Guyanatime 27 may 2018

LOOK INSIDE !

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3576

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Sunday, May 27, 2018

PRICE

Investigations of former Finance Ministers

“We have nothing to fear!”

– Jagdeo on land deals Page 2

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Preparatory works begin on installation of elevators at Providence overhead pass P11 ...pedestrians will be charged for not using same – Traffic Chief

...says decisions he, Kowlessar and Singh implemented were above board Page 3

Ramjattan’s “more charges” utterance validates PPP's claims of political witchhunting – Nandlall

$120 vat included

Former GDF rank stabbed to death over old grievance

Page 7

GPL loss P5 reduction efforts weak

...company must adopt strategic approach to achieve success – former PM

Linden man set alight by wife transferred to GPHC P8 Reconstruction of Moruca Bridge

Cabinet green lights $119M contract to “clear up P8 mess”

Ambika Ramraj was on Friday evening crowned Miss World Guyana when the pageant was held at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston Georgetown. Coming in as First Princess was Tracy Smith and Joylyn Conway as Second Princess. The other delegates; Nicola Munroe, Dianna Persaud, Andrea Marslowe, Lalita Tiffany Baliram, Donnette Linton, Breeanka West and Lateifha Goodluck were all given the title Royal Court (Carl Croker photo)

AFC seeking to support “cocaine” usage Page 14

…hoping for backing on decriminalisation of small quantities of cocaine

West Africans remanded for illegal entry into Guyana P15

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SUnDAY, may 27, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Ramjattan’s “more charges” utterance validates PPP’s claims of political witch-hunting – Nandlall

O

ne day after Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said the coalition Administration will continue to prosecute more former Government offi-

cials under the previous People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) regime, even if it is perceived as political witch-hunting, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall posited that the Minister’s utterance has reaf-

firmed his party’s position all along.

“Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has emphatically confirmed what we have been saying all along, that is, that the criminal charges that are being filed against former

Ministers and officials of the PPP Government, are politically inspired and driven,” Nandlall asserted.

At a press conference on Friday, Ramjattan admitted he is well aware of the perception that Government was victimising political opponents but he insisted that they will continue along that path.

“I am aware that the prosecution of a predecessor who belongs to a competing political party, is likely to be perceived as politically motivated… We have evidence, it’s warranted and so it will move on,” he said, adding that “otherwise members of this Government may feel the need to practice selling State properties without the lawful procedures. We cannot allow that.”

Last year, several former Government officials including former President and current Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo were hauled in for questioning over the acquisition of lands on the East Coast of Demerara.

Moreover, last month charges were brought against former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and former National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Chief Executive Officer Winston Brassington by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in relation to the sale of three plots of lands to investors.

However, Nandlall, who is among the battery of lawyers representing the two former Government officials, pointed out that in a normal democracy, which is governed by the rule of law, the

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Executive Government and Ministers have no business whatsoever, in the institution and of criminal charges.

These matters, he posited, fall within the exclusive remit of the constitutional agencies, that is, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Guyana Police Force, which are functionally autonomous and independent agencies that are strongly insulated in law from any type of political and ministerial influence or interference.

“So how does Minister Ramjattan know that there are more charges to be filed against former Ministers?

Does he also know if and what charges are going to be filed by Police against every Guyanese? I am sure he does not. But he knows that charges will be filed against former Ministers because he is part of a political directorate that is instructing behind the scenes, that these charges be filed,” the former Attorney General insisted.

Nandlall went on to re-

mind that Ramjattan had admitted publicly of knocking glasses with British Advisor to SOCU, Dr Sam Sittlington; Head of SOCU, Sydney James; and a diplomat at city nightspot on the evening one day after when Jagdeo along with former Head of Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and other leaders of the PPP/C were arrested and taken to SOCU. “When Sittlington’s contract ended, Ramjattan boasted in the press that he will bring him back because he has a lot of work to do. Indeed, Sittlington is now back. Mr Ramjattan is an experienced lawyer. As a result, I know that he knows that what he is doing is wrong. However, hatred, political vengeance and his desire for revenge, have destroyed his objectivity and his sense of reason. But I wish to remind him of an old saying that every rope, no matter how long, has an end,” Nandlall said.

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SunDAY, may 27, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Investigations of former Finance Ministers

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

Sunday, May 27 – a night retraction at 03:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Monday, May 28 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

“We have nothing to fear!”

– Jagdeo on land deals

...says decisions he, Kowlessar and Singh implemented were above board

Sunday, May 27 – 15:00h-16:30h and Monday, May 28 – 15:45h-17:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloudy skies in the early morning is expected to give way to light rain showers that will last throughout the morning. Light cloudy skies will return in the afternoon and run into the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East North-easterly to Northeasterly between 1.78 metres and 6.25 metres.

High Tides: 02:51h and 15:16h reaching maximum heights of 2.57 metres and 2.51 metres respectively.

Low Tides: 08:50h and 21:04h reaching minimum heights of 0.63 metre and 0.70 metre respectively.

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

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7 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 03 07 16 22

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LUCKY 3 6 1 7

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Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

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Evening Draw

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has brushed off the drive to investigate and prosecute members of his former Administration, specifically the former Finance Ministers; while also addressing the allegations surrounding the sale of land below private valuation figures.

The former President articulated this position during his recent press conference. According to Jagdeo, Government valuators have historically provided lower figures than private valuators.

He therefore noted that when the State puts property out for public tender, the bids received ultimately determine the market price. The fact that deals were inked at below the price quoted by private firms have been cited as “misconduct in public office.”

“You can have any valuation that is an opinion (until) you test the market,” Jagdeo explained. “You can value your hat at $10,000.

But if you put it out to tender and you get $5000, that’s the market price. Because you tested the market… that’s a clear process around the world, the valuation could be done.”

“You want to sell something, you get a private valuation. You want to buy something, you get the Government valuation. They always value something low, the Government valuators.

So this is a standard sort of (practise).”

According to Jagdeo, ev-

Former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

ery decision implemented by former Finance Minister Sasenarine Kowlessar was made by Cabinet. Jagdeo noted that in like manner, all decisions he implemented as Finance Minister were made at Cabinet. He therefore questioned the scope of the investigations and why they have not extended beyond 1992.

“They will stop at 1992.

They will go back to 1992, but will not go to 1991… because if they only go back to that period, a lot of people will be in jail for actual corruption. Notice so far they have not found anybody with big bank accounts. It is these issues.”

“There’s nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing to fear about any of those things. All of the cases that Kowlessar (oversaw), those things went to public tender.

Everyone is listed in public documents. They went to public tender. There’s nothing hidden about them.”

Former Finance Minister Sasenarine Kowlessar, who served from 1999 to 2006, was recently taken in for questioning at the Special Organised Crime Unit’s (SOCU) Kingston, Georgetown head office, and was interrogated for close to five hours before being released on bail.

Opposition Member of Parliament and People’s Progressive Party/Civic Executive, Anil Nandlall, later confirmed that Kowlessar was released on $200,000 station bail.

Nandlall said Kowlessar,

Former Finance Minister Sasenarine Kowlessar

accompanied by his Attorney, Mark Conway, was questioned in relation to matters pertaining to several transactions conducted by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) during his tenure as Minister.

Reports are that Kowlessar was first approached by SOCU officials a few days ago, and was asked to report to the SOCU office, but the former Minister never showed up, and this led to the agency deciding to arrest him.

Prior to this incident, Kowlessar’s successor as Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NICIL Winston Brassington were both arrested and

dragged before the courts on a charge of “misconduct in public office; contrary to common law” as it pertains to the sale of three plots of state lands.

Many political and social commentators, even those in the legal fraternity, have argued that the charges against the two former Government officials may be unconstitutional on the basis that they are not “public officers” in accordance with the Constitution.

On Monday, a High Court Judge ordered that a stay be placed on the proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, following the ruling by the Chief Justice Roxane George on the validity of the charges.

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SunDAY, may 27, 2018

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

Editorial

What does “Independence” mean?

O

n Saturday, Guyana celebrated the 52nd anniversary of its “Independence” from Britain. But some analysts, including our own Walter Rodney, have pointed out that in the post WWII era, “independence” for the colonies was little more than a “briefcase revolution”, wherein leaders acceptable to the British were taken up to Lancaster House in England and granted a constitution pulled from a drawer, and allowed to adopt “national” insignias: flag, motto, anthem, etc.

For most of the leaders in the Caribbean, except Dr Cheddi Jagan, it was best to “go along to get along”. In Guyana, however, the national leaders after 1950 were united in rejecting this path, and proposed that “independence” had to mean something more fundamental – something that demanded “root and branch” change in the trajectory and direction of national life. “Independence” should mean the freedom to determine both the form and content of political, social, economic and cultural life.

It was on this question that the national movement – represented by the Peoples Progressive Party – split in 1955, with Forbes Burnham, chairman of the party, deciding to go along with the “briefcase revolution”. Taking his African Guyanese supporters with him in the Peoples National Congress (PNC) he formed, he bequeathed to Guyana the ethnic/racial political mobilisation that has since characterised – and paralysed - our politics.

Burnham’s choice was explained by Dr Tyrone Ferguson as one summarised in the title of his book: “To Survive Sensibly or to Court Heroic Death”. With the constellation of global forces existent at the time, this might be seen as a “pragmatic” choice, but what it led to in practice was “independence” becoming a nightmare for Guyana. Given a free hand – internally, because of the militarised state he immediately created, allowing him to rig elections; and externally, because of the PPP communist bogeyman -Burnham’s PNC moved Guyana from a position of parity with most of her fellow ex-British Caribbean neighbours to one where she hovered just above Haiti as the “poorest” country in the Western Hemisphere.

His economic policies are illustrative of the logic of the choice he had made to communalise Guyanese politics.

Sugar was Guyana’s largest industry, and its largest generator of foreign currency; and employed mostly Indian Guyanese who were supporters of the PPP. After prices spiked to historic highs in 1974, Burnham’s PNC imposed on the commodity a levy that absorbed all the windfall profits, and even ordinary profits in the succeeding years. He proceeded to nationalise the industry, but by starving it of recapitalisation in modern factories or mechanisation, he increased the cost of production, for instance, and made the industry non-viable.

It was not surprising that, by 1990, sugar production had collapsed and sugar workers were barely eking out a living.

For sugar, “independence” meant destruction and increased ethnic/racial polarisation.

The rice industry is Guyana’s largest industry. It was developed entirely through native efforts, and not to fulfil the imperial mandate as a producer of primary products. It provided the staple to satisfy the domestic market, and raked in substantial amounts of foreign exchange – not to mention providing employment for a huge number of Indian Guyanese, who had pioneered the industry. Burnham’s PNC immediately mandated that all paddy be sold to the Government, which would then mill same into rice to be sold on both the domestic and foreign markets by the Government. The paddy was purchased cheaply from the farmers, but rice prices on the world market provided the Government an annual windfall that amounted to a 118% implicit tax on rice farmers. Not surprisingly, by 1990, the rice industry had also collapsed. For rice, independence meant destruction and greater ethnic/racial polarisation.

The PNC had also nationalised the bauxite industry, and primarily because of its politically-appointed managers, ran that into the ground by 1990. Because of the strength of the ethnic divide, however, the solidly African-Guyanese workforce remained behind the PNC, and the racial/ethnic divide did not diminish. For bauxite, independence meant just destruction.

What has changed in the PNC’s second iteration?

Hundreds of Guyanese braved the inclement weather on Friday evening to witness at Stabroek Market Square the fireworks display that ushered in the nation’s 52nd Independence Anniversary (Carl Croker photo)

What does the Georgetown municipality have to celebrate?

Dear Editor, The citizens of our capital city can only hope that the ridiculous suggestion made by the Mayor and Town Clerk of Georgetown a few weeks ago about hosting a week of activities to celebrate the city’s anniversary, estimated to cost a whopping $20 million was either just an April Fools’ joke or merely another municipal ‘pie in the sky’ fantasy that will never see the light of day.

Seriously, what does the Georgetown municipality have to celebrate? The bicentenary passed six years ago without any fanfare and their sestercentennial is a way off. City Hall is 129 years old and crumbling to pieces, so there is nothing significant about that milestone, and surely cannot be celebrated

until that edifice is fully rehabilitated.

Are they going to have a week of fetes whilst the Stabroek wharf remains collapsed; with the Kitty Market that is incomplete, despite the passage of nearly three years and with no market clock working; with the City Hall building on the verge of collapse? With a dilapidated Abattoir that lacks up-todate amenities, with a ruinous Police training school and with all of the other municipal buildings falling apart?

And with the employees and pensioners always having to wait two and three weeks after everyone else in the country, to be paid their wages, salaries and pensions?

But who will be celebrating? Will they just be splurg-

ing on themselves with an orgy of food and expensive liquor? With fireworks and parades? Or will all of the citizens be invited to join in at the table? And where will the meat for the city banquets come from? I hope not the pig farm at the Le Repentir Cemetery?

One wonders whether they have read a 2018 Crime and Safety Report that was released recently by another country and which stated that the roads are hardly maintained while street lighting is sporadic at best?

And which urges drivers to beware of stray dogs, sleeping animals and free-range livestock on our roadways, which they said share our narrow, poorly maintained roads which lack sidewalks?

Therefore, it is logical to assume that the only things they could be celebrating must be their acquisition of gold star frequent flyer status for gallivanting around the world with no tangible returns, for being able to withhold of hundreds of millions of dollars in employee contributions for GRA, NIS and Credit Union without feeling the brunt of the law? For harassing and chasing vendors around town whilst giving away prime land to friends.

It seems as though since City Hall cannot celebrate its successes as there are none.

They are attempting to find some humour and merriment in their failures.

Sincerely, Nadine Jerrick

AFC's misleading innuendoes Dear Editor, The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union’s (GAWU) attention was drawn to a section of a statement issued by the Alliance For Change (AFC) following its recently held National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. In that statement, the AFC says it’s Chairman – Vice President and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan – informed that he was victorious in a libel case involving our Union.

The statement goes on to say that Minister Ramjattan said the judgement vindicates “… the position that indeed large sums of monies in membership dues were being received

by GAWU and that significant portions of these monies were channelled elsewhere”.

The case in question dates

back to 2008, when the now Public Security Minister on a programme, which was broadcasted on DTV Channel 8, said GAWU was giving monies to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Our Union, at that time, denied out rightly the spurious claims and our Attorney had sought Minister Ramjattan and DTV Channel 8 to retract the statement and apologise.

They both refused, and the Union subsequently took the matter to the High Court.

On April 19, 2018, Justice Nareshwar Harnanan delivered his ruling which is poles apart from what appeared in the AFC’s statement. The Judge, in his ruling, said, among other things, that Minister Ramjattan could not present into evidence “…any truth to the words that the plaintiff union [GAWU] made

a percentage contribution to the PPP”. The ruling goes on that “[t]his Court is prepared to hold that there was no evidence before the Court which suggested that the plaintiff union makes any financial contribution or donation or otherwise to the PPP”. This stands in complete contrast to the AFC statement.

But, further to that, Justice Harnanan went on to say “[t]he statements uttered by the first defendant [Minister Ramjattan] were irresponsible, indifferent and without any foundational bases, and being a member of the legal profession ought to have heightened his concern for making public statements which are capable of being verified or corroborated.” This is noteworthy, in our view.

While indeed the courts

did not find favour with GAWU’s demand for damages, and we are contemplating our next move with our Attorney, the judgement says a mouthful. It also is vastly different from what the AFC statement claimed and rather serves to vindicate GAWU. At this time, we cannot help but wonder whether Minister Ramjattan was misinformed, whether he knowingly hoodwinked his party, or whether the AFC is engaged in publishing untruths.

Whatever may be the case, and more so the motivations, the GAWU hopes that this brings clarity to the misleading innuendoes of the AFC. Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

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SunDAY, may 27, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

GPL loss reduction efforts weak ...company must adopt strategic approach to achieve success – former PM

By Michael Younge

T

he Guyana Power and Light Company’s loss reduction efforts are currently weak and in order for progress to be made in the area of reducing its technical and non-technical losses, it must redouble its efforts and implement a strategic programme that could yield lasting results.

This is the position of former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who was the Minister responsible for the energy sector under the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administration.

Hinds, speaking with Guyana Times during an interview said he is concerned that since 2015, significant progress in the area of loss reduction does not appear to have taken place at GPL when one looks at the company’s overall performance.

Back in April, after the company fell short of its

target for losses in 2017, its Divisional Director of Loss Reduction, Parsram Persaud, promised better results this year due to ongoing network upgrade works that have already yielded positive results.

Persaud made the disclosure while presenting the statistics on loss reduction at the power company’s annual presentation of its Operating Standards and Performance Targets to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) last month.

The company was only able to contain its losses to 29.5 per cent for 2017, as compared to its 2016 achievement of 29.2 per cent, which was the same in 2015. Its target for 2017 was 27.6 per cent.

Persaud, who explained that the 1.9 per cent difference between the target and achievement represents a US$2 million value, said the company’s inability to reach

Former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

its set target was mainly due to the lack of materials to conduct its upgrade programmes.

But former Prime Minister Hinds said this is not good enough.

“One of my concerns with GPL is that they have not been following up on a programme we came upon to reduce losses and that specifically is making a geo-

graphical assessment may be twice per year… and publishing the geographical distribution of losses in the public domain,” he said.

Hinds explained that the programme had benefited from the input of the Inter Development Bank and other independent consultants who agreed that devising a map of the losses, which depicted the estimated technical and non-technical losses across the GPL grid and network based upon the feeders, people would change their attitudes to electricity theft, wastage of resources, damage to GPL transmission lines and equipment etc.

“I think they were about 24 such feeders at the time so you had about 24 areas and could see losses in each.

It was very instructive because it was a big picture of what was taking place,” he noted.

Hinds said the company and Government would

GPL power station

be able to access progress in every area and devise measures to deal with the problems caused by losses which amount to millions of dollars.

“So in one area, the estimate was low as 12 per cent while in another area like South Georgetown, it was about 60 per cent (technical and nontechnical,” he said, as he reflected on some preliminary information he had seen before demitting office.

“The struggle against losses is one to change cul-

ture first,” the former Prime Minister and one-time President said.

His comments come even though GPL’s Loss Reduction Director had explained that “Networks have already begun to be improved that started at the end of 2017 – somewhere late in December. So, we will see that continue this year.

So, we will see a reduction of losses and we are very optimistic.”

The target set for this year is 27.1 per cent.

Multi-stakeholder approach needed to reduce prison overcrowding – CCJ President Designate ...says Caribbean’s criminal justice system “broken”

I

ncoming President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Adrian Saunders has observed with great concern, the challenges that the criminal justice system poses to the rule of law in the Region and has called for stakeholders to design mechanisms to address the prevailing issues.

He made these comments at the University of Guyana’s Fourth Conversation on Law and Society on Thursday last at Duke Lodge, Georgetown, where Saunders provided a lecture on the Rule of Law and the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Speaking to an audience of peers as well members of the public, Justice Saunders outlined some of the issues associated with trials not being heard within a “reasonable”

amount of time, a violation of Guyana’s Constitution. The veteran Judge further reasoned that pre-trial detention is also in violation of human rights practices.

“There are instances where persons are on pre-trial detention for extended periods of time; in Guyana it’s not so bad – 35 per cent and that’s high [but] in Trinidad’s its 60 per cent – that’s outrageous and they have more Judges and Magistrates than Guyana. To my mind, high levels of pre-trial detention represent a serious human rights abuse,” Justice Sanders explained.

He suggested that the overall tackling of the problem is difficult as this change requires involvement of several different systems name-

ly; prisons, prosecutorial authorities, prisons, the executive and bar association.

Justice Sunders however told the gathering that for there to have improvements in the criminal justice system, it “requires all of them to sit together and be on the same page and agree to a raft of proposals that will carry the system forward.”

“In the criminal justice system, we have ineffective case management; we have an insufficient set of mechanisms for addressing the material needs of many young and vulnerable persons. We have

a criminal justice system in the region that is broken,” the CCJ President-Designate observed. Later on, persons from the audience and members of the panel that included UG’s Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Ivelaw Griffith and retired acting Chancellor of Guyana’s Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, engaged in discussions after Justice Saunders’ lecture. Among the topics of discussion included the need for political non-interference in the Judiciary and the benefits of meditation and arbitration which are aid in reducing the judicial backlog. turn to page 13

Incoming CCJ President Adrian Saunders

UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith

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SunDAY, may 27, 2018

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

How to transition from school to summer mode – be prepared for the fact that your child may have mixed emotions about the end of the year

By Rebecca Sullivan Delaney

T

he days were getting warmer and longer, and school was winding down. Although my sixyear-old daughter, Nora, was finishing up a great year in kindergarten, suddenly her behaviour at home was less than stellar. The promise of summer vacation was glimmering on the horizon and yet she threw tantrums and frequently woke up at night.

Parents often infuse the end of school with their own memories of family trips to the beach and gorging on ice pops. However, for some kids, leaving their teacher and classmates can trigger feelings of anxiety. "Change – even good change – is hard on children. It's disorienting for them not to know what to expect," says Parents advisor Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author of What About Me?: 12 Ways to Get Your Parents' Attention Without Hitting Your Sister. To help ease your child's transition to vacation mode, follow these tips.

Stick to a schedule

All of those end-of-year parties and performances can make your child overtired and overstimulated.

Enforce her bedtime so she's not heading to school exhausted, and don't be afraid to turn down an invitation. "Set a limit for how many events you are willing to do each week," sug-

gests Amy McCready, author of The "Me, Me, Me" Epidemic: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Capable, Grateful Kids in an OverEntitled World. "Every invitation sounds like fun, but it's easy to get overwhelmed by the constant activity."

My family took a big step back and skipped a party at a classmate's house, and a neighbour's

pool party, b u t went to a close friend's smaller get-together. Keeping to our regular schedule brought some much-needed relief from Nora's tantrums – and my yelling – that were becoming a regular occurrence.

Did we seem like a stick-inthe-mud family for responding with a polite "no, thank you" to the neighbour's pool party? Probably – but for us it was the right call.

Maintain friendships

Summer vacation is a great time to create fami-

ly memories, but your child may be worried about not seeing the friends he's made at school. "Most children this age feel lonely if they go too long without interacting with kids their age; your child will appreciate it if you

Boston. Take a tour of the camp during an open house before school ends. Meet a few counsellors and children who will be attending so your child will recognize friendly faces. If that's not possible, sit with your child and look at pictures of the grounds and staff on the camp website.

Watch your words

can arrange for him to have some playdates with school friends," says Dr KennedyMoore. While my daughter did relish hanging out with Mommy, Daddy, and her brother at the start of summer, she was begging for playdates only a few days into vacation.

Of course, summer provides an opportunity to make some new friends too. You may have enrolled your child in a camp to encourage these social interactions. "Keep in mind that it's like starting school all over again," says Maryellen Cunnion, EdD, associate professor of education at Simmons College, in

It's fun to look forward to what's next for your child, whether that's kindergarten or first grade.

However, any talk about a new school year could make her uneasy. "Some children might be moving on to a new building when this year is over and making a big transition in the fall," says Liz Warrick, a parenting coach in Winchester, Massachusetts. "But that's months away and most children don't have a good grasp of time yet." Ease up on the talk about how she's going to be a "big first-grader" now. If she tells you she's nervous about next year, don't brush her off by saying, "You'll be fine!" Instead, remind her of other new situations in which she was anxious and how she handled it. You could also tell your child a story of when you were nervous in a new situation and how you overcame your fears. "Kids love to hear stories about their parents," says Warrick.

"They can't imagine that we ever have any trouble."

Inspire education

Before school ends, ask your child about his favourite classroom activities and brainstorm ways you can re-create them at home. If he enjoys art class, buy him some sketchpads and other art supplies. If nature gets your child excited, you might want to start planting a backyard garden together that you can tend to over the

W

ith the kids summer holidays fast approaching, it can seem like the weeks stretch into forever. And how are you to keep the little ones entertained?

Finding fun summer activities for six long weeks can seem an enormous task. But a little bit of preparation goes a long way. Whether you’re planning a trip abroad for the summer holidays or keeping them busy at home, perhaps with summer camp activities from a local provider, there are ways to get yourself and them ready for the long break ahead.

With a little bit of imagination, there are lots of fun things to do during summer, and they don’t have to break the bank.

Here are seven suggestions from us, to get you started.

Get the kids to make a

summer to learn about how plants grow. "Don't worry about teaching skills for the next school year," says Diane Levin, PhD, professor of early-childhood education at Wheelock College, in Boston. "Engage your child in what he's interested in and involve him in active play and learning. That's the best preparation you can give him." (www.parents.com)

list of fun summer activities they’d like to do over the school holidays. This allows you to work out costs and either budget accordingly – or set their expectations to something more realistic.

Like any good Cub Scout, check your equipment prior to the kids school holidays.

That means batteries in the camera, digging out swimming costumes (and making sure they still fit) and pumping up the tyres on their bikes. Pull out the paddling pool from the shed and see if you can dig out a water gun or two. If you’re really leaving no stone unturned, restock the crayons and make sure there’s plenty of paper.

Make sure the children have library cards, get to know opening times and pop down to discover whether there are any author’s visits, workshops or reading challenges going on over the Summer holidays. Your local library is a great resource of summer activities for kids, especially on a rainy day.

Book in playdates early. Get out your diary and get together with other parents to find out when they are around and might be interested in trading afternoons at each other’s homes. Having friends over will keep your kids entertained for an afternoon – and then you’ll get a few hours to yourself when other families return the favour.

Plan a few fun things to do in the summer – which are free. Maybe a day out at the seaside, a sports day at the park or a weekend trip to visit relatives. Camping out in the garden is always popular too.

Check your local council website to see what family days or events are on locally over the summer. The secret to entertaining kids is to vary their experiences.

Buy the kids a scrap book and encourage them to collect things, take photos and draw pictures to record their summer. When they return to school they may be asked to give a Show and Tell about what they did over the summer holidays. Activities like this will give them lasting memories.

Let the experts help out, and book the kids in to summer camp. (www.barracudas.co.uk)

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SunDAY, may 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Former GDF rank stabbed to death over old grievance

A

former member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was on Saturday morning stabbed to death by an acquaintance during an altercation at Republic Drive, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The dead man has been identified as 24-year-old Edward Bevaney, of Lot 115 Ogle Street, Triumph, ECD. The man was reportedly stabbed once to his left eye and twice to his chest with an ice-pick by the suspect.

During the altercation, the suspect was also chopped to his left arm and stabbed one to the left side of his chest.

Based on reports received, the suspect, formerly of Lot 40 Two Friends Village Ann’s Grove, ECD, and the now dead man are known to each other since they worked together in the interior.

The two men became enemies following a fight which stemmed from an alleged drug deal gone wrong.

Guyana Times understands that a few years back, the two men reportedly supplied marijuana to miners in the interior. However, after the misunderstanding, they went their separate ways.

Nevertheless, about three months ago, the suspect left his Ann’s Grove home and moved in with a friend at his Beterverwagting, ECD home.

Initial investigations revealed that on the day in question, at about 08:00h, the accused went to a shop in the neighbourhood to collect some cash.

Upon his arrival, he reportedly parked his pedal cycle and ventured into the shop to collect his money but when he came out, his bicycle was missing.

As he enquired about the whereabouts of his cycle, he was told that Bevaney collected it. After some time elapsed, the bicycle was retuned by a third party, “Shoney”. As the young man rode off with his bicycle, he was confronted by Bevaney who was reportedly armed with a cutlass and a knife and an argument ensued.

During the heated argument, the now dead man dealt one chop to the suspect’s left hand and in retaliation, the suspect whipped out an ice-pick from his pants waist and dealt the deceased several stabs to his body. In a bid to escape, Bevaney re-

Dead: Edward Akeem Bevaney

portedly jumped into a nearby trench. The suspect later collapsed on the roadway.

The injured men were picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Bevaney was pronounced dead on arrival. The suspect was treated and was handed over to the police as they continue their investigations.

When Guyana Times visited the home of the dead man, his sister Kimika Bevaney explained that she received a telephone call at about 09:15h from a cousin who related what took place.

The cousin urged her to rush to the Georgetown Public Hospital instead of coming home since, her brother was in critical condition.

When she arrived at the medical institution, she was greeted with the devastating news of her brother’s passing. She was however, given the opportunity to see her dead brother who was lying in the Accident and Emergency Unity.

“He had blood all over… he get a jook under he eye, he get jook on his arms and he get jook on he neck,” the aggrieved sister related. She

further explained that while the family was not properly briefed on what transpired, she heard that her brother was stabbed to death by a man who is unknown to the family.

She told Guyana Times that her now dead brother was a member of the GDF but after some misunderstanding with his girlfriend, he left. It was then that he went into the interior to work on a mining concession.

The woman is holding out that she does not know the suspect, while noting that jer brother did not have issues

with anyone. She also refuted claims that the now dead man was involved in the trafficking in narcotics.

The man’s mother sat on the stairway in disbelief that her son was no more. She was being consoled by other relatives. Bevaney leaves to mourn his mother and six siblings. His body is at the GPHC mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination on Monday.

The suspect is expected to make his first court appearance this week. (Bhisham Mohamed)

8 news

SunDAY, may 27, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Reconstruction of Moruca Bridge

Cabinet green lights $119M contract to “clear up mess”

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ollowing the controversial building of a wooden bridge at Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini) back in 2014, Cabinet has approved a $119 million contract to upgrade the facility to a double-lane concrete bridge.

At the post-Cabinet press briefing last week, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said the multimillion-dollar contract was awarded to Mohamed Ramzanalli Khan Construction. This project is expected to last for a period of 18 months.

According to the Government’s spokesperson, this project is actually to correct a “mess” that was done four years ago when the original bridge, first constructed in the 1980s to facilitate pedestrians, was upgraded for vehicular traffic.

“It was rehabilitated in 2014 and many of us are aware of the work that was done at that bridge, which, after the expenditure of large sums of

The flooded approach to the Moruca Bridge back in 2014

money, was still not possible for it to be properly used. So basically what is happening now, we are going to clear up a mess that was created by the previous Administration,” the spokesperson added.

After the $43 million contract was awarded in 2012, works on the bridge at Moruca were finally completed in March 2014. The project was expected to be completed within a few months, however, it became the subject of contro-

versy when, in addition to the lengthy delays, residents had accused the contactor of carrying out substandard work.

The contractor, Hardat Singh, had stated that the delays were due largely to the inclement weather and the fact that aspects of the bridge’s design had to be changed. He had explained that he indicated his disapproval of the original design to regional officials but was still told to go ahead with the project as is.

Then Opposition Members of Parliament, Joseph Harmon of the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change’s Valerie GarridoLowe had both separately visited the site in 2014 prior to the completion of the structure and found that the works were shabby. A photo was then released with the approach to the bridge submerged, resulting in the residents having to use a makeshift walkway to access the bridge.

While Singh maintained that the bridge was built in accordance with contractual specifications, he noted at the time the photo was taken, the project was incomplete. A sub-contractor was retained

by Singh to complete the remaining “small works”, including the approach to the bridge. But the contract had warned that while approach was built up with sand, this issue may still persist since heavy rainfall was frequent in the Moruca sub-region.

Linden man set alight by wife transferred to GPHC

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he Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) man, who was set alight by his reputed wife, has been transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where his condition is listed as stable.

Deon Marks, 43, a vendor of Lot 206 Fourth Street, Silvertown, Wismar, Linden, and also of Lot 31 Nottinghamshire Mines, was reportedly burnt by his reputed wife, following an argument at their home on Sunday

last.

E Division (LindenKwakwani) Commander Anthony Vanderhyden disclosed that Police are now awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with respect to charges.

According to Police, the couple has been together for two years, and Marks was reportedly in the habit of threatening and hitting his reputed wife.

Guyana Times was told that on May 20, 2018, an argu-

ment ensued after the 52-yearold woman accused Marks of stealing her money. During the argument, the woman allegedly locked Marks out of their Nottinghamshire Mines house.

Marks allegedly armed himself with a spade and broke the lock to the home to gain entry. The woman reportedly then retrieved a gallon bottle of gasoline and threw it on the victim along with a cigarette she was smoking.

As Marks’s body caught

fire, he rushed to the gate and jumped into a gutter. A taxi driver saw what had taken place and rushed him to the Linden Hospital Complex. He was treated for burns about his body and his condition was listed as stable.

The woman later surrendered to ranks at the Mackenzie Police Station where she reportedly admitted to the crime.

Police later visited the scene of the crime.

What’s to celebrate??

S

...Independence?

o if “Independence” is supposed to be better than colonial rule, how come we have to bring back the British, FIFTY-TWO years after Independence, to fix a basic independence marker as “security”??

Security’s the sine qua non of a state, especially an Independent one! What did Independence get us? More murders, more banditry, more domestic violence!

The PNC-led Government officials beat their chests about “winning” Independence. They should be ashamed. How’d you “win” a prize that was given to you simply to deny your opponent what was legally and morally theirs?? No wonder the PNC’s downplaying Mashramani and Republic Day in favour of “Independence Day”. Say what you will about his later excesses; at least Cuffy FOUGHT!!

This PNC lot sold out the rest of the Guyanese who hadn’t supported them -- just like some chieftains in Africa sold some folks from other tribes to the pirates!!

As Brother Bob said, “Old pirates, yes, they rob I; Sold I to the merchant ships.” Some folks want to forget it was our own who sold us to the pirates, to begin with; as our own prophet, Walter Rodney, showed. But then, Brother Bob also asked – as we should today: “How long shall they kill our prophets/ While we stand aside and look?” Yet the PNC killed Rodney AFTER Independence!!

What’s the point of reintroducing the British law of sedition, which they used to suppress our freedom of speech by banning Independence literature? Wouldn’t it have been better to keep the British with their laws?? Well, not really…they’ve changed their law because they said it was an abomination in modern times!! Whose minds need to be emancipated?

They said the British exploited us economically… which they did! But they trained lawyers of the highest calibre – such as Ramphal, Shahabuddeen et al -- who could hold their own when they negotiated nationalisation of our assets. What have we produced AFTER Independence? How’d you give away the store when you have such glorious predecessors in negotiations?? Even Burnham knew about the trap of “transfer pricing” when he nationalised Bauxite!! So now we have to hire some foreign legal “experts” – most definitely British or American. Some “Independence”!!

But this importation of the Trinidad Carnival takes the cake. Even Trinis have complained that the indigenous aspects, like Calypso Tents, are disappearing in favour of uninhibited alcohol-fuelled sexual displays and frolic, like the “Scorch _uck the work” fete.

They say it’s “Duck the wuk” – which is bad enough if we want to become independent.

But the blank means you can substitute “F”!!

…the return of Mass Games?

Folks may’ve forgotten that, in late 1979, just after Burnham DECLARED his “sharper steel” to the WPA, he’d dropped the bombshell that Guyana would now be experiencing the joys of “mass games”! Well, especially he and Guyanese schoolchildren. It was inspired by the North Korean dictator Kim Il-Sung after Burnham’s visit to that country. According to the N Koreans, Guyana would now be “carrying out socialist construction under the banner of the Juche idea created by the great leader Comrade.” “Burnham’s “cooperativism” was analogous to the ‘Juche’ of Kim Il-Sung.

Mass Games were made compulsory for all schoolchildren, who were forced to march in the sun, perform the “lizard crawl” etc, to repel any invaders.

But what pleased Burnham more than all of that was the excuse to introduce the “backdrop panorama” to the games on the field. The thousands of schoolchildren would move perfectly synchronised coloured cards to produce a “scene”.

Of course, in the first Mass Games of 1980, with Rodney’s assassination in the offing, the first panorama was of Burnham’s face!!

So what’s for Independence next year?? A panorama of Granger’s face?

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

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SunDAY, may 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Works on Linden/Lethem trail Alcohol smuggling a work in progress – Harmon Ministers differ on leave for former SWAT boss

I

A flooded section of the Kurupukari stretch of road last week

n the midst of the MayJune rainy season, persons travelling along the Linden-Lethem Road have been calling on Government to repair sections of the trail which have become impassable, but Minister of State Joseph Harmon has assured that works to upgrade the road are ongoing.

“The road itself, that is, the Linden Highway, is a work in progress. I can say that because some work has already started in Lethem.

You would recognise that some of the culvert’s work has already started,” he told reporters during last week’s post-Cabinet press briefing.

Sections of the road – at Fairview in Region Nine and Kurupukari in Region Eight – are completely impassible, with the greater part of the road at those sections being inundated by heavy rainfall over the past weeks.

In fact, only last week, commuters were complaining that users are contending that the good parts of the Linden/Lethem road are outnumbered by bad sections, sharing too that the condition of the road had resulted in vehicles overturning.

Two Saturdays ago, a truck driver was injured after his vehicle reportedly went overboard while crossing the Christmas Bridge.

He was attempting to manoeuvre lorry GWW 5832 with a load of sawn lumber across the Christmas Bridge, but ended up toppling into the nearby creek.

Operators have complained too that the condition of the trail is made worse by lumber trucks operating during the wet weather.

One bus driver, Ramroop (only name given), said, “We have our buses and we have to spend most of the money we make to maintain the bus because of the road.

Right through we sticking up! The bridge them a wash away or break down, and we

have to pay more money to get people to pull we out.”

The angry man pointed out that Government needs to do more to maintain the road, and added that drivers are not opposed to paying an increase in toll in exchange for better roads. He further explained that because of the impassable state of the road, vehicle owners are being forced to pay as much as $5000 at Fairview for villagers to use the village truck to pull their vehicles out of the slush. This payment, he contends, is in addition to tolls and maintenance costs.

“By the time we done fix the bus and pay all them money that, we not making any money at all! The Government got to do better than this! Them ah wait until the road bad bad and nothing can’t do and then them come and will try to fix it. We are the one suffering, not them; because them can afford to fly to Lethem, but what about the poor people?” another driver added.

In February of 2017, the Public Infrastructure Ministry had said it was gearing to commence construction of the first phase of the Linden-Lethem Road project, which will be funded with a $15 million grant from United Kingdom Government through its £300 million Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) programme that was announced by former British Prime Minister David Cameron back in 2015. Guyana was named among nine Caribbean countries to benefit from the grant and identified the Linden-Lethem Road project as the beneficiary.

The first phase of the project spans from Linden to Mabura, and covers approximately 122.5 kilometres of road and the construction of the bridge across the Essequibo River at Kurupukari ferry crossing.

Meanwhile, the remaining 331.5km of the laterite

road will fall under other phases and will be undertaken through funding from other sources.

Early last year, it was reported that Government had engaged the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on possible funding for the stretch of road between Mabura Hill and Lethem.

In fact, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had disclosed during its annual meeting back in April that the bank is to make some US$900 million available to Guyana over the next three years for projects in the areas of infrastructure, rural and human development, among others.

On the other hand, Guyana and Brazil had signed two agreements in December last, one of which is the Complementary Agreement to the M e m o r a n d u m of Understanding between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Federative Republic of Brazil, which creates the “GuyanaBrazil Joint Commission to Develop Infrastructure Projects”.

The construction of the long-awaited LindenLethem road is one of the key projects under this agreement. In July last year, a ministerial team from Guyana visited their counterparts in the neighbouring Portuguese nation during which it was agreed that both countries will provide financial resources for the engineering and design of the road.

It was reported too that the two countries will be working closely with the People’s Republic of China to access a $50 billion China Select Fund to complete the critical piece of infrastructure that holds great potential in terms of integrating the two countries and improving trade between the neighbours and the Caribbean.

– but Ramjattan backs down

Former SWAT Commander Motie Dookie

W

hile he is not in agreement with Citizenship Minister Winston Felix’s decision to have former SWAT Commander Motie Dookie sent on leave; Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is refusing to touch on the issue.

This position was taken by Ramjattan during an Alliance For Change press conference on Friday. He noted that at present, he is trying to appraise himself on the matter. However, he observed that to all intents and purposes, Felix’s decision, taken a few days ago, while acting as Public Security Minister, was a legitimate one.

“I didn’t touch it,” Ramjattan said, on disciplining Dookie, “I said wait until the Police Service Commission (comes into effect). But in my absence, he (Felix), touched it. And he was performing the functions of Public Security Minister.

Just like when Ramnarine was performing the functions of Commissioner, he promoted a couple people.”

“And the Seelall (Persaud) came and… no, I had to restore it. Because when you’re performing you can do it. And it is valid and legitimate and legal. But I’ll be taking a look at (it). And I’m trying to ad-

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

vise myself on it. Because a number of people have called me, well the man going to get free salary and isn’t doing anything.”

Leadership of the Force

He noted that when one is sent on special leave in the interest of the public, they receive their full pay. This is versus them being transferred to another section.

Ramjattan admitted that he would have preferred the former SWAT commander to remain working on the job.

Ramjattan made it pellucid, however, that he was not going to amplify a disagreement with a fellow Cabinet colleague. He also noted the need for the Force to retain senior officers, as the leadership is a limited one.

“It’s a matter of opinion and an opinion was given and a decision made. And I am not going to go and do all kinds of disagreements with my fellow colleague Cabinet member.

And I am not going to also go and attack other senior members who have also done somethings.”

“Because we need senior members in the Police Force to manage it, notwithstanding their indiscretions,” Ramjattan said. “A number of people, the Commissioner has said, have been removed

through retirement. So upon are left with a leadership that has risen to the (rank) of Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, that is very limited.”

Ramjattan noted that while the argument can be made about the inconsistencies regarding the removal of delinquent senior officers; Ramjattan stated that he is “not going to remove the other seven or eight of them.”

Earlier this year, Dookie was removed from his post as SWAT Unit Commander, pending the outcome of an investigation into alcohol smuggling. At that time, the former SWAT Head had only been at his appointed post for three months following the dismissal of his predecessor, Deputy Superintendent Lonsdale Withrite. According to information at the time, on December 31, 2017, Dookie was taken into Police custody at the Whim Police Station and placed under close arrest after 30 cases of illegal whiskey was discovered in a vehicle in which he was travelling.

The discovery was made when officers stopped the minibus on the Whim Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, to conduct a routine search.

Dookie reportedly told the Police that there were only 10 cases of whiskey but a search later unveiled that there were actually 30 cases.

It is understood that on Tuesday last, a directive was made by a Government Minister to have Dookie sent on “special leave” with pay.

That Minister was later revealed to be Felix, at the time acting in lieu of Ramjattan, who was overseas.

Less than two weeks ago, although the investigation was ongoing into the smuggling allegation, Dookie was posted to A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) as one of the five Sub Divisional Officers.

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SunDAY, may 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Imitation and flattery

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atiricus couldn’t wait to get down to the Back Street Bar. He had his best assignment in years when his editor sent him over to cover the various goings-on with this new “Carnival” to celebrate Independence Day. If the fellas thought the Mashramani Parade gave them the opportunity to drink and ogle females even when their wives were around, wait till they heard about these Trini events!!

“Budday, you have to be there to see this new Carnival sport!” said Satiricus, barely able to keep down his excitement.

“Suh tell abee, na?” asked Bungi laconically, as he sipped his beer. “You get free ticket; abee cyaan afford dem price!”

“Well, imagine things started out with ‘Stink and Dutty J’Ouvert’ at 2 am!” reported Satiricus.

“Wha’ da?” asked Cappo curiously.

“People paint up their bodies and faces and look just like when you used to finish cut cane!!” said Satiricus.

“They then drink and wine-down till daybreak!”

“Suh dem do all kine a t’ing “unda covah”!!” said Cappo. “But budday, when me bin done wuk, me could only fall in me hammock and res’!”

“They took care of that,” said Satiricus. “After J’Ouvert, they had a “_uck the wuk” party!! Put in “F” or “D”!!”

“But if abee ‘_uck the wuk’, who guh min’ abee fam’ly?” asked Bungi curiously.

“Well, we’re independent now,” suggested Satiricus. “Maybe with oil coming, we don’t have to work?”

“Sato, why we had to import this sport from the Trinis?” asked Hari, who had been listening quietly.

“They had their own history, you know.”

“What’s that?” replied Satiricus.

“Well, the French planters who had their Carnival Balls didn’t allow slaves to participate,” explained Hari.

“They had to sport outside, and painted their faces not to be recognised.”

“But it’s a Caribbean thing!” protested Satiricus.

“All the islands doing it!”

“But abee neva had French lack abee out fram dem Carnival Ball,” said Cappo.

“And nobody celebrates their independence with Carnival!!” said Hari, in disgust.

Satiricus picked up his beer and said, “Oh?”

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SunDAY, may 27, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Preparatory works begin on installation of elevators at Providence overhead pass

...pedestrians will be charged for not using same – Traffic Chief

Nothing to celebrate

By Ryhaan Shah

F

ifty-two years after gaining our independence from Britain, Guyana has nothing to celebrate. Birthed in the brutalities of colonialism, then dragged through three decades of the terrors of the PNC dictatorship, the country has suffered mass migration and periods of economic ruin and social depredations that have not allowed for any continuous period of progress and development.

When the PPP/C Government won the first free and fair elections in decades in 1992, they inherited a country with an enormous external debt-to-GDP ratio of 951 percent. By 2014, that Government reduced the debt to 44 percent through good fiscal management and sound economic policies, and the country was registering steady GDP growth.

Instead of following and improving on this progressive trend, the Granger Government has chosen to roll back projects and programmes in what appears to be a strategy driven by nothing more than political spite and vengeance against the PPP and its supporters.

The Specialty Hospital and Amaila Falls Hydro projects were scrapped for no good reason. They could have benefited the ailing health and power supply sectors respectively; and the Granger Government has established no major state infrastructural programme that would have created jobs and injected much needed cash into the economy.

Government is currently overseeing a shrinking economy, which is not surprising, since it has put well over 10,000 people out of work. It started with the retrenchment of 2,000 First Nations Community Support Officers and continued with the firing of hundreds of public servants, mostly Indian Guyanese. Then came the closure of three sugar estates and the retrenchment of over 5,000 sugar workers, again mostly Indian Guyanese.

A quarterly Labour Force Survey done between July and September 2017 shows an unemployment rate among men of 9.9 percent; and for women, an even higher rate of 15.3 percent.

The current youth unemployment sits at a record-breaking 21.6 percent – that’s nearly a quarter of the youth population.

All the young hopefuls who went out to “vote like a boss” for the APNU/AFC Coalition find that none of the campaign promises of jobs that were to come from a flock of eager new investors has been fulfilled.

With a flat economy and high unemployment, it is not surprising that crime has risen to such a level that, relative to Guyana’s population size, it is higher even than the crime rate in the USA. This according to the Crime and Safety Report just published by the US State Department, which also describes Guyana’s medical services as “deficient”. The optics of the President and First Lady winging off to Trinidad this past week for their annual medical check-up bear out the truth of that statement.

The oil and gas are not yet flowing, but loans are being racked up at a fast rate, and Government’s raising of the debt ceiling to $50 billion per project means it can now take larger loans without having to inform the public. The inherent dangers of this move are obvious. Less public scrutiny could lead to even more state corruption than currently avails, especially when tied to Granger’s comments at the recent PNCR Congress: that his Government faces daily challenges from “sections of the media”.

The PNCR has tried to walk back those comments with assurances that the party believes that free access to information is “an indispensable condition of a democratic society,” even though such assurances do not square with the sedition clause of the Cybercrime Bill.

One of the media houses that Granger appears to find a “daily challenge” is the Guyana Times. A “Page One Comment” published this week disclosed that this newspaper has received threats from purported agents of the Government.

With racism, corruption, contempt for the rule of law, and economic mismanagement already in place, comparisons between the Granger Government and the past PNC dictatorship cannot be avoided. Death threats and muzzling of the media would complete the Burnhamist “vision”.

The independence anniversary always comes as a grim reminder of the Wismar Massacre, when Indian Guyanese were ethnically cleansed from the Wismar/Mackenzie area in violence that raged between May 23rd and 25th 1964. A New York Times report noted that, on May 26th, 1300 “Indians driven from their homes by Negroes during 36 hours of racial violence in the Mackenzie mining district” arrived in Georgetown on two river steamers.

Burnham chose May 26th as the date for independence two years later, over Dr Cheddi Jagan’s objections. The victims and survivors of the Wismar Massacre must never be forgotten; and we, the citizenry, must stand against such violence ever being visited on Guyana again.

P

reparatory works to install elevators at the overhead pass at Providence, East Bank Demerara, have commenced and the facility should be up and running

by September.

The workers attached to S Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Constructing Services have been dedicatedly working day and night, as they prepare the foundation for the installation of the long awaited elevators. These elevators are already sourced and are being kept at the company’s head office.

Traffic Chief Ramesh Ashram in an interview with Guyana Times related that persons will be charged and placed before the courts for not using the overhead passes.

Ashram explained that two of the overhead passes

Construction workers braving the weather to perform their jobs at the Providence overhead pass

are presently closed to facilitate the installation of the elevators so pedestrians, during this time, will be excused from using them.

“We are looking to enforce this (laws) to ensure that they use the passes because the Government would have made these provisions for them,” Ashram stated.

The Traffic Chief further stated that charges were already instituted against persons for not utilising the passes. “The law says that as long as we have a crossing, then it must be used”.

This, he said, is clearly noted in the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Chapter 51:02.

It was further explained

that in most cases, where the overhead passes were installed, the pedestrian crossings were removed.

As such, in the absence of a pedestrian crossing, the overhead pass must be used, since it will not only ensure the safety of the pedestrian but the free flow of traffic, especially during peak hours.

In May 2016, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had announced plans to construct pedestrian overpasses, as well as a fly-over at Diamond in an effort to reduce road fatalities and congestion on the East Bank of Demerara.

These areas were selected based on the highest concentration of pedestrian movement on the East Bank.

12 news

SunDAY, may 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Despite whistle-blower laws

No change in Nurse Marks’ case – TIGI – expresses fears of cover-up in matter

M

uch rhetoric had accompanied the passage of the Witness Protection Bill 2017 and the

Protected Disclosures Bill in January. But according to the Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated

(TIGI), Government has failed to live up to this rhetoric in one crucial case.

This is the case of

Nurse Sherilyn Marks, who was transferred from the Fort Wellington Hospital last year after exposing a Councillor with ties to the ruling party. At the time, the Councillor was allegedly using her authority to abuse the prescription drug pethidine.

“She (Marks) remains in that state to date,” the group said in a statement. “Laws will not be effective when there is a lack of will to make them work and the fact that Ms Marks’s situation has not been rectified is ominous of the kind of dissonance in the political class that can render whistle-blower legislation inconsequential if it does become law.”

“In relation to actions taken by Ms Marks, there were promises of investigations to determine whether she, in fact, breached

The drug pethidine is at the heart of the controversy

any rules of the public service. The Guyana Nursing Council, the Guyana Medial Council and the Ministry of Public Health, were to conduct investigations.”

According to TIGI, these investigations would have uncovered whether Nurse Marks was in breach of the public service rules, whether doctors were complic-

it and whether the actions against her were inappropriate.

“The Guyana Public Service Union is on record with TIGI as indicating that it stands with Nurse Marks in asserting that she was not in breach of any rules.

It asserts that Nurse Marks acted professionally. continued on page 13

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SunDAY, may 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyanese new Toastmasters District Director for Caribbean

A

Independence silencings I

thought it interesting that one of the persons President Granger decided to honour was Dr Alvin Thompson; who, along with himself and Dr Winston McGowan, edited the massive ‘Themes in African-Guyanese History’ in 2009.

Like Granger, Prof Thompson specialises in the history of African Guyanese, and was for decades a Professor of History at UG and UWI. He has made some pertinent comments in the past, which bear repetition in the present, on the silencing of the efforts of Indian Guyanese in the struggle for Guyana’s independence.

In his “Symbolic legacies of slavery in Guyana”, Thompson elaborated on the PNC’s efforts under Burnham to trace a line between Cuffy’s revolt in Berbice in 1763 to the post-Independence PNC Government among several symbolic Afro-centric representations of the Ravi Dev “Guyanese nation”. Vere T. Daly, of course, was the historian who spearheaded that effort. The 1823 Uprising and the 1834 Damon Rebellion were two others. Thompson, however, noted that such a symbolic focus on the contributions of one ethnic group would negatively impact a multi-ethnic society, and pointed out that Indian Guyanese felt their heroes had been sidelined.

In a lecture in Guyana in 2013 on the significance of the Berbice Rebellion, he recommended: “It is not only those who have struggled against slavery who deserve to be honoured in visual and other ways by the nation, regardless of their ethnic or their ideology stance. We should welcome the images for trade unionist Hubert Critchlow and President Forbes Burnham. I consider it imperative to honour President Dr Cheddi Jagan, Richard Ishmael and…Sir Shridath Ramphal in statuary form in very prominent places in the capital city.” Critchlow, of course, has a statue in Parliament Buildings’ grounds, and there is a bust of Burnham in Kitty.

On Jagan, he elaborated: “An airport or a building to honour Dr Jagan is fine, but they do not tell the story of his struggles to achieve freedom and promote progress and dignity among the Guyanese people, in the way at least it ought to be told.”

But it is not only Jagan whom Granger is silencing. As a historian, he would be more aware than most of the seismic effect of Indian Guyanese on the achievement of Independence of Guyana. Even before WWII convinced Britain they could not hold on to their colonies in perpetuity, the 1930s’ riots on the WI sugar plantations forced Whitehall to consider the need for ameliorative governance structures. The Moyne Commission was actually taking evidence in British Guiana when sugar workers protested conditions at Leonora in 1939, and the police killed four strikers. After WWII, it was the killing of sugar workers at Enmore in 1948 that led to the formation of the first and only Guyanese national political movement – the PPP circa 1950-1955.

But while Granger gives lip service to the struggle of sugar workers, he did not heed the recommendations of his own Commission of Inquiry to stabilise the haemorrhaging of the industry and bring it to a point of sale in three years. Rather, he unilaterally fired 5,700 of them in a shrinking economy with no hope of alternative employment. That was their reward for their historic role in helping Guyana achieve independence.

The PNC, with Granger as the leader, boasted in its Independence message: “The PNCR is proud of its record in Government and the important role that our party and Founder Leader LFS Burnham played in our country’s struggle for independence”. But in the same, ‘Themes in African-Guyanese History’, he helped to summarise Clive Thomas’s contribution, “State Capitalism in Guyana: An Assessment of Burnham’s Cooperative Socialist Republic’: “African-Guyanese hoped and expected that Independence would serve to enhance their lot.

This optimism was understandable, for the ruling party…was led by African-Guyanese; but these hopes and aspirations…did not materialise.”

The summary of Thomas’s overall assessment of the PNC -‘The Situation of African-Guyanese in the Economy’ -- declared: “After over three decades of Independence, (26 under the PNC) there has not been any significant improvement in the economic conditions of many African-Guyanese. In fact, their plight is one of the disturbing features of modern Guyana.”

What can one expect from a Government that would silence its role in the marginalisation of its own supporters?

Importing Carnival from Trinidad to dull their pain and ensure there will never be any gain, but continues scapegoating and conflict.

Guyanese and distinguished Toastmaster, Anita Ramprasad, is one of the new recruits that were appointed as the District Director of Toastmasters; one of the highest posts that can be attained when serving a Toastmasters district.

The annual District 81 Conference was held from May 17 to 20, under the theme “Improve, Inspire,

Influence” in which district leaders were elected and installed for the upcoming year and comprises of Toastmasters Clubs from various Caribbean countries.

Ramprasad hails from the Macorp Toastmasters Club. She has served her club is various capacities, including President, Vice President (education) and Vice President (member-

ship) and has also served the district as an Area Director and Division Director.

Toastmasters is an international organisation that aims to empower its members to reach the pinnacle of effective communication and leadership.

Guyana has two areas; area 39 comprises of six corporate clubs while area 40 comprises of two corporate clubs.

Newly appointed District Director of Toastmasters, Anita Rampersad

Multi-stakeholder approach needed...

Professor Griffith raised the issues surrounding the deplorable conditions of the prisons in the Region, berating overcrowding. By way of his expressed sentiments, he also called for a review of sentencing policies.

“We need to look to see if there are alternatives to prison that should be pursued. When you look inside the prisons of the Region,

not just Caricom [Caribbean Community] but Spanishspeaking countries (in Latin America) as well, you’ll find much reason to worry about the rule of law and justice.

You send people for long periods of time, allowing them to become experts at crime that they have not been charged with; and for me, an important part of the criminal justice reform requires a

visitation on some of the criminal codes,” Professor Griffith highlighted.

The Professor also stated that the reforms should not only deal with “the horrible conditions” but also to modernise the codes. Over the past few years there has been much talk of reviewing sentencing policies and reducing bail to tackling prison overcrowding. In Guyana,

there has been some outcry over the jailing of persons for possession of small amounts of marijuana with many politicians and other interest groups calling reforms in this regard. Many of the prisons in the Caribbean were built in Victorian times and were made to accommodate far less persons than facilities currently accommodate.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

No change in Nurse Marks’...

The Union also indicated that it held discussions with various entities on behalf of Ms Marks but has been unable to secure a reversal of the actions taken against her.”

“Having become aware of the promises of investigations, TIGI wrote to both the Guyana Nursing Council (delivered on November 20, 2017) and the Guyana Medical Council (initially delivered on December 21, 2017) to enquire about the status of investigations.”

According to TIGI, the Guyana Nursing Council responded to indicate that it is not in a position to provide an update. The group noted that this response failed to even indicate whether or not investigations were initiated.

“We find this to be appalling. Even if the Council does not wish to divulge details of the investigation, there is nothing preventing it from indicating whether or not there was an investigation and whether or not it was completed. There is a difference between confidentiality and secrecy.”

“A January 10, 2018, phone call from TIGI to the Council revealed that our letter that was delivered on December 21, 2017 was misplaced. We then sent an electronic copy on January 10 and receipt was acknowledged the following day. We followed-up by email on February 8, 2018, got no response and again on February 28, 2018, and a response was received on February 28, 2018, indicating that the matter was still engaging the attention of the Council. To date, we have not received a response to the letter from the Guyana Medical Council.”

According to TIGI, the failure of both the Guyana Nursing Council and the Guyana Medical Council to take action in this matter

or, at the very least, to respond to TIGI’s legitimate questions on behalf of the Guyanese public, “smacks of a cover-up.”

“Leading healthcare professionals should sure-

ly be anxious to provide appropriate treatment for the Councillor, and to support Nurse Marks for having followed correct procedures in an admittedly difficult situation. Indeed, we at

from page 5

from page 12

TIGI believe that Nurse Sherilyn Marks should be given a national award in recognition of her courage especially in context of the lack of protection for whistle-blowers in Guyana.”

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AFC seeking to support cocaine usage …hoping for backing on decriminalisation of small quantities of cocaine

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he Alliance For Change (AFC) is of the view that if so advised by an advisory council, they would consider decriminalising possession of not only small amounts of marijuana, but also cocaine.

At a press conference at the AFC’s headquarters on Friday, AFC Member of Parliament Michael Carrington addressed the issue. Carrington, who is spearheading the bill to decriminalise possession of small amounts of marijuana, was asked about the drug’s notorious counterpart.

“When I was looking at the law in terms of Section 5, you have small amounts of cocaine, like two grams, in terms of possession. When I was looking at it, I said watch, we deal with this one first, in terms of the cannabis. We deal with this first, and then we go to the advisory council.”

“If we get the advisory council established, then they will do a lot of studies to see how we could deal with the other areas. Because to jail someone in terms of the two grams or one gram of cocaine, for that period of

Could decriminalising narcotics extend to cocaine?

time, I think the best place for that individual is in a rehab centre.”

Meanwhile, the AFC is hopeful it will receive unilateral support for its bill seeking to decriminalise possession of marijuana in small quantities. This is notwithstanding recent statements made by coalition partner A Partnership for National Unity.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had struck a note of caution when speaking on the matter. On the other hand, Opposition Leader

Bharrat Jagdeo had made known his support for the non-custodial sentences for persons caught with small amounts of marijuana.

However, according to Carrington, there was likely to be support from both sides of the house for the bill.

“I’m looking for a conscious vote in Parliament.

We’ll have from both sides, AFC will support the bill but we will have votes coming from both sides. I don’t know how much. But whatever takes place in Parliament, I

hope good judgement takes place in terms of the individuals. Because some people see a person smoking as a very bad thing… but people drink and do all sorts of things.”

“And there will be a percentage of people who will do things that look bad. But we have to find a way in terms of shaping them back into reality. We know smoking is not good. But jailing a person for smoking is also not good. I think we’ll have persons from both sides coming across, in terms of supporting the bill.”

Carrington noted that provisions for rehabilitation and education will have to accompany the measure.

This, he said, includes the setting up of a fund to aid in rehabilitating former drug addicts.

Cocaine

According to Section 4, (1) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, “Any person who has in his possession any narcotic or any substance represented or held out by him to be a narcotic, shall be liable (i) on summary conviction to fine or not less than $30,000, together with imprisonment for not less than three years nor more than five years.”

Section 5 (2) goes on to state that “In any prosecution for an offence under this section, where any person (other than those allowed by law) found in possession of more than (b) one gram of cocaine, the burden of proving that he is in possession of the narcotic for a purpose other than the purpose of trafficking shall be on him.”

It was only in March 2018 that the United States’ Department of State, International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), volume two report had raised concerns about Guyana being a transit point for narcotics.

According to the US report, “Guyana is a transit country for South American cocaine destined for Europe, the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. Cocaine is concealed in legitimate commodities and smuggled via commercial maritime vessels, air transport, human couriers, or the postal services.

“Traffickers are attracted to Guyana’s remote airstrips, porous land borders, and weak security infrastructure. Largely unregulated currency exchange houses, used to transfer funds to and from the Diaspora, pose a risk to Guyana’s [anti-money laundering] AML regime,” the report states.

There are a few countries, like Bolivia, that have taken the bold step of decriminalising cocaine. Other advanced countries, like the United Kingdom, have not dared go this route… although it can be used for medicinal purposes in certain jurisdictions.

What you should know about Biodiversity

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uyana joined many other countries around the world in celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, 2018.

With that, you would have probably read a lot about species and ecosystems’ diversity, and how some of the world’s biodiversity have had to be protected because of Man’s actions.

This week’s article will shed light on what some of these terms really mean, and what you should know about them.

• Species: A group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring of both genders, and separated from other such groups with which interbreeding does not (normally) happen.

• Ecosystem diversity: The variety of ecosystems in a community of living organisms, interacting with each other and their surroundings; e.g., forests, ponds, savannahs, marshes, etc.

Species diversity: This variety is the basis for distinguishing • organisms into different groups; e.g., humans, insects, cats, dogs, fishes, palms, mangroves, etc. Species diversity plays a pivotal role in making life on Earth expansive, captivating and unique. Although biologists are not really sure how many species live on Earth, they have agreed that it is an astronomical number, since the estimates range from between approximately 2 million to 100 million.

• Genetic diversity: Within each species there is a genetic variability, causing each organism from the same group to be different.

One example of diversity within species is dogs; dogs are a single species, but there are many different “breeds” of dogs.

Factors affecting biodiversity • Extinction According to scientists, since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when Man began to use a lot of machinery to make work easier, a large number of species have gone extinct. According to research, human actions have accelerated the rate of extinction to between 1,000 and 10,000 times faster than natural extinction.

• Habitat loss, degradation & fragmentation A rapidly increasing human population and the quest for wealth have been causing significant degradation on the world’s ecosystems.

Since the habitat and food of species are habitat-specific, disruption has affected species’ productivity due to factors such as food shortage, increase in predators, etc.

• Invasive Alien Species This is a very important cause of extinction, which is usually overlooked. However, invasive alien species can invade an ecosystem and out-compete the native species, thereby forcing them out.

• Pollution This is another factor which poses serious threats to species, since many species are habitat-and-food-specific. Contaminants can alter the habitat and food supply of species, thereby affecting their productivity and survival.

• Climate Change This is a single indispensable factor which threatens species and ecosystems. The distribution of many species is largely determined by climate. In addition, many species of birds and marine turtles are migratory. The change in climate will shift this distribution and affect the productivity of species, since climate can become relatively unpredictable and difficult to forecast. In addition, changes in climate will cause changes in ecosystems and ultimately habitats; hence many species will be unable to adapt to these changes in conditions, thereby accelerating their rate of extinction.

As a result of the issues of habitat loss and degradation of the environment due to pollution, timber harvesting and more direct threats, such as overhunting and trapping, have resulted in many species becoming endangered. Endangered species, such as the Harpy Eagle, Arapaima and Jaguar, which are all found here in Guyana, are at an overall low in population size in the world today. As a result, if existing populations are not monitored through conservation strategies, they may soon be added to the list of extinct species.

As such, the work done in Guyana over the last 22 years has been especially vital in conserving our wild flora and fauna. As last week’s article pointed out, a few of the strategies that have been implemented are: 1. Development of a National Biosafety Framework 2. Conducting training workshops on biosafety 3. Regulations on access to genetic resources and benefitsharing 4. Establishment of protected areas 5. Development of wildlife regulations.

As we continue to celebrate our achievements in biodiversity conservation over the last 22 years, we call for the continued support of relevant agencies and you, the general public, to ensure our natural wealth is preserved; since we all benefit from the goods and services biodiversity provides.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, 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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The consequence of crime & violence on socioeconomic outcomes in Guyana

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ike in many other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Criminal activities are a major issue in Guyana – particularly crimes against people and property (U.S. Crime & Safety report, 2016).

Local media reports indicated, in 2015, increased levels of criminal activity throughout Guyana (though it was not reported for what period). However, an independent review of documented criminal activities from 2013 to 2015 indicated that while press reporting showed a dramatic increase in crime, the increase in most categories was in single digits for 2014-2015.

In addition, 2015 statistics were overall well below levels of 2013.

Serious crimes, namely murder and armed robbery, are common.

According to information from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Guyana’s 2012 homicide rate was 17 per 100,000 people – the fourth highest murder rate in South America; behind Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil.

Guyana’s murder rate is almost four times higher than that of the U.S. (U.S. Crime & Safety report, 2016).Criminals are often organized, travel in groups of two or more, and conduct surveillance on their victims. In the business and shopping districts especially, armed robberies occur regularly. The local media reported a total of 140 incidents of armed robbery in 2015, but it is likely that many incidents go unreported.

Despite a rigorous licensing requirement for the average person to own a firearm, criminals regularly use weapons. Handguns, knives, machetes, or “cutlasses” tend to be the weapons of choice. Criminals have acted brazenly, and Police officers have been both victims and perpetrators of assaults and shootings.

It is also worthwhile to mention that in addition to reported crimes in Guyana, there are a number of unreported crimes that perhaps occur on a daily basis, such as the common pick-pocket robbers and those who break into parked vehicles, or steal vehicle mirrors, and so on.

For Guyana, the major consequence resulting from the crime and violence situation on socioeconomic outcomes is that this has been the primary causation -- both historically and presently perhaps to a lesser extent -- of a high level of emigration, and by extension a great degree of ‘brain drain’ in Guyana. In other words, a large number of the educated Guyanese population has migrated to foreign countries, and this phenomenon has indisputably been a key contributor towards Guyana remaining largely underdeveloped; particularly the socioeconomic strata, and especially against the backdrop of the history of political crimes in Guyana’s context.

Linden NGO gears to host annual girls’ camp A non-governmental organisation (NGO) with a desperate need to see young women lead productive lifestyles, despite of their backgrounds and ethnicities, is gearing towards hosting its third annual empowerment camp for girls.

The NGO, Impacting Communities Changing Lives (ICCL), launched ‘Girl Stand Up’ in 2016 which targets about 24 young women between the ages of 14 through 17.

Highlighting the fact that “not too much is being done for the youths in the area”, the participants were selected from six secondary schools in the mining town.

Trudi De Barros, Creative Director at the organisation

As such, they were arrested and following investigations it was revealed that they entered Guyana illegally.

Monetary costs of crime and violence

Economic and social multiplier effects

The Author is the holder of a MSc. Degree in Business Management, with concentration in Global Finance, Financial Markets, Institutions & Banking from a UK university of international standing.

(For comments, questions and responses on articles featured in this column, readers can reach the author at jbinsights@outlook.com).

hope and purpose”.

During this year’s camp, which is slated for August 13 to 17, participants will be taught by experienced facil-

itators who are expected to present on a range of topics spanning the empowerment and self-esteem building spectrum.

West Africans remanded for illegal entry into Guyana

Over the last five years, the Government of Guyana has expended US$604.67 million (equivalent to G$124.86 billion), representing direct costs in the security sector. This figure is thus safely reflective of the level of seriousness and cause of concern of the crime and violence situation in Guyana. It must also be noted that this is not reflective of private security costs by both individuals and firms in Guyana – which, if one were to carry out a survey, would amount to substantial sums in dollar values annually.

According to data regarding global migration flows published by the UN Migration Agency (IOM), inward migration to Guyana up to 2015 was 15,384. In 2015, the immigrant population of Guyana was 2.01 percent of the total resident population. On the other hand, outward migration from Guyana up to the same period was a whopping 451,139.

In 2015, thirty-seven point zero three percent of all citizens lived outside their country of origin. During the past two decades or so, an unprecedented massive emigration of people out of Guyana to North America had occurred. An average of 6,080 people per year emigrated between 1969 and 1976, increasing to an average of 14,400 between 1976 and 1981.

Figures for 1976 showed 43 percent of emigrants went to the United States, 31 percent to Canada, 10 percent to Britain, and 9 percent to the Caribbean. As a consequence of deteriorating economic and political conditions in the 1980s, there were even sharper increases in the emigration rate. Unofficial estimates put the number leaving the country in the late 1980s at between 10,000 and 30,000 annually.

Many of these emigrants were middle class professionals who opposed Government’s policies, thus there was a significant and permanent loss of vitally skilled individuals.

Taken together, the notion of the high level of emigration rate from which Guyana suffered over the last few decades -- which still persists, albeit to a lesser degree as compared to the mass emigration rate recorded about two decades ago – strongly correlates to the underdeveloped status of Guyana’s socio-economic strata. More important to note, however, is that such conclusive inference stems mainly from the crime and violence situation in Guyana, especially within its historic context, wherein Guyana had experienced a unique kind of crime-and-violence situation described as political crimes, which usually occurred during periods of general elections. This was usually in the form of riots and extreme violence fuelled by racist political prerogatives of the country’s politicians, which resulted in an ethnically divided nation. Some level of this historic Guyanese political phenomenon still pervades the economy, but to a lesser extent.

Some of the participants of Girl Stand Up

said, “We are dedicated to raising the standards of the community by empowering the next generation of young girls and fostering a sense of

Ifra Diallo and Moussa N’Digue at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

A

duo from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, a West African country, found themselves before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday and were remanded to prison for illegally entering Guyana.

The men – Ifra Diallo, 25; and Moussa N'Digue, 29, denied the allegation put to them by the Magistrate when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge against the French speaking men alleged that on May 21, 2018, at Springlands, Berbice, they entered Guyana by sea and failed to present themselves to an immigration officer.

According to the prosecution’s case, the two arrived by sea from Suriname.

On the day of their arrest, they were caught by ranks at Charity, Essequibo Coast, and when a request was made for them to present their passports, they failed to do so.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail being granted, noting that the men are flight risks as they are not citi-

zens of Guyana.

Bail was refused, and they were both remanded to prison to return on May 30.

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sunDAY, may 27, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana’s first Carnival experience dubbed a success

…patrons call for more participation from corporate Guyana and did not waste any of the songs.

Persons were seen snapping selfies against the backdrop of revelers and partying folks while others recorded videos of the event to post on social media. Dance moves threw some on the roads, while some in the air.

Decked in their attractive costumes the members of the parade band, both on feet and on the trucks could have been seen enjoying themselves despite the drizzles of rainfall and gusty winds at first.

However, as the sun-

T

housands of Guyanese from all corners of the country and as well as a large amount of tourists, on Saturday braved the weather and took to the streets of Georgetown to get a glimpse of the beautiful and utterly decked-out men and women in their brightly coloured costumes gyrated to celebrate the country’s 52nd Independence Anniversary.

The historic first Carnival commenced at the newly constructed roundabout at the beginning of Vlissengen Road, and came to a stop at the D’Urban

needs the support of more Guyanese and the inclusion of more costumes in the parades.

According to her, “When you are accustomed to seeing Mashramani all here (the streets) is be full.

Now I’m not seeing a lot of Guyanese supporting the Carnival in terms of everybody coming out and having a good time”.

A male supporter of the historic event said he loves everything about the day

good and we’re enjoying it.

I wouldn’t like to change anything. Everything was perfect,” Anil explained.

Meanwhile Alex, a seven-year-old who accompanied his parents to view the parade said the thing he liked best about the Carnival was that each float had different music and different people. Sure enough, it was revealed that he would definitely like to see the Carnival parade again next year while he added that he was mostly excited by the music and to see how the people were reacting.

Guyana Carnival kicked off May 18 and will culminate to-

and if he had the opportunity, he still would not change anything, not even the weather.

“Oh, everything is so

day. During the hosting of the event, several mega concerts were held featuring some of the best in the business. These include Kes, Machel Montano and Destra preformed throughout the week at the different events which were held in popular areas across Georgetown.

Additionally, those who preferred a laid back atmosphere were treated to a steelband jamboree and the Miss Guyana World Pageant. The carnival committee is hoping that this is a venture that they can continue in the coming years to indulge all carnival chasers with the best Guyanese experience.

shine gradually peeked out of the heavy dark cloud, beads of perspiration ran down the cheeks of the dancers who were thankful for the favourable weather.

Robby Singh, who led one of the bands at the parade on Saturday encouraged persons to be part of the event in the year ahead, which plans are being made for. He also added that a comment of this year’s proceeding can only be termed as a “blast” for

Park, where the excitement was at its climax.

As just about five trucks, laden with music boxes to pump up the atmosphere took off, the carnival chasers did not hesitate to show off their vibrant kaleidoscope of costumes and dancing skills that sailed with the intense soca vibes.

These beautifully designed pieces were crafted with feathers, beads and tons of glitter among several other beautiful materials and saw no difficulty in grasping the crowd’s at-

tention.

The thousands of patrons who flocked the bands and lined the jam-packed

streets for the much anticipated and long awaited Carnival took the opportunity to have a blast as well

those who participated.

A viewer of the parade told the Guyana Times that while she has been enjoying herself at the carnival, she thinks it definitely

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Linden athletes G rewarded I

ndependence Day celebrations will be a lot brighter for two of the nation’s top athletes, who have become beneficiaries of Linden’s 50 Percent Independence Celebration Discount initiative.

No strangers to success, Daniel Williams and Chantoba Bright were, on Friday evening, greatly rewarded for their achievements, which have brought a sense of pride to the town of Linden.

The two athletes were each given a free plot of land at Amelia's Ward, Linden, (Region 10: Upper DemeraraBerbice) by the Central Housing

guyanatimesGY.com

Bale stunner see Real Madrid overcome Liverpool in Champions League final

and Planning Authority (CH&PA). Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Yearwood, made the announcement to a packed crowd at Linden’s Independence flag-raising ceremony, which was hosted at the Georgetown minibus park in Linden.

Both of the teens were all smiles when they were summoned to the stage.

Williams’s 50% has already been paid by Region 10 People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) Party Chairman Deron Adams, whilst Bright’s 50% will be paid by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes.

Daniel Williams receiving his 50% on Friday evening

Bright and Williams continue to dominate the track and field circuit both locally and internationally. The pair also represented Guyana at the World Under-18 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya last year.

Additionally, with wins from the National Schools Track and Field competition and the CARIFTA Games under their belt, they are both poised to represent Guyana on much larger athletic platforms in the future.

areth Bale scored one of European football's great goals in a match-winning performance as Real Madrid overcame Liverpool to win their third successive Champions League title as goalkeeper Loris Karius suffered a personal nightmare.

Bale made his mark on another Champions League final with a magnificent overhead kick to put Real 2-1 up after 64 minutes.

Liverpool had already suffered the devastating blow of losing top scorer Mohamed Salah midway through the first half - with a shoulder injury sustained in a challenge with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos - when calamity struck for Karius.

Six minutes after halftime, the German inexplicably threw the ball against Karim Benzema, who was not even challenging with urgency, and watched in horror as the ball rolled behind him into the net.

Liverpool recovered from the shock to equalise through Sadio Mane before Bale stepped off the bench to score his wonder goal.

There was to be no comeback from Liverpool this time and Karius's misery was complete when he fumbled Bale's hopeful 30-yard shot behind him to seal Real's win.

It sealed Real's record 13th win in this competition, and their fourth in five seasons to give coach Zinedine Zidane this third triumph in three years.

For Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, it was disappointment again - he lost his third successive final since arriving at Anfield, having suffered defeats in the League Cup and Europa League finals of 2016.

Gareth Bale

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National Junior Table Tennis Championships serve off on June 1 T

he Guyana Table Tennis Association will host its Junior National Table Tennis Championships from June 1 to 4 at the National Gymnasium.

According to a release by the Association, the championships will be contested in 12 categories; Boys’ 18 Years and Under Singles; Girls 18 Years and Under Singles; Boys’ 15 Years and Under Singles; Girls’ 15 Years and Under Singles; Boys’ 13 Years and Under Singles; Girls’ 13 Years and Under Singles; Boys’ 11 Years and Under Singles; Girls’ 11 Years and Under Singles; Boys’ 9 Years and Under Singles; Girls’ 9 Years and Under Singles; Novices Girls Singles and

Attention will now turn to many of the country’s promising junior national players

Novices Boys Singles.

The release further stated that checks will be done to verify age and eligibility to participate in event and any infringements will be dealt with using International Table Tennis Federation guidelines.

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CSK eye third title to complete fairytale comeback

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The two teams have faced each other thrice this season so far with CSK winning all three

H

ere we are. 59 matches done. 10 venues as hosts. Thousands of miles covered. 149 players fighting tooth and nail to enable their team a shot at the trophy. There were mighty tugs of war - this IPL will perhaps be remembered most for how deep it went and how competitive most of its matches were.

50 days since the start, only two teams remain - Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad - leaving 22 players and a few substitutes their last chance at glory in IPL 2018.

Chennai Super Kings have made a habit of appearing in IPL finals, even if they haven't really made winning the final a habit. They are in their seventh IPL final in nine attempts, having won two, back-to-back, in 2010 and 2011. They were away on a two-year hiatus, and to return to the competition with a triumph will be a statement of sorts for CSK. For SRH, it will be the culmination of years of meticulous planning and execution. Including this year, they have made the playoffs on three consecutive occasions. Possessing a strong

bowling attack already, they strengthened it further this season by adding a few more names. It is no surprise now that their attack is the most lethal and constantly wins them games that people think are beyond them.

As has been the trend this IPL, the tug of war is set to continue into the final games. The match-ups between players from both sides make for a mouth-watering contest.

Kane Williamson and MS Dhoni take on each other as not only captains leading from the front, but also as middle order mainstays. Rashid Khan faces the experienced batting order that has gotten the better of him thrice (His 2-11 in four overs in the last game not enough to help SRH win) already.

Lungi Ngidi goes up against Shikhar Dhawan, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar will have to tackle two international stars in Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson.

The final is at stake and the sub-plots already look delightful. It has been one hell of an IPL, and it could just have the explosive finish it deserves.

sports

will be done based on results of placing in the last three tournaments played according to international ranking.

The draws will be done for the singles events on Thursday, May 31, and all entries must be submitted by 17:00h on May 30. The entry fee for events range from $300 to $500 and $200

21

will b e charged

for late entries.

The recent senior championships saw some highly competitive action, with several of the juniors holding their own at the higher level which makes this championship quite intriguing.

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guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, may 27, 2018

GNRA Team dominate Aurora 2018 WIFBSC bowlers Championships blur Cotton

GCB/DMLAS/NSC/NSSCL

Field to win by 40 runs

T

T

The GNRA Team were flying the Golden Arrowhead after a successful 2018 WIFBSC Championships

he Guyana National Rifle Team have starred in both individual and team categories as the 2018 West Indies Full-bore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) championships continued at the Paragon Ranges in Barbados.

After veteran sniper Ransford Goodluck shot his

way to the individual title a few days ago in the X-Class category, the GNRA team successfully defended their Long-Range Team Title on Friday at the Milex/Crown Mining shoot.

From the opening day, Goodluck maintained a firm grip on the proceedings over the other shooters, end-

ing with a comfortable tally of 390 points and 27Vs after 9 ranges. Second place went to his Guyanese compatriot Lennox Braithwaite (379.26), while Leo Romalho (5th), Full-bore Captain Dylan Fields (10th), Sherwin Felicien (11th) and Roberto Tiwari (18th) were among other top ranked X-Class

division shooters who are Guyanese.

Felicien then recorded the highest score of 95 out of a possible 100 at the 900 and 1000 yards’ ranges combined, as Guyana defended their Long Range title in Friday’s battle.

The Guyana team racked up 691 points along with 38Vs to win ahead of the men and ladies from the ‘Land of Wood and Water’, Jamaica, which ended as the runner-up on 655.36 points.

Saturday’s action will see a tussle for the Short Range WIFBSC Trophy, with Guyana being the defending champs.

The members of the Guyana Team are Ransford Goodluck, Sherwin Felicien, Lennox Braithwaite, Dylan Fields, Leo Romalho, Peter Persaud and Ryan Sampson. The coaching staff comprises Paul Slowe, Dane Blair, Goodluck, Braithwaite and Fields.

he 2017/2018 N a t i o n a l Secondary School Cricket competition sponsored by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), the Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (DMLAS), the National Sports Commission (NSC), and the National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) continues.

Competitive action was recorded in the Essequibo Coast District, with Aurora Secondary defeating Cotton Field Secondary by 40 runs.

In a match played at the Imam Bacchus Ground on the

Essequibo Coast, Aurora Secondary won the toss and elected to bat, but were routed for 76 for 4.

Fosto Campbell notched up 21, while Jerrold Stoll, Orin Gibson and Mahendra Basdeo scored 17, 11 and 10 respectively. Bowling

for Cotton Field, Cesus Charles grabbed 3 for 15.

In reply, the Cotton Field Team appeared very haphazard, applying an approach that seemingly lacked planning and coordination, with some players being overly aggressive and others demonstrating varying levels of sluggishness.

Aurora’s leading bowler, Tackoor Sankar, capitalized on Cotton Field’s inept batting approach to end with brilliant figures of 5 for 4, as Cotton Field closed their ungainful innings on 36 for 8 off their allotted overs.

The other wicket takers for Aurora were Fosto Campbell and Mahendra Basdeo, with one wicket each.

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, may 27, 2018

23

CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Qualifiers…

Lady Jags aiming to remain on top tonight

T

he Lady Jags, a team of alert and determined Guyanese players, experienced the sweet taste of victory on Friday evening at the Leonora Stadium when they mauled Suriname 6-1 to surge to the top of their group.

Currently sitting atop Group E with 4 points, the Guyanese ladies continue their campaign to attain glory in the CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s qualifiers.

Although Guyana’s superior goal difference has kept them marginally on top this group, compliments of a stunning outcome against the Surinamese, the dangerous Bermuda lurk right on their tail with 4 points as well. Barbados follow closely with 3 points, while

Guyana’s Brianne Desa in action in the match against Bermuda

Suriname is yet to get on the board, having lost two consecutive matches.

The action continues this evening with Bermuda taking on a hapless

Suriname side from 17:30 hrs, before Guyana, in their quest to progress, tackle Barbados at 19:30 hrs.

At the behest of Head Coach

Budhai, Daesrath slam centuries in ORSCA opening round

F

ormer Guyana Skipper Damodar Daesrath slammed a century (111) for Titans against the Arisha Boyz XI as action began in the 2018 Ontario Round-arm Softball Cricket Association’s (ORSCA’s) 20over competition in Toronto.

The other centurion on the first day was Khemraj Budhai, who showed more belligerence than Daesrath, pounding 19 sixes in his 164, as he represented Arisha Boyz XI against the Titans.

Amar Singh was also outstanding with the only five-wicket haul, grabbing six for 14 from his allotted four overs, as he delivered for Cambridge Jaguars.

Apart from those three top-performers to mark the commencement of the season, several other reputable batsmen chalked up impressive half-centuries, including Looknauth Ramsuchit, Ramesh Lall, Amrit Rukhram, Avinash Sookdeo, Rovendra Mandolall, Farouk Wahid and Mahendra Nauth.

The tournament: 20-over test, 20-over competition, and 10-over competition, will resume on Saturday with a series of matches across the Greater Toronto Area, after a break last weekend owing to a national holiday (Victoria Day) in Canada.

President of the Association, Patrick Singh, has said he is delighted to see a good start to the season, with a number of quality performances being recorded.

He has thanked the teams for participating in the tournament again in 2018.

Formed in 2012, the ORSCA has since attracted a number of high-profile softball players, with Canadabased Guyanese Amrit

Rukhram creating history two years ago when he scored 1, 026 runs from 14 matches in a single season, including a double-century.

Meanwhile, skipper of Sunrisers, Kristendatt Bhawan, has expressed great confidence in his team retaining the 20-over test and 20-over trophies. According to Bhawan, his team again wants to dominate the action, because the same set of players would be in action.

Like Bhawan, Steelcity

Warriors, who won the 10over competition, are banking heavily on their talent to come to the fore again during this competition. Captain Amrit Rukhram has mentioned that the side is very optimistic of taking possession of the trophy, and is eager to be victorious in the other two versions.

In addition to the ORSCA tournament, the Ontario Softball Cricket League and Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs’ competitions will be rolling off on Saturday.

Ivan Joseph, the hosts on Friday made a few changes in their lineup of players to take on Suriname, and it resulted in an impressive comeback after their 2-2 encounter with Bermuda on Thursday evening.

Tiandi Smith, Alicia Zaban, Ghilene Joseph and Taylor White (GK) were added to the Guyana lineup of 11, and Guyana emerged victorious in this crucial match.

Sabrina Rigters, in the 38th minute, registered Suriname’s lone goal in the match against Guyana.

Unfortunately for the visiting team, no other player could find the back of the Guyana net for the remainder of the game.

Lady Jags’ Brittany Persaud commenced Guyana’s rain of goals

in the 40th minute with a successful free kick. Brianne Desa then scored for Guyana in the 45th minute. Calaigh Copland and Sydney Cummings added to the goal count in the 58th and 65th minutes; and Brittany Persaud doubled her goal count in the 67th minute, whilst Tiandi Smith closed off the game on a high note with the sixth goal in the 88th minute.

Earlier in the night, Bermuda recorded a 3-2 victory over Barbados, whose Felicia Jarvis scored the first goal of the game in the 11th minute.

Bermuda’s Akeyla Furbert, Teyah Lindo and Deshae Darrell then put victory out of reach of the Bajans, even after they had secured their second goal.

SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2018

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

guyanatimesgy.com

CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Qualifiers…

Pg 23

Lady Jags aiming to remain on top tonight Bale stunner see Real Madrid overcome Liverpool in Champions League final Pg 19

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May 27, 2018

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Salman Khan’s alleged love interest Lulia Vantur receives flak for singing 'Race 3' song 'Selfish' Page 14 FREE DISTRIBUTION

2 Sunday Times Magazine

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MAY 27, 2018

Feature

A pastor explains:

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eddings are the celebrations that have been treasured for centuries and it has evolved over the years to suit modern beliefs. While many may have their own interpretations of what a wedding should entail and what should be the showstopper, older folks might tend to position their views beyond the fancy décor and parties.

As it relates to the venue, many might have a different take on what they desire.

Some may choose a traditional church, while others may look at it from a contemporary panache and transition their venue to a banquet hall.

Meanwhile when it comes to the other components, many are under the impression that the perfect dress or blend of colours result in the ultimate dream wedding.

However, for someone, who has witnessed and officiated hundreds of weddings in his lifetime, the most important emphasis must be placed on the vows that are shared in the between the bride and groom.

A highly recognised pastor, Bishop Joseph Inniss has specified that with the change of times and the modernisation

Bishop Joseph Inniss

of today’s world, vows should always be fastened somewhere along the programme since they serve as the glue that interlinks people together in marriage.

“The wedding ceremony is a very important ceremony and it is something that God has ordained. Tradition has changed over time. You find that practices will change once people are changing because people are the ones that propagate practice.”

While some may find another way of incorporating their vows into the ceremony, others tend to create their own to suit their partner’s persona.

In the past, some have even gone the extra mile to trans-

form their declarations into a song. Nevertheless, the presence of vows is evident somewhere along the line of the formalities.

Bishop Inniss, in his opinions, has labeled these vows as a commitment before God and those that partake in the celebrations. Over the years, people tend to look at the alterations that have been made at a wedding ceremony.

For him however, these are the methods that were resulted from modifications over the years but the most significant aspects are still rooted in these improvised settings.

“The most important aspect for me is the joining of the two individuals because you can have all this stuff that goes on but until the marriage is consummated with declared vows, it is not official.”

From the inclusion of these vows, the couple can then choose the other additions which they’d like to incorporate in relation to their styles and preferences. For this pastor, the other activities should be transitioned and systematised around the vows rather than the other way around.

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 27, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine

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Feature

that the most essential requirement to a efficacious wedding is positive people that can provide trusted guidance and of course, an artistic photographer to capture the moments that you’d like to muse over in the years ahead. With those covered, other aspects are sure to fall into place.

By R upadai S eenarine

W

hen one hears the chimes of wedding bells, they tend to reminisce on the highlighted moments of their very own wedding, while others tend to fantasize on the ambience and atmosphere that they’d like to experience at their eventual wedding.

Ramona LuthiRamcharran, a newly wedded bride, who exchanged her vows, with the love of her life – Thameshwar Ramcharran - a few months ago gave an insight on the experiences and thoughts that one may have when the idea of a wedding comes to mind.

She was first to admit that that from the inception, she misconstrued the institution of marriage.

For her, she saw it as the end of her independence, where a woman, she loses her liberty to the man that she married.

“I expected to have my freedom taken away. I was very cynical about marriage. I saw it as a way of keeping a woman confined and I think that was so because that was the case among many women that

and all. I feel as though I have a companion, a best friend in my husband and even though I’m never truly alone, it’s comforting to know I have someone by my side,” Mrs LuthiRamcharran said as she awes the bliss of newly wedded.

As every future bride tends to have expectations- on one of the most

I know. Most of them became different people- dependent. It appeared as though marriage or their husbands, maybe, controlled them and that was a huge problem for me because I prefer to be independent.”

Now that she is married, her position has changed drastically, and she now realises that her perceptions were wrong.

She also admits that she has no regrets as she continues to stand firm as an independent thinking and very opinionated woman.

She said that from this, she has gained a confidante in her spouse.

“Now that I’m married, it is the complete opposite of my assumptions. I don’t regret it one bit and I actually have more freedom now. But I guess that’s the way it is when you marry someone that understands you and accepts you for the person you are, flaws

important days- the newlywed related that the modern times did not call for a traditional wedding, although some people may be interested in adding a vintage twist to their décor. Her focus was placed on the people that were close to her and what their reactions and emotions were during the ceremony.

“I didn’t expect my wedding to be traditional.

However, I had high expectations for speeches – just to hear what people thought of us-, lots of dancing, our families’ smiling faces and most importantly, not just his smile but knowing that he was genuinely happy to be married to me.”

While recollecting her wedding day, for her, that day was set aside for the official public announcement that they were married and the other memories that were collected from that day onwards

were beyond what she’d expected.

“The most interesting moments actually happened during the time that we spent together, after getting married- just us.”

Mrs Luthi-Ramcharran has confidently stated that there is no rulebook that can be followed when venturing into marriage, adding that everyone has their own understandings and should look to create their own memories.

“Don’t use other people’s experiences as a guide of how marriage might be for you. You need to experience it for yourself. Personally speaking, I don’t see any bad in it. There will be ups and downs –as every married couple will tell you- but one thing that should be kept in the back of your mind is that when facing problems, it’s you and your partner against that problem and not you against your partner.”

And for those that are on the verge of getting married, she has stated

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Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 27, 2018

Feature

Ramsagar and Shanta when they got married in 1977

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e find love sometimes in the most unexpected ways and unpredictable moments.

That’s what happened to two persons many years ago.

Their union evolved into a beacon of love, commitment and endurance, qualities Shanta Singh and her husband Ramsagar Singh now hold especially dear.

This love story, recalled by Shanta, looks back at her arranged marriage to the most wonderful person.

Shanta, 58, and Ramsagar, 68, grew up together in the village of Grove.

They lived about a street away from each other and attended the same church.

Sharing their story with the Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Shanta recalled that Ramsagar would visit her home regularly because her parents favoured him due to his maturity and esteem.

She recalled that he would take her to Sunday school on his bicycle and would carry her home in his arms when she slept away in church, but she had no idea he liked her.

“I had no clue, nor did my parents, that he liked me,”

Shanta Singh and her husband Ramsagar Singh

she reminisced. “Of course being ten years older than me, it didn’t occur he would like me.

I can remember when one of my sisters-in-law asked him when he was getting married, and he told her that the person wasn’t mature enough as yet and that he has to wait.

I didn’t think he would want to marry me because he was more educated than I am. I only went to primary school and didn’t get to complete that level because my family was very poor.”

When Shanta got older,

Ramsagar expressed his interest in her. Shanta said her mother was overjoyed because she really admired his character and would always say he would make a wonderful husband.

“When I was 15, he was 25, we got engaged. That made my mother very happy because she admired him for having all the qualities of a good husband. At first I didn’t agree to get married to him because I said I was too young and that he was way older. I didn’t know any-

thing about love or relationships. But my mother sat me down and told me that he is a good person and he would take care of me. Of course, long ago, you had to listen to your parents, and so I eventually gave in. Ramsagar waited two more years, when I was 17, and we got married on February 19, 1977. He was a supervisor back then and later he became a teacher. He even taught me how to read.

I then realised that my mother’s decision for me to marry this wonderful man was right all along,” Shanta revealed.

Eventually, Shanta’s ‘like’ for Ramsagar turned into love, and their marriage was as if it was etched in heaven itself. She grew to love him completely, but Ramsagar’s love went as far back as when he took that peaceful, sleeping girl home from church in his arms.

There were challenges when they got married, but Shanta and Ramsagar’s mutual love for each other and for God helped pull them through. Shanta said they would read the bible and pray together, and she credits that for solidifying their bond.

However, when the couple decided to move to Suriname, seeking better opportunities, life challenged the union.

“After we had two of our sons, we decided to go to Suriname to seek a better financial opportunity for my family,” she recalled, “When I got my third son, in Suriname, about 1986, was when my husband lost his job. It was tough times. My two other sons were 5 and 6.

My husband was doing menial work and although it was tough, we endured together. We had no other support, and many days would have nothing to eat. In the morn-

ings I would drink sugar water just to get something in my stomach. My third son, who was breastfeeding, had to drink sugar water too because we didn’t have money to buy milk. We ensured that the two older sons get to eat and my husband and I would stay without. That’s when my front teeth began to rot and I had to pull them out. I was without four of my front teeth for about three years; of course I couldn’t afford dentures. I felt ashamed of it, but my husband would tell me that God made me beautiful and that he [Ramsagar] loves me just as I am. Ramsagar would assure me that one day will come when I’ll get my teeth fixed and I’ll look more beautiful. That really carried me through all those years.

My husband remained faithful for all the years we have been married and I’m truly lucky to have a great guy like him,” Shanta shared.

Ramsagar always commended Shanta for being a person of character and for her inner and outer beauty – reasons why he married her.

Additionally, he told this pub-

lication, he has never regretted marrying Shanta as she turned out to be the perfect mother and wife – his perfect soul mate.

Looking back at the many years of an enjoyable marriage, Shanta said her advice to young wives like she was, is to be content with what their husbands can provide.

Being contented, she pointed out, is one of the many factors that contributed to the peace of her marriage.

“Don’t look at what other women possess and what you lack, because then you may be inclined to pressure your husband and that can create problems. Being contented with what you have contributes to a peaceful marriage.

Communication and trust are also essential for a happy marriage. Not forgetting having God in your marriage and praying together as a couple,” Shanta advised.

Now, Shanta and Ramsagar enjoy a beautiful marriage filled with love and memories of a wonderful life together. They have five children and eight grandchildren.

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 27, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

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mosque.

A Muslim wedding is all about love and commitment and happily ever after. There are, however, some traditions and rituals that set this religion's wedding ceremony apart.

eddings are a celebration of love and commitment, and can also be a celebration of the couple's religion and culture. Whether you're invited as a guest, attending as a member of the wedding party, or are simply curious, there are a few wedding rituals and traditions you should expect to see.

Hindu Wedding The Wedding Date is Determined in the Stars Before the wedding, an auspicious time (known as the muhurta) is fixed for the event.

Using the bride and groom's dates of birth, astrologists calculate the position of planets and stars to reflect the celestial union of the couple. During the ceremony, the gautra of both bride and groom (going back at least three generations) are announced. A gautra is the ancestral lineage or the ancestor's original clan (this is not related to caste or religion). In Hindu law, marriages should not take place within the same clan.

There's a Pre-Party Called the Sangeet a Few Days before the Wedding Prior to the actual the wedding, there's a pre-party called the sangeet where family comes together to sing, dance and revel in the joy of the upcoming union. Family members even give performances!

The bride's family sings a tra-

Guyana has six different cultures which celebrate wedding in different ways

ditional folk song to the groom's family to welcome them.

The Bride's Hands and Feet Are Adorned with Henna Paint During a Mehendi Ceremony During the mehendi ceremony, which also takes place in Muslim weddings, henna is used to apply intricate designs to the bride's hands and feet.

The mehndi ceremony usually takes place one day before the marriage will be held, as the application can take hours.

The Couple Weds Under a Mandap The wedding mandap is a temporary structure construct-

ed for the purpose of the marriage ceremony. It may appear on an elevated platform, and is decorated with anything from flowers and greenery to fabric and crystals.

The Bride and Groom's Garments are Tied Together as They Circle a Fire The saptapadi is an important ritual in North Indian Hindu weddings. During the saptapadi, the bride and groom have their garments tied together. In South India, the couple walks seven steps together to signify their friendship. In North Indian tradition, they

make seven circles around a ceremonial fire, each round signifying a specific blessing they request of the gods. The main significance of saptapadi is establishing friendship, which is the basis of a Hindu marriage.

Red Powder is applied to the Bride's Hair, Signifying She is Married Sindoor, a red-orange powder, is applied to the part of a woman's hair, symbolizes her new status as a married woman and is applied to her hair during the ceremony.

Cords Are Tied to the Wrists of the Bride and Groom

During Raksha Bandhan Cords are tied to the wrists of both the bride and the groom.

Marriage is considered to be an arduous stage in life, and the cords are meant as protection.

Muslim Wedding The central event in all American-Muslim Weddings will be the Nikah. This is the actual wedding ceremony, usually officiated by a Muslim cleric, an Imam. Although a Nikah can be done anywhere including the bride's home or reception hall, it is preferable and usually done these days in a

The Wedding Lasts Three Days The three-day affair is perhaps the most unique aspect of a Muslim wedding. If you thought planning a oneday wedding was difficult, just imagine three days’ worth of festivities!

The Bride's Father Agrees to the Marriage Contract on Her Behalf During the Nikah Ceremony The nikah is the part of the ceremony in which the marriage license is signed. The nikah ceremony is essentially the groom's formal proposal (with at least two witnesses in attendance), as well as the couple's acceptance of the marriage contract. In a more traditional Muslim marriage ceremony, the bride's father or another representative will agree to the marriage contract on her behalf. Following this, both the groom and bride will repeat "Qabul," which means "I accept," three times. When the nikah is finished, they will share a piece of sweet fruit.

There Are Readings from the Quran, but Not Necessarily Vows turn to page 15

6 Sunday Times Magazine

MAY 27, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Literary Corner

The commendable work of KAIE in marketing our writers was ably supported by other literary periodicals like NEW WORLD, DAWN, HERITAGE, PLEXUS, EXPRESSION and THE GUYANA ANNUAL. String those periodicals together and find they have kept the flame of our literature alive, in good and bad times, with each succeeding generation of writers benefiting from our recorded literary heritage and building on it in no uncertain manner.

A recent and welcomed addition to our journals is the Arts Journal offering critical perspective to our literature.

THE GUYANA ANNUAL magazine, launched in 1915, deserves special mention mainly because it has outlived all other periodicals. The 2018 issue of this magazine was launched on May 24.

In due time, the liberation of the imagination in our writers was harnessed and streamlined with the formation of organisations like the PEN - Guyana Writers Group, the Annandale Group of Writers, the Pavement Group and the Messenger Group. The Culture Corp of the Guyana National Service also played a role in producing writers imbued with political and nationalistic fervour; much of what was published did not stand the test of time. Mahadai Das was perhaps the Service’s best known poetess.

As time went by, the convergence of writers through those organisations extended the debate/discussion on current issues to include a wide cross section of society for whom the writers were supplying new words/phrases to address new experiences.

by

Petamber Persaud

T

o gain a fuller appreciation of Guyanese Literature after Independence, it would be useful to bear in mind that our literature was hitched in a close relationship over a long period to the British literary tradition.

This is not a censure against such a fine literary tradition that continues to entertain, educate and influence us in many ways, a tradition that allowed us a foothold in world literature and continues to sustain some of our more accomplished and recognised writers Coming out of that British literary tradition was Edgar Mittelholzer, the father of the Guyanese novel. When Mittelholzer died in 1965, he had to his name twenty three novels published over a short span of time.

Writing by Guyanese during the colonial time was useful apprenticeship – learning the basics (according to Western view), preparing writers to handle universal themes and themes foreign to their own concern, preparing writers to reach various audiences, local and foreign, and generally helping to hone the skills of our writers.

That pervading colonial influence lost some ground with the rise of Guyanese intellectualism and birth of political awareness, both movements feeding off each other, sometimes betrothing each other to produce defining literature.

And the imaginative writers at that time were treating those new impulses of self-discovery, identity, and social revolt, the quest for freedom, self-respect and self-rule with a passion.

Poems (of resistance, of succession, and of affinity) by Martin Carter encapsulate that shift more than the work of any other writer of that time. Poems of pride in people, place and country from the pens of other writers formed part of the equation of giving validity to a Guyanese identity and sovereignty.

There can be no doubt that after Independence there was a marked increase in publications by Guyanese writers, both from the established and the emerging ones, both from the locals and those in the Diaspora.

Self-publishing was a notable feature at that time. Sheik Sadeek was a pioneer in this field, printing his own numerous works and the material of other writers. And throughout the Post-Independence period writers continue to pay to publish their own work, individually or through organisations like the Roraima Publishers (now defunct), Red Thread and the Association of Guyanese Writers and Artists.

Other enabling features could be found with the launch of KAIE, journal of the National History and Arts Council.

The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each will smile at the other's welcome, and say, sit here. Eat. You will love again the stranger who was yourself.

Give wine. Give bread.

Give back your heart to itself, to the stranger who has loved you all your life, whom you ignored for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf, the photographs, the desperate notes, peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit. Feast on your life.

By Derek Walcott

New experiences of this era included restricted press freedom and political paramountcy, racial division and the quest for harmony, class discrimination, ethnic closures, questionable elections and estrangement which were dealt with by writers like Jan Shinebourne, Sasenarine Persaud, Harischandra Khemraj, Grace Nichols, Roy Heath and Narmala Shewcharan, among others.

The indigenous voice was supplying new nuances to mainstream literature as it became ‘A Merry Indian No More’. See the encroachment of the forest, its beauty and its destruction, in the poetry of David Campbell, Basil Rodrigues and Edwina Melville.

A glorious manifestation of this Post-Independence period was the emergence of women writing, enriching the literary landscape from a different perspective as women were able to ‘tease out the truth’ in many instances.

The Guyana Prize for Literature launched in 1987 was another defining moment in our literary heritage. The aim of this crucial project was to ‘provide a focus for the rec-

Notice to Readers

ognition of the creative writing of Guyanese at home and abroad’ and to ‘stimulate interest in, and provide encouragement for, the development of good creative writing among Guyanese…’

Academics from around the world, as far as India, have and are continuing to do dissertations on the our literature namely on the work of Martin Carter, Wilson Harris, Jan Carew, Edgar Mittelholzer, David Dabydeen, Cyril Dabydeen, Sasenarine Persaud, among others. And I am sure in the near future local resident academics will take such pride in our literature and do us proud. Now more than ever, it is imperative to have the scholarship alongside the creative literature. We must not diminish the import of literary criticism.

Five decades in life of a nation’s literature is not a very long time but we have achieved much, far too much to do justice to in this short paper.

And when we string these bits and pieces together, we would find, without a doubt, that we have indeed produced a solid core of writing that we can proudly call Guyanese Literature.

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

If you have a poem and/or short story you would like to publish on our Literary Corner page, please email to timessundaymag@gmail.com. Kindly include your correct name and a contact number in your email. If you have any questions, please call 223-7230 or 223-7231.

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Travel and Tourism

U

ndulating hills, deep gorges and dangerous mountain passes are what characterizes a journey to the Pakaraimas . It is not for the faint of heart, to say the least. The Pakaraima Mountains (Portuguese: Serra Pacaraima, Spanish: Sierra Pacaraima) are the mountains of Guyana, lying in southwestern part of this country and shares borders with Brazil and Venezuela, extending from west to east for over 800 kilometres (500 mi). Its highest peak is Mount Roraima.

When we speak the name, the first thought is adventure and the annual Pakaraima Mountain Safari comes to mind. Participating teams pass through several Amerindian villages in their 600 miles journey, including Karasabai, Tiperu, Rukumoto, Morabaiko and Monkey Mountain among others. While the adventurers brave the elements and battle the rough terrain, opportunities also abound for interacting with the residents from the various communities along the way.

The daring among the crew anticipate the trek across the many rivers, hills and mountains and they yearn to discover the beautiful geological features of the Mountain Range, which is blessed with a wide range of flora and fauna. A refreshing dip in the Cheong, Ichilibar and Orinduik Falls is one of the many rewards of the arduous adventure. However, in as much as travellers will fall in love with the magnificent views and captivating scenery they never expect to find love itself in such an unlikely place.

During the Annual Safari in 2014, a young couple met at the pinnacle of one of the undulating hills which make up the Mountain Range. It was love at first sight; their minds were clear and free of the clutter of everyday worries, they explained after, and the only thing that matted was their connection. “It was as if everything else that we place so much emphasis on in our daily lives just evaporated. Then we were left with the rawest of emotion and we saw each other with clarity,� the young lady explained. Shortly after the couple returned from the Safari, they were married. It has been five years and the two have expressed their hope of one day returning to the Mountains to renew their vows.

While the tale of finding love on the Pakaraima Safari is still whispered, the Organizers of the annual event hold firm to the belief that there is magic in the Mountains and participants do have the chance to fall in love and to find their soul mates, embarking on a true Adventure of a Lifetime.

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MAY 27, 2018

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Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

Ingredients 3 cups (6 sticks) margarine, at room temperature, plus more to grease pans Two 1-pound boxes confectioners' sugar, boxes reserved 12 large eggs, at room temperature 2 pounds sifted cake flour, plus more to dust pans 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Buttercream Frosting, recipe follows White Cream Decorator Frosting, recipe follows Buttercream Frosting: 1 1/2 cup (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature 2 pounds confectioners' sugar 8 to 10 tablespoons light cream or milk 3 teaspoons clear vanilla extract White Cream Decorator Frosting: 3/4 cup solid white vegetable shortening 1 pound confectioners' sugar Pinch of salt 1 1/2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract Food coloring, optional Directions Special equipment: cake boards for each tier Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Grease and flour one of each: 12-by-2-inch, 9-by-2inch and 6-by-2-inch round cake pans.

Using a heavy-duty mixer, cream 3 sticks of the margarine and 1 pound of the confectioners' sugar until the mixture is very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. One at a time, break 6 of the eggs into the batter, beating only as long as it takes to break another egg between additions. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.

Measure 1 pound of the sifted cake flour into an empty confectioners' sugar box, filling to the top. Add the flour to the sugar and egg mixture, stirring gently on low speed. Scrape the sides of the mixing bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of the vanilla extract and mix again. Transfer the batter to a bowl and reserve. Repeat the steps with the other half of the ingredients.

Pour the two batches of batter into the prepared pans and bake until the center is set, about 1 hour. Check for doneness by touching the surface lightly with your fingertip or by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean.

Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes, and then run a thin knife or spatula between the cake and the pan to loosen the edges.

Invert the cakes onto wire racks. Place on cake boards to frost with Buttercream Frosting.

Slide the layers off the cake boards to stack and decorate with White Cream Decorator Frosting.

Buttercream Frosting: With an electric mixer, cream the butter and add the sugar slowly, beating together until smooth. Add the cream by the tablespoon, beating well after each addition and adding just enough liquid to make a smooth, spreadable icing, Add the vanilla extract and continue to beat the icing on high speed until it is very light and fluffy about 5 minutes.

White Cream Decorator Frosting: Using an electric mixer, cream the shortening and add the sugar gradually, blending well, and beat until fluffy. Beat in the salt, and then add 4 to 5 tablespoons water by the tablespoon, beating continuously and adding just enough to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency.

Add the vanilla extract and beat on high until very fluffy. This frosting can be colored with food coloring if desired and transferred to pastry bags fitted with decorator tips for decorating.

Cook's Note You will need to make this recipe in two batches to fit in a standard stand mixer.

Using solid white shortening instead of butter as well as clear vanilla extract results in a pure white frosting that you can tint any color you like. If you can't find clear vanilla extract, you can use regular vanilla extract, but your icing won't be white. The regular extract will add a cream color to the icing.

(www.foodnetwork.com)

Adequate Seating

Every wedding reception, no matter the location, needs enough seating for guests and a backyard event is no different. One of the best, easiest things to do is make sure you are working with a good rental company. A backyard reception also allows for you to get really creative with your seating plan!

Throw some Shade

Everyone at your reception will be very grateful if you can create some shaded areas where guests can catch a break from the intense sun. And it’s not as hard as you may think. One of the easiest and most decorative ways to create a shaded spot is to work with a rental company and setup large market umbrellas. Nothing can rain on your parade – literally – like inclement weather. When you plan a backyard wedding you are taking a chance on Mother Nature which is why it’s wise to have a good backup plan.

Because you will basically have an idea about the weather a few days in advance, it’s smart to place a hold on a tent with a rental company.

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Puzzles

1 6 11 16 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 33 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 44 47 48 49 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 74 75 78 79 80 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 104 105 106 109 110

ACROSS

Spears, as a fish

Change

"Abra-Ca- --"

Joshua tree, for one

"Crazylegs" Hirsch

Exurb of Cleveland

Touche provokers

Seed coverings

Wedding-cake layers

Dye-with-wax technique

Stagecoach pullers

Pastel color

Let loose

Meshing parts

Reebok rival

Here, to Henri

Annoys

Elf's kin Home port

Wine served warm

Lamas' mantras

Devout

After-hours job

Sour pickles

Riding attire

Sure thing

Deadline

Oklahoma town

Juice, so to speak

Muscle-car dial

Idioms e.g.

Thud

Prodded along

Tangier market

Europa's lover

Egyptian boy-king

Open

Act servile

Pitch in

Bowser's pal

Tectonic science

Earth's center

Canterbury's home

Hold

Pay for

Sombrero sporter

KGB counterpart

Yawned

Distinctive periods

Bread and whiskey

Nickname

-- of thumb

Custard

A Marx

Type of bun (2 wds.)

The -- of Aquarius

Thin coating

Board-game pair

Antique brooch

Dune buggy kin

Residential areas

Stool pigeon

Wedges

Filly's footfall

Factory-assembled

"Mondo Cane" tune

Pepys' book

Afternoon TV

Like most covered bridges (hyph.)

Mr. Youngman

Startled cries

Hwys.

Doctor's advice

Feel envious

111 115 116 117 118 119 121 123 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133

Babble on and on Alley from Moo Former JFK arrivals Of the hipbone Silly poems Pop a top Notre Dame's river Troubadours' music makers Sweat or tear -Elegant wrap Kipling's "-- Din" Where Asia begins Upper-crust Lugged Peace and quiet Chilling Machine part

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 32 34 37 38 39 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 50 51 52 54 55 56 58 59 60 63 64 65 66 68 69 70 72 73 74 75 76 77

DOWN Costume Flared skirt (hyph.)

Broods over Read palms Gamblers' dreams French clerics Cherished Museum contents Dressing gown Chinese, e.g.

Raison -Jungle swingers "Luck -- -- Lady" Leftover fabric St. Francis' town Sturdy lock "Mentalist" -- Geller Paramecia paddles Rattle PC character code Coll. credits Morns Mild condiment Taunted

P.D.Q. - Tijuana Ms.

Handled roughly

Hoist a car

Not theirs

Remove glitches

Absurd

West Indies dance

Cornball

Man-goat deity

Port of old Rome

Vendettas 35mm setting (hyph.)

Ocean fish Shower amenity (2 wds.)

Bombard Conceited Ms. Teasdale Stoic founder "The Zoo Story" penner Watch pockets That girl's Aptitude "Misery" co-star Hull bottom Five, in Quito Study late Orpheus played it Dove shelters Understand Be an omen of Annapolis frosh

78 80 81 82 83 85 86 87 89 90 91 94

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- PRODUCER (PRODUCER: pruh-DOO-ser: One who organizes the presentation of a film, play, etc.)

Average mark 37 words Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find more

pore pour pourer procure prod produce proud

prouder prude puce pure purer purr record

recoup recur redo repro rode rope roue

words in PRODUCER? rude ruder rued order ordure deco decor

doer dope dour drop drupe duce dupe

cero code coed cope coper cord

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

House wings Daddy's mate Eucalyptus eater Block, legally Replies to an invite Not quite liars Cattle, old-style Hirsute Actress -- Drescher Very serious Gregorian -Tabloid topics

95 96 97 99 100 101 103 104 105 106 107 108

Arial or Helvetica Cushy job Abbott and -Spa employee Cheapen Bully's gait Dismisses (2 wds.)

-- polloi Assoc.

Shake awake Kemo Sabe's friend Orlando attraction

110 111 112 113 114 116 117 118 120 122 124

Earn after taxes Desperado's fear Genetic factor Slowly, in music Tribal adviser Made haste He wrote "Picnic" Lox purveyor Stein filler Gary's st.

La Brea -- Pits See Solution on Pg 14

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Sunday Times Magazine 13

14 Sunday Times Magazine

Bollywood/Hollywood Salman Khan’s alleged love interest Lulia Vantur receives flak for singing 'Race 3' song 'Selfish'

‘R

ace 3’ starring Salman Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Saqib Saleem and Daisy Shahhas created enough buzz among the audience. Not only is the third installment of the super successful franchise is everyone’s watch list, but the reunion of Salman and Jacqueline has got everyone’s heart racing.

The film’s trailer was released earlier this week. The response to the same has

I

ts Karan Johar's birthday today and the filmmaker rang it in the company of some close friends in New York. The stylish filmmaker who turned 46 had al-

A

ctress Kriti Sanon is gearing up to entertain the audience on a live stage of the closing ceremony of IPL at Wankhede Stadium.

This will be Kriti's second IPL performance, after her last season's opening ceremony performance.

The actress recently completed 4 years in Bollywood and it is since her first movie that she's had foot tapping dance numbers. Kriti will be seen tracing her four-year innings in Bollywood at IPL's closing ceremony The organizers were keen on having someone young at the closing ceremony as it attracts a lot of sports enthusiasts. Since Kriti had also performed at the ceremony last year, she is aware of the format.

She has been rehearsing for her act since the past few days and will be seen delivering a celebratory performance right before the final match.

She will be grooving to popular tracks from her films such as Heropanti, Raabta, Dilwale and the most recent one, Bareilly Ki Barfi.

The actress, who has become a popular public personality in just 4 years of her Bollywood career, and recently has earned 11 million followers on her Instagram account.

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MAY 27, 2018

been mixed, while a section criticized the theme, bhai fans, on the other hand, have been all praise about every aspect. However, it seems that the latest song ‘Selfish’ is making headlines for some different reasons. For the uninitiated, the song ‘Selfish’ has been penned by none other than Salman Khan himself. That was one reason that his fans were all the more excited for it. If you are yet to hear the song, Salman Khan has chosen her alleged girlfriend Iulia Vantur to lend her voice along with Atif Aslam. The entire audio track is out on gaana.com and the teaser is also now available online. While a section of Khan’s fans is impressed, others are still wondering as to why couldn’t get some other female singer to be a part of the song instead of Iulia.

W

onder Woman star Gal Gadot has been roped in to produce a film based on Peter Kornbluh’s Politico article “‘My Dearest Fidel’: An ABC Journalist’s Secret Liaison With Fidel Castro”.

The 33-year-old actor may also feature in the film, Variety reported. Narcos co-creator Chris Brancato will pen the adaptation of Kornbluh’s article.

Warner Bros studios has acquired the movie rights for Sue Kroll on behalf of Kroll & Co Entertainment through her exclusive deal. Kroll has partnered with Gadot and Jaron Varsano in developing the material.

Kroll and Varsano will co-produce. The reportage chronicles the previously untold story of how ABC journalist Lisa Howard engaged in what Kornbluh described as “intimate diplomacy” with Castro.

Howard was the network’s first full-time female reporter and became a key asset in the establishment of a top-secret channel between Washington and Havana to discuss reconciliation after the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Howard died in 1965 due to an overdose of painkillers.

ready flown to US ahead of his big day and threw an intimate terrace party to celebrate the occasion.

The birthday boy chose to don a peppy black and white Masaba Gupta blazer paired with black torn denims as he wined and dined under the moonlit sky on a skyscraper's terrace overlooking the city. The father of two shared a story on his Instagram handle giving a glimpse of his birthday party which had an appreciable gathering in presence. Earlier, there were reports that Karan will be joined by his B-town BFFs Shweta Bachchan Nanda, Kaajal Anand and Manish Malhotra in New York on his birthday.

F

ilm producer Harvey Weinstein on Friday surrendered to authorities at a New York City police station on sex crime charges, months after he was toppled from Hollywood’s most powerful ranks by scores of women accusing him of misconduct. More than 70 women have accused the co-founder of the Miramax film studio and Weinstein Co of sexual misconduct, including rape, with some allegations dating back decades.

The accusations, first reported by the New York Times and the New Yorker last year, gave rise to the #MeToo movement in which hundreds of women have publicly accused powerful men in business, government and entertainment of misconduct.

Weinstein arrived at the station house shortly at about 7:25 a.m. EDT (1125 GMT) wearing a dark jacket over a blue sweater and white open-collared shirt and dark denim jeans, carrying what appeared to be three thick books under his right arm.

Police officers escorted him inside as scores of journalists pushed up against barricades for pictures, while three police

Talking about joining the project, Gadot said, “When I first read Peter’s article, I was entranced by his thrilling account of a complicated, fascinating woman in the midst of a high-stakes, real-life drama.”

“I knew immediately that I had to be involved creatively with telling Lisa Howard’s story, and am thrilled to be producing this film with Sue.” Kroll added, “I’m so excited to bring this story to life with great creative partners in Gal, Jaron, Peter, and Chris. This is a remarkable true story, anchored by an incredible woman, and lends itself to a dramatic and thrilling cinematic experience.”

Currently, Kornbluh is a historian of USCuban relations at the National Security Archive in Washington DC. (Indian Express)

helicopters circled overhead.

Weinstein is expected to be charged with raping one woman and forcing another to perform oral sex on him, the New York Times reported, citing unidentified law enforcement officials. Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone. Weinstein’s spokesman Juda Engelmayer and his lawyer Benjamin Brafman both declined to comment to Reuters on Thursday on the imminent charges.

The charges follow a months-long investigation that involved the Manhattan district attorney’s office. The victim in the rape case has not been identified, the Times reported, but Weinstein will be charged with first-degree and third-degree rape. The other case involves allegations by Lucia Evans, a former aspiring actress who told the New Yorker that Weinstein forced her to give him oral sex in 2004, the Times reported.

Crossword Solution

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MAY 27, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 15

Tech

P

lanning a wedding on a budget is not an easy task so be sure to read all of our wedding budget tips. Everyone wants to pull off that luxury wedding look at budget prices. The reality is , you can pull off a posh look without going broke.

You’d be surprised how many items you toss into your recycling bin each week can actually be used as wedding decor. Use spray paint, glitter, fabric, lace and more to transform glass jars and bottles into stunning wedding decorations that won’t break

Cake Frosting Choice Could Bust Your Budget

Fondant frosting is typically used in ornately decorated wedding cake designs, and

Save Big With a Small Guest List

Keeping your guest list small is one of the easiest ways to cut costs on your wedding.

Each guest you invite will add exponentially to your cost, so do your best to trim down your list where you can. Opting for a destination wedding is a great way to cut down your list without too much awkwardness. Of course, you could also elope and plan a small celebration for just your immediate family.

Floral Prices Vary by Season

Choosing flowers that are in season during your wedding month is a great way to save on your floral budget. Because in-season blooms are more readily available, the cost is more economical. You can also opt to go with inexpensive flowers like baby’s breath or carnations to save a bundle on floral costs.

the bank.

Nix the Fully-Stocked Bar

When it comes to the bar for your wedding reception, beer and wine is perfectly fine. If you’d like to offer something additional for your guests, consider choosing a signature cocktail or two. Signature cocktails are a great way to infuse your personal tastes into your reception, without incurring

therefore is often a pricier choice than buttercream. While a big beautiful fondant cake will be sure to make a statement, opting for a simple design in buttercream will cut your cost significantly.

Unique Menus Can Be More Affordable

Rather than serving a traditional, old school wedding meal like chicken and steak, consider unique and interactive food options that express your personal tastes. Hire a food truck that serves tacos or host a more casual pot luck rather than opting for a fancy plated dinner. It can save you money and your guests will remember it.

Centerpieces Don't Require Flowers

the huge expense of a full open bar.

Shopping Second Hand Can Save You Up to Half Off

If you're on the hunt for a designer wedding dress, consider shopping consignment sales or resale websites. You can find onceworn designer wedding gowns for up to half off on sites like OnceWed or Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses.

Inexpensive, Edible Favors Top the Charts

While it’s a sweet gesture to give your guests a token of your appreciation, it’s by no means a requirement for a couple to give their guests a favor. However, if you have your heart set on giving a little something, consider a simple edible favor. They are

Transform Trash into Treasure

mostly inexpensive and easy to put together

from page 5

The nikah is often followed by a sermon, which may include readings from the Quran.

Muslim wedding ceremonies do not always include vows.

Agreement to the marriage contract during the nikah suffices as agreement by the bride and groom to enter into marriage. Following the nikah and sermon, a feast is held by the bride's family.

Christian Wedding Seating of Family on Opposite Sides of the Church Family and friends of the bride and groom are seated on opposite sides of the church to symbolize the cutting of the blood covenant. These witnesses—family, friends, and invited guests—are all participants in the wedding covenant. Many have made sacrifices to help

prepare the couple for marriage and support them in their holy union.

Father Escorts and Gives Away Bride By escorting her down the aisle, a father says, "I have done my very best to present you, my daughter, as a pure bride. I approve of this man as your choice for a husband, and now I bring you to him." When the minister asks, "Who gives this woman?," the father responds, "Her mother and I." This giving away of the bride demonstrates the parents' blessing on the union and the transfer of care and responsibility to the husband.

White Wedding Dress The white wedding dress has a twofold significance. It is a symbol of the wife's purity in heart and life, as well as

her reverence to God. It's also a picture of the righteousness of Christ described in Revelation 19:7–8. Christ clothes his bride, the church, in his own righteousness as a garment of "fine linen, bright and clean."

Cutting and Feeding of Cake The cutting of the cake is another picture of the cutting of the covenant. When the bride and groom take pieces of cake and feed it to each other, once again, they are showing they have given their all to the other and will care for each other as one flesh. At a Christian wedding, the cutting and feeding of cake can be done joyfully but should be done lovingly and reverently, in a way that honors the covenant relationship. (www.brides.com)

Fresh flowers can be a real budget buster, so if you're looking for ideas to cut back in a big way, consider putting together non-floral centerpieces. Depending on your wedding theme or style you could consider anything from vintage books and candles, spray-painted branches, greenery, potted

plants, fruit or picture frames

Simple is Chic

Keeping your wedding decor simple can actually make your wedding seem even more chic and elevated. If you choose a naturally beautiful setting you can opt for minimal decorations for a sleek and modern look. (www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/)

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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MAY 27, 2018

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Focus on resting and taking a break from your fast-paced life. Catch up on your reading or other activities that will lower stress.

Do whatever it takes to get TAURUS along with others. Problems (April 20- with an older relative or someMay 20) one you live with will erupt if you are quick to blame others without due cause.

Get cracking. Participation

GEMINI in life's affairs will broad(MAY 28- en your outlook on how othJune 20) ers think and do things.

Understanding what you are up against will make your life choices easier.

Love who you are and embrace what life has to offer.

(June 21- Don't be afraid to share your July 22) feelings and let down your guard. Love and romance are featured.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

Watch your step. If you overdo it, you are likely to suffer injury, get bogged down in arguments or get sick. Leave nothing to chance and live within your means.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Open up about your feelings and what you would like to see happen. Get serious about your personal plans and make changes that will help you reach your objective.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Take care of unfinished personal business by tidying up, purging items you no longer use and preparing for the changes you want to see take place.

Choose love over disSCORPIO cord. If someone is being dif(Oct. 24ficult, walk away and opt to Nov. 22) spend time with someone who shares your interests and point of view.

Think back and consider past SAGITTARIUS experiences before you make (Nov. 23a snap decision that may jeopDec. 21) ardize your health or financial welfare. Protect personal information and possessions. Make personal improvement a priority.

Calvin and Hobbes

Make a decision that will CAPRICORN whisk you out of a pending (Dec. 22- situation that has been slowJan. 19) ing you down. The choice you make regarding a relationship or your residence will improve your life.

Emotional situations will AQUARIUS escalate quickly if you aren't (Jan. 20- artful in how you handle Feb. 19) others. Keep your opinions buried until you're sure they won't lead to a dispute.

You'll receive an unexPISCES (Feb. 20- pected gift or contribution.

Mar. 20) Celebrate your good fortune

with a loved one. Personal improvements will encourage a positive lifestyle change.

Romance is highlighted.