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Legal battle looms

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com WEEK ENDING August 13, 2017

ISSUE NO. 358

…as pressure mounts on President to hold his pen on broadcast bill

See stories inside

One die-hard fan in Florida imitates joker but the Guyana Amazon Warriors will need to get serious for their remaining matches in the Hero Caribbean Premier League after losing their first two in Florida to the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (CPL photo)

Daughter of former Guyana AG fears acid attack in UK for anti-Brexit campaign

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Guyana has potential to become a multibillion-dollar economy – Indian investor

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NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Legal battle looms

…as pressure mounts on President to hold his pen on broadcast bill

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he opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has announced plans to challenge in the High Court the controversial Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017 which was recently passed in the National Assembly.

Acknowledging the support received from major international press bodies on arguments about the ramification of the Bill, the Opposition has said it plans to take the matter one step further.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Anil Nandlall announced on Wednesday that the PPP would challenge the matter in court, since the Bill tramples on the right to press freedom.

Nandlall asserted that the matter would be challenged on several grounds, but especially on ground of the licence having the same

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall maintains that the Bill is “unconstitutional”

spectrum reach. “All of that is deprivation of property, as well as violation of the constitutional right of freedom of the press,” he said.

The former Attorney General has said the other aspect of the legal challenge will be based on the mandatory imposition of one hour of Government service on private broadcasters’ media.

“It’s an interference with my right not to listen to Government programmes, and my right not to air (them). It is also an infringement of the people’s constitutional right to property, because you are taking away basically one hour of airtime from them, which they can otherwise sell.”

Nandlall argues that the Bill is another indication that Government has a fundamental problem with private property.

“Something is wrong with them when it comes to private property,” he added.

He reminded that a broadcasting licence is a powerful commercial instrument.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who has responsibility for information, tabled the Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who has responsibility for information, tabled the Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017 in the National Assembly

in the National Assembly which can be traded or sold. Because it has economic value, it is considered in law private property.

“They have obsessed themselves with the argument of the radio licence issue, making that a huge political issue to detract

from the real violation. This law that they have passed goes way beyond the radio licence issue; it terminates all radio licences (issued) from 2011, and even those obtained in 1991.”

Regardless of the Government’s position on this matter, Nandlall says, the Opposition feels vindicated by the support it has received from the international media watchdogs.

“You will see that the identical ground by which we objected to the Bill is the same ground that the international agencies have found the Bill objectionable. It shows the genuineness of our criticism.”

The parliamentary Opposition has maintained that the Bill in its current form is ‘unconstitutional’, and will have several implications on private broadcasters. Broadcasters have been advised to challenge

the Bill in court, because it would have far reaching repercussions that could harm their businesses.

Nandlall had opined that a “properly advised” court would strike down the Bill as unconstitutional. The former Attorney General has said private broadcasters could file for a conservatory order to block the law from taking force, something he said broadcasters have already expressed a willingness to do.

Apart from obtaining a conservatory order, Nandlall said, those who file the court action could seek damages for breach of constitutional rights.

The Government used its parliamentary majority on Friday last to pass the Broadcast Amendment Bill although several bodies have come out in criticism of the Bill, including the Guyana Press Association.

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EDITORIAL

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The Broadcast (Amendment) Bill

cursory research would reveal that freedom of the press is generally defined as the right to circulate opinions in print without censorship by the Government.

Freedom of the media is understood to be the freedom of communication and expression through various mediums, such as electronic media and published materials.

Freedom of expression is the right to express one’s ideas and opinions freely through speech, writing, and other forms of communication, but without deliberately causing harm to others’ character and/or reputation by false or misleading statements. Freedom of the press is also part of freedom of expression.

Even if a more extensive research is conducted, it would not change the basic tenets of what constitute the freedoms alluded to. These are not only enshrined, but have been growing across this evolving world, reaching places once considered impossible. With the aid of evolving technology, which continues to enlighten and empower, its global spread is unstoppable, and consolidates with every passing day.

Unfortunately, there are still parts of the world where freedom is yearned for. For those who have attained and experienced freedom, the sense of empowerment and identity it precipitates is beyond belief. In such circumstances, a return to what originally obtain could never be contemplated.

In Guyana, an extensive period of post-colonial rule has been marred by oppression, when the most basic of freedoms — the right to express one’s self — was cruelly taken away. That was not only physically done in many instances, but the prevailing repression and persecution inundated our minds with fear; fear to publicly identify with the overflowing desire to break the shackles of domination. Eventually, as the old cliché of time offering hope would bestow, the freedom of expression and the media returned, after almost three decades. What followed over the years was unprecedented; a plethora of media entities of various mediums was established across the country.

The right to expression then mirrored that of the free world — the bastion of democracy. In this once oppressed nation, through the newly established media houses, both print and electronic, criticisms which were often extremely harsh of the Government were unleashed, and became not only acceptable, but a norm. It was unheard of up to that point, and any suggestion of a semblance of muzzling through the articulation or writing of anyone was met with robust unified and widespread condemnation.

That exemplified a transition in mindset, from one that was forced to be fearful to one that was not prepared to relinquish freedom. It also exemplifies the empowerment freedom brings to a nation and its people.

That is why the recently passed Broadcast Amendment Bill is seen by many as a wanton attempt to infringe and erode that hard-earned freedom. Even if one were to see it from the Government’s perspective, the mere enshrining of a right by the authority, under the guise of public service announcements (PSA), to dictate to the media what must be broadcast, and when, is a direct violation of what constitutes freedom of the media.

The fear started in the public domain over this Bill, which is awaiting assent by the President, is profoundly real. Given that these freedoms are enshrined, the constitutionality of the current Bill cannot escape scrutiny.

Is the action of the Government, through the Bill, a manifestation of them fearing criticism through public airwaves? If not, is the imposition of what to broadcast and when an attempt to garner free mitigation of criticism through Government’s preferred content? At a conservative rate, one hour per day for an entire year can accrue to about ten million dollars. That is what broadcasters would be prevented from potentially earning for the slot they have to free up. In that context, one can easily regard the Bill as trampling on the right to earn. Clearly, one way or the other, the Bill infringes on rights.

What has become heartening is the swift response by at least two international bodies, the International Press Institute (IPI) and Reporters Without Borders, urging the Administration to review and consult. The glaring lack of consultation during the crafting of the Bill, and the fact that the Bill has been introduced by an Administration which is, by and large, the same as that during the oppressive period, exacerbates the fear.

The media establishments, and by extension the workers, that stand to be affected by the consequences of the Bill would be hopeful that the red flags raised would become noticeable by both civil society and the international community, seen as the protector of such freedoms. If the pronouncements of the International Press Institute (IPI) and Reporters Without Borders are any indication, then it appears that the wind may be blowing the flags from obscurity. Even with such hope, the history of what transpired over the infamous three-decade period teaches a different and haunting lesson. Consultation, followed by redrafting, can therefore thwart a repetition of the nation’s history. Was that history a lesson learnt?

The Riverside Angels

Packed programme for Amerindian Heritage Month 2017

BY PAULA GOMES

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he Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry launched the annual Heritage Festival at the Umana Yana, in Georgetown on Wednesday, under the theme “Guyana’s first peoples; sustaining a rich cultural environment”. The launch was done in the spirit of International Day of World Indigenous Peoples.

Amerindian Heritage Month 2017 is geared at celebrating Guyana’s first peoples by reflecting on their contributions and to protect, pursue and promote Indigenous heritage while trying to recapture lost traditions.

Minister within the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry, Valerie GarridoLowe, highlighted the struggles of Indigenous peoples in their fight for equal rights, not confined to Guyana but rather on an international scale.

“In many countries, (including) in our South American continent many Indigenous peoples still suffer injustices simply because they are the first peoples and they want to be recognised as such.

Many are advocating and literally fighting for their lives, for their lands and some of the most outspoken; some of the bravest have died for this cause,” the Minister lamented.

She reflected on her 2016 visit to Ecuador, where Indigenous women had gathered to discuss the concerns of Indigenous peoples and the way forward and was amazed at the indignities that fellow Indigenous peoples had to suffer in this modern day and age.

“I realised then how far advanced Guyana was as a nation in the treatment of Indigenous peoples,” she noted.

The Minster reflected on the policies implemented by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For

Change Administration to improve the livelihood of Indigenous peoples across Guyana; making reference to the Amerindian Land Titling Project and the recently inaugurated Tomato sundry factory in Paramakatoi which is expected to bring revenue to the village as well as neighbouring communities in the Potaro-Siparuni region.

She also indicated that the National Toshao’s Council (NTC) had applied for and was successfully granted a plot of land for the construction of a secretariat.

Minister Garrido-Lowe further pronounced on the Government’s commitment to close the existing gap between rural and coastal regions.

“Governments, past and present, have been working with our Indigenous peoples to ensure that lands are legally owned by villages and communities across Guyana. This process is ongoing through the Amerindian Land Titling project. Also we have the Amerindian development projects which are the livelihood projects and these are ongoing in 160 communities right now. In Paramakatoi, Government with the assistance from the Canadian High Commission has invested G$64 million in the sundried tomato project that will bring revenue that will bring ease… that will bring comfort to the people of Paramakatoi and neighbouring communities. Farmers will be earning as they should, they will be able to support their families with dignity as they should.

The NTC, we have a National Toshaos Council and I was informed that recently they have asked the President for land and they have received an allocation,” Garrido-Lowe stated.

This year’s calendar of activities was also unveiled at Wednesday’s launch which will kick-start with a ceremonial launch and cultural ex-

travaganza on September 1, 2017, at the Sophia Exhibition Centre in Georgetown. Ovid Williams presented an overview of the cultural aspect of the month’s celebrations.

Trailing the opening ceremony will be the Art/Craft and Food exhibitions, the heritage sports, reflection on the life and work of first Indigenous parliamentarian, Steven Campbell; the heritage dinner at Lions Club and the much anticipated Miss Indigenous Heritage Pageant showcasing elegance, beauty and culture.

The event was graced by members of the Indigenous Peoples Ministry, NTC’s Vice Chairman, Lennox Shuman and other representatives from non-governmental organisations.

The gathering saw performances by a female Indigenous (Akawaio) dance group called “The Riverside Angels”, comprising triplets and another sibling who enthralled the audience with their creative choreography. This year’s winner of the Jingle competition, “Mr Pakuri”, also performed his award-winning song followed by a soulful solo piece by a talented youngster, titled, “Indigenous Man”.

In a final question and answer segment, members of the public were open to pose questions to the organising committee and representatives of the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry. This year’s jingle winner grasped the opportunity to raise concerns in the line of music, making suggestions to the Minister to have allowances or programmes geared at assisting Indigenous youths in realising, nurturing and marketing their talent.

Minister Garrido-Lowe responded by saying that the Ministry has a section for culture, more specifically language, but she assured that music would be added to the agenda among other arts such as poetry and writing.

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Girl Stand Up’ teens Guyana offering G$10M reward for recapture of prison escapees tour State House

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First Lady Sandra Granger shares a warm moment with this teenage girl who was among the participants in the Girl Stand Up project’s tour of State House

irst Lady Mrs Sandra Granger on Wednesday facilitated a visit and guided tour of State House for 26 teenage girls from the Girl Stand Up project.

Project Director of Girl Stand Up, Collette Venture, said she requested the tour because she knew it would be an excellent opportunity for the teenagers to meet the First Lady.

“We think of the First Lady as a woman who can empower the young girls. She is a strong lady and a good role model, and can be a good mentor — someone that the girls could look up to. So we thought that it would be a good idea to bring the girls here to meet someone whom they can look up to; who can provide words of encouragement to let them know (how) to follow their dreams, and [that] they can do anything that they set their heart

to do,” she said.

At the close of the tour, the visiting team, which also included six organisers, presented the First Lady with a token of appreciation, and one of the teenagers, Gabrielle Allen, performed a moving rendition of popular gospel artiste Mary Mary’s “Can’t give up now”.

The Girl Stand Up project is planned and executed by the non-profit organisation Impacting Communities, Changing Lives. Its directors and organisers hail from Linden, Upper DemeraraBerbice (Region Ten), and together with other supporters in Guyana, the United States and Canada, help provide confidence-building and educational sessions for girls. The Project serves girls from the Linden community who are between the ages of 14 and 17 years.

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has amped up efforts to recapture the four remaining prison escapees. As such, the Force on Wednesday announced a G$10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the remaining four prison escapees. The fugitives include three high profile prisoners, who escaped the Camp Street penitentiary during the July 9, 2017 riot where prison warden Odinga Wickham was shot dead.

The remaining prisoner escaped from Lusignan on July 24.

Paul Goriah is the lone Lusignan inmate on the run while the wanted prisoners, who hijacked a taxi and fled the Camp Street Prison are Uree Varswyck; Mark Royden Durant, also known as “Royden Williams”; and Cobena Stephens, also known as “OJ”. These three are considered armed and very dangerous; so much so that Varswyck, an excop was fingered by several prison officers as the gunman who murdered prison officer and principal breadwinner for his family, Odinga Wickham.

Varswyck, Durant and Stephens were believed to have been moving as a unit along with fellow Camp Street escapee Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander, but the latter was re-captured by Police on July 29. During a period of heavy rain on July 24, 2017, 13 men – 10 who were charged for murder – escaped Lusignan via a dug-out hole which was hidden under a make-shift pit latrine.

Clive Forde, Pascal Smith, Kerry

Cromwell, Odel Roberts, Kendell Skeet, Rayon Jones, Jason Howard, Shawn Harris, Paul Goriah and Jamal Forde were held for murder armed robbery; and accused inmates Teshawn McKenzie and Winston Long and attempted murder accused, Jamal Joseph. While 11 of the men were recaptured without incident, Clive Forde put up a fight will Joint Services ranks and was killed in a gunfire exchange.

Police advised that anyone with information that may lead

to the recapture of the escapees, is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 225-8196, 225-2227, 226-1389, 227-2128, 227-1149, 226-7065, 699-0869, 600-3019, 699-0867, 669-4606, 603-3261 or the nearest Police Station. Police noted that all information will be treated with strict confidentiality.

One year prior to this latest spat of prison unrest, 17 inmates were killed in a prison riot at the Camp Street Prison in March 2016.

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The time Appoint the GECOM Chairman now has come for overseas voting to be returned

Dear Editor, I presented a paper at the recent University of Guyana (UG) Diaspora Conference where I sought to both critique our current approach to Diaspora engagement and suggest some ways in which we can begin to think differently about the subject. I think there is need for a new approach to the Diaspora that conceptualises our overseas brothers and sisters as an integral part of the Guyanese nation. We must change the narrative of “us” and “them” on both sides.

There is a critical mass of Guyanese who live partly abroad and partly at home and others who make several short trips per year. If we begin to employ the narrative of “us” more, then we are likely to have a new thinking and new policies that reflect that mindset.

It is foolish to have more than half of your people living abroad and ignore their skills and other resources just because they do not live at home permanently. Small countries like ours, with its limited access to the skills and resources needed to compete in an uneven world as far as development is concerned, must draw on all its energies whether they physically reside in Guyana or abroad. With the coming of the oil economy, we would be challenged to find skills and resources to serve our needs and interests.

Although it would be ideal if persons return permanently, one does not have to live in Guyana permanently to contribute in a meaningful way.

Of course, those who live abroad need to resist the temptation to behave as if they are “better” than those who live in Guyana. They should not demand nor should they be afforded more privileges than those citizens who live here. But having said that, they would be more inclined to return or to invest resources if there are incentives at the level of policy.

In that regard, I wish to make two suggestions for consideration. First, I propose that each Government Ministry should have a “Diaspora section.” I know the Foreign Affairs Ministry already has such a section, but it should be expanded to other Ministries. There is a popular view that there should be a Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. But I think that is too narrow.

My second suggestion is much more controversial given its association with a bad period in our history. I do believe that the time has come for a reconsideration of overseas voting. Over 90 countries allow overseas voting in one form or the other. Given the increased migration globally, this makes sense. I think the problem for us in Guyana was not the concept of overseas voting, but that it was used as part of the rigging machinery of that time. So, in an era of fair elections, the meaning changes. I would propose that if we go that direction, as I think we should, it would bring overseas Guyanese more emotionally attached to Guyana.

Voting is perhaps the most significant aspect of citizenship. Guyanese who live abroad can now come home to register and vote. So, if we go the route of oversees voting we would be merely allowing them to vote where they are located. Perhaps we can begin with some form of weighted voting whereby, for example, two or three overseas votes are equivalent to one local vote. In that way, you control the perception and reality that those who do not live in Guyana all the time should not have equal rights and privileges.

I know that the immediate response to this subject would be partisan – whether it would benefit one party or the other. That, of course, is not my motivation. I am guided by a desire to bring our sisters and brothers residing outside of Guyana into the national mix in a substantive way. This matter, however, would have to be subject to wide-ranging discussion both in and out of Guyana and may even have to be subject to a referendum.

Respectfully, David Hinds

Dear Editor, Another constitutional crisis looms as the approaches to achieving Local Government ideals purposed by the Supreme Law of our Land, become further divorced by the methods of the APNU/AFC Government.

The recent abhorrent pronouncement by Ronald Bulkan, Minister with responsibility for Local Government that the non-appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commissions (GECOM) will have minimum effect, is a mouthful of gibberish which further fuels the situation and flies in the face of all sane and rational Guyanese.

No doubts exist that leading up to the last General and Regional Elections as well as the Local Government Elections (LGE), there were many prior problems which still remain unresolved. Contextually, these relate to the problematic, non-transparent administration of elections and other issues by GECOM. Other problems have since evolved further compounding matters, and these will certainly advance stronger impacts to the level of non-acceptance of results if not resolved.

The alarming statement from Bulkan, seeks to provide a measured acceptance that the many known problems could remain unattended.

Among others, significant to the foregoing are: The displacement of and the need to update numerous voters on GECOM Register of Registrants, due

to the movement to new housing areas developed under the PPP/C. The requirement for cleansing of the Voters list to remove deceased persons whose names have remained on the List for much too long.

The addressing of the serious issues with boundaries for many Constituencies of Local Authority Areas.

Ensuring that the employment and Training of GECOM staffs are balanced. Etc. The fact is that nothing specifically is being done at GECOM in the absence of a Chairman and the outlined foregoing activities require time. In fact, all Guyanese and stakeholders must be made aware that at a recent GECOM meeting, Chief Executive Officer Mr Keith Lowenfield and the Deputy Chief Election Officer Vishnu Persaud categorically informed the invitees of the PPP and PNC that GECOM work is at a stand-still because there is no Chairman.

Further, participants of the meeting were told that all GECOM is doing presently, is distributing ID cards and some training to their staff. While it is obvious that the Guyana Election Commission is currently paralyzed and ineffective, other serious issues in the Local Government System are not being looked at. So Minister Bulkan’s reasoning seems in conflict with every other key stakeholder.

Local Authority Areas are extremely important to our people in this country. However, after the PPP/C won the

Local Government Elections and the vast majority of Regional Democratic Councils, it is clear that the APNU/ AFC coalition Government is doing everything to frustrate and stymie development in these areas. The unacceptable biased and power drunk approach to addressing issues continues unabated in LAAs where the APNU/AFC lost in the last LGE. This we know will be remembered by citizens at the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The fact that Minister Ronald Bulkan alludes to the possible Local Government Commission having a role in the process is most farcical.

All citizens must know that the Local Government Commission is about delivering balanced service to the people through the Local Government Organs and not about Local Government Elections.

Mr Bulkan’s advisors need to guide him properly to avoid him being embarrassed every time he opens his mouth to pronounce on any matter of public and national interest. Or probably his advisors need to be advised on these issues to avoid him misleading this nation. However, the consistency of these actions makes one wonder whether it is a focused or deliberate act to misguide the populace as part of the Coalition’s propaganda.

Appoint the GECOM Chairman and bring the Local Government Commission now, not year-end.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

If Trinidad can do it, so can Guyana

Dear Editor, We have upcoming oil production with significant cash guaranteed for the national development of the country, therefore the Government could look at possibly forming a national aviation department which could be quasi Government/private with majority Government owned to utilize and offset the costs of operating any new Government aviation assets.

Trinidad has National Helicopters Services Limited which enabled local Trinidadians to be trained to support their oil and gas industry and to enable the government to justify the acquisition and ownership of new helicopters which operate in various missions around Trinidad and Tobago.

A visit to the National Helicopters website states: National Helicopter Services Limited (NHSL) formerly the Air Division (Helicopter Unit) of the Ministry of National Security is a joint venture between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GOTT) as an 82% shareholder, and The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) holding the remaining 18% of the issued share capital. The Company was incorporated on October 3rd 1989 and commenced operations on February 1st 1990.

NHSL was formed for the purpose of providing offshore helicopter services to the Oil/Gas sector and other commercial entities as well as continuance of services to Government i.e. support to the National Security forc-

es, Medical Evacuations (Medevacs) between Tobago and Trinidad and Emergency and Disaster Air Support.

NHSL is the holder of an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) and Approved Maintenance Organization Certificate (AMOC) issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) to carry out requisite aviation functions. National Helicopters did so well over the years, they were here in Guyana supporting the Government of Guyana when GDF and the Police required security support with their helicopters to fight crime and to support the early stages of the oil and gas exploration projects in Guyana.

Never again should our Government be bringing in a foreign Government’s equipment to support us while our brothers and sisters in the GDF are underfunded with their helicopters and airplanes not working.

The Government needs to invest more in the GDF and Guyanese so we can develop the skills and requisites to participate in the upcoming oil and gas industry from all levels. If Trinidad can do it, so can we as Guyanese.

I hope to never to see National Helicopters operating on Oil and Gas projects in Guyana while the GDF Air Corps assets remains old and grounded for lack of funding and support and the Air Corps ranks deprived of opportunities to develop the same capabilities like their Trinidadian brothers and sisters.

Sincerely, Maurice Stephens

Guyana needs to do more to tackle police corruption Dear Editor, Police ‘shakedowns’ (demand for a bribe for an alleged moving violation) of motorists are very common on the coast of Guyana. I experienced it a few times, and countless experiences of others were related to me as I travelled around Guyana and among the diaspora.

The population also feels police shakedown is a common practice, and that the Government – preceding ones also — has not done much to curb or stamp out police bribery.

As many people reveal, to say elements of the police are corrupt is an understatement, as the police seek bribes in virtually every significant act; and not only from motorists

alone. It is also important to note that there are some honest Police who do their work and don’t seek or take bribes, but they are a small minority.

As related to me by several who had the experience, if your vehicle (minibus in particular) is from a far home distance, say from Corriverton, and you are heading up to the airport, the chance of being pulled over and experience a shakedown is high. And you could receive several shakedowns on one trip.

Going to court is time-consuming, and you lose more money by being away from work. The Police have the upper hand, as the system is not in the interest of drivers or

law and order on the roads.

One can attempt to avoid the shakedown, with limited success.

There is no effective campaign to root out police corruption, or even bad cops. The Government can take measures to clamp down on corruption. As happens in other societies; there can be sting operations. But no Government has shown courage to go after rogue cops.

But do keep in mind that there are police that I and others met who really have been trying to do their jobs. They don’t have the support system, and corrupt police make them look bad.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

news 7

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Daughter of former Guyana Former army rank accused AG fears acid attack in UK of beheading uncle slapped for anti-Brexit campaign with murder charge Gina Miller

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RESS TRUST OF INDIA)LONDON: An Indian-origin campaigner, who had mounted a successful legal challenge to prevent British Prime Minister Theresa May from triggering Brexit without Parliament’s approval, has spoken out of fears that she may be the target of an acid attack on the streets of London.

Gina Miller, who has been targeted by Brexiters on social media for her stance against Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU), said she could be forced to leave Britain as a result of death threats and abuse against her.

“I have been getting threats of having acid thrown in my face for months and months now. When I see someone walk towards me on the street with a bottle of water or something, I just freak out,” said the 52-year-old businesswoman.

Miller, born Gina Nadira Singh in British Guiana (now Guyana) to Guyana’s former Attorney General Doodnauth Singh, has been a vocal campaigner as part of a “Best for Britain” drive.

She lives under 24-hour security with her husband and three children, who she claims spend their weekends indoors due to fear.

“If it came to the point that it was just too much to bear from a security point of view, if I sat down with my police teams and we felt that it was a really serious threat, I would have to seriously consider leaving the UK,” she told ‘Verdict’ magazine.

“This would break my heart because I love this country and I am fighting for it. But we might have to,” she added.

Scotland Yard has served eight cease and desist notices to people who had sent Miller threatening messages.

Recently, a British aristocrat was jailed for 12 weeks for offering “5,000 pounds for the first person to accidentally run over this bloody troublesome first-generation immigrant” in reference to Miller on social media.

Rhodri Phillips had made a series of threatening Facebook posts against Miller before she took him to court over the attacks.

Miller’s concerns of an acid attack come against the backdrop of a growing number of such crimes on the streets of London.

Man fined G$75,000 for slew of traffic-related charges …claims he is not in the right frame of mind

CHARGED: Laurent McGarrell

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aurent McGarrell was arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Sunil Scarce on a slew of traffic related charges: driving without a driver’s licence; driving without third party insurance; driving without a safety helmet; carrying a pillion without protective head gear; driving a motorcycle while being under the influence of alcohol; and driving a motorcycle without consent from the owner.

Except for the last two allegations stated above, the accused readily pleaded guilty to the charges, and was fined a total of G$75,000. The accused told the magistrate that his “brain is not working, since he is studying his dead wife” and is not in the right frame of mind.

Magistrate Scarce has since ordered that he be examined by a psychiatrist.

McGarrell was last week arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a charge of causing the death of his 20-year-old wife, Gaitri Sahadeo, who was killed in a motorcycle accident along the Providence Highway on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) on June 23, 2017. A breathalyzer test done on the defendant after that accident had reportedly determined that he had a blood alcohol level of 40 micrograms.

McGarrell was released on G$100,000 bail for causing the death of his wife.

Monday’s session saw him maintaining his guilty plea on four of the traffic charges, while maintaining his not-guilty plea with respect to driving under the influence and taking the motorcycle without the owner’s permission.

He was fined G$7500 on each of the charges in relation to driving without a helmet and carrying a pillion without the protective head gear, and was fined G$30,000 for unlicensed driving; while the breach of insurance offence also attracted a penalty of G$30,000.

Mc Garrell, further,

DEAD: Gaitri Sahadeo

was disqualified from acquiring or being able to hold a driver’s licence for any class of vehicle for a period of twelve (12) months.

He faces the Chief Magistrate today (Wednesday) in relation to the death of his wife, while he returns before Magistrate Scarce on August 29, 2017 for trial to commence into the two charges he has denied.

Reports are that the June 23rd fatal accident occurred on the eastern carriageway of the Providence Public Road at about 00:30hrs when the motorcycle suffered a blowout. Sahadeo, who was the pillion rider, had sustained severe injuries to her head because she had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. She later succumbed to her injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

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Murder accused: Dwayne Tappin, called “Waynie”

he former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank who on Sunday morning allegedly decapitated his uncle over a land dispute, was on Wednesday arraigned at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Dwayne Tappin, called “Waynie”, appeared before Magistrate Ashley George and had the indictable charge of murder read to him.

The charge alleged that on August 6,

2017, at Lot 125 South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, he murdered his 51-yearold uncle, Randolph Seenauth.

The 27-year-old was remanded. The case will continue on September 28.

This publication had previously reported that Seenauth’s head was found separate from his body in his bloodied home early Sunday morning by Police ranks that were called to the area at

the behest of neighbours.

Neighbours were reportedly awakened by a loud commotion coming from the property and the Police were called to investigate.

This publication understands that after hacking his uncle to death, Tappin fled the scene but later surrendered to the Police and confessed.

Meanwhile, the dead man’s sister, Indra Seenauth, revealed that the murder stemmed from a land dispute in the family coupled with another incident.

It was reported that Tappin accompanied by two male friends allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl. The matter was reported and the 27-year-old man had since threatened to kill Seenauth, whom he believed reported the matter to the Police.

However, Indra Seenauth denied that the dead man reported the matter as she disclosed that he is epileptic and as such cannot read and write.

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Caribbean leaders discuss Venezuela situation

Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, (CMC)

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a r i b b e a n Community (CARICOM) leaders on Tuesday held “varied and robust views” on the on-going political situation in Venezuela during a three-hour meeting.

No official statement has been issued by the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat or from the office of the Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, who is the CARICOM chairman and who is reported to have convened the special emergency meeting by videoconference.

However, the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a brief statement Wednesday said that the leaders who had participated in the videoconference call had engaged in “varied and robust views” and that the meeting “centred on promoting dialogue among stakeholders within Venezuela geared towards resolution of the political and social challenges in that country”.

CARICOM leaders at

their last summit held in Grenada last month issued a statement reaffirming their guiding principles of adherence to the rule of law, respect for human rights and democracy, as well as for the fundamental principles of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of states.

But they noted that they were concerned about the “difficult political, economic and social situation in Venezuela, in particular the increase in violence and polarization between the Government and the Opposition, and its effect on the people of Venezuela”.

As a result, the regional leaders “called for all parties to commit to engage in renewed dialogue and negotiation leading to a comprehensive political agreement with established time tables, concrete actions and guarantees to ensure its implementation for the well-being of the nation”.

“In this regard, CARICOM Heads of Government offered

their good offices to facilitate this dialogue,” the communique said, noting that they had also mandated Mitchell “to communicate with the parties concerned in Venezuela about this offer”.

While there has been no public acceptance of the CARICOM offer from the opposition, President Nicholas Maduro in a July 7 letter to Mitchell said “he wholeheartedly welcomes the valuable proposal contained in that communique offering the good offices of CARICOM to reactivate an agenda of constructive dialogue among the political parties of (our) country”.

Opposition forces in Venezuela have been staging street demonstrations in a bid to force the Maduro government out of office and in his letter, the embattled Venezuelan leader had proposed a 'working meeting” in Venezuela on either July 11 or 12 to discuss the situation.

But Mitchell received Maduro's communication on July 12.

On July 30, Venezuela staged an election to choose a 545-member constituent assembly with the power to rewrite the constitution and dissolve state institutions.

The polls were boycotted by the opposition and criticised by many western countries, but Maduro said the assembly would help bring peace to the country where more than 100 people have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded since the street protest began in April.

Mayor Chase-Green says still perusing final report of parking meter committee

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Georgetown Mayor, Patricia Chase Green

he life of the Parking Meter Re-negotiation Committee came to an end with it submitting its final report and finding to the Mayor of Georgetown on August 2, 2017, but almost one week later, the report is yet to be circulated to Councillors.

Georgetown Mayor, Patricia Chase Green acknowledged receiving the report, stating, “I am still looking at it as I said before there will be a special meeting held by Council, a copy would be given to every Councillor so they will have enough time to look at it and then we will look at the options that were recommended by the parking meter team,” she said.

“I am reading the report in detail and so presently I have no information to give to the public,” Chase Green responded when asked about the content of the report.

M&CC had entered into a contract with Smart City Solutions Inc on May 13, 2016, for parking meters to be implemented in Georgetown.

However, the project came under intense scrutiny and rejections from various public and private stakeholders, the Opposition and even

some central government officials over the clandestine way it was being foisted unto the populace, its prohibitive pricing and the contracting company’s general disregard with the way the new mechanism was introduced to the public, among many other concerns.

After becoming effective in late January 2017, several large protests were staged in front of City Hall calling for the contract to be revoked, while multiple stakeholders took the M&CC and the SCSI to court over the matter.

Under pressure, on March 21, 2017, the Minister of Communities who had initially passed the By-laws bringing parking meters into effect, ordered that it be suspended for a period of three months to facilitate the re-negotiations of the terms of the contract.

The Parking Meter Committee was established on April 26, 2017, one month after Bulkan suspended the paid parking initiative. Its members consist of Malcolm Ferreira (Chairman), Roopnarine Persaud, Noelle ChowChee (Vice Chairman), Ivelaw Henry, Trichria Richards, Carlyle Goring and Heston Bostwick.

Since its establishment, the Committee has consulted with various stakeholders inclusive of the Movement Against Parking Meters and civil society. Consultations are ongoing and stakeholders are encouraged to visit the Councillors’ office to meet with the committee members and submit their proposals.

When asked about the possibility of refunding citizens who would have bought parking meter credit in bulk quantities, the Mayor said it is too early to make a pronouncement, adding she will have to await the report from the Committee and would act accordingly.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference (ToR) was drafted and voted upon by the majority of members of the M&CC. The ToR provides the Committee with the authority to “engage with all stakeholders within the parameters of the framework agreed upon by the Council, Cabinet and Smart City Solutions (SCSI) to seek to determine what terms of the agreement can and should be negotiated to bring the contract in harmony with the desires of the Council, Central Government, SCSI and the citizenry.

The Mayor has since excused herself from all matters related to the renegotiation of the contract since it was herself, Town Clerk Royston King and Councillor Oscar Clarke who signed and implemented the controversial project.

The PPP Councillors also have recused themselves since they noted they were against paid parking from the inception.

Tobacco company ups pressure on Govt to review Tobacco Control Bill

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emerara Tobacco C o m p a n y L i m i t e d (DEMTOCO) has taken its advocacy to the highest office of the land, calling on President David Granger to step in and forestall making the Tobacco Control Bill a law unless certain provisions in the Bill are changed.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the company noted that the Government used the passage of the Bill in other countries as justification for the new bill in Guyana. But DEMTOCO said the countries that

were cited have actually implemented less stringent laws than the ones passed in the National Assembly last month.

The company pointed out that both Trinidad and Jamaica have no provisions in their bills which designate a person’s private home as a workplace under any circumstances. In addition, the company emphasised that both countries included provisions in their bills to allow outdoor designated smoking areas.

“Both Jamaica and Trinidad removed the provision from their

Bills, which included a person’s private home as a workplace if that owner were to employ a gardener, a helper or some other help around their home,” the company stated. “Those countries viewed the guaranteeing of the right of the privacy of one’s home as a fundamental principle.”

DEMTOCO pointed out that neither country sought to bar previous employees in the tobacco industry from working with Government.

Noting that the Bill will impact on retailers of a legal product, the continued on page 10

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 9

‘We need justice’ - family Guyana has potential of 4-yr-old Tuschen to become a multiaccident victim billion-dollar economy – Indian businessman says during scoping mission

Flashback: Tuschen residents take to the streets to demand justice for 4-yr-old accident victim; Ramkarran Mohan

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Ramkarran Mohan

amily members of 4-yearold Ramkarran Mohan of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), who lost his life after being struck down by an errant driver some five months ago, have said they are yet to receive justice. His grandmother, Bibi Nazmoon Khan, claims the family is currently being “pushed around” by the Police Commander at the Leonora Police Station and by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The woman is alleging that on a weekly basis she is contacted by the Police Commander, who continuously explains to her that he is yet to receive a response from the DPP, Shalimar Ali-Hack. She revealed that she was advised by the Commander to visit the DPP, which she and other family members did.

“He tell we to go to the DPP, and we went there and they give us a form to fill out. The form was a complaint letter, and they tell we to bring it back,” Khan stated.

The letter was reportedly completed by the family’s legal counsel and submitted to the office of the DPP. However, on the second visit to the office, the

family was reportedly instructed to report to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, which received a file with instructions that they select a coroner to launch a further probe into the matter.

However, there has since been no word to the family as to the course of the investigation, or whether that coroner was selected.

As such, Khan is calling for the matter to be further publicised, for fear that there will be no justice for her grandson.

The dissatisfied woman revealed that the driver whose vehicle had killed Mohan was last month involved in another accident, this time involving a minibus.

Khan said, “Everybody telling me that I will not get justice. I don’t know where to turn to and what to do, because I see like everybody against us. It’s been five months, we need the public to see what’s going on”.

Mohan, called “Ram”, of Lot 1088 Tuschen New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), died at the West Demerara Regional Hospital after he was struck by, and dragged under, a moving car, a short distance from his house.

On the day of the ac-

cident, the child was struck down walking with his uncle and brother after purchasing a ball.

Reports are that the driver continued driving after hitting the child, and it was only after the teenaged uncle of the boy ran in front of her vehicle that she stopped.

The child was picked up and rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem conducted on his body revealed that the child’s death was as a result of a fractured skull and brain damage.

Following his demise, the female driver, whose father is reportedly a member of the Presidential Guards, was released on self-bail, and has since been seen in the area.

The family had launched a protest, calling for justice to be served for Mohan, but they are still awaiting such.

P

resident David Granger, on Thursday, received a courtesy call at State House from Mr. R. Veeramani, Chairman of the GEM Group of Companies, India and Chairman of the Natural Stones and Products Panel, who said that the vision of the Government is refreshing and appealing to investors and as such, it will encourage investment opportunities.

During the meeting, Mr. Veeramani, who is in Guyana on a five-day scoping mission to explore investment opportunities, said that Guyana is a country filled with abundant opportunities for investment and has the potential to become a multi-billion-dollar economy, once its many resources are developed in a sustainable manner. With the leadership of President Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the businessman said that there is no reason why Guyana cannot become a prosperous nation.

“The Government is very proactive with the development vision for this country and with this, I am very sure that I will come back. I personally felt that both the President and the Prime Minister of Guyana, both of them are determined that the country should develop economically, create more employment and should be one of the proud countries on the lines of develop-

ment. I am sure that they will do that.

I am sure that they will inspire and make this country a prosperous nation by the right policies,” he said.

In an invited comment, Mr. Veeramani said that he and the members of his company met with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo last year when he visited India and were invited to explore Guyana and its potential for investment.

“You have the products. You can do wonders. This country can do wonders with what it has…I have come here to study and find out what are the opportunities that this nation offers. This is a tropical country and with the many resources and less population, I want to find out what is happening here and what are the opportunities that can help to develop the industrial activity in this country. I like the people and I am sure that I will return,” the Businessman said.

President Granger welcomed the investor to Guyana, noting that while the country possesses the resources, it needs financial and technical support from all sectors to assist in their development for the benefit of all of the citizens.

“We need that type of experience and sense of entrepreneurship and so we are happy that you are here,” the President said. (MoTP)

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Int’l press bodies mount pressure on President not to assent to controversial broadcast bill

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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he International Press Institute (IPI) is calling on the Government to address the serious concerns raised by the local media groups over pending amendments to the Broadcast (Amendment) Bill.

Government on Friday last used its oneseat majority in the National Assembly to pass this controversial Bill, which mandates broadcasters to air up to 60 minutes of ‘public service announcements (PSAs)’ for free.

The IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications, Steven M. Ellis, urged the Guyana Government to address criticism regarding the amendments before they become law.

“We are troubled that this bill appears to have been drafted and passed without time for sufficient consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including Guyana’s private broadcasters and local civil society groups,” he said.

“Elements of this legislation – in particular provisions related to the broadcasting of pub-

Steven M Ellis, International Press Institute’s Director of Advocacy and Communications

lic service content – also raise questions about the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Guyanese radio and television stations can operate independently from state and political control. We urge lawmakers to address those questions, and revise these amendments as necessary,” Ellis added.

The press freedom advocacy body has said that concerns over broadcasting freedom in Guyana are not new. It has cited the radio monopoly which had been in place until 2011, when former President Bharrat Jagdeo granted several radio and television li-

Margaux Ewen, Advocacy and Communications Director for Reporters Without Borders’ North America Bureau

cences prior to demitting office.

During a 2013 visit to Guyana, IPI had urged Government to ensure that granting of television and radio licences under the newly introduced Broadcasting Act be conducted in a transparent and impartial manner.

Do not assent

And the international non-profit, non- governmental organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), aka Reporters Without Borders, is urging President David Granger not to assent to this controversial bill with-

out “consultations with broadcasters, in order to take into account their recommendations”.

RSF has said the current bill, passed without consultation, raises multiple press freedom concerns.

However, in Parliament last Friday, during his closing presentation on the Bill, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said the only consultations mandated for the bill are those Government has had with the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU). Nevertheless, he asserted that the GNBA had indeed had consultations with broadcasters in 2016.

“But what is most worrying about the Bill is its process of adoption, which involved no consultations with any broadcasters even though repeated attempts were made to meet with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo both leading up to, and during, parliamentary debate last week. Nagamootoo claims that broadcasters were consulted in 2011 when the original

bill was drafted, but the legislation adopted last Friday involved several amendments for which broadcasters were never given the opportunity to provide their input,” the RSF has said.

According to Advocacy and Communications Director for RSF’s North America Bureau, Margaux Ewen, it would appear that the legislative process in Guyana failed to adequately address broadcasters’ concerns regarding a new law that would impact their day-to-day operations and could even threaten their existence.

As such, RSF urges President Granger not to assent to this legislation until these concerns can be addressed through meaningful consultation.

Tabled by Nagamootoo, the amendments include a provision requiring private broadcasters to allocate, free of charge, up to 60 minutes of public service programming daily. It also mandates all current broadcast licence holders to reapply to be licensed within 30 days of the passage of the bill, or lose their right to broadcast.

The Guyana Press

President David Granger

Association (GPA) has said it agrees that private broadcasters should play a role during emergencies and disasters, but highlighted that the amendment would give authorities the ability to dictate time slots if they did not agree with the ones allocated by stations.

This new legislation gives Government the right to decide the content and frequency of the PSAs, while defining PSAs as “the broadcast of a programme produced for the purpose of informing and educating the public, and promoting policies and activities of the Government that benefit the public as a whole.” continued on page 13

Tobacco company ups pressure on Govt to review...

from page 8

company said that the Government can regulate the industry in a more reasonable manner.

The company therefore echoed the calls of the Private Sector and other stakeholders that the Bill be sent to a committee. In addition, it

called on the President to intervene and have any excessive measures removed as well as to have the Bill sent to a committee.

Trinidad banned public smoking in 2010, while Jamaica followed suit three years later. In Guyana, while the need

for the Bill was supported by most, several of its clauses have been deemed excessive.

Within days of its passage, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) had come out urging Government to consider the civil rights aspect of the Bill.

The Commission had stressed that the bill be referred to the Special Select Committee.

“Guyana has, over many years, come a long way in controlling the practice of smoking in public places and the public as well as various operators of bars,

Managing Director of DEMTOCO, Maurlain Kriton

hotels, cinemas, other businesses and smokers themselves should be applauded,” the commission said.

The business association added, “We are aware that the Government of Guyana believes that the World Health Organisation’s Protocols dictate that Government should not engage in dialogue with the tobacco industry. The Private Sector Commission views this as an inconsistency. Ours is an independent jurisdiction called Guyana and most democracies were built on dialogue.”

Among the provisions of the Bill is a

ban on smoking in indoor workplaces; public transport, stadiums, parks and national sites.

In the Bill, smoking is also prohibited in any area within five metres of a health care, educational or child care facility.

Part Five, section 16 (3) states “Any person who smokes in any place where smoking is prohibited commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of ten thousand dollars for the first offence, and twenty thousand dollars for any second or subsequent offence.”

The Bill provides for a number of other fines and penalties, ranging from G$200,000 and six months imprisonment.

Corporate bodies can also face fines of up to G$9 million for infringing on the ban regarding advertising.

The Bill also regulates the sale of cigarettes, as well as prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion. It also provides for the creation of a National Tobacco Control Council that will provide advice to the Minister of Public Health.

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Antiguan film to be screened ‘Jealous lover’ who shot at competitor has pending matters in Guyana

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ne year after a full length movie has been produced in Antigua, the filmmaker has turned his attention to Guyana, with the hope of promoting his creation, “Cry Cry”, at various forums throughout the country.

The film’s director, New York-based Antiguan medical doctor Noel Howell, has arrived in Guyana carrying his most recent production, set to be screened at high schools and other institutions within the coming weeks.

Dr Howell returns to his homeland on a yearly basis, to exercise his love for the arts by hosting seminars to facilitate the creation of short films through the Antiguan Film Academy.

In 2016, his team went above and beyond its annual creations by producing this full length feature film, “Cry Cry”. Reportedly written by 10-year-old Destiny Simon, and directed by Dr Noel Howell, “Cry Cry” features Guyanese actress Vanessa Howell alongside a number of actors hailing from the Antiguan Film Academy.

According to the trailer, “It is all about politics,

Antiguan filmmaker, Dr Noel Howell

education, the law, and what happens when you follow the wrong company…”

During an interview following his arrival in Guyana, Dr Howell explained the basis of the movie, highlighting xenophobia as the main underlying theme.

He outlined, “Whenever we migrate, we get blamed for everything that goes wrong in the community. So, in this particular story, we are following some characters who migrated to Antigua, and the stereotype that they have to deal with.”

This producer has posited that this theme is particularly relevant, given the many talks about immigration, es-

pecially on the American news wave.

However, Dr Howell has noted that prejudice against immigrants exists even in the Caribbean, and “Cry Cry” seeks to address the discrimination directed at foreigners within the region.

He also made public his intention to impact Guyanese audiences through the screening of this movie. He said: “Guyanese, especially the young people, will benefit a lot from this movie.” Moreover, Dr Howell pointed out that in addition to inspiring young Guyanese to pursue the arts, the screening of ‘Cry Cry’ throughout the country will make way for similar projects to be executed in Guyana.

Accordingly, this Antiguan film is set to be shown at a number of high schools across Guyana, targeting the youth, while special screenings will be hosted for the general public. Screening of this Caribbean production in Guyana is as a result of a partnership between the Antiguan Film Academy and the Ministry of Education.

Mentally unstable man attacks mother, gets 3 months jail

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imothy Johnson of 1946 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown was on Wednesday arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore, charged with maliciously wounding his mother, Arette Johnson, at their place of residence.

According to Prosecutor Simone Payne, on the day of the incident, the virtual complainant (VC) Arette Johnson had placed a glass of water above her door, but it fell and broke when the accused entered the house. He then reportedly took up a shard of the glass and

Timothy Johnson

attacked his mother, cutting her multiple times on her neck before calmly retiring to his bedroom.

The woman reported the matter to the East La Penitence Police Station, and the defendant was arrested and charged.

Questioned on the

reason for his action, the mentally unstable 26-year-old responded: “Where is my mother?

She with a man! That is why I cut she neck! So I deh here because she deh with a man!”

He was then sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

Essequibo mother lands in Court after being accused of arranging sex for underage daughter

A

thirty-five-year-old mother and housewife of Bush Lot village, Essequibo Coast was on Wednesday arraigned before Anna Regina Magistrate Esther Sam on two charges of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

It is alleged that this mother had harboured a male in order that he might have sex with her underage daughter.

Unrepresented by legal counsel, the

woman pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her, and told the court she does not have any money to pay bail.

The Prosecution objected to her being granted bail, but the magistrate overruled the prosecution’s objections and placed the woman on G$150,000 on each count.

The case will be called again on August 23. (Indra Nathram)

in US

– prosecution discloses

By Paula Gomes

A

rraigned before City Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday, Jermaine Phillips was described as “a jealous lover”; and as his lawyer sought to have him released on bail pending the outcome of his trial, the prosecution countered by disclosing that matters of a similar nature are pending against the accused in the United States.

Jermaine Phillips was last month arraigned before City Magistrate Leron Daly, charged with discharging a loaded firearm at virtual complainant (VC) Troy Grant with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause Grant grievous bodily harm; and for illegal possession of seventeen rounds of live .40 ammunition and one .40 Glock pistol.

The accused was, at first instance, granted bail for the shooting offence; but as the latter charges were initiated against him, the Magistrate denied him bail and remanded him to prison for the offences, which allegedly occurred at Hardina and Norton

Streets, Georgetown in early June.

The defence lawyer argued that, based on his instructions, his client did not know the VC, and had no knowledge of the charge, which he deemed “trumped up” by a vindictive party. Several minutes after being granted bail of G$400,000 for the above charge, a shackled Phillips was escorted back to the prisoner’s dock by Police ranks, where two other charges were read to him.

However, the prosecution sought to dispute the defence’s case by maintaining that when Police swooped down on the said residence, the defendant was spotted with the bag around his neck, and they apprehended him as he attempted to escape. The Prosecutor also sought to establish that the two parties are known to each other, and the alleged shooting had taken place in June.

It is reported that a jealous Phillips fired shots in the direction of Grant, allegedly because he felt threatened that the VC might poach his lover. The court further heard from the prosecu-

Jermaine Phillips

tion that there was no evidence that anybody else was charged in relation to the last two charges, in response to Thompson’s claim that his client was one of three persons arrested.

The matter had since been transferred to Magistrate Judy Latchman’s court, and as Attorney Adrian Thompson sought to renew his application for bail on Monday, the Prosecution revealed to the court that Phillips has pending matters of a similar nature before the courts in the United States (US).

Even as he admitted residing in the U.S for some time, the accused denied any knowledge of such charges instigated against him.

Bail was once again refused, and Phillips will return to court on August 21, 2017, for statements to be disclosed.

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

AFC stands by Ramjattan

…says has “full and complete confidence” in his role as public security minister

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espite criticisms and calls for his resignation following last month’s jailbreak and fire which flattened the Camp Street Prison, the Alliance For Change (AFC) remains confident in its Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan’s role as Public Security Minister.

This support was expressed last Saturday when the party held its third National Executive Committee meeting at the Georgetown Club. The meeting was attended by representatives from all administrative regions, the Diaspora, Youth For Change (YFC), Women For Change (WFC), the elected leadership and national executives.

The party said on Sunday that a motion was unanimously approved

AFC Chairman and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

that the party reposes its full and complete confidence in Ramjattan.

“The motion followed events of July 9th and subsequently, which brought national focus and attention on the public security sector. It was noted that despite the challenges, public order has been maintained and that the

recapture of most of the escaped prisoners was done in a relatively short period of time and largely without incident. The motion specifically noted the decades long historical and systemic difficulties relating to the public security sector,” the AFC outlined in its statement.

Moreover, during Saturday’s meeting, the party’s youth arm made a robust and vigorous representation to the NEC and the party’s leadership for review of the laws relating to marijuana possession.

The case was presented

by YFC President, Tiziana Rutherford, who pressed the party’s leadership to lobby for reform of the laws on this matter.

“During extensive discussions, it was noted that the current laws result in

many young people, particularly young men and numerous mothers of young children being imprisoned for possession of small quantities of marijuana, at maximum detention facilities alongside hardened criminals,” the party noted.

To this end, the NEC agreed that modification of the existing laws will, among other benefits, lend to reduction of the overcrowded prison population.

Specifically, YFC urged changes to the law as it relates to mandatory imprisonment for possession of small quantities of marijuana, an overhaul of existing guidelines for sentencing and the granting of bail for narcotics offences.

This issue has been championed for a number of years by party veteran, community activist and

Executive member Michael Carrington, Member of Parliament.

The NEC also unanimously reaffirmed its publicly known position that the party was and is against the Parking Meter Contract in its current form. According to the AFC, until otherwise advised, the party will remain in vehement disagreement with the controversial contract.

Meanwhile, the Party’s Leader, Raphael Trotman, detailed the countrywide outreaches executed by the party over the past three months, along with one major outreach to the New York Chapter of the party.

He also used the opportunity to urge the NEC members, particularly parliamentarians, to utilise the period of parliamentary recess to conduct more outreaches on coastland and in hinterland communities to strengthen and expand the party’s membership.

Additionally, Political Advisor and elder statesman, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, presented an extensive report to the NEC on three major advances on governance matters at the national level; namely Constitutional Reform, Code of Conduct for public officials, and the

passing of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill 2017.

The Prime Minister emphasised that these successes formed collective evidence that the AFC was keeping its covenant with, and promise to, the people to advance these fundamental matters in the interest of all Guyanese for a modern society, the AFC said in its statement on Sunday.

The missive went on to outline that the NEC reaffirmed the united strength of the coalition Government as a comprehensive report was presented on the Cummingsburg Accord.

The NEC further urged implementation of inter-coalition mechanisms for regular and routine dialogue among parties.

Chairman Ramjattan, Vice Chairperson Cathy Hughes and General Secretary Marlon Williams all noted the significant successes made by the party in 2017 and urged the NEC members to continue the work at the grassroots level.

The Regional Management Committees of Regions Five (MahaicaBerbice) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were specifically lauded for their work at the community level.

Policeman makes court appearance over shooting incident at Omai Landing

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ust over a month after he allegedly pulled the trigger on a civilian because the civilian had refused to hand over his backpack, Police rank James Bowman was on Monday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to a charge alleging that on June 25, 2017 at Omai Landing in the Essequibo Magisterial District, he discharged a loaded firearm at Glen McCurdy with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause grievous bodily harm to McCurdy’s person.

The unrepresented Bowman told the court he is 29 years old, hails from Mocha, East Bank Demerara, and is a constable of the Guyana Police Force, stationed at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) in Eve Leary, Georgetown.

He also denied the allegation, and was released on his own recognizance.

The case will continue on October 17 at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.

Reports are that

James Bowman

on the day of the incident, Police patrolling the Omai area saw VC McCurdy with a haversack on his back acting in a suspicious manner.

He was reportedly accosted, but whipped out a chopper from his bag and advanced on the Police.

He fired several chops at the officers, and ignored orders to drop the weapon.

According to the Prosecution’s case, McCurdy was subsequently shot to the abdomen; and he dropped his bag, which was searched

by Police and found to contain a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.

McCurdy has since been charged with trafficking 320 grams of cannabis, and has been remanded to prison.

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Granger directs PSC to halt Police promotions – PPP warns it’s another attempt by Govt to breach Constitution and functional autonomy of a constitutional agency,” the PPP has stated. “The President and his Government continue, on a daily basis, to violate the rule of law, assault important democratic institutions, and breach in the most egregious fashion the Constitution.”

It pointed out that Article 226(1) of the Constitution states: “In the exercise of its functions under the Constitution, a Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority”.

According to the party, the Police Service Commission is one of the Commissions to which Article 226 (1) makes reference.

The party noted that by these directions, “it is clear

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is warning Government against any attempt to subvert constitutionally mandated commissions in wake of the alleged dispatch of a letter by President David Granger to the Police Service Commission (PSC), directing a certain course of action on promotions.

According to the party in a press release on Tuesday, the situation

was drawn to the attention of the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, that a letter was dispatched to the commission. The letter allegedly instructed the commission not to proceed with any promotion in the Guyana Police Force until further directed by the President.

“This is yet another vulgar and authoritarian attempt by the President to trample upon the independence

Int’l press bodies...

from page 10

The broadcasts, which also include time for presidential addresses and disaster warnings, are to be allocated between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

GPA, in a statement, told IPI that the bill “will disrupt and violate contractual obligations that stations will have with advertisers and programme sponsors.”

The local media representative body has also said it would work with international groups to “convince the Government of the need to halt or reverse this process, given the severe consequences these amendments pose to freedom of the press and the commercial viability of private radio and television stations.”

Since their announcement, these proposed amendments have been condemned by local broadcasters, the Opposition political party, and various other stakeholders. Those concerns and criticisms have apparently fallen on deaf ears, or Government is just oblivious of the crit-

icisms, since the amendments continue to be pushed.

The Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) has also called for the President and broadcasters to meet, arguing, “This is the best option to avoid what may be a protracted legal matter that would be unhelpful in achieving the desired objectives of the parties concerned.”

Prior to the passage of the bill, a number of broadcasters said in a statement that they had not been consulted on the contents of the bill, either during its preparation or to date. They say they are hoping the authorities would now afford them opportunity for consultation, before this important piece of legislation is passed.

Chairman of the GNBA, Leslie Sobers, has said that broadcasters who fear revocation of licences should be more concerned about the content they air than with the provisions of the recently passed amendments to the broadcast legislation.

that President Granger demonstrates absolute disrespect and disregard for the letter and spirit of the Constitution, and therefore continues to contravene its provisions with impunity.”

The party went on to urge the Police Service Commission not to succumb to these unconstitutional and unlawful directives, but to continue to discharge its mandate in the manner provided for by the Constitution.

While the Police Commissioner has power over ranks below the rank of Inspector, the Police Service Commission, according to Chapter 212 (1) of the constitution, has the power to make appointments to any officers in the Police Force at the rank of or above

Inspector.

It also has the power to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in such offices, including the power to remove such persons from office.

Claims of interference on the Police Service Commission are reminiscent of the case of Carvil Duncan, former head of another commission. Duncan, who had headed the Public Service Commission, had reason to move to the courts to challenge the President’s decision to suspend him from the offices he held after allegations of fraud had surfaced.

While that case was in the court, Patrick Yarde was appointed as head of the Public Service Commission in Duncan’s stead.

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Guyana govt to honour all past Presidents - to become State function

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he APNU+AFC Administration will be taking on the responsibility of honouring the lives of past Presidents who served the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said last Friday at his post-Cabinet press briefing that, irrespective of which party those past presidents have come from, their death anniversaries are State activities because they had served the State.

“It is the intention of the administration to elevate all of these observances to the level of State functions, and so we can expect that.

The one for Burnham has been elevated to the level of State function, and all the other former

Arthur Chung

Forbes Burnham

Cheddi Jagan

Desmond Hoyte

Janet Jagan

Presidents who passed (will have theirs so elevated),” he disclosed.

He said the observances are no longer left for a particular party and their resources. “…so the State is taking on this responsibility, and this is how it will be in the future,” he as-

sured.

Last Sunday, Government celebrated the death anniversary of Guyana’s first Prime Minister and Executive President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

Born on February 20th, 1923, Burnham led Guyana for

some 21 years before his death on August 6, 1985, at the age of 62.

President Arthur Chung, born on January 10, 1912, was the first President of Guyana. He occupied that post from 1970 to 1980, and died on June 23, 2008.

Mr Hugh Desmond

Hoyte, born on March 9, 1929, succeeded President Burnham in 1985. He died on December 22, 2002.

Dr Cheddi Jagan, born on 22 March 1918, took office on October 5, 1992 under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which he had founded. He died on March 6, 1997.

Mrs Janet Jagan,

wife of President Dr Cheddi Jagan, was the first female President of Guyana. Born in the United States of America on October 20, 1920, she served for almost two years following her husband’s death in March 1997. She campaigned for the Presidency in December 1997 and won.

She died in March 2009.

Construction of “Green Park” in Mabaruma moving apace

M

An artist’s impression of the Green Park on its completion

abaruma in Region One is “going green” with the construction of a ‘Green Park’ costing G$13 million at Hosororo. Work has already commenced, and is moving apace.

The park is an initiative of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC). Mabaruma Mayor Henry Smith explained that the green facility will be enclosed with two rows of three-feet-high concrete-and-picket fences, one-foot-deep trenches, chairs for relaxation, numerous trees, and a place for children to play.

The Department of Public Information has said the mayor also highlighted that the park would be outfitted with lights which will be powered by solar panels, to facilitate persons utilising the facility at nights.

Mabaruma Town Clerk Barrington Wade has said the decision to create the green park was to establish a space

where everyone can go and relax and feel comfortable.

“What we are trying to do is to give the surrounding communities a chance, a place where they can come and relax.

I am talking about communities like Koriabo, Riboway, the people of Wanaina, Bumbury and, all in all, the people in Hosororo. So, therefore, it is an ideal spot; it is central, and this part is one part of the constituency that is very popular in the municipality,” Wade said.

The Green Park is expected to be completed within the next six weeks, and the Town Clerk pointed out that the project is just the start of something great.

He has hinted that similar projects would be carried out in the other constituencies.

Establishment of this green park is in keeping with Government’s drive to create a national green economy.

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Contradiction ensues over GECOM operations …as Commissioner refutes “rosy” picture painted by Minister

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ontrary to the recent comments emanating from Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan — that preparation for upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) is proceeding apace without a Chairman being in place at the Guyana Elections Commission – it has turned out that all is not well at that national election agency.

G E C O M Commissioner and attorney-at-law Sase Gunraj, in debunking Minister Bulkan’s assertion, has said the commissioners are being kept in the dark on various critical aspects of GECOM; among which are how the commission’s budget is being spent, and details on the audit that was done by the Audit Office of Guyana.

That audit has revealed a number of fiscal infractions, but the accounting officers remain in place at that agency.

“The Minister is obviously arrogating unto himself responsibility for reporting on proceedings at GECOM when clearly that is outside of his domain,” Gunraj has expressed. “He is in no position to report on developments at GECOM. And even if he has received an update,” Gunraj added, “he is receiving updates over and above what Commissioners of GECOM are receiving, even though we are persons who are entitled to that information.”

Gunraj blames this state of affairs on the absence of a Chairman for GECOM, which he says is also preventing meetings from being held to provide updates from being given to the constitutionally entitled Commissioners.

“Whichever option it is, it clearly does not auger well for the integrity of the process to have a Government functionary commenting on the functioning of a constitutional body which has a specific non-partisan function,” Commissioner Gunraj has expressed.

“I can tell you that, without a chairman, (GECOM) cannot have meetings; and in the absence of those meetings, (the commissioners) have not been receiving updates on anything that is going on at GECOM. (There has been) absolutely no periodic updates on the finances of GECOM, (and) nothing on the operations side or the audit,” the attorney-at-law has stated.

Gunraj has been one of three Opposition party representatives on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) since 2015.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, in an interview with state media last week, had said there is enough time to appoint a chairman, and in the meantime GECOM is functioning well without a Chairman. He had said: “The absence of a chairman is not affecting the work of GECOM.”

Ship without a captain

GECOM has been left headless after the retirement of its longtime Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, earlier this year. The task of replacing him has since been a contentious exercise, with President David Granger continuously rejecting nominees for the post.

As required by the Constitution of Guyana, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had submitted to President Granger a first list of six nominees from which to choose a person for the post of GECOM Chairman, but that list was rejected. He had, last April, submitted a second list of six nominees, but that second list was also rejected. He is preparing to submit a third list in this regard.

President Granger had, in early January 2017, deemed the first list “unacceptable” because none of the nominees was a judge, retired judge, or eligible to be appointed a judge.

Businessman and encontinued on page 20

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Opposition slams ‘bias’ House Speaker

O

pposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira has accused Speaker of the House, Dr Barton Scotland of going beyond his remit to do things to stymie the Opposition’s business on several counts in Parliament.

The Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) told the media on Saturday that this “noticeable behaviour” is becoming more blatant and it has not gone unnoticed by

the Opposition.

“The Speaker has a habit now in the last year, of every single question or motion we bring to the Parliament is radically edited by him,” she explained.

Teixeira has said that this is a major undermining of the parliamentary Opposition’s role, and this could only be seen as a one-sided move, which may continue to happen in Parliament.

“The Speaker has giv-

en himself an editorial role and in fact in a correspondence he said certain paragraphs and be it not resolved clauses are removed as unnecessary in his opinion,” she added.

The Opposition MP explained that there is no standing order which allows the Speaker such discretion. In fact, once these questions or motions are not libelous or offensive, it should not be removed.

“We have been explaining our disagreements

but accepting the amendments so that the motions can get on the order paper so that the public can hear,” she added.

Using the questions about the Camp Street Prison unrest as an example, Teixeira said that is a classic example where the Speaker again removed a large number of paragraphs.

Only recently, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo accused the Speaker of taking a

partisan stand on several issues and even described him as the 34th MP of the coalition Government.

He maintained that the Speaker should have been an independent arbiter.

“Almost any matter that seeks to question the Government, to hold them to account, he rules in their favour. Now when you look at the debates in Parliament, almost every single matter the Government gets its way,” he lamented, reminding supporters that Scotland did not find a debate on the future of sug-

Opposition Chief, Whip Gail Teixeira

ar an issue of national importance. The Speaker has come in for heavy criticism over the past two years and has indeed shut down several motions presented by the Opposition, claiming that they were not urgent or important.

Contradiction ensues...

from page 16

gineer Marcel Gaskin had, in March of this year, moved to the High Court to challenge the constitutionality of President Granger’s reasoning behind his rejection of the list of nominees.

Gaskin, also the brother of the Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, had asked the court to determine whether Jagdeo’s list of nominees was indeed not “fit and proper,” as President Granger had declared.

Last month, Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, overruled the President’s interpretation of the Constitution regarding the appointment of a chairman for GECOM, finding that there is no particular pref-

erence for the appointment of persons within the Judiciary.

In her determination, Justice George found that there was no valid argument to support the idea that the GECOM Chairman should be a judge, former judge, or person eligible to be a judge, and had noted that persons from each category are equally eligible for the post.

However, in an issued statement after the ruling, the applicant, Marcel Gaskin, highlighted that the acting Chief Justice went on to address the proviso to Article 161 (2), which applies to the instance of the Opposition Leader failing to submit a list.

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Granny admits to cocaine Granger pays glowing tribute to Forbes Burnham stashed in gas cylinder …jailed, fined G$21M

The cocaine blocks concealed in the gas cylinder

N

aiomi Persaud, the 51-year-old woman who admitted ownership of some 20 pounds of cocaine discovered by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks stashed in a cooking gas cylinder in her home, was on Wednesday jailed when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The woman pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to her

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

That charge alleged that on August 7, 2017, she was found to be in possession of the cocaine at her Campbellville, Georgetown house.

CANU ranks had swooped down on the house and conducted a search of the premises, unearthing nine well wrapped rectangular packages hidden in a cooking gas cylinder that had a false bottom.

Persaud was also fined G$21 million which

is the calculated street value of the drugs.

Originally, the woman’s 17-year-old grandson who is an Under-19 Guyanese cricketer and his girlfriend were arrested for the crime as they were present when the drugs were unearthed.

However, the young

woman was questioned and released following the disclosure by Persaud that she was the owner of the prohibited substance.

Her grandson had the charges against him dropped following the woman’s guilty plea in court on Wednesday.

A wanted bulletin was issued for the owner of the house, Andre Gomes, called “Zipper” in which the drugs were reportedly discovered.

The man is said to have had previous brushes with the law and it is alleged that Persaud and Gomes share a relationship.

The US Embassy is also said to have now revoked the visitor’s visa of Persaud.

On the day of the discovery, the cocaine was unearthed concealed in nine packages which were hidden in the gas cylinder which had a false bottom.

The well wrapped rectangular blocks of cocaine found at the Delph Avenue home

Sunday morning’s commemorative service at the Seven Ponds, Botanical Gardens, Georgetown, was held in observance of the 32nd death anniversary of Guyana’s First Executive President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham

P

resident David Granger on Sunday morning paid tribute to Guyana’s first Executive President and founder of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, OE, SC, on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of his death.

The annual wreath laying ceremony was held at the Mausoleum at the Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens, where the former President was laid to rest.

President Granger in his remarks said the late Forbes Burnham will always be remembered with reverence for his fight against inequality, poverty, illiteracy and other social ills, which affected the lives of the ordinary Guyanese.

“We recall Forbes Burnham’s courageous campaign to transform the backward colony of British Guiana when he entered office on 14th December 1964 up to his death on 6th August 1985. Forbes Burnham described his mission as “…a struggle… against poverty, ignorance, unemployment, hunger and exploitation…”

According to Granger,

Burnham launched a process of national transformation to eliminate the inequalities associated with economic, geographic and demographic disparities.

“Forbes Burnham’s policy of national transformation was based, in part, on providing easier access to public education,” Granger posited.

He noted that the institutions which were established by the late President still sustain social change and the evidence of his monumental achievements is visible everywhere, particularly in the University of Guyana at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown; the Cyril Potter College of Education, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown; the Cooperative Training College at Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/Linden Highway; the Technical Institute at New Amsterdam, Berbice; the first hinterland secondary school at St Ignatius, in the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo); the extension of free education as an entitlement and the Teaching Service Commission; and the production of local textbooks, among others.

“Forbes Burnham will always be remembered

with reverence. We renew, on this solemn commemoration of his death, our collective commitment to continue his campaign against poverty, ignorance, unemployment, hunger and exploitation…,” President Granger said.

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, who also serves as Chairman of the PNC, in his brief tribute, said the late Prime Minister and first Executive President of Guyana was a giant of history, who transformed not just a nation but also the Caribbean.

“Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was a consummate statesman and a freedom fighter whose keen commitment to the development of Guyana and its people is undeniable. Burnham played a significant role in shaping the political, social and economic landscape of Guyana. It was under his leadership that Guyana attained political independence and Republican status. It was also under his leadership that many of the transformative infrastructural developments of Guyana materialised.

Under Burnham, Guyana’s status in international and regional affairs was elevated and respected,” Minister Williams said.

Burnham served as Prime Minister of Guyana from 1964 and as President from 1980 until the time of his death in 1985 at the age of 62. He was a lawyer, a politician, and a father of six.

The event was attended by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, other Ministers of the Government, members of the diplomatic corps as well as representatives from the 10 administrative regions across Guyana.

Speaker blocks questions on house rentals for ministers

I

n a surprise decision, Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, has disallowed a list of questions from the Opposition on Friday. These questions, had they been presented, sought information on the rental of buildings for government ministers.

The Opposition, in presenting the questions, noted that the issue is pertinent in the wake of recent revelations that a house was being rented for Junior Minister of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, for G$500,000 a month.

In addition, these payments were being made from the Parliamentary Office, and were outside of the housing allowance that is usually granted. This revelation had prompted significant backlash from the public.

House Speaker Dr Scotland

acknowledged that the tabling of the questions satisfied certain stipulations of the Standing Order (18) regarding oral questions without notice, and that the topic was an important one, but he nevertheless announced that he was disallowing the questions on the basis of time and place.

“The question is one which is important. The question has attracted comments far and wide, and certainly it continues to attract comments and attention,” the speaker said.

“But the question must be urgent and related to the business of the day. On those two counts, I have therefore disallowed this question.”

The questions

The questions which were put to the Speaker by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall had called on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Dr Barton Scotland

to provide information on the circumstances surrounding the “administrative decision” that was taken to rent accommodation for junior and senior ministers.

It also enquired into the limit on the amount of rent that could be paid, and the factors taken into account before making this decision.

In addition, Nandlall had planned to enquire into whether accommodation would still be rented if the minister already owned property in the city.

Additional questions for Nagamootoo had included: “Are ministries also paying rental contracts for ministers’ residential accommodations?

Is this policy guided by availability of financial resources? Would the minister inform the National Assembly of the number of residential accommodations which were or are currently being rented for ministers, and the rate of rental for each of those premises from May 2015 to date?”

Questions would have also been posed to Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

These questions included inquiries into whether the National Procurement and

Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) or the Ministry of Finance had granted approval for these arrangements.

Documents showing approval would have also been demanded to be provided to the National Assembly.

Back in May of 2017, Dr Scotland had disallowed the Opposition party’s motion on the removal of the unpopular Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education.

The motion was moved

by Parliamentarian Priya Manickchand and submitted to the Clerk of the National Assembly on April 27. It was expected to come up for debate at the upcoming sitting the next month.

In June of 2017, the Speaker had also disallowed a request from the Parliamentary Economic Services Committee continued on page 24

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Suspect in murder of 16-yr- Aruba Airlines begins servicing Guyanese old captured in Suriname market

…to face court soon

Murdered teen, Rosanna Lakhpal

Guyana Police on Thursday have clarified that the 25-yearold- Ryan Singh- who allegedly slit his girlfriend’s throat almost three weeks ago, was arrested in Suriname and not Springlands, Berbice as was previously reported.

“The fact is that Ryan Singh was arrested by Police Authorities in Nickerie, Suriname and handed over to Local Authorities [in Guyana] and this was initiated at the level of the Crime Chief of the Guyana Police Force,” a police press statement said.

The statement also disclosed that the error came about because the “Divisional Commander of ‘B’ Division was not fully apprised of the circumstances surrounding this arrest.”

As such, full credit for the arrest was given to the Police Authorities in Nickerie.

On July 29 2017, Roseanna Lakhpal, a former Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) student was murdered reportedly at the hands of her boyfriendidentified as 25-year-old Ryan Singh-originally of Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

Reports were that the duo reportedly met on Facebook and they subsequently started living together.

This publication was informed that the relationship commenced before the young girl turned 16. Neighbours said they had made numerous complaints to Lakhpal’s mother that Singh was abusing her daughter when they were alone. However, the teen reportedly denied that the abuse was happening.

On the day that the 16-yearold met her demise, Singh and the teen were arguing over his lack of interest in finding a job.

Lakhpal had however started babysitting her neighbours’ children on the day of the argument with Singh. The children then ran back home to their mother and complained of the fight.

The accused was reportedly angered by her “nagging” and this reportedly resulted in him slitting her throat, leaving her in a pool of blood.

An eyewitness had related

Nabbed: Ryan Singh

that the girl’s face was partly covered with a pillow as she lay on a carpet on the floor with her neck slashed. He then reportedly flung the knife he used several feet away and fled the scene.

Singh was on the run until Tuesday when he was captured.

He will soon be arraigned for Lakhpal’s murder.

Singh has also been implicated in an incident where he almost killed a previous girlfriend, after stabbing her over 50 times about her body. It was claimed that the 25-year-old was never arrested for that allegation.

A

The Aruba Airlines aircraft that made the inaugural flight to Guyana

ruba Airlines on Sunday made its inaugural flight to Guyana, with some 150 passengers on board, marking the beginning of its service in the Guyanese market. Roraima Group of Companies is handling the airline from this end and was very instrumental in the application process.

According to Roraima CEO, Captain Gerry Gouveia, the airline would be operating the Guyana route, flying three times weekly, but he noted that they are still in the probation phase. He added that they would officially launch the service in a few days.

Aruba Airlines was founded in 2006 and currently has in its fleet an

Airbus 319, two 320 and, on order, two Embraer ERJ 145. The Airbus 320 has the range to ply the Aruba/New York route. JetBlue uses the same type of aircraft to ply the Aruba/JFK route.

Aruba Airlines’ network includes Venezuela, several cities in Cuba and Miami.

There is good traffic between Guyana and Cuba and, with links to four cities in Cuba; it will haul in more traffic between Guyana and Cuba. In addition, that will only increase because more Cubans will visit Guyana and Suriname to shop.

The airline hopes to use its Aruba hub, which houses a US Homeland and Border Control immigration office there, to link passengers to its network.

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Power company records Gold earnings G$17B in revenue for decline by G$400M first half of 2017 A

Mid-year report

By Jaryl Bryan

D

espite the frequent power outages and poor service that plague consumers, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) managed to improve its revenue collection by raking in G$17 billion in the first half of 2017.

The whopping sum represents an increase from G$14.7 billion for the same period in 2016.

According to the 2017 mid-year report released

by Government, the increase in revenue is as a result of more timely payments.

The report also details that expenditure increased from G$9.3 billion in the first half of 2016 to G$12.6 billion in the same period this year. This increase, according to the report, is due to higher costs for Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO).

It also states that

Acting CEO of GPL, Renford Homer

ing average of total losses was 29.6 per cent, a slight increase from the half year for 2016 when the total losses was 29.3 per cent,” the report stated.

“In a continued effort to promote the stability and reliability of existing power grid, G$1.38 billion has been advanced for the rehabilitation of 328 km of low and me-

GPL has said upgrades and new substations are expected by 2018

the weighted average cost rose to US$48.70 for the half year; an increase from US$30.50 as at June 30, 2016. Other expenditure included some G$500 million the utility company repaid Government for loans.

But with the increased revenue, the company’s outlook for the year has improved.

According to the report, the budgeted deficit of G$5 billion is now expected to be lowered to G$771 million.

The report said there was a marginal increase in the production of electricity to 394,832 MWh in the first half of the year. However, the report acknowledges that the company’s technical performance remains plagued with problems.

“At the half year 2017, the 12-month roll-

dium voltage distribution networks in the first half.”

The report reveals that works are expected to commence in the second half of the year, with GPL expecting the work to improve power service delivery to approximately 22,000 of its customers. The work includes plans to rehabilitate an additional 580km of the distribution network.

But even as GPL seeks to improve its infrastructure, service disruptions continue to raise the ire of customers. It is understood that as of March 2017, there were 29 complaints from GPL customers at the level of the Public Utility Commission (PUC). GPL therefore comes in second on the list of complaints, behind only

Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT).

Last month, frustrated businessmen from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) met with staff from GPL at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), where they vented their anger at the constant and prolonged power outages on the Essequibo Coast.

With the northern side of the Essequibo Coast hardest hit, the businessmen pointed to the plight of residents in Charity, who have suffered in the dark for days.

Essequibo Chambers of Commerce Chairman Deleep Singh, representing entrepreneurs, noted that a number of businesses suffered tremendous losses as a direct result of the blackouts. They questioned whether GPL would compensate them for their suffering and losses.

On Thursday last, after much outcry from citizens, the company stated that “a botched tree trimming exercise and a burnt jumper” were among the reasons for the electricity woes.

GPL’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Renford Homer, also explained that shutdown of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) had resulted in a generation shortfall occasioned by reduced generation reserve.

Homer also explained that when the demand was about 84 megawatts, there were 87 megawatts available for generation, which left only three megawatts of reserve capacity, instead of the normal 20 megawatts.

Moreover, the machines at Skeldon and Garden of Eden were being overhauled, whilst the one at Kingston was undergoing routine maintenance.

Power upgrades

At a year-end press conference, Homer had announced that some G$3 billion would be spent by the company towards the construction of four new substations.

He had stated that this formed part of G$6.6 billion that had been set aside for works to improve service delivery of the company; G$3 billion for the new substations and G$1.4 billion for renovation works to existing substations.

According to Homer, these works are expected to be completed by 2018.

s is required under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, the 2017 Mid-Year Financial Report, detailing the performance of the economy for the first half of fiscal year 2017, was on Friday last presented to the National Assembly by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

Its contents have revealed that the country’s export earnings continue to decline, with gold now joining the list of commodities on the decline.

Minister Jordan has had to again revise downwards his overall projection for national growth.

He reports that despite the “historically early budget, the required shift in planning cycles at the sectoral levels failed to keep pace… growth for the year has been revised to 3.1 per cent from 3.8 per cent.”

The Finance Minister has also reported: “Spending was less than one-third of the budgeted allocation.”

Gold

Of note in the report is that while many of the traditional sectors, such as sugar and forestry, continue to perform poorly, the gold sector — which has been credited with keeping the economy buoyant in recent years — has now also begun to decline in terms of production and earnings from sales on the international markets.

Total earnings from gold exports declined from a high of US$390.7 million in the first half of 2016, to US$388.8 million in the first half of 2017 — a decline the equivalent of Gy$404 million.

The information contained in the Finance Minister’s Report contradicts recent pronouncements made by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who had projected growth in the gold sector based on the first quarter performance.

Minister Jordan attributes the decline in gold earnings and production to poor weather, despite a marginal increase in average export price over the period.

Actual Gold production fell by 1.7 percent to 317,096 ounces in the first half of 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.

Of the total gold declared, Minister Jordan said, 65.7 per cent came from small- and medium-sized miners and dealers, whose declarations were above projections while the two large gold companies were below projections.

Jordan also blamed

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

the “switching to lower grade material by one of the producers, to facilitate remedial work at the higher yielding mine” as one of the factors that affected production for the large companies.

Despite the less-thandesired performance in the first half of the year, the Finance Minister remains optimistic. “Overall production is still expected to surpass its 2016 level, with the industry expected to grow by 1.7 percent in 2017,” he has projected.

Mining

The Bauxite Industry also continued along its economic decline, recording a further 11 per cent decline in production in the first half of this year.

According to the information supplied by the Finance Minister, the bauxite industry declined by 11.5 per cent as a result of reduced production of higher-value grades.

“This was due to poor weather combined with mechanical issues at one of the mines,” Minister Jordan says.

He reported, however, that production of metal grade bauxite (MAZ) increased by 97,016 tonnes, or 21.3 per cent.

He said the favourable international price for aluminum in 2017 is expected to boost output of bauxite during the second half of the year.

The other sectors of the mining and quarrying industry contracted by 13.1 percent in the first half of 2017, in comparison to a positive growth of 13.9 percent in the first half of 2016. This decline, he said, is driven by a reduction in the production of diamonds, sand, and stones.

“Declining diamond production was attributed to falling global prices and possible substitution by some miners into the gold industry as a result of the favourable prices of gold.”

Traditional sectors

The minister did report some good news, in that the manufacturing sector recovered in the first half of 2017, growing by 9.9 per cent following a decline of 14.1 per cent in

the corresponding period in 2016. He said this was mainly due to expansion in the rice sector.

According to Jordan, rice produced in the first half of 2017 was recorded at 349,867 tonnes, an increase of 31.6 percent over production in the first half of 2016.

This noteworthy performance, he said, was attributed to a rise in acreage sown in all regions, especially in Region Five, where acreage sown rose by 30 percent to 42,595.

Overall, the agriculture, fishing, and forestry sector grew by 6.4 percent in the first half of 2017, underpinned by the recovery in the rice industry and improved performance in the fishing industry.

According to Jordan, however, compared to the first half of 2016, rice export earnings declined by US$11.1M to US$77.2M, in the first half of 2017.

This, he said, was due to a decline in volume exported despite higher export prices. The Minister, however, noted that due to high levels of production, exports are expected to grow during the second half of 2017, as millers reduce their inventories.

Sugar earnings

According to the Finance Minister, sugar production fell by more than 12 per cent to 49,606 tonnes at the half year, compared to 56,645 tonnes during the first half of 2016.

“This shortfall was mainly due to no production at the Skeldon estate, because the boilers were unsafe and required significant repairs,” he explained.

He also blamed the shortfall on late supply of critical operating materials such as fertilizer; pest damage, particularly at the Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates; unfavourable weather; and strikes and absenteeism.

As a result, the industry was unable to reap its entire first crop, with approximately 150,000 tonnes of cane being carried over to the second crop of 2017.

Despite the lower-than-anticipated production locally, prices on the international market did see sugar earning better than expected prices, bringing in US$19 million for the first half of the year.

Among other exports, fish and shrimp, as well as and rum and other spirits, and wood products showed significant growth in the first half of 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.

24 news

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

No need for another prison CoI, says Ramkarran

W

ith a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the prison system done only last year, as well as a number of reports and plans for reform completed over the years, it is the political will to enact prison reform that is needed from the Government, instead of another expensive CoI. This is according to former House Speaker and veteran political activist, Ralph Ramkarran, commenting on the Government’s decision to launch another CoI in wake of the recent fire that gutted the Camp Street Prison and preceded two of the worst jail breaks in recent memory.

According to Ramkarran, there is no shortage of information on what the Government needs to do to address overcrowding, repeatedly cited as a problem within the prisons. He stressed

Former Speaker of the House, Ralph Ramkarran

that a further study would only repeat recommendations that numerous reports have produced.

“In 2001, a comprehensive report by a British team on prison reform was made. It found overcrowding, violations of human rights, inadequate alternatives to incarceration, poor conditions for prisoners and staff, and minimal scope for rehabilitation…”

The former Speaker of the National Assembly noted that, in the same year, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) had produced a 10-year Strategic Development Plan for 2001-2011. This came after reports, workshops, retreats and visits were done.

“In 2002, the Carter Center presented a report calling for a review of the criminal justice system, including the system of imprisonment. Also, in 2002, the Kennard Commission of Inquiry into the February 2002 jailbreak concluded that it would not have occurred if the prisoners had been transferred to Mazaruni,” Ramkarran reminded.

“In 2004, the Report of the Disciplined Services Commission chaired by Justice Ian Chang made 28 recommendations for improvements to the prisons: increase staff, increasing the capacity of

What was left of the Camp Street Prison after the recent fire

Mazaruni to deal with dangerous prisoners, and other (things),” he pointed out.

Ramkarran also pointed to a 68-page report made in 2009 by a team led by Lloyd Nickram, a Management Specialist in the Public Service Ministry. According to him, the report made much of the same recommendations as the previous reports, and identified the main cause of chronic overcrowding as the large

number of remands and imprisonment for petty crimes.

Added to this body of reports, Ramkarran noted, the Georgetown Prison Visiting Committee reports to the Minister responsible for Public Security on an annual basis. He observed that the crux of their reports would include reiterations of overcrowding and other problems.

According to Ramkarran, there is also the Patterson Commission, which the coalition Government launched after the fire last year that claimed the lives of 17 prisoners. That CoI also made recommendations which have only been partially implemented, Ramkarran pointed out.

“There are approximately 2,000 prisoners in the five facilities: in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Mazaruni, Lusignan and Timehri.

Of these, 35 per cent is on remand awaiting trial.

The Georgetown Prison at Camp Street was designed to accommodate 600 prisoners, but held in the vicinity of 1,000,” he said.

“Violent incidents or escapes have occurred in Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Mazaruni in the past.

There was always a great fear among those responsible for security that Camp Street could explode at any time. The problem of overcrowding was well known,” he argued.

More creative policies

According to Ramkarran, the shortterm tasks that could have brought immediate relief would have been the substantial reduction

of prisoner population by modern, non-custodial sentencing laws and policies for minor offences.

He also noted the need for a more creative policy with regard to bail, and an annual review by the Director of Public Prosecutions of every case of a prisoner awaiting trial for more than two years.

“None of this was ever done,” he said. “The Government did not appoint a permanent multi-agency task force on prison reform to drive the process of reform, without which it has been, and will continue to, languish in bureaucratic inertia,” Ramkarran declared.

“The most important factor, however, is political will and governmental parsimony. At the best of times, the prison and the judiciary are the two step sisters who are starved when funds become scarce. They do not bring in votes at election time, so they receive no political priority,” the Senior Counsel stated.

The fire which razed the Camp Street Prison occurred on July 9, resulting in over 1000 prisoners being displaced.

While some were moved to Mazaruni or granted early release or bail, a contingent had remained at Lusignan under stringent circumstances.

That was until a second jail-break occurred at the Lusignan holding area. And while the authorities have managed to capture all but four of the 17 prisoners who were on the run, corrective measures prompted the Government to seek more than G$500M in supplemental funds from the National Assembly last week.

Speaker blocks...

from page 21

to conduct public forums focusing on the issue of Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) downsizing.

The Committee had made its request since May 31, 2016 to conduct these public forums in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six on specific dates between June 7 and June 30th, 2017.

The request was made under Standing Order (95) 8, and the purpose of

the public forums was to receive the views of the various stakeholders in the respective communities and prepare a report to be submitted to the National Assembly.

In a letter dated June 5 and addressed to Clerk of Committees, Letta Barker, the Speaker had said that a public forum did not seem appropriate for the Committee to undertake.

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New York City Council Elections: Guyanese Richard David campaign creating waves

By Irshaad Ishmail

I

magine a Guyanese defying all odds and making history. This is exactly what Richard David has set out to do. The New York City Council has never had a South Asian, IndoCaribbean, or specifically a Guyanese serve as a Council Member. The Richard David campaign is setting out to change that, and with help, the monumental feat is plausible in District 28 which include Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, South Jamaica Rochdale Village and a portion of Ozone Park.

While this election is potentially historic, it is long overdue.

According to the New York City Department of Planning, in every single district in Southern Queens, Guyanese are the single largest immigrant group and are the 2nd largest across Queens after the Chinese, who have elected multiple political representatives. This time, the entire community is unified behind a single candidate for the City Council.

To get on the election ballot, 450 signatures from registered Democrats in the district were needed. The Richard David campaign got 2,100 and is the only campaign that was able to do it with all volunteers. The extent of those signatures and of the volunteers who petitioned for them is revealing in many ways. It shows that Richard David, the only candidate on the ballot who has not run for office before, has the strongest grassroots support in the district, and has a solid shot at winning this election. It always comes down to voters actually participating though.

If the numbers themselves are not convincing, then simply step in to the many wellknown restaurants and businesses that district 28 has to offer. Many of them, you will find, proudly display a flyer of Richard David on their windows. Virtually every single community leader has thrown their support behind Richard. Major unions and political entities have also endorsed Richard including the Communication Workers of America District 1, New York State Immigration Action Fund, the Stonewall Democratic Club and many others.

Richard is not only Guyanese, he’s also the most qualified person in the race although he’s the youngest at age

Richard David

31. Richard has held some of the most senior positions at three City agencies over the last 10 years including Vice President at the NYC Economic Development Corporation, Executive Director of the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs and Chief of Staff at the NYC Administration for Children’s Services.

First and foremost, however, Richard is an activist. He co-founded the Indo-Caribbean Alliance, which has become one of the largest Guyanese organizations in New York with a space on Liberty Ave, paid staff and fulltime programs for the community.

He has been on the Community Board for the last 9 years and became a homeowner at age 25.

While Richard also has a Master’s degree from New York University, he takes great pride in his Guyanese and IndoCaribbean heritage. He always talks about coming to the United States with virtually nothing like most immigrants.

Imagine seeing the headline “Guyanese Politician Makes History” and similar headlines notifying you that a Guyanese has defied the odds, and made history. People often argue that your vote does not matter, but the votes that made Barack Obama the first African American president mattered, the votes that made Cheddi Jagan the first Indian president of Guyana mattered, and the votes that will make Richard David the first Guyanese on the NYC Council will matter too. There are several reasons why so many spend their time volunteering for the Richard David campaign and doing whatever it takes to elect him as District 28’s next Council Member— it is his enthusiasm and hard work, but most of all, it is his bright vision for the district. Richard wants to bring our tax dollars back to the district to build new community centers for seniors and young people, to clean up the neighborhood and to improve the graduation rates in our high schools.

On September 12th, it won’t be just Richard David’s name on the ballot. It will be the entire community.

Together, we can make it happen. This time, we must make it happen. The deadline to register to vote in August 18, 2017. If you have questions, his office is at 13304 Rockaway Blvd, you can call 917-310-5148 or visit the website, www.

RichardDavidNYC.com.

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Artist Vimaldat ‘Chris’ Bissessar

By Lakhram Bhagirat

F

or 17-year-old Vimaldat ‘Chris’ Bissessar, art means expressing every emotion coursing through his body via his paint brushes, pens and pencils. Art gives him the opportunity to “create magic”.

Chris, as he prefers to be called, was born on May 6, 2000 and is an only child. He attended the West Demerara Secondary School, where he recently wrote CSEC. “Growing up I was always an artistic child, constantly doodling on my text books. Teachers from primary school and

my parents were always enthusiastic and very encouraging of the scribbles I gave them,” Chris recalled in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Although his passion for art started from childhood, Chris explained he became even more enthused when he stumbled upon a watercolour ‘speed painting’ video on YouTube.

“I bothered my father to take me shopping for art supplies. I bought everything that I needed and instantly went home and slowly started painting. I remember being very pleased with my first painting. After

Another watercolour artwork

that, I progressed and would use my savings and allowances to buy more brushes, paper and books on how to paint - which mostly helped but my greatest teacher

was the internet,” Chris recollected.

Additionally, the artist stated that his inspiration came from American painters, Bob Ross and Lena Danya.

Oil painting of a beach scene

Inspired, Chris started with watercolour painting. He also wholly enjoyed the “simplicity” exhibited by French YouTuber called Tillth.

“I was inspired to

pursue art because of its dying culture; this amazing and beautiful practice needs to be kept alive and practiced more frequently. Due to continued on page 39

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The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

S

cholars will differ on the most defining event leading to the ‘full’ emancipation of enslaved Africans in Guyana. After reading the only fictional account of the 1823 Demerara slave uprising, it would appear that the above event was the most critical on the road to freedom.

The fictional account in reference is a book titled “Ratoon”, published in 1962 and written by prolific Guyanese author, Christopher Nicole. “Ratoon” is based on an improbable romance of two protagonists - a white female plantation heiress and a black male slave and freedom fighter/rebel leader.

Nicole used this ‘improbable romance’ to reconstruct a revolt spawned by the promise of freedom and freedom delayed.

There were many other factors spawning that revolt, such as the inherent desire for freedom, overwork due to a decline in labour force, increased hours of work, the switch from cotton cultivation to sugar and personal grievances. Religious considerations played a major role in the revolt.

Subtle ways were employed by plantation management to restrict the enslaved from attending church, including work on Sundays; teaching from the Bible, which portrayed all men as equal in the sight of God; and the story of the deliverance of Jews. Some of the enslaved revolted for complete freedom, while others wanted Sundays off and additional days of rest.

In August 1823, thousands of slaves

Christopher Nicole

from about 55 sugar plantations on the East Coast of Demerara banded together to remonstrate their cause.

After the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, there was a tightening of the screws on available labour force, which meant the condition of slaves worsened. The awful condition of slavery on the Demerara plantations was graphically described by Rev. John Smith in his journal covering the years 1817-1824 he lived, and leading up to his death in British Guiana.

Posted to British Guiana, Smith and his wife sailed from Liverpool, England arriving in Demerara on February 23, 1817. Apart from the rough welcome from

the muddy Demerara River, Smith was greeted by Governor Murray with the ultimatum which forbade Smith teaching the slaves. If he did, then the governor threatened to banish him immediately from the colony.

Despite that warning, Smith revived the mission station (Bethel Chapel) at Plantation Le Resouvenir vacated by Rev. John Wray. Smith’s evangelism was an instant success. He preached to large congregations, often spilling out of the chapel. That response encouraged him to start a class preparing slaves converted to Christianity for catechism and baptism.

Of course, he raised the ire of the governor and many planters. So at the time of the insurrection, in 1823, it was not difficult for Smith to fall foul of the law of the land. Martial law was imposed, hundreds of slaves were butchered, many hung and displayed in public for months, and John Smith was arrested. A frail and sick man, he was incarcerated for some seven weeks then tried in a court martial lasting some 28 days. He was condemned to death. A reprieve by the home government was granted, but before this news reached the colony, he died in prison.

Although Smith’s work was influential in the revolt, it was the Christianised slaves who planned and executed the revolt. Slaves like Jack Gladstone, Quamina, Seaton, Manuel and Richard of Plantation Success, Telemachus and Joseph of Plantation Bachelor’s Adventure, Sandy of Plantation Non Pareil, and Paris of Plantation Good Hope.

By Odeen Ishmael

D

eep within the forest stood a massive tree. This tree was a very unusual tree because it had magical qualities that enabled it to produce all kinds of fruits on its wide leafy branches. It also had an immense trunk and was much taller than any other tree, rising like a majestic mountain in the middle of the forest.

Large knots protruded from its bark, and its branches were so thickly covered with leaves that they blocked the sunlight from reaching the ground. Nevertheless, it was always full of life since large flocks of birds and swarms of insects occupied its branches and fed on its delicious fruits, which emitted a pleasant fragrance all around.

All the people in the surrounding countryside came to this special tree for its abundant supply of fruits and most of them felt that they must make special efforts to ensure that it was carefully protected. For its colossal size and magical properties, it was known as the tree of life.

But Pia, the well-known powerful and muscular woodcutter, was determined to test his skills by cutting down this mammoth tree. One day he expressed his thoughts to the men in his village.

“All over the land everyone would regard me as the greatest woodcutter if I chop down this tree,” he boasted.

But Akuri, the short rotund farmer, immediately objected to his plan.

“How can you ever think of cutting down the tree of life?” he remonstrated. “It provides fruits for us all year round. If you chop it down, we will lose a most valuable resource, and, furthermore, our ancestors warned us that if ever that tree is cut down a destructive flood will spread all over the land.”

But Pia shook his head in disbelief.

“It’s just an old superstition that cutting down the tree will bring about a flood,” he declared. “I don’t believe that will ever happen. And if I cut down the tree, we can easily transplant pieces of its branches all over the land, thus enabling more fruits to

be available after a little while.”

Opinion was divided over his statement, and while some agreed with him, others, including Akuri, continued to raise objections.

But nothing could deter Pia, so he grabbed his heavy axe, threw it across his broad shoulders, and strode into the forest towards the magic tree. Akuri, worried as ever, hustled behind and pleaded with him to desist from any rash action.

Soon after, Pia arrived at the magic tree and stood beside its huge trunk under the thick branches looming overhead.

He lifted his axe and made a heavy chop on the trunk. But the wood was so hard that the heavy axe bounced back without leaving a mark on it. Again and again he swung the axe, but it had no effect at all.

Standing close by, Akuri pleaded for Pia to stop his madness, but the woodcutter ignored him and continued to chop away.

As Pia realised he was making no headway, he suddenly remembered that he could call on the forest spirit to soften the wood of the magic tree. This he did, and almost at once, the forest spirit, who had always protected him, softened the wood and the heavy axe began to cut deep into the trunk.

Seeing this, Akuri begged, “Please, Pia, don’t cut down the tree or else a dangerous

flood will emerge from it.”

But Pia continued to ignore him, so in frantic haste he began to collect bees’ wax and fallen fruits which he stuffed into the sharp gashes the axe made on the tree trunk. Akuri hoped that his action would prevent any flood that he feared would spew from the damaged tree. But as fast as Akuri kept filling the gashes, Pia continued to hew away at the tree trunk.

Then Pia’s axe sank far into the trunk which had become as soft as a papaya tree, and at any moment it seemed as if the tree would tumble over. By this time, a large crowd of people had gathered at the scene and they watched as Pia chopped away while Akuri tried desperately to stuff the deep cuts with wax and fruits.

Soon, the great tree began to sway, but just as it was about to fall, the onlookers heard a loud shout. It was Anzik, Pia’s close friend, who came rushing up to save tree of life. He had been away from the village and, on his return, had learned from some children of what his friend intended to do.

He shouted to the forest spirit, who was his protector as well, to make the tree trunk as hard as rock. At once, the forest spirit heeded his call and immediately Pia’s axe no longer had any effect on the tree.

But the damage was already done.

Against that backdrop, Nicole placed his main characters, Joan Dart, heiress to the Plantation, and Jackey Reed, Christianised slave and leader of the revolt. The novel also included the role of John Smith and Governor Murray.

The book covers events from Thursday, July 24 to Friday, September 19. The actual start of the revolt was August 18, and

by August 20 it had fizzled out.

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

With the trunk cut more than half-way across, the mighty tree swayed and then crashed heavily with a loud creaking sound to the ground. Its wide-spreading, heavy branches knocked over all trees nearby, and its fruits flew off in all directions. And as slammed to the ground, the force of its weight split a large section of the trunk and tore up the deeply embedded roots which erupted from the soil, causing a destructive earthquake all over the land. Great blocks of rock were ripped up and thrown in the air as well, and as they fell back they formed a range of high mountains stretching as far as the eye could see.

As for the enormous trunk of the tree of life, it also rose up to the sky in the form of a massive rock, and created a towering mountain which later became known as Roraima.

And from its base where the rippedopen trunk once stood, a gigantic spout of water shot out and began to flood the entire countryside. While Pia and some of the villagers saved themselves by rushing to higher ground, many people and animals in the surrounding areas could not escape the deluge. The flow was so fast and furious that large numbers of them drowned because they could not reach high land quickly enough.

One of those lucky enough to escape was Akuri. He ran as fast as he could, but his short chubby legs proved to be a disadvantage. As the flood waters were almost upon him, the forest spirit mercifully transformed him into an agouti, and his new-found swiftness of feet enabled him to scamper rapidly up the steep side of Mount Roraima, high above the raging waters of the mighty flood.

Story, published with permission from author, is taken from “Guyana Legends – Folktales of the Indigenous Amerindians”

by Odeen Ishmael, published 2012.

Ishmael is a veteran retired Guyanese diplomat. He retired from the diplomatic service in June 2014. He last served as Guyana's Ambassador to Kuwait.

feature 35

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

A

As a fitness trainer, Cynthia fervently advocates for healthy living

n ardent promoter of healthy living, recently crowned Miss Global International Guyana 2017, Cynthia Dookie, is convinced “that many life-threatening illnesses can be curbed and/or prevented if we make healthier choices as it relates to our diets and wellness”.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, the 23-yearold said Miss Global International Guyana is not her first pag-

eant. She was a contestant in the Miss India Guyana 2017 pageant, in which she placed second runner-up or “Second Princess”, was awarded Miss Fitness, and second place within the ‘Beautiful Heart’ category.

Cynthia’s platform in the Miss Global International pageant is “health and fitness”.

She explained that the reason for her platform’s choice was as a consequence of her mother being admon-

ished by doctors to basically “get healthy or die”.

“Becoming a fitness trainer was something I never decided on, but just happened in my life, and I’m so grateful it did. A few years ago, my mom got sick and was told by doctors if she didn't make drastic changes in her life, such as her diet, she would die. This was an eye-opener for me, and my mom and I took matters into our own hands. I decided that the only way I was going to get her to work out and eat healthier was if I did it with her,” Cynthia disclosed.

After a few months of hard work and dedication to improving both herself and mother’s health and fitness, an opportunity arose for Cynthia to become a personal trainer, and she grabbed it.

“It was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. This lead to the formation of my signature project, Fit U, under the tag line: ‘Transforming Lives One Pound at a Time’,” recalled the fitness trainer.

Concerning her recent win in the Miss Global International

Guyana, Cynthia pointed out that the “phenomenal queens” before her “left huge shoes to fill as it relates to their placement internationally”; hence she is working tirelessly to ensure she brings home the Miss Global International crown.

With franchise holders, Melicia Partab Alli (left) and Hashim Alli (right)

Miss Global International Guyana 2017, Cynthia Dookie (Photo by Shamer Hescott)

“When I win the international title, I intend to use it to give a voice to my platform, which is promoting health and fitness throughout Guyana

all you have to do is to take the first steps. Do it for your health, but most importantly, for yourself”.

Apart from fitness and pageantry,

Being crowned by Miss Global International Guyana 2016, Poonam Singh

and internationally.

I believe taking care of our bodies must be a priority. I also intend to use my title as a means to reach out to young women and help to motivate them as it relates to building their self-esteem and creating better versions of themselves,” the beauty queen declared.

Cynthia’s advice to youths is to “always follow your dreams; you can achieve anything you set your heart on, once you work hard and never give up; be brave and be confident”.

Additionally, she mentioned that “dieting and exercise can be simple and easy,

Cynthia volunteers with local charitable organisation, Help and Shelter. Her hobbies include traveling, cooking, reading and working out.

Currently, Cynthia is pursuing a degree in human resource management through the Association of Business Education.

Visit Miss Global International Guyana on Facebook for more information on Cynthia’s advocacy work and her journey to the Miss Global International pageant, which is slated for September 6-10, 2017 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

36 feature

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V

isiting her mother’s homeland, Guyana, Danielle Hodge was inspired to create an avenue to not only promote her heritage, but to empower local communities.

This inspiration gave birth to Indigenous Coconut Oil. In an interview with Sunday T i m e s Magazine, Danielle s a i d she was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Orlando, Florida, where she currently resides.

Her mother is from Anna Regina, Guyana and her father from St. Martin.

In 2016, Danielle visited Guyana to attend the first annual Coconut Festival.

Out of the many trips she has taken to visit her family, the trip to Guyana in 2016 was different. With over 10 years’ experience in grassroots marketing and a true passion to give back to her mother's homeland, it was an easy decision to take on a brand of her own.

Danielle cancelled her round trip ticket back to the US and stayed in Guyana for a month until she found her product.

Danielle Hodge

During Danielle's last trip to Guyana, Indigenous Coconut Oil was born.

I n d i g e n o u s Coconut Oil was founded in 2016 with a simple idea: to empower women artisans in Guyana by showcasing their beautiful craft through entrepreneurship.

Its products are handmade by indigenous women located along the Pomeroon River in Guyana. So when you purchase those products you support indigenous women groups.

“I started Indigenous Coconut Oil on my own. The idea and taking the leap to start, I will say came from God. What keeps me going

is knowing that it's alright to fail, but most importantly giving my all every day and knowing giving up is not an option,” expressed Danielle.

She noted that the mission behind Indigenous Coconut Oil is to empower Guyanese women and encoura g e young entrep r e neurs.

“As a first time e n trepreneur myself, I know it can be scary not knowing what to do. You start questioning and doubting yourself on starting a business of your own.

Sometimes you may even feel you can't go out and look for a job because there aren't many opportunities or enough encouragement. I want to be an example and use my platform to assist in creating opportunities. I am on a mission to advocate for women and young people to ensure artisans in Guyana are getting decent and consistent work,” she declared.

Danielle mentioned that she has been in business for

about seven months now and there is much she still has to accomplish. She added that connecting with the Guyana Marketing C o r p o r a t i o n ; International Organization for Migration; and the University of Guyana has been a “huge accomplishment thus far”. Danielle pointed out that these organisations have been very helpful in getting her the assistance she needs in Guyana. “ T h e r e have been a lot of things that inspired m e a l o n g my journey, including support from my family and friends.

I can say my last bit of inspiration came from my visit to the Coconut Festival last October in Guyana.

Seeing all the products and small business owners gave me the final ‘ok’ to put Indigenous Coconut Oil into motion. I haven’t partnered with any organisations as yet, but I am very open to hearing from organisations with potential for partnership and creating future opportunities,” she declared.

Danielle’s plans also include organis-

Activated coconut shell charcoal

ing “a small mix and mingle” to meet with women in business and young women looking for guidance in entrepreneurship in Guyana. she Additionally, hopes to meet with students at various schools in Guyana to encourage and empower them.

Her goal is to also partner with local villages and continue to be a platform to market natural products from Guyana and indigenous communities.

Indigenous coconut oil

“I hope to also meet with any government officials interested in my story. I hope by meeting with them, we can create a blueprint for new job opportunities in Guyana. In the future, I would like to add more products to my brand. I feel that as the brand grows, the demand for product from Guyana will grow,” Danielle stated.

For more information, email Danielle at info.indcoco@ gmail.com or visit indigenouscoconutoil. com or Indigenous Coconut Oil on Facebook.

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Means, ends…

P

…and Burnham ressie, in his role as Leader of the PNC, along with his General Secretary, Basil Williams; other stalwarts of the party; and, most interestingly, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, vowed to continue the legacy of the Founder-Leader of the PNC, Forbes Burnham. It was the 32nd anniversary of the death of the man.

So, the question arises as to what exactly is that “legacy” that’s gonna be unfolding. Well, politically, there’s the “Declaration of Sophia” by Burnham in 1974. This created a political system in which the PNC was declared “paramount” over the state.

If there are some today who’re quibbling about the Executive favouring its “perceptions” of the Constitution over the opinion of the Judiciary, they should ponder this: under the “paramountcy of the party”, the PNC flag flew over the Court of Appeal!!

On the legacy of “democracy”, there was also the routine rigging of elections in 1968, 1973, 1980 and 1985 — so the other political parties, like PPP and WPA — were so much window dressing. Is this what we’re to expect in 2020?

On the economy, about which the speakers all extolled Burnham’s moves to “remove poverty”, what are the facts?

In 1989 the McIntyre Report announced that, from being one of the more developed countries in the Caribbean, we were now just above Haiti in the rankings. The entire country was living in general poverty, with Guyana classified as a “Highly Indebted Poor Country”.

By 1992 the UN-conducted Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) showed 43.2% of the populace living below “moderate” poverty, and 28.7% were in “extreme” poverty! And this was AFTER Desmond Hoyte worked for FIVE YEARS to undo Burnham’s economic follies!

With the way the present lot’s handling the economy, they’re already well on their way to fulfil the legacy of Burnham in this area!

But what was most troubling about the speeches extolling Burnham’s “greatness” was that no one even mentioned the circumstance under which he’d assumed office. It was described (most kindly) as a “coup on the cheap” executed by the CIA for just US$3.5M. But its cost to the Guyanese nation was much more expensive — a virtual civil war between the two major ethnic groups that left 176 dead, communities split, and a massive ethnic cleansing from the Bauxite mining villages that were soon designated as a “town” and named after Burnham – Linden.

Hey! What the heck?

But one thing your Eyewitness won’t disagree with is the claim that Burnham removed “inequality” from Guyana. He certainly did THAT by the time he died in 1985. He made all of us EQUALLY poverty stricken!! …and GuySuCo’s employment costs The Government’s complaining about GuySuCo’s employment’s costs outstripping revenues. Well, Duh!! What’d they expect when they officially close Wales Estate, produce NO sugar, and then have to pay 1,700 workers severance pay?? And simultaneously shut down Skeldon factory, because they didn’t fix some boilers and obviously don’t produce any sugar – but have to pay the workers. But that’s not all. They go out and hire ten geriatrics — average age 80 years!! — and pay each of them over G$1million a month to be “Interim Managers” in their Central Staff at Head Office! The mega salaries of the latter, such as marketing etc, are lumped in “employments costs”. When GuySuCo complains about this, it pretends it’s all for the 17,000 field and factory workers.

They don’t let on: some 300 Central Staff rake in about 1/3 of what 17,000 estate workers earn!!

But we all know what this narrative is all about, don’t we? Sugar workers must learn that the wages of not supporting the PNC is being on the breadlines!! …Broadcasting Licenses The Muckraker complained their boss wasn’t “given” a broadcasting licence because Jagdeo didn’t follow the law in his allocation of the spectrum. But it’s OK now for Nagamootoo to break the law to now take away licences and award one to him!

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Using art to ‘create magic’... from page 32

but they always vary. I find myself using cool colours, the majority of the time. At the moment, I'm hooked on oil painting, so who knows what other art form I shall explore later on,” he declared.

Though Chris’ artworks have never been on display, he aims to cement his place among veteran artists in the local art industry. Therefore, it is safe to say that we can expect to see Chris’ work being displayed in the near future.

You can connect with the artist at Chris Bissessar on Facebook or on Instagram.

Beautiful watercolour painting

the greater development of technology, there is not much need for actual paintings. I feel that there is just a timeless beauty in art that needs to be preserved. It is a skill that should be encouraged in schools because it presents a way for individuals to express themselves, on canvas,” expressed Chris.

After becoming comfortable with watercolour, the artist then progressed on to oil paintings - a transition that many warned was the “hardest form of painting”. But Chris was up for the challenge; he saved his allowances and bought the necessary materials required to venture into oil painting. Looking back, Chris said he has no regrets and enjoys every second of oil painting.

The young artist pointed out that the art industry in Guyana is

suffering. He believes that it is an area “no one sees as important”, but hopes this situation changes when he decides to officially launch an art career.

“I find some artists in Guyana only focus on real shots and references; there are no additions to make that painting more photogenic or whimsical, which is more my style. Art in Guyana is quite underdeveloped in my perspective. There are talented individuals, but there are very limited avenues of showcasing their skill or display their work,” Chris noted.

Apart from painting, Chris enjoys photography. Both the painting and photography processes push him to always produce his best.

“I aim for something to be beautiful with a photogenic attribute.

My pieces are contrasted and heavily saturated,

One of Chris' oil paintings

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40 Travel & tourism

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Carahaa Landing

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A tent with hammocks at the camp (Photo by Grete Howard on Flickr)

arahaa Landing camp is an exciting ‘hammock camp’ located on the banks of the Burro Burro River, three miles from Surama Eco-Lodge in North Rupununi.

In a large clearing of the dense jungle, there is a large, open benab for hanging hammocks; a smaller adjacent benab has a table and cooking area where food is prepared over an open fire.

It is a basic set-up but the permanent structure provides good shelter for anyone wishing to experience a night camping in the jungle without roughing it too much.

Staying overnight at the camp also allows visitors to experience night walks through the jungle, and late evening and very early morning canoe trips on the river, when the animals and birds are most active.

For birding enthusiasts, it is a great location for spotting some of Guyana’s famed birds.

Carahaa Landing offers a great experience in the heart of the jungle.

(Information by Kirk Smock.)

Arriving at the Landing (Photo by jcdl. on Flickr)

Surama Eco-Lodge

Aerial view of Surama airstrip (Photo

by Surama Eco-Lodge)

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Group identity and constitutional change

By Ravi Dev

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hile the Government has finally proposed a consultative mechanism for initiating its campaign promise for “constitutional change”, they are once again putting the cart before the horse. A Constitution basically allocates power in the State to ensure the society is governed according to the wishes of the people, and that the people in turn are not oppressed by the State.

While the politicians like to pretend otherwise, “power” is what politics is all about: the currency of politics is power, and politics is ultimately concerned with the competition of groups within a given society to capture and secure power.

If this allocation of power is to be acceptable to all, that is, for it to be legitimate and authoritative, shouldn’t we begin by finding out first what kind of society we are; what kind of society our citizens want, and what are the obstacles that must be overcome to bring such a society into being? The Constitution can then be crafted to deal with those obstacles immanent in the structures of the State. Other obstacles must be dealt with by other institutions since ultimately, changes in moral and cultural consciousness precede changes in political behaviour.

Within each polity, the competition for power is informed by the political culture, structures, and institutions present in the society. “Political culture” basically consists of the attitudes, beliefs, values and orientations about politics in a given population at any given time. After halfa-century of “self-rule” after independence, our political culture, for instance is dominated by a pervasive belief that the major political parties not only favour the group that forms their base, but actually work to “marginalise” the other groups.

Constitutional change must address this view.

The nature of these politicised groups is

therefore crucial to an understanding of the politics in any country. In general, the composition of these competing groups varies with the nature of the cleavages in the society: all societies are split economically, most ethnically and some racially. These categories are not mutually exclusive and may occur in varying combinations: in Guyana for instance, race and ethnicity coincide, and are used synonymously.

The nature of the political competition depends on which of the cleavages, if any, emerge as the most salient, which in turn, hinges on various contingencies: st r u c t u ra l /e co n o m i c , historical, political and psychological.

Our political structures were foisted on us by Europeans who assumed they had already ‘solved’ their ethnic/nationalist problem by transmuting it from a ‘national’ problem into an international one when they formed more or less ethnically homogenous states.

“State” and “nation” were generally synonymous to the early European constitutionalists who focused on economic cleavages rather than ethnic ones, which were peripheral to their reality.

The few, who did, such as JS Mill, pessimistically concluded that: “Free institutions are next to impossible in a country made up of different nationalities”. England, of course, is still trying to deal with its “Scottish and Irish problems”.

But yet in Guyana, where race/ethnicity transcends class as the dominant cleavage and suffuses politics as well as most other social interactions, we have ignored the implications of this source of group identity in the political institutions created by the Constitution. A powerful norm has emerged which militates against the public acknowledgement of this fact by the political parties. In spite of this, these same politicians, by their mobilisation tactics and other activities, demonstrate that they have come to a modus vivendi with the racial/ ethnic imperative.

Until the politicians and other actors in the public arena openly and publicly confront the racial/ethnic bases of Guyanese political culture

and structures, and deal with its consequences affirmatively, we will remain mired in a Sisyphean paradigm.

Doomed to struggle strenuously – perhaps even heroically – but ultimately futilely, for the goal they all claim to share in common – a Guyana in which all groups can have their just share of power: political, economic and social. As part and parcel – and in fact as suggested – as a condition precedent to the taking proposals on constitutional change, this discussion must take place.

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42 feature

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Student successfully creates app for GTT

Cuffy and the 1763 Monument celebrated on stamps

By Ann Wood

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mancipation Day is observed in many former European colonies in the Caribbean, South Africa, Canada and areas in the United States on various dates. This day commemorates the emancipation of African slaves. It also observes areas regarding the abolition of other forms of slavery.

Emancipation Day in Guyana is celebrated on August 1 and commemorates the abolition of slavery in Guyana in 1834.

A former slave, Cuffy, has become the symbol of the abolition of slavery in Guyana. Cuffy became famous due to his leading the 1763 revolt of more than 2,500 slaves against the colony regime.

He was an Akan man who was captured in his native West Africa and stolen for slavery to work in the plantations of the Dutch colony of Berbice. He died in 1763 and is considered a national hero in Guyana.

The anniversary of the Cuffy slave

rebellion, February 23, has been celebrated as the Republic Day in Guyana since 1970. Cuffy is immortalised by the 1763 Monument located at the Square of the Revolution. The monument was designed by the late Guyanese artist, Philip Moore.

In 1977, Guyana issued a series of stamps featuring the Cuffy monument to commemorate the 1763 slave revolt and the abolition of slavery in Guyana.

It is catalogued in the Scott Catalog as #'s 263-66. These stamps are featured today.

Ann Wood is president of the Guyana Philatelic Society. The members of the Guyana Philatelic Society are people from all walks of life who collect new issues from Guyana to those who have only very limited stamp budgets. But above all, the stamp club offers the friendship, knowledge and experience of its members who are there to help stamp collectors with advice on all aspects of collecting. Visit www.guyanastamps.com for more information on stamp collection.

the making years before he learned about developing Android apps.

“Back then, I just thought someone should build an app to do this, but no one did.

Then one day, sometime in September 2015, I just suddenly decided to try Android Satesh Persaud app development. And that started a long

By Ashraf Dabie journey of fun self-learnhile pursuing ing that I don’t want to academic stud- end. When I’m learning ies at Queen’s something new, I need College, 18-year-old some sort of goal as moSatesh Persaud divided tivation to keep learning his time between study- and that’s when I deciding and crafting a mobile ed to make this app my application for local tele- goal. I kept learning and communications compa- working on the app since ny, Guyana Telephone then and that continues and Telegraph Company up to now,” he expressed.

The self-taught pro(GTT). Notably, Persaud created a shortcut to pro- grammer can now boast vide customers with a the creation of his very simplified approach to own app at such a tender age.

GTT’s mobile services. “ I t “The app I designed is called GDial. It has one w a s simple goal and that is q u i t e to simplify the way us- tough to ers access options in GTT manage *100# menu. GDial pres- s c h o o l ents the options from the and de*100# menu in a simple v e l o p and organised manner. the app, To select an option, you e s p e simply tap on it. When c i a l l y you tap an option, you since I automatically dial the had to number that takes you l e a r n straight to the result for how to that option. For exam- develop ple, tapping the Dynamic the app Balance option instant- at the ly dials the number and s a m e displays your Dynamic t i m e . did Balance,” the comput- I m o s t er science student explained to Sunday Times of the w o r k Magazine.

Persaud described a f t e r himself as a “fan of all s c h o o l things relating to com- a n d puters and program- d u r i n g ming”. He added that his h o l i idea for the app was in days. I App features

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didn’t really have a project plan. I just did something and if I liked it, I kept it. If I didn’t like it, I improved on it. Due to that, the app took over a year to develop before I first released it,” he recalled.

Persaud’s dedication to his studies paired with his passion for creating GDial stands as a testimony of the invaluable talents and skills that exist locally.

Additionally, the 18-year-old’s creation is an inspiration to other young aspiring innovators, who Persaud urged to “explore their possibilities and work tirelessly towards achieving their goals”.

The GDial app is now available for download on Google Play Store and is free of cost.

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The facts are clear on breastfeeding

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orld Breastfeeding Week was observed from August 1–7 under the theme, ‘Sustaining Breastfeeding Together’.

It provided yet another opportunity for the various stakeholders in the health sector to remind everyone of the many health benefits that can be obtained when couples go the route of ensuring their babies are breastfed.

The evidence shows that breastfeeding has cognitive and health benefits for both infants and their mothers.

It is especially critical during the first six months of life, helping prevent diarrhoea and pneumonia – two major causes of death in infants.

Also, mothers who breastfeed have a reduced risk of ovarian and breast cancer; two leading causes of death among women.

In fact, UNICEF, the World Health Organisation and scientists across the world have promoted breastfeeding

as the foundation of good nutrition and a platform to protect children against diseases. However, inspite of all of the known facts about breastfeeding, countries, including Guyana, are still lagging behind as a huge percentage of newborns are not being breastfed.

According to a new report

by UNICEF and the WHO in collaboration with ‘The Global Breastfeeding Collective’, no country in the world fully meets recommended standards for breastfeeding.

The ‘Global Breastfeeding Scorecard’, which evaluated 194 nations, found that only 40 per cent of children younger than six months are breastfed exclusively and only 23 countries have exclusive breastfeeding rates above 60 per cent.

The 23 countries that have achieved exclusive breastfeeding rates above 60 per cent are: Bolivia, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia,

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Micronesia, Federated States of Nauru, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, São Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zambia.

According to the WHO, globally, investment in breastfeeding is far too low. It says that each year, governments in lower- and middle-income countries spend approximately US$250 million on breastfeeding promotions; and donors provide only an additional US$85 million. The scorecard was released at the start of World Breastfeeding Week alongside a new analysis demonstrating that an annual investment of only US$4.70 per newborn is required to increase the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding among children under six months to 50 per cent by 2025. ‘Nurturing the Health

By Jainarine Deonauth

and Wealth of Nations: The Investment Case for Breastfeeding’, suggests that meeting this target could save the lives of 520,000 children under the age of five and potentially generate US$300 billion in economic gains over 10 years, as a result of reduced illness and healthcare costs and increased productivity.

In Guyana’s case, the breastfeeding rate for newborn babies is now approximately 23 per cent.

This is enough to cause the authorities to review national policies and revise and strengthen the present approaches in relation to the national breastfeeding campaign. There is an urgent need for a consistent, aggressive breastfeeding campaign aimed at persuading mothers and fathers that early and exclusive breastfeeding helps children survive, supports healthy brain development, improves cognitive performance and is a major factor in better educational achievement at age five. Even if there is such a campaign at the moment, it is very limited and done in an inconsistent manner.

That said, ‘The Global Breastfeeding Collective’ is calling on countries to: increase funding to raise breastfeeding rates from birth through two years, fully implement the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and relevant World Health Assembly resolutions through strong legal measures that are enforced and independently monitored by organisations free from conflicts of interest, enact paid family leave and workplace breastfeeding policies, building on the International Labour Organisation’s maternity protection guidelines as a minimum requirement, including provisions for the informal sector, implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in maternity facilities, including providing breast-milk for sick and vulnerable newborns, improve access to skilled breastfeeding counselling as part of comprehensive breastfeeding policies and programmes in health facilities, strengthen links between health facilities and communities, and encourage community networks that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding and strengthen monitoring systems that track the progress of policies, programmes, and funding towards achieving both national and global breastfeeding targets.

These are all useful recommendations which countries such as Guyana should take seriously by working diligently towards ensuring they become a reality.

Back to the future…

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…with overseas voting? our Eyewitness didn’t attend the “Diaspora Engagement Conference,” for the simple reason he didn’t want to be seen endorsing – in the slightest way – the coronation of the UG VC. What has the VC man done since he was rescued by his old YSM comrades – after he was let go with a year still to go on his two-year contract from the southern Land Grant College in Georgia USA? After all, his “Strategic Culture” symposium in 2011 in Florida (on behalf of United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) was more about removing the PPP and installing APNU in office.

At UG, he spent more to cover the expenses of his jaunt to NY – with more than a dozen select staff members – than the funds they were supposed to raise, since it was billed as a “fundraiser”. Appoint a “Cabinet” (yes!! That’s what he calls it!) of some high-priced University supporters, while the rest of the staff have to support raising students’ fees if they’re to get a salary increase. Arbitrarily raise said students’ fees – which he had to rescind after protests? Your Eyewitness is still waiting for the promised accounting of how much the VC spent on his coronation.

So, anyhow, your Eyewitness has had to wait for reports to leak out on what transpired during the soiree at Ramada Princess. And now your Eyewitness is getting mighty alarmed after he was just informed – via a letter in the press – of one presenter calling for a “Return of Overseas Voting”!!

And this was done by none other than an Executive of the WPA! On “overseas voting,” your Eyewitness can understand VC being enthusiastic.

After all, he was a card-carrying YSM member – along with most of the other PNC pensioners in the present Government – when Burnham, in 1968, came up with that stunt to begin his 20-year practice of rigging elections. Remember when the franchise was extended by the Comrade Leader to allow horses to vote in England via “overseas voting”?

But for the WPA to suggest returning this muchabused device — even if it wasn’t going to be used for rigging… Why extend our voting overseas, when we can’t even count our votes INSIDE Guyana?

Who’s going to organise the overseas votes?

The other WPA executive member who’s been placed in change of the “Diaspora Engagement Centre”? They’re going to be registering “overseas Guyanese”?? Is the list going to be as skewed as those who were invited to the Diaspora Engagement?

What’s definite is: something’s afoot to cook-up the 2020 elections. …on funding witch-hunting Accusations of “siphoned billions” by the PPP begat the audits when the PNC-led coalition slipped into office. That begat SARU, which begat SARA. By the last “begetting”, it was clear the Government was determined to “get” identified members of the PPP. SARA was going to be the hired-gun bounty hunters, who’d be paid from SARA’s takings. SARU’s Director was co-leader of coalition member WPA, Clive Thomas, who’d created a cottage industry – with no research – on a supposed “criminalised state” created by the PPP. He and his CEO were kept on as Director of SARA, even though the legislation demanded the positions be filled by Parliament. Well, here it is…months later, the Government breaks every rule in the book of governmental spending to allocate G$116 million to SARA. The irony that SARA’s mandate is to hunt down PPP members who broke those same rules was evidently lost on the Government!

And we discovered that SARA’s directed by Basil Williams. Vendetta confirmed!! …on getting high The Police just discovered and burnt down 3 acres of marijuana over in the jungles of Essequibo.

For some strange reason, your Eyewitness was informed the ranks all took up positions downwind of the smouldering ganja fields!!

Inhaling second-hand ganja smoke?

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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 13, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

CPL 2017!

“Rally, rally round the Amazon Warriors Never say never Pretty soon the runs are going to flow like water” – adapted from David Rudder, “Rally Round the West Indies”

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Anu Dev

ricket’s always been one of the things that has brought us together as a Caribbean people – never mind that it’s the source of some of the fiercest arguments you can imagine. Now that the Caribbean Premiere League (CPL) is back – and we’re all rallying around our own Guyana Amazon Warriors to raise the trophy this year.

One of the many things that I really like about this tournament is that some young, local cricketers are getting a chance to play. This opportunity will both give them an opportunity to experience what it’s like playing with and against international players and also a chance to shine and be recognised.

With the other tournaments like the IPL, CLT20, and Australia’s Big Bash, there are so many new players that impress us who eventually make it onto the national team. Hopefully the same will happen for the West Indies; we’ll

discover some new talent to revive the current team that seems to be unfortunately lost in the doldrums.

With the CPL we’re rooting for our country – GUYANA! The Guyana Amazon Warriors are OUR TEAM!!!

It’s Guyana versus Trinidad, or Guyana vs Barbados – not West Indies against the rest of the world.

It’s a powerful thing, this nationalistic feeling – I’m getting chills just sitting down writing about it, remembering what it was like when our Warriors kept winning over the last four years. It’s a whole new

adrenaline rush when it’s your country’s team that wins. It’s your country’s flag that you’re waving; your country’s colours that the players are wearing; it’s you, the Guyanese people who are being represented.

All within the Caribbean family of course!

In Guyana, we don’t have trouble ensuring sold-out matches with a jam-packed stadium, we’re always starved for more cricket. I’ll bet my bottom dollar this set of matches in the CPL will be the same. Did you notice even in Florida it’s mostly expat Guyanese who show up?

We Guyanese know that the CPL is a wonderful opportunity for families or friends to hang out together to enjoy a sport that’s brought together so many generations of sport enthusiasts. And we’ll show up to cheer on our boys.

There’s this indescribable feeling of pride you get when you’re looking at your home team play. Never mind all of the players on the team aren’t Guyanese: they’re wearing our uniform, our colours, we feel that same sense of them being a part of our team, of being ours.

Another nice thing

I’ve noticed about the CPL, is that there are so many of the older West Indian players from the ‘golden age’ of West Indian cricket getting involved, whether in coaching capacities or giving their input in other ways. It’s like three sets of West Indian players being brought together – the past, current and future.

So let’s wave our flags, let’s raise our glasses, and let’s lift our voices and shout, “Go Amazon Warriors! Go all the way!! This year is your year.”

Traditions and tattoos

Drowning…

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… in garbage he Brazilian economy’s crumbling, and Brazilians are in the throes of a corruption-induced political crisis.

However, back in the 70s, they were in a worse situation; they were stuck in a stagnant economy, all of that plus hyperinflation and a mountain of debt. By 1980, inflation was NINE TIMES what it was in the 1960s; yet the Government didn’t worry: it was Hakuna Matata all the way – no worries, no cares!! They continued blithely borrowing from the mainly U.S. banks, which were flailing around to lend the funds that were piling up in the newly launched OPEC economies.

Brazil could afford to not give a damn and thumb its nose at the U.S. banks, because the Brazilians figured those banks were hooked. With them being in hock for so many billions, the banks couldn’t just walk away, could they? They were now in a ‘relationship’!

When your Eyewitness read, on Sunday morning, of the Town Clerk thumbing his nose at the garbage collectors, he was reminded of the Brazilian gambit.

The City now owes its two private garbage collectors G$300 million – which is a lotta moolah in any language. And once again, the latter threatened to quit picking up the dirt unless City Hall started to significantly make a dent in that number. They’d done the same thing last month, but resumed after a few days, after promises were made. Obviously, the promises weren’t kept; but this time Royston King pulled the Brazilian gambit!!

He informed the garbage collectors if they went ahead with their threat they would be violating their contract, and they could consider their contract terminated!!!

The garbage collecting companies are beside themselves. This was a “man bites dog” scenario to them!! King knows the garbage collectors can’t walk away from G$300M…they’re now in a “relationship”, like Brazil and the U.S. banks!!

So how’d that work out eventually?

Well, the World Bank and the IMF stepped in and lent money to Brazil to pay off the U.S. Banks! City Hall DOES have friends

in high places, but will they pay off their G$300M debt? Your Eyewitness doubts the PNC-led coalition Government’s going to step up to the crease. So what’s Royston King to do?

It’s clear he’s learnt more than a thing or two from the American Grifters – who had him sign away the City to Smart City.

King now knows the devil is in the details of the contract! And the details with the garbage collectors’ contracts apparently DOESN’T give them the option of withholding services.

So we have an irresistible force meeting an immovable object. And the citizens of Georgetown will get it in the (stinky) end! …in stonewalling It was a shad, shad shituation in Parliament the other day. Here, in the supposedly highest forum of democracy in the land, where our leaders are supposed to set a standard for the rest of us peons on how to serve our country, a great travesty of justice was committed; and — not for the first time — by the individual who is supposed to be above the fray in the August assembly of legislators: the Speaker of the Assembly.

Which citizen in the land doesn’t want to hear about how many Ministers are receiving G$500,000 rental allowances?

Or under whose auspices were such payments authorised? So the question was tabled by the PPP. But even though the Speaker accepted that the timing, format and all procedures were OK, he disallowed the question being answered!

Why? He ruled the question wasn’t on an “urgent” matter!! So, what about the citizens’ burning need for info about their taxes being spent?

That’s not an “urgent” matter? …in corruption If you thought smuggling tattoo machines and such like into our prisons under the noses of our authorities was daring, what do you think about that illegal airstrip just found in the Rupununi near the Sante Fe mega farm??

Didn’t the GDF sweep the area last Sept when Prezzie visited?

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atiricus was a sucker for tradition. After all, why else would he so faithfully patronise the Back Street Bar with his buddies.

He figured, just like how the neighbourhood Pub was a fixture all over England, this was the role of the local Rum Shops in Guyana. It was a “home away from home” for the men who toiled hard all day long and needed to unwind at the end of the day.

“Our national poet created most of his best poems in rum shops, you know,” Satiricus confided to his friends as they were working away at their fourth round of beers.

“Po-em?” said Bungi, “Me hear some a de bes’ singin’ in Guyana, in rum shap.”

“But nowadays, the tradition is dieing out,” mourned Hari. “The young fellas don’t see hanging out in the rum shop as a cultural thing.” “Dis time na lang time!” grinned Bungi. “But people always a bring in new tradi-shan.”

“Like what?” enquired Satiricus.

“Well, look how all dem young peo-

ple a get tattoo all ovah dem skin!” replied Bungi, without skipping a beat.

“Come to think of it, you’re right,” replied Hari. “I think more than half the young people I know have tattoos.”

“What you think is going on?”

Satiricus wanted to know.

“Abee a capy dem ‘Merican, na!” grinned Bungi. “Jus’ like how abee dady bin capy dem and drink Rum and Cokes!”

“But why did the American young people suddenly start getting tattoos?” Satiricus kept on digging.

“Sato me fr’en,” said Bungi expansively, “young people always wan’ fuh shack people. De Merican young people capy dem jail-maan!”

“But it looks like in Guyana, as usual, we’re always doing things backwards,” said Hari.

“Wha’ yuh mean?” asked Bungi.

“Well, our prisoners copying our young people!,” Hari smiled. “Didn’t you read about all those tattoo machines they found in the jails?”

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Taapsee Pannu joins ‘equal pay for equal work’ debate

Dilip Kumar discharged from hospital

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qual pay for equal work is a debate which has gathered momentum in Bollywood over the last few years. Many leading actors like Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan have questioned the prevalent pay disparity in the film industry.

Adding her two cents to the discussion is actor Taapsee Pannu, who is currently enjoying the limelight thanks to her performances in films like Pink and Naam Shabana. The young star pointed out that until films with female actors as the protagonists don’t do the same business as projects led by their male counterparts, equal pay will remain an unfair demand.

“How many movies like these do you actually come across in a year?

Probably one or two maximum. It’s unfair to ask for an equal pay when you’re not getting an equal amount of opening collection. The day the audience walks in the theater and sees a female protagonist’s film, gives us the same amount of bumper opening of Rs 10- 15 crores, that day I will say we need to be paid equally,” she told reporters here.

Citing the example of Naam Shabana that released earlier this year, Taapsee said that despite her film being the biggest opener among the films with a female protagonist, it is much behind in earnings than a movie with a male lead. In such a scenario, she doesn’t think she can ask for a hike in her fee.

“Right now, it’s unfair for producers

to give us an equal amount of money because no matter how good the film is, if you compare it with films of male stars, they get far higher opening. So it’s unfair for me to demand the same price. First the audience needs to come and give me the bumper opening, then I’ll ask for equal pay,” she said.

At the same event, Taapsee was asked about the speculation that she was set to star in filmmaker Anurag Kashyap’s next alongside Parineeti Chopra. The actor refuted the reports saying, “Anurag Kashyap has never even approached me with a script. So, I don’t know what these talks of a film are about. Right now, I haven’t signed anything. I’ll proudly announce it. You don’t have to wait for any rumour.”

Taapsee’s next is director David Dhawan’s sequel to his own 1997 hit comedy Judwaa. The movie also stars David’s son Varun and Jacqueline Fernandez. It has a special appearance by superstars Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor, who starred in the original. The film will arrive in theaters on September 29. (Indian Express)

‘Fukrey Returns’ actor Varun Sharma enjoys comic roles

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ctor Varun Sharma, who is gearing up for the release of the sequel of the 2013 film Fukrey, says though he wishes to experiment with different genres, he is enjoying to play comedy roles. The Fukrey Returns teaser shows that Varun Sharma aka Choocha has started seeing the future and calls it “Deja Choo” (Because Choocha is getting the feeling, deaja vu becomes deja choo).

“Chucha is the first on-screen character I played, so it will remain special. And I enjoy playing comic roles,”

Varun told IANS. The actor says he wants to grow as an actor.

“Though it is not my agenda to act only in comedy films, I know that the audience is appreciating me in that genre. At the beginning of my career, I don’t want to stop doing something just for the heck of doing something different or experimental. But, yes, as an actor I want to grow and therefore I want to explore different genres of roles,” he said.

Varun’s character Chucha has a special power of seeing future in his dream. In a hypothetical situation, if given the power, what is the future of the film that he could see, Varun quipped: “No, people with special power, never apply it to them. This is my film, and all the actors (in the film) are part of my family. So I will not use my power to see the future of the film!”

Directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba and co-produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, the film also features Pulkit Samrat, Ali Fazal, Manjot Singh and Richa Chadha.

The Fukrey Returns is releasing on December 8. (Indian Express)

Baba Ramdev makes Bollywood debut with Yeh Hai India

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aba Ramdev has officially come on board as a supporter and promoter of the film Yeh Hai India starring Gavie Chahal and Deana Uppal. He will also be seen in the film’s song Saiyan Saiyan.

Directed by Lom

Harsh and produced by Sandeep Choudhary under the banner of DLB Films, Yeh Hai India is all set to release on August 18.

Talking about Yeh Hai India, Baba Ramdev said, “India has the capability to lead the entire world. This change

in India has been showcased in the film Yeh Hai India. Hence after a lot of thinking, I’ve taken a decision to strongly support this film and I also expect every citizen of India to support such films.”

“The country that has a population of millions.

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eteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar was on Wednesday evening discharged from Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai.

Dilip Kumar, who was admitted to the hospital last week, showed considerable improvement after struggling with dehydration, kidney dysfunction and urinary tract infection.

Talking about Dilip Kumar, Ajay Kumar Pande, the VP of Lilavati Hospital, said, “Yes, Dilip Kumar sahab is ready to go home. He will be discharged today. He is eating well and feeling better. He has been suggested some rest at home, and soon he will start following his normal routine.”

Dilip Kumar’s wife Saira Banu was

by the actor’s side throughout his stay at the hospital. Talking to reporters outside the hospital, Saira said, “He is very good. It was like a nightmare.

This has been a miracle. I thank God for all the good things. All the fans, doctors, everybody wished for his good health and God heard. I can’t tell you how grateful I am. This was a terrible thing which happened all of a sudden.

He is perfectly fine now. He is eating and also talking slowly. God willing he will be alright soon.”

On Wednesday morning, the medical bulletin from the hospital suggested that the 94-year-old actor is showing great progress and will be discharged soon. (Indian Express)

Kajol reveals why she does not consider herself a perfect Sanjay Leela Bhansali actor

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ajol is making her comeback in Kollywood after two decades with the Tamil film VIP 2, which is scheduled for an August 11 release.

But before the public gives the verdict of this Dhanush starrer film, Kajol has many other reasons to celebrate. The actor just celebrated her birthday and also completed 25 years in the film industry. In order to celebrate the same with her fans, Kajol went live on Facebook where she answered a few questions asked by her fans.

One of the fans asked the 43-year-old actor if she would like to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. While Kajol said yes, the actor was not sure if she would be the right person for him.

In the video, she said, “Yeah. Sure. No two ways about it but I don’t know if I will have the right presence of mind or perfection of posture to be a Sanjay Leela Bhansali heroine.”

In the span of 25 years, Kajol has been extremely choosy about the kind of work she has done. When a fan asked

A country where Vedas were discovered. Few people around the world have a wrong perspective about this country. India is no more just a country of snake charmers,” add-

ed Baba Ramdev.

Meanwhile, Yeh Hai India director Lom Harsh is grateful to Baba Ramdev for his support. “I’m really thankful to Babaji who’s lent

why she does that, Kajol’s answer was quite simple.

She replied, “How can I not be careful about my films. If I had done more films than this, I would not enjoy the process and you wouldn’t have liked to watch me.”

Kajol also shared how she celebrated her 43rd birthday. She said her husband, actor Ajay Devgn was the first one to wish her. “My husband. He was there with me at 12 in the night.

And what special did I do? Well, I had cut seven cakes. Everyone was wondering why I am cutting so many cakes.”

She further spoke about the special gift she received from Ajay on her birthday, “My husband gave me a Being Human cycle, the electric one. My next project is to take it out when it’s not raining.” (Indian Express) his full fledged support to my film. We couldn’t have had a better public ambassador for our film,” said Lom. (Indian Express)

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Priyanka Chopra collaborates with Will Sparks for her next single titled ‘Young & Free’

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riyanka Chopra is ready to croon again, and from what we know so far – it might be an interesting project for PeeCee. She is collaborating with Australian producer and DJ Will Sparks for her next single titled, “Young & Free”.

Priyanka took to her official Instagram account to post the same and wrote, “Something new, something different… yes, it’s my voice, but that’s not all… Stay tuned for the full story…. #YoungAndFree @will_sparks August 11th Spotify Pre-Save Link: http://mtl. fm/youngandfree.” We wonder what Piggy Chops means when she says, “Yes, it’s my voice, but that’s not all.” What else could be new? The way Priyanka has taken over Hollywood with her performance, grace and charm has not happened before. Now, we wonder what the actor is going to do next. This would be her third song in English after In

My City, Exotic and I Can’t Make You Love Me. She has also lent her voice for Hindi songs, and recently a Marathi song for her National Award-winning Marathi film, Ventilator.

In the meanwhile, reports suggest that the actor shot for a song in her next Hollywood film Isn’t It Romantic? starring Rebel Wilson and Liam Hemsworth. She was also spotted shooting for A Kid Like Jake before, starring Jim Parsons and Claire Danes. She has a lot lined up in terms of work, especially with her production venture Purple Pebble expanding. She will start work on the next season of her television series Quantico, which is being aired on ABC. She will also be the executive producer of a show based on the life of Madhuri Dixit, which is to be jointly produced by ABC Studios and Mark Gordon. (Indian Express)

Daniel Craig on verge of two James Bond movies

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ollywood actor Daniel Craig is signing up for two more James Bond movies. The 49-year-old is set to make his fifth and sixth appearances as the famous British spy in the forthcoming films after producer Barbara Broccoli persuaded him to make two more films, and the next motion picture may be called Shatterhand, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“There was plenty of talk about who would be the next Bond but Barbara has managed to talk Daniel into two more films,” a source told The Sun newspaper.

“He is loved by audiences around the world and has driven a real resurgence for the movies at the box office, so bosses knew they couldn’t lose him just yet. The script is nearly ready for the 25th film, provisionally titled ‘Shatterhand’ and scheduled to be released in November 2019, so there is no time to waste

on getting Daniel locked in,” the source added.

There are reports that the sixth Bond movie is a remake of the 1969 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, in which George Lazenby portrayed the spy.

“But the deal is almost done and the idea of returning to ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ for the 26th movie is really exciting. The film sees James get married, only for his wife to be killed, so it would be an explosive way to end his reign as 007,” the source said.

After ‘Wonder Woman’, Gal Gadot’s ‘Criminal’ to release in India

Jeremy Irvine joins Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!’s cast

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ctor Jeremy Irvine has joined the cast of Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!. The 27-year-old actor and Alexa Davies will join newcomer Lily James on the cast of the sequel – a follow up to the 2008 adaptation of the stage musical based on ABBA songs.

Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried and Colin Firth will reprise their roles from the first film. According to Deadline, Irvine will play the past version of Pierce Brosnan’s character, Sam Carmichael, and Davies will step into the shoes of a young Rosie Mulligan, who was portrayed by Julie Walters in the first film.

It is not yet known if Walters will reprise her

role in the upcoming motion picture, which will see James play a younger version of Streep’s alter-ego Donna Sheridan.

The movie is set to go back and forth in time to see how previous relationships have changed, but exact story details are not yet known.

Jeremy Irvine, an English actor, debuted in Hollywood with Steven

Spielberg epic war film directorial War Horse. He is also known for playing the protagonist Pip in British film adaptation of Charles Dickens’ famous classic novel Great Expectations.

Other well-known projects Irvine has been involved are A Night in Old Mexico, Beyond the Reach, The World Made Straight, The Woman in Black: Angel of Death, Stonewall, and Daniel Grigori in the film adaptation of the young adult novel Fallen.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel scribe Ol Parker will be penning and directing the film Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, which is set to be released on July 20, 2018. (Indian Express)

James Bond will battle a blind super-villain in Croatia in the upcoming 25th instalment, tentatively titled Shatterhand, reports say.

The next film in the long-running franchise, which will possibly see actor Daniel Craig fighting a blind antagonist, is based on the 1999 thriller Never Dream Of Dying by author Raymond Benson, who also wrote Bond books Tomorrow Never Dies, Die Another Day and The World is Not Enough. (Indian Express)

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al Gadot starrer Wonder Woman has earned accolades in every corner of this world and India is no exception. In order to cash on to the popularity of the DC superhero film, one of Gadot’s earlier films, Criminal, will be released on August 11. Indian movie trade analyst Ramesh Bala tweeted to tell the news.

He wrote, “Thanks to #WonderWoman ‘s success in India, @GalGadot ‘s 2016 Action thriller #TheCriminal releases

this Friday Aug 11th..” with the poster of the film. You can see the tweet below.

Apart from Gal Gadot, Criminal stars Gary Oldman, Kevin Costner and Ryan Reynolds. The film is a thriller and is directed by another Israeli, Ariel Vromen. When a CIA agent Bill Pope (played

by Ryan Reynolds) is tortured to death by a Spanish anarchist, CIA’s Quaker Wells (played by Gary Oldman) arranges for a criminal played

by Kevin Costner whose brain can be implanted with the memories of the murdered CIA agent.

Gal Gadot plays the wife of Ryan Reynolds’ character in the film and although she has not done any action à la Wonder Woman, her role is still a strong one.

It is a role that is usually given to female actors in a male-dominated Hollywood cast.

In the trailer, Kevin Costner’s character confronts her and says, “They stuck your husband in my head.”

The film had received largely negative reviews and was not successful at the box office.

But Gal Gadot’s fans would still love one of her films before she went mainstream in Patty Jenkins directorial Wonder Woman. (Indian Express)

Chris Pratt and Anna Faris announce separation

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ctors Anna Faris and Chris Pratt have announced that they are parting ways after eight years of marriage. In a joint statement, they uploaded on their respective social media accounts, the actors wrote that they are legally separating and requested for privacy.

“Anna and I are sad to announce we are legally separating. We tried hard for a long time, and we’re really disappointed. Our

son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward.

“We still have love for each other, will always cherish our time together and continue to have the deepest respect for one another,” Pratt, 38, posted on his Facebook page. Faris, 40, shared the same message on her Instagram account.

The duo met in 2007

on the sets of Take Me Home Tonight. They got married on July 9, 2009, in Bali, Indonesia. Their son, Jack, now four, was born in August 2012. He arrived nine weeks premature and spend a month in the NICU. Faris recently told People magazine that she and Pratt were a “normal” couple, saying that he “loves to work in the garage, and I love to do laundry and watch reality television — just normal

people.”

On the work front, Chris Pratt was recently seen in The Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 2. His next big project include, Avenger: Infinity War and Jurassic World. Avengers: Infinity War will mark the long-awaited team up of supes from all over the MCU. It’s the sequel to The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron, and will mark the 19th installment in the MCU. After the Avengers find

themselves torn apart after Captain America: Civil War, they have to team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy in order to fight supervillain Thanos. Thanos is hard at work amassing

Infinity Stones in order to gain control over time, space and reality as we know it.

With inputs from agencies. (Indian Express)

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Omar — good as gold! …McLeod dedicates first gold medal to teammates, country

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O N D O N , England — Omar McLeod has brought back that sparkle in the eyes of Jamaicans after he struck gold in the men's 110m hurdles at the London Olympic Stadium after the island spectacularly lost the title as the fastest nation on Earth.

McLeod gave Jamaica a much-needed psychological boost after both Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson lost the coveted 100m crowns.

The sprint hurdling king, who won in 13.04 seconds and became only the second man in history, along with American Allen Johnson, to hold the World Indoor, Olympic and World titles simultaneously.

And, even before collecting the medal, McLeod has selflessly dedicated to others.

“I am overcome with emotions. It was a hard race, probably one of the hardest line-ups in history. But I really wanted to bring that spark back in the Jamaican camp,” said a beaming McLeod.

“It was really daunt-

Omar McLeod drapes himself in the Jamaican flag after his victory yesterday.

(Photo: Collin Reid courtesy of Courts, Supreme Ventures & Jamaica Tourist Board)

ing, and I think it was up to me to really set that momentum again, especially after what happened to Usain Bolt and Elaine (Thompson) and I specially wanted to dedicate this win to Usain Bolt's retirement,” he added.

“I had to do it the Omar McLeod way in order to win (as) I had to dominate from the start and take control of the race. It was a greatly executed race. I have

been struggling with my start the whole championships, so I really had to have fun with it, let loose and make it happen,” he explained.

Defending champion and Authorised Neutral Athlete (ANA) Sergey Shubenkov was second in 13.14 and he chased McLeod relentlessly, but just failed to match the champion's final burst over the last hurdle.

Balázs Baji of Hungary grabbed bronze

in 13.28, while Jamaica's Hansle Parchment was eighth in 13.37 following his usual slow start.

He never recovered against a world-class field. Garfield Darien of France was fourth with 13.30, while world record holder Aries Merritt finished fifth in 13.31.

McLeod is the first Jamaican to win the sprint hurdles at the World Championships adding it to his Olympic

crown.

“This one is special, honestly. There was a lot of pressure coming in, but I channelled it positively. It's totally different to last year, where we had Usain and Elaine winning, which I used to propel me. I didn't have that this time, so I really wanted to come out and shine my own light,” he noted.

M e a n w h i l e , Stephenie-Ann McPherson continued her return to form and was the quickest of the three Jamaicans that advanced to the final of the women's 400m.

Veteran Novlene Williams-Mills and Olympic bronze medallist Shericka Jackson also made it through, but Chrisann Gordon just missed out.

McPherson, who was once again drawn with Olympic champion Shaunae MillerUibo, looked steady throughout and clocked a season's best 50.56 to finish second behind Miller-Uibo, who eased to 50.36.

American Quanera Hayes was third in 50.71, but failed to advance.

Williams-Mills and

Jackson finished third and fourth in 50.67 and 50.70, respectively, behind surprised winner Salwa Eid Naser from Bahrain who once again lowered her national record to 50.08. Allyson Felix was second in 50.12.

The fourth Jamaican, Gordon, was in semi-final three, but her 50.87 clocking placed her third behind Phyliss Francis of the USA and Kabange Mupopo of Zambia in 50.60. In fact, Gordon was pipped by her teammates, Williams-Mills and Jackson, as the fastest losers.

Jackson, who won bronze two years ago in Beijing, was happy for another final appearance.

“I am happy, because at the Jamaican trials I ran 50.0, but I am still grateful. A medal is not guaranteed every time you come to a championship; you have to work for a medal. No medal has your name before you get here, so you have to work for it and I hope for the best in the final,” said Jackson.

(Jamaica Observer)

Woeful Lady Jags mauled 5-1 by Barbados

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Tiandi Smith (with ball) was the lone goal scorer for Guyana

arbados turned out not to be gracious guest after whipping host Guyana 5-1 when Group D action of the CONCACAF Female U-17 Qualifiers commenced at the National Track and Field Centre in Lenora on Wednesday.

The visitors took advantage of shaky defending, which allowed in one own goals, and an out of sync midfield to collect three valid points.

The more physical Barbados side outran and outplayed Guyana from the beginning as the inexperienced locals, most of whom were in their first major tournament, crumbled under the floodlights.

Guyana would go ahead through arguably their best player, Tiani Smith in the 12th minute. Smith struck a stunning free kick into the top left hand corner of the net to spark celebrations among her teammates. However,

Smith would later rub some polish off her performance when she scored an own goal in the 21st minute. Barbados had struck earlier with a strike from Kitlin Padmore to hold a 2-1 advantage at the end of the first half.

In the second half, the Barbadians would score three times, all coming from free kicks. Scorers for Barbados were: Tia Brigg-Thompson (50th and 71st), Tiana Sealy (51st).

Speaking to the media during the post-match press conference, Head Coach of Guyana Akilah Castello pointed out that the team lacked speed and size. She also claimed that nerves played a big part in Guyana’s lackluster defending.

Barbados will next face Cuba in game two on Friday; a more detailed report will follow in a subsequent article.

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Major upsets at GABBFF Senior National Body Building Championships

- Clark, Campbell dethroned

By Michelangelo Jacobus

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taged for the first time under new Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness (GABBFF) executive Coel Marks at the prestigious Marriott Hotel on Sunday evening, the Senior National Championships proved to be a night of major upsets as four-time Mr. Guyana (bodybuilding) Kerwin Clarke and twotime Mr. Guyana (Men’s Physique), Emmerson Campbell both lost their titles.

The judges favoured USA based Bruce Whatley, who won the men’s bodybuilding overall and Yannick Grimes, a runner up on several occasions taking top spot in the physique category.

Whatley who copped gold (masters) and silver (middleweight) at last year’s CAC Championships in the Dominican Republic, out posed and out flexed the

Winners row! President Coel Marks with Mr Guyana 2017, Bruce Whatley (centre) and various category winners

two other athletes in the heavyweight category, Tremel King and Ron Loncke, then clashed with the winners of the other classes including Clarke (middleweight), Marlon Bennett (masters and lightweight), Dwayne Chung (bantamweight) and Caerus Cipriani (welterweight).

Clarke, who was also a gold medalist at CAC in 2016, then went head to head with Whatley.

The two muscle men outdid themselves as they posed in all angles much to the pleasure of the sizable and very vocal audience.

The crowd was split evenly in favour the two

gladiators, but Clarke was in disbelief when Whatley emerged victorious.

Yannick Grimes of Buddies Gym prevailed over Fitness 53 muscleman; Campbell who, in recent years has dominated the Physique class.

He (Campbell) sur-

prisingly placed third while his gym mate, Lance Gordon copped second in the five-man line up. Cipriani and Chung were fourth and fifth in that order.

Alisha Fortune, competing in the Body Fitness category was the lone female on stage and walked away with the

trophy and prizes unopposed, winning perhaps the easiest contest of her life.

Meanwhile, President of the GABBFF, Coel Marks labeled the event a resounding success on all fronts.

He mentioned the noteworthy attendance by patrons and the high caliber quality of the athletes who competed and pointed out that it bodes well for the sport moving ahead in Guyana.

Major sponsors of the event included were: Gandhi’s Variety Store, Fitness Express, Ministry of Culture Youth & Sport, Atlantic Marine Supplies, Chung’s Global Enterprise, World of Flowers, Aruwai Resort, Windjammer Restaurant and Bar, Star Party Rentals, Cafe Sol, IRide Guyana, L. Seepersaud Jewelry, Space Gym, Chakras Massage Parlor and Eclipse Photo Studio.

Junior tennis ace Ramdyhan takes up scholarship in USA The Ramdyhan

By Delvon McEwan

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ocal tennis ace Nicola Ramdyhan departed Guyana on Wednesday to take up scholarship in the USA where she would seek to develop tennis skill and to pursue a degree in Accounting at Clark Atlanta University in Georgia.

The former St. Joseph’s and Bishop’s High School student acquired the scholarship through renowned tennis coach Bill Adams who first spotted her during the Trinidad and Tobago International Tennis Federation (ITF) world ranking tournament in 2015.

Earlier this year, in an interview with Guyana Times International Sport, Adams noted he was very impressed with her ability at first sight.

At that time Ramdyhan was enrolled in a four- month programme at his academy, becoming the first female Guyanese to make it to this platform, and the second from the Land of Many Waters after Duanne Lewis created history over a decade ago.

While blooming in confidence at a positive outcome, Ramdyhan shared a few words of advice to young females who would like to emulate or surpass her on the tennis court.

There will be a missing force in women’s tennis locally as Nicola Ramdyhan takes up scholarship in the USA

“I am optimistic of balancing my studies as well as my days on the court because that is what is required of me”, Ramdyhan boldly stated.

Breaking onto the scene at the tender age of seven, Ramdyhan found inspiration mainly in her mom, Shelly DalyRamdyhan, who was a national tennis champion.

Outside of the Guyana Tennis Association, most of Ramdyhan’s progress has gone unnoticed.

However, the Sheltez Tennis Club player explained that she has created a platform that other Guyanese; in particular females can try to follow.

“Take risk, take lots of risks and positive ones too. It doesn’t have to be sport, but you could do

something extracurricular because it helps with your social and educational life. Just believe in yourself and strive for whatever, you want to achieve,” the national tennis prodigy said.

The mother and coach, a former National female champion, said that she is confident that her offspring would be a good ambassador.

“I’m extremely happy and grateful for this, and outside (Nicola) being my daughter I know that she has the ability to represent Guyana well. This is nothing new to her in terms of representing Guyana but now it is on the bigger scale, so now I would hope that she continues to do all that she did and remember why she is doing it.”

Daly-Ramdyhan stated.

19-year-old extended

gratitude to all those who would have contrib-

uted to her success so far.

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Tallawahs fight back to end TKR’s 100% record …Jamaica Tallawahs 149-6 (Sangakkara 47, Narine 2-21) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 147-10 (Munro 41, Williams 3-21) by four wickets and with four balls to spare

A

brilliant bowling recovery from the Jamaica Tallawahs that instigated a dramatic batting collapse from the Trinbago Knight Riders was the key to the Tallawahs recording a four-wicket victory in Match 7 of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League.

After the Knight Riders had been sent into bat by the Tallawahs a sensational opening half of the innings saw them race to 109 for 2 after just 9.5 overs. However, they scored just 38 from the next ten overs and were bowled out with one ball to spare. The target of 148 proved too few for the Tallawahs who calmly managed a tight run chase, edging to the target with four balls to spare.

In the first half of the Knight Riders innings the new ball appeared to come onto the bat nicely and their powerful top-order of Brendon McCullum, Sunil Narine, Colin

Munro and Darren Bravo feasted on some full bowling.

That should take nothing away from the brilliance of the Knight Riders batsmen whose stroke play was breathtaking early on.

McCullum’s fast hands, Narine’s nonchalant flicks and drives, Munro’s strength and Bravo’s elegant power plundered an astonishing 12 fours and six sixes in the first ten overs of the innings.

In a sign of things to come both Narine and McCullum were dismissed by off-cutters. After Munro was caught on the long-on boundary from the penultimate ball of the first half of the innings the pace of the match was transformed.

Suddenly the Tallawahs pulled things back with a series of tight overs. Given their fast start the Knight Riders initially seemed content to regroup, but when they looked to push on once more they found runs far harder

Kesrick Williams was a bowling key member of the Tallawahs line-up (CPL photo)

to come by. It seemed

that as the innings progressed the dew on the ground made the ball softer and harder to hit.

In the latter half of the innings the Knight Riders batsmen struggled to time the ball as the Tallawahs bowlers—led by Kesrick Williams, Mohammad Sami and Odean Smith—dragged their lengths back and resorted to cutters and slower balls.

As the runs dried up

the Knight Riders batsmen only swung harder but with little reward: in the second half of their innings they only hit two boundaries— one of them a top-edge over the wicket-keeper’s head. While runs were in short supply, wickets were not: seven of them fell in the second half of the innings as TKR desperately hitout.

The Tallawahs—like the Knight Riders be-

fore them—made an excellent start to their innings, finding the new ball easier to hit. Lendl Simmons and Kumar Sangakkara’s 61-run opening partnership came in just 5.3 overs.

When Simmons and then Andre McCarthy were dismissed in quick succession the match threatened to take another turn as Knight Riders spintwins, Narine and Shadab Khan, were deployed in the middle overs. However, after Sangakkara was dismissed off a no ball against Narine he put on 59 for the next two wickets with Rovman Powell and Shakib Al Hasan to keep the Tallawahs in control.

The increasingly softer ball meant that boundaries were hard to come by and even with a run-a-ball needed it seemed that a series of dots could turn the match. When Sangakkara was caught at long off with the Tallawahs still 25 shy of the target the Knight Riders, buoyed by vocal home support, seemed to believe that they could still win.

While boundaries were indeed harder to come by they were not impossible to find and when Jonathan Foo inside edged a four and then slammed a six over long-on that was parried over the rope

by Shadab Khan the Tallawahs finally got home.

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