Guyana Times International

CPL’s economic impact across region almost US$100M in 2017 Page 53

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

for FRee distribution guyanatimesinternational.com

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com WEEK ENDING january 21, 2018

ISSUE NO. 380

137 Guyanese deported from US in 2017 See story on page 3

- Immigration and Customs Enforcement report

Guyana one step closer to enacting Whistleblower legislation The Guyana Government on Thursday took the Whistleblower Bill to the National Assembly for its second reading and passage.

Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams said that the Whistle Blower Bill seeks to combat corruption and other wrongdoings by encouraging and facilitating disclosures of improper conduct in the public and private sectors, to protect persons making those disclosures from detrimental action, to establish the Protected Disclosures Commission to receive, investigate, or otherwise deal with disclosures of improper conduct and to provide for other related matters. According to the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Bill marks another step by the Government towards full compliance with the Inter-American Convention against Corruption. (More details in our next edition) In photos: Opposition MP, Joseph Hamilton (left) and Government MP Charrandas Persaud make statements on the Whistleblower Bill on Thursday.

41 years jail for Brooklyn man who murdered Guyanese teen Page 7

Parking meters return to Georgetown Page 9

Jailed: Taariq Stephens

Dead: Shemel Mercurius

…more protests expected for project to be scrapped

2

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

137 Guyanese deported from US in 2017 – report A

total of one hundred and thirty seven (137) Guyanese were deported from the United States of America (USA) in 2017, as compared to ninety three (93) persons who were removed and sent back home in 2016 for various criminal offences. This is according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations Report (ERO) for the fiscal year 2017.

The report, seeks to summarize ICE and ERO activities for the previous year.

With regards to the rest of the Caribbean region, Haiti saw five thousand, five hundred and seventy-eight of its nationals being deported in 2017.

That figure represents a massive increase when

compared to 2016, when just three hundred and ten Haitians were sent packing.

Also, in 2017, Jamaica saw seven hundred and eighty-two of its citizens being deported, Trinidad and Tobago saw one hundred and twenty-eight being sent back home and

Bahamas saw ninety-five persons being deported.

The other CARICOM nations saw a small number of their citizens being deported.

ERO identifies, arrests, and removes aliens who present a danger to national security or a threat to public safety,

or who otherwise undermines border control and the integrity of the U.S. immigration system.

ICE shares responsibility for administering and enforcing the nation’s immigration laws with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Citizenship and

Immigration Services.

On January 25, 2017, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order 13,768, Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States (EO), which set forth the Administration’s immigration enforcement and removal priorities.

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) February 20, 2017 memorandum, Enforcement of the Immigration Laws to Serve the National Interest (implementation memorandum) provided direction for the implementation of the policies set forth in the EO. The EO and implementation memorandum expanded ICE’s enforcement focus to include removable aliens who have been convicted of any criminal of-

fense; have been charged with any criminal offense that has not been resolved; have committed acts which constitute a chargeable criminal offense; have engaged in fraud or wilful misrepresentation in connection with any official matter before a governmental agency; have abused any program related to receipt of public benefits; are subject to a final order of removal but have not complied with their legal obligation to depart the United States; or in the judgment of an immigration officer, otherwise pose a risk to public safety or national security.

The Department has directed that classes or categories of removable aliens are no longer exempted from potential enforcement.

4 views

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

New York Office 106-15 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica NY 11435 Email: guyanatimesnyint@gmail.com Tel no: 718-658-6804 Fax no: 718-849-2286 Preferred method of contact via EMAIL Guyana Office Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana.

Tel no: (592) 223-7230/1, 225-7761.

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

EDITORIAL

A tragedy of epic proportions

I

nevitably, the politics of sugar is playing out; and just as inevitably, given the nature of politics in Guyana, it is taking the form of a tragedy – a tragedy of epic proportions. Sadly, it has been a tragedy that was enacted many times in our history, and its form was established coterminous with the foundation of the country back in the seventeenth century.

Sugar cultivation and extraction was labour-intensive, and had to be cheaply available on demand at specific times of the year. African slavery “solved” this problem, but at costs that are still being extracted in broken psyches and structural underdevelopment one hundred and eight-four years after slavery was abolished. The bound labour from Madeira, the West Indies, intercepted slave ships from Africa, India and China that were sourced to provide the labour after the freed slaves balked were interpellated in the exploitative structural relations into the present by the logic of the undertaking and the specificities of Guyana’s history and geography.

In the pre-independence era, being the most exploited labour force, sugar workers played a pivotal role across the British West Indian colonies through their protests against their working conditions, which had a political impact, since the British sugar and British colonialism were coterminous. Labour in general, and sugar labour in particular, therefore constituted the earliest political mobilisation in the Caribbean, and was the incubator of practically all the political parties.

In Guyana, because of the aforementioned early labour history, sugar workers by then were primarily, but not exclusively, Indian Guyanese, since most of the freed Africans and other indentured labourers had moved out. With the widening of democracy consequent to the introduction of the universal franchise, Indian Guyanese constituted a significant bloc of potential voters. The beginning of the modern version of Guyana’s tragedy was when the independence movement split and the two early political leaders — Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham — made “rational choice” decisions in mobilisation, which created an ethnically divided polity. Sugar workers, for instance, supported the PPP, while bauxite workers supported the PNC. When the post-independence PNC Government decided to nationalise the sugar industry in 1976, the move was supported by the PPP, but the union representing sugar workers – GAWU, affiliated with the PPP — was not given official recognition by the Government — just as it had not been so given by British sugar.

The sugar workers staged a massive 135-day strike, which saw the PNC call out its supporters and members of paramilitary forces to break the strike. While GAWU was eventually recognised, relations between sugar workers and management became a trope for relations between the PPP and the Government. This situation was polarised further, since rigging of elections removed any political initiative by the PPP in the formal political arena.

By 1990, when the IMF forced the PNC Government to introduce a foreign management firm to increase sugar production, this had fallen to one-third of the colonial high point, and workers were tragically impoverished, ironically exacerbated by alcohol, a by-product of sugar. Sugar workers felt they had been victimised by the PNC for their political support of the PPP — especially since all sugar profits had been removed by a PNCimposed sugar levy since 1974, and the industry was allowed to fall into disrepair.

When the PPP did not follow the IMF recommendation to privatise the sugar industry, but instead embarked on a Strategic Modernisation Plan crafted in 1998, they were accused of “playing politics”. The Skeldon component of that modernisation proved to be an albatross that further wounded the industry. The latest episode in the ongoing tragedy — in which the Government ignored its own CoI recommendation to stabilise the industry within three years and then privatise it — can only be explained in political terms, especially when the President boasted that his government “placed people before profits”.

But firing 5,700 workers and their 30,000 dependents is not just a tragedy for the workers; it is one that can rip apart Guyana, because of the political ramifications.

Katoonarib is a small Indigenous settlement in the Deep South Rupununi. It has a population of approximately 400, and its main economic activities are cash crop farming and cattle rearing. Traditional fishing and hunting is also a primary activity. Katoonarib is known as the largest producer of peanuts in the South Rupununi. (Girendra Persaud photo)

CPL: A massive boost to Guyana’s economy

By J ainarine D eonauth

N

ow in its sixth year, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is truly established as one of the leading T20 leagues in the world, and compares favourably with the likes of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash League (BBL). In addition to the high level of entertainment provided for families, many stakeholders in the Caribbean, including governments and private sector bodies, are well aware of the huge economic potential the CPL has on host countries and the region as a whole.

Hosting of the CPL games in Guyana is the kind of intervention that is needed to give a much needed boost to the country’s ailing economy. Guyana, through the CPL, has benefited significantly from hosting the event since the inception of the tournament in 2013. It was reported in the media a few days ago that the CPL’s economic impact on Guyana in 2017 was around US$ 14,183,035.

This figure has been arrived at by using organiser spend, visitor spend and media value, and was calculated for Hero CPL by world-renowned researchers SMG Insight.

In addition to the huge economic impact, 492 jobs were created as a result of Guyana hosting the games. 4097 hotel rooms were filled during the event. There was also significant value for Guyana in terms of the country being given coverage through the television broadcast of the event.

The total brand exposure for Guyana has been calculated at US$3,294,323, with more than 37 hours’ coverage of the country across the tournament.

Based on official statistics released, the CPL spent just under US$1million in Guyana during the 2017 event, with over 40% of that figure going to local staff and suppliers. In essence, the CPL games here are a good example of the tremen-

dous benefits that could be derived from a sporting event of such magnitude.

It is well known that Guyana’s economy has been on a downward spiral for some time now, and businesses and individuals are feeling the squeeze. Over the past year or so, several businesses have been complaining of poor sales, companies have had to lay off workers, and some companies are even closing down due to unprofitability. There seems to be no sign that the situation will turn around for the better.

The relevant stakeholders have pleaded with the Government to take the necessary steps to revive the economy and create opportunities for citizens, but it is still left to be seen what effective measures will be adopted to bring some sort of relief.

That said, now that the CPL tournament has proven to have many trickle-down effects, the whole concept of sports tourism is beginning to gain popularity in the region. The introduction of sports tourism as a major industry is an excellent idea, and it would certainly be in the nation’s interest if the major players involved work seriously towards designing and implementing the necessary programmes and policies that would see Guyana taking advantage of the many opportu-

nities available in that sector.

Analysts have pointed to the fact that sports tourism is a huge and growing industry, with important economic implications for the sport, the event, and the impact of travel and tourism-related benefits on host destinations.

For this year’s tournament, it is likely that Guyana will be given the opportunity to host the opening games. This is indeed good news for fans. CPL has indeed been a success story, not only as it relates to the development of cricket in Guyana and the region, but because of the potential for growth and the ability to create the kind of opportunities that would seek to improve the lives of citizens. Guyana must therefore capitalise on the economic successes of CPL, and work towards further developing sports tourism in general.

Each year, the National Stadium at Providence, which is the home ground of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, attract sold out crowds. However, with tournaments such as this one, it is not only the sold-out stadiums that warrant the prestige, but the chance to showcase one’s country on the global market, since television viewership would usually span each continent.

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘It’s not us’ B

ritish financial crimes expert, Dr Sam Sittlington, has decried the slothfulness with which cases investigated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) are being processed, but the State’s top legal advisers have denied holding up the prosecution of these cases.

Last week, Dr Sittlington, who has returned as an adviser to SOCU, expressed concern that there has been little done to take the financial crime cases, which have close to G$300 billion at stake, before the courts.

On this note, the white-collar crime expert said that he would soon be meeting with Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar AliHack; Police Legal Advisor, retired Justice Claudette Singh and SOCU’s special prosecutors to determine the reasons for the delay and work on a solution.

However, on Wednesday, Justice Singh told reporters that all the cases from SOCU that were before her were still active.

British expert, Dr Sam Sittlington

“All the matters which I have are in progress.

There’re things being done like for example Pradoville, we are seeking valuations. So, I don’t know what he is talking about,” she asserted.

The Police Legal Advisor could not say how many SOCU cases were before her, but explained that certain files had to be returned to the investigators for further work to be done. “…so it’s not like the files are static,” she defended.

Nevertheless, Justice Singh pointed out that while inves-

...State’s legal advisers say not responsible for backlog of cases from SOCU

Police Legal Advisor, (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh

tigators as well as the British expert would like to see results and have the cases prosecuted, due diligence has to be exercised.

“They feel that they must charge right away… (but) we cannot just go and charge people… They would have done their investigations but even after investigations, files are not completed ,so you have to then advise on them and then you would see certain things missing and you would need certain statements, so that is it,” she added.

Justice Singh noted that she too was await-

ing a meeting, which has not been scheduled as yet, with Dr Sittlington to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, DPP Ali-Hack also denied having a backlog of cases, revealing that only four files from SOCU were before her Chambers presently.

“We only received four files from SOCU last week and those files have received attention,” she said. The DPP added too that one of those files was returned to SOCU last week, while the other three should be back by the end of today (Thursday).

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack

At a press conference last week, Dr Sittlington also lamented that recommendations like hiring inhouse legal counsel for SOCU and special prosecutors to assist the Police Legal Advisor (PLA) are languishing in much the same way as some of the cases he left.

“I do not make decisions on behalf of SOCU,” Dr Sittlington related. “(But) there’s a number of recommendations I made last year, which although approved have not yet been implemented. The five special prosecutors that we have also

have private practices so they are conflicted between two different areas.”

“Ideally, we want one good lawyer in SOCU who can work with the cases … they can finalise a case before it goes to [the] PLA or DPP to try to quicken that actual process of getting that case to court,” Dr Sittlington noted.

He also noted that conflict sometimes arose between the PLA, the DPP and the special prosecutors. At the end of it all, Dr Sittlington acknowledged that undue delays were unfair to those being investigated from a human rights perspective.

Dr Sittlington pointed out that with only four forensic audits resulting in court charges, SOCU presently has to deal with 26 forensic audits that could result in over 300 cases. Of these, he said, an estimated G$170 billion could be at stake. In addition, Dr Sittlington revealed that SOCU was handling a number of referrals from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

6

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Disappointed at growing hypocrisy of PM Nagamootoo Dear Editor, I am most perturbed and disappointed by the growing hypocrisy of our Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo.

I am now a pensioner. I used to be an ardent follower of the politics of my country, and therefore would have heard enough from this man to draw such a conclusion. I have heard him speaking up to the last elections campaign (2015), when he boasted about his frugal lifestyle, his penchant for a lean and clean government, and his dislike for extravagance. I have listened to him speaking about the sacrifices he made for sugar workers, and his attacks on the pension of the former President, Dr Jagdeo.

Even when he crossed over to the AFC, I thought that those ingrained principles would make him an incorruptible beacon in that party. However, my confidence began to wane when I heard him extolling the virtues of the PNC, a party which he aggressively fought and wrote against. That was the first sign of his hypocrisy being manifested.

Unfortunately, as soon as the Coalition won the 2015 General Elections and he took office as the Prime Minister, his principles took a landslide into the abyss of egocentricity. He has focused all his efforts on self-aggrandizement and self-promotion. Nowadays, his speeches are just centred on himself; anyone who listens

to him can confirm this.

Now he is silent about the plight of the sugar workers.

Now, let us look at his extravagance: Apart from his numerous and costly first class trips abroad, which bring no benefit to this country; his costly fleet of vehicles and the costly refurbishing of his living quarters, on many occasions when the Prime Minister visits Berbice, he targets two places — Courtland Village, where his wife was born; and Whim Village, where he was born.

But what is glaring is that the sirens of his entourage can be heard from a far distance. He is normally accompanied by a slew of staff and bodyguards. Imagine, a man who once could have roamed freely in every nook and cranny in Berbice now feels that his life is under threat. But he just wants to massage his ego with the siren, the entourage and the security measures, which are just a waste of taxpayers’ dollars and are against what he had stood for.

I have witnessed that President Granger travels with far less staff and pretensions. I also have never seen the former PM, Mr Samuel Hinds, travel with such pomp and ceremony. It seems that this PM feels that the taxpayers’ dollars now belong to him.

Yours sincerely, Rohit Persaud

Those in power seem to be in support of sugar industry’s destruction Dear Editor, What manner of people are we, to see the suffocation of our Guyanese brothers and sisters in the sugar industry as some of our writers and politicians exhale hot air in the form of words like praxis, uneconomical, impractical; and wax philosophical theorems while entire villages, communities and regions are economically choking — symbolically, metaphorically, and literally — with the unjust termination of sugar workers.

Two terminated sugar workers have suffocated themselves so far, evidently collapsing under the weight of poverty, enabled by quote/unquote kith and kin, be it a Smith or a Singh in Guyanese parlance. How many more lives must be lost? How much more suffering must be endured by those whose livelihoods depend on the operations of the sugar industry before our Government acts in a righteous manner.

While the sufferation continues, our Government has set aside US$18 million in a “funds account” for some logically inexplicable and indefensible reason, while two terminated sugar workers commit suicide due to absence of funds.

Guyana — with billions of barrels of oil reserves, and recording the largest oil find in the last decade — has lead-

ership that has seemingly opted for the destruction of villages and communities in the sugar industry under the rubric of the sugar industry not being economically viable, instead of leveraging our assets and considering the plight of the sugar workers.

It is unfortunate that the administration does not think it fit and proper to be our brothers’ keeper and to create solidarity from our economic good fortune.

A good parent does not neglect one child and favour another because each child has a different father, or because one child seems to be a better economic investment at a particular moment in time. Maybe Guyana’s seemingly new parent company, ExxonMobil Corporation, will show the heart needed to save the sugar industry by allowing for a fair Production Sharing Agreement.

Guyana is on the verge of quadrupling its economic value twice over and then some; yet, this politically racist, callous and calculating policy to terminate sugar workers, destroy the sugar industry and the kith and kin in the communities seems to have the full support of those in power.

Regards, Nigel Hinds

Mediocre, third-rate pack of political cards must be reshuffled for the national good Dear Editor, Our Constitution and other laws require the appointment of several Constitutional Commissions and various statutory bodies. The nation expects that the responsible authorities and agencies would act promptly in the

appointment of suitably qualified persons without racial, political, or any other discrimination in our plural society of multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural composition.

The gross negligence of timely actions by the responsible governing au-

Busses, boats and bicycles not good enough; APNU/ AFC must do more

Dear Editor, Recently, the President was seen assisting a toddler in the cutting of a ribbon to hand over a bus which is to be used for transportation of school children.

While this is a somewhat nice gesture, I can forthwith tell the President of a better way to help the poor; that is: the reinstatement of the G$10,000 grant for each child in school. That gift by the previous PPP/C Administration was more lasting, and was of more economic benefit to the children of this great country. It made sense for this country’s peoples that are now going through the most depressing and pauperised days.

You cannot tell me that ministers of this Government could have almost instantly filled their pockets with a 50% pay rise then, in their typical hypocritical reply, give out buses – yes, buses — in other instances boats and bicycles, to its hapless citizens. If this does not reek of corruption and heartlessness by a sick regime, then what does?

But before I get carried away, let me get back to my main topic: Prior to the Coalition APNU/AFC taking office, the PPP/C had a programme of furnishing the family with a G$10,000 gift for every child at school. It was a gift to families, especially those single-parent families or families with delinquent fathers.

Those families, most of them with large households, welcomed this gesture with open arms because it represented income or hard currency for those struggling to make ends meet.

Further, that G$10,000 would have seen an increase of up to G$50,000

per child had the PPP been in power.

That is a representation of a Government that has great care and concern for its peoples; not passing a bus or bicycle or boat when I do not have a meal on the table.

We were taught that, to get to the root causes of a child’s seeming boredom or lack of interest in learning, that child may be having inherent problems, like being hungry or not having enough sleep at nights, because that child has to toil like a normal adult to earn a few hundred dollars (speaking in Guyanese terms) to exist. This is the reality of the situation in Guyana today — the dire circumstances in eking out a living in the daily grind. So try telling me about learning and education when I am hungry.

The point I am making is boats, buses and bicycles are meaningless when the reality is I am too weak to enjoy these.

So, what Minister Amna Ally said is pointless also: that the nation’s children’s education is enhanced by the free buses to take them to school. Utterly pointless in the idea I have put forward: that children cannot learn if there is nothing on the table at home to eat. A further indictment on their part is her sarcastic remarks that others would like to see these “free buses” transportation gesture fail; meaning that the Opposition would like this to happen. May I remind Minister Ally that she has exposed her Government by uttering those words, because those buses are “free gifts” given to them by party hacks? Those buses were not paid for by the national treasury, but were “freebies”

thorities is unacceptable, and must be corrected by the authorities to gain lost trust and respect from large sections of the population.

A few examples of non-appointment of constitutional and statutory bodies include: The Ethnic Relations Commission, the Integrity Commission, the Public Service Commission, the University of Guyana Council, and the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board.

Would the governing authorities of the National Assembly and the Executive correct the disrespect of the Constitution and other laws of our land, and obey these Laws? The people of Guyana elected the representatives of the political parties and the Executive Government to always act promptly in keeping with requirements of the Constitution and other laws of Guyana

from party supporters who are likely to be earmarked for huge kickbacks. And may I add that political patronage will come from taxpayers’ hard earned taxes?

So, I must say to this PNC-led Coalition that these gestures reek of corruption from the very start. We would rather have G$10,000 than free buses.

In fact with thousands losing their jobs every month, those buses are meaningless to those households with many mouths to feed.

Try telling a sugar worker that a free bus is all this Government can offer when they do not know where the next income is coming from.

That retrenched sugar worker having three, sometimes six, minor children to take care of: try convincing him that he should be satisfied with a free bus system and nothing else. Try convincing him that his existence would not be a miserable one. Try! Substituting free buses for direct income is indicative of an uncaring and vindictive regime.

Finally, my Bible tells me that anyone — nay, any Government — that would deny those little ones their right to lead a comfortable life would never experience success. The good book states it is better for you to tie a millstone around your neck and jump overboard. In Guyanese parlance, “if you rob children or take food out of their mouths”, you will not be blessed.

Members of this Government love to make scriptural quotes.

I hope they take heed to the above terse warnings.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

in the national interest, and not on partisan and narrow political self-interest. These authorities – members of the National Assembly, Ministers, and the Executive Government — and public servants must act promptly in a transparent, inclusive manner, and must be held accountable to the public for inordinate and unreasonable delays in discharging their public duties.

The public calls on His Excellency, the President of all of Guyana, to discipline and sanctions all public officials for misconduct and gross negligence in the discharge of their public duties.

Ministers’ heads and public servants’ heads must roll as appropriate. As a minimum, the worn-out, mediocre, and third-rate pack of political cards must be reshuffled for the national good.

With thanks, Joshua Singh

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

41 years jail for Brooklyn man who murdered Guyanese teen

A

Jailed: Taariq Stephens

26-year-old East Flatbush man was sentenced to 41 years in prison for the 2016 shooting death of 16-year-old Guyanese emigrant Shemel Mercurius.

Online news reports had said that the 16-year-old used her dying breaths to tell police that Taariq Stephens, was her attacker.

According to trial testimony, Stephens pushed his way into a sixth-story apartment in Flatbush Gardens just before 6:00 pm on May 31, 2016, carrying a .40 caliber submachine rifle and shot her while she was babysitting her 3-year old cousin.

Police subsequently kicked down the East Flatbush apartment door to find a blood-spattered boy crying, next to the dying teen.

One NYPD officer tried to help Mercurius while they waited around 20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.

She reportedly told him that Stephens had wanted to date her but she wasn’t interested. She later died at a local hospital.

Dead: Shemel Mercurius

Surveillance footage from the scene showed the Stephens outside the door with a rifle, then forcing his way into the apartment when the teenager denied him entry.

Shemel Mercurius was a student at Murrow High, having emigrated from Guyana four years before the incident, with hopes of attending college in the U.S. “This defendant will now spend many years behind bars for the callous killing of an innocent teenage girl who was taken from her loved ones far too early,” said Brooklyn District Attorney (DA) Eric Gonzalez in a statement.

“Nothing can bring Shemel back to her devastated family, but I hope that today’s sentence will afford them a small measure of solace.”

Taariq Stephens turned himself in to the police two days after the shooting, and was convicted last month on charges of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.

news 7

8 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Greenidge says UN’s ruling on border controversy could take 2 years

President appoints 4 more lawyers as Senior Counsel

T

he United Nations Secretary General António Guterres’s decision on the GuyanaVenezuela border controversy could take as much as two years to be handed down if needs be, Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge said on Wednesday.

Providing an update on the matter, the Minister said that nothing new has happened since the Good Offices Process ended on December 31, 2017 and a commitment was made to clearly outline the way forward by the Secretary General.

The Secretary General undertook to make a decision after a process which ended on December 31. “It is possible of course that he could take two years to answer…We are still waiting on the Secretary General to carry out his responsibilities,” Greenidge told Guyana Times International on Wednesday.

However, the Minister said given the circumstances by which he was invited to carry out his mandate under the 1966 Agreement, Guterres was fully aware of the urgency of this matter.

“And the fact that when the Guyana Government called on him to intervene, it wasn’t only because Venezuelan troops were on our borders, but because the continuation of this controversy caused

by Venezuela claiming that the 1899 Treaty was null and void was having an effect on Guyana,” he added.

“The Secretary

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

General would know that during personal discussions with his personal representative, we made it very clear that our main concern was to embark on the process identified under the Geneva Agreement, but one that required an urgent resolution…And I don’t think we have to beat him over the head every week to tell him that,” Greenidge continued.

Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Audrey Jardine-Waddell had told sections of the media that after the Personal Representative to the Secretary General, Dag Halvor Nylander submitted his report on enhanced mediation efforts, the UN Head would decide the next step.

“December 31 wasn’t the date of the decision.

December 31 was when the process ended….

Having received the report from his personal representative, the Secretary General will now make his decision and inform us of the decision,” Jardine-Waddell was quoted as saying.

There have been reports that Secretary General Guterres could inform the two countries

of his decision before the end of March 2018.

“He didn’t have to inform us on December 31st; that was the date when the process ended,” Waddell reiterated.

Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had given an undertaking that 2017 would have been the last year of mediation to end the border controversy. If that process failed, the controversy would be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the UN. Guyana maintains that the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award that settled the boundary issue between Guyana and Venezuela was full and final. But Venezuela has, for several decades, registered its diplomatic and military objection to Guyana’s development of its natural resources onshore and offshore.

Venezuela, with almost 40 times the population of Guyana and a territory that is several times bigger, purported to claim in 1968 the entire territorial sea of Guyana by means of the Leoni Decree, which has never been withdrawn.

P

From left: Kalam Azad Juman Yassin, Josephine Whitehead, President David Granger, Andrew Mark Fitzgerald Pollard and Fitz Le Roy Peters

resident David Granger on Wednesday presented four long-serving legal practitioners with their instruments of commission, elevating them to senior counsel. The new senior counsels are Kalam Azad Juman Yassin, Fitz Le Roy Peters, Andrew Mark Fitzgerald Pollard and Josephine Whitehead.

There were all officially appointed at a ceremony held in the Baridi Benab at State House.

“The title is: a national symbol, alongside other symbols – national honours and awards, anthem, coat of arms, flag and motto – that define our Guyanese identity; a professional symbol that distinguishes attorneys of erudition, experience, eminence and excellence; a social symbol representing the values of duty and integrity and the standards of social responsibility and

respect for the law,” President Granger said.

Noting that the award of the honour of Senior Counsel recognises those whose service in the legal profession has evinced these values and standards, the President said that the simple but significant ceremony constitutes, as President of Guyana, an important personal obligation. “Guyana, acknowledges their exertions during their long legal careers and applauds their accomplishments at the Bar,” he said.

“I am a trustee of the traditions which sustain society. I am duty-bound to recognise those who have served with distinction. It is my obligation, not an option, to respect our national system of honours,” the Head of State said.

Newly-appointed acting Appeal Judge hopes to address backlog

I

Dr Christopher Arif Bulkan taking the oath of office on Wednesday

n light of the current shortage of Judges at the Guyana Court of Appeal, President David Granger has appointed University of West Indies (UWI) Lecturer, Dr Christopher Arif Bulkan, as an acting Appeal Judge. However, his temporary appointment will only last six months.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at State House on Wednesday and among those present were members of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) – the body responsible for making the recommendation to the President.

In an invited comment, Dr Bulkan told reporters that he looks forward to working with all stakeholders to address the backlog of cases, which currently plagues the judicial system.

“Because they are under-staffed right now, my position will help to clear up the backlog or go somewhere towards that,” he said.

Having worked at the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers and being a Magistrate here, Dr Bulkan believes he would be able to make some headway in clearing up the backlog within his short tenure.

“It would mean less adjournments, it would mean lawyers will get to present their cases and so on,” he added.

Although Dr Bulkan has never served as a High Court Judge in Guyana, his appointment was recommended to the President after he was interviewed by the JSC. Asked how Bulkan’s name found its way before the Commission, Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams could not say. However, he did note that the Constitution does provide for the appointment of acting Justices of Appeal.

Nevertheless, Williams posited that he believes the newly appointed Appeal Judge (ag) has the ability to acquit himself excellently.

Meanwhile, President Granger in brief remarks highlighted the importance of efficient and timely dispensation of justice by the local courts, which he said are fundamental bases for a law-based State such as Guyana. In this regard, he added that the Judiciary is the vital organ in the preservation of the system of law and order.

He went onto reaffirm his Government’s commitment in ensuring that the judicial system remains independent.

Bulkan was appointed under Article 128 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana, which provides that, “Judges, other than the Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall be appointed by the President who shall act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC)”.

Also in attendance at the swearing in ceremony were Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Chief Justice (ag) Justice Roxane George, and Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Parking meters return to Georgetown

…more protests expected for project to be scrapped

is sub judice…I feel that this contract should not have been renegotiated…we need help and parking meters would offer relief coupled with proper traffic management, but I don’t believe Smart City is the solution…you could put lipstick on a pig and at the end of the day, it’s still a pig,” Jaikaran noted.

By Lakhram Bhagirat

S

mart City Solutions (SCS) and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of the City of Georgetown have reached a new agreement under the controversial Parking Meter Project, which will now see persons paying G$150 per hour and G$800 for eight hours of parking in the city.

This new structure was presented at a Special Statutory Meeting called to discuss the recommendations of the Parking Meter Renegotiation Committee, on Wednesday.

“Pay for time instead of space was agreed to by both parties, thus allowing persons to move from location to location until the time paid for is exhausted. This will allow for the transferability of time from meter to meter,” Councillor Akeem Peter proudly boasted.

Meanwhile, residents of the city would be issued with a restricted residential pass for free parking from 17:00h-19:00h Monday to Friday while parking will be free on Saturdays.

The M&CC had entered into a contract with SCS Inc on May 13, 2016, for parking meters to be implemented in Georgetown, but following heavy objection and intense protest from citizens, Central Government suspended the by-laws of the project. The renegotiated contract with SCS and the restructured fees come in light of a recent High Court ruling quashing the by-laws of the controversial project.

The city, through its lawyers, has filed an appeal

More protests

Some of the Councillors at the Special Statutory Meeting on Wednesday

to the ruling.

The renegotiation committee’s report noted that SCS has agreed that the condition for enforcement of paid parking in the city be in conjunction with the parking meter by-laws, despite those by-laws being quashed.

Chairman of the renegotiating committee, Councillor Akeem Peter said that there were 15 consultation sessions, with 13 of them being the Committee just meeting to discuss a way forward before meeting with the representatives from SCS. He noted that SCS was cooperative during the renegotiation phase and that while some of the terms of the original contract remain unchanged, both parties agreed to modify as many critical terms as possible to satisfy the needs of the general public.

Modified contract

Under the modified contract, both parties have agreed to have an oversight committee set up to monitor, review and manage the operations of the project. The committee is expected to have three representatives from City Hall, three from SCS and one

Farmer on G$175,000 bail for discharging firearm, wounding

A

Lindener was granted bail in the total sum of G$175,000 by Magistrate Clive Nurse when he appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, charged with the offences of discharging a firearm and unlawful wounding.

Curwin Estwick, a poultry farmer of Lot 943 South Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden, denied both charges after they were read to him. It is alleged that on August 10, 2017, he discharged a loaded firearm at Dillon Batson with intent to maim, disfigure, disable

or cause grievous bodily harm.

Since there was no objection to bail by the prosecution, the defendant was released on G$100,000 surety for that offence. For the unlawful wounding matter, Estwick was charged with co-defendants Leroy Nedd and Lennox Estwick, who were both charged in absentia. It is alleged that they unlawfully wounded Kent Austin, on August 31, 2017 at Amelia’s Ward.

For the offence, the farmer was granted G$75,000 bail. The case will continue on February 12.

third-party, with the terms of reference for the committee expected to be agreed upon at a later date.

During his lengthy synopsis of the renegotiation process, Peter noted it was agreed that the project shall be reviewed every six months for the first three years, both the operational and financial aspects of the project.

Additionally, there would be no immediate booting for the first three months following the recommencement of the project, but after the grace period, failure to pay parking fees for up to three violations would result in booking or towing. Peter also said under the new arrangement SCS may recommend that City Hall put a vehicle up for auction after 60 days of it being unclaimed.

Peter also proudly boasted that schools and religious organisations would now be required to write SCS seeking consideration to be exempted from paid parking.

The committee’s report noted that during the renegotiations, the subject of the shared

profit and he contract was discussed and it was agreed to have it remain the same – 20/80 M&CCSCS for a period of 20 years. It was also disclosed that in the event of arbitration the proceedings would be held in Miami despite the jurisdiction being Guyana.

Not enough time

The final report of the committee was presented to Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green on Monday and sent to Councillors around 18:00h on Tuesday. Several of the Councillors complained of not enough time being allotted for them to peruse the 90 plus pages of the document.

Councillor Alfred Mentore said that he would have preferred more time to decipher the minutes of the meetings the committee had with SCS so that he could seek clarifications and he would have also wanted to have his constituents’ input in his final decision.

Councillors Khame Sharma, Bishram Kuppen and Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikaran also reiterated that po-

sition.

Scrapped

The Deputy Mayor during his charged presentation on the recommendations of the report reiterated that the contract should be scrapped, and the process restarted since it was a project that was shrouded in secrecy. He added that while he was not against metered parking, he was against the process that led to SCS being the contractor since the initial contract lacked transparency.

“The matter is still in front of the court and it

Following the implementation of the parking meters, a civil society group – Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) was formed and played an instrumental role in the suspension of the by-laws of the controversial project.

A member of that group, Don Singh, was at the Special Statutory Meeting and following the recommendations, he noted that the MAPM was willing to take to the streets again to ensure that the project was scrapped.

He said that they would continue to monitor the project closely and would take the necessary action.

10 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

“We believe in coalition politics” …Granger says in response to possible AFC’s breakaway

C

APNU and PNC leader, President David Granger

hairman of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), President David Granger has downplayed the Alliance For Change’s (AFC) announcement that it is contemplating breaking away from the governing coalition to compete in the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE).

However, General Secretary of the People’s National Congress (PNC), the leading party in the APNU coalition, Amna Ally, has made a contrary statement explaining that the APNU is prepared to contest the LGE without the AFC teaming up to contest with one ticket.

Granger, who heads both the PNC and the APNU coalition of parties, brushed aside news that the AFC appeared prepared to run its own campaign at the local elections while running against his coalition. “I have seen reports that the AFC is contemplating the prospects of going it alone. When I get that letter if it ever comes, I will meet with AFC leader,” the President remarked.

He continued, “We went into the coalition as a matter of principle and we believe that it good for Guyana. We believe that we have been able to introduce a new form of political cooperation based on inclusionary democracy and we can’t walk away from that at this point in time.”

The President also ditched questions as to whether he would be concerned were the AFC to abandon the coalition to run alone as he reiterated the PNCR-led

General Secretary of PNC, Amna Ally

APNU’s commitment to coalition politics.

“As far as the five-party partnership (APNU) is concerned, we shall go into the Local Government Elections, and the General and Regional Elections as a partnership. And we believe in coalition politics, it’s not just for political expedience. It is something we believe in that Guyanese need to come together in order to resolve the problems or political division and economic development,” the President said.

Contradicting

On the other hand, however, Ally said she was disappointed with the statement made by the AFC which indicates that they may go it alone. She told the media on Wednesday, “Whichever way it goes, we are prepared to go with it.

We are sorry that the AFC has taken such a position because like I said, we believe that we are better and stronger together. However, if that is how they feel, so be it.”

Only recently, the APNU issued a press release in response to AFC’s announcement stating that its parties have agreed to vie for local elections as a united body. The party said this commitment was reaffirmed at meetings in September 2017 and January 2018. The other APNU members are the Guyana Action Party, the Justice For All Party; the National Front Alliance and the Working People’s Alliance.

The APNU chair also reaffirmed this position on Wednesday when he told the media, “As I said we had two meetings at each lev-

el and we took a principled position and I don’t anticipate that will change.”

The Head of State also noted that based on media reports, some voices of the AFC have called for a review of the Cummingsburg Accord. He said whenever he gets a correspondence in that regard from the Leader of the AFC Raphael Trotman, he will respond to it. “I have not received any such letter yet.”

On Monday, the AFC announced that there is a possibility that the party may break away from the APNU for this year’s Local Government Elections. AFC Leader Raphael Trotman said there was “a strong opinion of body within the party that we should go alone.” However, in the same breath, he said there was another view that the AFC should seek to enter a new accord with the APNU. The party leader explained that the Cummingsburg Accord that was signed between the AFC and APNU in 2015 was just to facilitate the General Election and did not include local elections.

The AFC has, of recent, come under fire for the perceived submissive role it played when it joined forces with APNU. In mid-November 2017, the top leadership of the AFC had decided to revise its governing agreement with its coalition partner. This decision was taken after the AFC – the smaller of the two groups forming the Government – was accused of being coerced by its large partner.

2 Guyanese, 5 Venezuelans nabbed with illegal fuel T wo Guyanese, a l o n g with five Venezuelans, were on Wednesday nabbed by ranks of G Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands) with il-

legal fuel. They are currently in Police custody assisting with investigations.

According to information reaching Guyana Times International, a joint operation was

conducted by personnel from the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and Police, and around midday they intercepted an unnamed unregistered wooden vessel

at the mouth of the Pomeroon River.

The vessel was loaded with approximately 100 barrels of gasoline. The captain, along with the other occupants, was arrested.

Shooting incident confirms need for overhaul of City Constabulary, says Mayor

G

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green

eorgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green said that the recent shooting incident involving a Lance Corporal of the City Constabulary proved that there should be a greater sense of urgency to have the city police department restructured and to have staffers trained to execute their duties more professionally.

“This has brought more than one issue to light and there is a greater need now, more than ever before, to have the constabulary – if not restructured – to have training at all levels. The Town Clerk has started the process of calling and writing to the national Police for training, so we are onboard together to ensure that all our Ranks are properly trained,” the Mayor noted.

On Sunday, a City Constabulary Lance Corporal shot 34-yearold Marlon Fredericks of Tiger Bay, Georgetown as he allegedly tried to escape from lawful custody. Following the incident, eyewitnesses noted that the shooting could have been avoided had the Lance Corporal pursued the weakened man rather than shoot him.

The relatives of the dead man have since indicated that they would be pursuing legal action against the Constabulary since they believe that Fredericks was murdered.

She said that following the surfacing of videos which showed Fredericks being assaulted by a Joint Services rank, she enquired as to the identity of the rank and was informed that he was not enlisted with the city police department.

She added that the Constabulary rank, who was injured during the altercation on Saturday

when Fredericks was apprehended, was currently on sick leave.

“I will say that every individual in custody portrays certain characteristics and behaviour pattern; as to the assessment, I am not certain if the officers on duty can assess it. We were informed that he is a drug addict and what we have now is just as how you have officers trained for domestic violence, we will now see the need to have persons trained to deal with persons of unsound mind or addicts who are in our custody. It’s something that has to be ongoing at every level,” Chase Green explained when asked about provisions to deal with mentally challenged persons in custody.

Fredericks, who is said to be mentally unstable, was wanted by the City Constabulary for simple larceny and was spotted on Saturday in the vicinity of Robb and King Streets, Georgetown. He was taken into custody following a drama-filled chase which resulted in him being assaulted by the Joint Services rank.

The following day, Fredericks was shot about 13:15h outside the City Constabulary Bourda Outpost. Reports are that the now dead man allegedly forced his way outside the lockups when it was opened to let out another prisoner who needed to use the toilet. A struggle reportedly ensued between the victim and the Lance Corporal who tried to restrain him, and in the process, Fredericks ran out of the Outpost and was fatally shot once in the lower back by the Lance Corporal, who was armed with a service pistol. A post-mortem examination has since confirmed his death was the result of a gunshot wound.

news 11

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

City Constab Officer faces manslaughter charge over death of vendor

T

he Lance Corporal who allegedly assaulted and shot a man of unsound mind on January 14, 2018, leading to his death, was on Thursday arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on a charge of manslaughter.

Fifty-year-old Gregory Bascom, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown was not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him

by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

The court heard that on January 14, 2018, the accused unlawfully killed 34-year-old Marlon Fredricks, a vendor, at Regent Street, Bourda, Georgetown.

Bascom’s Attorney, Roger Yearwood sought to argue that his client was at the time operating within the course of his duties as a City Constabulary Officer.

The prosecution did not object to the bail application made by Yearwood for his client, but requested that conditions be attached.

As such, bail was granted in the sum of G$800,000 and Bascom

Killed: Marlon Fredericks

was ordered to lodge his passport and to report to the police every Friday, until the completion of his trial.

He is expected to re-appear at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on February 12, 2018.

Marlon Fredricks, was on Friday last arrested by police and then shot by a city constabulary officer on Saturday after it was alleged that the wanted man was attempting to escape lawful custody.

The incident occurred just outside the City Constabulary outpost on Regent Street.

GuySuCo pension fund under constant decline – source

S

everal employees – past and present – of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) are worried about the status of their full pension benefits as the pension fund is in deep trouble.

Reports are that the Employees Retirement Benefits is in negative territory by G$1.1 billion as opposed to $2.4 billion in 2014, according to the 2015 financial statements produced by GuySuCo. A GuySuCo source told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that the fund has seen a constant decline over the past few years and the closure of the estates will add enormous pressure on it.

“It was under severe pressure before and now that GuySuCo is now retrenching, several employees who would have been eligible for the pension may suffer,” the source opined.

It was also noted that the scheme, which is open to salaried employees of GuySuCo, who would have been contributing to the pension scheme, may have been severed.

“That will be an onerous pressure to the scheme, because you have new people who are coming in to receive a pension,” the source added, noting that this was a major worry for many fired employees.

Meanwhile, a former employee of the Corporation told this newspaper that since the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) pulled out from the fund, it has also added pressure.

The employee, who asked not to be named as well, is of the firm view that Government had to be aware of the dilemma.

He said this on the basis that there was no likelihood that foreign investors would have joined the fund, as the Financial Act currently prohibits certain levels of offshore investment.

According to the former employee, there is a likelihood that the scheme will lose its viability to provide a pension for those who are already receiving a pension, because of the lack of investment portfolios.

“The pension is already burdened by those already receiving a pension and it will be exacerbated by the additional people who will now become eligible for pension as a result of being severed from the company,” he added.

While the pension fund had been in trouble before the new

Government took office in 2015, there was no move made to stabilise the fund, especially in light of plans to downsize the industry.

Asked to comment on the status of the fund on Wednesday, President David Granger said he was unaware of the issues relating to the fund and has not been apprised of information about it.

“We respect the different stakeholders in the industry and I would say that we have not been provided at Cabinet level, with any information about the pension fund, but we know at this point in time that the central Government has been asked to provide funds for the termination benefits…I cannot answer now on the status of the pension fund, but you know for the last 32 months or so, the Government of Guyana has been bailing out GuySuCo almost at the rate of G$1 billion per month,” he stated.

12 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Not good enough’ …says GTUC on Govt’s 50% severance payment to sugar workers

T

he Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) said President David Granger’s commitment to paying affected sugar workers 50 per cent of their severance is “not good enough”, while noting that addressing the workers’ concern is not a priority of the Administration.

On Saturday, the GTUC said the fact that no budgetary allocation was made to cover the severance of the affected is indicative of no premium being placed on the concerns of the workers.

As such, the GTUC sees this as a worrying sign and intensification of the Government’s attacks on workers’ rights, across the board.

In a strongly worded statement, the Union further stated the failure of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to begin paying severance packages to the redundant workers on their last payday speaks of the callous approach in treating the workers’ welfare.

The trade union representative body noted that severance payment is earned consistent

with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, adding that when the professional relationship is severed between an employer and employee, industrial relations practice dictates that the employee hands over to the employer all properties of the employer.

Likewise, the employer has corresponding responsibility to hand over forthwith all monies accrued and owing to the employee. The failure to do so speaks to breaking of a contractual relationship and were these workers in the Private Sector, the Labour

Department would have demanded they be paid, and if not, the errant employer placed before the court.

Additionally, the GTUC notes Government must be mindful of claims of being conscious and caring about the affected workers since it would not be deemed credible and sincere.

They added that severance should have been paid at time of termination, so these workers can move on with their lives.

The Union added that the number of workers being laid off requires a plan to cushion the so-

cio-economic impact on them, and the institutions and communities that rely on their income.

“Various pronouncements as to the number being affected or are being placed in alternative jobs, and in cases being transferred to State agencies is being questioned. A major reason for this is that the sugar unions seem unaware which continues to point to the problem of the absence of engagement and involvement by the workers’ representative in their welfare,” the statement added.

Some

Protest

4000

sugar

Unified strength of CARICOM drives it to surmount challenges, says SG

T

he unified strength of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) has enabled it to surmount challenges posed over the past 44 years of regional integration.

This declaration was made by the Caricom Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, while he urged the Community Council of Ministers to use those weapons to forge ahead.

Caricom’s second highest organ held its 41st meeting at its Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown Headquarters on Monday to discuss the provisional list of items for the agenda of the 29th Intersessional Meeting of Heads of Government, which will be held in Haiti on February 26-27. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Antonio Rodrigue, Minister of Foreign and Religious Affairs of Haiti.

“Let us once again engage those weapons as we strive to ensure that, in our 45th year, integration continues to be the vehicle to provide sustained development and a secure, prosperous and viable Caribbean Community for all our peoples,” Secretary-General LaRocque admonished.

He said the pressing issue of crime and violence — given the gravity of the situation faced by many member states — as well as disaster management and preparedness are among the items proposed for the Heads’ Meeting agenda.

The SG reminded the Council

workers from Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon were let go by December 29, 2017. Fearing that they would have suffered a similar fate as Wales, workers attached to Rose Hall staged a protest in Berbice on Tuesday, demanding that they paid their severance packages. This was one of several similar actions planned by workers and their Union against the decisions made regarding the sugar industry.

Following the protest, Government announced on Wednesday that it will pay 50 per cent of the severance benefits to dismissed sugar workers

by the end of this month, a commitment that represented over G$2 billion in severance payments.

About 850 workers protested the non-payment of millions of dollars, which are collectively owed to them for their years of service given to the GuySuCo. Meanwhile, GAWU has registered its disappointment with the Government deferring the full payment of severance. According to the GAWU President, the decision breaches the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act.

G$100M Revolving Fund now available to small businesses

A From left: Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque; Haiti’s Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Antonio Rodrigue; and Caricom Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan

that the discussions were being undertaken against the background of recovery efforts within the countries that suffered the terrible devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Unified strength, he said, was evident in the relief effort galvanised by the Governments and peoples of the region in response to those disasters.

“Our member states rallied around the stricken countries and rendered yeoman service in the aftermath of the disasters. Our institutions, well led by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) in close collaboration with the Secretariat, also delivered in support of the recovery efforts. The international community also made a sterling contribution,” he noted.

Ambassador LaRocque went on to quote Prime Minister Minnis of The Bahamas, who had stated, “Sadly, the economic, environ-

mental, social and psychological damage will remain for quite some time”. He added that the reality is that storms would be more frequent and intense as extreme climatic events become the new normal, as we are living with climate change.

The Community’s main focuses, therefore, he added, are rebuilding and, critically, “on preparing for the others that are sure to come.”

To this end, he noted that as a matter of urgency and as advocated in the Community’s Strategic Plan, efforts must be engineered to “build a resilient Community in all facets: economically, socially, environmentally and technologically.”

As the Community forges ahead with reconstruction, the Secretary-General urged, regional and national programmes must be implemented to transform it into the world’s first climate-resilient region.

ccess to financing for small businesses will now be less restrictive with the implementation of the new G$100 million Revolving Fund project.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin said the project would be executed by the Ministry’s semi-autonomous agency, the Small Business Bureau (SBB).

The initiative will help to finance micro and small businesses whose goods and services are sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The SBB currently invests in low carbon sectors to support the Government’s strategy to reduce carbon emissions, through loans, grants, and guaranteed collateral.

However, Minister Gaskin pointed out that “…it is restrictive, and we have found that many small businesses that would have liked to access financing through that programme were not allowed to do so, because of the specific terms of reference”.

The Business Minister explained the new initiative with its open terms of reference policy will differ from the ongoing ac-

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

cess-to-finance programme, because “this G$100 million Revolving Fund has no restrictions, in terms of what type of businesses can access it”.

The Revolving Fund also aims to provide small loans to persons leaving the sugar industry who are desirous of establishing individual business ventures.

In 2017, the SBB dispersed some 50 approved loans valued at G$270 million to finance small businesses in the low-carbon sector across the country.

news 13

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Rupununi Music and Arts Festival promises an eclectic mix

T

he third Rupununi Music and Arts Festival, which will be hosted at the Manari Ranch, Rupununi Lethem from February 16-18 is promising an eclectic blend of music and arts.

Organiser/Artiste, Gavin Mendonca, in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), explained that this year’s three-day festival will be an environmental and an eco-oriented event, celebrated under the theme, “One People, One Place, One Experience”.

According to Mendonca, patrons will enjoy camping, a festival of music from different countries, dance, yoga, spoken word, arts and crafts displays, per-

formances, workshops, plus opportunities to explore nature. “The festival is more than just musical performances. It is a weekend of community-based activities designed to bring people together.”

He explained the festival will commence on Friday, February 16, with a cultural performance by Guyanese.

That opening night will conclude with a bonfire and storytelling activity for persons camping in the area.

The following day will proceed with group meditation, Zumba, yoga, and tours around the village, which includes a popular waterfall in the region, among other activities.

One of the festival’s aims is to bring friends, fami-

Georgetown youth remanded for raping male relative

A

16-year old male from Georgetown was on Wednesday remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for his alleged sexual activity with a male relative who was reportedly seven year old at the time. Due to the nature of the crime and the ages involved, the matter

was heard in-camera.

This newspaper, however, understands the incident was said to have occurred within the month of January 2017.

The accused youth will make his next court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on January 26.

17-yr-old slapped with robbery charge

A

17-year-old was on Monday afternoon in tears as he denied stealing a cellphone in the Stabroek Market area when he made an appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Shamrock King, a plumber of Lot 684 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, denied that on January 12, 2018, while being in the company of others and being armed with a knife, he robbed Ajay Kumar Chowdai of one cell phone valued G$15,000, property of Joshna Kamla.

The plumber employed at a popular fishing company told the court that he committed

no such act and claimed that he was a “hardworking youth who does work to take care of my family”.

However, Police Prosecutor Dellon Sullivan said that King, who was a known offender, attacked the Virtual Complainant (VC) and held a knife to his neck before making off with the phone.

Police on patrol at the time were alerted and the defendant was captured with the phone on his person.

As such, Magistrate Latchman remanded King to prison until January 29, 2018 when he would make his next court appearance.

ly, and Guyanese closer to the flora and fauna of the interior.

“It’s a camping festival, so we really want you to come out with your friends and family in groups. Bring tents and sleeping bags and camp out for the weekend. Leave the technology behind and get more in touch with nature,” Mendonca remarked.

The management committee for the festival will be arranging special travel and accommodation packages for persons who are interested in attending, according to Mendonca, who also noted that travel will be either by bus or air.

Mendonca expressed optimism of patrons’ at-

Gavin Mendonca, Organiser/Artiste of the Rupununi Music and Arts festival.

tendance to the event in light of the tremendous support received from both the government and private sector.

“This time we are expecting a lot more patrons because we are

now closer to Lethem and the Brazilian border.

We have had tremendous support from both the government and the private sector, since year one. They believe in our vision and our vision is unique to Guyana. We all believe that it is a bright and bold step to a more cohesive nation,” Mendonca opined.

To this end, he encourages Guyanese to take the opportunity to travel within the country’s borders and support local festivals.

Additionally, he explained, the Rupununi Music and Arts Festival has a concept to create a festival site in the Manari Ranch location, to promote indigenous

structures and exhibit local arts. Training in various fields like cooking, arts and crafting skills among others activities will be conducted at the site to further preserve Guyanese culture, once the project is completed.

In December 2017, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs presented a G$5M cheque to the organisers of the festival.

The festival is a collaborative effort between the government, the private sector, and NGOs. It was first held at Rock View, North Rupununi in 2014.

The activities were later taken to Georgetown in March 2016 for persons on the coast to experience the festival.

14 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘We have done much with what we were given’ …AFC says in defending poor ministerial performance in coalition Govt

A

fter facing heavy criticism for its submissive position towards the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Alliance For Change (AFC) said that it remained a strong member of the coalition Government and would continue to work to ensure that its views were taken on board.

Trotman also defended the poor performance of AFC Ministers within the coalition Government, asserting that while the par-

Raphael Trotman

ty was “not perfect”, it has utilised its 12 seats in Parliament to make a significant impact and continues to do so on a daily basis. “I just mentioned an array of Ministries that the AFC has been blessed with having oversight of…Public Telecommunications – I am in awe at what the Minister (Cathy Hughes) has done.

I’m in awe of the work (Agriculture Minister Noel) Holder has done against the odds at GuySuCo (Guyana Sugar Corporation) and with rice…Ministry of Business is doing things, (Public Infrastructure) Minister (David) Patterson I mean nobody could say that he has not performed,” he told the media.

However, despite this praise, the performance of most of the AFC Ministers has been generally poor according to critics and independent analysts.

Under David Patterson’s leadership, the Public Infrastructure Ministry has seen a slow implementation rate of its projects with the expenditure of millions of dollars without key checks and balances being followed, especially in relation to the questionable D’Urban Park Project.

While one of the largest prison riots and fires occurred under Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan’s watch, along with other major scandals. And as stated by the parliamentary opposition most recently, while there has been a decline in some serious crimes, overall crime continues to rise.

Critics have also highlighted that Business Minister Dominic Gaskin has not managed to attract any

sizeable Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Guyana since assuming the post. While his Ministry has been pushing for the creation of cottage industries, there have been no business projects launched under the current Government that would help to create employment opportunities.

Further, as it relates to Holder, the current Agriculture Minister, several critics have called for his resignation in light of his handling of the downsizing of the sugar industry.

Holder was the first to announce plans by the coalition Government to close down sugar estates and fire sugar workers.

In Holder’s defence, Trotman said, “We are not saying that we are perfect. We are far from being perfect. But we could say with what we have been given, we have done much. And, of course, there is room for improvement and we will work towards improving ourselves.”

Aside from that, the AFC leader admitted that his party has lost touch with the common issues, becoming too involved in governmental matters and hence a little side-tracked from their duties.

“In terms of self-analysis, or maybe some self-criticism, we’ve become bogged down with governmental matters and fighting to just get our agendas through…and we have lost touch a bit with the common issues, but no one could say that we haven’t pushed the IT agenda, telecommunications agenda, or business agenda or resources or infrastructure or agriculture or Indigenous affairs,” Trotman said.

The fact that the AFC has not been able to successfully push for constitutional reform, a platform on which the party campaigned, some pundits believe, has seriously damaged its credibility and influence within the coalition. Critics said also that the party’s lack of understanding of its support base would ultimately be its downfall and the only way to maintain its credibility would be to resign.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

15

16 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Drama in High Court as man gets 45 years’ jail for raping child I

t was a moment of tension at the High Court on Monday afternoon when Omadatt Persaud was handed a 45-year jail sentence for engaging in ‘sexual activity’ with a child family member.

Those sexual acts,

which involved penetration, occurred between August 1st and 31st in the year 2015, when the child was only five years old.

The jury returned with the unanimous guilty verdict after a little more than two hours

of deliberation, and sentence was handed down by Sexual Offences Court Judge Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall, who was forced to upbraid Persaud’s lawyer, Darren Wade, for his outbursts berating the jury’s verdict.

The attorney’s outburst described the decision of the 12-member panel as wrong, while adding that “the journey does not end here,” and that he would go as far as the Caribbean Court of Justice to appeal the decision.

Jailed: Omadatt Persaud has to serve 35 years before he is eligible for parole

When Justice MorrisRamlall indicated that Wayne had displayed unprofessional behaviour in his address to the court, the lawyer swiftly apologised and took his seat.

Justice MorrisRamlall explained that she did not impose on the convict life imprisonment — the maximum penalty — because he had been ill-advised by his lawyer. However, she said she took into consideration the nature of the acts; the fact that it involved a child relative; involved penetration; and because Persaud had breached a position of trust.

Justice MorrisRamlall also noted the

prevalence of this type of offence, the public’s concern over such acts, and that Persaud had displayed a “lack of remorse” and disregard for the jury’s verdict.

“Perhaps you were ill-advised; you are not being sentenced to life imprisonment, on the conduct of your counsel,” the judge stressed.

She said that the convict must serve 35 calendar years before he becomes eligible for parole.

A tearful Persaud was escorted out of the courtroom moments after proclaiming his innocence. State Counsel Orinthia Schmidt had presented the prosecution’s case.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

17

18

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

19

20 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Caricom ‘deeply disturbed’ by Trump’s derogatory remarks

T

he Caribbean C o m m u n i t y (Caricom) has strongly condemned United States President Donald Trump’s use of “derogatory and repulsive” language to describe Member State, Haiti, and other developing African countries.

At an Oval Office meeting with lawmakers to discuss immigration legislation on Thursday, Trump is reported to have asked, “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” referring to countries like Haiti, El Salvador and other African nations. He was reportedly questioning why there are so many

President Donald Trump

immigrants from those countries when the US should be accepting citizens from nations like Norway.

Although the controversial President has denied making the comments attributed to him, the reports have provoked widespread global outrage.

Caricom on Saturday issued a statement, saying that it is deeply disturbed by the unenlightened views reportedly expressed by the US President. The regional body added that it is further saddened that such narrative has emerged around the time of the anniversary of the devastating 2010 earthquake which took so many Haitian lives.

“Of additional concern, is this pattern of denigrating Haiti and its citizens in what seems to be a concerted attempt to perpetuate a negative narrative of the country,” Caricom asserted.

To this end, Caricom extended full support for the response made by the Government of the Republic of Haiti in reaction to Trump’s highly offensive reference. It went on to remind the United States that Haitians, in many spheres, continue to contribute significantly to the global community, and particularly to that North American country.

“Caricom therefore views this insult to the character of the countries named and their citizens as totally unacceptable,” the statement outlined.

Following reports of the statements attributed to Trump, which was confirmed by Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who was also in the meeting, Haiti’s Government issued a strongly worded statement, condemning what it described as the “racist” view of not only Haitian immigrants but also those from African countries.

“The Haitian Government condemns

in the strongest terms these abhorrent and obnoxious remarks which, if proven, reflect a totally erroneous and racist view of the Haitian community and its contribution to the United States,” President Jovenel Moïse’s Administration posited.

Trump tweeted on Friday that while his language was “tough”, he did not say anything derogatory about Haitians except that Haiti is obviously a very poor and troubled country. He added too in the social media post that he has a “wonderful” relationship with Haitians.

Meanwhile, the controversy continues to cause widespread global fallout since at least two US diplomats around the world have being summoned to clarify the reported comments.

The US chargé d’affaires in Haiti, Robin Diallo, met with President Moïse, to discuss the remarks.

Additionally, the Government of Botswana summoned the US ambassador to express displeasure at what it called “highly irresponsible, reprehensible and racist” comments.

Moreover, the United Nations has also issued a strongly worded statement, in which it said it was impossible to describe President Trump’s remarks as anything other than racist. At a news briefing in Geneva, UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said, “There is no other word one can use but racist. You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as ‘shitholes’, whose entire populations, who are not white, are therefore not welcome.”

In addition, the African Union, a group representing the continent’s 55 countries, said it was “frankly alarmed”

by Trump’s statement, demanding the US President to apologise for this “racist” remarks.

news 21

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

PwC blacklisting:

NICIL Chair admits no due diligence on bidders was conducted T

he revelation that Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) asset valuator, has been under investigation by Indian authorities for fraud has come as a surprise for many, including those at the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

When contacted by this publication, NICIL Chairman, Dr Maurice Odle affirmed that he had no prior knowledge of the probe into the firm that lead to a twoyear ban and a fine from Indian regulators.

“It’s difficult to find an international company that has been operating throughout the world that has not been accused of some transgression at some point in time,” the NICIL Chairman stated.

According to Odle, however, Special Purpose Unit (SPU) head Colvin Heath-London should have done due diligence on all the companies who bid for the contract. Guyana Times International made con-

Blacklist

NICIL Chairman, Dr Maurice Odle

tact with Heath-London, who declined to comment on the company’s blacklist. He did, however, note that a statement would be issued on the matter.

When contacted, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder also declined to comment. He insisted that PwC and the SPU fell under the auspices of NICIL and thus, the Finance Ministry. This is despite the fact that the company will be valuating GuySuCo, one of the biggest agencies under the Agriculture Ministry when budget allocations are considered.

According to a report originating from international news agency Reuters, the company was handed the two-year ban last week for allegedly overstating earnings and assets for Indian Software Company, Satyam Computer Services.

The report states that PricewaterhouseCoopers was the audit firm at the time the more than $1 billion fraud occurred.

It was the founder of the company, Ramalinga Raju, who blew the whistle on the fraud in 2009, costing shareholders billions and shaking the industry.

Besides the ban, the Securities and Exchange Board of India has handed down an order for Pricewaterhouse Bangalore and two of its former partners to pay 131 million rupees or US$2 million, plus interest, in forfeited funds.

This must be done within 45 days, with the ban taking effect on March 31.

In its defence, Pricewaterhouse is quot-

GDF rank denied bail over robbery charges

A

n active Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal was slapped with a host of charges brought against him after he reportedly used an unlicensed gun to carry out a string of robberies on at least two victims in which over G$5 million in cash and valuables was stolen.

The defendant, 21-yearold A Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown resident, Jamal Hazel was remanded to prison following his arraignment before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman on Tuesday and denied the robbery under arms and unlicensed gun and ammunition possession charges.

According to the prosecution’s case, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun at Kitty, Georgetown, Hazel robbed Andrea Purdessy of one mobile phone valued G$210,000 and G$400,000 cash. It was further alleged that the GDF Lance Corporal also on January 11 at Pike Street, Kitty, robbed the said victim of G$4.5 million, being armed with a gun.

The prosecution is contending that according to additional evidence obtained by investigators, on January 10 at North Road, Georgetown, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, Hazel robbed Budram Hemraj of a brush cutter valued G$100,000.

On January 13 at Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, Police said that they found the

Lance Corporal with nine rounds of .38 ammunition in his possession when he was not the holder of a valid firearm licence. It was further alleged that at the same time, the serving army member had a .38 pistol when he was not the holder of a valid firearm licence.

After the charges were presented, Hazel denied them all.

He was represented by defence lawyer George Thomas, who applied for bail on claims that his client was taken to the dumpsite in Eccles, East Bank Demerara and severely beaten by Police on two occasions.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, however, objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence, the penalty which the charges carry and the fact that the defendant was a soldier.

Moore noted that Hazel’s occupation has a mandate to serve and protect.

The Prosecutor further added that the accused was positively identified by one of the Virtual Complainants (VCs). After considering the charges and subsequent applications by both sides, Magistrate Latchman refused bail and the serving Joint Services member was remanded to prison.

The Principal Magistrate adjourned the matter to January 30 when Hazel will make another appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Head of the Special Purpose Unit, Colvin Heath-London

ed as saying it will appeal the regulator’s decision in court. It has defended itself by affirming that there was no “intentional” wrongdoing in the fraud at Satyam.

Government has long made known its plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall sugar estates, sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered by GuySuCo. GuySuCo, which was saddled with billions of

dollars in debt, is currently engaged in divesting its assets to get cash to meet its operational and other expenses. At the same time, Government is forging ahead with downsizing the industry, citing the economic feasibility of the sector. At present, the SPU is in charge of this process.

That Unit was first announced by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, when he presented a Policy Paper to the National Assembly on the future of the sugar industry. It was allocated some G$130 million “to provide for the establishment of a Special Purpose Unit to manage the reform of the sugar industry.”

In July, the Government had presented a supplementary request to tap the national coffers. The National Assembly has since approved the monies for the Unit, which is based at the Kingston Headquarters of NICIL. At the time monies were being approved for the Special Purpose

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

Unit, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had said Government was unclear as to what it is looking to rake in from the sale of the GuySuCo’s assets since they still need to be properly evaluated.

As such, some G$60 million was approved to hire an accounting firm, in this case Price waterhouseCoopers, in order to lead the divestment process. After tendering, PwC was chosen ahead of several other companies to do updated valuations of GuySuCo’s assets. As of Monday, the company has already commenced its work.

‘Guyana is about to take off’ - Trotman Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman addressing the gathering at the launch on Wednesday at the Marriott Hotel

G

uyanese businesses will have a chance to network and learn from leaders in the oil and gas industry at the inaugural Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit (GIPEX).

GIPEX 2018 is being hosted by the Natural Resources Ministry from February 7-9. At a launch on Wednesday at the Marriott Hotel, subject Minister Raphael Trotman noted Guyana “is about to take off”.

“We are providing a platform and an opportunity for all of those who speak about local content and the desire to see more of it, to actually shake hands and to actually touch the Schlumbergers and the others who do this and have been doing this for the last 10 and five decades,” Minister Trotman pointed out.

The three-day summit will see some 50 local and international companies participating in the event, which is being coordinated by Valiant Business Media. Managing Director Shariq Abdul Hai noted that some 350 to 400 executives and high-level industry leaders were expected to be in attendance.

Hai pointed out that while the Government was a partner in coordinating the event, the cost was being fully covered by the Private Sector.

ExxonMobil is the lead sponsor of the summit. Hai noted that sponsors will be subsidising the cost to allow local businesses to participate in the summit.

The Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) is the lead organiser for the Government. CEO Owen Verwey also reiterated that the summit provided an opportunity for local businesses to benefit from joint ventures with international companies as well as gain knowledge from the workshops and panel discussions that will be held during the summit.

GIPEX 2018 aims to promote Guyana’s oil and gas sector while exposing local businesses to the industry’s best practices. Areas that will be covered during the conference include using oil to remain green; overcoming challenges and supporting the growth of independent, indigenous producers and service providers, and providing Government priorities relating to the petroleum industry to provide insight into opportunities available in the future.

On the final day of the summit, there will be an exhibition, which is open to the public. Meanwhile, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin noted that the summit was an opportunity for the Government and the Private Sector to showcase Guyana as a business destination.

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Press body wants more frequent engagements with President Granger

President David Granger and some Government officials with members of the local media corps at the annual media brunch held at State House on Sunday

By Samuel Sukhnandan

W

hile making a commitment to continue professionalising the local media corps, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) called on President David Granger to facilitate more frequent interactions with the press apart from informal gathering like the annual media brunch held at State House on Sunday.

This call was made on Sunday by GPA Vice President Zoisa Fraser at the same event.

She said in light of the theme for World Press Freedom Day 2018, “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law”, the GPA would like to have more frequent interactions with the President.

In addition to this, the GPA also used the opportunity to request the assistance of the President to facilitate familiarisation trips for media

practitioners to understand Guyana’s borders. Fraser said the Guyanese media needed to benefit increasingly from more exposure to issues about our borders.

“In this regard, the Guyana Press Association seeks the support of the Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces in facilitating greater understanding and appreciation of our border locations, especially the one to our west. We specifically ask that you use your esteemed office to have the Guyana Defence Force facilitate visits by groups of media personnel to that border area during this year,” she said.

This, according to her, will undoubtedly aid in creating a better understanding by media practitioners and the wider Guyanese community who may never get an opportunity to visit the area.

Besides that, the GPA said

it would remain committed to initiating programmes of training for its members. Fraser said the organisation would also widen its mandate and training capacity in the coming years to ensure that a professional media corps became a permanent feature in Guyana.

It also plans to expand training, especially on oil and gas in the coming years.

In delivering his address at the media brunch on Sunday, the President said the annual event, which was held for the third consecutive year was an acknowledgement of the important role of the media in society and an expression of the Administration’s respect for professionalism of the press corps.

“The media is an important profession and must be supported by the Administration, if nothing else to help it develop its professionalism. This

government, no government, could work with a docile media. It needs vigilance, critical analysis and this is why I promised hard money…and will continue to support the education of members of the Guyanese media, especially those in the GPA,” he asserted.

The Head of State stressed the need for a professional press corps, which should be able to deliver on professional standards and ethics, and social responsibility. While he acknowledged that every person has a bias, the President noted that this bias must sometimes be suppressed to allow for more objective, professional and responsible journalism to prevail.

He also noted that the GPA must take on the responsibility of being able to discipline its members who step out of line. Making reference to other associations like the Bar

Association and the Engineers’ Association, he said the GPA should have the authority to discipline its members.

“There should be no need for the courts or Government intervention. A professional media corps must have the ability to discipline its own members when they go out of line or breach media ethics. That’s the responsibility of the corps itself. That is why we need a strong Guyana Press Association and that is why I continue to support the Guyana Press Association,” the President added.

The annual media brunch held at State House on Sunday saw media practitioners from every media entity in the country taking part. The event was attended by several senior and junior Government Ministers, editors, broadcasters, journalists, videographers and photojournalists.

NEWS 23

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Time right for new political party in Guyana …Ramkarran says AFC has lost massive political support

N

ew possibilities now exist, as Guyana’s political landscape is changing, says former Speaker of the National Assembly, Attorney-atlaw Ralph Ramkarran, who, in his most recent Conversation Tree column, noted that there is enough room for a new political party to be established in Guyana.

According to him, the mixed middle class is now 19 percent, and it has within it a large contingent which is opposed to the ‘racial politics’ of the two main parties: A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). It is this group, he said, together with disaffected PPP/C and People’s National Congress (PNC) supporters, which gave the Alliance for

Change (AFC) its oxygen. However, the failure of the AFC to bridge the racial gap in politics as promised, or to influence APNU in any way, much less in implementing constitutional reform, has signalled the end of the AFC’s influence in the coalition and its electoral support.

“Guyana now needs a new political party which will seek the support of the groups that the AFC has disappointed. It should have one of two objectives, namely, to win the support of the majority of the electorate; and if not, to bring the support of both of the main political parties to below 50 percent.”

Ramkarran said if such a party gains an absolute majority, it will form a national unity Government. If not, it will never join a Government

of either of the main parties, and will provide all the necessary guarantees to the public that it will not do so. “It will, however, give its support to that party which supports constitutional reform to bring about the end of the culture of ethno-political dominance as well as other economic and social policies that have national consensus,” he added.

Further, the former Speaker said developments since the AFC’s abandonment of its agenda of bridging the racial gap has proved that there still exists a critical mass of voters who continue to be motivated by the desire to eradicate from Guyana’s politics the harmful effects of the culture of ethno-political domination. This, he said, could be used as an opportunity for the rise

6 months jail for man who assaulted 73-year-old pensioner

Drama unfolded outside the Wales Magistrate’s Court before Felix Thorman admitted to assaulting a pensioner

By Shemuel Fanfair

I

t was a showcase of drama both in and outside of the Wales Magistrate’s Court when multiple Police ranks were forced to subdue Felix Thorman, who admitted that on January 2, 2018, at the Parika Stelling, he tossed 73-year-old Raymond Stephens out of a hammock before he assaulted the elderly man.

For this, he was sentenced to serve the next six months in jail while his wife was advised by Magistrate Annette Singh to allow Thorman to receive a psychiatric evaluation.

Prior to his court appearance, the defendant threw himself onto the road as he was being escorted from the Police vehicle that transported him.

Thorman had to be physically removed and taken to the prisoner’s holding area in court in a state of partial undress.

While in custody, the defendant was also heard screaming and crying out as though he was in pain. At the same time, he was heard making verbal utterances against American President Donald Trump, indicating his disdain for the US President.

“I don’t like Trump; I don’t like da man,” Thorman ranted in the court-

room.

His behaviour in the court was so disruptive that Magistrate Singh read the charge to him on the prisoner’s chute (court steps that prisoners go down).

According to the prosecution’s case, Stephens, a farmer, normally vends his produce at the Parika Stelling. On the day in question, the pensioner tied his hammock to watch his produce and await buyers.

Guyana Times International understands that Thorman asked the farmer if he owned the Stelling.

Thereafter, the defendant said that the elderly man cursed him and this was why he chopped down the hammock with the pensioner inside.

The prosecution contended that Stephens was dealt several kicks and punches about the body. The farmer reported the matter at the Parika Police Station and sought medical attention.

After hearing the prosecution’s facts, Thorman admitted to what he had done and Magistrate Singh sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment for unlawfully assaulting Stephens and causing actual bodily harm. Thorman was then taken into Police custody and later transported to prison.

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran

of a new political movement.

While many Guyanese are under the impression that Guyana’s political parties are mainly responsible for promoting the culture of ethnic dominance, and without it Guyana’s politics would not be dominated by race and instability, Ramkarran said he has a different view on that issue.

“Guyana’s main political parties reflect the social, economic and political aspirations of the people of Guyana. The fundamental feature of Guyana which determines these aspirations is its ethnic composition and history. This has been characterized main-

ly by separate struggles against employers and the colonial state for survival,” he remarked.

An important lesson learnt from this is that whoever controls the state controls the distribution of its limited resources. The struggle for control of the State was a natural outcome of the nature of our main political parties and their fundamental, though unspoken political objective: ethno-political dominance, he added.

The attorney believes that a large section of the Guyanese electorate reflects a desire for ethnic security in their electoral choices. They see policies which are designed to ensure that security by the political party holding office, if they do not support it, as ‘discrimination’ and ‘marginalisation’. When one party loses office and the other succeeds, the cycle is obviously repeated.

“After 60 years of this pattern, aggravated by undemocratic rule, violence, corruption and economic stagnation, it is no surprise that strong and persistent voices have emerged which are opposed to ‘racial voting.’

“Guyana may have seen some temporary alleviation of ‘racial vot-

ing,’ but no fundamental departure from its hold on the major part of the electorate, which appears quite comfortable in supporting parties which it believes will protect its ethnic interest,” he further added.

Ramkarran said while there is public discourse in regard to how to fashion a political system that accepts the will of the electorate, whichever political party may win at any one time will have to, at the same time, minimise the impact of the culture of ethno-political dominance.

“There are three problems to resolve; namely, persuading the parties to negotiate an end to the culture of ethno-political dominance; if they refuse, carrying out a political struggle to encourage them to accept such a course; agreeing to the constitutional formulations that will be put into effect.”

At present, both main political parties formally reject the politics of ethno-political dominance, but in practise recognise its importance to their political survival.

Ramkarran asserted that most times these same parties pay lip service to constitutional reform, but do nothing about it.

24 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Legal battle looms over part-payment of severance to sugar workers

By Michael Younge

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is mulling taking the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to court over its decision to pay thousands of dismissed and retrenched sugar workers part, and not all, of their severance purportedly this month end.

GAWU President, Komal Chand, speaking with the Guyana Times International on Sunday during an exclusive interview, said he has already prepared a brief for the case, and is in the process of recruiting an attorney-at-law who is familiar with industrial relations law to handle the matter.

Chand said there was no need for union members and executives to vote on whether to haul the Corporation before the courts on this particular matter, as the union’s rules and regulations are clear in this respect.

Chand said GAWU is obligated to do all that is necessary to protect the workers’ inter-

GAWU’s President, Komal Chand

est and rights, as outlined in the union’s laws and the country’s national industrial relations laws.

“I am convinced that this Government and GuySuCo are disrespecting these workers and breaching the laws when you look at how they are going about paying them their severance,” Chand remarked.

He said workers were expecting, and should have been paid, their full severance at the time their services were discontinued, terminated, or made redundant.

He denied that GAWU or any of representatives were part of discussions with Government or GuySuCo ahead of the announcement

by President David Granger that the workers were going to be paid part of their severance this month-end and the other part in the second half of 2018.

“That is a total lie and the figment of somebody’s imagination,” he rebuffed, as he explained that if the union were part of any discussions in this respect, it would be displaying double-standards and hypocrisy whenever it called for protests and the payment of the full severance.

Asked whether GAWU or the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) had met with Government or GuySuCo since the workers were made redundant or dismissed at the beginning of the year, Chand responded in the negative. He said the union has already indicated its willing-

ness to have dialogue with the Government and GuySuCo, but neither party has responded formally by moving forward or setting a date for discussion.

“We expect to meet with them very soon, as we have a number of important matters to discuss and address,” Chand disclosed, before explaining that the union was occupied with addressing the plight of the workers and their communities, caused by the sudden dismissal of thousands of persons.

Chand also dismissed assertions that the union was more concerned about its loss of revenue and membership because of the dismissal, as opposed to the welfare of the workers and the future of the industry.

“That’s another falsity and fabrication. We would not consider taking this matter to court if that were the case.

We have always had our workers’ and union members’ interest at heart. Those who pub-

lished that article had wicked intentions…,” he related.

The GAWU Head said, too, that the figures quoted are misleading, as he explained in detail under what circumstances monies are deducted from workers as dues, and when they stop paying.

Asked if the dismissals could cripple the union and drastically affect its membership, Chand conceded that it would have a negative impact, but denied that that impact could “cripple” GAWU or FITUG. He insisted that the Government has to be taught a lesson because

it was violating the workers’ rights by embarking on a number of decisions and initiatives that would not result in the industry’s fortunes being turned around.

“We will take appropriate actions in the courts if GuySuCo and the Government do not change their course and deal fairly with those persons dismissed,” Chand declared.

Questioned whether the protest actions would continue ahead of the planned legal action, Chand said the union was working with the workers and those affected.

UG’s Berbice campus introduces crop protection training for farmers

Gomathinayagam Subramanian, Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus

F

armers from across Berbice will now be provided with the opportunity to be trained and certified in crop protection.

According to the Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus,

Gomathinayagam Subramanian, a special certification programme has been drafted to engage farmers in Berbice with mostly practical training on crop protection.

“The certification programme is only for farmers, and it does not contain much reading or writing. It is designed in a way that farmers can do the practicals, which are expected to start this academic year in September,” Subramanian explained.

The Department of Public Information has said that registration for the programme will soon commence, and will cost farmers G$50,000 each. The director noted that persons who are

not farmers are also welcome to join.

“Maybe in the future we will expand to (UG’s Turkeyen Campus), but this is what the Berbice Campus is going to offer.

I already submitted everything to my faculty, and they will take almost two months to confirm everything. But if other persons want to join, they are free to do so; but it’s for mostly farmers,” the director clarified.

This exercise is expected to last for six weeks, and Subramanian noted that the certificate that farmers will receive on completion of the course will be recognised similarly as any other certificate received from the University of Guyana.

University of Guyana Berbice Campus

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

25

26

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

27

28

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

29

30 feature

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Friendly wager on American football results in support of jaguar conservation in Guyana

W

hile American football may not be very popular in Guyana, some Guyanese were watching the outcome of last week’s first-round playoff game between the Jacksonville Jaguars (Florida, USA) and Buffalo Bills (New York, USA) very closely. In the spirit of friendly competition, and to celebrate both teams gaining NFL playoff berths for the first time in many years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (Florida)

won, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens would make a contribution to the North American Bison Coalition in addition to supplying the Buffalo Zoo with chocolate-covered popcorn (a local delicacy).

The American Bison Coalition brings together an assortment of conservationists including Native America tribes, educators, and zoos in an effort to raise awareness of this iconic species in North America.

If Jacksonville won, the

up of North and South America’s quintessential species, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens' Executive Director Tony Vecchio felt confident backing his hometown jaguars, saying “as a trained zoologist, it is clear to me that a jaguar would have no trouble taking down a bison.” However, Buffalo Zoo President/ CEO, Norah Fletchall, was not intimidated countering with “a jaguar may be fast and cunning, but stands little chance against a herd From left: Felix Holden (Yupukari), Matt Hallett (University of Florida), and Andrew Albert (Karasabai) sporting hats and shirts donated by the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, and University of Florida bookstore

American bison showing support for their hometown Buffalo Bills at the Buffalo Zoo

teamed up with the Buffalo Zoo (New York) for a friendly wager with the goal of bringing attention to two conservation projects that the zoos are passionate about. One of those projects operates right here in Guyana and just happens to share its focus with one of the team’s mascots.

The bet

The wager was simple. If the Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Zoo would contribute to the Rupununi Wildlife Research Unit, as well as sending sponge candy (its local delicacy) to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. The Rupununi Wildlife Research Unit is a coalition of researchers working to increase understanding and inform the management of some of Guyana’s most iconic species, including jaguars.

Imagining a match-

of well-built and winterhardy bison.”

The North American bison (Bison bison) is the continent’s largest land mammal, with mature bulls standing more than 2 meters tall, over 3.5 meters long, and weighing up to 2,000 pounds. Despite their massive size, bison can run more than 60 KPH, jump approximately 2 meters high, and thundering herds running shoulder-to-shoulder

Iwokrama staff show their support for the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of last Sunday's game at their office in Georgetown

move in unison to evade predators. The North American bison has become the symbol of conservation in the US and was named ‘America’s National Mammal’ in 2016.

A conservation success story, bison populations have rebounded within protected areas following significant declines in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

An estimated 20-30 million individuals once roamed the American savannahs before conversion of native prairies to agriculture and extreme overharvest reduced their numbers to 1,091 individuals in 1889. Today, approximately 30,000 wild bison exist in conservation herds, with about 5,000 roaming unfenced and disease free across the American plains as their ancestors once did.

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is Guyana’s national animal, the largest cat in the Americas,

and perhaps, pound for pound, the most powerful big cat in the world.

Jaguars are efficient and effective hunters that are renowned for their stealth and power. Their ability to stalk in silence, attack with a single leap, and produce an amazing bite force relative to their weight allowed them to subdue prey much larger than themselves.

Though they are the animal most often associated with the dense tropical rainforests of the Amazon and Guiana Shield, jaguars inhabit a wide variety of habitats, including wetlands, swamps, coastal forests, scrub, savannahs, and desert from the southwestern United States to northern Argentina.

Deforestation has resulted in about 50% reduction in the jaguar’s native range in the last 100 years and retaliatory killing following predation of livestock threatens remaining populations. Guyana re-

mains a stronghold for South America’s most iconic species thanks to its high percentage of forest cover and active conservation efforts in the interior.

The game

In front of their home crowd at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, the Jaguars outlasted the Bills in an oldschool, low scoring game between two very talented defenses.

The game’s only touchdown came late in the third quarter when, with the score tied 3-3 and facing fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Jaguars QB Blake Bortles found TE Ben Koyack in the back of the end zone with a gutsy pass at a critical moment. That score was all the Jaguars stout defense would need, sacking the quarterback twice, and forcing two turnovers, including the game clinching interception by CB Jalen Ramsey that kept the final score continued on page 46

A jaguar roars following the Jaguars’ win last Sunday

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Integrating Guyana

By Ravi Dev

P

olitically, Guyana is a country like a bear caught in a trap, and can only eat away its trapped foot in a desperate attempt to free itself. And it is because leaders refuse to consider other forms of governance, such as federalism or consociationalism, which are more suited to Guyana’s history and sociology. When they hear the word “federalism”, for instance, most Guyanese think of Guyana being “divided”. But federalism — simply another way of integrating a country with “factions” – was first explored by the US. All forms of human organisation are undergirded by ideology or philosophy about how human societies can and ought to be organised. Federalism is not just any form of government. In its most general and commonly conceived form, federalism can be considered as “an ideology which holds that the ideal organisation of human affairs is best reflected in the celebration of diversity through unity.”

Federalism, then, has its particular perspective on governance: to achieve stability with justice in pursuit of the good life — the objectives of most human communities. Federalists are sensitive to the Kantian caution that “ought” implies “can”; so that an understanding of the empirical conditions of the society under consideration is an absolute prerequisite, since each society will have its own idiosyncratic enabling or retarding institutions and structures.

Substantively, Federalism is centred on the values of liberty and freedom, and seeks to give life to those democratic values by integrating diverse groups within societies through accommodation, and not obliteration, of their differences. In the post-modern, post-colonial world, there is not only an acceptance, but a celebration of diversities. As far back as the middle of the last century, the staid British expert KC Wheare pronounced: “One of the most urgent problems in the world today is to preserve diversities…and at the same time, to introduce such a measure of uniformity as will prevent clashes and facilitate cooperation. Federalism is one way of reconciling these two ends.”

Federalism thus seeks to achieve and maintain unity and diversity. It ad-

dresses the innate need of people (and politics) to unite for common goals, and yet to remain separate and preserve their respective integrities.

Federalism means organizing our society around the principle of freedom and autonomy, rather than through the calculus of bureaucratic efficiency. To those who may complain that federalism may introduce unnecessary levels of bureaucracy, studies in cybernetics show that a certain amount of redundancy is necessary for optimum transmission of information etc. From this perspective, federalism demands quantum changes in our conceptions about means and ends in politics. Federalism keeps in focus at all times this concern about means and ends, and insists that we cannot intend to have people live in democracy and freedom while utilizing institutions that stifle and restrict the liberty of the people.

In general, there is an inevitable lag between the institutions honed during times of more restrictive conceptions of human freedom and the more expansive ones prevalent today. In Guyana, federalist principles would have to infuse the new political culture to give life to the values of democracy, while institutional changes would have to nurture and inculcate these new values at the personal, social and ideological levels.

Federalism deals directly with the fact of pluralism in the post-modern world.

While there will be many expressions of diversity, from a political perspective, we have seen that, in the postmodern world, ethnicity has become the most widespread one, leading to severe strains and this seemingly inevitable and intractable conflict between nationalism/ethnicity and democracy. It combines kinship (the basis of ethnicity) and consent (the basis of democratic government) into politically viable entities through constitutionally protected arrangements involving territorial and non-territorial politics.

This is the central need of politics in Guyana.

In the modern world, where groups — especially ethnic groups — have not disappeared into some sort of mélange, and there are far more groups in the world than countries, federalism performs a sociological func-

tion by simultaneously facilitating the integrity of various groups and their input into the political system.

Thus federalism combines the seeming contradictory impulses present in all societies, but accentuated in plural societies such as Guyana’s; the need to be united (the principle of solidarity – and shared rule); and the need for groups to live authentically (the principle of autonomy – self-rule).

31

32

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

news 33

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Oil contract: Govt Eyewitness places accused swapped multiple fees for soldier at the scene US$1M annually – Ram Killing of ex-boyfriend’s mother

D

ays after Marcelle Collymore, the daughter of murdered housewife Donna Taylor testified that the accused Abiola Jacobs and her mother had a fight on the day of her mother’s demise, Police Superintendent Joel David confirmed that the accused informed him that she spoke with Taylor on the day of her death. The Policeman gave this evidence as he testified at the High Court before Justice James Bovell-Drakes on Tuesday where he also noted that the survivor of the attack; Samantha Sabbatt placed Jacobs at the scene of the January 31, 2014 ordeal at Agricola, Greater Georgetown.

Former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Private Abiola Jacobs is currently on trial for allegedly murdering 55-year-old Taylor, who was the mother of her estranged boyfriend, Bertum Taylor Jr. The murdered housewife was found lying on her back with her hands behind her and her shirt wrapped around her neck.

During Superintendent David’s testimony on Tuesday, he recalled that he charged Jacobs, who told him that after speaking with Donna Taylor earlier in the day, she went home at about 18:00h where she was with her mother

and son. David added that Jacobs informed him it was her friend “Boogie” who told her that something had happened to Taylor, claiming that she later was accompanied by her mother to Taylor’s home where she learnt the woman was murdered.

The Police witness added that he noticed injuries on Samantha Sabbatt, Taylor’s overseas-based friend who was staying in the upper flat. David added that a confrontation was held between Sabbatt and Jacobs in his presence, where Sabbatt recalled hearing a banging on the bedroom door. The 12-member jury heard that a male voice then called out “Open, open!” and that she witnessed the defendant, Jacobs peeping through the lattice work. As a result, Sabbatt escaped through a bedroom window into the verandah, where she fell to the ground, according to the recollection of the senior Police rank.

Also testifying on Tuesday was Police Corporal Melanie Hale, who told the court that on February 1, 2014, at 06:50h, she went to Taylor’s address where she arrested Jacobs and escorted her to the Ruimveldt Police Station. She noted that on February 4, 2014, Jacobs was charged with

information it requires to conduct such verification. In other words, (Minister of Natural Resources Raphael) Trotman was central to this bank account,” Ram stated.

Missed opportunities

Deceased Agricola housewife Donna Taylor

the murder and was arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on the following day.

Under cross-examination by Defence Counsel Adrian Thompson, Corporal Hale denied suggestions that several persons were present at the time she arrested Jacobs at the Taylors’ residence. The Policewoman maintained that she never met Jacobs’ mother at the Taylors. The lawyer suggested that the witness was fabricating her entire story which the Police Corporal outright denied.

Later on, the jury was excused, and proceedings were held in voir dire (trial within a trial) after Thompson raised certain objections to prosecution’s line of questioning. State Counsels Lisa Cave and Mandell Moore are presenting with the prosecution’s case which continues before Justice Bovell-Drakes.

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram

W

hile the 1999 oil agreement between ExxonMobil and Guyana contained a regime of fees that the company had to pay, the renegotiated agreement has thrown away many of these revenue streams.

This observation was made by Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, who, in his recent writings, noted that in the place of these fees,

When the oil contract was released, analysts commented on the opportunities Guyana had missed to maximise on its oil – a nonrenewable natural resource. One example was that despite provisions in Guyana’s law, Government missed an opportunity to acquire a stake in Exxon’s venture.

The Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, Chapter 65:10 of Guyana, provides for the Government to work out terms and conditions with any oil company to acquire an interest in its venture in local waters.

Section 22 (2) of the

ners in the Stabroek block got exempted from paying Corporation, Excise or Value Added Tax on earnings from petroleum.

Article 15.4 of the renegotiated contract also provides for the Government itself to pay the company’s income tax. To facilitate this, the oil company has to submit tax returns to the Government. That’s not all, Article 32 stipulates that Government cannot modify the contract or increase any fiscal obligation the company has.

This, therefore, puts a cap on the taxes, royalties, duties, fees or charges outlined in the contract.

Government also has to compensate the operator if a change to existing laws causes loss of revenue for the company.

According to Article 32.3, “If at any time after the signing of this agree-

Man to spend 15 years behind bars for 2008 Agricola robbery-murder

T

wo weeks after being found guilty of murdering Melissa Payne during the course of a robbery at the Agricola Public Road on November 5, 2008, Jermain Savory was on Monday morning sentenced to 15 years in prison by High Court Judge James Bovell-Drakes.

Despite the accused proclaiming his innocence, the 12-member jury unanimously found the 30-yearold father of one guilty at the end of the weeks-long trial in December.

The State’s case was that Savory – in the company of at least one other person –murdered Payne after the woman and her reputed husband, John Fraser, had stopped at Agricola, East Bank Demerara, on their way to Georgetown to correct a mechanical fault in the Canter truck, in which they were travelling.

Reports were that while Fraser was attending to the vehicle around 08:30h on the day in question, armed bandits approached them. Fraser managed to escape, but 27-year-old Payne, from Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, was eventually shot and killed after she held on to her bag

Convicted killer Jermain Savory

that reportedly contained cash and valuables.

The court was told on Monday that the deceased woman loved gardening and that her relatives were still grieving the loss of their loved one.

Meanwhile, in the probation report, the court heard that Savory, an Agricola native, exhibited “strange” behaviour growing up and into his early adulthood.

Prison officials also corroborated that the defendant’s behaviour was strange.

The probation report further highlighted that Savory came from a home which had both mother and father, but he dropped out of the Sophia Special School as a teenager. He worked in masonry, as a

fisheries labourer and as a Route 42 minibus conductor. He also admitted that he was a neighbourhood thief who smoked marijuana, but held out that he was innocent of committing Payne’s murder.

The former football player told the probation officer that he wanted to be reunited with his family.

However, the Judge noted that Savory’s crime was very serious and a strong signal needed to be sent. He started the sentence at 33 years, but subtracted 10 years for the amount of time that Savory spent awaiting trial. The Judge then subtracted eight years from the sentence, which gave a total of 15 years that the killer will spend behind bars. Savory thanked the Judge as he was led out of court by Police, but his relatives were saddened by the sentence, claiming that their relative was jailed for something he knew nothing about.

Savory was represented by Attorney Maxwell McKay, while the Prosecutors for the State were Mandell Moore and Orinthia Schmidt.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

Exxon’s operation in the Stabroek Block

the lump sum payment of US$1 million per year has been added to the agreement.

The old agreement had included different rental fees for the initial period of the company’s prospecting or production licence. In similar vein, it would pay for the first and second renewal period of the licence.

“Article 10 has been amended to replace a number of annual charges with a US$1 million per year for annual rental charge,” Ram related.

“This figure may sound high, but it works out at less than 30 US cents per annum per hectare…what a bargain!”

According to the Chartered Accountant, there is an additional provision where payments under Article 10 have to be paid directly into bank accounts held and controlled by the Government of Guyana.

“Contractor shall verify such bank accounts and the Minister agrees to cooperate, assist and provide Contractor any

Act states, “There may be included in a petroleum prospecting licence provision with respect to the exercise by the State, or any agency thereof identified in the licence, of an option to acquire on stipulated terms, or on terms to be agreed, an interest in any venture for the production of petroleum which may be carried on in any block or blocks to which the licence relates.”

Section 36 (1, VI) reiterates that a petroleum production licence will not be granted unless the exercise of the State’s option is completed to satisfaction.

Exxon was granted a renegotiated agreement in 2016 and its production licence for the Liza project in June of last year, but the provision in the law was never applied.

Nor is it unusual for a country to get directly involved in oil production.

While Guyana did not get this law enforced, ExxonMobil and its part-

ment there is a change in the laws of Guyana… and such a change has a materially adverse effect on the economic benefits, including those resulting from the fiscal regime provided by this agreement… the Government shall promptly take any and all affirmative actions to restore the lost or impaired economic benefits to contractor, so that contractor receives the same economic benefit under the agreement that it would have received prior to the change in law or its interpretation, application or interpretation.”

The contract goes on to say “the foregoing obligation shall include the obligation to resolve promptly by whatever means may be necessary any conflict or anomaly between this agreement and any such new or amended legislation, including by way of exemption, legislation, decree and/or authoritative acts.”

34 feature

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana Society for Biodiversity and Ecosystems

A few members of GSBE GSBE members promoting its conservation work at the IV IBG Congress 2016 - Guyana

T

he Guyana Society for Biodiversity and Ecosystems (GSBE) is a non-governmental, charitable, nonprofit body established to promote conservation, research and wise management of biological diversity and ecosystems in Guyana and the wider Guiana Shield through its affiliation with partner associations in the region.

About 16 years ago, the conceptualisation of the region-wide Guiana Shield biodiversity movement occurred at a Priority Setting Workshop in Paramaribo, Suriname. The meeting involved a dedicated group of scientists from the International Conservation Union of the Netherlands (IUCN), Conservation International Guyana (CI-Guyana) and the United Nations

D e v e l o p m e n t Programme (UNDP).

One of the key decisions taken at the meeting was that a biennial congress on biodiversity of the Guiana Shield should be held along with the establishment an IBG. To date four congresses were held, the last being in Guyana in August, 2015.

At the Third Congress IBG Congress held in Paramaribo, Suriname in 2013, a decision was taken that the Fourth Congress would be held in Guyana to coincide with the country's 50th independence anniversary. The decision to host the IV Congress in Guyana led to the formation of a Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and subsequently Guyana Society for Biodiversity and Ecosystem (GSBE).

In essence, therefore, the GSBE is an outgrowth of

the IBG and the work it had put in place.

Currently, GSBE is involved in two projects.

The Triple A Initiative Project, which involves collaboration with the Guiana Shield countries (Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and Fr. Guiana), is intended to focus on the sociological/ anthropological/environmental issues affecting primarily indigenous communities. Secondly, conducting a preliminary survey of research on the status of freshwater ecosystems in Guyana. The purpose of this study is to provide a background for a much larger study on freshwater in collaboration with other stakeholders in Guyana.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, GSBE’s Chairman, Dr. Patrick Williams, said

the organisation was established to achieve the following: Host the IV IBG Congress in Guyana in 2015; develop partnership with local, regional and international organisations in pursuit of biodiversity conservation; conduct fundraising activities to further the work of GSBE; embrace and support nationallydriven initiatives with respect biodiversity and other related conservation initiatives; provide support for education and awareness initiatives in the area of biodiversity conservation; undertake joint research initiatives with partners and disseminate information on biodiversity; support regional initiatives on biodiversity in the context of the wider Guiana Shield region; and provide leadership nationally in the area of biodiversity conservation.

“Our membership is quite small, but it is our intention to expand on this as one of our priorities for 2018. Because we believe that biodiversity conservation does not begin and end with scientists only, GSBE is focused on establishing a multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary organisation. This would include natural scientists, social scientists and others that

bring together biologists (flora and fauna specialists), geographers (geomorphologists, climatologists, social scientists (anthropologists, sociologists et al). Additionally, membership of GSBE is open to university students, practicing scientists, and organisations.

There is also room for associate membership.

Membership comes with the completion of a membership form and an annual fee which varies depending upon the category of membership,” Williams explained.

Over the years GSBE has hosted a highly successful congress in 2015 where over 125 scientific papers were presented by from all across the Guiana Shield and beyond; published a book of abstracts covering the presentations made at the IV Congress, including speeches from His Excellency Brigadier David Arthur Granger and keynote speakers; participated in a number of regional environmental conservation initiatives, one of which led to the development of the Kurupukari Action Plan, which also provided proposal for regional collaboration and conservation initiatives; ongoing collaboration with partners in the Guiana Shield on the development of a project proposal re-

ferred to as the Triple A Initiative (Andes/ Amazon/Atlantic); and funded a desk review project on the status of Guyana's freshwater ecosystem.

GSBE is currently assisting in the preparation of documents, as is the case of the other countries, in support of the development of a project proposal that is expected to attract a tenyear funding cycle on indigenous issues for the region.

The organisation hopes to increase collaboration with other organisations with interests in biodiversity conservation; forge greater regional and international links; undertake vigorous fund-raising activities; increase the profile of the organisation, actively participate in special designated events such as World Environment Day and World Biodiversity Day; play a greater role in promoting biodiversity education and awareness; and collaborate with various stakeholders in pursuit of Guyana's Green Development Agenda.

For more information on the organisation’s work, visit Guyana Society for Biodiversity and Ecosystems on Facebook.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

A past conference highlights conservation activities being done in Guyana

feature 35

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘The Phoenix Letters’

By Lakhram Bhagirat

W

e quite often think if we could turn back the hands of time, we would do a lot of things different-

Letters”, I was transposed to my childhood and the challenges of growing up.

For Soshinie, she believes that there is a very thin line between teenage years and adulthood.

thor is a former student of the Bishops’ High School and is currently studying Information Systems and Operation Management at the George Mason University in Virginia.

Book covers

ly. For Guyanese author, Soshinie Singh, it is no different. Her recent book, “The Phoenix Letters”, is a compilation of letters she has written to her younger self. These letters are from deep within, as she writes about love, life, laughter, sadness and time.

What began as an Instagram project has now matured into two beautiful books, “The Phoenix Letters” and “The Phoenix Letters Return”.

Reading the “Phoenix

“Being an adult, we have more responsibilities, but when it comes to relationships, the bumpy road can almost be similar. It is when the roadblocks occur that the major differences can be seen.

We lose friendships, lovers, everyone we categorised as ‘dear’; we may lose them at any stage.

However, our experiences may not necessarily be at the same stage in life,” she said in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

The 24-year-old au-

She lived a simple life and was raised in Albertown. According to her, simplicity and love for her parents are what kept her going during challenges. She noted that inspiration comes daily from her parents and sisters.

The “Phoenix Letters” series reminds us of how far we have come, how much further we have to go and where we are presently.

Soshinie explained when she began writing the “Phoenix Letters” at age 21 her aim was to

keep writing and to discover how much she has learned up to that point.

Initially, she shared her letters on Instagram and friends, and was astounded as to the difference they were making in people’s lives.

“I began my journey of writing poetry in my mid-teens, so a lot of my experiences are still fresh (since I am only in my early 20s). Over the years, writing has proven to be my reprieve; a place where I can escape into my thoughts and study myself. It has been a place where I can assess how far along I have come and how far I am willing to go. I have often been told that there is something that resides in me, and yet no one has been able to give further explanation. As I began writing this series of letters, I intended to write for myself. However, I slowly realised that I was writing for many people as well. I was their voice, too. I hope I was able to touch you, inspire you and enlighten you with these letters. Thank you for being on this journey with me,” the author expressed in her book.

The paperback edition is available at Barnes and Noble and through Book Depository, which provides free worldwide shipping and also on Amazon for US$9.99 and US$10.99.

Soshinie hopes to get her books to Guyana in

Soshinie Singh

the near future so that she can speak to the average Guyanese teens who are going through the same things she experienced as a teenager.

“The Phoenix Letters” series takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride as Soshinie talks about how to use experiences to humble yourself, about feeling ugly, being gullible, and about indifference. The 50 letters in the series transport you into the mind of Soshinie and make you reflect on your own journey, something we quite often forget.

An extract from one of the letters (“Letter #4 Equality”) reads: “Open your eyes and see what is right before you. You should never think that you are above or below anyone else. There are

equal opportunities existing for all to share.

They are just about a mean and a motivation.

Do you witness the relationship that the sun and the moon share? Do you pay attention to them?

You learnt in school that the moon has no light of its own and it is the sun's light that we see reflected. Does it not tell you something? Though, the sun is the fiercest epitome of light, it does not think itself better than its counterpart, the moon. It shares, it motivates and it embraces the moon as an equal.

This intimate light and dark makes love to the universe and you can do this too. Move your mind and make someone else shine.” (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Wedding Expo 2018 launched

T

he 10th Annual Wedding Expo, hosted by Roraima Airways, was launched on Wednesday at Duke Lodge, Georgetown.

With great pomp and high expectations for a grand event this year, the Wedding Expo was officially opened.

The Expo is said to provide yet an-

Couples showcasing wedding attire at the launch of Wedding Expo 2018

other opportunity for a couple to win a million-dollar wedding.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia said that the Expo would provide the selected couple with an all-expenses paid wedding and other opportunities such as an all-expenses paid

honeymoon package with the couple getting to choose from an array of destinations to visit.

The Wedding Expo was inspired by a similar event held in Jamaica, and was brought home by one of the Roraima managers who proposed to have the event for couples hoping to

get married.

The event started with just 10 exhibitors, but has, over the years, grown to feature a wide array of attractions beyond just the wedding aspect.

Small businesses in Guyana will also be given an opportunity to showcase their offerings.

36 feature

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Women in Business Expo

T

Crafters showcase local talent at a past Women in Business Expo

he Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts (SNFCA), in collaboration with the Women’s Association for Sustainable Development (WASD), invites the public on an empowering journey at the third annual ‘Women in Business Expo’.

The highly-anticipated event is scheduled for March 10-11, 2018 at the Pegasus Hotel to mark International World’s Women Day. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1908 when a group of 15,000 women marched on the streets of New York, demanding their rights. Since then, every year on March 8, the world joins hands to-

gether to support, raise, inspire and motivate women across all fields of work. The purpose of this day is to focus on various themes such as innovation, business the portrayal of women in the media, or the importance of education and career opportunities.

Over the years the expo attracted farmers, environmentalists, up-cyclers and recycling crafters, event planners, artists, immigration consultants, barristers, fashion designers, wood crafters, body and hair care consultants and others.

Last year’s Women in Business Expo, there was a large contingent of indigenous women who came all the way from various hinterland

regions, and it is hoped this year is no different.

“We want to construct a different world of work for women. As they grow up, girls must be exposed to a broad range of careers, and encouraged to make choices that lead beyond the traditional service and care options to jobs in industry, art, public service, modern agriculture and science,” UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said.

SNFCA and WASD have been executing philanthropic projects over the years that contributed significantly to adding value to people and assist in building strong, confident, intelligent and empowered women who are committed to the task of build-

ing a progressive society.

Some of the preevents are health, business and technology forums, networking events such as ‘Charting Your Course’ (networking event), ‘Inspire You’ (motivation event), ‘An Evening with Sherry Dixon’, tea parties and fashion shows, and book signing. Apart from motivational events, workshops, exhibitions and networking events, an ‘Expo Booklet’ will be distributed for free to the public at the event.

It will feature exhibitors and partners.

The expo has had numerous success stories over the years where small businesses benefited tremendously through their participation in the event. One such entity is local craft/fashion company, Rave Designs Deborah Mathias.

“Other than the wonderful interaction with some very strong and amazingly focused women, being at the expo has encouraged me to renew my commitment to my business and at a personal level I came to understand that I am a very important part of my brand,” Deborah Mathias expressed.

Entrance to the expo is free and daily entertainment and giveaways for patrons are promised.

The expo’s theme last year was, “Be Bold For Change”; this year’s is: “Press For Progress”.

Registration for exhibition spaces closes at the end of January.

For more information on the expo, visit Women's Association for Sustainable Development on Facebook.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

A creative booth at a past Women in Business Expo

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

E

A fair share… …in oil profits

ver since the oil bonus fiasco was uncovered, even partisans of the Government have been looking closer at the contract which was finally revealed. And what a can of worms has been revealed!

It all stems from Resource Minister Raphael Trotman’s “renegotiation” of the contract the PPP had signed back in 1999. Back then, Guyana had still been on its knees — brought there by the PNC in its 28 years of destructive rule. Guyanese were hoping and praying for a turnaround in their fate. When the US geological survey claimed their mapping techniques from space indicated the presence of oil off our shores, ‘bending’ over for Exxon made sense, since, in over a hundred years of exploration, all wells had come up as dry as the proverbial bone.

But by 2016, when Trotman renegotiated the contract, that contract had built-in terms stating the agreement was up for a rewriting. And that’s where Trotman blew it. We won’t go into all the “I’s” he didn’t dot and the “t’s” he didn’t cross, but the biggest blunder has to be agreeing to pay the oil company’s taxes for its share of income — which would amount to 30% of all those billions!!

One hears about tax holidays given to companies to attract them to one’s country; but those are for a limited duration, typically for ten years or so. But in this instance, Exxon can say with a straight face — to the US IRS, for instance — that its income was subject to foreign taxation; that the taxes were paid by the country’s government!! Have you ever heard such nonsense?

Anyhow, another issue has just been raised — about whether we’ll get a fair shake even before the profits are declared. Now, it is not unusual for the oil company to be allowed to deduct the costs of exploration against the revenues as expenses; this was standard in all mineral exploitation agreements.

But back in the day, Burnham had already made quite a stink about how the foreign mining companies were able to use all kinds of sleight of hand to inflate those expenses in bauxite and, of course, lower the profits.

In fact, it was one of the main reasons he offered for nationalising bauxite in 1970.

And as an acolyte of Burnham, did Trotman completely forget to get a handle on the strategies the mining and oil companies use and head them off at the pass? Well, we know he didn’t, and we have to find out why?

Your Eyewitness, going by the experience of so many countries described by President Trump as “shitholes,” concluded that someone was playing footsies under the table! …for sugar workers Now that sugar workers have been brought to their knees by the APNU/AFC regime, PM Nagamootoo has been given the role of apologist. In his latest column in the Chronic, he claims that the Government did so much for sugar after taking office. And are these things — you ask, dear reader — supposed to placate sugar workers??

Well, Nagamootoo says Government pumped billions into the industry; had a Commission of Inquiry; a State Paper presented to Parliament; and formed a Special Purpose vehicle to get rid of the three estates that have been closed. Are the 5,700 workers thrown into the streets supposed to excuse his betrayal now?

Let’s start with the money injected. Has Nagamootoo forgotten the decades he railed against the PNC for scooping off the profits from the sugar industry by a draconian levy? And that this levy kept the country afloat for decades, since it provided foreign currency when there was no other source?

The PPP, to their credit, tried to rescue the industry in recompense.

But since when have sugar workers ever been given their fair share by the PNC, now including Nagamootoo? …and fair shake And the CoI into sugar? Nagamootoo should say why its recommendation to keep the estates going for another three years was ignored!

37

38 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

EIA for Liza Phase 2 underway – Exxon

S

tarting next week, ExxonMobil will be engaging the general public for considerations into an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the second phase development of the Liza field.

ExxonMobil's Director of Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington told the Department of

Public Information (DPI) on Wednesday that the company will begin “scoping meetings” with Regions Five and Six followed by Regions Two, Three and One and conclude with Region Four.

Already, the company has engaged sector stakeholders.

Exxon had submitted a project summary for the Liza

Phase 2 development to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for environmental authorisation. The document can be found on the EPA’s website: www.epaguyana.org.

“The process, as we understand it from the EPA, is that the public has a 28-day period right now to give feedback to the EPA of what

they would like to see us consider in the EIA,” Brasington said. The Liza Phase 2 development is being considered a separate project from Liza Phase 1 requiring its own EIA. The Liza field, located in the Stabroek Block, is estimated to contain more than one billion barrels of oil. Currently, Exxon and its partners,

Kimberly Brasington

Hess Corporation and CNOOC Nexen, are developing Phase 1 for oil production in 2020.

Fabrication works for equipment that will be under the ocean are underway to progress Liza Phase 1. “The biggest milestone that happened at the end of last year, is the actual vessel that will be the FPSO, the Liza Destiny, arrived in the shipyard in Singapore and is starting the process of being dry docked and retrofitted to become the Liza Destiny,” Brasington pointed out.

Exxon is anticipating production will begin in Liza Phase 2 by 2022. The Phase 2 development will be similar to Phase 1 except it will be bigger, Brasington said.

“There will be between 35 and 40 development wells drilled with

the same proportions, some will be oil producers, some will be gas reinjection wells and some water re-injection wells.

And the reason there are more is because we are going to try to produce more as well from Phase 2,” Brasington explained.

While Liza Phase 1 is expected to produce 120,000 barrels of oil per day, Liza Phase 2 is being projected to produce as much as 220,000 barrels per day.

Brasington noted that the decision to split the development of the Liza field reduces the time and risk involved in such undertakings.

Exxon invested an estimated US$4B in Liza Phase 1 which began in 2016. The company will announce its investment decision for Liza Phase 2 sometime in the future.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

TrAvel & Tourism 39

I

mbaimadai is a small mining town deep in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region of Region Seven founded by miners.

It is not only well-known for its gold, diamond and other precious mineral deposits, but for its majestic mountains, being part of the Pakaraima range along the Guiana Highlands, its hundreds of miles of jungle, and its cold nights and steamy days.

Possessing natural richness throughout, Imbaimadai offers exciting adventures to nature lovers. (Photos by Sam Rich on Flickr) View of the mountains from a hill in Imbaimadai

Scenic view of the waterfalls

Getting to Imbaimadai via the Mazaruni River

Imbaimadai Primary School

Cascading waterfalls upriver of Imbaimadai

A child playing in a tree nearby to the school

40

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

41

42

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

43

44

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

45

46 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

2018 Soca Monarch launched

Minister with responsibility for culture, Dr George Norton

A

fter a two-year hiatus, the 2018 Carib Soca Monarch was launched at the Department of Culture, Education Ministry.

The competition, which is slated for February 10 and 17, will see 15 performers competing for the grand prize of G$1.5 million.

At the press conference on Monday, Minister with responsibility for culture, Dr George Norton highlighted that the competition will now be under the purview of the Central Mash Committee. Minister Norton also stated that music is the bloodline of the Mashramani

festival and urged local deejays and promoters to get involved in the publicising of the competition’s music.

Competition Coordinator, Nigel Worrell, noted they received a total of 18 entries which was finetuned to a total of 15 semi-finalists.

Those semi-finalists are Alisha “Sasha Melody” Hamid, Brandon Harding, Colwin “Lil Colwin” Blair, Colwyn “Soca Colwyn” Abrams, Delon “Soca Del” Azore, Diana Chapman, Jonathan “Lil Red” King, Keron “Norek Mas” Sam, Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts, Quacy “Avalanche” Coates, Roger “Young Bill Rogers” Hinds, Roshauna Fraser, Samantha Grant, Shellon “Fluffy” Gally and Stanton “Cardiac” Lewis.

These 15 contestants will be heading to the mining town of Linden on February 10 for the semifinal leg of the competition, where five contestants will be eliminated.

Then the remaining 10 will head to D’Urban Park in Georgetown to compete for the grand prize on February 17. They will be judged on lyrics, melody, rendition, diction and musical arrangement.

The first prize winner will receive G$1.5 million, 2nd prize G$700,000; 3rd prize G$500,000 and 4th prize G$400,000. The Ministry is seeking to collaborate with a local telephone company to implement a People’s Choice Award which will see the winner receiving one hundred thousand dollars. The eleven newcomers will all be vying for the US$1000 prize of Best New Comer.

from page 30

Kanuku Mountains rangers cheer the Jaguars on at the Protected Areas Commission office in Lethem

at 10-3.

The close game kept Jaguars’ fans, and jaguar researchers, at the edge of their seats. Said Rupununi Wildlife Research Unit (RWRU) founder, Dr. Matt Hallett, “I was always confident that the Jags would pull it out in the end, but I’m not going to lie and say that wasn’t nervous there for a bit … as a northcentral Florida resident I was happy to see the local team win, but I’m even more grateful that the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens and the Buffalo Zoo the game as an opportunity to raise awareness of important conservation efforts.

The American Bison Coalition is doing amazing work with one of my favorite North American species, but of course, I’m thrilled that the wager will ultimately generate some benefits for our talented and hardworking research teams in the Rupununi.”

Asked whether or not the game reflected a match-up of their wild counterparts as predicted by the CEO’s of the two zoos, Hallett replied, “Ironically the low scoring nature of the game actually more closely resembled the methodical pack-hunting style of one of Guyana’s other wild carnivores, the bush dog (Speothos venaticus), which utilizes stamina to outlast and eventually overtake its prey.”

Conservation benefits

The Rupununi is widely considered the most biodiverse region of Guyana and the indigenous Makushi and Wapichan people who inhabit the region have served as its stew-

ards for millennia. The wealth of biodiversity and natural resources that persist there today are the direct result of their traditional management systems and continued commitment to sustainable use.

However, the Rupununi is currently facing dramatic social, economic, and environmental change, resulting from exposure to technology and global culture, demand from, and access to, global markets, and a changing global climate.

The overarching goal of the RWRU is to equip Rupununi communities with tools, strategies, and structures to deal with their rapidly changing world, allowing them to continue the legacy of stewardship set by previous generations.

They team up with indigenous hunters, farmers, and fisherman from across the region, providing training and employment opportunities with the goal of generating a greater understanding of the distribution and abundance of jaguars and their prey.

Large mammals fit as the focus of their work, as they are provide critical services at a variety of scales. Globally, large mammals are naturally rare, play important roles in ecosystems, are sensitive to disturbance, and are the majestic and regal or cute and cuddly animals that we all love.

Locally, large mammals may prey on livestock or pets (jaguars, puma), damage crops (deer, agouti, peccaries), and are targeted for food (peccaries, labba, tapir, deer). Bringing together the traditional and scientific knowledge has allowed the RWRU to generate a wealth of

data and co-develop new questions that they did not even know they had when they began.

The Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens has been providing financial support to the Rupununi Wildlife Research Unit for the past three years, and supporting conservation initiatives in Guyana since 2008.

Conservation is a priority for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and the Buffalo Zoo, as well as all institutions that belong to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Collectively, AZA institutions supported about USD$216,000,000 worth of field conservation efforts in 2016.

The Buffalo Zoo and Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens directly contribute to the long-term survival of species in natural ecosystems and habitats through both species-specific and habitat-focused conservation projects.

The Jacksonville Jaguars travel to Heinz Field this week to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in their secondround playoff matchup.

No word yet on whether the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens has reached out to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for another friendly wager for the sake of conservation.

Follow Rupununi Wildlife Research Unit on Facebook, rupununiwildlife on Instagram, @ RupWildlife on Twitter, or subscribe to their Rupununi Wildlife channel on YouTube. (By JJ Vitale, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens; Christian Dobosiewicz, The Buffalo Zoo; and Matt Hallett, Rupununi Wildlife Research Unit.)

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

S

Crime warnings

atiricus was quite upset: What right have these foreigners to meddle in Guyana’s affairs? “What we do in Guyana was our business, wasn’t it?” he fumed, as he made his way to the Back Street Bar. As he took his seat at the table, where the fellas had already created a decent forest of beer bottles, he blurted his concern aloud even before starting on his beer.

“Calm down, calm down Sato,” said Cappo, as he shoved the bottle towards his friend. “A who yuh a talk ‘bout? De Indian Guvment na invite Nagga Man fuh wan free trip to India?”

“Not really,” replied Satiricus. “But since you brought that up, why didn’t they invite him?”

“Budday! Dem na invite none Minista,” protested Bungi. “An’ he a wan PRIME Minista!!”

“So how come they invited that Attorney General from Jamaica?” Satiricus wanted to know. “She’s a member of the Cabinet.”

“Sato, like you listening to Nagga Man waterboy?” Hari grinned. “Unlike Guyana, the Jamaican AG is not a Minister; she sits in Cabinet just as a legal advisor. They have a separate MINISTER of Justice.”

“Oh!” said Sato. “I always knew Nagga Man water boy was full of it! But I was talking about the US and the British embassies announcing crime is too high here!”

“Suh how da a “inta-ferin’?” Cappo wanted to know. “Dem only warn dem own citizen!”

“But everybody heard!” protested Satiricus. “And it contradicts my fearless leader Rum Jhaat, who said serious crime went down! That is interference!”

“But Sato, if dem British an’ dem American seh crime gaan up,” said Bungi. “Yuh na t’ink dem know somethin’?”

“What could they know?” asked Satiricus exasperatedly. “They get the same facts the police issue.”

“Like you forget the British are advising the police?” asked Hari, as he downed his beer and signalled for another round for all. “They see the figures before Rum Jhaat boys massage them!!”

“Oh!” exclaimed Satiricus. “I better go home early!”

Cervical Cancer is beatable

By Anu Dev

“Prevention is better than cure.” – Desiderius Erasmus January is “Cervical Cancer Awareness Month”!

I

n my gynecology rotation, one of the questions we got asked by different doctors was, “What’s one of the most preventable types of cancer?” And the answer was always the same, “cervical cancer”.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. That’s because there is both a sensitive test for detecting precancerous lesions — the pap smear — and there’s an effective method of dealing with HPV, one of the most prominent risk factors for the disease.

But before I go into that, perhaps an anatomy refresher might be necessary.

Where exactly is the cervix? Well it’s actually the lower part of the uterus (womb), and it connects the cavity of the uterus to the vagina. In nonpregnant women,

Man admits to killing brother at North West District

J

ust over four years after his sibling’s death, Neville France admitted that he killed his own brother, Richard France, on December 12, 2013 at Falls Top, North West District, Essequibo.

The 42-year-old man pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when he was arraigned before High Court Judge, Justice Navindra Singh on Monday. His sentencing was, however, deferred to February 5, 2018 after his lawyer, Siand Dhurjon applied for a probation report to be presented to the court.

According to evidence that was provided by Police, the self-confessed killer and his brother resided in the same house with their father. On the day in question, the brothers were imbibing at a neighbour, when an argument ensued. Later the day, it was reported that Richard France returned home and was sitting on a bench outside when he was

47

Self-confessed sibling killer, Neville France

confronted by his brother and another argument erupted.

Further evidence provided by Police stated that when Richard France attempted to walk away, his brother stabbed him to the left side of his upper back.

He then collapsed and died.

State Counsel Mandell Moore presented the prosecution’s case.

it’s about an inch long and is roughly cylindrical. And during labour, it dilates to allow the baby to pass through. It’s the body part that people are usually dramatically shouting about in movies when they’re yelling, “She’s 10 centimetres dilated!

She’s gonna have this baby right now, on the subway!” Or you know, wherever the plot needs the woman to give birth.

In all types of cancer, the problem begins when cells deviate from their fixed growth patterns and appointed job descriptions and start growing uncontrollably. This can happen in the lungs, in the colon, and in the cervix.

In cervical cancer, the cells don’t suddenly make the switch from normal to cancerous growth; there’s a stage in between. This inbetween stage can

be picked up on a pap smear, and intervention can be made before the cells have a chance to progress to the cancerous stage.

We’re all well aware about the link between smoking cigarettes and lung cancer, but do we know what factors can increase your risk of cervical cancer?

Well, for starters, cigarette smoking also increases your risk of getting cervical cancer.

It’s a twofold risk increase compared with nonsmokers, actually.

As an aside, smoking also increases your risk of developing bladder, stomach, mouth, throat, and a whole host of other cancers.

Yeah, as far as vices go, that’s a pretty bad one to have.

The other risk factor I’d like to mention is HPV infection. Certain strains of the HPV virus, HPV 16 and HPV 18, are associated

with the development of cervical cancer.

In fact, it is believed that a woman must be infected with HPV in order to develop cervical cancer.

There currently are vaccines like Gardasil and Cervarix that are available to prevent infection by HPV; and, by extension, prevent cervical cancer.

C u r r e n t recommendation for screening for cervical cancer via pap smear are for women aged between 21 and 65 years to be tested every 3 years. So if you’re due for a pap smear, make sure you get one. If you’re not vaccinated against HPV, talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated. This is one type of cancer against which we have the tools and the knowhow to try to prevent before it even gets a foot in the door.

T

he Children’s 2018 Mashramani celebration is expected to surpass previous years, with the addition of a new component. The new feature will see the Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools displaying different aspects of the Guyanese culture.

Acting Administrator for the Unit of Allied Arts, Lorraine Barker-King, during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), said that the implementation of the component will allow for the students to better showcase this year’s theme – ‘Let’s Cooperate and Celebrate Republic 48’.

Barker-King explained that “the Nursery children they will be looking at showcasing our people, the Primary children they will be looking at our flora and fauna, Secondary students will be looking at our industries, we are showcasing our culture.”

There will also be individual and regional presentations that will be allowed to design costumes exhibiting any aspect of the main theme.

The regional Semi-Final competitions are slated to commence on January 23 and conclude on

Unit of Allied Arts, Administrator (ag) Lorraine Barker-King

February 9. The official schedule for each day of competition will be made public shortly so that persons will be able to witness the student who will be participating in the various events.

The Acting Administrator said the Finals which will be held in Georgetown “are scheduled to start on February 15 with Dance and Masquerade; February 16 with Calypso and Dramatic Poetry and on February 17 the children’s road parade”.

The Finals will be staged at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) with two sessions per day.

The first session will commence from 9:30 am and conclude at 12:30 pm for the Nursery and Primary school students and

from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm the Secondary School students will take to the stage.

The route of the children’s costume road parade, BarkerKing noted that it will leave from Parade Ground at 10:00 am heading East into Middle Street, North into Camp Street, East into Lamaha Street, North into Albert Street and culminate in the National Park.

The Acting Administrator noted that the students are excited to be participating in the various events and are taking every opportunity to practice and master their routines. Persons are being urged to show their support in attendance to view the parade.

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Rani Mukerji: Hope Rishi Kapoor: Guilt kept me away from working Adira will be proud to more with Nasir Hussain have working parents V

R

ani Mukerji went through the usual anxiety of a mother when she started Hichki after Adira’s birth, but the actor is confident that her daughter will one day be proud of her working parents. The actor said more than her, it was her filmmaker husband Aditya Chopra who wanted her to get back to the sets.

“I had this anxiety about leaving my daughter at home because it was going to be a new environment for her.

She is not going to see me for a few hours, which she is used to. It is a dilemma that every working mother goes through where you face this anxiety,” Rani told PTI in an interview.

“The child will soon get used to it. I am sure Adira will understand that both her parents leave home for work. It will be normal and it will be something that she will be proud of.”

In India, many working women leave their jobs after they embrace motherhood but Rani believes things are changing now as fathers are getting more involved in the upbringing of their children.

“People are still not ready to accept it. It is a hesitation that they need to overcome. Obviously, a child is more attached to the mother. But now fathers are also getting involved.” The actor

said society needs to do away with the stigma attached to men contributing in the house chores and child rearing.

“When we expect that men should go out and work, those men should also be encouraged to participate in the house work. What happens is that they are discouraged from doing it. It is a mental block that we need to overcome.” The actor said Aditya, who runs the Yash Raj Films, was instrumental in her return.

“As a director-producer, he understands that I also have a responsibility towards the people who have given me so much love and adoration. Now that I have a new family, I cannot leave my old family behind. I have to stay in touch with my fans. It is a part of me, which I cannot separate from,” she said. The year 2017 saw a major upheaval in terms of women’s movement with a lot of debate surrounding feminism.

Asked about her opinion, Rani said, “It should start at home. The day every woman starts to make a difference in the house, a change will come in the country. You can’t bring about a change by just talking about feminism. If one wife decides not to put up with the injustice that her husband does, things will start to change.” (Indian Express)

Ananya Panday turns heads by making debut on Vanity Fair cover

eteran actor Rishi Kapoor says he would have worked more with Nasir Hussain but it was the guilt that kept him away from working with the filmmaker. Rishi worked with Hussain in films like Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai and Hum Kisise Kum Naheen.

“I worked with Nasir sahab in two movies. I would have worked with

and I were a fabulous team,” he added.

The actor, who has also worked in films like Bobby, Kabhie Kabhie, Prem Rog and Bol Radha Bol, also revealed that Rs 90,000 was spent on his costume for the song Bachna ae haseeno from the film Hum Kisise Kum Naheen.

“The entire dress was made of plastic shells because that would reflect on

him in four movies but guilt kept me away. I somehow felt that Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai did not perform as well as Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, that’s why I felt that I must have hurt Nasir sahab’s feelings and hence shouldn’t work with him,” Rishi told Zee Classic as a part of the ongoing Nasir Hussain Film Festival on the channel, read a statement.

The actor said Hussain would still call him and ask him to meet in his office. “And I would always make some excuse like I am busy or I am working.

Pancham (R.D. Burman) would also call me asking me to meet Nasir sahab but because of my guilt, I felt he should work with other actors. Pancham da, Majrooh Sultanpuri uncle, Nasir sahab

the camera and look different when exposed to different kinds of lighting,” Rishi said, adding that it took two months of hard work to make the ensemble for the song.

“I had suggested that dress to Nasir sahab and informed him that it might be a little expensive but he least expected it to be that expensive. Rs 90,000 was a lot of money, especially in 1975. The red heart that I had worn with that outfit was borrowed from Neetu’s (Neetu Singh) friend who had purchased it in London. I told her that I wanted to wear it for that song,” he added.

Rishi said Hussain worked as hard on his music as he worked on his scripts. (Indian Express)

Karisma Kapoor’s children Samaira and Kiaan strike the perfect pose with dad

B

ollywood’s next generation are putting their best foot forward and prepping up for their respective debuts. We already know about Sara Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor’s projects but another star in making who has been grabbing headlines is Bollywood actor Chunky Panday’s daughter Ananya Panday whose official debut announcement is still to be made.

However, it seems the next-gen star has made an impression internationally as well. If you are wondering what are we talking about then, let us tell you that Ananya appeared in Vanity Fair magazine’s cover page in which she shares the space with tomorrow superstars from different industries. She shares the space with Hollywood actor Reese Witherspoon’s daughter

Ava Phillippe.

The 19-year-old star kid has featured in the latest issue of the US edition of Vanity Fair. The leading magazine has done its annual spread on the debutantes who shone at the 25th Bal des Debutantes (also known as Le Bal) in Paris last November.

The other prominent names in the spread include Scotland’s Cecily Lasnet (great-granddaughter of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire),

French film icon JeanPaul Belmondo’s grandson Giacomo Belmondo, Princess Sibilla and Prince Leopold of Luxembourg among others.

Meanwhile, there are rumours that Ananya would be launched by Karan Johar with his production venture Student of The Year 2, which will be directed

by Punit Malhotra. The film stars Tiger Shroff in the lead role. (Indian Express)

K

arisma Kapoor may have won the custody of her two kids Samaira and Kiaan in court but her ex-husband Sunjay Kapur still has visitation rights and in some recent photos shared by Sunjay’s present wife Priya Sachdev Kapur, Sunjay can be seen happily posing with Samaira and Kiaan.

When Sunjay and Karisma had appeared in court for a divorce in 2016, Karisma’s lawyer had said, “Both have agreed to divorce by mutual consent.

They have now resolved their issues amicably and divorce terms are settled pertaining to custody of their children.

The custody of the two children will remain with Karisma, and Sunjay will

have certain visitation rights.”

Meanwhile, while Sunjay has moved on and married Priya, rumours are rife that Karisma is dating businessman Sandeep Toshniwal and the two may even get married soon. But they still continue to co-parent their children together. Samaira and Kiaan often fly to Delhi to visit their doting dad. The two were last seen pampering their little cousin Taimur Ali Khan at his birthday party.

Sanjay and Karisma had tied the knot in 2003 but things went downhill between the two quite soon. Karisma even moved out of Sunjay’s Delhi house in 2010 and in 2016 the two were granted a divorce. (Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Dave Bautista was almost not cast in ‘Blade Runner’ sequel

A

ctor Dave Bautista almost missed out on starring in Blade Runner 2049 as director Denis Villeneuve thought he was too young to play the character. The Guardians of the Galaxy actor and Villeneuve recalled the casting of Bautista for the role of Sapper Morton in the film.

“The vulnerability that Dave brought to the character was essential for the movie to be a success,” said Villeneuve. Bautista said the experience of working in the film was first for him as it “was something completely different from anything I’d ever done, actually playing a character who was older than myself”.

To this, Villeneuve said despite Bautista’s “strong presence”, he felt the actor was “too young to play that part”, an answer which left Bautista

“stunned”. “Throughout my experience in Hollywood, I was either too big or too old. I had never been told I was too young, and I just didn’t know what to say.” And then they got in touch with me and asked if I would go through some makeup tests to try and age me. I said, ‘Of course’,” said Bautista. Makeup artist Donald Mowat’s expertise at his craft ensured that Bautista got the role.

“People were walking in thinking, ‘Oh, I didn’t know he was that old. And I knew it was a success because people were not seeing the effect of the makeup. They were just seeing an old Dave Bautista,” said Villeneuve. The film which had a runtime of about three hours was loved by the audience.

However, the original film was four hours long and the fans wished to watch the uncut version of the film as well. But director Villeneuve denied releasing the uncut version of the film and said, “The thing is, it’s true that the first cut was four hours and at one point we were like, ‘Okay, do we go to the producer and release it in two?’ But let’s say the idea of the movie being in two parts didn’t get out of the editing room. The best incarnation of the movie is what is in the theatre.” (Indian Express)

Kim Kardashian and husband Kanye West welcome baby girl

K

im Kardashian and her rapper husband Kanye West announced the birth of their third child on Tuesday, a girl born to a surrogate.

“Kanye and I are happy to announce the arrival of our healthy, beautiful baby girl,” Kardashian said in a message on her app.

The couple thanked the unidentified sur-

rogate “who made our dreams come true with the greatest gift one could give.”

They said the baby was born on Monday but they did not announce a name.

Kardashian, 37, and West are already parents to North, 4, and Saint, 2. The Keeping Up with the Kadashians reality and social media star has said she decid-

ed to use a surrogate after doctors warned of serious health risks if she became pregnant again.

Kardashian has given detailed accounts on her blog about the difficulties she experienced during her two labors.

Two of Kardashian’s sisters are also expecting babies. Khloe Kardashian, 33, announced in December that she is six months pregnant with her basketball player boyfriend Tristan Thomas, while their half-sister Kylie Jenner, 20, is reported to be expecting her first child soon.

The arrival of Kardashian and West’s third child swiftly became one of the top five trending topics on Twitter.

(Indian Express)

Chris Evans feels Robert Downey Jr is irreplaceable as Iron Man

I

A

ctor Anthony Mackie has teased a scene from Avengers: Infinity War which will feature around 40 superheroes fighting alongside each other. At the Ace Comic-Con, Mackie, who plays the role of superhero Falcon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, talked about his experience of shooting the film.

“There was one day we were on set and were doing this scene that’s in the trailer where we’re all running to battle, you know, all of us are on set and it’s like forty superheroes,” said Mackie, who was accompanied

by Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan at the event, reported Empire magazine.

“I look to my right and I see Tom Holland and Dave Bautista. I see them in the corner and Tom is literally the size of Dave’s leg, I don’t know what they’re talking about but Bautista jumps up and does a kick-punch move and I was like ‘Yo, you’re about to kill him!'” he added.

Avengers: Infinity War will star Robert Downey Jr, Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olson, Chadwick Boseman, Stan, Don Cheadle, Chris Pratt, Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Pom Klementieff, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Sean Gunn, Holland and Paul Rudd.

The superheroes will battle it out against Thanos, who hopes to possess all of the universe’s Infinity Stones in order to become all-powerful. Director duo Anthony and Joe Russo, who helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War, are directing Infinity War as well as the fourth untitled Avengers film. (Indian Express)

ron Man and Captain America may be at loggerheads with each other right now, in real life Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans share a lot of camaraderie and respect. The two have shared screen in Marvel Cinematic Universe since the original Avengers film. The last time they appeared together was in Captain America: Civil War. Chris Evans reflected on working with Downey Jr during his appearance at Ace Comic-Con. He also said unlike Superman and Batman that have seen multiple incarnations over the years, there can be only one Iron Man. “No matter what it feels like for me, I try to imagine what it feels like for him, because he really did start this. He really is so irreplaceable. Nobody can ever be Iron Man. It’s not a role like Superman or Batman that can kind of find different incarnations, no one can touch it.”

Evans also described what working with Downey Jr felt and how Downey Jr supported him during this journey that will end with Avengers 4. “It’s lowhanging fruit to say [Robert] Downey. He’s such a wonderful guy and is so talented, so experienced, and so supportive… He’s always been in my corner and

F

ollowing an outcry over a significant disparity in pay between co-stars, Mark Wahlberg agreed to donate the US$1.5 million he earned for reshoots for All the Money in the World to the sexual misconduct defense initiative Time’s Up. Wahlberg said he’ll donate the money in the name of his co-star, Michelle Williams, who reportedly made less than US$1,000 on the reshoots.

“I 100% support the fight for fair pay,” Wahlberg said in a statement.

I’ve always felt supported by him. He really brings everybody in to the group and makes sure everyone feels welcome, especially on this last one…He really just opens his arms and it sounds so cheesy, but he makes it a family and none of this would happen without him.”

The two will next be seen together in Avengers: Infinity War. (Indian Express)

Williams issued a statement Saturday, saying, “Today isn’t about me. My fellow actresses stood by me and stood up for me, my activist friends taught me to use my voice, and the most powerful men in charge, they listened and they acted.”

She noted that “it takes equal effort and sacrifice” to make a film.

“Today is one of the most indelible days of my life because of Mark Wahlberg, WME (William Morris Endeavor) and a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment.”

Wahlberg and his agency, William Morris Endeavor, donated Two million dollar to #Time’sUp, the legal defense fund founded in response to the #MeToo movement.

The announcement on Saturday came after directors and stars, including Jessica Chastain and Judd Apatow, shared their shock at reports of the huge pay disparity for the Ridley Scott film.

The 10 days of reshoots were necessary after Kevin Spacey was replaced by Christopher Plummer when accusations of sexual misconduct surfaced against Spacey.

USA Today reported Williams was paid less than US$1,000 for the 10 days.

Both Williams and Plummer were nominated for Golden Globes for their performances.

William Morris Endeavor said in a statement that wage disparity conversations should continue and “we are committed to being part of the solution.” (Indian Express)

50 sport

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Kohli, Smith win big at ICC awards I

ndia's Virat Kohli hit a windfall at the ICC awards after being named both cricketer and captain of the year.

He also regained a trophy he had won for the first time in 2012 as he was named ODI player of the year as well.

The corresponding prize for Test cricket went to Australia's Steven Smith.

In the qualification period from September 21, 2016 to the end of 2017, Kohli scored 2,203 Test runs at an average of 77.80 including six double-centuries, 1,818 ODI runs at 82.63 including seven hundreds, and 299 T20I runs at a strike-rate of 153. With him at the helm, India are ranked among the top three teams in the world as well. All of that came culminated in his becoming the ICC cricketer of the year and winning the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy.

"It's probably the biggest award that we have

Virat Kohli

in world cricket," Kohli said. "Two Indians getting it back to back makes it more special.

Last time it was [R] Ashwin, this time I'm getting it so I'm really really honoured and I'd like to thank the ICC for

recognising all the hard work that we all put in for our respective sides and I want to congratulate all the other winners also."

Smith's numbers were equally mind-boggling. Though the coup

de grace was his performance in the Ashes, scoring runs with such frequency that comparisons with Don Bradman was made with every passing innings, he has been in sublime form for at least four years, scoring over 1000 Test runs in each of them. In the ICC's qualification period, he made 1,875 runs in 16 matches at an average of 78.12, with eight hundreds and five half-centuries.

"It's a great honour to receive this award for the second time, having won it in 2015 as well," Smith said. "It's called Test cricket for a reason, and I've enjoyed that test of my ability over the past 12 months.

"I got six Test hundreds for the year in 2017, which I was pleased about. I was pleased with the way I played but what pleased me most of all was that I helped us win Tests and, most importantly, The Ashes. To make a contribution in big matches and in big series and assist the team is what it is all about for me, and if I'm doing that then

there's a good chance that awards like this will follow."

Four of the last five ICC Test players of the year are Australian, starting with Michael Clarke in 2013, Mitchell Johnson in 2014 and Smith in 2015 and 2017.

Moving to ODIs, Kohli was among the prime candidates to win the award. Only 29 years old, he hit his 32nd century recently, going past Ricky Ponting's tally and moving ever closer to Sachin Tendulkar's.

"Twenty-sixteen for me I think was a breakthrough year and I was able to continue in 2017 also," he said. "I think I worked even harder in 2017 and understand this has been a good phase for me but I will have to work even harder in future to play the same level of cricket I have been able to play in the past two years. But yeah, 2017 was indeed a very special year for me."

Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali was named emerging player of 2017.

This follows his becoming the quickest from his country to 50 ODI wickets (in 24 matches) and a player-of-the-series winning performance in the Champions Trophy. The 23-year old also topped the ICC rankings in oneday cricket when his career was only 426 days old. Only two others have risen to the top at a better rate.

"It has been memorable past 16 months for me as a young player and Pakistan as a team," Hasan said. "This acknowledgement will not only inspire me to do even better in the coming seasons but will also convince the next generation of cricketers that hard work and good performances can never go unnoticed.

"This award is for all those who believed and backed us in the journey, and look forward to their continued patronage as the next 18 months will be more challenging with the World Cup in 2019."

Rashid Khan, the Afghanistan legspinner, was named the Associate player of the year and claimed a place in the ODI team of 2017 as well. India's wristspinner Yuzvendra Chahal taking 6 for 25 to send England crashing from 113 for 2 to 127 all out was adjudged the T20I performance of the year.

The ICC distributed their awards for women's cricket in December 2017, with Australia's Ellyse Perry winning player of the year.

The winners were selected by an ICC voting academy which included: Javed Hamim, Emal Parsley (both Afghanistan), Mel Jones (Australia), Athar Ali Khan, M. Farid Ahmed (both Bangladesh), Lawrence Booth, Julian Guyer, Nasser Hussain (all England), Ian Callender (Ireland), Sunandan Lele, (India), Mark Geenty, Ian Smith (both New Zealand), Mazhar Arshad, Ramiz Raja (both Pakistan), Tristan Holme, Shaun Pollock (South Africa), Russel Arnold, Rex Clementine (both Sri Lanka), Mehluli Sibanda, Mpumelelo Mbangwa (all Zimbabwe), Ian Bishop, Vinode Mamchan and Barry Wilkinson (all Windies), while the voting process was monitored by the ICC's Head of Internal Audit.

International captains and match referees voted for the David Shepherd Trophy. ICC Spirit of Cricket award was decided by the umpires and ICC Chief Executive (ESPNCricinfo)

Steven Smith

Sport 51

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s ‘Green Machine’ moving up world rankings

T

he Senior National fifteens men’s rugby team, commonly called Green Machine productive 2017 has seen them having an upward movement on the World Rugby rankings from 60 to 49, which is now the highest ranked Caribbean territory.

With the rise in rankings, the Green Machine will be engaged in a test series with Mexico (ranked 55), Colombia (ranked 41) and Paraguay (ranked 40) which begins in August.

“We will be joining the top two in the console b in South America along with Mexico as the most promising marketing development country to represent RAN [Rugby America North], north versus two of the best in South, Colombia, Paraguay in a test series which is supposed to be in August”, Guyana Rugby Football Union

Guyana’s Green Machine are now the highest ranked Caribbean team (Delano Williams Photo)

(GRFU) President Peter Green told Guyana Times International Sport.

Guyana has been a dominant force in RAN at both the 15s and 7s level and though they suffered some upset defeats

to USA South Panthers and Jamaica, they still have made steady progress, which is a pleasing sight for Green.

“This is a tremendous improvement and not only that world rugby has been paying more

attention to this side of the region and realize that were are advocating every year, we are playing the same teams and not really improving so now they are rewarding Guyana for being the number one ranked

team”.

Only the USA South is higher rank but it is understood they are not a country or nation and rather just a team that is used a bench mark to see how the Caribbean has progressed.

The move to the test series with two of their South American counterparts sees Guyana now not having to participate in this year’s RAN championship.

Green explained “We have been exempt from playing in this year’s RAN championships which means that whoever wins the RAN championship (north) will be playing off against the second rank team, Guyana or Mexico, depending on the upcoming test in August for promotion and relegation which is the new format”.

Green expressed his enthusiasm over the future of Guyana’s rugby on the basis of a talented crop of youth players.

He explained that the GRFU will close all of their outstanding matches from 2017 and then seek to have their first tournament in February.

Guyana’s Keemo Paul in full support Windies skipper Stewart of Stewart after World Cup drama regrets controversial appeal

By Akeem Greene

F

ormer Windies under-19 vicecaptain Keemo Paul has pledged his support to current captain Emmanuel Stewart after the player was the centre of the latest controversy to hit the ICC Youth 50-over World Cup which is being held in New Zealand.

South Africa opener Jiveshan Pillay was given out obstructing the field after picking up the ball and returning it to wicketkeeper Stewart after it stopped close to the stumps.

Stewart appealed for the batsman’s dismissal and on review from third umpire, the player who was on 47, was given out.

According to the article 37.4 of the Laws of cricket, “Either batsman is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and, without the consent of a fielder, he/she uses the bat or any part of his/her person to return the ball to any fielder”.

Paul told Guyana Times International Sport on Wednesday, “It is in the rules of the game. It is appropriate to appeal if you think it is out. It is all in the rules so we can fault him for what is right.”

The 19 year-old added, “Yes I will support him. I am a West Indian so the support is definitely there.”

At the post match press conference Stewart said his decision to uphold the field appeal “wasn’t in the spirit of the game.” He stated precisely, “I asked the question and it was given out based on the laws and the rules of the game but on reflection it wasn’t in the spirit of the game. I think moving forward I would have withdrawn the appeal.”

Paul who is now one of Guyana Jaguars leading all-rounders explained that the decision to withdraw the appeal is always with the captain.

“In the games they always ask if you want to go through with the appeal or not and it was in his power to withdraw the appeal if he wanted to. I won’t know his plan of thinking at that time but he went through with it.”

The incident sparked social media frenzy with many former great players and commentators voicing their displeasure or support.

Learned commentator and for-

mer West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop took to twitter and stated, “Law needs changing but don’t criticise West Indies U19s.

These are kids learning their way on the path to being adults.”

A section of the preamble to the law of the cricket concerni n g Former t h e Windies ‘Spirit Under-19 o f Captain Cricket Keemo Paul

states, “ T he major responsibility for ensuring fair play rests with the captains, but extends to all players, umpires and, especially in junior cricket, teachers, coaches and parents. Respect is central to the Spirit of Cricket. Respect your captain, team-mates, opponents and the authority of the umpires. Play hard and play fair. Accept the umpire’s decision.”

Paul in his concept of the ‘Spirit of cricket’ stated “There is no specific definition but it’s all a part of cricket. What is in the rules and you play by the rules so you cannot really fault anybody if they do what’s in the rules.”

At the victorious 2016 World Cup campaign in Bangladesh, Paul himself was the heart of controversial mankad against Zimbabwe which sent his team into the knockout phase. However, the man from Saxacalli prefers not to gather a dismissal by that rule again. “I don’t think I would do it if the situation arises again. It caused a lot of controversy and a lot of things were said.

I don’t think if it ever comes down to that again I would go that route.”

M

O

U

N

T

MAUNGANUI, New Zealand (CMC) — West Indies Under-19 Captain Emmanuel Stewart says he regrets the appeal which led to the controversial dismissal of South African opener Jiveshan Pillay during yesterday's ICC Youth World Cup fixWest Indies captain Emmanuel ture here.

Following the con- Stewart appeals (Photo: International Cricket Council) test at Bay Oval, which Young Windies controversially given his lost by 76 runs, Stewart marching orders. said while his decision Under Law 37.4 rehas been within the laws garding 'returning the of cricket, it did not re- ball to a fielder', it states: flect the spirit of the “Either batsman is out game. obstructing the field if, at “I asked the ques- any time while the ball is tion and it was given out in play and without the based on the laws and consent of a fielder, he the rules of the game,” uses his bat or any part Stewart said. of his person, including a “But, on reflection, hand not holding the bat, it wasn't in the spirit of to return the ball to any the game. I think mov- fielder.” ing forward I would have Stewart's actions withdrawn the appeal drew strong rebuke and that's how I see it.” from current and forThe incident arose in mer international playthe 17th over of the South ers, but South Africa's Africa innings when the head coach, Lawrence left-handed Pillay in- Mahatlane, refused to be side-edged a drive at fast drawn into the controbowler Jarion Hoyte and versy. then watched cautiously “Our take is very simas the ball rolled on the ple. We play to the laws crease and came to a halt of the game, and it's part next to the stumps. of the laws,” he said afAs has become cus- terwards. “It's happened, tomary in internation- so hopefully we'll learn al cricket, Pillay picked for a long time from it.” up the ball and tossed Captain Raynard van it to Stewart who then, Tonder, however, disto the surprise of many, agreed with Stewart's appealed for obstructing actions. the field.

“It is the law of the Following a consul- game, but I think there tation between the um- is something like the pires, Pillay was then spirit of cricket. I think if

I was in the same situation I don't think I would have gone about it the same way.”

The incident rekindled memories of the Mankad controversy during the last Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh two years ago when West Indies again came under heavy criticism for their actions on the field.

Then, bowler Keemo Paul ran out Richard Ngarava for backing up too far, to help the Caribbean side pull off a tense victory over Zimbabwe and reach the quarter-finals.

West Indies went on to win the tournament.

Yesterday, Pillay made a fluent 47, while wicketkeeper Wandile Makwetu top-scored with an unbeaten 99 to get South Africa up to 282 for eight off their 50 overs.

West Indies then collapsed to 206 all out in the 46th over, with Alick Athanaze top-scoring with 76. (ESPNCricinfo)

52 sport

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘I’m very hungry to play a lot more international cricket’ – Reifer D

By Akeem Greene

ecember 9, 2017 in Hamilton, New Zealand will forever be etched into the memory of Raymon Anton Reifer as it was the day he made his Test debut for the Windies.

It was the sweetening taste of the pie which has now left the all-rounder yearning for more opportunities to play at the highest level.

After initially being picked in the squad for the three-Test tour to England, Reifer also booked the trip to Africa where the Caribbean side played Zimbabwe in a two-Test series before meeting the black caps.

The momentous occasion came after regular skipper, Jason Holder had to sit out the final Test after he was suspended for a slow-overate offence. His nippy left-arm medium pace was the first piece of his puzzle to be showcased.

He got the scalp of Henry Nicholls and ended with figures of 1-36.

With Windies’ back pressed against the wall he displayed great prowess with a gritty and

Raymon Anton Reifer

most importantly unbeaten 23, spending a minute shy of two hours at the crease. The second stanza was as improvement to the first, with another batting innings, this time over two hours in the middle.

It is those series of events which has left the Barbadian feeling he can survive and be consistent at the highest level.

“I’m very hungry to play a lot more international cricket and be suc-

cessful at it. It’s a huge honour to play test cricket obviously something I’m very proud of. I was a bit nervous but once I cross the line all of those nerves went away,” he said on Monday.

Since joining the Guyana Jaguars when the regional First-Class circuit became a professional league in the 2014/15 season, the father of one from Wanders Cricket Club in Christ Church which has pro-

duced the notable likes of Ian Bradshaw, K r a i g g Brathwaite and Holder among other Windies player, Reifer has been a key figure in the four consecutive titles for the franchise.

His stats speak for itself as in the 28 matches to date he has scored over 1,000 runs and taken 71 wickets. A deeper look into his performances will see since the 2014/15 season, his numbers are always on the upward move.

“I have to thank the Guyana franchise for the opportunities they’ve given me over the past 4 years and I’m very thankful for that. The team environment is good and everyone gets along well and since we play as one. [Captain] Leon [Johnson] has been

doing a really good job for us and leading from the front throughout the years.”

In examining the adjustments he needs to apply to his game in order to adapt to international cricket, he outlined discipline as critical.

“In international cricket you have to be a lot more discipline because there’s not much margin for error. You have to be constantly improving if you want to be good and be able to work out things quickly,” the 26 year-old contended.

Winning series against top ranked opponents have become non-existent by the once world dominating men in maroon. The said debut series for the man from St. Lucy proved to be another catastrophe, being served an empty plate after two oneside Tests. It begged the question, is there any light at the end of tunnel for Windies? According to Reifer building team synergy is the first step

at a spark.

“The more games we play together we will start to get the results we’re looking for and it is just a matter of time before that happens.”

The season’s final round commences on Thursday and the player plans on using it as another opportunity to continue fine-tuning his technique.

“I haven’t got the returns I’ve be looking for in the first 2 matches [since I’ve returned] but I will continue working a lot on the areas I see the need for improvement.”

Looking ahead to the Super50 which begins January 30, he plans on playing his role in helping the Jaguars win a title after coming up empty handed since 2005.

“We need to keep it simple and play the cricket we know how to play. My Plan for the Super50 is to better my performance at the previous tournament as I continue to develop as a professional.”

‘Bad Blood’: Int’l boxers ready for showdown in Guyana

Elton Dharry has arrived in Guyana ahead of his fight with Jesus Garcia on Saturday’s ‘Sangre Malo’ Card

O

verseas fighters have begun arriving in Guyana for the international card “Sangre Malo” at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall this weekend.

The six-bout card that is jointly promoted by the Guyana Boxing Board of Control and Next Gen Global Marketing under the name, Sangre Malo which is Spanish for `Bad Blood’ promises nothing but fistic fury.

Local fighters – Dexter `De Kid’ Marques, Dexter `Cobra’ Gonsalves and Elton `The Bully’ Dharry – will oppose their counterparts from Venezuela, while Shawn Corbin (Guyana) faces Trinidad and Tobago’s Sheldon Lawrence.

Two Barbadian fighters – Anderson Emmanuel and Keithland King – will face off with Guyana’s James Moore

and Anson Green, respectively.

Both Gonsalves and Marques concluded glovework earlier than normal on Monday; the reason being to avoid any injuries that might result from glove work.

Amateur champion Steve Allicock and Orin Bancroft are the duo’s sparring partners and they have both been doing eight to 10 rounds of glove work since that segment of their preparations began.

The main supporting bout on the card will feature Corbin facing Lawrence in a 12-round contest for the World Boxing Council’s Fecabox light heavyweight title.

Corbin is making a return to the ring after losing to England’s Nathen Clevery in 2014 for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental cruiserweight title. He has won 15 of his 22 professional fights and lost five with two draws.

Lawrence has won 10 fights (eight

by K.O’s) and lost one. He won his last four bouts.

United States-based Guyanese, Elton Dharry, who is the current CABOFE and Inter-Continental bantamweight champion will take on Jesus Garcia of Venezuela in an eight round contest.

Dharry arrived in Guyana on early Tuesday while the Venezuelans were also scheduled to touch down later on the same day.

Heavyweight debutants Moore (Guyana) and Emmanuel (Barbados) will face-off in a four-round contest.

Guyana’s Anson Green and Barbados’ King will clash in a fourround junior middleweight contest also.

Fight fans are reminded to get their tickets early as the promoter, Aleem Hussain, has predicted a sold out arena come Saturday night.

sport 53

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

CPL’s economic impact across region almost US$100M in 2017 – Increased spending projected for sixth edition

T

he Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has announced the tournament’s economic impact across the region. The fifth edition in 2017, which took place between August 4 and September 9, created a total economic impact of US$ 95,122,465 across six nations in the Caribbean

and in the USA. This figure has been arrived at by using organizer spend, visitor spend and media value and was calculated for Hero CPL by worldrenowned researchers, SMG Insight.

In addition to that economic impact figure the Hero CPL directly involved 2710 local per-

sonnel in the seven countries where the tournament took place and filled 33,503 hotel rooms during the 2017 event.

The amount of money that was spent by visitors who came to watch Hero CPL matches has increased 161% since 2014.

The value for the seven tournament locations in terms of media exposure was US$ 22,890,940. The global audience for the tournament has increased 12% compared to those that watched the event in 2016.

The Hero CPL spent US$ 12,690,910 across the seven tournament locations. This organiser spend represents an 84% increase from what was invested for the tournament in 2014 and the amount of money that the Hero CPL spends across the region continues to increase year-onyear.

Speaking about the report from SMG Insight the Hero CPL Chief Executive Officer,

Damien O’Donohoe, said: “This is a really strong set of economic impact results for the region and we are delighted with how we continue to grow as a tournament.

We are hugely proud of how much the Hero CPL puts back into the countries that we visit and we are very grateful to the governments and fans that help us make that happen. While 2017 has been fantastic we are firmly committed to increasing our economic impact in 2018.”

In terms of the share of the pie, Guyana hosted four preliminary matches in mid-August and raked in more than US$14,000,000 while Trinidad and Tobago’s economy was bumped up by a whopping US$23.6M. However, the twin island republic hosted nine matches in all comprising five preliminary matches at the historic Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain and the finals week with four matches including the championship match

CPL CEO Damien O’Donohoe

taking place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

In a recent interview with Guyana Times International Sport, Chief Operating Officer of CPL Pete Russell said that in 2018 there is a strong possibility that five matches involving local franchise the Guyana Amazon Warriors will be played in Guyana in two phases; three at the start of the six-team tournament and two towards the back-end.

In terms of revenue, this equates to a bigger cut of the earnings in the next season including more job creation and more hotel rooms being occupied and for perhaps for longer.

The sixth edition of the tournament which is dubbed as “the biggest party in sport” will bowl off early in August with the first match set for Providence. Hosts Trinbago Knight Riders are the defending champions.

54

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

55