Guyana Times International November 2 2018

Happy Diwali to all our readers

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

‘I don’t have time to waste’

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018

ISSUE NO. 421

See story on page 3

…Guyana’s Finance Minister refuses to back up claims of ‘drug-fuelled economy’ under previous govt

NY Governor urges caution ahead of heavy downpour, flooding expected this weekend Page 24

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Thursday held a special ceremony to celebrate its 53rd Anniversary at Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

Nightclub assault:

Page 7

Businessman slapped with attempted murder charge

Accused: Imran Khan

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‘I …Guyana’s don’tFinance have time to waste’ Minister refuses to back up claims M

of ‘drug-fuelled economy’ under previous govt

inister of F i n a n c e Winston Jordan has bluntly refused a request from the Private Sector Commission (PSC) for him to back up claims he made a few days ago which state that Guyana’s economy was partly fueled by drugs money under the Peoples Progressive Party administration.

During an engagement with the local media on Wednesday, the Finance Minister referred to two studies that were conducted by Economics Professor Clive Thomas which pointed to the impact of drug money on the Guyanese economy pre2015.

On Wednesday, the Finance Minister again restated comments made

recently that Guyana’s economy today is “proof positive” that the economy was being supported by drugs.

“I will tell you this much, where the economy is today is proof positive that the economy was being run by drugs, by significant input from drugs”, Jordan said.

Challenged by the media again as to whether he would satisfy the request by the PSC, Jordan said he is busy with the budget and other activities and therefore does not have the time to waste on such a request.

“I don’t see any reason why they’re asking me for empirical evidence. I don’t know whether it’s a ploy. I’ve made my contention, they’ve made theirs. I

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan

didn’t say every Private Sector person, business or wealth was derived from… I said, if you go back and check my speech, you’ll see what I said,” the Minister had said last Friday.

Recently, in a re-

sponse to an editorial done by one of the leading dailies that waded into Minister Jordan’s handling of the financial sector, Jordan had retorted, inter alia, “you must have forgotten, conveniently, the deformed

and broken economy that our Government inherited in 2015. Lest we forget, too, that economy thrived on rampant drug trafficking, money laundering, and a banking sector in which a few institutions recklessly lent funds for private white elephant projects.”

The PSC subsequently said it had taken note of the recent statement

by Jordan on the impact of the proceeds of drugs on the economy and in an effort to understand the “empirical evidence” relied upon by the Minister, the Commission said it has sought to obtain a briefing by him and, to this end, had dispatched a letter to the Minister.

Jordan, since his Government came to power in 2015, has made several accusa-

tions that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration before him was able to reflect growth in the economy because it proliferated the trade of drugs.

This contention has never been supported by evidence from the Minister and the few cases put together by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) were not only aimed at former Government officials rather than money launderers, they fell through for lack of evidence.

In an interview in 2016, the Finance Minister also attributed the reduction in consumer spending to a decrease in illegal activities, including narco-trafficking, which he said had created a parallel economy.

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EDITORIAL

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GECOM: Institution versus structure

he contretemps over the operations of the electoral institution, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) during the past year illustrate very vividly one of the major challenges posed in political science – the gap between institutions and practices. One of the constants of political life is that wellmeaning individuals are always proposing new institutions to “solve” challenges in their polities. For instance, one recurring proposed institution in Guyana that has been proposed under several guised to address the ethnic polarisation is “shared governance”.

Before that, there was the call for “inclusive governance”, which in 2000, resulted in widespread constitutional changes altering the institution of Parliament, to give the Opposition greater input in monitoring the functioning of Government via four Sectoral Committees. The institution of the Judiciary was also changed to give the Opposition Leader a veto over the appointments of the substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice. Several electoral institutions were also altered, including the rules for selecting the Chairman of GECOM and the choosing of a representative to Parliament from a pure Proportional Representation to introducing some geographical representation.

But nearly two decades after those institutional changes, we have not moved any closer to achieving a modus vivendi – much less a rapprochement – between the political blocs. But is the solution simply introducing new institutions? Contrary to what most of us think, “institutions” are neither buildings nor organisations, but rather the totality of norms and rules that govern social structures.

And failure in institutional innovations most often occurs at these lower levels. The institution of GECOM, for instance, are the rules that were established to govern its composition and functioning, but the fault we now see manifesting themselves lie not in its rules.

The “structures”, after all, consists of specific roles that individuals play in practice to ensure the value(s) around which the institution is organised are fulfilled. In the case of GECOM, the value is the running of free and fair elections to give life to the democratic value of equality symbolised in “one man, one vote”.

But each role in a structure are guided by norms and it is vital they are observed since if they are transgressed the institution will be degutted; its legitimacy to actualise the value be eviscerated, and the institution falls. “Structure”, then is a more inclusive term than “institution”, since overt rules rarely describe the full range of incumbents’ activities.

The informal norms in that guide political institutions like GECOM are most heavily influenced by the extant political culture.

In Guyana, this is the variable that will ultimately torpedo all the well-meaning attempts to introduce changes in political outcomes.

Political culture consists of the attitudes, beliefs, values and orientations about politics in a given population at any given time.

Along with political structures and institutions, they are typically shaped by a nation’s history and evolve out of the interaction, disagreements and conflicts among social forces, as they attempt to resolve their common problems.

Our political culture is dominated by the schism between the two major ethnic blocs that approach each other in size and the norms of each group structurally impel individuals to give support to either the People’s National Congress (African Guyanese) or the People’s Progressive Party (Indian Guyanese). Because democratic elections are not merely a technical undertaking, but a fundamental human right linked to a broad array of institutions centred on civil, economic and political rights via control of the state, the staffing of GECOM then becomes of paramount importance.

The rule for choosing the Chairman of GECOM, who has a casting vote on the Commission’s decisions, were explicitly changed to demand that there be consensus between the two blocks – represented by their parties – on the choice of this individual to defuse suspicions of partisan behaviour. For the Appellate Court to use sophistic casuistry to bypass this consensus has dealt a body blow to the legitimacy of GECOM. The case involving GECOM’s hiring practices will soon be heard: wt will not be the death knell of the institution.

Parika Stelling - The gateway to Essequibo. (Photo by Girendra Persaud)

Haste to pay sugar severance linked to workers’ constant struggles Dear Editor, Several sections of the media have reported about the National Assembly’s unanimous approval of supplementary allocation in the sum of G$2.451B. The now approved allocation will see the stateowned GuySuCo settling outstanding severance payments to thousands of workers who lost their jobs following the Government’s decision to close four (4) sugar estates over the last two (2) years. The approval of the sum came 306 days after Skeldon, Rose Hall, and East Demerara Estates were closed and 671 days after Wales Estate met a similar fate.

From the numbers, as reported by a section of the media, 5,016 workers are slated to receive payments from the now approved sum.

Previously, several hundred workers from Wales were severed and paid during 2016 and 2017 by GuySuCo as the closure process at that estate commenced. When the LBI operations were ended in September, 2016, a number of other workers were also severed at that time, and just weeks prior to East Demerara’s closure in 2017, some other workers were also lost their jobs. Then they were several hundred temporary workers who did not receive severance payments after the Corporation refused to renew their contracts when it decided that the estates would be closed. When all is taken together we see the magnitude and the toll that the closure process has taken on so many ordinary Guyanese.

The approval of the sum which comes just a few days before the 2018 Local Government Elections will certainly bring some short-term relief to the beleaguered and largely jobless workers. The entire episode the GAWU rec-

ognizes too was most enlightening, especially for the workers and their families, and is a clear demonstration of the lengths those who hold the reins of power will go in order to stack the odds against the working-class. The naked flouting of our laws, which have been enacted to protect our people and to strengthen

group of workers has been unfairly threatened with dismissal, have seen all manner of coercive ploys directed at them, and have simply been punished because they demanded was they rightly deserve. The fact that the Administration has decided to pay them, after their sustained calls for their rights to be respected, justi-

their hands, is a most worrying development in our contemporary times and is yet another manifestation of the lack of respect held by those in power for the rights of our country’s working-people.

This sad chapter of our history also reminds us that our successes can only come out of our united and consistent struggles. The Government’s reaction in this case, cannot be disconnected by the consistent struggle manifested in several picketing exercises, marches, public meetings, public statements, court actions, among other things that the workers, their families and their organisations have waged. The supportive voices of several prominent individuals and organsations also set fire under the Government’s feet and forced them to act at this time.

Of particular note is that the 350-odd cane cutters of Wales who, from all appearances, will receive their severance payments which have been unjustly withheld from them for nearly two (2) years now. This

fies that the workers and the Union were correct in their demands and throws cold water on the ignoble attempt to railroad the workers’ rights. The bitter-sweet victory of sorts for the workers demonstrates the importance of struggle to win out in our just demands but also sadly illustrates the attempts and lows that are being sunk to rollback workers’ rights and gains’ While we are happy that the workers will finally receive what is due to them, we cannot ignore the fact that they still remain without jobs or the prospect of securing jobs. The sums they will receive will be far from princely and cannot last forever. The Administration cannot abandon these thousands of Guyanese who still will face difficult times in the weeks and months ahead. We urge the Government to act responsibly.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary

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Marcus Bisram to be All set: American Airlines ready extradited to Guyana for Nov 15 to face murder charge take-off …following ruling by NY Judge

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Murder accused: Radesh Motie, Niram Yacoob, Diodath Datt and Harri Paul

u y a n e s e M a r c u s Bisram is expected in Guyana to face a murder charge after he lost an extradition challenge in a New York court on Tuesday. Bisram is wanted in Guyana for the murder of a Berbice carpenter.

old Narinedatt was later found on the Number 70 Village Public Road on the Corentyne.

Evidence had indicated that the carpenter was thrashed, placed in the trunk of a car and then placed on the road.

It is believed

Murder accused: Marcus Bisram

District Judge, Kiyo A Matsumoto presided over the case on Tuesday, where she upheld that there was sufficient evidence for Bisram to be repatriated to Guyana. Judge of the Eastern District, Peggy Kuo had similarly ruled that the evidence was enough, and an extradition order was signed.

On October 31, 2016, Faiyaz Narinedatt was beaten and ran over with a motorcar at the alleged orders of Bisram, after the carpenter declined sexual advances that were made by the overseas-based Guyanese.

The body of 27-year-

that five henchmen – Radesh Motie, Diadatt Datt, Harri Paul Parsram, Orlando Dickie and Niran Yacoob – were instructed by Bisram to dump the body and make his death seem as a result of vehicular accident. While two of the men had confessed to the killing, Bisram’s mother and sister were accused of offering bribes to dissolve the case.

The Guyana Police Force came in for unprecedented criticism after several Police Officers in Berbice were implicated in a plot to cover up the murder. All of the accused have since been

committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder after a Berbice found Magistrate that a prima facie case has been made out against them.

On March 7 2017, a warrant was issued for Bisram by the judicial system in Guyana and since then, he has been fighting his extradition by challenge by all means. According to the case’s background as outlined in the judgement, High Court Judge Navindra Singh had dismissed the case on November 24, 2017.

Meanwhile, the murder-accused mother, Sharmila Inderjalli had petitioned the courts to expedite the judicial process regarding her bid to have the Director of Public Prosecutions withdraw the murder case.

State attorneys, however, contend that Bisram’s lawyers have been abusing the court’s process and in July, Inderjalli had to pay G$250,000 to the State when Appeal Court Justice Rishi Persaud and acting Justices, Arif Bulkan and Rafiq Khan denied her application.

The Appellate Court’s decision was read by acting Appellate Justice, Dr Arif Bulkan, who orated that the applicant’s filing repeated litigation amounted to an abuse of the court’s process.

Just last August, an appeal was also made to the

Caribbean Court of Justice to which it upheld the court’s ruling which stated that Bisram will have to wait at a New York holding facility as long as he is fighting the extradition process.

With this new development in the case, the murder-accused could soon be deported to Guyana where he will be arraigned for murder.

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THAG President Mitra Ramkumar

ajor carrier American Airlines is all set to start direct flights between Georgetown and Miami from November 15. This will coincide with the Guyana Tourism Authority’s celebration of Tourism Awareness Month, according to the Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) President Mitra Ramkumar.

He said in pushing local content, 12 local agents were currently undergoing three weeks of intensive training for passenger services representatives at the Duke Lodge Hotel.

Following the completion of the training exercise, Ramkumar explained that another batch of locals would be engaged in lead agents and airport coordinator training sessions.

“With this, the tourism industry is making strides and we welcome more airlines to Guyana, because it is a very important part of our tourism product and I believe it will boost tourist arrivals in Guyana,” Ramkumar added.

American Airlines will use an Airbus A319 aircraft, which has eight first-class seats and 120 economy-class seats.

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Time to stop the madness What is really happening in Guyana? at the City Constabulary Dear Editor, I read, with a disturbed mind, about a 53-year-old former Police Officer who raped a three-year child in Guyana.

Things like these bother the psyche of humans and we can ask ourselves many questions like: Who can we trust these days with our children?

What kind of a human would think in such an evil way about a child? Will a life sentence be good enough, or instant hanging?

As I continued reading, about another story of two soldiers raping a young lady, another story popped up whereby a police officer emptied his gun into his reputed wife and pleaded insanity in court, and yet another, whereby a senior police superintendent killed someone due to drunk driving and so many men in Guyana beating their spouses and girlfriends to death and then committing suicide. Worst of all, a pastor was sentenced to 40 years in jail for raping a teenager.

The dismal news around us on a daily basis can disturb your mind for an eternity but they make headlines in our newspapers. What is more disturbing is that the people in the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defense force can no longer be trusted. These

people who are placed to represent Law and Order, and to lookout for the citizens, are the ones using their power to hurt helpless people. Since the inception of the GPF and the GDF, many rogue individuals join the Force, most of whom can barely read and write, so profound ignorance has become the order of the day. I have visited several Police stations and what I have observed is that most Police officers use cuss words or indecent language when they talk to each other or citizens. They are setting a bad example, but they do not know any better. I was happy to hear that our new Police commissioner has a plan to weed out bad eggs from the Force; he has an incredible task ahead of him-it will be like trying to wash the wind, but I wish him well.

Only God knows the heart of humans, but many people today do not believe in God. This entire nation needs to go back to basics, go back to church.

The family life must be returned.

Husbands and wives must be leaders in their homes and families. Crime is THE result of broken families and the great neglect of our young people.

Regards, Rev Gideon Cecil

Dear Editor, One has to wonder if the time has not come for the disbanding of the City Constabulary of Georgetown; if the time has not come for the formal handing over of the responsibilities of protecting the city to the national police who are already performing this function and if the time has not come for the property rates of citizens to be better spent.

Every time one hears from the Chief, one hears of the human resource and other constraints faced by the Constabulary, yet they have the resources to provide eight bodyguards to the Mayor and another batch of bodyguards to the Town Clerk plus static security at their residences as though these individuals are Heads of State or Government.

Recently, they re-

ceived as a gift 30 or more bicycles and allied equipment, and had officers trained in the United States, yet the citizens have never seen more than six bike patrol officers? Can six officers patrol all of the wards of the city effectively?

However, when the notorious parking meter project came into operation, dozens of Constables were found to harass supposedly errant drivers, even pestering the driver and security detail of a former president. Where have these Constables gone to?

Now we hear of an epiphany the Mayor has awakening out of 24 years of slumber to realise that the Constables are on the take. Oh please! What is City Hall, Comedy Central? Is she ‘Sally in the Alley’?

Even a small private security force engaged

by the vendors of the Bourda Market has proven to be more effective capturing a criminal in just a few weeks of their engagement. Is that not convincing enough?

All we hear from the Constabulary is the shooting to death of mentally-ill young men, sexual assaults against minors, arms, ammunition and bulletproof vests going missing, the pillaging of its training school, fights in its headquarters with citizens, beatings by senior officers of their paramours, bail money and welfare money going missing, shaking down of vendors, and harassment of business persons.

And when their Chief is asked about it, all he has to say is in terms of this, and in terms of that, and in terms of the other.

Sincerely, Roseanne Rodgers

Justice and fairness Attacks on the Opposition seek to justify Govt’s corruption, are key elements incompetence and failures of compassion Dear Editor, Human nature is invariably flawed with envy, greed, jealousy, and sometimes cruel instincts, yet even in the worst of us, there is the attribute of compassion. The attribute of compassion may vary. However, its underlying nature remains the same- to do good. Large attributes and mercurial fragments encompass empathy, kindness and action. In whatever form or matter, compassion is within each of us. Compassion is often aligned with the indefinable soul. The villains of compassion are hate, which is a permanent imbalance of the brain -or a disease-, and anger considered by many to be a form of temporary insanity. International and/ or Local Corporations, through their executives and individuals need to show compassion, especially when in high office. The reality is that those losing high office, often seek compassion from the new overlords, who are now entrusted and contracted with executive and administrate power.

Reason does not always govern compassion; the compassionate act may arise out of human nature- like a cat protecting a mouse; most unusual and unexpected, yet time and time again, generation after generation, within all epochs, compassion has rendered its virtues and limitless nature in small and large ways.

Its strands of beneficence have never not been present over the millenniums. Forgiveness is a subset of compassion and we

all, at some point in our lives seek compassionate acts from family, a stranger, friend or foe.

It is this compassionate will, within the human nature that distinguishes us from the lower class of animals. The ability to reason and be reasonable, is the essence of human beings that distinguishes us from all other life forms on this earth and speaks to the higher spirits that resides within us all. What you may ask is the purpose of this letter? This letter seeks to let compassion bloom in Guyana, and undoubtably both the giver and receiver of compassion, will resonate positive connections across race, religion, culture and class, and the ties of compassion will strengthen our nation.

The law is lesser than custom and convention; and the law, custom and convention are all secondary to compassion.

Confucius the preeminent philosopher, believed by many to have the greatest mind over the last 2,500 years, noted that: “Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men”. The Greco-Roman philosophers Plato and Cicero referenced wisdom, courage, temperance and justice as the cardinal virtues, with justice considered the most important virtue. I will be in good company with Confucius to say that justice or fairness are key elements of compassion.

Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

Dear Editor, The massive crowds converging at all the venues where the Leader of the Opposition kept his community and public meetings speak volumes of his growing popularity as the true leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Not only members, supporters but a growing number of Guyanese from other political parties are now being converted.

They have great confidence that he will deliver this country once again on the path to social and economic development. They have seen what the People’s National Congressdominated Government can do in just over three years!

What is the secret to this growing popularity of the PPP? Undoubtedly, Jagdeo is not only charismatic but his intellect and acute analysis on micro- and macro-economic realities and his ability to formulate and deliver sound economic policies is unparalleled.

The people of Guyana wait expectantly on him to deliver his weekly trade mark press conferences which not only bringto the fore the many failed policies of the coalition Government but highlights their inability to run the affairs of this country and their penchant for corruption and squandering. If only the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) can take a page out of his book! But no, their venomous attacks on him and the PPP seek to justify their corruption, incompetence and many failures!

Imagine the PPP leader went to Linden and attracted an unprecedentedly huge crowd at a Local Government Election campaign.

The AFC had bragged that they will outperform the APNU in Linden, but it seems that their main contender is the PPP. They should now rethink that conclusion. Fortunately, this foretells not only the growing support for the PPP, but it is an indication that the APNU/ AFC coalition will never be able to regain power at the 2020 General Elections. Their days are numbered. They have desperately failed to deliver to the people to whom they shamelessly promised the ‘good life’ and those

people are now doing the delivering!

What have Nagamootoo and Ramjattan delivered to the people, especially those in Berbice? Nagamootoo is so deathly afraid to keep a community meeting in the village of Whim where he was born, although he bribed them with a road and a few streetlights. He had to keep a poorly attended PTA meeting at Auchlyne Primary, the school he attended as a kid. It is a personal insult to him that on that same day, his nemesis Jagdeo kept a bottom house meeting at Whim where more than 300 persons attended. His regular ‘bottom house’ meeting is by his brother’s residence by the roadside next to a rum shop. It was just a few weeks ago that 50 residents from the Whim/ Bloomfield LAA signed affidavits to have their names removed from the AFC backers’ form.

Such is his popularity in his village!

Nagamootoo had gone there personally with his team to ensure that they could at least influence some of his family and friends to support the AFC. He had failed in his quest and called the people ‘namak haram’ (ungrateful), reminding them of the few street lights and the road to the Hindu temple. What a hypocrite! He had blasted the PPP for using State resources to campaign at elections.

The same happened at Ramjattan’s village. He used the CPG Liaison Officer to fill out backers’ form for the AFC and the same fraudulent exercise occurred. There were scores of people who swore to affidavits that they did not sign these backers’ forms and a dead person and some persons who have migrated also signed.

The AFC and its partner, the APNU should now realise that ‘good life’ and ‘fit and proppa’ have already been transformed into the overused cliché category and the marketing appeal has long been lost. These terms may very well be classified as ‘obscenities’ by the poor and impoverished people, the small man who accounts for 80 per cent of the population.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana opens first Children’s Court …more coming in 2019

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Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, cuts the ribbon with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and acting Chief Justice Roxane George

s the first Children’s Court opened its doors to the public on Wednesday, plans were announced to construct more such facilities outside of the capital city of Georgetown in the coming year by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative to Guyana and Suriname, Sylvie Fouet.

The new court, which is housed at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, will serve to better the lives of juveniles. “We believe the court is very timely and sustainable. It’s an investment, a sustainable investment especially when we look at the principle underlying the Juvenile Justice Act… for UNICEF the investment we believe is needed and we will give dividend to the young people,” Fouet said.

It was on this note that the representative highlighted, “In 2019, the plan is also to support the expansion to the court… so the spirit is also to decentralise; to go outside Georgetown and I understand that we also have plans to have similar sessions taking place in other cities in Guyana and we will support definitely the way we can”.

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams said he believes there is no better way for a country to show its respect for hu-

man dignity than by “making appropriate provisions for the protection of its children and for securing their best interests”.

According to him, the establishment of a Children’s Court is essential to ensuring that the objectives of the Juvenile Justice Act are advanced and achieved. He added that it is vital to ensuring a more rehabilitative and restorative system of juvenile justice.

“It is essential to promoting the best interests of our children,” the Attorney General said.

Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, pointed to the importance of the new court and how juveniles will be sentenced using the new legislation, the Juvenile Justice Act. “In terms of sentencing, we are guided by modern principles of sentencing and again the whole idea is to carry out sentences through the safe, fair and humane custody and supervision of our young people so the least restrictive measures consistent with the protection of the public and of personnel working with juveniles are to be used,” She explained.

Magistrates Annette Singh and Dylon Best have undergone training to deal with juvenile cases.

Timehri man charged for killing ‘drinking buddy’

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Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) labourer was on Tuesday hauled before the court of law after he was slapped with a charge of murder.

Phillip Solomon is accused of killing his “drinking buddy”, Vernon Cummings during an argument last week.

It is alleged that the 41-year-old man murdered Cummings, also known as “Ervil”, on October 24, 2018 at Timehri.

According to the prosecution’s case, the two men, who were both labourers, were at a wharf at Timehri, where they would normally consume alcohol together. However, on October

24, 2018, while they were imbibing, an argument ensued between the two. Based on reports, the now deceased man armed himself with a piece of iron and attacked the accused, who then armed himself with a piece of wood and the two began lashing each other about the body.

Solomon’s brother was alerted and went to the scene. He took away the piece of iron from Cummings, but his brother dealt Cummings a blow to his head causing him to fall to the ground.

He was then rushed to the Diamond hospital where he died while receiving treatment. The case will continue on November 12, 2018.

Nightclub assault: Businessman slapped with attempted murder charge

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mran Khan, the 32-year-old businessman who on Sunday last allegedly pummeled a disabled man in front of popular night club, Palm Court was on Thursday slapped with an attempted murder charge at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Khan of Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, was arraigned before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan for the attempted murder of Romario Baljeet.

The accused was not allowed to plea to the indictable offence and as such, was remanded to prison to reappear on

File photo: The injured Romario Baljeet following the incident

Television (CCTV) footage beating and kicking at Baljeet who attempted to pass between him and

Accused: Imran Khan

November 19, 2018.

On Tuesday, Khan’s brother, 37-year-old Safraz Khan appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore for gun related charges which occurred the said night but was however granted G$50,000 bail.

It was previously reported, that Khan was seen on Close Circuit

friends outside of Palm Court.

The victim was in the company of a female friend when he was allegedly pushed to the ground by Khan who then proceeded to kick him repeatedly to his head.

He was later picked up and rushed to a private medical facility

where he is still admitted as a patient.

Khan was also implicated in 2017 for reportedly pulling a gun on Trinidadian artiste; Rodney LeBlanc also called ‘Benjai.’

Benjai’s assault which is currently before the court is focused primarily on the colleague of Khan, Maverick DeAbreu, who allegedly hurled an object which connected to the right side of the soca singer’s face, causing him to receive injuries.

Both men were reportedly in a vehicle outside of Palm Court but were reportedly blocked

by LeBlanc and his entourage. It was reported that Khan exited the vehicle after LeBlanc reportedly tapped the trunk when it clipped a patron that was standing next to him.

This allegedly prompted Khan to exit the vehicle with a firearm pointed at the soca artiste while his colleague DeAbreu exited after him and allegedly followed up with the assault.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘We have regained party supporters who had been sidetracked’ …Jagdeo tells Lindeners

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eader of the O p p o s i t i o n and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday evening shared his enthusiasm of the Party securing victory at the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) on November 12 and General Elections in 2020, reiterating to Lindeners that the Party will “sweep the polls.”

Speaking at Mackenzie, Linden where hundreds turned for the LGE meeting, Jagdeo reiterated the PPP’s goals, stating that the Party has regained supporters, who had previously been sidetracked. He said those persons have realised Government’s failed campaign promises and are now back in full support of the PPP. “Every single promise that they made to our people, they broke… now, people’s eyes are opened. They’re back with us and many who supported them are with us too. And that is why

Cheddi Jagan. “We welcome everyone… Who you voted for in the past doesn’t matter. We work for Guyana, we work for all of our people…Every single person, regardless of your race, your religion, your gender, your class, you’re welcomed to the People’s Progressive Party, now as it was then. Because we were

justice and dignity for all of our people,” he said.

Jagdeo restated that voting at the LGE will be the first vote towards the Party taking back Guyana in 2020, as he shared his vision for progress. He told supporters that under the current Government there has not been a single major investment,

Also addressing the gathering was Party member and Opposition Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill who stressed that the upcoming LGE should not be taken lightly. Once elected, he said constituency representatives will not be allowed to “do their own thing”. “We are on a march for victory come

Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo

in 2020, we’re going to sweep the polls. You’re about a year and a half away from deliverance in this country, because we’ve worked together right across Guyana to take back this county…”, he told the large crowd, who gathered inside the compound of the Party’s Linden office.

Jagdeo added that the only way the election victory can be achieved is through support, as he also urged full support

for candidates contesting in the upcoming LGE. “The only way that we can achieve this is by all of you playing a role,” Jagdeo stressed. He noted that while no candidate is perfect, all of the Party’s candidates stand for a cause. The Party’s General Secretary extended an open invitation, noting that all are welcomed to the Party, as he reiterated the basis of its establishment by founder-Leader Dr

Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo

established for a cause.

And the cause was one of

noting that every sector is currently on a decline.

November 12”, Edghill reiterated.

Royston King fails in bid to challenge legality of City Hall CoI R

oyston King, Town Clerk of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC), has been unsuccessful in his attempt on Monday to obstruct the work of the Commission of Inquiry into City Hall’s operations by filing an affidavit challenging the legality of its establishment.

Chairman of the CoI, Justice (Retd) Cecil Kennard, ruled that the probe was duly constituted, and in accordance with provisions made under the Local Government Commission Act and supplementary laws.

Having been Town Clerk of the M&CC for some three years, King has been subpoenaed to present himself for questioning. He turned up on Monday with his attorney, Maxwell Edwards, at the Critchlow Labour College, where proceedings of the CoI are taking place. A five-page affidavit was submitted, which questioned the manner in which the inquiry was established, and its legality.

“In terms of the affidavit, it says that…the Commission must be declined jurisdiction to conduct this inquiry, and the basis to that is, I would submit, that this Commission is void and a nullity on two grounds,” the Town Clerk’s attorney said.

Edwards’s argument is that the Local Government Commission Act does not permit for an investigation to be delegated to a Commission of

Inquiry, but only that of a local authority.

He also alluded to the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, which states that Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan is responsible for establishing such an investigation. He further stated that this was not done, since the Local Government Commission was the respective body that launched the investigation.

“The first (point of contention) is the jurisdictional ground, and that has to do with the interpretation of Section 14 (1) and (2) of the Local Government Commission Act, under which this Commission has been established,” said Edwards.

Further, he added, “Having a right under the eighth schedule [of Chapter 28:01] to establish a Commission. Certainly, this is not a Commission established by the Minister [of Communities].”

However, submission from the Commission’s lawyer, Everton Singh Lammy, is that the CoI was established legitimately under provisions made by the Local Government Commission Act, and the appeal was effectively dismissed by evidence presented in Section 14.

He further noted that sections of Chapter 28:01 were exercised in the Local Government Commission Act. Singh-Lammy referenced from the Act and stated, “For the purpose of the exercise and

Royston King

discharge of its function, the Commission shall have the power to initiate and conduct investigations into the activities of any local government organ.

“For the purpose of dealing with matters before it, the Commission shall have all the powers to submit witnesses, and all the privileges and immunities as vested in a Commission appointed under the Commission of Inquiry Act,” Section 14 (2) continues.

Provided with concrete evidence, the Chairman ruled, “The magnitude of such an investigation demands that the inquiry be conducted by a trained legal person, and not lay persons who are commissioners of the Local Government Commission; and one would have to adopt a realistic approach and examine all the relevant sections.

Does that mean that the Local

Government Commission cannot delegate some of its functions? Surely not. That would be adopting a very narrow view.

“I’ve been spending a lot of time looking at the various legislation, statutes, and I’ve come to the conclusion that this Commission of Inquiry was properly set up.”

In an effort to shortcut the Town Clerk’s time on the evidence stand, Edwards disclosed that King was concerned about whether he would get justice from the inquiry. This was because historical records were examined by Justice Kennard after it was disclosed that King had instructed for those documents to be removed from the archives.

“These are books of historical purposes that date back to 1843. What relevance would that have…with a Commission?” Edwards questioned, seemingly upset while holding a newspaper that had the story inked on the front page.

Those doubts were laid to rest by the retired Justice, who outlined that to conduct a proper investigation, the issues that were brought to attention must corroborate at all angles to ensure that ideal recommendations are made.

Additionally, he said, the state of affairs of these books needed to be examined as well.

Representing the Commission, Attorney-atLaw Sherwin Benjamin remedied the situation by denoting,

“You would appreciate that the Commission of Inquiry have to make recommendations on what is the truth, what evidence came out. We decided that out of abundance of caution, we have to investigate and ensure either side, because the information we got was conflicting.”

Royston King has again been summoned to the CoI, where on Friday he will answer questions regarding several matters which were highlighted at the prior sessions. These include the no-confidence motion that was dismissed after opinions were sought from his lawyer, and the land owned by NICIL which was leased to a shipping company.

No apology

Prior to commencement of the session, Justice Kennard said he was standing by the words he had directed towards Mayor Patricia Chase-Green when she had attempted to create a disturbance during her cross-examination on Friday last.

Justice Kennard has been a lawyer for 56 years, during which time he had also served as State Counsel, High Court Judge, Justice of Appeal and Chancellor of the Judiciary.

Moreover, he had been seconded to serve as Director of Public Prosecutions in Antigua and Barbuda.

Additionally, he has been conferred with the following National Awards: The Order of Roraima (OR) and the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH).

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Berbice woman forced to sleep naked in Police lockups A

B e r b i c e , Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) woman is alleging that the Police in the region has abused their power by placing her naked in

the upper flat saying that they did not need a warrant to search the house.

Neighbours told this publication that during the commotion a gunshot was

Alicia Harry

the lock ups while her teenage daughter is also accusing police officers of assaulting her and placing her in the lock ups with adults.

Alicia Harry, 35, told this publication that she was arrested on Monday and placed in a cell at the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost without any clothing.

The mother of four told this publication that on Monday Police went to arrest her, alleging that she threw at bottle at a Guyana Police Force vehicle on Saturday evening damaging the windscreen. She said that she told officers that she has four daughters ages four, 11, 14 and 16 and if they detained her they will be left on their own at her Lot 44 Williamsburg, Rose Hall Town home.

The woman is claiming that the officers said that they had to conduct a search for drugs at the house.

She said that she resisted the search and the officers began to assault her and two of her teenage daughters.

In the end, herself, one of her daughters, along with her aunt and two cousins were arrested.

She claimed that the two officers went to

fired, and they heard screaming.

One neighbour Wanita Bhagwandin explained that she heard a police officer telling the teenagers that he was going to shoot them on their feet if they did not walk.

“They start to cuss dem girls about they mother…they behave real nasty and bad. They had a New Amsterdam vehicle; the number for the station was on the door,” the neighbor explained.

Meanwhile, Harry said because of what happened at the house, she felt frustrated and she told the Police that she felt like taking her own life. According to the woman, her statement caused the Police to ask her to take off all her clothes and then she was placed in the lock ups naked.

Attorney-at-Law, Chandra Sohan, having heard of the woman’s situation on Monday attempted to secure station bail but was unsuccessful. He told this publication that he questioned the Police as why Harry was not handcuffed to a chair or bench in the view of Police Officers at the Outpost if they

Govt’s focus on ‘plantain chips and cook-up rice entrepreneurs’ misplaced – Jagdeo O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has expressed his disappointment in the current Administration’s approached to job creation – which on the campaign trail leading up to the 2015 General and Regional Elections had said it will be creating employment for young people.

The Opposition Leader’s expression of disappointment was made while addressing hundreds at meeting at Rose Hall, Berbice over the weekend.

He said while President David Granger has been encouraging youth to become plantain chips and cook up rice entrepreneurs, this is not what many young people would have envisaged as their careers when the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration took office.

At the time of his address, Jagdeo was just a few buildings away from where President Granger was just over a week ago when a Berbice youth ask him to speak of Government’s plans for jobs for young people. The President in response then said youths should not look toward Government to provide jobs for them. He urged that they create businesses, saying Government has been providing grants for persons to start up their own businesses. According to Granger, there is great potential in the cook-up rice and also plantain chip considered her suicidal. He said he was told that the officer who was responsible for taking her to the station was not there at the time and there was nothing that could have been done to change how she was accommodated.

“We all know how the lockups are and to have someone in there without clothing could lead to other health issues, but it seems as though the Police are not concerned with that,” Sohan told this newspaper.

It was not until Tuesday morning after much persistence that Harry was released on her own recognisance.

According to Harry, she was helpless as several male officers came and looked at her without any clothing while she was in the cell.

“I had to lie down on that cold concrete without any clothes and they did not give me anything to eat. They didn’t even give me some water to drink,” she told this publication.

Efforts by this publication to get a comment on the matter from Police in Berbice proved futile.

retail business.

“The possibilities of employment with the Government are limited but the possibilities of self-employment are unlimited.

When you ask what are the job opportunities and about the brain drain, I tell you that you don’t have to run and leave because this is the land of promise and opportunities. Young people must learn to go out and create jobs and there are so many possibilities here in East Berbice, anytime you go by the Bridge [Berbice River Bridge] you see people with these big laundry baskets selling plantain chips.

That is business, don’t laugh at them,” the Head of State said.

Jagdeo praised the President for admitting that the Government has no jobs to offer young people.

He said most Corentyne parents will not want their children to become plantain chip entrepreneurs.

“What do we say to our children after you work hard and send them to school and to university and they get qualified? How do we say to them that they have to go and sell plantain chips on the street side? We want jobs in oil and gas for our children. We want jobs in Information and Communication Technology, in agro processing, in the most advanced services in the environmental sector, in eco-tourism, in hotel management; that is what we want for our children so that they can make more money so that they can live a better life,” the

Opposition Leader said.

Jagdeo who was at the time speaking to residents of the town about Local Government Elections (LGE) said before polling day persons need to know about the parties which are in the race.

At the last LGE, there were 16 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and three towns (New Amsterdam, Rose Hall Town and Corriverton) in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) in which they contested.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) won 14 of the NDCs, APNU one and the two parties had a tie at the Gibraltar/Fyrish NDC. APNU won the town of New Amsterdam with the other two towns going to the PPP. However, Jagdeo noted that in the Hog/Lancaster NDC which was won by APNU and New Amsterdam property taxes were increased by 100 per cent.

“They won only two of 19 areas in Region Six and in both areas that they won in 2016, the people who voted for them say their taxes go up by 100 per cent. In the areas that the PPP won, we made it clear that wherever we win we are not going to bring additional burden additional hardships to people. That is a Party’s policy. So any where we win no taxes will be increased, Jagdeo told Rose Hall Town. (Andrew Carmichael)

10 news

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Still no solution over proposed increase in Berbice Bridge tolls D

espite the intervention of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), who sought to bring Finance Minister Winston Jordan to the table with the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) to discuss impending toll increases, these overtures have been snubbed.

This is according to Vice Chairman of the BBCI, Paul Cheong, who in a statement on Tuesday took sections of the media to task for misrepresenting the facts of the company. For one, the Bridge Company outlined that there is no majority shareholder but rather, six investors have either 20 or 10 per cent shareholding.

“It would be of interest to the public to know that BBCI asked the Private Sector Commission to use its good office to arrange an urgent meeting with the Minister of Finance in the matter of the toll adjustment and that the Minister of Finance has refused to entertain the request,” the company stated.

The Bridge Company meanwhile noted that the BBCI shareholding is structured with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) having a 20 per cent ownership, with G$80 million in ordinary shares. NIS also has G$950 million in preference shares.

“The NIS is not the majority shareholder,” the company stated. “No single shareholder owns the majority of shares. In an eight-person Board of Directors, six are ordinary shareholders, including the NIS, one is a preferential shareholder and one subordinated loan holder, including the NIS. The last two categories have no general voting rights.”

“The six ordinary shareholders are not guaranteed a return on their investment.

Their investments are subjected to the risk of the company making a profit and cash flow availability. Since BBCI has

made no profit, no dividends have been paid to any of the shareholders,” the company further outlined.

In an engagement with the media only a few days ago, Minister Jordan was asked whether he had had engagements with the BBCI. In his response, he had revealed that he had interactions with PSC on the matter.

Petty politicking

Last week, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) had been very critical of the Government for its less than mature approach to resolving the proposed toll increases.

FITUG had stressed that Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) supplies the entire country with agriculture produce and thus, higher tolls would result in higher prices for groceries. The Union had therefore noted the seriousness of the situation, from both the economic point of view and the future of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

The Union noted that the coalition Government was elected to lead and should therefore demonstrate genuine leadership and end the “petty politicking” by sitting with BBCI executives without further delay and engaging in sober discussions on measures to avoid the toll rise.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo also said the toll increases seemed to have come as a result of collusion between Government and the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI).

He is of the firm view that this would most likely lead to the Government acting as the “knight in shining armour” who steps in and saves the day

by blocking the increases.

Several stakeholders, economists, civil society and even some shareholders have been calling for a full buyout of the bridge by Government to bring a permanent resolution to the issue.

The increases in tolls were announced by BBCI Chairman, Dr Surendra Persaud, during a press conference recently. According to Persaud, they were formally informed by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson that Government would not agree to their previous requests for an increase.

As per the increases, cars and minibuses will now be charged G$8040; pickups, small trucks and four wheel drive vehicles, G$14,600; medium trucks, G$27,720; large trucks, G$49,600; art trucks, G$116,680; freight, G$1680 and boats passing through the river will be charged G$401,040.

The ownership structure of BBCI is made up of ordinary share capital of G$400 million owned by private investors and preference shares of G$950 million owned by NIS. The holders of the ordinary shares are NIS, Queens Atlantic Inc and Secure International Finance Company, Hand-in-Hand and Demerara Contractors.

Months after, sections of Another Lusignan rehabilitated WCD road falling apart Prison escapee Some 30.7 kilometers of the West Coast roadway was rehabilitated to include bridges and culverts, new ‘shared-use’ lanes for cyclists and pedestrians at key junctions, the installation of high visibility traffic signs and road markers, the installation of pedestrian footpath bridges, the construction of concrete drains at critical locations and the con-

recaptured

The deteriorated section of the road at Vreed-en-Hoop

M

ere months after its official completion, a hole has developed on the Vreed-en-Hoop access road, West Coast Demerara, attracting urgent attention by contractors on Wednesday morning.

When Guyana Times International visited the area, crew members from Jamaican Company ‘Surrey, Paving and Aggregate Company Limited’, who were responsible for the construction of the road had begun drilling holes to surround the sunken section of road, as they explained that they were conducting an examination to determine the reason for the sunken road.

When contacted, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson said he was unaware of what was going on in the area.

Calls made to the Head of the Works Services Group went unanswered.

Dextroy Pollard was recaptured by residents on the West Bank of Demerara (Travis Chase image)

One of the holes drilled by contractors

This newspaper understands that days before the hole formed, the patch was uneven and rough causing motorists to avoid using that section of the roadway.

The G$9.7 billion project was completed by the Jamaican company along with BK International earlier this year after several hiccups and setbacks.

Back in July when the road was commissioned by the subject Minister, it was noted that the project was funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

struction of parking lanes along identified sections of the road, the Department of Public Information reported.

The road improvement project was officially launched on March 20, 2014, at the Pegasus Hotel, and was scheduled to be executed over a period of five years.

The expansion entailed the improvement of about 30.7 kilometres of the West Coast Demerara Road from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo just about one mile East of Parika.

A

nother of the three remanded prisoners who escaped the Lusignan Prison, Holding Bay facility by scaling the fence on October 15, was on Thursday recaptured by residents on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

29-year-old, Dextroy Pollard originally of Wales Village, WBD was recaptured sometime around 14:00h and handed over to the Police.

Pollard was on remand facing a break and enter and larceny charge.

He is the second of the three escapees to be recap-

tured as Travis Evan, who was on remand for murder was found hiding out in Linden.

Evan was apprehended at around 07:45h by ranks of the Joint Services who received a tip-off of his whereabouts.

That leaves Sudesh Dyal, 23, of Wales Backdam who was remanded for break and enter and larceny to be recaptured.

The trio had escaped from the Prison’s Holding Bag at approximately 04:30h on the day in question.

news 11

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘We’re ready’ T

he Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) is denying suggestions that it is behind schedule in its preparation for Local Government Elections.

It has noted that, on the contrary, ballot boxes are under Police guard and are ready to be set up ahead of disciplined services ranks (D Day) voting.

The GECOM position was articulated by Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield at a press conference on Monday.

He explained that GECOM would be prepositioning the ballot boxes at locations around the country to aid in ease of movement for November 2, when Police, army and fire service ranks would turn out to vote early.

This includes prepositioning ballot boxes at locations in E Division, which would cater to ranks in Mackenzie, Wismar, Mabura, Ituni and Kwakwani. Boxes will also be prepositioned in places like Bartica, to cater for guards from the Mazaruni prison to vote.

“Going westward, we will be prepositioning ballots for ranks at Leguan, because ranks at

From left: GECOM PRO Yolanda Warde, GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield and DCEO Roxanne Myers

Leguan and Sans Souci will be voting at Leguan.

And going further west, in G Division, we will be prepositioning (boxes) at Anna Regina to take care of the ranks,” Lowenfield said.

“We’ll be going as far west as St Mary’s Police station up the Essequibo River. So while D-Day is intended to be on the second, we are prepositioning for the ease of movement on D-Day, so that the inordinate time associated with movement will be minimised,” Lowenfield explained.

He noted that preparations for the disciplined services to vote

are well advanced. In addition, Lowenfield reported that he had held meetings with stakeholders earlier on Monday.

He revealed that he has also advised them on the process for nominating agents and scrutineers.

A total of 10,700 polling day staff has been trained. Lowenfield noted that they would be employed and carry out mock polls as practise.

And in light of concerns about the time it would take to tabulate results, the CEO assured that results should be provided in 24 hours.

But when it comes to polling stations,

Lowenfield revealed that GECOM has 1,674 polling stations. He noted that private residences would also be used as polling stations. In fact, there are some 272 of those.

Lowenfield explained that the Commission had invited comments from the commissioners on the suitability of the residences, but, for some time, none has been forthcoming.

“At the level of the commission, I did indicate the areas they are located and asked if there are any comments, meaning negative comments. I have not re-

…GECOM’s CEO says as LGE draws closer ceived any negatives, so we’re moving to confirm those locations,” he explained.

“The posting of polls: we have started, and that will be completed on November 2; so all electors will know, approximately 10 days prior to elections, the locations they will be voting. So the exercise has started.

In my engagement this morning with political stakeholders, they indicated they do have some concerns, and I advised that they provide those details by the end of today,” Lowenfield indicated.

Meanwhile, Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers related that the time period within which persons can apply to vote by proxy has begun, and would last until November 2. She noted that application forms for proxy voters will be issued on November 8.

LGE

LGE will be held in all municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in Guyana using a mixed electoral system of Proportional Representation (PR) and First Past the Post (FPTP).

The PR electoral system is one in which parties’ gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them in a municipality or NDC. For someone to be elected under the Proportional Representation system, they must be on a party list or voluntary group list. Individuals cannot contest in the PR system.

The FPTP system has been explained as one in which an individual gains control by the number of votes cast for him or her. These candidates can come from a party, voluntary group, or as independent contestants.

Fifty per cent of councillors for each municipality and NDC are elected through the Proportional Representation component, while the other half comes from FPTP component of the electoral system.

Under the FPTP system, an individual candidate can contest for only one seat in a single constituency in which he or she is registered and resides. Candidates can only be nominated for one group for the PR and FPTP list.

12 news

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘We want justice’ …Traumatised family calls for thorough investigation into ‘illegal’ search by ‘CANU’ranks

T

Carlene Kishna

wo Georgetown families are now sleeping with one eye open as they remain on the alert, following a raid to their homes last Wednesday evening by persons claiming to be Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks.

The still-traumatised residents of Independence Boulevard, La Penitence, Georgetown, recently related their frustration to this newspaper, noting how afraid they still were.

Sheneza Bacchus, 41, of Lot 241 I n d e p e n d e n c e Boulevard, told this publication on Monday that 10 alleged CANU ranks, two of whom were females, barged into her home about 17:00h on Wednesday last.

Bacchus said she was at home with her two daughters and her son when she saw a van pull up in front of her yard and the men started kicking down her gate. The woman said she ran to her two girls, who were eating, to inform them of what was going on and by the time she got to her back door, a man approache Mother seeking G$10M compensation from State over son’s wrongful death d her and demanded that she step aside.

The frightened woman said she questioned the ‘officers’’ intentions when she was told they were CANU ranks who received reports that the family had drugs.

The startled woman told this newspaper that she informed the men that her family was not involved with anything illegal and even requested a search warrant, but

she was pushed aside.

According to the woman, the men proceeded to her children’s room before ransacking the home. A female rank, Bacchus said, even demanded that she and her daughters strip.

“The female rank, she tell me that I have to go in the room and strip, me and my two daughters. She stripped my big daughter first and then I said how can you strip a lit-

lieved she had something to hide and went into the bottom flat of the house and continued with their search.

After nothing was found, Bacchus said one of the men from the group said he was sorry for what happened as they were just doing their jobs.

The group then proceeded to the home of Carlene Kishna, who lives a few houses away from Bacchus, who also shared her experience.

Kishna told Guyana Times International that the same group of men entered her home about 17:30h on Wednesday after finding nothing in her neighbour’s home.

The woman, who almost had tears in her eyes, explained that she was home with her sickly husband, two children and grandchildren when the men claiming to be CANU ranks went into her home and flashed what was supposed to be an identification card in front of her face while saying that they received reports that she too had drugs and guns

ter the men searched for about 45 minutes, one shouted from the top flat of her home to abort the search.

“When they finished I ask them what about our character and so, because this is what we gun got to be living (with), people gun got to be thinking like if we involved in some sort of illegal things … we really, really scared about this. I am calling even on the President to look into this matter, because is not right.

We can’t continue living in fear like this.

My children are traumatised. I am traumatised,” she added.

The frustrated woman said she suspected that a neighbour, who was an ex-CANU rank, might be the one behind the searches, since they are involved in a land dispute.

No record of search

The two determined housewives, desperate to get justice, on Monday visited the CANU head office and requested to speak to the Head of the agency in relation to the matter. They were, howev-

One of the houses which were searched by ‘CANU’ ranks

tle girl; she is only 15, so she said okay and she didn’t touch us or anything like that.

She took off her top and when they finish with those two, I tell her that ‘I am unclean, I cannot do this’, she said ‘no, you have to go through with this’, so I didn’t take off my clothes completely, I just pulled down my skirt and my top and that was it,” the woman recalled.

Following the strip search, Bacchus said the female rank told the male officers that “everything was clear”.

According to her, the men said they be-

in her home.

The mother told this publication that she requested a search warrant, but she was told that they were CANU ranks and did not require one.

“When we go upstairs, one of them turn to me and say ‘(if) you have jewellery and hundreds of thousands of dollars in here, bring it out’. So I said ‘where am I going to get that sort of money from; I don’t have no money.

We is poor people; we just mind two cows to survive’,” she recounted.

Kishna told this publication that af-

er, unable to meet with the Head.

According to Kishna, the ranks told her that they have no records of such a raid in the said area. She noted too that she was told that she could not make a report at the Police Station, because it involved CANU ranks.

The Head of CANU, Michael Atherly, when contacted by this newspaper, said that he has no record of such a raid. He, however, noted that should any of his ranks be implicated in the unofficial search, they would be immediately dismissed.

Mother seeking G$10M compensation from State over son’s wrongful death but Wallace was the only one who stood trial for the killing. Denying that he was the one who shot Grant, Wallace was acquitted in a 2015 High Court trial during which he had given sworn evidence, telling Justice Navindra Singh and the jury that he saw Grant, Bollers, Troy Greenidge, Nicholas Eastman, and Jamal Henry, called “Tuna”, in a yard and he instructed that Dead teen: Shaquille Grant they “freeze”, having informed them that ix years after losing her son, Shaquille he was a Police Officer.

Grant, who was Wallace said that it was allegedly gunned down then that Bollers shot at at the hands of Police, him.

Bollers had, howevShonette Adams, who

S

mounted civil proceedings in the High Court against the State and the implicated Police Officers, is seeking over G$10 million in damages.

One of the ranks implicated in the shooting was killed in 2014 in a foiled robbery attempt; another was placed on an international Mother of the dead teen, wanted list while Shonette Adams the other accused was acquitted of the lad’s murder in 2015. er, maintained this was In a writ against not true, claiming that the Attorney General of neither he nor any of his Guyana, and Policemen friends opened fire on Warren Blue, Jamal the Police, nor did they Lewis and Terrance have a weapon in their Wallace, the appli- possession.

Two days before cant, on behalf of her son’s estate, is suing Grant’s mother filed her the named parties over claim in 2014, wanted what she contends was Policeman Blue along her son’s wrongful death with an accomplice was on September 11, 2012. shot and killed by fellow She is seeking exempla- Police Officers in a foiled ry damages in the sum robbery at a Montrose, of G$10 million, inter- East Coast Demerara suest, and costs in her permarket. Jamal Lewis December 18, 2014 suit. was meanwhile placed Exemplary damages, on the world’s largest inalso called punitive dam- ternational Police organages, are usually award- isation’s wanted list as ed when the defendant’s he and the now deceased acts are deemed “mali- Blue evaded jail time for cious, violent, oppres- the teen’s killing. The sive, fraudulent, wanton boy’s mother is being represented by Attorney or grossly reckless”.

The 17-year-old Nigel Hughes.

The trial commenced young man was shot dead at Caesar Street on September 26, 2018 in his home village and current Attorney of Agricola, Greater General Basil Williams Georgetown, and the was a no-show on that Police’s version of events occasion. However, a was that they were chas- lawyer from within the ing him and his friends AG’s Chambers, Tiffany when one of them, Romel Castello, appeared and Bollers, shot at ranks, requested an adjournwho returned fire, caus- ment. As such, the matter was called on Monday, ing Grant’s demise.

Blue, Lewis and and was expected to conWallace were all charged tinue on November 22, for the teen’s murder, 2018 before Justice Gino Persaud.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NY-based Sunita Travel Agency donates sports gear to Lima Sands Primary A

fter donating motorized scooters to two deserving Guyanese last year, Sunita Travel Agency, Inc., recently handed over an assorted sports kit to Lima Sands Primary School, five miles aback of the township of Anna Regina, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

“On behalf of the students, teachers and community we would like to thank Sunita Travel Agency of New York and Patrick Mahase family who made this very generous donation to our school. We would like you to know that this will go a long way towards our physical education program,” said Headmistress Joan Russell at the simple ceremony.

The school which evolved from a thatched structure in 1976 boasts an enrollment of over 100 with students from Redlock Village to as far as Mc Nabb. Patrick Mahase, a resident of the area, said that the donation will help the students to

focus on positive in-and-outdoor activities.

“They received table tennis (including tables) and volleyball supplies as well as cricket and football gear. I am acquainted with the students’ needs and it’s important that they develop

their skills with supplies that are on par with others,” said Mahase.

The new L-shaped school which was handed over in 2007, with a growing enrollment has always performed creditably at the Children’s Mashramani Competition, Kiddies Cricket Competition and Inter-School Athletics Championship, said Headmistress Russell.

The travel and vacation specialists, Naresh and Deoranee Seegobin of Sunita Travel Agency, 129-02 Liberty Ave (side street), said that when they heard of the pristine agrarian community, and of the discipline and enthusiasm of the children, they were immediately motivated to contribute meaningfully to their development.

“I am glad that our agency

can assist Lima Sands Primary School even so far away.

Students with the humility and the will to learn where opportunities are limited should be assisted as much as possible. While

we recognize our customers via raffle tickets and novelty items etc., it is supporting programmes as these which are really so fulfilling,” said Ms. Seegobin.

The popular travel agency of Richmond Hill, Queens and beyond, serving the community for more than ten years, also donated a bat to a member of the Guyana Under-19 team Joshua Jones. Jones a resident of the area expressed thanks to the agency and said this will definitely help him as he is interested in developing as a player with all-round potential.

Among those present and expressing appreciation to the donor team were several other teachers of the school including Judy Campbell, Sheneva Calvan-Peters, Farhanna Gafoor, Darshanie Bisnauth, Kerryann Rose, Natashia Verwayne, Tricia Karim and Frances Christianson

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Chase-Green makes second appearance before City Hall CoI

I

n her second appearance to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI), the Mayor of the Georgetown municipality completely distanced herself from the decision-making process at City Hall and further suggested the fact that she is merely a figurehead.

In her two and a half long witness statement on Wednesday, Mayor Patricia Chase Green stated under oath that she presides over statutory meetings of the Georgetown City Council, but is required to proceed with the decision that is made by the Councillors. Chase Green also sought to mention that she is guided by the “law” on how she should act.

The majority of the questions that were asked revolved around the No-Confidence Motion that was filed against the Town Clerk, Royston King

by Councillor Sherod Duncan and the manner in which it was dealt.

This arose after the Mayor allowed King to seek advice from his lawyer, Maxwell Edwards, and this was presented to the Council. King subsequently requested that the motion should be placed for discussions, but it was brought before the Council.

The motion was then dismissed via a vote from Full Council and during that March 12 meeting; Chase Green was presiding as the chair. She is contending that the Town Clerk is required to sit in such proceedings as was done before.

“This is not the first motion coming against any Town Clerk. There were motions brought before former Town Clerks and [they] sat in situations as Town Clerks and dealt with those motion,” she stated.

The Mayor attempted to further diverge herself from the perplexed way in which the matter was addressed by stating in her defence, “I’ve known of no other Mayor that has been held accountable for motions not debated in the Council.”

Despite these retorts, retired Justice Cecil Kennard remained steadfast in his thoughts that independent legal advice should have been sought.

Adding to these factors, the Mayor then divulged that she is of the view that Edwards is an advisor to the City Hall administration. This is seemingly contradicting to her response to the letter of summon which

remove the fence.

Unsettled NIS

Debt Recovery Manager of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Louise Bryan also presented documents on Wednesday, in respect to City Hall’s indebtedness which states that an excess of G$206 million is owed to City Hall, dating back since 1994.

Bryan told the Commission, “It is for the period September 1994 to August 2018…part payments would have been made. There are still outstanding monies… [It’s] over G$206 million.”

Former employees of the Council appeared before the CoI in the last few weeks, stating that Mayor Patricia Chase Green during her first witness statement chaired by Justice Cecil Kennard

labels Edwards as the “Town Clerk’s lawyer”.

Representing the CoI, Attorney-at-Law Everton Singh-Lammy highlighted sections of the letter written

by Chase Green which states, “The motion came before me with an advice by the Town Clerk’s lawyer.”

Playground saga

While maintaining that she is unaware of most of the ongoing issues at the local organ body, Mae’s School faced the brunt when it was admitted that no lease was granted to the institution to occupy part of the Farnum Ground.

Additionally, she confirmed that no permission was given to construct a fence.

Former Mayor Hamilton Green would have only given consent for the students to utilise the community ground during their break periods.

“I’m not aware of any lease that was given to Mae’s recently or prior to now but I know they were given permission to use the space…I’m not aware through the committees that permission was given to them to erect a fence.”

A 12-feet fence currently blockades onethird of the public ground and is being used privately by the school.

She stated that she holds no power over the outcome since the Town Clerk would ask the City Engineer to “do what is necessary”.

Amid outcries by residents of the Subryanville area who are affected by this doing, City Engineer, Colvern Venture told the Commission that attempts are being made to

they haven’t been paid NIS or their severances.

Some have been on the waiting list for years and no response was given by City Hall.

Demand notices issued to the Council, letters to the Local Government Commission (CoI) and a tally of the outstanding payments were submitted and tendered for evidence. This will be included in the deliberations that will create recommendations once the investigation is completed.

To complete a thorough investigation, the CoI was extended and the Town Clerk will present himself on Friday for questioning.

(Rupadai Seenaraine)

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana advised to use ICT to improve classroom teaching

…it will improve quality, delivery – ICT innovator

District Magistrate in the Indian State of Bihar, Kundan Kumar

T

echnological innovation is changing the way that students learn and universities teach, and with an influx of new learning models available, traditional educational methods are bound to evolve in the next decade. As such, Guyana should make use of technology to advance education.

This is the advice of District Magistrate in the Indian State of Bihar, Kundan Kumar, who was in Guyana for the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) biennial conference,

which was held at the Marriott Hotel between October 22 and 24.

Kumar, who led a team from India here, competed in the CAPAM competition. Their project, the Unnayan Banka, won the Reinventing Education using Technology category.

The programme, an interactive online and offline study method, was nominated by the Government of India.

The Indian national said the State of Bihar’s Banka district has re-invented the meaning of ‘smart classroom’ with the introduction of this continued on page 24

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Region 2 rice farmers Govt sensitising foreign businesses on say Govt ignoring their cries for help Guyana’s labour laws

Protesting Essequibo Coast rice farmers

A

Chinese business owners in attendance at the sensitisation seminar on Sunday

number of Chinese business owners were on Sunday sensitised on Guyana’s labour laws.

The seminar focused on the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, Leave with Pay Act, Minimum Wage Order, Occupational Safety and Health Act, decent work as a philosophy and practice, and terms and conditions of employment.

The exercise, hosted at the Chinese Association, Brickdam, was led by Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott; Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle and other labour officers from the Ministry.

With the establishment of several large and small Chinese owned-businesses across the country, Minister Scott noted the timeliness and importance of the seminar in ensuring these business owners comply with the local labour laws.

It was highlighted that many businesses seeking to maximise profits often find themselves in contravention of the labour laws.

“Breaking those laws can affect your success and your continued survival. It is better to be educated with the requirements of our laws and comply with them, as opposed to relying on high-priced lawyers to fight your case

in court,” Minister Scott stated. Chief Labour Officer Ogle told the business owners the Labour Department (which falls under the Social Protection Ministry) focused on protecting the rights of workers. He explained its remit included ensuring payment of the minimum wage and above, ensuring workers’ contributions were made to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), and employees receive their annual leave.

Ogle also pointed out that employees should only work eight hours a day and five days per week. If there is need for an employee to work beyond that, he noted, the employee is entitled to be paid overtime. According to Ogle, it is stipulated in the laws that every employer must have a “record of wages, a record of leave; the law says in Section 10 of the Labour Act, all employers must keep a record of wages. Also, under the Leave and Pay Act, Section Eight, stipulates that the employers must keep a record of the Leave with Pay Act,” he outlined.

The sensitising of foreign entrepreneurs on Guyana’s labour laws is an ongoing countrywide exercise by the Labour Department. A similar exercise is slated to be carried out with the Brazilian business owners.

Education Ministry commissions G$12M ICT labs

P

Education Minister Nicolette Henry cuts the ribbon with a pupil of Eccles Primary to declare open the new lab

upils of Eccles Primary on the East Bank of

Demerara are now learning Information Communication

Technology (ICT) skills, with the commissioning of the new lab hand-

E

ssequibo Coast rice farmers picketed Agriculture Minister Noel Holder as he commissioned a G$103 million pump station at Land of Plenty, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

On Monday, Region Two rice farmers demonstrated against Minister Holder at the commissioning of two new pumps installed at the Land of Plenty koker. As the Minister made his way to the pump station, rice farmers accused him of ignoring them.

According to the farmers, several letters were dispatched to the Minister concerning the hardships they are facing in the industry, but they never received any response nor acknowledgement. The farmers said that they also wrote the Minister asking for a meeting, but again to no avail.

Leading the protest was Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj, who said that after visiting the farmers and listening to their complaints, he too wrote Minister Holder seeking his intervention, but, to date, did not receive any acknowledgement.

He said the unresponsiveness of the Minister was the driving force behind the protest on Monday.

After the opening ceremony, the Minister met with the rice farmers, who shared their many concerns. Farmers are seeking the Government’s intervention to negotiate with commercial banks for loan rescheduling, assistance with fuel, seed paddy, etc. However, during the meeting, the Minister said that there was little he could do at this point, since if he granted concessions to Essequibo Coast rice farmers, it would set a precedent for others to follow. This did not sit well with the farmers, who said that they believe that Government can do something to help them, but chooses not to act. The farmers reminded the Minister that former President Bharrat Jagdeo had previously rescued the industry when ed over by the Education Ministry on Monday morning.

The newly-erected facility, along with equipment which will benefit more than 200 pupils, is said to be worth some G$6.5 million according to the System Development Coordinator, Geodfrey Munroe.

Education Minister Nicolette Henry pointed to the need for such facilities in each school and announced plans for more ICT labs in other primary schools.

She said, “I am very excited to have the opportunity to do that

they were experiencing difficulties by meeting with local banks to have loans rescheduled as well as millers, helping with removal of taxes, fertilisers, and much more to bring the industry back on its feet.

The farmers questioned why the coalition Government could not do the same for the industry.

During the protest on Monday, farmers said that the lending agencies have started to seize machinery and equipment purchased with loans.

Ken Albert Cornette of Dartmouth said that his tractor was seized earlier this month, and he lost over G$3 million in down payments. Additionally, the farmer said he lost over 200 acres of rice owing to bugs.

The Minister advised that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) would meet with the millers, but the farmers said that they had lost all confidence in that agency.

However, GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan said that he met with millers in Region Two, but Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt was contending that he was informed of the meeting, although it was done in the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) boardroom a few feet away from his office.

The Minister advised that all such meetings must go through the Regional Chairman, since he was part of Government and headed the Region.

On Tuesday last, having already faced reduced prices for their paddy and increased production costs, farmers in Region Two were forced to destroy over 1000 acres of their rice at State Farm, which lies aback Dartmouth on the Essequibo Coast, as a result of ‘blast and bug’ infestation.

Guyana Times International was told that in their bid to prevent a complete annihilation of the crop, some of which was badly damaged, the farmers set the fields on fire.

(commission the ICT lab, because) I know that ICT is very important for the delivery of education at this current time.”

The Minister told the pupils who attended the brief commissioning ceremony that the lab would serve to benefit both themselves and the teachers there. Henry stated, “If you use the computers that we are putting in the lab, it will help you with both literacy and numeracy. The reason why we are putting these computers is to bridge the gap in access to quality education … we also want to ensure that all our stu-

dents are digitally literate…we also want to ensure that our teachers, our educators have access to resources that are available online”.

Also benefiting from a new ICT lab was the Tucville Primary in Georgetown. There, 432 pupils will utilise the G$6.5 million facility.

Last year, some 95 primary schools benefited from ICT labs, and three more are expected to be commissioned.

Minister Henry noted her commitment to continue this drive until all primary schools across Guyana have ICT labs.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

After months of protests, dismissed sugar workers to be paid full severance

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fter two long years of waiting for their monies, some 460 retrenched workers attached to the Wales Estate are to finally receive their severance before the end of this year as the National Assembly on Wednesday evening approved G$2.4 billion in severance payments for over 4000, Wales, Berbice and East Demerara sugar workers who were thrown on the breadline when Government closed several sugar factories.

The monies were approved when all 62 Members of the Parliament on Wednesday evening voted in favour of G$3 billion in supplementary funds under the Agriculture Ministry’s current expenditures.

Government requested and received approval for a total of G$7.5 billion in supplementary funds. This includes G$4 billion in current estimates and G$3.4 million in capital.

Of the entire supplementary funds, the Agriculture Ministry requested G$3,051,000,000 of which G$2.451 billion is to meet final severance payments to some 4733 former workers

Members of Parliament examining the supplementary funds request in the National Assembly on Wednesday

of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Wales workers In responding to questions from Opposition Parliamentarian Gillian Burton, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder disclosed that the monies being requested include funds to also pay the retrenched Wales workers.

Wales ended opera-

tions in December 2016 and some 375 workers who refused to take up employment at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, remain without severance payments, putting hundreds of families on the breadline and causing economic crisis to surrounding communities.

The workers have been taking to the

streets, protesting for their severance to be paid.

According to Minister Holder, a total of 460 workers from Wales are to get their severance monies. However, despite being asked repeatedly by Opposition MPs, Burton, Komal Chand and Gail Teixeira, about when these payments will be made, the

Agriculture Minister could only assure that the payments will be made before the end of the year. “[They] certainly will get it before the end of the year,” Holder posited, while adding that as soon as the money is available after approval by the House, efforts will be made to disburse same to the dismissed

sugar workers.

When the supplementary request was put up for voting, the Opposition members were silent when Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland asked if any oppose the additional monies. However, the Government’s side called for a division, which was allowed, the People’s Progressive Party MPs having to voting “yes”’ to the Government’s requests.

On Wednesday the opposition called for immediate disbursement of payments. However, despite asking the Government seven times about date for payments none was forthcoming.

Meanwhile, apart from the G$3 billion current estimates, the Agriculture Ministry also got approval for another G$70,738,198 under its capital estimates for the provision of additional inflows consequent on savings after the completion of original programme activities under the Japanese grant to facilitate the payments for the acquisition of an amphibious excavator, three double cab-vehicles and five desktop computers.

(Vahnu Manikchand)

NEWS 23

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s Opposition reiterates call for non-custodial sentences for small amounts of marijuana

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ollowing renewed calls by advocates for the unhindered use of small amounts of marijuana, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, has reiterated his Party’s support for non-custodial sentencing for possession of small amounts of the substance.

During his October 18 address to the National Assembly, President David Granger attracted a group of protesting Rastafarian advocates who were demanding that Government overhaul its stance on marijuana laws, and many were calling for the full legalisation of the narcotic. However, when members of the press raised this with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday last at his weekly press conference, he stressed that the PPP’s position on the matter remains the same.

“We are in favour of alternative forms of sentencing, or rehabilitation; we’re not in favour of legalising marijuana. If you use marijuana, if you sell it, you go to jail as per our existing laws. We’re saying that our laws have to give Magistrates or the Judges the discretion for people who use small

quantities for alternative sentencing”, Jagdeo noted.

The party’s position is in keeping with the call for alternatives to imprisonment, which include community service and small fines.

The Alliance For Change (AFC), which is the minority party in the coalition Government, has been pushing for legislative reform regarding the existing narcotics laws, with its Parliamentarian Michael Carrington having filed a motion to amend the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act in 2015. This sought to soften penalties for marijuana possession.

However, that motion was subsequently withdrawn, and now supporters of changing the

drug laws highlighted that President David Granger did not include references to marijuana reforms in his recent Parliamentary speech.

Guyana Times International was told that the bill is unlikely to receive the immediate attention of the National Assembly, though the body has come out of recess. It was explained that Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence was reviewing certain sections of the document.

The draft bill had stipulated that persons who are found in possession of the drug for personal use would be required to pay a fine of G$10,000, or perform community service for a period of time. Contacted for brief comment on Saturday, Carrington

told Guyana Times International that sections 4, 5 and 12, which deal with completely removing the jail sentences for small quantities of cannabis, were under review.

In late August 2018, President Granger, speaking on the sidelines of an event, gave assurances that non-custodial sentences for small quantities of marijuana were a certainty, and that Government would table legislation to this end. He had even noted that Cabinet had collectively agreed to pursue this position, and that there would have been no difficulty in implementing it.

The issue of non-custodial sentences for small amounts of marijuana was magnified following a March 2016

incident wherein inmates at the Georgetown Prisons started a fire which eventually killed 17 prisoners, while several others, along with prison staff, were injured. A subsequent probe had found, among other issues, significant overcrowding at that penal facility had contributed to the events.

In the past, the Opposition Leader had disclosed that the PPP had made a commitment to support a ‘conscience vote’ should the matter come up for a vote in the National Assembly.

The decriminalisation/ legalisation of marijuana movement is a hot button topic across the globe, with several countries taking steps to decriminalise and legalise the drug.

Though searching the web for links to local studies conducted on the drug’s effects on the brain were unsuccessful, there have been several international studies conducted on marijuana use which have yielded both positive and negative results. In a study conducted by researchers at the Center for Brain Health at The University of Texas at Dallas, United States, it was found that while regular cannabis

use causes the brain to shrink, it also increases the complexity of its wiring. In fact, in the study which was published in 2014, researchers found that the “effects of chronic marijuana use on the brain may depend on age of first use and duration of use.”

Researchers had also attributed “existing abnormalities in brain function” and structure of long-term marijuana users, noting that chronic marijuana users have smaller brain volume in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) section of the brain. It was noted that this part of the brain is commonly associated with addiction.

In this study, forty-eight adult marijuana users and 62 “gender- and agematched non-users” were assessed.

A 2018 study conducted by King’s College of London found that a cannabis extract could help persons who suffer from psychosis. Researchers found that a single dose of cannabidiol, found in cannabis, could reduce symptoms linked to delusions and hallucinations for young persons who newly develop psychosis.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

24 news

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Economist suggests NY Governor urges caution Govt’s buy-out of ahead of heavy downpour, Berbice River Bridge flooding expected this weekend for public good

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

By Samuel Sukhnandan

A

s the time draws closer to the date set for the imposition of fare increases at the Berbice River Bridge, there continues to be great worry over whether this could in fact take effect, or whether the Government would step in and reverse the decision.

Overseas-based economist Professor Tarron Khemraj feels that Government should buy over the bridge in its entirety. He told Guyana Times International on Sunday that the bridge is now financially unsustainable, as compared to when the proposal for its construction was implemented.

“As I said, the demand was not there then; hence the need now for high tolls. Berbice has suffered from depopulation in the past 15-20 years. Therefore, I support buying out or nationalising the bridge,” Khemraj noted.

He said that once the Government owns the bridge, some decisions would have to be made to address the high operating costs of this type of bridge.

According to him, decisions would have to be made with the objective of motivating private sector employment in Berbice.

A former advisor to the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj is also opposed to increasing the bridge tolls, especially because the traffic flow to accommodate the higher tolls is not there.

“This is why they have to increase the price to make up the revenues,” he explained, adding that the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) seems to have forgotten the concept of price elasticity.

“The higher price will contract demand — even though they tried to curtail all substitutes, like the private boat operators and the ferry — and therefore compound the pressure on an already vulnerable region…The BBCI is caught between a rock and a hard place,” he said.

No vision

The economist spared no effort in chastising the coalition Government for appearing not to be certain about what they are doing.

“They rolled up village economies, free markets, green economy, petro-based economy, small

business, etc., all in one,” he said.

At this stage, Khemraj said, it is clear the bridge has a dimension of higher public good than the private aspect. Therefore, he recommended, Government should buy out all of the shares.

“That’s a solution, albeit it can’t be the sole policy action; it will have to be followed by other actions. When you have a public good, the Government has to provide a subsidy. Otherwise, the private sector does not have the incentive to do so,” he explained.

While the BBCI is ultimately responsible to its shareholders, the economist told this publication that BCCI officials have to bear in mind what the demand response is going to be if they take the price too high.

“These are clearly exorbitant proposed increases. I can see some kind of a strategic tit-for-tat

Economics Professor Tarron Khemraj

occurring. The Government can respond by allowing the private boat operators to do business, which will further hurt the investment return. The Government will be more willing to finance any shortfall in the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), but unlikely BBCI,” he added.

He called it ‘unfortunate politics.’ However, Khemraj said he is under the impression that the BBCI is falling for the ‘sunk cost fallacy’. “If you don’t cover your operating costs, you have to let the investment go. You can’t let sunk cost guide future actions,” he opined.

The new fares the BCCI proposes to impose for use of the bridge stipulate that cars and minibuses will now be charged G$8040; pickups, small trucks and four-wheel-drive vehicles, G$14,600; medium trucks, G$27,720; large trucks, G$49,600; Articulated trucks, G$116,680; freight, G$1680; and boats passing through the river will be charged G$401,040.

Government has outrightly rejected the proposed toll increases, but has simultaneously stated its non-support for a buyout.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had told the media that the proposal to buyout the shares of the BBCI is not on Government’s agenda at this time.

The proposed increases are scheduled to take effect on November 12.

G

overnor Andrew M. Cuomo has urged New Yorkers to prepare for heavy rain and thunderstorms that will be moving through the state starting Thursday afternoon and ending on Saturday, a release published on the Governor’s Office website stated According to the release, heavy downpours are possible and could cause flooding in low lying, urban or poor drainage areas. Rainfall amounts of 1.5 to 2.5 inches are expected Thursday through Friday in western New York and the Finger Lakes Region. This heavy rain will fall on already saturated soils. The rain will move across the state and the Capital Region, Mid-Hudson and Mohawk Valley can expect 2 to 4 inches of precipitation by the time the rain ends on Saturday.

"With several systems of heavy rain set to move through New York in the next few days, I am urging New Yorkers to use caution when traveling and to be aware of potential flash floods throughout upstate," Governor Cuomo said. "The state is ready to provide assets and personnel as necessary to ensure localities have the resources they need to deal with potential flooding and to keep our communities safe."

In western New York and

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

the Finger Lakes Region, a slow moving front and area of low pressure will bring periods of rain Thursday through Friday. The heaviest rain will fall Thursday afternoon through Friday morning, and may result in minor flooding. Rainfall amounts of 1.5 to 2.5 inches are expected. Flood Watches have been posted for western New York, including Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Erie and Wyoming counties and will be in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon.

Minor flooding is possible along creeks and rivers. High

Guyana advised to... new technology-based learning app, alongside continuous monitoring of students through a centralised tracking system.

He said the initiative is an employment generator while also creating a virtual classroom for subscribers.

According to Kumar, technology can be an enabler in providing solutions to problems in classrooms, and has proven to be successful in many areas.

In explaining how the model is working in India, he said most of the students belong to tribal communities and have been deprived of quality education for years. The initiative has created hopes in the students and their families to excel in academics and provide much needed support to their families.

The programme, he said, began in August 2017 with 5 schools, and was for students of Class 12. It has now expanded to include 143 schools in the district. According to a report by the Indian Express, the programme has further expanded to facilitate smart class facilities for Class 9 students as well.

From Monday to Saturday, the students of 143 schools in Bihar’s Banka district are made to watch short audio-visuals in social studies, science

and maths for an hour-and-ahalf every day. The topics of these short audio-visuals are chosen from the curriculum.

During these sessions, the students are encouraged to take notes as they watch the videos.

Towards the end of each day, a sheet with five questions each from three subjects is given to the students.

These sheets are then evaluated by the students themselves with the help of the teacher in charge. Students evaluate each other’s work and upload the daily results on the app.

The progress of the students can be monitored by parents, students and administration officials through the app itself. Kumar further said, “The centralised uploading of marks gives us a clear idea of how students have been faring in these three subjects, and also tells which school or area in the district needs intervention.”

With the use of this technology, the Indian District Magistrate posited, Guyana can use ICT to advance teaching.

“There are many constraints that crop into providing quality education to everyone…but technology is a great enable, (and) can provide many solutions to prob-

pressure will bring a return to dry weather on Sunday and Monday.

The Capital Region, MidHudson and Mohawk Valley will experience 2-3 inches of rain Thursday and Friday before the rain ends by midday on Saturday. Noticeable rises will take place on waterways Friday night through Saturday, while mainstream river flooding is not expected at this time, smaller rivers and streams could experience issues.

For a complete listing of weather watches and warnings, visit the National Weather Service website.

from page 20

lems such as teachers’ absenteeism, low learning capacity, and assessment etc.” he added.

Kumar said Guyana can become an entire virtual classroom with the use of technology wherein people in the most remote part of Guyana can have access to education through technology.

“It is changing the landscape of education. It also reduces the barrier of getting an education, getting good quality education and good outcomes. It is very much needed,” he recommended.

He noted that both private and public sectors approve that technological innovations will continue to have major effects on teaching approaches over the coming years.

“Certainly it will be a core differentiator in attracting corporate partners and students in academic institutions.”

Distance learning and online programmes are gradually gaining a firm foothold in academic institutions all over the world, including right here at the University of Guyana and the National Center for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), among other places.

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Man jailed for causing death of wife

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25-year-old man who was charged last year with causing the death of his common-law wife in a motorcycle accident was found guilty and sentenced to two years in jail on Tuesday

by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

Laurent McGarrell was arraigned on a charge of causing the death of his 20-yearold common-law wife, Gaitri Sahadeo, who was killed in a motorcycle accident at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on June 23, 2017.

A breathalyser test conducted on McGarrell after the accident had determined that he had a blood alcohol level of 40 micrograms, which is over the legal limit.

In addition to the causing death charge, McGarrell was also arraigned on a slew of traffic-related charges, namely driving without a driver’s licence, driving without third-party insurance, driving without a safety helmet, carrying a pillion rider without protective head gear, driving a motorcycle while being under the influence of alcohol, and driving a motorcycle

Jailed: Laurent McGarrell

without consent from the owner.

He denied the charges of driving under the influence and taking the motorcycle without the owner’s permission, but admitted to the other traffic-related offences.

He was fined G$7500 for each of the charges in relation to driving without a helmet and carrying a pillion rider without the protective head gear, and was fined G$30,000 for unlicensed driving; while the breach of insurance offence also attracted a penalty of a G$30,000 fine.

McGarrell was disqualified from acquiring or being able to hold a driver’s licence for any class of vehicle for a period of 12 months.

During his first ap-

pearance last year, he broke down in tears and told the court that he “is not in the right frame of mind”.

Nevertheless, a psychiatric evaluation later proved that he was fit to stand trial.

Reports are that the June 23, 2017 fatal accident occurred on the eastern carriageway of the Providence Public Road about 00:30h when the motorcycle suffered a blowout. Sahadeo, who was the pillion rider, had sustained severe injuries to her head because she had not been wearing a

Dead: Gaitri Sahadeo

helmet at the time of the incident. She later succumbed to her injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

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“P

overty is hell and the angels are in paradise driving in their limousine where everything is nice and clean.

A poor man living in a teeny weenie hut, children hungry with nothing in the pot. Gone by the neighbour to beg for some rice, the neighbour under pressure, boy, things ain’t nice…poverty is hell.”

Those were the famous lyrics of legendary calypsonian Winston “Mighty Shadow” Bailey as he sought to address the hardships of poverty faced throughout the world. Like many musicians, he used his talents to address and raise awareness of the social ills in society employing a ready wit and humour.

On Tuesday, a cloud of sadness covered Trinidad and Tobago when it was announced that the Mighty Shadow has moved beyond the

light at the age of 77.

According to his relatives, Bailey died at the hospital following a stroke over the weekend.

He was due to receive an honorary doctorate from the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) on Thursday. He was among five people, including former West Indian international cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who were to receive honorary degrees from the University. Both Bailey and Chanderpaul were to be conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Letters and an Honorary Doctor of Laws respectively at UWI's 2018 graduation ceremony, but only one was able to show up.

Bailey, a former Calypso Monarch and Road March winner, celebrated his 77th birthday on October 4. He was born in Belmont, a sub-

urb of Port of Spain, and grew up in Les Coteaux, Tobago with his grandparents. He won the Road March in 1974 with “Bassman” and 2001 with the tune “Stranger”, making him the competition's oldest winner. He won the Calypso Monarch in 2000 with “What's Wrong With Me” and “Scratch Meh Back”.

He chose the stage name "Shadow" (he didn't use "Mighty" himself) after coming across some workmen digging a road while he was walking. One of the workmen was in a hole below the road surface and the others were calling him "Shadow". Bailey said: "I felt like they was calling me.” In his early years, he performed wearing all black, with a large hat covering part of his face.

Bailey is also known for his unique dance of jumping to the tempo of his music "skip-rope style" with both feet in the air at the same time.

His extremely unique style and dance were exemplified particularly during one of his songs, "Dingolay".

He was the second calypsonian to win both the International Soca Monarch and the Trinidad Road March competitions simultaneously, a feat he accomplished in 2001 with "Stranger". He rivalled fellow calypsonians “The Mighty Sparrow” and “Lord Kitchener” after winning the Road March in 1974.

Bailey is the subject of Christopher Laird's 2017 film “King from Hell”, featuring concert performances and an interview.

In 2003, Bailey received the Hummingbird

Medal (Silver) for his contributions to music in Trinidad and Tobago.

His list of albums includes: 1974 – “De Bassman”; 1979 – “Love

FEATURE 29

Lite”; 1979 – “If I Coulda I Woulda I Shoulda”; 1980 – “Shadow”; 1984 – “Sweet Sweet Dreams”, with his latest being “Fully Loaded” in 2003.

Since his death, the Trinidadian music fraternity has been pouring in tributes. (Times Sunday Magazine)

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Change…

M

…in Brazil

ost Guyanese probably don’t even realise that the giant on our southern border – Brazil – just had a change of government that’s gonna affect us significantly. Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, is a former army captain who’s the exact opposite of that other army officer who became a South American president. Naah! Not David Granger, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

If Chavez was the fiery socialist who smelt a whiff of “sulphur” – an allusion to the Devil — in the presence of Republican US President George Bush, then he would’ve smelled a volcano of that stuff from hell when Bolsonaro’s around!! The labels “left” and “right” came out of the Cold War between Communist USSR and Capitalist USA, but they now represent constellations of values instead of who runs the economy.

They now signal a person’s stand on a host of social issues. Bolsonaro, for instance, abhors gays, coloureds/blacks and environmentalism. He would “privatise” the Amazon forest and open it up for business. To heck with the “peanuts” his country gets for maintaining trees as “carbon sinks” to allow the developed nations to keep on polluting.

But his rise from obscurity is — as is also the case in Venezuela — due as much to the missteps of the leftists who governed Brazil, starting with the charismatic Lula in 2002. With a tremendous amount of popular goodwill behind him, Lula started out like a house on fire. Brazil surpassed Britain as the 5th largest economy in the world, and was looked at to provide a possible new fulcrum of power in the western hemisphere against the US. But the rot of corruption set in, inevitably slowing down the economy and dashing the inflated hopes of Brazilians.

Enter Bolsonaro. Just as Trump did up north, he vented the anger of Brazilians who consider themselves the backbone of the country, and were not enthused about the “liberal” values that had become dominant. Nostalgia for the “good old days” of the military dictatorship of the sixties, when there was “order” and “stability,” gripped the old oligarchy and the upper strata. Bolsonaro publicly approved of the torture used in those days to keep dissidents like Rousseff in line.

But how will all of this affect us? For one, Brazil will now take a hard line against Venezuela — which has always been an irritant to Brazil — for their pretentions as the pre-eminent Latin American power. This should bolster our stand on our border rights with Venezuela. Bolsonaro will definitely dam the river of Venezuelans pouring into Brazil…and for sure we may see some more of them coming here.

As we advised before, our military-origin President should move the GDF to our western borders pronto! …the script The AFC are in panic mode now that it’s clear they’re being dumped into the dustbin of history.

Addressing the PNC party faithful in the Stabroek Market Square, new party Chairman Volda Lawrence tore into them even more viciously than to their supposed arch foe the PPP. This should remind party leaders like Ramjattan and Nagamootoo that betrayers are held in contempt, especially by the folks to whom they sold their souls. And betrayers will never be trusted!!

Since your Eyewitness only reads the Chronic on line, he missed Nagamootoo’s column, since it wasn’t highlighted in the list of “featured” columns. He’s now read a report on it in the Chronic (slow news day?), in which Nagamootoo complains about the PPP holding a meeting nearby to his in Whim…and leaving his to speak to a few stragglers.

But he told a lie that must be corrected: that he was fired as PPP Local Government Minister when Cheddi was out. Not so. Only the President can fire a Minister! …the messenger The Chinese business community was lectured on Guyana’s labour laws by the Junior Minister responsible for the Department of Labour in the Ministry of Social Protection. Implying they didn’t understand English, he stressed the need to have the laws interpreted for them.

Has he had them interpreted for himself?

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Preserving our literary heritage

FEATURE 33

Red Hibiscus by Scott-Ting-Kee by

Petamber Persaud

(Extract of an interview with Scott TingA-Kee, Georgetown, Guyana, August 2018.

Ting-A-Kee won the prize for the ‘Best Graduating Student in Literature’ from the University of Guyana, and the first prize in The Guyana Annual open poetry competition. ‘Red Hibiscus’ is his first novel.)

Synopsis Of Red Hibiscus

Chu hua, Zhaohui and Ren share a grand destiny as the greatest diviners of all time. They are blessed or cursed with clairvoyance and decide to try to change the future. Their very existence and abilities are beyond what the Heavens should allow.

The clairvoyant trio records their shared visions and dreams in the form of poetry hoping that it may be passed down as a warning to future generations.

Yoaguai and gods attack Chu hua, Zhaohui and Ren to silence them and to prevent them from changing the future they see for China and the world. The emperor feels threatened and is not sure if he should exploit their mystic powers or kill them out of fear of them.

Outcasts who rose to legendary destinies now have to work together to save China from a future they do not quite understand while fighting for their own lives.

PP One of your interests is interdisciplinary study of literature and comparative literature of the East and West; let’s talk about the literature of the East and the West.

ST The literature of the West is heavily influenced by Colonialist ideas, Eurocentric ideas while the literature of the East celebrates their religion, their culture, their view of the world and their gods.

At UG, I did a paper where I compared the Gothic elements in one of Mark McWatt’s stories to the Gothic tenets of Japanese literature where they were similar and also different and that was the paper that opened my eyes as to how radically different the literature of the East and the West is, not only in terms of the culture it examines but in terms of how the stories are told, and what perspective they are told from. For example in the Western Gothic tradition, if a character is feeling depressed, wanting to commit suicide, it is perceived as some-

thing bad because from a Christian perspective that is something bad but with the Japanese Gothic tradition especially with some samurais, those feelings of depression are seen as something good, it is also seen as a person entering a new state of enlightenment – so committing suicide is seen as something positive rather than negative which is something I found very shocking when I did the research revealing that I know a lot about Greek and Roman mythology but not a lot about myths of the East – China, Japan, Korea – propelling me to do more research and then it got more and more interesting.

PP You talk about differences, what about similarities between it East and the West in literature?

ST One similarity you would find in both is binary opposites are the key – much of this whole idea of good and evil, right and wrong…

PP Yang and yin …

ST Yes – Yang and Yin. But in the Eastern

literature it is more common to find an ambiguity or a vague ending whereby good doesn’t win or the evil, but there is some sort of compromise where they coexist…

PP Between and betwixt ….

ST Yes but with the Western, it is black or white for the most part …

PP Kind of finite …

ST Yes but what I find with post colonial Caribbean writers – the modernist, the visionary writers like Wilson Harris and those writers who grew up in the tradition of Wilson Harris would explore in in-between spaces more now but that exploration of the in-between is something that Japanese and Chinese have explored for centuries.

PP Scott, your first book, a novel, a novel with a twist, a novel with a difference – how would like for us to view this book, through Western eyes or Eastern eyes?

ST I would like to think I wrote it with enough ambiguity at cer-

tain points so the reader can take it whichever way it goes.

Pauline Melville when she visited UG in 2013, she mentioned when it comes to books, the writer does fifty percent of the work but it doesn’t really become a book and the reader does the other fifty percent of the work because they see the value of it.

I agree with that so I wouldn’t lead the reader to look at it through Eastern or Western eyes. Let them shock me – even show me things that I didn’t know I put in there. However, I intended for it to be a postcolonial work although it is set in ancient China; at its very core, underneath it all, it goes back to the Caribbean and the Caribbean experience. And in my attempt to celebrate, explore and reconnect with Chinese heritage and Chinese tradition, it also points out, on the other hand, what the Chinese descendants in the Caribbean might have lost through colonialism.

PP [Reading from the book] ‘Who can find native gods/In a strange land?.. Are we destined to be slaves? And our gods/What can they do in a strange land?’- is this the connection between east and west?

ST Right.

PP In the author’s note, you stated this Red Hibiscus is ‘a literary experimentation with myth creation and flash forward. I wrote this book in defiance of long dead Kipling who wrote that East and West would never meet’.

Talk to us about Red Hibiscus.

ST Red Hibiscus is heavily steeped in history and mythology so I look at the major gods, the popular ones like Chang'e, the moon goddess, Hou Yi, the great archer, Gong Gong, the water god – they are all in there but in retelling their stories, from my perspective, and the thing is my perspective of these gods is actually influenced by a book I read over and over as a child called Old Tales Retold by Lu Hsun and in that book he took ten of the more popular Chinese myths and folklore and wrote them as short stories so my conception of how a god acted and lived is heavily influenced by his creation of them rather than the established myths…. Now with the myth creation, Chu hua, Zhaohui and Murasaki Ren, the three clairvoyants who are the protagonists of the tale – they of themselves become mythical characters, heroes or villains, depending how you look at them – in addition to

them, there is Lady Xiao Li, the flower goddess, she does not exist in the actual myth, I created her…

PP Wow – some experiment this!

Scott, so whose truth are we reading?

ST That’s an excellent question. The best answer I can give: we are reading the truth of the hybrid; it is not completely Western, it is not completely Eastern because at the end of the book, the goddess admits that she knows everything that is going to happen but she can’t do anything about it. Why? Because everything, colonialism included, has to go according to a divine order. So I am not celebrating colonialism, in this book, at the same time, I am not completely bashing it – it had to happen and as the result of it happening cultural hybrids, racial hybrids exist. At the same time, the beauty of the diverse Caribbean region would not have been created.

PP Another connection to the West, the West Indies…any other?

ST The title of the book, Red Hibiscus – the red hibiscus is the connection, a flower that grows in China and also in the Caribbean.

In Caribbean literature that is a flower that is used constantly even as far back as Wide Sargasso Sea as a symbol of the Caribbean, of Caribbean-ness…

PP What’s next for Scott Ting-A-Kee?..........

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

34 FEATURE

B y L akhram B hagirat

I

f we travel the length and breadth of this world, we will find women doing extraordinary things and quite often venturing into fields that are not traditionally considered appealing to a woman and one can say the same for Anasha Simmons, but according to her she loves what she does.

Anasha is a 29-yearold mother of two, and she is very assertive in what she does. If you ever have the chance to visit the Kwakwani community in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), you will definitely come into contact with her since she is one of the few persons who would be available to take you across the Berbice River on a pontoon ferry pulled by a cable.

Anasha operates the cable ferry (commonly called a barge by the locals) to take people and vehicles across the river into Kwakwani, and she

has been doing that for about two years.

She said that the reason she started was to protect the interests of her cousin who owns the ferry, explaining that people would often “wrong deal” her and she was asked to come work the ferry.

“I do everything. I drive, I collect money, I pull the chain.

We make a couple trips— like 10 to 15 trips for a day. I like the job a lot and if you don’t like something, then you shouldn’t do it.

It is very fun for me and I just like working,” the Kwakwani native said.

The single mother said the earnings from operating the ferry is what supports her and her children aged six and nine. Additionally, she is also involved in logging up the Berbice River, making both of

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Anasha Simmons

her jobs a step away from traditional female jobs.

At the Kwakwani Landing, you can always see Anasha sitting on the ferry awaiting the next customer over the river.

She would direct your vehicle onto the ferry, pull the makeshift stairway, and direct the boat operator on how to park so it makes for easier disembarking.

If you also have any issues with your vehicle after driving for over three hours from Linden to the Kwakwani Landing then she is the right person to ask for assistance, as she knows where exactly to send you to have repairs done.

On our trip to the riverine community, we were fortunate to see her in action as well as get her advice since our minibus required a tyre change after the rough three hours plus ride.

During our visit to

the community, we were met by a plethora of nice people, and it made the experience even more memorable.

We saw women breaking away from the traditional stereotypes we are accustomed to seeing because that is how they were taught. They were taught that they can be whatever they want to be, whether it is a logger, since the community is heavily dependent on logging; a miner; a ferry operator or even a doctor.

Our team was fortunate to see an entire hospital that is practically run by women, who are pushing the boundaries and effecting change.

Kwakwani is a small community of just over 6000 residents and can be accessed by land and water. The community, as earlier indicated, is heavily dependent on logging and mining as its main sources of economic activity.(Times Sunday Magazine)

Anasha’s cousin who owns the ferry

Anasha pulling up the makeshift ramp

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hen life thought it had knocked Verna Hercules down, it was in for a surprise when like a phoenix she rose from the proverbial ashes and began soaring – not because she wanted to, but because she had no other choice since she is both

cation for them. It was real rough and now seeing what they accomplished makes me so happy,” Verna tells me.

Let us go back a bit to when and where I first encountered Verna.

Last Saturday, I had to go to Kwakwani on assignment and upon arriving and settling in, I noticed that almost everyone was armed with

mother and father to her four children.

Verna tells me that she was born and raised in the riverine community of Ibini, Berbice River, but after she got married and had her four children, she moved upriver to the village of Kwakwani so that her children could have access to a better education. When she moved to Kwakwani, her husband stopped supporting her and the children and she had to act fast and she did.

“After we came here to Kwakwani, I had to start making things to sell and so on, because I had to send my children to school and I wanted the best edu-

a bright red icicle. As I have not had an icicle in so long, I set out to find the source, but before I could, I heard loud laughter from a crowd of both young and old people which obviously sparked my curiosity. Upon investigating, I noticed this petite woman armed with a pink laundry basket and a red cooler and the jokes streamed out of her mouth with ease after which she cashed in.

“You can’t laugh on a dry throat and you need a plantain chip to go with this lovely icicle. I make the best one you will get,” she tells me.

But by now I was the

By Lakhram Bhagirat

W

least interested in getting an icicle, rather I was more interested in getting to know this woman with a personality larger than life.

After her crowd dispersed to the venue of my assignment, I approached her and we began chatting.

“I like making people happy. I like telling jokes and having people laugh, because just like what you did just now people do that a lot. When they hear the laughing, them come to see and that is when I would offer them the icicle and plantain chip to buy. Most of the times them does buy and yeah, that is my marketing strategy and it works,” she said and all I could have done was laugh at how effective it is as well as how unique her thinking is.

Just after she finished telling me that, one of the women nearby said, “Yes, Plantain Chip Girl always making people laugh and she thing does taste

nice, tuh.”

At 50 years, Verna explains that life has been more cruel than good to her, but because of her belief in God she has been able to persevere and win every battle that came her way. She said that her children were all grown now and the sacrifices that she made while younger were all worthwhile, since her children were all now excelling in life.

“I don’t regret moving to Kwakwani, because I made sure that my children them get the education that they needed and now they are all doing well for themselves. My el-

dest is a twin and they are 31 years old, then I have one that is 30 and another is 29. One of them is a doctor, one is an environmental officer and one is in the Guyana Defence Force and another one is working with an insurance company,” she beamingly said.

Taking a walk down memory lane, Verna said that sometimes their economic situation was so tough that her children would use the same uniforms and sneakers to attend school for two consecutive years. They were tattered and torn but her children understood that education was the only way to get them out of their tough

FEATURE 35

economic situation so they persevered and excelled.

“It was very rough because I had to be going and making a lot of seasoning to sell, making plantain chips, make mittai and just to raise money, because their father wasn’t supporting them.

I am thankful that they are doing great, because as single parent it was very, very tough. They are doing so good now that they are taking care of me,” Verna said.

I asked her why she sells now given that her children are taking care of her, and the response was one I somewhat expected. She informed me that she wanted to be a role model for

her grandchildren and show them that if they put in the hard work, then the result would be one they would relish.

“Everybody knows me and they like the icicle, because it is always fresh and made with fruits and they enjoy it, so I can’t stop now. Business is good and I get an income as well,” she said.

With such a unique marketing strategy I am pretty sure that Verna will have no issues attracting more customers. For now, she is satisfied with what she earns and is happy that her children are all doing well.(Times Sunday Magazine)

36 NEWS

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Flood-affected Guyanese in T&T request repatriation, financial assistance G uyanese living in Trinidad and Tobago, have turned to the Guyana government for assistance in light of the recent mass flooding in the twin-island state.

According to Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, so far there has been a request for assistance for repatriation as well as three requests for financial assistance.

Greenidge made this disclosure in the National Assembly on Wednesday in response to questions from Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, who had queried about measures put in place to help those affected Guyanese living in Trinidad.

Teixeira said that the Opposition Leader’s office has received many calls from Guyanese living in the twin-island republic who are complaining of not being able to obtain any advice or assistance from Guyana’s consulate there.

However, the Foreign Affairs Minister rubbishing this claim, said that the Guyanese High Commission in Trinidad is already helping out a few persons who reached out for assistance.

Villagers walk through flooded waters at Helena last week. (Trinidad Express photo)

“Let me say that as far as up to [Wednesday] the High Commission has received one request for assistance in repatriating someone to Guyana and three other requests for financial assistance, and those persons are due to go into the High Commission so as to indicate more clearly what their needs are. So I’m very much surprised that it should be suggested that Guyanese are having difficulties [in getting help there],” Greenidge stated.

Guyana established

a High Commission in Trinidad back in 2016 and according to the Foreign Affairs Minister, there has been a lot of interface between the High Commissioner and the Guyanese community in the twin-island state.

He went on to remind that the coalition Government stood up to the task and provided transportation for Guyanese, from the various Caribbean countries who were affected during the horrific hurricane season, to return home.

With regard to ren-

dering assistance to the Government of Trinidad, Minister Greenidge posited that Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has already contacted the Trinidadian authorities and indicate its willingness to help.

“As I believe what is normal in such circumstances, between our CDC and the Trinidad authorities, we are determining what specific needs they have. But there is a general agreement that we may be requested to provide assistance by the way of food

stuff, fresh food and vegetables but that hasn’t yet been specified,” he stated.

Moreover, he posited that President David Granger in a recent engagement with Trinidad’s Prime Minister, Keith Rowley, also indicated and discussed Guyana’s willingness to assist the twin island nation. He added too that there is an accepted framework in the region in cases of emergencies whereby the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management

Agency (CDEMA) takes over the relief and assistance aspect. He explained that CDEMA determines what is needed, having consulted with the affected country and those offering assistance, and who is in a better position to provide that.

“So this is not a case of abandonment or neglect of our obligations as a member of Caricom (Caribbean Community) or the failure of the Consular Services of Guyana to deliver assistance to Guyanese.

Things are in place and we are monitoring the situation… We will do whatever it takes to render assistance,” asserted Minister Greenidge.

As a result of torrential rain over the past few weeks, massive floods hit sections of the twin-island state rendering thousands homeless.

In fact, the weather conditions are worsening and heavy showers on Tuesday night have resulted in a ‘YELLOW alert’ being put in effect from Wednesday through Friday as the conditions are expected to last, according to local reports.

GuySuCo divestment for early 2019 – Jordan

…though PwC valuation report still to be made public

T

hough a report on the valuation of the assets of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has not yet been released, Government is optimistic that the divestment process can begin in a matter of months.

In a sit down with the media after signing a loan agreement on Friday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan was asked for an update on the divestment process. In his response, he noted that Government is optimistic of starting in the first half of 2019, a fact expressed

by President David Granger.

“We expect by the first half of next year to divest some of the estates,” Jordan said, adding “I will speak with (Special Purpose Unit head Colvin Heath-London) to see if we have any further updates. Otherwise, the next update perhaps will be in the budget speech, in terms of where we are and what we expect.”

The parliamentary Opposition has been calling on the Government to publicise the PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PwC) valuation report into GuySuCo’s assets. The valuation was supposed to have preceded the sale of the various estates and accompanying assets.

That process has already started; however, neither the Government nor the accounting firm has released the document. At a recent press conference, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo zeroed in on this state of affairs.

“We were told that before any decision was made, that PriceWaterhouse Coopers will do a valuation of assets. Where is the valuation of the assets and why don’t they release it to the Guyanese public, so we will see

what they have valued the assets of GuySuCo at and whether we come close to realising that value,” Jagdeo had said.

“Or if they have undervalued the assets of GuySuCo and then would claim that they got more than the valuation. We’d like to see a copy of the report. But it seems as though it’s done secretly and we don’t know what assurances are given by PwC and SPU, whether those are assurances Cabinet has agreed to,” the Opposition Leader added.

Severance

Jordan was also asked about the payment of severances. He noted that the supplementary paper must be approved for the severance to be paid.

He also noted that when Government paid its first tranche, many workers received their full severance.

“We said once the Parliament passes the supplementary and the President signs the supplementary appropriations Act, they will be paid.

We will transfer the money. My understanding is that they already have the sheets ready.”

“In January, we had said we were going to make the payments in two parts, because we didn’t have the monies to make severance. We said at the time that those owed G$500,000 or less, we would pay fully”.

Jordan reminded that Government had promised to make the remainder of the severance available by the second half of 2018. He noted that the year is not finished, but assured that Government would remain on this timeline.

Earlier this month, Government tabled a financial paper seeking par-

liamentary approval for G$2.4 billion to pay-off hundreds of sugar workers.

This was even as several sugar workers protesting in front of Parliament.

Of the G$7.5 billion financial paper totalled, G$2.4 billion was set aside for severance pay.

In May 2017, Government announced plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall Sugar Estates, sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered by GuySuCo. In November of that year, GuySuCo announced plans to retrench 2500 workers by the end of that year. That number increased substantially and ended up being over 7000.

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38 FEATURE

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Snake Boat race of Kerala

“I

ndia is working on its level of Indian-ness. It is definitely a work in progress, but I am quite surprised at the level of Indian-ness in Guyana.

We are very much interested in all our communities across the world and we have introduced programmes to recognise those people of Indian origin,” Indian national KV Eapen said.

Eapen recently ventured to Guyana for

ous one being in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This year, the event was held in Guyana under the theme “Climate Change and Governance”.

During the Conference, Times Sunday Magazine caught up with Eapen and he expressed his surprise at the togetherness of Indo-Guyanese.

“The level of Indianness here is one that was forced because of the system in which

The Kerala Backlands

the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) Conference as part of the Indian delegation.

He is the Secretary in the Departments of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances along with the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare in the Ministry of Personnel, PG and Pensions.

The CAPAM Conference is a biennial conference held in a different Commonwealth country with the previ-

people of Indian origin was brought here. In India, people were defined from the states they came from. For instance, I am from Kerala and I am considered as a Malayali, but I am also Indian. It is our generation that have integrated the states and one of the major drivers is the IT sector and now you can find young people all over the country from different parts working all over. So, that is the level of Indian-ness we are building,” he said.

Speaking about his

origin state of Kerala, Eapen said that it was referred to as the spice capital of India, adding that its topography was quite similar to Guyana’s.

“Kerala got this ancient history going back centuries where it was unlike many parts of I n d i a .

Because of the location on coast, it was a port for trading. Many of the people who came looking for spices like the Europeans, they landed in Kerala and also there have been links between the state of Kerala and the

Roman Empire. There is an area near a town called Kochi, an ancient port called Muziris where they have actually found evidence of links between Kerala and the Roman Empire

and Palestine and the Middle East,” he explained.

Eapen said although he was from Kerala, he grew up in Chennai and gained his education in Delhi. He holds a mas-

ter’s in Economics and is married to a journalist. He said that he would definitely be back in Guyana to explore the rainforests among other attractions.(Times Sunday Magazine)

05-12-16 Guwahati- Global Sustainable Development Summit

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By Lakhram Bhagirat

K

wakwani is a picturesque logging community sitting along the Berbice River in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) with a population of just over 6000 residents who are the nicest people you will meet. The journey to Kwakwani is most breathtaking if one takes the bus, but you can also take a boat up the Berbice River to get there.

The trip is somewhat of a long one, but with the right company, it can be a very fun one. A colleague and I left Georgetown sometime around 07:00h on Saturday morning and set out for destination Kwakwani. The journey was beyond my expectations as I was awestruck by what was waiting for me.

I have traversed the LindenSoesdyke Highway umpteen times on various trips to the mining town of Linden, but going beyond Linden is something I have never really explored. So, as our bus wound its way through the bumpy streets of Linden onto the trail, I was immediately captivated by the level of skill it requires to navigate some sections of the road.

I was initially told that the journey would last around three hours and I should brace myself for a bumpy ride, and that I did. Along the trail, all one can see is huge trees but the air was crisp and fresh.

When we arrived at the Kwakwani Waterfront, I was awestruck by the sight that greeted me: the calm Berbice River dotted with several small boats manned by residents as they moved from Point A to Point B. Wide smiles and friendly faces greeted us as we boarded the ferry to cross the river into the community.

The community itself is one out of some book as it is full of age- old infrastructure among other things.

Several shops, small bars and buildings line the long curving stretch of main road cutting throughout the village. The main economic activities are farming, logging and some small-scale mining. Because of the remoteness of the community there are several challenges that residents face but they persevere.

The level of togetherness is quite visible in Kwakwani as almost every resident knows and we were told that they also look out for each other.

“The level of camaraderie here is high, because we are a small community and we must look out for each other. Kwakwani is a very good place and the people here is very

nice. Life in Kwakwani here is very calm, but there is so much more that we can do to get things better,” resident Charles Thom said.

Thom said that living and raising a family in Kwakwani has had its ups and downs. He would have seen the village transform from nothing into a developed community with almost all of the amenities.

“One of the major issues we have here in Kwakwani is the lack of proper roads because we don’t have any paved road. Having paved roads would make the dust pollution more controlled, and we want to make sure that we get the best of the best as well,” he said.

Another resident, Jewel Smith, said she has been living in the community for over 20 years and she moved there after she got married.

“I love living in Kwakwani be- One of Kwakwani’s youngest resident cause we all live like one. We look out for each other. I raised my two children here and now they are grown up and they are doing good for themselves. I would not live anywhere else, because this place is peaceful and I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” Smith said.

The possibilities of making a life in Kwakwani are endless as there are many options to choose from, according to the resident. However, access to services is one of the major issues, since they would have to travel to Linden or even Georgetown to access medical care among other things.

As much as I would like to have stayed in Kwakwani for a much longer period, our assignment came to an end and we had to make our way back to the city. But as we were preparing to leave, I noticed something A group of boys engaged in a game of war break I have not seen in ages.

It was a group of about six young boys engaged in an intense game of “war break”, and I was amazed since I have not seen or engaged in a game of “war break” for over 15 years. I watched as the boys ran, hid and plunged into the bushes as they tried not to get shot.

They soon noticed I was looking on and engaged me in a conversation. The boys were all chattering as we exchanged information about what it was like in the city versus Kwakwani. I was informed that “war break" is a game almost every little boy enjoys.

Our ride back to the city was a blur as I slept for the most part of it, but I do miss Kwakwani and will soon be planning a trip back to experience what life really is like in Kwakwani. (Times Sunday Magazine) The Kwakwani Community Park

FEATURE 41

A dog taking a dip in the cold Berbice River

42 NEWS

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

talk show host pulled from G$280M green-lighted Trinidad air over comments about Top Cop for CJIA as expansion P project winds down (Trinidad Guardian)

A

dditional funding was approved, in the 98th Sitting of the National Assembly, for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project.

According to DPI, more than G$280M was green-lighted to facilitate payment for consultancy service on the project due to the delays in the construction contract.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson assured the

National Assembly that the expansion project is still on schedule to be completed by December 31.

In 2011, the PPP administration; in government at that time, and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) inked a US$150M contract for the CJIA expansion.

Work on the runway, which began in 2013, resumed in late 2016 after the loan was restructured under the Coalition Government.

Further, a sum of G$86M was provided to facilitate the construction of the access road to CJIA and variation works proposed for the CJIA roundabout due to larger turning radius and cost associated with removal of utilities by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT).

Minister Patterson stressed that the monies will only be expended on the road works.

ow­er 102.1FM talk show host Garth Christo­ pher has been pulled off the air over “of­ fen­ sive com­ments” he al­leged­ ly made to­ wards Po­ lice Com­mis­sion­er Gary Grif­ fith in re­la­tion to the re­ cent po­lice killing of five Laven­tille youths.

The in­ci­dent oc­ curred on Mon­ day dur­ ing his “Break the Cy­ cle” show. Christo­ pher, who was si­mul­ta­ne­ous­ly broad­cast­ing the con­tent via Face­ book live, had gone on what was de­ scribed as an emo­ tion­ al rant over the po­lice killings of Kadeem PhillipWilliams, 17, Sha­ keem cois, 15, Nicholas Fran­ Bark­er, Mechack “Ni­tro” Dou­glas, 24 and Se­an­dell “Crash” St Clair when the incident occurred.

Halfway through his rant, Christo­ pher’s mi­ cro­phone was cut and an un­ seen per­ son is heard telling him, “The boss­ man say I have to take you off the air.”

Christo­ pher is then heard ask­ ing the per­ son the rea­son giv­en for his re­moval, but was on­ ly told, “He say yuh can’t talk them things on air.” up­set A vis­i­bly

Garth Christopher

Christo­pher shout­ed, “Gary Grif­fith call or Row­ ley call and say to take me off the air?”

He sub­se­quent­ly com­ plied with the in­ struc­tion to ex­it the stu­ dio, but not be­ fore he told view­ers, “That’s why I said this is a ****hole coun­try. Them ‘fel­las’ pan­der­ing to politi­cians and the one per cent. It has no free­dom of speech any­more.”

Con­tact­ed for com­ ment on Christo­ pher’s re­ moval from the air­ wave dur­ ing his show, tion CEO Paul sta­ pa­ Richards said, “Com­ ny pol­i­cy dic­tates we do ment on is­ sues not com­ re­lat­ed to staff and in­ter­ nal com­pa­ny mat­ters.” tion source But a sta­ con­firmed to Guardian Me­dia that Christo­pher had been tak­en off air for the use of “of­fen­sive” lan­ guage which he had pre­ vi­ous­ly been cau­tioned on and for ac­cus­ing Grif­

fith of “sanc­tion­ing and cel­e­brat­ing” the mur­ders of the five young men by his of­fi­cers.

Asked if Christo­pher was be­ing tem­porar­i­ly re­moved, the source said he was not like­ ly to be put back on air be­cause he had been warned on pre­vi­ous oc­ca­sions.

Mes­ sages sent to Christo­pher re­ceived no re­sponse. How­ev­ er, on his re­ cent­ ly cre­ at­ ed Face­ book page, ti­ tled “The Break Free Move­ment,” he post­ed on Tues­day, “All I am try­ing to do, is warn my fel­low coun­try­men and women against be­liev­ing the lie brac­ ing the de­ and em­ cep­ tion that says: “the best ap­ proach to solve our run­away mur­der rate and crim­i­nal ac­tiv­i­ ties, is to kill black male teenagers and young men from dis­ad­van­taged dis­or­gan­ised stig­ma­tised PNM com­mu­ni­ties by the hand­fuls.”

Barbados judge to join CCJ A ppeal Court Judge A n d r e w Burgess is set to become the first Barbadian to be appoint- Justice ed to the of Appeal Andrew C a r i b b e a n Burgess Court of J u s t i c e (CCJ).

It takes effect in January at the Trinidad and Tobagoheadquartered regional institution.

The CCJ is the highest appellate court for Barbados as well as the final authority on disputes concerning the interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which regulates how the CARICOM Single Market and Economy functions.

Attorney General Dale Marshall on Tuesday offered Burgess congratulations and said he always held him in

the highest regard.

“I was fortunate to have had Mr Justice Burgess as a lecturer and a tutor in the Faculty of Law in my student days. As a lecturer, he inspired me and all of his students with his teaching, and with his obvious intellect. He has proved his worth as a legal scholar, as an international jurist and has also distinguished himself with his contribution to our jurisprudence in our own Court of Appeal,” he said. (Barbados Nation)

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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44 FEATURE

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

M

ole Day traces its origins to an article that appeared in The Science Teacher magazine in the early 1980s about a high school chemistry teacher's reasons for celebrating the day. The idea for Mole Day took root and led to the formation of the National Mole Day Foundation, which was formed on May 15, 1991.

A mole is the quantity of anything with the same number of atoms found in 12.000 grams of carbon-12, expressed as 6.02 x 1023, popularly known as Avogadro’s constant.

The American Chemical Society plans National Chemistry Week so that Mole Day

falls within the week.

Today Mole Day is cele-

brated around the world on October 23 from 6:02

am to 6:02 pm. This year, it was observed

under the theme “Moley Potter.”

Mole Day commemorates Avogadro's number (6.02 x 1023), which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry. Mole Day was created as a way to foster interest in chemistry. Schools throughout the United States and around the world celebrate Mole Day with various activities related to chemistry and/or moles.

For a given molecule, one mole is the mass (in grams) whose number is equal to the molar mass of the molecule.

For example, the water molecule has a molar mass of 18; therefore, one mole of water weighs 18 grams. Similarly, a mole of neon has a molar mass of 20 grams.

In general, one mole of any substance contains Avogadro's Number of molecules or atoms of that substance. This relationship was firvst discovered by Amedeo Avogadro (1776-1856) and he received credit for this after his death.

Avogadro, whose full name was Lorenzo Romano Amedeo Carlo Bernadette Avogadro di Quaregna e Cerreto, Count of Quaregna and Cerreto, was an Italian mathematical physicist. Avogadro did a lot of work on molecular theory. One theory eventually was dubbed Avogadro’s principle. It states that if exposed to

the same temperature and pressure, equal volumes of all gases contain the same number of molecules.

After his death, the principle was used by others to develop what was named Avogadro’s number. It was the French physicist, Jean Perrin, in 1909, who determined the constant using several methods.

He proposed that the constant be named in honour of Avogadro.

Every year, the University of Guyana’s Chemistry Club hosts a series of activities to commemorate the day.

The club was founded in 2014. It consists of an executive body: the president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and two representatives from each year and the other members. It was formed with specific objectives, which include providing opportunities for sharing and promoting interest in the chemical sciences as well as providing students with opportunities to develop communication skills.

This year, for Mole Day, the Chemistry Club organised a series of activities which included a lecture on the importance of chemists.

Additionally, they had a t-shirt competition, which the second-year students won. (Photos by David McLean) (Times Sunday Magazine)

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

45

46 NEWS

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

3 Policemen jailed for accepting G$6M bribe

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hree former Police ranks were on Monday sentenced to terms of imprisonment and fined for accepting a six-million-dollar bribe back in September 2015.

When the trial concluded on Monday at the Whim Magistrate’s Court on the Corentyne, Magistrate Charlyn Artiga found the three ranks guilty, and sentenced each of them to one year’s imprisonment; and a fine of G$25,000.

Corporal Shawn McPhoy of 174 Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Constable Ray Drepaul Saul of Eversham, Corentyne, and Constable Trevon McKenzie of Princeton, Corriverton, Corentyne were charged jointly for the offence, which was committed between September 10 and 11, 2015.

Assistant Superintendent Terrence Browne, 48, who was the officer-in-charge of the Whim Police Station at the time the incident was committed, had also been charged with the offence, but was tried separately.

In September 2016, Magistrate Artiga ruled that the prosecution had failed to convince the court that the Assistant Superintendent is the person who had received the plastic bag, and that anyone had seen him. He was set free.

The three former ranks had collected a G$6 million bribe and had allegedly relinquished some of the cash to Browne. Female Constable Stacy Welch had testified during the trial that she had received a share of the money when it was parted. She further stated that

McPhoy had placed a portion of the money into a plastic bag and had said it was for the boss.

On September 10, 2015, a few Police ranks were performing patrol duties along the Corentyne

Corridor when they stopped a minibus which was loaded with cocaine and cash.

The ranks had received information that a route 63 ‘A’ minibus would usually be transporting drugs, guns and cash. They were provided with the vehicle number and the travel schedule for the minibus.

While in the vicinity of Springlands, East Berbice/ Corentyne, they observed the vehicle and decided to stop it to conduct a search, during which they discovered that the vehicle was indeed transporting a very large quantity of cocaine and cash at the time.

It is alleged that the ranks on patrol, with the most senior one at

the time being a corporal, entered into negotiation with the occupants of the vehicle, which led to the occupants of the vehicle handing over G$6 million in cash to the ranks. The ranks then allowed the

vehicle to continue its journey, and even provided some amount of escort for the vehicle before returning to a Police Station.

The ranks reportedly informed their most senior officer of the illegal transaction, after which he allegedly took a sum of the money.

It had been reported that the cash was actually borrowed from a businessman who resides in Republic Park.

The trio was represented by Attorneys at law Chandra Sohan, Murseline Bacchus and Horatio Edmonson.

Following a notice of appeal issued to the Magistrate on Monday, she placed the convicted cops on G$50,000 bail each.

Man charged for alleged rape of schoolgirl A

21-year-old man made an appearance

in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday, and

stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a

charge of rape committed on a 15-year-

old schoolgirl.

Mario Bruce is accused of engaging in sexual penetration with the child between August 21 and August 22, 2018, at Princes Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown.

The accused was released on G$300,000 bail. The case was adjourned to November 12, 2018.

The fall…

T

…of Georgetown

he Kennard CoI into the Town Clerk’s venality has ripped the scab off the sore that’s the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, and oh, what a stench is created by the pus oozing out like the City’s open sewer drains! Sale of City lands; rentals of City wharves; cooking (and stealing!) of the books; jobs and contracts for friends and relatives; featherbedding for the same; jet- setting lifestyle; unlimited vehicles and guards! Why, Georgetown had become the personal fiefdom of the PNC Mafia to rape and to hold!!

But such a volcano of pus didn’t suddenly appear like an apparition; it was built up ever since the PNC came into office through violence, betrayal, and foreign interference in 1964. Georgetown was always PNC territory, with Burnham’s constituency forming the vast majority. That constituency made Georgetown into the epicentre of the riots and protests that ousted the PPP from office.

Once the dirty deed was done, the folks who carried out the illegalities were rewarded as office holders.

They knew no other way to deal with the demands of running a city but brute force, corruption and enriching themselves. For the ordinary supporters, it was “So what yuh want?” time. The “choke and rob” activities, which were initially encouraged by the PNC to intimidate PPP rural supporters who had to “come to town” to conduct their businesses, grew and flourished.

By the time the PNC were voted out of the central government in 1992, the corruption at City Hall had become institutionalised – and remained so, since they remained in control through their sheer numbers. Georgetowners who voted in Hamilton Green as Mayor in 1994 under his “Good and Green” banner, versus the PNC’s Ranwell Jordan, were showing their rejection of Hoyte’s acceptance of the poll results. And Green’s total focus was to show he could oppose the PPP more effectively than Hoyte.

His constant refrain was to blame the PPP for all his mis(or “non”)management of the City. Garbage piling up? PPP! Roads not fixed? PPP! Workers not being paid? PPP! Vendors were allowed to take over the streets and storefronts of Georgetown, and businessmen were dubbed “bigger thieves” than the street bandits. Green started the jet-setting lifestyle.

There was a running battle with respective Town Clerks who were appointed by the PPP Minister of Local Government. In the end, every problem was answered with, “Blame Sooba!!” Keith Burrowes conducted an inquiry into City Hall’s operations in 2011, and made 45 recommendations – NONE of which was implemented. This was confirmed by Ramon Gaskin, who was charged with keeping tabs.

He described City Hall as a “den of thieves”!

So King’s only the top of the iceberg!! …and rise of Chanderpaul Shivnarine Chanderpaul was treated most shabbily by the WICB at the end of his international cricketing career. Needing only 86 runs to pass Brian Lara’s 11,953 as the top WI scorer, he was denied selection for the 2015 series in the WI against Australia. Lara called the decision “despicable”, and felt whatever Chanderpaul’s “form”, he had earned a “farewell” tour, so that local fans could acknowledge his sterling contribution to WI cricket.

The WICB pointed their fingers at the selectors, and vice-versa. In the meantime, Chanderpaul’s cricketing performance in the first-class leagues since 2015 shows that he was still a better Test cricketer than most who’d been picked in his stead.

So it took West Indians outside the cricketing fraternity to finally show, in a concrete fashion, the fans’ appreciation of the man who showed what “true grit” was all about.

On Thursday, the University of the West Indies awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws to this modest West Indian.

We take our hats off to “the tiger”!! …of another Government vendetta case Another cooked-up charge by the Government — this time against Carvil Duncan — to show that PPP officials and individuals associated with them had “siphoned off” moneys from the Treasury bit the dust!!

Duncan should sue for malicious prosecution!!

47

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Bitch-slap…

D

…on the hussy bully

avid Granger fired former Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard from the Police Complaints Office, ostensibly because he was too old — about 80 years. But Granger’s action was exposed for the witch-hunting it was by two sets of events, one retrospective and the other prospective.

Kennard had been extremely active in his position, suggesting all kinds of changes – like demanding more investigators, and travelling to all the other regions to take complaints. And then, right after dumping Kennard, Granger went and unilaterally appointed a fella older than Kennard – James Patterson – to a position a hundred times more demanding – Chair of GECOM. Well, fast forward two years and Kennard is appointed as a one-man CoI to look into the handling of a no-confidence motion against Town Clerk Royston King, which questioned King’s qualifications and suitability for his appointment. Well, the PNCled administration found out to their cost that the mild-mannered and unassuming Kennard might talk softly, but he carries a big stick. The Mayor – who was finally on the stand – argued that there was nothing wrong in accepting the opinion of ROYSTON KING’S LAWYER that the motion against his client wasn’t valid!

So, as is her wont, she began to bluster to defend her contention, as if she was a stranger to the foundation of western adversarial-based jurisprudence: that a lawyer is supposed to be representing his client’s interest, not that of his interlocutors!! Looking directly at the bellicose Mayor, Kennard said firmly, “Take that sort of attitude to City Hall; not here! You are attempting to be rude!

Can you shut up and listen to the questions?”!!

Following that bitch-slap which rocked the Mayor, Kennard repeatedly asked her in an incredulous tone whether she didn’t see the conflict of interest in accepting unreservedly the advice of King’s lawyer, and using it as the basis of having the motion scrapped!! Even her lawyer had to accept that it was a violation of natural justice for the Mayor not to seek independent legal advice.

But the bullyism that the Mayor had started out with against Justice Kennard has become her trademark ever since she succeeded her mentor and bullyism exemplar Hamilton Green as Mayor.

She was a harridan! She used her office to browbeat everyone who objected to the pillage and looting of the coffers of City Hall by her and her cronies, such as King. Imagine, the woman had the temerity to walk around with TWELVE BODYGUARDS to slap down anyone who wasn’t intimidated by her haranguing!

Well, there are four other issues that she will have to testify on. Watch Kennard put her in her place.

He’s not an old man…he’s “old school”!! …on Nagamootoo’s shill This week, Nagamootoo didn’t write his column for the Chronic (fiction can be taxing!!) but his shill didn’t disappoint. He wrote enough crap for the two of them!! Purporting to defend his AFC executive Ramjattan and the Police against charges they were using questionable “statistics” to hoodwink the public that crime was DECREASING when in actuality it was RISING actually confirmed the accusations about their “lies, damned lies and statistics”!!

The shill — who doubles as Nagamootoo’s water boy and general factotum — asserted that the “murder rate” was higher during the PPP administration!! “In 2001, it stood at 79 murders (relatively low). But in 2002, the rate jumped to 140 and then skyrocketed to 206 in 2003. The murder rate declined slightly thereafter, but still hit peaks of 153 in 2006 (the murder of a sitting minister Satyadeow Sawh); 168 in 2008 (the year of the Bartica, Lusignan and Lindo Creek Massacres).”

Ow man! Even Granger consistently refers to those times as “the troubles”!! It was when gunmen calling themselves “Freedom Fighters for African Guyanese” attacked the state (Police) and civilians (Indian Guyanese).

They called it “collateral damage” …on SOCU You’d think big drug traffickers are part of “organised crime”, wouldn’t you?

So why they couldn’t catch the latest foreign bust? They’re too busy with political witch hunting!!

INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR YOUR SIDEWALK

By Rakesh Rampertab, Esq.

A

homeowner buys homeowner ’s insurance to get financial protection in the event a disaster or incident occurs to or on their property, resulting in financial losses. Insurance providers have various coverages that they offer, including the customary fire-related coverage. Some insurers provide coverage for theft that occurs in a home, for example.

But what about insurance coverage for incidents that occur on a sidewalk? In New York City, protection is needed for an adjoining sidewalk also, even though a homeowner does not own it. Do you have this kind of insurance, as a homeowner?

How do you know for sure that you have it? When was the last time you checked your insurance policy (or lease if you are a commercial tenant renting space in someone’s building)?

Currently, I have two clients who own properties and thought they had insurance coverage for sidewalk incidents, but then discovered upon being sued that they did not. Both clients have paid premiums for years, and deal with an insurance broker directly. Both contacted

S

their insurance providers after being sued, and subsequently receive letters from these providers who stated that the homeowners did not have sidewalk coverage!

This has encouraged me to write this article, because it has become obvious that they are not the only homeowners who may believe themselves to have liability or property insurance that covers sidewalk incidents, but in fact are not protected.

A homeowner who learns that there is no liability or property insurance that covers for incidents that occur on their sidewalk should seek immediate legal assistance, as this situation amounts to a very serious legal problem. Time is of the essence, which means that a homeowner in this unfortunate situation must act immediately: do not wait, or it could cost one tens of thousands of dollars.

If, for example, a person who falls on a sidewalk requires surgery to cure for the injuries sustained, it is likely that such a person will ask for that much compensation. A homeowner in such a scenario, will contact their insurance provider and hopefully, there will be coverage. However, if such a

homeowner receives a letter from the provider stating that there is no coverage for the sidewalk, then such a homeowner is unfortunately on their own.

While there are certain things that may be done in order to defend a homeowner who has no sidewalk insurance, each case will have to be reviewed individually, and whether a defense will be successful is going to depend on the relevant facts.

Homeowners are therefore encouraged to read their homeowner’s insurance policy or any insurance policy they have that applies to their property or leased space, to ensure that they have the coverage necessary for their respective property including sidewalk. If that coverage does not exist, then get it immediately.

For those who may have been sued already as a result of a sidewalk incident, please feel free to contact my office for any assistance in what is often a very complex and frustrating situation. This article is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. For issues concerning your property including sidewalk, please feel free to contract my law office at: (917) 943-1336 or rrampertabesq@gmail.com.

Tiger, Tiger burning bright

atiricus was pleased. He was tired of the politics which dominated the newspapers, including the one where he worked. Here was a piece of news that gladdened his heart – that his favourite cricketer had received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of the West Indies. He hurried over to the Back Street Bar to share his joy.

“Let’s drink to DOCTOR Chandrapaul, fellas!”

Satiricus said, as he grabbed his beer.

“Hear! Hear!” said Hari, as they all clinked their bottles. “At long last he’s being recognised by the Caribbean.”

“Me glad fuh hear dah,” observed Cappo. “De West Indies cricket Boa’d really gi’e da bai hard cyard!”

“An’ ‘e get ‘e dacta degree fram wan university wha’ can really gi’e waan!!” chuckled Bungi.

“But really, fellas,” asked Satiricus, “why you think they didn’t let the Tiger play one more test series?”

“What else?” asked Hari. “The selectors didn’t want him to pass Lara record!”

“Selectas me ass!” exploded Cappo. “Ah de Boa’d mek de decision!”

“But why ayuh a cuss outsida?” asked Bungi.

“Sato leadah dem tek ovah de guvment de same year dem drap de Tigah. Why dem na ‘aana de maan?”

“The PPPC government had already given him a medal,” said Satiricus. “The Cacique Crown of

Honour!”

“Budday, da de t’ird hi’’es’ ‘aana,” protested Cappo.

“De nex’ year dem gi’e Barbadas PM Stuart de Arda a Roraima! Da de secand hi’’es’.”

“Yes! Wha’ he do fuh abee?” demanded Bungi.

“Put abee fuh siddong pan wan bench a dem airport?”

“That’s right,” confessed Hari. “I’d forgotten about that!”

“An’ yuh leadah Rum Jhaat an’ Nagga Man na do nutten!” said Cappo bitterly. “An’ dem use to spo’t up wid Tigah good an’ prappa!”

“W’en man done suck cane ‘e does dash peeling pan de gr’ung!’ added Bungi.

“C’mon fellas,” pleaded Satiricus. “I thought we would just drink to Tiger!”

“But the boys have a point,”said Hari. “Why we didn’t honour our own prophet?”

“An’, beca’se yuh guvment na ‘aana de man,” said Cappo, “Da immigrashan gyaal tell Tigah ‘e cyaan jine de VIP line.”

Satiricus was quiet. He could never win with leaders like Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat.

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Priyanka Chopra is making the most of her time in New York

P

riyanka Chopra is making the most of her stay in New York.

She has been seen all around the city in the last few days. Fiancé Nick Jonas and mother Madhu Chopra too were also seen by Priyanka’s side at multiple events.

On Tuesday, Priyanka attended the Bumble India launch event in New York. Bumble is a dating app and at the event, Priyanka was asked who made the first move in her and Nick’s relationship. To this, she said, “I actually didn’t make the first move, He did.

He texted me. The first time was a text just saying, ‘I think we should connect’ and whatever. That’s how we started talking.”

Priyanka Chopra also shared that she has finalised her wedding dress.

She added, “This is such a wonderful new step in my life and I’m still getting used to it because it’s obviously been a

I

t was a long journey for Sohum Shah before his film Tumbbad saw the light of the day. The producer also played the lead role in the film. While the premise of the film revolved around a demon Hastar, the story also delved into the insatiable greed that inhabits humans.

Talking about the success of the film, Sohum shared exclusively with indianexpress.com that he had complete faith in the project.

“It was not an easy ride but I had com-

plete trust that it will receive the love of the audience and also critical acclaim.

We walked the path with faith and today, we are celebrating not just the success but also the fulfillment of our trust,” said Sohum Shah.

Ask him what made him put so much faith on a subject that has never been touched upon, the actor-producer said, “The script was the most important factor. I could see an opportunity in it. But it wasn’t an easy task. While hearing folklores is an enjoyable process, creating it on the VFX is an uphill challenge.

We shot in natural light to get the perfect mood. Every detailing was designed perfectly. And above all, the biggest challenge came during editing. We had close to 200 minutes of footage and to crop it to 105 minutes, was really difficult.”

“The film could only be made because of the team’s passion. We knew there was no scope of any compromise. It wouldn’t

whirlwind and I haven’t seen myself happier. Just being in the whole situation of finding somebody who can be a partner to you in so many more ways than one is amazing, so yes I’m very excited.”

On the other hand, Kerry Washington recently shared a few photos with Priyanka and her fiance Nick Jonas and wrote, “It was so great seeing you on Saturday @priyankachopra and @nickjonas! Thanks so much for coming . #AmericanSonPlay.” To this tweet, Priyanka replied, “You were incredible @kerrywashington and so was the team of #AmericanSonPlay thank you so much for having us and your amazing advice! You’ve always been an inspiration good luck and love always!”

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are yet to make an official announcement about their wedding. (Indian Express)

have seen the success if we weren’t so honest with it. Even if it took more time, we were ready to give it. But we decided to make it only the way we had visualised it,” he added.

When asked if a horror film has an edge among audiences, Sohum said, “Firstly, I wouldn’t like to specify Tumbbad in the horror genre. It has elements of thriller, mystery, fantasy and horror. But yes, owing to the unpredictability, the genre definitely finds a large audience. In the west, horror is a profit churner. Bollywood needs to make quality products to get the same amount of success.”

The Simran actor further shares that while he is passionate about filmmaking, he enjoys acting more.

He said, “As a producer, there are a hundred other things running in your mind, so it gets tedious. As an actor, it’s enjoyable as you are completely pampered on sets (laughs). As for me taking up both jobs, it was definitely not easy. While shooting, I had to figure backend work and then also give the perfect shot. But now when I look back, I think it was all worth it.”

Adding that he is in talks with a few web series and films, Sohum concluded the conversation by talking about contentdriven films. “The industry, as well as the audience, have realised that content is the real king. There is an easy option to consume good content, be it Hollywood or original series for the viewers. It is thus justifiable that to beat the competition, we need to up our game. I think this year has been a proof to that with content-rich films doing so well.”

Released on October 12, Tumbbad also starred Mohammad Samad, Anita Date, Deepak Damle, Jyoti Malshe.

(Indian Express)

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ctor Parvathy T h i r u v o t h Kottuvata on Tuesday said the Malayalam film industry needs to learn from Bollywood superstars to act immediately in cases of sexual harassment.

“We were amazed to see that men, who are in forefront, who are successful producers and actors, coming ahead and lending their voice to this.

That is something we are missing out not just in Malayalam industry but Tamil and Telugu industry as well,” she said.

“Their voice is going to catapult (the cause) to another level, so it will be easier to follow up. This is commendable but there is alarming silence from a lot of others,” she said during a panel discussion on The Power of Collective And The Road Ahead, at MAMI film festival here.

Parvathy lauded the prompt decisions by top Bollywood actors and filmmakers to distance themselves from those accused of sexual harassment as the #MeToo movement gained ground.

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, Aamir Khan pulled out of Mogul, a biopic on slain T-Series boss Gulshan Kumar, after charges of rape and sexual harassment were levelled against its director Subhash Kapoor.

Akshay Kumar called for strict ac-

M

oved by the plight of a farmer who made it to the ‘hot seat’ of game show Kaun Banega Crorepati 10, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is doing his bit to help the farmer community, has urged the public to step forward and help pay off their loans.

A farmer named Anantkumar Khanke made it to the show and spoke about his struggle to survive. This led Bachchan to urge people to come forth and help the farmers in whatever way possible.

Khanke said his annual income is around Rs 60,000 if they face a good rainy season. When there is a shortage of water, he pays Rs 100 per gallon for farming.

Big B, who himself does a lot for the farmers in his own way, narrated an incident which sensitised him to the farmers’ plight, read a statement.

He narrated: “When I was shooting in Visakhapatnam around a decade back, I read in the newspaper that farmers are committing suicide for amounts like Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.

I felt very bad reading this. When I came back, I contacted an NGO here and asked them if I could be of any help in saving the lives of farmers and that’s how I got a list of 30-40 people whose loans I could pay off.

“A few years ago, there was distress i n

tion against Sajid Khan, the director of his upcoming film Housefull 4, after several women accused him of sexual harassment.

Parvathy, who made her Bollywood debut with romantic comedy Qarib Qarib Singlle last year, is a part of Women In Cinema Collective — a Malayalam film industry outfit formed soon after the shocking assault of an actress in February 2017.

She said Bollywood also needs to have a body like WCC to address and monitor the cases of sexual harassment.

Director Anjali Menon, who was also present at the session, said it is important to not only name and shame, but immediate action also needs to be taken in such cases.

“This whole thing of naming the person is a huge step and to take proactive action is important as it conveys that we are in support of the survivors.

There have been reactions happening here and it is important to place the intent and that is proven by action, words don’t help. The silence is a very disturbing stand,” she said.

Bollywood is taking the right step, she added.

The session was also attended by actors Rima Kallingal and Veena Gowda and women’s rights lawyer and filmmaker Ruchi Narain. (Indian Express)

Vidarbha due to a shortage of rainfall and I cleared loans of around 100 farmers and recently in Maharashtra, I have ensured that the loans of around 360 farmers have been paid off to the banks. My next step is to help clear loans of approximately 850 farmers in Uttar Pradesh.”

He said that by mentioning this, he is hopeful that even if around 10 or 12 people, who find it within their capacity and capability, step forward and help in saving the lives of farmers, they would have “set an example for many more and in turn so many farmers’ lives would be saved”.

“I would urge people to understand the plight of our ‘anna-data’ (farmers) and the kind of hardships they are facing. I do not want to boast about myself but I want everyone to help our farmers who face the shortage of even having basic necessities.

“If anyone of you, individually or collectively can pay off their loans, I join my hands to request you to please help them. This will be the biggest contribution you can make to the farmers of our country,” Amitabh Bachchan said. (Indian Express)

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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vengers: Infinity War ended in the destruction of half the universe at the hands of Thanos, including some prominent superheroes like Spider-Man and Black Panther.

Avengers 4, we expect, will address the heartbreaking ending and also whether superheroes who ‘died’ really died and if they did, how will they come back, since it is almost certain that they will be brought back (Spider-Man: Far From Home is slated to be released a couple of months after Avengers 4).

A new theory suggests that it is

ter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the de facto leader of MCU. Doctor Strange, who had said he will make sure the Time Stone remains safe with him even if that meant the deaths of Tony and Peter Parker, backtracked on his threat/promise and gave away the Time Stone to Thanos to save Tony’s life. Strange is the one who had seen millions of realities among which there was only one in which the Avengers won. He knew what he was doing. Maybe he saw that Tony was the key to all this and it would take

Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark who would be sacrificed to undo Thanos’ finger snap. If you remember, in Infinity War, Thanos had to sacrifice the person he loved the most to acquire Soul Stone. He dropped Gamora to her death and made the biggest sacrifice.

It is widely believed that the heroes and other lifeforms who disappeared in clouds of ash were actually transported to the realm inside the Soul Stone. If the Soul Stone has found its way back to Voromir and Red Skull, perhaps it would need another sacrifice to bring back the dead characters.

Robert Downey Jr’s contract with Marvel Studios ends with Avengers 4.

It is likely that he will drop the mantle of Iron Man. There are many ways to do that. One of them is to retire Tony Stark. And the other is to kill him off. A sacrifice would be a great way to send off probably the most popular charac-

letting Thanos win once to defeat him once and for all?

The Russo brothers have said that they do care about stakes. They had told Variety earlier this year, “For us, there will always be stakes and the stakes have been progressing from film to film. And I think you can extrapolate that they will continue to deepen in Avengers 4.” Anthony said, “I will say this: There is a real commitment on our end to the stakes. Yes, this is a fantasy world, and yes, remarkable things can happen in a fantasy world, but…” Joe cuts in with, “They come at an incredibly high cost.”

One thing is certain, if this happens, it would be the biggest twist in MCU history by far. All the dead superheroes and half of universe’s life will not come anywhere near the enormity of Tony Stark’s death.

Avengers 4 releases on May 3, 2019.

(Indian Express)

Vox Lux trailer: Natalie Portman is back with a gleaming performance

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atalie Portman is all set to woo the audience in her upcoming pop-music thriller flick, Vox Lux. The trailer leaves us with a sense of intrigue about Portman’s characterisation, which evokes a lot of curiosity.

Actor-turneddirector Brady Corbet has directed the movie and the trailer looks extremely promising. Portman is playing Celeste, an intrepid pop star born out of a tumultuous and a tragic past.

The compelling trailer, without giving away

much information, gives us the taste of what kind of tone to expect from the film.

It sheds light on Portman’s Celeste, who looks strong and unabashed. In the intro scene, Celeste is in conversation with a journalist about her new album, of which she says “It’s about rebirth”.

The inquisitive trailer hints at the movie’s powerful, jarring interpretation of the contemporary world we live in today, and how Celeste deals with the ad-

J

ane Goldman’s Game of Thrones prequel will star Naomi Watts in one of the lead roles. The actor will appear in the pilot episode.

According to a Variety report, Watts will be seen playing ‘a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret.’ But nothing more has been revealed about her character.

Co-written by author George RR Martin, the prequel will chronicle the period from the Age of the Heroes to the Age of Chao. Apart from Watts, the makers haven’t rev e a l e d details about any character in the series.

Naomi Watts is k n o w n for her roles in Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive, I Heart Huckabees, St. Vincent, The Ring and others.

Jane Goldman and George RR

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Hollywood 49

Martin’s series is one of the five projects that will release based on Game of Thrones. Earlier in the year, Martin confirmed that the Game of Thrones prequel will indeed be about The Long Night. The author wrote on his blog while talking about the show’s possible title, “We’re very early in the process, of course, with the pilot order just in, so we don’t have a director yet, or a cast, or a location, or even a title.

(My vote w o u l d be THE LONG NIGHT, which s a y s it all, but I’d be surprised if that’s where we end up.

More likely HBO w i l l want to work the phrase “game of thrones” in there somewhere. We’ll know sooner or later). (Indian Express)

ony’s comic-book movie Venom has crossed the coveted 500 million dollar mark globally. The Tom Hardy starrer has braved negative reviews to gross 508 million dollars so far, according to boxofficemojo. com.

A Ruben Fleischer directorial, Venom is based on the Marvel villain/ anti-hero of the same name. It is the first film in Sony’s comic-book cinematic universe. It is an amalgam of an alien parasite called symbiote and Hardy’s character, Eddie Brock. Riz Ahmed and Michelle Williams also star in Venom.

Domestically, too, Venom is not doing too bad. It has earned 187 million dollars in the North American market. It broke the opening weekend record for October when it released and stayed at the top of the box office for two weeks straight.

Venom has a 30% rating at review aggregator site, Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads, “Venom’s first standalone movie turns out to be like the comics character in all the wrong ways – chaotic, noisy, and in desperate need of a stronger attachment to SpiderMan.” The Indian Express critic Shalini Langer gave it 1.5 stars. She wrote, “As you struggle to like Eddie, to hate/ like Venom, to fear Drake, to sympathise with Annie (who may be the smartest-of-them-all), to feel anything for the black-goo-like symbiotes, and to counsel against any sequels (at least standalones), there is only one real hero. He is Annie’s stand-in boyfriend, Dr Dan, who treats all — symbiotes, humans, and all in between — with equal equanimity. Now that is a man we want around at world’s end.”

(Indian Express)

versaries. It keeps the viewers hooked till the end by highlighting Portman’s vivacious performance and a high-intensity euphonic background score.

As per the official synopsis, the film is about two sisters played by Portman and Stacy Martin who survive a violent tragedy in the year 1999 and record a song about it. In 2017, the 31-year old Celeste (Portman) is struggling to sta-

bilise her career.

Speaking of ear-pleasing background music, the musical drama will also feature original songs written by Sia and a score from Scott Walker.

The film also stars Jude Law, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin and Jennifer Ehle among others. Vox Lux is scheduled to release on December 7. (Indian Express)

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese Marooners humble Jaguars to lift Super 50 title swimmer awarded US – Corbin smacks impressive half-century scholarship T

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ne of Guyana’s most promising swimmers has been granted the opportunity of his lifetime, and will join a handful of other swimmers who have been equally fortunate in past years.

Andrew Fowler has been commanding the pool since his teenage years, and the Sea Otters club member now majors in the 50M and 100M freestyle races.

Having endured the sacrifices, the 22-yearold is now seeing the fruits of his labour, as he has been offered a one-year scholarship to a learning institution in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Questioned about this golden opportunity, Fowler noted that he has a long list of persons to thank for his success.

“I’m very happy, and I want to thank GASA, my club, club management, Coach Sean and the rest of people that helped me on the journey to this scholarship,” he stated.

Like any athlete aspiring for greatness, the national swimmer divulges that this has been one of his dearest dreams, and he has been working tirelessly towards its fulfillment.

“I’ve been training hard over the years, and hoping and asking for a scholarship,” he disclosed.

Fowler has alw a y s had his sights set on participating in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

E v e n w h e n he par-

Andrew Fowler

ticipated in the 2018 Commonwealth Games earlier this year in Australia, Fowler saw the international meet as a preparatory stage for what to expect at the Olympics. Now the exposure to a higher level of training will help to fine-tune the swimmer’s craft.

“I’m a really dedicated person, and I know (that) with the help of this scholarship I will do it, because the technology, the science behind the sport, everything is there,” the athlete said.

President of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), Ivan Persaud, took the opportunity to extend felicitations to the athlete.

“Best wishes to Andrew, and we’re very hopeful that he’s going to do well for his one year stint,” Persaud said.

Persaud sees Fowler’s scholarship opportunity as yet another indication that swimming is being taken to new heights in Guyana.

“We are more than happy for him and his family, and with that I’d like to say thanks to all the members of GASA who continue to play a great role in the development of swimming in Guyana.”

he CCC Marooners have handed the Guyana Jaguars a humiliating defeat in the 2018-2019 Regional Super 50 Final played at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday.

They won by six wickets as their fast bowlers and opening batsmen dominated the Guyana Jaguars.

It was the clash of the 2018-2019 Super 50 giants, and Barbados-based Guyanese came out in their numbers to support the Jaguars, while University of the West Indies (UWI) students

per in the 13th over with the score on 51.

Johnson was removed by his counterpart Carlos Braithwaite for 14 runs, which included three trademark boundaries.

Marooners bowlers continued to have a good tournament, picking up wickets at regular intervals.

A l l - r o u n d e r Christopher Barnwell joined Chanderpaul in the 13th over, and the pair batted until the 23rd over, when Barnwell was caught

by Kirton off the bowling of Keron Cottoy for 15.

The dependable

Rutherford, batting at number 6, struggled his way to 14.

Jamaica-born fast bowler Jermaine Levy wreaked havoc on the middle-lower order, picking up 4 of the last 5 Jaguars wickets.

Levy grabbed his third 4-wicket haul in List A cricket by picking up Rutherford, Bramble, Shepherd, Permaul and Pestano.

The final 6 Jaguars batsmen scored 47 runs combined, as Jordan removed Pestano to end a shocking batting performance from the Jaguars, in which they were shunted aside

process reaching his half century.

The Jaguars tasted success for the first time with the ball when they removed the aggressive Kyle Corbin, who had stroked a counterattacking 72 off 53 deliveries. Corbin’s innings was laced with 12 timely fours and 2 maximums, which he danced down the track to pump over the head of Shepherd.

The Regional Super 50 tournament this year has been a revelation: Kjorn Ottley has been the Marooners’ leading batsman, compiling 45 runs from 84

filled the Kensington Oval stands in a show of support for their University colleagues, the CCC Marooners.

Marooners won the toss and elected to field first, while the new look Jaguars opening pair of Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Trevon Griffith had a watchful start, with Griffith being the aggressor for a brief moment, until he was removed with the score on 27 by Marooners semifinal hero Akeem Jordan in the seventh over. Griffith went for a breezy 20 from 22 deliveries, including three fours and one massive six.

Jaguars’ captain Leon Johnson joined Tagenarine Chanderpaul, and the pair added only 24 runs for the second wicket partnership. The young Chanderpaul continued to hold the innings together, but lost his skip-

Raymond Reifer then occupied the crease with the aim of rebuilding the innings, since the Jaguars were on 88-3 after 23 overs.

However, Carlos Braithwaite and his bowlers had other plans, as they prevented the Jaguars from scoring briskly.

Though Tagenarine Chanderpaul still occupied the crease, he did not put pressure on the Marooners, opting instead to soak up 59 dot deliveries in scoring 56 from 95 balls, which included 4 boundaries, 3 of which were scored square of the wicket.

The young tiger was, however, removed by Carlos Braithwaite in the 32nd over.

Reifer continued to be the glue of the innings, but struggled to score boundaries frequently, managing 38, with his only boundary being one maximum.

The big-hitting

for 204 runs all out in 49.1 overs.

The Marooners fast bowlers destroyed the Jaguars line-up as they shared nine wickets between themselves.

Levy was the pick of the bowlers with 4 wickets, Braithwaite grabbed 3 wickets, and Akeem Jordan snatched 2 wickets.

With only 205 required for victory in the Super 50 finals, Marooners openers approached the task in swashbuckling mode; and the righthanded Kyle Corbin immediately made the Jaguars bowlers feel the heat as the Marooners raced to 100 in only the 15th over.

In Raymond Reifer’s first spell, he was taken to the cleaners as Corbin showed some serious intent. The openers went on their merry way, Corbin in the

balls on this important occasion.

Jaguars started a fight back in the latter part of the innings, as Amir Jangoo and Jonathan Drakes scored 12 and 16 respectively; but Captain Carlos Braithwaite, at number 5, ensured there were no more hiccups. Braithwaite played a responsible innings, scoring 30 from 25 balls, including four boundaries and one humongous six.

Romario Shepherd picked up two wickets, while Ramaal Lewis and Clinton Pestano took one wicket each.

The poor Jaguar was put out of its misery when Nicholas Kirton, rubbing salt in the wounds, stroked a boundary to complete a stunning CCC Marooners victory in the 2018-2019 Super 50 finals over the Guyana Jaguars.

(Brandon Corlette)

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Forde all set Ireland seeking improvements for Guyana ahead of tournament leg of South T American 10K ‘Stand-alone’ ICC Women’s World T20…

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istance stalwart Cleveland Forde is said to be well-prepared for the second leg of the South American 10K road race, which is scheduled for this Sunday, November 4.

The “Little Kenyan” currently leads the race, after winning the first leg in Suriname on Sunday ahead of Guyanese counterparts Winston Missigher and Cleveland Thomas, who copped second and third place respectively.

The race will now head to the top three’s home turf Guyana, for the second leg, where the local racers are expected to have an advant a g e .

Forde says that he is ready for the competition.

“I’m prepared and ready for Sunday, just like the other athletes. We had a chat about it in Suriname and it’s going to be interesting.

I think it’s going to be another tough and close race.

Right now, it’s very competitive and everyone is motivated,” he stated.

Comparing Guyana’s conditions to

Suriname’s, Forde noted that his focus would be key to battling the scorching sun in Guyana.

“There, it was early in the morning, so it was really cool; here, it’s going to be hot.

Also, at home, there is going to be some sort of added pressure so the focus has to be on target.”

In the first leg, Forde was closely trailed by longtime rival Missigher.

A d d i t i o n a l l y , Missigher defeated Forde just a few weeks ago in their previous 10K encounter.

Referencing this, Forde noted that it was key for him to be aware of all h i s o p p o nents and not focus on

Missigher alone.

“Never underestimate your competitor, so it could be while I’m looking at Missigher, someone else could b e coming ahead of us, so it’s not just Missigher alone,” Forde stated.

Added to the special measures for the event, inclusive of continued on page 53

he most-anticipated and first stand-alone ICC Women’s World T20 tournament will kick start on Friday, November 9 at the National Stadium, Providence, Guyana.

Earlier this week, the Ireland team arrived in Guyana to begin preparations ahead of their first clash on November 11, 2018 against Australia at the National Stadium.

However, Ireland will play a warm-up match at the National Stadium against Bangladesh.

The warm-up match will be played on Sunday, November 4 and is scheduled for a 4:00 pm start (Eastern Caribbean Time).

In Ireland’s first practice session at Providence, their uncapped Australia-born leg-spinner Celeste Raack, speaking to the media, highlighted that Ireland have been training intensely ahead of this tournament. The squad selected is well-equipped to compete against the top teams in world cricket.

The leg-spinner added that she was excited to make her international debut, but she experienced competitive cricket playing for Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia.

In the previous Women’s World T20 tournament played in 2016, Ireland finished at the bottom of Group A as they suffered four heavy defeats without a win.

However, Ireland’s legspinner noted that the Cricket Board in Ireland has provided the cricketers with a new training facility that has been greatly utilised in their preparation for the standalone ICC Women’s World T20.

Since the pitches in the Caribbean are suited for spin bowling, the Irish team were involved in a training camp in Spain, where they were exposed to similar pitches. The camp was organised with the main aim of familiarising the players and to improve the team’s performance.

This is the first time for most of the Ireland players in the Caribbean, and the squad consists of a mixture of youth and experience. The Ireland team will be led by the experienced 25-year-old Laura Delany, who made her international debut eight years ago, and one of their longest-serving cricketers, the 37-yearold Clare Shillington will offer support. The

Irish players in the process of fielding drills at Providence Stadium

37-year-old Shillington, who made her international debut in 1997 against South Africa Women, will be an important asset in Ireland’s World T20 campaign.

The Ireland squad reads: Laura Delany (centre); Kim Garth; Cecelia Joyce; Isobel Joyce; Shauna Kavanagh; Amy Kenealy; Gaby Lewis; Lara Maritz; Ciara

Metcalfe; Lucy O’Reilly; Celeste Raack; Eimear Richardson; Clare Shillington; Rebecca Stokell and Mary Waldron.

(Brandon Corlette)

52 sport

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

West Indies learning from India’s planning – Pothas B

y virtue of being Sri Lanka's former head coach, Nic Pothas has been part of a number of ODI battles against India.

Having watched many India players achieve their peaks from close quarters, Pothas - who is now West Indies' fielding coach - says it is the leadership system that is the reason for India's success in the format.

"As I said, they're a world-class team. I love the way they go about planning. I've got a good relationship with their coaching staff as well as some of their players. So I'm aware of how they go about planning and I love it," Pothas said. "Their work on a day-to-day basis, how they plan into the future, and the standards that they expect of the team. This team is always going to look to improve. And it comes from Virat Kohli and from their coaching staff. Definitely, a role model type of leadership system. So you're always going to see people improve.

"When young guys come into this team, they get comfortable really quickly. They get up to speed very quickly. Yes, they have the skill level to be able to do that, but that comes from coming into a winning environment where your senior players are your mentors.

That's the reason why they're at the top of their game in all three formats and they will be for a long period of time."

Having been brushed aside in the first ODI, West Indies had done phenomenally till they lost their way in the tied second

ODI. In the next game in Pune, they caught India unaware with a clinical performance.

With the series tied, however, they let up the pressure with a collapse in the fourth ODI that included two runouts in a frenzied opening to the chase. Pothas conceded that on a long tour like this, fatigue could have crept in.

Particularly with someone like Jason Holder, who is among the few players who were also part of the Test series.

"It's a possibility," Pothas said.

"Travelling to India is always wonderful. It's a great tour to judge yourself on, [both] as a player and as a coach.

You know it's going to be tough when you come down here, I was fortunate to tour here last year with Sri Lanka.

So I've had the experience before. Every time we walk onto the field, we've got to make sure our routines are good, our processes are good.

You've got to compete.

So yeah, fatigue is a possibility, but today is a great rest day for us, and our guys are professionals.

"Jason is a worldclass performer. We want to have him on the field every day for 365 days of the year.

24X7, if we could. [But] he's a human being, not a robot. In India, England, Australia, you can rest players as you have real quality coming through behind them. Unfortunately, we're not at that place where we can rest play-

ers when we want to, but, we've got to be realistic as well. Jason plays a lot of cricket and it's not just what he does on the field. As a leader and as a captain, he's doing a lot of work off it as well."

West Indies have already performed at a greater level than was widely expected of them before the series, and a 2-2 result would be a relative success if they were to clinch the final ODI at the Greenfield Stadium. But getting through India's top four has been a particular challenge so far.

Pothas, however, said they had plans.

"Look, if I had special plans - which I do - I'm certainly not going to put them out in the media! But having said that, they're world-class cricketers. You can't go without mentioning guys like Shikhar Dhawan.

Rayudu is in form. Lots of fantastic players that's what you get with such a strong team.

They're a great team to learn from. We don't just play against India, we learn from them too.

These are great opportunities when you come and play against teams of this quality."

West Indies are in the late stages of building up for next year's World Cup and are yet to comfortably escape their long-standing battles with player availability. In that scenario, they've had to fast-track several young players into their squad. Before

the start of this series, West Indies had named nine players who had played fewer than 20 ODIs. "It's a very young team," Pothas said.

"Not just from an international point of view but a volume of 50-over cricket point of view.

I think when you play at this level, whatever sport it might be, it's always going to come down to execution over a long period of time.

We've seen that we can execute for short periods of time.

"The challenge is always going to be to execute over a 100 overs.

If you're going to beat India or England or Australia or Pakistan, you've got to execute for a 100 overs. And it takes physical ability, it takes skill, it takes mental ability.

And fitness certainly comes in too. We go to Bangladesh next, we have a little break and we play England in the Caribbean. It's a lot of cricket coming up. So physical fitness is always going to aid your recovery, it's going to aid your decisionmaking and it's going to aid your execution.

So our young guys are learning all the time and they're having to learn at the international level, which is never easy. But they're getting better all the time and most importantly they're open to that learning. So we're very positive on them."

(ESPNCricinfo) (India Express photo)

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

New York businessman gives back to cricket community in Berbice the wicketkeeper-batsman while Ramsammy was the Captain of the team that finished second to Barbados in the Regional Under-15 tournament.

Additionally, Balkarran donated white uniforms to the TPCC. Over the years, TPCC have produced national and international cricketers, with Guyana Jaguars and West Indies A fast bowling all-rounder Romario Shepherd being the most recent.

The businessman has recognised the success the Club has had over the years, and he decided to invest in the youths since they are

Zeynul Ramsammy and Tomani Caesar collected cricket gear from Michael Balkarran (centre)

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i c h a e l Balkarran of Mike’s Floor Covering, 4210 Avenue D, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, USA, made donations of cricketing gear to Guyana’s Under-15 and Tucber Park cricketers, Zeynul Ramsammy and Tomani Caesar. The New York businessman also donated team uniforms to Tucber Park Cricket Club (TPCC) in New Amsterdam earlier in 2018.

Balkarran had observed Caesar and Ramsammy in 2017 when they displayed their cricketing talents in

an Under-13 final played at Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) against the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Under-13 team.

Ramsammy and Caesar played for Blairmont Under-13 in that tournament where the duo dominated. Ramsammy in particular had a monumental tournament as he was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP), scoring approximately 200 runs.

In 2018, Ramsammy and Caesar went on to represent the Guyana Under-15 team in the tournament played in Jamaica; Caesar was

Forde all set for Guyana leg...

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the closure of the entire route, Athletics Association of Guyana President Aubrey Hutson disclosed that there would be live commentary at the race. “And also there’ll be live commentary, compliments of Banks DIH, being done by Brijgobin Parasnath and Treiston Joseph.

So, even if you’re there, you’ll have live commentary coming in on how the race is progressing and I don’t think anyone is better at painting that picture than Brij himself,” Hutson revealed.

He also encouraged patrons to come out, citing that the race was a family-oriented event.

“But the key: come for the start, take a nice leisurely walk over to the National Park and you’ll be able to see a grand finish.”

The second leg of the South American 10K will begin on Carifesta Avenue, with a U-turn at UG, then into JB Latchmansingh Road, a right turn into Thomas Lands and into the National Park before ending at the children’s monument.

The day’s events will also include a 1500 metres race and a 3000 metres race featuring Under-14 and Under-16 boys and girls respectively.

the future. Like thousands of Guyanese living in New York, Balkarran also has a passion for cricket and he will continue to make contributions in his home country, Guyana.

TPCC is managed and coached by arguably one of the best coaches in Guyana, Julian Moore, who is also a junior selector. West Indies female player Tremayne Smartt is also an active member of the Cricket Club. The members and parents of the Club greatly thanked the New York businessman for his worthy contributions.

(Brandon Corlette) Members of Tucber Park Cricket Club receive the uniforms

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

India snub nothing to do with decision to quit, says Bravo (CMC)

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ll-rounder Dwayne Bravo has shot down suggestions his decision to retire from international cricket was influenced by his non-selection for the ongoing limited overs tour of India.

The 35-year-old last week announced he was quitting international cricket, as he prepared for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force's semi-final in the Regional Super50 at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

“Not being selected in the West Indies team to go to India had nothing to do with my decision because I haven't played for West Indies in onedayers since 2014 and in T20s since

for Red Force in the just concluded Super50 but had little impact, scoring just 96 runs from five innings and picking up seven wickets at 24 runs apiece.

Red Force reached the semi-finals before they were upset by eventual champions Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners.

Bravo, who also quit Test cricket three years ago, said he would continue to ply his trade on the global T20 Dwayne Bravo circuit.

“Life continues for me. I just officially announced my retirement but 2016,” Bravo told CNC3 TV. “So not being selected in the West I'm going to continue to play around Indies team — I've actually gotten ac- the world, I'm going to continue to play for Knight Riders,” he explained. customed to it now.”

“To all my fans who got scared and Bravo made a rare appearance

thought they would never see me play cricket, you can rest assured I will continue playing — just that I won't be playing for West Indies.

“I will be trying to keep my body fit so I can play as long as possible.”

Bravo was repeatedly snubbed

by Windies selectors despite guiding Trinbago Knight Riders to back-toback titles in the Caribbean Premier League over the last two seasons.

He captained West Indies in ODIs for 19 months up to 2014 when he was sacked and dropped from the squad following his key role in the controversial abandoned tour of India earlier that year, owing to a player's pay dispute with Cricket West Indies.

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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