Guyana Times International

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Guyana has been significantly transformed since 1992 - President Ramotar H

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

ISSUE NO. 163

undreds of People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) supporters on Sunday flocked the Lusignan Market tarmac, East Coast Demerara to be part of a rally to celebrate the party’s 21st anniversary in government. Addressing the gathering, President Donald Ramotar said the party is celebrating one of the most important victories of the Guyanese people.

NEW GPC INC continuing tradition of excellence, says general manager

“For a long time, our people struggle against all kinds of oppression and when we got independence, we thought that that was the time when we would move forward in our country but then again we had to start another struggle for freedom against the dictatorship that existed in Guyana, and therefore, we only had freedom in the last 21 years in this country, despite the fact that we have 47 years of indepen-

Guyana to open consulate in Atlanta – Foreign Page 6 Minister

week ending october 13, 2013 Katherina Roshana moments after being crowned Miss Guyana Universe 2013.

Miss Roshana was proudly sponsored

by Limacol.

dence,” said the president.

Massive developments

He said with the massive developments in the country, there is still a lot more to be done, but the party will need the support of all its supporters for this to happen.

“I want to ask you to stand with us because danger lurks at the door and we, therefore, we must stand together… (see full story on page 21)

Jagdeo slams critics of Amaila Falls project Page 7

Page 17

Katherina Roshana begins reign as Miss Guyana Universe

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NEWS

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Rekha is new U.S. decision on direct flight a GPHC board blow to the economy – Gouveia chairman P H

leges, since they are already certified and accredited.

By Leana Bradshaw

ealth Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran on Tuesday announced that Nirmal Rekha has been appointed the new chairman of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) board of directors, following the resignation of Colonel Mark Phillips on September 26.

Rekha was appointed a member of the new board in July, along with Dr Mahendra Carpen, Dr Dalgleish Joseph, Bibi Zaheeda Hack, Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud, Renata Chuck-A-Sang, Norma Semple, Kempton Alexander and Dr Sheik Amir.

Minister Ramsaran, who was at the time speaking at a press conference at his Brickdam office, expressed appreciation to Phillips for his stewardship of the board over the past year and congratulated him on his new appointment as chief-of-staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Rekha was subsequently elected as chair of the board’s Finance Audit Committee and is also actively supporting the investigation into the recent discovery of fraud at the GPHC’s cashier station.

Minister Ramsaran stated that the investigation is being conducted by the Office of the Auditor General, which was called in immediately after the fraud was discovered.

Thus far, the missing Gy$ 4.134 million is yet to be accounted for.

Immediately after the discovery, the cashier was placed in police custody and is currently on bail.

The ministry has been closely monitoring the investigation and Minister Ramsaran said he is looking forward for the investigation to end soon, which will allow the ministry to benefit from the findings. “I fully support the comprehensive approach of the investigation,” he said. continued on page 6

rominent local aviator and businessman Captain Gerry Gouveia said the recent decision by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to deny third-party air carriers direct flights between Guyana and New York was a “serious blow” to the Guyanese economy.

Weighing in on the matter of the non-existent direct flights on Wednesday during an interview with Guyana Times International, Gouveia said the refusal by DOT to grant the airlines the privilege was questionable. The department’s decision means that both Fly Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines, which ply the route, will have to stop in their respective countries of registration before continuing on to the United States.

Stymied economy

Gouveia believes the department’s move was unjustifiable, given that there was no airline providing direct flights for that route. “If Delta was still on the route, for example, and Delta was saying ‘here, listen, we’re providing it and so we don’t want a third-party country doing it’, that would be understandable, but Delta is not here and I think the U. S. authorities really need to be sensitive to the economic needs of Guyana,” he reasoned.

“Unfortunate and unfair”

Captain Gerry Gouveia

Gouveia added that “this action by the U. S. authorities will not affect Caribbean Airlines or Fly Jamaica as much as it’s affecting the Guyanese economy”. He, therefore, views the move as one to stymie the expansion of the local economy by preventing access to “our tourism product and investors coming directly into Guyana”.

Gouveia also said established airlines such as Fly Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines are the ones that should be granted such privi-

“We may eventually get chartered services flying directly to Guyana, but chartered services continue to put the flying public in an unstable situation, because we never know when they will stop,” he stated.

The businessman added that established airlines bring to the market a level of reliability.

Hence, he is urging that the government of Guyana and the local U. S. embassy join in efforts to lobby for the reversal of DOT’s decision, since there is currently no other alternative for local passengers wishing to fly non-stop to New York.

Newly-appointed Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) President Kit Nascimento has labelled the situation as “unfortunate and unfair”. As such, he said every effort should be made to appeal the decision taken. “As far as tourism is concerned, as president of THAG, I feel that the position taken is wrong.”

Good reason

He said there was every good reason that the airlines should be permitted to fly directly from Guyana to New York and vice versa. Nascimento added that he would seek to initiate a petition to persuade THAG members to object to the decision, making way for it to be appealed.

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INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

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

Tel no: (592) 227-0704, 227-0709.

Fax (592) 225-8696, 227-0685 Email: guyanatimesint@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

The new Guyana Constitution

A

s the country reflects on its democratic status 21 years after the latter was returned in the wake of decades of struggle against rigged elections, there are allegations by opposition forces that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) government continues to use the 1980 Constitution, which had confirmed the existential dictatorial rule of the People’s National Congress (PNC).

Such charges ignore the fundamental changes in that Constitution wrought by the constitutional reform process initiated in 1999 and implemented in 2000. The alterations were so far reaching that for all intents and purposes, a new Constitution had been created.

The government had commenced the process for constitutional change as early as 1995, when a Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) was formed and hearings were held across the country, as well in a Parliamentary Select Committee.

The process was interrupted by the 1997 elections, which the PPP/ C won according to all foreign and domestic observers.

The PNC, however, claimed that the poll was flawed and launched massive street protests that segued into ethnically directed riots and violence. The Caribbean Community (Caricom) – brokered the Herdmanson Accord of January 17, 1998, which included an agreement to complete the reform of the 1980 Constitution.

A new 20-person CRC, acceptable to all parliamentary parties, was assembled and included individuals drawn from the widest possible cross-section of society. For six months, the CRC conducted hearings and took submissions from every Guyanese individual or organisation that expressed a wish to do so.

Their submissions were reviewed by a parliamentary Joint Select Committee, which then furthered the 182 recommendations (drawn from 32 subject areas) to the Oversight Committee of the National Assembly.

The final changes were approved unanimously in 2000 by all the parties in the National Assembly, including the PNC. Surely, 182 alterations in the 1980 Constitution proposed from such a diverse body of national opinion, could not have resulted in “the same old 1980” Constitution after 2000.

The most criticised feature of the 1980 Constitution had been the powers allocated to the presidency: he was a de facto dictator, who for the first time in the history of the Commonwealth had complete veto power. He could be president for life and could hire and fire at will most public officials (Article 232) and determine the length of tenure of others whom he might not have even appointed.

In the new Constitution, the powers of the president are diminished considerably, while those of the opposition leader (who had been derided as “Minority Leader” in the 1980 Constitution) and the Parliament, are increased.

The president is now limited to two terms and his power to fire is now restricted only to those individuals not appointed by the service commissions. Even on those offices he created, if their salaries are charged to the Consolidated Fund, the appointments must be reviewed by the National Assembly.

In critical constitutional appointments such as the commissioner of police, the chancellor of the judiciary and the chief justice, the opposition leader has veto power, since his agreement is necessary for confirmation. It is for this reason that some constitutional offices have been occupied by individuals in an “acting” capacity.

The Elections Commission had been the vehicle for rigging elections in the past, but the president can now only appoint its chairman from a list submitted by the opposition leader. Under the 1980 Constitution, the president merely had to call the Minority Leader and that was considered as a “consultation” to satisfy that requirement.

Now, the term “meaningful consultation” has been constitutionally defined to ensure that the president obtains the opinion of the opposition leader. Parliament also obtained a greater share of power in the new Constitution, with four sectoral committees now scrutinising all areas of governmental policy and administration in real time.

Finally, the president can also now be impeached and cannot dissolve Parliament to evade such a sanction or circumvent it by appointing the tribunal to investigate the charges. All in the new Guyana Constitution.

Models showcase some of the locally-grown agricultural produce during the launch of Caribbean Week of Agriculture Wednesday evening at the Guyana International Conference Centre

Caribbean govts urged to protect marine resources

... even as coastal systems continue to degrade

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aribbean governments have been urged to take stronger actions to combat threats to its marine resources and to network at all levels so that countries can learn from each other in identifying best practices to successfully manage their environment. This call was made at the just concluded Second Global Conference on Land-Ocean Connections (GLOC-2) hosted last week in Montego Bay, Jamaica by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Jamaica government.

Attended by more than 200 delegates, including scientists and environmental experts, the conference made recommendations towards the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from land-based activities and also explored current and emerging environmental management challenges that result from land-based activities, with a priority focus on the management of marine litter, waste water and nutrients.

Speaking on the opening day of the summit held at the Hilton Hotel, UNEP Deputy Director Elizabeth Maruma Mrema said while the marine and coastal environment continues to degrade “there is need for countries and stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the Global Programme of Action and other commitments, such as what came out of the Rio+ 20 Conference in 2012”.

Contribution

She said the growing pressures on marine and coastal ecosystems require more effective management approaches

in light of the new challenges of the 21st century, noting that despite the economic values attained as a result of land-based activities, a number of those activities cause great harm to the world’s oceans and seas.

“The major causes of damage or harm to the environment come from excessive nutrients, habitat destruction and wastewater,” she noted.

Mrema explained that excessive nutrients flowing into the sea are dangerous to human health, loss of biodiversity and reduced fishing.

She said in terms of economic goods and services, coastal ecosystems contribute at least 38 per cent of the world’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – as much as all terrestrial ecosystems, adding that open ocean areas alone provide another 25 per cent.

“This is a substantial contribution not to be underestimated,” she asserted.

The UNEP official said it is common knowledge that the oceans of the world are interlinked, and as such, an action on one side of the ocean can have far-reaching repercussions on the other side.

“Therefore, the way we see marine litter scattered along many beaches across the globe clearly demonstrates the nature of the impacts we have to deal with under the GPA programme for which we need the concerted efforts of all of us if we are to succeed. In recent years, for instance, we’ve realised how coastal habitats such as mangrove forests, salt marshes and seagrass meadows have additional value due to their important carbon sink capacities,” Mrema said.

According to UNEP’s Blue

Carbon Report, the improved management and restoration of the ocean’s blue carbon sinks would contribute significantly to offsetting global emissions and mitigating climate change.

Terrestrial ecosystem

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Minister Robert Pickersgill said while previous studies have shown that the approach to protect the environment has separated terrestrial and marine ecosystems, “there is a growing recognition by many stakeholders... that the terrestrial and marine ecosystems are intimately connected.”

As such, he said any approach to successfully manage environments must “take into account the strong, yet complex, link between activities on land and the marine and coastal environments”.

He made reference to the third international conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which will be held in Samoa in September 2014, noting that the outcome document recognises that a common vision among SIDS that can only be realised through inclusive dialogue and “partnerships based on mutual trust, equality, respect and accountability”.

The minister outlined that pollution from land-based activities can have detrimental effects on the economic growth and development of the states and warned that there is an urgent need to strengthen the existing regional instruments that relate to land-based sources of pollution and institute such agreements where none exist.

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Alleged child killer to stand trial in High Court

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agistrate Clive Nurse has ruled that enough evidence was presented in court for the Linden man accused of killing a four-year-old boy back in February this year to be tried in the High Court.

The prosecution closed the preliminary inquiry into the case against Rawle Samuels when the defendant made yet another court appearance

Alleged child killer, Rawle Samuels

at

the

Christianburg

Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.

Samuels, 25, of Buck Hill, Wismar, Linden, is accused of stabbing to death Jamal Narajan on February 6. The defendant declined to say anything in his defence when the presiding magistrate asked for his defence on Tuesday.

Samuels also allegedly raped a relative of the child at knife point before killing the toddler.

Rekha is new GPHC board...

continued from page 3

Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran (sixth from left) presents the GPHC’s licence to former board chairman, Colonel Mark Phillips. Others in photo from left are Dr Mahendra Carpen, Dr Dalgleish Joseph, Renata Chuck-A-Sang, Dr Sheik Amir, GPHC Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan, Norma Semple, Kemtom Alexander, Bibi Zaheeda Hack, Dr Shamdeo Persaud and Nirmal Rekha (extreme right)

Minister Ramsaran pointed out that the ministry is working on improving its control and auditing systems in other areas. He disclosed that the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation is now ac-

tively involved with the Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) in setting up systems and its principals learning how to better manage procurement, inventory

and distribution, which predominantly apply to pharmaceuticals, medicines and medical supplies because this section takes up a large chunk of the hospital’s budget, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

Prominent Guyanese businessman Norman Sue passes on in Toronto

By Ravendra Madholall

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r o m i n e n t Guyanese businessman Norman Sue passed away on Monday morning at North York Hospital in Markham, Scarborough due to cancer.

He was 66 and according to his eldest daughter Kim Sue, he had been bed-ridden for a quite a while before he died.

Norman owned a Bakery Shop in Scarborough over the past two decades. He migrated to Canada in 1971. He had lived in Georgetown before he moved across to Linden then North America.

Kim Sue in a statement expressed profound grief and also mentioned it was shocking news.

“We [are] saddened by his passing; we know he was ill but I think he has gone too early; however, he was a great father and a role model to many people and very helpful to communities and sports,” a tearful Kim related.

Born on August 5, 1947, Norman and his wife Lynette had five children namely Kim, Natasha, Nadia,

Norman Sue and his wife Lynette Sue in happier times

Nashenka and Norman Junior. Kim further revealed he will be sadly missed in the business and sporting fraternity, since he was always an ardent supporter.

M e a n w h i l e , Honourable Consul General to Toronto for Guyana Sattie Sawh in a press release expressed sadness of Norman’s passing.

“It is with deep sadness that we learnt of Norman Sue’s passing; he was a strong supporter of our community and of community events here in Toronto, so please

join us in expressing our deepest condolences to the Sue’s family on their loss. Our prayers and thoughts are with them at this most difficult time,” Sawh related.

Viewing of the body of Norman Sue will take place on Wednesday and Friday from 18:00hrs to 21:00hrs at the Highland Funeral Home in Markham, while the funeral service is set for Saturday, October 12 at the St. Bartholomew Catholic Church from 11 am and Repas at Twilight Restaurant in Scarborough.

Guyana to open consulate in Atlanta – Foreign Minister

President Donald Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar share a light moment with Martin Luther King III, son of the late Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr

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resident Donald Ramotar recently went on a ground -breaking visit to Atlanta, Georgia, where he held discussions with local officials, civil rights leaders, and members of the Guyanese community.

In a release, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said, the president was given a tour of the former church and the gravesite of slain civil rights icon Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr where he met with King’s son, Martin Luther King III. King, along with leading historians, academic and civil rights figures, exchanged views with the president on the course of the international strug-

gle for civil rights.

President Ramotar, who was accompanied by First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Guyana’s Ambassador to the United States, Bayney Karran, held wide-ranging discussions with members of the Guyanese community.

In a town-hall style meeting, which lasted over four hours, Ramotar addressed numerous issues ranging from developments in the social sector, energy and infrastructure to the security situation, city sanitation, air links and cooperation with opposition political parties.

He bemoaned the fact that a lack of cooperation from the political opposition was curtailing progress on development projects he deemed vital for Guyana’s transformation.

The president was applauded after declaring that, “We have not spent US$ 30 million to build a road to nowhere. I am determined that Guyana will produce hydro electricity sooner rather than later.”

Minister RodriguesBirkett, who welcomed the gathering on behalf of the president, informed that the government will establish a consulate in Atlanta to attend to the needs of Guyanese nationals in that area.

Dr Vincent Adams of the Linden Fund moved a vote of thanks to President Ramotar for visiting the community.

The president and his delegation were welcomed by performances from the Guyana Queh Queh Company and the Radha Krishna Mandir dance troupe.

The event was held at the Redan Party Rental and Cultural Centre in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

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Jagdeo slams critics of Amaila Falls project “If not materialized, it could be a lost opportunity for Guyana”

By Samuel Sukhnandan

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ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo said the Amaila Falls project is a lost opportunity that Guyana could regret, if it does not materialise. Jagdeo expressed the sentiment while noting the economic benefits that would have been derived out of that major investment.

He was at the time addressing a forum at the International Conference Centre where stakeholders from the private sector gathered to discuss critical economic issues.

Guarantee

Jagdeo debunked claims that the project is not feasible, stating that the contingent liability for the project was just a guarantee, just in case the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) could not make their payments.

The move not to approve this, he said, killed the project.

“We can’t keep shooting ourselves in the foot, this project should have been above politics, because we tried a long

time from the fifty’s and the sixty’s since Tiger Falls and Burnham promised the hydro in 1978,” he explained.

When the project was promised in 1978, the decision was split on whether to approve a minimum wage of Gy$ 14 or to develop the hydro project.

Neither came through, but Guyana spent then US$ 300 million and had to pay it back.

The value of that money would have been over $ 2 billion in today’s Guyana dollars.

The former Guyanese leader said Guyana paid back the loan without getting a single kilowatt of power, but noted that Amaila was the closest to realising the hydro dream.

No debt

“There is not a single cent of debt outside of that money we are spending on the road and the equity that we are taking that will be accrued to this country and yet we heard that it is the debt that we are worried about, higher debt and that is why we

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

didn’t approve the project.”

Jagdeo stressed that this project would have been ideal for taking Guyana into the 21st century, as it tries to meet the challenges

of the global economy and the rapid economic changes that are taking place.

The world, he said is changing rapidly and many times policy makers, not particu-

larly those from the executive, but the three branches of government are “happy in oblivion” to what is going on in the rest of the world.

He pointed to the move by the U.S. government to develop a policy which is aimed at having the Federal Reserve stop purchasing or intervening in the global market in the near future.

He noted that the Federal Reserve currently buys $ 85 billion in government papers and this is likely to affect huge economies such as Brazil, India and Russia.

He stated that money for investment will not always be available and government has recognised the need for foreign capital to create growth, income and employment, hence, the reason for foreign investment.

“What pains me is over the past weeks, we have made through ignorance and partisanship a decision that has impacted on the largest private investment in the country – hydro power,” he said.

Change

On that note, Jagdeo said there is a need for a change in the nature of politics in Guyana and said economic development will never take place in the hostile political environment that exists now.

The US$ 840 million hydro project involves the construction of a hydropower plant in the area of westcentral Guyana, where the Amaila and Kuribrong rivers meet. Electricity produced at the plant would have been delivered to Georgetown, and Linden, by transmission lines.

The project, once completed, will result in significant foreign exchange savings and a regular supply of inexpensive, reliable electricity for Guyanese.

The project is a fundamental component of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, and will significantly lower the nation’s carbon footprint while reducing its long-term energy costs and exposure to imported oil price volatility.

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Agriculture back in spotlight as World Teachers’ Day major conference opens in Guyana

By Samuel Sukhnandan

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resident Donald Ramotar said that agriculture is finally getting the recognition it deserves in the Caribbean. The president made this remark while addressing the official opening of the 12th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) being hosted in Guyana after 10 years.

Ramotar said there are many challenges that confront the Caribbean and the world at large, but one of the most important challenges is the quest for food.

The Guyanese head of state told the international guests and delegates gathered for the week of activities that the quest for food could only be solved if governments start investing heavily in the agriculture sector.

He also lamented the current multibilliondollar food importation bill of the region, which could be significantly lowered if a collective approach towards agriculture is taken by regional governments.

Ramotar said the funds that are being spent on the high food import bill could be otherwise utilised for many development projects.

While admitting that there are other challenges that the region faces, especially in attaining certain Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), he said improving agriculture could

Part of the gathering at the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture

have a trickledown effect on how fast these goals are achieved.

Land issues

Special attention should, therefore, be placed on improving food and nutrition security, but this would mean special emphasis will have to be placed on improving agriculture.

The head of state highlighted that, indeed, there is high demand for land and great competition as this becomes limited within the region, especially for agriculture and energy purposes.

This situation is likely to persist especially with the high cost that is attached to oil and gas.

Ramotar stated that based on agriculture’s current trajectory, there will be a greater need for agriculturists and persons working in the sector to be more educated.

This will help to improve agricultural practices and promote stronger

and more viable business development strategies.

The president did not fail to mention the constraints affecting agriculture, including climate change, which has caused major disasters such as flooding.

He said the region is losing more land due to rising sea levels and there is a need to have more improved science and technology to help in this regard.

Ramotar pointed out that the world population is growing rapidly and there will be a greater demand for food in the future.

He advised that regional governments start thinking ahead and working towards developing strategies that will help them to feed their people.

Food insecurity

Food insecurity could create many other problems and affect social

stability like it did in the Middle East. Such occurrences must never be allowed to happen in the Caribbean and so governments should start thinking critically of ways to make the region food secure, he said.

The CWA began on October 2, with 43 workshops planned for the week, much of them science and research related.

The aims of the workshops are to improve the agriculture industry and trade in the region.

The topics covered include sanitary and phytosanitary standards, the coconut industry, pest control in a changing environment and projects that are supported by Canada’s Agriculture Ministry.

The event is being observed under the theme: “Linking the Caribbean for Regional Food and Nutrition Security and Rural Development.”

U.S.-based Guyanese actress to appear on GEM cover

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ew York-based actress Rhona Fox will appear on the cover of the October/ November issue of GEM (Guyana Entertainment Magazine). Fox is among 40 personalities featured in the magazine’s special “40 UNDER 40” edition. Fox, who lives in the Big Apple, spent the first 10 years of her life in Guyana before moving to The Bahamas with her family and later to the USA. Fox has been making a name for herself since appearing in the Roc-A-Wear 10th Anniversary commercial, which was directed by Spike Lee in 2009. She has appeared in a number of movies, television crime drama series and commercials.

Fox is also the recipient of the Golden Arrowhead Award of Guyana, The City of New York Proclamation and the Rising Sun Award from the Caribbean Heritage Organization (CHO) in Hollywood, California.

Rhona Fox

The 59th edition of GEM tests the pulse of the under-forty generation to find out what they are thinking. The list consists of standouts in society that represent business, social media, politics, sports, fashion, entertain-

ment, media, music, marketing, legal, medical and other professions. Reaching a final forty was a meticulous and lengthy process for GEM, since there were close to 150 names to choose from. Each committee member had their own favorites but in the end, the majority ruled on a final list and to have Fox as the cover choice.

For the last nine years, GEM has maintained its position as the number one lifestyle and entertainment magazine for Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora.

Every two months, the international publication transcends race, politics, religion and class to showcase the best of Guyana with a myriad of positive human-interest stories and trendy articles that are complemented by high quality pictures. Be sure to pick up your copy of GEM 59 when it hits the newsstands shortly to read the exclusive on Rhona Fox, find out who made the under-forty list and other exhilarating features.

By Anu Dev

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ctober 5th, was set aside as World Teachers’ Day. Teachers are the persons who pass on knowledge, mould us and prepare us for the future. A teacher’s job is never easy, and it doesn’t end when they step out of the school compound.

There are exam scripts to be marked, assignments to be graded, lessons to be planned out. Like surgeons, teachers are always on-call because most of them give us their numbers or email addresses to contact them at anytime.

As a student, I can safely say that we’re not always the easiest group of people to deal with.

We complain about course-work, we gripe about difficult exams, we blame the teachers for not covering the material with us well. We talk in class, pass notes, applaud each other for ‘standing up’ to teachers, when sometimes all we’re really doing is mouthing off the teacher to look cool.

But we don’t do it because we’re malicious.

We do it because we’re thoughtless. We don’t really consider how our actions in the classroom might impact our teachers.

We don’t consider the teachers who actually care about what they’re doing – how’d you think they feel when we decide that their homework wasn’t as important as some other subject’s?

That’s what days like World Teachers’ Day are supposed to get us to consider.

They’re supposed to make us start thinking and step out of our own personal little bubbles for just a little while and put on someone else’s shoes for once.

Because it’s not easy trying to get 30 students to all understand the same concept.

Everyone learns at different paces – how do you strike that perfect pace? How do you get students to get enthusiastic about poultry and cattle when they have all of the entertainment of the Internet just a click away on their phones? Students have to acknowledge Teacher’s Day and show their teachers that they appreciate the dedication of their teachers, in whatever big or small way that they can. I’m not a teacher, but I do know that for me personally, even a small compliment goes a very long way in making me feel better about myself and about what I’m doing.

At QC, we do things a bit differently – we have our teachers’ day in February. And the Prefect Body is usually in charge of getting the entire school involved in putting on a show in honour of our teachers. And in planning the show earlier this year, we had to do a lot of thinking about our teachers.

And we all did a lot of self-reflection and most of us were struck by the enormity of the impact our teachers have had on us.

Teaching truly is a noble profession. If knowledge is power, and one of the most precious things in life, then teachers are the ones who get to spread that knowledge to millions of schoolchildren every day.

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times International, Industrial Site Ruimveldt Georgetown, Guyana or guyanatimesint@gmail.com

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The attacks on Rohee are unreasonable, A Marriott in Guyana will unfounded and without merit improve Guyana’s global image

Dear Editor, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee must be commended for maintaining his calm and composure in the face of relentless and sustained attacks by opposition elements with obvious political agendas. These attacks are politically motivated aimed at casting blame on Minister Rohee and by extension the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) administration over the crime situation in the country.

Having failed in their attempts to have him removed from office by way of a parliamentary motion, the opposition has resorted to all manner of subterfuge to discredit the performance of Rohee in the discharge of his ministerial duties.

It would be recalled that an attempt was

made to link the minister to the Linden fiasco which resulted in the unfortunate deaths of two persons following protest actions by opposition parties but a commission of inquiry set up on the insistence of the opposition found no evidence of ministerial involvement in the operational work of the police force.

The attacks on Minister Rohee are unreasonable, unfounded and without merit.

These attacks have nothing to do with the competence of the minister in the execution of his ministerial portfolio as is being claimed by the political opposition.

Indeed, the minister is doing an excellent job having regard to the new and changing dynamics of crime and criminal activities which are pos-

ing problems to governments all over the world.

It is unfair to blame the minister for operational deficiencies outside of his ministerial remit.

The fact of the matter is that there is no silver bullet that can solve the problem of crime in the country.

It requires the support and collaboration of each and every Guyanese, more so the parliamentary opposition in order to create an environment which would make it difficult for criminals to operate.

The failure of the opposition parties to support legislation to curb the illegal flow of weapons and money laundering activities is clearly not in the best national interest especially from a security perspective.

Yours sincerely, Hydar Ally

The benefits of Guyana completing the hydro project Dear Editor, The world’s energy crisis is not only taking a toll on the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), but is also threatening the very economic vitality of the entire electricity supply industry in Guyana, which is based on fuel. This fuel has to be imported at abnormally high prices.

Thus, GPL is reluctantly compelled to invoke the fuel purchase and an anticipated fuel bill escalation.

Recognising the fact that the total electricity supply capability of the country is below what is required, there is need to enhance the overall economic viability of the electricity supply industry. There will also be a standardised frequency of 60 hertz, and this is necessary for large-scale conversion of both consumer and utility equipment.

The hydro project will be large enough to cater not only for the normal anticipated load increase, but also for the development of the aluminium smelting and wood pulp industries.

Guyanese will also have an improved standard of living and the necessity for widespread and systematic load shedding, which is a regular feature, will no longer exist.

The previous deficiencies which now exist in the electricity supply industry will not be

there any longer, and the grave financial problems facing GPL will be over.

Despite some measure of progress, the current system in place does not adequately provide for the needs of the nation. The government

These connections will enable the establishment of central generating stations, permit us to use larger generating units, reduce the amount of total reserve capacity required and enable the achievement of higher

through GPL has embarked on a programme, which will not only cater for increasing demands, but also for the physical expansion and establishment of the other systems in rural areas.

It is hoped that the first hydro project scheme will be achieved by 1982 and that Guyana will embark on a major programme of expansion.

This programme embraces the establishment of national links through the many stations, thereby inter connecting the majority of the existing and the isolated systems.

efficiencies, and generally promote in terms of how far we have yet to go.

By completing the hydro project, Guyana will make maximum use of it in its development.

This achievement will also serve as a step for greater efforts and greater success in the future.

Editor’s note This letter was an essay written in 1980 by a student teacher who was preparing for teachers’ examinations.

Name and address of the sender was provided.

Dear Editor, The top 10 largest hotel groups in the world are Intercontinental Hotel Group, Wyndham Hotel Group, Marriott International, Hilton Hotels, Accor Group, Choice Hotels, Best Western, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Carlson and Global Hyatt (tourism-review. com).

Marriot is a global quality brand hotel at number three in the world, and such a property in Guyana will immediately give confidence to the soon-to-arrive global executives.

For investments in the Republic of Guyana, global corporation teams will visit Guyana for their due diligence work, discussions and investigations, and one of the first items for their action will be their hotel accommodation reservation, which usually will set the tone for the arriving guests to Guyana.

On July 19, 2010, Guyana and Kuwait signed five bilateral agreements setting the stage for firmer ties during a short visit by Prime Minister, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Mohamed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-

Sabah. The prime minister and a delegation of 66 arrived in Guyana as part of a tour of Latin America and the Caribbean that also took in Cuba, and were accorded an official red carpet welcome on the tarmac of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

However, during the visit, due to lack of adequate hotel accommodations, the visit lasted two hours instead of a possible two days.

That accommodation deficiency should be corrected, if Guyana is to attract high quality investments and high quality executives who will need to visit Guyana for their discussions, examinations and agreements.

The current disagreement between the government, the opposition parties, hoteliers, investors and other interested persons should be facilitated in a forum with free, fair and frank deliberations, for the way forward for the Marriott’s opening in Guyana.

The seven top hotels in Georgetown are the Pegasus, Princess Hotel and Casino, Cara Lodge, Roraima Duke Lodge, Herdmanston Lodge,

Grand Coastal Inn, and New Tropicana Hotel – they all create employment and pay taxes, and are all providers of their best facilities, accommodation and services, but with all due respect, none of them is a global brand.

Trinidad and Tobago supported, encouraged and helped with financing for their very attractive Hilton and Hyatt Hotels.

Guyanese, the government and opposition parties can all agree that Guyana’s economic transformation is achievable with key infrastructural investments in roads, power, hotels, human development, and an attractive investment climate to enable Guyana’s riches in water, land and minerals to be employed in added value operations for job creation, quality of life, food security and well-being.

The vision of Guyana’s founding fathers for “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” with its six races working collectively, cooperatively and caringly to achieve economic, social and financial successes are all attainable.

Yours sincerely, Dr Shamir Andrew Ally

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Guyana has a good stock of trained teachers – Manickchand

Dem a watch we...

A From left standing: GT&T CEO Radha Krishna Sharma (sixth), GTU President Collin Bynoe (seventh), Education Minister Priya Manickchand (eighth), Chief Education Officer Olato Sam (ninth) and GTU and GT&T officials with the teachers rewarded

BY WHITNEY PERSAUD

E

d u c a t i o n Minister Priya Manickchand on Tuesday said Guyana enjoys a good standing in the world as it relates to number of trained teachers. She was speaking at a Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT& T) award ceremony for teachers held at the National Library.

Manickchand said the government has always made teachers training

a priority.

In addition to this, she said teachers across Guyana are now receiving additional benefits as incentives for their onerous task of upping the education standards in Guyana.

Over the last five years, there have been increases in benefits as well as increases in teachers’ salaries following good conversations between the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the government.

After the GTU’s hard batting on teachers’ behalf, they are now enjoying free scholarships, housing funds, dutyfree concession, training and uniform allowances, among many others benefits.

Assurance

According to Manickchand, government will continue to support teachers.

“Thirty teachers can enjoy scholarships to go to the UG... we have Gy$ 40 million deposited by

government into a fund for teachers’ housing and we have more than 100 duty-free concessions that allow for teachers to own their own transportation,” Manikchand said.

The minister said duty free concessions are not only for teachers to own cars but also for those desirous of getting their own boats or ATVs, depending on the region in which they reside.

“We have also been supporting teachers by giving ongoing training through NCERD and as well as overseas scholarships,” she added.

Manickchand said universally, there is a call for more trained teachers and Guyana has been on track.

GT& T Chief Executive Officer Radha Krishna Sharma said the company has recognised teachers as an integral part of relationship-building and the company remains committed to them.

He said the company has extended its services, offering more than 8000 teachers membership to its products.

He said GT& T has allotted millions of dollars in free minutes to teachers over the past two years and will strengthen the relationship.

“Under my CEOship, we will continue to strengthen this relationship,” he added. Sharma said that within weeks, the company will also be moving to formalise a Memorandum of Understanding with the GTU to give further support to teachers.

The telephone giant on Tuesday awarded 26 teachers for their outstanding performance and hard work over the years. The teachers were given a plaque of appreciation and Gy$ 5000 worth of phone credit.

wave of empathy washed over Satiricus when he read about the Swami who was pulled out of the line in Piarco and harassed. It had happened so many times to him on his way to or through Trinidad. And it didn’t matter to anyone of his hasslers that he had his embossed card identifying him as a "media worker".

In fact from some of the questions thrown at him by fellas who sounded barely literate, they appeared quite affronted that a Guyanese could claim to be a "journalist".

And thus it was Satiricus had learnt first hand about "profiling"– through the courtesy of the Trinidad and Tobago immigration service.

At first, Satriricus thought he was picked on because of his (habitual) goofy smile.

So the next time round, he put on his most serious demeanour – the one his wife said made him look constipated. Didnt matter; same hassle. And ditto for the "tough guy" pose, the studious look (complete with fat book and all), the debonaire swagger, etc, etc.

Satiricus finally figured out that once you filled out "Guyanese" on the immigration question that asked "country of residence", you were fair game for the Trinidadian immigration officers "sport for the day". But Satiricus was stumped by the immigration officers question to the Swami, "Are you a Muslim?" Now, Satiricus had heard the Trinis had brought in some white people to run their police force. But had they done the same for immigration officers? Because the only reason Satiricus could figure out why a Trini couldnt tell a Swami from a Moulvi was if the "Trini" immigration officer wasnt a real Trini.

Satiricus knew that to the folks from further north, all the natives in the Caribbean looked alike. Clothes didnt matter: clothes might "maketh the man... but not the ‘native’." This lumping of everyone into one undifferentiated mass used to infuriate the "high coloured" folks back in the old days.

They liked to think they were closer to the "ideal". But luckily those days were gone, right? But on the importation of white folks, Satiricus figured since the Trinis were rolling in dough, and could import cane cutters from Guyana and voters from the small islands, hey, why not immigration officers from Canada or England? Satiricus had seen that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) had slapped a hefty fine on the Bajans for profiling a Jamaican traveller at their airport – not to mention searching her body cavities. Satiricus has also been hassled at that island... even placed on the "Guyanese bench". His back had killed him for weeks afterwards.

Satiricus feels the Swami should take his complaint to the CCJ, before the Trini Immigration officers become as inquisitive as their Bajan counterparts.

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Guyana Help The Kids charity holds successful annual fundraising drive

L

Dr. Narendra Singh Chief of Pediatrics at Humber River Hospital

ast Saturday October 5, Guyana Help The Kids, (GHTK) held its third annual Dinner and Dance at The Woodbine Banquet and Convention Hall in Toronto. The event was well attended with over 700 supporters of GHTK showing up to be informed and updated about the charitie's accomplishments over the last year and its plans for the coming year. The number of people attending this charitable event has more than doubled since its inception three years ago.

Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Mahendra Singh smoothly guided the evening's proceedings and as he looked around the elegant banquet hall at the supporters of the charity wondered aloud who was taking care of business at Humber River Hospital. About 150 members of this hospital were in attendance at this very worthwhile cause.

President of Guyana Help The Kids charity and Chief of Pediatrics at Humber River Hospital, Dr. Narendra Singh then took the podium and reminded the audience that the overall objective of the GHTK is to reduce infant mortality in Guyana by implementing sustainable changes through education and technology.

Continuing, Dr. Singh said that the initial part of the project has been focused at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) with the opening of a new Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), an innovative Pediatric Residency Program and a Neonatal Nursing Program. The shared vision between GHTK and the Ministry of Health in Guyana is to expand the pro-

Dr. Julie Johnstone - Curriculum Co-coordinator Pediatric Residence at SickKids Hospital

gram to regional hospitals in New Amsterdam, Linden, Suddie and West Demerara. Two new Neonatal Intensive Care Units have since been commissioned at the New Amsterdam and Linden hospitals.

These were funded by a C$25,000 donation from the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF), under the chairmanship of Mr. Winston Kassim, Order of Canada. Dr. Singh briefly outlined the goals for 20132014 which include expanding the Neonatal Intensive Care Units to West Demerara and Suddie hospitals, continue training of doctors and nurses and initiating a new Pediatric Cancer Program.

In an effort to evaluate the ongoing processes objectively to ensure that the various interventions have benefited infant mortality, GHTK has embarked on other specific research projects, the first to include “The impact of an infection control policy on the incidence of nosocomial infections and mortality at GPHC”. GHTK has already demonstrated a 40% drop in neonatal mortality and infections in the NICU at GPHC for the past year, Dr. Singh concluded.

In addition, Mr. Kelly Pearce, secretary of GTHK and medical equipment technology specialist, has been helping with the procurement of specialized equipment to elevate the level of neonatal care at the various hospitals in Guyana. GHTK also provided biomedical and respiratory care support.

GHTK has been able to garner the help of Dr. Julie Johnstone of the world renowned SickKids hospital in Toronto and Curriculum

Co-coordinator Pediatric Residency. In her address to the audience, Dr. Johnstone expressed what an absolute pleasure it is to work with the doctors and nurses in Guyana. She is particularly impressed with the level of motivation and the thirst for knowledge displayed by the doctors and nurses with whom she worked and continues to work. She went on to explain that the residency program is modeled after the existing program at SickKids and that there is no difference between the two programs. Dr. Julie Johnstone also indicated that the model being developed in collaboration with The Ministry of Health and the University of Guyana can be used to develop similar programs in other developing countries.

Faculty members from the University of Toronto, McMasters University and other

Mr. Kelly Pearce Medical technology equipment specialist.

universities in North America have been trav-

elling monthly to provide didactic and bedside teaching in keeping with this uniquely developed curriculum. Two doctors graduated this year as consultant pediatricians and 10 doctors are in training.

N a t i o n w i d e Children’s Hospital in collaboration with GHTK and the Ministry of Health in Guyana has developed a one-year neonatal nursing program at GPHC. The first year has been completed and 11 nurses have graduated from this program. This November 20 more nurses are expected to begin neonatal training. The

program will run for at least 3 consecutive years to ensure a full complement of nurses for the entire country.

Travelling to Guyana to offer their invaluable help with regards to setting up a Pediatric Cancer Program at the GPHC were Dr. Lorna Fitzpatrick, a pediatric oncology and pediatric hematology specialist and Dr. Amanda Persaud, a Guyanese and also a pediatrician. They are both from Buffalo, New York. Dr. Fizpatrick and her team are expected to return to Guyana next week to continue providing her assistance to the GPHC.

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Mortgage interest relief What’s at stake regulations signed for us after Bloomberg?

F

inance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Tuesday signed and sent for publication in the Official Gazette the Income Tax (Mortgage Interest Relief) Regulations 2013, thereby establishing the regulatory foundation for Mortgage Interest Relief (MIR) to be granted pursuant to the introduction of this measure announced in Budget 2013.

According to a release, the Finance Ministry at the time of presenting the 2013 national budget, Minister Singh announced the introduction of MIR with effect from year of income 2013.

Under the newly-introduced relief, the minister stated that “first time home owners who are holders of mortgage loans of up to Gy$ 30 million granted to them by commercial banks or the building society will be permitted to deduct the interest they pay on such mortgages from their taxable income for the purposes of personal income tax.

In other words, that portion of taxable income used by a first time homeowner to pay interest on a housing loan of up to Gy$ 30 million from a commercial bank

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

or building society will be exempt from personal income tax.”

In announcing the introduction of MIR at the time of Budget 2013, Minister Singh situated the new measure within the context of the outstanding success of the government’s housing programme.

He stated at the time that “this government’s housing programme has been a resounding success and has resulted in tens of thousands of Guyanese individuals and families graduating from being tenants of rented property to being homeowners in their own right.

“Armed with real property as an asset

which can in turn be collateralised, the positive consequences for owner participation in the formal financial system, and capacity to borrow to finance asset acquisition or even small business establishment and expansion, have been immeasurable.

“In addition to our programmes to develop housing areas and distribute house lots, other policies have been adopted to promote homeownership. These include the special low income housing windows established at the commercial banks under which interest income earned by the banks is exempt from corporate taxes, allowing the banks to offer subsidised interest rates to borrowers of loans for low income housing development.

“Coupled with the rapid growth in low income homeownership has seen equally rapid growth in demand for middle income housing with the growing numbers of young professionals and other middle income earners in our society today.”

The introduction of MIR is expected to cost government approximately Gy$ 580 million annually, and will ben-

efit tens of thousands of first time homeowners, low and middle income alike.

Having signed the necessary regulations, Minister Singh called on the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the participating financial institutions to proceed to implement the regulations as soon as possible to ensure that the intended relief is delivered to the beneficiary population.

The minister stated that “this relief is expected to make homeownership even more affordable and attractive, will increase disposable incomes in thousands of households, and will constitute a significant injection of cash into the economy for both saving and consumption, thereby generating and multiplying further business activity.”

The minister’s announcement of MIR at the time of Budget 2013 was widely applauded as a measure that would significantly improve the well-being of current and pending homeowners and that would contribute to further growth in the economy as a result of the impetus it will give to homeownership and construction activity.

Jagan’s Dental Centre opens in Georgetown

T

he state-of-theart Jagan’s Dental Centre was commissioned by President Donald Ramotar Tuesday evening in the presence of government ministers, opposition members, top officials, family and friends.

The new multimillion-dollar dental facility, which is owned by Dr Clive Jagan and his sons, Drs Kyle, Shane, and Ian, is expected to promote dental tourism in Guyana and is what the family members described as a “dream come true”.

Speaking at the ceremonial opening, the senior Jagan said the centre adds to the professional dental landscape of the country.

He said the dental service provided at the centre will be afforded at the fraction of the cost abroad. “Guyanese in the diaspora and foreigners abroad in general are encouraged to take full advantage of the price difference; we would like the government to highlight this emerging health sub-sector and to facilitate its growth and

President Donald Ramotar cutting the ribbon to commission the Jagan’s Dental Centre on Lamaha and Light streets, Georgetown

development,” Dr Clive Jagan said.

President Ramotar said this move is important in carrying on the family tradition, adding that he hopes that “this venture will be an example for other professional

entrepreneurs to follow”.

He said the family is on the same page with the government, noting that its aim to build the Specialty Hospital in the country is to promote medical tourism as well. “We had some set-

backs with some cuts in the budget, but we are going to rectify that,” he promised.

Services

The centre will be offering a wide range of services basically in all continued on page 15

Mayor Bloomberb

By Faudia D. Baijnauth, Program Director, IndoCaribbean Alliance Inc.

W

ith the Primaries over, voters are now left with a little over a month to decide which candidates will represent us on a local level.

On November 5th, New Yorkers will cast their ballots for Mayor, City Council, Comptroller, Public Advocate, Borough President and other municipal representatives who will determine the future of New York City.

Of course this has major implications for IndoCaribbean enclaves in Richmond Hill, Queens Village and South Ozone Park.

To engage voters, the Indo-Caribbean Alliance (ICA), a local non-profit organization based in Richmond Hill, joined forces with dozens of allies across the City.

Together, we are working tirelessly to inform and mobilize the Asian American community, including thousands of Indo-Caribbean people, leading up to this election. We are determined to make our voices heard and take charge of our future because we know only we can.

ICA’s volunteers consist of high school and college students and seasoned organizers who have been working closely with the IndoCaribbean community.

Earlier in the spring, ICA co-hosted a mayoral debate forum to give voters a chance to have the candidates specifically address issues important to our community. We then worked with Chhaya CDC, another partner, to co-host a “South Asian and Indo-Caribbean” forum for the Queens Borough President candidates.

While these events were well attended, we knew we simply could not reach everyone.

To connect with more residents, we employed a variety of strategies

which saw our volunteers making appeals at religious institutions, attending our ever-popular cultural events, to calling thousands of registered voters and knocking on doors throughout South Queens.

You may have even noticed us tabling on weekends along Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill. Through these outlets, ICA aims to register at least 100 new voters and distribute informative materials, including customized information sheets on the candidates and pledge cards which serve as a reminder to go out and vote. Social media has also been an invaluable outlet for us to organize this undertaking.

There’s still a chance you may have missed us though, so we’re appealing to you here.

So what’s at stake for us? Unlike national or statewide elections, these local races more directly impact the day-to-day lives of our children and families. From property taxes, to education, law enforcement and parking fines –in fact, stiff fines for just about anything, including so-called illegal conversions. How many of your friends, neighbors and family members have left New York City all-together because of the high cost of living here?

It is important for voters to familiarize themselves with the candidates' positions on these controversial issues and choose the person they feel best represents their views. Many of us rightfully complain about politicians not listening.

However, when we don’t vote we make it much easier to get ignored.

Today, Asian Americans are more than 13% of NYC’s population, and are more united and engaged than ever before.

Indo-Caribbeans are no exception.

After more than a decade of Mayor Bloomberg, we have a chance to influence City Hall and our government with officials who share our views. Play a role in choosing our leaders, learn about the candidates and go out on Tuesday, November 5th to cast your vote. Do it like your future depended on it because it does.

For voting information visit www.nycvotes. org. For more information on the ICA, visit www.indocaribbean.org

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APNU dissatisfied with tripartite Fly Jamaica appeals blockade of direct flights to New York budget committee process

T

he A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace at which the establishment of the tripartite budget committee has been proceeding.

Speaking at the coalition’s press conference, opposition and APNU leader David Granger stated that his grouping has been demanding that a tripartite budget committee be set up since 2011; however, none has been established.

The opposition leader pointed out the importance of such a committee for the smooth flow of parliamentary discussions surrounding the national budget.

“Because the budget is such an important instrument, what we hope to do is to arrive at consensual outcomes, so both sides would be aware of the concerns of each other and they will work within the committee to have those concerns addressed rather than going to Parliament and hearing about measures for the first time and then trying to make adjustments on

recommendations

APNU leader David Granger

the floor,” Granger explained.

He noted that those adjustments can be made within eight to nine months outside the National Assembly.

He said: “APNU feels that the National Budget is so important that the three parties – APNU, the PPP/ C [People’s Progressive Party/ Civic] and AFC [Alliance For Change] – must sit down and actually design the budget. Now, the budget requires a lot of information so mere consultations could not provide APNU with the volume of information that it needs.”

Non-binding

The opposition leader pointed out that while there are no bills, ordinance or convention which can force an executive government to be bound by the deliberations of a tripartite budget committee, the establishment of such a committee will enable all the parties to better deal with the issues affecting them.

He stated that APNU did not expect the committee’s recommendations to be binding, noting that there will always be differences; however, it was only concerned with the important elements of the budget, such as poverty alleviation, job creation, taxation, and social protection.

Granger disclosed that the APNU is looking to propose to the National Assembly that a parliamentary office for budget be established, which will deal with issues of the National Budget so as to iron out all the uneasiness and prevent some of the “car crashes”, which happen every year in the National Assembly.

Fly Jamaica Director Roxanne Reece

BY WHITNEY PERSAUD

N

ew airline Fly Jamaica has appealed a U.S. Department of Transportation decision to block it from making direct flights from Guyana to New York.

Speaking to Guyana Times International on Tuesday evening, the airline’s director Roxanne Reece said that since the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) denied its application, efforts have been made to explore other avenues.

“We have made appeals for direct flights, we don’t know yet what’s the process… we don’t know if they will reopen the case,” Reece said.

Reece also said that if Guyanese can petition

to have direct flights, then there might just be a possibility that consideration will be taken on the matter by the U. S. “If petition goes through, then we might have to meet with the senator…

We have applied and we are waiting, the case many never reopen,” she added.

Only last Saturday, CAL’s Airport Manager Carl Stuart told the Guyana Times International in an exclusive interview that the operations of the company would not be affected in any way by the U. S. state department’s decision.

However, he did not say whether the company would be fighting to have the direct flights included on their sched-

ules to suit some customers.

The denial will leave Guyanese without a direct flight option to New York.

The last such option was provided by Delta Airlines which pulled out of Guyana in May this year, without fully explaining why.

Both Fly Jamaica and CAL had presented letters with their applications saying that they had been granted flag carrier status by the Guyana government.

The U. S. Department of Transportation (DoT) said that in considering foreign air carrier requests for extra-bilateral authority, it weighs various criteria specific to the type of extra-bilateral request.

It said that with respect specifically to requests for extra-bilateral seventh-freedom turnaround service, the department has historically viewed such requests as extraordinary and have granted such authority only when the circumstances presented on the record in individual cases show compelling public interest considerations.

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Jagan’s Dental Centre opens...

from page 12

the fields possible: including general extraction, cleaning, filling, implants and laser dentistry, cosmetics dentistry, root canals, whitening of teeth, crowns and bridges.

During an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International earlier, Dr Clive Jagan and his three sons, who all specialise in the different areas of dentistry, reassured patients of their commitment to them even with the opening of the new centre.

“I have been serving the Guyanese public for more than 35 years, it was sad moving away from my Medical Arts office, but I have three sons who are specialising in various areas of dentistry and I want to start up something that would render new services to people and also accommodate their work,” Dr Clive Jagan had explained.

Least painful

Dr Kyle, who specialises in laser and implant surgery, noted that this is one of the least painful forms of dentistry.

“Laser is a special kind of dentistry used

in this field, and you can do mostly oral surgery with it, it is good for root canals and whitening, and the beauty about it is that it is performing a bloodless surgery and it is also painless,” he said.

Lasers have been used for many years in oral surgery and implant dentistry, becoming standard for some surgeries.

Dr Shane, the eldest of the brothers, said his area of specialty is cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry is any dental work that improves the appearance of a person’s teeth and gums.

“Cosmetics dentistry is giving someone a smile they are looking for or maybe a slight rotation, it is all about fixing and achieving the desired results that patients want,” he said.

Dr Ian, who is one of the youngest dentists in Guyana, said he has always had a love for oral surgery. He said before providing this kind of service to the populace, he will be pursuing another year of study in this field.

No rogues in SWAT team – Top cop

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

P

o l i c e Commissioner Leroy Brumell on Monday allayed the fears of citizens that the soonto-be-established Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit will not be another Black Clothes squad, a disbanded unit that degraded the image of the Guyana Police Force.

Brumell gave the assurance moments after taking the oath of office as the substantive police commissioner, more than a year after taking over from the late Henry Greene who was sank in a controversy.

Brumell explained that specially identified ranks of the Guyana Police Force are being recruited through a vigorous process. “I can assure you that my Deputy Commissioner of Law Enforcement Seelall Persaud is one of the persons taking them through the process. We want to ensure that we get the right type of persons.”

SWAT unit

The announcement of the SWAT unit was made last week by

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who said then that such a unit was mooted since the beginning of the millennium when crimes became qualitatively different from what had prevailed

based consultancy firm, to obtain the requisite assistance in this initiative.

He further disclosed that the process will commence shortly with an organisational needs

Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell

when the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the GPF would have been formulated.

It is envisaged that with a SWAT unit, the force would be more equipped to make specialised interventions, thereby ensuring law and order is maintained and prospective threats are neutralised.

Rohee had said too that the Home Affairs Ministry has engaged the services of The Emergence Group (TEG), a Washington-

assessment to be done by experts from the consultancy firm. According to him, curriculum development and training, including mentoring, will also be undertaken by the consultancy firm.

Crime reduction

Meanwhile, with his confirmation as police commissioner, Brumell said he will be putting major emphasis on reducing the prevalence of crime in the country.

“Today, I recommit to the citizens living within our borders that I, Leroy

Brumell, will do all in my power with consultations with key stakeholders to serve and protect and to take back our streets and communities from criminals.”

Simultaneously, with internal and external support, Brumell has also committed to the much needed modernisation of the Guyana Police Force.

Though it has been a long, hard road, Brumell said today he has no regrets. In his quest to raise the standards of the Guyana Police Force and offer greater security, he said he would require the support of all.

“To my many critics of the force, we can never please everyone, but I will use the criticisms in a constructive way to assist the force in becoming a better institution.”

Meanwhile, President Ramotar, in his congratulatory remarks, said it was always his intention to confirm Brumell as the police commissioner after Henry Greene had demitted office in 2012.

As time elapsed, Brumell performed satisfactorily, Ramotar said, noting that the force has grown under his supervision.

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NEWS

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Katherina Roshana begins reign as Miss Guyana Universe

BY BHISHAM MOHAMED

R

eigning Miss India/ Guyana K a t h e r i n a Roshana was crowned Miss Guyana Universe 2013 before a packed-tocapacity Pegasus poolside just before midnight on Sunday. The 23-yearold sponsored by the NEW GPC INC under its Limacol brand will be representing Guyana at the Miss Universe Pageant slated for November 9 in Moscow, Russia.

Roshana, who is a graduate of New York University and hopes to become a doctor in oriental medicine, will be competing with 89 other delegates for the coveted title with some optimism of bringing home Guyana’s first Miss Universe crown.

Best Smile

She captivated the judges with her smile, and was awarded the Best Smile Prize.

Coming in as first runner-up was 23-yearold Alicia Best, sponsored by AU Drilling Inc, while the second runnerup spot was awarded to Miss Rainbow Fashion, Ayana Whitehead.

Rounding off the top four was Miss Nabi Construction, Carlea Chappell.

Chappell was also bestowed with the award of Miss Body Beautiful and Whitehead, Miss

The eight delegates of the Miss Guyana Universe 2013 pageant

Congeniality.

The other contestants were Kenwah Cho Quan Yi sponsored by the Muzik Club of Canada; Tiffanie Nieuenkirk, sponsored by Canadian Jason Schwars; Shyon Hoppie, sponsored by Shalinsky & Company and Carla Browne, sponsored by Red Earth Crystal Clear Waters.

The pageant got under way just after 20: 00h with a spectacular dance by members of the Classique Dance Group titled “Rock You” by Beyonce.

This was followed by the introduction segment where each of the eight delegates had to make their first impression.

During this segment, the delegates appeared in evening gowns that left the audience mes-

merised.

Chappell wore a stunning navy blue knee-high shimmering evening gown while Cho Quan Yi wore a lime green gown.

Nieuenkirk enticed the audience with her long silver gown and Hoppie did not disappoint as she looked stunning in a black body fitted outfit.

Radiant

Looking radiant with a white and silver gown was Whitehead, who created a whirlwind as she stepped on stage to introduce herself.

Next was Browne, who sported a fawn coloured outfit followed

by Roshana, who wore a black gown. Bess also looked beautiful in a semi-coloured piece.

They were all fluent in introducing themselves. While the del-

egates changed for the Swimsuit Segment, the patrons were entertained by a fashion display mounted by Sonia Noel.

All eyes were then focused on the area where the delegates would make their grand entrance as the Swimsuit Segment was expected to be glamorous and full of steam and energy.

The eight delegates all appeared on stage in a two-piece red and yellow swimsuit, complemented with red chiffon wraps.

While on stage they individually remove the wraps, creating some excitement.

In some instances, the audience erupted in laughter as the delegates parade on stage.

Bess undoubtedly was the best in the segment, displaying a high degree of confidence and elegance.

Immediately after this segment, Jamaican artiste Alaine entertained the audience for close to an hour as the ladies got ready for the evening gown segment.

Charm

This segment was the highlight of the evening as the delegates showed off their charm, style, eloquence and tastes to the judges and audience.

Sweeping the judges and audience off their feet was Miss NABI Construction Ayana Whitehead, who sported a shimmering brown and gold outfit.

Another top contender in the Evening Gown Segment was Miss Shalinsky & Company Shyon Hoppie, who wore a silver and black gown.

Entertained

After this segment, the contestants were entertained by Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo, who even had British Ambassador Andrew Ayre getting on stage.

Primo then returned after a 45-minute intermission to serenade the eight contestants and soon after, the final four delegates were announced.

The finalists were asked questions based on their platform.

Katherina Roshana’s platform was children living with autism. The scores from all aspects of the pageant were tabulated and the final results were determined.

Just before the final results were announced, reigning Miss Guyana Universe 2012 Ruqayyah Boyer took her final walk, thanking the many people who have made her year as queen memorable.

The pageant was judged by a panel including Public Service Minister, Dr Jennifer Westford, Parliamentary Secretary Steve Ninvalle and international fashion icon Sonia Noel.

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Guyana has been significantly transformed since 1992 - President Ramotar H u n d r e d s of People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) supporters on Sunday flocked the Lusignan Market tarmac, East Coast Demerara to be part of a rally to celebrate the party’s 21st anniversary in government. Addressing the gathering, President Donald Ramotar said the party is celebrating one of the most important victories of the Guyanese people.

“For a long time, our people struggle against all kinds of oppression and when we got independence, we thought that that was the time when we would move forward in our country but then again we had to start another struggle for freedom against the dictatorship that existed in Guyana, and therefore, we only had freedom in the last 21 years in this country, despite the fact that we have 47 years of independence,” said the president.

and we, therefore, we must stand together… we have to continue on the forward march to make Guyana a developed country, we need your support not only to win the elections, we need your support to build the country,” Ramotar urged.

Former President

the education, health, public and economic sectors.

He described the People’s National Congress (PNC) tenure in government as woeful and said Guyana must not return to those “dark days”. “In that period, the country was deteriorating but with US$ 4.1

try, every hospital, widen all the roads, build the hydro, built bridges not only across the Berbice River but the Essequibo too, fixed the cost of living issues, address information communication technology and still had money remaining,” Jagdeo said.

He called on the pres-

ment of Guyana.

“If we allow small things in our communities, the drainage, the roads, couple potholes, some neighbour you don’t like, the NDC man… the people who went to school with me couldn’t dream of a life here, about raising a family here, about pros-

Govt of the people

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who also addressed the gathering, said the party is proud to remain attuned to the needs of the people as it celebrates another year in government.

Sacrifice

Massive developments

He said with the massive developments in the country, there is still a lot more to be done, but the party will need the support of all its supporters for this to happen.

“I want to ask you to stand with us because danger lurks at the door

and dignity and only the PPP/C can ensure that happens,” Jagdeo told the gathering.

The gathering of PPP/C supporters at the Lusignan Market tarmac, East Coast Demerara last Sunday

Bharrat Jagdeo said the country has been significantly transformed under the PPP/ C government, pointing to commendable strides in

billion that this government, the PPP/ C government over the past 20 years had to pay back, we could have fixed every school in this coun-

ent generation to learn the country’s history so that they can better understand the struggles of the current government for the develop-

pering here; the mothers, fathers and grandparents, you have to ensure that your children have a future where they can live in freedom

The prime minister said Guyanese must not be oblivious of the developments in the country even as the opposition tries to paint a different picture.

“We gave them (our people) hope when they did not have hope before so they could focus and they could save and they could work and they could realise their dreams; that is what we have been doing, that is how we have been running our country by making the best we could with what we have and with the people we have and as time has passed and we could do better, we did better,” said the prime minister.

PPP/C General Secretary and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said the party was persecuted in opposition, but remained united as he paid tribute to the victims of the struggles for a better Guyana.

Local police probing double murder at Venezuelan border

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ays after Orlando Fitzpatrick, 52, also called “Jim”, and his son, 17-year-old Jesse Fitzpatrick, also called “Jes”, of Lot 160 3rd Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara were brutally murdered close to the Venezuelan border, local law enforcement officers have left for the area to carry out their investigations.

The shooting incident is believed to have occurred last Thursday evening.

A team of police ranks left Georgetown on Sunday morning for a place called “Curisina”, located a few miles from the Venezuela/ Guyana border, but on the Guyanese side.

The bodies of the teenager and his father are still with Venezuelan authorities, but relatives are completing all necessary legal paper work to have the bodies return to Guyana.

Futile

Attempts

to

make

contact with Janice Fitzpatrick, a sister of Orlando, who resides in Venezuela, proved futile.

Nevertheless, at the home of the dead man, his wife Marlyn Allick stated that she last spoke with him on Thursday evening about 18: 30h, when he telephoned to inform her that he and his son were on their way home.

The visibly shaken woman stated that she averaged that they would arrive in Georgetown around midnight on Thursday, but this was not the case.

She said after she did not hear from him the following morning, she attempted to call, but the phone rang out.

She tried several times, but was unsuccessful, and decided to call her mother-in-law to inquire, but her phone rang out as well. Later in the day, she noted that her mother-in-law informed her via telephone that she heard of a shoot-

Orlando Fitzpatrick and his son Jesse Fitzpatrick in happier times

ing in the area where the men were last seen.

Frustrated

The frustrated woman stated that it did not cross her mind that it was her son and husband who were shot. She called back the same number that her husband called from the previous night and inquired about their whereabouts.

The person who answered, reportedly a shopkeeper, told her that

her husband and son had left in a boat with the captain and another passenger, noting that he too heard about the shooting. By then, she added that her sister-inlaw called and informed her of the shooting.

News spread that the dead men were being brought out of the creek, so the sister- in-law waited and was confronted with her worst fears.

As the bodies were

taken out of the boat, they were discovered to be Orlando and his son.

Allick went on to say that the woman called back and related the horrific news.

She is still puzzled as to why the bodies were not brought to Georgetown, but rather went back to Venezuela, noting that this is a bit suspicious.

In addition, she noted that the two other men are in the custody of Venezuelan authorities and are assisting with investigations.

While she noted that information remains sketchy, she said she believes that the incident was a set up.

“When my husband called, he tell me that he had gold. Now they rob me of everything, especially meh son and husband, who was the main breadwinner in the family,” she told Guyana Times International.

Aggrieved

The aggrieved wid-

ow stated that her family is renting a house and had all intentions to get a plot of land to build their own home. “I got rent to pay… I got not one but two funerals to do… I got bills… I got a child still in school… what can I do now?” she asked.

The woman has no one else, except her three other children, who are still in a state of shock.

Her son “Jes” reportedly left school to get into the business with his father so that they can work together to make life better.

The last time the woman saw her son was in June, the day after Father’s Day, but she recently saw her husband in August after he came out of the interior to undergo medical treatment.

They were heading out and would have returned after the holiday.

The family is formerly of Wauna Village, North West District, but moved to the city a few years ago.

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Sookram named among ‘Famous People of Guyanese Heritage’ living abroad

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arine Dat Sookram, who was recently named one of the most “Famous People of Guyanese Heritage” living abroad, is a social activist, radio host, community builder and an author of the book, “The Teenage Years”. He is the recipient of over 100 awards/ recognitions, some of which include: World of Difference 100 Award, 2013; Who’s Who in the World, 2013; The Canadian Encyclopaedia Inclusion 2013; The Caring Canadian Award 2013; Canada’s Top 25 Immigrant Award, 2013 (the only Guyanese to receive this nationwide award this year) and many more.

He is now among some of the most famous faces like pop singer superstar Rihanna and Dr Deborah Persaud, who heads the research team that made headlines around the world with curing a baby of the AIDS virus.

Narine gained fame through his community

radio show “Caribbean Spice Radio”, the only programme on 100.3 Sound FM to win the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Caribbean Music and Favourite World Music. The show airs live every Sunday from 19: 30-20: 30h on 100.3 FM on the dial, 946 on Rogers TV and worldwide on www. soundfm.ca.

The Guyanese native who grew up in a small village close to the Number 63 Beach in Berbice, Guyana, is also known for producing the “Caribbean Dreams” concert in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, where new and young artistes get the opportunity to showcase their talent through the performing arts.

Since the inception of the show, many artistes have gone on to perform professionally, all because of Narine’s effort. He has become a cultural icon and has received the prestigious Denny Statue – A Waterloo Region Arts

Narine Dat Sookram

Award in the open category, making him the only Guyanese to date to win in that category.

Narine is more known for his philanthropic work through his non-profit organisation ACTIVE VISION Charity Association

(www. activevisioncharity.com), where the purpose is to assist in providing schools in Guyana with textbooks and other school supplies, providing the opportunity for a better education.

Leader

Narine has a passion

for social service work where he plays a lead role at Opportunities Waterloo Region as an education outreach coordinator, mobilising solutions to poverty, specifically targeting families with children to empower them to take the first step of free funding available to them from the government of Canada for their postsecondary education.

Narine believes that the youths are the pillars of tomorrow.

His mentorship role includes mentoring internationally-trained professionals and empowering business women to become self-sufficient worldwide.

It was for that reason he received the World of Difference100 Award, 2013 by The International Alliance for Women (TIAW), which will be presented to him in Washington DC, U. S. at the Canadian embassy.

Each year, the TIAW World of Difference 100 Award recognises wom-

en and men who have advanced the economic empowerment of women, whether on a small scale in the developing world, or effecting change in the boardrooms of the business capitals of the world.

Established in 2008, the TIAW World of Difference 100 Award has garnered worldwide attention for the high calibre of achievement and change leadership demonstrated by its recipients.

The awards celebrate the inspiring, courageous, tenacious and creative achievements of the extraordinary champions of women’s economic advancement, and of course, Narine excels with those qualities.

He has become a role model both locally and internationally and has continued to make Guyana and his fans around the world proud.

He is very deserving of the “Famous People of Guyanese Heritage” inclusion.

Guyana, Barbados to implement BOSAI workers stage protest student, teacher exchange programme over pay dispute

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uyana and Barbados are expected to sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the areas of fisheries, education, investment, civil aviation, transport, tourism/ hospitality and agriculture in the next few months. One of the agreements being finalised by the two countries will see the issuance of a joint fisheries licence for fishers of the two countries operating in the area that overlap their maritime boundaries.

This was disclosed by Barbados Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Maxine McClean and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett after the completion of the second session of the Guyana-Barbados Joint Commission meeting last Friday.

Scholarships

With regard to education, five Barbadian students will benefit from scholarships to the Guyana School of Agriculture while Guyana will receive help from Barbados in pork production and rearing of Black Belly sheep.

Guyanese hydromet officers will be attached to the Barbados Hydromet Office since Rodrigues-Birkett noted that Barbados has more

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

Barbados Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Maxine McClean

experience in this area.

The two countries will also move to twin schools in Barbados and Guyana by offering exchange programmes for both teachers and students.

“We will like from a very young age our student learning more about the Caribbean, Caricom, and their neighbours… within the next year, we are hoping to have our first visit,” she said.

Guyana will soon employ a flight operation inspector who will receive addition training in Barbados.

Meanwhile, with respect to tourism and hospitality, Senator Maxine McClean noted that given her country’s long involvement in the sector, there are a number of areas where collaborations

are possible.

“There is the intention to conclude a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) which should give an indication of how we can collaborate between our countries,” McClean said.

She said too that the two countries will so be twinning their destinations for prospective and repeat visitors.

On this note, McClean stated that Barbados has air connections, and Guyana can tap into this area.

Barbados will be offering training in the tourism sector, and being aware that Guyana is seeking to establish a hospitality institute, McClean said her country can also share its experiences in this regard.

Employees protesting outside Bosai Linden complex in Region 10

By Utamu Belle

E

mployees at bauxite mining company Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI) in Linden, Region 10 said they are dissatisfied with a recent proposal by management of the company for a 3.5 per cent increase across the board in wages and salaries, and as such staged a massive protest in front of the company’s north gate on Monday morning.

The employees contended that they received an increase every

year based on the company’s budget, which they maintained was also agreed to by the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).

However, they noted that the budget was read in March and the increase in wages and salaries was expected to follow in April.

They further claimed that the increase was not paid in the month of April and the management of BMGGI did not consult with them to say why the money was not paid at the said time.

During the protest, the crowd quickly began

to build up as more employees from different departments including production, electrical, mills and maintenance continued to walk out of the company’s compound. Some stated that they will only accept an increase from 20 per cent upwards.

Soon afterwards, the employees became even more agitated after an address by GPSU Branch Chairman and Senior Vice Chairman of National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees continued on page 23

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Local farmers to benefit Caribbean Airlines from first-ever dairy plant reviewing fare status – through Guyana-Canada cooperation

for Guyana route

C Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy makes a point during the engagement at his office

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uyana’s dairy, small ruminant industries are to receive a major boost through technical and other assistance from Canadian farmers. This is being realised through a government collaboration facilitated by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

At a recent meeting in the boardroom of the Agriculture Ministry, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr Nicole Giles and a delegation of Canadian farmers met with Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy.

The meeting saw the areas of cooperation drafted which will shape and form the initial cooperation among the two countries.

State-of-the-art

Among the areas discussed was the establishment of a state-of-the-art dairy processing plant, which is expected to become operational within one year’s time, a comprehensive solution to agricultural opportunities of which Guyana presents among others.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, Dr Giles expressed her delight at the outcome of the meeting between the government and its Canadian counterpart, describing it as a productive one.

“The commitment

that we have certainly made is to have a plan, to do so within one year, but we all agree that we don’t want perfection to be the enemy of progress and that we will work together on a step-by-step basis to come up with a comprehensive approach from data management to production, to quality, to market,” she said.

With respect to high quality system, enhanced technology, Ambassador Giles stated that this is one such area of which the Canadian agricultural industry has a lot to offer.

Shortly, a team will be established comprising of the various sectors, according to the ambassador, to fully develop the plan.

Meanwhile, Dr Ramsammy welcomed the move, which will significantly boost the sector. He added that the establishment of a dairy industry in Guyana is crucial and something which will be well received by society at large, especially farmers.

“We (Guyana government), are very happy to be collaborating with Canadian farmers… Canadian farmers have ensured that Canadians are not only well fed but Canada is one of the world’s leading exporters, Guyana can benefit enormously from Canada,” he said.

Lloyd Wicks, an Ontario farmer, who headed the delegation on their first meeting with Minister Ramsammy, pointed out that the collaboration will pave the way for Canada to introduce some of the mechanisms presently being used to Guyanese farmers.

According to Wicks, Trent University, Canada, is also part of the collaboration with respect to research and will be working handin-hand to ensure high quality genetics is developed.

“There is tremendous potential for improved genetics with new management system to have a significant impact on the wider dairy industry, but in particular on individuals,” he said.

Technical officers from the Agriculture Ministry will also be working with the Canadian Farmers Association to strengthen Guyana’s improved breeding programme, particular in its artificial insemination and embryo transfer programme.

When completed, this will see Guyana benefiting from the transfer of frozen embryos’ and semen for its artificial insemination programme, which will significantly lower the cost of acquiring genetic stocks.

BOSAI workers stage...

from page 22

(NAACIE) Warden.

Assurances

Linnell

Warden who had consultations with the management of BMGGI while the protest was ongoing sought to clarify issues affecting the employees.

He assured the gathering that negotiations are still ongoing and that it has not stopped at the 3.5 per cent increase.

After an address

by BMGGI Senior Personnel Officer Trudel Marks later on Monday, it was agreed that negotiations over the increase will continue on condition that the employees resumed duties.

“The management has decided to re-commence negotiations and we are going to meet and continue next week, until we come to an agreement, there is no

agreement if protest is ongoing. We just can’t come here and say that we agree to something, negotiation is an ongoing process and we are doing just that. We ask for your understanding,” she explained.

The employees then agreed to resume work on Tuesday and also called for no victimisation of those who protested.

aribbean Airline Limited (CAL) Airport Manager Carl Stuart said CAL is still in the process of reviewing its airfares to offer customers more choices.

“We have been reviewing fare status and we will be offering more choices and much more comparable fare than any other carriers that fly into this part of the region,” he added.

Meanwhile Stuart said the recent move by the Trinidad and Tobago government to cut the airline’s fuel subvention will not affect the company’s operations. He expressed the view in a recent interview with Guyana Times

International, in which he pointed out that the airline is striving for efficiency and effectiveness at all level of its operations.

According to Stuart, CAL’s chief executive officer and chairman recently met with officials in Guyana and one of the company’s plans is to come up with a strategy that can sustain the airline at all ends.

He also contended that the airline’s operations will not be affected by the recent decision taken by the U.S. Department of Transport to stop CAL’s local carriers from having direct flights from Guyana to the U.S. The company

also offers flights twice daily to the Caribbean, London and Toronto.

“It’s not that they are not in favour, but pertaining to our operations, Caribbean Airlines schedule has not been affected and will continue to have regular flights out of Guyana,” Stuart said.

He said CAL is not threatened by new airlines operating in Guyana, but focuses on offering comparable fares to other airlines.

“CAL welcomes competition… We serve a common interest, our fare status is unique and one that most of our competition will attempt to match,” he said.

The Marriott Hotel is an asset for the tourism sector, says Minister Ali

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cting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali has slammed recent comments in the media linking the construction of the Marriott Hotel with that of the potential oil and gas industry in Guyana. Ali told this newspaper that he read a recent letter from a technician, which was published in the media and sought to link the two.

The minister said “it is utter nonsense” and takes away from the real picture what the project is being developed for, which is to help boost Guyana’s tourism capacity and not specifically for the potential oil sector.

According to him, while it will help with accommodating foreign nationals once such an industry is developed, that is not the main focus.

He said the Marriott has an integral and important role to play in the tourism sector and tourism is going to benefit tremendously from the project.

“We are going to work to ensure this occurs.

The Marriott is an asset for the tourism sector and we see a lot of other developments taking place,” Ali added.

He reiterated the benefits that could be derived from the project, even though there con-

Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali

tinues to be much controversy surrounding the project in its entirety.

President Donald Ramotar also said the construction of the Marriott Hotel is necessary for the nation, given the country’s potential for tourism.

According to the president, there has been a concentrated effort by the opposition aligned media which have been trying continuously to mislead the nation about the benefits of the Marriott Hotel.

He stated that in Barbados and Trinidad, there are hotels which are being run by the state, and in both cases, the hotels are the classiest ones.

The Hyatt and Hilton hotels were pointed out as having been built by the governments in

those countries and are attracting tourists, although none of the two countries have the tourism potential like Guyana.

Ramotar had also stated that once oil is discovered, Guyana may not even have the capacity to accommodate the number of persons who will flock the country.

He said the construction of the five star hotel will indeed help in this area, but noted that it is not being specifically built for that purpose.

The Marriott is set to be ready by August next year and will help to boost employment, creating about 250 jobs.

The hotel is part of the Marriott International which is a leading global hospitality company with over 3,500 hotels internationally.

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Local doctors to be trained as paediatric cardiac surgeons T he Health Ministry is working with the International Children’s Heart Foundation (ICHF) to train local medical professionals in paediatric cardiac surgery.

A team from the charitable organisation located in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, arrived in Guyana several days ago and over the course of the week, they have been thoroughly examining the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to determine whether the facility has the capacity to provide paediatric cardiac surgery.

The team is headed by founder and medical director of ICHF, Dr William Novick.

At a press briefing last Thursday, U.S.-based Guyanese Dr Kishan Narine, explained that the government has been trying to advance cardiac care at the GPHC for

From left: Dr Marissa Seepersaud, Dr Kishan Narine and GPHC's Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan with two ICHF representatives at the press briefing

a number of years. Dr Narine, who is a cardiac intervention surgeon, was instrumental in organising the team’s visit to Guyana. He noted that with the help of the Health Ministry, he managed to get the team to Guyana and to establish a paediatric cardiac programme.

Dr Novick told members of the media that while the ICHF will be providing paediatric surgery training to cardiol-

ogists, this process will take several years before they can actually be qualified to operate.

As such, the ICHF has committed itself to providing cardiac surgeries for children in need.

These surgeries will be done at one of the foundation’s medical facilities in Central America.

Plan

“Our plan would be to come at least twice a year and operate on children and educate the local

team… we would anticipate that the development of your local team would take some 10 to 12 years and we are willing to commit that time in order to help Guyana be able to care for its own children with heart disease,” Dr Novick said.

He disclosed that when the programme starts, some 100 to 125 children will be receiving care from ICHF. The ICHF founder also pointed out that the founda-

Commemorative coins launched

T

he Bank of Guyana, in collaboration with the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, last Friday launched two commemorative coins in honour of the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Slave Rebellion and the 175th anniversary of Indian Immigration to Guyana.

significance of the coins, Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony said the items serve as a good reminder for current and future generations of the importance of their past.

“The coin is a good reminder of the resistance that our ancestors put up, they didn’t just accept the conditions under which they laboured,

ery, was one which was equally horrendous”.

Dr Anthony highlighted that the anniversary of the Berbice Slave Rebellion was also recognised via a book launch, lecture series, and exhibitions at the National Museum, while the Indian immigration anniversary was observed with the construction of

for Carifesta X in 2008.

Vision and strength

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, while echoing similar sentiments, said such historic events go to the core of making the country into what it is currently.

“Those who struggled and gave their lives and those who demonstrated vision and strength and

tion would be providing training not only to surgeons, but to nurses working in the operating room, ICU and wards.

Though the ICHF will be shouldering most of the cost of the programme, the government and the Health Ministry will have to bear some of the costs for supplies needed to perform paediatric cardiac surgeries.

GPHC Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan said the services

provided by ICHF are of minimal cost to Guyana.

“Cost is a factor we cannot put into it because the services provided by the foundation is of no cost to Guyanese… it is voluntary and the only cost will be to put up the children and their parents wherever they are but that cost would be levied to the Ministry of Health,” Khan stated.

The CEO explained that the hospital is still in the initial stages of planning the programme, and as such, no one has been identified to undergo the trainings.

ICHF is an organisation which travels around the world to improve paediatric services of medical institutions and provide training.

It has been in existence for 20 years. The foundation currently operates in 31 countries.

The surgery and training will commence by July 2014 in Guyana.

Professor Norman Girvan reappointed to Good Offices process

Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett exchanges a handshake with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon before their meeting in New York

F

Deputy Bank of Guyana Governor Dr Gobind Ganga; Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh; Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; coin designers Courtney Douglas and Adrian Juman; Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony; and junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill display the commemorative coins they were presented with on Friday at the launch

The ceremony took place at the Bank of Guyana with government ministers, bank stakeholders, and representatives of the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) and the Indian Commemoration Trust (ICT), among other dignitaries, in attendance.

The 1763 Slave Revolt and the 1838 Indian Arrival are the names of the two commemorative coins.

Commenting on the

but they also tried to resist the horrors of the slavery system that was imposed upon them,” he said.

He added that the arrival of the Indian indentured immigrants is also “significant, because we would have seen over the period of indentureship that close to 500,000 persons would have come and some re-migrated back to India, but again the conditions of indentureship, while we cannot equate it with slav-

a stage at the Monument Gardens and the erection of a monument that is a replica of the Whitby.

He added that his ministry was pleased to have gained the assistance of the Bank of Guyana, which acted upon its request to produce the coins.

The culture minister said the bank has collaborated with the ministry to produce coins in 2007 for the establishment of the Guyana National Stadium and

fortitude, those who, in whichever way, contributed to the achievements in that we might take for granted today – their sacrifices must always be celebrated and saluted. To them, indeed, we owe immeasurable and eternal debts,” Dr Singh said.

He also stated that the coins were not only commissioned to mark significant events but to contribute to the documentation of the country’s history.

oreign Affairs Minister Carolyn R o d r i g u e s Birkett on Monday met with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York to discuss the Good Offices process.

During the meeting, it was agreed to reappoint Professor Norman Girvan as the secretary general’s personal representative in the process, at the joint request of the governments of Guyana and Venezuela.

Professor Girvan was first appointed to the position in 2010, but his tenure came to an end in September.

According to a release, the Good Offices process is charged with finding a solution to the

Guyana-Venezuela controversy that arose from the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, that definitively established the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela, is null and void. The process commenced in 1989 and was established pursuant to Article IV of the Geneva Agreement of February 17, 1966. The United Nations secretary general is the good officer.

The minister thanked the secretary general for the continued support of the United Nations and also took the opportunity to update the secretary general on the very good relations that exist between Guyana and Venezuela.

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U.S. medical mission on 17th tour in Guyana

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President Donald Ramotar with the team of medical experts and sponsors of the Guyana Kidney Transplant Programme. Among them is Washington University Professor Dr Rakesh Kumar (second from right)

he voluntary medical team that spearheaded the first successful kidney transplant in Guyana and performed over 100 different types of surgeries is conducting its 17th tour of duty in Guyana.

Joining the team of doctors, surgeons, physicians and nurses this year is Dr Rakesh Kumar, a professor and chair of the Department of Bio-Chemistry and Molecule Medicine from George Washington University.

His visit to Guyana focuses specifically on the establishment of a Genome Centre in Guyana that can serve as a model for the promotion of personalised treatment for cancer.

He met President Donald Ramotar in the company of the team of medical experts who have been travelling to Guyana each year through the auspices of a successful public-private partnership sponsored kidney transplant programme.

Leading the team has been George Subraj, founder of Zara Realty Holding Corp, whose generous support to specialised health needs in Guyana, he regards as a way of giving back to the place of his birth.

After the first tour of duty in 2008, the initiative, which began with Guyana Watch, has seen medical teams visiting Guyana four times per year with the gamut of medical personnel to execute successful missions.

One hundred differ-

Businessman allegedly confesses he was targeted in Mambo Bar shooting

Dead: Shelliza Basir-Lall

D

uring interrogation at the Criminal I n v e s t i g a t i o n Department (CID), the businessman who was arrested at Charity, Essequibo Coast on Wednesday, confessed that he was the target in the Mambo Bar shooting on Saturday evening.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Guyana Times International that while the businessman told investigators he was the main target during the attack, he did not divulge the reason for people wanting him dead.

Nevertheless, Persaud disclosed that the man was released on Friday and the police are continuing to hunt for the gunmen.

This might be a diffi-

cult task since the businessman was unable to provide any substantial information that the police can work with.

It was reported that the businessman was present at the time of the shooting and was not among those injured.

Police have been trying to contact the man since the incident, but were unsuccessful up until Wednesday when he was spotted in Charity.

The Mambo Bar shooting claimed the life of Shelliza BasirLall, 33, of Lot 2 Charity, Essequibo Coast and caused injuries to Raymond Lall, 36; Parmanand Persaud, 32, of Lot 27 Block B, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara; and the Lalls chauffeur, Badatunde “Reggae�

Nedd, of Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

From reports gathered, the man was seen at the bar on the night of the shooting, and was reportedly on the dance floor with a relative of the dead woman.

Lall told Guyana Times International that about 23: 00h on the fateful night, he and his wife went to Mambo Bar with three friends to hang out.

As midnight ap-

proached, a white Toyota Carina AT 212 motor car pulled up and two masked men exited and started to shoot.

He added that his wife got up and was running for safety when she was shot. This publication understands that at least 19 9mm spent shells were recovered.

ent types of surgeries inclusive of three kidney transplants are usually done on every visit.

Additionally, through a

SEVAK programme, the teams visit remote areas to examine patients for diabetes and hypertension; chronic ailments

that can determine the risk of kidney failure.

As the mission progresses, the team decided to examine root cause analysis, conduct background checks of patients and initiatives that will improve the capacity of the experts to make correct predictions of cancer patients.

The delegation that visited President Ramotar included transplant surgeon Dr Rahul Jindal and Dr Stephen Guy. A public-private partnership of a similar nature has also influenced the establishment of the Doobay Medical Centre on the East Coast of Demerara that offers dialysis at a reasonable cost and at times free to those genuinely in need.

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NEW GPC INC continuing tradition of excellence, says general manager

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EW GPC INC is continuing its tradition of excellence, says General Manager Ravie Ramcharitar, adding that the company underwent an audit from America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012.

Ramcharitar said the company can now boast of continued certification from this extremely stringent authority to manufacture and export to the U. S. He said NEW GPC had always exported its products to the U.S. and they are registered for sale in that country, noting that this is further reinforcement of the company’s stand-

Atlantic Investment Inc (QAII),” according to the Privatisation Unit. QAII was headed by a local doctor, Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop.

NEW GPC building at A1 Farm, East Bank Demerara

Privatised in parts

ing as a world-class manufacturer in the pharmaceutical arena.

“NEW GPC is possibly the only company in this region to be certified by the U.S. FDA,” said the general manager. “The company is also licenced by the Guyana government’s

Food and Drug Analyst Department.”

Ramcharitar stated that, on the heels of this achievement, the company plans to publish a series of articles that looks back at its privatization, the passage over the years featuring the major achievements, the

people behind the company, and some of the exciting plans that are currently unfolding.

A successful privatization

The Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC) started out as part of the Bookers Group of Companies, which apart

from owning most of the sugar industry in colonial Guyana, also had wide commercial interests. Not without much truth, the common name for the colony, “BG”, was said to be an acronym for “Bookers Guyana”.

In the 1920s, Bookers Drug Store was formed to manufacture medicines, which, up to then, had all been imported into then British Guiana. It expanded to encompass a wide range of over-the-counter drugs, such as Limacol and Ferrol, which earned wide brand recognition in the Caribbean.

After the parent company was nationalised in 1976 -- and renamed the Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited -it became the major supplier of pharmaceuticals to the government of Guyana and the health sector. But as with all the other commercial enterprises the government had nationalised, the company was run more on political rather than commercial lines.

Like the others, it inevitably began to shrink and lose money.

Privatisation

As part of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme imposed on Guyana under the People’s National Congress (PNC) in 1989, GPC was scheduled to be privatised in the second phase -- under the new People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) government as it happened.

Unlike those conducted by the PNC in Phase One, the sale of GPC was advertised locally in 1999.

The PPP/C had moved very forcefully to make the privatisation process more transparent. “Of the six bids received, three were shortlisted for further evaluation. The other three were eliminated due to the failure to respond and submit much of the required information. Overall, the one bidder who has been consistent and the most honest in the submission of all information was Queens

The sale was consummated in December 1999 when QAII paid Gy$ 458 million for 60 percent of the shares of the company, which it renamed NEW GPC INC, and incorporated under the Companies Act 1991. In addition, onto the NEW GPC was foisted “loans” extended to the old GPC by the New York financier Warburg Group to the tune of some Gy$ 200 million.

The PNC government had used this “loan” facility to cover all sorts of secret deals made by their political directorate.

According to the IMF Report of 1997, the total GPC asset base was valued at Gy$ 706 million, but what is often overlooked is that, as the latest report by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) concedes, “GPC was privatised in parts”. The GPC property at 201 Camp Street, Georgetown, which housed Sijan Plaza, was sold to what became Citizens Bank for Gy$ 247 million.

The GPC’s head office at Ruimveldt Public Road, Georgetown, which had manufacturing facilities for Limacol, among other products, and most importantly a shipping wharf, were also stripped from the company and sold to the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC) for Gy$ 344 million. It was clear in retrospect that the new company had bought a “pig in a poke”. It is ironic that when the government sold a further 30 percent of the company for Gy$ 200 million to the NEW GPC, which exercised its first option clause, there were some complaints.

Based on how the assets were stripped, the NEW GPC should have received a refund. The remainder of the 10 percent shares is held by the government in trust for the employees.

But unlike what some others have done with their privatised companies, the NEW GPC owners buckled down to create one of the most successful private companies in Guyana.

It demonstrated that a well run private enterprise company can be successful.

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Two groups use their cultural heritage and knowledge of their environment to produce quality products and provide job opportunities and development within their communities

A few of Medicine from Trees' products

Medicine from Trees

Y

ei Winon Merison Sepo is the local Makushi name which means “medicine/ soap from trees”. The name was adopted by a group of women from different Amerindian communities in the North Rupununi, producing traditional medicines and soaps from locally cultivated plants and trees.

The core members of the group are Veronica Farias and Rita Francis, from Kwatamang, and Cecilia Goffreys, now retired, from Massara.

The group was founded under the auspices of the NGO Pro-Natura UK, but with the help

and support of NRDDB (North Rupununi District Development Board) is moving towards a state of complete self-sufficiency.

The entire research and development process is managed by Amerindian residents of the North Rupununi.

Intra-cultural transmission of medicinal knowledge is facilitated by the Makushi Research Unit (MRU).

The majority of raw materials are sourced from Amerindian titled lands in neighbouring communities, becoming therefore a communitybased enterprise so, as the business grows, so does the capacity for benefit sharing. Thus a finan-

cial incentive to preserve the pristine environment of the North Rupununi is born.

All products adhere to traditional methods of production and resolutely refrain from mechanization, which means that all work is done by hand following Makushi tradition.

This business is a proponent of practices that maintain the integrity of both culture and the environment. The soaps, creams and tinctures are made from the different plants and trees.

The main goal of the group is to become a sustainable and sufficient community-based enterprise, providing job opportunities to the younger Amerindian generations and preserving the Makushi traditional knowledge about medicinal plants and trees.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine , Farias, also based in Annai, said Medicine from Trees was founded in 2006, and she, Goffreys, and Francis were selected to be trained in researching trees and their me-

Goretti Louis (left) of Shulinab Women's Group and Veronica Farias from Medicine from Trees

dicinal value, and then using these in producing coconut oil, a natural skin moisturizer; crabwood oil and soap, a natural remedy for itches, rashes, insect bites; Neem Cream for itches and rashes; Kiambee Cream for cuts and sores; and Shusuwa tincture (from the female tree) to relieve the pain caused by rheumatism and arthritis, which is also used as a tonic

for mature men – just to name a few.

“Our lab is located at Bina Hill Institute. We market our products in our community and surrounding areas, including eco-lodges. Since the beginning, we always do questionnaires for our customers, to get feedback on how effective our products are. Since Goffreys has resigned because of old age, Francis

and I have continued. We meet to plan what to produce and the timeframe to do so. We also plan how and where we can market our products. We also have to write a report to submit to our CEO Ivor Marslow,” she revealed.

“We want to get companies in Georgetown to purchase and distribute our products. If we can collaborate with more companies then we can easily distribute our products,” Farias also declared.

“A man met me in Annai and told me he bought our product for diabetes at GuyExpo last year. He said he bought five of our products that help with diabetes, for his mother who was very ill and could not walk and was dying. He said that our medicine has been helping since he gave her and so he travelled to Annai to buy more of it.

He also said he will share it with other diabetics,” Farias said, in outlining the effectiveness of Medicine from Trees products.

She expressed her continued on page 34

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With more persons losing their lives to diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, the need to introduce a fun way of getting fit had to be conceptualised to reduce mortality rates

T

'Fit It Guyana' team screens registrants before they embark on their journey

he Ministry of Health, (Chronic Diseases Unit) in collaboration with Harris Arts, has introduced “Weight No More- Fit It! Guyana”, to encourage persons to develop a healthier lifestyle and to prevent and combat non-communicable diseases.

In a recent interview with the media, Ministry of Health (Chronic Disease Department) coordinator Karen GordonBoyle, said 60 percent of all deaths are due to chronic diseases. She added that 80 percent of chronic disease related deaths occur in low or middle income countries. GordonBoyle also pointed out that among the leading causes of deaths in Guyana are heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and hypertension.

Trevor Smith, operations manager of Harris Arts, told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine that due to the harsh reality of these statis-

tics, the Ministry of Health saw it pertinent to initiate the “Fit It Guyana” campaign.

“In order to address this situation, Ministry of Health in collaboration with Harris Arts decided to launch this campaign. The ministry wanted a campaign to engage the public using the visual media, and so Harris Arts is providing this. Harris Arts has a number of years in using various forms of the media in advocating for healthy lifestyles and so we are using our experience to make this initiative a successful one,” Smith explained.

TV Show

“Fit It Guyana” is also the name of an upcoming reality television show that would record this three-month campaign and competition.

Cameras would follow the journey of those selected for the programme who have embarked on the path towards a

healthier lifestyle. Their stories, struggles, and successes as they seek to adopt a new and healthier behaviour would be aired on a live television programme.

Smith also pointed out that the reality television show was conceptualised to serve as an encouragement for others to get healthy, with the hope that those watching would be motivated to join the campaign, and in doing so help in combating non-communicable diseases. The first episode would be aired October 10 on TV channels 9, 11, 28 and 72.

Before embarking on their fitness journey, registrants’ sugar levels, cholesterol, blood pressure and Body Mass Index are tested. After screening, suitable candidates a selected to join the campaign.

“Our focus is to show that getting fit will not be an easy task, but with determination it can be done. Registrants are placed into groups because we want them to have the support and motivation of those who are also suffering just the same. These ones have signed up with various gym instructors who were already debriefed on our project and know what they need to do to help. Registrants will not only exercise but will be guided on their diet. Some who cannot afford to join the gym have formed groups to meet weekly and engage in some form of physical activity,” Smith outlined.

Speaking about the show, Smith explained that it has various components.

For the “Fit Mind” component, psychologists will talk on mental fitness and therapy. In the “Fit Body” segment, the teams will be receiving advice from medical doctors, nutritionists and fitness trainers.

Then there is “Fashion Fit’” which will allow competitors to walk the runway in style and get advice on how to maintain their physique after losing weight. Guyana Fashion Weekend and its CEO Sonia Noel are onboard, said Smith, and Noel is offering the prize to design outfits for the winners of the “Mr. and Mrs.

Fit” competition.

“Tech Fit” will invite tech experts to advise on how the registrants can use technology in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“Then there is “Financially Fit”. Some cry out that being healthy is expensive, but we will show them healthy meals that will work with their budget. We will also do a comparison between how much they pay for a fast food meal and what they can eat healthy for that same money,” Smith disclosed.

A highlight of the show, Smith divulged, is a Christmas weigh-in. Cameras will follow the registrants as they fight the temptation of indulging during the December holidays.

A weigh-in will be done before

We are giving them a second chance. Our focus is to guide these ones on the path of becoming fit and so we will work with them to accomplish this,” she said.

Harris also noted that “Fit It Guyana” will also help the Ministry of Health to gather pertinent information on noncommunicable diseases and other vital statistics for their records.

“Fit It Guyana” was conceptualised to help participants to have fun and at the same time get healthy and be rewarded for it.

“We’ll be at GuyExpo and we’re encouraging those who are interested to form groups of five because we’re not accepting just one individual alone. So far, we have had an

'Fit It Guyana' at the Caribbean Wellness Week Health Fair 2013

Christmas and then another after. In January, there will be a live grand finale, with live weigh-ins and a recap of the participants’ journeys. Smith forecasts it to be an emotional one for all involved.

Enthusiasm

Denise Harris, CEO of Harris Arts stated that the reality television would combine with a documentary to produce a 15-minute production.

“I have seen the efforts of some who are really overweight signing up and I applaud them. We are here to give them back their lives.

overwhelming response and we expect more at GuyExpo.

Fit It Guyana is a pilot project. Once we are successful we hope it will become an annual venture. So far we have seen more women than men, and so my encouragement is for the men to come out and join us.

We appeal to the men who are affected by these non-communicable diseases to take charge of their lives because being fit is possible. With determination it can be done. Look out for the Ministry of Health banner at GuyExpo. We are eagerly waiting to sign persons up to get fit,” Harris urged.

Resorts World Casino to host Diwali “Festival of Lights” event

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n Saturday November 2nd, 2013, Resorts World Casino New York City in association with Angels Caribbean Entertainment Group of Companies Inc. will host a Diwali celebration in the casino’s Central Park Event space.

Diwali, also known as the "Festival of Lights”, is the most widely celebrated festival amongst Asian/ Caribbean Indians. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali symbolizes new beginnings, a renewed commitment to past values such as family, love, knowledge, righteousness, happiness and wealth.

“Resorts World Casino New York City embraces true multiculturalism and we are thrilled to be hosting a cultural event that is celebrated by so many

people around the city and around the world,” said

Kerri Lyon, Spokesperson for Resorts World Casino New York City.

“As an entertainment capitol, we look forward to

an exciting event for the greater Tri-State community and encourage everyone to join us and participate in the many Diwali festivities at the casino,” added Lyon.

There will be a wide array of performers including; The Angels Caribbean Band, Rangeela Dance Troupe, Natya Tilakam Dance Academy, Shelly Ramnanan Dance Troupe, Arvin & Sahil Batra, Wendy Kamal Dance Troupe, Geeta Bisram, Pally Dass, Raja and many more.

At the event there will be traditional and contemporary live music and dances, Indo-Caribbean fashion displays, Taste of India and the Caribbean authentic vegetarian cuisine, spiritual & holistic fair, traditional henna paintings, Indian art displays and a kids’ corner.

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Marketing maven Guenet Gittens-Roberts tirelessly works in the Central Florida community to highlight contributions of notable individuals of Caribbean heritage, especially those from Guyana

U

S - b a s e d Guyanese public relations and marketing executive Guenet Gittens-Roberts grew up on Church Street in, Georgetown, and attended Stella Maris and then Queen’s College.

“When I first left Guyana, it was after high school, and I went to school and lived in New York, before heading back to Guyana. I lived in Guyana for a few

ents for everything she knows about marketing, Guenet said she worked in marketing and public relations throughout high school and after she returned to Guyana she headed the marketing department at NCE Screen Printersher parents’ company in Guyana.

“Our marketing company was started to provide a portal for people who wanted to access the Caribbean commu-

communities and realized that a lot of our events were done with little or no resources and brought out hundreds and thousands of people while other events would get huge funding and be satisfied with 150 people showing up. So I wanted to showcase our community, show our power economically and the programs we were contributing socially,” she recalled.

Guenet wih her husband (left) and their two children

years, met my husband, got married and then left Guyana; but this time we went directly to Florida.

I've been in Florida since then, first South Florida and then Orlando. We've been here and raised two amazing children for the last 14 years,” she related in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

Guenet disclosed she has not completed college as yet, but is currently halfway through her college degree programme. She revealed she got married at 21 and had her children shortly thereafter. However, it was always her plan to go back to college and finish her degree when her children went off to college.

Gaining experience Crediting

her

par-

nity in Central Florida.

We have radio, television, events and much more in our community that many people are absolutely not aware of. I was lucky enough to experience many of them. I think that my Guyanese upbringing gave me the open-mindedness that I have when it comes to religious and cultural differences. So I would not only go to one type of event but I went to Diwali and Phagwah, Ramadan celebrations, Parang parties, Haitian Flag day celebrations, Jerk Festivals... and enjoyed them all.

But I was brought up that way in Guyana: to celebrate all of the religions and cultures, enjoying the diversity but celebrating as one. I also worked in the American

Striking out solo

Five years ago, Guenet started her own marketing company, GGR Marketing. In 2010, she launched Caribbean American Passport News Magazine which highlights the diversity of Caribbean people while showcasing the similarities and celebrating the people who live, work and play in America and are of Caribbean heritage.

“Many of our Caribbean people are doing amazing things but no one really knows. My job is to raise awareness of the CaribbeanAmerican community.

My focus was first on Central Florida; however we are now being distributed across the state of Florida. In 2012 my husband, Sam Roberts,

lost his job, which ended up being a blessing in disguise, as he was able to then focus more on the business, while I focused on the creative side of the business. Thankfully, we were able to streamline the business so that we only focused on clients who wanted access to the Caribbean American market, so that the marketing company and the newspaper could really work closely together to help build the companies involved with us and to build each other,” Guenet explained.

One of Guenet’s proudest accomplishments is the Caribbean American Heritage Month Festival held in June to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month. She noted that working to bring this festival to the community brings together all of the different community groups from across the Caribbean.

The festival showcases the Caribbean’s rich diversity and culture, and attracts crowds in excess of 10,000 people to downtown Orlando. Due to this festival and showcasing of the other diverse events in her community, Guenet, her husband and Caribbean Passport were listed by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer as one of the reasons to visit Orlando.

Through her company, they were able to secure the marketing contract for Caribbean Airlines for the Central Florida market.

Additionally, they were able to assist Caribbean Airlines with the launch of its flights in and out of Orlando with an 80 percent fill rate. As a result, Caribbean Airlines has been able to sustain and increase its flights out of Central Florida.

“Also through our company we were able to rally as a community, put aside our internal fighting as a community, and stand solidly behind a Guyanese can-

from page 32

Tradition brings progress passion for researching the health benefits of various plants, and knows their names in Makushi, as well as their scientific names. Last year, she was part of an ethnobotany research project.

Compilation and documentation were done by Guyanese activist Vanda

Radzik.

“I enjoy going out in the field to do research on these. We are continuously researching new plants and documenting these.

A lot of persons are interested in our products but would usually ask if we’re certified. We really need more training and certi-

fication. Although we tell people our products are organic they still want to see certificates because they want to take it overseas. We have seen a vast market for our products but we need certificates,” she disclosed.

Shulinab Women’s Group

Another group focused on empowering women and the community is the Shulinab Women’s Group. The group’s secretary Goretti Louis, speaking with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, stated that it was started in May 2012 with 15 women within the Shulinab com-

didate, Rick Singh, who was running for an office that no one thought he had a chance of winning since he was a long shot against an entrenched politician. The Caribbean American Chamber was the first to endorse him.

I was vice president at the time. I am now president. Then the newspaper hosted a meet-thecandidate series which introduced the candidate to the Caribbean Community and he actually worked with all of the diverse groups in the community and showed that minorities were a majority if they worked together. It was an upset victory in Orlando. Rick is now doing an amazing job in office today as the property appraiser in Orange County,” she pointed out.

The marketing expert said she and her husband attend all Caribbean events, provide support for those events to the best of their ability, and work with the associations who are working in the community to promote those events.

Guenet Gittens-Roberts

petrified during her visit, but she came back and was so happy that she then took about 15 family members back just a few months later. So one person and one event at a time we dispel myths and encourage people to look at the Caribbean, acknowledge their roots and be proud of them,” revealed Guenet.

Inspired and Inspiring

“As we market for Caribbean Airlines, we are able to distribute Caribbean Beat magazine which really does a wonderful job of promoting the Caribbean, its rich culture and diversity. I always have Explore Guyana magazines on my table because they do a wonderful job of showcasing aspects of Guyana that many people are not aware of.

Many Guyanese in the U.S. pick them up to share with their kids so that they see a different part of Guyana and are encouraged to visit. Last year we actually worked with Caribbean Airlines and GuyExpo, and sent two Guyanese home who had not visited in many years. One of them was a journalist with Fox News and had not been to Guyana in more than 20 years. Her family was

Guenet divulged in dealing with challenges she meditates.

Meditation helps her to focus on tasks and effectively carry them out.

During December and July, she and her team spend time on strategizing, planning and not working. It is a time for them to reenergize and spend with family. She noted during that period they always come up with the most significant changes.

“My motivation and inspiration are the many Caribbean people who do amazing things in our community, showcasing them, getting them recognized for their achievements and telling their story. I'm very proud of Caribbean people and I love the rich cultural diversity we have, so every month I’m excited about telling another great story or sharing another rich event. My encouragement to youths is that in this economy if you can't find a job, then follow your dreams, if you're not going to make money, it's better to not make money while you build something you're passionate about.

In the end, you could end up with the best of both worlds - making money while doing something you love,” she encouraged.

munity.

“We do wine making, pepper sauce, craft, knitting; we make mosquito nets, hammocks, and sew uniforms for children. We also make peanut butter and cassava bread for the school feeding project done by the Ministry of Education. A lot of tourists buy our products. We have exhibited at rodeos and fairs locally and in Brazil. Our group is pro-

gressing and I see it continuously expanding in the future. We are empowered because we have the earning power, but we need to broaden our network to get our products out there,” she noted.

For more information on Shulinab Women’s Group call 696-7091 and for Medicine from Trees call 658-0020, 772-9292 or email medicinefromtrees@yahoo.com

Dispelling myths

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The crowd at Essequibo Night last year at Anna Regina Centre Ground

National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute's booth last year showcased Guyana's lush agricultural produce

he annual Essequibo Night Exhibition and Fair provides a stage for showcasing local skills and products. This year, the event is scheduled for Oct 18-19 at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground.

A press release from the Region Two administration said preparations have begun and the event is expected to attract thousands to the commercial centre of Anna Regina.

The event, which was started several years ago by the late Minister of Agriculture Satyadeow Sawh, and held under the theme: “Made in Guyana, Grown in Guyana�, focuses on Guyana's produce and products.

Over the years, the event has grown tremendously, and attracts more than 15,000 persons each night.

Many local manufacturers and farmers from across Region Two, along with government ministries and agencies, erect booths to showcase local products and services.

Many anticipate the festivities of Essequibo Night as a treat and celebration after the harvest of the rice crop. The activity is organized by the Region Two administration with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, New Guyana Marketing Corporation and the private sector.

Local pottery on display at the event last year

Guyana Rice Development Board booth last year

Last year a booth focused on information technology welcomed not only youths but adults too

Essequibo Night showcases local skills in creating quality furniture

Youths learning about computers at Region Two's Ministry of Education exhibit

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This week's Crossword

J k es

Brain cramps

Question: If you could live forever, would you and why?

Answer: “I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever,” –Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest “Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff.” –Mariah Carey “Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances.”– Department of Social Services, Greenville, South Carolina “If somebody has a bad heart, they can plug this jack in at night as they go to bed and it will monitor their heart throughout the night. And the next morning, when they wake up dead, there’ll be a record.”–Mark S. Fowler, FCC Chairman

From a farm kid at San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 46

Dear Ma and Pa: I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile.

Tell them to join up quick before maybe all of the places are filled.

I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m., but am getting so I like to sleep late.

Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Men got to shave but it is not so bad, there’s warm water.

Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc, but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys that live on coffee. Their food plus yours holds you till noon when you get fed again.

It’s no wonder these city boys can’t walk much.

We go on “route marches”, which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it’s not my place to tell him different. A “route march” is about as far as to our mailbox at home.

Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks. The country is nice but awful flat.

The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot. The Capt. is like the school board. Majors and colonels just ride around and frown. They don’t bother you none.

This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don’t know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk head and don’t move, and it ain’t shooting at you like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. You don’t even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes.

Then we have what they call hand-to hand combat training.

You get to wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they break real easy. It ain’t like fighting with that ole bull at home. I’m about the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from over in Silver Lake. I only beat him once. He joined up the same time as me, but I’m only 5’6″ and 130 pounds, and he’s 6’8″ and weighs near 300 pounds dry.

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding in.

Your loving daughter, Gail

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health corner

By Tisha Boston

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any of you may have heard the saying, “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away”. So let’s explore what makes this statement so true. Apples help promote a healthy lifestyle for they are fat free, sodium free, and cholesterol free. Four main nutrients that make apple an ideal part of your diet are Vitamin C, carbohydrates, fiber, and potassium. Apples also contain other nutrients such as calcium and iron, but they are found in lesser amounts.

Apples are a rich source of vitamin C. Vitamin C has several roles in your body. It is used to form a protein that makes skin,

tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels, it is used to heal wounds and form scar tissue, and it is used to repair and maintain cartilage, bones, and teeth. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant.

Antioxidants are responsible for neutralizing damaging free radicals that play a role in cancer, heart disease, and conditions like arthritis.

Eating vitamin C- rich foods like apples protects cells and helps lower your risk of chronic diseases.

Your diet should always include a high percentage of carbohydrates because this nutrient helps to fuel your body for its daily activities.

Fortunately, the majority of calories found in apples come from carbohydrates in the form of fructose (fruit sugar).

Simple carbohydrates, like fructose, break down easily and render immediate energy for your body.

One apple provides nearly 20% of the fiber you need each day. It is a great source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which aids in digestion. Soluble fiber binds with water and slows digestion while insoluble fiber stays intact and pushes out waste thus, allowing your stool to be soft and regular.

The inside part of the apple contains the soluble fiber while the outside part, the skin, contains the insoluble fiber. Pectin, the soluble fiber found in apples, help to prevent cholesterol build up that can lead to heart disease.

Potassium is an electrolyte, a mineral that helps electricity flow through your body. Your body uses potassium to help sustain the steady electrical flow for heart rhythm and muscle contraction. Hence, eating an apple a day helps you to maintain a normal heart rhythm by increasing your potassium intake. *Source: USDA Household Commodity Fact Sheet When purchasing an

a p p l e , select one that has a bright color and a smooth skin with few bruises. An apple with too many bruises suggests that it may rot soon. Even if you bought apples in a sealed bag and they look clean, always remember to rinse apples in cool water and pat dry before eating. Eating apples without peeling the skin is highly recommended because it increases the intake of the insoluble fiber content, and almost half of the vitamin C content is found just underneath the skin. If you are not ready to eat your apples, try to store them in a refrigerator. Apples ripen six to ten times faster at room temperature than if they were refrigerated; therefore, storing apples at room temperature will cause them to get mushy more quickly. In addition, raw, sliced apples may darken. In order to prevent them from browning, dip them into a fruit juice such as lemon, orange, grapefruit or pineapple.

5 Interesting Facts about Apples: • The science of apple growing is called pomology.

• Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit.

• Some apple trees will grow over 40 feet high and live over 100 years.

• Apples are the second most valuable fruit grown in the United States.

Oranges are first.

• The top apple producing states are Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California and Virginia. *Source: University of Illinois Extension

fashion

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The Nuance of Natural Fibres

Get Ready for GFW 2013!

Designer impresses with unique collection that explores the beauty of natural fibres

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ocal designer Carol Fraser showcased an applauded line of fashionable hats and bags at the French Guiana Fashion Week 2013.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Fraser said her eco-friendly collection was sold exclusively to the French, who were very impressed with her work. She added that the bags and hats are all made of natural fibres garnered from her homeland.

“I am very happy to be a culture ambassador for my country. My plan is to educate an international audience of Guyana’s rich and diverse culture while at the same time promoting our Low Carbon Development Drive. This ‘green’ initiative will give innovators from around the world an opportunity to view some of Guyana’s natural fibres and creations,” she declared.

Designer Carol Fraser

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flurry of talented designers will hit the runway at the upcoming Guyana Fashion Week (GFW) gala event.

GFW is used to showcase the creativity and style of Guyanese and Caribbean designers, and has been embraced by the Private Sector over the past few years.

Fashion Week 2013 promises to be a week of non-stop activities and events. Workshops, tours, styling sessions and catwalk training are a few of the features to be added as part of the show.

GFW CEO Sonia Noel, told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine that participating designers are all busy getting their collections ready for the October 20-27event.

This week, Sunday Magazine features the artistic and colourful designs of Paula Evans, the brilliant use of the tie-dye technique of Tracey Douglas, and the creative work of Tobagobased Guyanese designer Juliet Bernard. These fashion designers are just a few who would be participating at GFW 2013.

Designer Sonia Noel

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The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

2012 Guyana Prize for Literature II bloggers. Which raises an interesting question, because the public’s attention has moved away from fiction and drama and into politics, journalism…current affairs.

By Petamber Persaud

T

he 2012 Guyana Prize for Literature was awarded in September 2013.

Extract of an interview with Brendan de Caires in Georgetown, Guyana, August 16, 2013. de Caires is a literary critic and reviewer, working in Canada. He has worked in Trinidad as editor and book reviewer for the Caribbean Review of Books, (CRB) and for the review section of Caribbean Beat. He has also published other literary articles and reviews, and is a co-founder of Moray House Trust in Georgetown.

De Caries is a native of Guyana who has lived in Britain, Trinidad, Barbados, Mexico, and New York, working as editor, human rights activist and English literature and ESL teacher. He is currently program and communications coordinator for PEN Canada.

This is the second time he has sat on the panel of judges for The Guyana Prize for Literature.

PP In between critical appreciation/appraisal of books, do you still get the chance to enjoy reading a good book?

BdC Very much so.

In a good year, I try to read two books a week.

That’s easy to do because of where I live. In Toronto there’s a fantastic library system, and it’s extremely easy to get hold of books. Canadian culture in general is quite literary and people take pride in the quality of their reading. Much of the national identity is tied up with writers who have explored what it really means to be Canadian.

That came through to me when I was a juror for the Commonwealth Prize (Canada and the Caribbean). Other qualities were noticeable too, not for any particular literary skill that the Canadians have, but more because of the rigors of the publishing industry PP Let’s explore that “rigors of the publishing industry”.

BdC In Canada, manuscripts are heavily vetted and carefully thought through, mainly because the publishing industry there is very competitive. By contrast, the Caribbean books tended to be from foreign publishers and that meant

PP What other roles does this group play?

Brendan de Caires (R) in conversation at Moray House Trust with Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

that they were often chosen according to what would sell in England, or some other foreign market. This made them immediately more remote from the experience they set out to describe. Only a handful of books really spoke to the contemporary Caribbean. The Canadian books were free of these constraints and felt far more confident in playing with forms, styles and registers etc.

And because Canada, certainly Toronto, has reinvented itself around multicultural ideals, there were writers from all backgrounds.

PP Any GuyaneseCanadians?

BdC Off the top of my head – Tessa McWatt, who I think is related to Mark McWatt.

PP “This Body”, the last book I read by her, was an impressive piece of writing...

BdC And there is Shani Mootoo from Trinidad. And, of course, there is Austin Clarke.

There are many others, but functionally they are Canadian writers who have lived there and have been published there. Even though they might be writing about the Caribbean experience/realities, they are publishing within the context of the Canadian reading public...

PP ... and of ‘rigorous editing’ BdC Yes, which is not to detract from the literary skill involved, that is not what I’m suggesting, but the voice ... I’m trying to think of a West Indian equivalent … someone like Sam Selvon who was thoroughly Trinidadian and managed to write

and publish from within his reality. A better example might be Earl Lovelace who has never left Trinidad and has been successfully published all these years.

He’s just won that big prize...

PP ...for “Is Jus’ A Movie”...

BdC ... a terrific writer, there very few like him left.

PP You work at PEN Canada?

BdC Yes, the Canadian Centre of PEN International – a writers organisation that was founded in 1921. It’s a sort of proto-NGO set up by a small group of highbrow Bloomsbury authors. Over the years, its mission has expanded to foster solidarity among writers, particularly in countries where they can

get into trouble...

PP Get into trouble with whom?

BdC With governments; in places where they get locked up etc.

Fifty years ago, they formed the Writers in Prison Committee (WIPC) and that takes up the cases of hundreds of writers around the world.

PP Any particular country it focuses on?

BdC Originally, it was for writers of novels and plays that fell afoul of the Soviet Union. But has changed considerably over the years.

PP Because of PEN? BdC No, because the Cold War ended and the nature of writing has changed. The people who face most of the threats now are journalists and

BdC PEN promotes literature, and is also interested in linguistic rights, which is an increasingly sensitive subject in places like the European Union, preserving minority languages, which is something extremely relevant to a country like Guyana.

Most people who live on the coast know nothing about the Amerindian languages, and certainly have not paid the proper respect to them. A shocking situation in a society that is notionally multicultural.

PP Over the years there was some work done on the Macushi language BdC But how many of us know anything about those languages?

PP Is this marginalisation the sort of thing holding back writers and the literature of these peoples/nations?

BdC Quite possibly. If you can’t communicate in your own language, you are at the mercy of translators and the whims of the reading public. It is not that they are not performing within a system – there is no system. It matters not if you have a Tolstoy

in the Rupununi, if he can’t write in Standard English or be published by an English press, he will never be noticed.

PP That is a grave concern for a nation.

BdC It should be.

PP And we should do something about it.

BdC In Canada they are waking up to this reality quite late.

PP How should we go about opening up ourselves to the hidden voices in our society? (TO BE CONTINUED) Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: • The Guyana Annual 2012-2013 magazine is now available at Guyenterprise Ltd, at Austin’s bookstore and from the editor at the above contacts.

This issue of the magazine is dedicated to E. R. Braithwaite. The magazine also features articles on copyright, law of intellectual property, creative industries, oral traditions of Guyana, the future of West Indian cricket and the future of books.

• Coming soon: “An Introduction to Guyanese Literature” by Petamber Persaud. This 150-page-book is a rich collection of Guyanese pride and joy, containing more than 100 photographs.

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Arts & Culture

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Lokono artist displays art series

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series of new p a i n t i n g s highlighting indigenous heritage done by local art veteran George Simon, is currently on display at Castellani House on Vlissengen Road.

Simon was born April 23, 1947, at St Cuthbert’s Mission, located up the Mahaica River. He holds a degree in Fine Art from Portsmouth Polytechnic (1975-78) and a Masters in Field and Analytical Techniques in Archaeology from the University College, London (l994).

He served as a lecturer

(1978) and assistant principal (1980) at the Burrowes School of Art (BSA). Additionally, he was once appointed as research assistant at the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology in 1985.

Simon’s archaeological background dates back since the early 80s. He was also instrumental in a recent archeological discovery in Guyana.

Along with a team of archaeologists, Simon examined a field of manmade mounds stretching several miles between the Berbice and Corentyne "Petroglyph #2"

rivers dating back 5000 years.

The Lokono Arawak artist and archaeologist has won the Judges Prize for Painting at the National Visual Arts Exhibition in 1986. Simon also received the National Award of the Golden Arrow of Achievement (A.A.) in 1998. Additionally, he has received the Ansa McCal Caribbean Award for Excellence in the field of Arts and Letters in 2012.

Simon is a pioneer of visual art in Guyana.

Notably, his work is housed in private and public collections worldwide.

George Simon at the launching of 'Silent Witness' art exhibition at Castellani House

"Embrace #2" At the launching of ‘Silent Witness’, an ongoing art exhibition at Castellani House where Simon is exhibiting his most recent paintings, curator Elfrieda Bissember stated, “Though silent of words, the elegant, twisting forms of George Simon's ‘Tree Root #1’ and ‘Tree Root #2’ speak and symbolize conditions of life; his leaping ‘Bimichi (Hummingbird)’ revered in myth as a powerful bird, used as a charm and an embodiment of a god, is a familiar yet magical creature with its glowing colour and

‘furiously reverberating wings and body: one of the thousands of miraculous manifestations of the natural world. Simon's ‘Jaguar’ similarly, one of a series of recent paintings, is a dominant creature in Amerindian life and myth, symbolizing strength and protection for hunters, as well as a powerful ally of the ‘Shaman’ (medicine man or healer) in his work.”

The artist is currently exhibiting his paintings, along with work done by Victor Captain and Oswald Hussein, at Castellani House until October 12.

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Louis De Saffon ted from the trust fund, and in 1839 the Bishop of Guiana in his report on the Diocese declared the De Saffon Institution the only public school on the colony offering a grammar school education.

The grave site of De Saffon now lies at the corner of Broad and Saffon streets, in the church yard of St Saviour’s Church, once known as St Saviour’s

Parish Church). It was purchased in 1845 from the administrators of the Saffon estate.

The De Saffon Trust Act remains inscribed in Chapter 13:20 of the laws of Guyana, and is under ministerial authority.

A monument called The Saffon Monument was erected on his grave site in the church’s compound. Described as a granite monument, it

Saffon monument, St Saviour’s Parish, Broad and Saffon streets, Charlestown, Georgetown

The monument and church within the St Saviour’s Parish compound (side view)

S

affon Street in Charlestown, Georgetown was named after Frenchman Louis Pierre De Saffon.

The ward itself was built on the front lands of the former Plantation Le Repentir when the land was parcelled out and sold to cover his estate debts after his death in 1784 at 60; another account claims the lands were from the La Penitence estate.

Louis Pierre De Saffon was born in France – some researchers suggest Languedoc province in 1724 and became a land

surveyor. However, in an act that was to profoundly change his fortunes, he murdered his brother during a duel (at the time outlawed in France) over a woman, and fled to the colony of Demerara seeking asylum.

In Demerara, he acquired much wealth, and became owner of plantations Le Repentir (Regret) and La Penitence (Remorse), which are said to have been named in repentance of his actions in France. There is also the suggestion of a Plantation Le Misère (Woe) being another De

Saffon estate.

Although he never married, he is said to have had sired a daughter with his housekeeper.

De Saffon is also known, though less spectacularly, for the De Saffon Trust; a fund he had stipulated in his will for the care and education of orphans until they reached the age of 16. After his estate debts were cleared, the remaining funds were allotted for 10 native Demerara orphans to receive his charity.

According to The British Guiana hand-

book, 1913, the will also stipulated that, “under the terms of the will preference must always be given to the most poor and indigent and those born of white parents.”

It wasn’t until 1825, almost 40 years later, that the trust was put into existence with two beneficiaries.

By 1834, 36 persons had benefit-

Preserving our heritage through pictures

Chinese Church since it was designated to provide a place of worship for the newly introduced Chinese population in Georgetown. (The word “Chinese” was omitted from the name in 1939, and the church is now known as St Saviour’s

reads in part, ‘Pierre Louis de Saffon: Born in France in the year 1724, and Died in Demerara in August 1784: The Revenue of his Estate, after other bequests, be bestowed in perpetuity, on the maintenance of ten poor destitute orphans, until attaining the age of 16 years.’

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Victoria Hotel, 17 and 18 High Street, Georgetown British Guiana

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The Nirvana Foundation T

he Nirvana Foundation is known for its continued benevolence to the Guyanese community. It recently concluded another successful youth camp along with a series of fundraising and humanitarian events in Guyana.

The Nirvana Humanitarian Society, of Kastev, MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, a branch of the New York-based Nirvana Humanitarian Foundation (NFH), recently awarded the sum of GYD$250,000 to Parmeshwari Seodat towards her college fund.

Seodat graduated from the Saraswati Vidya Niketan with 15 grade ones at the 2013 CSEC examination, despite financial challenges faced by her family.

According to the foundation, Seodat’s wish to pursue higher education at the University of Guyana was dampened by financial constraints and her inability to acquire a loan to cover tuition fees. With the grant from Nirvana, Seodat will be able to pursue her studies in the Medical Imaging (Bachelor's Degree) programme at the University of Guyana where she has been accepted.

The youth’s initial plight was highlighted when members of her family met Ramesh Deochand, public relations officer of Nirvana,

while he was on a recent visit in Guyana. He was able to secure funds to cover Seodat’s first year studies through donations from members of NHF. The award was handed over to Seodat by a committee member of Nirvana, witnessed by other members of the charitable institution.

The Nirvana Humanitarian Society, through support from NHF, has been operating in Guyana as a non-profit institution since 1997.

At its headquarters at Kastev, East MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, Nirvana provides low-cost classes in computers, sewing and catering, and electrical repairs.

Recently, Nirvana extended its community outreach programmes by offering enrichment and remedial classes free of charge to students of Chateau's Land in Meten-MeerZorg. To encourage and support activities for senior citizens, Nirvana has launched a programme to facilitate a social gathering for seniors at the Nirvana Learning Centre at least twice per month.

On a yearly basis, NHF offers a generous grant to support the humanitarian activities of the Camal Home, an Albion-based orphanage. During their recent cultural tour of Guyana, executive members of NHF, which included Deochand, and Parbati Tej Singh, present-

Parbaty Tejsingh (far left) with a section of primary school children who received packages of school supplies at the Nirvana Center in August

ed to Mrs Kissoon, the Director of Camal Home, a check of GYD$400,000 to build the front fence of the orphanage’s compound.

During 2013, as in prior years, all proceeds generated from NHF’s cultural programmes in Guyana were funnelled into charitable institutions to support their projects.

One of these beneficiaries is the Saraswati Vidya Niketan which has been a recipient of Nirvana’s generosity for many years. The Shri Krishna Mandir of New Amsterdam, East Berbice, and the De Edward Village Mandir, West Berbice, have also benefited from Nirvana’s largess in support of

Abideen Shaw, committee member of Nirvana, presents the scholarship grant to Parmeshwari, while other members of Nirvana look on

their temple construction projects.

In a press release, Deochand stated that the Nirvana Humanitarian Society has depended exclusively on the patronage of the Nirvana Humanitarian Foundation in the U.S. for funding of all its programmes. He added while this is a commendable gesture on the part of NHF, local support, particularly from

the business community and voluntary assistance from the communities served by Nirvana, will give the local charity the flexibility to extend its altruistic programmes to a wider group of needy citizens.

Deochand also mentioned that calls for Nirvana’s support have become more vocal and persistent from schools, orphanages, and the

needy. To respond to these pleas, Nirvana emphasizes its commitment on a long-term basis to serve the Guyana’s community, and sends out an appeal to the Guyanese community including businesses, professionals, and local volunteers to support its programmes.

For more information on the foundation, visit www.nirvanausa. org

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Jiah Khan’s death, a Govinda launches music album murder: forensic report G

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iah Khan, the 25-year-old Bollywood actress, committed suicide a few months ago. This was the official report. But now, forensic reports have proven that the actress had been strangled with a belt. So the death of the actress, is a mur-

der; not a suicide.

Recently, her mother Rabiya Amin filed a fresh petition to investigate into the death of the actress and forensic experts have come up with new evidence that clearly tells that the woman was murdered.

“After analysing the

photos and other relevant material and from the medical experts, enough evidence has now been gathered, which clearly indicate that Jiah’s death is not a suicide as claimed

by Mumbai Police. The prominence of unexplained ligature marks on the neck and visible injury marks and other pieces of evidence clearly indicate foul play,” said Dinesh Tiwari, Rabiya Amin’s legal advisor.

“Forensic experts now deduced that a belt has been used to strangle her to death before she was actually hung from the ceiling fan to make it look like a suicide,” he added.

Jiah Khan’s mother also released photos of her dead body to show that she didn’t commit suicide. (Bollywood Celebden)

ovinda's music album 'Gori Tere Naina', which has a Navratri number, was launched on Monday, according to IANS reports.

Govinda has penned the songs while the music has been composed

by Shamir Tandon.

"There is a Navratri song and also a party song. Navratri festival is on so it is the perfect time to launch the album," Govinda said in a statement.

The songs feature the actor along with television actress Puja Banerjee, who is currently seen as Parvati in ‘Devon Ka Dev Mahadev’.

"It was a dream come

true for me to shoot music videos with Govindaji who is greatest entertainer, dancer and actor.

He is one of my favourite actors. We completed two songs out of four

Anupam Kher’s academy gets selected for Canadian documentary series

Book on Dilip Kumar to be launched this month

“T

he book is almost ready and we are planning to launch his biography in October.

The date is not yet fixed. As soon as Dilip saab is well enough to launch it, we shall do it. There is immense improvement in his health so we may soon launch the book,” said Uday Tara Nayar, the writer of the biography of the Bollywood Veteran Dilip Kumar.

Nayar is also a close family friend of the legendary actor.

Initially, it was supposed to be launched on Dilip Kumar’s 90th birthday December 11th 2012 but it is being launched this month. The two-part book focuses on the actor’s nine-decade long journey, his love story with Saira Banu, some untold stories, as well as rare pictures of the thespian and his family members.

October 11 is Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu’s wedding anniversary.

A When asked if the book is being released on that day, Nayar says “No, not so soon as it’s not completely ready yet.

It will go further may be to the end of October. We also need somebody big to release it.” (Bollywood Celebden)

in two days," Puja said.

This was Puja's first music album and she added: "To shoot with Govinda has been a fantastic experience."

(Times of India)

nupam Kher, who has proved his mettle with some stellar performances in the past feels that, though acting might come naturally to many, it is an art which needs to be ‘practiced’ and ‘learnt’.

Anupam Kher, whose acting academy has been included in a documentary series about incredible schools

around the world, argues that reproducing intense emotions in front of the public need hard work, which is something that acting schools can teach.

“Practice makes an actor excel. It is like cycling and motor driving. It is an art, which can be learnt and practiced,” Anupam Kher told.

“Our tag line says, ‘We bring out the actor in you’. In day-to-day life, our brain sends lots of signals. In acting, there are no signals. You have to believe in what you are trying to portray,” he said.

“Our school not only makes you an actor, it makes you understand who you actually are as well… it gives you discipline and punctuality. It also teaches you a way of life,” he added.

‘Actor Prepares’ has been selected to feature in a documentary series on the incredible schools around the world by a Montreal-based production company ‘Eurêka Productions’. The series titled ‘Schools Like No Others’ will broadcasted on TV5 in Canada next year.

(Excerpt from Bollywood Celebden)

India's 'The Good Road' vying for Oscar

Shahid is ready to work with Kareena, again

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n a recent interview with a popular tabloid, Shahid Kapoor revealed that he has no qualms with ex-lover Kareena Kapoor and

that he is now ready to share screen space with her.

Says the Kapoor lad, “The decision for Kareena Kapoor and

Shahid Kapoor to work together will never be mine. I have no issues or reservations in taking up a project that features Kareena. I have always maintained this.

Whichever actor my director feels is best for the role he has in mind, should be roped in.

Eventually, we all work on the same film. My socalled reservations and personal comfort zones can’t define my work.

That’s not being professional. I feel that even if an actor is cast for the lead role or for any other part in the film, it is my job to do the film and not create an issue.”

(Bollywood Celebden)

'T

he Good Road', a Gujarati film by first-time director Gyan Correa, is among the 76 movies that will compete in the foreign language category at the 86th Academy Awards, reports PTI. 'The Good Road', a lost and found story of a boy in the desert of

Kutch, created some uproar in India after it was chosen over more popular and festivals winner 'The Lunchbox'.

Other notable entries this year include 'The Past', Iranian entry by Oscar-winner Asgar Farhadi, starring 'The Artist' star Berenice Bejo. Farhadi earlier won

the best foreign Oscar for his divorce drama 'A Separation'.

The 86th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on January 16, 2014 while the award ceremony will take place on March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center. (Times of India)

Hollywood week ending october 13, 2013

Nina Dobrev goes topless to support ‘Obamacare’

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anadian actress Nina Dobrev would rather go naked than pay for healthcare. The 24-yearold "Vampire Diaries" star has shed her clothes to support the United States' Affordable Healthcare Act -- also known as "Obamacare" -- which offers government subsidies to lower health insurance costs for Americans.

In a black-andwhite photo posted to her WhoSay account on Thursday, the Canadian actress stands topless, a board covering her chest with the words #GetCovered on it.

"Im Canadian. We have healthcare for all," Dobrev captioned the image, along with a link to help readers obtain healthcare coverage.

"Because w/o it, you’re naked," she added.

The link leads to the American government's healthcare page, which has been facing a num-

ber of glitches and reportedly went offline this weekend to fix them.

Canadian actress Emily VanCamp also posed with a #GetCovered sign on the same day, though the "Revenge" star opted to keep her clothes on.

Many other female (and male) celebrities called for support of the

act last week with the same handmade sign, including Amy Poehler, Kerry Washington, Olivia Wilde and Lady Gaga.

But, for obvious reasons, it was Dobrev's that really caught the world's attention. The image was retweeted more than 1,200 times.

(Yahoo! OMG)

‘B

atman & Robin’ star Chris O'Donnell says raising his kids has made him realise that parenting is difficult and exhausting.

The 43-year-old actor, who has five kids with wife Caroline Fentress, stays with his family in LA and has established a successful TV career by starring in TV shows like 'NCIS: Los Angeles', reported Radar online.

"It is a chaos here. Saturday morning when I wake up. I'm just so exhausted. The kids are raring to go and there'll be a half-dozen sporting events on Saturday," O'Donnell said.

"It's a tough place to raise your kids and have them be grounded. I feel very fortunate to have been raised with Midwest values," he added. (Times of India)

| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Justin Bieber releases ‘Heartbreaker’

J

ustin Bieber has released a new track about Selena Gomez called 'Heartbreaker'.

The pop star has given his first taste of new music since his 'Believe Acoustic' album at the beginning of the year, with the slow-paced R&B song on the 7th October, 2013.

Explaining the track, he said: ''It's a song for people going through heartbreak - like I was when I wrote it. It means so much to me to be able to share what I was, and still am going through, with my fans. I'm very proud of this song and I hope it gives my fans some insight into my heart.''

Justin, 19, split with Selena, 21, at the end of last year, and although he is thought to have tried to win her back, they remain apart.

'Heartbreaker' even features a spoken word section in the middle, where Justin says: ''So what I'm really trying to say is / and what I hope you understand / Is despite all the imperfections of who I am / I still wanna be your man.''

The 'Beauty and a Beat' star also says his new material will be more confessional than previous efforts, tweeting: ''These songs are different. These are my #journals.''

Justin will be releasing a new song each Monday for ten weeks, previewing his new album under the banner #MusicMondays. (Contactmusic)

Sean Penn set to sponsor NYC marathon runners

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ean Penn's J/P Haitian Relief Organisation will be acting as a sponsor for 10 runners in the forthcoming New York City marathon.

The 53-year-old actor has recently revealed that the list of sponsored runners includes five Haitian runners to complete the 26 mile road race, Contactmusic re-

ported.

While commenting on the sponsorship, the 'Gangster Squad' star said that it was rewarding and he was really looking forward to the race.

Penn added that Haitians have great discipline and spirit and that they are excited to visit the ‘Big Apple’.

(Times of India)

Sexiest woman alive for 2013 - Scarlett Johansson

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Family is always priority: Penelope Cruz

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enelope Cruz, who will be seen next in Ridley Scott's star-studded drama 'The Counselor', is happy juggling work and motherhood.

The Spanish beauty gave birth to her daughter, Luna, three months ago with husband Javier Bardem and Cruz says family will always be a priority to her.

"I've always been a very family person, since I was a little girl, that’s the way I was raised. So that will always be a priority. But I have to work, like everyone else, so I will find a way to balance," the actress said.

The mother of two wore a red Nina Ricci suit for the London premiere of her film, which also stars Bardem, Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz and Michael Fassbender.

Unfortunately for Bardem, the couple doesn’t have any scenes together in

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carlett Johansson has once again been crowned sexiest woman alive for 2013 by Esquire Magazine.

The blonde beauty had first received the coveted title by the men's magazine seven years back, Fox News reported.

While the publication's sexiest woman alive of 2012 was Mila Kunis, Kate Upton has been considered as one of the sexiest supermodels ever. (Times of India)

Naomi Campbell set to open gyms in London

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the movie.

'The Counselor' is all set to release on October 25. (Times of India)

aomi Campbell is reportedly looking at locations across London to open gyms with her personal trainer David Kirsch.

A source has revealed that the Brit supermodel, whose gyms aim at fitness enthusiasts, is going to be stringent on who should be accepted as the members, the Daily Star reported.

The insider said that each applicant would be asked to undergo a full health and fitness check to ensure that they meet the specific strict criteria.

The source added that the 43-yearold model's gym facilities are going to be state of the art. (Times of India)

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Former Guyana under-19 player leads Cricketers Cove to OSCL title again

By Ravendra Madholall

F

ormer Guyana under-19 cricketer Ejaz Mohamed put in an excellent allround performance to lead Cricketers Cove to the 2013 Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) championships after beating East Coast Cricket Club by six wickets recently at the Lancaster ground.

Mohamed took two wickets for 11 runs from just a solitary over as East Coast only made 108-9 at the expiration of the 20 overs after they won the toss while Cricketers Cove, in reply, reached the target in 17th over with Mohamed hitting an unbeaten 27.

Mohamed, who copped the Most Valuable Player trophy, got great support from another former Guyana under-19 representative - Troy Gobin, who snatched four wickets for 14 runs from three stingy overs and Mike Mahadeo, also with two victims.

Ex-Guyana un-

Cricketers Cove team members display their trophies (Photo: Courtesy of Bobby Ramlagan)

der-19 batsman Krishna Deosaran top-scored for East Coast with 26 runs while 17 came from the experienced opener Mark Moosaie. Kumar Doodnauth was also in the wicket column for the hosts with two scalps.

Meanwhile, skipper Vijay Prashad declared that they were very con-

fident of winning the trophy again and was very thankful to the guys for making a steady contribution not only in the final encounter but over the years in the preliminary round.

“I think we played nicely as a team and we got our reward; it was a very challenging total

given the fact of the other team’s bowling strength but we deserved the victory,” Prashad related.

His opposing skipper Rakesh Dyal was disappointed stating that the team tried very hard but in the end their efforts were not sufficient.

“We have a good bunch of guys; they

played very well throughout the tournament but we just missed out again at the final stage; but I think we will come back next year and win the tournament,” the veteran Dyal mentioned.

President of the OSCL, Guyanese Albert Ramcharran, was on hand to witness the ac-

tion and made the bowl off prior to the commencement of the game.

He acknowledged the effort his other executives had put in to run off another successful tournament and also thanked the sponsors for coming on board.

“We at the OSCL will like to thank the sponsors for making the tournament a success and the players for their continued participation; we have worked very hard over the years and to keep up the high standard of softball cricket; the winning team must be congratulated,” Ramcharran remarked.

East Coast was crowned East Divisions Champions while Cricketers Cove copped the West Divisions trophy for the fourth consecutive year.

The presentation of trophies and plaques is set to be held on November 2 at a venue yet to be named and several prominent Guyanese businessmen and dignitaries are expected to be present.

Senior powerlifting championships set for next month

Vijai Rahim

U

nlike previous years when it was held for just a day, the National Senior Men’s and Women’s Open powerlifting championships will be staged over two days at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, next month.

Billed for November 1617, the event will see all divisions of female lifters, as well as the Men’s 59kg to 74kg categories doing battle on the first day. The final day will attract competition from the 83kg to 120+ kg weight class lifters.

Special events, featuring push and pull competitions (bench press as well as deadlifts) for monetary and other prizes, health and fitness products on display, as well as a grand fundraising barbecue ahead of the 2014 Caribbean Championships, will form part of both days’ activities.

Leading lifters Gumendra Shewdas, Vijai Rahim and Randolph Morgan are expected to defend their top ranking against a plethora of up and coming athletes, while on the distaff side, Natoya Robinson and Chittra Ramlochan are expected to renew their rivalry, as well as challenge 2013 Caribbean champion, Kimberly Mars-Loncke.

The two-day event will serve as a qualifier for the 2014 Caribbean Championships to be held in St Croix, US Virgin Islands.

According to a correspondence from the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation, interested lifters are asked to contact PRO/ Organising Secretary

Gumendra Shewdas

Randolph Morgan

Denroy Livan, Vice President Gordon Spencer or president Peter Green for registration, which closes on November 1.

Unregistered lifters will not be allowed to compete.

SPort TORONTO MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET

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Barbadian, Guyanese perform well in exciting final

By Ravendra Madholall

B

arbadian fast bowler Jade Padmore produced a fine bowling performance to help Centurions Cricket Club humble arch-rivals and defending champion Brampton Master Tranzac Cricket Club by 20 runs on Saturday at the King City ground in the 2013 Toronto and District Cricket Association Elite 50-over final.

Former Guyana skipper and all-rounder Damodar Daesrath was also outstanding with the ball, nabbing four wickets for Brampton to help restrict Centurions to a challenging 1509 from the allocation of 50-overs.

While Padmore had figures of three for 26 from 6.5 overs as Brampton only made 130 all out off 35.5 overs.

The 24-year-old Padmore, in his debut season for the Centurions, got the final wicket of Guyanese Jeremy Gordon, to spark wild celebrations among his teammates and spectators.

Vijaj Kumar Singhan supported the energetic Padmore with two wickets for 18 runs from just four overs on a deceptive pitch under a grey sky.

Brampton, who defeated the same team

The victorious Centurions team strike a pose just after their win (Photo: Ravendra Madholall)

last year, began their reply, shakily losing wickets in quick succession as they struggled to 57-4 and never really recovered despite a combative 37 from Shilan Kamilee.

Talented Hiral Patel, an international Canadian batsman, mixed tight defense with brief aggression but only contributed 17, while Guyanese opener Mark Monfort chipped in with 14.

Earlier, Centurions won the toss and opted to take first strike. They also struggled against the pace of former

Guyana and now Canada fast bowler Gordon, who typically bowled with good control and pace.

He finished with two wickets for 26 runs from his eight-over spell while Daesrath conceded 19 runs from eight economical and tidy overs.

Experienced middle-order batsman Dhanuka Pathirana led the way for Centurions with an impressive 58 which counted two sixes and four fours while he also featured in a solid sixth-wicket stand with Sanjay Thuraisingam who weighed in with 29

17-year-old all-rounder inspires Windies to level series

K

INGSTON , Jamaica-West Indies Women swept to a comprehensive 89 run win over New Zealand Women in the second of three One Day Internationals (ODI) at Sabina Park on Tuesday.

Teenager Shaquana Quintyne played crucial roles with bat and ball to ensure West Indies level the series following their dramatic one run loss to New Zealand in the first ODI on Sunday.

The 17-year-old Quintyne topscored with 29 off 58 balls as the Windies recovered from 95 for eight to post 148 and picked up two wickets for nine runs to help bowl out the visitors for 59 runs.

She featured in an important stand of 43 for the ninth wicket with Shakera Selman, who also played well to make 22 in her 50th ODI for the West Indies.

West Indies Women, who won the toss and batted, was given a de-

not out.

In an invited comment with man-of-thematch Padmore, following the completion of the game, he declared that it was a total team effort and also thanked the guys for making his trip to North America a reality.

“I think we played really great cricket today (Saturday) and the guys deserved the victory; the pitch was good for bowling while the opposition was a good team so we had to work hard and it paid off greatly,” Padmore, who lives

in Barbados’ capital Bridgetown, related.

Meanwhile, in the Premier League final also on Saturday at the same venue, Brampton Masters Tranzac Cricket Club beat Victoria Park Cricket Club by eight runs.

Brampton batted first after winning the toss and made 127 all out in 45.3 overs while Victoria Park was dismissed for 119 in the 47th over.

Joel Olivery hit a top-score of 59 for the winners as Viren Patel grabbed three wickets for 28 runs from 9 overs

while former Guyana under-19 captain Eugene LaFleur backed up with two wickets.

When Victoria Park batted, Kumar Erramilli hit an attractive 59 and Patel returned with the bat to make 19. Okevrra Moses and Ahmad Singhu picked up three wickets apiece for 21 and 22 respectively.

Manager of Victoria Park Shiv Persaud expressed disappointment with the result of the match, but stated that his players performed admirably to reach this far.

Guyanese Stoby storms to victory in HLSCC series

G

Shaquana Quintyne

cent start on a first wicket stand between Kyshona Knight and Natasha Mclean that produced a half century in 77 balls. Knight scored 22 and McLean 21.

When New Zealand batted only one player, Katie Perkins who scored 18, was able to get into double digits as

the West Indian bowlers took control.

Stafanie Taylor was the top wicket taker with 3-10 while Shanel Daley also took 2 for 14.

Deandra Dottin was also responsible for two run outs. The decider in the three-match series will be played on Thursday also at Sabina Park.

uyanese Reuben J. A. Stoby clocked 11 minutes, 28 seconds (11: 28) to take victory over defending champion Maxford Pipe when the second race of the HLSCC/ Highland Spring Race Series was held in Virgin Gorda on Saturday last.

Stoby sprinted unchallenged to the finishing line ahead of Pipe (11: 59.97), while T. R. Robinson (12: 12.22) was third, Emrol Amsterdam (12: 26.08) fourth, Jermain Abrams (12: 38.57) fifth and Corwin Andrew (12: 41.36) sixth.

Kathleen Brownsden won in the women’s divi sion in 12: 50.47 and was seventh overall. She was followed by Vivian Toro (15: 46.72) and Christina Yates (27: 08.29). Veteran distance runner Amsterdam suffered a hamstring injury early in the race as he attempted to go hard from the get go, but was still able to finish the race.

With Amsterdam having to fall behind early, the breakaway crew included Stoby, Robinson and Pipe with Robinson acting as a pace setter for Pipe. Stoby made his move at the turnaround with Pipe in hot pursuit, but the defending champion could not keep up with the pace as Stoby chopped off some 48 seconds off his two- mile time recorded at the last race at Paraquita Bay on September 21 this year.

The next race in the series on

Reuben Stoby clocked 11 minutes, 28 seconds to take victory over defending champion Maxford Pipe when the second race of the HLSCC/ Highland Spring Race Series was held in Virgin Gorda on Saturday

Virgin Gorda is October 19, while Race Two on Tortola is slated for October 12. (www.virginnewsonline.com)

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Build team around Chanderpaul – Gibbs F

ormer West Indies off spinner, Lance Gibbs, believes that the West Indies need to build their current team around Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the West Indies batsman, if Test success is to come into the frame once more, as November’s India tour looms.

Gibbs indicated that Chanderpaul’s experience and talent are the right ingredients to nourish younger batsmen such as Kirk Edwards and Darren Bravo in the subcontinent.

“Chanderpaul is one of our premier batsmen the premier [one] actually,” Gibbs said.

“We need to bat around him and mature these inexperienced players in his presence.

That maturity is not there right now but, as with many teams, we all have our ups and downs, but now we need to turn that proverbial corner

which everyone always speaks of, every time we do well.”

He backed Darren Sammy as Test skipper but noted that for Dwayne Bravo to continue the strides of West Indies’ T20 world title last year, and in hopes of improving their results in the 50-over game, Bravo needs to improve as limited-overs skipper.

“Dwayne tries to do too much. He needs to focus on certain areas and not try to do so much.

We saw his death bowling exposed in the CPL, but I have faith in him as much as I know Sammy will deliver in India.

The squad’s a good mix.

Hungry and young too.”

With the likes of Kirk Edwards and Narsingh Deonarine impressing during the present A team tour in India, Gibbs reiterated that there was a good blend of youth and experience in the Sammy-led 15-man

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

squad, which also faces New Zealand in a hectic run-in to end 2013.

“We haven’t played Tests in a while but the state of our cricket and Test team isn’t too bad. Zimbabwe and Bangladesh were good to practice against in the last year, and we did improve. Each nation goes through these motions in the sport and we as a

team need to move from strength to strength.

“Let’s play good cricket and get the fundamentals right. You can see a team like England and say they’re the best, but it’s only in the past few years they’ve stepped up so I’m confident in the Windies.”

Hampering progress

When asked if T20 cricket had hampered

the progress and development of the region’s youngsters, and even star players such as Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, he said that players should play all disciplines.

With the aforementioned players still to make Test waves in recent months, Gibbs added that he didn’t think the lore of Tests or romance of ODI cricket had dissipated.

“It’s an evolution of the game. Test cricket is the ultimate, but we have to roll with the times for the sake of the crowds. T20 has given exciting cricket as seen in the IPL and CPL, but remember, Test cricket stands on its own.”

“We all start off in the Caribbean playing 10, 20 or 40-overs, then we develop our 50- over game, our county cricket and as first-class players. Things change and

we can’t look back, only forward. Players make a living from this now and back in the day, footballers, cricketers, boxers and such were barely making money but now, all kinds of sports are lucrative once you have the talent.”

He indicated that once the talismans of the sport gave back to the game, things would bode well. He referenced the CPL’s youngsters rubbing shoulders with various West Indies and international stars, which acted as a nursery to their learning and growth earlier this year.

“CPL had stars from Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand come over so I think we’re well-prepped for what’s to come ahead.” West Indies will play two Tests and three ODIs, with the first Test match set to start on November 6. (First published on Cricinfo)

Bangladesh U-19 level series with 63-run...

from back page

their side in the driver’s seat.

However, the Windies bowlers struck back late in the innings with four quick wickets, including Saikat, Shanto (42), Mehedi Hasan Miraj (4) and Abu Saeed Sarker (4).

Spinners Bryan Charles claimed 2-40 and MotieKanhai completed an economical spell of 1-32 off his 10 overs.

Chasing an imposing 260-run target to win, the young Windies side lost opener Leroy Lugg (1) early as he was caught by wicketkeeper Jashim Uddin off pacer Sarker.

However, spin was the factor that caused serious trouble for the Windies batsmen as Jeremy Solozano and fellow opener Tagnarine Chanderpaul could only

manage just 70 runs in 24.1 overs, which ultimately allowed the spinners to dominate proceedings.

Solozano was the more attacking of the two, hitting 44 while Chanderpaul made 25, but both batsmen were dismissed in quick succession.

At that stage, West Indies had required a further 176 runs from

the last 24 overs and the pressure of scoring at almost nine runs per over got to both Tristann Coleman and Hetmyer.

Both batsmen were dropped once before curtains were drawn on their short cameos of 21 runs each. Jofra Archer hit a fighting 35 at the end.

For the Bangladeshis Sarker, Miraj, Saikat, Nehad and Likhon all picked up a wicket apiece.

The third game is scheduled for Friday at the Guyana National Stadium from 13: 30h.

Mossadek Hossain Saikat slug swept during his innings

Sport

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Windies A bowled out after Johnson misses century

A

ll of India A’s quicks contributed to justify Cheteshwar Pujara’s decision to field, as West Indies A were bowled out for 268 on Wednesday.

Zaheer Khan did not have the wickets to show, but there was improvement from Shimoga, both in intensity and in the discomfort he caused the batsmen.

The Mumbai duo of Dhawal Kulkarni and Abhishek Nayar took seven wickets between them as West Indies A went from 240 for 5 to 268 all out.

Most of the West Indies A specialist batsmen got starts - Leon Johnson made 81 - but once again they failed to take them further.

The most disappointing part for them was that they saw off the new ball when the pitch was moist, and lost wickets when the ball had become soft on a slow surface.

“Disappointed after the partnership between myself and [Narsingh] Deonarine,” Johnson, who fell nine short of a century in the last match, said. “We shouldn’t have lost seven wickets after tea.

Not taking anything away from Nayar and Kulkarni who managed to swing the ball even after tea.”

This was no demon pitch, but it was ex-

Narsingh Deonarine

pected to be at its most bowler-friendly on the first day. Needing to win this match to level the series, Pujara took that chance. West Indies A rested Kirk Edwards, Chadwick Walton and Veerasammy Permaul, with Fidel Edwards injured.

India A beefed up their pace department, and an injured Mohammad Kaif made way for Paras Dogra.

The focus was squarely on Zaheer after India won the toss.

Even as Ishwar Pandey drew edges from Kieran Powell at the top of the innings, Zaheer worked Kraigg Brathwaite out. From the moment, Brathwaite followed one delivery wide outside off, Zaheer was all over him.

The next ball squared Brathwaite up as it seamed away after pitching within the stumps. The next one was floated wide again, and Brathwaite duly edged it through to Uday Kaul. The cautious start had now taken a turn for the worse: 8 for 1 after 6.3 overs.

In Kirk Edwards’ absence, Johnson batted at No. 3, and started cautiously.

Powell, though, was squared up and bowled by Kulkarni, who angled the ball in and got it to hold its line after pitching. Johnson and Deonarine broke the shackles, benefiting from some lackadaisical fielding - Johnson was dropped by Dogra on 51. They had to negotiate a testing second spell by Zaheer, though, when the leg cutter that leaves the left-hand batsmen made a prompt appearance.

That extra en-

terprise, though, proved Deonarine’s demise.

Nayar had fallen back on the old Ranji Trophy ploy of bowling wide outside off, but in one over, Deonarine went chasing three deliveries, managing to edge the third to end the 70-run partnership.

By now, Johnson had become more fluent, and with Assad Fudadin, he gave West Indies A the most assured spell of day. There was a period when they hit at least one boundary in six successive overs, without taking a risk. As he approached the hundred, though, Johnson was adjudged lbw to Nayar bowling from round the stumps, making it 175 for 4.

Pandey came back to get Jonathan Carter, who drove loosely outside off. Fudadin too went for a back-foot drive off Kulkarni, and the ball got a bit big on him to take the edge to second slip.

In between the two dismissals, Kulkarni got Jamhar Hamilton with one that stayed low.

The rest fell one after the other, although it took two superb catches.

The first was Kulkarni running backwards at point to get Delorn Johnson, and the second was Dogra’s leap high at gully to send back Nikita Miller, who had played two superb backfoot drives in his 23-ball 18.

Gautam Gambhir and VA Jagadeesh saw off the remaining 18 minutes of play without any incident. (Cricinfo)

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T&T Under-17 Women grouped with USA for CONCACAF tournament

At the Hilton Rose Hall Resort, CONCACAF Director of Competitions Horace Reid oversaw proceedings that determined the groupings and match schedule.

H

ost country Jamaica have been drawn to open their account in the fourth edition of the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Football Championship with a tough assignment against Central American side El Salvador on October 30.

The junior ‘Reggae Girls’ will also go up against Mexico and Haiti in Group A at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

Defending champions the United States of America will play in Group B alongside Canada, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago.

The groupings were

announced at a news conference at the Hilton Hotel on Monday.

“This tournament, the Under-17 FIFA Women’s Championship, is a very important tournament for our confederation,” said CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb.

“And I want to congratulate the host country Jamaica and the other seven countries to have qualified.”

Mexico, Canada, and the United States made the list as automatic qualifiers, with Jamaica doing so by virtue of being the host nation.

T&T and Haiti, winners and runners-up of the Caribbean U-17 Championship, quali-

fied from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), while El Salvador and Guatemala represent the Central America Football Union.

“This tournament will no doubt help to further highlight the city of Montego Bay and place the country in the minds of the decision-makers in FIFA that we are capable of hosting big competitions,” Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss Horace Burrell said.

The finalists will gain the two automatic qualification spots to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to be staged in Costa Rica next year.

(CMC)

guyanatimeSinternational.com

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

week ending october 13, 2013

Bangladesh U-19 level series with 63-run win

By Rajiv Bisnauth

B

angladesh youth team produced a superb allround team effort to beat West Indies by 63 runs in the second limited overs game at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda on Wednesday to level the seven-match series 1-1. The tourists defended their total of 259, as the Windies finished on 196 for 9.

The West Indies were throttled by the spin attack of Bangladesh and never looked in the hunt after they scored just 70 runs in 24.1 overs for the second wicket.

Left arm spinner Rahuttul Ferdous Javed scalped five wickets and Jashim Uddin and Mossadek Hossain Saikat hit attractive half-centuries to emerge as the star performers for Bangladesh.

Earlier, Bangladesh skipper Mehedi Hasan Miraj won the toss and decided to bat first on a seemingly battingfriendly Bourda pitch.

Uddin’s and Saikat’s approaches were in complete contrast to their style of batting in the first game.

Both batsmen were positive while the Windies bowl-

GOLF

N

ers were ragged, a far cry from their first game performance.

Saikat topscored with 70, inclusive of five boundaries

Jashim Uddin collects the Man-of-the-Match award from Colin Stuart (Rajiv Bisnauth photos)

while Uddin, who was later adjudged Man-of-the- Match, made 63 with eight fours.

The visitors lost Joyraj Emon early as he played a loose shot and was caught behind off Jerome Jones in the third over at 15-1.

The West Indies failed to capitalise on the early breakthrough as the decision to use Barbadian fast bowling pair, Jofra Archer and Jerome Jones, did not pay off. Jones (2- 60) and Archer (2-49) were wayward, allowing Sadman Islam Anik and Jashim Uddin to get involved in an excellent partnership of 46 runs.

The West Indies U-19s made five changes from the first game on Monday with Tarryck Gabriel, Ramaal Lewis, Marquino Mindley, Ray Jordan and Alazarri Joseph, making way for Jofra Archer, Preston McSween, Bryan Charles, Jerome Jones and Shimron Hetmyer.

The hosts finally broke the

partnership with the left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie dismissing the impressive Anik off his first delivery for 23, much to the relief of his teammates.

Saikat joined Uddin and the pair grew in confidence.

The shot-making improved as both batsmen used their feet well against the spinners, either coming down the track or using the crease to their advantage.

The third wicket stand came to an abrupt end though, but not before the pair scripted a 92-run partnership.

Uddin was trapped leg before by Bryan Charles.

The Bangladeshis were given another purposeful partnership between Saikat and Nazmul Hasan Shanto.

The pair displayed some sensational strokeplay at the business end of the innings and added 62 runs to put continued on page 52

TT’s Brian Lara for Bermuda Pro-Am

West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara

ational Football League (NFL) Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas and West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara will be among the celebrities who will play in the Pro-Am golf tournament preceding next week's Grand Slam of Golf at picturesque Port Royal, the PGA of America announced Monday.

Trinidadian Lara, 44, a regular visitor to the island, has played in the ProAm before and is an honorary member of Port Royal, a government-run course that is hosting the televised event for the fifth straight year.

Thomas, 47, spent most of his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills before a knee injury ended his career in 2000.

This year's Slam, which takes place next Tuesday and Wednesday, features Masters champion Adam Scott from Australia, US Open winner Justin Rose from England, PGA champion Jason Dufner from the United States and defending champion Padraig Harrington from Ireland.

Harrington replaces British Open champion Phil Mickelson, who has told organisers he has other commitments.

Scott, Rose and Dufner will be playing in Bermuda for the first time.

The two-day, 36-hole Slam is considered the most difficult tournament to qualify for as every player has to have won a major.

This year's purse of US$1.35 million is the same as last year with the winner taking home $600,000. Second place is worth $300,000, third place $250,000 and fourth place $200,000.

The ‘Slam’ first came to Bermuda in 2007 when it was held at the private Mid Ocean Club. It also staged the event the following year before then-Premier and Tourism Minister Dr Ewart Brown moved it to Port Royal in 2009.

Port Royal, a par-71 course, will host the Slam again next year after which it is expected to return to the United States. (CMC)

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