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US-bound passengers to face increased security screening ISSUE NO. 356

WEEK ENDING july 30, 2017

…in keeping with new TSA travel regulations See story on page 3

Guyana Amazon Warriors got down to business on Wednesday afternoon at the National Stadium, Providence to be in optimum shape for the upcoming Hero Caribbean Premier League (Carl Croker Photo)

Preparing for battle!

Page 51

…Warriors to square off against Patriots on August 5 in Lauderhill, Florida

ExxonMobil announces another major oil find offshore Guyana

Investigative team travels to crash site

Page 10

Dead pilot: Major Collin Winston Martin

…as probe commences into fatal Roraima Airways plane crash Page 8

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NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

US-bound passengers to face increased security screening

‌in keeping with new TSA travel regulations

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he Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is advising the general public that effective immediately, there will be increased mandatory security screening of all passengers for all outbound flights to the United States of America.

The checks, the GCAA says, are in compliance with the recently issued United States Transportation Security Administration (USTSA) requirements which "stipulate that additional screening of passengers and electronic devices larger than a hand-held cell phone such as laptop computers, tablets, iPads among others, be conducted."

As such the Aviation Authority is advising passengers to strongly adhere to "the mandatory three (3) hours check in time of flights for their airline. This is to ensure that all Stand Operational Procedures (SOPs) relating to security checks and screening are conducted by the airline operators, and to guarantee hassle free travel for passengers."

Guyana is among 104 countries globally that will be adopting the required additional security measures. Those measures include, but are not limited to the following: - H e i g h t e n e d overall passenger and baggage screening; - Screening of

electronic devices larger than a cell phone (for example laptop computers, Ipad, tablets, etc.) which are being taken in cabin baggage or carry-ons or checked luggage; - Use of advanced technology for screen-

ing passengers, baggage, and electronic devices.

"Failing to subject electronic devices to enhanced security screening as referenced above will result in such items being refused transport on board aircraft oper-

ating into the USA" said the GCAA. The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority in a released statement said it is encouraging all travelling passengers to conform to the requirements stipulat-

ed by the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) authorities and the airline operators since these new security measures are intended to ensure their safe and secure transport.

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EDITORIAL

Guyana’s tourism potential

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he United Nations 70th General Assembly has designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

Expressed simply, sustainable tourism can be defined as, “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

The 2017 designation marks a unique opportunity to raise awareness on the contribution of sustainable tourism development among public and private sector decision-makers and the public, while mobilising all stakeholders to work together in making tourism a catalyst for positive change. In the context of the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the International Year aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behaviour, towards a more sustainable tourism sector than can contribute to the SDGs. Guyana has, in the past, made significant strides towards the promotion of Sustainable Tourism, and the destination has been recognised for its efforts; Guyana’s Rupununi region had justified the resources poured into its development, as it copped the regional spotlight by winning the 2012 Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award. The award from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and Travelmole (CTO/Travelmole) was accepted by Guyana’s Rupununi Learners Inc, for improving the quality of life of the district’s inhabitants.

In 2011, this award was shared by the Surama Eco-Lodge, also located in the North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). This tourist destination was recognised by the CTO for harnessing the economic power of the visitor industry in a responsible and sustainable way. The 2011 award was shared with Barbados’ Harrison’s Cave. Guyana’s Karanambu Lodge Inc were among the big winners of the TravelMole 2013 sustainable tourism awards handed out by the CTO. The country, for the second consecutive year, emerged as the big winner, copping three of the six prizes presented. These awards pointed to the hard work and commitment of stakeholders in Guyana and to the policy direction of the Tourism Ministry and Authority.

President Granger, in his remarks at the Annual Awards Dinner of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana last year, acknowledged that the promotion of eco-tourism would be essential to the enlargement of our national economy over the next two decades and beyond, and he assured that his administration would work towards ensuring that the sector would be developed more deliberately and more methodically over this period.

He emphasised also, that Guyana’s eco-tourism product, however, cannot be developed without improvement in investment, infrastructure and information technology. He therefore called for investment by the private sector to develop more eco-resorts and lodges, and to open new attractions. He assured that the Government would aggressively court investment for the eco-tourism sector. While there has been private sector investment, the slowdown in the economy has resulted in little returns on those investments and with the added taxes, many companies are grappling with introducing higher rates at the risk of losing business.

Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building.

Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures whenever necessary. Clearly, 2017 will be a challenging year and for the Tourism Sector, and as Guyana moves towards a sustainable development path, it will be up to the Government to ensure viable, long-term economic operations, which will provide socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders, which are fairly distributed, and which includes stable employment and incomeearning opportunities.

Guyana is set to host the four prestigious Hero Caribbean Premier League games next month. These games will serve as a platform for the promotion of tourism. Guyana will benefit both from both financial and international exposure through these games. It is time we aggressively move towards the promotion of its tourism sector, and move away from simply acknowledging the country’s potential.

President David Granger was welcomed upon his arrival at the Ramada Princess Hotel by key officials who were involved in the planning of the Diaspora Engagement Conference

Inaugural Diaspora Engagement Conference opens in Georgetown ...President says UG central to ‘green’ development in Guyana

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resident David Granger said that the University of Guyana (UG) is central to fulfilling the scientific and technology objectives of the ‘green’ state that the Government envisions. He was at the time delivering the keynote address at the opening of the inaugural Diaspora Engagement Conference which is currently being held at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

“Guyana’s green development strategy aims at advancing climate adaptation so as to protect its fragile coastline and reduce environmental hazard which can be destructive to our people’s livelihoods…This University must drive the intellectual processes of ‘green’ development by becoming the incubator of technology and nurturer of skills and talents. The University must establish institutions to educate students to advance ‘green’ development, institutions such as the Biodiversity Centre,” President Granger said.

The Head of State explained that in order for ‘green’ development to become a reality, Guyana needs biologists, botanists and zoologists to document and study its unique and unmatched rich biodiversity; engineers to erect infrastructure in its hinterland and to install hydroelectric, wind, solar and biomass energy generation plants; geologists and gemmologists to provide services for the sustainable management of the extractive sectors; agriculturists to promote food security and information and technology specialists to extend Information Communication Technology

(ICT) services.

“The University of Guyana, if it is to survive and thrive, must fulfil these needs by becoming a university ‘for’ Guyana. The national university must be responsive to national needs. How could it be otherwise?” President Granger questioned.

He also spoke of the many challenges that the institution encountered, especially during the early decades of its existence, when it drifted from the objectives and dissemination of knowledge for national development by enrolling a disproportionately high number of students in the arts and social sciences compared to the natural sciences. The situation changed around 1969 when Mr. Dennis Irvine, a scientist, was appointed Vice-Chancellor.

“The University, during the Irvine era, employed lecturers from academia around the world, enjoyed respect for its intellectual rigor and expanded the breadth of its programmes to include agriculture, education, earth and environmental sciences, fisheries, the natural sciences, social sciences and technology… The University’s second ‘science and technology’ shift is set to start. This country is on a developmental pathway to become a ‘green’ state,” the President said.

President Granger informed the large gathering, which included about 243 members of the Guyanese diaspora, that the ‘green’ development agenda will promote increased investment in biodiversity management, coastal zone management, solid waste management, ecological and environmental services, eco-education and

eco-tourism, Information and Communications Technology, extended protected areas and generation of renewable energy and urged them to get on board.

Meanwhile, UG’s ViceChancellor and Principal, Professor Ivelaw Griffith said that the conference, which was organised by the University, is aimed at cementing homeland and diaspora-based relations. It also seeks to discuss global best practices in diaspora engagements; strengthen partnerships with diaspora organisations; engage the diaspora in facilitating the pursuit of entrepreneurship, innovation and social and human capital opportunities and to enable diaspora and homeland citizens to give back to Guyana.

Additionally, during the course of this one-week event, a Caribbean-Diaspora Engagement Centre will be launched to institutionalise engagement in research, outreach and talent management. There are also a number of unstated objectives of the conference, all of which underscore the indispensability of the diaspora to the rebuilding of UG. Professor Griffith informed that this forum has attracted Guyanese and non-Guyanese participants from places like the British Virgin Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Grenada, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos Islands, Barbados, Nigeria, Ghana, St. Lucia, and Mexico.

The conference is being held under the theme, “Dreaming Diaspora Engagement, Doing Diaspora Engagement’. (MoTP)

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

High drama in Court as PI begins into Berbice carpenter’s murder

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Murder victim; Faiyaz Narinedatt and his wife in happier times

he teenager who is the key witness against murder accused Marcus Bisram in the Faiyaz Narinedatt murder trial and who was poisoned turned up at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, but before he could take the stand, he had to leave for medical reasons.

As the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) was about to commence, an attorney was also arrested by the Police for trying to interfere with the course of justice in what could be described as a day of high drama.

Attorney-at-Law Chandra Sohan was taken into custody after State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings accused him of obstructing the course of justice.

Attorney Sohan, who is not on record as representing the five accused, told the court that two witnesses who had previously testified did indicate to the court that they did not wish to rely on the further statements which they had given to the Police, but on the first set.

Goodings argued that Sohan was not a part of the trial and hence his utterances should not be entertained.

However, defence Attorney Sanjeev Datadin reminded the court that all State witnesses have a right to additional legal advice and all Sohan was doing was acting in the interest of the two witnesses.

The two witnesses were initially picked up as suspects along with the five de-

Attorney-at-Law Chandra Sohan

fendants and detained for four days. Sohan is alleging that after four days in custody, they were given statements to sign and were ordered to sign them if they wanted to be released.

In the initial statements, those witnesses claimed that they knew nothing of the murder. The two in question are now witnesses for the State.

Following the intervention by Sohan, he was arrested and taken into custody.

The prosecution is contending that he was trying to persuade one or more witnesses to not tell the truth. The prosecution is pushing to have him charged.

Meanwhile, Attorney-atlaw Datadin told the court that he had reviewed a video,

Murder-accused; Marcus Bisram

which was submitted by one of the persecution’s witnesses and challenged it in court on the grounds of its admissibility. The court is to also look at the video as the PI continues.

The five men charged: Radesh Motie, 39; Diadatt Datt, 18; Harri Paul Parsram, 49; Orlando Dickie and Niran Yacoob 37, are before the court for the November 1, 2016 killing of Faiyaz Narinedatt, a carpenter of Number 70 Village, Corentyne.

The State is contending that Narinedatt was killed and his body was subsequently placed along the Corentyne Highway at Number 70 Village and run over by a car to make it appear as if he was the victim of a hit-and-run

accident.

Bisram has since been arrested by law enforcement officials in New York and is being detained pending a hearing in a New York court.

While Bisram’s relatives filled the courtroom, outside family members of the dead carpenter held a peaceful picket calling for justice.

On Wednesday afternoon, habeas corpus proceedings were filed in the High Court in Georgetown for Sohan, who is a former magistrate to be released on his own recognisance. Following the filing of those proceedings by Attorney Sase Gunraj, the court ordered that the Police produce him at 09:30h today (Thursday). However, the Police have since released him on his own recognisance.

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Guyanese Diaspora in the US could help secure free and fair elections come 2020

Dear Editor, A handful of overseas-based Guyanese assisted in the struggle for free and fair elections in Guyana during the 1970s thru 1992, when the country held its first democratic election after independence.

An appeal is being made to the diaspora to help secure a fair election in 2020.

The group of freedom fighters who led the overseas struggle for democratic elections is no longer enthusiastic to lead, or even join, the campaign for an election that is free and fair and free from fear, which is due by 2020, because of the shabby treatment meted out to them by successive governments since 1992, particularly in the post-Jagan period.

Only a handful of us carried out the international aspects of the struggle to restore democratic rule in our former homeland. We lobbied the US Government (the Administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan and Bush, Snr) and Members of Congress to help return our country to democratic rule, and to the open economy that existed prior to independence in 1966.

The US and U.K. were responsible for installing the PNC into office in 1964, and propping up the Burnham dictatorship to keep the pro-Soviet PPP out. After the Cold War ended in 1990, with PPP no longer a major concern to the West, and as we appealed to Washington to help liberalize and liberate our former homeland, the US demanded economic and political reforms in Guyana.

Desmond Hoyte caved in to the demand by Washington for the (Jimmy) Carter Center to observe the election. The Carter Center itself was lobbied by us in the US to observe the elections. A relative-

ly fair election was held under international supervision in October 1992, resulting in the defeat of Hoyte.

Democratic governance and free and fair election would not have been possible without the US intervention, which came about largely through that very important and direct role played by the diaspora in the US. The diaspora in the UK, Canada, Trinidad, and other countries also lent a helping hand to liberate their former homeland.

The PPP was returned to office, but the role of the diaspora in the restoration of democracy was never really acknowledged or fully appreciated.

The relationship between the post-Jagan governments and supporters abroad eventually turned sour. However, although the former freedom fighters are disillusioned with the rule of the coalition, they are not very enthused about returning to the PPP. The NY diaspora bitterly complains about a few individuals in their midst who alienate supporters in the Big Apple.

There is a hands-off approach on calls to help secure a free and fair election in 2020. The diaspora has, over the years, been treated too badly by the political forces in Guyana, and they don’t want to be burnt again.

The proverb “Once bitten twice shy” is apt here. The political parties and their leaders would have to provide a lot of guarantees before the diaspora re-joins any campaign to secure a free and fair election, or for any party to be victorious in their former homeland.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Granger inherited a stable economy and is making a mess of it

Dear Editor, No proper historian can doubt that the most difficult economic years for the ordinary man in post-independence Guyana were during the last years of Forbes Burnham, during the period 1984 to 1985.

Unfortunately for Desmond Hoyte, he was given the unenviable task of leading the turnaround of the economy post-1985.

Significantly, he chose the “Economic Recovery Program” as his tool to assert his leadership, and eventually, by 1991, did turn around the economy. We have to remember that the economy did not grow at all during the last three years under Burnham. It went backward by negative 13%, negative 7% and negative 5% respectively.

Fast forward to the Granger Presidency and we can find that he came into office on a foundation wherein the economy had grown by approximately positive 5%, positive 5% and positive 4% in the three years prior to his arrival. So why is he sitting on top of an economy that is regressing incrementally? The growth rate for 2015 and 2016 averaged 3% and is expected to do worse in 2017.

Let me be absolutely clear: Hoyte got a mess, and made something good of it; so it clearly shows that the PNC did have talent. On the other hand, Granger got a stable economy and is making a mess of it. To divert the people’s attention from the gross mismanagement of the economy under Granger, his team continues to mislead the people into believing that this mess will be cleared up when the oil money flows. It is a downright untruth, since Guyana does not have the systems in place to manage this oil money; and if you observe the operations of this Granger Government, it has Burnhamist economic strategic-thinking all over it, and Burnham was a hot mess at economic leadership.

Under Burnham’s rule, he did ev-

erything policy wise during the 1980s to shrink the opportunities to the wider population at large, and while he was drinking whiskey on a commandeered aircraft en route to Africa, the ordinary folk were drinking “rice-maar” for dinner.

Today, if you carefully observe this student of Burnham (Mr. Granger), his policy closely resembles those of Burnham’s from 1984, with all these vanity projects that are built at great cost to the Treasury but offer little economic usefulness towards lifting our people out of poverty.

So while the lead Government spokesperson — morning, noon and night — parrots delusional comments like “the majority of the population is happy with the Coalition Government’s performance”, the reality is very different. Today we have a raw-commodity-driven economy that excludes the majority of the people from sharing in the wealth of the nation, while the Executives in the Government are travelling the world on a billion-dollar budget and paying themselves a total package that adds up to more than G$600 million a year.

Further, within 6 months, some 10,000 more Guyanese directly and about 50,000 indirectly in rural Guyana will feel the impact of these state-sponsored social depriving public policies as the retrenchment continues in the sugar industry. Clearly, these are policies that continue to exclude the people.

So, as history repeats itself once more in Guyana, the conclusion is that we are back to the attitudes of 1984 in the Executive branch of the Government. In 1984, the Burnham government stole the dreams of the majority of Guyanese people, and history is repeating itself in 2017 under this Granger regime.

Regards, Sase Singh

Govt stubbornly refuses to release ExxonMobil contract

Dear Editor, Many persons have been calling on the Government of Guyana to release the full text of the Production Sharing Agreement with ExxonMobil and its partners, but the Government has refused consistently to publish this document.

The previous PPP/C Administrations of former Presidents Janet Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar also failed to disclose it and kept it secret since June 1999.

So, in a sense, they are all the same.

At the GYEITI ‘Outreach’, held at the Marian Academy on July 20, 2017, this question was again put to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. Minister Trotman replied that he could not release the contract because of restrictions placed on its release by Section 4 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act. I, therefore, examined Section 4 which states as follows: “Subject to Subsection (2) no information furnished or information in a report submitted pursuant to this Act by a licensee shall be disclosed to any person who is not a Minister, a public officer or an employee of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission except with the consent of the licensee.”

Subsection (2) allows for the disclosure of information without the consent of a licensee in seven situations.

However, Subsection (3) refers specifically to a petroleum agreement and states as follows: “Where a licensee is party to a petroleum agreement, the right of the licensee, his servant or agents to disclose information about prospecting or production operations under the licence shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations in that respect specified in the agreement.”

Subsection (4) provides for penalties of G$75,000 and imprisonment for three years for contravention of Section 4.

First of all, Section 4 (1) speaks about ‘information furnished’ or ‘information in a report’ submitted pursuant to the Act by the licensee.

The Production Sharing Agreement is neither ‘information furnished’ nor ‘information in a report’.

Therefore, Section 4 does not apply at all.

Now let me refer you to Subsection (3) which speaks about a petroleum agreement, which is what the public is rightfully demanding to be published.

These restrictions affect only the licensee, his servants or agents (not the Minister except, of course, if the said Minister considers himself an agent or servant of ExxonMobil) and deal with information about ‘prospecting or production operations’ and these restrictions have to be ‘specified in the agreement’.

There is nothing here about restrictions on publication of the agreement.

The language of the law is clear and this Minister as a lawyer should know better than to keep peddling inaccurate information to the public.

In an interview in a section of the media dated Sunday, July 23, 2017, Minister Raphael Trotman repeated the lie that the Act “does not support the disclosure of contracts”. He then spoke some nonsense about ‘curing a mischief’.

The fact of the matter is that the Minister is misleading the public while stubbornly refusing to release the contract. If the Government of Guyana is truly interested in joining EITI, then it must start now by publishing the deal.

There is no law that prevents this.

The Government is far too secretive about matters concerning the people of Guyana, although, in all fairness to Minister Trotman, the previous Government also behaved in the same way, keeping the original contract secret since June 1999.

Yours respectfully, Ramon Gaskin

Why is such a huge investment in Guyana’s economy being made to eventually fail?

Dear Editor, I am a firm believer that the private sector in every country must be the engine of growth and development, and this must be facilitated by an enabling environment created for the most part by governments. Guyana is no exception.

I am currently in Guyana, and was on Saturday given a tour of the Sleep Inn hotel and casino on Church Street

by Mr Clifton Bacchus, the owner. I had never met Mr Bacchus before, nor was I aware of the principal(s) in the Sleep Inn investment. However, during the tour, Mr Bacchus lamented that he has been waiting almost a year for the casino licence which he applied for based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) he signed with the Government of Guyana prior to May 2015.

According to Mr Bacchus, US$18 million have been invested in the Church Street hotel and casino. The tour revealed to me some 150 nicely-appointed rooms, some elegant suites with contemporary upscale furnishing, a state-of-the-art casino with facilities for top-class restaurants, gift shop, and stage for nightly entertainment.

Most important in my view is that, when operational, the casino and its attendant facilities would create employ-

ment for some 300 people, 80 of whom are currently on the payroll, having undergone specialised training for employment in a casino.

These workers are being paid although the casino is not open for business, because the training is expensive and Mr Bacchus does not want to have to retrain new people if he lets go of the current crop of trained workers.

But for how much longer can he sustain this, not having the slightest clue when, if at all, his company would be granted a licence? He says his first application was turned down on the basis of some financial requirements, which have since been met, and a second application was submitted last October.

Bacchus’s business partner in the casino, a foreign national, is contemplating removing the state-of-the art casino machines and equipment, since he is unsure if and when a licence will be granted. In the meantime, however, Bacchus is moving ahead with upgrades to the hotel and casino complex, currently installing some 300 solar panels that will eventually supply electricity to the complex.

I saw some of the panels. He indicated that he had just paid G$279,000 in duty to access the panels from the continued on page 7

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Conclave…

T …of coalition comrades

he long-awaited meeting of the Executive Council of APNU finally met for the first time in TWO years – in effect, the first time since they slid into office. Your Eyewitness wondered who were invited to this conclave of the much-touted “terrific ten” that had launched their “coalition” back in 2011. There would’ve been, of course, the PNC, the WPA, the National Front Alliance (NFA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and the Justice for All Party (JFAP).

But were the other five political parties and civil society groups that brought their membership to ten invited? Such as the Guyana People’s Partnership (GPP); Guyana National Congress (GNC) and the Guyana Association of Local Authorities (GALA) respectively. Your Eyewitness couldn’t even remember the other two names or find them on his trusted browser. But apart from the WPA, what can the other “partners” in APNU say? They’re just happy to get a squeeze – especially now that Prezzie’s confirmed that each of the five “parties” mentioned gets a Ministry. Can, say, Keith Scott even get a watchman’s work at the Ministry of Labour on his own?

Then there’s the question of what might’ve been discussed. While the WPA has gotten quite a lot of stick about its street cred following its miserable performance back in 1992, its brain trust did take common positions on issues confronting Guyanese even though they were mostly scattered in the developed economies.

(Well, for those of you, Dear Readers, who just had a snide thought, please remember that it took millions to keep Gandhi in poverty!) And they HAVE tried valiantly to remind the PNC – ever so gently – about their commitment to racial and political unity in dear, old mudland.

But the Roopnaraine caper is quite interesting for any number of reasons. Was it

discussed at the conclave that even though the man is sick, Prezzie hasn’t allowed him to fade gracefully into the sunset? Why isn’t any other executive capable of replacing him? Is it because he was the chief architect of APNU along with Robert Corbin. Or perchance, even before, with Desmond Hoyte?

After all, he was quoted back in 2012 that APNU actually was hatched back a decade earlier – in 2002. Isn’t that strange? At that time, Hoyte’s strategy of “mo’ fyaah, slow fyaah” was unfolding; the Mash Day breakout had been executed; the five Freedom Fighters for Africans were settling down in Buxton and had chased out Eusi Kwayana. A number of WPA stalwarts had written a famous letter “Not in our name”, denouncing the Buxtonbased bandits’ attacks on innocent Indian citizens.

Who from the WPA was setting the stage for APNU? Roopnaraine? …and constitutional interpretation The Bar Association had joined the petition to the High Court – as a “friend of the court’ – to interpret Article 161 (2) of the Constitution on the GECOM Chair fiasco. Having received the Judgment, they’ve just announced they “expect” Prezzie to accept the ruling. Your Eyewitness isn’t so complacent.

After all, he was pretty clear in his response: “The Chief Justice gave an appointment based on her perception of the law and I will continue to act based on my perception of the Constitution…”. But that’s the whole point of the CJ’s decision, isn’t it? Prezzie, or no one else can’t just act in whatever way they PERCEIVE the Constitution to be interpreted.

So, can you interpret Article 149A: “Everyone has the right to work”, to mean you can start working at anybody’s place of business and sue the owner when he doesn’t pay you?

Sure you can – but it’s the Court that’ll have the last word if you’ll get a penny. Prezzie doesn’t seem to accept that! …of accomplices A wounded bandit from Grove who’d escaped from the GPHC was found hiding in a barrel at a house in Agricola. Why Agricola?

If your Eyewitness “tell it like it is”, he’ll be “profiling”!

Why is such a huge...

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wharf. I thought investment in Guyana, whether local or foreign, attracted duty-free concessions, especially when it comes to “greening” the economy. Most countries offer incentives such as duty-free concessions and tax holidays for genuine job-creating investments.

Against the backdrop of the foregoing, and Mr. Bacchus having submitted his application over eight months now, I am perplexed as to why he has not been told whether a licence will be granted, and if so when; or whether there is still other criteria he is required to meet. This is a major investment by a Guyanese. Why is it taking so long to give the man an answer? The governments of Antigua and Barbuda and St Vincent and the Grenadines are encouraging him to invest in those countries. In fact, I was at the opening of the new airport in St. Vincent on Valentine’s Day, when Prime Minister Gonsalves mentioned Sleep Inn of Guyana as a potential investor.

I asked Mr. Bacchus what he thought was causing the delay. He claimed not to know. “Are you a drug dealer?” I asked. He said, “No.” “Are you a criminal?” I asked next, and the answer was again, “No.” “Are you among those denied a US visa?” I asked. Again, the answer was, “No.” So why is such a huge investment in the Guyana economy being made to eventually fail? The purpose of this let-

ter is to ask the foregoing question. I hope the relevant authorities would publicly advise what factors are delaying a response to this application. If there are legitimate reasons for delaying, or even denying, the licence, then let the man know.

And having invested so much into this project on the basis of an MoU with the Government of Guyana, and given that 300-plus jobs will be generated, I can see no reason for denying him a licence, although there may be other requirements that need to be met before a licence is granted.

At the end of the tour, someone whispered to me that Bacchus is a good friend of former President Donald Ramotar, and that that could be the reason for the frustration Bacchus is being made to endure. I would hate to believe that this is the reason. The APNU/AFC Coalition government promised good governance, and this would certainly be evidence to the contrary, if this were true.

I hold no brief for Bacchus, I met the man just on Saturday; but his licence application deserves a response and favourable consideration, once he has met all the requirements. Three hundred jobs should not be denied young Guyanese. I hope the relevant authorities would respond to my letter.

Sincerely, Wesley Kirton

Ms Renaissance pageant exemplifies womanhood – President

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resident David Granger on W e d n e s d a y recognised the Ms Renaissance Pageant as one that exemplifies not only womanhood but the sanctity of motherhood, individuality, and the achievements of women.

The Head of State made these remarks during a courtesy call by the contestants of the Ms Renaissance 2017 Pageant at State House.

The Head of State said that given the level of interpersonal violence in the country, the Pageant reinforced the need for women to be more respected in society.

“I do hope that pageants like this one could help to restore respect among our people, and it has to start in our homes. It starts with the boys; they must learn to respect women and that starts with respecting their mothers. [The pageant] also offers a lesson for young boys when they see women, mature, responsible and beautiful, appearing before them not just as objects of lust

or flesh, but as symbols of maturity and what we stand for in Guyana,” President Granger is quoted as saying in a release from the Ministry of the Presidency.

The President said that too many people today resorted to violence easily. Hence, he is hopeful that a pageant such as the Ms Renaissance would serve as a positive reinforcement that women should be valued.

Pageant Coordinator Negla Brandis expressed gratitude to the President for accommodating the contestants and offering words of encouragement and advice. A token of appreciation was presented to President Granger, who also presented tokens of his own to the contestants.

The Ms Renaissance 2017 Pageant will be held at the National Cultural Centre on August 19. It caters to women, who are 30 years and older. The Pageant is in its eighth year and is held bi-annually.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Investigative team Head of Jamaica Anglican travels to crash site church calls for …as probe commences into fatal Roraima Airways plane crash

Tuesday afternoon after the aircraft he was piloting took a nosedive into thick vegetation around the Eteringbang Airstrip.

The 40-year-old of Lamaha Gardens was alone at the time if the accident. He was reportedly heading to Eteringbang from Ekereku after a day’s work of shuttling fuel.

At the time, he was piloting a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft with registration number 8R-GRA.

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Dead pilot: Major Collin Winston Martin

ollowing the death of Captain Collin Winston Martin, who died after the aircraft he was piloting crashed at Eteringbang, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has commenced its investigation to ascertain the reason for the deadly accident.

A team from the GCAA travelled into the area on Wednesday to examine the crash site and the mangled aircraft.

Roraima’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Captain Gerry Gouveia when contacted told this newspaper that he would await the findings of the investigations and could not say what the preliminary assessment of the crash was.

He, however, noted that the GCAA was solely authorised to release any information about the incident. Attempts to

contact Director General of the GCAA, Retired Colonel Egbert Field proved futile.

It was reported that another plane was flying behind Captain Martin’s aircraft and there was no communication of any distress that the veteran pilot might have faced.

The other pilot was questioned by the authorities.

Further, while he did not want to speculate, Colonel Field had stated shortly after the incident was reported that the now dead pilot would have made a good judgement call in estimating his approach and he did think that the weather was a problem.

However, in addition to GCAA’s investigation, a probe was also launched by Accident Investigation Group as well as officials from Roraima Airways.

Martin, a Chief Pilot attached to Roraima Airways, was killed on

Condolences

Meanwhile, as messages of condolences continued to pour in following the death of the veteran pilot, President David Granger in a statement expressed his sadness upon learning of the passing of Captain Martin.

“Prior to his employment at Roraima Airways, Captain Martin served as a member of the Guyana Defence Force, having joined on March 1, 1995. He was commissioned as an Officer on November 12, 1995 and served for 17 years, attaining the rank of Major before retiring on May 4, 2012,” the release stated.

As such, the President extends sincere condolences to the wife of the late pilot – Dr Roberta Martin; his daughter, Rebecca Martin; his mother and other relatives, as well as Captain Gerry Gouveia and the staff of Roraima Airways.

decriminalising of gay sex (Jamaica Gleaner)

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ead of the Anglican Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, Bishop Howard Gregory, has broken ranks with many of his Christian brethren and urged the parliamentary committee examining the Sexual Offences Act and related laws to recommend the removal of the offence of buggery from the law books, widen the definition of rape, and recognise marital rape.

In a written submission to the committee in which he emphasised that his views were personal, Gregory placed his position in line with executed German Christian leader Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who had argued that the aim of the Church is not “that the authorities make Christian policies, Christian laws and so on, but that they be proper authorities in the sense of their special commission”.

According to Gregory, the State should not waste time with a referendum on the buggery law but should just strike it from the books.

Gregory said Christians should be cautioned against believing in the view that they must be the gatekeepers of the law against buggery in order to prevent the legalisation of samesex marriage.

“This submission does not accept the cause and effect relationship which is being introduced into this matter, neither is it advocating homosexual marriages,” he said.

Gregory argued that while the anus is not a sexual organ, it has been part of sexual activity between men and women.

Section 61 of the Offences against the Person Act of 1864 criminalises the ‘abominable’ anal sex – consensual or otherwise. The maximum punishment is 10 years’ imprisonment.

But Gregory argued: “Sexual activity engaged in public spaces is illegal and should continue to be so, whether of an heterosexual or homosexual nature.

“Beyond that,” Gregory added, “what happens in privacy between consenting adults should be beyond the purview of the Government.”

He said to establish that the offence took place under the current laws would require the people being exhibitionists or persons or agents of the State “peeping” into

Bishop Howard Gregory

the privacy of consenting adults, “which the Government should not become entangled with”.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, before his party won the 2016 general election, promised that the removal of the buggery law would be put to Jamaicans in a referendum. Since the victory, Holness has said while the referendum will take place, it is not a priority for his Government.

Delroy Chuck, who chairs the parliamentary committee, said at a function earlier this year that CARICOM’s parliaments should simply stare down the church lobby and strike down the law. But he soon after reverted to the referendum position after facing criticisms.

Gregory, in his submission, said treating the anal sex issue as a priority and to continue the criminalisation “needs to be seriously questioned as a sustainable position” and whether it is not a distraction to governance “better confined to a realm defined as personal ethics and sexual preference”.

“The promise of a referendum on the issue is at best a way in which those responsible for governance are postponing the issue in order to avoid taking controversial decisions,” he argued.

Most Jamaicans have historically been against homosexuality. A Gleaner-Bill Johnson poll in 2014 found that 91 per cent of Jamaicans believe lawmakers should make no attempt to repeal the controversial buggery law.

Six church groups and the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society gave their submissions to Parliament, urging the lawmakers to retain the buggery law for the health of the nation and upholding Christian principles.

In a separate appearance, the president of the Marcus Garvey Research Institute, Baba Heru Ishakamusa Menelik, called for tougher penalties, saying homosexuality is not a “normal way of life” and could quicken the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Turning to the thorny issue of marital rape, Gregory argued that there can be rape in marriage, a view that also breaks ranks with the position of church groups, including the fast-rising Jamaica Union of Seventh-day Adventists.

“Non-consensual sex accompanied by threat, intimidation and violence ought to be characterised as rape,” he said.

Jamaica’s law allows for marital rape in cases where there was physical separation of the man and the woman.

But Gregory said in the context of an abusive relationship, “even without reaching the point of physical separation or abuse”, rape can occur.

Gregory further argued that Jamaica would do well to move away from the preoccupation with whether it is an anus or vagina, male or female when it comes to rape.

“Central to the definition of rape is the notion of the sexual activity being non-consensual.

When then would the law make a distinction between the experiences of a Jamaican male student … and the female student who may have been raped under similar circumstances,” said Gregory, as he pointed to a male student who was allegedly raped by a teacher.

The parliamentary committee completed oral submissions last Tuesday, with its report expected to be completed by November and submitted to the House of Representatives for debate.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s forestry sector brought in US$19M for year thus far – Trotman

Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman

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a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s M i n i s t e r , Raphael Trotman, said that the forestry sector brought in an estimated US$19M in the first half of 2017 adding that it is significantly less owing to the fact that one of the major exporters no longer operates in the industry.

Trotman explained that the sector is going relatively well and that they are on target to bring in good earnings from foreign exchange.

He added emphasis is now “on sustainable development, sustainable use of our forest so Guyanese can expect less logs being shipped out.”

The minister explained that the earnings so far are less than previous years because one major exporter no longer operates in the industry. However, he added that local loggers would have to raise the bar not just provide uneven measurements and crude cuts.

Local loggers are also expected to benefit from “the surge in demand” from the Government’s housing programme which is about to come on stream soon. The restriction on the importation of pinewood is also considered as an incentive for local loggers to be more competitive on the local market.

The Minister stressed that the restriction does not mean that pinewood would be banned outright from entering Guyana.

The Natural Resources Ministry is currently conducting consultations to finalise the National Forest Policy and Statement.

Minister Trotman said that these documents are expected to be finalised by September.

“They can help us to formulate policy a little better,” he said.

Efforts are also underway to finalise the Voluntary Partnership Agreement

(VPA) with the European Union (EU).

Adherence to the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) would mean greater access to European market for Guyana’s lumber, particularly greenheart.

The VPA is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

The FLEGT system mandates countries to use the Wood Tracking System to tag logs and their stumps so that when it reaches the point of export it could be traced backed to the origin to ensure its legality.

The system is not new to Guyana since they have been mandating loggers to tag their produce so they can track them to ensure it is within their licensed agreement.

The EU FLEGT Regulation of 2005 empowers the European Commission to negotiate Voluntary P a r t n e r s h i p Agreements (VPAs) with timber-exporting countries; under these agreements, VPA partner countries ensure they only export to the EU legal products carrying FLEGT licences.

A Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) is a legally binding trade agreement between the European Union and a timber-producing country outside the EU. The purpose of a VPA is to ensure that timber and timber products exported to the EU come from legal sources.

The agreements also help timber-exporting countries stop illegal logging by improving regulation and governance of the forest sector.

For two weeks in June, representatives from government, the private sector, indigenous peoples’ groups and civil society organizations, travelled to regions across the country and gathered views of some 150 stakeholders, who assessed the main sections of the VPA. Guyana has made substantial progress on its VPA since negotiations began in December 2012.

The VPA aims to address the illegal trade of timber. Once ratified, the VPA will commit both parties to trade only legal timber and timber products and will cover Guyana’s domestic market as well as its exports to the EU.

T&T expert continues study on alternative methods of pre-trial detention in Guyana …focuses on reducing prison population, youth detention

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Consultant Peter Pursglove, SC, with members of the Judiciary and the magistracy during one of the sessions with stakeholders

ith the aim of reducing the population within the local prison system, Trinidadian expert Peter Pursglove, SC, has returned for a second round of consultations this week in an effort to garner the relevant information and data to complete a study on alternatives to pre-trial detention.

Pursglove was contracted under the Government of Guyana and the InterAmerican Development Bank’s Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP).

The consultant is currently meeting with a number of senior Government functionaries, members of the Judiciary and magistracy, technical officers from relevant Government departments and Ministries, along with stakeholders from civil society and Non-Governmental Organisations.

These meetings started on July

24 and will conclude on July 28.

The study is expected to contribute to a reduction in prison overcrowding and prevent further criminalisation of youths, since it will contribute to the design of a structured pre-trial opportunity programme.

From the consultant’s preliminary consultations with stakeholders, it was recognised that currently there was no structured diversion programme in Guyana and that resources would have to be allocated by Government if such programmes were to be established.

However, before proceeding to design and to implement such a programme, it is necessary to gather and analyse the relevant statistical and other types of information available relating to the various offender groups that may be targeted by any diversion programmes.

Among the consultant’s task are: reviewing criminal laws in or-

der to flag for legislative review any offences that need no longer be classified as criminal acts or which may now be decriminalised; collecting and analysing the relevant statistical information relating to the various offender groups that may be targeted by any diversion programmes; and consulting on the possibility of developing a diversion strategy aimed at diverting certain types of offenders out of the criminal justice system.

He will also have to investigate the possibility of establishing a pilot diversion programme for the mentally ill to ensure that offenders with mental health problems who enter the criminal justice system are identified and directed towards appropriate mental health care; examining the prospects of establishing a diversion strategy for alcohol and substance abusers aimed at curbing alcohol and drug-relat-

ed crime; and exploring possibilities for the use of restorative justice as a diversion mechanism and alternative to imprisonment in respect of matters that would otherwise be subject to criminal sanctions.

Citizen security and crime reduction are leading policy priorities of the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. In this regard, the Government, with assistance from the IDB, has developed a CSSP that focuses on the prevention and reduction of crime and violence, and Public Sector and civil society capacity building.

As part of the CSSP, the consultant was hired to conduct research on models and good practices in the field of pre-trial detention and specifically to explore and present alternatives to pre-trial detention that are harmonious with the criminal justice processes in Guyana.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

ExxonMobil announces another major oil find offshore Guyana

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x x o n M o b i l Corporation has announced the discovery of additional oil in the Payara reservoir offshore Guyana, increasing the total Payara discovery to approximately 500 million oil-equivalent barrels.

According to information released by ExxonMobil on Tuesday,

drilling encountered 59 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone in the Payara field. The well was drilled to 19,068 feet (approximately 7000 feet waters) some 12 miles North West of the Liza phase 1 Stabroek Block project.

This places the discovery just 130 miles offshore. This newspaper understands that ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited did the drilling.

Exxon stated that with this discovery, the estimated gross recoverable

resource in the Stabroek Block has increased to approximately 2.5 billion oil equivalent barrels.

The discovery also enhances Guyana’s standing, but it comes at a time when the Government has already agreed to a 50 per cent profit-sharing system and a two per cent royalty agreement.

It is an arrangement the

Government has defended on the grounds that it received the best advice possible.

“Payara-2 confirms the second giant field discovered in Guyana,” Steve Greenlee, President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, stated. “Payara, Liza and the adjacent satellite discoveries at Snoek and Liza Deep will provide the foundation for world-class oil developments and deliver substantial benefits to Guyana. We are committed to continue to evaluate the full potential of

the Stabroek Block.”

It was only in June that Exxon was granted its formal production licence. Before that, reviews were done of the technical and environmental aspects of the Liza Project Development Plan submitted by Esso Exploration and Production (Guyana) Ltd in December 2017.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres.

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is the operator and holds a 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds a 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds a 25 per cent interest.

String of discoveries

Drilling on Payara began on November 12, 2016, with initial total depth reached on December 2, 2016. In January of this year, the

oil giant had announced it had struck oil in its Payara-1 well, targeting the same type of reservoirs as the well’s Liza counterpart.

Before that, the company had announced that it made its third significant discovery in its drilling explorations offshore Guyana. Its partner, Hess Corporation, had noted that the Liza 3 exploratory well’s net value could be US$6.2 billion based on calculations from the Bank of Montreal (BMO) Capital Markets.

In late June 2016, Exxon’s drilling results at Liza 2 revealed more than 58 metres of oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs in Upper Cretaceous formations.

The well was drilled to 5475 metres at 1692 metres water depth.

Drilling results confirmed recoverable resources to be between 800 million and 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Data from the Liza 2 well test is being assessed.

In May 2015, Exxon confirmed its first significant oil discovery at its Liza 1 exploration well, where more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs was encountered.

Exxon’s oil find in Guyana has attracted international attention, with a number of seminars being held over time. In addition, assistance is being provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to boost Guyana’s administrative capacity to handle the expected inflow of revenue.

Former health minister says Guyana not doing enough to fight NCDs

By Samuel Sukhnandan

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n light of Guyana being named as one of two countries that have the highest mortality for premature cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the Americas, former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy has said that this may be as a result of Government abandoning the NonCommunicable Diseases (NDC) Strategy, which was formulated and implemented during his time as Minister.

The former Minister believes that Guyana is not doing enough to fight against the NCDs, although there was an NCD strategy in the years 2003-2008 and again in the 2008-2015 period. “The NCD strategy appears to have been abandoned. The NCDs are largely lifestyle diseases. Physical activity, nutrition, abuse of alcohol and tobacco, etc, are all important factors that contribute to the NCDs,” he added.

The aggressive education and awareness programmes that were developed from these two strategies appeared to have been reduced or totally abandoned, according to Dr Ramsammy, who said that the community health fairs and school programmes and other initiatives, which were used to address issues such as positive lifestyles have also become sporadic.

However, what is more damaging, according to him, is the fact that the once aggressive diagnostic and treatment programmes have somewhat become weak.

“We had increased the opportunistic testing for the NCDs by improving the diagnostic capacities in hospital and health centres.

Piggybacking on the aggressive HIV testing Programme, we had encouraged every Guyanese, not just the elderly, but everyone to get their sugar tested and also blood pressure testing,” he recalled.

In this regard, the Health Advocate Programme was initiated and in this programme, community persons were trained and provided with blood pressure kits and glucose testing machines.

These persons went house to house in certain communities and tested people. The purpose of the programme was to ensure that it reached all

Former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

communities. “Instead of expanding the programme, it appears to have been ended,” the former Minister said.

However, Dr Ramsammy pointed out that the Diabetes Foot Care Programme continued and this was a positive sign. But he said when the Programme was started at the Georgetown Public Hospital and expanded to the New Amsterdam Hospital, the intention was to expand it across the country, but this has not happened.

While acknowledging that there were some positive improvements, he said the policy environment was weaker than it was before.

“There are some positives. The move to enact the Tobacco Control Bill is a positive move.

The effort to reintegrate mental health started under my tenure as Minister. Intensive training had been started. I see some mention that this is being continued. But there is need to intensify it,” he explained.

The Caribbean has the highest rate of mortality in the Americas from NCDs, with more than 40 per cent of related deaths occurring prematurely in people under 70 years old.

Health experts say NCD epidemics, such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, kidney disease, stroke and heart disease, worsened across some Caribbean countries.

The Chronic Disease Research Centre said Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago had the highest mortality for premature cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the Americas. Out of 54 countries evaluated, Guyana is ranked number one and Trinidad is number two.

The Commission has reported that deaths from NCDs of persons between the ages of 30 and 69 in the Caribbean are double these deaths in North America.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Decision to remain in Govt was solely up to Dr Roopnaraine, says WPA T he decision taken by Dr Rupert Roopnaraine to rescind his resignation on Wednesday last was not guided by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Executive Member Dr David Hinds has said.

Dr Roopnaraine’s rescindment occurred three days after he submitted his resignation to President David Granger.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday at Rodney House in Queenstown, Georgetown, Hinds told media operatives that Dr Roopnaraine did not need to consult with the WPA and the decision of whether or not the former Education Minister chose to remain in his position was left solely up to him.

“Our position is that as our representative, we defer to Dr Roopnaraine, we defer to his judgment as to whether he can continue to function in office.

He remains our first choice to represent us in Government and we defer to his judgment on whether he can continue,” Hinds noted.

The WPA member explained that Roopnaraine’s initial reason for submitting a resignation letter was due to his deteriorating health. “The Government announced that the reason is ill health and we concur. That was the reason we discussed when we met with him to discuss his initial

WPA Executive David Hinds

decision to resign.”

Hinds said one of the conditions put forward by the President, which contributed to Dr Roopnaraine remaining in Government, was that he would be given more assistance. He did not specify how different this assistance will be from that he received while at the Education Ministry.

“No, he would not be getting more assistants than other Ministers are getting.

Ministers have a staff; they have Permanent Secretaries, all of those things and they said they would ensure that those things are in place for him, so it is not about any special thing for him; at least that’s not our reading,” he said.

When questioned as to what may have caused the President to convince Dr Roopnaraine to remain in office, and if it may have been because he (the President) was not open to the idea of having someone with a more “forceful or radical” personality, Hinds said he did not have evidence to support that statement.

“We have heard that in the wider society and people are free to make their judgment or the other, but we have not arrived at that position in the party,” the WPA Executive said, while maintaining that the WPA held Dr Roopnaraine as its first choice to represent the party in Parliament and the Government.

However, Hinds posited that the former Education Minister’s rescinded resignation did not “weaken the party”. “We do not think that his withdrawal of his resignation weakens us in any way,” he explained, while speculating that Dr Roopnaraine might have considered the President’s request.

Further, Hinds indicated that the issue of the party only holding one position within Government was discussed during a WPA members’ meeting held on Sunday last.

“There are different views in the party as it relates to that and on Sunday, we talked a lot about that. But we

Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

are guided by the principle that we are not in politics or in government for the sharing of spoils.”

However, he said that the WPA did recognise the importance of representation in the Government, “because once you’re represented in Government then you have a forum and you have the capacity to influence directly what happens in Government”.

Nevertheless, Hinds told the media that the party has not been “bargaining for any new position”.

Meanwhile, another party executive, Tacuma Ogunseye, expressed “cautious optimism” that the WPA would have greater influence in several Government policy decisions

going forward if regular meetings of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) were held. The APNU executive, at its meeting last Saturday, July 22, 2017, its first since the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, agreed to meet every two months, but no agenda has yet been made.

Ogunseye said President Granger, in his capacity as APNU Chairman, accepted full responsibility for the failure to hold meetings. On the other hand, Hinds said several grievances were raised at the WPA meeting, but declined to disclose those grievances.

On June 13, 2017, it was announced that Roopnaraine would be removed from his post as Education Minister and reassigned to head the Department of Public Service within the Ministry of the Presidency.

While no reason for this relocation was given, many had speculated that it had to do with Roopnaraine’s deteriorating health. However, some days after being reassigned, the Senior Minister refuted those claims, saying that “nothing was wrong with his health”.

Dr Roopnaraine is one of the longest-serving WPA members and has served as one of the leaders of the party, along with founder Dr Walter Rodney, Dr Clive Thomas and Eusi Kwayana.

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Prison officer killed during revolt hailed as fallen hero

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Scenes from the Lyken Funeral Parlour on Norton Street, Newburg, Georgetown on Tuesday during the funeral for slain prison officer Odinga Wickham

cores of persons gathered at the Lyken Funeral Parlour on Norton Street, Newburg, Georgetown on Tuesday to mourn the loss and pay their final respects to prison officer Odinga Wickham, who succumbed after being shot by a prisoner while on duty during the July 9

Camp Street Prison riot and fire.

Among those gathered to pay their respects to the deceased was embattled Director of Prisons (ag), Gladwin Samuels. He was hailed as a hero by his colleagues and friends.

Relatives of the dead prison officer were in

tears as they each went into the funeral parlour to view their loved one for the last time.

Wickham was described by his friends and family as a cheerful and positive individual.

Thus far, Police are still hunting the criminals responsible for his death.

Four prisoners identified as Mark Royden Durant, Uree Varswyck, Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander, and Cobena Stephens, out of the initial six who escaped lawful custody on the day that Wickham met his demise, are still at large.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force

on Tuesday reissued wanted bulletins for the remaining escapees who are on the run after the breakouts from the Camp Street and Lusignan Prisons.

The Police Force said it was “appealing to members of the public, relatives and friends to give any relevant information as to the whereabouts of these escapees so that they can be captured and returned to

the prison”.

Also an appeal is being made to the escapees to surrender to the Police or relevant authority, to avoid any serious confrontation that is likely to result in the use of force.

“All information will be treated with a high degree of confidence and also the rights of those escapees will be respected and upheld,” said the Police.

EBD man faces Court for causing death of reputed wife

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Dead: Gaitri Sahadeo

n East Bank Demerara (EDB) man, who allegedly drove his motorcycle in a dangerous manner and reportedly caused the death of his reputed wife, who was his pillion rider at the time, was on Wednesday charged and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Lawrence McGarrell, 24, of Lot 66 Golden Grove, EBD appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan and Magistrate Sunil Scarce to answer to the seven charges brought against him.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on July 23, 2017 at Providence Public Road, EBD, he rode motorcycle CJ1957 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Gaitri Sahadeo.

The other six related charges were read by Magistrate Scarce, which stated that on the same day at the same location, the defendant rode without third-party insurance and without a driv-

er’s licence, failed to wear a safety helmet, rode and carried the pillion rider without a safety helmet, rode while under the influence of alcohol and rode the motorcycle without the owner’s consent.

McGarrell was granted bail on the causing death charge in the sum of G$100,000 and was scheduled to reappear before Magistrate McLennan on August 9, 2017.

However, he initially pleaded guilty to the other six charges, but when questioned by Magistrate Scarce, he explained that he was still mourning his reputed wife and was unable to think clearly.

McGarrell further added that he was appearing in court for the first time and did not fully understand the system and as such, not-guilty pleas were entered on his behalf.

He was granted bail in the sum of G$20,000 each for the six charges, and was expected to reappear before Magistrate Scarce on August 8.

Sahadeo, 20, was killed at 00:30h on July 23, 2017 when the motorcycle suffered a blowout.

He was said to be proceeding south along the eastern carriageway when the accident occurred.

Sahadeo, who reportedly sustained injuries to the head, was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she succumbed while being treated.

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34 graduate from Bina Hill Institute

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Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock, (center); Region Eight, Regional Chairman Bonaventure Fredricks, Principal of Bina Hill Institute Victor Ferreira, Board Member of Bina Hill Institute Colin Edwards, staff of the Bina Hill Institute and the graduates.

he Bina Hill Institute in Annai, Region Nine has churned out another batch of graduates.

The institute’s eight (8th) graduation ceremony saw 34 youths graduating after being certified in 11 technical skills.

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock told the graduates that their real journey starts now. “I know that some

of you, during the two years have been thinking that this is the end...But this was the time you were being prepared to begin your

Rex John receiving an award

journey, the real journey into adulthood, to make your contribution to the development of yourself, your family, your community, your region and the country at large”, said Minister Allicock. He reminded them to never forget their culture and the importance of agriculture.

Best graduating student Jan Gomes said that despite the challenging two years, she managed to stand firm and complete her journey. The Region Eight resident said, “At the end, it was very successful and I would like to thank the teachers, friends who encouraged me, give me support”.

Gomes explained that fitting in was a bit difficult but in the long haul this was another challenge she overcame successfully. “I met a lot of people with different backgrounds, with different cultures.

I took up the challenge and I said I’m going to make it. It’s for my benefit. It’s for my future and here I am today”, Gomes explained.

Rex John, another grandaunt, said that he will encourage his friends and others from his community, to take the opportunity to further their education at the Bina Hill Institute.

John said that the institute was a lifeline in the difficult journey to furthering his education.

“After leaving secondary school, I didn’t have no job, no opportunity or no nothing. I used to work at the backdam but I heard about Bina Hill Institute, and I came in to further my studies, especially in agriculture” John added.

The Youth Learning Centre of the Bina Hill Institute was established in 2001. It is a unique institution that focuses on training hinterland youth in Natural Resource Management, Forestry, Wildlife Management, Agriculture, Tourism, Business Studies, Life Skills, Traditional Skills, Basic Computer Skills, Mathematics, English and leadership training. (DPI)

PM Nagamootoo commends Hare Krishna Movement for contributions to society

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rime Minister M o s e s Nagamoottoo commended the Hare Krishna Movement for promoting “spirituality without divisions”, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI).

PM Nagamootoo gave the feature address at the one-year celebration of the Movement’s Temple located at University of Guyana Road, East Coast Demerara.

Prime Minister Nagamoottoo congratulated the officials and the movement overall noting that the religion has “no ethnicity, in fact it invites people of varying

beliefs”.

Hare Krishna Movement is a 51 year old movement that advocates knowing “your purpose in life”.

The G$126.5M Temple officially opened on July 11, 2016.

The temple provides free access to a wide variety of academic resources. These include a study centre, information technology centre and a facility where religious conferences and meetings can be held.

The temple also has dormitory facilities for persons studying at the Cyril Potter College or University of Guyana (UG).

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Guyana getting much needed help to handle oil and gas development – Trotman

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Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman

atural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has said that Guyana is getting the help it needs to welcome the oil and gas sector when it expectedly takes full steam in 2020, but Government has recently been criticised for its unpreparedness in dealing with this sector.

Trotman told this publication that while he does not have the specific details of the arguments made by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana has partnered with several upright international agencies to assist with building capacity in the new sector, and these exercises will continue.

The minister listed a number of agencies which are currently lending support to Guyana. These include: Chatham House, Metric and Petroleum Institute, Commonwealth Secretariat, U.S. Government Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI), International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank, among several others.

“We have experts of every kind in-country.

The IMF team is advising on the Sovereign Wealth Fund. Last week the IDB had a team here.

We have more experts than we can handle,” he added.

Trotman has additionally reminded that the Government has hired Dr Jan Mangal, an expert in offshore and civil engineering, as Petroleum Advisor in the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), and he made it clear that there is no rush to pass the Petroleum Commission Bill.

Jagdeo told a recent press conference that the Government has made little to no attempt to acquire the necessary skills in preparation for

the oil sector. He also expressed fear that, because of its lack of capacity, Government could be outmanoeuvred by US oil giant ExxonMobil.

The Opposition Leader has said that Trinidad and Tobago had received a raw deal from this US company, but if Guyana prepares itself well before oil drilling begins, it stands to benefit substantially. He reminded that Government has the responsibility to protect the country’s national interest, and declared that his lack of confidence in the current administration lies in its inability to lead technical negotiations with the US oil giant and/or other major oil companies.

While information in regard to the oil and gas sector has not been forthcoming, Jagdeo has said that, in the name of transparency, Government should reveal to the Opposition who Guyana’s lead negotiators are, and what the negotiation briefs are about, so that the opposition can share its views.

Although Guyana is set to begin producing commercial quantities of oil in 2020, the Opposition believes Government is placing too much focus on that emerging sector, and forgetting about the other productive sectors in the local economy that continue to provide hundreds of jobs to Guyanese.

Jagdeo is of the firm belief that if this trend continues, Guyana’s future will be squandered.

He said this is the main reason why he has referred to Government as having a “banana republic” mentality — where heavy focus is placed on one single sector to the neglect of all other industries, similar to what happened in Central America, where the term was coined.

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Public Security Minister was warned of possibility of another jailbreak – Boyer

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rivate Sector Commission ( P S C ) Chairman Eddie Boyer said the entity had warned Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan about the possibility of another jailbreak, noting that the business community would now have to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their operations.

Speaking with a section of the media on Monday, Boyer said the situation was a “sad” one, as it has now thrown more fear into the business community. He said it was obvious businesses would be affected, since there would not be much shopping taking place.

“Businesses will have to take the necessary measures for security. It will affect people coming to and going from Georgetown,” Boyer said.

Dwelling on the seriousness of the state of affairs, the PSC Chairman said the business organisation had questioned the Public Security Minister about Government’s ability to keep the situation stable following the fire and escape of other prisoners some two weeks ago. The Minister reassured the PSC that the

PSC Chairman, Eddie Boyer

situation was under control.

“If you had a second escape, then you can have a third,” Boyer chided.

Added to the four prisoners who escaped during the massive Camp Street Prison fire two Sundays ago, 13 more inmates who were being housed in makeshift camps at the Lusignan Prison escaped from their holding quarters. Investigators and prison officials believe that they escaped between Sunday evening and early Monday morning.

The escapees have been described as hardened criminals, many of whom have been incarcerated for murder.

Seven of those who escaped from the Lusignan prison have since been recaptured.

Sophia teen chopped to death after rescuing girlfriend

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n 18-year-old sawmill operator is now dead following an altercation with another man over the weekend at 38 Miles, Mabura Trail, Upper Demerara, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

Dead is Devon Murray of Lot 1331 B Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

The incidents leading up to the young man’s demise reportedly took place between 20:30h on Friday and 05:30h on Saturday.

Based on information

received, the now dead man was involved in a dispute with the suspect after he reportedly made sexual advances towards Murray’s girlfriend.

This newspaper understands that the two men were involved in a physical scuffle for some time before the suspect whipped out a cutlass and struck Murray once to the neck after which, he fled the scene.

Efforts made by this publication to contact the now deceased man’s family proved futile.

Investigations are ongoing.

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President’s comments Gaskin calls for strengthening of complement, not Consolidated Fund legislation contradict, CJ’s …before oil money arrives ruling – MoTP

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he Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) has said that President David Granger’s comments on the recent ruling handed down by the acting Chief Justice in regard to the requirements for appointing a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) did not contradict, but in fact complemented, the Court’s decision.

In a statement released on Saturday evening, the MoTP refuted any assertion that President Granger has rejected the ruling of acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire on the case brought against Attorney General Basil Williams by private citizen Marcel Gaskin.

The MoTP pointed out that any contrary commentary to its assertion is clearly a deliberate misinterpretation of President Granger’s remarks.

“There is no indication that the Head of State ‘dismissed’ the Chief Justice’s ruling, or that (the President) does not observe the separation of powers between the Executive Branch of Government and the Judiciary. In fact, what President Granger actually said is that he (would) continue to act according to the requirements of the Constitution,” the MoTP statement outlined.

Local businessman Marcel Gaskin, brother of Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, had asked the High Court to interpret the Constitution as it relates to the selection of a Chairman for GECOM, and the High Court has so done.

Speaking to members of the media last Wednesday, the Head of State said, “I will continue to act within my perception of the Constitution; that is to say, I will not appoint somebody that I do not consider ‘fit and proper’.”

The MoTP has stressed that the words ‘fit and proper’ are taken directly from Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana, and are an iteration of what the acting Chief Justice is reported to have said in her ruling based on her perception of that article.

“While the President believes that the Constitution was crafted the way it was to give preference to the appointment of ‘a person who holds or who has held of-

Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire

fice as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth, or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court, or (someone) who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge’, he has never disagreed with the acting Chief Justice’s ruling, in that the Constitution clearly states that ‘any other fit and proper person’ can be appointed. President Granger’s comments complement, and do not contradict, that ruling,” the MoTP has posited.

The MoTP has highlighted that, as early as January 2017, during a recording of The Public Interest, the President had said he believes that what the drafters of the Constitution had in mind was someone who had arrived at the position of a judge, as it is expected that that person would have been someone who possesses the qualities of impartiality, integrity and intelligence.

The President added that any ‘fit or proper person’ must approximate those qualities that characterise what is expected of a judge. The statement declared that President Granger further told media operatives last week that he remains committed to the spirit of the Constitution.

“I do not believe that anything that the Honourable Chief Justice said has diminished my regard for the word or the spirit of the Constitution. I do believe that the person must be independent, must be impartial, and I am looking for that independence and that impartiality,” the Head of State said days ago.

According to the MoTP statement, the Head of State remains committed to the separation of powers of the Executive and the Judiciary, and nothing in his word or actions has demonstrated anything otherwise.

ven as Guyana builds its systemic capacity to handle the revenues that would come from the oil and gas sector, Economist Ramon Gaskin, a former presidential advisor and current political commentator, is warning that failure to amend and strengthen legislation governing the Consolidated Fund may have dire consequences.

Noting that the Consolidated Fund has a history of being abused, Gaskin has called for legislative changes to be made to ensure that sums of money put therein are indeed used for the purposes set out by the law.

“Article 216 of the Constitution says that all money coming into Guyana must be (deposited) into the Consolidated Fund (to prevent it being) spent, or lost, or stolen,” Gaskin declared in a recent interview.

Advocating a fivepoint system of expenditure aimed at rectifying Guyana’s fiscal position, he noted the importance of slashing the national debt, accumulating reserves, investment in long-term projects, creating a price stabiliser fund, and reducing deficits in the national budget.

“So we must make some kind of amendment to the Constitution, to make sure that this money goes into this special fund and is spent (appro-

priately),” he said.

Article 216 of the Constitution of Guyana states, “All revenues or other (sums of) money raised or received by Guyana (not being revenues or other sums of money payable by or under an Act of Parliament into some other fund established for any specific purpose; or that may, by or under such an Act, be retained by the authority that received them for the purpose of defraying the expenses of that authority) shall be paid into and from one Consolidated Fund.”

Article 217 stipulates that money cannot be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund except: “(a) to meet expenditure that is charged upon the Fund by this Constitution or by any Act of Parliament; or (b) where the issue of those (sums of) money has been authorised by an Appropriation Act; or (c) where the issue of those (sums of) money has been authorised under Article 219.”

Despite this regime of stipulations, however, Government has been red flagged by the Auditor General’s office for not using the Consolidated Fund in the rightful manner.

Auditor General Deodat Sharma declared in his 2015 Audit Report that Government had kept more than G$500M, rather than deposit same into the Consolidated

Economist Ramon Gaskin

Fund.

That report, made public in October 2016, had spoken of the millions of dollars used on the D’Urban Park construction, Mashramani celebrations, and G$51.5M being spent on ‘music’.

At present, there is a Petroleum Commission Bill — sent to the Special Select Committee for review — that provides for the establishment and functioning of the Petroleum Commission of Guyana, which will be the regulatory agency for Guyana’s oil industry.

The bill has 51 sections which cover areas such as establishment and incorporation of the Petroleum Commission; functions and duties of the Commission; and financing, among others.

The Petroleum Commission Bill makes provision for the establishment of a Petroleum Commission to serve as a regulatory agency for Guyana’s oil and gas industry.

It was sent to the com-

mittee after the parliamentary opposition had made certain objections to the bill, stating that the bill gives too much power to the Minister of Natural Resources, currently Minister Raphael Trotman. The opposition has argued that, with the amount of power being given to the Natural Resources Minister, the commission would not be an independent one.

According to section 8 of the bill, the Minister is allowed not only to provide policy guidance, but to also give direction to the commission regarding a number of other issues, including the size of the establishment; the employment of staff, and the terms and conditions of employment; the provision of equipment, and use of funds; reorganisation, or such works of development as to involve a substantial outlay on capital account; training, education and research; the disposal of capital assets; and the application of the proceeds of such disposals.

Passage of the bill is to be delayed, however, until the committee completes its report.

At present, Government is slated to receive help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to build Guyana’s capacity to manage the utilisation of oil revenues accrued from the oil and gas industry.

Guyana to take on eco-friendly waste disposal system

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uring a site visit to the Haags Bosch Landfill at Eccles, East Bank Demerara on Friday last, the Communities Ministry, along with the administration of the city dumpsite, indicated that Guyana would soon take on a more eco-friendly waste disposal system. The new approach is aimed at ensuring better management of waste coming from Georgetown and its environs while providing an environmentally friendly approach, especially in reducing the space used at the disposal site.

The introduction of this new system will mirror that which already exists in North America and other developed countries, comprising garbage separation at the source, systematic

Waste disposal at the Haags Bosch Landfill

transportation and handling as well as composting and other organic approaches once the waste has been offloaded at the dumpsites.

This announcement was made by Minister within the Communities Ministry, Dawn Hastings, while accompanying a team on the visit on Friday. Hastings said the Government has adapted a “Green generation Guyana vi-

sion”, which primarily incorporates educating the younger generation with regard to separation of waste within their homes, schools, and communities. This is in accordance with her “Stop, think and store,” campaign.

As such, the Minister pointed out, “We have to think about what happens after we store that garbage. We can’t just have one garbage truck

come into these homes because we’re encouraging you to separate your garbage at home.”

On that note, the environmental activist went on to say, “Maybe we’ll have to come up with two separate trucks; one to collect the organic waste and another to follow or we may need to come up with another system where we continued on page 24

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2018 Budget drafting

Agencies urged to consider Govt’s policies

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inance Minister Winston Jordan has urged budget agencies to consider Government’s policies when putting together their respective financial plans for the new year.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a budget 2018 training sensitization workshop held at the Marriott International Hotel in Georgetown, Minister Jordan said: “We are once again at that time of year of the budget cycle, when agencies are required to revise and update their plans for the next four years. In the process of doing so, you will need to be cognisant of the vision of the Government in the context of the specific agency, and articulate your strategic goals and objectives as your contribution to achieving this,” Jordan told the representatives of state agencies.

He expressed the need for them to examine the progress of their work and ensure that their request for allocation of resources will directly and measurably contribute to the achievement and delivery of programmes.

Quoting remarks

Finance Minister Winston Jordan speaking at the Budget 2018 training sensitisation workshop held at the Marriott Hotel on Monday

from budget 2016, Jordan said the policy, programmes, reforms and measures envisage in the budget were designed to achieve higher growth rates is an economy that has been growing higher rates with benefits. This, he said, will make the good life closer to reality.

“We cannot continue to have the sea-saw growth that has been witnessed over the past three decades and hope to be able to solve the economic challenges like unemployment and poverty. We have to be innovative in our approach,

and bold in our measures if we are to build an economy that will stand on a foundation of granite,” Jordan said In budget 2017, the finance minister had said Government has emphasised the importance of achieving a strong growth and accelerated development to the benefit of the people. In particular, he said, “We have resolved to pursue a growth strategy. We have to match the expectation of our people for a better life, but we will not be able to deliver if we stay in a foreign course”.

To do so, he said, would allow the confluence of adversity and challenge to continue to constrain the country from “seizing the opportunity to chart a new direction”.

Achieving the “good life is neither a mantra, slogan, nor abstract concept,” Jordan continued.

It is rather a fixation; a constant reminder that Government was elected to improve the quality of life for the Guyanese people through the improvement in the quality and quantity of goods and services that must be delivered.”

Father, son gunned down in T&T (Trinidad Guardian)

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n employee from the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH) and his father, a retiree who also worked at the hospital, were both ambushed and killed by gunmen in Laventille on Tuesday, while responding to a call of an accident along Picton Road involving one of their vehicles.

Fitzroy Daniel, 65, and his son Jabari, 25, were taken to the PoSGH after the attack but Daniel was pronounced dead on arrival. Jabari died while undergoing emergency surgery hours later. Both father and son lived at Boxhill Trace, Laventille.

The men were shot in the back of their heads and torsos around 12.30 pm by attackers using high-powered rifles, according to investigating officers.

The T&T Guardian was told that Jabari, who works at the PoSGH’s Engineering Department, Refrigeration, reported for duty yesterday (Tuesday) when at shortly before noon he received a phone call from a relative informing him that one of his vehicles was involved in an accident with two other cars and a truck along Picton Road near Dan Kelly.

A friend close to the family, who wished not to be identified, said Jabari left in his red station wagon to get his father before going to the area of the accident.

“From what we hear, is that by the time they got there the fellas around there were very rowdy and things began to heat up. By then, it look like when Jabari and his dad decided to leave the scene to go back up the hill that the gunman run up on them from where the father sat in the passenger seat and opened fire,” the close friend said.

It is believed Jabari, on hearing the gunshots, stopped the car, got out and attempted to run away, but the gunman chased after him and shot him several times in the head and left side of the back. The gunman then ran off.

Police are yet to determine a motive for the killing, as although it may be linked to the accident they are not ruling out that it may have been a hit on Jabari.

At the PoSGH yesterday, Jabari’s co-workers described him as a “quiet and hardworking” individual.

“All of us were very shocked to hear what happened. We knew Fitzroy very well and he retired about five years ago and just recently, I saw him and I asked him if he wasn’t ageing,” one of Jabari’s co-workers said.

“Jabari was a real nice and quiet person who was always in work. Just last week he used his other car (the blue one) to come to work and this morning (yesterday) he came with the red one.”

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, four people were shot in San Juan just after midnight yesterday while liming at a lane off Shende Street, Sunshine Avenue.

One of the victims, identified as Kareem Syndey, 29, was pronounced dead at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope. The others, Ronnie Seecharan, Cornelius Samuel and Davien Garth, remain warded at hospital in critical conditions.

Police said the group of men were liming when they were ambushed by gunmen at about 12.20 am. A motive is yet to be determined in that shooting incident.

The murder toll now stands at 279 for the year so far.

Investigations are continuing into both incidents.

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Govt doing everything possible to stamp out corruption, says Harmon

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Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

l t h o u g h Transparency International said in its 2016 Corruption Perception Index Report that Guyana still struggled with “serious corruption problems”, despite moving one place up over the previous year’s ranking, Government has maintained that it has been doing everything possible to stamp the practice out.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon was quick to defend the coalition Government when asked recently about corruption remaining a major issue in Guyana. He said the team responsible for writing these reports, depending on who is writing it, would have a different view based on where they were from.

“But from where we are, the people who are here in this country I am sure, that the majority, if not all, believe we are doing a good job in so far as making this country a better place and a more accountable place for all Guyanese,” Harmon told media operatives on Thursday.

Harmon argued that the report, which was published earlier this year, did not state that Guyana was more corrupt than it was years gone by and, according to him, all of the indicators from that report pointed to Guyana having a better administration than previously. “All of the indices that are there. Secondly, the perception of corruption: we put out the facts to deal with it, but sometimes there is a big gap between perception and reality. And that’s depending on where you stand; your perception becomes a reality,” he opined.

The Minister has reassured the public that the Government was doing its best to make sure that certain processes remained clean from corruption and emphasis continued to be placed on transparency. Whenever corruption is found, Harmon said, Government will take action against it also.

“We have actually done so much in this administration that has moved us up the ladder, that I can say to you that

if there is a perception, it was there before and we are now trying our best to work ourselves out of it. When the previous Administration was in, our ranking was far lower.”

In fact, Harmon claimed that for the first time in years, the coalition Government presented in the National Assembly a half-year report on the state of the economy, which he promised would happen again. The Minister also claimed that the various Commissions of Inquiry being conducted were all meant to ensure that any corruption or any perception of corruption could be corrected.

The Opposition has long been critical of several Government policies, and has stated that corruption and scandals were more than the present Government had accused it – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – of committing.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had lashed out at anti-corruption advocates and civil society bodies over their silence on what he called “blatant corruption and excesses”, exhibited by the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

Jagdeo has repeatedly spoken about the controversial G$605 million drug purchase single sourced from ANSA McAL as well as the infamous ‘pharma-gate’ scandal costing taxpayers G$174 million annually.

Jagdeo has also spoken out against Government agencies making out cheques in large amounts and accounting officers holding billions of dollars in cheques that are then used in any kind of fashion.

Out of 176 nations that were assessed for perception of corruption last year, Guyana came in at the 108th position with a score of 34 out of 100. Guyana shares its spot at 108 with several countries, including Egypt, Algeria.

Neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago is just above Guyana.

Holness to be guest of honour at Jamaica’s 55 grand gala in NY

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amaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness will be the guest of honour at a Grand Independence Gala next month in New York, marking the country's 55th independence anniversary.

The Ministry of Tourism on Monday said the event will take place on August 26 at the Hilton Hotel's Grand Ball Room in midtown Manhattan.

“As celebrations throughout the Jamaican Diaspora begin ramping up in observance of Jamaica's 55th year of independence, the grand finale is set to take place in New York City,” said the ministry, adding that Grammy Award Winner, Estelle, and actor and singer, Leon, will join the Jamaica Independence Foundation and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) under the patronage of Jamaica's Consul General to New York Trudy Deans.

“This year's celebration is historic, as it is the first time two prime ministers will be attending the New York gala,” the statement added.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

“Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness will be this year's guest of honour, while former Prime Minister Edward Phillip George Seaga, will be recognised for his contribution to Jamaica.”

The ministry said JamaicanAmerican retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas, Patrick Ewing, will also be among this year's honorees and will be presented with the Son of the Soil Award.

“With the presence of two prime

ministers, celebrities and distinguished guests in attendance, this New York gala represents the culmination of our celebration in the Diaspora commemorating Jamaica's 55th year of independence,” Deans said.

“Jamaicans are a proud people, and this event will represent our collective euphoria surrounding this momentous occasion.”

The ministry said patrons at the Grand Independence Gala will have an opportunity to participate in a silent auction and bid on a myriad of products, including jewelry, fashion, art and vacations.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Jamaica 55 Legacy Project's Woman, Inc National Shelter Strategy, for persons impacted by domestic violence, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in addition to a local charity, the Garvey Elementary Basic School in the Bronx, New York. (Jamaica Observer)

Yuan usage in Guyana may lead to more investments – Chinese Ambassador

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hile the US dollar is often seen as the standard international currency, the Chinese Yuan Renminbi has been enjoying a rise in popularity with the international community. So much so, that there are discussions about its use in the Caribbean and Guyana.

In a recent interview with Guyana Times International, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Cui Jianchun hailed the move as a proactive one, which would likely lead to more Chinese investors coming to Guyana to invest as it would ease doing business.

Ambassador Jianchun noted that the process for using the Chinese dollar on an international scale had started in 2006. The discussions now being engaged in with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), he said, centred on ways China can play a more meaningful role in development.

“We have signed agreements with several countries,” the diplomat said. “There are three functions of the currency. One is about the foreign exchange reserves.

And the second (benefit) is for investment in other countries. And the third is about a focus on trade.”

“Now, China has done a lot internationally. The CDB had a discussion about how China and the Caribbean countries can work together, with a focus on trade and investment. With regards to Guyana, at present time this (discussion) is done by the trading block,” he told this publication during an interview.

According to the Ambassador, Latin America is a model that anyone can refer to, when it came to the foreign usage of Chinese dollars.

“In Latin America, China has signed agreements with Argentina. That is the central bank would swap the currency.

And also China has signed with Russia, Japan and South Korea, in the Asia and Pacific regions.”

The ambassador added that the Chinese Central Bank pro-

vides “Chinese currency and the other side provide their country’s currency. It is helpful to facilitate trade and investment.”

Explaining the process, Ambassador Jianchun related that it works by one country’s central bank making an agreement with the Chinese Central Bank.

The Chinese Central Bank would then be able to travel to Guyana and use the currency.

“Otherwise you cannot use the Chinese currency,” Jianchun said.

“The first step is that the Chinese Central Bank will talk and negotiate with the central bank of the respective countries.”

“For example, China does not use the US dollar or the pound.

They can use their own currency. It would be very convenient for the business people to invest in Guyana.”

He noted that while the US dollar is seen as the standard international dollar, the use of the Chinese renminbi is on the rise by banks, people and business in general.

This comes against the backdrop of Guyana potentially joining other Caribbean countries that use the Chinese currency Yuan renminbi, within its economy, once consultations have been completed and approval given.

This was revealed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon, during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday.

He related that Finance Minister Winston Jordan re-

cently attended a conference in Barbados, where Caribbean countries gathered to explore the possibility of the Chinese currency being used within the Caribbean.

During the conference it was determined that bilateral ties between countries with a large presence of Chinese nationals and China would be easily facilitated by the use of the Yuan Renminbi.

Speaking at the conference, Caribbean Development Bank President William Warren Smith had said that the Chinese Renminbi may be able to protect the Caribbean region’s access to global finance services.

He noted that this comes at a time when many international financial instructions are withdrawing their services from the region.

The Chinese Renminbi is enjoying a rapid internationalisation of the Renminbi, starting in 2006 with the floating of the exchange rate.”

One of the Region’s leading economists told WIC News that working with China has its benefits but that the Region “must not oversell itself to the powerhouse” and lose any independence.

As an International Monetary reserve currency, the Renminbi is now in the IMF’s special drawing rights basket, which determines currencies that countries can receive as part of IMF loans.

The other currencies in the basket are the US dollar, the Euro, Yen and the British pound.

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13th Annual Moruca Expo a huge success

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin sashing Andera Wilson from the village of Assakata as Miss Moruca 2017.

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he 13th Annual Moruca Exposition attracted more than 600 persons to the Kumaka Recreational Ground on Saturday for a day of traditional

games and activities.

Residents from surrounding communities of Kwebanna, Assakata, Santa Rosa and Mabaruma were among those who flocked

the Expo. They came by river and land to participate in the day’s activities.

The day began with an archery competition that saw both male and female trying to hit a target some 15 meters in the distance. Even Minster within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valerie GarridoLowe took aim at the target, but unfortunately, she was off the mark.

Then, it was off to face the heat of the ‘Hot Pot Competition’. This eating competition pitted persons to finish eating their plate of fish or meat cooked in extra hot pepper.

There was also male and female Fly drinking, crab quake making and crab catching competitions.

Indigenous people are known for their unique craft skills and array

The Female ‘Fly’ Drinking competition

of foods, usually made from cassava and other ground provisions.

Patrons sampled deer and labba pepperpot with some fly drink from booths like the Sunshine Women’ Group, while hand bags and earrings made from coconut shell

and buck bead, and even embroidered hand towels could be purchase at other stalls.

There were also information booths by the likes of the Ministry of Business and the International Organisation on Migration (IOM) and a Blood Bank, to help save lives.

The curtains came down on the Expo that night when Andera Wilson from the village of Assakata copped the crown for Miss Moruca 2017. Wilson outshone six other delegates through four rounds of competition: cultural, swim and evening wear, and a final question segment. The pageant was spliced with different cultural items including entertaining calypso music.

Minister Garrido-

Lowe told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that Moruca Expo has much to offer. “From the time you leave Charity, and you get on the river the scenery along the way is breathtaking and of course the people are very friendly”. She added that the Expo will be one to compete with if there was more structure and more participation from the surrounding communities.

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin, who was also in attendance, said that the activities at the Expo “were fun and entertaining”.

He committed that his Ministry and relevant agencies will work with the region and the organisers to improve the Expo on the business front. (DPI)

Guyana to take...

from page 21

collect the scrap system twice a week or twice a month. But we have to find and put systems in place.”

Adding to the recommendations relayed by the Minister was the Site Supervisor of the Haags Bosch Landfill, Lloyd Stanton, who also underlined that his team was working towards enhancing the operations currently existing at the East Bank Demerara facility.

“Ultimately, we want to restore this site to a sanitary landfill state, where we will have composting, proper waste separation; we’re looking at separation at source, and then we are hoping to get the leaching treatment on board.

The leaching treatment facility is currently in construction,” Stanton posited.

Adding to the incorporation of the composting and leaching system, the site’s management is working towards heightening the ongoing efforts, such as shredding and recycling.

With the implementa-

tion of these eco-friendly measures, the waste density at the Haags Bosch landfill will reduce by 40 per cent, increasing the capacity of the dumpsite, which allows for disposal operations up to twice the number of years initially intended.

As such, the Communities Ministry and the administration of Haags Bosch are calling on citizens to get in line with waste separation within their homes and communities, which will assist in the plans to enhance the disposal systems, taking on a more eco-friendly approach. This simply involves the separation of bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste products, which is set to be disposed of through the employment of different methods.

While an exact timeline was not presented for the commencement of this initiative, works continue at the Haags Bosch Landfill to prepare for “green generation” waste disposal and management system.

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25 new District Education Officers appointed

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wenty-five newly-appointed District Education Officers (DEOs) have been appointed to service the 10 Administrative Regions.

They benefited from a two-day workshop, which ended Tuesday at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston.

The initiation work-

shop was held under the theme “Education Officers – Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Excellence”.

Acting Education Minister Nicolette Henry said the workshop was important to realising the quality changes the sector needs.

She also committed the Government’s support to the DEOs so that they would make a

UNICEF Representative Paolo Marchi, Acting Education Minister Nicolette Henry, Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson, Deputy Chief Education Officer Donna Chapman and the newly appointed District Education Officers at the workshop

difference in their assigned districts.

The Minister urged the DEOs to strive for excellence and to execute their duties with confidence, diligence, and professionalism.

“The Ministry of Education must be known for its culture of excellence. A culture of excellence within the Ministry provides meaning and purpose to work,” Henry said.

However, she pointed out that there has to be changes in the workers’ mindset if this culture was to be created and sustained.

The 25 new DEOs are learning the impor-

tance of the role they will play in strengthening the local education system.

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Huston said the workshop set a foundation for the DEOs. He also reiterated that the DEOs were critical to the process of transforming the landscape of education in Guyana.

“It will reinforce the Ministry’s mission to provide an education system that delivers quality education and training at all levels and particularly to eliminate illiteracy, modernise education

and strengthen tolerance,” the CEO said.

United Nations C h i l d r e n ’ s Fund (UNICEF) Representative Paolo Marchi highlighted the need for officers to get to know and understand the needs of their students, so that they could make decisions that would guide the implementation of effective education strategies.

This is the first time in Guyana’s history that such a large number of DEOs were appointed, all in efforts to strengthen the county’s education sector.

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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‘Uttar Pradesh Folk Troupe’ mesmerises audience at Indian Monument Gardens

The Indian Monument Gardens came alive on Tuesday evening with rich Indian cultural dances put on by the ‘Uttar Pradesh Folk Troupe’ out of India.

The troupe mesmerised the audience with five splendid dance performances.

The following scenes were captured by photographer; Carl Croker.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Give Another Chance Foundation

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'Building blocks for a prosperous life' T

he spirit of giving was always in those who came together to form the Give Another Chance Foundation (GACF).

Since its inception, it has assist communities in finding long-term solutions to poverty through innovative education and livelihood projects.

GACF started with annual donations to the island of Wakenaam.

For approximately eight years, these contributions continued in Wakenaam and across Guyana, after which it was decided that it was time to expand and bring joy to more persons, particularly children across Guyana.

Hence, in 2015,

Some of the NGSA students in Wakenaam who received gifts from GACF

committed to providing basic education from pre-school to university, and healthcare to underprivileged children

Clothing donated by the Foundation

it was decided that Give Another Chance Foundation would be established so as to invite more individuals to share in this venture of bettering the lives of those in need. GACF is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation registered locally.

The Foundation is

in rural and urban communities. Its members believe whether you are addressing healthcare, poverty, population control, unemployment or human rights, there is no better place to start, than in the corridors of education.

Empowering individuals to earn a livelihood,

the Foundation’s goal is to increase one's awareness on a range of issues – from healthcare to appropriate social behaviour to understanding one's rights, and in the process help individuals evolve as better citizens.

Additionally, the Foundation creates a social movement that improves children’s lives through the provision of effective health, education and nutritional programmes; assists in the transformation in the quality of education and learning outcomes in efforts to encourage children and youth to realise their own personal achievement in every field; provides leadership and life skills training to ensure advancement in their futures do occur; promotes cohesion and social responsibility through which the opportunities provided to them would be used to affect the lives of others positively; promotes respect and observance of human rights along with the empowerment of all individuals who have ex-

perienced and survived inhumanity; works in collaboration with any organisation or agency that hopes to achieve the same objectives.

A few of the organisation’s activities include its annual Christmas tree light-up and gift giving on the island of Wakenaam; annual NGSA Graduation in Wakenaam (to all the students who would have written the exam) and Georgetown (to selected children from

under-privileged areas) - the gifts given at these ceremonies include bicycles, laptop computers, books, and much more; annual back-to-school backpacks sharing (different areas are chosen yearly); tertiary education scholarship to the best gradating secondary school student from the Essequibo islands (Wakenaam); furnishing the Arthurville Primary School in Wakenaam with a functioning library and free lessons

to NGSA students; annual distribution of toys, garment materials and sewing equipment, basic tools (cutlasses, axes, etc) to residents in Baramita, North West District.

To successfully execute its mission/objectives, GACF currently has a 15-member executive body.

Also, in the various areas the Foundation chooses to work, volunteers are readily available to assist in carrying out the duties that need to be achieved.

Give Another Chance Foundation has accepted the responsibility to provide those in need with the building blocks to create a prosperous life. Its main aim is to provide communities with the necessary resources to ensure that every individual is given the chance to evolve into a better citizen.

Visit Give Another Chance Foundation on Facebook to learn more about its empowering work. (Information provided by GACF)

GACF back-to-school drive provides essential supplies for underprivileged students

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Need for more focus on STEM

By Jainarine Deonauth

Screenshot of what sites.gy looks like by

Venessa Low A Chee

B

Sites.gy CEO, Miguel Gurchuran

orn from an interest to find an easier way to build and update websites, local entrepreneur Miguel Gurchuran was inspired to create a free, state-of-theart responsive and user friendly website builder.

Sites.gy is a simple, no coding needed, visually stimulating and engaging alternative to costly websites. It offers e-commerce stores and blogging options with stock images and animation effects; that allow the builder to display products and services to potential customers in just a few

clicks.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Miguel stated that he has been involved in the IT community for over 22 years, but never liked building websites as it was “too complicated to design, slice and code”.

Six months ago, when his wife told him to update their businesses’ websites (five in total), Miguel thought to himself there has to be a simpler way than just buying a template and hosting.

“I found out that a new way was to use web builders. I was so happy I was able to do my

all my websites in one week using a builder. So I leveraged the technology for what I thought Guyana needs and decided to teach the business community how to build websites for themselves. We worked with a very professional team and sites.gy was created,” he recalled.

Now, Miguel aims to give local businesses global exposure and create entrepreneurship opportunities for Guyanese youths.

As a network administrator for 17 years, Miguel brings a wealth of knowledge and experience behind sites. gy. Also the owner of EMTEC, a print, marketing and automated for business solutions provider, and Java Coffee Bar, he is the epitome of entrepreneurship and wants to create similar opportunities for everyone.

Explaining how sites.gy works, Miguel said that any content added will automatically adjust itself to any device, such as laptops, tablets, mobile phones and even Google glass and smart-watches.

Additionally, the website builder creates income opportunities for anyone with a computer, internet and basic design skills. Its “drag and drop” feature is impressive and easy to learn.

What’s so amazing about sites.gy is that it is free to build with unlimited hosting and unlimited bandwidth.

Premium accounts are

available at a cost, where domain registration, payment processing and live tech support are added to each website created.

Sites.gy was launched about three weeks ago and it already has over 220 signups from all over the world. From an art gallery in Germany to a music artist in Colombia, businesses and entrepreneurs are utilising the free website’s offerings.

Miguel disclosed that the number of signups is increasing every day and they have no yet begun to market their Sites Certified Web Designers, specialists who we are still training.

He added that a workshop will soon be held to train over 150 Guyanese business men and women to equip them with an online presence.

“I want to give ‘webtrepreneurs’ the ability to launch a business in their spare time and work for the entire world. I want to also give businesses the chance to sell their goods and services not only locally, but to anyone and anywhere online. We are not just a web builder; we are educators and an e-commerce solution. Hence, we will be launching an App Builder within the next few months,” the IT professional mentioned.

For more information, visit sites.gy on Facebook.

The recent success of the STEM Guyana team at the just concluded 2017 Global Challenge in Washington, DC, is yet another example of what our young people could achieve once they are provided with the necessary opportunities.

After three days of fierce competition, the team was able to cop the 10th position out of a total of 165 countries overall, even topping the points board on day one of the competition. It should be mentioned too that technology heavyweights such as Russia, China and the United States were also part of the completion.

The way the Guyana team performed has shown what can be done considering the fact the team only had a few months to prepare for the Robotics competition.

The team was able to band together and more importantly represent their country well at such a highlevel competition.

The success of the team is a perfect example of Guyanese ingenuity and creativity. It shows that inspite of the many challenges at home and the negative perceptions persons usually have of Guyanese, our young people can still rise to the challenge and be counted among some of the leaders in the various fields. For Guyana to compete for the very first time against 165 countries that have much experience in the field and come out in 10th place is a tremendous achievement and will serve as a motivation to others who have an interest in the so-called STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Certainly, the investments made over the years in improving performances in STEM subjects are beginning to show results. As stated by First Lady Sandra Granger, the success of the team is a testimony of what investments, particularly

by Government and the Private Sector in STEM education can yield for young Guyanese.

The importance of focusing on STEM education could never be overemphasised due to their importance to national development.

Our leaders, from both the past and current Administrations have recognised the need to create more opportunities for our young people to further their studies in STEM subjects.

Over the past few months, President David Granger has been

actively promoting STEM education and encouraging students and teachers to pay more attention to the four STEM subjects. He had said this is an important aspect of Government policy as it is the future of Guyana. The President’s National Endowment for Science and Technology (NEST) programme, which provides funding to schools for investment in STEM is a laudable initiative.

There should be other similar programmes; some of which could be Private Sector-driven, geared towards improving performances of students in various areas.

Every student who has a desire to further their studies in STEM subjects should be afforded the opportunity to do so. We feel that once the necessary facilities are provided, such as laboratories, etc, more young people will be drawn to these areas of study.

Additionally, more students should be encouraged to focus on STEM subjects to advance their chances in the job market. This is necessary as it will help them to become innovative. It will also help them to be equipped with the necessary skills to contribute to national development.

Some persons see STEM as “hard subjects”. When one looks at the number of students graduating from the university, it is evident that more students are gravitating to the social sciences. However, if this trend continues, we would continue to see graduates coming out of the university for whom the job market would be severely limited.

While there is need for qualified persons in the arts and humanities and other fields, there is also a need for experts in science and technology; hence, more attention should be provided to encourage children who are gifted in science and technology to explore their passion.

In essence, considering the national needs of the country, STEM is seen sustainable. If students undertake STEM subjects, they can be assured of job opportunities, not only here in Guyana, but in many other countries.

The excellent performance of the STEM Guyana team should be celebrated by all Guyanese.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

E

xtract of an interview with Dorothy Irwin, Georgetown, Guyana, March 2017. Ms Irwin compiled and edited the book “Years of High Hopes: A portrait of British Guiana, 1952-1956” from family letters, mostly written by her mother.

PP: Guyana is a relatively young nation, but its history is tied to the history of other countries, countries which at one time or the other had a say in its affairs. Our literary history is also tied to the literary history of other countries. The history of Guyana and the history of its literature are unfolding as we would witness when new information comes to light. An apt example is this new book, “Years of High Hopes: A portrait of British Guiana, 1952-1956”. I like what you said earlier about the production of this book, which is your way of giving back to Guyana a slice of its heritage. This is a huge ‘slice’ – over 700 pages.

Where did it all start?

DI: I think is started with my trip here in 1994 with my dad, who had taught at Queen’s [Queen’s College] during the period covered in the book. In 1994, Queen’s had its septuacentennial and the past masters were invited back. My father invited me and I said to myself that I may never know my birthplace if I didn’t go with him. I wouldn’t know what to look for. So we came together and it was extraordinary being here, but was a confusing trip for me as I was trying to get my bearings.

PP: Mainly because you left Guyana at the tender age of…

DI: Five months.

Concerning the trip, I think we were here for about ten days, but it was enough to whet my appetite. My mother died in 2001 and I inherited the letters she had sent to her parents; they were in a box and all numbered in order. They were clearly considered valuable for who knows what because no one ever thought of throwing them out. And one winter, in my apartment in Brooklyn, unable to go out be-

By Odeen Ishmael

O

nce upon a time, there was a little village on the Potaro River, just above the huge waterfall now known as Kaieteur. In that same region was a large stretch of grassland where several animals like deer and anteaters lived. Near the village too, the people cultivated farms of cassava, sweet potatoes, corn and green vegetables.

During that period, an old man named Kaie lived in the village. As a young man, Kaie was a hard worker, a clever hunter, and a skilled fisherman.

Even though farming was not his favourite, yet he produced good crops of cassava and corn.

Meanwhile, as Kaie grew considerably old, and, like so many old men who worked hard in their youth, he became senile and talked to himself as he walked idly around the village.

No one was eager to chat with him any longer, because, by that time, they failed to understand the words he uttered. In addition, he had some huge, unpleasant sores on his feet that seemed to be

there forever. To make matters even worse, Kaie became a nuisance. Any time of the day or night, he would enter the home of a villager without invitation and would not leave unless he was asked.

Because of this, people constantly complained to each other about his unbearable behaviour.

“Old Kaie’s disgusting,” one man said.

“Yesterday, some people from another village came to visit my family. Of all days, Old Kaie chose that day to walk into my home! He sat on the floor, muttering to himself, and, with those sores on his feet, you can understand how embarrassed I felt.”

“I know how you feel,” another man replied. “All of us are suffering from the man’s disgusting behaviour.”

As time passed, old Kaie became a worse nuisance than before. “Why do we have to work to provide food for him?” a young man asked. “Have you ever seen him when he eats with us? He devours more than three of us!”

After they could stand his behaviour no longer, the villagers summoned

cause of the snow, I sat down and took quite some time to take each letter out from its envelope and read it. It was a funny thing to read what your parents were like before you knew them; personally it was a strange and interesting adventure.

My sister was five months old when they moved down here; I found that’s a captivating thing but that’s family story. However, when I was rereading the letters I thought this was not just a family story; they had such a sense of what was going on here - different people who appeared and then they were gone for a while and then they came back… Some of them were trades people who showed up at the house to polish the floor or to work in the kitchen. My sister’s nanny was a marvellous character in the letters; I don’t even know her last name. The relationship my parents had with various Guyanese I found compelling.

And when they observe things during the years they were living on Parade Street, there were so much to see - the Coronation Ceremony, the Princess Royal’s visit - and they could see all of this from their windows. Sometime neighbours and colleagues from Queens would come to get the view – it was wonderful, all of it in the letters. Then there were the interacting of all those people – there was so much life in those letters.

So I thought it was wrong of me to be the only one to know of this – the people who wrote them were not around, the people who received them were not around, it was just me reading them and that’s no good; they really belong here. And I would not have come to that conclusion if it weren’t for them who covered significant years of Guyana’s history – ‘52 to ‘56, pushing towards its independence. And I said this has to be published; I had to make this happen. Well, it is fun to have the conviction; it’s difficult to make it happen.

PP: What factors assisted in seeing it to fruition?

DI: I just felt intuitively that it was important to

an urgent meeting to discuss Kaie’s attitude. At the meeting, everyone concluded the old man was the worst problem the village ever experienced.

A general discussion ensued over the methods to be used. Some villagers suggested that they should send Kaie away by force, but others strongly

The alleged ‘face’ of Kaie at Kaieteur Falls (Photo by inyathi on Flickr)

“How can we stop him from being such a nuisance?” a young man asked.

disagreed.

“If we do that,” they said, “he’ll go to another village and pester the peo-

do. I didn’t have the support of friends who felt it was confusing, thinking I was writing a novel. My dad was supportive of the idea and that helped me along.

He read the transcript and so did his second wife – that was good for me to get their response.

PP: Any particular goal or goals in mind preparing the manuscript?

DI: I had two goals in mind: the first was to get it in the hands of Guyanese, and the second was to try to capture the interest of Americans.

PP: Are there some things in this story that Americans can relate to?

DI: Well, that was part of the chore: figuring out how to get them to connect…

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

ple there.”

After several other discussions, they finally decided to set Kaie adrift in a canoe on the Potaro River.

“He’ll go over the waterfall,” they reasoned.

“That will be the end of the problem.”

Early the next morning when all plans were in place, the villagers placed Kaie in a canoe with his pegall, a type of basket, containing everything he owned.

Two young men then pushed the little canoe alongside the speeding current of the river as the other villagers stood by the river-bank and watched. The canoe quickly picked up speed and the raging current pulled it toward the waterfall.

By this time, Kaie realised his fate. “Save me!

Save me!” he screamed frightfully. “I promise to be good!”

By then it was too late.

The canoe sped along the river, and the villagers stood and watched in silence from the bank.

Nearer and nearer the canoe drifted toward the waterfall. Old Kaie’s screams filled the air, but they were soon drowned out by

the roaring water. Then, gracefully, the canoe tumbled over the mighty waterfall and disappeared.

Undoubtedly, Kaie must have died, but surprisingly his body was never found even though the men searched thoroughly by the foot of the waterfall to be certain that he died. But a short distance downstream, they discovered a narrow, rocky island shaped like an upturned canoe. And curiously, on the river bank, at the foot of the waterfall, was a rock shaped like Kaie’s pegall.

“Maybe we did something wrong,” one of the searchers said. “His canoe and pegall turned into rocks to remind us every day of the wrong we committed.”

Ever since, in repentance, the people of the village named the waterfall Kaieteur, the waterfall of Kaie, to honour the old man.

Even today, the rock formations of an upturned canoe and a pegall can still be seen near the foot of the Kaieteur Falls.

(From: “Guyana Legends – Folktales of the Indigenous Amerindians” by Odeen Ishmael (Published 2012).

With permission)

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he Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) Guyana, which translates to Hindus for Selfless Service, is a nonprofit and non-government organisation that

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Youths being empowered

has been empowering youths for over two decades.

One way HSS seeks to empower youths is through its camps. Since 1996, the same year the organisation was found-

ed, HSS has been conducting camps all across Guyana. One of the camps conducted, Hindu Heritage Camp, is held every three months at various locations in Guyana. The last camp

was held in April 2017 at Hague Hindu Temple, which saw about 65 participants coming from the surrounding villages and from as far as Tuschen.

Seeing the success of Teamwork is one of the many principles taught at the camp

Ramayan being taught by an HSS member

the camp, the HSS team of about 15 volunteers between the ages of 1335 years was inspired to plan a camp in Tuschen.

Along with the youthful team of the Tuschen South Hindu Temple, HSS volunteers planned, managed and successfully executed the camp.

Each of HSS camp has its overall focus and its specific focus. Overall focus is placed on Hindu heritage and efforts to preserve it. Each camp focuses on a specific form of Bhagwan (God).

Previous camps focused on Shri Hanuman and Bhagwan Shiva.

The most recent camp, which was held from July 14 to 16, focused on female empowerment and the need for respect, while ensuring females were encouraged to be independent, strong, resilient and

powerful leaders in our society.

With 72 participants, ages 6 to 65, the camp’s programmes included a mixture of physical and “intellectual” activities.

The programmes were structured in a way that ensured participants had fun while learning about their heritage and importance of teamwork.

They were also treated to delicious meals prepared by the HSS and Tuschen Mandir volunteers. Activities were conducted by male and female instructors for the respective groups.

The physical activities focused on Yoga/ Surya Namaskar, martial arts and traditional games. Other aspects of the camp featured a ‘geet’ (song) that focused on Hindu heritage and a call for awakening and the Mahishasura Mardini Stotra, which glorifies God in its feminine form (Devi/Shakti).

Ramayan singing with the focus on Sita Devi (again in keeping with the focus on the female forms of Bhagwan (God), was done. There was also a session of Hindu Jeopardy, brain teasers, treasure hunt, and friendly competitions.

These were conducted by the volunteers of HSS. Additionally, there were three ‘baudhiks’ (lectures) delivered by local prominent individuals.

These lectures, which were well-received, focused on maintaining heritage and the need for females to be empowered and respected in society.

The camp’s programme concluded with a simple ‘samarop’ (closing ceremony) with rakhis being tied to all those present. This signified how we are all connected and gave evidence of the Hindu concept “Vasudaiva Kutumbakam” - the whole world is one family. Participants were taught how to use the knowledge/lessons gained from the camp for personal character development and how the training could assist in their groups and organisations they are connected to.

HSS continues to work in collaborating with all groups who are interested in having these activities in their communities. For more information, contact Pream Narine Rambharakh, HSS general secretary (male group), on 592-660-6001 or Priya Doobay, HSS general secretary (female group) on 592-6424347 or email hss4allguyana@gmail.com HSS members believe that the changes they want to see in our world and society have to start with them. Notably, they believe that service to fellow humans, and society, comes before their personal needs and wants. These are the organisation’s core values, which have also been the pillars for the organisation and its growth in Guyana and its branches around the world - also in India.

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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…on the left? he Roopnaraine saga’s acting like a Rorschach test to some in the political arena. For the PNC – the main player in APNU – it has revealed that while snakes may shed their skins (and names) the new one is in every respect, identical to the first. How could it be otherwise? The DNA blueprint for forming the new skin had always remained the same!!

The PNC has always hated the WPA’s guts. Don’t forget that Burnham called the WPA of Walter Rodney – not the PPP, the “worst possible alternative”. And it wasn’t just the fact that Rodney had undermined Burnham’s credentials with African radicals both here and in Africa – no it was also personal. Unlike Jagan, who always insisted on formal political labels for insulting Burnham – “racist”, “Menshevik”, “deviationist” etc – Rodney used street language to destroy the myth Burnham had cultivated.

Rodney called Burnham “Fat Boy” and the ordinary folks chuckled at the “false name”! For the middle class, Rodney dubbed the dictator “Man with the Midas Touch” – save that unlike the Greek King, everything Burnham touched, turned to “ka-ka”!! This jibe struck so close to home, it probably sealed Rodney’s fate.

Burnham’s acolytes have never forgotten this.

So, while Rodney’s successors made common cause with the PNC to form APNU for the sake of their common constituency, the Burnhamites were biding their time and that’s what the Roopnaraine saga gave them the opportunity to do. And it’s now clear Roopnaraine’s been a most willing tool. Since he was the number two leader back in 1992 – when the WPA rejected Jagan’s unilateral offer to Thomas to be their PM – he knew perfectly what he was doing when he accepted Prezzie’s unilateral offer for him to be Education Minister.

So with him reneging on the WPA-insisted “resignation”, he’s demonstrated to all and sundry the WPA’s just a toothless poodle of the PNC – for show!

But quite interestingly, Hydar Ally of the PPP has come out of the woodwork to suggest the WPA should now make common cause with the PPP – since they have always been close!!!

Really?? In which cave has Ally been living since after 1985? Apart from the Thomas’ sequestration, even before, wasn’t it the WPA that torpedoed the five-party PPP-led Patriotic Coalition for Democracy from fielding a common slate against the PNC? Hadn’t they set the stage for race-based charges against the post-1992 PPP regime by insisting Jagan would precipitate a rebellion by the Army and Police?

Could Hydar Ally point to one single event or circumstance since then to show what the WPA has in “common” with the PPP??

What tripe! …against “the man” Talking about Rodney, wasn’t it wonderful how Prezzie was “grounding with Rasta brothers”?? How things have changed!! When Rodney was at Mona in Jamaica, he was banned for his groundings – but here you have a President educating the brethren and sisteren about how to get reparations for the damage done by “the man” when they snatched I and I from Mother Africa.

Your Eyewitness, however, feels that while things have changed from the days when shearer was PM of Jamaica – we still have a long way to go. Our leaders still haven’t freed their minds from mental slavery.

Most of the leaders in Caricom aren’t even willing to talk the talk, much less walk the walk. If our local DJ’s – who haven’t been to Jamaica or enrolled in UG “Creole” programme – can speak “real Jamaican” why can’t our leaders?

Will the European nations ever take us seriously when we show up looking like cheap imitations of whatever they decide is “proper”??

When will they start wearing dreadlocks? …on electricity theft Nearly 1/3 of GPL’s electricity is stolen. They know who steals the most. But all they did was wring their hands. Now they’ve promised ACTION! They’re unleashing a programme “to raise awareness about electricity theft”!!!

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Despite early budgets, rate of Govt spending remains woefully short – Edghill

Former Minister within the Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill

D

espite the C o a l i t i o n Government’s continuous presentation of early budgets, the rate of Government spending remains woefully short, so much so that Finance Minister Winston Jordan has admitted that Government is more than 30 per cent behind in its Public Sector investment.

The Minister made this admission during the opening of the Finance Ministry’s Budget 2018 preparation and sensitisation training workshop on Monday. According to the Minister, at the end of June 2017, less than 30 per cent of the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) had been expended.

Jordan cautioned the responsible officials against repeating the dismal performance.

But according to former Minister within the Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill, the Finance Minister is ultimately responsible, while direct blame can be attributed to heads of the respective budget agencies who requested funds.

“The Minister of Finance is the first person that would have to take responsibility,” Edghill stated. “And then the head of budget agencies, because these budget agencies went to the Ministry of Finance and Director of Budget and requested specific funds based on what the programme budget is. Is it that these [Regional Executive Officers] REOs (and) Permanent Secretaries requested money that they can’t spend? Or they were just plucking things from out of the sky, they had no real programme or strategic layout for what they want to achieve and by what time? Or they’re just careless.”

Describing the worrying situation as an embarrassment on the Administration’s part, the former Minister noted that the central point of an early budget was to ensure enough time to complete spending

schedules.

Months after it entered office, the coalition Government had presented its first budget in August 2015. A second budget soon followed in January 2016, for the fiscal year 2016.

And a third budget was presented in November 2016, before the start of this fiscal year. And Government plans to unveil its fourth budget, for fiscal year 2018, in November of this year.

“I think it is more than serious, it is embarrassing,” Edghill said.

“Let’s go back to why we have early budgets. The Minister of Finance told the nation that they had early budgets (for) a better implementation plan to roll out.”

Edghill pointed out that the previous Government, despite usually presenting budgets in periods ranging from March to June, still had a higher, faster rate of implementation when in office than the coalition Government.

“He’s having a budget that can be implemented from January 1 in the new year and at almost the end of seven months, he is only 30 per cent of his implementation, which shows that they have very serious issues.

“Is it administrative fumbling? Is it lack of understanding or clear policy direction as it relates to what needs to be done to see the PSIP in place?

Or is it a case where projects are plucked out of the sky and they are not intertwined in a coherent manner to achieve a particular objective.”

He noted that the struggling rate of the PSIP implementation was symptomatic of what was occurring in the economy, based on the fact that a significant amount of Government’s capital works spending provided contractors with contracts and the unemployed with employment.

“It has an effect on employment; it has an effect on other services that are tied to construction. What happens in villages (is that) if people are not employed is that the market suffers, the stores suffer. So, it has very disastrous effects on the economy.”

No lame excuse

Indeed Jordan, in his address to heads of the budget agencies during the workshop, had stated that there could be “no lame excuse” as the 2017 Budget was presented to Parliament back in November of 2016, a signal accomplishment of the Administration.

Jordan, however, seemed at a loss to pin down why budget agencies would underperform to such an extent.

“Where is the benefit from the early budget presentation when, for example, we still have budget agencies in June, figuring out specifications of items to be purchased?” the Minister queried.

“We have awarded only 53 per cent of the PSIP and expended a mere 28 per cent on maintenance of infrastructure within the recurrent budget.

“What lessons can we learn from this underachieving performance?

For one, it is that goals can be ambitious, but not realistic. Grand hot air balloon ideas, not based on robust evidence, will

Construction is one of the most lucrative Government-contracted sectors, and it supplies employment to numerous youths

never get off the ground, neither will they get anywhere,” he had continued.

But this backlog comes against the backdrop of deficiencies in services provided by regional officials. A potent

case is the countrywide drug shortages that necessitated Government moving to sole source over G$600 million worth of drugs.

A continuously slow rate of Government spending, owing to poor

planning from budget agencies and execution from the relevant departments, is also a contributing factor to slow overall economic growth.

It is a fact that even the Finance Minister has acknowledged.

40 travel & tourism

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Stairs to a heavenly retreat

External view of one of the bedrooms

T by

Venessa Low A Chee

he Pakaraima Mountain Inn is a humble bed and breakfast establishment located in the North Rupununi, just outside of the Yakarinta Village in the Aranaputa Valley.

The Inn offers accommodation in forms of hammocks, double rooms

having a place in the Rupununi. My mom, since she is from the village of Yakarinta, had been looking at that spot [where the Inn is now located] since she was a little girl. They [parents] started building a little more than 12 years ago, the main building which

Road to the Inn

or even self-contained rooms in a relaxing environment, along with meals.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Sebastian de Freitas (son of the Inn’s owners) said that the Inn was not intended to be such until recently.

“Charles and Veronica (my parents) had a dream of

is the front house. While building the front house in the savannah, my father had noticed terraces on the mountain side.

This seemed to be ideal to put a house there because of the gentle slope and the amazing view.

“So while the lower house was being built, and as time went by, the plans for the mouncontinued on page 47

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Coalitions in Guyana

By Ravi Dev

W

ith some cracks appearing in the coalition that constitutes APNU, even after the one between APNU/AFC were papered over, the merits and demerits of coalitions in Guyanese politics have risen to the fore. The attitudes of the leaders are critical in the formation of coalitions: if they are concerned with only winning elections for personal gains and power, then the risks they will be prepared to take for real change that will redound to the benefit of Guyana, will be minimal.

In modern Guyanese political history, the coalition that has defined the device, apparently for all times, was that made by the PNC and the UF in December 1964, which removed the PPP from office.

They were strange bedfellows, driven by one consideration – to form a government that would keep out the PPP and this arrangement of expediency demonstrates the pitfalls of what has been labelled, the “coalition of convenience”. We are presently dealing with two such coalitions – APNU and APNU/AFC. Coalitions of this type are very unstable and few survive their term of government for several reasons. Firstly, their focus is totally electoral – adding up seats – while ignoring the cleavages and forces that made them form separate parties and run on separate platforms, in the first place. These differences inevitably surface later when policies and programmes are formulated and implemented, or more usually when spoils are divvied up.

Secondly, there is the disproportion of size. The larger party sees itself as the senior member to which the smaller should defer; while the latter considers itself as an equal due to its strategic position in “tipping the balance”. This is the dynamic pushing the fissures within the APNU and the APNU/AFC coalitions. Thirdly, since the capture of power

was their prime motivator, they constantly manoeuvre to monopolise the same, using bribery, defections, etc, many believe that several high-ranking members of the AFC have already been seduced by the PNC – as evidently has Rupert Roopnaraine of the WPA. Coalitions of convenience are to be avoided, since the cynicism that attends their birth ensures them an early, acrimonious death. The coalition between the PNC and the UF broke down within two years of its formation as Burnham enticed members of the UF (as well as the PPP) to cross the floor to create a moot situation when by 1967, with the PNC showing clearly that it was going to rig the next election and rid itself of its erstwhile partner, Peter D’Aguiar; the UF leader left the coalition but could not bring down the Government.

It appears with the PNC holding all the cards right now in the present coalition; history will repeat itself in 2020. The WPA has nowhere to go and the AFC leadership know their leadership and base have both been degutted – the first by the PNC and the second by their own unwillingness to stick to their guns and insist on the Cummingsburg Accord be honoured. For stable coalitions, in addition to the structural prerequisites, there must be a high level of trust, arising from an intimacy of relations between the leaders.

While this might be high within the APNU coalition of the PNC and the five micro parties, that of the APNU/ AFC coalition is much more tenuous. A more fundamental ground of instability of coalition building in the southern British Caribbean, however, is also in play: each party to the coalition must also be seen as legitimate aspirants to national power. The descendants of freed Africans define the Caribbean as an “African” nation and the descendants of Indian indentureds are not seen as totally legitimate contenders for national power. This is not to say that non-Africans may not be voted in as leaders (such as Seaga in Jamaica

or Price in Belize) but they cannot be leaders of groups that effectively challenge African-dominated parties for power. During the throes of the PCD collapse in Guyana, one initiative led by prominent civic leaders objected to Dr Jagan as leader, specifically on the ground that an “Indian” was not acceptable. This was also the situation during the NAR government in T&T in the 1980’s.

Not much has changed for Indianbased parties – in or out of office.

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42 feature

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A by

Venessa Low A Chee

rtist Compton Babb’s “An Orphan’s Dream” recently won the Guyana Visual Arts and Craft Exhibition and Awards in the Drawing category for 2017. Via his award-winning drawing, the artist intends to create awareness about the needs of underprivileged youths.

Born in Georgetown on Oct. 25, 1981, Compton is the elder son of a sign artist, Compton Desmond Babb Sr., and his wife, Yvonne Jennifer Babb. Compton Sr., who is described as a “hardworking man”, raised his sons in a disciplined household. It was from this humble beginning that Compton Jr. learned lessons of punctuality and determination.

Compton displayed a remarkable talent for drawing at a very young age. By the time he was 16 years old, his portrait drawings and skill level had surpassed his father's. It was his dream to advance in the arts and allow his raw talent to mature. His decision to pursue art, one

Explaining his winning artwork to his son

Artist Compton Babb

he never regretted, allowed him to develop into a highly skilled and seasoned artist.

He then decided to attend Burrowes School of Art, which was where he realised his love for the arts. Compton worked with some of the best art tutors. At Burrowes he absorbed an acute attention for

details and technicalities, subsequently refining his own visual and conceptual style, which has emerged through his work.

The artist embraces various art forms and contemporary styles.

His work has been displayed in public and private art collections across Guyana.

Often thought of as a pensive person, Compton can be fondly described as an “affable, contended, calm and cool young man”. He enjoys the simple things in life and cherishes friendships and family.

“My drawings aren't just pencil on paper, but emotions and life,” Compton said in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Throughout his years, Compton has created a variety of art pieces for Guyana’s Venezuelan ambassador, the Ambassador of the United Nations, and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. He was also invited to display his work at the Burrowes School of Art 30th anniversary in 2005; at Carifesta IX in Trinidad in 2006; Carifesta X in Guyana in 2008, and shared the winning award for the 50th Independence Day logo (2015).

Explaining the message of “An Orphan’s Dream”, Compton said: “Most orphans would say that they want more than anything else to be

rich and rise up in the world. So at least they could get away from being an orphan, but to one young orphan boy it is different. Going through childhood without his parents has allowed him to conceive a dream so expansive and thrilling that has taken over his heart and soul.

“The young lad longs to be like his hero, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, a famous Guyanese cricketer. He looks on intently at each stroke of the bat, each catch of the ball, and the sheer joy and pride animated on the face of his hero. He tells himself that one day he too will stand before large crowds. He too will raise his bat in significance of hard work, glory, honour, satisfaction and love for the game that has stolen his heart and flooded his dreams since the first time he saw it on television. To a young orphan boy, dreams of cricket are his only escape to place filled with only bliss, admiration and freedom. Every orphan needs hope and a bright future, but unfor-

tunately that's not the case most times. I wanted to show and bring to life a heart and need of an orphan in this piece and to create awareness that they (orphans) still exist and their dreams can be met.”

In response to the winning artwork, Maureen MarksMendonca expressed: “… I got the opportunity to see many of the visual arts competition entries at the Castellani House exhibition, and while there were some really spectacular pieces… it was Compton Babb’s ‘An Orphan’s Dream’ that transfixed me… I glanced across the room in Castellani and it was the eyes that caught me - the longing in them, as he gazes at the poster of his cricket idol. Then I saw all the details - the kind that make you ‘fall into’ a drawing - and I was completely captivated. There's so much magic in this work of art.

A well-deserved win.”

For more info on the artist, email cbabbjnr@gmail.com or go to Compton Babb - Portrait Artist on Facebook.

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Although not operational, Astor cinema building still stands on Waterloo St, Georgetown

By Rishi Singh

M

any of us who grew up in the heyday of the cinema will still remember the exhilaration of simply walking to it, the sense of expectation as we queued up to buy tickets, sitting in the ‘pit’ and enjoying management’s choice of music, then the sudden hush when the lights went out and the curtains opened.

VCRs, DVDs and other advanced technological devices have brought the cinema industry in Guyana to an end, but in our memories our cinemas will always live on, along with the colourful names of some of the projectionists [a person who operates a movie projector], such as “Bun Sugar”, “Tan-Tone” and “Bruk-Up”.

Below is a list of cinemas of old and brief information on them:

Berbice Cinemas

Apollo (Rose Hall): Owned by Messrs Morris & Percy Choong.

Cosmopolitan (Rose Hall near to Doc Higgins workshop and Kathy’s Bar): Owned by Mr Woo Sam, aka Loy; closed in the 1950s, but was later used by Brother Dass Church in the 1960s.

Faaz Strand (New Amsterdam): Built in the 1960s, it was owned by Mr Fazal.

Gaiety Main St & Theatre Alley (New Amsterdam): Owned

by Mr Ho A Yun, who was also the owner of Globe. Gaiety Main St & Theatre Alley was later sold to Mr Somal Rampersaud.

Globe (New Amsterdam): Owned by Mr Ho A Yun, but was burned down.

Rivoli was originally called “Khrishna Mahal” after the son of owner Sugrim Persaud, a businessman from East Coast Demerara, Sheet Anchor, on the right side approaching Canje Swing Bridge. The cinema was demolished in the 1950s. A concrete foundation remained there for a while and was used by loiterers to gamble and drink illegal spirits. Syd Latchana, who was a Customs Officer, would sometimes conduct raids.

Lotus (Whim): Owned

by Cyril Patraj Singh.

The cinema was formerly known as “Chanmahal”.

Maya (Skeldon): Owned by Mr Vernon Bhairam.

Metro (Skeldon): Owned by Maurice Choong.

Mohani (No. 64 Village): Owned by Mr Jag Budhram.

Novelty (Skeldon): Owned by Mr Narine Dutt.

Odeon ( B u s h Lot, Corentyne): Owned

by Poonai, aka “Guts”, who was married to Bheer Jhappan’s daughter. Bheer’s brother was Dhan Jhappan (High

Did You Know?

First ‘talking picture’ in British Guiana was “Jazz Singer” in 1927.

Locally, there were more than 50 cinemas in the 1960s.

The operator at Starlite Drive-In once flashed a message on the projector screen that a man had called to say he was coming to look for his wife. After ten minutes, half the cars drove out.

Court Judge).

Then there was the Olympic cinema in New Amsterdam.

Radio City (Skeldon): Owned by Mr Percy Choong; projectionist “Nanah” from No.67 Village. Audience could not tell when Nanah cut 15 minutes off a film.

Raj Mahal (Canje) and Roopmahal (Port Mourant) were owned by Mr Dennis Boodram.

There was Star cinema in Scottsburg, Corentyne, and Strand in New Amsterdam.

Yollanda (Albion Front, formerly Whitehall) was owned

by Mr Francis, who also owned a liquor shop in Albion. The cinema was later sold to Mr Dose of Guava Bush and then to Mr Ng Q Sang (Chun Chun). Projectionist was called “Tan-Tone”.

Other Local Cinemas

Astor (Church & Waterloo Sts) opened circa 1940 by the Correias.

In 1978, the movie “Saturday Night Fever” ran for three months.

The cinema is now defunct.

There was also Atlantis in Suddie, Essequibo; Atma in D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice; and Avon in Good Fortuin.

Crescent, the first cinema in Mackenzie (Linden), opened in 1951.

Deluxe in Diamond (East Bank Demerara) opened in 1952.

Duchess (Pln. Uitvlugt Pasture) was owned by Mr Sookraj, but was burned down during the riots of 1962.

Sadly, it was never rebuilt.

Not much is known about the Earlo cinema.

Empire (Middle St, formerly Metro) first movie was “Prisoner of Zenda”; it is now a retail mall.

The defunct Strand cinema in New Amsterdam (Photo by KennardP on flickr)

Gaiety (Camp St & Brickdam near Roman Catholic Presbytery) was British Guiana’s first cinema.

It showed silent movies (a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue). It was burned down in 1926.

There was Gem in Enmore.

Opened in 1952, Globe’s first film was “David and Bathsheba”.

It also showed the first cinemascope and stereophonic sound movie, “The Robe”.

Hollywood in Kitty is now a church.

Other notable cinemas were Kay Donna in Triumph/ Beterverwagting, and Laxhmi.

Liberty, which was located in Newtown, Kitty, Vlissengen Rd, was formerly known as Rialto, and then Doren in 1952.

Doren burned down during the unrest of 1963 and was replaced by Liberty.

Melanie in Melanie Damishana Metropole on Robb & Wellington Sts opened circa 1937. The first move shown was “Merry Widow”. The cinema burned down in 2004.

Metropolitan in Bartica Monarch in Anna Catherina Olympic, on Lombard St, opened in the 1940s and had no roof.

Paragon in Anna Regina Palm Tree in Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden Plaza, on Camp St, originally known as London, was built in 1930; had “sound”. It was renamed Plaza in 1951 and installed a ‘wide screen’.

Prince of Wales in Pln. Wales Estate was owned by Mr Kam. Rajmahal in Peter’s Hall Regal in Vreed-enHoop Rialto on Vlissengen Road Rio, La Penitence, Albouystown, formerly Capitol, changed its name to Rio in 1952. It was bombed during the 1960s disturbances, killing two women inside.

Ritz in Rosignol Roxy in Leonora Saraswatie Star in Albuoystown Starlite in Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara Starlite Drive-In (Montrose, East Coast Demerara) opened in the late 1950s with Elvis Presley’s movie, “Blue Hawaii”. It was owned

by Andrew James’ son, Henry James, who owned Pawnbrokery

Liberty cinema n.d. (Photo by Pradeep Samtani)

on Main St, New Amsterdam.

Andrew James also owned Auto Supplies in Georgetown.

Morris Choong may have been a partner (info provided by Syd Latchana).

The site is now a Courts’ furniture warehouse.

Strand (or Strand de Luxe, owned by Mr Leslie Lucky Samaroo) opened in 1957. Its first movies were “Sayonara” and “Ten Commandments”.

The building is now used

for religious meetings.

There were also cinemas such as Tiffany in Parika and Vijay in Good Hope.

(Acknowledgements: Doos Mahadeo, Godfrey Chin, Syd Latchana, Beauty Ramoutar, Kamie, Oscar Ramjeet, Omar Zabar, Desmond Woon, Peter Halder, and others who wish to remain anonymous. Read more at http://chs-jccss. org)

Hang ‘em high!!

S

atiricus was very happy. There was always a silver lining behind every dark cloud, he thought with satisfaction. After the blaze, the Government was going to rebuild the Camp Street jail, enlarge the Mazaruni Penal Colony and reinforce the Lusignan Prison. There were now going to be more than enough space to put away the bad guys and he and his pals at the Back Street Bar didn’t have to worry about being overrun by bandits.

“Budday! Rememba how dem bandit bin shoot up dem big man a Nakoo Bar?” asked Bungi, as they settled into their weekend tryst with his first cold brew.

“Well, I hope this set of escapees don’t find a friendly village to hang out in,” said Hari dolefully.

“What you mean, “hang out in”? demanded Satiricus. “Those freedom fighters from 2002, had held that poor village Buxom hostage, you know.”

“Na, me nah know,” replied Bungi sharply. “Wha’ me know, de Police kill all a dem and abee get peace.”

“So you think the Police should kill these four escapees?” asked Satiricus. “And not capture them to put into the new jail?”

“Da wha’ me t’ink!” said Bungi firmly. “Wha’ dem gat fuh spend all da money fuh buil jail? Dem can open back abee suga fact’ry!”

“Are you serious?” asked Hari. “So what should we do when people are convicted of crimes?”

“Abee gat plenty jungle,” said Bungi. “Sen’ dem deh fuh clear de bush!”

“But that would be punishing them!” protested Satiricus, as Hari nodded in agreement.

“Suh wha’ abee a sen’ dem a jail fa?” Bungi wanted to know. “Just locking them up is the punishment,” said Hari virtuously.

“Suh abee guh feed dem t’ree times a day, gie dem clothes and shelta,” said Bungi indignantly, “and yuh call da, punishment?”

“What would you do?” asked Satiricus.

“Well, if yuh nah wan’ fuh sen’ dem fuh clear jungle,” said Bungi, “Den leh abee chap dem han’ aff, or hang dem, like Saudi!”

news 47

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Werther Effect

“Hope is a necessity for normal life and the major weapon against the suicide impulse.” – Karl A. Menninger

T

Anu Dev

he past couple days, after the passing of Chester Bennington, lead singer of Linkin Park, my newsfeed has been inundated with articles about the him in the period leading up to this death and reactions from his family, his band-mates and fans in the most excruciating detail. This forced me to reflect not just about the individual Bennington and his own ruminations about suicide, but also brought into focus for me, the unhealthy way that the media – social and

traditional – tend to report on suicide.

Right here at home in Guyana, we seem to excel at ticking off all of the boxes of what not to do when covering a story about someone who became desperate enough to take their own life. The papers seem to revel in peppering the word “suicide” in the pieces as often as possible in a conscious effort to make the report as sensational as possible.

They really do love that “star-crossed lovers” angle.

A while back I was reading about the “Werther Effect”. The “Werther effect” refers to the important role played by imitation of suicidal behaviours, when such

stories are publicized or described in fact or fiction: otherwise called “Copycat Suicides.” Back in 1774, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the towering German literary figure, published his book, “The Sorrows of Young Werther.”

“Werther Fever” spread throughout Europe after the book was published, with young men dressing up like Werther.

And it went beyond dressing up. Reputedly, some of them committed suicide in a similar manner to the protagonist, giving rise to some of the earliest examples of copycat suicides. I certainly wouldn’t say that Goethe’s book or reports of suicides in the media cause persons

to commit suicide; but when these suicides are so heavily covered, when so many details of their lives are published, it makes it easier for someone else to identify with that person.

And if that reader is already in a state where they were vulnerable or predisposed to taking their life, hearing about someone with similar problems choosing to end their own life, may present suicide as an appropriate option. Many countries have national journalism codes regarding the coverage of suicide.

In the absence of these, reporters are expected to follow the sort of guidelines of the World Health Organization

and other public health bodies for coverage of suicide. They’re expected to use extreme restraint in covering these deaths: keep the word “suicide” out of the headline, don’t romanticize the death, and limit the number of stories. Instead of playing up the sensational aspects of the suicide, maybe there could be more focus on presenting non-suicide alternatives – the “Papageno Effect.”

Eponymously named after a character from Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute”, Papageno, who was contemplating suicide until other characters showed him a different way to resolve his problems.

Here and elsewhere

we really should try to have that protective effect instead of glamorizing or romanticizing suicides.

We really should be doing our best to emphasize the importance of mental health and the importance of having honest conversations about these very real issues.

We need to move away from being a culture that labels persons suffering from mental illnesses as ‘mad people’ and call a psychiatric hospital ‘Berbice Madhouse’. Be observant, be supportive.

Sometimes it might be something, sometimes it might be nothing, but there at least needs to be a conversation.

A scenic mountain...

Custom and practice

S

atiricus was mulling over the latest Camp St Prison breakout. His leader Rum Jhaat was still under fire, but fortunately, he thought, this GECON judgement was going to take the heat off him. At least over at the Back Street Bar where he was headed, after his day of toil. If he steered the conversation in the right direction.

“Suh how come Rum Jhaat an’ ‘e bais nah ketch dem four criminal yet?” said Bungi, not giving Satiricus time to get settled.

“Budday! Is only a week yet!” replied Satiricus with a forced smile.

“Sato, na tek me fuh wan fool!” said Bungi as he clinked bottles with Satiricus and Hari. “Nah you tell me Rum Jhaat gat intelligence fuh ketch dem?”

“He didn’t mean Rum Jhaat intelligent, Bungi,” butted in Hari, placatingly. “He meant the Joint Forces would be using information they get from snitches. They call that “intelligence”.”

“C’mon now fellas!” said Satiricus, desperately trying to change the subject. “What y’all think about this GECON business?”

“Well, we’re right where we started,” hazarded Hari. “Prezzie was wrong, but he still gets to reject whoever Jagdesh propose.”

“How come de Judge decide suh?” asked Bungi.

“Jagdesh right and still ‘e get wrang?”

“Well, the Judge agreed Jagdesh was correct on the questions she was supposed to answer,” confided Satiricus, pleased they weren’t discussing Rum Jhaat’s abject failure to capture the escaped murderers. “But she gave Prezzie full marks for a question he hadn’t even asked!”

“But how da count?” asked Bungi, all puzzled.

“W’en me cut some-baddy else cane, me nah get pay fuh da!”

“Same thing in court, Bungi,” said Hari. “What the Judge told Prezzie doesn’t count.”

“Suh wha’ mek she ansa ovas question?” asked Bungi curiously.

“You remember when you were “temporary” on the sugar estate, you had to do whatever they asked?” asked Satiricus.

“Yes,” said Bungi. “Dem coulda fyaah me anytime!”

“Same thing, here, Bungi,” said Hari.“Same thing!”

tain-side house were being consolidated. Many changes and arguments and debates about designs and concepts happened during the planning and execution of construction,” Sebastian explained.

He added that after many years of slowly building and friends visiting to see the progress, they were encouraged to share the breath-taking sceneries at the location with others. This was when the idea of having a bed and breakfast “began to boil”. As time went by, the family came up with a name and plans of what to offer guests when they visit.

“This year is the first year we actually decided to give it a good shot with regards to marketing and hospitality, even though we have had some dear friends and visitors in the years before. Since we are still ‘green’ to the whole tourism operation, we offer few but fun activities for now. As time goes by, there are plans for nicer treats and activities for guests. But for now, we offer scenic road and river tours, birding, mountain-climbing and trips to other lodges and inns around the area so that the guests enjoy the amazing experiences those places have to offer. We would like to think that, for now, we function as a place to go to relax and unwind with great food and a familylike experience,” he declared.

For more information, visit Pakaraima Mountain Inn on Facebook.

from page 40

Enjoy the picturesque views while indulging in local cuisines

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Esha Deol thanks fans for Disha Patani looks ravishing in black but her smile is showering love on her the real show-stopper as she embarks on the journey of motherhood

E

sha Deol is overwhelmed with the kind of love that is being showered on her and husband Bharath Takhtani. The actor took to her Instagram and posted a video thanking her fans for such support and love.

In the video, she said, “Hi everyone this is my first video on instagram. I am happy to be here. I want to personally thank each and every one of you for all the love and blessing you have been showering on Bharath and me as we are about to embark this new journey of becoming parents. I promise I will be sharing pictures and videos with you all. Let’s have lots of fun together. Big hugs. Best wishes to all of you. Take care and stay healthy and happy.”

After the announcement of her pregnancy, the actor has been constantly

D

sharing pictures on her Instagram account. Esha has been keeping in touch with her well-wishers and fans, for whom her pregnancy is nothing less than a moment to celebrate. The actor has entered her second trimester.

Recently, Esha made her fans go ‘aww’ with her babymoon in Greece.

The actor posed for a photoshoot with her husband Bharath, and the pictures were too cute to handle.

While her mother Hema Malini shared her emotions over her social media account by thanking everyone for their best wishes for her elder daughter, Esha’s excitement cannot be missed as she is baby shopping and doing the best to welcome the baby in this big world.

Well, we too are waiting to meet the next generations of the Deol family.

(Indian Express)

Kailash Kher: Spending days with Kargil warriors was life changing

S

inger-composer Kailash Kher says he had a life-changing experience when he spent a few days with the soldiers from Kargil. Kailash on Tuesday — a day before the Kargil Vijay Diwas — took to Instagram and shared a photograph of himself with the soldiers. In the photograph, he is seen singing on a mic, while actor Randeep Hooda and the soldiers are seen dancing near him.

The two celebrities went to Dras, Kargil last week to celebrate the Vijay Diwas and expressed solidarity with the soldiers. “Spent these few days with Kargil warriors, was a life changing experience. Performing for them was real meaningful and worth affair of this life. Actor Randeep Hooda was

also fun amongst them. Overall great show. Kargil Vijay Diwas. Our army our pride,” Kailash captioned the image.

The “Teri Deewani” crooner shared the photograph on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, named after the success of Operation Vijay. On July 26, 1999, India successfully took command of the high outposts which had been lost to Pakistani intruders.

The Kargil War was fought for more than 60 days, resulted in the loss of life on both sides, India and Pakistan, and ended on July 26 with India regaining possessions of Kargil heights. The day is celebrated every year in honour of the Kargil War’s heroes. (Indian Express)

isha Patani makes headlines wherever she goes, whether for a film’s promotion or even if she walks the ramp for a designer. Scorching the runway for Manav Gangwani at the India Couture Week (ICW) 2017, Disha looked ravishing as ever in black.

Looking at her photos, the one thing that stands out is definitely her smile and we seriously can’t get over how beautiful she looks. The MS Dhoni: The Untold Story star has regularly been seen in her sultry avatar, but this Indian look comes as a surprise and there is no doubt that she pulls it off quite well. Sharing her picture on Twitter, she wrote, “Had a beautiful experience walking the ramp for @ CoutureMG at #ICW2017 @thefdci.”

Recently, Disha was awarded the Best Debutante award at IIFA 2017,

and there too she was redefining class with her amazing ensemble. Well, Disha has been winning fans not just with her beautiful looks, but with her awesome dance skills as well. We first saw her shake a leg in dance video Befikra with her rumoured boyfriend Tiger Shroff. And later, the actor kept her fans entertained with a number of posts on her social media accounts.

Thus, from acting to dance to slaying the red carpet every time she makes an appearance, Disha Patani definitely seems to be on a mission to not only rule the hearts of many but also to stay there for a long time. On the work front, Disha Patani may not have a lot of films in her kitty right now but she definitely has a long way to go, considering her tremendous fan following. (Indian Express)

‘Mubarakan’ actor Ileana D’Cruz explains transformation into a Punjabi character

I

leana D’Cruz was all chirpy and happy about her latest film Mubarakan.

Needless to say, she was excited to do a comedy film again. Mubarakan is her third film in the comic genre after Phata Poster Nikhla Hero and Main Tera Hero.

“I love watching funny films. And I normally don’t watch my own films on repeat. But if I do have to I’d definitely go back to watching one of my funnier films. This is my third comedy film.

It’s completely different from the other two that I’ve done,” Ileana gushed during an exclusive chat with indianexpress.com.

Ileana’s new film Mubarakan is Anees Bazmee’s latest directorial, also starring Anil Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor and Athiya Shetty. She plays a Punjabi girl named ‘Sweety’. In her own words, “She is a complete fire-cracker. She is one of those quintessential Punjabi characters who is very opinionated, very head-strong, doesn’t really care what others have to say. And inevitably obviously gets into trouble.”

Ileana, who was last seen in Rustom opposite Akshay Kumar last year,

shared her experience of working with Anil Kapoor in Mubarakan.

“He was the youngest one on the set. It was his first film! He is the most positive person I’ve come across. He is genuinely very inspirational in a way he doesn’t realise it.

He comes on the set everyday with an agenda to learn something new, do something new, impress his director. And some way, very purely, he wants to be the best.”

So how did Ileana, who hails from Goa, manage to get into the skin of a Punjabi girl? “I always wanted to play a Punjabi girl because I always found them very colourful in a way. There’s always a spark to all the Punjabi girls I’ve seen onscreen. And honestly, ‘Sweety’ is very much like that. I was honestly surprised that Anees ji thought of me to play Sweety. I’m a Goan girl.

I come from Goa and

there’s definitely no influence of Punjabiness in me so I don’t know how I managed to play it. Hopefully I’ve done a good job,” the actor said.

Ileana also cleared the air about her recent interview where she spoke about a breakdown in London during the shooting of Mubarakan.

While many thought the incident was something that happened during the film’s shooting, Ileana refuted all reports. “It was nothing to do with Mubarakan. It was just a bad day in general. I basically said that it was a certain expectations of me, or in general of an actor, which I wasn’t comfortable with, and I don’t think I could ever resort to those sort of tactics to get a film. So that was something that got me down. And unfortunately it happened when I was filming for Mubarakan,” she said.

(Indian Express)

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WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Linkin Park on late singer Gal Gadot’s ‘Wonder Chester Bennington: ‘You Woman 2’ will hit screens touched so many lives’ in December 2019

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inkin Park said their hearts are broken following the death of lead singer Chester Bennington, who died by hanging last week. The rock band said on Monday that the “shock waves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened.”

Bennington, who was 41, hanged himself from a bedroom door in his home near Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that the death was a suicide. A hired driver who was arriving at Bennington’s home made the 911 call, saying a housekeeper found Bennington’s body and alerted him. Loud sobbing can be heard in the background during the call.

The band started its statement with, “Dear Chester.”

“You touched so many lives, maybe even more than you realized. In the past few days, we’ve seen an outpouring of love and support, both public and private, from around the world.

Talinda and the family appreciate it, and want the world to know that you were the best husband, son, and father; the family will never be whole without you,” the statement said.

Bennington was one of two lead vocalists for Linkin Park, which became one of the most commercially successful acts of the 2000s. They won countless awards, including Grammys, and their hits include “In the End,” “What I’ve Done” and “Numb.”

The group also includes Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, Joe Hahnand and Rob Bourdo.

They said Bennington’s “absence leaves a void that can never be filled _ a boisterous, funny, ambitious, cre-

ative, kind, generous voice in the room is missing.”

“We’re trying to remind ourselves that the demons who took you away from us were always part of the deal.

After all, it was the way you sang about those demons that made everyone fall in love with you in the first place. You fearlessly put them on display, and in doing so, brought us together and taught us to be more human. You had the biggest heart, and managed to wear it on your sleeve,” the statement continued.

Linkin Park had planned to launch a tour this week, but canceled it following Bennington’s death. They released their debut album, “Hybrid Theory,” in 2000, and their most recent album, “One More Light,” dropped in May. Billboard says the band’s latest effort, “One More Light,” re-entered Billboard’s Top 200 album charts at No. 17 on the most recent chart. The band’s popular debut, “Hybrid Theory,” checked in at No. 27. “One More Light” topped Amazon’s list of best-selling albums Monday, while “Hybrid Theory” was fifth. More than 11 million copies of “Hybrid Theory” have sold since it was first released in 2000. The band’s 2003 follow-up, “Meteora,” was at No. 41 on the Billboard list, while 2007’s “Minutes to Midnight” was at No. 115.

“Our love for making and performing music is inextinguishable. While we don’t know what path our future may take, we know that each of our lives was made better by you,” the statement read. “Thank you for that gift. We love you, and miss you so much.”

The band signed off with, “Until we see you again.” (Indian Express)

Dwayne Johnson co-stars with Siri in Apple movie

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pple has released a short film in which Hollywood actor Dwayne Johnson or as he is better known, The Rock, stars alongside Siri. Yes! The same personal assistant Siri found in Apple’s devices like MacBooks, iPhones and iPads. The movie titled The Rock x Siri: Dominate The Day is a collaboration between Dwayne Johnson and Apple.

In a post on his Facebook page, the 45-year-old Hollywood superstar wrote, “I partnered with #Apple to make the BIGGEST, COOLEST, CRAZIEST, DOPEST, MOST OVER THE TOP,

FUNNEST (is that even a word?) movie ever.

And I have the greatest co-star of all time – #SIRI. I make movies for the world to enjoy and we also made this one to motivate you to get out there and get the job done. I want you to watch it, have fun with it and then go LIVE IT.” Dwayne Johnson uses Siri to do a lot of things in the video. Like she tells him what is the temperature in Rome where he is going and so on.

We did suspect that this would just be a long form advertisement because it is unlikely that a full-fledged Hollywood feature film would appear out of the blue with no official announcements and no rumours. In any case, the “movie” is quite fun.

Dwayne Johnson, whose latest release Baywatch (which also starred Priyanka Chopra) failed to impress critics and fans alike, will next be seen in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the sequel to the 1995 blockbuster Robin Williams starrer Jumnaji. (Indian Express)

arner Bros made the announcement on Tuesday that Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman 2 will hit theaters on December 13, 2019, reported Variety. While Patty Jenkins is working on the script, WB is yet to confirm the director of the sequel.

Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins, has been a mammoth hit for the studio earning millions worldwide.

Warner Bros previously announced an “untitled event film” for December 13, 2019.

Gadot will next appear as Diana Prince in November’s Justice League, alongside Ben Affleck’s Batman, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, Ezra Miller’s Flash and Ray Fisher’s Cyborg.

Variety also earlier reported that Jenkins was already working on a script for the sequel with Geoff Johns, who oversees the DC film universe along with Jon

Berg for Warner Bros.

“Patty and I are writing the treatment right now,” Johns said in an interview at the time.

“The goal is to make another great Wonder Woman film.”

Johns also added how he “had a blast” working with Jenkins on Wonder Woman and that they are already working on a “cool idea” for the sequel.

In a separate interview, Warner Bros.

Pictures President and CCO Toby Emmerich had also revealed how the sequel won’t take place during World War I but is still likely to be

set in the past. Jenkins was also quoted earlier saying how she would set the sequel in the United States rather than Europe.

While Wonder Woman went on to become the biggest grosser from a female director, fans have been eagerly waiting for more updates on the sequel. Sharing her excitement over the success, Gal had previously tweeted, “Thanks to ALL of you for making #WonderWoman a success. Wonder Woman has the best fans in the world thx.” (Indian Express)

Ben Affleck on playing ‘Batman’: I am going to do the best job I can

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ustice League will be Ben Affleck’s second starring role as Batman and the actor said he would make every possible effort to do justice to his character. The Oscar winner said he would love to play the Caped Crusader as long as the makers would allow him, reported Entertainment Weekly. “I’d love to do it as long as they’ll have me.

Eventually it’ll be somebody else, and I’m sure they’ll get somebody great.

But while I’m doing it, I’m going to do the best job I can, and really appreciate how lucky I am.”

Batman has been one comic book superhero who has been portrayed by a number of actors over the decades. Adam West portrayed the Dark Knight in Batman television series.

Michael Keaton played Batman in the first Batman film directed by Tim Burton. After that Val Kilmer and George Clooney also played the Caped Crusader. Before Ben Affleck donned the cape, Christian Bale had played Batman in Christopher Nolan’s uber successful Dark Knight trilogy.

Christian Bale had made clear that he won’t be reprising the role of Batman after the last film in the Dark Knight trilogy: The Dark Knight Rises.

After the success of Marvel’s Avengers, DC, along with Warner Bros also began to dabble in a common universe of DC superheroes, which started with Man of Steel.

Ben Affleck was then in line to play Batman in the sequel of Man of Steel movie, Batman vs Superman: Dawn Of Justice and also made a brief appearance in Suicide Squad. Ben Affleck has won two Academy Awards. (Indian Express)

Robert Pattinson got expelled from school for selling porn magazines

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obert Pattinson has revealed that he once got expelled from his school for selling porn magazines. The 31-year-old actor shared the incident during his appearance on The Howard Stern Show, reported Us magazine.

“I’ve never actually said this before. I was stealing porno magazines and selling them at school. No one knew at all what to do with them, though…I’d sell them for a lot of money. I used to go in and take, like, one or two, and then put them in my bag.

I was in my school uniform when I was doing it, and it was kind of risky. At the end, I got so cocky that I would take the entire rack,” Robert Pattinson said.

The actor finally got caught stealing the magazines by a store employee. “I re-

member the guy who worked in the store shouting, like, ‘Hey!’ and then my two friends ran off, and I turned around, like, ‘What?’ I walked back up to him. I hadn’t zipped up my bag. “This guy is pulling out all these porno magazines — and it was when porn used to have, like, VHS tapes in the plastic sheet with it — and he’s pulling all these things out, and I was sitting there humiliated with all the old people looking at me disgusted,” he recalled.

The employee then told his school that he had been stealing and selling the magazines. “Basically, a couple of days later, everything fell down. Basically every single one of my friends snitched on me, literally, across the board,” he said. (Indian Express)

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Bolt, Thompson headline Jamaica's 59-member team to London World Champs

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Usain Bolt

he incomparable Usain Bolt, Rio Olympic gold medallists, Elaine Thompson and Omar McLeod along with defending hurdles champion Danielle Williams, head a list of 59 athletes consisting of 30 males and 29 females selected for the London World Championship between August 4-13.

Bolt, 30, who will be retiring at the end of the championships, will be defending the 100m title he won in 2009, 2013 and 2015. He is joined by Yohan Blake, who won the 100m title in 2011, as Jamaica seek to continue its domination of the sprints.

Bolt will only be competing in the 100m and a

weakened 4x100m relay team that will be without Asafa Powell, who has not recovered in time to prove his fitness after withdrawing from the Senior Championships.

Olympic 110m hurdles champion Omar McLeod forms a powerful sprint hurdles trio of Hansle Parchment and Ronald Levy. Calabar High schoolboy and World Junior champion Dejour Russell also makes the trip as standby.

Meanwhile, Sprint Queen Elaine Thompson leads 29 other females into action in what is really a team in transition without the likes of Veronica CampbellBrown, Shelly-Ann

Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson or Kerron Stewart.

Thompson, the Rio Olympic double champion, will be competing only in the 100m and is a heavy favourite to defend the title won by Fraser-Pryce in 2013 and 2015.

Interestingly, only three females were selected for the 400m hurdles in Ronda Whyte, Ristananna Tracey and Leah Nugent. In-form Janieve Russell was not taken as standby but, four male runners were selected for the 400m hurdles in Jaheel Hyde, Kemar Mowatt, Ricardo Cunningham and Andrae Clarke.

Danielle Williams, who is rounding into good form, will be defending the 100m title she won in Beijing and will have company in Megan Simmonds, Yanique Thompson and Rushelle Burton.

Jamaica will be well represented in the field events with Fedrick Dacres highly touted for a medal in the discus and O'Dayne Richards in the shot put. (Howard Walker/ Jamaica Observer)

Guyana to host historic Pan-Am Hockey in October

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uyana will, on October 14th 2017, host its first ever Pan American level hockey championships. Called the “Indoor Pan American Cups”, the tournament will feature two simultaneous competitions for men and women, and serves as the Pan American Continental Qualifier for FIH Indoor Hockey World Cups, scheduled for February 2018 in Berlin, Germany.

The 2017 Indoor Pan

es to be one of the most highly contested events.

In the men’s competition, the Canadian side, which boasts the most first-place finishes – four — will comprise of some players not entirely unfamiliar with Guyana and the CASH. Several of these players have, over the years, participated in the annual Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival, and have already established their own following among the local sup-

favourite, having won the competition a record four times out of six.

The same seven nations will compete in the women’s competition, with the addition of Uruguay, which has been the surprise of Pan American hockey over the past few years.

Uruguay has been the biggest mover on the world rankings, and had even qualified for the Indoor World Cup back in 2010. Argentina and Canada both have recorded a presence on

American Cups will take place at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) in Georgetown, Guyana. This hall has been renovated in preparation for the Caribbean Basketball Under-16 Championships held one year ago. The CASH used to be a regular home for local indoor hockey, and was the first venue used when Guyana began its Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival back in 2004. The festival was able to fill the venue to near its 3,000-spectator capacity, and launched Guyana on the map as being one of the top regional hosts for indoor hockey.

The competition this year will be one of the biggest ever in its history, which dates back to 2002. There will be eight nations contesting the women’s competition and seven contesting the men’s, with each tournament being represented by participation from North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean.

Only the 2010 competition, held in Venezuela, was larger, and by just one team.

The tournament will see the return to competition of all four semi-finalists for both genders from 2014, and promis-

porters.

Trinidad, similarly, is likely to have several players in the ranks who have competed in Guyana, as the island has, throughout the years, supported the local hockey festival with the greatest attendance of foreign players. The mighty Argentina and USA have both been finalists in the past, with the USA winning the championships against then hosts, Argentina, back in 2008.

Barbados rounds out the participation from the Caribbean, and although not known particularly for its indoor game, always produces players with tremendous skill, while Mexico returns to the competition for the third time as the lone Central American entrant.

Guyana has competed on three occasions in this competition, resulting in a 4th place finish in 2005, fifth place in 2010 and their best showing, 3rd place, in the last competition held in 2014 in Montevideo, Uruguay.

The seven teams of the men’s competition: Guyana, Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago and the USA, are all strong contenders for the gold, although Canada remains

the winner’s podium twice, while Trinidad won the inaugural women’s Indoor Pan American Cup back in 2002.

The Guyanese women, who have competed creditably over the past 10 years in the outdoor version of the game, will taste their first international indoor hockey competition this year as the competition’s least experienced side.

Most of the Guyanese players, however, would have had the experience of competing in the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Festival over the past several years, and will be familiar with the conditions and the vociferous home support.

Apart from the usual strong spectator support for the competition and those accompanying the visiting teams, the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) has plans to have all matches streamed live.

Viewership throughout the Americas is expected to be in the tens of thousands, and the GHB intends to use the opportunity to showcase Guyana as a sports and recreational destination, especially to the many viewers who may not have heard much about this beautiful country.

Sport 51

WEEK ENDING JULY 30, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Preparing I for battle!

Quashed injunction paves way for GCB elections

…Warriors to square off against Patriots on August 5 in Lauderhill, Florida

Crunch time! Guyana Amazon Warriors got down to business on Wednesday afternoon at the National Stadium, Providence to be in optimum shape for the upcoming Hero Caribbean Premier League (Carl Croker Photo)

uyana Amazon Warriors’ oneweek pre-season camp commenced on Wednesday at the National Stadium, Providence, Guyana with the management using it as an opportunity to test their fitness. The intense training is ahead of their first match of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on August 5 against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Florida.

critical since it would give those in charge a chance to assess each player.

“Preparation is always important; we have a week together, so we are trying to put in everything we can to get them gelling together.”

The team will continue to have sessions throughout the week to judge their fitness.

Responding to questions regarding their quest for a maiden championship, the Coach underscored

ing before at the Central Broward Regional Park.

After playing in Florida, the team head to Trinidad and Tobago, then St Lucia before returning home for four matches.

On the 17th of August, they play the Jamaica Tallawahs; after which they play archrivals Trinbago Knight Riders two days later. The Warriors then clash with the Barbados Tridents on the 20th, and will have their final

Several of the players arrived late Tuesday to assemble for the camp, which is headed by Coach Roger Harper and Assistant Coach Esuan Crandon.

The other members of the support staff are Jason Pilgrim (Physio); Clinton Jeremiah (Fitness Coach) and Kurlyn Smith-Nicholas (Masseuse).

Crandon, in addressing the media on Wednesday, contended that an early start to preparation would be

the importance of taking it one day at a time, and cementing the basic skills needed for success which essentially means being consistent.

Given the team’s first match is at 11:00h in Florida, in conditions that are expected to be humid, Fitness Coach Jeremiah stated that they would be having practice sessions at the aforementioned time to build fitness and he was confident that the players would adapt due to the experiences of play-

home match against the St Lucia Zouks on the 22nd.

The Amazon Warriors squad comprises Martin Guptill, Rayad Emrit, Sohail Tanveer, Babar Azam, Jason Mohammed, Chadwick Walton, Rashid Khan, Steven Taylor, Keon Joseph, Gajanand Singh, Roshon Primus, Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin, Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Keemo Paul and Muhammad Ali

By Akeem Greene

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continued on page 52

n the wake of a peaceful protest on Monday in front of the Attorney General’s office where former cricketers, administrators of the game, and cricket enthusiasts from various parts of the country chose to protest the operations of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), it was revealed that the injunction which was filed by the GCB and other parties preventing the Attorney General of Guyana and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport (now the Minister of Education) from enforcing the Cricket Administration Act has been quashed.

According to a court order made available at a press conference on Wednesday, which was held to up the heat on the Government to act on the issue, the matter was quashed on June 16, 2017.

The order, which was granted by Justice Nareshwar Harnanan

stated: “This matter came up for hearing on this day and upon hearing Attorney-at-Law for the Plaintiffs and

Respondents, it is hereby ordered that the matter be declared abandoned and incapable of being revived.”

On Friday, Attorney General Basil Williams will host the GCB officials and the stakeholders at his office to discuss the way forward.

However, with the injunction quashed and the AG’s meeting with the parties involved, the function of the Cricket Ombudsman

(Dr Winston Mc Gowan, who was appointed in January 2015) is expected to be the next vital process. He is faced with the task to regularise operations at the three county boards before calling the GCB election.

Meanwhile, prior to the revelation of the development in the court, prominent Guyanese, social activists, administrators of the game, and cricket enthusiasts assembled to discuss the relevant means for a positive path going forward.

Due to the many concerns on the matter that have been circulated in the media frequently, Dr David Hinds noted the urgent need to discuss the matter with his party, the Working People’s Alliance, which is a member party of APNU, that formed the coalition Government with the AFC, so to put an end to the impasse.

Following the meeting with the AG, information will be provided to the public by the stakeholders.

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Get to know your Guyana Preparing for battle...

Amazon Warriors

from page 51

Full name: Steven Ryan Taylor Born: November 9, 1993, Hialeah, Florida Current age: 23 Playing role: Opening batsman Batting style: Left-hand bat Bowling style: Right-arm off-break

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aylor is no stranger to the Hero Caribbean Premier League, having played with the Barbados Tridents last year, but did not have the most memorable impact in his six matches. Taylor, who plays for the United States of America in ICC events and Jamaica Scorpions in the Regional Super50, is an explosive top-order batsman, who boasts a highest T20 score of 91 made against Italy in the 2013 ICC World Cup T20 qualifier.

He was born as a South Floridian native to Jamaican parents, Loveth and Sylvan Taylor. Along with being a left-handed batsman, he was also a wicketkeeper. He became the first 14-year-old to hit a half century in the South Florida Cricket Alliance (SFCA) Keith Graham Memorial Classic (now the SFCA Sims Cup Classic). This innings, against Pakistan, while representing an SFCA Youth Team, included with 4 fours and 3 sixes off 33 balls and lasted just 41 minutes. He took 212 off Big Broward Cricket Academy, before retiring in the first 40-over match of the tournament.

The 23-year-old is setting himself

some high standards as he told Guyana Times Sport: “My ultimate goal will be to have a repeat of another great run, targeting 250300 runs in this tournament and being a crucial part of making my team be champions this year.”

He further made a call to all Warriors’ fans to come out and show support. “Come out, support your Amazon Warriors through the highs and lows, so with your support and God’s blessing we can be your Champions.”

The player will play a crucial role in the team’s chances to win the title, adding great flair and power to a solid top order, given that he has teammates the likes of Chadwick Walton and Martin Guptill.

Khan.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Lauderhill, Florida, Richard Kaplan, has spoken to CPL about what it means for Lauderhill to host the tournament for four matches on August 5 and 6.

“It means carrying out our mission of bringing cricket to the United States and to the community,” Mayor Kaplan says. “There is a great amount of interest in cricket and in sports in general. South Florida is a huge sport mecca.

We have numerous major sports: Super Bowl, World Series, World Cup soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, hockey, Stanley Cup – the list goes on and on.”

“The City of Lauderhill has a large Caribbean population and as Mayor of a city you want to provide your residents with what they are looking for. Whatever programs, whatever sports they want – and that’s what we did. We developed programs around their interests, and cricket is one of them.”

The story of how Lauderhill became the home of the only international standard cricket facility in the USA is an interesting one. It began with a trip to Chaguanas in Trinidad to discuss them becoming a sis-

ter city with Lauderhill.

Mayor Kaplan had conducted some research on cricket before he went on the trip because he had been invited to watch a match between the West Indies and India, where the topic of World Cup venues came up.

“At the time they were discussing the World Cup coming to the Caribbean and this gentleman asked me if Florida would be interested in bidding for the World Cup,” Mayor Kaplan says. Despite being in the USA and not the Caribbean the Mayor was assured that he could bid on hosting matches. “Being a firstterm Mayor I did not know any better and I said ‘sure, why not?’ adds Kaplan. “I came back to the United States and we were building a new park. A survey revealed that a cricket stadium was the number one chosen item to be put in there. We went ahead and built the stadium specifically for the World Cup 2007. We put together an incredible bid, overcoming many obstacles, and then we were shut down and was told that the tournament would not be in the United States.

"But the US now had an international-class facility and began to com-

pete with other international teams. We have had several [matches] with the West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India. We expect some more in the future and now we have the CPL games.”

The Mayor is very proud of his cricket stadium and has been converted to the game. That Lauderhill is the only facility of this standard in the USA is an obvious source of pride for Kaplan: “The United States Central Broward Regional Stadium is the only ICC-sanctioned cricket stadium. [When researching the stadium] we found there were a lot of people throughout the United States that would rather come to Florida to watch a game than go down to the Caribbean, which is what they previously had to do. It is easier and far less expensive to go from California or New York to here. We do get quite a few people who fly in throughout the United states to watch these games.”

The Hero CPL will be in Lauderhill, Florida, for four matches on August 5 and 6 at the Central Broward Regional Stadium. Tickets are available at http://www. kyazoonga.com/Matches/ Lauderhill#Matches

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