Guyana times international 9feb17

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 332

WEEK ENDING February 12, 2017

Govt’s new foreign trade policy could destroy economy – Jagdeo

See story on page 10

Hundreds take to City streets again to say No to parking meters

Hundreds of persons on Thursday, again, took to the streets of Georgetown to challenge the parking meter project which they say was poorly conceived and implemented.

(See stories inside)

Cuomo launches hotline to assist “persons left in vulnerable situations” at NY airports Page 3

Massive Chowtaal concert set for Feb 26 in Queens Page 19

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Cuomo launches hotline to assist “persons left in vulnerable situations” at NY airports To report loved ones who are passengers on incoming flights and believed to be missing or detained, Call 1-888-769-7243

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overnor, Andrew M. Cuomo, has announced the launch of a confidential toll-free hotline for New Yorkers to report family members, relatives, friends or colleagues believed to be passengers on flights coming into the State, but are missing or believed to be detained.

According to the Governor’s office, the hotline bolsters the State’s efforts to protect the rights of New Yorkers, their families and loved ones and allows those left in extremely vulnerable situations to notify the Department of State.

The Governor made the

announcement at a press conference in New York City.

“As New Yorkers who live in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, we welcome new immigrants as a source of energy and celebrate them as a source of revitalization for our State,” Governor Cuomo said.

“We will ensure New York remains a beacon of hope and opportunity and will work to protect the rights of those seeking refuge in our State."

New Yorkers who have experienced issues relating to love ones who are detained, missing, or travel restricted as a result of recent federal actions are encouraged to call the Department’s toll-free hotline at 1-888769-7243. The hotline will be running 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will offer translation services.

Governor, Andrew M. Cuomo

The Governor’s office said the launch of this hotline follows action the Governor took recently regarding refugees who were detained at airports across the State.

The Governor directed the Port Authority, the

Department of State, and his Counsel's Office to jointly explore all legal options to assist anyone detained at New York airports, and ensure that the rights of refugees are protected under the law.

The Governor also recently launched the formation of a New York State Hate Crime Task Force with members from the New York State Police and the New York State Division of Human Rights, to investigate

hate crimes and conduct community outreaches to educate New Yorkers of their rights.

The Task Force will also coordinate with local District Attorneys to provide necessary support during the prosecution of hate crime cases.

Some of the investigators have already been involved in the investigation of recent reported hate crimes including swastikas found in different parts of the State.

In addition, the Governor announced earlier this month the formation of a new Interfaith Advisory Council, led by Cardinal Dolan, to help achieve a greater understanding and tolerance of all religions and cultures, promote open-mindedness and inclusivity, and bolster the state’s efforts to protect all New Yorkers.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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EDITORIAL

The cost of crime

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study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) estimates the direct annual cost of crime and violence in Latin America and the Caribbean at US$261 billion or 3.55 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – roughly what the Region invests in infrastructure and double the average cost for developed countries.

IDB’s study, “The Costs of Crime and Violence: New Evidence, New Revelations in Latin America and the Caribbean”, compared the cost of crime for 17 countries in the Region, benchmarking them against six developed countries and found that “crime and violence are at near crisis levels in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Region accounts for nine per cent of the world’s population but contributes nearly one-third of its homicide victims, making it the most violent region outside of war zones. Six out of ten robberies in the Region involve violence and 90 per cent of murders go unresolved. Its prisons are the most overcrowded in the world.”

The IDB noted that while there have been positive developments for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in terms of economic growth comparative to developed countries, crime in the Region has increased.

According to the IDB, “in the face of high crime rates, the costs of crime can be sizable: individuals change their behaviour to avoid (or engage in) criminal activity, households and businesses spend to protect themselves from crime, firms reduce their levels of investment and incur productivity losses, and governments shift the allocation of resources to tackle the associated problems.”

The executive summary of the IDB study revealed that “crime costs LAC countries, on average, between 2.41 per cent and 3.55 per cent of their GDPs. This is equal to an amount for LAC between US$115 billion and US$170 billion (at 2014 exchange rates) or between US$175 billion and US$261 billion (adjusted for purchasing power parity). The size of crime-related costs in LAC is similar to what those countries spend on infrastructure and is roughly equal to the share of the Region’s income that goes to the poorest 30 per cent of the population. These cost estimations provide a clear picture of the impact of crime and violence in LAC and should foster improvements in public policies that can ultimately reduce them”.

Guyana’s Finance Minister, Winston Jordan made reference to Guyana’s crime situation during the presentation of the 2017 Budget estimates, where he announced a myriad of new measures which will allow the authorities to both prevent and respond efficiently to crimes.

He announced that in 2017, the Government will expend G$29.1 billion to restore public confidence in our security sector.

Besides the obvious unrest being experienced by the local business community and residents in neighbourhoods across Guyana, the effects of crime would also be felt in the pockets of taxpayers.

The measures to be implemented, which were announced, are all aimed at restoring public confidence in the security sector. These include but are not limited to: increasing recruitment of Police Officers by approximately 20 per cent; improving the Police Force’s mobility; expanding patrols in key areas to deter criminal activity, for which over G$740 million has been budgeted, complemented by expansion of the mounted branch in key hinterland locations; strengthening the integrated crime information system; re-establishing and operationalising the 911 service; expanding surveillance; the launching of a multi-agency collaboration to tackle narcotics, smuggling, and human-trafficking, and the upgrading of 12 police stations across the country.

Added to this, to offset the overcrowding of the Georgetown Prison, the Finance Minister announced that the complex at the Mazaruni Prisons would be expanded at a cost of G$2.2 billion, of which G$369 million is budgeted for in 2017, and will see the expansion of offices, inmate living facilities, staff and family living facilities, training facilities, as well as the construction of a school, day-care centre and places of worship.

However, the IDB study also notes that countries that spend more on prisons do not necessarily reap the benefits of less violence. “The Bahamas and El Salvador, for instance, spend large sums (in terms of GDP) on their penitentiary systems, but suffer from high crime rates. Argentina and Uruguay, on the other hand, have much lower incarceration costs and lower crime rates.”

The IDB also found that high levels of incarceration rates were exacting an economic toll on the Region, more so Latin America. For the 2010-2014 period, the Region spent US$6.5 billion per year to maintain and build prisons. On top of this, imprisoned individuals forgo an additional US$7.3 billion annually in income. The two numbers together amount to 0.39 per cent of GDP, more than the conditional cash transfers for the Region’s poor.

These three ladies were among scores of persons protesting outside City Hall in Regent Street, Georgetown, last Friday, against the implementation of parking meters in the city.

Regional conference to tackle childhood obesity R epresentatives of regional health organisations are meeting in Barbados this week to map out a plan to prevent childhood obesity through improved food and nutrition security.

The two-day high-level meeting is being hosted by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in response to growing concerns among the region’s health officials that 2030 per cent of the Caribbean’s children are overweight or obese.

Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr James Hospedales, admitted it will not be an easy task. However he reminded the meeting that the region is up to the challenge, as it has successfully tackled previous health challenges in the past.

“No country in the world has turned around an obesity epidemic at national level.

But we in the Caribbean have faced major challenges before successfully. The elimination of measles and rubella first in the world is an example. The massive scale up in response to HIV/AIDS so much so that we are now talking about ending that epidemic. So why shouldn’t we be the first region in the world to turn around an obesity epidemic, beginning with our children?” he said.

Sub-regional Programme Coordinator of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Jessie Schutt-Aine, told the opening on Tuesday night that childhood obesity is a rapidly growing epidemic, putting children at a higher risk of developing serious health problems including diabetes, heart disease and leading to premature death and disability later in life.

She added that available data indicates that in one generation, the Caribbean has moved from problems of malnutrition and underweight children to the other extreme.

“Over the last 35 years, there has been a major shift in diets moving away from staple foods that are indigenous to the

Sir James Hospedales (Photo: CMC)

region, such as papaya, pineapple, mango, and locally grown fruits and vegetables towards foods that are highly processed and foods with added sugars, fats and sodium. In this context our increased dependence on food imports has had a great impact on the nutritional quality and price of foods available within the region.

“As a result, the increasing burden of obesity and non-communicable diseases poses an enormous financial strain on the health systems and the economy, and also the loss of economic productivity,” SchuttAine said.

According to her, a study led

by PAHO in collaboration with Harvard University in Jamaica estimated the economic impact of NCDs and mental health to be US$17.22 billion, equivalent to a reduction of 3.9 per cent in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually.

“To put these figures into context, the projected impact of NCDs on the GDP is equivalent to 18.8 times the level of health expenditure for Jamaica in 2013,” she said.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government have provided clear directions to combat this growing problem.

At last year’s heads of government conference, regional leaders made a number of

requests to stop the epidemic, including: compulsory food labelling of all commercially manufactured goods; reducing the marketing of harmful foods and beverages to children; increased taxation of salty, sugary and trans-fats containing foods; inclusion of nutrition education in school curricula which emphasise the importance of public education and physical exercise, and re-examination of the promotion of regional sufficiency in indigenous foods.

President of regional civil society alliance, Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), Sir Trevor Hassell, said Caribbean Civil society will be actively engaged in the prevention of childhood obesity during the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016-2025.

“To this end, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition will in March of this year release a Caribbean Civil Society Childhood Obesity Plan, 20172021, and next week at an HCC regional, multi-stakeholder Workshop in Antigua, we will announce the start of a region-wide civil society advocacy campaign and programme aimed at banning the sale, marketing, promotion and availability of sugar sweetened beverages in schools,” Sir Trevor said.(CMC)

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

GECOM Chairmanship: Wheelchair-bound man accused of murdering waitress remanded to prison Meeting between Govt,

Opposition on interpretation of Constitution unfruitful

… also charged for attempting to kill former Magistrate

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he accused in the murder of a D’Urban Street, Georgetown, waitress and the attempted murder of a former Magistrate, on Wednesday appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was remanded to prison.

The prosecution is contenting that on August 23, 2014, Shelton George, now crippled, of Better Hope South, East Coast Demerara, allegedly murdered Debra Blackman, a waitress.

Reports are surveillance video revealed that on the day in question, the accused in company of two others arrived on motorcycles at Delicious Chinese Restaurant on D’Urban Street, Georgetown. It is alleged that after making a purchase and engaging in a brief conversation with Blackman, George whipped out a gun, pushed his hand through the cashier’s cage and shot the 50-year-old woman. The Police issued a wanted bulletin for George.

Just over a week ago, the crippled man was ar-

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Dead: Debra Blackman Murder accused: Shelton George

rested at his mother’s residence in Better Hope after Police received information that he had returned to Guyana and was living there. Reports are George became wheelchair bound after being shot a few years ago in Suriname. He reportedly suffered spinal injury and lost a kidney.

Meanwhile, on the second charge, the prosecution is contending that on April 25, 2015, at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, George discharged a loaded firearm at Mohammed FazilAzeez, a former Magistrate, with intent to murder him.

The Prosecutor informed the court that the Virtual Complainant, who was shot during a robbery at his residence, has since been bedridden

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as a result of his injuries.

In court on Wednesday, the crippled suspect was represented by Attorney Melville Duke, who requested a speedy trial and made a bail application for his client who is confined to a wheelchair. He stated that George suffered a spinal injury and requires around the clock care due to his confinement.

With respect to the second charge, Duke argued that there are no eyewitnesses or evidence which places his client at the robbery scene except for a video tape which is two years old and of poor quality.

Bail was denied by the Magistrate. The court was also informed that George has pending matters at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

The case will continue on February 16.

he much anticipated meeting between Government and Opposition representatives to iron out the interpretation of the Constitution with regards to the appointment of a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) got underway on Wednesday and was proven to be unfruitful.

The Opposition appointed Attorneys – Priya Manickchand and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall – met with current Attorney General Basil Williams following a proposal made by President David Granger to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, for legal minds from the two sides to meet and discuss the appointment of a GECOM Chairman.

When contacted on Wednesday, Attorney General Williams told Guyana Times Internationalthat during the meeting, he heard submissions by Nandlall and asked for some time to review the submissions in order to arrive at a proper conclusion.

“I spoke with Mr Nandlall respectfully, he made his contention and he cited authorities; and I

Attorney General, Basil Williams

said I’ll take what you say safely by reading the authorities and then we’ll respond to his submissions,” Williams stated.

Meanwhile, in a statement to the media, Nandlall disclosed that during the meeting, the Opposition lawyers proffered their interpretation of Article 161 of the Constitution, in writing, and supported their position with a number of case law authorities from Guyana, the Caribbean and the Commonwealth.

However, Nandall pointed out that the Attorney General was “unprepared” to put forward his or the Government’s interpretation of Article 161 of the Constitution, despite several requests for him to do so.

“Instead, he indicated

that he will need time to interpret our contentions and prepare his response.

All of the interpretations offered by us (Wednesday) were fully and publicly ventilated in the media…

I am disappointed by the lack of preparedness of the Attorney General, which resulted in nothing tangible emerging from the engagement,” the former AG asserted.

Nandlall went on to say in his statement that “Quite frankly, I was hoping that the Attorney General would have been ready with his position on the matter today (Wednesday); that may have resulted in this matter being concluded with dispatch and decisively. In the meanwhile, Guyana’s democracy continues to hang in the balance.”

Moreover, Nandlall stated that the Attorney General could not identify a date for a second engagement on the issue, which the Opposition considers a matter of great national importance.

“The meeting ended with the Attorney General being unable to identify another date available in his diary for us to meet again,” he noted.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Churches should provide Youths who voted for APNU/ AFC were hoping for a change strong leadership on parking meter issue Dear Editor, I am a frequent viewer of Catholic Media Guyana’s Facebook page because of the many informative posts of activities around the Diocese and bits of knowledge shared on the Catholic faith.

However, I was enraged when I saw that the foundation was laid for a parking meter to be installed directly in front of the Cathedral. My feelings about the parking meter are far beyond the obvious fact that our City is allowing itself to be ripped-off by a foreign company.

More so, the deal was struck without adequate consultation with those who would have to bear the cost of such a burdensome means of revenue for the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown. The issue here is way more profound than these obvious problems that are not even being addressed.

In a very beautiful way, the preamble of our nation’s Constitution states, “We, the Guyanese people, proud heirs of the indomitable will of our forbearers, in a spirit of reconciliation and cooperation, proclaim this Constitution in order to: Forge a system of governance that promotes concerted effort and broad-based participation in national decision-making, in order to develop a viable economy and a harmonious community, based on democratic values, social justice, fundamental human rights and the rules of law.”

It is clear from this excerpt that the parking meter issue is not in keeping with what our Constitution outlines.

There was no concerted effort and broad-based participation in the decision-making process and, in fact, the whole parking meter issue is a total disregard for democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.

My understanding of Catholic social teaching is that at the heart of this teaching is the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable.

This is where the church must, through words, prayer and deeds, show compassion for and be in solidarity with such persons. Catholics are called to look at public policy decisions in terms of how they affect the poor.

Where policies from institutions like the M&CC putting mechanisms in place that hinder people from freely practicing their faith, could this not be considered an attack on religious freedom? On special feast days, like Ash Wednesday, First Friday, and even at funerals where the parking facilities in the Cathedral compound are

inadequate, do we now have to pay the local government G$200 or more to celebrate our sacraments and other liturgical celebrations? Is there not a case here for us to consider this an attack on religious freedom?

A mechanism such as the high-priced parking meter system, which is being introduced, is a means of social exclusion and is insensitive, and may even be unethical.

Jesus himself in the gospel expelled those who turned the temple into a means of exploiting people, especially the poor.

Additionally, our country’s Constitution states that Guyana is a sovereign state in transition from capitalism to socialism; however, it seems as though this State of ours, now more than ever, is on a trajectory to capitalism only.

It would appear that the Guyanese people’s role is to serve the system, when it is the system that should be serving the people.

It is when issues like these raise their head that the church should speak, especially through it leaders. I am of the firm belief that people are very willing to support any system once they can recognise and feel the benefits of that system in their lives.

I urge the church and its leaders, as well as the Justice and Peace Commission of the church to not pass on this opportunity to provide strong leadership in an issue such as this and to be in solidarity with all Guyanese.

Sincerely, Gibion Moonsammy

Appointment of Elections Commission Chairman should be via an Inclusive Process

Dear Editor, The idea that the only person eligible or preferred to be a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission is a judge (past, present, or one “fit and proper” to be a judge in the future), is undemocratic. It is similar to the idea long outlawed elsewhere, that one must first know how to read or write a section of a constitution in order to register to vote.

An appointment of

a Chairman of the elections commission ought to be done in an inclusive process in order to preserve the independence of an electorate voting.

This cannot occur if only a select few are deemed eligible of becoming the most premier election official (i.e., Chairman) in the electoral process, tasked with counting the ballots cast in an election.

Indeed, a right to vote includes an inherent

right to count that vote.

To tell voters they may exercise a right to vote on elections day but they are not “qualified” to count those votes, unless they are judges or “fit and proper” to be judges in the future, is elitist and discriminatory. If this is the rule that will prevail, then the will of future electorates is likely to be compromised.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

Dear Editor, I am responding to a letter in another publication captioned ‘Give the coalition Government a chance to perform’. The writer tried to convince me to do as was stated in the caption, but it seemed that even the writer was afraid to pronounce it. The main idea was a quote from someone on CN Sharma’s Voice of the People!

I hate it when fellow supporters of the Coalition try to justify what is happening or reassure ourselves that the ‘change’ is yet to come. I remember the President and the Prime Minister asking us to be patient, when at the end of the first 100 days many of what was promised in the manifesto for the first 100 days were not achieved.

May 2015 was the first time I had voted in my life, not that I was not eligible in the previous election, but I could not find a party that truly looked like it cared for the people. In the election fever, I made a decision which I thought was the right one, helping to put this Government into Office.

We voted change for a reason, why must the author write about Lacunar Amnesia? Is that his/her excuse for the Government’s mess ups so far? If it is, then for myself and many more (who do not have a party membership status), voting for the Coalition was a great deception! Forget about the dark days! Let us talk about this ‘change’!

Are we saying that the 50 per cent increase Ministers are enjoying, the multimillion-dollar Jubilee Park (which has only hosted one activity per year so far), and the drug bond scandal are acceptable? Was the real change the reduction in VAT? Well if so, then here’s

some news. All the taxes we are now paying after Budget 2017 make that reduction look like something in the distant past. Why do we have to pay VAT on water and light? On medication?On communication data? Everywhere I turn, I pay VAT. So tell me now, what about this parking meter fiasco? Was this another of the ‘change’ the Government had in mind? And don’t tell me that it is the M&CC’s business and not the Government’s. Who has to make it legal? Why can’t the Government that I helped to put into Office listen to the plea of the citizens and do something?

It can’t be that the President or the Prime Minister, or any of the many Vice Presidents are afraid of ChaseGreen and King! Why must billions of hard-earned Guyanese dollars go into the pockets of some Mexican millionaires?

Let me remind the author that it was undoubtedly the youths of this country that had put the Government in Office. Many of us only knew of the rule of the PPP, and all of us wanted out. We are not suffering from Lacunar Amnesia, we are looking for the change! What a foolish thing to say!

To compound matters even more, the writer quoted from the Bible! Are you telling me that you are comparing the Government to God and us, the people, to Israel? I am sure you have offended God because he will never ignore, persecute and rob his people the way the Government is doing. That fever I had during the election is beginning to burn again.

Sincerely, Wilbert Moore

Bullyism and regulations to control are not the answer

Dear Editor, It would be negligent of me to let another example of poor public policy under the Granger administration pass by without offering my remarks. The Guyana Chronicle, on February 2, 2017, reported that Finance Minister Winston Jordan informed the Cabinet about the “disequilibrium (imbalance) in the foreign exchange market” and offered as a policy response, more regulations and guidelines to ensure that “exporters repatriate their export earnings to the banking system”.

Knowing that such badly designed exchange control policy in the past was one of the main reasons that contributed to Guyana’s state of un-credit worthiness in the international community under the Burnham regime, one wonders, why are we back here?

Minister Jordan claimed he was cutting teeth in the Finance Ministry in those dark days of the early 1980’s and thus he, more than any, ought to have been aware of the foolhardiness of that strategy then and now. If this is his policy response, I am shocked because he clearly wasted his years in the Finance Ministry. His action today in the face of widespread rejection of these measures from the business community will only guarantee a path to certain economic meltdown over the next two to three years, which will then lead to social and economic implosion that even the promised oil money in 2022 cannot help.

Has he learnt nothing from Desmond Hoyte, the intellectual architect who turned around Guyana’s economy?

The Private Sector issued a firm statement which “strongly condemns this move by the Government”. In the words of the PSC, this move by the Granger administration “would have the certain effect of accelerating the capital flight which has

already begun with the erosion of confidence in the economy.”

There are two phrases in that PSC statement that send shivers down my spine – acceleration of capital flight and erosion of confidence.

Knowing the information put out by the private sector is one grounded in economic truth and it corroborates what I have already put out in my Straight Up Column of Friday, February 3, 2017, in the Guyana Times on the state of the investment portfolio, I am now calling on President Granger, as Head of State, to seek alternative advice on this issue. This recommended policy action exposes a situation where there is a heavy dose of policy paralysis in the Office of the Finance Ministry. I am absolutely sure even the President’s son-in-law, a longstanding businessman, Minister Dominic Gaskin has a better grasp of this situation.

What is required is policy actions to drive the economic reforms needed to bring back confidence in the economy and stem the capital flight that is now well advanced. Bullyism and regulations to control are not the answer; understanding the real problem is the first step.

Hard-nosed non-political answers to these questions will go a far way in helping the President. Why has the private sector lost confidence in the Granger administration? Why is there a shortage of foreign currency today, compared to May 2015 when there was not? How to rebuild the private sector’s confidence in the economy? There is so much more to share, but out of respect for the newspapers and their space constraint, I have to hold fire on this matter. The ball now is President Granger’s court.

Sincerely, Sase Singh

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Phone card vendor gunned U.S. visa applicants may be asked to hand over down in robbery attack social media passwords

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Country Chef Creole Snackette where the phone card distributor was shot

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Corentyne, Berbice cellular phone card dealer was on Wednesday afternoon shot dead during a robbery.

Dead is DanianJagdeo, 36, of Lot 12 Section G, Kings Street, Williamsburg, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

According to reports, Jagdeo had been distributing phone cards to his customers all day and was about to close off for the day when he was robbed.

At Adventure, Jagdeo stopped at Country Chef Creole Snackette and was in conversation with the business owner when a lone man pretending to be a customer walked into the establishment. Reports are that Jagdeo enquired whether the business owner knew the strange-looking man entering the premises; however, before the owner could respond properly, the man whipped out a gun and aimed it at Jagdeo.

Guyana Times

International understands that the owner ducked under the counter while several shots were fired.

When the businessman resurfaced, the bandit was running out of the shop with Jagdeo’s bag while the injured man laid in a pool of blood.

Police responded and assisted in carrying the injured Jagdeo to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arcontinued on page 8

eople who want to visit the United States could be asked to hand over their social-media passwords to officials as part of enhanced security checks, the country's top domestic security chief said.

According to a NBC News report, published on Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told Congress on Tuesday the measure was one of several being considered to vet refugees and visa applicants from seven Muslim-majority countries.

"We want to get on their social media, with passwords: What do you do, what do you say?" he told the House Homeland Security Committee.

"If they don't want to cooperate then you don't come in", NBC News quoted Kelly as saying.

Kelly, a Trump appointee, stressed that asking for people's passwords was just one of "the things that we're thinking about" and that none of the

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday. (Andrew Harnik / AP)

suggestions were concrete.

Under the existing vetting process, according to Kelly, officials "don't have a lot to work with," relying on the applicant's documentation and asking them questions about their background.

He said this was even more problematic when dealing with so-called "failed states" such as Syria or Somalia, where infrastructure and record-keeping has been degraded by conflict,

NBC News reported.

As well as asking people for their passwords, Kelly said he was looking at trying to obtain people's financial records.

"We can follow the money, so to speak.

How are you living, who's sending you money?" he said. "It applies under certain circumstances, to individuals who may be involved in on the payroll of terrorist organizations."

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt buckles to pressure to reduce Linden Municipality “burdensome” parking meter fees fears losing CIIP programme

...hundreds take to City streets again to say No to challenge project

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resident David Ganger has ordered that the parking meter fees be lowered following a meeting late Wednesday evening with city officials.

Guyana Times International was told on Wednesday evening that Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan was expected to meet with the Mayor and City Council and Smart City Solutions

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the parking meter contract, he recommended that the fees for paid parking be lowered but lamented that even the adjusted rates are too burdensome.

“I recommended that there is nothing unlawful but what they had to do was rework the figures, but even so, the reworking seems to be saddling the ordinary working class person, and I sup-

A parking meter

President David Granger

(SCS) to iron out the details for the lowering of the rates.

Hundreds of persons turned out again on Thursday calling for the scrapping of the project.

On Wednesday, widespread criticism continued against the highly controversial Parking Meter Project and Attorney General Basil Williams said that he believes that the current rates being charged for parking in the Capital City was over “saddling” the working class and called for it to be furthered reduced.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Williams reminded that since his initial review of

Communities Minister, Ronald Bullkan

pose they will have to have a look at that again,” he stated.

The Attorney General added that, “G$50 for 15 minutes and G$1600 a day and the workers work five days, so you multiply the $G1600 by five; I don’t think their salaries can accommodate that.”

While maintaining that he has no authority to call upon the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) or the parking meter company – Smart City Solution (SCS) – to change their rates, the Attorney General said he will be meeting with a delegation to discuss the pricing structure in light of the public outcry.

The Attorney General told media operatives that the By-laws were completely vetted and approved before Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan signed them. He explained that Minister Harmon was out of the country at the time and therefore was uninformed when he made the announcement.

Last Thursday, the Minister of State told media operatives at a post-Cabinet press briefing that “in as much as it is signed off by Minister of Communities, (the By-laws) still have to go through the process of the Attorney General vetting it and checking to ensure that it is consistent with the laws of Guyana and that the rules, which require certain levels of fairness, are all embedded in those By-laws.”

On the other hand, the public outcry against the paid parking system continues as more authorities begin to crumble to the pressure of citizens and the People’s Progressive

Party/Civic Opposition.

In fact, the Alliance For Change (AFC) arm of the coalition Government called for the suspension of the project. Despite refusing to support the parliamentary Opposition when it brought a motion to debate the contentious Parking Meter Project in the National Assembly, the AFC came out expressing concerns over the Georgetown Municipality overreaching its authority on a number of matters, including taxation arrangements, traffic arrangements and road ownership.

It also expressed concerns that the current arrangements do not appear to be in the best interest of the people of the city and that the handling of the project from its inception to its current stage lacks sufficient prior public consultation; is absent of transparency and of a competitive bidding process; and lacks of proper planning with regard to exemptions and the pricing and penalty structures.

Commenting briefly on the AFC position, Williams said the party is allowed to have its independent thoughts on any matter of national concern.

However, while its governing partner has made its concerns public, the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) is yet to pronounce on the issue.

Moreover, Government as a whole has not taken a stance on the issue and appeared unmoved by the public’s plights.

Marked as a unique moment in Guyana’s history, a mass protest by disgruntled taxpayers was conducted on Friday last against the Parking Meter Project. Many have already complained of the injustices meted out against them from employees of the parking meter company.

here are reports that the C o m m u n i t y Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP) may soon be removed from under the management of municipalities across the country. According to Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, he has made representation on behalf of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), for the programme toremain.

Holland explained that the issue came up for discussion during a meeting of Mayors and Town Clerks, where it was revealed that there have been countrywide concerns in relation to the CIIP programme.

The Mayor explained that he was not in possession of all the information and therefore was unable to report fully on the issue.

“I don’t want to report fully, but I understand the CIIP will be taken from under the municipality… I don’t have the full information… I think it was a decision of the Ministry (of Communities), due to constant problems over time. That they had a meeting some time and the final decision, I heard it was made. I’m not sure, I don’t have the facts, it wasn’t indicated to me by writing but this just came from a senior official,” Mayor Holland said.

Holland further explained that while there

Linden Mayor, Carwyn Holland

has been ongoing debate about the CIIP, he has advocated for the Linden CIIP programme to be used as a model for other municipalities.

“A lot of the other municipalities are having serious problems with their CIIP programme and I did represent. I said we don’t have this problem to this magnitude in Linden. In fact, I said clearly at that meeting of the municipal leaders that Linden is setting a trend and we have a model that they can gain from in trying to keep the programme,” Holland continued.

The implementation of CIIP programme, which commenced in several regions across the country in 2014, has resulted in the improvement of numerous communities, including the creation of employment.

Issues raised under the CIIP in Linden include late payments to workers, lack of equipment, termination of contracts and rehiring of fewer workers.

Phone card vendor gunned down...

from page 7

rival.

The dead man’s wife, Marry Jagdeo, said she was at school when she received the news of her husband’s demise.

“When I come, I meet him lying on the ground face down and I knew he was dead. All his hands were white…” the secondary school teacher said as she tried to hold back her tears.

Reports are that the shooter left the premises and mounted a waiting motorbike and headed east. As the Police began their investigation, a motorbike was found abandoned at Friendship, three villages away. When the motorbike was found, the engine was still running.

B Division (Berbice) Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam said the motorbike was carry-

Dead: Danian Jagdeo

ing a false registration plate. He explained that the two men abandoned the bike and boarded a car which continued to travel east.

“So far, we know that the man was shot at least three times,” he said.

Jagdeo leaves to mourn a wife and four children.

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

New Drop-in Centre to be built at Sophia

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ocial Protection Minister Amna Ally has stated that land has been acquired for the construction of a new Drop-in Centre at Sophia.

The Minister explained that since her assumption to office, she has been working to move ahead with the construction of the new Drop-in Centre to properly cater for vulnerable children,the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a release.

“Since I’ve come to this Ministry I have been able to secure a piece of land where we are going to build the Drop-in Centre.

We are currently awaiting the paper work to be done so that we can go ahead with the construction,” Minister Ally explained.

She added that the current building was proven inadequate to house vulnerable children. It lacked the required facilities and space.

Ally said once completed, the new building will accommodate children and three families, and will have all the necessary facilities and safety features.

In July 2016, the Dropin Centre at Hadfield Street, Georgetown was destroyed by a fire which claimed the lives of two brothers; six-year-old Joshua George and twoyear-old Antonio George.

The preliminary report on the fire found that the centre had systematic problems and bad policy arrangements for handling fires.

Meanwhile, plans are also moving apace for the construction of a shelter for victims of Domestic and Sexual abuse. The shelter will be constructed in the compound of the Mahaica Hospital.

Minister Ally explained that the design

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Social Protection Minister, Amna Ally

has been completed and the ministry is currently awaiting approval from the Islamic Development Bank for the project to commence.

Ally said the shelter will be able to accommodate 20 families, or about 100 persons; mainly survivors of domestic violence. “At the end of the day, when you’re finished doing all the different things what next? What do you do with the survivors? There must be a place to shelter them and that is what we’re working towards,” Minister Ally underlined.

The Minister said her Ministry is also working on several rolled over projects, including the rehabilitation on the Palms and the Ministry’s Cornhill Street location, among others.

Additionally, the Ministry is constructing sidewalks at the offices of probation officers in Regions Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Six (Upper Berbice-Corentyne), so as to allow easier access to their offices.

From the G$16.6 billion allocated for the Social Protection Ministry in the 2017 National Budget, G$20 million will be used for preliminary works on the Sophia Drop-in Centre and G$4 million for the construction of the domestic violence centre.

Chinese businessman on G$400,000 bail for forgery

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Chinese businessman was on Monday released on G$400,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly to answer to a double immigration charge brought against him.

The Prosecution is contending that Zhi Fang Xie, between February 1 and February 29, 2016, at Georgetown, conspired with person/persons to forge one Republic of Guyana visa and one Guyana Immigration stamp purporting to show that it had been issued by the Central Passport and Immigration Office.

The businessman’s lawyer, Paul Fung-AFat, in a bail application, told the court that it is

Caricom Chairman welcomes “democratic renewal” in Haiti

not possible for his client to conspire with anyone due to the language barrier faced. He further told the court that his client is married and a father of one, adding that his passport is lodged with the Police, thus making him less of a flight risk.

The lawyer’s submissions were upheld and businessman was released on G$400,000 bail for both charges. As a condition to his bail, Zhi Fang Xie has to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters twice per month. The businessman will appear before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on February 13, 2017 when the case will continue.

aricom Chairman, President David Granger welcomes the democratic renewal represented by the inauguration of the 58th President of the Republic of Haiti, Jovenel Moise.

The Guyanese Head of State, who just attended the opening of the National Assembly for the constitutional swearing-in ceremony of the new Haitian President, in an interview Tuesday night, said: “The Caribbean is not only a zone of peace from a strategic point of view in terms of the absence of war, but it is also a zone of constitutional stability. There is predictability, and we don’t want to see that there are elements in any member state which disrupt the constitutional process, [or] which use extra-legal means to seize power or delay the holding of elections.

There have been delays here, but Haiti has finally come through and I am very happy to be here to put the stamp of approval on behalf of the entire Caribbean Community on those elections and the duly-elected President Moise.”

The transfer of power ends nearly a year of transitional rule by interim President Jocelerme Privert and follows a political crisis, which was initiated in October 2015 when President Moise won the later annulled first round of voting, which was said to have been plagued with fraud. In February 2016, Haiti’s Parliament elected interim President Jocelerme Privert,

President David Granger and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge at the inauguration of the 58th President of the Republic of Haiti

since President Michel Martelly’s five-year term had ended. The elections were finally held in November 2016 after having to be rescheduled from October because of Hurricane Matthew.

The Caricom Chairman said that his presence at the inauguration activities represents the Region’s solidarity with Haiti, noting that the country has faced major catastrophes over the past 15 years, which have resulted in significant loss of life and damage to the country’s infrastructure.

“It is a matter of recognition of the democratic process. President Moise has been elected democratically and it is a matter of support for the people of Haiti generally to let them know that they are not alone in their adversity… and we will continue to stand by them.

So, it is very important for me as President of Guyana and, of course, as Chairman of Caricom that at this moment we should show support and solidarity for Haiti,” he said.

President Granger

added that with the development of the economies of the Region appearing on the agenda of the Caricom Heads of Government meeting to be held in Guyana on February 16-17, the Region was keen to support the economic revival of Haiti.

He said, “The most important thing is to help the revival of the Haitian economy… We feel that Haiti has a very important role to play in producing goods for [the regional] economy and also in attracting investment from other countries… Haiti is a big market and we would like to see Haiti recover from its environmental problems as quickly as possible, because what is good for Haiti is good for the Community.”

The Head of State noted that in addition to natural disasters, Haiti’s economy continues to suffer from the economic effects of its struggle for independence. “Haiti is the first Caribbean country to win its independence. It was a long bit of struggle. I call it the 5000-day war and it was cruelly invaded by the

French, by the British and by the Spanish and other mercenary forces and a lot of people were killed. And the damage done to the Haitian economy was enduring because at that time of the outbreak of the rebellion, it was the single richest country in the entire world. At the end of it, the economy was really very badly damaged,” he said.

President Granger also said that the members of the Anglophone and Francophone Caribbean as well as the Latin American mainland, have all been influenced and inspired by the Haitian struggle for independence, and noted that the country was an important member of Caricom and the Region as a whole.

The inauguration events include a mass followed by a Te Deum by Cardinal Chibly Langlois and a lunch offered by President Moise, in honour of visiting Heads of Delegations.

On Tuesday evening, President Granger also attended a dinner hosted by former interim President Privert.

10 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt’s new foreign trade policy could destroy economy – Jagdeo

Wales sugar workers take to streets over non-payment of severance

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overnment’s intention to tighten “foreign currency trade” will have destructive consequences on trade and commerce in Guyana, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has warned.

Guyana Times International understands that on Monday the Government issued a circular to Cambios and the local banking sector informing them of the regulated rates for foreign currency. However, this did not go down well with Jagdeo who lashed out at the Government, describing the move as “absolute madness.”

Jagdeo, who is an economist by profession, told this publication on Monday evening, that this move now means that Government is hastening the decline of the economy.

The circular issue will limit the spread of US dollars and other foreign currencies to a $3 bracket.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary Opposition in a statement on Monday, also stated any attempt to control the flow of foreign currency in the economy will be counterproductive and will lead to more capital flight, greater hoarding of foreign exchange and even less foreign as well as local investments.

The Party reminded that the People’s National Congress (PNC) Governments in the past had embarked upon this route before, but the outcomes were devastating.

“On the other hand, we have witnessed how the economy grew and how the Private Sector rapidly expanded in an environment of economic liberalisation and free trade,” the PPP noted.

The Party is urging the Government to stave off its plans to impose restrictions and undue regulations on the movement and circulation of foreign exchange in the economy.

“Rather than blame the Private Sector and foreign companies for the shortage of foreign currency in the country, the Government should first accept its mismanagement of the economy and recognise that the shortage of foreign currency is due not only to its incompetence but also to its regime of policies and measures which are undermining the Private Sector, destroying commerce and trade and sapping confidence from the economy – replacing it with fear, intimidation and uncertainty,” the PPP explained.

Commenting on the circular, an influential private sector operator

PPP General Secretary and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

told this publication that such a move will drive a lot of business underground as already being unfolded in the mining sector with the new taxation measures.

Government has also received scathing criticisms from the Private Sector Commission (PSC) over its announced intervention.

According to the organisation, the new regulations will only drive investors away, warning that the stated intentions of Government to introduce restrictions will specifically affect the repatriation of earnings of foreign companies operating in Guyana.

“Foreign Direct Investment in the economy has already slowed and a policy which prevents the repatriation of the earnings of these companies has the potential to move the influx of investment from a trickle to a halt,” the body noted.

The PSC also reminded that Guyana had gone down this path before with disastrous consequences to the economy.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during a post-Cabinet press briefing announced that the Bank of Guyana, as the regulatory body for banks and non-bank cambios, was instructed to respond with stricter regulations and closer monitoring of the foreign exchange market – following reports of foreign exchange as well as foreign currency hoarding.

“The Bank of Guyana is, therefore, expected to issue a number of guidelines with regard to the new regulations and monitoring,” he said.

Harmon said these would include ensuring that exporters repatriate their export earnings at the banking system as is required and conducting close monitoring and examination of bank and non-bank cambios to maintain orderly market behaviour and stability.

According to Harmon, Finance Minister Winston Jordan was adamant that there was no foreign currency shortage but rather “disequilibrium in the market”.

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“Give us severance” – These workers rejected proposals to transfer to the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate

s a group of irate sugar workers who were supposed to receive their severance packages since last year protested at the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) Wales Sugar Estate, their representative union has refuted claims that definitive conclusions on the workers’ future were decided.

Speaking with Guyana Times International early Monday morning, the workers stated that they have had enough of the uncertainty over their owed payments and reiterated theirrejection to be transferred to the Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD) Estate.

The frustrated workers demanded that their severance packages be paid immediately, which were reportedly promised to them since December of last year.

It was after GuySuCo’s meeting with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Wednesday last, that the sugar corporation disclosed to the public that there is a demand for labour at the Uitvlugt Estate, which will start its first crop later this week.

According to the workers, they were informed last week Friday that the Union reportedly agreed for employees to be transferred to Uitvlugt, but the sugar workers stressed that they are not prepared to go anywhere, citing distance as their key reason.

“It (Wales) abandoned, let we get we severance, we deserve it,” one worker told this publication.

“They give a paper Friday saying for we to go to Uitvlugt but we cannot go there,” another man indicated.

The workers further explained

that they were also against the transfer, as they cannot be compelled to travel beyond 10 miles to their place of work.

“They seh they not forcing anybody to go Uitvlugt and now dem eating back dem word,” worker RahemS eepersaud noted.

Meanwhile, Michael Chotoo, who worked at Wales Estate for 25 years, explained that the 22-mile journey from Uitvlugt to Wales every day is too far for him to commute.

“From [Wales] to Uitvlugt is 22 miles, leaving out how much [more] you got to go in de backdam. You think every day a worker could travel 44 miles to go and come? What gan happen to he body?” the worker highlighted.

Chootoo further lamented that traffic also factors into the extensive travel to the West Coast Demerara Estate.

Joshua Fernandes, who worked with the Estate over 20 years, also noted that many of the workers’ plans for alternative means to earn a living are on hold. He explained that a few of his colleagues managed to secure jobs on sea and in the interior, but they are currently left at a stand-still, waiting on the sugar corporation to pay them their severance.

Fernandes also called for more representation from the workers’ representative union.

Meanwhile, GAWU in a statement on Monday professed that it was indeed “puzzled by media reports” as quoted by GuySuCo to the effect that some 650 workers from Wales Estate would take up employment at the Uitvlugt Estate.

“The Corporation’s statement,

as reported, appears to be definitive, but is certainly not reflective of the discussions and conclusions reached at the GAWU-GuySuCo engagement,” GAWU stressed.

GAWU, seeking to clear the air, disclosed that at the meeting, which had taken place at the LBI Training Building on Wednesday last, the Corporation had informed the Union’s delegation that “it was seeking to have some 420 workers – cane cutters and the workers engaged in transporting the canes from the fields to the factory – taking up work at Uitvlugt Estate to augment that Estate’s labour pool.”

The Union further explained that the shop stewards “advised” the Corporation’s representatives at the meeting that they and their fellow workers were seeking to be paid severance as cane production was discontinued at the Wales Estate. The Union also noted that the parties agreed to engage the 420 workers on the Corporation’s proposals tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday. The Union also corroborated allegations the workers disclosed to this newspaper that Management at Wales reportedly instructed the cane cutters to take up duties at Uitvlugt.

In early 2016, Guyana Times broke the news of Government’s intention to close the Wales Factory.

Shortly afterwards, Government confirmed the end of sugar operations at Wales Estate, citing cost as the main factor for closure. It was later disclosed that rice will be planted as part of the diversification plan, but it remains unclear when the first rice crop will be reaped.

Lindener to spend 62 years behind bars for murdering cousin

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Linden man who was found guilty of murder and manslaughter for the September 30, 2012 killing of two brothers will spend the next 62 years in jail.

Abdul Budhoo, who was charged in October 2012, was on Monday afternoon sentenced to 62 years for the murder of his cousin, Imran Bacchus. For killing Imran’s brother, Shaheed, Budhoo was sentenced to 32 years after the 12-member jury at the High Court had determined that he was guilty of manslaughter.

Both of the sentences will run concurrently.

Budhoo, a former resident of Industrial Area, Mackenzie, Linden, was found guilty of killing the brothers after a dispute at

Wismar Street, Mackenzie.

Budhoo underwent a High Court trial, four years after murdering his two cousins. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge as presented by the prosecution. Reports in 2012 had stated that an argument over outstanding monies had ensued between Shaheed and Budhoo when Shaheed’s brother, Imran, had intervened. Both men were fatally stabbed during the ordeal.

On January 16, 2017, a jury, 11-1, decided that Budhoo was guilty of manslaughter in the killing of Shaheed and, unanimously, found that Budhoo was guilty of murdering Imran. Monday’s sentencing came after presiding Judge, Justice Navindra Singh had ordered a probation report on

Jailed: Abdul Budhoo

the accused.

State Prosecutors Siand Dhurjon and Tuanna Hardy had called a total of 11 witnesses to the stand, while the accused was represented by defence counsel Michael Somersall.

news 11

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Calls mount for Ruel Johnson to step down to facilitate probe One week after Cultural Policy Advisor to the Government, Ruel Johnson, had threatened to “torch” the Sanata Complex, which houses the Guyana Times newspaper, Television Guyana (TVG – CH 28) and Radio Guyana Inc (RGI) 89.5; the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has called out Government for its inaction against Johnson.

On his Facebook page, the Cultural Policy Advisor at the Education Ministry and Director of the Guyana National Newspaper Limited, which publishes the Guyana Chronicle, Johnson stated bluntly, “Here’s my idea for a united Guyanese protest against impunity and tenderpreneurship – go break down all the parking meters and then proceed to torch the Sanata complex.”

Johnson explicitly made the connection between the Sanata Complex, QAII, its owner and the Media Group consisting of its newspaper, television and radio stations.

According to the PSC in a statement to the media on Monday, the Private Sector Commission is patiently

awaiting the resolution of the matter involving Johnson, who was inciting terrorism when he made the social media post.

“It has been several days and there has been no official response to the alleged threats made

by Mr Johnson. These statements allegedly attributed to Mr Johnson may be deemed to incite terrorism, as well as constitute a threat of arson in breach of, inter alia, Section 40 of the Criminal Offences Act (which attracts a seven-year jail sentence), as well as Section 3 (2) of the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Act of 2015 which attracts even stiffer penalties,” the PSC outlined in its statement.

Moreover, the Commission posited that such a call from any other citizen would be reprehensible, while highlighting that threats directed at the Leader of the Opposition, as well as the President were appropriately and condignly dealt with under the Laws of Guyana. The PSC added that when such calls are made by a Government official to over eight thousand social media followers,

Ruel Johnson

then that official must surely be viewed with severity.

To this end, the Commission underscored that Johnson has a duty to the nation to protect and promote its cultural diversity, however, his actions indicates that he is unfit for any position of authority.

“If his alleged pronouncements are proven to be true, it is clear that he is unfit to hold responsibility for such a crucial and delicate element of social cohesion and the Private Sector Commission fully expects that the Minister of Education will take appropriate action to redress the situation.

Certainly, Mr Johnson

Prisoner stabbed by co-accused during brawl at Magistrates’ Courts Prashad Nagar home. Security footage taken from the dead man’s home led to the identification and arrest of his killers.

The man had just re-migrated to Guyana and was said to have been familiar with the teens, who would usually assist him The accused who was stabbed being escorted by Police to an with chores. ambulance (News Source photo) On the day of the incident, teenager was on as he was being attacked the man was allegedly Monday morn- by two of his co-accused.

The young man was badly beaten and straning stabbed by his co-accused moments stabbed to his abdomen gled by the defendants, after they were all sen- with a weapon alleged- who escaped with valutenced to stand trial ly stashed in the holding ables.

Neighbours reportedat the High Court for cell. the murder of Dr Perry An ambulance was ly identified the suspects Mars, the Professor who called to the scene after they saw them leavwas killed in May 2016. and the injured teen ing the dead man’s premThe men were report- was quickly rushed ises. The valuables were edly in their holding cells to Georgetown Public also recovered in the when the incident oc- Hospital (GPHC) where teens’ homes in Sophia curred. he is said to be in a sta- and Campbellville.

On the day of their City Magistrate Leron ble condition.

Daly had earlier ruled Unconfirmed reports arrests, family members that the Prosecution was suggest that the teen were left in a state of disable to make out a Prima was stabbed due to an is- belief and reportedly told investigators that none Facie case against the sue over the case.

Last year, the of them acted in a suspifive teenagers for them to stand trial.

Professor’s lifeless body cious manner.

They were all reDrama erupted at the was discovered by his Court after the teenag- wife with his hands manded until the trial er’s screams were heard and feet bound at their begins at the High Court.

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should at the very least step down until investigations are completed,” the PSC asserted.

Following the threat on social media, a Police report was filed by the head of security at the media entity with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) last Tuesday.

In Chapter 8:01 of Guyana’s Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Title four, Section 35, the charge of ‘Attempt, incitement and threat’ applies to “Everyone who, in any case where no express provision is made by this Act, or by any other written law for the time being in force, for the punishment thereof, attempts to commit, or in-

…Guyana’s private sector says threats can incite terrorism cite, or attempts to incite any other person to commit any felony not punishable with imprisonment for seven years or more, or any misdemeanour, under this Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and liable to imprisonment for oneyear.”

Moreover in Section 36, the Act goes on to cite that in cases where the felony cited incurs imprisonment of seven years or more, the act of incitement carries imprisonment for two years. According to the laws of Guyana, arson is an indictable offence usually carrying a minimum sentence of three years and a maximum of five years.

Since the complaint was filed a week ago, Police are yet to obtain a statement from Johnson.

Last Wednesday, Police showed up at his office with the intention of taking him into custody for questioning, but were told that he was not there.

Contacted again on Monday, A Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara) Commander Clifton Hicken told this newspaper that the Police had returned to the Cultural Advisor’s

office earlier in the day, but had to leave without seeing him for another engagement. Hicken assured that attempts would be made later in the day to contact Johnson.

Meanwhile, since the report was filed, Johnson took to social media with a series of posts making a mockery of the Police and the situation.

On the other hand, Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine last Tuesday had promised to seek an explanation from the Ministry’s Cultural Policy Advisor on the threat. Referring to such a comment being made as “strange”, Roopnaraine made it clear that such comments were not reflective of the Government or its views.

“Certainly not! I don’t know where that came from or what it’s about.

When I see him, I will ask him. It was brought to my attention and I would like an explanation on it.”

However, the following day Johnson posted on his Facebook account saying that he had seen the Minister that morning and nothing was said to him about the issue.

Corentyne man kills self after chopping ex-wife, lover

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man is now dead after ingesting a poisonous substance moments after chopping his ex-wife and her boyfriend. The incident reportedly took place at about 20:30h on Sunday. Dead is Narine Permauloo, 60, of Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice, who reportedly succumbed while receiving treatment at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The man’s ex-wife, Nesha Permauloo, was

The man’s ex-wife, Nesha Permauloo showing her injuries

boyfriend went to Bush Lot on Sunday to see her 18-year-old daughter. She

Manindra “Bruk Up” Kisondat showing his injuries

discharged from the Port Mourant Hospital, while her boyfriend Manindra Kisondat, also called ‘Bruk up’, remains a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital. According to Permauloo, she and her

explained that it was not the first time that she visited along with her boyfriend since moving out.

The woman related that when they arrived, her ex-husband offered them a beer to drink. She told the media that she

was the first to be chopped and blacked out, and could not say what else transpired. She said her only recollection is waking up in a pool of blood. The woman further explained that her ex-husband had three previous wives, and like her, they were all subjected to abuse. “That’s why they left him. He use to beat me and that is why I left him. He use to threaten to kill me if I ever get anybody else,” she said.

Last December Nesha moved out from the Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne home where she and Narine lived for 17 years.

She then moved in with Kisondat a few villages away. Police are continuing with their investigations.

12 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Caribbean faith leaders Guyanese teacher launches make recommendations 1st local online taxi app for ending AIDS by 2030 A

Religious leaders from 14 Caribbean countries; PANCAP and United Nations representatives as well as regional officials participated in the Consultation

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he Caribbean Faith Leaders Consultation, held on February 1-2, 2017, in Trinidad and Tobago, concluded with strategic recommendations to improve the overall quality of life of people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. The Consultation, which was supported by the Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP); the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and AIDS HealthCare Foundation, attracted 55 religious leaders from 14 Caribbean countries, representing the Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Bahá’í and Voodoo faiths. United Nations representatives and regional officials also participated.

The initiative was coordinated by the Planning Committee of Religious Leaders and PANCAP, and focused on the theme, “Religious Leaders’ Contribution to the End of AIDS by 2030”.

Head of the Planning Committee, Canon Garth Minott stated, “Leaders were mindful that our common religious heritage positioned us to engage in discussions about faith, justice, love and peace, mindful that we are one family under God.” In her feature address during the opening ceremony on Tuesday, Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister of State within the Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, pointed to her country’s commitment at the highest level to the aims of the conference. She noted that there were faith-based representatives on the recently re-established National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC) under the umbrella of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Dr Edward Greene, United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy for HIV in the Caribbean, brought greetings on behalf of the Secretary General and highlighted the imperatives for fast-tracking the response to AIDS. The issues reflected in the remarks of Dr Kevin Harvey, Regional Director of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), including focus of AHF on strengthening partnerships with special reference to supporting a coordinated approach to the implementation of the recommendations from the consultation. Dereck Springer, Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, brought greetings on behalf of the Caricom Secretary General and expressed appreciation for the collaboration with The Global Fund and the support of AHF and UNAIDS. In his Keynote address, Professor Clive Landis, Deputy Principal at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, identified the major scientific developments leading to the conclusion that anti-retroviral therapy (ART) delivers a life-saving benefit to persons living with HIV by abolishing end-stage AIDS. Reverend PhumzileMabizela, Executive Director at the International

Network of Religious Leaders Living With or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (INERELA+), in giving an inspiring feature address, shared her experience as a faith leader who is also HIV positive. She encouraged religious leaders to see themselves as a positive force for change and advocated for removing policy and legislative barriers to effectively deal with HIV. DrLuizLoures, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, gave the closing address and urged participants to remain committed to the very bold recommendations. “Today we have the science to end this epidemic,” DrLoures said, “what we lack is the social movement and will of communities. We need you in the faith community more than ever before. We know that religious organisations hold positions of trust at the centre of communities. This makes you uniquely positioned to provide services and support that extend beyond the reach of many public health systems. Through ongoing training and sharing, your capacity will be strengthened. UNAIDS is committed to supporting this process.”

Two extended periods of working groups and discussions by religious and lay leaders resulted in several recommendations including; Endorsing the Targets in the 2016 UN High-Level Political Declaration to fast-track the end of the AIDS epidemic by 2030; promoting healthy living of people at all ages by placing emphasis on plugging the prevention gaps, including stressing family values, age appropriate sexual education, creative communication approaches and the dissemination of information to reach various audiences; facilitating best practices through the process for effective support and leadership in the area of treatment and care; paying particular attention to achieving the UNAIDS 90-9090 targets for 90 per cent of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) to know their status, 90 per cent of those who have tested HIV positive to be on treatment and 90 per cent of those on treatment to achieve undetectable viral loads, among others.

At the conclusion, faith leaders agreed to: establish a regional consultative group working virtually toward the implementation of the recommendations; discuss the recommendations for action with their national religious councils and provide a progress report to the regional consultative group by July 1, 2017; share information on activities initially using the PANCAP website; and consider the possibility of follow-up regional workshops, ‘think tanks’ and consultations.

The Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, in his final remarks, charged the religious leaders with upholding the recommendations of the Consultation and urged them to continue their efforts to engage People Living with and Affected by HIV and AIDS.

St Stanislaus teacher turned entrepreneur has launched an online app that will make calling a taxi just a click away.

The new E-Cab online app allows passengers to check for and hire the nearest taxi driver, and will also feature real time tracking through Global Positioning System (GPS).

Charles Hutson is a former member of the Guyana Defence Force. During his stint there, he was attached to the Information Technology Department.

As of Saturday, February 4, the app is available for download by potential users from Google Play Store. It can also be used via Facebook, a popular social media platform in Guyana.

According to Chief Executive Officer and founder, Charles Hutson, only fully vetted drivers will be part of the program.

Genesis

Calling it a revolutionary form of taxi service, Hutson explained that the idea for his business was born after personally experiencing unsatisfactory service from local taxi services.

“My friends and I have been taking a lot of taxis. And during the course of (time), we have experienced a lot of issues such as the dispatcher who most of the time gives wrong information, unruly drivers and usually we would be overcharged.”

“So all of that coupled together and I thought, why not come up with a system that would improve on all these negative occurrences we have going on with the current, traditional taxi services. So I decided to develop an app that will connect drivers with passengers in real time, with the tap of the button.”

He noted that while his company might mirror Uber Technologies, a worldwide online transportation service company, E-Cab conducted its own feasibility studies and surveys. The results, he said, showed that Guyana is in need of an on-demand mobile application which secures both passengers and drivers.

“If you look at some of the issues going on, there are passengers getting into cars and they don’t know who these drivers are. (But) they just get into these vehicles and they go from point A to B. And things can go wrong. “ “Vice versa, drivers don’t know who they’re picking up; it could be anybody doing something unorthodox. And

Charles Hutson, a former member of the Guyana Defence Force. During his stint there, Hutson was attached to the Information Technology Department

you’re carrying them to a location and you don’t know what is going on.”

According to Hutson, E-Cab will be conducting background checks on all drivers joining the system. He explained that mandatory checks would include drivers submitting copies of their registration, identification and all vehicle documents, in addition to a vehicular inspection being carried out.

Response

The 25-year-old teacher spoke of the feedback, primarily positive, which he has received from potential sponsors, clients and drivers.

“You just have to download the app from Goggle Play Store or the App Store. If you have an iPhone it works. If you have an android store it works just as fine. It’s easy, it’s less than 12MB of storage and the registration process is simple.”

He noted that passengers did not necessarily need approval, but that E-Cab may have to call and check with them in some instances to ensure that they were indeed passengers.

Hutson, who teaches Grades nine to twelve Information Technology and Computer Science for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams (CAPE), also had some advice for other young entrepreneurs.

“My advice to them is, don’t give up.

It’s going to be hard.

Sometimes you will feel like if you can’t move forward, you’re not getting any calls, no one wants to help you.

(Sometimes) family and friends are not going to help you. You have to make the step and keep pushing yourself.”

W h e n , through perseverance, the summit of the mountain is reached, he stated, help will come from all sides.

“So continue moving on, don’t give up. That’s the key.”

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Guyana signs €1.25M project to conserve 10% marine space

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he World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Guianas and the European Union (EU) signed and launched a project which will significantly enhance the protection of marine and coastal resources of Guyana and Suriname.

The project, entitled, “Promoting Integrated and Participatory Ocean Governance in Guyana

and Suriname: the Eastern Gate to the Caribbean,” will see both countries setting aside 10 per cent of its Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) as marine protected areas by 2020, in keeping with its commitment to the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity – which both countries had signed.

The EU allocated

a €1.25 million grant for the project to be executed by WWF in collaboration with the Protected Areas Commission of Guyana and the Nature Conservation Service of the Suriname Government.

The project is expected to fill critical information gaps by developing comprehensive and visually appealing spatial

EU Ambassador Jernej Videtič and WWF Guianas Representative Laurens Gomes sign onto the project, entitled “Promoting Integrated and Participatory Ocean Governance in Guyana and Suriname: the Eastern Gate to the Caribbean”

data (Geographical Information Systems atlas and three-dimensional ocean maps) collated through participatory processes, enabling informed decision-making, regarding marine protection and management.

WWF Guianas Representative, Laurens Gomes, during the signing ceremony in Guyana which was held at the Regency Suites on Monday, explained why he regards the ocean as one of the greatest gifts to mankind.

“The ocean itself captures more CO2, more carbon, than all of the forests in the world and that dynamic is very important to climate stability.

Fisheries is another good example, it is a very critical food source for global communities,” he noted, as he stressed the importance in protecting the world’s ocean spaces.

EU Ambassador Jernej Videtic, in delivering his remarks, highlighted that roughly “1.1 million people will directly and indirectly benefit from the project as it aims at addressing the challenges deriving from climate change, fisheries, carbon storage, and thus contributes to decreasing the vulnerability of this part of the region.”

Director of the Department of Environment at the Ministry of the Presidency, NdibiSchwiers, lauded

this initiative, noting that such a venture is timely.

“This initiative is intended to contribute to human wellbeing, especially for the coastal population and there is a possibility, we understand, to develop and expand the economic activities along the coast,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the area around which the project revolves, supports important fisheries, major nursery grounds, spawning grounds and a rich diversity of marine species and is of both regional and global significance. Whilst key threats are recognised (overfishing of some species; increased hydrocarbon exploration) there are significant data gaps which hamper efforts to sustainably manage the marine environment.

It is envisioned that increased marine protection and strengthened governance will safeguard biodiversity and enhance food security, protect livelihoods, increase resilience and support socio-economic development in these countries.

This project will demonstrate that compelling data, participatory spatial planning and targeted capacity building can conserve biodiversity and foster economic activities compatible with ocean health.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Police pursue main suspect in fatal nightclub stabbing

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he prime suspect in the stabbing to death of a 42-year-old destitute man at Lamaha Street, Georgetown is being hunted by members of the Guyana Police Force.

This was confirmed

by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Monday evening, who also noted that detectives were up to late Monday evening reviewing the footage collected from the CCTV camera in the area.

He, however, noted that the Police went to the home of the suspect, but he was not there. The suspect, Blanhum noted, was previously charged for armed robbery. He stated that the Police will continue their search for the suspect as well as his accomplices.

Sunil Singh, called “Grey”, a labourer of no fixed place of abode, was stabbed to death in the wee hours of Sunday while he was attempting to make peace during a brawl between an employee of a city nightclub and a group of party-goers.

Charles Valenzuela, 21, a bartender of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was also

injured during the stabbing incident.

According to reports, patrol ranks went to the Blue Martini Nightclub located at Lamaha Street, Newtown, and closed the club after which they left.

However, shortly after, it was alleged by Valenzuela, an employee of the nightspot, that three men arrived and wanted to enter the club.

At that point in time, the young man informed them that the club was closed and this resulted in an argument, during which one of the men stabbed Valenzuela to his left arm.

Singh, who was present at the time, intervened and was trying to make peace when the suspect who stabbed Valenzuela dealt Singh a lash to his head. Singh then reportedly ran north into Railway Street, Kitty, and was pursued by his attacker, who caught up with him and stabbed him several times.

Both Singh and Valenzuela were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Singh was pronounced dead on arrival and Valenzuela was treated and sent away.

Cops still to arrest man who stabbed peacemaker outside nightclub

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42-year-old man was stabbed to death in the wee hours of Sunday after he attempted to make peace during a brawl between an employee of a city nightclub and a group of party-goers.

The incident occurred sometime after 02:45h on Sunday at Owen Street, Kitty, Georgetown and 169 Lamaha Street, respectively. The dead man has been identified has Sunil Singh, called ‘Grey’, a labourer of no fixed place of abode. Another person, 21-year-old Charles Valenzuela, a bartender of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was also injured in the brawl.

According to Police reports, patrol ranks went to the Blue Martini Nightclub located at Lamaha Street, Newtown Kitty, and closed the club after which they left. However, shortly after it was alleged by Valenzuela, who is employed at the nightspot, that three males arrived and wanted to enter the

club.

The young man told investigators that he informed the trio that the club was closed and this resulted in an argument, during which one of the trio stabbed him (Valenzuela) to his left arm.

Singh, who was present at the time, intervened and was trying to make peace when the said suspect who stabbed Valenzuela, dealt Singh a blow to his head. Singh then reportedly ran north into Railway Street, Kitty, and was pursued by his attacker, who then stabbed him several times.

Both Singh and Valenzuela were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Singh was pronounced dead on arrival, while Valenzuela was treated and sent away. The body of Singh is presently at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The suspect has not yet been apprehended, however, the Police are continuing their investigations.

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7 arrested in connection with murder of Corentyne domestic worker – source

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t least seven persons are in custody in connection with the brutal murder of a Corentyne, Berbice woman, whose home was invaded by armed bandits on Tuesday evening.

A source close to the investigation told this

newspaper that the suspects are presently being grilled in relation to their involvement in the crime.

L i l a w a t i e Muhammed, 45, a domestic worker of Lot 198 Sixth Street, Tain Settlement, Corentyne,

Berbice was shot in the presence of her children about 23:30h by gunmen who kicked down the door to her home and shot her.

According to the woman’s 18-year-old son, Ashad Ishack, he and his 21-year-old sister and

their mother were at home when two masked men kicked open the front door of their home.

He said one of them was carrying a shotgun.

He explained that they were all put to kneel on the floor and the men then demanded money.

However, the mother of four said that she did not have any money.

The teen related that one of the men responded by placing the gun to her throat and pulling the trigger. The bullet exited the top of her head and she fell dead on the floor, the young man said.

This publication was told that after shooting Muhammed, the men immediately exited the building, scaled the fence and disappeared into the bushes between the village and the sea. The two siblings then alerted Police and rushed their mother to the Port Mourant Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

B Division (Berbice) Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam visited the family on Wednesday, along with members of the Cops and Faith

Dead: Lilawatie Muhammed

Network, to extend his condolences. The Commander promised the family a thorough investigation.

In 2016, Muhammed’s home was destroyed by fire in what was believed to be an act of arson. The

suspects in that act are all overseas.

The family of three has since been renting the Tain Settlement house. Police are continuing their investigations.

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Forensic audits: Investigators gathering evidence to build strong cases against those identified as culpable

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nvestigators have already gathered considerable evidence to build strong cases against those identified as culpable in a number of State–sponsored forensic audits.

This is according to UK-based financial crime consultant, Dr Sam Sittlington, who has been providing advice to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in relation to the investigations launched in flagged corrupt practices as highlighted in the forensic audits.

Speaking to media operatives on Wednesday, the financial crime expert explained that significant evidence has already been collected for a number of the cases but the process of gathering information to use in the courts is still ongoing.

He was particularly alluding to the cases of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Dr Sittlington explained that the forensic audits are not substantial or compelling enough to use in the courts.

He said that was the essence behind the recent raid at the GRDB, where SOCU officers went to collect certain documents which contained critical data to be used as evidence.

“Because the audit was produced with the documentation, we had to gather the same documentation as evidence under a legal process,” he said.

According to Dr Sittlington, he would not “underestimate the size of the case, it

is a massive case.”

He also disclosed that substantial evidence has been gathered for NICIL but he decline to comment further on the matters as they are currently under investigation.

Meanwhile, the financial crime expert noted that SOCU has the skillset needed to lead successful cases but the manpower is lacking. “(There is) only a small number of skilled officers, the new officers that come in have to be trained as well, so it is a matter of prioritising tasks” he explained.

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Massive Chowtaal concert set for Feb 26 in Queens

Audits

The audit into the GRDB was ordered by Government in June 2015 and was undertaken by the auditing firm of Nigel Hinds and Associates. The action was taken after it was discovered that G$100 million was allegedly loaned to the Guyana Rice Producers Association.

The controversial loan, which remains outstanding, has been described by Minister Jaipaul Sharma as “ad hoc” and purportedly signed with the understanding that the loan would have been repaid in October 2014.

Government spokesperson Raphael Trotman also said the audit report indicated that via to the PetroCaribe Fund, the financial vehicle which saw millions of dollars passing through the accounting unit of the GRDB, there were “glaring” financial irregularities which were uncovered by the auditors with “no traceable signs that these were ever approved”, minus promissory notes in some instances.

B y V ishnu B isram

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he third Annual Chowtaal Singing Samelan is scheduled for Sunday, February 26 at 10:00hrs at the Prem Bhakti Mandir. The event is being organised by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, USA Praant, and other local organisations in New York.

It is billed as the largest chowtaal singing concert in the USA. The planners say at this event, "people will celebrate the festival of colours with enthusiasm and great spirit." The last two years

were most enjoyable.

Organisers urge Phagwah celebrants to come together as a community to celebrate the festival.

All mandirs, chowtaal groups, kirtan groups and the general public are invited for this festive program. Some 20 chowtaalgaols have already registered their interest to participate in the singing samelan. To register as a singing participant or group, call 347-2913807. No registration is needed as a member of the congregation.

Free refreshments will be served. Admission is also free.

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Crime, violence in Latin America, Committees set up to monitor establishment of Local law school Caribbean cost billions – IDB

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s the Guyana Government moves to establish a law school, two committees will be established to have oversight to ensure that the project is being pursued in accordance with the necessary requirements.

According to Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, this decision was taken during the recently concluded meeting of Council of Legal Education’s (CLE) Executive Committee held in Kingston, Jamaica, last week.

“The Executive Committee agreed that two committees would be set up to collaborate on the proposal to establish the JOF Haynes Law School of the Americas in Guyana, in keeping with the criteria required for law schools under the auspices of the CLE,” he stated.

According to the Legal Affairs Minister, the Government will establish one of the committees which will include representatives of its joint venture partners and the Attorneys General of Jamaica and Guyana.

Meanwhile, CLE’s committee will comprise of its Chairman, Reginald Armour, SC; the Principals of Hugh Wooding, Norman Manley and Eugene Dupuch Law Schools;

Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams

and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Dean for the Faculty of Law, Dr Leighton Jackson.

Moreover, the Legal Affairs Minister outlined that the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Guyana Government and the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) and the Law College of the Americas (LCA) will see a feasibility study being conducted to ensure that all the requirements of the Council are met.

“The CLE’s requirements for the establishment of its law schools include matters such as physical plant, staffing, library facilities and infrastructures. The feasibility study to be undertaken pursuant to the MoU… will encompass those criteria,” Williams noted.

Government’s move to establish the JOF

Haynes Law School of the Americas in Guyana comes on the heels of law students from the University of Guyana (UG) continuing to face challenges in finding spots at the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad to pursue their Legal Education Certificate.

The agreement between the Guyana Government and HWLS to facilitate this arrangement comes to an end next year and so Government is hoping to have the law school up and running here by 2018.

However, before any physical construction gets underway, a feasibility study will have to be conducted to determine the best route of implementing this project.

The project will be undertaken in the form of a public private partnership, with Government holding 30 per cent interest and the private partners 70 per cent.

Government’s contribution will be to provide the land needed for the development of the school, which is anticipated to accommodate up to 400 students.

With the law school operating under the Council of Legal Education, it will therefore be open to students all across the region.

T

he Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) estimated the annual cost of crime and violence in Latin America and the Caribbean at US$261 billion.

The study, published on Friday, indicated that this total accounts for 3.55 per cent of regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is approximately what is invested in the Region’s infrastructure.

The IDB had launched investigations into the costs of crime and violence, with focus on 17 Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries over the period 2010-2014.

The study was initiated as a result of the continuous increase in crime in the Region, despite the progress made in areas such as poverty, health and education. The LAC Region contains nine per cent of the world’s population, but accounts for nearly one-third of its homicide victims, making it the most violent region outside war zones.

The landmark study entitled, “The Costs of

Crime and Violence: New Evidence and Insights in Latin America and the Caribbean”, simplified the economic impacts of crime into three categories. These include the social costs, which is lethal and non-lethal victimisation, and foregone income of prison populations, amounting to 0.64 per cent of the GDP; the private spending on security by businesses and households (1.37 per cent) of the GDP; and public spending, including the costs to the judicial system, spending on Police services and on prisons (1.51 per cent of the GDP).

This is equivalent to the income of 30 per cent of the poorest population, underlining the grave effect violence has on the Region’s development.

An IDB news release revealed that crime and violence are at near crisis levels in Latin America and the Caribbean. The study disclosed that six out of 10 robberies in the Region involve violence and 90 per cent of murders go unresolved. The prisons are the most overcrowded in the world.

When compared to the records of six developed countries, the cost of crime and violence in LAC countries exceeds the cost in these developed societies, including the US and the United Kingdom (UK). Moreover, the cost of violence against women in Latin America and the Caribbean doubles the world’s average.

The study recommends that cutting the cost of crime to the level of developed nations is projected to increase the Region’s investment towards development by 50 per cent.

Ana María Rodríguez, Manager of the IDB’s Institutions for Development Department, stated that “the study will help Governments and international cooperation agencies better allocate resources, as well as design better policies to control and prevent crime”.

As such, it is the gateway for future studies, with an impending research on gender violence.

The IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Besides loans, grants and guarantees, the IDB conducts cutting-edge research to offer innovative and sustainable solutions to our Region’s most pressing challenges.

Business Minister says no nexus between implementing VAT and attracting investors

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ollowing the Value Added Tax (VAT) measures announced by the Government in the 2017 Budget presentation, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin has opined that the measures would not deter investors.

The Minister communicated this stance during a telephone interview on Friday, as he addressed the question of whether the tax measures facilitated a suitable business environment and provided an inviting climate for local and foreigninvestors.

“Certainly! VAT is implemented in a lot of countries. I don’t see investors shying away from investing in jurisdictions where the Value Added Tax is set. So, I don’t see the nexus between implementing VAT and attracting investors,” the Business Minister stated.

When asked about local investors, Gaskin

pointed out that the same thing applied and that they also have the right climate to invest.

The parliamentary Opposition has been steadfast against the Budget, describing the tax measures as lacking innovation and as lazy attempts to raise money.

During a recent press conference, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was very critical of the fact that the coalition Government raised VAT on a number of items. According to Jagdeo, the country could be managed effectively without the extensive hikes in VAT.

Effects on mining

Jagdeo also spoke of the plight of the local gold and diamond miners, who have since sought a meeting with President David Granger. According to the Opposition Leader, miners have legitimate concerns that the various measures announced in the Budget

Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin

will kill the industry.

“The measures passed in the Budget can kill the industry. They introduced surreptitiously in the first budget in 2016 the VAT on heavy-duty equipment that was not there. So, that immediately sent up the cost on excavators, bulldozers, and other equipment used in the

hinterland, by 16 per cent.”

According to Jagdeo, all of this has changed the fiscal environment, particularly for small miners, and this would cause irreparable harm to the sector.

According to the new regulations, as announced by Government, certain goods and services will

now attract VAT. In addition to the tributors tax increase, there will be a two per cent tax on gross earnings.

These measures have been criticised by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) since they were announced.

VAT of 14 per cent has been also applied to general electricity consumption in excess of G$10,000 per month, and for water consumption exceeding G$1500 per month.

It was also announced last year that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) would receive authorisation to garnish funds from bank accounts held by taxpayers with outstanding tax arrears.

In addition to the miners’ representatives, the VAT measures have raised the ire of the business community. Back in December, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC)

Economics Committee, Ramesh Persaud, had stated that the 2017 Budget took more than it gave.

The PSC had called on the Government to reconsider, noting that several items which were exempted from VAT have been removed from the list of zero-rated items.

The addition of VAT on local airfares has also not gone down well, notwithstanding the Government’s assurances that hinterland residents would not be charged. National Air Transportation Association (NATA) President Annette Arjoon-Martins recently spoke out against the development in sections of the media.

According to ArjoonMartins, the increase would cause a decline in passengers. She said that in the absence of clear criteria from the GRA, domestic carriers would have to charge every passenger VAT.

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Indian company bids for full buyout of GuySuCo estates

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possible battle looms over the takeover of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) as another company officially proposes to Government its interest to invest in the cashstrapped estates.

The Indian firm, which was introduced to the Government by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s son-in-law, Tony Joseph, has formally proposed to buy over the sugar company.

In a letter to Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, dated January 27, 2017, ShrinathIspat Limited said it wanted to take over the management and operations of the entire estate, including sugar manufacturing and co-generation of power divisions.

“We intend to put our equity as investment required for modernisation of the plant to operate smoothly and profitably and also for the working capital whereas the existing assets, including plant and machinery, would be as equity of GuySuCo,” the corporate entity outlined in the letter which was interestingly copied to the Prime Minister, but not to President David Granger, nor Minister of State Joseph Harmon.

The company expressed gratitude to the

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Government and the Sugar Corporation for giving its delegation an opportunity to visit all six of the sugar estates. The company promised to provide a more detailed plan for takeover if the proposal piques Government’s interest.

Nepotism

Despite immense criticisms and concerns of nepotism, the Prime Minister defended his son-in-law’s involvement in this sensitive arrangement.

According to Nagamootoo, his sonin-law is helping the Government out of the pureness of his heart.

“This issue is not about the Prime Minister’s son-in-law. This issue is about a businessman, a credible successful businessman who has decided that he will bring investors to Guyana

Businessman Tony Joseph

wherever he can find them. He’s a Guyanese, he is a Berbician and he wants to help Guyana,” Nagamootoo had told this newspaper.

Joseph, a businessman, was encouraging investors to meet with Government officials to deliberate on possible plans for the local industry, however, the first known company to visit Guyana through him was the Indian firm.

Joseph became involved in this initiative after the suggestion was made by Nagamootoo.

“He just listened to the Prime Minister in India saying bring some investors to help the crippled sugar industry and he did… I met him in Delhi (India) where there was a Rotary club meeting, I met him with the High Commissioner, he went there on his own business and I met with

all the business people. He asked me to go to a dinner and everyone wants to come to Guyana… they want to even form a Guyana/New Delhi Friendship Society and I said, ‘listen Tony, get a list of all who wants to invest in Guyana, coordinate with our High Commissioner and see if you can make contact (with Ministries)’,” the Prime Minister explained.

Conflict

However, Trinidadian firm has already indicated its interest in investing in the Skeldon Estate.

The company, D Rampersad and Company Limited (DRCL), already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Guyana Office for Investment (GoInvest) on behalf of the Government for the undertaking of a feasibility study.

The feasibility study is proposed to commence on April 3 and will be completed in the second-quarter of the year.

The integrated sugarcane processing facility will include developing an integrated sug-

a

ar-to-ethanol and electric power project. While sugar will not be produced, the Skeldon Factory will still have to process the sugar cane all the way to the molasses stage, but the diffuser for extracting the sugar will become redundant. The feasibility study will examine the cultivation and harvesting of sugar cane and sugarcane processing.

It will also look at the production of fuel-grade ethanol, and the production of bulk rum for local,

regional and international markets.

The feasibility study will also focus on power production from bagasse, production of high-test molasses, the construction of a liquid bulk terminal and the development of a solar power generation facility.

The findings of the feasibility study will provide critical information and set the platform to make a definitive project proposal to the Government of Guyana.

A copy of the letter written by the Indian firm

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Guyana’s private sector reports major decline in economic activities

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ollowing the continued stand-off between a seemingly majority citizenry and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) over the controversial Parking Meter Project, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has expressed concerns about the situation.

The body said in a statement on Friday that it is alarmed at the potentially escalating impasse between the M&CC and citizens regarding the implementation of parking meters, without appropriate consultation and transparent procurement.

“What is even more startling is the fact the M&CC is prepared to support the booting and impounding of vehicles without the enactment of the By-laws signed by the Minister of Communities. This is, in any jurisdiction, unlawful and unacceptable,” the GCCI asserted.

In light of this current state of affairs, the Chambers noted that it is compelled to call upon the Government to intervene and facilitate a solution that would be fair and acceptable to both the M&CC and citizens.

“The City’s economy is struggling long enough as it is, and therefore does not need any further disruptions as a result of poor planning, obstinacy and resultant push back,” GCCI highlighted.

The parking meter project is being imple-

Former PSC Chairman Ramesh Persaud

mented by Smart City Solutions (SCS) and the company has been meeting with stakeholders and various groupings in order to iron out concerns.

However, in a whole page advertisement published in a local newspaper on Friday, it was alleged that the Private Sector refused to meet with SCS. This prompted an immediate response from the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the umbrella body for a broad swathe of businesses, as well as the members of the Business Support Organisations across the country.

According to the PSC, it met with SCS on two occasions. On the first occasion, the company requested, and was granted, a courtesy call during which the principal of the company gave a broad overview of its background.

During the second

meeting, the Commission said that the company requested the opportunity to make a presentation to the Private Sector umbrella body. An appointment was subsequently made and communicated to the members of the Commission. However on that day, the members of the Private Sector exercised their democratic right and, with the exception of two persons, chose not to attend the presentation.

Also on Friday, the PSC said that the business community has recorded declining sales since the implementation of the parking meters.

In a statement to the press on Friday, the PSC noted that it has received impassioned pleas from businesses which have seen their sales decline by as much as 50 per cent since the introduction of metered parking in the city.

“The Mayor and City

Council have displayed unmatched arrogance in their refusal to engage businesses in any attempt to compromise and mitigate the ill effects of this scheme. The citizens, on whom the full brunt of this new de facto tax would fall, have made clear their refusal to be further burdened,” the statement noted.

It added, “Our Government is aware that the failure of the retail sector would have a direct impact on the country’s Gross Domestic Product since the Wholesale/Retail Sector is an important contributor to growth.

Is this local government organ now free to make policies which run counter to the national interest?”

While efforts are afoot to mend the appease the citizenry and get them to accept the parking meters, which have already been installed and are in operation across the Capital City, there have been renewed concerns following the disclosure

by Government that the By-laws governing the operations of the parking meters are still to be reviewed, despite the project having rolled out.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday told reporters at the post-Cabinet press briefing that the By-laws are currently being reviewed by the Attorney General before Cabinet approves the documents for gazetting.

Sleepin Hotel boss denies favouritism in gaining concessions

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n light of the findings of an audit conducted into the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), which shows that Sleepin International Hotel & Casino Inc benefited from a series of tax holidays and waivers under the previous Administration, the hotel has denied being on the receiving end of favouritism, emphasising that the business had to undergo an “elaborate” process to qualify for the concessions granted.

The audit report, which was published on the Finance Ministry’s website on Friday, outlined that Sleepin Hotel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GO-Invest, on behalf of Government, agreeing to a corporate tax holiday for the hotel operations for a period not exceeding 10 years.

The agreement also catered for: the facilitation of granting a Casino Operator’s Licence; taxation of the casino operations at a rate of 35 per cent on its net profits with accelerated depreciation and unlimited carryover of losses; interest payments – not the principal of foreign loans being subjected to 20 per cent withholding tax upon repayment; waiver of Customs Duty, Value Added Tax, and Excise Tax on casino equipment, spares and related parts, and tax concessions for the importation of equipment, machinery, fixtures and fittings,

Clifton Bacchus

furnishings, building and other materials.

According to the auditors, this MoU was the only one subjected to the official approval of the President, and there were no documentation from GO-Invest showing the rationale to explain or justify the methodology used for granting tax holidays to the hotel. However, in a letter to the editor on Sunday, owner of the Sleepin chain of hotels in Guyana, Clifton Bacchus, pointed out that the Government of the day had offered a regime of concessions for investments in the hotel and hospitality sector, which were available to all investors.

Bacchus noted that in order to benefit from these concessions, businesses had to comply with a “long and elaborate process” involving GO-Invest, the Finance Ministry and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) as well as satisfy certain laid-out requirements. The process, he continued on page 24

Guyanese businesses being urged to use more digital platforms

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xisting and budding Guyanese entrepreneurs are being urged to incorporate digital forums to boost their businesses in a world where technology is rapidly advancing and becoming increasingly relevant in modern society.

The call was made by Business Minister Dominic Gaskin at the country’s first ever Digital Wealth Summit at the Marriott Hotel on Saturday.

The Summit is the brainchild of the Masterclass Institute – a business education and training organisation with a goal of transforming the country’s economic landscape by using digital media to create additional streams of income for entrepreneurs.

During his presentation at the event, the Business Minister emphasised the need for more Guyanese to climb on-board the digital train, which is driving the global economy.

“Digital wealth creation means making money and using online platforms to do so… it’s an area of wealth

creation Guyanese entrepreneurs are not participating in enough… I’d like to see more young Guyanese integrated more comfortably into the global network that is using digital connectivity as a platform for doing business,” he stated.

Gaskin said entrepreneurs need to grasp the concept that technology is changing the game of doing business and Guyana cannot be spared from these technological advancements.

“Use this tool to extend your reach,” he urged.

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes also delivered remarks, particularly about her sector’s role in shaping an environment conducive for entrepreneurs to step up their game in the modern technological arena.

She reiterated that her Ministry’s aim is to work with partners to transform Guyana’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) landscape and to create a technologi-

A section of the gathering at the event

cally driven economy.

“Until we start to improve the level of connectivity each and every citizen in Guyana has, we will not be able to get anywhere,” the Minister stated.

Hughes noted that the Ministry has made significant strides to open avenues for existing and budding entrepreneurs to capitalise upon for additional wealth creation.

Meanwhile, Masterclass Institute Founder, Dr Rosh Khan underscored to a packed room the importance of digital technology.

“A revolution is happening. We cannot afford to be left behind. It’s about

time our economy takes part of this revolution… technology is here, it is time to apply our strategic knowledge,” he stated.

The Digital Summit will show attendees exactly how to use technology to make legitimate and life-changing money with the Internet.

The Summit will help Guyanese understand all the elements to creating digital profits by tapping into the global demand for virtual service, promising that the knowledge shared at the Summit has the power to change the economic landscape of Guyana.

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UN Res Rep robbed Govt gives limited window for restart of scrap metal trade in Georgetown A

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Mikiko Tanaka

he UN Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative to Guyana, Mikiko Tanaka, was robbed on Thursday evening in Campbellville, Georgetown.

Based on information reaching this newspaper, the diplomat was relieved of her handbag containing important

documents and an undisclosed sum of cash.

Reports are the robbery was executed by a lone bandit on a motorcycle who relieved the woman of her bag and rode away. After reaching a short distance, he reportedly fell off the motorcycle eager to escape; leaving the bike behind and escaping on foot.

The motorcycle was taken by Police as an investigation was launched.

Attempts to contact Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on the issue proved futile. Nevertheless, based on a description given to the Police by eyewitnesses, the Police are in pursuit of the suspect.

The Police, however, did not release an official statement on the robbery. It is unclear if the bandit was arrested or any of the woman’s belongings recovered.

The diplomat arrived in Guyana in August 2016 to take up the top UN position here after serving in a similar post in Yemen, Timor-Leste, Pakistan, China and New York.

fter a 19-month shut down of the scrap metal industry, dealers have been given a limited window to re-start their trade as Government continues to iron out new regulations for the sector.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon disclosed last week that Cabinet had approval for the limited restart of the scrap metal trade. He explained that as a result of the trade being close for almost two years, inspections have revealed that there is a large buildup of scrap metals, particularly across Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

“Cabinet has therefore approved the Ministry of Business’ proposal to allow exporters to ship out the existing stocks for a limited period of three months,”

Scrap metal trade in Guyana

Harmon announced. He outlined that Cabinet had accepted the proposal from Business Minister Dominic Gaskin back in September 2016 to restart the scrap metal trade on the basis of a new menu of measures to be put in place.

“The process of putting together new guidelines and regulations by the ministry has been ongoing and the ministry now feels that it is in a position to authorize a limited restart to the scrap metal trade,” Cabinet Secretary had stated.

The Ministry of Business, in anticipation of the resumption of the scrap metal trade, met with key stakeholders to discuss proposed changes to the operation of the industry. The Ministry sought to streamline

mechanisms with respect to trade and licensing.

The Scrap metal trade was suspended in June 15, 2015 due to a forensic audit of the Scrap Metal Unit (SMU) which monitors the trade.

In 2016, Ram and McRae produced a report on its findings from the probe, revealing a string of irregularities including the mishandling of packing procedures for scrap and the expenditure of millions of dollars in the Scrap Metal Unit within the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

To this end, government removed the responsibility of the trade from the Central Housing and Planning Authority to the Ministry of Business.

Sleepin Hotel boss denies... added, contained certain checks and balances, which allowed these three State agencies to check, verify and authenticate the information provided by the investor.

“I applied for the concessions, utilising the required procedures; the information that I provided were checked, verified and authenticated by the relevant agencies and I was granted the concessions for which I applied,” he explained.

Moreover, the hotelier went on to disclose that these were not the first concessions granted to him. In fact, he revealed that back in 20052006, he applied to the then Government for concessions, which were granted. These concessions were used in the expansion of the Sleepin International Hotel branch on Brickdam, Georgetown, Bacchus said. He added that at the time, Guyana was preparing to host its leg of the International Cricket World Cup in 2007 and the country was in dire need of hotel accommodation.

According to the hotelier, Guyana has continued to benefit from the

from page 23

investments which he has made utilising those concessions.

“The Sleepin chain of hotels has an international reputation of providing affordable accommodation in a quality environment with warm, competent and cordial staff. It provides employment, at this point in time, for over a hundred Guyanese families and it contributes millions of dollars, annually, in taxes,” he asserted.

Furthermore, Bacchus pointed out that unlike other hotels, the Sleepin chain never benefited from any movable or immovable asset from the State.

The letter penned by the hotelier was in response to an article headline in a local newspaper, which Bacchus said conveyed “the impression that Sleepin Hotel improperly, unfairly and perhaps corruptly benefited from concessions to which it was not entitled”.

As the applicant for those concessions and the owner of the Sleepin chain of hotels, Bacchus rejected the headline as “false and malicious”.

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Goolsarran, Stabroek News Bank staff who perished in Berbice slapped with G$20M lawsuit crash was speeding – eyewitness

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ommissioner of Information and former Attorney General, Charles Ramson Sr, has filed a G$20 million lawsuit against former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran and Guyana Publications Inc (Stabroek News). The writ, which was filed on his behalf by his attorneys, is also seeking costs of the legal process.

According to the writ, which was seen by Guyana Times International on Friday, Ramson is seeking these damages from the former Auditor General for libel and for “knowingly and intentionally inducing a breach of contract.”

The writ makes a joint claim against the defendants for “Damages in excess of G$10 million for libel contained and published on the 23rd day of January, 2017 in the Stabroek News, a daily newspaper circulating in Guyana and internationally, more specifically in a column entitled ‘Forensic audits, NICIL and the Commissioner of Information’.”

It also claims for “Damages in excess of G$10 million for knowingly and intentionally inducing a breach of contract committed by the first names de-

Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran

fendant and published by the second named Defendant, with respect to the contract executed between the State of Guyana and the Plaintiff as Commissioner of Information, whereby the Plaintiff has suffered loss and damage.”

RamsonSr, through his attorneys Ashton and Pauline Chase, is also seeking “an injunction restraining the defendant from re-publishing any or similar libel and/or inducing a breach of the aforesaid contract, any other order as may be just and costs.”

The writ is dated January 26 and gives the defendants 10 days after service of the writ to make an appearance, failing which judgment would be granted in their absence. According

to the writ, such an appearance has to be made at the Supreme Court.

In the feature article, Goolsarran had noted how important it was for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to engage special prosecutors. Goolsarran had stated their knowledge, skills and reputation could better match those who represent the defence’s side.

He had also called on the Government to strengthen the investigative capacity of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in order to truly fulfil its remit. It is, however, the article’s specific references towards the Commissioner of Information which have incurred the lawsuit.

RamsonSr is a former Attorney General, having served in that position under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration.

He was appointed as Commissioner of Information by former President Donald Ramotar in 2013.

Goolsarran, who has taken on the role of an anti-corruption advocate, using his background in financial matters, is a long-time columnist with Stabroek News.

A

The wrecked car driven by Ali on Saturday morning

staff member attached the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Limited was on Saturday morning killed after she lost control of the car she was driving and slammed into a utility pole in Berbice.

Dead is 29-yearold Shabana Ali of Nigg Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice.

According to reports received, at the time of her demise, Ali was driving her motor car bearing registration number PNN 189 and attempted to negotiate a turn in the vicinity of Palmyra when she lost control of the vehicle.

After slamming into the utility pole, persons ran to her rescue. She was pulled from the wreckage in an unconscious state

and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Divisional Traffic Officer Boodnarine Persaud told Guyana Times International that there were no skid marks on the roadway, which indicated that Ali had full control of the vehicle moments before it drove off of the main carriageway. He further stated that there is evidence which suggested that brakes were applied after the vehicle reached the gravel at the side of the road.

Persons at the scene claimed that Ali overtook them in a speed, assuming that she was probably late to get somewhere. One man said she was actually driving at about 130 kmph.

The dead woman’s brother; Zaman Ali, said she was on her way to Georgetown on work business.

“Yesterday (Friday) I talk to her and she told me that she had to go to Georgetown for some training at the head office.

I did not talk to her this morning because I had to go to the airport and it was when I was coming back I received the devastating message,” the brother noted.

The mother of a fouryear-old daughter has been working at the financial institution for the past eight years. She leaves to mourn her husband, daughter, parents, siblings and other relatives.

The Police are continuing their investigations.

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emembering the achievements of our African ancestors and their journey to emancipation from slavery gives us a sense of identity and helps us to appreciate our roots.

This is the aim of celebrations that would be held throughout the month of February, designated Black History Month worldwide.

The Mali Empire and the Mande Charter

Most social studies and history programs teach little about the kingdoms of Africa. Not much is said about the great kingdoms of subSaharan Africa such as the Kingdom of Kush, the Kingdom of Axum, the Land of Punt, the Mali Empire, the Songhai Empire, and the mysterious Zimbabwe Kingdom.

This week, we take a look into the Mali Empire and the founding of the Mande Charter. any know the Magna Carta, which is regarded as the first document to encapsulate any sort of human rights. It is a charter agreed to by King John of England on June 15, 1215. It is one of the most important documents in history as it established the princi-

M

A Catalan Atlas showing the Western Sahara. Mansa Musa is seen seated holding a gold coin. Attributed to Abraham Cresques, Wikimedia Commons

Charter", is said to predate the Magna Carta.

The Mande Charter was born at the founding of the Mali Empire.

Sometime in the 1200s, a great warrior named Sundiata Keita pronounced it.

Though Disney takes credit for the moniker, Keita was the original “Lion King.”

After calling for a rebellion, he raised an army and squashed his sovereign’s forces, consolidating the empire, and eliminating the state of Old Ghana.

At the site of Kurukan

A painting of King Sundiata Keita

ple that everyone is subject to the law, even the king, and guarantees the rights of individuals, the right to justice and the right to a fair trial.

However, according to French anthropologist and ethnographer Jean-Loup Amselle, who has studied and written about African society, culture and art, particularly how outside influences are adopted by cultures, the "Kurukan Fuga Charter" also known as the "Mande

Fuga, meaning “clearing on a hard rock,” situated between what is now Guinea and Mali, the resplendent Keita assembled a group of wise men, the chiefs of the various clans. These included Sumanworo Kanté, Emperor of Sosso, whom he had just defeated at the battle of Krina.

After the Charter’s declaration, it was passed down through griots or bards, the famed storytellers of the region, and keepers of the cul-

ture. This is a family affair, and stories and other items are passed down still today from father to son.

The spoken document, which has also been called a “Constitution”, contains a preamble and seven chapters. It speaks on social peace, the sanctity of human life, women’s rights, the right to an education, food security, and even to selfexpression. The charter gave equal rights to citizens including women and slaves. The aim was to provide peace and social stability. It advocated diversity and spoke of abolishing slavery, in this case the razzia or raid.

Since the Mande Charter was derived from an oral tradition, it isn’t easy to date. Historians as near as they can piece together have put it at 1236. Amselle contends that the Mande Charter

actually predates the Magna Carta, adding that that most scholars familiar with the sub-

trained historian Carter G. Woodson, who also founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). In 1925, Woodson conceived and announced Negro History Week. The event was first celebrated during a week in February 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

Woodson and others like him believed that truth could not be denied and that reason would prevail over prejudice.

The goal of started Black History Month was to help raise awareness of African American's contributions to civilization.

This paved the way opening the door to many events, clubs and teachers demanding materials to instruct their pupils as well as scholars and phi-

and it was introduced as a full month by President Gerald R. Ford in 1976.

Upon Woodson's death in 1950, it continued to grow into a central part of African American life and substantial progress had been made in bringing more Americans to appreciate the celebration.

At mid–century, mayors of cities nationwide issued proclamations noting Negro History Week.

The Black Awakening of the 1960s dramatically expanded the consciousness of African Americans about the importance of black history, and the civil rights movement focused Americans of all colour on the subject of the contributions of African Americans to history and culture.

Throughout this month, Sunday Times

Kouroukan Fouga or Kurukan Fuga was the constitution of the Mali Empire

ject agree that Mande Charter is either contemporary to or predates the English document.

Black History Month was started by Harvard-

lanthropists stepping forward to endorse the effort.

Carter G. Woodson first coined Negro History Week in 1925

Magazine will feature notable achievements by our African ancestors and present-day individuals.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

February February 13 - Folk Concert (date to be announced). For more info, call Mash Secretariat, Middle Street, on 592-226-4764.

February 14 - Masquerade Competition, Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara.

February 19 - Mashramani CalypsoFinal (adult). For more info, call Mash Secretariat,Middle Street, on 592-226-4764.

February 23 - Republic Day (National

April April 1-2 - Destination Wedding and General Events Workshop, RAMADA Georgetown Princess, Providence.

April 7-9 - Easter Seawall Art Festival, Seawall Tarmac, Kingston, Georgetown.

April 7 - ODI Cricket West Indies VS Pakistan, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

April 9 - ODI CricketWest Indies VS Pakistan, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

April 11 - ODI Cricket West Indies VS Pakistan, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

April9-16 - Pakaraima Mountain Safari.

April 14 - Good Friday (National Holiday).

April14-16 - Region Five Expo & Trade Fair, Bath Community Centre.

April 15-17 - Bartica Easter Regatta.

April15 - Car & Bike Show, Lake Mainstay Resort, Essequibo Coast.

April 15-17 - Lethem Rodeo Triple R Arena, Lethem, Rupununi. Contact Rupununi Chamber of Commerce on 592-772-2129.

April 17 - Easter Monday (National Holiday).

April 28 – May 7 - Restaurant Week.

Contact Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) on 592-225-0807.

July July 1-3 - “Arts & Craft Integration” Craft Show & Live Entertainment, Seawall Tarmac, Kingston, Georgetown.

July 3 - CARICOM Day (National Holiday).

July 29-30 - Moruca Weekend & Expo, Moruca, Region One. July (date to be announced) - Berbice Expo & Trade Fair, Albion Sports Ground, Albion, Corentyne.

October October 19 – Diwali (National Holiday).

October 20-21 - “Exhibition of Lights”arts show at Umana Yana, Kingston, Georgetown.

October 22 - Horse racing, Kennard Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot, Corentyne, Berbice.

October 28-29 - GTM Fitness & Expo, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

October(dates to be announced) - GuyExpo Trade Exposition at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia, Georgetown; and the Rockstone Fish Festival, Rockstone Community, Region Ten.

March

Holiday). Mash Float Parade at Stabroek Market Square to Durban Park, Georgetown.

For more info, call Mash Secretariat, Middle Street, on 592-226-4764.

February 24 - Art in the Park, National Park, Georgetown.

February 24-26 - Moraikabai Safari, Georgetown to Morakabai. Contact Rainforest Tours on 592-231-5661

May May 1 - Labour Day (National Holiday).

May 1-6 - “The Arrival” Arts Show, Umana Yana, Kingston,Georgetown.

May (to be announced) - Miss Renaissance Pageant, National Cultural Centre, Georgetown.

Contact Negla Brandis on 592-625-2886.

May 26 – Independence Day (National Holiday).

June June (date to be announced) - “Garden Wedding Gift Festival” Craft Show, Botanical Gardens, Georgetown.

August August 1 - Emancipation Day (National Holiday).

Emancipation Day Festival, National Park, Georgetown. Contact the African Cultural Development Association on 592-225-8120.

August 5-6 - “Emancipation Pepperpot” Craft Show, Main Street Avenue, Georgetown.

August (dates to be announced) – Jamzone’s week of activities at HJ Water World, Providence.

August - Bartica Regatta.

August 13 – 17th Lake Mainstay Regatta, Lake Mainstay, Mainstay Village, Essequibo.

March 4 - Rupununi Music & Arts Festival - “The Georgetown Connections” at Thirst Park (Banks DIH).

March 10-11 - Phagwah Festival in the Gardens, Promenade Gardens, Middle Street,Georgetown.

March 12 - Phagwah(National Holiday). Phagwah Festival at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

March - PhagwahMela&Folk Dance Concert, Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, E.C.D. Holi Utsav at Everest Cricket Ground, Carifesta Avenue,Georgetown. Contact Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha on 592-227-6181.

March 13 - Rose Hall Martyrs’ Day (countrywide observance).

March 19 - Horse racing at Kennard Memorial Turf Club,Corentyne,Berbice.

March 24-26 - Linden Expo & Trade Fair at the Egbert Benjamin Exhibition & Conference Centre, Linden.

March 24-26 - Wedding Expo at the Roraima Duke Lodge,Georgetown.

March 25 - Clash of the Titans, Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

March 25 – Concert, Protected Areas Commission,Georgetown.

March (month of) - Horse racing, Port Mourant Turf Club,Port Mourant, Corentyne,Berbice; Drag Racing, South Dakota Circuit, Linden/Soesdyke Highway; Car & Bike Show, Mainstay Community Centre Ground, Anna Regina; Digicel Guyana Curried Duck Competition, Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, Anna Regina, Essequibo; Novice Body BuildingChampionship, Theatre Guild, Parade Street,Kingston, Georgetown.

September September 1-30 - Indigenous Heritage Month. For information on activities contact the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs on 592-227-5067 or 592-225-6644.

September 3 - Eid-Ul- Adha (National Holiday).

September (date to be announced) - Nereid’s Yacht Rally,Hurakabra River Resort. Call 592-226-0240.

November November 1-30 - Tourism Awareness Month.

Contact the Guyana Tourism Authority on 592219-0094-6 for information on activities.

November 17-26 - Restaurant Week.

Contact THAG on 592-225-0807.

November 25-26 - Rupununi Expo, Lethem, Rupununi.

November 30 - YoumanNabi(National Holiday).

November - South Rupununi Safari. Contact Rainforest Tours on 592-231-5661 for dates.

A thrilling performance at a past Bartica Easter Regatta (Explore Guyana photo)

December December 16-24 - “Christmas Holiday Gift Festival” at Courtyard Mall, Georgetown.

December 25 - Christmas Day (National Holiday).

December 26 - Boxing Day (National Holiday).

Mash Float Parade (Photo by Amanda Richards)

Please note this is not the final and complete draft of the Guyana Tourism Authority’s calendar of events for 2017.

For updates, please visit www.guyana-tourism.com or Guyana Tourism Authority on Facebook

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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nita Ramprasad has overcome challenges to be the best she could possibly be. A corporate executive, Distinguished Toastmaster, fitness enthusiast and life coach, Anita aims to inspire others, especially women.

Anita is FCCA (Fellow of the Associated of Chartered Certified Accountants) of London, England certified and is a Senior Corporate Executive, holding the portfolio of Finance, Administration and Human Resources Manager for the MACORP Group of Companies.

Notably, Anita is a Distinguished Toastmaster, which means she had to compete in all of the four levels each of the Communication and Leadership disciplines.

Additionally, within the Caribbean Toastmasters community, she currently holds the post of a Division Director, with the responsibility of ensuring success of all

Anita Ramprasad

a more effective communicator and leader,” she stated in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

She added that as a Toastmaster for about seven years, she has grown “exponentially”

A life dedicated to being fit and inspiring others to do so

Toastmasters Clubs and members in Guyana, Trinidad and Grenada.

“It’s been said those who talk do so just because they have something to say, but those who speak have something to say that others actually want to hear.

The true essence of effective communication can be found in that simple line and also the reason I chose to become a Toastmaster. I wanted to master the art of speaking and to become

in areas of courage and self-confidence, providing feedback, responding to impromptu situations and handling stress. It has also allowed her to represent her country at the Regional Public Speaking Contests.

“I have provided training and given presentations nationally, regionally and internationally. I have also had the honour and privilege of being asked by The Tourism & Hospitality Association

of Guyana to be the official host of the very popular Guyana Restaurant Week food and restaurant reviews. So in essence, Toastmasters has transformed my life outside of my comfort zones and has challenged me to step out of the box I had once confined myself in,” she pointed out.

Apart from being a Toastmaster, Anita enjoys being fit and even encourages others to lead such a path. For Anita, fitness is a “way of life, a choice to live a healthy life and is a balance of smart eating and regular exercise”. She believes “when you look good, you feel good about yourself, when you feel good you are much more productive”. The fitness enthusiast mentioned that a fit lifestyle adds to our longevity and can slow down the signs of aging.

“I think even when I am 80, I would probably still be exercising,” she quipped.

Now, Anita is focused on becoming a life coach.

She believes this is her true calling and many people she has coached informally have confirmed this.

“I believe everyone has a purpose and value. I want to become a life coach to help people realise their true potential, their real worth, their value and most importantly their purpose, passion and calling in life. I love to make time for people to understand their challenges and

to help them overcome them,” she expressed.

Having endured “many levels of hell”, Anita enjoys “a state of peace” and is “totally in love” with the person she is today.

“I got through my challenges by prayer and having unshakable faith in God. I believe everything in life is temporary, only here for a season and a reason. What gets me through my toughest days is by remembering my current situation is not my final destination, because I believe I was created for great things and that my destiny is not at risk of being stolen by anyone. I have a little saying I love to use when times seem challenging to remind myself that in the end everything will turn out fine, ‘You can’t have rainbows without a little rain and you can’t have joy without a little pain’,” she declared.

Motivated by a passion to help women of all ages, Anita shares eight strategies she has developed, which have also worked for her personally. These are acceptance, know who you are, balance, self-awareness, switch it up, choose your battles, invest in yourself, and let yourself off the hook.

She explains: “Acceptance is knowing that all I am is human, which means I am not perfect and I don’t have to be, I have flaws but I am not flawed, I have experienced failure but I am not a failure, I have made mistakes but these do not define me rather they empower me to constantly improve the quality my life.

“Know who you are: I know who I am but more importantly I know who I am not. I celebrate my strengths and I am aware of my areas of improvement. This makes the impact of others opinions powerless against me because once you accept your flaws; no one can use them against you. This way nothing comes as criticism because the rumours and lies amuse me and the truth doesn’t shock me because I already know myself.

“Balance: I work hard and play equally hard. I allocate enough time for work, family and friends, exercise, prayer, sleep, reading, social and rec-

reational actives. Life is about balance and no single activity should ever consume too much of our time after all a balanced life is a happy life.

“Self-awareness: I never discredit my gut instinct nor do I allow emotions to rule me.

Self-awareness, to me, is the perfect alignment of intellect (ruled by our head/brain), emotion (ruled by our heart) and intuition (ruled by our gut). In any situation I am confronted with I take a mental pause to align these 3 areas and I contemplate…How does this affect me, how does it make me feel and how do I want to handle it?

This allows me to be in

don’t like something and it can be changed then I change it, if it can’t be changed then I change the way I perceive it. I fight the battles I can win and when it comes to people I know that sometimes being at peace is more important than being right.

“Invest in yourself: Life can take many things from you but the one thing that cannot be stolen is knowledge.

I try to read one book per month. This month’s read is ‘Emotional Intelligence’ by Scott Mercer. When you increase your knowledge you immediately increase your worth and remove your own limits.

“Let yourself off the

Speaking at a past Toastmasters' event

control of my thoughts, feelings and my energy and this is the truest form of empowerment of self.

“Switch it up: I have banished limits and negativity from my life by ‘switching it up’. I turned my am I’s, can I’s, should I’s, will I’s into I am, I can, I shall, I will.

My motto, ‘The question isn’t who is going to let me rather it’s who is going to stop me’.

“Choose your battles: Let’s face it not everything in life can be conquered some things we have to learn to accept. Knowing this I do not waste time and energy complaining. If I

hook: Far too often we are harsh and cruel with ourselves. I tell myself, I don’t always have to be happy, or in a good mood, or have it all figured out, or always look good oh no – I am allowed to have bad days, I am allowed to be hurt and cry, I am allowed to be scared, worried, anxious and unsure, every once in a while. Most importantly I am not afraid to ask for help when I know I need it as I see this as a sign of strength. To me it’s okay to get bent out of shape once in a while after all only when you are stretched can you grow.”

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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T

he world is looking on in amazement at the uproar in the United States that has followed President Donald Trump’s executive order, which denies entry to citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.

The President’s order was the fulfilment of a campaign promise to “ban Muslims” from entering the US, which was part of the nationalistic fervour that fed Trump’s popularity and won him the White House.

One tongue-incheek definition that explains the difference between nationalism and patriotism states: a patriot is proud of his country for what it does and a nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does. The first attitude is derived from a feeling of responsibility, while the second is rooted in blind arrogance.

Writer George Orwell stated that nationalism is “the worst enemy of peace”. He believed that nationalism feeds feelings of your country’s superiority over all others and in every regard, while patriotism is an expressed pride in your national values, beliefs and way of life.

While patriotism

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

comes from feelings of affection, nationalism is rooted in rivalry and resentment. In broad terms, nationalism is militant, while patriotism fosters peace. While a patriot feels that everyone in the world is their equal, a nationalist views only the people of their own country as their equal.

Because nationalism makes you contemptuous of other nations and blind to any of their virtues, it feeds militant attitudes. For this reason, nationalists are very preoccupied with borders and with securing them in order to keep everyone deemed inferior out.

Trump’s top advisor, Steven Bannon, proclaims himself a nationalist and exemplifies the mistake most nationalists make in believing that they can disguise themselves as patriots and not be discovered.

But the “America First” theme of Trump’s presidency is nationalism sloganized and writ large, and arises from the notion that Americans are more important than other people in the world. Some of Trump’s directives and policies and the people he has chosen for cabinet and advisory positions signal a nationalist agenda.

A fool-proof way to tell the difference between nationalism and patriotism is to remember that Hitler was a nationalist and Mahatma Gandhi, a patriot.

Guyana, as a whole, does not contribute to nationalistic fervour, but there are elements within our country whose speech and actions appear closely aligned with nationalist tendencies. For instance, leaders of nationalist movements always try to find justification for past mistakes and it is Orwell again who stated: “The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.”

The PNC-led Coalition ran its election campaign on a platform of forgetting its past and, to date, the PNC has never ownedup to the election rigging, racism, party paramountcy, and the thuggery and violence which marked its 28-year dictatorship.

In fact, since its return to power, the PNC-led Government seems intent on continuing from where it left off and appears indulgent of African Guyanese groups which are attempting to make

themselves more entitled than others by trying to stake out indigeneity claims.

No other Africans in the West – not in Brazil, America, Suriname, or anywhere else – have ever done so, perhaps, out of due regard for the inviolable rights of the Americas’ First Peoples.

Indian Guyanese are still seen as outsiders and aliens by these groups, and even as usurpers who arrived “late” and have inherited what is not rightfully theirs, whereas, like immigrant communities everywhere, our fore-parents came with their values and beliefs, worked hard and settled here, and paved the way for the full citizenship of their descendants.

Ryhaan Shah Indian Guyanese are equal to every other citizen with respect to all legal and human rights and are entitled to an equal share in the national patrimony. Denying these rights to any Guyanese group or citizen can be rightfully viewed as prejudice, based on nationalist feelings. Indian Guyanese have endured

open cultural and political violence for half a century and many fled to North America, some as refugees, as recently as the turn of the century from the Buxton-centred racial/political violence.

They fled race-led nationalism in Guyana and have made safe homes in Canada and the US. Many of them are on the frontlines in the battle to make sure that the US does not go down the path of Guyana because of their experience here where nationalism, with all its inbuilt prejudices, is actually justified and encouraged by several political and cultural leaders.

The events unfolding in the US should be vital lessons for the nationalists in our midst.

Cocaine mule jailed for 5 years, fined G$237M

A

cocaine mule was on Monday jailed for five years and fined G$237 million after he was found guilty by Magistrate Leron Daly for trafficking in narcotics.

KapilHaresh Thakurian was nabbed with the illegal substance at the CheddiJagan International Airport (CJIA) in August 2016.

The Prosecution had contended that the 34-year-old man of Enmore, East Coast Demerara was nabbed with 88.2 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking on August 9, 2016. During

the trial, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) provided evidence that Thakurian had attempted to smuggle the cocaine in a quantity of seafood on an outgoing flight from the airport.

Thakurian, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Peter Hugh, had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, but his lawyer’s application for bail was unsuccessful. As such he was on remand throughout the trial.

In court on Monday, the man stood motionless as the sentence was handed down by the presiding Magistrate.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Petamber Persaud

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

The Centennial End to Indentureship

Part III

T

he publication of “Coolie Odyssey” by David Dabydeen (1988) four years after “Slave Song” also by David Dabydeen (1984) credits a natural chronology of events in Guyanese history – enslaved people from Africa were brought to Guyana long before Indian Indentured labourers arrived here from India under a scheme termed ‘Indentureship’.

Indentureship started in 1838 after the emancipation of enslaved people and ended in 1917.

“Coolie Odyssey” published four years after “Slave Song”, in a way, it could be said, that the latter came out of the former mainly because together both books tell the odyssey of Guyanese from their respective ancestral homes to the diaspora, many carving a niche for themselves and making their ancestors and country proud of their achievements.

At this point, the preface of the book written by the author is worthy of note: “The first poem started on a train journey from Edinburgh to Birmingham, with further pieces written in trains from Coventry to London and planes from London over the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Lines came slowly, in fragments. The poems offer glimpses into an odyssey, not a chronicle of threaded events. The journey is from India to Guyana to England, and it is as much a journey of words as deeds” [my italics].

Dabydeen is a man of words (three collections of poetry, six novels and numerous academic books, authored/ edited/co- edited). He is also a man of action seen through his remarkable rise to fame and fortune – an inspiring odyssey.

Born in Guyana of lowly station, he able to move ‘from Care to Cambridge’ and has since conquered many worlds for which he was given recognition - in his country of birth, he won the Guyana Prize for Literature on three occasions and crowned with an ambassadorial title; the Caribbean community honoured him with the Anthony Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence for Arts and Letters; the Commonwealth Community awarded him the Commonwealth

David Dabydeen

Poetry Prize for ‘Slave Song’.

In his adopted home he is an acknowledged and much sought after academic, and his ancestral home awarded him the Raja Rao Literary Prize. Dabydeen moves frequently among his three homes - ancestral, place birth and adopted home, launching his forage from his adopted home.

The title poem, “Coolie Odyssey”, sets the trend, pattern and rhythm of the book; from the opening lines we are taken from England to Guyana.

Now that peasantry is in vogue, Poetry bubbles from peat bogs…

It should be time to hymn your own wreck, Your house the source of ancient song Where Dry coconut shells cackling in the fireside Smoking up our children’s eyes and lungs Plantains spitting oil from a clay pot Thick sugary black tea gulped down The title poem “Coolie Odyssey” is not static, for the writer takes the reader on a constant forage from birth place to adopted home to ancestral home in a style pregnant with contrasts and flashbacks, hammering home the message – “[y]ou were always back home, forever” as if trying to but not really escaping the “winter of England’s scorn”, because it causes us to “huddle together memories”, knowing the ancestors lie in a “library of graves...lie like texts/ Waiting to be written by the children”.

Such children are important to each generation and we ought to cherish their work/legacy from which we gain knowledge and insight,

and on which we could develop and build.

Contrast with an accompanying shift in language from Standard English to Guyanese Creole is effectively employed to unfold the odyssey.

The chronology of the story reads something like this: after emancipation, the enslaved people moved away from plantation life eliciting a need for another source of cheap labour to save sugar from ruination.

Through the Gladstone Experiment, Indians were brought to Guyana.

All captured in two lines from the poem: The odyssey was plank between river and land, Mere yards but months of plotting The next movement was the overtures among the whites, blacks and browns leading to many altercations, racial animosity and (happy moments which are rarely celebrated in these types of narratives).

All of which caused Old Dabydeen to call upon “Lord Krishna…”and “prayed that the white man would honour/The end-of-season bonus to Poonai”, his only son.

Through all this Old Dabydeen dreams of India. Drinking rum to drown his sorrows, he dies instead, dreaming of reincarnation but was headed for the rapture as he was “buried to the singing of Scottish Presbyterian hymns/And a hell-fire sermon from a ...catechist/By Poonai, lately baptised, like half the village” – a whittling away at their ancestral culture and values which was difficult to baulk at since an easy passage to education and employment depended on one embracing the Christian faith.

In England, the strug-

gle for a good life continues. Education was seen as a saviour, a way out, a continuation and consummation of the vision of the parents who “hustle to save one-one slow penny” to send their children to far away school, “to England university”.

In England your baggage wouldn’t let you be as you dream of home and cricket and El Dorado and Missie “spread out on veranda/ Flowing like milk-froth in her loose white frock” and your impotence.

Sometimes you wonder what Miranda and Kaliban were doing in Guyana and how Rohan Kanhai was looked up to as a saviour of Indians.

The title poem “Coolie Odyssey” is supported solidly by other pieces that filled in the blanks, fleshing out the story. The book, “Coolie Odyssey” is a remarkable piece of literature in its offerings to future generations.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening:

Cover “Coolie Odyssey” (Hansib Publications)

Under production: A compilation of biographies of Indo-Guyanese writers and an anthology of Indo-Caribbean poetry.

For further information, please use the above contacts. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

34 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Businessman involved in Tucville bridge shooting to stand trial in High Court

T

he preliminary inquiry into the murder of Colin Ferreira came to an end on Tuesday, when Magistrate Dylan Bess ruled that a prima facie case has been made against murder accused, Robert Benn.

The accused, who is a businessman and a licensed firearm holder, allegedly shotand killed 24-year-old Colin Ferreira, and injured his girlfriend after Perreira drove his vehicle onto Benn’s bridge, on August 24, 2016, at Perry Street, Tucville, Georgetown.

The man made his first court appearance on August 29, 2016 and was remanded to prison by Magistrate Leron Daly.

Magistrate Dylan Bess told the court on Tuesday that there had been no difficulty in identifying the accused as the person who committed the offence, and the court was satisfied to this end by the testimonies of several eyewitnesses.

He further explained that the post-mortem results and testimony by Pathologist, DrBridgemohan revealed that Ferreira died

Robert Benn

as a result of the injuries inflicted by the defendant.

The prosecution has since built a strong case against the accused. The Magistrate told the court that the evidence of the 16 witnesses who testified, was clear and coherent and not discredited by cross examination.

The accused was given the opportunity to address the court; however the man said he reserved his defence for the High Court and did not wish to present witnesses.

The businessman will proceed to trial at the Georgetown High Court in April.

Bartica Chamber raps Govt over new mining tax measures

T

he Bartica Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has rapped the Government over its new tax measures which it said will further cripple the mining industry.

According to the BCCI, these new measures imposed by Government will “kill the goose that laid the golden egg”.

“As worrying for businesses, job securities and the already paralysed Bartica economy as a town and the domino effects on the community that depends on mining, [that was] built by mining and still depends solely on mining. Well-established businesses and residents of Bartica solely depend on mining for their survival.

The contributions of miners to the development of Bartica have not gone unnoticed,” the BCCI noted.

The Chamber explained that Bartica was the nerve centre for Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and if miners had no choice but to pull out from operations, the already high unemployment rate would increase, as businesses would be forced to close since they were the main suppliers for miners.

“At present, approxi-

mately 60 per cent-70 per cent of the 15,000 population of Barticians is connected to mining. Just imagine, if miners do decide to pull out from mining activities, what will become of Bartica’s economy, which rise and fall with mining. Mining has remained the largest contributor to Guyana’s GDP [Gross Domestic Product] and had outperformed all other sectors, making it the lifeline of the Guyanese economy,” the BCCI explained.

The Chamber noted that even Finance Minister Winston Jordan informed Guyana’s highest decision-making body, during his budget presentation, about the satisfactory performance of the mining sector, and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has showered praises on the miners and the mining sector for the increase in gold declarations and surpassing of the projected target.

“But it is the miners who should be commended for their honesty and efforts to promote transparency in the sector. It is the miners who have been and remain one of the largest providers of hundreds of jobs in and around Bartica, not the Government. Mining is

private investment.”

The BCCI pointed out that Government only facilitated mining, noting that miners must not be intimidated or bullied by the Government.

According to the Chamber, Government has no direct investment in mining. “Private capital is being invested and, therefore, the Government will be powerless to stop miners from taking whatever step or decisions they so desire for their survival,” the BCCI noted.

In this regard, the BCCI urged compromise for the sake of job security and business survival in Bartica.

“BCCI notes with disappointment and sadness the GGDMA [Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners] had to resort to the media to beg for a meeting with His Excellency [President David Granger]. In light of this, BCCI urges the Honourable Minister of Natural Resources to mediate between his Government and the miners. BCCI urges more tax waivers and concessions for miners who in turn will provide much-needed jobs in mining districts, more so Bartica,” the Chamber expressed.

Some of the measures worrying the miners include increased tributors

tax from 10 to 20 per cent, mandatory filing of yearly income tax return plus the payment of two per cent tax on gross earnings, and Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption on heavy-duty vehicles.

On Friday, the GGDMA had a meeting at its headquarters on North Road, Georgetown and according to reports, the miners agreed that a letter would be published and also posted to President Granger, informing him of their concerns.

Reports indicate that the miners settled on a two-week deadline for a response, failing which they would organise peaceful mass protests.

According to the new regulations, as announced

by Government, certain goods and services will now attract VAT. During the Budget 2017 debates in the National Assembly, Opposition Leader BharratJagdeo had warned that these adjustments to the mining industry would bring about uncertainties as miners would be subjected to greater taxes.

He had noted that this would not augur well for the gold industry and would create hardships for small miners.

feature 35

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

O

ne of the earliest records we have of Kingston which is now Ward No. 1 in Georgetown appears in Dr Pickard’s “Letters” where he describes – “An English village contiguous to fort and camp with neat good houses, painted white on brick foun-

housefrom 1817 was replaced by the present lighthouse.

A few years later… the population of Kingston began to be much concerned over the encroachment of the sea, and an earth dam was commenced along the shore. This howevIt is believed that this cannon was issued to the colony of British Guiana in 1916 to be used for coastal defence during the First World War (National Trust)

dations and covered with wallaba shingles.” This letter was dated April 1796.

By 1848, the little village of Kingston had grown considerably. In 1830, the temporary wooden structure which had served as a light-

er, proved no barrier to the waters which, in 1855, flooded the whole of Kingston in places to a depth of four feet.

That year, the building of the Sea Wall commenced in earnest…

The work continued for many years, and in 1882

was completed as far as Kitty…

During the last twenty-five years, much of the old Kingston has disappeared and many changes have been caused by the Second World War. In 1924, what was left of Fort William Frederick was dismantled in order that the Petroleum Bond be erected on the same site. Up to 1940, an imposing line of twenty-two cannons still provided an excuse for the name of “Fort”, and at the same time they were used as playthings by children.

But the war came along and twenty-one of them were sold to a Canadian munition firm.

One gun remains pointing out to the river. This is the “8 ‘o’ clock gun” which Schomburg mentions in his writings of more than one hundred years ago: “Just as the firing of cannon had signalled the onset of night, a similar one notified the breaking of day; the Reveille sounded through the yet silent city streets and recalled to life fresh ener-

Trading expedition in British Guiana circa 1930

Women returning from market pose for a photo on New Garden Street, Georgetown, in 1922

gies and renewed activities.”

This firing of a gun at 5am and 8pm – a reminder of slave days – was discontinued in 1939 through the shortage of gunpowder. (The firing of the gun at 5am had stopped before that time.)

Formerly the offices of the Howard Humphreys Corporation, the bath hut east of the Bond was taken over by the Town Council for this purpose in the nineteen twenties or thirties.

The former Immigration Depot near the Sea Wall was built in 1881, and the passer-by could always see in the compound, crowds of East Indians who were staying there prior to their return to India. During the War the building was taken over for military purposes. The bottom flat is at present used as the office of the District Commissioner, Georgetown.

Other points of interest on the sea wall are the Bandstand, elected by public subscription in 1903 as a memorial of Her Late Majesty Queen Victoria, and the KohI-Noor Shelter nearby, which is the outcome of a memorial paper of the Diamond Jubilee edited

by Miss Webber.

An imposing memorial of the last war is a concrete pillar near the Round House on which used to be a small lookout shelter, complete with anti-aircraft gun.

After the war the pillar was left standing and the following inscription put on it.

The Royal Regiment Artillery B.G. Coast Battery

Lighthouse and Signalling Station (1913) Kingston, British Guiana

World War 1939 -1945 Fifty years ago it was not possible to get into Cowan Street from Fort Street. The road was blocked by an old Dutch well, which has since been filled in, and the road built over. Perhaps it was this well which gave the name Spring Alley to our Fort Street.

A building which has changed hands many times is the present Education Department, which formerly housed the Public Works Department Head Office.

The building has been used as a military barracks, and as a dwelling house.

The north east corner of this same site, now a promising kitchen garden, was formerly the site of Kingston Anglican School – dismantled Bandstand, Sea Wall,Georgetown, British Guiana (no date)

many years ago.

During the war, the vacant piece of land near the Lighthouse was cleared of its large trees for the erection of the United States Organisation Headquarters, which caused an unusual amount of traffic in the district, especially on party nights. The building has since been taken over by the government for use as the Public Works Department Head Office.

A landmark in Kingston is the huge molasses tank in Water Street which was erected by the Pure Cane Molasses Company in 1931. Next door is the Electric Company Power House, erected in 1937.

Another interesting building is the St Joseph Mercy Hospital, formerly the private nursing home known as “Colonna House”, and before that a dwelling house famous for its 99 windows.

Kingston, the “pretty little village” of 1796 is now a compact, built-in residential ward of the city of Georgetown. It has shared the improvements enjoyed by the rest of the city – better roads, tramcars while they lasted, first gas now electricity. But a view of the city from the lighthouse to-day would not be very different from that described by Schomburg in 1840; and the houses in Kingston are still “neat good houses, painted white” as described by Dr. Pickard.

(Source: Sketch for a History: Glimpses of Kingston by Joy W. Small. Vol. 2 Kyk-Over-Al, June 1948.)

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

Killing the goose…

W

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

…in Georgetown

hile the sentiment, “death and taxes are certain” has been expressed for quite a while, it seems the powers-that-be in Guyana are hell-bent on amending it to “death THROUGH taxes” as the lot of Guyanese. Hot on the heels of the US$2.50/ hour parking fees imposed (in Queens and Brooklyn our relatives earning TEN times our salaries pay US.75 CENTS/hour!) comes news that City Hall has hiked property rates by 10 per cent. Oi vey!!

But that’s not all. This is only at the City Level. Don’t forget your friendly Central Government has insisted on extending VAT to electricity and water – and a host of essentials through the subterfuge juggling “zero-rated” and “exempt”! For those city slickers who enjoy their AC’s to escape the muggy heat of their concrete jungle and watering their lawns to enjoy their ambiance, they’ll discover their dollar needs to be stretched way beyond what even their ‘plastic’ will allow.

But it’s not only the residents of Georgetown who’re facing the Grim Reaper: for business owners, their prognosis is even grimmer! While the average homeowner hasn’t really been hit by the parking meters – but the expansion to their environs has been promised! – the businessmen in the City’s commercial downtown area have had their trade cut in half by the falloff in the traffic, occasioned by the bandits cleverly camouflaged as “parking meters”. The pickpocket trade has also taken a hit – but they’ve resorted to jumping on their CG motor bikes to seek other marks. Have you seen the uptick in that activity?

Now your Eyewitness understands governments – local and national – need revenues. But the collection of those revenues isn’t an end in itself, nor are they supposed to end up in the pockets of government officials. They’re supposed to be spent to provide services for the good citizens. When, like in the Scandinavian countries, those services are fully provided and folks can live in dignity, they don’t mind parting with huge chunks of their income.

But when, as in Guyana, one still can’t get electricity without daily blackouts, or garbage that’s collected on someone’s whim (the ‘whim” being when the City decides to pay the garbage men!) these taxes aren’t only onerous, but odious. And folks will do what any reasonable animal above the phylum invertebrata will do – avoid the taxes by all means necessary.

But in the meantime, that game of avoiding the taxman just adds to the stress of living in Guyana – and one ends up with high blood pressure, road rage, domestic violence, kicking the dog, eating too much junk food.

And dying to avoid taxes! …on capital?

Some predictions can become self-fulfilling – especially when the persons making the predictions have skin in the game. For weeks, businessmen have been complaining of a foreign currency shortage – read US greenbacks. After stoutly denying this, the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Guyana have been forced to explain why the exchange rate shot up from $205 to $216 GY to $1 US in the last week! The reason proffered is one “non-Guyanese” cambio sent out US$100 million to its mother country and other Guyanese might be hoarding greenbacks or shipping it offshore!

Now, by refusing to name the recalcitrant cambio, are the Government officials in damage control mode suggesting – like that fella from Harry Potter – if the name’s said aloud, evil will descend upon our heads and the land? And that the cambio and all those parking their US funds offshore, are by definition also “evil”?

That’s sad. Cause, in a financial system that’s been completely liberalised, “capital flight” is par for the course… When the financial sector feels the economy’s tanking!

Government… heal thyself!! …and humanity Your Eyewitness thought our humanity was proven by our willingness to “be our brothers’ keeper”. No more. Today, having to sign in to a paid site, he was asked to “prove his humanity” by solving 1+9=?.

Numeracy makes us human?

feature 37

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Rapids, remote, rustic living and roaring waterfalls; rugged Essequibo River has it all

House partially hidden by trees along the River

Scenic view of the River

By Kendra Seignoret

T

he Essequibo River is the longest river in Guyana and is the third longest in the world.

The Essequibo essentially runs from the very south of Guyana near the Brazil-GuyanaVenezuela border and traipses its way north for 1,010 km to the Atlantic Ocean. There are many tributaries that are major rivers themselves, in-

cluding the Potaro River which has Kaieteur Falls.

The Essequibo and its tributaries are a brown colour primarily because of vegetation.

Leaves can dye the colour of water so that it looks like tea. So no, it isn’t that the water is dirty.

As much as I had dreams (and still do) about visiting a remote traditional society, sad-

ly that wasn’t for this particular trip. My visit to the Essequibo River was rather tame. But at the same time, who doesn’t love a meandering boat trip? The part of the river I saw was from a small rustic frontier town called Parika to an even more rustic frontier town called Bartica. In between those two places, you can get a pretty good feel for what life on the river is like ex-

cluding the most remote communities, of course.

If it weren’t for spiders the size of my face, I’d be tempted to live in a place like this.

A trip down the 20km wide Essequibo includes seeing many little islands, including Fort Island (an island with a fort); bathing under a waterfall or two such as Marshall Falls; and bouncing along some rapids on the Mazaruni River (a tributary of the Essequibo).

One of the highlights of a trip down the Essequibo is a hike through the rainforest to Marshall Falls.

Once my little group reached the Falls, those of us brave (or insane) enough jumped into the dark waters to stand under a short but powerful waterfall. One needs to be practically the size

of the “Terminator” in order not to be beaten down by rushing water!

Energizing is the key word of the experience.

If anyone tries to tell you that you’ll hear monkeys and parrots while out there – not happening: the waterfall is too loud as are the people you’re with! Animals would be long gone.

Though you may get lucky and see some from the boat. I almost combusted on the spot when I saw a toucan and a red howler monkey with a baby! (Disclaimer: I grew up playing a game called Amazon Trail so this boat trip was basically that childhood memory coming to life).

For me, it was a pretty amazing feeling to be out on this huge river traversing the rainforest, imagining jungle rural life, and wondering

what would happen if I were to dangle my fingers in the water.

Kendra Seignoret considers herself to be a cubicle escape artist: she tries to find ways to keep her job (which is in a cubicle) while also trying to escape it as often as possible. When she travels, she's generally that solo female you see wandering with a camera firmly clutched to her face as she traipses around while narrowly avoiding being hit by some form of local transportation. Kendra is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, but currently lives in Canada.

You can find more of her adventures on her blog Rusty Travel Trunk (www.rustytraveltrunk. com) or on Instagram @rustytraveltrunk (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Howler monkeys perched in trees along the River

More houses along the River bank

Mining dredge on the River

One of the many islands on the Essequibo River

38 feature

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Historical view of Meadow Bank M

eadow Bank, East Bank Demerara, located some two miles south of Georgetown, has undergone a significant transformation from the village it was some 175 years ago. Around that time, it was mostly populated by the Portuguese

ing as indentured immigrants in 1835. By 1882, more than 30,000 Portuguese had immigrated to the-then British colony.

Many settled at Meadow Bank.

As a result, Meadow Bank became the centre of the Catholic Church.

Far away from home,

Mount, the patroness of Madeira.

It was a devout place of worship for the Portuguese to fulfil their spiritual and religious heritage and zeal. Another aim was to encourage and inspire other Portuguese immigrants to settle at

Our Lady of the Mount church located in Meadow Bank

View of entrance into Meadow Bank from the East Bank public road

and became the centre of the Catholic Church in Guyana.

With the abolition of slavery in 1834, many of the African slaves who worked on sugar estates eagerly left the inhuman and barbaric conditions on the estates to seek their fortune and future elsewhere.

Portuguese from Madeira began arriv-

the Portuguese indentured immigrants, inspired by the religious worship and practices on their former island of Madeira, set about recreating them at Meadow Bank.

Fr Benedict Schembri, who resided in Meadow Bank, built a church in December 1876. The patroness chosen was Our Lady of the

Meadow Bank. Its activities featured some of the customs and ceremonies of the churches they attended in Madeira.

Ritual masses were held at the Church and its activities included jumble sales, bazaars and religious feasts or “festas”.

Among the feasts observed and celebrated by the church at Meadow

Bank were the Feast of St John the Baptist; the Feast of St Peter; and the Feast of the Holy Ghost.

For the Feast of St Peter, a Boat of St Peter was built and was lifted from the home of the promoter of the Feast by six persons along a processional path to the church.

They walked to music and cheers from crowds who lined the roads.

Near the Church was a bandstand and a band played from it. Bread was distributed at the church.

The biggest ritual, however, according to reports, was the Feast of the Holy Ghost. The event began on Easter Sunday. Two Holy Ghost

Flags, red in colour with a white dove in the middle, were taken by four men who were the promoters. Two girls were in the group and they sang.

In the group also was a man who played the violin. The group solicited money to feed the poor. A Hymn to the Holy Ghost was sung and collections and donations were placed in a Silver Crown with a dove on top of it.

During the feast itself, beggars were fed at the school in the village.

Three altars were placed in the school – one covered with silver, one on which bread was placed and the other was covered with a flag.Each beggar was given an

outfit of clothes, a pair of shoes, a basket filled with food and a towel.

On occasions, the Feasts ended in bacchanalian revelry, so much so that the Bishop decided to stop the Feasts.

Passion Sunday, was, however, still observed.

Members of the Catholic Guild in Georgetown walked in a procession from Georgetown to Meadow Bank carrying a Statue of Our Lady of Sorrows and one of Jesus Christ with the cross on His shoulder.

Meadow Bank today is not the same as it was many, many years ago.

(Text by Peter Halder, https://peterhalder.wordpress.com)

Upper Demerara River many years ago

By Peter Halder

E

conomic activities in the Upper Demerara River were mainly timber grants. The first grant, I believe, was at Kumaparo, about 60 miles south of Mallali, but below Great Falls.

The grant was owned and operated by Willems Timber and Trading Company.

Jack Willems was the owner of the company at that time. His manager in Georgetown was a Mr. McIntyre who flew to the site regularly on an Art Williams seaplane.

Another timber grant pioneer was Harry Lorrimer. His grant was at Kumaro, about 18 miles south of Mallali.

He travelled by speedboat and used tugs to transport his logs to Georgetown. He was among the first to use trucks to haul An 1800s home located timber from the forest to the bank of the Upper Demerara river for shipping. of the Demerara River is Canister Falls, near the Mr. McDoom owned and operated a grant at Mallali Mission. And Mr. A.P. Fiedtkou Brazil border.

When the tide was at its highest during the rainy also owned and operated a grant at Karakuya, above Mallali. Arthur Seon, Mr. Biddings and a Mr. season, fishes swam from down to upriver to spawn, Couchman also had wood grants at a place called but could not go beyond Great Falls. The indigenous people who lived beyond the Falls harvested them Karakubi.

In those days, the main species of wood extracted and dried or smoked them so they can be stored. from the forests were greenheart, purpleheart and Among the fishes were laulau, hymara, tiger fish, tibicuri and dara. kabakalli.

The indigenous settlement was at Mabura, Some amount of alluvial gold mining was also done. Beyond Great Falls, Sigmund Croft, whose about four miles below Great Falls. It was known family lived at Kara Kara Creek opposite Section as Mabura Mission. They held an annual festival C, Christianburg, did gold mining at Kanaimatu. which was called “bimiti”. It featured feasting, music and dancing. There was also another custom There was no diamond mining as far as I was told.

The indigenous people lived along both banks of called Mashramani.

In Mabura, the men would cut down trees, clear the river, mainly as individual families in thatched troolie palm huts. They were from different nations: land and build huts. The women would cultivate farms and do all the cooking and housekeeping. Men Wapishiana, Macushi, Arawak and Carib.

There was a settlement above Great Falls. Great also did hunting and fishing.

A main crop was bitter cassava. It was used to Falls is about 80 miles south of Mallali. To go beyond the settlement, you had to take your boat, ca- make cassava bread. There were two kinds: the noe from the river and walk along a portage around round flat kind that is well known and also one that the Falls, to where the river continued. The source was very thick called “aresuca”. The crop was also

used for making casareep and two popular drink called piwari and cassiri. Of course casareep was used for making pepperpot in a huge iron pot. There were two kinds of pepperpot: one made with meat (deer, labba, acouri, wild cow (tapir) or wild hog) and the other was with thick, cleaned and filleted fish, especially laulau and very large hymara. Hot whole peppers were also an ingredient. Other potables included warrup, made from sugar cane juice.

The juice was squeezed into large earthen jars, left in the sun to ferment with the help of a little yeast, and when ready, was placed in a nearby creek to chill. The most popular drink was “sleepy tonic” made with sugar, yeast and sometimes potato and sweet potato added.

Three superior forest experts in those days were indigenous people who lived below Great Falls. They knew the forests in the Upper Demerara River like the back of their hands, did not need any maps, and were never lost. The three were Wilford Wanama, Richard Williams and Sabia Daniels. They were very good, for example, at locating greenheart subforests. They were able to smell from a distance the peculiar odour of greenheart leaves or know from the soil where greenheart or other commercial trees grew.

Animals that inhabited the forests in the Upper Demerara River included wild cow (tapir), wild hog, deer (a small, striped variety called wibishiri and a large brown variety), labba, acouri (which thrived on eating the corio palm nuts when they fell to the ground), puma, jaguar (including the black jaguar) and the ewalla tiger. Snakes included the boa constrictor or camoudi, labaria, cunacura, lanara or bushmaster, rattlesnake.

There was a water gauge above the Falls that was set up by the Geological Survey Department in Georgetown. It was used to measure the depth of the water in the river.

Life in Upper Demerara River was simple, but always exciting.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Sonia Noel

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n celebration of her 20 years in the fashion industry, local doyenne of fashion, Sonia Noel,recently launched a collection of skirts with her signature lattice designs.

“It is a blessing to be able to reach this juncture – which was no smooth sailing. It took a combination of navigational skills to outmanoeuvre hurdles,and a resilience to literally row my own boat when the waters got rough.But my faith in God got me to two decades in style.I am particularly proud of being able to use the platform of fashion to inspire lives,” Noel expressed in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Her favourite fashion quote is by Colombian fashion journalist and critic Nina Garcia, who once said: “If you look back in history of the women who are most memorable and most stylish, they were never the followers of fashion.

They were the ones who were unique in their style, breakers of the rules. They were authentic, genuine,

Designer Sonia Noel

original. They were not following the trends.”

Locally, regionally and internationally, the designer is famous for her sophisticated, versatile designs that can be worn from the beach to the ballroom.

Notably, these colourful skirts can be converted to dresses and tops.

For more information, visit sonianoel.com or Sonia Noel Designs on Facebook.

This week’s featured designs are worn by models Anasha, Nkechi, Ambika, Saudia, Peggy, and Odessa.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

ABOLITION DAY 100

End of Indian Indentureship

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s we wrote last year, March 10th will mark 100 years since GovernorGeneral Hardinge of the Government of India issued an order ordering the cessation of shipments of Indentured Indians to Guyana, the West Indies and Fiji. And to mark this seminal event, commemorative events are being organised in each of these locales to allow the descendants of those immigrants to reflect upon their past from the perspective of their present, with an eye towards charting a course to their future.

In Guyana, most of the groups that work in the Indian-Guyanese community, culturally, socially, religiously, etc, have made a laudatory and successful attempt to coordinate the timings and locales of their events so that clashes are minimised. This will ensure that as many Guyanese as possible have the opportunity to participate by their presence. I do not want to pre-empt the official calendar of events that will be released soon save to say that March is practically booked for the entire month.

I can speak about one event I am involved with the youths of the Hindus for Selfless Service (HSS) who have chosen to host a mass event on the West Coast of Demerara on “INDIAN ABOLITION DAY 100: End of Indian Indentureship”. They are collaborating with the umbrella group, “Guyana Indian Immigration Abolition Association”, that is also sponsoring an Arts Exhibition and a Symposium. Rhyaan Shah is involved with this initiative.

The HSS/GIIAA group plan to utilise the “Mela” form of collective activity – “Mela” means “gathering” in Sanskrit – to bring together Guyanese on this special day. They will adapt their Mela, however, to their theme of “Examining the history of Indian Indentureship; confronting the challenges of the present to create a bright future”.

The “Mela” or fair was a feature of 19th Century village India and was the site from where a large number of individuals were enticed by the “Arkatiyas” (“Recruiters”) to emigrate to become plantation labourers in

so many countries. The group will be recreating the phenomenon by deploying actors as modern-day arkatiyas.

One of the survival mechanisms of the Indian immigrants was to exchange their right of a return passage to India for small plots of lands on which they planted rice.

The land was invariably worth less than the return passage, but they accepted the exchange since they would have by then made the decision to remain in Guyana.

This crop was first cultivated commercially at Plantation Edinburg on the West Coast of Demerara. The group plans to demonstrate the early method of rice cultivation where stalks of paddy were first cultivated in a small “biyari” and then transplanted laboriously by hand to the “rice beds”. Today, the rice industry – which includes the milling, packaging and shipping of rice – is the largest employer in Guyana and brings in huge amounts of foreign currency.

The Mela will also illustrate the harsh times into which the industry that brought the Indians to Guyana, sugar, has fallen.

The closure of the factory at Leonora and Versailles was quite traumatic during the 1970s. But the sudden closure of Wales appears to be replicating the harsh conditions of life during indentureship and they hope to bring some youths from that Plantation to illustrate their plight in skits, song and dance. Special songs have been composed for the occasion.

They also intend to illustrate the other Indian contributions to Guyana, which in addition to saving the sugar industry and creating the rice industry can be seen in jewellery, foods, clothing, religion (Hinduism and Islam), sports, arts and crafts, music, business, entrepreneurship in forestry products, multiculturalism, movies, etc.

As far as possible, booths will be dedicated to these activities. It is interesting that CheddiJagan, who played a critical role in bringing Indians into modern politics, was born and died in March. He, along with other Indian leaders such as Jang Bahadur Sings, will be commemorated in one

By Ravi Dev booth.

But the dark underside of Indian life in Guyana will also be illustrated: booths dealing with the social problems of Indian Guyanese – suicide and alcoholism – will distribute pamphlets and offer suggestions for institutionalised approaches. As they say, come one, come all on March 5th. Venue to be announced.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Citizens were disregarded in implementation of parking meter project …says transparency body

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ehicle owners, whose vehicles are towed and impounded, will not be compensated for any damages to their vehicles during the process.

This is among the several daunting provisions in the City By-laws which was recently assented to by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan.

Having reviewed the By-laws, Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) President, Dr Troy Thomas on Tuesday came out swinging at the City Council and Minister Bulkan, noting that it makes no logical sense that these laws delegate power to the City Constabulary that absolves them of any responsibility or liability for the property of citizens.

Speaking with Guyana Times International, Dr Thomas said if the Constabulary is going to tow a person’s vehicle, they must be held liable for damages that occur in the process.

“It doesn’t make logical sense to give yourself the power to move people’s property while at the same time absolving you of any responsibility if it’s damaged,” he said.

“You’re basically saying that the person’s property is at your mercy and it can be returned in any condition, and the person can do nothing about it.

They have to take some responsibility for it. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Dr Thomas said that from the onset, TIGI had identified that there were several issues with the way the project was handled, which demonstrated poorgovernance.

“You disregarded the

people with everything that was said, all the letters that were written, the editorials, the written statements people have been making. The parking meter project was not conceptualised and executed in the interest of the people.”

“And whenever that happens, if it’s a democratic society, it’s correct that there are consequences. So I personally welcome the action that the people have taken to have their voices heard, just on the principle that the people were disregarded in the process.”

According to Thomas, the system in place seemed to be beyond what citizens can afford.

He pointed to the fees for parking itself and the penalties. Thomas noted that from a TIGI standpoint, if the people were dissatisfied with the way their affairs are managed then they were entitled to use the democratic process to have their voices heard.

He added that “it’s the citizens who have the power and not the politicians who have been put in charge of citizens’ affairs. It should send a strong message to those in charge that you cannot treat the people in this way.”

By-Laws

Guarding against liability or prosecution, Section 23 of the City By-laws exempts City Constables, parking wardens and the City Council itself from any liability, civil or criminal, for any damages “in respect of any action, proceeding or demand whatsoever whether for the recovery of any alleged damage to such vehicle or otherwise in respect of removal thereof.”

Armed bandits attack, rob Corentyne mechanic

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hree men, two of whom were armed with handguns, on Tuesday morning robbed a Corentyne mechanic of cash and jewellery.

According to reports, about 01:00h, Davindon Reddy was packing up after his daughter’s birthday party when three armed men entered his yard.

The men all had handkerchiefs tied over their faces, in an attempt to conceal their identity.

They relieved Reddy

of one gold chain worth G$100,000 and G$15,000 in cash.

B Division (Berbice) Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam said the perpetrators then jumped the front fence and made good their escape on foot.

He said the Police were investigating the incident, but have not arrested anyone. Several leads are being followed as the investigations continue.

The City By-laws also go on to mandate that “when a City Constable or parking warden has reason to believe that a person has contravened any prohibition or restriction imposed by the Act, the City Constable or parking warden may give the person a notice under this By-law in respect of the offence.”

But it also caters for those who may be tempted to withhold information. Under Part VII, Offences and Penalties, it is an offence attracting a fine of G$50,000 to refuse to provide one’s name and address or to give a false one, if asked to do so by a parking warden or City Constable for

Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan

the notice to be provided.

The Act also stipulates that owners of vehicles deemed to be illegally parked are liable for any fees incurred from immobilisation, removal, towing, improvement, and storage.

In cases where someone is convicted of re-

moving or attempting to remove the clamp without authorisation, they will be slapped with a G$100,000 fine and imprisonment of not more than three months.

Section 57 stipulates that if a vehicle is unclaimed or if the owner of the vehicle cannot settle any outstanding fees, the vehicle can be auctioned off by City Hall.

City Hall is mandated to publish a notice of this auction 14 days beforehand.

These are just some of the provisions included in the By-laws assented to by Minister Bulkan.

In spite of his approval, however, the By-laws are still awaiting the approv-

TIGI President, Dr Troy Thomas

al of Attorney General Basil Williams and the Government to gazette them. However, Smart City Solutions Inc employees and the City have been clamping motorists and enforcing the stipulations in the Bylaws on an almost daily basis.

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aper is one of the most versatile materials for jewellery making, and local designing business Dis Is De Place has artistically transformed it into elegant jewellery. Dis Is De Place’s Papel Line offers rings, bracelets, cuffs, pendants – all made from paper.

Dis Is De Place, launched in 2013, is a business that creates and markets handmade jew-

ellery and craft made by skilled Guyanese and West Indian craftsmen.

The emphasis is on ‘upcycled’ sustainable products, which are ecofriendly and well-priced.

Papel (Spanish for paper) jewellery is laminated eco-friendly jewellery made by a unique lamination process of sheets of paper. The end result is a high gloss finish which is water resistant with the durability

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Local artisan creatively turns paper into elegant eco-friendly jewellery

of wood. It is handmade, hand-painted and embellished with either crackled marble, sequins, glitter and soft copper/gold wire.

According to Dis Is De Place’s manager Wayne

Barrow, during the production process, the laminated paper is sanded lightly to a smooth finish followed by a sealant.

The sealant may be high gloss or matte depending on the style being

created. For those who have sensitive skin, the jewellery findings are hypoallergenic and may be of sterling silver or gold-filled.

The Papel Line may take the form of rings, bracelets, cuffs and pendants.

The line is sold as a set comprising earrings, pendants and bands. They are also made to order in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the taste of the discriminating buyers. In spite of the hardness of the material, it is not heavy around the neck or wrist. Each set is packaged in a jewellery box and contains details of the product.

“Our Papel line is fashioned after Jeremy May's and Liz Hamman's high-priced line of paper jewellery.

It has also been designed as a first anniversary gift for those celebrating their wedding or other relationship goals,” Barrow noted.

Barrow added that Dis Is De Place was founded with the aim of helping local craftsmen and women access a steady income and an acceptable level of empowerment.

Examining the Papel

Line by Dis Is De Place is so appealing. Due to paper’s seemingly fragile nature, these artistic pieces of handcrafted jewellery draw people in for a closer look.

Admirers are always curious – or even suspicious - as to whether it will survive a wearing. However, with care and common sense, paper jewellery can be worn again and again.

This week Sunday Times Magazine features a few pieces from Dis Is De Place’s Papel collection.

For more information, call 220-4147 or visit Dis Is De Place on Facebook.

But for an unfortunate misprint, the correct name of last week’s featured artist should have read ‘Charlesdel Valenzuela’.

Star of the week

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ith a degree in geological engineering from the University of Guyana, Pricilla Moore is adamant on pursuing a career in a fieldmostly dominated by males. She disclosed that being a female in geological engineering is a “disadvantage, as most mining companies prefer to hire males”. Determined to break down stereotypes however, Pricilla refuses to let-up and hopes one day she gets the opportunity to pursue her passion for geological engineering.“I will not give up because I am sincerely passionate about this profession. I love being outdoors. I am adventurous and love traveling and this area allows me to do just that. I like that this profession means being active as it helps to keep one fit.I take pride in knowing I am physically able-bodied in life,” she states.Not only is Pricilla an academic, but also a model and a former athlete.

She first began modeling for photo shoots in 2012 and has continued to do so. She was on the Guyana national swimming team and later played badminton. Although she “loved being an athlete”, Pricilla decided that her “studies were more important” as these sport activities were “demanding”.

Now, Pricilla hopes to “find a suitable job within the geological engineering field”. Additionally, she plans to pursue a master’s in petroleum engineering.

Pricillais Sunday Times ‘Star of the Week’ because of her admirable tenacity.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

EBD house gutted, two homeless

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n early Tuesday morning fire has completely razed a Craig, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home, leaving two persons homeless.

The fire reportedly started at the Lot 436 Craig about 08:30h; no one was at home at the time.

The owner of the house, Damien Bailey, works in the interior, while the lone occupant was already at work when the fire started.

Reports are smoke was seenbillowing from the wooden structure and within minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. By the time the firefighters arrived, the house was already gutted.

Persons in the area noted that owing to the intensity of the heat, those who rushed to assist retreated and as such, no household items were salvaged.

Hours after the blaze, the occupant, Clement Pierre was still in disarray, claiming that he has lost a lot in the blaze. Guyana Times International understands that Pierre had rented a room in the house. Speaking with this publication, Pierre noted that he normally left for work about 02:00h and Tuesday

Clement Pierre

morning was no different.

He explained that he worked at the Meadow Bank Wharf as a fish vendor and about 09:00h, after he was done selling, he received a phone call informing him that the house was on fire.

He hurried home, but by this time, the house was already burnt down to the ground. A devastated Pierre said that when he leaves in the morning, he would usually drink a glass of juice and eat a slice of bread. “I don’t cook so there is no need to put on the stove… I either eat at meh family or in town,” he reiterated.

He also noted that before the owner of the house went into the interior he had the electricity supply disconnected.

“We can’t say that it was electric because I couldn’t even watch lil

TV when I home because it ain’t got current… I don’t know what start the fire,” he noted.

He said that he was now depending on his children and other relatives to provide him with shelter, clothing and food.

Meanwhile, a neighbour who lives in an apartment building in close proximity, explained that the three water tanks at the back of the building were de-

where he is in the interior, there is no telephone signal… I am sure he will be devastated whenever he receives the news of the fire,” the young man stated.

Meanwhile, a woman who lives across the road noted that she was in her home when her grandchildren started to scream “Fire! Fire!” and as she looked out, she saw the wooden house in flames. In a trembling voice, she noted that she

The house moments after it was engulfed in flames

stroyed. He noted that he was not at home at the time of the blaze, and when he arrived at the scene, firefighters had already extinguished the flames. He added that the owner of the house had been living in that area for quite some time.

“At this time, we cannot contact him because

got confused and immediately wondered if Pierre was caught in the fire.

She calmed down after persons confirmed that he was on his way home. Officials of the Guyana Fire Service have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.

Student slapped with ammo possession charge

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20-year-old man from Riverstown, on the Essequibo Coast, was on Tuesday released on G$400,000 bail after he appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly to answer to a charge of illegal ammunition possession.

During a Police raid on February 4, 2017, InshanAlli, a student of the Essequibo Technical Institute, was found with a .32 round of ammunition, without being the holder of a firearm licence, at his Lot 25 Riverstown residence.

Defence Attorney Jerome Khan told the court that the said ammunition was found on the premises when Police officials invaded his home. However, he argued that the raid was motivated by a Police report made by the former brother-in-law of the accused who had ended a relationship with Alli’s

Inshan Alli

sister on bitter terms and had vowed to get even with the family.

The in-law had reportedly made a report to the United States Embassy in Guyana stating that the family, all of whom are Muslims and holders of business visas, were involved in terrorist activities.

The man’s Attorney further

posited that there are three homes on the said lot, with 13 occupants and anyone could have had access to his client’s bedroom, where the ammunition was found. The ammunition, he stated, belonged to Kumar Bacchus, a family member who died five years ago.

He concluded by stating that the matter was initiated by the former in-law, who has a “vendetta” with the family of the accused over a broken relationship.

Khan successfully made a bail application, which was granted in the sum of G$500,000, but subsequently reduced to G$400,000 upon the Attorney’s request.

Alli will return to court on Monday, February 13, when the matter will be transferred to Essequibo. In addition, the accused is required to report to the Suddie Police Station every Monday.

27 inmates at NA Prison to stand trial as Berbice Assizes opens

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he February session of the Berbice criminal Assizes opened on Tuesday at New Amsterdam, Berbice. The session will be presided over by Justice James Bovell-Drakes.

As per tradition, the session opened with a parade and marchpast outside the High Court on Esplanade Road, New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

The parade was led by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Elton

Davison and included 25 other ranks.

In delivering the report at the end of the October session, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Olivia Cox said persons are in prison awaiting trial for murder.

In addition, two others are awaiting trial for sexual penetration. All 27 prisoners are males and were indicted in the Berbice Magisterial district.

Of the lot, six of the inmates are between the ages of 17 and 20 years

old. Seventy-two per cent of those awaiting trial are below the age of 30, while only one person is above the age of 60.

The first case for the session is Ronald Fraser, who is indicted for the murder of Kwacy Glen at Liverpool Village, Corentyne, on December 6, 2011.

The state is expected to call eight witnesses while Fraser is being represented by State appointed attorney Sasha Robertson. That trial will commence on February 16.

Plantain chips… …or plantain chips couple of decades ago, Thomas Friedman, author and NY Times columnist, observed in his book “The Lexus and the Olive tree”, that even though trade was driving globalisation, the winners of the sweepstakes were shipping ever decreasing tonnage of exports! He explained the conundrum by pointing out that even though, say, less steel or grain may’ve been shipped by them, their almost weightless exports, like computer chips, far exceeded the value of the old exports!

Someone in Guyana from that era must’ve heard this nugget of wisdom. But they either weren’t really paying attention or age had dulled their memory. Friedman was talking about COMPUTER CHIPS, not PLANTAIN CHIPS – which has just been suggested as the product that can solve Guyana’s economic woes!

Plantain Chips are lighter than sugar or bauxite or timber, your Eyewitness will concede, but it misses the point, doesn’t it? The weight of a country’s exports was the third in what Friedman called “The nine habits of effective countries” and he explained it thusly: How much does your country or company weigh? – “We are moving from a world where the heavy eat the light, to a world where the light eat the heavy. Today, a country that exports primarily raw materials – commodities, iron ore, crude oil – is going to weigh a lot. A country that specialises in information technologies and services is going to weigh a lot less and is probably providing a higher standard of living for more of its people.”

In Guyana, there’s been a lot of talk about getting into “IT and ICT” and “Knowledge industries”, and such like – but to talk about exporting “plantain chips” at the highest level in 2017 has shown that there’s a radical disjunctive between the “talk” and the “walk”. This was brought home very graphically to your Eyewitness when he listened to the Mayor berating the parking meters protestors. And studiously avoiding the real problem – the total lack of transparency on the contract.

Maybe your Eyewitness can do worse that repeat Friedman’s homily on being an “effective country” – (number five): Does Your Country or Company Dare to Be Open on the Inside? – The more transparent you are inside, the more your government is grounded in the rule of law, the more you are willing to share how and where decisions are made, the less likely it is that corruption will remain hidden, and the more likely others will be willing to stick with you.

“In the coming years, we will no longer refer to developed and underdeveloped countries, or emerging markets and non-emerging markets.

Instead we will refer to “transparent countries” and “non-transparent” countries.”

No wonder we’re now pushing plantain chips! …or bargaining chips?

While most of Guyana has been obsessing with Trump and his Executive Orders on immigration, a local economist from UG highlighted a Congressional action that might be even more significant for Guyana. This is the scuttling of the Federal requirement that US Oil Companies reveal all payments made to foreign governments to exploit their petroleum and gas reserves.

The law was supposed to suss out payments

by US companies made under the table to corrupt governments, which invariably end up secreted in private offshore accounts – leaving the citizens of the oil-depleted country literally holding the bag.

In a country like Guyana, where corrupt acts of omission and commission are daily occurrences, most Guyanese have little hope this Government will crack down on corruption when they’re unwilling to even enact a “Code of Conduct” for their Ministers!

This Eyewitness is disappointed the US will now hold its oil companies to a lower standard, than, say Canada or the EU. …or platitudes Ramjattan, to whom Justice Kennard was responsible, claims the latter’s dismissal wasn’t “racial”. So, will he demand equal treatment at Cabinet on Dr Clive Thomas, who holds two portfolios ten times more onerous than Kennard’s PCA? And is just as old.

Equal treatment vitiates claims of bias, no?

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

No dispute large enough

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atiricus was all choked up. He couldn’t believe men with such goodness in their hearts still walked on the face of the earth. If he didn’t let out his feelings soon, he felt he’d burst like a balloon and be splattered all over the walls of the Back Street Bar where he was held up with his usual posse.

“Fellas!” he exclaimed breathlessly. “Can you believe in two whole years, the KFC and Pee-an-See have never used the Com-in-deburg Accord”?

“Sato…” said Hari with a worried look, as he swallowed the beer he’d just swigged.

“What in the world are you talking about?”

“Don’t you guys read the paper?” Satiricus asked aggrievedly. “Rum Jhaat just said he and the other leaders in the Coalition get along so well, they just talk through whatever problems they have! They don’t need no agreement in writing!”

“Me bin fo’get ‘bout de ‘Come-in-de-burg Card’,” Bungi confessed. “KFC an APANU bin sign am Valantine Day, na?”

“Yes! Yes!” said Satiricus impatiently. “And Valentine’s coming up! It spelled out how they divided power and how they would settle disagreements.”

“But Sato, I don’t see the big deal,” said Hari, with a smirk. “Why would there be need to settle differences when whatever Pee-anSee tell KFC, Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man say, ‘Yes dear’!”

“Da soun’ jus’ like when Sato a ta’k to ‘e wife!!” guffawed Bungi. “Dem nevah fight!”

“C’mon fellas! Don’t be cynical,” said Satiricus. “What you mean?”

“Well, when APANU took away Nagga power to chair the Big meeting, what did he say?” asked Hari.

“Yes Dear!!” squeaked Bungi before Satiricus could answer.

“And when they took away half of Rum Jhaat Ministry, what did he say?” continued Hari.

“Yes dear!!” chuckledBungi with a simper.

“So what problems do they need an Accord to settle?” asked Hari, as he slapped the table.

“None dear,” said Satiricus in a deflated tone.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Anu Dev

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Rum till I die: Redux

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The mentality and behaviour of drug addicts and alcoholics is wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction and unless they have structured help, they have no hope” – Russell Brand

ast week, for my first foray into the clinical side of psychiatry, I had to sitin and observe patient-counselling in the substance-abuse clinics.

For most of the patients, the addiction they were struggling with was alcoholism, but there were a few marijuana addicts sprinkled into the mix.

Now, for these patients to have been referred to this clinic, they had to have been admitted to the hospital because they were having serious problems.

Some of them tried to quit alcohol, but because of the copious amounts they were accustomed to drinking, ended up with severe withdrawal symptoms.

Some of them were admitted because of severe drug-induced psychoses.

Some of them were admitted because they tried to seriously injure themselves while under the influence.

But at least these were the patients who decided to take a step towards recovery by actually showing up for their appointment. Unfortunately, there are so many patients who default on their appointments, and they never get the help that they need. And there are so many others that haven’t even recognised that they have a problem.

The latter two cohorts far outnumber the first. Our challenge is to reverse them.

Right here at home in Guyana,

alcoholism is a huge problem. A 2014 WHO report stated that the average Guyanese, aged 15 or older, consumed more than 8L daily of pure alcohol, in 2010 – the global average is 6.2L. Like in suicide, I don’t think this is an area in which we should be aspiring to be world leaders.

Back in 2011, when I was in high school, I wrote about the cultural influences that promote this sort of alcohol use, specifically chutney songs like ‘Rum till I die’. There’s the question as to whether such songs are simply describing a reality, rather than promoting the act. Alcohol has become so ingrained in our society – starting on the sugar plantations. For young males especially, they’re expected to drink once they’re a certain age – it’s what “men” do. It’s a rite of passage.

Unfortunately girls, who had often seen their mothers become the object of male alcoholic rages, are increasingly picking up the habit.

But the problem isn’t the drinking. The problem is the quantity they’re drinking. The reasons they’re drinking and what they are culturally conditioned to do once they get “high”.

Some cultures, such as Italians, allow consumption of large quantities of wine – especially with meals. But they don’t have the level of alcoholism as we do,

nor do they get as violent as we do.

Culture is a key variable in alcoholism prevalence. Some drunks “open up” and others get violent.

The quantities of alcohol the patients in clinic admit to consuming, are staggering – and that’s just the amount they’re admitting: most patients like to lowball the number. One patient said that he had to keep drinking more and more and more because it wasn’t having an effect anymore.

For many people, for their drinking to reach that point, it’s because there’s an underlying problem. For some its marriage problems, work-related stress, or all of the million other problems they’re dealing with that day. But they’ve been conditioned to believe the answer can be found at the bottom of a bottle.

I’m still a medical student, but in the time I have spent at the hospital, I have seen patients admitted with serious injuries from falling down drunk, from getting into fights while drunk and from trying to hurt themselves. I’ve seen patients in liver failure after years of alcohol abuse.

There are serious consequences of alcohol abuse and on reflection I am amazed there aren’t more centres to deal with those consequences in Guyana.

The weakest link… …in pharma supply t’s said that a supply chain – of any good or service – is only as strong as its weakest link. And in Guyana, we’re experiencing in spades, the truth of that insight in the supply of pharmaceuticals to our health sector. As we’ve pointed out before, after almost two years of concocting all kinds of “Jimmy Cock and Ram Goat” stories, the Government health officials have finally confessed to widespread grave shortages of critical drugs. Obviously, this had doomed many Guyanese to earlier deaths, than if they’d been treated with those drugs.

But what’s really the “weakest link”, so perhaps even now official interventions may keep us from sliding back into the conditions that precipitated the Plague in medieval times. Is it really just poor inventory control? Lack of warehouse space – or warehouses not located close enough to Georgetown Hospital? Lack of an integrated purchasing system? Is it really a shipping and delivery problem, starting with drugs stuck at wharves?

We could keep on regurgitating the excuses the Government keeps spewing. But you and I, Dear Reader, know they’re only playing ducks and drakes around the real problem. And that problem is the now Government Ministers and officials – from the parties that used to be in the Opposition – are caught with their old BS they issued about the PPP giving out “sweetheart” pharma contracts to “friends”.

It’s not that they fell for their own BS! But starting with the premise of “friends with benefits”, they farmed out the Pharma to their own “political investors” who expected healthy “returns on investments” (ROI)! They threw out the old prequalification criteria – ignoring these were in accordance to WHO and World Bank specifications for rigorous proper supply chain performance in pharma!

So, we returned to the Neanderthal era practices of fellas showing up with plastic bags of pharma, fresh off the plane after procuring “about to be expired” drugs from abroad.

So, we had fellas with no warehouse to properly store temperature-sensitive medicines – and just throwing them

I

in their meat freezers! No wonder, Guyanese mortuary freezers are overflowing!

So, the problem, Dear Readers, is greed of the new Government officials destroying any scruples that might’ve existed and placing the health of the Guyanese public in the hands of carpetbaggers. How many more contracts will be given to bottom-house operators before Guyanese start getting het up about health officials playing Russian Roulette with their lives?

While your Eyewitness agrees with the protests against the rotten parking meter deal, this abandonment of all standards to maintain the integrity of the pharma supply chain represents a greater danger to our nation.

Act up!! …in business Any business is only as good as its people. Lots of folks think, it’s the product, or the price or a host of other factors.

Not that they aren’t important – but ultimately, it’s the company’s employees that will make or break the venture.

If they don’t have their heart in the operation, that business is doomed. When there are absolutely no alternatives and starvation is the only option to the business maybe the employees will put out – but the moment that changes, it’s “outa here!”.

And that’s really the nub of the problem with GuySuCo. Not much really changed from the days of slavery and indentureship. Even though the colour of the faces of the “overseers” changed over the years, their attitude to the workers remained constant: grind them into the dirt and throw them out like bagasse.

We see this illustrated by the Minister of Agriculture insisting there isn’t a need to conduct a social assessment before closing down the estates!!

Chattel labourredux! …in nationalism Your Eyewitness isn’t too much for bars. But he was invited to this Super Bowl party at one. He went. He watched. He wept.

He couldn’t believe the fake accents and the fake enthusiasm that permeated the joint.

Neo-neo colonialism?

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Pankaj Kapur compliments Baywatch star Priyanka Chopra is a total beach baby his son Shahid after watching ‘Rangoon’

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hahid Kapoor’s look is not the only thing that is winning hearts in Rangoon.

PankajKapur, his father, says that Shahid was totally in his character in the film and he couldn’t recognise his own son!

Currently, Shahid Kapoor and the Rangoon team are busy promoting the film. At an event when Shahid Kapoor was asked about how his

father, PankajKapur felt about the film, Shahid couldn’t stop beaming.

He said, “Vishal Bhardwaj sir wanted to show the film (Rangoon) to a few close people who can give him their opinions about the film even before the film’s cast sees it. I wasn’t invited for this screening, but Vishal sir had invited my dad. So when my dad told me that he is going

to the screening, I reached the venue as I wanted to know how he would react after seeing my performance.

Actually, e v e n Kangana and Saif were not there.”

Pankaj Kapur apparently said this to the director, Vishal Bharadwaj “What do I say? I couldn’t recognise my son in the film! He is playing Nawab Malik and I don’t see Shahid in there.”

Shahid was left feeling stunned.

Rangoon releases on February 24, 2017, and we are as excited as you are Shahid! (Indian Express)

Sagarika Ghatge confirms dating Zaheer Khan: ‘I am in a happy space’

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he Chak De girl,Sagarika Ghatge, has been quite private about her life and that’s how she likes it to be. But in a recent interview, she spoke about her rumoured relationship with cricketer Zaheer Khan and we are not at all surprised.

The actor, who rose to fame with her portrayal of a hockey player in the Shah Rukh Khanstarrer, was seen with Zaheer at Yuraj Singh and Hazel Keech’s wedding.

Speaking to Mid-Day, she finally gave a hint about her relationship.

The actor said, “Let’s just say I am in a very happy space right now. I have never spoken about my personal relationships.

In fact, I have never spoken about anything to

P

riyanka Chopra has so many tags attached to her already but she ain’t in a mood to stop. The actor is now scorching up the temperature with her pictures on Instagram.

At first, she got rid of Monday blues by the sea shore and now, she is resting in her private boat. Well, definitely giving us some life goals.

At present, Priyanka is prepping for the release of her Hollywood debut film, Baywatch. The actor plays Victoria Leeds, villain of the story. Recently, the actor shared a new teaser trailer for the Super Bowl with a caption that read, “Love the bromance between Dwayne Johnson and ZacEfron… Let’s see if I can ruin it somehow.”

The actor, who appeared on Karan

Aamir Khan bearded look interesting: Kiran Rao

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the press. Personal space is not for discussion.”

She added, “I will remain just the way I am: low profile as ever. Why should I be any different just because I am linked to someone? I am not the kind who can put up a farce. I have no shame in admitting that I draw into my shell easily and come out only when I have to speak. I have big respect for Zaheer’s

game.”

The actor is prepping for her film, Irada, which also stars Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi.

“Before you ask, yes he (Zaheer) will watch my film (Irada) when it releases.” Well, we are pretty clear about their “relationship” and would love to see them more often together. (Indian Express)

Johar’s talk show Koffee With Karan, hinted on Dwayne’s visit to India for promotions of the film, which is scheduled for big summer release on May 26 this year.

In a recent interview, when asked what would be her next step after Baywatch and successful American series, Quantico, the actor said, “That’s a dangerous question to ask someone like me because my answer is…

Everything! The point is to move forward, try new things, challenge yourself and be open to the endless possibilities.” Apart from her films as an actor, Priyanka, as a producer, has three regional films and three children’s films in the pipeline. (Indian Express)

ilmmaker Kiran Rao finds husband Aamir Khan’s bearded look for Thugs of Hindostan quite interesting.

At the premiere of the Oscarwinning film Moonlight on Tuesday, Kiran said: “You may have noticed he has started growing beard. I am not sure… But it looks interesting to me.

“I don’t know much about the progress of the film, but Aamir, Adi (Aditya Chopra) and Victor (Vijay Krishna Acharya) meet often and keep discussing. I wish that I might have been a part of their discussion.

“Let’s see what happens. So far it seems it is going to be quite interesting,” she added.

Aamir, 51, will start shooting for Thugs Of Hindostan in May. He has been training hard for the film and his look will be lean, not as muscular a look he sported for Dangal.

Thugs of Hindostan is slated to release on Diwali 2018.

Apart from Kiran, the “Moonlight” premiere, organised by Jio MAMI Film Club with Star in association with Vkaao and PVR Pictures, was also attended by Rajkummar Rao, Kabir Khan, Mini Mathur, Ayan Mukerji, Vasan Bala, Priyanka Bose and Terence Lewis. (Indian Express)

Is it really Kunal Kapoor in ‘Veeram’ still?

T he cute and handsome actor Kunal Kapoor, who has always managed to win hearts with his infectious smile, has now turned into an angry warrior with his debut Malayalam movie, Veeram. The film is all set to make a mark at the box office this month and the actor has shared a new look that leaves you awestruck.

You might probably take a second to recognise the actor in this avatar and the poster is more likely to remind you of this character in God Of Wars, an action-adventure video game series.

Kunal has managed to get the attention of the audience with his warrior avatar and intense performance shown in the teaser trailer.

The film revolves around the life of warrior Chandu Chekavar, played

by Kunal. Chekavars were legendary warriors in Kerala who often fought battles for the noblemen in the an-

cient kingdom. The film has been directed by ace director Jayaraj Nair and is a big screen adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Veeram has also become one of the official Oscar entrants.

The film has bagged a nomination in the original song category with ‘We Will Rise’ song, along with 91 other songs eligible for the coveted Academy Awards.

Veeram, which is a trilingual film, produced in Malayalam, English and Hindi, is one of the costliest film ever

made in the Malayalam film industry with the budget of Rs 35 crore. The film

is scheduled for February 24 release. .

(Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Scarlett Johansson speaks out on gender wage gap in Hollywood

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ctor Scarlett Johansson says that she may be “Hollywood’s top-grossing actress of all time”, but that does not imply she’s paid the highest.

The 32-year-old star said that she has had to battle it out with the industry to achieve what she has today.

“Just because I’m the top-grossing actress of all time does not mean I’m the highest paid.

I’ve had to fight for everything that I have. It’s such a fickle and political industry,” Johansson told Marie Claire in an interview.

“The Avengers” actress explained that she

was initially uncomfortable in discussing her personal struggles in public. She added, “Maybe I’m being presumptuous, but I assumed it was obvious that women in all positions struggle for equality. It’s always an uphill battle and fight.”

Underscoring the fact

that “sexism is real”, Johansson said that every female she knows has been affected by it.

“My experience with my close female friends and family is that the struggle is real for everybody.

Everyone has been discriminated against or harassed,” the actress said. (Indian express)

Patton Oswalt reveals wife’s cause of death

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omedian Patton Oswalt has revealed drug overdose as the cause of death of his wife Michelle McNamara. The Veep star said in a statement that the coroners had told him that a mixture of drugs clubbed with an unknown medical condition was responsible for her passing, reported Variety.

“We learned today the combination of drugs in Michelle’s system, along with a condition we were unaware of, proved lethal,” said Oswalt. He

further said that blockages, along with medications like Adderall, Xanax and pain medication Fentanyl claimed McNamara’s life.

McNamar was a crime writer best known for her website True Crime Diary. She passed away at the age of 46 on April 21 last year.

The “Ratatouille” star’s spouse of 11 years passed away in her sleep at her home in Los Angeles, according to the comedian’s publicist Kevin McLaughlin, reported CNN online.

Earlier, when the reason for her death was not yet known but Kevin said, “(It) was a complete shock to her family and friends, who loved her dearly.”

Stars had then taken to social media to share the condolences and pay tribute to Michelle, who leaves behind the couple’s seven-year-old daughter Alice, and her family. “ A r r e s t e d Development” star Will Arnett had then expressed his deep sadness for Oswalt, and had written on Twitter, “My heart goes out to @pattonoswalt and his family. We love you man.”

And fellow comedian John Mulaney penned, “Everything Michelle McNamara wrote @ TrueCrimeDiary was excellent & thoughtful.

She was an excellent & thoughtful person.”

(Indian express)

‘Logan’ trailer: Hugh Jackman’s silent appearance gets soulful with ‘Amazing Grace’ soundtrack.

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ugh Jackman in Logan has made a silent Super Bowl appearance but did not leave with the same impression. The teaser represents Hugh’s ‘Amazing Grace’, the track that blends with the theme of the film and gives you chills. Logan’s new trailer, which stars Hugh Jackman in the lead role, gives an introduction to fierce Wolverine and his super-ferocious next generation, mutant X-23.

The film’s previous trailer gave us a glimpse of the R-rated action, in what is Jackman’s final appearance as Wolverine

after playing the character for 17 years.

Logan is shaping up to be one of the most

exciting films in the X-Men franchise.

Apart from Jackman essaying his trade-

Mariah Carey’s pregnancy advice to Beyonce

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inger Mariah Carey has warned pregnant singer Beyonce Knowles that carrying twins is “hard”.

Carey is thrilled that her friend is expecting two babies with husband Jay Z, but found during her own experiences carrying her and former spouse Nick Cannon’s children Moroccan and Monroe, 5, that a multiple pregnancy takes its toll.

“The last time I saw her, I was doing my Christmas (show in New York), and she came to my show and brought her daughter. It was really, really sweet,” Carey told etonline.com.

“I just wish her and Jay all the best.

It’s really hard having twins. I just mean in general, going through the physicality of having twins was really, really difficult for me. I had a tough time,” she added.

Pop superstar Beyonce revealed

that she is expecting two new additions to her family through her Instagram post. The pop star’s baby bump post has already become the most-liked Instagram post of all time.

Taking to Instagram, the 35-yearold singer posted a beautiful picture of her kneeling on a bed of flowers, in a red mesh bra and blue silk knickers, proudly displaying her baby bump. The pic is captioned as, “We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. – The Carters.”

Queen Bey and her rapper husband Jay Z are already parents to daughter Blue Ivy. Beyonce is expecting twins and this news brought in many reactions from all quarters. (Indian express)

Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling won’t be performing at Oscars

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ith La La Land getting 14 nominations at the Oscars 2017 including that of best original song, it was expected that Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone will be performing at the awards, but the stars won’t take the stage as performers.

Both City of Stars and Audition from the movie are up for the award and there is no word yet if the songs will be performed at all, reported E! online.

The two tunes—both composed and written by Justin Hurwitz, BenjPasek and Justin Paul—are vying for the coveted gold statuette against LinManuel Miranda’s “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana, Troll’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake, Max Martin and Karl Johan Schuster and “The Empty Chair” by J. Ralph and Sting from “Jim: The James Foley

mark role, the trailer also shows an aged Professor Charles Xavier and X-23, who

Story.” The Oscars will be handed out during a live telecast on ABC on February 26.

Hollywood directors named Damien Chazelle the best film director of 2016 for La La Land at a gala ceremony on Saturday, placing the musical in a strong position for the movie world’s top honours, the Oscars, later this month. The Directors Guild of America (DGA), the leading industry group representing film and television directors, chose Ezra Edelman as the best documentary maker for “O.J.: Made in America,” which is nominated for the best documentary feature, Oscar.

Past DGA feature film award winners have often gone on to claim the best director Oscar and see their films win the best picture from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. (Indian express)

Wolverine is protecting from a group of assassins. In an official synopsis of the film, the makers wrote, “In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.”

Hugh Jackman says that the studio was not going gaga over his performance as Wolverine when the first movie of the Marvel franchise began shooting about 18 years ago. At the Producers Guild Awards, the star said,

“I was kind of struggling, to be honest.

It was the first movie I had ever done in America. I was pretty tight. I was nervous. I was average, to be honest, at best.”

However, over the years, the actor has earned a lot of appreciation and respect for his role in X-men.

Apart from Jackman and Patrick, Logan also stars Boyd Holbrook, Dafne Keen, Stephen Merchant, Doris Morgado, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Richard E. Grant.

James Mangold is directing the movie, which is set to release on March 3, 2017. (Indian express)

50 sport

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

What Gayle tells us

T20 batting will move on from him, but for now, as he stands on the verge of yet another monolithic landmark, he is a reminder of what is possible in the game

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enturies were once rare currency. In WG Grace's first transcendent season, the summer of 1871, when he turned 23 years old, 17 first-class hundreds were scored. The champion accounted for ten of them. By the time Grace made 104 for Gloucester against Sussex at Hove in 1876, to become the first man to compile 50 first-class hundreds, he had more centuries than the next 13 men on the list combined. He got to 100 hundreds in 1895 and the game waited another 18 years for someone else, Surrey's Tom Hayward, to reach the same mark.

In 2003, albeit accidentally, cricket reset itself. Batting changed because T20 cricket and the money it generated made it change - and in turn, symbiotically, the shock and awe generated by the new batting generated more money.

In T20 cricket, like cricket in the Victorian age, centuries are rare currency, and like Grace, one man stands apart.

Chris Gayle has scored 18 T20 hundreds. The next best is seven, by Brendon McCullum. Only two men, Luke Wright and

Michael Klinger, have six, David Warner is next with five. ViratKohli and AB de Villiers have four and three respectively.

It's perfectly possible, perhaps even likely, that Kohli will never get to 18, despite his mastery and his comparative youth.

It's not just the centuries. Soon, perhaps during his PSL matches, Gayle will score the 223 runs he needs to become the first man to 10,000 runs in T20 cricket. The next closest, Brad Hodge and McCullum, are almost 2500 runs - or 25% - behind him. He has the format's highest individual score, 175 not out, and the joint fastest fifty, in 12 deliveries. He has hit the most sixes, 717, and most fours, 749, of any player (Kieron Pollard and Hodge are next with 437 and 707 respectively). His innings of 175 contained 154 runs in boundaries, which is more than any other ever played. His 78 half-centuries are also a record (Warner is next, with 59).

The only major batting mark he does not hold is of career average, where his 41.60 is fifth on the list. However, none of the four men above him

- New Zealand's Chris Harris (70.66), South African Pieter Malan (44.08), Pakistan's Babar Azam (43.68) and the late Phil Hughes (42.69) - have played more than 34 innings for their figures. Gayle has batted 272 times for his.

Perhaps most telling of all, Gayle, statistically, has hit every ninth delivery he has faced in T20 cricket for six (actually just under - his ratio is one per every 8.68 deliveries), a number that has remained broadly steady

across his career. Just as Grace made the hundred a new currency of batsmanship, so Gayle has employed the six in the same way. It's the emblematic moment of T20 cricket, the maximum outcome from any single delivery, and Gayle has employed it the most, and the most frequently. He has reframed it, and he has constructed his image around it, the gym-honed torso rippling under the multi-coloured muscle shirt, the giant bat, sometimes gold, in

his paw, legs splayed to anchor this superstructure like with a golfer, providing the resistance against which he swings.

There's no stat that measures how far each Gayle six goes, but he has seized on the demoralising effect of being able to clear not just boundaries but fences and stadiums. It's easy to see this as a bullying demonstration of force, yet for all his failings off the field, Gayle has a sharp cricketing intelligence. He has Test match triple-centuries and an ODI double, and you don't get those by muscling sixes when the fields are restricted.

It was Gayle who conceptualised this new way of batting, and worked out a way to execute it. To do so, you first have to imagine what's possible.

Gayle's flashy Instagram life has militated against him being taken seriously as any kind of thinker. And for all that he guarantees bums on seats and increased viewing figures, along with the pyrotechnic hitting, the Big Bash knew that its image was more important that any one player, however great, however wanted.

It did not miss him this

year; respect is worth more.

It took time for Grace's numbers to be superseded, yet batting moved on, as it must. Fry, Ranji, Trumper, Hobbs and then Bradman and others were playing a noticeably different game, in new styles and with new techniques. They stood on Grace's shoulders, though, and his philosophy that batting was about attacking the bowler remained his lasting legacy.

Batting will move on from Gayle too. Kohli, who may soon be the preeminent batsman of the age, and who has wiped one of Gayle's significant records from the books with his 973 runs in the last IPL, has a deeper dimension to his batting, and a style that feels more universal and repeatable.

Just as Grace was more physically imposing than most of his opponents, so has Gayle been. Not all of his legacy will be savoury, but in an alt-fact, fake-news world, there is a truth in the idea that he has, like the good doctor, shown us what was possible.

(ESPNCricinfo)

Floodlights Masters vow championship repeat at Florida Cup C

aptain of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) masters team, Ricky Deonarain is highly optimistic his team can retain the Masters championship in this year’s Florida Cup annual tournament slated to be played from February 24-26.

According to the veteran right-handed Deonarain, the side is loaded with a plethora of experienced campaigners and feels everyone can give a good account of themselves. He also stated that they are buoyant and ready to remain on the podium.

Reflecting on what had transpired last year, Deonarain mentioned that the success was purely on total team cohesion and no doubt they will apply similar efforts later this month at the picturesque Brian Picollo Park in Cooper City.

“We [are] definitely confident of winning

Flashback! The victorious GFSCA team after winning the Masters trophy in 2016, Florida

the Masters category again; we played committed and hard cricket in 2016 and my players are ready to go again,” Deonarain commented.

Quizzed on the composition of the lineup, Deonarain immediately acknowledged that the setup has a great deal of all-rounders while the specialist batsmen and bowlers should be able

to create an impression too.

“We have got some seasoned players; very experienced and are capable of doing well; our preparations also demonstrated that we are equipped to be a triumphant unit in 2017 at this big tournament,” the 52-year-old Deonarain related to Guyana Times International Sport.

In the final last year, GFSCA team trounced South Florida Softball Cricket League by a handsome eight-wicket margin at the Central Broward Stadium in Fort Lauderdale and that gives Deonarain the confidence they can return to Guyana with the winning trophy for the second year in succession.

“I am very much confident of lifting the trophy for the second time; last year was very successful with all our matches unbeaten and that showed that we were well-prepared and now ready to defend the championship,” Deonarain explained.

Having emerged victorious at their own tournament, the

Guyana Cup 6 last year, Deonarain revealed that would have also inspired them immensely to keep the winning momentum progressing. He attributed that success also to hard work and diligent cricket.

He will be banking heavily on some of the reputable players to cash in on the overseas trip. Players like himself, Wayne Jones, Gordial Mattai, John Sumair, Kash and Ravi Lutchman (brothers), Ramo Malone, Anil Beharry, Uniss Yusuf, Jagdish Persaud among others to come to the fore.

Apart from the GFSCA Masters, the GFSCA Legends will also be participating for the ninth consecutive years among other Guyanese teams for both the Masters and Open categories. Teams are expected from New York, the hosts city and Canada to be part of the action as well.

(Contribution made by Ravi Madholall)

sport 51

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Racers Grand Prix salutes Ravens Hammer Guardians, the ‘legend’ on June 10 UG stop Pacesetters GABA League of Champions 2017…

Usian Bolt

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acers Track Club will pay tribute to its most outstanding athlete to date, Usian Bolt, the world record holder for the 100 and 200 metres, at the second staging of its highly successful Racers Grand Prix on Saturday, June 10.

“This year the Racers Grand Prix will be staged under the theme ‘Salute to the Legend’, which of course is honouring the career of the world’s greatest-ever sprinter and Racers member, Usain Bolt,” vice president of the club Dennis Gordon told theJamaica Observer.

Bolt has indicated many times that he will be retiring from competitive running after the

World Championships set for August this year in London, England, where he is expected to participate in the 100m and 4x100m relay.

“We know at Racers that Bolt is on the doorstep of retiring from the track after the World Championships in London, so we thought it was fitting that his own club honour him in a big way for the outstanding contribution he has made to world athletics and the honour and glory he has brought to Jamaica and Racers Track Club over several years,” Gordon said.

While the night of June 10 will belong to Bolt, the Racers vicepresident further informed that other great

athletes from Jamaica and overseas will be participating.

“While Bolt will obviously take centre stage on June 10, athletics fans can rest assured that Racers Track Club will have on parade other world-class athletes who will electrify the National Stadium.

“I am not at liberty to give at this time the names of the athletes who will be coming, as we are in the final stages of negotiating contracts with some of these athletes, but I can assure that Jamaica will see some of the biggest names in the sport on our track come June 10 at the National Stadium,” Gordon informed.

Last year at the first staging of the Racers Grand Prix, which received glowing praises for it precision and organisation, Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa announced himself with a bang when he won the 300m, and then went to the Rio Olympics where he won gold in the 400m in a new world record time of 43.03 seconds.

(Jamaica Observer)

Campbell, Taylor inspire Scorpions to crucial win

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amaica Scorpions were lifted

by John Campbell’s strong allround performance as they took their biggest stride yet towards the semi-finals of the Regional Super50, with a 20-run win over Guyana Jaguars here Tuesday night.

With unbeaten Barbados Pride already qualified for the next round, Scorpions and Jaguars entered the day/night contest at Kensington Oval knowing that victory would put the winner in pole position to take the remaining spot from Group B. Opting to bat first, Scorpions rallied to 255 all out with two balls left in the innings, courtesy of opener Steven Taylor’s career-best 86 off 82 deliveries. Andre McCarthy lashed 45, while the left-handed Campbell weighed in with a swift 42 from 46 balls.

Left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer led the Jaguars attack with four for 35 and was supported by pacers Ronsford Beaton (2-33) and Chris Barnwell (245) who claimed two wickets apiece.

In reply, Jaguars took a stranglehold on the encounter through halfcenturies from opener Assad Fudadin (57) and number three Reifer (54) as they cruised to 124 for one in the 19th over.

But reckless batting, coupled with off-spinner Campbell’s four for 43, triggered a decline as Jaguars crashed to 235 all out off 49.4 overs.

The result moved Scorpions to 18 points and installed them as firm favourites to reach the final four, while Jaguars, third on 13 points with one game remaining, saw their hopes all but disappear.

Scorpions were forced to fight back from early after finding themselves two down for 39 runs in the seventh over, when Chadwick Walton (six) skiedReifer to Steven Jacobs at mid-

off in the third over and Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood (five) also fell to the same combination.

Left-hander Taylor then fashioned his maiden List A half-century as he repaired the innings in a 90-run thirdwicket partnership with McCarthy.

The American, in his first-ever tournament for Scorpions, belted five fours and six sixes, while McCarthy faced 67 balls and counted five fours and a six.

When McCarthy perished in the27th over, Taylor added a further 25 with Devon Thomas (17) before finally going by the run out route in the 30th over, with triple figures beckoning.

Campbell then injected the energy required, hitting two fours and a six while putting on 28 with Thomas for the fifth wicket and 47 for the sixth with Rovman Powell (24).

Jaguars made a purposeful, if not spectacular start, with Fudadin and RajindraChandrika posting 34 off 40 balls for the first wicket.

Against the run of play, Chandrika was run out for 13 in the eighth over but Reifer joined Fudadin to stabilise the run chase in a 90-run partnership.

Fudadin struck five fours in an 85ball knock, while fellow left-hander Reifer faced 89 deliveries and counted three fours and a six.

Without warning, Fudadin was run out in the 29th over and inexplicably 17 balls later, Captain Leon Johnson holed out to long off off McCarthy.

In another game at Lucas Street in Barbados on Tuesday, ICC Americas ended their losing streak in style when they stunned Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners by 78 runs to grab their first win.(CMC)

U

niversity of G u y a n a ’ s Trojans pulled off a huge upset while Dyna’s Ravens made light work of their opponents as the under-23 action in the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association’s League of Champions 2017 intensified on Monday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Homestretch Avenue.

With only two

The second period was no different, with another 20 points scored during the period going to Ravens. This time they led with a 10 points form Dominic Vincent as the score stood in favour of Ravens 45-21. By then Ravens had dented the spirits of the Guardians supporters as the match was good as over.

The Third quarter was closer than the first two as Ravens netted

68-53 game.

In the first period, both teams were matching shot for shot as Trojans set up a minimal five-point lead over Pacesetters and held their lead into the second period, extending it by one as the score line showed 33-27 by half time.

It was the third period that lost the game for Pacesetters as they only mustered seven points,

matches booked for the night, at the final buzzer of the first match, Ravens crippled Plaisance Guardians who have been impressive throughout the tournament. In the opening period, Guardians only managed eight points with a two-pointer from Trenton Woolford that produced a 14 point lead with Ryan Gullen registering two three pointers.

13 points to match the 12 points the Guardians netted. In the fourth quarter, Ravens outscored their opponents once more to cap off a dominant night 18-14 to finish with a final score line 76-47.

In the second match, UG Trojans snatched a memorable game from the clutches of Pacesetters with the third period being the deciding session in the

10 less than Trojans, who at that point now held a 16 point lead.

Pacesetters won the final period but only by a one point margin which was not enough to change the result.

The action continues at the same venue tonight with Ravens taking on Eagles in the open class and Ravens matching up with Guardians in the Under-23 category.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ming elated over blazing start to 2017 season

Number 1! The popping of the champagne and fisting the number one sign have been constant features of Ming this season

By Akeem Greene

G

uyanese race car sensation Calvin Ming has continued to swift ascendency into the history books with a stupendous start to his 2017 season. Two weekends on the track thus far and the son of veteran Guyanese rac-

er and businessman Stanley Ming, has already secured two podium finishes.

Racing in Mexico in the FIA NACAM F4 Championships, the young speedster secured his third podium place in two weeks despite serious car troubles.

In an interview

with Guyana Times International Sport Ming in speaking of his performances explained that “My performance in Mexico was pretty good, it was a lot of hard racing, in the first race I had a little bit of problems, my teammate got in front of me and was pulling away slowly, but

GAPLF/Junior Novice Championships 2017

Gonsalves, Chan, Petterson cash in big

T

I managed to pull him back.”

He added, “Everyone was telling me I was on fire since I was really fast and it was a track that you had to take risks to be fast.”

The Ram Racing driver was hard at work over the season break as other than winning the championship title, he is eager to undergo testing of a USF 2000 which is the equivalent to F3 car in Europe.

“I have been training for the last two months since I wanted to see what results I can get in preparation for USF 2000 later this year; my plans for the new year is to bring home some championships, and make it all the way to the top,” the driver revealed.

Though, making it all the way to the top is certainly an illustrious goal for Ming, his love for the sport is what constantly motivates him to do well.

“My ultimate goal is

not necessarily to be an F1 driver, it is just to be a professional driver and make this sport my career, I just love to race, it is very competitive and it gives an adrenaline rush; it is really hard to say how far you are from achieving it, you just have to focus on the races you have now and try to be the best “the former Go-kart champion disclosed.

The future engineer is adamant that if corporate support comes his way they will only bene-

fit as he continues to represent Guyana proudly.

“When we get sponsorship, I will be able to compete and move into higher categories internationally, Guyana and the sponsors will be able to get allot of recognition on the world stage,” the Florida International University student explained.

The talented Ming should be back on the track this weekend again as his busy season has begun.

England reach Blind Cricket World Cup semi-finals …after defeating WI by 6 wickets

The winners take the center stage at the Novice/Junior Championships

Romario Gonsalves he Guyana A m a t e u r was crowned overPowerlifting all junior unequipped Federation (GAPLF) winner, with a total age-wilks points opened their 2017 of 467.179 as the 18 season in smashyear old bettered ing fashion with Carlos Petterson who the Junior/Novices Championship seeing smashed the National a fair amount of sucsquat record (260 KG), lifting a total of 710 cess on Sunday at the KG but the 23 year Banks D.I.H. facility, old had a 448.578 ageThirst Park. wilks points. Demetri With 22 lifters taking to the mat, Chan of Buddy’s Gym Cavis Rodney enshattered three national records in the dured the challenge 74Kg class totaling of Indra Mekdeci to Romario Gonsalves once again win the overall nov- put in a stunning performance 500KG. Total fitness gym’s ice female unequipped prize. The 29-yearThristan Kamal cartgory, Hardcore gym’s old Rodney squatted Kevin Briglall amassed ed off with the overall 140 KG; bench pressed 474.132 wilks points novice male unequipped 77.5 KG and dead lifted with the 20 year old prize with 352.362 wilks 150KG to amass a total squatting 202.5 KG; points, eight points of 367.5KG. of challengbench pressing 112.5 KG ahead After the competi- and dead lifting 207.5 er, Triel Benjamin of tion, Rodney said she KG. Briglall piped Total Hardcore gym. was a bit nervous going Fitness gym’s 22 year old Marley Vyphuis into the competition but Arif Immamdeen who to- won the overall novice attributed her success taled 446.205 age-wilks male unequipped with to hard work and the ef- points. The pair was 339.228 wilks points forts of her coaches. trailed by Immamdeen’s as he leaped the comMeanwhile, in gym mate, 21 year old petition with a total of the overall male ju- Brad Davin with 417.885 540KG. nior equipped cate- age-wilks points.

E

ngland's Visually Impaired cricketers have booked their place in the T20 Blind World Cup semi-finals after beating the West Indies by six wickets in Bangalore.

After a tricky start to the tournament, in which they lost three of their first four games - against India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - England have now won five in a row to finish fourth in the table, meaning they will face Pakistan in the last-four.

England didn't have it all their own way as West Indies racked up 232 for 4 from their 20 overs. DennalDeboya Shim smashed his way to 106 from 61 balls with an impressive 15 boundaries.

Ed Hossell led the reply with 64, sharing stands of 56 with Matt Dean and 48 with Peter Blueitt, the man of the match, who continued his incredible run of form with an unbeaten 74 to see the side home with five balls to spare.

Justin Hollingsworth provided able support with a quick-fire 47 in a stand of 79 that broke the back of the run chase.

"It feels fantastic," said England's captain, Luke Sugg. "We knew what we needed to do today. The boys are in a good mood and are ready for the semi-final on Saturday.

"We knew they [West Indies] would

be a strong side with the bat. They've scored a lot of runs in the tournament and they showed that again today. It was great preparation for the semi to be pushed like that. Pakistan won't be easy but we know now that we can chase big scores.

"We've talked about how we can adapt to their strengths and really take the game to Pakistan. We can't wait."

England are an outside bet to reach the final given the strength of Pakistan's team - they won their opening encounter of the tournament by 95 runs. However, England's coach, Ross Hunter, is happy that his side have fulfilled their expectations so far.

"I'm really pleased that we are in the knockouts," said Hunter. "It's where we wanted to be at the start of the tournament.

"We've had a culture shift in trying to play a different brand of cricket. We have a nice mix of batters and the recipe is there to score 270-300 - we just have to put it into practice now.

"Pakistan will be a huge challenge but we've learnt a lot this week and if we play well we will give ourselves an opportunity.

"Tomorrow is all about how we prepare our players to be ready to compete on the big stage. The semi-final will be a day they will remember for the rest of their lives."(ESPNCricinfo)

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