Guyana Times International

Armed bandits rob ‘Guy-America’ of over G$2M

…owner assaulted

INTERNATIONAL

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017

ISSUE NO. 368

Imposition of new GECOM head heightens fear of elections rigging See story on page 3

...says Guyana’s Opposition Leader

President David Granger

Retired Justice James Patterson

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

“Short Man” gets 23 years for 2009 murder of fireman …as Judge ignores his pleas for leniency

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ACG-USA roasts President over unilateral appointment of GECOM Chair Page 11

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Imposition of new GECOM head heightens fear of elections rigging ...says Guyana’s Opposition Leader T he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) believes the President’s unilateral action in appointing retired Justice James Patterson as head of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is but the first shot in a pathway to a rigged 2020 elections.

As such, the Party has moved to setup an internal group meant to combat any rigging attempts by the David Grangerled Administration, including the early training of its polling agents among other measures.

The counter measures were announced on Wednesday by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who was at the time speaking at a media conference at his Church Street Office in

Georgetown.

Jagdeo was adamant that the fight for free and fair elections was not one for the PPP but for all Guyanese.

The Opposition Leader told media operatives that in light of what transpired over the appointment of the GECOM Chairman, the Party now has a healthy distrust for the list of voters.

“This is not about who wins the election,” the Opposition Leader told media operatives, as he disclosed that among the outreaches, the Party will also be reaching out to the United States of America, Britain and Canada.

According to Jagdeo, the PPP currently harbours concerns about the database at GECOM over what hap-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

pen in this period.”

The Opposition Leader in pointing to his party’s belief that Government is setting

the stage for a rigged 2020 elections, pointed too to fears over the potential tampering of birth certificates at the

Ministry of Citizenship headed by Minister Winston Felix.

“We are training our polling agents already,” he disclosed as the party prepares to ensure that votes cannot be stolen at the level of polling place.

Speaking to media operatives on the matter, the former President used the occasion to point out the furor that has been sparked across the country by civil society organisations, the Private Sector, religious leaders and individuals to speak out against the appointment.

Jagdeo insists the matter flies in the face of the rule of law and said the only persons in support of the President are from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

He was adamant about the President’s departure from the 25-year-old precedent accepted by both the PNC and PPP in the form of the Carter Formula.

According to Jagdeo, the President’s actions have “grave implications for our future and for the well-being of the country.”

“This seems to be the first shot in a path that would lead to rigged elections… that this is just the precursor of many other similar undemocratic acts that will follow that will lead to a denial of free and fair elections in Guyana,” Jagdeo told journalists on Wednesday.

He reminded that “this fear is justified continued on page 23

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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

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EDITORIAL

Scores of Guyanese turned out for the Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) and the Guyana Cancer Foundation (GCF) ‘Pinktober’ breast cancer awareness 5K/10K Walk Run last Saturday morning to show their support for Guyanese women living with and those who would have survived cancer. The event was the signature activity under the ‘Pinktober’ initiative – a month-long activity aimed at increasing awareness of breast cancer and pushing for more actions to be taken in the fight against the phenomenon.

Changing our political culture NY Governor announces cancer research initiative I

n light of the storm unleashed over President Granger’s unilateral appointment of former Justice James Patterson as Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, it might appear matters of culture may be farthest from the mind of the average citizen right now. But that would be a mistaken view, and in fact, “culture” in general and political culture in particular, lie at the heart of the storm – the eye of the hurricane, so to speak.

We all know “culture” is our “way of life”, and no matter how divided we may believe our country to be, there is a “Guyanese culture” and as part of this, a Guyanese political culture. That this may be one that plural, fractious and conflictual is beside the point: it would do us good for us to recognise that reality and deal with it face front. Refusal to do so just ensures perpetual political turmoil.

Political culture consists of the attitudes, beliefs, values and orientations about politics in a given population at any given time. In Guyana, our political “attitudes, beliefs, values and orientations” are dominated by ethnicity and our elections have been called with much truth, “ethnic censuses”. We have to just look at the blogs on the stories concerned with the GECOM chair issue to confirm that “race” still rules the political roost, contrary to those who have proclaimed the dawning of a “postracial” Guyana.

The structures of a political system, as in any social system, refer to the regularised activities, which make up that system.

These regularised behaviours are passed down during our socialisation, especially by our families when we are very young.

Consequently, while we may not be making explicit political choices as children, the seeds of such behaviour are already set; ready to sprout. Structures are comprised of roles which are guided by norms; the totality of norms or rules which govern a particular structure would be referred to as an “institution” – for instance the institution of the family that is the earliest socialising vehicle as mentioned.

To a large instance, if we want to change our political culture, we have to begin with the family. However, most overt interventions occur in the school/educational system, which is generally run by the State or which sets the curriculum. There has been a concerted call by several elements of civil society for a “civics” component that teaches widen civic virtues to be added in our educational system starting from the nursery level.

But while this has fallen on deaf years up to the present, it is not too late to begin.

At the overt “political” level, Parliament is a structure – set of patterned activities of its members, such as the Speaker, Clerk, etc, fulfilling roles defined by rules. Parliament is then, simultaneously an institution – the total set of rules that delimit its permissible activities. “Structure” is a more inclusive term than “institution”, since rules rarely describe the full range of incumbents’ activities. Political culture and political structures are two sides of the same coin and they interact continuously to shape, influence and direct each other. But even though the rules of the institution were designed to guide its members into a more nationalist responsible direction, of recent there has been a sad fall from such graces.

Political culture, structures and institutions are typically shaped by a nation’s history and evolve out of the interaction, disagreements and conflicts among social forces, as they attempt to resolve their common problems. In Guyana however, the political culture, structures and institutions were imposed by a colonial power whose concerns were not to solve the contradictions of the society but to rule and extract resources most efficiently for its benefit.

While there have been several institutionalised attempts to intervene and change our political culture, structures and institutions it is clear that what our country needs now is a “root and branch” approach. Maybe this latest crisis will convince the fence sitters to become involved.

…aimed at enhancing prevention efforts and improving access to treatment

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ew York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced a new data-driven, statewide initiative to examine cancer patterns and the potential causes of cancer in four regions across the state that have a higher incidence of certain cancers, a release from the Governor’s office stated.

Governor Cuomo traveled to Warren County and Staten Island to announce that the Department of Health will be reviewing cancer data, potential demographic and occupational factors, and will consult with the Department of Environmental Conservation on environmental factors contributing to these clusters of cancer incidences. The regional studies will focus on the eastern part of the state surrounding Warren County, western part of the state surrounding Erie Country, and in two regions downstate, including Staten Island and Long Island.

Warren County has the highest rate of cancer in the state, while Staten Island's rate is an anomaly compared to the rest of the boroughs in New York City.

According to the Governor’s office, these regional clusters were identified using the New York State Cancer Registry which is one of the most comprehensive in the United States and maintains over 50 years of data. The registry is Gold Certified by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries for its completeness and accuracy.

The Registry collects reports on cancer diagnoses from health care providers which include the anatomical sites of tumors, the stages at diagnosis, the cell types of the cancer, as well as the treatment information and demographic information of those diagnosed with cancer.

"A cancer diagnosis is the last thing anyone wants to hear from their doctor, and in order for New York to continue providing the very best care to help stomp out this deadly disease,

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

we need to invest in necessary research and development to improve the way provide care," Governor Cuomo said.

"The ongoing battle against cancer is a global challenge that will only be addressed by bringing top-notch medical experts and institutions together to find a solution. This investment and statewide study will open doors to new developments and shine light on what New Yorkers can do to improve the health and well-being of themselves and their families, as we continue to work toward a stronger, healthier New York for all," Cuomo added.

This new comprehensive effort will help identify the central causes leading to higher cancer rates in certain regions and ultimately help develop the most effective programs to prevent and treat cancer.

The state is budgeting up to US$500,000 to conduct the four regional studies, and findings are expected within one year.

As part of the review, the Department of Health will look within and around counties that have higher rates of cancer and work to detect patterns related to demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, or occupational factors. In addition, the Department of Environmental Conservation will inventory potential environmental threats in those communities. The agencies will collaborate on further evaluation, mapping, and data mining. DOH will use

the results of this initiative to enhance community screening and prevention efforts and support access to appropriate high-quality health care services in communities across the state identified as having high rates of cancer.

According to the Governor’s office, all New York communities have been impacted by cancer and the state has worked to ensure access to early intervention, cancer screening, and treatment programs. As part of this new initiative, DOH will work with the identified communities to connect them with these critical services.

The state funds a multitude of programs aimed at preventing, identifying and treating cancer. Through the New York Cancer Services Program, the state funds breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings and diagnostic services to uninsured and underinsured New Yorkers, which served over 25,000 New Yorkers in the 2016 fiscal year.

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "More than one million New Yorkers are living with a current or former cancer diagnosis and millions more have lost a loved one to this devastating disease.

These are sobering facts and exactly why Governor Cuomo is pursuing expansive actions to prevent, detect, and successfully treat cancer. These actions will help communities across New York better understand cancer and connect residents with critical services that save lives."

While the number of cancer diagnoses per year in New York have been rising, deaths due to the most common types of cancer, including lung, prostate, female breast and colorectal cancers, have been steadily decreasing. Increased access to cancer screenings leading to early detection and treatment means more diagnoses and fewer deaths, the Governor’s office said.

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

“Short Man” gets 23 years for 2009 murder of fireman …as Judge ignores his pleas for leniency

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rrol “Short Man” Williams, 33, who brutally chopped to death a well-liked and dedicated fireman on September 15, 2009, was given a prison sentence of 23 years for his crime. Wednesday’s sentence was handed down

by Justice James BovellDrakes at the High Court in Georgetown and he observed that society must be sent a strong signal for others to be deterred from such violent acts.

On the day in question at Lot 99 Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, the deceased fireman, Patrick Daly, was using an outdoor toilet in his yard when the accused, Errol Williams, and two other men who resided in the same yard, armed themselves with cutlasses and other weapons and proceeded to bang on the toilet door continuously. After Williams and his henchmen got the door open, Daly ran out and fled but the men subsequently caught up with him and chopped the deceased about the body using a cutlass.

Williams then fled the scene and was on

Errol “Short Man” Williams

the run for six years before finally being recaptured in 2015. He was living in Cayenne, French Guiana and made back and forth visits to Guyana. He even formed a relationship and fathered a child in French Guiana.

Before the sentence was issued, Williams was on the verge of tears as he told the court that

he desired to have a lenient sentence. “I am sorry for what I have done; I am begging you to have mercy on me. I am asking for a lesser sentence to turn my life around,” Williams noted, telling the court that he wanted to see his three-year-old daughter who was born while he was on the run from Police.

Justice BovellDrakes, while observing his calls for leniency, took into account Williams’ actions on the day of the attack, which the Judge termed as “disturbing”. The matter stemmed from a complaint that Williams’ live-in friend made against Daly which prompted him to react.

On this point, Williams

who had been barely audible, was now attempting to raise his tone over that of the Judge, which promoted Justice Bovell-Drakes to reprimand him.

“Do not speak, I have heard you!” the Judge remarked.

Justice BovellDrakes reminded him of the multiple injuries he inflicted on the fireman who suffered seven incised wounds, with one to the top of his head and others to his legs, around the knee, upper left thigh, one 17 centimeters on his buttocks and one to the ribs.

Daly’s official cause of death was given as haemorrhage and shock due to multiple incised wounds.

Before computing his sentence, the Judge highlighted that based on the evidence, the dead man had no knife and no gun to defend himself from the attack.

He added that based on Williams’ conduct, the court must send a message to the public that you cannot inflict incised wounds on others and “get away easily”.

The Judge started the sentence at 60

years but took away several years because Williams accepted responsibility and did not waste the court’s time when he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. Williams took the plea shortly after the 12-member jury was empanelled. Justice Bovell-Drakes told him that while incarcerated, he should take some time and pursue academic studies in order to be an example to others.

“Change your mindset,” the Judge warned.

Probation Report

In a probation report presented by probation officer, Ariana Gibson, Williams had a sheltered life growing up with his parents which was drastically altered when they separated, as he became “unsettled”. He too suffered separation when his own marriage lasted only six months. The court heard that he had no prior convictions.

Williams was represented by Attorney Maxwell McKay, while Prosecutors Mandel Moore and Orinthia Schmidt presented the State’s case. (Shemuel Fanfair)

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President Granger’s action geared towards establishing dictatorial regime in Guyana Dear Editor, On the night of October 19, 2017, Diwali night, the darkest night of the year, President Granger sworn in James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

This act went against everything that President Granger said he was looking for in a person to chair GECOM. But worse, it was a flagrant disregard of our Constitution.

The President told the Opposition Leader that he was looking for a young person. He chose a man that is almost 85 years old. He spoke about the person not being an activist in any religious body.

Patterson is a pastor and obviously promotes one religion. He also said that the person should not have strong ties to any party. Well, Patterson has very close ties to the A Partnership for National Unity/People’s National Congress (APNU/PNC).

His role at Desmond

Hoyte’s funeral puts him as a PNC insider.

The matter is much more serious than those deceptive actions of the President, where he said one thing but did something else. This is yet another blow to our Constitution. It is an act to consolidate an undemocratic Government and establish a dictatorial regime in our country.

One has to come to such a conclusion because this is not an isolated act.

It is a continuation of a series of unconstitutional acts since the PNC-led APNU seized power in 2015.

Just recall the amount of time that former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, had to go to the courts to defend our Constitution against its raping by the present Attorney General, Basil Williams.

It is also linked to the massive racial and political discrimination that has become a norm since

this regime took power. Thousands of Indian Guyanese have been dismissed from their jobs in the public service. Even cleaners and drivers have been chased out of the Ministries. A virtual ethnic cleansing took place in the public service.

The regime has also been engaged in destroying the institutions in our country. The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), which was set up to fight money laundering of drug money in particular, has been transformed into the political arm of the APNU/PNC regime.

Its main purpose is to harass political opponents and others whom they want to purge from the public service. They seem to have set out to deliberately destroy the careers of some persons by dragging them before the courts.

This act is anti-national as well as unpatriotic.

It is designed to strengthen the riggers in the

Elections Commission.

This body is rapidly losing credibility.

At the moment, a large part of its leadership is caught up in the scandal of corruption. The Auditor General’s report is devastating. The ripoff in the procurement area is enriching some.

Millions of extra money has been spent to buy pliers, batteries and radios that were not used.

No reasonable explanation has been yet given. It is known that before the Auditor General publishes his findings, the agencies are given an opportunity to correct or dispute the findings. The Elections Commission has not come out with any plausible explanation.

The APNU regime is also threatening constitutional heads. Last weekend we saw a statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in which she was critical of SOCU’s investigations.

The regime via its strongman, Joseph Harmon, appears to have threatened the DPP. In the media he is reported to have strongly disagreed with the DPP. He went on to add that the regime was taking note of what the DPP said. In the context in which he said it, it sounded as a threat to the DPP. It was a clear signal that she should shut up.

Most importantly, this is unpatriotic because this regime knows from the experience of the PNC days in power, that actions such as this will affect every aspect of life in this country.

This will impact greatly on our economy.

Investors will lose confidence in our country and not invest. Many will pull their investments and take them somewhere else.

This will lead to loss of job opportunities and further increase the already high and growing unem-

ployment level.

Since taking power, thousands have lost their jobs; most notably in the sugar industry where thousands are on the breadline.

This is not confined to sugar. Many local business people are shedding jobs as business has slowed down considerably. In the circumstances, the regime will try to put the burden on one set of people, mainly Indian Guyanese.

However, our experience should teach them that it is impossible to discriminate against one set of persons to help another, without hurting the very people they claim to want to help. Again, the PNC in power, 1964-1992, has taught us that. All will be affected. The swearing in of James Patterson in the night, the darkest night of the year, is an ominous sign.

Donald Ramotar, Former President

Economic and social gains made Govt’s engagement with in Guyana are being reversed workers’ unions ‘mere theatrics’ Dear Editor, The date October 18, 2017 will be a day that will live in infamy.

It will join the ranks of days like July 10, 1978, when the Constitutional Referendum was held or December 9, 1985, when one of the worst rigged elections took place. It will certainly be a date that Guyanese will remember with sadness for many years and generations to come. Historians will recall the day as the time when the APNU/AFC Government autocratic tendencies went into over drive and a day where the hard won rights of the people were trampled upon.

October 18, 2017 saw President David Granger do what many imagined was unthinkable and proceeded to appoint a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) outside of the 18 Guyanese nominees that were submitted by the Leader of the Opposition. The President, through his action, has displayed the sort of respect he has for our sacred Constitution and the nation’s developing democratic culture.

The President by his actions has catapulted himself to be worse than his idol – Forbes Burnham.

Burnham, though having questionable approaches to elections, ensured that Chairmen of the Elections Commission were appointed in keeping with the then law.

President Granger, on the other hand, has taken an approach on this important matter which is regarded as unconstitutional. President Granger has demonstrated that he is no Burnham; he hasn’t shown LFS’ tact nor finesse. The GECOM appointment has shown the President’s hand and his intention to move our country from a fledgling democracy to a full-blown autocracy.

But that was not all the unilateralism that was exercised. The Government of President Granger imposed for the third consecutive year, without the agreement of the union, a pay rise for public servants. The President, in his capacity as Opposition Leader railed against such an approach but now has turned around and done exactly what he said he wouldn’t do. He was so firm in that position that in the APNU/AFC manifesto (page 25), it said if the coalition parties were elected they would “Enforce the Principles and Laws Governing Collective Bargaining, in accordance with our commitments under the International Labour Organisation”.

Can the President and his lackeys be really taken at face value anymore? But the pay rise announcement was part of the carefully choreographed show orchestrated by the Administration. With one hand, they gave sprinkling seeking to distract

as they took away with the other hand Guyanese democratic rights and the trust they had placed in the elections machinery.

But if we weren’t convinced that we weren’t accelerating on the road to totalitarianism, we also saw last week the charging of Directors of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) on the trumped up charge of contempt. The Bank, which according to the media is contesting the charges through the Judiciary, is seemingly being targeted by the hounds as they seek to protect their customers’ privacy. That known fact that the bank was contesting the intent of the court order nullifies, in my view, any contemptuous behaviour by the bank’s directorate. Guyana is heading down a path and to a time which no Guyanese who lived through should have to relive and one which younger Guyanese need not confront. The euphoria of a ‘Good Life for All Guyanese’ has all but vanished and what we are faced with is economic decline, social reversal and steadily falling standard-of-living. To counteract this real situation, we have seen the ‘Iron Fist’ being deployed to maintain political power and the keys to the Treasury at all costs, no matter the implications or the consequences.

Yours sincerely, Patricia Persaud

Dear Editor, The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has taken note of the recent announcement by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, regarding the Government’s decision to impose for the third consecutive year pay rises for employees in the public service.

Depending on their income, the workers, according to the Minister, will receive increases of between 8 per cent and 0.5 per cent, since that’s all the Government could afford.

Our Union finds the Government’s expressed rationale insincere. We believe that, with more prudent spending and less extravagance and unnecessary expenditure, much more could have been found to give the workers.

In recent times, we have seen the multi-million-dollar rental of a condom bond; the more-than-billion-dollar expenditure on glorified drill square; the ‘greening’ of Government buildings and complexes; the erection of fences like the Great Wall of China; frequent non-essential travel by high-ranking Government officials; and chariot-like, luxurious vehicles for certain officials, among other things.

The GAWU strongly contends that the workers, especially those at the lower end, are deserving of much more substantial pay hikes. Nowa-days they must contend

with less disposable income and heavier burdens arising from the series of tax measures which have negatively impacted their and their family’s standard-of-living. We are very disheartened, too, that the Government, despite its clear-as-day commitment to respect and observe Collective Bargaining in the public sector, has chosen to forcefully impose its will on public servants.

The posture adopted smacks of clear disrespect for our Constitution, our laws, and relevant ILO conventions which have long been ratified by our country.

We see the engagement with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) as mere theatrics, meant to convey an impression of engagement.

The Administration’s advisors need to tell those in charge that there is a Grievance Procedure which clearly sets out the modus operandi in cases of breakdown and deadlock at the bilateral level.

Furthermore, beyond the GPSU, several other unions, including GAWU, represent workers employed by State agencies.

Our Union hasn’t had any opportunity whatsoever to engage the respective agencies with respect to the proposals.

While the Government has approved pay rises for its workers amounting to 28 per cent over three years, if we go by the Administration’s yard-

stick, it still represents just a little over half of what the Cabinet members received a few days after they assumed office.

That magnificent increase also has to be taken together with the several benefits and superb allowances they enjoy, including the recently contracted Medical Insurance which has seen State officials enjoying treatment in exotic places like Ireland. It is opportune to recall the discontinuance of the Specialty Hospital in Guyana.

But while it is said that we should be thankful for the little mercies, our nation’s hardworking sugar workers remain left in the cold. These workers, who face similar circumstances and realities as other workers, continue to receive pay rates last updated in 2014. They have suffered tremendously when account is taken of nominal and real declines in their incomes.

The GAWU, at this time, calls on the Administration to ensure that the naked and glaring discrimination comes to an end. We seek that the sugar workers benefit, like their compatriots in other sectors of the State’s employ, from a reasonable pay rise, which could be reached without further delay at the bargaining table.

Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

news 7

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Drunken motorcyclist granted G$IM bail for causing death of soldier

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The deceased GDF Lance Corporal, Devon Fraser

he allegedly intoxicated motorcyclist involved in a fatal smashup which claimed the life of a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) as he was making his way home from the Lethem Town Week celebrations one week ago, was on Wednesday brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Hilroy Pedro pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, detailing that on October 18, 2017 on Lethem Public Road in Central Rupununi, he rode a motorcycle in a manner danger-

ous to the public thereby causing the death of Devon Fraser.

Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield led the prosecution’s case and did not object to bail being granted.

The defence counsel in a submission for bail related that the defendant was a 39-year-old father of three permanently residing in Lethem, and was gainfully employed as a mechanic.

Pedro has no antecedents and was a well-known and respected individual in the Lethem community, according to his lawyer.

The defence counsel further contended that the accident was an unfortunate mishap as his client tried at all costs to avoid it. Moreover, the defendant was reportedly seriously injured, as he claimed that he was beaten by ranks of the Police Force. He appeared to be in dire pain when he appeared before the court.

Prosecutor Mansfield alleged that on the day of the accident around 02:40h, the defendant was riding home with his wife while under the influence of alcohol, proceeding south along the Lethem Public Road.

As the motorcycle passed the GDF headquarters, Pedro rode into the path of the now deceased man who was walking in the company of another. Fraser received severe injuries about his body and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Lethem Public Hospital.

Magistrate Latchman set bail at G$1 million, and the matter was transferred to be heard at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court on November 18, 2017.

Armed bandits rob ‘GuyAmerica’ of over G$2M …owner assaulted

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he owner of ‘Guy-America’ - a popular Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara (WCD) business - was on Wednesday evening assaulted by armed bandits just before his entity was robbed of approximately G$2.3M in cash.

According to information received from Police “D” Division Commander, Leslie James, the robbery took place around 20:30hrs.

This publication was informed that the owner of Guy-America, 61-year-old Mohamed Ali, of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, was in the process of closing his business when two bandits, one of whom was armed with a “long gun”, entered the store.

The suspects reportedly began to threaten Ali while demanding that he

turn over his cash and valuables. When the businessman hesitated, the bandit holding the gun sought to hit Ali several times over the head, causing the elderly man to bleed.

This publication was informed that the bandits, throughout the ordeal which lasted approximately 15 minutes, escaped with about G$2.3M as well as other valuables including Ali’s mobile phone.

They then fled the scene in a silver/ grey Toyota Premio which was waiting outside of the business premises.

Commander James disclosed that according to reports received, the perpetrators fled the scene in the western direction –heading to Parika.

Investigations are ongoing.

(Ramona Luthi)

8 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Be honest and do the right thing’

Joint Guyana-Suriname Commission to engage – Ramjattan urges CANU ranks African oil producers

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ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on Monday told ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) that they have to be prepared for the wave of intelligent criminals who are engaging in the narcotics trade.

He made the charge at the opening of the Unit’s annual counter-narcotics staff training.

He said the smuggling of narcotics was dangerous to the democracy of any nation and it hindered economic growth while taking away from the “human-ness” of the population.

“It is a completely evil thing dealing and smuggling in narcotics.

It has made billions for some people, but it had destroyed so many lives and so many families and the temptation for indulging in this kind of conduct is an extraordinarily dangerous undertaking,” Ramjattan said.

“We are in this war against drugs, and you are going to be our best soldiers in that war.

The training is important. I want transformational change in almost every Department of Government, including CANU, and that kind of transformational change

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

must come by you being prepared to do the honest and the right thing; the thing that will bring dignity to you and enhance your integrity,” he added.

He said that it was important that radical change brought radical impact and urged the CANU ranks to place special emphasis on the ethics and professionalism aspects of the weeklong training, adding that through professionalism great officers were made. The Minister urged the officers to take the moral high ground in order to improve the reputation of the Unit.

He told the officers that they must take the

initiative, since they were part of a Unit that dealt with the laws and ingredients of the offences they charge persons for.

“I am happy to see that this is going to be a continuous training and you will be in-house trainees to have a better understanding of the Act, the offences, the evidence you require, the manner in which you handle that evidence and how you marshal your facts to get the substantive convictions. Convictions are so important and I have watched the records and there have been many interdictions with investigations and sometimes as it reaches the court; our records must be improved as regards to convictions…and convictions is the big six you all want,” Ramjattan said.

Deputy CANU Head Lesley Ramlall underscored the importance of the training session while urging the ranks to make full use of the training. The ranks would be engaged in a week-long training session at the National Racquet Centre in Georgetown and would be better equipped to deal with investigations, charges and the laws that govern their operations.

From left: Natural Resources Ministry Legal and Technical Officer Joanna Homer; Suriname’s Natural Resources Minister, Regilio J Dodson; and Guyana’s Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman; and Suriname’s Finance Minister, Gilmore Hoefdraad

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atural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has returned from neighbouring Suriname following the New Petroleum Producers Group Annual Meeting held in Suriname from October 15 to 20, 2017 where the South American neighbours have agreed to a joint study tour of identified African oil-producing countries.

During the meeting, Minister Trotman met with representatives from the oil and gas institutions and agencies of Suriname, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone to share experiences for the benefit and enhanced development of the countries gathered.

During the meeting, country representatives shared innovative ideas

on petroleum management governance structures and geological experiences.

To advance efforts, Minister Trotman proposed a joint GuyanaSuriname study tour of Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone during 2018 when technical officers from Suriname would join their Guyanese counterparts and expand on initial discussions to further develop country-to-country exchanges.

It was agreed that the countries could benefit from sharing information and experiences on exploration programmes and development plans, which in turn would better enable Governments to optimise and manage petroleum reservoir development.

Canadian teen further remanded for heroin possession

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he Canadian teen who was earlier this month charged with being in possession of some four pounds of heroin hidden in her suitcase was on Tuesday fur-

ther remanded to prison when she appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

Yuniyka Bovell, 19, of Canada, who had been at the time of her arrest re-

siding in Guyhoc Park, Georgetown with her mother for nine months, denied the allegation when it was put to her.

The charge stated that on October 5, 2017,

at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), she had 1.602 kilograms of diamorphine (heroin) in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford objected to bail being granted to the teen given the seriousness of the offence. The teen was then remanded to prison.

However, on the defendant’s second appearance before the Chief Magistrate, Sandiford requested an additional three weeks for an analyst’s report to be provided to the Court.

However, Bovell’s Attorney, Siand Dhurjon, made a petition for full disclosure to the Chief Magistrate.

He further requested that the defendant be granted her pretrial liberty on the grounds that the prosecution has already been granted three weeks for the testing of the substance which it has failed to do to date.

Dhurjon added that the prosecution was fur-

Yuniyka Bovell

ther requesting another three weeks which is unfair to the teen who has already suffered two severe asthma attacks while in prison.

The Attorney disclosed to the Court that his client’s life was at risk as she was not receiving proper treatment.

However, Magistrate McLennan denied his request for bail and granted the prosecution an additional three weeks for the analyst’s report to be provided.

Bovell was further remanded to prison, and was expected to appear in court again on November 14, 2017.

The representatives agreed that it was very important to gain increased understanding of the technologies that were most efficient in specific geological contexts.

The joint GuyanaSuriname study tour proposal was accepted by those in attendance and several follow-up actions have been agreed on to make the study tour a reality, with Chatham House being asked to take the lead on organising the upcoming activities.

Meanwhile, on Thursday last during his visit to the neighbouring country, Trotman met with his Surinamese counterpart, Regilio J Dodson and Suriname’s Minister of Finance, Gilmore Hoefdraad, to discuss areas of cooperation between the two countries.

Accompanying the Guyanese Minister was Joanna Homer, Legal and Technical Officer of the Natural Resources Ministry. The meeting aimed at identifying specific areas of cooperation and determining the next steps to optimising the cooperation process.

The Natural Resources Ministers of the two neighbouring countries will be the primary facilitators of the engagements.

Gold and diamond mining, bauxite production, water as a natural resource commodity, hydropower, agriculture, infrastructure, and oil and gas exploration, development, production and oil-spill response were among the key areas identified.

The meeting acknowledged the existing general cooperation agreement and working committee of Suriname and Guyana, but acknowledged that further attention is required on the specific areas as noted. A follow-up meeting is scheduled to be held in Guyana in November 2017.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Foreigners among 9 nabbed with highpowered rifles, ammo in Guyana’s Interior

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The suspects just before they were flown to the city for further interrogation

ine males, including three foreigners, were arrested on Tuesday evening following the discovery of two high-powered weapons along with matching ammunition and other prohibited items in Region One (BarimaWaini).

According to reports, after receiving information that a gang of armed men was in the Churches Landing Mining Community acting in a suspicious man-

ner and appeared to be a mix of foreign nationals and Guyanese, a party of Policemen from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in F Division (Interior locations) and ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard travelled to the Barima River, North West District (NWD), to investigate.

There, they underwent a stake-out for almost 24 hours before intercepting a metal boat

with four occupants, including the captain. The vessel was also towing a blue and grey fibre glass boat carrying another five passengers.

Upon searching the boats, the lawmen unearthed an AR-15 rifle and an AK-47 rifle, along with one magazine each, and a total of 19 live rounds of ammunition, one bullet proof vest and 1.5 kilograms of cannabis.

The discovery led to the arrests of nine sus-

The high-powered weapons and other illegal items found in the suspects’ possession

pects, three of whom are foreign nationals from Cuba, Jamaica and Venezuela. They are 53-year-old Delroy Mairs, a mason of Albouystown, Georgetown and of Jamaica; 33-yearold Rafael Ramon, a Venezuelan citizen; and 25-year-old Samuel Alvaroz from Cuba.

Meanwhile, the Guyanese suspects have been identified as 19-year-old Junior Jack, a sailor of Mabaruma, NWD; 38-year-old

Donstant Rodrigues, a boat captain of Mora, Moruca, NWD; 49-yearold Shawn Phang, a miner of Port Kaituma, NWD; 44 year-old Dexter Valensuela, also a boat captain of Crane, West Coast Demerara (WCD); 48-year-old Corwin Griffith, another boat captain of Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and 62-year-old Carrigon Khan, a boat captain of Pomeroon River.

The suspects were escorted from

Mabaruma to the Police Criminal Investigation D e p a r t m e n t Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, via air on Wednesday afternoon for further investigations.

According to the Police Force, these arrests are significant since there were reports of piracy a few weeks ago in the Waini River area, several miles from the Police Floating Base MV Tamakay.

Town Clerk defends handling of sexual assault case the incident, interviewed the victim and failed to report it.

At Monday’s Statutory Meeting, King read a prepared statement in which he sought to cast blame on the Committee for acting slothfully resulting in him reporting the incident to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for the commencement of a criminal investigation.

Mayor Patricia Chase Green

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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own Clerk Royston King has denied interrogating the teenaged victim who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a Lance Corporal of the City Constabulary in August and informed the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) that it was not necessary for him to submit a report to the Legal Affairs and Security Committee.

The incident allegedly occurred when a 15-yearold boy was taken into custody on August 17 and placed before the court on a charge of wandering. At some point during his detention, for reasons unknown, the minor was transferred to the Regent Street

Town Clerk Royston King

Outpost where the alleged incident occurred between August 22 and 23, 2017.

The alleged perpetrator has been dismissed for gross misconduct while his colleague, who claimed that he witnessed the assault, was also given the boot after he failed to report the matter to the relevant authorities.

Although the incident occurred in August, it was never reported to the Police until October 17. The matter was also brought to the attention of the M&CC’s Legal Affairs and Security Committee after one month, and City Hall has since been accused of covering up the incident.

There have also been calls for King to be disciplined, since he knew of

“The approximate one-month period with which the Committee was seized with the matter without a final report or recommendations could have possibly subjected the Council to an allegation of interference with the administration of justice, particularly in circumstances where the welfare of a child was involved where the Council, as is ev-

ery other institution in Guyana, mandated by law or morally to protect.

It is upon that a decision was made, by me, as the Chief Administrator of the Council and as Head of the Constabulary to turn the matter over to the Guyana Police Force,” King said.

However, this part of the statement did not go down well with Head of the Committee, Sherod Duncan, who pointed out

that the Town Clerk’s actions were unacceptable, since he failed to report the incident and was yet to submit a report on his ‘interrogation’. It was identified, and attested to

by Mayor Patricia Chase Green, that the work of the Committee is being stalled by the withholding of critical reports by Constables and King as well. turn to page 10

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Lethem Industrial Estate Two separately to become operational charged, jailed for by 2019 – Govt armed robberies

Site and Consulting Engineers providing Business Minister Dominic Gaskin with updates on the Lethem Industrial Site

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t a recent site visit to the Industrial Estate in Lethem, South Rupununi, Region

contractors, a few months ago. However, following the tour of the site by the consulting engineer,

ate impact for the Region.

Through this ‘incubator’, Gaskin explained that operators of small businesses will be provided a temporary space that they can occupy. “An incubator needs to incubate (develop) and then you move on and other persons come in and have a chance at inclusivity and also keeps its objective, which is not to keep a business at one level but to propel it into higher category of businesses.”

The Minister revealed that the plan was to create an industrial hub for the entire Region Nine and take advantage of that particular area and the huge market to the South, Brazil, which al-

to tie agriculture with the processing of products and other support services to an export strategy, which is being developed.

The Industrial Estate was scheduled to be completed this year, but had to be reviewed because works appeared to have been done haphazardly.

Also, the Estate did not initially cater for small businesses.

The Business Ministry has responsibility for industrial estates at Lethem, Belvedere, Eccles, and Coldingen.

The latter two have a combined total of 120 developed plots, which houses close to 60 developed estates providing jobs for about 4000 Guyanese.

Works being done at the Lethem Industrial Estate

Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), Business Minister Dominic Gaskin expressed satisfaction with the works being conducted. Roads, culverts, and drainage works are currently being carried out at the site.

There had been a decline in the pace of works being conducted by the

Minister Gaskin reported that the issue has been ironed out and works were almost on the original schedule.

According to Minister Gaskin, the world-class industrial site built on the outskirts of Lethem will be a source of employment for the community and also a business incubator with immedi-

lows for favourable access to a number of products in Guyana. This, he explained, will make an attractive investment prospect for both local and Brazilian investors, especially in the agro sector.

According to the Department of Public Information, Gaskin further added that the Government was looking

The main industries are wood-processing, cement and block-making, food processing, fish processing, furniture manufacturing, metal fabrication and pharmaceuticals.

In the 2016 Budget, G$212 million was allocated for the development and repair of the industrial estates at Belvedere and Lethem.

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twenty-one-yearold livestock farmer of Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Monday arraigned before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman on a charge of armed robbery, allegedly committed on Lethem Wilson on October 13, 2017 at Brickdam, Georgetown.

Unrepresented by legal counsel, the father of one pleaded not guilty to the allegation, which further detailed that while in the company of others, and armed with a dangerous weapon (a gun), he robbed the virtual complainant (VC) of two cellular phones and some G$3 million in cash, to a total of G$3.3 million.

Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves objected to the accused being placed on bail, contending that the seriousness of the offence and the penalty attached thereto should be considered among other factors.

The accused pleaded with the Magistrate to release him on bail pending the outcome of the trial. He explained that he has a family to take care of, and suffers from the medical condition of stroke.

He was refused bail, and is expected to return to court on November 6, 2017.

Meanwhile, 19-yearold Shabaka Williams, an unemployed youth of Durban Street Georgetown, was charged with armed robbery allegedly committed on Akeem Austin on August 31, 2017 on Hadfield Street, Georgetown. Austin is alleged to have been deprived of a cellular phone, a hard drive, and other articles valued at G$108,000; together with some G$1.4 million cash, property of Nigel Hughes and Akeem Austin.

Attorney-at-law Tiffany Jeffrey, representing Williams, asked Magistrate Judy Latchman to place the teen on reasonable bail pending trial.

But Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves opposed the granting of bail by citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence, and the fact that a weapon was used in the alleged commission of the crime.

Williams was refused bail, and will make his next court appearance on November 13, 2017.

Town Clerk defends... from page 9

King told the M&CC that he had since met with acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine, who has since committed to assisting the City Constabulary to build capacity. This involves training of ranks, possible secondment of officers from the Guyana Police Force to the Constabulary to help foster a greater level of discipline and more interaction between the Police Force and the Constabulary.

Reshuffling the Constabulary The Mayor said she was utterly dissatisfied with the performance of the City Constabulary, noting that she and King were the ones that have to face public criticism for the actions of every officer at City Hall. She said there was great need for a complete overhaul of the City Constabulary while issuing a stern warning to Chief Constable Andrew Foo, to start reining in his officers.

“Nobody is attacking the Chief Constable for

what is happening at the City Constabulary; they’re attacking me and the Town Clerk.

Everything is Pat and Roy, and nobody is blaming Andrew and Andrew must be held accountable for all his errors,” Chase Green said.

She said Foo needed to be more proactive in the execution of his duties and that all matters must be reported immediately to the Council as opposed to having to report on it after it would have surfaced in the media.

“The Chief Constable must take the flak for all that is happening here and from the investigations department right through everybody needs reshuffling. Chief Constable I’m saying to you, if you have to have help from the national police or the Guyana Defence Force, wherever, you have to have people seconded here to straighten out the Constabulary department; you must do it,” she said.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Homeless Diamond family to get new home …following Diwali fire

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ne of the teams attached to the Community Organised for the Restoration of the Environment (CORE) initiative which operates through the Public Infrastructure Ministry has embarked on a charitable mission aimed at assisting the family now homeless after their Lot 1892, 20th Avenue, Great Diamond, East Band Demerara home was burnt to the ground on Wednesday last.

It was reported in the media that amidst the Diwali celebrations, a fire, believed to be the result of children playing with explosives, ripped through the Singh’s family home on the East Bank of Demerara, completely destroying their possessions and leaving the five occupants without shelter.

The house was divided into two apartments – owner Carmalita Singh lived in the front half, while her daughter and three grandchildren occupied the other half that was separated by a wall.

After news of this unfortunate event made its way to the CORE team

The completely destroyed Diamond, EBD house

responsible for that area, the group reached out to the displaced family, offering assistance in the recovery efforts.

As a part of their undertaking, the team comprising of 10 members commenced clearing the rubble from the gutted house but ultimately seeks to aid the family in rebuilding their home.

With this aim in mind, the CORE group has made an application to the Public Infrastructure Ministry for support in sourcing the building materials needed to accomplish this mission.

Speaking to this publication on Monday was Travis Clarke, the leader of the East Bank

Demerara CORE initiative, who explained what prompted his team to extend a helping hand to the Singh family.

In doing so, he indicated that the group was engaged in a beautification project in Little Diamond, EBD, when they were made aware of the fire. As such, they took it upon themselves to aid the homeless family as their next assignment.

The team leader went on to explain that they began clearing out process on Monday and this is expected to last for two days. Given that they are awaiting confirmation from the Ministry, the group is unsure as to

whether or not they will be provided with the materials and therefore unable to say when the construction work will kick off. Nevertheless they are hoping for the realisation of this mission at the earliest possible date.

Clarke further pointed out that his team consists of a number of builders and contractors who will be able to work on building the family a new home.

The CORE initiative was established earlier this year, which saw 20 teams being employed throughout the various administrative regions so as to supplement the work of the Special Projects Unit (SPU).

Each group consisting of 10 members holds the responsibility of ensuring environmental upgrades, drainage, and sanitation improvements and the general aesthetics of the works being undertaken by the SPU. However, this is the first time the CORE team has taken on a project of such charitable nature and therefore sees this as paving the way for other similar ventures to follow in the future.

ACG-USA roasts President over unilateral appointment of GECOM Chair

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he Association of Concerned Guyanese (ACG) group in the United States has joined with other pro-democracy groups to condemn President Granger’s decision to unilaterally appoint the Chairman of GECOM. “In an unprecedented move, President Granger abandoned the Carter/ Price formula that was implemented for the 1992 elections, whereby the President would appoint a Chairman from a list submitted by the Leader of the Opposition.

We therefore call upon the Carter Center and other advocates who are committed to democracy to raise their voices and call upon President Granger to rescind his appointment, and to appoint a Chairman from the lists submitted by the Leader of the Opposition. The ACGUSA is well aware that at least one of the individuals nominated by the Leader of the Opposition (was) a former Chairman of GECOM, (whom) we have to conclude met the constitutional and “fit and proper” requirements,” the ACG group in the US said in a state-

ment.

“We also note that President Granger foisted his interpretation of the Constitution on the people of Guyana rather that adhering to the decision handed down by the Chief Justice (ag).

“The ACG-USA can recall the difficult struggles (waged) for over 20 years to restore democracy in Guyana. But by then the economy was damaged and Guyana was deemed as the poorest country in the western hemisphere. There is no way we are going backwards. We stand with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in its struggle to reverse (this) President’s decision. We stand ready with the Bar Association and other forces (to launch) a legal challenge to overturn this decision.”

The diaspora group also declared that its members “stand by all democratic forces to ensure that we do not return to the dark days of dictatorship.”

The Guyanese diaspora group (said it would) “continue to engage the leaders in Washington to join us in our efforts to keep Guyana free from sliding backwards”.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

UG receives G$100M Hess Corp sells off Int’l oil fields to focus charitable education grant investments in Guyana

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Chief Executive Officer John Hess

S-based oil exploration – Hess Corp – one of the ExxonMobil partners developing the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana has this past year sold off a large portion of its asset base in order to focus on its long-term development of its Guyana assets.

The company has executed some $2.7 billion in oilfield sales this past week as part of its strategy of giving up steady production to help fund what could be one of the world’s biggest discoveries into the next decade.

The oil explorer with operations on five continents said Tuesday that it’s selling North Sea assets off of Norway for $2 billion and seeking a buyer for wells off Denmark.

The news came a day after Hess sold drilling rights in offshore Equatorial Guinea for $650 million. Counting a June deal to sell properties in Texas, the New York-based company has sold off almost $3.3 billion in assets this year.

ExxonMobil Corp, the major partner in the Guyana venture, has said the initial building phase may cost $4.4 billion and take until 2020 to deliver

its first oil.

The divestments “all make strategic sense" and “will help bridge the sizable funding gap that Hess faces over the next few years," Capital One Securities analyst Phillips Johnston said in a note to clients Tuesday.

“These assets have not been competing for capital, so by monetising them, Hess will prefund part of the development of its major Guyana discoveries."

Hess through its transactions has essentially given up operations that produced 16 per cent of its total oil volumes and almost a quarter of its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, he said.

Hess is due to announce its third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

After opening the day up, the shares fell 2.4 per cent to US$44.14 at 00:34h in New York trading. Before Tuesday, the shares had fallen 27 per cent for the year, putting them among the10 worst performances on the S&P 500 Energy Index.

The total sales proceeds are also more than the explorer’s projected share of the Guyana project and some analysts have questioned whether the company was selling too much. Hess has estimated that its share of the project’s initial phase will be about $1 billion.

Hess in a statement said there would be other benefits – $500 million of the proceeds will be used to retire debt next year and the company also gets to cancel $3.2 billion in liabilities for closing and cleaning up the operations it’s selling.

Hess also announced a goal of cutting $150 million in annual expenses, a plan that will lower its per-barrel production costs 30 per cent by 2020, it said.

“We are focusing our portfolio on higher return assets and reducing our break-even oil price," according to Chief Executive Officer John Hess.

UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith (left) presented with a cheque for GY$45 million from Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

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Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday between the University of Guyana (UG) and the Natural Resources Ministry for the disbursement of a G$100 million philanthropic education grant for the year 2017-2018.

The Faculty of Technology, the Faculty for Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Geology Department of the University of Guyana will see a significant boost following the signing of that MoU. Vice Chancellor of UG, Professor Ivelaw Griffith said the process started several months ago, where the Natural Resources Ministry made a commitment to invest in the university through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

“One hundred million Guyana dollars was the first tranche of the investment and today represents the delivery

of that promise. The Minister (Raphael Trotman) presented a cheque to me for G$45 million,” he said.

The G$45 million will go to faculties and schools other than engineering and the remainder will be used to purchase equipment for the geology laboratories and to assist with curriculum development, training, outreach and field research.

“What we did today was to bring closure to that almost one year of negotiations and the Minister was quite laudatory in his intent not only to support what we are doing at the university not only in words but in deeds.”

The grant will also provide for the collaboration on placement of students internship attachments with the Commission and sharing of technical publications based on assignments of the programme done by scholars of the Commission.

Skeletal remains found in school yard

T&T mom tied up, strangled by intruder

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Couva mother was killed on Monday during a robbery at her home.

Savitri Harrylal, 52, of Cameron Street, Balmain, is believed to have been strangled by an intruder.

Harrylal was found with a cord around her neck, and her hands and feet bound with a plastic bag, police said.

Harrylal’s son, Adrian Harrylal said that he left his mother at home at around 2 p.m. to do errands.

He returned less than three hours later and found a door ajar.

As he walked into the house he saw several louvre glass panes from his mother’s bedroom on a couch in the living room.

He checked for his mother in her bedroom and found her on the

H Killed: Savitri Harrylal

floor, with the room ransacked.

Officers of the Couva CID and Homicide Region III responded.

Harrylal was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy is expect-

ed to be performed on her body at the Forensic Sciences Centre.

Harrylal was employed as a manager at Steal Away Travel Agency in Arima. The killing took the murder toll to 397. (Trinidad Express)

Undertakers removing the body found Friday last

uman skeletal remains were discovered in a clump of bushes in the compound of an abandoned school at Vryheid Road, Savannah Park in New Amsterdam on Monday morning.

The discovery was made by a contractor who had gone to carry out repair works to the school building, which had not been used since 2015, when the school was moved to another location.

Over the past two years, the building was vandalised and the compound taken over by thick vegetation.

Several rib bones and parts of limbs seemed to be missing from the skeletal remains. The remains have been taken to a funeral home as investigations continue.

Police are also trying to determine the identity of a man, whose body was removed from a clump of bushes along

the Matthew Allen Road in New Amsterdam Berbice on Friday last.

The body was found behind an abandoned building in the area. At the time of its discovery, the body appeared to have no marks of violence.

The police are seeking assistance in identifying the body which is at the Arokium Funeral home at Philadelphia Street in New Amsterdam. (Andrew Carmichael)

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Legal battle begins!

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he Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Monday filed an injunction in the High Court to rescind President David Granger’s unilateral appointment of retired Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on the grounds of unconstitutionality.

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall described the unilateral appointment not only as unconstitutional but illegal, null, void and of no effect. Nandlall said the PPP is also seeking a declaration that Justice Patterson is not qualified to be appointed in provision with Article 161-2 of the Constitution of Guyana.

“We are seeking an order rescinding, revoking, and quashing the appointment of Justice Patterson as Chairman of GECOM and we are seeking an order removing him from office and seeking an order directing the President to choose a person from the 18 names submitted to him by Leader of the Opposition or for the court to make an appropriate order that it deems fit,” he added.

According to Nandlall, the injunction was filed in the name of the Executive Secretary of the PPP and

…as PPP files injunction to rescind GECOM chair appointment

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall holding the injunction in his hand in the presence of PPP Member of Parliament Zulfikar Mustapha at the High Court Registry on Monday

Member of Parliament (MP) Zulfikar Mustapha, who is an elected official that has legal authority. “Nandlall told this newspaper that the matter has no facts that are in dispute. “There are only pure questions of law which are to be determined. So it should not take any long period of time to be determined. I mean of the legal

questions being raised here, have already been answered by the Chief Justice ruling in the Marcel Gaskin matter that was before the courts.”

Patterson, currently a legal advisor in the Legal Affairs Ministry, was sworn in a few hours after President Granger met briefly with Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo last

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week. Granger said his decision to select a GECOM Chairman was done in accordance with Article 161 of the Constitution for the appointment of a GECOM Chairman.

The Head of State said he informed Jagdeo during their meeting that he found that the third list of nominees submitted on August

25, 2017 was unacceptable within the meaning of the Constitution and that he had also paid careful attention to the ruling of the Chief Justice.

Asked why he decided to hand pick 84-year-old Justice Patterson for this position, the President said it is because of his extensive experience as a former Chief Justice of Grenada. “He has long judicial service and we feel that he is a fit and proper person. So it’s important for the reason I mentioned, that we bring this to an end and continue with the business of Guyana,” he added.

The decision has not gone down well with the political Opposition. During a press conference on Thursday last, Jagdeo announced that his party would be withdrawing its support from any form of cooperation with Government and would also mount a legal challenge to the appointment.

In addition to expressing his intention to raise the matter with the diplomatic community, Jagdeo indicted that the PPP will be calling on its support base countrywide for the national boycott.

The case has been scheduled to be heard before Chief Justice Roxane George Wiltshire on November 16, 2017.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

After lengthy delay Local Govt Commission finally sworn in

Former Town Clerk of Georgetown, Carol Sooba was sworn in as one of the LGC Commissioners

By Shemuel Fanfair

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fter years of delay, the appointees to the Local

Government Commission (LGC) were on Monday sworn in at State House by President David Granger, who reiterated that the move reflects his Administration’s commitment to good governance. However, the operationalisation of the body comes 19 months after the historic return of Local Government Elections in Guyana, and it ends a lengthy back and forth between Government and the Opposition over the non-functionality of the constitutional organ.

The Commission’s members are Mortimer Mingo, Clement Corlette, Marlon Williams, Jo Ann Romascindo, Andrew Garnett, former Local Government Ministers Norman Whittaker and Clinton Collymore, and former Georgetown Town Clerk, Carol Sooba.

In his short address, President David Granger offered congratulatory remarks to the Commissioners, urging them to execute their functions with integrity. He nevertheless noted that the appointment of the LGC will resolve disputes that may arise at the local government level, and added that this Commission falls in line with Government’s commitment to establish other constitutional bodies, including the Office of the Ombudsman, the Judicial Services Commission and the recently appointed Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The Head of State pointed out that the rights of all citizens will be respected.

“I pledge to ensure that the institutions mandated by our Constitution will continue to be honoured,” the President ex-

pressed.

He encouraged Commissioners to uphold their mandate which would promote confidence in the local government system.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan told reporters that the LGC will commence its work after members select a Chairman.

The Commission would, among other things, have control over who gets appointed as officials in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and other local authorities.

In addition, it would have to approve budgets for the NDCs. By law, the commission is to be made up of eight members. These members include four nominated from the Government, one from the unions and three nominees from the Leader of the Opposition.

The parliamentary Opposition had named its nominees to the Local Government Commission since last year. However, it was reported that the Government did not submit its nominations which resulted in deadlock. One of the first public deadlines that Communities Minister Bulkan gave for the body to become functional was at a press conference during the time of the March 2016 Local Government Elections. When asked, during the latter part of the month for an explanation, the Minister had moved the deadline to the end of June 2016.

In the Budget estimates for 2016, some G$30 million was allocated by the Government to the non-functioning Commission.

When asked, Bulkan had stated that this was to allow the Commission to operate independently to Central Government.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana, Suriname mull building joint oil facility

By Samuel Sukhnandan

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s time draws closer for Guyana becoming an oil producing country, certain mechanisms are being put in place to prepare for this new industry and one example is a plan to develop an onshore oil facility.

In an effort to get this started, Government has resumed dialogue with its eastern neighbour – Suriname – to look at the possibility of developing a joint industrial centre that will hopefully service both countries.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman told Guyana Times International on Monday that Government plans to make preparations for a feasibility study that will determine the location and size of the facility.

“We are hoping by the end of the year to hopefully start or finish a feasibility study to see where and what type of facility we are going to have. It is without a doubt we are going to have an onshore facility but it’s a matter of where and the design,” the Minister explained.

Some US$500 million has been mooted by the Government to build an onshore oil and gas facility at Crab Island, at the mouth of the Berbice River. The facility, which will largely support ExxonMobil’s offshore oil exploration and production operations, will include heliports and supplies, maintenance and transportation hubs.

Back in March, Trotman had stated that Cabinet had approved a consultancy whose report will guide the Government on the way forward on the matter of an oil refinery for the country.

The Minister revealed that there had also been some overtures from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for the refining of Guyana’s oil, and said he expects a formal proposal to be made from Trinidad and Tobago in this regard.

Trotman made the point that the current below optimum operating positions of Suriname and Trinidad bring into

stark focus the need for Guyana to be careful in considering whether or not to have a refinery.

However, while the Government had declared its unwillingness to build an oil refinery, after it was revealed by a US consultant that it was not feasible, they had welcomed private investors to submit proposals if they desire to build a refinery. But Trotman said no submissions have been made so far.

Meanwhile, speaking about United States supermajor Chevron’s intention to participate in offshore activities in Guyana, Trotman said the company has put in a good application for some acreage.

He said, “It is to be considered and I will be asking Cabinet in a few weeks for some guidance. But I would say it’s a very good proposal and it shows that Chevron as a world class company has very keen interest in coming into Guyana.”

Meanwhile, touching on the training opportunities provided to locals in the oil industry, the Minister said that process has started not only at the University of Guyana but other educational institutions.

“We are plugging little things like scholarships and asking companies themselves when they make applications to come into our country, as we are very keen on their corporate social responsibility, what are they prepared to give back by way of training and scholarships for young people rather than just saying they are coming to mine our oil and gold.”

Successful drilling by ExxonMobil raised the stature of Guyana, as the company on October 5 announced its fifth offshore oil discovery in a little more than two years. Guyana is poised to become a significant producer as a result of the growing string of discoveries.

The latest success is the Turbot-1 well, which encountered a reservoir of 75 feet of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone in the primary objective.

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Questions abound over Patterson’s controversial appointment

M

any questions still abound over the appointment of retired Justice James Patterson to the helm of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), including ‘Did he lie on his Curriculum Vitae (CV)?’ Another proffered question is whether the President acted callously since the timelines presented to the nation do not add up.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday raised the queries and pointed out that on the CV provided for the post of GECOM Chairman, it was pointed out that in 1987, Patterson had served as the Chief Justice of Grenada.

Jagdeo told media operatives that based on checks made by the Party, it is yet to substantiate this.

The Opposition Leader was handed a copy of Justice Patterson’s CV by President David Granger ahead of his appointment on Thursday last.

He has since told media operatives the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) now harboured apprehension

Retired Justice James Patterson

over “serious concerns raised about whether Justice Patterson was ever the Chief Justice in Grenada”.

The PPP General Secretary and Opposition Leader informed media operatives he has been in receipt of numerous communications with respect to whether the GECOM Chairman served as the Grenadian Chief Justice.

Cursory Internet searches by this newspaper indicate that in 1986 the post was held

by Dennis Byron (acting), who was succeeded by Sir Samuel Horatio Graham the following year.

“We are going to dig into it a bit more; we are going to try to con-

firm this, because that is on his CV that I have received,” Jagdeo said.

The Opposition Leader reported that information coming out of the Caribbean island from persons including lawyers that worked there during that time indicate that “they don’t know about this”.

He suggested to media operatives that if it was that Justice Patterson did in fact make a dishonest claim in his CV and “put something on his CV that is not true”, it would immediately disqualify “him from acting impartially and with integrity at GECOM”.

Jagdeo suggested that should this be the case, it

was reason enough for him to be removed from the helm of GECOM, since the President’s determination that he was ‘fit and proper’ was, among other things, based on his CV. “That was an influencing factor…that alone should make the President want to dismiss him if that is true.”

The Opposition Leader was adamant if this was not the case and the CV prepared elsewhere, “it meant that the President himself doctored the CV that was given to me, so either way something is wrong with this if proven true”.

Jagdeo told media operatives that there was information in the public domain to vitiate claims that Justice Patterson was in fact partisan given his association with the People’s National Congress (PNC).

The Opposition Leader in speaking to Patterson’s close ties to the PNC pointed to his treatment at the funeral of the late President Desmond Hoyte.

Jagdeo reminded that Justice Patterson at the time of Hoyte’s death and funeral had been part of

President David Granger

the inner enclave.

“At a private ceremony made up only of PNC members, if you look at the pall bearers there, a private ceremony he was there,” Jagdeo said.

He also drew reference to a social media profile bearing retired Justice Patterson’s image and information, which shares ties with PNC rally groups.

“His impartiality is yet to be proven, but from all we see he is partial and he is pro-PNC,” according to the Opposition Leader.

Jagdeo was also adamant “we have grave concerns about his impartiality and about the truthfulness about the

qualification”, based on emerging information.

Speaking to the questionable timelines presented by President Granger, the Opposition Leader pointed out that while it took weeks at a time for the President to consider his nominees – submitted in batches of sixes – retired Justice James Patterson was identified, considered and found to be fit and proper within a matter of hours.

Jagdeo as required by the Constitution, was obligated to submit six nominees for the President’s consideration and the President had requested the CVs of the persons nominated. continued on page 21

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Berbice family fearful after teen makes second attempt to burn their home

Marlon John

By Andrew Carmichael

A

New Amsterdam family has claimed to be now living in fear after a person who had allegedly perpetrated acts of terror against them was recently released from police custody, and is allegedly continuing to terrorise the family.

Tractor operator Marlon John, in a recent interview, told this newspaper that he saw the suspect leaving his premises last Wednesday evening. That was the same night when arson was carried out at his home at Lot 852 Glasgow New Housing Scheme, Greater New Amsterdam, Berbice.

John, 35, observed that the suspect, recently released from prison, is the son of a police officer, and had in the past been placed before the court for setting fire to the home in which John lives.

John’s neighbour had, in March, allegedly set fire to the toilet of John’s home and had broken several win-

dows of the home. On Saturday, when this publication visited, there was still evidence of the March fire.

The matter was reported to the police and the 19-year-old suspect was charged. He was subsequently sent by Magistrate Alex Moore to the National Psychiatric Hospital, where he was evaluated and then discharged.

According to John, the issue started when the 19-year-old suspect was forbidden from convers-

on the wall downstairs.

John explained that he had on Wednesday seen the suspect using a cutlass to damage the fence separating the two yards, and when he raised an alarm, he was verbally abused and treats were made on his life, as well as towards his wife and daughter.

According to John, he was also told that his house would be burnt with his family inside if he continued to obstruct the friendship between the two teenagers. Police

… Queen’s College named ‘School of the Year’ by CXC

Best Performer in Natural Sciences and Mathematics, CAPE 2017, Shannon Woodroffe

E The house at Glasgow

ing with John’s 15-yearold daughter. According to John, on many occasions stones have been thrown on to roof of his house, sometimes even in the wee hours of the morning.

Recounting what transpired on Wednesday night, John said he was awakened by a strange sound, and when he looked outside he saw his neighbour exiting the yard. He noted that when he ventured outside there was a fire

had arrested the suspect on Thursday.

Meanwhile, owner of the house in which John lives, Hardea Harrylall, also expressed concern at the situation, telling Guyana Times International that she has a lot to lose. The woman alleged that when she went to make a report, she was told that she could not report the matter since she is the landlady, and not the tenant.

Dartmouth resident nabbed with 168g of ganja during Police raid

P

Guyana bags 11 CXC Awards

olice from G Division (Essequibo Islands and Coast) have unearthed 168 grams of cannabis from the house and yard of a Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast resident during a raid on October 21.

The house of 29-year-old Sherville Clarke was visited by Police ranks who found a quantity of seeds and leaves suspecte d to be cannabis sativa (ganja) under a mattress. When Police approached Clarke, he attempted to escape.

A search was also carried out in the yard next to the bathroom and a black plastic bag was found which contained 17 green ziplock plastic bags and 16 blue ziplock plastic bags.

Each contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.

Clarke was told of the offence and was cautioned where he admitted his guilt. Police then observed that behind the bathroom, there was a small opening in the fence where there was a track that led to a clump of bushes about five feet away from the fence. They then followed the track and found a black plastic bag containing a transparent plastic bottle with a red cover. Inside the bottle was a black plastic bag which contained 89 green ziplock plastic bags containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems. Clarke was arrested and taken to the Anna Regina Police Station where the transparent plastic bags were weighed and their contents amounted to 168 grams.

The man remains in custody, assisting with investigations. (Indrawattie Natram)

ven with the Ministry of Education initially indicating dissatisfaction upon announcing the country’s performance at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examinations this year, Guyanese students collectively managed to cop a total of 11 of the Regional Awards offered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

Of the nine Regional Awards up for grabs at the CSEC level, Guyana walked away with a whopping seven, placing the country once again as a front runner at the Caribbean Examinations.

Continuing on his reign of academic success is Queen’s College student Michael Bhopaul, who single-handedly won four of the nine CSEC Awards.

Preliminary results revealed that Bhopaul secured a groundbreaking 25 passes at the secondary level regional assessment, 24 of which were Grade Ones, along with 1 Grade Two. However, confident in his performance, the 16-year-old reviewed his

results and subsequently discovered that he in fact scored Grades Ones at all 25 of the subject areas he pursued. Stemming from his landmark achievement, the QC boy was named the Most Outstanding Performer at CSEC 2017.

But as if that were not enough, Bhopaul also won himself the Best Performer title in three other categories by scooping up the Business, Science and Technical Vocational awards.

Adding to that, Queen’s College produced two other regional awardees emanating from the 2017 CSEC examinations.

They are Rawletta Barrow, who secured the Best Humanities prize; and Aatiqua Roshandin, who walked away with the first ever ACCA Accounting Award offered by CXC, which took effect as of this year.

Meanwhile, a student of the St. Stanislaus College won the Best Short Story prize. The remaining two awards, which were for the top spots in Visual Arts (Two-Dimensional) and Visual Arts (ThreeDimensional), were respectively copped by students from Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

Guyana’s Queen’s College has, for the second year in a row, been dubbed the School of the Year by the Caribbean Examinations Council.

Moreover, two Guyanese students who sat the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) this year recorded remarkable achievements for their schools and country by earning regional awards at this lev-

Questions abound ...

The Opposition Leader told media operatives “weeks after having the CV for people when asked by the media what’s going on, he said ‘I am still studying the CVs’.”

Jagdeo juxtaposed this with the comments made by Justice Patterson following his swearing-in on Thursday last.

Patterson had at the time told media operatives that he had only been asked earlier in the evening (Thursday) to serve as the GECOM Chair, and indicated “I was never approached prior to tonight.”

Expanding on revelations over the selection of the GECOM Chairman, Jagdeo told members of the media he received a copy of Justice Patterson’s CV at 18:00h that evening when he met with the President which meant he had received it shortly before.

CSEC Top Performer 2017 Michael Bhopaul

el as well.

QC Sixth Form student Shannon Woodroffe was ranked as the Best Performer in Natural Sciences as well as Mathematics. She was joined by St. Roses High School’s Shawn Shewram, who raked in the Best Business Studies and the ACCA Accounting awards at CAPE 2017.

Woodroffe now holds the record of being one of two students throughout the region to win awards at both the CSEC and CAPE levels, while Shewram goes down in history as the first ever recipient of the ACCA Accounting award at CAPE. Guyana has, in recent years, been known to sweep the top prizes at the CXC awards, particularly for the CSEC examinations. However, this year has seen a significant improvement after the country managed to secure only two prizes at CSEC 2016.

Despite Guyanese dominating at the CXC Hall of Fame this year, the Ministry of Education is yet to issue an official statement acknowledging the accomplishments of the nation’s top performers. from page 18

“So he had the CV maybe a couple of hours maximum, because Patterson said ‘I was only asked tonight’…so in two hours he had a CV and he discovered that this person is suitable.”

Justice Patterson, he observed, was sworn in immediately after submitting a CV while the President spent weeks at a time considering the CVs belonging to the 18 nominees.

“This smacks of someone lying; it smacks of a plot,” Jagdeo surmised.

The Opposition Leader posited that despite the pronouncements of the President, he was unsure that Justice Patterson was “acceptable to the Guyanese public as a whole; in fact, most people think he is not”.

Jagdeo suggested: “It’s either Mr Patterson is not being truthful that he was asked long before or the President callously just decided.”

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‘Opposition would win battle against dictatorship’ - Gaskin

By Samuel Sukhnandan

W

hile describing as unlawful and unconstitutional the recent decision taken by President David Granger to unilaterally select someone of his choice to head the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), outspoken economist and political commentator Ramon Gaskin has said that on that basis alone, he is confident the parliamentary Opposition would win the battle against ‘dictatorship.’

He maintains that the Constitution says the GECOM Chair has to be picked from a list presented by the Opposition Leader, and unless there is no list presented, the President cannot himself pick someone.

“The Constitution is clear.

We have been following this system since 1992. We know the system, and there is no need to change it now. There are no ifs and buts about that,” he asserted.

Gaskin, a former advisor to late President Dr Cheddi Jagan, told this newspaper that regardless of the current situation, he feels the Opposition will fight this decision until the end; and will win.

“The struggle against this movement towards dictatorship the PPP will fight… They will fight it in the courts, and they will fight it in the estates and in the economy. That is how the PPP will fight. They won’t make a lot of noise. They have the capacity to fight it and win,” he stressed.

However, the political commentator is of the opinion that President Granger had always wanted someone of his choice to be Chairman of GECOM, for his own intents and purposes. He said if this issue is not challenged, Guyana could have rigged elections like it once did under the PNC regime.

“Dark days are ahead if we are to head down that road.

We have to remain a democratic country, and we must fight for what we believe in and what the Constitution states,” he added.

But another issue of concern for Gaskin is that this move, coupled with the Opposition’s refusal to cooperate with Government on matters of national importance, could have an adverse effect on the local economy for several reasons. He said while the revenues from oil will start to trickle down from 2020 and beyond, the economy as it is

Political commentator and economist Ramon Gaskin

right now is underperforming.

“This recent move will only add pressure to the already poor performance that has been recorded over the past two years. This economy is suffering now, and (because of) the decision by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to fight the Government, the economy will suffer more in terms of production, consumption, investment, export, and confidence in the economy,” he opined.

The economist also referred to the lack of foreign and local business investment, stating that the climate that has been created by this move

will only lead to greater levels of hopelessness and uncertainty for the local economy. He said many investors may feel demotivated and may be unwilling to take risks, especially during these times; as there is now a growing level of political instability being created by the unilateral decision.

“This level of uncertainty is certainly not good for business,” he asserted.

The Opposition have declared that they will challenge, by court action in the courts and at the Caribbean Court of Justice, as necessary, “the steps undertaken by President Granger to subvert and thwart the spirit, letter, and intent of the Constitution.” The Party is expected to also roll out a countrywide sensitisation campaign relative to “the ongoing threat to democracy and the Guyana Constitution, and to resist the stealthy move to an authoritarian state; undertake meetings countrywide to sensitise the Guyanese people; and to use other means, including social media and (mainstream) media, to (inform people of) the reasons for non-cooperation and the progress of the campaign.”

The Party also intends to brief and consult civic society bodies which participated in

the consultations, and which produced the names of the 18 individuals submitted by the Leader of the Opposition to the President for the post of Chairman of GECOM, between December 2016 and August 2017.

All of this will be done even as the Party consistently and regularly engage with national and regional stakeholders to hold Government accountable and ensure that democracy is not derailed.

The People’s Progressive Party has already pulled out of participation in the Border Commission, which was slated to meet this week following a recent flare-up in relations between Guyana and Venezuela.

The Opposition Leader, on Thursday last, met briefly with the Head of State, who informed him that the third list of nominees for the post of GECOM Chairman was unacceptable, and that retired Justice Patterson would be appointed.

The President formally rejected the third list on Thursday, and immediately swore in Justice (rtd) Patterson, who himself was notified of this development only hours earlier.

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Marcus Bisram murder probe

from page 3

Imposition of new Prominent lawyer, eyewitness being investigated for perjury GECOM head...

given the documented history of the rigging of elections by the PNC”.

Jagdeo used the occasion to also react to those that have been calling for the Opposition to drop the matter and move on, reminding that the action of the President is in fact a violation of the Constitution. Speaking to the matter of constitutional reform, Jagdeo told those in attendance at his Church Street Office, that the PPP was looking for compliance with the constitutional provisions.

Turning his attention to the perceived disdain with which the President views the Chief Justice’s ruling, Jagdeo pointed to Granger’s reported assertions that he did not have to provide reasons for the refusal of any of the 18 names provided since it was unenforceable.

According to the Opposition Leader, the pronouncement by the Chief Justice was not a statement – as it was referred to by the President – but rather a court ruling that has to be complied with.

He was quick to point out also that while the President may be immune from personal prosecution, his decisions can be challenged in court.

The Opposition Leader also used the occasion to expand on his party’s decision to adopt a campaign of non-cooperation with Government but clarified that elected and constitutional positions will not be shirked.

According to the Opposition Leader, the Party is looking to be guided by three core principles in this regard. “Where ever we have to perform statutory function by virtue of being elected by the people, or function required by the Constitution and by law the Party will participate,” he declared.

Jagdeo said too that the PPP will remain engaged in activities where it can be afforded the opportunity to expose the wrongdoings and corruption on the part of the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change Administration.

He reported too that the Party has since taken a position on its participa-

tion in the National Assembly.

According to Jagdeo, “We will go to Parliament,” as well as to continue to field its GECOM Commissioners.

Jagdeo explained the position saying, “our fear is they could very well take decisions that in our absence will be inimical….it is clear to me they are planning to rig the elections and we are not going to disappear because that is their intention… We are not going to cringe up and go into a corner… and we are not going to get away from the country and hand it over to them.”

According to Jagdeo, “we will participate in bodies where we can advocate for the benefit of the people and we can defend their interests.”

He was adamant, however, that the Party will not be participating in any Government related activities that are on the periphery of its core focus.

The Opposition Leader told media operatives that as the PPP ‘ups the ante,’ the President will be met with protest action in each of the regions he will travel to.

According to Jagdeo, President Granger will be “faced with protest action exposing the illegalities he committed.”

Jagdeo said he is convinced that the President “and the others knew that he was acting unconstitutionally and against the Chief Justice’s ruling and that is why they hurried in the late hours of the night and swore in Patterson.”

The Opposition Leader is adamant that the action on the part of the Administration to swear in Patterson at 20:30h was in order to prevent the Opposition approaching the court to halt the entire affair.

Jagdeo will, on Friday, lead a delegation to Berbice where the Party intends to continue with its sensitisation campaign following the unilateral appointment of Justice (rtd) Patterson – in the process rejecting a total of 18 nominees submitted by the Leader of the Opposition.

He this past weekend, fielded a delegation to Region One (Barima-Waini) as part of the Party’s reaction to the GECOM fallout.

Deceased carpenter, Fayez Narinedatt

By Shemuel Fanfair

L

ess than two weeks after a New York Judge ruled that murder accused and high-profile suspect Marcus Bisram be extradited to Guyana, a prominent lawyer who was a magistrate and an eyewitness are being investigated for perjury. It is expected that charges will be laid against them in the coming days.

Police confirmed that the lawyer was detained on Sunday afternoon, sometime after a witness in the case, a young man, had also been arrested. Guyana Times International understands that this young man had approached another witness in the investigation about changing statements. Other reports suggest that he was attempting to contact other witnesses as well.

Police sources disclose that in days following the eyewitness’s dialogue with the other witness, the lawyer got involved in the discussions and offered advice on what course of action the young man should take when speaking to police investigators. An insider revealed that witness tampering investigations lasted for some two weeks, and the prominent lawyer’s alleged actions in subverting the course of justice with the eyewitness were unearthed.

Guyana Times International was told that if found guilty of perjury, the suspect can face a lengthy prison sentence.

Over the last several months, relatives and associates of Bisram, both local and foreign, have been accused of using various means to obtain the silence of witnesses. Bisram is suspected to be the ‘mastermind’ in the brutal murder of 27-year-old Number 70 Village Corentyne carpenter Fayez Narinedatt.

In July, a 16-year-old key witness that was expected to testify against

Bisram was reportedly given poisoned food by a relative of the alleged murder mastermind.

Days after, the same attorney-at-law, who was not on record for representing the five accused for the murder, was taken into custody in late July after State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings had accused him of obstructing the course of justice in the midst of court proceedings.

Earlier this month, Judge Peggy Kuo found that the Government of Guyana had substantiated its request for Bisram’s extradition with adequate documents. He has been incarcerated in a New York holding facility until the resolution of

technical facets with the process. This newspaper understands that the necessary preparations are still being made to formally hand him over to local authorities.

Bisram, 27, was charged in absentia last year for the murder of Narinedatt. Two of the accused had reportedly confessed to investigators that they were ordered by the overseas-based Guyanese businessman to kill Narinedatt, after which they dumped his body on the Number 70 Village public road to make his death seem the result of a hit-and-run accident.

The five men charged for the November 1, 2016 killing of Narinedatt were Radesh Motie, 39; Diadatt Datt, 18; Harri Paul Parsram, 49; Orlando Dickie, and Niran Yacoob, 37.

Additionally, the businessman’s mother and sister were also charged and remanded to prison after they allegedly offered bribes to Police ranks to “duck the case”.

Shinella Indarally, 45, and Mary Anne Lionel, 25, both of Lot 171 Section ‘B’ No 71 Village, Corentyne, were

Accused: Marcus Bisram

charged for deliberately attempting to obstruct the course of justice. It was reported that they offered a police corporal G$4 million to release the four men who were detained for the murder, and to cease efforts to apprehend Bisram.

Bisram had reportedly made sexual advances to the now dead Narinedatt, but was rejected as the carpenter had slapped him several times. Out of embarrassment, Bisram allegedly instructed his associates to “get rid” of the father of two.

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Chris Ram, Joe Singh resignations seen as massive blow to Granger Administration A ttorney-atLaw, eminent Chartered Accountant and vocal social activist Christopher Ram has resigned from his position on Government’s negotiating team for the establishment of a Law School in Guyana. The move by Ram comes a day after another distinguished Guyanese, Major General (rtd) Joseph Singh also resigned from all of his Government posts.

Both resignations are being viewed as a massive blow to the Granger Administration as pressure continues to mount over the President’s unilateral appointment of Justice (rtd) James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections

Major General (rtd) Joseph Singh

Commission (GECOM).

Major General (rtd) Singh confirmed his resignation on Wednesday and on Thursday, Ram in a public missive said his resignation was “in support of the heroic and

exemplary decision by Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh to resign from all Government-related posts.”

According to Ram, “I am today (Thursday) informing the Attorney

General, Mr Basil Williams of my withdrawal from membership of the Planning Committee and de facto leader of the Guyana negotiating team for the establishment of the JOF Haynes Law School.

The outspoken activist – critical of both the People’s Progressive Party/Civic and now the coalition Government – Ram in his strongly worded statement said, “While I remain committed to serving my country, I make the clear distinction between Guyana and the Government.”

He is of the conviction “the blatant disregard by the Granger Administration for the Constitution, the courts, the principles of good governance and for so-

Accountant Christopher Ram

cial cohesion, is a matter which should be of grave concern to all of us who claim respect and love of country.”

According to Ram, “Given that the Constitution deems me a fit and proper person makes President Granger’s assessment of me is of no import…

Indeed, I am fortified in my conviction that his decision is entirely wrong and unconstitutional.”

He used the occasion to quip also, “If the truth be told, Mr Williams has been so impressed with my contribution that he asked for my CV to recommend me for a national award… I declined, saying my service was for country, for neither award nor reward.”

Ram’s resignation from his Government position is seen as another crippling blow to the David Granger Administration as the fallout continues over the unilateral appointment of Patterson on Thursday last, by the Head of State – in the process ignoring the 18 nominees that were submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

Singh, a former Chiefof-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), at the time of tendering his resignation was serving as a Special Adviser to President David Granger.

Singh, when contacted by Guyana Times International, declined to detail the exact reasons behind his resignation, but noted that he did not wish to continue in the position.

“I submitted my request to the Ministry of the Presidency. I told them that I do not wish to continue my contract beyond the one-month mandatory notice that I have to give,” he related, when contacted.

“So I’ve given that notice, that one-month notice, during which time I will ensure my portfolio responsibilities are prop-

erly handed over,” Singh, also a former Chairman of GECOM and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, said.

Since the resignation of Dr Steve Surujbally last year, there has been an intense search for the next GECOM Chairman.

As per the Constitution, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had submitted three lists of six nominees each to the President.

Major General Singh, who has held several positions over the years, including Guyana Telephone Telegraph Chief Executive Officer (CEO), was included on the third list of nominees submitted on August 25.

The other nominees were Attorneys Teni Housty and Sanjeev Datadin, vocal conservationist Annette Arjune-Martins, Onesi La Fleur and Krishnadatt Persaud.

But that list was ultimately rejected by President Granger and on Thursday, October 19, retired Justice James Patterson was sworn in as GECOM Chairman.

Patterson was not nominated on any of the three lists and since his unilateral appointment; there has been a crescendo of criticism.

A number of individuals and organisations spanning a wide cross-section of society have soundly criticised and condemned the President’s unilateral decision, including the Guyana Bar Association; the Berbice Bar Association; the Private Sector Commission; the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Criticism has also come from the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and members of the Diaspora.

In addition, the political Opposition filed a legal challenge in the courts on Monday, seeking to revoke Patterson’s appointment.

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The participants of the YAN Conference and Service Day Project

Members of YAN, as well as Berbice Participants, planning for group presentations during the Conference

By Ashraf Dabie

F

ocused on creating opportunities for persons with disabilities, the U.S. Embassy Georgetown, through its Youth Action Network (YAN), turned its attention to Berbice with a mission of empowering youth leaders within the county to better serve the disability community.

This initiative took the form of a two-day Conference and Service Day Project, which was hosted last weekend and made possible by a collaborative effort between YAN and the St. Francis Community Developers in Port Mourant, Corentyne.

A group of over 20 volunteers attached to YAN, the official youth arm of the U.S.

Embassy Georgetown, journeyed to Berbice where approximately 30 youth leaders from various communities and organisations across the county were anxiously waiting to share their knowledge and leave a lasting impact.

The weekend kicked off with a conference which provided a platform for discussions on the rights of persons with disabilities and more so highlighted the responsibilities of citizens in serving the disability community.

Disability rights’ activist, Ganesh Singh, outlined the provisions laid out in the Disability Act of 2010, which speaks to the fundamental rights that should be afforded to each individual living with disabilities in

Guyana.

In his presentation, Singh, who is also the Public Relations Officer for the Guyana Council of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities, underscored that individuals within this community are not exactly ‘disabled’, but are severely restricted by the lack of necessary facilities which significantly limit their abilities. As such, he noted that each community holds a massive responsibility in catering for persons with disabilities.

Echoing similar sentiments was Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Embassy, Amanda Claudwell, while relaying the basis of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

It was underlined that the ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability and offers protection against injustices, similar to those brought on by race, religion and sexuality.

Moreover, this Act particularly zooms in on the imposition of mandatory accessibility requirements for public conveniences and even seeks to address reasonable accommodations which must be put in place to cater for employees with disabilities within each working environment.

These provisions being established pave the way for Guyana to follow suit in creating specific accessibilities to allow for persons with disabilities to be well integrated into community life.

The conference culminated on a high note with the participants taking a stance by offering solutions for difficulties faced by the disability community throughout the country.

Six groups presented on ways in which youths and non-governmental organisations can tackle the concerns affecting those with disabilities, focusing primarily on the lacked of access

Busy creating a child-friendly space at the Community Rehabilitation Centre

to education, information, and employment opportunities as well as accessing conveniences, sports and recreational facilities along with preventing and protecting against stigma.

Effecting positive change and fostering inclusivity for persons belonging to the disability community, the young enthusiasts, comprising of both the Georgetown and Berbice delegations, assembled at the Community Rehabilitation Centre in Corentyne as they took on the Service Day Project.

At the rehabilitation centre, the only one of its kind in Berbice, the group ventured into four undertakings: the construction of a concrete walkway to allow for easy access to the institution; installation of electric upgrades; beautification of the compound; and the building of recreational facilities while creating a childfriendly space.

After taking on these initiatives, the team managed to transform what was evidently a deteriorating facility into a welcoming environment, conducive for the rehabilitation of persons, primarily children living with disabil-

ities. Without doubt, the upgrading of the Corentyne Centre was the ideal way to conclude the two-day experience, setting the pace for the participating youth leaders to embark on similar endeavours within their respective communities in Berbice.

Since its establishment in July 2013, the Youth Action Network continues to stage their signature Conference and Service Day Project annually.

Just last year, YAN hosted a trafficking in persons’ public awareness forum in Georgetown as a part of its initiative.

However, this year marked the second time the Youth Action Network turned its attention to Berbice, with the first being in 2015, when the Conference was aimed at building the capacity of youth to take on leadership roles within their communities.

It is the hope of the U.S. Embassy and its youth arm that the seeds planted during this two-day experience will have lasting impact, so much so that the county will see specific measures being enacted to adequately cater for the disability community.

Volunteers constructing a concrete walkway at the Community Rehabilitation Centre

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Early Years of Transportation in Essequibo Silk cotton tree at HOFT VON ORIE

Adventure stelling

By Isahak Basir, CCH

T

he Dutch occupancy of Essequibo began in the early seventeen century even though this territory had changed its name at certain periods, from Maracro Coast to Arabian Coast in the early 19th century.

The Dutch established Fort Island in the Essequibo River as their command centre, and communicated to those in Essequibo by boats.

Several human manipulators and oars propelled these huge wooden boats.

The ordeal from Airy Hall to Fort Island by such a boat can take about three hours. A huge silk cotton tree – a Dutch landmark – identifies Airy Hall, parallel to Plantation Adventure.

This point of embarkation was prominent up to 1872. The revolutionary Damon of 1834 was marching towards this point with his protestors when they were slaughtered at Plantation La Belle Alliance.

The upheaval by disrupted sugar workers in 1872 at Plantation Devonshire Castle was also involved in a march to Airy Hall, but was

stopped at Queenstown and persuaded to return, where six sugar workers were killed; the first time indentured workers were killed in Guyana.

Under British rule, the transport route from Essequibo to Georgetown was from Airy Hall to Boerasirie Creek where the railway ended. By 1900, the Good Hope Stelling was established, as well as the telegraph cables, which used Morse code as the means of sending telegrams, laid from this point across Wakenaam, Leguan and Parika.

The Dutch had a command centre at Capoey in the Pomeroon, but that closed in 1943.

Several Dutch graves are still visible in the area, and a police station is located at that point. From Good Hope Stelling to Parika, a ferry named The MV BASRA travelled that route. This ferry was unique since it was propelled by huge wooden paddles attached to a large steel barrel at the stem of the one-deck flat Jerry.

In the early 1900s, Adventure Stelling was established, and several passenger boat services travelled the route. The MV BASRA was replaced

by The SS ORANJE, a grave design of engineering. For the two and half hour-drive to Parika, passengers had to endure the jolt of the steam engine, and the heat in second class was very much unbearable that death was inevitable.

Another vessel by the name of The MV HASSAR was used when The MV NORTH COTE or The MV LUCKANANI was occupied elsewhere.

The MV HASSAR capsized at Wakenaam Stelling in 1952, when the captain made a faulty mooring. The first and second-class systems in all our trains and ferries were abandoned when the PPP government built three new ferries; The MV MALALI was earmarked for Essequibo in 1961.

Another apartheid culture ended when the Demerara ferry The MV CARR, which travelled the Linden route, was overtaken by the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, built in 1968.

However, time and civilization have not eliminated some important signs of history. Both Dutch and British landmarks are still visible in Essequibo. The tall palm trees at Golden Fleece

estates, Anna Regina, and the 300-year-old silk cotton tree at Hoft Von

Orie foreshore, still in existence, were used as navigation aids to guide

sugar punts. (Photos by Marco Basir)

MV Malali on the Essequibo River

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana now officially a member of EITI

T

he Extractive I n d u s t r i e s Transparency Initiative (EITI) Board, currently meeting in Manila, Philippines, decided to approve Guyana’s application to join the EITI. This is momentous as civil society and other stakeholders have been advocating for Guyana to join the global transparency standard since 2010 in a bid to ensure its natural resource wealth is governed well.

The country’s candidacy was approved during the 38th EITI International Board Meeting. Guyana officially submitted its application to the International Secretariat of EITI in Oslo, Norway, in August.

Guyana’s EITI National Coordinator, Dr. Rudy Jadoopat is attending the Board Meeting and was accompanied by Curtis Bernard, Co-Chairman of the Multi-Stakeholder

Group, representing Civil Society.

Following the announcement, former Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud said it was significant progress after a long, tedious process. Although the initiative started under the previous Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) government, Persaud congratulated the current Minister Raphael Trotman and his team for continuing Guyana’s bid.

“Critical too has been the support of local and international stakeholders particularly the United States Government. A good day for transparency in the extractive sector including oil and gas,” Persaud said.

Ahead of the last round of countrywide outreaches in July, a multi-stakeholder group was formed, made up of government institutions, mining companies and

civil society organisations.

This group has developed a work plan for the first few years of implementing the EITI and will oversee the activities with support of the GYEITI Secretariat in Guyana.

Dr. Jadoopat had said that the initiative was to ensure that oil and gas companies operating in Guyana publish what they pay to the Government in taxes and royalties.

Under the EITI standard, companies publish what they pay to governments, and governments publish what they receive in an annual EITI country report.

In many countries, most of the revenues from natural resources accruing at subnational levels are not derived from company payments to local government entities, but from transfers from the central government.

EITI International Board Chairman Fredrik Reinfeldt (right) congratulates Dr Rudy Jadoopat (left) and welcomes Guyana into the EITI family. Mr Curtis Bernard is behind Mr Reinfeldt.

Depending on the revenue-distribution frameworks in place, these transfers can be a considerably larger source of revenue for subnational entities than taxes and fees collected at local levels. The revised EITI standard requires that such transfers are reported where mandated by law and where material.

Where companies are legally or contractually

Why not Joe Singer?

S

atiricus was still in shock. He was relaxing in his hammock after a humungous dinner, reading about how Pressie had gone ahead and picked his own man for the Elections Chair. Why? The picking had taken so long, Satiricus was beginning to wonder whether it was really for the “Electric Chair”. After all, the fella who last occupied the Chair always had his hair standing straight up!

Satiricus started to doze, and suddenly he was reading Pressie’s diary!

Dear Diary, People are saying I should give reasons for picking Batterson for the Elections Chair, and why I rejected the last list. What is the matter with them? Does a General give reasons to his troops when he tells them to charge into machine gun fire from the enemy? What do they think this is? A democracy?

But you know, dear Diary, I have to tell you everything.

When I was doing history research, I was so frustrated that leaders did not record reasons for their decisions.

So why Batterson? There are two reasons. First: for the same reason I have been selecting so many geriatrics for top positions — to make me look young by comparison. Secondly: because just before 2020, when he steps down because of “health” reasons, we will go through the whole list rigmarole with the Opposing Leader and elections will be delayed. Then I will pick my real choice: Who Dunnit.

And why I rejected the last list? Let’s start with that smug Joe Singer. I hated him from the start at Queen’s because of his “Hip” name. Then he did better than me in Army School in England. And was promoted before me every time in the army, finishing up as a Major General and me just a Brigadier.

But the bitterest pill, Dear Diary, was when Hite picked him to be Chief of Staff ahead of me! Imagine, me just an ‘advisor’ who was never asked for his advice!”

And that is why no Elections Chair for him.

required to make social contributions, these must be disclosed, under EITI standards. Where countries collect significant revenues from the transportation of oil, gas and minerals, such as pipelines, the Government will also be required to disclose the revenues received.

The requirement to publish annual activity reports is not limited to compliant countries, the EITI said. It is foreseen that countries will report on progress with meeting the EITI requirements as well as (on) efforts to achieve the objectives set out in their work plans.

Validation is procured and managed by the EITI’s International Secretariat rather than by implementing coun-

New Amsterdam prison escapee remanded over murder charge

By Andrew Carmichael

P

rison escapee and alleged murder, Rickford La Fleur, was on Monday remanded to prison by Magistrate Alex Moore on a murder charge.

The man had been on the run for the past six years after escaping from the New Amsterdam Prison. He was arrested by law enforcement authorities in neighbouring Suriname last week. On Monday he appeared in a New Amsterdam court charged with murder.

He and three others were accused of killing Sebastian Cleto on May 1, 2011, at the New Amsterdam Prison.

The accused was not required to plea to the indictable charge and was remanded until December 7.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Godfrey Playter told the court that La Fleur was previously charged with

tries. Countries undertake validation more frequently, with compliant countries being revalidated every three years as opposed to every five years under the old rule.

Guyana’s first EITI Report must be published within the next 18 months and the country will be required to commence validation within two and a half years.

Where validation verifies that Guyana has made satisfactory progress on all of the requirements, the EITI Board will designate the country as EITI compliant.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global standard to promote the open and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources.

Rickford La Fleur

the murder along with three others. However, it was while the matter was receiving the attention of the court that he escaped from the New Amsterdam penitentiary.

Playter said the charges against two of the accused were subsequently dropped, and later Jason McKenzie pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

With La Fleur now being available, the charge against him was

reconstituted.

The 43-year-old wanted man was among four prisoners who escaped from the penitentiary on June 11, 2011. After being recaptured in the neighbouring country, he was handed over to local authorities and was escorted to Guyana last week. At the time of his escape, LaFleur was on remand for murder and possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Rickford La Fleur, called “Bragga” or “Rastaman”, hails from Vryheid’s Lust Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara, and Smithfield, Canje River.

He is accused of the murder of Cleveland Hetmyer, called “Water Dog” who was shot dead reportedly during a confrontation with the suspect and another man some 90 miles up the Canje River on November 4, 2010.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Ann Wood

W

hen one thinks of collecting British Guiana stamps, their mind may immediately be drawn to the British Guiana 1856 1c Magenta, which sold for US$9.4M in 2014 and is considered the “world’s most expensive stamp”. However, there is only one person who can fill in that space in his British Guiana stamp collection and that is currently Stuart Weitzman, an American shoe designer. Even Queen Elizabeth II (QEII), a stamp collector of British Guiana stamps, is missing the 1c Magenta in the Royal Philatelic collection.

So, what about the rest of us? Should we just give up on collecting British Guiana stamps, which happens to be a very desirable country to collect? Of course not!

There are many British Guiana stamps within our grasp that one can purchase for minimal prices and still satisfy the need to say, “I am a British Guiana stamp collector.”

In 1952, following the death of King George VI, new issues of British Guiana stamps were ordered all with the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and these stamps have many unique types which can make a very interesting collection. This is a good era to start a British Guiana collection because millions of these stamps were printed and are very easy to find.

While some of the larger denominations of this set sell for high prices, several of the smaller denominations can be purchased for as little as GYD$50-$100, depending on the condition of the stamp and if it is ‘mint’ or ‘used’.

Below is a complete set of this pictorial issue which contains great scenes from British Guiana and a left-facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. 1 cent. General Post Office, Georgetown 2 cents. Botanical Gardens 3 cents. Victoria Regia Lilies 4 cents. Amerindian Shooting Fish.

5 cents. Map of the Caribbean 6 cents. Rice Combine-harvester 8 cents. Sugar Cane Entering Factory 12 cents. Felling Greenheart 24 cents. Mining for Bauxite 36 cents. Mount Roraima 48 cents. Kaieteur Falls 72 cents. Arapaima 1 dollar. Toucan 2 dollars. Dredging Gold 5 dollars. Arm of British Guiana

Scott # 253-67

These stamps were issued in1954 and printed by two different printers - Waterloo and De La Rue, with the latter being more expensive varieties. The printers have distinguishing colours or measurements or perforations on these stamps that make them unique. All the stamps in this set are perforated 12.5 x 13 and the watermark is multiple crown & script CA, watermark upright. There is also a subset of nine of these same stamps that was printed in 1963-65, Scott 279-87 with multiple crown & block CA. Even though these stamps look alike there are several varieties and hunting for them can be rewarding since ones with errors are valued much higher in stamp catalogues. For example, let’s look at the 3 cents red brown & olive, Victoria Regia Lilies stamp with a catalogue value of GYD$50 used.

As you can see stamps can have many characteristics, such as watermarks, perforation, colour, size, printer, topic and much more that make stamp collecting even more interesting and sometimes profitable. For example, the “clubbed foot” and “weed flaw” errors price is GYD$12,000 in the 2017 catalogue.

The varieties in this set are numerous and there are even more unlisted ones. You can find this type of information in stamp catalogues at the Guyana National Library.

I encourage you to collect British

1954 3cents red brown & olive, Victoria Regia Lilies stamp (Scott # 255)

Guiana stamps. You can start your collection with this QEII era or with any British Guiana stamps. The King George V, King George VI and even the Queen Victoria eras also have affordable stamps.

Clubbed foot error

The QEII era stamps and many other British Guiana stamps will be on display at the Guyana Philatelic Society GUYPEX 2017 Stamp Exhibition at the Georgetown National Library on November 9-10, 2017.

Weed error

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

the asylum wards deco- of the boats belonging current of the tide and rated in bright colours to the institution. This without oars might in and adorned with pic- was true and the boats countries where crimes tures and flowers and ar- were found at the Canje are neither so stupidly ranged a programme of Bridge where their pas- nor audaciously commitactivities and entertain- sage had been arrested ted and where detection ment. There was a week- by a man that had been is more certain, have ly dance and a weekly an attendant and who raised suspicion, here band concert. Patients recognised them. it was not considered The account this man so very extraordinary. could work on the farm, in the carpentry work- gave of the matter was as The thief knew he was shop, in painting and he was passing the Canje stealing and also tried to decorating, in tailoring Bridge he saw the two avoid capture, still in the or shoemaking or in the boats being drifted up strict sense of the word the stream in charge of he was no thief at all, asylum bakery.

The Asylum Journal a [man] who was naked as it afterwards turned was printed by patients and asked him where he out the whole thing was at the asylum’s own was taking the boats to. the act of an undoubted printing press. In the The man responded: “I madman. journal, as well as re- am taking them up the On February 22 a paporting on these activi- Canje to a wood-cutting tient was admitted to the ties, Grieve gives mor- grant I have there.” asylum from the Colonial tality, sickness and discharge rates and includes features on recent developments in medical knowledge, on public health issues in the colony and on his own findings from observation of his patients.

He observed that admissions to the asylum were notably higher for people not born in the colony, attributing this partly to the fact that native inhabitants were more likely to be looked after at home by family members and partly to the recent lone immigrant’s sense of The Asylum Journal for 1882. Berbice [British Guiana]: printed alienation and for the Asylum Press, 1882 [FCO Historical Collection] rootlessness in an unfamiliar environment.

The attended told Hospital Berbice and in the man this could not his papers it was statCrime or insanity According to The be true as they were the ed that he had on the Caribbean Press’ The asylum’s boats and or- morning of February 15 Asylum Journal, on the dered him to stop at once, left the hospital naked morning of February 15, at the same time calling and was brought back on 1881 at daylight a report out for the assistance of February 19 by the powas brought to the asy- the Police. The man pro- lice having found his way lum that an attempt had ceeded to jump from the in the same condition to been made to steal two boat into the river and, his brother’s house at swimming ashore, disap- Glasgow - a village about peared in the bush. two miles from New The boats were found Amsterdam. This was properly lashed togeth- the individual who stole er and several articles of the boats; he is now and “I can’t believe the two of them would go along with clothing belonging to an was then maniacal [exPrezzie’s nonsense,” he complained with a faint whine. officer of the asylum were hibiting extremely wild “Budday!” exclaimed Bungi. “Me an Cappo bin tell concealed. On examining or violent behaviour]. He yuh, w’en man done suck cane ‘e does dash peelin’ pan the place from which the talks freely of his exploit ground!” boats were taken, it was and says he was com“Nagga Man an’ Rum Jhaat always bin a cane peelin’,” seen that the iron chain manded from heaven to said Cappo. “Dem cyaan do nuttin now?” with which one of them do it.

“But what they’re doing doesn’t make sense,” was made fast had been The lessons to be Satiricus continued. “Do they think we’re fools?” broken through appar- learned from this case “Yuh na wan fool, Sato,” said Cappo. “Yuh jus’ fall fuh ently by a blow from a are firstly that the acdem sweet talk!” brick. This reads like an tions of the insane are “So why you fellas didn’t fall for the sweet talk?” account of an ordinary not always purposeless Satiricus wanted to know. “Tell me.” theft distinguished only and, secondly, that “mad “For me,” started out Hari. “Was when Prezzie broke by its audacity. The fact doctors” may sometimes the Cummingsburg Accord, gave Nagga Man larwah and of the thief being naked be right when they ashe didn’t do anything!” has no significance in cribe the performance “Nagga Man shou’da know: “Fish and cast-net nah this country where most of what seems a wellfriend,” said Cappo firmly. “Me nevah believe de Pee burglaries are committed planned criminal act to an’ See wou’da change dem stripe. Dem neva trus’ by persons clothed only insanity.

(Information PeePeePee people.” in nature’s vestments. from www.kingscollec“Fuh me,” said Bungi, “Me nevah trus’ wan man who That a man should at- tions.org; www.universina look in me eye w’en ‘e a talk to me!!” tempt to carry off two tystory.gla.ac.uk; http:// Their laughter broke Satiricus’ tension and they all boats by trusting to the caribbeanpress.org) clinked beer bottles.

Between 1870 and 1875, Grieve worked as Medical Superintendent of the Metropolitan Asylum Hospital at Hampstead, London.

In 1875 he was appointed Medical Superintendent of the Public Lunatic Asylum in Berbice, British Guiana, where he stayed for nearly ten years. As a Superintendent, Grieve implemented a number of reforms and successfully introduced humanitarian treatment of the patients at the Asylum. His time in Berbice was well documented in The Asylum Journal, which Grieve auRobert Grieve as a young scholar (caribbeanpress.org) thored, published and distributed bet the time of it documents his dedicae m a n c i p a t i o n , tion to the welfare of his tween 1881 and 1885. public health ser- patients and his determi- In 1886, he was promotvices in the Caribbean nation to make the asy- ed to the post of Surgeon were all but non-exis- lum a place of humane General and transferred to the capital of Guyana, tent. Many of the larg- care.

Georgetown, where he er sugar estates made devoted another decade Robert Grieve some provision for the care of the sick (it was in Grieve graduated to the amelioration of the planters’ interest to MD from the University sanitary conditions in keep their slaves fit and of Glasgow in 1861, and the colony.

After contracting healthy), but medical ex- LRCS Edinburgh. He pertise was in short sup- was born in Lilliesleaf, in syphilis while operating ply and when the estates the Scottish Borders, on on an infected patient, closed there was little to March 4, 1839, the eldest Grieve was forced to retire and left Guyana on take their place. son of James, a surgeon.

Between 1861 and April 19, 1894. On his reThe passing of the Public Health Act in 1862, Grieve served as tirement he was appointBritain in 1848, howev- an Assistant Surgeon in ed CMG (Companion of er, made health the con- the Royal Navy, taking the Order of St Michael cern of the state, and this part in actions against and St George) for his sea change was reflected Taiping Rebels near outstanding and valuable services. in the Caribbean colo- Shanghai.

Grieve returned to In 1862, Grieve ennies, as health services into private his native Scotland and were introduced in the tered second half of the nine- practice at Howden, resided in Lasswade, teenth century.

Yorkshire. In 1870, Dr Midlothian for some time.

The Asylum Journal Grieve spent some time He died on November is a remarkable testi- in Darmstadt, Germany 15, 1906 in Barton on mony to the advanced where he provided sur- Humber, England. and enlightened state gical assistance at the Berbice asylum of care provided for the Orangeries Hospital durAt the asylum, mentally ill in British ing the Franco-Prussian Guiana. Written by Dr War (1870-1871). For his Grieve adopted a polRobert Grieve (1839- outstanding services, he icy of non-restraint of 1906), medical superin- was awarded a German inmates whenever postendent of the public lu- War Medal for non-com- sible, introduced occupational therapy, had natic asylum at Berbice, batants.

A

Elections Jumbie

S

atiricus slowly sauntered into the Back Street Bar. The usual steady drone of voices, occasionally punctuated by raucous laughter, was much more animated than normal. After the doldrums of Diwali, Prezzie’s audacious appointment had loosened up tongues even more effectively than the regular flow of spirituous substances.

“Suh, Sato me fr’en, tell abee wha guh laang, na?” said Bungi as Satiricus started on his first beer.

“Don’t you fellas read the papers?” Satiricus replied a bit gruffly.

“But we want the inside scoop, man,” said Hari.

“From your newspaper sources and your fearless leaders Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man.” “Don’t tell me about Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man,” said Satiricus gruffly. “Those are two real scamps.”

“Hol’ it, Sato,” blurted out Cappo finally, as the table fell silent. “Da you a talk? Nah…jumbie mus’ee hol’ yuh or somet’ing!!”

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The law is not an ass…

P

…on GECOM Chair

rime Minister Moses Nagamootoo became a lawyer is his old age, and maybe should be excused for deliberately ignoring its nuances.

After all, at that age, the choice of such training could’ve only been an expedient decision to burnish his credentials to become President of Guyana. He’d abandoned his position as Minister of Information under Jagan when he made that decision to enter law school as a big, old man!

That the very best he achieved under the PNC-led APNU/AFC government was Information Minister — after all his contortions and betrayals — just proves that poetic justice is alive and kicking!! Anyway, all of this gnashing of teeth by your Eyewitness was fuelled by Nagamootoo excusing Pressie’s unilateral choice on the GECOM Chair as ‘necessary to prevent a constitutional crisis”!!

Can you believe how low Nagamootoo would sink to preserve his perks? What else would persuade him to make such a ridiculous statement? So Pressie averts a crisis by breaking the Constitution, the highest law of the land, by which he’s bound? What is this? To avoid a storm that threatens a ship, the captain sinks the ship? This is “saving”?? At what cost?

What about the passengers? In this case the Guyanese people — now that Pressie has shown he considers judicial pronouncements on constitutional appointments as “perception” – which don’t trump his “perceptions”. And this is why Pressie has dug a fatal hole in the Guyanese ship of state: he’s echoing his hero Burnham’s Declaration of Sophia, announcing the paramountcy of the Executive over the Judiciary; and since he is already paramount over the Legislature, he‘s now paramount over the state.

And this is what Moses Nagamootoo is willing to cravenly defend. He was screwed over once, when Pressie threw out the Cummingsburg Accord with all its promises of increasing his powers as PM and gave him ‘Larwah’. Is he now willing to have all Guyana screwed over?

He speaks of “crisis”!! If there was any crisis over the GECOM Chair, it was because of Pressie’s incredible assertion that because Art 161 (2) mentioned the word “judge” four times, that means only a judge was qualified for the position!!

So what is this? Constitutional interpretation by “word count”?? And Nagamootoo, more than anyone else in or out of Guyana, has to have known about Pressie’s compulsion to do his things his way and the devil take the hindmost. Look at what a plaything he’s become!

Your Eyewitness has a question for Nagamootoo: If Pressie can unilaterally appoint the GECOM Chair, what’s the point of the Price-Carter formula to involve the Opposition Leader?

Is the law such an ass? …on ethnicity Even commentators who’re not noted for taking “ethnic slants” couldn’t fail to notice the elephant in the room in which the 84-year old ex-justice was chosen as GECOM Chair. Pressie had explicitly announced the only reason he’d humiliated ex-Justice Kennard and summarily kicked him off the Police Complaint Board was because of his age!!

The urgency was presumably caused by concluding the aged Kennard wouldn’t be able to properly evaluate the complaints in front of him.

Now, Kennard hadn’t shown any signs of incipient senility; so what was the rush? After all, the position still hasn’t been filled, and the complaints are spilling out of the windows!

The only seemingly visible reason for the disparate treatment of Kennard – who’s actually younger than Patterson – is he’s not an African Guyanese. This surmise is buttressed by Pressie also appointing 80+year-old Hamilton Green to high office, and sacking Prem Persaud who’s younger that Green. …on swearing-ins So why was Patterson sworn-in in the heat of the night – just two hours after selection? The experts say it was to prevent a court challenge.

So what makes this different from the condemned Janet swearing-in?

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Large number of motor Antigua PM prematurely vehicles exceeds current road revokes tourism minister's capacity in Guyana – IDB appointment after arrest

By Jarryl Bryan

T

he rate at which new motor vehicles have been introduced locally has in fact exceeded the capacity of Guyana’s roads to accommodate them. This is according to a recent report from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), which threw a spotlight on this discrepancy.

According to the IDB’s “Reformulation of the road network, upgrade and expansion program” report, this situation is directly con-

volved in fatal accidents, standing at 12, while there were four pedal cycles, three minibuses, four motor lorries, four hire cars, one motor pickup and four motor cycles.

The GPF said speeding remains the major cause of accidents, accounting for 14 accidents in the first quarter of the year. Other causes were inattentiveness, driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to confirm to road traffic signs, and pedestrians crossing in the paths of approaching vehicle.

Chairman Dennis De Roop told Guyana Times International he had raised the issue with the Public Infrastructure Ministry on several occasions, but to no avail.

Under the previous Government, a road strategy plan was unveiled by the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC). It is believed that this strategy should be updated, however, and there had been talk that an updated document would be produced.

A National Road

The overpass under construction at Peters Hall

tributing to congestion and accidents.

“Georgetown faces limited road infrastructure combined with a rapidly growing fleet (of) 100,000 new registered vehicles over the last decade (which) contributes to congestion and accidents,” the report stated.

The report notes that limited infrastructure includes the average roadway’s two-lane configuration and pavement widths of 9-12m. The organisation said that 80 per cent of the pavements were in fair-topoor condition.

“Traffic levels peak 1500 vehicles per hour on a road with capacity for 1,320 and no provision for non-motorized pedestrian (and) bicycle traffic,” the report also notes.

The Police Traffic Department had said it recorded a 26 per cent decline in fatal accidents for the period January 1, 2017 to May 15, 2017.

Thirty-six fatal accidents and 40 deaths were then recorded, compared to 50 fatal accidents and 54 deaths over the same period last year.

There was also a 39 per cent decrease in overall accidents for the same period. Some 398 accidents have been recorded, as opposed to 651 accidents the previous year.

It is understood that private cars account for most of the vehicles in-

Guyana has, over the past week, witnessed a particularly gruesome accident that claimed the lives of five individuals.

The mid-afternoon accident, which involved a car and a lorry, left dead Sabita Manglani, 42; Emmanuel Manglani, 18; Ethan Ramjit, 5; Reshma Seeram, and Dhanpaul Kishandayal, called Navin.

Reports are that Kishandayal was driving motor car PPP 3394 in an easterly direction on the Corentyne highway while the lorry was heading in the opposite direction when Kishandayal inadvertently drove into a pothole, lost control of the car, and slammed into the lorry.

The impact of the collision pushed half of the lorry off the road and sent the paddy-laden tray pitching into the back of a Honda wagon, removing its top half in the process.

Residents in the area of the accident said the parking of heavy-duty vehicles along the shoulders of the Corentyne Highway was of great concern, and they had always complained about this issue.

During the previous week, there was another accident in the same area, and that, residents said, was caused by the same hole. That accident left several persons hospitalised.

Regional Vice

Safety Plan 2017-2019 was launched on May 03, 2017. The aim of the plan was to assist Guyana to meet the Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2011-2020 plan: to reach 50 per cent death reduction by 2020.

Infrastructure

Government has been taking steps to cater to pedestrians in its infrastructure planning. Though plans for a Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) pedestrian overpass were scrapped, one is being built at Peter’s Hall. In addition, projects such as the Sheriff/Mandela extension are in the works.

The IDB is behind the “Road Network Upgrade and Expansion” programme, worth US$69.2million, having approved the operation following a request from the then PPP Administration. The objective of the Multiple Works (MW) Programme was to enhance urban and suburban mobility and safety by reducing vehicle operating costs, travel times and road fatalities.

The loan included civil works for primary roads, and safety components in the capital of Georgetown and surrounding regions. This included proposals to improve transport systems along Georgetown’s Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue road, the sample project.

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ntigua and B a r b u d a ' s T o u r i s m , Investment and Energy Minister Asot Michael was detained and later released by the United Kingdom Metropolitan Police yesterday, Antigua's Observer newspaper reported.

But before Michael could walk out of the detention centre in London, his prime minister, Gaston Browne, had revoked his appointment as minister.

Browne was informed of the detention in Jordan on his way from Montenegro where he led a government delegation to an international conference on citizenship by investment, the newspaper quoted a press statement from the prime minister's office.

“While I have no firm details of the reasons for Mr Michael's arrest, the arrest itself is sufficient for me to revoke immediately his appointment as a Cabinet member and to relieve him of all ministerial portfolios until this matter is resolved,” PM Browne said.

The speed with which Browne revoked the appointment of Minister Michael immediately raised eyebrows and questions as to why he (Browne) did not step away from office after accusations that he had received three million euros from Brazilian construction firm, Odebrecht, which has been alleged to bribe numerous heads

Antigua and Barbuda's Tourism, Investment and Energy Minister Asot Michael

of government in Latin America to cover up or facilitate money laundering activities.

Browne strenuously denied the allegations, later saying that he had been exonerated after a private arrangement with the newspaper, El Pais, which he had sued for defamation for carrying the original story quoting a former Odebrecht lawyer.

In the press statement, the prime minister advised that he received news from Antigua and Barbuda's High Commissioner in London Karen-Mae Hill that she had been informed of Michael's arrest on his arrival in England yesterday morning.

Without waiting for further details, Browne,

according to the report, declared: “I have repeatedly stated that I expect every member of my Government to comply with the highest possible standards required of public office, and while Mr Michael might establish his innocence in time, the fact that he has been arrested obliges me to relieve him of all government duties.”

The Government's Chief of Staff Lionel “Max” Hurst was quoted by the Observer as saying that MP Michael was released from custody some time after 4:00 pm local time, and that the minister had been advised he may be wanted for further questioning. He is being represented by UK lawyer James Guthrie.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

T&T Education Minister wants school ban on phones with cameras enforced

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ducation Minister Anthony Garcia has once again made the call to principals to enforce the ban on cell phones with cameras in all schools. The only cell phones which will be allowed into schools will be those without cameras.

Garcia made the call in the wake of an incident involving two Form Two students at Fatima College, Port-of-Spain, who were recorded in an act being described as a children’s prank.

The video, which was subsequently posted on social media, incensed many, with some expressing the concern one of the boys had been sexually assaulted by the other.

Yesterday, Garcia said the latest incident had driven home why the cell phone ban should be enforced. He said the videotaping of incidents in schools could have dire consequences, adding that the two students “could be labelled for life.”

“They were engaging in child’s play…a normal thing for boys that age to engage in that kind of play,” Garcia said.

He said the parents of the students had also agreed it was child’s play and were satisfied no harm was done.

Garcia said the ban on cell phones with cameras in schools had been the ministry’s policy for the past ten years but it was up to the principals to ensure this was done.

He said it was also the responsibility of school supervisors to liaise with principals to ensure the policy was carried out.

Pressed on why principals had not been en-

Education Minister Anthony Garcia

forcing the policy, Garcia said it was not for him to answer but rather the various school administrators, as this was part of the operational aspect.

Meanwhile, the principal at the centre of the latest incident which sparked Garcia’s latest edict, Fatima College Fr Gregory Augustine, said it was unfortunate because someone in the class filmed the incident, which was against school regulations as cell phones with cameras were not permitted.

In speaking about the incident, Augustine said, “I am really amazed in the kind of interest that people have in a two-second video and that people can come to a judgment from two seconds.

“This is a boy playing the fool. He was spoken to and that’s it. He acted foolishly, imprudently and he was spoken to with his mother.”

He said it was unfortunate the “foolish play” was being termed as “rape” by some who saw it on social media.

“I really don’t understand…how people could form an opinion from two seconds…and for people to come up with a thesis.

I really find it odd and we need to be much more dis-

cerning,” Augustine said.

Asked about why the student was screaming when the act was being performed on him, Augustine said one must understand the context in which the incident occurred.

“People don’t know.

The screaming was part of the play and children do scream and carry on.

He may not have liked it…what I’m saying is he was not assaulted, he was not hospitalised, he was not traumatised,” he said.

He added: “People are not willing to step back and think. Everybody is rushing to say…rape… abuse….not everything is that, particularly when the clip is so short.

They need to ask appropriate questions and find out and you cannot hide anything today.”

He assured there were no cover-ups on the part of the school, saying, “Everything is out there.”

He also said he himself had nothing to hide.

Augustine said the families of both boys were satisfied the matter was appropriately handled, adding that boys were “back to school and normal.” (Trinidad Guardian)

CARICOM, Mexico to strengthen ties in disaster risk management he Caribbean C o m m u n i t y (CARICOM) and Mexico have agreed to strengthen cooperation in disaster risk management.

The agreement forms part of a Joint Declaration issued at

munications infrastructure, risk transfer and public private partnerships for disaster response and reconstruction; and it will promote joint action in multilateral fora while also mobilising international support to strengthen the Caribbean's institutional capabilities for di-

which establishes a new paradigm for cooperation.

In addition to disaster risk management and recovery, the programme will also cover trade and investment, health, Statistics and ICT, in line with the CARICOM Strategic Plan 20152019 and the global de-

the end of the Fourth CARICOM-Mexico Summit held in Belize on Wednesday under the joint chairmanship of CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada and the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto.

The MexicoCARICOM Strategy for Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management will have three main lines of work.

The strategy, will strengthen initiatives already in place; promote cooperation in training and the exchange of best practices in a range of relevant areas such as early warning, awareness raising, emergency response, rehabilitation of physical and telecom-

saster risk management.

The international support will cover economic issues such as use of GDP per capita to graduate CARICOM member states from concessionary financing, and preventing de-risking measures.

Last month, Mexico suffered two major earthquakes which killed hundreds and caused widespread damage, while several CARICOM countries took direct hits from two category five hurricanes, Irma and Maria, which caused a number of deaths and billions of dollars in damage.

Wednesday's summit approved the seventh Mexico-CARICOM Technical Cooperation Programme (2017-2019)

velopment agenda.

The meeting also welcomed the offer by Mexico of 150 scholarships for training Caribbean teachers of Spanish as a second language which should further strengthen communication between the two sides.

M e a n w h i l e , CARICOM, with support from the United Nations, is organising a donor conference to mobilise international support for the post hurricane recovery effort.

CARICOM and Mexico have agreed to collaborate to ensure the success of the conference to be held at UN Headquarters in New York on November 21.

(CMC)

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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ife can sometimes throw us a curve ball, but the will to overcome obstacles can be brought to the surface when we are faced with challenges. This is true of two exemplary women who have fought and beaten breast cancer.

Rosaline Clarke

Rosaline Clarke

Because of her strength, her determination and her positive outlook on life, Rosaline Clarke embodies the spirit of a true cancer warrior and stands as a prime example that breast cancer is no match for a woman like her.

Known to most as ‘Ms Rosie’ or ‘Sister Rosie’, this mother of three learned some years ago that all of her siblings have been directly affected by cancer, two of which she helplessly watched as they were consumed by the disease.

Rosie’s personal journey with breast cancer began just one year ago while on vacation in the United States visiting her 97-year-old mother. It was on the third day after arrival that she “felt a sharp pain” in her left side breast.

At first, she thought it was most likely a muscle strain caused by the luggage she had been hauling around, but after an examination, found that there was a lump in her breast. Rosie’s eldest sister, who was present at the time, encouraged her to remain calm. It was then that her sister disclosed for the very first time that she too had been battling cancer in her left breast for just about two years.

Three weeks after returning to Guyana and seeking a second opinion, Rosie underwent a lumpectomy. The initial report was that it was a cyst that had developed in her breast, but after a biopsy was conducted, Rosie was called in by the medical practitioners – she was strongly urged not to come alone.

Yet, ever the brave soldier, Rosie went by herself, but she attests that she was not alone as, she said, her faith and resolve in her “God and Saviour” walked beside her.

The news was not good: Rosie had developed cancer in her breast.

Two options were placed on the table - remove the

lump or remove the entire breast. Rosie had a huge decision to make.

She opted to remove her entire breast and avoid the rigors of chemotherapy she had learnt of from her eldest sister’s experience with the treatment.

Rosie has since started her treatment using the “five-year pill”.

In a press release from GTT, the telecommunications company said it celebrates this warrior spirit that lives on in Rosie. The company also commends her unrelenting desire to live in victory.

While faced with the overwhelming temptation to fall into worry and depression, Rosie continues to beat the odds and has instead thrown herself thoroughly into serving her community through her local church, the Open Bible Church in Queenstown.

There, she serves as an usher and Sunday school teacher and assists in many of the church’s programmes to the immediate and surrounding community. There, she too receives much support through prayer and fasting with other members and the leadership of the church.

“I wasn’t afraid… I wasn’t scared,” Rosie recalled the initial days of her journey and battle against cancer. Her philosophy is: “Belief kills and belief cures”. This warrior chooses to believe in the power of God to heal her completely.

Rosie spends much of her time reading and doing research geared towards educating herself about the disease.

On any given weekend, you can find Rosie with her Sunday school children at their book club.

On weekday afternoons, Rosie’s time is spent with her granddaughter on the veranda of her Albert Street home in Georgetown.

Mitzy Gaynor Campbell

At the heart of ev-

ery warrior is a resilient spirit that refuses to give up and this is exactly what Mitzy Gaynor Campbell does – refusing to surrender to breast cancer.

From a young age, Mitzy had always been a fighter. She knew that she was strong and she wanted everybody to know it. So, when cancer came knocking at Mitzy’s door in 1998, she knew that there was only one thing she could do, fight.

Fight was exactly what she did. After Mitzy had seen four of the women in her family and even her maternal grandmother die from

cancer, she knew that she would have to fight the hardest battle of her life. She could not just allow this disease to continue robbing her family of their rich history and cultural heritage.

This 2015 recipient of the National Award, the Golden Arrowhead of Achievement, Mitzy fought cancer head on and has lived to tell her story. Twenty years later, she continues to serve as a beacon of strength and hope to all who know of her battles.

Currently, her main desire is to ensure that all women not only get themselves screened, but to be educated on re-

feature 41

Mitzy Gaynor Campbell speaking at GTT launch of its Pinktober event earlier this month

productive health and contraceptives.

With eight children and 10 grandchildren, she

knows the importance of Planned Parenthood.

(Information and photos

by GTT)

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

World-renowned Vascular Specialist to give free clinic in Guyana T

he Doobay Medical and Research Centre has announced an executive clinic with Dr Sonia Anand, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at McMaster University in Canada.

The executive clinic, to be held on Saturday, October 28, at the Doobay Medical and Research Centre at Annandale, East Coast Demerara, aims to provide high-level medical consultations to senior business, Government,

and other national leaders by one of the world leaders in vascular medicine.

Dr Sonia Anand is the Director of the Population Genomics Programme and a vascular medicine specialist at Hamilton

Health Sciences and McMaster University.

She holds the Canada Research Chair in Ethnic Diversity and Cardiovascular Disease.

She also holds the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario/Michael G DeGroote Chair in

Population Health Research.

Her present research focuses on the environmental and genetic determinants of vascular disease in populations of varying ancestral origin, women and cardiovascular disease.

According to a statement from the Doobay Medical and Research Centre, her work is widely published among academic and peer-evaluated journals and she teaches clinical epidemiology courses in methodology and cardiovascular disease at McMaster University.

The Centre, known for providing affordable dialysis for patients with renal failure since September 2011 has continued to expand its operations to cater to more patients, as well as to expand the range of services being provided.

Founder and President of the Centre, Dr Budhendra Doobay, said “we have been working hard not just to expand our services, but to improve our research capability to better serve the specific needs of the Guyanese population.” He added

Dr Sonia Anand

that diabetes and other diseases are common all over the world but there are ethnic variations, having a specialist of the calibre of Dr Anand, who researches these ethnic differences in the diseases is a rare but extremely useful opportunity for people in Guyana.

Dr Doobay will be accompanying Dr Anand and would also be taking the opportunity to ensure that a number of local professionals get a chance to benefit from interaction with Dr Anand.

Dr Anand said she is “excited about being able to visit Guyana and make a contribution to care for patients and give counsel to as many persons as possible about the issues of their health.”

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

GECOM Chair: Dharmic Sabha adds voice in Signed, sealed, The maximum condemning leader… delivered… controversial appointment A Y …by the military

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Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud

he Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has joined the long list of organisations that have come out and publicly registered condemnation of President David Granger’s unilateral appointment of retired Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The Dharmic Sabha said it is “disturbed at the unprecedented action” of President Granger in unilaterally appointing 84-year-old Patterson to the post of Chairman of GECOM. The Sabha, in a statement, noted that the Constitution of Guyana, which is its supreme law, prescribes a process for the selection of a GECOM Chairman which has up to this moment been respected and adhered to by all past Presidents.

“While the Constitution also provides for the President to appoint a Chairman to GECOM in the instances where no list is provided by the Opposition Leader or if those persons on the list are found to be unacceptable, the Dharmic Sabha is deeply concerned that the President has chosen to ignore the three lists provided by the Leader of the Opposition without giving any reason as to the unsuitability of those nominees.”

The Hindu religious representative body said the lists were submitted “after a process of wide consultation”; thereby including Guyanese in the decision-making process.

It noted that the Carter Formulae crafted to ensure transparency in the process of selection of the Chairman espoused inclusiveness

and engendered participation of civil society.

“To ignore the lists of diverse and competent Guyanese smacks of arrogance and a desire to thwart the democratic process in place for all of Guyana to feel confident in the electoral process going forward,” the Sabha declared.

It said too that “the indecent haste to appoint someone late in the night has also raised many valid questions as to the genuine desire for a transparent electoral process”.

In addition, the Sabha said the choice of candidate as someone who is currently employed by the Government in an advisory capacity and who has had long association with the ruling party, also raises concerns about impartiality that is necessary for this key constitutional post.

“Free and fair elections are intrinsic to democracy and Guyana’s democracy has been hard won. All Guyanese should feel confident that our elections are free and fair with the results reflecting the wishes of the population. The manner in which the President has appointed the new GECOM Chairman, a person who will be tasked with ensuring the transparency of elections, has raised lots of questions and feelings of distrust across the country. The President has caused Guyanese to question his genuineness with regard to ensuring a democratic free and fair electoral process.”

To uphold democracy, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is calling on President Granger to review his decision and to act in the best interest of all of Guyana.

…doesn’t have to explain

our Eyewitness has had over two years to look closely at the military mindset at work when running a State. And, dear reader, let’s not kid ourselves – this has been a military Government from day one. Your Eyewitness had predicted this happenstance since the APNU/AFC campaign unfolded. If it barks like the army, orders like the army and salutes like the army, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude it’s a goddamn army in command!!

So what was different with the GECOM decision from events during the campaign days, when so many top Disciplined Forces brass were on display you had to shade your eyes from being blinded with the reflection from the medalled chests?!!?? From the beginning, Pressie made it clear he was going to pick his own GECOM Chair – come hell or high water.

Does anyone think this trained historian doesn’t know the history of Art 161?? Heck…he could teach some of the lawyers a thing or two about that “compromise” formula which assisted in the ousting of the PNC in 1992. Like Hamilton Green, whom he honoured with the OR in one of his first acts as President, Pressie was and remains an unapologetic, unreconstituted Burnhamite. He was one of those Burnhamites whom Hoyte banished and peripheralised when he decided to chart a new course for Guyana post-1985.

Of Burnham’s two ideologues in charge of indoctrinating the two key institutions, McDavid was with the Public Service, and Granger was with the Disciplined Forces. McDavid was banished to Russia, and Granger was made his military advisor. Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer!

Hoyte didn’t even solicit Granger’s opinion on the weather!! Granger, like Green, never accepted Hoyte’s acceptance of the 1992 elections results. If he’d been in charge of the army, he would’ve never deployed troops to save the day when Green attacked GECOM as the votes were coming in and the PNC was shown as losing. Strike one against Joe Singh!!

Like Burnham, Pressie will never allow technicalities like voting to remove the PNC. His military training impels him to accept “collateral” damage for the cause. Problem is: as a military leader, he insists it’s his sole prerogative to define “the cause”. Like Burnham, he sees the PPP as “evil incarnate” and beyond redemption. They must be prevented from returning to office by any means necessary.

Pressie has Burnham’s perspective on constitutions: they really don’t matter, and are essentially a sop to placate those who believe in such “Nancy stories” like “democracy”. As Burnham told his 1979 Congress: “You can’t just read on the lines, comrades: it’s more important to read between the lines!!”

sked about why he didn’t tell Burnham he disagreed with one of the latter’s decisions, Hamilton Green replied wryly, “Who could tell Burnham anything once he made up his mind?” And that’s precisely the reason Guyana’s on the brink of another dictatorship right now. Burnham set the mould for those who’d want to follow in his footsteps – such as Prezzie who promised to do just that.

Burnham didn’t give a hoot as to the consequences of his decisions for Guyana. Asked in a documentary whether he’d change course for Guyana if his “socialist experiment” failed, Burnham replied the experiment would continue come hell or high water. As he announced in Parliament, “Back to back; belly to belly; I don’t give a damn, I done dead already!!”

So those who think Prezzie will change his mind on the GECOM appointment or will offer reasons for his decision just wasted a thought. Why should the President give reasons, when he is a General, “moulding” Guyanese to fulfil the vision of the Founder Leader? Does anyone out there really believe Burnham traipsed around in a full General’s outfit because he ran out of civilian garb?

Pleeease!! And Prezzie’s a REAL general, who spent his whole life having EVERYONE bowing and scraping.

When a General gives an order to jump, there’s just one choice: “How high, sir?!” Now on the matter of offering reasons, the Judge told him that based on the political realities, Guyana needs “discussion and compromise” and he really should tell the people why he rejected those 18 nominees.

But Prezzie’s response was to demand he be shown where in the Constitution he’s supposed to do that.

But that’s being quite disingenuous, isn’t it? Where in the Constitution did he find the criteria he set Jagdeo as to who’s a suitable candidate? And that’s the nub of the question, isn’t it? A constitution cannot specify the rule for every contingency a country will confront for all times.

What it does is to propose PRINCIPLES that should be used as guidelines in those contingencies. Now it’s patently clear to anyone not seized of a maximum leader syndrome that Art 161 (2) was inserted in 2000 to encourage “consultations and compromise”. This is the SPIRIT of the constitutional rule – which must be followed if the leader is serious about “obeying” the Constitution. In England, for instance, there’s no written constitution, the principles have been solidified into traditions that have a greater force than the stated law.

As soon as any leader begins to insist on following the LETTER of the Constitution, know that he’s playing games!

Dangerous games for the people.

… and irreversible

The local plenipotentiaries of the ABC countries are being importuned to intervene in Prezzie’s unilateral appointment of the GECOM Chair. The local and domestic Guyanese implorers are begging them to “do the right thing”. But they should know no nation’s ever done the “right thing” for purely moral purposes. It’s always about their “national interest”, isn’t it?

And this isn’t a theoretical thing for us. Just peruse the declassified US files between 1960 and 1968 out there in the worldwide web. There, the AB (“C” wasn’t needed!) pretty much created the Maximum Leader Burnham, funded his PNC and closed their eyes to the rigging and other crimes against the Guyanese people – because it suited their interest.

Guyanese shouldn’t take this personally – it really had nothing to do with them, per se. What they should do is look at Spike Lee’s movie “Do the Right Thing” and listen to Public Enemy’s title song: “You got to fight the power, fight the power, fight the powers that be.”

As an indicator of the contempt Pressie has for the PPP, you only have to look at how he toyed with them in accepting list after list when he never intended to pick anyone from those lists. In fact, anyone who accepted being on the PPP list was given the kiss of death – even if Pressie hadn’t already picked his GECOM head.

But the way he actually made the cut was just rubbing salt into the wound. Patterson confirmed he was never consulted about being the GECOM Chair until a few hours before Jagdeo was summoned to State House on Diwali night. He just got a call from Pressie, and then and there he said, “Yes sir!!” For all your Eyewitness knows, he might’ve been lighting his diyas, yet he didn’t even miss a beat!!

“A few hours ago …I was never approached prior to tonight,” he said, and explained that Granger called him, made the offer, and he accepted!

Signed, sealed and delivered!

…CCJ test

The PPP’s taken Pressie’s unilateral move to the CCJ. But they’ll get a clue as to how the CCJ’s wind is blowing with the case the spit press insists in dubbing “third term”.

Somebody’s getting more than Christmas this December!!

…and the ABC countries

…and pork-barrel politics

The Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman just gave an ANNUAL GRANT of G$100 million – from the Ministry’s coffers? – to UG for “technological pedagogy”.

So whatever happened to the US$10 million – or GY$2 BILLION that was given for the same purposes by the World Bank?

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Alia Bhatt wants to essay Jennifer Lawrence’s Aishwarya, Abhishek Bachchan visit mom after fire breaks out in the building character in ‘Silver Lining Playbook’

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ctor Alia Bhatt says she would love to play Hollywood actor Jennifer Lawrence’s character in the Oscar-winning film ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ as she finds the role “brilliant”.

Alia opined on Hollywood and its opportunities and more during a conversation on audio show “Take 2 with Anupama and Rajeev” on Saavn.

“It’s funny that you mentioned Jennifer Lawrence, but I love her and I relate a lot to her

for some reason. I feel like we are pretty similar and she is a fabulous actor as well. But the only difference is what I wish, I think it’s changing here and I feel like we are moving in a space where content is really becoming the focus of all our attention,” Alia said.

“At least out there, there is a lot of respect and love given to writers and just writing which we are still waking up to over here so that’s the only thing I would want maybe that just more respect for the writers so

they feel motivated because eventually it’s all in the writing.

“And of course the directing but eventually that’s your raw material. So better opportunities I don’t know, but yes definitely I’ve seen characters like I would’ve loved to play Jennifer Lawrence’s character in the ‘Silver Lining Playbook’ and I was like that’s such a brilliant character to play but maybe someday, hopefully,” Alia added.

‘Take 2 with Anupama and Rajeev’ has discussions and chats about recent releases, industry trends and conversations with various actors, producers and directors from the Indian film industry.

The audio show will have 12 episodes with each episode running for 20 minutes, every Tuesday. (Indian Express)

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ishwarya Rai Bachchan, along with husband Abhishek Bachchan, visited her mother Vrinda Rai at her residence in Bandra after a minor fire broke out in the 16-storey ‘La Mer’ building where the actor used to live before her marriage. The couple looked visibly worried as they were spotted in the compound of the building. A senior fire brigade official confirmed to PTI that the fire was brought under control immediately, and no injuries were reported in the

incident that took place on Tuesday afternoon.

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar also used to live in the same building in the past. “Our fire control room received a call at 12.50 pm regarding the fire that broke out on the 13th floor of La Mer building located in Bandra West,” the official said, adding that the firefighting team was pressed into service immediately.

Mumbai’s Chief Fire officer, P S Rahangdale, said, “There was a timely response from the fire

brigade team. However, the firefighting systems in the apartment were not in place. The blaze was doused before it could spread.”

“The blaze was brought under control within time and there was no injury to anyone in the incident,” he said.

When contacted, Aishwarya’s spokesperson told IANS, “Aishwarya is grateful and overwhelmed by the concern shown by her well-wishers and thank them.”(Indian Express with inputs from IANS)

Tamannaah Bhatia: Hrithik Roshan is the reason I got into films

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ctor Tamannaah Bhatia, who is gearing up to essay the protagonist of the Telugu version of ‘Queen’, believes actor Hrithik Roshan is a “demi god” when it comes to dance.

Tamannaah bumped into Hrithik at Yash Raj Studios while rehearsing for her appearance opposite cricketer Irfan Pathan on Farah Khan’s ‘Lip Sync Battle’, read a statement.

Sharing her experience, Tamannaah said

in a statement: “I have always been inspired by Hrithik and he’s the very reason I got into the entertainment industry. I am an avid dancer and Hrithik is a demigod when it comes to dance.

If there is one favourite actor, then it is Hrithik for me. If an opportunity arises, I’d love to work opposite him.”

The actor also posted an image of herself with Hrithik on Instagram.

Its caption read, “An actor that I have looked

up to since the very beginning of my career, the sincerity and dedication that he has, has always inspired me.

“Secretly hoped to meet my favourite hero someday. Today, I feel super lucky that I did after all these years. You are so humble Hrithik Roshan, I think I have never been so nervous taking a photo, but I was just so excited thank you for this wonderful memory,” she added. (Indian

Express)

Richa Chadha: Was asked to Priyanka Chopra celebrates go on dates with actors and 20 million followers on Twitter cricketers to create an image with the sassiest QA session

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icha Chadha says outsiders are often advised to date actors and cricketers to create an image at the beginning of their career.

The actor says when she was a newcomer, she was advised to do the same but she refused. “When I came to the industry, one PR person told me, ‘Send a text message to this actor. Go on a date with him’. And I said, ‘But he is married!’ then this person said, ‘Why didn’t you send a message to this cricketer? It would have been good for your career, for your PR and public image’,” Richa says in an interview.

“I can’t date anyone on a transactional basis.

These are the kind of advice I used to get, these are the things that people tell you when you are from outside world.

That’s why I have very few friends in the industry,” she says. Though she made her debut with Dibakar Banerjee’s

‘Oye Lucky Lucky Oye’, her breakthrough performance was Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’.

Recalling her initial days, the 32-year-old actor says she managed all on her own without an entourage.

“When I did ‘Gangs…’

I didn’t have a manager, a PR or stylist. There were times when I was told that today we have a success party in the evening, and I would be like

okay,” she says. “And then I would go to a mall in Juhu, buy a dress, wear it there, go to a salon on the ground floor of that mall, do some makeup; that’s how I was managing then,” she says.

For Richa, it’s these issues which outsiders face -having no one to give a sound advice.

“This is what people don’t understand about people who come from outside. We don’t have anyone guiding us about these things. We have no inroads into the industry. “For us at least in the initial stage, there is no grooming, there are no advisors to tell us ‘don’t do this, or do this’, or that this film will get typecast, or this film will be good for you. You just make your own way here, so it takes time,” she says.

The actor is currently awaiting the release of her film ‘Jia Aur Jia’, where she stars alongside Kalki Koechlin.

(Indian Express)

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ctor-singer Priyanka Chopra, who has worked with international names like Pitbull and DJ Will Sparks, says she would like to collaborate with singer Rihanna.

Priyanka treated her fans to a question and answer session as she scored a following of 20 million on Twitter.

When a fan asked her which female artist she would like to collaborate with, Priyanka replied: “I’d love to collaborate with Rihanna. I think she’s awesome.”

Another fan asked her what would she be if not an actor or a singer. She said, “An engineer. At least that’s what

I thought at 17. Now I haven’t done anything else for a while, so maybe writing.”

Another question was which language would she choose if she could do a movie of a different dialect and PC replied, “How about maybe Italian!”

The QA session was followed by plenty of interesting confessions.

When a fan asked about what is her message for her 20 million followers, Priyanka said, “You guys r my rock!

Haters gonna hate..tomatoes gonna tomate and rotis gonna rotate..but we will Always be together.”

Priyanka is currently shooting for the third season of the American crime drama series ‘Quantico’. She will be seen reprising her role of FBI agent Alex Parrish.

“This season brings together an amazing new team and new flavour to ‘Quantico’! I’m excited to share (it) with you all,” she said.

Besides ‘Quantico’, the ‘Mary Kom’ actor has already completed her next film “Isn’t It Romantic”, featuring Adam Devine, Liam Hemsworth and Rebel Wilson. It is slated to release on February 14, 2019.

She will also star as a single mom in “A Kid Like Jake” alongside Jim Parsons, Claire Danes and Octavia Spencer. (Indian Express)

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ilming of Sony Pictures’ ‘Spider Man’ spin-off ‘Venom’ has finally started and a picture from the sets quietly landed on the internet. The official Twitter account of the movie shared a photograph and confirmed that the production of the highly-anticipated movie has begun.

The picture shows Tom Hardy, who plays the titular character, looking very happy on the sets. He is smiling and looking at a man who is penning down something while sitting.

There is nothing much else one can glean from the photo so it is most likely first of the set photos to come in next few months. The character of Venom, who is also known as Eddie Brock, was last portrayed on the big screen by Topher Grace in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 in 2007, which starred Tobey Maguire, James Franco and Kirsten Dunst in other lead roles.

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aris Jackson, model and daughter of late King of Pop Michael Jackson, flew to Puerto Rico to help distribute supplies to the families affected by a hurricane. Paris joined American TV personality Bethenny Frankel, who has been assisting with relief efforts since the island was destroyed by the natural disaster, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Paris, wearing a black T-shirt, loose pants, a white and red cap, and comfortable sandals, was seen unloading the plane when they touched down in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. She also helped load the supplies into the truck before they

were distributed to the hurricane victims.

“I made friends today. Feels good to be with beings of light on that mutual frequency, what incredible little bundles of joy,” the model captioned an Instagram

In May, Tom Hardy, known for playing Batman’s archvillain Bane in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, was announced to play the traditional ‘Spider-Man’ villain in Sony Pictures’ upcoming film focused around Eddie Brock, the first character to become the alien symbiote in the comic books. The script of the movie has been penned by ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ writers Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner.

Venom is one of the most famous villains of Spider-man and is a fan-favourite. Matt Tolmach and Avi Arad are producing the film, and Ruben Fleischer directs it. Tom Hardy is also known for films like ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and ‘The Revenant’.

The comic-book flick also stars Riz Ahmed, Michelle Williams and Reid Scott. The movie is slated to be released in theatres on October 5, 2018. (Indian Express with ANI inputs)

image that showed her reading a book to a child at a school.

Other celebrities making donations to Puerto Rico include Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler. The three women donated $1 million each.

Jennifer Lopez also helped raise $35 million at a star-studded charity concert benefiting Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, actor Scarlett Johansson announced a reading of Thornton Wilder’s ‘Our Town’ to raise more funds. The actor recruited her Marvel co-stars like Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo for the benefit event. (Indian Express)

Actor Julie Walters wants to play a Bond villain

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eteran actor Julie Walters said she wants to play a Bond villain and has even suggested it to producer Barbara Broccoli. The 67-year-old actor recently worked with Broccoli

on ‘Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool’, reported Femalefirst. Directed by Paul McGuigan, the film is based on a memoir written by Peter Turner. The film also stars Annette Bening and Jamie Bell in

the lead roles.

“I told her I want to be the new Rosa Klebb (the villain in ‘From Russia With Love’). They should have a baddie woman. I’d love that. What accent would I use? Depends on the baddie- depends on the baddie. Maybe she should be from North Korea. Anyhow, I haven’t heard back,” Julie Walters said.

The actor also revealed she was surprised by the news that there would be a ‘Mamma Mia!’ sequel. “When they told me about that, I thoughtbut surely they’ve used up all the bloody songs?

But they’d done another

and it’s really good. I love singing. And we had such a laugh on the first one,” she added.

Julie Walters who received an Academy Award in the Best Actress category for her stint in ‘Educating Rita’ has well-known movies like ‘Billy Elliot’, ‘All My Sons’, ‘A Short Stay in Switzerland’ and others in her kitty. Apart from ‘Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool’, the veteran actor has projects including ‘Paddington 2’, ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ and ‘Mumma Mia! Here We Go Again’ lined up to hit the screens in the coming months. (Indian Express)

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ctor Nicole Kidman says it was easy for her to film intimate scenes with Colin Farrell as he made her feel comfortable. The 50-year-old actor, who plays Colin Farrell’s wife in the upcoming psychological thriller ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’ says the scenes needed to be shot aesthetically as they form an important part of the narrative, reports Entertainment Tonight.

“I think from the minute (Colin and I) met, I just felt safe, which is always a great place to be with another actor. “As soon as I take myself out of the equation, it’s just the storytelling. These particular scenes are very much needed for the relationship.

They say so much,” says Kidman. Farrell, 41, said that he considers doing bold scenes as

a part-and-parcel of his acting job.

“You get through (those scenes) as quickly as you can, while not rushing it at the same time. It’s very much business. “You’re there to tell a story. You’re there to honour the characters that have been written by somebody else and whose voice you are now beginning to adapt to yourself. You hear, ‘Cut,’ and everyone looks away, and you make sure that the person you’re working with has cover.”

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’ was selected for the Cannes Film Festival 2017 and bagged the award for Best Screenplay.

The film also features Barry Keoghan, Raffey Cassidy, and Alicia Silverstone. It is set to release on November 3 in the US. (Indian Express)

Angelina Jolie talks about women’s rights at ‘The Breadwinner’ premiere

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ngelina Jolie, who was at the U.S. premiere of her “very important” animated feature film ‘The Breadwinner,’ took the opportunity to talk about women’s rights.

“It’s a story of our times when equal rights for women remain a central burning issue,” said the ‘By the Sea’ star.

Angelina Jolie was present at the inaugural func-

tion of Animation Is Film Festival in Hollywood where she was accompanied by older daughters Shiloh and Zahara, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The animated film is based on the best-selling novel by Deborah Ellis children’s novel of the same name, which follows a young girl in Afghanistan who disguises herself as a boy to

provide for her family.

Talking at the festi-

val, she explained that the film “asks you to put

ourselves in another person’s shoes – in this case, an 11-year-old Afghan girl. There are few countries in the world where it is so hard to be a young girl. We cannot abandon a country [Afghanistan] and [its] people.”

“It’s about humanity and about love of family,” Jolie added of the movie, emphasizing the “care and commitment that [the filmmakers] put into

the film to make it so authentic,” the mother of six added. The film is directed by Nora Twomey and executive produced

by Mimi Polk Gitlin, Jordan Peele along with Joile.

‘The Breadwinner’ also premiered at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival in September.

The film hits theaters on November 17. (Indian Express)

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 29, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Streak urges more elite cricket for Zimbabwe I t has become a refrain in Zimbabwe cricket circles that the national side needs to play more cricket in order to improve. After their defeat to West Indies on Tuesday, coach Heath Streak reiterated Zimbabwe's need for elite cricket: the Bulawayo Test was just their second Test of the year.

"It is difficult," Streak said. "Unfortunately for us, we had planned to have Pakistan A for two four-day games [before this series]. They would have been very strong opposition, but that didn't materialise and it set us back a little bit.

We had our own Logan Cup games but the level of that is not quite the same. I've said for a while that I think Zimbabwe play well when we play consistently and regularly at elite level. Hopefully in the future we will have fewer long gaps in between series and guys can play regularly at that high level."

Zimbabwe have played just 14 full international games this year, and seven of those were against Afghanistan and Scotland. Compare that to, for example, their neighbours South Africa

Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak sets up some markers during warm-ups (Peter Della Penna/ESPNCricinfo photo)

who have played 37 internationals so far in 2017, going on multi-format tours of New Zealand and England, and hosting Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Happily for Zimbabwe, the next six months or so will see them playing much more cricket. While there are Tests against South Africa and Afghanistan to look forward to, much of the focus will also be on ODI cricket. In March, Zimbabwe will host the World Cup Qualifiers, needing to reach the final in order to book a spot at the 2019 World Cup in England.

"Originally we had

asked West Indies to play ODIs because our focus is very much on the World Cup qualifiers that we're hosting and we want to make sure we get into the 2019 World Cup," Streak explained.

"So short-format cricket is a strong focus that we're going to have over the next six months, but we have some series lined up against Pakistan, Afghanistan want to play us, so we've got a good bank of cricket coming up next year, which will be good for the guys to play regularly."

Ahead of an unusually busy scheduling period for them, Zimbabwe's

first challenge will be to level the Test series against West Indies in the second match, starting on Sunday. Streak rued the "golden opportunity" Zimbabwe let slip in the first when their batsmen failed to take advantage of the strong position set up by the bowlers on the first day.

"I think it really boiled down to our first-innings batting," Streak said.

"We were bitterly disappointed after day two because it was a golden opportunity. I thought our bowlers did a really good job, and we didn't have a lot of luck. I think we beat the bat more regu-

larly than they did with spinners. Sometimes you make your own luck, so hopefully we can do that a bit better. We had a couple of chances, and even though they weren't massively costly chances, they add up. I thought as a bowling and fielding unit we were pretty good, it just boils down to that one innings."

Streak suggested that there would be no major tactical or personnel changes for the hosts for what has become a mustwin second Test.

"I think we've got good balance to our side," he said. "In terms of the types of bowlers we

have, Jarvis and Mpofu are very different types of bowlers. We have a legspinner, an offspinner, a left-arm spinner, Malcolm Waller who can weigh in. I though Solomon Mire had a good start to his Test career he was unfortunate not to get a fifty but his bowling was good. Maybe we can use guys like Hamilton Masakadza and Malcolm Waller more in the next Test match and see how they can do. I think a slower bowler bowling wicket to wicket with the keeper up is something we may look to do in the next Test."

(ESPNCricinfo)

Guyana’s Priyanna Ramdhani selected for Pan AM Camp

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uyana & Caribbean Ladies Badminton Champion Priyanna Ramdhani has been selected by the Pan American Badminton Federation Development Director to participate in the Young Talents Camp 2017 set for November 9 to 15, 2017 in Paramaribo Suriname.

The selection was made after her incredible performance at just 15 years of age to reach the quarter finals of the recently concluded South American Youth Games in Chile where she was also ranked at number four in the South American ranking.

Priyanna also won two gold medals and one silver at the Caribbean Badminton Championships (CAREBACO) held in Trinidad playing in

Badminton Champion Priyanna Ramdhani

August this year.

This Young Talents Camp will be involved in sessions twice per day under the direction of the Pan American Programme coach.

After the conclusion of the camp, Priyanna will then take part in the Suriname International

Open Badminton Championships from November 15 to 18 at the Ismay Van Wilgen Sports Hall.

Her Goal is to start building her World Ranking Points to help her qualify and attend future tournaments and games.

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Persaud hoping to cement place in senior team

B y C lifton R oss

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u y a n a Jaguars newbie Akshaya Persaud said cementing a spot in the senior team is what he intends to do once he’s given the chance to play when the 2017/18 Digicel Regional 4-Day tournament bowls off this week.

Persaud, the leading run-scorer in the recently concluded Jaguars 3-Day League was the lone new face in the 13-man Guyana team which was released on Monday.

Following his practice session at the venue of the Jaguars opening match; the Providence Stadium, the batsman was delighted to have finally been rewarded with a senior call-up.

“First, I must thank almighty God for making this possible, I know from my hard work I must get the rewards in the future. I was keeping it simple and keep the basics going, last year I had a good tournament, I got over 400 runs this year I got over 500-odd runs so it was due to come,” Persaud said.

The West Demerara skipper cracked two tons this season including 151 as he ended with 520 runs at an average of well over 70 runs from 7 rounds played.

His form which seemed to continue from last season where he tallied over 400 runs, was coupled by the batsman being offered an Academy contract which has seemingly aided in his growth from strength to strength.

Regarding the technical aspects of his game, the Cornelia

Ida resident said he doesn’t stray too far from the fundamentals as he stressed on keeping in touch with the basic side of training and execution. “I was just doing the basics right, a lot of extra work, batting and bowling especially in the rainy season I was in the indoor facility at LBI so I’ve been putting in extra work.”

Nephew of former national batsman Rabindranauth Seeram, Persaud credited advice from his uncle whom he works with a lot at home along with the invaluable relationship he shares with veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul who he refers to as “Pops” as significant figures in the development of his career.

“The coaches in the academy and the players in the senior team, also at home I work with my uncle Seeram also I must thank Shiv for some advice he gives me throughout my career, my parents and my village who have all helped med throughout my career,” he explained.

He further added that Seeram has placed special emphasis on teaching him the ins and outs about cricket, saying “He tells me to keep it as simple as possible and don’t rush anything and keep it simple while sticking to the basics.”

A Junior member of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team over the years, the lefthander said his stint with the warriors during the CPL has helped to improve his cricket from a physical

Main focus is on ‘re-establishment’ of Golden Jaguars, says GFF President

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he re-establishment of the men’s national football team, the Golden Jaguars is on top of the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) agenda. This was disclosed by the federation’s President Wayne Forde; with two international matches lined up for the Jaguars against Trinidad and Tobago and Indonesia in November, Forde maintained that the GFF is looking to examine the national players ahead of next year’s Caribbean champion-

ships.

He pointed out that for the past two years the federation has been putting things in place for Guyana to have a solid youth foundation and he explained with that now in place, the focus will be on the senior teams.

“What the general public is witnessing, is the unfolding of a deliberate strategy; we spent the last two years putting the mechanics in place for the youth development programme, continued on page 52

Newly selected Guyana Jaguars batsman Akshaya Persaud takes a break following an intense workout on Tuesday

perspective which has played a pivotal role in his recent success.

“That has boosted my career a lot, especially my fitness because the trainers are very hardworking, it has helped my batting and bowling but it helped my fitness especially.”

Despite making the 13, the young batsman was aware that he still needs to learn as much as he can while he can, especially that hopes of securing a permanent spot in the team were at the forefront of his goals. “I think what I was doing in the 3-Day tournament that brought me success I will keep doing, I just have to be a bit weary because there is a lot of international bowlers in the regional tournament so I just

have to go and adapt” admitted Persaud.

Although Guyana will commence their title defense minus five of their top players; Keon Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Vishaul Singh, Shimron Hetmyer and Davendra Bishoo who are all on international duty, Persaud who could likely make his first class debut said he’s maintaining composure as he knows the importance of being focused ahead of such a big tournament.

“At the moment I’m just relaxing and just doing my batting and bowling, probably on that day I might have a few nerves but it’s just for me to go out there and keep my focus as well as my concentration”. He ended.

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IPL teams could be allowed Main focus is on... to retain three players from page 51

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he eight IPL franchises are likely to be allowed to retain up to three players each before the player auction in the 2018 preseason. Such a proposal was discussed by the IPL governing council in Delhi on Tuesday. The governing council will meet again next week to deliberate on the issue before making a final decision on November 14 at a workshop with all eight franchises.

Although a final decision remains to be made, a BCCI official suggested that the three players could be a combination of two Indians and one overseas player, or two overseas players and one Indian.

ESPNcricinfo understands that not all franchises have been keen on retaining players, but Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, the two teams that are returning to the IPL after serving a twoyear suspension, were "keen" to retain a certain number of players.

If the IPL allows the retention of a certain number of players, both these franchises would be able to pick their choices from the two teams that replaced them in the last two editions of the IPL: Rising Pune Supergiant and

Steven Smith and MS Dhoni have a chat in the field AFP

Gujarat Lions.

MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Ben Stokes, Steven Smith, Brendon McCullum and Faf du Plessis are some of the prominent names that featured for Supergiant and Lions in the last two years.

It is understood that the IPL chief operating officer Hemang Amin met with representatives of the eight franchises in the last few months to gather suggestions before a final plan is laid out at the franchise workshop next month.

It is not just the number of players that should be retained that the franchises have different opinions about they are also concerned by the purse that will be

made available to them.

Some of the richer franchises are keen to have a maximum purse of INR 80 crore as opposed to some franchises which are happy with INR 75 crore. The IPL governing council is likely to take a final call at its next meeting.

One franchise official pointed out that the richer teams might want a bigger purse in order to spend big money to retain marquee players.

The official suggested the IPL should consider a smaller purse as well as sticking to the retention policy it had used in the past. In 2014, when the retention policy was introduced for the first time by the IPL, every franchise was allowed to retain a maximum of five capped players. Back

then every franchise had a salary cap of INR 60 crore, out of which a fixed amount would be deducted for every player retained. The breakup of the deduction was: Player 1 - INR 12.5 crore, Player 2 - 9.5 cr, Player 3 - 7.5 cr, Player 4 - 5.5 cr and Player 5 - 4 cr.

Simultaneously the franchises could buy back additional players through the rightto-match-card option in the 2014 auction. On Tuesday, the IPL governing council discussed the right-to-match-card option, but there was no clarity on the issue. The right-to-match card essentially gives a franchise the first right of refusal to its players, allowing it to buy its player back after other franchises have completed the bidding process for him.

In 2014 the number of right-to-match cards available to each franchise was dependent on the number of players already retained. A franchise retaining between three and five players had one right-to-match card, while a franchise retaining up to two players had two right-tomatch cards; those not retaining any player had three cards to play.

(ESPNCricinfo)

The Golden Jaguars will face Indonesia and Trinidad and Tobago in November

we have the ATCs (Association Training Centers), we have the intra association leagues, we have the coaching education programmes, all of that is being done at a very rapid pace. We think that we are at a point where the youth development program [which is the most important arm of any ambitious football nation], we think we have set those corner stones in place, we now getting to the point where we want to re-establish the national team brands, both female and male.”

He continued; “seeking out these interesting international engagements, whether it is out of the confederation or not; is one where we can first of all take a good look at the international players that will take us into our 2018 Caribbean

Championship and the League of Nations which CONCACAF is working on. Apart from that, in our opinion it is going to help in the international brand appeal of the Golden Jaguars.

We are hoping the result of that would be one where we can bring in more partners in terms of sponsors that can help because I’m sure everyone wants to be associated with a national team that is getting around the world, not only getting around but of course succeeding.”

Forde also revealed that the GFF is working on setting up another game against another Asian country. He stressed that the federation is aiming to go sub-100 in the FIFA International ranking within 12 months.

Guyana preparing for French Guiana invitational Volleyball

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Some of the female Volleyballers during a training session on Sunday at the National Gymnasium in Georgetown

he Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) is currently preparing for an invitational Inter-Guiana Under-20 Junior tournament for both male and females which is expected to run from November 3 to 5 in French Guiana.

Guyana along with Suriname and hosts French Guiana, will do battle in the three-day event which is hosted by the French Guiana Volleyball Federation (FGVF). According to coach Levi Nedd who will be accompanying the teams when they wing out on November 2, said training preparations have been productive.

The Volleyballers underwent a training session on Sunday at the National Gymnasium and according to Nedd, the teams will continue their training at the same venue on Saturday October 28 and Sunday 29 with aims of further fine-tuning the players for the

meet which he considers crucial for the blooding of a national team ahead of the 2018 Inter-Guiana Games (IGG).

Speaking on the current form of Guyana regarding its progress in the sport, the former national player turned coach said, “After just being victorious at the IGG, it is important for Guyana to gain another title, so the youth development of the sport could further be propagated.”

Coach Nedd also confirmed that a few notable faces will participate in the invitational while adding that he plans to focus more on the players gelling together ahead of the competition. “The notable faces will be most of those who participated in the recently held IGG in Suriname while some of the areas to be worked on will be to inject more team synchronization into the system,” he stated.

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