Guyana times international

President Trump congratulates Guyana on 48th Republic Anniversary Page 20

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

for FRee distribution guyanatimesinternational.com

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com

‘Holder must go!’

WEEK ENDING February 25, 2018

ISSUE NO. 385

- ex-sugar workers, families step up protest

See story on page 12

In keeping with the festivity of the Mashramani season, passengers from various countries and nationalities on Wednesday received a taste of Guyanese culture at the CJIA’s arrival lounge. The welcome was organised by the Guyana Tourism Agency and Guyanese flags and other paraphernalia were distributed to the jovial crowd.

Guyana’s sovereignty under threat - Jagdeo Page 21

ERC members finally sworn-in Page 3

2

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

ERC members finally sworn-in S

even years after the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) became inoperable, President David Granger on Thursday morning swore in the new members of the organisation during a simple ceremony at State House.

The new members were identified as Pastor John Smith from the Christian community; Rajkumarie Singh from the Hindu community; Roshan Khan from the Muslim community; Norris Witter from the labour movement; Norman McLean, the Private Sector representative; Deodat Persaud for youth organisations; Ruth Howard for women’s organisations; Ashton Simon for Amerindian groups; Barrington Braithwaite for African groups and Neaz Subhan –media personalityfor Indian groups.

Granger congratulated the newly appointed members and encouraged them to carry out their duties without cowardice, prejudice or malice.

This swearing in comes more than a month after the

President David Granger (center) flanked by the 10 new ERC members

National Assembly approved the appointment of the nominees from 10 stakeholder entities as members of the Commission.

The Opposition had raised concerns with the length of time it took for persons to be appointed to the Commission.

However, when the Third Report of the Standing Committee on Appointments was presented to the National Assembly for adoption and approval on January 19,

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton, told the National Assembly that while an earlier time would have been appropriate for such an important body, there were several hindrances to the process.

The ERC plays an integral role as a constitutional body which serves to protect and preserve the interests of all stakeholders as far as creating an atmosphere of tolerance and harmony among the dif-

ferent races and ethnic groups in Guyana’s diverse society.

The Commission initially comprised representatives from seven different constituencies, but in 2015 it was increased to 10.

The ERC is a constitutional body established under the Herdmanston Accord. It works with persons and agencies to promote harmonious ethnic relations.

The Commission also deals with complaints, promotes

training in racial harmony, and fosters a sense of security, among all ethnic groups.

The Commission had been virtually dysfunctional since 2011 when then Opposition Leader Robert Corbin had secured an injunction against the body, barring the Chairman and two Commissioners from taking any decision, recommendation or issuing any direction on behalf of the constitutional body. (Ramona Luthi)

4 views

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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

P

Corruption in the GPF

resident David Granger has again brought to the fore the issue of corruption within the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

At the opening of the recent annual Officers’ Conference, the President talked tough against corrupt practices, and sent a serious message to senior officers that the issue should be tackled head-on; from the top levels to junior levels of the Force.

For many years now, we have been hearing about corruption at all levels of the Force; sometimes with the involvement of senior officers themselves. When certain cases are brought to the fore, either by private citizens complaining or by way of media reports, nothing much comes out of these cases, even after investigations are carried out. Very often it comes down to officers simply being transferred or demoted, or put to perform ‘administrative duties’.

However, during his presentation at the Officers’ Conference, the President made his views clear when he stated that the practice of transferring and demoting rogue elements will not bring an end to the scourge of corruption within the GPF. He correctly stated that a Force contaminated by corruption cannot ensure the security of citizens; hence the service provided must be based on values in commitment, competence and incorruptibility.

On many occasions, senior officers turn a blind eye to corruption, and put on the line the lives of not only honest Police ranks, but those of the public as well. Just recently, the former head of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, Deputy Superintendent Motie Dookie, was being investigated for alcohol smuggling. He has since been “temporarily transferred” to the Force’s Strategic Unit. There are several other examples of officers being accused of involvement in corrupt practices, but very little comes out of these cases.

Then there is the issue of some ranks moving around in heavily tinted vehicles in spite of several warnings for them to remove these tints. There is a tint law in place, but for quite some time now, ranks were allowed a free pass with their tinted vehicles, giving the impression to the general public that there is one law for Police officers and another for the public.

The law should apply to everyone, irrespective of their status; except in cases when the chief licensing authority grants an exemption, and in a few other special cases. As it currently stands, only certain vehicles are permitted to have tints without the expressed permission of the Public Security Minister. These include diplomatic vehicles and those belonging to senior Government and high-ranking military officials.

Added to this is that some Police officers openly break the traffic rules; and they do so with certainty that they would not be made to face the necessary charges. This level of lawlessness has reached enormous proportions, and many times, even though citizens observe the unprofessional and illegal conduct of ranks, they feel it is a waste of time to lodge the necessary complaints, as nothing would come out it.

We had stated before that the Police must lead by example. If they want to win the public’s trust, they must be seen as having integrity and decency. They must engage in serious introspection, and monitor themselves to ensure they, too, are held to higher standards. Police officers cannot be seen as breaking the same laws they expect the public to abide by.

While we do not intend to paint the entire Police Force with the same brush, as there are many professional and honest officers within the Force, we are convinced that unless what is perceived as the endemic corruption in the organisation is addressed in a holistic manner, efforts being made at Police reform would be in vain.

It should be mentioned that the Government has promised that the Security Sector Reform, which is expected to commence soon, would seek to tackle this issue that is plaguing the GPF. It would be in the Force’s own interest to employ every effort to eradicate corruption and strive to rebuild trust in the organisation since the success of any organisation depends on the integrity of its officials.

In keeping with their objective to have persons get fit, toned and ready to take the road by storm on Mash Day, February 23, members of the GTT-Pulse band participated in a Fitness Camp on Wednesday at the Everest Cricket Ground in Georgetown.

Caribbean diplomats ask UK for more compassion for citizens

L

ONDON, United Kingdom (CMC) — Caribbean diplomats here have asked the United Kingdom Government to be more compassionate in the treatment of Caribbean migrants.

The diplomats on Wednesday urged the British Home Office to adopt this approach towards retirement-age Commonwealth citizens facing deportation, despite living in the UK all their adult lives.

The British Guardian reports that there could be thousands of people born in Commonwealth countries who emigrated to the UK with their parents as children and did not realise they were required to formally naturalise in Britain.

Their unresolved residency status could mean they face problems accessing pensions, housing, healthcare and work, said Guy Hewitt, the Barbados high commissioner in London.

New evidence of harsh treatment by the Home Office emerged this week when officials said they “now accepted” that Anthony Bryan, 60, who has spent five weeks in immigration detention centers in England, was in fact “lawfully present in the UK”.

Bryan, a grandfather who has lived in the UK for 52 years, has had two spells in detention and was booked last November on a flight to Jamaica, a country he left in 1965, when he was eight, and has not visited since.

The report said the decorator lost his job in 2015 because he was unable to prove he was not an “illegal worker”, and struggled to convince the Home Office of his right to be in the UK until his case was highlighted in news reports last year.

Bryan said he was relieved but angry at his treatment, which has left him heavily in debt because he was prevented from working for almost three years.

“I told them I was eight years old when I arrived here, but nobody believed; they told me I was an illegal immigrant and a criminal. They locked me up unlawfully. It was very stressful. It has been a nightmare,” he said.

Hewitt and fellow high commissioners have raised the broader issue with the Foreign Office, urging officials to take a more humane approach in cases like

Bryan's and Paulette Wilson's, a grandmother who lived and worked in the UK for 51 years, having arrived aged 10, before being told she was an illegal immigrant, being detained and threatened with forced removal to Jamaica, the Guardian said.

It said Caribbean diplomats were concerned that people were reluctant to try to regularize their status because of fears they might be detained or deported.

Hewitt described the difficulties experienced by many as a tragedy.

“This is affecting people who came and gave a lifetime of service at a time when the UK was calling for workers and migrants,” he said. “They came because they were encouraged to come here to help build post-World War II Britain and build it into the multicultural place that it is now.

“These are not people who tried to take advantage of the system,” he added. “We need to find a compassionate mechanism for resolving this.”

The Jamaican high commissioner to London, Seth George Ramocan, agreed, according to the Guardian.

“In this system, one is guilty before proven innocent, rather than the other way around,” he said.

Since reports on the situation faced by Bryan and Wilson, the Guardian said Members of Parliament, lawyers and advice centers have highlighted numerous similar cases.

Some people have become homeless as a result of the difficulties they have faced in proving their right to remain in the UK, the paper said.

It said while cases of detention before removal are rare, Wilson's case is not unique.

During a visit to an immigration removal center last year, Ramocan met a man who was on the point of being deported because he lacked sufficient evidence to prove he had spent a lifetime in the UK, the Guardian said.

It said the high commissioner advised him to appeal and the removal was averted.

Diplomats from former Commonwealth countries have organised outreach meetings in areas where there were high

levels of immigration from the Caribbean in the 1950s and 60s to inform people about the requirement to naturalise, the Guardian said.

It said many are unaware of the need to regularise their status, partly because they were children when they arrived and also because the rules were less stringent then.

The burden of proving that residency predates the 1971 Immigration Act is on the individual, and it is often hard to gather a detailed paper trail showing school and employment records, the Guardian said.

“These are not people who are seeking to be illegal. They came to contribute to the wellbeing of the UK,” Ramocan said. “It would be in the best interest of all for there to be a more compassionate approach.”

Usually, entry documents to the UK were marked with permanent right to reside stamps, but children were often included on other people's passports, or have lost their documents, the Guardian said.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Those who have resided in the UK for an extended period but feel they may not have the correct documentation confirming their leave to remain should take legal advice and submit the appropriate application with correct documentation, so we can progress the case.

“Where the Home Office requires evidence of a person's residency, the onus is on the applicant to be able to provide this proof,” the spokesperson insisted.

But Hewitt said it was difficult for vulnerable, elderly residents to bring together the required evidence.

“It is really for many a very traumatic process,” he said.

“Often, the family and friends who could vouch for them are dead.

“It is a tragic situation because, technically, the Home Office has the right to deport anyone they have reason to believe has not been granted the right to reside here,” he added. “Missions from the regions are working with the Home Office to avoid people being forcibly removed back to islands they don't recognise.”

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Cops hold 3 over alleged kidnaping of Berbice schoolgirls

T

hree men are in Police custody assisting with investigations into the kidnapping of two schoolgirls in New Amsterdam on Tuesday, but the relatives of one of the girls are of the view that the Police are condoning the crime by not arresting the driver and sending home one of the girls who claimed she is above the age of consent.

Reports are that the girls were on their way home from school on Tuesday afternoon when the incident occurred.

According to reports, the black Toyota Allion pulled up alongside the two girls who were walking and after a brief moment, both the front door and back door of the car were opened and the girls were pulled into the vehicle.

Guyana Times International understands that the girls put up some amount of resistance causing onlookers to become suspicious.

The car was followed to an abandoned house at 36 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam where the girls were housed. Both the Police and a relative of one of the girls were contacted and within mo-

ments were at the scene.

The two Police Officers who were both armed with firearms were forced to call for backup after voices coming from within the building threaten to shoot the officers if they did not remove from in front of the door.

When the backup came and the door was kicked open, three male adults and the two schoolgirls were found inside the building.

Meanwhile, as the Police were concentrating on the building, the driver of the car who is known to the Police and was waiting in the vehicle outside of the building, fled the scene with the car.

The three suspects were taken into custody and the girls to the New Amsterdam Hospital to be medically examined.

It was then confirmed that no sexual activity occurred on Tuesday. It is believed that the quick response by the Police prevented either of the girls being injured.

The medical examination, however, revealed that both of the girls are sexually active. continued on page 8

‘We have no money, so we can’t celebrate Mash’ – Wales housewives

By Shemuel Fanfair

S

everal housewives who supported their spouses at Wednesday’s protest against the year-long non-payment of severance, complained bitterly of their dwindling finances and indicated that they have no reason to celebrate Mashramani.

The Wales housewives told Guyana Times International that they will not be participating in any celebration since they can barely maintain their households, as many of the men are unemployed and others are finding difficulty getting consistent work.

“We don’t have Mashramani because we don’t have money, so we cannot celebrate; we want we severance and then anything could happen,” one housewife shouted.

Other women, including a mother of five, Salima Bacchus, are demanding that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) honour its legal arrangements and pay off the former workers.

“We need we severance!” Bacchus exclaimed. Her husband, Asser, has not been

Several protesters marching outside the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday

working since 2016 and she has been on the protest line since then.

“Right now we children starving and then we must study Mashramani? We don’t have money since Wales Estate close, me husband not working so how you could get the money to celebrate Mashramani,” another housewife added.

Pensioners who also supported Wednesday’s protest indicated much dismay at the economic situation at Wales and on this basis noted that finances are not there for

them to celebrate.

“Mashramani, you have to get nice clothes, footwear and you got to dance up but if you don’t have money you can’t do nothing,” Iris, only name given, observed.

Mashramani marks 48 years since Guyana became a Republic which meant that the country broke links from the British monarchy but for the housewives, there is no freedom given their current economic plight.

Mother of five, Shada Narine, told this newspaper that she too would not be celebrating the

holiday. Narine stressed that she has to rotate sending her children to school and she is calling on the Agriculture Minister and President Granger to look into her plight.

“I glad if the President and Mr Holder could come out and tell the cane cutters if they will get their severance or if they will find jobs for them. I think they have a heart and children and they should see the suffering of the cane cutter dem,” Narine remarked in a show of much frustration.

6

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Commissioner of Dr Shahabuddeen will be remembered as Lindo Creek inquiry one of the most influential men of our time started off on the wrong footing Dear Editor, The establishment of President Granger’s most recent Commission of Inquiry (CoI) raises troubling issues. On the occasion of his swearing in before Minister Harmon or Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan or both Minister Harmon and the Chief Magistrate – Justice Trotman is reported in the media as saying that he was committed to upholding the President’s promise of “probing the truthfulness of things.” (Incidentally, as a judicial officer, the Chief Magistrate has no place at Minister Harmon’s office).

However, it is in this commitment by Justice Trotman to upholding the President’s promise where lies the germ that many perceive will infect the neutrality and impartiality of the inquiry. Justice Trotman’s commitment must undoubtedly be to his oath, which he has seemingly cast aside. Even though he has stressed the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the Commission, serious doubt is raised about his emphasis when consideration is given to further statements made by Justice Trotman, which, when juxtaposed to statements made by President Granger significantly erodes Justice Trotman’s assurances of independence, integrity and impartiality. The learned Judge reportedly told the media that the Inquiry has two objectives: 1. To find the truth.

There could be no issue with this objective.

2. To bring healing and closure to the families, relatives and friends and all who require justice to be done in this particular instance.

Though, well knowing the inanity that emerges from the chambers of the Attorney General and other Government sources, I would nevertheless be shocked if Justice Trotman’s Terms of Reference as a sole Commissioner, charges him with the responsibility to bring closure and healing to the families, relatives and friends of those who perished at Lindo Creek. In this frame of mind, Justice Trotman has begun a journey, heading in the wrong direction. He has set himself an objective and will apparently be working towards it.

Quite coincidentally, President Granger on the other hand, is reported in the press as telegraphing his understanding of the outcome of the Trotman Commission of Inquiry, when he reportedly said: “the establishment of the

Commission of Inquiry into the Lindo Creek massacre, which claimed the lives of eight miners in 2008 will lead to the unravelling of the criminal network and exposure of operatives who were responsible for the reign of terror during the most deadly decade in Guyana’s history, while also ensuring that justice is served for the affected families.”

It is not clear whether Justice Trotman is parroting President Granger or vice versa, but what is clear is that there is a meeting of these two distinguished minds in relation to their predictions of the outcomes of the Inquiry and note must be taken of the fact that both President Granger and Justice Trotman have not qualified their predictions by the use of words such as “likely” or “possible”. Their predictions of the outcomes of the Inquiry have been expressed with great clarity and certainty.

These statements throw up many questions. Is Justice Trotman also committed to unravelling some criminal network? We know that Justice Trotman has predicted closure and healing for families and friends of the Lindo Creek victims as an objective of his inquiry which President Granger has declared will ensure justice for those families and friends. But President Granger has not yet heard the evidence to be presented to the CoI. How does he know that there will be an unravelling of any kind? How does President Granger and Justice Trotman know in advance that justice will be served to the families, relatives and friends of the Lindo Creek victims? It is not unreasonable, in the context of all the public comments made by both President Granger and Justice Trotman, to assume that Justice Trotman may just also be committed to meeting the expectations of President Granger.

In recent comments to the press about criticisms that were being made about the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry, Justice Trotman, who has been appointed a sole Commissioner reportedly said: “we are not fazed by it.

We will press on.” Who is Justice Trotman, referring to, when he speaks of “we”?

Could it be that unthinkingly, Justice Trotman was referring to himself and President Granger?

Perception is sometimes reality.

Sincerely, Selwyn Persaud

Dear Editor, I would like to acknowledge my debt to an extraordinary man, Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen, former Attorney General and World Court Judge.

Uncle Shahab, a man of par excellence. He was the spark of my intellect, the fire of my soul.

He humbled me with his intelligence and his passion for knowledge and growth. He made us all Essequibians proud, an eminent and world court jurist.

His passing brought us sadness and irrevocable memories.

Uncle Shahab and his two brothers Moeen and Zahir frequent us at a little Mosque at Johanna Cecilia, Essequibo Coast. A humble man, he would pray with us on that hard floor covered by a discoloured carpet. He would exchange pleasantries with the old folks and encourage the young ones to work hard at school. I can never forget him and his brother’s generosity.

We eat from their hands during the rough days of poverty. My mom looked forward for their charity and Zakat and Uncle Shahab had never failed us and for that I am eternally grateful.

Uncle Shahab has impacted my life tremendously, words fail me and adjectives are limited to correctly describe this gem – Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen, but permit me, I will still try.

He was full of grace.

Grace is the life of talents. Grace is the breath of speech. Grace is the soul of action, and grace is the ornament of ornaments.

Perfection is the adornment of our nature. But grace is the adornment of perfection itself. Without grace, beauty is lifeless. It surpasses valour, discretion, prudence, even majesty itself.

That was Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen – pure and amazing grace. It’s a pity that a fantastic, astonishing man like Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen is only born once in a generation. He consumed my entire being through his extraordinary brilliance. His stunning words were the most dazzling pearl necklace around the neck of humanity. Millions will stand in front of GodAlmighty wearing his necklace and be granted salvation through the fact that his astonish-

Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen

ing words brought them into contact with the divine author.

Additionally, when our contemporary historians will write the annals of our history, Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen will be on the top of the list of the most influential men of our time. He stood tall like a palm tree and was never swayed by the wind.

The joy of having known him trumps all the other temporary pleasures I ever had. I cannot bear the thought that if I were to subtract him out of my history, what my life would be

like. Throughout our sojourn on earth one person can touch our lives and we become better, much better.

Peace to the greatest jurist of the 21st century, as he has returned to the divine author, peace to a stern advisor, peace to a generous giver and peace to a friend.

May Allah – the Almighty, bless him with the highest station in paradise. May Allah – the Almighty, give his love ones patience and perseverance in this time of grief.

Yours truly, Nazar Mohamed

APNU/AFC should share blame for current state of affairs in Georgetown Dear Editor, Over the decades, the municipality of Georgetown was always won and controlled by the PNC, PNCR and now the APNU/AFC coalition, in which the PNCR holds the largest controlling representation. Their representatives have always held overwhelming voting control as elected Councillors, and have largely controlled the key Administrative Committees which effected planning, implementation of projects and evaluation of performance, regarding the services required for citizens of our capital city. It cannot be denied, that their high level of continuous mismanagement has been replicated in the miserable failure results for decades.

The controlling influences in this APNU/AFC Government prove that they are hell bent on running this municipality as a one-party dictatorship until it becomes non-functional.

Their behaviour actually addresses the continuance of the one-seat majority tempo used in the National Assembly while in Opposition, as they sought to use every good project as a bargaining chip or bury it. The results were so impacting in 2015 that they found themselves in the same hole they dug to bury the projects. They now demon-

strate that they do not have a clue about getting out of it.

It is utterly repulsive that the Georgetown municipality did not conduct their election for the year 2017. By law, all the municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) must conduct their internal elections where Councillors would elect all the Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and the Mayors and Deputy Mayors before the end of December of every year.

However, the eye-pass continues in total disregard for the law of this country. The elected Councillors should be ashamed of themselves and wake up to earn some measure of respect.

The ingrained administrative failures and misappropriations that have resulted from the PNCR manipulations at City Hall justify the need for a forensic audit and a Commission of Inquiry.

When the APNU/AFC took office in 2015, the M&CC had a positive bank balance of G$180 million, but that was not for long as the present Administration has spent ‘Wild West’. Information received indicates that the Councillors were given fake statements and reports when they sought details in preparation of the Municipality 2018 Budget.

In addition, the Councillors were asked to consider the statements without any proper explanations.

Further, inside sources informed me that the staff strength at the M&CC is more than 1000.

Given that the monthly payroll is in excess of G$130 million, why is everything that is being done contracted out to private contractors?

It is also known that the Georgetown M&CC owes millions of dollars in deductions from workers’ salaries for remittance to the GRA and NIS. Utility companies such as GPL and GWI are also owed even as monies continued to be expended with very little accountability as to when these payments would be made.

As the residents and businesses are asked to pay more in taxes, other miscellaneous fees are imposed on them, including fees for garbage collection, while the services provided continue to remain poor and sub-standard.

The APNU/AFC leaders on the Council are fully responsible for the woes of the city. The AFC, like the PNC, has proven that it cannot be trusted, as the promises have turned full circle and are now held like the swords of Damocles over our heads.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

news 7

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt should admit blunder over estate closures …Jagdeo says in response to Finance Minister’s plan to borrow over G$15B to reopen Enmore, Skeldon

By Samuel Sukhnandan

A

s part of plans to temporarily reopen two sugar estates, the Guyana Government has now made a decision to borrow over G$15 billion which it hopes to repay over the next three to five years. However, Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has slammed the government saying that the administration should admit that it made a mistake in the first place to close the estates labeling the move as a political one.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan said on Wednesday that the loan will be used specifically to fund the operations of the Skeldon and Enmore sugar estates, which is likely to reemploy some workers.

In defending the decision to separate the estates’ operations from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the Minister said the plan is to keep them operational as it searches for buyers.

PriceWaterhouse Coopers is conducting a valuation exercise of GuySuCo’s assets.

The British company is helping the National

Industrial Commercial and Investments Limited (NICIL) to prepare for buyers.

The estates will not be opened for one month according the Jordan, but could possibly be opened for several months. He noted that the idea is to close deals in another six to nine months.

“If it is closed and moth-balled and buyers come, they probably are not going to be impressed as if they were working and seeing the estates are valuable properties to be acquired,” he told the media.

Shifting his attention back to the process by which the Government hopes to acquire this loan, Jordan said the loan to fund the operations of these two estates should be acquired before midMarch.

He also declared that revenues generated from the sale of estates and other assets would be used to repay the loan.

The Government will be turning to commercial banks for this syndicated bond.

“These estates potentially are not going to be producing sugar per se or the kind of volumes that you know. It’s going to do some molasses.

Government will be reopening the Skeldon and Enmore Estates

There is an interesting model for Enmore prior to its complete diversification and that will be involving hopefully DDL (Demerara Distillers Limited),” Jordan explained.

Jordan again defended Government for the move to close the estates and to temporarily reopen them. He said it would have been a difficult task to keep them opened, because of the day-to-day expenses involved and still meeting other obligations, including a huge wage bill.

He explained that the reopened estate will operate on a smaller scale when compared to the

previous years. According to him, this also sends a good signal to potential buyers.

“Here, you pull them away from GuySuCo; you try to make them efficient and so on. The balance sheet looks better and the attraction to the investor is different plus these are now separate entities as opposed to be one global family under the GuySuCo arrangement,” the Minister added.

It was reported in sections of the media last week that the Skeldon and Enmore sugar factories are expected to be reopened by the end of March to reap over

300,000 tonnes of sugar cane.

The Special Purposes Unit (SPU) will also use the reopening of these estates as an example to prove to potential investors that all of the estates are viable. But Jagdeo, said this now proves Government’s move to close sugar estates was purely political.

Jagdeo said, “The Government must admit it made a blunder, it treated the sugar industry in a political fashion when they should have done more technical work, we called on them to do the technical work, they never did, they made the wrong decision

and once they admit that, then that’s fine.”

As part of plans to reopen these estates, some of the already retrenched sugar workers will be reemployed to assist with harvesting canes. It is not clear why the Government took the decision to retrench workers, when they were aware that 300,000 tonnes of sugar cane was still to be harvested.

Jagdeo said it was an illogical move that has no basis for the reality on what is taking place on the ground.

“We need to understand what the thinking of this Government is. Do they sit down and go through the numbers first before it makes a decision as critical as the one it did, to close an almost 300year industry. In three years’ time, they have practically shut down half of the industry.”

The downsizing of the sugar industry has been fiercely resisted by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the parliamentary Opposition and a number of other agencies.

Some 4000 sugar workers from Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon were dismissed from their jobs.

8 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Man who murdered elderly remigrant gets 23 years jail

A

Jailed: Kevon Alfred

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

Alfred, who appeared in the High Court before Justice Navindra Singh, was set to go on trial after switching his attorney, Senior Counsel Stanley Moore, last week, and rejecting advice to plead guilty. However, after a discussion with his new attorney, George Thomas, Alfred changed his mind and pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Alfred, of Crane Housing

Scheme, West Coast Demerara, maintained in court that his friend — Cordell Eastman, called “Gaza” — who had hired him as a taxi driver, was the one who had killed the elderly woman on March 26, 2014. Alfred claimed he had simply witnessed “Gaza” chasing after the re-migrant, and going into her home.

In his explanation, Alfred declared that he had met up with Eastman one day prior to his sister’s birthday (March 25, 2016), and had agreed to transport him via a car that he had borrowed. The accused also claimed that after he was directed to the Ruimveldt area where Lewis lived, his friend went inside the house while he waited outside. Adding that he did not know the area since he was from West Demerara, Alfred said he became tired waiting, and that is when he went into the elderly woman’s residence and saw what he alleged to had transpired.

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

Before sentencing him to 23 years in prison, Justice Singh told Alfred that even though he had pleaded guilty, he showed no sign

of remorse. The sentence passed on Alfred took into account that he did not waste the court’s time.

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

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

(Shemuel Fanfair)

…injured captain, sailor rescued

T

ing the vessel, named “Three Brothers”, and there were four sailors on board when it burst into flames. Maniram and a sailor, Ventle Jainarine, are currently warded at the Suddie Hospital, nursing injuries to their lower limbs as a result of the fire.

The incident occurred at about

10:00h, when a loud explosion was heard in the vicinity of the engine room. The fire quickly spread to other parts of the boat, resulting in the men being forced to abandon ship.

The names of the other sailors are yet to be released. Police investigations are ongoing.

Teen slapped with attempted murder charge

N

ineteen-year-old Morris Khan of Lot 1 Old Road, Craig, East Bank Demerara was on Tuesday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on an attempted murder charge, which detailed that on February 15, 2018 at Old Road Craig, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Oswald O’Brien

with intention to murder him.

Khan was not required to enter a plea to this indictable charge.

According to Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, the virtual complainant (VC) is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). Mangru revealed that on the day of the incident, Khan had taken up a bicycle

bar and had dealt the VC several lashes about his body. The VC fell to the ground and was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.

Khan was denied bail and was remanded to prison. The case will continue on March 16.

Cops hold 3 over alleged kidnaping...

At the hospital, one of the girls reportedly said she was 16 years old and above the age of consent.

At the Criminal Investigation Department at the Central Police Station, the girl continued her claims stating that she lived with a grandparent. She was asked to bring her guardian and a teenage girl turned up claiming that she was her cousin and the girl was released into the teenager’s custody.

“This is nonsense,” a relative of the other girl told this publication.

“They did not even ask for any supporting documentation to verify her age. The incident happened when they were in school uniform,

something is wrong,” the relative related.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the mother of the other girl was

asked to produce documents to verify that she is indeed 14 years old. While the Police continue to investigate, the 14-year-old stated that she had sexual intercourse with one of the men on more than one occasion.

President has no intention to breach Constitution, says Harmon

Murdered remigrant Joyce Lewis

Boat bursts into flames, sinks in Moruca River wo persons are now patients at the Suddie Hospital in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) after the boat in which they were travelling went up in flames while on the Moruca River in Region One (Barima-Waini).

According to Police reports, Ramesh Maniram was captain-

Appointment of Chancellor, CJ:

from page 5

A relative told this newspaper that the Police need to arrest the driver of the Allion who is an accessory to the crime. “He is part of it; he drove the vehicle and was the lookout. He is just as guilty.”

According to a source close to the investigation, the Police are not treating the driver as a suspect.

Meanwhile, the source also said the allegedly 16-yearold has not provided any information to the Police that a crime was committed.

Eyewitnesses say the girls were in their school uniforms at the time they were pulled into the vehicle. The investigation continues.

G

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

o v e r n m e n t has given its commitment that President David Granger will not make any moves outside of the Constitution and push forward with the appointment of a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice, although the President himself has already announced that he is seeking legal advice on the matter.

This comment was made after a statement was issued by the Bar Council of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) on Monday when it stated that Government must stick within the limits of the Constitution, especially Article 127, which speaks directly to these top judicial appointments.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said he was concerned at the dangerous path the Association was treading with its insinuations and strong assertions, despite the public statements made by the Head of State with regard to upholding the Constitution.

The GBA has warned that “any action outside of the said Article 127 is unconstitutional, void, of no legal effect and would have embarrassing consequences”.

Harmon also described as reckless the statement attributed to the Association, which states that the climate surrounding the appointment of the two office holders is “repugnant and shakes the public confidence in the legal system. It further unfairly undermines the dignity of the offices and office holders”.

The Minister of State claimed that every action taken by President Granger was underpinned by the provisions

of the Constitution and it was, therefore, surprising that the Association having regard to what the President has said, has arrived at a conclusion that basically stated that the current climate was repugnant.

Further, he said while Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo would have rejected the nominations for the two posts, no explanations were provided. He noted, however, that when the Head of State had rejected the nominations for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the GBA was one of the many organisations, which voiced discontent and called for explanations to be given.

While encouraging both Government and the Opposition to work towards reaching a consensus, the Bar Council of the GBA reiterated that the appointment of the Chancellor and Chief Justice was governed

by Article 127 of the Constitution of Guyana, the country’s supreme law, which states that these persons shall each be appointed by the President in agreement with the Opposition Leader.

The Association, therefore, reasoned that acting Chancellor Yonette CummingsEdwards and acting Chief Justice Roxane George could not be removed and replaced by other acting appointees.

Given the current circumstances surrounding this issue, the GBA has urged both parties to work to break the impasse and arrive at a consensual resolution, especially in keeping with the spirit and intent of Article 127, which it reminded was amended from its original form to foster collaboration.

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Accused in Five Star Backdam killing claims victim was about pull gun

A

s the High Court trial of Marlon Marion Freeman continued on Monday, Police Detective Corporal Bryan James was called to the stand and testified that he penned the caution statement of the accused, who allegedly admitted to killing miner Timothy Adams at Turtle Creek, Five Star Backdam, North West District (NWD) on December 22, 2013.

Adams met his demise while en route to a mining camp, but Freeman has since denied that he was responsible for the killing.

In court on Monday, Corporal James claimed that the defendant detailed another story to him under caution. He reportedly claimed that Freeman might have killed Adams because he thought the miner was going to pull a gun after he confronted him over money that was owed to him. According to the Policeman, he administered the caution statement on December 25, 2013 in the presence of then Police Constable Zane Williams, who signed to witnessing the exercise which took place from 14:00h to 14:40h.

James informed the 12-member mixed jury that Freeman had indicated that he first went to work with his uncle at Five Star Backdam, but after they “got wrong”, he went to work at Gavin Blacks’ mining camp.

According to the caution statement, Freeman, a pork-knocker, was promised G$5000 a day by Blacks, but after three weeks passed, he was only paid G$30,000. He had enquired from Blacks about his money and some time after lunch on the day in question, he bought a “piece of weed” and then saw Adams coming to the camp about 15 minutes later.

According to the evidence from the caution statement, Freeman also enquired of Adams about his money, saying: “Big man, wam to me money?”

“I see he go to he waist and I didn’t know if he had a gun or wah, but I had a spoon which I sharpen and I just jook he by he neck and he fall down. After I see he ain’t moving, I get nervous,” the defendant reportedly said. He then left the scene. He also claimed that the gold he later gave a female was not taken from the deceased, but it was gold that he had in his possession.

Dead miner: Timothy Adams

Corporal James later testified that when he administered the statement, he had informed the accused of his rights, saying that he told him he could have a lawyer, friends or relatives present. The Policeman added that at no time was violence used on Freeman, nor was he threatened or offered G$250,000 bail to give his statement.

Former Police Constable Williams, who witnessed Freeman giving the caution statement, testified earlier during Monday’s trial.

He claimed that Freeman looked at the statement at 14:40h and appeared to be reading it. Under intense cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer, Folio Richards, Williams said that he was not aware that Freeman had been tied up for nine-anda-half hours on December 24, 2013, one day prior to him allegedly giving the caution statement. The former Policeman who said he did not threaten the defendant also denied Richards’ suggestion that he and Detective James refused to give Freeman something to eat even though he had cried out for food.

“You took advantage of the accused’s inability to read and write,” the lawyer contended, to which Williams replied: “No, Ma’am.”

At last Thursday’s trial, Medex Colleen Edgillo testified that she had pronounced Adams ‘dead before arrival at the Pakera Hospital’ at Matthews Ridge, NWD, after examining the man and finding that he was lifeless and had no heartbeat. Edgillo had recalled seeing a deep puncture wound to the right side of Adams’ neck and a laceration to the left side of his head.

State Counsels Lisa Cave and Mandell Moore are presenting the prosecution’s case in the trial, which continues before Justice James Bovell-Drakes. (Shemuel Fanfair)

City Hall roasted for lack of cooperation regarding audits

O

n a day when the Treasurer of the Georgetown municipality was absent owing to a “doctor’s visit” and the accounting officer who was present had no answers, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hauled the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) over the proverbial coals for the collective failure to account for monies.

But with even Communities Ministry Permanent Secretary Emil McGarrell complaining of lack of cooperation from City Hall, Auditor General Deodat Sharma revealed that another audit would be carried out at the municipality. He made it clear that approaches would be made to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers this time around, if the intransigence continued.

“Normally, in the regulations of the audit act it says that when I finish a forensic audit I can send it to the DPP for advice. The Public Accounts Committee was disappointed with the type of information we’re getting. Even the PS says he can’t get the cooperation in terms of the relevant information that he needs,” Sharma told Guyana Times International afterwards.

The DPP is usually called in when advice on criminal charges is being sought. In the case of City Hall, this will be done if non-cooperation over the supply of records continues.

The PAC met in the National Assembly on Monday, when McGarrell and accounting officers

from various municipalities were made to give account for some G$401 million in capital subventions.

There are nine municipalities and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). The Audit Office of Guyana had found that as at December 31, 2016, G$396.5 million was expended. From the start, City Hall’s financial status, how it spent almost G$175 million and its failure to submit documentation dating from 2005 posed a challenge to the PAC. PAC Chairman Irfaan Ali questioned McGarrell on whether he had come with copies of meetings pertaining to the City Council’s financial statements, documents previously promised by the Georgetown municipality’s treasurer. McGarrell had not walked with such and he revealed that the Treasurer, Ron McAlmont, had been unable to attend because of a doctor’s appointment.

When asked by committee member Juan Edghill whether there was anyone else who could supply that information, the Permanent Secretary indicated that only the Deputy Treasurer was available.

Edghill then ordered McGarrell to send someone to fetch the Deputy Treasurer from City Hall, as it was within walking distance.

“On our last appearance, the Ministry’s internal auditors would have made several attempts to meet with the Treasurer to have this prepared and submitted. They were written

Auditor General Deodat Sharma

and even up to our appearance today, it was indicated that this information had to be provided,” McGarrell explained to the Committee, when asked what efforts he had made to get the minutes.

But when he appeared, City Hall’s Deputy Treasurer John Douglas was no wiser when it came to the city’s finances. Douglas admitted that he was not present at the PAC hearings last year, but that he was aware of the documents that were supposed to be provided. Even though he was aware, however, he had not come with the documents.

He made promises to supply the requested paperwork by today (Tuesday). In view of the lack of information, Douglas had to be asked by the Committee what he was actually privy to as the Deputy Treasurer.

City Hall

Last year, the AG’s attempts to conduct an audit were stymied by documents not being provided. According to Sharma at the time, there were a number of gaps that remained un-

filled in the investigation.

He had noted that as a result of these missing and sometimes even damaged documents, there would be a number of pages in the final report that would carry disclaimers. This is all despite City Hall being the ones who wrote to the Auditor General’s Office requesting an audit.

It was at one time reported that during the final phase of the audit, the probe was stalled due to this lack of cooperation.

Things had reportedly reached a point necessitating a letter to be sent to Town Clerk Royston King, over the undue delays being caused by City Hall officials not making the necessary documents available for the auditors.

There have been persistent calls for City Hall to be fully audited. Back in 2015, the Georgetown M&CC had received two grants under the Communities Ministry’s Capital Programme for the “Georgetown Restoration Programme”, in addition to the “Emergency Solid Waste Management of Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill”.

Each multimillion-dollar grant was based on Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Communities Ministry’s Permanent Secretary and the capital city’s Town Clerk. According to the Auditor General’s 2015 Report, there were several “discrepancies” in the way the allotted money was spent during the year.

10 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

ExxonMobil contracts Bristow Opposition raises questions for helicopter services locally about integrity of birth certificate issuing process in Region One

U

S oil giant ExxonMobil has contracted the services of leading global industrial aviation services provider Bristow Group Inc out of the United Kingdom to deliver helicopter offshore crew change and searchand-rescue (SAR) services to support its operations in Guyana.

Senior Manager for Business Development at Bristow, Kade Monlezun, said the fiveyear deal, which is a renewal of an existing contract, commenced on January 1, 2018.

“We are honoured to continue to serve ExxonMobil in this region, and appreciate their continued confidence in Bristow… This contract is the result of our team’s proven dedication to delivering exceptional aviation solutions,” Monlezun is quoted as saying by offshoreenergytoday.com In December, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. delivered its first fully configured S-76D(TM) helicopter, the latest in the long and highly successful Sikorsky S-76(TM) commercial aircraft family, to the Bristow Group Inc. (PRNewsFoto/Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.)2 Bristow will operate

O

three existing Leonardo AW139 helicopters from its base of operation at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, located in Guyana’s Atlantic coast.

“The contract is strategically important for Bristow, as the company continues to pursue additional growth opportunities in the region,” said Monlezun. Our greatest strength is our ability to be flexible and offer tailored, cost-effective solutions. We are more competitive and more responsive than ever before, and our clients are rewarding us for it,” Monlezun said.

Bristow also provides aircraft support services to Government and civil organizations worldwide. It has operations in the North Sea, Nigeria, the US Gulf of Mexico, and in most of the other major offshore oil and gas producing regions

of the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Russia and Trinidad.

Bristow provides SAR services to the private sector worldwide, and to the public sector for all of the UK on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

ExxonMobil is operator of the giant Stabroek block offshore Guyana, which contains the Liza oil discovery. The oil company is working to develop this discovery with plans to bring the first phase of the Liza field online in March 2020. Exxon is also already thinking about phase two of the Liza development, which would include an FPSO and subsea systems larger than the ones for phase one.

Exxon is working to select the concept for the development of the nearby Payara discovery off Guyana.

p p o s i t i o n Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, has said the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) is paying keen attention to reports of political interference in the work of the Guyana Registration Office’s Outreach Team in Region One (BarimaWaini) by Government MP Richard Allen.

Reports are that Allen is directing the outreach team which areas they should visit and to whom they should issue new birth certificates. In some instances, Allen is even uplifting birth certificates and issuing them to civilians.

Teixeira said the Opposition PPP/C are aware of the Government MP embedding himself in the work of the GRO

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

and ultimately bringing into question the integrity of the process.

“It is alarming that a politician is involved in this; and his active involvement in guiding the team in issuing birth certificates in Region One and taking back birth certificates that were issued and

distributing them brings into question the integrity of the process,” she noted.

“It obviously equates the question about what could and could not happen in relation to the (voters) list, because right now there is continuous registration going on and claims and objections period as well,” Teixeira added.

She called on the GRO to launch an investigation into the incident, to ensure there is an investigation launched to determine whether the integrity of the process was compromised or not.

Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley was the one who brought the iscontinued on page 21

Puruni Landing operations under microscope

…businesses encroaching on road

M

A section of Puruni Landing

inister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes, is examining how operations at mining landings, particularly Puruni, can be better regularised.

Puruni Landing is strategically located in Mazaruni, Region Seven, and connects the lower and middle Mazaruni in Mining District Three. It is a thriving business hub and many miners have taken up residence there, with elaborate buildings and structures, some of which encroach on the roadway and water crossing.

While the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) grants yearly licences for business and residential purposes in mining districts, however, that permission does not include the establishment of permanent structures.

“So all these buildings that are going up around here, they are going up at a risk: no permission. Meaning to say, if somebody comes tomorrow and say, you got to take it down, you got to take it down,” Minister Broomes told miners and shop operators during a meeting on Sunday at the Puruni Landing.

Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC), Trevor Benn accompanied the minister on her follow-up visit to the Puruni Landing. During the meeting, Benn encouraged operators to visit the GLSC’s Bartica Office to regularise their status.

“For those of you who want to make the area your residence, your home, you have no security of tenure. You

have no security to the land that you are on, and the only way you can do that is by applying to get a full lease for the land that you are occupying,” Benn is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

The GLSC will be working with the GGMC to survey the area and plan the way forward to ensure regularisation is achieved. Minister Broomes pointed out this is critical to the development of infrastructure at Puruni.

“Some businesses that are encroaching on the road got to be moved; (those) businesses that will disturb the development that is coming that way.

So it is very, very important,” Minister Broomes noted.

Government has budgeted for the construction of a bridge over the Puruni River, where the crossing currently exists.

Meanwhile, Minister Broomes pointed out that regularisation is also aimed at deterring those who are exploiting the system.

She explained that business operators and miners are paying paltry sums for their licences, while erecting extravagant buildings and businesses in these mining districts.

“GRA has to go in there with what is happening. The Guyana Gold Board…a lot of business (is happening) right there.”

The minister will also be collaborating with other ministries and agencies to address other issues, including security, trafficking, and health in the Puruni backdam.

news 11

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana Gov’t collected over G$1B in environmental tax in 2017 T

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has managed to collect close to G$1.2 billion in environmental taxes as of the end of last year, ever since its implementation on February 1, 2017.

This is according to GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia, who told Guyana Times International on Tuesday that companies were generally compliant with this relatively new tax.

“Companies are compliant because we actually have officers going in and do the inventory and for importation they would have paid their environmental taxes of course,” he explained.

While noting the purpose of this special tax, Statia said since its implementation, it has also shown some progress in recycling and re-exports of bottles, something that never happened in the past.

The Commissioner General noted also that there has been a substantial reduction in plastic being used by local manufacturers, because “the GRA has a way in which we check the weight and so on”.

“And there is at least one company other than Banks DIH that recycles their plastic. And we give them a credit for what is recycled. It has been helping in a major way,”

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

he posited.

The new environmental tax was implemented from February 1, 2017 by the GRA. A fee of G$10 per bottle on non-returnable containers is now being charged.

However, even as Government rakes in millions from this tax, environmental analysts are worried that not much is being done to ensure that Guyana’s environment remains pristine. This concern arose since no concrete plan has been outlined by Government on how this money would be used for proper environmental management.

The levy, which accords with amendments to Section

7A (1) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01, became applicable to non-returnable units imported, locally manufactured or produced in Guyana.

The Customs Act provides for the levy to be charged on every non-returnable unit of metal, plastic or glass container of any alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage or water, whether imported, locally manufactured or produced in Guyana.

The levy also applies to the said products whether they are imported and not warehoused or imported and removed from a warehouse, factory, bond or other place of storage. Exports, on the other

hand, are exempt from the environmental levy.

The law outlines that any person who fails to pay the levy will be liable upon summary conviction to a fine of G$50,000, together with a sum of twice the amount of the levy payable.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the environmental levy will be charged per unit on non-returnable containers of any beverage.

Under the previous Administration in the year 2013, the Opposition (now the Government) was opposed to a G$5 levy for importers and local manufacturers of beverages in non-biodegradable containers.

But many of the then Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) who argued against the G$5 levy for importers of bottles harmful to the environment threw their support behind the imposition of the G$10 fee for all categories of bottles.

Opposition MP Anil Nandlall had raised concerns that these charges were imposed without any prior consultation with stakeholders, particularly businessmen.

In May last year, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ordered the Guyana Government to refund Trinidad-based beverage com-

pany SM Jaleel (SMJ) and its subsidiary in Guyana, the environmental tax imposed between 2011 and 2015 which can amount to millions of dollars.

CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron had ruled that the taxes levied during this period were in violation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy rules.

In handing down the ruling, Sir Dennis stated that Guyana has been clearly unjustly “enriched” at the expense of SMJ and Guyana Beverages Inc (GBI), having collected an unlawful tax directly from them in clear breach of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Additionally, Guyana will also have to pay an aggregate sum paid by the company to the Government in environmental tax from March 7, 2011 to August 7, 2015, together with interest at four per cent per annum from the date of judgment.

According to Sir Dennis, the environmental tax did not promote cross-border trade but tended to frustrate free movement of goods, distorted competition and discriminated against the companies which should have been protected as belonging to the Community.

Additionally, Guyana was ordered to pay 70 per cent of the cost of the court proceedings.

12 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Holder must go!’

- ex-sugar workers

A

s Wales sugar workers continued to decry the challenges they are facing since the closure of the Estate, the former employees, their family members and other supporters once again protested the refusal of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to give them severance pay as they called for Agriculture Minister Noel Holder’s removal.

“Who must go? Holder must go,” was the resounding call by the ex-employees on Wednesday as they gathered outside the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP) and Ministry of Agriculture. The former employees made it clear that they must be paid their severance.

This was underscored by father of four Alvin Bradford, who is demanding his termination benefits.

“I does plant and I does cut lil broom and sell, but I can’t go at no company for wuk, they paying G$1500 and G$2000 a day – that can’t do nothing for me and I got four children and that ain’t easy to maintain. When the Estate shut down, that was the last one I get,” Bradford noted.

Guyana Times

International was told that Minister Holder was upset that the protest was held outside his Ministry as the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) took over management of the Wales Estate, which was transferred from GuySuCo to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) last December.

The workers said on Wednesday that not being able to earn was not only affecting the education of their children but their family life as a whole, since couples have had many arguments over declining finances.

“Whatsoever thing you plant and sell, that’s it.

You’re not getting work.

Work hard at Wales, you can see it’s like ghost-town right now. Before when the Estate was alive, we were happy, but now we getting more sad, getting more quarrels, everything not right in the home,” a retrenched worker observed.

Young men in their late teens and early twenties were also affected by the Estate’s closure. Supporting their colleagues, they indicated that they too were facing challenges. Amos Sookram told this publication that he was “expecting changes” from President

David Granger, but as of now, he did not know “what is going on” in Guyana.

A father of one, “Sonny”, said that he worked for five years and was waiting on his severance. He voiced concerns over the conduct of Education Ministry officials and the Police when going about “picking up children” in the Wales area, as he contended that the parents “have no choice” other than to keep their children at home.

More than 300 former Wales employees who refused employment at Uitvlugt are still waiting on severance. The workers declined to take up work at the West Coast Demerara Estate since it is 22 miles away from Wales, noting that this violates the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA).

A court action since was filed on behalf of the workers by their representative body, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) in March last year. However, to date, the matter is yet to be assigned to a judge by the acting Chief Justice.

Speaking on this matter on Wednesday, GAWU President Komal Chand re-

Enough is enough! Former Wales workers and their supporters gathered outside the Ministry of the Presidency and Agriculture Ministry, calling for severance benefits (Carl Croker photos)

lated that the Union was still waiting on the judicial arm to act on the matter.

Official operations at Wales Estate were shut down in December 2017.

Earlier this month, the former Wales sugar workers staged similar action and

expressed much frustration that their colleagues from other estates were paid all or part of their severance, just weeks after the entities were closed.

However, their former employer has long maintained that they were not

entitled to this benefit with acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State entity, Paul Bhim, saying earlier this month that GuySuCo has honoured all its obligations regarding the payment of severance at the Wales Estate.

GFC working to recover G$80M owed by BaiShanLin

C

hairperson of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) Jocelyn Dow, revealed BaiShanLin owes the Commission in excess of G$80 million while noting that moves are afoot to have the monies recovered with the assistance of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Dow made the statement as a press conference on Monday as the Commission recapped the performance of the GFC’s Board of Directors.

She noted that following the scrapping of over 680,000 hectares of concessions belonging to BaiShanLin, the company still owes the GFC over G$80 million; and as such, they are making every effort to recover that.

“As it stands the GRA has those assets and we have had some discussions as to how it is we could jointly get to secure those assets and to offer them to sale so that we could get our money back. GRA sums are more considerable and they have the first lead on equipment so we

Board members of the Guyana Forestry Commission

have to work with then, as we are doing, to try and secure our monies,” she noted.

The decision to take back the forest concessions of BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc was due to their failure to keep several commitments to submit information about its operations in Guyana, to settle its G$80 million arrears and submit a letter of commitment from the new partner.

The five joint ventures that BaiShanLin had illegally entered into with local companies were also revoked and the lands seized.

Some of the lands were in Berbice and in Region One (Barima-Waini).

Meanwhile, GFC’s Commissioner James Singh noted that while

the company is no longer operating in Guyana, they are still actively pursuing them to get their monies.

China Development Bank (CDB), which had loaned BaiShanLin about US$70 million, had asked Guyana not to give out lands once held

by BaiShanLin. In relation to this, Dow made it clear that the CDB has no standing with the GFC since they are not the concessionaires. She added that the GFC still owns the Chinese company’s concessions and that a decision would be made with regard to it very soon.

Illegal logging

Over the weekend, there were reports that BaiShanLin was illegally operating in the Upper Berbice River area but the GFC’s Commissioner

shot down those reports.

According to the report, about three weeks ago, GFC employees stopped trucks at Waico, bearing the logo of BaiShanLin and found Wamara logs on it. The logs were reportedly traced to the disgraced company.

“As far as the GFC is aware, BaiShanLin is not engaged in any forestry activities… the report made reference in illegal harvesting and it was a concession previously owned in the BaiShanLin. Yes, we have been investigating some illegal logging happening there but it is not associated with BaiShanLin,” Singh explained.

“To the best of our knowledge it may be some nearby associations or stakeholders and

we are currently investigating that. We can determine who is that because we have the chain of custody verification, the log tagging system so I would expect that we will be in a position to identify who it was,” he added.

He promised to disclose the name of the person associated with illegally logging in the area within the next month after they would have completed their preliminary investigation.

In September 2016, the GFC had repossessed concessions held by BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc (BIFDI), since it failed to deliver on commitments.

When the company started its operations locally in 2007, it had also committed under its in-

vestment agreement to establish a US$100 million wood processing plant in order to engage in value added exports – this too was never built.

The Commission said during the meeting, company representatives had indicated that BaiShanLin suffered financial constraints, which affected the establishing of the wood processing facility, and the company was engaging a new partner that would contribute significantly to its investment in Guyana.

The GFC Board said it was, at the time, assured of the financial strength of the new partner, who had committed to pay off the debt owed by the company to the Commission. However, that was not done.

The GRA in April of 2016 had seized a Lexus SUV, PRR 2888, and a Nissan minivan, PRR 3888, from the Chinese logging company after it had failed to pay import taxes for the two luxury vehicles.

BaiShanLin reportedly closed its operations in Guyana in September of 2016.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

13

14 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Electrician shot in head, robbed after being trailed from bank

A

38-year-old electrician is now a patient at the Woodlands Hospital, nursing a gunshot wound to his head as he was shot during a robbery, shortly after leaving the Republic Bank, Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD) location early Wednesday afternoon.

Reports are that around 13:30h, Terry Chand, of Hope West,

Enmore, ECD, was just entering his Foulis worksite after visiting the financial institution when an identifiable male armed with a handgun apprehended him, while another kept lookout. The man then ordered Chand to hand over his bag containing G$600,000 cash; when he refused, he was shot to the head.

The bullet grazed the back of his head and he

was now at the private hospital in stable condition.

Preliminary Police investigations have, so far, revealed that the men used a CG motorcycle to commit the crime. Police said the motorcycle bore no licence plate and they have recovered a single spent shell at the scene.

The injured man’s boss, Rudranauth Roopdeo, related that he

has been employed with R Kissoon’s Contracting Service for the past five years as an electrician and received his salary on Tuesday.

“He works as an electrician and he was paid via a cheque and he went to transact his business. He went to Republic Bank at Triumph to cash a cheque and when he went back to his worksite at Area L Public Road, Foulis, the two men on the motorcycle robbed him,” he explained.

Roopdeo said that the men could be easily identified since they were not wearing masks and several persons witnessed the shooting.

According to one of the man’s co-workers, Latchodat, he was just finished speaking to Chand when the bandit shot him.

“About 11:30am, Chand say he got a meeting and he left and he come back after 1:00. So when he come back we just come off lunch so me went ripping t-shore with the chainsaw and I say ‘you come back’ and same time me say that a man just come run in and just point the gun up to he and just shoot he and take off the bag,” he related.

“So now, me get me chainsaw and I go fuh turn, but the (gun) man say ‘you don’t turn’ and the man point the gun to me, so me had to switch off

Injured: Terry Chand

the chainsaw so the man just jump on the CG and ride off,” Latchodat added.

Speaking from his hospital bed, the injured electrician related that he went to the Bank to cash a cheque for G$800,000 depositing G$200,000 of the amount and was taking the remainder home, as he was currently renovating.

He noted that he observed a woman leaving the line after he completed his transaction. He then hopped onto his motorcycle and was riding back to his worksite when he observed a Nissan Bluebird motor car driving alongside him.

“Whilst riding as I passed Mon Repos coming down past the market that was by Good Hope a Bluebird PVV was driving at the same rate I was riding and it never try to pass me, because there was way he could pass me.

While I slow up and thing, the vehicle keep slowing

up, bouncing Lusignan by the market I observed this bike coming at a fast rate so I start accelerate, now as I accelerate, I lost them a good distance, but the car was still behind me,” he related.

Chand said he became suspicious and accelerated and upon arriving at his work place, he observed the car driving slowly past him and was almost immediately ambushed by the man.

“So like by Melanie I see back the car and the bike and I ride as fast as I could and when I watch back at my worksite, the car was still there. The car pass slowly past the worksite. So I just put off my helmet and try to take off my bag and rest it on the bench, then I hear a loud noise and I know is a gunshot. I feel me head and it get numb plus I start feeling dizzy, so I know I get shoot in me head. The guy come and try pull off the bag and say loose the f*@%king bag. It was two of them; the pillion rider had the gun,” Chand added.

He further related that he did not remember anything after being shot, but indicated that the doctors said there was no major damage.

The investigations are ongoing with no arrests made so far.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

15

16 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Housing authority faces heat over G$1B paid for GuySuCo lands …but does not know where land is situated

A

conundrum arose before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, when it was revealed that in 2016, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) shelled out

G$1 billion for land but does not know where it is located.

CH&PA’s acting Finance Director, Reaze Abrahim, was placed in the hot seat when he was asked

by PAC Member Juan

Edghill about expenditure for housing development. He related that G$1 billion was paid to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) back in 2016.

When probed further as to where this land

was located, he however could not provide that information. Though he made a commitment to provide this information soon, this did not find favour with the PAC. “I don’t mind getting answers tomor-

row,” Edghill informed the Committee, noting however, “but if I’m the Finance Director of an entity and I sign off on part of a contract that paid G$1 billion, I must have an idea if the land is on the East Coast, East Bank, Essequibo, Linden, Corentyne.

I must get an idea of where these lands were and are you in possession of the land.”

In response, the accounting officer related that “The land was purchased; however ownership has not been transferred as yet. As such, we did not receive the list of areas according to accounting standards.

Ownership has to be transferred until we receive that title or transport.”

This prompted Edghill to query whether the CH&PA at the time of the purchase, had an agreement containing details of the parcels of land. Edghill noted that this would include how many acres and price per acre. At this point, Permanent Secretary Emil McGarrell came to the defence of the financial officer, pointing out that a commitment was made to supply the information at a later date. PAC member Nigel Dharamlall interjected.

“I’m still shuddering at this billion-dollar transaction. I can’t imagine that CH&PA would pay G$1 billion out for land that it does not know where continued on page 23

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

17

18

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

19

20 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

President Trump congratulates Guyana on 48th Republic Anniversary

T

he following letter was sent to President David Granger on behalf of the people of the United States, according to the US Embassy in Georgetown: “Congratulations to you and the people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on the occasion of your 48th Republic Day, February 23.

The United States of America takes pride in its partnership with the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. We value your ongoing contributions to regional security and look forward to working with you on the development of your natural resources for the benefit of the Guyanese people.

On behalf of the American people, I wish you and your people a beautiful Mashramani festival”.

President Donald Trump

Trinidad and Tobago PM talks Carnival plot with top diplomats

T

rinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley got together yesterday with representatives of Australia, Canada, United States and the United Kingdom to discuss T&T’s management of its recent national security “challenges.”

A statement from the PM’s office said T&T’s successful management of its recent “national security challenges” was the centrepiece of the meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.

The meeting appeared to be a post-mortem of the recent situation involving police investigations into a plot to disrupt Carnival 2018. Police announced on February 8 that they had unearthed credible information on the plot and 15 people were detained for almost six days during the investigation. Rowley later said it was no joke and he’d hinted the threat involved disruption of the Carnival parades.

Of the 15 people detained all but two — a couple charged with firearm possession — were released after Carnival. The couple is to reappear in court in March.

Following the Carnival, Rowley had said the police exercise to apprehend people was done by local agencies, but noted information-sharing also takes place with T&T’s partners. In the recent threat issues, he’d said he was eternally grateful to T&T’s international partners.

Last Friday in Parliament, the PM

also confirmed there is something that can be considered an Islamic State (ISIS) cell or satellite in T&T. However, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi subsequently said the media may have misquoted the PM on this, as he (Rowley) never specifically confirmed any ISIS cell here.

On yesterday’s meeting with foreign representatives, the OPM said Rowley engaged in high-level security talks with British High Commissioner Tim Stew, Australian High Commissioner John Pilbeam, Canadian High Commissioner Carla Hogan Rufelds and United States Chargé d’Affaires John McIntyre.

“During discussions our international partners pledged to continue working with local law enforcement to provide the level of security needed for the citizens of T&T, as well as all other persons residing here,” the statement added.

The OPM statement said OPM Minister Stuart Young was also involved in the discussions. There was no mention of whether National Security Minister Edmund Dillon or Al-Rawi were present or involved.

The T&T Guardian’s recent queries to the US embassy on the US’s views on Rowley’s “Isis cell” revelation, and whether the embassy here in T&T had really been a target in the Carnival disruption threat, as was being alleged during the investigations, have gone unanswered. (Trinidad Guardian)

news 21

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Pressure mounts for Royston King to go

Guyana’s sovereignty under threat - Jagdeo G

D

Town Clerk Royston King

issatisfaction with the performance of the Georgetown Town Clerk Royston King is spreading from the Chambers of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to now the realm of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR), as several top executives there are calling for his removal.

Unhappiness with King’s conduct was first expressed at a PNCR General Council meeting on February 10. Following that meeting, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had written Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen to inform her that there were concerns expressed in regard to the conduct of both herself and King, who are senior members of the party.

“At a meeting of the General Council of the PNCR, a delegate and Councillor called for the removal of the Town Clerk (TC) of the City of Georgetown. That call was premised on the opinion of the delegate that the TC’s conduct, deportment, and actions constitute an embarrassment to the administration,” Bulkan told Chase-Green in the letter.

According to sources close to the PNCR, a special meeting was called on Friday to discuss the conduct of both Chase-Green and King, and it was decided that full support would be given to the no-confidence motion against King, expected to be tabled by Alliance For Changer Councillor Sherod Duncan at the next Statutory Meeting on February 26.

At this special meeting, several of the top executives shared the same view that King should go, but they were very conservative when it came to discussing ChaseGreen’s leadership. ChaseGreen has been in a public disagreement with Bulkan over the direction in which the city is being steered. She has since accused the subject minister of meddling in City Hall’s business, and King has consistently registered his dissatisfaction with that ministry’s interference.

When contacted, General Secretary of the PNCR, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, related that “party matters” are not to be discussed in the media, and declined to comment on the issue.

In relation to the conduct of the Town Clerk, Minister Bulkan had, in his letter, indicated that Deputy Mayor

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green

Lionel Jaikarran had indicated that he was unaware that an appeal had been made against the court order regarding the Bel Air Park fiasco.

At Monday’s statutory meeting, King and several of the Councillors became embroiled in a passionate argument regarding his overstepping boundaries where the appeal of the Bel Air Park Playground decision was concerned.

A number of town houses were slated for construction on the Bel Air Park Playground.

Those would have been reserved for high-ranking officials of the M&CC, such as Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, Town Clerk Royston King, the City Engineer, and the Medical Health Officer. However, the council was barred from commencing construction by a ruling from Justice Gino Persaud.

The January 8 decision has prevented the Mayor& Councillors of the City of Georgetown and the Town Clerk from leasing or selling the Bel Air Park Playground to a private land developer.

The Mayor has also defended the move by Council, stating that the plans were not made in secret, and that the matter was discussed at the council level after being raised by the Investment and Development Committee.

King was supposed to bring the notice of appeal to full council, but failed to so do, and went ahead with a planned appeal. When asked at Monday’s meeting, he informed Councillors that the matter was “administrative,” and he saw no need to bring it to council. This defiance led to Duncan moving ahead with the motion against him.

Minister Bulkan also called on the Mayor to provide information relative to business transactions made by the council.”

Be informed that I require the following: a complete list of all contracts, leases, sales, and any other transactions involving assets (real estate, equipment, etc) under the control of Council, between the date of assuming office in April 2016 to the present,” the letter stated.

Since his ascension from Public Relations Officer to Town Clerk, King has been heavily criticized by both Councillors and the general public for attempting to usurp the powers of the Council.

uyana’s Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has said that he has received information from a source that would suggest that there is a real threat to Guyana and its sovereignty from neighbouring Venezuela.

Jagdeo told a media conference on Thursday that he feels that the Government is also aware of this treat and is urging the Administration to inform the Guyanese people.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary said he doesn’t feel he should be the one to inform the nation about this issue.

President David Granger recently visited villages in Region 1 that are bordered by Venezuela, where 24-hour security posts were established by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

During his visit to Kaikan, which the President described as a “frontline” village, he said “I have come here with a promise to ensure that Kaikan is fully integrated into this region and this region is fully integrated into Guyana. Have no fear, if we are united, we will prevail. We will be able to live in a strong, secure and stable

Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

country…Frontier communities are guardians of Guyana’s territorial integrity and national security. They are our first line of defence against any attempt at incursions and invasions.”

The President, according to a release from the DPI, told the villagers that while the army and the police will intensify their efforts to ensure their safety, they have a significant role to play as they are the eyes and ears on the ground.

“In weeks and months to come, I am asking you to join the People’s Militia, we are not

making war with anyone but I want you to be prepared…

My brothers and sisters, we have to protect ourselves…

People bring illegal guns into the country and they commit crimes with those illegal guns, unregistered guns. These crimes make us feel very unsafe…We can’t only rely on the police; we have to look after our own families, our own communities,” the President said.

Prior to this meeting, the President met with villagers of Whitewater which is also bordering Venezuela and made similar sentiments.

Whitewater is also benefiting from 24-hour security from the GDF. The Guyana/Venezuela border controversy was recently referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by the United Nations after relations between the two countries reached an all time low when US oil giant ExxonMobil discovered huge amounts of oil on Guyana’s shores.

Venezuela, which is going through a political and economic crisis, is laying claim to the Essequibo county that covers about two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, and the waters off its coast.

President Granger and his team walking around the village of Kaikan. Here he is being led by Regional Chairman, Region Seven, Gordon Bradford and Toshao of Kaikan, Claude Anselmo.

Opposition raises questions...

from page 10

sue to light in a statement to the media. He identified Allen as interfering in the business of several state agencies and elected bodies in the region.

The Citizenship Ministry Outreach Team is currently in the region, and is reported to have registered over 170 persons for birth certificates in two days. However, Ashley is questioning the process used to identify the persons for birth certificates, since, according to the ministry, “the team is being guided

by Allen.”

“Local Government elections are due this year, and birth registration documents are critical for the national registration of voters. In the past, the toshaos and other community leaders have been

Government MP Richard Allen

the ones who have worked with the GRO team, as they are knowledgeable of the el-

igibility of residents in their communities. However, M.P Allen’s accompanying and directing the GRO team to who needs birth certificates, and subsequently distributing birth certificates, is highly questionable and suspect,” Ashley noted.

He also identified that Allen is distributing pension books to residents, despite the Social Protection Ministry informing the Regional Democratic Council that “no individual that is not employed by the Social Protection Ministry can uplift pension books to distribute.”

Additionally, he noted that Allen has all these privileges despite not being employed with any state agency in the Region.

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Private sector denies State media reports of 800 persons being hired ‘on the spot’

…says fired sugar workers were placed on waiting list

P

rivate Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Eddie Boyer has disputed reports carried in the State media that some 800-plus persons were instantaneously hired at a recent job fair it held for ex-Wales workers at Patentia, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

He clarified that over 800 jobs were available and not that hundreds of persons were provided with employment.

The Private Sector organised the event in light of the noted challenges of hundreds of dismissed sugar workers, their family members and other persons in the surrounding communities who have been affected owing to the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate.

The job fair was seen as a welcomed initiative, but an onslaught of criticism followed in the subsequent days when the State-owned newspaper reported on February 4 that the job fair “saw close to 800 residents of Patentia and surrounding areas being hired on the spot

by various private and public companies”. This contrasted with an earlier edition of the newspaper which pointed out that “workers [were] sensitised about job opportunities”.

Speaking with Guyana Times International in a recent interview, the PSC Chairman observed that the job-hiring process was something that was continuing: “We never said that 800 and something persons were employed by the business community. We said 800 and something jobs were available at the job fair.” He added that the names were entered into a waiting list of applicants.

While Boyer declined to disclose just how many of the 800 vacancies were actually filled, he indicated that such events must be encouraged to give the displaced workers hope that they would garner employment.

“It was well-received and there are a number of persons that were qualified with over 25 or 30 years’ experience

Persons seeking employment information at last month’s job fair held at Patentia, WBD

in their field and they are not old people; they started work at 16 and worked their way up to management….some of the businesses have indicated their willingness to employ some of the people because… they were GuySuCotrained from mechanics and welders, so the possibility of employing them is ongoing,” Boyer said.

This publication understands that the PSC

is making arrangements to coalesce with additional companies to host a similar job fair at the East Demerara (Enmore) Estate, which saw many sugar workers losing their jobs.

Despite these plans, the Private Sector was accused of displaying an inability to pressure Governments against dismissing thousands of sugar workers. In fact, Advisor to the People’s Progressive Party

(PPP), Peter Ramsaroop echoed such sentiments on claims that contempt for the working class was shown when the PSC hosted the job fair on January 31, calling it “nothing but a public relations stunt”. He strongly stated earlier this month that the PSC, “to date”, “has not sought to correct the blatantly false headlines emblazoned on the State newspaper suggesting that 800 per-

sons had been hired on the spot”.

The business leaders, he noted, instead of presenting workable and viable options, plans and information to the sugar workers and others who were seeking employment, “chose instead to pontificate on the disillusioned people learning to accept change and pointing to cultural shifts, in an attempt to placate those devastated by the adhoc decision-making of the Government of the day – decisions they in the Private Sector stood by and watch the unfolding of these callous actions”.

Nevertheless, when Boyer spoke to this newspaper, he said that he supported calls for the establishment of a new industrial zone at Wales. Boyer had, however, cautioned that training was needed to provide former sugar workers with skills to get gainful employment in other fields. Last month’s fair saw 22 participating companies, both from the Private and Public Sectors.

NEWS 23

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Bandits terrorise New Amsterdam family …escape with cash, jewellery

A

Somawattie Bacchus

gang of five men, all armed with guns, invaded an Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam home.

Reports are the men at about 11:35h on Sunday, invaded the Lot 767 Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam home which also houses a business in the lower flat.

The home/business is owned by 44-year-old Ameer Bacchus and his 40-year-old wife Somawattie Bacchus, called “Samantha”.

Speaking with this publication, Somawattie Bacchus recalled that the family had just concluded a gathering when her brother left to take her brother-in-law home.

According to the distraught woman, her brother returned shortly afterwards, and her husband went to open the gate for him. She further related she was seated in her kitchen when she heard a voice say, “tell she don’t move.” Mrs Bacchus related that as she turned around she saw the bandit

with a gun to her husband’s head. She added that the gunman then lashed her husband in his head and he fell unconscious.

“Them start fuh kick he and then I ask why them beating he, why y’all don’t take what ya’ll want and go… I bend down fuh help me husband and then the bandit start to kick me up in my face and back and asking for my bangle and the cash,” the still traumatised woman related.

She said that she then told her 14-year-old son to hand over the cash and jewellery but after he complied, the gunmen were not satisfied with the booty.

“Them seh that them aint want dat alone that them want the money in the wardrobe,” the woman said, adding that she had no other valuables in the house.

This newspaper was told that there were three men in the house while two others kept watch outside.

Guyana Times International was told that as the gunmen were robbing the family, the couple’s sister-in-law who lives in the house behind them returned home from work.

The woman said that as she walked passed her in-laws home, a masked gunman attempted to grab her, but she managed to run into her home and closed the door. An alarm was raised, and the men escaped before Police arrived.

This publication understands that the gunmen escaped with several cellular phones, a Samsung tablet, a total of G$90,000 in cash and an estimated G$200,000 in jewellery. An investigation has been launched.

Housing authority faces ... from page 16

the land is. Don’t you find that anomaly very stunning?” he asked McGarrell.

“The officer indicated that he does not know as the Finance Director yet as to the location, the price per acre, the quantum of acreage until such time the legal paperwork is completed. So my question still stands. Don’t you find it startling that CH&PA paid for land it cannot identify?”

Dharamlall’s questions did not move the Permanent Secretary, who reiterated that the information would be provided in due course.

The CH&PA also caught flak from PAC member Charandass Persaud, who chided them for the slow rate of housing development.

Housing units When asked how many of the 1000 housing units slated to be constructed from G$80 million in 2016 have been completed, the response was 24 houses.

The Ministry did not have any information of the actual cost for the houses.

“I am a little confused. We have been

told that so many millions were expended to put 1000 units together.

Over a period of time, monies were allocated for labour and material.

And only 24 units have been handed over? Is it that only 24 units have been completed or the rest of it will be handed over at a later date?”

“Are we just working with one contractor or a number of contractors to complete these units? I have a difficulty. If you have the money, materials have been purchased, why can’t we finish off 1000 houses in two years?” Charandass questioned.

Abrahim clarified that 52 houses were completed for 2017. The officer could not clarify the exact building methodology being used, but McGarrell noted that the CH&PA changed its approach from hiring workers to contracting out work; due to the inefficient work.

The CH&PA, which is faced with the problem of steadily declining land availability in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), has embarked on a project called ‘Housing Solution

2017 and Beyond’. The entity has already identified plans for housing projects in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and Ten (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

GuySuCo, which has for some time been bogged down by billions of dollars in debt, is currently engaged in divesting its assets to get much needed cash. At present, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Special Purpose Unit is in charge of this process, with international firm PriceWaterHouse Coopers valuating its assets. GuySuCo was tasked with identifying its own lands or assets to be divested.

At the time of the news, however, Government was accused by the parliamentary Opposition of using a slush fund, at the level of CH&PA, to make the billion-dollar GuySuCo land purchases; a practise it was once critical of while in Opposition.

Linden girl appeals for help for urgent life-changing surgery in India

By Lakhram Bhagairat

F

or 11-year-old Shakira Peters, of Linden, growing up is not as fun as it is supposed to be. For her every day is a struggle, a struggle to wake up, a struggle to smile, a struggle to move, a struggle to play. She has been diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia since she was two years old and has always been in and out of the hospital.

Since being diagnosed, Shakira has suffered two major strokes and is now wheelchair bound. She is in constant pain and for the past two years, her mother, Nicola Peters, has been working tirelessly, pleading with corporate Guyana and private citizens to help get Shakira to India for an emergency bone marrow transplant.

Shakira’s eldest sister has been identified as the donor and the trio would require approximately G$10 million to travel to India to have the surgery conducted at the Artemis Health Institute. They are expected to stay there for approximately six to eight weeks.

Peters told Guyana Times International that she began raising money since June 2016 and

Shakira Peters

thus far has been able to raise over G$5.5 million inclusive of G$3 million donated by the Public Health Ministry. The distressed woman said that after the surgery, her daughter would be able to walk again and to lead a normal life.

She noted that her eldest daughter, the donor, was 14 years old and was a student of the Linden Special School since she has poor muscle strength. Peters said that she was unable to work since daycare centres refuse to take Shakira because of her fragility.

Thus far, TravelSpan have donated three airline tickets for the trio to fly to New York and they would be required to pay US$3100 for a flight from New York to India.

Peters explained that they were expected to leave for India by the

end of the first week in March, but she was actively trying to raise the funds to pay for their tickets. The trio was scheduled to leave for India in August of last year, but the lack of finances prevented that.

“I went into the interior and I worked a little and I had some donation boxes at various places.

So far, we have been receiving some donations from companies and people and I have been trying to work and get too,” she related.

Peters said Shakira did not leave for surgery this time around, she was afraid of what would happen. She explained that her child’s condition continued to worsen and she has moved from requiring blood once every two months to twice per month. The worried mother also indicated that her daughter required O+ blood, which was hard to source.

The family would host regular blood drives so that they could source the requisite amount of blood for Shakira’s survival.

Persons willing to make a donation can do so by making a deposit to Republic Bank account 7660129 or contact Nicola Peters on 4448420 or 684-7683.

24 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Berbice man dies Opposition reiterates non-support for after car plunges medium level open bridge into canal T

T

wenty-oneyear-old Rafike Mohammed of Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice was killed, and two other persons sustained injuries after the vehicle in which they were travelling reportedly be-

another person were in the tray of the pick-up when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a turn. The vehicle reportedly toppled several times before coming to a halt on its side in a nearby trench. ‘ B ’ Division Commander L y n d o n Alves confirmed to this newspaper that one life has been lost while the other two occupants have been hospitalised for the injuries Dead: Rafike Mohammed they sustained.

He explained that the came uncontrollable and ended up in a canal at Police are awaiting the Number 6 Village, West results of a post mortem Coast Berbice. examination to ascertain This accident report- whether Mohammed was edly occurred at some killed when the pick-up time around 01:45h on toppled, or if he drowned Sunday, when three per- after the vehicle plunged sons in a pick-up vehi- into the canal. cle were travelling along Meanwhile, the drivthe West Coast Berbice er remains under guard, highway at an alleged- since he was found to ly fast rate of speed. be above the legal limit According to reports re- in terms of alcohol conceived, Mohammed and sumption.

he Opposition P e o p l e ’ s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has criticised Government for the approach it has taken in regard to implementation of the New Demerara River Crossing project, wherein it is allowing the contractors to take the lead in helping to design the new bridge.

General Secretary of the PPP/C, Bharrat Jagdeo, has described this move as incompetent, and has said it only shows how unsure the Government is about what is it undertaking.

Jagdeo recalled that the aim was to have three contractors who would provide proposals either to fund the bridge or have a public/private partnership (PPP) with the Government.

Instead, the Opposition Leader has claimed, Government is waiting on the three handpicked contractors to decide on the design.

“Nowhere in the world has this happened.

When we built the Berbice Bridge, we decided from the beginning that we wanted a public/ private partnership. We developed a prospectus and a financial model for the bridge. We changed

An artist’s impression of the new Demerara Bridge

the laws for a PPP, and we went out for tender for investors,” he said.

Jagdeo has said that, in the case of the new Demerara River Crossing project, the contractor will be leading the project. He also reiterated his party’s non-support for a bridge which has to open, as currently obtains.

“We will support the Government if it goes with a high-level bridge that is fixed; that has no opening. And once it is transparently pursued, we will support the Government,” he added.

The Opposition has long said it would not support a medium-level bridge that has to open. Jagdeo said the Government has a responsibility to define the parameters.

“Because we don’t want to be stuck with such a project in the next two years; and if we get into office, we will have to fix something that is not in the best interest of Guyana,” he explained.

During last year, the PPP/C had lodged a formal complaint with the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), calling for an investigation into the selection and award of a G$146 mil-

lion contract to Dutch firm LievenseCSO for the feasibility study of the new Demerara River Crossing/Bridge.

In a letter to the Chairperson of the PPC, Carol Corbin, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had outlined that the company had not tendered for the project, but was awarded the multi-million-dollar contract.

“I therefore call on the Public Procurement Commission under Article 212 AA (1) (a), (c), (d), (g), (i), and (j) of the Guyana Constitution to immediately investigate the process and procedures used for the bidding, selection and the award of tender to a company, LievenseCSO, that did not tender for the consultancy of the Feasibility Study and designs of a new Demerara River Crossing,” Teixeira said to the PPC head, in her letter which was dated September 18, 2017.

The Opposition Chief Whip detailed that, back in January last year, it was reported that some 22 companies had responded to a public advertisement, and had submitted expressions of interest for a consultancy for the feasibili-

ty study and design of a new Demerara River crossing.

She cited media reports detailing that the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s Chief Works Officer, Geoffrey Vaughn, had disclosed that the Ministry had already evaluated the tenders and had handed over the list to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for processing.

Teixeira went on to outline that it was also reported “on December 8, the National Procurement & Tender Administration opened the bids from seven European and four Chinese companies, which signalled their interests. Several other overseas companies have applied for the contract, some in partnership with local firms”.

Besides replacing the outdated Demerara Harbour Bridge, the new Demerara River crossing is geared at reducing traffic congestion; but based on projections, a few years after the completion of the proposed bridge, the administration will be required to construct another bridge.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

25

26

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

27

28 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Orinduik Block may contain in excess Dwight Yorke denies deal with chutney singer of 1 billion barrels of oil – ECO

F

S

everal months after announcing plans to conduct a seismic survey on the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana, Eco Atlantic and its operating partner, Tullow Oil has now revealed that it has identified leads that could potentially contain in excess of 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

The companies said in a release on Wednesday that leads are up dip from the Liza discoveries located on the Stabroek Block and are currently being evaluated and matured to prospect status on recently acquired 3D survey data.

It said Gustavson Associates of Colorado has been contracted to provide independent interpretation services. And Total is now interpreting the first batch of the 3D survey data from the Orinduik Block, completed last year.

As per the option agreement with Total announced on September 26, 2017, delivery of the final processed data to Total will trigger a formal review period of up to 120 days.

During this period, Total will be given the option to determine whether to exercise its option to acquire a 25 per cent interest in the Orinduik Block from the Group. A further announcement will be released once the formal review period commences.

Director and Chief Operating Officer of Eco Atlantic, Colin Kinley, said it is an exciting time for Eco, and the company is being careful to ensure a comprehensive and conservative interpretation of the Orinduik data as it is being delivered.

“We have a great deal of faith in the quality of seismic data processing by PGS, whom we have used many times in the past. Tullow also has a team of leading industry experts who understand the play and are providing an excellent paced and thorough oversight of the data. We are sharing the data with Total now, who have worked on projects with Tullow in the past, as they have significant experience in this stage of the processing and interpretation. This will help the group define drilling targets.”

He stated further, “I was delighted that we were able to secure Gustavson as an independent team to work with us on Guyana. Gustavson have extensive expertise and knowledge of the region and will provide a CPR and NI-51-101 on the block as the interpretation matures. Drilling is expected to commence in late 2018 or early 2019 and the potential scale of this resource requires a detailed strategy and confident interpretation.”

Eco Atlantic (Guyana) Inc, a subsidiary of Eco Atlantic, holds a 40 per cent Working Interest in Orinduik, and Tullow, the Operator, holds the remaining 60 per cent.

The Orinduik Block is located up dip and just a few kilometers from Exxon’s recent Liza and Payara discoveries confirming, by Exxon’s estimates, in excess of 1.5 billion barrels of recoverable oil. The company and Tullow have completed the first phase of exploration, including evaluating all existing and regional 2D data.

Following the results of this study and the ongoing regional success, both parties had agreed to accelerate and significantly increase the originally proposed 1000km2 3D survey commitment on the block to circa 2550 kms2, thus covering the entire block area, fully overlapping current prospective 2D leads and downdip trends.

ormer T&T and Manchester United footballer Dwight Yorke yesterday denied he entered into any contract with Chutney Monarch Neval Chatelal to loan him money to pay off a debt following his Island Vibe fete last year. In fact, Yorke dismissed the story, adding he is also not broke.

“As far as I’m concerned that matter is closed, so there’s no issue on what was reported in the media… There is no fact to it, there’s no contractual agreement that’s for sure.

I have never signed a form or paper or anything,” Yorke said during a tour of the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet.

Yorke was asked about reports which allege he is being sued by Chatelal for the recovery of $250,000, which the latter claimed he loaned Yorke to help the ex-football star pay off debts following his fete last year. Yorke reportedly agreed to repay Chatelal the $250,000 plus $50,000 in interest after two months.

Describing the terms of the alleged agreement, Yorke said the agreement was made with a third party, but the details of creditor was unknown to him.

Yorke said he has never met Chatelal, never asked him for any cash directly and believes the entire situation was unfortunate.

“In terms of meeting the individual, in terms borrowing the money from the individual, I have never done

that. I talked to someone, like you and I and that’s between you and I and whatever happened, happened afterwards, so that’s what people don’t know. Whatever that person went and do and I got involved in it, so me and you talk and have an agreement, whatever that person went and did, I didn’t know that was happening there,” he said.

“I know what I dealt with, if I had signed a contract, going ahead and borrowing money, I didn’t go to him and asked him for money directly, I talked to my friend, me and he are not friends, I am grateful for the terms he agreed to, but he didn’t agree to it with me.”

Yorke admitted he has never turned a profit from his annual post-Carnival event, but said continues to do it for the love of Tobago and to showcase the island. He also denied vendors for the event remains unpaid.

When asked about his financial situation, Yorke said everything was well with him “What would possess people to think that I spent all my money? What proof have they got that I spent all my money, people talk but what’s the proof, because you read something in a newspaper…let them continue thinking that, they might just leave me alone then,” Yorke said.

Attempts to reach Chatelal for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.

(Trinidad Guardian)

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

29

30 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Linden’s Brandon Harding crowned Carib Soca Monarch 2018

L

Brandon Harding during his performance

indener Brandon Harding was, in the wee hours of Sunday, crowned Carib Soca Monarch 2018 after outshining his nine other finalists at Durban Park, Georgetown.

The young man, who now resides in St. Lucia with his family, returned to Guyana to enter into the Carib Soca Monarch, which was on pause for two years. The return of the monarch saw new talent being exposed, thus giving the artistes a chance to showcase same to the world.

Winning the monarch was the expectation of the young Harding who, before the commencement of the competition, was full of confidence and energy. As the first performer, he set the bar for the others to follow and catch up, but this was indeed a huge task. His performance was electrifying, as he set the stage on fire and, more so, had the crowd on his side. Singing his tune “Alive” decked in all white did the job for the young musician.

His stage presentation and lyrics were enough to get the nod from the judges as the best of the best. At one time, his “countrywoman” Diana Chapman seemed as though she was going to take the lead after her performance, and although she performed well, she just could not match up Harding’s lively performance.

Eventually, the judges thought she was the third best in the competition. However, coming in second was seasoned campaigner Melissa Vanilla Roberts. She rocked the stage and had a great performance; but, in the end, the judges thought she was a few points short of Harding.

Coming in fourth was another Lindener, Lil Colwyn. Some thought he should not have placed in the final four, but the judges thought otherwise.

Apart from the top four performers, some others did well and some not so well. Jonathan “Lil Red” King, who has been competing for quite some time, failed to impress the crowd and ultimately the judges during his performance. His performance of “Paint, water and powder” needed some more energy to get the crowd hyped and moving.

Another performer, “Fluffy,” with “Bam Bam,” had a good start but failed to carry through with the same vibes and energy to the end.

In addition, Roger Hinds, who performed “Money,” had a good stage entrance with some hiccups, but after a few minutes into his performance, he started to bash the former soca monarchs, Jumo Primo and Kwasi Ace Edmondson.

However, at intermission, Edmondson replied to Hinds with a lyrical tongue-licking.

All in all, it was a good night, even with a few disappointments.

First, the competition, which was billed to commence at 20:00h, never got underway until after 23:00h.

At 22:30h, the host of the event, Tameka Henry, appeared on stage; and after a few minutes of rambling, she introduced the members of the Heatwaves Band, who, without a doubt, set the tone for the night with some high quality performances from Calvin Burnette and Mark Batson.

The Heatwaves dancers were also quite impressive with some energetic dance routines.

At the end of the night, the newly crowned Carib Soca Monarch walked away with G$1.5 million in cash, the title, bragging rights, and a chance to represent Guyana at the international soca monarch competition in Trinidad and Tobago in February, 2019.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Back to the future: Peripherilising Indians T here are some who, when they become advanced in years, do not think anymore; they merely remember. This is particularly dangerous when those who lead a country, such as in Guyana today, fall prey to this tendency; since they merely repeat initiatives that may not only be inappropriate in the present circumstances, but may have actually failed in their first incarnation.

One of the prevalent beliefs in the African Guyanese community, occasioned by the PNC’s accession to office in 1964, was that Indian Guyanese controlled the economy, and if this were combined with political power (in the form of the PPP), then they would have nothing left for themselves, as citizens of a country that they had literally slaved to found.

This conclusion about the “injustice” of outcomes within existing institutions and structures was the concrete manifestation of the “African Security Dilemma”.

It led African Guyanese to justify and accept the rigging of elections and other “innovations” by the PNC from 1968 — which was explained was the only way to level the playing field. When the PNC secured sole control of the government after 1968, they moved to make the “small man a real man”. Very soon, it was apparent that the PNC saw only the “African man” as a “small man”. We have come a full circle again

in 2018.

By 1970, with the UF out of the way, the PNC announced that the model of economic development would be “Cooperative Socialism,” and formulated a new 1972-1976 plan intended to “house, clothe and feed” the nation by the end of the plan period.

Ironically, nationalisation was to be the grand strategy for growth.

The bauxite industry was the first to be nationalised, with the expectation that the learning curve of running industries would be first overcome by its supporters.

The PNC then moved to control those sectors of the economy in which Indians were prominent, such as agriculture and petty retailing.

While the PNC would like to justify their policies as guided by the model of “Import Substitution Industrialization”, where money is squeezed from the agricultural sector to finance manufacturing of items imported, the execution of the policy meant that the burdens fell overwhelmingly on the Indian population.

For instance, rice was compulsorily bought cheaply by the Government, then sold on the world market at high prices, thus placing a huge implicit tax on rice farmers, and in the process destroying the industry.

The proposed spending in the PNC’s 1972-76 development plan reduced the PPP’s 55% of budgeted funds to Agriculture down

to sixteen percent, and redirected sixty-two percent to various public works, where, as in the previous plan, its supporters dominated.

The PNC exacted a levy on windfall profits in the sugar industry (1974), nationalized it (1976), and further politicised and squeezed the workers to eventually bring the industry down to its knees. The PNC instituted an External Trade Bureau (ETB) which took over all importation of goods into the country; distributed these through the intriguingly named “Knowledge Sharing Institute” (KSI), mostly located in African areas; and put most petty retailers – predominantly Indians – out of business.

The co-op scheme was the vehicle for the “small man” i.e. the small African man, to become a “real man”.

Huge swathes of agricultural land were transferred to cooperatives founded by African villagers.

The newly established Co-op Bank (more jobs for the PNC elite) provided them with agricultural loans, while the Ministry of Cooperatives provided land and technical help, and the Guyana Marketing Corporation provided a market. Co-ops paid no taxes on profits.

The PNC established at least fourteen housing schemes with thousands of homes, all for African Guyanese. The upper and middle class supporters of the PNC were empowered

through jobs in the enlarged public sector (including the nationalised industries) and the boards, and directorships of the Government corporations.

Unfortunately, the sad fact is that most of these policies failed, and by 1980, Guyana was bankrupt and defaulting on its international commitments. What had gone wrong?

The PNC proved several things, which they appear determined to repeat today.

Firstly, no Government can

exclude or penalize half of the population of a country and still expect development, unless it is willing to introduce slave camps. Secondly, if a group is thought to be lagging in any sector of national life, and there is a need for programmes to rectify such disabilities, then the need and the programmes must be identified openly.

While each Government may have been moving to rectify historical imbalances against Indians and Africans respectively, efforts to present

31

By Ravi Dev

the programmes as facially neutral fuelled suspicions of discrimination and racism.

These suspicions increased the ethnic and political polarisation, based on the nature of Guyanese ethnic politics.

32

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

feature 33

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

T

By Chevon Lim

here are many reasons why people might start to trace their ancestors. It could be that they are trying to find out something about a grandparent, an interest in history or (most likely) just a curiosity about who their ancestors were and whether they had had inherited any characteristics or skills.

For many people, however, it is not until they start working on their family histo-

that the journey began when he was a young boy visiting the Chinese Association as a family.

While there, he and his family became interested in the displays of other family trees. He said, “…we hunted, searching for familiar names, I think that this was when my father began to take an interest in finding out more about our roots.”

Interesting facts

While there are many benefits of tracing family genealogy, for the

eration would take up the mantle and perhaps find out more about their ancestors who lived in China. However, he acknowledged that this may become challenging as time elapses. “Time is not on our side, and as more time passes, the likelihood of finding that information dwindle,” Michael said.

Challenges

According to Mr. Lam, one of the “problematic aspects” of the journey has been access

a youngster, I was only concerned with our nuclear family and the extended ones such as aunts, uncles, cousins who were part of our everyday life, but finding out much of the ancestral tree on both the maternal and paternal side has given a sense of “being”.

But I am Guyanese, I know where I belong; what the names in the tree gives me is a sense of who I am, of where I’ve come from.”

Sense of Identity

Michael’s ancestry is from two ethnicities, Chinese and Portuguese, this is be reflected in his full ancestral chart

ry that they realise just how it can have very positive effects on their lives and how they feel about themselves. Genealogy can certainly mean different things to different people. For Guyanese Michael Lam, he inherited the interest of uncovering his familial roots from his father, Mr. Christoper Lam, who he said has spent many years collecting the information, and putting it into various forms.

“It is from him that I inherited the interest in our roots, but neither of us has had the time to find out much more than names, the stories still elude us. Much of the information is the product of hard work by Trev Sue-a-Quan and Margery Kirkpatrick, both of whom did extensive research and documentation on the history of Chinese in Guyana, producing several books on the subject,” Mr. Lam explained to the Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

He further explained

Lam’s, one of the most resounding results has been finding the name of the person who migrated to Guyana from China, the first of the family to live on Guyana’s (British Guiana’s) soil.

This Michael explained was “one of the most significant and interesting things.” The family also discovered that their ancestors lived at Victoria Village on the East Coast of Demerara. He added, “My father himself was born in Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, and my siblings and I were born in Georgetown.

Typically, the families tended to be large, with the number of children ranging from 7 to 12; our current generation has sadly broken that trend with small numbers of children per person.”

Alluding to the progress made thus far, he noted that while his family has been able to trace their history back six to seven generations on the paternal side, his hopes are that the next gen-

to information, since the family has had to comb through paper-records and not digital files. He added, “There is a lot of legwork involved in seeking out birth records, baptism and marriage records, and if we go farther back it would entail shipping manifests etc.” In describing the process further Michael also told the Guyana Times Sunday Magazine that, despite this, he and his father have made concerted efforts to find ways to keep the records while adding to them. Both he and his father have used several programmes to gather and store the information uncovered. “I think the next step for me would be to try at some point to branch out online to resources such as Ancestry.com,” he added.

In pointing to the many benefits of learning about his family’s history and lineage, Michael emphasised that he now has a better sense of “being”. He explained, “As

He further explained that while the benefits of such an undertaking are, in the end, purely personal, he now has an enhanced sense of identity which came from understanding his descendants , knowing where he came from and who to identify with . “It gives me an Identity, a place

Paternal grandparents, George and Louraine Lam

and a people from which I descended and can now identify with, while still knowing that who I am is not defined by it, but it may help shape who I can be,” Michael stated.

For anyone thinking about embarking on such a journey, Michael advises to start with a basic family tree including parents and grandparents. He explained, “Start asking questions from there. Because of our immigrant past and the strong role religion played in many of our ancestral groupings, the Post Office and the Churches are often the best and more accessible resources.”

Michael C. Lam is a Guyanese photographer.

His influences include the work of Ansel Adams, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Darren Moore. He holds a degree in Biology from the University of Guyana, was the Bronze medallist in the 2012 and 2017 Guyana Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition, short-listed in the 2014 edition of the same. Other than having his entries in all three competitions displayed in the exhibition portion, he co-exhibited with fellow photographer Nikhil Ramkarran in the National Gallery

at Castellani House in 2012 at an exhibition titled “Coastal Wanderings”. His current Oniabo collection was previewed through a slide-show presentation at Moray House in October of 2014.

In June 2016, his work was chosen as part of a curated Exhibition titled VISIONS at Fitzgerald House, Georgetown, Guyana, alongside 16 other photographers; it was curated by Karran Sahadeo.

From July to September 2016, three pieces from his Oniabo collection was chosen as part of a Curated Exhibition titled Un | Fixed Homeland at Aljira, Newark New Jersey.

Michael’s pieces were exhibited alongside 12 other artists of Guyanese descent from across the diaspora. One piece was selected for the 2017 curated exhibition Liminal Space, at the Caribbean Cultural Centre African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) in New York (June to November); his pieces were exhibited alongside 15 other artists of Guyanese descent from across the diaspora, but primarily from the New York area.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

A photo of Michael’s parents Christopher and Noelma Lam, from their 45th wedding anniversary

34 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

LGE 2018

‘AFC did the right thing’ - Dr Hinds Guyana giving illegal foreign

T

he decision taken by the National E x e c u t i v e Committee (NEC) of the Alliance For Change (AFC) to consider joining with the coalition parties to contest the Local Government Elections (LGE) under one ticket has been described as a sensible position that could help the Government.

Political analyst Dr David Hinds has said that the dynamics of the coalition meant that should the parties contest the elections separately, they would be fighting each other for the same voters.

“And that could create bad blood among them, which would then make it difficult for them to come together for the general election a year or so later,” Hinds told Guyana Times International on Sunday.

He opined that it was hard to “convince people that you are serious about coalition politics if you fight each other at one election and then try to come together for another election”.

According to Dr Hinds, the only attraction for the AFC to contest the LGE by itself is if it can be assured of getting a section of the Indo-Guyanese vote. However, Dr Hinds said, from all indications, that is a long shot, as it appears that the IndoGuyanese vote the AFC got in 2015 has returned to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

“So, from the standpoint of electoral survival, it makes sense for the AFC to want to avoid going alone. I think the party has finally confronted the tenuous electoral fortunes of third parties in Guyana.”

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive also thinks that if the AFC contests with the A

AFC Leader Raphael Trotman

Partnership for National Unity (APNU), it would be doing so from a weakened position. And unlike the case of the Cummingsburg Accord, it now has to demonstrate to constituencies to use that as a bargaining chip.

Close to one month after announcing that it may break away from APNU/ AFC for this year’s LGE, the AFC has now decided to reconsider.

The party said this decision was made at the NEC, the second highest decision-making organ of the AFC, following a duly-constituted meeting on Saturday, February 17, 2018.

“National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Alliance For Change (AFC) having met on February 17, 2018 at a duly constituted meeting, has mandated the Leader of the Party to engage the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) in discussion that could see the parties contesting the 2018 Local Government Elections as a coalition,” the party stated.

AFC Leader Raphael Trotman is now expected to write President David Granger outlining the party’s position on the way forward and specific issues that are of concern to the AFC. In January, Trotman told a news conference that, “There is a strong

body of opinion within the party that we should go alone.” However, in the same breath, he said that there was another view that the AFC should seek to enter a new accord.

The party leader explained that the Cummingsburg Accord that was signed between the AFC and APNU in 2015 was just to facilitate the General Election and did not include local elections.

“We are currently assessing the views of the various party leaders here in Guyana and outside of Guyana, and we would have met with the APNU and other parties to get a sense … and make a decision well before the date is announced for Local Government Elections,” he added.

The AFC has, of recent, come under fire for the perceived submissive role it played when it joined forces with APNU. In mid-November 2017, the top leadership of the AFC had decided to revise its governing agreement with its coalition partner.

This decision was taken after the AFC – the smaller of the two groups forming the Government – was accused of being coerced by its large partner.

Speaking about the discussions surrounding the review of this Accord, Trotman said that it was still on the party’s agenda and it has sought to get some other views to begin the process.

“We have, in fact, identified a team that will represent us in upcoming talks, because, like I said, the Accord has a lifespan of a minimum of three years and a maximum of five. And it was geared primarily towards national elections. It was very silent on Local Government Elections,” he explained.

nationals opportunity to regularise status

T

Miners and business operators at the meeting

he Ministry of Citizenship in Guyana is granting temporary amnesty to illegal foreign national miners so that they can regularise their status in Guyana.

“We are giving you a chance to come to the office in Georgetown with your passport and apply for your extension of stay. If you came to work and your initial visa was an employment visa you can have that extended as well as your work permit,” Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix assured foreign nationals working in the Mazaruni, Mining District Three on Monday, February 19.

According to a DPI release, Minister Felix was part of a team led

by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes to Puruni Landing. The team met with miners and business operators to discuss regularising operations in the area.

Foreign nationals, particularly Brazilians, had raised the concern of legalising their status with Minister Broomes on her previous visits to the Landing. While they do not require a visa for entry into Guyana, they do need a landing permit and work permit.

These permits are granted by the Ministry of Citizenship. A work permit is valid for three years, however, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has to submit applications to the ministry for processing. It takes about three to four business days for the ministry to process the landing permit which begins upon legal entry to Guyana.

Other foreign nationals who require a visa to enter Guyana legally have to apply for an employment visa on arrival and a work permit subsequently. All these transactions have to be done at the ministry’s office located at 146 Waterloo,

Georgetown.

The foreign nationals were also warned, by the minister, that this application process has to be done in person. “Don’t allow anybody to take money from you to do it; they can’t do it for you; you have to come and apply for your own registration, your visa; you have to come to do that; anybody who taking money from you; bad business,” Minister Felix cautioned.

Foreign nationals who overstay their time in Guyana are classified under prohibited immigrants’ status Minister Felix explained. This basically means they are illegal and could be brought before the courts and deported.

“Like I said, we are not here to round up anybody and to get them out of the country, no, we are not doing that. We want to let you know what you need to do,” Minister Felix assured the miners.

feature 35

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Celebrating the

By Chevon Lim

A

lso known as the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year in pre-modern times signalled to farmers in China to begin preparation for the sowing of their fields.

At the Chinese New Year, people traditionally wear red clothes and give children “lucky money” concealed in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which, according to legend, can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.

In Guyana, many families with Chinese heritage also celebrate the occasion and would also join the Diplomatic Community in their festivities.

The Lantern Festival marks the end of the New Year season and afterwards life goes on as per normal.

Another tradition is the lighting of firecrackers. These are an important element and are traditionally let off to frighten away ghosts so the New Year could start free of them.

Legend has it that long ago there was a monster that terrorised people.

However, it was afraid of loud noises, bright lights and the colour red. At midnight on the last day of the old year, these things are used to frighten away the monster for the whole year.

A special treat around this time are the dumpling-shaped like

Scenes from a past event hosted by the Chinese Association of Guyana to commemorate Chinese New Year

Yuanbao, gold coins representing prosperity.

Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations (February 8–14, 2018)

Laba Festival Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for New Year as early as month 12 day 8 of the lunar calendar. This is a festival called Laba Làbā /laa-baa/ '12th lunar month' + '8'). It's January 24 in 2018.

Cleaning the House

Persons also clean their houses before Chinese New Year From the 23rd of the 12th lunar month (February 8, 2018), Chinese people carry out a thorough cleaning of their houses.

The cleaning is called "sweeping the dust", and represents a wish

to put away old things, bid farewell to the old year, and welcome the New Year.

New Year Shopping

People buy New Year food and snacks, New Year decorations, and clothes for New Year before New Year’s Eve. Chinese New Year, like Christmas in China, is a shopping boom time.

Chinese people may be thrifty most of the time, but they seem quite generous in their spending during their traditional festivals.

For example, they buy everyone new clothes for the festival, whether they need them or not.

There are New Year street markets on the days before the festival.

New Year's Eve Activities (February 15, 2018) Putting

Up

New

Year Decorations Although some people decorate their houses several days before the festival, most people do it on New Year's Eve. Houses are decorated with red lanterns, red couplets, New Year paintings, and red lanterns. 2018 is a year of the Dog, so dog images will appear on decorations.

Chinese New Year decorations are more complex in rural areas where people not only wish good luck for their family, but also for their livestock. Hence, people not only decorated their houses, but also the places where their livestock live.

Enjoying a Reunion Dinner

Chinese New Year Eve dinner

The New Year's Eve Feast is a "must do" dinner with all family members reuniting.

Chinese try very hard to make this family event, often traveling long distances. This is the main reason for the huge travel stress throughout China.

People from north and south China eat different foods on this special occasion, and many New Year foods are symbolic. In northern China a traditional dish for the feast is jiaozi (dumplings).

They are shaped like old Chinese ingots, symbolizing wealth.

Southern Chinese eat niangao (sticky rice cake) on this special day, because niangao sounds like "yearly higher", symbolizing improvement.

The Chinese New

Year has been celebrated for 3,000 years.

Festivities include the lion and dragon dances and parades with traditional costumes.

Setting Off Firecrackers and Fireworks The moment New Year arrives there is a cacaphony of fireworks and firecrackers all around, even in rural China. Families stay up for this joyful moment.

The tradition is to set off one string of small firecrackers first, followed by three big firecrackers, which symbolize "sounding out" the old year and "sounding in" the new year.

The louder the three firecrackers, the better and luckier it’s believed it will be for business and farming in the coming year. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

36 feature

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Preserving our literary heritage

Black History Month Series: part two

Beryl Adams-Haynes

By Petamber Persaud

T

here are as many ways to celebrate as there are appropriate ways to celebrate. The tenor of Black History Month should be celebrated with books especially with books on the history of places, peoples and events. Starting with books on places, here’s a glimpse of three villages.

The History of Victoria Village by William N. Arno, first published in 1966, reprinted by the Guyana Heritage Society 2000.

The book, ‘History of Victoria Village’, a slim publication, written by William N. Arno, tells the inspiring story of how a group of recently emancipated Africans pooled their resources together in order to make an unprecedented purchase of a sizable village on the East Coast of Demerara. The purchase was one as-

pect of that inspiring story. The other aspect was that those ‘intrepid’ ex-slaves were able draft rules and regulations to preserve their investment.

According to the book, in November of 1839, eighty three persons including two women bought what was then Plantation Northbrook for the sum of 30 thousand guilders ($10, 284, 63c.). It is mentioned here and in other places that two women were involved in that transaction but the list of names revealed there were more than two female who were involved.

Plaisance: From Emancipation to Independence and Beyond,

by Beryl A d a m s - H a y n e s Georgetown, Guyana, July 2010.

The idea of writing a history on Plaisance came to the author some years after she re-migrated and discovered by chance that Plaisance was bought by emancipated Africans. The research stages were not easy; she moved from the national archives to the national library to sourcing information from London and the internet. It took some six years before it finally came to fruition.

The author said, ‘When I set out to write the history of Plaisance,

I didn’t set out to do this [showing the book], I set out to write a few pages, a twenty-five-page document perhaps for my own satisfaction but it took on new dimensions and has taken off in way beyond my expectations’.

Some sixty-five persons were involved in the purchase.

To the Youths of Agricola by Muriel Doreen Branche and Jennifer Branche, published 2016.

This book is made up of thirteen chapters, an introduction and a biographical page on the two authors. The text is supported by illustrations and photographs.

All of the above serving to unfold the histo-

ry Agricola from birth to its rise and decline with the aim for redemption.

Agricola bounded by Houston to the north and Rome to the south started after the emancipation of enslaved Africans. The actually genesis is traced to a time when Richard Michael Jones, owner of Plantations Rome, Huston, La Bonne Mere and Hope, who was more liberal than other plantation owners sold plot of land to the freed Africans.

The village was sometimes referred to as ‘Jonestown’ and at other times loosely called ‘Rome’. But the word Agricola comes from Latin meaning agricul-

Bert Carter with Doreen Branche

ture or farmer. Another origin story is offered that the village founders were enamored by ‘the feats of the Roman conqueror, Gnaeus Julius Agricola…who was instrumental in the Roman conquest of Britain’. This last explanation bears some credence because the streets bear the names outstanding characters in Roman History – Remus, Romulus, Caesar, Cato and Titus.

The community spirit at the time was the hallmark for growth and sustained development.

Agricola was once a gated community when crime was ‘virtually non-existent’, when Agricola was a peaceful and a hospitable place ‘deemed to be suitable for entertaining and accommodating dignities’, with no lesser per-

son than the governor of the colony staying in the ‘Great House’ while repairs were being effected to his official residence. Another claim of the book was that the founding fathers – John Figaro, Chandler and Hercules - were visionaries whose visions were supported by the members of the fledging community who were industrious and cooperative and whose industry produced newly dug canals and freshly built dams for the health and economic wellbeing of all. But with time, there were many changes, not all to the good, heralding a decline.

Responses to this author please telephone 226-0065 of email: oraltradition2002@yahoo. com (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Bunty Singh walks away with G$800,000. as new Chutney King

T

he 2017 Chutney Queen, Vanita Willie was in the wee hours of Monday morning dethroned, following an exceptional performance by Berbician Bunty Singh who was crowned the new Guyana Chutney King.

The competition was hosted at the Leonora Stynthetic Track, West Coast Demerara, which saw a small crowd cheering and supporting their favourite artistes.

The competition which got underway almost three hours after the schedule time to commence saw 10 chutney singers trying to impress the judges and the audience, in their attempt to convince the judges that they are the best in the business. The 2017 Queen was the last to perform but she failed to defend her crown.

Each contestant had a maximum of 10 minutes to perform their tunes backed by the Shakti Strings Orchestra. At

the end, Bunty Singh with his tune, “Banwari, Poonwasie and de lokni” was adjudged the winner of the competition. Coming in second was another Berbician, Sasenarine Hitnarayan with “Guyanese Larki”, while the third position was taken by Steven Ramphal as he performed “Mujhe Sangeet se Pyar Hai”.

Coming in fourth was Arijit Singh who sang “Wedding Story”. He was also named the best new comer and bagged an additional G$100,000 to the already G$200,000 he won for placing third.

Bunty Singh will receive G$800,000, Hitnarayan will collect G$600,000 and Ramphal will bag G$400,000.

However, after the announcement of the results, some were definitely not pleased with the judges’ decision.

Some thought Ramphal would have stolen the show with his electrifying performance,

The top four in the Chutney Monarch Competition with the newly crowned king in blue

showcasing the colours of the Golden Arrowhead but soon after, the focus was shifted to Bunty Singh whose stage performance was extraordinary.

Haresh Singh, a veteran in the game, took to the stage with an all Hindi chutney song titled, “Chutney Raja” but the crowd was unmoved.

Another performer who took the stage by storm but did not place was

Vicadi Singh who do his part with “Meet de Nanny”. While his stage performance was excellently crafted with props and dancers, the crowd just did not react.

The defending Champion put on a show with her tune, “Phool Basiya and She Husband”, but she too was not good enough to get the approval from the judges.

The panel of judg-

es included dancer and choreographer, Roshini Boodhoo-Persaud; Pandit Aditya Persaud and Phoolkumarie.

Meanwhile, before the chutney competition got underway, several dance troupes and dancers took to the stage to showcase their talents.

First up, five young men and women went head to head in the individual category.

While some of the

performances can be classified as too “vulgar”, the judges opted to go with the more traditional dance routines. After that showdown, Aneesa Narine was awarded the first place followed

by Razia Rafeek in the second spot and rounding off the top three was Richard Ramnarine.

The group dance routines were as electrifying as the individual pieces.

At the end of the clash, the Berbice Delight dancers were victorious. In the second spot was The Versailles Dance Troup and copping the third place was the Jewan Ka Nritya Dance Troupe.

The show however, was given some flavour by the emcee of the evening, Joel Ganshaam who had the crowd in a frenzy for just being himself. The competition was sponsored by the Social Cohesion Ministry, through its Culture, Youth and Sport Department. (Bhisham Mohamed)

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Fixing…

T

…or spinning wheels on Third Force

here seems to be an effort to jump-start another “Third Force” in Guyana today; and former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran attempted to rationalise it in his column last Sunday. This Third Force idea’s been floated time and again as a way to break the debilitating stand-off between the PPP and PNC – parties which obtain their support from ethnic Indian and African voters, who are closely matched in size.

The theory is simple but, unfortunately, also simplistic. It assumes there’s a bloc of voters who stand above the ethnic fray, and will “do the right thing” for Guyana if a party can weld them into this “Third Force”. However, since Ramkarran conceded ethnic voting won’t disappear, your Eyewitness wonders why he even considered the possibility that a Third Force can win it all. Even the name “Third Force” assumes such a grouping can’t win – by accepting the continued existence of the other two “forces” that would be larger than it.

The most credible “Third Force” was the WPA at the 1992 elections, and we know how ignominious their defeat was. They hit all the “right” notes – good pedigree (Rodney), credible leaders from all the ethnic groups, good manifesto, working for Guyana etc,etc. They – and a host of the chattering class — were convinced they’d win. Yet they received barely 2% of the votes compared to the PNC’s 42% – after the PNC had immiserated (their presidential candidate Thomas’s word) all Guyana – ethnically defined or otherwise.

Next up was the AFC, launched in 2006. The three politicians from the PNC, PPP and WPA who became its leaders – Trotman, Ramjattan and Holder – benefited from the ambiguity of who floated them.

Like Ramkarran, they insisted they’d deny the two big parties a majority and hold the “balance of power” – voting with one or the other, depending on what benefited Guyana the most.

But the experience of the AFC is what will guarantee the failure of any new “Third Force”.

What could the new cast of characters say or do to GUARANTEE they won’t go the way of the AFC??

Meaning, to become a footstool of one of the two big parties just for “self and power”? The answer is nothing!! Ramkarran’s counting on the “middle class” from the “Mixed” demographic to provide the bulk of the support base of the new Third Force. RISE? But it’s not immediately clear why he’s conflating the two totally divergent group categories of ‘class” and “ethnicity”.

He seems to forget that ethnicity provides the instrumental economic imperative of class plus the affective emotional pull of identity.

Just look where the putatively middle-class, “Mixed”, Raphael Trotman is today!! …the elections result for 2020 The Chairman of Region 1 recently complained about the APNU MP of the Region being integrally involved in the distribution of birth certificates. Now, at first blush, it might seem the Chairman’s looking a gift horse in the mouth, since birth certificates in the “interior” regions aren’t that much of a routine as it is for those closer to Georgetown.

But we’ve got to be alert to several things going on here. While the MP should be concerned about his constituency getting their birth certificates, he ought not to be directly involved in the job of the bureaucracy! They’re supposed to be apolitical. At a minimum, the act – highlighted also by the Director of Public Information – shows the PNC’s willingness to blur the lines between the executive and the bureaucracy. PNC paramountcy!!

But, more insidiously, since birth certificates are involved and these are the basis of registration of voters, one does not have to be a brain surgeon to figure out what else might be in store.

Padded lists? …oil contracts Government partisans are excusing Trotman’s oil giveaways because the terms of the just released CGX contract are similar. The fly in the ointment with that excuse is to overlook the elephant in the room.

Trotman renegotiated his contract AFTER a billion-barrel oil strike!!

37

38 FEATURE

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Chevon Lim

G

uyana was the first English s p e a k i n g Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with China, in 1972. One year later Guyana opened the doors to its Embassy in the capital city of Beijing.

This year, China and Guyana will commemorate the 46th Anniversary of diplomatic relationship, which is considered milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two countries. During this period, the two countries have fostered strengthened and have achieved new accomplishments.

China is the second largest trading partner of Latin America and the Caribbean, which is also a major destination for outbound Chinese investment, second only to Asia. China’s direct investment in Latin America and the Caribbean has exceeded US$150 billion.

Although 2018 will mark the 46th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the relationship between Guyana and China began as early as 1853.

Chinese citizens from Guangdong province migrated to Guyana (then British Guiana), to assist with alleviating labour shortages across the country. Many of the descendants of these immigrants became influential members of Guyanese society, such that in 1970, Mr Arthur Chung, a man ofChi-

nese descent, was appointed as Guyana’s first President. He was the first ethnic Chinese to be head of state of a nonAsian country.

Over the years the relationship between the two countries has continued to grow and strengthen. As such, Guyana is committed to redoubling its partnership with China in the international arena, to mitigate the modern scourges of poverty, underdevelopment, inequality, terrorism, transnational organized crime, and, in particular, the effects of climate change.

Investment and Cooperation

Guyana has witnessed a series of benefits through its increased cooperation with China politically, economically and culturally. Tangible improvements are being seen in such areas as transportation, infrastructure, information technology, health and security. Guyana has benefitted significantly from increased Chinese investment and the trade volume between both countries has tripled within the last decade. The recent discovery of oil serves to compliment the country’s core industries including forestry, mining, energy, agriculture, construction and manufactured goods. All of these assets continue to make Guyana a lucrative in-

Celebrations on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between PRC and Guyana in 2017

vestment destination for Chinese companies.

The two nations remain further committed to a series of wideranging initiatives through the ChinaCELAC Forum, the principal vehicle for China-Caribbean cooperation. Guyana is the only English-speaking Caribbean nation that is located on the South American continent. As such, this country serves as a natural bridge between the Caribbean and South America and is home to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) headquarters.

With China becoming an increasingly more influential partner in the region, it stands to reason that its partnership with Guyana will continue to be one of strate-

gic importance. The future remains bright and both countries will embrace the next 45 years of diplomatic relations with confidence and optimism.

According to a draft Policy paper by the Chinese Government, China sees itself as brining development opportunities to the rest of the world. It is estimated that in the next five years, China will import US$8 trillion of goods, invest US$750 billion overseas, and Chinese tourists will make 700 million outbound visits. All this will present an even bigger market, more capital, a greater variety of products and more valuable cooperation opportunities to countries around the world, including

Guyana.

While enjoying deep diplomatic relations, China and Guyana hold similar views and have consistently echoed and supported each other’s positions, be it on key international issues such as UN reform, climate change, sustainable development, regional integration and cooperation between China and the Caribbean.

Over the years, the strong, comprehensive programme of bilateral cooperation has resulted in Guyana benefiting from the services of the Chinese medical doctors and technicians, the donation of equipment to the health sector, the educational work of the Confucius Institute, the support given to the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, the donation of scientific equipment to the tune of $50 million to the Cyril Potter College of Education, infrastructural support for the expansion and renovation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the widening of the East Coast Demerara Public Road, and the donation of vehicles and other equipment to the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.

One Belt one Road Initiative

Celebrations on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between PRC and Guyana in 2017

Latin America is driving faster on the path toward deeper involvement in and with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), this time with the Caribbean on board.

This development occurred during the recent 2nd Ministerial Forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) held in Santiago, the Chilean

capital, on Jan- 23.

Held under the theme ‘Celac-China: Working for More Development, Innovation and Cooperation for Our Peoples’, the meeting brought together 31 of the 33 member-states of the group of continental and island states, big and small, to facilitate a joint approach to the BRI. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road were launched in 2013 with routes from China through Asia and linking to Europe and Africa. But Latin America soon indicated interest, as did several other regions.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the region was a natural fit for the initiative, which China has leveraged to deepen economic and financial cooperation with developing nations. The “One Belt, One Road” initiative, proposed in 2013

by Chinese President Xi Jinping, promotes expanding links between Asia, Africa and Europe, with billions of dollars in infrastructure investment.

The 1st Celac-China ministerial forum was held in Beijing in January 2015 and in the three years since much has happened to open a new Silk Road to Latin America – and now the Caribbean, as well.

CELAC, founded in 2010 and launched in 2011, is a key regional grouping established to facilitate closer, deeper and stronger regional integration between its 33 member-states.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

fEATURE 39

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Marjorie Kirkpatrick

Arthur Chung

A

s one of the six ethnic groups, the Chinese community has contributed to an integral part of Guyana’s history. The Chinese who arrived as indentured immigrants to Guyana in 1853 have since made their mark in the medical field, commerce, mining, politics, music and education. For the entire period of 1853 to 1879, a total of 13,541 Chinese landed in Guyana.

Engrained neatly in the fabric of the Guyanese Society are contributions by Chinese that include the tasty cuisine that continues to be popular in Guyana, folklore and the language which continues to be spoken , and is even taught at the Confucius Institute.

Arthur Chung- President of Guyana When Guyana became a republic under the leadership of Forbes Burnham in 1970, the National Assembly elected Chung as the country's first President; he took office on March 17, 1970.

Arthur Chung was born at Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, Guyana. He was educated at Windsor Forest, Blankenburg and Modern High School. Before civic service Chung was an apprentice surveyor and sworn land surveyor. In the early 1940s Chung entered the Middle Temple of London, England and qualified as a barrister in 1947.

He returned to Guyana and was later appointed an acting magistrate. In 1954, he became a magistrate and in 1960 a senior magistrate. He also served as Registrar of Deeds and of the Supreme Court. He then became a puisne judge and finally an Appeal Court Judge in 1963.

Hon. Arthur Chung was married in 1954 to Ms. Doreen Pamela Ng-See-Quan, with whom he had one daughter and one son.

Jonathan Foo- Cricketer Jonathan Foo is among a rare breed of West Indies cricketers with Chinese descent, who was on September 11, 1990, in Port Mourant, Berbice. The

Jonathan FooCricketer

young Guyanese all-rounder hails from a region which has produced household names such as Alvin Kallicharran and Rohan Kanhai. He was one of

Melanie Mc Turk; Dougal I. Keith Kirkpatrick and Sean Maurice Kirkpatrick; daughter-in-law, Leana Kirkpatrick and two grandchildren: Dougal Michael and Stephanie Mc Turk.

the stars to emerge from the inaugural Caribbean T2, and helped Guyana snatch victory in the nail-biting final against Barbados, hitting a 17-ball 42 under immense pressure.

Robert Victor Evan Wong- politician, civil engineer, businessman, rancher Robert Victor Evan Wong (July 4, 1895 - October 19, 1952) was a politician, civil engineer, rancher and businessman, elected to the British Guiana legislature in 1926 and 1934, and appointed to its Executive Council in 1928. He is notable for being the first ChineseGuianese member of both the British Guiana Legislative and Executive Councils.

Wong was born in Georgetown, British Guiana, and was the eldest son of a wealthy Chinese merchant. He studied engineering and economics at the University of Bristol, receiving a B.Sc. degree in 1917 in England.

In 1926, at age 31, Wong won election to the British Guiana Court of Policy from the Essequibo Islands. Wong had

Robert Victor Evan Wong

been identified as the first person of East Asian descent elected to a national legislature in the Americas. His subsequent appointment to the Executive Council was also a first for a West Indian Chinese. As a legislator, Wong was a principal proponent of the introduction of personal income taxation. He won election to a subsequent term on the Legislative Council in 1934 under a slogan reflecting his initials: Right Vanquishes Every Wrong.

Wong was co-founder and President of the Durban Race ; he died on October 19, 1952.

Trev Sue-A-Quan – Research Engineer, Author Trevelyan A. Sue-A-Quan was born in November 1943 in Georgetown, Guyana. He is the great-grandson of an indentured labourer who had embarked with his wife and son aboard the ship Corona at Canton.

They arrived at Georgetown in FEBRUARY 2574 after 78 days at sea. The family was allotted to La Grange sugar cane plantation on the West Bank of the Demerara River. Many of the Chinese immigrants and their

Dr. Walter Chin- Pediatrician , Physician Dr Walter Augustus Chin, CCH, 12th December 1932 – 4th July 2004, an eminent pediatrician and physician and an accomplished administrator, was Chief Medical Officer and President of the Guyana Cancer Society and became the best-known name in medicine and public health in the Trev Sue-A-Quan country. He was also the head of former Guyana Agency second generation descendants for Health, Education & Food became shopkeepers, includSciences (GAHEF) and was also ing Soo Sam-kuan the author's grandfather. In the process of columnist cultural assimilation his name Charles John Ethelwood Fungbecame transformed into Henry A-Fatt, CCH, 24th June 1920 Sue-A-Quan thus initiating the – 29th December 2001 distinctive family surname.

An attorney-at-law, built Trev attended Queen's a strong reputation in New College in Georgetown and attained B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees Amsterdam, Berbice, becoming in Chemical Engineering at a Town Councillor and Mayor the University of Birmingham, there and later served as a England. He immigrated to Judge of the High Court, Justice Canada in 1969 but then pur- of Appeal and Police Complaints sued a career opportunity with Authority. a major oil company in Chicago where he was engaged in research in petroleum processing and fossil fuel utilization.

The interest in Trev's family history came from a curiosity about the circumstances that caused his great-grandfather to leave his native land. Almost 20 years after obtaining a copy of his ancestor's contract of indenture Trev has applied his training in analytical research to compile this comprehensive account of the experiences of the first Chinese immigrants in Guyana. Trev Sue-A-Quan is the Author of Cane Reapers and Cane Ripples

Marjorie Kirkpatrick- Author, Historian Born in Guyana and of Chinese descent, Mrs. Kirkpatrick nee’ Ting-A-Kee, was, for a number of years, Deputy President of the Chinese Association of Guyana, a task she performed with distinction until her retirement in 2014.

Proud of her heritage, Mrs. Kirkpatrick served the SinoGuyanese community with pride and in 2012, authored her second book, “The Way We Were – Memories of a Childhood in British Guiana”. In her publication, she chronicles the Chinese experience in then colonial British Guiana, recounting and capturing vividly the intrigues of her life as a third- generation Chinese girl growing up in the plural society of British Guiana in the 1940s.

Marjorie was the wife of Mr. Dougal Kirkpatrick, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Guard Service, a premier security service in Guyana. She is also survived by three offspring:

Dr Ray Luck, distinguished international Pianist Guyanese Dr. Ray Luck CCH, has distinguished himself in the field of piano for decades in all parts of the world.

He studied music with Millicent Joseph and Ruby MacGregor while attending Queen’s College. He received the LRSM and FTCL diplomas before going to study at the Royal College of Music in London, then subsequently won First Prizes in Piano and Chamber Music from Paris’s Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique, and later graduated from Indiana University at Bloomington, USA with the D. Mus Degree.

He performed in recitals in several music capitals, such as New York’s Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Paris’s Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, and London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Concert tours have taken him to Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Caribbean, including a unique visit to Masakanyari, the village of the Wai-Wai in Guyana’s

rainforest.

After a distinguished teaching career at Randolph College in Virginia, he was appointed the Charles A. Dana professor emeritus of music in 2002.

Professional teaching awards include the Master Teacher Certificate from the American Music Teachers National Association and three Fulbright Senior fellowships to the Caribbean, Greece, and Canada.

In 1992, Ray Luck was awarded the Government of Guyana’s Cacique Crown of Honour in recognition of outstanding music accomplishment.

Godfrey Chin, social historian, writer In addition to being an avid historian, Godfrey Chin was also a photographer, author of the book Nostalgia and interior decorator in Guyana and the United States. Several extracts of his works were also published in a local Newspaper.

He re-migrated to Guyana after living in New York and Florida for 27 years. Godfrey’s last major project was decorating Georgetown Club for Old

Godfrey Chin

Year’s Night 2011; he passed away in 2012.

In recent years, through various exhibitions, he presented classic photos of Guyana’s history, from cinemas, Old Georgetown, to sporting events; he also produced a book of those pictures, chronicling Guyana’s history from 1940-1980.

Vivian Lee Vivian Lee was a well-known Guyanese entrepreneur in the world of entertainment, advertising, and broadcasting, who passed away on August 16th, 2012 in Richmond, B.C. He was the son of Lee Yew, an immigrant from Canton, China and the former Adelaide DeFreitas.

As a creative entrepreneur Lee was involved in television, promoting stage shows, advertisement, songwriting and radio as early as the late 1940’s. He owned a record shop and ran the Ace Records label based in the capital of Georgetown. Lee was also a master on the soccer field and played for the Guyanese National Team.

Dr Ray Luck continued on page 46

40 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Over 300 revellers in Social Cohesion Ministry Mash band

Linden father of 6 fined for narco trafficking A

The Social Cohesion, Culture and Sport Department on Monday launched its Mash band for the 2018 float parade at the ER Burrowes School of Art. In photo Dr George Norton dances with some of the persons who displayed the costumes as Permanent Secretary Melissa Tucker and the school's Administrator Ivor Thom look on

T

he Social Cohesion, Culture and Sport Department on Monday launched its Mash band for the 2018 float parade at the ER Burrowes School of Arts.

Present at the event was Social Cohesion Minister, with responsibility with culture and sport, Dr George Norton.

Speaking to the small gathering, the Minister expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming celebrations for Guyana’s 48th Republic Anniversary.

“I’m looking forward to see what you have out there to display but not only that, I want to be a part of that which you will be displaying, and I’m looking forward to it,” he stated.

This year, the band, which was designed by students of the ER Burrowes School of Arts, will be featuring approximately 300 revellers, including a king and a queen. The coordinator of the costumes, Volda Ramsammy, revealed that the band had a simple theme which highlighted the celebration of Guyana.

“We have decided to choose our theme based on our national theme, our sub-theme is “celebrating re-

public 48”, but the reason I have decided to stick to such a simple theme is, because I want to focus and to emphasise on the importance of this celebration,” she said.

She added that the costumes featured the national colours of Guyana. The king costume is a vivid representation of the Golden Arrowhead and features national symbols such as the Victoria Regia Lily, the Canje Pheasant and the Cacique Crown.

Meanwhile, the queen costume was designed to complement the king. It features a giant hibiscus flower surrounded by local creatures like the hummingbird, which is very popular. It was designed with the intention of showcasing cooperativeness and celebration.

When all of these elements are put together, they depict cohesion among the people. The Social Cohesion, Culture and Sport Department will be displaying its float on Republic Day and is confident that it will capture the first prize in the costume category this year.

54-year-old of Wismar, L i n d e n , Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was on Monday fined when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for being in possession of a small quantity of cannabis.

Nicholas Caesar admitted that he had the illegal substance in his possession when Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read the charge to him.

The charge alleged that on February 15, 2018, at Wismar, Linden, he had 4.4 grams of cannabis.

Caesar, a father six, pleaded for leniency stating that he is sorry for what he had done and would not repeat his actions.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield re-

vealed that Police were at the time of the discovery conducting a raid when they swooped down on Caesar’s home.

The narcotics were reportedly found in the upper flat of the defendant’s home in his bedroom. Caesar reportedly told Police that the cannabis did not belong to him but that it was given to him by a friend to keep.

He was arrested and later charged with the present offence.

M a g i s t r a t e McLennan fined the accused G$10,000 along with eight weeks of community service. A failure to pay the fine will result in him serving five weeks imprisonment.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

41

42

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

43

44 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana setting up Guyana forges ahead Command Centre to with establishment of tackle rising crime Single Window

Citizenship Strengthening and Security Programme (CSSP) Project Coordinator, Clement Henry

W

hen it was implemented in Mexico, the ‘Smart City, Safe City’ programme was lauded for its success rates.

Plans are currently being developed for Guyana to get its own version of this programme; including the construction of a unified command centre.

A c c o r d i n g to Citizenship Strengthening and Security Programme (CSSP) Project Coordinator Clement Henry, all that was being awaited was approval to begin construction of this command centre… for which a design has already been sourced. In a sit down with the media, Henry explained how it would work.

“All information coming in will be processed and observed at the uni-

Because with the videos that come into the command centre, they can do post event analysis that will be helpful in tracking down offenders.”

It was in 2016 that Government officials went on a trip to China on a quest to secure smart city technology for the programme. While in China, they were supposed to observe innovative ways to upgrade Guyana’s surveillance system and further develop the Smart City Project, which has been identified as one of the CSSP’s initiatives under the US$15 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Local law enforcement officials have been able to use footage from surveillance cameras around the city to assist in investigations into criminal activities; however many are critical, stating that the cameras are either inferior or too few.

Besides this initiative, Henry had recently announced that the CSSP will facilitate the construction of 18 victim-friendly Police stations, which are slated to be completed by the end of 2018. These stations are being redesigned to address the capacity issues in responding to crime and violence within the country, which includes physical violence

The modernisation of these stations is expected to foster an environment conducive to the efficient reporting system that caters specifically to victims.

Henry claimed that the CSSP is currently procuring a consultancy firm to conduct a full diagnostic review in order to understand and resolve any and all issues victims have relating to reporting matters and identifying perpetrators.

“We are designing the Police stations in a userfriendly manner… we’ve noticed from the safe neighbourhood surveys that many times people are reluctant [to make reports]… sometimes they complain that when they make a report, particularly domestic violence reports, [that] there is not enough confidentiality in the way they have to make the report at the open enquiries desk.”

Plans are on stream to construct special rooms for domestic violence interviews as well as rooms for Identification Parades so that victims are not placed face-toface with and intimidated by perpetrators.

Construction began on 12 Police stations in the last quarter of 2017 and another six are slated to commence by the second quarter of 2018.

The Cane Grove Police Station is almost entire-

An example of a convergent command centre at the Huawei Safe City Summit in 2016

fied command centre. We have been negotiating with these other agencies,” he related. “There’s a design already out there and it is just for us to move, once we get the go ahead, is to proceed with the procurement for the construction of that building.”

“We believe that this surveillance system will contribute greatly to both crime prevention and crime investigation.

against women.

Henry, in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), described domestic violence as a “serious issue.”

It is within this context that the stations are being fashioned to include materials, equipment, and rooms that are convenient for reports and complaints to be made against perpetrators.

ly completed using the refurbished design and is currently awaiting Intercom Systems.

Construction of redesigned stations in Mibicuri, La Grange, Kwakwani, Mackenzie, Issano, and Annai are moving apace. Among the six stations that are slated to commence construction this year are those located at Whim, Albion, and Springlands.

…to reduce cross-border processing time

I

n light of the emerging oil and gas sector, Guyana is expecting an influx of investors and as such, Government is looking to make the regulation process easier and less time-consuming for import and export activities by implementing the Electronic Single Window (ESW).

The Single Window is a global platform that facilitates standardised information from State agencies on trade and transport so as to expedite the regulatory process.

In efforts to get

“We thought that was important because Trinidad is very close to Guyana, same region, similar challenges so we believe that we have the opportunity to learn a lot from their experience,” explained the Integration and Trade Specialist.

However, during the discussions, Finance Minister Winston Jordan observed that while subscribing onto the ESW will reduce the time taken to process trade documentations, it will not in any way improve or impact Guyana’s ranking on the ‘Ease of Doing Business

pact that the Electronic Single Window system will have on businesses operating in Guyana, we also understand the consequences of not keeping up with the rest of the world when it comes to improving the way that we do business. The global market place is competitive and we will not be able to compete if we cannot effectively facilitate trade and other transaction,” he stated.

Among the stakeholders in the project are the Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana Office for Investment (GO-

A section of the gathering at the ESW workshop

Guyana onto the facility, the Business Ministry in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on Wednesday hosted a workshop to identify and analyse conceptual models, challenges for implementation and global best practice for an Electronic Single Window in Guyana.

It is expected that the information exchanged during the one-day seminar will lead to a determination of the best model for ESW development in Guyana. Currently, the model adopted by Trinidad and Tobago is the option being touted for Guyana.

IDB’s Integration and Trade Lead Specialist, Mario Umana, pointed out that while there are a couple of Single Windows operating right now in the Caribbean, the twin islands had the most leading and more mature facility. As such, representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Trinidad were invited to offer their experiences.

Index’.

Guyana ranked 126 in the 2018 Report on Ease of Doing Business, while Trinidad and Tobago 102 out of a total of 190.

To this end, the Finance Minister pointed out that Guyana will have to look at dissecting the indices and see where it can improve its ranking.

This point was also recognised by the Trinidadian representative, who explained that despite having joined the Single Window system, Trinidad still records now ranking. This, he noted, is because the criteria used to determine these indices changes every year and are not accurately reflective of a country’s situation.

Meanwhile, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin addressing the gathering at the workshop highlighted the importance of having an infrastructure such as the Single Window to compete in the global market.

“This initiative is a key element in the Ministry of Business’ Strategic Plan.

We understand the im-

Invest), the Business Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Private Sector.

While Guyana is now forging ahead with the implementation of the Single Window, it has done ground work back in 2009 when United Kingdom-based Crown Agents conducted a consultancy survey on the implementation of the Single Window in Guyana.

The company had recommended, among other things, that Guyana look at a draft Single Window legislation and establish specific rules for data-sharing between Government and the Private Sector.

IDB is facilitating the implementation of the Electronic Singh Window and with funding from South Korea, will be hosting a series of activities. This includes Wednesday’s workshop which was held under theme: “Designing and implementing Electronic Single Window in Latin America and the Caribbean: Defining a Path for Guyana”.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

45

46

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com from page 39

Even though Lee, born in 1919, wasn’t the first Guyanese in the record business he left his mark on many parts of national culture.

Singer Johnny Braff, who also had some success away from home, was the main artist on Ace Records. In 1966, Guyana obtained independence from Britain and as any experienced producer would do, Vivian Lee released a Johnny Braff album with the celebratory songs. Ace Records released around 50 titles spread out between 78’s, 45’s and albums. Lee was also behind one of the first Guyanese movies entitled “If Wishes Were Horses” featuring comedian Habeeb Khan. Both GEMS and Ace Records managed to record original material by legendary calypso artists Lord Melody and Mighty Sparrow(Excerpts from an interview with Vivian Lee published on othersounds.com) Martha nee Fung Kee Fung was one of the earliest female business owners in Guyana (1800s). She became a landed proprietor who owned many businesses including a rice mill. She bought two abandonedww sugar estates Waller’s Delight and Ruimzight at Windsor Forest which she rented to tenants to plant rice. Martha Street in Windsor Forrest is named for her.

Sarah Lam-a-Poo born in 1870, was the grandmother of Errol “Ping” Gillette, Guyana’s first Ombudsman after independence.

She went into business as a young woman making Chinese cakes and Minshee, a seasoning produced from beans in her home.

Asin Ho a Shoo has the distinction of being one of Guyana’s first medical doctors in the first decade of the 20th century. She entered the University of Edinburgh, 1906 to study in the field of Medicine.

In 1912 she was a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons at University of Dublin. She went on to obtain a Diploma in Public Health from the University of Dublin and become a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Asin’s daughter Gem

Asin’s daughter Gem

Ho a Hing became a Junior Champion at Wimbledon, the only Guyanese to play there. Born in 1921, Gem was by far the shortestworld class tennis player of her generation, and perhaps of all time, standing well under five feet.

Her height was 4 feet 9 1/2 inches (1.46 metres). Crowds inevitably cheered for the tiny Chinese girl with British citizenship. Gem never won a major or reached the world’s top ten. What she did capture was many hearts. Gem’s last performance at Wimbledon came in 1957, when she bowed out to eventual champion Althea Gibson.

Cheu Leen Ho a Shoo, another first generation Guyanese

Chinese, who married Robert Evan Wong, in 1941 was appointed by the then Government as a Member of the Board of Governors for Bishops’ High School, her old alma mater.

Rosalind Fung/Lee was Miss Guyana in 1956 and also won the contest among the three Guianas.

This earned her the right to represent the three countries at the Miss Universe contest in Hollywood.

Doreen Chow Wah/Lee became the West Indies Table Tennis champion in 1970 and with Denise Osman won the ladies Doubles Championship 1967-1972.

An even more amazing achievement went to Ada Akai who became Deputy Head Mistress of the then all boys Queen’s College in 1974, an “almost unheard of feat at that time in the country’s history”, Debbie Fung was not only a lecturer at the University of Guyana but was the Ladies Singles Lawn Tennis Champion in 1984 and with her sister Caryll won the Ladies Doubles Championship in 1974, 1975, 1980 and 1983-1985 while another, Diane Lee was Sportswoman of the year 1986.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Doreen Chow Wah/Lee

Valentine greetings

S

atiricus dreaded going over to the Back Street Bar. It wasn’t that he’d found religion or anything and became scared of “demon rum”; he just knew he’d be getting some good “tantalizing” from the fellas. “And why not?” he mused ruefully. Hadn’t he been promising them all month that something big was going to happen this Valentine’s Day from the KFC? “OK…OK…fellas,” said Satiricus, who’d decided a good offence was better than a weak defence. “The Valentine Day announcement from my KFC leaders didn’t come out the way I was told.”

“Really? Na worry Sato,” said Bungi, who knew his friend very well. “Jus’ tell abee wha’ happen, na?’

“Well, like I told you chaps, Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat told us this will be their last stand,” said Satiricus. “They had drawn a line in the sand with the Pee-an’-See: no more pushing around.”

“Abee know da,” said Cappo impatiently. “So wha’ happen dat dem ben’ ova and leh de Pee-an’-See pee pan de line?”

“From what I heard through the grapevine,” said Satiricus.

“Nagga Man tell everybody he was satisfied with the perks.

He didn’t want to make any waves.”

“I always figured Nagga Man would do that. No backbone!” said Hari. “Maybe they’ll insert one in the US?” “But wha’ ‘bout Rum Jhaat?” asked Bungi. “He na guh get wan fat penshan fuh throw back like “Nagga Man.” “Budday, he’s so scared of Grain Ja, as soon as the man said there’s no reason to change the agreement, he said, ‘Yes sir!’” admitted Satiricus.

“Well, me nah even aks ‘bout Trat Man,” said Cappo. “He done sell out since ‘e bin get Speakah wuk!”

“Suh wha’ yuh guh do, Sato?” asked Bungi. “Yuh guh still suppo’t de KFC?” “Well fellas, I still have hope, you know!” said Satiricus.

“Hope in what?” demanded Hari.

“Well, Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat now see how scampish the Pee-an’-See people are,” replied Satiricus. “Their eyes are clean.”

“And wha’ dem guh do diff’rent?” demanded Bungi.

“They’ll work from within!” said Satiricus. “To change the Pee-an’-See.” His friends all shook their heads in resignation.

T&T dad in wheel-chair charged with beating son to death

C

harged with the unlawful killing of his son, Earl Phillips was granted $150,000 bail by an Arima magistrate on Monday.

Phillips, 44, who is confined to a wheelchair, was granted bail when the matter was called before magistrate Gillian David.

Phillips was charged by Cpl Hosein with the February 9 killing of his son, Ishmael Phillips.

Eight-year-old Ishmeal, of Ryedale Avenue, Greenvale Park, La Horquetta, died of blunt force trauma to the head.

The child died at hospital.

A female relative of the child fainted outside the courthouse after the matter was heard.

Phillips was ordered to reappear in court on March 15. (TRINIDAD EXPRESS)

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The use of antibiotics

Between a rock and a hard place…

Y

…with coalition politics

ou may think, dear reader, your Eyewitness is a tad too taken up (obsessed?) with the trials and tribulations of the AFC and APNU marriage pact. But as he took pains to point out before, it’s not just a matter about the wankers in the two parties – it’s about coalition politics in Guyana, writ large. And coalition politics is, frankly, the only way forward for us in our God-forsaken country.

And what the APNU/AFC coalition has shown us in the last three years is the PNC isn’t to be trusted.

The PPP obviously knew what they were talking about when the question of “inclusive governance” with their then Opposition was first mooted. They insisted the PNC would have to prove it could be trusted. Well, we can all look at what happened to the AFC and absorb THAT object lesson!!

But after screwing the AFC royally – meaning the latter had to be singing “do wha’ yuh want wit’ me!!” while the deed was being done – APNU just demonstrated that’s not enough. It only took a HINT from PNC leader Granger that the Pre-Nup Accord should continue “as is”, for the AFC leaders to drop their tails between their legs, nuzzle up to him and moan, “No mas!” Of course, they couldn’t just say that right out…they want to ‘save face”… but mumbled as to how Trotman will be writing Granger on the matter.

But who do they think they’re fooling? Before Granger dropped his hint, hadn’t all the AFC leaders insisted they’d carry out their threat to “renegotiate” the Pre-Nup based on the recommendations of their high-level team they’d established a year ago?

But they tried to distract observers of their coalition travails by announcing they MIGHT be going into the Local Government elections joined to the hip with APNU. Might?? Might? There ain’t no “might” about what’s going happen at the LGE – save the “might” of the PNC being demonstrated!! As sure as the sun’s gonna rise in the east tomorrow, the AFC is gonna plead with the PNC to accept them on the LGE slate! For the simple reason that Chairman Ramjattan predicted three years ago – they’re now “dead meat” to the electorate!! And their dilemma is if they go it alone, that will be exposed for everyone to smell!!

And the PNC knows this…and it’s why Granger will have them swinging in the wind. A new Cummingsburg Accord WILL then be DICTATED as the pro quid quo for hiding the AFC under the PNC’s skirts.

And forget any 40 per cent of post-2020 Ministries, Rafael “Nassau” Trotman will be the last AFC man standing! …on oil contracts Your (modest and humble) Eyewitness hates bringing this up…but wasn’t he the first one to compare the oil contract ‘renegotiated” by “Nassau” Trotman with those of several African countries – including Uganda where the Government flew up a high-level team, courtesy Chatam House?? And how we suffered by comparison? Well, the press is finally moving – glacially! – towards the second point then made by your Eyewitness.

To wit – if those countries’ oil contracts were so much better than ours, but they’ve remained dirt poor – where did all the money go? It was literally SIPHONED off by the officials in the Governments… that’s what!! And we saw there were two ways the money-siphoning worked – either AFTER the oil was pumped or BEFORE. The correlation when the terms were not so good for the country on paper, the money would be siphoned into private bank accounts of the Government officials.

So when will the local press begin to follow the money?? …on the Counterforce The PNC wants to focus on the “counterforce” during what PNC-leader calls “the troubles”. But like newton’s law of “action and reaction”, doesn’t there have to be a “force” before the “counterforce”?

So who were the “political sophisticates” (according to Kwayana) who were behind this Buxton Force?

news 47

“If we use antibiotics when not needed, we may not have them when they are most needed.” –Dr. Tom Frieden, Director, US CDC B A D

I

’ve been rotating through Internal Medicine for the past two months. And one of the more common reasons we had to admit people was because of infections — whether it was a lung infection, a urinary tract infection, or an infection of their blood.

And once the infection was bacterial, they needed antibiotics.

Usually, we would start them off on a broad spectrum antibiotic and send a sample off to the lab to test for which specific antibiotics that particular bacteria was susceptible to.

And alarmingly, it turns out that more and more strains of bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics that they used to be susceptible to.

And it made me think about growing up in Guyana and about our rather casual approach to antibiotics – in its prescription and usage.

Back in high school, we learnt about microbes like bacteria that cause so many diseases and illnesses. The discovery of these microbes after the invention of the microscope led to the search for an agent, an

y

nu

“anti-biotic” that would destroy them and cure the diseases they caused.

Recently we had a class on ‘Antimicrobial Resistance’. During the class, we learnt that many of the antibiotics that used to be able to kill specific bacteria were no longer effective against those bacteria. Physicians now have to prescribe newer, stronger antibiotics to fight the bacteria that have developed resistance to the old antibiotics.

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global concern: more and more bacterial species are becoming resistant to the antibiotics we used to use to treat them. In fact, the theme for World Health Day way back in 2011 was “Antimicrobial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow.” The theme was a call to action for us to start making changes now, or else we won’t be able to depend on antibiotics to be able to be a cure for deadly diseases in the future. It’s terrifying to think about bacteria so resistant that we won’t have any drugs that are able to kill them.

ev

So what are some of the actions that we as individuals could take?

Well, first of all, we could make sure we’re using antibiotics correctly when we’re prescribed them.

Doctors don’t usually choose a random course of antibiotics for you to use; there’s a method to their madness, I promise.

So make sure you complete the entire course of antibiotics that you’ve been prescribed. Don’t stop the course three-quarters way just because you’re starting to feel better. Finish the course to make sure you’ve zapped all of the bad bacteria out of your system.

There are all sorts of bugs out there that can cause disease: bacteria, viruses, fungi. Not all disease are caused by bacteria. In fact, the flu that we all seem to get yearly is caused by a virus — the influenza virus. Antibiotics don’t work against viruses, so they won’t do anything to cure your bout of influenza. That’s why your doctor won’t give you antibiotics for your flu; instead, the doctor will tell you what to do to manage

your symptoms — things like Panadol for the fever, plenty of rest and fluids.

The medical system isn’t the only reason for our problems with antimicrobial resistance though. The agricultural industry actually plays a major part as well. There is a growing concern about the use of antibiotics in the rearing of livestock.

It is natural for bacteria to develop resistance; all living things adapt and evolve to survive in a changing world. But the problem we’re facing is how quickly the bacteria are becoming resistant, and that’s largely in part to the way we’ve been misusing and overusing antibiotics.

Antibiotics are a vital part of our fight against diseases. The discovery of penicillin, the first antibiotic, was a revolutionary turning point. Let’s make sure we’re doing our part to make sure that the antibiotics we have are still effective for many more years to come!

Planning to study abroad?

H

aving just applied to university, there is one thing that I think I have learned from the entire process: Guyana needs more people giving educated guidance to young people attempting to kick-start their tertiary education.

Application to university is a nebulous, complex process, especially so if one is applying to schools abroad.

Whilst it is wonderful that we have the option of studying at the University of Guyana, students should be aware that it is not their ONLY option. There are many brilliant Guyanese students who have the ability to get into highly ranked universities, but do not apply. There are many reasons this might happen, but, personally, these are the few that I find: firstly, students are concerned about the source of funding. They believe that going to university abroad is simply too expensive, and since there is no one to guide them, they do very little research, and opt for the more convenient option of attending the University of Guyana.

University is not cheap, there is no denying this; however, there are many ways in which one can acquire scholarships to offset the cost. Yet, like I said, many people do very little research.

If there were guidance counsellors cognizant of a student’s academic ability, extra-curricular activities, transcripts, financial status, intended major, those counsellors would be in the position to advise students of what schools would be most likely to accept them; what steps they should take; and what financial options are available.

There are tonnes of schools that provide financial aid to international students, (provided the student is outstanding enough).

Secondly, I think there are a lot of students who have the idea of what they want to accomplish, but are unclear as to

what steps they need to take to get there.

These are the people who always say they want to study in the United States, but then miss the deadline for signing up for the SATs. Because there is no system in place for students who wish to pursue this option, it is easy for them to get lost in an abstract idea. There is no one who reminds you to sign up for your exams, no one who advises you on what exams are best for you to take, and no one who advises you on which dates are best to sit the exams. Whilst you might say if that is the goal of a student, the onus is upon them to make sure they take the requisite steps to see fruition of the goal, you can’t argue that the path to the University of Guyana isn’t much smoother. Our schools prepare us to write the Caribbean Examinations Council Exams (CSEC and CAPE), even though most schools in the United States do not recognize these examinations. I am not saying that the Guyanese curriculum should change to accommodate students who wish to pursue tertiary education abroad, but I am saying that students should be made aware of all of the possible options. They should know what they can use their examination results for, and shouldn’t write an exam just because everyone else is doing so. If their intention were to study in the US, they’d be better off studying for General and Subject SATs. If their intention were to study in the Caribbean or the UK, then they’d be better off doing CSEC and CAPE/A levels.

My point is that our students should be thoroughly educated, so that they can make educated decisions. This is in no way intended to bash the people who attend the University of Guyana; it is simply to say that our students could be attending schools which are much more established, have better resources, and could provide them with unique opportunities, such as internships in partnered companies,

By Ashley Anthony

or research positions in labs. These experiences can add to a person’s education immensely, and could help them understand their chosen career much better.

Other reasons a person might opt to study abroad might be simply because the University does not offer their specific program. In my case, I am hoping to study either Biophysics or Biological Engineering. Is it fair that I should choose another major simply because those are not available at UG? Should I compromise on my dreams, or should students like myself be provided with information as to how we can still achieve our dreams? Whilst I think the latter is true, in the mean time, we have to do the work ourselves. We have to be relentless in the pursuit of our own education.

My advice to anyone thinking about studying abroad is: ask people who have done it. If possible, get someone who can guide you through the process; and finally, spend loads of time researching. Learn as much as you can about the process, the perquisites, and about financial aid and scholarships.

It is still your education, after all.

48 Bollywood

B

ollywood singer Ankit Tiwari, who rose to fame with Aashiqui 2, has got engaged to Pallavi Shukla.

The singer shared an adorable picture on his Instagram account and wrote a heartfelt message for his fiancée. He wrote, “I will spend an eternity loving you, caring for you, respect you, showing you every day that I hold you as high as the stars.” Ankit and Pallavi looked nothing less than a pair made for each other in the still shared by the singer.

The news of Ankit Tiwari getting hitched

Akshay Kumar on film clashes: Some films will have to be released together

came out a few weeks ago. Sources reveal that Ankit met fiancé Pallavi Shukla on the recommendation of his grandmother who first saw her on a train journey from Kanpur to Delhi. After engagement, the wedding ceremonies would start with full force.

The wedding will happen in a typical north Indian style in Kanpur.

After the wedding, Ankit Tiwari will return to Mumbai and will organise a reception in the city by the end of the month.

Narrating his first meeting with fiancé Pallavi, Ankit had earlier

A

nushka Sharma is busy promoting her upcoming horror film Pari. While she is engrossed in work, it is husband Virat Kohli who has surprised her with a cute post on his Instagram account. The Indian skipper who is in South Africa playing against the Proteas shared a photo of him hugging Anushka. The caption of the photo reads, “My one and only! ♥♥”. From the moment the photo has surfaced on social media, Virushka fans cannot stop themselves from going gaga over the love of this cricket-Bollywood couple.

Well, this is probably the second time in a week that Virat has professed his love for his beloved wife. Earlier, while speaking at the post-match presentation speech, he credited Anushka

R

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

ani Mukerji is coming back to the silver screen after a hiatus of four years. Titled Hichki, the Aditya Chopra film will see Rani in the role of a primary school teacher suffering from Tourette’s syndrome and how she deals with her involuntary spasms and hiccups.

To promote her film, Rani recently appeared on a chat show with Neha Dhupia along with celebrity designer Sabyasachi Mukerjee.

While Rani has always shied away from revealing details about her marriage with producer Aditya Chopra, in the recent

told Mumbai Mirror, “Once dadi announced that Pallavi would be the family’s daughter-in-law, everyone agreed. I’m happy that the family is happy and a little nervous too. She is a very sweet and simple girl. During our first meeting, there were 10 others seated between us.”

Adding to it, he said, “I’ve introduced her (Pallavi) and her family to my work and life in Mumbai where she will live after marriage.”

Pallavi is a mechanical engineer by profession and is based in Bengaluru from past ten years.

On the work front, Ankit Tiwari recently composed music for Sidharth Malhotra, Manoj Bajpayee and Rakul Preet Singh starrer Aiyaary, which was released on February 16.

(Indian Express)

for his commendable performance in the ODI series India played against South Africa. He then said, “It has been a rollercoaster till now. People who are close to me deserve a lot of credit. My wife has kept me going throughout the tour. I am grateful for that.”

It is not only Virat who has been indulged in some public display of affection. Every time the Indian skipper has scored a century, Anushka has shared a picture of him, applauding him for his performance with the caption, “What a guy”.

Virat and Anushka have been married for more than two months now but their every post for each other creates a frenzy among many Virushka fans.

Recently, after the release of Pari trailer, Virat appreciated Anushka’s work and shared the trailer on his Twitter handle. He then tweeted, ““Can’t wait to watch my one and only in an avatar never seen before and I’m blown away already . Can’t wait @anushkasharma @officialcsfilms #PariTrailer.” (Indian Express)

BFFs with Vogue episode, Rani finally decided to open up. Talking about how the two met for the first time, Rani revealed that their first meeting happened on the sets of the movie Mujhse Dosi Karoge which starred Rani, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor in the lead. Rani also shared how Aditya went on a limb to cast Rani despite being told by people not to take Rani in the lead “because they thought that she didn’t have the equity for a Yash Raj film” and how Rani was impressed by his frank and open nature.

Rani and Aditya tied the knot in April

A

kshay Kumar, who has been receiving rave reviews for his latest release PadMan, is looking forward to his upcoming movies.

However, it looks like his films haven’t been able to avoid clashing with other films.

First his film, Padman was supposed to clash with Padmaavat, and then with Aiyaary. However, the actor made sure to not clash with the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial, and then Aiyaary postponed its release. Now reports suggest that his upcoming sports drama Gold will clash with Kangana Ranaut’s film Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi.

Kangana had earlier reacted on the reported clash. She went on record to say that there is no harm in releasing films on the same date.

Akshay too seemed to agree with Kangana. In a recent media interac-

tion, the actor said, “Yeh clash kya hota hai? (What is this clash?). You guys use this term as if we are fighting with each other.”

The Jolly LLB 2 actor then went on and stated some facts on why clashes are inevitable in Bollywood. He said, “Our film industry releases approximately 180 films each year. We do not have as many theaters. So some films will have to release together. There is no harm in it. Also, we have only 52 weeks. So it is not possible for each film to have solo release dates. Some films will have to release in the same week.”

Previously, Akshay Kumar’s films have enjoyed a solo release. We wonder if he will decide to continue with the trend, and how he’ll manage to do so.

But for now, it seems like he is preparing for the season of clashes. (Indian Express)

A

mitabh Bachchan is one prolific Twitter user. And rightly so, he is one of the most followed user on the micro-blogging site despite the fact that sometimes us ‘netizens’ fail to comprehend his tweets.

But on January 31, the actor had revealed via a tweet how he was disappointed with the micro-blogging site because they had allegedly reduced his number of followers from 33 million to 32.9 million. “Twitter!

You reduced my number of followers. Haha!

That’s a joke. Time to get off from you. Thank you for the ride. There are many ‘other’ fish in the sea — and a lot more exciting!” he had tweeted.

Foreseeing the loss of an influential superstar from their site, looks like the Twitter people decided to pay Mr. Bachchan a visit and explain to him how their website functioned. Sharing a picture with the team to-

day, Amitabh wrote, “T 2619 – The Twitter team came from across the seas to visit me at work and to explain to me how TWITTER works .. thank you ! The truth of the working is so ‘apparent’ !!” And yet again, the enigmatic Amitabh hasn’t failed to confound us.

One user even chose to express her confusion on the thread saying, “But.. don’t you already know how it works? P.S.- This picture is very distracting. You look way too handsome

2014 in a very hush-hush marriage ceremony. The two were adamant on not having a grand celebrity wedding and there were only 12 people present on the D-day, as revealed by Rani.

Rani and Aditya have been happily married for four years now and they also welcomed their baby daughter Adira two years ago. While we see social media being flooded with pictures of other celeb kids, Aditya and Rani are very protective towards getting Adira clicked. “I want Adira to grow up normally. You get unwanted and undeserved attention without having achieved anything in life. I want Adira to

& suave. Had to read the tweet thrice!” Pat came Amitabh’s reply, “you are missing the point about Twitter my dear .. ‘apparent’ is within quotes .. if you have not understood the hidden meaning I shall explain it someday .. not here.”

Senior Bachchan has always maintained a consistent presence on Twitter, giving fans a daily dose of nostalgic photos along with his state of mind. Here’s hoping his meeting went jolly well. (Indian Express)

be treated like any other child in school.

Aditya and I don’t want her to be photographed constantly,” said Rani.

Talking about her relationship with husband Aditya, Rani quipped how she cursed him almost every day, but in a ‘loving’ way. She says, “Yes, I do. I curse my husband every day; I abuse my husband every day but he does such loving things that the cursing comes out with love! So, in my family when we curse, we curse with love.

We don’t curse with hate. If I curse somebody, that means I really love that person.”

Hichki will hit screens on March 23, 2018. (Indian Express)

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Hollywood 49

Sylvester Stallone confirms Frances McDormand in Fargo: he’s alive and “still punching” Not your regular heroine in response to death hoax

R

eports about popular Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone passing away were doing the rounds on social media yesterday. Having faced a similar situation last year as well, Stallone took upon himself to nullify the social media reports of his death through a social media post.

His younger brother Frank also took to Instagram and termed those spreading the hoax as “mentally deranged”.

“Please ignore the stupidity.

Alive and well and happy and healthy…Still punching!” the 71-year-old Stallone, the hero of the popular Rambo and Rocky series, posted on his Twitter handle.

Terming the social media reports of his brother’s death as rumours, Frank, 67, said, “What kind of sick demented cruel mind things of things like this to post? People like this are mentally deranged and don’t deserve a place in society.”

T

hor Ragnarok was certainly one of the funniest superhero films of all time. Disney and Marvel studios have allowed directors to do their thing in movies and do not interfere (something Warner Bros and DC could learn). This is why Marvel Cinematic Universe movies are so different in their tone even though they are a part of one big story. Some movies in MCU like Guardians of the Galaxy are so funny that they almost seem self-parodies.

Thor Ragnarok was a movie that kept up with the tradition Guardians of the Galaxy established. But it went one step further. Instead of just staying hilarious and light-toned, it went into the realm of absolutely bonkers. And the craziest part of this nuttiest superhero film was the one involving Jeff Goldblum’s deranged Grandmaster.

Everything associated with this char-

C

omedienne and actor Amy Schumer has tied the knot with chef Chris Fischer in an intimate function in California. Among the big names, Red Sparrow star Jennifer Lawrence attended Amy’s wedding.

Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer had been dating for only a few months before they decided to make things official. The two married in a beautiful ceremony with a view overlooking the sea in Malibu, California.

“It was beautiful”, Jennifer Lawrence told Entertainment Tonight about the wedding. The Red Sparrow star was also taken in by surprise by the sudden wedding but was also quite emotional about her close friend’s wedding.

“It was very sudden, but it was, I was sobbing…his vows were stunning.

Sylvester pointed out that the images purporting to show him suffering from an illness that made him lose his hair were likely from a scene he has filmed for one of films.

There was a spate of social media posts on Monday claiming that the actor had died of cancer.

This is not the first

time that erroneous messages of Sylvester’s demise had flooded social media. In 2016, a British media news site had claimed he was dead, prompting him to upload a photo of himself with Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev on Instagram. Sylvester’s last post on social media was made on Sunday to promote his new film Creed II. (Indian Express)

acter, including the planet Sakaar, was mad, but in a fun way.

Marvel Studios has released an extended scene that encapsulates everything that we loved about the film. The scene involves the Grandmaster punishing his wayward cousin. If you remember, Grandmaster “pardoned” his cousin in a crazy way in the film. In this bonus scene, there is a bit of context.

Whilst we saw Grandmaster doing… well, something, with the tentacle things in a deleted scene a few days back, this time it seems there are furry creatures engaging in some PG13 content with each other all around Grandmaster and Thor. The former is explaining how things work in Sakaar and who he is. The entire scene is something no “normal” director would shoot.

Oh boy, aren’t we glad that Taika Watiti shot this? (Indian Express)

It’s when two people really love each other and they really mean it, it shows, and it was a beautiful ceremony and an amazing time. I couldn’t be happier for them”, Lawrence told Entertainment Tonight.

Schumer shared a few pictures from the wedding. The actor looked resplendent in white as she posed for the shutterbugs.

Schumer also shared a post on Instagram where she stated that she didn’t want any gifts for the wedding, but wanted people to consider the thought of giving a donation to every town (an organisation working together for the cause of gun safety) for gun safety, as she sent love and warm wishes to those affected by gun violence. (Indian Express)

T

here is something about Frances McDormand and her choice of roles.

McDormand has been nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actress category for her stunning portrayal of a grieving and revenge-seeking mother Mildred in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

But before the eccentric Mildred, there was Fargo’s Marge, for which McDormand had won an Oscar in 1997. That McDormand is a good actor is not news, but her performance in Fargo was special.

Frances plays police officer Marge Gunderson in the Joel Coen-directed movie. Marge is a heavily pregnant cop, who has a hearty disposition. She is warm, good-natured and comes across as someone you would want to get acquainted with if you met her in person.

All things ‘normal’. But what makes her so unusual then? Well, as Joel Coen put it in an earlier interview with Empire, “She wears a funny hat and walks funny but is not a clown…We wanted her as far away as possible from the cliched cop”.

You don’t see many pregnant cops in movies, and so the first and obvious point of Marge is in itself a departure from the routine. The

Coen brothers are known for their dark comedies; a dash of realism and a good dose of comedy, to put it simplistically. Marge also has her own set of quirks; just the way she says things, so naturally, and nicely like she really means it (which is a rarity in this day and age) is unique.

She walks funny and speaks in a distinctive manner, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that she is a damn good detective in her own right. In a Coen movie, no one is without the proverbial skeleton in the closet. But Marge stands out again, as she is an open book. She is what she portrays herself to be.

It cannot be emphasised enough how Marge is a cut above the rest.

She has real strength of character. Remember

the famous Wood Chipper scene of the film, when Marge finds Gaear (Peter Stormare) feeding Carl’s (Steve Buscemi) body into the chipper?

Gaear looks up and sees Marge pointing a gun at him, but goes back to doing the unsightly job until she finally points towards the big star in her cap, indicating that she is an officer of the law.

The murderer then tries to flee, but Marge pursues the psycho killer on the hard-to-walk-on, snow-filled land. If that’s not character, what is?

Marge is particularly striking because she represents the side of humanity we hope still lives amongst us. She is extraordinary in her ordinariness. A walking contradiction, her warm exterior hides her razorsharp intellect. (Indian Express)

Oscars 2018: Chadwick Boseman, Emma Stone, Greta Gerwig among presenters

B

lack Panther star Chadwick Boseman, Girls Trip breakout star Tiffany Haddish, Lady Bird director Greta Gerwig and The Big Sick co-writer and actor Kumail Nanjiani are set to appear at the 90th annual Academy Awards.

The show’s first round of presenters were announced on Friday.

Producers Jennifer Todd and Michael De Luca say Laura Dern, Tom Holland, Margot Robbie, Jennifer Garner and Daniela Vega will also appear on the March 4 ceremony, along with past Oscar winners Viola Davis, Mahershala Ali and Emma Stone.

Jimmy Kimmel is set to host the show, which will be broadcast live on ABC. The ceremony will be held in Los Angeles.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences posted the list on its social media accounts. “Meet our first 12 #Oscars presenters!

And tune in on Sunday, March 4, to watch the show live,” the tweet said. Here is the full list: Mahershala Ali, Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Laura Dern, Jennifer Garner, Greta Gerwig, Tiffany Haddish, Tom Holland, Kumail Nanjiani, Margot Robbie, Emma Stone, and Daniela Vega.

It is clear by looking

at the list that The Academy is taking the #OscarsSoWhite criticism seriously. Traditionally, the Oscar nominations and even ceremonies have been dominated by white males. Now, it is no longer the case. The women, people of colour, and LGBTQ people have greater representation. As one can see, the presenters’ list is quite diverse.

Rachel Morrison, the brilliant cinematographer responsible to shoot Black Panther, has been nominated for her work in Netflix’s Mudbound.

She is, unbelievably, the first woman to be nominated for best cinematography in the history of the Academy. Also, Jordan Peele is only the fifth black director to be nominated for best director. Oscar 2018 ceremony will be broadcast live on March 4. (Indian Express)

50 sport

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

New crop of female boxers McLeod, Thompson named on World Indoors team; Blake coming soon - Ninvalle returns after suspension

G

uyana Boxing the both the decentralisation Association (GBA) and inclusion of females in the spot. “Minister Norton has been President Steve instrumental in the decentralisNinvalle is of the view that female boxers are steadiing of boxing; he would have sinly improving to deal with glehandedly supported the crethe new demands of the ation of [Savannah Boxing] gym in Region Nine.”

International Olympic Committee (IOC).

That gym participated in the Pepsi Ahead of the Michael Parris 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, IOC had Under-16 competirequested that tion where Julicia Rodney won a gold the International medal.

Rodney Boxing Association is also slated to (AIBA) increase fight at Saturday’s the number of female divisions and Patrick Ford decrease the male.

Memorial Open being held at the National Though the request Gymnasium. was met with strong Norton sent coach Orland opposition on the baRogers to Region Nine for a sis of decreasing the male divisions, there two-week stint who has continis the inevitability an ued to extend his reach by developing a gym in Mabaruma increased surplus in (Region One) which accordfemale boxers will be ing to Ninvalle has “at needed.

Also an AIBA Young Julicia Rodney is being touted least eight females paras a future star for the sport Executive Member, ticipating.”

Ninvalle was ques“In another five tioned on how can Guyana meet those months or so we will see a new crop of females, some are already there demands in the not so distant future.

“AIBA has more or less amended but we will see a crop of polished feits constitution for women to be in- male boxers coming from region nine cluded in the executive; it says we re- and from Mabaruma and they will not alize the importance of having wom- stop there since Rogers will continue en in all of our departments; in every going around the country,” the GBA confederation there must be at least head posited.

Since the 2012 Summer Olympics, one executive committee member who women’s boxing became part of its is female,” he explained.

But on the local scene he revealed programme and it is understood apart Social Cohesion Minister Dr George from wrestling boxing has the lowest Norton who has responsibility for female participating at the Games. sport has been leading the charge in

Omar McLeod

D

efending 60m hurdles champion Omar McLeod and 60m bronze medallist Elaine Thompson were named on a 30-member Jamaican team to compete at the IAAF World Indoors to be held in Birmingham, UK, March 1-4.

Sixteen women and 14 men were name by the selection panel of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative

Association (JAAA) that will see Michael Frater and Dion Hemmings McCathy as the managers and Maurice Wilson as technical director.

Asafa Powell one of three Jamaican medallists from two years ago when the championships were held in Portland, Oregon in the USA was not named on the team after he pulled up in a race at the national stadium on Saturday.

Quartermiler Dominique Blake who was banned after the 2012 Olympic Games was also named in the team, her first national selection since her ban expired in 2016.

The men's team Everton Clarke, Kimmari Roach, Omar McLeod, Javon Francis, Steven Gayle, Kemoy Campbell, Ronald Levy, Demar Forbes, Clive Pullen, O'Dayne Richards, Andre Clarke, Jermaine Gayle, Peter Matthews and Rusheen McDonald.

The women's teamRemona Burchell, Gayon Evans, Eliane Thompson, Dominique Blake, Tovea Jenkins, StephenieAnn McPherson, Natoya Goule, Aisha Praught, Rushell Burton, Jeanine Williams, Shanieka Ricketts, Kimberly Williams, Danniel Thomas-Dodd, Tiffany James, Annastasia Leroy, Janieve Russell.

(Jamaica Observer)

FIFA’s Regional Director due for 4-day visit

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will host the recently appointed FIFA Regional Director, Marlon Glean, from February 23 to 26, 2018.

During his four-day visit to Guyana, Glean will meet with the President and Executive Committee, visit the GFF’s National Training Centre and participate in the youth development programmes – visit to two GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centres (ATCs) and one GFF-Pele Alumni Frank Watson U15 Intra Association Tournament.

He will also visit a GFF Elite League Match. Among the highlights of the visit will be the launch of a partnership between the GFF and Guyana Beverages Inc., which will see bi-weekly “Kool Kidzs” grassroots programmes being held in vulnerable communities. This launch is set for Saturday February 24 at the GFF Secretariat at 11:00h.

Marlon Glean is a Grenadian but is based in Barbados

Additionally, as part of their partnership with the GFF, Scotiabank will issue vouchers to selected footballers who have excelled academically and are part of the ATCs.

Kohli closing on Viv Richards record

P

rolific India batsman Virat Kohli is closing in on a record held by Windies legend Sir Viv Richards as he continues to dominate the bating during the ongoing tour of South Africa.

Kohli, who has hit a real purple patch of form, has scored 830 runs in South Africa so far and is just 130 runs shy of matching the record created by Richards, 42 years ago.

Richard set the mark during the West Indies tour of England in 1976, where he scored 1045 runs after amassing 829 runs in five Test matches and 216 runs in three ODIs. The batsman remains the only player to score over 1000 runs in a series.

Kohli scored 286 runs in the threematch Test series, and 558 runs in ODIs. The 29-year old then scored 26 runs in the first T20I bringing his tally to 870 runs. With two T20s left and giv-

Virat Kohli

en Kohli's current form, the India skipper might well be the second batsman after Richards to break the 1000-run barrier in a single series but it won’t be easy.

With a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series, India will look to seal the series at Centurion on February 21.

The final T20I will be played at Cape Town on February 24. (SportsMax)

Sport 51

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

5 swimmers make CARIFTA qualifying times Individual Medley he clocked 2:41.53 which was enough to beat the 2:44.1 standard. In the 400m Freestyle the time needed was 5:11.4 and he easily stopped the clock at 4:56.17.

Also in the 11-12 group was Persaud who won all of her races at the event but only made the cut for 50m Freestyle in 30.12s just inside the 30.17s marker; she also got the honours in

L

the 50m Butterfly with 32.38s bettering the 32.57 required.

Another 11-12 competitor in Mahaica bettered the 34.75s by clocking 34.72s to head to Kingston for the 50m Backstroke.

In an invited comment senior national coach Sean Baksh expressed his delight in the positive signs showed at the long course meet. He explained that though

there were not the best signs shown by swimmers it was a great start and they will now look to improve in areas such as turns to bring about more efficiency.

It is understood that consideration can be given to other swimmers based on ‘B’ standard but that decision is in the hands of GASA’s technical committee.

Leon Seaton Jr (lane 4) swam the fastest 50m Freestyle in a time of 25.35s

eon Seaton Jr, Lian Winter, Raekwon Noel, Aleka Persaud and Patrice Mahaica have managed to qualify for the CARIFTA Games Swimming which will be held in Kingston, Jamaica from March 30 to April 3.

Their qualification came after a productive meeting in the pool over the weekend when

the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association held its Mashramani Long Course Meet at the National Aquatic Centre.

The ever improving Seaton, competing in the 13-14 age group clocked 25.35s in the 50m Freestyle to comfortably beat the qualifying time of 26.02s. His feat was even more astounding as it was the fastest better Andre Fowler who com-

peted in the 18 and over and clocked 25.64s. His female equivalent was Lian Winter in the 200m Butterfly with a time of 3:04.90 better than the needed 03:08.7.

Noel who is an 1112 competitor made the most qualifications. The extremely talented natural athlete got ahead of the 2:20.4 in the 200m Freestyle to register 2:19.47 while in the 200

Raekwon Noel qualified for three events

GDA to host Caribbean Championships trials

T

he Guyana Dart Association will be hosting a two-day trial to select players to represent the country at the Caribbean Championships scheduled for July in Trinidad and Tobago. The trials will be held on February 26 and 29 at the Malteenoes Sports Club, Thomas Land.

According to GDA President, Sheik Yaseen the trials are only for affiliate members and will start promptly at 19:00h and players must make attendance on both days. Yassen expects the trials to be filled with heated competi-

tion which is coming hot on the heels of the association’s national championships which were held earlier in February.

At the end of the championships reigning Caribbean single men’s champion Sudesh Fitzgerald was on ‘bulls eye’ by sweeping most of the awards.

The left-handed thrower won the singles champion, men’s doubles, most 180’s, highest check out (170 points), most hundreds (76), shortest game (11 Darts) which essentially catapulted him to the most valuable player title.

Rashid, Bumrah joint No.1 in ODI rankings

A

fghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan and India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah have jointly risen to the top spot in the ICC rankings for bowlers in ODIs. Rashid, aged 19 years 153 days, became the youngest ever No.1 in men's rankings history. The pair displaced South Africa legspinner Imran Tahir, who slid to sixth spot after taking only one wicket in four ODIs at home against India.

Rashid took 16 wickets in five matches against Zimbabwe, at an outstanding average of 7.93. He also scored 51 runs in two innings with the bat, including a matchwinning 43 off 29 balls in the fifth ODI on Monday, to break

Rashid Khan

into the top five among allrounders.

Afghanistan overtook Zimbabwe as the tenth-ranked team following their 4-1 series win in Sharjah.

Among batsmen, India captain Virat Kohli, who became the first batsman to rack up 500 or more runs in a bilateral ODI series, breached the 900-point mark.

As a result, he now holds a rare feat of crossing 900 points in both Tests and ODIs - one among five batsmen to have done so - and only the second batsman after AB de Villiers to do it simultaneously.

Kohli had amassed 558 runs in six innings, including three hundreds,

to lead India to their first ODI series win in South Africa.

Kohli's 909 points took him ahead of Brian Lara in the alltime list, led by Vivian Richards, who had aggregated 935 points.

Kohli now occupies the seventh spot, and his aggregate is the highest since Brian Lara reached 911 points in March 1993. Shikhar Dhawan, who was the second-highest score behind Kohli in the ODIs in South Africa with 323 runs in six innings, jumped four spots to tenth.

Other big movers included the wristspinning duo of Yuzvendra Chahal, who rose eight places to 21st, and Kuldeep Yadav, who climbed 15 places to 47th. (ESPNCricinfo)

52 sport

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Father-son bonding, the Chanderpaul way

CWI ostracises former players, says Windies legend Richards Sir Vivian Richards

I

magine you were a professional cricketer. Now imagine you had to share your dressing room with... your father. And, on top of that, your dad is a legend of your sport. A lot to handle? Doesn't quite seem to be the case with Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who shares the Guyana dressing room with his father Shivnarine.

Chanderpaul junior, 21, jokes that Shiv, 43, "knows how I am, so he's kind of free up with that".

Tagenarine says he knows enough to make good use of the vast experience of his father the most capped player for West Indies in Test cricket - but does not let his record put unreasonable pressure on himself.

"I just try and be myself. I can't be him, you know," Tagenarine said, according to the Jamaica Gleaner. "[But] most of the training, I use him to get some help. He gives me a few pointers."

Shivnarine, not unexpectedly, had plenty of advice for his son: "He's

W

Shivnarine with his son Tagenarine Chanderpaul

been around [the domestic circuit] for a while.

He had a good season in the [first-class] Regional Four-Day tournament.

It's the first time he had a full season, but that's just the beginning.

"He needs to keep going. He's young and he needs to learn as quickly as possible and take it a distance because, whenever you get an opportunity, you have to grab it sometimes."

That said, the equa-

tion was not all work and no play between father and son. "We still have our fun and have our jokes," Shivnarine said.

"In any team sport, you need to have fun. That's the only way to keep going.

"When I went into the Windies team, we had people who used to give us a lot of jokes - guys like Kenneth Benjamin, Amby [Curtly Ambrose].

Those are the guys who keep you going on tour.

I know how important that is. You need people like them around to keep you going. So yeah, there's a time when you make your jokes and a time to get serious and down to business."

Guyana are currently in Antigua, to play the semi-final of the Regional Super50 List A tournament. They take on Windward Islands at the Coolidge Cricket Ground on Thursday afternoon. (ESPNCricinfo)

est Indies batting legend Sir Vivian Richards has accused the current administration of continuing to sideline the sport’s former players, stifling an overall inability to make a meaningful contribution.

Richards a former West Indies captain and one of the world’s most recognized batsmen, freely admitted that he has long coveted a position working to help develop the sport regionally as a part of the regional board. He pointed to the example of other players like Australian great Greg Chappell who is now a full-time national selector and talent manager for Australia.

"Lots of work needs to be done to get it to the right prominence and to where folks would believe where we should be.

I am not at all involved

in West Indian cricket.

Most of the former players have been ostracised.

Constructive criticism is not much accepted in the Caribbean,” Richards told Reuters.

Other former players like Joel Garner have, however, found a home within the current dispensation as a team manager and member of the board.

"I would love to take a role like Greg Chappell did for Australia," The Antiguan added.

"I think I have a good eye for talent and this is something that we have never taken on board in the Caribbean."

The West Indies once the world’s most dominant force have struggled to impress in recent years, with the exception of the T20 format where they are one of the world’s top teams.

(SportsMax)

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

53

54

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 25, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

55