Guyanatime 6 may 2018

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

Issue No. 3555

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Sunday, May 6, 2018

PRICE

Piracy massacre

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

26 persons now in custody

ECD road expansion works progressing P15 – WSG head

Page 9

…as Guyana’s Security Minister leads team to Suriname Arrival Day 2018

Essequibo Coast hosts parade, exhibition

...“It is time for us to put aside our differences and work together” – Region 6 Chairman …President Granger joins celebrations at Highbury See stories on

Incremental changes needed to combat money laundering P12 – expert ...as questions arise over Guyana’s low conviction rate

Loo Creek fatal accident

P8

Driver charged for causing friends' death

pages 6 and 16

Guyana needs “proper” Access to Information Act – transparency activist P5

Residents of Essequibo Coast, Region Two on Saturday waved Guyana's and India’s flags during a parade hosted to celebrate Arrival Day 2018

Economic report shows

Guyana balance of payment deficit widens Page 3

– deficit moves from US$53M to US$69M

Barge crashes into Demerara Harbour Bridge

Ill treatment at Hugo Chávez Centre

Region 5 MP calls for Police probe

P10

Page 7

…as Ministry issues statement

One year later

Grieving father still waiting for justice P12 …as son’s killer roams freely

2

news

SUnDAY, may 6, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Incremental changes needed to combat money laundering – expert ...as questions arise over Guyana’s low conviction rate

W

ith Guyana yet to secure a major conviction relating to Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), a Commonwealth legal expert is issuing a reminder that incremental changes will achieve this end.

According to Shadrach Haruna, a legal adviser to the Commonwealth, the organisation is in fact assisting with this process. When asked about Guyana’s lack

of convictions and how the secretariat can assist, he pointed to the secretariat’s work on a regional level.

“Apart from organising regional training like this, we also do mentoring and placement of investigators and prosecutors. We also bring in experts from other jurisdictions that have the capacity to train the investigators here for four, five weeks. We have achieved that in some countries,” he related on Friday at a media

briefing.

“So it’s not a huge amount of money, but we’re able to achieve a lot through that process. So we do this type of regional training to ensure we have key people trained here that will go back and transfer that training to the old staff.”

Haruna noted that besides that assistance, the secretariat also does a comprehensive review of existing prosecutorial structures.

He said that the objective of

this assessment is to identify shortfalls in AML/CFT capacity. Once completed, he noted, the secretariat is better able to advise or design assistance accordingly.

Raising standards

M e a n w h i l e , Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland revealed that there are on-going talks centred on how to raise the prosecutorial standards of common-

Commonwealth Legal Advisor Shadrach Haruna

wealth countries in a unified way.

“We are looking at creating toolkits with you tube type how to do this back up so that even if we can’t be there, we can be there virtually,” she said. “What we are talking about at this conference is potentially could we create a commonwealth implementation toolkit.”

“This would be a de facto step by step guide for implementation for our investigators, prosecutors and judges. And that’s what we’re talking about right now. So we do not have as much as we like, but I hope we have enough.”

Convictions

Recently, Attorney General Basil Williams had urged law enforcement agencies secure money laundering convictions. At a subsequent press conference, Williams had revealed that Guyana will not exit the fourth round of evaluations by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force unless convictions can be secured.

FATF/CFATF conducts

peer reviews of member countries to assess levels of implementation of their AML/CFT recommendations. These mutual evaluations provide in-depth data and analysis of each country’s system for preventing criminal abuse of the financial system.

“Money launderers should and ought to be convicted,” Williams said.

“This is not a question of trumped up charges, because we have been doing a lot of training. The British, for instance, sponsored a two week course for investigators. And we have had on going exercises.”

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) is one of those law enforcement agencies on the frontlines.

But while SOCU had arrested and indeed, questioned several members of the previous administration, its exploits against money launderers are not as well known. Instead, the aforementioned arrests were in relation to the Pradoville land development.

Midwives crucial to health sector – minister

I

n observation of International Midwives Day 2018, Minister within Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings reminded the health professionals of their crucial role in saving lives.

“Midwives save lives! You play a critical role in the reduction of maternal and infant mortality. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) well-trained midwives help to avert 90 per cent of infant mortality globally,” Minister Cummings explained.

The Minister was addressing a gathering of midwives at a conference held recently at the Mahaica, Berbice Regional Democratic Council (RDC), to celebrate and honour the health professionals for their significant contributions in the local health sector.

The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Midwives leading the way with quality care.’

Minister Cummings said this theme is appropriate and cannot be overemphasised as it is inline with the Public Health Ministry’s vision of providing quality healthcare.

She reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to improving working conditions for midwives across Guyana, highlighting that midwives are an important group of medical professionals who quietly administer competent medical services in maternal child health.

She boasted that 11 hospitals in Guyana already achieved baby-friendly status and efforts are underway to have the Midwife Bill passed in the National Assembly.

The Public Health Minister charged the gathering to continue to utilise their skills as midwives to make significant changes regarding maternal and infant mortality rate in Guyana. turn to page 12

news

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Guyana balance of payment deficit widens

Sunday, May 6 – 08:30h-10:00h and Monday, May 7 – 09:30h-11:00h

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

– deficit moves from US$53M to US$69M

Sunday, May 6 – 07:50h-09:20h and Monday, May 7 – 09:10h-10:40h

By Jarryl Bryan

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloudy skies with light rain showers can be expected throughout the day and into the evening, with temperatures ranging between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 7.15 metres.

High Tide: 08:12h and 20:52h reaching maximum heights of 2.32 metres and 2.17 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:45h and 14:19h reaching minimum heights of 0.99 metre and 0.91 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

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05 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 02 07 09 23

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LUCKY 3 5 2 4

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Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

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Evening Draw

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Economic report shows

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

W

ith the release of the 2017 macro-economic report, the 2.1 per cent growth rate is not the only thing of concern. The report shows that the deficit in Guyana’s balance of payments, an important economic indicator, is on the rise.

The Balance of Payments report contains statistical data on a country’s fiscal transactions, including imports and exports. To record a deficit, Guyana would therefore have had to spend more on imports, among other things, that it derived from exports.

According to the report, Guyana’s overall balance of payment in the 2017 fiscal year showed a deficit of US$69.5 million. This is a hike when compared to US$53.3 million the previous year. A breakdown of the figures shows stunning disparities.

On the one hand, the current account shows a deficit of US$287.4 million for the year 2017. But in the previous fiscal year, the report notes, this was just US$12.4 million. The report admits that this is because of a negative balance on the merchandise trade account.

“The further weakening was due to the negative balance on the merchandise trade account.

Merchandise exports were slightly lower than projected, mainly on account of lower export earnings of gold and other exports in the last two months of the year.”

When Finance Minister Winston Jordan presented the 2018 budget last year, he had announced that merchandise imports were estimated to grow by

The Central Bank

9.6 per cent. This had been attributed to increased imports of mining machinery, chemicals, fuel and lubricants. According to the report, imports exceeded the Government’s projections.

“Imports were slightly more than the US$1.59 billion projected at the time of the presentation of the 2018 budget. As a result, the merchandise trade deficit of US$196.2 million was considerably higher than the projected deficit of US$147.2 million.

“Notwithstanding, the deficit on the services account was lower than estimated. The improvement in the services account more than offsets the weaker balances on both the non-factor services and unrequited transfers accounts,” the report states.

Capital account

While the Current Account is nothing to boast about, the Capital Account improved. The report notes that it showed a surplus of US$228 million,

an increase from a deficit of US$13.2 million in 2016. It also exceeded a projected surplus of US$181.8 million.

This publication had recently done an article on the state of Guyana’s net foreign reserves. A recent report from the Central Bank had indicated that Guyana’s net foreign reserves, held by the bank in foreign currency notes, have fallen to their lowest point since 2008. The reserves went from a high point of US$825 million in 2012 to US$498.5 million as at March 2018.

A perusal of the Bank of Guyana’s statistical abstract shows that the reserves started dropping in 2013, going from $751.2 million in that year to $652.2 million in 2014.

It is in 2017 that the reserves plunged well into the US$500 million range.

By November of last year, the reserves were recorded at US$562 million.

And as at March 2018, for the first time since 2008,

the net foreign reserves fell to below the US$500 million benchmark. Interestingly enough, the end-of-year report details that US$12.1 million was drawn down from the reserves to finance the balance of payments.

“The 2017 balance of payments deficit was financed by exceptional financing of US$1.9 million in debt relief and US$55.6 million in debt forgiveness, along with a drawdown of US$12.1 million in net foreign assets of the Bank of Guyana,” the report states.

“Additionally, gross revenues of the Bank of Guyana were equal to about 3.1 months of import cover at the end of 2017; slightly above the three-month minimum benchmark for reserve adequacy.”

The Parliamentary Opposition had previously expressed concern over the increasing deficit in the country’s balance of payments, which it had said would continue to have serious implications for the local economy.

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SunDAY, may 6, 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

Indian Arrival reflections

S

aturday marked the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indians to Guyana. The first batch of 396 who arrived in 1838 was just an “experiment” which, after a hiatus, resumed in 1845 and continued until 1917 when 239,000 had been offloaded to toil on sugar plantations. At “Emancipation”, 82,000 Africans had been freed and the planters, not surprisingly, were apprehensive about retaining their labour in the structured manner the cultivation and manufacture sugar from sugar cane demanded.

Cultivation of sugar cane on the Guyanese coast differed from that in the West Indies and necessitated the construction and maintenance of an elaborate network of conservancies, canals and sluices (kokers) to make the land cultivable. Only a mass enterprise like sugar would have persuaded the colonial power to expend the vast sums needed to keep this hydraulic system going.

Because the freed Guyanese slaves had the alternative of moving off the plantations by purchasing the ever-increasing number of abandoned plantations – unlike the case in the West Indies – they demanded higher wages. This, the planters could not afford, since the “preferential tariffs” in England had been removed. They turned desperately first to the smaller WI islands and then to Madeira to supply new, cheap labour. They proved insufficient, and it was the Indians, who not only saved the industry but soon tripled the production achieved during slavery. Guyana soon surpassed Jamaica as the largest British sugar-producing colony.

Three-quarters of the Indian immigrants remained in Guyana and they changed the society irretrievably. The very first batch had 94 Muslims and 302 Hindus, who brought and retained to a remarkable degree, their religious practices and in doing so, formed a multi-religious society. The European colonists had forbidden the Africans brought as slaves from practicing their religions – which included Islam and African practices dismissed as “animism” – and most had picked up Christian practices from their masters. At the abolition of slavery, the colonists and missionaries explicitly began to organise the freed slaves into the officially sponsored Christian Church and Church-controlled schools. While the missionaries also attempted to proselytise the Muslim and Hindu Indians, it was to prove an uphill task that is still ongoing.

Along with the official insistence on “one religion” – Christianity – Indians faced the pressure to practice one “Creole-White-bias” culture through official laws and practices. Hindus in India cremated their dead, but in Guyana cremation was forbidden and Hindus were forced to adopt the practice of burial and the ancillary practices of “keeping wakes”. Unlike Muslims who had retained their Friday congregational worship – “Juma” – Hindus had no set day of worship or congregational worship in India. With Sunday being their one “day” off, they adopted the Christian of “Sunday congregational service”, and the “sermon”.

Even after indentureship, the Indians were structured to remain on the sugar plantations. They were rented or allowed to purchase lands that were used to cultivate rice to supplement the miserable wages the ex-slaves refused, but ended up creating a new industry, while still yoked to the sugar plantations or its environs. Systematically denied entrance to the prestigious civil service or other jobs in the State sector, Indians followed the Portuguese immigrants who had preceded them into the retail trade and the professions of law and medicine.

Their agitation on the sugar plantations, at first was to insist the terms of their indentured contracts be observed.

After indentureship, it was for better wages and working conditions during the depression, was in tandem with other disturbances in the WI and led finally to the colonial Government deploying a Royal Commission in 1938 to investigate. Improvement of conditions and finally the increase in the franchise were recommended.

This led to the conceptualisation of a mass-based political party by Cheddi Jagan and “the rest is history”. Unfortunately, under the People’s National Congress, this has become a revisionist history as exemplified by the firing of 5700 sugar workers and the refusal to properly commemorate Cheddi Jagan’s birth centenary as the “father of the nation”.

“Arrival” still means “exclusion”.

As Guyana observes the 180th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians to Guyana, the Sanatan Dharm Par Upkaaric Sabha, Essequibo Coast hosted an exhibition on Saturday. The exhibition showcased foods, tools, musical instruments, religious texts, pictures and other items brought to Guyana by the East Indian indentured immigrants

No legislation should deprive citizens of their constitutional rights

Dear Editor, The working Peoples Alliance Overseas Associate adds its voice to those organisations and individuals who have spoken out in opposition to the draconian and archaic Article 18 of the Cybercrimes Bill, 2016.

We accept that with new modes of communication that were not anticipated by laws presently enacted, many countries have gone beyond common law to enact legislation to deal with various forms of Cyber abuse, but this Article 18 seems geared

for repression under the guise of combating sedition. We in Guyana have had our bad experiences at the hands of authoritarian regimes attempting to suppress political dissent, and must condemn any act under any guise that would take away our freedom to express ourselves. No legislation should be employed to deprive citizens of their constitutional rights of freedom of conscience, action, expression, the absolute right of legitimate dissent, and the right to remove a government not lawfully elected or a gov-

ernment lawfully elected that destroys the foundation of our democracy. The right to agitate for the removal of such governments should not be abridged. The Declaration of Independence of the United States established this point, which has since become universally accepted that: “when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same objective evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty to throw off such government”.

If a government governs fair-

ly and justly, it should have no fear of sedition.

The Working Peoples Alliance Overseas Alliance would continue to uphold its founding principle, and struggle against friend and foe to preserve the people’s freedom. Under the current formulation of Article 18, we will potentially stand guilty of sedition if we attempt to carry out this principle.

Sincerely, Keith Branch Press Secretary, WPAOA

Tax-fatigued student population Dear Editor, As the PNC-led Coalition tighten their grip on society, they have finally landed their silliness at our national tertiary institution -- the University of Guyana.

I make mention of the imposition of restricted zones for parking, as well as the new clamping of students’ vehicle laws. This latest vendetta on academia is another crude taxation measure on an already tax-fatigued student population.

Even before that, stu-

dents were saddled with a steep hike in fees and other burdensome costs, which adds to the misery of gaining a decent and affordable higher education; while the promised improvement in the infrastructure and other dire necessities is still a way-off aspiration waiting to be fulfilled. So these new moves, like the clamping of students’ vehicles, come as a surprise.

Amidst all of these goings-on is the sudden silence of the unions and oth-

er representatives of the student body. Where are those who are duly constituted to protect and further students’ rights at UG? Where are they? Is something radically wrong with the whole unionized psyche at UG? To begin with, an increased vehicular traffic at UG is welcome, because it shows that the university is growing. Those in administration ought to be delighted and appreciative of this fact, hence adequate facili-

ties should have been put in place for parking. Instead, we hear of this retrogression of the putting up of barriers as well as clamping of vehicles just adding to students’ frustration.

This is a retrograde move with a clear aim.

Where is Patsy Francis?

Where is Melissa Ifill? Are they asleep? What has gone wrong with them? Why the sudden silence? Wake up!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

news

Guyana needs “proper” Access to Information Act – transparency activist

T

rinidadian-based transparency activist, Afra Raymond, has stated that Guyana needs to have a “proper” Access to information Act, as he highlighted some of the snags in the current legislation.

During a public lecture in Guyana to observe World Press Freedom Day, Raymond pointed out that while Guyana has access to the Information Act in force, there are a few striking contents of the legislation.

He went on to outline that among those is the 20year cap for the disclosure of Cabinet documents.

“The documents that are submitted to Cabinet are exempted from disclosures for 20 years, in Trinidad and Tobago its 10 years. I think 20 years is way too long, it should be disclosed in a fast time scale. Something that is 20 years old is literally an old dried up historical document, and that provision needs to modernise,” he posited.

Another issue the transparency activist raised is the noticeable absence of judicial review laws, which he insisted must be addressed.

“The opportunity to judicially review an administrative decision doesn’t exist in Guyanese law. You don’t have a Judicial Review Act that has been implemented.

That is how I made my legal challenges in Trinidad and Tobago; because a public authority receiving an application for information under the Freedom of Information Act has to respond in accordance with the law.”

He noted that if they fail to respond in accordance with the law, then “you then

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Afra Raymond

have grounds for a judicial review but you have to have a Judicial Review Act that gives you a channel to go to the court and say, this authority did not comply with the law. And without the judicial review avenue, you don’t have much of a channel.”

Guyana’s Access to Information Act allows for persons aggrieved by a decision of the Commissioner of Information to apply to the High Court for a review of that decision.

Meanwhile, President of Transparency International Guyana Inc, Troy Thomas, too had echoed similar sentiments about strengthening and improving the Access to Information laws. He noted that the conversation on transparency and anti-corruption cannot be had without the proper access to information.

“You can speak (about transparency and corruption) but what would be the supporting evidence about which you speak. And our Access to Information Act,

TIGI has concluded recently, can be used to restrict access to information instead of facilitating access to information and that is something that needs to be addressed,” Thomas said, adding too that, “While you can collect information from individuals, you should be able to access documents but we have an access to information Act that does not facilitate that or depends on the Commissioner and what he thinks about what you would have requested.”

This, according to the head of the transparency watchdog body, is not appropriate nor the standard that should obtain.

The Access to Information Act was passed in the National Assembly on September 15, 2011 and was assented to by the then President on September 27, 2011. However, it was not until May 2013 that the Commissioner of Information was appointed, thereby bringing the Act into operational effect.

The Act sets out a practical regime of right to information for persons to secure access to information under the control of public authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government and public authorities.

The Commissioner of Information is former Justice Charles Ramson Sr, who has held the position since its creation.

Last year, he complained of being stifled of resources by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who is the Minister of Information.

Commonwealth SG lauds Guyana for climate change fight

W

ith initiatives in place like the 371,000 hectares of forest preserved at Iwokrama, Guyana was on Friday commended by the Secretary General for the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland for its conservation efforts.

During a press conference on Friday, Baroness Scotland in fact noted that Guyana was leading the fight. According to Baroness Scotland, Iwokrama is one of the lungs of the world, as its large tracts of forest help with greenhouse gases.

“I come to Guyana one month before the beginning of the hurricane season. And we know that climate poses an existential threat to the whole of our Region here.

Its worrying cause in the last few days we have seen storms hit Jamaica.”

“We also know there has been flooding across Asia,” Scotland said. “Many have died in India. And regrettably, it is an echo of what started last year. Cause if you remember we started with mudslides in India.”

Making specific reference to Iwokrama, Scotland noted that the project has served as an example to other countries. This example is a timely one, considering the negative effects climate change is having on other countries.

“We had flooding, first in Sri Lanka, then Bangladesh and Pakistan. Then by the time the real hurricane season started, we saw total devastation. We saw Hurricane Irma, which lead to the evacuation of Barbuda.”

“And then (there’s) Maria, which virtually destroyed the island of my

Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Scotland

birth Dominica and caused damage to the GDP. And we know Dominica had suffered years before from tropical storm Erica. So it is with some trepidation that we

equivalent to two per cent of Guyana’s forests.

The Iwokrama centre itself was established in 1996 in order to manage the forest area. This was arrived at following an agreement between the then Government and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The United Nations (UN) has classified combating climate change as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 13. According to the organisers of World Earth Day, at least two million people die globally, due to indoor and outdoor pollution. It also estimates that by the year 2030, food prices will go up by 50 per cent due to climate change.

The rising temperature, global warming and other ecological imbalances are due to the fact that half of the world’s rainforests are

The Iwokrama forest accounts for 1.6 per cent of Guyana’s land mass

watch a repeat and oceanographers tell us this year may be as challenging as last year and some fear it could be worst.”

Iwokrama is dedicated as a place of research and its forests account for 1.6 per cent of Guyana’s land mass.

Its 371,000 hectares is also

gone. The deaths of 70,000 persons in Europe were due to rising temperatures in 2003. These imbalances are also leading to frequent flooding and other disasters across the globe, which include forest fires, again impacting the trees.

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Ashley Anthony

M

y relationship to the education sector has always been that of a recipient- a student. I have upon many occasions criticized the way that our students are taught, and whilst I do believe that these complaints are still very valid and need to be addressed, I have developed a newfound respect for teachers.

Let me be clear, in this instance, I mean teachers who honestly try their best.

The kind who don’t tell you that you have to attend their lessons to pass, and who are dedicated to the wellbeing of their students. It is honestly such a demanding job.

I cannot pretend to understand what it is like for permanent teachers, who have far more responsibilities than I do, but from the little I have experienced, I have been left exhausted. As it stands, I teach four classes, CAPE Physics unit one and two, and CSEC Biology for fifth and fourth form. The time it takes to prepare for each class, to set and mark assignments, tests and IAs/ SBAs is unbelievable. For any teacher who turns up to almost all their classes prepared, I commend you. For any teacher who is timely in their marking, I commend you as well. It is tough work.

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Newfound respect for teachers I have, tried for the most part to be the type of teacher that I wanted in high school. Going to school was a largely frustrating experience for me. There were many teachers who simply did not seem to care about their students. I understand that sometimes we can become dissatisfied with our jobs, and feel demotivated to perform, but when teachers act like this, students are the ones who suffer. They are the ones who are forced (due to the syllabus never being finished) to have to go to lessons outside of school. This is a problem that I think feeds itself. Students, unhappy with how they are being taught seek classes outside of school. These lessons, obviously cost students hours of sleep and recreation time, thus making them tired in school. Tired students are less responsive to teachers, and see school as a place to relax, rather than learn.

Thus, when someone is actually dedicated, and wants to teach, although students will attend the class, they do so somewhat grudgingly because they have come to see school time as time to de-stress. Something else that happens is I think students value their in-school classes far less than their

lessons; they don’t need to pay for them, and they know that if they miss something in class they’ll cover it in lessons. This response from students can serve to demotivate the teacher, and thus continue the cycle.

To remain motivated is incredibly challenging. I don’t blame my students (especially those in fifth and sixth form) who don’t come to school that regularly. I was once in that position. Do you stay home and work, or do you come to school and not be taught? Is it worth it to come to school solely for one class? Most times, I decided it wasn’t.

However, being on the end of the teacher, it is tough when you prepare to teach a topic and then less than half the class shows up. Most times I chose to go ahead and work with those who had come, but ended up having to reteach the topic to the other students in the next class.

Another issue that I had when I went to school was with the spontaneous school activities that would disrupt classes. As a teacher, I still face these problems.

I understand that you are

Arrival Day 2018

“It is time for us to put aside our differences and work together” – Armogan …President Granger joins celebrations at Highbury

tryi n g t o provide students with a rounded education, but I don’t believe that the development of one part of a student’s life should come at the expense of another. I think with proper scheduling, it could be possible that have school events without setting students back in their learning.

However, despite how difficult the job is, and the challenges teachers face, I really don’t think you should be a teacher unless you are willing to deal with these problems. We should be able to provide students with a good education despite them, whilst simultaneously working to fix the issues. It is a lot to ask of a person, but I think that you shouldn’t be in the profession if you don’t have that type of dedication to education.

Regional Chairman David Armogan

R

egional Chairman of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) David Armogan on Saturday called for Guyanese to put aside their differences and work together for the building of the nation.

He made this call at the celebration of the 180th anniversary of the arrival of the first set of East Indian immigrants to Guyana.

“That is the only way that we will be able to realise the dreams of our foreparents.

the entire world.

He said the immigrants were able to turn challenges into success; these include economic and political success. He said they have also been able to keep their cultural integrity.

“They didn’t come with empty heads and empty hands; they came with cultural, customs and traditions.”

“Today is a day set aside as a national holiday for the persons who arrived; Indians, Chinese, Portuguese and Africans. It also commemorates the single greatest increase in the Guyanese population. “It was an age during which the entire population was revolutionised… Over 340,000 Chinese, Indians, Europeans and Africans came to this country between 1838 and 1917. So during that period, Guyana had a huge surge in population that they were able to transform a string of plantations into the nation that we recognise to as Guyana.” The President, a historian by profession, said the plantations were

President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger among the audience at Highbury Village, East Berbice. Also in photo are Ministers George Norton and Jaipaul Sharma and former Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Chairman, Yesu Persaud

That is the only way we can pay the greatest to our foreparents by developing the land that they struggled so hard to build for us. Even though they were operating under difficult circumstances, they stuck to their religion, music, food, rituals and were able to hold onto their culture. And that is important for any people because if you lose your culture, you lose it all,” the Chairman told the gathering at Highbury Village, East Berbice – the place where the first set of East Indian immigrants first set foot in British Guiana.

Among those who attending the celebrations was President David Granger, who spoke to the sterling contributions East Indians made to the development of Guyana.

Attending the yearly pilgrimage of Indian descendants to Plantation Highbury, East Bank Berbice, where the first batch of immigrant Indians arrived as indentured labourers on May 5, 1838, President David Granger said as a group, the descendants of East Indians made significant contributions not only to Guyana but

transformed by the Indians, Chinese, Portuguese and Africans.

While noting that all of the different groups came to Guyana by ships, the Head of State said, “We are all in this boat together and we will have to make a success of this nation that we have put together.”

On May 5, 1838, the MV Whitby docked at Plantation Highbury along the Berbice River and 128 Indian natives set foot on the shores of Guyana for the first time.

They were brought to replace the African slaves who had successfully fought to have slavery abolished, forcing the plantation owners to seek alternative forms of labour. However, they did not initially look at the East Indians.

Although 128 Indians arrived on the Whitby, 354 arrived on May 5; a total of 239,000 were shipped to Guyana as indentured labourers. Records indicate that 75,000 went back after the indentureship period.

Among those who attended the event were junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma and Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton.

news

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Ill treatment at Hugo Chávez Centre

Region 5 MP calls for Police probe …as ministry issues statement

By Michael Younge

P

eople’s Progress Party (PPP) Member of Parliament Harry Gill on Saturday called on the Guyana Police Force and other independent agencies to probe what he said was a “worrying” incident, which allegedly occurred at the Hugo Chávez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration. He made this comment after it was recently discovered that five residents, who reside there, fell ill after being doused and sprayed down with cleaning detergent and other chemicals because they reportedly missed a bathing session.

The incident is said to have occurred on Tuesday last and was witnessed by several staff members and others at the Centre.

An employee, who witnessed the mistreatment of the men, who requested anonymity, told Guyana Times on Friday evening that the men were stripped, placed to sit down and then showered with the cleaning detergent which was mixed with other substances used to clean household areas.

When contacted for a comment on the matter, which was also brought to his attention, Gill said he was not shocked by the allegations or incident. He said he has been getting constant complaints about the mistreatment and cruelty meted out to staff and residents at the institution by Joseph.

He alleged that there are also damning reports of the food supplies and resources of the Centre being misused and sold by the administrator to external forces in order to secure profits and monetary gains.

“I have been receiving a lot of reports of wrongdoings…,” he said, adding that

Three of the five residents who were affected by the alleged abuse

one of the residents who was mistreated was a teenager.

“As it is right now, I am calling on the Police to go to the Hugo Chávez Centre to investigate this complaint because these residents are suffering from swollen eyes and are crying out because they skin is infected,” he related.

He said he would not be allowed in the Centre but there is an urgent need for the authorities to investigate because of the level of abuse that is taking place there.

Asked if as an MP he would be raising the issue with his colleague Member of Parliament, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, Gill responded in the positive.

The PPP MP said he would officially be speaking with the Commander of B Division (Berbice) as he pressed for some intervention to be made into the incident and other reports.

He confirmed that he had already made contact with the relevant authorities to have the matter investigated properly as he fears there would be attempts to cover up the incident.

Cover up

Meanwhile, the Social Protection Ministry on Saturday hurriedly put-to-

gether a statement in which it confirmed that the residents were indeed showered with what they referred to as a “non-harmful deodorising solution”. This is after the Administrator of the Centre, Carol Joseph, denied that any such incident or bathing of residents with cleaning detergent took place on Friday.

“Residents of the Hugo Chávez Centre were having a bath and a non-harmful deodorising solution was used, as is normative to neutralise body odors in the promotion of a safe and healthy environment. At no time is any violent or excessive force used,” the Ministry stated.

Calling the allegations of the employees and whistleblower “fallacious assertions”, the Ministry said the report was “deceptive… distorted and absolutely defamatory” as it asked for a retraction.

The Ministry even admitted that its resident doctor for the Centre was away on training when the incident occurred, explaining that another is attached to the Centre and visits every Monday and Friday despite the fact that the incident is said to have occurred on a Tuesday. turn to page 9

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SunDAY, may 6, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Loo Creek fatal accident

Driver charged for causing friends’ deaths …released on $1M bail

T

he driver in the fatal accident which claimed the lives of 24-year-old Police Corporal Theon Hope and 25-yearold former athlete Quason Anthony was hauled before the court to answer to charges of causing death by dangerous driving.

Rishawn Pierre, 23, of D’Urban Street, Lodge, Georgetown appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court It is alleged that on May 1 at about 07:30h, Pierre, Hope, Anthony and another friend were on their way to Georgetown from Linden when motorcar PNN 1278 in which they were travelling slammed into a lorry on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

Pierre was reportedly speeding, and while pro-

Arrivals…

T

Charged: Rishawn Pierre

ceeding north in the vicinity of Loo Creek, he collided with the rear of motor lorry GWW 8443 with trailer TWW 8912, which was heading in the same direction carrying lumber. One of the logs reportedly went through the motorcar.

Public-spirited persons assisted to pull the men from the wrecked motor car, but by that time

Dead: Teon Hope

Dead: Quason Anthony

both Hope and Anthony had succumbed to their injuries. The third injured man, Jermaine Samuels, 20, of Lot 71 Haley Street, Wortmanville, who was in the right rear seat, reportedly received head injuries and was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

In court on Thursday, Pierre was granted $500,000 bail on each count. He is scheduled to return to court on June 4.

Meanwhile, the results of post-mortems conduct-

ed on the bodies of Hope and Anthony have indicated that they both died as a result of spinal injuries. 'E' Division (LindenKwakwani) Commander Anthony Vanderhyden has confirmed that the examinations, which were conducted by Pathologist Nehaul Singh on Wednesday last, listed the cause of death for both men as fractured spine.

Police Corporal Hope, of Lamaha Park, Georgetown, had been stationed at Eve Leary.

…and Departures

hree days ago, we commemorated Portuguese Arrival Day. Obviously, there aren’t many Portuguese around to participate in the commemoration, since, in the event organised by the Ministry of Social Cohesion, the “Portuguese” experience expressed by the Guyana National Dance Company was done entirely by Guyanese of African extraction. Your Eyewitness knows ALL the Portuguese haven’t decamped, and wondered whether those remaining didn’t want to be reminded about their “indentured” past.

Anyhow, yesterday was Indian Arrival Day – at long last acknowledged by the Government as such – and there was no lack of commemoration. There had been hopes that a monument designed by Guyanese and built by India to mark the Arrival in the ancient county would’ve been erected at Palmyra right across from the Berbice Bridge. However, the contractor of the historical site – all the way from Linden – must’ve been a history buff, since he had absolutely no experience in building anything. In constructing what was supposed to be the base, he actually reconstructed the ruins, characterising the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria!!

What it took to do in thousands of years in the original Palmyra, this Linden contractor did in three months! At a cost of only $89 million. In the meantime, the Government of Guyana has begged the Government of India to build the base, and maybe it’ll be ready in time for Modi’s visit?

Some spoilsport was gauche enough to ask recently whether the moneys will be recovered from the Linden contractor!! Hey!! Anybody can make a mistake, no? And in any case, Linden needs to be revitalized, since the billions from LEAP and LEAF seem to have been calcined!

But back to Indian Arrival Day. Your Eyewitness hasn’t seen the pics from the commemoration the Ministry of Social Cohesion must have put on – they would, wouldn’t they? But he’s sure the dancers depicting THEIR experience would be Indian Guyanese, since they haven’t all migrated yet, like the Portuguese. And that reminds your Eyewitness…with the Portuguese practically all departed, aren’t we now officially a “land of FIVE peoples”?? This question was first raised with attenuation of the Chinese population…but thank goodness that situation was rectified by China, and their population is now being replenished!

Anyhow, your Eyewitness appreciates all the trouble the PNC-led Government took to recreate the conditions on the sugar plantations during indentureship. At that time, the planters used to keep on bringing in Indian indentureds to fight each other for jobs. By throwing 5700 of them out of their jobs – one out of every three in the industry!! – they’re not only fighting for jobs, but converting their homes like the logies of yore!! The PNC’s so history-minded!!

…at GPL

The PPP received flack for bringing in ‘furriners” to run the electricity company – which was a bit ironic, since they were always being blamed for being communist and the “furriners” were as capitalist as could be! The electricity supply was increased by a factor of over TWENTY by Wartsila in the time they were here, and while there were still blackouts, our demand kept increasing faster than the supply.

Enter the PNC-led coalition and they promptly threw Wartsila out on its ear and replaced them with a local band of “experts” whom no one had heard of before!!

And now, lo and behold, for the first time in Guyanese history, the Public Utilities Commission has slapped a fine on GPL for their erratic service to consumers!! That just signals how far the deterioration of GPL’s service has gone.

But don’t worry…there won’t be any departures soon at GPL…things have to be kept ‘all in the family”, don’t they??

What we’ll get is more big talk about generating power from gas. But that’s actually just passing gas!!

…in Police Brass

The trial balloon on the new Commissioner of Police was duly floated, and the favourite son averred he was “willing and able”.

With not even a pot shot taken, we can assume the official anointment is nigh!!

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

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SunDAY, may 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Piracy massacre

26 persons now in custody

…as Guyana’s Security Minister leads team to Suriname

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Some of the suspects in custody

ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, accompanied by Deputy Crime Chief, Michael Kingston; and Deputy Commander B Division (Berbice), Wayne De Harte, on Saturday evening departed Guyana for Suriname to meet with their security counterparts following the recent spate of pirate attacks on Guyanese fishermen.

While there, they are expected to be briefed on the matter by law enforcements officers and to meet with the Security Minister of that country to work on plans to keep the waters safe from piracy.

In addition, seven relatives of missing fishermen were provided with the necessary documentation to travel to Suriname to join in the search for their loved ones.

Region 5 MP calls for...

from page 7

An employee had told Guyana Times on Friday that the victims “did nothing wrong… they merely missed the bath and didn’t bathe for the day.”

The employee related that the men who were the victims of cruelty and mistreatment at the hands of the administrator were mentally challenged in some cases and differently abled in others.

The names of the victims of Tuesday’s mistreatment are Mark Kingston, Leroy Nedd, Peter Frefricks, Chris Hopkinson and Lelon Jackman. Guyana Times also viewed secured video evidence of the injuries sustained by the men following the incident.

The whistleblower said that no doctor or nurse was called in to provide assistance to the men who are experiencing continued discomfort.

Homeless persons from across Guyana are housed at the Centre, which has separate dorms for males and females, a kitchen, recreational, medical, training and dining facilities and conference rooms.

Survivor: Cherwin Lovell

Speaking with Guyana Times, Crime Chief Paul Williams explained that the team is expected to return on Tuesday while confirming that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been in contact with their counterparts since the incidents

took place.

He added with the planned visit, additional information will be provided on the attacks and those who are presently in custody in Suriname.

To date, he noted that seven Guyanese, who now

reside in Suriname, were arrested along with the three who were arrested on the Corentyne. The Crime Chief explained that news coming out of Suriname suggested that the attacks are gang related but this is yet to be confirmed.

Nevertheless, he reiterated that the GPF will give the necessary support the Surinamese law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice.

On that note, Williams stated that those arrested in Suriname will be charged in that jurisdiction but once the Surinamese authorities request that the addition three from Guyana be prosecuted there, arrangements will be put in place for them to be handed over.

Two Saturdays ago, four boats were attacked, and the fishermen were beaten and thrown overboard. Four of them reportedly survived the attack while the bodies of three were so far recovered.

Those identified as missing are: Ramesh Sanchara, Ganesh Persaud, Vickey Persaud, Glenroy Jones, Bharat Heralall, Ralph Anthony, and Tiaknauth Mohabir. The bodies that were recovered are yet to be positively identified.

However, a few days after that attack, another boat was attacked and the captain, Hardeo Beechan was killed while his crew went missing. The relatives of the

Murdered captain: Hardeo Baachan

missing men have called on the Government of Guyana to assist them in their search.

So far, the Surinamese officials have been facilitating the searches in territorial waters with the aim of finding the missing men. In light of these incidents, fishermen – both in Guyana and Suriname – have suspended operations claiming that the waters have become quite “dangerous”.

On Thursday last, Surinamese Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Minister, Lekhram Soerdjan, convened a meeting with Visserscollectief – the organ that represents the fishermen and various proposals were made by the Board.

After that meeting, it was

reported that a Government coordination team led by Justice and Police Minister, Stuart Getrouw, as well as Ministers Soerdjan and Ronni Benschop of the Defence Ministry, had another meeting to discuss the tragedy.

Minister Getrouw stated that the Government of Suriname is already in contact with neighbouring countries to bring clarity to the heinous tragedy.

However, the Surinamese Government emphasised that the issue is dealt with by the relevant authorities with the necessary diligence, tact and seriousness.

More in custody

Meanwhile, sources in Suriname told Guyana Times that at least 26 persons have been arrested but the Police remain tightlipped about the situation. It was reported that one man was arrested on Thursday morning and another six were nabbed later that evening.

Additional suspects, according to the source, were arrested between Friday and Saturday. Further, a rally was held on Saturday, which saw fishermen and their relatives in their numbers calling on the Surinamese Government to work in ensuring that the sea is once again safe to ply their trade. Many Guyanese fishermen participated in the event.

10 news

SunDAY, may 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Barge crashes into Demerara Harbour Bridge

A

n out of control barge on Saturday afternoon crashed into the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), forcing management to restrict heavy vehicles from traversing on the bridge until further notice.

According to reports,

upon contact with the bridge, the barge reportedly knocked away two pontoons (steel structures attached to the bridge to keep it afloat) on the eastern end of the bridge.

When contacted, General Manager of the Harbour Bridge, Rawlston

Traffic moving slowly along the eastern side of the Harbour Bridge

Adams told Guyana Times that he and his team were on the bridge, trying to assess and fix whatever damage was done.

“We are currently working on it,” he managed to tell this newspaper.

Nevertheless, shortly after the incident, the DHB Management took to its Facebook page to alert the public that all heavy-duty vehicles will be prohibited from crossing the bridge.

“All motor lorries and

all laden canters and tractors will be restricted from transiting the bridge until further notice.

Management wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the bridge company said on its social media.

Meanwhile, as is customary, whenever there is an issue at the bridge, the traffic builds up along the East Bank Public Road, as well as on the western side of the bridge.

Different (arrival) strokes

S

atiricus was in an upbeat mood. Yesterday, he and the family had sauntered over to the local ground where his villagers were celebrating Indian Arrival Day. He always went for the traditional foods his wife didn’t cook nowadays at home. It wasn’t that she didn’t like to cook…but with the internet at her beck and call, she preferred to whip up the “Indian” food from India.

“And it’s not that I don’t like them, but I just get a kick from the food my grandmother used to make!”

Satiricus reported to the fellas at the Back Street Bar. “Me know wha’ yuh mean,” said Bungi wryly.

“Me wife a mek mutt’n biryani from wan bax…but me still like Bigan-Choka wid Sada Roti now and den!”

“Alyuh lucky!” chuckled Hari wryly. “For me is chowmein and fry rice, down the line!!”

“Suh like only me a get roti and curry ev’ry marnin’!!” said Cappo. “Jus’ like abee ole people who bin come fram India!”

“Cappo, ole friend, you know why you eat ‘tea, breakfast and dinner’?” asked Satiricus.

“Well me gat fuh eat t’ree time a day,” replied Cappo.

“When our fore-parents came from India, they left so early for the backdam they couldn’t eat anything,” said Satiricus. “They just drank some tea – no roti and curry!!”

“Suh da wha’ mek abee ah eat “break-fuss” midday!!” exclaimed Bungi!! “Rice an’ dhall!!”

“That’s right,” chimed in Hari. “Their first real meal was at midday, when the sun ‘stand up’!!”

“Suh if abee ah eat diffren’ fram de ole people,” said Cappo, “abee ah drink diffren’ too?”

“Damn right!” said Satiricus. “They didn’t drink alcohol!”

“No rum an’ beer?” asked Bungi incredulously.

“Nope!” said Satiricus. “That was introduced right here in Guyana.”

“Suh wha’ dem bin do fuh fun?” asked Cappo.

“They smoked grass, which they called “ganja”!!” said Hari.

“Really?” asked Bungi in awe. “Dem ole people bin bad fuh days!!”

“Fram nex’ year, leh abee smoke some ganja fuh Arrival Day!!” said Cappo.

They all clinked bottles to that suggestion.

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SunDAY, may 6, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

GWI to terminate defaulters’ water service

I

Honouring our legacy

By Ryhaan Shah

Y

esterday was Arrival Day; or, to give it its correct title, Indian Arrival Day. This year, we commemorate the 180th year since the start of the colonial indentureship programme that brought our fore-parents to these shores. The day is often given over to much celebration through our traditional music, dance, foods, and the donning of our fabulously decorated garments.

That so much has survived the crossing of the kalapani is remarkable. But while there is much to celebrate, we should also take time to consider the realities of our situation, which sustain behaviours and attitudes that are detrimental to our community.

Indian culture, retained primarily through the religions of Hinduism and Islam, does not support the idea of victimhood, or any tendency to blame others or history or circumstances for our faults or problems. In fact, the high suicide rate in Indian diaspora communities derives in great part from the readiness to blame ourselves for problems that arise.

There could be a degree of fatalism in seeing the removal of oneself from a problematic situation as the ultimate solution, even though our religious books, the “Holy Quran” and the “Bhagavad Gita”, both instruct us to resist and fight not only external enemies, but the battles that rage within ourselves.

The idea of jihad, for instance, is misused and misinterpreted by Middle Eastern terrorists and their critics alike. That “holy war” is actually prescribed as a process of self-examination, whereby Muslims confront negative traits and behaviours and seek to improve themselves.

The Holy Prophet Mohammed was himself a warrior who advanced Islam through physical defence, and when Lord Krishna stood on the field of battle, as recorded in the “Bhagavad Gita”, he said: “Action rightly performed brings freedom.”

Hinduism and Islam are belief systems that encourage and reward struggle that seeks to overcome obstacles and restore peace and order. Suicide, and alcoholism -- which leads to domestic violence, poverty and illness -- are behaviours that destroy our communities, and dishonour both our traditional beliefs and the legacy of courage and resolve that sustained our fore-parents when they arrived here to the hardships of plantation life.

Despite those hardships, they saw a chance to prosper, and the thousands who stayed were willing to do the work and make the sacrifices needed to give their children and their children’s children a better life. This is a foundational Indian value: that parents work to provide their children with an improved inheritance. The drive to build is an innate Indian quality, and even with the colonial prejudices aligned against them, their religions and their culture, our fore-parents managed to locate themselves with some measure of success in this new world.

Travelling on ships across oceans and mostly without family members, they relied on the jahaji bonds forged with their shipmates to sustain themselves in this new land with its new circumstances. They looked out for each other, and this fostered a self-reliance and independence of spirit that made them less dependent on external agencies for aid and support. Mandirs and masjids throughout Guyana are still built and managed with funds raised from within our community, and this very community-based independence can work to our benefit, to create the programmes and institutions needed to educate our people against scourges like alcoholism and suicide.

These societal ills have been aggravated in recent years due to the high levels of migration to mainly New York and Toronto, which have fractured vital extended family structures. It is as if the journey out of India continues northward, and no one can blame those who choose to leave in order to seek the peaceful life, denied them here.

Our fore-parents did not arrive to a welcoming society.

There are historical records even from as early as 1839 – one year after the first ships from India arrived – of freed Africans assaulting Indian labourers accompanied by shouts of “See coolie, kill coolie!” The victim becoming the victimiser is a known psychological progression, and this racial hostility towards Indians was weaponised by the PNC from the 1960s onwards, and used as a tool by African Guyanese in their quest for political power.

With another PNC-led Government in office, modelled on the Burnhamist past, our community is faced with serious challenges, such as the closure of sugar estates and the retrenchment of thousands of workers.

This is the time to stand firm and show ourselves worthy of the legacy inherited from the very first jahajis and jahajins, who survived the worst of the terrors and hardships, and who made the supreme sacrifices that laid the foundation on which we can build and prosper.

n an effort to recover monies from defaulting consumers, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will be moving to terminate the services of these persons.

This was revealed by Managing Director of GWI, Dr Richard Van West-Charles on Friday, who noted that the services of persons who owe three years or more of outstanding payments to the company, will be terminated at the end of 2018.

“We want to remind customers that as we focus on GWI’s debt and so forth, don’t allow your debt to go into 2019 because if you’ve owed from 2015 and your debt in 2015 is not paid by the end of 2018, around October of 2018, those services will no longer be available to you,” he stated.

Van West-Charles noted that this decision comes in light of the fact that the

company remains unauthorised to collect any pay-

m e n t s from its customers who owe in excess of three plus years.

“We’re not committing any longer, customers to carry debt for years upon years because this is stature bar and we cannot collect debt that is older than three years. So, going forward, GWI will be very proactive,” the Managing Director explained.

“If you owed us 2015 and beyond going back and you haven’t paid it off, look out for us by October.

The services will be removed. We cannot be carrying over debt because

many customers come and present their debts and we have to find ways and means of dealing with that but we want to be within the law. So we have a new approach where we’re encouraging and working with customers,” he added.

It was reported that some communities owe large sums of monies to the company. In one instance the company had announced that the Buxton area owes some $116 million in debt. Furthermore, $89 million of that money belonged to unmetered individuals. However, when employees of the company

attempted to disconnect residents in that community, the company’s vehicle was torched. This caused the GWI crew to flee for their lives.

Additionally, attempts are being made to rectify the archaic system by replacing certain sections of the networks which cannot withstand the pressure.

These results in leaks and also one of the main causes of water wastage in Guyana.

Currently, the company is working to provide potable water to residents of remote areas in Guyana.

12 news

SunDAY, may 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

One year later

Grieving father still waiting for justice as son’s killer roams freely

…

“

O

ne year has come and gone, and my son's killer is still a free man, roaming the streets of Lethem.”

Those were the words of Puran Persaud of Lot 165

Henrietta Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast. Persaud’s son, 32-year-old Haimchand Persaud, was murdered at about 02:30h on April 18, 2017 in Lethem, Region Nine. He was stabbed once to

the chest.

Speaking to this newspaper in a recent interview, the still grieving Persaud said his son and daughter-inlaw Shenika were returning home after selling at a pag-

Dead: Haimchand Persaud

eant held in the community when he was attacked and killed by someone known to the couple.

According to the father,

his daughter-in-law had over $800,000 in cash in a handbag she was carrying, but the killer did not take it, leading the family to believe that the incident was not a robbery.

Persaud, was a security guard at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry in Lethem. The dead man’s father related that based on the reports coming out after the incident, the killer was known to the couple. He said that he has exhausted all means in trying to get justice for his son. He said that according to information the family received recently, his son’s killer is living with his brother in deep Takutu, and

frequently visits relatives in Lethem; and yet no arrest has been made.

The father said that he has written to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Commissioner of Police, Crime Chief, and Officer in Charge of Lethem Police Station on several occasions. A copy of one of the letters, dated February 26, 2018, was shown to this publication.

The father, in tears, told this publication that he has not received any acknowledgement of the letters written, and is very frustrated with the way the Lethem Police are handling the matter.

Midwives crucial to health...

While reporting on the many successes and challenges of these professionals, Chairperson for the Midwives Association of Guyana, Tracy Gentle highlighted the importance of honouring midwives.

“Your skills and dedication are evident by the record of 14,000 and more annual births delivered safely by the midwives in all 10 administrative regions. The many night shifts you spent on rough river beds to get a woman and her baby alive, the recorded number of clients utilising and accessing our sexual and repro-

ductive health, nearly 100 per cent vaccination coverage, 100 per cent post-natal mothers not returning at the healthcare facilities with complications. These and many more achievements are worthy to be honoured,” Gentle is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

Other achievements highlighted include the continued education session in various areas, partnership with schools in school health programme and local and international training.

The Chairman applauded the midwives for their

from page 2

outstanding work and called for more training opportunities to better equip them.

At the end of the conference, midwives from the various regions were awarded for their exceptional performances.

International Midwives Day is recognised on May 5, to highlight the work being done by these health professionals. The idea was established by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) following the suggestions and discussions in the late 1980s which was formally launched in 1992.

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SunDAY, may 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Timehri Film Festival announces 2018 film line-up

T Silencing and erasure of Indians in the Caribbean

O

ver the last two weeks, we have discussed the refusal of leaders in the Caribbean in general, and those in Guyana in particular, to acknowledge the legitimacy of the descendants of the Indians who were brought in as indentured servants after the abolition of slavery, to be a Caribbean people entitled to the patrimony of their respective countries as citizens of those countries.

We illustrated this position in their refusal to acknowledge as rational and valid the concerns of the Indians of Guyana about being swamped in a federation of the West Indies, which those same leaders had worked to define as part of a “PanAfrican” nation. One of them -- Arthur Lewis, who worked assiduously to create and then save the Federation after Jamaica and Trinidad pulled out -- could, without Ravi Dev irony, condemn “democracy” in plural societies as a “zerosum game”, and ask in reference to elections in Guyana, where Africans were a minority: “Are we, on counting heads, to conclude that…The Indians of British Guiana may liquidate the Negroes?”

The Guyanese Indians, however, with even less dire concerns, were dubbed “racialists”, not only by the Caribbean leaders of African descent, but Cheddi Jagan, their leader. After splitting hairs on the federation, due to local politics, he was also dubbed “racialist”!!

Indian Arrival Day, which falls on May 5th in Guyana; May 12 in Jamaica; May 30th in T&T, and June 5th in Suriname, allows us to examine genesis of this denial of legitimacy to West Indians of Indian descent, especially in Guyana. Black scholars and leaders have taken great pains to insist the Indian immigrants after 1945 entered into an already formed “Anglo-African Creole society” with a “white bias” in terms of its value system. But they refuse to give enough credence to the salience of those values and their evaluative reach vis-à-vis Indians up to the independence era, even as they fought to recuperate African culture.

The British hegemonic discourse on one hand informed the Indians they were “industrious” and hardworking people as opposed to the freed Africans, who were “lazy and shiftless”. But at the same time, the British efforts to proseletyse and “civilise” the Indians gave the Africans the message that they, having imbibed that “civilising” influence for hundreds of years, were socially higher than the Indians. They were uncivilised “coolies” who were performing menial tasks for wages the slaves had refused.

The history of Guyana is replete with the latter evaluation.

In 1963, addressing his party Congress in the midst of a critical general strike against the PPP government, Burnham offered his analysis on what he called the “race question”. Indians, he said, were belatedly adopting the values of Guyanese society, but because of their late entry, “…retained much more than fragmentary traces of their native culture…It must also be recognised that in spite of the new values now becoming part of the Indian repertoire, there is a lag between the forward group and the rest.”

It is this view that the Indian’s “necessary assimilation” into Creole society demands his jettisoning his “backward” culture that has led to a continued and studied effort to silence and erase that culture, even though Caribbean governments pay lip service to “multiculturalism”.

At Guyana’s Independence, the national symbols of flag (Garveyite and Ethiopian colours) National Hero (Cuffy) were ostentatiously of African origin, while the National Motto declared the cultural goal explicitly: One People, One Nation, One Destiny. By 1970, “Ujaama Socialism” was adopted from Tanzania -- after Burnham’s tour of Africa -- as our philosophy of development when the country became a republic.

Republic Day became commemorated by Mashramani, which was simply an imitation of the Trinidadian carnival under a completely made up “Amerindian” name. Pan-African activists in Trinidad had taken much time and effort to prove the African origin of carnival -- even as the PNM adopted it as T&T’s “national” festival. In 1970, there was also the Caribbean Writers and Artists Convention – with less than a handful of Caribbean Indians invited. Many of the attendees had been at the Oct 1968 “Montreal Congress of Black Writers of 1968”, which had led to Jamaica Rodney’s Black Power riots. A flavour of the times can be gleaned from the play staged at the Theatre Guild: My Name is Slave. A “Caribbean Festival of the Arts” (Carifesta) was proposed and launched in 1972.

Representation of Indian culture in the WI has always been at best a token gesture. And the silencing and erasure of a people continues unabated.

he third annual Timehri Film Festival (TFF), which will commence later this month, has announced its 2018 line-up of films and activities which will be featured at the series of events to highlight local Guyanese filmmakers.

The Festival, which is presented by the Caribbean Film Academy (CaFA) and Rewind and Come Again (RACA), will be focusing this year on the celebration of regional Diaspora and storytelling and will be primarily hosted in the capital city, Georgetown. It is expected to last from May 30 to June 3.

The festivities will comprise 40 feature-length and short films from 15 different countries around the world.

Festival Director, Romola Lucas, explained that even more so than in the past two years, this year’s festival reflects on the maturation of the filmmaking talent in the Region.

The activities will commence on May 30 with a cocktail party and musical performance by Gavin Mendonca, after which attendees will witness the screening of a slate of Guyanese films at

Moray House. In celebration of Guyana’s Pride Week, TFF and the Guyana Rainbow Foundation (GuyBow) will co-present Pride Cinema Night, screening queerthemed films.

For the second consecutive year, TFF will partner with Trinidad and Tobago’s Green Screen Environmental Film Festival to present the Environmental Film Festival, a special one-day screening of

films highlighting environmental issues of particular concern to the Region.

As part of TFF’s community outreach, it will be working with several local schools and prisons to present private screenings to their students and populations.

The line-up that is scheduled for screening includes ‘Play the Devil’, ‘Brown Girl Begins’, ‘Bad Lucky Goat’, ‘Kafou’, and ‘Amsterdam: Traces of Sugar and many more’.

The Timehri Film Festival is an annual festival with a mission of showcasing the work of Guyanese and Caribbean filmmakers. The films will be screened at various locations in Georgetown from May 30 to June 3.

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sunDAY, may 6, 2018| guyanatimesgy.com

Thinking about conducting biodiversity research?

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ello readers, with the International Day for Biological Diversity -- another major day on the environmental calendar -- on the horizon, this week’s article will focus on the application process for biodiversity research in Guyana.

One of the functions of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect and conserve Guyana’s Vision Guyana’s natural for Biodiversity resources, By 2030, biodiversity is sustainably inclusive of its rich biodiversity. utilized, managed and mainstreamed into all sectors, contributing to This is necessary the advancement of Guyana’s bioto ensure these security and socio-economic and resources and low carbon development. the information

collected are used and shared in a manner to promote Guyana’s green development agenda.

Most persons are captivated by the fascinating videos and documentaries which reflect the intriguing and exotic plants and animals of Guyana. I’m sure you would agree that, important to protecting and conserving what we have, is knowing what we have and the value of it. Therefore, to address this issue, the EPA has developed a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2012-2020). This document captures status and trends in biodiversity, as well as the mechanisms to ensure adequate management and protection.

How do we know what exist?

Research, as one of the priority areas in the National Biodiversity Action Plan, will generate data on Guyana’s biological resources to ensure effective management. The EPA is responsible for coordinating research activities in conservation and protection of biodiversity.

• •

•

Areas of Biodiversity Research in Guyana

Academic Research: Students conducting research in relation to thesis or for academic institutions.

Commercial Research: If any specimens, photographic and audio-visual material or illustrations are to be used for commercial purposes (present and future), a Commercial Agreement must be sought with the Government of Guyana.

International Film Crew: Over the years, the EPA has received applications to film documentations of the country’s biological and non- biological resources, such as the forests, wildlife, natural sites, hinterland communities, and culture. Anyone interested in conducting such films is required to deposit copies of raw footage prior to their departure, and copies of the final edited version of the documentary.

How to apply

A nonrefundable processing fee of US$75.00 is charged for every application.

However, this does not guarantee acceptance of the application.

Applications made less than three months before the research will be conducted require a late application Any person, whether fee of US$40. The Permit local or foreign, who is varies, depending on the interested in conducting nature of your research Biodiversity Research and the size of your in Guyana, MUST team. Applications for apply to the EPA for Biodiversity Research, A Research Permit. along with supporting documents, can be submitted online through the National Biodiversity Research Information System (NBRIS).

Remember: biodiversity is what makes life vibrant and interesting. It provides us with the essentials of life: food, water, shelter, clothing, finances, recreation, jobs, livelihoods, tourism, culture, etc. Support the preservation of our biological resources by applying when conducting research!

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

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SunDAY, may 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

ECD road expansion works progressing – WSG head Guyana is in fact exposed to a greater risk of an oil spill, rather than the notion that such an occurrence is unlikely

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n light of the recent oil response training that took place with the relevant stakeholders involved, the author thus found it necessary to take that into consideration in the discussion and analyses on this topical issue – as was observed in last week’s edition especially. As such, this, among other factors, has necessitated an extension of this series or this particular important topical discussion, after having done further research into the causation of the most recent oil spill ; that is, the one that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the findings that emerged therein that led to the conceptualization of some critical and interesting questions, of which the answers are important to not only the people of Guyana, but also the Government of Guyana (GoG) and the political Opposition.

It has also contributed to this columnist’s conclusion that Guyana is in fact exposed to a higher risk of an oil spill – a notion that is contrary to what the relevant stakeholders, chiefly ExxonMobil, is claiming: that an oil spill is unlikely. In this respect, this analyst is of the strongly held view that these are some factors that merit serious consideration at the level of the nation’s policymakers. It is these new dimensions of the broad oil spill discussions that today’s article seek to address.

What caused the Gulf of Mexico BP Oil Spill?

The earliest oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico were in shallow waters near the coast. As these wells became depleted, it was thus necessary to drill in deeper waters. Drilling in deeper waters, however, imposes greater challenges, such that the pressures are greater, the temperature of the oil is higher, and the stresses on the metals involved are greater. In spite of the fact that the oil industry is creating ever more technologically advanced equipment to deal with these issues, the fact remains that it is virtually impossible to solve every new problem that may arise through computer simulations. Should the equipment be tweaked to make it even stronger to deal with the higher pressures, and greater temperature differential between the hot oil and the cold water, it can cause unforeseen problems with another system that interacts with it (cited from Gail the Actuary at The Oil Drum, featured in the Business Insider, 2010).

The deep-water horizon was a nine-year-old drilling rig that could operate in waters of up to 10,000 feet deep. While drilling a 35,050 foot-depth exploratory well in 5,100 feet of water, methane gas expanded into the drilling rig and ignited, causing a massive fireball and destroying the oil pipeline to the rig. The explosion and resulting oil leak caused an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil to be spilt over the course of several months (from April 2010, and was finally capped in July, 2010).

Of the 126 crew members that were on board, 11 were never found, and were believed to have died despite a threeday Coast Guard search (Cholan et al, 2013).

According to John Griggs, who had written on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (published in the Energy Law Journal, Vol.32:57:P66), he noted that the primary problem with BP’s contingency plan was that it did not address what specific technology would be needed or available to respond to a deep-water blowout. Instead, it repeatedly emphasized that such a spill was unlikely, and that if it were to occur, environmental damage would be minimal because the well was forty miles offshore (sounds familiar?).

Ironically, the BP oil spill turned out to be one of the largest accidental marine oil spills in the petroleum industry’s 150year history, and it caused widespread environmental damage, rendering thousands of miles of coastland uninhabitable for hundreds of native species. In short, it cost in excess of US$4 billion dollars in penalties and damages. This was the sad outcome despite similar assurances by BP at the time that an oil spill was unlikely, and should it occur, the damage would be minimal. This did not happen, unfortunately.

Here, in Guyana, the multinational oil giant ExxonMobil is toeing the same line, and is not too forthcoming to sufficiently explain the measures it has in place and the technologies etc., other than simply overemphasizing that it has strong measures in place. What are these strong measures? That’s what the people of Guyana and the GoG need to be schooled on, hence this analyst’s previous contention of an independent evaluator in this regard, and not the oil companies themselves.

In essence, what all this preamble means is that Guyana is in fact exposed to a higher risk of an oil spill due to the very fact that Guyana’s oil drilling is a deep-water venture, which naturally imposes greater risks for technical failures. Moreover, Guyana’s drilling is even deeper than the Gulf of Mexico (Guyana is 5,900 feet, Gulf of Mexico was 5,100 feet in deep waters).

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

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

Construction workers at Mon Repos on Saturday

Ongoing works at Better Hope

xpansion works ongoing along the East Coast of Demerara Public Road are progressing well, according to Head of the Works Services Group (WSG) of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Geoffrey Vaughn.

In recent interview with Guyana Times, Vaughn explained that the ongoing works are approximately 20 to 21 per cent completed to date. He noted that currently, focus is being placed on the expansion between Better Hope and Beterverwagting (BV).

“The contractors are working on the expansion half of the road, as you would realise, on both sides and we’re already started putting our sub-grades and our base materials; soon you will see paving commence in terms of those works,” he stated.

The WSG head noted too that works are also ongoing on the drainage system, with the drains being expanded to ensure that the elevations are correct so that the roads can be drained properly and there would not be ‘ponds of water’ when the construction works are completed.

Meanwhile, Vaughn went on to say that while efforts are concentrated between Better Hope and BV, works have commenced in communities such as Mon Repos and will be moving down further the East Coast.

“So, as much as there’s focus on BV and Better Hope, they’ve already commenced some preliminary works on the other areas in terms of grubbing and so forth,” he said.

According to the WSG head, while the sand-filling aspect of the project was completed some over three years ago, some of it would have been contaminated over time when it was left there.

“So (the contractors) would have to take off some of those sandfill and refill it, which is always necessary once you have a project of that nature, because you couldn’t leave the area open once you’ve started the expansion,” he noted.

The East Coast Road expansion project, which commenced late last year, has a timeline of two years.

Guyana has received a US$45.3 million concessional loan from the China EXIM (Export-Import) Bank to finance the road project and that agreement was signed

tres of roads and 33,996 kilometres of drains to be built.

Apart from the road expansion, the residents were also going to benefit from the project which included improved drainage since the East Coast is usually susceptible to floods.

The preliminary works for the four-lane upgrade were completed at the end of 2014. This included the widening of the roads and installation of drainage facilities. The project was divided into seven lots which were awarded to different contractors.

With the China Eximbank putting up most of

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in January last year.

Initially, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government had tried to secure financing for the road expansion project, but the money was not readily available; hence, the Administration decided to use local funds for preliminary works while it awaited the release of funds from the Chinese to complete the works.

The East Coast Road Expansion Project entails a four-lane extension from Better Hope to Annandale and two-lane upgrade from Annandale to Belfield with a total length of 16,998 kilome-

the finances for the road expansion, Guyana had awarded the contract to China Railway First Group for some US$42.7 million. The Chinese construction company reportedly put in the lowest bid of US$46.994 million.

The PPP/C Administration had stated that it is saving some $2.8 billion by giving the contract to China Railway First Group. Upon completing the widening and improvement of the East Coast Demerara Highway, citizens travelling along the East Coast will benefit from reduced travel time and less traffic congestion.

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SunDAY, may 6, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Better Hope contractor’s murder

No eyewitnesses causing challenge to probe – Crime Chief

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lmost two weeks after 29-year-old Daniel Nandlall of Lot 21 Lalchan Street, Better Hope South, East Coast Demerara was shot dead, the Police are yet to make an arrest.

This was according to Crime Chief Paul Williams during a telephone interview on Saturday, who further stated that since there were no eyewitnesses to the shooting, solving the crime could be more challenging.

He nevertheless added that the Police are working with several leads, but none have led to any success thus far. Williams reiterated that the Police will continue their investigations into the cold-blooded murder.

On the other hand, the parents of the dead con-

tractor are awaiting justice for their son. They are also yet to ascertain the motive for the murder, claiming that the young man had no known issues with anyone.

Nandlall was gunned down at about 23:15h on April 28 in front of his home by one of two men on pedal cycles.

It was reported that the young man and a few relatives were having a few drinks in the yard and Nandlall left for the front of the house but soon after he was heard telling someone “Come back tomorrow, the man ain’t deh home.”

This was followed by a loud explosion and as the relatives rushed to enquire, they saw the young man lying on the ground with blood

Essequibo Coast hosts parade, exhibition

Murdered contractor: Daniel Nandlall

gushing from his back.

Nandlall was rushed to the Woodlands Hospital for emergency medical treatment but later succumbed to his injures. Based on reports received, the two men whose faces were covered with hoodies fled the scene.

The mini rally as it moved along the Essequibo Coast

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s Guyana observes the 180th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians to Guyana, the Sanatan Dharm Par Upkaaric Sabha held its Annual Road March, exhibition and cultural show on Saturday.

Hundreds braved the weather and walked from the Richmond Mandir to the Sparta Mandir on the Essequibo Coast. They were all decked in their bright-

ly coloured Indian garments as they gyrated to the sound of tassa drumming along the path.

While in the compound of the Sparta Madir, the audience was treated to a rich cultural programme comprising dances, skits, poems and, more importantly, a brief lecture on how the first batch of East Indians arrived on Guyana’s shores 180 years ago.

This was done by Pandit Parmeshwar, while another prominent figure, Basir, reflected on the many struggles our fore-parents endured on the sugar plantations.

In addition, the children and their parents benefited from a mini-exhibition showcasing foods, tools, musical instruments, religious texts, pictures, and other items brought to Guyana by the East Indians when they arrived.

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sunDAY, may 6, 2018

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Unity Cup registration intensifying R

egistration for participation in The Unity Cup to determine the national champions in four categories has begun. Some areas are reporting favourable response so far, and more teams are finalizing their squads in order to put their best foot forward. The reps have indicated that they are receiving calls on the tournament.

The tournament is organized by the Guyana Softball League. The number of leaders who have so far indicated interest in participating in all categories is as follows: East Coast, Upper and Lower – 31 teams; West Coast – 24 teams; Corentyne – 16; NA/

Canje – 13 teams.

Some areas will be merged, depending on the response, to enable them to compete. The other areas are urged to continue their quest to promote team work and guide the individuals in order to have them ready.

The one ball is receiving favourable response, as many persons are enquiring about the process. Any team can enter any zone.

Most areas are slated to start next weekend, as the reps have indicated that most teams are awaiting a start. The fixtures for areas will be out shortly, but Lower East Coast will have their start this weekend with some four matches at the Success Ground.

Some big shots and a ton of action are expected in the Unity Cup

The inclement weather is also contributing to this delayed start, as grounds are in unfavourable condition with the rains being unpredictable.

Meanwhile, as the organizers noted, the prizes are not the most lucrative in terms of cash incentives, but the pride in being national champion is what counts, and this makes the tournament a must in participation.

Additionally, Lower East Coast will have three matches today, with Success Enforcers playing Good Hope Warriors from 09:30h, and Aditya Electrical coming up against Hope Warriors Under-15 from 11:00h; followed by Success

XI and Enterprise XI clashing from 14:00h.

Prizes being offered are as follows: Male Open Champion - $50,000 and one of the Unity cups as well as championship rings.

Female Open Champion - $25,000 and one Unity Cup; Masters Champion - $20,000 and one Unity Cup. MVP- Trophies and one package which includes electronic accessories.

Other promotional items would also be given on the spot to sporting fans as the team goes to various grounds. Grounds so far confirmed to be used are Success; Better Hope; Mahaica; Leonora Primary; Uitvlugt, Parika, Scott Field and Port Mourant.

20 Sunrisers pull off season's best chase to go No 1 H guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, may 6, 2018

ow do you beat Sunrisers Hyderabad? It may have felt like a distant memory before Saturday, but Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings showed other teams a way early in the season: bat first, set a challenging target, expose a slightly suspect batting line-up.

On Saturday, Delhi Daredevils did most of that, and put Sunrisers under plenty of pressure, but fell short at a few key moments. Having won the toss and pushed on to 95 for 1 in their first 10 overs, they only managed 68 in their last 10, as Sunrisers' bowlers reeled them back on a slow, dry track.

Still, 163 was the biggest total any team had managed against Sunrisers this season, and they didn't always look convincing while chasing it. They profited from a couple of dropped chances, went without a boundary for 36 balls at one point, and eventually needed 14 off the last over. It could have

gone either way, and Yusuf Pathan sealed the deal with two meaty hits off Daniel Christian: a straight six off a full-toss, and a four, swiped over short fine leg, off a short ball.

Those hits may also have sealed Daredevils' fate in the tournament. With only three wins from ten games, the playoffs are all but out of reach for them.

That's what the big screen at the stadium said after Prithvi Shaw hit his first boundary of the match, a straight six off Sandeep Sharma. By the end of the 10th over, Shaw had made 65 off 35 balls, out of Daredevils' 95 for 1. The other end, despite some sparkling shots from Shreyas Iyer, had only made 30 off 25.

Part of the reason for Shaw's rate of scoring was the hardness of the new ball, which made up somewhat for a slow pitch. But it also had something to do with Shaw's range of strokes: case in point the last over of the Powerplay, delivered by

Siddarth Kaul.

Before this game, Kaul had conceded only 59 off 62 short and short-of-goodlength balls this season.

After a fullish knuckle ball that Shaw launched over the long-on boundary, Kaul pulled his length back, delivering three short or shortish balls. Two were angled into the body to try and cramp Shaw for room, and the other was only marginally outside off stump. None of them was a rank bad ball, and Shaw put all three away for four, to three different parts of the ground.

The Shaw, however, didn't go on past the first ball of the 11th over, an attempted sweep off Rashid Khan looping to short third man off the outside edge.

The last 10 overs would only bring Daredevils 68 runs.

This was partly down to the older ball becoming difficult to hit, and mostly to Sunrisers' bowling and tactics. Rashid bowled three of the seven overs from the 11th to the 17th, varying his pace and getting

some balls to grip the surface while others hurried on; Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent down his third over in the 14th to try and keep the pressure on; and Kaul and Sandeep Sharma varied their pace excellently.

The changes of pace were particularly effective against Rishabh Pant, who kept

losing his shape while trying to launch himself into slower balls angling away from him.

He only scored 18 off 18 before falling to Rashid in

Kane Williamson

the 17th over. By that time, Daredevils were 135 for 5.

They went without a boundary for 18 balls before Vijay Shankar clattered a six and a four off Bhuvneshwar in the 20th over to move Daredevils past 160.

This was only Alex Hales' second match of the season, but belatedly or not, his inclusion has given

Sunrisers the top-order muscle they p o s s i bly lacked without David Warner.

Today he muscled 45 off 31 balls, and 28 off 9 came off one bowler. Avesh Khan.

Avesh kept bowling short, and kept getting hit by Hales and, occasionally, Shikhar D h a w a n .

There were two fours in the second over, and four sixes in the sixth.

Perhaps it was a plan, for Hales miscued one pull, on 9, only for Glenn Maxwell to drop a sitter at deep square leg. That apart, it didn't work, and the opening pair added 76 in nine overs.

It took a beauty to end the opening stand, an Amit Mishra legbreak that pitched on leg, beat the outside edge, and hit the top of off, its flat trajectory rooting Hales to the crease. Dhawan played all around a full ball in Mishra's next over and was bowled for 33 off 30, his strike rate reflecting the not necessarily straightforward batting conditions as well as a conservative, let's-get-oureye-in approach from all of Sunrisers' top order barring Hales.

The third-wicket stand between Kane Williamson and Manish Pandey - which featured lots of singles to deep fielders and not a lot of high-risk shots - brought only 21 runs in its first 22 balls, at which stage Sunrisers needed 57 off 32 balls. But Pandey struck a pair of fours off Christian, and Williamson followed up with an uppercut six off Avesh in the next over, suggesting these were the bowlers Sunrisers wanted to target. It was a fairly well-executed strategy. The two of them ended up conceding 84 in 6.5 overs, and the rest of Daredevils' bowlers just 80 off 13.

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sports

Foster appeals for re-introduction of Senior Inter-County Tourney – “There is pride in being identified as a Berbician cricketer”

By Akeem Greene

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he last Guyana Cricket Boardorganised Senior Inter-County tournament occurred in 2015. In August 2016, Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) implemented a semi-professional Jaguars’ Franchise League, which comprised eight teams from sub-districts of counties.

That move essentially ended, whether temporarily or permanently, the intense battle of attrition over four days between county teams both at home and away. It usually saw an appreciable amount of crowd support for the priceless battles that determined national spots.

“We are calling for return of the senior inter-county (tournament), because while it is nice to be known as a Lower Corentyne of Upper Corentyne (player), there is pride in being identified as a Berbice player.

I was speaking to a former Test cricketer, and he indicated to me that he was (as) proud to play for Berbice as he was playing for Guyana and West Indies,” Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)

President, Hilbert Foster, told the media on Friday.

He added, “While the league cricket is good regarding the financial rewards for cricketers, I think the GCB should return to the inter-county system.

Berbice cricket strongly urges senior inter-county to be returned”.

In response, Territorial Development Official (TDO) of the GCB, Colin Stuart, outlined that financial constraints would have caused the Board to “temporarily discontinue” the senior inter-county tournament. The franchise league is league is played on a three-day basis with seven rounds, and it is understood that players are remunerated $5,000 per day for matches.

“What we looked at -- and sponsors comes in here too -we looked at inviting more persons and giving them an opportunity to play for Guyana”, Stuart conveyed.

He further stated, “It does not say you won’t have a situation where you have three or four teams playing. Our real plan when we put together these 8 teams was that after you have

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Corona Futsal Tournament…

Finalists get fair share of prize money A

ccording to a release from the Petra Organisation on Saturday, the final of the Corona Futsal tournament would be abandoned.

“The Petra Organisation, in consultation with the sponsors, ‘Top Brandz Distributors,’ and the two finalists, Sparta Boss and Bent Street, have agreed to abandon the finals and split the first and second prize monies equally with the two teams ($450,000 each).

“This decision was taken after considering the ruling of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) upon conclusion of their investigation, (which) brought the finals to a premature end on April 14” the release disclosed.

The release added, “We thought that in the best interest of the sport and all other stake holders (sponsors, the two teams, Guyana

Football Federation, Guyana Referees, Spectators, Guyana Police Force, The Petra Officials and The National Sports Commission) that this decision was the best we can make.

“We would like to say a special thank you to the two teams and the sponsors, who played a major role in arriving at this decision. We would also like to thank the other stakeholders, especially the spectators, for their continuous support”, the release declared.

The final billing was heading towards being a thriller when it was curtailed at half-time with the champs ahead via goals from Gregory Richardson (4th) and Jermin Junior (6th). Leopold Street has earned a walk-over from Alpha Warriors in the thirdplace match.

member of the Essequibo Cricket Board, began voicing support for re-introduction of the senior inter-county cricket tournament.

Lack of matches in Berbice

BCB President Hilbert Foster

round-robin, it will go down to four teams, by pulling from 8 teams and to four strong teams”.

Explaining why, in two years, the latter part of the plan did not materialise, he said it was “due to a lack of finances, since it is the board who currently undertakes funding the league”.

Just recently, North Essequibo Cricket Committee, an affiliated

The recent GCBorganised under-19 inter-county tournament which was sponsored by Hand-in-Hand Insurance saw no matches being played in the Ancient County.

Demerara and Essequibo were the beneficiaries.

Most of those matches were affected by rain, and spectator attendance was mostly miniscule; even at the final, which was shifted to the Providence ground on Friday. It is a situation which has left the BCB boss quite perturbed.

“We recently had a meeting with our stakeholders, and we are very upset, because even for this under-19 cricket, we wrote the Cricket Board administration asking to host one or two of the matches, and what I can tell

you is that if these finals were played in Berbice we would have had hundreds of people in the ground. It is very disappointing to come and find about 20 people at the ground in a final of this magnitude,” he lamented.

Fosters deems the situation unfair for one team to have home advantage and not give administrators and parents opportunity to see their children play on home soil.

Addressing this situation, Stuart again blamed lack of finances as a mitigating factor in the Board not providing an equal share of matches for counties.

“It is on the cards to have cricket played in all three of the counties. GCB normally seeks corporate support, but given the magnitude of sponsorship and the fact we are now housing players, it really takes a lot; so, at the moment, we centralised it to Demerara”, the former Windies fast-bowler explained.

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guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, may 6, 2018

Archery introduced to Schools’ Nationals T

he National Schools Track and Field Championships will see a new addition to this year’s roster of activities, according to Director of Sport, Christopher Jones.

The disclosure was made on Thursday at a courtesy call paid by the Sport Department to the Level 1 Archery Course being held at the National Racquet Center.

Immediately after Chairman of Archery Guyana, Nicholas Hing, hinted at the need for archery to be introduced to the younger generation, Jones made the historic disclosure, stating, “There is indeed a doc-

made the necessary provisions for the introduction of the sport come this

Director of Sport Christopher Jones receiving an archery lesson from Level One Coach Phillip Graves

ument which speaks to archery being introduced into the schools nationals.”

The introduction of the discipline to the National Championships is being considered as a priority, and as such, coordinating and collaborating with Archery Guyana to ensure that the programme happens is a part of the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) work programme.

The NSC has already

November, “We have been speaking with Chief Education Officer of the Ministry of Education (MoE), Mr. Hutson, who has assured us that leading into schools nationals this year 2018, we are hoping there will be a special event in which you will see students from Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9 participating in archery. This is history in the making,” Jones said.

Although the inaugural hosting of the archery competition will be opened to mostly students from regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine,

the S p o r t s Commission plans on expanding the programme to all ten administrative regions by 2019.

“Of course we do not intend to limit this to those regions. All of the participants here, who at the end of this programme will receive a level one certificate, they, too, will be coordinated by Archery Guyana, and we will see them doing the same training programme in the other regions,” Jones explained.

Local archers are currently benefiting from an 8-day programme which will result in them becoming certified Level 1 archers.

sunDAY, may 6, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Beaton has a long road ahead – King

By Akeem Greene

F

Ronsford Beaton

23

ormer Windies speedster Reon King has given empathy to budding fast-bowling prodigy Ronsford Beaton, who was recently suspended from bowling in international cricket due to an illegal action.

King, who during his 19 Tests and 50 One-Day Internationals produced some venomous pace, remodelled his action in 2000 while in England, not because it was illegal, but to make himself more effective. He contends that the real obstacle is overcoming the mental stress.

“The mental stress of remodelling your action…because (having) it deemed an illegal action would be rough. When the conformation comes, it is even more weight on your shoulders, and you are devastated,” the 42-year-old King told Guyana Times Sport on Friday.

King last played Test cricket in 1999 against South Africa. He contends that Beaton “needs to take himself out of action, and surround himself with some good technical advice”.

“With the amount of cricket being played now and the stage where Beaton is, and also the proliferation

of fast bowlers we have, obviously it is a lot of work he has to do. I don’t think he himself would think it is just a walk in the park, and soon as his action is rectified he will walk straight back into competitive cricket,” King declared.

The right-arm seamer from Newtown, Kitty further indicated that the 25-year-old Beaton has to gather confidence in his new action, and transform it into good performances. It is that process, King stated, that usually takes time.

Receptive of information

Recently, in a section of the media, acting president of the Guyana Cricket Board and president of the Essequibo Cricket Board, Fizul Bacchus, lambasted Beaton, stating, “He should accept full responsibility for his bowling action”.

Bacchus was quoted as

saying, “Beaton never listened to the Essequibo Cricket Board or the Guyana Cricket Board. You can’t talk to Beaton. He never listens to anyone. He’s just not a disciplined player”.

On the contrary, King, who is a Cricket West Indies Level Three-qualified coach and ICC Match Referee, feels Beaton is quite receptive to advice.

“I spoke to him prior to him doing the test. The impression I got from him (is that) he is not the type of person (who doesn’t listen). I think he wants to learn. He is definitely one for the future,” declared King.

Personal coaching

While it will not be a panacea for all the problems cricketers face, King firmly believes it is crucial for players to have competent personal coaches.

“Something for Beaton

and other players to consider is (for them) to surround themselves with persons (who can) give solid technical advice. Cricket is a skillbased sport...,” King said.

Cricket West Indies has enrolled Beaton in its fast bowling camp in Antigua as part of his remedial programme. Thereafter, he will undergo a reassessment process, and if successful, he will be allowed to participate at the international level.

Beaton was reported for suspect action during the second ODI against New Zealand last December. The ICC noted that the international suspension would also be recognized and enforced by all national cricket federations for domestic cricket events played in their own jurisdictions; but with the consent of CWI, Beaton may be able to play in domestic events in the Caribbean.

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2018

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

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Pg 21

Finalists get fair share of prize money

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Pg 23

Beaton has a long road ahead – King

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Feature

Questions: How long have you been a journalist?

How did your career unfold?

It is now three months shy of seven years since I joined the media. When I was in secondary school, I had a teacher whom I admired a lot and I saw myself being like her when I got older. At the time, she was studying Communications at the University of Guyana and would tell us about her classes from the day before, so I gradually began taking a liking to the idea of Communications. However, about a year before, what was then CXC exams, my teacher had left the job and I kind of put the whole Communications thing behind my head as I prepare for exams. But then about a year after I finished school, I found out that she was working in the media and again my interest was sparked. So after contacting her and relating my interest, she advised that I apply for a job and I did, at several media entities. At the time though, I was interested in broadcast media, but I ended up sending my applications to mostly print media houses. Luckily, I ended up working for a company, the same my teacher was working for, which has both a television station and a newspaper, so I’ve had the opportunity to do both.

Ms. Manickchand during her visit to India

Who were the biggest inspirations for your career?

Well prior to me joining the media, it was my teacher Venessa Low-A-Chee (oops I forgot to mention her name). Afterwards I’ve meet a lot of persons who pushed me to bounds I didn’t know I had in me and who

find anything else that grab my interest like the media did and still does.

What are some of your personal and/ or professional goals for the future?

At this point, I don’t see myself doing journalism as a lifetime career but I will continue to do it because I love it and for as long as I could, until maybe something [should] spark whatever it was within me that the media did. But I think I would like to broaden by abilities and go into production because that was where my interest was initially (in broadcast media) before I was swooned by print media.

What are some common myths about the journalism profession?

Perhaps, that it is a “glamorous job” that allows you to look good in front the camera, meet important/popular/influential people, and gets you into all the events free. I always tell new/young reporters when they join that while those are some of the perks you enjoy on the job, it’s much more. Journalism is a big responsibility and one that should be taken seriously since it shapes the mindset and the thinking of the public.

What have been the rewards and/ or challenges thus far?

Like with any job, there would always be good days and bad ones, and I’ve experienced some really terrible days but my love for the job allowed me to persevere and continue moving forward instead of giving up and moving on to something else. And luckily, I did because I was able to fulfill one of my dreams – visit India. That has definite-

Vahnu hard at work (second from left) during the World Press Freedom Day seminar

believed in me, so I was immensely inspired by a few of them – all of whom I had the opportunity to work with. Persons like my former editor, Nigel Williams (now Editor-inChief at the Guyana Chronicle); Assistant Editor at the Guyana Times, Bhisham Mohamed; Avenash Ramzan, one of the renowned sport journalists in Guyana; a good friend and former media colleague, Pushpa Balgobin, and most recently, my current Editor at the Guyana Times, Tusika Martin, to name a few, have been my biggest inspirations and supporters.

What has been your personal key to success?

I’m not sure but I would like to believe that dedication, commitment, stability and an apparent unhindered love for what I do have been the core of what I have achieved thus far, and the driving force to get me where I am today. Because, initially, I was only going to work in the media for about a year or two just to get the experience but I fell in love and I’ve never been able to leave.

Although sometimes the urge to do that has been extremely strong, I was never able to

ly been the highlight of my career. Another reward I get from this job is meeting people from different walks of life, whether its influential people I admire and look up to or just an ordinary man or woman or even a child, and that broadens your perspective a lot.

Do you feel that is important for someone to be passionate about the journalism profession to be successful?

For sure! I believe the saying: “Do what you love, and it will never feel like a job.”

Journalism should not be done by persons who just want a job to pass time or earn money because it takes away a lot from you and you have to make a lot of sacrifices – give up things that are important to you.

And the only way you would be able to constantly make those sacrifices is if you love you what you’re doing, and so if you are not committed to journalism as a career, then it you won’t be able to do the job to the best of your ability and it will be reflective in the work you put out.

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MAY 6, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

F

rancis Quamina Farrier, B.A., M.S., is the founder and CEO of Timehri Productions. Having created, written and directed numerous productions for radio, theatre, television and film, Farrier is a multi-talented individual who best showcases the complex culture of Guyana.

As the former Director of Drama at the Ministry of Culture of Guyana and as a highly respected investigative journalist, Francis Farrier brings a wealth of experience and talent to his founding company. He knows Guyana intimately, having traveled to all four corners of the 83,000 square mile country over the past fifty years, including the vast unexplored interior regions seen by very few.

Farrier has also traveled throughout the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, Africa, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Viewers of Farrier's works find them very informative, intriguing and even entertaining at times. Over the years, he has been the recipient of a number of prizes and awards for

his works, including a national award. Farrier's higher education included studies at the University of Middlesex (England) - degree with honors, University of Alberta (Canada), and the University of the West Indies (Trinidad).

Whether he is wielding a pen or being openly vocal in a play, Francis Quamina Farrier continues to inspire a new generation, leaving a lasting impression on many lives.

Apart from being a journalist, Francis Quamina Farrier is a playwright, actor, radio personality and a family man.

While he prefers to be called Uncle Francis, he is one of the country’s most seasoned journalist .

During an earlier interview with the media, Mr. Farrier shared snippets of his childhood days; born in Broad Street, Charlestown, to a Grenadian father and a Guyanese mother, he is the second of four children. He grew up in Agricola, a small community a few miles outside of the city.

Francis was never the type to remain stationary, and grasped at every opportunity to explore the far reaches of Guyana.

His formal education began at the St. Ann’s Anglican school in Agricola, he then attended Carmel Government School in Charlestown and completed some of his tertiary education at the University of London, England as well as the Banff School of Fine Arts in Alberta,

Canada. He also did some courses at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies.

As he got older, Francis began venturing out to see much of the world. First he went to neighbouring Brazil and then he began to explore the Caribbean. It was in Canada that Mr. farrier studied both journalism and theatre.

Prior to his extensive travelling, Farrier had fallen in love with theatre writing and acting which was inspired by the movie Hamlet, starring the great Laurence Olivier.

Internationally acclaimed Caribbean poet, playwright Derek Walcott was also integral to his love of the theatre.

It was after Independence in 1966 that Francis’s writing for theatre took off when he won the first and third prizes in the national playwriting competition.

Farrier, who currently commutes between

Author and Diplomat, E.R. Braithwaite strikes a pose with Writer, Francis Quamina Farrier

Guyana and the USA, was also honoured by the New York State Senate in August 2007 as “a shining example of Guyanese cultural achievement in the field of the written and spoken word.” He also completed courses such as the BA Performance Arts at the University of Middlesex in 1982, and the Press and Information Techniques course conducted by the Overseas Training Unit of the Central Office of Information in 1974.

Mr. Farrier was also the Senior Reporter and Editor-in-Chief of the Evening News from 1994 – 2010 (16 years). (Excerpts from Linkedin)

4

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MAY 6, 2018

Feature

J

ournalists from all over the world have called for an end to attacks on them in their line of work as events to mark the 2018 World Press Freedom Day on May 2 and 3, came to an end.

Dubbed the Accra Declaration, over 900 journalists also called for an end to other restrictions on press freedom, urging governments to provide protection for journalists and combat impunity when such attacks do occur.

They also want governments to ensure that those responsible for threats or attacks against journalists, media outlets and others for exercising their freedom of expression be brought to justice through fair and impartial pro ceedings.

The communiqué called for the

strengthening of the economic environment for quality journalism, investigative journalism and independent professional media.

The journalists called on civil society and the academia to denounce attacks on freedom of expression and media freedom in any form and from any group or individuals.

The communiqué called on media outlets to provide fair payment, working conditions and insurance for media workers. It also called for the promotion of universal access to the internet at affordable prices.

The participants called on UNESCO to support and train journalists in the area of digital

safety and security, including the use of open and other technologies.

UNESCO Country Director, Tirso Dos Santos explained that Ghana was chosen to host the event due to its achievements in the media.

Information Minister, Dr Mustapha Hamid, said the choice of Ghana to host the important day “speaks volumes about our own credentials as a country with regards to where we have come from in terms of free dom of the press”.

UNESCO a n d the Government of Ghana partnered to organize the 25th global celebration of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) in Accra, which was held in Ghana from 3 to 4 May 2018 on “Media, Justice and the Rule of law”. The Minister for Information, Mr Mustapha Hamid who launched the programme said Ghana’s 26th position on the World Press Freedom Index was attained through hard work and speaks volumes about the nation’s credentials as regards the freedom of the press.

The two-day event brought together leading actors from the media, civil society, policy makers, representatives of the judiciary, and academia to discuss latest developments and pressing challenges related to press freedom and the safety of journalists.

It is the fourth time that the global celebration of WPFD will take place on African soil, 27 years after the Windhoek Declaration on free, independent and pluralistic media was adopted and later endorsed by UNESCO's General Conference.

The main celebration in Accra is expected to be reinforced by some 100 national events the world over.

The theme chosen for this year’s celebrations examined the media’s and the judiciary’s respective roles in ensuring the rule of law, including in times of elections, and in safeguarding the fundamental right to freedom of expression and addressing crimes against journalists.

May 3rd, World Press Freedom Day also served as an opportunity to remind society that around the world, journalists, editors and media workers, continue to be harassed, attacked, jailed, and in the worst case, killed, simply for exercising their profession. The 2018 UNESCO/ Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize will be awarded to a person or an organization having made an outstanding contribution to the defense of press freedom.

WPFD has been celebrated annually since 1993, when the UN General Assembly proclaimed 3 May as World Press Freedom Day.

Guyana’s Position

Guyana has been elevated five places on the Reporters With Borders (RSF) 2018 World Press Freedom Index, which the Guyana Press Association (GPA) said comes amidst “significant hurdles” yet to be overcome.

From among 180 countries, Index of Press Freedom ranking worldwide puts Guyana at 55 compared to 60 in 2017.

The country was given zero under the category of “abuse score”; and 26.25 for “underlying situation score”.

Guyana’s position has placed it below its neighbour Suriname which was in spot 21, but above its other two bordering neighbours, Brazil and Venezuela, which were placed in the 102 and 143 positions, respectively. In the wake of the recent report, the GPA said it welcomes this improved ranking but with some reservations.

According to the Association, while this may seem somewhat of an achievement, there are still significant hurdles to be crossed before Guyanese can feel that an improved ranking really matters.

These include the removal of existing criminal defamation laws in line with globally accepted standards; the deletion of offending sections in the Cybercrime Bill that could result in further entrenchment of criminal defamation; the amendment to the Broadcasting Act to remove direct intervention in the programming schedule of radio and television stations, except in cases of emergencies; political interference in the State-owned and privately-owned media by Government and the Opposition.

In fact, the GPA went on to highlight the removal of the two outspoken columnists from the State-owned Guyana Chronicle; a situation, which it said, appears not to have bothered the coalition Government and its professed commitment to press freedom and freedom of expression.

To this end, the Association is calling for remedial actions to be taken by the relevant authorities to further enhance Guyana’s ranking on the Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index in 2019.

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MAY 6, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

Importance of Press Freedom in Guyana

A

cross the globe, World Press Freedom Day is observed on May 3 , annually . This year, the observances were held under the theme “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law”. The Guyana Press Association (GPA) used the occasion to urge all media practitioners to take a stand against those in authority as they see to wield influence on content disbursement.

“The GPA is cognisant that in our society, lines of power, authority and decisionmaking in the media are blurred by shared interests, goals and objectives. In this regard, the Association is of the firm position that editors and other media managers need to stand up to those in authority and influence who seek to impose restrictions on freedom of expression because of their dislike of the opinions of others,” the GPA said in a statement.

The GPA pointed to the recent silencing action by the Government when the decision was taken to fire columnists Lincoln Lewis and David Hinds from the Guyana Chronicle.

Additionally, the Association said it has observed the increasing frequency in the manipulation of stories to fit political agenda of the behind the scenes actors while pointing to the recent actions of Government attempting to interfere in the free press.

“Over the months we have had reports of Government officials calling media houses to demand sources from reporters, to demand that media outlets refrain from providing coverage to other public officials and threatening to call the Police to remove reporters from public meetings,” the GPA noted.

The GPA believes truly independent media is vitally necessary to guard against human rights abuses, electoral malpractices, lack of transparency and accountability and genderbased inequalities.

The Association also urged the Government and

World Press Freedom Day lecture , held at Moray House on Thursday in observance of World Press Freedom Day

Opposition to discuss and arrive at a consensus to delete from the proposed Cybercrime legislation provisions that will amount to institutionalisation of criminal defamation.

“Those provisions, we contend, must be removed because they are not in accordance with the global shift towards the removal of criminal defamation from the law books of several countries including a number of them in the Caribbean. Guyana will be retrogressing instead of progressing by entrenching the criminalisation of freedom of expression if certain sections in the Cyber Crimes Bill are enacted into law,” the statement said.

The GPA noted that World Press Freedom Day 2018 also allows them the opportunity to call on media workers and Guyanese of all walks of life to zealously guard against fake news operations, especially on the Internet.

The GPA’s statement concluded that it will seriously consider whether, in the interest of the promotion of high quality journalism, they shall have to name fake news outlets in an effort to protect unsuspecting members of the public from being duped or adversely influenced by fabricated content.

Meanwhile, Guyana has been elevated five places up on the Reporters With Borders World Press Freedom Index. Guyana is now at 55

compared to 60 in 2017. The GPA said it welcomes the improved ranking with some reservations, pointing out that there are still significant hurdles to be crossed before Guyanese can feel that an improved ranking really matters.

Additionally, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said a free press is essential for peace, justice and human rights for all adding that it is crucial to building transparent and democratic societies and keeping those in power accountable.

“It is vital for sustainable development.

Journalists and media workers shine a light on local and global challenges and tell the stories that need to be told.

Their service to the public is invaluable. Laws that protect independent journalism, freedom of expression and the right to information need to be adopted, implemented and enforced.

Crimes against journalists must be prosecuted. On World Press Freedom Day 2018, I call on governments to strengthen press freedom and to protect journalists. Promoting a free press is standing up for our right to truth,” the Secretary General said.

According to the UN, the theme of the 2018 celebration highlights the importance of an enabling legal environment for press freedom, and gives special attention to the role of an independent Judiciary in

ensuring legal guarantees for press freedom and the prosecution of crimes against journalists.

At the same time, the theme addresses the role of the media in sustainable development,

especially during elections – as a watchdog fostering transparency, accountability and the rule of law. The theme also aims to explore legislative gaps with regard to freedom of expression and information online, and the risks of regulating online speech.

Within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the contribution of journalists and media workers is most associated with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 of peace, justice and strong institutions. In order to reach this goal, effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels must be developed, and press freedom is essential for this.

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Feature

Mangrove seedlings, Mon Repos, Guyana. Photo source:

©© Amanda Richards

C

hristell Chesney from the Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity (CSBD), University of Guyana (UG), has been selected as a 2017/2018 Conservation Leadership in the Caribbean (CLiC) Fellow. This fully funded and highly competitive selection pro-

cess yielded candidates from 14 countries and Christell is the first fellow for CLiC from Guyana.

“I am extremely honored to be among those participating in this program,” said Christell Chesney. “CLiC will definitely help me to im-

Christell Chesney

Govindra Punu

prove my skills in conservation planning and leadership. These particular skills will be used at the CSBD, UG, to guide students’ research as well as, to contribute to the conservation efforts, of the CSBD, through various workshops, courses, etc.”

The goal of the Conservation Leadership in the Caribbean (CLiC) fellows programme is to have an established, sustainable Caribbean leadership-training program enabling effective regional networking and action to achieve sustainable conservation.

“This program directly addresses a succession crevasse across the Caribbean and Latin America by empowering a new generation of wildlife and conservation leaders who as today’s young leaders do not have adequate access to opportunities to experience and practice conservation in areas such as development, communications or grassroots activities,” said Kelvin Alie, CLiC Director and Vice President of Conservation and Animal Welfare at IFAW. Now in its second iteration, the strongly oversubscribed program funded in part by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) with the support of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW; www.ifaw.org), St. George’s University (SGU) and the Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF), CLiC creates an opportunity for up-and-coming Caribbean conservation professionals to gain invaluable first-hand skills and experience working with proven conservation

Josué Céliscar

Tanja Lieuw

leaders.

In addition to three in-depth training sessions over an 18 - month period which commenced May 2017 and concludes October 2018, fellows are working in teams to design, implement and evaluate cutting-edge projects in biodiversity conservation in support of sustainable development in the Caribbean. Ms. Chesney’s team, CLiC Mangrove Guyana, comprises of team members; Guyanese; Govindra Punu, from Vector Control Services, Ministry of Health, Surinamese; Tanja Lieuw from Inter-American Development Bank and Haitian; Josué Céliscar from Foundation por la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine (FoProBiM).

This team is working closely with the Ms. Kene Moseley and her team at the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP-NAREI) to conserve the mangrove forest at Hope, East Coast, Demerara. The project includes biodiversity surveys, stakeholder interviews, clean up campaign and education and awareness programs. During their projects, these fellows also have access to a qualified training expert; Dr. Tsitsi Mcpherson, from the State University of New York College at Oneonta, who guides them on this journey and provides one-on-one mentoring, networking opportunities and career development. Ms. Chesney’s local supervisor is Director of the CSBD, Dr. Gyanpriya Maharaj (Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity, University of Guyana)

Conservation Leadership in the Caribbean (CLiC) Fellows 2017/2018 at St. George’s University (SGU), Grenada, May, 2017 for their first Batch of in person training

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MAY 6, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Literary Corner

By Petamber Persaud

I I once knew a beautiful city It shone like gold in the sun They called it El Dorado For the precious metals they found Its children all pretty and happy Every home a nest of delight Whether it be grand or paltry There was rarely a fuss or fight Six different races lived in harmony Each respecting the other’s ideals They attended each other’s festivals And shared each other’s meals The sun came up every morning And warmed this beautiful land The rains came during its season And watered the gardens and farms

n order to get to his Ph. D. investiture ceremony, Churaumanie Bissundyal made an overland trip covering some 700 miles in 11 hours (first leg of a round trip made up of 1400 miles and 22 hours).

The trip from New York to Ohio was made in a mini van driven in turns by friends. This is how he described that first leg of the trip which started on a Saturday morning at 1 a.m., ‘At night, sandwiched between opaque, lilac heavens and phosphorescent, galloping road signs, I fell into a reverie of our travelling in a celestial chariot to a pilgrimage where angels and deities have chosen to bestow benedictions upon humans achieving the best with humility, hard work, perseverance, pains, gratitude and excellence. In daylight, I felt the ecstasy of tunnels through mountains, sunshine washing rocky barrens, the golden hue of corn and wheat fields, and of brilliant, rich towns granting mercies to pastoral shanties shrouded by jungle or rocks’.

That journey started more than half a century ago in the ‘Cinderella County’ where he spent his formative days on Leguan, a green windswept island at the mouth of

Churaumanie Bissundyal

in an ambivalence between weeping and laughing, aware that I was far away from everything yet so near. It occurred to me in floods and flashes that my anxieties of classrooms, introspection, books, seminars, peer days, research, essays, travelling, organization, and doctoral

Masquerade bands roamed on holidays Playing their kittle drum themes They danced in flamboyant costumes Of colorful straw with beaded seams A famous wooden cathedral Is the hallmark of this beautiful town While exotic wildlife and waterfalls Brought pleasure to folks old and young This picturesque garden city With its tree lined avenues And its great wall blocking the ocean Oh! What a sight of magnificent views A city built by the sweat of its people Who hailed from different lands And through their toil and sorrow Held destiny in their sun scorched hands Now it’s just a distant memory Far more than half century gone by Where the joys of my youth can be numbered Like the stars that brightened its sky Anne Coltman 2018

the Essequibo River, British Guiana. As in the story of Cinderella, Bissundyal went to the ball but couldn’t stay all night for the festivity. It’s the story of his life – so near yet so far away. On the day of his investiture, he declared, ‘I sat in stunned silence, waiting, torn

meetings were yielding for the first time to a rich savour of relief and serenity’.

After completing his formal education, Bissundyal was sent (city positions were reserved) to teach at Good Shepherd Anglican School, a missionary school deep in the hinterland of

Notice to Readers

the country. It was a blessing in disguise for he was charmed by the innocence of the Indigenous People - their customs, the virginity of the flora and fauna, by purity of the waterways which in turn occasioned the Muse to visit him. It was the start of a versatile and prolific writing career, a career that was recently truncated by death. Recalling that moment, Bissundyal said, ‘I wrote my first piece, a long poem Glorianna. After that I couldn’t stop writing’.

So far he has written more than five novels including Whom The Kiskadees Call, Peepal Tree Press, England, 1994, Labaria Puraan, Paddy Sheaves Books, Guyana, 1995, and Game of Kassaku, Geica, New York, 2002. A prolific playwright, he has written more than a dozen plays. Those produced include The Trick and the Raajah, Theatre Guild, Guyana, 1987, From Ganges to Demerary, Samuell Beckett’s Theatre, Canada, 1988, and the National Culture Centre, Guyana, 1990, The Jaguar and the Flute, Theatre Guild, Guyana, 1991 and Epilepsia National Cultural Centre, Guyana, May 2005. His books of poems include Glorianna, selfpublished, 1976, The Presence, published by Roopnandan Singh, 1996, and Lotus in the Mud, published, Paddy Sheaves Books, New York, 2000. He also wrote more than four screenplays. Out of his first effort, his fervor for writing grew stronger despite bits of successes and daunting failures. From the interior of Guyana, he moved to the Hindu College, on the East Coast of Demerara where ‘within three months I completed another long poem, The Stream of Red Tears; then I started writing my first novel, The Blossoms of Love. My long poem won a Certificate of Excellence at Guyfesta, a

Guyanese festival of creative arts, but my novel had received more than thirty rejection slips: it was never published’.

Encouraged by an actor, Godfrey Rocke, Bissundayl turned his attention to writing plays. After some minor successes at the community level, he got a major breakthrough The Trick and The Raajah was staged at the Theatre Guild in Georgetown. The following year the play, From Ganges to Demerary, was accepted at York University, Toronto. This opened many doors to him, regionally and internationally.

But back on the local scene, he experimented with drama how to get it to the people. He successfully staged many ‘dinner & street theatre’ events which included his play like Mad No Hell, I is a Jumbie, The Jaguar and The Flute, and Migrant Error.

Always experimenting, Bissundyal turned to fiction writing but found he needed to devote more time to a novel. No problem, he resigned his job at the National Insurance Scheme. But this move led down to road to abject poverty; living on the streets. His contemporary and fellow writer, Doodnauth Singh, said, ‘I can remember the times he slept on a stall at Bourda Market although he was a Literary Editor for one of our weekly newspapers. He wrote Labaria Puraan spending many days at the St. George’s Cathedral, eating little or nothing for days’.

But then it was from the bottommost to the uttermost.

In 1996, lo and behold, he had to choose between a fellowship in creative writing at Miami University and the Vera Rubin Residency Award at Yaddo, Saratoga Springs.

He went down the Yaddo road, completing his MFA in 2003. Then he did a Ph. D. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at Union Institute & University, Ohio. At the investiture ceremony, Churaumanie Bissundyal recorded his feeling thus, ‘My moment of investiture met me in a world of stupor, yet I was aware of everything: my brothers snapping cameras at me, the audience applauding, music blaring, the rising fever of excitement. When Dr. Larry Preston dropped the doctoral hood around me, I remembered at once my struggle and pains …to reach where I am today.

Sometimes I thought I was riding a horse to reach the moon’.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: Check out Guyana Book Foundation, 66 New Garden & Anaira Streets, ‘Matching Fund Project’ between May 2 and July 20, 2018, for all levels of books at concessionary price.

For further information, please call 227-4942.

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.

8 Sunday Times Magazine

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MAY 6, 2018

Travel and Tourism

A view of the tourist site

By Utamu Bell

T

his year, instead of travelling overseas for vacation as he usually does, Lindener, Deon Anderson, after rediscovering the perfect, natural, calm and relaxing getaway right in his hometown, has decided that he will be "bringing the vacation home" instead. After stumbling across one of the beautiful, picturesque, naturally occurring blue lakes in the mining town of Linden during one of his outdoor voyages, Anderson along with his family, fi-

of Guyana, including Antigua and Barcelona for vacation, Anderson, who is a Chemical Engineer by profession, has decided to take a page from his overseas trips, and ventured to create the perfect setting at the Lakes.

He believes that the picturesque beauty of the lake is comparible with the beaches in other Caribbean islands and are definitely worth showcasing! Having consulted with local and international entities mandated to test recreational facilities, Anderson says it was found to be a fairly

Safety First- visitors are encouraged to walk with the necessary safety gear

ancé and friends are on a mission to spread awareness about the potential tourist attraction, to draw as many visitors as possible to the pristine lake situated at Kara Kara, MacKenzie.

For years, the blue lakes were considered dangerous, known only for sightseeing extravaganzas, but with each visit, Anderson and his crew have turned this particular lake into a nature lover's paradise, with water sporting activities such as kayaking and a haven for getaways, parties, weddings and celebrations or just the perfect place to relax. Having travelled to different tourist destinations outside

safe area to swim and free of toxic chemicals.

"Actually, this is an area that has evolved into a lake as a result of bauxite mining, which is one of the safest mining practices... no harmful chemicals are used.

It's just excavation and because of what was left, there is a lot of rainfall and as such water coming out of the ground. So, most of what you see here is just ground water.

Contrary to popular belief, this area is actually free of any toxic chemicals, there are no heavy metals", he mused. Nevertheless, he recommends that visitors put safety first. "The only precaution here is the depths of the water, it's very

deep. Safety is number one priority. So come with life vests, professional swimmers and you're good to go", he advises. Anderson said he visits the lakes every chance he gets with family and friends, taking professional swimmers and lifeguards to the area. He said he has come to the realization that it is a pristine area away from all the hustle and bustle. Just a week ago, his stepfather Roy Murray celebrated his 70th birthday at the blue lake in exquisite style.

It featured a cake sticking exercise by the lake, with a touch of decoration and a performance by the winning dance group at this year's Linden costume competition, ‘Iswe’. Family and friends flocked the location for an afternoon of fun, food and music. For persons who might be interested in visiting the lake, boats are available through local tourist agencies in Linden such as Kara kayaking and tours, which Anderson has collaborated with. "I was able to do some packages in collaboration with them, so that persons who want to have the experience can rent the kayak boats or request a guided tour of Linden. They can have kayaking as part of their tour. They can kayak down the Kara Kara creek and have tours over the hills; see the history of bauxite mining, see some of the plants; the hills give a Birdseye view of Linden. They can have a fully booked day, with lunch included by just contacting these tourist companies", he said.

Adorable decorations used to enhance the lake on different occasions are done by Anderson's fiance Schenelle Johnson. She uses various decorative themes to suit the occasion. "If you come on a normal day it looks just simply beautiful. When we enhance it with various colours to go along with the water or a holiday theme, you find that it looks even more beautiful.

People don't actually realize that Linden has such beauty. We're thinking about promoting here for photos and the 'beach wedding'

Deon Anderson enjoys the getaway

idea also. One time we even tried out the Hawaiian and Valentine's Day setting", Johnson related.

Anderson believes that Linden is one of the best destinations for nature lovers. "Everyone should visit Linden. This is just one of the many tourist attractions", he said.

After posting images of his experiences on social media, he said he has received positive reviews from

persons who never thought that kayaking was even possible at the lakes in Linden or that it possessed such beauty. He now aims to highlight, reflect, and showcase the natural beauty of Linden as he shared his belief noting that "Life is a vacation" and we all should “celebrate it every day, with a touch of class and finesse".

Kayaking in the Blue Lake

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Sunday Times Magazine

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MAY 6, 2018

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Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

Ingredients

cooking spray 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 cups sliced cauliflower 2 cups cherry tomatoes 1 (15 ounce) can channa/chick peas , drained 1 lime, cut into wedges 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro Directions • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and grease with cooking spray.

• Combine olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add cauliflower, tomatoes, and garbanzo beans; toss until well coated. Spread in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Add lime wedges.

• Roast in the preheated oven until vegetables are caramelized, about 25 minutes. Remove lime wedges and top with fresh cilantro (www.allrecipes.com) Simple and Functional Indian design often calls to mind opulent rooms draped in colorful silks, but some Indian interiors are quite simple and utilitarian. A charpoy, or a simple cot consisting of a frame strung tightly with rope, is a traditional piece of furniture popular in rural parts of the country. Here, a charpoy is dressed up with pillows made from recycled cotton saris.

Not sure how long to store your leftovers or where to store your eggs so they stay fresher longer? Read our smart tips for storing food in your refrigerator or freezer, • After A Meal-Refrigerate or freeze leftovers as soon as possible after they’ve been prepared. A good rule of thumb — if heated food isn’t refrigerated within two hours of mealtime, it’s no longer fresh.

There’s no need to cool down warm foods before placing into a freezer for long-term storage. Label with the contents and the date.

• Choosing The Right ContainerAirtight, leakproof and clear containers are ideal for storing leftover food. Some even offer self-venting lids that are ideal for reheating in a jiffy. Tomatobased sauces can stain some plastics.

For best non-staining results, use glass containers.

• In Your RefrigeratorTemperature fluctuates the most on a refrigerator door. Store eggs and milk on a shelf rather than a door to prolong freshness. Don’t overfill the shelves of your refrigerator — the air needs to circulate freely around the contents to keep them cool. Keep vegetables and fruits separated in produce drawers and don’t wash produce before refrigerating it. Use bubble wrap along the bottom of the fruit drawer to prevent bruising. When storing

things like sauces and soups in the freezer, only fill the container three-quarters to allow room for expansion when frozen. Store these in small quantities so the food freezes more quickly, which gives it a fresher taste. (www.containerstore.com) • Food on the Go!Packing a lunch? Use reusable containers to save money and reduce disposable packaging sent to landfills. If you’re taking dinner leftovers to work in the morning, fill a small container for yourself while putting away the rest of leftovers and save time in the morning!

• Ready To Eat- If you are ready to prepare food that’s been frozen, allow it to thaw slowly instead of placing directly into microwave for reheating. Safe thawing options include in the refrigerator, the defrost setting on a microwave or using a bowl of cold water changed every 30 minutes for no more than two hours. Be sure to know how long food should be stored. When re-heating food in the microwave, be sure to loosen the lid of your food storage container or remove it altogether. Use a splatter guard to reduce the mess.

Deeply rooted in the country's culture and history, Indian interior design features rich textiles and furniture, often handmade using traditional methods. Transport yourself to this exotic country and get Indian design ideas for your home.

Exotic Elegance

Rich color and texture — both key elements of Indian design — give this living room a palatial feel. Coated with various shades of red Venetian plaster, the dramatic arch becomes the perfect backdrop for a framed Indian textile. The columns are drizzled with copper paints and adorned with a subtle Moorish stencil design, while the remaining walls have a soft gold faux finish.

Embroidered throw pillows and a leather ottoman complement the lavish surroundings.

Antique Accents

Since Indian decor is often rich in color, pattern and texture, just a few strategically placed pieces can fill a room with exotic flair.

An antique Indian bedspread, hand-stitched with beading and gold thread, completely transforms this urban loft bedroom into a vibrant, energetic space. Patchwork pillows handmade from old textiles and the pink beaded sari underneath the ottoman, another vintage item from India, add another burst of color.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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Puzzles

ACROSS

1 "-- luego!"

6 Vine support

11 Bear down

16 Whole extent

21 Fred Mertz's wife

22 Actress -- Oberon

23 Like a seance

24 Archaeologist's find

25 Survey findings

26 Hitch -- - 27 Zola's first name 28 Yawning

29 Airline ticket word

30 Mary-Kate or Ashley

32 Spring fragrance

34 Work history

36 Linear unit

38 Common practice 40 Doggerel

42 Piece of parsley 43 Dwindled

45 Chimney nester

47 Blouse parts

49 Sold chances on

52 Rodeo gear

53 Yielded territory

54 Koan discipline 57 Repugnant

58 Truck, in London

59 "Oklahoma!" aunt

60 "Space" lead-in

61 Ore extractor

62 Leading lady Ina - 63 Reed instruments

64 Sights for psychics

65 Princess perturber

66 "Scram!" (2 wds.)

68 Weather system 69 Uncover

70 Crewmate of Uhura

72 In the sack

73 Trawler net 74 Content

75 Harder to find

77 Brass or bronze

78 Hot dog topping

79 Treats with contempt

82 Hum in a soft voice 83 Bland

84 Crawling with 88 Opulent

89 Prairie vehicle 90 Opinionated

92 Spade of whodunits

93 Part of PABA

94 Mooch from (2 wds.)

95 -- asada (taco ingredient) 96 Mobilize

98 Tinny sound 99 Squander

100 Staff members

101 City near Monte Alban

102 Eur. airline 103 Concise

104 Chess pieces

105 What pols hold

106 Grove 107 Free-for-all

108 Catchers' gloves 109 Split

111 "The Wreck of the Mary --"

113 Map feature

115 -- it like it is

119 Basket willows

121 Ronstadt or Hunt

123 Curing cheese

125 Sine -- non

126 Purplish flower

127 Export or import

129 Jeweler's lens 131 Commandeer

133 Be sparing

134 Exit ramp sight

135 Caravan halt

136 Oozes out

137 Dance all night

138 Frosh, usually

139 Say "hi" 140 Bogus

DOWN 1 Backbreaking

2 Open-air lobbies

3 Harvest wool

4 Mild brew

5 In addition

6 Gathered together

7 Leafed through again

8 Sell for

9 Antique

10 Walk unsteadily

11 Kitchen gadgets

12 Observation

13 Ambler and Sevareid

14 Part of RSVP

15 Omen interpreter 67 16 Understood

68 17 Bodes

69

18 Cruise port

71

19 Dismantle a tent

73

20 Mao -- -tung 74

31 Garage jobs

76

33 Walrus tusk 77

35 Glacial ridge

78

37 Friday's creator

79

39 -- de corps

80

41 Shoelace hole

81

44 Book jacket ad 82

46 Chance to play

83

48 Lyric poems

85 49 Frolics

86

50 Word of parting

51 Semester ender

52 Financially sound

53 He's beside himself

54 Round numbers?

55 Clean the boards

56 Pushed ahead

58 Not now

59 Deep black

60 Nanny from abroad (2 wds.)

62 Ruth and Zaharias

63 Sky hunter

64 Eddie's cop character

87 Thompson and Bovary It has a crust

89 Yearned for Serious offender

90 Marshals' IDs Jet set

91 Early version Egging on

94 Some derbies Sailing vessel

95 Motion picture Moon position 97 Live and breathe Chan rejoinder (2 wds.)

99 Squeegee Bicker

100 Felt under par Large families

101 In many cases Gives a high-five

103 Monk's vow Female vampire

104 Popcorn units Columnist Molly - 105 Slickest Spiteful Neanderthal warmers 106 Patron

107 Knight's girl Asimov or Hayes

108 Trinket stealer Broad comedy

109 110 112 114 116 117 118 120 122 124 126 128 130 132

Plantain lily In a ferment Raise spirits Determining factor On even terms Skulks about Memory glitch Bill, briefly Sleep like -- -Body of water Nile reptile Shad eggs Bireme mover Mermaid's domain See Solution on Pg 13

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- ALBATROSS (ALBATROSS: AL-buh-traws: A large, web-footed ocean bird.)

Average mark 37 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find more

abort alas also altar alto aorta assort astral atlas

labor lass lasso last lobar loss lost balas balsa

basal basalt bass basso blast blat bloat blot boar

words in ALBATROSS? boast boat bola bolt bort boss brass brat tabor

taro toss trass tsar roast oast oral sabot sabra

salsa salt slab slat slob slot soar solar sora

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.

ONLINE BROADCASTING STEREOTYPING PORTRAYAL

NEWSCASTS GUIDELINES BIAS VICTIMS

PATRIARCHY SURVIVORS SIGNIFICANT ETHICS

INEQUALITY SPOKESPERSON EXPERTS RIGHTS

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MAY 6, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

A

Cambridge Analytica's Washington office has been left unmanned

re Cambridge Analytica and its parent SCL Elections as dead as they seem?

The businesses issued a statement on Wednesday, saying they had started bankruptcy proceedings, blaming a "siege of media coverage" related to the Facebook data-harvesting scandal for the decision. The document added that staff were being laid off as a consequence.

But the role of two other Londonregistered operations has been questioned.

They are Firecrest Technologies Ltd and its parent, Emerdata Ltd. Alexander Nix, the ex-chief of Cambridge Analytica, and Julian Wheatland were listed as directors of Emerdata but also as directors of some of the wider SCL Group of

G

ame-like simulations are training health care professionals to be more empathetic and to tackle conversations on tough topics like mental health.

You sit down to talk with your doctor, but you sense he's in a rush to get to the next patient.

Add to this the lack of training many physicians have had in effective patient communication, and it becomes nearly impossible to have an engaging conversation about your health.

But virtual humans might help to change that. Simulations using virtual patients are training health care professionals to be more empathetic and to tackle important conversations on topics like mental health and substance abuse.

One health simulation company, Kognito, uses gaming technology and virtual patients to create mock clinical scenarios

companies.

Christopher Wylie - a former Cambridge Analytica worker who divulged details about its alleged efforts to swing elections - is among those who have suggested that the two companies could pick up where Cambridge Analytica left off.

The BBC attempted to contact Firecrest and Emerdata - both list accountancy firm PKF Littlejohn's Canary Wharf office as their registered address.

However, the woman who answered the phone at PKF Littlejohn said that it was "not prepared to make any comment" on the matter. A spokesman for Cambridge Analytica did not respond to a request to clarify if there is a relationship between the companies. (BBC Tech)

in which real-life physicians, nurses and other practitioners test out different conversation paths to see how virtual patients respond. They're then given realtime feedback on how to have more effective and meaningful conversations.

"Simulations and gaming technology can help create a safe environment for people to learn through practice," said Kognito cofounder and CEO Ron Goldman.

"It's risk-free. I can try to do things in a simulated environment that if I try to do them in real life can have bad consequences on people's health."

Virtual humans are being implemented in other areas of health care, from boosting patient honesty with doctors to potentially becoming a testing ground for new heart drugs. A study last year found that virtual humans can help teach medical students empathy in order to

Crossword Solution

improve how they interact with patients and share bad news.

Mental health assessment is another critical area that could use a boost from technology. A growing number of Americans are seeking mental health services as the US grapples with a severe shortage of psychiatrists. Many patients are turning to primary care physicians because they're easier to access than mental health providers, says Dr. Asim Shah, professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine.

But many primary care doctors don't get much exposure to mental health or psychiatry during their training, and often aren't prepared to diagnose things like anxiety, depression and insomnia. In one study, US primary care providers only discussed suicide in 11 percent of encounters with patients who, unbeknownst to them, had suicidal thoughts. In addition, just 36 percent of the doctors explored suicide with patients who exhibited major depression, adjustment disorder or who sought antidepressants.

"A lot of medical providers sometimes don't feel comfortable with the subject matter [of mental health], and just aren't sure how to best phrase the questions," said Melissa Frick, a nurse practitioner at Loyola University Chicago's Wellness Center.

The center started using Kognito in January to improve medical staff training on behavioral health. Other services like i-Human Patients and Simtabs also let students and providers practice patient dialogue, assessment and diagnosis.

"The simulation provides a good opportunity for providers to learn from actually trialing it and watching the sessions, and feeling like they could have this similar experience in person," Frick said.

(CNET)

H

TC’s smartphone division isn’t dead yet. The breaking news is that the world now has a launch date for HTC’s next major Android release, which is almost certain to be the HTC U12 that has already made a couple of early appearances. Images ahead of the launch have suggested the U12 won’t have a notch, marking a break with the majority of Android flagships this year, and The Verge has confirmed that to be the case with people familiar with HTC’s plans.

The tagline for this new Android flagship is “a phone that is more than the sum of its specs,” hinting at an effort from HTC to distinguish itself in ways other than the usual chase for the latest and greatest hardware components. Assuming the exploded view of components in the teaser image is showing parts of the upcoming phone, we can piece together a few of the specs, such as a dualcamera system for the back and, seemingly,

another one for the front. This agrees with an image obtained by serial leaker Evan Blass back in March. The presumed U12 also appears to hold a card tray for microSD storage expansion, but it’s showing no signs of a headphone jack, which is a feature HTC abandoned early last year.

It’s curious to see HTC persisting with its smartphone range even after selling off the majority of its phone business to Google. Then again, phone designs take years to realize and it’s reasonable to interpret this upcoming launch (and any other that might follow later this year) as merely the completion of projects that were already in the pipeline when the deal to sell to Google was agreed. Coming a week after the launch of the OnePlus 6, HTC’s next flagship will face fierce competition from an Android market that’s already been almost entirely refreshed with 2018 models. (The Verge)

14 Sunday Times Magazine

MAY 6, 2018

Bollywood/Hollywood

T

he day is finally arriving when Sonam Kapoor and beau Anand Ahuja take the plunge on May 8, in the presence of family and friends. As stated by the Kapoor and Ahuja families in a formal statement, the wedding festivities will be a

private and intimate affair.

With the festivities getting underway before the big day, pictures doing the rounds online give us a glimpse of the couple’s floral and summer themed invitations. According to reports, these are allegedly the e-invites that have been

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Avengers Infinity War grosses Rs 200 crore in India in record time sent out to near and dear ones. It had been reported that Sonam and Anand wanted to take the green route and ditch paper invitations for personalised e-cards with their guests’ names embossed on it.

Going by the pictures, the families have requested the presence of their guests for three functions – the mehendi ceremony, wedding and a party.

The dress code for the three days ranges from Indian festive shades of white to traditional Indian attire and Western formals.

According to reports car stickers have also be sent out to ensure no one gatecrashes. Stay tuned for more updates. (TOI)

A

vengers: Infinity War, the 19th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has made Rs 200 crore in India. The film continues its record breaking streak worldwide with an especially strong box office run in India, becoming the fastest film to reach this milestone, in less than one week of release. “#AvengersInfinityWar has a HISTORIC Week 1... Sets new benchmarks for Hollywood films in India... The SENSATIONAL numbers reaffirm the fact that well-made entertainmentdriven films will always be the first choice of moviegoers...” trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted on Friday. He also provided a daily breakdown of the numbers. The film made Rs 31.30 crore on Friday, Rs 30.50 crore on Saturday, Rs 32.50 cr on Sunday, Rs 20.52 crore on Monday, Rs 20.34 crore on Tuesday, Rs 11.75

A

fter wrapping up the shoot of Zoya Akhtar's 'Gully Boy', Ranveer Singh is now gearing up for Rohit Shetty's 'Simmba'. He will be starting the shooting in a month's time.

Sharing his excitement working for the first time with Rohit Shetty, who is considered king of the masala genre, Ranveer said, "'Simmba' is my first collaboration with Rohit Shetty which I know people are really excited about and me more than anyone to be diving into the masala genre with king of the genre."

"It is an incredible opportunity that I am extremely excited to be commencing... shooting in about a month's time. I will start prep for that film from tomorrow..."

Rohit Shetty wants Ranveer to transform his physique to play the role of police officer.

"He is very keen that I have big muscles in the film. He has told me - Jab tu wardi pehenega na to wardi phatni chahiye."

Ranveer was an industry outsider when he debuted with 'Band Baaja Baaraat'. Slowly and steadily, he cemented his place in Bollywood by delivering solid performances in films like

V

in Diesel has teased that the next installment of the Fast and Furious franchise will be “bigger” than its predecessor and might be set in Africa.

During an interview on TODAY, the 50-yearold actor confirmed that Justin Lin, who helmed three films in the franchise, will be returning to direct the next two Fast & Furious films.

“It does get bigger… I just got off the phone with Justin Lin, who is directing ‘Fast 9’ and ‘Fast 10’, and I can’t tell you how excited he is,” Diesel said.

Over the years, the Fast and Furious films have been set in different countries including Brazil, UK, Spain, Japan, Mexico and UAE, and Diesel said the next movie might take them to Africa as it has been “long overdue”.

“We haven’t been to Africa, I can tell you that. And we are long overdue,” Diesel added.

The next Fast and Furious film has a released date of April 10, 2020, and the core

crore on Wednesday and another Rs 9.73 crore on Thursday.

The movie’s net total is Rs 156 crore while the gross stands at an astounding Rs 200 crore. The last Hollywood film to achieve this milestone was Jungle Book in 2016, which Infinity War is almost certainly going to cross in the next few days. According to a statement by online ticketing site, BookMyShow, 3.5 million tickets have been sold for the film.

Internationally, the film is expected to cross the $1 billion mark in record time. The film’s current worldwide total stands at $857 million - and this without the lucrative China market, where the film will be released on May 11.

China is the world’s second largest film market, and will likely contribute a significant number to Infinity War’s total. (Hindustantimes)

'Lootera', 'Dil Dhadakne 'Bajirao Mastani' and 'Padmaavat'.

The actors message to the youngsters is, "Don't be fearful.

Whatever you are passionate about,

Do',

I would say pursue it with all your mind and heart because you have this one life and you got to make the best of it."

"Don't fear failures. It will happen along the way but if you persevere and are persistent enough, you will break through and you will do it". Ranveer will play a rowdy policeman in 'Simmba'. It also stars Sara Ali Khan and Sonu Sood in lead roles. It is scheduled to hit screen on December 28.

cast of Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson are expected to be back for it.

The Fast and the Furious is the biggest franchise for Universal. It has grossed 5 billion dollars in box office earnings. It is also the sixth highest earning film series of all time. The tenth film is supposed to serve as the final film of the franchise.

The ninth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise, which was slated to release in the US in 2019, will now hit the screens in 2020. Universal Studios announced last year that Fast and Furious 9 was pushed from April 19, 2019, to April 10, 2020.

(Indian Express)

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Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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MAY 6, 2018

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Take a time-out and try not to let anxiety take the reins. A change of pace or scenery will give you a different perspective on the choices you must make. Avoid arguments.

An older relative or friend TAURUS will offer insight into a situ(April 20- ation you face. Arm yourMay 20) self with facts, and be ready to take on any situation that might jeopardize your reputation.

Don't travel too far from

GEMINI home or get into emotional (MAY 28- talks that could back you into June 20) a corner. Personal assessment and changes should be your top priorities.

Emotional spending will lead to added stress. Put your (June 21- wallet away and focus on makJuly 22) ing a physical effort -- instead of a cash donation -- to bring about positive change.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

You'll face jealousy from someone you least expect.

Refuse to let anyone's bad habits influence you or cause you to veer off-course. Strive to be the best you can be.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Look inward to discover things about yourself that need to be adjusted. Revisit your relationships with others, and let past incidents show you how to take a positive path.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

A physical change will do you good. Visit a place you've never been before or delve into your past to gain greater personal perspective.

Positive thoughts will bring good results.

SCORPIO Emotions will get in the way (Oct. 24- of you making the right choice.

Nov. 22) Discipline must be enforced if

Peanuts

you want to avoid a bad situation with a friend, relative or partner.

SAGITTARIUS Use your intelligence, and (Nov. 23- refuse to get involved in a Dec. 21) joint venture that has way too many risks. Protect what you have and walk away from anyone who is unpredictable.

Calvin and Hobbes

You'll have to make a CAPRICORN choice. Don't let someone talk (Dec. 22- you into something you know Jan. 19) little about. Concentrate on home, family and building a safe and secure future.

Someone you thought AQUARIUS you could trust will reveal (Jan. 20- private information that Feb. 19) you shared. Don't overreact, or you will make matters worse. Use your intelligence to deal with what's happened.

PISCES Look for a way to give (Feb. 20- back that will benefit you Mar. 20) and an organization or cause you believe in. Your input and physical help will be well-received.