Guyana Times International 4-OCT-10

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

‘Ready to hit the campaign trail’ for FRee distribution guyanatimesinternational.com

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 6, 2019

ISSUE NO. 468

Page 13

- Jagdeo says massive development plans on stream for Guyana

Record Breakers!

Warriors confident of lifting CPL 2019 title

See stories inside

With a historic eight consecutive wins and a packed weekend of T20 action ahead, the Guyana Amazon Warriors are pumped and ready to play their way to the Hero Caribbean Premiere League 2019 title

Selection of Ramjattan as PM candidate not automatic – Granger Page 11

Tullow shifting shore base operations from T&T to Guyana Page 5

2

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Agitation from foreign powers uncalled for’ - Guyana’s foreign minister says Govt will remain in place until new president is sworn in

W

hile many have expressed criticism for the government’s delays before going to the polls, Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Karen Cummings is urging that President David Granger be held to his word that he will deliver elections on March 2, 2020.

Dr. Cummings made this pro-

ation. So we have said, we (had) our right to take it to the different levels of the judicial system. We respect the rule of law, though there are various interpretations. But we recognize and the President has agreed to his (interim

UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres

Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings

nouncement on Wednesday, during her first ever press conference as Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the Minister, the

President ought to be held accountable by the public to follow through with elections.

“You would recall that our executive President would have said that he is going to, not dissolve parliament, but he would stay in government until another President is sworn in. We don’t want a headless chicken, who will run the country? There’s work to be done, public servants need to be paid and so on.”

“We’re all aware of the situation.

We don’t want to aggravate the situ-

President David Granger

Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Scotland

status). He has announced a date and whatever he says, you can hold him ac-

countable to, that the date for elections will be March 2.”

Dr. Cummings noted that the March 2nd date was set by the President after he would have consulted with GECOM Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh.

She called it the most plausible date for credible elections. turn to page 9

4 views

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Star power at Kaieteur Falls!

INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

New York Office 106-15 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica NY 11435 Email: guyanatimesnyint@gmail.com Tel no: 718-658-6804 Fax no: 718-849-2286 Preferred method of contact via EMAIL Guyana Office Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana.

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

Fax (592) 225-8696 Email: guyanatimesint@gmail.com

EDITORIAL NCM a wake-up call for the Coalition

T

he long overdue elections, which should have been held by March 21, 2019, following the December 21, 2018, No-Confidence Motion (NCM), now appear to be confirmed for March 2, 2020. That’s just about a year after it was constitutionally due and six months after the new September 18, 2019 deadline following APNU/AFC’s recourse to the courts.

That said, the caretaker President, David Granger, having been evasive on a definite date, on Tuesday signed the much-awaited proclamation which is needed to legally establish that date. With that settled and the crucial Claims and Objections (C&O) process also commenced, the various campaigns will be intensified. Key, is the elections being free and fair.

The Opposition, People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has raised concerns over operations within the Secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). One area was the announcement of the need for prospective voters to verify their registration during C&O. That requires all persons, whose names appear on the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE), to visit registration offices to conduct that verification process in order to be included on the Official List of Electors (OLE).

That was vehemently opposed by the PPP given the fact that it’s unnecessary and would result in unimaginable logistical challenges.

Importantly, it was seen as allegedly orchestrated by some within the Secretariat to impose a residency requirement which contravenes a ruling by the Chief Justice. That created potential to have persons already registered removed from the PLE. On Tuesday, GECOM revoked that registration requirement process.

That not only underscores the needlessness of that process, but the concerns raised by the Opposition over GECOM’s Secretariat. Leading members of the international community have since indicated their willingness to provide support to ensure that the upcoming elections are free and fair. What is imperative, is for all Guyanese to do his/her part during the C&O process to ensure that a credible OLE is derived and to remain guarded against possibly deliberate attempts to frustrate the process.

As the preparations at the various levels unfold, reflecting on events over the last nine months will not only reveal the callous disregard for the Constitution on the part of the APNU/AFC coalition, but, among others, how the NCM forced the Government to make itself available to residents and implement a number of community development projects.

Many have openly stated that had it not been for the NCM, most, if not all, ministers would have remained in the comfort of their plush offices rather than being in the fields to observe the daily challenges Guyanese face. There were little or no Cabinet outreaches prior to December 21, 2018, and limited infrastructural development within communities.

Since, there have been a plethora official events, albeit, extravagant, for the Government to interact with the citizenry and a very noticeable increase in much-needed works in some communities. An argument can be made over a possible preference, in terms of political support, for the communities to benefit.

In some, paved roads and street lights are needs now being satisfied while communities within the hinterland region are being frequently visited and are recipients of a variety of government hand-outs. In addition, some main public roadways have seen vital remedial works while projects, like the Sheriff Street expansion, and road and housing development, especially in Sophia, are proceeding at seemingly rapid rate.

Given the APNU/AFC’s history in office since May 2015, such undertakings would not have materialised had it not been for the successful NCM brought against them by the PPP. Similarly, officials, who have recently been braving elements of the weather to interact with residents, even though it seems glaringly to solicit their support, may not have done so.

In many ways, whatever is now being done by the APNU/AFC coalition seems deliberately designed to distract from its dismal record in office as the election approaches. Important to note, is that projects executed, like the Sheriff Street and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansions, were all envisaged by the PPP. It’s the same for the East Bank and West Demerara road projects. Reports suggest that the funding of the road and housing development in Sophia are from loans agreed to when the PPP was in office.

Reportedly, some West Berbice residents, who are now painfully counting their losses as a result of flooding, raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of related infrastructure design to safeguard. It seems those concerns were ignored leading to the current plight which could have been avoided.

These examples, which show a lack of visionary thinking on the part of the APNU/AFC, can also suggest its gross neglect of residents’ concerns prior to December 21, 2018. Having implemented some infrastructural work only because of the NCM, it appears that despite APNU/AFC’s desperate attempts to ignore it and have it invalidated, it was the impetus to force them to stop snubbing citizens.

Seemingly only budging when forced, public pressure may have forced the election proclamation. Again, that underlines APNU/AFC’s seeming unwillingness to genuinely act in the interest of all.

Some members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors and Tourism Guyana enjoying a day out at the majestic Kaieteur Falls in Guyana (Photo courtesy Tourism Guyana)

APNU/AFC’s disrespect for the Constitution must be brought to an end

O

n September 19 at the Pegasus Hotel, a large group of Guyanese protested the illegality of the President and the APNU/AFC regime he leads. The protest action, safeguarded by the Constitution, could not have been surprising, given the fact that the regime made no effort to abide by the final ruling and consequential orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) regarding the December 21, 2018, No-Confidence Motion (NCM).

Having refused to respect the constitutional processes the NCM triggered, having sought recourse in the courts for the decision to be reversed and failed, and having made no effort to officially ask the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to consider an extension of the constitutional electoral timeline, the APNU/AFC coalition must have known that after September 18, it has no legal standing as a government.

As such, it would be naïve to believe it would not be met with protests.

The President’s attendance at the function at the Pegasus was public knowledge. The protesters were within their rights to demonstrate their non-acceptance of what became a dictatorial regime as of September 19. Prior to that, PPP supporters, along with other Guyanese, have been picketing APNU/AFC officials across the country for their refusal to respect the Constitution.

The People’s National Congress (PNC), which is literally the Government shrouded in an outfit called the coalition, has an unflattering history of oppressive rule while in government between 1964 and 1992. During that period, the Constitution was made a mockery of, evident from just one of many actions – the flying of that party’s flag in the compound of the Supreme Court.

That tri-colour palm tree flag flew higher than the country’s Golden Arrowhead.

Such an action not only demonstrated total disregard for the Constitution and the

separation of powers, but unfettered paramountcy of the PNC party and its supreme reign over Guyana. No one, regardless whether they lived through that period or not, would want to see the return of such a tyrannical era. With Guyana on the cusp of an oil and gas economy, undemocratic rule would undermine related development and benefits expected to redound. It would also unnecessarily place the country at risk for international sanctions.

The latter has already been hinted by leading members of the international community. Their condemnation of the APNU/AFC’s unconstitutional regime as of September 19 is unambiguous. The Commonwealth Secretariat has also called for the restoration of constitutional rule, as well as many local civil society organisations. Standing up to an illegality was therefore what the protesters were doing on September 19 in the presence of a large Police contingent.

There was no riot and no one was harmed, yet, the presence of a fully armed riot squad as they were at a candle-light vigil outside the Arthur Chung Convention Centre on September 23. Interestingly, on September 18, when an alleged bandit was reportedly shot by the Police, tyres and other objects were burnt in the City street. The need for the riot squad to intervene may have seemingly not occurred to the Police.

That aside, in the presence of the Police and with many who live-streamed the protest, there is no evidence presented to suggest that the protesters threatened to overturn a Minister’s vehicle as claimed

by APNU/AFC. On the contrary, there are allegations that the driver of the vehicle may have wanted to drive through the crowd.

The allegation of wanting to overturn the vehicle has since become a priority talking point for Mr Granger and his team, who have described the protest-

ers as hooligans. Subsequent veiled threats have not gone unnoticed.

The PPP has since labelled the allegations to overturn the vehicle as manufactured lies. It should be noted that from 1997 to 2001, there were many incidents of violent protests during which people were beaten and robbed and businesses looted and set ablaze; protests that were not organised by the PPP. That’s just one period of our history made reference to in the context of hooliganism. It, therefore, becomes very worrying that the man entrusted with the reigns of leadership would refer to Guyanese who constitutionally voiced their disapproval over his continual transgression of the Constitution as hooligans.

That in itself speaks to his intolerance of being called out and another step towards a seemingly burgeoning dictatorship. The answer as to who really broke the law could not be clearer and the APNU/AFC’s disregard for the Constitution must be of concern to all.

Leading members of the international community have indicated that the prevailing political uncertainty undermines Guyanese institutions, compromises economic opportunities and hinders their ability to support Guyana’s development needs.

This is a time when disrespect for the Constitution must be brought to an end. This is a time when Guyanese from all backgrounds must rally to safeguard democracy so as to ensure that future developments are not compromised. This is a time when all Guyanese must raise their voices in unison to expose Mr Granger and APNU/ AFC’s deliberate efforts to distract from their disregard of the Constitution.

Many have seen the spurious allegations and labelling of the protesters as hooligans as just that— deliberate distraction for a particular reason. Is the increased armed Police detail to shield Mr Granger from protesters a distraction from combating crime?

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Tullow shifting shore base operations from T&T to Guyana

By Jarryl Bryan

B

ritish oil company Tullow, fresh off two oil finds in Orinduik oil block, is eyeing the transfer of its shore base operations from Trinidad to Guyana by 2020, after which it will run all its drilling programmes for next year from its local base.

This was explained to this publication by head of communications in Tullow Guyana, George Cazenove, during an in-

is dependent on various factors.

“We’re still looking for a shore base. We’re very confident that we will get a shore base in Guyana for our 2020 drilling campaign, something we’re committed to. And I fully expect we’ll be running all our 2020 wells from Guyana,” Cazenove said.

“Effectively, you have to run marine operations from your shore base.

That’s what you’re looking for. So its things like the water available, tidal

various sites and talking to various suppliers.”

He was also asked about what Guyana could expect from Tullow moving its operation to local shores, particularly regarding local content. Cazenove cited Tullow’s track record in other countries where its worked as an example of its potential local content commitment.

“Local content is a key part of what Tullow offers to the country’s it works in. We did opera-

The drillship being used by Tullow in its local operations

terview on Wednesday.

Cazenove noted that they are perusing various sites, though the eventual selection of one

conditions, some acreage to store equipment on the land. So it’s a number of different requirements. We are looking at

tions in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana and over there we see in supply chains for our operations in those countries, that

we try to get as many local nationals, small and medium sized businesses involved in the supply chain.”

Cazenove warned, however, that in the exploration phase such a supply chain will be limited. However, he noted that as Tullow moves closer to potential development and production, those opportunities will expand.

At present, Tullow has made at least two oil finds; in its Jethro and Joe wells. On September 16, the same day that Exxon Mobil announced its 14th oil find, Tullow also revealed that it had made its second oil find in just a matter of weeks; the discovery of 14 metres of oil reservoirs at the Joe well.

After the find, Tullow’s exploration Director Angus McCoss had noted that the discovery increases the potential in the Orinduik block. He had also alluded to the block having multibillion barrel potential.

The Orinduik oil block is just a few kilometres from Exxon’s discoveries in the Liza and Payara fields. It is under the administration of Eco Guyana and Tullow, who signed a 10-year

Tullow’s head of Communications, George Cazenove

Petroleum Prospecting licence and Production Sharing Agreement with Guyana in 2016. French firm Total E&P Activities Petrolieres entered the fray in 2017, partnering with Eco with the option to get a 25 per cent share in the block.

To service equipment, facilitate traffic and allow for the easy supply of necessities to its drill ships, however, a shore based facility is necessary. After reports that it initially planned to use a shore based facility in Trinidad, Exxon had subsequently begun constructing a warehouse and shore base of its own at Muneshwars’s Houston port.

In the case of Tullow, it already had a shorebase on the twin island republic. However, it was reported soon after its first oil discovery that Tullow was looking to switch its operations from Trinidad to Guyana.

Tullow, which is headquartered in the United Kingdom, operates in 15 countries, with 80 oil licenses and 28 producing fields. CEO McDade had announced back in September that the company plans to drill at least three new wells in Guyana for 2020. There have also been reports of plans to drill in other countries next year, including Jamaica.

6

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s sugar workers have found it real difficult to make life under Coalition Govt Dear Editor, The GAWU an article appearing in the September 24 the Guyana Chronicle, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan promising workers in the public sector a pay rise this year. The Chronicle quoted Minister Jordan as saying “public servants will get a salary increase this year and a bigger increase in 2020…”. For the beleaguered public servants hardpressed by the circumstances of contemporary life in Guyana, the promised increase must have been welcome news. How much the increase will be able to alleviate the difficulties of

life that public servants find themselves in is an entirely different question altogether.

The Minister is also reported to have said that the specific increase would be a product of collective bargaining between the and Administration the GPSU. However we saw only recently the GPSU President, Mr Patrick Yarde questioning the sincerity of the Administration’s commitment to collective bargaining. It also did not escape our attention too that the Minister did not hesitate to say that if the ongoing discussions “…do not come to a decisive conclusion, the

administration… will pay something”. It goes to show that a tiger can never lose its stripes.

From the article, our Union also noticed that the Minister said the Government was concerned about “…providing a viable, livable wage…”. But while the Minister speaks about giving employees in the State sector a pay rise, a move we do not oppose, he and his colleagues, in the now questionable Government, have decided, without any remorse, it seems, not to give the workers of the Stateowned sugar sector a rise in pay since they took office.

Today, the nation’s

sugar workers, the GAWU must reiterate, are essentially working for 2014 pay though times and circumstances have changed dramatically since then.

We need not remind the nation of the several measures implemented by the APNU+AFC that have heightened the cost-of-living. We need not remind too that under the Coalition Administration, long-standing benefits and other conditions-of-work enjoyed by sugar workers were simply ignored or suspended all together. It was, for the GAWU, not surprising, though saddening, to see that between 2014

and 2017 sugar workers were taking home some G$284,000 less per annum. That is nearly G$24,000 less per month or G$6,000 per week.

Given the situation nowa-days, it is neither hard nor difficult to imagine what that has done to the well-being of the sugar workers and their families.

So today, while the Minister boasts about a living wage, a concept our nation should embrace, he forgets, unashamedly, that during his time as a national leader, he and his colleagues, by their actions, have pushed workers near to or beyond the poverty line.

He fails to mention that they have been treat-

ed like step-children not deserving of equal treatment and pay.

Today, the promises heard about 20 per cent increase that was shouted out by now-aday Government officials during the 2015 elections campaign rings hollow. Today, they and their families are forced to pinch every dollar as they struggle daily to make their ends meet.

Today, the workers of the sugar industry have retrogressed rather than progressed under the ‘Good Life’ Government.

Dear Editor, The life of the National Assembly ended on September 18, 2019, as a result of the non-extension of its life by a two-thirds vote as required by the Constitution for such extended period as determined by the National Assembly.

Given the passage of the no-confidence vote in the Government on December 21, 2018, notwithstanding the frivolous appeal challenges in court on the validity of the no-confidence vote, the no-confidence vote was affirmed by the Chief Justice in the High Court earlier, and by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on June 18, 2019, when the 90-day clock started to tick again for the life of the Government until September 18, 2019.

These 90 days between June 18 and September 18, 2019, provided more than adequate time for President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition to confer in good faith consultations and negotiate a mutually agreed solution to avoid this constitutional crisis in the national interest.

There was no constitutional extension

by September 18, 2019.

As a consequence, the National Assembly, the Cabinet, Offices of the Speaker and Leader of the Opposition are constitutionally dead and cannot be resurrected.

The survivor is the caretaker President to proclaim a date for election and dissolve the National Assembly, but since the National Assembly is dead, there is no need for any dissolution. The constitutionally dead National Assembly cannot be called and convened into session on October 10, 2019 The 90 days also between June 18 and September 18, 2019, was a reasonable constitutional time limit for GECOM to conduct the elections. In fact, the notice for elections was given since December 21, 2018, when the NoConfidence Motion was passed by the National Assembly.

We now have to endure the shame of this constitutional crisis until free and fair elections are held and a new Government is elected, and this should be before December 21, 2019.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Jagdeo has relentlessly exposed the corruption We have to endure and gross ineptitude in the Coalition Govt the shame of this constitutional crisis until free and fair elections Dear Editor, “Statesman par excellence” and “a matchless leader of the Guyanese people” are just some of the many complimentary remarks made by both the local and the international communities and people of all races, even those who are his political opponents. Recently, on social media, a strong supporter of the coalition referred to him as a true leader. By now you know whom I am referring to – Dr Bharrat Jagdeo!

Since he took up the mantle of the Leader of the Opposition, he has relentlessly exposed the massive corruption and gross ineptitude of the coalition. He has been persistent in his pursuit and never has this country seen a more effective leader than this man.

He has singlehandedly pronounced on each of the failed economic policies of the coalition and they have never been able to counterattack or rebut his incisive arguments. He has expertly unmasked each and every act of corruption by providing detailed facts and figures which the coalition cannot dispute. For the first time, Guyanese have an opportunity to sift through tangible pieces of evidence of corruption, quite unlike what the coalition failed to do. The Guyanese populace was appalled by the enormous level of corruption by the coalition.

I can recall that when the coalition was

the Opposition, they uttered endless streams of rhetoric about massive corruption of the PPP/C Government but until now and after spending G$133 million on about 45 forensic audits, they cannot successfully prosecute even one such instance of corruption.

Yet they regurgitated the corruption platform ad nauseam and it was also used ceaselessly during the 2011 elections and also during the 2015 elections campaign when it was actually used to camouflage their fictitious manifesto.

But the people would have known that something was amiss when the PNC failed to take part in the NCN’s Corruption Debate in 2012. The PNC knew that they were just playing mind games with the Guyanese public and all they were interested in was to enrich themselves, cronies and families though corrupt practices.

However, Dr Jagdeo did not stop at exposing the corruption and incompetency of the coalition tricksters and fraudsters with his trademark weekly press conference but he skilfully manoeuvred his party to a massive win in the 2018 Local Government which became the catalyst for the now famous No-Confidence Motion which successfully toppled the coalition Government on December 21, 2018. The coalition thought he

was biting more than he could chew when they mockingly sang in chorus, “Bring it on!” I guess they will never sing that refrain again.

They then recanted their acceptance of defeat and embarked on an ignominious journey which would expose the true nature of the coalition – the old PNC has returned with a vengeance and this time with some AFC converts.

The PNC thought that they were buying time to rig the next election but what they have done is irreparable damage to their image, both locally and internationally, to the extent that the USA, the UK, the EU, the Commonwealth and many local organisations demanded that the Granger Administration respect Guyana’s Constitution and call the elections which are long overdue.

The coalition has now lost whatever shred of credibility they had.

In the process of delaying the elections, Jagdeo expertly decimated the coalition, resulting in many supporters of the coalition crossing the floor. Jagdeo’s wisdom, perseverance and tenacity bore fruit!

Moreover, like a true leader of the Guyanese people, he marshaled and deployed his forces on a daily basis to fight and counterattack each and every devious stratagem which the PNC attempted to foist on this nation to

hoodwink and deceive them. Not only that but he restrained, guided and educated them on a peaceful course to fight against the ugly head of dictatorship which has once again threatened to engulf this nation. It was not an easy task. Some criticised his decision when it had appeared that he made a wrong move in the selection of the GECOM’s Chairperson but Jagdeo maintained that he has full confidence in her and so be it.

Once again, he proved that he was absolutely right. The PNC could not have forced her to act illegally against the Court’s decision and for GECOM to embark on a new form of ‘verification’. In addition, she has not only corrected the Claims and Objections period but has accepted technical assistance from the international community to avoid similar pitfalls. Jagdeo’s foresight again pays off!

It had taken 28 years to get rid of the PNC’s dictatorship but this time the fall is swift and I am sure that in the final analysis, the master strategist will be successful in bringing back his people once again on the road to prosperity which the coalition comprehensively destroyed in just 4 years. His support to the PPP/C’s Presidential Candidate will ensure this.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Yours faithfully, Joshua Singh

news 7

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘US must stand in support of Guyana as it heads to elections’ – says Chair of US Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere

U

nited States (US) Senator and onetime Republican Presidential Candidate, Marco Rubio has urged that the US stand in support of Guyana as it heads to election and seeks to elect a new Government.

The Senator made this call in a tweet from one of his official accounts on Monday. According to the Senator, he is looking forward to the democratic electoral process in Guyana, which he referred to as the US’ “important regional ally”.

“It’s in our strong interest to stand in support of the Guyanese people, as they seek to elect a new Government that can advance their security and prosperity,” the US Senator also said in his tweet.

In a message on his social media account referring to Rubio, Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman, retired Captain Gerry Gouveia echoed the calls for free and fair elections.

He noted that this, to-

gether with respect for the rule of law and the Constitution, is what matters.

“What matters to us in the Private Sector is that Guyanese are afforded a fair and free elections free from violence that we suffered in 1992,1997 and 2001.

What matters to us in the Private Sector is that whichever party wins the elections reach across the political divide and truly find a way to work together for the children of Guyana’s Future.

“What matters to us in the Private Sector is that the New Government rationalised our tax systems while creating the enabling environment to foster and enhance investors’ confidence. What matters to us in the Private Sector is that job creation must be the daily [priority] of our country leaders,” Gouveia added.

On Monday the President issued two proclamations officially declaring March 2, 2020, as elections day. The dec-

US Senator, Marco Rubio

laration, which is dated October 1, 2019, was issued in accordance with Article 61 of the Guyana Constitution, which states that the President shall by proclamation appoint a day for an election under Article 60 (2),

and that an election of members of the National Assembly shall be held under Article 60 (2).

To this end, the President proclaimed that “…in pursuance of the said Article 61, I do hereby appoint the 2nd

day of March 2020, as the day on which an election of members of the National Assembly shall be held under the said Article 60 (2).”

President Granger has been coming under immense pressure to is-

sue his proclamation over the past few weeks. After almost a year of procrastination following his Government’s defeat to a No-Confidence Motion, President David Granger on Wednesday last announced March 2, 2020, as the “earliest possible” date for elections, during an address to the nation.

In his address to the nation, Granger had spoken of a need for a return to the National Assembly in order to seek an extension of time for his Government in office.

According to the President, the Government of Guyana “must, as a consequence, return to the National Assembly to request an extension. The National Assembly reconvenes on 10th October 2019”.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has repeatedly affirmed that it would not return to the National Assembly to grant the Government the two thirds vote it needs to extend its life in power.

CARICOM has remained silent on Guyana’s political crisis Dear Editor, On the evening of December 21, 2018, the National Assembly of Guyana successfully passed a No-Confidence Motion against the David Granger Government.

The Government moved to seek judicial review right up to the Caribbean Court of Justice, Guyana’s apex court. The CCJ on June 18 ruled that the motion was validly passed and the Government stood resigned. It subsequently issued consequential orders, which include that General and Regional Elections must be held no later than September 18, 2019.

The CCJ’s ruling has been ignored by the APNU/AFC coalition and Guyana has now slipped into unconstitutional rule since September 18, 2019.

The CCJ is a creature of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and one would expect its decisions, if not adhered to, will be condemned by all right-thinking leaders in the Caribbean, whether individually or collectively. However, it is a crying shame that Caricom, either through its Secretary General or the Conference of Heads of Government has been disappointingly silent on this constitutional

crisis which can have significant implications on Guyana’s future and political stability in the region.

Caricom didn’t even see the need to publicly welcome the proposed March 2, 2020, date for elections and state if it will send an observation mission or if it will provide the necessary support to GECOM to ensure the elections are free and fair or free from fear.

It is an embarrassment that Caricom, of which Guyana is a founding member state and where the Caricom Secretariat has been in a coma on the Guyana situation, even as the United States of America, the European Union, Britain, the Commonwealth Secretary General and the Organisation of American States (OAS), as well as the local business, legal and religious fraternities all saw the need to issue public calls for immediate elections in Guyana so that the country can return to constitutional rule.

Editor, with what I outlined, it is now mind-boggling that Caricom has been silent on the litany of constitutional violations by the David Grangerled APNU/AFC since

December 21, 2018.

Why the silence, despite a promise from the Secretary General of Caricom, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, that the community was awaiting the judicial outcome before making public statements?

I want to ask the SG as well as the Chairman of Caricom and the individual Heads of Government the follow-

ing questions; 1. Why has Caricom not discussed the political situation in Guyana at its past Heads of Government meeting?

2. Why has Caricom not yet convened an emergency meeting of Heads to discuss the political crisis in Guyana?

3. Why has Caricom not sought to make known its position on the unconstitutional

rule in Guyana?

4. What exactly is Caricom’s position on the current situation in Guyana?

Editor, I believe that this regional body has now proven to the people of Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean that it is a useless talk shop.

I, therefore, call publicly on the SG of Caricom, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, the

Chairman of Caricom, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and all regional Heads to immediately make known their position on the unconstitutional rule in Guyana.

Your silence can be construed as support for an emerging dictatorship in Guyana.

Yours respectfully, Edward Layne

8 news

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Significant progress in fight against narcotrade in Guyana – CANU deputy head G uyana has made significant improvements in the fight against narco-trafficking and narco-trade related crimes.

This is according to Deputy Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Lesley Ramlall, who on Monday said that for 2019, efforts by the agency as well as the other counter-narcotics agencies in Guyana have been successful in stemming the flow of narcotics.

Speaking at a training session for CANU officers, Ramlall said that, “not only have we seen a reduction in the flow of narcotics but also a great reduction in the amount of persons attempting to smuggle narcotics through our airports especially during the July-August period. The decreasing number of Guyanese being arrested at the more popular airports overseas, the arrest of a well-known trafficker and two of his associates in the last quarter of 2018 through extensive collaboration with regional and international partners, and the 2019 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report commending Guyana for the efforts, are clear in-

Deputy Head of CANU, Lesley Ramlall

dications that our efforts are beginning to pay dividends.”

However, he pointed out that the use of synthetic drugs has become

a prevalent issue, and that plans must be put in place to address this problem which not only affects Guyana but many other countries, region-

ally and internationally.

“We must be cautious of this since over the last eight years the amount of cocaine flowing through the Caribbean region has more than quadrupled increasing from thirty-five metric tons in 2010 to 184 metric tons in 2018….the use of synthetic drugs is now a new but rapidly expanding phenomena within our region and so it leaves us to ponder what should our approach to such a trend be….we also saw an increase in the use of synthetic drugs particu-

larly ecstasy in our beautiful country.”

He explained that in light of the prevalence of synthetic drugs over the past year in Guyana, there is greater need for inter-agency collaboration to ensure that the younger generation does not suffer the ill effects of these illegal substances.

CANU, he added, will continue working to reduce the flow of narcotics through the seizure, prosecution of traffickers and the forfeiture of their assets.

“We will also endeavour to work closer with all stakeholders especially agencies such as the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to aid in money laundering investigations. We strive to improve the capacity and capabilities of the Unit especially in the areas of information gathering and significantly work towards improving our level of cooperation through intelligence sharing and operational tasking with our local, regional and international counterparts.”

CANU’s Deputy Head further stated that the Unit’s commitment will be fortified by demonstrating an aggressive and robust posture towards narco-traffickers and their associates.

He reiterated that CANU will continue to “take the fight in order to dismantle the activities of narco-trafficking and its related crimes” and focus heavily on eventually ending the profits out of the crime of narco-trafficking.

“However, it is also imperative that we be reminded that we are living in a global village; a global village where borders no longer exist, a global village where crimes are no longer confined to one country or where law enforcement activities are confined to one country. As such it is necessary that we continue to work even closer to ensure that the transnational activities of narco-trafficking and its related crimes are defeated through our efforts and the support of our Government,” he added.

‘Agitation from...

International pressure

It was only on Monday that the Commonwealth became the latest in a line of organizations to urge the President to call elections immediately.

Similar calls also came from the United States, British and European Union diplomatic representatives. According to Dr. Cummings, however, the pressure put on the government by the international community for constitutional compliance was “uncalled for.”

She noted that having met with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Scotland, in New York during the general assembly, the government explained its side of the constitutional upheaval. According to Dr. Cummings, there was no need for “agitation” or sanctions from the international community.

“I spoke to the Secretary General of the UN and he said ok, I know you have hiccups and so on. But we were happy to say that in Guyana, there was no war. We have hiccups here and there, but there’s no (upheavals), or lives being lost here and there. So I don’t think

from page 3

we need sanctions at this point in time.

Because we’re very peaceful citizens.”

“We’re going along our business, who’s going to the market, who’s going to work. So thank god we’ve maintained the peace… we met with all stakeholders and members of the diplomatic corps. And the President would have outlined the way forward. So all this agitation is uncalled for. We are a government and we remain in power until another President is sworn in.

March 2, wherever the chips fall, that is it.”

Before President Granger issued his elections proclamation on Monday, international pressure was continuing to mount on him and the government.

The United States, United Kingdom and the European Union, as well as the Commonwealth, all issued statements urging the naming of an election date.

Soon after, the UK High Commission took the step of advising that continued funding for two infrastructural projects were on pause. Design work on the Seawall rehabilitation project and the Linden to Mabura road was previously funded from the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund.

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana Govt spending G$460M on sea defence protection, relief efforts

F

ollowing last weekend’s flooding from overtopping caused by unusual high tides across the country’s coastline, Government has taken steps to enhance sea defence protection as well as relief items for affected persons.

On Saturday, residents in several coastal villages were underwater from the unprecedented high tides, which lasted until today.

According to authorities, the communities in Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) were affected by the current high waters.

Stakeholders from the various agencies responding to the situation met on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the damages from the floods thus far and steps to be taken to prevent or alleviate similar impacts from another bout of high tides expected on October 26, 2019.

Updating the me-

Representatives from the stakeholder agencies at Tuesday’s National Emergency Operation Centre meeting

suffered the loss of cash crops as well as livestock, including poultry and cattle, especially in Region Five.

“Salt water accumulation did not only affect homes but the impacts were also to pasture lands that small- and large-scale ruminants are required to graze.

tect properties, dredging drainage canals in communities, distribution of water and cleaning supplies to affected residents, and premature harvesting of crops as well as flash sale of crops and livestock.

October further posited that while there has been nota-

Massive waves surge over the sea defence at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara as spring tides cause widespread flooding in Region Three.

dia during the National Emergency Operation Centre meeting, Senior Response Officer, Capt Salim October revealed that across the coastline, a total distance of approximately 148 kilometres was impacted by the floods, including some 65 communities across the various regions with Three and Five facing the severity of the floods.

According to October, the impacts in Region Five were exacerbated by breached sea defence.

Nevertheless, he noted that assessments thus far reveal that approximately 400 households were flooded, causing items to be damaged.

He added too that affected persons have also

There were noted sea defence structure breaches and overtopping of sea and river defences, which would’ve caused heightened levels of erosion. As well as noted, damage to agriculture inputs and by extension, the cascading effect of that is for loss of usual livelihood, and at this point potential livelihood – particularly, compromised rice crops from salt water accumulation,” he stated.

The Senior Response Officer went on to outline that a number of response mechanisms have been undertaken, including the relocation of livestock to safe and higher grounds, the use of sandbags to pro-

ble cooperation from the various Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (RDCs and NDCs), one of the challenges faced was the lack of precautionary response from communities, even after being warned about the impending high tides.

Nevertheless, as they gear up for the second bout of high waters later this month, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson disclosed that steps are being taken to minimise the potential impact from the impending high tides – particularly at the East Coast Demerara-Mahaica locations, that is, from Fairview to Danzig.

He noted that already, his Ministry’s Sea and River Defence Department had undertaken corrective works since March this year after the severe erosion was detected. A Contingency Allocation of G$460 million was obtained from the Finance Ministry for those emergency corrective works, which entailed procur-

ing rift raft and boulders to secure the sea defence at critical areas along the coastline in Region Five.

But a further Emergency Contingency Allocation had to be secured last weekend in light of the floods.

According to Patterson, there are three breaches and he has been instructed

by Cabinet to immediately undertake shortterm fixes ahead of this month-end’s high tide.

This will see multiple contractors and stone suppliers being engaged to secure the already affected areas, which will require more money. The figure of these works is yet to be determined.

“So we have a tight window of 24 days to try to, as fast as possible, seal as much as we can to minimise the damage… Of course, it may or may not be possible to seal everything and stop the overtopping but we want to minimise it,” the Minister asserted, adding that long-term fixes will need more planning and strategising in anticipation of heightened impacts in the future.

Patterson added that a secondary goal now is to ensure that before the year-end rainy season, that the sea defences are intact during that time to prevent a further accumulation of water on low-lying communities.

In the meanwhile, assessments are ongoing in the affected regions countrywide to ascertain the extent of the impacts from last weekend’s high tides. turn to page 10

10 news

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

GECOM sticks with 42-day-long Claims and Objections exercise – Shadick says full Commission’s 35-day decision subverted

O

pposition-nominated Guyana Election Commissioners, who arrived at a meeting on Tuesday hoping that the decision to hold Claims and Objections (C&O) for 42 days would be reviewed, were left sorely disappointed, as a decision was taken to stick with that timeline.

The meeting, which lasted for several hours, saw a vote being taken on the duration of Claims and Objections. At the end of the vote, a

was catering for elections on the 24 of February, and the President announced March 2, he had seven extra days. And interestingly, he told the Chairman before he put the 42 days and the Chairman did not doubt him”.

“So my firm opinion is that when the Chairman signed the second order, she knew very well she was signing 42 days, against the decision of the Commission. That is my firm

Opposition-nominated Commissioners Sase Gunraj, Bibi Shadick and Robeson Benn

GECOM Chair Retired Justice Claudette Singh

decision was taken to stick with 42 days, rather than the 35 days the full Commission had initially decided the exercise would take.

At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Bibi Shadick described herself as being disillusioned by the decision. Shadick claimed that GECOM Chair retired Justice Claudette Singh gave her assurances on Monday that the 42-day decision would be corrected.

“Interestingly, his (Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield’s) rationale is that because his timeline

opinion. And as far as I’m concerned, this is deja vu. We have another Chairman who is going against decisions of the (full) Commission, without the Commission’s input,” Shadick added.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Robeson Benn noted that the 35 days should have been sufficient to carry out Claims and Objections. Benn also noted that the 35 days would be in keeping with the decision made by the Commission last week.

“We have had the unsatisfactory occurrence where the Commission

Teen robbed by knife-wielding bandit on way to work

A

19-year-old was robbed on her way to work on Monday, after exiting a taxi at the Vreed-enHoop junction on the West Coast of Demerara.

According to information received, the incident occurred at about 07:20h.

Audriana Stoll told INews that she boarded a taxi from Versailles, West Bank Demerara (WBD), and stopped off at the junction to board a bus en route to the WCD. However, she was approached by a man, who held a knife at her as he demanded her phone and money. She explained that

the man was dressed in a black hoodie shirt with a bandana around his face. After making his demands, she handed over G$4500 and a Samsung phone, valued at G$89,000.

“I had the change that I collected from the taxi and I just hand he

that. Then he was like ‘and what happen to the phone’ and that’s when I hand over the phone from my pocket and the earphone that was with it and everything,” Stoll recalled.

However, she recalled seeing him run off to a car.

made a decision to have 35 days for Claims and Objections (and it has been changed). Originally, (GECOM Commissioner Charles) Corbin was suggesting 49 days, and then 42 days.

The Commission decided 35 days, a decision I voted against (last week) because I suggested 28 days”.

“To our surprise, the Chairman somehow signed an original order for 49 days—Mr Corbin’s number. That error was supposedly corrected, but then it returned as 42 days, not 35 days. We had great disagreement today (Tuesday) about this problem. It came to a vote”.

According to Benn, it was felt that 35 days was sufficient time to give everyone who needed to a chance to participate in C&O. This was particularly so since the GECOM sub-offices would be open all day for this. Benn noted that the 42-day decision is against the record of the Commission from last week Tuesday’s meeting.

However, Commissioner Vincent Alexander expressed the view that the 42 days and the extra time would actually be a good move. Besides the timeline for Claims and Objections, there were discussions about GECOM sub-offices for Claims and Objections.

A decision has also been taken to have the offices conducting Claims and Objections remain open all day.

According to the Commissioners, they examined a list of 41 possible sub offices that would be set up. This list, according to Shadick, will be perused by the Commissioners. It is understood that another meeting is scheduled for Friday, where outstanding matters will be dealt with.

As per GECOM’s latest order, persons have until November 11 to make any objections to the list— if they are a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, naturalisation or registration, 18 years or older or will attain the age of eighteen by December 31, 2019.

Guyana Govt spending...

Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP), Joseph Harmon, told reporters that while authorities are awaiting the flood water to recede in some areas to conduct the assessment, this has been completed in Regions Two, Three, Four and Six. He noted that already, officials from the CDC – and in the case of Region Three, the Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams – are in these communities delivering relief items to affected residents.

“In the areas where we haven’t delivered anything, it is because we have to await the water receding and make a careful assessment of the damage,” he stated.

Additionally, the MotP Director General told Guyana Times International that financial assistance for the affected persons was dis-

cussed during Tuesday’s meeting, especially those who suffered losses from their livelihood.

“What we’re thinking about right now is as part of our application to the Contingency Fund (for the emergence works) for a global sum to be awarded for [financial assistance] and for the Civil Defence Commission to advise on how it is to be dealt with in relation to regions, and working along with the Regional Disaster Preparedness Committees,” Harmon posited.

On the other hand, steps have been by the Public Health Ministry to protect the flood-affected residents against water-borne diseases.

In fact, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, explained that already, the Ministry’s Health Offices in the affected regions have been on high alert. He noted

from page 9

that in addition to advisory on health risks as well as safety and sanitary measures, interventions have been made in terms of distributing chlorine tablets to treat water and cleaning supplies to flood affected households with children.

He noted that while no increase in flood-related disease has been reported from those affected areas, they are monitoring the situation and continue to partner with relevant agencies.

Among the other stakeholder agencies at Tuesday’s meeting were the Guyana Livestock and Development Authority (GLDA), National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI), Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Hydromet Office.

news 11

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Selection of Ramjattan as PM candidate not automatic – Granger

L

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo during the 2015 elections campaign

eader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) President David Granger on Thursday said he has not yet decided on his running mate for the upcoming elections.

Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan recently told reporters that he is confident of being the Prime Ministerial Candidate for the APNU/AFC coalition for the 2020 polls.

However, some quarters of the APNU have expressed preference for incumbent Prime Minister Nagamootoo.

Commenting on the situation, President Granger said "The APNU and the AFC are now discussing the Cummingsburg Accord of 2015 and this is one of the issues that will have to be discussed. But I cannot say now who I will be running with."

When asked about if the PM candidate will be se-

lected from the AFC, President Granger noted: “it is not prudent to anticipate the outcome of negotiations.”

“The major aspect is that the two groups, the APNU and the AFC, should abide by the Constitution of Guyana. That is the principle foundation of any agreement, nothing in the Accord should collide with the Constitution…but no names (for AFC PM candidate as yet).”

Earlier this week, Ramjattan had told the media that that he remains confident in his supporters ensuring that he is formally declared the Prime Ministerial Candidate in the upcoming elections, regardless of the fact that the APNU has not endorsed him to date.

After Ramjattan’s selection as the AFC’s prime ministerial candidate in waiting a few months ago,

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had contended that APNU is duty-bound to accept Ramjattan as President Granger’s running mate as long as the Cummingsburg Accord is in effect.

But President Granger has said selection of his prime ministerial candidate is not automatic and depends on the outcome of the negotiations of the Cummingsburg Accord.

The PNC has shown a dogged preference for the incumbent, Moses Nagamootoo. This has manifested in APNU officials making public statements in support of the Prime Minister.

PNC heavyweight and Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence had stated publicly that while AFC has elected Ramjattan as its next prime ministerial candidate, APNU and AFC have not discussed the development.

12 news

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali meeting with residents of Columbia in Region 5 who were affected by the recent flooding due to the breaking away of the sea defence

President plugs need for public servants to become familiar with Indigenous languages

I

n order to facilitate effective communication between the coastland and hinterland citizens while at the same time helping to preserve ancient languages, it is recommended that public servants become familiar with the various Indigenous lan-

guages that exist within the country.

This recommendation was made by caretaker President David Granger, who delivered the feature address on Saturday at the St Cuthbert’s Mission (or Pakuri) Heritage celebrations.

Granger was at the time commenting on the village’s efforts to preserve the native languages, particularly that of the Arawaks, when he highlighted the importance of public servants learning those languages “I spoke to the

Caretaker President David Granger (DPI photo)

Toshao, and she advised me about the efforts being made to preserve and continue the important language. And it is something that I’ve emphasised that when public servants go into the hinterland, go into Indigenous communities, they must be able to communicate,” he added.

But while Granger did not state how public servants should go about acquiring such knowledge directly, he anticipated favourable out-

comes for the village’s Indigenous language project.

“I insisted that all public servants serving in the hinterland must able to if not converse but be able to send greetings or ask questions in the nine languages of the Indigenous people so I expect in months to come we will hear more about this language project in this village of Pakuri,” he told the gathering.

The United Nations (UN) has since rec-

ognised that despite the immense value of languages, many of them that exist not only in Guyana but around the world continue to disappear at an alarming rate.

Considering this fact, the UN has declared 2019 as the year of Indigenous languages, as it seeks to raise awareness not only to benefit those speaking the languages but also for those who recognise the contributions they make to the world’s cultural diversity.

Some of the Amerindian languages spoken by a minority of the population include that of the Macushi, Akawaio, Wai-Wai, Arawak, Wapishana, Patamona, Warrau, Carib, and Arecuna.

So far, efforts to preserve these local languages in Guyana have resulted in Government inviting applications for employment and contracts being published in the Indigenous languages, together with interior radio stations carrying broadcasts in the Indigenous languages and the Education Ministry focusing on introducing these languages in the schooling system.

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

news 13

PPP/C to begin aggressive campaign in all regions – Jagdeo - Jagdeo says massive development plans on stream for Guyana

A

s the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) announces their plans for the Guyanese people amid the upcoming elections, campaigning will also be done extensively in all communities to highlight some of the projects that will be undertaken under their governance.

This was announced

by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during a recent press conference, where he signalled their draft of developmental plans for several years. While there have been protest actions on their part to ensure constitutional adherence, he said their focus is positioned towards the common man.

“We’re happy that we’re moving forward.

The PPP will start aggressively to campaign because we want people to hear what our plans are for the next few years.

We will review. We will see how we go and our strategy to protest the Government will be under review but we are not a party of protest,” he noted.

Jagdeo, who is also the party’s General Secretary, said they will venture out into every region and the wider communities to meet and engage the public. The party intends to put forward the plans they have outlined and how they will benefit the population.

“We’re more comfortable talking about development. We want to carry that message in every corner of this country and we want the people to see and understand the plans for the next five years and how all of them will benefit from these plans. We want to go [out to] every region and every community to talk to people about this. That’s where we would like to take the campaign.”

At a previous press conference, he had assured that the PPP would work for all Guyanese regardless of their race, religion, or geographic location. However, it was noted that the party’s political opponents have always painted them as pro-Indian – an area where not enough was done in order to change or tackle this perception.

This time around, they will be seeking to end this stereotype by further broadening their base.

Already, he had said, the PPP has gained significant backing from new supporters.

A number of valid developments have been promised in the party’s

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

manifesto, which was released some time ago.

Their plans have tackled areas which have seen mass outcries from the Guyanese public.

The education sector under the PPP Administration is said to be geared towards improved access, quality, affordability and preparing Guyanese students at the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and tertiary levels. This is to ensure that they secure better-paying jobs in line with the requirement of the economy.

Prominent among these would be the delivery of free education at the University of Guyana (UG) and enhanced access through the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

Previously, it was explained that free university education would not be available initially but within two or three years as they work out the details of this policy initiative. The party had also announced plans to give out 20,000 online scholarships, which will help with private education especially in courses that are not offered by UG. Meanwhile, as it relates to the power woes, the PPP has also committed that the resuscitation of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project would be among its top priorities for the energy sector.

To this end, the General Secretary said that the PPP Administration will move onto a gas power plant, which it believes could be done easily. To this end, the General Secretary said that the PPP Administration will move onto a gas power plant, which it believes could be done easily. However, while this will bring an-

other 20 megawatts into the system, he stressed that it will not come into fruition until maybe 2021.

As such, they will have to rely on fossil fuel initially to stabilise power supply in the country and bring an end to the constant blackouts.

As they campaign alongside the elections preparations, the Opposition Leader said they will dispatch officials to scrutinise activities under the Guyana Elections Commission. On October 1, the Commission will embark on the Claims and Objections period – a process that would be under watch by their scrutineers.

14

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

news 15

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Much of oil funds will go towards Guyana’s education sector - Granger

A

rguing that his promise to reform education is not an empty promise, caretaker President David

at the launch of the Education Exposition at D’Urban Park.

According to Granger, Government

will the money come from? Well we’re exploring the possibility of increasing petroleum production after 2020. And

A scene from the expo

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry with students of the Bishop's High School. (DPI photo)

Granger on Monday declared that much of the oil money that will be taken from the Natural Resources Fund to develop Guyana will go into education.

Granger was at the time giving an address

intends to use much of the oil revenue it will get on education.

He noted that every Guyanese child will be educated at all three levels – nursery, primary and secondary, at State expense. “Where

part of that money is going to go into a Natural Resource Fund.”

“But a lot of it is going to go into public education… we’re trying to ensure that the education system, regardless of how everything

else is doing, is also going to make Guyanese children more equal, wherever they live,” the President said, adding that these were not empty promises.

M e a n w h i l e , Education Minister Nicolette Henry spoke of the use of technology to bridge gaps in the education system. She also noted the potential the exposition has to showcase Guyana’s education sector.

Last year the

Education Expo had to be cancelled as a result of ongoing negotiations at the time with the Guyana Teachers’ Union. At the time, the planning officers were engaged with the GTU and the teachers’ salary woes.

It was explained at the time that because of these negotiations, organisers of the exposition were unable to make the necessary plans for the exposition, which was dubbed

the signature event for Education Month.

This year around, there were over 68 booths showcasing various institutions and what courses they have to offer. Some of the participants included the Government Technical Institute (GTI) and Aurora Gold Mine.

Touring the booths and soaking up knowledge were children from approximately 100 schools from across Guyana.

16 news

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Soesdyke businessman to face High Court trial for allegedly murdering teen

T

he businessman accused of killing 19-year-old Nyron Vyphuis at Circuit Ville, Yarrowkabra, LindenSoesdyke Highway, was on Tuesday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the heinous crime.

Forty-year-old Anthony Jones, of Circuit Ville, Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

The Magistrate informed the suspect that the prosecution, without a doubt, presented sufficient evidence that warrants a trial in the High Court.

The charge against the accused stated that on October 13, 2018, at

Murder suspect: Anthony Jones

Circuit Ville, he murdered Vyphuis.

It was reported that on the day in question, the teen was at a liquor shop, owned by Anthony Jones, in the area.

Whist there, the owner, who was imbibing with friends, started to abuse his spouse.

The young man, upon realising what was happening, intervened and attempted to stop the man from harming the woman. At this time, Jones got annoyed and left, but later returned with an axe. The weapon was eventually taken away from him by other persons who were at the shop.

Nevertheless, the furious man went into his home and again armed himself, this time with a knife which he allegedly used to attack and stab the teenager.

The teen, in an effort to escape, ran a short distance, but collapsed

Dead: Nyron Vyphuis

to the ground as blood gushed profusely from the wound. Friends of the teenager alerted his family members, who rushed to the scene where they found his lifeless body lying in a clump of bushes.

The police were contacted and the suspect was taken into custody while the teen’s body was removed from the scene. The mother of the 19-year-old teen is seeking justice for her son.

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

17

18

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

19

20 news

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Sales rep slapped with 5 fraud charges

J

amal Gilbert, a sales representative at VSH United (Guyana) was released on bail by Magistrate Leron Daly after being slapped with five fraud-related charges and appearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

The 21-year-old father of one is accused of forging audit documents, uttering same, and offering false information to Police ranks.

The first charge alleged that between January 1, 2019, and March 5, 2019, at Middle Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he forged a document, that is, an auditor’s report in favour of Midtown Hotel Restaurant and Bar purporting to show that it was signed by Drubahadur and issued by D Bahadur Co Accounting Firm, while knowing same to be forged.

The second charge stated that between January 1, 2019, and March 5, 2019, at Middle Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he forged another auditor’s report, this time in favour of Total Medical Supplies Inc, purporting to show that it was signed by Drubahadur and issued by D Bahadur Co Accounting Firm, knowing same to be forged.

Meanwhile, the third charge stated that on March 5, 2019, at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Camp Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Reon Sobers, a clerk at the agency, a forged auditor’s report in favour of Total Medical Supplies Inc purporting to show that same was signed by Drubahadur and issued

by D Bahadur, knowing same to be forged.

It was further alleged that on March 5, 2019, at the Guyana Revenue Authority, Camp Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Reon Sobers, a clerk at GRA, a forged auditor’s report in favour of Midtown Hotel Restaurant and Bar purporting to show that same was signed

by Drubahadur and issued by D Bahadur Co Accounting Firm, knowing it to be forged.

The final charge stated that on March 29, at the Criminal

Charged: Jamal Gilbert

I n v e s t i g a t i o n Department, he gave Police Lance Corporal Prince, a public officer, information orally and in writing which he knew to be false, thereby causing the officer to use his lawful power to the annoyance of the person arrested.

The defendant denied all the charges after they were read to him.

Particulars of the matter revealed that D Bahadur went to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and reported that he was in possession of two audit reports which showed that he signed same and were issued by his business.

H o w e v e r , Drubahadur stated that he did not sign the documents and neither did his business issue same.

As a result of this, an investigation was conducted and Police made contact with Gilbert, who told investigators that the documents were given to him by Reon Sobers.

This led to Police later arresting Reon Sobers in connection with the matter. Further investigations were conducted and it was then revealed that Gilbert was the one who forged the signatures on the documents and later uttered it to Sobers, who is attached to GRA. Meanwhile, Defence Attorney Leslie Sobers in a bail application asked that his client be released on bail, while noting that he is the sole breadwinner for his family.

Magistrate Daly granted Gilbert his pre-trial bail in the sum of G$100,000. The case was adjourned to October 4, 2019.

news 21

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Georgetown chamber launches G$300,000 grant for entrepreneurs

T

o mark their second consecutive year conducting the Business Development Forum, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has announced the launching of a grant for entrepreneurs who can present the best business plan.

The forum, which is in its second consecutive year, was launched under the theme ‘Evolve your brand; fuel your finance’. At the launch, GCCI Vice President Timothy Tucker made

A section of the gathering at the launching of the Business Forum

the announcement of the grant, which entrepreneurs in the room would have to vie for. In order to be picked, however, their plans will first have to be evaluated by a GCCI panel.

“This year, the GCCI is pleased to announce the launch of its small business division fund.

There will be a grant of $300,000, to target an individual, with a small business idea, who would like to see it come to fruition. So all those budding entrepreneurs and people studying

their MBA’s and have a great business idea, will have an opportunity to sign up at this event,” Tucker said.

He added that the GCCI evaluation panel will analyse the applicants against a given set of criteria— including the business’ capability, potential for growth, profitability and environmental benefits. The winner will be announced within four weeks.

Tucker noted that beside the grant, winners will also receive tech-

nical support for their business growth from the GCCI. In addition, the winner of the grant will receive a year’s worth of free membership within the chambers.

The forum was first

launched last year.

The GCCI partnered with organisations including the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), Republic Bank and the Business Ministry.

Among the speakers

at the event are businessmen Rosh Khan and Vishnu Doerga, Rowen Willabus and Nigel Deosaran— who will deal with Initial Public Offerings (the act of putting company shares on the stock market).

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING october 6 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana, Russia to meet on allegations of military base

By Jarryl Bryan

W

eeks after the Russians issued a claim that Guyana was collaborating with the British to construct a military base to use against the Venezuelan government; a claim quickly rubbished by the government, a meeting between Guyana and Russian representatives is being set up.

This was revealed

by Foreign Secretary within the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Carl Greenidge, during a press conference on Wednesday. Greenidge explained that though Russia is yet to offer a retraction for their statement, talks are ongoing between the two sides.

According to the former Foreign Affairs Minister, the Russians responded recently to correspondence from his Ministry that had effectively debunked the claims, made by spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

“The story is utterly and unambiguously false,’ Greenidge told the media. “I’ve written to the Russian Foreign

Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge

minister and although they have not responded publicly, they have within the last few weeks sent a message via the ambassador on this matter. It’s clear its untrue.”

“The person that spoke can’t be separated from the Russian administration, because she’s the official spokesperson. We have been bilaterally close since Independence. I have not

seen anything like this from Russia or from fraternal bilateral states, so I am surprised. In the coming weeks, we expect to resolve this matter.”

Further stressing the impossibility of claims that the United Kingdom, through Guyana, was constructing a military base from which to aid Venezuelan dissidents, Greenidge noted the complete lack

of evidence.

“The world knows that this is a very open society. Very few secrets exist that are not shared.

Furthermore, both the Russian embassy and other embassies are free to travel in Guyana,” Greenidge further said.

“If they in fact unearthed the establishment of the base, then just as you see photographs of Russian aircraft appearing in Venezuela, I’m sure that would have been all over the globe. No such thing exists. The UK High Commissioner has indicated that no such plan is afoot. And we have also done the same.”

According to Greenidge, the two sides have since agreed to a process of resolving the issue, which includes a meeting with the Russians. The particular statement was made by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Maria Zakharova in August in Russia.

In the statement, Zakharova claimed that a military base was being constructed on an island in the Essequibo river. Immediately after, Guyana had called

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Maria Zakharova

on the Russians to withdraw the allegation, with British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn also dismissing the claims.

Thousands of Venezuelan migrants fleeing the political upheaval and social and economic collapse of their homeland have in-

stead been receiving humanitarian assistance in Guyana. The situation has attracted international attention, with multilateral partners like the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) providing assistance to the government.

news 23

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

44-yr-old man remanded Barber charged for exposing penis to customer for attempting to murder neighbour

C

eon Cantzlaar was on Wednesday brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, after he allegedly exposed his penis and touched the thigh of a female customer, at his barbershop.

The 41-year-old, Barber of Lot 6 Henry Street, Lamaha Spring, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the two charges.

The first charge stated that on September 24, 2019 At Aubrey Barker and Festival City Entrance, North

Ceon Cantzlaar

Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he exposed his penis to a woman with intent that she would see the genitals and be alarmed or distressed.

The second charge stated that on September 24, 2019 he touched the thigh of the woman in a sexual way, without her consent.

The matters were held in-camera.

According to information, on the day in question, the woman, who is known to the defendant, went to his barbershop to cut her hair.

However, it was while cutting her hair the de-

fendant played explicit music and took out his erected penis and showed the woman while he tried to kiss her and touch her thigh.

The woman quickly left the barber shop and the defendant sent her several voice notes saying that he was sorry for exposing himself to her.

Hence the matter was reported and the defendant was arrested and charged for the offences.

The Magistrate, after listening to facts, released Cantzlaar on G$75,000 bail and instructed to make his next court appearance on August 5.

EBD teen granted bail on robbery charges A wash bay attendant on Tuesday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to face two robbery charges.

Nineteen-year-old Shaquille Thomas, of Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse and denied both charges when they were read to him.

The first charge stated that on September 27, 2019 at Robb Street, Georgetown, while being in the company of others, he robbed Alfredo Rodrigues of a phone valued G$30,000.

It was further alleged that on the same day and location, he robbed Morissa Spencer of a gold chain valued G$216,000.

Based on the facts, on the day in question, the victims were walking along Robb Street, Georgetown when they were approached by the defendant and other persons.

It was reported that the defendant told the victims to hand over their valuables and without hesitation – out of fear, they did so. Thomas and his accomplices then made good their escape.

The matter was reported and

Shaquille Thomas

Thomas was subsequently arrested.

The Magistrate, after listening to the facts, released Thomas on G$75,000 bail and instructed him to report to the City Constabulary until the matter is concluded.

He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on December 17, 2019.

A

Brian Matheson

44-year-old man who told the court “He pelt me first with a brick and he beat me with a steel and threatened to kill me,” was on Wednesday slapped with an at-

tempted murder charge for stabbing neighbour.

Brian Matheson of Wortmanville, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to

the indictable charge.

The charge detailed that on September 27, 2019, at Wortmanville, Georgetown, he wounded Ronald Bettencourt with intent to commit murder.

The facts of the matter, which was presented by Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, stated that on the day in question, the defendant went into the Bettencourt yard, while being armed with a knife and dealt the man several stabs about his body.

It was then the victim was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was admitted.

Hence, the matter was reported and Matheson was arrested charged for the offence.

The prosecutor further objected to bail being granted to the defendant on the grounds that the victim is still hospitalized in serious condition.

The defendant was remanded to prison until October 16 and he was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

24 news

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

High tides batter WCD communities S

andbags and other barriers secured the doors of houses along the West Coast of Demerara which were battered from flooding this weekend as normalcy is yet to return to the lives of many affected persons.

As a matter of fact, the frequency of overtopping due to high tides has stirred fear among communities. As more high spring tides are expected, many are dreading how they will handle the situation.

Those communities affected include Blankenburg, Hague, Den Amstel, Fellowship, Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina, and Uitvlugt Oceanview.

Since Saturday morning, the tides have been unforgiving to these coastal areas.

This is the second major inundation to hit the communities in just over one year. Last March, breaches in the sea defence resulted in persons being relocated to shelters after their homes were severely flooded.

Monday saw villagers on a cleanup spree, scrubbing and washing their yards that were stained with the ocean water. On other premises, furniture and other items stood outside to be

dried.

However, a mother of six, Jacqueline Henry said her biggest concern was that her children did not make it to school due to the situation. Many of their clothes and furniture in the bottom flat of their house were soaked from the overtopping Atlantic waves.

“For the first day, we had it inside. Most of my children school stuff damage. Only the big ones them gone to school because I couldn’t find everything this morning,” Henry said.

She recalled the March 2018 flooding, stating, “Last year, everything was gone.

Everything. Me didn’t had nothing that save

from last year. As soon as we hear the water coming, we put up everything and put them in order.”

Meanwhile, Sankar Mangra said his live-

stock and plants suffered from the floodwaters. He stated that they are still awaiting compensation from last year’s flooding as little relief was provided this time around.

“The first one was more serious. The whole thing break down and nobody didn’t come to look we. Them just promise and promise and nothing. The people who had the flood and danger didn’t get nothing. This time was two days and two nights and nobody really didn’t come round.

They just bring soap powder and bleach and we already use all out done,” the man recalled.

While the water had retreated from his home, they were yet to clean the surroundings.

This publication also caught up with Azeem

with regular washing of feet after exiting the waters. If necessary, Vaseline or oil can be applied to form a barrier to protect from the dirty water.

Adding to that, water poses as breeding grounds for mosquitoes which spread Zika, dengue and chikungunya virus. Fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly with clean water to prevent contamination.

Instructions were given to turn off the main electrical outlet as well as equipment.

“Protect against electric shock by turning off the main electrical switch and unplug all appliances and move

Syad, who was constructing a concrete barricade to stop any future floodwaters from entering.

“Everything damage up. Nobody come to do nothing. Look at this place. We just do some mason work just to block the water,” the affected man relayed.

Many persons have assessed their losses to be in the millions. They continue to blame the poor drainage system – a problem which fails to irrigate properties during such unfortunate events.

In one area at Uitvlugt, some excavation works were done for pipes to be installed. But

residents have positively expressed that this will not control the issue entirely.

Precautions

During this time, the Public Health Ministry sent out a warning, urging persons to stay out of the water and keep food items safe. Water-borne diseases can be contracted through contact with these waters.

The notice warned, “Direct contact with floodwaters can expose you to several germs that can lead to any of these diseases. Keep children especially out of the water as they are most at risk of contracting diseases. Avoid swimming in canals and trenches.

During the rainy season and floods, these become contaminated by both human and animal faeces and can make you sick.”

Protective gear should be used along

them to safe areas of your homes if your home is at threat of flooding.

If you suspect electrical wiring have been damaged in your home, turn off the main and have it checked by a qualified electrician before turning on back the power.”

For any injuries, the West Demerara Regional Hospital, Leonora Hospital and other regional and district hospitals’ outpatient departments are all fully operational.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry has said that there were no breaches in the defence structure but they are monitoring the situation. (Rupa Seenaraine)

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

25

26

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

27

28

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

FEATURE 29

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

N

avaratri, a nine daylong festival, is observed in many Indian states and other parts of the world with Indian influence.

According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is celebrated in the month of Ashvin, which typically falls in September and October, as per the Gregorian calendar. People all across the country, mainly in the northern and western regions, gear up for festival with new clothes, elaborate decoration, dances and fasts.

Navratri is made up of the two words — ‘nav’ which nine and ‘ratri’ which means night — and is observed to celebrate the victory of Rama over Ravana. During the fes-

tival period, Ramlila — which is the re-enactment of the story Lord Rama — is organised, and on the final day, when Rama ‘kills’ Ravana with his bow, the festival is culminated by burning effigies of Ravana

Durga is placed for her followers to offer their prayers and seek blessings. The first day of the festival, Mahalaya begins with remembering Durga. It marks the end of the period of Shradhh or Pitri-Paksha.

This year, Navratri begins on September 29 and ends on

and his brothers Meghnad and Kumbhakaran. During the festival, people dress up in traditional clothing, observe fasts, offer prayers to the lord and distribute sweets to relatives and friends.

In the eastern and northeastern states of India, the celebration is referred to as Durga Puja. It is believed, that Goddess Durga battled with demon Mahishasura and emerged victorious. It is then that the day was marked to honour the divine Devi and celebrated, thereafter.

The occasion of Durga Puja is celebrated with thousands of temporary stages called pandals where the idol of Goddess

October 7, and the 10th day that is Vijayadashami and Dussehra falls on October 8.

The seeds of inner renewal are sown, sprouting, watched & worshiped by devotees during Navratri and on the 8th, 9th and 10th days, Goddess Durga, Mahanavami and Vijayashtami are worshipped.

The tenth day that is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or "Dussehra", celebrates victory of Shakti over Mahishasura, of Lord Rama over Ravana, and of Durga over demons like Madhu-Kaitav, ChandaMunda and ShumbhaNishumbha; that is victory of good over evil.

The last 3 days of Navratri

are called Durgashtami (8th day), Mahanavami (9th day) and Vijayadasami (10th day).

On the morning of the tenth day there is a fire ceremony dedicated to Shiva, where the Navaratri participants have a chance to receive

Shiva's blessing.

The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are considered to be important junctions of climatic and solar influences. That is why these two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother Durga.

The dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar.

D u r g a , the Mother Goddess of the Hindus and a form of Devi and Shakti, is believed to have manifested in various forms, and

Navadurga Maa are believed to be the most sacred aspects of Goddess Durga.

According to a Hindu tradition, it is believed that there are three major forms in which Goddess Durga manifested herself, namely, Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali who are the active energies (Shakti) of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra respectively (without these goddesses the gods will lose all their powers).

These three forms of Durga further manifested in three more forms each, and thus emerged the nine forms of Durga, which are collectively called Navadurga or Nine Durgas: • Devi Maa Shailputri

• Devi Maa Brahmacharini • Devi Maa Chandraghanta • Devi Maa Kushmanda • Devi Maa Skandamata • Devi Maa Katyayani • Devi Maa Kalaratri • Devi Maa Mahagauri • Devi Maa Siddhidatri The nine manifestations of Maa Durga that are worshiped with fervor during Navratri, are believed to lift divine spirit in us to help us overcome obstacles and get liberated from unnecessary qualities to be filled with new freedom and purity.

All these nine names of Goddesses are decribed in "Devi Kavacha" of the Chandipatha scripture. Also called The Devi Mahatmyam or Devi Mahatmya ("Glory of the Goddess") it is a Hindu religious text describing the vic-

tory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.

As part of the Markandeya Purana, it is one of the Puranas or secondary Hindu scriptures, and was composed in Sanskrit around c. 400-500 CE, with authorship attributed to the sage (Rishi) Markandeya. Devi Mahatmyam is also known as the Durga Saptashati or Chandi Patha.

The other important work that focuses on veneration of the divine feminine is Devi Bhagavata Purana ("The Old Book of the Goddess"), also known as Shrimad Devi Bhagvatam or the Devi Bhagavatam.

30

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING october 6 , 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

And we’re off…

I

…for elections?? n the long-running cartoon, “Peanuts”, one of the staple memes was Lucy inviting Charlie Brown to kick a football she’s holding on the ground. But as soon as he’s about to, she cruelly pulls the ball away and he lands on his behind. And no matter how many times she goes back on her word, Charlie chooses to engage in the same behaviour once Lucy promises she won’t renege on her word. He, of course, pays the same price, over and over.

The point of it all is Charlie considers Lucy a friend… but she never was and never will be. She always places her interest above everyone else’s: she’s all about Lucy! Charlie is actually an “enabler” of Lucy’s cruel behaviour. He goes back again and again hoping things will be different, but deep in his heart, knows it won’t be. Unless he quits believing her, he’ll continue to be tormented. And this is where we arrive at David Granger’s apparent volte face to issue a proclamation for elections to be held on March 2, 2020.

Your Eyewitness was one of those who thought Granger was on the up and up when he came into office in 2015. He referred to himself affectionately as “Pressie” and confessed as to how he had a soft spot for the avuncular looking “officer and a gentleman”.

But your Eyewitness isn’t Charlie Brown and after a while, he answered the question posed by Bob Dylan: “How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?” For him, the answer, dear reader, wasn’t blowin’ in the wind.

It was there staring at him in the face: Granger wasn’t any friend of Guyana or the Guyanese people.

He only cared about fulfilling the legacy of his hero Burnham – even though that was a legacy that spelled the doom of all that we hold dear. There was the humungous salary raise, the Jubilee scam, the stiffing of the AFC, the racial selectivity in governmental hiring and the vindictive closure of 4 sugar estates.

But even those all turned a whiter shade of pale in comparison to what he did to our Constitution over the last year.

For pelf and power, he has degutted the one institution around which we stood a chance of constructing a “Guyanese identity” based on equality of treatment on the substantive rights of our Constitution. How can we trust Granger when he could deny the validly passed NCM through that ridiculous claim that 33 wasn’t the “majority” of 65!!?? Or that the CCJ didn’t meant that elections should’ve been held by Sept 18??

Your Eyewitness won’t be an enabler of Granger’s perfidy! …on the voters’ list??

Now, for the holding of elections, we must first have an “Official List of Elector” (OLE), no? Well, the GECOM Boss Lady said she’ll have such a list by end Feb 2020, and seemingly on that basis, Granger issued his March 2 date. But like we pointed out above, nothing’s ever straight when the PNC’s involved.

One of the “crooked” possibilities, intriguingly, was pointed out by the Chronic: “AG urges swift hearing on challenge to non-residents on voters’ list”.

Remember that?? Nah…you thought with Granger’s proclamation, all obstacles were gone!!

Well, they’re not. The Chief Justice, of course, has ruled that there weren’t any residency requirements for Guyanese citizens to vote. Once you’re on the OLE, you can exercise your franchise. GECOM just rescinded an order that would’ve effectuated the resident requirement. But that doesn’t mean anything, does it??

The AG’s claim, after all, will be before the Appellate Court – where two of the three justices agreed with the AG that 33 wasn’t the majority of 65!!

Lightning can strike twice!! …the floods If you needed confirmation of climate change precipitated by global warming, just visit the sea wall around high tide. The Dutch built those walls (mud dams in the beginning) hundreds of years ago.

Never were they “overtopped” like this!!

31

32

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

feature 33

I

t is quite often said that a family that prays together, stays together and Navratri is one the many Hindu festivals that affords families to gather around and offer prayers to the Devine Mother.

Navaratri, a nine day-long festival, is observed in many Indian states and other parts of the world with Indian influence. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is celebrated in the month of Ashvin, which typically falls in September and October, as per the Gregorian calendar. People all across the country, mainly in the northern and western regions, gear up for festival with new clothes, elaborate decoration, dances and fasts.

The word navratri is made up of the two words — ‘nav’ which nine and ‘ratri’ which means night — and is observed to celebrate the victory of Rama over Ravana. This year, Navratri begins on September 29 and ends on October 7, and the 10th day that is Vijayadashami and Dussehra falls on October 8.

According to a Hindu tradition, it is believed that there are three major forms in which Goddess Durga manifested herself, namely, Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali who are the active energies (Shakti) of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra respectively (without these goddesses the gods will lose all their powers).

These three forms of Durga further manifested in three more forms each, and thus emerged the nine forms of Durga, which are collectively called Navadurga or Nine Durgas.

The nine manifestations of Maa Durga that are worshiped with fervor during Navratri, are believed to lift divine spirit in us to help us overcome obstacles and get liberated from unnecessary qualities to be filled with new freedom and purity.

Navratri is a time when families get together and worship the universal mother. It is a time when they renew their bonds and makes the promise to be there for each other no matter where life takes them. During the celebrations

a plethora of pujas are performed and the mandirs are packed to capacity with families as they all join together in worship.

For many families, this period is one that brings peace into the homes and invokes a sense of calmness that sets the tone until the next Navratri.

In some parts of the Caribbean, Navratri is a special time for the youths especially since they get to show off their dancing skills through Garba.

Garba is a type of Indian dance commonly performed at festivals and on other special occasions in the state of Gujarat, India. It is a joyful style of dance, based on a circular pattern and characterized by a sweeping action from side to side.

Garba performances often include singing and a musical accompaniment

traditionally provided by dhol (double-headed drum) and the similar but smaller dholak; hand clapping; and assorted metallic idiophones, such as cymbals.

Historically, the shehnai (a double-reed instrument) guided the singers, but by the early 21st century that instrument had largely been replaced by a synthesizer or harmonium.

Garba dances celebrate fertility, honour womanhood, and pay respect to any of an array of mother goddesses. In Gujarat the dances customarily mark a girl’s first menstrual cycle and, later, her imminent marriage. Although men may participate on some occasions, women are the typical performers of garba.

Garba is especially a big celebration in Trinidad with elaborate festivals during the Navratri period. Over in Guyana, there are smaller garba festivals that seeks to incorporate the family element into the celebration.

34

I

n February of 2003 (see letter to the press – Stabroek News February 8, 2003) I made a call for ‘A Day of Guyanese Literature’ to be established and placed on our local calendar. Since then Guyanese Literature has blossomed into something significant enough to be elevated to any university academic programme.

On February 18, 2011, at the conclusion of Guyana’s first street book fair which I coordinated

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Stanley Niamatali

Niamatali, born in New Amsterdam, Berbice, won the Guyana Prize for Literature for his first book of poetry, ‘The Hinterlands’. His second book is ‘Mira and other Poems’.

Stephanie Bowry

Bowry is from Cumberland, Canje, Berbice. She is a performer, writer of poetry and short fiction. Bowry has so far self-published three volumes of her ‘True-true’ stories.

Jaime SuRu Mayers

SuRu is a poet and much sought after poetry performer.

Brian O’Toole

O’Toole is an educator and writer. He recently released the story of his life and work in Guyana in the book, ‘Educational Leadership: A Guyanese Perspective’

C. A. Yansen

Educator, columnist, broadcaster, Clement Aloysius Yansen gave his last breath to Creolese, dying a few days after editing the second edition of a remarkable book, ‘Random Remarks on Creolese’.

King was a poet, playwright and short story writer. Her publications include ‘Our Homes Spring Poetry’, ‘FOR BETTIN’ OR WORSE’, and ‘Guyanese Stories for Children Everywhere’.

Eric Huntley

Huntley is writer, publisher and co-founder of Bogle L’Ouverture Publications, a house that produced ‘Groundings with my brothers’ and ‘How Europe Undeveloped Africa’ both by Walter Rodney, among other books. Huntley’s most recent publication is ‘Come Lehwe Reason’.

Sasenarine Persaud

Persaud Persaud is the author of 14 books of prose and poetry including ‘Canada Geese and Apple Chatney’ – short fiction, ‘Dear Death’ and ‘The Ghost of Bellow’s Man’ – novels, ‘Between the Dash and the Comma’, ‘Demerara Telepathy’, ‘The Hungry Sailor’, ‘A writer like you’, ‘A Surf of Sparrows’ Songs’, ‘In a Boston Night’, ‘Lantana Strangling Ixora’ and ‘Love in - a Time of Technology’, ‘Monsoon on the Fingers of God’ - poetry. Persaud was shortlisted on numerous occasions for the Guyana Prize for Literature. He is the originator of the term ‘Yogic Realism’ - his literary aesthetics.

Alicia Budhram

Budhram recently launched her first collection of poetry, ‘Spontaneous Deluge’.

Jack Bayley

Bayley’s first and only novel is ‘The Mudheads’.

Oh, it is useful to know that I am posting some of these interesting facts about Guyanese Literature on the wall of my Face book page under the heading ‘Today in Literary History’, all by way of lobbying for a Day of Guyanese Literature.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo. com

Andaiye

Born Sandra Williams, she was a rights activist and writer. A collection of her writings and speeches will be published posthumously under the title ‘The Point is to Change the World’.

Roopnandan Singh

under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, I envisioned the City of Georgetown been named by UNESCO as a World Book Capital City. Each year, for World Book and Copyright Day, UNESCO would select a country as World Book Capital City.

I did not identify a date for the Day of Guyanese Literature but I am confident that it would fall during the month of September. Why? There are almost a dozen and a half Guyanese writers (in my book) who were born during the month of September. Also, one library was established during the month of September.

First, the institution, well, it came first: the National Library was opened on September 9, 1909 and it has become the repository of books by the writers to be named and it is the approved compiler of the National Bibliography recording the writings by the writers to be named.

The writers are, in no particular order, Stanley Niamatali, Stephanie Bowry, Jaime SuRu Mayers, Brian O’Toole, C. A. Yansen, Andaiye, Roopnandan Singh, Sharon Maas, Ruel Johnson, Anne LykenGarner, Jan Carew, Sheila King, Eric Huntley, Sasenarine Persaud, Alicia Budhram and Jack Bayley.

Singh is a poet, writer of short fiction, novelist, anthologist and publisher. Singh was awarded a Special Prize by the Guyana Prize for Literature for his contribution to Guyanese Literature.

Sharon Maas

Maas is Guyana’s most prolific female novelist with more than ten books to her name. Her first published novel is ‘Of Marriageable Age’.

Ruel Johnson

Johnson has won the Guyana Prize for Literature on two occasions, both with short fiction collections, first in 2002 with ‘Ariadne and other Stories’ and in 2012 with ‘Fictions’.

Anne Lyken-Garner,

Lyken-Garner author and freelance writer. Her first novel is ‘Sunday’s Child’.

Jan Carew

Writer, educator, thinker, philosopher, diplomat and activist, Carew is better known for his novel, ‘Black Midas’. His other books include ‘The Wild Coast’, ‘Rape of Paradise’, ‘Moscow is not my Mecca’, ‘Ghosts in my Blood’, ‘Grenada, the Hour will Strike Again’ and ‘Fulcrums of Change’.

Sheila King

Navratri The temple priest has rung his bell.

A cloud of smoke from candles and lamps Haloes the Goddess, glowing bright This beat of drums both maddens and dulls.

The incense burns: so heady the musk, Our senses flounder in the flood.

This endless chant of sacred words Soon drugs our lips and stuns our minds.

The Goddess, always staring down: Her painted pupils cut through smoke And read the secret thoughts we think.

We somehow feel this within our hearts.

To Mother, we know, we bow and pray – Her form not just this image of clay.

35

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

President David Granger meets children of St. Cuthbert’s Mission on his arrival in the village for Heritage Day celebrations. Toshao Ms. Beverly Clenkian is also pictured, first, left (DPI photo)

Significance of Kanya Kumari Puja

W

orship of the Almighty as Divine Mother is an age-old tradition in India and countries that practices Hinduism and a refined part of the culture. It has been in existence since prehistoric times, but geographically it is limited to Asian countries in general and India in particular, in the current century.

The history of ancient civilizations of Indus, Greece, Rome, Babylon and Egypt bears evidences to the worship of Divine Mother in different forms – nature, art, learning, culture and enlightenment.

Kanya Puja is one of the most essential aspects of Navratri. It is performed on a single day, that is, either Ashtami or MahaNavami day in reverence to Maa Durga. This puja hon-

ours the nine forms of Durga – Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, K u s h m a n d a , Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.

Kanya puja, ‘Kumari’ puja or ‘Kanjak’ puja is performed with small but symbolic rituals.

Nine girls between the age of two and ten year old are invited. They are supposed to represent the nine manifestations of Maa Durga.

The same rituals are performed to worship the Kumari (young unmarried girl) and the same offerings are made to her as those during the worship of Goddess Durga.

She is purified and sanctified through chanting of holy mantras. A spectacular arati is performed. Monks and devotees offer flowers at her

obedience. The devoted hearts invoke her blessings through prayers.

Before starting the rituals, women take a bath early morning and perform puja to Maa Durga with vermillion, flowers, diya and incense sticks along with chanting of mantras from Durga Saptashati.

However, as per ancient belief, five or seven or nine girls can be invited.

The house is cleaned and decorated to welcome the girls. The kanyakumaris’ feet are washed and tilak or kumkum is put on their forehead.

They are made to sit in a row on a pedestal or an elevated platform. Food is served to them. The meal mainly comprises chana, puri and halwa, prepared in ghee.

Women devotees touch their feet with respect and give them gifts. There is also a practice of giving clothes or money before sending them off.

Performing this puja also requires that the girls are healthy and not afflicted with any disease.

As one of the most significant rituals observed during Navratri, Kanya Puja is observed to get the blessings of Maa Durga. As the nine manifestations of the Goddess each represent a special power, women perform this puja to attain the ideals of Moksha (liberation), Karma (deeds), Dharma (virtuous) and Arth (prosperity).

It is believed that the goddess, pleased with the successful comple-

tion of the puja, grants the devotee peace, wisdom, fame, prosperity and power. The devotees also gain relief from poverty and ailments, while also gaining control over sense perceptions and

enemies.

One of the legends is associated with the killing of Kalasura by Mahakali, while the other is associated with the penance done by Ma Durga, Ma Saraswati

and Ma Lakshmi to gain extraordinary powers to kill demon god Mahishasura. By performing Kanya Puja, the devotees honour Maa Shakti and her glorious capabilities and power.

36

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 37

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Sophia youth gets life imprisonment for killing 18-month-old niece

A

fter spending over one year on remand for the murder of his 18-monthold niece, a 22-year-old

ter he pleaded guilty to the heinous crime during his first appearance at the Demerara High Court on Tuesday.

Murdered: 18-month-old Ronasha Pilgrim

man of Lot 8 B Field Sophia, Georgetown, will spend the rest of his life behind bars af-

Justice Jo-Ann Barlow sentenced Sherwin Roberts to life imprisonment after he

Linden wash bay owner slapped with ganja trafficking charge

A

wash bay owner was on Monday hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was charged for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Jose Singh of Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), appeared before Faith McGusty and denied the charge which stated that on September 27, 2019, at Amelia’s Ward, Linden, he had in his possession 53 grams of marijuana.

The 23-year-old man was represented by Attorney Gordon Gilhuys, who in a bail application informed the court that the substance was found at his client’s wash bay in a hammock where several persons were traversing.

Attorney Gilhuys fur-

ther stated that at the time of the search, his client was nowhere close to the hammock.

The prosecution is contending that on the day in question ranks from the Linden Police Station were carrying out a raid when they observed the defendant acting in a suspicious manner.

According to the prosecution’s case, upon seeing the officers, the defendant dropped a bag he was carrying and attempted to flee. The court heard that Singh was apprehended and the bag he dropped was retrieved and the cannabis was discovered.

The Magistrate, after listening to the facts, released Singh on $60,000 bail. The case will continue on October 16 at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

admitted to the capital offence which detailed on September 1, 2017, he murdered Ronasha Pilgrim.

The man was represented by Attorney Maxwell McKay while the State was represented by Prosecutor Sarah Martin.

In presenting the State’s case, Prosecutor Martin informed the court that on the day in question, the deceased along with her brothers – aged 10 and 12 years – were left in their house by their father, a security guard, who went to work.

At about 03:30h, their uncle allegedly broke a northern window, entered the house and attempted to relieve the child of her earrings.

Sentenced to life in prison: 22-year-old Sherwin Roberts

As such, she began to scream and Roberts tossed her through a window into the

swamped yard.

Upon leaving, the convict placed a pile of wood on top of the

baby, who was left submerged.

Meanwhile, Defence Attorney McKay in a mitigation plea on behalf of his client told the court that he is remorseful for the act and is only 18 years old and this should be considered, however, evidence provided by the State showed that Roberts is 22 years old.

Nevertheless, Justice Barlow in handing down the sentence noted that the aggravating factors are immense and life imprisonment is more than appropriate for the crime.

Additionally, the Judge noted that Roberts should be eligible for parole after serving 20 years while ordering that he undergo anger management courses during his confinement period.

38 NEWS

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Man gets 3 years jail for robbing wheelchairbound elderly man

A

38-year-old man, was on Wednesday sentenced to three years imprisonment at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for robbing a disable septuagenarian.

Michael Whyte, appeared before Magistrate faith and pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

The charge stated that on September 27, 2019 at Robb Street, Georgetown, he robbed Compton Cater of G$28,000 cash.

Facts presented

by Police Prosecutor Annalisa Brummell stated that on the day in question, at around 07:00 hrs, the victim was in his wheelchair heading west along Robb Street to conduct business, when the defendant who was walking his pit bull dog.

It was then the defendant, loose the animal, which started to attack the elderly man.

The pensioner fell out his wheelchair, after being attacked by the dog, and Whyte went into his pocket and relieved him of his cash and pension

Michael Whyte

book.

Hence, an alarm was raised and the defendant was apprehended by good Samaritans, who handed the defendant over to Brickdam Police Station.

The court heard while at the station, the defendant was positive-

ly identified by the victim as the person who robbed him.

The prosecutor notified the court that the septuagenarian is a double amputee.

After listening to the facts the magistrate handed down the threeyear sentence.

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 39

Duo confess to killing pensioners in 2017 legs were bound, and a piece of cloth stuffed in her mouth. A Post-Mortem Examination revealed that both women were strangled to death.

The women were last seen by church members and their bodies were subsequently discovered by a church member after they did not show up to church as was customary.

As a result of the guilty plea, the duo are expected to be sentenced on October 24, in order to facilitate the

T

Deceased: Constance Fraser and Phyllis Caesar

wo men, who made their first appearance at the Demerara High Court on Tuesday, are expected to be sentenced for the 2017 murders of Constance Fraser and her niece Phyllis Caesar, after they both opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Guilty of manslaughter: Imran Khan

Imran Khan and his accomplice, Steven Andrews, stood before Justice Sandil Kissoon and admitted to the

manslaughter charge which stated that between October 2 and 3, 2017, during the course of a robbery at South Road, Georgetown, they killed the women.

Previous reports indicated that the now deceased were found in the

Steven Andrews

upper flat of their home, in their respective bedrooms lying unconscious on their beds. Caesar’s hands and

preparation and presentation of a probation report.

Meanwhile, another of the duo’s accomplices, namely Phillip Suffrein, is also expected to face a high court trial as he was charged jointly with Khan and Andrews at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The State’s case was presented by Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs, while both of the convicted men were represented by Defence Attorney Keoma Griffith.

40

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

41

42 NEWS

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Mahatma Gandhi remembered on 150th birth anniversary in Guyana

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K J Srinivasa assists Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes to place flowers in tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday at a remembrance service. Also in photo are Social Cohesion Minster George Norton, Communities Minister Roland Bulkhan and Vice President Sydney Allicock

T

ributes poured in at the Promenade Gardens on Wednesday morning, as Guyanese came out in their numbers in remembrance of Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary.

Organised by the Indian High Commission in Guyana, the event was well attended by former presidents, cabinet members and representatives from the diplomatic

tance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British Rule. This in turn, inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Today, a monument bearing Gandhi’s statue proudly stands in the Promenade Gardens, flanked by a wide variety of flora.

High Commissioner from India to Guyana, K J Srinavasa recognsied said the event is a

work, pleasure without conscious, knowledge without character, business without ethics, science without humanity, religion without sacrifice and politics without principles. Whether it is the climate change or terrorism, corruption or selfish social life, these principles of Gandhi can still act as a guide to protect humanity,” the diplomat revealed.

Srinavasa went on to say that Mahatma was

Students of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center performing an item

Students performing an item at the tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday

corp.

Born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, he was an Indian lawyer and political leader who embarked on a mission of nonviolent resis-

globally celebrated one, as he reminded of some of Gandhi’s principles.

“Gandhiji used to frequently warn his followers of seven cardinal sins; wealth without

not just a political leader, but an extraordinary environmentalist and humanist.

“Today, we live in a world of how to impress but Gandhi’s vision was

how to inspire. Gandhi was not only a political leader but also a great thinker and humanist.

Very few people know that he was one of the first environmentalists of the world,” he stated.

M e a n w h i l e , Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Vickram Bharat emphasized that Gandhi will be remembered in the many years to come.

“Mahatma Gandhi will always be remembered for his selfless battle for democracy and independence through non-violence means, civil rights and freedoms - a true fight-

er for the poor and working class; and advocate for unity across religions, class and culture; and a staunch believer in nature and environment.”

His words followed those of Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine, who lauded the influence of Gandhi on politics and humanity.

“His work was firstly directed to his people but reached the world.

He advocated for non-violent protests, equality and justice for humanity…Gandhi fought for the right of his people and stood up for what he believed in. His selfless

advocate for unity for all religions and made efforts to unite people along religious divides,” the Mayor said.

Postal stamps were also launched by the Guyana Post Office Corporation in commemoration of this anniversary. Adding to that, students who won the essay writing competition were awarded with prizes. This year’s winner was Dharshanie Mohabir of the Annadale Secondary School.

October 2 is also recognised by the United Nations as the international day of non-violence.

NEWS 43

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Make ye ready…

W

…the way to rigging ith cricket in the air (how about them Warriors!!), it might be useful to use a cricketing analogy to describe what’s been going on politically in our dear, old mud land.

Basically, since the game’s gonna be played on the PNC’s home turf, they’ve been preparing a pitch that would deliver them the game. Which, we’re now being told, will be played five months hence, March 2, 2020. Now don't think for a moment that the preparations started after that NCM. Nah…it begun when the Cabinet was announced and a “Ministry of Citizenship” was hived off from the Ministry of Home Affairs (now renamed Ministry of Public Security). The PNC knew the purpose of winning a war was to begin preparations for the next one. And in the game of politics, the war’s won by how many ballots you can claim for your side at the end of “Elections Day”. The Ministry of Citizenship was going to be in charge of all the records and certificates that decided who gets to be in the NRR. We’ve all been focusing on GECOM producing the Official List of Electors (OLE) but this comes out of the NRR!! By the time GECOM gets around to checking, the list is already fixed! If a seventeenyear-old shows up with a birth certificate that shows he’s eighteen, how would any GECOM official, or party scrutineer, say different to get him off??

And the same for foreigners who were handed out birth certificates? This padding of the list has been going on for almost five years and since the needed number to put the PNC over the wire is just about 5000, it went on below the radar.

The Plan B for winning the game, of course, will be the action at the polling stations in heavily PNCdominated areas. All hell will break loose after 6 pm and that’s when dodgy voters will come out of the woodwork. The PPP scrutineers and overseas observers? Don't go by what happened during the PPP 23 years, be briefed by any oldster who lived through the “Burnham years”!

Within GECOM’s Secretariat, of course, the scoreboard has also been prepared for the big day.

Do you suppose that the skewed recruitment to staff the Secretariat – as exposed by the ERC – is a coincidence? Nah!! Any number of googlies can be bowled from inside the Secretariat in the week it’ll take to count less than 500,000 ballots. Why do you think Patterson nixed the appointment of the most experienced GECOM bureaucrat, Vishnu Persaud?

And there are still five months to tweak the pitch!! …the way to the championship If it’s one thing that takes our minds away from the political goings on, it's cricket, glorious Warriors cricket!! On the street corners and under the “bottom houses” the rhetoric may become as sharp and pointed as pikes, but once the Warriors are in Providence Stadium, there’s only love and unity!! Over in Trinidad, home of our arch rival Knight Riders, they have their Carnival that forms the glue to keep them together. Here, it's Warriors Cricket!!

And this year, all Guyanese know it’ll be the year our boys go all the way to collect that championship trophy. Which, your Eyewitness was told, will be a new one to make the occasion more fitting. And how does he know this?? No, it’s not that he’s a cricket nut – that he is— but this year, you just have to look at the Warriors’ record. Before tonight (as this is written), they’ve won eight on the trot – an unprecedented feat!

And best of all, they beat the TT Knight Riders!! …the end of the border controversy While we’re all fixated on the general elections in March 2020, in that month, the World Court will be deciding whether it has the jurisdiction to hear the substantive case.

That’s a formality…and then the albatross will be removed!

Berbice fisherman found dead in canal A 45-year-old man of Number 67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was on Friday evening found dead in a canal at Number 66 Village Corentyne, Berbice.

Dead is 45-yearold Kenneth Craig, also called “Buttin” of Lot 206-A Number 67 Village Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Reports are Craig was seen by colleagues in the water at Number 66 Village but suddenly disappeared beneath the murky water. An alarm was raised by his colleagues.

It is believed that Craig was at the time trying to fix one of the scores of fishing boats in the stream. His body

Dead: Kenneth Craig

was found floating in the stream a few hours later.

After it was reported that Craig went under the water, a search party was formed and a cast net was placed across the stream at the Number 66 bridge and shortly after, the body was found floating.

However, as a result of the extremely high tide, it took a few hours before the search party, which included family members, was able to go into the water to retrieve the body.

Police are investigating. Craig was described as a very friendly and helpful individual. He leaves to mourn three children.

44 news

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Bahamas to deport undocumented migrants living in shelters

to circumvent the law.

The government of The Bahamas fully appreciates that we are a country of laws. We're governed by the rule of law.

“There's an Immigration Act and the Immigration Act is in full effect and the director [of immigration] understands that he must

back', we're actually referring to that group of people.

“They have no status or no reason to be there.

You can't tell Bahamians not to go to Abaco. But if persons who are illegally in The Bahamas, they should not be traveling to Abaco,” Cargill added.

Soon after the hurricane swept through the archipelago, Johnson had announced that the government would not carry out immigration exercises at shelters for hurricane victims.

“Having regard that we're now facing a humanitarian crisis, the government is taking the decision that those immigration policies or enforcement measures be suspended forthwith in the affected areas – that's the Abacos and Freeport, Grand Bahama,” he said then.

But he told the newspaper that migrants who have no legal right to be in country face deportation regardless of where they are in the Bahamas.

“Now, I would like to say that the hurricane has now gone, and so, immigration officials

enforce it,” he added.

The Category 5 storm, with winds in excess of 180 miles slammed into The Bahamas killing at least 56 people and causing widespread destruction mainly on Grand Bahama and Abacos islands.

The governmentappointed coordinator of hurricane relief efforts in Abaco, Algernon Cargill, also warned undocumented migrants against any plans of returning to Abacos Islands.

“If you don't have a purpose of being in Abaco, like to rebuild or relatives and you don't have any legal status to be in The Bahamas, you should not go to Abaco.

“For example, there are rumours that Haitians are returning to Abaco, correct? So they have no legal status to return to Abaco, so why are they returning to Abaco? So, when we say, 'shouldn't go

are no longer being utilized to rescue persons or in a humanitarian way and so to the extent that anybody would find themselves anywhere in The Bahamas, including Freeport and Abaco and they're undocumented and they're found, they will be apprehended and the law will take its course.”

Johnson said he has instructed the director and immigration officers “to protect the borders of country to enforce the immigration laws without “fear, favour or ill will.”

The newspaper reported that among the areas most impacted

by Hurricane Dorian were shantytowns on Abaco, home to a significant migrant population and that thousands of people were evacuated from Abaco and Grand Bahama after the storm.

Many of them are now in New Providence in shelters. (CMC)

T

he Bahamas government says it will deport undocumented migrants who survived the passage of Hurricane Dorian on September 1 and are now living in shelters.

I m m i g r a t i o n Minister, Elsworth Johnson, says the shelters will not be used “to circumvent the law.

“If you're in a shelter and you're undocumented and you're not here in the right way, you're still subject to deportation and the enforcement of the immigration laws,” Johnson told The Nassau Guardian newspaper.

“Most certainly, those shelters will not be used as a mechanism

Aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

45

46 FEATURE

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Cancer spares no one but early detection can save lives - PAHO/WHO - almost 100,000 women across the world die from breast cancer each year

By Kristen Macklingam

E

ach year in the Americas, more than 462,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and almost 100,000 women die from this disease.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, breast cancer ranks as the first cancer type among women regarding both new cases and deaths.

According to the Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Resident Representative in Guyana, Dr. William Adu-Krow, although breast cancer is thought to be a disease of the developed world, almost 50% of breast cancer cases and 58% of deaths occur in less developed countries.

He explained that in Latin America and the Caribbean, a greater proportion of breast cancer deaths occur in women under 65 years of age (56 %) as compared to North America (37%).

The PAHO/WHO Resident Representative also pointed out that if this current trend continues, by the year 2030, the number of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer is projected to increase by 34 % in the Americas.

Dr. Adu-Krow on Tuesday at a Cancer Awareness event stated that in Guyana, breast cancer is the leading cancer among the various forms of cancer. It is also the “number one” cancer that affects females.

“It accounts for almost 17 % of all cancers and 27 % of cancers in females.

There were 1,074 cases of breast cancers among females and 16 among men. Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates were highest in women older than 65 years, peaking in those aged 70-74 years in 2012. In 2014, breast cancer accounted for 19.1 % of all deaths from cancers.”

Low survival rates a result of multiple factors He emphasized that the low survival rates in less developed countries can

Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) Resident Representative in Guyana, Dr. William Adu-Krow

save many lives.

“Early detection in order to improve breast cancer outcomes and survival remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. Limited resource settings with weak health systems where breast cancer incidence is relatively high and the majority of women are diagnosed in late stages have the option to implement early diagnosis programmes based on awareness of early signs and symptoms and prompt referral to treatment.”

It was further explained that in high-income countries, organized screening programmes with mammography have led to earlier diagnosis, and coupled with effective treatment, have led to reductions in breast cancer mortality.

Challenges in implementing some effective screening initiatives However, there are many challenges in implementing such effectively organized screening programmes in limited resource settings such as Guyana and regardless of how many agencies

burden of cervical and breast cancer need to implement combined cost-effective and affordable interventions to tackle these highly preventable diseases.

PAHO/ WHO continues to promote breast cancer control within the context of national cancer control programmes with strong recommendations for the integration of this programme into Noncommunicable diseases prevention and control,” he said.

National Cancer Plan in the making for Guyana

Tips to reduce the risk of cancer

be explained mainly by the lack of early detection programmes, which result in a high proportion of women presenting with late stage-disease, as well as by the lack of adequate diagnosis and treatment facilities.

It was reiterated that cancer spares no one but that early detection can

conduct free screening in this regard, it is useless unless there is effective referral and quality management, Dr. Adu-Krow noted.

“Low-cost screening approaches, such as clinical breast examination, could be implemented in limited resource settings. Many low- and middleincome countries that face the double

According to Dr. Adu-Krow, in December 2018, Guyana’s Public Health Ministry with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Austria and PAHO, conducted a National assessment that will guide the identification of strategic lines of actions to be included in a National Cancer Plan.

This National Cancer Plan, that is presently under development, calls for collaboration with all stakeholders, including Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), for the development and implementation of evidencebased policies, guidelines and protocols on prevention and control, as well as capacity building for health care providers and community organisations to improve cancer-related morbidity and mortality.

“Cancer spares no one. It touches the rich and poor, young and old, men, women and children. In addition to the financial cost of the disease, cancer has important psychosocial repercussions for patients and their families and remains, in many parts of the world, a stigmatizing disease,” the PAHO/WHO Resident Representative added.

Meanwhile, the Cancer Institute of Guyana (CIG), a non-profit organization, has documented the diagnosis and treatment of over 1000 persons, including men and women in Guyana, with cancer, specifically of the breast between the years 2015 and 2018.

For this year, just over 100 women were diagnosed with breast cancer so far and they were being treated, this number is expected to increase as the cancer institute seeks to raise more awareness.

These statistics were presented

by Oncologist and Medical Director of the Institute, Dr Sayan Chakraborty during a press briefing last week, at the Institute’s building located in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) compound.

“In 2015, there was about 267 patients who were treated … almost every year; in 2017, we saw a spike, there were 300 patients who were treated at the Cancer Institute through radiation therapy. The trend is always 266, 267, gradually creeping up, sometimes it’s been going down, so we cannot ignore this situation which we are dealing with,” he stated.

Dr Chakraborty emphasised the fact that men could also be victims of breast cancer, but, according to him, there is usually a misconception behind this.

“It’s a misconception that breast cancer can only happen in ladies.

Breast cancer – a very small percentage – is found in men. So, it’s not that breast cancer is exclusive to women; it is not so, but it can also be found in men,” the doctor had said.

Additionally, Cancer Institute Medical Outreach Director, Dr Syed Ghazi stressed the importance of bringing awareness to the various forms of cancer which account for a large number of deaths of women yearly.

“So, why is it important to make people aware of what’s going on? It is important because if you know, in South America, it is like 400,000 new cases every year of women and men together – 120,000 women die every year, 96,000 of those women died with breast cancer and the other 36,000 die from cervical cancer,” Dr Ghazi noted.

Breast cancer is one form of cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, and fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a red or scaly patch of skin. Both young and older women are being advised to get screened if these signs become visible.

NEWS 47

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WHO chief urges world to 'rally round' hurricane-ravaged Bahamas U

NITED NATIONS (CMC) — The top United Nations health official has called for the world to rally around The Bahamas as the country continues to emerge from the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian one month ago.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, DirectorGeneral of the World Health Organization (WHO), made the appeal on Tuesday following a visit to the Bahamas.

“It breaks my heart to see the devastation to communities and families who have lost friends and loved ones as well as their homes, possessions and access to crucial services,” he said.

“Hurricane Dorian is another urgent reminder that we must address the drivers of climate change and invest more in resilient communities,” he added. “The longer we wait, the more people will suffer.

We need to keep the world and people safe.”

Hurricane Dorian struck on September 1, hitting the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama.

Overall, the UN said 75,000 people have been affected, with around 1,500 still living in shelters.

Fifty-six people were killed

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

in the storm and about 600 are still missing.

The WHO chief's visit included stops in the two affected islands, where most house-

holds and other infrastructure were completely destroyed.

The hurricane dealt a substantial blow to the health sector, destroying five clinics

across both islands, and interrupting electrical and water supplies, the UN said.

It said the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO),

which serves as WHO's Regional Office for the Americas, is the only UN agency with a physical presence in The Bahamas.

PAHO-WHO has deployed 20 staff there and have coordinated the mobilisation of five International Emergency Medical Teams for the response.

On Friday, The Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis told the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly Debate that Hurricane Dorian, one of the most destructive Atlantic storms ever recorded, “is a generational tragedy”.

Minnis urged his fellow world leaders to treat the climate crisis as the greatest challenge to the planet.

“I add my urgent plea to the cries and voices of many other leaders and citizens of the global commons, urging the nations of the world here assembled to treat the global climate emergency as the greatest challenge facing humanity,” he said.

“It is a challenge that, if not treated with the greatest urgency, will continue to ravage small island states, such as The Bahamas, and will also have devastating impact on more developed states,” he said.

UK Gov’t says no decision yet on continued funding for projects in Guyana

T

he United Kingdom Government, through its local High Commission in Guyana, on Friday announced that continued funding for the Linden to Mabura road, the Kurupukari Bridge and rehabilitation of the Kingston Seawall is yet to be decided.

UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn clarified that no decision has been taken on continuing funding for the road. In similar fashion, Quinn also said that the jury was still out on funding for the KingstonOgle seawall project.

Both of these projects were being funded from the UK-Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF). While Quinn acknowledged that the UK did support the initial design work for both projects, he noted that no decision has been taken on funding the next construction phase.

“As part of the U K - C a r i b b e a n Infrastructure Fund launched in 2016, over the last year, the UK has supported initial design work for the construction of the road between

Linden and Mabura and the bridge at Kurupukari, which is being implemented by the Caribbean Development Bank”.

“No decision has yet been made on the next construction phase of this project. Similarly, whilst the UK funded the design phase of the Kingston-Ogle seawall project through UKCIF, no decision has been taken on the next phase of this project either,” the High Commissioner added.

Quinn’s announcement came five days after Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson claimed that the road projects would start on October 1 and that all decisions have been finalised.

“I am pleased to say that we have agreed and we have worked out that there will be paved asphaltic concrete road between here and Lethem; Phase One will be launched on 1st of October and that entails the road from (Linden) to Mabura and including a bridge over the Kurupukari River,” Patterson had announced.

Finance

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Minister Winston Jordan was subsequently quoted as saying that funding had been secured for the project.

Only last week, the UK, in conjunction with the United States and European Union, diplomats had recently issued a joint statement calling on the Government to name an election date.

They had warned the Government that violating the Constitution would have dire effects on what development aid they could give.

A No-Confidence

Motion was passed against the Government since December 2018, but elections were not called in the required three-month timeframe.

Instead, the Government went through several levels of court, unsuccessfully arguing that the No-Confidence Motion was not validly passed.

At the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the final court had thrown out the Government’s case and had handed down judgement saying that when the No

Confidence Motion was passed on December 21, 2019, Article 106 of the Constitution had immediately been activated.

In addition, the court had noted that the provisions of the article were clear.

Instead of immediately starting serious preparations to hold elections in the shortest possible time, however, GECOM proceeded to carry out House to House registration based on the orders of unilaterally appointed former Chairman, retired Justice James

Patterson.

A court case challenging this process and seeking to have GECOM comply with the Constitution was in fact filed and adjudicated. Following the court case, that process was ultimately stopped by his successor, retired Justice Claudette Singh, who then decided to merge the new data from House-to-House and to prioritise the printing of identification cards.

Eventually, a position was reached where GECOM decided that Claims and Objections will start on October 1; a necessary move towards having an Official List of Electors (OLE) to conduct elections.

In addition, Justice Singh informed the President via letter that GECOM would be able to conduct elections by the end of February 2020. On Wednesday, President David Granger had announced March 2, 2020 as the earliest date for elections. However, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has put little faith in this, saying at a press conference that a signed proclamation will hold more weight.

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

daughters and granddaughters,” Bhumi said in a statement.

The actor said she is inspired by both Chandro and Prakashi’s journey.

In their 60’s they broke all shackles of patriarchy through a very inspiring and truly overwhelming journey.

Laughing, smiling with

never a dull moment they paved the path for a flourished future not just for their girls but for over 50,000 children.

“They are full of love, warmth, hope and all things positive. They are such fun and full of life.

Their story is one to be remembered. It’s a roller coaster ride full of tears and laughs,” she added.

Bhumi said the film is a family entertainer that has something for everyone.

There are so many moments in the film where you just want to go hug your mom for all she has done and moments where you’ll be so inspired by them that no task would look tough.

“It is an out and out family film because it is important for the whole family to see this movie and realise that knowingly or unknowingly it is always the woman of the house who get subjected to inequality, it is her dreams that more often than not (it) become secondary or non-relevant.”

She hopes Saand Ki Aankh will bring a positive social change.

I hope, through our film and through the inspiring dadis we can bring about some change in way people think. We need to celebrate our daughters. Love them, nurture them and let them shine,” she added.

The film, directed

by Tushar Hiranandani is produced by Anurag Kashyap, Reliance Entertainment and Nidhi Parmar. It is slated to be released on October 25. (Indian Express)

before Shuddh Desi Romance and Befikre happened.

Who would you say was a strong support system during this tough phase?

I think my support system is Shanoo Sharma (Casting Director, YRF). She is like an elder sister to me and I can completely rely on her advice. I always take Adi’s (Aditya Chopra) advice. He is the best mentor I could have asked for. Adi always says, ‘Just be who

you are, and don’t succumb to pressure. Never do something which you don’t feel right about’. I go by what he says.

Does competition bother you?

It doesn’t. I just try to nurture what I have and not constantly think about what others are doing. Because honestly, it’s just a bad way to look at things.

You start working on Shamshera with Ranbir Kapoor right after War releases. How is it sharing screen space with

Ranbir?

Ranbir is someone I absolutely love watching on screen as an audience.

Now that I am working with him, I realise he is such a normal guy with no baggage of ‘Oh I am Ranbir Kapoor’. He does not carry his stardom.

He is a great actor and a great human being. He has no airs about himself or his standing. He makes my life so much easier as a co-actor because I have to focus on acting and nothing else.

(Indian Express)

B

humi Pednekar believes her upcoming film Saand Ki Aankh highlights the inequality towards women that exists even today in society.

The film metaphorically points out the inequalities that women have faced across generations through the life story of two of the world’s oldest sharpshooters of India, Chandro and Prakashi Tomar played

by Bhumi and Taapsee Pannu respectively.

“Saand ki Aankh is a film about equality of women at its core.

Women have faced inequality in our country ever since we can remember. It’s taken a bunch of bold and courageous women to break those age old moulds of discrimination, to bring about an evolution of equality in our country.

“These women started a revolution. And that’s exactly what the Tomar sisters did.

Unknowingly they were a part of a system that didn’t give them any opportunities because the society just didn’t know better, but they didn’t want the same for their

V

aani Kapoor is looking forward to the release of her upcoming film, also starring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff. In this interview, the Befikre actor talks about her mentors, her struggle period and her next film Shamshera with Ranbir Kapoor.

From the trailers, War looks like a two-hero film. How important is your role in the film, and why did you choose to do it?

War was an experience of a lifetime, I got to play an important character opposite brilliant performers like Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff.

It was a chance that I was not going to miss.

For months, I would not know what will happen, and eventually, I was in a state of mind where I told myself that if it is meant to happen, it will happen. If we talk about my struggle period, for Shuddh Desi Romance I did countless auditions because Maneesh Sharma (director) was very particular. I have given insane amount of auditions

A

s a leading man graduating to mature character-driven roles, Sanjay Kapoor says he is in a happier and securer place in his second Bollywood innings.

Kapoor, who was recently seen in films like Mission Mangal and Lust Stories, said he is grateful to the filmmakers for casting him in “diverse” roles.

“You can’t be a hero all your life. Everyone has to go through this transition phase where you have to do character roles. The idea is your role should have an impact, it should be pivotal to the story,” the actor told PTI in an interview.

Kapoor has been part of hit 1990s films like Raja, Auzaar, Mohabbat, Sirf Tum and later went on to do supporting roles in Qayamat: City Under Threat (2003), Luck By Chance (2009), among others.

Kapoor recently had his second film released this year-The Zoya Factor, which featured his niece, actor Sonam Kapoor in the lead.

“I feel more secure today. I have diversified as an actor. I am getting to play roles as an actor now. I am grateful for the opportunities, be it from films or on the web,” the 53-year-old actor added.

He said he was thrilled to be part of an ensemble film like Mission Mangal that highlighted an inspiring story about India.

Kapoor played Vidya Balan’s husband, Sunil, in the film, which also saw him dance to his iconic song “Ankhiyaan Milaoon” from the 1995 film Raja (1995).

“All the characters had their own special moments. When the dance sequence came up, the idea was to dance on ‘Staying Alive’ from the film “Saturday Night Fever” because it felt that when this guy would be young in the late ’70s, like everyone he also would have been influenced by John Travolta.

We had actually shot on that song as well,” he said.

“But then it was changed as the makers felt it will have more impact if my song is incorporated. When I got to know that ‘Ankhiya Milaoon’ will be included, I was both surprised and felt privileged,” he added.

Dancing to the song, Kapoor said, sent him down the memory lane when the original track was shot with his co-star Madhuri Dixit Nene.

“I had rehearsed a lot for that song because I had to dance with Madhuri. She is a fantastic dancer.

Saroj Khan was the choreographer and Ahmed Khan was her assistant. I would rehearse before the shoot and Madhuri was amazed at how I got the steps right so quickly,” he said.

“It was such a great experience to dance with Madhuri, who was the top star at that time and today with Vidya Balan, who is a top star today,” he added.

Kapoor is excited about his daughter Shanaya taking baby steps into the film industry. She worked as an assistant director on Karan Johar’s production, the Gunjan Saxena biopic starring actor, cousin Janhvi Kapoor.

“She is learning the ropes. She is taking her acting, dance and diction classes. In our family, she has watched me, her uncle and cousins closely. (Indian Express)

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

T

M

att Damon has revealed filmmaker James Cameron had originally offered 2009 sci-fi epic Avatar to him but the actor turned him down as it could have caused problems for director Paul Greengrass’ The Bourne Ultimatum.

The role of disabled former marine Jake Sully in the visual spectacle later went to Sam Worthington and the movie earned USD 2.79 billion at the global box office.

Damon said the offer included 10 per cent of the film’s profits; he lost out on USD 250 million.

But for the actor, the bigger regret was passing on the opportunity to work with Cameron, an iconic director who works infrequently.

“Jim Cameron offered me ‘Avatar’, And when he offered it to me, he goes, ‘Now, listen. I don’t need anybody. I don’t need a name for this, a named actor.

“If you don’t take this, I’m going to find an unknown actor and give it to him, because the movie doesn’t really need you. But if you take the part, I’ll give you ten per cent of…’ So, on the subject of money…”

Damon told British GQ magazine.

The Jason Bourne actor said losing out on working with Cameron “sucked and that’s still brutal”.

“The bigger thing still to this day, my big-

ger regret is – it would have caused a problem for Paul Greengrass and for all my friends on The Bourne Ultimatum, so I couldn’t do it. But Cameron said to me in the course of that conversation, ‘Well, you know, I’ve only made six movies.’

“I didn’t realise that.

He works so infrequently, but his movies, you know all of them. So it feels like he’s made more than he has. I realised in having to say no that I was probably passing on the chance to ever work with him… But my kids are all eating. I’m doing ok,” Damon said.

The actor said he shared the story of passing on the film with actor-director John Krasinski when they were writing 2012’s Promised Land, in which they also starred.

“We’re writing this movie about fracking.

We’re writing in the kitchen and we’re on a break and I tell him the story and he goes, ‘What?’ And he stands up and he starts pacing in the kitchen. He goes, ‘OK. OK. OK. OK. OK.’ “He goes, ‘If you had done that movie, nothing in your life would be different. Nothing in your life would be different at all. Except that, right now, we would be having this conversation in space.’ So, yeah. I’ve left more money on the table than any actor actually,” he added.

In February, Cameron revealed Hollywood stars Chris Evans and Channing Tatum had auditioned for the lead role in “Avatar”, before zeroing in on Worthington.

(Indian Express)

B

ritish star Daniel Craig says playing iconic fictional spy James Bond has been ”one of the best, most wonderful experiences” of his life career.

In a video from the wrap party of the upcoming Bond movie No Time To Die, Craig, who will bid adieu to the character after the film’s release, also thanked the team behind the projects. ”I just want to say, and I am really quite drunk now so I won’t go on for long, this has been one of the best, most wonderful experiences I have ever had. ”You have all done the most amazing job. I could not be more proud to work with every single one of you on this production. I would like to thank you for this evening, for Barbara (Broccoli, pro-

HOLLYWOOD 49

ducer), for putting it on.

Thank goodness, we did this tonight,” Craig said in an over 50-secondslong clip.

The 51-year-old star made his first appearance as the suave spy in 2006’s Casino Royale,

and went on to reprise his role in 2008’s Quantum of Solace, 2012’s Skyfall, and 2015’s Spectre.

No Time To Die, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, will hit the theatres April 8, 2020.

(Indian Express)

he feud between action stars Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel seems to have ended, with the former WWE wrestler thanking the xXx actor for his support during the making of Hobbs & Shaw.

In a lengthy video post on Instagram, Johnson also teased a potential return to the Fast & Furious franchise, led by Diesel.

The actor thanked his fans for making his Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw a global success.

“I just want to say thank you guys so, so much. You have officially made Hobbs & Shaw not only a massive, global success — as we’ve just crossed USD 750 million dollars at the global box office — but also, you helped enable a build-out and an expansion of the Fast and Furious universe,” Johnson said.

He went on to acknowledge Universal Studios, his Hobbs & Shaw cast mates as well as the entire team behind the film, before concluding his message with a shout-out to Diesel.

“I want to thank brother Vin for your sup-

port of Hobbs & Shaw…

What a wild ride this has been (since) 10 years ago, when you and I spoke and you invited me into the Fast & Furious family. I’m grateful for that invite. As you know, my goal was always, all these years, to come into the Fast & Furious world and help elevate the franchise in any way that I possibly could.

The rift between the two stars began in 2016, during production of The Fate of the Furious, when Johnson

referred to some of his male coworkers as “candy a**es” who lacked professionalism.

Johnson has already revealed that he won’t be starring in the upcoming ninth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise. But there are chances of him appearing in the tenth film, which is still in the middle of production.

Fast & Furious 9, directed by Justin Lin, is set to be released on May 22, 2020. (Indian Express)

in martial arts, is working on a different actionfocused project.

“So we did that (Blade). That’s all great.

But we got something else that we going to rock,” Snipes said. “So all of that stuff that you saw in the ‘Blade’ franchise, we got something that’s going to come out that I think people will be pleasantly, pleasantly pleased.”

Snipes spoke to The Associated Press while

promoting Dolemite Is My Name, which opens October 4. He plays the director and co-star of Dolemite in the Netflix movie about filmmaker Rudy Ray Moore and his creation of the 1975 Blaxploitation classic.

Eddie Murphy portrays Moore.

“As an artist, I don’t stay in one spot,” Snipes said. “I’m constantly pushing the envelope of my creativity.” (Indian Express)

T

he news that another actor was cast as vampire hunter Blade came as a surprise to Wesley Snipes, who portrayed the character in three successful films, but he says he’s moving on.

Marvel Studios announced at this summer’s Comic-Con that the Oscar winner Mahershala Ali would play the comics character in its blockbuster cinematic universe.

Snipes’ last turn in the role was 2004’s Blade: Trinity.

“People are very, very sneaky. They try to make it about the actors. And it’s not about me and him,” Snipes told The Associated Press in an interview. “Flattery — what do they say?

Imitation is the best form of flattery. Yeah. So you know, it’s something that he has acknowledged he wanted to do, and his family wanted him to do it. So I’m appreciative of getting the love. And I’ve created something that others want to carry on, and maybe put their own stamp on it.”

Snipes, who trained

50 SPORT

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Limacol Football Tournament

Santos Under-20, Pele FC storm into semis F ootball fans were treated to two exhilarating encounters on Sunday evening as the first half of the Limacol Football tournament’s quarterfinal stage. When the dust settled, Santos FC Under 20 and Pele Fc sealed their appearance in the semifinal.

Santos FC Under 20 pulled of an entertaining come from behind win in the first fixture of the night, to crush Buxton Stars semifinal dreams.

Out of the East Coast outfit, Jumali Major was the first player to find the back of the net in the 8th. Santos’ Orin Moore equalized in the 17th.

In the 34th, Shemar McPherson pushed the scores to 2-1 in Buxton’s favour but Jermine Padmore levelled the scores three minutes later.

For a third time that night, Buxton took the lead in the 75th by way of Major’s second goal but Santos Under 20 went into over drive, to ensure that Buxton could not equalize again.

Rondel Peters added the third in the 82nd, followed by a brace from Raymond Bandhu in the 84th and 90th. Marcus

Wilson placed the cherry on top with one last goal for Santos’ 6-3 victory.

Raymond Bandhu, who put the game out of Buxton Star’s spoke with this newscast about his contribution to the crucial win.

“My contribution was something good towards the team cause at a point in time, we thought we were done after the penalty was scored on us. And then

the captain himself said, we have much time we can do this, so I decided to lift my game and lift the team as well,” he explained.

“Well after we found ourselves down, we decided to lift our game and start play pressure football, it’s either we win or we lose and we came out successful,” Bandhu went on to say.

Meanwhile, Captain Marcus Wilson, high-

lighted focus as one of the key areas that the team needs to work on going into the semifinal.

“Most of the players just getting carried away when the coach talk to them; their minds are going far away from the game. So from training we know we got to focus and we got to try to keep the ball more.

They’re getting carried away from the crowd and when the coach talk

they’re getting vexed, so we have to correct that for the semifinal and stick to our plan,” Wilson highlighted.

The second game of the evening was another nail biting one as Pele Fc and GT Panthers matched strides and goals.

Daniel Gibson netted the first goal in the 17th and Dorwin George found the back of the net in the 46th to give Pele a

2-0 advantage. However, just when it seemed as though Pele would take the game easily, Sherrol Daniels and Leon Roberts out foxed the goal keeper in the 84th and 91st for a 2-2 game at the end of regulation time.

Extra time came and went without a deciding goal, leaving the game’s result up to the penalty shootout. There, Pele FC proved to be the more accurate team, connecting 4 penalties for the victory.

Pele will face Santos in the semifinal on Saturday October 5.

Meanwhile Riddim Squad will take on Mahaica Determinators and Fruta Conquerors Under 20 will face off with Timehri Panthers in the other two quarterfinal games tomorrow evening.

The New GPC sponsored tournament is supported by WJ Enterprise, who are the sole distributors of Croxley Papers.

The winners of this year’s tournament will receive G$400,000 while second place pockets G$200,000. Third and fourth place will walk away with G$100,000 and G$50,000 respectively.

Guyana’s Priyanna Ramdhani cops Brathwaite's bowling silver in 1st Canadian tournament

action cleared, again

G

uyanese badminton sensation Priyanna Ramdhani commenced her time in Canada with a bang, copping a silver medal in the Yonex Alberta Junior Circuit (AJC) Airdrie Junior Under-19 competition.

Hosted from September 27 to 29 in Airdire, Alberta Canada, this tournament saw the 17-yearold reaching the final in her first competition since accepting a scholarship at the Olds College and Broncos Badminton team.

In that highly anticipated final, the Guyanese, whose only hurdle was the cold conditions, lost to Gao Badminton Club’s Tia Clark 12-21, 20-21.

Before the final, Ramdhani had a spotless run in the preliminary round. In the Group ‘B’ playoff, she defeated Roya Mehri of the Gao Badminton Tao Club 21-10, 21-5, and Chole Crump of Edison Badminton Centre 21-8, 21-6.

Moving into the semifinal, Priyanna overcame Glencoe Club’s Emilia Hayland 21-9, 21-6 to make her way into the final. The 17-year-old is again expected to test her skills this weekend in the Yonex Alberta Seris #1 Sunridge. She will hit the courts for the Ladies Singles, Ladies doubles with Mary Smith, and Mixed Doubles with her older brother Narayan Ramdhani.

The tournament which will run from October 4-6 in Calgary Alberta.

Kraigg Brathwaite

I

Priyanna Ramdhani displays her silver medal

ndependent assessors have cleared the bowling action of West Indies vice-captain Kraigg Brathwaite for the second time in his career.

The 26-year-old Brathwaite, who bowls off-spin, had been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during the second Test against India last month in Jamaica.

But the International Cricket Council, the sport's world governing

body, today confirmed that his bowling action “has been found to be legal, and the player can continue bowling in international cricket”.

Brathwaite underwent a bowling assessment on September 14 in the English city of Loughborough, where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted.

Brathwaite has taken 18 wickets in 58 Tests with his part-time offspin, including a remarkable spell of 6-29 against Sri Lanka in 2015 in Colombo.

Two years later, his action was reported after the first Test against England at Edgbaston, but another independent assessment at Loughborough less than a fortnight later found his action to be legitimate.

(CMC)

SPORT 51

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

5 Guyanese selected for CPL Women’s T10 Challenge F

ive Guyanese women cricketers have attained selection for the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T10 matches.

Veteran left-arm seamer Erva Giddings, current West Indies Women all-rounders Sheneta Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi, promising left-arm spinner Kaysia Schultz and fast bowler Cherry-Ann Fraser are the five selected.

The Hero CPL and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, along with Cricket West Indies (CWI), are on board to host two T10 matches ahead of the men’s semi-final and final of the 2019 Hero CPL. The best women cricketers from across the Caribbean will be playing in the NLCB Challenge on October 10 at 15:00h and the Courts Invitational on October 12 at 12:30h.

Three of the Guyanese selected hail from the most prolific local cricket club, the Rose Hall

Town Youth and Sports Club.

Grimmond, Giddings and Gajnabi are proud products of this cricket club.

Schultz and Fraser hail from Demerara. The two teams will be led

by West Indies Women Captain Stafanie Taylor and West Indies Women Vice Captain Afy Fletcher.

Team A read: Stafanie Taylor (Captain); Anisa Mohammed; Chinelle Henry; Natasha McClean; Chedean Nation; Jodian Morgan; Reniece Boyce; Stacy Ann King; Britney Cooper; Felicia Walters; Karishma Ramharack; Caneisha Isaac and Shawinisha Hector.

Team B read: Afy Fletcher (Captain); Kycia Knight; Kyshona Knight; Hayley Matthews; Aaliyah Alleyne; Qiana Joseph; Akeira Peters; Erva Giddings; Shabika Gajnabi; Kaysia Shultz; Cherry-Ann Fraser; Shekera Selman and Sheneta Grimmond. ( B r a n d o n Corlette)

Five of the players from Team Guyana have been selected to play the Women’s CPL T10 (Brandon Corlette photo)

POINTS TABLE (October 2, 2019) TEAM

MATCHES

WON

LOST

POINTS

NET RUN RATE

8

8

0

16

1.598

10

5

5

10

0.518

10

5

5

10

-0.155

9

4

4

9

0.053

10

3

6

7

-0.74

9

2

7

0

-1.205

GUYANA AMAZON WARRIORS

BARBADOS TRIDENTS

ST KITTS & NEVIS PATRIOTS

TRINBAGO KNIGH RIDERS

ST LUCIA ZOUKS

Kaysia Schultz

JAMAICA TALLAWAHS

52 SPORT

WEEK ENDING octoBer 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

New York National Cricket League Finals…

A

ction in the New York National Cricket League concluded on Sunday September 22 with the red hot Bachan Cricket Club doing battle with the Richmond Hill Liberty Cricket Club in the highly anticipated grand finale.

Shockingly, Bachan CC went down to the Richmond Hill Liberty CC by 8 wickets in this 30-over affair that was played at the Baisley Pond Park in Queens, New York.

Richmond Hill Liberty won the toss and elected to bowl first, having intent to capitalise on pitch conditions.

Their strategy paid off, because they were able to bowl out the Bachan team for a miserly 149 scored in 28.1 overs.

Bachan had been in top form for this entire competition, but on the day of the finals Richmond got the better of them; and after having a brilliant start — with Guyanese Derick Narine spanking a 32-ball 50 that included 4 maximums and 4 boundaries — the rest of the innings simply fell away to the point where their next best scores were 28 and 20, scored by Beejai Somai and Mark Tyrell respectively.

No other batsman could withstand the Richmond

Derick Narine’s quick-fire half century was unable to save his Bachan side

Hill bowling onslaught, as Terrence Madramootoo bagged 3-26; Moin Khan 2-33; and Tegana McKenzie, Dino Chooweenam, Leon Mohabir and Michael Sultan each bagged a wicket.

The Bachan team set Richmond Hill Liberty 150 for victory, and were perchance not overly worried, as in the past they had defended low totals and emerged comfortable victors. But Sunday September 22 was just not their day, as Richmond Hill raced to the target in 15.3 overs and ended their innings on 151-2.

The opening pair of Dino Chooweenam and Francis Mendonca got things going in a nice partnership before Mendonca fell for 21.

Chooweenam carried the innings despite a couple of wickets falling around him, and was eventually run out for a 29-ball 78 which included 5 boundaries and 9 towering maximums.

With the damage already done, it was a little too late for Bachan CC to stem the Liberty flow, and Azeemuddin Khan with 17 and Michael Sultan with 27 took their team across the line to hand the Richmond Hill Liberty team the title.

sport 53

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Record Breakers! 'We have been consistent with the bat and ball' - Warriors' Captain Shoaib Malik

By Brandon Corlette

G

uyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) continued their recordbreaking 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season, stitching together eight wins in as many matches.

After their latest win against the defending champions, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), Warriors Captain Shoaib Malik was pleased with the consistenc y shown with the bat and ball. “ I a m

Captain Shoaib Malik

very pleased, and credit goes to the guys; they are consistent with the ball and bat. There was no message: the batsmen in the middle knew what they had to do and the opener Chandrapaul Hemraj scored 50-plus, w h i c h gave us the edge,” Malik highlighted.

The Pakistani superstar added that Hemraj has been hitting the ball cleanly in practice and he has been showing that in matches.

I n t h e G A W v TKR match at Port of Spain, the conditions were tough for bowling. “I want to congratulate my bowlers; although the conditions were wet, they were brilliant,” Malik stated.

With two more matches in the preliminary rounds, Malik stated that the team must improve in the catching department.

The opening pair of Brandon King and Hemraj has been a big plus in this successful campaign thus far. King has 287 runs while Hemraj sits pretty with 257 runs in eight matches.

Shimron Hetmyer, who missed out on a half-century against TKR, has taken his tally to 203 runs. Captain Malik remains on 180 runs. Arguably the best bowling line-up in the tournament, GAW’s highest wicket taker is Chris Green.

He has 12 wickets in eight matches at a stellar bowling average of 15.66 and a brilliant economy rate of 6.40 in an era where the bats are bigger.

Veteran Imran Tahir has 10 wickets

Imran Tahir is off and running in his trademark celebration

Chris Green remains the leading wickettaker for GAW

Romario Shepherd hitting his stride against TKR (CPL/Getty Images)

while Romario Shepherd is the leading pacer with nine wickets for GAW. Keemo Paul has eight wickets while Ben Laughlin, who had a slow start to the CPL, has six wickets in his four outings.

Meanwhile, Shepherd, who was the Man of the Match for his vital 13-ball 32 against TKR, reflected on a dream night with the bat: “When I was going out to bat, I was told to hit the ball as hard as I can and that’s what I did.

I backed myself 100 per cent and it came off.”

Shepherd, who has been on the rise as a fast bowler, continued to show great promise with the ball, with nine wickets, the most by a GAW seamer.

Reminiscing on his bowling effort against TKR on Monday, Shepherd disclosed that it was tough with the dew and the ball was wet from the inception. “We knew what we had to do on this ground, to keep the ball dry as long as possible and stick to the plans.

We have two more games left and our plan is just to win those,” Shepherd disclosed.

The GAW will continue their CPL on Thursday, October 3 against Jamaica Tallawahs at the Guyana National Stadium from 18:00h local time. On the following day at the same venue, it will be the clash of the CPL giants, when GAW host TKR from 20:00h.

54 SPORT

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Tridents jump to second after ending TKR’s winless run to five B

arbados Tridents kept their hopes of a top-two 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) finish alive with a seven-wicket victory over their rivals and defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders.

Having restricted TKR to just 134/8, the Tridents got home on the back of Johnson Charles’ 47-ball 55 to leapfrog their opponents and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the Hero CPL table.

The Knight Riders, without a win in their last five after starting the season with four straight victories, now need to beat the runaway leaders Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final match of the league phase at Providence Stadium on Friday night to edge back above the Tridents and reclaim second place.

While both teams are safely through to the playoffs, second place is still a big prize. It brings a place in Qualifier 1 against the Warriors and two shots at a place in next weekend’s final. The team that misses out faces going straight to the Eliminator against the Patriots and no second chances.

Alex Hales showed some glimpses of his best form in a 54-run opening partnership with Charles, hitting six crisp fours and making 33 to get the Tridents well ahead of the required rate early. While the run-rate slowed after the Tridents had raced to 31/0 after the first three overs and though the chase going right into the final over might not have been exactly the plan, JP Duminy and

Ashley Nurse held their nerve to collect the seven runs they needed from Kieron Pollard’s closing over without much alarm.

With wickets in hand, the Tridents always seemed to be in control of a relatively small chase. Although Hales chipped Mark Deyal to cover and Shakib Al Hasan was caught behind, the required rate was always in hand. By the time Chris Jordan yorked Charles for 55, the target was just 25 from 25 balls.

Nurse and Duminy used 23 of those balls but got the job done.

The Tridents’ star bowlers Shakib Al Hasan, Harry Gurney and Hayden Walsh Jr were all once again impressive as the Knight Riders were restricted on a sluggish pitch.

Shakib bowled the opening over and ensured the Knight Riders’ experiment of sending in Jimmy Neesham as a

pinch-hitting opener would not pay off.

He made just a single before skying a slog-sweep to be caught and bowled.

Walsh Jr struck twice in quick succession to bag the key wickets of Colin Munro and Darren Bravo before Shakib returned to clean up Lendl Simmons, the mainstay of the TKR innings and

the one TKR batsman to really come to grips with the pitch. He made 60 from 45 with three fours and four sixes with none of his team-mates able to pass 23.

Then it was over to Gurney, whose subtle changes of pace and control of line made him close to unhittable. He didn’t concede a single boundary in his four overs despite bowling both in the powerplay and then at the death. The Knight Riders scrambled just 14 runs from his four overs and lost Kieron Pollard to a slower ball and Denesh Ramdin lbw in the process.

Walsh Jr added a direct hit run out to his night’s work as Javon Searles fell for a duck, while Raymon Reifer got in the wickets column thanks to one of the stranger catches of the season as Duminy misjudged a Deyal hoik as it swirled high in the air and fumbled the catch only for Jonathan Carter to grab the rebound. (CPL)

Guyana’s Golfers aim to conquer in Suriname Invitational

Lennox Blackmore National Intermediate Boxing

GDF to defend Intermediate title this weekend G

Some of Guyana’s representatives at the Suriname Invitational of October 2018, From left: Pope-Emanuel London, Peton George, Troy Cadogan, Joaan Deo, Brian Hackett, Videsh Persaud, Shanella London, Parmanand Persaud, Patrick Prashad and Lakram Ramsundar.

T

he National Gymnasium in Georgetown will this weekend become a battleground as it hosts the Lennox Blackmore National Intermediate competition.

The competition which will run for three days, from Friday October 6 to Sunday October 8, will serve as the second statutory tournament on the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association’s (GBA) calendar of events.

The competition will precede the Terrence Ali National Open Boxing competition, which the GBA hopes to punch off at the end of this month.

This weekend’s intermediate competition is expected to feature boxers from all across the country, including; The Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF), Pocket Rocket, Young Achievers (YA), Harpy Eagles, Rose Hall Jammers (RHJ) and Winston Pompey Warriors Gym.

A glimpse of last year’s intermediated action

The tournament’s defending champions, the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) boxing gym will also make an appearance this weekend. The likes of Jeremiah Jackman, Jermain Jones, Tamar Forester, Jermain Grant and Winston Pompey are already well oiled and ready to help the GDF retain their title.

Meanwhile, Jamal Hazel and Emanuel Pompey are already enlisted for the Warriors Boxing Gym, while

Shamar Halley and Isaiah Moore boxes in the Forgotten Youth Foundation’s corner.

The Lennox Blackmore National Intermediate was initially supposed to be hosted last weekend but was pushed back to facilitate the now postponed ‘Not in my House’ Pro Am Card that was scheduled for September 28 at Durban Park. The Entrance fee this weekend will be $500 each night.

olf rivalry between bordering countries Guyana and Suriname will be at a peak this weekend as top golfers from Guyana will be hosted in the country’s annual Republic Bank International Invitational Golf tournament.

The event will commence on Friday 4th – Sunday 6th October.

The stage was set as Captain Chen Deo on Tuesday night, October 1st, submitted the final handicaps and names of players who are all excited about representing Guyana. Defending Surinam Open Ladies champion and former Guyana Open champion (2016) Dr. Joaan Deo intends to repeat her win, while former Guyana Open Ladies champion (2015) and historic winner of the Surinam Ladies ‘A’ Flight of 2016 - Shanella London, and first time contestant in the Surinam Open – rookie Eureka Giddings, also have their minds bent on winning in their Flights.

The men's catego-

ry will feature 9-time Guyana Open champion Avinash Persaud, 1-time Guyana Open champion Avinda Kishore, along with Rakesh Harry, Lakram Ramsundar (Panko), George Bulkan, Robert Bulkan, Pope-Emanuel London, head of Ansa McAl Troy Cadogan and LGCPresident Aleem Hussain Guyana performed creditably in 2018 when a team of 22 players represented the country and captured more than 50% of the prizes. Several of the regular representatives of Guyana such as Patrick Prashad, Brian Hackett, Bridgelall Harry and Kalyan Tiwari are unavailable for the Suriname tournament this year, but are keeping in form for the massive Guyana Open tournament set for October 26-27.

"The main challenge of the Suriname Open will be the fact that the tournament is being played under the Stableford scoring system, which generally allows golfers with high-

er handicaps to score well" said LGC President Aleem Hussain "but I believe our golfers will again adapt and perform very well."

Meanwhile, 2nd place winner in the Men’s C Flight last year, Troy Cadogan said, “I plan to do even better this year, so I scheduled an early arrival to get accustomed to the course.” Newcomer to the Suriname tour, Rakesh Harry, taking the challenge seriously confessed that he hopes to contribute to Guyana’s great performance. All the golfers have been practicing for this tournament over several weeks.

The Suriname tournament is the tee-off for major golf tournaments for 2019 in the Caricom Region as annual Invitational Tournaments in Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados will follow in rapid order. President Hussain expects that Guyana’s golfers will not only perform well in Suriname, but will also claim to titles in the other territories.

WEEK ENDING october 6, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

55