Guyana Times International 29-Mar-2019

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Guyana Govt ‘selectively’ upholding court rulings WEEK ENDING March 31, 2019

ISSUE NO. 442

…Opposition Leader slams Govt MPs for blatantly ignoring court’s decisions on dual citizens ...PPP’s Odinga Lumumba to give up US citizenship See stories inside

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Heroic: US-based Guyanese swims across Berbice River to raise funds for children’s education Page 10

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NEWS 3

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Guyana Govt ‘selectively’ upholding court rulings …Opposition Leader slams Govt MPs for blatantly ignoring court’s decisions on dual citizens ...PPP’s Odinga Lumumba to give up US citizenship

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ith Parliament expected to be reconvened at any moment after the ruling of the Appeal Court recently, persons are questioning whether dual citizens will return to the chambers.

When it comes to the Government, however, it will be business as usual for the dual-citizen Members of Parliament (MPs).

When contacted by Guyana Times International, Government Chief Whip

Amna Ally stated that all MPs on the Government side would be turning out for the next sitting.

She noted that there was nothing impeding them from attending.

“I don’t know that there is a court action filed against anyone from attending … so all parliamentarians will be attending Parliament,” Ally explained, when asked about the fate of the dual citizens on the Government side of the House.

However, Opposition

Odinga Lumumba

Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has slammed the Coalition Government for being “duplicitous” by failing to remove its dual citizenship parliamentarians from the House as a matter of political goodwill in accordance with the rulings of the Court of Appeal.

“You cannot be convenient in arguing or upholding of the court and then deal with this matter in such a duplicitous, almost without decency, absolutely no decency,” Jagdeo said.

The Opposition Leader also announced that long-serving PPP/C parliamentarian, Odinga Lumumba, has signaled his intention to give up his foreign citizenship.

When it comes to dual citizens, the long-standing issue rose to the surface with the passage of the no-confidence motion last year. In February, acting Chief Justice Roxane George had ruled on the case filed by Compton Reid over the dual citizenship of forcontinued on page 11

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EDITORIAL

‘Judicial adventurism’

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he Appellate Court’s panel of three justices: Chancellor Edwards-Cummings, Justice Rishi Persaud and Justice Dawn Gregory-Barnes, in a 2-1 split decision — with Justice Persaud dissenting — surprised many objective observers by reversing the holding of the High Court that the 33-32 vote in favour of the NCM in the National Assembly was valid. What occasioned the surprise was the rationale offered by the two justices for their decision.

They accepted the arguments offered by the Grenadian attorney for the Government that, unlike the passage of “normal” legislation, that of a no-confidence motion necessitated an “absolute” rather than a “simple” majority. It is critical to note that the pertinent article of the Constitution, Art 106 (6), does not qualify the word “majority”, as indeed is the case in the entire Constitution. The High Court had found that in the instant case the distinction was irrelevant, but had used a totally different definition of the terms, as inferred by our Constitution.

Under the heading “Voting”, Art 168 (1) says, “Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, all questions proposed for decision in the National Assembly shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting.” This, the CJ pointed out, was a “simple majority”. Article 106 (6), on the other hand, says, “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the government is defeated by a majority of the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” She pointed out that this was an “absolute majority”, and in fact is the distinction made in India, where votes of no-confidence are quite common, and in fact require only a simple majority.

As the CJ did, India also recognise as the “majority” the entity in the Assembly with one seat more than all the others combined out of the total elected seats. In Guyana, this was 33 vs 32 in our 65-member Assembly.

In her Appellate decision, the Chancellor alluded to Article 164, which outlines the various “majorities” needed to alter specific Articles of the Constitution, based on their significance.

It includes the “majority” of Art 106 as the lowest, and proceeds upwards to those that need 2/3 votes of the members of the Assembly to those that need a majority, followed by a referendum.

Yet she chose to accept the arcane suggestion of the Government’s attorney that because the results of an NCM are so “important”, it should not only be classified as an “absolute” majority that is at variance with the CJ’s and other jurisdictions’ definition, but also adopted the attorney’s formula for calculating it. That is, to divide the total number of seats, 65, by 2 to yield 32.5., round up this to 33, and then add 1 to arrive at 34 as the needed majority to pass this “important” motion.

They ignored that mathematical “set theory” would have delivered the CJ’s result.

What the Chancellor and Justice Gregory-Barnes have done is not only to arbitrarily foist a notion of “absolute majority” onto the Constitution, which is totally at variance with its own usage, but also to introduce a formula to suggest she is using it formalistically, i.e. merely applying “law to facts”, even though her “justification” of the NCM being “very important” betrays her subjective value judgement for their own agenda.

Important to whom, in the present context? As one noted jurist warned: “‘Judicial activism’ should not become ‘judicial adventurism’ and lead a judge going in pursuit of his own notions of justice, ignoring the limits of the law.”

What these two Justices of the Appellate Ct have done is to open up a Pandora’s Box into the operations of the National Assembly. Unless and until their decision is overturned by the CCJ, who will decide which motion or Bill laid before the National Assembly is or is not “important” enough to demand this “absolute majority”??

In our estimation, we believe this definition of “majorities” is best left to the Legislature, by the representatives of the people.

U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch continues her tour around Guyana. The Ambassador presented her credentials on March 13, 2019 to President David Granger.

Ambassador Lynch was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 2, and was sworn in on January 11, 2019. (In photo; the Ambassador and her husband pose for a photo op in front of the Umana Yana in Kingston, Georgetown). (US Embassy photo)

Violence in our schools

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n Tuesday, a video of a New Amsterdam Technical Institute student violently assaulting colleagues went viral.

On social media, persons expressed disgust as the teen is seen removing his belt and inflicting blows on his colleagues. But more worrying is that the mother of the teenager in the video has since taken to social media, justifying her son’s behaviour claiming that the students he violently assaulted had teased him about his lunch.

Violence in schools in Guyana has always faced the harsh realities that in some cases when teachers act to curtail students from such behaviour, they too are retaliated against by parents and in some cases, face the physical wrath of these parents.

In this particular case, whatever the grouse in the end, the students were violently attacked.

The newspaper has previously pointed out that the increase in violence among our youth is cause for great concern. On numerous occasions, news agencies’ headlines are replete with accounts of the incidents and the statistics speak to troubling trends in relation to youth involvement in crime.

As previously stated also, this is a broader societal problem, but given the fact that our schools are a microcosm of the society, we now have another major issue that the education system needs to address head on. This is a challenge that the education system alone is ill-equipped to fully address and one that truly requires a multi-sectoral, broad-based ap-

proach at finding solutions.

Schools have been hardpressed to find workable solutions to the various manifestations of violence, which, for some time, have emerged as major detractions from the traditional business of schooling.

There have been numerous accounts of the level of deviant behaviour occurring in schools. Teachers have long voiced their concerns in relation to their sense of powerlessness in the face of the increasing number and severity of the incidents which are occurring. More troubling are the accounts of these issues occurring at increasingly younger ages.

Teachers have noted that our children at astonishingly low levels in the system are demonstrating unprecedented levels of anger and aggression.

In consultations aimed at finding possible solutions, many teachers have attributed the new rules limiting the use of corporal punishment in schools as a major contributory factor.

Others have cited the absence of the male presence in schools as another significant element. There has been widespread recognition that our schools lack the requisite human and material resources to adequately take on this new challenge.

The guidance counsellors, school welfare officers and social workers who serve the system are in short supply. As a result, the bulk of the responsibility for dealing with this new challenge falls back on the teachers themselves—a source of great resentment on the part of teachers.

Teachers have maintained

that the nucleus of the issue is not within the school system and have openly declared that they should not therefore be saddled with the responsibility of addressing same. In addition, they highlight the fact that they lack the training and specialised skills required to adequately deal with the emerging challenges.

Given their central, strategic position in the lives of our children, schools have a crucial role to play in any approaches devised. This would require broad-based consultation with relevant stakeholders, openness to innovative ideas and initiative, and the willingness and commitment on the part of policymakers to see the entire process through.

There is no quick-fix in relation to this issue, and both short and long-term sustainable interventions will be needed, integrating a number of different social, governmental and Private Sector agencies.

Projecting forward, plans will have to be devised to seamlessly integrate programmes into the structures of the education system. Mechanisms must be put in place to monitor and evaluate the various interventions, identify best practices, and share information.

This issue requires a comprehensive, collective effort that will facilitate the development of balanced, well-adjusted youths with positive outlooks on life. Ultimately, the quality of life we experience going forward will depend significantly on the steps we take to address the challenges facing our children today.

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Dr Alexis’ mathematical formula cannot stand

Dear Editor, President Granger imported a Constitution specialist to come to Guyana and teach our children and people that thirty-three is not greater than thirty-two. For the first time in my life, I am hearing that our parliamentarians are made up of fractions. Is it because Granger has enough money to waste, or because Mr Alexis is a bird of the same feather?

Everyone knows that the APNU/ AFC assumed power with thirty-three seats as a majority out of sixty-five seats. They were never asked to have thirty-four seats to win the majority and assume power. All along, this country was running by the APNU/AFC with thirty-three seats in Parliament and they approved everything without any question. So a thirty-threeseat majority was good enough for the Government but not good enough for the Opposition? Is the Government saying that they were ruling this country illegally from 2015 until now? What a downright shame and disgrace.

President Granger should have brought in Mr Alexis a long time ago to amend our Constitution, to read that thirty-four seats were required out of sixty-five seats to obtain an absolute majority and then kick the Government out because they never obtained thirty-four seats.

Guyana’s Constitution was designed and approved by Guyana’s parliamentarians in the National Assembly. We do not need any stranger to come and tell us how to interpret our Constitution.

Mr Alexis’ mathematical formula of a majority is: – sixty-five seats divid-

ed by two, equals thirty-two and a half, add one to make the majority, equal thirty-three and a half, round that off upward to the nearest whole number, equals thirty-four. Our Court of Appeal judges used this formula to arrive at their verdict.

Now our Court of Appeal was made up of three judges. Mr Alexis’ formula must now also be applied here, so three judges divided by two, equals one and a half, add one to make the majority, equals two and a half, round that off upward to the next whole number equals three, so according to the formula used, the two judges out of three in the Court of Appeal did not make up the majority. Therefore, the verdict passed, was illegal, and totally bias.

Judges in the Court of Appeal should always rule with dignity, and never take sides; they should always take pride in themselves, and respect their position. It is very shameful and a disgrace, when judges do not honour their obligations.

It is also very sad to see our President, who spent so many years in the disciplined service in Guyana, showing very little or no respect for our Constitution, the National Assembly, and our Supreme Court’s rulings. I am hereby asking our President to do the right thing, honour our Constitutions, our National Assembly, and our Supreme Courts. Remember the oath you took and swear to abide with. And always remember that we all have a limited amount of time on this planet, so please help us to make the best use of this time, and not waste any of it.

Respectfully, Eddie Singh-Lethem

Difficult questions now arise in relation to dual citizens

Dear Editor, Our 11th Parliament may best be at an end whatever the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) may yet rule on the majority that would have been required for the successful passage of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) last December.

A number of potentially difficult questions are now before us beyond the question of the majority required. We may be in a puddle that is of our Government’s own making.

The coalition Government raised two questions on whether the vote of Charrandas should even have been recognised (which would have left the vote as a tie, 32-32, and the NCM not carried). On the question of dual citizenship, in my understanding of a not learned fellow, the Chief Justice’s (CJ) ruling which I understand still stands – the CJ ruled that persons with dual citizenship should not have been eligible to be on

nomination lists, should not have been selected and should not be sitting in Parliament. However, being there and to that time not knowing, Mr Charrandas’s vote was valid when cast, but would not be valid at any subsequent voting.

With respect to dual citizens now in our Parliament, I understand that before the CJ’s ruling there was no thinking that their continued sitting could have been challenged. They could have been removed by petition from the opposing side, but within six months of becoming an MP – that time is long gone. Now, it may at first seem that they can be removed only by their own resignation or by the representative of their List notifying the Speaker of the party’s withdrawal and replacement of such dual citizens. Even so, we must sense now, strong moral questions before the dual citizen MPs themselves, but not only them, before their leaders and the repre-

sentatives of their Lists also.

However, there is now the CJ’s recent declaration and it being acted upon – enforced.

Further, my understanding of the CJ’s rulings raises questions, now that we all know, whether the vote of a dual citizen continuing to sit in Parliament should hereafter be counted.

Editor, fellow citizens have raised in their letters, the question of whether we Guyanese being what we are, should not find certain years of residency sufficient and ignore dual citizenship? A good question but one if widely enough accepted is a question for the next or the next after Parliament, where a coming together for a two-thirds majority in Parliament might suffice.

Meetings, sometimes of bodies and minds, cannot be escaped.

Yours truly, Samuel AA Hinds Former President and former Prime Minister

Whichever way the decision goes, the people will have the ultimate say Dear Editor, The old adage ‘actions speak louder than words’ has taken on a new level of prominence and significance in the context of the political ‘goings on’ in Guyana.

The entire Guyanese community at home and aboard are now able to compare and contrast and make conclusive findings on the real versus the counterfeit, the sincere versus the hypocrite, political grandstanding versus reasonable and rational behavior. The swift move by the Leader of the Opposition and other parties (outside of government) through their lawyers to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for a full and final determination of the validity of the no-confidence motion is sufficient proof of keeping good faith with the commitments made to the people of Guyana.

This action is a clear indication that there is no intention on the part of the PPPC to hold the people of Guyana in a protracted period of uncertainty and fear but is a clear indication of

our belief in the democratic process and that this issue should be resolved by the people of Guyana when they go to the polls earliest.

We, the PPPC, respected the ruling of the Speaker on the 21st December 2018, we respected the ruling of the Chief Justice on 31st January 2019, we respect the the2-1 decision of the Guyana Court of Appeal on 22nd March 2019, even though this decision was adverse to our cause and we look forward to a swift fair and binding ruling from the external review court, the CCJ. It is hoped that politics or any other consideration outside of the law will have no bearing on the determination of this matter. While local senior APNU/AFC officials have been boasting in private and in special circles of their ability to influence the outcome of this court, it is our belief that this is an opportunity for the distinguished members of this court to ensure the scales of justice are balanced.

Many are disappointed with the utterances that are coming from the Granger administration; it is worrying to believe that such recklessness exists among elected officials.

Parliament should not be reconvened more so if the intention is to pass supplementary papers to further fund the APNU/AFC election campaign. The current use of state resources is beyond brazen, the green and yellow is omnipresent in all ‘government’ outreaches and events, the lack of concern for the partisan appearance of government events raises the specter of a paramount PNC party in our country once again.

After all the legal luminaries have their say at the CCJ, we will one way or the other end up in the hands of our nation’s highest decision making body; the People; and there will be a definitive ruling.

Yours Truly Bishop Juan Edghill

A.

A new era of jurisprudence has begun in Guyana Dear Editor, For now, it appears that the Attorney General Basil Williams is right. To quote this minister of legal affairs, the “constitution is wrong.”

Although it speaks of a “majority” it really means an “absolute majority.” This is so because someone put words into the mouth of the constitution.

As a result, a new era of jurisprudence has begun. An attorney can now argue that any word in the constitution lacks its intended, plain meaning.

Their only challenge in court will be to sound “attractive,” which is now the most compelling adjective in our legal lexicon.

It ought to be said again: someone put words into the mouth of the constitution. Indeed, they were so anxious to do so, that in the process a few words fell into the mouths of attorneys who appeared recently before the Court of Appeal.

The public is told that these attorneys “accepted that Article 106 required an absolute majority.” If all of the attorneys accepted that an “absolute majority” was needed for the passage of a no-confidence motion, then there would not have been any litigation, because everyone would have been in agreement.

Voila! So what happened here? The public deserves to know exactly what happened in that courtroom; or outside of it.

After all, they may have to strike the word “majority” from the constitution, because its framers had no knowledge of fractions, or the word “absolute”.

Or that since slavery ended, a half vote or a half person is no longer allowed.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

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Guyana’s Private Sector calls on CCJ to give early decision on no-confidence appeal O ne day after the Opposition P e o p l e ’ s Progressive Party (PPP) filed its Noconfidence Motion appeal at the Trinidadbased Caribbean Court (CCJ), the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Wednesday called for the court to expedite the matter in an effort to put to rest the political uncertainty facing the country.

The PSC said on Wednesday it had discussions with local and international businesses which expressed reservations in investing as the uncertainty continues. It claimed that there has been a reduction in Government and Private Sector contracts linked to the uncertainty.

“The Commission calls on the Caribbean Court of Justice to provide a prompt resolution to this matter so that both local and international organisations and businesses would again see Guyana as a country with boundless opportunities,” the private sector said.

The PSC is of the strong view that the expeditious resolution of this political situation will bring great relief to the business community.

The Commission said it continues to be a strong advocate for enabling a

business environment for national growth and development.

On the other hand, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) also made similar calls on Wednesday, reiterating that the level of economic activity has had an effect of political uncertainty. However, the Chamber said it remains a vigilant observer of the situation.

“The Chamber is of the fervent hope that the matter of contention in the political arena, which is now before the Caribbean Court of Justice, will be expeditiously resolved,” the statement from the GCCI said, adding that this resolution will bring an end to the degree of political uncertainty and ensure that a favourable business environment prevails.

Further, the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce said whilst on the surface the ruling of the Court of Appeal seems to have calmed the nation somewhat, it said this matter should be most urgently brought to a closure so that our country can move forward.

“In this regard we are calling on the Caribbean Court of Justice to urgently schedule hearings to speedily bring this issue to finality,” a state-

PSC Chairman Desmond Sears

ment from that Chamber added. It was also noted that the decision of the Court be respected despite concerns.

But the Chamber said the same way the Government is welcoming this ruling, it is urging that they also respect the ruling that dual citizens should not be sitting in Parliament and do something about it in the next sitting. “It should not be business as usual in this regard.”

Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo through his Attorneys on Tuesday filed a notice of application for special leave to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), in relation to the decision of the

GCCI President Nicholas Boyer

Guyana Court of Appeal on the no-confidence cases.

The application is seeking an order to grant Jagdeo special leave to appeal the majority judgement of the Court of Appeal of Guyana delivered on March 22, 2019, by acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Justice Rishi Persaud, and Justice Dawn Gregory.

Further, the Attorneys are seeking an order to treat the hearing of the application as urgent and a further order for an expedited hearing of the application. Also, it is seeking an order directing that the hearing of the application for special leave to appeal be treated as

CCCC President Mohammed Raffik

the hearing of the appeal against the majority judgement, and that certain orders be made in the appeal.

This includes an order setting aside or reversing the majority judgement of the Court of Appeal of Guyana and resorting to the decision of the acting Chief Justice Roxane George made on January 31, 2019; a declaration that the resolution of the National Assembly is valid; and a declaration that the No-confidence Motion moved by Jagdeo was validly passed.

Jagdeo, through his attorneys, is also seeking a declaration that puts to rest that 33 votes/members constitute a majority of all the elected members of the

National Assembly within the meaning of Article 106 (6) of the Guyana Constitution. The application is also seeking costs.

The application was filed by Douglas Mendes, Devesh Maharaj, Anil Nandlall, Kandace Bharath, and CV Satram. The named respondents in this matter are Attorney General Basil Williams; Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland; and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, a representative of A Partnership for National Unity.

A case management conference will be conducted by the CCJ on Friday in respect of this matter.

6-yr-old is Guyana’s latest road fatality Six-yearold Arianna Lowenfield

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six-year-old was struck and killed on the Eversham Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) after she reportedly ran across the public road.

Dead is Arianna Lowenfield, of Epson Village, Berbice. She was a pupil of Eversham Primary School.

Speaking with Guyana Times International, the child’s mother, Oma Devi Bascom, said at about 15:00h on Tuesday, she sent the child to a nearby shop to make a purchase.

She recalled hearing

an impact and upon looking outside, she realised her daughter was struck down.

Meanwhile, the Police have since said the hire car, HC 2523, was proceeding South along the eastern side of the road and whilst in the vicinity of Eversham Bridge, the pedestrian suddenly ran from West to East from behind a lorry that was proceeding North and came into contact with the front centre of the hire car. Little Arianna was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where she was pronounced dead on ar-

rival.

The hire car was driven by a 33-year-old man from Number 79 Village, Corriverton, Berbice.

He has since been arrested and is presently in custody at the Number 51 Police Station. A Breathalyser test was

administered but no trace of alcohol was detected, this newspaper was told. He is nonetheless assisting with inves-

tigation.

The child leaves to mourn her two siblings and her parents.

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Calls made for Guyana to safeguard marine life ahead of First Oil

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s Guyana moves towards an oil-producing nation, calls are being made for protection of the country’s marine life, now that exploration is at its peak and extraction slated to commence in 2020.

These calls are made on Wednesday when the Maritime Administration of Guyana (MARAD) hosted the Maritime Conference 2019.

The conference features international and local stakeholders exploring different measures which the country can undertake before 2020, the year when oil is expected to be harnessed.

According to the Regional Advisor from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Colin Young, efforts must be made to protect marine life through acquisition of the IMO standards, which also govern safety and security of exploration vessels.

He said the Government “is urged to consider that implementation is critical to safeguarding Guyana’s marine environment within which port-state inspection plays a crucial role in ensuring that shipping takes place securely, safely, and efficiently on clean oceans.”

The IMO is considered a global agency, which creates standards

All vessels and ships must be standardised to reduce spills

and regulates the performance of international shipping. Through a regulatory framework, it ensures that these standards are adopted and implemented, eliminating a pathway for ship operators to cut costs by running unsafe operations.

“The safer a ship is, the less likely it is to become involved in an accident, sustain damage or spill cargo or bunkers to the detriment of the maritime environment or cause the loss of life,” Young stated.

On the other hand, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson admitted that there was much more to be done, including a revi-

sion of the legislation.

“As we recognise the projected transformation that our country will embrace, we also acknowledge that there is much more to complete, including revising and updating of our legislation to reflect the current reality.”

Furthermore, MARAD Director General Claudette Rogers recognised the requirement for the Department to position itself towards acknowledging the oncoming challenges and demands.

The Director General added that while MARAD has made significant strides in fulfilling its mandate over the last few decades, “quite a

Confiscated rice: GRDB boss says Jamaica yet to make contact with Guyana

lot still needs to be done, relative to the positioning of the Department to respond to the demands and challenges that would be required in the oil and gas sector, which will undoubtedly create a dramatic shift in a country’s development trajectory.”

She added that international trade was arguably one of the driving forces in a nation’s economic trajectory.

“As it relates to international trade, some argue that it is one of the most potent elements in the process of a country’s economic development,” she said.

Guyana is now on the forefront as home to the world’s largest new

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deep-water oil discovery, and ExxonMobil’s intention to develop the oil reserves puts the production date in early 2020 or possibly late 2019.

The Audit Office of Guyana has begun training to conduct environmental audits, which will come in handy to monitor the oil and gas sector.

Auditor General Deodat Sharma had informed that the audits would firstly focus on the protection of the nesting ground of the four endangered species of turtles in Guyana, in the event of an oil spill.

While oil spills are seen as a detriment to these species, basic offshore operations can affect marine animals.

These include the release of sound waves into the ocean and the disposal of waste materials.

Meanwhile, GAICO Oil Spill Response Operation Services, which was created by Komal Singh, was set up as a preemptive measure against probable spillage once production commences in the future.

At the commissioning of the GAICO Wharf in 2016, Singh stated that he had noticed that there were a number of ‘near misses’ on oil spills and decided to pursue the avenue of preparing for one in Guyana.

He said the company has since invested in

fter some seven weeks after a shipment of rice from Guyana was confiscated in Jamaica for failing to meet human consumption standards, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is yet to receive word from the country.

This is according to the General Manager of the GRDB, Nizam Hassan, who told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that there has been no communication between his agency and the Jamaican counterpart nor has any information been divulged.

He maintained that the Foreign Affairs Ministry was engaged to possibly resolve the matter but they haven’t received any communication thus far.

“We haven’t heard anything. Like was said, we passed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in getting the information from the Jamaicans but I don’t think they have received any communication from that side. I can’t say what the expectations will be or when they will communicate,” said Hassan.

Nevertheless, Hassan posited that there has not been any hindrance in the supply of rice, since daily shipments are leaving Guyana.

“We are exporting every day to Jamaica. Guyana continues to export to Jamaica all the time,” he said.

The rice was confiscated by the Ministry of Industries, Agriculture and Fisheries because of high microbial content. According to reports by the Jamaica Observer, the Food Storage and Prevention of Infestation Division of the Ministry impounded some 1575

Regional Advisor from the IMO, Colin Young

a supply boat to work alongside rigs, and supply them with fuel and cargo while preparing for any occurrence of an oil spill.

Last month, ExxonMobil made its 11th and 12th discoveries offshore Guyana at the Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells in the southwest section of the Stabroek Block.

The Tilapia-1 is the fourth discovery in the Turbot area that includes Turbot, Longtail and Pluma discoveries.

Tilapia-1 encountered approximately 305 feet (93 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled to a depth of 18,786 feet (5726 metres) in 5850 feet (1783 metres) of water. The well is located approximately 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometres) west of the Longtail-1 well.

GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan

bags of rice worth millions of dollars.

The grains, which were exported by a local distributor, were inspected and was found to have signs of mould, clumping discolouration and wetting and as such, detained by a food storage inspector.

After being sent to a laboratory for testing, results showed that the rice contained microbial levels which were beyond the accepted limits, thus making it inapt for human consumption.

However, during a press conference, the Board stated that it was being sidelined by Jamaican authorities with regard to obtaining information about recent reports about the alleged shipment.

“We immediately contacted the agency, the Jamaica Food Storage and Prevention of Infestation Division. We contacted them, they reported that they could not give us any information… they have not provided us with any information as I speak to you,” Hassan had said.

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

President commits to providing funds to GECOM to ensure credible elections A midst calls for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to continue its preparations for the hosting of General and Regional Elections in spite of the ruling by the Court of Appeal, and as the country waits for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to rule on the appeal, President David Granger said Government will ensure that the elections body is in a state of readiness to hold polls.

The Head of State told reporters on Wednesday morning that regardless of what has taken place in the local courts and what is ongoing before the CCJ, the Administration will ensure that GECOM has the necessary resources needed to deliver free and fair elections.

“We are going to ensure that whatever happens at any level of the judicial system, Guyana is urgently prepared…

I’ve been very happy with the level of cooperation I’ve been getting from the (GECOM) Chairman and as far as possible, we are going to satisfy those needs (he requested). We are going to go back to Parliament and make requests to ensure that GECOM has everything it needs. We are committed to having clean elections, credible elections in this country and as I said, I will engage GECOM to ensure that the request made to me by the Chairman is satisfied,” he asserted.

However, President Granger could not say

when the next sitting of the National Assembly will be held.

“We have to prepare that Bill (to get the money requested by GECOM) because when we were deemed by the Supreme Court that there was no Cabinet, we could not go to the National Assembly because only Cabinet could submit a Bill to the National Assembly.

But now that the ruling of the Chief Justice has been set aside, Cabinet has sat and we have decided to go back. I cannot say when but at the earliest date possible…,” the Head of State indicated to reporters.

Since the Court of Appeal’s ruling last Friday that the Noconfidence Motion was invalidly passed on December 21, 2018, since it required an “absolute” majority of 34 votes, calls have been mounting from various stakeholder bodies for the elections body not to abandon plans to prepare for polls so that it is ready whenever elections are due.

Delays

Prior to Friday’s rul-

ing, GECOM had indicated that it cannot hold elections before the March and has voted to do house-to-house registration which will conclude in November. In fact, Chairman, Justice James Patterson, in a letter to the Head of State informed him that polls cannot be held before late November 2019.

Justice Patterson explained in the correspondence that since the elections body is continuing with its normal work programme, that is, the holding of houseto-house registration, it will need some G$3.5 billion to host elections and as such, “no election date should be contemplated less than five months after these funds are placed at the disposal of and under the control of GECOM”.

Upon the receipt of this letter last week, President Granger wrote Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo indicating that he will “soon” announce a date within the timeframe outlined

by GECOM. However, now that

Man goes berserk: stabs 3, rapes teen, commits suicide

By Kristen Macklingam

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saw man of Faul Mouth Village, Essequibo River, on Wednesday went berserk and stabbed three persons and raped a 14-year-old girl before taking his own life.

Dead is 23-year-old Raphael Charles.

Guyana Times International was told that Charles’ father was celebrating his birthday at the teen’s family home where they were all imbibing.

However, at about 02:30h on Wednesday, a 14-year-old girl and her parents retired to bed

leaving their 15-year-old son and Charles watching television.

Shortly afterwards, Charles armed himself with a knife and slashed the 15-year-old boy to his neck and then went to the teen’s parents’ bedroom where he dealt them several stabs about their bodies. The parents ran out of the house leaving their teenaged daughter in the bedroom.

According to the Police, the 23-year-old man then sexually assaulted the girl. She managed to escape and ran out of the home.

Guyana Times International was told

that the three injured persons were rushed to the Bartica District Hospital where they were admitted but because of the extent of their injuries, they were transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The Police say that their conditions are being regarded as “serious but stable.”

Meanwhile, Charles after committing the gruesome acts, used a rope to hang himself from a beam inside the family’s house. His body has since been taken to the Bartica mortuary.

The Police are investigating.

the Appeal Court has invalidated the passage of the No-confidence Motion, which had effected a 90-day timeline within which elections were to be held, the President has indicated no plans to go ahead with giving a date for elections.

In fact, his coalition Administration is currently gearing up to resume sittings of the National Assembly.

However, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Opposition has since indicated that they will not participate in any of the National Assembly sittings until the Caribbean Court of Justice rules on its challenge of the Appeal Court’s decisions.

Lawyers representing Opposition Leader

Bharrat Jagdeo has already filed the appeal, asking the regional court to restore the ruling of the Chief Justice, who upheld the passage of the No-confidence Motion with a 33 majority.

Meanwhile, with GECOM having already rolled out its 2019 work programmes last weekend, training in this regard has commenced.

Training for trainers has been completed, while enumerators will be trained this weekend.

But the impasse between the Government and Opposition nominated commissioners at the Elections Commission continues. At Tuesday’s statutory meeting, Commissioners on both sides clashed when “Election 2019”, which

was placed on the agenda, came up for discussions.

PPP-nominated Commissioner Robeson Benn told the media that his Government colleague, Vincent Alexander, requested that it be removed from the agenda and instead go with elections, alone.

The former Minister, now Commissioner, said this points to the overall position, manipulations and collusions that have been taking place to have elections occur in 2020.

But Alexander had a different opinion. He said he objected to having “Election 2019” placed on the agenda because at the moment there is no mandate to conduct elections this year.

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Telephone giant GTT taps into Guyana’s oil and gas sector A s Guyana prepares for first oil early next year, local telecommunications giant GTT has readied itself to tap into the nascent oil and gas industry by providing critical data transmission services to leading companies in the sector using its multimillion-dollar sub-sea fibre optic cables.

GTT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd noted that companies in various sectors locally were getting ready to benefit from the vast fortunes expected to be generated from the petroleum industry and GTT was no different.

In fact, he disclosed that GTT has already started providing key services to oil companies – including US oil giant ExxonMobil – which do not just include Internet connectivity.

“It’s not only Internet, they need connectivity.

So what the cable does is not only Internet but

Heroic: US-based Guyanese swims across Berbice River to raise funds for children’s education Ashraf Ali also known as the “Conqueror”

A GTT CEO Justin Nedd display a piece of the fibreoptic cable at the ‘lunchtime lecture’ on Tuesday

al customers that use the cables as a private transport network, separate from the Internet,” he posited.

While he did not say how much the company has earned thus far from providing services to the budding oil and gas sector using its US$50 million fibre-optic cables, Nedd

per cent of its network capacity.

However, even with these cables under water, the CEO of the telecommunications giant stressed that they were not protected from damage and while drilling was the biggest risk of damage to these cables, he noted that the likeli-

73-year-old man on Monday swam across the Berbice River. The swim was to raise funds for free classes for children in East Canje, Berbice.

Ashraf Ali called “Conqueror”, a pastor, had previously swum the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers. Monday’s adventure is the third time he swam the Berbice River.

Ali, who grew up in

rough, noting that the last time he swam the Berbice River, it took him 45 minutes.

“Then it was easy but this time I was not given the correct information about the tide. So it took me a longer time to reach across. I had to fight the waves in order to get across and then I walked in the mud and raised my hands but it was so far nobody could

supporters were waiting.

“I know I had people worried. I am sorry for that but I was aiming to do this without any safety. I am sorry that they got worried but the same thing happened when I did the Demerara River back and forth. After I passed halfway they couldn’t see me and then they were on the road but there were bushes between the river and

GTT submarine cable (in red) offshore Guyana

it could (be used to) pass data. Data and internet is not the same thing,” he explained during a lunchtime lecture on Tuesday at the Moray House on Camp Street. The event, hosted by the Guyana Press Association (GPA), sought to highlight and discuss how GTT’s submarine fibre-optic cables support the oil and gas industry.

According to Nedd, oil companies usually collect extensive data from the Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs), which – using the cables – can then be transported to a secure location or locations such as their office in Guyana or in Trinidad or in the US. “The cables transport that data and it’s not necessarily over the Internet for, of course, privacy concerns because the Internet is a public network. The cable can also be used as a private network, and we have sever-

noted that in addition to providing a vehicle to transmit sensitive data, these submarine cables could also play a critical role with respect to unmanned rigs and pointed to the North Sea, where it was a prevalent practice.

“The data comes in, and once every few months, they send someone out there just to do some spot checks. But the fibre really allows less manpower on the rigs, which really helps to improve safety and productivity and drive down cost,” he noted.

The CEO went on to say that he foresaw an increase in demand for data from the petroleum sector, but noted that while there might be need in the future for large investments to facilitate this, GTT has already spent millions in having the infrastructure in place to support such extensive capacity. In fact, he disclosed that GTT currently only utilised just over 50

hood of this happening was low.

Nedd explained that for example in the Stabroek Block, every time Exxon went to drill a new well, it would write GTT to get a ‘no objection’ before drilling at a specific location.

“They provide the exact coordinates and once that ‘no objection’ is issued, then they go ahead.

So ships in the area (provide no) risks,” he explained.

Nevertheless, the GTT boss posited that the local telecommunications giant in preparing to service the new sector, has invested big money in training its staff and has since established an oil and gas unit.

“The oil and gas will change everything. In fact, I can tell you we have an oil and gas unit that deals with the folks onshore… We spend hundreds of thousands of US dollars per year in training,” Nedd stated.

Ashraf Ali at the beginning of his adventure on Monday

East Canje, but now resides in the US, has been trying to assist children to receive a better education and as such free lessons are being offered to students of that community.

Recently, computers were given to several students in East Canje to assist them with homework.

Monday’s swim took him just under three hours. He was hoping to complete it in less than half that time. He went out in the river alone, without any lifeguard.

After two hours, the Coast Guard was called in after he was not seen.

Many worried supporters had their eyes affixed on the river when suddenly, Ali appeared walking from the road.

He said he did not expect the river to be that

have seen me and then I set out to come back and the waves were rougher and higher,” Ali said after completing the feat.

He left from the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling and went to the Blairmont Stelling hoping to return to the point of origin.

“I was in line with the New Amsterdam Stelling coming back but then the current washed me that side and I ended up under the Berbice River Bridge.” That location was about one and a half miles from where the former teacher had intended to hit the shore in New Amsterdam.

Police officers at the Berbice Bridge checkpoint saw Ali as he went ashore and were able to arrange a ride to get him to the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling where

the road, so they couldn’t see me for four hours and then I ended up seven miles away.”

The former Berbice High School student told this publication he will do the swim again if required as part of a project for his old school.

In September 2016, Ali swam the Essequibo River and at that time had said he had now conquered – having already swum the Berbice and Demerara Rivers twice – the Corentyne and Canje Rivers along with a swim for hours into the Atlantic.

He said he wants to swim in the Pacific Ocean in California where he is hoping to get the opportunity to swim alongside a shark while wearing no protective gear.

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana Govt ‘selectively’ upholding court ... from page 3

Government Chief Whip Amna Ally

mer Alliance For Change (AFC) MP Charrandas Persaud.

In the case it brought to the acting Chief Justice, Government had argued that Persaud’s dual citizenship status invalidated his vote in support of the no-confidence motion that brought the Government down.

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 CJ, by swearing allegiance to another State, a dual citizen is not qualified to be elect-

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

ed to serve in the National Assembly.

But Charrandas was not the only one.

In the Opposition camp, Chief Whip Gail Teixeira (who has Canadian citizenship) has already indicated her willingness to renounce her citizenship.

Jagdeo also said he plans to speak with PPP backbencher, Adrian Annamyah about whether he would also be renouncing his foreign citizenship.

Jagdeo has publicly said that dual citizens from the Opposition camp would not return to Parliament.

In the case of the Government, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge (United Kingdom citizen) and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

(who has United States citizenship) have both failed to say if they would choose Parliament or dual citizenship when the time comes.

Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states that “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who (a) is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

However, while the Government has chosen to ignore this aspect of the ruling, they have held to the lifeline of the 34 majority required for the successful passage of the no-confidence motion.

Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

Meanwhile, according to Jagdeo in an announcement on his social media page, he wishes to “place on record that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will not attend any sitting of the National Assembly”.

This, according to Jagdeo, will be in effect while the appeal of the ruling of the Appellate Court on the no-confidence motion is pending at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Following the Appeal Court’s ruling that the no-confidence motion was not validly passed, the PPP/C had announced on Friday that it would move to the CCJ.

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Mining accounts Trinidad woman chased for 85% of and killed was running deforestation from gangster life rates in Guyana - Trotman Rachel Mohammed

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ining activities are accounting for 85 percent of Guyana’s deforestation and degradation rates while logging is responsible for 2.5 percent.

This is according to Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, who noted that despite these numbers, Guyana continues to maintain a low deforestation rate.

“It shows that we are striking a good balance between mining and forest operations and rather forest conservation. So under our agreement with Norway in 2017 we certainly recorded the lowest rates which is historic. So Guyana has been pointed out, as recording good figures, good stewardship of its forest,” he noted.

Trotman explained that there cannot be mining activities without some disturbance of the

land and that this is not an indictment on the part of miners but it is a simple fact.

According to the Minister, better stewardship and better management has resulted in lower rates of deforestation in Guyana.

“Also, correspondingly with lower rates of deforestation we are also seeing higher yields in gold production. So between 2016 and 2018 we have crossed the 600,000 ounces’ mark repeatedly. Before 2015 the highest declarations of gold were 456,000 ounces and we are now over 600,000 ounces, so gold production is up but deforestation is down.”

Minister Trotman also acknowledged that while there is notable progress in these areas, works still need to be conducted in the area of reclamation in relation to gold mining.

(T r i n i d a d E x p r e s s)

T

hirty-year-old Rachel Mohammed was ambushed and shot dead on Saturday night near her St Augustine home.

Her relatives, who were at the Forensic Science Centre in St James yesterday, said she was killed because a particular group was afraid that she would tell the police about their activities.

A post-mortem concluded Mohammed died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds about

her body.

Around 11.20 p.m. on Saturday, Mohammed and her friend, Susan Ramkissoon, 43, were standing near Mohammed’s home at Dookiesingh Street, St Augustine, when a masked gunman approached them and opened fire.

The attacker ran south along Dookiesingh Street and got into a white station wagon, which sped off.

Mohammed underwent surgery but died around 10.10 a.m. on Sunday.

Mohammed’s rela-

tives refused to give their names, saying they were afraid of some of the people she associated with.

A relative said that he often spoke with Mohammed’s father to “try and talk some sense into her because I know the life and I knew what some people are capable of and they were not nice people”.

He said the group Mohammed called friends would often carry out robberies and some of them even made social media videos of themselves brandishing guns.

Deaths of 3 children

GPHC awaiting Medical Council decision before taking further action

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he three medical practitioners who were held responsible for the deaths of three juvenile leukaemia patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC) earlier this year are still on administrative leave as the institution awaits word from the Guyana Medical Council.

When contacted on Monday, a senior official at the GHPC said that the matter “is now in the hands of the Guyana Medical Council, and until a decision is made at that level, then the GPHC will take necessary action.”

The official noted that the three staff held responsible for not following protocols when administrating the pre-chemotherapy treatment are still receiving their salaries in full until further notice.

The doctors in ques-

tion had administered the drugs incorrectly.

Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the GPHC, Kesaundra Alves at a press conference earlier this month, had told the media that an internal investigation by the hospital’s administration into the circumstances surrounding the treatment of the three leukaemia patients and their subsequent adverse reactions has revealed that human deficiencies and systemic challenges contributed to the demise of those three children.

She stated that an independent investigation by the Public Health Ministry was also launched and findings were similar to those of the GPHC’s; non-adherence to the hospital’s protocols led to the three young children succumbing at the GPHC. Alves said that the GPHC would have shortly commenced the pro-

Three-year-old Roshini Seegobin and six-year-old Sharezer Mendonca

cess of initiating action following the findings of these two reports.

However, the GPHC is not the body that will determine the final outcome of those staff that were being investigated.

Administrative leave

“That matter is not within our hands.

Contractually, we can determine who works

at GPHC but who is licensed to practice medicine in Guyana is a matter for the Medical Council of Guyana to handle. So we went as far as we could, sending them on admin leave pending a review of reports by the Board of Directors of the GPHC. As I said, this report came into our possession

this week and the Board hasn’t, the Chairman has not had the chance to review it,” Alves had told the media at that press conference.

CEO of the GPHC, Brigadier George Lewis had also stated that with regard to the three medical staff involved in the incidents, their administrative leave commenced

on January 29, 2019, and they would remain on administrative leave pending further review of the report and possible disciplinary actions if necessary.

The first child who died was seven-year-old Curwayne Edwards on January 14, followed by three-year-old Roshini Seegobin of Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on January 18.

The third child, six-year-old Sharezer Mendonca of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, died on January 24. Mendonca’s body was given to the wrong family for burial in what was alleged to have been an attempt to cover up her true cause of death.

Parents and other activists have been calling for the suspension of medical licences from those doctors responsible for the deaths of children.

(Kristen Macklingam)

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Outing turns deadly …body of missing man found at Splashmin’s Resort

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Dead: Dinesh Ramdas

he body of 25-yearold Dinesh Ramdas, of Lot A Coghlan Street, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was recovered on Monday morning after he drowned at the Splashmin’s Resort on Sunday.

This publication understands that the discovery was made by relatives of the deceased and employees of the Resort.

When this publication visited the dead man’s family on Monday, they were in a state of shock.

His mother, Shelly Ann Ramdas told this newspaper that her eldest child and a few of his friends were at a creek outside the Splashmin’s Resort on Sunday. She related that they were playing a game when the ball disappeared over a fence that leads to the private resort. The grieving mother said that her son went to retrieve the ball, but went underwater and never resurfaced. After some time, his friends noticed that he had not returned and began a search.

The woman said that upon learning of the incident, she, along with other family members, visited the Timehri Police Station about 18:00h and reported the matter.

“We hearing all different things. They said he and the friends went playing cricket and he went for the ball…After, we leave and go up there, but when we reach, the Police was already coming out with his friends, so we had to go and let them take the statements,” Ramdas’s mother explained.

They were then advised by ranks to check the Resort but while employees were willing to assist, the facility’s management was reportedly uncooperative.

“We went back to

Splashmin’s to see if anybody can help we find his body. It had an individual there and he was willing to go if they give us a boat. When we go to them, they said no, that they can’t do that. They don’t have no lifeguard or security on standby if something happening in the water,” she stated.

Ramdas’s mother also related that her son knew how to swim, making it difficult to understand how he drowned.

“The same spot that he go down, that’s the same spot that they find him,” she said.

The 25-year-old was the eldest of three siblings.

An investigation was launched into the matter.

Over the years, many persons have lost their lives at resorts along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway during outings and other activities.

Less than a year ago, the body of 18-year-old Ronaldo Gomes of Lot 8 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, was recovered from the Splashmin’s Resort, after he was believed to have drowned.

The teenager went to the creek with his cousin, a bus owner who was hired to transport some persons to the private resort. As the group was getting ready to leave, persons realised Gomes was missing.

Upon searching and making enquiries, they were informed that the water became rough as the teen was swimming and he ventured out to the deep end. The cousin reportedly said that the teen went beyond the barricade ropes and was allegedly hit by a jet-ski.

His body was found floating with injuries to the face.

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50-yr-old pedal Fmr Judge says Constitution never spoke of absolute majority cyclist killed in hitUnconstitutional insertion

and-run accident A

Justice Rishi Persaud

Acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards

former senior Judge who had presided over several constitutional cases in Guyana on Tuesday said that the Constitution of Guyana did not contemplate having an “absolute” majority used to ensure the passage of a no-confidence motion – a word which he noted seems to have been interjected there by persons.

The former Judge expressed his scepticism for the mathematical formula submitted by the Government in cases arguing that the no-confidence motion was invalidly passed which was adopted by two Justices of the Appellate Court.

In an interview with Guyana Times International, the former Judge noted that the Constitution speaks to all elected members or members present and voting, not “absolute” or “simple”. This is a view that Appeal Court Judge Rishi Persaud had supported in the 2-1 split decision and was earlier articulated by the acting Chief Justice in the High Court.

While Justice Persaud had dismissed the appeal and concurred with the ruling of the High Court,

his two colleague appellate judges allowed the state’s appeal.

Both Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Dawn Gregory opined that while 33 is the majority of the 65- member National Assembly, the successful passage of a no- confidence motion requires an “absolute majority” of 34, and not the “simple” majority of 33 that has been used to pass ordinary business in the House.

According to the appellate judges, half of the National Assembly would be 32.5 and since there is no half vote then that would be rounded up to 33, which is a “simple” majority of the House, and so in order to make it “absolute”, one more has to be added to bring about a 34 majority.

A

Dual citizens

On the matter of dual citizenship, the former Judge noted that dual-citizen Members of Parliament no longer have the luxury of hiding behind blissful ignorance.

“I think everyone knows now that if you have dual citizenship, you can’t be an MP,” the former Judge said. “In light of the ruling of the (Appeal) court, can you

Justice Dawn Gregory

now say that you don’t know that you’re not qualified?

“That may have been open for (former Alliance For Change MP) Charrandas Persaud to say. But is it open for anyone else to say now, that they don’t know? They have to make a choice.”

The former Judge noted that in case dual-citizen parliamentarians disregard the Appellate Court ruling and a vote is held, it will fall to Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland to validate or invalidate the proceedings, bearing in mind the ruling.

With Parliament expected to be reconvened at any moment after the ruling of the Appeal Court on Friday, persons have been questioning whether dual citizens will return to the chambers. When it comes to the Government; however, it is expected to be business as usual for the dual citizens.

When contacted by this publication on Monday, Opposition Chief Whip Amna Ally had stated that all Members of Parliament on the Government side would be turning out for the next sitting.

She noted that there was nothing impeding them from attending.

hit-and-run accident along the Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) has claimed the life of 50-year-old pedal cyclist Peter Billison of Lot 17 Soesdyke, EBD. Reports are that on Sunday the pedal cyclist was proceeding north along the western side of the roadway when, at about 19:15h, he was struck from behind by a motor car which reportedly sped away after hitting him off his bicycle.

Picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited persons, Billison was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body is at Lyken’s Funeral Home, awaiting a post mortem examination.

An investigation has been launched as Police continue their search for the driver of the motor car.

Last Wednesday, Rupununi resident Jennifer Williams, a 40-year-old pedal cyclist, died after she was allegedly struck down by a motor pick-up on the Wowetta Main Road in North Rupununi, Region Nine.

Based on information received, the motor pick-up was proceeding along the centre of the Wowetta Main Road when the now deceased Williams made a sudden

turn into the path of the vehicle.

She reportedly fell on the roadway and received injuries about her body.

She was picked up in a conscious state and rushed to the Annai Health Centre, where she was treated and referred to the Lethem Regional Hospital, where she died while receiving medical attention.

On a Saturday afternoon in February, 41-year-old pedal cyclist Joel Jacobs of Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice was killed after he reportedly collided with hire car HC 8140 on the Onverwagt Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Reports are that the vehicle was proceeding east on the northern side of a bridge whilst the pedal cyclist was proceeding in the opposite direction on the southern side of the bridge.

The driver told investigators that while in the process of passing the bicycle, Jacobs suddenly swerved from south to north, and in so doing came into contact with the front right side of the vehicle.

As a result of that impact, the cyclist fell on the bridge, where he sustained injuries. He was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s handling of RUSAL matter was too ‘political’ …says Opposition Leader

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has disapproved of how Government handled the matter regarding the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), a subsidiary of Russian aluminium company RUSAL, and the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU).

Prior to the agreement to reinstate workers last week, Jagdeo told the media that while he did not know about the details of the discussions between the two parties, which saw Government officials being excluded, he was pleased to see that fruitful engagement was taking place.

“I am pleased that the interested parties are sorting this out themselves and not to have (Minister) Amna Ally have a circus there just for political reasons,” he said, explaining that he felt that Ally tried to make the issue political even to the point where she called the entire country to bear witness to the discussions.

As such, Jagdeo asserted that “that’s not how you conduct labour negotiations”, explaining that all labour matters should be conducted where the two sides meet. He again pointed to the fact that Government tried to intervene, but did so without thinking about what its actions could mean.

After several weeks of deliberations, the impasse between RUSAL and its dismissed employees was finally resolved on Wednesday, March 20, when officials of the aluminium company and the GB&GWU met

and agreed to have the workers reinstated.

The series of events was sparked when 61 workers downed tools against BCGI after they received a one per cent salary increase. Thirty other workers were dismissed after the company temporarily closed a section of its operations as a result of the strike.

This resulted in protests by the workers and the blockage of a section of the Berbice River, which leads to the company’s operations located at Aroaima, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The issue was resolved after both parties signed Terms of Resumption (ToRs) which include reinstatement of all 61 dismissed workers and those laid off during the dispute.

The document also stated that there would be no victimisation or change of conditions for the reinstated workers; no compensation for time not worked during the dispute; re-

turn of the check-off system and clearance of the Berbice River.

“Both parties have further agreed to recognise the sovereignty, Constitution and laws of Guyana and neither shall act in contravention thereof; promised to uphold the spirit and goodwill to which the ToR was negotiated and signed and will do nothing to circumvent same,” the GB&GWU said.

While BCGI had dismissed the 61 workers on February 19, 2019, after the protest, it had also advised some 30 employees that their department was closed until further notice as a result of the ongoing events.

Initially, RUSAL had contended that it was a violation of the workers’ contract to strike. When the Union had intervened, RUSAL initially refused to recognise the Union, resulting in the prolonged stalemate.

However, Union Chairman

Lincoln Lewis maintained that the company had no authority to ascertain such, stating that it was a responsibility of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB).

The stalled negotiations resulted in disgruntled workers and supporters blocking the Berbice River to prevent bauxite-laden barges from passing, a move which cost RUSAL millions of dollars.

While the intention was to affect RUSAL, other businesses were severely affected when they could not access the river. One logger from New Amsterdam, Imtiaz Hussain explained to Guyana Times International that while attention was being placed on the deadlock between RUSAL and its employees, other stakeholders were affected.

His timber, which is transported via the River, was stuck, unable to traverse the river for over 10 days, along with four employees – a situa-

tion that affected his business significantly since extra monies were paid to the workers and customers who could not wait were reimbursed.

Now that the matter has reached a resolution, both parties are scheduled to meet 14 days after the resumption of work to commence negotiation of a new Collective Labour Agreement (CLA).

“The Agreement further outlines that within 14 days of the full resumption of work, the parties will commence negotiation of a new Collective Labour Agreement. This will be referred to in case of any further disputes, which may occur in the future,” RUSAL said in a statement to the media.

The BCGI was established back in 2004 under an agreement whereby RUSAL owns a 90 per cent stake in the company, and the remaining 10 per cent belongs to the Government of Guyana.

Guyana accredits Zambia, Botswana diplomats A s Guyana forges ahead with plans to establish a Green State, Government is looking to tap into the expertise and resources from the Republics of Botswana and Zambia as it accredits diplomats from the two southern African states.

President David Granger on Wednesday accepted Letters of Credence from the two non-resident diplomats at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The newly accredited High Commissioner from the Republic of Botswana, Tebogo Teko Lily Motshome, lauded the good bilateral relations between Guyana and her country, while highlighting the importance of finding common ground to tackle global phenomenon.

“We need to choose a path, as nations, that serve the interest of all and upholds the international values that preserves and nurtures our prosperity and security, and that contributes to our collective goal of a better, safer, more just, more prosperous and sustainable world,” High Commissioner Motshome stated.

On this note, President Granger touted his Green State agenda, saying that this strengthened cooperation with Botswana will be beneficial to Guyana as it embarks on this path.

“The Green State will place emphasis on the protection of our environment, the preservation of our biodiversity and the promotion of renewable

Newly accredited High Commissioner of Zambia to Guyana, Alfreda Mwamba

New Botswana High Commissioner, Tebogo Motshome

energy and practical measures to ensure climate adaptation. These objectives are aligned with those articulated in Botswana’s Vision 2036… Our shared commitment to sustainable development can form the basis of mutually beneficial exchanges of experiences,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, the Head of State further posited that the renewed bilateral ties with the Republic of Zambia will also enable Guyana to establish its

Green State plan.

“Guyana is keen to learn from its experience in promoting ‘green’ jobs.

Your appointment will create the opportunity for both our nations to exchange good practices and experiences in ‘green’ development,” the President said after receiving Letters of Credence from High Commissioner Alfreda Chilekwa Kansembe Mwamba.

The newly accredited Zambian diplomat in her remarks recognised the

need to build on this relation in the areas of agriculture, tourism and Public Sector cooperation.

“Zambia seeks to enhance bilateral cooperation between our two countries in whatever shape or form… for our mutual benefits… How could we reinvent the will of the 60s and 70s…

Is it not time for Guyana’s teachers and doctors return to Africa and boost the foundations of (countries in that region),” High Commissioner Mwamba stated.

Guyana and Zambia established diplomatic ties since February 1971.

These relations were cemented by the close personal friendship between Guyana’s first Prime Minister Forbes Burnham; and Zambia’s first President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, both passionate advocates of the African Liberation. President’s Kaunda’s visit to Guyana in 1975 helped to deepen relations between the two states.

On the other hand, relations between Guyana and Botswana were established in October 1975. This bilateral relation was strengthened by the State visit to Guyana of President, Sir Seretse Khama in 1975 and by the work of skilled Guyanese in Botswana’s Public Sector.

Additionally, Guyana and Botswana have worked closely with each other within the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group, the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ramjattan says GECOM must still be in state of readiness

– in case State loses NCM cases at CCJ

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ersons pushing for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to be in a state of readiness for General and Regional Elections, notwithstanding Friday’s Appellate Court decision, have found an unlikely ally in Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

During a Globespan Town Hall panel discussion on Saturday which featured Ramjattan and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) parliamentarian Juan Edghill, Ramjattan stressed that he wanted GECOM to be in a state of readiness for elections, whenever they are called.

Ramjattan even committed to using his role as the leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) to push for GECOM to continue its preparations for elections. Persons have opined that because of Friday’s judgement, the pressure was off the Commission to get its house in order.

Ramjattan disagreed.

“I am absolutely certain … in fact, I think, that both parties would want that GECOM prepare for an election.

Remember there is a

GECOM needs to stop making excuses,” the Member of Parliament said.

GECOM

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

third round in the battle. And (we) could very well not win the third round. And there would obviously be a need for early elections.

“So GECOM must prepare. And I, as Chairman of my party, will urge that the GECOM Chairman and the Commissioners there and the Secretariat continue the work to ensure the preparations will be completed in good time for even an early election.”

That being said, Ramjattan is sticking to the Government’s

position that house-tohouse registration must be held. On the contrary, however, Edghill insisted that GECOM had a responsibility to have been ready in the first place.

“The Constitution envisions for GECOM to always be ready for elections in 90 days.

There are three instances in which you can have elections in Guyana.

A no-confidence motion – 90 days. The President at any time in his fiveyear term can call elections. The Parliament dissolved; Elections.

Before Friday’s fateful Appellate Court judgement turned everything on its head, the parliamentary Opposition and other observers had accused Government of attempting to delay the holding of the constitutionally-mandated elections following the no-confidence resolution of December 21, 2018.

The three-month time frame in which the polls were to be held was validated in January by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, who declared that the motion was validly passed 33-32.

The complaint has been that GECOM was unforthcoming about its preparedness for the mandatory elections despite being mandated by the Constitution of Guyana to hold elections within three months of the passage of a no-confidence motion.

In fact, during a previous meeting with Opposition and Government Chief Whips, the

PPP/C MP Juan Edghill

GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson abruptly ended a meeting on the Commission’s preparedness after he was pressed for answers.

The trend of meetings of GECOM Commissioners ending abruptly would continue, as both sides pushed for different objectives. While the Opposition-nominated Commissioners would push for early elections, the Governmentn o m i n a t e d Commissioners would argue for delaying elections through house-to-

house registration.

Prior to the ruling on Friday, Government had written to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to inform him that President David Granger would soon be naming a date for elections. Now that the Appeal Court has ruled the no-confidence motion was not validly passed, this is now in limbo.

However, the parliamentary Opposition has made it clear that it would appeal the ruling, at the level of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

NEWS 23

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Man who Guyana’s oil and gas sector assaulted wife brought in over G$15.6B thus far allegedly beaten G to death

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wo men were apprehended in Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) for their alleged involvement in the beating to death of a 32-year-old fruit vendor at Tuschen Squatting Area, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Based on information received, the now dead man, Sherwin Shafeek, called “Coolie Boy” formerly of Springlands, Corriverton, Berbice, was at the home he shared with his common-law wife when an argument broke out between them.

Moments prior to the argument, the couple was seen at a birthday party in close proximity to their home. However, this newspaper understands that the man had accused the woman of being unfaithful to him.

Nevertheless, the argument escalated into a scuffle during which the woman started to scream. The two suspects reportedly heard the commotion and informed others after which they went to inquire.

According to Divisional Commander Edmond Cooper, the two men rushed in the house and started to hit the now dead man about his body and head with a piece of wood. He reportedly fell to the ground with blood oozing from his mouth and nostrils.

However, the woman took the injured husband to the Leonora Cottage Hospital on Saturday morning where he later succumbed to the injuries.

The woman told investigators that after the incident on Friday evening, she did not have money to pay for a taxi to take her injured husband to seek medical attention. The Commander told this newspaper that the man’s body was swollen with several marks of violence.

Meanwhile, the two men who carried out the brutal attack were apprehended in Bartica and are being transported to Georgetown for interrogation.

Investigations are ongoing.

uyana has thus far benefitted from more than $15.6 billion (US$75 million) directly from the oil and gas sector. This was disclosed

by Director of the Energy Department Dr Mark Bynoe as he addressed residents of the Albouystown community on the oil and gas sector at the Heavenly Light World Outreach Centre, on Saturday.

The statement has debunked the notion being peddled that Guyana and its citizens are going to be ripped off and will receive little or no benefits from the production of oil and gas which is just months away. According to Dr Bynoe, the G$15.6 billion (US$75 million) does not include downstream impacts of the industry such as works in mechanics, electrical work, welding and technical warehousing, among others.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Bynoe urged the residents to position themselves so that they can benefit from the indirect benefits of the sector while at the same

Dr Mark Bynoe

time assisting in transforming the economy. “…The sector employs a fairly small number of persons because most of it is highly mechanised. What we should be training ourselves for, is the expansion of the invest-

ment that is coming and that has already started as well as the new Guyana that is to come” Dr Bynoe stated.

However, he said that skills building and certification are necessary, adding that if they want to be absorbed,

they need to start heading in that direction.

Dr Bynoe pointed out that the Department of Energy is “more than willing to work with any institution to create that opportunity for more of our Guyanese people not just to be aware but to build the requisite capacity going forward”.

Currently, 54 per cent of the persons directly employed in the oil and gas sector are Guyanese. By the year 2020, the target of the Department of Energy is to have that number increased to 75 per cent or greater.

Recently, 25 Guyanese were recruited to work on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which would have between 100 and 150 persons on board. An FPSO is basically a floating vessel that stores barrels of oil. The vessel is expected to meet Guyana’s shores later this year.

The Department of Energy has been hosting sensitisation sessions across the country to educate, inform and prepare citizens for the production of oil in 2020.

24 news

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Charrandas Opposition to boycott Persaud files Parliamentary sittings until G$30M lawsuit CCJ rules against Ramjattan over alleged libel

O

No-confidence appeal

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) would not be attending the sittings of the National Assembly when it reconvened in the near future.

According to Jagdeo in the announcement on his social media page, he wishes to “place on record that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will not attend any sitting of the National Assembly”.

This, according to Jagdeo, will be in effect while the appeal of the Appellate Court’s ruling on the no-confidence motion is pending at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Following the Court of Appeal’s ruling that the no-confidence motion was not validly passed, the PPP/C had announced on Friday that it would move to the CCJ. Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, in January, upheld the December 21, 2018 passage of the no-confidence motion, ruling that in Guyana’s 65-member National Assembly a majority is 33.

This, however, was appealed by Attorney General Basil Williams.

But while Justice Rishi Persaud on Friday dismissed the appeal and concurred with the ruling of the High Court, his colleague appellate Judges allowed the State’s appeal.

Both Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Dawn Gregory opined that while 33 was the majority of the 65-member National Assembly, the successful passage of a no-confidence motion required an “absolute majority” of 34 and not the “simple” 33 majority that has been used to pass ordinary business in the House.

Following the ruling, Opposition Leader Jagdeo stated that the Constitution of Guyana is pellucid on what number of votes is needed for the passage of a no-confidence motion; it is a majority of all elected parliamentarians – the majority of 65 is 33 votes.

According to him, the Constitution is clear in saying that the vote is valid if a majority of all elected parliamentarians – 33 parliamentarians – cast their vote in favour of the passage of a no-confidence motion.

He added that all right-thinking Guyanese would conclude that 33 is the majority of 65 – a conclusion that was extensively addressed by the Chief Justice (ag)

in her ruling.

“No strange mathematics can change what is in the Constitution … a majority of all elected members in the National Assembly is 33,” Jagdeo said.

He explained that the argument about a vote of 34 being needed was not the argument he expected to be used by the Appeal Court to overturn the ruling of the Chief Justice (ag).

“I thought (that) if the Chief Justice’s ruling was to be overturned, it would have been on another technicality, not this one … this is probably the weakest argument,” Jagdeo said, adding that the ruling of the Chief Justice (ag) was profound and well-reasoned.

The Opposition Leader noted that in 2014, when the Alliance For Change (AFC), supported by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), advanced a no-confidence motion against then President Donald Ramotar, it was done with the explicit acknowledgement that AFC and APNU had the 33 votes that were needed for their no-confidence motion to be successful.

He added that prior to the December 21, 2018 vote, the coalition Government boasted that it had 33 votes, and, therefore, the no-confidence motion could not be passed with a vote of 32.

After the vote, according to him, both President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo accepted that the PPP/C no-confidence motion was validly passed in the House.

In addition, Attorney and social commentator, Christopher Ram posited that the Court made a grave error of unquestioning acceptance of decisions and principles from afar with no regard that, at best, they could be of no more than persuasive value.

In the process, he added, Friday’s decision marked a turning point in Guyana’s jurisprudence, introducing a harmful level of uncertainty into constitutional and statutory interpretation in local courts. In this regard, he stated that the Court was “wrong” in its interpretation of what constitutes a majority in the National Assembly.

Ram recalled that during Friday’s ruling, one of the Judges cited a passage from a foreign jurisdiction that any legislation means what it says and does not mean what it does not say. He then pointed to Attorney Anil Nandlall’s submissions to the

Court in which he cited that the dictum in perhaps the most famous local constitutional case (AG v Mohammed Ali) that, “It is a strong thing to read into an act of Parliament words which are not there, and in the absence of a clear necessity, it is a wrong thing to do.”

That unfortunately, according to Ram, is exactly what the Court of Appeal appears to have done.

He added that it took some effort to hear the Appellate Judges say how attracted they were by the arguments of Grenadian Senior Counsel, Dr Francis Alexis, that a vote of no confidence was so important that it required a majority not contemplated by the Constitution.

“Impressed by this argument, the Court, by a simple majority, effectively ruled that there was a clear necessity to import and insert not only words that were not there, but the concept of absolute majority, which does not exist anywhere in our Constitution.

Interestingly, if the same principle is applied to a vote of confidence brought by the Government in a 33-32 National Assembly, the motion would fail because it did not receive 34 votes,” the political analyst contended.

Furthermore, he stressed that the Court must also be aware that had former AFC Member of Parliament, Charrandas Persaud, not cast an adverse vote, 33 would have been accepted as a majority. On this point, he also reminded that the 2019 Budget was not passed by a majority of 34, noting that it was unlikely that anyone would argue that a budget was not special.

Meanwhile, the three Appellate Judges upheld the acting Chief Justice’s ruling with regard to the appeal filed by private citizen Compton Reid, on the validity of Charrandas Persaud’s vote given his dual citizenship status.

Justice George had ruled in the High Court that while it is illegal for MPs to be dual citizens, in Charrandas’s case this did not affect the validity of his vote on the motion and as such, the Appeal Court Judges on Friday dismissed the appeal filed by Reid.

With the Appellate ruling, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge had announced on Friday that Government could now take steps to reconvene Parliament.

F

Former APNU/AFC Parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud

o r m e r A P N U / A F C

Parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud has filed a G$30 million lawsuit against Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan for libel committed after the passage of the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018.

Persaud voted in favour of the no-confidence vote brought

by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo which led to the toppling of the current Government.

Following his vote against the APNU/ AFC, Ramjattan ordered that an investigation be launched into Persaud’s activities leading up to the vote after he was accused by the Minister of a corrupt act, taking a bribe and colluding with the opposition among other accusations. Persaud had responded to the Minister’s accusations by pointing out that he took the conscious vote to eliminate the sufferings of persons in Region Six after the Government unilaterally closed down several sugar estates.

Hours after his historic vote, Persaud boarded a plane at

the Eugene F Correia Airport, where he left the country for Canada.

In an interview with Canadian B r o a d c a s t i n g Corporation (CBC) following the vote, Persaud said he made the move to leave Guyana since he was fearful for his own safety because of Guyana’s history of political assassinations.

The CBC reported that Persaud added that the feeling only got stronger after the vote when he said another MP told him he would be dead that night.

“It was not an idle threat I entertained…

Thank God for the advent of cellphones.

Too many people were watching internationally and locally,” he told CBC. Persaud added that he did not take any chances and after the sitting, he went directly to the Canadian High Commission in Georgetown where he flew to Barbados and then Toronto.

Adding to that, Ramjattan had admitted in January that he initiated the ongoing probe against the party’s expelled Member of Parliament (MP).

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FEATURE 29

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Preserving our literary Heritage

by

Petamber Persaud

(Excerpt of an interview with Dr. Manu Chander, Georgetown, Guyana, March 2019.

Chander is a Visiting Fulbright Fellow.

Chander’s publications include ‘Brown Romantics: Poetry and Nationalism in the Global Nineteenth Century’.)

P

P: Very often when I’m asked about my Country, Guyana, I would direct the person or persons to our literature because our books since Raleigh’s book [The Discovery of Guyana] in 1596 to Evelyn Waugh’s books to Hudson’s Green Mansions even down to Rahul Bhattacharya [The sly company of people who care] acted as a sort of a drawing card, attracting people to Guyana, a sort of a tourism tool.

Now, your narrative of coming to Guyana is due to your interest in one of our writers; an exceptional writer, one who has produced an awful lot of work in a short time. Share with us that narrative bringing you to Guyana.

MC: First thing I must say, since I’ve come here, everyone assumes that I have a personal relationship to Guyana because I am Indian but in fact my parents immigrated to the United States from Punjab, India. I have no biographical ties to Guyana. My interest is largely motivated by my scholarly work – I was writing a book on colonial poetry in the 19th century, the book Brown Romantics. I was really interest in the ways writers across Britain’s empire were producing poetry that were inspired by but more importantly in dialogue with the English Romantic Poets.

PP: You talked about Britain’s empire which had a huge reach…

MC: Enormous span.

I focused on three specific areas within that.

I focused on India, looking at Henry Derozio who was often called the Indian Keats, I look at Australia’s national poet, Henry Lawson, and I looked at Egbert Martin, ‘Leo’ as he was known to his readers. He was born in 1861 thereabout and as you said before incredibly prolific especially in the decade of the 1880s.

My interest in ‘Leo’ was sparked by seeing David Dabydeen’s edition of Leo’s Selected Works and in a reference to his relationship to the English

Romantic namely Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, Shelly…and that prodded me to dig deeper into his work to see what kind of relationship between ‘Leo’ and the early 19th century English poetry existed.

In the course of digging into his work, I located a number of his uncollected works including poems published in the ‘Colonist’, ‘Argosy’, ‘Daily Chronicle’…

PP: Those were all local newspapers…

MC: Yes, there were all Georgetown’s major newspapers at the time…

PP: Some of us do not know this; we need to underline that.

MC: It is good to highlight the fact; this was a period of history that is easily forgotten as is the case with ‘Leo’.

So I have uncovered a lot of work by him - poems that had not been published, essays he wrote, and one of the most exciting part was this [holding book up] edition of ‘Scriptology’ which was held MoorlandSpringarn [Research Library at Howard University] in the United States and thanks to an invitation from David Dabydeen I was encouraged to do a new introduction of this for the Guyana Classics Library.

All of this – Scriptology, Leo’s Poetical Works, Leo’s Local Lyrics, all the essays and all the poems that I have found – are going into a new edition, Collected Works, which I am currently in the country finishing researching.

PP: ‘Scriptology’ – an interesting title, an intriguing title…I’m looking for something [flicking pages] from the book as we going into it, a curious guy, well-read…

MC: Extremely wellread…

PP: Yes, as we find so many references to books and writers…

MC: A whole range of writers – including one of those essays I talked about that appeared in the newspaper which talked about the genius of Edgar Alan Poe – he wrote quite extensive and astute series of observations about the works of Edgar Alan Poe. But throughout his work you would find references some of the Romantics I mentioned earlier like Tennyson and lesser known figures like Henry Kirk White, Montgomery…yes, he read copiously.

PP: It means that Georgetown was no backwater in culture and literature and Leo was

from Georgetown.

MC: No, not by any means. By the 1880s,

‘is’ our link between Arthur Schomburg and Egbert Martin.

al library and that’s where he was first introduced to Egbert Martin;

when he was writing, there was burgeoning middle class of which he was a part. And importantly also there was an emerging middle class black audience. Martin, apart from his contemporaries, he really is the first Afro-Guyanese writers to be working in the poetic tradition. Prior to Martin, there were others - settlers who were educated abroad and came and settle in Guyana and wrote. But Martin was Guyana born and raised and spent his whole life in Georgetown…

PP: And published here…

MC: Some of his works was published here. Actually his first collection Leo’s Poetical Works was published in 1883 in London. Copies were disseminated here [Guyana], London, and some made their way to United States. He had a very significant audience considering at the time Guyana was still a colonial outpost, not a major hub of literary production. And his work was reviewed in New York, London, excerpts of his poems appeared in Boston – yes, he had a very wide reach. In fact, a towering figure in the American Renaissance in the 1920s and 30s, Arthur Schomburg after whom the Arthur Schomburg Library in New York is now named called Martin the greatest Negro poet in history.

PP: You mentioned the Harlem Renaissance there was another Guyanese writer involved, Eric Walrond.

MC: Yes. In fact it was Eric Walrond who

PP: Oh, research must be very interesting and satisfying.

MC: It is!

There is an essay in the ‘Crisis’ the journal of the NAACP where Eric Walrond recounts this story of going into Schomburg’s person-

Schomburg pulls a copy of Martin’s Poetical Works off the shelf and begins reading and stunning the audience and saying that this is among the highest literature we have from black people and it is not well known. Guyanese people

knew him [Leo] back in the days but he was already beginning to fade by the 1920s and 1930s from memory although the was an effort starting with Clement Gomes to solidify Martin’s important position in the history of Guyanese and West Indian Literature…

PP: Yes, I remember coming across the initiative in Kyk-over-Al of June 1946 to create Leo Medal for Poetry in his honour….

You know, you academics like to put writers and their works in categories but there are many things going for Leo apart from the fact that he was the first major black poet of Guyana, he was a writer. Let’s look at his prose writing. Let me quote him: ‘Scriptology is writing about writing, history about history, storytelling about storytelling.

It is a study of its own procedure’. Let’s talk ‘Scriptology’.

MC: It is a remarkable collection…(to be continued) Responses to this author please telephone 226-0065 of email: oraltradition2002@yahoo. com (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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S

Crossing…

…the constitutional line till can’t get over the decision by the two Appellate Court Justices on that NCM. One friend pointed out that there is such a thing as “judge made law”; so while the Justices might’ve stretched things a bit, it’s within their remit to do so. But what he ignored was this was not just any old law — like manslaughter vs murder — that the Judges could extend from what their predecessors had ruled (stare decisis) by INSERTING A NEW WORD INTO THE CONSTITUTION to change the import of the original clause!!

This is just not done!! The Constitution is a fundamental document that gives legitimacy to our entire state and its institutions. Now, we know circumstances change, and the Constitution must change to deal with those exigencies, but the Constitution itself has AMENDMENT procedures to deal with that need. Judges can’t just wake up one day and decide to alter the Constitution on their own.

Our Constitution, for instance, has Art 164, which deals with the procedures for amending any or all of its contents; and in fact distinguishes the word “majority”, in front of which the Appellate Court arbitrarily inserted the word “absolute” to rule that 33 was not the majority in our Assembly with 65 seats! It stipulates that most Articles of the Constitution can be changed by “a majority of all the elected members of the Assembly”; other enumerated ones need 2/3 of all elected members’ approval; while the remaining few need a referendum, in which a majority of the voters agree.

The use of the word “majority” to involve “all the elected members of the Assembly” — also used in Art 106 (6) under consideration — can be juxtaposed with its use in Art 168 (1), where it stipulates: “questions proposed for decision in the National Assembly shall be determined by a majority of the members present and voting.”

In her High Court decision, Justice George alluded to the first usage as what some may call an “absolute”, and the second as a “simple”, majority; but went on to caution that what was needed to be interpreted was as USED in the Constitution in Art 106 (6).

There was no need for the two Appellate Judges to interpolate the word “absolute”, and justify it as being needed because of the IMPORTANT implications of Art 106 (6). The Constitution ALREADY acknowledged its importance by explicitly insisting that “ALL” members — not just those present — be counted!! The interpolation appears anomalous, making it difficult not to question the rationale offered.

When Judges extend legal precepts, they must at least SEEM sound, just and correct.

The Judicial insertion of “absolute” fails this test. …the GECOM line This Friday, we’ll get the CCJ decision on President Granger’s unilateral appointment of James Patterson as GECOM Chair. While the lower courts in Guyana had said it was okay, it’ll be hard for our apex court to deny that the INTENT of the framers of the Constitutional Art 161 (2) — that the Chair should be from a list of 6, by the Opposition Leader, not unacceptable to the President – wasn’t to have some sort of agreement on the Chair, who’d have the CASTING vote.

If there needed to be any proof of why any unilateral appointment of the GECOM Chair was not in the best interest of the country, it was offered by the subsequent action of Patterson, to collude with Granger to delay elections and vitiate the NCM. Their decision might offer some clue as to where their collective heads may be with the just filed PPP’s Appellate Ct appeal.

Meanwhile, Patterson and crew are plowing ahead with house-to-house registration. They’re convinced the CCJ will rule for the Govt!!

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FEATURE 33

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Lakhram Bhagirat

N

ature has the uncanny ability to make even the most troubled soul feel at peace. It has the ability to keep us grounded and teach us compassion for all things. Nature keeps us in tune with ourselves and one of the most satisfying professions is one that involves nature.

However, in order to be satisfied with a nature-related profession, you have to be someone who loves nature. It is quite challenging to be alone for most the time, but it is also amazing to come into contact with different species of flora and fauna.

Just the thought of being at one with nature is enough to make a lot of people jealous, and Micah Davis is very much aware of that fact. He also relishes in the opportunity to be in a profession he absolutely loves. The 28-year-old father of one has been with the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development for over a decade and now serves as its Head Ranger.

Micah hails from the North Rupununi village of Toka and recalls his childhood as one that was filled with challenges and fun. For him, what kept him grounded was his oneness with nature.

“It was tough growing up in Toka because money was a big issue when I was a kid. I remember when transportation was a challenge at home and we had to walk long distances to go to find food. We would have to go to the border of Brazil just to exchange farine for other items to put in the kitchen with my father. It was all too much; by mainly just living with nature at home was what actually had me going,” Micah said.

Micah and Susan with their son Micaiah

Life for Micah never got to the point where it was easy; however, things did get somewhat better for him when he started to attend the Annai Secondary School. However, upon completion of his secondary education, Micah knew he could not just sit at home and do nothing.

Coming from an Indigenous community meant that he had very little opportunities for employment available to him. He knows in order for him to get a job, he would have to venture out of the community, but it was something he was sceptical about.

At the age of 18, armed with his love for nature and animals, Micah was given the opportunity to work with the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development as a Bird Monitor. His employment came as part of a special project that Iwokrama was conducting.

“When I had my first job as a Bird Monitor in which I actually had the

opportunity to conduct outreach in communities and teach kids natural resource management and that is when I learn a lot while teaching and my love for nature continues until now.

“What we (Bird Monitors) actually did was ride a bicycle in the forest, stopping at certain points and then running some transects. This will be recording different species of birds because Iwokrama, at that time, was still working on the list of the bird species that can be found within the Iwokrama rainforest. In bird monitoring, they have a different way of recording different species of birds. We do that while stopping at a point, you will record the bird by calling or if you see it and then also we would walk a certain distance along the forest and do something called bird point counts.... you would sit and record different kinds of birds you would hear, see within a 50-metre radius,” Micah explains.

The bird monitoring gig was a temporary post with Iwokrama and in 2011, he became a permanent member of the team as a Ranger. His love for what he did was quite evident in the way he worked resulting in Micah be-

ing appointed Head Ranger in 2012 and he continues in that position today.

“My duties as the Head Ranger is, first of all, logistics in terms of organising different things for the Rangers, but apart from that, my main role and responsibility here as the Head Ranger is conducting road patrols, which entail border patrol, road, river and then working with researchers and also conducting community outreach and dealing with tourists in terms of tour guiding.”

Micah says he is loving every minute of his job as it gives him great satisfaction to be able to connect with nature and learn so much every day. He approaches every new day as a new dawn of possibilities and endless learning. For him, no two days are the same despite him having a routine.

He urges everyone to go out, explore, discover and connect with nature, because the possibilities are endless. You never know, you may fall in love and give up your regular job for one that makes your heart race every day. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

34 NEWS

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Guyana, UK ink trade agreement W

ith Brexit expected to legally take place on March 29, Guyana has signed a pact with the United Kingdom (UK) to secure its trading relations with the British country after it leaves the European Union (EU).

G u y a n a ’ s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, David Hales, signed the CARI F OR UM - Uni ted Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the Guyana Government on Friday last. UK’s Minister of State for Trade Policy of the Department of International Trade, George Hollingberry, signed on behalf of his Government.

The signing, which took place on the margins of the 25th meeting of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) Council of Ministers in St Lucia, is of economic importance to Guyana’s Private Sector considering that the United Kingdom is Guyana’s

Guyana’s Ambassador to Belgium, David Hales, and Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith were among those at the signing last Friday

largest trading partner in Europe and its sixth overall.

The inking of this agreement is a direct response to the impending exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union as the current trade arrangement governing Guyana’s exports to the British market will lapse once that State leaves the regional body.

Additionally, this action is the culmination of an approach agreed between CARIFORUM

and the United Kingdom in March 2017 to ensure continuity in the existing preferential trading relations, including duty-free quota conditions, among others.

Eight other CARIFORUM Member States – Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines – have signed the Agreement, while others have signalled their intention to do so shortly.

Guyana along with other CARIFORUM States and the United Kingdom will now take the necessary domestic procedures that will allow for the Agreement to come into effect as soon as the latter leaves the European Union.

The partnership between the United Kingdom and Guyana accounts for about two per cent of imports and almost nine per cent of all exports.

Furthermore, the United Kingdom is an important market for

export of Guyana’s sugar, rice and rum.

At the regional level, absorbing about a quarter of exports from the Caribbean, the United Kingdom is the largest trading partner for CARIFORUM. On June 23, 51.9 per cent of the UK voted on a referendum to leave the economic bloc and since then, both British and EU officials have given assurances to local stakeholders that Brexit will not affect relations in the Caribbean.

In fact, only earlier this year, British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn was quoted saying that his country is looking to increase its footprint in this region with a “confident and clear British presence”, especially now as it leaves the EU. With Guyana’s ties to European embedded through its history with the UK, the EU has previously committed to continuing relations with the Government.

Guyanese man arrested in Thailand over ‘black money scam’ P

H U K E T , Thailand: Police are investigating a network still using the old “black money” scam after a 62-year-old man from Guyana was arrested in Phuket and is now under investigation for fraud reportedly amounting to B9 million.

The black money scam has been in use for more than two decades, convincing people to pay money for banknotes that the con artists insist have been removed from circulation and have been washed with black ink to make them unusable, but with the right chemicals the banknotes could be washed clean and used again.

The con artists have people make initial payments to make the banknotes available, but withhold the chemicals until the big – final – payment is made.

Usually, the “banknotes” are just regular paper literally washed in black ink.

The latest incident was announced by Immigration Bureau Chief Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn presenting details of the arrest to the press in Bangkok on Friday.

The presentation to the press was posted on Gen Surchate’s personal Facebook page, and not through the Immigration Bureau.

Immigration Bureau Chief Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn presented details of the arrest to the press in Bangkok on Friday.

The Guyanese national arrested was named as Abdul Kalam Azad Sattaur, 62.

However, Thalang Police confirmed yesterday that Sattaur remains in Phuket, and has done so since his arrest on March 14. He did not travel to Bangkok to be presented to the press.

Sattaur’s arrest came on the same day that the owner of a local language school in Phuket – who police have not named – filed a complaint with the Thalang Police, reporting that she had been cheated out of B20 million, Thalang Police Deputy Superintended

Lt Col Anukul Nuket explained yesterday.

“A woman came to complain about it at Thalang Police Station on March 14. She said that she had transferred about B9 million to different bank accounts outside the country,” Col Anukul said.

“We tracked him (Sattaur) down and found him at Eakkamon Mansion on Phang Nga Rd in Phuket Town at 2pm the same day,” he added.

Sattaur is accused of using a fake Facebook and LINE account to pretend to be an American man who had worked in Syria, Col Anukul said.

He allegedly claimed to send the woman a security box containing the “black-washed banknotes” with a special liquid to wash the “banknotes” clean.

The total value of the “banknotes” was reportedly given as US$650,000, equivalent to about B20mn – which the Phuket language school owner would acquire for the bargain price of B9mn.

However, the woman said that Sattaur would not send the security box containing the “banknotes” until he received payment first.

She obliged and made payments amounting to

B9mn to 10 offshore accounts.

However, the security box never arrived.

Sattaur now stands accused of fraud, and is being held in custody in the detention cells at Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town, where he has remained since his arrest on Mar 14, and will remain while the investigation against him continues.

“He is charged with fraud by impersonating another person,” Col Anukul told The Phuket News today.

Col Anukul added that police have the “black money” seized as evidence, which has now

been forwarded to officers in Bangkok for further investigation.

“His behaviour is connected to a network in Bangkok, but I need to question him further (today),” Col Anukul said.

Col Anukul declined to confirm whether Sattaur had confessed to the charge against him.

Sattaur’s current predicament first came to the attention of The Phuket News after his son contacted the newspaper concerned for his father’s welfare as Sattaur had not been in contact with his family for several days – which the family had found strange, and wanted to know if he were missing in Phuket.

“I believe he is missing because he is always on line and talks to my mom every day. Since the last time, she never heard back from him,” the son wrote.

Copies of Sattaur’s boarding pass and tourist visa issued in Malaysia provided to The Phuket News confirmed that Sattaur arrived in Phuket on a flight from Kuala Lumpur on March 13 – the day before his arrest.

The Phuket News has yet to receive a reply on how the family has received the news of Sattaur’s arrest. (www. thephuketnews.com)

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Death in Police-lockups

NA Technical Institute assault

Cops probing violent Woman files G$50M lawsuit against State over assault of students brother’s ‘wrongful’ death T

B Division Commander Paul Langevine

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A snapshot of the student assaulting his colleagues at the NA Technical Institute

he Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into a violent attack that occurred on several students of the New Amsterdam Technical Institute by one of their colleagues.

Commander of B Division (Berbice), Paul Langevine told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that one of the victims’ parents filed a report with Police in Berbice and a probe into the matter has been launched. He further noted that upon completion of the investigation the necessary actions

will be taken.

“I know a report was made, a parent came with their child. The report was made and the necessary actions will be taken,” Langevine said.

Outraged ensued on social media on Tuesday when the video showing the beating went viral.

In the video, the teen is seen taking off his belt and using it to inflict blows which were mostly targeted. The video angered many who viewed it and calls for the Police to arrest the student have been made.

The student is also seen

slapping one of the other students in a classroom.

In a statement to the media on Tuesday, the Education Ministry said the investigation was launched after the video emerged on social media.

However, sources at the school told Guyana Times International that the incident occurred on Monday.

When the mother of the aggressor was contacted by this publication, she initially refused to give any comment on the matter. She however denied making any social media post justifying her son’s actions, adding that she is making efforts to reach out to the parents of the victims.

Since the emergence of the video, social activists and religious leaders have condemned the act, calling for a heavy penalty against the student to discourage others from such violent behaviour.

Teen miner charged for murdering friend A teen miner was on Tuesday hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was slapped with the capital offence of murder.

The charge against Emmanuel McCloud, 19, alleged that he murdered Herbert Willie on March 24, 2019, while they were at 111 Miles, Potaro River, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) during an argument.

The prosecution is contending that on Sunday last, at about 02:20h, ranks from the Bartica Police Station received information and went to Mahdia in the vicinity of Mahdia Primary School where they saw Willie lying on the road, bleeding profusely.

He was picked up and transported to the Mahdia Hospital where he was admitted a patient but later succumbed to several stab wounds he received to his lower back.

Later that evening, police acting on information apprehended the suspect. The police have since claimed

Murder accused: Emmanuel McCloud

he sister of Kallicharan Sawak, the man who lost his life while in Police custody earlier this year, is suing the State for over G$50 million for the alleged unlawful death in her capacity as representative of his estate.

According to the court documents seen by this publication, Shivani Sawak is claiming damages in excess of G$10 million for the death and personal injuries sustained by her brother while in Police custody at the Sparendaam Police Station between January 17 and 21, 2019.

Sawak, who was granted a court order by the Chief Justice on March 14 making her the estate’s representative, also wants damages in excess of G$10 mil-

distraught and tearful mother, Ramdai Sawak, had told this newspaper that she was hoping that a thorough investigation into her son’s death can be conducted.

Dead: 39-year-old Kallicharan Sawak

lion for the negligence of the Guyana Police Force, as well as another G$10 million plus judgement for damages for the breach of the Force’s statutory duties under the Police Act. Sawak also wants damages “in excess of ten million dollars (G$10,000,000) for the Guyana Police Force’s violation of the deceased fundamental right not to be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading punishment as guaranteed in Article 141 in the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana”.

In addition, she is seeking exemplary damages in excess of G$10 million, as well as interest and costs and any related orders the judge grants. Representing her in the matter is former Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

Nightmare at a station

that McCloud under caution admitted to committing the offence. He was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. The case will continue on April 16, 2019, at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Shivani Sawak

She explained that her son was intoxicated one evening when he started to misbehave and even broke a window in her home when she became scared and called the police. Sawak said that Police from Beterverwagting arrived at her home shortly after she called and took him over to the Sparendam Police Station where he was placed in a cell with others.

The woman said that her daughter took food for him at the station on Sunday and she was not allowed to see him.

The mother said that her daughter was told to leave the food because it was too early and they

Sawak was reportedly found in an unconscious state in the Sparendaam Police Station lockups on January 21, hours after he was arrested for disorderlySparendaam behaviour.Police A Station

would give him the food.

It was the following Monday that they showed up at the Court where the now dead man was expected to be.

When she did not notice her son, Sawak said she inquired from a magistrate who directed her to a police officer.

It was here she was told that her son was hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital in a critical condition. Shocked, the woman said she rushed down to the hospital where she saw her son in a miserable state.

“We go to the hospital and he bleeding from his eye and his head and not talking and he eye closed,” she recalled.

Sawak said she was shocked to see her son, who was a welder, in that state and tried to find out what happened from the police at the Beterverwagting Station. She said she was told, “He de behaving bad and they put he in a lock-up by heself and he de butting he head”.

The mother has long contended that her son is not mad and would never have done such a thing.

She is, therefore, calling for an impartial investigation to be done. She had said, “I don’t think he would hit he head like that but God knows.

Only God knows because when he go to the hospital he couldn’t ah talk or open his eye”.

36 NEWS

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Guyana Govt promises to regularise squatting communities country-wide

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he Government is working to regularise squatting communities across the country in collaboration with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

According to the Department of Public information (DPI), During a recent visit to the Durban Backlands squatting community Minister of State, Joseph Harmon highlighted the importance of regularising neighbourhoods such as this. “The Central Housing and Planning Authority has already started to regularise a number of communities but we have a far way to go. This project is aimed to improve the lives of our people.�

Harmon reminded that the present administration has revitalised the Local Government System which functions as a body to govern and build every community in Guyana.

The Minister add-

From left to right are Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles and Councillor for District 9, Shonelle Smith Daniels.

ed that the Coalition Government has created several local representatives within Central Government to provide assistance to citizens with the capacity to start

projects. He noted that funds for these projects will be allocated in the National Budget for developmental purposes.

According to DPI, there are presently over

216 squatting areas countrywide. Many of these are currently in varying stages of being upgraded towards the attainment of housing scheme status. One hundred and fif-

ty-four of these have been brought under the regularisation programme and are being transformed into standardised housing areas. The remaining areas are either road

reserves, sea defence reserves, other drainage reserves such as the banks of canals and are categorized as zero tolerance areas, in that, they cannot be regularised.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman (centre) University of Guyana Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith (right) and Managing Director of Schlumberger for Trinidad and the Caribbean, Sean Herrera cut the ribbon to officially open the Geotechnical Computer Lab at the University of Guyana.

FEATURE 37

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Turtle Mountain, Iwokrama

Looking over Turtle Mountain

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Iwokrama Mission

he Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development (Iwokrama) was created in the “run“To promote the conservation and up” to the Rio Summit in 1992. It is the sustainable and equitable use a key environmental programme dedof tropical rain forests in a manner icated by the Government of Guyana, that will lead to lasting ecological, through President Desmond Hoyte, to the Commonwealth in 1989 at the economic and social benefits to the Commonwealth Heads of Government people of Guyana and to the world meeting in Malaysia. in general, by undertaking research, Since its foundation, through an training and the development and Act of Parliament in 1996, signed off dissemination of technologies.” on by then President Cheddi Jagan, Utilisation Area (SUA), which allows Iwokrama has sought to advance best managed activities and the Wilderness practices in the sustainable managePreserve (WP), which only allows lowment of the world’s remaining rainforimpact research and is kept as a conests. trol area to keep a check on activities Iwokrama manages the 371,000 in the SUA. hectares (nearly one million acres) Iwokrama’s work is very multifacetIwokrama Forest in central Guyana to ed. The initial work involved research show how tropical forests can be conto acquire baseline data to set the founserved and sustainably used for ecodation of further scientific research and logical, social and economic benefits to also the management of the area. The local, national and international comorganisation also had to focus efforts munities. on building up partnerships, including Iwokrama was originally the name with the Macushi communities in and of a mountain range in the forest; the around the Iwokrama Forest. word Iwokrama is from the Makushi Iwokrama operates in close parttribal nation and means "Place of refnership with a wide range of local, nauge". The legend is: long ago, there tional and international partners. The was inter-tribal warfare and the Centre’s two founding partners are Makushi people fled into the Iwokrama the Government of Guyana and the Mountains to seek refuge.

Commonwealth Secretariat.

Iwokrama is a unique institution Iwokrama also has a close workthat is firmly grounded in the reality of ing relationship with the 20 local the people who live in tropical forests Indigenous communities in close proxand whose entire economies rest on the imity to the Iwokrama Forest. These fate of their environment. It aims to communities fall under the umbrelshow that forests are “worth more alive la organisation – the North Rupununi than dead” and that you can “use a forDistrict Development Board (NRDDB), est without losing it” . which was established in 1996.

The million-acre reserve is zoned The Centre has also produced some into two areas - the Sustainable

Yakarinta kids and teachers heading in forest

cutting-edge and complex benefits sharing and shareholder agreements with local communities, including a Collaborative Management Agreement that gives the NRDDB a direct say in how the Iwokrama Forest is managed.

Capacity building includes building the capacity of local, national, regional and international communities and both the Private and Public Sectors on the various facets of Iwokrama’s work – conservation, research, monitoring, and community engagement. Iwokrama played a major role in the production of a climate change manual, the only one of its kind in Guyana which is now widely used nationally and has been translated into over six languages for international use.

Over the years, the Centre has trained over 200 persons in areas of ranger training, guide training, protected areas management and collaborative management to support the Guyana Protected Areas System. Interns, volunteers and researchers come to work and conduct research at Iwokrama, and the Centre has been getting more visits from universities, schools and other environmental groups.

Inherent in Iwokrama’s successful management practices is the recognition of traditional Indigenous knowledge, which is twinned with scientific information for best results.

According to Iwokrama, conserva-

Canopy walkway bridge

Iwokrama’s core values • A people centered approach to conservation and wise use; • Developing low volume, high value markets for all forest products and services; • Encouraging local, national and international partnerships for development; and • Active learning by doing

tion has to be paid for and as the saying goes "Conservation without money is just a conversation". Iwokrama has several means of support, including from the Government of Guyana, several projects which are usually secured due to competitive applications, partnerships with the corporate community and other donors, and more.

Iwokrama also has been engaging in business activities with the main aim to develop models of using the forest and sharing lessons learnt in the process. Iwokrama, currently, has two tourist lodge facilities, the only canopy walkway in the hemisphere and several tours on offer.

The sustainable forestry business commenced in 2008 and is currently certified under the guidelines of an international forest organisation. Both these businesses have been developed with the engagement of Private Sector partners.

Owing to the many activities that Iwokrama undertakes, and given the reality of public access via the road that runs through the reserve and also the bordering rivers, Iwokrama has an extensive established monitoring programme.

The impacts of public access and impacts of Iwokrama’s activities must be checked and some of the areas monitored include biodiversity, water quality, weather, traffic, waste and social aspects to name a few.

In the global context, Guyana is part of one of four remaining large tracts of intact forest ecosystems in the world known as the Guiana continued on page 38

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owland tapirs can restore degraded Amazonian forests by spending more time and spreading more tree seeds in areas that had been previously burned. This service provided by tapirs may be among the cheapest and easiest solutions for large-scale forest restoration, according to a new study conducted at Woods Hole Research Center’s research facility at Tanguro Ranch in Brazil.

The team collected and studied almost 130,000 seeds representing 24 different species from tapir dung in degraded forests in Mato Grosso Brazil. The study, published in the journal Biotropica, shows that tapirs disperse three times more seeds in degraded forests than in primary ones, probably because they prefer spending time where resprouts are available.

Two factors contribute to the tapir’s unique role: Size and distance. Tapirs can reach up to 8 feet in length and up to 700 pounds, therefore they eat a lot. This study shows that contrary to previous belief, tapirs pass many large seeds intact and undamaged through their digestive system, with their large waste protecting the seeds from beetles. And while other large mammal dispersers like monkeys remain in healthy and intact forests, tapirs can cross open areas and thus bring seeds to a disturbed or degraded forest – ultimately increasing its plant diversity and

abun-

dance.

The team believes tapirs use more degraded forests due to the presence of palatable resprouting plants.

“When we think of climate and forest solutions, tapirs aren’t the first thing that comes to mind, but our study shows they play a critical role in forest recovery by dispersing the large-seeded species that eventually become large trees, meaning they contribute indirectly to maintaining forest carbon stocks,” said Woods Hole Research Center Assistant Scientist Paulo Brando.

The lowland tapir (also known as the South American or Brazilian tapir) is considered endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and vul-

nerable by the IUCN. Their population is dwindling in the face of deforestation and hunting.

“The role that tapirs play in seeding degraded forests is another good reason for conserving this last representative of the megafauna of South America”, said Dr Lucas Paolucci from the Federal University of Lavras and A m a z o n

Environmental Research Institute (IPAM).

The Amazon has already lost 800,000 square kilometres of forest, an area equivalent to 1/10th of the lower 48 United States, much of it to intentional burning to clear land for agriculture. Burning also leaves forests more vulnerable to climate change-worsened extreme weather stressors, such as drought and windstorms, according to studies co-authored by Dr Brando. His research shows that, unless it recovers quickly, damaged forest risks reverting to invasive grassland. The ability of forest residents like tapirs, birds and many other animals to spread seeds into degraded areas shows natural regeneration can help tropical countries to achieve their goals to maintain and restore forest carbon stocks, biodiversity and forest ecosystem services. (Woods Hole Research Center) from page 37

Queens College students

Some students at Turtle Mountain

Shield. Guyana lies within this important landscape that has been recognised as an area where there are great chances of conservation success. The area also supplies close to 20 per cent of the global fresh water, has high biodiversity and endemism and also high cultural diversity.

There is growing international awareness of the reality of climate change; in 2010, glob-

al CO2 emissions surpassed 35 billion metric tonnes.

Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) places emphasis on sustainable forest management and reducing deforestation as cost-effective mitigation measures, which further reinforces the relevance of Iwokrama’s work on climate change and sustainable forest management.

Some Bina Hill students with Ranger James M Patterson

International Day of Forests and Iwokrama

For Iwokrama, International Day of Forests is a welcome initiative, since it recognises the importance of forests which can help to bring global awareness.

The theme this year is “Forests and Education”, and Iwokrama has long been playing a role through research and hosting of many groups including youth, in sharing knowledge of how a

protected area set up in this special way can help contribute to issues such as sustainable natural resource management, climate change, sustainable livelihoods, partnerships for conservation and many more.

It is also partnering with WWF and many organisations this year on the annual activity of Earth Hour.

Earth Hour is an annual global event, organised by WWF, which puts the spotlight on climate change by bringing people together, urging

action against climate change, and reminding us that personal actions matter. The main and simplest action everyone can take on the given date and time is the switching off of nonessential lights for one hour, symbolising commitment to taking some kind of action to address climate change. Earth Hour is observed annually on the last Saturday in March. Earth Hour 2019 will be Saturday, March 30 between 20:30h and 21:30h, local time.

It has been 30 years

since the offer was made to the Commonwealth by the Government of Guyana through President Hoyte. Some special events are being planned, and Iwokrama would like to encourage the public to engage with it via its head office (2251504), the media and also on its social media pages (Facebook and Instagram). (Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Iwokrama River Lodge cabins

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana is indeed a beautiful land with a lot more to explore than the Coast. Deep in the heart of this beautiful land are some of the most breathtaking sites. REEL Guyana recently shared some photos of some spectacular sites that are an adventurer’s dream. Here are some of those photos from REEL Guyana.

TRAVEL&TOURISM 39

Sakaika Falls, Region 7

Ayangaik Mountain

Approaching Ayangaik Mountain in the Upper Mazaruni District The top of Ataraipu also known as Devils Rock or Bottle Mountain in the Rupununi

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News 41

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Preparations in full swing for CARIFESTA XIV

Guyana Govt looks at providing temporary housing for Venezuelan migrants

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Some of the Venezuelan migrants living in Guyana

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The RCC with Minister of Community Development and the Arts Trinidad and Tobago Dr. the Hon Nyam Gadsby Dolly (c)

he experts responsible for advising technical officers and Ministers on the hosting of CARIFESTA are currently meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.

The 27th Meeting of the Regional Cultural Committee (RCC) began on Wednesday with an opening ceremony at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Center in Port-of-Spain, and will continue until Friday March 29 2019, according to a release from the CARICOM Secretariat.

Preparations for CARIFESTA XIV, which is being held in Trinidad and Tobago 16 – 25 August 2019 will be a major agenda item.

Trinidad and Tobago Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Dr. the Hon Nyam Gadsby Dolly, gave the feature address at the opening.

P r o g r a m m e Manager, Culture and Community Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Hillary Brown, and Chairman of the RCC, St. Kitts and Nevis Director of Culture, Mr. Troy Mills, also spoke at the opening.

Director of Culture, Trinidad and Tobago Mr. Tej Ramlogan gave a welcome statement.

Minister Gadsby Dolly in her remarks used the opportunity to remind the audience of the economic value of culture in

the Region. She said Trinidad and Tobago was currently experiencing rigid fiscal constraint, and the innovation and sheer volume of creative entrepreneurs emerging from that situation was extraordinary.

“In our country, there has been a significant increase in the number of local markets for craft artisans, artists and culinary entrepreneurs throughout the past three years, with an active push towards environmentally sustainable business practices- green practices,” Dr. Dolly said She said further that Trinidad and Tobago intended to market the Region’s various cultures to the world by bringing buyers to the Festival, creating spaces for discourse and platforms for developing the various artforms on display.

According to her, this CARIFESTA was not about Trinidad and Tobago, as the country was simply the host of another stage in CARIFESTA’S growth and positioning as a festival to rival some the world’s leading festivals.

“The success of CARIFESTA XIV will be the success of the Caribbean region, and we in Trinidad and Tobago are determined to deliver this to you,” she said.

In her speech at the opening, Dr. Brown said that the CARICOM Secretariat was very pleased

with the pace of the preparations and the achievements to date by the Host Country Management Committee in relation to marketing and promoting CARIFESTA and developing the conceptual map and logistical arrangements for the Festival.

These, she said, included an innovative new element introduced by Trinidad and Tobago of involving major artists such as Machel Montano, The Voice and others as Brand Ambassadors for CARIFESTA. She also commended the host country for negotiating an excellent line up for the “Island Beats” Super Concert well ahead of the Festival.

The RCC will also be discussing additional matters at this sitting, including creative industry development and a Draft Regional Development Strategy for the Cultural Industries in CARICOM developed in 2012. The Cultural and Entertainment Services Strategy for CARIFORUM, completed in 2017, will be reviewed and discussed.

Reparations for Native Genocide and Slavery and the use of cultural development in the Region’s strategy to reduce poverty and achieve inclusive and equitable sustainable development, will also be featured on the meeting’s agenda.

The RCC first met in June 1987 in Trinidad and Tobago.

ollowing the arrival of 140 Venezuelan migrants in Georgetown last Wednesday, the Department of Citizenship in collaboration with its international partners and other Governmental agencies has been working diligently to provide the migrants with temporary accommodation, meals, medical and other services.

According to the Public Information and Press Service Unit at the Ministry of the Presidency, the majority of those who were being housed at Eve Leary have since been released into the care of their relatives. Presently, arrangements are being made to find housing for 45 persons, including 34 males and 11 females, who do not have any family connections on the coast.

Additionally, housing arrangements are still being worked out for the 26 persons squatting along the Non Pariel foreshore.

Meanwhile, in an effort to protect the migrants from possible exploitation, the Immigration Department has established a protocol to vet persons claiming to be family members.

At Monday’s meeting of the National Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Committee, Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix informed that a special committee is being set up to explore the option of transforming the Papaya Centre, located in BarimaWaini, Region One, into a facility for migrants; noting that “the greater the inflow of migrants, the more pressed we will be to find space”.

Additionally, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) will be seeking permission from the relevant authorities to renovate an abandoned hostel at Kumaka, Region One, to house migrants, particularly since this is a region where the inflow is greater.

The Committee was also informed that a primary school is being constructed at Eteringbang, which will accommodate about 60 migrant children.

As a result of the influx of Venezuelans, the regional health and education systems have been spread very thinly to cater to the needs of migrants.

Based on recent reports, there has been an addition of 50 students at Paruima in Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Region Seven. Taking into account the vast increases in the school system, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is working with the Education Ministry to roll out a project that will see Guyanese teachers being trained to teach English as a second language to Spanish-speaking students.

Technology is also being heavily relied upon to better manage the influx of migrants. In fact, the IOM has informed that a mobile application called “MIGAP” will be launched to make more accessible; all pertinent information regarding migrant support services that are available in Guyana.

To date, there are 5863 documented Venezuelan migrants in Guyana.

Men jointly charged for robbing undercover cop T hree men who were separately charged for robbing a police constable were on Tuesday charged jointly for the offence.

Keston Duke, 21, of Bent Street, Werken-Rust, Georgetown; Joshua Austin of Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown and Michael Shepherd made their second appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday, where they were jointly charged.

The three denied the offence which stated that on December 15, 2018, at Second Street, Alberttown,

while they were in each other’s company, they robbed Julius Bowlin of a gold chain worth G$21,000 and a pistol with six rounds of ammunition valued G$125,000 – property of the Guyana Police Force.

The trio was also charged for wounding Bowlin during the commission of the robbery.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh on each of their prior hearings had objected to bail citing the seriousness of the offence and the fact that Austin has another assault matter in another court.

Reports in December 2018 had stated that

Bowlin was performing undercover duties next to a nightclub when he was robbed and later stabbed. The attack was captured on a nearby Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera. The stolen gun was later recovered in a garbage heap in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The cases were adjourned to May 2 and 7, 2019, when the trial will commence.

Duke and Shepherd were released on G$50,000 bail each on Tuesday by Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus. Austin was remanded to prison.

42 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

New GCCI President concerned about unstable political situation

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ewly elected President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Nicholas Boyer on Monday told a news conference that he is worried about the political uncertainty that exists in Guyana after the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Government on the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018.

According to Boyer, he as well as the entire country is in suspense as to what will takeThe newly-elected members of the GCCI executive. From left are Kester Hutson (Treasurer), Deodat Indar (Immediate Past President), Nicolas Boyer (President), Shaleeza Shaw (Junior Vice-President), Anije Lambert (Secretary) and Timothy Tucker (Senior Vice President). place in Guyana should the Caribbean Court of The new President Chamber, Deodat Indar, had subsequently asked Williams.

Justice (CCJ) rule that what happens if the arWhile Justice Rishi also made reference who will serve as a past the House to reverse gument that the no-conthe motion of no-confiPersaud on Friday dispresident on the Board, the passage of the mofidence motion was valto the Members of dence was, in fact, validmissed the appeal and tion, but its Speaker, Dr idly passed is upheld and Parliament who have informed that the busily passed. conferred with the ruling Barton Scotland, had you have passed the condual citizenship, who ness community has “I do recognise the declined the request. of the High Court, his written to both President stitutional deadline for should be replaced acfact that I am taking As such, Government colleague appellate judgGranger and Opposition elections.

So now you cording to Opposition up the presidency at a time when there was have a successful deci- Parliamentarian Juan Leader Bharrat Jagdeo moved to the High Court es allowed the State’s on the political status of to challenge the valid- appeal. Both Justices some uncertainty, there sion, it would mean in Edghill.

Cummingsity of the motion, say- Yonette “I am concerned that the country. this probabilistic scestill is some uncertainEdwards and Dawn ing that a 34 majority is nario that the Court of if the Opposition starts Indar explained that ty because you have the needed for it to be sucGregory opined that the letter sought to inAppeal was wrong and to raise arguments and Appeal Court of Guyana form the two leaders that cessfully passed. while 33 is the majoryou should have had does whatever they handing down a decision Acting Chief Justice ity of the 65-member which, it’s clear that the elections then by March need to do to try and get the Chambers is ready to the dual citizens out of lend support in whatevRoxanne George had, National Assembly, the 21 so what happens Opposition of Guyana in January, upheld the successful passage of a Parliament that puts us er way it can to improve then in that scenario? did not find favour with.

December 21, 2018, pas- no-confidence motion reBecause I don’t have an back into a state of unthe current situation, as Now clearly they are setsage of the no-confidence quires an “absolute mathe main objective is for answer for it”. certainty so my core (conting themselves up to businesses to have a stamotion, ruling that in jority” of 34, and not the cern) here is anything Boyer reminded that head to the CCJ to chal“simple” majority of 33 ble operating environGuyana’s 65-member that puts me in a state of a recent survey conductlenge the decision of the that has been used to uncertainty where I can’t ment.

National Assembly, a ed by the Chamber found Appeal Court,” he added. pass ordinary business majority is 33.

This, howplan easily,” he posited.

Following its pasthat the political climate The new Head of the ever, was appealed by in the House. has been bad for busiMeanwhile, forsage in the National GCCI pointed out that Attorney General Basil Assembly, Government ness. mer President of the “the curious thing is

Study finds abuse of elderly persons increased in 2018 in Guyana

A

study conducted

by ChildLink in 2018 has found that abuse against the elderly has been on the increase. This was revealed on Tuesday evening at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, Greater Georgetown, when the findings from the survey were shared with the public.

Chairman of the advocacy group, Kosi John, who shared an overview of the report said, “as in those of the low-income group and also among the under aged and very young, abuse of elderly, women and children has been on the increase”.

John went further to say that urgent attention must be focused on the plight of the vulnerable group, who are often incapable of defending themselves and breaking out of the abusive environment.

The Chairman said he believes that abusive trends are linked to the fact that young people grow up seeing that someone should be hit when they do

Murdered: Joyce Lewis

something that is not pleasing.

“Our young people are nurtured in the crucible of violence.

They see in their homes and on the streets, parents hit out at each other in settling disputes and their children in disciplining them,” he said.

John added that the trend must be arrested immediately before it consumes the entire population.

He noted that while helping victims is important, this may very well not be enough.

ChildLink Chairman Kosi John

“We have discovered that helping victims of trauma to find the words to describe what has happened to them is profoundly meaningful, but usually is not enough.

The act of telling the story does not necessarily alter the automatic physical and hormonal responses of bodies that remain hyper vigilant, prepared to be assaulted or violated at any time,” the Chairman explained.

For real change to occur, the head of the advocacy group be-

lieves that those victims must learn that danger has passed which will ultimately help them to live in the present.

A huge sensitisation operation he said will be required to help those victims.

John stated, “A massive education campaign needs to be embarked upon to educate persons, particularly young people, that violent behaviour is wrong, unacceptable and a breach of one’s fundamental human rights”.

Religious and other leaders, he noted, will play a vital role in helping to achieve this objective.

A few months ago, the elderly parents of Ethnic Relations C o m m i s s i o n , Commissioner Neaz Subhan were left traumatised after five bandits, two of whom were armed with handguns, broke into their home.

Meanwhile, after weeks of delay and professing his innocence, 26-year-old Kevon Alfred in February 2018 admitted to killing 75-year-old re-migrant Joyce Lewis at her home at Lot 3630 Christiani Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

State Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs told the court that Alfred was an unwanted guest, who had entered Lewis’s home, strangled her to death, robbed her home, and used her mobile phone to sell the items to a witness, who was set to testify.

Before sentencing him to 23 years in prison, Justice Singh told Alfred that even

though he had pleaded guilty, he showed no sign of remorse.

According to reports, Lewis’s lifeless body was found in her home by Police and her sister, Veronica Deen, on the morning of March 26, 2014. She reportedly was also found with her underwear pulled to her ankles and dark marks around her neck.

Five months after Lewis was killed, Alfred was arrested and charged with the murder. Reports are that Alfred’s fingerprints were among several that detectives had found in the slain woman’s home.

On the other hand, the executives at the Georgetown Public Hospital and the Linden Hospital Complex have been complaining of the number of elderly persons being abandoned at the institution. This phenomenon has been linked to the fact that relatives of many elderly persons are unable to cope with the responsibility of taking care of them.

NEWS 43

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s new health strategy to improve range of services offered – CMO I

t was recently announced that Guyana has been lagging behind in terms of the health services it provides and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud, has assured that the Public Health Ministry is seeking to address this issue in its new health strategy for the years 2020 to 2030.

This was revealed by the CMO during a recent interview with this newspaper.

According to him, the health strategy will focus on implementing a range of new services that are currently unavailable to the public.

“We are in the pro-

cess of developing a new strategy for 2020 to 2030 and in that strategy, we are looking at really trying to improve the range of service that is offered in the public health sector and in collaboration with the Private Sector,” he explained.

The CMO did not divulge many details on the soon to be ready strategy but would only say that the Ministry is currently in the process of assessing the current Health Vision, which expires in 2020.

“We are aligning our new strategy to our National Development Strategy or the Green Development Strategy along with the oth-

er global health strategies, both PAHO and WHO have strategies that extend worldwide under the Sustainable Development Goal we are particularly focused on goal number three and we have some key areas there that we need to address.”

As was pointed out in a recent interview, the CMO said he hopes to have issues such as the alarming maternal mortality rate addressed.

Health Vision 2020 addresses the continuation of efforts to curtail communicable diseases in Guyana. Strategic actions include the strengthening of vector control services through

Dr Shamdeo Persaud

the establishment of a unified framework and strategic information system for vector-borne diseases.

Health Vision 2020 was drafted in the early 2000s to guide national health plans for the years 2013 to 2020. The seven-year plan aimed to “improve the timeliness, accessibility and adequacy of the supply of essential, quality, safe, costeffective, scientifically

sound drugs and medical products to health facilities in all the regions” and “improve service delivery through the establishment of Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks as the foundation for renewing primary healthcare and ensuring the continuity of quality, integrated and accessible care aligned to the needs of the population” among others.

Notably, Health

Vision 2020 had targeted the reduction of modifiable risk factors and premature mortality from chronic diseases.

Under the previous Administration, Guyana had recorded steady progress over a tenyear period in improving health outcomes for Guyanese. Specifically, Guyanese were living longer, children had increased chances of survival, the epidemic of HIV/AIDs, malaria and tuberculosis was being brought under control through an aggressive national response and, overall, the country was on its way to meeting most of its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) health targets for 2015.

Guyana’s national health agenda since 2008 was guided by the National Health Sector Strategy (NHSS) 2008 – 2012.

The National Health Sector Strategy 2008 – 2012 targeted the vision – “Guyanese citizens be among the healthiest in the Caribbean and South America”.

44 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

US exorcist finally drives Trinidad ‘buck’ away (Trinidad Guardian)

T

he buck mys­tery in Gas­par­ il­lo has end­ed af­ter an Amer­ i­can ex­or­cist in­ter­vened and chased away the “spir­it” which Kr­ ish­na Mathu­ra says was tor­ment­ ing his fam­il­y over the past sev­en months.

Mathu­ ra, from Hill­ top Dri­ ve, Gas­par­il­lo, vis­it­ed the T&T Guardian’s San Fer­nan­do of­fice yes­ ter­ day to ex­ tend his thanks, say­ ing he and his fam­ il­y were now sleep­ ing bet­ ter since Er­ ic Pugh, an Amer­i­can na­tion­al who is a trained as a se­cu­ri­ty con­sul­ tant, vis­ it­ ed their home. Mathu­ ra said Pugh be­gan us­ing en­er­gy to cast away the spir­it, which took the form of a buck, on Thurs­day around 6 pm. He said from the mo­ ment Pugh did his work the house felt bet­ter.

“Peo­ple all over call­ing me to say the buck is now by their home.

They say they took away the spir­ it but that is not so. What­ev­er Er­ ic did I could feel the dif­fer­ence,” Mathu­ra said.

Examining…

Y

Krishna Mathura, right, his wife Balmatee and son Govinda at their Gasparillo home.

One man even made a blood sac­ri­fice to the crea­ture us­ing his own blood, but Mathu­ra said he was thank­ful to every­one who pa­ thised with them. He al­ so sym­ de­nied that he had lied about the buck due to an on­go­ing land dis­ pute with his rel­at­ ive. He said 15 years ago, the land on which he lived was in dis­pute but this end­ ed years ago and both he and the rel­at­ ive in ques­tion now had their own deeds.

…the verdict

In an ex­clu­sive in­ter­view with Guardian Me­ dia, Pugh said he er­ gy to dri­ ve the spir­ it used en­ from the house.

“You have to track it and pin it.

That’s what I did,” Pugh said.

“It was good that every­ body tried to help that fam­i­ly. If peo­ ple come it would not stay in the house. It was go­ ing back in the back. I iso­lat­ed it and used en­er­ continued on page 47

our Eyewitness still hasn’t gotten over the decision handed down by the divided Court of Appeal on the Government’s contention that the Chief Justice had erred in the High Court when she ruled that 33 was the majority in the 65-member Assembly!

Imagine that!! But to reach that verdict the Chancellor and Justice Gregory-Barnes had to twist themselves into legal pretzels by dividing folks into halves, “rounding” them back “whole”, and then throwing in “one more” for good measure!! God knows where that “one” would come from!!

Your Eyewitness was reminded about those complicated contraptions that were conjured up

by Rube Goldberg to perform the simplest of tasks.

For example, there was that “self-operating napkin machine” with at least twelve moving parts that included a spoon, a piece of bread, a bird, a scale, a hook…etc just to wipe one’s lip!

It’s not surprising that, the judges have been ridiculed by writers and caricatured by cartoonists – not to mention being hooted at by even those who didn’t get past “lil ABC”!! After all, how difficult would it have been for even two fishermen divvying up their catch of 65 fishes to figure out who gets the “majority”? All they’d have to do would be to put one fish alternately into their respective “quakes”, and then the last fish left would be added to the quake that now has the majority of fishes!! No need to cut up the fishes into halves and then join them up again!! Their pals who might’ve gone on to do first form “sets” in “maths” would’ve informed them that the 65 fishes were the “universal set”, and that the divvying up would form two subsets, let’s call them “yes” and “No”, and the one that gets the last fish would be the majority!!

The point which the Justices refused to consider is that there are different mathematical operations to handle different realities, and not just one that has no bearing on the reality. People can’t be divided into halves, unless you’re the Texas Chainsaw Murderer. They are discrete units, and you have to use the appropriate mathematical operation when “dividing” them. Things like temperature and height are continuous variables, and you can divide to your heart’s content to compare them.

But what the two Judges did was to exceed their remit – which is to INTERPRET the Constitution, not to ADD to it by adding the word “ABSOLUTE” to the word “majority” in Art 106 (7). Sure, there’s a thing called “judge made law”, when the law is tweaked in a certain direction, but not this massive insertion into the Constitution – the highest law in the land.

That violates the separation of powers! …the application The AG’s in seventh heaven after the Appellate Court upheld his plea to save the Government from the ignominy of being ousted because of his faux pas. He claimed he’d known of the “cutting up bodies in halves” doctrine, when Nagamootoo and Volda were throwing in the towel, but he didn’t bring it up at the time — for reasons he still hasn’t disclosed!!

Anyhow, who’s your Eyewitness to begrudge his moment of glory after his loooong string of failures?

But surely he went overboard when he announced the Appellate decision meant “business as usual” for the Government. And your Eyewitness isn’t even thinking about the CCJ hurdle that lies ahead. More about the swathes of disenchantment exposed in their traditional constituency during their frenetic campaign, when they tried to fill with dew what rain didn’t full!! Their previous neglect has been noted.

All the appellate Court has given the PNC-led Government is more time for their weak underbelly to be exposed.

Between now and election time, the PPP will be just raking in the disaffected. …the unanimous verdict While there was disagreement between the High Court and the Appellate Court on what’s a “majority”, there was unanimity that dual citizens have to be expelled from the Assembly.

Let the casting out begin!!

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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46 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Hundreds show up at Govt outreach

…housing number one issue

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esidents of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) had the opportunity to meet with several Government officials and Ministers to have their concerns addressed in a “Meet the People” outreach hosted at the Square of the Revolution, Brickdam, Georgetown on Wednesday.

Dozens of Guyanese from Georgetown and communities nearest to the capital city stood in long lines to get into the venue which had several booths, along with staff and materials waiting to assist citizens.

The booths ranged from Government Ministries to various Government departments and service units.

The outreach saw members of the public interacting with Ministers Ronald Bulkan, Valerie Patterson, Winston Felix, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Amna Ally, Nicollette Henry and Keith Scott, among others earlier in the day. Other Ministers joined later in the afternoon to meet with the concerned citizens.

The Department of Housing’s booth was the busiest and was active all day as scores of persons raised issue about house lots and the need for more of the Government low-income homes.

Guyana Times International spoke with a few of the persons who supported the idea as being one that helps to keep the citizens close to the Government. Brenda Bowman said “finally they are trying to meet the citizens of Guyana to discuss issues that are affecting them. Too long

they have been sitting in their offices and people have their issues to be addressed. Right now I come to address a situation with the Ministry of Communities…But we have a whole lot of issues we need to deal with. I don’t think they can deal with all these issues in one day, but they are making an effort,” she said.

Two female senior citizens, who asked not to be named, expressed satisfaction with the fact that the outreach is now being hosted in Georgetown. They both said they attended the outreach to check up on their housing applications.

While some persons were able to file their applications or have their

issues rectified, a number of them did not get past receiving a number to enter the event, only to be turned away. One such person is a father and husband, Ishmael Benn, who told this publication that although he had taken time from work to attend the outreach, he did not get the opportunity to meet with the Minister.

Benn, 51, said he applied for a house lot some 16 years ago and has still not managed to get a word, much less to meet with the Minister.

According to him, the Ministry had called his wife once explaining that they had made an error, but subsequent visits to the Ministry did not serve a purpose.

Publicity stunts

Instead, Benn who has served in the Guyana National Service, Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force, said he has been going to the Ministry for 16 years for a piece of land. “Every time we try to get to the Minister, she is not available and every time they keep these publicity stunts she is still not available, because I was in the line… they telling me that the numbers are finished and the have a certain number that could only deal with. Why me a Guyanese can’t get land and Venezuelans getting.”

Benn said he does not support the turn-key initiative because he cannot afford it and he would prefer if he is given a plot of land to build what he can afford for him and his family. “The turn-key houses are too expensive.

With one turn-key house, I could build two houses on a land.”

Luckily for Benn, a Ministry staff heard the interview and intervened. He was lat-

er given the opportunity to speak with Minister Valarie Patterson. The father of one said speaking with the newspaper was helpful since it brought the attention of the Minister and team to meet with him.

He said, “I live in Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, and house lots supposed to be given in Region Three and I have applied for that because I’m from that area. I do hope and I am thankful for this crew interviewing me because as a result I feel like I’m getting somewhere after 16 years. Thank you.”

M e a n w h i l e , Citizenship Minister Winston Felix said the response was overwhelming, explaining that it is nothing new that the Government hasn’t done before. According to him, the activity is the second of its kind, since two years ago it was launched at Square of the Revolution.

It later spread to places like Corriverton, Essequibo and Linden.

“It is consistent with

Government’s policy to take the services Government offers to the public. You might be well aware of the fact that we have decentralised the immigration passport services and you might be aware also that the Guyana Revenue Authority has also decentralised it office in outline district,” he added.

Felix said Government will continue to take these initiatives to the people in an effort to provide a better and more comfortable life for all Guyanese.

Campaigning on State resources The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) coalition has been criticised on several occasions by the Opposition and independent political commentators for campaigning heavily on State resources; a blatant abuse of taxpayers’ money and a possible violation of the law.

Recently, 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).

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.

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.

47

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Checkmate

from page 44

US exorcist finally drives Trinidad I ‘buck’...

gy so that I could make it talk. We were ac­tu­al­ly get­ting in­for­ma­tion from it. It is a spir­it which can trans­form from the spir­ i­tu­al di­men­sion in­to the phys­i­cal.”

He added, “When I went there with my crew it was very strong. The spir­ it went out of the to house and ran up in­ the wood­ed area. I asked it who sent it and it told me.”

Pugh said he was hap­py the fam­i­ly was now sleep­ing well.

“I check on them to make sure there is no back­ lash. I have ex­ or­ cised 1,400 demons. This one was not that hard, I dealt with it us­ing en­er­ gy,” Pugh said. ed that the He not­ spir­ it, when it trans­ forms, would look small and this was why every­ one be­ lieved it was a buck. How­ev­er, Pugh said it was a spir­it and not a buck.

M e a n­w h i l e , Caribbean folk­ lorist Al Ram­sawak says de­pres­ sion could have trig­gered nom­ the strange phe­ e­non of the Gas­par­il­ lo Buck, which trend­ ed for more than a week on main­stream and so­cial me­ dia and sparked an avalanche of cre­ative ad­ ver­tis­ing across T&T. Ram­ sawak, who in­ ves­ti­gat­ed and doc­u­ ment­ ed sto­ ries of the buck phe­nom­e­nons i­ ous parts of across var­ ing the 1980s, T&T dur­ said he found it cu­ ri­ ous that chill­ing folk­lore sto­ries were again grip­ ping the na­tion at a time when T&T was fac­ ing ris­ing un­em­ploy­ment, high crime and so­cial up­ heaval, sim­ i­ lar to what oc­curred in the 1980s.

“The sto­ ry was that man, who was the Buck­ about 18 inch­ es tall, had the mag­i­cal pow­er to make you rich. It was said that a man from sir had a buck Mon De­ but when he died, his got to feed the wife for­ ed to buck and it start­ ter­rorise peo­ple,” Ram­ sawak said.

Vil­lagers re­port­ ed that the buck was bang­ing around in their homes, break­ ing glass and steal­ ing their food, the ex­act re­ports giv­en

by Mathu­ra and his fam­ i­ly in this re­cent case.

“At that time, peo­ ple kept their gates and doors locked. They were ter­ri­fied that the buck would come in­side. Then

port­ one day it was re­ ed that the buck had ap­ peared at the Rousil­ lac Pres­by­ter­ian school. The chil­dren ran to the edge of the school­ yard. He stood there at the edge of the cliff with a blank smile on his face and then he dis­ap­peared. At that time when I was in­ ves­ti­gat­ing I won­dered whether it was some sort of alien,” Ram­sawak said.

In ret­ro­spect, Ram­ sawak said he was now con­vinced that de­pres­ sion and stress caused by un­em­ploy­ment could have been a mit­i­gat­ing fac­tor in the strange hal­ lu­ci­na­tions.

He added, “When you have a teenag­er in your trat­ house who is frus­ ed, he emits neg­a­tive en­ er­ gy. Some may say it may be a psy­chi­atric or psy­cho­log­i­cal prob­lem.

It could al­so be pos­si­ble that peo­ple who are bor­ der­ ing on sui­ cide could trig­ger this type of neg­ a­tive en­er­gy. Be­ing at home with­out em­ploy­ ment is stress­ful.”

He not­ed that hal­lu­ci­ na­tions are al­so linked to stress.

Ram­ sawak, who is now 86, said he found it cu­ri­ous that so many peo­ ple had gone to the Math­uras’ home to help rid them of the buck.

Asked whether he be­lieved bucks ex­ist­ ed, Ram­ swak said dur­ ing the pe­ri­od of French coloni­sa­tion, a group tle men known as of lit­ Buck­men worked the co­ coa fields in Rousil­lac.

“They used to walk across the es­tate and go to a pond to drink wa­ter.

They were strange men be­cause they were lit­tle.

Maybe this is where the ries of the Buck­ man sto­ orig­i­nat­ed,” he said. addRam­sawak ed that the chaos of the buck ter­ror of the 1980s led to the es­tab­lish­ment man Bar in of the Buck­ Rousil­ lac. He al­ so said he has been in­ves­ti­gat­ ing strange phe­nom­e­non since the 1960s and he is yet to come across a spir­ it.

“There are spir­ its, good and bad. If you be­ lieve in God, you will know that God is al­ so a spir­ it. There are bad spir­its and some­times ple guide these bad peo­ spir­its to at­tack oth­ers.

Most times it is a wispy sort of thing that you can­not see to­tal­ly,” he added.

n the last few weeks, as the countdown to March 21 drew closer, there was apprehension from some quarters that there might be “trouble” – as had occurred during the last two decades after the PNC disputed the outcome of elections. With great confidence, I assured my interlocutors there would be “no trouble”. The PNC, after all, were not trying to get the PPP out of office; while the latter and their supporters might be frustrated and even angry, they are in no position to “make trouble”.

It is a fact of the human condition that when an individual’s expectations are unfulfilled, a frustrating situation is created when he becomes aware of the forces preventing him from achieving his goals. In general, the emotional response to frustration is anger. The individual in attempting to reduce his frustrations may intensify his attempts to achieve his goals. When the frustrating situation affects many or all members of a particular group – as the Government’s actions against the PPP supporters’ expectations for an early elections after Charrandas’ NCM – a group response may be elicited.

But much depends on the coherence and strategy of the group’s leadership, in this case the PPP. The strength of the anger instigated by the frustration varies directly with the perceived success for achieving the goals that were anticipated – here having elections

by March 21, 2019 – but not achieved due to the PNC’s delaying tactics and intransigence to uphold the dictates of the Article 106 (6). The majority of Indians didn’t really believe the PNC would voluntarily comply, based on their history of bullyism and this lessened the depth of their anger, dependent as it was, on the likelihood of them attaining their thwarted goal.

In general, however, the anger of the frustrated PPP supporters could have been expressed in a reaction continuum of apparent resignation, non-violent protest or civil violence, depending on the interplay of the mediating variables of what are called “social control” factors – which serve to inhibit the expression of anger into vi-

By Ravi Dev

olence – and “social facilitation” factors – which serve to encourage violent expressions. In the present scenario, the social control factors far outweighed the social facilitation factors, hence the resigned silence and sense of deflation in the PPP constituency that greeted the decision of the divided Appellate Court when it struck down the NCM on very specious grounds.

In “social control”, a major factor in the likelihood of an aggrieved group like Indians choosing violence to achieve its thwarted goals is its perception of the retribution, which may be unleashed against it. The retribution may be violence, discrimination, and deprivation of goods or freedom – all of which were used against the Opposition by the PNC during the 1970s and 80s. In terms of the PNC, it is not only their actual use of violence but their capacity to use it that is important. The PNC always had this capacity in and out of office and have repeatedly declared

that the members of the Disciplined Forces, which were built up and staffed during their dictatorial regime and are now being replenished, are its “kith and kin”.

PNC leader Desmond Hoyte is on record as saying without any fear of contradiction that the PPP only responds to “force and pressure”. The leadership of the PNC also acts on the premise that the leadership of the PPP – in addition to not possessing the capacity to use violence – does not even possess the will to do so. They expect the PPP to hark to the “principle of anticipated reactions” – of the armed forces and the lumpen elements in Georgetown – and call upon its supporters to “stay calm” and not to retaliate. The PNC Government is assured they have nothing to fear from this quarter.

Leaders have to appreciate the power implications on each ethnic group of every act that they perform – including rigging elections.

Power has two major attributes – resources and their mobilisation. The resources of the group include the group’s total numbers, physical and financial assets, social organisation, culture and belief system, and education and skills. But in Guyana, the PNC’s control of the armed forces, bureaucracy and the other state institutions trump the PPP’s mobilisation capabilities of its not insignificant resources.

Expect the PNC to now complete preparations to retain power post 2020.

48 Bollywood

Ranveer Singh on 83 prep: I am thoroughly enjoying this athletic lifestyle

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anveer Singh is extremely excited about his next film 83, directed by Kabir Khan. The film, which revisits India’s historic 1983 World Cup win, will see Ranveer playing former Indian cricket team captain Kapil Dev. To get Kapil’s body language right and understand the emotions of the team during their match against the West Indies and so on, the actor is taking training under former cricketer Balwinder Singh Sandhu, who played an important role in India’s first World Cup win under Kapil’s captaincy.

Ranveer, while talking about the practice sessions under Balwinder, said in a statement, “Sandhu sir’s validation is of utmost importance to me.

He is happy with my rate of progress.

My regimen is a combination of skills, training and physical conditioning. I am thoroughly enjoying this athletic lifestyle.”

Giving details on Ranveer Singh’s schedule, a source informed that the actor practices “for about 2 hours every alternate day with Balwinder Singh Sandhu. Post that, they discuss the mindset of the 1983 team during the tournament and dissect Kapil Dev’s captaincy that Balwinder saw from close quarters.”

“Ranveer’s cricketing skills have improved leaps and bounds under Balwinder sir’s training. Balwinder sir is extremely happy with how much effort Ranveer has been putting in at the nets. These two have just been relentless because Ranveer wants to ace the part and Balwinder is ensuring he

does that and wows everyone,” added the source.

In 1983 World Cup, Balwinder Singh Sandhu’s incredible delivery bowled Gordon Greenidge and gave the Indian cricket team under Kapil Dev a hope that they can beat the West Indies.

“It is an absolute honour to have him as the cricket coach for Ranveer.

Having won the world cup while playing under Kapil’s captaincy and seen him from close quarters, he has valuable insights about the game as well as Kapil. He is a legend in his own right and him overseeing Ranveer’s practice is incredible. From mastering batting and bowling skills to understanding the emotions that the team experienced during the tour, Ranveer will learn so much from Balwinder sir.

More than perfecting cricket, Ranveer will be mentally prepared to play Kapil because of the information Balwinder sir will share about the world cup and the entire team. Such true, inspiring stories will form the backbone of Ranveer’s prep for 83,” the source further informed.

Apart from Ranveer Singh, the Kabir Khan directorial also stars Tahir Raj Bhasin as Sunil Gavaskar, Saqib Saleem as Mohinder Amarnath, Ammy Virk as Balwinder Sandhu, Jiiva as Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Sahil Khattar as Syed Kirmani, Chirag Patil as Sandeep Patil, Pankaj Tripathi as PR. Man Singh and Hardy Sandhu as Madan Lal among others. (Indian Express)

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ohn Abraham’s love for bikes isn’t unknown. While we saw his biker avatar in Dhoom, the actor loves to ride the machine every now and then offscreen too. Now, John is set to take his passion one notch higher on the celluloid. He has teamed up with Ajay Kapoor to co-produce a biker movie that will be directed by Rensil D’Silva and will go on floors in the coming months.

The untitled film will be John’s third collaboration with Ajay Kapoor who has previously bankrolled the actor’s 2018 film Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran and the upcoming espionage thriller RAW (Romeo Akbar Walter).

John said in a statement, “A story around motorcycles is very close to my heart. This is a story about human relationships. I decided to develop a film on riders and their love for motorcycles in-house two years ago. A lot of research and time has been spent on the subject since then. I am happy to have Ajay Kapoor and Rensil on board for this project. I am especially excited that we will film the action sequences in the Isle of Man, the home of racing

on real roads!”

Director Rensil added, “I have grown up on films like Days of Thunder and Top Gun and it is a dream come true to make an adrenaline pumping, emotionally charged bike racing film like this with John.”

The film is currently in pre-production stage and will begin shooting from July this year. The makers informed that apart from John, the rest of the cast is being finalised.

Laurence Skelly, Enterprise Minister of the Isle of Man Government, commented, “The Isle of Man is the home of road racing and, whilst the TT is what we are principally known for, we also have a rich series of annual races on our roads which draws crowds from around the world. We are pleased to welcome this interest in our Island and the proposals build on both our motorcycling heritage and our strong pedigree as a stunning location for TV and film. We look forward to John Abraham’s film presenting the Isle of Man to the vast Indian cinema audience for the first time.” (Indian Express)

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas enjoy rare day off with Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner

Rani Mukerji starts shooting for Mardaani 2

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ani Mukerji delivered an outstanding performance in Mardaani, and the actor is now set to shoot for the film’s sequel. In Mardaan 2, Rani will be seen as a Superintendent of Police who is locked in a vicious battle with a 21-year-old merciless villain.

Rani played Senior Inspector Shivani Shivaji Roy in 2016 film Mardaani, fighting against child trafficking and drugs.

As Mardaani 2 went on floors, the first look of Rani was revealed by the makers.

In the film, Rani will be locked in a game of cat and mouse with the villain who is extremely clever and knows no mercy or empathy. Rani started shoot-

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ing for Mardaani 2 on March 26 in Mumbai.

Mardaani had Tahir Raj Bhasin playing the main antagonist. Produced

by Aditya Chopra, Mardaani was helmed by Pradeep Sarkar and also starred Jisshu Sengupta and Saanand Verma. Whereas, Mardaani 2 will be helmed by debutant Gopi Puthran, writer of the first Mardaani film.

Mardaani 2 is produced by Aditya Chopra. (Indian Express)

riyanka Chopra Jonas is on a family vacation in Miami and her photos from the trip are couple goals for her followers on Instagram.

On Tuesday morning, the Quantico actor shared a series of photos with husband Nick Jonas, brotherin-law Joe Jonas and his girlfriend Sophie Turner. Nick’s brother Kevin Jonas could

also be seen in the pictures.

“Making hay while the sun shines…” wrote Priyanka as she posted a lovesoaked photo of herself and Nick. The other photos featured Game of Thrones star Sophie and Joe posing on a yacht. “Best day off ever!!! @nickjonas @joejonas @sophiet #jsisters …” read the caption on PeeCee’s Instagram post.

On the work front, Nick Jonas is shooting for Jumanji’s upcoming installment after tasting massive success with “Sucker”.

Priyanka Chopra has completed the shoot of Bollywood film The Sky Is Pink and her YouTube original series If I Could Tell You Just One Thing was released on March 27. (Indian Express)

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ritish-Indian actor Dev Patel has revealed he is tired of being criticised for “stealing” roles from “real” Indian actors.

The 28-year-old actor, who was born in London to parents from Gujarat, India, said he is trying to understand himself better by connecting to his heritage.

“I get flak sometimes because people will say, ‘Why aren’t they giving these roles to a real Indian?’ I wonder, What does that even mean? The only way I can converse with my grandparents is in Gujarati. Does that make me real enough? Or am I only allowed to wit-

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essa Thompson will be seen in the much-awaited Avengers: Endgame, Marvel has announced. The actor plays Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and first appeared in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok.

The studio made the revelation on Tuesday through the 32 Endgame character posters.

“One Month. #AvengersEndgame,” Thompson shared the still on Instagram.

Fans have long suspected Valkyrie’s appearance in the upcoming tentpole sequel as she was seen travelling to the

ness the moments of prejudice and racism going through airports? Is that the only bit that I’m allowed of the culture?

“The truth is I’m trying to understand myself better and my heritage, to figure things out, in the movie choices I make. That’s been the greatest thing for me in going to India repeatedly,” Patel told San Francisco Chronicle.

The Lion star previously confessed he “reconnected” with his Indian roots when he starred in the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire. In 2016, he later said that he could never really fit in as the locals “could smell the foreigner on me”. (Indian Express)

Endgame set with Chris Hemsworth’s Thor.

Marvel successfully managed the suspense as neither the character nor Thompson’s name was included on the film’s official poster, which released earlier this month.

The character posters also include those who did not survive Thanos’ finger snap in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War”.

Posters for the living ones such as Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), Steve Rogers / Captain America (Chris Evans), and Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) are in colour, while the dead ones, Peter Parker / Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) are in black-and-white.

The stills, with hashtag #AvengeTheFallen, also revealed that Letitia Wright’s Shuri did not survive the snap.

Endgame is set to hit the screens on April 26. (Indian Express)

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Hope I can continue to be a good partner to Priyanka: Nick Jonas

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inger-actor Nick Jonas says he and his wife, Indian star Priyanka Chopra, are navigating through their newly-married life and trying to be a constant support for each other.

Nick, who tied the knot with Priyanka in a dual ceremony in India in December, said he is trying his best to be a “good partner”.

“Well, I think that we both obviously look out for each other in every way that we can. And I think as we’re continuing to navigate married life together, we’re figuring out exactly what and how we can be the best support for

each other. And so far, it’s been amazing and having that partner, that life partner, is just an incredible thing and makes everything way better.

“So, I’m just hopeful that I can continue to be a good partner to her and whether that’s emotional or physical health, I want to be that teammate in everything,” the former Disney star told Huffington Post.

Nick has recently reunited with his brothers– Kevin and Joe — to revive their band the Jonas Brothers, while Priyanka is busy shuffling between India and the US courtesy her work commitments. (Indian Express)

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im Burton’s live-action version of the Disney animated film Dumbo hits Indian screens on March 29. Starring Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green and Alan Arkin in pivotal roles, Dumbo is the story of a baby elephant who is mocked in a circus because of his oversized ears.

Farrell plays Holt Farrier who is asked to take care of the elephant, and eventually his kids form an unbreakable bond with Dumbo. Holt lost his left arm in the First World War and upon his return, he discovers that his wife is dead and the circus has been taking care of his kids.

“By the time he comes back, his wife has passed away and his children were raised by the circus. He has also lost his left arm in battle, so he is both physically and psychologically wounded. He comes back to a life he doesn’t recognize. He doesn’t know how to deal with the grief of having lost his wife,” Colin Farrell said.

This is the first time that Colin Farrell will be collaborating with director Tim Burton. Burton said, “(Holt is) war-damaged. He is missing an arm. say yes,” Peele said while speak- He used to be a star. He hasn’t seen his ing to students at Upright Citizens kids and he doesn’t really know how to Brigade Theatre.

Don’t see myself casting white dudes as leads: Jordan Peele

s director Jordan Peele is not interested in casting “white dudes” as leads in his films as he believes there are already too many movies focusing on them.

The director, who made his debut with Get Out, has once again struck box office gold with Us, about a family terrorised by their doppelgangers.

Peele said being a successful director gives him a chance to put minority faces on the screen.

“The way I look at it, I get to cast black people in my movies. I feel fortunate to be in this position where I can say to Universal, ‘I want to make a $20 million horror movie with a black family.’ And they

HOLLYWOOD 49

talk to them.”

On Farrell’s casting, the ace filmmaker said, “To try and do that subtly and emotionally takes a certain type of person, somebody who understands drama, comedy and emotion, all mixed together. It is a subtle part, and those are sometimes the hardest ones to do.

Colin’s great because he did it, he really understood the mixture of all of those things. Plus, he can ride a horse onearmed, and you can’t say that about everybody. He was a real collaborator, and really fun to work with.”

Dumbo is the first out of three liveaction adaptations by Disney this year.

Dumbo will be followed by Aladdin and The Lion King.

“I don’t see myself casting a white dude as the lead in my movie. Not that I don’t like white dudes, but I’ve seen that movie.”

With the success of black directors in Hollywood, Peele said it has brought about a renaissance in storytelling.

“It really is one of the best, greatest pieces of this story, is feeling like we are in this time – a renaissance has happened and proved the myths about representation in the industry are false.”

(Indian Express)

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Nigeria make history after sealing U-19 WC spot

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hey were 91 for 7 at one stage in their chase of 139 against Sierra Leone Under-19s, but Peter Aho did the trick for Nigeria Under-19s to give them a two-wicket win and a place at the Under-19 World Cup - or any global cricket tournament - for the first time.

The result gave Nigeria an all-win record in the Under-19 World Cup Qualifier Africa Division One competition, played in Windhoek, with hosts Namibia ending second, followed by Uganda, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Tanzania.

Namibia took on Kenya in one of the other matches on the day, and won by 198 runs they scored 194 for 5 and bowled the opponents out for 96 - to boost their net run-rate in a big way, and a loss for Nigeria would have put the home

The Nigeria players celebrate after booking their berth at the 2020 U-19 World Cup ESPNcricinfo Ltd

side in the World Cup. That looked like the case when, in response to Sierra Leone's 138, Nigeria slipped to 33 for 3, and then lost their seventh wicket with just 91

on the board. But Aho, who had earlier returned 2 for 49, did it with the bat too, walking in at No. 8 and scoring an unbeaten 21 from 32 balls to take Nigeria past the

target with 34 balls in hand.

Earlier in the game, after George Ngegba won the toss and opted to bat, Sierra Leone rode on Haroun Kamara's 58

16-team CONCACAF Gold Cup line-up set A glimpse of Guyana’s final qualifier match against Belize on Saturday last

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he CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers came to an end on Sunday with nine more teams sealing their fate, after Guyana had so done by staging their biggest win to date on Saturday evening at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, WCD. The 16-team roster is now set in stone ahead of the lucrative 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Haiti, Canada, Martinique, Curacao, Bermuda, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica, El Salvador and Nicaragua have finished in the top 10 of the 34-team table, and will join Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, United States and Trinidad and Tobago in this summer’s tournament.

The day started on a historic note, with Bonaire earning their first win since 2014 with a dramatic 2-1 home triumph over British Virgin Islands. Jermaine Windster gave Bonaire the lead in the 7th minute, only for Jamie Wilson to pull level in the 76th.

Windster later rose to the occasion and scored a dramatic winner in the 88th minute to earn Bonaire the three points.

Up next was Grenada, who travelled to Puerto Rico and got

the best of the Boricuas 2-0, thanks to goals from Antonio German in the 27th and Arthur Paterson in the 74th.

Things took an interesting turn in the third match of the day, when Bermuda took down hosts Dominican Republic 3-1 in a winner-take-all affair in which the victor would punch their Gold Cup ticket.

The home side had a dream start with an Enmy Pena goal in the 3rd minute, but Bermuda showed their character by scoring three unanswered goals through Zeiko Lewis (15th), Nahki Wells (64th) and Justin Donawa (74th) to clinch Bermuda’s first ever Gold Cup appearance.

Canada was back, flexing its scoring muscles in a 4-1 home win over French Guiana. Junior Hoilette got things going in the 11th minute, but French Guiana did not back down, and pulled level after a Kevin Rimane goal in the 26th minute.

The final hour of play, however, belonged to Canada, who got scores from Lucas Cavallini in the 39th and 51st minutes and Jonathan David in the 41st, to finish second in the table.

In a battle of teams that

clinched Gold Cup berths, hosts Haiti edged Cuba 2-1, thanks to a late goal. Duckens Nazon scored his sixth goal of CNLQ to make it 1-0 to Haiti in the 26th minute, but Cuba responded in the 61st minute through Luis Paradela.

Just when it looked like things would end in a draw, Kevin LaFrance scored in the 87th minute to give Haiti the three points and first-place finish in the table.

The night ended with a thrilling finish that saw Nicaragua punch the last Gold Cup ticket with a 1-0 win over Barbados, courtesy of a Juan Barrera goal in the 65th minute.

The 2019 Gold Cup will be the biggest-ever edition of the event, with more participating nations (16, up from 12 in 2017), and more host countries (three, including first-time matches in Costa Rica and a yet-to-be-named Caribbean nation).

Meanwhile, the group drawing for the Gold Cup will be hosted on 10 April 2019 in Los Angeles, California, United States.

Guyana stormed their way into the Gold Cup for the first time ever last Saturday night, after defeating Belize by a 2-1 margin.

in 60 balls from No. 5 to stay in the fight. John Bangura chipped in with 21 and Osman Sankoh 24 as they put up what looked like a low total but turned out to be very

competitive.

Nigeria struggled in response, even though many of their batsmen got good starts.

Olayinka Olaleye scored 16 at the top, Isaac Danladi 25, and Miracle Ikaige 22, but with Sankoh leading the show with the ball for Sierra Leone with 3 for 13 from his ten overs, the wickets kept falling.

It needed Aho's nerveless innings, in which he hit three fours, towards the end to complete the job for Nigeria.

Sylvester Okpe, the Nigeria captain, admitted to being "a bit scared" when the chase seemed to have gone off track, but told the ICC, "Today wasn't supposed to be tough, but the openers [Sierra Leone bowlers Sankoh and Ngegba, who got 2 for 24] made it tough and we almost lost our heads but at the end, we came out strong."

(ESPNCricinfo)

WIPA boss says ready to work with Skerritt for good of the game

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avell Hinds, president and CEO of the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA), says he is looking forward to a fruitful relationship with newly elected Cricket West Indies (CWI) p resident Ricky Skerritt, in a continued effort to ensure that the well-being of players is taken care of.

Hinds made the declaration while congratulating Skerritt and his vice-president Dr Kishore Shallow, who unseated Jamaican Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron and his vicepresident and running mate, Emmanuel Nanthan 8-4 in the elections on Sunday.

The 62-year-old Skerritt, a former St Kitts and Nevis tourism minister, will guide the association over the next two years.

Having seemingly enjoyed a fruitful working relationship with the previous administration, Hinds also lauded the contribution of Cameron and Nanthan during their three consecutive terms in office, dating back to 2013.

“We want to say thanks from a players' association standpoint to former president Cameron and former VP Nanthan, and to welcome and congratulate president

Skerritt and vice-president Shallow. It's a new role, it's a very big task; the challenges that face West Indies Cricket internally and externally are great and they have a big job to take on.

“WIPA is here to try to make sure that [what] we do from a players' perspective is aligned to the objectives of Cricket West Indies in trying to be the best team in the world. I would imagine that without even asking,” Hinds told reporters shortly after the electoral process at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

“So from a players' association standpoint, we are pretty much in agreement with a democratic process, and we are looking forward to working with the persons who are there. But we also are respectful of the fact that contributions have been made by former president Cameron and vice-president Nanthan, and so I want to tell them thanks and wish them all the best in their future endeavours,” he added.

The election was expected to be a nailbiting one with the possibility of both candidates ending up in a dead heat.

Prior to Sunday's votes Cameron secured continued on page 51

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Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup…

Dottin’s brilliance, Knights’ resistance completes B’dos title defence Kyshona Knight anchored the Barbados innings

Kycia Knight looked in good touch for Barbados Team Trinidad celebrating after Barbados were 0-2 Story and photos by Brandon Corlette

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ed by the destructive Deandra Dottin, who smashed 73 and grabbed 6-43, Barbados regained their Super50 title in defeating Trinidad and Tobago by 28 runs at the Enmore Community Centre Ground on the East Coast Demerara.

Kycia Knight and Kyshona Knight contributed 133 runs, scoring contrasting half-centuries that revived the Barbados total to a respectable 242-7.

The Trinidad reply fell short, finishing with 214 all out.

Having won the toss, Trinidad and Tobago captain Merissa Aguilleira elected to field first. The ladies in red got off to the perfect start, removing the dangerous Hayley Matthews with the fifth ball bowled, when she played a swipe and was bowled by Anisa Mohammed for a duck.

The Enmore pitch has been one of the slowest wickets, which suits spinners; it was the perfect scenario for the Trinidad spin attack.

The struggling Barbados opener Danielle Small fell for a duck when she was bowled through bat and pad

by Karishma Ramharack in the second over.

In came the Knight twin sisters, who dealt with the spin treat from Trinidad by adding 133 runs for the third wicket partnership. Kycia, the wicket-keeper was the more fearless

of the two, playing her shots with elegance. Kycia reached her half-century with a well-timed boundary through mid-wicket — a splendid innings of 77 from 88 balls, which lasted for 125 minutes and was decorated with eight boundaries.

After Kycia Knight was out, caught

by Lee Ann Kirby off the bowling of Ramharack, Deandra Dottin came to the crease with the score at 1335, partnering Kyshona Knight who reached her half-century in the process. Knight’s innings of 56 lasted for 135 minutes and came from 135 balls as she anchored the Barbadian innings after she was given an opportunity on 39 in a mis-stumping.

At 151-4, Dottin found a supportive partner in Charlene Taitt, and the pair added 86 from 56 balls. Dottin, the tournament’s most consistent batter, took a liking to the bowling of Windies spin queen Anisa Mohammed, smashing her for 15 runs in an over that contained two sixes in three balls.

She also dispatched off-spinner Karishma Ramharack for 15 runs, and took 18 runs off a Lee Ann Kirby over. This dominant force hit six gigantic sixes on the leg-side, and was dismissed for the first time in the tournament when her innings came to an end with some brilliance by Britney Cooper in the deep, completing the catch diving forward.

Batting for only 44 minutes, Dottin

smashed 73 runs from 43 balls, timing three fours and smoking six sixes.

That innings meant Dottin finished the Super50 tournament with 299 runs.

The Barbadians were happy with 242-7, after losing two wickets without a run on the board at the inception of their innings.

Bowling for Trinidad and Tobago, Karishma Ramharack had 4-37 in 10 overs, taking her tournament’s tally to 13 wickets. Anisa Mohammed had 2-45 sharing the new-ball with Ramharack.

In Trinidad’s chase, the openers lay the perfect platform, adding 50 runs for the opening partnership.

Rachel Vincent was the first to be dismissed, out caught and bowled for 10 by the tournament’s leading wickettaker Hayley Matthews, who pulled off a blinder. Felicia Walters then fell for a well-made 27, as Trinidad were restricted to 79-2 in 23 overs.

Stacy Ann King and Britney Cooper added a promising 44 runs for the third wicket; but King was given out leg before for 38, after which Cooper (23) became Matthews’s 17th wicket of the tournament.

Then captain Merissa Aguilleira came to the crease, and played positive cricket with her vice-captain Reniece Boyce. Aguilleira scored 32 from 31 balls, which included four sweetly timed boundaries.

That was the opening of the floodgates for Deandra Dottin, who picked

up three wickets in her seventh over.

Dottin, the world’s number one T20 all-rounder, was in top form, but Trinidad’s most consistent batter, Boyce, was standing between Barbados and an early victory.

At 193-8, the Trinidadians lost hope when Dottin proverbially rubbed salt in their wounds by finishing with six wickets, bowling Boyce for a top-score of 39.

The last six Trinidad wickets fell for 32 runs, and the ecstatic Bajans roared in delight when the ladies in red fell for 214 all out in 47.5 overs.

Bowling for the Barbados unit, Dottin had 6-43 in 8.5 overs, while Hayley Matthews had 2-31 in 10 overs, bowling two maidens.

Speaking after the match, Captain Hayley Matthews said the Barbados team are confident of taking this form into the T20 tournament. “I think the girls played well and give it their all,” she declared.

Matthews lauded Dottin for her brilliance with both bat and ball, since she had to overcome a shoulder injury prior to the tournament.

Meanwhile Dottin, who won her third ‘Player of the Match’ award, declared that this win meant a lot to her.

She added that bowling straight was her aim during her six-wicket haul. In closing her remarks, she declared that Barbados would continue to play fearless cricket.

WIPA boss says ready to work with Skerritt for... the nominations of Barbados, Guyana, and the Windward Islands, and that ensured him of six votes; while Skerritt had the backing of Trinidad and Tobago, the Leeward Islands and Jamaica, assuring him of four votes.

However, by the turn of events Cameron's allies had a late change of heart, as he lost two votes to Skerritt.

Hinds, a former Jamaica and West Indies batsman who was once a representative of the Kensington Cricket Club of which Cameron is president, was diplomatic in his response to the outcome.

“I don't know what took place within the offices or the boardroom of the JCA (Jamaica Cricket Association).

The votes were taken by secret ballots, so I can't know if they voted for [Cameron] or against,” he declared.

“It is a democratic organisation and I think today is another symbol that there is a democratic process that goes on. West Indies Cricket belongs to the entire Caribbean, and no one is

Wavell Hinds

from page 50

above the rules or the guidelines of Cricket West Indies.

“I don't know what happened in the West Indies boardroom of the six different member boards, they are the six shareholders... I was not a part of what they do, so I would have no knowledge as to what they do or did not do.

What I was interested in is to make sure that the process is fair,” Hinds emphasised.

With that said, Hinds reaffirmed his commitment to hold the CWI leadership accountable in ensuring that the players are always included in the effort to push West Indies cricket forward.

“As a special member of Cricket West Indies, we sat in the room to make sure that the persons who are in the chair understand the mammoth task that comes with it (the presidential post) and how important the players are, if not the most important assets.

“And [to let leadership know] that they (the players) are to be considered in whatever deliberation goes on, and to involve the players and their well-being front and centre, in terms of how they execute on the playing field,” Hinds ended. (Jamaica Observer)

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Women’s Super50 tournament

Guyana’s performance a reflection of poor female cricket structure – says Brandon Corlette

n the justconcluded Super50 tournament, Guyana finished with 10 points in five matches, registering two wins and suffering three heavy d e -

Sheneta Grimmond (Brandon Corlette photos)

feats. The top performers for the Guyanese were Berbicians – Shemaine Campbelle, who finished

with 211 runs, and Erva Giddings, who captured 1 0 wickets and scored 70 runs.

On reflecting on the performances of Team Guyana in the Super50 tournament, the showing was below par. Prior to this regional tournament, the ladies were engaged in the intercounty tournament that s a w Berbice reigning supreme. In contrast to the other countries, such as Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, where most of the players are exposed to competitive club and league cricket throughout the year.

The Berbicians play for the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), the Hilbert Foster-led Club, which facilitates the development of female cricket among other clubs in Berbice. Six of the

eight Berbicians in the team came from the RHTY&SC. Guyana began their campaign with a 69-run defeat against Trinidad and Tobago, losing in critical moments. The game that Guyana thought they had in the bag was against Jamaica as Shemaine Campbelle’s brilliant 111 eventually went in vain.

Guyana made fielding errors that proved costly, handing the Jamaicans a six-wicket win at Everest.

Unsurprisingly, Guyana got their first win of the tournament when they defeated the jaded Leeward Islands by 131 runs. In that victory, the Guyanese did not have a complete performance as they continued to display their flaws in the field, dropping sitters and misfielding.

The Guyanese returned to losing ways against Barbados when they lost by five wickets after failing to capitalise as top-order batters with the exception of Campbelle failed to

score significantly. The fifth and final round saw Guyana complete a 57run win over Windward Islands. Guyana attained victory over two of the weakest teams in the competition and within those victories, the team have not record- e d comprehensive and complete performances.

Apart from Captain Campbelle, who scored 211 runs at an average of 42.2, only Shabika Gajnabi scored more than 100 runs, ending the five matches with 136 runs at an average of 27.2. Sheneta Grimmond scored 71 runs in five matches, Melanie Henry had 24 runs, Akaze Thompson scored 30 runs and Lashuna Toussaint scored 18 runs in three innings, including two ducks – all specialist batters.

Opener Mandy Mangru played four matches and scored 63 runs, but the pacers from Berbice had more success with the bat compared to the few special-

ist batters: Tremayne Smartt scored 98 runs in five matche s and Erva Giddings scored 70 runs.

In the bowling department, the ex-

perienced leftarm seamer, Erva Giddings led from the front with 10 wickets in the tournament, the most by a Guyanese.

Giddings, who bowled the new ball, produced the early breakthrough on various occasions; she had 2-34, 3-39, 1-9, 2-52 and 2-14 in the five matches she played.

Grimmond was the second best Guyanese bowler, finishing with nine wickets in the tournament. Thompson had five wickets while offspinners, Plafianna Millington and Mandy Mangru had four wickets in the three matches

they took the ball.

Guyana will hit the reboot button when they open their T20 Blaze campaign against Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, March 28 from 14:00h at the National S t a d i u m , Providence.

The administrators of female cricket must p u t more i n t o the deGuyana’s leading run-scorer, Captain Shemaine Campbelle

velopment of the female game in order to reap fruitful results.

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Vikings sink PGABA/ Guyana’s Ramdhani Let’s Bet Sports rewarded for outstanding performances KO Tournament

– Kobras continue impressive run

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The Vikings are third-place runner-ups for the Second Division

t was a night of upsets as the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA)/ Let’s Bet Sports First and Second Division Knockout Tournament continued under lights at the Burnham Hardcourt, with two matches being played in the both divisions.

In the first matchup of the night in the

Second Division, the Pacesetters went down to the Vikings 69-77, with the losers practically handing the game to their opponents. The Pacesetters edged the Vikings in the first half of the match-up, winning the first quarter 16-15, but allowed the Vikings to outplay them to lead at the half 34-26.

However, Lady Luck

was not on their side in the second half, and the Pacesetters set a genuine pace which propelled them back into the game.

At the end of the third quarter, the Pacesetters were trailing by one point, with the game poised at 53-52.

Then the Pacesetters scored just 17 points in continued on page 54

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e c e n t l y , Ramdhani was bestowed with the honour of being named the Most Valuable Player and Athlete of the Year at the Kings University, as the institution hosted its awards night in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Winning more than a handful of tournaments in his time there, Guyana’s top badminton player walked away with a heap of awards which also included recognition for winning gold at the ACAC Championships and placing number one In Alberta, recognition for winning gold and bronze at the CCAA National Championships and placing number three in Canada and recognition for winning the ACAC All-Conference Award for outstanding achievement in the field of college sports in Alberta and for having been selected for the 2018-19 All-Conference Badminton Team.

Without a doubt, his awards will inspire him on the path to greatness, with international events such as the Pan-

Narayan Ramdhani poses with his raft of awards

American Games and 2020 Olympics looming ahead.

List of tournaments won by Narayan Ramdhani in his first year playing for Kings University: Silver (Singles) & 5th Place (Doubles) ACAC #3 Tournament in Alberta, Canada 2019

Gold (Singles) & 4th Place (Doubles) ACAC #2 Tournament in Alberta, Canada 2019 Gold (Singles) & 4th Place Doubles) ACAC #1 Tournament in Alberta, Canada 2018 Silver – Kings University Open Doubles in Edmonton, Canada 2018

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

CSK don’t have team meetings – Bravo

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dd this to the legend of MS Dhoni. If Dwayne Bravo is to be believed, there are no team meetings at Chennai Super Kings. They don't plan beforehand; they just rock up and rely on their experience to devise plans on the go.

A good example of it was how Bravo recovered from a poor start with the ball. He was brought on in the 14th over of Delhi Capitals' innings, which meant the unenviable task of bowling overs 14, 16, 18 and 20. It leaves no room for error, but Bravo made errors in his first over. The first ball was a slower one. Edged for four. Next one a wide down the leg side. Fourth ball was slower, and put away again, followed by a missed yorker that went for another four.

Seventeen runs in the over.

Dhoni, though, persisted with Bravo, who ended up with the wickets of Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan and Colin Ingram.

A chat between overs helped Bravo.

"Seventeen runs in the first over," Bravo said. "The first one was an edge. The second one was a low full toss. It was just a matter of poor execution on my part. I learnt from my previous over. The conditions were helping me in terms of not to use much variations but try to bowl a lot more seam-up. So, that was the game-plan and MS definitely wanted me to bowl a lot straighter with no slower balls. Just straight, on to the wicket, with good pace - and that's what I did in the second over.

"If you look at it today, I bowled a lot more effort balls than in other games.

Normally I bowl slower balls, a lot of variations, yorkers. But today the wicket wasn't suitable for those type of deliveries. Again, MS knew exactly what is required, and he

Vikings sink PGABA/ Let’s Bet Sport... from page 53

also knew he can count on me any time to deliver for him."

Surely batting with Dhoni, who is unlike other batsmen and takes games deeper than others, requires different planning for batsmen? "We don't plan," Bravo said, without any discernible hint of mirth. "We don't have team meetings. We don't plan. We just turn up, go with the flow on any given day.

So yeah we just watch the situation and adjust and adapt quickly. That's where the experience comes in."

That experience wasn't spoken of kindly last year by many, but now everybody is crediting that experience for their wins.

For example, Super Kings just knew they had to cause the damage with the new ball when they were batting because this was a slow pitch. Shane Watson carried out that damage and broke the back of the chase

within the Powerplay.

"We proved last season, you know, age is just a number," Bravo said. "Whenever people talked about the CSK team, they brought in the age factor. We are not 60 years old, yeah. We are 35, 30, 32... We are still young; we look after ourselves, we look after our body, and we have a lot of experience, and don't matter what, you can't beat experience in any sport, in any tournament.

In anything you just cannot beat experience.

"We know we are not the fastest team on the field. We play within our strengths, we know our weaknesses. We play smart. That is the most important thing. And we are well led by the best captain in the world, and he keeps reminding us that we're not the fastest team, but we can be the smartest team." (ESPNCricinfo)

the penultimate quarter, which was not a good finishing sign. The Vikings outscored the Pacesetters in the closing moments of the game by a mere seven points to take third place in the second division.

In the second game of the night played in the First Division, the Kobras were able to advance yet another step further as they were able to pip the Eagles, winning the match 62-60.

The Kobras matched the Eagles’ intensity basket for basket in the first two periods of the game, as the score read 32-20 for the Kobras at half time.

The closely-contested battle continued with the Eagles outscoring the Kobras 22-19 in the third period. The Kobras were able to keep the opposition at bay in the final period, despite the Eagles winning the final period 18-30.

On game night, matches continue at 18:30h and 20:30h.acesetters to cop 3rd

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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