Guyana Times Sunday February 23, 2020

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4205 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, February 23, 2020

PRICE

50th Republic Anniversary celebrations

WHAT'S INSIDE:

PPP/C, President hail significance of Mashramani Page 3

Disciplined Services voting

Disciplined Services voting

GECOM admits PPP polling agent excluded from flight to Mazaruni

…claims plane was overweight P5

Gunmen storm WBD sawmill owner’s home

Page 10

Soldier under close arrest for attempting to vote twice

… beat family, escape with millions P4

Taxi driver, passengers nabbed with P8 cocaine, ganja in car

4 GDF ranks critical, Page 4 others injured 5 after explosion at Coast Guard base

Golden …50th Republic Anniversary Arrowhead fireworks display cancelled hoisted to PNC executive, usher in APNU/AFC GECOM Republic Day See story on page 6

Page 7

$120 VAT INCLUDED

Commissioner among 66 national awardees

…GRA tax boss, Lincoln Lewis on list

Agroprocessors capitalise on mini Mash P17 Market Expo

PPP/C calls for probe into inducement meeting by P4 Govt Minister Traffic woes

Double-lane opening at DHB should be extended – drivers

P7

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, February 23 – 05:30h – 07:00h and Monday, February 24 – 05:30h – 07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, February 23 – 16:35h – 18:05h Monday, February 24 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Expect cloudy conditions with intervals of light rain showers throughout the day. There will be partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 05:07h and 17:21h reaching maximum heights of 2.56 metres and 2.65 metres.

Low Tide: 10:56h and 23:15h reaching minimum heights of 0.63 metre and 0.58 metre.

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50th Republic Anniversary celebrations

PPP, President hail

significance of Mashramani

B

oth the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and President David Granger have urged unity in their messages ahead of Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary.

According to the PPP in its message, it will be hitting the road to celebrate this year’s Mashramani under the theme “Guyana Together - Reflect, Celebrate and Transform”. The party noted that it coincides with the elections campaign theme “Stronger Together For a Better Guyana”.

In anticipation of a PPP/C victory at the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections, the PPP/C said that it is proud to announce its participation in the Mashramani Float Parade under the theme, “Stronger Together”. This theme, it said, encapsulates the party’s vision for a better Guyana. “The PPP/C, the only national political party in Guyana, supports unity through celebrations like Mashramani.”

“We believe that events such as these create opportunities to bring Guyanese together and showcase their creative talents,” the party said, urging persons wishing to be part of the contingent to make contact with former Member of Parliament Joe Hamilton on 651-1414 or Priya Chetram on 621-1361.

Meanwhile, President David Granger in his Republic Day message noted that the 50th Anniversary of the Republic celebrates an auspicious event designed to evoke emotions of

PPP/C General Secretary and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

pride and patriotism.

In his message, he used the opportunity to campaign for his party and cited the “Decade of Development”, a constant feature on the campaign trail. Citing Guyana’s national patrimony and agenda, he noted that there is much hope for the future.

“Statehood represented a substantive fulfilment of our people’s aspirations to chart their own destiny by refashioning their social and economic relations, introducing new national institutions, affirming sovereignty and advancing towards the goal of self-reliance.”

“Statehood brought us to the realisation that the common good is greater than the sum of our individual interests. Our country has progressed over the past fifty years on the basis of this principle. It will continue along this path during the Decade ahead.”

The President also noted in his address that the 50th Republic Anniversary and the celebrations that mark it are an occasion for

Guyanese to set aside their differences and unite in the common good.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force sent out a traffic advisory in which it advised the public on the roads that will be closed throughout the city from 07:00h to allow the smooth flow of Mashramani celebrations today.

1) Camp and Lamaha Streets – No entry north 2) Cowan and Camp Streets – No entry east 3) Woolford Avenue and Camp Streets – No entry west 4) Camp and Barrack Streets – No entry east 5) Camp and Thomas Land – No entry west 6) Parade and Young Streets – No entry north 7) Young and High Streets – No Entry East 8) Camp and Seawall Road – No entry south 9) Dowding Street and Vlissengen Road – No entry west 10) Lamaha and Irving Streets – No entry east 11) D’Andrade Street and Vlissengen Road – No entry west 12) Da Silva Street and Vlissengen Road – No entry west 13) Garnett Street and Vlissengen Road – No entry west 14) Barimita Avenue and Vlissengen Road – No

President David Granger

entry west 15) Eping Avenue and Vlissengen Road – No entry west 16) Woolford Avenue and JB Singh Road – No entry east 17) Anira and Irving Streets – No entry east 18) Laluni and Irving Streets – No entry east 19) Church and Peter Rose Streets – No entry east 20) North Road and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive – No entry east 21) South Road and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive – No entry east 22) Brickdam and Old College Road – No entry east 23) Hadfield Street and Old College Road – No entry east 24) Hadfield and Chappel Streets – No entry west 25) Mandela and Homestretch Avenue – No entry west 26) Mandela and Hadfield Streets – No entry west.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Republic Day 2020 T

oday, we commemorate 50 years of being a Republic, having cut all governance ties with Britain, which had ruled us for almost two centuries. Those who agitated for the rupturing of those ties went to great lengths to reveal and explain their exploitative nature, which left us so underdeveloped that after four centuries of the Dutch and British using our human and physical resources for producing raw sugar, only this year we are finally proposing to refine that sugar for our own consumption rather than importing our sugar which was refined in Britain and resold to us at a premium.

And so it was in almost every other field of economic endeavour where expatriate firms exploited the resources with which we were blessed – bauxite, gold, diamonds, timber. Only with rice, which was totally indigenously founded, expanded and maintained, were we in control and ended up with the revenues generated by our sweat and blood. With the declaration of our Republican status in 1970, the then PNC regime, with the support of the then Opposition PPP, embarked on the nationalisation of “the commanding heights of the economy” in an effort to retain a larger percentage of the profit from our resources.

Burnham and the PNC’s effort failed miserably for any number of reasons, not the least being that they staffed the upper echelons of the nationalised industries with only “yes men” from the PNC. The expression “square pegs in round holes” resonated in all areas of national life. After 28 years of independence and 22 years of Republican status, we were left just barely above Haiti in the Western Hemisphere, when free and fair elections were finally returned through local sacrifice and foreign pressure, especially from the United States.

Under the PPP from 1992, our economic and social health was slowly rehabilitated so that by the first decade of the new millennium we had moved from being a “Highly Indebted Poor Country” (HIPC) to a High Middle Income Country with a very sustainable debt load. However, even though this progress was demonstrated through empirical World Bank studies which showed that poverty had been reduced equally in all ethnic groups on the coast, the Opposition PNC accused the PPP government of “racial” discrimination in its programmes.

The first decade of the new millennium, ironically also witnessed the PNC’s violent “slow fyaah; mo fyaah” street protests against the PPP, segue into armed attacks against the state and purported supporters of the PPP by bandits ensconced in the village of Buxton. Armed groups sponsored by drug traffickers, businessmen under attack and even the state fought the bandits to eventually eliminate them but unfortunately undermining key institutions of the state and leaving hundreds dead. The political cleavages consequently increased even though the economic situation improved for all groups – with the Indigenous Peoples unfortunately still lagging even though the government gave them special attention.

Today, Guyana is being offered an opportunity for a new beginning with the discovery of oil – a new resource - off our shores. Learning from our experience with the nationalisation of industries, we must accept that private industry – which works on the “profit principle” must be allowed to take the lead in developing and running the industry. But since the oil resource is the property of the people of Guyana, the government of the day must ensure that the sector is properly regulated and overseen so that we will share equitably in its monetisation.

The present PNC-led government stumbled badly, as pointed out by the IMF and a welter of NGOs. when it did not bargain as hard-nosed as it could have, in the award of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with the International Oil Companies (IOCs). This must not be repeated in all future negotiations. The elections of March 2, offers the Guyanese people the opportunity to choose a government that will best represent their interest to finally use our resources to make us a prosperous people and republic.

We believe the PPP/C has earned our nod.

Persons on Saturday afternoon at a craft booth at the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Republic Anniversary at Everest Cricket Ground, Georgetown

PPP/C calls for probe into inducement meeting by Govt Minister

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he People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is calling on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to look into an engagement held by the Junior Minister with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson, with ranks of the Guyana Police Force on Thursday.

The Party noted that the contents of Ferguson’s address to the ranks, who were scheduled to cast their ballots the following day, represent an inducement, which is a serious violation of Guyana’s electoral laws, the GECOM elections code of conduct, an abuse of power by the minister and also a form of intimidation.

“Her speech contained numerous lies and was clear-

ly intended to disparage the PPP/C, more so, its successful housing programme, while placing the coalition as the saviour of Police ranks,” the Party said.

Minister Ferguson was quoted as saying: “The prospects for the housing sector will be great when we return to government, but the only way you will be able to benefit… you have to ensure that we return to government. So tomorrow I know that many of you got a date that is a special date… Right, so either we go forward or backward.

All I want to say to ya’ll is don’t stop the progress… So tomorrow you go there and mark your x well for us.”

In addition, she also declared, “I’m here representing the Government so you

got to vote for the government’’.

According to the PPP, this meeting could not have taken place without the approval of senior Police ranks and this is evidenced by the presence of an ‘Officer Forde’ who can be heard demanding that ranks put away their cell phones and later instructing them to vote for the governing APNU/AFC coalition.

To this end, the Party is calling on the Chairperson of GECOM, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, local and international observers, and all other relevant stakeholders to take note of the incident.

“This incident is the latest in a number of such where we have seen the indecent and dishonest display

of power, abuse of taxpayers’ dollars, corruption and disrespect for our Constitution, electoral and other laws by the David Granger led APNU/AFC Government.

The Party calls for this matter to be thoroughly investigated and the Minister to be held responsible for inducement,” PPP urged.

Only earlier this month, Minister Ferguson was seen campaigning at a burial service somewhere in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region.

While the video had caused outrage on social media, it also became the source of comedic jabs since the Minister had to be corrected twice after she called the deceased by a wrong name.

Gunmen storm WBD sawmill owner’s home …beat family, escape with millions

A

53-year-old businesswoman and her teenage nephew are now nursing wounds to their faces after they were attacked and robbed by three gun-toting bandits who stormed their home early Saturday morning.

Injured are Elizabeth Gherow of lot L Bakery Street, Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara (WBD), and her 14-year-old nephew.

Reports are that at about 05:45h on Saturday, three men who used clothing to conceal most of their faces, rushed into the woman’s home just as she had opened the door to the western side of the building.

Gherow, who owns a sawmill, was held at gunpoint by one of the armed men, who

pushed into her house as his accomplices followed.

One of the men used his weapon to deal a blow above her right-side eye while he demanded that she hand over cash to them. By this time, the woman’s 14-year-old nephew heard the commotion and ventured into the living room.

He too was confronted by the gunmen and was gun-butted by the bandits who continued to demand their valuables.

The men then ransacked the woman’s house and found a large quantity of gold jewellery along with $700,000.

Satisfied with their loot, the men quickly rushed out of Gherow’s house and ran through the street to make good their escape.

Speaking with this publication, Police

Commander of Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Assistant Police Commissioner Simon McBean confirmed that the woman called Police immediately after the men left.

Investigators responded and recovered clothing, which is believed to have been used by the bandits to conceal their

identities, near the woman’s house on the pathway leading to the entrance of her yard.

The cops also retrieved closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from surveillance cameras that are around Gherow’s house.

McBean noted that the footage is presently being reviewed by Police.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 GDF ranks critical, 4 others injured after explosion at Coast Guard base …50th Republic Anniversary fireworks display cancelled

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our ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard are currently battling for their lives at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after suffering severe burns about their bodies after an explosion took place at the base in Ruimveldt, Georgetown, on Saturday.

Critical are Seon Rose, Terrence Neil, Isaiah Gordon and Andrew Garnette. Four other ranks are reported to have also been injured and are hospitalised for various degrees of burns about their bodies. Rose, however, is the most critical as he suffered severe injuries to his head and face, which have affected his eyesight. This newspaper was told that he suffered over 90 per cent body burns.

Reports are that at about 13:30h on Saturday, the explosives were being prepared for the annual fireworks display on Saturday night to usher in Guyana’s 50th Republic Day celebrations today (February 23) when the explosion occurred.

According to persons living in the area, they heard a loud explosion but assumed it was an electrical issue.

However, they heard screams and shouts from within the Coast Guard base which prompted persons to rush out. It was then that

One of the injured GDF ranks with burns to his back and arm

they saw several injured army ranks in the water and others were being placed into vehicles.

One woman related that she noticed a solider, whose entire arm and upper body appeared to be burnt being rushed into an ambulance.

Another resident recalled observing a few ranks with burn injuries lying on the ground as they were assisted by their colleagues to seek emergency medical attention.

Fisherfolk in the area told this publication that they were on the “landing” when they heard a loud noise and saw smoke emitting from a truck that was on the GDF’s

barge.

“Then when I look I see that the man from the Army get pitched from the top there into the water and end up next to our boats. But then he get out the water and rush back to his Base.

He jumped over things to get back in there to help his friends even though he was burn up too,” one fisherman said.

The eight ranks are all at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The Army’s medical officer, Major Nigel Langhorne, has also been dispatched to the GPHC to assist the doctors there.

Board of Inquiry

At the hospital, Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West, told the media that rehearsal for the scheduled fireworks display were conducted on Friday evening at about 22:00h without any hiccups.

“It (the rehearsal) was well done and we were satisfied at the end of the rehearsals last evening (Friday evening) that we could have done the display today (Saturday).

As they were preparing for the display today (Saturday), they encountered some challenges and there was some form of spontaneous, we believe to have caused the detonations to have occurred

resulting in injuries. I have ordered a Board of Inquiry to be conducted to get to the bottom of it.”

Meanwhile, the GDF announced on Saturday afternoon that Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary fireworks display has been cancelled in light of the ranks who are attached to 21 Artillery Company being injured during the explosion.

The explosion resulted in a number of pyrotechnics being destroyed and rendered un-useable.

Additionally, the release noted that the GDF Welfare Department is working with the ranks who have been affected.

Also at the hospital on Saturday afternoon, was President David Granger.

He told the media that the involved in the incident are experts in firework displays and would have participated in Barbados’ 50th Independence anniversary fireworks activities in 2016.

“They were meant to perform tonight (Saturday) outside of Stabroek. The ammunition was being loaded on barges and something obviously went wrong and one bomb might have triggered a chain effect. It is not as though there might have been any carelessness,” the

The truck from which the pyrotechnics were being offloaded at the Coast Guard base

President said.

Granger added that other ranks who were exposed to the explosives and loading them on to the barge but not injured will also be subjected to medical check-ups and treatment if necessary.

Speedy recovery

Meanwhile,

COMMODITIES

Disciplined Services voting

GECOM admits PPP polling agent excluded from flight to Mazaruni …claims plane was overweight

T

he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has admitted to excluding a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) polling agent, among other agents, from boarding a plane it chartered that would have transported them to Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) for Disciplined Services voting on Friday.

This was communicated in a statement on Saturday, in which the Commission admitted that the PPP polling agent was not the only agent that was left behind. According to GECOM, agents from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) and the United Republican Party (URP) were also left behind.

In justifying their exclusion from the flight, GECOM noted that they would have exceeded the weight limit for the plane which was also carrying balloting officers, GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander and a police officer.

“Chief Elections Officer Mr Keith Lowenfield held a meeting with election agents of all political parties on February 15th, to provide details pertaining to the operational activities for the conduct of Disciplined Services balloting and polling day for General and Regional Elections.”

“Subsequent to the meeting, the CEO provided a detailed movement plan, the payload for each aircraft and the number of persons that can be accommodated. On ar-

rival at the Eugene F Correia airport on Friday, the pilot advised that all the scheduled passengers could not go on the flight since the weight was aboard the 600 lbs payload.”

According to GECOM, the pilot advised that two of the agents would not be able to go on the flight. It was, therefore, decided that no agents would be carried, rather than taking one agent and leaving two behind.

“This is a regrettable situation. However, in the interest of ensuring safety and that the statutory activity of Disciplined Services balloting proceeded as planned, the best decision was taken in this regard. The Guyana Elections Commission wishes to assure that the process was observed by international observers on the ground which lends itself to a level of transparency.”

Following Friday’s voting by the Joint Services, an issue was raised whereby one of the PPP’s polling agents, who was supposed to join a flight with a GECOM team to head to Mazaruni to observe the voting process there, was turned away due to “no space” being available.

“So, we have a situation there where polling is taking place without our polling agent thereafter being ejected from the flight by the officials. They were supposed to make arraignments to take the polling agents,” PPP’s Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali had contended.

PPP/C’s Executive Secretary and Chief Elections

People’s

Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, took to social media where he wished the soldiers a speedy recovery.

“I hope and pray that the injured soldiers make a speedy recovery. Our prayers are with them and their families,” Ali said.

Scrutineer Zulfikar Mustapha also informed the media that he has since written to GECOM to bring the party’s concerns on the matter to their attention.

Preparations

With the Disciplined Services voting out of the way, the general population is expected to go to the polls on March 2, 2020, to vote in what has been called the mother of all elections, which will determine the party that will form the Government to oversee Guyana’s oil wealth.

There was a total of 661,028 eligible voters on the OLE, which was completed late last month. In 2015, when GECOM had published the OLE ahead of elections that year, the total number of voters was 570,787. The increase has been explained as a feature of Continuous Registration.

The elections are expected to be watched intently, with a number of international observers and technical advisors in the country to oversee the process.

Polling places reduction

Already, preparation for polls has been marred by several controversies. The latest one has been GECOM’s decision to restrict the number of private polling places being used.

Chairperson of GECOM, retired Justice Claudette Singh has dismissed claims by the PPP/C that the Commission is attempting to

frustrate and suppress voters on Elections Day by reducing the number of polling places.

However, Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall on Friday evening provided a sample of evidence to support his arguments that the unfair, inequitable and discriminatory allocation of polling places puts the average PPP/C voter at a disadvantage and creates an advantage in favour of the average APNU/AFC voter.

Nandlall had provided a random extract from GECOM’s List of Polling Places showing some polling places for Samantha Point/Caneville, East Bank Demerara, an APNU stronghold, that indicated a number of private residences and place of worship being used for a relatively small community.

In a second instance, another random extract from GECOM’s List of Polling Places showed some polling places for Guyhoc Park, Greater Georgetown, another APNU stronghold, also with a number of private residences that are being used for a relatively small community.

“Compare all the above with Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, a PPP stronghold where seven thousand (7000) voters are required to vote at two (2) schools located in the same compound and where GECOM has refused to use any private residences (or places of worship), although nine (9) private residences were used in 2015, without a singular complaint,” Nandlall had said.

Indicators

US$

Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

$58.50/barrel $241.20ton $423.00/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change % -1.38 -0.26 0.00

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask $1643.00 $1644.00 Low/High $1625.30 $1650.10 Change 0.00 0.00%

6 NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PNC executive, APNU/AFC GECOM Commissioner among 66 national awardees …GRA tax boss, Lincoln Lewis on list

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he list of persons who will be given National Awards by President David Granger for the 50th Republican Anniversary is out and among those making the list is a People’s National Congress (PNC) executive and several known sympathisers of the ruling party – APNU/AFC. According to the list which was released by the Ministry of the Presidency, People’s National Congress (PNC) executive Cheryl Sampson and party member Mark Archer will both be receiving the Golden Arrow of Achievement (GAA).

Sampson was elected to the 15-member PNC executive at the party’s biennial congress back in 2018.

Sampson, a veteran teacher by profession, is a longtime member of the party and also served as a parliamentarian.

Archer is the current Communications Director at the Ministry

Veteran trade unionist and APNU/AFC supporter, Lincoln Lewis will be receiving a GAA

PNC executive Cheryl Sampson will be receiving a Golden Arrow of Achievement

APNU/AFC-nominated GECOM Commissioner Charles Corbin

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

of the Presidency and a former army officer, who served with the President in the Guyana Defence Force. Meanwhile, APNU/ AFC-nominated Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner, Charles Corbin will be receiving a Cacique Crown of Honor (CCH).

Trade unionist and General Secretary of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), Lincoln Lewis is also slated to receive the GAA. While Lewis’ contribution to trade unionism is well known, so too is his open advocacy for APNU/ AFC ahead of the General

and Regional Elections.

Mark Benschop, another ardent supporter of the coalition Government, who was previously accused of treason, is also set to receive an award, this time a Medal of Service.

Another entrant on the list is Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)

Commissioner General Godfrey Statia.

Meanwhile, long-time Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh is also included on the list of awardees. They are both in line to receive the CCH. Ambassador Charlene Phoenix, who was involved in the shakeup at the

Order of Roraima

1. Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley

Order of Service Cacique’s Crown of Honour

1. The Right Reverend Charles Alexander Davidson 2. Dr Abraham Agustus Clemwood Fung-A-Fat 3. Dr Neville Bhagwandeen Gobin 4. Edmond Montague Grant 5. Professor John Edward Greene 6. Dr Cecil Edward Harricharran 7. Dr Fawcett Anthony Jeffrey 8. Dr Dalgleish Joseph 9. Ambassador Charlene Alexis Phoenix 10. Justice William Rajendra Ramlall 11. Claude Augustus Saul 12. Dr Nehaul Prashad Singh 13. Paul Esmond Slowe 14. Michael Orrin David Somersall 15. Godfrey Steve Statia

Golden Arrow of Achievement

1. Mark Anthony Archer 2. Mavis Anita Benn 3. Marlan Kwesi Cole 4. Charles Mitroy Corbin 5. Reverend Roshanna Gillis 6. Catherina Penda Guyan 7. Sheran Roxanna Harper 8. Troy Henry 9. Loris Emille Heywood 10. Ranald Andrew Jacobs 11. Pastor Richard Avert James 12. Edward Jameson 13. Zaida Joaquin 14. Lincoln Brandon Lewis 15. Frederick McWilfred 16. Cita Indranie Pilgrim 17. Cheryl Sampson 18. Olive Beverly Sampson 19. Varshnie Udho Singh 20. Clinton Murphy Williams 21. Apostle Jason Clifton Yorrick

Foreign Affairs Ministry last year that saw her replacing former Director General Audrey JardineWaddell as the Ministry’s first Permanent Secretary, is also set to receive the CCH. Other notable awardees include Anglican Bishop of Guyana, Reverend Charles Alexander Davidson; Police Complaints Authority (PCA) Chairman, retired Justice William Ramlall (CCH), Mother’s Union Worldwide President, Sheran Harper - wife of Guyanese cricket legend, Roger Harper; Police Service Commission Chairman, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe (CCH).

Meanwhile, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle will be receiving the Disciplined Services Star.

Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police and former F Division Commander, Kevin Adonis is slated to receive the Disciplined Services Medal.

Medal of Service

1. Wesley Adrian Benjamin 2. Mark Anthony Benschop 3. Paulette Patricia Bollers 4. Terrence Glenberth Boston 5. Donna Bowen 6. Lucille Elaine Cadogan 7. Beverly Clenkien 8. Jenny Benn-Daly 9. Ann Pamela Forde 10. Gregory Douglas Fraser 11. Claire Ann Goring 12. Virgil Harding 13. Phyllis Erica Jackson 14. Glenyss Barbara James 15. Jainarine Maraj 16. Leon Randolph Mc Donald 17. Doreen Evelyn Blackman Ng-A-Qui 18. Kissoon Dyal Persaud 19. Premnauth Prashad 20. Urica Yernesi Primus 21. Deserdeen Roberts 22. Kaylan Persaud Sharma 23. Beverly Ann Somerset

Military Service Medal

1. Colonel Raul Kenneth Jerrick 2. Lieutenant Colonel Denzil Walter Carmichael

Disciplined Services Star

1. Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Anthony Gentle

Disciplined Services Medal

1. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kevin Adonis 2. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Edgar Mortimer Thomas 3. Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Jacqueline Bonita Greene

NEWS

Golden Arrowhead hoisted to usher in Republic Day T

he Golden Arrowhead was hoisted in all grandeur on Saturday morning to ring in Guyana’s jubilee Republic Day celebration, which will reach its peak today with the customary Mashramani Float Parade in Georgetown.

The pre-Republic Day activities commenced with a packed programme of patriotic performances by the Disciplined Services and hundreds of students during the flag-raising ceremony.

Scores of Guyanese culminated at D’Urban Park to witness the symbolic hoisting of the national flag. Onlooking the activities was President David Granger, First Lady Sandra Granger, members of Government and the diplomatic community.

There, an explosion of cultural talents flowed, depicting flashes from the six peoples: the Amerindians, Europeans, Africans, East Indians, Chinese and the Portuguese. The display con-

tinued with a medley of dances to depict what Guyana stands for, against a backdrop of popular songs from local artistes. Moreover, the budding oil and gas industry was also depicted.

This activity concluded with the raising of the national flag, the Golden Arrowhead as it soared and fluttered as ever before.

Republic Day, commonly referred to as Mashramani, marks the date when Guyana gained its Republic status from which the Constitution of Guyana came into effect shortly after.

On August 29, 1969, the resolution was passed in Parliament that Guyana would become a Cooperative Republic on February 23, 1970.

Celebrations will continue today with the customary Mashramani Float parade.

Revellers will be parading the streets of Georgetown all bedecked in their intricate costumes and floats, and patrons

A cultural display highlighting Guyana’s Presidents

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Traffic woes

Double-lane opening at DHB should be extended – drivers

Vehicles waiting to traverse the Harbour Bridge

C

The Golden Arrowhead hoisted at D’Urban Park, Georgetown

will be sure to line the route to catch a glimpse.

The idea of Mashramani is mostly viewed as a day

when reflections are made on the achievements in various sectors of the economy.

As such, the growth in agriculture, health, mining and other fields are highlighted.

Other stakeholders would also join the celebrations and experiences throughout the day.

This year, the Social Cohesion Ministry earmarked some $219 million to host various events for Guyana’s Republic Day celebrations.

onfusion at the Demerara Harbour Bridge in recent time has left many commuters in an exasperated mode, having to wait for over an hour to traverse the structure during the morning hours.

Now, many have called on the authorities to extend the double lane provision to reduce this traffic build-up.

The current schedule involves a double-lane opening from 07:00h to 07:30h to allow for traffic control. However, this has not been effective in solving the issue. On a normal morning, over four lanes of traffic lead to the gates of the bridge, which can only facilitate one lane of vehicles from both sides. This is coupled with an auxiliary line through the La Grange Old Road.

As such, officers on site would rotate the lines, which causes the traffic to extend hundreds of feet. On Friday morning, one minibus driv-

er who was traversing from the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) sought to comment on the dreaded situation.

Naresh Dhanpaul told Guyana Times that he takes close to an hour in the waiting line and then some 30 minutes to cross the Demerara River.

With the growing number of vehicles and persons moving to Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), he called for officials to extend the double lane and ease some of the woes from commuters.

“This thing here is frustrating. They should open the double lane some more and push out some of the traffic from this side. In the morning, persons not really using the bridge to come over this side (WBD) so they could see how to fix it so that people don’t got to wait so long. You see I come in this line since 08:00h.

Now is 09:00h and now I get to cross,” he lamented.

TURN TO PAGE 12

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Taxi driver, passengers nabbed with cocaine, ganja in car

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taxi driver has now landed himself in hot water after he was arrested along with two passengers when Police unearthed a quantity of cocaine and marijuana hidden in a haversack inside the vehicle.

Reports are that Police intercepted the car at about 02:00h on Saturday along the Barnell Public

Road, Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), after ranks received information that the illegal substances were being transported in motorcar PYY 717.

A roadblock was conducted and as the motorcar approached the Police, the driver, who alleged that he was hired to transport the two male customers to a location, was told to park the

vehicle in a corner to facilitate a search.

At that time, one of the passengers had a haversack in his possession which the policemen also searched. The search revealed over 2000 grams of cannabis along with a small quantity of cocaine wrapped in several layers of plastic.

The two passengers,

along with the driver, were arrested and taken to the Parika Police Station.

When contacted, Police Commander of Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Assistant Police Commissioner Simon Mc Bean confirmed that the three men were notified of the offence and are currently in Police custody.

D

Fatal flaw… …of Granger

avid Granger, now vying for a second term as President, is first and foremost a military creature.

But most pertinently, he imbibed his view of the role of the military from Forbes Burnham, who plucked this policeman from the Queen’s College Cadet Corps, sent him to military school in England, and then pushed him to play a leading role in the Disciplined Forces formed by the dictator. Granger has been honest in insisting that his role model is Burnham, whose legacy it is his mission to complete.

Even though some British-trained officers (like Col Price) were retained by Burnham after Independence, they were shunted aside for juniors like Granger, who jumped to the commands of his master’s whims.

Burnham was a creature of his times when some saw the military as a “modernising” force for underdeveloped and developing countries. But in treating modernisation as a variable, Burnham had a very confused and naïve apprehension of what were the factors to accomplish it.

The name he chose – “Disciplined Forces” for his military outfits, the Army (GDF); Police (GPF); Reserve (People’s Militia); National Service; etc – revealed his view of Guyanese society and what it would take to “modernise” us. We were “undisciplined” and the “Disciplined” Forces would INSTIL the necessary “discipline” into us. Burnham explicitly rejected the British view of a “professional” military: he announced he wasn’t looking for any “abstract” loyalty…but the military must swear personal fealty to him!!

Burnham built up the Disciplined Forces to 23,000 – one of the highest army-civilian ratio in the world, 1:35!! All of this fell apart like everything else Burnham touched, of course, but true-believers like Granger are always ready to blame “others” who “sabotaged” the “vision”!! Granger has increased the armed forces from 6800 in 2014 to 10,226 in 2020 – and we have military officers in leadership positions in EVERY state institution in the country!! Including the public hospital!!

He doesn’t accept that for a democracy, discipline – to produce, or create, or invest – cannot be imposed. Like the totalitarian leader he is, he’s willing to create a North Korean-style military-controlled society to give life to his hero’s vision. If you, Dear Reader, think the analogy is over the top, don’t forget that Burnham actually visited North Korea and brought “discipline” into youths by importing their “Mass Games” for our schoolchildren!!

Granger inherited Burnham’s imperial presidency created by his 1980 Constitution, which increased the Executive control of the legislature. He has shown that he has scant regard for the Judiciary. On this Republic Day, reflect on the dangers of putting him back as President of our Republic on March 2.

Let us protect democracy on OUR ides of March!! …of expatriate enclaves There’s been quite a bit written about Equatorial Guinea and how its ruler and his son have siphoned off the billions and billions of (US) dollars from the country’s oil revenues. Imagine US$700 million deposited in the Riggs bank in Washington DC, was just the tip of the iceberg!! The average citizen who’s been left wallowing in poverty and misery after decades of oil production is also only the tip of the iceberg of the consequent deformation of the society.

One that’s been well hidden was suggested by the PNC Government’s announcement of the one-squaremile plot of GuySuCo’s land at Ogle being identified for a “city” – starting with two brand-name hotels, golf course, and exclusive shopping etc.

In Guinea’s capital of Malabo, there are several enclaves that cater to the expatriate community that run the oil extraction process. These enclaves totally sequester the ex-pats from the grim reality of the lives of ordinary Guineans – and anaesthetizes their sense of outrage.

Guyanese should insist on distributed development to integrate ex-pats with Guyanese. …in democratic campaigning Another sign of the march into dictatorship by the Granger crew has been their blatant use of state resources during the present campaign. Now, of course, all incumbents play this game, as Ramjattan ejaculated.

But there are clear rules for caretaker regimes!!

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Disciplined Services voting

Soldier under close arrest for attempting to vote twice

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oldier under close arrest for attempting to vote twice A Guyana Defence Force rank has been placed under close arrest after he reportedly attempted to vote twice on Friday at the Camp Stephenson Base, Timehri,

East Bank Demerara, as the Disciplined Services voted ahead of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

According to reports, the incident occurred around 17:05 at the Jaguar Lecture Hall polling place (Alpha split D-H).

The military officer, (name withheld) went to the polling place to vote and did not have an accepted form of picture identification.

Grenville was then asked to swear an oath or sign the statement of affirmation as to being who he is, which he

refused to do.

The man subsequently left with the intention of returning.

However, before leaving, the Presiding Officer told the man that it was getting late and he should sign the statement, but he left without doing so. In a statement on Saturday evening, the People’s Progressive Party said that its polling agent at the location reported the unusual behaviour of the GDF staff to a warrant officer, who subsequently re-

turned with the rank.

It was then that the polling agent (name withheld), discovered what appeared to be ballot ink on the soldier’s right index finger.

The soldier alleged that it was pen ink that fell on his finger; however, after investigations, it was discovered that the man had stains on his nail and at the bottom of the finger. As such, the matter was reported to the Timehri Police Station and ranks went to investigate.

Based on a police report, the soldier is under close arrest at the Camp Stephenson Base and will be assisting Police with further investigations, the PPP said.

Meanwhile, on Friday thousands of security officials from the country cast their votes. GECOM’s Public Relations Officer on Saturday evening said that GECOM will soon send out a statement on the issue.

However, up to press time this was not forthcoming.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTT moves to cashless payments for bills

F Reflecting on cultural obliteration

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ast night, one of the biggest festival in the Hindu calendar was commemorated – Maha Shivratri. My family stayed up all night to offer the prescribed oblations to the “Shiva Lingam” (literally the “sign of Shiva”), which signifies his formless existence that pervades the entire creation. And which will eventually subside into his being until it is projected into another round of creation, sustenance and dissolution lasting billions of years.

But what occupied my mind between the four sets of oblations (“praharas”) was how little even Hindus know about the significance of their practices. But this is not mere happenstance: it is a consequence of our Britain’s colonisation of India, from where we were brought.

Our “Sanataan Dharma” – or “Eternal Way of Life” – was Ravi Dev categorised by them as a “religion”, but given a name ending with “ism”, signifying it was an ideology: “Hinduism”.

Its “Dharmic” practices were appraised from the standpoint of Christianity - the emblematic “Religion”. That Hindus had dozens of sacred texts, millions of gods, and eight incarnations of God is his sustaining aspect, made their religion self-evidently nonsensical. As conquerors of India, the British had the wherewithal to create a “regime of truth” – one that provided the instruments to determine not only whether examined statements were true or false but also whether they had any meaning at all! Performatively, these instruments or techniques as a mechanism of control can be seen as “disciplines” to give effect to the analyses in the lives of people – both the ruled and the rulers.

The beliefs and practices of Christianity (of the time in question – that those beliefs and practices had been constantly evolving and changing was studiously avoided) defined “normal” religious beliefs and practices. This constituted its “regime of truth”, with its specific language, symbols, modes of reasoning and conclusions. It was the duty of those in power, of course, to ensure that deviant beliefs and practices were stamped out or at the very least, disapproved. There are, then the ‘disciplinary” regime that is put into place to ensure “normal” behaviour.

We are now in a position to appreciate why, for instance, the British authorities in British Guiana prohibited between 1838 and 1957, the Hindu practice of cremating their dead.

Their belief that the human body had no permanent nexus with an eternal soul and could thus be hygienically and inexpensively burnt was obviously “madness” since it was self-evident that there was going to be a day when all bodies would be resurrected to be reunited with their souls. Cremation, unlike burial (never mind its ensuing decay) would evidently hinder the latter process. The law prohibiting cremation was enacted and enforced and burial was compelled: the indentureds imitated the “normal” funerary patterns of the Christianised Creoles down to the institution of the “wake”.

Even when the disciplinary regime might have been intended to facilitate the maximisation of labour on the plantations and not necessarily to eradicate ‘deviant religious” behaviour, it produced changes in the “way of life” that was Hinduism. The immigrant was given one day a week off – but this day, Sunday, was not of his choosing – it was to facilitate Christian Church attendance. Back in India, the immigrant knew of temples as places that would be visited on special occasions to make offerings to the deities. Dharmic observances might necessitate a visit to the local mandir but more likely was conducted in front of a makeshift shrine in the home.

The six-day workweek and the dawn to dusk workday– not to mention the lack of privacy in the logees -in Guyana impacted all of that. Hindus eventually started to construct Mandirs – initially shrines, such as the Shivalas they had in village India - where individual worship could be performed but very soon these were converted to larger structures for Sunday congregational worship a la Christianity. The Purohit, who would have gone to the home of the devotee to conduct the periodic ritual (pujas), because each Hindu had his/her unique conception of the Divine, now became a “priest” or “Pandit” that led congregations in Sunday “services”. The philosophy behind the practices such as Shivratri were gradually degutted.

From the standpoint of the dominant Christian “beliefs” in Guyana, the festival is not even seen as worthy of comment.

Only this newspaper reported on the event that was observed all across Guyana.

ollowing a brazen robbery at its Giftland Mall kiosk just two weeks ago, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraphy Company (GTT) has decided to accept only cashless bill payments at the location.

According to the company, consumers can pay their bills using a credit or debit card. The cashless form of payment is to allow for the safety of employees and customers. However, at the retail location on the second floor, cash bill payments will be accepted.

On February 10, two bandits robbed the kiosk on the ground floor of the Giftland Mall, Plantation Pattensen, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

According to closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage seen by this publication, the two perpetrators casually entered the mall and pounced on the sales clerk at the kiosk.

At the time, several customers were in a queue; they quickly scattered when one of the bandits pulled out a gun.

After the robbery, the men ran out of the mall. The incident occurred at around 21:00h and the entire ordeal lasted just a few minutes.

The following day, one of the thieves was nabbed by Police during a shootout on D’Urban Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown.

The other suspect managed to escape but was apprehended one day later.

According to Commander of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Sub-division A (Georgetown), Assistant Police Commissioner Edgar Thomas, the police used social media to track down the two bandits.

During that time, the management of the mall announced that armed guards are to be stationed at all entrances of the facility.

The duo has since been

released on $20,000 station bail each as there was insuf-

ficient evidence to institute charges at that time.

12 NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Double-lane opening at DHB...

According to him, many public transportation drivers are refusing to work during these periods, because of the additional time and petrol being consumed.

“It get just a couple of we working now like up to 09:00

cause the traffic too much, too much…Them (the other drivers) saying that the gas and time that you wasting in the line not compensating for the money that we making. Is too long now that this thing going on but not it getting worse,”

Dhanpaul told this publication.

Just two weeks ago, PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali acknowledged the travails of commuters from West Demerara who have to cross the old, expired, floating

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

DHB daily to work or do business.

He was at the time speaking to supporters at a rally in Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.

An average of 10,000 vehicles traverses the crossing

daily. Ali noted the thousands of man-hours lost to the national economy, not to mention the mental turmoil inflicted when those commuters have to waste an average of four hours daily to cross.

He committed to fulfill-

ing the plans of the PPP Government when a four-lane fixed-span modern concrete bridge, with cloverleaf exits and entries was designed by local engineers and staff of the DHB.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

YOUR RIGHT TO MUSIC IS NOT YOUR RIGHT TO DISTURB OTHERS!

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s we celebrate 50 years as a Republic Nation (Mashramani), the EPA urges all Guyanese to be considerate of their noise emissions.

Remember that frequent exposure to noise can have serious implications for human health which includes: increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, sleep deprivation, headaches and migraines, psychological triggers for people with PTSD, anxiety, etc. Noise also affects animals— can result in hearing loss and their inability to escape from danger.

It’s an offence under the Environmental Protection (Noise Management) regulations to emit excessive or unusual noise. Defaulters can be fined up to $700,000 and face 1 year imprisonment.

Be the solution and STOP noise pollution!

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail. com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Understanding economic diversification versus economic devastation: setting the record straight

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ver the last few weeks, this author embarked upon an assignment to analyse the manifestos of all the contesting political parties. This week, the author intended to focus on the manifestos of ANUG and Change Guyana; however, upon examining both manifesto’s economic development programmes, neither of them present any insight as to how they intend to achieve those ambitious ideas proposed therein. As such, it would not be worthwhile to present any analysis for this reason as there is really no scope to do so.

Having said that, today’s article is a diversion from this series and next week, which would be the last Sunday before elections, this author will perform a comparative analysis of the manifestos of the two major contesting political parties.

Today’s topical issue is prompted from an article carried in sections of the media where it was reported that the Minister of Finance boasted of some 4.7% growth in GDP for last year despite poor performances in traditional sectors, and that investors continue to ink concrete deals regardless of the political environment. The Minister went on to elaborate and suggest that over the years, the regime has been building and diversifying the economy.

This analyst is hard-press to posit that the Minister perhaps is seemingly taking credit for that which was not engineered by him through any of his projects, programmes and policies.

Economic diversification and economic devastation are two completely different realities altogether. The economic realities for which the Finance Minister’s policies and by extension the regime are largely responsible for are in fact, redistribution of wealth (an entire article was previously dedicated towards this), and economic devastation – that is, the case of downsizing the sugar industry which in effect led to massive unemployment rates, depression in the sugar communities, increases in nonperforming loans in the banking sector, extraction of over $40 billion from circulation in the economy which in turn, sustains the village economies and has far-reaching economic sustenance implications on the macroeconomy— a contributory factor, admitted by the Minister himself, for the financial constraints of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) investments, and a massive loss in private consumption of about $180 billion.

In fact, the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc in 2015, headed by Guyana’s prominent economist, Dr Clive Thomas, never recommended the closure of any of the sugar estates because Dr Thomas, as an economist, understood the macroeconomic implications of such a move, and what was even worse, the CoI cost taxpayers over $50 million.

This is largely why the traditional sectors continue to underperform as admitted by the Minister. This underperformance of the traditional sectors resulted in a loss of some US$2 billion in foreign exchange over the last five years, despite being offset

by Gold exports, other exports and foreign direct investments owing to oil and gas-related activities in the economy. It is the number one factor why the central bank’s international reserve is less than the universal minimum benchmark of three months import cover for the first time in more than ten years when it has always been above three and four months import cover.

Now, let’s examine the economic diversification which the Minister boasts of: as contended previously, the investments by foreign investors in the hotel and tourism industry and the reportedly explosive expressions of interests by foreign investors in the US, Canada and the UK and many other counties, to invest in the Guyana economy, are largely directly attributed to Guyana becoming a petroleum-producing state, the tsunami of economic opportunities that the emerging oil and gas sector of itself will induce in the next two decades, and of note, these developments are not a result of any projects conceptualised or implemented by the subject Minister, rather these are direct results of projects, policies and initiatives that were already in place under the previous regime. It is public knowledge that the Exxon’s contract was signed in 1999. In other words, these developments that are occurring now are simply a natural default of this fundamental fact.

The subject Minister’s policies have no evidence of any economic diversification plan. It should be noteworthy to mention, more so, that even all the road projects and other developmental projects in the Hinterland regions and other parts of the country which are somewhat alluded to in the National Green State Development Strategy, were all conceptualised and developed in the National Development Strategy since 19961997. The National Development Strategy was put together, inter alia, 300 hours of meetings by 23 technical working groups consisting of over 200 Guyanese and is by far a more superior development strategy than that which is contained in the Green State Development Strategy.

These contentions will be extended in greater depth next week.

(The author is an experienced macro-finance and research analyst, Lecturer and Business & Finance Consultant. The views expressed are exclusively his own and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper and the institutions he represents. For comments, send to jbbankingadvice@gmail.com).

16 PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Agro-processors capitalise on mini Mash Market Expo A

number of the country’s agro-processors on Saturday participated in the Republic Day celebrations by showcasing their produce and products at the inaugural mini Mash Market Expo.

The market expo was organised by the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) in collaboration with Coss Cutters Supermarket, in observance of the country’s 50th Republic Day anniversary, which will be celebrated today.

The pre-Mash event took place at the supermarket’s Farm, East Bank Demerara location and saw a fair number of buyers when it kickstarted in the late morning hours.

Public Relations Officer of the Marketing Corporation, Chevon Nedd shared with Guyana Times that the new initiative is focused on giving locally produced items the publicity they need.

Nedd added that the GMC looks forward to partnering with other supermarkets in the future to not only host these events but also put more of these locals on their shelves.

“It’s like a networking opportunity for them and also an effort to promote local products getting them into the supermarket…We’re hoping that other supermarkets come on board and partner with us to host these events and we’re also hoping that other supermarkets are enthusiastic when it comes to

Similar views were expressed by Akeem Williams, who spoke on behalf of the Guyana School of Agriculture.

“I think these exhibitions are important just to educate our citizens about the stuff that Guyana is going into which is agro-processing which is the next way forward in this country…A bigger venue and more people invited because I know there’s a lot of agro-processors in the country, probably an hinterland area,” Williams stated.

promoting local,” She noted.

The mini-market featured over 40 agro-processors and farmers of items such as coconut-based products, food seasonings, flour, cassava products among others.

During brief interviews with this publication, exhibitors lauded the hosting of the expo and called for similar events to be held within other regions.

Shania Evans, a representative of local agro-processing business, Indigenous Coconut Oil expressed, “Events like this help the public to get aware of the products and to support it as well and we’re really thankful for everything these events do”.

Meanwhile, Vishal Quality Food Products representative, Ragnauth Persaud spoke to the need of event locations whereby producers are guaranteed to have sales.

Some of the products on display at the mini Mash Market Expo on Saturday

18 NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Inquest commences into 2018 death of teen cyclist

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lmost two years after 17-year-old labourer Ricardo James, of

Good Faith Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was killed after he allegedly rode

into the path of a speeding minibus, a Coroner’s Inquest has commenced into his

death.

The inquest (an investigation as to the cause of death) commenced before Magistrate Marissa Mittleholzer at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Some of the witnesses expected to testify into the matter include Guyana Police Force (GPF) ranks Constable David Blair, Constable Maurice Smith, Corporal John Walcott, Sergeant Patrick Benjamin and Sergeant Charlene Nedd.

In addition, Lawrence Madray and Brian James of Moruca, Region One (BarimaWaini); Allison Thomas of Recess, Mahaicony, and Randolph Bowen of La Raisonable, Mahaicony are expected to deliver testimonies.

This newspaper had previously reported that on July 30, 2018, minibus, PTT 5273, was proceeding west along the roadway while the teenage cyclist of Lot 12 Recess Village, Mahaicony, ECD

was heading East.

Reportedly, the young man swerved into the path of the bus and collided with the front left side. As a result, the front wheel of the cycle was dislodged, resulting in the young man falling to the roadway where he sustained severe head injuries.

Moreover, he was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020

Major cycle races mark Guyana’s Golden Jubilee observances

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup…

Windies beat A impressive Thailand

ctivities being staged to observe Guyana’s Golden Jubilee as a Republic include two major cycle races, to be held respectively on the actual Republic Day, today February 23, and tomorrow, Monday February 24, which has been officially declared a holiday.

The 23rd annual Courts 50-Mile Road Race event, to be held in Berbice, follows hard on the proverbial heels of a major one of its kind which was only recently held there, as cycling continues to break new barriers in the Ancient County.

Cyclists from across Guyana will be battling for lucrative prizes in this race, thus the Berbice roadways will be transformed into an intense battleground, because determined cyclists vying for supremacy and concomitant bragging rights will be confronting each other head-on in this best-of-the-best clash of

ꟷ Stafanie Taylor instrumental

S

tafanie Taylor’s all-round class helped the West Indies Women survive a scare against debutants Thailand in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 opener in Perth.

Windies’ Captain Taylor held their ‘Group B’ opponents to 78/9 with her three wickets, but Thailand’s fielding strength came to the fore, with Lee-Ann Kirby, Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin all departing before the seventh over, to spark the prospect of an upset.

Taylor and Shemaine Campbelle stayed firm, though, and their unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 53 sealed the win.

SCOREBOARD Thailand Women Innings (20 overs maximum) N Chantam c †Campbelle b Connell 9 N Boochatham c Dottin b Henry 2 N Koncharoenkai † c Kirby b Fletcher 33 N Chaiwai c Alleyne b Mohammed 13 C Sutthiruang c & b Matthews 3 S Tippoch (c) b Taylor 1 O Kamchomphu c Kirby b Taylor 0 W Liengprasert run out (Henry/†Campbelle) 4 R Padunglerd not out 2 S Laomi st †Campbelle b Taylor 7 Extras 4 (nb 1, w 3) TOTAL 78/9 (20 Overs, RR: 3.9) Did not bat: S Lateh Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Nattaya Boochatham, 2.2 ov), 2-11 (Nattakan Chantam, 3.2 ov), 3-46 (Naruemol Chaiwai, 11.2 ov), 4-56 (Chanida Sutthiruang, 14.1 ov), 5-60 (Sornnarin Tippoch, 15.2 ov), 6-60 (Onnicha Kamchomphu, 15.6 ov), 7-68 (Nannapat Koncharoenkai, 18.3 ov), 8-69 (Wongpaka Liengprasert, 18.4 ov), 9-78 (Suleeporn Laomi, 19.6 ov) BOWLING CA Henry

O M 3 1

R W 14 1

SS Connell ASS Fletcher A Mohammed HK Matthews SR Taylor

3 0 3 0 4 0 4 0 3 0

13 11 15 12 13

1 1 1 1 3

West Indies Women Innings (target: 79 runs from 20 overs) HK Matthews b Lateh 16 LAGL Kirby run out (Chaiwai) 3 SR Taylor (c) not out 26 DJS Dottin run out (Laomi/†Koncharoenkai) 2 SA Campbelle † not out 25 Extras 8 (lb 2, w 6) TOTAL 80/3 (16.4 Overs, RR: 4.8) Did not bat: CN Nation, CA Henry, AA Alleyne, A Mohammed, ASS Fletcher, SS Connell Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Lee-Ann Kirby, 4.1 ov), 2-24 (Hayley Matthews, 5.3 ov), 3-27 (Deandra Dottin, 6.4 ov) BOWLING O N Boochatham 3.4 S Lateh 3 R Padunglerd 2 C Sutthiruang 2 S Laomi 4 S Tippoch 1 O Kamchomphu 1

M 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

19

R 9 21 12 8 14 7 7

W 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

athletes.

Organised by Flying Ace Cycling Coach Randolph Roberts, this race commences at 9:00h before the Courts New Amsterdam branch, and proceeds to the Nand Persaud rice milling operations at #36 Village Corentyne before returning to the point of origin for the finish.

An assistant manager of the furniture giant Courts will start this race, and the first eight Open cyclists to cross the finish line would be awarded prizes, as would the first three juniors/juveniles and the first three veterans. Eight sprint prizes will be up for grabs in this race, and it is anticipated to be a cracking event.

On Monday, February 24, the Annual Burnham Memorial Cycle Race, which this year will be run as a two-stage race, would be held. The First Stage will start at 7:00h

One of Guyana’s top cyclists, Jamual John, will be on show (Brandon Corlette photo)

in Linden and proceed to Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown for the finish.

The Second Stage will start at 2pm at Homestretch Avenue, and proceed to Belfield, ECD before returning to Homestretch Avenue for the finish.

Mr. Howard of Flying

Stars Cycle Club is pleased to have the sponsors of this event show their commitment to the sport.

Representatives of the Burnham Foundation will be on hand to witness the riders in action and later assist in the distribution of prizes.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT

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GUYANATIMESGY.COMOM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020

Junior Jaguars brush aside USVI 2-0

G

uyana’s Junior Jaguars, the Under 20 Men’s National team, have kept their slate clean in the CONCACAF

U20 Championship Group Stage by romping to their third consecutive win on Friday night.

They put on another

impressive performance on Friday night in Managua, Nicaragua, by which they got the better of the U.S Virgin Islands

team and were able to register their third win in the 4-game group stage.

As had happened when they had faced their other opponents Montserrat and St. Vincent, Guyana were challenged in the early minutes of the encounter; but, according to the team’s Head Coach Wayne Dover, the Guyanese boys were given different instructions during the half-time break, and those worked well to get the scorecard ticking.

In the 54th minute of play, Omari Glasgow scored his third goal in as many games, to bring

some relief to the Jaguars’ camp.

He was tackled in the box a few minutes later, and this afforded Guyana a penalty opportunity.

Taken by captain Nicholas Mc Arthur in the 59th minute, it was converted successfully for Guyana’s second goal.

The U.S Virgin Islands team refused to play an offensive game after Guyana struck goal, and this resulted in Guyana attaining the 2-0 victory.

The Junior Jaguars will play their final Group game against hosts, Nicaragua, tomorrow. It is anticipated to be a challenging game for the under-20 outfit, as

Nicaragua are currently leading the group on goal difference, although they have attained the same nine points as Guyana.

Tomorrow’s game will decide the winner of ‘Group A’ of the U20 Championship Qualifiers.

“Sunday’s game against the host nation will definitely be our toughest game. Nicaragua is a very good team. We’ll have to be very disciplined during the game for 90+ minutes, and score our chances and win the game, which we can do,” Head Coach Wayne Dover has said in a correspondence sent to the media.

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GCB/Dave West Indian Imports U-15 Inter-County tournament…

Berbice win title in two-wicket thriller Story and Photos By Brandon Corlette

A

fairly large crowd watched the Berbice U-15 Team dethrone Demerara by two wickets in a lowscoring thriller played at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground at Bourda.

Batting first, after winning the toss under glorious sunshine, Demerara found the going tough, with Berbice picking up the first Demerara wicket at 6-1.

Pacer Shiv Harripersaud removed Ryan Latif for four, then Sachin Balgobin for five, to have the score read 16-2.

Berbice then unleashed their spin duo of Sanjay Algoo and Matthew Pottaya; and with Romeo Deonarine out of

the Demerara XI, the city side were soon displaying some poor batting.

Two wickets ‘bit the dust’ with the score on 33, and Demerara w e r e tottering at 33-4 after

11.1 overs.

Leg-spinner Sanjay Algoo, younger brother of former Guyana U-19 player Alex Algoo, produced some mesmerizing bowling that returned figures of 4-9 in 4.5 overs, for which he was later named ‘player of the match’.

Demerara eventually lost their final seven wickets for 50 runs, and were bowled out for

a paltry 83 runs scored after facing 35.5 disciplined overs of Berbice bowling. Vicecaptain Nityanand Matura top-scored for Demerara with 17 runs from 69 balls, while batsmen Josh Alves (12) and Hemraj Harripersaud

The victorious Berbice U-15 team

Windies Tour to Sri Lanka…

Hope’s hundred in vain, as Sri Lanka take see-saw game

SCOREBOARD

Wanindu Hasaranga kept his calm to win a tight game for Sri Lanka

S

hai Hope's 115 proved to be in vain, as fifties from both Sri Lanka openers set up the chase, before a nerveless 42* from Wanindu Hasaranga guided the hosts to a one-wicket victory over the West Indies in their first ODI game.

Chasing 290 to win, Sri Lanka looked in complete control as Avishka Fernando and Dimuth Karunaratne put on 111 for the first wicket; and even though wickets fell and the Windies sensed an opening, Hasaranga remained calm as he manipulated the strike and found the boundary in equal measure to bring the scores level, and Sri Lanka eventually won the game.

The West Indies had earlier posted 289/7 after being put in to bat. This score was due largely to Shai Hope's ninth ODI century.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) have also named a 14-member squad for the two-match series, which could see Andre Russell, Shai Hope, Fabian Allen and Shimron Hetmyer being back in the squad.

Windies Squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kesrick Williams.

West Indies Innings (50 overs maximum) SD Hope † b Udana 115 SW Ambris b NLTC Perera 3 DM Bravo run out (Mendis/PWH de Silva) 39 RL Chase b Pradeep 41 N Pooran c Karunaratne b Uda na 11 KA Pollard (c) c Sandakan b Uda na 9 JO Holder run out (Mathews) 12 KMA Paul not out 32 HR Walsh not out 20 Extras 7 (b 1, lb 2, w 4) TOTAL 289/7 (50 Overs, RR: 5.78) Did not bat: AS Joseph, SS Cottrell Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Sunil Ambris, 3.2 ov), 2-87 (Darren Bravo, 19.4 ov), 3-172 (Roston Chase, 35.6 ov), 4-193 (Nicholas Pooran, 39.3 ov), 5-207 (Kieron Pollard, 41.6 ov), 6-230 (Shai Hope, 45.1 ov), 7-240 (Jason Holder, 46.4 ov) BOWLING O N Pradeep 10 NLTC Perera 7 I Udana 10 AD Mathews 3 PADLR Sandakan 7 PWH de Silva 10 DM de Silva 3

M 0 1 0 0 0 2 0

R 42 40 82 17 42 47 16

W 1 1 3 0 0 0 0

Sri Lanka Innings (target: 290 runs from 50 overs) WIA Fernando c †Hope b Joseph 50 FDM Karunaratne (c) c †Hope b Holde 52 MDKJ Perera † c Bravo b Paul 42 BKG Mendis c Joseph b Walsh 20 AD Mathews c †Hope b Joseph 5 DM de Silva c Paul b Walsh 18 NLTC Perera c sub (R Powell) b Joseph 32 PWH de Silva not out 42 I Udana c †Hope b Paul 0 PADLR Sandakan run out (Ambris) 3 N Pradeep not out 0 Extras 26 (lb 11, nb 1, w 14) TOTAL 290/9 (49.1 Overs, RR: 5.89) Fall of wickets: 1-111 (Dimuth Karunaratne, 17.6 ov), 2-121 (Avishka Fernando, 20.1 ov), 3-153 (Kusal Mendis, 26.6 ov), 4-168 (Angelo Mathews, 28.3 ov), 5-201 (Dhananjaya de Silva, 36.1 ov), 6-215 (Kusal Perera, 37.4 ov), 7-253 (Thisara Perera, 42.4 ov), 8-262 (Isuru Udana, 45.3 ov), 9-289 (Lakshan Sandakan, 49.1 ov) BOWLING SS Cottrell JO Holder KMA Paul AS Joseph RL Chase HR Walsh

O 10 10 8.1 10 6 5

M 0 0 0 0 0 0

R 69 44 48 42 38 38

(13) were able to reach double figures.

Shiv Harripersaud returned figures of 2-15 in his five overs, while offspinners Salim Khan (1-14) a n d

Matthew Pottaya (1-17) each took a wicket.

Khan took his wicket tally this season to 12, ending as the leading wicket-taker while Pottaya finished with nine wickets in the tournament.

Berbice, replying, overtook the target and ended on 87-8 in 44.2 overs after a crafty innings of 22 by star player Salim Khan.

In the Berbice chase, they lost captain Rampertab Ramnauth for 17, scored from 19 balls after timing three exquisite boundaries.

Ramnauth

played around a Wayvell Allen delivery and had his stumps shattered.

Having attained 26-1 at lunch, Berbice were requiring 58 runs for victory post the lunch interval, but Demerara came out with determination in the afternoon session and had Berbice reeling at 47-6 after 21.4 overs.

Then the Berbice saviour Salim Khan contributed a game-changing 22, the highest score of the game. His innings spanned 69 minutes and took 62 balls before Berbice came close to the target. He added 35 runs with wicket-keeper/ batsman Damion Cecil, but in attempting to finish in style, he found the fielder at mid-on and was dismissed.

A top effort from Demerara ended when Pottaya sealed the match in style with a boundary, and Berbice ended the game on 87-8 in 44.2 overs, completing a tense two-wicket win.

The Select U-15 team to play in the Inter-County U-17 tournament that is slated for Tuesday, February 25, will be announced shortly.

Junior Jaguars brush aside USVI 2-0 Pg 22

W 0 1 2 3 0 2

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FEBRUARY 23, 2020

Feature

G

uyana is a melting pot of cultures and every celebration takes on some part of that melting pot. It is no different with Mashramani since it is a time to showcase our unity as a people and truly live as “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.

This year, Mashramani is being observed under the theme, “Guyana Together; Reflect, Celebrate and Transform.”

Mashramani is an Amerindian word which means “celebration after hard work”, and is usually observed on February 23 in observance of Guyana’s Republic status, which was achieved on that date in 1970. Mashramani, commonly referred to as “Mash”, is the most colourful, dynamic, inclusive, cultural and energetic of all the festivals in Guyana.

Each year, since 1970, Guyana has observed its Republic anniversary by hosting a series of activities. These activities usually culminate on Republic Day, February 23, with a grand display of costume bands, accompanied by Caribbean music, watched by thousands of spectators who either line the routes along where the revellers pass, or occupy the grass verges with their families and friends to picnic while they enjoy the festivities of the day.

Over the past years, the street parties have continued well into the night. The flag-raising ceremony, which takes place on the eve of the Republic celebrations, is attended by the President, Prime Minister and other Government officials, as well as Members of Parliament, the Judiciary and the Armed Forces. Later in the day, around 09:00h, the day's main feature, the "Mashramani Float Parade", begins.

The celebration came out of the Junior Chamber of Greater Mackenzie, which was already celebrating Guyana’s independence in Linden with a similar event since Independence in 1966.

It proved so successful

that by 1972 it was declared a national event, and the following year, it was held nationally for the first time and annually ever since, in the capital city of Georgetown under the auspices of the Government, although there are events held in Berbice and Linden.

It is a time of revelry and dressing up in costumes and joining the float parades and has evolved in terms of creativity over the years.

Many activities are held prior to the main event on February 23; these include the children’s parade, Panorama, Chutney Soca Monarch competition and other cultural activities.

Mash origins

The origin of the word Mashramani has been a source of some dispute that has in the past led to various efforts to clarify the term.

According to historians, the word Mashramani was borrowed from the Arawak word to describe their celebratory period of feasting and dancing after a successful preparation and planting season; meaning, “celebration after hard work”, though other coinages include “celebration of a work well done”, “a venture”, or “cooperative effort”, and “a celebration after a harvest”.

However, it has also been said that the word is not directly an Arawak word, but sounds similar to a word used to describe a festival such as one when the village gets together to celebrate a young couple’s approaching marriage. Regardless, the term Mashramani was officially chosen in 1972 to symbolise the celebrations of the new Republic’s birth.

The first national celebration was described as a “a riot of colour, gaiety and scintillating pan music in the streets of Georgetown for over six hours … as a number of floats, costumes and steel bands in Carnival style tramped in the city and suburban areas to highlight the Mashramani celebrations in Georgetown,” by the Guyana Graphic on Saturday, February 24, 1973.

Resolution

Second Parliament of Guyana First Session 1969 Resolution NO XXVI

WHEREAS the Constitution of Guyana makes provision in paragraph (5) of article 73 thereof whereby Guyana may become a Republic and accordingly cease to be part of Her Majesty’s dominions pursuant to alterations to the Constitution set out in the Second Schedule thereto; AND WHEREAS such provision requires a resolution of the National Assembly, upon a motion introduced by the Prime Minister, that Guyana shall become a Republic and that the said alterations to the Constitution shall have effect on such day after the passing of the resolution as may be specified therein; AND WHEREAS by virtue* of such provision notice of such a motion may be given on or after 1st January, 1969, but not less than three months before the National Assembly upon the motion; AND WHEREAS in fulfilment of the processes of National Independence it is fitting that Guyana should become a Republic pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution; AND WHEREAS the twenty-third day of February in each year commemorates the revolt of enslaved peoples on that day in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three in the then Colony of Berbice – being the first significant blow struck for freedom in the territory now comprised in the State of Guyana; RESOLVED by this National Assembly in pursuance of paragraph (5) of article 73 of the Constitution of Guyana that on the twenty-third day of February in the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy Guyana shall become a Republic and accordingly cease to be part of Her Majesty’s dominions and that for that purpose the alterations to the constitution of Guyana set out in the Second Schedule to the said constitution shall have effect.

Passed by the National Assembly this 29th day of August, 1966 MB Henry M B Henry, Acting Clerk of the National Assembly

Golden Jubilee

This year’s celebration is exceptionally special for Guyana because it marks 50 years since the attainment of Republican status. Guyana have significantly grown over the years and underwent significant transformation.

Today, Guyana can boast of being one of the world’s newest oil producing countries with significant reserves. In addition to that, it can boast of being one of the most diverse nations in the country. It is the very diversity that makes Guyana different from every other nation.

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 23, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

O

ur culture, our language, our history, and our values are vital to uniting us as a nation, as a people, and as the melting pot that we are. Nothing unites us more than a celebration of everything that is in that pot and one such celebration is Mashramani.

Mashramani translates as “celebration after hard work” and it is a time where we as Guyanese take the time to go out into the streets and celebrate everything that truly makes us unique as a people. It is a time when we forget race, politics and everything else that divides us daily. It is truly a celebration of harmony and unity.

The annual Costume and Float Parade is the main attraction of Mashramani. It is a time when people deck themselves out in extravagant costumes, join large bands or flock the streets that are part of the parade route just to get a glimpse of the glittery costumes depicting different messages.

The stage is usually set for the large parade with the commencement of the Children’s Mashramani activities. As has been the tradition for some time, the Children’s Mashramani activities are among the most anticipated, and schools from the various regions participate in various activities, including dramatic poetry, dance, and calypso.

The young generation of revellers proudly represent their schools and regions with enthusiasm, drive and creativity. The Children’s Mashramani activities officially became the responsibility of the Education Ministry in February 1992. The Unit of Allied Arts within the Ministry was tasked with implementing programmes to showcase the talents of children in Guyana. The Unit is the centre for coordination and integration of the Expressive Arts – Dance, Music, Physical Education and Visual Arts – in sequenced modules into the school system of Guyana.

Because of its mandate, the Allied Arts Unit expanded the scope of the Children’s Mashramani activities to include competitions of Dance, Dramatic Poetry, Calypso, Costume, Steel Pan, Physical Education, and Masquerade for children. The objectives of the programme are to promote the Expressive Arts through a National Event; encourage schools, parents and communities to work together in a creative artistic manner; provide an opportunity for the display of talent by students and to foster a sense of pride in our national identity.

The competitions are held at the regional and national levels for primary and secondary schools.

Children at the nursery level also participate in some of the activities, but only at the regional level. What a joy it is to see the nation’s youth embracing the occasion.

The finals of these competitions are held in Georgetown and all Regional Education Districts participate. These activities usually run for a period of three weeks in the month of February and the outstanding performances are recognised and rewarded at all levels.

The Children’s Costume Parade was introduced in 1996. It is a spectacular colourful activity that showcases the talents and creativity that exist among young people. This parade culminates the series of activities and involves approximately 4000 children from schools and youth groups throughout Guyana. It is a collaborative effort of the Education Ministry, the Private Sector and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Over the last weekend, the children took to the street for their aspect of the revelling. Hundreds of children and their parents lined the streets to get glimpses of the parade as the revellers, decked in their colourful costumes, danced along the parade route.

The children pranced and danced from Parade Ground, east into Middle street, north into Camp Street, east into Lamaha Street, north into Albert Street and then into the National Park.

Observers of the event were amazed at the cultur-

al displays that were coordinated by school teachers and students. Patrons were heard cheering and shouting words of encouragement as they saw their little loved ones in their costumes Some of the ensembles that captured the onlooker’s intention were from Regions Three, Eight, and Four who gracefully depicted Guyana’s transformation.

The main (adult) parade is on February 23, which is also t h e date Guyana achieved Republican status. It is usually a plethora of co- lours as the revellers in the various bands snake their way through the streets of Georgetown. It is usually a tough competition as the revellers battle for top prizes.

It is also a time where local designers are given a chance to exhibit their creativity and show exactly what Guyanese are capable of. They are given the theme by the owners of the band and they let their creativity run amok to come up with breath-taking pieces.

The vibe on Mash Day with loud music and masqueraders gyrating through the streets of the capital city is one that cannot be experienced just by sitting and watching the parade on the television, rather you have to be in the midst of the crowd and feel it to experience it.

So this Mash Day, grab your friends and go out on the road to experience true unity and celebrate our rich Guyanese culture.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

FEBRUARY 23, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

Feature

By Utamu Belle

T

he Mashramani celebration started when the Junior Chamber – Jaycees – of Mackenzie (a community that now constitutes part of Linden), who had been organising the country’s Independence celebrations since 1966, sought to have a ‘carnival-like’ festival to commemorate British Guiana gaining its Republican status in 1970.

Chaired by popular West Indies cricketer the late Basil Butcher, the Jaycees Republic Committee was formed. It included members such as Jim Blackman, who was named Deputy to complete the task owing to Butcher being selected to the WI team about to tour Australia; resource personnel Adrian Thompson; Wordsworth McAndrew and Arthur Seymour.

Following the formation of the Committee, its members then began consultations so that a relevant name could be chosen for the festival, which was intended to celebrate the much-anticipated “Birth of the Republic.” It was Butcher, who then made the suggestion that an Amerindian or Indigenous name would be best suited. After the members of the Committee agreed, they contacted several Amerindians, including Allan Fiedtkou, an employee attached to the Geological Department of the then bauxite company, Demba.

Fiedtkou suggested a name which he learnt from his grandfather that was used by Amerindians when they gathered to commemorate an auspicious event. As Fiedtkou explained, the celebration would last over several days, sometimes even up to a week. The men would go hunting and the women and children would gather materials to make a benab. Refreshments would be made and a feast would ensue.

According to Fiedtkou, the term for the celebration sounded like “Muster Many” or “Mashirimehi”, and it sounded like “Mashramani” in Arawak. After several authorities were consulted, there were no doubts or confirmations regarding the term. Mashramani became known as an Amerindian term for celebration after hard work or a cooperative effort or the celebration after a job well done. As such, the Committee decided to call the festival Mashramani, with the aim of hosting a national observance. As such, on February 23, 1970, Guyana’s first Republican festival was staged at Linden.

The Jaycees, then headed by Jimmy Hamilton, had appointed the team to successfully organise the celebration, which was deemed a successful one. It featured three exciting days of

competition and fun, attracting huge crowds from across the other administrative Regions.

The celebration eventually managed to secure sponsorship from the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL). Guyanese were said to have welcomed the observances with as much splendour as they welcomed the status of becoming a Republic nation.

There were activities such as ‘the Revolt dance’, a jouvert-like observance which became known as “Fo Day Mawnin Jump Up”; the Cde Mashramani contest; a calypso contest called the “Shanto” contest; a steel band contest and an extravagant float parade. Pageantry, in those days, was also a main attraction of the event, with the first winner of the Mashramani contest in 1970 being Hazel Figueira of Mackenzie, Linden.

In 1971, then Home Affairs Minister David Singh declared the celebrations in Linden open and decided that he would take a proposal to Cabinet to make the celebration a national one. With the assistance of the Jaycees Committee, the Minister travelled across the country to inform residents of the celebration. Since then, various activities were shifted to various areas across Guyana.

Enjoyed by many, Mashramani’s popularity quickly grew as it became a national observance. In 1972, it was taken to the capital city Georgetown, following Singh’s intervention and then President Forbes Burnham granting permission. That year, the bauxite company in Linden sent a 500-strong contingent to Georgetown to participate in the parade. The move also saw the event being held in Linden, Berbice and Georgetown, but Linden failed to garner much sponsorship to sustain the costume and float parade.

Eventually, it was centred in Georgetown and as the years went by, other areas across Guyana joined in. Throughout the decades, the celebrations have evolved. As a witness to the celebrations in those days recalled, it was somewhat different from the “bacchanal-style” prancing down the streets these days.

These days, lots of sponsorship is pumped into the celebrations. Each year, thousands line the streets, with hundreds participating in the annual float parade held in Georgetown. The parade is usually an annual competition, with big bands participating. Additionally, many new activities have been incorporated into the celebrations, including the Children’s Costume Competition, the Junior and Senior Calypso and Chutney com-

petitions, Chutney dance competition, duck curry competition, folk evening observance, Bands Concert and National Art exhibition.

Traditional activities have remained, including the steel band concert and Panorama as well as Masquerade Jamboree. However, many long for the return of the Mashramani pageant, which was hosted back in those days. While a few pageants were hosted over the years, it has not been on the annual calendar of events.

As for the community of Linden where it all started, the celebration is held approximately a week after the grand float parade in Georgetown. Costumes are usually sponsored by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and a few businesses. However, the float parade in the mining town can be considered miniature to that of the capital city. There is also a “Mash Bash” social and cultural event hosted in the community on February 23.

It is believed, by many Lindeners, that more should be done to preserve the history of the floats. They are advocating for a place where samples should be kept, as a reminder to youths of our rich, cultural heritage.

Over the years, Lindeners have longed to see the return of the celebration to the town.

With all that has changed over the years, few things have remained. These include flamboyant costumes; beaming faces; people dancing to the sounds of masquerade bands, calypso and steel pan music; hundreds lining the streets to get a glimpse of the spectacle and delicious Guyanese cuisine. Over the years, these features, which mark the observance of Guyana becoming a Republican nation back in February 1970, have never failed to delight Guyanese and visitors.

Looking back over the years at the celebration of Mashramani, a festival with its origin in the bauxite mining town of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), one would note that it has undergone many unique and interesting transformations.

This year marks 50 years of Guyana becoming a Republic nation, and approximately 46 years since the birth of the celebration.

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 23 2020

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

“The National Pledge”

I pledge myself to honor always the Flag of Guyana, and to be loyal to my country, to be obedient to the laws of Guyana, to love my fellow citizens, and to dedicate my energies towards the happiness and prosperity of Guyana.

“SONG OF THE REPUBLIC”

“The National Flag”

The National Flag of Guyana is called “The Golden Arrowhead”. It bears five colours - red, black, yellow, white and green The flag has the unique design of two triangles (one within the other) issuing from the same base. The outer triangle is gold-colored (arrow-shaped) with a narrow border of white along two sides.

The inner triangle is red with a narrow strip of black bordering the sides. The background of the flag is green, representing the agricultural and forested nature of Guyana.

The white border represents the rivers and water potential. The golden arrow represents Guyana’s mineral wealth and the black border, the endurance that will sustain the forward thrust of the Guyanese people. The red of the flag represents the zeal and dynamic nature of nation-building which lies before the young and independent Guyana. The Flag was designed by Whitney Smith, Director of the Flag Centre, Florida, U.S.A.

Bird, at the bottom of throughout the year in areas the shield represents along the banks of the Berbice a rare bird found prin- River and its tributary, the cipally in this part of Canje Creek, and to some exthe world and also the tent, on the Abary, Mahaicony rich fauna of Guyana. and Mahaica Rivers. It feeds The streamer below the on the leaves of aquatic vegeshield bears the Nation’s Motto tation. The nesting period for “ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE the Hoatzin, commonly known DESTINY”. as the Canje Pheasant, is usuThe Coat of Arms was selected on the ally from April to September. recommendation of the National History and Arts Council and approved by the College of Arms, “The National England. It was accepted by the Anthem” House of Assembly on Friday, 25th National Anthem of Guyana February, 1966.

Lyrics: A.L. Luker - Music: Robert Cyril Gladstone Potter Musical Score - Music Dear land of Guyana, of rivers and plains, Made rich by the sunshine and lush by the rains, Set gemlike and fair between mountains and sea, Your children salute you, dear land of the free.

“The National Flower”

“The Coat-Of-Arms”

The national Coat-of-Arms of Guyana is a composite of motifs suggested in separate designs by three Guyanese artists. The design is interpreted as follows: The Amerindian head-dress symbolizes the Amerindians as the indigenous people of the country. The two diamonds at the side of the head-dress represent the country’s mining industry. The helmet is the monarchial insignia.

The two jaguars holding a pick axe, a sugar cane and a stalk of rice symbolize labor and the two main agricultural industries of the country - sugar and rice. The shield which is decorated with the National Flower, the Victoria Regia Lily, is to protect the nation. The three blue wavy lines represent the many waters of Guyana. The Canje Pheasant, the National

The Victoria Regia, a water lily, was discovered by Robert Schomburgk, a German Botanist in 1837, while leading an expedition into the interior of what was then British Guiana. In its native habitat of tropical America, the plant is perennial. It grows in 4 to 6 feet of water, the base of the stems being situated in soft mud. From each plant there are seldom more than 4 or 5 leaves. The largest flowers can measure 10 inches to one foot in diameter. When first open, they are white with a sweet smell rather like a ripe fruit; by the second day they are fully expanded and a deeper pink; by the third day, they start to wither.

Green land of Guyana, our heroes of yore, Both bondsmen and free, laid their bones on your shore; This soil so they hallowed, and from them are we, All sons of one mother, Guyana the free.

Great land of Guyana, diverse though our strains, We are born of their sacrifice, heirs of their pains, And ours is the glory their eyes did not see, One land of six peoples, united and free.

Dear land of Guyana, to you will we give Our homage, our service, each day that we live; God guard you, great Mother, and make us to be More worthy our heritage - land of the free.

One of the other national symbols chosen for Guyana is a bird - the Hoatzin or Canje Pheasant. The adult Hoatzin is about 22 inches long from beak to tail. Its color is reddishbrown streaked with green. The under parts are pale brown. The feathers on its shoulder and sides are edged with creamy-white. There is a crest of very long feathers on its head which gives the bird an almost majestic look.

The Hoatzin has a very short and very thick beak, and the skin around the crimson eye is of a pale blue color.This bird can be found

Words by Cleveland W. Hamilton Music by Frank Daniels From Pakaraima’s peaks of pow’r To Courentyne’s lush sands, Her children pledge each faithful hour To guard Guyana’s lands.

To foil the shock of rude invader Who’d violate her earth, To cherish and defend forever The State that gave them birth.

We’ll forge a nation’s might soul Construct a nation’s frame; Freedom our everlasting goal, Courage and truth our aim, Unyielding in our quest for peace Like ancient heroes brave, To strive and strive and never cease With Strength beyond the slave.

Guyana, climb the glorious perch To fame, prosperity; Join in the universal search For world-wide comity.

Your people what soe’er their breed Their hue or quality, With one firm never changing creed The nation’s unity.

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w

Adopting/acquiring a pet - the final considerations

By Dr Steve Surujbally

F

inally, let us look today at some other actions that will help you to make an intelligent choice of pet from a Shelter or from a friend.

I would suggest that you not make a rash and immediate decision. You may even put your choice on hold and go back on another day. It’s helpful to see a dog on more than one occasion.

Of course, you have to worry that someone else comes and is prepared to take away the pet immediately. I would propose that you negotiate (with the Administrator of the Shelter) a 24-hour “hold”.

The second time you visit, you may wish to bring a close friend or your spouse.

If you have children who haven’t yet met the potential new family member, bring them along as well.

I would strongly encourage everyone who’s going to live with your choice of pet to come and meet him/her. You may even ask your veterinarian to accompany you.

Use your head as well as your heart.

Although your initial emotions and reactions to a dog are a good starting

point in your selection process, please don’t let them be your only guide. The point being made is that your new dog will be a part of your family for years to come; so, base your decision on your objective observations of the dog’s physical and behavioral exhibitions, as well as whether the pet you are carrying home will not cause allergic reactions in yourself or family members. This is especially (but not only) true of cats.

Actually, your veterinarian can indeed be of assistance, especially if this is your first dog, or if you’ve had bad experiences with selecting the right dog in the past. Don’t hesitate to ask any fiend (your vet included), who has had some experience with dogs, for guidance.

If you didn’t strike gold on your first visit to a Shelter, don’t give up! Several repeat visits may be necessary to find the pet of your dreams, one which is compatible with you and your family.

A quick thought directed at young people looking or a pet. Consider volunteering at the GSPCA Shelter or any other bona fide Shelter. Dedicating some time to a Shelter, especially during holidays, is a wonderful way to help our city’s homeless animals. Once you’ve handled a wide variety of dogs, you’ll have a much better idea as to which kind best suits your needs. Sooner or later, one will steal your heart and fit perfectly into your household.

All of the above is important to comprehend, if you want the trip from the Shelter to your home to be one-way. It is terrible for the pet and for your family if, for whatever viable reason, the animal has to be returned.

Serious Shelters will want to assess your reactions to the potential adoptee. They may even request that you allow adequately trained members of their staff to visit and assess the condition of the new home that will be accommodating the potential ward. Of course, no money (payment) is involved. You may make a donation to the Shelter, but it is not compulsory; nor is it a prerequisite to ensure that you will receive the pet of your choice. Finally, and in a nutshell, the central issue in adoption is whether a new owner can provide a loving, safe, secure and permanent home for the pet. Serious Shelters obviously prefer to give animals to a household which will afford the pet the necessary tender loving care. We call the new home a forever home.

Inherent in that name is the tacit agreement by the recipient that the animal taken from the Shelter will be the responsibility of the new owner for the animal’s entire life.

If, perchance, the adopter can no longer keep the animal, the pet should be returned to the Shelter whence it came.

It would, of course, be of greater benefit to all concerned, if the adopter – not wanting the animal anymore - could find a nurturing and happy home for the pet, making sure that the people of the new home will take good care of the pet for the rest of its life.

Just before we close off this ‘Adoption’ theme, we would like to mention a few matters that Shelters in other countries have experienced, attitudes which might migrate down to Guyana. One such issue has to do with supersti-

tions- beliefs that black cats, say, are harbingers of bad luck. Well, such myths are just that – nonsensical legends, with no truth to the stories. For example, in the USA, it has been reported that some Shelters have introduced policies halting or limiting the adoption of black cats immediately prior to Halloween for fear that the animals could be used in some evil exercise involving torture of the black cat. Also, Shelters in Germany have been reported to ban the adoption of pets as Christmas gift in an attempt to reduce unwanted animals being dumped after the holidays.

Equally unacceptable is the adoption of cute fluffy female dogs which are then turned into “puppy factories” by uncaring owners who breed them relentlessly over and over without adequate care, until the mother dog literally dies of exhaustion.

You can see why it is incumbent on serious Shelters to assess the adopter and monitor the well-being of the adoptee in its new home.

HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY OF OUR OF REPUBLIC. ENJOY THE MASHRAMANI CELEBRATIONS!

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10

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Puzzles

ACROSS

1 Hopped the train

5 Turf warriors

10 Derrick or crane

15 Fawcett of films

21 Yaks, e.g.

22 “Kazaam” star

23 All, to Ovid

24 Breakfast nook

25 Cheer for Zapata

26 Flowers with spurs

28 Vitamin B component

29 Unlike toadstools

31 Pamplona runner

32 Cut in thirds

34 Okla. neighbor

35 Does a vet’s job

37 45 and 78

39 Thomas Gray opus

40 Alpha follower

41 More run-down

43 Future fries

45 Culbertson of bridge

46 Sponge features

47 Tribal adviser

49 Black mark

51 Say something

53 Movie pig

57 Knights’ wives

59 Jai - 61 Util. bill

62 College stat

65 Not quite right

67 Vegas spots

70 Abolish

72 Move like Elvis

74 Fictional plantation

75 Be rife with

77 He admired Beatrice

78 Moon goddess

80 Aboveboard

83 Hard journey 85 Budge

86 Watch pocket

88 Shell out 90 Tenderfoots

92 Soul or junk - 94 “The Crying of -- 49”

95 Europe-Asia range

97 Hockey feint

99 Steal or fix eggs

101 Dog’s plea

103 Sorted socks

105 Roman foe

107 Coral islets

109 Burro alternatives

112 Cultural

114 Harness jingler (2 wds.)

118 City of lamaseries

119 -- Moines

120 Bump hard

122 Brownish tint

123 Aquarium denizen

125 Tight-fitting

126 Aleut carving

128 Reserve, as a table

130 Cornered (2 wds.)

132 Red Sonja ally

135 Orders for dinner

137 Sweet 16 org.

139 More than two

143 Could hear -- -- drop

144 Dampen with droplets

146 Luau number

148 Word-for-word

150 Ocasek of the Cars

151 Turkey neighbor

153 Daffodil starter

155 Mountain chain

156 Hummus ingredient

158 Info source (2 wds.)

161 Eye openers

162 Forever, to Keats

163 It’s been -- -- pleasure

164 Sip slowly

165 Currier’s partner

166 Landlord e.g.

167 Fish stories

168 Laid off

169 Pianist Peter - DOWN

1 Drifted here and yon

2 Rust and patina

3 Gadget

4 Make possible

5 Freaked out (2 wds.)

6 Santa -- winds

7 Tree house?

8 Swamp critter

9 Noisy gulps

10 On a roll

11 12 13 14 15 16

Not do

Toughen up

Wise as an owl, e.g.

Fez danglers

Not plain

Found a roost

17 TV brand 18 Porch

furniture

19 Take to

the air

20 Redheads’ tints

27 Frolics

30 Fill the

hull

33 Pyramid site

36 Four-door

model

38 Yma, of

Peru

40 -- choy

42 Send

money

44 T e d i o u s

46 Showed

fright

48 Fit for a

king

50 Like a

trampoline

52 Constantly, to Poe 53 Redcap’s quest 54 “Little Women” sister 55 Garden shop buys 56 Actor -- Morales 58 Tear to pieces 60 Oh, sure! (2 wds.)

62 Courteous chap 63 Grill locale 64 Vigilant 66 Bachelor’s party 68 Touch base (2 wds.)

69 Medieval menial 71 Faux -73 Oklahoma town 76 Burmese utterance 79 With, to Maurice 81 Big flap 82 Percolate 84 Ancient cosmetic 86 Saw red 87 Expound at length 89 Barely scrapes by 91 Signs of healing 93 Kind of pickle 96 Writer -- Deighton 98 Fashion mag 100 Laughing carnivore 102 Uh-uhs 104 Popular mustard 106 -- support 108 Ribs, slangily

110 Tempe coll.

111 Hang loosely 113 Ailurophobe’s fear 115 Pressing need?

116 Arroyo 117 Slander’s kin 121 Adjust the length 124 Heaped upon 126 Caramel-colored 127 Capitalized on (2 wds.)

129 Finger-paints 131 Himalayan enigma 132 OPEC, for one 133 Laudanum 134 Crannies 136 Mexicali matron 138 Homecoming guests 140 Retrieve a trout (2 wds.)

141 Get there 142 Pantry 144 Thorny shrub 145 Electrician, often 147 One way to think 149 Dogie stopper 151 Livy’s year 152 Cold -- -- icicle 154 Knot in wool 157 Returns org.

159 Loop trains 160 Mao -- -tung SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 13

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Bollywood/Hollywood

I

t has been a year since the period drama Kalank released and tanked at the box office. But it seems that filmmaker Karan Johar is still not over the failure of his much-touted production. As he readies to direct his next big film, Takht — yet another period drama — Karan assures that he “won’t repeat the mistakes” he made in the past.

Readily taking all the onus of Kalank’s failure, the filmmaker says, “Whenever a film fails, you can always say that a group makes it, so everyone is equally responsible. But, being the most senior member of that group in terms of the creative crew guiding that ship, if it failed, I’d take complete responsibility as it was my failure more than anyone else’s.”

Directed by Abhishek Varman, Kalank starred popular actors Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Varun Dhawan, and Alia Bhatt, among others. Karan asserts that besides reflecting upon one’s failure, it’s important to acknowledge the failure (in front of the public), and “more important to acknowledge why we failed”.

Given that Kalank was

closest to Karan’s heart as it was his father, late Yash Johar’s dream project, he admits that he got a little carried away with its execution.

“I’m the reason Kalank failed because I took the film into directions it should not have gone to. I could have guided it into the right zone; made it in a better way and encouraged the director to do well on his own,” says Karan adding that he had full faith in Abhishek.

“He’s an exceptionally talented filmmaker who has worked very hard to achieve the visuals and storytelling of Kalank, but it failed. I really failed the director and I told him that it’s not his failure as much as it’s mine and I hope we can go beyond this with the next film we do together.

I hope we can erase the failure,” says the filmmaker who directed one segment in a horror anthology, Ghost Stories, for an OTT platform, earlier this year.

However, not regretting even for once that he made Kalank, Karan insists that come what may, he would “never erase” the memories of the film. “A lot of love and passion went into the mak-

ing of that film and one can’t dilute that. There are people who will respect certain parts of that film with time,” says Karan sounding hopeful.

Besides Kalank, quite a few big budget films haven’t done well at the box office over the last couple of years, case in point being Tubelight, Zero and Thugs of Hindostan (all 2018). Karan feels it’s just a matter of time and things

won’t remain this way, always. “Right now, when a massive mammoth budget film fails, there’s so much emphasis on the money lost and the industry makes a big deal about it. Also, it takes away from the core passion that went into the storytelling.

So, I hope we all can redeem ourselves, soon.” (Hindustan Times)

D

emi Lovato didn’t realize her recovery from an eating disorder was actually a relapse, and that led to her downward spiral and near-fatal overdose in 2018.

“I’m tired of running myself into the ground with workouts and extreme dieting,” she said on Ashley Graham’s “Pretty Big Deal” podcast. “I thought the past few years was recovery from an eating disorder, when it actually was just completely falling into it. And I just realized that, like, maybe my symptoms weren’t as obvious as before, but it was definitely an eating issue.”

Lovato, who suffered a near-fatal overdose in July 2018, said her toxic environment and eating issues led to her drug relapse.

“I think when you have certain people around you that are telling you certain things, that you should look a certain way, it makes it harder,” Lovato, 27, explained. “I was in that situation, and I was just running myself into the ground.

And I honestly think that’s kind of what led to everything happening over the

past year. [It] was just, like, me thinking I found recovery when I didn’t, and then living this kind of lie and trying to tell the world I was happy with myself when I really wasn’t.”

The “Anyone” singer has been open about her struggles with alcohol, cocaine and OxyContin in addition to bulimia. Following her overdose, the former Disney Channel starlet spent two weeks in the hospital before entering a long-term treatment center.

She launched her comeback with a live performance at the 2020 Grammys and followed it up with the national anthem at the Super Bowl. (Page Six)

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• 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil

Ingredients • 3 tablespoons butter, divided • 2 eggs, whisked • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced • 1 small white onion, diced • 1/2 cup frozen peas • 3 cloves garlic, minced • salt and black pepper • 4 cups cooked and chilled rice • 3 green onions, thinly sliced • 3–4 tablespoons soy sauce, or more to taste • 2 teaspoons oyster sauce (optional)

Instructions 1. Heat 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until melted. Add egg, and cook until scrambled, stirring occasionally. Remove egg, and transfer to a separate plate.

2. Add an additional 1 tablespoon butter to the pan and heat until melted. Add carrots, onion, peas and garlic, and season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté for about 5

Ingredients FILLING • 1/2 tbsp olive oil • 2 cloves garlic , minced • 1 brown onion , small, finely chopped • 1 celery stalk , finely chopped • 5 oz / 150g bacon, finely minced (streaky and fatty, not the lean stuff!)

• 2 tsp fennel seeds , toasted (optional) • 1 lb / 500g mince meat • 3/4 cup / 40g panko breadcrumbs • 1 egg • 1/2 tsp salt • Black pepper FILLING 2 1/2 sheets puff pastry , thawed then each cut into half (Note 3) • 1 egg , lightly whisked • Ketchup / tomato sauce •

Instructions 1. Heat oil in a nonstick fry pan over medium high heat. Sauté garlic, onion & celery for 2 minutes, then add bacon. Cook for a further 2 minutes (don't make bacon golden) then transfer to bowl and allow

Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 4 cloves minced garlic 1 cup honey 1/4 cup soy sauce 1 tsp black pepper 2 cups flour 3 tbsp powdered ginger, to taste • 1 tsp cayenne pepper, more or less to taste • 1 1/2 tbsp salt • 2 tsp black pepper • 3 lbs chicken wings • 2 eggs • 3 tbsp cold water • • • • • • •

Instructions 1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the olive oil and garlic. Saute to soften the garlic but do not let it brown.

2. Add the honey, soy sauce, and 1 tsp black pepper.

3. Simmer together for 5-10 minutes, remove from heat and allow to cool thorough-

toasted

to cool for 10 minutes. Add remaining Filling ingredients into the bowl. Use your hands to mix well.

2. Lay out a rectangle of pastry, long edge closest to you. Brush egg along one long edge.

3. Get 1/5 th of the filling and shape into a long log shape down the middle of the pastry. Ensure the meat is tight and compact, without gaps. Brush edge of pastry with egg. Then roll up, finishing with the seam side down.

4.

Roll up, sealing on the edge with egg wash on it.

ly. Watch this carefully as it simmers because it can foam up over the pot very easily.

4. Mix together the flour, ginger, cayenne pepper, salt and 1 tbsp black pepper.

5.

Whisk together the eggs and water to make an egg wash.

6. Wash the wings, pat dry, trim the tips and cut them into sections.

7.

Dip the wing pieces into the egg wash and then toss in the flour mixture. Drop the coated wings into a preheated 350 degree F deep fryer, filled with canola, peanut, or soy oil.

8.

Fry until golden brown, about 15-20 min depending on the size of the wing pieces. While still hot out of the oil toss the wing pieces in a large bowl with some of the honey garlic sauce.

minutes or until the onion and carrots are soft.

Increase heat to high, add in the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter, and stir until melted. Immediately add the rice, green onions, soy sauce and oyster sauce (if using), and stir until combined.

Continue stirring for an additional 3 minutes to fry the rice. Then add in the eggs and stir to combine. Remove from heat, and stir in the sesame oil until combined.

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Ingredients • 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced small • 2 tsp curry powder • 1 tsp sea salt • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper • 1/2 tsp Chinese five spice powder • 3/4 cup finely diced red pepper • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil plus a little more for frying • 3 cloves finely minced garlic • French baguette slices or small dinner rolls to serve as buns Instructions 1. Toss all of the ingredients together in a glass bowl. You can cover this mixture with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for several for in advance of cooking it which lets the spices penetrate the chicken but it is perfectly fine to use it right away of you don't have the time.

2. Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a nonstick fry-

ing pan over medium heat and drop rounded tablespoons of the curry chicken mixture into the pan, forming the little patties into an oval shape about 2 inches long. Fry for about 3 minutes on each side until fully cooked.

3. Cut thin slices of French baguette on a diagonal.

4. Rub fresh garlic cloves onto the surface of the bread and lightly butter the bread before toasting lightly under the broiler or a hot grill pan.

5. Serve the curry chicken patties between slices of the toasted garlic baguette.

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Fun Times

Archie

ARIES

Look at the pros and cons (March 21- of any situation before you April 19) sign up for something that may not be good for you. Be realistic and make realistic plans.

Do your best to make TAURUS things happen. Live up to (April 20- your word and make the May 20) world a better place. Keep life simple, live a healthy lifestyle and abide by the rules.

You’ll come up against GEMINI someone who doesn’t play (MAY 28- fair. Don’t let your emotions June 20) get the better of you, or you will end up doing something that gets you in trouble.

Iron out any differences you have with someone before (June 21- matters escalate. Observe July 22) what’s going on around you.

Use information and experience to outmaneuver anyone who gets in your way.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Don’t make a fuss, or you will lose ground. The best way to get what you want is to offer incentives and to use your Leo charm.

A change may be in order, but that doesn’t mean you should take a risk.

Responsible action will get you much further than will trusting in something that isn’t a sure thing

Nurture meaningful relaLIBRA tionships, but don’t give in to (Sept. 23unrealistic demands. Agree Oct. 23) to changes that will help balance responsibilities equally, to avoid anyone from feeling used.

Peanuts

SCORPIO Travel, get together with (Oct. 24- old friends or make an adNov. 22) justment to your current lifestyle. The sky is the limit, and the changes made will lead to more significant opportunities.

Stick close to home, proSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23- tect your possessions and Dec. 21) your meaningful relationships, and stay away from people who cause emotional distress or meddle in your affairs.

Romance will improve your life.

Be careful how you handle CAPRICORN delicate situations involving rel(Dec. 22- atives. Be a good listener, keep Jan. 19) the information you receive to yourself and take better care of your body. Choose fitness over indulgent behavior.

Calvin and Hobbes

Make changes to the way AQUARIUS you handle your cash. Go (Jan. 20- over your bank statements, Feb. 19) look for a way to cut corners, and adopt a lifestyle that is less taxing and more minimal.

PISCES Fix whatever isn’t work(Feb. 20- ing for you. Set rules, boundMar. 20) aries and goals. If you mix individuality with discipline and precision, you will achieve positive results. Take action and make a difference.