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Jagdeo slams “visionless” Gov’t ISSUE NO. 361

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017

Page 3

...says thousands stand to loose jobs from estate closures

From L-R: Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock; Ambassador Riyad Insanally and Dr. Walter Edwards during the Guyana Cultural Awards Ceremony and launch of the 2017 Guyana Folk Festival in Brooklyn, NY. At the event, Brooklyn Borough President; Eric L. Adams also used the opportunity to present Minister Allicock with a Citation. (Photo: Andrew D. Ross)

Woman gets G$100,000 bail for posting nude photos of ex on Facebook

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NEWS 3

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Jagdeo slams “visionless” Gov’t …says no guarantee emerging oil sector will cushion huge impact of estate closures

By Shemuel Fanfair

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p p o s i t i o n Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday again lamented the fact that thousands of sugar workers stand to lose their jobs in the coming months as Government continues its scaling down on the sugar industry.

Speaking at a public meeting organised by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Jagdeo surmised that the number of jobs slated to emanate from the emerging local oil industry will not suffice for, or outweigh the avenues of employment that existed in the once thriving sugar industry.

He claimed that Government’s decisions on the industry are motivated by “malice” and a lack of consideration for thousands of employees and their families

who stand to suffer from the closures of sugar estates across the country.

Jagdeo also told the gathering at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, that from an economic perspective, there is much risk in being too heavily dependent on oil, given the volatile nature of the market.

“Oil prices could be US$88 in the future in 2020 or it could be US$30. You may get large sums of money or you may get nothing for a long while like Saudi Arabia and many of the oil producing countries have discovered,” Jagdeo stated.

The gathering was also told that jobs from the oil sector would be considerably less than thousands of available jobs from the sugar industry.

“The jobs that they will get from oil are cumulatively less than a 1000

Sugar workers and family members told to stand firm against closure

but 10,000 sugar workers will lose their jobs.

Already in the past two years, about 18,000 have lost their jobs and by mid next year, it will go up to about 25,000 people in Guyana since this coalition Government took office,” Jagdeo expressed at GAWU’s public meeting.

According to his estimations, the Opposition Leader observed his doubts over just how much the country will benefit economically from

the oil sector, also questioning why Government had not yet set up the Sovereign Wealth Fund as was stated.

“If we get G$380 million a year, we will pay out all to public servants and pensions. They are delusional because they know that the economy is failing; they are clueless about how to change things, they’re visionless,” the former President declared.

“Ministers Raphael

Trotman and Winston Jordan went to Uganda to look at Sovereign Wealth Fund and said that it would be in place since last year and until now, we don’t know where that is,” Jagdeo added, suggesting that Government is eager to see benefits from the oil economy without having the fund in place.

He told the gathering of mostly sugar workers and their families, that if Government is allowed to remain in office, it would be a return to the policies of the past.

“If you give them the next 10 years, we’re not going to get jobs, we will go back to where we were under Burnham – accumulation of debt and economic malice as is happening already, we cannot allow them to stay there very long,” he said, referencing prospects for the 2020 elections.

The GAWU-organised

gathering later heard that Government is not meeting in the communities and the Opposition Leader reiterated that even some of the Administration’s supporters were “not happy” with its performance.

“The tragedy is that they don’t come to the communities, they don’t go to the markets, they don’t talk to ordinary people – they sit in their offices and grade themselves,” the Opposition Leader told the gathering.

Further assessing Government’s performance, the Opposition Leader referenced many contracts which he said were not being taken to public tender and noted the increase in taxes which spurred miners from boycotting the mining day observances. turn to page 10

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WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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EDITORIAL

The GECOM Chair saga

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ow that a third list of nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been submitted to President David Granger, it is hoped that he (the President) would move with haste and go ahead in making the appointment to this important constitutional office.

As reported in the media, the list of nominees submitted last Friday, after another set of consultations and meeting with individuals and stakeholder groups, includes Major General (retired) Joseph Singh; Teni Housty; Sanjeev Datadin; Annette Arjune-Martins; Onesi LaFleur and Krishnadatt Persaud.

As one would expect, this was not an easy task, as for the third time the Opposition Leader has had to solicit stakeholders’ views and seek nominations in efforts to ensure that the six names presented to the President satisfy the requirements contemplated

by Article 161(2) of the Constitution.

GECOM has been without a Chairperson for several months now and while the Government may want us to believe otherwise, no one can deny the fact that important aspects of the work of the Commission are being held up unnecessarily. We have seen the complications that have arisen from what in the normal course should have been a simple and straight forward process.

It could be recalled that after rejecting the initial list submitted by the Opposition Leader, the President had outlined the qualities the GECOM nominees should possess. He had stated that the candidate should be qualified to be a Judge of the High Court, or should have been an attorney for a minimum of seven years. In the absence of those requirements, the President had said, any other “fit and proper person” could be considered, providing he/ she is deemed to have wide electoral knowledge and is capable of handling electoral matters, since he/she is qualified to exercise unlimited jurisdiction in civil matters.

However, local businessman Marcel Gaskin moved to the High Court in March to challenge the constitutionality of the President’s reasoning. And in handing down her ruling last month, the acting Chief Justice acknowledged that the President can determine whom he deems “fit and proper”, but she overruled the President’s interpretation of the Constitution by finding that there is no particular preference for the appointment of persons with legal training. The least one could expect therefore is that, in making his decision, the President would take into consideration the ruling of the acting Chief Justice in regard to the constitutional stipulation governing the appointment of a GECOM Chairperson.

With Local Government Elections due in 2019 and National Elections in 2020, it is necessary that the President makes his decision soon so that a full commission is in place to commence work for these important elections and to resolve all outstanding issues affecting the work of the electoral body.

The sooner the issue is sorted out, the better it would be for the new chairman to familarise himself/ herself with the entire electoral process and the running of the organisation (GECOM) which we know is very huge and complex. Further, once the appointment is made, it will allow for the political situation in the country to settle itself; if not, it could exacerbate.

If there is continued delay on the part of the President in making the appointment from the list provided by the Leader of the Opposition, it would give rise to suspicion that the President is bent on frustrating and complicating the process so that he can proceed in naming someone of his own choice. Certainly this would lead to a barrage of criticisms against the Coalition Government as it would clearly not be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the Constitution.

While the Constitution allows the President the option of appointing someone of his choice, this could only be on the basis that the Opposition Leader has faild to submit a list. The Opposition Leader has indeed submitted three lists to date and it is clear that every effort was made on his part to fulfill meet his mandate as defined in the Constitution.

Many are anxiously waiting to see how the President would threat with the matter now that a third list has been submitted. It would be in the Government’s own interest to prove to the nation that it is indeed serious about ensuring good governance and more particularly, abiding by the Constitution.

Guyana's medical services will be boosted with 38 certified trained Cuban doctors under the Guyana/ Cuba scholarship Programme.

Large-scale production of onion cultivation in Guyana deemed feasible

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ollowing several trials of onion cultivation by small farmers, large-scale production of the commodity in Guyana has been deemed feasible. This would result in a significant reduction of the import bill for onions into the country.

This information was disclosed after partnering agencies, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and World University Service of Canada (WUSC), had conducted pilot projects in several parts of Guyana.

The project was rolled out in Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Presentations highlighting the findings of the trial, lessons learnt as well as recommendations going forward were made on Friday, August 26, 2017, by NAREI’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Oudho Homenauth; Research Scientist, Tracy Persaud; and PROPEL Agronomist, Joanna Robertson.

The trials were conducted in areas of the Mahaica River, Kara-Kara, Amelia’s Ward, Affiance, Parika, Hopetown and Benab to name a few. Indicative research showed that monitoring should be focused on protected cultivation, nutritional and irrigation facts.

The objectives of the trials were to demonstrate that onions can be grown locally, to determine the producer’s perception of cultivating onions through participatory research and evaluation, garner consumers perception of taste and preference of the locally grown commodity.

In her review of the project, PROPEL Agronomist, Joanna Robertson noted that, “It is our hope to increase onion production in Guyana over a period of years…The long-term effect would be for us to gradually reduce the amounts of imports of onions in due time as production increases.”

According to statistics pre-

Dexter Sultan, from Sanvoort, Canje (Region Six), a participant in the onion pilot project

sented, Guyana’s annual consumption of onions is recorded at approximately 3987 metric tonnes, costing the country a fresh market expenditure of US$1,459,765.

According to the Department of Public Information, the vari-

tention. Details are that heavy rainfall after transplanting could lead to more than 90 per cent mortality, pests and diseases were almost non-existent under shaded conditions, fertilisers should be applied at or near the surface because of the shallow root system and in most cases, frequent irrigation can increase bulb size of the onion.

One farmer, Dexter Sultan, shared that he has seen the results of the onion cultivation in other fields. However, in his trial plot at Sandvoort, West Canje, Berbice, Region Six, some of his seedlings died while other plants were spoilt.

“When I went there to clear the area a few weeks ago, I actually saw some of them; they bulb very well but not fit for human consumption due to not having consistent amounts of water,” Sultan explained.

NAREI has been working with the World University Service of Canada through a

Unrefrigerated onions, approximately three months after harvesting

eties used for the trials were the Red Creole, Mercedes and Texas Early Grano. The Mercedes was identified as being most suitable for large-scale cultivation in Guyana. This variety along with the others was cultivated during three seasons of the year. The Mercedes variety yielded 56,444 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha) when its actual yield potential is 57,500 kg/ha.

Other facts determined during trials were that onions which were cultivated have a longer (unrefrigerated) shelf-life of 80 to 100 days. The seedlings which were grown under shaded conditions required special at-

Canadian Funded project to conduct a number of onion and potato cultivation trials in several areas throughout the country.

The Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) project is a sustainable economic growth project which aims to increase the value of Caribbean fresh produce. By doing this, producers will be able to access high-value markets in the Caribbean and internationally.

The Canadian Government has invested Cdn$100 million for the project’s implementation over a six-year period.

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

President Granger says Gov’t committed to transparency and accountability …in managing oil and gas industry

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resident David Granger has said that Government will be working with ExxonMobil to develop a long-term relationship founded on transparency, accountability, openness, and aligned interests for the good of Guyana.

During a State House meeting with a visiting delegation of ExxonMobil executives on Wednesday, President Granger said that, at the end of the process, Guyanese must be able to view the development of a petroleum industry as one that is beneficial to the national interest.

“We are at the start of an oil and gas industry and we want to ensure that our people are involved… We are happy with the way things are going so far, and we want to assure you of the Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

“We take decisions at the Cabinet level, and then those decisions are taken to the National Assembly; and we do not see that process changing. All Guyanese must feel involved in the process,” Granger said.

The meeting with the ExxonMobil delegation dis-

President David Granger

cussed matters related to the status of exploratory and appraisal work being done in the Stabroek Block, as well as the relationship between Government and that company.

The President noted the importance of regular and accurate announcements on matters pertaining to the development of the sector, and added that Guyanese must be involved, especially in the

mainstream opportunities which are available in the industry.

“We have got to keep the public informed, to ensure that civil society does not feel that there is some underhand relationship which is injurious to the country. We want to make the right steps, and we are looking to see that the population get the education they need to participate in this industry.

“We are looking to ensure that this industry generates employment for our people, and as part of our partnership, I hope that we can have a programme which can help to educate Guyanese on this industry,” he said.

To ensure a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship, the President said, Government is working to develop the requisite framework and strengthen capacity in areas which establish and maintain good governance.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman also attended the meeting, and echoed the President’s sentiments, stating that the engagement is part of an ongoing dialogue that aims to strengthen the relationship between Guyana and ExxonMobil for the benefit of the Guyanese people.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ExxonMobil Corporation, Darren Woods, in an invited comment, described the meeting as fruitful, noting that the Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability was discussed in detail. He said the administration’s commitment is welcomed, since the company’s interests and

aims are in alignment with this.

“I think it is a very productive conversation that we just had. The Government is looking to make sure that we develop the resources, and that we do it the right way — that can benefit the community and the people of Guyana.

We are very committed to that ourselves, and we had a lot of discussions and dialogue to see how best we can do that to benefit ExxonMobil, the Government and the people of Guyana,” he is quoted by the Ministry of the Presidency as saying.

Woods said ExxonMobil remains committed to its investments in Guyana, and is swiftly moving ahead with its production plans.

The meeting was also attended by ExxonMobil’s executives: Country Manager and Project Executive, Rod Henson; ExxonMobil’s Guyana Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington; and Director of Government Relations, Carlton James.

Also attending the meeting were ministers Basil Williams, Joseph Harmon and Dominic Gaskin.

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WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s aviation sector The present mayor needs serious attention of Georgetown has

Dear Editor, General aviation is in crisis, and the President David Granger needs to get the general aviation sector reviewed from top to bottom. This is no joke!

My sympathy to the family, loved ones and friends of the perished pilots.

The lives of the flying public are at stake, and the affordability of flying is as well. I shudder at the thought of flying and whether it is still safe within Guyana and the cost of insurance for the aircraft operators (due to frequent aircraft crashes resulting in many claims) which must be passed on to the public.

I say that general aviation is in crisis because we have had three airplane crashes with two fatalities by three operators, including another mishap and incident by an operator, all within a few months. This isn’t normal in a country with a very small aviation sector.

What is happening to our general aviation sector? There is a problem, and it needs to be addressed immediately, before we have more significant losses of life.

These problems can be one or a combination of several factors, includ-

ing training, morale, poor oversight, pilot error, mechanical, weather, air traffic, poor loading, aging aircraft, etc.

I know the most glaring factor that came from these crashes and all the others in recent years is that the GDF has limited and almost no search and rescue capabilities, and arrive at the scene too late to save lives and extract any survivors.

Let’s please don’t fool ourselves, those brave GDF Special Forces ranks risking their lives to get to the crash site are limited due to the lack of a large helicopter support to rappel and conduct any extraction at the crash scene of any critically injured persons.

The Government is responsible for search and rescue, and should immediately equip the GDF to perform this task.

Do we know whether an earlier arrival with significant capabilities at the crash scenes could have saved lives? It is taking too long to get the courageous ranks to the crash scene without the typical search and rescue tools.

A failure to make it a Government priority and invest in the necessary search and rescue helicopters with equipment makes it highly

probable that any crash with multiple survivors will be a national embarrassment for the coalition Government.

Since crash victims in our rugged hinterland will more than likely perish and be given no hope or chance of urgent medical attention.

This is due to the tardy arrival at crash scenes owing to limited or no search and rescue capabilities by the GDF. I hope the Government sees the need to protect the tens of thousands of us flying around the hinterland with the chance to live, if through no fault of our own we become a plane crash victim.

The Government owes us a timely rescue with the best capabilities to improve our chances of survival.

This is not the responsibility of a private company being paid to use their aircraft, or getting a contract, or asking private companies to use their aircraft gratis.

This is 2017, and the Government needs to take their search and rescue role and responsibility very seriously, and act now, before a major airplane crash.

Sincerely, Nicholas Rodrigues

A mere change of minister is not the solution to the challenges facing Guyana’s education sector Dear Editor, This year’s published results of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE), and the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), with their respective pass rates of 63.39, 92.57 and 48.4 %, demonstrate that students writing these examinations, particularly those who wrote CAPE and the NGSA, have shown improvements in a number of subject areas.

The overall CSEC results for 2017, when compared with those for last year, were marginal, while those for NGSA were significant (pass rate of 32.28 % in 2016 to 48.4 % in 2017).

They have fallen short of what was desired.

However, given the destruction of the educational system over the decades, these de-

velopments, in the view of the WPA, provide tangible evidence that decisions and measures implanted in the education sector by former Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine over the two years of his stewardship at the Ministry have begun to positively impact the situation.

WPA salutes the nation’s children for their success at the CSEC, CAPE and NGSA examinations, and calls on students, parents, teachers, officials and workers in the education sector to redouble their efforts to assist Guyana in regaining its place as a leader in education in the region.

The WPA believes that, given the importance of the education sector to the nation’s development, it will be a grave mistake if partisan rather than objective considerations drive the work and de-

velopment of this most important national Ministry.

WPA remains convinced that a mere change of minister is not the solution to the historic challenges that have affected the Ministry of Education for decades.

These challenges are a) financial; b) structural; c) deficiencies in human resources; d) wages and salaries constraints; and e) a damaged national education culture.

These problems, given their longstanding historic presence, can only be fixed over the medium to long term.

WPA is committed to do its part in Guyana’s education drive. We therefore commit to be pro-active on educational matters in the coalition and Government.

Sincerely, Working Peoples Alliance (WPA)

failed badly

Dear Editor, The international World Mayor Project which has been founded and run by the Londonbased City Mayors Foundation has, since 2004, had as its aim globally raising the profile of mayors who have made significant contributions to cities nationally and internationally.

Municipal leaders are nominated because of their general qualities, such as honesty; management abilities; financial acumen; social, economic and environmental awareness etc.

One wonders whether the Mayor of our capital city Georgetown could be nominated despite her dismal performance and low rate of achievements since ascending to that position in early 2016.

Indeed, whilst Mayors like Lovely Warren of Rochester New York is inviting business owners in her city to access financial assistance in order to grow or improve their businesses, our Mayor is, on the contrary, taxing businesses into insolvency with initiatives such as the container tax, and now a special refuse collection and disposal fee.

Whilst Philippine Mayor of the city of Cagayan de Oro has launched an e-payment

system, allowing residents and businesses to pay their bills, such as business permits, property rates, traffic citations, market stall rentals, sales taxes, transfer taxes, and city building fees through the Globe-Cash Mobile Services and by dialing *137# on their phones, our Mayor is instead demanding that citizens trudge down to City Hall to read the parking meter review and pay all municipal fees.

Whilst the role for mayors, city managers, city council members and other municipal officials is to help in shaping and supporting entrepreneurial communities, our municipal leaders in Georgetown have instead been chasing vendors all over the place, and rolling out parking meters which have severely affected businesses in the city.

In many cities around the world, Mayors have been doing their part. The Mayor of San Antonio recently opened Cafe Commerce, an entrepreneurship center housed in the central library, to bring together various resources for new and young companies.

In places such as Reno, the Mayor has been opening up public spaces, or using

public rhetoric to promote entrepreneurship programmes such as 1 Million Cups.

Unfortunately, the only thing our Mayor can proudly point to in Georgetown is the opening up of ‘57 Dog Food Stands’ that have popped up everywhere in the city, a public health and food handling nightmare.

But seriously, when her two terms are up, the maximum allowed under the law, one wonders what achievements our Mayor will be able to point to?

Tons of overseas trips?

Rampant nepotism and cronyism, with the hiring of relatives to jobs within the Council and the granting of contracts to them also?

An empty and bankrupt City Treasury? A city that is filling up again everywhere with garbage? Or, as she said in the media, ‘garbages’?

Ramshackle municipal offices and buildings? Late payments to workers?

A city swimming in debt, with large sums owed to contractors and every conceivable agency?

Quite frankly, under this mayorship, Georgetown has become a failed city, for which there are no accolades or awards.

Sincerely, Sean Levius

When will the ERC Motion be tabled in Parliament?

Dear Editor, Guyanese breathed a sigh of relief after the Minister of Social Cohesion made headlines, including in your publication, on the likely appointment of Commissioners for the Ethnic Relations Commission.

But this headline lost its vigour in the same way the Minister lost his vigour to present the motion. To not present the motion was a shameful act.

The motion appeared on the agenda of several sittings of the Parliament; unfortunately, it never made it through. Guyanese are unsure if it ever will, considering the pending matters Parliament has to address when it re-

opens.

The competence of the Minister is once again at stake. Many would recall that this Minister once held the portfolio of Public Health, but for many reasons, he was removed.

He has a chance to shine in this Ministry. It is appalling that a simple motion as this he was unable to influence his colleagues on its importance, thereby garnering support that would have resulted in the motion moving up the Order Paper. Is this an indication of his ability?

Guyanese are watching his performance.

The need for such constitutional body can never be overstated. Only recently, a disturbing event made social media

headlines as it related to the discrimination meted out to some Chinese who were victims of a robbery.

With all the tension in the country and rising feelings of discrimination, the ERC is needed more than ever. The ‘pageantry’ activities promoted by the Ministry cannot solve our problem as a nation.

The big questions remain: Do this Government and the present Opposition really want this body? Was money budgeted for its formation? When will the motion be tabled?

Can we expect one before the year comes to an end?

Yours truly A William

news 7

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana order temporary Aviation community says ban on domestic shuttle farewell to pilot killed in recent plane crash services …amid rising aviation accidents

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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he Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Wednesday ordered that all domestic shuttle operations be suspended until operators can provide Standard Operational Manuals and other documents showing how they conduct their operations.

These documents would have to be reviewed and approved by the GCAA before they can resume their operations.

This move comes in light of the three recent crashes in the local aviation sector resulting in the deaths of two pilots.

All of the planes crashed while on shuttle operations. The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority met with domestic operators early Wednesday morning and Director General, Egbert Field, noted that the decision to suspend shuttling did not go down “too good” with the operators.

“We found that there is a common thread running through these accidents, this is not the findings of an investigation… that common thread running through all three incidents is shuttle operations. As you are aware, all three of those accidents took place during shuttle operations,” he said.

He noted that the decision is one that is necessary, since shuttle operations have expanded over the years and this is the first time it is going to be fully regularised.

The GCAA boss acknowledged the impact the decision would have on the mining industry, as well as some Indigenous communities.

No specific period was given for the ban to be lifted, but Fields said he is hopeful the operators would submit their documents in a timely fashion. He added that some indicated that they were in the process of compiling those documents and would be submitting them soon.

He told a press conference the GCAA would match them against International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) documents and regulations following which inspectors would conduct physical checks at the locations before approving them.

He added that the documentation provided by air operators, prior to gaining licences to oper-

GCCA Director General, Egbert Field

ate, acts as a contract between the Civil Aviation Authority and the operator.

“The Authority has also taken further steps to increase its surveillance of air operators by conducting more ramp inspections of flights going out. You will find at Ogle we have an office which will be populated everyday with our inspectors out there,” he informed.

The GCAA Director also said they would have to formulate a plan to actively monitor the shuttle operations in the future, noting that this now puts a strain on the human resources of the Authority.

In addition to increased monitoring, the GCAA is also seeking to collaborate with Police and soldiers in the interior for them to look out for shuttle flights during the suspension period.

He explained that all flights across Guyana must be reported to Air Traffic Control and if there are flights that have not been reported then those flights could be considered illegal and the pilot and the airline could face sanctions.

He added that if any operator or pilot is found violating the suspension, then there would be adverse consequences resulting in suspension of the pilot’s licence or the Air Operators Certification revoked.

Impact When asked whether the GCAA engaged the mining organisations prior to making the decision, the Director General said they were not but noted that the decision would be communicated to them.

M e a n w h i l e , Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Joel Fredericks said the Indigenous communi-

ty would be severely impacted by the ban since most of them depend solely on shuttles for their goods.

“Villages like Chenapau depend solely on shuttles and with school opening on Monday, the children would be affected since some of them are yet to get school supplies… we hope they reconsider this ban so that we can get some normalcy,” Fredericks said.

Shuttle operations allow miners and other businesspersons to transport goods and fuel to various locations within the interior by air.

The Director General of the GCAA posited that while this type of operation is important to the development of Guyana, it has proven to be very risky.

Captain Imran Khan, 41, of Essequibo Coast, Region Two had been attached to Air Services Limited (ASL), and was flying from Chi-Chi to Mahdia when the Cessna 206 (8R-GFM) aircraft went down on Sunday.

On August 8, 2017, a single-engine Cessna aircraft, piloted by Captain Dominique Waddell, was taking off from the Eteringbang airstrip in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) when it crashed. The Wings Aviation plane was on a shuttling mission from Eteringbang to Ekereku when the incident occurred.

On July 25, 2017, Captain Collin Martin, a retired Guyana Defence Force Major, was piloting a Roraima Airways aircraft when it crashed killing him almost instantly. Martin perished after the Britten-Norman island aircraft he was operating crashed on landing at Eteringbang.

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Relatives and friends at Captain Khan’s funeral service on Wednesday prior to the body leaving for the Essequibo Coas

he aviation fraternity turned out in their numbers at the annex of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown to bid farewell to the late Captain Imran Khan, latest pilot to have perished in a plane crash in Guyana’s hinterland region.

After a public viewing held at the CIOG’s annex, the body was flown to Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast, where Captain Khan was buried according to Islamic rites.

Air Services Limited held a memorial service on Tuesday night

for their fallen captain, 41-year-old Imran Khan, resident of the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, who had been attached to Air Services Limited (ASL), and had been flying from Chi-Chi to Mahdia when the Cessna 206 (8R-GFM) aircraft went down on Sunday.

Flying solo, Captain Khan had reportedly been expected to arrive at Mahdia at 08:47h, but had been a ‘no show’. An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal that was emitted from the crashed aircraft, and picked up at 09:08h, was identified as coming from an area west of Mahdia.

A rescue operation

involving the Guyana Defence Force’s 31 Special Forces Squadron was immediately mounted, but because of the mountainous terrain, search-and-rescue (SAR) operators had to trek to the crash site, where they found the lifeless body of Captain Imran Khan.

Preliminary reports suggest that the aircraft may have crashed into a mountain before diving into the heavy jungle. The aircraft is badly mangled, and it is believed that Captain Khan may have been pitched from the plane following the impact.

Due to the conditions of the terrain, the rescue team had to trek for approximately 3 hours, cutting through thick vegetation, to reach the crash site from the landing zone.

The investigation by the Accident and Incident Investigation Group (AIG) will examine all possible circumstances that could have contributed to the occurrence of this latest accident, including weather conditions, pilot’s flight and duty hours, and the type of operations the pilot was conducting.

8 news

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s Traffic Chief cautions Woman gets G$100,000 bail motorists about rising death toll for posting nude I photos of ex on Facebook

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Nikita Cooper

osting nude photographs of her former lover on Facebook has landed a North Ruimveldt, Georgetown woman in hot water. Nikita Cooper appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Wednesday charged for corrupting the public’s view.

The 31-year-old is accused of posting the photographs between June 1 and July 18, 2017. The prosecution is contending that Cooper and her ex-boyfriend had been in a five-year long relationship which ended. According the prosecution, as a result of the breakup, the accused threatened to leak the images to the public and

followed through with her threat.

She reportedly leaked the images to the man’s family and friend via Facebook. Reports indicate that the images all appeared to be taken unknowingly to the Virtual Complainant (VC). In one of the photographs, the VC was even wearing female underwear on his head while he slept.

According to the prosecution, the VC in a statement revealed that he is now in a traumatised state and was even forced to drop out of classes that he was taking as a result of embarrassment.

Cooper was granted G$100,000 bail. She is expected to return to court on September 5.

n light of the recent spate of deaths on the roadways, the traffic department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has made a special plea to road users particularly motorcyclists to be keen in their operation on the road.

The traffic department said it could not sit idly by while persons continue to lose their lives senselessly on the roadways.

Over the past few days, three motorcyclists lost their lives among a total of five road deaths.

Traffic Chief Deon Moore said there is really no reason for persons to be losing their lives in this fashion. He said it is recognised that most of these accidents occur at midnight or any time after that hour. He said in three of the most recent deaths, the one at Goed fortune occurred at 3am while the one at Better Hope occurred after 11pm.

On Sunday, 27-yearold biker Cleon Perreira of Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD), died on the spot after he collided with a car just after 23:00h on the Better Hope

Public Road.

Early Saturday morning, another motorcyclist was killed after he was struck by a minibus in the vicinity of the Goed Fortuin Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

42-year-old Joseph James of Walter Terrace, West La Penitence, Georgetown, was returning home from a party when the accident occurred.

On Monday, police were called in to investigate the death of 50-yearold Feroze Khan of Yarrowkabara, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, who succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident on the Land of Canaan Public Road, EBD that morning.

Khan was pulled out of his vehicle after it had collided with another and was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“These timings are when the road is not too congested, not so busy.

The weather condition was not foggy or rain was not falling so the condi-

Traffic Chief, Deon Moore

tion was not bad”. He said motorists need to drive at a speed that could bring their vehicles to a stop if a situation should present itself.

“At nights you should drive your vehicle at such a speed in accordance to the distance that you can see. If your vision is blurred, pull in a corner, if a light has blind you, pull in a corner”, the official pleaded. He said “it is better for you to wait a few seconds than to try to force to where you want to get and never meet there”.

Moore said so far for the year, some 15 motorcyclists lost their lives. At

the end of last year there were 23 motorcyclists who lost their lives. He said the police had committed at the beginning of this year to see a radical reduction in the amount of lives lost on the road by asking them to wear their safety helmets.

“Many times you see them having the helmets, but having it strapped on the rear seat of the motorcycles. It is a dangerous practice. Motorcycle helmets afford you protection to your body in the event of any eventuality, for you to reduce the amount of injuries you would sustain”, the Traffic Chief said.

Revealing the traffic statistics, Moore said there has been a decrease in all categories of accidents, with 62 fatal accidents as against 83 this time last year, a 23 per cent decrease. In terms of persons dying as a result of the road accidents, this year saw some 68 as against 88 this time last year, a decrease of 23 percent. Six children lost their lives last year. So far for this year there has been only one.

‘We must lead by example’

…says Traffic Chief as campaign commences to strip tint from Cops’ vehicles

T

he Guyana Police Force says it intends to make officers who are breaking the law an example, by removing the tint from their personal vehicles and those belonging to the Police Force.

The traffic department has begun a drive, removing the tint from vehicles belonging to Police Officers and those used in patrol. Traffic Chief Dion Moore said

the Police must set an example to the public.

“If we are to address the issue of the general public, then we must first look at ourselves and that is exactly what we are doing. The public must not see us doing the same wrong things that we are punishing them for.”

Moore said for this purpose, on the first occasion ranks are being

warned, however, if they continue in the same practice, disciplinary actions will be taken.

So far, the department was able to remove 62 tints from vehicles belonging to Police ranks, while 12 were removed from vehicles being used for traffic patrols, the Traffic Chief said.

Just recently, Assistant Police Commissioner David

Ramnarine had warned the Force’s officers that unless they were granted a special exemption for tint on their private vehicles, they would equally be subjected to what the law stipulates.

“There is a law for tint. The law is not for some. The only law I know is when the chief licensing authority grants an exemption, and in a few other cases,” he said. “Some three weeks ago, a message was circulated for tint to be removed from Police patrol vehicles, but it was disregarded by some. And therefore, to (ensure) the compliance that we want, a combined course of action was taken,” Ramnarine had said. turn to page 10

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Transparency body roasts Ramotar roasts Gov’t Govt for approving contract for “irresponsible” for blacklisted company management of economy

I

The members of the new Public Procurement Commission

t was only last year that Trinidad company; Western Scientific Company Limited was blacklisted by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for what the bank referred to as fraudulent practices.

That blacklist was to last from March 2016 to October 2020, but somehow, on August 18, the coalition Government announced its no objection to a G$30 million contract for this very company to supply Sysmex reagents for the Ministry of Public Health.

In an interview with this publication, President of Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. (TIGI), Dr. Troy Thomas, pointed out that the company being blacklisted by the IDB was reported on by local media. Thomas stated that the public expects better when the high level at which Cabinet operates is considered.

He stressed that the violations the company had been sanctioned for are the exact thing the Government should be opposing. According to Thomas, officials in the health sector ought to know the contractors in the field, if they indeed intend to look out for Guyana’s interest.

“They’re looking after the country, and if they don’t take that seriously then they are not fit for the job. So I don’t accept the excuse that they did not know. It should be known especially by people in the field,” he declared.

“It could be that they knew and decided to ignore (the blacklist). And it might be that they felt that they were blacklisted by the IDB but not by Guyana, and maybe they see that as different.”

Regardless of these possibilities, however, the anti-corruption advocate stressed that the situation raises questions of how seriously the Government is taking the business of running such a critical sector as public health.

No objections?

Cabinet has been granting its ‘no objections’ to contracts awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board

(NPTAB) on the presumption that it would act as a high level check and balance.

It is a practise that the Constitution says should have stopped when life was breathed into the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). The PPC was established last year October. Its functions, as set out by the Procurement Act, include to “monitor and review the functioning of all procurement systems, to ensure that they are in accordance with law and such policy guidelines as may be determined by the National Assembly,” Thomas said.

It is also tasked with promoting “awareness of the rules, procedures and special requirements of the procurement process among suppliers, contractors and public bodies; and safeguard the national interest in public procurement matters, having due regard to any international obligations,” Thomas explained.

The Act also stipulates that “it will as well monitor the performance of procurement bodies with respect to adherence to regulations and efficiency in procuring goods and services; and execution of works, approve of procedures for public procurement, disseminate rules and procedures for public procurement, and recommend modifications thereto to the public procurement entities.”

Specifically, section 54(6) of the Procurement Act, Chapter 73:05 states, “Cabinet’s involvement under this section shall cease upon the constitution of the Public Procurement Commission [PPC], except in relation to those matters referred to in subsection(1) which are pending.”

The members of the commission currently are Emily Dodson, Carol Corbin, Ivor English, Nandkishore Gopaul and Sukrishnalall Pasha.

When the commission was installed last year, President David Granger had said that it would take the brunt of work off the shoulders of Government Ministers.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has been vocal against Cabinet continu-

ing this arrangement.

But even though the Commission had settled itself in, Government continued to grant its no objection to contracts.

Asked about the situation earlier this year, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, had said the group has indicated that it is not in the position to begin its work.

“The Public Procurement Commission indicated that sometime in January they will be ready to execute their mandate. Right now they are not ready because there are still some critical appointments to be made in the Commission, and therefore the role of granting no objections of contracts remains with Cabinet,” he told the media.

In an about-turn soon after, however, the PPC had indicated that a literal interpretation of the constitution does not allow it to take over the cabinet’s function in giving no objection to contractors. It had zeroed in on section 54 of the Act. It would not be the first time the Ministry of Public Health has been in the limelight for its questionable procurement practices. A sole-sourced drug contract worth over G$600 million for another Trinidad firm has had to be investigated.

F

Former President Donald Ramotar

ormer President Donald Ramotar has described Guyana’s economic growth for the first half of this year as ‘shameful,’ given that the economy was thriving under the previous People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government which he had managed for three years.

The former Head of State has said that although the economy recorded real growth of 2.2 per cent in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the first half of 2017, this is not anything to boast about, and only reveals the incompetence of the coalition Government.

Ramotar recalled that under his administration, when the Opposition had a one-seat majority in the National Assembly, they used it to their advantage to stymie the work of the PPP/C, but even under those circumstances, the country still recorded even higher economic growth.

Describing the coalition Government as incompetent and visionless, the former President claimed that irresponsible management style has a lot to do with the country’s poor economic performance.

“This is an indictment on this Government, when they inherited a growing economy,” he added.

Ramotar says the current economic situation proves that what is taking place now was inevitable, because there is a direct connection between democracy and economic and social development. “They still have time to take stock of what they are doing and change course, otherwise we are going to end up right back at where we were

in the 1970s and the 1980s,” he predicted.

Commenting on the 12.6 per cent or G$3.4 billion deterioration in non-performing loans recorded in the local financial sector, Ramotar said this is also an indication that Government does not have what it takes to stimulate growth and development in the local economy.

“It’s because the economy is not doing well (that) you have this increase in bad loans. A lot of these people are those who take money to purchase their homes, and something terrible has to happen for (them) not to reach their commitment; and if they can’t meet that, it shows how rapidly our economy is deteriorating,” he explained.

In the Finance Ministry’s 2017 HalfYear Report, it was revealed that the private sector’s credit had increased while the exchange rate had remained constant. This marginal increase was mainly driven by the expansion of the agriculture, fishing, and forestry sectors. The manufacturing, construction, and service sectors also made significant contributions.

Growth in the agriculture, fishing, and forestry sectors was led by expansion in the rice and fishing industries attributable to favourable international prices, strong demand, and entry into new markets.

Non-sugar growth declined from 3.1 per cent in the first half of 2016 to 2.4 percent during the same period in 2017.

But Ramotar contends that although these figures have been produced, he is positive that growth in the economy came directly from the gold and mining sector. He said if this sector were doing poorly, then the economy, by a large extent, would have been worse off, especially since the downsizing of the sugar sector has started to take full effect.

The report said the non-financial Public Sector deficit is expected to be in line with the budget, as the anticipated over-achievement of the revenue target should compensate for the additional expenditure in areas of crime and security and public infrastructure.

The other macroeconomic variables, such as inflation and the exchange rate will be kept in check.

10 news

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Children rescued from abusive home in State’s care …father remains in police custody T

Former T&T AG held in witness tampering probe

Works for Bartica beach boulevard commence – Bartica Mayor

F

he Department of Public Information has said that the three children who were rescued from their allegedly abusive home in Region Nine on Monday have been brought to Georgetown.

Medically examined, results have proven that the two girls have been sexually molested, but their male sibling was not sexually abused.

Additionally, a 14-yearold female sibling who had relocated earlier in the year was also examined and found to have been sexually abused.

B

artica Mayor Gifford Marshall has said works have begun to transform the Golden Beach into a boulevard.

In a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Region Seven Mayor said works are ongoing to renovate the beach area between Third and Fourth Avenues.

“That area is primarily where the regatta is kept, so persons coming to Bartica next year will think they are in some

The children’s father has also been brought to Georgetown to further assist w i t h investigations.

The four children will remain in the state’s custody, but their 49-year-old father is in police custody.

The Child Care & Protection Agency (CCPA) rescued the

three children — two girls respectively aged 12 and eight, and one boy a g e d eight — from a home in which t h e y had allegedly been sexually abused by their father.

Acting on reports made by village leaders, including school teachers in Quarrie, a satellite of St Ignatius Village in

Region Nine, CCPA officials on Monday took the children from the home in which they resided with their 49-year-old father and carried them to the Lethem Police Station in an effort to have that entity assist with investigations.

The children allegedly told the Police that they had been abused physically.

However, they did not say anything about being abused sexually. The father continues to be questioned

by Police, and investigations are ongoing.

Golden Beach, Bartica

other place,” Marshall boasted.

The project, estimated at G$40 million, will see the beach front transformed with the installation of palm trees being planted and benches and solar powered lights being installed. Six mini marts would be erected with the anticipation that different franchises will occupy the spaces, giving patrons a variety to choose from when they visit.

The beach boulevard is part of a wider water-

front development project being undertaken by the Bartica municipality.

It is a collaborative effort between the municipality and stakeholders, and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the Mayor has said that the community’s Green Park is slated for an official launch soon. Though the park is currently in use, there are still “corrective measures” to be carried out on the park’s fountain. “As soon as that is done we’re going to open

Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall

the park,” the Mayor said.

Bartica, the flagship “green town,” is part of the Government’s push for a greener state.

Guyana has embarked on a long-term initiative to green its economy, as strongly advocated by the President.

Former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan

ormer Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has been detained for questioning in the “witness tampering” investigation initiated by acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams in January 2015.

Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West had alleged that Ramlogan, in a phone call six days before he was appointed to the PCA, “asked” him to withdraw as a witness in a matter involving then-opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley.

Ramlogan has denied he made such a request.

Two Sundays ago, the Express reported that the police were trying to reach Ramlogan for questioning, in order to conclude the probe into witness-tampering allegations made against him by West.

The police team, led by deputy Commissioner of Police Harold Philips, was unsuccessful in their attempt to secure an interview with Ramlogan because he had been out of the country for several weeks.

In emailed correspondence, Ramlogan stated “I have never been contacted by the police for an interview in connection with this matter. The police are aware (from previous written correspondence) who my attorneys are. In accordance with the usual practice and procedure, they would make contact with them in the event they need to speak to me.

I can confirm that no one has contacted them as well. This story is therefore a fabrication. It is fake news.

There is simply no truth to it,” he told the Sunday Express. According to his Instagram account, he was in Scotland on vacation.

An interview with

Ramlogan would be one of the last in the high-profile case, which has already secured interviews with former People’s Partnership government officials— former national security minister Gary Griffith, former legal affairs minister Prakash Ramadhar, former minister in the Ministry of Finance Vasant Bharath and former housing minister Dr Roodal Moonilal—as well as former Express investigative journalist Anika Gumbs.

Gumbs broke the story in the Sunday Express in January 2015.

She resigned from the company on August 7, 2015.

The Sunday Express understands she was interviewed earlier this year by the police, but last month, investigating officers issued a search warrant at her home in Maracas/St Joseph, and seized a cellphone and laptop.

Since then, Gumbs, through her attorney, Kiel Taklalsingh, has written to the Office of the Commissioner of Police threatening legal action over the warrant and deeming it illegal.

She also revealed the source of her story in her letter.

After the story broke, former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar revoked the appointments of Ramlogan, as well as then-National Security minister Gary Griffith, who supported West’s story.

A of 9.45a.m yesterday, Ramlogan was at the Police Administration Building, Sackville Street, Port of Spain, with his attorneys which include Senator Gerald Ramdeen, Criston J Williams, Kiel Taklalsingh, and Jagdeo Singh.

(Trinidad Express)

news 11

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Financial analyst says increases Babita Sarjou murder PI wraps up – as Brazilian forensic expert testifies as final witness in ‘bad loans’ troubling for Guyana’s economy

By Paula Gomes

By Samuel Sukhnandan

G

iven the reported deterioration in non-performing loans in Guyana’s banking sector, when compared to last year, a Guyanese financial analyst says it tells a bad picture that things are not going right in the local economy and the banking sector is performing poorly.

In citing the recent Bank of Guyana 2017 Half Year Report, Sasenarine Singh said the Central Bank recorded 12.6 per cent or G$3.4 billion deterioration in non-performing loans compared to a year ago. This is 11.6 per cent of total loans. In addition to that, non-performing loans was 10 basis points higher as a result of the 1.1 per cent decrease, along with a 1.5 per cent contraction in total loans.

The financial analyst told Guyana Times International on Tuesday that the coalition Government’s performance has been very poor and he hopes they will pull their act together and work towards putting the economy back on a path of sustainable five per cent growth and build one that can protect the financial sector.

“Everyone suffers when the banking sector is underperforming. The banking sector is underperforming as we speak.

12.6 per cent increase is significant over one year.

On average most societies in normal times see two to three per cent deterioration in bad debts,” he explained.

Singh said everyone must also acknowledge that the bad loans at the end of June, 2017 was al-

Sasenarine Singh

most G$30 billion and the possibility of these loans being repaid is extremely slim. But another issue is in addition to businesses not being able to repay their loans, the banks saw the bad debts by ordinary householders expanding by 24 per cent.

“In addition to businesses being unable to pay some of their loans, the ‘ordinary John’ who borrows on a car, mortgage or medical emergency, these guys are falling behind on their payments. So the expansion of the bad loans is nothing to celebrate,” the analyst added.

The former Alliance For Change (AFC) member stressed also that the “asset quality of a banking sector is everything in an economy,” and that it gives a clear indication as to the financial viability of the economy in the present as well as what is going to happen next year.

According to him, around the world, the ratio of non-performing loans to the total loans is tracked closely by every single country, reiterating that this performance is a major issue.

Bad loans are defined as those loans which the borrowers cannot make interest payments or

principle payments over 90 days. And according to Singh, this is not someone making a part payment; these are business people and individuals not repaying a single cent on their debts for 90 days.

The financial analyst who is currently based in the United States told this newspaper also that five years ago, the percentage point when it comes to deterioration of non-performing loans has always been within the bracket of five to six per cent, but this figure has now doubled under the current Government.

Asked whether this should be a cause for worry among those in the local banking sector, Singh said while that might not be the case, bankers may worry about what is taking place in the economy that is causing businesses and individuals not to repay their loans.

“At the end of the day, the bankers are instructed by the Central Bank to provide for it. So, they have to put aside money.

The only thing about it is that the banker’s profitability will go down significantly. We have also seen this with one bank.

So, when bankers are making less profit it is not good for Guyana.”

On that note, Singh pointed out that banks are one of the largest contributors of taxes to the Treasury. “The greater their loss, the less their profits and that means less taxes are paid to the Government.

So the people of Guyana will have less benefits coming from Central Government,” he said. He continued, “What is extremely important is these bad loans do impact on everyone.”

‘We must lead by...

Last year, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said Government would be moving to review the existing policy regarding tint on motor vehicles, as one of the components of the national crime fight-

ing strategy. It was announced that tint meters would be used to determine the density of the tint on vehicle windows.

As it currently stands, only certain vehicles are permitted to have tints without the expressed

from page 8

permission of the Public Security Minister. These include diplomatic vehicles and those belonging to senior Government and high-ranking military officials.

Jagdeo slams “visionless”...

GAWU President Komal Chand also spoke at the meeting, where he told the workers that they must stand firm and continue to fight for their rights as sugar workers to secure their future and economic sustenance.

On May 8, 2017, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder presented Government’s State

paper on the future of the sugar industry to the National Assembly where he confirmed that two sugar estates would be closed and the annual production of sugar would be reduced, among a number of other measures, as part of a new policy on the sugar industry.

He noted that GuySuCo would have

from page 3

three estates and three sugar factories. These being Blairmont on the West Bank of Berbice, Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice and the Uitvlugt-Wales Estate in West Demerara. The three estates will be complete with factories and will have cane supplied from all locations, the Minister had noted.

F

amily members of the late Babita Sarjou, and those of murder accused Sharnandand Narine, called “Anand,” and accomplice Darel Ponton, called “Yankee”, flocked the courtroom in anticipation on Tuesday, as Brazilian forensic specialist Renato Teodoro Ferreira Paranaibo testified via a Skype video call before the court of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts.

Paranaibo is a Brazilian Forensic Genetics Expert who has worked at the National Institute of Criminalistics, Brazilian Federal Police, since 2003. His testimony is based on the results of the DNA analysis from Sarjou’s remains which had been sent to Brazil to be tested.

However, the Internet connection was not very good, and proceedings were prolonged as Attorneys Ronald Trotman and Hubert Rodney sought to discredit the integrity of the evidence presented by the witness.

The attorneys had recently made submissions calculated to prevent the

Sharnandand Narine

doctor from testifying.

They had contended that the evidence was not being presented in court per se, but via Skype.

Narine and Ponton are presently on remand for the alleged murder of Babita Sarjou, then Narine’s estranged wife, some seven years ago.

On November 4, 2010, a day that would forever be remembered by Sarjou’s family, the now deceased woman had left her Timehri, East Bank Demerara home to meet her husband and son at the Kitty Seawall, to view the annual Diwali Motorcade. When she did not return home, her worried family had filed a missing person’s report, but after months of fruitless investigations, the case had been closed.

Darel Ponton

It was, however, reopened last May as a homicide by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum after investigators had made a major breakthrough when ‘Yankee’ cracked under intensive interrogation and led police officials to the shallow grave in Narine’s backyard wherein Sarjou’s remains had been buried for six years.

“Yankee” reportedly confessed to committing the act for some G$50,000 and a promised trip to Trinidad offered by Narine, estranged husband of the deceased.

This matter continues on September 12, 2017 before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

12 news

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ex-Cop faces Court for allegedly Linden Town Week 2018 to be sub-franchised harbouring prison escapees

C

harges were laid against a former Police Officer on Tuesday, as he stood trial for harbouring the masterminds responsible for the Camp Street Prison unrest, while the two high-profile criminals are still on the run.

Ex-Cop, 31-yearold Teon Allen, appeared before the Linden Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge of harbouring fugitive criminals Mark

Royden Williams and Uree Varswyck – the duo who almost entirely destroyed the Camp Street Prison on July 9, in their plot to escape.

According to information reaching this newspaper, Allen of Lobora Creek, Essequibo River, reportedly confessed to detectives of the Major Crimes Unit, stating

Ex-Cop: Teon Allen

that he provided meals and transportation to Guyana’s most wanted men, following their prison break from the Camp Street penitentiary.

Allen was taken into custody just one week ago after Police received information that he was seen in the presence of the wanted criminals.

In fact, sources have confirmed that the ex-

Cop is a known confederate of escapee Varswyck, dating back to their shared time as ranks of the Guyana Police Force.

Moreover, it was highlighted that earlier this year, Allen and two other men were charged with the illegal possession of an AK-47 and matching ammunition.

Previous reports revealed that on January 22, he was found with an AK-47 assault weapon, 80 rounds of live ammunition and

an addition one who subsequently dug his way out from the Lusignan holding compound.

The wanted men are Mark Royden Williams, also known as “Smallie”; ex-Policeman Uree Varswyke; Cobena Stephens; and Pual Goriah respectively, all of whom were locked away for murder.

Durant is currently on death row for both the Lusignan and Bartica massacres, while

a 9mm pistol at John Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

With that, the accused has been remanded to prison and is scheduled to re-appear in court on September 28, when the trial will continue.

Meanwhile, still on the run are three inmates who escaped the Camp Street inferno and

Varswyck was fingered in the robbery/murder at Sterling Products Limited.

As such, the Guyana Police Force has issued a G$10 million bounty reward for information that will lead to the re-capture of the men, who are now Guyana’s Most Wanted.

– Mayor & Town Council

T

he Linden Mayor and Town Council has announced its intention to take the lead role in franchising the major activities for Linden Town Week 2018.

The Council emphasised that Linden Town Week is “far bigger than any stakeholder, promoter or investor, since it has grown to be the hallmark event of the town over the last 21 years.” The Council has decided it is promoting full community involvement for 2018.

Devin Sears, Communications Committee Chairperson, told media operatives at a press briefing on Tuesday that the Council will not disenfranchise any stakeholder, but will only be sub-franchising major events.

Sears explained that in July 2017, several promoters expressed their interest to franchise the event, including Vybz Entertainment, Linden Youth Leaders, Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, LGS Entertainment, Extra Beer and Energy, Concept Entertainment and Unique Entertainment.

However, he noted that the Council decided against granting sole franchise rights of the 2018 event.

To allow for wider participation of interested parties, signature events will be sub-franchised through a bid process.

“What we had done, we explored various models in terms of, if we are going to franchise it out, or if the Town Council is going to run it through the Linden Town Week Secretariat,” Sears explained. He also told reporters he believes “with more involvement from all the promoters in the community, Linden Town Week will reach its full potential.”

Keran Williams, Chairman of the Social Development Community, explained that previous Linden Town Week events were executed under three main models, these included the Linden Municipality, Linden Town Council and promoters and private stakeholders.

However, for 2018, the Council has a new focus for the Town Week event, “Over the years all those models have had their success…but one of the major pillars of this year’s decision for Linden Town Week 2018 will be the pillar of ‘inclusion’.

Inclusion continues to be the focus of this municipality,” Williams was quoted as saying by the

news 13

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Region 6 Chairman calls on Gov’t to hold on estate closure …cites massive negative impact on region’s economy

T

he Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, is pleading with the Coalition Government to hold on its plans to close the Rose Hall Sugar Estate in East Canje Berbice, citing the massive negative impact such action would have on the region’s economy.

Speaking at the launch of the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair late last week, when he addressed a gathering which included Government officials and members of the private sector, Armogan made the impassioned plea in regard to the foregoing, and said that even as Berbice is preparing for another Expo and Trade Fair, there is need for expansion in the business sector.

Congratulating the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) for ensuring that the event is held annually, the Regional Chairman said Berbicians look forward to the event not only to see businesses display their wares, but also because it doubles well as a family event.

This year, he announced, there will be a difference in the character of the event, because the expo is being held at a difficult period in the region’s history.

“Our businesses in Region Six [East Berbice/Corentyne] have declined by almost twenty-five per cent in terms of sales, and we have seen many businesses laying off workers. I hope some of these

Father of 7 dies in EBD collision

A

50-year-old man died in the wee hours of Monday morning on the Land of Canaan Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), after his car was involved in a collision with an oncoming vehicle.

Dead is Ferose Khan of Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, who was the driver of one of the motorcars involved in the accident.

According to reports, the accident occurred at around 04:25h when Khan was returning from the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital, EBD. This newspaper was told that motorcar HC 8204, which was being driven by a 33-year-old Forshaw Street, Queenstown, Georgetown resident, was proceeding North along the western carriageway of the road when it collided with Khan who was driving motorcar PGG 8696 and proceeding in the opposite direction.

This newspaper was

told that Khan allegedly made a sudden U-turn into the path of the other vehicle, which caused the collision.

A relative of the dead man disclosed that family members received a call informing them that there was an accident involving Khan on the Land of Canaan Public Road and they rushed to the scene.

Upon their arrival, Khan was still pinned in his vehicle.

The relative disclosed that the only injury he noticed on the now dead man’s body when he was pulled from the wreckage was that his nose was “burst open” and he was bleeding profusely.

He was subsequently rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival at the facility.

The driver of the other vehicle escaped without injury and a breathalyser test administered showed no trace of alcohol in his system.

He is however in Police custody assisting with investigations.

Region Six Chairman, David Armogan

things can be looked at, so we can create employment opportunities in this region through manufacturing and other trade possibilities; so that we can create additional employment in this region,” Armogan

declared.

As an agriculture-based region, he said, both rice and sugar are experiencing “hard times.” Rice cultivation has declined from the 52,000 acres of a few years ago to a cur-

rent totality of 42,000 acres; and its husbandry has been hit by flooding, resulting in 3000 acres less being cultivated and a further 16,000 acres being damaged by flood waters.

Nevertheless, the chairman noted, there still is hope for rice cultivation to rebound.

Armogan said the future of sugar also does not look good, since the Rose Hall Estate is slated to be closed at the end of the year; and what is worrying is the negative impact its closure will have on the economy.

“We will have less income in the Berbice economy because, as you know, the Rose Hall (Estate) generates

about G$50 million in terms of wages every week, in terms of wages and salaries.

Most of this is going to be taken out of the economy and withdrawn from the circulation system; and that, too, is not a good sign.

So I am hoping that Government will use its good senses and delay the closure of the Rose Hall Estate until alternative employment for the displaced workers can be found within the region. And this has to happen with the manufacturing of more goods and the provision of more services within the region,” Armogan announced.

(Andrew

Carmichael)

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Biker dies after crashing into rice truck

The rice truck after the accident

T

The mangled motorcycle under the truck

he lifeless body of a biker had to be pulled from under a rice truck on Monday afternoon after he reportedly lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into the truck at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Arnold Tinnis, who was returning home from an event which was hosted in Suriname.

Guyana Times International was reliably informed that Tinnis was making his way to Georgetown from Corentyne, Berbice at about 16:00h when the

accident occurred.

C Division (East Coast Demerara) Commander, Calvin Brutus confirmed that the man was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital.

Reports are Tinnis, along with his team members, participated in a two-day drag racing event, called ‘Bracket War 2017’ in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The dead man, along with the other bikers, was all making their way home when the accident occurred.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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60 houses to be constructed at Amelia’s Ward – Housing Minister …60 more for Wisroc

Minister with responsibility for central housing and planning, Valerie Patterson-Yearwood

M

inister with responsibility for central housing and planning, Valerie PattersonYearwood has noted that steps are presently being put in place to facilitate the construction of 60 homes at Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The Minister made the disclosure over the weekend while also announcing that a huge portion of land is presently being cleared at Phase 3, Amelia’s Ward in this regard. Another 60 homes are also expected to be constructed at Wisroc, Wismar, Linden, and according to the Minister, if all goes well, at least 90 homes may soon be completed.

“As soon as that land clearing (at Amelia’s Ward) is finished, we’re going to put some internal roads in and we’re going to start – we’re building 60 houses on that plot of land. Thirty of them would be flat, two-bedroom concrete houses. Flat, like three feet off the ground and 30 will be the ones built on stilts which give you the option to enclose the bottom,” the Minister said.

She added that two outreaches will be held on September 21 and 22 at both Wismar and Mackenzie to facilitate enrollment of persons desirous of acquiring these homes, while she explained that letters will be given on the spot.

“On spot we’ll give you a letter because it has to go through the bank. We’ll give you the letter to go to the

bank. If the bank qualifies you, what I’m doing I’m not waiting for the house to done build and then qualify people…

Like every five (houses) that finish building, you move in…”, the Minister added.

The Minister stressed that access to the land has presented some difficulty.

Nevertheless, Patterson-Yearwood said she has since received word from Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira that plans are moving apace in this regard.

“By the middle of next month (September), we should be able to have access and start doing work and I’m hopeful that at least half of that amount we can finish by Christmas. So if we can do that, it’s ninety people moving in homes,” she said. PattersonYearwood said similar work is presently being conducted at Perseverance, East Bank of Demerara, in relation to turnkey houses. The Minister said that 20 three-bedroom houses and roads are being constructed to facilitate 40 duplex concrete houses.

“Immediately after that, we’re doing the roads behind that in Perseverance too, where we’re going to do some of the same houses that we’re doing in Linden, we’re doing 173 houses there. So we hope by December we can finish 50 of those along with the forty duplexes”.

She further added that other areas to benefit include New Amsterdam and Onderneeming.

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City Council defers vote again over ECD man dies controversial Parking Meter Project in hit-and-run

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he Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has further delayed discussions of the Parking Meter Project. At the Council’s statutory meeting late Monday afternoon, Councillors heard that September 7 is the new date when the matter will be discussed. The announcement was disclosed by Mayor Patricia Chase Green, who told Councillors that come next week Thursday; they must be fully prepared to discuss the project.

The Parking Meter Project attracted much controversy since its introduction in May 2016.

However, it was when it officially rolled out in the latter part of January 2017, that citizens formed large protests where hundreds of people from various cross-sections of society gathered in front of City Hall for several weeks, calling for a rescinding of the parking meter contract. These sustained protests resulted in Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan ordering that the paid parking initiative be suspended and a committee be formed to have the contract revised.

At Monday’s meeting, the Mayor clarified that it was the elected Council which agreed to suspend

Mayor Patricia Chase Green

the project. At the last meeting held on August 17, 2017, recommendations were compiled by the Parking Meter Negotiation Committee, headed by Councillor Malcom Ferreira, where it was suggested that the Council could discontinue the metered parking system with Smart City Solutions (SCS). Other recommendations had included continuing the metered parking system in accordance to law – relating to a legal and transparent process as outlined in Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, and to continue the metered parking system independently or await the outcome of pending court proceedings on the subject matter.

Other concerns in the report included the trans-

parency of the process, whether due diligence was observed – especially since the Legal Advisor of the Council indicated that he was not a part of the initial process of the formation of the contract; the termination clause; the dispute resolution/jurisdiction since the contract in its present state calls for arbitration to be conducted in a foreign court, the seize and sell clause, harsh penalties and booting.

Other issues that the Committee had noted highlighted that the contract include rates for residential parking, rates for commercial parking, group rates for taxis and minibuses, the revenue split of 80-20 per cent – with SCS holding majority – duration of the contract, tax concessions,

monopoly on parking and location of meters.

Additionally, transfer of time on cards, impact on income, parking spaces for parking not in good conditions, size of parking space, wages, exemptions, traffic congestion in city, car park issues, attitude of SCS staff, economic report, designated areas for schools/differently abled, distance of parking meters from spaces, placement of meters, and the fact that the main partner was a foreign company were all matters that received attention.

According to the report, the Council can choose to continue the Metered Parking System with Smart City Solutions. However, to move forward under that option, the Committee must be mandated to renegotiate on Council’s behalf so as to address and resolve all of the points/ findings listed in this report [concerns].

The original parking meter contract, which has to date not been publicly released, has a duration of 20 years, upon which the Council has the option to renew. Furthermore, it obligates parkers to pay G$200 per hour of parking. Failure to do so will result in the respective vehicle being clamped, or possibly seized.

accident

T

The house for which Abdool Wahab Khan was caretaker

he Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man, who was found on the Vryheid’s Lust, ECD roadway with multiple injuries about his body early Sunday morning.

However, a post-mortem examination conducted on Monday, concluded that 45-year-old Abdool Wahab Khan died of multiple injuries consistent with that of a motor vehicle accident.

The lifeless body Khan, of Market Street, Better Hope Scheme, was discovered by a passerby at about 06:00h on the eastern parapet of the Vryheid’s Lust access road.

According to information reaching this newspaper, the man was a heavy drinker and lived

in the area for over 20 years.

However, he is originally from Berbice and his family has been notified of his death.

Police initially reported that they were unable to say whether the man died as a result of a hit-and-run accident or if he was murdered.

When Guyana Times International visited the scene, residents said that the man was discovered with several wounds about his body.

Upon visiting the dead man’s home, this publication was told that relatives requested that his body be transported to Berbice for funeral.

It was related that he was the caretaker of a property – since the owners are overseas on vacation – and would do odd jobs around the community.

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Jagdeo maintains Norwegian ‘Animals killed my SWF model most successful daughter’ – T&T mom in managing oil revenues

G

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

overnment needs to come clear on how it plans to manage the funds that are expected to flow from the emerging oil and gas sector, especially since Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has indicated that Government could be moving in another direction other than the Norwegian model of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who said last Friday that countless economies were able to thrive using the Norwegian model of the SWF. However, the Guyana Government seems hell bent on going in another direction.

Jagdeo was again addressing the pitfalls in the oil and gas sector and Government’s seemingly inability to effectively manage what could eventually become a booming oil and gas industry.

Back in June during the debate of the Petroleum Commission Bill, Jagdeo had urged the fast tracking of the legislation that would

open the way for the establishment of the SWF. He had said that government needed to build the fund around the model which exists in Norway. However, Minister Trotman was totally against it.

“Mr Speaker, all those who lecture about Norwegian models obviously are in the dark ages because the new literature says that the Norway model cannot apply to countries that are developing like Guyana”, he had said in rebuttal to the Opposition Leader’s suggestion.

At his press conference on Friday, Jagdeo said the Norwegian model remains the most successful model that has separated the management of the oil resources from the politicians.

“It is done technically. So the procedure is clear so that political people do not get their hands on the money.

It is the most successful model in the world and also avoided the destruction of the economy through the Dutch Disease. Most countries have gone down

the path that has seen an increase in national wealth,” Jagdeo told journalists.

Jagdeo said if Government will not be “going down this road “then it needs to state clearly how it intends to keep safe the country’s oil reserves.”

The Sovereign Wealth Fund of Norway, officially known as the Government Pension Fund of Norway, is the largest in the world, at latest count worth more than a trillion dollars.

The fund was created on the back of the country’s vast oil wealth to provide its citizens with pensions.

The purpose of the petroleum fund is to invest parts of the large surplus generated by the Norwegian petroleum sector, generated mainly from taxes of companies but also payment for licence to explore as well as the State’s Direct Financial Interest and dividends from the partly Stateowned Statoil.

The current revenue from the petroleum sector is estimated to be at its peak period and to decline in the future decades. The Petroleum Fund was established in 1990 after a decision by the country’s legislature to counter the effects of the forthcoming decline in income and to smooth out the disruptive effects of highly fluctuating oil prices.

Back in 2015 following the discovery of oil reservoirs by ExxonMobil, President David Granger had said that his Government would be focusing on the establishment of the much-needed fund.

A

Michelle Harrylal

gold tooth cap with an engraving “Z” is the only way to identify one of two male victims whose charred remains were found in a burnt out house in Carlsen Field on Thursday.

However, no relatives of the two men suspected in the triple homicide turned up at the Forensic Sciences Centre to assist in identifying them.

Only the family of the third suspected victim – Michelle Harrylal – witnessed the autopsies on the remains.

Harrylal’s parents submitted tissue samples for DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing to have legally satisfying proof that it was their daughter’s remains in the house.

Harrylal is one of three people whose charred remains were believed to have been found in Harrylal’s house in a rural farming community, off Tanteak Road, on Thursday.

Her three-year-old son was found wandering a street in Carlsen Field that morning and had told people his mother had “gone to heaven”.

Residents investigated and found the burnt-out house and remains of three people. There was a trail of blood in the bushes leading to the house, police said.

One of the other victims is suspected to be Harrylal’s boyfriend, 35-yearold Michael Applewaite, also known as “Gaza”. The other is suspected to be someone who residents identified

only by the nickname “Reddo”.

Harrylal’s mother, Aliena Babwah, on Monday described her daughter’s killers as “animals” who will be dealt with by God. Babwah said she remained baffled as to who wanted her daughter dead.

Asked about whether her daughter’s killing might be a “hit” ordered by a man who is imprisoned, she said she would not comment.

“I also heard that rumour that it might be someone from jail. But I cannot say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. I don’t have any comment because I don’t know”, she said. “But to the animals who did this, God will deal with you. He sees all things and your time will come”, Babwah said.

The only identifying mark found by forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov during the autopsies was a gold capped tooth with an engraved “Z”.

“They (officials at the Forensic Science Centre) called for relatives of Applewaite and no one came forward.

And there was not anyone there for the other guy also”, Babwah said.

She maintained that Applewaite was not her daughter’s boyfriend or husband.

“They were very good friends and neighbours. He was her closest neighbour”, said the mother.

Danah Babwah, Harrylal’s sister, said her sister lived in the board structure, which was not supplied with electricity, for approximately a year.

The remains of the three were “burnt beyond any possible recognition”, with heavy damage to tissue and bone of all three skeletal structures, making it unable to determine the cause of death, forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov said following the autopsy on Friday.

Police believe that the three were shot before their bodies burnt in the house.

Police say the bodies of the three victims were badly burned, but they were confident the remains belonged to the three people named.

A white Hyundai Accent car was towed from the scene. It is believed to belong to one of the victims.

Babwah said that Harrylal’s three year old son, who has been in her care since the incident, had been visited by a counsellor on Friday. (Trinidad

Express)

Norton to head Culture, Youth and Sport Department … still holds Social Cohesion post

S

ocial Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton will from September 1 take on full responsibility of culture, youth and sport under the Education Ministry.

The announcement was made on Monday by Education Minister (ag) Nicolette Henry during a forum with staff members at the National Cultural Centre (NCC).

Minister Henry said she will now be fully responsible for education.

Under the stewardship of former Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Henry was

specially assigned to the culture, youth and sport department; an area she received heavy criticism for over her performance.

Norton’s new appointment was confirmed on Monday by President David Granger, who in a release said Norton will, as of September 1, assume responsibility for culture, youth and sport, allowing Education Minister Nicolette Henry to focus on improving the quality of and access to education countrywide.

The release from the Ministry of the Presidency said Norton will remain Social

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton

Cohesion Minister, with the new addition to his portfolio. However, his office will now be housed

at the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport on Main Street, Georgetown.

In an invited comment, Norton said he is thankful for the confidence reposed in him by the President and looks forward to the new portfolio, even while he continues to focus on building social cohesion in Guyana.

“I am very excited about this. There is no doubt about my interest in sports and I have been exposed to the various cultures across the country. In my role as Minister of Social Cohesion, I have been privileged to work with all the groups across the country and so I have

an understanding of what is needed already.

I have always been vocal about youth opportunities and… I certainly see the youth population as being the agents of change, who can make social cohesion a reality in Guyana and so I look forward to doing my best in both worlds,” the Minister is quoted by the Ministry of the Presidency as saying.

Before moving to the Social Cohesion Ministry in January of this year, Norton had served as the substantive Public Health Minister.

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WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

President trying to “frustrate process” if he rejects third GECOM list – Gaskin

By Samuel Sukhnandan

N

ow that a third list of nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been submitted to President David Granger, close attention will be paid to how the President responds to this new submission, especially after he rejected two previous lists.

Outspoken political commentator and economist, Ramon Gaskin, thinks if the President rejects this list, it would send a clear message that he is more focused on complicating the process of selecting another Chairman for one of the most important constitutional offices in Guyana.

“It would mean that he is fooling around and that he wants to put his own person there. And it also means that he is trying to get (Bharrat) Jagdeo frustrated, because once Jagdeo stops submitting lists he could say that he has no list in front of him,” he opined.

Gaskin reminded that the Constitution allows the President the option of appointing someone of his choice,

but only on the basis that the Opposition Leader fails to submit a list.

“The Constitution says (David) Granger could pick somebody. That is what I think he would like to do. He may not get away with it, but that is what he may want to do,” the political commentator added.

He continued, “(David) Granger is only confortable with people he picks. He has to pick the person who he is comfortable with. He likes to pick military people and People’s National Congress (PNC) people.

He wants to be able to pick the person… he has strong dictatorial tendencies.”

Gaskin also made reference to the recent incident which was brought to the public’s attention, where the President through Minister of State Joseph Harmon, instructed the Police Service Commission (PSC) to put a hold on promotions for senior Police ranks. The commentator reminded that this move breaches the Constitution, as Granger cannot dictate when senior Police ranks should be appointed.

Shifting his atten-

Political and social commentator, Ramon Gaskin

tion back to the GECOM chairmanship, Gaskin said he sees no reason why the President would want to reject the third list of nominees. “I would hope that he chooses somebody from the third list. There are some good candidates there and I hope he chooses one. I don’t think he can say that this list is no good.

You have people there who are more qualified.

He should be able to find somebody.”

On submitting the third list on August 25, the Opposition Leader said he is hopeful that the President would take into consideration the ruling of the acting Chief

Justice (CJ) in regard to the constitutional stipulation governing the appointment of a Chairman for the GECOM. This list of nominees for the GECOM chairmanship includes Major General (retired) Joseph Singh; Teni Housty; Sanjeev Datadin; Annette Arjune-Martins; Onesi LaFleur and Krishnadatt Persaud.

In a letter to the President accompanying the list, Jagdeo said arriving at the six names was not an easy task.

He said that regarding the antecedents in relation to the matter and a subsequent meeting with the President at State

House back in June, he continued to elaborate and protracted consultations with various stakeholders in an exercise that lasted for several weeks.

During that process, Jagdeo said he solicited their views and sought nominations in efforts to ensure that six names were presented to the President that satisfy the requirements contemplated by Article 161(2) of the Constitution.

Regarding the nominees, Jagdeo explained that one is a former Chairman of GECOM, while two are attorneys with over 10 years of “good standing” at the Guyana Bar, and both are qualified to be appointed as Judges of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in Guyana.

Another of the nominees, he explained, is an attorney with over 40 years of good standing, and is a former Magistrate who served in that capacity for over 20 years; another nominee is a business executive in the local airline industry, and has received national and international acclaim for

her work in protecting Guyana’s biodiversity; while the other person has distinguished himself as an agriculturalist, and has made a sterling contribution in Guyana and the Caribbean in the area of education and religion.

Following the rejection of the second list, a consultation was held among Jagdeo, Minister Harmon, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall and PPP/C parliamentarian Irfaan Ali to find an amicable solution to the issue.

It was agreed that in the event that the third list is rejected by the President, a high-level team would be established, representing the President and the Opposition Leader, to begin working instantaneously on exploring modalities to bring a resolution to the matter. However, there has been no word on this team.

GECOM has been without a Chairman since February 28, 2017, when Dr Steve Surujbally stepped down after 15 years at the helm.

NEWS 23

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Natural Resources Minister confirms Guyana will be paid royalties, profit % from first barrel R esponding to concerns about when profits will actually be split between ExxonMobil and Guyana, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has posited that Guyana will be paid its two per cent royalty and its percentage share of the profits from the time Exxon first starts extracting oil.

“From the first barrel, Guyana will receive two per cent royalty. It will also receive a percentage of the profits.

So 75 per cent of the profits will go towards (Exxon’s) cost recovery.

So far, we’re looking at a G$5 billion investment,” he explained.

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (Exxon’s subsidiary) is the operator of the 6.6 million-acre

Stabroek Block, and holder of a 45 per cent interest therein.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds a 30 per cent interest therein, and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds a 25 per cent interest as well.

The minister noted that the remaining 25 per cent of the profits would be split between Guyana, ExxonMobil and its partners.

At present, the world market price for oil stands at US$50.

The resource is notoriously volatile, however, and is vulnerable to the ripples caused by global politics and economics.

“So 25 per cent will be shared between Government and the partners,” Minister Trotman stated. “So we’ve worked that out,

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

and at about US$50 a barrel (of oil), Guyana is going to get a lot of money from day one.”

The Government has justified the two per cent royalty by contrasting it with the

50/50 share of the profits; an arrangement that the Government has said is a reasonable one, arrived at through the advice of experts.

Some had opined that a revenue-sharing arrangement would be a better option than a profit-sharing one.

In May 2015, the oil giant ExxonMobil confirmed significant discovery of oil at its Liza 1 exploration well, where more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs were encountered.

In late June 2016, Exxon’s drilling results at Liza 2 revealed more than 58 metres of oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs in Upper Cretaceous formations.

Drilling results confirmed recoverable resources to be between 800 million and 1.4 bil-

lion barrels of oil equivalent. Data from the Liza 2 well test is being assessed.

The company later announced that it made its third significant discovery in its drilling explorations offshore Guyana.

Its partner, Hess Corporation, had noted that the Liza 3 exploratory well’s net value could be US$6.2 billion, based on calculations from the Bank of Montreal (BMO) Capital Markets.

Exxon’s oil find in Guyana has attracted international attention.

In addition, assistance is being provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to boost Guyana’s administrative capacity to handle the expected inflow of revenue.

Reform of Police Force forging ahead – Top Cop

By Jarryl Bryan

U

nder the Citizens S e c u r i t y Strengthening Programme (CSSP), efforts are underway to train police officers in a number of areas, including management and law. This is being done through partnerships with public and private tertiary institutions.

Acting Police

in Guidance and Counselling. Thirty-five have just benefited from various subjects, including Criminal Law, Legal Theory and Practice, Leadership for Law Enforcement, Human Resource Management, Internal and External Customer Care and chain management among other (things) at Nations University.”

Ramnarine re-

Strategic Planning Unit as we forge ahead with reform in the Guyana Police Force,” the acting Top Cop has said.

He recounted that 140 ranks have successfully completed a basic first responders training exercise at Project Dawn Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD) recently. The exercise was administered under Dr Zulficar Bux,

Reform

The news of 911 facilities to be set up will be welcome news to many, as the Guyana Police Force has, over the years, come under heavy criticism for its poor response time to emergency calls.

The security reform project, which began in 2007, was scrapped in 2009 after the British Government had re-

Acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine

Police ranks who recently completed a training exercise

Commissioner David Ramnarine, who recently detailed some past, ongoing and forthcoming training initiatives for both officers and ranks of the Police Force, has said: “Currently, as we strive to build capacity and capability in the Force, some 30 ranks are attending the University of Guyana on a one-month programme

vealed that, early in September, some 14 police officers and ranks are scheduled to undergo strategic planning and management training. He said this is being facilitated by the British High Commission under the reform programme.

“A large number of these ranks will be tasked with moving forward the work of the

the National Director of Emergency Medical Services.

“This drive to equip officers with people skills is certainly to ensure that they can effectively meet the demands that arise in a changing and evolving society, where law enforcement is also evolving,” he said.

quested to have oversight of the programme to ensure that there was ‘value for money’.

The former Government had disagreed with the manner in which the British Government had wanted the programme to be run, claiming that Britain had sought to intrude upon Guyana’s sovereignty.

However, the British Government has said the Government of Guyana had submitted a different proposal, one which had focused on Police modernisation rather than a holistic approach to reform. The intention was to build a workable basis for improving national security while reducing crime in Guyana.

Government believes that, once implemented, Guyana’s security sector will be significantly strengthened; and, hopefully, this will lead to a reduction in the number of illicit activities that take place.

President David Granger has also said there is need for a stronger Police Force, one that is better equipped with all tools necessary to function adequately.

Back in May, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl

Greenidge had also provided an update on the project during a State visit to the United Kingdom (UK).

According to the Minister, talks surrounding assistance for crime and security had been at the top of the agenda, and he had given assurance that the coalition Government was keen on reactivating the security assistance mechanism, and that finances for the project could be dispersed early.

“I believe that that exercise will be completed before year-end, and there will be arrangements for some parts of those funds to be dispersed before the end of the year. I am very sure that that is the intention and the plan,” he had said, when asked to provide a timeframe.

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Berbice teen stabbed to death …after he intervened in early morning brawl N

ineteen-year-old V i s h r a m Mohabir of 258 Williamsburg, Corentyne Berbice died early Sunday morning after he sustained stab wounds to his neck as he attempted to act as a peacemaker between his younger brother and 44-year-old Williamsburg resident Ivor Thom, with whom he had an ongoing issue.

Mohabir’s 16-year-old brother received several lacerations on his hands from that altercation.

This newspaper was told that after Mohabir had reportedly been stabbed to the neck by Thom, the suspect was immediately taken into custody by police officers who were patrolling the area.

Police ‘B’ Division Commander Paul Williams told Guyana Times International that members of the Community Policing Group (CPG) had shut down a bar-b-que and lime in the village at some time around 3am on Sunday, and the police action had allegedly drawn rebuke from a group of individuals, of which the accused was part.

According to the Police Commander, the group had re-converged, and the 16-year-old was passing when the accused confronted him.

At that point, the older brother stepped in to separate the two, and the accused whipped out a knife and stabbed him in

Dead: Vishram Mohabir

the neck, before inflicting injury on the hands of the 16-year-old with whom he had a beef.

Commander Williams said the suspect was immediately taken into cus-

tody by a police patrol that was just a few yards away.

At the home of the deceased, an older brother told Guyana Times International that his

two younger brothers had gone out during the evening, and sometime later, his 16-year-old brother returned home to drop his bicycle. While the teen was on his way back to meet his brother, he was confronted by the accused, who began to “hassle” him. According to the sibling, his brother Vishram intervened and asked, “Man, what you really doing?” and was then reportedly stabbed by the accused.

The dead man’s mother, Davika Ranjas, said she was awakened at some time around 4am on Sunday and told the dreaded news about her second child.

“That was after four this morning, I get a call to say come Ajaj

(Vishram) get bore in his throat. I go to the hospital and went to the emergency room. When I got there I see me son on the bed. I said, ‘Boy what happen with you?

He said ‘Ma’. That is all I hear from my son”, the grieving woman told this publication.

She said she was asked to leave the room, and sometime later was informed that her son had died.

The distressed mother said that, as a single parent, she was devastated by the sudden death of her son, whom she said had become the breadwinner of the family.

Police investigations into the tragic incident continue.

Conman gets 9 years jail for several counts of fraud

A

conman, who was recently released from prison, and who clearly did not learn his lesson, will have the next nine years to rethink his approach after Magistrate Judy Lathcman sent him to jail on several fraud charges.

Troy Webster, 37, initially pleaded guilty with explanations to the six charges read to him but later confessed.

The charges against him allege that between August 17 and 21, 2017, at Georgetown and with intent to defraud, he obtained from Lisa Prince, Tamara Summerset, Marissa Williams, Kenisha Boyce, Nekeisha Haynes and Anesia Jones G$7000 each, pretending to be in a position to offer them a job.

When asked to provide his explanation to the court, Webster remained tight-lipped thus forcing Magistrate Latchman to have the matter stood down.

When recalled, Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves revealed that

defendant would pose as a businessman seeking females to work either in the Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) area or on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

He would request a sum of G$7000 along with a copy of their identification card but will however; vanish after informing them that he would make contact with them to commence work.

The matter was however reported to the Brickdam Police Station and the defendant was apprehended, arrested and charged with the offences.

However, what prompted the harsh sentence is the fact that Webster was previously before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and jailed for the same offence.

Magistrate Latchman sentenced him to 18 months in prison for the six charges, which will run consecutively.

In handing down the sentence, Latchman told the accused “it is obvious that you did not learn your lesson”.

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Eid-ul Adha – A Time for Reflection Adha, and affiliate themselves spiritually with it by performing animal sacrifice.

This spiritual affiliation signifies dedication to the ideal sacrifice in life, which is renewed every year. On this point, God Almighty, in the final revelations 22:36-37, said: “It is not the meat or the blood that reaches God, it is your piety that reaches Him.” The ani-

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CIOG headquarters at Woolford Avenue, Thomaslands, Georgetown

ccording to the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), Eid-ul Adha commemorates one of the greatest acts of sacrifice in human history and should be used as a time of reflection. It is a major religious festival of Muslims and a spiritual institution meant to be observed with a perfect spiritual attitude.

“The most important part of this holy and auspicious day is that it is a day of reflection; it is a day of rededicating our [lives] to the service of the Creator and Sustainer of this Universe. It is a day of understanding that in order to effect any change in our mas-

jids, community, society and the world at large we have to start first by changing ourselves,” said Fazeel Ferouz, president of the CIOG, at a past Eid event.

Eid-ul Adha means the “festival of sacrifice” and is so named because of the sacrifice of animals by Muslims and sharing the meat to the needy on this day.

Ferouz mentioned that Muslims “must understand that we are going to sacrifice our evil inclinations, egos and unworthy deeds at the same time… By doing the sacrifice, we are pledging to make a change for the better of ourselves…”

CIOG noted that the annual sacrifice in Islam is not an end in itself, but only a means towards an end. It is the external symbol of an internal dedication. As an institution commemorative of Abraham’s sacrifice, its function is not propitiative, but creative - creative of an avenue through which divine light enters to strengthen us in the ideal of sacrifice.

Prophet Abraham (A.S.) virtually sacrificed his beloved son Ishmael to seek the pleasure of God and his act forms a landmark in the history of religion. Muslims commemorate that great act on the day of Eid-ul

mal sacrifice is an act of ‘Ibaadah’ or “expression of gratitude”.

As the Muslim nation invokes the tradition of Prophet Abraham (A.S.), the friend of Allah and leader of mankind on the occasion of Eid-ul Adha, let us be fully conscious of what it actually undertakes to do so. Those who make a solemn resolve to follow his footsteps should know that

his path is strewn with a series of tests and trials that one with unflinching faith alone can face. A renewal of the supreme spirit that inspired Prophet Abraham to surrender all that was dearest to him is as such a reward in itself. The measure of success in this lofty mission depends upon the degree and depth of one’s commitment. turn to page 33

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Remarkable rocks of guyana

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uyana is blessed with a host of precious and semiprecious stone resources, minerals and rocks.

These rocks are testimony of Guyana’s rich natural resources, which we should all cherish and not exploit.

First let’s distinguish a rock from a mineral and an ore, and then we’ll delve into the different types of rocks found in Guyana.

A rock is a naturally occurring collection of mineral or minerals, which constitute a significant part of the earth’s crust. On the other hand, minerals are naturally occurring inorganic substances with a definite and predictable chemical composition and physical properties.

An ore is a mineral or a collection of minerals from which valuable element, especially a metal, can be profitably mined or extracted.

There are three basic types of rocks – igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

Igneous rocks

Igneous rocks are called ‘fire rocks’ and are formed either underground or above ground.

Underground, they are formed when the melted rock, called magma, deep within the earth, becomes trapped in pockets. As these pockets of magma cool slowly underground, the magma becomes igneous rocks.

Additionally, igneous rocks are formed when volcanoes erupt, causing the magma to rise above the earth’s sur-

face. When magma appears above the earth, it is called lava. Igneous rocks are formed as the lava cools above ground.

Sedimentary rocks

For thousands, even millions of years, little pieces of our earth have been eroded - broken down and w o r n a w a y by wind a n d water.

These little b i t s of our earth

are washed downstream where they settle to the bottom of the rivers, lakes and oceans. Layer after layer of eroded earth is deposited on top of each. These layers are pressed down more and more through time, until the bottom layers slowly turn into rock.

Metamorphic rocks

A metamorphic rock is a result of a transformation of a pre-existing rock. The original rock is subjected to very high heat and pressure, which cause obvious physical and/or chemical changes.

Examples of these rock types include marble,

slate, gneiss, schist.

Remarkable rocks

Basalt is an example of igneous rock. It is actually an aphanitic igneous rock (igneous rocks that are so fine-grained that their component mineral crystals are not

detectable by the unaided eye) with less than 20 per cent quartz and less than ten per cent feldspathoidal (a group of minerals) by volume, and where at least 65 per cent of the feldspar is in the form of plagioclase (a member of the feldspar group).

Over half of the Earth's crust is composed of a single group of minerals known as feldspar.

Conglomerate is a course grained clastic sedimentary rock that is composed of a substan-

Eid-ul Adha – A Time for...

Virtues of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah

Wednesday, August 23 was the first day of Dhul Hijja, which is the last month of the lunar hijri year in the Islamic calendar; it is also the month of pilgrimage.

Moreover, the first ten days of it are the best days in this world according to the words of the Prophet PBUH in a sound piece of Tradition in Sahih Ibn Hibban.

According to CIOG’s Shaykh Muhammad AlYaqoubi, “Allah Almighty made a special mention of these ten days and honoured them by making an oath by them in the beginning of Surat Al-Fajr”.

“By the Dawn, and by the Ten Nights”, according to the commentators, are the first ten days of this month.

Al-Yaqoubi said that “Allah ordered us to make dhi-

kr of Him in these days when He Almighty referred to them in Surat Al-Hajj.

‘To make mention of Allah in these known days’, our Beloved Prophet PBUH made good works in these ten days better than working in any other days as in hadith narrated in the Sahih of imam Bukhari”.

Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains why these days are the best days of the year by pointing out to the fact that they include all major acts of worship in Islam, namely prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage, which do not come together except in other months.

So, it is recommended to do a lot of extra acts of worship in these days such as fasting the first nine days; doing a lot of extra dhikr, especially takbir and tahlil; reciting the Holy Qur'an and much more.

“Seize this opportunity, as

tial fraction of rounded to sub angular gravelsized clasts such as pebbles, granules, cobbles and boulders larger than 2mm (0.079 in) in diameter.

Clasts are fragments

of geological chunks and smaller grains of rock broken off other rocks by physical weathering.

Conglomerates form by the consolidation and lithification (process of sediments gradually becoming solid rocks) of gravel. Conglomerates typically contain finer grained sediments such as silt, sand, clay or a from page 31

we are never sure whether we live till next year, to compensate.

Show the best of yourself in the field of prayer, dhikr, Qur'an and visit the masjids more often to deserve the celebration of Eid even if you do not go for hajj,” Al-Yaqoubi encouraged.

Eid-ul-Adha Notice

The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana wishes to inform the Guyanese public and the Muslim community that the month of Dhul- Hijja 1439 AH commenced on Wednesday, August 23, 2017.

The 9th of Zul Hijja (the day of Arafah - recommended for fasting) was August 31, 2017.

Eid-ul-Adha (10th Dhul Hijja) will be celebrated on Friday, September 1, 2017.

combination of these, which are called ‘matrix’ by geologists.

Gabbro refers to a large group of dark, often phaneritic (coarsegrained), intrusive igneous rocks. It forms when molten magma is trapped beneath the Earth’s surface and slowly cools into a holocrystalline (made

u p wholly of crystals or crystalline particles) mass.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Calcium carbonate is a white insoluble solid occurring naturally as chalk, limestone, marble, and calcite, and forming mollusc shells and stony corals.

Most limestone is composed of skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral and molluscs.

Migmatite is a rock that is a mixture of metamorphic rock and igneous rock. It is created when a metamorphic rock partially melts, and then that melt recrystallizes into an igneous rock creating a mixture of the unmelted metamorphic part with the recrystallized igneous part.

Phyllite is a type of foliated (repetitive layering) metamorphic rock created from slate that is further metamorphosed so that very fine grained white mica (form of mineral) achieves a preferred orientation.

It is primarily composed of quartz, sericite, mica and chlorite - all minerals.

Pink granite is a common type of igneous rock. The word ‘granite’ comes from the Latin word granum, a grain, in reference to the coarse grained structure of such a rock.

Sandstone (sometimes known as arenite) is a classic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.

Slate is a fine grained, foliated, homogenous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash.

Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments of other minerals.

(Information by Guyana Geology and Mines Commission)

Vincentian accused of setting woman on fire for sex, to re-appear in court

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33 -year-old man will re-appear in court on September 4 after he was charged with murder following the death of a 44-yearold woman whom he allegedly set on fire earlier this month for refusing to have sex.

Monique Clarke, a mother of two, died last Tuesday at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where she had been a patient since the August 13 incident.

Police had initially charged Pedro Ashton with attempted murder when he first appeared in court on

August 15, but upgraded the charge to murder when he made his appearance before Magistrate Bertie Pompey at the Kingstown Magistrate's court over the weekend.

Ashton was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded in custody until September 4, when he will appear before the Serious Offences Court for the setting of a date for the commencement of a preliminary inquiry.

Clarke had suffered second- and third-degree burns to 85 per cent of her body.

(CMC)

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New Discoveries in the Forests of Guyana

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group of researchers from the University of Guyana recently emerged from the forest, south of Mabura Hill, with several new and noteworthy scientific discoveries.

The team of nine young women and three men investigated various aspects of mixed greenheart forest ecology and management.

They studied palm regeneration in logged areas, tree crown growth in response to forest gaps and seedlings of greenheart, Guyana’s most important commercial timber tree species.

The discoveries were made by the Guyana Rainforest Research Rally

to strengthen technical capacity within Guyana to achieve sustainable forest management associated with Guyana’s Green Development path.

Through academic and research exchange between faculty and students, in the form of short courses and expert mentoring and financial support for scientific research, the project aims to place UG at the forefront of high impact academic research on natural resource management.

Discoveries in Guyana’s Forests

The GRRR team looked at the regeneration and growth of greenheart seed-

ging on palm diversity and populations. The team, led

by Ewart Smith, found that there were few apparent harmful impacts of careful, selective, reducedimpact logging back in 1994 on palms today. This result will help allay the fears of some people that logging is a biodiversity destroying intervention, especially to palms, which are important to wildlife and people.

GRRR also looked at the growth of tree crowns/ branches into gaps/holes created in the forest canopy by logging back in 1994.

The team, led by Wilda Marhnen Hungito, found that over the past 24 years the rates of tree crown en-

were competing with the selected trees that are to constitute the next timber crop. The team, led

by Sherica Isaacs, discovered that the treatment, which was applied in 1996, still had positive effects on the growth rates of these valuable timber species. Previous research around the world assumed that the benefits of liberation thinning diminished in 5-10 years, but no previous studies on this topic had anywhere near the 21-year record available at the Pibiri Biological Research Station.

When asked how she felt about the discoveries, Sherica Isaacs said: “When I joined GRRR just

GRRR at the Pibiri Biological Research Station, one of the longest ongoing experiments on tropical forestry in the world

(GRRR).

Guyana Rainforest Research Rally

GRRR was made possible through an on-going collaboration between the University of Guyana (UG) and the University of Florida (UF), with support from WWF-Guianas and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). The two universities will be embarking on an academic programme

lings, Guyana’s iconic timber species. Devya Hemraj and her team are still analysing their data, but their study makes clear that even under the seemingly ideal conditions created by careful selective logging, greenheart seedlings grow exceedingly slowly. This finding adds to concerns about the sustainability of harvests of this important species.

Another finding highlights the impact of log-

croachment into felling gaps varied with species, but was sufficient to close the smaller openings. This finding is important as it suggests that small gaps may not be sufficient to promote regeneration of commercial species.

The team also looked at the growth response of three timber species greenheart, crabwood and baromalli - to liberation thinning, that is removal of vines and trees that

a few weeks ago, I was focused on fish and had no idea that trees are so fascinating. I am happy that we were able to make discoveries that can help to maintain the commercial and environmental values of our lovely forests.”

Research expedition

The research expedition was led by Professor Francis E. Putz, distinguished professor of Biology and Forestry

Miss World Guyana hosts health fair, fitness walk

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Miss World Guyana, Veena Mookram, leading the fitness walk on Friday

iss World Guyana, Veena Mookram, last Friday hosted in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) a health fair and fitness walk that attracted a wide cross section of persons from various communities within the region.

The fitness walk preceding the start of the health fair was held from the Anna Regina Market to the Anna Regina Car

Park, and it was led by Regional Vice Chairperson Nandranie Coonjah and Mookram. During the walk, the Queen used the opportunity to spread awareness on her platform, “Prevention of Diabetes through Fitness and Exercise”.

According to coordinator of the walk, Joe Mookram, the exercise was sponsored by the National Milling Company of Guyana

(Namilco) and the Region Two RDC; and the health fair was focused on spreading awareness of the chronic disease of Diabetes through talks and various programmes. Persons were also tested for hypertension.

In an interview, the Queen extended her gratitude to the Region Two RDC, Namilco, and all those who made the walk successful. She said her next awareness walk would be staged in Berbice.

She disclosed that her aim is to establish a fitness park within the Diamond/Grove area.

That park would be built by Mookram and later handed over to the NDC for community use.

Presently conducting training in public speaking, Miss Mookram said she is confident she would make Guyana proud.

Veena Mookram was crowned Miss World Guyana on June 25, and is expected to leave for China on October 14. The Miss World pageant will be held on November 18. (Indrawattie Natram)

Dr. Anand Roopsind (second from left) guiding participants through the logging experiments at the Pibiri Biological Research Station

at UF, and his former Guyanese graduate student, Dr Anand Roopsind.

Over the past three decades, Putz has actively promoted science-based approaches to pedagogy at UF and around the world.

This was his second visit to Guyana.

According to Roopsind, ten participants of the research expedition are Guyanese, one from Papua New Guinea doing her masters at the University of Guyana, and another from the Suriname Foundation for Forest Management and Production Control (the Suriname equivalent to the Guyana Forestry Commission). Participants included both graduate students and faculty from UG, and professionals from natural resource institutions, mainly the Guyana Forestry Commission.

“A researcher from Suriname was included because we believe it important to build strong connections with our neighbours so as to better integrate conservation efforts across the region,” Roopsind stated.

Challenges

In regards to GRRR’s accomplishments, Putz said: “I am astounded by what the research team accomplished under very challenging conditions. It’s great to have Guyanese researchers making discoveries about Guyana’s forests.”

Putz and Roopsind pointed out that doing field research and living deep in the tropical rain forest, without internet connections, telephone service, or line power are always challenging. They added that their field campaign was made particularly challenging by frequent rain, which was sometimes intense.

“When the ridgepole, to which all 16 of our hammocks were tied, started to break in the middle of the night, in the rain, complaints might have been expected, but everyone chipped in and the problem was soon rectified.

The same is true for when

the camps started to flood; everyone was out digging trenches and otherwise keeping the water at bay,” the GRRR members recalled.

Pibiri Biological Research Station

The Mabura Hill hosts the Pibiri Biological Research Station, which has one of the longest ongoing studies in the world on sustainable forest management. For the past three decades, dozens of important studies have been carried out in that area by Guyanese and international researchers.

The information from the Pibiri Biological Station is also the main source of information that the Guyana Forestry Commission uses to determine the sustainable levels of timber harvesting in Guyana.

GRRR expect its four recent studies be published in international scientific journals, but the studies need to undergo a rigorous scientific review process. Participants are currently revising their data analyses and manuscripts so as to raise both to the standards for publication in international peer-reviewed journals.

The team hopes that the findings serve to inform forest management in Guyana, Suriname, and elsewhere in the tropics. They believe a great deal remains to be learned about how to best manage forests under timber production for biodiversity conservation, and long-term sustainability of timber harvests, but these studies represent substantial contributions to their understanding.

Follow up studies are still in the planning stages, but as usual, as GRRR learns more, they also realise more about what they do not yet understand. It is GRRR hope that the Pibiri Biological Research Station will become a major field site for UG, where students and researchers will continue to learn about Guyana’s forests and how to better manage them for current and future generations.

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Baker raped and murdered in T&T kind of thing, they deserve to be safe, they deserve to be allowed to live their lives without fear of these kinds of attacks and to the men thinking that kind of thing, as the woman said think again, you have a mother, you have a sister, you might even have a daughter and when they go out they would not want to meet somebody like you, thinking the things you are thinking,” Rowley said.

Rowley said the number of criminals in this country was relatively small compared to the

Leslie-Ann Gonzales

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omen in this country deserve to live their lives without fear of sexual assault Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said last Sunday, as he expressed disgust at the rape and murder of baker LeslieAnn Gonzales.

Rowley said the attack on Gonzales was an attack on the entire female body of this country. He pleaded with the country’s men to do the right thing and not become a monster that their female relatives would fear as he expressed sympathy to Gonzales’ family He made the statements yesterday as he performed the role of deejay on the Barber Shop programme on radio station i955 FM. Rowley adopted the name “DJ K” to show what host John Benoit called a lighter side of the Prime Minister.

Rowley had performed the role of deejay for almost an hour, playing a couple old school calypsoes and talking to callers, when he received a phone call from a woman who said she was “very angry.”

“Dr Rowley, I know that this morning the programme is featuring the lighter side of your good self. However, you played a song some time ago, “I Believe” by Shadow.

Now I must say there are times I find it difficult to continue believing in this blessed country of mine. I am very angry this morning Dr Rowley, I am extremely angry, I am hurt, I am emotional.

Does the name Leslie-Ann Gonzales mean anything to you? Do you know who she is?” the woman asked.

The female caller said Gonzales represented her, the prime minister’s wife Sharon and every other woman and young girl in Trinidad and Tobago. She called on Rowley to talk to the men in the country.

“That is a difficult one for me and I can tell you why, because these personal decisions when people choose to do things like that and until they do it you really don’t know they are even thinking it.

All I could say is that the women, like the men, especially the women who are more exposed to this

size of the population, but they are “hurting us in every possible way.” He called on anyone who may know who Gonzales’ attacker is to come forward.

Benoit recalled that his own sister was raped and killed. “(Gonzales) represents every female, it is an attack on the female body of Trinidad and Tobago, because if a person could do that to that individual, there is no reason why he couldn’t do it or wouldn’t do it to another individual. So every single woman has to see herself and say

‘there but for the grace of God go I’ because it could have easily been you, your daughter, your sister and that is why we need to find the people who are doing that,” Rowley said.

Rowley said sexual attacks represent “a kind of a loss of respect, a lack of respect and a selfishness that drives some of the male form to believe they have an entitlement to behave like that.”

According to an autopsy done on Friday, Gonzales was raped, strangled and stabbed at least 10 times in the

face with an ice pick after she was attacked on her way to her Oropouche Road, Valencia home on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old who worked at Linda’s Bakery warehouse, El Socorro, San Juan, was found on Thursday after failing to return home the night before. Her co-workers told relatives she left work around 7.30 pm Wednesday.

Gonzales’ body was found about 100 metres from where she lived in a bushy poorly lit dried up river. (Trinidad Guardian)

Essequibo rice farmer’s son tops GSA graduating class

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iving in Region Two, the predominantly agricultural region known as the Pomeroon-Supenaam, the start to a successful future for 19-yearold Maheepa Ramballie was naturally to enroll at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA).

This resident of Better Success village, Essequibo Coast was recently awarded the Chairman’s Prize for his overall outstanding performance at the Guyana School of Agriculture Essequibo branch, where he was recognised as the best graduating student, earning himself a diploma in Agriculture and a certificate in Water Management after studying for two years.

Speaking with this newspaper, Ramballie said Essequibo youths, particularly those who recently left secondary school, should pursue their tertiary education at the GSA, particularly

Maheepa Ramballie collecting his certificate from Principal of the GSA, Horatio Ramdass

in efforts to help develop agriculture in Region Two. He has described this institution as a “blessing”, and said persons should embrace the opportunity to enroll at the institution.

Expressing satisfaction at his achievement, Ramballie said, “I am very much elated at my performance! There were many challenges, but I knew I had to conquer them. I think I was successful in the course because I was focused, I

laid my foundation.” His parents, Mahendra and Ravenna Ramballie, are elated at their son’s performance. Moreover, the teenager hopes to one day fulfill his dream of becoming a career agronomist.

“I believe a career as an agronomist would help farmers tremendously. My father happens to be a rice farmer; I can even work along with him, taking the steps towards increasing production. I would encourage

the younger folks to explore the agro-sector in an effort to improve it.

It’s a sector that we can bring into the scientific world. Our farmers need us,” he declared.

There is no branch of the University of Guyana established on the Essequibo, but Maheepa is confident that his decision to enroll with the GSA has drawn him closer to his dream career.

“This diploma I can use at the University of Guyana as it relates to reducing the years of study. It also offers exemption for some courses. Then there are promising careers that await me in the agro sector,” he explained.

Principal of the GSA, Horatio Ramdass, has said the Essequibo Branch of the GSA supports the younger population who may feel the need to take up careers in agriculture.

(Indrawattie Natram)

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Guyana Govt’s attitude to Constitution worrying, says former House Speaker T he Government’s track record of losing court cases in which interpretation of the Constitution is involved has not gone unnoticed. Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, has become the latest legal mind to express worry over decisions made by the President that have been overturned by the Judiciary.

Referring to an editorial which stated that the Government’s attitude to the Constitution signals a willingness to ignore legal precedents whenever it finds this suitable, Ramkarran has cited several cases that seem to support this view. Among those are the termination of the Red House

lease and the instructions the President issued to the Police Service Commission (PSC).

“In the face of criticism, the Government, instead of withdrawing the offending instructions to the PSC, doubled down and gave excuses for its unlawful conduct,” Ramkarran stated. “In other words, the Government does not want the PSC to select some of the persons recommended.

“Even though the Government can properly place the evidence of unfitness of persons recommended to the PSC and ask it to reconsider, it appears more comfortable in violating the Constitution by giving instructions,” the legal luminary observed.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, in a letter dated July 27, wrote to the Police Service Commission (PSC) to inform that the President had directed that there be no consideration of promotion for members of the Guyana Police Force until further notice, and this directive should be implemented immediately.

Even PSC Chairman Omesh Satyanand had expressed concern at the unprecedented directive given by the President, and had said that halting the entire promotion process would be a blow to senior officers of the Guyana Police Force, whom he noted have invested time and energy in building a career at the Guyana Police Force, and

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran

were expecting their just reward.

Satyanand had called for some clarity and justification in regard to the circumstances that had led to the President’s directive, and President

David Granger had subsequently stated that he had acted based on information he had received regarding complaints made against individuals in the Force.

Article 226 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states: “Save as otherwise provided in this Constitution, in the exercise of its functions under this Constitution, a Commission (service commissions) shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.”

“Apart from maintaining professionalism, the drafters of the Constitution understood that a professional, and not a politically aligned, Police Force is related to the human rights and civil liberties of citizens,” Ramkarran noted of the directive.

“Guyana (has) already experienced the subversion of the Guyana Constitution, starting with the defanging of the Elections Commission in 1968 prior to the elections of that year. I personally experienced it when I served on a toothless Elections Commission in the elections year of 1973,” he recalled.

Track record Already, a number of rulings have been made in the High Court against the coalition APNU/AFC Administration, and President Granger has had some of his decisions deemed unconstitutional.

Last year, he gave occupants of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) 48 hours to vacate the premises in a directive which Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo described as “unconscionable and vindictive”.

On August 9, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) secured two conservatory High Court orders blocking the State from ejecting the CJRC from the property, once the official residence of former President, the late Dr Cheddi Jagan.

Acting Chief Justice, Senior Counsel Roxane George, SC, overruled every submission made by Attorney General Basil Williams, and refused his request that the CJRC case be dismissed. The Chief Justice upheld submissions made by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall on behalf of the CJRC. Then the plight of several farmers who were issued land leases grabbed national attention. These farmers were, in 2014, granted by then President Donald Ramotar 50-year leas-

es for state land located in the rear of Number 40 Village, West Coast Berbice.

However, in March of 2016, they received from the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/ Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) letters informing that President David Granger had cancelled their leases and they must therefore cease occupation and return the land to the MMA/ ADA. The farmers sought justice in the courts, and were represented by Attorneys Nandlall and Manoj Narayan among others, while the State and the MMA/ADA were represented by Attorney General Basil Williams.

On the same day as the Red House judgment, the Chief Justice ruled against the President’s revocation of rice farmers’ land leases, deeming it unconstitutional. She also ruled that the farmers are entitled to compensation from the State.

There is also the case of the vacant Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairmanship.

Interpreting constitutional stipulations according to his own understanding, President Granger had rejected every nominee proposed for the post by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on grounds that Article 161 (2) of the Constitution prescribes that nominees must either be qualified to be a Judge, or be fit and proper.

But local businessman Marcel Gaskin moved to the High Court in March to challenge the constitutionality of the President’s reasoning. That judgment was handed down last month.

While the Chief Justice had acknowledged that the President can determine whom he deems “fit and proper”, she overruled the President’s interpretation of the Constitution by finding that there is no particular preference for the appointment of persons with legal training.

In wake of these rulings, Ramkarran has urged that attempts to issue directives to the PSC not be allowed to succeed.

He has proffered the following advice for the government: “The Government can lift its deeply troubling approach to the Constitution by withdrawing the offending letter to the PSC before the court once again embarrasses it by inevitably ordering it to do so.”

(Jarryl Bryan)

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Spinning wheels…

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…on GECOM Chief?

our Eyewitness has to hand it to Opposition Leader Jagdeo: the fella’s certainly sticking to his constitutional duties on selecting the next GECOM Chairman!! Most others would’ve chucked it in and left it to the courts by now, after the first two lists were submitted and rejected by Pressie for all those reasons which were rejected by the said courts.

After all, parsing words like “or” and “is” to reject the meaning of the constitutional clause on criteria for selecting the GECOM Chair – which has been illustrated in action in at least six previous occasions – can get pretty tiresome, can’t it? We don’t even have to get into notions like “performativity” to assert that it’s the actions of folks that define their roles better than abstract “qualities”.

Quick now, wasn’t Rudy Collins a superb GECOM Chair in 1992 – the first to occupy the office after it was constitutionally broadened to include non-Judges?? What was there about his two predecessors, who WERE judges – especially Bollers – to commend that species as the ONLY one capable of being possessed of integrity, intelligence and impartiality? In fact, the CONSTITUTIONAL criterion was expanded to include “or any other person” just because they were found so wanting in PRACTICE. Anyhow, Jagdeo has now included an individual — Joe Singh — who was actually one of those “Nonjudge” Gecom Chair, who performed with distinction in the role. Meaning, he elicited complaints from BOTH sides of the political divide!! But Singh has more than that going for him; he’s actually a squaddie of Pressie!!! In an administration that has justified placing ex-army officers in positions where they have no explicit qualifications — like Brigadier Lewis as GHPC head — but do have administrative training, Major General Joe Singh has administrative qualifications coming out of his kazoos!!

Quite frankly, he seems to be a clone of Brigadier Granger, whom he pipped with one additional star. Both were born in the same year, attended Queen’s during the same time, went off to Mons in 1965, returned as Second Lieutenants etc, etc in Burnham’s new GDF. The only difference is Singh was made Chief of Staff of the Disciplined Forces in 1990, after Norman Mc Lean retired; while Granger was made “military advisor”. He basically used his free time to earn first and second degrees at UG. Singh also kept up his qualifications in management, and headed CI as well as GTT. Now that the Court has instructed Pressie that he must give reasons for rejecting any candidate, it’ll be pretty interesting to see what he does with Jagdeo’s Singh gambit.

It’ll be like disqualifying himself!!

…on logging

Remember the Ancient Mariner’s tagline, “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink”?

For us Guyanese the cry should be “timber, timber everywhere but not a log to profit by”! It was always a source of confusion to your Eyewitness why this was so, since the only reason offered was foreigners were shipping out our logs, THEN adding value by making furniture and stuff. They made the big bucks while we were left with a few low-paying jobs and sawdust.

But wasn’t this the same with everything else we produced? We’ve been shipping bauxite for almost 100 years, could someone explain what we got out of that deal? Linden’s barely hanging on by its fingernails! Gold? Sugar? Do we even have a refinery? At least with timber the trees grow back!

Well, now that Bai Shan Lin has been kicked out, we just learnt the Government is “conserving” a third of their mega concession, and divvied the rest between a local sawmiller and a Chinese company.

So, are we getting “value added”?

…Code of Conduct

Well, now we know why there’s no “Code of Conduct” for Ministers, even though one was promised within 100 days of taking office. There’s no need.

Like George Washington, who couldn’t tell a lie, they can’t be bribed!!

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Keys to my own home! …Model Village houses handed over to owners

By Lakhram Bhagirat

Missing the boat…

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…on oil local content

ith every passing day, it’s becoming clearer that the hope of oil solving our underdeveloped woes is growing dimmer.

It might soon be “out,” unless the citizens of this country take matters in their own hands. We can’t leave it to their fingers, come elections 2020 – since by then it will be all signed away by Trotman and Co. First was his nonsensical mumblings that the PPP’s 1999 contract couldn’t be renegotiated – even though he’d announced earlier in the day about assembling a team of experts to do just that with Exxon! He was proven to be lying though his teeth when he boasted about DOUBLING the rate of royalties the company would be paying on gross oil revenues. Everyone perked up until they heard the quantum – 2%!!

Imagine boasting about 2% royalties when even the most corrupt regimes of Africa were getting 8-10%!! And with them, there’s the standing assumption that whatever was signed above the table was matched in private bank deposits under the table! The mind boggles at what transpired here!

But what everyone missed was: if the 1999 contract couldn’t be ‘renegotiated,” how was the royalty rate changed? Exxon unilaterally decided to double it?

What a crock!

Fact of the matter is the 1999 contract had timelines built in for exploration, development etc. And by 2015, the contract for production had to be renegotiated in its ENTIRETY! Fact of the matter is, Trotman now admits we won’t be getting more than US$1/2 million annually for the first three years.

Literally “peanuts,” since we can earn this much from our Rupununi peanuts!

As we’ve been saying, the vaunted 50% of profits Trotman “extracted” is pretty much 50% of peanuts, since Exxon is allowed 75% of the revenues for its development costs!

But in any case, we know that not a single country in Africa has developed on its oil revenues. Instead, their history has led to a new economic phrase — “resource curse”, in that the revenues ended up in private government officials’ pockets, while other industries wilted on the vine. But a decade or so ago, it was realised that all was not lost. The oil producing country could still develop by insisting and enforcing “local content policies”.

In this way, forward and backward linkages could be formed in the country to create not only employment, but also in gestating industries that demanded technological and manufacturing knowhow that could be transmitted across other sectors.

But now we’re told by Trotman that his ‘experts” have advised there should be no penalising of oil companies if they flub our “local content regs”.

He’s depending on Scouts honour!! Wanker!!

…on government contracts

The latest flare up about medical insurance for cabinet ministers and senior government officials proves once again this Government has no intention of following the rules of transparency when conducting business. The essential point former Health Minister Ramsammy made was the need to advertise for bids so the widest possible responses could be elicited.

Are we to take the word of a Cabinet that approved a contract to Larry Singh for a non-existent pharma warehouse that it did better now? After the Durban Park boondoogle?

But rather than answering Ramsammy’s query, the spokesperson attacks his record. Sad; the PPP, which the PNC claimed were the most corrupt government on Planet Earth, are now their lodestar!!

But what’s more alarming is the Cabinet seems to have no problem with soliciting and approving bids on a contract that involves them!! Isn’t there even the smallest hint in their minds of a possible conflict of interest?

But then, for this Government, it’s a matter of do what they say, and not what they do, isn’t it?

…on reparations

It’s clear ACDA wants reparations from the Guyana Government via the land CoI – even though it’s not within the latter’s remit.

But if reparations are given by Guyana, isn’t the claim on Britain extinguished? No double dipping!!

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he Central Housing and P l a n n i n g Authority (CH&PA) on Tuesday handed over the keys to the owners of the homes in its Model Village at Perseverance Housing Scheme, Providence, East Bank Demerara. The model houses were constructed for the CH&PA’s Housing Solutions Housing Expo in May. Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie Patterson, handed over the keys on site to the new owners and urged them to preserve it, while noting that their homes would be the center of attraction for a long time.

The homeowners, Deborrah Wilson and Winston Persaud, expressed their satisfaction with the units and noted that they are in the process of making minor modifications and installation of electricity before they move in.

The residents of the Model Village cannot make any exterior changes to the homes until after five years.

The residents were also called upon to work with the Community D e v e l o p m e n t Department at the CH&PA to form a home owners association within the Perseverance Housing Scheme.

Forty-six-year-old Wilson said she had been waiting 24 years to own her own land and home, and was elated to be afforded the opportunity to be a resident in the Model Village. Both Wilson and Persaud paid G$6.8 million for their homes.

The duplex that Deborrah Wilson and Persaud share

Keys were also given to Gary Rowe and his family, who will occupy the G$7 million single elevated home.

Minister Patterson said they are currently doing road works within the scheme and added that they are also in the process of constructing 20 three-bedroom houses in the area.

She urged interested persons to visit the CH&PA Brickdam Office next Tuesday and Wednesday, where they would be able to prequalify for the 40 duplexes so they could be able to source financing. She added that they are also in talks with the financial institutions to be more lenient with per-

sons applying for loans to build or purchase homes.

Some 758 units of 530 duplexes and 228 town houses will be built under this Government, to maximise land use and increase affordability, while building cohesive communities in 10 locations across six regions.

Additionally, the Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA along with a team is currently in China where they are testing conductors for the electrification programme at Farm, Eccles, Peters Hall and Barnwell on the East Bank of Demerara.

The CH&PA said they are aggressively pursuing the programme and have already begun the infrastructure and preparatory works.

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Report of feasibility study “When Unity for new Demerara River in Diversity?” bridge handed over to Gov’t

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Minister Annette Ferguson (third from right) receives the completed Feasibility Study and Design for the new Demerara River bridge from Ariel Mol of LievenseCSO (second from right). With them are members of the project team: DHBC General Manager and Project Manager, Rawlston Adams (third from left); Chief Transport and Planning Officer at MPI, Patrick Thompson (second from left); Senior Engineer (Transport and Planning), Ronald Roberts (left); and Transport Planning Officer (Economist) Ramona Duncan (right)

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he Feasibility Study and Design for the new Demerara River bridge has successfully been completed and a copy was on Wednesday afternoon presented to Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson.

The 57-page final report was presented by the project team, which includes Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) General Manager and Project Manager, Rawlston Adams; Chief Transport and Planning Officer, Patrick Thompson; and Team Leader of the consulting company, LievenseCSO, Arie Mol. During the document’s handing over,

a rundown on its main conclusions were highlighted.

From the feasibility study it was determined that the proposed location of HoustonVersailles was the most ideal.

It was further noted that the bridge should be a low-level one with a movable part and threelanes. This structure, it said, provided the most socio-economic benefits for Guyana and would result in the lowest urban environmental impact.

Furthermore, it was recommended that the promotion of alternative transportation routes should be encouraged to lend to the longevity of the new bridge.

According to the Department of Public

Information, the completion of the feasibility study leads the way for the next stage, the prequalification of contractors for the construction of the bridge. This process has already begun and will conclude on October 17.

Meanwhile, both Adams of the DHBC and Thompson of the Public Infrastructure Ministry noted the preparations that were undertaken during the feasibility stage to ensure the successful completion of key components.

Thompson noted that during the preparation of the feasibility study, all possible stakeholders, including those from the Private and Public Sectors and neighbourhood and Regional Democratic

Councils, were consulted. In fact, Adams said the project team met with the Lands and Surveys Department on Wednesday for advice on surveying and the acquisition of land.

The team also met with the Environmental Protection Agency on proceeding with the necessary environmental study.

“All in all, we’re confident that once we work together and everyone puts their shoulder to the wheel, we can get this project moving along smoothly,” Adams said.

Thompson added that challenges, such as land acquisition, will have to be faced but he stressed that the team is up to the challenge.

n my last two articles, I examined the ideas the late Indian political leader Deen Dayal Upadhayaya put forward towards creating a really independent nation in a society that had been colonised for a thousand years. As I followed the hearings of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into “land titling issues”, I could only think of how far away we are from being a

By Ravi Dev “nation” by Upadhayaya’s definition, much less an “independent” one: “When a group of persons live with a goal, an ideal, a mission, and look upon a particular piece of land as motherland, this group constitutes a Nation.”

It had been conceded at independence, we had inherited a “state”, but not a “nation”. We were a “land of six peoples” that had been formed, not out of some hoary past, like India, but thrown together by the Dutch and then the British with just one aim – to provide the cheapest labour possible to extract the wealth of Guyana for the “mother country”. Unfortunately, the Europeans were the worse caricature of the “evil stepmother” when it came to the needs of her “children”.

But one would have hoped that, after fifty years of independence, we would have progressed a bit further than what was exhibited at the CoI towards becoming a nation, where one group was pitted against others in a most divisive manner. Why is this so? Deen Dayal suggested, as I wrote last week, that one reason was because we attempted to apply various foreign “isms” with their operational institutions without first having a clear understanding of the nature of our society.

Fundamentally, because of our history, Guyana was a classic “plural society”, as described by the eminent Jamaican anthropologist MG Smith. Our challenge in all matters is to deal with our immanent diversities.

Take the structure of the state and its governance institution we had been given by the British, along with the ideology of Liberalism to govern it. Sir Arthur Lewis, the West Indian Nobel prize winner in economics, had in 1964 addressed the needs of plural societies after his experience in West Africa. Very pithly, he said this could be summarised as “Federalism” and “coalitions”.

His advice, however, was ignored, even though he was made Chancellor of UG in 1965 and helped draft the PNC’s 1972-1976 Five Year Development Plan. The plan failed as much for not addressing the ethnic divisions in the country as for anything else: the peoples did not feel they were all on a common mission.

Because of the fortuitous concentration of the several larger ethnic groups in Guyana — Indian, African and Indigenous Guyanese — in separate parts of the country, a federal structure of the state, as suggested

by Lewis, would have ensured that every ethnic group, for instance, had some real share of power in the part of the country they predominated. Lewis’s second suggestion on “governance” – coalitions at the centre – would have had all groups included in the decision making of the country, and so feel part of a common endeavour.

The post-Independence PNC quickly jettisoned the ideology of liberalism for another foreign “ism” – “socialism” – but augmented all the state institutions the British had used to govern the polyglot society with an iron fist – a tightly controlled centralised bureaucracy, an armed police force to which was now added an army from the disbanded “Volunteer Force”, militia, national service and other militarised bodies.

Throughout their reign, the British had implemented a policy of “divide and rule” through a policy of differential recruitment into the armed forces. Rather than reversing this policy, as had been recommended by an International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) as part of the independence package, the PNC government increased the size of the armed forces and the proportion of African Guyanese, who just happened to be their supporters. Not surprisingly, other groups were alienated from these state institutions as they were from the central government, and never conferred the legitimacy necessary for their integrative functioning and the country’s progress.

Unless we deal with the realities of our society, we will be pulling each other down for the foreseeable future, like crabs in a barrel, as exhibited at the land CoI.

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Amerindian conference: Toshao says Govt should take responsibility for non-achievement

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s the eleventh Annual National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference concluded on Saturday, another toshao has come out in stinging criticisms of Yupukari Toshao Russian Dorrick, accusing him of being “an apologist” for the Government regarding issues relating to the development of Indigenous (Amerindian) people in Guyana.

Dorrick had told this publication that the NTC Executive did not stick to the agenda for the conference. “To be honest, I am not too sure what I am going to tell my people. I came to the NTC with the hope that I would have had a response to go back and tell the people what I got,” Dorrick said.

In response, however, the toshao (who preferred to have his identity concealed), rebuffed the Yupukari toshao’s comments on Sunday by telling Guyana Times International that Dorrick has refused to blame the coalition APNU/AFC Administration for Amerindians not achieving what they had set out to attain during the meetings.

“He has accused the PPP in the past for not doing enough, which is a blatant lie,” the toshao expressed.

He also criticised the response, or lack thereof, to the flood recovery situation in Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni).

Noting that this was just one of the issues that needed to be addressed, the toshao indicated that Government, and not the NTC, should be blamed for the plight of Amerindians and lack of any tangible achievement at the conference.

When this newspaper had interviewed several toshaos during the 2017 NTC, they claimed there were too many hiccups during the six days they had met to discuss important is-

A section of the gathering at the NTC Conference

sues affecting their villages. Several members of the NTC Executive staged a walkout last Wednesday, accusing Government of attempting to ‘undermine’ the issues being put forward for discussion.

Vice Chairman of the NTC, Lenox Shuman, told this newspaper that while toshaos intended to host presentations on that day, there was no Government minister present until the evening.

“The fact that seven Government ministers showed up just to engage the NTC at this very last moment is questionable. It brings to my mind the question of sincerity. How sincere and what kind of action you are going to get for these people?

And I see it as an attempt to undermine the credibility of the NTC, to undermine the proposed work that the NTC is doing, and to ensure that the NTC remains weak,” Shuman had related.

Shuman berated the ministers for showing up late in the evenings: “I don’t see the NTC to be a side chick or a side thing for the ministers, that they could only see us in the nights. What is wrong with during the day” he questioned. The Toshao that this newspaper spoke with on Sunday concurred, criticizing the ministers for going to meeting at 18:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs rather than earlier. In fact, the Toshao pointed out that several MPs from the Opposition PPP/C were present throughout the day where discussions were held on a number of issues that affect Amerindians including land tenure and titling, recovery efforts and assistance in the aftermath of flooding in Region 8.

Meanwhile, NTC officials had told this newspaper that issues which should have been resolved since the last

NTC conference have been discussed again and the same solutions given last year have been repeated. He said that, over the past year, the

NTC has been preaching for Government to release the guns seized during the gun amnesty from Amerindians, and Ramjattan has again

promised to give the guns back.

“Minister Ramjattan showed up and said, ‘You will get your guns back; we have to put se-

rial numbers on them.

Why isn’t it we could get this action since a year ago when we brought it to his attention?”

Shuman expressed.

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Presidency must be protected regardless of who is in power – Granger

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resident David Granger, on Thursday, said that it is in the national interest that the Office of the Presidency be protected regardless of who is in power adding that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged assassination plot of the Head of State is aimed at identifying the weaknesses and deficiencies, which may exist that can compromise the safety of the sitting President and his family.

According to a government release, President Granger made these remarks after receiving the Report of the COI from Head of the Commission, Mr. Paul Slowe at State House and noted that these Commissions of Inquiry are important since they help to uncover the truth and to correct malpractice and abuses in the system.

“I think the Office of the President is one that should enjoy the protection of the security services and any reports of threats or any risks to the President’s life or immediate relatives of the President, such as the First Lady or the President’s children deserve to be properly and thoroughly investigated.

It is about ensuring that the President is safe and if there are any threats to that safety then it should be investigated,” he said.

According to

“I do not love to work out, but if I stick to exercising every day and put the right things in my mouth, then my diabetes just stays in check.”

– Halle Berry

I The report on the inquiry into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger was on Thursday handed over at State House. President Granger (right) receiving the Report from Head of the Commission of Inquiry, Paul Slowe. (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

the Ministry of the Presidency, the President’s sentiments were shared by Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, who said that it is a matter of public interest and it is the prerogative of the President to establish a Commission of Inquiry where he sees it fit, to protect the people of Guyana.

Mr. Paul Slowe, while not venturing into any details of the recommendations or findings of the report, said that “it was a very involved and lengthy process, which enabled the Commission to gather enough evidence so that the Terms of Reference could have been fully answered.”

The Commission’s Terms of Reference had included investigating and reviewing the full range of the actions and responses of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to the reports and the extent to which such actions were conducted or executed with due diligence.

It was also asked to determine whether any person, and, in particular, officers of the GPF, had information before and after the reports were made of the alleged assassination plot and whether that information was communicated to any superior authority; and report on what official action was taken on information

received and if there was due diligence by GPF officers in the investigation.

Additionally, it was tasked with reviewing all actions taken by the GPF and examining whether there was “failure, neglect or omission to thoroughly and properly investigate” and to determine whether this was intentional.

It is to also determine the “blameworthiness for failure or neglect of officers or persons involved in the investigation” and to recommend action to be taken against anyone found culpable, as well as to recommend steps that can be taken to prevent a recurrence.

Several key Hinterland roads to be rehabilitated by year-end – MPI

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number of hinterland road projects will be completed by year-end, Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Senior Hinterland Officer, Jeffrey Walcott disclosed.

According to the Department of Public Information, Walcott made this disclosure at the National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference last week. He said that despite the inclement weather many hinterland road projects are well underway. He reiterated that this is part of the administration’s continued efforts to bridge the gap between the hinterland and coastal communities.

The MPI’s Senior Hinterland Officer explained that construction will be undertaken from Port Kaituma Airstrip to Fitzburg housing scheme; Mabaruma airstrip and Kumaka Wharf

Diabetes can be controlled

Road will be completed in concrete and roads in Lethem will be transformed to asphalt roads by year-end.

According to DPI, the official also explained that maintenance works will be undertaken on roads from Rockstone to Kurulupari and Ituni to Kwakwani.

Walcott pointed out that the Ministry will not

only be grading the roads, but will be utilising either concrete or asphaltic mixes in the process. “Once these roads are done you wouldn’t have to require any maintenance for another 25 years,” he revealed. This means the communities will be able to focus on developing other areas.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has allo-

cated G$2.3B this year for the development of hinterland roads.

The Government has also announced that in 2018, works will be undertaken on the Matthews Ridge to Baramita , Wanania to Yarakita, Karasabai to Monkey Mountain, Lethem to Aishalton, and Wisrock to Rockstone Roads, among others.

have mentioned Anu Dev before the Region’s commendable decision to focus more resources on non-communicable diseases (NCD), of which “Diabetes Mellitus” (or “sugar” as it is known colloquially) is right up there as a threat to better health for our citizens. There are actually 4 types of Diabetes Mellitus, but the one most people think of and the one that seems to be particularly troublesome in Guyana is Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. And that’s the one I’ll be focusing on in this article.

We need energy to live, and this energy is provided to the cells of the body in the form of a sugar named “glucose”. It is provided by the blood after it is absorbed from our stomachs. Glucose would be there either because it was eaten (rarely!), or, more frequently, digested from other sugars and carbohydrates, like in grains and ground provisions etc.

Now, Type 2 Diabetes begins with “insulin resistance”. Insulin is a hormone produced by an organ under our stomach called the “pancreas” – which is responsible for regulating blood glucose levels. If the levels are high, many organs of the body are gradually damaged. In Type 2, the pancreas is still producing insulin, but the cells of the body are unresponsive to the insulin — they’re resistant. So if the cells aren’t paying attention to the insulin, and are plucking the glucose out from the blood, that glucose will remain in the blood and cause what people like to refer to as “high sugar” in the blood.

Uncontrolled Diabetes is very dangerous, and can cause many complications. The kidneys are a prime target of diabetes. In fact, after a heart attack, renal failure is the 2nd most common cause of death from Diabetes. Diabetes can also cause damage to the nerves and eyes, make you more susceptible to infections, and increase the risk of developing heart disease or suffering a stroke.

Given that there’s currently no cure for diabetes, prevention is definitely better than cure. There are several risk factors that predispose you to diabetes.

Diet is one of the most important factors triggering diabetes. Especially our diet, chock-full of carbs- roti, rice and more roti. And, of course, chugging copious amounts of sugary soda isn’t doing your body any favours.

Short of consulting an actual nutritionist or a dietician, there are many apps out there that can give you an idea of the caloric breakdown of your meals. One I would highly recommend is “My Fitness Pal”.

It is a chore to log your meals every single day, but you can keep it up for at least a week, or to be able to spot trends in your diet and areas where you’re falling short. When I tried it for a month or so, I realized that I seemed to usually be falling short of the amount of protein I should be eating, so I started incorporating more protein into my diet.

Dietary changes known to be effective in helping to prevent diabetes include a diet rich in whole grains and fiber; and choosing good fats, such as polyunsaturated fats found in nuts, vegetable oils, and fish. Limiting sugary beverages and eating less red meat and other sources of saturated fat can also help in the prevention of diabetes.

A sedentary lifestyle plays a huge part in your risk of developing diabetes. Exercise, especially aerobic exercise like yoga, can help prevent the development of diabetes.

It is important to do regular blood glucose tests, for early diagnosis and to monitor your blood glucose levels if you already have diabetes. Anyone 45 or older should get tested for diabetes or pre-diabetes, especially if they are overweight or obese.

People younger than 45 should also get tested, if they are overweight or obese and have one or more risk factors, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or a family history of diabetes.

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President pledges support for Diocese of Guyana’s education programmes – at 175th anniversary

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President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger at the church service on Sunday. Also in photo is Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

resident David G r a n g e r has pledged Government’s support for ongoing educational programmes being implemented by the Diocese of Guyana, and has noted that religious organisations can play an integral role in the development of communities, and by extension the country.

The President made these remarks at a special church service held to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Guyana, on Sunday at the Christ Church Parish on Waterloo Street.

He has said the Diocese has been making strides in terms of education delivery since its establishment, and this coincides with his goal of

improving access to education for all the children of Guyana.

“The Diocese, through the foresight of our first Bishop, established Queen’s College as early as 1844, and later the correctly-named Bishops’ High School, both of which still reflect the high standards set by their Anglican founders…

“The Diocese can be assured of my Government’s support for the Church’s educational efforts, as I have supported Hindu and Islamic schools through the National Endowment for Science and Technology (NEST),” the President said.

President Granger also said the Diocese has always played a role in the promotion of peace,

in assisting the poor and impoverished, and in bringing together people of different backgrounds.

“The Diocese came into existence on August 24, 1842 with the consecration of Right Reverend William Austin as the first Bishop of Guiana…

The Diocese deserves our gratitude for its service to women, youth, the poor and needy. We applaud the episcopacy, clergy and laity for the propagation of the Gospel in Guyana… The State looks forward to working with the Diocese towards making Guyana a better place, and to providing a good life for all in the years ahead,” the President has said.

The Head of State noted that the Diocese occupies a prominent place, and plays a pivotal role

in public and private life.

He noted that Anglicans constitute almost seven per cent of Guyana’s population. Anglicanism, he said, has transcended race, class and creed, and has deep roots in almost all communities, with churches in every hinterland and coastal region.

“Growing up in Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara, I never had to travel more than 30 minutes from my home to reach an Anglican Church, so ubiquitous were they then.

The Diocese of Guyana is home to some of Guyana’s most historic churches, the most spectacular of which — the Cathedral of St George — adorns our $100 currency note,” President Granger said.

Cricket – a true unifier!

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ricket in the Caribbean has a rich and complex history.

In Guyana, whenever cricket comes to Providence Stadium, it is as though life has been breathed into the country.

Needless to say, cricket is far more than just a game.

Cricket can be regarded as a unifier in that it brings the Caribbean islands and Guyana together under the umbrella of the West Indies Cricket Team. Despite By Ashley Anthony disputes amongst the islands, once the West Indies is playing a match, every country supports the team.

Cricket has, of course, evolved with the introduction of 20/20 matches and CPL, and in so doing has become an even stronger facilitator of Caribbean unity. The Caribbean Premiere League encourages healthy competition among member countries, and even enables the exchange of cultures through sport tourism.

On a country scale, whenever there’s cricket, there’s a sort of peace. Guyanese of various socioeconomic backgrounds show up to rally for their home team, even if they’ve been on a losing streak. Whether it’s in the grass stand or presidential booth, you can be sure to see yellow shirts side by side, raising one voice of support for the Warriors. It’s a time when personal differences are set aside, and the only thing that matters is the experience of the game.

Cricket can also act as a unifier within the home.

Spending quality time together strengthens the relationships within a family. As it stands, there are few activities that can interest the whole family as a game of cricket. And as such, it is a wonderful way to get in that necessary family time in a way that pleases everyone.

Cricket can also help to reunite estranged friends, and to reform bonds of camaraderie. So often, when you go to a cricket game, you bump into someone you haven’t seen in a while, or someone whose number you’ve lost, or someone whom you haven’t been able to find on Facebook. You can catch up; and if things go well, even exchange contact information to meet up in the future.

Really and truly, cricket is more than just a game.

It has made its home in the hearts of each and every Guyanese (in some small way), and it will continue in the future to be the bridge of connection between young and old, rich and poor, and Guyanese everywhere.

First Lady’s ICT remedial programme graduates 57

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he First Buxton Information and Communication Technology (ICT) workshop and Buxton Youth remedial programmes graduated 57 youths.

Held at the Friendship Primary School, East Coast Demerara (ECD) the ceremony saw the ICT workshop graduating 24 youths, including high school students as well as school drop-outs while the remedial programme graduated 33 high and low Grade Two to Grade Six students – all hailing from the communities of Buxton, Company Road and Friendship primary schools.

The ICT workshop is certified by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and equips graduates with basic ICT skills.

Its curriculum also includes instruction in remedial Mathematics and English courses as well

From left: Coordinator of the Buxton ICT workshop, Fitzroy Younge, Joycelyn Wilson, First Lady Sandra Granger, trainer Ovian Austin and Lieutenant Colonel Yvonne Smith of the Office of the First Lady along with the graduates

as sessions in sexual and reproductive health, training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, micromanagement development and soft skills; including ethics and time management.

Addressing the gathering, First Lady Sandra Granger applauded the graduates and revealed that some of the ICT graduates have already been employed by the National Data Management Authority.

“The world is open to

you because computer skills will be required for 75 per cent of the jobs in the world. So think about it and keep that skills going, use it or lose it,” she said.

According to the First Lady, the beneficiaries of the remedial programme

are doing better in school than previously.

“Mothers were proud that their children, who had entered Grade Four unable to read were reading by the end of the school year. I have been advised that the literacy rate of the Friendship

Primary School has moved from 57 per cent two years ago to 87 per cent this year,” she said.

Delivering the feature address, head of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Guyana, Andreasa Morris-Martin commended the First Lady and the organisers for recognising the necessity of this type of training in a fast-paced, technology driven world.

“I really do feel that ICT and anything computing really is the sort of knowledge we need to impart in our young people because really and truly if they don’t have those skills it is very likely that they are going to be left behind,” she said.

The closing ceremony featured an IT skit performed by the ICT graduates and a musical rendition by graduate Shenika Griffith.

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

I tried my best to look like Haseena Parker: Shraddha Kapoor

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hraddha Kapoor says she went through many look tests to play Haseena Parkar in the biopic on underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s sister .The film is directed by Apoorva Lakhia. “He (Apoorva) has done lot of research on the film and it’s unbelievable. It’s a process and every single day we used to discuss how Haseena Parkar should come alive on the screen,” Shraddha told reporters at an event recently.

“He said to get into the skin of the character, it is impor-

tant I look like her and so we tried out many things. I hope everyone enjoys when they

see the film.” Lakhia unveiled a romantic track ‘Tere Bina’ from the film and the director

says it was a deliberate decision to launch a romantic song first.

“By the trailer one might feel that it is a violent film but that’s not the case. Haseena was married to her elder brother’s best friend, Ibrahim, who used to run a restaurant and in his free time used to do stunt in films. She got married at young age and they had four children.

“She had a beautiful marriage and was madly in love with her husband, who she lost at a young age. This song

is apt to show her softer side to the world.”

Apoorva thinks Haseena had a tragic life and that hardened her. “The gang war was between Arun Gawli and Dawood Ibrahim and Arun’s men shot Haseena’s husband.

She carried him on her shoulder. It’s a tragic life. In some areas she is a godmother and in some areas she is a gangster and that is for people to decide.”

The film is set to release on September 22. (Indian Express)

Bollywood has always encouraged Ranveer Singh is not turning producer experimental subjects – Prasanna with Rohit Shetty’s action film

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.S. Prasanna, who is making his Bollywood debut with the film Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, which deals with erectile dysfunction, says the Hindi film industry is encouraging filmmakers to explore unusual subjects and thanks to the new age audience, such films are making a difference.

Considering the fact that the film is the remake of its Tamil version Kalyana Samayal Saadham, which was also directed by him, asked if it was a safe choice to make a debut with, Prasanna told IANS here: “Well, I think Bollywood has always encouraged experimental subjects. Therefore, films like Vicky Donor, Dum Laga Ke Haisha and Hindi Medium have been made and accepted in mainstream cinema of Bollywood.

“Even when I was making the film in Tamil,

T

I knew that the subject of erectile dysfunction has a universal appeal. So when in a conservative environment of Tamil cinema, the multiplex audience received the film well, I realised that the story touched the right notes.

So yes, that gave me a certain level of confidence.”

While the Hindi version of the film is set in Gurugram, the Tamil version was set in southern India.

According to him, it was quite an interesting process to set the film in a different city, capturing the culture of that city, its

society and the texture.

“Making the transition from south to north was not a challenge for me because as a maker, I knew what story I want to tell.

I worked with a wonderful team where the producer (Aanand L Rai) and writer (Hitesh Kewalya) are from that part of the country and managed to make their mark. So the collaboration was fantastic,” said R.S. Prasanna.

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, featuring Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar, is releasing on Friday.

(Indian Express)

here are few stars in Bollywood who can take the energy and exuberance of a film several notches higher. Their sheer association with a movie assures some crackling onscreen moments. While it isn’t unknown why Ranveer Singh tops this list with the amount of vivacity he puts in all his films, the other one can surely be director Rohit Shetty, who aces in his signature masala action genre. So, when news surfaced that the two are teaming up, expectations that the project will be one its kind, went soaring.

Reports about this latest action-director collaboration in B-town sparked enough speculations and Rohit Shetty added fuel to it when at a recent press conference, he said that he was excited to work with Ranveer Singh.

This week, a few reports began doing the rounds that Ranveer will also be producing this film along with Rohit.

When we got in touch with the team of Yash Raj Films, which manages Ranveer, it rubbished the rumours of him turning a producer.

Ranveer’s spokesperson said “It is not true – it is a random rumour.

Ranveer feels that he is not ready to take on the responsibility of becoming a producer yet, as he wants to focus his energy entirely on his craft of acting at

this time.”

Rohit had recently revealed stuff about the film. He said, “I am doing a film with Ranveer which will be full of action. First time, people will see Ranveer performing so many action sequences.”

The director had also called Ranveer Singh, a superstar. He said, “He has great energy and after working with him in a commercial, even I believe so.

Heroine of the film is yet not finalised.

We will start working on it after Diwali.

He connects with the masses and for me he is a superstar!” (Indian Express)

Those who reject multi-starrers are Taapsee Pannu: Being a female insecure and bad performers - Ajay Devgn actor with an opinion is tough

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jay Devgn is all set to come out with his gang of badasses this Friday as Milan Luthria directorial Baadshaho hits the screen. The multi-starrer also features Emraan Hashmi, Ileana D’Cruz, Esha Gupta, Vidyut Jammwal and Sanjai Mishra in pivotal roles.

Interestingly, his next Golmaal Again helmed by director-friend Rohit Shetty also has an ensemble cast including starlets Parineeti Chopra and Tabu. But being a professional that he is, the 48-year-old actor doesn’t feel insecure to be a part of a film with many actors. Instead, the Shivaay actor feels quite secure about it.

Recently, as we asked Ajay about his take on the two-hero film in the context of Rohit Shetty’s comment, ‘big heroes don’t want to work together

because of their insecurity and can only promote each other’s film on social media’, the actor said that this is not the case with him.

Talking to indianexpress.com, Ajay said, “Working in multi-starrer is a lot more fun.

There are so many people around you on the sets.

I don’t understand why people are afraid of working in one. In fact, those who refuse to be a part of it are insecure and are bad performers.”

Adding to it, he said, “I don’t know about others, but whenever I have done a multi-starrer, my character has always stood out. So, I feel quite secure about it.”

Ajay, along with other actors and director of Baadshaho was in New Delhi to promote the film and hence talked at length about it. The actor made it clear that the gangster saga cannot be only looked upon as an action movie. Instead, he would like the movie to be seen as a thriller-drama. “Baadshaho is about six grey characters and about who is fighting whom. 1975 Emergency is a period in which the film is set. It is a drama with punchlines and humour. I wouldn’t call it an action film as well. It’s a drama.

The action just makes a sequence in the movie,” quipped Ajay. (Indian Express)

S

he may have received appreciation in the industry for her portrayal of strong characters in films such as Pink and Naam Shabana but Taapsee Pannu says in real life it is hard for people in the movie business to accept such women.

The 30-year-old actor, who made her acting debut with Telugu film Jhummandi Naadam, says patriarchal mindset still exists in the film industry like it does in the society. In an interview, Taapsee says, “Being a female actor, who has a strong opinion and is not willing to sacrifice or leave her self-respect is tough.

Sometimes I ask myself, ‘Do I compromise with my self-respect or do I go and do something which will be for the larger good of my career?’

“Sometimes I have to

be really clever and smart to manoeuvre because I know it is going to benefit (my career). But sometimes I have to put my foot down for my self-respect which doesn’t go down well with a lot of people.” The actor, however, is happy that women are now becoming “vocal” and are speaking their minds.

“A lot of female actors have now become more vocal. At least they are questioning. How strongly they are putting their foot down, I don’t know.

But yes they are speaking

up. “We get more security in the fact that there is much more significance attached to the characters and one just can’t replace another. That is why we are in a position today where we can say what we feel. Now we can command in a certain way.”

Taapsee says the fact that female actors are now standing up for themselves is bringing a significant change in the mindset of the people in the film industry. “Being vocal is making a difference in terms of how people perceive us. There is a certain sense of command. They listen to what a female actor has got to say.

“I feel female actors are now being taken more seriously than ever before. We are now an active part of filming, post-production, pre-production and promotions”, she added. (Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Stars donate for victims of Hurricane Harvey

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ctor Sandra Bullock has donated USD 1 million to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. The 53-year-old Oscar-winning actor has pledged the whopping amount to the people who have been affected by the tropical storm in Houston, Texas, reported E! News. “I’m just grateful I can do it. We have to take care of one another,” Bullock said in a statement.

The donation by the “Gravity” star, who owns a house nearby Austin, will benefit the American Red Cross in

its ongoing effort to help those impacted by the flooding and destruction along Texas’ Gulf

Coast.

Apart Hollywood

from stars

Bullock, such as

Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, Nicki Minaj, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Chris Brown and T I have also contributed money to the relief work.

A Houston native, Beyonce told a local newspaper, “My heart goes out to my hometown, Houston, and I remain in constant prayer for those affected and for the rescuers who have been so brave and determined to do so much to help.

“I am working closely with my team at BeyGOOD as well as my pastor (Rudy Rasmus at St

John’s in downtown Houston) to implement a plan to help as many as we can.”

Comedian Kevin Hart also launched his own Hurricane Harvey Relief Challenge, calling on fellow stars to donate USD 25,000 to assist Texas residents rendered homeless or without electricity in wake of the natural disaster. Stars such as Miranda Lambert, Hilary Duff and Eva Longoria took to social media to send love and prayers. (Indian Express)

Emma Watson beats Beyonce to Documentary on Steven become most inspiring celebrity Spielberg to premiere at New

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ctor Emma Watson has been named the celebrity who most inspires and influences teenagers, in a new poll. The Beauty and the Beast actor, 27, was picked from a list of stars which included celebrities such as Cheryl, Ariana Grande, Beyonce and Zayn Malik, reports metro.co.uk.

Both girls and boys selected Emma Watson from the line-up of 43 actors, musicians, fitness personalities, YouTubers and reality stars. The research was commissioned by youth empowerment programme National Citizen Service (NCS) and conducted by ICM, with 1000 young people taking part.

As per metro.co.uk, many cited Watson’s feminist stance as the reason she is so inspiring. One respondent said, “She uses the power and fame she gained from the Harry Potter series to speak about im-

York Film Festival

S portant issues like feminism.”

“She’s a big feminist.

She frequently speaks out on sexism and other discrimination issues such as racism and homophobia, and what she says really inspires me,” another said. The research also found that ‘feminist’ is now the top tribe for teenage girls (29 per cent), outranking labels such as “sporty” (10 per cent) or “bookworm” (19 per cent).

Emma Watson was most recently seen in James Ponsoldt directorial The Circle alongside

Tom Hanks and Karen Gillan. The film was based on Dave Eggers’ 2013 novel of the same name. Eggers also cowrote the screenplay.

The film received negative reviews but was a hit at the box office.

Reportedly, Watson will star in While We’re Young, the film adaptation of Adena Halpern’s 2010 novel 29, which focuses on a grandmother who is young at heart and who would rather spend time with her granddaughter (Watson) than her daughter.

(Indian Express)

Very happy to be 50 at the moment: Nicole Kidman

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ctor Nicole Kidman doesn’t fret about getting old. She says she is very happy to be 50 at the moment. The Big Little Lies actor, who turned 50 on June 20, opened up about her age in an interview to Australia’s Stellar magazine, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Nicole Kidman is dripping wet and stunning in a photoshoot and interview for STELLAR Magazine’s first birthday issue.

Wearing a $4500 Alexander Perry gown, the actress gave an honest account of marriage, turning 50 and her Australian pride.

“Just joy. I’m just really going, ‘OK, this is my life’, and I’m very, very happy to be 50. I think that’s what happens with birthdays once you get to a particu-

lar age, you’re just like, ‘Yay, OK, here we go,” Nicole Kidman said.

However, she admits 49-year-old husband Keith Urban, doesn’t hold the highest awareness of the film industry.

“He has got his own career and life, so he’s actually in the midst of making music right now, he’s doing his album,” she began.

“He’s not an actor, he’s not really in the film industry so his awareness of it is not that high. I mean he says, “OK, where do we have to go? Go to another red carpet?” But occasionally he’ll go, “Oooh, I think I’m just gonna skip this one” [laughs].”

The actor also said that she celebrated her birthday with a quiet family party. She said: “I did not have a huge party. I was like, I just want to be with my family. And my sister came over with all her children, my brother-in-law, I had Keith (Urban) and my girls. We Skyped my mum because she couldn’t fly all that way, but I flew back and had a small party with her and my close, close, close friends. And that was it — simple.” (Indian Express)

usan Lacy’s documentary Spielberg, chronicling the notable career of director-producer Steven Spielberg, will have its world premiere at the New York Film Festival. The HBO docu features interviews with Francis Coppola, Brian De Palma, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Tom Hanks, John Williams and Janusz Kaminski, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film spans from Spielberg’s early love of movie making while growing up in all-American suburbia, through his rise to fame with Jaws, to his establishment of a filmand-TV empire with DreamWorks, and beyond.

Spielberg and Lacy will be in attendance at the debut screening. Along with Spielberg, the Special Events section of the fest also includes the unveiling of Jennifer Lebeau’s Trouble No More, a concert film experience that features long-lost footage from Bob Dylan’s ’79’80 tour with the words of LucSante; and Susan Froemke’s Metropolitan Opera doc The Opera House. The festival will hold a career-spanning conversation with Kate Winslet, and a master class with Vittorio Storaro and Ed Lachman — the cinematographers of Wonder Wheel and Wonderstruck, respectively.

Stephen Spielberg has won three Academy awards and is known for pushing the envelope especially in the domain of computer generated graphics and visual effects. He was rated the greatest director ever by the Empire magazine. His next directorial project Ready Player One is slated for a March 30, 2018 release date.

The 55th New York Film Festival is set to run from September 28 to October 15. It will open with the world premiere of Richard Linklater’s Last Flag Flying, close with the debut of Woody Allen’s Wonder Wheel and showcase Todd Haynes’ Wonderstruck as its centerpiece. (Indian Express)

Gal Gadot wishes happy birthday to her ‘Wonder Woman’ co-star Chris Pine

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ctor Gal Gadot shared a funny meme to wish happy birthday to her Wonder Woman co-star Chris Pine. The meme featuring Gadot and Pine shows them giggling during an interview. Along with the video, Gadot wrote, “Happy Happy Birthday to my darling friend #chrispine . May you always shine bright and be the special funny person you are.

Wishing you all the best this world has to offer.

Health, happiness and lots of giggles. Xo”.

Her film Wonder Woman, which released in theaters on June 2 this year, has made an estimated $404,008,376 million domestically, eclipsing the original Spider-Man’s long-held record of $403,706,375 million. The film is the first female-directed, live-action movie to cross

$400 million domestic and $800 million worldwide.

Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins, has been a mammoth hit for the studio critically too. Warner Bros previously announced an “untitled event film” for December 13, 2019.

Gal Gadot will next appear as Diana Prince in November’s Justice League, alongside Ben Affleck’s Batman, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, Ezra

Miller’s Flash and Ray Fisher’s Cyborg.

Meanwhile, Patty Jenkins is in final talks to helm the sequel of Wonder Woman as the director is close to signing a record-breaking deal for the second part.

In an interview, Warner Bros Pictures President and CCO Toby Emmerich had revealed how the sequel won’t take place during World War I but is still likely to be set in the past. (Indian Express)

50 Feature

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Holness receives Diaspora THE WHEN LAS CHRONICLES leadership award in NY

J

amaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness, was presented with the Distinguished Leadership Award by the New York-based Jamaica Independence Foundation on Saturday, August 26.

Also honoured by the Foundation were former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, who received the Nation Builder Award and Jamaican-born basketball legend, Patrick Ewing, who was given the Son of the Soil Legacy Award.

The awards were presented at the Jamaica 55 Independence Grand Gala, held at the New York Hilton Hotel by the Foundation.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Accepting the award, Holness paid tribute to fellow awardee, Seaga, whom he described as his personal hero and mentor.

He reminded the audience that Seaga was “one of the framers of the Jamaica Constitution, a

father of the nation, a social engineer extraordinaire, and a patriot” “Jamaica is forever indebted to you and the countless contributions you have made to our country's development,” the prime minister told Seaga.

Turning to Ewing, Holness said that the he embodies the spirit of the Jamaican people, who have excelled in their endeavours.

“Your stellar contributions to sports/basketball have further cemented Jamaica's reputation as a sports powerhouse. We acknowledge your leadership in this area, and for your ambassadorship in showcasing the

talent that is present in Jamaica,” the prime minister said.

Proceeds from the gala will go towards Jamaica 55 Legacy Project – Woman Inc, Jamaica's women's crisis centre, as well as the Garvey Elementary School in Bronx, New York, named in honour of Jamaica's first National Hero, Marcus Garvey.

The prime minister commended the organisers for channelling the proceeds to the centre and the school, emphasising that the Government will not relent in its efforts to get Marcus Garvey's name cleared of criminal charges in the United States. (JIS)

Sweet May’s: A Guyanese business that instills healthy eating

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United States based Guyanese entrepreneur is crediting her upbringing in the land of many waters for her decision to establish a bakery in New York on the basis of “pure flavours and natural ingredients”.

The establishment;

Sweet May's is a unique, gourmet bakery, specialising in custom- designed cakes for weddings, birthdays, baby showers, christening, bridal showers and more.

With freshly baked cakes available on a daily basis, the owner, ‘May’ as she is popularly

known, is a highly experienced cake artist.

Through her delicious edibles, she promotes high-end USDAapproved organic, quality all natural ingredients- placing emphasis on pure flavours so as to eliminate the use of harmful additives, dyes

(artificial foods colors) and preservatives.

Sweet May’s is famous for its exceptional Guyanese "Black Cake", West Indian fruitcake, and Guyanese pineapple tarts, cheese rolls, cherry sponge, carrot cake, strawberry shortcakes, cupcakes, pies, and much more.

In an interview with this publication, ‘May’ related that she was born and raised in Guyana, but she later moved abroad where she resided in Britain and several states in the United States, before she finally moved to Queens, New York, which she regards as the most culturally diverse community in the world.

She explained that over 30 years ago, there was a huge anti-Genetically modified organisms (GMO) movement in the United Kingdom and Europe. As such, the harmful effects of pesticides, hormones, preservatives, artificial colours and additives in our foods can have on adults and children, were brought to light.

On this basis, ‘May’ decided to bring back the pure flavours that many yearn for, and to reinforce the need to consume more organically produced foods.

“All cultures gravitate around desserts, cakes, and sweets. Cakes are the center of gatherings and holidays. It would be unrealistic to deprive oneself of these rituals of celebration without cake!

To see happy smiles and joy of all ages is to be fulfilled, and I hope to do so for you! That’s my promise to each individual,” May said.

Article 1: HARD AISE

By Son de Anancy

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ome experiences are meant to be forgotten given their trivial nature and the fact that they have little or no bearing on the life you live. Some experiences are designed to be forgotten as they are merely incidental or redundant components of your life's journey. Some experiences you will choose to forget given the pain and or embarrassment they may have caused. Then there are those experiences that are forever relatable. Experiences you want to relive time and again. Experiences you want to be reminded of. Experiences that make you blush, smile, giggle - hold on to your belly and laugh out loud. At least when they are told by others.

Such experiences will feature in the When Las Chronicles, otherwise defined as a conversational-style exploration of human cultures. The chronicles will initially focus on the traditions and customs of Guyana and other parts of the Caribbean. In time, we hope to address the traditions of other global communities. We trust that the stories told will serve as a fun guide - a light helping us to better understand ourselves, our collective heritage and the lives of our neighbors.

The writer, who hails from the coastal village of Ann’s Grove in the county of Demerara, Guyana and spent significant portions of his adult life in New York, USA and Saint Michael and Christ Church, Barbados will borrow heavily from his experiences in the named communities.

New York, as we most of us are aware is one of the most ethnically diverse places on earth but any student of culture or even a casual observer will also find much to be captivated by in the other locales. We begin today with an illustration of a Guyanese colloquial expression - 'hard aise.'

Do you remember much about your life when you were seven, eight or nine? Can you recall whether you were having a partially or thoroughly good time?

Where was your home? What was the feel of the air in your town or village? Try to visualize the scenes on the outsides of your gate on a given morning. Would there be cows heading to the pasture, kids playing cricket on the street or vehicles drifting back and forth?

Who were the people responsible for your care? Who cut your hair? Who mended your clothes? What were your joys and what were your fears.

And how often did you not follow instructions? How often would you ignore the direct commands of your elders or an older sibling?

Can you recall the time your grandma pulled and tugged at your left ear? She had sent you out to the corner shop with a short shopping list and a $20 note. When all was packed and counted the short fidgety lady behind the money drawer had told you, "nineteen dollars and eleven cents."

You had opted to pocket the change figuring you were going to have an extra eighty-nine cents to spend at school the next day. You could buy an extra icicle and pack of chicken foot in addition to a sno-cone with condensed milk while on your way home. Granny is a big lady with a lot of money, you reasoned. Plus, don't you deserve a little 'freck' for walking all the way to Miss Layne shop - two long corners away.

But pim pim! Granny did not share your views. Even if it was a mere cent in change she felt you had a right to bring it back. So with her old squishy right hand she had reached out for your nimble little left ear and fretted.

"Chile! Is why you aise so hard? Did I not tell you to always bring back the change from the shop? Every time I send you out is the same damn thing! Did I not tell you lil behind to leave my small change alone? Leeeeeeeeeave de damn thing alone!"

And with each "e" she tugged even harder at your poor little ear.

"But granny everything come up to twenty dollar.

Granny Miss Layne ent give me no cha…" For a moment you thought of lying – give her some kind of excuse to make her get her squishy old hand off your ear. But somehow at this stage you decided it would not be a good idea to lie again to an elder. So then you figured, "you gon run 'way - far far away where nobody, not even granny could find you."

Of course, you never did run away. By the next morning you and granny were the best of friends. But days later you had to again feel the wrath of granny's old squishy hand.

"Chile did I not tell you to wash the wares in the sink.

Look at the time now, the place already dark and since morning I told your lil behind to wash the blasted wares.

Waaaaaaaaasshh the damn wares!

"Ouch granny you hu'ting me!"

"Who you talking to?"

"Not you granny……(but when I get big you rass gon can't do this to me.)

"Did you say something?"

"No granny. I ent say nothing."

"Well get and wash dem wares. I ent you mother. I don't take nonsense from hard aise children."

When las.

Sport 51

WEEK ENDING September 3, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Double champions return home

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n Tuesday, the National Under-19 team which recently won the Regional double crown returned to Guyana to a resounding welcome at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport.

The champions landed at approximately 14:40h and were greeted by government and Guyana Cricket Board officials. Those on hand to welcome home the champions were: Minister of Social Cohesion, who is also the minister with responsibility for Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton, Director of Youth and Sport, Christopher Jones, GCB’s Hon. Secretary, Anand Sanasie, the Chairman of the Senior Selection

Double champions Guyana Under-19 team with Government and GCB officials after landing at the Eugene F Correia International Airport

Panel at GCB, Rayon Griffith and GCB staffs:, Territorial Development Officer, Colin Stuart and Assistant Administrator, Avee Fedee-Grimmond.

According to a GCB release, Minister Norton expressed his content and congratulated the team on their double title championship.

The Minister expressed elation in tak-

ing up his designation on such a historic winning note.

It is the second time Guyana has successfully claimed double honours dating back to 2014.

Thus GCB Secretary, Sanasie, noted that winning this tournament four times is not a coincidence but dedication from all involved.

“The Guyana

Under-19 has since recorded their fourth title of being the Regional Under-19 Champions.

The team picked up the Regional three day championship earlier this month after defeating Jamaica in the final round of competitions where Jamaica finished its first innings on 187 all out in 100 overs., Guyana compiled 250-

8 declared off 73 overs and in the 2nd Innings, Jamaica scored 139 all out after 55.3 overs and Guyana 80 for 1 off of 18.3 overs which led them to victory”, the release stated.

It further added that, Guyana recorded its sixth consecutive win during the one day tournament after defeating the Windward Islands in

the CWI One-Day 50 over tournament where they won by 6 runs after putting up an unbeatable total of 217 off of 49.6 overs which Windward Islands failed to attain.

“The Executives and staff of the GCB extend best wishes to the youngsters and hope that they will unceasingly work towards continuous victory in the sport of cricket.”

Ottis Gibson confirmed as South Africa's head coach O ttis Gibson has been appointed as the head coach of the South Africa team.

Gibson, the former West Indies seamer, will leave his role as England bowling coach at the end of the Investec Test series against West Indies.

He has previously been head coach of West Indies (2010-2014), during which time he helped lead the side to success in the 2012 World T20.

ESPNcricinfo had previously reported that a compensation package had been agreed between Cricket South Africa and the ECB to allow Gibson to leave his ECB contract early.

"I am delighted to embark on this new chapter in my coaching career and I would like to thank Cricket South Africa for giving me this opportunity and the England and Wales Cricket Board for their understanding of my position," Gibson said. "I have spent a number of happy times in South Africa as a player and I am now looking forward to return as a coach."

The news confirms the departure of Russell Domingo who has moved to the role of head coach of the A side. He was the South Africa coach for the last four years but was obliged to reapply for his job when CSA announced it would be reviewing its options for the position in January; a stance originally explained as an exercise in corporate governance.

Ultimately, however, the five-man panel charged with appoint-

on record my thanks to Ottis Gibson for his services to English cricket," Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, said. "Ottis has been an integral part of the England team in his two stints as bowling coach.

Ottis Gibson

ing the coach - a panel that included former national coaches Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons - concluded that Gibson would be a better option.

Domingo's next assignment will see him coach Pretoria Mavericks in the T20 Global League.

Haroon Lorgat, the CSA chief executive, said: "On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Russell Domingo for his positive contributions during his time with the Proteas and I am delighted he will remain in our setup as head coach of the South Africa A side. This is an important position that prepares our up-andcoming players in the next stage of their journey to become potential Proteas. I must also thank the ECB for their understanding and cooperation in releasing Ottis from his current contract."

Gibson, who played domestic cricket in South Africa, has had two spells as England's bowling coach. He first joined them in 2007 and re-

mained with them until he took the West Indies job in 2010. He returned to the ECB in 2015.

It is understood that the ECB will advertise for a new bowling coach immediately.

Richard Johnson (who is currently with Middlesex), Graeme Welch (who is currently with Leicestershire) and Steffan Jones (who is currently freelance) are all thought likely to apply. There may also be short-term consultancy roles for the likes of Darren Gough available.

"Ottis has played a vital role in our progress over the past few years," Trevor Bayliss, the England head coach, said. "His knowledge of the international game and the way he has supported all our bowlers in their development has been immeasurable.

"He will no doubt relish the challenge of becoming a head coach once again and coupled with his strong affinity with South African cricket, he will look to take them forward."

"I would like to place

His experience, tactical awareness and understanding of bowling in all conditions has benefited our approach and has helped our bowling unit develop greatly across all formats of the game.

"He is an ambitious

man and when this opportunity presented itself it was difficult for him to turn down. On behalf of the ECB, I would like to wish him every success in the next chapter of his career."

(ESPNCricinfo)

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CPL 2017: Thomas, Sangakkara secure Tallawahs’ playoffs berth

By Peter Della Penna

J

amaica Tallawahs 157 for 5 (Sangakkara 69, Powell 43) beat St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 116 (Lewis 40, Santokie 3-10, Oshane 3-31) by 41 runs Chris Gayle's return to Sabina Park was spoiled by Man of the Match Oshane Thomas, whose searing pace dismantled St Kitts & Nevis Patriots' chase, as a spirited effort from Jamaica Tallawahs in the field resulted in a 41run win. The defending CPL champions clinched their fifth straight playoff berth and moved one point ahead of Patriots to second on the CPL points table. Thomas took 3 for 31, including the wicket of Gayle for a three-ball duck.

Another Tallawahs win in their final match against Guyana Amazon Warriors would put them into the opening playoff match against the Trinbago Knight Riders for a chance to gain direct entry into the tournament final.

Tallawahs' inauspicious start Victory was the furthest thing from the minds of Tallawahs

The Jamaica Tallawahs celebrated the dismissal of Chris Gayle

supporters after Lendl Simmons was bowled off the first ball of the game.

Pace bowlers have been sensational in the final week of the season and that trend continued on Wednesday night as Sheldon Cottrell swung one full and straight to castle the right-hander before halting his follow-through to stand at attention for his patented military salute sendoff. It was the first of two wickets on the night for

Cottrell.

Sangakkara's streak continues While Sri Lanka's fortunes continue to wane post Kumar Sangakkara's international retirement, his form has been waxing lyrical all summer, whether in England with Surrey or in the Caribbean with the Tallawahs. Arriving in the middle for the second ball of the match, Sangakkara settled early nerves by forging an

81-run stand with Glenn Phillips.

Sangakkara kickstarted the innings in the fifth over against Ben Hilfenhaus, riding a pair of streaky shots that fell safely as he carted the Australian for three fours and two sixes in a 24-run over. He routinely used his feet to combat the Patriots' spin trio of Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nabi and Tabraiz Shamsi. When he wasn't charging forward, he got creative within the crease, shuffling back and across to disrupt their lines with a series of flicks and scoops. By the end of his innings, he'd racked up his third consecutive half-century.

Powell's prodigious power While Sangakkara drove most of the Tallawahs innings, runs were trickling through

at the other end. By the time he got out with eight balls left in the innings at 135 for 4, Patriots were looking at chasing an under-par total. That's when Rovman Powell stomped down hard on the accelerator for a furious finish to the innings.

Having smashed a free hit off Shamsi over midwicket a few overs earlier for six in search of his timing, Powell chopped an edge for four to fine leg to end the 19th. After nearly being run-out off the first ball of the 20th, he found his radar once more against Cottrell, creaming him over midwicket and longoff for consecutive sixes to take Tallawahs past 150 before falling on the final ball of the innings.

Lightning strikes twice Just as Simmons fell at the start of the match

without scoring, so too did Gayle. The Universe Boss fell in somewhat more shocking fashion though. One of the most fearsome six-hitters in world cricket padded up to an inswinger from an amped-up Oshane Thomas. Gayle appeared to motion after the ball struck him as if he had failed to pick it up or something distracted him. The umpire disregarded the gesture and simply raised his finger to send Gayle on his way.

Wonderboy tees off, then strikes out Evin Lewis shook off Gayle's abrupt departure by scorching 40 of the next 43 runs in partnership with Mohammad Hafeez. Returning to the same ground he blitzed a T20I century against India earlier in the summer, Lewis targeted the leg-side boundary early and often with six fours and two sixes.

He began the fifth over by smacking three consecutive boundaries off Mohammad Sami, then drove a moon shot over long-on for six off the fifth ball. That shot resulted in a broken bat. Just like Roy Hobbs in Bernard Malamud's The Natural, Lewis was sapped of his powers without his go-to bat and promptly popped a tame return catch to Sami off the final ball of the over. Only two more batsmen reached double-figures in the Patriots innings as Thomas and Krishmar Santokie took three wickets each to bowl out Patriots for 116 inside of 18 overs. (ESPNcricinfo)

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