riot of colour, gaiety and scintillating pan music in the streets of Georgetown for over six hours … as a number of floats, costumes and steel bands in Carnival style tramped in the city and suburban areas to highlight the Mashramani celebrations in Georgetown,”

Masquerade entertaining the crowd at National Park n.d.

by the Guyana Graphic on Saturday, February 24, 1973. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

WHEREAS the Constitution of Guyana makes provision in paragraph (5) of article 73 thereof whereby Guyana may become a Republic and accordingly cease to be part of Her Majesty’s dominions pursuant to alterations to the Constitution set out in the Second Schedule thereto; AND WHEREAS such provision requires a resolution of the National Assembly, upon a motion introduced by the Prime Minister, that Guyana shall become a Republic and that the said alterations to the Constitution shall have effect on such day after the passing of the resolution as may be specified therein; AND WHEREAS by virtue* of such provision notice of such a motion may be given on or after 1st January, 1969, but not less than three months before the National Assembly upon the motion; AND WHEREAS in fulfilment of the processes of National Independence it is fitting that Guyana should become a Republic pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution; AND WHEREAS the twenty-third day of February in each year commemorates the revolt of enslaved peoples on that day in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three in the then Colony of Berbice – being the first significant blow struck for freedom in the territory now comprised in the State of Guyana; RESOLVED by this National Assembly in pursuance of paragraph (5) of article 73 of the Constitution of Guyana that on the twenty-third day of February in the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy Guyana shall become a Republic and accordingly cease to be part of Her Majesty’s dominions and that for that purpose the alterations to the constitution of Guyana set out in the Second Schedule to the said constitution shall have effect.

Passed by the National Assembly this 29th day of August, 1966

MB Henry

M B Henry, Acting Clerk of the National Assembly

36 FEATURE

By Utamu Belle

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ooking back over the years at the celebration of Mashramani, a festival with its origin in the bauxite mining town of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), one would note that it has undergone many unique and interesting transformations. This year marks 49 years of Guyana becoming a Republic nation, and approximately 45 years since the birth of the celebration.

The Mashramani celebration started when the Junior Chamber – Jaycees – of Mackenzie (a community that now constitutes part of Linden), who had been organising the country’s Independence celebrations since 1966, sought to have a ‘carnival-like’ festival to commemorate British Guiana gaining its Republican status in 1970. Chaired by popular West Indies cricketer Basil Butcher, the Jaycees Republic Committee was formed. It included members such as Jim Blackman, who was named Deputy to complete the task owing to Butcher being selected to the WI team about to tour Australia; resource personnel Adrian Thompson; Wordsworth McAndrew and Arthur Seymour.

Following the formation of the Committee, its members then began consultations so that a relevant name could be chosen for the festival, which was intended to celebrate the much-anticipated “Birth of the Republic.” It was Butcher, who then made the suggestion that an Amerindian or Indigenous name would be best suited. After the members of the Committee agreed, they contacted several Amerindians, including Allan Fiedtkou, an employee attached to the Geological Department of the then bauxite company, Demba. Fiedtkou suggested a name which he learnt from his grandfather that was used by Amerindians when they gathered to commemorate an auspicious event. As Fiedtkou explained, the celebration would last over several days, sometimes even up to a week.

The men would go hunting and the women and children would gather materials to make a benab. Refreshments would be made and a feast would ensue.

According to Fiedtkou, the term for the celebration sounded like “Muster Many” or “Mashirimehi”, and it sounded like “Mashramani” in Arawak. After several authorities were consulted, there were no doubts or confirmations regarding the term. Mashramani became known as an Amerindian term for celebration after hard work or a cooperative effort or the celebration after a job well done.

As such, the Committee decided to call the festival Mashramani, with the aim of hosting a national observance. As such, on February 23, 1970, Guyana’s first Republican festival was staged at Linden.

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The Jaycees, then headed by Jimmy Hamilton, had appointed the team to successfully organise the celebration, which was deemed a successful one. It featured three exciting days of competition and fun, attracting huge crowds from across the other administrative Regions. The celebration eventually managed to secure sponsorship from the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

Guyanese were said to have welcomed the observances with as much splendour as they welcomed the status of becoming a Republic n a t i o n .

There were activities such as ‘the Revolt dance’, a jouvert-like observance which became known as “Fo Day Mawnin Jump Up”; the Cde Mashramani contest; a calypso contest called the “Shanto” contest; a steel band contest and an extravagant float parade.

Pageantry, in those days, was also a main attraction of the event, with the first winner of the Mashramani contest in 1970 being Hazel Figueira of Mackenzie, Linden.

In 1971, then Home Affairs Minister David Singh declared the celebrations in Linden open and decided that he would take a proposal to Cabinet to make the celebration a national one. With the assistance of the Jaycees Committee, the Minister travelled across the country to inform residents of the celebration.

Since then, various activities were shifted to various areas across Guyana.

Enjoyed by many, Mashramani’s popularity quickly grew as it became a national observance. In 1972, it was taken to the capital city Georgetown, following Singh’s intervention and then President Forbes Burnham granting permission. That year, the bauxite company in Linden sent a 500-strong contingent to Georgetown to participate in the parade. The move also saw the event being held in Linden, Berbice and Georgetown, but Linden failed to garner much sponsorship to sustain the costume and float parade.

Eventually, it was centred in

Georgetown and as the years went by, other areas across Guyana joined in.

Throughout the decades, the celebrations have evolved. As a witness to the celebrations in those days recalled, it was somewhat different from the “bacchanal-style” prancing down the streets these days.

“It was not like what we see these days, we used to hold hands and do an Amerindian type dance, moving from side to side. We would form a line, and the line would be in so much order, but there was no Soca-style jamming, just an orderly, peaceful dance,” she explained.

Another resident of Linden, Wendy Wellington, noted that revellers in those days were more modestly dressed. “I must say that back then it was just something that people started, but as time goes by, it became more developed,” she noted.

Other witnesses to the event in the past have claimed that the observance would appear to have lost its true intended meaning. According to some, nowadays, more emphasis is placed on the partying aspect. Lindener Winslow Parris noted that the celebration took on a more cultural demeanour back then.

"We had, back then, things that related to the rebelling of slaves. We would have had like an African troupe and the beating of drums," he related.

He also reminisced on the masquerades back then and recalled that the costumes were not as large as those in recent times. Another Lindener, C a e s a r McAlmont said in his opinion, much has not changed over the years.

“Mashramani ain't change in no way. All that changed is that they carried it away to town," he said.

He noted too that the musical aspect in those days centred on the use of steel pan.

"Back then, we didn't have big bands, you know. The generation now is more bacchanal-like than in our time.

Steel band was the thing then. When you hear about a big Mash, you talking Steel Band, not (music) set. You trampling down the road, with a steel band. Everybody behind a steel band...Ya chipping down the road, with a steel band. We had the “Invaders” and so much other steel bands," he recalled.

But youngsters who are accustomed to the atmosphere these days say they look forward to Mashramani celebrations each year.

“Well, Mash is a time where we get together with friends and just have a nice time. You know, no work so we just get together and have fun,” a youngster indicated.

These days, lots of sponsorship is pumped into the celebrations. Each year, thousands line the streets, with hundreds participating in the annual float parade held in Georgetown.

The parade is usually an annual competition, with big bands participating. Additionally, many new activities

have been incorporated into the celebrations, including the Children’s Costume Competition, the Junior and Senior Calypso and Chutney competitions, Chutney dance competition, duck curry competition, folk evening observance, Bands Concert and National Art exhibition.

Traditional activities have remained, including the steel band concert and Panorama as well as Masquerade Jamboree. However, many long for the return of the Mashramani pageant, which was hosted back in those days.

While a few pageants were hosted over the years, it has not been on the annual calendar of events.

As for the community of Linden where it all started, the celebration is held approximately a week after the grand float parade in Georgetown.

Costumes are usually sponsored by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and a few businesses. However, the float parade in the mining town can be considered miniature to that of the capital city.

There is also a “Mash Bash” social and cultural event hosted in the community on February 23.

Wellington believes that more should be done to preserve the history of the floats. She said there should be a place where samples are kept, as a reminder to youths of our rich, cultural heritage. “...when you would have spent all this money to build these costumes, you should have somewhere to put them.

You shouldn’t just let them go to waste.

There should be some place where you store these costumes and have them protected, where the youths can go and see how things have changed over time,” she told this publication.

Over the years, Lindeners have longed to see the return of the celebration to the town. Officials are presently in talks to have it return next year, as Guyana celebrates its 50th anniversary as a Republic. With all that has changed over the years, few things have remained. These include flamboyant costumes; beaming faces; people dancing to the sounds of masquerade bands, calypso and steel pan music; hundreds lining the streets to get a glimpse of the spectacle and delicious Guyanese cuisine. Over the years, these features, which mark the observance of Guyana becoming a Republican nation back in February 1970, have never failed to delight Guyanese and visitors.

This year, Mashramani is being celebrated under the theme, “Celebrate Mash 49 With Victory In M i n d . ” (Guyana Times

Sunday Magazine)

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"The National Flag" The National Flag of Guyana is called "The Golden Arrowhead". It bears five colours - red, black, yellow, white and green The flag has the unique design of two triangles (one within the other) issuing from the same base. The outer triangle is gold-colored (arrow-shaped) with a narrow border of white along two sides.

The inner triangle is red with a narrow strip of black bordering the sides. The background of the flag is green, representing the agricultural and forested nature of Guyana. The white border represents the rivers and water potential. The golden arrow represents Guyana's mineral wealth and the black border, the endurance that will sustain the forward thrust of the Guyanese people. The red of the flag represents the zeal and dynamic nature of nation-building which lies before the young and independent Guyana. The Flag was designed by Whitney Smith, Director of the Flag Centre, Florida, U.S.A.

"The National Flower" The Victoria Regia, a water lily, was discovered by Robert Schomburgk, a German Botanist in 1837, while leading an expedition into the interior of what was then British Guiana. In its native habitat of tropical America, the plant is perennial. It grows in 4 to 6 feet of water, the base of the stems being situated in soft mud. From each plant there are seldom more than 4 or 5 leaves. The largest flowers can measure 10 inches to one foot in diameter. When first open, they are white with a sweet smell rather like a ripe fruit; by the second day they are fully expanded and a deeper pink; by the third day, they start to wither.

One of the other national symbols chosen for Guyana is a bird - the Hoatzin or Canje Pheasant. The adult Hoatzin is about 22 inches long from beak to tail. Its color is reddishbrown streaked with green. The under parts are pale brown. The feathers on its shoulder and sides are edged with creamy-white. There is a crest of very long feathers on its head which gives the bird an almost majestic look. The Hoatzin has a very short and very thick beak, and the skin around the crimson eye is of a pale blue color.This bird can be found throughout the year in areas along the banks of the Berbice River and its tributary, the Canje Creek, and to some extent, on the Abary, Mahaicony and Mahaica Rivers. It feeds on the leaves of aquatic vegetation. The nesting period for the Hoatzin, commonly known as the Canje Pheasant, is usually from April to September.

"The National Anthem"

"The National Pledge"

National Anthem of Guyana Lyrics: A.L. Luker - Music: Robert Cyril Gladstone Potter Musical Score - Music

I pledge myself to honor always the Flag of Guyana, and to be loyal to my country, to be obedient to the laws of Guyana, to love my fellow citizens, and to dedicate my energies towards the happiness and prosperity of Guyana.

Dear land of Guyana, of rivers and plains, Made rich by the sunshine and lush by the rains, Set gemlike and fair between mountains and sea, Your children salute you, dear land of the free.

"The Coat-Of-Arms"

The national Coat-of-Arms of Guyana is a composite of motifs suggested in separate designs by three Guyanese artists. The design is interpreted as follows: The Amerindian head-dress symbolizes the Amerindians as the indigenous people of the country. The two diamonds at the side of the head-dress represent the country's mining industry. The helmet is the monarchial insignia. The two jaguars holding a pick axe, a sugar cane and a stalk of rice symbolize labor and the two main agricultural industries of the country - sugar and rice. The shield which is decorated with the National Flower, the Victoria Regia Lily, is to protect the nation. The three blue wavy lines represent the many waters of Guyana. The Canje Pheasant, the National Bird, at the bottom of the shield represents a rare bird found principally in this part of the world and also the rich fauna of Guyana. The streamer below the shield bears the Nation's Motto "ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE DESTINY".

The Coat of Arms was selected on the recommendation of the National History and Arts Council and approved by the College of Arms, England. It was accepted by the House of Assembly on Friday, 25th February, 1966.

"SONG OF THE REPUBLIC"

Green land of Guyana, our heroes of yore, Both bondsmen and free, laid their bones on your shore; This soil so they hallowed, and from them are we, All sons of one mother, Guyana the free.

Words by Cleveland W. Hamilton Music by Frank Daniels From Pakaraima’s peaks of pow’r To Courentyne’s lush sands, Her children pledge each faithful hour To guard Guyana’s lands.

To foil the shock of rude invader Who’d violate her earth, To cherish and defend forever The State that gave them birth.

Great land of Guyana, diverse though our strains, We are born of their sacrifice, heirs of their pains, And ours is the glory their eyes did not see, One land of six peoples, united and free.

We’ll forge a nation’s might soul Construct a nation’s frame; Freedom our everlasting goal, Courage and truth our aim, Unyielding in our quest for peace Like ancient heroes brave, To strive and strive and never cease With Strength beyond the slave.

Dear land of Guyana, to you will we give Our homage, our service, each day that we live; God guard you, great Mother, and make us to be More worthy our heritage - land of the free.

Guyana, climb the glorious perch To fame, prosperity; Join in the universal search For world-wide comity.

Your people what soe’er their breed Their hue or quality, With one firm never changing creed The nation’s unity.

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Scenes of 2019 Children's Mash Competition

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Scenes of 2019 Children's Mash Competition

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42 NEWS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Steven Ramphal crowned Guyana’s Chutney King T

he Anna Regina C o m m u n i t y Centre Ground came alive on Sunday night as hundreds flocked the venue to support their favourite artistes vying for the National Chutney

Monarch 2019.

After some excellent performances, Steven Ramphal was named the winner for his tune, “Rang Ke Baare” followed by the 2018 Chutney Monarch, Bunty Singh, who per-

formed “Pholourie”. The third spot was won by former Chutney Monarch, Pooran Seeraj with “GT Ladki” and rounding off the top spot was Arjit Singh who performed “Ring on the Lukanee”.

An elated Ramphal

Fourth-place winner Arjit Singh on stage

was lost for words after the announcement. The young artiste, who also secured second place at the Carib Soca Monarch, said that he remained humble during the competition and had his eyes on the prize from the inception.

However, the show was of high standards which saw the Shakti Strings Orchestra accompanying the artistes.

As Trinidadian Chutney singer, Adesh Samaroo took to the stage, the crowd went hysterical.

Newly-crowned Chutney Monarch Steven Ramphal during his performance

He was the guest performer at the event promoted by the Social Cohesion Ministry.

However, the lone female singer, Goonwattie Harrynarine, also called “Amrita” of Berbice who performed “Dulaha Dulahin” at the semi-finals claimed that she was cheated.

She told Guyana Times International that while on her way to Essequibo, she was told to return to Berbice since the winners of the competition were already

chosen. She also claimed that she attempted to speak to an official but did not get any satisfaction.

Meanwhile, the winner will collect G$1 million along with two airline tickets to any Caribbean Airlines destinations.

The second place winner will receive G$600,000 while the third place winner will receive G$400,000 and G$200,000 will be given to the person who secured the fourth spot.

Jamaican athlete Asafa Powell weds Canadian model

(Jamaica Gleaner)

T

he social media pages of Jamaican athlete Asafa Powell have been overflowing with congratulatory messages following his weekend marriage to Canadian model, Alyshia Miller.

Powell, who formerly held the world record for the 100 metres and has broken the 10-second barrier more than 90 times, tied the knot with Miller in Montego Bay, St James, on the weekend.

The intimate ceremony saw scores of friends and family members in fabulous fashion to witness the couple’s enchanting nuptial bliss.

The suave sub-10 king opted for a suited twist on the classic black and

white, while his ‘queen’ was the epitome of beauty, in an elegant off-white lace wedding dress.

Their priceless picture and video exuding happiness and love have been all over Instagram.

Many took the opportunity to congratulate the Powells on their new and exciting adventure as husband and wife.

But the newlyweds posted an official photo on their accounts just today.

“Had a life changing experience on Saturday. I’m now husband husband for real real. Hey wifey #Godsplan”, Powell posted.

Miller thanked her guests and expressed gratitude to her husband for giving her the dream wedding.

NEWS 43

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese workers must be respected and labour laws upheld - Harmon says at RUSAL meeting

M

inister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, this morning, made it clear that Guyanese workers must be treated in a respectful manner and at all times the country’s labour laws must be upheld at a meeting with the executive members of the Russian Aluminium (RUSAL) company.

The meeting aimed to identify ways in which the ongoing industrial strike taken by workers and their subsequent dismissal can be resolved amicably.

Minister Harmon was accompanied by Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally, Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman and Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Mr. Keith Scott.

RUSAL was represented by Mr. Vladimir Permyakov, Company Representative in Guyana and Mr. Sergey Kostyuk, Director of Alumina and Bauxite Department at RUSAL, who both flew in from Russia for the meeting.

During the meeting, Minister Harmon said Government views the ongoing dispute as se-

rious and noted that it was among priority matters on the agenda at the Ministerial Plenary.

“There are two objectives to this: the Guyanese workers must be treated in a respectful and fair manner at all times… their rights must be respected and at the same time, the company must function and ensure it makes profits for its shareholders.

It is a question of finding common ground and ensure that our workers’ rights are respected.

We must find common ground to move forward.

The issues must be dealt with in a clear way,” he said.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Minister Ally said the Government has laid out its contentions while the company was also giv-

en the opportunity to do so. The dismissed workers will also be given a chance to have their side heard, she said.

“What is going to happen, tomorrow we are going to have a second round of engagement where Minister Keith Scott, the Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection and the person who deals specifically with Labour,

will be meeting with the workers at Aroima tomorrow [Friday] to have some discussions with them. What came out of this morning’s meeting is that after we have laid some of the issues, the executive will be taking this matter to their principals, have a discussion and then get back to us.

Meanwhile we are continuing our engagements on the ground

with the workers. It is Government’s intention to have this matter resolved amicably,” she said.

In addition to the engagement with the workers, Minister Ally said the Ministry of Social Protection will be providing support to the dismissed workers, particularly in the provision of basic amenities.

44 NEWS

Trinidad uses drone technology to arrest 20 (Trinidad Express)

T

he Special Operations Response Unit (SORT) used drone technology in the arrest of 20 persons and the seizure of firearms and quantities of ammunition and narcotics and a police jacket in the Southern Division.

The exercise, conducted in the La Romaine district, yesterday also included officers of the Southern Division and Central Division Task Forces and the Canine branch.

Uzi submachine gun, three pistols, 74 rounds of 9mm ammunition, three kilogrammes of marijuana, eight grammes of cocaine and one blue police operations jacket with police patches being discovered.

Of those held, 11 are expected to be charged with possession of firearms and possession of narcotics.

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The free market…

W

…and labour

as a time when the world was a very simple place to live in: that time when “Jagan and Burnham” were together for a brief moment in the fifties. In politics, it was us against the “imperialists” and in the economy it was labour, represented by trade unions, against those dastardly (running dog) “capitalists”. In politics, however, the apple of power to run an independent Guyana was introduced into our little Eden and our “land of six races” was torn asunder as we were cast into the hell of perpetual conflict that still consumes us. Our strength of diversity had been turned into our great weakness.

In the economy, we lost also our innocence, but the process was much more drawn out and insidious – since the rupture was not confined to our little mudland – but was a world-system phenomenon. The Marxist critique that had divided the world into “proletariats against capitalists” was much starker in the colonies, where politics and economics were pretty much coincident.

‘Capitalists riding roughshod over workers’ was farmed out to the State that deployed the Police to mow down workers who dared question the “roughshodding”.

In fact, yesterday was the 80th anniversary of the Guyana Police killing four sugar workers at Leonora because they dared to ask that their workday be reduced from 12 hours!! Such impertinence!! Our trade unions fought long and hard for workers’ “betterment” and in fact, with the help of the politicians who’d emerged from their struggle, were able to enact laws that defined workers’ rights. Those same politicians, Jagan and Burnham, in fact decided to go the whole hog by the 1970s and nationalised all businesses – now supposedly “owned” by the workers. Over in the Mother country, Britain (and the US), unions had also seized much power over the economy, in which businesses were heavily regulated.

That didn’t last long and by the end of the decade, Guyana’s economy was on the rocks – as was Britain’s!! Thatcher came into power and Reagan in the US and together they swore to break the power of unions and roll back regulations over businesses. They succeeded so well, that by the time Desmond Hoyte decided to reverse gear on the economy in 1989, there was a blueprint he was forced to follow. That blueprint gave short shrift to trade unions since wages, like all prices, were to be set by the market.

And we arrive at the decision by Rusal to shut down its operations when workers balked at their unilateral one per cent wage increase offer and struck. The workers are demanding “governmental intervention”.

Do they expect the Government to go against “the free market”??

Another “Declaration of Sophia”? …and the WPA threat The WPA “Overseas Associates” (WPAOA) just shot off a very stern letter to APNU that they’re not going to put up any longer with being taken for granted as “appendages of the PNC”!! Seems the straw that broke their (overseas) back was their local members (presumably) being handed the agenda for a hastily summoned meeting with no consultation and then foisted with an “elections committee”. Either they get respect, or they walk!!

Your Eyewitness is intrigued about whether the locals in the WPA also agree with this ultimatum, since they didn’t sign the missive. Frankly, he doesn’t think the locals agreed. After all, decisions in politics are now made by the free market. And in the “race” politics of Guyana (see above) it’s all about what numbers can the WPA bring to the party. The PNC line that African Guyanese can’t “allow” that nasty PPP to get back into power has already solidified that constituency.

The WPA already cashed the one cheque they had in 2011. The morality of Walter Rodney. …and the fraud business From the revelations now oozing out from the fallout of Sillington’s setting up his private company and the fraud expert James not evidently being so expert, SOCU’s clearly a business.

And here your Eyewitness thought it was about “justice”!!

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Another…

I

…PNC/AFC democratic breach? t’s a fact of life that in the elections season, incumbent governments will try to get away with slipping in some campaigning and pass it off as “just doing our (official) job, man”!! When in the Opposition back in 2011 and 2015, the PNC/APNU and AFC really went after the then PPP Government for the practice – ranging from the G$10,000 coupons they’d distributed for years to handing out some All-Terrain Vehicles to a couple of Amerindian villages!

But the practices of the PPP look like playing tiddlywinks and pale into insignificance when compared to what’s unfolding across the country with the APNU/AFC coalition. Why, just this weekend, 19 Ministers – almost the entire Cabinet, now dubbed a “plenary”!! – will be flying into the Rupununi, with their entourages! – to visit 28 Amerindian villages!!

And just before this expedition – larger than the one led by the GDF in 1969 to put down the Rupununi Rebellion! – David Patterson, the Public Infrastructure Minister, announced that the Government will be building a 1.5MW solar farm and refurbishing the Hydro Plant at Moca Moca to light up the southern savannahs while launching a consultancy to build a US$4 billion international airport for Lethem!! And that’s not all, since god knows when the long promised asphalted highway between Linden and Lethem will be started, large sections will be rehabilitated immediately!! And that’s just in ONE WEEKEND FOR ONE REGION!!

But not to worry…according to the Cabinet… oops! “Plenary” spokesperson Harmon, this massive Rupununi outreach wasn’t Govt campaigning!! It was “interactions” with the villagers that just coincidentally were occurring while Granger decides when he’ll stop trampling on the Constitution and announce elections for March 19. But what made the blatant abuse of state resources more galling was their contempt for Indigenous Peoples. The PNC-led APNU and AFC obviously feel they will be persuaded to vote for them after their blatant act of “vote buying”!

Their view of Indigenous Peoples is “they don’t know better” and will forget their 4 years of neglect just because of these empty promises flying thicker than the swarms of sand-flies that descend on the Rupununi in the evenings!!!! Adding insult to this injury was the AFC General Secretary Marlon Williams explicitly promising at his press conference earlier in the week that State resources won’t be used for elections campaigning!! “We have safeguards…it is not the practice of the AFC or the APNU in elections past to have ever used State resources to carry on campaigns”!!

Well, we now know what the “promises” of these jokers are worth when in this most critical area – not to abuse state resources – they’re broken in the blink of the eye!! …PNC/AFC economic brigandage?

The politicians finally wised up to what every Guyanese who receive their regular “frek” from their visiting relatives from “foreign”, knew for months.

That Cambio dealers have been greeting them like lost brothers when they show up to exchange their greenbacks and giving them rates such as they’d never heard of before!! $216 to one?? That’s nothing!!

What’s going on? Well, your Eyewitness was told that it all boils down to the old relationship between supply and demand, which is supposed to be guiding all our decisions in the age of neo-liberalism. There just ain’t as much greenbacks circulating as there used to be. But most interestingly, local banks have been offering a much cheaper rate than Cambios.

What gives?? According to the Opposition Leader, the Government has issued a circular INSTRUCTING them to do so!!

Which means that once again, the PNC is intervening by dictating to the foreign exchange market to prop up an artificial rate.

Showing once again, they haven’t a clue on running a free enterprise economy!! …false equivalence?

ANUG Leader Ralph Ramkarran warned that a “constitutional crisis” is nigh upon us – triggered by the PNC/AFC’s refusal to hold constitutionally mandated elections by March 19.

Yet he said the Govt and the Opposition must “compromise”.

What’s the Opposition got to do with it??

Race and slavery

By Ravi Dev

S

ome would dismiss the ubiquity of race and racism but these constructs, arising out of a European 18th century discourse that ran parallel with the European conquest of the rest of the world and especially with the justification of African slavery, but these are still omnipresent.

As we wrote last week, race and racism, are part and parcel of the “Western Enlightenment,” imposed as one weapon in the European arsenal of imperialistic conquest even as it spoke loftily of ‘freedom and equality and democracy. Notable names such as Hume, Kant and Hegel were involved in the project on race, which gave a social significance to physical markers. And if the world, including Guyana wants to resolve the “race” problem, it will have to confront these roots that still undergird our worldview.

The institution of slavery was the apotheosis of “unfreedom”. In the words of Orlando Patterson, “The social construction of freedom was made possible by the relation of slavery. Slavery had to exist before people could even conceive of the idea of freedom as a value, that is to say, find it meaningful and useful, an ideal to be striven for…Slavery immediately made possible something that had never existed before: the absolute, unprotected, unmediated power of life and death of one person over another.”

Thus in our concrete circumstances in Guyana, we cannot talk about politics leading to “freedom and equality” unless we are willing to extricate those terms from a word view that defines certain individuals as the very essence of the antithesis of those terms.

Some easily gloss over our political impasse on account of our “polarisations”. They miss the nature of Guyanese politics – primarily because they take an ahistorical

and static gaze at the problematic of “polarisation”. Polarisations, we would know, effect as well as affect. What is the nature of the cleavage that has divided us?

What was the discourse that inscribed it in our psyches and practices?

The “old politics” that has proven so disastrous to us arose out of the famous PPP split of 1955 and the subsequent insistence of its two factions that they each transcended the ‘polarisations” of the society. They knew it was a lie.

We knew it was a lie. But we all went along. When the PNC is in power, Indians by and large do not confer legitimacy on them and the same holds true for the PPP and Africans. But we all go along, skipping blithely down the path of perdition singing “One Nation, One People, One Destiny”. We were supposed to ignore the performative contradictions of that ditty even as our ethnic security dilemmas played out to their tragic dénouement.

The fatal flaw of Guyanese politics are the (at best paternalistic and at worse, racist) politicians, who insisted they know better

than the people: they would “only use” race as an expedient to obtain power, but that once ensconced in office, they would govern on everyone’s behalf. They ignore that ends are nothing but consummated means. The Europeans had ruled for centuries on the Liberal premise that we natives had to be “tutored” since we hadn’t quite reached the requisite enlightenment standard of reason. Our early politicians, drinking deep from the dogmas of Marxism-Leninism (which shared the Enlightenment premise of “progress” through standards of “rationality”), insisted that the problematic of race/ ethnicity was a backward one.

What was the socialist content of ‘race”? slyly queried the “conciliatory” Burnham, to the “conciliatory” Dr Jagan as late as 1977. The people, however, knew that race/ ethnicity was real – their quotidian experience, starting from their insertion into Guyana demonstrated that while unity and brotherhood may be shouted from the pulpits, power was always in the hands of a particular race/ethnic group. They had to deal with that and that was real. The “ethnic enclaves” are bounded by the inequitable reverberations of race and power.

The damage of two hundred years of slavery is not the same as the seventy of indentureship and neither will be erased by merely “strik(ing) a conciliatory tone”.

The damage does not only project outwards. The question of identity is not an insignificant one: indeed I believe it is the paramount one in the post-colonial world. Maybe the debilitating racist, hegemonic structures inscribed inside our heads may ultimately be a simulacrum but, “if men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences.”

Jumping off the world is not an option if the force of gravity still governs all matter.

Essequibo man found guilty of raping girl, 10 E

r r o l

DeSouza, who was charged almost five years ago on two counts of raping a young girl, was on Wednesday unanimously found guilty of the offence for which he was indicted. The jury returned the verdicts after two hours of deliberation at the Sexual Offences Court.

According to the facts on the mat-

Errol DeSouza being escorted by Police

ter, the first act occurred between January 1 and 31, 2013, when the child was 10 while the second act was listed as May 3, 2014, when the victim was 11.

DeSouza’s lawyer Ravindra Mohabir requested a probation report which led to Justice Jo Ann Barlow adjourning the matter to March 7, 2019, for sentencing.

Attorneys Lisa Cave, Seeta Bishundial and Lisa Martin prosecuted the case. The matter was said to have occurred at a location in the Essequibo county.

48 Bollywood

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Bachchan was my father’s Inside Neeti Mohan and Nihar Pandya’s wedding brand of rejecting stereotypes of caste and creed: Amitabh Bachchan

A

ctor Amitabh Bachchan on Wednesday underlined that his father and legendary poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan had taken on the ‘Bachchan’ surname to put across the message that stereotypes of caste and creed must be rejected by the society. He was speaking about ‘brand dharma’ at the 44th World Congress of the International Advertising Association (IAA) in Kochi.

“My father’s name was Harivansh Rai Shrivastav.

The surname Shrivastav or any other surname in India traditionally means it belongs to a specific caste. The surname immediately puts a person into a classical stereotype. Yeh Brahman hai, yeh Dalit hai, yeh Kshatriya hai and so on. My father abhorred the system because it led to deep divisions among the people regardless of merit,” the actor said.

“My father shed the caste from his

name and took on the name Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Bachchan became the family surname. Bachchan was my father’s brand of rejecting the stereotypes of caste and creed. I take pride in carrying forward the legacy. I am a Bachchan,” the Bollywood superstar added.

During his one-hour long address, Amitabh Bachchan dwelt extensively on his experience over the years as a brand endorser of corporate products as well as being an ambassador for public campaigns like Polio and Swacchh Bharat.

“I do not advertise alcohol, tobacco etc. That’s my dharma. I am not a master of this craft. Far from mastery, I can’t even sell a bottle of drinking water to a thirsty person without your ingenious scripts,” he said. (Indian Express)

Mohan and Pandya family THANK YOU for your constant love and support.”

Earlier, Neeti shared photos and a video of her pre-bridal shoot featuring her bridesmaids and sisters Mukti Mohan, Shakti Mohan and Kriti Mohan.

Before getting married, Neeti Mohan and Nihar Pandya made their first on-screen appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show. On the show, Nihar and Neeti recreated the moment when Nihar proposed marriage to the Bollywood singer.

Neeti will soon join work. She will be judging the upcoming season of The Rising Star, a live show on Colors channel. She will share the screen space with Shankar Mahadevan and Punjabi rockstar Diljit Dosanjh. (Indian Express)

films being made. I am sure such subjects and stories existed before too, but people were hesitant to pick them up.

Now, it is a good time for the writers

able to do much with the character.

Thankfully, both the characters that I play in Dream Girl and Turram Khan have put me in a different mould than what I was doing before. It gives me a feeling that I am doing something different. Hopefully, that translates on screen.

Q. Also, both films are from the comedy space. Do you want to remain in the lighter zone?

I do not want to leave the space

in the industry because the space for them to explore has widened. And the same goes for actors and directors. So, I am happy that this is happening in my time and I am able to work on such scripts.

Q. How is the prep for the film going on?

The prep actually is for the team when it comes to the look. When it comes to playing the character, for me, writing is important. If you have given me a part to play, to etch it out and bring it on screen is my job. But if it is not written well, I would not be

that I have come so far in. Of course, I want to do all sort of roles and films.

It will be interesting to push myself a little more.

Q. How is it working with Rajkummar Rao and Ayushmann Khurrana?

Both of them are fun. They are actors who know their craft and space pretty well. To be working with people who are that up on their game gives you incentive to up your game as well.

So, they are honestly the reason why I push myself harder on sets.

Q. Rajkummar and Ayushmann

tasted success last year. They come with credibility and a success rate. Do you feel any pressure?

No! In fact, it makes me very happy that our films will have credibility because of these actors. Today, honestly, at the end of the day, it is the word-ofmouth that will make the film or break it because no matter how many success parties I throw, if you will not come to the theaters to watch the film, I cannot celebrate the film. So, in your head, if you are thinking that this film is going to be good because of these actors, then one-fourth of the battle is won.

Q. Do you think Akaash Vani was ahead of its time and should have released now?

Of course. I think we should be practical when we release a film.

Some films are much ahead of its time.

Akaash Vani is one such film. We made it at a very nascent stage. We all were very young and aspired to do something different. I pat my back only for the fact that we attempted to do something different, but we were not experienced enough in the industry to understand that maybe there was a right time for it to be made. I wish it was shorter and made now.

Q. Anything else coming your way?

I do little work because I want to be sure what my line-up is going to be. I do not want to over-commit. I am not used to it. This is my first year when I have signed two films in a year.

Otherwise, I sign one film a year or a film in two years because I really like living the character and film.

Nushrat Bharucha talked to indianexpress.com on the sidelines of the launch of The Pilates Studio By Namrata Purohit. (Indian Express)

Nushrat Bharucha: Rajkummar Rao and Ayushmann Khurrana keep me on my toes

A

ctor Nushrat Bharucha, who rose to fame with Pyar Ka Punchnama series, will be sharing screen space with Ayushmann Khurrana in Dream Girl and Rajkummar Rao in Turram Khan. In an exclusive interview with indianexpress.com, Nushrat talked about her upcoming films and life post the success of Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety.

Here are excerpts from the conversation: Q. After Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’s success, did you feel that you have “finally arrived”?

I don’t think I can ever have that thought because if I bring that in my head, then I don’t think I will push myself harder. I keep pushing myself to do good work. See, it is not only about the business of the film, but for me, it is also the satisfaction that performance brings to me. If today I will be like ‘Ah, I have arrived,’ I feel I will get satiated. So, I don’t think I want to be in that space right now.

Q. You are part of Dream Girl and Turram Khan. Are the roles in these films different from what we have seen so far? Anything you can tell us.

I can’t talk much about them, but the two are extremely different from each other even though they both fall in comedy and quirky genre. Both the films are with actors (Ayushmann Khurrana and Rajkummar Rao) who are known for the choices of their films.

On the whole, I am happy to see such

B

ollywood singer Neeti Mohan tied the knot with Nihar Pandya on February 15 in Hyderabad in the presence of their family members and close friends.

On Wednesday, the singer took to her Instagram account and shared photos giving a sneak peek into the wedding. Along with the photos, she wrote, “With the blessings of family, friends and well-wishers, we are blissfully married.”

A few days back, reports suggested that the couple has decided to postpone their wedding reception due to the ill-health of Neeti Mohan’s father.

Announcing that he is doing better, in the same post, Neeti mentioned, “Dad’s health is getting better each day.” She further thanked her fans for constant love and support. She wrote, “The

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irector James Cameron has revealed that Hollywood stars Chris Evans and Channing Tatum had auditioned for the lead role in his 2009 sci-fi blockbuster Avatar.

The 64-year-old director said he found the performance of Sam Worthington better for the part of disabled former marine Jake Sully than the other two stars.

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inger-actor Mandy Moore has opened up about her former marriage to musician Ryan Adams calling it “an entirely unhealthy dynamic”.

During an appearance on the Sunday episode of Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, Moore said she was “sad and lonely”.

“I was living my life for him. It (was) an entirely unhealthy dynamic.

I had no sense of self. I felt like I was drowning. It was so untenable and unsustainable and it was so lonely. I was so sad,” Moore, 34, said.

The interview comes in light of the recent New York Times article in which Adams was accused of sexual

“That was my choice. I really liked Channing’s appeal. I liked Chris’ appeal. They were both great guys. But Sam had a quality of voice and a quality of intensity,” he said during his recent appearance on the Empire Podcast.

“Everybody did about the same on all the material through the script, except for the final speech where he stands up and says, ‘This is our land, ride now, go as fast as the wind can carry you’. That whole thing. I would have followed him into battle.

And I wouldn’t have followed the other guys. They’ve since gone onto have fantastic careers and all that, but Sam was ready. He was ready,” he added.

The director is currently shooting for four sequels of the film that grossed over 2.75 billion dollars worldwide.

The studio, 20th Century Fox, had recently announced that the second installment of the franchise will release in 2020. (Indian Express)

misconduct and emotional abuse by multiple women, including Moore.

She added that pressure from Adams led to her working less.

“I got married in 2009, and that’s when things really quieted down for me…I would do little jobs. It’s not like I completely stopped working. I would do things here or there, but it would become abundantly clear while I was working, things would fall completely apart at home.

“I couldn’t do my job because there was a constant stream of trying to pay attention to this person who needed me and wouldn’t let me do anything else.” (Indian Express)

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pider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse is nominated in the Best Animated Feature Oscar category and it should, I believe, take the trophy. Its closest contender is Incredibles 2, which is also really enjoyable, but it does not quite match the love-letter to comic-books that is Spider-Verse, nor is it nearly as inventive.

When Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse was announced, even hardcore Spidey fans, this scribe included, were perplexed. Sony, sans Marvel Studios’ intervention, did not have a good track record with some of the recent Spider-Man films. In fact, after 2004, there was not a single decent film that Spidey fans could really love. Tom Holland’s Homecoming was good, but it was made in association with Marvel Studios, a unit without a single failure to its name.

And now, it seemed, Sony was building a cinematic universe of its own with Spider-Man and its supporting characters. Although Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has lots of Spider-People (and a Spider-Animal), it is mainly the story of Miles Morales, a Latino-Afro teen that is a fairly recent addition to the Spider-Man canon.

I rarely see movies twice in theaters, unless they are truly exceptional. I went and saw Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse four times. This movie is a staggering achievement, a rare film that is nearly without flaw.

First of all, the visual style is absolutely stunning. It is like psychedelia of Thor: Ragnarok multiplied by 10.

There are intended imperfections (like the colour bleed in the skylines to mimic the classic CMYK printing process) that somehow works to enhance everything. Every single frame appears like it is handcrafted, every scene whether it is action-packed or sombre, has distinctive touches that make the visual experience unique. The action scenes in the movie are some of the most well-

choreographed I have seen — animated or live-action.

2D marries 3D so seamlessly in this film that you will notice that only on subsequent viewings (or at least I did).

Some of the dialogue appears in comic-book style and this is just one of the meta moments that give the viewer an impression that they are following this story, panel by panel — just like a graphic novel.

Spider-Verse boasts of a phenomenally sharp script. Phil Lord, who along with his partner Christopher Miller is probably one of the most creative screenwriters today in Hollywood, has crafted a story with Rodney Rothman that is funny, heartfelt, poignant, and still the classic Spider-Man story. There are loving homages to earlier iterations of live-action Spider-Men (echoing Lord and Miller’s The Lego Batman Movie).

Multiple Spider-People from other dimensions enter Miles’ world, and everybody gets their due, even as the focus remains on Miles Morales. All this and the film’s blazing fast pace should have made the story over-stuffed, but the film clocks less than two hours.

This is unbelievably impressive.

Spider-Verse was not just the best animated movie of 2018, it was also the best superhero movie of the year.

Incredibles 2, another Oscar contender, is not nearly as good as The Incredibles, its predecessor, but it is still entertaining and a feast to the eyes with those action sequences that would either be too expensive or impossible to do in live-action. In this regard, it is like Spider-Verse in that it uses the medium’s strengths to its fullest.

Pixar’s animation remains impeccable and improves considerably every year.

Overall, Incredibles 2 is a very enjoyable animated family superhero film, but Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse blows everything out of the water this year. (Indian Express)

Leaving Neverland trailer: The Michael Jackson documentary deserves your attention

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eaving Neverland caused quite a furore when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival a few weeks ago. Based on the accounts of James Safechuck and Wade Robson, the documentary delves into the years when the two were allegedly sexually abused by Michael Jackson.

The trailer of Dan Reed’s documentary is out. In the trailer, we see the two men talk about the kind of attention that Michael Jackson gave them when he invited them to live in his mansion, Neverland, along with their families. The documentary includes interviews with the two men, their mothers, wives and other members of their families.

The film received a standing ovation at the Sundance Film Festival when it premiered there.

Jackson’s family has called the two men “per-

jurers” as the two had earlier testified that Jackson never molested them. A few years after Michael Jackson passed away, the two men came forward with their side of the story again saying that they were in fact, sexually abused.

Director Dan Reed earlier told The Hollywood Reporter, “I didn’t characterise Jackson at all in the film — I think if you watch it you’ll have noticed that it’s a story about these two families and Jackson is an element of that story. But I don’t seek to characterise him at all. I don’t comment on Jackson.

It’s not a film about Michael. The film itself is an account of sexual abuse, how sexual abuse happens and then how the consequences play out later in life.” (Indian Express)

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Will England use Jofra Archer as surprise weapon in Windies T20I series?

– owing to new rules and regulations, he is eligible for March 2019

By Brandon Corlette

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he Barbadosborn 23-year-old fast bowler, Jofra Archer now enjoys the luxury of being eligible to play for England in March 2019. If the selectors immediately gave Archer the nod, he may make his international debut for England against a familiar West Indies team.

According to the revised rules and regulations from the England Cricket Board (ECB), for a player to be eligible for England selection, he must have British citizenship; either have been born in England/ Wales or have three years’ residence (a total of 210 days/year AprilMarch).

Additionally, the player must not have played as a local player in professional international or domestic cricket in a full member country within the past three years.

The rules outlined were made on January 1, 2019; the ECB changes stand closer to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regu-

Jofra Archer

lations.

Therefore, England’s luxury player and Barbadian native will play international cricket soon enough.

Originally, Archer would have attained qualification to play for England until 20222023, but the ECB recognised his impor-

tance, so it facilitated him ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Since Archer is eligible to play for England at some point in 2019, will England announce him in the T20I squad to play Windies from March 5, 2019?

Jofra Chioke

Archer, who was born in Barbados, has an English father and Bajan mother. Archer is likely to follow or even go beyond his Sussex teammate, Chris Jordan who played for England and was born in Barbados.

Jordan aided in his countryman’s develop-

ment when Jordan alerted Sussex about Archer’s gifts as a cricketer after they were engaged in a net session.

In the year 2013, Archer played for West Indies U-19, but suffered a back injury.

In that batch of U-19 players were Shimron Hetmyer, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Ramaal Lewis, Alzarri Joseph, Fabian Allen and Gudakesh Motie.

He then went to England and was secured with a contract from Sussex; when he made his First-Class debut in 2016 against Pakistan, he took four wickets at the inception.

On his limited overs debut, he struck 72 batting at number eight against Essex, announcing himself as a complete player.

Archer has been recognised globally, having played in numerous T20 leagues. He played for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Quetta Gladiators and Hobart Hurricanes in Australia’s Big Bash League. At 23 years old, time is not of the essence

in Archer’s case and without a doubt, he will play all three formats for England. Archer has played 28 First-Class matches scoring 1003 runs with the bat at an average of 31.34. He has six half-centuries with a high score of 81 and he is no bluff with ball in hand.

The fast-bowler, who can exceed speeds of 90mph, has 131 wickets in 28 matches at a bowling average of 23.44. With a best bowling figure of 7-67, he has 10 four-wicket hauls, 5 five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket match haul in a blooming career. England will announce their T20I squad to play West Indies soon, and it will be no surprise if Archer gets the nod to play. How did West Indies let a talent as Archer slip away?

England are not replicating West Indies’ mistakes; they are securing the luxurious player for the biggest event in world cricket, the ICC 50-over Cricket World Cup that will be played in England from May 2019.

TAKING ALBERTA BY STORM: Narayan Buttler, Stokes Ramdhani wins ACAC championships rested for England T20s ahead...

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arayan Ramdhani, continuing to prove that he is currently Guyana’s top male badminton player, has made history for the Kings Eagles University Badminton Team by winning the gold medal in the men’s singles at the 2018-2019 ACAC Provincial Championships, which were played off at the Concordia University in Edmonton, Alberta.

Being the champion and No.1 ranked singles player, he will now represent the Province of Alberta at the National Championships in Nova Scotia in March 2019.

Narayan, seeded No.2, won in a tense three-setter against Nicolas Pittman of Concordia, with Narayan losing the first game at 16-21 and coming back in the last two games 21-17, 21-17 to win the match and take the gold.

Receiving a bye in the first round, Narayan made the most of this opportunity with a scintillating two-set win in the quarterfinal.

In this round of eight, he met with Luther Jurke of rivaling college Olds, and took the win 21-8, 21-7.

Moving on to the semis, Narayan made light work of Braxton Wong of Concordia with a 21-7, 21-11 win, before advancing to the final and tasting victory.

Just two weeks ago, Narayan lost to Nicolas Pitman in the finals of the 2018-2019 ACAC Tournament #3 played at Olds College, so this win at the championship stage signals a mature and skilled come back for the Guyanese, as he spent the last two

from page 52

Narayan Ramhdani (centre) poses with his trophy

weeks in intense training.

Narayan had also won the other two tournaments (#1 & #2) played at Kings University & Nait College, making his total outcome

3 wins and 1 loss in the Circuit.

The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) has expressed its extreme happiness at Narayan’s consistent progress.

playing. And he's been in England squads but not always been playing.

"So last summer we took a view that we didn't want him to be in a squad and not playing.

So we left him out so he could play for Kent and he captained them to a Lord's final and promotion. He then played both legs of full Lions tours before and after Christmas and I think that will have been a good thing for him. He has considerable ability.

"Dawid would love an England career across all three formats.

It's just a question of where the opportunities come and, when he has played T20, he has grabbed his chances."

There were also discussions over whether to rest Joe Root.

Ultimately, however, Root, who has not always commanded a place in England's T20 team, was keen to play.

"Joe is an absolutely critical asset for English cricket in the very big 2019 summer," Smith said. "His form and preparation is es-

sential for England, so we did discuss resting him. But he is very keen to play in these games.

He feels playing in the white-ball sides offers a different experience to captaining the Test side and he likes that blend."

While Smith is usually reluctant to talk about players outside the squad, he did confirm that James Vince's good form in various franchise tournaments "had been noted" and said he remained in discussions.

He also had praise for Harry Gurney, who ended up with a winner's medal from a successful period in the BBL. "Harry has terrific skills," Smith said.

"And we're very aware of what he's doing. But he misses out in this instance."

England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, David Willey, Mark Wood.

(ESPNCricinfo)

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England must prove adaptability as World Cup expectations rise

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ngland must learn to win ugly if they are to win the World Cup. That is their challenge with just one more ODI series before the start of a potentially momentous home summer.

While England have earned a reputation for explosive batting on true surfaces - they have recorded the two highest totals made in the history of ODI cricket since the last World Cup, both times at Trent Bridge - they have not always proved so dominant in conditions where bowlers have more in their favour. Think of the performance against South Africa at Lord's in 2017, when they were bowled out for 153, or the match against Australia at Old Trafford in 2015 (they made just 138).

But nowhere was this struggle to adapt more painfully exploited that in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy against Pakistan. In that game, on a used surface that provided a bit of assistance to spinners and reverse-swing bowlers, England were dismissed for 211. Pakistan cruised to an eight-wicket win.

So, as England start their lead-up to their World Cup campaign - they now play nothing by white-ball cricket until mid-July - they know it is an area they must improve. And, with a possibility that some surfaces in this series against West Indies may prove tough for batsmen, it is a weakness that may confront them several times in the coming days.

"Everybody expects us to win," Eoin Morgan said ahead of Wednesday's ODI in Barbados. "But the manner it will play out will be different from what people expect.

"There is the challenge of playing on slower wickets that don't necessarily allow us to play an expansive game.

We have improved on it, but to produce a level of consistency in performing and winning is something we haven't nailed down.

"I played here last year for Barbados

Eoin Morgan

and the pitch was quite uneven and steep bouncing. It offered some turn, too, and the wind plays a big part. So it will be a tough challenge and everybody in our changing room knows that.

It's not an easy place to come and win particularly when they have a lot of match winners."

England misread the conditions ahead of the Test here, however, and it is possible they have done so again.

While surfaces on the England Lions tour and in the CPL were not especially good for batting, the pitches prepared for the first two ODIs in Barbados look full of runs.

Morgan's logic is sound, though.

England failed to adapt to that surface in Cardiff and, while most pitches for the World Cup are expected to promote big-hitting and high scores, there is always the possibility they will be confronted by a more demanding surface

along the way. If so, their batsmen will quickly have to work out what a challenging score might be and play accordingly. It has not been a strength in recent times.

England must also grow accustomed to being talked about as favourites and people expecting them to win. This is not entirely new for them - it has been the case for the last 12 months, at least - and they have encouraged such talk in the hope it will "We don't mind the tag of favourites," Morgan said. "We've spoken about it and we've learned to be at ease with it in the last few series. It doesn't really mean anything: you still have to produce to be rewarded."

But, while England do start this series as favourites - they are No. 1 in the world rankings, after all, and West Indies No. 9 - Morgan made the point that Scotland beat them less than a

year ago. There can be no room for complacency.

In terms of individual selections, the batting and spin bowling looks reasonably secure. But there is at least one seam-bowling position to be finalised, with the likes of Mark Wood, Tom Curran and Liam Plunkett hoping to do enough to see off the challenge from Jofra Archer, who qualifies in about a month.

But while Morgan played down any threat to Plunkett's position, in particular, he did accept that pace - one of Archer's primary weapons - was an important part of his bowling armoury. And he might have provided a little hint that the loss of Olly Stone, who played in Sri Lanka but has subsequently been diagnosed with a stress fracture, could offer Archer an opportunity.

"I'm not concerned about Plunkett," Morgan replied to a question about the bowler's apparently diminishing pace. "The trajectory and variations he brings are valuable, too. When you're facing him, it's not easy. Particularly here where a bit of extra height does count.

"We are very lucky because we probably have only one injury to a guy who might have been involved and that's Stone. He is capable of bowling 90mph along with Plunkett and Mark Wood. The difference of having those guys is quite significant. You only had to watch the Test matches to see how valuable they are.

"One of the best attributes I have is to compartmentalise things. Until Jofra qualifies, he's not really in our thoughts at the moment."

If Wood is unable to replicate the pace he generated in St Lucia, however, and Plunkett is unable to offer the mid-innings control that he has provided so often in recent times, it is likely Archer will feature very prominently in Morgan's thoughts before this series is over. (ESPNCricinfo)

12-member team selected for AmeriCup Pre-Qualifiers

D

espite worries about sponsorship just a few weeks ago, a 12-member Guyanese basketball team will depart local shores today, heading to Colombia for the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) AmeriCup 2021 PreQualifiers.

After an intense selection process, the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) arrived at a 12-man team that will represent the Golden Arrowhead in Tunja, Colombia. The team comprise a mixture of local and overseasbased talent.

The team have been drawn in Group B, along with hosts Colombia, Bolivia, and Paraguay, and will fight to finish in the top two in order to advance to the AmeriCup2021 qualifiers.

The Colombia-bound team read: Harold Adams, Travis Belgrave, Travis Burnette, Orlon Glasgow, Delroy James, Gordon James, Anthony Moe, Stanton

Rose, Yonnick Tappin, Timothy Thompson, Shaine Webster and Kevon Wiggins. They will be accompanied by Head Coach Andrew Hercules, Assistant Coach Dennis Clarke and Manager Alex Graham.

If Guyana should advance to the AmeriCup 2021 qualifiers, they will find themselves in a greater competition pool, vying with countries such as Argentina,

Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela and the Virgin Islands.

Two teams from Group A countries namely Antigua, The Bahamas, Belize, and Cuba will also have a chance to be a part of the AmeriCup Qualifiers.

Head Coach Hercules is confident that the best Guyana has to offer in the basketball

arena was selected; as such, he spoke positively about the team’s prospects: “The only thing that stands between this Guyana basketball team and our dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible. If we do that, we will be victorious.”

Meanwhile, GABF President Michael Singh made good on his promise to secure sponsorship.

“With a short time allo-

cated for us for funding and team preparation, the GABF Executive is proud to produce its best possible squad, featuring our local and overseas-based talent,” Singh said.

The sponsors include the Government of Guyana, through the National Sports Commission (NSC); Public Infrastructure Minister David

Patterson in his personal capacity, John Fernandes Limited, Alex Mendes, and NF Agriculture.

The recently-elected GABF President also spoke to the many positives that could be drawn from winning this tournament.

Singh added, “Victory in Colombia will solidify our grip on Caribbean basketball, allow us to focus on AmeriCup region, which is higher than [Caribbean Basketball Confederation] CBC basketball, as we join teams such as Dominican Republic and Bahamas, who do not play at CBC level.”

The AmeriCup 2021 Pre-Qualifiers will run from February 2224, 2019.

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Gayle ton in vain as England seal historic run chase

ICC 'monitoring' IndiaPakistan situation ahead of World Cup encounter

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Chris Gayle

RIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Chris Gayle’s 24th one-day hundred went in vain as West Indies paid dearly for a plethora of missed chances in the field, allowing England to complete their highest-ever run chase in One-Day Internationals and win the opening contest of the fivematch series by six wickets here yesterday.

Asked to chase a venue record 361, world number one England hardly broke a sweat as they reached their target in the penultimate over with eight balls to spare, to carve out a piece of history at the storied Kensington Oval – with what was also the third-highest successful run chase in history.

They were propelled by opener Jason Roy who blasted a chancy 123 off 85 balls while Joe Root added 102 off 97 deliveries, as England bettered their previous best run chase of 350 against New Zealand at Nottingham four years ago.

Captain Eoin Morgan chipped in with 65 off 51 balls while opener Jonny Bairstow stroked 34.

Roy slammed 15 fours and three sixes in scoring his seventh ODI hundred but lived a charmed life, benefitting from four chances on 75, 82, 107 and 119.

Root, meanwhile, was dropped on 45 and 63 – both times by Ashley Nurse – as he notched his 14th ODI hundred laced with nine fours.

Veteran Gayle had earlier blazed a shot-filled 135 off 129 deliveries as West Indies marched imperiously to 360 for eight – their highest-ever total on Caribbean soil and the highest against England.

Shai Hope stroked a typically delightful 64 off 65 balls while Darren Bravo chipped in with 40 and debutant opener John Campbell, 30, as the Windies tallied their joint third-highest ODI total – tying the mark against Pakistan in Karachi, 32 years ago.

Opting to bat first, West Indies got a decent start as debutant left-hander Campbell dominated the opening stand with Gayle, hitting four fours and a

six in a 28-ball knock before swatting seamer Chris Woakes (2-59) to Moeen Ali at deep mid-wicket in the ninth over with 38 runs on the board.

Gayle then anchored the innings, first in a 131-run, second wicket stand with Hope, whose eighth ODI half-century included seven fours and a six.

Hope was the first to his half-century, reaching the mark off 48 balls in the 25th over as West Indies reached 132 for one at the half-way stage.

However, he perished in the 30th over, caught on the ropes at third man off a leading edge, trying to work one from seamer Ben Stokes (3-37) into the on side.

Gayle, meanwhile, started slowly before blossoming to pummel three fours and a dozen sixes. Dropped on nine by Roy off seamer Liam Plunkett in the 12th over, he reached his halfcentury off 76 deliveries before completing three figures at a run-a-ball in the 35th over, with a single to point off Woakes.

He added a further 60 for the third wicket with Shimron Hetmyer who made 20, before putting on 64 with for the fifth wicket with Bravo who belted two fours and four sixes in a 30-ball cameo.

A tiring Gayle was eventually sixth out in the 47th over, playing on to Stokes, before Ashley Nurse arrived to lash an unbeaten 25 off eight balls to sustain the tempo at the death.

In reply, England were never in trouble, especially after Roy inspired a 91-run, opening stand off just 65 balls with Bairstow, who struck three fours. England were galloping along when Bairstow fell, top-edging a pull at Holder (2-63) to be caught at the wicket

by Hope.

Any hope Windies had of turning the contest their way were then dashed as Root anchored two century stands to put the result beyond doubt.

First, he put on 114 for the second wicket with Roy before adding 116 for the third wicket with Morgan, who stroked four fours and three sixes.

he ICC and the 2019 World Cup organising committee remain confident that the tournament's biggest match, to be played between India and Pakistan on June 16 in Manchester, will go ahead despite the volatile situation between the two countries in the wake of a terrorist attack in Kashmir last week.

With the World Cup starting in exactly 100 days, there have been scattered voices that want India to boycott the group match against Pakistan. The fixture itself remains the biggest game of the tournament: nearly half a million applications for tickets poured in as soon as the ICC opened its ballot.

Even the World Cup final, to be played on July 14 at Lord's, paled in comparison with about a quarter of a million applications.

Although neither board has made a public comment, internally top officials from both the BCCI and PCB agree that it is too far-fetched right now to predict the situation in June. The ICC's quarterly meetings take place in Dubai next week, where representatives from both boards will have a chance to conduct discussions in person.

David Richardson, the ICC's outgoing chief executive officer, said that "no indications" have been sent from either board about the World Cup clash not taking place. "We haven't written to the boards as yet," Richardson told ESPNcricinfo in London, where he was present to mark the 100-day countdown to the tournament. "Our thoughts are with the people that were impacted by the incident. And we are monitoring the situation with our members including the BCCI and PCB. Certainly there are no indications any of the matches, including the Pakistan-India match, will not be played as planned at the World Cup. But as I say we will continue to monitor the situation."

This is not the first time the fate of an India-Pakistan match at a global event has been called into question due to the fragile relations between the two neighbours. However, Richardson remained optimistic. "Sport, and cricket in particular, is perfectly placed - it has the wonderful ability to bring people together to unite communities. And hopefully cricket can be used in this fashion rather than a way of [dividing] people."

For Steve Elworthy, the World Cup tournament director, the IndiaPakistan contest will be a marquee occasion. "It is probably one of the big-

gest sporting events in the world," Elworthy, the former South Africa fast bowler, said. "You think of that match and you think of the passion, the support, the audience, the [number of] people who applied for tickets."

Elworthy was also the tournament director for the 2017 Champions Trophy, where India and Pakistan played each other twice including the final where Sarfaraz Ahmed's team won convincingly. It only increases the needle for the Old Trafford match on June 16. And that can be seen in the record demand for tickets, which Elworthy pointed out was significantly bigger than for the final. "That particular game, we had over 400,000 applications for tickets, which is an incredible number. The stadium only holds 25,000 people. So there are a number of disappointed people. That's just locally, but [there is also] the audience globally.

"To put that [number] in perspective, England v Australia was around 230-240,000. And the final was around about 260-270,000 applications for tickets. So that gives you a bit of perspective for the demand for this match [India v Pakistan]. It's a big game.

They could end up playing each other in the final [too], you never know."

In the scenario where one team decided to forfeit the match, Richardson said the ICC would open the rule books to ascertain the repercussions. "There is justifiable non-compliance and unjustifiable," he said. "That we will have to deal with under the playing regulations."

But neither Richardson nor Elworthy are currently too concerned - both said they would not be having any sleepless nights. Not yet. Elworthy even afforded a big smile when asked who he thought would win the game.

"Good question," he said. "We've had them play a couple of times against each other, haven't we? And Pakistan won the last one about 18 months ago.

That was an incredible game, down at The Oval. But then, India have beaten Pakistan in the group stages. They are very balanced teams. It is very hard to choose because it is just that passion, that rivalry that you can't really account for. And when they get on to the field what takes players over, what drives them, and motivates them. So whatever the result we are going to see an incredible game of cricket."

(ESPNCricinfo)

Buttler, Stokes rested for England T20s ahead of IPL involvement

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os Buttler and Ben Stokes have been rested from England's T20 squad for the three-match series against West Indies.

Buttler and Stokes, key members of the side in all three formats, will be allowed to return home immediately after the fifth ODI of the current series against the same opposition.

Both men face a hectic

2019 schedules which include the World Cup, the Ashes and spells at the IPL, which starts on March 23.

But Ed Smith, the national selector, insisted there was no way the decision to rest them from the T20 series should be interpreted as a case of prioritising franchise cricket over England duty.

"I have not favoured

franchise cricket over international cricket," Smith said. "The contracts that Jos and Ben had with their franchises pre-date my involvement. There were a set of obligations in place and, with a busy year coming up, I've accepted the strong recommendations of the head coach to rest these guys now."

Jason Roy will also miss the West Indies

Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler celebrate the victory (BCCI photo)

T20s to ensure he is on hand for the birth of his first child. As a result, Sam Billings and Dawid Malan have been recalled to the squad for

the first time since last year's tour of Australia and New Zealand.

"Sam is a very talented cricketer who hits the ball as hard as any-

one," Smith said. "But he's been in a position where he's been picked up by franchises but then not always been continued on page 50

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