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INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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Ramesh Kalicharran

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 374

WEEK ENDING december 10, 2017

Hopelessness, fear across sugar belt

See stories inside

‌as hundreds of workers given marching orders in Guyana

Taxi driver charged for killing young teacher Kescia Branche

Page 11

Budget debates heat up in Guyana ...Govt says "good life" continues in 2018

See stories inside

...Opposition slams "most disastrous budget from a tired Govt"

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Hopelessness, fear across sugar belt …as hundreds of workers given marching orders in Guyana

By Samuel Sukhnandan

H

undreds of workers attached to the East Demerara Estate (EDE) located in Enmore, East Coast Demerara, have been issued termination letters by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), as the plans announced by Government earlier this year to close the sugar estate starts to take effect.

A senior official of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) confirmed this with Guyana Times International on Wednesday, stating that workers are devastated by the move, as they are now contemplating how they will spend the holidays and whether they will get new employment in 2018.

File photo: Sugar workers participating in a protest march, earlier this year, traversed several streets of Enmore and Foulis on the East Coast of Demerara after it was announced that the EDE would be closed

The official, who requested anonymity, explained that the first batch of workers who are mostly engaged in other activities besides harvesting and factory duties were issued with their termination let-

ters in September and given one month’s notice. These workers have since been paid.

“We can say about two weeks ago they all received their cheques.

It’s about five different gangs. Some got 75 peo-

ple, another one 120, another one 30. Some of them are fertilisers and some do other work in the fields. But that set, it’s about 250 people that get fired first,” the official explained.

However, those who

worked in the factory, tillage, workshops and the actual harvesters, began receiving their termination letters about two days ago. While all workers at the EDE have not been issued with termination letters, a large majority of the workers there will be going home by year-end.

The Union official told this newspaper, “Factory alone got 230 who get their letters and tillage 125, the workshop 75 people got letters.

About 187 harvesters got their letters too and all of them will be working up to December 31, 2017.

On average, it’s about 1500 plus workers going home.”

Only on Wednesday it was reported that termination letters were issued to over 2000 workers at the Skeldon Estate. It is expected

that more persons will receive letters during the course of the week. This move follows on the heels of the similar notice given to Rose Hall Estate workers about one week ago.

Meanwhile, in a leaked correspondence between the Special Purposes Unit (SPU) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and GuySuCo dated November 29, 2017, it shows the SPU giving direct instructions to the company’s Chief Industrial Relations Manager.

The correspondence read, “I write to inform you that after numerous and careful discussions among the SPU team, it was decided that extending the date for the transfer of the three esContinued on page 9

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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EDITORIAL

Failed promises T

he 2018 Budget offers an opportunity not only to evaluate the Government’s plans for next year, but signals of its longer-term goals. We can do worse than begin with the sugar industry, which for so long had been the mainstay of the economy, but all the stakeholders concede far-reaching changes had become necessary subsequent to the unilateral jettisoning of the “preferential prices” by Europe a decade ago, reducing them by 36 per cent.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, then in office, attempted to reduce the cost of production of sugar which had been historically high in comparison with the major producing and exporting nations such as Brazil. The Skeldon Modernisation project was the centrepiece of that plan, but, unfortunately, the ultramodern factory never delivered on its promise and added rather than reduced the burgeoning production costs.

The new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government appointed a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to chart a way forward for the industry, but the Government rejected the major recommendation that the Government, as owner of GuySuCo, inject funds into the latter and bring it to a point of sale in three years. Rather, the Government unilaterally closed Wales Estate at the end of 2016 and announced farmers’ cane would be processed at Uitvlugt Estate. By the middle of this year, the Government laid a “State Paper on the Future of Sugar” in the National Assembly.

The paper altered the CoI’s recommendation to claim privatisation should be “within three years” rather than “after three years”. It elaborated, “The proposed courses of action are to amalgamate Wales Estate with Uitvlugt Estate and reassign its cane to the Uitvlugt factory, since the estate is operating at 50 per cent capacity. Sixty per cent of its drainage and irrigation infrastructure is in a dilapidated condition. The Corporation furthermore seeks to divest itself of the Skeldon Estate. The estates of Albion and Rose Hall are to be amalgamated and the factory at Rose Hall is to be closed.

“GuySuCo would then consist of three estates and three sugar factories. The estates would be Blairmont in the West Bank Berbice, Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice and the Uitvlugt-Wales Estate in West Demerara. The three estates will be complete with factories and will have cane supplied from all five locations.”

The Paper spoke of the closure of Wales in the future tense even though the deed had already been done. The closure of Enmore Estate – factory and fields – was mentioned as an afterthought. The question which did not seem to occupy the minds of those in charge of the radical downsizing of GuySuCo was what would be the fate of the sugar workers who would be out of a job after they received their “severance pay”? There was early talk of the reactivation of the “Other Crops Division” representing the move towards diversification from sugar back in the 1970s.

At Wales, however, which was supposed to be the model for the subsequent closures, all that was done was to cultivate 400 acres of “seed paddy” for rice, which delivered an abysmal yield.

The “Future of Sugar” plan had claimed: “GuySuCo also proposes to surrender land for lease to employees for them to engage in agricultural production. The resources that exist under the “Green economy” and “Regional Food Self-Sufficiency” drive would support their efforts.” Since nothing had been done in this regard in the year since the closure of Wales, sugar workers in both Demerara and Berbice looked anxiously at the 2018 Budget for funds allocated towards this end. There was nothing.

And it is because of this failed promise that these workers can only conclude they are being buried by the present Administration, even as it keeps harping on developing Guyana’s agricultural resources to take a chunk of the US$4.3 billion Caribbean food bill. The Government instead has targeted the intermediate and interior savannahs for agricultural development. Will they allow the drained and irrigated ex-sugar lands to revert to “bush”? Why can cane-cutters not be transitioned into cash-crop farmers?

Guyana’s President David Granger on Wednesday visited the world famous Nairobi National Park.

The park is located within the capital of Kenya and covers an area of 117 square kilometers.

As part of the tour, the President visited an elephant orphanage located within the park. The President was briefed on the efforts being made to protect orphaned elephants which are cared for until they are ready to be released back into the wild. In this DPI photo, President Granger is seen feeding a baby elephant.

New York City recognized as innovative global leader on mental health reform International CIty and urban Regional CoLlaborativE (I-CIRCLE) calls on cities around the world to advance the mental health of their residents by adopting efforts similar to ThriveNYC

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EW YORK—New York City’s unprecedented efforts to change the culture around mental health and improve New Yorkers’ access to services and support have been recognized as an innovative model for cities across the globe by the International CIty and urban Regional CoLlaborativE (I-CIRCLE). ThriveNYC was launched in November 2015

by New York City’s First Lady, Chirlane McCray to change the way City government and its many partners address community mental health needs, and help dismantle the stigma associated with seeking treatment.

With 54 initiatives backed by an US$850 million investment over the first four years, ThriveNYC is the most comprehensive mental health plan of any city or state in the nation. I-CIRCLE announced that it has endorsed and will promote the six key guiding principles and framework of ThriveNYC. “With the launch of ThriveNYC two years ago, we set out to change the culture around mental health and deliver services where people live, learn, work and worship,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray, who spearheads ThriveNYC. “Mental illness and substance misuse are common -- one in five people suffer from some kind of challenge, but do not get the help they need because of stigma or because they have difficulty finding appropriate services. Although we have received a great deal of positive feedback for ThriveNYC’s public health approach, our work has just begun. We are committed to building a culturally competent mental health system that meets the needs of all New Yorkers. We are honored to be recognized

by I-CIRCLE as a model for other cities. And, we stand ready and willing to share all we have learned with our sister and brother cities around the world” McCray said.

Richard Buery, Deputy Mayor

New York City's First Lady Chirlane McCray

for Strategic Policy Initiatives said: "ThriveNYC launched as a local solution to a mental health crisis facing cities across the globe. Two years in, we are finally starting to see change take hold in New York City, with more New Yorkers getting help than ever before -- at senior centers, hospitals, community-based organizations and beyond. I am grateful that these 54 initiatives may bring hope to people suffering in other parts of the country and the world. We owe this success to the visionary leadership of Chirlane McCray, who has helped bring mental health out of the shadows and make care available to all.

“The stigma of mental health has afflicted our nation for far too long. Americans with depression, anxiety or any other mental health issues should freely ask for help and openly discuss their struggles. ThriveNYC is a groundbreaking roadmap to change the culture surrounding on mental illness. The New York City Council is proud to support ThriveNYC’s goals and needs through the Council’s Mental Health Initiatives, a US$13 million investment in programming and services to New Yorkers experiencing mental health issues. Because of ThriveNYC’s success, I-CIRCLE had taken note and will urge other municipalities to follow suit. I thank First Lady Chirlane McCray for championing

the mental health conversation and Mayor Bill de Blasio and his administration for the devotion to this critical cause,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in four people in the world will be affected by a mental or neurological disorder at some point in their lives with nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental health disorder never seeking help from a professional. These statistics bear out similarly in New York City, with at least one in five New Yorkers likely to experience a mental illness in any given year, and more than half of adults living with mental illness report not being able to access the treatment they need.

ThriveNYC set forth a plan to make it easier for New Yorkers to get the treatment they need and improve overall mental wellbeing. ThriveNYC’s six guiding principles for achieving longterm change emerged through a citywide feedback group process, expert advisory input, and scientific literature and evidence review: - Change the culture by making mental health everybody’s business and having an open conversation about mental health.

- Act early to prevent, intervene more quickly and give New Yorkers more tools to weather challenges.

- Close treatment gaps by providing equal access to care for New Yorkers in every neighborhood.

- Partner with communities to embrace their wisdom and strength and to collaborate for culturally competent solutions.

- Use data better to address gaps and improve programs.

- S t r e n g t h e n government’s ability to lead by coordinating an unprecedented effort to support the mental health of all New Yorkers.

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Cops hold four Guyana Govt scaring away over 125-pound investors, says Teixeira ganja bust T

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The 125 pounds of compressed cannabis unearthed during the 'sting operation'

our males are currently in custody after ranks from the Major Crime Investigations Unit of the Guyana Police Force busted them with approximately one hundred and twenty-five (125) pounds of compressed cannabis.

The men who were

held up in a house at Third and Albert Streets, Alberttown were, according to the Police in a statement, set up in a "sting operation” on Wednesday around 10:30hrs at the said location and caught with the illicit drugs.

Investigations are currently ongoing.

outing Budget 2018 as “fundamentally flawed”, Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, said that the Coalition Government continues to fail the economy while engaging in unhealthy competition with the Private Sector. She added that the government is yet to bring substantial investment to stimulate the dwindling economy.

“You have created unfriendly environment for investors, by closing down the concessions of Bai Shan Lin…you chase away Barama. You are sending a message to the world that Guyana does not want you to come here, that we don’t want foreigners here and you are not worth it,” Teixeira said in her presentation on Wednesday evening.

“The state is the largest consumer of the GDP. The largest consumer of the GDP is the government! We are seeing a pattern from 2014, 2015, 2016 and projections for 2017 that the public consumption as a percentage of the GDP expenditure has gone up from 14.3 per cent in 2015 to 16.7 per cent and that the private consumption has gone the other way 65.9 percent in 2015 it is down to 56 percent,” the Parliamentarian added.

Teixeira informed the National Assembly that the government has been “out-crowding” and “outstripping” the Private Sector, which hinders economic development. She noted that the APNU-

Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira

AFC Government has been actively competing with the Private Sector for credit and loans.

“The economic model that is being projected by the government is one that is taxation as a means to create revenue…governments philosophically are not in the business of profits. Governments are enablers and facilitators,” Teixeira said while reminding the government of their function.

She added that governments also have a moral, political and social responsibility to provide an enabling environment for growth and equal access in order to remove the disparities that exist.

In his presentation, Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, had noted that the image of a country is a major enabler of foreign investments.

He explained that there are

unwarranted attacks on some foreign companies operating locally and that discourages other investors from bringing their business to the country.

The Opposition Chief Whip accused the government of being one tracked in their approach towards stimulating the economy.

She noted that the budget does not translate in addressing the fundamental issues of economic stimulation, while adding that instead of having a mixed economy, the Administration is showing blatant disregard for the will of the people by moving towards authoritarianism which violates the laws of the land.

“The two workers federations (FITUG, GTUC) in this country do not support this budget. The three major organizations that represents the private sector (PSC, GCCI and GMSA) in this country have major concerns about the budget…the disregard for the people of this country indicates that you are moving in an authoritarian direction, you do not wish to involve the people and in fact you are becoming more insulated and alienated from the people,” Teixeira stated.

She noted that the Peoples Progressive Party’s objections to the budget is rooted in what the people on the ground are saying.

The Parliamentarian explained that no legitimate stakeholder in the country has come out in support of the budget.

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Now that sugar Guyana Govt should involve workers are being other key stakeholders in ‘royally screwed’, addressing economic slowdown where is Moses?

Dear Editor, An anonymous letter writer described me as ‘a confused complainer’ because I exposed Mr Moses Nagamootoo’s hypocrisy with regards the plight of the sugar workers. He, Nagamootoo had said at a rally in Canje (ironically the first set of workers in Berbice to be given redundancy letters) that, “Guyanese should light a candle for sugar workers…sugar workers are being screwed”. Now that the sugar workers are being ‘royally screwed’, where is Moses? Of course, he is not busy parting the Red Sea, that was done a long time ago! He divided the people and was rewarded with his ceremonial crown.

The unknown letter writer then went on to state that Mr Nagamoottoo has a ‘history of standing up for sugar workers’.

Nagamootoo in his 2012 Budget speech had said that he was threatened with expulsion because he came to the rescue of the sugar workers.

However, he should now recognize and accept the fact that ‘the standing up’ itself is now history. The real Nagamootoo has now emerged and the ‘standing up’ is for himself only, and no one else.

Self-preservation can seal lips and harden hearts. It is now fitting to recall his own words taken from his 2012 Budget speech, ‘a classical case of the classical proverb, “I see not, I hear not, I speak not”, this is the case of the proverbial monkey’. Today he stands condemned by his own words! It is so unfortunate since I was a great admirer of this man’s zeal as a statesman.

Would the late Dr Cheddi Jagan have stood silently while many of the sugar workers and their families are faced with dire poverty and starvation? Nagamootoo is a self-proclaimed disciple of this great man.

In 2012 Nagamootoo had bragged that the ‘PPP no longer hold the Jagan standards…we have it over here, the Alliance for Change….’

Moreover, apart from Nagamootoo’s reverberating silence, the AFC’s Minister of Agriculture, Mr Noel Holder agreed with GuySuCo’s heartless decision to serve

redundancy letters to hundreds of sugar workers at Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates before Christmas. He arrogantly insisted that this decision was in keeping the White Paper, ignoring the fact that the Minister of State, Mr Joseph Harmon had assured the sugar workers that closure of the Estate will be delayed until next year. Is there a disconnect among the ministers of Government?

How could the Minister of Agriculture ignore the human aspect of the decision?

President Granger at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, stressed that, ‘people must come before profits’, but I do hope that this can be seen as a general guideline of his Government’s policies.

However, the manner in which sugar workers are being treated for some time now would suggest otherwise. This maxim does not apply to sugar workers. They are expendables because they are deemed to be ‘the raiders of the Treasury’!

There seems to be reluctance on the part of the Government, especially the Minister of Agriculture and the Prime Minister to meaningfully engage sugar workers at Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates and try to alleviate some of their fears and try to convince them how they will continue to benefit from the privatisation/diversification process.

Many of the sugar workers, who were given the termination letters do not have of savings and take groceries on credit during the out of crop period hoping to pay off during crop time.

I know these things because I live among them and my father was a cane cutter and my mother, a weeder at Albion Estate. I also worked as a cane cutter and a cattle ranger for some time at Albion Estate to make ends meet A final question: Are the redundancy letters to sugar workers just a ploy for the Government to now take up the savior’s role?

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf (FCCA; MBA) RDC CouncilorRegion 6 Former Cane Cutter

Dear Editor, As I travel around the country, people complain about the difficulties of making ends meet – wages have not been keeping up with price increases, and money is not readily available to spend. Many are recently out of work and unable to afford basic needs.

The Government has not shown that it is seriously concerned about the fragile economy, moving from high taxation to closing down state factories. There has, since 2015, been an economic slowdown with no sign of recovery. Figures show that growth has been anemic — of less than three per cent. The Private Sector has not been growing. Businesses feel insecure to invest. They lack confidence in the handlers of the economy, especially since their advice has not been sought on investment.

There is no doubt that there has been a lack of confidence by consumers and the business community in the Government’s management of the economy. They don’t fully support the new budget, though they like the pension increase and the removal of the education tax.

Contrary to what the Government may feel, the economy has not been on an upswing or a rebound after two years of slowdown. No effective measures have

been taken to reverse the slowdown, which began to be observed since the end of 2015, following the change of administration. The Government has been responsible for the slowdown. There is no justifiable reason to shut sugar factories and send home some ten thousand workers. Sugar has been the vanguard of the economy – contributing significantly to growth for several decades.

Although the Government had to subsidize sugar, the benefits are enormous – providing much needed spending power to grow the economy.

The reversal of the tax on education is welcome, but that will not result in significant economic growth, although it could lead to private education expansion.

There will now be more money to spend, which could boost growth by a fraction of a percent.

There are many economic challenges ahead – especially with Government closing down more sugar factories and oil prices rising to fuel the energy sector. Plus there are external headwinds – decline in purchasing as well as aid from the developed countries.

There is a serious trade imbalance that will put pressure on foreign currency reserve. Guyana needs to boost exports.

Agriculture remains in a slump. Agriculture is a significant

contributor to rural lifestyle: incomes and consumption demand.

The Government has made no effort to address farmers’ woes, and in failing to assist farmers during floods and price support for rice.

A protracted agricultural slowdown on the larger economy cannot be overstated. Inflation for food has been very high; and consumers don’t have spending power because of the insecurity in the hiring.

Although people are not shopping, prices are increasing because of shortage of goods –with farmers not planting, and more imports coming into the country.

Consumption spending by households also remains in a stubborn rut. With global oil prices having risen appreciably, factories will produce less. Prices will increase, making exports costlier and reducing local consumer demand as well.

The economic challenges are many, and the Government can’t solve them by themselves. The Government should call in the various business organisations (chambers of commerce and manufacturing organisations, as well as captains of businesses) around the country to seek their input in how to grow the economy.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

Budget 2018 is a clear path towards “Continuing on the Road to More Debts” Dear Editor, APNU/AFC presented its Budget 2018 under the caption “Continuing on the Road to the Good Life”. Unfortunately, more accurately, Budget 2018 is really a document that deserves the title “Continuing on the Road to More Debilitating Debt”. I was assisted in this initial contribution on Budget 2018 by RA, a public servant who has to remain silent, fearing recrimination.

This past week, Finance Minister Jordon read APNU+AFC’s Budget 2018, the fourth budget since assuming office in May 2015. Budget2018 further solidifies the sad fact that both the minister and the entire APNU/AFC Government are clueless or ignorant of the needs of Guyanese, let alone building on the thriving economy they inherited from the PPP in May 2015.

They continue to squander the solid economic framework and economic progress they inherited from the PPP in May 2015.

Virtually all the economic pillars have declined since May 2015 and Budget 2018 is either oblivious or simply overwhelmed. One thing is certain about Budget 2018 – sugar, still one of the largest employer in Guyana, is dead. Mining, manufacturing, agriculture (including rice), forestry, tourism, housing and construction, the service industry have all been treated

like step children and orphans in Budget 2018.

Budget 2018 further exposes APNU/AFC’s total reliance on Guyana becoming an oil economy. They inherited the possibility of oil from the PPP, but the PPP has always had a diverse economic framework, with oil to become one of the many pillars of a diversified economy. Budget 2018 does not contain any plans on how Guyana will utilize the oil pillar to reinforce and move Guyana forward with a diverse economic platform.

OIL means much to Guyana, but it is an infant industry still and Guyana must never approach it as if it is a panacea. Budget 2018 contains nothing to show how Guyana will maintain its carbon sink and remain a green economy, even as OIL become an important part of the economy. Painting buildings green will not transform and sustain Guyana as a role model for a

green economy.

My summary for Budget 2018 is that a clueless AFC is throwing darts like a blindfolded person, hoping to hit somewhere, anywhere, on the dart board. Budget 2018 is clueless, representing a clear and present danger for Guyana.

Budget 2018 continues the APNU/AFC’s economic framework of transferring resources from poor Guyanese families to APNU+AFC and their cronies. BUDGET 2018 presents a mountain of threats in a visionless milieu of sound bites.

Jordon and his colleagues titled this latest con-game “Continuing on the Road to the Good Life”. The clear and present danger, however, is that Budget 2018 is a clear path towards “Continuing on the Road to More Debts”.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

news 7

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana hosts high-level security conference …aimed at breaking ‘threat networks’

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uyana is hosting this year’s C a r i b b e a n Nations Security Conference (CANSEC) during which top military officers from 16 nations will meet to intensify collaborative efforts with the aim of dismantling the “threat network” created by extremists groups.

The regional security seminar is sponsored by the United States’ Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and provides a platform for dialogue among chiefs of defence and public security ministers aimed at examining threats to Caribbean stability and improving regional security cooperation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the twoday conference, Chief of SOUTHCOM, Admiral Kurt Tidd, noted that while regional and global threats have evolved, at the same time, security cooperation has grown to bind nations globally.

“This network was born of sustained engagements that emphasise collective action and cooperative solutions. It is built upon the foundation of information shar-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo among officials at the opening of the two-day Caribbean Nations Security Conference at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, during which top military officers from 16 nations will meet to intensify collaborative efforts

ing. It is inclusive and principled, binding together like-minded nations who share common values and a commitment to work together.

Throughout the years, those values and shared commitment have been the common thread linking all of our initiatives, programmes, training, exercises, and operations,” he stated.

According to Admiral Tidd, collective investments made by the partners have made the hemisphere more secure with improved coordination at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels.

The SOUTHCOM Head pointed out that while the untapped potential of the threat network was tremendous, greater integration and linkages could have all sorts of cross-cutting effects. On this note, he called on the participants to work together to further address the most pressing security challenges facing the Region today.

“By aligning our security efforts with the work being done by our civilian agencies and NGOs, we not only improve community resiliency and extend governance where it’s needed most,

we help deny criminal networks sanctuary and freedom of movement.

By integrating and sequencing our respective operations and activities, we can sustain pressure against illicit networks… And aggregate the impact of individual mitigation and preparedness efforts,” Tidd stated.

The two-day conference is being held at the Marriott Hotel under the theme: “Unifying Regional Action to Counter Trans-regional and Transnational Threat Networks”.

Brigadier Patrick West, Chief-of-Staff of

the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), which is the co-host of the CANSEC, outlined that the threats posed by organised networks and increasing funding of illicit trades and illegal activities need to be dealt with collectively with support from partners within and beyond the Atlantic.

Brigadier West posited that the presence of major partner nations at the conference was testimony of a commitment to build capacity in the Region to counter these threats, especially since its vulnerability can create a gateway for illegal activities.

Moreover, the Chiefof-Staff outlined that global connectivity has also created conditions for dependence and inter-dependency on cyber space.

“The Region has experienced and continues to be challenged by increasing threats of cyber-crime. The security forces are, in many instances, way behind the perpetrators of these crimes and we need now more than ever to be able to be in step with or ahead of this new level of technological challenge within the Region.

As their network grows, continued on page 8

8 news

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Taxi driver charged for killing young teacher Kescia Branche

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Dead: Teacher Kescia Branche

ess than a week after returning from the United States, the taxi driver who was implicated in the brutal murder of a Richard Ishmael school teacher was Wednesday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Matthew Munroe, of Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the capital offence in shackles.

With a grave look on his face, the father of six stood before Chief Magistrate McLennan as the indictable charge was read to him.

The charge stated that on November 7, 2017 in Georgetown, Munroe murdered Kescia Branche.

Attorney-at-Law George Thomas, who is representing the 47-year-old man, told the court that his client, who has been in custody since November 30, has denied committing the crime, holding out that he was not in the jurisdiction.

In an attempt to form an alibi, Thomas claimed that his client’s mobile phone was confiscated by the Police and records can prove his claims.

However, Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield requested one month to complete the case file. This submission was granted by the Chief Magistrate.

The case will continue on January 9.

The Police are contending that the car from which Branche was allegedly dumped reportedly belonged to Munroe. Upon receiving that bit of information, the Police immediately

NBS G$79M appeal ruling set for Dec 19

Charged: Taxi driver Matthew Munroe

named him as a person of interest.

After spending some time in the United States, the man returned and presented himself to the Criminal investigation Department in the company of his lawyer.

The Police stated that during interrogation, Munroe could not have provided information on his whereabouts on the night the woman was brutally attacked and more so, failed to give Police information on his missing car bumper.

Twenty-two-year-old Branche, of Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was discovered lying at Princes Street and Louisa Row in Georgetown on the morning of November 5.

She succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital two days after her discovery as a result of brain haemorrhaging and blunt trauma to the head.

According to reports, Branche had left home for a night of partying.

She left her three-year-old son in the care of a friend, who revealed that Branche told her that she intended to go to Palm Court to meet a male friend.

The teacher later returned home, but subsequently left again. She told her friend that she would be home by 02:00h, but never returned.

She was last seen leaving a nightclub on Lamaha Street in the company of two Police ranks.

The father of the woman’s son was also arrested after the teacher’s mobile phone was found in his possession.

He, along with four cops, were questioned about her death, but were later released on station bail.

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Dismissed NBS CEO Maurice Arjoon

fter refusing to pay a past employee an awarded sum of G$79 million for wrongful dismissal, the New Building Society’s appeal against former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maurice Arjoon will come up for ruling

by Justice Rishi Persaud at the Appeal Court of Guyana on December 19.

During Wednesday’s proceedings at the nation’s highest court, the parties, who appeared were Arjoon and one of the representing attorneys, Siand Dhurjon; while NBS Attorney, Senior Counsel Ashton Chase, was also present.

It was recently disclosed that December 5 was the date set for ruling but after discussions with both parties, Justice Persaud set December 19 as the new date for ruling on the matter. After the announcement of the new date was made, Arjoon swiftly exited the courtroom.

It has been five years since the former CEO took NBS to court for his outstanding pen-

sion and other benefits.

Arjoon had originally sued the lending agency for some G$550 million in damages on the following grounds: that he had been wrongfully dismissed from his post, and that his former employer had withheld pension and other benefits due him.

The former top official was fired from his position 10 years ago in connection with a Magistrate’s Court matter wherein he, NBS Operations Manager Kent Vincent and NBS Assistant Mortgage Manager Kissoon Baldeo were all accused of conspiracy to defraud NBS of G$69 million.

The court matter was eventually dismissed, and Arjoon and the co-defendants took the financial institution to court in 2011. Having been dragged out for more than five years, the High Court matter was initially listed for decision on November 29, 2016; but it was only after repeated articles in this regard had appeared in the me-

dia that the court handed down its ruling on July 17.

High Court Judge Justice Brassington Reynolds ruled in the dismissed CEO’s favour, awarding him more than G$79 million in outstanding payments and benefits. The court also ruled that he should be paid a monthly pension of G$372,498 from July 1 onwards. The Judge further ordered that the former CEO should receive financial compensation for the damages he had suffered; and moreover, that he was entitled to his pension and severance benefits, in accordance with provisions stipulated in the laws of Guyana.

The NBS had contended that an unauthorised withdrawal of nearly G$70 million had been made from an account that its client Bibi Shamina Khan held.

The NBS’s issue with the withdrawal was that it was made through a Power of Attorney, and the company had implicated Arjoon for misconduct. The court in its determination contended that the NBS had failed to provide evidence that supported its claim of misconduct, whether serious or otherwise.

Arjoon, who told media operatives that he was sick, had claimed that he was set-up on the fraud allegations because he allegedly refusal to approve a loan of some G$2 billion applied for in 2006. He had also noted that the investigation into the fraud allegations was conducted later that same year, implicating him as CEO, as well as the co-defendants.

Guyana hosts high-level ...

from page 7

ours must grow stronger. As they find ways to exploit security weakness, we must strengthen our bonds,” he asserted.

According to Brigadier West, the security forces, along with concerned partners, must seek to find new initiatives to deal with the various emerging challenges and find ways to break their linkages.

Meanwhile, delivering brief remarks, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, emphasised on the importance of cooperation in tackling the various threats facing the Region.

He noted that such support has created a counter-network with participating nations partnering to share information and resources to tackle trans-regional and transnational crimes – something which Guyana has benefited from.

In fact, the Prime Minister noted that through such networking, local law enforcement has successfully undertaken major interceptions in areas

such as narco-trafficking, corruption and even piracy.

This is the 16th Caribbean Nations Security Conference, and Guyana is the first South American nation to host the forum.

In addition to Guyana and the US, participants from: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago are taking part in the conference with representatives from Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom as observers.

Among the regional organisations also attending the forum are: Caribbean Community (Caricom); Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA); Regional Security System (RSS) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Body of 19-year- Broomes sweeps aside old fished out of criticisms of mining sector Mazaruni River ...accuses PPP/C of leaving the industry in a mess

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he decomposed body of a 19-yearold was on Sunday afternoon fished out of the Mazaruni River in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), days after he had drowned about two miles from where his body was found.

The dead teen has been identified as Shemar Stefon Sears of Lot 687 South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

According to information reaching this newspaper, around 09:00h on Thursday last, Sears had ventured into the river at Akaree Island, where he was about to wash a barrel.

Shortly after, the 19-year-old was seen swimming in the river and then he suddenly disappeared. Reports are that he had ‘lost control’, causing him to drown.

It was not until about 17:30h on Sunday that

B

Dead: Shemar Stefon Sears

the body of the now dead teenager resurfaced about two miles from where he allegedly drowned.

The decomposed body of Sears were retrieved from the river and taken to Memorial Funeral Home where it remains, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Police in F Division (Lethem and other Interior Locations) have launched an investigation.

Hopelessness, fear... from page 3

tates, viz Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara (Enmore) beyond 31st December, 2017, would not be practicable.”

It went on to state that, “the SPU team has decided that we would prefer to stick to the agreed date of 31st December, 2017. The extension of the date beyond 31st December, 2017, for the transfer of the three estates to the SPU would cause a lot of operational and financial issues and difficulties.”

While recognising that this directive may pose some challenges, the SPU said that it hopes for a smooth transition process and that it would be ready to assist in whatever way possible.

In May 2017, Government announced plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall Sugar Estates, sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered

by GuySuCo. Despite these moves, Minister of State Joseph Harmon at a post-Cabinet press briefing stated that the closure of the sugar estates will be pushed back to 2018.

Harmon had said that closure of the Rose Hall Estate in East Canje, Berbice will occur sometime next year. With re-

gard to the Skeldon and Enmore Estates, he said that the SPU will have to conduct evaluations, surveys and inventory assessments before any steps are taken to actually sell.

Recently, the Minister also stated that such a major decision should have at least been discussed with the other Cabinet members so as to plan accordingly.

He said he believes that at least some kind of notification ought to have been given to the workers who are being made redundant.

It was recently reported that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has submitted a proposal for the acquisition of the East Coast Demerara estate.

A statement from Head of the SPU, Colvin Heath-London, last month detailed that an international accounting firm would be recruited to evaluate GuySuCo’s assets for privatisation and divestment.

Last month, GuySuCo announced plans to retrench 2500 workers by the end of this year.

GAWU says the downsizing and subsequent closure of sugar estates would lead to the loss of more than 15,000 jobs, and the potential threat of poverty for between 50,000 and 100,000 people.

udget debate 2018 was spiced up on Wednesday with the presentation of Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes, who said her Government has a vision for the extractive industry, accusing the previous Administration of leaving the industry in a mess.

Broomes told the National Assembly that the Government is also working on making the sector more transparent; one that promotes accountability, has a level playing field and does not discriminate against women miners, and one that can someday become free of human trafficking.

Speaking passionately before the House, the activist turned Minister said the coalition Government will also work with all stakeholders in the industry more closely. The aim, according to her, is to also formulate a policy that will guide the extractive sector in future years.

“Mr Speaker, within that framework, one of the things we had inherited was the fact where there was no oneness in the sector. The small miners cried out for bullyisim and all the (isims).

But we are in the business of fixing and it is this Government that brought about the syndicates,” Broomes asserted.

The syndicate project was undertaken as a means of making mining lands available to small miners who could not afford a claim on their own. As a syndicate, small miners now have access to the concessions being offered to other mining groups in the sector. In providing an update on this initiative, Broomes said to date there are 13 syndicates, and out of this amount, there are 339 registered members. This means there is employment for 2635 people and based on the number of dredges, some 10,000 plus households are also benefiting.

“It is because of a vision, come 2018, all miners in the sector can look forward to the good life. Mr Speaker, in this year’s budget

Minister Simona Broomes during her presentation in the National Assembly on Wednesday

consultation, the miners came together and we are happy to report that despite dealing with a divided sector… social cohesion is at its best in the extractive sector,” she added.

Speaking about the reduction in Tributor’s Tax for medium and small-scale miners from 20 per cent to 10 per cent effective from January 1, 2018, Broomes said this is another good initiative of Budget 2018.

However, it was the coalition Government that introduced through the Guyana Revenue Authority the imposition of the Tributor’s Tax for persons engaged in the gold or diamond mining industries who are rewarded for their labour under the tribute system which includes drivers and sailors, among others.

The Minister also gave her commitment that Government will continue to place focus on promoting better health and safety standards in the extractive industry and will continue to work towards making all mining operations in Guyana fatality free.

The Natural Resources Ministry, she said, will also embark on the training of miners to improve their mining practices and reduce mining-related fatalities by some 80 per cent.

“On the same day that His Excellency (President David Granger) was sworn in, there was pit cave in where 10 miners

lost their lives… that is what this Government is heading to 100 per cent fatality free. We are an ambitious Government,” she said to the applause from her colleagues.

The Minister noted that there are also allocations in the budget to improve the efficiency of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the regulatory agency for the mining agency.

She noted that G$86.1 million has been budgeted for a ‘tail ends’ management project, while G$36 million will go towards the monitoring of water quality in communities in and around mining districts.

Broomes also added that G$140 million will be spent to improve inspection and monitoring by the Mines Division, G$419 million for the Mines Inspectorate Division and G$50 million for the Land Management Division.

“This Government is ensuring that adequate information is at the GGMC that we will be able to improve the mining sector by having information to give to the miners,” the Minister stated.

Minister Broomes used the opportunity on Wednesday to brush aside criticisms of the sector, adding that miners are happy because the Government has listened and reasonably addressed their distresses based on all the initiatives that have been included in Budget 2018.

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Man jailed for 12 years for hammering mother to death

Adrian McKenzie owned up to the November 2010 killing of his own mother

By Shemuel Fanfair

A

drian McKenzie was on Tuesday sentenced to spend the next 12 years of his life in prison for unlawfully killing his mother.

This sentence was handed down

by Justice James Bovell-Drakes at the High Court in Georgetown after the accused was declared medically fit by Government Psychiatrist, Dr Bhiro Harry.

The specialist had, however, highlighted in his report that the self-confessed killer had a history of mental challenges for which he received treatment.

McKenzie, an electrician by trade, had pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, admitting that he killed his 62-year-old mother, Ethel Andrews, on November 16, 2010 using a hammer to beat the woman to death.

According to reports back then, the woman had reprimanded her son after he allegedly assaulted his grandfather at their Sand Creek, Rupununi home.

After the woman had intervened to prevent him from further carrying out the assault, McKenzie became angered and hammered his mother in the head; she died shortly afterwards.

In a probation report presented by Pamela Atwell, the court heard that the accused had hit his mother to the head with a piece of wood in 2007, caus-

ing her to be hospitalised for one month. The report also highlighted that he had a history of alcohol consumption and marijuana use.

Atwell further told the court that McKenzie had claimed to have been hearing voices and felt that someone was controlling him. He was trained as an electrician at a private institution after he did not complete his CXC examinations.

In the Guyana Prison Service report, social worker Tessa McGarrell informed the court that McKenzie is housed at the mentally challenged division of the Georgetown Prison.

She noted that McKenzie’s sister, Samantha, maintains ties with the prisoner as she would call him and visit him. In fact, the court heard that the sister was the one who, over the years, ensured that he received medical treatment at the Georgetown Psychiatric Ward and elsewhere.

McGarrell further told the court that McKenzie has had no infraction since being incarcerated. She did note, however, that a senior prison officer has described the accused as having a “passive personality”.

During Tuesday morning’s sentencing, McKenzie, now 39, exhibited a stony countenance for much of the proceedings; he was only audible when he told the Court that he was sorry for what happened and when he requested to be placed at a prison other than the Georgetown penitentiary.

Justice Bovell-Drakes, while highlighting he had no control over such matters, encouraged McKenzie to walk on the path which could see him being reintegrated into society.

“Take care of yourself and stay away from problems. Always remember that was your mother,” the Judge remarked, after having noted the difficulties of committing mentally-challenged persons to serve prison sentences.

The self-confessed mom killer was calmly led away into Police custody before being handed over to prison authorities. McKenzie was represented

by Defence Counsel Maxwell McKay, while Mandel Moore and Orithia Schmidt represented the State.

3 committed to High Court trial for New Year’s Day murder of Tuschen man

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Dead: Dewaun Baksh

he three men charged with killing 22-yearold Dewaun Baksh of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), on New Year’s 2016 were all committed to stand trial in the High Court when they appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Courts on Monday.

Rocky Lallu, 28; Dhanraj Goberdhan, 30; and Abdool Hussain heard that a prima facie case was made out against them, and as such, they will stand trial in the High Court before a Judge and jury at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes.

On January 1, 2016, at Greenwich Park, East Bank Essequibo, at about 21:30h, Baksh was picked up and rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The young man, who had returned to Guyana after five years to celebrate Christmas with his family, left home in the company of two of his

Abdool Hussain and Rocky Lallu

brothers to celebrate the New Year.

They reportedly left home at about 17:40h to visit Bushy Park, Parika, but subsequently went to Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara and then to a popular shop in Greenwich Park.

However, while there, Rafeek Baksh, the youngest of the three brothers recognised a man whom reportedly had a relationship with his sister some years ago. The man was with a group of men.

Rafeek reportedly approached and asked the man if he remembered him to which the man answered “no”.

One of the men from the group misinterpreted what was asked and proceeded to use abusive language towards Rafeek. Dewaun approached and enquired

Dhanraj Goberdhan

of his brother if he was ok and as they turned to walk away, they were attacked by the group of men with glass bottles.

It was during the attack that one of the men broke a glass bottle and stabbed Dewaun about his body.

Lallu, Goberdhan and Hussain were later picked up and charged for the murder.

Guyana’s telecoms sector to be fully liberalized – Minister Hughes by first quarter of 2018 P

u b l i c Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes said the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector would be realised by the first quarter of 2018 while adding that the Government is seeking to introduce a number of legislations to advance the ICT sector.

In her 2018 Budget debate presentation, Minister Hughes said negotiations for the liberalisation of the sector are currently ongoing with ATT and GTT, adding that they are yet to sign the agreement. She said her Ministry is in the process of establishing a telecommunications agency in keeping with the Telecommunications Act of 2016. Liberalisation of the sector would see an end to uneven competition and ensure fair and even regulation of all businesses in the sector.

“We are moving ahead with the creation of our telecommu-

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes during her presentation

nications agency which comes under the Ministry and this is a part of our liberalisation process. Already for that agency we have created the structure and a range of deliverables and we are down to start before the

end of the first quarter and as I have said before we have not signed off on our liberalisation agreement between ATT and GTT but we are making good progress,” she informed.

In addition, the parlia-

mentarian said her Ministry is working on the development of a National ICT strategy, which is now in its consultation phase. She added that new legislation is important to the ICT sector to ensure the protection of intellectual property.

“New legislation is very important to this sector.

Intellectual property protection, we want to ensure that Guyana is able to put itself where it can provide security to any off shore or local provider who wants to know that their intellectual knowledge is protected… Other legislation we are working on in 2018 includes the ecommerce and e-transaction legislation and the cybersecurity legislation,” the Minister added.

Minister Hughes said that although 2017 have proven to be a hectic year, the Government is far from being tired, adding that they are fo-

cused on delivering their mandate. She added that the Public Telecommunications Ministry is moving forward having already achieved almost all of their benchmarks for 2017.

She noted that her Ministry has been leading the way in establishing a number of ICT hubs across the country, including the hinterland regions.

Minister Hughes highlighted that her agency has been instrumental in establishing several ICT hubs in the hinterland regions, while accusing the Opposition of peddling “fake news” when they claim that the hinterland gap is not catered for.

This year’s budget provides G$50 million for improved solar solutions for the ICT hubs in hinterland areas, G$15 million to procure more fibre optic cable, G$16 million for more internet access points and G$20 million for power redundancy at the data centre.

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

EBD man gets two years jail for fondling 7-year-old

A

Diamond, East Bank Demerara man was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for indecently assaulting a seven-year-old girl.

Anansuaruddin Khan was charged for the offence in July, and his trial came to an end on Wednesday.

Magistrate Judy Latchman handed down the sentence at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The 3 6 - y e a r - o ld man was told that the Court believed the evidence presented by the prosecution Anansuaruddin Khan and as such, he was found guilty as charged.

The charge had stated that between June 1 and June 30, 2017, in Georgetown, Khan indecently assaulted the seven-year-old girl. The accused was granted G$150,000 bail on his first appearance. According to reports, Khan was entrusted by the girl’s mother to collect the child from school each day, dropping her home.

However, he reportedly committed the act during one of their trips home.

This was reported to the mother by the child. As such, the woman made a report to the Police, and Khan was arrested and charged.

34-yr-old cane harvester is Guyana’s latest road fatality

A

reportedly speeding motorist had been taken into custody, following a fatal accident around 23:55hrs last night (Wednesday) on the Anna Catherina Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD), that resulted in the death of Winston Domingo, 34, a cane harvester, of the said village, who was proceeding on a bicycle in the same direction of the vehicle.

According to Police Public Relations and Press Officer, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, their investigations revealed that motorcar PVV 4420 driven by a 20-yearold, of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, was proceeding west along the southern driveway of the road, reportedly at a very fast rate, when its left side front collided with the rear of the victim’s bicycle.

As a result of the impact, the cyclist fell onto the car’s windscreen then onto the road surface while the bicycle broke into two parts.

The victim was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital in an unconscious state and was pronounced dead on arrival. His body is presently at the Ezekiel’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

A breathalyzer test was administered to the driver but no alcohol was found in his breath.

Investigations are ongoing.

news 11

CARICOM-Cuba summit to be held in Antigua and Barbuda

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eads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba will hold the Sixth CARICOM-Cuba Summit in Antigua and Barbuda on Friday.

The meeting will be co-chaired by the Chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell of

creased focus on climate change resilience.

Friday's discussions will also review the status of the decades-old CARICOM-Cuba cooperation in commercial and economic areas.

Trade relations between the two parties were strengthened in November

Grenada, and the President of Cuba, Raúl Castro.

This meeting marks 45 years of diplomatic relations between CARICOM and Cuba, and will examine issues of regional and global importance including climate change adaptation and disaster risk management.

A memorandum of understanding will be signed between the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and Cuba's Agency for Civil Defence, which will provide opportunities for closer collaboration, especially following the devastating impact of the September 2017 hurricanes across the region, and the in-

2017 with the signing of the Second Protocol to the CARICOM-Cuba Trade Agreement. The protocol expands reciprocal duty-free market access to more than 320 items including meat, fish, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, beer, rum, cement, soap and apparel.

Cuba, a significant development partner, has supported the Caribbean Community in building its human resource capacity through scholarship programmes offered in several areas of study, including health and medicine, sports, agriculture and trade.

The summit will conclude with the adoption of a CARICOM-Cuba Joint Declaration. (CMC)

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

2018 should be called “the year of retrenchment” – Anthony A midst constant heckling from the Government side, Opposition parliamentarian, Dr Frank Anthony during his 2018 Budget Debate speech on Tuesday, described the 2018 Budget as one that is lackluster and has nothing tangible to offer Guyanese.

The former Culture, Youth and Sport Minister said Budget 2018 is an offensive one, telling the Parliament the budget is a representation of the tiredness of the Government.

“This lackluster budget offends everyone. In just 2.5 years, four budgets latter, the (Finance) Minister seems tired and the Government seems tired. They badly need a rest and perhaps the people should put them to rest,” he said.

Sugar

In his emotionally charged presentation, Anthony said while the Government speaks about expanding the agriculture sector, their actions tell a different story.

He alluded to the thousands of sugar workers who are now on the breadline following the decision to close a number of estates. Anthony said the workers feel betrayed by the Government after they were promised Government’s support to revive the ailing industry.

“The Government has adopted a narrow-minded, approach to sugar. That is to unilaterally shut major parts of the industry down. In the name of saving a few miserly dollars, thousands of workers will be sacrificed to save the industry, these innocent sugar workers and their families

will become collateral damage in a spate of vindictive politics.

Instead of helping by lending a hand to the industry, they prefer to the people and the industry while they are down,” Anthony added.

He said he shudders when thinking about what 2018 holds, telling the Government they are following the old tradition of the People’s National Congress, and as such, should rename 2018 as “the year of retrenchment.” He questioned the Government’s plan for the thousands of workers who would be placed on the breadline following the closure of the estates.

Meanwhile, during his presentation, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder said the framework governing the sugar industry needs to be retuned. He added that since the coalition Government took office, they have supported the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) with G$32 billion and another G$6.3 billion allocated for 2018.

“However, capital investment of G$12 billion will be required over the next three years 2018-2020 to ensure that the sugar production targets are met. Mr Speaker, despite the magnitude of subsidies, there has been no positive impact on the financial state of GuySuCo. The economy simply cannot afford this,” Holder said.

At odds

GuySuCo has commenced the implementation of the plans for the sugar industry as set out in the White Paper.

The plan calls for three es-

Harmon’s statement however did not find agreement with Minister Holder, who indicated that he is all supportive of the move to dismiss the workers adding that Cabinet was not surprised.

Health sector

Opposition parliamentarian, Dr Frank Anthony during his presentation

tates –Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt – to continue canes and sugar operations. While Skeldon will be divested, Rose Hall and Enmore are to be divested or diversified and Wales is scheduled for diversification. In this regard, a Special Purpose Unit has been set up to handle the divestment/diversification of these estates.

While the Government indicated that they would put the scheduled closure of the Rose Hall Estate on hold, GuySuCo has already issued over 400-dismissal letters to workers, giving them the required one-month notice.

However, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told the media that Cabinet was surprised by GuySuCo’s move, adding that the Corporation should have dealt with the issue a bit differently.

Turning his attention to the health sector, Dr Anthony related that they have been receiving a number of reports that indicate Government is spending a lot of money on procuring second hand equipment for the various hospitals.

He noted that the equipment is standardized, hence providing unreadable results in some cases.

He made special reference to the two Computer Tomography (CT) machines, received as donations and earmarked for Bartica and New Amsterdam Hospitals. He explained that the machines are yet to be unpacked, two years later and to be utilised, adding that the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) budgeted for the procurement of a CT scanner.

While alluding to the infamous emergency drug sole-sourcing at the GPHC, he noted that the Public Health Ministry is one of the leading ministries that consistently disregards the public procurement and tendering process.

The parliamentarian said there are a number of projects which the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration mismanaged and yet to be completed years after their stipulated completion date.

He explained that in 2015, there were several projects at the Port Kaituma Hospital Complex as a part of the improvement plant and those projects were supposed to be completed within six months, but to date, they are still languishing.

Those projects include the construction of a generator building and procurement of a generator, construction of an infections in-patient facility, a mortuary, a Nurses Hostel and a doctor’s quarter. All those projects totaled to over G$217B and were scheduled to be completed before the end of 2016 but are yet to be completed. Additionally, the contractors are being paid for the incomplete work.

He explained that there are a plethora of issues affecting the local health sector with Government turning a blind eye.

Dr Anthony told the Parliament that at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), X-rays stop working after 21:00h, anaesthetic machines are not working, leaking roofs have the drug bond in disarray and the operation theatres are none functional. While he was listing the issues plaguing the hospital, Anthony was supported by his Opposition colleagues all shouting, “Government don’t care!”

Just recently, Government announced that the Diamond Diagnostic Centre would be converted into a regional hospital, while the WDRH would be fully operational on a 24hour basis.

UG commissions new registry building student services in particular; it also serves as a symbolic indicator on the focus on renewal for campus, the forging of new attitude consistent with the philosophy of servant leadership,” Hinds posited.

Immediate Past Registrar of the University, Vincent Alexander in noting his

satisfaction at witnessing the building come to fruition, outlined several changes made over the past few years and the importance of a registry for students attending the university.

According to a release from the Department of Public Information, the G$86.3M three-story building is outfitted

with several air conditioner systems and laptops, that will enhance the services provided to over 8000 students at the Turkeyen Campus Georgetown. The construction of the new registry was financed under the Ministry of Education’s annual Budget.

Staff of the University of Guyana and Assistant Chief Education Officer, Owen Pollard cutting the ribbon to the new Registry building, Turkeyen Campus

R

egistration, the issuance of transcripts and everything in between, is expected to flow smoothly for the students of the University of Guyana (UG), following the commissioning of a new registry building at the Turkeyen Campus.

According to ViceChancellor of the University of Guyana,

Professor Ivelaw Griffith, the building aims to benefit the registry staff and students of the Turkeyen University. “Is it necessarily all that we want?

No. But it is much better than what we have had allowing us to enable our staff to be in a place of comfort; and enabling us to have the students be served in a place of comfort,” Professor Griffith

said.

Meanwhile, President of the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS), Norwel Hinds said the new building should also serve to encourage the renewal of services being provided.

“Although it serves (the building) the practical purpose of consolidating services and consolidating your focus on

The new Registry Building, Turkeyen Campus

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s potential as eco-tourism destination high – IDB economist

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A section of the audience at the 10th annual Tourism Awards at Pegasus on Monday evening

uyana has the potential to become a major eco-tourism destina-

tion, and there is always room for growth. This is according to InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) Country Economist Mark Wenner.

Wenner made the comment while speaking at the Guyana Tourism Authority awards on Monday night at the Pegasus Hotel.

According to Wenner, public/private partnerships are important for the industry to become sustainably viable. The IDB representative added that tourism stakeholders must decide what is it that they want for the sector, and then begin to work on achieving that goal.

Meanwhile, as efforts continue to push the “Guyana – South America Undiscovered” initiative, the Guyana Tourism Authority has awarded eight organisations for their outstanding contributions towards making Guyana a tourism destination.

Guyana Tourism Authority Board Chairman Donald Sinclair, while speaking at the event, congratulated the awardees on the 10th Annual Awards ceremony, and said he was happy to be part of this significant event.

Awards were presented in eight categories. Taking away the Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year prize was Surama Eco Lodge.

The People’s Choice Award for Responsible Tourism was awarded to Cara Lodge while the Tourism Recognition Award was copped by Classic International Hotel.

Additionally, Yupukari Village won the Most Outstanding Community Tourism Project; the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) or volunteer group was awarded to Visit Rupununi while

Herdmanston Lodge received the Service in Tourism Accommodation Establishment award.

Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) President Andrea de Caires, in brief remarks, noted that partnerships were really important in the tourism sector.

On Monday, Business Minister with responsibility for tourism, Dominic Gaskin during the Budget debate said that the sector has faced many challenges and has not developed the way it should after 50 years of independence.

Gaskin said he was hopeful that tourism would become a permanent item on all 10 Administrative Regions’ councils and they would make the right decisions that would result in their respective economy thriving.

He gave an update on the accomplishments of the Ministry during 2017, highlighting that the Ministry’s Department of Commerce recorded an increase of approximately 20 per cent in the number of import and export licences processed, when compared to the same period in 2016.

Meanwhile, in a statement on the 2018 Budget, THAG noted: “If tourism is to become a significant economic driver, then our approach to developing this sector must be multifaceted and the development focus, therefore, should be on attracting visitors as well as investment in the development of tourism products including accommodation, transport and amenities.”

The award ceremony is part of Tourism Month activities which are being held under the theme, “Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development”. (Yanalla Dalrymple)

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Sugar union slams ‘heartless Govt’ over plans for sugar industry

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s the public outcry continues over the seemingly fasttracked redundancy of hundreds of Rose Hall Estate workers, their representative body, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has criticised the move of Government through the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), calling the actions “unkind”, “cold” and heartless”.

GAWU on Monday contended that workers were caught off-guard by letters in light of an announcement by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon that the Estate would not be closed until next year.

It was recognised that no alternatives were in place for the workers who would be affected, the Union said.

“For [workers], it was then a great shock when they opened the letters to learn that they are no longer required in a few days’ time. And to add insult to injury, the sending home of the workers comes in the Christmas Season – a time of joy, happiness and new beginnings. This year, for the workers, their families and their communities, the season is filled with darkness and sadness,” the Union ominously stated.

GAWU further expressed hope that the workers would be soon informed as to when they would be paid their severance benefits. The Union noted that on several occasions it had sought to have a definitive time from GuySuCo only to receive uncommitted responses.

“Our Union understands that the Corporation, at this time, does not have the monies necessary to pay the workers. If what we heard is indeed true, this is adding to the callousness shown to the workers.”

The Union feels that it is “saddening” that the Government is pushing through with its plans despite the repeated warnings by industry experts, civil society and other stakeholder groups about the repercussions of the decision to close sugar estates.

“Furthermore, the Administration is certainly aware about the realities the people of Wales face.

Yet, in spite of the compelling body of evidence and its own admissions, the Government remained foolhardy and is closing down estates without any real and workable alternatives in sight,” the workers’ representative body highlighted.

It further disclosed that both sugar workers and GAWU were left questioning the State’s sincerity in protecting the thousands who stand to be affected

by Government’s plans for sugar.

“The displacement of so many poor, ordinary workers, in short, will be disastrous and will clearly push more people into an impoverished state. It is a matter which has quite rightly evoked a great deal of outpouring in our society and one that should touch our conscience,” GAWU added.

Last week, Guyana Times International learnt that some 961 Rose Hall Estate workers would be affected. Apart from the 400 who had received their termination letters, it was disclosed that 500 more workers could face the breadline. A few protesters vented their disdain for the workers’ treatment, and opted to demonstrate against Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s 70th birthday visit to Berbice last week.

On Thursday last, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder had refrained from committing to a specific timeframe for Rose Hall’s closure. He had, however, confirmed that the Special Purpose Unit assumed responsibility for the divested Estate rather than GuySuCo. In May 2017, Government announced plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall Sugar Estates, sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered by GuySuCo. The decisions announced by Government were met with various protest actions throughout the year. In December 2016, another Estate, Wales, was shut down and to date, many workers have not received severance payment.

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Ramkarran fires back at AFC’s top brass …says Ramjattan has succumbed to temptation of the ‘politics of abuse’

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ne week after criticising the Alliance for Change (AFC) for not taking a firm stand within the coalition Government on many important issues, prominent Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran has responded to some comments made

by Chairman of the AFC, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

In quoting some of the comments reportedly made by Ramjattan, the former Speaker of the National Assembly said the AFC chairman has succumbed to the temptation of the ‘politics of abuse’.

He also claimed that Ramjattan’s behaviour

Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran

exposes the inability of the AFC to answer serious questions about its political posture.

The attorney recalled that at the post2015 election celebration, Ramjattan had given him a congratulatory embrace for what he believed was

his (Ramkarran’s) contribution to the victory of the APNU+AFC coalition. He said, too, that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had thanked him in the presence of several persons.

However, things have changed, and Ramkarran’s observation is that Minister Ramjattan has now become abusive and Nagamootoo uses the State-owned Chronicle newspaper to denigrate him. “ M i n i s t e r Ramjattan does his high political status no justice (by) invoking abuse as a political response to what he feels is criticism; but he is in deadly error when he assumes that I write or speak

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

with his or his government’s sufferance,” Ramkarran wrote in his weekly column, the Conversation Tree.

Alleging that Ramjattan said he would “allow the chatterati to continue to chat, and we are not going to block them,”

Ramkarran stated his firm belief that neither the Minister nor his Government has the power to ‘block’ him from speaking or writing. He said Ramjattan should know better.

“I have no political axe to grind, and do not care who holds political office in Guyana. I have criticised both the Government, APNU, the PPP, and indeed the AFC in the past.

I will continue to do so. I will also cooperate or assist and work with any political party, once it is (in) the interest of Guyana, as I perceive it,” he wrote.

The former Speaker of the House noted that while he is motivated to write about a wide variety of issues, he generally emphasises politics. He also pointed out that most of his writings are centred on constitutional reform as a means by which Guyana can overcome the politics of ethno-political dominance.

Referring to his previous column, Ramkarran said his criticism of the AFC is that that party had subscribed to the same goal of ending ethno-political dominance, but is now allowing itself to lapse.

“I saw the AFC as a powerful and critical political instrument in achieving our shared objective, which I believe is in the interest of all Guyana.

Bringing the AFC back to its original intent was what my article was all about.”

He reiterated that his suggestion was that the AFC ministers should resign from the Government and the AFC MPs should sit on the back benches. The AFC should then negotiate with the Government a programme for constitutional reform. By so doing, Ramkarran said, he feels the AFC would be in a better position to pressure the Government to implement such a programme; because the threat of not supporting the Government’s parliamentary agenda would be more real.

“In writing the article, I thought that APNU would be more inclined to take exception. But instead, to my surprise, it is the AFC that took umbrage at my effort to stimulate their integrity by urging them to stand up for what they promised all of us. And I

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

pointed a way in which this can be done without bringing down the Government. Minister Ramjattan and PM Nagamootoo are deeply bothered by it. Why? And why not respond in a constructive, rather than an abusive, manner?” Ramkarran asked.

The former Speaker reminded that Guyana faces a future as an oil producing country, and there are many examples to learn from, especially where oil resources have dissipated because the countries cannot get their politics right.

“We read constantly about Nigeria. We have been recently reading about Angola, where the daughter of the former president is the richest woman in Africa, and was recently dismissed as the head of the state oil company, which is experiencing great difficulties. We have the example of Trinidad next door,” he explained.

Ramkarran feels Guyana could face a similar fate because of its distorted politics.

This, he said, could result in endless controversy in relation to the management of its oil resources and the expenditure of its oil income.

However, he noted that Guyana has the opportunity now to solve its political problems, and then to deal in a consensual way with the issues that would arise from oil.

“This will stop massive leakages from corruption and mismanagement. Within the next two years, the AFC can play a decisive role in solving these political problems. But it can only do so if it reverts to its original credo, stop treating itself as an appendage to APNU, and understand that it holds a trump card to the future of Guyana,” he explained.

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3 to stand trial for Multiplex Mall owner’s murder

PPP concerned about transparency of US$50M wind farm project

By Jarryl Bryan

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T

Fazeel Bacchus

Lennox Roberts

he three men accused of gunning down the Multiplex Mall owner Ganesh Ramlall on July 5, 2015 outside his La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home have all been committed to stand trial in the High Court.

Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool told 21-year-old Fazeel Bacchus of Cornelia Ida, WCD; 32-year-old Lennox Roberts of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) and 35-yearold Kurt Erskine of Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) that the submissions made by their attorneys, Brandon De Santos and Lyndon Amsterdam, were considered; however, a prima facie case has been made out against them.

Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes was hired by the State as a special prosecutor for the case.

However, when given an opportunity to address the court, the accused all maintained their innocence in the matter. Bacchus, who was named one of the masterminds of the crime, decried the harsh life in prison and stated: “I was not even there; why do I have to face this?”

Ramlall, a father of one, was shot five times about his body, including once to his head, around 00:10h on the morning of his demise.

Reports are that the 48-year-old had just returned home from a barbeque with friends when he proceeded to use an outdoor bathroom at his premises.

However, as the man walked into

Kurt Erskine

his yard, he was pounced upon by four men who opened fire on him.

The man’s wife raised an alarm and neighbours fired shots at the bandits, but the men managed to escape with Ramlall’s jewellery and wallet.

Ramlall was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His relatives quickly posted a G$5 million reward for anyone with information on the killing.

Shortly after, Police raided a house in Craig, EBD, where Bacchus and Roberts, along with several others , were arrested.

When interrogated, the two men reportedly confessed to the murder of the Regent Street Multiplex business owner.

They further revealed to Police that the murder was hatched some two months prior to it being carried out.

As such, they both, mere days after their confession, appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, and were remanded to prison.

Erskine was later apprehended and subsequently charged with the murder as well after he was implicated by the two.

During the Preliminary Inquiry, which commenced before Magistrate Liverpool at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, the wife of Ramlall, along with neighbours, testified.

onths after it took office in 2015, the coalition Government had announced that it would facilitate a US$50 million, 25-megawatt wind farm project at Hope Beach on the East Coast of Demerara. But with intense criticism about a party-affiliated investor being behind the project, such talk eventually died down.

According to wellplaced sources, however, negotiations to bring the wind farm to fruition are going strong. In an interview with Guyana Times International, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Juan Edghill made it clear the Party remained concerned about the transparency and accountability of the project.

“The issue with the wind farm is that they must be able to come clean and show what price GPL will be buying. Is it cheaper than hydro? Would it be driving down the present bill for GPL, that will

Guyana-Venezuela boundary marker located in Region 1

GPF ranks stand alongside the boundary marker

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anks of a joint patrol on Thursday last stumbled upon a landmark in Region One (BarimaWaini) which confirms the boundaries of the border existing between Guyana and Venezuela.

This discovery was made by a group of officers attached to the

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) during regular rounds in the Amakura River in Region One. The patrol, which was led by Sergeant Herschel Gilead, who, along with ranks of the coastal battalion and the GPF, was at the time deployed to

establish a Joint Services presence in the White Water Village/Amakura area.

The patrol members are all based in the Maburuma area, and have been conducting regular joint patrols in Region One, with the aim of ensuring the safety of residents of various communities within the Region.

According to a statement by the GDF, the boundary marker serves to define the border between Guyana and its neighbour to the NorthWest, and is believed to have been erected during the border demarcation exercise conducted by the British Government during the 1900s after the border was unanimously settled in 1899 by an international tribunal Venezuela had caused to be convened and whose ruling all parties agreed to accept.

Lloyd Singh

positively impact the rate the consumers are paying? Or would it be a cash cow for an [Alliance For Change] AFC financier.

“Because with the hydro, we were bringing down the cost of electricity to 10 to 12 cents (US) per kilowatt for power,” Edghill explained.

“If we are buying from the wind farm for higher than that, (then they are using it) to pass off money to an AFC financier as against bringing cheaper, renewable energy to the Guyanese consumer,” he posited.

Pointing to the success of the pressure it, as well as civil society, put on the Government to disclose the contract it made with ExxonMobil, Edghill vowed that the Opposition would do

PPP/C Member of Parliament Juan Edghill

whatever it takes to get answers. The former Minister within the Finance Ministry also expressed concern over the overall direction Guyana’s energy sector was headed in.

“The A Partnership for National Unity [ A P N U ] / A F C Government has not produced a comprehensive document to show how Guyana’s energy needs will be satisfied. While they have been talking about wind farms and solar farms, these are only three megawatt and five megawatt facilities when we need 170, 175 megawatts,” he said.

It was the AFC itself that identified International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) proprietor Lloyd Singh, an investor in the wind farm, as responsible for the party’s acquisition of its multimillion-dollar headquarters in February of 2016. AFC co-founder Khemraj Ramjattan had identified Singh as the one who provided the party with the advance sums for the property.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has been vociferously against the project, noting last year that if the Government persisted with it, the Party would vigorously challenge it in the court if needs be. Jagdeo had also pointed out that Singh was a known financier of the AFC. “Imagine a man who built the AFC headquarters is now negotiating with (then) General Secretary of the AFC (Minister David Patterson) for a Power Purchase Agreement that was never tendered and announced long before the power mix study…This smacks of corruption.”

As such, the former President said even if Government were to go

ahead with the project, the “PPP is not bound to respect anything that is done in this manner”. He said his party would vigorously oppose any Power Purchase Agreement negotiated in secret by related parties.

Jagdeo was also adamant that Government’s proposed solution in the form of a wind farm would not bring an end to the spate of blackouts and other woes, as he maintained that “this thing is a corrupt deal and we will scrutinise this… will press them hard to get the details of this contract”. According to Jagdeo, “we have to look at it; if we find that it is particularly egregious, then we will challenge it as we have done in the courts and use every means that is available to us to expose it.”

Regarding the capacity of the wind farm itself, Jagdeo has also raised questions on what would happen if the wind speed for any given day were to drop below what was required and as a result, generation fell to nil.

“What will be the back-up power that will kick in?” Jagdeo questioned, even as he sought to explain that with a wind farm, what is being purchased is energy and not necessarily capacity. Jagdeo had pointed out that hydropower offered both capacity and energy.

While not as stable as hydro, the use of wind turbines is a form of renewable energy. But the Hope Beach Wind Farm project is certainly no match for the proposed 165 MW Amaila Falls Hydro Project, a brainchild of Jagdeo that the coalition Government has since turned its back on despite a favourable review from Norwegian firm Norconsult.

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After three years, still no DNA School sex scandal: Police still building case testing at forensic lab in Guyana

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’ Division Commander, M a r l o n Chapman, on Monday said that despite being on G$100,000 station bail, embattled Bishops’ High School teacher Coen Jackson would have to wait a while before he faces the court.

Over the weekend, Police arrested Jackson at his Pollydore Street, Lodge home and charged him for sexual grooming, sexual assault, and rape committed on a former student.

Jackson is being accused of abusing his position of trust as a teacher to groom female students for sexual activities after they would have attained the age of 16, the legal age of consent.

Jackson has vehemently denied the accusations, but did admit to having sexual relations with two former students who are both in their early 20s.

The Police claim that between December 2010 and May 2011, at Durban Street, Lodge, Jackson raped one of his students.

C o m m a n d e r Chapman has said the Police are still building their case against the teacher. He noted that at this time police are yet

The Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory

A

Coen Jackson

to receive legal advice on whether or not to take the case to court.

“So far, based on legal advice, we have not been told that we can go to court…we are still pursuing other angles of the investigation, and will determine the way forward,” the Commander said.

The Education Ministry launched a fullfledged investigation into the allegations, and upon completion, authorized the Police to begin conducting a criminal investigation.

The Police investigation has resulted in Jackson being charged for one count of rape.

However, the Police have said that their investigation is still ongoing, as they are still investi-

gating other allegations against the teacher of over 20 years.

It was the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s Cultural Advisor Ruel Johnson who broke the news of the alleged sexual misconduct of Jackson on social media, and the story has since catapulted, resulting in a number of past students relating their experiences.

Johnson, in a letter to the Chief Education Officer, detailed numerous reports he had received from present and past students of the teacher, who allegedly sexualized his lessons, had inappropriate conversations with female students, and engaged in multiple sexual relationships with female students.

s investigations continue into the brutal death of Richard Ishmael Secondary School teacher Kescia Branche, whose battered body was found at the corner of Princes Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown, Police are encountering hindrance by the lack of DNA testing being conducted locally.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan was recently questioned over the status of the lab’s readiness for DNA testing, and he responded by saying that the necessary infrastructure is still not in place at the forensic lab to conduct these tests.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a material that is found in all living organisms, and it has been used to solve murders across many of the world’s countries. In July 2014, over three years ago, Guyana’s first forensic laboratory was officially opened, but the lack of DNA testing at that facility continues to provide a challenge to the solving of many high profile murder cases, with the latest being the gruesome killing of the 22-year-old school teacher alluded to above.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan explained to reporters last week that the necessary infrastructure is still not in place to preserve the samples.

He had earlier expressed hope that the facility would be ready by this year,

but he again gave all assurances that DNA testing would be conducted at the facility sometime in 2018.

“I had really wanted it before the end of this year, but it doesn’t seem that that will happen, because the air ventilation and the air conditioning unit to ensure the proper preservation and no disintegration, and the proper temperature of the samples, were not put in place,” Ramjattan observed.

He added that the American Embassy is supporting the move to have DNA testing being done in Guyana, which comes under the second component of the Public Security Ministry’s Citizen Security Strengthening Programme for improving the Guyana Police Force’s Forensic Laboratory’s effectiveness in preventing and conducting crime investigations.

The forensic laboratory is currently equipped to conduct testing including on fake currency, forged documents, narcotics, and ballistics.

Ramjattan noted that staff and training on using the equipment to conduct the tests are needed. In the meantime sending the samples overseas is the only option, as Police are trying to match the blood found on a car to that of the murdered school teacher. The Police were recently granted an extension to further detain the owner of that vehicle.

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accused of murdering Blanhum removed as Man waitress remanded to prison Guyana’s Crime Chief …to act as Deputy Commander of ‘A’ Division Division A Deputy Commander Wendell Blanhum

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ubstantive Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, has been removed from his post, and will now act as Deputy Commander of “A” Division.

While Blanhum was on leave, Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Williams was functioning as interim crime chief, and will continue to function in that capacity, according to acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine.

Ramnarine has said that Blanhum’s being reposted to second in command of ‘A’ Division was not done without precedent. He said this was done to facilitate the Force’s annual Christmas security programme. “ S e n i o r Superintendent Wendell Blanhum has been reposted, and that is to ‘A’ Division as the second in command….I am in command of the Force, and I have noted that the Assistant Commissioner, law enforcement, Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Williams, is functioning in that capacity, and I would like it to continue because (of) the arrangements we have for the Christmas season, and (I would) also (like) to note that Mr Blanhum’s reposting is not without precedent,” Ramnarine said in an invited comment.

However, he refused to comment further when asked whether the demotion was in keeping with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger.

On March 29 last, Andriff Gillard reported to the Police that his friend and neighbour, Nizam Khan, had offered him G$7 million to assassinate the President. He said the offer was made during a conversation between Khan and himself after he had approached Khan to borrow G$6 million to pur-

chase a property.

Following the allegation, President Granger ordered the CoI to investigate the Police investigation of the allegation, and to also make recommendations to address flaws.

Retired Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Slowe conducted the CoI, and handed the report to President Granger at the end of August.

When Crime Chief Blanhum took to the stand before that CoI, a clash between Slowe and Blanhum ensued. Blanhum was the

of the major investigating unit of the Guyana Police Force. Blanhum should be replaced as Crime Chief, and reassigned in order to gain command experience,” Slowe recommended.

Since taking up the post of Crime Chief in May of 2015, Blanum had reopened several high-profile cases, such as the execution of fashion designer Trevor Rose; the 1993 murder case of Monica Reece; and the robbery/murder of Sheema Mangar.

Mashramani Costume Designer and Events Coordinator Trevor Rose was gunned on January 26, 2014 while sitting in the back seat of a Toyota 212 at Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD). He had fathered eight children, and the investigations are progressing, according to the Police.

Former Demerara Bank employee Sheema Mangar, 20, was victim of a robbery sometime afActing Police Commissioner David Ramnarine

first person to receive information of the alleged plot, and was instructed by Ramnarine to personally oversee the investigation.

The commission found that Blanhum had failed to properly supervise the investigation, and lied while under oath when he said it was his decision to send Nizam Khan on bail.

It was recommended that Blanhum should be disciplined for all those infractions.

“He was insubordinate when he took a rude, argumentative and aggressive posture at the Commission of Inquiry.

He should be disciplined for this. His lack of supervision of this important investigation; his utterances, disrespect and arrogance displayed before the Commission show that he is incapable of functioning as the crime chief, the lead investigator and manager

ter 18:00hrs on September 10, 2010 as she waited for transportation on North Road. She chased the robber, who jumped into the car that dragged her from outside Bedford Methodist Church at Camp Street and North Road to the intersection of Camp and Church Streets. She died hours later at St Joseph Mercy Hospital.

The body of the 23-yearold security guard Monica Reece was dumped from a speeding pickup in the vicinity of the Geddes Grant building (now Courts) on Main Street, Georgetown on April 9, 1993. Her identification was later determined as Monica Reece. It was a Good Friday night that the murder took place.

Blanhum and a team of detectives were able to crack the murder case of Babita Sarjou in May of 2016.

Accused: Odit Thom

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he suspect who Police say confessed to killing 22-year-old Marissa Fraser-whose body was fished out of a trench in Number 4 Village, Berbice earlier this week- was on Thursday hauled before the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court and charged with murder.

Odit Thom, 38, also known as Odit Persaud, a guard of No. 4 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was also ordered that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

He was remanded to prison until January 24, 2018.

A Post Mortem Examination (PME) conducted on the body of Fraser revealed that the woman died as a result of asphyxia (interference in respiration thereby depriving the body of oxygen) and drowning compounded by multiple incise wounds.

Her body had multiple stab wounds to the face and head and was discovered a short distance from a pool of blood at Back Street, Number 5 Village.

Murdered: Marisa Fraser

A resident of the area, identified only as ‘Bebi’ said that at 06:30hrs on Monday last, she saw a trail of blood in the centre of the street which leads to the village cemetery. However, she reportedly paid no mind until three hours later when a farmer saw the body in a corner of the canal.

She had “only a top on. Her slippers (were) on the ground right there.

There was a lot of mud on her face, and when the Police came, they had to wipe off some of the mud to see if anybody could identify her,” Bebi explained.

The dead woman’s aunt had said that from all indications there was a struggle between the deceased woman and her attacker(s).

Police found a part of a scissors at the scene, and this they said is believed to be the murder weapon.

Fraser had last been seen by her cousin at home as she was preparing to go to a wedding reception in the next village.

She leaves to mourn her mother and two brothers.

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2018 Budget the most disastrous ever presented, says Irfaan Ali

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udget 2018 has been described as the worst financial paper ever produced by any Government; one that lacks hope, creativity, innovation, and thinking power; and that does not have the ability to create and advance opportunities for the people of Guyana.

This was the firm view expressed by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Irfaan Ali, who was the first to lead the charge in the 2018 budget debates which commenced on Monday in the National Assembly.

Ali said the budget has failed to address employment and several other bread-and-butter issues. “The 2018 Budget is by far the most disastrous budget presented to this Honourable House since 1992. This budget is devoid of any measure to rescue the ailing economy, or improve the well-being of our people,” Ali charged.

The former Housing Minister told the House that is it therefore easy to conclude that the socalled ‘good life’ will not be realized with this budget, or during the

first term of the coalition Government.

He said that given the many broken promises by the APNU/AFC Government, Guyanese are likely not to fall for it.

Zeroing in on some of the most important issues affecting Guyanese daily, Ali pointed to the fact that parents (especially single parent mothers) who were denied the G$10,000 cash grant are still being burdened with tax on educational services that approximates to G$342 million annually.

Ali told the National Assembly that the Guyanese economy has lost its vibrancy since 2015, and continues to limp along towards the elusive ‘good life’ concept. This, according to him, is evident from the suboptimal growth registered over the past three years.

“Mr Speaker, the suboptimal performance of our economy is not accidental, but may be attributed to poor policy decisions and gross mismanagement by APNU/ AFC Government, (which) caused our traditional sectors to un-

derperform,” Ali added, while the Opposition side of the House cheered on in support.

Ali zeroed in on the poor performance of the main traditional sectors, pointing out that the projected output levels from rice and bauxite for 2017 were lower than the value of outputs reported in 2014.

“Given the fact that approximately 61,000 employees and their relatives (some 244,276 persons) rely on these sectors for their livelihood, it means that a significant portion of our population (approximately 32.9%) would have suffered severe hardship,” he opined.

“Mr Speaker, the traditional sectors are not the only casualties of the gross mismanagement by the APNU/AFC Government, but businesses generally. Indeed, this Government has made the environment so toxic that the ‘ease of doing business’ ranking of Guyana slipped to 126 in 2017 from 124 in 2016.”

Inflation

Amidst the slowdown in the economy and consequent loss in income,

the average consumer has had to cope with rising prices for food (4.5%), medical and personal care (3.4%), and education (4.6%), according to Ali. The price increases for these exceeded the overall inflation rate of 2.0%, and may be attributed to the taxes that were added to essential food items, education, and personal health care.

The former minister asserted that consumers are expected to pay G$40.4 billion in Value-Added Tax (VAT) for 2017, which is G$3.1 billion more than the amount they paid in 2014. He said that, instead of paying less VAT, consumers are currently paying more VAT, and are expected to pay even more in 2018.

“The VAT revenue for 2018 is projected to be G$3 billion more than the total VAT for 2017, and G$6.1 billion more than the level in 2014.

The payment of these additional taxes by the average citizens serves to confirm that they are not living the so-called ‘good life’, but rather they were fed a ‘good lie’,” Ali said.

The Opposition MP has said that if Government is serious about stimulating and diversifying the economy; fulfilling its promise; and delivering the ‘good life’ instead of perpetuating the ‘good lie’, it should consider review,

Opposition Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali speaking passionately during the commencement of the Budget debate 2018 on Monday

and in most cases remove, the huge tax measures that were imposed on Guyanese.

Ali had submitted a motion to the National Assembly in October calling for the reversal of the tax regime implemented by the Government over the years. The motion calls for the restoration of the purchasing power of the people by removing the imposition of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on zero-rated items, new fees and licenses, and an increase in taxes which were included in the 2016 and 2017 budgets.

The 3000-word-long

document extensively lists a number of measures that the parliamentary opposition believes should be implemented to “stimulate the economy and reduce poverty and hardships.”

The PPP have made recommendations for improvements to the tax framework, the finance sector, the business sector, infrastructural development, energy sector, education social services, health, agricultural sector, Amerindian welfare, the sugar industry, the rice sector, and the security sector.

G$148M for Small Business Bureau in 2018

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n 2018, the Small Business Bureau (SBB) intends to implement a programme, where it will register companies that meet certain criteria with regard to standards and quality. These companies would form a list of companies that the Bureau can recommend to larger companies looking to sub-contract or contract Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SME.) This was announced by Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin during his budget presentation to the National Assembly. Minister Gaskin noted that over the years, the SBB has demonstrated the capacity to manage business development programmes successfully.

He also disclosed that advertisements will be placed at the Bureau on behalf of these companies to promote them to larger enterprises.

“These larger enterprises can contact the Bureau whenever a business opportunity arises, and the Bureau would then recommend the qualified companies in this sector of activity. If successful this can be a great program to promote the small businesses of Guyana,” Minister Gaskin explained.

Additionally, G$100M has been allocated towards the establishment of the Small Business Development Fund.

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin.

This will serve as a revolving loan fund to address the needs of businesses that cannot meet the requirements of the traditional banking system.

Minister Gaskin said that the effective revolving nature of the fund will limit the erosion of its capital. This he said will be achieved through careful screening of applicants prior to referral to the programme; frequent review of the performance of the revolving fund; favourable interest rates; and shorter repayment periods (not more than 1 year) to allow for timely revolving of funds. (DPI)

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‘The Spirit of Guyana’- 2017

Mashramani Float designed by Teekah – 2017

…young artist awaits grand debut

By Ashraf Dabie

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ven as society continues to view the creation of art as a leisure time activity rather than a possible career, aspiring artist Roberto Anthony Teekah is defying the odds as he awaits his grand debut to his professional journey.

Teekah, who is 19 years old, has been for some years now exercising the depths of his talent, by crafting artist pieces, using social media as one of his main platforms to showcase his work.

It all started during his academic pursuits at the Bishop’s High School as the institution provided the much-needed avenues, which paved the way for his development as a young artist.

This was as the then art student took up every opportunity thrown his way to gain exposure through designing pieces for school events and participating in local art competitions. Allowing his talent to speak for itself, the teenager eventually managed to secure gigs which led to his art work being on display at a more national level.

S p e a k i n g with Sunday Times Magazine, Teekah highlighted what initially spiked his interested in the field of arts. In doing so, he outlined his journey as an up and coming art expert, thus far.

“I don’t know exactly where my affinity for art comes from, but it is the thing that comes easiest to me. I have always been a reserved and introverted person, and art served as a vessel for me to express my opinions and channel my emotions. As a child,

my teachers and classmates would always be impressed with my artwork, although they were simple drawings, they were the beginning of a permanent love for all things creative,” the 19-year-old relayed.

He then revisited the beginning of this journey and underlined what promoted his artistic pursuits.

Teekah explained, “My art truly blossomed when I started attending the Bishops’ High School in 2010. Bishops’ offered countless creative outlets, which I thrived off of, and an exceptional Visual Arts curriculum that exceeds many other schools.”

As such, he continued on saying, “I am thankful for both the practical skills and especially the theoretical knowledge that I gained there, which sadly many other art students do not get exposed to. Another driving force in my art journey was the harsh, but constructive criticism put forth by my art teacher and mentor, Brian Tankoon. They prevented me from settling for mediocrity and constantly pushed me to become better.”

With motivation stemming from his school environment, the student decided to pursue Art at the Caribbean Secondary Education Council (CSEC) Level and then later at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). Having gained a Grade II as his first attempt (CSEC), Teekah was not satisfied with his performance and decided to try again. It was with that passion for the arts and determination to succeed that he managed to secure

a Distinction at Art& Design at CAPE. In fact, Teekah was the first student to take on this subject at the Bishops’ High School, and his fruitful ventured opened the doors for others to follow in his footsteps.

Adding to that, the young artist has already secured a long list of achievements in his field. This includes a prize-winning painting in the Guyana Coconut Festival (2016), having had one of his pieces on display at the Guyana Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition (2017) along with being a co-designer in a prize winning Mashramani float competition for Secondary Schools (2017).

Those are paired with having prize winning Rangoli designs at the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha Rangoli Competition for two years in a row as well as creating Rangolis for a public exhibition at the National Art Gallery.

With that having been established, Teekah indicated what his sources of inspiration are. “My art is heavily inspired by the world we live in- things like nature, folklore & legends of various cultures, avant-garde fashion and most recently by powerful figures who challenge the ideals and norms of society, beauty and mainstream media. Andy Warhol once said that “Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see it,” this resonates with me and provokes me to find aesthetic value in everything imaginable,” he related.

Moreover, the 19-year-old went on to say, “My art is the physical evocation of my sub-

conscious. It is what brings my mental conversations to life. My art can show the true aura that lies within me, or the one that I want you to see, because after all, “I am an artist and I have the ability and the free will to choose the way the world will envision me”- Stefani Germanotta.”

Even with the numerous accomplish-

ments under his belt, the young artist looks forward to a thriving career, doing what he enjoys, which is creating art, of various forms and medium.

With that in mind Teekah noted, “I plan on continuously creating unique artwork, working towards gaining more exposure and to constantly grow as an artist. I would love

Young artist, Roberto Anthony Teekah

to have more work on display at exhibitions and to participate more in our local cultural events.”(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Minister Bulkan says local organs will be given opportunity to manage their own affairs B y S amuel S ukhnandan

T

he return of Local Government Elections to Guyana and initiatives being undertaken to strengthen the system have been touted as major achievements of the coalition Government.

Delivering his contribution to Budget 2018 debate, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan said that the Government was moving to return to local organs the right to manage their own affairs.

Bulkan accused the previous Government of stifling the local Government system and depriving it of resources, asserting that this would not be allowed to continue.

“Local Government will no longer be sti-

PPP/C Member of Parliament Colin Croal

fled in this country,” Bulkan stated while receiving loud applause from his colleagues on

the Government side of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

He said Budget 2018

made substantial provision (G$1.6 billion) to advance the work towards empowering and equipping local democratic organs to be effective and meaningful partners in the development of Guyana.

According to him, the Budget also caters for both the vision of Local Government being a critical partner in development and the continued strategic direction of rebuilding the institutions.

Responding to assertions made by the Opposition that the Local Government system was in total chaos, the Minister said that some of its members showed total disregard for the Local Government system.

“A party that treated a Local Government system as if it only had cosmetic value and or-

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

gans and councillors to never be heard, the question of valuation will be resisted,” he opined.

Bulkan went on to state that the Opposition was wedded to the centralised system of governance, so much so that it was not interested in the restoration and functionality of the local governance system.

The Minister emphasised that the aim was to reject ‘winner takes it all’ policies, and encourage people to embrace local democracy, especially since it was in keeping with constitutional provisions.

Bulkan also spoke of the highly-anticipated Local Government Elections next year for which he said Budget 2018 catered.

“This budget lays the foundation for a country that is more inclusive, cohesive and hence more sustainable. This budget provides for the working man, the business man, the young, the pensioner.”

M e a n w h i l e , Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Collin Croal spoke passionately about what he dubbed a corrupt local government system that did not recognise the elected leaders.

He said this was started under the coalition Government based on its approach to issues.

While noting that most of the local democratic organs are controlled and dominated by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP) owing to its election victories produced in that area for 2015, Croal said that the Government must

learn to accept that these senior functionaries were put there by the people.

The MP also highlighted some of the dismal performances of the local authorities as stated in the Finance Ministry’s Mid-Year Report. “The average for Regions 1-10, their performance was 29.5 per cent…average implementation within the last half of the year of 63.92 per cent,” he pointed out.

Croal questioned the rationale behind the valuation exercise that was announced by Government during the 2018 Budget presentation, querying why there has not been an increase in the subvention when Bulkan has claimed that the exercise was not aimed at raising taxation in the local authority areas.

However, he did point out that Bulkan has repeatedly declared that the system was deprived of revenue streams.

“Having had over 200 increase taxation measures in 2017, they couldn’t find any more to put it on the national level. So, therefore, they are now moving to the local authorities. There is a motive probably in moving in this direction,” the Opposition MP told the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Speaking about the recent renewal of the regional tender boards which saw several new members being appointed and old ones replaced, Croal claimed that most of these new appointees were known supporters of the current Government, which lacked transparency.

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– Serving the less fortunate for over 26 years

By Lakhram Bhagirat

C

hildren are said to be the reason for all the happiness in the world and when one gives the gift of time to a child, then you are forever happy. This may have been the intention of the late Marie Dookun when she began inviting the children of her community into her yard to feed them and read stories with them. While we may never know her true intentions, it did give birth to a life changing idea- The Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre.

The Centre is located at Lot 13 Public Road, Ruimveldt and was once the home of a sugar factory manager, Samuel Dookun and his wife. The centre was registered in July of 1991, by one of the Dookun’s daughters, and completed 26 years this year. They all reside overseas and Ismay Murray-who is currently the vice president, manages it.

I have been to the Centre a number of times to drop off donated items and have brief interactions with the children there. But that was ages ago while I was still a teen. However, the opportunity to spend some meaningful time with the children arose on Wednesday and it was one not to be missed.

A lot had changed since I last visited there.

One of my favorite things about visiting there was the inspiration to do better and to give back. The Dr Seuss quote “the more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you would go,” accosted me with its bight color painted onto the wall. It took me back to my green eggs and ham childhood and I was a child again-all bright eyed and bushy tail going through the motions of my interaction with the children.

Volunteer, Maranda Bennett, related that she has been there for over one and a half years and loves every minute of it. Maranda told the Sunday Magazine that she was first exposed to the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre as a student

The Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre

The Wall of Hope-something that every child at the Centre has

Maranda interacting with another volunteer

Some of the children at the Centre

from the University of Guyana.

“I was sent to the center by UG for three weeks and I have not left ever since. The children here are accustomed to people in and out of their lives and I don’t want to be a statistic. I want to see them through and I enjoy doing this,” she explained.

There are currently 45 students, who access the services of the centre, and they are mainly from the communities of River View and Albouystown.

The main focus of the 15 volunteers are to ensure the children are provided with a hot meal and that they learn and have fun.

The children mostly come from families with deep financial issues, quite often struggling to make ends meet. The vision of the Centre is to ensure those children are productive members of society.

While addressing poverty Nelson Mandela

said, “Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is manmade and can be removed by the actions of human beings.”

It is with this in mind, Maranda and the others at the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre get about their daily lives.

They sacrifice time that could be spend on pampering themselves, to volunteer at the Centre from 15:00hrs up until the last child leaves.

They offer the love and nurturing a child may not be getting at home.

They read to the children. They feed them.

They teach them, but most importantly, they give their time.

The volunteers, at the Centre, are trained in various field and they would provide critical services such as counselling for children going through some kind of trauma or just need to let off some steam. Their services are available to

children from 5-17 years old.

Because of the struggles of some of the chil-

dren, Maranda explains that some of them are at the lashing out stage and adds that it is a far from deterring factor. “At that stage we have to use that energy and transform it into something that is productive and beneficial,” she says with a smile on her face.

The Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre is mostly funded by donations from the public and receives grants from overseas organizations.

They also enjoys a good relationship with several businesses locally. If you feel that you want to contribute to the development of the nation’s youths then contact the centre on 227- 3092.

Just remember that according to Carl Sagan, “time spent with children is time well spend.

Their little minds are not constrained by reality or focused upon goals.

Anything and everything is possible. Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were, but without it we go nowhere.”

Make a child smile.

Everyday!

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Amazing view of the Pakaraima Mountain Range

rofessional photographer Michael C Lam shares with Guyana Times International breathtakingly remarkable photos of scenic landscapes in far-flung areas of Guyana.

The photos were taken during a Pakaraima Mountain Safari adventure.

The Pakaraima Mountain Safari, dubbed an “adventure of a lifetime”, entails travelling via 4×4 vehicles across Regions Four, Eight, Nine and Ten, starting below sea level and reaching approximately 3,800 ft. above sea level.

These photos are evidence of Guyana’s grandeur, and should motivate us to want to explore the corners of our beloved country. (Photos copyright to Michael C Lam. TheMichaelLamCollection.com) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Breathtaking view of rugged landscape

Enjoying a refreshing bath at Orinduik Falls

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w

Preserving our literary heritage

Chutzpah… Reviewed by Rudy R. Jadoopat O L B y P etamber P ersaud

…on racism charge

et’s lay some facts on the table before the issue de jour. In 2015, APNU courted the AFC to go into the election on a common slate. By that time, the PNC had absorbed five putative “parties” to form APNU. But none of them, the WPA, NFA, GAP etc, had any significant followings to buttress the PNC. With Nagamootoo coming aboard the AFC in 2011 – and Trotman suddenly stricken with some mysterious physical and spiritual ailments and conceding the leadership to Ramjattan – the party had picked up in 2011 significant support in Berbice.

The PNC-led APNU craved sugar and rice farmers’ votes to beat the PPP but claimed it wanted to form a “national unity government” of all ethnic groups.

It so badly wanted the AFC it promised them 40% of the Cabinet and the Prime Ministership to Nagamootoo, to get them to tie the knot on Valentine Day, 2015: the Cummingsburg Accord.

The PNC thus explicitly recruited AFC for their 11% sugar workers and rice farmers’ vote and the coalition duly won the elections. The PNC, however, immediately began flexing its muscle unilaterally.

And we arrive at the latest flexing when Granger unilaterally appointed (Chief?) Justice Patterson as the GECOM Chair. While we now know Ramjattan and the newly returned (and healed) leader of the AFC, Trotman secretly agreed with Granger, the membership balked because the former publicly claimed they weren’t “consulted”.

The Chairman of the AFC NY Chapter, Dr Somar wrote the AFC leadership: “This unilateral appointment by the PNC Executive President of an Afro-Guyanese GECOM Chairman, whether right or wrong, rips open the scars of PNC rigging the election. You have just thrown red meat to the notion of ‘PNC rigging election’ which, in my view, will cause [the government] to forever lose IndoGuyanese support at the polls.”

Now how dare he try to be the boy who pointed out Emperor (Granger) had no clothes??!! The “Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy” (CGID) indignantly protested: “Dr Somar’s suggestion that an African-Guyanese Chairman of the GECOM will automatically cause the multi-ethnic coalition government to lose Indian votes is the textbook definition of racism and racial profiling.”!!

Now, if the AFC was overtly courted for its “race” vote and an action by Granger will cause that “race” vote to vanish, how can Somar’s analysis be racist??

And what about Minister Cathy Hughes crudely summarising the response to Granger’s Unilateralism? …on the colour green Is Adam Harris, editor of the Muckraker, playing the fool or what – on the colour green which Granger first daubed on the Office of the President and now State House? Of course, it all has to do with the colour! While the National Trust has to invoke its narrow mandate about tenants altering its protected sites, citizens aren’t constrained to point out the wider symbolism of the chosen new colour.

As a columnist in the Muckraker repeatedly and correctly points out, context is critical when evaluating statements or actions. “Green” is the PNC’s colour as well as APNU’s, and one has to be both historically and colour blind not to make the connection between Granger’s symbolic action and the PNC’s historic insistence on party paramountcy.

In addition to the historical context, there’s Granger’s vow to continue the legacy of Burnham and his insistence on Executive Supremacy to interpret the Constitution.

Guyanese don’t need flambeau to see the significance of “green” in broad daylight! …on oil Is only now discovered what the Eyewitness has been saying for over a year? That when the contract with Exxon was renegotiated by Trotman, oil was already discovered.

There was no risk like when Janet made the contract in 1999.

ne hundred pages, 15 short stories with vivid description of encounters among people of varying backgrounds are enough to awaken numerous questions and rife speculation about the objectives of this book.

“Stories Set in Two Countries” fascinates the reader by bringing multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-national fragrance into the fathomless pit of provocative relationships.

The Guyanese author’s personal experiences in Guyana, Canada and Fiji have obviously left indelible impressions which influence these stories. There is an abundance of evidence of this subjective aspect. In the very first story, ‘How the Other Half Lives’, he describes the site supervisor James as “a Tamil from Sri Lanka, not too dark, but dark nonetheless”. Here the author emphasizes race, nationality and complexion. Throughout the book the nationalities of characters are mentioned, for example: “Shawn….He was of Irish ancestry…”, “Ramon, a Filipino…”, “Victor was from Korea and was a friend of Aziz, who was from Bangladesh”. The story entitled ‘Brown Folks’ also underlines the complexion of characters. Unfolding dialogues on the subject of race, national peculiarities and social behaviour enrich the stories and enlighten the reader.

This is mean feat, but is accomplished by way of years at honing his skill as a writer, resulting in the following publications: “Politics, Race, and Youth in Guyana”, “Notes on Race and Psychology”, “Schooldays in the Colony”, and “Stories from India

for Children”.

The themes of Madan Gopal’s book will resonate well with the large number of Guyanese who are living in foreign countries, adapting to strange environments, unfamiliar cultures and unpredictable habits. All of which is achieved by the author’s use of excellent diction, colourful detailed and humorous descriptive actions performed by characters, adding credence to a unique literary work.

Rationalism and realism are intertwined as the author reacts to events and activities, affixing his theoretical interpretation and knowledge of psychological processes to empirical reality.

I am overwhelmed and pleasantly amused, not only as I read the book, “Stories Set in Two Countries”, but more so because I am acquainted with the author’s outlook and sophisticated multi-disciplinary capacity to produce multilayer artistic works. These are characteristics which subtly engage the reader and at the same time stimulate diverse thoughts.

In “Frowzy of Philadelphia”, the author writes about “this teacher of forty would sit in the staff room laughing and talking …” which probably was his personal experience as a teacher... “The best solution the white man can make to Fiji is to practise what he preaches...

He needs to solve the race problem he has... If every senator and congressman in America were to take a black son-in-law …” This is how Frowzy is described: “…a flashing smile and a fair skin. Her waist was slim, and when she walked her deliberate walk in the sun her full breasts swayed ever so lovingly and her buttocks rumbled ever

Author Madan Gopal

so gently…” These are just a few quotes from the book which permit the conclusion that, in addition to the topic of race, the book is not void of politics and sex, making it a collector’s item for all those who enjoy a variety of spices in a well-cooked meal of literature. The stories have been told with subtle and overt humour and twists to satisfy different tastes.

The world of literature has been enriched by yet another talented Guyanese academician and writer. The book is a must read for all, especially Guyanese at home and in the diaspora.

Responses to this author please telephone 226-0065 of email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: Over GYD$1,000,000 in prize monies up for grabs in the 2018 issue of The Guyana Annual. Closing date for entries to the various competitions is November 30, 2017. For further information go to The Guyana Annual on Facebook or email: theguyanaannual@gmail. com (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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The world's most famous stamp

Ann Hind (centre) shows the One-Cent Magenta to stamp collector Ernest Kehr (left) and Grover Whalen, president of the New York World’s Fair.

(Photo courtesy of The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations) B y D r . O deen I shmael

T

he 1856 onecent "Black on Magenta" of British Guiana is regarded as the rarest stamp in the world, and the most expensive. It is a rectangular stamp of black ink printed on magenta paper with the corners snipped off. With the corners clipped off, the stamp actually has an octagonal shape.

In the nineteenth century, the stamps of British Guiana were printed by a British printer, Waterlow & Sons. In early 1856, the stock of stamps was sold out before the fresh shipment from England arrived.

The postmaster of British Guiana E.T.E. Dalton, needed stamps in a hurry so he asked the firm of Joseph Baum and William Dallas, publishers of

the Official Gazette in Georgetown, to print an emergency issue. Dalton printed one-cent and fourcent stamps; the onecent stamps were for newspapers and the four-cent stamps were for letters. On these stamps were printed the existing designs "the name British Guiana, the seal of the colon" a ship, and the Latin motto of the colony, "Damus Petimus que Vicissim", (translated as "We give and we seek in return").

Usually, stamps of different values of the same design were printed in different colours, but the printing firm did both values in black ink on coloured or "magenta" paper.

Since the quality was very poor the postmaster, to prevent forgery, asked the post office workers to initial each stamp before selling

it. Thus, as a security measure each stamp was initialled by a post office employee.

(Known initials are "E.T.E.D." for Dalton, "E.D.W" for Wight, "W.H.L." for Lortimer and "C.A.W."for Watson.)

In 1873, Vernon Vaughan, a 12-yearold Scottish schoolboy collector living in Georgetown, discovered the octagon-shaped one-cent "Black on Magenta", postmarked April 4, 1856, among some family papers. It was in poor condition, inksmudged and slightly damaged and bore the initials "E.D.W". He soaked out the stamp and kept it in his album with his other stamps.

Shortly thereafter, Vaughn decided to sell it in order to purchase foreign stamps.

He sold it to N. R.

Irwin Weinberg steps into an armoured car with a briefcase containing the One-Cent Magenta handcuffed to his wrist, Philadelphia, 1976. (Photo courtesy of Associated Press)

McKinnon, a local collector, for six shillings, which at that time was less than one US dollar. Five years later, McKinnon sold his entire collection to his friend Wylie Hill who lived in Glasgow, Scotland.

Sometime later, a London stamp dealer, Edward Pemberton, studied the collection and identified the onecent Black on Magenta as a rare stamp. Hill later sold it to Thomas Ridpath, a dealer in Liverpool, England, for 120 British pounds.

In the early 1900s this dealer then sold it to the Frenchman Count Philipp La Renotiere Von Ferrary, the most well-known stamp collector at that period, for 150 pounds.

After Ferrari's death in 1917, his collection was auctioned in Paris between 1921 and 1925. In one of these auctions, the stamp was purchased in 1922 by millionaire Arthur Hind of Utica, New York, for 7,343 British pounds.

Around that time, rumours circulated that because Hind was ob-

sessed with the stamp, he had bought a second one-cent Black on Magenta and destroyed it so that his remaining one- cent Black on Magenta would remain as the only one in the world.

Arthur Hind died in 1933 and left his stamp-collection as a part of his estate.

His widow, however, claimed that the onecent British Guiana stamp had been given to her by her husband.

The court upheld her claim and in 1940 the stamp was sold to Frederick Small, an Australian living in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, for a price ranging between US$40,000 to US$75,000.

In an auction held by Robert Siegel Galleries in 1970, the stamp was sold for US$240,000 to Irwin Weinberg and a group of investors from Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.

The one-cent Black on Magenta remained in their collection for ten years when John E. du Pont of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bought it at an auction for

US$935,000.

Meanwhile, the four-cent British Guiana magenta stamp, printed in the same batch in 1856, ranges in value from US$7,500 to US$60,000.

In 2014, the British Guiana One-Cent Black on Magenta set a new world auction record for any stamp at Sotheby's New York, achieving US$9,480,000 - nearly 1 billion times its original face value. No stamp is rarer than the sole-surviving example of the British Guiana, a unique yet unassuming penny issue from 1856, which has been heralded as the pinnacle of stamp collecting for more than a century. Until Sotheby's international exhibitions in Hong Kong, London and New York, the British Guiana had been out of public view since 1986. (“The Guyana Story From Earliest Times to Independence” By Dr. Odeen Ishmael) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

The stamp is sold on behalf of the du Pont estate. (Photo courtesy of Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

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Stung…

…by sugar truth oor dear!! PM Nagamootoo appears to’ve been stung by some comments your humble Eyewitness made on his “slaughter of the lambs” in the sugar industry. He, after all, assured them before the elections that the sugar industry wouldn’t be closed. His government has been trying to wash away the blood of thousands of fired workers — mostly cane cutters — by claiming they’ll lease lands to them to become cash crop farmers!

Your Eyewitness merely pointed out that cane cutters aren’t farmers; and you can’t make them so with a wave of a want — or the spouting of hot air, as Nagamootoo does. So when he and the folks in the APNU/AFC government blithely talk about turning sugar workers into peasant farmers of cash crops, they’re just full of doo-doo!

Cane cutters are specialists at what they do, and your Eyewitness made an extended analogy, comparing them to ballet dancers; they take years to develop their skills, and just can’t be expected to wake up one morning and become cash-crop farmers. But the sad thing was that it wasn’t your Eyewitness that originally made the point – it was a Trinidadian expert HIS government brought in!!

Trinidad had closed down their sugar industry back in the 1990s, and learnt that lesson the hard way. Nagamootoo should ask how many Trinidadian cane cutters became farmers over there. Did Nagamootoo whine about the Trini’s comment?

But closer at home, Nagamootoo and Granger — whose campaign promise to deliver “the good life” had hopefully extended to sugar workers — can tell the nation how many cane cutters at Wales have been turned into cash crop farmers. It’s been over a year since they unilaterally closed that estate, with 8000 acres of drained and irrigated land. HAS A SINGLE FIRED WORKER BEEN TURNED INTO A FARMER? Point is: to get the fired workers at Wales into cash crops, the Government has to not only lease the land to them — and we know they haven’t even made an offer. You can’t turn land that’s been prepared to grow sugar, with its specialised cambered beds and drains, into growing bora the next day. Who’s gonna convert the land? That takes a helluva lot of capital!

Then there’s the SMALL point about what crops are they going to plant on those 8000 acres? Bora and baigan? Guyana’s farmers already supply the country with the produce they use. Crops for export?

So cane cutters have the wherewithal to research what produce are needed in foreign markets and market produce to fill those needs?

Why the Government hasn’t been able to make their “other crops” option work after decades?

Stop bloviating, Nagamootoo!! …by Indigenous criticisms Our national poet, Martin Carter, famously reminded us of the mouth being muzzled by the hand that feeds it. He spoke from experience. Burnham made him Information Minister in his rigged post1968 government, and he quit within a couple of years! Unlike Nagamootoo, he refused to sell his soul for thirty pieces of silver and an SUV! Well, the new PNC-in-coalition with the AFC — which rejected Ramkarran’s advice to develop some testicular fortitude — just pulled away the plate from the Indigenous People’s Toshaos Council. The Council requested G$37 million for 2018 — to take care of some big budget items, like revising the Amerindian Act — but all that was allocated in the Budget was a measly G$16 million!

The Toshaos pointed out the anomaly of “I is” Broomes’ housing allowance alone being G$6 million! But we know the difference in the eyes of the APNU/AFC government between Indigenous Peoples and “I is” Broomes, don’t we?

The Toshaos, of course, had the temerity to speak their mind at their last Conference!! How dare they!!

Don’t they realise they’re just “natives”?? ….President’s overreach Does David Hinds really believe it’s “bad legal advice” that caused President Granger to traduce the Constitution at least three times?

Fool me once. Shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

Fool me thrice?

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fter weeks of tantalising previews of what is in store for the local entertainment and tourism industry come next year, the anticipation came to an end on Saturday evening as Guyana Carnival was officially launched.

Mirroring the festivities of traditional Carnival in the Caribbean, the parking lot of the Guyana Marriott Hotel was abuzz with a grand explosion of rhythms and colours, as models took to the stage, one after the other, to showcase an exquisite line-up of costumes that will be on display in the streets come May 2018, as part of the Independence event.

According to the organisers, this exciting idea was birthed during Guyana’s 50th Independence celebration when the country recorded thousands of visitors.

This was as the then Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes called for Guyanese to cash in on national events as a

time for promoting the country through extravagant celebrations.

Using this as their catalyst, the organisers saw it fit to formulate a grand event to satisfy the demand of the masses.

Carnival is a well-known cultural phenomenon celebrated in several countries and is known for elaborate costumes, festivities, entertainment and frolic.

Guyana Carnival is expected to be no different as it prom-

ises an energetic and dynamic showcase of culture and entertainment which will see revellers in flamboyant costumes gyrating through the streets to the sounds of sweet Soca music, booming through the speakers of various music systems.

Adding to that, Guyana Carnival 2018, which is themed “Genesis”, will target partyholics in the Diaspora and around the world, providing them with world-class events

such as all-inclusive parties, concerts, boat rides, day tours and a grand costume day parade through the streets of Georgetown.

This first of its kind experience to Guyana is slated for May 18 to 27, 2018.

With all that in store, this days-long event is expected to ultimately provide a major economic boost to several industries, as from taxi drivers to hairdressers, clothing stores to hotels and airlines to restaurants are all expected to see an increase in business. It will also bring about much-needed exposure for local talent, such as musicians and DJs. Given their mission, the organisers have put together allinclusive packages for those travelling home or visiting Guyana to be a part of the experience which will include hotel accommodation, event tickets, costume, food, drinks and day tours to the country’s most fascinating tourist sites.

Individuals and companies now have the opportunity to register to be a part of this experience as masqueraders in Guyana Carnival 2018.

Revellers will enjoy the benefits of an all-inclusive, international standard road experience. Registered patrons will receive a costume, goodie bag, lunch, snacks, free premium drinks, and security all day while masquerading through the streets to some of the most versatile and renowned DJs. Responding to public enquiries as to what will be the difference between this newly-introduced event and the annual local Mashramani festivities, the organisers said, “Guyana Carnival is basically a “big private party” for adult revellers to enjoy events and then oneday carefree masquerading. We do not intend to cast a shadow or forget about our auspicious cultural festival in Guyana, we aim to expand tourism and show Guyana’s beauty, uniqueness and unity through our private international event.”

A glimpse of what is in store for Guyana Carnival

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Kali’: A Guyanese icon passes on in Queens

By Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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he Guyanese diaspora in North America is mourning the death of Ramesh Kalicharran, formerly of Essequibo. Kali, as we fondly called him, was a high achiever who did very well in everything he was involved. And he was an inspiration to many. He was a legendary Guyanese figure known in England, greater Toronto, all of the US, as well as in Trinidad and Suriname especially by people of Indian descent. And he was also well known by nationals of India having served as a liaison between IndoCaribbeans and people of India living in America.

As news of his death circulated throughout the tight knit Guyanese community in New York, there were expressions of shock and disbelief. He died from heart compli-

By Lakhram Bhagirat

F

or artist, Raimund Angelo Rausch, every time he dips his brush it is as if he is dipping it deep within his soul, painting his own nature into his paintings while exposing his vulnerability for the entire world to see. Raimund is a selftaught Guyanese artist who have always been

intrigued by the arts from a very young age and it was something he was born to do.

The 29-year- old spent his early years in Kingston, Georgetown and later moved to Campbellvile. Raimund spent his adolescent years reading, studying and questioning everting while being abso-

cations.

Kali was a continuous support to the Guyanese, Indo-Caribbean and Indian (NRI) American communities ever since he started his own businesses in the early 1980s. From the early 1980s, this entrepreneur helped to found several Guyanese and Caribbean related organizations which have become institutions in the society. And he provided endowments for several organizations in addition to supporting or encouraging individuals to attend tertiary institutions. He also mentored many to enter the real estate profession as well as to obtain driver's license. And he helped to find office space or locations for many to start varied businesses.

Kali made serving community a duty or responsibility. And he was very focused on the

Guyanese community although he helped other ethnic communities as well. He received numerous philanthropic and service awards including from police and firemen, politicians, etc) for his contributions both in Guyana and the US for serving people of all ethnicities.

There is hardly a Guyanese in New York who does not know Kali and who would not ascribe the title of cultural icon to him. No, he was not known for his singing or musical or dancing or writing talent but for encouraging, promoting and sponsoring culture on radio, TV, concert halls, etc. He was most kind and generous in doling out donations for varied programs and purchasing tickets for all kinds of fundraisers.

And he himself was an organizer for all kinds of shows and fundrais-

ers to benefit charitable causes. He also produced "GEET GHAZALS AND BHAJANS-- the FIRST recording OUTSIDE OF INDIA , with music -composed and sung

By Bhaskar Sharma of Toronto --"BHAGWAN MERE NAI YAA" comes to mind. And he helped to make several wellknown singers and classical dancers who have earned some kind of reputation in America. You name them; and Kali assisted all of them.

In addition to cultural charities, Kali also supported political groups from Guyana and was an admirer of the late great Dr, Cheddi Jagan although he gave donations to other political figures as well. Kali's death is a devastating blow to the community.

He was most resourceful when it comes to information about the community. His death leaves

lutely mute towards how things were. He was actively divulging into a sea of uncertainty, he explains that those years were part of what molded his creativity.

In his prior years, Raimund, was always around an older artist friend and was captivated by the level of patience and intricacy that was required to create

art to different places,” Raimund explained.

However, art is not the only interest that Raimund has. He has been actively involved in martial arts, which taught him discipline.

Currently, he is involved in CrossFit-something that he explains help keeping him active.

Raimund-Angelo’s work is always a whirlpool of emotions as he tries to portray what is in his heart more than ever. His work can be considered as common feel between contemporary and abstract.

He has had the chance to display his work at a local art festival but the turning point in his career was when he was invited to display at the “Integration through Art” exhibition in Trinidad, last year.

“It opened my eyes to other Caribbean artists work and it also made me comfortable in what I produced. It was nerve wrecking to stand there as the crowd expanded. The responses were unexpected and the Trinidadians welcomed me. I learnt a lot from that time and I’m hoping to return for another show next year.

Those were actually some of my best pieces I produced,” he explained.

Like every other Guyanese artist, Raimund identifies the lack of opportunities

since Guyanese are not too inclined to appreciate the intricacies of the art world. He describes the approach as one-dimensional due to the lack of acceptance of new ideas.

For Raimund the dream is so very big. He aspires to own a gallery and to make the necessary connections worldwide to assist local artists since he thinks there should be a continuous cycle to keep the imagination of the younger ones alive.

“Sometimes, I would sit and listen to my friends’ kids tell stories and see them scribble on paper or on the floor - those things, I wish people paid attention to those moments; the level of creativity is endless - the question is ‘ how do we keep it alive?”

“I see my art taking a turn for the next few years; since I’ve ventured into this profession, I’m more involved with who I am, I allow myself to be open and expressive as I want - I’ve corrected a few mistakes (still am, that includes producing bad work etc.). It all comes with experience not so much with age.

You have to be willing to accept and want to change,” Raimund gleefully said.

While he immerses himself in whatever he is working on, Raimund

masterpieces. His interest was piqued and he began to dabble, to his surprise he had what was required to make his mark in the art world.

“Inspiration should come from any and everywhere... vulnerability through life’s experiences is essential that is, if you want to take your

A younger Kali is seen infront of the Taj Mahal

a great void to fill in our community in America.

As Bhaskar Sharma stated upon hearing of Kali's passing, "he was a legend who added to the charm of Queens.

His work is unmatched'.

Everyone echoed similar sentiments about Kali.

We must celebrate the contributions of Kali in helping to establish institutions for Guyanese -- business, religious worship, schools, cultural centers, etc.

Kali's place in the legacy of Guyanese in America is reserved.

Others now need to step up to plate to do their part.

Kali's place in heavenly abode is also reserved for he served people and God well. To borrow from Bhaskar, "May Lord KHRISNA take his BOAT safely --ACROSS THE KALA PANI -- to moksha".

My heart, the community's heart goes out to Kali's immediate and extended family. You should be proud that such a great man lived in your home.

to incorporate other concepts to keep the creativity alive.

One of the pieces from his Ink-tober collection

is also preparing for his first solo show-the date he is expected to announce soon. He considers himself a mixed medium artist, even though watercolours are by far his favourite and dominant medium across in his pieces.

It can be noted that women are a main subject in his pieces!

Growing up as the only boy in his family, he was inspired by the strength and determination of the women he was surrounded by. He aims to pay as much homage to these women and those others he is fortunate enough to meet. On the other hand, he still tries

While everybody celebrated breast cancer awareness month in October, Raimund took the initiative to create “Ink-tober” where he aspired to complete a number of pieces to commemorate the month.

All those pieces are for sale. For those wishing to own a one of Raimund’s masterpieces could contact him on his various social media platforms.

He advises all up and coming artists to stay true to themselves and express themselves without any limitations.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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T&T to crack down on sex dens

The secret of…

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… Soylent Green

n 1944, George Orwell wrote about what life would be in the ultimate totalitarian state. He called it “1984”, the year he predicted that state would come into being – in the then “future”. For us Guyanese, of course, who were said to be “politically precocious”, Burnham established his totalitarian Dictatorship by 1974, when he made his (in)famous “Declaration of Sophia”: the PNC was paramount over the state!!

Around that same time there was another movie made, “Soylent Green”, also set in the future – that future being 2022. Yep, dear reader, you’ re just a few years away from the future! And what a future!! By then, matters had gone real downhill since “1984” and folks couldn’t even get fresh food to eat. It was all manufactured – the most nutritious being “Soylent Green”. While the name suggested mundane origins – “soy” and “lent” – from “lentils” – it was actually made from human flesh! That’s the dénouement of totalitarianism – we’re going to end up literally eating each other!!

Now after your Eyewitness heard about President Granger firing another 400 sugar workers (after the first 1700 at Wales) and at the same time painting every official structure “Green”, all he could do was paraphrase Pogo’s famous remark, “I have seen the future – and it is the PNC!” Both of these actions spring from the totalitarian impulses of the PNC – which Granger openly declared will be remade in his Founder-Leader’s image.

And don’t for one moment think the slaughter of innocents in the sugar industry – which has only just begun – isn’t President Granger’s doings. Agri Minister correctly said “wasn’t me!” but he pointed to Minister Jordan, who pointed to “NICIL”, which in turn pointed to the mysterious, anonymous, “Special Purpose Unit”. But when that Unit is finally given a face, it will say, “The President gave the order!” And had done so since before the 2015 campaign.

Burnham had said his co-op experiment would continue even though there was one Guyanese left standing. And it’s clear President Granger takes his master’s voice, literally. And the Soylent Green?

Maybe it’s not made from the flesh of the sugar workers being thrown into the streets, but it has to be the distillation of the green bile folks in the PNC have for those who oppose them.

It also represents the psychological drive of the totalitarian leader to not only rule absolutely, but to insist that the people know it. Especially those of the sugar workers’ ilk.

Green is the PNC’s colour and by painting buildings representing State power green, this symbolises the State and the PNC are coterminous.

PNC uber alles!! …the Exxon contract Finally, after stonewalling the Guyanese people for over a year with all kinds of “cock and bull” stories, the PNC Government says they’ll release the Exxon contract later this month. So what’s changed from before? Santa Claus coming to town?

With a “Ho! Ho! Ho!” Trotman’s gonna whip out the contract from his red briefcase?

What’s going on? Chris Ram insists there was a “Bonus” of US$20 million paid by Exxon that the Government has been hiding. Now, bonuses in the oil and gas industry are as common as ice cream and come in “different flavours: signature bonus, discovery bonus, first oil sales, production bonus,” says Wiki. But the Government denied the bonus payment – so how will it defend the truth – soon to be out?

The Government spokesman’s conveniently let slip that they WON’T be paying the legal fees – if the Border Controversy is sent to the World Court –from any Exxon bonus!!!

So they were hiding the US$20 million for our national good!! Sure and Santa rides a sleigh!! …the forgiven taxes Delinquent taxpayers will have the interest written off, if they cough up in the early part of next year.

The Opposition Leader says to look at those lining up at the trough! Friends with benefits!!

T

he Counter-Trafficking Unit, working with other law enforcement agencies, will be focusing on disrupting operations at known “places of ill-repute” to deter demands for commercial sexual services, says acting National Security Minister Stuart Young.

He gave the information in the Senate yesterday in replying to queries from UNC Senator Wade Mark.

Young dismissed as “misleading,” reports that T&T has become a destination, transit and source country for adults and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour.

He detailed initiatives of Counter-Trafficking Unit against human trafficking in T&T. “The unit is also in continuous regional pursuit of new ways to identify possible victims of sex/ labour trafficking who have left T&T,” he said.

“Officers travel to source countries and seek assistance from regional counterparts to locate/interview people who provide very useful information on transnational criminal networks,” he said.

A sex worker speaks to a driver in Woodbrook. (TT Guardian photo)

Information is also shared with source countries to disrupt the activities of identified suspects overseas.

Young also commented on a recent US report which claimed police and immigration officers are allegedly facilitating sex-trafficking.

He said information from the Police Service and Immigration Division between April 2016 to March 2017—when the US report was done—indicated no reports were received or any evidence presented that implicated any police or Immigration officers.

He noted the Trafficking In Persons law imposes a 25-year jail sentence on officials/public officers who committed offences.

“T&T has also improved ranking on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, moving from a Watch List country in 2016 to a Tier Two country,” he said.

On whether the Government will contact the US on the “false” report on T&T, Young said the Government has been in touch with the US Government “to work with them and see what can be done.” (Trinidad Guardian)

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Brutal honesty

“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” – Thomas Jefferson

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By Anu Dev

’ve noticed that there are some people who seem to think that the only way to be honest to someone is to be brutal about it. And that’s quite confusing for me. But I’ve realised that those people just use ‘brutal honesty’ as an excuse to say something mean and take someone down a few pegs.

And those people seem to really pride themselves on their brutal honesty. They think it’s a virtue! They’re like, “Oh that’s who I am, I tell it straight. I’m brutally honest. If people don’t like it then that’s their problem.”

But there’s a difference between speaking honestly to someone and being a

jerk about it…

There’s nothing dishonest about delivering a truth in a kind manner, taking the person’s feelings into consideration.

Even when you’re being firm – you should respect the person you’re being honest to. I’ve written before of the philosopher Immanuel Kant’s exhortation that we must not treat people as means but rather as ends. Each person is an autonomous being… not there for you to spew your frustrations or insecurities on.

That old nursery rhyme “Sticks and stones will break my bones; but words will never harm me” is waaaaay off base, in my opinion. Words are capable of quite a

lot of damage; they can harm the psyche and corrode the soul. Why do we teach kids that rhyme?

Especially at that age when they have no filter, kids can say some of the cruelest things to each other. So why’re we telling them it’s okay to say whatever they like to each other but just don’t have a go at each other with sticks?

People also quite like to begin their sentences with “No offence, but…” and then continue to utter some incredibly offensive language. Sure, ordinarily I would’ve gotten offended by that, but since you said that you didn’t mean to offend, I guess it’s a-okay!

I think there’s a dif-

ference between being blunt and being brutal that some people seem to miss. It’s the difference in treating the “other” as an object or a subject. You can be blunt or straightforward without it having that sort or sharp-edged meanness of being brutal. There is the quality of empathy that each one of us should cultivate: just put yourself in that person’s shoes and ask whether you would want to be spoken to like that. And if you do, then you are a certified masochist…and you need help!!

The truth can be a difficult thing to hear and even more difficult to accept, so why make it even harder for that

person by being mean about it? Man is a social being – we have to live with each other. There’s no need to be like porcupines with their needles always raised when someone gets close.

IAC condemns Govt over firing of hundreds of sugar workers

T

he Indian Action Committee (IAC) has come out in strong condemnation of the mass termination of sugar workers, without any relief plan, saying this is “disastrous”.

The Committee recalled that in a press statement issued in March 2017, it expressed the organisation’s extreme concerns regarding the distressed state of the sugar industry in Guyana, especially in light of the anxieties oppressing the minds of thousands of sugar workers whose livelihoods were seen to be in jeopardy as rumours of the closure of a number of sugar estates permeated the society.

The IAC said that, eight months later, it has witnessed and is continuing to witness the despair of workers of Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon sugar estates, all of which have been closed after March 2017.

The IAC, in anticipation of the severe economic problems that would beset thousands of unemployed sugar workers, urged the Government of Guyana to pay those workers – who would become unemployed due to estate closure – their severance which is due to them by law; to retrain these unemployed workers using monies that would otherwise have been used to upkeep these now closed estates; and to transfer a portion of lands of these estates to the unemployed workers so that they could make a new start in life and independently seek their own economic wellbeing.

The IAC said it recognises the National Budget 2018 as being the largest in the history of the country and is confident that monies can be found to ensure that these thousands of dislocated sugar workers do not suffer any extended period of economic deprivation with the negative consequences for individuals, families, and society as a whole that come with these extreme circumstances.

The IAC believes the time has come for Government and the company to set out in clear language what they plan to do to safeguard the livelihoods of the workers and the communities.

The IAC wishes to remind the Government that when the bauxite industry was in crisis prior to the arrival of RUSAL and BOSAI, the then Government with financial support from the European Union established LEAP (Linden Economic Advancement Programme) to support Linden and the rest of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) in those depressed times of economic despair; the organisation is calling upon the coalition Government to establish a similar entity to deal with the sugar industry in its current crisis.

The IAC, in conclusion, is adamant that if the coalition Government goes ahead and privatises a number of the sugar estates, that through some remedial plan for the workers of the industry and other beneficiaries, they have a viable option to benefit from the divestment of GuySuCo.

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That G$500 increase in Old Age Pension in Guyana

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Shashi Kapoor wrapped Race 3: Jacqueline Fernandez getting MMA training for highin tricolour for last rites, octane action sequences gets three-gun salute T

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eteran actor-filmmaker Shashi Kapoor, who passed away on Monday at the age of 79, was wrapped in the tricolour and given a three-gun salute by the police for his last rites at the Santacruz Hindu Crematorium on Tuesday.

The veteran matinee star, who breathed his last at 5.20 p.m. at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on Monday after a period of hospitalisation, was cremated at a state funeral.

Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Salim Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Anil Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Ranbir Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Supriya Pathak, Shakti Kapoor and Suresh Oberoi among others were present at the cremation.

Amitabh Bachchan took to his blog to mourn the loss of Bollywood. He mentioned, “I had visited him on occasion in Hospital during some of the

S

uhana Khan, the daughter of Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, tops the list of star kids whom we want to see on the silver screen. Isn’t it? And this is the reason why all clicks of the young

times he had been hospitalised earlier .. but I never went to see him again .. I would never have .. I never ever wanted to see this beautiful friend and ‘samdhi’ in the state I saw him in hospital .. …. and I did not today, when they informed me that he had gone.”

Son of Prithviraj Kapoor and younger brother of Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor debuted in Bollywood with the 1961 film “Dharmputra” after working as a child artist.

He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan — the third highest civilian honour — by the Government of India in 2011. In 2015, he was bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

He was married to British actress Jennifer Kendal, who died in September 1984.

Shashi Kapoor is survived by daughter Sanjana Kapoor and two sons Kunal and Karan Kapoor. (Indian Express)

girl go viral. Last spotted at her mother Gauri Khan’s Halloween party, Suhana is the apple of her parents’ eyes.

Even Shah Rukh had put up an adorable post to wish his daughter a happy Children’s Day on

November 14.

But while she is off to London to complete her studies, fans here are rejoicing over her latest picture uploaded by a fan page. In the sunkissed photo, Suhana can be seen wearing a white shirt with white shorts, standing beside a window. Just like all her other photos, Suhana’s picture is also going viral over the internet and fans are going gaga in the comments section.

Recently, Gauri Khan had shared a new image of daughter Suhana Khan with caption, “Here’s looking at you, kid.” Daddy Shah Rukh Khan, in the past, had also shared how Suhana is interested in the film industry. “Suhana wants to be an actress.

I see that zeal in her.

She’s extremely good on stage, I’ve seen her performances. She’s admittedly a cinema fan and wants to be in the industry,” he had said. Well, we are just waiting for that day to come! (Indian Express)

he news of Jacqueline Fernandez, one of the fittest actors we have in Bollywood, being roped in for Race 3 opposite Salman Khan has been received by fans with much delight. The film is currently on floors and both Salman and Jacqueline are giving their best to make this actioner a worthwhile watch. Popular for its high-octane scenes, Race 3 will showcase Salman and Jacqueline doing some kickass action sequences in dynamic avatars.

Jacqueline, who swears by yoga and dancing to maintain an enviable body, had earlier even learnt pole dancing for “Chandralekha” song in A Gentleman.

And now, she has taken to the form of mixed martial arts (MMA) as a

part of her prep routine for Race 3.

Even at the time of A Gentleman, Jacqueline’s training was so rigorous that she had injured herself during one of her sessions. But the 32-year-old enjoyed pole dancing so much that she continued with the classes even after the completion of the song.

Sharing her excitement about MMA, Jacqueline said, “I believe learning something new for my roles not only helps me add value to the character

I am playing but also adds another dimension to my personality as it is something that stays with me forever.”

Jacqueline is proving yet again how she as an actor always takes the bar higher with her performances. She has been putting her best foot forward with each of her roles, be it A Gentleman, Judwaa 2 or Kick.

Race 3 hits the theatres in June next year, somewhere around the Eid weekend. (Indian Express)

Abhishek Bachchan’s adorable post on niece Navya Naveli’s birthday just cannot be missed

A

m i t a b h Bachchan’s darling little granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda turned a year older on Wednesday. And as we were expecting the doting grandpa to wish his beautiful granddaughter on social media, we were treated with Abhishek Bachchan’s heartfelt

20 today and wrote, “When did you grow from this to the elegant lady you are today? When did you grow from mamu picking you up from the airport to you coming to pick him up at the airport? When did you grow from mamu singing you to sleep to both of us staying up all night dancing? When

witnessed Navya and Amitabh’s bond when the young lady went for a stroll with her maternal grandad at his residence, Jalsa.

The two walked hand in hand with bright smiles on their faces.

Also, the Shehenshah of Bollywood addresses Shweta’s children Agatsya and Navya as ‘apples of my heart’.

note for his niece instead.

Presumably, missed Amitabh on wishing Shweta Bachchan Nanda’s daughter Navya on social media as the actor has taken off to Thailand for the shoot of his next Thugs of Hindostan also starring Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Katrina Kaif.

Abhishek shared a childhood photo of Navya who has turned

did you grow from mamu shopping for you to you being my official shopper? When did you grow to decide that mamu still can’t treat you like the little bundle you used to be?

When? To my favourite, to my niece, to my Navya….Happy 20th Birthday little lady.

Mamu loves you very much. P.S. I have my shopping list ready.

Please be prepared! .”

Earlier, we had

Navya has been hogging the limelight for a long time now and has become a social media star already. The 20-year-old has become a favourite of the paparazzi and following her footsteps is Abhishek and Aishwarya’s daughter Aaradhya who knows how to pose for the shutterbugs better than any of her family members. (Indian Express)

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Angelina Jolie considered Kristen Bell to become doing a film with Brad Pitt first ever host of Screen to improve communication Actors Guild Awards 2018

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ollywood actor Angelina Jolie, who separated from her estranged husband Brad Pitt in September 2016, has admitted that she thought of working with him on By The Sea so that they can improve their communication as a couple.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the actor admitted she thought it could have had a positive impact on their relationship by working together on a big project.

While speaking at the Hollywood Reporter’s podcast Awards Chatter, she said, “We had met working together and we worked together well.

I wanted us to do some serious work together. I thought it would be a good way for us to communicate. In some ways it was, and in some ways we learned some things. But there was a heaviness probably during that situation that carried on and it wasn’t because of the film.”

Adding, “It was something that we were dealing. Things happen for different reasons, and things, why did I write

that exact piece? Why did we feel that way when we made it? I’m not sure.”

The couple met while filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005, and Jolie candidly explained how she had a difficult time in the decade after they sparked a romance.

The Maleficent star noted, “Over the span of that decade, I did lose my mother. I did have my mastectomy, and I did then have an ovarian cancer scare and have that surgery as well, and other things of course that happened in life that you go through.”

“A piece of art can be something that’s healing or something that’s difficult. I don’t know. I’m glad we did that film because we did explore something together. Whatever it was maybe it didn’t solve certain things, but we did communicate something that needed to be communicated to each other,” he said.

Together, the former couple have kids Maddox, 16, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11, and nine-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. (Indian Express)

‘Star Wars The Last Jedi’: Is Jedi Master Yoda coming back in this much-awaited film?

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tar Wars: The Last Jedi is all set to release on December 15 and while fans all over the world are ecstatic over the film’s release, there is something in store for them that will simply push the boundaries of their excitement.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi might witness the return of the Jedi master – Yoda.

Yoda’s end was witnessed in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi but the Facebook handle of the lighting/production company, Digital Sputnik, has another tale to tell.

In a now deleted Facebook post, the company shared the trailer of the Ronney Mara starrer Mary Magdalene along with the caption, “Another production where our lights shone. Yes we illuminated Jesus” Edit: “We’ve just realized we have illuminated Jesus and

Yoda” That’s as big a hint as any.

It’s yet to be seen what role will Yoda play in the events of the upcoming film but watching Yoda on the big screen after all these years will sure make the audience really nostalgic. Yoda became one with the Force and died when he was 900, so looks like it will probably be his ghost that will come back with some sage advice in this film. Or, he could also appear in a flashback sequence. But whatever might be the length of his role, fans will definitely be teary-eyed after they see Yoda one more time.

Directed by Rian Johnson, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is scheduled to release on December 15. The film stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley in lead roles.

(Indian Express)

ctor Kristen Bell is all set to become Screen Actors Guild Awards’ first ever host. “We are delighted to have Kristen Bell as the first-ever host of the SAG Awards,” the award show’s executive producer Kathy Connell shared on Monday, as reported by E! Online.

“This has been a year in which assumptions have been challenged, stereotypes have been shattered, and precedents have been broken. We decided to capture the cultural mood by casting aside one of our own traditions, and we’re thrilled to have such a talented performer like Bell help us do so.”

Post the announcement, the Frozen star took to Twitter to share her excitement as she posted a comical video of herself. “Meet your host of the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on

Sunday Jan 21, 2018. @ SAGawards,” read her caption.

Kristen Bell has lent her voice to some popular movies like the Frozen series, Zootopia, Flatland 2: Sphereland among others. She has also been the leading lady of super hit films like The Boss, Veronica Mars and many more. Not only a narrator but she has also given some beautiful songs like

“Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”, “For the First Time in Forever”, “Love Is an Open Door” and “Text Me Merry Christmas”.

Kristen Bell also gave us a glimpse of her hosting skills as a guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live recently. The 24th edition of the show will take place on January 21 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (Indian Express)

John Cena to portray Dr Manhattan in ‘Watchmen’ TV series

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ll superhero buffs know that Damon Lindelof is adapting criticallyacclaimed graphic novel Watchmen for the small screen at HBO. But the information regarding exactly who will be starring and when the show will eventually debut is still kept under wraps.

But, it looks like we might have found who’ll be portraying one of the key members of the team. WWE Superstar John Cena is a household name across the world, and now it seems he’s got his eyes on an exciting new prospect.

Taking to his Instagram account, Cena posted not one, but two different graphics relating to Watchmen.

In the first image, he shared the iconic Watchmen logo, with a blood stain on it, while in the second picture he posted the snap of fanfavourite character D Manhattan.

This has led many to believe that he could be joining Lindelof’s series in the leading role. News of Lindelof’s adaptation of Watchmen for HBO first broke in June. Dr. Manhattan is the only

character in the series that possess superpowers. He was originally a nuclear physicist but transformed into a super being after he was disintegrated in Intrinsic Field Subtractor and came back to life by reconstructing himself.

Among his other works, Lindelof is responsible for Lost and The Leftovers, both of which he co-created.

(Indian Express)

French singer Johnny Hallyday dies at 74

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ohnny Hallyday, the French rocker icon who packed sports stadiums and was the country’s top rock star for decades, has died at 74.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced his death in a statement early Wednesday, saying “he brought a part of America into our national pantheon.”

Macron’s office said the president spoke with Hallyday’s family after the news. Hallyday had long suffered from lung cancer and had repeated health scares recently.

Hallyday’s glitzy stage aura was clearly fashioned around stars like Elvis Presley and his musical inspi-

ration came from the likes of Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly. Yet his stardom largely ended at the Frenchspeaking world.

Macron said, “we all have something of Johnny Hallyday in us.” Celine Dion was among stars sharing condolences at the news. She wrote, “I’m very sad to hear the news that Johnny Hallyday passed away. He was a giant in show business…a true icon! My thoughts go out to his family, his loved ones, and to the millions of fans who adored him for many decades. He will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.Céline..” (Indian Express)

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Black Caps bracing for Windies backlash, says coach Hesson

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New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson (Yahoo News photo)

AMILTON, New Zealand (CMC) – Despite a crushing win in the opening Test in Wellington, the Black Caps are not writing off a West Indies fightback in the second and final Test starting here Saturday.

The Caribbean side played poorly to lose by an innings and 67 runs inside four days to fall 1-0 behind in the twomatch series.

However, head coach Mike Hesson said recent history suggested the Windies would come back stronger at Seddon Park, and stressed his side needed to be prepared for the backlash.

“We've seen how well the West Indies have bounced back in previous series so we certainly expect them to do that,” he said.

“History suggests they are [a threat]. In England they got dealt a pretty severe blow in the first Test and then came back at Headingley and beat England. We're certainly expecting them to sustain pressure over a longer period of time.”

West Indies showed their character against England last August, rebounding to stun the hosts by five wickets at Leeds just days after slumping to an embarrassing innings and 209-run loss

inside three days at Edgbaston.

The core of that same side has travelled for the current tour, with the likes of Kraigg Brathwaite, Shai Hope and Roston Chase all expected to suit up again for the second Test.

At the Basin Reserve last week, West Indies showed glimpses of their quality, especially through Brathwaite, Shimron Hetmyer and seamer Kemar Roach, but Hesson said New Zealand had been able to stay patient.

“I just think we sucked up West Indies pressure in those first couple of sessions. That was really important and it's an area that we have to do well again in Hamilton,” Hesson noted.

Batsman Henry Nicholls agreed with Hesson's assessment, pointing out that the Windies had bowled well up front, before the Kiwi batsmen got on top to pile up 520 for nine declared.

When the visitors batted, especially in the second innings, Nicholls said they had also threatened at periods.

“I felt they really bowled well for 80 or 90 overs. I felt we were under pressure the whole time,” said Nicholls.

“And then with the nature of Test cricket, we were able to wear them down I guess at the back end of that last session – the guys did extremely well not just to build a partnership but the way they went about it and the scoring rate was impressive.”

He added: “But I think we saw at times when they batted, the way they were able to put partnerships together both with bat and ball, the bat in the second innings with Kraigg and the number three (Hetmyer) and four (Hope)… It can turn pretty quickly in Test cricket.”

West Indies will be without their captain, all-rounder Jason Holder, for the second Test after he was suspended Tuesday by the International Cricket Council for his second over-rate offence in 12 months.

Under ICC regulations, the Windies were adjudged to be three overs short of their specified target during the first Test at the Basin Reserve.

Each player was fined 30 per cent of their match fee while Holder, as captain, was fined double the amount and slapped with a one-game suspension.

IPL franchises allowed to retain up to five players

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PL franchises will be allowed to retain a maximum of five of their existing players through a combination of player retention before the 2018 auction and the use of right-to-match cards during the auction. The salary cap for each team for the 2018 season has been set at INR 80 crore (approximately $12.4 million) by the IPL governing council, which met in Delhi on Tuesday along with the Supreme Court-appointed committee of administrators.

Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, the two franchises returning from a two-year suspension, will be able to retain players from among those who were in their squads in 2015, and from the list of their players who represented Rising Pune Super Giant and Gujarat Lions in 2017. Super Giant and Lions are no longer part of the IPL because they were brought in as temporary replacements while Super Kings and Royals served their suspensions.

Of the five players, a franchise can retain a maximum of three through retention in the lead up to the auction, and a maximum of three through rightto-match cards during the auction. If a franchise does not retain any player before the auction it can still retain only three using right-to-match cards. A right-to-match card gives the franchise the ability to buy back its player during the auction by matching the highest bid made for the player by another franchise, once the bidding is over.

The other restrictions on player retention are: a maximum of three capped Indian players can be retained, and only two overseas players and two uncapped Indian players can be re-

tained.

A franchise will be allowed to spend only INR 33 crore on retentions ahead of the 2018 IPL auction, leaving it at least INR 47 crore to spend at the auction. If a franchise retains the maximum of three of their players before the auction, it will lose from the salary cap INR 15 crore for the first player, INR 11 crore for the second, and INR 7 crore for the third.

If only two players are retained, then the first will cost the franchise INR 12.5 crore from the salary cap, and the second INR 8.5 crore. If only one player is retained, then he will cost the franchise INR 12.5 crore from the salary cap. The IPL has also imposed a salary cap of INR 3 crore for an uncapped player retained before the auction.

Considering the player auction will be a big one, the IPL has increased the salary cap significantly. From INR 66 crore in the last two auctions (2016 and 2017), the salary cap will be INR 80 crore in 2018. It will increase further to INR 82 crore in 2019, and to INR 85 crore in 2020. The IPL said the franchises will need to spend at least 75% of the salary cap each season, and that each squad should contain between 18 and 25 players with a limit of eight overseas players per franchise.

There was also an upwards revision in the base prices of players at the auction. Previously, uncapped Indian players had base prices of INR 10, 20 and 30 lakhs respectively; now each of those slabs has been increased by INR 10 lakh. The minimum base price for capped Indian players has also increased from INR 30 lakh to INR 50 lakh. (ESPNCricinfo)

'Better late than never' for Emrit …T&T all-rounder thrilled with Windies T20 call-up

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rinidad and Tobago allrounder Rayad Emrit has expressed delight with recent selection for the Windies squad that will face New Zealand in a series of T20 internationals later this month.

Despite several commendable performances in various T20 leagues around the world, including the regional Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the 36-year-old has been confined to the role of

Rayad Emrit (BCCI photo)

a fringe player.

Emrit was previously included in the Windies set-up but that was a decade ago in India where he featured in two One Day Internationals for the regional team.

Despite what may be considered as somewhat of a belated call-up, Emrit is relishing the opportunity to play against the Black Caps when the teams face off in three T20 Internationals.

The first of those matches will take place on Friday,

December 29 at Saxton Oval, in Nelson. The second match takes place at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Monday, January 1st, with the third scheduled for the same venue two days later.

“I am happy to be part of the West Indies T20 squad to New Zealand. It was definitely a long wait but I am excited about the new challenge.

God is Great!” Emrit said. (Sportsmax)

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Windies will be worse off without Holder – Sir Vivian Richards

Vivian Richards

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est Indies batting great Sir Vivian Richards believes the Windies team, losers of their first Test against New Zealand, will have a harder time of things when the second Test begins on December 9.

Windies lost the first Test by an innings and will be without their captain Jason Holder for the second Test that starts on Saturday in Hamilton.

Holder has been suspended for one Test and fined 60 per cent of his match fee, and his team-mates fined 30 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during their innings defeat to New Zealand in the

first Test in Wellington.

Richards, the only Windies captain never to lose a Test series, believes it will be harder for the inexperienced Caribbean side without their leader.

“It’s going to be tough and especially since he is the captain; and it would have some effect on whether or not the confidence factor is there and especially after losing the very first one, you wouldn’t want to lose again,” Sir Vivian said.

“This is the best which we have at present so he would certainly be missed with that lineup.” (Sportsmax)

Mini-Slam tennis serves off this weekend

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Rahim, Bobb muscle way to 2017 GAPLF titles

Flashback!!! Last year’s Mini-Slam winners

he Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) will be hosting its 2017 MINISLAM Red Ball mini competition on Saturday December 9 at the National Gymnasium.

The tournament which runs from 09:00h to 13:00h will target all beginners aged 10 years old and under. Played under Round-Robin rules, a number of trophies are lined up for Best School, Best Boy/Runner-up and Best Girl/Runner-up.

Last year’s Best Boy was award was given to Ricky Romascindo of

St. Gabriel’s Primary with second place being awarded to Maxim Leacock of St. Paul’s Primary. Best Girl was Ngina Garnett of Success Elementary while runner-up was Maliyah Rambarran of the New Guyana School.

Newcomers Buxton Youth Developers received the award for the Best School which is the prize for the school which best adopt mini-tennis as Physical Education in addition to fully participating in the annual competition.

M e a n w h i l e ,

Coordinator of the Schools Tennis Initiative program, Shelly DalyRamdyhan who has been in contact with primary school institutions and clubs, said she’s upbeat ahead of what usually is a large turnout for the event.

The competition which usually attracts new players from clubs and primary schools is used as a hunting ground for spotting talented children who are targeted for joining performance club programs to start technical training.

Vijai Rahim and Grace Bobb pose with their trophies

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ijai Rahim and Grace Bobb were crowned champions of the 2017 Guyana Amateur Powerlifting F e d e r a t i o n ’ s (GAPLF) Senior Championships held Sunday at the poolside of the Ramada Princess Hotel.

Dominating the Men’s Open 74kg category, Rahim of Berbice’s Hardcore Gym had racked up a total of 667.5kg with of 504.128 points. He had a Best Squat of 22.5kg, adding to his 155.0kg Bench Press and 300kg Dead lift.

In the battle of

sisters in the Female Open Unequipped 72kg category, it was a straight shootout between Grace of the Tower Gym and her sister Blossom. Grace weighed in with a total of 277.5kg; with Squats being 87.5kg, Bench Press 47.5kg Dead Lift 142.5kg, which was a Personal and 296.675 Wilks.

Blossom Bobb on the other hand ended on 272.5kg, competing hard but falling to her sister.

The competition saw some 22 bodybuilders competing for spoils and bragging rights, with other winners being; Dwayne Welch of Buddy’s Gym who won the Men’s Open Unequipped 59kg Class kept his Gym on top as they ended with gold in the 83kg Men Open Unequipped and Men Sub Junior Unequipped classes.

Winston ‘Little Master’ Stoby, Franklyn Brisport, Feroz Hussain, Joseph Stoll, Frank Tucker, Hardat Tarson, Vickram Panday, Nigel Phillips and Fazim Abdool were among the competition’s gold medalists.

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BOA/Independence Invitational Games 2017

Martinique crowned champions …Guyana in 4th place

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ver 20 archers from across the Caribbean converged in Barbados for the second annual Barbados Olympic Association’s I n d e p e n d e n c e Invitational Games on November 25 and 26.

The tournament was hosted by the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) in association with national sporting federations to commemorate Barbados’ 51st anniversary of Independence at two different locations: Coverlet Terrace, Bridgetown, and Codrington College, St. John, Barbados.

Archery teams were drawn from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyana for the two days of battle and high level competition.

Guyana was represented in its first regional Archery tournament by Archery Guyana’s member, Dwayne Grovesnor.

Competitors shot over 3,000 arrows throughout the event, in both recurve and compound men and

women categories.

The tournament commenced with 12 rounds consisting of 6 arrows in each round during heavy rainfall and the unpredictable wind conditions.

At the end of the first day, Guyana’s Grovesnor and Trinidadian Lallo were the only two not securing a bye thereby having to compete against each other.

Their set wound up to a score of 5- all which then called for an exciting one arrow shoot off. Grovesnor then shot 9 which meant that Trinidad needed 10 to take their specific match but luckily for the Guyanese, he did not secure this so Guyana moved forward to face Martinique.

In his next contest, Grovesnor was unable to secure a win against Martinique to join Trinidad in the Finals.

The exciting Finals on Sunday was between Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique for the gold and silver while the battle for the bronze medal was between Guyana and the host, Barbados.

Dwayne Grovesnor (extreme left) and archers from around the Caribbean take aim at the BOA Independence Invitational Games

Guyana started off leading in the first set but the Bajans came back to tie at two. After a cat and mouse game, with scores being levelled after every round, the scores reached four.

Regrettably, in the final set Barbados took the set and therefore winning the Bronze Medal by one point.

Martinque emerged the Gold medalists.

Dwayne Grovesnor represented the Golden Arrowhead proudly

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 10 , 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Hing light up final Small-bore shoot

Taylor eyes maiden century after signing new Thunder deal Stafanie Taylor (ESPNCricinfo photo)

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mall-bore Captain, Dale Hing along with fellow marksmen Azaad Hassan, Roberto Tiwari, Joshua Ramlakhan and Surujbali Persaud highlighted the Guyana National Rifle Association’s (GuyanaNRA) year-end-championships.

The competition which concluded on December 3 at the Timehri Ranges; saw Hing accumulating some 889.7 points followed by Hassan in second with 862.17, Tiwari third place 778.68, Ramlakhan fourth with 788.88 and Surujbali Persaud 728.05 points in 5th place.

Also, the intense competition in the Action/Combat Pistol event contested

over four stages saw veteran shooter Ryan McKinnon racking up 288 points in the A-Class category with Hing highlighting the B-Class category with 236 points.

The .22 Precision Pistol Shoot was the first to have been contested over three weekends: November 11th, 18th and the finals on the 25th at the Tactical Service Unit Range, Eve Leary. Participants shot at 7,10,15,20 and 25 metres. Overall scores posted would have been a combination of scores gained at the .22 Caliber Precision Pistol Shoot, the Practical Pistol (IPSC) Shoot and the Action/ Combat Pistol Shoot.

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ELBOURNE, Australia (CMC) – West Indies Women captain Stafanie Taylor has signed a new two-year deal with Sydney Thunder and says her objective is to notch her maiden Twenty20 hundred in the new Women's Big Bash League campaign which bowls off this weekend.

The stellar right-hander, who also bowls penetrative off-spin, has been a key member of the Thunder squad for the last two seasons and was central to their title-winning success in the inaugural 2015/16 season.

“I'm really excited to be back at the Thunder. It is a really great group to be a part of and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again,” Taylor said.

“I'm hoping this year I can score my first Twenty20 century; that's my goal for this season.”

Taylor is one of the leading players in the women's game, with over 4028 runs and 127 wickets in 108 one-day-

ers, and 2474 runs and 68 scalps from 80 T20 Internationals.

The Jamaican has managed 661 runs and 12 wickets in her first two seasons with Thunder, and general manager Lee Germon said she remained a definite asset to the franchise.

“Stafanie is hugely respected on the international cricket scene for her ability and leadership,” he noted.

“As captain of the West Indies side, she will complement our strong leadership group. She will bring experience and power as a batter, and guile as a bowler in our line-up.”

Taylor joins the likes of Indian stroke-maker Harmanpreet Kaur and New Zealand star Rachel Priest in a Thunder line-up led by Australia vicecaptain Alex Blackwell.

Thunder raise the curtain on the new season with a clash against Melbourne Renegades at Sydney North Oval on Saturday.

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