Guyanatime 4 march 2018

LOOK INSIDE !

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

Issue No. 3492

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Sunday, March 4, 2018

PRICE

WCD/EBE flooding

300 residents affected

…call for better sea defence, improved drainage Page 3 ... as clean-up exercise starts PM disses NDC's efforts to help

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Constable shot in Charlestown while assisting P8 injured colleague

Motorcycle bandits rob taxi driver of $375,000 P13 P9 Armed bandits rob Kuru Kururu woman

'Saving Guyana from deafness' campaign P15 yielding results – Dr Quaicoe Residents on the West Coast of Demerara and sections of the East Bank of Essequibo started clean-up exercises on Saturday, as they attempted to get their lives back to normalcy. The residents were affected by severe flooding after high tide compiled with a breached sea deafence left them under floodwaters (Dexter Ceres photos)

After 2 years

Govt finally P10 moves to setup Law Reform Commission …candidates sought to sit on body

Teen shot in Albouystown

P15

Bandit robs Stand-off ensues between Policeman of old, new Chairman and $240, phone Board – source Page 9

GuySuCo fiasco

Page 14

Dead Canje bandits

Father says he warned son about criminal lifestyle P12

2

SUnDAY, March 4, 2018 guyanatimesGY.com

news

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

WCD/EBE flooding

300 residents affected

Sunday, March 4 – 05:00h-06:30h and Monday, March 5 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, March 4 – 06:00h-07:30h and Monday, March 5 – 06:35h-08:05h.

…call made for better sea defence, improved drainage

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Light cloudy skies in the early morning will give way to light and thundery showers that will last throughout the day. Light to partly cloudy skies will be expected in the evening, with overall temperatures expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Waves battered the sea defence structure on Friday

Winds: Easterly and East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 06:06h and 18:25h reaching maximum heights of 2.79 metres and 2.78 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:59h reaching a minimum height of 0.41 metre.

H

aving lived through the terrifying experience of witnessing monster waves of the agitated Atlantic Ocean demolish a part of the sea defence structure and rush invasively into sections of West Coast Demerara/East Bank Essequibo, flattening fences, confiscating bridges, ransacking homes, and destroying cash crop and poultry enterprises as flood waters besiege hapless communities, residents of affected villages have called for the placement of boulders, improved sea defences, and proper drainage

water and other articles captured by the ferocious waves, which some estimated were as high as 15 feet.

Residents of Ocean View, Uitvlugt, Leonora and Stewartville were on Saturday bracing themselves for another episode of the Atlantic Ocean overtopping the sea defence structure and invading their communities. Already, several families have been displaced and extensive damage has been caused to goods and household items.

Mother of two, Sharda Lall, explained that her husband was preparing to go to

years, but had never seen such high waves. Lall indicated that her spouse has been home since Friday, and has not been able to work.

“This is the first time we get flood in the house. The waves were very, very big, so all we asking the Government to do is if (they) could put some boulders to break the waves. I am not scared because I living here for 18 years, but with this which happened, I feel scared,” Lall told Guyana Times.

Uitvlugt shop owner Mahadeo Ramlall has suffered

SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS 06

08

09

12

14

13 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 08 10 13 19

24

LUCKY 3 1 9 4

5

Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

01

15

03

04

05

4

8

Evening Draw

07

08

16

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

Residents are left to clean their yards in the aftermath of Friday’s flooding

to reduce the impact of tidal flooding.

This call was made by the residents on Saturday, when Government officials and Civil Defence Commission personnel visited the affected communities. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has disclosed that some 300 homes have been affected by the recent tidal phenomenon.

Guyana Times saw affected residents cleaning up their homes and premises of the debris deposited therein by the flood, which included mud,

work when they heard the crashing sounds of the waves as the ocean invaded the coast. He raised an alarm, but they were no match for the determined Atlantic, as its gushing tides flowed into their Uitvlugt home.

She noted that she has lived in the area for some 18

es include bags of salt, flour, rice and sugar; plus numerous bars of soap and hundreds of canned goods and other items.

Seventy-five-year-old Mangal (only name), a pensioner who has been living in the area since the late 1940s, has called on the Central Government and his local Neighbourhood Democratic Council to do more to improve drainage networks in the area.

“We had flood in 2005, but it never flood like this!

It affected the entire Ocean View, and we are all very disturbed about it, because we

Damaged clothing

losses in excess of $500,000, but he is thankful for the support of his neighbours, who assisted him in cleaning up after the deluge. However, much water was still evident in his business place. His loss-

K

3

SunDAY, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

felt that enough is not being done by the NDC and Central Government to help the people in this area. As a matter of fact, we felt left out,” the pensioner stressed. turn to page 12

4

guyanatimesgy.com

SunDAY, march 4, 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

Facing the ocean’s fury

T

he raging Atlantic Ocean on the West Coast of Demerara on Holi Day definitely added an extra frisson to the usual dousing of cold water that is obligatory when celebrating that festival. But the spectacle should also remind us Guyanese of the threat posed by rising sea levels to our coastlands. The coastland was five feet under normal sea levels a century ago, and the ocean has since risen by another eight inches.

Whether we are science sceptics or not about exactly what is driving the process of “global warming”, there can be no doubt about the fact that temperatures over the last century have risen at least one degree Fahrenheit, and this has literally fuelled the process that leads to rising sea levels. Firstly, it is basic science that warm water expands, and secondly, that the continents of ice in the Arctic and Antarctic have been melting exponentially and dumping their waters into the oceans.

If the “carbon sceptics” – those who believe it is not rising levels of carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere that are the cause of global warming – are correct, then the situation is even more dire. Rising seas, then, may be due to long- term geological and climatic changes that once saw the ice caps completely melted and seas being SIXTY FEET over present levels. The question, then, is not whether the seas will rise, but how quickly they will do so; and more pertinently for us, what will we do about it. Last June, the UN held its first Ocean Conference, when countries under extreme threat -- mostly low-lying islands – made poignant pleas to the world community for help against inundation and extinction. However, with an adamant US administration under Donald Trump charting an increasingly isolationist course, leadership is lacking to lead such a charge.

In a sense, we in Guyana defied nature and her processes when the Dutch moved their sugar plantations from up river to the coastland, which was then swampland. As we all should know by now, African slaves were coerced to move millions of tons of earth in digging hundreds of miles of canals and building hundreds of miles of sea and back dams. This created the habitable environment that was five feet under the sea at high tide. At this time, more than eighty percent of our population and about the same percentage of our economic activities are on this sliver of land that stretches from Essequibo to Berbice.

Looking at the cup half full, it may be rather fortuitous that we have finally acquired the wherewithal -- with the expected oil revenues starting in 2020 -- to exercise the option that was long suggested to avoid a catastrophe from rising seas: move our capital, where more than a quarter of our population lives, to higher ground. This, in turn, would have a demonstrator effect on all other endeavours away from the coastland.

The PNC regime, during its first term of office, had proposed the move be made to the northeast, while others have suggested the Rupununi.

The latter option becomes more feasible after the construction of the Lethem-Georgetown-Berbice Highway to the deep-water harbour off the mouth of the Berbice River -- which is on the cards. The Government has also already committed itself towards establishing a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), just as the PPP had done during the last elections, when oil was struck. This unanimity must now be tied to a long term development plan that is based on creating the infrastructure for a green economy that incorporates a gradual shift of our economic epicenter away from the threatened coastland.

While the PNC-led Government has emphasised the need for a green economy, it needs to map out a strategy along the lines of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) adumbrated by the PPP. The rampaging Atlantic should serve as a wake-up call to them to not just wait for our inundation, but work with the Opposition to avert same.

Monster waves hit the Uitvlugt koker on Friday as high tides flooded surrounding communities

Is the Better Hope/LBI NDC incompetent?

Dear Editor, Atlantic Gardens was created by the Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd. as a lovely, peaceful, ocean-side residential area, but this neighbourhood is constantly and openly being violated by lawless and wicked persons in and out of the community, and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) is doing nothing about it.

This upscale area used to be known for its aesthetics, but not anymore.

Here is the situation: 1. A heavy-duty vehicle repair shop just outside Atlantic Gardens, opposite Apex Educational Institute, has taken to storing sections of large vehicles, including cabins and trays, among other paraphernalia within the community, providing criminals with hiding places, from where they have been pouncing on hapless passers-by. The vehicles parked outside my relative’s building are no exception.

Apart from the criminal factor, these vehicle parts

are an eyesore and harbour mosquitoes.

This is driving down property values and rental values in the area. In my relative’s case, two filthy, humungous vehicles, one a hymac and the other a container tractor lorry, were placed opposite their exclusive, executive-style property, and are preventing the property from being rented to diplomats and expatriates because those persons are turned off by the glaring eyesores in the immediate vicinity. Other property owners are experiencing the same difficulties.

2. F u r t h e r m o r e , Atlantic Gardens has become a romping ground for horses owned by negligent persons. These horses roam the streets at all hours, greedily eating decorative plants, defecating anywhere, and driving terror into residents who are in constant danger of being trampled or kicked. It is reported that some children were kicked by the horses.

The animals are also a traf-

fic hazard.

3. The situation is compounded by the fact that an auto sales and vehicle repair shop has been established at an inconvenient location opposite the entrance of Atlantic Gardens. Every day, road users in Atlantic Gardens risk life and limb because the vehicles being attended to at this auto-body, auto sales and mechanic shop are parked on the reserves, preventing drivers from swerving to avoid accidents with speeding vehicles heading to the highway from within Atlantic Gardens. The citizens cannot use the reserves for any useful purpose.

I have nothing against people and their businesses, but I contend that such operations are best suited to commercial districts and/ or private lands or properties where vehicles can be parked for repairs and sale.

This situation does not affect me alone; the general well-being of residents has been significantly diminished, and the aesthet-

ic beauty of the community has been smeared. All letters and protests to the NDC to intervene and have this situation rectified have been futile.

I wrote to the Better Hope/ LBI NDC -- which collects residents’ rates and taxes and is responsible for the upkeep of the area -- calling for immediate action to fix this problem. They did nothing, which frustrated me to the point of threatening them with a lawsuit, but to no avail.

NDC officials told me that the people are stubborn and refuse to move. This raises some obvious questions.

What about warning letters?

What about taking them to court? What about asking the Ministry of Public Works for support just to create an example? What about asking the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown for assistance? What is stopping the NDC from enforcing the law and removing them forcibly?

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Snr

How are we paying for the 2018 imports?

Dear Editor, The sugar production at the end of 2017 was 138,070 tonnes, the lowest since Hoyte took action to stem the free fall in sugar production under the PNC in the late 1980s -- when production hit rock bottom at 129,920 tonnes.

On that foundation, the PPP came to office, and engineered sugar exports averaged US$124 million per year between 1993 and 2014. When we compare the three years under this post2015 PNC-led Granger administration, sugar exports averaged US$72 million per year, a whopping 41% decline. The projected sug-

ar exports for 2018 are expected to be worth less than US$50 million.

This is the Granger legacy, one laced with under-performance and poor execution managing the sugar industry.

If one evaluates how much of this 138,070 tonnes was produced by the now closed estates (Rose Hall, Skeldon, and Enmore), one finds that these estates collectively produced 49,414 tonnes of sugar. This translates to only 88,656 tonnes being produced in 2017 by those estates that were left open in 2018. What does this mean for 2018 sugar production?

GuySuCo has a 2018 target of 103,002 tonnes, but we are all now aware that is nothing but a bogus figure. GuySuCo will not surpass a production of 100,000 tonnes of sugar in 2018 because, clearly, it does not have the factory capacity to support such an ambition.

Based on the GuySuCo 2018 projections I have seen, they are expected to generate an export value of approximately US$49 million in 2018.

This is far cry from the annual US$135 million - US$150 million that GuySuCo deposited into the Treasury for 10 years, up until 2014, when the destruction of the Raj Singh/

Donald Ramotar leadership kicked in. The Granger team promised they would make a difference, but they lied, and actually made the situation much worse.

When we asked team Granger what they were doing to fill this financial gap as a result of low sugar exports, we continued to hear from the Granger boys and girls that gold and oil do the job and take the nation to the “good life”.

If you check the statistics in the Bank of Guyana Reports, team Granger clearly does not have a handle on the facts. continued on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

SunDAY, march 4, 2018

5

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana must move to a marijuana industry Dear Editor, It was announced on February 28 that the world’s largest marijuana company has signalled its intention to be listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Also, more than 33 states in the USA have legalised marijuana, for medical and/or recreational use.

Uruguay, North Korea and other countries have fully legalised marijuana.

What these states and countries have in common are strong and growing economies, because of the revenue being collected from taxes and trade. It is

also important to note that the Netherlands, which was one of the first to legalize Marijuana, has a crime rate that is less than most countries in the world, to the point where that country is actually closing some of its prisons.

If Guyana wants to find a viable alternative to the sugar industry, which is now in crisis, why not invest in marijuana as an agricultural, research and product manufacturing economy.

We have the land and the agricultural know-how to transition to this crop very easily, and its return on in-

vestment would be much higher than rice and sugar combined.

The marijuana industry generated US$ 6.7 billion in revenue in North America in 2016, and is projected to grow to US$20 billion by 2021. In Colorado alone, the industry generated US$1 billion in sales in 2015, and that state collected US$150 million in taxes and fees.

All this in just a few years, while countries like Guyana are doing the opposite by spending tax payers’ money to send people to prison, while other countries are using those people to grow

their economies.

Any Government that does not reform its marijuana laws is doing an injustice to its citizens, and I am surprised that we have not yet tabled a bill to reform our laws to pave the way for a marijuana industry.

We should be thinking of ways to replace the sugar cane fields with marijuana plants and setting up research facilities and factories to produce all the countless products that come from marijuana, which include medicines, clothes, cosmetics and other industrial products. We

When frustration begins to sink in Dear Editor, The present Coalition Government is in the news again where unethical and vulgar repetitions were used by one of its members. In this instance, lewd and vulgar outbursts were again uttered by a minister of Government. It seems that this coalition Government has come to notoriety with these public displays of vulgarity, and the occurrences are all too often and familiar when frustration has reached saturation point.

The minister in question was being asked a simple question, to which he showed gross contempt and disrespect for the media worker, so when he was further prodded for a sensible answer, he arrogantly responded with the now infamous "haul your ass"

response. This is low, undignified, street corner behaviour for a minister of Government. If he had nothing noteworthy to say, he could have simply ignored the question; but responding in the way he did truly reveals the mettle of the man.

In retrospect, Ramjattan apologised for his action, but he has to accept the fact that the evil deed has been done, and there is no mitigation for his actions. The point is: this minister is frustrated because his ministry is in a quandary as to what is the best strategy that can be utilized to combat the multitude of issues, such as suicide, rape, joblessness, armed robberies and murder that have so engulfed his ministry. So the poor guy is in dire straits. These and the ever superabundance of

scandals that have rocked his ministry weighs heavily on him, so, he did the thing, which is so characteristic of this administration; and that is, to lash out in contemptuous fury, "Haul your ass!"

But lest we be too judgmental and hard on Ramjattan, we just have to step backwards a few months ago, when the present attorney general was caught in a similar situation. At that instance, he was cross-examining a witness on the stand, and in similar fashion, when he could not get his way, he also lashed out in threatening disgust at the judge. Not being able to elicit the desired response from a witness brought out the baseness in his thinking. What is of grave significance here is the fact that not only did he

make a threat on the judge, but he vehemently refused to apologize. Interesting!

Finally, one of the hallmarks of this administration is its members’ penchant for expletives and violent outbursts whenever they are cornered. They do so at will, however and whenever they see fit, no matter how stupid and dangerous it may be.

There are no boundaries for their lawlessness, there is just that total disregard for law and order, or civilized behaviour.

Guyana can be considered a forward thinking, educated and talented society, and as such, I do not see why we should be burdened with such decadence.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

should be setting up marijuana resorts for tourism like the Netherlands, and differentiate ourselves as an organic producer of quality weed.

Once again, we are not taking the opportunity to seize a moment to diversify our income streams for the country; instead, we are all focused on Exxon and the 1% oil contract. We must open our eyes and see that most, if not all, countries of coloured people, with the exception of some

Middle Eastern states, have not seen much prosperity from oil. The list is long, and ranges from Nigeria to Equatorial Guinea to Angola and others.

Let’s not depend solely on our politicians to bring us economic liberation, because we will be waiting for a very, very long time. We must start thinking of our country as our own, and demand a better future.

Sincerely, Malcolm Watkins

How are we paying...

There is very limited oil related cash-inflow today, because most of it is now being channeled through Trinidad rather than Guyana, for obvious reason; Trinidad is better prepared to service the oil sector.

Then the gold declaration was below its target in 2017, and gold export has been flat compared to the previous year. So who really do these economic charlatans think they are fooling, other than themselves?

So how are we paying for the 2018 imports?

The plan of team Granger

from page 4

is to draw-down more of the gross international reserves, which is our savings in foreign currency. This is nothing but the destruction of saved wealth. It was done in the 1980s under Burnham, and now it is being done again today under Granger.

Isn’t it time they update their economic model?

It is disgusting that, after all these years, they have learned so little on the principle of how to run an economy.

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

6

SunDAY, march 4, 2018

Page

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Ways to explore

How to get your child interested in astronomy

By Pam Myers, BSEd

C

hildren have their own innate interests and parents should always encourage them.

But subjects like astronomy needs an introduction, as its presence in our day to day life is almost nil. All the more, not only it could turn out to be a career option, but also learning about astronomy and the wonderful universe would give the children a broader vision and outlook about life in general.

One of the most exciting events in the history of humans was the moon landing in 1969. When the two astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, walked on the moon for the first time, the whole world celebrated. That single event made lots of children dreaming about a career in the aerospace industry. Now, decades later, space exploration has again captured mainstream media attention with privately funded organizations like SpaceX openly speaking about their mission to Mars. The Lunar surface is also about to be explored more as the hu-

man race bravely steps out of its comfort zones. As a whole, governments around the world have realized the importance of venturing out and seeking habitable planets is vital to the survival of our species.

Five simple steps to get your child interested in astronomy Paint the ceilingThis is one of the easiest and effective ways to get your kid’s attention turn to the skies. You can use any image like a night sky, stars, moon, the solar system or even that of a galaxy. You can do this as soon as the baby is old enough to recognize images. Now there is glow in the dark paints available which will brighten up the ceiling like real night skies. Moreover, it will provide hours of fun for the tiny tots along with some necessary learning about astronomy.

Take your kids star gazing As your children become old enough to go out, parents can resort to the oldest method by which humans used to observe the heav-

the night sky

with your kids

enly bodies: star gazing.

On clear cloudless nights, make them observe the skies from your backyard or even your rooftop. Make sure that you don’t miss out on any extraordinary events like a lunar eclipse or a meteor shower. Also, there are times during the year when other planets like Mars, Venus, and even Jupiter are clearly visible to the naked eye. This is one activity that can be incorporated and turned into some fun family time. Make stargazing your main aim while camping. Choose a location like a hilltop where the sky is not obscured by trees and the visibility is good. Your children will love some quiet time where they can just sit around a campfire, look above with dreamy eyes and wonder what lies beyond.

Buy them some books on astronomyOlder children who like reading books will certainly prefer to know more about space through books. While most parents can boast about only the basics of astronomy, books provide a much deeper and accurate picture of the skies. As your

kids grow you can buy them books which are more scientific and in-depth in their subject matter. Little children will definitely love books with lots of pictures.

Buy a telescopeA Telescope provides a closer, more detailed view of the objects in the sky. It can do wonders for a child’s imagination and his interests could grow multifold. But, remind yourself that telescope is expensive and only buy them if your kids really show an interest in knowing more about astronomy. Children are curious by nature and love asking questions. If you want your kids to know about astronomy, you should be prepared to answer some questions from them. So, brushing up your memory or learning about celestial objects and their positions in the sky is a must for parents in order to answer your kid’s query. And an active participation from the parents makes kids more enthusiastic about stargazing with you. (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

TO BE CONTINUED

By Jacquie Fisher

A

re your kids curious about the night sky?

Do they stump you with questions like “How many stars are in the sky?” or “Why does the moon change?”

There are lots of fun ways your family can learn more about the night sky together, right from your own backyard or kitchen table. In this article I’ll show you six easy ways to introduce your kids to astronomy and feed their fascination with space – no telescope required.

1. Read about the moon and stars Story time is a great way to introduce children to new topics or expand their current knowledge. My kids always like to learn new words they can impress me with and reading together is one of the best ways to do this.

Astronomy has a whole vocabulary of its own they can show off!

There are many wonderful books you can read together about the moon, stars and other things you see in the sky. Check some of these out next time you’re at the library or bookstore.

The Moon Seems to Change by Franklyn Branley (ages 4-8) The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons (age 5+) There’s No Place like Space by Tish Rabe (ages 4-8) Magic Tree House: Space

by Mary Pope Osborne (ages 7-10) Zoo in the Sky by Jacqueline Mitton (ages 6-9) The Big Dipper by Franklyn Branley (ages 4-8) Find the Constellations by R A Rey (ages 9-12)

2. Head outside and locate constellations On a clear evening, spend some time outside looking at the stars together. It’s a fun activity to do after a hike or a picnic dinner and it’s just as fun to simply turn off the TV or computer and step outside for a while – no planning required!

We’ve had the best luck with seeing constellations and even some viewable planets by heading away from the streetlights. Some stars have names. Others are actually planets.

Occasionally you can even see the international space station zooming past.

Try SkyView for iPhone, iPod or iPad. With these apps, all you need to do is hold your phone up to the sky. Your phone or tablet’s camera will read the stars to identify the location of the sky above you. You’ll be able to see the constellations on the screen as you try to search for them in the sky directly above. It’s pretty cool.

If you have an Android, you can use an app such as Star Chart.

Note: The sky map for your area will change with the seasons as the earth’s tilt shifts so make sure that you have the correct map for the current season or things will seem confusing. Sea & Sky has a complete list of constellations that can be viewed each month.

There are some wonderful celestial events that occur each year and many can be viewed with the naked eye. Kids will enjoy viewing the sky during these events. (Excerpt frommykidsadventures.com)

news

7

SunDAY, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Regional banks among targets for $30B GuySuCo financing …as negotiations continue to secure funding

T

he $30 billion financing which the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) is seeking to continue operations at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is expected to come from sources that include regional banks.

This is according to sources close to NICIL. However, when contacted, NICIL’s Public Relations Consultant, Alex Graham, noted that it was still too early to say exactly from where the funds would be garnered. He noted that negotiations are ongoing in this regard.

“Some might be loans, some might be investments… The negotiations and discussions (are) now being conducted with a variety of banks and financial institutions. More than likely it won’t come from one (source),” he disclosed.

It has recently emerged that NICIL’s Special Purpose Unit (SPU) was seeking some $30 billion in loans and investments to support its new ward -- GuySuCo. It has also been related that this funding would cover a four-year period, and will provide capital and support infrastructure maintenance and upgrades at Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt. The funds are also expected to go towards developing new co-generation capacity for the estates’ operations and the national electricity grid.

GuySuCo has a history of debt; at the end of 2015, the corporation owed $78.6 billion. As at January last year, that debt showed a margin-

the estates seen as “fully functioning operations and facilities”.

This, it is understood, is because the company felt that closed estates would not attract the best of inves-

al decrease to $77 billion.

GuySuCo owes money to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and other entities.

One of NICIL’s first acts since assuming responsibility for GuySuCo has also been to abruptly end the life of the old Board of Directors.

Coming out of a special board meeting, a decision was taken to have a new board installed as of February 14.

The NICIL Board has also handed down instructions to GuySuCo to freeze all hiring.

According to NICIL’s Public Relations Consultant Alex Graham, instructions have also been handed down to not renew any employee contract that is in the process of expiring.

DDL

The Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) had, in January, submitted an Expression of Interest (EoI)

for the purchase of one of the estates. This was even as the SPU was seeking interested buyers for the Skeldon and Enmore estates.

DDL, which produces the international award-winning El Dorado Rum, has raised concerns over Government’s plans to downsize the sugar sector.

The company heavily depends on molasses for its production.

It is understood that both the unit and DDL have been exploring the possibility of the company investing in the current crop at Enmore through advance payments on the molasses. Talks are also ongoing for DDL to participate in the management of the estate.

The unit had expressed in a press release that PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which has been blacklisted in India, has been evaluating GuySuCo’s assets and had raised concerns about the need to have

tors and prices. According to the unit, if approved by the NICIL Board, the DDL deal would allow the SPU to meet PwC’s recommendations.

Government had moved to close the Enmore

and Rose Hall sugar estates, as well as sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory.

Government’s explanation for downsizing the industry has always been a need to cut costs.

8 news

SunDAY, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Constable shot in Charlestown while assisting injured colleague

A

Rural Constable attached to the Brickdam Police Station is now nursing a gunshot wound to his lower back following a shooting incident at Laing Avenue, Charlestown, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, the Constable was assisting a Joint Services Corporal to the hospital after he was beaten by a group of irate patrons at an unapproved sporting event on Friday evening.

Reports are that at about 23:00h on Friday, the Joint Service Corporal, who was hired by the promoter as a security, stopped a 29-yearold push-cart vendor from selling in front of the event.

This prompted an argument between the two men, and things quickly escalated. The Corporal, who was armed with a cutlass, dealt the vendor one chop to the left arm, and a mob then attacked and assaulted the

Corporal.

Upon realising that the Corporal was injured, the constable picked him up, placed him in his motorcar, and was driving off when a patron discharged a round, hitting the Constable to his back.

The two security officers and the vendor were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where the Constable underwent emergency surgery and the cor-

poral was treated and sent away. He was, however, taken into custody to assist with the investigations.

The vendor who was chopped to the hand was admitted to the hospital but was subsequently discharged.

The vehicle belonging to the Joint Services rank was initially left at the scene, but was discovered in a trench in close proximity to the dance.

Investigations are ongoing.

Five Star Backdam killing

Accused to lead defence tomorrow

…3 family members set to testify

M

arlon Marion Freeman will on Monday testify and call three other witnesses as his High Court trial draws to a close. This was announced by his lawyer, Folio Richards, who informed the presiding judge, Justice James Bovell-Drakes, late last week that the defendant’s relatives: Wendy, Kellon and Sylvester Freeman, will be called to support his case.

It was also disclosed to the court that the accused will also lead his own defence before the 12-member jury. Richards has also requested an adjournment, which was granted by Justice Bovell-Drakes.

This announcement in the weeks-long trial follows the Prosecution’s closing its case last week on the contention that it has called enough witnesses to the stand.

Freeman is accused of murdering miner Timothy Adams at Turtle Creek, Five Star Backdam, North West District (NWD) on December 22, 2013. The State is alleging that Freeman killed Adams before stealing his gold, following a confrontation between the two; but Freeman has maintained his innocence.

Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh last Monday testified to having conducted the post-mortem

examination on Adams, who was killed while en route to a mining camp. Dr Singh related seeing an abrasion to the left side of Adams’s face, a cut to the foot, and a cut to the top and back of the head. He gave the cause of death as haemorrhage and shock, compounded by blunt force trauma to the head.

Police Detective Corporal Bryan James had testified earlier in the trial that while giving the caution statement that he had penned in relation to the accused, Freeman had admitted that he might have killed Adams, because he thought the miner was going to pull a gun after he had confronted him over money that was owed to him. Bryan, who administered the caution statement on December 25, 2013 in the presence of then Police Constable Zane Williams,

Murder accused Marlon Freeman

had indicated that Freeman had said he first went to work with his uncle at Five Star Backdam, but after they “got wrong”, he went to work at Gavin Blacks’ mining camp. turn to page 15

Black Hole…

V

…in Venezuela

enezuela is well on its way to becoming a “Sh*t Hole” in the world state system. It was formed very remarkably like “Black Holes” in our cosmos.

First was the spectacular explosion (supernova) by the revolutionary Hugo Chávez, who announced his messianic vision for a workers’ utopia. Not much different from Forbes Burnham here in 1974 with his “Declaration of Sophia”. Grandiloquent megalomania!!

That, of course, like all supernovas, collapsed under the gravitational pull of its own contradictions – and will continue to do so until not even a beam of light can leave.

It then becomes a “Black/Sh*t Hole”. Burnham took just one decade to reach this state, while Chávez and Maduro took two. And just like with us, Venezuelans are pouring out of their miserable, collapsed country like cosmic rays and seeking refuge in every country that will accept them.

Or not. There was news of a Magistrate fining one poor refugee $50,000 for entering Guyana illegally. Another news item spoke of Region One’s health system being “overwhelmed” by Venezuelan refugees. It’s clear our authorities have forgotten how Guyanese were allowed to remain in Venezuela after they fled Burnham’s Black/S*it Hole – and given all rights to their social services.

We know we have our own challenges with those 7000 unemployed sugar workers…but this does not justify us fining and expelling folks simply trying to survive. How can we be so heartless? Have we become like Trump? Is Felix going to send his immigration troops to hunt down and expel Venezuelans? But another question is raised, which this PNC-led Government has obdurately refused to answer.

To wit: What are they doing about the 50,000+ Guyanese who’re now threatened by Venezuela collapse? Shouldn’t we try to facilitate their return before it’s too late, when nothing and no one can get out?? These are our own flesh and blood…we cannot abandon them another time. The Government should send teams to contact the Guyanese communities in San Felix and Puerto Ortaz, etc, and work out a structured extraction programme.

Preparations must be made to reintegrate them back into Guyanese life. Their children will need birth certificates, etc, to enter school. Some Guyanese have already returned on their own – and are telling some heart-rending stories of “sufferation”. Are we not our brothers’ (and sisters) keepers? Some of these individuals may have developed skills that can be useful for our development.

If we refuse to rise to the occasion then we deserve Trump’s appellation of being a “Sh*t Hole” country. There are some in this Government who’ve become arrogant at the 4-billion bbl oil find off our shores.

They should remember Venezuela’s reserves are over 300 billion bbl!!

…in Barbados memory

Remember that expression, “You could’ve knocked me down with a feather”? Well, your Eyewitness is picking himself up (slowly!) after the Barbados Prime Minister complained about Caricom demanding visas for Haitians to enter their countries!! Can you believe this? Here it is Guyanese, who were merely passing through Barbados’ Grantley Adams Airport on their way to America or elsewhere, were harassed mercilessly by Bajan immigration, and he’s now concerned about Haitians getting visas?!!

What a hypocrite!! Has the fellow forgotten how they treated that Jamaican young woman Myrie – and violated her “cavities” – that she had to take them all the way to the CCJ? And won! The stories of Bajan arrogance to West Indians – other than possibly Trinis – are legion. But it’s possible that the Bajan PM is seeing the writing on the wall – helped by the stream of IMF experts who’ve pronounced on his nation’s meltdown.

He probably knows Bajans will soon be like every other Sh*t Hole Third world country.

They’ll soon be knocking on our gates!!

…and the Atlantic

It did seem the Atlantic wants to reclaim the coastland we painfully stole from her over the past four hundred years!!

Your Eyewitness is still awed by the force of those waves.

He wonders how those “rip rap” structures are holding up.

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

news

Armed bandits rob Kuru Kururu woman

A

s there continues to be mounting concerns over the increase of persons being trailed and robbed from commercial banks, a Kuru Kururu, Linden/Soesdyke Highway woman is the latest victim of this modus operandi.

Gail Doman, 44, a housewife of Lot 145 Kuru Kururu, was robbed of her shoulder bag which contained $100,000, a GBTI bank book, National Identification card, a S6 Active cellular phone worth $100,000, a gold chain value $30,000 and her car keys.

She along with businessman, Mangal Vishnudatt, was attacked by two men, who were armed with a handgun at about 11:30h on Saturday.

The incident occurred in front of Vishnudatt’s Lot 1 Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara (EBD) residence, where he operates a machine shop. The busi-

nessman was also relieved of $10,000 cash and a cellphone valued $4000.

According to reports, Doman went to the bank in Diamond, EBD, at about 11:00h to make a withdrawal and then proceeded to Vishnudatt’s machine shop to make a purchase.

Upon Doman’s arrival, Vishnudatt was standing in front his residence and the two began conversing.

A short while after, a silver-grey fielder wagon motor car bearing registration

Bandit robs Policeman of $240, phone

H

ours after robbing a Police Officer of $240 and a mobile phone, the perpetrator, a resident of Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, was apprehended and is expected to make his court appearance on Monday.

Based on information received, a 23-year-old Police Officer was walking along Hinck Street, Georgetown on Friday when the suspect, who was armed with a pair of shears, pounced and relieved him of the items after

which he escaped.

The Policeman, however, did not try to engage the robber but instead, he made a thorough observation of him and promptly informed his supervisors.

Soon after, a team comprised of a Cadet Officer went to the Stabroek Market area and arrested the suspect under the “Clock”.

He was found in possession of the victim’s phone as well as the instrument used in the commissioning of the crime.

Another Venezuelan fined, deported

V

enezuelan national Alexander Betancourt, who has admitted to entering Guyana illegally, was on Friday arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman on an illegal entry charge for which he was fined $50,000 and ordered deported.

In admitting his guilt, the 35-year-old said he had come to Guyana in search of a job.

The Prosecution’s contention was that on November 2, 2017, at Eteringbang, Cuyuni River, Betancourt entered Guyana by sea, and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer.

Police prosecutor Sean Gonsalves related to the court that Police were conducting a road block exercise when they stopped a car in which the Venezuelan was travelling. He was asked by an officer to produce his passport, but informed officers that he “didn’t have one”.

Accordingly, he was taken to the CID Headquarters, where an investigation was carried out.

Magistrate Latchman’s imposed fine carries the stipulation that Betancourt’s failure to pay same would result in the Venezuelan having to serve one month’s imprisonment.

number HC 8265 pulled up and the two suspects exited from the front seats. They confronted the victims, holding them at gunpoint and relieved them of their belongings.

The bandits then made good their escape in a southern direction.

The matter was reported, and an investigation has been launched. The Police have since obtained CCTV footage and are on the hunt for the two suspects.

9

SunDAY, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

10 news

SunDAY, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

After 2 years

Govt finally moves to set-up Law Reform Commission …candidates sought to sit on body

A

fter a long wait, the Government has finally begun the process of seeking candidates to serve on the Law Reform Commission (LRC).

In a notice published in the local newspapers, the Legal Affairs Ministry is soliciting applications from eligible candidates to sit on the Commission, which will be tasked with reviewing many of Guyana’s laws inherited from colonial times.

According to the Ministry, the Commission’s Terms of Reference will include “keeping under review the laws of Guyana with a view to its systematic development and reform, including in particular the modification of any branch of the law, the elimination of anomalies, the repeal of obsolete and unnecessary enactments.”

The Ministry also noted that the Commissioners, who will be employed on a fulltime basis, will be focused on reducing separate enactments; simplifying and modernising the laws of Guyana.

January 2016, In Government had approached the National Assembly,

The National Assembly may be forced to revisit a number of laws if an implemented commission fulfils its mandate

passed the Law Reform Commission Act no. 4 of 2016 and appropriated millions for the Commission’s establishment. But the Commission was not established, with its future in limbo up until Jordan’s announcement.

According to the Act, the Commission will have the duty to “keep under review all the law applicable to Guyana with a view to its systematic development and reform, including in particular the modification of any branch of the law, the elimination of anomalies, and the repeal of obsolete and unnecessary enact-

ments.”

It is also mandated by the law to receive and consider suggestions for the reform of the law. These suggestions, according to the Act, can be made on the invitation of the Commission and can come from Judges, public officials, lawyers and the general public.

The Commission also has to “prepare and submit to the Minister specific programmes for the examination of different branches of the law with a view to reform including recommendations as to whether such examination should be carried out by the Commission or some other body.”

In order to fulfil its functions, it is allowed to set up law reform committees that would examine particular aspects of the law to make their These recommendations. committees, according to Section 8 (2) of the Act, do not have to be restricted to legal professionals.

During his budget presentation, Attorney General

Basil Williams had argued that the Commission would undo the laws Guyana inherited from the United Kingdom before independence, “many (of which) are archaic and irrelevant to our society.”

There are a number of legislative acts likely to be scrutinised and changed if the Commission comes on stream. This includes the laws pertaining to the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), laws criminalising same sex relations and laws regarding possession of marijuana.

However, the fact that the bill allows the President to make appointments to the Commission did not sit well with the parliamentary Opposition. Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has been vociferous in declaring that nominees should be made from different groups.

In its recommendations, the People’s Progressive Party had noted that the Association of Legal Professionals, the University of Guyana, Private Sector Commission, the religious community, labour unions, human rights groups and the political Opposition should be represented.

The Opposition has also raised persistent question about the usage of the appropriated monies for the non-existent Commission. At least $20 million had been included in the 2017 Budget Estimates for the purchase of office furniture, laptops and desk top computers and to rent a building. At the time, the building had not even been identified to the public.

Latin expression

S

atiricus was in awe at nature’s fury. He looked at the pictures of the Atlantic waves hitting the sea wall and careening 30 feet into the air and fell mute. As he ambled over to the Back Street Bar, he just couldn’t shake the image from his mind.

“Imagine if that wave fell on my head!” Satiricus exclaimed as he sat down and accepted a beer from the waitress.

“Me know yuh a think ‘bout dem wave pan de sea wall!” grinned Bungi. “Da jus’ Gaad a play Phagwah wid dem Wes’ Coas’ people!!”

“Well if Gaad bin a play Phagwah, look like he prappa vex!” observed Cappo, who hadn’t quite gotten the abeer out from his hands and face.

“Yep!” said Hari. “He’s saying ‘If you want water, tek water!!”

“Talkin’ about ‘vex”, a wha’ mek Rum Jhaat suh vex de adda day?” Bungi asked Satiricus, who was polishing off his beer.

“You mean when he told those reporters, ‘Hall yuh ass’?” asked Satiricus with a smile.

“Yeah,” answered Bungi as the other fellas looked on with interest.

“Budday! I told you fellas before,” said Satiricus. “The man isn’t angry when he uses that term!”

“C’mon Sato,” said Hari. “You know he was teed off at those reporters asking him an inconvenient question.”

“Naah!” said Satiricus, who was in a good mood after the Holi festivities. “Rum Jhaat is a highly trained lawyer and that is a Latin term.”

“Na mek joke wid abee,” said Cappo scoffingly. “De man cuss dem reporta!”

“Yeah,” affirmed Bungi. “’E cyaan tek crank up!”

“OK, Sato,” said Hari resignedly. “What did Rum Jhaat say in Latin?”

“Well, the word “ass” is an abbreviation of the Latin word, “asser”, pontificated Satiricus. “Meaning ‘bar”!”

“Suh Rum Jhaat tell dem reporta fuh “hall dem bar”?” asked Cappo incredulously.

“That’s right!” announced Satiricus. “Rum Jhaat was going to his car and they were “barring” his way!”

“What about this Latin, Sato?” laughed Hari. “You and Rum Jhaat full a Sh*t!!”

They all drank to that.

news

11

SunDAY, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

PSC to host oil and gas symposium

W

Our continued colonisation

By Ryhaan Shah

I

t’s a myth that Guyana is an independent country. It’s not just the large number of aid packages granted to successive post-colonial governments that puts paid to that idea but the very notion of freedom is undermined by our own State policies and actions which allow foreign interests to dictate our future. Massa day has never been done. We simply exchanged one colonial rule for the domination of another and where there was once sugar, there is now oil.

The US and British collusion with Forbes Burnham that placed him in power in 1964 and propped up the People’s National Congress’s (PNC) dictatorial rule is textbook neocolonialism that supported an ideology. That saga is well known and is recorded in history: US Cold War interests meant keeping Dr Cheddi Jagan out of office and the Americans found a willing partner for their strategy in Burnham.

As with colonialism, neo-colonialism is destructive to the targeted country. The US and its allies cared little about Burnham and the PNC’s institutionalised racism, its economic and political corruptions, its murders and thuggery and the wholesale social and cultural breakdown that destroyed the country. It was another round of colonial wreckage and the willing local participants at the helm made the betrayal that more repugnant.

Neo-colonialists operate by establishing good relationships with a territory’s ruling class or a section favourable to their plans in order to use them to further their own interests. It’s no secret that the US and its allies forged the APNU/AFC alliance that leveraged the PNC back into power. The PNC had served them well once before and appear quite willing to serve their interests again.

When sugar was king, it drove the rapacious, capitalist policies that exploited not only land but people to boost the profit margin. It promoted the slavery of Africans and further exploited the poor of various countries – India, China, Indonesia, Portugal – through bound labour for meagre wages and under working conditions that had changed little from slavery.

Sugar’s profitability has waned but the industrial world now has a bottomless appetite for oil to drive their manufacturing industries, and the discoveries in Guyana should put our country on the threshold of a new and lucrative economic sector that could finally lift us out of our impoverished state.

But that is not to be.

The innumerable shortcomings of the contract signed between ExxonMobil and the Ganger Government continue to cause alarm. It appears that the benefits to be gained by our country will be minimal compared to those that will be reaped

by ExxonMobil.

Attorney and accountant Christopher Ram states: “The Granger Government has not only emasculated itself but every succeeding Government up to the year 2056 and beyond depending on the rate of exploration and exploitation of what is possibly the largest petroleum area to have ever been granted to a foreign oil company by any sovereign state in the world in the post-colonial era.”

In an attempt to come to the Granger Government’s defence, Sherwood Lowe, in a letter to the press, reminded readers of the quote that “the worst thing for a developing country than being exploited is not being exploited”.

The quote, he stated, was coined by Shridath Ramphal and other “thinkers” in 1978 as part of the South-South Dialogue.

For anyone to view exploitation – which means “taking advantage of” according to any dictionary – as a good thing, especially that of a poor country by a wealthy corporate body, is indecent. But then the quote came from Ramphal who was a willing cohort of Burnham and an active participant in that era of neo-colonial exploitation.

It is not just that the same players – local and foreign – are at the helm again but that the same indecent arguments advanced during Guyana’s previous exploitation under the PNC dictatorship are being resurrected – because, essentially, there is nothing decent that can be said to defend the indefensible.

The unequal exchange of Guyana’s oil for a pittance of ExxonMobil’s profits has been guaranteed for a generation and more and the Granger Government, even in the face of continued criticisms of the signed contract, appears unwilling to even consider a renegotiation that would give more parity to the exchange and guarantee some much-needed home-grown wealth that would push development.

The unwillingness raises questions about whether the creation of the PNC/Alliance For Change coalition and its leverage into power was part of a quid pro quo agreement.

Granger’s unilateral appointment of the GECOM chair has raised further suspicions about the probable rigging of the 2020 General Elections to favour the PNC and assure ExxonMobil that its exploitative interest in our country’s oil reserves remains secure.

ith first oil expected in two years’ time, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is looking to educate local businesses on the emerging sector so they can capitalise on the opportunities that will become available.

To this end, the Commission has organised a one-day oil and gas symposium for Tuesday, March 6, 2018. The event, which will be held under the theme “Perspectives for the Local Private Sector” at the Duke Lodge in Kingston, Georgetown, will serve as a platform to enlighten local businesses on the emerging oil and gas industry.

Speaking with Guyana Times, President of PSC, Eddie Boyer, explained that following Government’s inaugural petroleum summit – GIPEX – which had scores of local and foreign investors attending to explore local investment opportunities, the Commission recognised the need for such an event.

“We wanted to put on something that would bring the local Private Sector more in understanding of the oil

and gas industry and so we tailored this symposium to address the local content and the participation of our local businesses,” he stated.

Boyer believes it is imperative that local businesses are in tune with and understand the emerging oil and gas industry so that they can be able to benefit from it.

“We see this industry as one where Guyanese have to participate in. We’re looking at this industry being around for a while and then you think about our future generations having the benefits of what we need to do as students start to make careers in this industry. So we feel that as we get closer to 2020 and knowing about the industry, there will be lots more of these conferences and seminars and we urge people to come out and support so they can have a better understanding of the industry especially as it relates to local businesses,” he noted.

The whole-day symposium will address a number of issues and will see presentations done by experts in the field. Canadian expert consultant on oil and gas,

PSC President Eddie Boyer

Cuneyt Tirmandi, will deliver the feature presentation on “Oil and Gas in Guyana – Perspectives for the Local Private Sector”.

Tirmandi has extensive experience in the oil and gas sector, having worked in all of the various facets of the industry as a consultant/advisor; as such, he is able to analyse how the local Private Sector can insert itself in the emerging industry.

Presentations will also be done by ExxonMobil’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brassington; Environment Expert Annette

Arjoon-Martins; Centre for Local Business Development; and the Natural Resources Ministry on the framework for the oil and gas industry in Guyana.

The event will be opened with remarks from the PSC President, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Country Representative Sophie Makonnen and Business Minister Dominic Gaskin.

The symposium will wrap up with a panel discussion featuring representatives from the PSC, Guyana Manufacturers and Service Association (GMSA), Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA) and Tourism and Hospital Association of Guyana (THAG).

Registration begins at 08:00h and the event kicks off at 09:00h. The participation fee is set at just $10,000 and spots are limited so interested persons are required to register with the PSC by Monday.

12 news

SunDAY, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Dead Canje bandits

Father says he warned son about criminal lifestyle

T

he father of one of the two bandits fatally shot by Police in Berbice on Friday morning said he warned his son about his criminal lifestyle and advised him to desist from wrongdoing.

Mansaran Sham told Guyana Times that he warned his son on several occasions, recalling the last time he saw his son was three months ago.

During their last meeting, he advised his son to stay out of trouble.

“Normally me and he does gaff and ah does tell him, ‘don’t do wrong things,’ and he tell me he would stop,” the dead man’s father said on Saturday.

Asked what he meant by “wrong things”, the father said stealing.

Prompt response and diligent investigative work by ranks of the Guyana Police Force stationed in Berbice resulted in the death of two bandits, the apprehension of two of four other suspects and the recovery of all of the stolen property. The robbery took place in the Canje River.

The two dead men have been identified as Indarjit Sham, also called “Danny”, 37, of Betsy Ground Village, East Canje; and Amar Bissoon, also called “Punk”, 21, of Adelphi Settlement, East Canje.

According to the Police, at 05:00h on Friday morning, six male suspects, two of whom were armed with guns, went to a ranch house at Potoko Creek, Berbice River and held three male

Dead: Indarjit Sham, also called “Danny”

Dead: Amar Bissoon, also called “Punk”

labourers at gunpoint. The bandits stole 23 sheep, 15 ducks, a solar panel, a radio, a quantity of rope, and other valuables. The items were all loaded onto a waiting boat.

Police were able to intercept a boat in the Berbice River with the two suspects who are in custody, and based on further information, they proceeded to a location where the robbery allegedly occurred and found all of the animals with their legs bound and the other stolen property loaded inside a camouflaged aluminium boat.

Soon after the lawmen were confronted by two of the bandits. They were both shot dead.

The Police have reported that two other suspects escaped and disappeared into the bushes.

“He get lock up plenty times but he does always come out because he never get red-handed catch, so I never know what going on,” the father said on Saturday. He said his son was previously employed as a cane harvester with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Also speaking with this

publication, the dead man’s eldest child said her father left home on Thursday at about 05:00h saying he was going fishing.

She said there was no reason for her father to be involved in questionable activity since he was employed with GuySuCo and her mother worked.

According to the 17-yearold, “is five of us living here and four of us working,” she said.

“When he aint working he does plant garden at home. Sometimes he and me uncle does go and catch fish, they does leave in the morning and come back before afternoon.”

The dead man’s brother told this publication that “I does advise him because people does accuse him of doing wrong things and they never see him, by they just accuse him… I still can’t believe that my brother doing that what happen there.”

The younger sibling said he has no knowledge of the others who were with his brother at the time of the robbery.

M e a n w h i l e , Deputy Commander, Superintendent Wayne Dehart said the Police were responding to a report of theft. According to Deheart, the Police in Berbice is currently carrying out a series of raids along the Berbice and Canje Rivers and as such, it was not difficult to mobilise a marine patrol as soon as they were informed of the robbery.

“The report was that

Deputy Commander Superintendent Wayne Dehart

persons were using long guns,” he explained.

He said the Division is resolute in ensuring the safety of citizens, livestock and property. “We are not letting up in any way.

Sometimes it is going to seem as though we are going too harsh or too hard on everybody. It is not a case where we see everybody as criminals, it is a case where we have to go into certain areas and some law-abiding citizens may be affected.”

He added that those who may be affected will only be affected on a short-term basis. He noted that activities that the police will be conducting from time is to time ensure that criminal activity is minimised and properly investigated.

He is imploring persons to come on board and supply information to the Police. That information will be held in the strictest of confidentiality, he told this publication. (Andrew Carmichael)

300 residents...

from page 3

Disappointment

Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party Member of Parliament for Region Three, Irfaan Ali, and the Tuschen/Uitvlugt NDC announced that sub-groups have been formed and will visit communities in the region and liaise with the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

However, the NDC and MP have expressed disappointment with acting Prime Minister Carl Greenidge and with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) for meeting residents without the NDC and Councillors of the Local Government arm being present.

“We feel disrespected after all our efforts to work in a collaborative manner with the stakeholders.

(Nevertheless,) the local response committee will continue to work in the interest of residents,” the NDC noted.

The Civil Defence Committee has said it is working to organise support for relief efforts within the NDC, having conducted an “on the ground assessment of damages” as a result of the flooding.

“A report is completed and ready to be pre-

Destruction seen from the flood waters

sented to Government for action. Throughout this exercise, the Geographic MP and NDC cooperated with Government officials and CDC in the interest of residents and the community,” it added.

Cleaning agents

The CDC, along with acting Prime Minister Greenidge, has distributed to the affected Region Three residents hampers which include water, mops, bleach and other cleaning agents.

Given that many homes were abandoned, Minister Greenidge has cautioned against erecting structures that block drainage networks or are near sea de-

fences, even as calls are being made to move the capital city and other densely populated areas away from the coast.

Meantime, over 50 displaced residents were scheduled to be relocated to the Uitvlugt Community Ground on Saturday evening.

The high tides are expected to last until Monday, and precautionary measures are still being encouraged, such as moving all animals and poultry to higher ground; elevating furniture, appliances and electronic equipment; unplugging all appliances and electrical equipment in lower flats; and using sandbags around doors to buildings. (Shemuel Fanfair)

news

13

SunDAY, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

On movies and culture

S

ome were surprised at the reaction of people of African Origin to the Marvel movie “Black Panther”, which elicited such a deep cultural outpouring exhibited in clothes and music. I was not, and it had nothing to do with the US$150 million Disney had spent on the publicity on top of the US$200 million budget. It was because, for the first time, here was a film that African audiences could relate to primally because it appeared to them to be authentically African.

It is my hope that now the movie has been commercially successful beyond the producers’ wildest dream (approaching US$1Billion) movies of this kind, affirming the humanity of people of African origin, will continue to be made. I believe it will go very far in improving relations between the two Ravi Dev major groups in Guyana and Trinidad – of African and Indian origins.

I have written of the proclivity of groups placed in the same social space to compare themselves to each other. In the Caribbean, people of African origin had implicitly, if not explicitly, insisted that the “Creole Culture” - formed out of the White/African encounter when the former had enslaved the latter - was the “national culture” and relegated Indian cultural expressions as retrogressive. In this comparison, to be “Guyanese” or “Trinidadian”, the Indian had to jettison his “Indianness” – encompassed in his culture.

Now that the point has been made so powerfully about the adverse consequences of the western impositions on the African psyche in the character of Eric Kilmonger, and of the depth and profundity of African points of views (Wakanda has five different groups working together – a lesson for us?) maybe local people of African origin will appreciate the point I made two decades ago that Creole culture was an “abomination” that must be reevaluated by its adherents.

This re-evaluation, I believe, will lead to a greater appreciation of the attempts by Indians in the Caribbean to retain their culture against the quotidian efforts to strip them of it. I still remember Ms Jocelyn Dow (of the WPA and now Chair of the Forestry Commission) exploding that sometimes when she turns on the TV, she doesn’t know whether she’s in India or not. It was an expression of the deep-seated premise that Indian music or film was not really “West Indian”. I believe that to the extent African Guyanese appreciate African culture and interrogate creole culture, they will resent to a lesser degree Indian cultural expressions. And as I said, Black Panther may trigger this movement, presaged by the “Black Power” movement which was somewhat short circuited after the 1970’s.

For Indians, starting with the first Indian film shown in 1935 (Bala Johan), Indian culture received a great shot in the arm and it revolutionized both its form and content – less than fifteen years after the abolition of Indian indentureship.

Before the introduction of Hindi Films, most of the singing, for instance, was confined to the folk expressions that would have been remembered from their peasant experience.

With Indian movies dominated by songs, new forms were introduced into the local repertoire.

Hinduism was particularly enriched with the Bhajans from the movies – like Tulsidas’ Mujhe Apni Sharan Me Le Lo, by the immortal Mohamed Rafi - practically replacing the older, peasant songs - later ironically to be reprieved in the eighties in the Chutney compositions. The movies of the pre-and post war era were heavily influenced by the need of the average rural Indian to deal with the challenges of modernization by retaining or adapting time-honoured values. The writer remembers vividly movies, for instance, like “Choti Bahin” that emphasized the individual’s responsibility to family (especially sisters) and Dosti, the need for loyalty to friends. There is not an Indian movie that did not extoll the fundamental importance of family – including those like Baghban in the present.

The Indian movie, while refracted through that country’s own commercialized attempts to deal with westernization, yet never lost sight with the essential need for cultural continuity.

Nowadays Holi or Phagwa would be incomplete in both India and its diaspora without the song popularized by Amitabh Bachan – Rang Barse –from the movie classic “Silsila”.

More power to the people through movies!

Motorcycle bandits rob taxi driver of $375,000 T

wo motorcycle bandits on Saturday morning robbed a taxi driver of over $300,000 cash outside of Ashmin’s Store on Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

The incident occurred at about 10:00h as the victim, Rahim Warisali, 45, of Lot 141 Farm, East Bank Demerara, was about to make a purchase.

According to reports, Warisali went to the store to purchase mining parts.

He parked his motorcar – HC 1364 – on Hadfield Street with its front facing South. He then exited the vehicle and was in the process of securing his car when a lone gunman walked up to him and placed a handgun to his neck and ordered him to hand over his money.

Warisali was hesitant to comply resulting in the armed bandit searching his pants pockets, relieving him of $375,000.

The suspect then joined a black XR motorcycle on which an accomplice was waiting. The two then rode off into High Street, heading in the southern

direction.

An investigation into the incident has been

launched. No arrests have been made.

14 news

sunDAY, march 4, 2018| guyanatimesgy.com

GuySuCo fiasco

Stand-off ensues between old, new Chairman and Board – source

D

espite the decision to appoint Special Purpose Unit (SPU) head Colvin HeathLondon as Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the handover has not been a smooth one.

According to a source, Heath-London’s appointment is actually a “contentious” issue; one which has seen officials locked in discussions over the past days.

With much on the plate of the Corporation, including the controlled reopening of a few estates, it is a deadlock some are concerned about.

This publication made contact with the chairmanship nominee, in a bid to ascertain exactly when his appointment would commence but he could not say.

Checks with the National Industrial and Commercial

Proposed Chairman of the new Board, Colvin Heath-London

GuySuCo’s former Chairman, Dr Clive Thomas

Investments Limited’s (NICIL) Public Relations consultant, Alex Graham, were also inconclusive, as he noted he too did not have an official commencement date for Heath-London’s appointment.

“The (old) Board of

Directors came to an end in February,” Graham noted.

“And that is the position as it is tomorrow. The members of the new Board, including the Chairman, have been nominated. And the matter is being discussed by the relevant authorities at the mo-

ment. We will make an announcement from the SPU the moment we have clarity on the decision.”

The old Board of Directors had comprised Economist, Dr Clive Thomas as the Chairman and Frederick Singh as the Secretary. The Directors were Louise Bouyea, Fritz McLean, John Browman, Nigel Cumberbatch, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, Nazim Ali and George Jervis.

A list of the newly proposed Board was circulated in sections of the media.

On that list were Komal Singh, Verna Adrian, Fritz Mc Lean, Rosh Khan (Jr), George Jervis, Arianne Mc Lean, Vishnu Panday, Annette Arjoon-Martins and two GuySuCo executives.

At present, NICIL has direct responsibility for GuySuCo and that agency falls under the Finance Ministry. NICIL’s takeover was made official by a publication contained in an extra-ordinary issue of the Official Gazette dated December 30, 2017, which has responsibility for the divested sugar estates.

However, it was made clear that the takeover does not include any assets, lands or property for the Berbice estates of Albion and Blairmont and the Uitvlugt Estate on the West Coast of Demerara, as those entities will remain under GuySuCo

for the foreseeable future.

Guyana Times was told that Professor Thomas, had been booted after first being appointed to the position in 2015, a few months after the new coalition Government took office.

Heath-London was appointed head of the SPU back in October 2017, after a decision was made by the

the Cabinet has decided to change it. That’s a Cabinet decision.”

Guyana Times also spoke with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on Wednesday who also denied that any such decision was taken.

“Not as far as I am aware, I don’t know of any decision.

There is no appointment that has been made, at least

GuySuCo has much work ahead, including the controlled reopening of several estates

Government to process the selling of GuySuCo assets, including a number of estates.

No changes

When contacted on Wednesday last for a comment, Professor Thomas was at first hesitant to speak but later denied that there were any changes made to the GuySuCo Board. He said, “I don’t know of any changes. I have not been officially informed. The only way the Board could be changed is if

not at Cabinet’s approval.”

Only recently, it was announced that a list for new directors was submitted to Government for approval. The idea was to have a 12-member Board constituted with diverse team members that will lead the industry in its new form and guide decisions going forward as it relates to sugar.

There were reports that Government had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the old Board headed

by Professor Thomas.

news

15

SunDAY, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

‘Saving Guyana from deafness’ campaign yielding results – Dr Quaicoe The changing dynamics of global oil economics (Part 1)

– What does this mean for Guyana within the framework of the Production Sharing Agreement between the Government of Guyana and the multinational oil company?

H

aving concluded the Sovereign Wealth Fund series last week, in a coherent manner, today’s topic sought to extend on the broader oil discussions and analysis, a topic that is seemingly fuelling endless commentaries and public debates with respect to Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with the multinational oil company, in particular. However, this article seeks to examine this topical issue in a more scholastic manner, such that a more comprehensive analysis shall be presented herein (and to be continued next week) – viz-á-viz – by examining some of the fundamental elements and the peculiarities of the changing dynamics of global oil economics.

First of all, it is acknowledged by this columnist that the PSA could have been better on the part of Guyana but, we ought not to place the blame solely on ExxonMobil. In fact, this columnist is of the view that ExxonMobil is not to be blamed at all for the poorly negotiated contract. Instead, the blame lies solely at the feet of the Government of Guyana (GoG) because it would appear – quite logically – that there were no technically competent professionals on the negotiating team when the contract was being renegotiated. The team should have included a financial economist, an investment professional and/or a team of very experienced accountants – this view was also shared by a fellow columnist of another local newspaper, who is a Professor of Economics, Tarron Khemraj.

It is therefore established that the Government erred in this regard but as was pointed out in last week’s article, we need to move on and shift our focus on how the revenues will be utilised to advance massive developmental projects that are needed to enhance the country’s national competitiveness and improve the quality of life of the citizenry. Also, one can only hope that the GoG learned from this lesson and as new opportunities arise in which other oil companies may express interest in Guyana’s oil industry, better negotiated contract (s) should be forthcoming.

Secondly, one cannot ignore the subtle (unwritten) rule when it comes to the negotiation of any contract between any parties (not just a government) and that is, the balance of power dimension. The reality of the world we are living in is such that the dominance of the most powerful always takes precedence. It is only now very few global leaders have endorsed the concept for having a more win-win situation with regards to establishing trade policies and any other form of contracts – and whether it is multilateral and bilateral arrangements. But even in a win-win scenario, such a situation does not guarantee equality in the distribution of the economic benefits because often times when deals are made there is hardly any defined measure designed to accurately establish an equally distributed economically beneficial arrangement. Instead, it is more or less, hinged upon what is perceived to be fair by the parties involved before cementing the finality of an agreement.

To this end, it is a known fact that Guyana has been seeking investors to explore for crude oil for more than two decades now. But only now there has been success in this regard. The reason for this is (perhaps there are others) but the primary reason from an analytical perspective is that these types of exploration and investments are extremely high risk. As such, companies were reluctant to come. Fast forward to today when we have discovered that there is in excess of three billion barrels of recoverable crude oil – up to 2015 – ExxonMobil capital investment was about US$4.0 billion. By 2020, this figure, based on this columnist’s estimation may reach probably US$5 – US$6.0 billion – or possibly less or even more. The important thing is what this figure really means? And it is this that is crucially important. Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as at the end of December 31, 2016 was $711 billion which is equivalent to roughly US$3.4 billion. This means that ExxonMobil’s investment is by far greater than the GDP of Guyana and this alone tells two things (1) it reinforces the humongous power of ExxonMobil in terms of its financial capacity and (2) the enormity of the risk it has undertaken – hence the theory of finance dictates that the greater the risk undertaken by firms – the greater the risk premium – this theory is not just viewed as a mere theory in finance but it is also viewed as being rational, logical and common sense. (To be continued next week) The author is the holder of a MSc. Degree in Business Management, with concentration in Global Finance, Financial Markets, Institutions and 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).

I

t has been 20 years since the Audiology Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) established a campaign to save Guyana from deafness and international social relations, the journey which has continued, is now yielding results.

Audiological Physician at the GPHC, Dr Ruth Quaicoe, explained that deafness begins for most Guyanese due to the constant exposure to loud decibels of sounds from stereos or industrial noises.

She explained that children who are born with hearing impairment, which is a serious condition, must be identified from the inception because if not, their speech cannot be developed.

In Guyana, there are rehabilitative services available which can assist those who are born with congenital hearing loss. According to Quaicoe, if a child who is suffering from a hearing impediment does not receive a hearing aid by the age of five, it is likely that they won’t develop speech for the rest of their life.

Within the first 24 hours of birth, every child who is born at the GPHC undergoes Automated Optoacoustic Emission (AOE) screening.

A final diagnosis is determined when the test is repeated three months later.

The specialist urged all Guyanese to make it their first priority to care for their hearing by wearing protective gear, avoid listening to loud music and resisting the tendencies to consume alcohol.

“If you work at an environment where there is loud music or machines are loud, after the first few days your ear will try to repair

Accused to lead...

from page 8

According to the caution statement, Freeman, a pork-knocker, was promised $5000 a day by Blacks, but after three weeks had passed, he was paid only $30,000. He had enquired from Blacks about his money, and sometime after lunch on the day in question, he bought a “piece of weed” and then saw Adams coming to the camp about 15 minutes later.

According to the caution statement, Freeman also enquired of Adams about his money, saying: “Big man, wam to me money?”

“I see he go to he waist, and I didn’t know if he had a gun or wah, but I had a spoon which I sharpen and I just jook he by he neck and he fall down. After I see he ain’t moving, I get nervous,” the defendant reportedly said. He then allegedly left the scene.

He also claimed that the gold he later gave a female was not taken from the deceased man, but it was gold that he had in his possession. The case continues March 5.

Dr Quaicoe making checks on a newborn at the GPHC

itself so the hearing comes back so we have a temporary threshold shift whereby you lose your hearing and then it comes back. But after about 10 years the hearing doesn’t come back, the threshold will be lost and all you can rely on is your residual hearing,” Quaicoe explained.

Hearing loss can also be attributed due to a person’s lifestyle, which includes non-communicable diseases (NCDs), working in a noisy industrial site and listening to loud music. It affects not only the physical aspect of a person, but also their social life. Dr Quaicoe is urging all Guyanese to wear protective gear, avoid listening to loud music and resist the tendencies to consume alcohol.

Over the years, she noted that hearing aids have helped the older generations in restoring their hearing.

Starkey Hearing Foundation

has donated approximately 700 hearing aids to Guyana within the past two years and will be donating another 400 this week.

Teen shot in Albouystown

N

ineteen-year-old Travis Lyken of Lot MM Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown was shot to his left leg by someone during Phagwah celebrations in James Street Albouystown Georgetown on Friday.

The teen was reportedly with his friend in the crowded James Street when he felt a burning sensation to

his leg, and upon checking, he realized that he had been shot.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he underwent an emergency surgery and is presently in stable condition.

The Police now have an uphill task to identify the shooter as they continue their investigations.

16

news

SunDAY, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Phagwah celebrations attract Community feeding project thousands on Essequibo Coast continues at West Ruimveldt

A section of the gathering at the Jaigobin Supermarket Tarmac, Anna Regina for the Phagwah mela

E

ssequibians joined in the celebrations of the most colourful festival on the Hindu calendar – Phagwah. Residents turned out in large numbers to witness the burning of the Holika at each Mandir along the Essequibo Coast, in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) to usher in the spring festival.

Many families looked to-

ward this special full moon night as a very sacred time to pray for peace and prosperity.

On Phagwah day (Friday last), Chowtal Goles sang chowtals in their villages and mandirs along the coast filling the air with the sounds of drums, jalls, chowtals and other musical instruments, while residents came out with their

Abrak, Abeer, powder and water to add beauty to the occasion.

Hindus believe Phagwah is the ideal time to forgive and renew relationships and as such residents visited neighbours, family and friends to celebrate the Festival of Colours.

In the afternoon, residents were treated with a rich cultural Phagwah mela at the Jaigobin Supermarket Tarmac in the township of Anna Regina.

Essequibians turned out in their thousands to celebrate this special occasion. The crowd took to their heels when their own Davendra Pooran took the stage.

On Saturday, the celebration continued with the hosting of the Par Upkaric Sabha Annual Phagwah mela at the Walton Hall Sports Ground and to pull the curtains down, a Phagwah mela will be held today at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

A

nonprofit youth organisation on Saturday afternoon embarked on its second seed planting exercise which is a part of an initiative to support and feed their community. Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) which operates out of the David Rose Centre in West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, began planting organic vegetables with the help of residents and the Guyana School of Agriculture just a few months ago.

The vegetable planting is a part of a ‘coop garden’ that the organisation introduced in order to assist residents of the West Ruimveldt community with their food production. The participants have not only been able to plant and harvest their own vegetables but they have also been instructed on best practices they should utilise when farming.

Executive Director of (YCG) Demetri Nicholson explained the thought behind continuing the initiative with a second batch of vegetables, “We’ve seen the amount that just a small plot has been able to produce, and the community said we should continue,” he stated. Nicholson also touched on the Guyana School of Agriculture’s involvement in the project. He explained that they have provided technical support, which has come in the form of an instructor. Osbert Nurse has been working along with residents, teaching skills and best practices and ensuring that the crop production goes well. The young man is also there to provide solution and cures for any infections that may arise to threaten the crops.

Guyana Times spoke with one resident who was enthusiastic about the work he is involved in. Moses, of West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, noted that the initiative

GSA representative Osbert Nurse planting the first vegetable in the second batch

was beneficial to him since he wishes to become a farmer. The young man expressed gratitude at being able to learn what he should and shouldn’t do. Another resident, Pauline Yard, said she was happy to be a part of the project and said she was happy to harvest the fruits of her labour.

To date, there are a number of flourishing vegetable plants which sit in the compound of the David Rose Centre; these include bora, calalloo and ochra. This second batch of vegetables will include eggplant (baigan) and tomatoes along with those vegetables that were planted before.

news

17

SunDAY, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mitsubishi, Chiyoda express interest in Guyana’s oil sector ing at State House.

Present at that meeting were Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, who is also performing the duties of Prime Minister; and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman. The delegation from Japan was headed by

President David Granger with Chiyoda Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation executives during a meeting at State House on Friday

T

he Government is reviewing an ‘Oil and Gas Master Plan’ for Guyana developed and submitted by Mitsubishi Corporation and Chiyoda Corporation, in collaboration with the Government of Japan.

Key objectives of this plan are: the development of Guyana’s domestic oil industry; creation

of a balance in the domestic usage and exportation of products from indigenous oil and gas; harmonisation of the industry in keeping with Guyana’s ‘green’ development agenda; and quantifying the economic feasibility of the plans.

The report was presented on Friday to President David Granger at a meet-

Women’s empowerment group launched

Some of the members of the Shades Foundation

S

hades, a women’s empowerment group, was launched at the Guyana Cricket Club (GCC) on Saturday. Its aim is to empower women through acts of volunteerism, and a number of highly motivated women were present at the launch.

The event saw, among others, the appearance of members of the Enigma Dance Studio; former acting ambassador for Canada on Day of the Girl, Kendra Warner; and member of the ‘I can’ Foundation, Shabakie Fernandes, among others.

Founder and chief coordinator of Shades, Lynn Medford-Ronnkvist, explained that the foundation was created to provide a way for women of similar age groups to interact and learn valuable skills from each other.

“We have women of all walks of life, different backgrounds, different classes, different economic standards; so when we say volunteerism, you have an opportunity to help each other,” she highlighted.

The foundation intends

to give women a deeper insight on the reasons for their successes and failures, while helping them to understand the steps needed for advancement into another stage of life.

Each age group at the launch was represented by a different colour, primarily pink, green, grey, orange and black.

There will be a list of scheduled activities for each group each month, during which members can learn new skills for the development of their respective communities, as well as for the improvement of social interactions -- to raise their voices against issues of today’s society, which include domestic violence. Several workshops will also be held throughout the year as well.

The foundation is open to women of all ages who are willing to participate and be part of the activities and self-empowerment sessions.

International Women’s Day will be celebrated on March 8 under the theme “Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives”.

Takeo Suzuki, acting Head of the Strategic Business Planning Section of the Chiyoda Corporation.

Following that engagement, Minister Greenidge, in an invited comment, said Government will carefully review the proposal, so that a decision

can be made on the way forward.

The Government of Japan is funding the technical work, which also includes the creation of a roadmap towards balancing Guyana’s oil and gas future with its ‘green’ development agenda.

18 news

sunday, march 4, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Children's costume road parade

Wismar Hill Primary, Pine Street Nursery lead Region 10

W

Wismar Hill Primary during the parade

ismar Hill Primary School topped in the primary category, and the Pine Street Nursery School took the lead in the nursery category of the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Department of Educationstaged 2018 Children’s Costume Road Parade in Linden on Wednesday.

Students from the various primary and nursery schools in Region 10 lit up

the streets of Wismar as they displayed their flamboyant cultural costumes, created to mark the 2018 children’s Mashramani observances.

Parents, teachers and onlookers cheered as the grand procession made its way along the One Mile Public Road -- soca music booming as the little ones gyrated and waved their replicas of the Golden Arrowhead -before culminating at the

Bayroc Community Centre Ground.

While the carefully designed costumes all depicted the spirit of Mashramani, the majority of the schools opted to showcase ancestral cultural clothing designs.

For the winning designs, the Pine Street Nursery revellers wore a historic Amerindian design while their banner displayed the slogan “We coming together, let’s cooperate and celebrate Republic 48”.

The Wismar Hill Primary put on a colourful display of the “Guyana Amazon”, which was carried by a banner with the slogan “Cooperate and celebrate Republic 48”.

Placing second in the primary category was the Coomacka Primary, while the Mackenzie Primary (“Celebrating Guyana’s flora and fauna” display) copped third. In the nursery category, the Burnham Drive Nursery (“Nourishing our tradition, showcasing our culture” themed display) placed second, while the Republic Avenue Nursery (“Chinese Spring Festival”) placed third.

Thieves strike again at Gay Park masjid

F

our days after thieves broke into Providence/ Gay Park Masjid, worshipers turned up on Saturday evening only to find that the religious house was once again broken into and more equipment stolen.

On Tuesday last thieves removed louvers from a window at the back of the building and a part of the steel grill hammered open to gain entry and then stole an amplifier.

Sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning, thieves again broke into the masjid and this time stole two speaker boxes and other electronic equipment.

On this occasion, they unscrewed a grill panel from another window and then smashed the windows to get the booty out of the building without being detected.

President of the Providence/Gay Park Mosque Feroz Jaffarally explained that they had placed wood bars across the window after replacing the steel grill from the windrow that was used for entry earlier in the week.

He said those were knocked out in the most recent attack and chairs were

The window which the thieves prised open to gain entry into the masjid

used as a ladder to reach the speakers which were strategically placed around the interior of the Mosque.

This is the fourth breakage the Mosque has suffered in recent times.

Following last Tuesday’s breakage, Jaffarally approached the Municipality sighting the number of derelict vehicles which are around the Mosque making it impossible for surveillance cameras to pick up and suspicious activity.

On Thursday, officials

from the municipality visited the area; however, Jaffarally feels that the most recent breakage was a vendetta against those who had been speaking out against the mechanic who had been responsible for the vehicles left parked and rotting in the vicinity of the religious house.

According to the President, since the visit to the community by officials of the Municipality, the mechanic has become very abusive towards members of the Mosque.

Kenya doctors 'perform brain surgery on wrong patient'

S

taff from nurses to the Chief Executive Officer have been suspended at a Nairobi hospital after the wrong patient underwent brain surgery.

One patient needed surgery for a blood clot on the brain, the other only non-invasive treatment for swelling.

But a horrifying mix-up of identification tags saw the wrong man operated on, reports say.

The doctors did not realise their mistake until "hours into the surgery", the Daily Nation reported.

They then realised "there was no blood clot".

The patient who was operated on is recovering, the hospital says, and an investigation is under way.

Regulators have demanded a report and plan to hold a hearing.

Social media users have expressed shock that such an incident could have been

allowed to happen.

It comes only six weeks after the health minister ordered an investigation into claims new mothers were sexually assaulted at the same hospital.

Doctors 'overwhelmed'

After the incident which took place last weekend came to light, Kenyatta National Hospital's CEO Lily Koros said the hospital "deeply regrets this event and has done all it can to ensure the safety and well-being of the patient in question".

"We are happy to inform the public that the patient is in recovery and progressing well," Koros added.

She said four staff - the neurosurgeon, ward nurse, theatre receiving nurse and anaesthetist - had been suspended.

"The management has suspended the admission

rights of a neurosurgery registrar and issued him with a show-cause letter for apparently operating on the wrong patient," Koros said.

A show-cause letter requires a staff member to account for his or her actions.

But the doctor's colleagues have protested against the suspension, reports The Star, arguing the person who put on the identification tag is the one that should be punished.

And hours later Kenyan Health Minister Sicily Kariuki said Koros herself and and a clinical affairs officer were being sent home on compulsory leave while the affair was investigated.

Meanwhile, the doctors' union defended staff, saying the hospital was "overwhelmed" by staff shortages and inadequate operating theatre space.

Social media users were scathing about the apparent error. (BBC)

sunDAY, march 4, 2018

19

Pakistan Super League…

Tahir’s hat-trick flattens Gladiators I

n stark contrast to Friday's humdinger, Saturday's early game was as damp a squib. Multan, the newest franchise, cruised to a nine-wicket victory thanks to an almighty collapse by Quetta Gladiators. They lost their last five wickets

for one run. Sohail Tanvir took two wickets in two balls to expose the tail, before Imran Tahir ripped through the last three wickets with the second hattrick of the season. The target was 103, and there were no twists to be had.

Ahmed Shehzad and

a superb opening spell.

Exploiting the bounce and the angle across the righthander, he kept the batsman on a leash during the Powerplay, conceding a mere 27 runs in his fourover spell. He was also responsible for the wicket of Mahmudullah, who replaced Kevin Pietersen, and instrumental in squeezing the life out of the Quetta innings. The wickets may have ended up going to Tahir and Tanvir, but one would be amiss to discount Irfan's part in them.

SCOREBOARD Quetta Gladiators Innings (20 overs maximum) Umar Amin c Mohammad Irfan b Sohail Tanvir 8 SR Watson c Sohaib Maqsood b Junaid Khan 19 Rameez Raja b Junaid Khan 1 Sarfraz Ahmed*† c Sohaib Maqsood b Sohail Tanvir 30 RR Rossouw st †Sangakkara b Shoaib Malik 9 Mahmudullah c †Sangakkara b Mohammad Irfan 15 Mohammad Nawaz c Pollard b Sohail Tanvir 3 Hasan Khan b Imran Tahir 0 Anwar Ali not out 1 JW Hastings b Imran Tahir 0 Rahat Ali lbw b Imran Tahir 0 Extras (lb-2, nb-1, w-13) 16 Total (All out; 15.4 Overs) 102 all out Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Umar Amin, 3.5 ov), 2-28 (Rameez Raja (2), 4.1 ov), 3-46 (SR Watson, 6.2 ov), 4-69 (RR Rossouw, 9.2 ov), 5-92 (Mahmudullah, 12.4 ov), 6-101 (Mohammad Nawaz(3), 14.4 ov), 7-101 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 14.5 ov), 8-102 (Hasan Khan, 15.2

ov), 9-102 (JW Hastings, 15.3 ov), 10-102 (Rahat Ali, 15.4 ov) Bowling Mohammad Irfan 4-027-1 (w-1), Sohail Tanvir 3-014-3 (w-1, nb-1), Junaid Khan 2-0-9-2, Imran Tahir 2.4-0-193 (w-2), Shoaib Malik 2-0-19-1, Pollard 2-0-12-0 (w-1) Multan Sultans Innings (target: 103 runs from 20 overs) KC Sangakkara† not out 51 Ahmed Shehzad c Hastings b Hasan Khan 27 Sohaib Maqsood not out 26 Extras (w-4) Total (For 1 wicket; 16.4 Overs) 108/1 Did not bat: Shoaib Malik (c), KA Pollard, DM Bravo, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan, Imran Tahir, Junaid Khan, Saif Badar Fall of wickets: 1-66 (Ahmed Shehzad, 10.4 ov) Bowling Rahat Ali 3-0-24-0 (w-2), Watson 1-0-6-0 (w-1), Mohammad Nawaz (3) 4-017-0, JW Hastings 2-0-16-0, Hasan Khan 3-0-25-1, Anwar Ali 2-0-8-0, Mahmudullah 1-06-0, Sarfraz Ahmed 0.4-0-6-0

The hat-trick

Imran Tahir’s hat trick sent Quetta Gladiators packing for 102 inside 16 overs

Kumar Sangakkara, the Multan openers, didn't need to be explosive, and were experienced enough to know as much. Instead, they took the sting out of the game with a 66-run opening partnership. By that time, they required less than 40.

At the end, Sangakkara, who reached yet another half-century, was there with Sohaib Maqsood, who hit the a six to seal the win.

Where the match was won

Spectacular as the Quetta collapse was, it didn't happen in a vacuum. Instead, it was borne of stifling, wily bowling

by Mohammad Irfan and Junaid Khan in particular. No bowler allowed themselves to be a release valves, and as a result, even batsmen like Sarfraz Ahmed, who had occupied the crease for a while, never looked set. In the 15th over,

with the run rate dropping and Quetta feeling the heat, Mohammad Nawaz, and then Sarfraz, looked to go after Tanvir. Both fell off consecutive deliveries, ripping out the middle order, and a total that looked like stagnating towards 135 was instead shot out for 102.

The men that won it

Mohammad Irfan, who is having a good tournament, excelled again with

Saturday produced the tournament's third hat-trick and the second this season, both going to Multan. Tahir, already the leading wicket-taker, stepped up with Quetta seven down. Hasan Khan and John Hastings were clean bowled, before Rahat Ali was trapped plumb in front.

He took a review, for no reason other than that it was there, but it merely delayed Tahir's jaunty celebrations.

Where they stand Multan join Karachi at the top of the table with seven points, while Quetta, having won just two of their five games, drop down to fifth place and are stuck on four points.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

$1M Domino championship starts March 30 O

ver $1,000,000 in prize monies and trophies will be up for grabs in the Annual Faye Joseph International Domino Competition which is expected to commence on Friday, March 30, at the National Gymnasium.

This is according to the Organising Committee which met on Wednesday for its first meeting, at the Marriott International Hotel in Kingston.

The Meeting was organized to kick start plans for the event anticipated as a precursor for the hosting of the World Council of Domino Federations (WCDF) Championships set to be played from October

4-14 in Guyana.

Joseph, who holds the Presidency for the Guyana National Domino Federation (GNDF) and the Georgetown Domino Association (GDA) in remarks said that she is working assiduously to confirm a sponsor in the coming week and was optimistic that the Company that was approached will support the tournament.

She disclosed that the winning team will receive $500,000 plus trophy and medals, while second and third place finishers will take away $300,000 and $200,000 respectively along with trophies and medals.

The Most Valuable Player in the final will win

GNDF/GDA President Faye Joseph (centre front row) poses with members of the Organising Committee at the Marriott Hotel recently

$10,000 and a trophy.

Joseph also revealed

that the Pull-A-Rama or Individual Competition will

be played on the opening day and players are being

asked to register for a small fee of $2,000.

For teams desirous of competition, the registration fee will be $20,000 and each team is entitled to a free case of Hairoun Beer upon completion of registration.

Apart from Guyana, teams are expected from the USA, Britain, Barbados and Puerto Rico and they will battle for supremacy from March 30-April 7.

Meanwhile, the other members present at the Meeting were Senior Organising SecretaryBarbara Marshall, Assistant Organising Secretary- Kevin Boston, Rodwell Phillips and Mark Wiltshire.

The Committee will meet again shortly to further discuss plans for the big event.

20

guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, march 4, 2018

Scotiabank Table Tennis Junior Tournament…

Sizzling semi-finals anticipated today

By Akeem Greene

Bissu, for their third consecutive time, held the upper hand over budding star Jonathon Van Lange who continues to stumbling on the final hurdle. Bissu hard to work hard for his 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 11-3 and 11-9 victories.

Young Kaysan Ninvalle stepped-up with the big boys and was looking threatening coming back from 9-11 to win 11-9 but Persaud pulled ahead winning the reaming to sets 12-10 and 11-5.

In the under-15 girls which was played on a round-robin basis, Navaeh Clarkston, Nkechi McRae will play in the first semi-final while Thuria Thomas comes up against Saana Jacques.

T

he Scotiabank sponsored Junior Table Tennis Invitational tournament served off on Saturday with non-stop action in the Queen’s College Auditorium which leaves no doubt today’s finale should be filled with excitement starting with the boys’ under-18 semi-finals.

Top seed Miguel Wong will be playing Jamal Nicholas while Niron Bissu battles Ashish Persaud in the semi-final duels for boys’ under-18 honours.

In the quarter-finals Wong disposed of Terence Rausch in straight sets (11-8, 11-7 and 11-6) while Nicholas was pushed by Isaiah Layne 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11 and 11-8.

The 18 and under semi-finalists (L-R) Jamal Nicholas, Miguel Wong, Niron Bissu and Ashish Persaud

Organised by the talent-filled Titans Table Tennis Club, action is expected to commence from 09:00h with attention straight away on the girls’ 18 and under followed by the boys’ 15 and under and then 21 years & Under and the Open and “B” Class Open. Finals are slated to commence at 13:00h.

Meanwhile, the under 15 doubles from the Malta Supreme tournament which rolled over from last weekend, saw Layne and Bissu defeat the duo of Ninvalle and Van Lange 11-6, 116, 5-11 and 11-8 while the Mixed doubles were won by Ninvalle and Clarkston 117, 13-11 and 11-5 over Bissu and Thomas.

GCA/GISE, Star Party Rental, Trophy Stall 1st Division 2-day Tournament…

Majestic Persaud W

indies under-19 star, Joshua Persaud fresh from the Youth World Cup in New Zealand made hay while the sun shone on Saturday and he certainly made it big by smashing a sublime 150 not out to place his new alliance Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in full control at home against Police Sports Club (PSC).

The stylish wicket-keeper batsman playing his first match for DCC in the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) General Industrial and Supplies Enterprise (GISE), Star Party Rentals and Trophy Stall first Division two-day Competition after switching from the Wooldford Avenue based Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) was the mainstay of his side’s innings who declared at 261-7 but left the lawmen 45-4, still 216 adrift from 1st innings points.

With early morning showers pushing start of play to 12:30h, Persaud entered the creased under immense pressure as Tevin Imlach (00), Trevon Griffith (06), Christopher Barnwell

leaves Police in tatters (36*) came to the middle, Persaud took more of the strike and used his wrist to good effect with some whipping shots off pacer Stephan Harris (4-58) who seemed unplayable earlier in the day.

The 18 year-old took a toll on national pacer Raun Johnson (2-60) who got appreciable bounce on the unusual spicy track. To reach his milestone, the righthander elegantly lifted Johnson over long-on for one his 15 maximums. For

vocal crowd.

After Barnwell made the declaration, former DCC player Andrew Lyth Jr (03) and Kevon Boodie (16) succumbed to seamers Qumar Torrington and Rutherford.

The spin of another Windies u-19 player Ashmead Need was introduced and he quickly snapped up former teammate Kemol Savoury (05) and Mark Gonsalves for a five-ball duck; at the crease are Pernell London and ten and eight respectively.

home side reached 199-9 against Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) when bad light stopped play after 66 overs were possible. The diminutive Ronaldo Renee top-scored with 59 while Tagenarine Chanderpaul made 47 with a lone boundary; Gudakesh Motie was the next best 22.

Marcus Watkins led with the ball for the visitors picking up 3 for 20 and support came from Kellon Carmichael with 2-38 and Rawle Murrell 2-58. Action

Over at the Everest Cricket Club, in the other match of the day, the

will continue today from 9:00h. (Akeem Greene)

Persaud favoured the on-side in his majestic 150 not out against Police Sports Club

(01), fellow Windies u-19 player Raymond Perez (00) and Sherfane Rutherford (07) all were back in the pavilion with the total 32-5.

Opener Sachin Singh looked like he would have a prolonged stay at the crease with Persaud until his compact 28 (2x4s; 1x6) was cut short by Vishal Jaigobin (1-

35) and the Queenstown unit were now 85-6.

Former National youth player Steven Sankar more known for his leg-spin played a counter-attacking innings of 36 (3x4s; 3x6s) to lend much needed support to his partner taking the total 152-7.

As Sagar Hathiramani

Steven Harris took 4-58 for PSC

good measure, he added nine crisp fours to his name to entertain the small but

sports

CLASSIFIED ADS

21

sunDAY, march 4, 2018 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

ACCOMMODATIONS COSMETOLOGY – FULL COURSE $100,000. TECHNICIAN $40,000.

Aracari Salon & Spa, WBD 264-3312, 600-3927 Conferences & Retreats – Full Service: Hotel, Catering & Facilities. Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne Weddings & Anniversaries: Rental or Full Service: Banquet Hall & Catering.

Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne Aracari Hotel, WBD (Near Harbor Bridge) – All Modern Amenities – Rates from $25. Phone 264-2946-8

EDUCATION Electronic classes beginning 6th March. Register early, limited spaces. Abdul Electronics. Tel: 226-6551/ 225-0391.

Jean offers courses in dress-making, curtain designs, floral arrangement, cake decorating 670-2653/ 638-8449

FOR SALE For Sale 1 Honda Pc 50 motorcycle 4-stroke engine. Good condition Come see and offer. Call: 609-0741

JOB OPENING Administrative Assistant for Pro business Builders, we are looking for a highly motivated person to assist a corporate executive and be a part of our team. Your spoken and written English are superb. Send resume to jannessa. kalloo@probusinessbuilders.com

property for sale Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, West Coast Berbice. 49ft x 10,314ft Length. $20M Neg. Contact # 6487109 or 686-4818

SERVICES Shalom Enterprise. Lot 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. Obtain an international driving permit covering 131 countries.

Tel: 227-3835, 644-2052. Join us on Facebook FIRST AID/CPR AND HOME NURSING TRAINING COURSES. To enroll: St. John Ambulance Brigade. Call 2259082 or visit 110 Cowan Street Computer Services. Brian Moe @6423543. Computer technician: FB/Brian.

Moe.165/Home and office visits are your comfort!!

A reputable businessman requests the sum of 5million dollars for the period of 6mths.better interest than the bank guarateed..safe and trustworthy..call or text 641-7074

spirituality & ASTROLOGY Spiritual healing: remove blockages, voodoo, excurse, black magic, spell, business, upliftment, pregnancy, love & marriage problems, clearance, etc.

Contact: 694-9569 or 683-5228 Sri Guru Raghavendra Astrology.

Master: VEERA BHADRA. Specialized in: PALM, FACE, PATRA READING & HOROSCOPE BOOK OPENING. An expert in clearing negativity in life by using ancient prayer methods. Gives complete solution to your problems like: love, children, finance, job, marriage, finance and education. Meet him once to get guidance. All religions are welcome. Private and confidential. Tel: 695-9805 & 652-6427.

Heated action is predicted on March 18 at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club

A

s the horse racing season gathers momentum another mega card is in the making.

On Sunday march 18, the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club will host their annual Post-Phagwah meet at Bush Lot Farm.

In all, there are six races cared for day with the main event being for horses classi-

Post-Phagwah Meet set for March 18

fied “E” and Lower galloping over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner will ride off with $700,000 and a trophy while the second place finisher will collect $350,000 and a trophy. Third and fourth place finishers will not leave empty handed but will collect pocket $175,000 and a trophy and $88,000 and a trophy respectively.

Other events carded for the day will see animals classified K and Lower competing for the first place prize of $160,000 over a distance of six furlongs; H and Lower running over seven furlongs for a winning purse of $300,000; L and Lower for a $150,000 first prize over a distance of five furlongs; I and J and Lower for

a $200,000 top prize over a distance of six furlongs and the L Class none winners going for five furlongs for the winning prize of $120,000 and a trophy.

Executives of the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club have confirmed that the early interest is high judging from the overwhelming number of entries so far,

however, horse owners will have until March 11 to finalize their participation.

Some sponsors to date include, Ansa Mc Al, DDL, Torginol Paints, Ganesh Parts and General Store, Republic Bank, Dalip Trading, KSM Investments, Mohamed’s Enterprise and Noble House Seafoods.

Diamond Upsetters get boost from Ralph Green

S

ponsor of the East Bank Football Association Under-11 League, USA based Ralph Green on Tuesday evening last made a presentation of equipment to the Diamond Upsetters Football Club at the Diamond Community Center ground.

Green, who was on a short visit home said that he was impressed with the commitment and desire of the young Diamond Upsetters club which placed fourth in the just concluded 2017 edition of the U-11 League.

Diamond Upsetters’ goalkeeper, Joshua Dias was named the Best Goalkeeper of the League.

Club President Andre Fortune in accepting the gifts on behalf of his club expressed grati-

Diamond Upsetters FC President Andre Fortune (2nd right) gleefully accepts the timely donation from Ralph Green in the presence of club Secretary Hazel Ferdinand (left), Treasurer Flacton Hendricks (right) and some of the junior members

Encouraging turnout for GT Tuners Car exhibition

tude to Green for the timely donation.

Fortune said that the club will ensure that the equipment is cared for and would be used to enhance the development of the players by Coach, Kevin Padmore Snr. “Our club is heartened by this donation from you Mr. Green, it will go a long way in encouraging the players to work even more hard to develop and excel in the sport. We wish you God’s continued blessings and would also like to commend you for sponsoring the Under-11 competition which is the first competition we have competed in as a club.”

Green wished the club continued success and has promised to continue looking out for the club by making more donations in the future. The equipment received included shin guards, two sets of bibs, two sets of cones as well as a soccer clipboard board for the coach and a fox40 whistle.

taxi services GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 225-7878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

VACANCIES VACANCIES. House Keeper 624-0033 - Cook 624-0033 - Customer Service Assistant 624-0033 - Porter 680-3863 - Pump Attendant 680-3863

WANTED One Bartender to work at a hotel and bar on the Essequibo Coast.

Accommodation provided. Contact# 500-5923 or 646-3676.

Hotel Manager to work at a hotel and bar on the Essequibo Coast.

Must have experience in hotel management. Accommodation provided. Contact# 500-5923 or 646-3676.

G

T Tuners held their first official car meet recently at the Kitty Sea Wall which attracted close to 30 car enthusiasts who gathered to exhibit their machines and interact with the public and each other on the custom upgrades implemented among other interesting facts.

One of the founding members of the group, Kunal Persaud in giving his overview of the event stated, “the turnout was tremendous and we are happy to see everyone who came out and showed their support; we are looking forward to your support and urge more people with a passion for motorsports to come out to our next meet.”

According to Persaud, the group has lots more in stored for fans and will roll out other initiatives soon. He also reminded persons to “drive with care, buckle up at all times and don’t drink and drive."

A section of the display of cars on the Kitty Seawall

22

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, march 4, 2018

Milo Schools Football 2018

BHS maul School of the Nations

T

The Bishops’ High

he Bishops’ High School produced their most dominant performance by comprehensively defeating School of Nations 9-0 in their final group match to qualify for the round-of-sixteen in the sixth annual Milo Schools Football Tournament.

The drubbing occurred on Saturday at the Ministry

(64th) all made their mark in the lopsided content.

Chan speaking after the match expressed his elation for a well-rounded performance and being able to secure a spot in the next round easily unless Pure Master produce a shockSchool Captain Darren Chan er against the unbeaten Morgan’s Learning Centre. of Education ground, The captain of the Carifesta Avenue and was led by Jeremiah Joseph Carmichael Street unit, who netted a hat-trick with who was one of the younggoals in the 36th, 57th and est players in the squad 66th while Lamar Williams when they battled their scored a brace, netting in the way to the quarter-finals 40th and 49th. Goal contin- in the inaugural year, exued to rain as Owen Jones plained they will be looking (24th), Romeo Bradford to intensify their training (57th), captain Darren Chan as from now “they can be no (63rd) and Brandon Walters slip-ups”.

Chase Academic

Foundation also sauntered to 4-0 victory over closest group rival Annandale Secondary in fixture which was replayed due to power outage; that match had ended 3-0 at half time.

The three-time defending champions continued another perfect year when captain Jeremy Garrett opened the floodgates with a strike in the 16th minute followed by Rashawn Ritch in the 37th; Rondell Peters and Nicholas McArthur closed off proceedings with goals in the 55th and 67th.

In the final fixture of the day Sir Leon’s Lesson trounced St. Roses High 5-0 to end their group matches unbeaten. Zion Grey continued his prolific season by netting in the 19th followed

by Luckort Forde (45th),

9-0

Julian Bamfield (49th), Teon Forde (54th) and Ryan Ramsey (59th).

Uitvlugt Secondary will be playing today from noon against Cummings Lodge who are yet to notch a win.

Christianburg Secondary will get in to action from 13:30h and are already firmly assured of a spot in the knock-out phase unlike their opponents Ann’s Grove, who need a victory to stay in contention.

Runners-up in 2017, Morgan’s Learning Centre are strong favourites to finish the group stage unbeaten as they come against Pure Masters from 15:00h.

The match holds more

significance for the latter since BHS who moved ahead into second place.

A huge loss could see Pure Masters in the precarious position of having to qualify as one of the four top thirdplaced teams. The quest is to secure the first place prize of $500,000 which goes towards a school project. Second to fourth, will receive $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively which also go towards school projects. The under-18 tournament is a collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health under the theme, “there is no excuse for violence”.

GSCL Inc/ Republic Cup 2018

Ariel Masters book final date with Success – 2 other mega clashes on today

O

n the opening day the annual Republic Cup at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground on Saturday, Ariel Masters and Success Masters beat their respective semifinal opponents to set up today’s final showdown in the Over-40 Category.

In semifinal one, Ariel Masters beat Amazon Masters by six wickets in a low scoring affair. Amazon Masters had first strike but were never allowed to get away and were bowled out in the 17th over for 79.

Ariel Masters were lead by Dharam Persaud (3/15) and Peter Persaud (3/25) while Rajunandan Narine stood tall for 36.

In reply, Mohammed Rafeek made 25 as Ariel Masters used 16.4 of their 20 overs to reach the required 80 for the loss of just four wickets. Arjune de Roop was on target with 3 for 26 but lacked the support at the other end.

Ariel Masters will now meet Success Masters who beat HS Masters by 16 runs in the second semifinal.

Success batted first and got to 136 before bowling out HS Masters for 120 in the match that was swinging from side to side.

The Over-40 final will be the curtain raiser today at the same venue champions will be crowned.

The second final which is expected to begin at

12:00h, brings together Regal Masters and Mike’s Wellman for the Over-45 title. This matchup has been deemed a heavy weight clash judging from the caliber of players in both lineups.

Wellman will no doubt look to Wayne Jones, Lloyd Ruplall, Lakeram “Mike” Singh, Jagdish Persaud, Vivekanand Dinesh and Basil Persaud to get them over the line while the welloiled Regal Masters who will begin as favourites will depend on the inform Mahesh Chunilall, David Harper, Rudolph Baker, Mahendra Hardyal, Mohendra Arjune, Throy Kippins, Laurie Singh and Eric Thomas to take them to another title.

Part of the heated battle between HS Masters and Success Masters at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground on Saturday

The final showdown of the day will see a ding dong grudge match between East Coast of Demerara champions, Success All Stars and Georgetown’s best Regal All Stars in the Open final from 15:00h. Both teams are gunning for glory which makes

the contest too close to call.

The annual Republic Cup is organized by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) and this year the tournament is being used as valuable practice ahead of the March 16 to 18 Orlando Cup Softball

Tournament.

At today’s final, tickets for the annual GSCL Inc’s fund raising Bar-BQue will be on sale at $1,000 per ticket. The funds raised will assist in sending Regal Masters and Regal All Stars to the Orlando Cup.

23

GTT T&T secures until 2020 final guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, march 4, 2018

Hero Caribbean Premier League…

assists Williams in Carifta Games bid

It was a sea of red in the final at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in 2017 (Newsday photo)

T

he Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Saturday announced that the finals of the “Biggest Party in Sport” will be hosted by Trinidad & Tobago for the next three years. This announcement was made after CPL signed a staging agreement with the government of Trinidad and Tobago that will see the final two matches of the tournament taking place in the country between 2018 and 2020.

The semi-final and final represent the culmination of the Biggest Party in Sport and these games will make a massive impact on the Trinidad & Tobago economy.

Trinidad & Tobago will now host four consecutive finals after the hugely successful matches played at

the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BCLA) which saw a sellout crowd for last year’s final as home team, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), emerged victorious.

Last year the Hero CPL generated revenue for Trinidad & Tobago of US$23million and Damien O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hero CPL, said he is delighted to be continuing making an impact on the country’s economy.

“Hero CPL continues to grow year on year and we are delighted with the support that we have had from the government of Trinidad & Tobago. It is clear that hosting Hero CPL games is a huge positive for the countries involved and this multi-year deal means we can plan our finals to be

even bigger and better than before. On behalf of Hero CPL I would like to express my thanks to Prime Minister, Keith Rowley, Minister of Sport, Darryl Smith and also Brian Lara for pulling this deal together.”

Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs for Trinidad & Tobago, The Honourable Darryl Smith stated: “The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is pleased to continue on our Sports Tourism drive with the hosting the CPL semi-final and final for the next three years at the brand new Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Last year was the best finals ever and to top it all off TKR won at home at the BLCA. We hope that TKR can do it again in Trinidad and Tobago. We have built a great relation-

ship with CPL and cricket fans across the world can expect a great product of high level excitement and entertainment as they did in 2017.”

The player draft ahead of this year’s sixth edition of the tournament took place in London last Thursday where teams opted for new combinations ahead of the August 8 to September 16 showpiece.

GTT Chief Executive Officer, Justin Nedd presents the ticket to Rickey Williams

G

uyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) has sponsored Guyanese middle-distance athlete Rickey Williams to travel to Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the Carifta Games Trial to be held this weekend.

Williams who won GTT’s Pinktober 10K, is hoping to make the qualifying stan-

dard time in the 5,000m in an effort to represent Guyana at the March 30 to April 2 games that will take place in The Bahamas.

The presentation was done by the telecommunications giant’s Chief Executive Office, Justin Nedd at the company’s corporate head office on Brickdam, Georgetown.

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

SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero Caribbean Premier League…

Pg 23

T&T secures

final

until 2020

The Brian Lara Cricket Academy is the home of the CPL finals for the next three years

Milo Schools Football 2018

GCA/GISE, Star Party Rental, Trophy Stall 1st Division 2-day Tournament…

Majestic Persaud BHS maul School of leaves Police in the Nations tatters

9-0

The Sir Leon’s Lessons and St Rose's High clash was all action on Saturday at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue (Photo by Akeem Green)

Pg 20

Young batting prodigy Joshua Persaud celebrates reaching the triple figure mark for Demerara Cricket Club against Police Sports Club on Saturday (Photo by John Ramsign)

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Sport: sport@guyanatimesgy.com Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

March 4, 2018

Star Times Bollywood:

Sridevi Kapoor death: Tragedy shines light on Bollywood pressures Page 14 FREE DISTRIBUTION

Page 2

2 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 4, 2018

International Women's Day 2018

#PressforProgress

International Women's Day 2018

I

nternational Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements – from the political to the social – while calling for gender equality.

It has been observed since the early 1900s and is now recognised each year on March 8. It is not affiliated with any one group, but brings together governments, women's organisations, corporations and charities. The day is marked around the world with arts performances, talks, rallies, networking events, conferences and marches.

The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March, is “Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives”.

This year, International Women’s Day comes on the heels of unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice.

Sexual harassment, violence and discrimination against women has captured headlines and public discourse,

Argentina; and many others, on issues ranging from equal pay to women’s political representation.

International Women’s Day 2018 is an opportunity to transform this momentum into action, to empower women in all settings, rural and urban, and celebrate the activists who are working relentlessly to claim women’s rights and realize their full potential.

Echoing the priority theme of the upcoming 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, International Women’s Day will also draw attention to the rights and

of development, because of deep seated gender inequalities and discrimination, rural women fare worse than rural men or urban women. For instance, less than 20 per cent of landholders worldwide are women, and while the global pay gap between men and women stand at 23 per cent, in rural areas, it can be as high as 40 per cent. They lack infrastructure and services, decent work and social protection, and are left more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Making the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals a real-

Rural women and their organizations represent an enormous potential, and they are on the move to claim their rights and improve their livelihoods and wellbeing. They are using innovative agricultural methods, setting up successful businesses and acquiring new skills, pursuing their legal entitlements and running for office. Recently, as hundreds of courageous women from the film, theatre and art industry in the USA started speaking against sexual harassment and assault by powerful men in the industry, they found a powerful ally in Alianza Nacional

An early International Women's Day event

propelled by a rising determination for change.

People around the world are mobilizing for a future that is more equal. This has taken the form of global marches and campaigns, including #MeToo in the United States of America and its counterparts in other countries, protest-

ing against sexual harassment and violence, such as #YoTambien in Mexico, Spain, South America and beyond, #QuellaVoltaChe in Italy, #BalanceTonPorc in France and #Ana_kaman in the Arab States; “Ni Una Menos” (‘not one less’), a campaign against femicide that originated in

Chronology 1909 The first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States on 28 February.

The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honour of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.

1910 The Socialist International, meeting in Copenhagen, established a Women's Day, international in character, to honour the movement for women's rights and to build support for achieving universal suffrage for women. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, which included the first three women elected to the Finnish Parliament. No fixed date was selected for the observance.

1911 As a result of the Copenhagen initiative, International Women's Day was marked for the first time (19 March) in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, where more than one million women and men attended rallies. In addition to the right to vote and to hold public office, they demanded women's rights to work, to vocational training and to an end to discrimination on the job.

1913-1914 International Women's Day also became a mechanism for protesting World War I. As part of the peace movement, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February. Elsewhere in Europe, on or around 8 March of the following year, women held rallies either to protest the war or to express solidarity with other activists.

1917 Against the backdrop of the war, women in Russia again chose to protest and strike for "Bread and Peace" on the last Sunday in February (which fell on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar). Four days later, the Czar abdicated and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote.

1975 During International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day on 8 March.

1995 The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap signed by 189 governments, focused on 12 critical areas of concern, and envisioned a world where each woman and girl can exercise her choices, such as participating in politics, getting an education, having an income, and living in societies free from violence and discrimination.

2014 The 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW58) – the annual gathering of States to address critical issues related to gender equality and women’s rights — focused on “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls”. UN entities and accredited NGOs from around the world took stock of progress and remaining challenges towards meeting the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs have played an important role in galvanizing attention on and resources for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Guyana

activism of rural women, who make up over a quarter of the world population and majority of the 43 per cent of women in the global agricultural labour force.

According to the United Nations ( UN) “ They till the lands and plant seeds to feed nations, ensure food security for their communities and build climate resilience. Yet, on almost every measure

ity, to leave no one behind, needs urgent action in rural areas to ensure an adequate standard of living, a life free of violence and harmful practices for rural women, as well as their access to land and productive assets, food security and nutrition, decent work, education and health, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

de Campesinas, the national farmworker women’s organization, no stranger to the abuse of power.

On 8 March, join activists around the world and UN Women to seize the moment, celebrate, take action and transform women’s lives everywhere. The time is NOW. (Cover photo: Fruit Vendor 2017 by Betsy Karim)

Women in Indonesia Marching for women’s rights; Women around the world stand at the forefront of rising movements to defend and protect the health of water, land, air and diverse communities.

Sunday Times Magazine 3 International Women's Day 2018 #PressforProgress

guyanatimesgy.com

March 4, 2018

…Empowering women, changing lives

T

he f

theme o r

International Women’s Day, to be celebrated on 8 March, is “Time is Now: Rural and urban activists trans-

ful enterprise which includes over fifty women.

Ms. Albert, however, was quick to explain to the Guyana Times Sunday Magazine that the benefits of the initiative also extends to beneficiaries beyond the Region Nine community. The group’s mission contin-

Ms. Analise Edwards dispalying the products from the Moco Moco Community

forming women’s lives”. The occasion serves as an opportunity to transform momentum into action, to empower women in all settings, rural and urban, and celebrate the activists who are working relentlessly to claim women’s rights and realise their full potential.

For the members of the Wowetta Women’s AgroProcessors their journey to becoming a selfsustaining group has been marked by determination and resilience. According to the Manager of the agricultural initiative, Ms. Grace Albert, the project has resulted in the remarkable transformation of the livelihoods of the women in the community.

What began as a voluntary enterprise in 2007, with a few members, has now morphed into a success-

ues to be creating incomegenerating employment for women in particular in Wowetta, alt hough they have expanded their focus also to youths.

Farine produced by the factory

Wowetta products on Display

Successful Enterprise

The village, which borders the Iwokrama International Rainforest Protected area, is the site of a modern, multimilliondollar cassava processing and farine storage facility, where up to 10,000 pounds of farine can be stored, thanks to a collaborative effort of CIDA, CI, CUSO and other stakeholders. The facility provides paid employment for more than fifty women, youths, elderly persons and cassava farmers across the Rupununi. While the beneficiaries are primarily women, Ms. Albert pointed out that the men in the community are also involved in the enterprise. “We tried to include all of the women in the decision making process. The aim was to have all women involved not just financial members.

Eventually they brought their husbands, so we also embrace the men.” The benefits of the group also extend to single mothers in the community, she added.

Grace explained that the Group is run by a committee, and the workers rotate, five to seven at a time, to produce farine, sweet cassava flour, cassava bread, cassareep and tapioca on a weekly basis. “The workers would rotate their shifts and they would then get a break s o

that they would also have time for their families,” she noted. Although this initiative is a success, the women in the area also tried other enterprises including agro processing, medicinal soaps and oils. She also acknowledged the growth of the business. “As time went by we had the capital to attract other stakeholders and we were then able to benefit from training, capacity building and exposure,” Grace said.

Empowering Women

Eventually, the Wowetta Women’s Agro-Processors became part of a wider group, the Women Agroprocessors Development Network (WADN), which was established in 2011 with the support of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) to accelerate the individual small ventures located in Regions 1, 2 and 9 with the intention of ensuring that the group members improve their entrepreneurial skills.

According to Ms. Albert , the involvement in this wider group has allowed the members of the Wowetta Women’s Agro-Processors Group to network and to showcase their skills regionally and internationally. She explained, “Our group is actually one of the founding members. We have built a network since becoming a part of this group and we have travelled to different countries including Suriname, Barbados,

A n t i g u a , Trinidad, Washington and China.”

She also emphasised that while the wider group is comprised of more members, the women all have a chance to represent Guyana and their communities based on their skills and strengths.

They are also active in representi n g their communities at several shows throughout the year which are hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, CI, and New GMC among other agencies.

“Since the formation of the group, we have seen an improvement in the exposure; in addition, livelihoods have also improved. Women in the community now have permanent jobs and they should be appreciated for the roles they play in the region,” Grace added.

While she acknowledged that the success of the Wowetta Women’s AgroProcessors Group required commitment and dedication, Ms. Albert is encouraging other women and young girls to work towards realising their potential.

Ms.Grace Albert Operations Manager for the factory

She explained, “We all should feel equal as we all have the potential. Even though we are not all educated we should not be selfish and to keep our knowledge. Instead, we should embrace each other so that we can all reach our potential.” More importantly, Ms. Albert emphasised that it is also important to change perceptions and to embrace and encourage the single parent women in the communities. “This group has played a critical role in empowering women,” She stressed.

The Wowetta Women’s Agro-Processors also works closely with the Moco Moco Women’s Group. “We help each other and share our knowledge,” she added.

4 Sunday Times Magazine #PressforProgress

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 4, 2018

International Women's Day 2018

-empowering Guyanese women across the world

T

he Women of Kaieteur, which was launched in 2016, is a global empowerment network designed to create a platform for women to encourage, inspire, collaborate and celebrate each other, while raising money to support women and girls in less developed countries. According to its founding member, Ms. Roianne Nedd the initiative was born of the need to do more to progress gender equality in Guyana. Nedd, a Guyanese, is a Chartered Accountant and Gender Specialist with the UK Government. She has been involved in Gender Policy for the last 10 years.

In addition to heading the Group’s altruistic works, Ms. Nedd is also a published Author.

In December 2016, she published ‘50 Women: 50 Years’; the main aim of the book, she explained, was to highlight the stories of ordinary women who are the unsung heroes in Guyana and who do extraordinary things. “Women’s role in Guyanese society is extremely low key, and as a

girl, I didn’t hear enough stories about phenomenal women, so I wanted to create a publication that we could use a fundraising vehicle as well as inspiring and educating girls from Guyana and of Guyanese parentage,” Nedd explained.

One of the main aims of the Women of Kaieteur is to raise the voices of women while raising funds to achieve sustainable change. According to Ms. Nedd, the biggest success story in terms of raising the voices of Guyanese women has been through the book. She explained, “It is why we continue to look at literary projects as the way to share stories with the rest of the world. The book has been purchased from readers in Europe, America, and London and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We have also had feedback that older Guyanese women who left Guyana decades ago have used the book to reconnect with Guyana and to teach their grandchildren especially granddaughters

Recipents of hampers at Christmas

about Guyana.”

She pointed out that the Women of Kaieteur members are also able to connect via their facebook page, the group, and their membership database that

Ms. Nedd and guests at the launch of Women of Kaieteur in London

enables them to send regular newsletters and information to members.

The Group currently has Guyanese and non-Guyanese and male and female members from across the

Caribbean, Europe, and North America. “We want to continue expanding,” Nedd emphasised.

Extraordinary women

Alluding to the journey towards the book’s completion, she acknowledged that the research from the book and the conversations with Guyanese women from across the world were both cathartic and life-affirming. “As I sat with the team here and read the inspirational quotes from these women, we were struck by just how amazing some of these ordinary women’s lives were, and it gave us the impetus to continue this journey,” she said.

One of the key goals during the book’s launch a few years ago, Nedd reminded, was to get a copy of 50 Women:50 Years into every secondary school in Guyana to provide girls with access to information about role models and to help raise their aspiration. While this aspiration has been a work in progress, the Author explained that it has been challenging finding ways to get the books to the schools and to make the right connections via the Ministry of Education. She said, “We are still aiming to achieve this, but we think we need a more structured plan to make it happen and we need help on the ground in Guyana.”

With regards to the Women of Kaieteur’s future plans, Ms. Nedd revealed that several initiatives are in the pipeline, including recognising phenomenal mothers for Mother’s Day in May, repeating their Educational Grants Program, which

involves sending school supplies to Guyana for the September term , the Christmas Assistance Program ; members send toys to Guyana and provide grocery vouchers for families in need, which are delivered through their corporate partner Tons of Fun Party Service in Guyana.

“We also want to launch a project to give away free sanitary and hygiene products to women as we know these products can be expensive and as they are a necessity, it can be tough for women or for a house full of girls and women to cope with this additional expense each month,” she continued.

In addition, Nedd also pointed to the release of another publication which will focus on Guyanese women building on the success of 50 women 50 years.

She noted, “We recognise that there are more significant issues that need tackling. We also have some other projects that we introduced last year that we want to replicate.”

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Women of Kaieteur’s founding member conveyed a strong message to the Nation’s women and girls. She said, “You can and will overcome any challenges that you encounter. And the darkest days shine the brightest light on your blessings”.

Ms.Nedd reminded that the Women of Kaieteur are available to provide moral support if needed.

The group can be contacted through their Facebook page or via their email at womenofkaiateur@gmail. com.

guyanatimesgy.com

W

omen from across Guyana will be participating in the 2018 Ms. Earth Pageant which is slated for April 2018.

From all indications, this is indeed a pageant with a difference. The contestants, who will be gathered from across the country will be given the chance to raise awareness, not only about the environment but health related issues that follow. Under the ownership of Guyana Premier and its new National Franchise Director, Mr. Dave Lalltoo, the pageant is expected to see new levels of competition and hopefully mark the initiation of the journey to bring us home a long desired international crown.

The Miss Earth Guyana pageant is the local precursor pageant for the international Miss Earth Pageant which is among the top three in the world. It has reached a point in popularity that over one hundred countries are scheduled to take part this year. According to the Pageant’s Managing Director, Dr. Omesh Balmacoon, one of the main reasons it has grown is because of the fact that it focuses primarily on raising awareness about the environment and our planet through its "Beauties for a Cause" segment.

As the pageant builds momentum, the contestants are preparing for the grand Miss Earth Guyana Grand Gala Dinner and Sashing Ceremony, which will be held at the Aracari Hotel and Resort on Saturday, 10th March, 2018.

During a recent interview with the Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Dr. Balmacoon also revealed that guests at the event will be treated to 100% Guyanese Talent.

“There are twelve semifinalists in total. It will be a night to remember,” he announced.

The last Miss Earth Guyana pageant was held in 2010 when Soyini Fraser was crowned as queen but a representative was sent up for the international pageant as recent as 2014.

It was local belle, Stacy Ramcharran who took

Sunday Times Magazine 5 International Women's Day 2018 #PressforProgress March 4, 2018

the crown back then, but after the franchise was lost one year later, it was not possible to choose another girl. As such she remains the reigning Miss Earth Guyana; that is until the grand coronation of Miss Earth Guyana 2018.

Miss Earth Guyana 2018 and her court will benefit from a prize package of over one million dollars in cash and other prizes. The corona-

will be presented to the public at the sashing ceremony.

Contestants Meet Prudence Lam, 19, Linden

I think it is perfection at its best. Hence, I'm very passionate about the environment (the trees, the animals, everything!) I believe that they all should be treat-

close to my heart.

Meet Luann Onika Ray Pellew, 24, Georgetown

I want to be the next Miss Earth Guyana because representing my country and having a voice to what is happening in my environment matters.

It is not just about winning the Miss Earth Guyana title but what comes with it. I'd get to become an ambassador for my country and at the end of it all, I get to address what the real issues are and help to solve them in any way necessary.

ity.

I know that as Miss Earth Guyana 2018 I, Xamiera Kippins can paint Guyana in a new light as well as make those who know not of who we are or what we have to offer as a country, aware or our potential.

I believe in the power of a beauty queen.

Despite the name, beauty comes second. I am an advovate. An advocate for change and betterment in all aspects of life, to make our world a more peaceful place.

I love Guyana and with humility, perseverance and a firm understanding of hard work as well as team work, I believe that I can do this.

Meet Xamiera Kippins, 23, West Bank Demerara

I view being an ambassador for Guyana to the rest of the world as a tremendous responsibil-

Prudence Lam

tion night is scheduled for April 28th, 2018.

This year’s event is sponsored by DemBake, Caribbean Wind and Sun, Aracari Hotel And Resort,

ed with love and care, so it would give me great joy to be an advocate for it.

For most of my life, I've been a very shy and

Luann Pellew

Guyana Premier, GHF, Precise Printing, and Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network. To secure tickets, interested persons can call (592) 612 0247, 653 0436, 697 5127, 668 1753, or 662 6236.

The three contestants who have already been revealed are Prudence Lam, Onika Ray Pellew and Xamiera Kippins.

The remaining beaties

timid person and for years I've desperately tried to avoid any situation that would put me in the limelight. But I realized that that is me 'acting small' and I Will never reach my full potential by just doing that.

So I know that this pageant is the perfect opportunity for me to build my confidence and grow personally while helping something I hold very

Xamiera Kippins

6 Sunday Times Magazine #PressforProgress

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 4, 2018

International Women's Day 2018

Preserving our literary heritage

by

t o d o -

Petamber Persaud

P

ulling the Punches: Defeating Domestic Violence by Luke Daniels is a hard-hitting book that does not bob and weave but deliberately aims at and takes potshots at every sordid realities of this issue, stepping on stumblingblock toes of our civilization that spawned patriarchy, a system of monstrous proportion limiting lives from the cradle to the grave, infringing on basis human rights, stealing the joy of living by imposing oppression in its various manifestations, ingraining themselves into norms of society as we accept violence meted out ‘just for your good/just a slap/just words’, minimizing the violence and prolonging the hurt, wrecking a toll on future generations as violence become a learned behaviour, resulting in immeasurable economic, social and mental health cost. These ‘revelations’ are brutal but there is a redeeming factor: there is a beginning and there must be an end.

How will it end?

Accepting, admitting, and coming to grips with the realities, saying no to all forms of violence, unlearning violent traits in the individuals and removing oppressive systems especially statesponsored oppression imposed upon society.

In this book, Pulling the punches: Defeating Domestic Violence, Daniels bares all, even sharing his story to add credence to some areas of concern, as if validation is necessary for this most pressing and depressing societal malady.

Although this is a selfhelp book aimed at perpetrators/survivors (man, woman, and state), it offers guidance to anyone concerned about the use of violence and to practitioners in the field of domestic violence.

The book is prepared in six progressive/graduating chapters from the root of domestic violence to the rooting out of this scourge, mindful that the full and true solution rests in self-realization and ‘repentance’ leading to release/salvation. Each chapter is important to the whole as each chapter looks at a key ‘awareness-raising’ issue to fully grasp and grapple with the problem in order to equip ourselves with the appropriate attitude and tools to effective put an end

Spotlight on W

OMEN ACROSS BORDERS is an anthology featuring captivating and empowering stories from women residing in different parts of the world. It depicts that no matter where you are from, we all encounter challenges.

These amazing women are from various backgrounds, ethnicities, nationalities and careers but have a common fibre which is love for people. These women have expressed how their passion in fulfilling purpose in their respective lives, led them to contributing significantly to humanity. Inspiring journeys of eight phenomenal women from across borders. The book was launched on march 1st on Amazon.

The Miss Earth Guyana Organisation‘s Assistant National Franchise Director, Dr. Latoya Gooding also contributed a chapter in the book. The publication featured stories from eight phenomenal women including Dr. Jackie Evan Philips, Dr. Sonia Noel, Roshini Bodhoo Persaud, Tavie Hunt, Dr. Desiree Florimonte , Jacqui Phillips and Alize Utteryn.

mestic violence. A word of caution: change in individuals and in systems comes at different pace and the use of violence is a choice.

In chapter one, the focus is on the birth, evolution and entrenchment of a patriarchal society that spawned the socialization of violence, breeding the oppression of both male and female pointing to three contributing factors namely where perpetrators were hit/abuse as children, where sexist attitudes still exist and control/dominating patterns are practiced. Perpetuating these ills is one sordid side of the gloomy picture but condoning these ills is worse.

And according to the book, ‘real solutions involve out-

lawing all forms of violence and teaching an ethos of non-violence’.

In chapter two, labeled ‘Men’s Liberation’, the focus is on the confusion about men’s oppression in a society where men are deemed the chief perpetrators in the oppression of women. This is what the book offers on the confusion: ‘[w]ith the oppression of men there is no one group, but the society as a whole does the oppressing, through its customs, culture and institutions. Chief among these latter are the army, police, prison and economic system’. Further, men are stereotyped to be superior – strong and indestructible – from youth where they are given ‘an arsenal of war toys’ and told ‘big boys don’t cry’, internalizing unhealed hurt, growing into the next sphere of providers to ‘bring home the bacon’ and even in sport of boxing which is a ‘hurt business’ and then having to deal with the fear of same-sex relationships and homophobia.

Chapter three labeled ‘Women’s Liberation’ looks at some of the factors contributing to oppression of women and how it is condoned in name of religion, tradition, custom, culture.

Some other factors include politics, education, equalpay discrimination, sexism and pornography, a multibillion dollars industry controlled mostly by men. It is worthy to note that one of the ‘key places we learn sexism is in the home. Gender socialization begins from the moment babies are put into blue or pink and it continues for most of our lives’.

Under the subsection

‘language and liberation’ it is stated that language has always been used as a ‘tool of oppression’ and similarly, ‘sexist language is used as a tool to undermine women’ excluding them from ‘historical (after all it is his-story we are talking about) accounts’.

Chapter four, labeled ‘Giving up Addictions’, focuses on mind-altering substances: ‘That licit drug company are allowed to peddle their poison freely is a disgrace that can only be seen as a dereliction of duty by governments to protect its citizens from ill health, misery and early death’.

Another major form of addiction is gambling especially as it is seen as not hurting anyone.

Chapters five –

‘Parenting for Change’ and six – ‘Building loving relationships’ ought to go hand in hand because of the commonalities found in both areas. The underlining factor in both areas is the need for a non-oppressive environment where hurt can be healed, where lives would not be limited and where growth and development is possible.

In Pulling the punches: Defeating Domestic Violence, there are numerous repetitions and overlapping, all designed to keep the issue in focus as a work in progress. This book is recommended reading for every strata of Guyanese society.

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

What Do You Do? And when your conscience assails your deeds What do you do?

Do you buy peace of mind For a few cents?

Or do you in solitude reflect Awake your heart to consciousness And turn your heart to the cries of the poor And be reborn to try and wipe away the tears From the eyes of those in grief and poverty?

By Krishna Nand Prasad Notice to Readers

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.

guyanatimesgy.com

Sunday Times Magazine 7 International Women's Day 2018 #PressforProgress March 4, 2018

Ms. Roianne Nedd- Author, Activist Roianne Nedd has written and published six books, ranging from selfhelp to fictional accounts of women and their journeys all her books serve the common purpose of empowering women through story-telling and sharing. Recognising that change begins at “home” Roianne founded Women of Kaieteur – a social enterprise mainly focused on empowering women and girls in Guyana through education and enterprise.

In December 2016 she published a book about ordinary Guyanese women doing extraordinary things and in commemoration of Guyana's 50th year of Independence. It is called ‘50 Women:50 Years’

“Our purpose is to empower and uplift women through a range of channels whilst raising funds for women and girls in the developing world starting with Guyana,” she said.

Ms. Nedd added “I have a restless desire to change the world and an unwavering belief that I will achieve this dream. Born in Georgetown, Guyana in a society that prioritised men over women I found my rebellious streak. Schooled in both Guyana and the UK, being successful wasn’t a choice… I am unapologetic about my focus on female empowerment and my interest in the experiences of women of colour. This is my purpose.”

Mrs. Jayaa Pooran- Quality/Safety Officer, Air Services Limited Jayaa Pooran originally hails from Bara Bara Mahaicony Creek. She grew up in Bara Bara Mahaicony Creek where she enjoyed the outdoor life, particularly catching fish, swimming and climbing trees. Ms. Pooran attended the Karamat Primary School until 1994 before moving to Georgetown. She continued her Primary Education at Success Primary School before graduating from Annandale Secondary School in 1999.

After graduating, she ventured to the world of work where she was able to further her education in computer classes and then Business Management. In 2002 she was employed with Air Services Limited as a Trainee Technical Records Officer.

Today, Jayaa boasts sixteen year experience in the aviation industry.

She is currently employed with Air Services Limited as a Senior Quality/ Safety Officer, passing invaluable knowledge and experiences to her

colleagues. She is the mother of 2 children, ages 3 and 6.

Her main duties at ASL are performing oversight functions and compliance monitoring for Air Services Limited Flight and Maintenance Departments ensuring that all policies and procedures prescribed in the respective manuals are strictly adhered to and good aviation standards are being practiced.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Ms. Pooran took the opportunity to convey a message to women and girls everywhere. She said, “Today’s woman is no longer a dependent soul; she is Independent and self-reliant in every respect and is capable of doing everything. Let’s recognise the importance of their existence and motivate them for the future achievements. Stop believing women, start living; living your life on your terms, the time is now!!”

Sarifari Persaud- Veteran Exam invigilator 81 year old Sarifari Persaud, Supervisor at Enmore Primary will be celebrating her 46th year as an invigilator. The elderly woman who commenced invigilating in 1972 what was then dubbed the Common Entrance Examinations.

However, over the years the name has officially changed and despite the many other changes Ms Persaud has been a fixed face at the exams.

She said that she enjoys invigilating as it has and continues to give her a great sense of joy and pride.

Regional Education Officer, Ms Tiffany Favourite-Harvey and Education Officer attached to Region Four, Ms. Stembiso Grant hailed the performance and years of service provided by Ms Persaud. They dubbed

her contributions to ensuring that the quality and integrity of the exams remained unchallenged over the years. “This woman despite her age continues to be very effective and proficient in ensuring that the exams are held at a very high standards and that is what we are very grateful and thankful door,” Ms Grant said.

Ms Harvey congratulated Ms Persaud noting that she has been there from the start. “This is a woman who has ensured that her services are required and sought after by the region because she has been doing a remarkable a job and we are indebted to her for that level of services,” Ms Favourite - Harvey noted.

Yvonne Pearson – MP, Indigenous Leader Yvonne Fredericks grew up in Abrams Creek, Pomeroon River and was the third of five children. Her father, Fred Fredericks, a well-known teacher and senior official of the United Force party. Of Carib ancestry , she is one of the most knowledgeable indigenous leaders in Guyana. She has dedicated her whole life to the fight for indigenous rights. Person served as the Advisor to former Minister of Amerindian Affairs [now the Indigenous People’s Affairs], Pauline Sukhai. She has made significant

contributions to her Mainstay community and Amerindians countrywide.

She served as Toshao of her village for several years, Chairperson of the National Toshaos Council where she was elected by her peers, Member of the Indigenous Peoples Commission and she also served as President of the Amerindian People’s Association. Ms. Pearson, a mother of five, continues to be a strong advocate for Amerindian people and for Guyana.

Dr. Paloma Mohamed – Author, Behavioural Scientist Dr. Paloma Mohamed is one of the most prolific academics (communication and behavioural studies) and creative writers (playwright, script-writer and poet) in the region. A key figure in Guyana’s culture and academe, she has been producing creative work since the age of 13, and has, to date, won the Guyana Prize on three occasions (1998, 2000 and 2008). She is recognized as one of the most influential figures in the Guyanese and Caribbean cultural landscape.

Dr. Paloma Mohamed is a behavioural scientist who was educated at the University of Guyana, Harvard University and the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. Her area of specialization is social and behavioural change specifically how communicative and cultural aspects of life are implicated in change. Recently she has opened up a new area of research in social media and change as well as destructive health behaviors. She has

written and edited 11 books in addition to publishing in several academic journals.

She has won several local and international awards for her writing and mentoring work in education and culture including a Presidential Medal of Service in 2012 and the City of New York Award for Culture in 2013.

She became the first woman Caribbean Laureate for Excellence in Arts and Letters in 2015 and was again recognized for her work in education and culture with a National Arrow of Achievement in May 2015. She currently teaches research methods and health behavior at the University of Guyana.

In terms of service she has served on numerous national and international bodies. She is currently chair of the Theatre Guild of Guyana, Founding Director of CineGuyana, Moray House Trust and Healing Arts Inc.

Karen de Souza – Activist Karen de Souza is a women’s and children’s rights activist from Guyana.

She is the co-founder of Red Thread, an advocacy organization which provides service and support, education, and advocacy for victims of rape and domestic and other forms of violence and for the lowest-waged sectors of women.

Ms de Souza and Red Thread also conduct research and have contributed to the drafting of laws and training for judicial officers to support protection of women and children and victims of human trafficking. They also participate in national, international and regional agency programmes on areas of interest, as well as taking education directly to the people.

Since co-founding Red Thread in 1986, Ms de Souza has worked tirelessly for the organisation and in an entirely voluntary capacity. Her leadership has enabled the provision of services like face-to-face counselling in a dropin centre for women and children and survivors of rape and abuse, and enabled the rescue of victims of domestic violence. Ms de Souza is also a pioneer in public education. She has scripted and produced videos and dramatic performances on the subjects of domestic and sexual abuse. These programmes have been disseminated widely through the country.

8 Sunday Times Magazine #PressforProgress

International Women's Day 2018

T Guyanese designer Tricia Thomas

Ms. Tricia Thomas in one of her designs

MARCH 4, 2018

wenty year old Tricia Thomas has always had an obsession with fashion. During a recent interview with the Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, the budding Guyanese fashion designer revealed that she was always fascinated by the fashion trends of television stars and singers.

“I started sketching and sewing little pieces for my dolls in hope that when I got older I would be able to make them for myself,” she explained.

Alluding to the motivation behind her design style, Thomas said that she remains focused on designing ready-to-wear clothing for the entertainment industry which is driven by her enthusiasm and the ever growing fashion industry both locally and internationally.

According to the young Designer, her client base continues to grow, which has been

fuelled by her participation in the Rae Monae fashion show in December 2016. With regards to the obstacles she has faced, Ms. Thomas revealed that funding remains a big challenge. “At the moment the obstacle I'm currently facing is funding to produce more designs and having clients to be satisfied with the cost for high fashion clothing. I'm doing fashion designing part time,” she revealed.

With a never failing love for the fashion industry, Thomas is currently working on developing her brand, Exotic Findz.

The 20 year- old grew up with her parents and four other siblings (three older brothers and one younger sister).

“I’m inspired by the way Marjorie Harvey and Beyonce rock fashionable clothing and their persistence in being successful,” she added.

guyanatimesgy.com

guyanatimesgy.com

Sunday Times Magazine 9 International Women's Day 2018 #PressforProgress March 4, 2018

on, chicken or lower fat dairy as well as plenty of salad, or choose wholegrain toast topped with baked beans.

Mid-afternoon Satisfy that sweet craving and the need for energy with fruit. A handful of dried fruit combined with unsalted nuts or seeds provides protein and healthy fats to keep you satisfied till supper.

Swap your chocolate or cereal bar for a handful of dried apple rings with a few almonds or walnuts. Dried

W

omen have different daily nutritional requirements to men and, below, a leading nutritionist has offered guidance and recipe ideas for women seeking a balanced diet for good health. But what exactly is meant by a 'balanced diet'?

A balanced diet is defined as different types of foods we should be eating and in what proportions. These include some simple rules to follow like getting a minimum of

a colourful variety of vegetables or salad, drizzle with a dressing made from linseed or rapeseed oil and add meat, fish or beans with brown rice, quinoa or wholemeal pasta.

(BBC) The research for this article was compiled by nutritional therapist Kerry Torrens.

A registered Nutritional Therapist, Kerry Torrens is a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food

sardines as well as nuts, seeds and their oils. Your body can use these healthy fats along with protein overnight for regeneration and repair, important for maintaining healthy skin and hair.

Fill half your plate with

magazine. Kerry is a member of the The Royal Society of Medicine, Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT).

Breakfast

ing or gaining weight.

The RIs for fat, saturates, sugars and salt are all maximum amounts, while those for carbs and protein are figures you should aim to meet each day. There is no RI for fibre, although health experts suggest we have 30g a day.

Breakfast Kick-start your metabolism by including protein at breakfast, choose from eggs, salmon, lean ham or dairy. We burn more calo-

an important contribution towards your daily intake and it plays a key role in maintaining a healthy weight.

Mid-morning snack Many people find eating little and often helps them manage their blood sugar levels. This doesn't mean they eat more but instead spread their day's intake evenly throughout the day.

Make every snack count with nourishing options that supply both the 'pick me up' you need while topping up your

Lunch

fruit is four times as sweet as its fresh equivalent, which is great if you've got an exercise class or a gym session planned for the afternoon.

Combining dried fruit with nuts helps stabilise the release of their sugars keeping you energised for lon-

Dinner

five fruit and veg a day, including whole grains and choosing more fish, poultry, beans and pulses, less red meat and opting for lower fat, lower sugar dairy foods.

But that's not the whole story. How much should you be eating and is there an ideal time to eat protein, carbs or fats?

Reference Intakes (RI) Nutritional needs vary depending on sex, size, age and activity levels so use this chart as a general guide only. The chart shows the Reference Intakes (RI) or daily amounts recommended for an average, moderately active adult to achieve a healthy, balanced diet for maintaining rather than los-

ger. Alternatively stock your fridge with plenty of low-calorie nibbles like cherry tomatoes, apples and vegetable cruditĂŠs that will prevent you reaching for the biscuit tin when you fancy something sweet or crunchy.

Dinner Don't curfew carbs.

They're low in fat, fibre-rich and help you relax in the evening. Combine them with some healthy essential fats, the ones you find in oily fish like salmon, mackerel and

ries digesting protein rather than carbs so, by making your breakfast a protein one, you'll be revving up your metabolism and because protein keeps you fuller for longer, you'll eat fewer calories the rest of the day.

A protein breakfast needn't take any longer to prepare. Top your morning toast with a scrambled egg, a slice of smoked salmon or some lean ham and when you do have a little more time, enjoy an omelette or frittata.

Whatever you do, don't skip breakfast as this sets your blood sugar off on a roller-coaster that means you'll end up choosing the wrong foods later in the day.

Remember breakfast makes

five-a-day.

Swap your morning biscuits for oatcakes spread with peanut or almond nut butter and a banana, or have a tasty dip with veggie sticks.

Lunch Make lunch a mix of lean protein and starchy carbs.

Carb-rich foods supply energy and without them you're more likely to suffer that classic mid-afternoon slump.

The key is to choose carbs that produce a steady rise in blood sugar, which means passing on the sugary 'white' foods and going for high-fibre wholegrains that help you manage those afternoon munchies.

Opt for an open rye-bread sandwich topped with salm-

10 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 4, 2018

Travel & Tourism

Masekenari Sunrise

T

he Konashen Amerindian District contains one community populated primarily by the WaiWai people. Masekenari, which means “mosquito place” in the Wai- wai language, was established in 2000 when flooding forced the community to move from its previous location at Akotopono 6 km north – east of the present community of Masekenari. The village has approximately 224 residents .The Wai- wai people have a rich culture and history and continue to maintain their cultural heritage and practices.

The Konashen Amerindian district is also known as the “Community Owned Conservation Area (COCA). The Wai- Wai people have absolute title to

sustainable economic strategy based on eco-tourism, research and traditional crafts. The paramount aim of the people is the preservation of their culture.

The Amerindian population of Guyana consists of nine major ethnic groups, including the Akawaios, Arawaks, Arekunas, Caribs, Makushis, Patamonas, Wapishanas, Warraus and the Wai-Wais. The Wai Wais are mainly found in the hinterland or the interior region. They are the smallest indigenous grouping in Guyana .

The explorer, Sir Robert Schomburgk, may have been the first non- Indian to have contact with the Wai-Wai in December 1837. He found one village on a

A cultural group from the Wai Wai community preparing to perform the traditional dance

their land and have an elected Village Council. The community is equipped with a Primary School, COCA office/ Village Office, Church buildings, Teachers Quarters, Health post Community benab, rest house, and women’s training centre, and a Village kitchen.

In 2007, during the second Latin American Parks Congress, the Wai Wai peoples of Guyana declared their land a “Community Owned Conservation Area” The tribe has banned mining and logging from their land in the tropical forest in remote southern Guyana near the Brazil border. They have pledged to pursue a

tributary of the Essequibo River, along with two others on the Mapuera River in Brazil. Schomburgk describes the Wai-Wai as: "Of medium height, their skin lighter than that of Tarumas, in their general appearance and language they resemble the Makuskis a good deal…”

During the early 20th century, some of the Wai Wai in Brazil moved further north. It is speculated that this is because of

the influenza epidemic that nearly exterminated the Taruma tribe.

From 1933 to 1938, the Wai Wai people moved deeper in Guyana's interior. The villagers also have access to the internet allowing them to set up a hub, which is equipped with computers and which will assist them to manage their community. Other ICT developments in Masekenari include the installa-

tion of a Band VSAT system with Wi-Fi capability. The new system has unlimited capacity and ‘No data cap’ usage. It can also withstand severe weather conditions, and it allows the residents to communicate with anyone at any time, whether in drought or flood. It will provide the Masekenari residents with a fast path to modern healthcare, education, and security.

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 4, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

11 Bedroom Updates for a Better Night's Sleep

Recipe

Many factors — from caffeine consumption to exercise — can affect how well you sleep, but you can make a big impact by simply creating an environment that's conducive to slumber. Try some (or all) of these easy updates in your bedroom to kick-start a more restful year.

One humble skillet has four jobs in this easy weeknight meal: it sears, sautes, simmers and steams. The clean-up is minimal!

Ingredients 1/4 cup all-purpose flour Salt and freshly cracked black pepper Four 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts 4 tablespoons vegetable oil One 8-ounce container sliced mushrooms Directions Whisk together the flour, 1 tablespoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a pie plate or shallow dish. Coat both sides of the chicken breasts in the flour. Shake off any excess and set aside.

Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large, heavybottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook, undisturbed, until deeply golden, about 3 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook, undisturbed, until the other side is deeply golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown and release their liquid, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and

Common-Sense Cooking Tips When you're caught up in a new recipe, it's easy to forget even the most obvious cooking tricks and tips. But memorize these, and you'll always have success in the kitchen.

Dry Off Herbs and Veggies Right After You Buy Them

Lots of supermarket produce gets misted and sprayed until it’s way too wet. And soggy leaves rot quickly, especially in sealed produce bags.

After unpacking your root vegetables and herbs, un-bunch them, trim off wet tops or roots, and then gently pat dry (with lettuces, shake off the excess liquid). Wrap the produce in a single layer of paper towel before re-bagging to keep it perky.

Crack Eggs Into a Separate Bowl First

Murphy's Law says that when you're breaking a bunch of eggs for an omelet, the shell from one will fall into the bowl (or worse, a bad egg will contaminate them all). To isolate the damage, break each egg into a small bowl or cup before transferring it to your mixing bowl.

2 cloves garlic, minced 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into chunks 1 cup milk One 10-ounce package of baby spinach (about 8 cups) Warm egg noodles, for serving (optional)

Banish Electronics

By now, we've all heard that electronics are disruptive to sleep. Watching TV, checking emails or scrolling through social media feeds before bedtime keeps your brain alert, and the blue light emitted by screens inhibits production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep/wake cycles. Sleep.org (powered by the National Sleep Foundation) recommends keeping all electronics outside of the bedroom and giving yourself at least 30 minutes of screen-free time before bedtime.

cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese and stir until melted.

Then pour in the milk. Use a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the chicken back to the skillet, cover and cook, turning about halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter filled with warm noodles. Add the spinach to the skillet, cover and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper. Pour the creamy spinach sauce over the chicken and noodles.

Cut Up Butter Before Baking With It

If your recipe calls for soft, room-temperature butter, cutting it into smaller pieces will help soften it faster. On the other hand, many recipes, like those for pie crusts, call for rockhard ice-cold butter.

Cut the butter into little cubes, spread them out on a plate, and pop the plate in the freezer.

Choose Calming Colours Colour has a powerful effect on mood and energy, and the right hues can transform your bedroom into a relaxing retreat. Earthy browns, watery blues and soft greens are some of the most comforting shades, but there's no one-size-fits-all rule here. Whatever makes you feel happy and relaxed will help you unwind at the end of the day. Start with new bedding or a fresh coat of paint on the walls and see what a difference it makes.

Grate Food the Long Way

When using a hand-held box grater, hold the ingredient lengthwise or at a slight angle, so more of the surface is grated with each swipe. This creates longer and prettier shavings. This technique also helps you grate more at once, making the chore go faster. (Remember to protect your fingers with a kitchen towel.)

Salt as You Go — and Taste Before Serving

Even some of the best cooks forget this one: Add salt to a dish as you cook, sprinkling carefully to make sure each of the ingredients is evenly seasoned. And make sure to taste a dish before you bring it to the table. If the food needs seasoning, add salt little by little, tasting after each addition to get it just right. Too little salt is fixable; too much can make your masterpiece inedible.

Upgrade Your Pillows

Here's a trick from Sleep.org to help you determine if your pillows need replacing: If they don't spring back after you fold them in half, it's time to let them go. Consider how you sleep when buying new pillows: Back sleepers should choose thin pillows that cradle the neck. Stomach sleepers need the thinnest pillows available, or even no pillows. Side sleepers should opt for firm pillows with gussetting, or extra paneling on the sides.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 4, 2018

Puzzles

Crossword

ACROSS

93 "Murder, -- Wrote"

1 Lake underlay

94 Venice "taxi"

5 Streak of dirt

95 Torcher's misdeed

11 -- oneself (went)

96 Yard tools

17 "Excuse me!"

97 Alloy components

21 Hagar's daughter

99 Amtrak et al.

22 Pre-cable hookup

100 More gloomy

23 Keep on repeating

101 Grade school break 24 Sweet

102 Luigi's romance

25 Mayberry moppet

103 Not hungry

26 Mrs. George Burns

104 Penn and O'Casey

27 Long overcoat

105 "Snow" veggie

28 PC screens

106 Farm enclosure

29 Muscular (hyph.)

107 Sighed with delight

31 Sorts socks

109 Longbow's sound

33 Interstellar clouds 110 Endures 35 Couples

112 More bleak

36 Express doubts

115 Gladiator's place

37 Some hermits

116 Of the sky

38 Mach 1 exceeder of yore 120 Superboy's girlfriend

41 D.C. gun lobby

121 Put on a sari 42 Subsides 123 Yeast

43 Blue-gray bird

125 While away

44 Watch innards

126 Former science magazine

48 Rio Grande town

127 Stem from 50 Vouchers

128 Least humid 51 Prickle 129 Murmurs

52 Old firearm

130 Not fem.

53 Make -- -- buck 131 Reach

54 Kettle handles 132 Investments

55 Report for work (2 wds.)

133 Swiss painter Paul - 57 Night before

DOWN

58 Volcanic rock 1 Victuals

59 -- up (dress to the nines) 2 Easy stride

60 Safe house

3 Indigo dye

61 Russian pancake

4 Give forth

62 Hematite

5 Tall cactus

63 Squeaking noise

6 Yucatan city

64 Flood stopper

7 Europe-Asia divider

65 Audience accolade

8 Part of OED

66 Routine trips (2 wds.)

9 Moo goo -- pan

68 Funny fellow

10 Oxygen and sulfur 69 Lean-to

11 Caesar's false friend

70 Turning points

12 Lamprey hunter

71 Rolling stone

13 Miss Trueheart of the comics

72 Mid-Atlantic st.

14 Autumn mo.

73 Kiosk buy, briefly

15 Popular candy bar (2 wds.)

74 Thug, slangily

16 Yellow Sea land

75 Rain forest parrots 17 Blames

78 Hyundai competitor 18 Pitch

79 Lb. and oz.

19 Wonder Woman's friend 80 Embellishing 20 Predicament 84 Harebrained

30 Ring-shaped cake

85 U-235 phenomenon

32 Iowa college town

87 Multiply

34 Air rifle (2 wds.)

88 Keane of "Family Circus" 36 Newspaper type

89 Bank conveniences

37 Hip-length garment (2 wds.)

90 Genuine

38 Downhill race

91 Used galoshes

39 Jungle jaunt

92 Transparent mineral

40 Go places

Colouring Fun

75 Swamp vapor

42 Egg beater

108 "-- Gabler"

76 Ball game opener

43 Large brown beetle (2 wds.)

109 Fountain of Rome

77 Awoke (2 wds.)

45 Cub Scout leaders

110 River embankment

78 Type of spirit

46 Bounce back

111 Popsicle holder

79 Deep distress

47 Dictation pros

112 Latch onto

80 Warmth of feeling

49 NASA counterpart 113 Hero of Hindu epics

81 Hieroglyphic birds 114 Bed-and-breakfasts

50 Homes for hombres

82 Most congenial

51 Reality finders

115 Samoa's capital 83 Slick

52 With, to Fritz

116 Coral islets

85 Dorsal - 54 Good, in Granada

117 Teen fave

86 A Gershwin

55 Lapel ornament

118 Shampoo additive

87 Acid opposites

56 Bear - 119 -- -majeste

90 Coast Guard alert

59 Roots around 122 Sculpture or music 91 Twisted 60 Beldam

124 Pause fillers

92 Comfy shoe 61 Salty

63 Russell -- of "Gladiator" 94 Flash

95 Portrayer of a TV doctor (2 wds.)

64 -- ammoniac

96 Track prelims 65 Sweeping

98 Semitic language

67 Kublai and Genghis

100 Vanilla source

68 Minks and stoats

101 Feels bitter

70 Like baked apples

103 Black-footed critter

72 Conflict

104 Norway neighbor

73 Atlas abbr.

105 Most faded 74 Verdant See Solution on Pg 13

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- HARLEQUIN (HARLEQUIN: HAR-lih-kwin: A character in comedy and pantomime.)

Average mark 42 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 63 or more words in HARLEQUIN?

hail hailer hair hale hare haul hauler heal hear heir hernia

hire hula hurl alien anile rail rain rale rani real rein

renal rhea rhinal rile ruin rule rune lain lair lane lean

learn liar lien lieu line linear liner lira lire lunar lune

lure earl earn elan equal quail quale quire ulna unreal urea

urinal urine inhale inhaler inure nail near neural

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.

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 4, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

5G is helping make Pyeongchang the most high-tech Olympics ever

T

he world’s biggest mobile technology show bears a fitting title: Mobile World Congress.

Hosted in Barcelona every year, it brings together manufacturers, distributors, carriers, marketers, designers, and engineers from all around to present

every major manufacturer promising to sprinkle machine-learning magic onto their devices. Dual cameras are also increasingly popping up on the front of phones as well as the back, while the iPhone X’s highly recognizable notched display is also being imitated.

M

ajor companies like Samsung and Intel are showing off their technology, including selfdriving cars, virtual-reality viewing stations and super-fast video streaming.

At the helm of it all is 5G, the wireless network technology that mobile carriers around the world have been racing to adopt.

Pyeongchang, a previously little known city of just 44,000 people, has emerged as a vital testing ground.

Intel (INTC) and South Korean mobile carrier KT (KT) are using it as the tech industry's largest 5G showcase yet.

Smartphone users have been "promised a lot of things previously for 5G," said Peter Liu, a Singaporebased analyst at research firm Gartner. "We want to see how much can be really achieved in the commercial environment." Intel is hoping to dazzle fans with the technology by offering new ways of watching Olympic athletes. It's set up 5G stations to track cross-country skiers, deployed dozens of cameras inside an ice arena,

Nokia Smart Phone unveiled at WMC

didn’t have a new flagship phone, LG rebadged its old flagship phone, and Motorola and HTC had no phones to show at all. The traditional deluge of new super-specced phones just wasn’t here as it usually is. But that didn’t make a boring show — far from their latest work and plant the seeds for future collaboration. For us, it’s also the stage for a week’s worth of new Android phone launches. This year’s event was held from Feb 26, 2018 – Mar 1, 2018.

In 2018, the growing theme is AI, with almost

it. Nokia reached back into the archives to revive another classic, Google’s hardware partners presented their first Android Go devices, and the pervasive buzzwords of 5G and AI were everywhere. There were even some cool laptops to look at.(BBC Tech)

Samsung’s new Galaxy S9 generation is sure to dominate MWC 2018, but there’ll be plenty more news made over the week that the show runs.

Mobile World Congress 2018: what happened?

Maybe it’s best to start with what didn’t happen: Huawei

Control AI now or brace for nightmare future, experts warn

R and made this the first Winter Olympics to be broadcast live in virtual reality.

"We're getting closer and closer to the athletes," said Rob Topol, general manager of Intel's 5G business.

"Viewers can control the time, target, even the angle of what they're viewing." The frustration of watching a delayed live-stream should be gone, too. 5G networks are still being developed, but the technology is expected to eventually be at least 10 times faster than 4G. Intel is using all that firepower for the Games to roll out 4K and even some 8K video, which offer image quality many times higher than that of HD. (CNN Tech)

ogue states, criminals and terrorists could use artificial intelligence to wreak havoc around the world, according to a new report.

More than two dozen experts from top universities and research organizations in the US and the UK wrote the alarming report about the malicious use of AI, which was published recently by Cambridge University. "For many decades hype outstripped fact in terms of AI and machine learning. No longer," said Seán Ó hÉigeartaigh, a Cambridge academic who is one of the authors.

The report warns that artificial intelligence could usher in a new wave of cyberattacks in which computers use speech technology to impersonate targets or carry out "superhuman hacking" by taking control of drones, driverless vehicles or even autonomous weapons systems on the battlefield.

Some of the predictions sound like dystopian nightmares taken straight from a Hollywood movie or an episode of "Black Mirror."

The report is the latest in a series of warnings about the potential consequences of the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Russian President Vladimir Putin predicted last September that whoever becomes the leader in AI will become the ruler of the world.

Shortly after that, Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk issued a dire warning, suggesting the race between different countries for AI superiority could cause a new world war.

Crossword Solution

L

eaked images supposedly show Fitbit’s next smartwatch. The device has a sleek design and will reportedly be aimed at female consumers. According to Wareable, it’ll run on Fitbit OS, will be water resistant up to 50 meters, and has the ability to monitor sleep apnea through a SpO2 sensor. However, it won’t have GPS. Fitbit CEO James Park previously mentioned during an investor call that the company plans to launch a smartwatch with “mass appeal,” and this might be it.

The device will be a suc-

cessor to the Blaze, though it’s not clear if it will be called the Blaze 2 or given a different name altogether. Renders show a watchface with rose gold, silver, or black accents, and different

strap options including what look like plastic and fabric designs in silver, black, purple, and coral. Fitbit’s new device also bears a resemblance to the Pebble Time Steel watch.

Sources aware of Fitbit’s plans said that the company “wants this to be something that will appeal to a larger, more general smartwatch audience.”

This follows the recent announcement of Fitbit’s Adidas-branded edition of the Ionic watch, priced at $330. It’s being positioned as a direct competitor to Apple Watch’s Nike edition, which starts at $329.

There’s no word on when Fitbit’s new watch will be released or how much it will cost, though it will reportedly be cheaper than the Ionic.

(CNET)

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 4, 2018

Bollywood/Hollywood

Sridevi Kapoor death: Tragedy shines light on Bollywood pressures

Kenyan film school takes on Hollywood for an Oscar

W

T

he death of Bollywood superstar Sridevi has led to a wave of speculation - some of it unsavoury. But the sad news has also encouraged some industry insiders to speak out about the disturbing pressures that women and outsiders face in India's so-called dream factory as Sudha G Tilak reports.

Bollywood stars often refer to the Hindi movie industry rooted in Mumbai as "one big family", but the cracks in this large creative community are increasingly becoming too large to ignore. The tragic death of Sridevi has prompted an outpouring on Indian social media over the pressures on the industry's leading women and the murkiness behind their success.

It has also exposed the plight of many hopefuls who pursue a path to Mumbai with dreams of making it big in Bollywood.The burden to defy age and look youthful and the haste to hide ugly scandals that embody campaigns such as #MeToo are not the issues of Hollywood alone.

"Bollywood is probably worse with its history of its patriarchal mindset and the exploitative nature of young women more than men," says a young Bollywood actor on condition of anonymity.

Over the last two decades gossip websites have been leaking information about romances, break-ups, problems with drink and substance abuse and criminal acts involving the industry's stars.

After it emerged that Sridevi's death was due to "accidental drowning", veteran Bollywood actress Simi Garewal tweeted about the "uncanny similarities in the death of #Sridevi and Whitney Houston".Houston died in her hotel room on 11 February 2012 when she accidentally drowned due to the effects of cocaine use and heart disease, an autopsy concluded.

A disturbing tally of at least 16 actresses and nine actors have taken their own lives

in India, often reportedly due to being unable to bear the demands of the film industry, deal with heartbreaks or because of depression.

Bollywood's demands for big ticket box office success, the pressure on its stars to appear visibly attractive and exposure to social media scrutiny have tested those at the top of the profession, too.

Successful Indian actress Deepika Padukone has publicly admitted to suffering depression in this environment.

'A nightmare' Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, who directed Sridevi in Telugu language blockbusters, also spoke out on social media in an effort to convey how unhappy the Bollywood legend was in real life. "[Sridevi] went through so much in her life," he said, adding: "Due to her early career entry as a child artiste, life never gave her time to grow up at a normal pace.

"More than the external peace, her internal mental state was of a high degree of concern and this forced her to look at her own self.

"The uncertainty of the future, the ugly turns and twists in her private life left deep scars in the superstar's sensitive mind and thereafter she was never at peace," Varma wrote on Facebook.

Speaking to journalist Vir Sanghvi last year, Sridevi recalled how she had to acclimatise to the Bollywood way of working.

She told him that while working in the south Indian film industry she would start shooting at 06:00, but in Mumbai she would wait for Bollywood actors to turn up on set well into the late afternoon, making her feel "restless".She recalled how the promotions for her first movie in Bollywood "felt like a nightmare" and how she was "very, very uncomfortable" with the scrutiny of Bollywood's paparazzi. (BBC)

hen the Oscar winners are announced this weekend, it won't only be Hollywood superstars who will be waiting anxiously.

There will also be eight graduates from a film college in Kenya nervously awaiting the results. These graduates of the Africa Digital Media Institute (ADMI) in Nairobi were part of the team making a movie nominated in the category of best short live action film.

The film, called Watu Wote (or All of Us), tells the story of a terror attack on a bus in Kenya by militant group Al-Shabaab in 2015, in which Muslim passengers protected Christians.

"I was at work when I got a call telling me we had been nominated," says 22-yearold ADMI graduate Claire Njoki, who helped to design and build the film's set.

"My mum was the first person I told and we cried together. I felt so good that we were able to tell that story about Kenya, it is every filmmaker's dream to reach the Oscars."

The short history of ADMI could itself be a script

The Oscar-chasing film school wants Kenyan youngsters to tell their own stories on the big screen

for a feelgood film. The film school's founder, Wilfred Kiumi, grew up in a slum in Nairobi and developed a love of film after his uncle took him to a governmentfunded cinema.

He worked in a barbershop to make enough money to go to college. But his ambition was to set up a film school which would give Kenyan students the full range of skills needed to succeed in the industry.

"At first people thought I was joking when I said I was trying to set up a school, but the more I talked to people about it the more they en-

couraged me and connected me to others who could help," he says.

Six years ago this month, the college welcomed its first intake of only five students.

Today, it has 350 students at a purpose-built campus in Narobi's Central Business District, complete with well-stocked graphic design and animation labs, sound studios and post-production labs. They study a two-year diploma which includes training in film and TV production, graphic design, journalism, sound engineering and animation, and an internship.

Brad Pitt may join Leonardo DiCaprio In ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’

Q

uentin Tarantino has set Brad Pitt to star with Leonardo DiCaprio in his upcoming film, and the filmmaker has chosen a title. Tarantino’s ninth film is Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Pic is set for August 9, 2019 release worldwide. Per Sony, Tarantino describes the film as “a story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-

door neighbor…Sharon Tate.”

It wasn’t clear if Tarantino was providing an homage to Sergio Leone and his films Once Upon A Time In America and Once Upon A Time In The West, but it sounds like it. Tarantino’s pal Robert Rodriguez has used the term for his film Once Upon A Time In Mexico. Sony Pictures acquired the film after Tarantino was forced to pull it away from The Weinstein Company because of the company’s woes.

As Deadline broke last year, Tarantino has asked Oscar-nominated I, Tonya star Margot Robbie to play Tate, who was murdered by Charles Manson’s crazy cult members.

Tarantino had been talking to both DiCaprio and Pitt, as well as Tom Cruise for those two key roles. Just as he reteamed with DiCaprio after Django Unchained, Tarantino reunites with Pitt after the WWII pic Inglourious Basterds, which got eight Oscar noms. Pitt just finished the James Gray-directed Ad Astra.

Oscars 2018: final presenters include Dave Chappelle, Sandra Bullock & Lupita Nyong’o

G

oing by the trailer and songs, 'Dil Juunglee' starring Saqib Saleem and Taapsee Pannu looks like a refreshing take on friendships and love.

The makers on Thursday released a new song 'Dil Jaane Na', which is a very easybreezy song and will remind you of his su-

perhit track, 'Dil Dooba Dooba' in some parts. Sung by Mohit Chauhan and Neeti Mohan, the song is written by Abhiruchi Chand and music is composed by Abhishek Arora. 'Dil Juunglee' is Aleya Sen’s directorial debut. It is also the first film of Saqib and Taapsee as a pair.

O

scars 2018 producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd today announced the final slate of Oscars presenters for the 90th Oscars® telecast.

Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the Oscars will air live today, March 4 8e|5p on ABC, abc.com or the ABC app.

The additional presenters, including past Oscar® winners and nominees, are Emily Blunt, Sandra Bullock, Dave Chappelle, Eugenio Derbez, Ansel Elgort, Jane Fonda,

Jodie Foster, Eiza González, Ashley Judd, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Lupita Nyong’o and Christopher Walken.

“These actors have embodied some of the most heroic, aspirational and indelible characters ever brought to the screen,” said De Luca and Todd. “In so doing, they’ve not only entertained the world, but illuminated the full range of the human experience.”

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 4, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 4, 2018

Fun Times

Archie

Your personal relationARIES ships must be handled with (March 21- diplomacy. Be willing to lisApril 19) ten to people and assess situations before you say something or take action. It's in your best interest to get along with others.

Don't feel that you must TAURUS make a sudden decision, (April 20- change or move just beMay 20) cause someone else does.

Participate in events that include relatives to discover more about your ancestry.

Not everyone will be hapGEMINI py with the changes you (MAY 28- make, but keep moving forJune 20) ward if you are pleased.

Energy spent on self-improvement will pay off and attract praise from someone who counts.

You are best off ironing out any emotional issues that sur(June 21- face before things escalate into July 22) a feud. Refuse to let an outsider interfere in your personal life.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

Impulsive actions should be avoided. Look carefully at every situation you face. Ask those affected by your decisions to make suggestions or offer preferences if you want to face less disapproval.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

A change in your financial situation is apparent and dependent on your spending habits and ability to budget. Impulse-buying should be stifled before you end up in debt.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Impulsive actions should be avoided. Look carefully at every situation you face. Ask those affected by your decisions to make suggestions or offer preferences if you want to face less disapproval.

Listen and learn. Now is SCORPIO (Oct. 24- not the time to retaliate. Walk Nov. 22) away from situations that don't feel right. Focus on being the best you can be and spending time with the ones you love.

Protect your reputation.

SAGITTARIUS Someone will try to make (Nov. 23you look bad or use perDec. 21) sonal information against you. Walk away from anyone who tries to manipulate you.

Calvin and Hobbes

Listen carefully and be reCAPRICORN luctant to make an abrupt move (Dec. 22- just because someone is implorJan. 19) ing you to make a change. Aim for greater stability instead of disrupting what you've worked so hard to achieve.

Don't spend what you AQUARIUS don't have. Going into debt (Jan. 20- to impress someone or while Feb. 19) investing in something risky should be avoided. Keep your money in a safe place.

Take hold of whatever situPISCES (Feb. 20- ation you face. Don't cave unMar. 20) der pressure or give in to someone trying to manipulate you.

Be your own master and strive for personal gain.