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Tahir’s inclusion seen as a boost to Warriors’ bowling line-up Page 52

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com WEEK ENDING april 1, 2018

Legal battle begins ISSUE NO. 390

...as Guyana files border case with ICJ

See story on page 8

Guyanese from all walks are in preparation mode for the highly anticipated Easter 2018 holidays. (Carl Croker Photo)

NY Mayor, US judge awards others Guyana plane crash denounce survivor US$272,000 Trump’s push to Guyanese among add citizenship 271 arrested in US question to immigration crackdown 2020 census Page 3

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

US judge awards Guyana plane crash survivor US$272,000 A United States federal judge has ordered Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to pay about US$272,000 in damages to a Connecticut woman injured in a plane crash in Guyana in 2011.

According to an article from the Associated Press (AP) Judge Michael Shea in Hartford ruled Tuesday that Caribbean Airlines was responsible for the injuries of Waterbury resident Indrawatie Shiwbodh.

The decision came in Shiwbodh's lawsuit against the airline and after a non-jury trial before Shea. Lawsuits by other passengers were settled, and Shiwbodh's case was the only one to go to trial.

Shiwbodh, 47, was among 157 passengers and six crew members on a Boeing 737-800 that overshot the runway and broke in half at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Guyana.

No one died, but sever-

The plane crashed just after midnight on July 30 2011, splitting into two. There were no deaths, however several passengers sustained injuries and had taken legal action

al persons were injured. The flight originated from Kennedy Airport in New York.

The final report of investigations into the accident had found that human error was largely responsible for the incident that caused irreparable damage to the aircraft and injuries several passengers.

It was highlighted that coordination between the captain and co-pilot broke down as the plane landed and the pilots failed to reduce excess power during landing and did not use the plane's full deceleration capabilities.

According to the AP, documents in Shiwbodh's court

case say her head struck the seat in front of her, causing a laceration to her forehead that required several stitches. While getting out of the wreck, she had to jump off a wing about 12 feet above the ground, aggravating a lower back injury and injuring her right knee and right ankle, the

documents say.

Moreover, the article outlined further that Shiwbodh had sought nearly $2 million for medical bills, past and future lost wages and pain and suffering. Her lawyer, Steven Jacobs, said Wednesday that he and Shiwbodh are disappointed with the award amount and are considering an appeal.

The airline settled all other claims in lawsuits filed in connection with the crash by more than 150 other passengers, including Shiwbodh's husband and adult daughter, according to lawyers for Caribbean Airlines.

Terms of the settlements are confidential, and the airline has not admitted to any wrongdoing in any of the cases, the attorneys said.

The airline's lawyers — John Maggio, Zachary Groendyk and Vincent Marino — said the airline conceded it was liable to pay damages, but disputed the extent of the injuries claimed by Shiwbodh.

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EDITORIAL

The Poverty Trap

T

he invitation by President David Granger to the eminent English economist Sir Paul Collier and others, to brief his Cabinet on utilising the revenues from the Exxon oil find, could be seen as putting the oil tanker before the drilling rig.

Coming in the midst of a firestorm of protests – which has now reached the courts — at the one-sided terms negotiated on behalf of Guyana by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, with the oil giant Exxon, many felt the President was attempting to calm the waters with the imprimatur of his knighted guests.

That suspicion was not assuaged when Collier advised “the contract not be torn up” when the Government insisted the terms of the contract were not raised in the briefing. It would appear, then, that the eminent establishment economist was misinformed by someone as to what was at stake here. This is rather unfortunate, because in his popular book, “Democracy in Difficult Places” as one reviewer summarised, Collier pointed out: “Nigeria is a case in point. Its immense oil wealth, which should be used to help the country develop, makes politicians particularly anxious to hold onto office. They employ ever fouler means to do so, and elections thus become little more than organised gangsterism. The violent methods the politicians use become the modus operandi of their period in office, and the whole political system is corrupted.” Collier talks about “the survival of the fattest”. Guyanese are concerned that the very opaque process in which the Government handled the contract negotiation with Exxon portends a return to the authoritarian form of governance that marked the PNC’s first period of governance, between the rigged elections of 1968 and 1985, in which the army was brought out to violently quell protests.

According to the Government’s release, Collier “also spoke of the importance of transforming oil revenues into assets; noting that oil resource presents numerous opportunities, but the Government must develop a sound strategy to transform those opportunities into tangible benefits for the Guyanese population,” But it is in his earlier (2007) book, “The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It” Collier should have been more expansive, since we are in “the bottom billion” and desperately need to know what can be done about it.

Collier proposed four structural “traps” in which the bottom billion may be stuck. First, there is the “conflict trap,” such as those that emanate from deep divisions in some countries along lines of race or ethnicity, and where some groups feel alienated from the national patrimony. In such countries, governments have to be very sensitive to violent, fissiparous tendencies and distribute revenues as fairly as possible so as not to exacerbate the sources of comparison and conflict. Perhaps if Collier had been briefed about the Government’s precipitate closure of four sugar estates and the firings of 5700 mainly Indian-Guyanese workers outside on their “traditional” base, maybe he would have sounded warning bells.

The second is the “natural resource trap”, now staring us in the face with oil, and which Collier did address as adumbrated above. But if he had been thoroughly briefed, Collier surely would have been more sympathetic to the need for directed investments in agriculture, to retain workers who were acclimatised to that regimen, and who, after oil revenues started to flow, could then be redeployed into a more diversified agricultural base.

The third trap identified by Collier is the “governance trap”: of poor policies, cronyism and favouritism etc. that fuel the massive corruption characterising the PNC-led coalition from its inception.

If Collier knew about the Jubilee Park, the Pharma Warehouse and Contracts etc. he might have offered additional advice. While the last “trap” of being “landlocked” may not appear to be applicable to Guyana, with our lack of a deep-water harbour, we might as well be the Belgian Congo as far as getting our exports out to the world.

In light of our history, however, Collier, may have had good reason not to mention one of his chief recommendations for the “bottom billion” countries like us: that G8 countries should intervene – militarily, if necessary — to maintain “stability”.

This is how you do it!: A representative of the Indian High Commission in Georgetown drapes a sari on 2017 Miss World Guyana Vena Mookram at the High Commission’s second Annual Sari Draping Demonstration and Exhibition on March 25 at the Pegasus Hotel.

Guyanese being treated like ‘second-class’ citizens

Dear Editor, I am appalled and disgusted by the atrocious ‘gutter treatment’ of Guyanese by the management of Caribbean Airlines.

This airline is pocketing billions of dollars from Guyanese and is laughing at us all the way to the bank while treating us like beggars and low-class people. The appalling way they treat us clearly shows that they think we are lesser beings who do not deserve top-quality service.

On Friday, March 23, the management of Caribbean Airlines, also known as BeeWee, refused to allow business-class and economy-class passengers travelling on BW601 to step out of the plane during a stop in Trinidad, en route to Guyana. I was one of many Guyanese men and women, senior citizens, business people and others, who were forced to sit on the plane for three long hours while the airline’s management ordered the plane to be cleaned at 3:00 am and simply did not care about keeping us disturbed and inconvenienced.

I was a business class passenger on that flight (not because I can afford it, but my children usually upgrade my ticket out of appreciation and affection). We were imprisoned there for three hours and the airline would not allow us to leave the plane to stretch our legs, use the lounge, or browse the duty-free shopping section. I was told that Caribbean Airlines’ management was afraid that the three business-class passengers would want to eat the food if they let us off the plane to use the lounge. Let me inform them that Guyana is blessed with food, so they did not need to worry about us eating up whatever food they had there.

The trapped and frustrated Guyanese passengers could not even use the washrooms, because the airline ordered that the facilities must remain locked to be cleaned. This would have been no problem if

we were allowed off the plane, but since we were confined to the cabin, we had no choice but to restrain ourselves! Why couldn’t they allow the people travelling to Guyana off the plane rather than forcing us to wait on the plane in misery? Does the management of Caribbean Airlines think Guyanese are not worthy of basic humane treatment?

Caribbean Airlines decided to clean the plane at 3:00 am simply because that is what suited them. Their position was clear: To hell with the tired Guyanese on board!

If some had been travelling for several hours, so what? They did not care that the Guyanese passengers could not even rest or use the washroom while they waited for the cleaning to end. Let me say that three hours on the plane under those circumstances are like three hours in hell. I say categorically that this is psychological pressure. I would actually classify it as terrorism against Guyanese people.

This is not an isolated incident; it happens all the time. Not long ago, Caribbean Airlines took a group of passengers off a plane in Trinidad and forced them to go through customs and immigration needlessly, then put them back on the very same plane to fly to Guyana! Get this: the passengers did not have to change planes. The airline hassled them to go through customs and immigration then put them back on the same plane again. This makes absolutely no sense.

Is this airline’s management incompetent, foolish, or mad?

Let me make it clear that my concerns are with the MANAGEMENT of Caribbean Airlines, not the staff. The airline’s staff members are actually very professional, polite and helpful, from the time I embarked at JFK Airport to the time of disembarkation in Guyana. The pilots, hosts, hostesses and everyone else are good people who, during

our three hours of hell, even tried without success to make representation to the airline’s management for us to be allowed to disembark from the plane. I believe that were it not for the staff, Caribbean Airlines would have been out of business by now.

Furthermore, I also hold our Guyana Government officials partially responsible. I heard that Caribbean Airlines is more flexible with persons classified as “high-ranking officials” and would have allowed such dignitaries off the plane in similar circumstances. Our Government officials know this and they must not accept special and preferential treatment knowing that ordinary Guyanese have to endure being treated with utter contempt.

Our Government officials must use their authority to insist that Caribbean Airlines treats ordinary Guyanese with due courtesy and respect.

Why doesn’t Guyana have its own airline? I marvel that many smaller countries, some that are known to be virtually bankrupt, like Suriname, have their own airline. Little islands have airlines. What is wrong with us?

We once had a famous and competent airline called Guyana Airways. Why can’t we have our own again? If we had our own airline, Caribbean Airlines could not take advantage of us. And what hurts most of all is that Caribbean Airlines is cushioned by Guyanese money. The Guyana route is one of the most profitable of all the routes the airline operates. In fact, I believe Guyanese travellers’ money is keeping Caribbean Airlines afloat.

To the management of Caribbean Airlines I say: stop treating Guyanese like second-class citizens. We are your valued customers; you get good money from us. Treat us with dignity and respect. We will not keep quiet until you do.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Sr

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘A burden for future generations’

…Opposition says of G$30B bond secured for GuySuCo

C

lose to one month after announcing plans to seek a syndicated bond worth G$30 billion to assist with the revitalisation of the cashstrapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), it has been announced that Government was successful in acquiring this loan from several commercial banks.

Head of the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Colvin HeathLondon told sections of the media on Wednesday that the bond was secured at good rates with several banks, including Trinidad-owned Republic Bank being the major lender.

He disclosed that the disbursement of this massive loan to GuySuCo could take place in two weeks’ time.

Heath-London who also heads the new GuySuCo Board said discussions regarding a proposal for these commercial banks to take a sum in exchange for what is owed to them have also been initiated. According

to him, those discussions are going well and it is hoped that these institutions will buy into the idea.

The idea behind the borrowing of this syndicated bond is to assist the SPU with the reopening of the estates as an example to prove to potential investors that they are viable. HeathLondon was clear that the loan will also assist with plans to make GuySuCo debt free and return the industry to profitability.

He also disclosed that plans are being made to pursue several other new initiatives which include producing plantation white sugar and packaging sugar for concentrated markets, and starting a molasses and cane juice business, among others. He described the initiative as creating a new GuySuCo. The Opposition is of the firm view that the idea of securing a syndicated bond is mainly aimed at clearing the multibillion-dollar liabilities that GuySuCo has accrued, in order to give “handpicked” investors a clean slate and better op-

SPU/GuySuCo Head Colvin Heath-London

portunities to maximise their profitability when they purchase estates.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had said the money Government hopes to acquire as a loan to fund the operations of these sugar estates should be acquired before mid-March. He also declared that revenues generated from the sale of estates and other assets would be used to repay the loan.

Some 4000 sugar workers from Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon were dismissed from their jobs following the downsizing of the sugar industry which began to

take effect in late 2017.

Opposition’s scepticism When contacted for a comment on the announcement by the GuySuCo Chairman, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is very concerned about the disclosure given the fact that Government had claimed falsely for months that the PPP had left the sugar industry indebted by G$84 billion.

Jagdeo said the loan or bond taken by this Government is bigger than any other loan that has ever been taken by

the PPP. The Opposition Leader argued that if one were to do a closer analysis of the debt Government claimed was left by the PPP, one would recognise that a significant portion of debt is related to pension liabilities, long term debt (contracted on concessional terms), and payments outstanding to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

Jagdeo, an Economist by profession, stated that the G$30 billion bond was a ‘commercial debt’ that may have not even been concluded on concessional terms.

He said the public, like the PPP, is yet to learn what are the terms under which the bond was secured and what are the concomitant consequences of the move by Government.

He questioned whether this move by GuySuCo and NICIL even fits in with the long-standing policy of the current Government to borrow long-term loans only on concessional terms.

Jagdeo therefore expressed scepticism and

worry over the fact that the proposal by the Government to spend G$30 billion on three or four estates could result in a significant portion of the funds being “wasted” given the track record of the PNC Administration and no public statement from the APNU/AFC Government.

He was particularly concerned that future generations would have to carry the burden of paying back the bond that Government has received and will be stuck with the debt.

The Opposition Leader said the PPP would be examining all aspects of the transaction over the next few days and will be seeking answers to ensure that the process to secure and disburse the bond is transparent. Jagdeo said Government will have to disclose whether it gave a Government guarantee as collateral to secure the bond or whether the assets of GuySuCo were pledged.

Either way, he will be seeking pertinent answers and information about the transaction.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jagdeo could give the Hinds and Rodney should not PPP a landslide in 2020 be surprised by their treatment Dear Editor, Since leaving office in 2011 as the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, former president and present Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo is being used by the APNU/ AFC Government to cover up their mismanagement, corruption, incompetence, and inability to create a better life for all Guyanese.

Jagdeo is the only person who could be compared with Dr Cheddi Jagan as a true patriot; as a person who is truly connected to the masses; as a person who walks the walk and talks the talk with the people; as a visionary leader, a person who fights for the

rights of the poor; and as the most popular political figure in Guyana and the Caribbean.

Dr Bharrat Jagdeo is recognised with high standing internationally.

With these eminent qualities in mind, persons are very envious of this great personality, not only in the coalition camp, but others who are ambitious and wicked.

Let me compliment Sherwood Lowe for his letter that he has written concerning the CCJ ongoing case with the third term of presidential candidate. It is very factual and informative.

I am convinced that Bharrat Jagdeo will be the only person who would

give the PPP a landslide victory for the 2020 elections. With any other presidential candidate, the PPP will have to campaign real hard for a landslide victory.

I challenge the AFC/APNU coalition Government that if Bharrat Jagdeo is not credible, then they don’t need to campaign for the 2020 elections. I think desperation is stepping in the coalition camp, because Jagdeo as the presidential candidate is a sure win for the PPP/C in the 2020 elections. A win for the Jagdeo/PPP is a win for the people.

Sincerely, Zamal Hussain

Coalition Government continues to fail the health system in Guyana Dear Editor, The procurement of drugs and medical supplies since the APNU+ AFC Government came into power in 2015 is a complete failure.

If you visit various hospitals and health centres in Guyana, your experiences would be very much shocking because of the time to receive attention; and even if you are attended to and receive a prescription of three drugs, you will not get two basic drugs.

There is clear evidence that two-thirds of your medication is not available at the hospital and health centres. The reason for this is because of the coalition Government’s victim-

isation of certain certified suppliers. There is a vacuum created, and the suppliers who are being favoured by the Government, some of them can’t deliver the drugs and medical supplies in a timely manner, which creates shortages.

Drugs and medical supplies’ shortages continue to be of major concern to every patient that’s going to the hospitals and health centres in Guyana.

During the PPP/C time in office, there were minimal shortages because the New GPC was a very efficient supplier of drugs and medical supplies.

I would like to highlight this situation, because any contractor who is not being favoured by

this Granger government is finding it hard to secure contracts.

Kickbacks and bribes are the mantra in every sector of this Government.

Families, friends, activists and supporters of the APNU/AFC coalition Government are slowly but surely taking over the Government contracts in the entire country.

The actual fact is that the coalition Government continues to fail the health system in Guyana.

Sincerely, Zamal Hussein Regional Health Committee Chairman Region 6

Dear Editor, During last week, we witnessed the mini drama of the Chronicle newspaper standing by its decision to cease publishing articles by Dr David Hinds and Mr Lincoln Lewis. Both men, and some others, have expressed great disappointment at the Chronicle’s decision.

Both are supporters of the APNU, and are, no doubt, feeling betrayed.

This is the continuation by the Chronicle.

Recall Ricky Singh was earlier banned. At that time, Hinds and his cohorts said nothing.

Another member of the WPA, who, like Hinds, has a history of struggle against the PNC dictatorship, also joined in expressing disappointment at the actions.

These gentlemen seem surprised and taken aback by the action to ban them. They are surprised because they chose to forget, and abandoned the strong, anti-dictatorial, pro-democratic position of Walter Rodney.

Instead, they have embraced the racial positions of the PNC/APNU. Having said that, let me hasten to say that Rodney was an even stronger defender of the black working people than Hinds and Ogunseye. However, he was also a strong opponent of black racism.

He was in the mould of Mandela and Cheddi Jagan, who were all opposed to any form of op-

pression of the working people, or of oppression of any race.

The behaviour of the likes of Dr Hinds and Mr Ogunseye is in a way a demonstration of the power of Rodney’s intellect and charisma. It is clear that Hinds and Ogunseye were only concerned about the position of Afro-Guyanese.

However, despite themselves, Rodney was able to pull them along a progressive path — that of freedom for all oppressed peoples in Guyana and everywhere.

Afro-Guyanese suffered greatly under the PNC as well. All our working people, regardless of their ethnic origins, suffered.

That is the only basis for their support. Both between 1964 and 1992, and from 2015 to the present, they have failed in every area: economy, social sector, etc. They are holding on to the racial card; it is the only card they have.

Hinds and Ogunseye have abandoned Rodney.

That is why they said nothing when IndoGuyanese were and are being purged from the public service. Not a word on the obvious racial bias in hiring in the public service; the Elections Commission and public corporations.

Even the black people that the APNU/ PNC attacked, like the farmers at Seafield and Number 41 Village, West Coast Berbice have not been defended by those

“Rodneyites”. They have not come to their defence because they have been sucked into the PNC/ APNU position that those people support the PPP. Our country produced some very powerful intellectuals among all races. Many of them were able to break free from narrow confines of their own ethnic groups to be fighters for freedom everywhere. Cheddi Jagan, Walter Rodney, Ashton Chase, Brindley Benn, C.V. Nunes, C.J. Jacobs, Boysie Ramkarran, Fenton Ramsahoye, E.M.G. Wilson, Janet Jagan are some that immediately come to mind.

The PNC/APNU have not changed. They have never apologized for their anti-independence role, their undemocratic rule, and the accompanying brutality.

All the signs now point to a deterioration in democratic norms. We are moving back to the worst days of the 1970s and 1980s.

Hinds and Ogunseye have travelled some distance, but still find themselves trapped in purely ethnic confines. Maybe their lucrative jobs have stifled their consciences and made them forget the main principles that Rodney stood for. Hinds and Ogunseye should not be surprised by their treatment. It was bound to happen.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

PNC leadership exposed as a cabal of convenience

Dear Editor, Ms. Gertrude Stein’s poem, Sacred Emily, published in 1922, captured an important thought as follows, “A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose”, which clearly outlines what is happening politically under President David Granger.

Every act the PNC leadership takes exposes that leadership as nothing else but a cabal of convenience. And let us, in the interest of definition, outline who makes up this Granger cabal.

They number less than 25 persons in the leadership of the PNC, and comprise of close friends and family members of the Granger family. The PNC rank and file members have no say in what is happening today, so we must not chastise them; they are suffering as much as the non-PNC supporters.

This group that dominates the Granger cabal are the intellectual

authors behind the misconception that their “daddies” left them a transport on political power. Being mainly descendants of the League of Coloured People (LCP), these people operate like if they are the new “Massa”; and, like the LCP and the teachings from their colonial “Massa”, use ethnic mobilization to prop up their political operations.

But the historical facts clearly reveal that this is nothing but a manufactured position invented by the “REAL MASSA” in the 1960s, whose primary game plan was to divide the working class and rule the former colonies from a distance.

The facts will reveal that political independence was earned, but economic dependence was preserved, because this small group, with their anti-working class actions, loyally delivered the assets of the people at pennies on the pound

to the multi-nationals.

Isn’t that what we are observing today under Mr. Granger on this oil contract?

So once the bidding of the international economic hitmen are met, the devouring of the AFC and now the deflowering of the WPA will not even be noticed come 2020. As the General Secretary of the PNC, Ms. Amna Ally, said: this is a “little thing”.

This act against Dr. David Hinds was planned from the day he wrote his very first critical column way back in 2015. This is how Mr. Granger rolls: slowly, but patiently, like a well-camouflaged political python. When the time was right, the strike was decisive and swift.

This was also how Hitler moved in the 1930s: total loyalty was demanded at all times.

Now is the time for the swift political cleanup, and that is why Ms.

Ally can confidently say “…if that (the WPA leaving the coalition) is so, what else can you do…”

The line in the sand has been drawn on the WPA; tek’ it or leave it buster, we on top now.

So do not worry about Mr. Tacuma Ogunseye bubbling his gum. Two shakes up from Ms. Ally and he shall put his tail between his legs and run for the hills. The hypocrisy in the WPA and the AFC today is there for all to see. They pretend not to know that an elite inner core dominates this Granger cabal.

This Granger cabal believes it has titled rights to not consult with the people, but, at the same time, make decisions for self-enrichment, even if it means indebting the masses without their permission. That is why they can make financially reckless decisions to deplete the gold reserves by 85% in less than 20 months.

This same inner Granger clique has depleted the stock of cash in the public corporation by some G$20 billion in less than 2 years, and continues to spend over a billion per year on international travels for themselves, friends and family. These are not accidental acts!

This Granger cabal is no different from the Burnham cabal that ejected all the paying passengers and commandeered the Guyana Airways as he saw fit then. The contradictions of the cruelty in those days was so much that Mr. Burnham demanded the stocking of his flights with the most expensive whiskeys and caviars for himself and his political bootlickers when, as the Head of State, he provided little money for the children of Guyana who were suffering from “beriberi” and white mouth. This is the nature of the Granger ca-

bal, same stripes as the Burnham dictatorship.

Although Dr. Hinds would have made a better Minister of Education than anyone sitting in the Granger cabinet, he shall never be called to serve. Why? In the eyes of the aloft and elitist Mr. Granger, he is nothing but a dark-skinned country boy from Buxton that does not fit in with the group that is running Guyana today, which is made up of mainly urban mulatto descendants from the League of Coloured People.

On Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s 100th birth anniversary, we must all recommit to this struggle against social injustice and economic upliftment in the interest of the working class. With an agent of the “Massa” like Mr. Granger in office, the ALUTA Continua!

Sasenarine Singh

WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Search on for Guyana’s next Top Cop – selection process has commenced, says Harmon

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

By Shemuel Fanfair

O

ne month after former Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud retired from the Guyana Police Force, his replacement will soon be determined as measures are afoot to facilitate the process.

In an interview with Guyana Times International on Wednesday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon confirmed that the process to find a substantive replacement has begun.

“For the question of appointing a Commissioner of Police…

I will say yes the process has been kick-started and that work is going on in that regard,” the Minister disclosed.

When questioned if acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine is being considered for the post of most senior Police Officer, Harmon by his response hinted that others may be in the running to head the law-enforcement body.

“There is a process and it will basically give others an equal opportunity,” he stressed.

However, Section 210 of Chapter 1:01 of the Constitution of Guyana outlines that there must be meaningful consultations with the Opposition Leader and Chairperson of the PSC. “The Commissioner of Police and every Deputy Commissioner of Police shall be appointed by the President acting after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and Chairperson of the Police

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine

Service Commission after the Chairperson has consulted with the other members of the Commission,” the relevant section of the Constitution read.

Legal minds have interpreted that this section signals that the President is not bound by the Opposition Leader or the PSC’s input; suggesting that the President could “handpick” a Joint Services rank of his choice.

“If the office of Commissioner of Police is vacant or if the holder thereof is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his or her office, a person may be appointed to act in that office and the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply to such an appointment as they apply to the appointment of a person to hold that office…” the supreme law of Guyana further noted.

While it is still unclear as to who will take up the top post, Minister Harmon hinted last year at the possibility that a female could assume the position of Commissioner of Police.

When he had been asked whether Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Williams was likely to take up the mantle, the Minister of State had observed that female officers are also to be considered when deciding on a Police Commissioner.

“You don’t just look at the male ranks in the Police Force, we have female officers as well.

And therefore, if it is that a female officer is to be the person, then so be it.”

news 7

8 news

WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana files border case with ICJ

G

uyana, on Thursday, field its Application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) requesting the Court to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award regarding the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

This is according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

The Application follows the decision by UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, in choosing the ICJ as the next means of resolving the controversy that arose as a result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 regarding the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela was null and void.

According to

Registrar of the International Court of Justice, Philippe Couvreur (left) and Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge (right)

the Foreign Affairs Ministry, in its Application to the Court, "Guyana highlighted that Venezuela had, for more than 60 years, consistently recognized and respected

the validity and binding force of the 1899 Award and the 1905 Map agreed by both sides in furtherance of the Award."

Moreover, it was outlined that Venezuela

had only changed its position formally in 1962 as the United Kingdom was making final preparations for the independence of British Guiana and had threatened not to recognize the new

State, or its boundaries, unless the United Kingdom agreed to set aside the 1899 Award and cede to Venezuela all of the territory west of the Essequibo River, amounting to some twothirds of Guyana’s territory.

G u y a n a ’ s Application, the release said, notes that while Venezuela has never produced any evidence to justify "its belated repudiation of the 1899 Award, it has used it as an excuse to occupy territory awarded to Guyana in 1899, to in-

hibit Guyana’s economic development and to violate Guyana’s sovereignty and sovereign rights."

Sir Shridath Ramphal, who is Guyana’s Legal Adviser on the GuyanaVenezuela border controversy had earlier expressed his confidence in Guyana’s legal team, noting that “the case is in good hands. It is in the hands of the same team that won the judicial proceeding with Suriname. We’re going to work again to finish the job.”

Under pressure, Govt says will place US$18M oil bonus into Consolidated Fund

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he US$18M signing bonus which was received by the Guyanese Government from ExxonMobil will now be placed into the Consolidated Fund before it is used to make any paymentsparticularly to Attorneys who will be fighting the Venezuela border controversy case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Minister of State Joseph Harmon, during the Post Cabinet press briefing on Thursday said that the bonus, wherever it is would be placed into the Consolidated Fund and it is from that fund that “any team whatsoever will be paid whether they are working or worked before or work after.”

However, when probed as to when this will be done, Harmon asserted that that action is left up to the Finance Minister, Winston Jordan.

He confidently stated that the Minister will do so when it is time.

The existence of the oil bonus- which was placed in a private account by Governmentand the renegotiated oil agreement with the United States Oil Giant was kept a secret until December last, when evidence of the transaction was leaked in the media.

Prior to that the Finance Minister had said the bonus never existed.

After mounting criticism, President David Granger defended the secrecy by saying it was the thing to do at the time.

Government then continued to defend its move to not deposit the signing bonus into the Consolidated Fund by saying that it was hold-

ing the money to pay legal fees for Guyana should it have to take its border case with Venezuela to the ICJ. However, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament, and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall contended that the $US18M deposited into an account established by the Minister of Finance within the Bank of Guyana and kept there without depositing same into the Consolidated Fund is in “breach of and contrary to, the letter and spirit of Article 216 of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana and Section 38 (1) of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Chapter 73:02.”

As such, a court case was made out against Government.

Questioned as to whether this decision to have the money placed into a Consolidated Fund was as a result of the PPP’s court action, Harmon responded in the negative. “No, no, no it’s not as a result of the PPP’s court action. It is just prudent fiscal management,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Administration’s decision to now put the monies into the Consolidate Fund also comes after observers had begun speculating that it was no longer in the Bank of Guyana account.

Commenting on the issue, Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference on Wednesday had said he is still upset with the manner in which they Government dealt with this matter, since the money was kept secret until it was brought to the public’s attention through the media.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt had nothing to do with firing of Chronicle columnists – Granger

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ays after it was alleged that a Government Minister had complained about the content of the articles written by outspoken columnists, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive, Dr David Hinds and veteran Trade Unionist Lincoln Lewis, President David Granger on Wednesday denied that there was any political interference in the decision to discontinue the columns that often times criticised the coalition Administration.

“I have not interfered, my Government has not interfered (in the decision)… You heard me over the years, I’m a strong support of the free press. I’m also a strong supporter of responsible press, I’ve said this over and over again, and I’ve offered to support the Guyana Press Association in their educational work.

And as a politician, I welcome criticisms because this helps me to correct faults and to improve the quality of the performance of the Government so I don’t have any objection,” Granger said, distancing his Administration from the decision to sack the two columnists.

Earlier this week, WPA activist and former Member of Parliament

Trade Unionist Lincoln Lewis

(MP), Desmond Trotman, had revealed that it was a senior Alliance For Change (AFC) Minister who informed the Guyana Chronicle’s Editor-inChief, Nigel Williams, about Cabinet’s dissatisfaction with the writings of the now fired columnists. “…I was told that a senior Minister who belongs to the AFC… was one of the persons who conveyed to the Editor-in-Chief of the Chronicle that there is dissatisfaction within the Cabinet about the direction that those two columnists were going…,” Trotman said during a television programme on Sunday.

He went on to say,

“The previous Chairman of the Guyana Chronicle was at odds with the other members of the Board, because he wanted the Chronicle to go in a certain direction and members of the Board objected to that, and I think it led to his resignation. That person holds a high position in the Prime Minister’s Office, and I sense that he wields tremendous influence… (Because) I suspect that he belongs to the same party that the Prime Minister belongs to.”

However, the Head of State when probed on Wednesday maintained that he is unaware of the circumstances under which the men were fired.

“I have not inquired

about or into the right of the Editor to make editorial decisions. I don’t know if there was a contract (and) if the contract was broken. I don’t know if there has been any improper action but as far as I’m concerned, all I can see is that an editor does what an editor does. He makes the best choices to make sure that his newspaper is newsworthy,” Granger posited.

Further asked whether he thought the content of columns of Lewis and Dr Hinds were irresponsible, President Granger said “It is not for me to say, as I said I did not appoint them. I don’t know what circumstances govern their relationship with the paper and I’m not going to express an opinion about the content.”

Nevertheless, the Head of State outlined that over recent weeks, Government has been implementing regional public broadcasting systems throughout the country, having recognised the need for the public to receive information, particularly through the State media, which would help them make decisions.

“So there is a role for public information and the Chronicle… is a public information medium… Every medium has

WPA Executive Dr David Hinds

a role and as a State medium, I’m sure the Editorin-Chief of the Chronicle would have some perception of the role of the paper,” the President asserted.

The Board of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), parent company of the Guyana Chronicle, had maintained that it played no role in the sacking of the two columnists, saying it was neither consulted on nor approved such a decision.

Despite this, the Board had voted by a one seat majority to support the editorial decision, saying that it has no authority to reverse a decision taken by the Editor-in-Chief who

has the authority to hire, fire and reinstate columnists. However, this has not gone down well with some members, with three of them – WPA Executive Member Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, veteran Journalist Bert Wilkinson and Communications Specialist Karen Davis – tendering their resignation on Tuesday. Since the firing of Lewis and Hinds, several Executives of the WPA have come out condemning the actions of the State newspaper. WPA’s Tacuma Ogunseye has since expressed the opinion that his party should leave the coalition, since its views are being silenced. He has been very vocal in the media.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese among 271 arrested City cop faces High Court trial for alleged in US immigration crackdown rape of 15-yr-old boy

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lmost two months after Lance Corporal Clifton Pellew was charged for raping a 15-year-old boy while he was in custody, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly found that there was sufficient evidence for him to stand trial before a Judge and jury at the High Court.

Following his committal, Pellew was granted bail in the sum of G$500,000 pending the High Court trial.

The City Constable was charged back in February with the indictable offence, which alleged that on August 15, 2017, at the Constabulary Outpost at City Hall, he engaged in sexual activity with the minor.

According to reports, the incident had occurred when the then 15-yearold boy was taken into custody for wandering.

At some point during his detention, the minor was reportedly transferred to the Regent Street Outpost, where the alleged incident occurred.

It was only after allegations made its way into the public domain that

T

Lance Corporal Clifton Pellew

City Hall acted.

In the aftermath of the public allegation, Pellew and another officer, Corporal Quacy Baveghems, were sent on leave pending the outcome of the matter.

There were also accusations that authorities at City Hall have been trying to cover up the issue, with calls being made by rights activists for actions to be taken against the Mayor and Town Clerk.

However, as an investigation began into the matter, it was discovered that Baveghems did not

make a written entry of the incident in the station’s diary.

Pellew and Baveghems were fired, after receiving a letter signed by the Town Clerk.

Mayor Chase Green had said the decision to dismiss the officers came following the discovery of new evidence.

Following protests by activists in Guyana and calls for Pellew to face the courts for his crime, the matter was handed over to the Police who sought legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

he United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers have arrested “271 aliens as part of an enforcement action targeting immigration violators and those who pose a threat to public safety.”

On Wednesday, ICE said that the enforcement action ran from March 18 – 22. ERO officers made the arrests across the state of Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI).

The Enforcement agency in a released statement posited that the immigrants who were arrested came from 36 countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Anguilla, Bahamas, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Chile, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Jamaica, Kuwait, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Turkey and United Kingdom.

Moreover, it was outlined that out of the 271 immigrants “99 had criminal records that included felony convictions for serious or violent offenses, such as 1st degree murder, attempted murder, vehicular manslaughter, rape, aggravated assault, attempted robbery, battery, burglary, child neglect, cruelty toward a child, domestic violence, drugs charges such as possession and trafficking, weapons offenses and

abuse of the elderly.”

ICE said the arrests took place in 23 Florida counties, “including 76 in Miami Dade, 65 in Broward, 27 in Duval, 17 in Palm Beach, 14 in Hillsborough, 10 in Orange, seven in Seminole, five in Manatee, five in Lee, four in Pinellas, four in Brevard, three in Polk, three in Indian River, two in Volusia, two in Bay, two in Martin, one in Escambia, one in Gadsden, one in Lake, one in Osceola, one in Sarasota, one in St Lucie, one in Suwannee, 11 in Puerto Rico, and seven in the USVI.” The agency noted that during the operations, ERO was supported by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.

According to the ICE agency, “arrested individuals who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country. The remaining individuals are in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge, or pending travel arrangements for removal.”

Additionally, it was also outlined that the “targeted individuals in this operation were amenable to arrest and removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act.”

Italian company awaiting approval to commence exploration activities offshore Guyana

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n Italian oil and gas exploration company could be the “new kid on the block”, if the Government of Guyana gives its go-ahead, for it to carry out exploration offshore Guyana.

ENI is a multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Rome.

It is considered one of the world’s largest publicly-owned oil and gas companies, also known as supermajors. It operates in 79 countries and is currently the world’s 11th largest industrial company with a market capitalisation of 68 billion euros.

Earlier on Monday, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman met the company’s Senior Vice President, Guido

Zappala and his team at the Natural Resources Ministry, where he received a plan of action from the company’s representatives.

Minutes after the meeting, Minister Trotman said the oil company had since last year expressed its interest to the Government.

“So, we had a long discussion with them about their practices elsewhere, what they are looking for. And obviously Guyana’s basin has become attractive and they have assured us that they are not worried about the current issue between Guyana and Venezuela. They are prepared to pursue and should there be any cause for concern, they will manage.”

According to Minister

Trotman, ENI, which is partly owned by the Italian Government, has an excellent track record in terms of safety and good environmental practices. The company, he said, has been lending its support to other countries, helping to develop their renewable energy capacity.

“Thirty per cent of the shares is owned by the Government. So, you actually have a company that is undergirded by the Government and is a main driver of the economy of Italy,” he said.

His next move, he said, will be to prepare a report to present to President David Granger for his consideration.

The company has suggested another meeting in the next two weeks.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

PNC dismisses concerns raised by WPA that is Mr. Hinds’ feeling, so be it. I will answer that by saying that the PNC is very strong, and it has good leadership… I don’t care what Mr. Hinds says.

I’m looking after my party, (let) Mr. Hinds look after his party,” Ally declared.

AFC

P

PNC General Secretary Amna Ally

eople’s National Congress (PNC) General Secretary Amna Ally has dismissed concerns from the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) about her party, noting that the PNC still remains a strong and viable option.

In a brief interview with this publication on Sunday, Ally was insistent that the party remained unmoved by the statements being expressed by Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Dr. David Hinds.

Amidst growing concerns that the PNC continues to show disregard and disdain for the spirit and letter of agreements it signed with key coalition partners, Political Scientist Dr David Hinds had said the PNC must

recognize that it cannot win a free and fair election on its own at this juncture in Guyana’s history, as its core support group is no longer emotionally attached to the party.

Speaking with this publication last Thursday during an exclusive interview, Hinds also said current political and electoral demographics are not in the PNC’s favour.

But Ally disagrees

“I have just come back from four meetings in the field, campaigning for this coalition Government. I am confident that we are going to win the next elections,” Ally said. “I don’t have time to discuss David Hinds and any trivial things…

“We have meetings and we discuss these issues. If

Meanwhile, the Alliance for Change (AFC) took care to distance itself from Dr. Hinds’s critique of the PNC, and its behaviour in the coalition.

When contacted, AFC General Secretary Marlon Williams stressed that Hinds was entitled to his views, and that any issue can be worked out.

“That is his view. That is not my view; that is his view. And in this beautiful democratic country, everyone has their own views, and a right to them, too!

Everyone has their interpretations on what is best for Guyana in terms of the coalition.

“The coalition, like any relationship, will have its issues; but, at this junction, the coalition still remains the best option for Guyana. I strongly believe so.

“There are teething issues that need to be addressed, and that’s why the Alliance for Change has written the leader of the APNU. The AFC executive members who have been placed

AFC General Secretary Marlon Williams

in Government are performing very well, as you can see. Our ministers in Government have been performing exceptionally well. So to paint everyone with a broad brush is not justified.

“We have issues — don’t run away with the wrong idea — but it is good for itself,” Marlon Williams stressed.

Dr. Hinds’s comment comes on the heels of widespread suspicions that the PNC, which now has access to Executive power through the coalition arrangement, had no problem contesting the upcoming 2020 elections alone, hence the disregard and neglect shown to the concerns raised by other coalition partners about some of the decisions that have been made by the David

Granger Administration without their consultation and consent in some instances.

“The PNC cannot win a free and fair election on its own at this historical juncture. The demographics are not in its favour.

When you add to that the fact that a new generation of African Guyanese (has) no emotional attachment to the party and are more inclined to the APNU, that possibility becomes so remote. The PNC’s only chance of remaining in Government is via a partnership or coalition.

In that regard, it needs the AFC and the WPA”, the Political Scientist had said.

He explained that it was important to note that the WPA and AFC bring votes to the Coalition, be-

cause they reassure voters that the historical baggage of the PNC would be contained.

“So every time the PNC faction behaves in ways that undermine the AFC and WPA, they alienate not only Indian Guyanese, but the growing African Guyanese section of the society that (is) not wedded to party paramountcy and the notion of PNC invincibility,” he remarked.

Dr Hinds also expressed the strong conviction that “African Guyanese voters are not as monolithic in their political instincts as some PNC leaders would have us believe”; and he supported his argument by stating: “…that community has always accommodated a variety of influences. Whether it was Kwayana’s ASCRIA, Rodney’s WPA, Hamilton Green’s GGG, or Raphael Trotman’s AFC, African Guyanese have shown that they are prepared to be plural in their political behaviour.

“That’s why the notion of a Partnership and a Coalition appealed to them in 2011 and 2015, and I think it would again be a deciding factor in 2020. So those who are not worried about dissatisfaction within the coalition are making a serious miscalculation,” the WPA Executive said.

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Guyana acquires new state-of-the-art G$19.4M machine to improve blood transfusion service

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ith the aim of boosting the service capacity at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) Centre, the Public Health Ministry on Tuesday commissioned a Trima AccelAutomated Blood Collection System, known as Apheresis Machine.

This is a device which receives blood removed from a patient or donor’s body and separates it into its various components: plasma, platelets, white blood cells and red blood cells.

The Apheresis Machine, which is the first of its kind in Guyana, is expected to improve the efficiency of emergency blood transfusions by providing specific components. It was acquired at the cost of

One of the trainers explaining the use of the US$19.4M Apheresis Machine

US$94,000 ($19.4 million) from ISLA LAB, a Puerto Rican-based laboratory.

The commissioning of the machine was done by

Public Health Ministers Volda Lawrence and Dr Karen Cummings at the Blood Transfusion Services located in the GPHC compound.

Explaining how the machine works, Director of the NBTS, Dr Pedro Lewis, noted that patients are usually in need of a blood compo-

nent known as platelets but they are unable to obtain the required amount from the current process being used.

Lewis outlined that with the current process they cannot raise the amount of platelets obtained from one donor and as such, four donations of blood are needed in order to the meet the platelet count of an adult.

However, he noted that with Apheresis Machine, the blood bank will now be able to break down the donation from one person, producing four to six times the number of platelets that would usually be obtained from one donor’s blood.

This, he noted, will be a much more efficient option rather than having to go to the relatives of

patients, who are in need of blood, which can be time consuming.

“So it’s easier (using the Apheresis Machine) because if a doctor orders eight platelets, you could get it from one donor,” Dr Lewis explained.

In order to ensure that staffers at the NBTS get optimum use of the machine, they are being trained by professionals from Puerto Rico.

In fact, one of trainers, Lizmariel Vega, who is a Product Specialist, added that the blood transfusion process using the Apheresis Machine is not significantly faster but will also be safe for both patients and donors.

The Apheresis Machine has a lifespan of five years and will be serviced every six months by the makers.

Corentyne gang members remanded to prison

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hree men who turned themselves into Police two days ago were remanded after appearing in two courts to answer to a total of 17 charges.

The charges included 15 for robberies committed on Corentyne residents recently.

Only three of the four were in court on Wednesday to answer to the charges. The fourth accused gang member – Premchan Ramsohai, 22, also known as “Akash”, of Ankerville, Port Mourant appeared on Tuesday in two courts to answer similar charges and was remanded at the Whim Magistrate’s Court and sentenced at the Albion Magistrate’s Court.

Ramsohai of lot 19 Ankerville appeared at the Whim Magistrate’s Court charged with robbery under arms committed on Gankee Bisnauth, 54.

Bisnauth was robbed of her gold jewellery, a Samsung Galaxy cellular phone, and G$60,000; all totalling G$408,000.

He is also charged with stealing a cellular phone from Navini Deoki, and a laptop computer. Another charge stated that he robbed Anthony Dudnauth and three others of cash, gold jewellery and cellular phones at Ankerville. He was not required to plea and will have to return to court on April 19.

Ramsohai also appeared at the Albion Magistrate’s Court to answer eight robbery charges. He pleaded guilty to all and was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

The Police had allegedly arrested him moments after a robbery on Saturday evening. At the time of his arrest, he had a T-shirt

in his crotch which is believed to have been used as a face mask during the robbery. The man also allegedly escorted the Police to where the firearm was kept , while naming his accomplices.

On Wednesday, Surish Kowlessar, 20, of Ankerville Port Mourant; Vishal Ramdass, 26, of Number 77 Corriverton; and Mathew Gangapersaud, 21, of Ankerville were slapped with seven robbery under arms charges when they appeared before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court.

The robberies were allegedly committed at Miss Phoebe, Port Mourant and Ankerville between February 2 and March 16, 2018.

A total of G$1.1 million in cash, jewellery and electronic devices was allegedly stolen from five persons by the quartet.

Meanwhile, at the Reliance Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Renita Singh, the trio was charged with two counts of discharging a loaded firearm; each on a different day and place, possession of a .32 Smith and Wesson revolver and matching ammunition and eight counts of robbery under arms – all committed at High Reef Albion, Sand Reef Albion and Chesney; another Corentyne Village between March 6, and 24.

The men were not required to plea to any of the indictable charges which accused them of robbing persons of a total of G$732,000 in local and foreign currency, jewellery and cellular phones.

One of the charges stated that the men used three firearms and a cutlass when they went to one house. For most of the other charges, it is alleged that they used

one firearm.

Police Prosecutor, Lance Corporal Shinel Matterson objected to bail, noting the prevalence of the offence, that the firearms were used and that there have been a series of similar offences in the same community.

Inspector Althea Solomon assisting the prosecution told the court that all three accused were previously charged before.

Ramdass, she said, was the alleged ringleader for the bandits during another robbery sometimes back.

Meanwhile, Ramdass told the court that he was beaten by the Police. According to the labourer of Number 77, Corriverton, he started to vomit blood after being beaten by the Police.

He showed the court marks on his back from the alleged Police beating.

He also told the court

that during the interrogation, his head was tied in a plastic bag and he was choked with his own belt.

Gangapersaud told the court that he too was beaten and had to seek medical attention. He was allowed to drop his pants to show the court the bandage he received on his left knee when he was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital on Tuesday evening.

Kowlessar also told the court that he received injuries as a result of beatings from the Police while in custody.

Nonetheless, the Magistrate refused bail.

The trio is being represented by Attorney Charrandass Persaud who was attending the High Court when the matters were called. The trio will have to attend the Albion Magistrate’s Court on April 16 when the matters come up again.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

woman further remanded Guyana’s Private Sector Georgetown for attempting to kill cousin urges Govt to address A issue of dumping of inferior products 26-year-old woman, who is no stranger to the court, was on Friday further remanded to prison by Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus on an attempted murder charge.

Lisa Bobb of Royal Drive, Campbellville, Georgetown, is expected to return to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on April 4.

Bobb was charged for wounding Christel Bobb with intent to commit murder.

The court heard that the Virtual Complainant, Christel Bobb, and Lisa Bobb are cousins who reportedly have had several misunderstandings in the past.

On February 14, 2018, at Royal Drive, Campbellville, Christel had just returned home when she was allegedly pounced upon by Lisa, who dealt her a stab to her upper left arm. This attack reportedly stemmed from a misunderstanding the cousins had the previous night.

Christel was rushed to the

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inister of State, Joseph Harmon said Government was working with the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission to enforce compliance with the Consumer Affairs Act to target, among other things, price fixing, conspiracy, dumping of inferior and harmful products, and misleading advertisements.

He noted this move was to protect consumers from errant Private Sector operatives.

The Minister made the statement following a call by former Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) President Ramesh Dookhoo for the implementation of anti-dumping legislation. He made the call at the GMSA’s Annual General Meeting at the Pegasus Hotel on Wednesday.

“We need to introduce anti-dumping legislation in Guyana. We have been preaching this for 10 years… we have moved from a state where we never had anything in 1985 and now we moved to a stage where we import everything. It don’t matter what the standard is. We import everything into

Outgoing GMSA President Shyam Nokta addressing stakeholders

of June 2017, light manufacturing had marginally grown from 1.3 per cent to 1.9 per cent with a 2.4 per cent projected growth for 2018.

A section of the stakeholders

Guyana,” Dookhoo noted.

He said the Private Sector would have written letters to over six Ministers during various Governments pleading with them to provide the relative framework to combat the dumping issue, but had no success.

Providing an example, Dookhoo, who is an executive at Banks DIH, said there was currently a beer on the market selling six for G$1000 causing unfair competition.

In response, Minister Harmon urged the Private Sector to ensure there were no double standards when the Government fully implemented measures to tackle dumping.

“I recall last year when certain arms within the Government started to take steps to clamp down on dumping, many of us here in the Private Sector cried foul. When people were bringing items that were mislabelled and passing it off on the Guyanese consumers, we were castigated about that, but it is the responsibility of the Government and I must say that it is your responsibility as the GMSA to ensure that consumers are protected from these vile practices,” Harmon indicated.

Addressing stakeholders was outgoing GMSA President Shyam Nokta, who noted that despite several measures implemented in the 2018 Budget, most of the proposed measures critical to the manufacturing process and the overall growth of the sector were still outstanding. He added that at the end

“We are still waiting for full-year statistics from the Bank of Guyana for 2017,” Nokta noted.

He added that key barriers to the manufacturing sector continued to prevail, but explained that they were being addressed through the Ministerial Roundtable engagement with Finance Minister Winston Jordan. Additionally, Nokta explained that the GMSA advocated for the removal of Valued Added Tax (VAT) on electricity as well as for locally manufactured items to be given a greater share in public procurement.

“In addition to the removal of VAT on electricity, to have adjusted/reduced tariffs for manufacturing entities based on performance thresholds and incentives for renewable energy technologies most critical for urgent action to address the transmission and distribution system and advance mature and feasible initiatives for renewable energy,” Nokta said.

He also called for the Government to include the GMSA in the booming oil and gas sector, adding that a local content framework was integral to ensuring that local businesses benefit from the opportunities offered by the sector.

Nokta also revealed that in addition to raising the profile of the GMSA, they have been able to spark renewed interest among existing members as well as encourage new members. He revealed that at the end of February 2018, the GMSA would have seen its membership growing by 14 per cent.

Lisa Bobb

Georgetown Public Hospital where she was admitted a patient.

On her last appearance at court, Lisa Bobb had been sent to be mentally evaluated.

Man sentenced to 35 years after being found guilty of raping 10-year-old girl

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t will be at least 35 years before 46-year-old Sheldon Lynch see the light of the outside world following a 12-member jury on Tuesday finding him guilty of raping a 10-year-old girl between December 7, 2010 and January 25, 2013.

High Court Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall handed down life sentences to the offender for crimes which were said to have occurred in the Essequibo district.

The jury considered

the evidence after a few days of trial and returned unanimous verdicts on two counts of rape of a child under 16. However, the jury could not determine verdicts for a third and fourth count.

In the victim’s address to the court, she detailed a harrowing account and said that she thought about suicide whenever she remembered what Lynch did to her. Justice Ramlall, in handing down the sentence, observed that the girl trusted the offend-

er and he violated her, treating her as if she was a woman.

“You have scarred her for life,” the Judge expressed, noting that the offender did not show remorse after being found guilty.

Lynch was represented by Attorney-at-Law Clyde Forde, who had petitioned for the court to temper justice with mercy. The State was represented by Seeta Bishundial and Orinthia Schmidt.

Italian company awaiting approval to commence exploration activities offshore Guyana

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n Italian oil and gas exploration company could be the “new kid on the block”, if the Government of Guyana gives its go-ahead, for it to carry out exploration offshore Guyana.

ENI is a multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Rome.

It is considered one of the world’s largest publicly-owned oil and gas companies, also known as supermajors. It operates in 79 countries and is currently the world’s 11th largest industrial company with a market capitalisation of 68 billion euros.

Earlier on Monday, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman met the company’s Senior Vice President, Guido

Zappala and his team at the Natural Resources Ministry, where he received a plan of action from the company’s representatives.

Minutes after the meeting, Minister Trotman said the oil company had since last year expressed its interest to the Government.

“So, we had a long discussion with them about their practices elsewhere, what they are looking for. And obviously Guyana’s basin has become attractive and they have assured us that they are not worried about the current issue between Guyana and Venezuela. They are prepared to pursue and should there be any cause for concern, they will manage.”

According to Minister

Trotman, ENI, which is partly owned by the Italian Government, has an excellent track record in terms of safety and good environmental practices. The company, he said, has been lending its support to other countries, helping to develop their renewable energy capacity.

“Thirty per cent of the shares is owned by the Government. So, you actually have a company that is undergirded by the Government and is a main driver of the economy of Italy,” he said.

His next move, he said, will be to prepare a report to present to President David Granger for his consideration.

The company has suggested another meeting in the next two weeks.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Defence Attorneys argue for US extradition case to be heard in Guyana’s High Court A ttorneys Nigel Hughes, Darren Wade and Bernard DaSilva, representing fugitive Troy Thomas, stated at Monday’s extradition proceedings that their client could not be extradited.

Thomas explained to

the Magistrate’s Court that it had no jurisdiction to hear the case and there were violations of his client’s rights to be protected as a Guyanese citizen.

Additionally, the string of lawyers requested that the matter be called at the High

Court, where it could be well-addressed.

The oral submissions continued as Attorney Wade disputed that the extradition treaty between the United States of America (USA) and Guyana was ever introduced into local law, and therefore it would have

Troy Thomas

no effect, alluding to several cases in the past.

On behalf of the USA, Stacy Gooding made her appearance and revealed that she would need some time to review the cases, since she was not presented with them before.

In light of these circumstances, the matter was adjourned until April 11 and was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court, where Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus would continue to pre-

side over the case.

Thomas, a Guyanese American, is wanted in New York in connection with the murder of Keith Frank in 2011.

Frank was shot multiple times after a confrontation outside a nightclub.

Thomas was recognised as the alleged murderer after which he moved to Guyana and has not since visited the USA. After receiving information that he was residing in Guyana, the USA had issued a warrant for him earlier this year.

America passport fee increased A US$10 increase in the fee for American citizens applying for their American passport will soon be implemented.

The fee will now be US$35 and will go into effect all over the world next month.

The new fee is applicable to all firsttime passport applicants and certain other applicants who must apply in person, such as mi-

nors under the age of 16.

H o w e v e r , American citizens who apply for a passport renewal by mail will not see an increase.

No other charges for consular services were instituted.

To make an appointment to renew their passport in Georgetown, American citizens should contact the Consular Section via the Embassy’s website.

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American Airlines to begin flying Guyana route on December 20 A

merican Airlines has announced it will begin serving the Guyana market on December 20, 2018, as it seeks to expand its presence in the Caribbean and the Latin America region.

In his initial reaction to the news, Guyana’s Business Minister Dominic Gaskin was quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying: “I am elated. This is good for tourism, good for business and good for Guyana. Only last week LIAT announced direct flights to [Port of Spain] POS from ECIA (Ogle) so this

will give Guyanese and visitors to Guyana two additional travel options in this year alone.”

According to Globe Newswire, American Airlines

has a rich and robust history serving Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America (MCLA). And American is continuing to grow its presence in the region with the

addition of four new destinations. Next winter, customers looking for history, culture and warm climate will have access to three new cities in South America: Georgetown, Guyana (GEO); Pereira, Colombia (PEI) and Cordoba, Argentina (COR); and one new city in Mexico: Oaxaca (OAX).

American is also introducing service to Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE), from its West coast hub at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), making American the first and only airline to offer nonstop service between these two major cities. “We’re

creating a world-class customer experience and as the largest US carrier in Mexico and South America, we are committed to offering more choices with the best schedules for our customers in the region,” said Vasu Raja, Vice President, Network and Schedule Planning.

“As we look to strengthen our network, we’re excited to add more nonstop flights to places like Buenos Aires, maximising connections across our network.”

The new routes will be available for sale starting in April.

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Roopnaraine brushes aside concerns about his health …says “fit and able” to function as Minister in light of concerns over poor performance

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mid concerns over the health condition of Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and whether he can effectively carry out his function as a Government Minister, the man himself has come out to defend the state of his health, explaining that he is in good shape to continue on the job.

Dr Roopnaraine’s statement comes in light of a recent letter written by Rohit Kanhai; a member of the overseas chapter of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and published in Guyana Times. Kanhai claimed Roopnaraine’s health is a cause for concern as

Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

well as the recent political issues that has been brought to the fore.

The Minister who happens to be the leader of the WPA told sections of the media that while he does have some health related issues, it has never made him incapable of carrying out his daily functions as a Minister of Government, and he has no difficulty performing his duties.

He said, “I don’t believe my health affects anything. Yes, I had some issues and was hospitalised for a few days but those issues have been fully dealt with and I am fully capable of fulfilling all duties.”

Kanhai had said in his letter, “…Dr Roopnaraine’s health, which has dramatically complicated these matters. The volatile mix of political and health issues has led to an intolerable situation in which one cannot be discerned from the other. It is now obvious that Dr Roopnaraine’s health issues are being manipulated for political purposes.

While there is a genuine concern by the President for the welfare of Dr Roopnaraine, it obscures the fact that it has also allowed for the manipulation of Roopnaraine to the disadvantage of the WPA. This state of affairs has now reached a breaking point.”

In July 2017, the Minister had tendered his resignation with Government citing health reasons. His resignation came one month after he was removed as the substantive minister of the Education Ministry and placed as head of the newly created Public Service Department under the Ministry of the Presidency.

However, after a meeting with President David Granger, the WPA leader withdrew his resignation and agreed to take up the post as Minister to head a department within the Ministry headed by Joseph Harmon.

With close to one year in that position, there has been little said or done by that specific department. However, Dr Roopnaraine said he is still trying to get his feet wet and plans to hold meetings with all senior members within various departments that fall directly under the Public Service Department. He promised to provide a report that will speak to the accomplishments made since his take over.

Dr Roopnarine who has been relatively quiet ever since being demoted also commented on the ongoing broil between WPA and People’s National Congress (PNC) members. He told sections of the media that the concerns raised by his own colleagues, Tacuma Ogunseye and Dr David Hinds – that the WPA has little to no influence in the coalition – does not warrant a withdrawal from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

He did however acknowledge the need for a meeting with WPA executives to “seriously discuss” the issue of Dr Hinds and Lincoln Lewis being removed as columnists with the State-owned Guyana Chronicle and other important matters of concerns, particularly as it relates to the WPA’s role in the coalition.

“The issue I believe is that the leadership of the APNU of which the WPA is a part has not met recently. I don’t think the party has been disrespected. I believe this issue is best laid at the leadership of APNU; it is definitely something to be addressed,” the WPA explained.

There have been growing concerns that the People’s National Congress continues to show disregard and disdain for the spirit and letter of agreements it signed with key coalition partners, with Dr Hinds stating that the PNC must recogniSe that it cannot win a free and fair election on its own at this juncture in Guyana’s history, as its core support group is no longer emotionally attached to the party.

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NY Mayor, others denounce Trump’s push to add citizenship question to 2020 census

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ayor Bill de Blasio and the Association for a Better New York have warned that the decision by the Trump administration to add a citizenship question, asking every family in America about their immigration status, to the 2020 Census will have a serious, negative impact on New York City, a release from the Mayor’s Office said.

According to the Mayor’s Office, the question is likely to depress response rates among immigrant communities and result in an inaccurate count that will hurt New York State’s representation and federal funding, and, fundamentally, “our American democracy”.

“New York City is joining Attorney General Schneiderman’s lawsuit to stop President Trump from this unprecedented move to politicize the census. A fair and accurate 2020 count is constitutionally mandated to ensure political power and resources remain with the people – where they belong. President Trump’s decision puts our amazing city of immigrants in jeopardy and threatens federal funding for infrastructure, health care and public

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio

safety in New York,” said Mayor de Blasio.

“The citizenship question undermines an accurate census for all America. It stokes fear, increases the likelihood of a false count, and unfairly harms cities and states like New York where immigrants are a deep and important part of the fabric,” said Steven Rubenstein, Chairman of the Association for a Better New York. “We urge Secretary Ross to reconsider this damaging decision that will further discourage these already hard to count populations from participating.”

With a population of 8.6 million people, New York City is the most populous and ethnically diverse city in the United States. Two hundred languages are spoken in the five boroughs and more than 3 million of the city’s residents were born in other countries. New York has the largest Latino, Caribbean, Asian, and African populations of any American City.

The addition of a citizenship question to the short-form Census for the first time since 1950 could reduce participation in the Census from all immigrants, regardless of their immigra-

tion status, the Mayor’s Office added.

Before the administration decided to add this politically-charged question in to the decennial count, the challenges faced by the 2020 Census were already enormous. That is due to highly charged anti-immigrant rhetoric coming out of Trump administration and internet security breaches which have dominated the headlines.

The decennial census count determines representation in the U.S. House of Representatives, is used to draw political district

at federal, state, and local levels, and affects the flow of billions of dollars in federal funds to the State and City. An inaccurate count is also bad for business, as many companies use census data to locate stores and allocate resources.

According to the Mayor’s Office, the flow of dollars to New York State and, by extension New York City, from the federal government is also affected by the census count. An undercount shortchanges the city, hurting its ability to provide affordable housing, maintain infrastructure, and provide for the needs of residents in the areas of education and health, especially related to the well-being of children. These are services that residents of all creeds, nationalities, and economic class use on a daily basis.

The decision to include a question about a family’s immigration status is a bipartisan issue. It will hurt all immigrant-heavy states, including Florida, California, Texas and Arizona. Earlier this year, the United States Conference of Mayors, with more than 160 mayors across the political spectrum issued a letter calling on Commerce

Secretary Wilbur Ross to reject a push to include a citizenship question in the 2020 Census. Civil rights advocates have also raised alarms over the question.

Kathryn S. Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City said: “The census is important and the business community shares the concern that a citizenship question will jeopardize a complete and accurate count.”

“Anything in the census questionnaire that suppresses participation would pose a serious threat to the fiscal health of New York City and State,” said Carol Kellermann, President of the Citizens Budget Commission.

“It is essential that everyone residing in New York City be counted in the census of 2020,” said Betsy Gotbaum, Executive Director of the Citizens Union. “Without a complete count, federal funding for many programs will be reduced.

Programs like Medicaid, supplemental nutrition programs, Medicare Part B., Children’s Health Insurance, special education grants and many more programs that affect everyone’s lives. turn to page 24

Senior WPA members call on President Granger to deliver on promises made …say will not stand by and let country slip into dictatorship-styled Government

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ongtime Working People’s Alliance (WPA) activist, former Member of Parliament Desmond Trotman, revealed that it was a senior Alliance for Change (AFC) Minister who contacted the Guyana Chronicle’s Editor in Chief and related Cabinet’s dissatisfaction with the writings of columnists David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis.

Senior members of the WPA have since explicitly stated they would not stand up and let Guyana slip into a dictatorship-styled Government, because they, along with others, would have fought against that.

They have since called on the APNU and President David Granger to deliver the type of governance it promised its supporters.

During a televised programme on Sunday, Trotman said the Chronicle’s assault on press freedom began sometime earlier, and rose to climax with the firing of Lewis and

Desmond Trotman

Hinds.

“The previous Chairman of the Guyana Chronicle was at odds with the other members of the Board, because he wanted the Chronicle to go in a certain direction and members of the Board objected to that, and I think it led to his resignation. That person holds a high position in the Prime Minister’s Office, and I sense that he wields tremendous influence,” Trotman said.

“I suspect that he belongs to the same party that the Prime Minister

belongs to; and so when I was told that a senior minister who belongs to the AFC…was one of the persons who conveyed to the editor in chief of the Chronicle that there is dissatisfaction within the Cabinet about the direction that those two columnists were going…,” he posited.

Since Chronicle’s EIC, Nigel Williams, fired Lewis and Hinds, several executives of the WPA have come out condemning the actions of the state newspaper. WPA’s Tacuma Ogunseye has since expressed the opinion that his party should leave the coalition, since its views are being silenced.

He has been very vocal in the media.

In this regard, Trotman said he would have had discussions with at least two high ranking People’s National Congress (PNC) officials who have since expressed their support for the views of Ogunseye.

Tacuma Ogunseye

He noted that although the WPA issued a firm statement on what that party thought is the denial of press freedom, it was Ogunseye’s letters to the local press that generated the interest in the matter.

The former MP explained that the Government is forcing its supporters away with its attempt to stifle criticisms of its policy direction.

“When you go in that direction (of silencing your critics) you’re forcing people to go under-

ground and take positions life-threatening to this thing we call the coalition… When we sat down to discuss what led to the formation of the APNU, we took a whole range of things into consideration, and those views were represented in the Statement of Principles of the Party.

We were concerned about the trampling of press freedom, and we swore (that) in a new dispensation that will not happen,” Trotman noted.

Meanwhile, also appearing on the programme was Ogunseye, who noted that the WPA, despite being a founding member of the APNU Coalition, does not have any “effective places” in the Cabinet; and, as such, depends on the inclusiveness of coalition politics.

“I think that when an issue becomes an issue, where those in the Cabinet feel that they got to take action, the first place they were supposed to come to is to as-

semble the party and say these two columnists creating problems, and have a debate on it, and let (us) see how we could deal with it,” Ogunseye said.

“It is this high-handedness of the Cabinet…I don’t understand it politically. You’re not giving the political process a chance to alter behaviour; because you got the power to make things happen the way you want them to happen, you exercise that power and everybody must shut their mouth. I mean if that’s not dictatorship, then what is it?” he questioned.

Williams wrote to Hinds and Lewis, informing them that their contracts will be terminated effective March 12, 2018 in an effort to rebrand the state newspaper. The duo have since called the Government out as being the one who made the decision to have them fired because of their critique of its performance.

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Jagdeo says talk about “return to local democracy” pure rhetoric W ith the Local Government Commission complaining about continued control being exerted over its operations

by Central Government, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is of the view that Government has shown it is not serious about local government.

This assertion was made during a recent press conference, when the Opposition Leader cited recent complaints from Commission Chair Mortimer Mingo.

According to Jagdeo, Mingo’s difficulties are reminiscent of the fight it took to even get the Government to set up the commission.

“How disappointing!

Well, I shouldn’t say disappointing, knowing all along that it was just a rhetoric about the return to local government democracy,” Jagdeo said. “They took great credit for returning local government democracy, for ten years stymieing it in that body that we had, the Joint Committee.”

The former President pointed to the conduct of Communities

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Minister Ronald Bulkan. Following another Mayoral elections for the Region One municipality of Mabaruma ending in a tie, Bulkan wrote to the Town Clerk, Barrington Ward, citing the incumbent Mayor Henry Smith as the winner.

Mortimer Mingo, who is the Chairman of the Local Government Commission, was quoted in sections of the media as stating that since the commission has not received the G$110 million allocated in the 2018 budget, it has not been able to hire permanent staff.

“This is what

Mortimer Mingo said: ‘G$110 million budgeted in 2018, we have not received any money as yet.

We don’t have a permanent office and we cannot hire any permanent staff’. So Bulkan continues to exercise the functions of this body, which is a constitutional body,” Jagdeo said.

“They didn’t want to put the Local Government Commission in place.

We had to fight for that to happen, (and) eventually it got appointed,” Jagdeo recalled.

Difficulties On Friday last, the PPP members on the Local Government

Commission had much to say about the workings of the commission.

Commissioners Norman Whittaker, Clinton Collymore and Carol Sooba were sworn in since October of last year, but, according to them, the body is being propped up as just a front, while Central Government essentially runs the show. The commissioners complained that at every level they are being stymied by the Government, when Government is actually supposed to ensure the commission’s autonomy.

The Commission was sworn in last year October, after a lengthy delay. The parliamentary Opposition had named its nominees to the Local Government Commission since 2016.

However, since the Government did not submit its nominations, deadlock had resulted.

One of the first public deadlines that Minister Bulkan gave for the body to become functional was at a press conference during the time of the March 2016 Local Government Elections.

Asked during the latter part of the month

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

for an explanation, the Minister had moved the deadline to the end of June 2016.

In the Budget estimates for 2016, some G$30 million was allocated by the Government to the non-functioning Commission. When asked, Bulkan had stated that this was to allow the Commission to operate independently of Central Government.

The commission is charged with, among other things, control over who gets appointed as officials in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and other local authorities. In addition, it

would have to approve budgets for the NDCs. By law, the commission is to be made up of eight members.

The members of the commission include four nominated by the Government, one from the unions, and three nominees from the Leader of the Opposition.

The Commission’s members are Mortimer Mingo, Clement Corlette, Marlon Williams, Jo Ann Romascindo, Andrew Garnett, former Local Government Ministers Whittaker and Collymore, and former Georgetown Town Clerk Carol Sooba.

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Just a matter of time before paid parking is reintroduced in Georgetown – Clarke I t is just a matter of formality before the metered parking system is reintroduced in the City of Georgetown, as City Hall is all set to vote to adopt the amended by-laws proposed by the Re-negotiation Committee.

At Monday’s Statutory Meeting, Councillor Ivelaw Henry moved that the Standing Orders be suspended to deal with the urgent issue of voting and accepting amended by-laws, and it was after a highly emotional debate that the vote was deferred to April 4.

Team Legacy’s Councillor Malcolm Ferreira, said he received his copy of the 76-page amended by-laws sometime around 20:00hrs on Saturday. He highlighted that enough time was not provided for him

to properly examine the document.

“I feel we should have more time. Given the fact that the last by-laws were found null and void by the court of law in Guyana, I feel we should have been given more time to peruse this document and gain legal advice as it relates to parts of it; and I am doing so to protect the city from a recurrence of what happened previously,” Ferreira noted.

The Councillor urged his colleagues to support a deferral, because of the time allotted prior to the discussion. He said the parking meter project has been a controversial one, hence the city could not afford for it to be scrapped once again.

Responding to the assertion that the bylaws were thrown out by the court, Town Clerk

Royston King related that the court ruled the process to be invalid, and not the by-laws.

“This is the start of another process that will determine how this ends up, so can’t we take some time at this stage of the process to totally digest this document in front of us? I can’t pronounce on it right now. To vote yes would be unfair, to vote no would be unfair; so you are putting me in a position where I can’t vote on it,” Ferreira explained.

However, Ferreira’s inability to toe the line did not seem to go down too well with former PNC General Secretary Oscar Clarke, who emphatically stated that installing parking meters is the legal right of the Council, and he went as far as saying that they will be implemented.

Guyana, France discuss possibility of student exchange programmes

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Education Minister Nicolette Henry and French Ambassador to Guyana, Antoine Joly

ith the aim of strengthening bilateral relations through the education sector, Guyana and France have discussed the possibility of exchange programmes for students and teachers between the two countries in addition to an increased offering of the French language in local schools.

These proposals were among a number of matters addressed during dialogue between Education Minister Nicolette Henry and French Ambassador to Guyana, Antoine Joly on Monday.

“We could have Guyanese teachers go to France to teach while improving their knowledge of French, especially since Haiti is a member of Caricom,” Ambassador Joly was quoted as saying.

He added, “It is my hope and plans to have Guyana send assistant teachers to teach English and at the same time, improve their interest in French through Government relations.”

In a statement issued by the Education Ministry, it was observed that there were also discussions on improving relations with the French Guiana University and the University of Guyana.

According to the release, Minister Henry, in response, dubbed the proposals as “good and useful opportunities to build capacity to teach and learn French”.

She was quoted as saying that the Ministry “is interested in the exchange programmes for six months for teachers and will work on all other possibilities for education development of teachers and students towards a more balanced society”.

“France is also looking for opportunities to improve the way English is being taught in their school system and the Ambassador was adamant that Guyana is as good an English-speaking territory as any other to field teachers to teach English,” the statement added.

Minister Henry added that she would have the Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson “work as the point of contact for the Ministry of Education to work out the modalities”.

Ambassador Joly said that President of the French Guiana Assembly, Rodolphe Alexander said he would work with French Guiana authorities to make bilateral relationships possible for an improved education sector among others.

He also signalled interest in an interface with the Guyana Government via an official visit later this year.

Minister Henry has expressed pleasure at the proposed visit and stands ready to interface with Alexander to ensure that discussions are had on a commonly agreed path for education development.

Minister Henry also spoke of the ongoing education efforts for the promotion of the greening of the Guianas on the Guiana Shield through student exchanges.

Councillor Oscar Clarke

“We are not going to move away from our legal responsibility. Under the law, we can initiate parking meters in Georgetown, and we will.

No matter how many people you bring to gather and make noise outside, that doesn’t change the position of Council.

Council has a right and Council will carry out that right,” Clarke said.

M e a n w h i l e , Chairman of the Renegotiating Committee, Akeem Peter, explained that the amendments are presented on a separate page, and that councillors should trust the recommendation of the committee.

“I don’t know the motive behind asking for more time, but personally, thinking without emotion or without

an ulterior motive…if the committee has submitted (the 6 pages of amendment) to you for your perusal/approval, then I believe that they should trust the judgment of the committee,” he noted.

“I don’t see the need for an extension of time, (where) I see the need, is for councillors to take their jobs seriously, because this is a project that has been going on for a year now,” Peter advised.

In the end, the Councillors were given the extension of time and would meet on April 4 at 14:00hrs to complete discussion and vote on the amendments.

Following re-negotiation, SCS and the M&CC 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.

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

Under the modified contract, both parties have agreed to have an oversight committee set up to monitor, review, and manage the operation of the project. The committee is expected to have three representatives from City Hall, 3 from SCS, and one third party with the terms of reference for the committee expected to be agreed upon at a later date.

The Committee’s report noted that during the renegotiations, the subject of share profit and contractual obligations were discussed and it was agreed to have it remain the same being the 20/80 M&CC-SCS 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.

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President orders probe into Kingston Seawall deaths

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s there continues to be uncertainty over what transpired during the shooting incident at the Kingston Seawall earlier this month, President David Granger has ordered that an investigation be launched into the deaths of Dextroy Cordis, Kwame Assanah, and Errol Adams, who were shot dead by Police.

The Head of State said that the decision was made at the level of the National Security Committee. It was also decided that the findings of the probe would be sent for legal advice to determine whether there was any culpability for the shooting incident.

“We have ordered an investigation into the circumstances under which the men came to be killed, and I believe some actions will be taken to have the files sent to the DDP (Director of Public Prosecutions) to determine whether there was any blameworthiness in the death of the persons,” Granger told reporters Wednesday morning, describing the response as “decisive and effective”.

According to the President, while he is yet to receive a report

Dextroy Cordis

on the shooting incident, it might already be with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

Nevertheless, President Granger went on to reiterate the need for such a probe when citizens die under abnormal or irregular circumstances. “…On any occasion where there is a death of a person by unnatural means, then that death should be investigated, particularly in the defence of the Police Force…

The law – the Coroner’s Act – requires that the district magistrate conduct an inquest, I don’t have to order an inquest.

Kwame Assanah

I expect it, it’s under the law,” he asserted.

The Head of State has long been an advocate for inquiries into extrajudicial killings, particularly during what he described as the 2002- 2008 “troubled era”. In fact, he has since established a Commission of Inquiry into the 2008 Lindo Creek Massacre which is said to be the first of a series of inquiries to be held in order to determine the intellectual authors of those extrajudicial killings.

On March 15, the Police shot and killed the three men, who they claimed had trailed a

bank customer and were about to rob him on the Kingston Seawall.

At the time, the undercover cops were monitoring several banks in the city as part of a sting operation aimed at arresting the increase in cases of persons being trailed and robbed after visiting commercial banks.

The Police claimed that they came under fire when they confronted the suspects and it was in self-defence that they returned fire, killing Cordis, Assanah, and Adams.

But on Monday, an eyewitness who was re-

portedly working nearby refuted the Police’s version of what transpired and accused the lawmen of executing the trio.

Devon Lyte, a construction worker of Mc Doom, Greater Georgetown, who was working on the roof of the Guyana Softball Association on Carifesta Avenue on the day of the shooting, said he noticed a black car being pursued by a silver motor car.

Soon after, the black car came to a halt and a man exited. Similarly, the silver vehicle stopped and a man exited; he then walked towards the parked black car. “In fact, the driver of the black car was on the ground being physically assaulted for more than 10 minutes before the gunfire erupted and three occupants, as you all know, were all dead…there were no motorcycle which disappeared with any pillion rider or any mysterious rider,” Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes, who was retained by Lyte, told media operatives. He was reading from a statement obtained from his client.

According to Lyte in his statement, all the roads leading to the Seawall were blocked off to vehicular traffic pri-

or to the shooting, as he suggested there was some coordination beforehand.

In addition, the eyewitness said there was no exchange of gunfire.

Following Monday’s press conference, Lyte visited the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, in the company of Attorney Hughes, and submitted a statement to Crime Chief Paul Williams. He was asked to return on Tuesday to be interviewed by senior detectives. But the Police said that the eyewitness never showed up and his Attorney had indicated that his client needed another 24 hours to sort out some issues.

Hours after the shooting deaths of the three men, the Police, in a statement, related that the men were followed by an unmarked Police vehicle after they were seen trailing a customer who had left Scotiabank on Robb Street, Georgetown.

While the families of the men have been calling for justice, saying that they were murdered by the Police, acting Top Cop David Ramnarine has since thrown his support behind his ranks, claiming that the killings were justified.

NY Mayor, others denounce...

A citizenship question proposed by the federal government will frighten a significant portion of the population, particularly in immigrant communities. We must all work together to encourage a full count of all New Yorkers.”

“Planning for the region’s future depends on the availability of good data,” said Tom Wright, President, Regional Plan Association. “This action by the Federal government undercuts our ability to get the comprehensive, reliable data that we need from the Census.

RPA’s Fourth Regional Plan calls for increasing civic participation from all parts of our society to shape the kind of cities and regions that work for all of us. This goes in exactly the opposite direction.”

“This is a clear attempt to intimidate immigrants and working class people of color while also providing a means to disenfranchise and deprive these communities of the vital services and resources they rely on,” said Hector Figueroa, president of 32BJ. “As a union with thousands of members who are immigrants or live in immigrant communities, we are committed to helping all of our

members maintain their rights and access to services as Americans.”

“It is essential that every New Yorker is accounted for in the census, and we are concerned about anything that would suppress participation. New York depends on its fair share of funding from the federal government for services and infrastructure its residents need, and an accurate census is a critical part of the process,” said Carlo Scissura, President and CEO of the New York Building Congress.

“By discouraging huge numbers of immigrants from participating in the census, this unnecessary question will make it more difficult for hospitals to provide effective, culturally competent care,” said Greater New York Hospital Association President Kenneth E. Raske. “First, an artificially low census count means less Federal funding for public health programs that hospitals rely on. Second, flawed census data will compromise hospitals’ efforts to pinpoint the specific health care needs of the communities they serve. GNYHA strongly opposes the addition of this question.”

“This move is a scare

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tactic aimed at some of our most vulnerable communities and could prevent New Yorkers from receiving the resources and representation we’re owed. Not only is this a faulty way to collect data, but it is the latest reminder that this administration disregards the many contributions of immigrants to our nation,” said Julie Samuels, Executive Director, Tech:NYC “The Queens Chamber of Commerce believes that collecting accurate economic and demographic data is highly beneficial to New York City and Queens County in particular. Data from the Census is fundamental to distributing federal resources appropriately,” says Thomas J. Grech, President & CEO. “Many of Brooklyn’s small businesses are owned and operated by New York City’s thriving, immigrant community. At least 40% of Brooklynites are from another country. They are a vital part of the borough’s economic and cultural health and must be counted in the 2020 Census, regardless of their citizenship status,” said Andrew Hoan, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO.

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India has contributed significantly to Guyana’s culture -First Lady at India Namaste exhibition

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uyana’s First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, on Sunday, joined the Indian High Commission for their Sari Draping Exhibition, ‘Namaste India’ at the Pegasus Hotel. Delivering the

feature address, the First Lady spoke of the rich contribution India’s culture has made to Guyanese culture through food, dance, tradition and fashion.

“Here in Guyana, we have benefitted from the

contributions of Indians to our culture… The Indian contribution has blended with contributions of other ethnic groups. So, for instance, there is, therefore, neither surprise nor confusion when you are invit-

ed to a Guyanese home and are offered a meal of dhal puri and curry or metemgee or chow mein or pepper-pot and, if it’s Christmas, some garlic pork. Guyanese of all races and religious beliefs celebrate Phagwah and Diwali with their Hindu compatriots, many of whom leave their Diwali lights up for the Christian celebration of Christmas…

This proves the universal appeal of happiness and celebration. This is what we’re witnessing here this evening,” the First Lady opined.

The Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, His Excellency Venkatachalam Mahalingam, in his opening remarks, indicated that the High Commission was motivated to host the event

again because of the prodigious turn out in 2017.

“When we had this sari draping exhibition last year, we never thought that it would be an annual feature but looking at the overwhelming response we had last year we decided we’d like to have this event as an annual event,” he said.

The High Commissioner also indicated his interest in hosting an elegant sari competition to usher in Diwali celebrations, challenging all willing partners to step forward.

The event also featured an exhibition of Indian dance, history, cuisine, fashion and art. Also present at the event were Minister of Business, Mr. Dominic Gaskin, former First Lady, Mrs. Deolatchmee Ramotar and other distinguished guests. (DPI)

WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

7 WORDS FROM THE CROSS

By Pastor Haniff Bacchus, Calvary Assembly of God

“F

or the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).” The Cross of Jesus has been made popular by fanciful designs and used decoratively in buildings and even worn by individuals. The Cross, however, was not attractive in the first century. It was made of rough wood and was a symbol of intense suffering. Jesus suffered and died on a Cross. When we understand the truth of why He died and the intensity of how He died, we find God’s powerful message to a world He loves.

God’s desire is that none should die in sin and perish in a lost eternity. The Cross of Christ is where His love met with justice.

Sin’s price was paid and man is redeemed to our Heavenly Father. From the Cross, Jesus spoke seven times.

THE WORD OF FORGIVENESS Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” You wonder how a man can suffer excruciating pain and pray for His tormentors.

One would expect the victim to rail in violent resistance. Who was He praying for and offering forgiveness? There were the Romans who inflicted pain, the religious leaders who orchestrated His false trial and condemnation, His disciples who deserted Him, and more. We all have a part in His suffering. He was willing to take the pain and agony to pay for our sins. 1 Peter 2:2125 says, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” This is the word of forgiveness. If we repent we will be forgiven because He paid the price.

If we acknowledge this, we ought to live righteously for Him. THE WORD OF HOPE Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” It is possible this thief knew something about Jesus. He certainly saw as man, who was expected to curse and rail at His tormentors, pray for them. He realized this man was different. So, he asked Jesus to save him. The Master tender-

ly replied he will be taken into Paradise that day.

It shows how simple it is to be saved although he was a criminal. We do not need ceremonies, large donations or pilgrimage and building temples to be saved. Simple ask Jesus to forgive you and save you.

The songwriter put it this way, “"the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives." But what about the other thief? He had the same opportunity, but he chose otherwise. You can choose today; choose salvation in Jesus!

THE WORD OF CARE John 19:26-27 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” Jesus cared for His mother and secured a place for her safety and provisions. John was chosen to act as her care-giver. The Christian life is not merely rituals and words, but living it out practically. We must care for one another.

Jesus places importance on family, women, and the aged. Christians must do the same. The love we receive from the Cross is to be shared with others.

THE WORD OF SEPARATION Matthew 27:46 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The weight of the sins of the world was a great burden to bear. One song says, “I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sins upon the Cross.” There were no sympathizers. Even the Father could not comfort Him or relief His suffering. He must bear the full brunt of the price of sins if mankind is to be redeemed.

We are thankful for His Substitutionary death. All we need do now is humble ourselves and ask God’s forgiveness for our sins. The penalty is already paid.

THE WORD OF AGONY John 19:28 “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” Execution by crucifixion was not to be compared with simple death by sword. His humanity was demonstrated in pain and now extreme dryness. He lost blood and it was difficult to breathe. He was thirsty. As Son of God, He could have saved Himself, but the price had to be paid.

As man, He felt the intensity of agony.

THE WORD OF COMPLETION John 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed

his head, and gave up the ghost.” What was finished?

Not only His earthly life and ministry. The Law had served its purpose.

Redemption’s price is fully paid. The souls of mankind can return to our Heavenly Father and find a home in Heaven forever.

THE WORD OF SURRENDER

Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” At the same time, Jesus surrendered His spirit into the hands of the Father. It is not all over. On the third day, He will rise again and be crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords forever.

Let us surrender to Him who lives and reigns forever. Take your family to church this weekend.

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Bartica Regatta

By Chevon Lim

B

oth visitors and locals are in for an exhilarating Easter weekend; from participating in traditional kite flying, to joining in the adrenaline filled Easter Rodeo in Lethem, there is much to celebrate and enjoy.

There are many fun-filled activities during this period, ranging from the traditional Pakaraima Mountain Safari to the relatively new Sand Creek Rodeo.

The Easter weekend celebrations commence with Good Friday observances on March 30th and stretches to Easter Monday, April 2nd. Picnicking, kite flying and general enjoyment are all components of the annual Easter festival in Guyana.

In Georgetown, the Botanical Gardens, the National Park and along the sea wall families gather to celebrate together.

These areas are hot spots for Easter

a

home n d

abroad.

This exciting period commences with the ever popular Pakaraima Mountain Safari, which commences today, 25th March and which will culminate on April 1st.

This journey of over 600 miles winds through 25 Amerindian Villages, between mountain passes and over mountain tops to the amazing Orinduik Water Falls. This frontier is blessed with a wide range of flora and fauna and the rich history of our indigenous peoples. This Mountain Safari is organised by Rainforest Tours.

This event is followed by the Bartica Regatta and its impressive lineup of activities beginning on March 31st and stretching until Easter Sunday. For those who seek a m o r e adventur-

Bikers participating in the annual Pakaraima Safari

Safari

a c - tivities; here you can see thousands of kites of all colours, sizes, and shapes flittering the air as adults and children alike hoist them high.

For many Guyanese their activity of choice varies during this period; where some prefer to bask in the religious nuances of the occasion, others prefer to relish in the revelry and excitement surrounding all of the fun filled events that are staged across the country .Whatever the choice, this celebratory period will be littered with a multitude of events stretching from Region 6 to the Rupununi; each expected to attract thousands from at

ous holiday, the Lethem Rodeo also commences on March 31st and runs until April 1st as well. This popular national event is staged in vaquero country, and competition runs high among the various ranches of the region.

Now an Easter tradi-

tion, the Rodeo brings thousands thronging to the destination, by planes, cars, or 4x4 trucks. Held in Lethem, the activity will allow visitors the opportunity to see cowboys from the various ranches pit their skills against each another in friendly competitions. With its origins in the 1960's, the event has gained national and international reputation, drawing increasing spectators and participants from around the world.

It is a historical tradition and a celebration of the cowboy lifestyle that Guyana’s Rupununi Savannahs are renowned for.

While these are some of the main events during this celebratory period, there are many other activities staged across the country, these include GMRSC Motor racing which will kick off today, the Savannah Drive to the Rupununi and Orinduik Falls slated for March 27th, the annual Lake Mainstay Car and Bike Show for March 31st and the Sand Creek Rodeo slated for April 2nd.

Most of the activities will culminate

on Easter Day, Monday April 2nd when the skies over the city will be adorned with kites of all shapes, colours and themes expertly navigated by the thousands of Guyanese and tourists flocking one of the popular venues to participate in this age old tradition.

For many families, the annual activity is highly anticipated and the Easter Holidays would be incomplete without a trip to the #63 Beach for heaping helpings of relaxation, sun, food and family fun for everyone. The festivities at the beach are an integral part of the promotion of domestic tourism and allows for the showcasing of Guyanese Easter traditions, in addition, families flock every year to participate in the annual Kite Flying Competition there.

With such an impressive itinerary, it is anticipated that next few weeks will see an influx of visitors; whatever the choice, regardless of the preference, one thing is guaranteed; Guyana is the destination of choice for the upcoming period and visitors and locals should be prepared to be swept up in the flurry of activities planned to commemorate the cherished occasion.

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Easter Traditions be prepared for his soldiers as they passed through the countryside.

Saalfeld, Germany

In this eastern city of Germany, Easter is synonymous with an egg-bedecked tree that's the source of much local pride. Every year

D

Australia

own Under, the bunny has a nasty rep for being a crop-destroying pest.

So on Easter Sunday, Australian children get their chocolate eggs from the Easter Bilby, an endangered indigenous rodent with rabbitlike ears. Hot cross buns, traditional sweet buns marked with a

symbolic cross, are fixtures on Easter Sunday tables and the name is a very literal one: Before baking, crosses are scratched into or added atop the round, briochelike pastry to symbolize the crucifixion of Jesus. Still, the big eating event of the season is really Pancake Tuesday.

Celebrated weeks earlier on the Tuesday before Lent (the same day that Mardi Gras is celebrated in many cultures), Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake Tuesday) is considered a ma-

Ayacucho, Peru

Given Ayachucho's impressive number of churches—33, one to symbolize each year of Jesus' life—it should come as no surprise that this mountainous city in central Peru fervently celebrates Semana

jor part of Australia's Easter tradition, when pancakes are eaten in abundance prior to the 40-day Lenten period of abstinence.

Haux, France

In the southwestern city of Haux in France, the Easter egg takes on extreme proportions—literally. On Easter Monday, ambitious chefs take to the town's main square to

build a fire and fry up an omelet large enough to sate the hunger of an entire town—it's lunch for up to 1,000 people. Last year's gargantuan dish was just shy of 10 feet in diameter and comprised 5,211 eggs, 21 quarts of oil, and 110 pounds each of bacon, onion, and garlic. Though the annual omelet for the mass-

es has been a tradition for only three decades, many believe it harks back to an instance during Napoleon's reign when the general demanded a giant egg dish

for more than 40 years, a prominent local family has decorated an apple tree outside its home with a spectrum of painted and embellished Easter eggs. What began as a dozen and a half plastic eggs is now a monumental collection requiring nearly two weeks to hang. Last year's tree was dressed with 9,800 eggs, many painted in extraordinary detail with landscapes and town scenes, and some covered in crochet netting and sequins.

Greece

Easter is one of the most tradition-filled holidays in the Greek Orthodox Church, but on the island of Corfu, situated off the northwestern coast of Greece, the Corfiots, ahem, break with mainland convention. At 11 a.m. on Holy Saturday, residents in the city center (also known as Corfu) toss water-filled clay pots known as botides from balconies overlooking the main streets.

The ancient custom of breaking pots in celebration originated with the Venetians, who welcomed the New Year by throwing old pots and other household objects from their windows. Feast table musts include fogatses (a Venetian-style brioche), hard-boiled eggs dyed in deep shades of red (to represent the body of Christ), dove-shaped cakes known as kolompines, and tsilihourda (which the rest of Greece calls mayeritsa, a soup of minced lamb tripe).

Santa (Holy Week) with near-constant activities, both religious and secular. In the 10 days leading up to Easter, ritual processions, music, dancing, temporary markets, and even bull running take place in the flower-blanketed streets, while the nighttime skies are illuminated with fireworks. To balance the exhausting activities, hungry appetites are sated on the eve of Easter Sunday with a feast of 12 traditional dishes. A favorite is chiriuchu, a mishmash of dried corn and mixed meats, including roasted guinea pig, which Peruvians commonly wash down with chicha, a regional beer made from fermented maize.

Poland

If being drenched in water doesn't sound

very appealing, you'll want to avoid the streets of Poland on Smigus-Dyngus (Easter Monday). The custom of young men sprinkling unmarried girls with holy water began as a playful practice intend-

ed to inspire romance; it's since evolved into an all-out water fight.

Monday's watery warfare makes a jarring juxtaposition to Easter Sunday, when families come together over a massive feast to wish

elers participate in Buffalo's annual Dyngus Day parade, making it the world's largest celebration of this lively Polish-American holiday. Festivities kick off as early as Easter Sunday, often last-

each other health and happiness for the rest of the year. A lamb-shaped cake or mold of butter is a typical tabletop centerpiece, while eggs in all forms—fried; boiled; halved and stuffed—are passed around as tokens of good blessings. In addition to zurek, a hearty white sausage soup known for its pungent taste (freshly ferment-

ing through the week, but Monday is the prime time to experience the revelry at its fullest, with live music, dancing, drinking, and eating taking place throughout the city's historic Polonia district before a late-afternoon parade. No Dyngus Day would be complete without polka music, homey Eastern European foods

ed bread is added to the base), hungry celebrants feast on ham and cakelike breads such as babka and chalka.

like kielbasa, pierogi, and sauerkraut, and even water fights like the ones that fill the streets of Poland on Easter Monday. As the popular polka song goes, "Everybody's Polish on Dyngus Day!" (blogspot.com)

Buffalo , New York

It's estimated that more than 25,000 rev-

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ll roads lead to the scenic village of Sand Creek this Easter Monday for the Sand Creek Rodeo 2018. Visitors are promised an exhilarating experience with the impressive lineup of events, which include horse racing, bull riding, greasy pig and much more. Nestled in a valley surrounded by the Kanuku mountain range in South Central Rupununi, Region Nine ( Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), the scenic and serene indigenous community is considered as the largest indigenous community in South Rupununi, with approximately 1,600 residents.

The Village, which is mainly populated with persons from the Wapishana tribe, has incorporated a modern way of life into their traditions; there is a t mix of traditionally built houses alongside concrete houses powered by solar energy, taps with running water in the yards or black tanks of water. Villagers mostly walk, cycle, or hitch a ride on the community tractor to varying destinations.

However, there are a few villagers with vehicles, mostly pickups, since the community can be accessed by road from Lethem.

Residents of Sand Creek engage in the traditional agriculture and animal farming for their livelihood. The rehabilitation of their agriculture building is important to ensuring the success of crops and animals. Residents of Sand Creek are most proud of the developments in the community over the years. The village has a health facility with its own doctor, a nursery, primary and secondary school

(Excerpts from DPI, photos from Sand Creek Facebook group )

A typical home in the community

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Sand Creek Secondary School

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Process to acquire marriage certificate Placing oil hinders Guyana as a wedding destination funds under political control O unacceptable

T

PPP/C advisor Peter Ramsaroop

he creation of a Department of Energy in the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP) with sole control over the purse strings of all oil revenues coming into Government is a dangerous development that must be vehemently opposed on all fronts.

This is according to Economic Advisor to the Political Opposition, Peter Ramsaroop, who said the Department, and not the Ministry “with its control over the deposit account – called Wealth or Natural Resources Fund – is the creation of a slush fund with no parliamentary oversight over the spending of the money receives from our oil fields.”

According to the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) advisor, the Department is no different from outfits created by the People’s National Congress (PNC) and how they were run under that regime during the 1970s and 1980s autocratic rule.

Ramsaroop in fact believes that the recently announced Energy Department to be annexed under MotP, “is part of a much bigger matrix of machinations by the party leader for an autocratic party takeover of Guyana’s oil and gas revenue.”

“What the President has done, has in effect taken control over the revenues to be earned with the oil companies with no oversight, not Parliament to fund the PNC as the Government in Office, always,” Ramsaroop posited.

This atrocity, he said, cannot be allowed to prevail.

According to the Economic Advisor,

the Private Sector Commission has already laid its cards on the table and as such, “it is incumbent on the business community more than any other group to arrest the current developments, so together as a multi-stakeholder grouping – Government, Opposition and civil society – chart and govern Guyana’s oil and gas destiny. Let us not leave it in the hands of a few.”

Ramsaroop maintains, “for all intent and purposes, Raphael Trotman is still the Minister of Petroleum – a portfolio he holds in conjunction with Natural Resources (no longer Environment).”

“Minister Trotman is the person with whom Petroleum Laws dictate and divulge every power – not the President,” he said.

“The Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader, Mr Trotman, has now been left as a rubberstamp – much like had happened with his colleague rubberstamp Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo,” he said.

Ramsaroop also believes the Department flies in the face of international best practices, to have such wealth funds placed under a-political control – so that no one President or ruling party can abuse or laying waste to such a fund.

Ramsaroop expanded that “Minister Trotman would have us believe, like he believes, to have the sole powers to pull the purse strings under MotP and the President is a good thing. Would Minister Trotman still would have said this is a good arrangement if it was the PPP who was doing this,” he questioned.

verseas couples wanting to get married in Guyana may be thwarted by the delay in acquiring their marriage certificate.

This was according to the Director General of the Tourism Department, Donald Sinclair during the launching of the 10th annual Wedding Expo on Friday evening at Roraima Duke Lodge, Duke Street, Kingston.

He stated that the process of acquiring a marriage licence could be a setback for couples coming to Guyana to get married and may be the reason why Guyana is not listed as a tourist destination for weddings.

The Director General however noted that the Tourism Ministry is working closely with the Citizenship Ministry to resolve this issue and more so, to reduce the amount of time a couple has to wait before receiving their certificates.

Sinclair said the law requires a newly wed-

Tourism Department Director General, Donald Sinclair

ded couple to spend 14 days in Guyana before the marriage certificate is acquired.

“We need to pay attention to the legislation which will make it more attractive for persons to get married here, that in itself has been a setback for many years so now we need to look at it from a tourism standpoint,” Sinclair said.

Nevertheless, he noted that if the destination idea is taken much more seriously, Guyana can grow as a wedding desti-

nation.

Brainchild of the event, Captain Gerald Gouveia, while delivering his address urged Government to change the legislation highlighted by Sinclair.

“People leave to go to Jamaica to get married, people leave to go The Dominican Republic to get married; those countries are beautiful but Guyana is amazing, imagine getting married at the Kaieteur Falls or at Orinduk Falls or in the Rupununi or at

Baganara. Young people would love to come to Guyana to get married but can’t so we are using this Wedding Expo as a platform to urge the Government to look into the legislation,” Gouveia noted.

Gouveia further stated that Guyana has the potential to become one of the most sought after destinations in the Caribbean, while noting that certain framework has to be set.

The Wedding Expo, he noted, has been one of such events that can showcase Guyana as one of those destinations over Jamaica – a country where couples flock to get married due to the fact they do not have to wait a long time to acquire their certificates.

The three-day affair was launched with great pomp and high expectations with over 40 exhibitors on show.

The expo is being used as a vehicle to provide yet another opportunity for a couple to get married under the spotlight.

Guyana’s Draft Green State Strategy almost complete – Gaskin

B

usiness Minister Dominic Gaskin on Saturday indicated that the draft Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) was almost complete and would be finalised through consultations with various stakeholders before it was adopted.

“It is expected that once adopted, it will become a blueprint for national development. Its 2030 vision for a green, inclusive and prosperous Guyana is not something that you automatically achieve once you get to 2030. We have to follow a course of action to get there, and technology will be a major factor in getting us there,” Gaskin said.

The Minister made the comments while addressing the opening of GTT’s Innov8 Summit at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel.

Gaskin said technology was a great tool for green development, since it meant more efficient management of the factors contributing to global warming.

“It is through innovation and technology we will find greener ways to do things without compromising on the quality of life we have become accustomed to. Guyana is well positioned to roll out its Green State Development Strategy, because our small popu-

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

lation, our rich resources and our capacity to feed ourselves as well as others will make this strategy affordable and sustainable,” Gaskin noted.

He said one of the major challenges Government would always face was bridging the gap between the coast and the hinterland, but noted that it was already working on that.

He added that with the GSDS, that gap would be bridged further to promote the President’s vision of a green and prosperous Guyana.

“When we speak of an inclusive green and prosperous State, one of our major challenges will always be a disconnect between our coast and the vast hinterland, where

Guyana’s green assets really lie and where much of our natural resources really lie,” he noted.

The GSDS comprises seven thematic areas such as sustainable management of the environment, renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, human health and well-being, and governance. Although the GSDS is not adopted as yet, some aspects are already being implemented at the national level.

One example is the installation of solar panels on Government buildings, by the Department of Environment and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) collaboratively. “…real developments”

The Business Minister used the opportunity to reassure Guyanese that Government would “prudently save, spend and invest oil revenues within a framework that ensures sustainability and will bring great benefits”.

“A lot has already been said and the debate still rages on, but I can say in all sincerity that our Government will ensure that the Guyanese people become the beneficiaries of our country’s natural wealth and I want to urge you all to pay attention to the real developments that are taking place and not become distracted by that tiny vocal minority who seem bent on killing the enthusiasm that we all need to energise us into making the right choices and preparing ourselves for what lies ahead,” Gaskin added.

The Minister’s comment came after reports surfaced of an impending legal challenge against the current contract with ExxonMobil.

A group of Guyanese campaigners is raising international support as it claims Government illegally granted offshore oil licences.

The group’s lawyers are expected to file action in the High Court some time in the coming week.

WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Betrayal…

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…of Integrity

ore than anything else, the opposition PNC/APNU/AFC combined, after 2011, made “corruption” their major plank against the PPP government. They certainly couldn’t do anything about the PPP’s highest growth rate in the region!! Supported by a vicious spit-press, they got some mud to stick; and along the 23-year “incumbency factor”, was probably the reason for the PPP losing the 2015 elections by a whisker.

In their manifesto, the combined promised to eradicate corruption by Government officials through a “Code of Conduct” that would be enacted in the first 100 days!! It was Number 16 on their hit parade, and declared: “A Code of Conduct will be established for Parliamentarians, Ministers, and others holding high positions in government public office to abide by, including mechanisms for demitting office if in violation of the Code of Conduct.”

The PPP had protested without effect; they’d passed an “Integrity Act” early in their administration which demanded that all MPs and Ministers etc should declare their assets annually to the Commission that was established. The PNC, and then the AFC, refused to comply – even though it was the law of the land!!

With this as the background, the populace waited with bated breath for the PNC-led Coalition APNU/ AFC government to enact their Code of Conduct by the end of June 2015 – the promised date.

Well, with THREE YEARS in office coming up fast and furious, your Eyewitness hopes the populace isn’t still waiting to exhale – since the promised Code of Conduct is still just that — a promise!! In the beginning, though, the coalition did deploy a lot of smoke and mirrors to claim the Code was forthcoming. As corruption scandals broke in waves over them – from Jubilee Park to Pharmagate etc – Trotman announced the PRINCIPLES of a Code that were so rarefied it sounded like a remake of the Sermon on the Mount!!

This was handed off to PM Nagamootoo, who was bereft of a portfolio, having been screwed out of chairing the Cabinet!! By now a year had passed, and Nagamootoo announced this Code could be integrated with the Integrity Act – which they’d flagrantly denounced only two years before!! He handed the “Code” to the parliamentary drafters. In the meantime, the corruption in high places grew like Topsy…including the signing of the oil contract.

Another year had passed, and Nagamootoo finally tabled the amended Integrity Act in June 2017 in Parliament. Hope sprang afresh in the bosoms of the faithful – but your (jaded) Eyewitness knew better. And said so!! Another year later, an INTEGRITY COMMISSION – under unchanged laws from the derided PPP version – was set up!

And the Government’s boasting about addressing official corruption!!

…of justice

“Justice” in the legal system we inherited from the British is represented by the blindfolded Roman goddess Justicia holding a sword and scales. The blindfold’s supposed to signal that Justice would ignore personal characteristics like race and (party) affiliations, and disputes would be settled impartially.

But in the case the PNC-led APNU/AFC government’s been building against the PPP officials under SOCU, it does seem Justice is being made to peek under the blindfold while her scale’s seriously unbalanced!!

But the biggest violation of Justice in the SOCU Pradoville case is on what the sword’s supposed to represent – swift delivery of Justice. Truly, it’s been said: “Justice must be swift, sure, and seen to be done, or it’s not done at all”. The audit on the Pradoville land transactions was done way back in 2015 by no other than Chris Ram. What’s the matter? Ram left out some “shenanigans”?? So why not say so?

But we all know what’s going on, don’t we?

It’s all dirty PNC politics, where being railroaded is “justice”! …beyond bounds In the petty and sick denial of the centenary commemorative stamps for Cheddi Jagan, the bard said it best: “O Judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason!”

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Cheddi Jagan: through official American eyes

By Ravi Dev

T

he following excerpts are taken from interviews of US diplomatic personnel done by the State Department to familiarise new personnel posted to Guyana on their experience in Guyana.

ALLEN C HANSEN (1957-1959) Branch Public Affairs Officer, USIS (Interviewed 1988) At the time of my as-

signment to Georgetown, President Kennedy was in the White House.

There was great concern that British Guiana, which would soon get its independence, would very possibly become a second Cuba (as mentioned earlier) inasmuch as the Prime Minister at the time was Cheddi Jagan.

Jagan, usually described as a Marxist, was very friendly with the Cubans and the Soviets. His lean-

ings were certainly in the Communist direction. So the feeling in Washington was that it was time to have a USIS office there.

Theodore J. C. Heavner 1969-1971 Deputy Chief of Mission, (Interviewed 1997) In 1968, just a year before I got there, Burnham was still fresh in the job and Jagan was still waiting in the wings, expecting to be elected at the next election; and not un-

reasonably so, since he was the undoubted leader of the Indian population in that country….He was a very charismatic figure in the Indian community. Burnham, however, in power was repeatedly able to arrange that the elections didn’t come out that way. They were rigged, and we knew they were rigged, and that was fine with us.

In those days, we thought we could not risk having a second communist country in our own hemisphere.

We were concerned about Jagan essentially taking over by violence.

He had been trained and was patronized by the Soviets. He went regularly to Moscow, where he was lionized. He was clearly, at all times, following the Soviet line on all questions of any international importance. He seemed to be almost a rubber stamp for the Soviets. His wife was probably the more astute politician there, Janet Jagan, who was an American and lost her citizenship as a result of being a Guyana cabinet officer, and then was subsequently given it back.

David C. McGaffey 1986-1990 Chargé d’Affaires, (Interviewed 1995) Cheddi was personally very personable. He

was polite, courteous, an interesting conversationalist, but his mentality seemed to be frozen in a time warp. He would just not acknowledge any of the changes in the world that had taken place, not acknowledge what was happening in the Soviet Union, not acknowledge what was happening to socialism worldwide.

He was waiting to restore things to the way they had been when he was young. His wife Janet seemed to be, in my judgment, his intellectual superior. She also, in her ordinary comments, reminded me of listening to radical SDS students in my youth. The two of them had been politically prominent and yet out of politics for 28 years, and they were in a holding pattern.

Dennis Hays 19881992 Deputy Chief of Mission, (Interviewed 2001) Cheddi’s fault was that he was a Marxist without a sharp edge. If he had been a Castro, a Rawlings or any of these guys, he never would have lost power in the first place. He had it, but he let it go. So he was still out there. A quick story on Cheddi, which is indicative of how things worked. He used to go to these communist party gatherings that they

would have, and he would sit kind of in the back because he wasn’t a head of state at this point (in 1968.) He was eight or nine rows back in the audience. This was the time of the Czechoslovakian invasion.

Apparently, a couple of speakers had gotten up from the communist party from Australia and they had criticized the Soviet Union for its actions. So when Cheddi got up and launched into this attack on them — that how dare they question the judgment, the commitment, the dedication of our fraternal brothers in the Soviet Union, who protect us? — he went on and on and on. So he gave this little speech and they broke for lunch, and when they came back, he was sitting next to Brezhnev. From that point on, he was always a front row guy for the next twenty years.

He moved up. He also got a Dacha on the Black Sea. (Jagan returned to Guyana and transformed the PPP the following year, 1969, into an official “Marxist-Leninist party.)

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Elaboratelydecorated bonnets from the Easter Bonnet Parade in New York, last year.

Men also join in the Easter festivities

By Chevon Lim

“A

hat is a flag, a shield, a bit of armour and the badge of femininity. A hat is the difference between wearing clothes and wearing a costume; it’s the difference between being dressed and being dressed up; it’s the difference between looking adequate and looking your best. A hat is to be styl-

ly qualities of a bonnet.

Composer Irving Berlin brought the Easter Bonnet into American pop culture in 1933 with his ballad “Easter Parade,” a chronicle of the annual Easter Sunday pilgrimage from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, down Fifth Avenue in New York City.

In the English tradition, the notion of getting new clothes on Easter to

his argument, Mercutio points out how Benvolio will pick a fight with his tailor for wearing a new s u i t be-

garnered fresh flowers to wear in their hair and in their bonnets.

Lilies,

Easter hat were style during the turn of the 19th century

ish in, to glow under, to flirt beneath, to make all others seem jealous over and to make all men feel masculine about. A piece of magic is a hat.” – Martha Sliter If a hat is a piece of magic, one can only assume the otherworld-

signify inner growth and renewal dates back to Shakespeare. In “Romeo and Juliet,” Romeo’s sage and ill-fated confidante, Mercutio, chastises Benvolio for being too quick to lose his temper; to draw a sword over inconsequential beef. To illustrate

This young lady is adorned fore with an Easter Hat at the Inner Easter, Wheel Club’s annual hat show “Didst thou not fall out with daffodils, azaa tailor for wearing his new doublet/before Easter?” he leas with their red, pink says, designating Easter or even crème coloured a sartorial benchmark. blooms, Hyacinths, purFollowing forty days of ple and white, as well as Lent, filled with drab out- pussy willows and red tufits reflective of a collec- lips are considered traditive “abstention,” Easter tional Easter flowers.

Sunday lifts the fog not If fresh flowers weren't only in spirit, but also in available, women would adorn hats with flowers our wardrobe.

In the US, it wasn’t un- made from paper, as well til post-Civil War society, as ribbon, fabric feathers, towards the latter 1870s, sea shells and pine cones. when women and chil- The popularity of the dren marching in Easter Easter Bonnet peaked in Parades replaced dark-co- 1948 when Judy Garland loured mourning smocks serenaded Fred Astaire with brighter clothing. By with Irving Berlin's the early twentieth cen- “Easter Parade” in a film tury, Americans became by the same name. In more and more invested this number, Garland, in the Easter outfit—the who dons a white organhat, in particular. Because za Derby Hat with pink Easter coincides with sea- and violet rosettes, makes sonal fecundity, women there seem no place as

grand on Easter Sunday as Fifth Avenue in New York City. By now, the Easter Bonnet has become a relic, albeit a delicate and artisanal one, of cosmopolitan splendour.

Easter Bonnets can be whimsical, fantastical, with a hint of fabulist narrative, whether religious, seasonal or cultural, all adding to the magic of the hat.

These days, the Easter Bonnet can be wild, giving DIY crafters a chapeau to embellish with whatever tickles their fancy.

They can also be simple

and playful, subtly nodding to the Bonnet’s modern tradition with a bunny ear or two. What will your Easter Bonnet hold?

(Vogue magazine) In Guyana, there are many Easter hat shows, parades and tea parties which are held annually to celebrate the occasion.

During these events, men, women and children take the opportunity to flaunt their creativity and innovation as they vie for top honours in the various competitions.

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College admissions

By Ashley Anthony

N

avigating the weird world of college admissions; inbox inundated with no reply emails, glossy pamphlets and nerve wracking release dates, for the good half of a year now, I have stopped being surprised when I learn something new about the process.

Although I have already submitted all of my applications, it seems as though, at this point, I could get accepted to a university and still not know everything about the process.

I have so many questions.

Which college is better? Which rankings are biased? How does Swarthmore compare to Tufts or Amherst, and how do they decide which students to admit? How do the Ivy leagues make their selections? What’s the likelihood I’ll get into a given school with my current GPA and SAT scores?

What are the pros and cons of re-sitting the SAT? Honestly, it seems to be that the answers to these questions depend on whom you ask.

I have spent (wasted?) many an hour scouring the boards of College

S

Confidential; reading about the community of each of my schools, reading about who got accepted (and who didn’t), and why they thought they’d been accepted or not. Everyone has their own idea of what schools are looking for, and every time you think you’ve got it down, some outlier posts something that completely contradicts your current understanding of the system.

It’s sort of like trying your very best to win a dance competition but not knowing what style of dance the judges are looking for. Maybe the selection process is specifically ambiguous, so that students can’t change themselves to suit a particular school, and instead are accepted into schools that they “fit”.

Something curious though that I have come across is yield protection, nicknamed “Tufts Syndrome”. Yield protection refers to the practice

atiricus was happy as a lark, even though he’d never seen a lark to know how it expressed “happiness”.

But he’d been educated in the British educational system, and ‘happy as a lark’ – not Kiskadee!

– it was!! For the past year, he’d been given so much stick from the fellas over Trot Man’s negotiation of the oil contract! It didn’t matter he insisted his KFC leaders were Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat. But now, as he entered the Back Street Bar, he would “shut their mouths!!”

“So you fellas hear what Sir Paul Collier said?” Satiricus demanded in a challenging tone.

“Who da?” asked Bungi.

“Hold it right there Sato!” said Hari. “I just remember a story Cheddi used to tell.”

“Really? Cheddi??” asked

of schools rejecting highly qualified students on the grounds that they will most likely get accepted into a better school, and therefore enrol there instead. It is termed “yield protection” since yield is defined as the percentage of students who accept the offer of admission.

The idea is essentially that highly qualified students are unlikely to accept the admission offer, and it is better to waitlist or reject them than have a lower yield. There is too, an argument of “demonstrated interest”, where the school may reject a well-qualified student claiming that they simply do not seem interested enough in the university. They suggest that the student should make an effort to visit the campus, do an interview with alumni, and mention specifics about the school in their college essays. This, I suppose, is to deter students from using the school as a “safety school” – somewhere they know they’re guaranteed to get into (in case all else fails). My issue with this however, is that again, it seems like you’re expected to do certain things but no one ever informs you, and then you’re penalised for

Mean-spirited… not completing the task.

The name “Tufts” in the nickname comes from Tufts University, a school that in the past many have accused of committing the act.

However, in some ways it is understandable why schools would want to admit students who genuinely want to go to the school. In addition to just yield, there are other factors that contribute to a school’s ranking and reputation, for example how happy the students are there. Why would the school accept someone that sees them as a last resort, over someone who views them as a top choice? Who do you think is more likely to rank themselves as happier if admitted? There are some who argue that “Tufts Syndrome” is not real, and is perhaps invented by bitter students having been rejected from schools. Either way, it is still interesting to think about.

There are so many factors that contribute to whether or not you will get into a school, some of which may very well be out of your control.

Breaking good

Satiricus curiously, as everyone at the table put down their bottles. It wasn’t every day that Hari told a story.

“Well, back in the day, Cheddi and his brother Sirpaul, who was his assistant dentist, were staying at a hotel in New York,” said Hari.

“Da mussee w’en he bin a de UN fuh aks fuh independence,” said Cappo, who had been to Accrebe.

“Maybe,” agreed Hari. “And Cheddi noticed they were treating him and Sirpaul like royalty…sending fruits up to their room and all that!”

“Dem mussee hear about Cheddi?” suggested Bungi.

“Naah,” answered Hari.

“When Cheddi got the bill for the room, he understood.”

“Big money?” asked Satiricus.

“Naah!!” said Hari. “The bill was made out to Dr Cheddi Jagan and Sir Paul Jagan!!”

They all cracked up as Cappo asked Satiricus, “Suh wha’ dis Sir Paul seh?”

“Well, he said we mustn’t tear up the contract Trot Man signed!” exclaimed Satiricus. “No country will respect us!!”

“Sato, tell me whe’ Sir Paul come fram,” asked Cappo suddenly.

“England,” said Satiricus with a surprised look.

“Suh wha’ mek dem bruk dem contrak wid de EU?” Cappo asked slyly.

“They didn’t break the contract,” said Satiricus impatiently. “They’re renegotiating it!”

“An’ na da abee want de guvment fuh do?” asked Cappo.

M

…to Father of the Nation

arch 22, 2018 marks the centenary of the birth of Dr Cheddi Jagan. As part of the month-long series of activities commemorating the event, the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) had arranged with the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) to issue a commemorative stamp in the great man’s honour.

Now, commemorative stamps are routinely issued by all countries to mark special events.

In fact, right here in Guyana, the Post Office had issued the first one with a Guyanese face in 1970, when they featured PM Forbes Burnham. In 1976, it struck one for the St John’s Ambulance Brigade.

Under the PPP, in 1993 it issued one to honour Adrian Thompson, the Guyanese mountaineer. The GPOC – now an autonomous agency – issued a stamp in 2003 to commemorate Guyana-Brazil relations. And in 2010, four stamps were issued to recognise the gold and diamond industry. The new PNC-led government saw the GPOC initiating a flurry of stamp-issuing: in 2015 on the Jubilee Independence, and in 2016 on villages etc.

No one said anything when, in Feb., the Minister of Telecommunications, Ms Cathy Hughes, announced the stamp on Jagan would be issued in March. So it came as a shock to the CJRC when, with no stamp forthcoming on the day before Jagan’s birthday, they were told by Minister Hughes to check with the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP)!! But it didn’t surprise your Eyewitness.

This PNC-led government has made clear by every one of its actions that it’s determined to rewrite the history of Guyana to erase all other contributions than those of the PNC. Especially those of the PPP, which refused to disappear between 1964 and 1992, and remains as a standing indictment of its pretentions.

The MotP, in the voice of the President, issued a pathetic excuse that while it recognises Cheddi Jagan as one of the “founders of the Guyanese nation”, they’ll issue the stamp along with one for President Arthur Chung!! The stamp is a “national symbol”, and there must be “equity” in its issuance!!

Now, we all know this is a piece of crock!! If the GPOC’s autonomous, how can the President unilaterally rescind its decision? His claim about the stamp being a “national symbol” is just insulting the intelligence of the Guyanese people. What’s different about the other commemorative stamps? Then President Chung wasn’t an EXECUTIVE President, like Jagan (and Burnham), but was merely a titular figure, acting on advice of the Prime Minister (Burnham). The offices were substantively DIFFERENT! The bottom line is: if and when a stamp is issued, the commemorative events on Jagan’s centenary would have passed, along with his birthday.

This is just being petty and mean!

…to Justice Kennard

In another of its studied petty and mean-spirited actions, the President had also removed former Chancellor Kennard as head of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), saying he was “too old”. Even as he traduced the Constitution to appoint a just-as-old (Chief?) Justice Patterson as GECOM’s Chair!! So the headless PCA’s been unable to investigate the tsunami of transgressions committed by the GPF, bemoaned even by the President and his Security Minister!

The latest Police action drawing demands for an investigation was their alleged killing of three men at the Georgetown seawall, after being accused of trailing a bank “withdrawer” to rob him. The silence of President Granger and his Security Minister is in stark contrast to a similar killing of a trio in 2013 at South Road.

Then, with the PPP in office, Granger had reminded them that the DFC had recommended that PCA be given its own investigators to look into the Police killing persons from “depressed communities”. He said ultimately, the killings emanated from the “incompetence” of the Ministry!

What says he now about Ramjattan?

…to medical personnel

The new GHPC CEO complains that medical personnel at the GHPC don’t get any respect from patients and their relatives.

Don’t the latter realise that, especially here, payback can be a b*tch??!!

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Over 2M ounces of gold expected from Aurora’s underground mining operations A

urora Gold Mines is earmarking an investment of US$120 million for underground mining over the next 15 years, and it is estimated that some two million ounces of gold could be produced therefrom.

This disclosure was made on Sunday during a media tour of the Canada-based company’s Aurora Gold Mines in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), where this new operation is planned to be conducted.

While giving media operatives a tour of Rory’s Knoll Pit, which is currently the largest on site, Mine Manager at Guyana Goldfields Inc., Clyde Gillespie, disclosed that drilling is expected to begin later this year.

According to him, the depth of the open pit is currently 80 metres below sea level. However, when drilling begins for the underground mining, the depth of the pit could reach 1.2 kilometres below sea level.

The official noted that many Guyanese will have a chance to work in the underground mining.

The idea, according to Gillespie, is to hire contractors who will, in turn, train the local workforce Meanwhile, the company has outlined a process by which it would work towards maintain-

ing the operations sooner than its initial forecasted date would allow for longer time to train and get the workforce up to speed.

Caldwell noted that a higher quality of gold lies below the base of the Aurora Mines, but the company cannot expand the pit further because of the Cuyuni River, so the other option is to go un-

also been spent on risk analysis and drill testing, including hydrology testing, soil testing, rock mechanics, and so on.

In a feasibility study report released by Guyana Goldfields just over a year ago, it was stated that the development of the underground operation was scheduled to commence in 2022, with first production ex-

derground. This method, he added, would result in less disturbance to the environment.

Moreover, Caldwell stated that in order to start driving tunnel underground, the company has already expended some US$4 million to conduct studies, all of which found positive results about the operation.

In fact, he noted that several million dollars have

pected in 2024 at the cost of US$129 million.

The study results show underground mining creates minimal surface subsidence, and indicate water inflows are manageable, as has been proven by existing open pit mining activities.

The company is looking to be the premiere underground mining not only in Guyana, but in all of South America.

Guyana Goldfields Inc’s gold mining operation

ing safety against a collapse of the tunnel leading to the underground gold deposit. It was explained to media operatives that geotechnical engineers will help to determine how this could be achieved.

Gillespie said, “There are many different types of ground support we use, but it’s all engineered, and we test those roof bolts to determine how much stress or how much pressure they will take. So, in that, we will assure that our people can work safely underground.”

Another company official explained that workers would drill the underground tunnel from another pit dubbed Mad Kiss Pit, to access the ore deposit at Rory’s Knoll.

While Rory’s Knoll Pit may contain more ounc-

es of gold underground, another pit dubbed Mad Kiss could contain 107,000 ounces of gold.

Open pit mining at Rory’s Knoll is expected to continue for the next three and a half years, smaller pits to 2031, and underground mining would begin in 2018 and last until 2033.

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Goldfields Inc., Scott Caldwell, first announced this major investment in early February. In revealing these plans, Caldwell said studies have already been completed, and a feasibility report would determine the commencement date.

Caldwell explained that the company had initially forecasted starting underground mining in four years’ time, but

has decided to bring forward those plans. “Our previous (outlook) was four years from now, so it would have started in 2022… (But) this study is looking at starting sooner than that,” he disclosed.

Since commencing operations, the Guyana Goldfields Inc, which operates the Aurora Gold Mines, has touted its intentions of starting underground mining.

According to him, start-

Haiti media association condemns T&T used silence of police as search car dealer continues for missing journalist shot dead

P

ORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — The National Association of Haitian Media (ANMH) Tuesday said it is concerned at the silence of the police and judicial authorities following the disappearance of photo-journalist Vladjimir Legagneur.

The ANMH said that he left for an assignment in Grand-Ravine, in the district of Martissant, on March 14, one of the areas where, in recent years, gang clashes have been particularly violent. The ANMH said it was calling on the Director General of the National Police of Haiti and the Government Commissioner of the jurisdiction of Port-auPrince “to make every effort to find Vladjimir Legagneur and reassure his family, his loved ones and his colleagues”.

The media group

in ambush

said that while many officials including Limond Toussaint, the Minister of Culture of Communication, have expressed some concern about the disappearance of the photo-journalist he has not been found.

The ANMH said that Toussaint statement that the police and judicial authorities “are hard at work “is the first official reaction of the government in this matter.

The spokesman for

the National Police of Haiti (PNH), Frantz Lerebours, said the authorities have received no information regarding the journalist's disappearance.

“In such cases, without a ransom demand, we fear a fatal outcome,” he said, adding “the situation is very worrying but we cannot presume of his death without having found his body.”

The head of the Latin America of-

fice of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Emmanuel Colombié, has also expressed concern about the slow pace of the investigation.

“It is extremely worrying that, 10 days after his disappearance, the police were unable to bring no new element,” he added.

In recent years, a number of people including journalists and media workers have disappeared without ever having been found.

Sheron Sukhdeo

U

sed-car dealer Sheron Sukhdeo was shot and killed last night in an apparent ambush along Caroni Savannah Road, Charlieville.

Sukhdeo was reportedly shot repeatedly near the home of his mother-in- law and taken for treatment at the Chaguanas Health

Facility.

He owned a string of used-car lots which advertised the sale of luxury vehicles as well as a fleet of highend vehicles including Lamborghini, Bentley and Mercedes Benz.

Last year, he was hauled before the court after his wife, Rachael, posted images of domestic abuse on social media. She refused to testify and the charges were dropped.

Sukhdeo had been before the courts charged with receiving two stolen vehicles and is on $200,000 bail.

There were reports of another fatal shooting in Never Dirty, Morvant last night after a man was shot dead on the street. (Trinidad Guardian)

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Success of ‘Hichki’ gives us confidence Vishal Singh on dating ‘Chandrakanta’ coto produce universally appealing star: It’s a clear case subjects: Producer Maneesh Sharma

R

ani Mukerji starrer Hichki is enjoying a good run at the box office, having collected over Rs 20 crore in just five days. According to the producers, the project had recovered its cost even before the release, through “non-theatrical revenue aperture.”

Maneesh Sharma, the producer of the film, is delighted with the overwhelming audience response.

“Such reaction is truly humbling. We backed a film that was raising important social message and could affect genuine social change… The Rs 20 crore budget inclusive of all costs was recovered before the film released at the theatres through non-theatrical revenue aperture,” he said in a statement.

“The success of Hichki gives us a lot of confidence to produce such universally appealing subjects that can touch the hearts of audiences worldwide,” he added. In the film, Rani plays the character of

Naina Mathur who has Tourette Syndrome, which forces an individual to make involuntary repetitive movements or sounds.

Earlier, talking about the success of the film, Rani said in a

statement, “With the incredible love that audiences have showered on Hichki and on me, they have proved that for them good cinema and good performance is the only thing that matters – not marital status, not parenthood.”

Hichki is directed by Siddharth P Malhotra. The film focuses on turning disadvantages into opportunities and staring down at challenges that life throws at one and ultimately winning over them.

On the box office front, the film that started its box office journey on March 23 has maintained a strong grip so far.

The film had collected Rs 3.30 crore on its opening day but it seems Rani’s act as Naina and her character’s journey has led to good word-of-mouth promotion for Yash Raj Films’ production venture.

In a matter of five days, the film managed to earn Rs 20.10 crore. (Indian Express; with inputs from PTI)

Present Bollywood generation more equipped to handle spotlight than we were: Twinkle Khanna

A

ctor-turned-author Twinkle Khanna, who is married to actor Akshay Kumar and is a mother of two children, says that the current generation of Bollywood is more equipped to handle the glare of the spotlight, thanks to social media.

“It has become increasingly more difficult to keep our children shielded within our fishbowl existence but I also console myself with the fact that this generation growing up with social media at the forefront is probably more equipped to handle the glare of the spotlight than we were,” Twinkle said when asked how she maintains her kids’ privacy keeping in mind that so much of scrutiny nowadays is related to star kids.

Akshay and Twinkle tied the knot in 2001 and together they have son Aarav and daughter Nitara. Recently, she turned a producer with Akshay starrer PadMan, which was based on the short story The Sanitary Man of Sacred Land in Twinkle Khanna’s book The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad, which has already sold

100,000 copies.

The short story was inspired by the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social activist from Tamil Nadu who introduced low-cost sanitary pads.

PadMan had opened to great reviews and went on to collect a total of Rs 81.68 crore at the box office, becoming one of the highest grossing films of 2018.

Talking about the film, Twinkle had earlier said, “I hope this movie (PadMan) becomes a movement where women are no longer held back or shamed by their biologi-

cal functions. My primary motivation to make a movie on menstruation was to bring awareness to a subject that so far has been tucked away in shadows and like Voldemort is never mentioned.”

When asked if Twinkle is open to writing an autobiography in the near future, she said, “I think when you write a book about your own life it’s very difficult to be completely honest even with yourself. Fiction will paradoxically always have more honesty than a memoir.” (Indian Express; with inputs

of IANS)

of opposites attract

T

he sets of ChandrakantaEk Mayavi Prem Gaatha recently witnessed a young romance between the lead actors Vishal Aditya Singh and Madhurima Tuli. The couple wants to take their relationship slowly and want to know each other more. While Vishal had been mum over the news leak of their affair, he finally decided to open up exclusively to indianexpress.com.

At the start of our conversation, Vishal said that he is completely surprised by the sudden media attention. “I am so much in demand suddenly, and it’s really strange for I know it will die down soon. To be honest I have never spoken about my personal life and I wouldn’t like to discuss it too much.”

With a smile, he further shared with us, “See, I don’t really understand the concept of dating. I come from a small town in Bihar and I have never got the opportunity to propose a girl, so all this is a new world to me. As for Madhurima, after shooting together for a few months, we realised we have a bond and that’s when we decided to spend more time together.

I respect women and emotions and so I don’t want to blow trumpets. We know what’s happening between us and we would like our privacy.”

The couple have been together for a while now but have no plans to think about marriage.

Laughing out loud, Vishal quipped, “We are just getting to know each other and that’s how we would like to take it ahead. Let us enjoy our time, it’s too soon to even think about marriage and all.”

While Vishal and Madhurima come from similar region and have the same family values, they are completely different people. “We may have had similar upbringing but we are poles apart. In our case, it was completely ‘opposites attract’ and that’s what got us together it seems.” When asked to mention the qualities that he liked in her, the young actor quipped, “I think when love happens, you don’t count and pick on qualities. You don’t see compatibility for you accept the person as they are. So I can’t define it in words but we both are exploring each other’s various sides.”

Talking about the success of Chandrakanta, the actor said, “I am really proud of the way people have accepted our show and it has been constantly doing well for a year now.

There are a lot of people who put down supernatural shows but let me tell you, it takes a lot to make it. It also demands a lot of energy from actors and requires you to have a certain kind of persona, and not to forget an impeccable command over the language. It’s easy to criticize but there aren’t a lot of actors who can actually pull these off with full conviction. (Indian Express)

Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor’s chemistry was great: ‘102 Not Out’ director Umesh Shukla

V

eteran actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor agreed to do “102 Not Out” soon after the narration of the script, says director Umesh Shukla. Billed as the most unusual father-son story, “102 Not Out” is based on playwright Saumya Joshi’s popular Gujarati play of the same name.

“When we narrated the idea to both of them, they said okay to the script within 10 minutes. Once they knew

the essence is so good, beautiful and playful, also with lot of depth and emotions, they liked it all,” Shukla said.

The upcoming comedy-drama reunites the

powerhouse performers on screen after 27 years.

The two actors have earlier appeared together in films such as Kabhie Kabhie, Amar Akbar Anthony, Naseeb, Coolie

and Ajooba.

“Their chemistry was great. They both were very comfortable with each other,” Shukla says.

In the trailer, Bachchan is seen as a fun-loving friendly father, while Kapoor appears as a boring son. “In personal life, Chintuji (Kapoor) is quite reserved and Bachchan sir is very jovial. Both are fun loving persons,” he says.

The Oh My God director says the team

did extensive research on getting the look right for the two actors. “A lot of references came from the kind of clothes Gujarati people wear and their appearance, body language, the way they talk, accent,” Shukla says.

The film features Bachchan as a 102-yearold man and Kapoor will play his 75-year-old son.

“I want to tell the audience – live life to the fullest and deal with problems as and when they come. At the age

of 80, you can live like a 20-year-old and vice versa. At any age you can be a happy person,” Shukla says.

102 Not Out is presented by Sony Pictures Releasing International, in association with Treetop Entertainment and Benchmark Pictures. The film, set for release on May 4, is produced by SPE Films India and Treetop Entertainment.

Sony Pictures India will also be distributing the film worldwide. (Indian Express)

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Anna Faris on spilt with Chris Hemsworth wants his new Chris Pratt: We obviously found identity from ‘Thor Ragnarok’ to stay in ‘Avengers Infinity War’ cultivated the idea of a beautiful family C

A

ctor Anna Faris has said she was angered by the social media reaction to her split from Hollywood star Chris Pratt. The duo separated in August last year after eight years of marriage, and identical divorce papers were filed in December, with both citing irreconcilable differences. Faris said she was annoyed at how some people mourned their breakup and dramatically proclaimed “love is dead”, after holding the pair up as an example of the perfect couple.

“I had a little bit of a childish feeling like, ‘Oh, come on, grow up,’ like, a little anger. Chris and I did talk about, like, ‘Oh boy… (we’re letting fans down)’, and we got on the Twitter feed (messages like), ‘Love is dead’ and ‘relationship goals…’,” she said on the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. The 41-year-old actor, however, believes they were partly to blame for having “cultivated the idea of… this beautiful family” with their previous social media photos.

“I do think, we obviously cultivat-

ed something (the idea of a perfect relationship), and it was rewarding for a while, like, ‘Oh, people seem to think that we got all this s*** (sorted), that’s nice!’,” she said.

Faris is not sure if she would be willing to walk down the aisle again in future. “I need to figure out what the purpose (of marriage) is. Is it safety for your children? Is it convention? Is it so other people respect your relationship more? For me, I’m just not quite sure where it fits,” she said. (Indian Express)

hris Hemsworth was an unknown entity before he began playing Thor in Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now, he is a household name.

Although he essayed the Marvel character before Thor: Ragnarok as well, it was this Taika Watiti directorial that really utilised his comedic talents. So much so that Chris Hemsworth wants his character to stay that way. While speaking to Cinemablend, Chris recalled that he had told the Russo brothers, ‘I came into this and called Joe and Anthony and said, ‘Look, don’t write me the old Thor, we’ve got a new Thor now’.

Thor: Ragnarok was a radical reinvention of the character in MCU that had been dour and too selfserious before. Ragnarok’s Thor was a man with a

sense of humour, even though he lost his hammer Mjolnir to his evil sister. Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Watiti had directed small, relatively independent light-hearted comedies like Hunt for the Wilder people and What We Do in the Shadows before. This was his first big project, and he did wonders. But more importantly, he did not compromise on his core filmmaking ideals. The resulting film was a laugh-out-loud film with a lot of heart and trademark Watiti humour

that his fans would recognise.

The film also provided Hulk the much-needed character development.

Due to the character not having its own independent movie, it had not seen much progress in terms of character depth.

Thor: Ragnarok changed that. The film did not surprisingly become a huge success and it is understandable that Chris Hemsworth wants his character to stay the way it was in Ragnarok. (Indian

Express)

Aquaman: Director James Wan reveals Rosamund Pike wrote to director Rob why DC film’s trailer is not here yet Marshall to play Mary Poppins in sequel quaman, being the

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only DC film release in 2018, is awaited by many. Critics are wondering whether it can redeem DC Extended Universe. Most have high hopes considering the Jason Momoa and Amber Heard film is being directed by James Wan, a man with proven blockbuster credentials having helmed The Conjuring and Furious 7. Those who are waiting for the film’s trailer, Wan has some news.

In a Twitter thread, Wan revealed why we have not seen a teasertrailer of Aquaman till now. “Hey friends, I usually do my best to avoid internet noises (especially fabricated distractions) but a teaser-trailer going out this weekend was never in the books — despite what some claim. It’s not because of anyone or any nefarious reason holding it back — IT’S ME. (1/3),”

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he said.

James Wan, who is famous for his horror movies, used many underwater puns that go really well with the movie he had directed. “I am simply not ready yet to share. This movie is filled to the gills with VFX, and the process is as slow and laborious as a sea-slug! Yes, even shots for the trailers take forever to do, and I refuse to put out anything that might be construed as subpar. (2/3)” Puns aside, this is a genuine concern. DC fans think this film may make or break DC Extended

Universe. Jason Momoa’s Aquaman was one of the few things that fans and critics loved about Justice League. “I know it seems like nothing much is brewing above the surface, but I can assure you, we’re working nonstop under the waves. (Ps: And yes, I plan to use oceanic puns/ references every chance I get),” he added.

Aquaman also stars Patrick Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Yahya AbdulMateen II, Temuera Morrison, Dolph Lundgren and Nicole Kidman. It will release on December 21, 2018. (Indian Express)

ctor Rosamund Pike said she wanted to play Mary Poppins in the franchise reboot and also reached out to director Rob Marshall to show her interest. The 39-year-old actor said she thought writing to the filmmaker to let him know she was interested in playing the magical nanny in “Mary Poppins Returns” would help her land the role, which later went to Emily Blunt. “(I wrote to him) ‘Just so you know, I would really love to be Mary Poppins’. It’s worth putting your hat in the ring for things sometimes,” Pike told Total Film magazine. The actor will be next seen playing a German terrorist in Jose Padilha’s “Entebbe”. She said she wishes to work with the directors who are passionate about

their work.

“I really want to know the director has to make the film. It’s not just a job. I felt that very strongly with Jose for ‘Entebbe’. You want to

know, does this person have a strong take? Is it in their blood?”

Pike added working on “Hostiles” was “traumatic” experience for her.

The actor, who played a mother who lost her family in a violent attack in the film, said, “I’ve had to live in a very, very dark place for a while. It was really traumatic. “It felt very real. When I rewatch that, I feel it was something I lived, rather than something I acted in,” she said.

Rosamund is thankful directors have given her opportunities to push herself with her performances. The List quotes her saying, “I think it’s to do with being free to experiment. I think directors see that I’m prepared to get my hands dirty. (Indian Express)

‘Black Panther’ box office collection: Marvel film collects US$630.9 million to become highest superhero grosser in US

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lack Panther has become the highest-grossing superhero film in the United States till date.

The Chadwick Boseman and Michael B Jordan starrer wrested the crown for the highest earning film in domestic markets from 2012’s The Avengers. Black Panther has earned 630.9 million dollars till Sunday and thus overtook The Avengers’ 623.4 million dollars mark. The Ryan Coogler superhero film is still very much in theatres and may overtake 2015’s Jurassic World that accumulated 652.3

million dollars.

Released on February 16, Black Panther follows the story of Wakandan king T’Challa

who returns to his homeland after the events of Captain America: Civil War. He ascends to the throne but is chal-

lenged by Michael B Jordan’s Killmonger. The film earned praise for its progressive values, mostly black cast, sympathetic portrayal of African cultures, and performances.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Black Panther holds a 97% rating – most for any superhero movie.

The consensus of Tomatometer reads, “Black Panther elevates superhero cinema to thrilling new heights while telling one of the MCU’s most absorbing stories — and introducing some of its most fully realized characters.”

It is incredible that a standalone film has beaten the first ever live-action team-up film in the history of superhero movies. Black Panther, however, is still behind The Avengers and its sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron in worldwide earnings. It stands at 1.23 billion dollars globally, while The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron earned 1.51 billion dollars and 1.40 billion dollars respectively. Now Black Panther is behind only four films – Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Avatar, Titanic, and Jurassic World. (Indian Express)

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Guyana’s Britton shines in USA ahead of Commonwealth Games

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Caribbean Men’s Champion Robert Roberts (left); Shemar Britton; Stephen Chui, 2350 runner-up and Westchester TTC owner Will Shortz

he Guyanese players enjoyed a good showing in their preparation for April 4-15 Commonwealth Games being held in Australia after a commendable showing over the weekend at the Westchester Table Tennis Championships organised by the United States of American Table Tennis Association (USATT).

Shemar Britton was in excellent from when he captured the Open 2350 category by defeating Stephen Chui in the final.

Nigel Bryan who also participated in the under 2350 category secured a bronze medal lost out to eventual finalist Chui .

Other success for the Guyanese was women’s senior Natalie Cummings

who finished in the semifinals of the 2050 category having lost a close encounter to eventual tournament winner in a match that she should have won after leading. 2017 Caribbean Girls singles bronze medallist Priscilla Greaves lost in the 1900 division during the group stages.

National men’s Table Tennis champion Christopher Franklin seeking to capture his form, reached the round-of-16 in the vaunted 2500 Open category while Joel Alleyne lost in the semi-finals of the 2250 category.

The Championships which is a USATT 4-star tournament had in excess of USD $5,000 in prizes and drew players from around the world, is recognized as

one of the largest monthly table tennis tournaments held in the United States.

Meanwhile, the team which was being supported by 11 times national men’s champion and 1992 Caribbean men’s champion Sydney Christophe Caribbean will see the stalwart conduct an intense 4-day training camp before departure for Australia on March 30.

Caribbean men’s champion Robert Roberts in discussion with President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association Godfrey Munroe indicated he and participants from the championships were was truly impressed with the talent displayed by the Guyanese he offered some great advice for their improvement.

Guyana to host Bermuda, Suriname & Barbados in May

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The Lady Jags will be in action on home turf competing in the CONCACAF Caribbean Women's Qualifiers

uyana will host Bermuda, Barbados and Suriname in May as the campaign for the CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Qualifiers is set to commence with 23 participating teams.

Guyana has been placed in Group E and will be one of the five host nations including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda.

The Women’s Development Officer of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Tricia Munroe, said consistent playing time is the focus of the Senior National Women’s Team.

“I’m extremely happy

that Guyana will be hosting Group E and our senior women’s team will have the opportunity to play international football. Women’s football in Guyana is still in its developmental stages but we are looking at the CFU Women’s Challenge Series Tournament in April as a means of preparation for this major tournament.

Match time is crucial for players’ development so our aim is to have the team exposed to as many national and international matches as possible to maintain the consistency of play.”

The final qualifier group stage for the Caribbean Region is scheduled for August

with the finals of the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship set for October in the United States of America.

According to CONCACAF, the tournament will employ a roundrobin format and the top three teams from the final group stage will qualify for the championship.

“The 23 participating teams will form five groups, three groups of five and two groups of four for the group stage.

After a round-robin play, the group winners will advance to a final group stage of five teams. The top three teams from this final group will qualify to the CONCACAF Women’s Championship.”

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Smith and Warner suspended for 12 Guyana’s U-19 ladies months, Bancroft gets nine-month ban depart for T&T ahead of Regional tourney

Smith and Warner were stood down during the third Test against South Africa

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Images photo)

teve Smith and David Warner have been banned from all international and Australian domestic cricket for 12 months by Cricket Australia (CA) following their roles in the ball-tampering scandal that has overshadowed their country's Test series with South Africa, while Cameron Bancroft has received a nine-month suspension.

Reports on Wednesday suggested the trio would face severe sanctions after being identified as the players involved in a premeditated plan that saw Bancroft attempt to alter the condition of the ball during the third Test.

Having been charged with breaches of the CA code of conduct on Tuesday and removed from Australia's Test squad, Smith, Warner and Bancroft have now had their punishments determined by the governing body's board.

Smith and Warner had respectively served as captain and vice-captain of Australia prior to this controversy. Both Smith and Bancroft will not be eligible for future leadership roles for a minimum of 12 months after serving their bans, while Warner – who has been deemed the instigator of the incident by CA – will never again be considered for such a position.

Although Bancroft admitted to using yellow tape to tamper with the ball, CA has said sandpaper was in fact used and Warner has been charged with providing instructions on how to use it. Smith's punishment partially relates to the fact he knew of the plan and failed to stop it, before also misleading match officials regarding Bancroft's attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball.

All three individuals can lodge appeals. Smith is expected to address the media when he arrives in Sydney.

In a statement, CA chairman David Peever said: "As I indicated yesterday, the CA board understands and shares the anger of fans and the broader Australian community about these events. They go to the integrity and reputation of Australian cricket and Australian sport and the penalties must reflect that.

"These are significant penalties for professional players and the board does not impose them lightly. It is hoped that following a period of suspension, the players will be able to return to playing the game they love and eventually rebuild their careers."

CA chief executive James Sutherland added: "I am satisfied that the sanctions in this case prop-

(AFP/Getty

erly reflect a balance between the need to protect the integrity and reputation of the game and the need to maintain the possibility of redemption for the individuals involved, all of whom have learned difficult lessons through these events."

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed Smith and Warner have been banned from playing in this year's Indian Premier League.

They previously stepped down as the respective captains of Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Smith had already been banned by the ICC for the fourth Test against South Africa and replaced as Australia's captain by wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine, who took over as skipper for day four of last week's match.

Australia also called up Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell on Tuesday, to cover the departures of Warner, Bancroft and Smith.

The role of head coach Darren Lehmann has come under scrutiny, but he is set to continue in his position after CA's investigation identified Smith, Warner and Bancroft as the only members of the touring party with knowledge of the ball-tampering plan. (SportsMax)

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The National Female Under-19 team with Manager Heema Singh (far left) and Coach Bharat Mangru (back right)

he National Female Under-19 winged for Trinidad & Tobago ahead of the Female Under-19 Invitational Regional T20 tournament.

The Guyana ladies departed on Tuesday where they now seek to recapture the title from the reigning hosts who defeat-

ed them in the final of the previous.

The team comprises of a number of players with experience at this level, and will be managed by Heema Singh and coached by Cricket West Indies Level 3 Coach, Bharat Mangru.

Guyana U-19 ladies: Shabika Gajnabi

(Captain), Mandy Mangru (Vice-Captain), Shenita Grimmond, Kushana Lynch, Omedevi Matadin, Lafona Gilgeows, Yogeeta Ballkishun, Casey Charles, Cherryanna Fraiser, Ashley Ramkisoon, Chrita Mahabir, Roshine Budhu, Sarah Amin and Varshmie Ramlall.

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Tahir’s inclusion seen as a boost to Warriors’ bowling line-up S outh African legspinner Imran Tahir’s inclusion in the Guyana Amazon Warriors team could significantly buff the local franchise’s bowling unit, come this summer when the sixth edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) bowls off in Guyana.

The “googly” specialist, who averages a stingy 15 in T20 cricket, will add the Guyana Warriors to his lengthy list of franchises for whom he has applied his mastery.

The South African international has played for more than 20 franchises worldwide including South Africa, Delhi Daredevils, D e r b y s h i r e , Dolphins, Hampshire, Lahore Lions, Middlesex, Multan Sultans, Nottinghamshire, Pakistan A, Rising Pune Supergiants, South Africa A, Warwickshire, and Yorkshire to name a few.

While the Warriors beefed up their batting department with the likes of Luke Ronchi, Cameron Delport, Shoaib Malik and others, Tahir’s skill with the ball could see him form a deadly trio

with Guyanese spinners Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul, two of the Region’s best and one of the most successful tag teams of spinners.

Despite this season being his first in CPL, Tahir is expected to bamboozle the batsmen the same way he has been doing recently. His last international assignment was back in

February when India toured South Africa, but his returns in the One-Day Internationals were poor as the Indian spinners were the real stars of the series.

He returned to form recently, however, when he ended with 13 wickets from

10 games, including a hat-trick in the 2018 Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 tournament playing for the Multan Sultans. A return to form in the PSL is a good sign for both Tahir and the Warriors, who will need as much m a g i c

the quality of the spinners in the side, the pair of Guyanese with their knowledge of the Caribbean pitches

coupled with the Pakistan-born Tahir’s global experience.

Tahir’s inclusion should also significantly help Bishoo to become a better limited- overs bowler as both spinners

ply the leg-break trade.

In all, the securing of such a quality international leg-spinner is an overwhelming bonus for Guyana, who is chasing the elusive title for the sixth year. (Clifton Ross)

Players shortlisted for Bolivia V’Ball tourney

Tahir’s from skill t h e as i r baospinner wlers will play as possible, a huge role with Tahir bebowlingwise ing the likely for the Guyana spearhead.

Amazon Warriors

The understudy of Pakistani leg-spinning great Abdul Qadir, the 39-year-old is approaching 250 wickets in T20s and could possibly reach his milestone during the summer’s biggest party. Also, with Tahir the most experienced bowler in the side, it will be interesting to see if he is given the new ball or as he prefers in the “death” of the innings.

Also, with spinners reaping enormous success over the course of the tournament, the Amazon Warriors should fancy themselves, given

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Referees being evaluated by Member Association Fitness Instructor Lindley Langhorne at the Fitness Test

ollowing two weeks of intense match assessments, National Volleyball Coach Levi Nedd has shortlisted a few players, who will now look to make the final cut ahead of the May 26 start to the invitational in Bolivia.

The sessions were conducted in Berbice and in town at the National Gymnasium, where the players from both counties engaged in highoctane competition to determine worthy nominations for the overseas assignment.

While Berbice beat Demerara last weekend in the return leg, the Demerara ladies showed their skill as they got the

better of their counterparts from the Ancient County.

Nedd, the President of the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA), told Guyana Times International Sport on Wednesday that he was pleased with what he saw over recent weeks.

Nedd, a former player turned successful Head Coach of the senior male/ female Guyana volleyball team, added that the past two weeks were focused on identifying the players. He said that he was impressed by the performances as most of the talent was equal to the task.

The Coach said now that the initial assess-

ment stage was over, he would now be placing heavy emphasis on the current batch of accepted players. With the overseas task spiking off on the same day Guyana celebrates its independence, Nedd explained that a win would certainly help to make the occasion more special.

According to Nedd, the players will continue their training while more practice matches and simulations will be conducted in the weeks to come as further areas of strength will be assessed ahead of the final selection for both the male and female senior teams.

(Clifton Ross)

‘A great start to my 2018 season’ - Matthew Vieira

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ith horrendous motor bike troubles in 2017 which hampered participation significantly, former Caribbean champion Matthew Vieira is happy to return at the pedestal.

Vieira ran rampant on Sunday when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club staged their National Race of Champions at the South Dakota Circuit.

With the absence of 2017 Champion Kevin Persaud and the likes of Stephen Vieira and John Bennett, Vieira’s closest challenger was Raverio Tucker, who despite all the promise shown, was no match for the Yamaha R6 rider.

“Yes I’m happy to be back on top; this is a great start to my 2018 season. The plan was to win all three races at any cost and score the maximum amount of points available, he reflected to Guyana Times Sport on Monday.

Given a long season and more intense competition lies ahead, the 20 year-old is conscious of the need to improve his fitness. “I think my biggest problem on Sunday was my fitness level and I need to improve on that aspect and also I need to train harder on the track as well”.

Is there another Caribbean title in the tank? Vieira knows he first has to get ahead of Team Mohammed’s group riders who have been unstoppable.

“I’m getting better all of the time and I would never back down from the challenge. We’ll only know when that time comes”.

2018 has started in the best possible way for the rider

He further expressed optimism over the future for the sport. “This year we started an amateur road bike class that allows anyone with a quick enough road bike to participate and we saw some new faces and I hope to see that class grow”.

Unsure of whether he will ride the first leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships in Jamaica from May 12-13, he extended appreciation to sponsors Houston Industrial Services and Company and Cyril’s taxi service along with father Mark for the support and Pure Racing’s Andy and John Phang for tuning and preparing his machine.

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