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Showdown looms over GECOM chair

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ISSUE NO. 328

WEEK ENDING January 15, 2017

‌PPP mulls moving to Court if President takes unilateral decision President Granger meets U.S. Southern Command delegation

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President David Granger conversing with Military Deputy Commander of the United States (US) Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Lieutenant General Joseph DiSalvo before their meeting at State House. Ambassador Perry Holloway and Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman and are left and second from left respectively.

See story on page 5

ExxonMobil strikes more oil offshore Guyana Page 3

Guyana to host three WI vs Pakistan ODIs Page 51

Several in custody over NIS multi-million dollar robbery

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President Granger ExxonMobil strikes more meets U.S. Southern oil offshore Guyana Command delegation

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resident David Granger was on Thursday paid a courtesy call by the Deputy Commander of the United States (US) Southern Command ( S O U T H C O M ) , Lieutenant General Joseph DiSalvo at State House.

The Deputy Commander was accompanied by US Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway.

A release from the Ministry of the Presidency said that during the meeting Granger and DiSalvo discussed regional security with reference to transnational crimes and the strengthening of regional security mechanisms.

Guyana’s Head of State also updated

the delegation on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy and on the country’s ‘green’ state agenda.

M e a n w h i l e , DiSalvo said Guyana’s impending economic boom, as a result of the development of the petroleum industry will come with even more security-related challenges and assured the President of SOUTHCOM’s backing, particularly as it relates to the formulation of a sustainable national security programme.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and newly-appointed Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Patrick West were also present at the meeting.

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RVING, Texas– ExxonMobil announced today positive results from its Payara-1 well offshore Guyana.

Payara is ExxonMobil’s second oil discovery on the Stabroek Block and was drilled in a new reservoir. The Payara-1 well targeted similar aged reservoirs that were proven successful at the company’s Liza discovery.

“This important discovery further establishes the area as a significant exploration province,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company. “We look forward to working with the government and our co-venturers to continue evaluating broader exploration potential on the block and the greater Liza area.”

The well was drilled

by ExxonMobil affili-

ate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, and encountered more than 95 feet (29 meters) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. It was safely drilled to 18,080 feet (5,512 meters) in 6,660 feet (2,030 meters) of water. The Payara field discovery is about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the 2015 Liza discovery.

In addition to the Payara discovery, appraisal drilling at Liza3 has identified an additional high quality,

deeper reservoir directly below the Liza field, which is estimated to contain between 100-150 million oil equivalent barrels. This additional resource is currently being evaluated for development in conjunction with the world-class Liza discovery.

“These latest exploration successes are examples of ExxonMobil’s technological capabilities in ultra-deepwater environments, which will enable effective development of the resource for

the benefit of the people of Guyana and our shareholders,” Greenlee said.

Drilling on Payara began on Nov. 12 with initial total depth reached on Dec. 2. Two sidetracks have been drilled to rapidly evaluate the discovery, and a well test is underway to further evaluate the successful well results. The well data will be analyzed in the coming months to better determine the full resource potential.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.

(BUSINESS WIRE)

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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EDITORIAL

The challenge ahead for the PPP

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harrat Jagdeo has been elected as the new General Secretary (GS) of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to the surprise of not many. At the Party’s Congress in Essequibo last month, he received the largest number of votes to the Central Committee (CC) and was obviously the most highly regarded by the rank and file.

At that highest forum of the PPP, the dominant expressed sentiment was that the Party’s top leadership needed to be consolidated to confront the challenges at this juncture of its history and the history of Guyana. It was clear there were some in that leadership who were more concerned with their own ambitions than in representing the constituency the Party represented.

What was operating has been described as the “Iron Law of Institutions”. This posits that some “people who control institutions care first and foremost about their power within the institution rather than the power of the institution itself.

Thus, they would rather the institution “fail” while they remain in power within the institution than for the institution to “succeed” if that requires them to lose power within the institution.”

After the last elections when the PPP was removed from office, the Party faltered because of this factor and did not take full advantage of the missteps of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition to demonstrate to the Guyanese people, the clear and present danger they face from the PNC, which was merely taking them back to the vicissitudes of their first regime. The last “tax and waste” budget was one example of the PNC’s contempt for the Guyanese people while the attempted illegal expulsion of the CheddiJagan Research Centre (CJRC) from Red House through bullyism exemplified the frontal attack on the PPP occasioned by the divisions they detected in the PPP’s top leadership.

The majority of the members of the CC must be commended for rising to the challenge. At the elections for the GS, these members withstood the challenge from those who would continue with the old, divided leadership and accepted the unique confluence of experience and youth represented by BharratJagdeo in consolidating the leadership as had been done for most of the history of the PPP. He is now the leader of the party in its role as part of the constitutionally defined executive branch of Government as the “Leader of the Opposition” and the leader of the PPP political party mobilising the Guyanese people to articulate their interests in the operations of the State.

As Jagdeo said after his election as GS, the work ahead must address both aspects of the PPP’s mandate. As Leader of the Opposition, the PPP will have to present itself as ready to lead the nation after the next elections in 2020. The PNC-led Government has confirmed its unsuitability to govern Guyana.

Economically, their performance has been nothing short of disastrous. Even his most vociferous critic would have to concede there is no other leader than Jagdeo who is qualified to lead Guyana in this area. He worked to successfully remove the debt albatross from the neck of the nation, which had been bequeathed by the PNC and piloted programmes that delivered the highest growth rate in the Region for almost a decade.

In terms of his leadership of the Party, Jagdeo’s challenge would be to address the perception that the PPP is not representative of all the groups in Guyana. While the PPP has throughout its history doggedly stuck to its commitment from 1950 to represent all the peoples of Guyana, the departure of Burnham precipitated a split both of the Party and the country’s ethnic groups that is still unhealed. But with the PNCled coalition demonstrating its opportunistic use of the AFC to just give lip service to the goal of national unity, the PPP under the leadership of BharratJagdeo is poised to demonstrate concretely that it can do the job.

A Water Well, Aishalton, South Rupununi, Guyana. (Girendra Persaud photo)

We must strive to achieve a unified country …says Norton as he lauds Chinese contributions to nation’s development

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ith Guyana observing its first Chinese Arrival Day today (January 12), newly appointed Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton has reflected on the contributions of one of the country’s six peoples, while urging greater unity among Guyanese.

This observance of the 164th anniversary of the arrival of the Chinese was announced earlier this month by President David Granger and according to Minister Norton, it was a significant move given the substantial contribu-

and Essequibo. Fortunately, he noted, families were kept together in the distribution.

“Engrained neatly in the fabric of the Guyanese society are contributions by Chinese that include the tasty cuisine that continues to be popular in Guyana and which is talked about in many other countries; folklore and the language which continues to be spoken by natives and is even taught here at the Confucius Institute.

The Chinese were astute businessmen who operated grocery stores and were druggists, butchers, hucksters, cart

tions the Chinese have made to the country since their arrival on January 12, 1853. Norton noted that it is vital that these contributions be acknowledged in order to ensurethat a unified country is fostered while preserving the Chinese culture.

During the entire period 1853 to 1879, a total of 13,541 diverse Chinese landed in Guyana, bringing with them various religions, different languages and varying beliefs, he added. The Social Cohesion Minister continued that the Chinese came as the smallest group of indentured labourers and were distributed to the sugar plantations in the three counties of Berbice, Demerara,

and boat cab owners, barbers and laundrymen, among other things. Their contribution to commerce can still be seen today with various businesses across the country,” the Minister outlined.

He reminded too of the contributions that the Chinese made to the development of sport in Guyana, mentioning the Chinese Sports Club, now known as the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMRSC).

Dr Norton recalled that among the sporting disciplines of the club were cricket, tennis, basketball and hockey, noting that the club shone in the latter sport back in 1961 when

eight of its members were selected to tour with the national hockey team which won the first and only Quadrangular Hockey Tournament among British Guiana, Trinidad, Jamaica and Barbados. The club went on to have the leading hockey team in Guyana, winning all the hockey tournaments in 1974, he added.

Furthermore, the Social Cohesion Minister remarked that the Chinese have been fully integrated into the Guyanese society and have been able to excel in virtually every area, including in academia, the legal and medical fields. He mentioned some notable Guyanese Chinese which include the first President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the late Arthur Chung; former Chief Justice Ian Chang; entrepreneur Stanley Ming; General Surgeon, Dr Wallace Lee, and Mathematician Claude Lee. “Chinese, like all other ethnic groups in Guyana, must be recognised for their sterling contributions and must be integrally involved in every aspect of building our beautiful country. Guyana is commonly referred to as the land of six peoples, owing to our rich ethnic diversity, but we must remember that we are one people, in one nation, working towards one destiny. As we celebrate the arrival of Chinese in Guyana, let us use this time to reflect on our rich diversity and pledge to work together to foster and promote social cohesion,” urged Dr Norton.

According to the newly appointed Social Cohesion Minister, his Ministry has a vision of a unified Guyana where diversities are embraced, conflicts are resolved, networks and collaboration with stakeholders strengthened and decision-making processes result in equal opportunities and benefits to all.

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Showdown looms over GECOM chair …PPP mulls moving to Court if President takes unilateral decision

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s the back and forth continues on the nominations for Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) chairmanship, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said he is still awaiting word from President David Granger on a suitable time to meet on the issues regarding the appointment of a chairperson for the electoral body.

At a press conference on Thursday evening, Jagdeo said should the meeting happen, he would recommend that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which is headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago, interpret the legislation.

“If after pointing these arguments out to him he still holds on to his original view I would propose to him that we jointly approach the Caribbean Court of Justice to get an interpretation of Article 162 of the Constitution,” he told the media.

Jagdeo, however, said if the President goes ahead and appoints someone else other than the six names that have been already submitted,

his party would challenge it in court.

However, the Opposition Leader said he was still eager to meet with the President to discuss the controversy.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, President Granger said that regardless of what obtained in the past, as current President of Guyana, it is his responsibility to ensure that the provisions of the Constitution will be followed.

He was at the time responding to Guyana Times International when asked about his acceptance of a nomination for the GECOM chairmanship in 2000 by then Opposition Leader Hugh Desmond Hoyte without having the necessary qualifications of a Judge as required under the Constitution.

Following the receipt of a letter from Jagdeo seeking clarification on his interpretation of the Constitution’s requirements for the nominees of GECOM chairmanship, President Granger said he has already responded to the Opposition Leader

and will continue to engage him on the matter.

The Head of State further posited that the issue is now being looked at within a legal framework, not within the framework of politics or personalities.

“This is a constitutional matter and I’ve cited the Constitution to (Jagdeo). I’m not playing politics, I’m serious about the appointment of Chairman of GECOM and the Constitution is very clear. Mr Jagdeo did write to me and he asked for some clarification,” the Head of State said.

He added, “Well as I said, it has now gone into the legal zone and we are going to ensure that he gets the legal clarification that he needs but in terms of names, I’m not in the business of naming names at this stage.

I’m in the business of satisfying the constitutional requirement for the appointment so that is as much as I can say at this stage. The law will prevail and we will continue to engage the Leader of the Opposition as required under the Constitution. So I’ve not

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

disengaged (him), I’ve examined his letter and a response will be sent.”

In response to the President’s rejection of his first list of nominees and his consequent request for a second one, Jagdeo on Tuesday wrote the Head of State requesting an urgent meeting while asking that he elucidate his interpretation of Article 161 of the Constitution of Guyana, which deals with the requirements of the nominees to be submitted by the Opposition Leader.

The six nominees submitted by the Opposition Leader in December last year were retired Major General Norman

McLean; Attorney and Political Analyst, Christopher Ram; former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Dookhoo; Peace and Governance Consultant, Lawrence Lachmansingh; businesswoman, Rhyaan Shah; and Professor James Rose, none of whom President Granger noted has the qualifications of a Judge as required by the law.

The Head of State had outlined that the Constitution requires only persons who are Judges, qualified to be Judges, or former Judges of either a court having unlimited jurisdiction in

civil and criminal matters or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court.

However, Jagdeo pointed out that his interpretation of the Constitution is that the requirements go beyond the qualifications of a Judge.

“I am obliged to inform Your Excellency that my interpretation of Article 161(2) is different, in so far as, it also provides for, in addition to the category of persons to whom you have referred, “or any other fit and proper person,” Jagdeo penned in his January 10, 2017 letter to the President.

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Guyanese are struggling to make ends meet under the present Administration

Dear Editor, Time and time again, the APNU/AFC Government has been accused of giving with one hand, while taking much more with the other. We’ve see this strategy unfold with the Administration increasing Old Age Pension from G$13,000 to what it is now G$19,000. But on the other hand, they took away the electricity and water subsidies that pensioners enjoyed under the PPP/C Administration, leaving our senior citizens to pay their own utility bills.

They have improved transportation for children in a few selected communities, allowing them easier access to schools through their “Five B’s” initiative. But on the other hand, took away the G$10,000 ‘Because We Care’ school grants that were given to every child in the public school system.

They have improved Immigration services, making it easier for persons to obtain passports, but increased the cost of this document from G$4,000 to G$6,000 and the Travel Tax at airports from G$2,500 to G$3,500.

While the Income Tax threshold has been increased, and the Finance Minister deserves some credit for this, he must be aware that whatever little savings are gained from these measures are taken away by the additional tax burdens now imposed on every household. Guyanese all over are struggling to make ends meet under this administration.

This year, the cost of living will be tough-going for most families with the 14 per cent VAT now added to water and electricity. Gasoline prices have already gone up. This will soon be followed by an increase in the cost of transportation; tolls have increased; the cost of basic food items are steadily going up; vehicular licences have already gone up since this Government came into being. Fees to transfer the registration of a vehicle have jumped from G$5,000 to G$25,000 or 2 per cent of the value of the vehicle, whichever is greater. Fees for permits and other documents have also gone up; and the cost to obtain a liquor licence has just been increased last Friday. This is not the “good life” that the Guyanese people expected.

Editor, after the Ministry of the Presidency sent in the thugs to take over the Red House, tearing down the CheddiJagan Research Centre signboard with the aim of destroying the legacy of one of our Founding Fathers, followed by the despicable behaviour of persons who disrupted a peaceful candlelight vigil and assaulted a comrade, Jason Abdulla, I’m convinced that there’s nothing more left to go up but the PNC Party Flag flying once more above the Supreme Court. But I’ll be

damned if the Guyanese people ever allow this to happen again. And while things continue to go up, the only thing that seems to be coming down is the credibility of this administration.

People are becoming desperate. This is reflective in the escalation of robberies being reported every day in the press. More and more young Guyanese are risking apprehension and incarceration just to survive and provide for their families. Where are the Jobs that were promised during the election campaign by the Coalition?

Editor, listening to the Finance Minister during the debate on the Income Tax (Amendment Bills) in Parliament, he made it sound as though a taxpayer can easily go to GRA and claim monies due to him. This is highly unlikely to happen as my colleague Bishop Edghill alluded to in his speech. Chapter 22 of the Principal’s Act states that “If the tax payable under the assessment is LESS than the tax deducted from any person’s emoluments during the year of assessment, the Commissioner General shall repay the difference to such person, in accordance with Section 107 of the Act.” There is no time limit set out here as to when a taxpayer will get a refund from the GRA. But Section 21 (1) of the same Act clearly states that if the tax payable under the assessment exceeds the total tax deducted from any person’s emoluments during the year, the excess shall be payable by such person to the Commissioner General within 30 days after that person is served with a notice by the GRA. In fact, what this Act is saying is that if a citizen underpays the GRA, he’s given 30 days to pay up or face the consequences which will be very severe. But when the GRA owes hardworking taxpayers of this country money for taxes overpaid, they have to wait several years until the GRA finally gets around to processing their files.

Since my return to Guyana four years ago, I have dutifully submitted my income tax year after year, but I’m yet to receive a notice from the GRA with a check for the amounts that I have over-paid. And when contacted, I’m told by the GRA that they’re still working on the 2012 returns. There are some who believe that the amount of money owing to the Guyanese taxpayers by the GRA may well exceed G$8 billion. Whether this amount is accurate or not, one thing is certain: When the GRA owes you money, they’re in no hurry to give it back to you. This double standard is yet another exercise in gross mismanagement and incompetence.

Sincerely, Harry Gill, MP (PPP)

The poor and middle class will feel the pain of drug shortages

Dear Editor, During the period 2007 to the end of 2011 the management of Drugs and Supplies saw real and credible success and it was because we had the systems and leadership focus that were geared towards improving the supply and delivery of medicines and supplies to all ten Regions in Guyana.

Under the guidance of Minister Ramsammy, we worked closely with our partners to ensure that we build a supply chain system that would ensure 100 per cent availability of vital medicines and 90 per cent of all other supplies in every health facility nationwide. And this was done using a fraction of the current budgeted money for 2017.

Our first step was to ensure the proper training and retention of key personnel; we built strong working relationships with our suppliers and implemented a robust procurement planning strategy that was based on a number of factors that included Guyana’s geographic location, data availability and effective forecasting. But most importantly, everyone at the MMU had a passion and the will to make sure our country is served.

In 2010 we implemented the first ever Public Prequalification system to short-list eligible suppliers for medicines and supplies, and this remained the standard until now. However, a lack of appreciation and understanding for all the hard work done, it was instead forgotten and fell to the wayside. As stated in the BoI it is clear the MMU is in a state of crisis.

We also had a functioning efficacy laboratory for testing the quality of medicines before accepting them from suppliers, and we rejected any medication that was delivered with less than six months shelf life remaining.

There was a donation policy that restricted NGOs and individuals from making Guyana a dumping ground for expired products and it was 100 per cent in effect.

With support from our international partners, we built the pharmaceutical bond at Diamond with the aim of making it a distribution centre and a centre of excellence for not only the Caribbean, but all of South and Latin America. In 2010 we were the envy of the South American countries for having the best distribution system of which countries like Bolivia and Peru were willing to come and learn from us.

Regardless of the unfair criticism and unjust politicking, we pushed on to make sure poor patients are not out of drugs when they need it the most. And I take great pride in having the opportunity to lead the Management of Drug Supply during this period.

Now we have a national crisis on our hands and we must take a minute to truly understand the severity of this problem; it is the poor and middle class that will feel the pain of drug shortages and this will have unforgiving ripple effects on other aspects of these poor families’ economic situations.

I believe there is good intent to fix the system, but it requires more than intention, we need political will, skilled people and visionary leadership

if we want to really see improvement in drugs supplied in Guyana. I see this as a bipartisan issue and believe that everyone should come together to solve this problem.

A supply chain solution is required and the Government must act fast before it’s too late. With a G$6.5 billion 2017 Budget, there is more than enough money to ensure everyone that requires public healthcare, gets access to medicines and supplies.

The following are a few things the Government should consider: * Understand that a Supply Chain System is required and not simply buying, storage and delivery. * Skill-set is a must and it’s a non-starter if you don’t have the right people in the right function. * The 2017 Budget has more than enough money to fix the problem. * Make this a bipartisan issue and remove politics from the process. * Think about changing to a Supply Chain Department and create a system where you can find and pay for the right skills with some elements of private sector style management. * Part-time overseas consultants WILL NOT solve the problem, it never has. It needs a local organic approach with people who understand the local system and culture.

I would personally put my politics aside to help on this front.

Sincerely, Malcolm Watkins Certified Supply Chain Professional

Red House is about Dr Jagan who was instrumental in our country’s development Dear Editor, Please allow me to weigh in on the Red House fiasco, which unfolded when the APNU/PNC/AFC Government pushed ahead with an asset recovery effort. Glaringly, such a drama is a demonstration of how Government ignored the rule of law in preference for absolute power when it attempted to illegally purge the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) from the Red house.

On December 29, Government demanded that the CJRC must quit tenancy within 48 hours. One day later, Government iron-fisted the CJRC when it invaded the premises in a takeover attempt. Employees from Ministry of the Presidency ripped down the “Cheddi Jagan Research Centre” sign and changed the locks. Such abuse of power should never be acceptable and should never be emulated. Government needs to give democracy a chance or else this country will drift into chaos.

By all means it is unsurprising that Government invaded the Red House, given that in all of our history, IndoGuyanese have been strongarmed. Government needs to be reminded that plenty of civilised options are available if it wants possession of the Red House and they include – negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation.

The CJRC is about Dr Jagan, who was instrumental in our country’s history.

But Government is way too divisive to tolerate the CJRC in the Red House. Clearly, Government lacks skills, sophistication and sensitivity necessary to run a multi-ethnic society. The impact of such a fiasco is calamitous.

Government deals a death blow to racial unity which is necessary for moving this country forward. Guyanese need a Government who can unite this country and not one that divides it.

Like most Guyanese, I too was flooded with repressed memories of the abuse I en-

dured in this country as I watched the Red House invasion. Government obviously lacks the moral standing to move this country forward.

Although, Government is in the midst of an asset recovery effort, it is also draining much needed State assets that can never be recovered. How can the G$12 million per month Government spend for a drug bond to store a few boxes of condoms ever be recovered? How can the mega salary increase which Government awarded itself ever be recovered? How can funds used to cover salaries for friends and family ever be recovered? The list goes on and on. Government needs to lead by example. Government needs to know that it is hurting our country. And last but not least, Government needs to apologise to the Guyanese people for the Red House fiasco.

Sincerely, Annie Baliram

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Bartica Massacre Trial

Former cop recalls seeing accused on night of attack A s the Bartica Massacre trial at the High Court continues, former Policeman Carl Methuram testified that he identified two of the co-accused who carried out the February 17, 2008 attack.

Taking the stand on Wednesday afternoon, the witness pointed out that on June18, 2008, he went to an identification (ID) parade at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters where he picked out the fifth person in the line-up. At Wednesday’s court session, this individual was pointed out as Mark “Royden” Williams.

Methuram further told the court that on November 9, 2008, he attended a second ID parade where he picked out the “number 7 individual”, who was identified as Dennis Williams.

The witness noted that it was Inspector Lord who conducted these parades and he further testified that he had not known the senior rank before then.

Recounting the events of the February 2008 attack, the for-

mer Policeman told the jury that on that fateful night, he had seen the two Williams in addition to several other gang members.

Methuram said that at the time, he was visiting relatives and had subsequently received a call from the Officer in Charge at the Bartica Police Station.

On his way there, he heard “rapid gunfire” and he stopped some 250 meters away and hid.

He further told the court that he saw a man in front of the station who was dark in complexion, muscular and appeared to have about 200 pounds. This man was said to have “low cut hair” on his head with no facial hair, and was armed with an AK-47.

The ex-Policeman also told the court that he saw two other men at the entrance to the station and one of these men, who was armed with an AK-47, was said to be five feet, eight inches; Amerindian looking; slim with a long face and had worn a toque with “rasta dread” at the side. Methuram further claimed that on the northern side of the Bartica Station, he saw

someone else walking east to west who was also armed.

The court then heard that the former Policeman waited 15-25 minutes before he proceeded in the direction of the station. Around this time, he assisted several persons to take taxis to go to the hospital.

According to Methuram, when he finally arrived at the Police Station, he shouted: “Police! Police!” but no one answered. He recalled that the Enquiries Department was “messed up”, with everything ransacked.

He also told the court that he saw a bulletproof vest on the eastern door and he picked it up. The witness stated that he also noticed that the lock to the “strong box” was lashed off and there was no firearm inside. However, there was a shotgun in the box on the ground outside.

From this box, he also retrieved 12 cartridges and left the station.

Outside, he noticed several other injured persons.

Under cross-examination by Mark Williams’ defence counsel, Roger

The three accused heading to court for the afternoon session on Wednesday

Yearwood, Methuram denied that he was ever dismissed for being part of a “Phantom Squad”.

The witness revealed that he left the Guyana Police Force (GPF) less than a year after the Bartica incident, but stressed that he was not indicted from duties at the time of his resignation.

As Yearwood continued his cross-examination, the witness could not recall when he gave statements to Police regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, the Attorney suggested to Methuram

that on the ID parade, he was told to point out Mark Williams.

“That is not true,” the former Policeman told the court.

Meanwhile, 23-yearold former gang member Dwane Williams, called “Small Friend”, concluded being cross-examined during the morning session of the trial. It was suggested that young Williams was “instructed” by Police rank “Reid” to give evidence against the co-accused which he denied.

The young ex-gang member told the court

that the first time he ever saw co-accused Roger Simon was when he had given evidence in a Preliminary Inquiry in the lower court. Dwane Williams added that Roger Simon was not among the group that went to Bartica and carried out the attack.

On that fateful night, gunmen stormed Bartica and attacked the police station and several other areas in the community. Twelve persons were killed, including three Policemen. The trial continues at the High Court.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Several in custody over NIS Officials launch probe into fire multi-million dollar robbery at West Dem bond

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everal persons, including employees of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), have been detained in connection with a multi-million dollar robbery at that Social Security entity’s Pouderoyen branch, West Bank Demerara.

Reports indicate that at approximately 02:00hrs on Thursday, six armed men ambushed a security guard attached to the company, took away his weapon and demanded that he turn over the keys to several parts of the building. They then proceeded to tie him up.

This newspaper understands that the men then broke into a safe using a torch and escaped with a huge sum of cash.

Employees attached to the sub-office were left traumatised following the ordeal.

The security guard was found later by other staff, who alerted the police.

Investigations are ongoing.(Ramona Luthi)

Prisoner stabbed in holding cell at G/town Magistrate’s Court

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prisoner was on Thursday morning rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was stabbed while in the holding cell of the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Reports indicate that 34-year-old Colvin Johnson was a facing murder charges and was remanded. He was supposed to appear before a Magistrate on Thursday.

However, details surrounding the

incident remain unclear as his cell mates are not willing to clarify what transpired.

The prisoner was visibly battered and suffered a stab wound to his abdomen as well as a broken nose. He is presently in the Intensive Care Unit.

Johnson of Lot 145 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, and another man, Joshua Meredith were charged with the murders of Paul Rodney and Gregory Garraway.

Rodney, 31, of Lot 530 West Ruimveldt, was reportedly gunned down on November 21, 2016, while returning from a dance in his community.

It was previously reported that Rodney had been involved in an argument with the suspects prior to leaving the venue and had attempted to escape, but was pursued and shot. It was said that the assailants made good their escape on a CG motorcycle.

Meredith was arrested for Rodney’s murder and was subsequently linked to the robbery/murder of Garraway, who was shot and robbed of his gold chain on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, on October 11, 2016.

(Ramona Luthi)

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Fire Service rank battling to contain the early morning blaze

fire early Wednesday morning completely razed a building which was converted into a storage bond at Patentia, West Bank Demerara (WBD). Reports are the fire started at about 06:30h at a Lot 21 East Patentia Housing Scheme building, which was recently converted into a bond. Guyana TimesInternational was told that mostly electronic items and cosmetics were stored in the bond. At the time of the fire, two vehicles were parked in the yard – one of which bore no registration plates. Both vehicles were torched by the fire. This publication understands the building belonged to Roopnarine Satnarine, who is the proprietor of Body Line Beauty World and Price Buster Trading in America Street,

Georgetown.

When this publication arrived at the scene, fire service ranks were attempting to contain the blaze while Police investigators were on site gathering information. A next door neighbour, Fredrick Williams, who was shaken by the ordeal, recalled that he was preparing meals just as the event unfolded.

“I was in the kitchen preparing meals when my dog kept barking.

When I followed the dog and it go to the side of the building… when I looked across I basically saw smoke across in the nieghbour’s yard and I ran out to the road and alarmed everybody else,” Williams noted.

He told this newspaper that he then contacted the Fire Service which responded quickly and managed to contain the blaze.

Williams, however, suffered some losses as his house was also scorched by the flames.

“The whole one side get torched, a few things burned inside like the curtains and the black [water] tank. My loss is not so great but thank God for the good job of the Fire Service at the end of the day because if they weren’t here, I wouldn’t have a building,” expressed Williams on the verge of tears.

Meanwhile, this newspaper was also informed that Satnarine’s bond was subjected to three robbery attacks prior to Wednesday morning’s fire. Information received also stated that Police recently held three persons in connection with the robberies.

Police and Fire Service investigations are continuing.

Horse racing jockey among 2 remanded for murder

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wo persons, including a popular horse racing jockey, were on Tuesday remanded to prison when they appeared at the Albion Magistrate’s Court, charged with the murder of a fellow villager.

The two accused, Jockey Ravindra Ramnauth, also called “Andy”, and Rockey Ramoo were not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on December 29, 2016, at Williamsburg, they murdered Mohan Ball.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Orin Joseph told the court that the prosecution needed more time to clear up three points, which the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had asked for when the case file was sent to the DPP’s office.

Magistrate Marissa Mettelholzer remanded the duo and ordered

Accused: Ravindra Ramnauth and Rockey Ramoo

that they return to court on January 30 when the Police were expected to provide a report on their readiness.

Ramnauth, 28, of Beharry Street, Rose Hall Town, and Ramoo, a farmer of Lot 122 Williamsburg, Corentyne, were allegedly seen by villagers committing the act.

It was reported that on December 29, villagers saw Ball, of Lot 74 Hampshire South, Corentyne, drinking with the two accused.

The three were later

seen fighting. Ball was allegedly held by his feet and dragged along the street.

A post-mortem examination of the deceased by Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan on December 30 was inconclusive.

The autopsy report indicated that the body had marks of violence, but none were life-threatening. The report also indicated that water was in the deceased’s lungs, and the man had problems with his heart.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Man arrested for stabbing girlfriend’s mother

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security guard is now in critical condition at the New Amsterdam Hospital after being stabbed by her daughter’s boyfriend.

Injured is Nivonne Aubrey Trim of Number 77 Village Housing Scheme, Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who was stabbed to her chest and hand. Reports are the incident occurred on Monday evening in Corriverton, Berbice, when the woman tried to make peace between her 21-year-old daughter and her 48-year-old boyfriend.

Guyana Times International was told that at about 19:30h, the

man was drinking with friends when he and his girlfriend got involved in an argument.

According to one eyewitness, Trim arrived on the scene and in her daughter’s defence tried to make peace between the feuding couple, when the man who was armed with a knife, stabbed her.

The man’s friends managed to take the knife away from him and Trim was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital and later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital because of the extent of her injuries.

Police have since arrested the man. (Andrew Carmichael)

Sierra Leone man charged with illegal entry, deported …claims he was in Guyana to propose to girlfriend

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man from Sierra Leone, West Africa, on Tuesday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with illegal entry into Guyana.

Samuel David, 38, admitted that on December 22, 2016 at Lethem, Rupununi, he entered Guyana by way of air and failed to present himself to an immigration officer.

The prosecution told the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan that on January 7, 2017, the defendant attempted to make a purchase at a popular jewellery store with a suspected forged credit card.

As such, the personnel at the store reported the matter to the Police who arrested David and took him to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for

questioning.

It was there that it was discovered that he was from Sierra Leone and illegally entered Guyana. In a plea of mitigation, David’s Attorney told the court that he was in Guyana to propose to his girlfriend.

The Attorney also told the court that David was born and raised in Sierra Leone, but has been living in Brazil for a number of years.

She made a successful application for leniency for her client, explaining to the Chief Magistrate that her client has two minor sons and has never had any other brushes with the law.

As such, he was fined G$30,000 and deported.

ILLEGAL ENTRY

Revelations about corruption in drug procurement system ‘just the tip of the iceberg’ …says Dr Norton

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he explosive revelations about collusion in the drug procurement system are just the tip of the iceberg in an avalanche of corruption which thrives in the local health sector, former Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton disclosed.

“It is much, much more than we can ever imagine. I am going to say this, that report is probably the tip of the iceberg; you’ve got much more information to come,” Dr Norton revealed to Guyana Times International during an exclusive interview at his new office within the Ministry of the Presidency.

Dr Norton, who was recently transferred from his post as Public Health Minister following an influx of negative publicity that erupted over the drug bond scandal, had requested an independent investigation be launched into the drug procurement process after he suspected mass malpractice within the process.

A Board of Inquiry (BoI), headed by retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Winston Cosbert, was established and conducted a threeweek probe into the system.

The report, which was leaked to the media ahead of Cabinet’s consideration, unearthed shocking instances of collusion between suppliers and Health Ministry staffers.

and deceptive” his testimony.

The report also recommended that a senior Health Ministry official be fired for his role in these malpractices.

False certifications

Missing drugs

Dr Norton, during his 18 months at the Public Health Ministry, noticed instances where drugs which were ordered could not have been found, and only upon inquiry, did staffers inform him about the situation.

“When medical supplies left the central bond, there was no correspondence to say that this amount left and this amount was delivered. The other thing is when you were told you were expecting so much medication, only after you found that the medication is short, then you are told that all did not come,” the Minister explained, reflecting on one instance when he summoned staff to his office and demanded an explanation for the confusion within the system.

Dr Norton strongly believes that information was being deliberately withheld from him.

Credibility

Another issue plaguing the drug procurement process is the absence of verification procedures on the credibility of the suppliers of drugs to the Public Health Ministry.

This deficiency resulted in the situation whereby the Ministry was procuring drugs from a blacklisted Trinidadian pharmaceutical firm called Western

during

Former Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

Scientific.

“I tried to find some information about a particular company known as Western Scientific, and I defended this company because I needed their drug as urgent as possible because we were having a shortage, only to find out that this company was blacklisted

by IDB [Inter-American Development Bank] because of so many corrupt practices,” Dr Norton recalled.

The BoI discovered that a female employee of the Ministry admitted during her testimony that she had in fact spoken to a bidder from the Trinidadian company, which was soliciting inside information.

The BoI also found that an accountant attached to the Ministry’s Materials Management Unit approached a senior staff at the Ministry with proof that the same female employee was giving insider information to a bidder, but he failed to act on it.

As such, the report noted that the senior official was “wilfully evasive

Furthermore, the Minister explained that when the procurement process became open to competitive bidding, the influx of bidders made it challenging to do background checks on every bidder even though they met the criteria.

“You asking me to go to each one of these companies that are bidding in spite of the fact that they reach all the criteria there; I don’t know their background, I only worked 18 months there…It is really asking quite a lot for me to swear about the integrity of every company,” he stated.

Dr Norton added, “And I am not making excuses: I am telling persons what is actually on the ground. I am not begging for sympathy; I am saying it as it is.”

He noted too that some companies would submit the required documents, but only later it would be discovered that the paperwork was fraudulent.

“In order for you to supply certain things like reagent, you need a certificate of authorisation from manufacturing company.

Information was provided that some of these letters of certification were false,” the Minister disclosed.

He noted that the Ministry needed to do indepth research into each continued on page 11

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Cops detain several New army chief promises persons over Berbice to boost national defence supermarket robbery

capacity

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Masked cutlass and gun brandishing bandits held customers hostage in a brazen robbery caught on CCTV footage at the Good Life Supermarket at Belvedere Village, Corentyne, Berbice as they terrorised and robbed the owners and customers

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wo armed bandits who beat and robbed the owners of a Corentyne, Berbice supermarket on Tuesday night were caught on camera carrying out the robbery.

Reports are about 20:30h, two masked men entered “Good Life” Supermarket situated at Belvedere Village, Corentyne.

This newspaper was told that one of the men was wearing a hooded shirt, with a handkerchief on his face and the other wore a helmet with a handkerchief around his face to conceal his identity.

At the time of the robbery, three Chinese nationals, who operate the supermarket, were on the premises. Four customers were also in the supermarket when the bandits entered.

Once inside, the men ensured that the door was locked and then proceeded to strike the owners with gun butts and cutlasses.

The four customers were not spared.

This publication was told that the gunmen escaped with a customer’s cellular phone, more than G$100,000 from the cash register along with G$300,000, which was stashed away.

The men spent close to 10 minutes in the building. Following the robbery, the men escaped on a motorcycle. After the gunmen left, the victims raised an alarm.

Meanwhile, this newspaper understands that at the time of the robbery, traffic ranks were next door making a purchase. However, the ranks were unable to help the victims, although they managed to contact their counterparts on mobile patrol.

B (Berbice) Division Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam told this publication that several persons have been arrested as the Police follow leads. Investigations are continuing. (Andrew Carmichael)

rigadier Patrick West, the man assuming the role of the Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), has pledged to transform the Force and boost its national defence capacity, as his tenure begins.

West was promoted from Deputy Chief-ofStaff to Chief-of-Staff, taking the oath ofoffice before President David Granger on Tuesday at Base Camp Ayanganna.

The new Brigadier, who has 33 years in the GDF under his belt, succeeded Brigadier George Lewis.

In an interview with reporters afterward, Brigadier West did not divulge details of his plans for the Force or for procuring equipment for the troops. He, however, explained that all proposals were with the

relevant balance, strategic or otherwise, to the Force.”

“I will be a just Chiefof-Staff, one who is good and one who is a professional. And I think you can use that as a guideline to observe the tenure of my office.”

In his address to the gathering, President Granger underscored that correct procedure was followed in promoting West. Granger also stated that there was no one who could criticise the professional education of West.

“He has completed all his military courses at home and abroad, and his military education is comparable to anything we have seen in the past,” Granger said.

“The first pillar of his professionalism is his professional education

Environmental Change from the University of Guyana.

His training has taken him to foreign military institutions such as the Escola de Aperfecion de Officias in Brazil, Intermediate Level Education at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the National Defence University in the People’s Republic of China. In addition, he had several peacekeeping modules in Latin America.

Change of Command Parade Later in the day, discipline and attention to detail were on full display as the Change of Command Parade was completed without a hitch on the parade ground of Camp

Outgoing Brigadier George Lewis and the New Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Patrick West

Defence Board and strategic considerations had to be made.

He said, “Once those plans are finished, I or the President will make a statement. What I can say is that we will see the Force effectively transformed, for total national defence. That is what we can look forward to.”

West also revealed that when he first joined the GDF, he did not think about ascending to the post of Chief-of-Staff.

It was only a few years ago that he saw the potential for such advancement and decided to devote himself to getting his degrees, he added.

“I never thought that a day like this would arrive,” West, who also received the Military Service Star, said. “Until a few years ago I saw the possibility. So I completed all my required professional military and academic education, so that I could provide the

and there is no way anyone could criticise the professional education of Brigadier West,” the Head of State said.

West enlisted in the GDF on September 1, 1984 and was commissioned on August 28, 1985, after which he was posted to the Artillery Battalion (an experience he shares with his predecessor). He has held various positions within the GDF, including Platoon Commander and Commanding Officer in both the Artillery and Infantry Units.

He is the holder of a Master of Science Degree in Administration from the Central Michigan University, a Master of Military Arts and Science from the Command and General Staff College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Management, a Diploma in Public Management and a certificate in Human Health and Global

Ayanganna. Its conclusion marked the end of Brigadier Lewis’ 34-year military career. It also marked the end of his three-month stint, the shortest tenure of any Chief-of-Staff.

The brilliant assembly of troops who took part in the parade included members of the Air Corps, Coast Guard and a Special Force squadron. In his parting remarks to them, Brigadier Lewis quoted outgoing American First Lady Michelle Obama in offering advice on dealing with criticism.

“When they go low, you go high,” he encouraged.

Lewis encouraged troops to bear constructive criticism with equanimity and to focus on representing the Force in a positive light.

The Brigadier also expressed pride in the fact that he was the first Chief-of-Staff to hail from the Ancient County.

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WEEK ENDING january 15 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Shot robbery suspect granted Pregnant woman perishes in Berbice crash G$150,000 bail …driver claims he is unsure as to what led to accident

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Mark Anthony on the stretcher during his first court appearance

ark Anthony, the 18-year-old robbery suspect who was shot

by Police during the course of a shootout, was on Tuesday granted bail when he reappeared before Magistrate Dylan Bess.

It is alleged that on September 26, 2017 at Georgetown, Anthony discharged a loaded firearm at Police Officer Roger Pilgrim with the intent to maim, disfigure or to cause grievous bodily harm.

The second charge stated that on the same day, at Laing Avenue, Georgetown, he robbed Tevin Williams of one i-Phone valued G$47,000 and one BlackBerry cellular phone valued G$20,000, while being armed with a gun.

Additionally, the final charge al-

leged that Anthony had in his possession one .38 revolver, three matching rounds and one .38 spent shell.

At the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday, Anthony denied the charges.

The prosecution contended that on the day of the incident, Officer Pilgrim saw Anthony acting suspiciously and as such, he approached him. However, before he was able to react, the defendant whipped out a firearm and discharged a number of rounds.

This prompted the Officer to take out his pistol to return fire, and Anthony was shot to his waist. The bedridden defendant was taken to court on a stretcher. He was released on G$150,000 bail. The case will continue on January 17.

Revelations about ...

from psge 9

bidder to ensure they were above board, an undertaking which would require much work that could not have been sorted out in 18 months.

Change

The Minister conceded that the change in the drug procurement system also made the process quite challenging, resulting in countrywide shortages and opening avenues for malpractices to occur.

But he maintained that the change was needed since it was unfair to continue along the lines of sole sourcing.

“You are changing a system with the same persons involved, with short staff and persons who are simply not qualified, with the infrastructure not in place, you will run into difficulties…I want the nation to know that that CoI was asked for by me, because you were given information, to be told that you have everything under control – only to find yourself on the limb again,” he stated.

He explained too that with the new system (whereby the Regions submit the list of drugs they want to purchase and the monies budgeted for the Regions are sent to the Ministry for bulk purchases in order to benefit from economies of scale) created many shortcomings.

“It’s the change that caused the difficulties,” the Minister admitted.

Nonetheless, he was

adamant that the change in the system was needed and with adequate and competent staff, the process could be strengthened to work for the public’s benefit.

Sole sourced

Meanwhile, a source closed to the Public Health Ministry has confirmed that the ministry is engaged in sole sourcing more than ever before. For example, soon after the 2015 elections, the Ministry sole sourced G$300 million in drugs from the International Dispensary Association (IDA) and paid 100 per cent in advance. Then, aside from Western Scientific, there is a second Trinidadian favoured company that gets all the contracts for kidney dialysis for millions of US dollars by bypassing tender procedures. As the BoI also revealed, a favoured new company was caught actively faking important documentation on the road to securing yet another sole-sourced contract for nearly G$100 million in critical HIV diagnostic products. Most, if not all, of these items, circumvent the Food and Drug Department’s registration guidelines and so there is no system of quality checks to protect the citizens of Guyana.

Retenders

Another source at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has revealed to this publication that despite experiencing press-

ing and critical shortages of drugs and medicines, the Ministry and hospital were often pressured to cancel bids and re-tender them so as to facilitate favoured companies.

Valuable time and financial resources are squandered in this manner, not to mention it is unfair to legitimate bidders.

In other instances, the closing dates for tenders are extended to accommodate the preferred bidder(s).

Prequalification system

As the Minister now tragically admits, it was the change in the drug procurement system, which led to countrywide shortages. Prior to May 2015, the then Government operated a prequalification system which shortlisted companies on the basis of: (a) quality control procedures; (b) financial capacity; (c) infrastructural (as in warehousing) capacity; and (d) human resource skills to supply essential drugs and medicines.

The prequalification system was designed under World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and proved effective against the same problems to which the Minister now alludes above. At the minimum, there can be no doubt that the prequalification system ensured that critical medicines were consistently available in the requisite quality and quantity. (Devina Samaroo)

A

Dead: Donnis Higgins

pregnant woman died on Monday evening at the New Amsterdam Hospital after the driver of the car in which she was traveling, lost control and slammed into a utility pole. The driver of the vehicle has since claimed that he is unsure as to what happened at the time of the accident.

The accident occurred at Number Two Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) and has left another passenger hospitalised.

The driver is currently assisting Police with the investigation.

The dead woman has been identified as Donnis Higgins of Lot 103 Semple Street, Hopetown Village, WCB. Reports are that Higgins was one of the two passengers in the car at the time of the accident. Eyewitnesses say the car slammed into a utility pole and then a fence after it missed a sharp turn on the road.

Moments after the accident, an ambulance which was already carrying a patient from the Fort Wellington Hospital

collected both passengers.

According to reports, when the ambulance arrived at the New Amsterdam Hospital, persons gathered and watched helplessly as both mother and foetus fought for their lives.

The woman was taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit; however, after several hours of trying, doctors were un-

Number Four. I don’t know if the driver slept away or what, but the driver just run off the road by a turn and go straight into a fence,” the injured man said.

His brother Chandrica told this publication that he received the news and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

He explained that he saw the injured wom-

The car in which the pregnant woman was travelling

able to save the mother and her unborn child.

Higgins was a mother of one and a former clerk attached to the Mahaica-MahaiconyAbary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA).

The other passenger in the car at the time of the accident, Daniel Harrynarine, was admitted to the same hospital.

According to the 24-yearold, he joined the vehicle at Cotton Tree to go two villages away, but only made it past one village.

“I was going to Number Four when I catch a taxi going to

an being attended to by doctors and heard her screaming as he searched for his brother.

A Police source explained that the driver of the motor car, bearing registration number HB 3101, Lancelot Ferguson, 45, of Belladrum, WCB, claimed that he did not know what happened.

According to the source, the driver claimed to suffer from hypertension. B (Berbice) Division Commander Ian Amsterdam said the driver was not found to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

Son allegedly chops father during heated argument at Pomeroon A 33-year-old labourer of Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon River, is currently hospitalised at the Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) after he was chopped by his son during an argument.

Reports are the incident occurred at about 22:00h on Friday at their Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon home. Guyana Times International was told that the man, Andre Melville, was celebrating his birthday at home when his son, who is wanted by the Police, ap-

proached him and an argument ensued.

The argument escalated and the younger Melville grabbed a cutlass and dealt several chops about his father’s body. The labourer was

immediately rushed to the hospital and was admitted a patient. His condition is listed as stable.

Police have since launched an investigation into the matter.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Caricom boss says 2017 crucial time for reform

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a r i b b e a n Community Secretary General Irwin LaRocque said the year 2017 would be a crucial time for the reform of the Caricom Single Market and Economy.

The Ambassador called for a rigid approach to the examination and addressing of issues as the 39th Meeting of the Community Council of Ministers got underway at the Caricom Secretariat on Monday.

The Caricom Council, the second highest organ of the 15-member grouping, saw the attendance of Ministers responsible for Caricom Affairs. The Council has as its responsibility, the development of Community strategic planning and coordination in the areas of economic integration, functional cooperation and external relations in accordance with the policy directions established by the Caricom leaders.

Caricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque

According to LaRocque, as work commences in 2017, it is fitting that the Council with the primary responsibility for development strategic planning and coordination is first off the mark.

He said, “The items on the agenda provide ample opportunity for those gathered to do so as it discharges its responsibilities under the revised treaty. In that regard, consideration of the key issues to engage the attention of our Heads of

Government at the intersessional meeting here next month is a key component of deliberations.”

Those recommendations, LaRocque stressed, should be the focus areas for the Community in 2017. Undoubtedly, one of those areas would be the CSME. “Last July, Heads of Government mandated that a review of the status of CSME be completed for consideration of the intersessional meeting. That review is being under-

taken, as well as how we can recalibrate the CSME to make it more responsive to address issues of growth and competitiveness.”

The Secretary General said too that 2017 was a crucial year for the reform process in the Caribbean Community as it moved ahead at the midpoint of the five-year strategic plan for the period 20152019, a foundational element of that process.

He said the operational plan for achieving the goals has been designed, identifying the specific roles for each of the implementing partners, the member states, regional institutions and the Secretariat.

The two-day meeting will see a presentation on the Caricom ResultsBased Management System, as well as the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Caricom Secretariat and UN Women.

New GRA system could reduce paperwork, time

Stakeholders at the launch of the feasibility study to implement the system

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he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has initiated a study that will lead to the adoption of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA).

According to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), the study, which began on Monday, commenced with a presentation to wharf owners, shipping agents and customs brokers. It was held at the GRA’s Headquarters on Camp Street, Georgetown.

Delivering opening remarks, the Head of Customs and Trade Administration, Lancelot Wills informed participants that the new system would eventually result in enhanced trade, a paperless environment, implementation of international best practices and increased efficiency.

Wills explained that as the last Englishspeaking country in the Region to adopt the system, Guyana would be

able to build on the experiences of others. The new system would be tailored to local needs and shorten the time taken to expedite goods, he added.

The presentation was conducted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNTAD) Consultant, Terrence Leonard and Information Technology Specialist Fabian Joseph.

Leonard, a former St Lucian Customs Comptroller, informed of the benefits such as better risk management particularly of high-risk cargo, systems to target the ‘bad guys despite them being the minority’ and better efficiency.

He also made reference to the need for the GRA to follow its international counterparts by working smarter and not necessarily harder.

He cited one example where it takes about seven days to process and clear a shipping container. Leonard said that in

many cases that time was reduced to one day.

For customers, e-payments could also be used and documents processed immediately, once verified.

UNTAD IT Specialist Fabian Joseph, during his presentation, outlined how the ASYCUDA system would enable key sections of the GRA to be linked in real time, leading to better information sharing and better efficiency for processing documents.

Joseph said that linking the systems would result in a single platform thereby enabling better border management, capacity building, better management of Government finances as remitted from the GRA and, overall faster processing of imported and exported goods and services.

The GRA will also be linked with relevant ministries including the Finance, Foreign Affairs and Agriculture Ministries, and enti-

ties such as the Bank of Guyana and the Bureau of Statistics and any other which is deemed necessary to access information from the GRA. The AYSCUDA system was created and launched in 1981 to assist countries by strengthening customs administrations.

Implemented in three countries initially, the system is now used by many Caribbean, Central and South American, North American, Asian, European and Middle Eastern countries.

Grenada was the last country to implement it in the Caribbean islands.

The United Nationsfunded initiative is being facilitated at a minimal cost since only the purchasing of software and training of technical staff is needed.

The feasibility study, which is being funded by the UN, will garner information and feedback from the Private Sector Commission, the Information Technology and legal staff of the GRA over the next week. It will conclude on January 19 with a presentation to the GRA’s top officials on a proposal to move forward with its implementation.

UNTAD was launched in 1964 to promote sustainable development and greater integration of developing economies.

GWI training Govt engineers on wastewater management strategies

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overnment engineers are being trained to enhance Guyana’s minimal waste management strategies and treatment through a five-day training workshop in wastewater management strategies.

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Institute for Water Education of UNESCO collaborated to host the workshop, which is funded by the Caribbean Regional Fund for wastewater management (CReW).

The workshop, which opened on Monday at the Millennium Manor Hotel, Hadfield Street, will benefit workers from GWI; Guyana Energy Agency (GEA); Central Planning and Housing Authority (CH&PA) and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), according to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Wastewater is water that has waste materials and includes industrial liquid waste and sewage waste. The Minister with responsibility for water, Dawn HastingsWilliams, who delivered brief remarks, said for too long Guyana has been struggling with its water resource.

The Minister urged the participants to join the fight in establishing water security measures to safeguard the water and “to see how best we can utilise it and how best we can treat it in order for Guyanese to have a good supply of quality water”.

Minister HastingsWilliams urged the gathering to put systems in place to last for decades and meet the needs of future generations and weather conditions, especially climate change.

She also encouraged participants to be interactive and use the training as an opportunity to better the water sector for all Guyanese, the release added.

GWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Richard Van West-Charles told the gathering that the training was critical since Guyana has a “big” problem with wastewater management.

The CEO explained that the main contributing factor to this was the lack of properly designed septic tanks. He added that another challenge was implementing measures to deal with wastewater management in the new towns including Mahdia, Mabaruma, Rose Hall, Corriverton and Anna Regina.

Currently, GWI is in discussions with the

GWI’s Director of Operations Dwayne Shako addressing the gathering

CH&PA to install wastewater treatment plants in new housing schemes and to replace the old distribution system in Georgetown for more effective management of waste.

GWI Director of Operations, Dwayne Shako noted that Guyana has zero treatment of wastewater; therefore, this workshop was necessary since it would establish cost-effective systems for waste water.

Shako deemed the workshop as timely and the first step towards acquiring knowledge of waste management strategies and treatment.

“The knowledge part is very important, since many times we do not need to look at high-income systems that would cost us billions of dollars. The solution is right here, with minimum investment with low-cost systems we can use to help us with wastewater management,” Shako explained.

The GWI Operations Director urged the participants to use the knowledge gained and apply it practically in their respective community, town or village to better tackle the wastewater situation.

The facilitator of the workshop is UNESCOIHE representative from Mexico, Dr Carlos Lopez Vasquez. Dr Vasquez said there was no perfect technology, but if there was an area where the land was discoursed and one wanted to treat the water for reuse, there were low-cost available technologies to do so.

He told the participants that technologies had their advantages and disadvantages, and “we only need to know what is the most applicable one for our specific needs in a specific location”.

The course will address the basic conditions to understand what’s in the water, how to remove the contaminants and how quantity and quality would define the strategy to deal with wastewater. The training will conclude on Friday.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Stabroek vendors reject proposed day/night shift system

One of the vendors as he lamented the state of affairs

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everal Stabroek Market Square vendors who over the weekend vacated Parliament View Mall are crying foul over a proposed day/night shift system of selling in the new area.

And it would appear that placing vendors on the respective shifts will be determined by the ‘luck of the draw’.

According to the vendors, ranks from the City Constabulary on Monday informed them of this pending shift policy. One vendor, who identified himself only as Ken, noted that they were told they would have to draw names from a bag in order to decide who would sell during the day and who would vend in the night.

“From the time Parliament View closed down, up to now they ain’t found a permanent spot for (us),” he said.

“Now I come out here to get a daily bread, they telling you that you have to push your hand in a bag, (to determine) who will work night or who

Some of the vendors whose livelihoods are on the line due to the proposed move

will work day.”

The man stated that he spent nine months in the Parliament View lot.

This was until all vendors vacated the spot following the expiration of the agreement between the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the

lot owner, Hareshnarine “Chiney” Sugrim.

“But when we do come out, we ain’t getting to sell comfortably,” the visibly frustrated man expressed.

According to the man, he has grandchildren who are orphans, and a

wife, who all depend on his vending activities for sustenance. He also listed other responsibilities such as rent and taxes.

“They took us off; they are supposed to find somewhere that we can sell and earn,” he lamented. “I can’t earn anything with (this system). And if they come and say that you have to pay revenue, you have to pay it. I believe that this is unfair.”

Winton Bollers, another vendor, expressed confusion over this policy. He was particularly upset over the lack of consultations.

“They want to get us on shift work. Eight of

However, he stated that since then it has been a “fight down”. “(Me) and my wife go through the bank to build a house and it’s very hard. How my standards were before, it gone real down. I am a 50-year-old man, It very hard.”

The man issued a plea to officials at City Hall, including the Mayor and Town Clerk, to not implement any such system as a spot to house the vendors has not even been formalised.

“We comply all the time, we clean up, then they move us; we go in (Parliament View) and try, we ain’t making it there, we come

More vendors whose livelihoods are on the line

us used to be selling. I thought they would put back the eight (vendors) and the fresh people, find a place for them. It’s not happening that way.

They trying to mix us up now and (I) don’t really understand what’s going on,” he said.

It is during the day that potential customers are drawn to the vendors and their stands, he noted. Bollers added that there was little to no business during the night, so the proposed shift system was not feasible. Both Bollers and Ken were adamant that in the years they have been vending, they’ve never heard of such a system.

Meanwhile, another vendor who identified himself only as Colin said that they were told to go back to where they had sold previously.

out here and start pushing until now. We need a little help from this Government that promise us a good life.”

The imbroglio between the M&CC and the vendors who once dominated Stabroek Square started last year as Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary approached. A massive clean-up campaign was initiated and vendors were moved from the Stabroek Square to Parliament View Mall, a plot of land so named as it was opposite the Parliament Building.

Sugrim, the plot owner, granted the vendors an extension on their stay in August, until December 31, 2016.

Efforts to garner a comment from the M&CC’s Public Relations Officer, Debra Lewis, were futile.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Antigua looks to Trump to end long running online gaming dispute with U.S.

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Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne

he Antigua and Barbuda government says it is looking to the new Donald Trump administration in a bid to end its long standing battle with the United States over online gaming.

Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, delivering the traditional Throne speech at the start of a new session of Parliament on Monday, said that the Gaston Browne administration is also seeking to enact legislation to help it deal with the matter.

In 2005, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that Washington had violated international trade agreements by prohibiting operation of offshore Internet gambling sites.

Antigua claimed that it lost US$3.4 billion a year due to the U.S. action, but the WTO awarded the island US$21 million.

But in its final ruling, the Geneva-based WTO allowed Antigua and Barbuda to suspend certain concessions and obligations it has under international law to the United States in respect of intellectual property rights.

In September 2014, the Browne administration said that it was seeking US$100 million to settle the dispute, admitting that while the figure represents a reduction on what St John’s had originally been demanding, it is negotiable and could be a mixture of cash and kind.

Last July, Prime Minister Browne in a radio and television broadcast, said his administration had dismissed a proposal by the United States to end their long-running dispute

and said Washington now owes the island in excess of US$200 million.

Prime Minister Browne said that since his party came to office in June 2014, it has engaged the US authorities in discussions.

Antigua and Barbuda has criticised the United States since 1998 for breaching its commitments to members of the WTO under the General Agreement on Trade in Services by enacting laws that prevented foreign-based operators from offering gambling and betting services to its citizens.

In his address to legislators, the Governor General acknowledged that the United States “is a very powerful and wealthy state capable of inflicting harm.

“My government believes that the new administration that is about to take office will recognise the lawfulness and justness of our actions and will quickly settle the differences that have kept our negotiators apart.

“Hopefully the U.S. would not turn to intimidation and revenge,” Williams said, indicating that the government is moving to enact legislation to settle the issue.

Sir Rodney said that the government is expected to pass laws to recover the revenue it has lost as a result of the dispute.

“It is my government’s intention to proceed to Parliament to adopt legislation consistent with the WTO ruling allowing Antigua and Barbuda to nullify U.S. copyright protections and to benefit from so doing,” he told legislators.(CMC)

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Guyana Govt exploring construction of duplexes and townhouses …to satisfy citizens’ housing needs

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ome G$13 million has been budgeted for the development of a model village of duplexes and town houses as the first step in gauging the public’s preference before moving full steam ahead with the construction of this new housing solution.

This is according to Junior Communities Minister with responsibility for housing, Valerie Patterson during a press conference on Tuesday morning at her Brickdam office.

Patterson explained that the exhibition, which will be in Perseverance on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), will have on display life-sized houses for members of the public to view.

She said the range of houses will target

low-moderate-middle income groups, young professionals, singles, and more.

According to Minister Patterson, developers will be assigned to lots in the area on which they will construct the houses, which they will be allowed to sell, after the exhibition, to eligible persons on the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) waiting list and prequalified for mortgages by the commercial banks.

Developers who participate will also be given the opportunity to showcase their building systems, methodology for construction and other features of home construction.

Suppliers of building materials will also be invited to participate.

“The public will be

free to interact with the developers, financial institutions, insurance companies, home improvement companies…

Persons with house lots who are desirous of building can engage a developer to build for them,” the Minister stated.

Thereafter, a survey will be done to inform the Government of the public’s preferences before it goes ahead to develop duplexes and town houses across the country. These housing solutions will be constructed in Great Diamond, Little Diamond and Perseverance, EBD; Cummings Lodge on the East Coast of Demerara; and a section of East La Penitence in Georgetown, among many others in all regions except Regions One (Barima-Waini) and

Nine (Upper TakatuUpper Essequibo), where the Hinterland Housing Project would be undertaken.

The Minister noted that Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) is posing some challenges for the CH&PA because the area initially identified is more suitable for mining.

Meanwhile, expressions of interest have already been published and the Minister anticipates that the construction of the first set of duplexes and townhouses (which will form part of the exhibition) will commence in April. Minister Patterson noted that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find housing solutions for the growing number of persons applying for house lots.

She explained that

Junior Communities Minister with responsibility for housing, Valerie Sharpe-Patterson

with the minimum age being changed from 21 years old to 18 years old, more and more applications are being received on a daily basis.

There is currently a backlog of some 25,000 applications for house lots but the availability of land is a major problem for the CH&PA. The Minister disclosed that there are currently no house lots

available for allocation in Region Four but some are available in Region Three but only in the high-income bracket.

“That is why we are looking to build duplexes, town houses and condominiums. We have to look at increasing density. We cannot continue giving one house lot per person or we would never complete the 25,000 applications,” she stated.

Huge potential for tourism in Linden …stakeholders told during visit to mining town

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ith the aim of boosting tourism opportunities in the mining town, tour operators from across the country were given a first-hand look at the Linden community during a reconnaissance visit last Friday, organised by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).

Various sites within the community were visited during the tour of both Wismar and Mackenzie.

Representatives from the GTA were present and actively involved in the activity. Tour operators: Salvador de Caires of Wilderness Explorers, Jamal Thomas of Evergreen Adventures and Mark McCall of Tours R Us, were also part of the visiting team.

GTA Product Development Officer Hadoc Thompson explained that the aim was to ascertain the tourism potential of the Linden community, so that local operators would be able to successfully organise community tours.

“We want tour operators to start packaging tours for Linden, offering tours for Linden.

So that’s the whole synopsis of this trip – promoting Linden. Linden is on show right now.

Our main objective is to get persons coming to Linden… We hope that the touristic potential of Linden would be ascertained by these (tour) operators, hopefully that they start offering tours to this location.

From left: Winslow Parris of the Region 10 Tourism Development Association, Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, Regional Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph and GTA Product Development Officer Hadoc Thompson during the briefing at the Watooka Complex

The Guyana Tourism Authority is very committed to developing community-based tourism…” he said.

Following visits to the Linden Museum, Hymara Park, Richmond Hill and Watooka Complex, among numerous others, leaders within the community were given the opportunity to highlight the tourism potential of the community, while tour operators shared their views during a briefing at the Watooka Complex, Mackenzie.

Speaking at the event, Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland expressed delight that there was such interest in the tourism potential of what he described as the beautiful, untapped Linden community. The Mayor alluded to the many natural clear springs, rivers, trails, blue lakes and fishing spots. He explained that the Demerara River, which runs through the community, is a product in itself.

“I’m always boastful that our town is one of the best places to visit. This is the place where many things started… There’s something unique about

Linden. When you come to Linden you would recognise that there are so many things that are untouched,” Holland told those present.

He went on to describe the picturesque beauty of areas such as Richmond Hill, while relating that there were homes in that area which offer bed and breakfast services. Apart from that, Holland made reference to the many mountains to climb, as he suggested that a day tour for tourists would be the ultimate experience.

The Mayor said too that already a visitor from Miami has expressed interest in building a four-star hotel in Linden. He said numerous sites in the community were already explored to ascertain which would be best.

“I think our potential is great… I recently had a team from the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) visit Linden and I took them on a tour. They were amazed.

In fact, ‘fat pork’ picking is a big thing… they were so amazed that it could be used to make wine. And it’s all found right here in Linden,” he said.

The Mayor further alluded to the hospitable nature of Lindeners and what he described as the low crime rate.

Sports tourism potential

The Linden Mayor also spoke of the potential of the community to drive tourism through sports.

“Sports is so much embedded in us that we continue to excel. We’ve won the National Schools Athletics Championship for a record number of years, 15 to date, and we have excellent worldclass athletes… I just want to thank you for giving us an opportunity to tell you more about Linden,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Regional Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph invited all to visit Kwakwani, another part of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) which he deemed the safest place in Guyana.

Adolph said the area was usually visited by persons from all across the

world. He noted that the people were very hospitable and the scenery was amazing.

“It’s a very beautiful place to go. We also have blue lakes where people go to get married, engaged, parties. Also, we have the Berbice River where people go fishing.

There’s also the beach where persons go to play cricket when the tide is low. Down the Berbice River, we also have Fort Nassau where persons go to tour the Dutch site,” Adolph noted, while he also extended an invitation for the touring group to visit other neighbouring areas such as Aroaima and Hururu.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Cops hold 3 for nightclub shooting

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hree persons are now in Police custody in connection with a shooting which occurred outside of a popular nightclub three nights ago.

According to Divisional Commander of A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara), Clifton Hicken, he has been informed that the Police have so far takenstatements from the Virtual Complainant (VC), after which the three arrests were made. Hicken relayed to Guyana Times Internationalthat the Police have also obtained video footage from the nightclub which is currently being developed.

The investigation followed an order from Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

The shooting reportedly left several persons hospitalised, but unfortunately the incident was not reported to the Police. This publication understands

that following the shootout, those injured were all rushed to a private city hospital by management of the nightclub.

S o m e were treated and sent away, however, two persons are reportedly still receiving treatment.

Reports are that staff at the club were ordered by management to collect and dispose of the spent shells, as well as to clean bloodstains to get rid of evidence of the incident.

However, one of the injured persons contacted Police and informed the authorities of what transpired.

Police were told that persons were in the nightclub when the sound of gunshots was heard. A number of persons were grazed by bullets and at least two persons received gunshot wounds to their feet. When the Police reported to the scene, not much evidence of what happened was found however, bullet holes were noticeable in the walls.

The Manager and other staff of the nightclub were also taken into Police custody as the investigation continues.

Caricom/UN Women sign MoU on Gender Equality and Empowerment

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he Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with United Nations Women to support the Community’s work on gender and regional statistics.

The MoU on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of L-R (sitting): UN Women representative Tonni Brodber, Women includes colCaricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque, and Guyana’s laboration in the proForeign Affairs Minister and Chair of the Community vision of CaribbeanCouncil, Carl GreenidgeL-R (standing) Neville Bissember wide data, statistics and Barbara Vandyke, Office of the Secretary General and analysis on would focus on develop- of all murders are intithe implementation of the gender dimen- ing model legislation and mate partner violence resions of the Sustainable Region-specific tools to ad- lated and it is not just genDevelopment Goals dress behaviour change der-based violence, but (SDGs) and the SIDS to tackle the root causes the fact that we are not Accelerated Modalities of gender-based violence tapping into the potenof Action, known as the and to ensure strong evi- tial of our young boys and dence-based advocacy. young women, she emphaSAMOA Pathway.

The UN Women rep- sised.

In his remarks, Brodber commendCaricom Secretary resentative, Tonni Ann Brodber, in her remarks, ed Caricom for its leaderGeneral Irwin LaRocque thanked the UN system drew attention to the fi- ship on the issue and reitfor its continuing role in nancial and health costs erated the support of UN assisting member states’ of gender-based violence, Women.

The signing took place development and in ad- one of the most egregious forms of gender inequalduring the official openvancing the work of the ity, which she said coun- ing of the 39th Meeting of Secretariat. the Community Council of The Secretary General tries could not afford.

Thirty to 50 per cent Ministers. said that some of the work

President promises support for media development in Guyana

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A section of the gathering at the media brunch hosted on the lawns of State House on Sunday

ead of State, President David Granger has underscored the importance of training media personnel to effectively conduct their duties of keeping the public informed and has promised government’s support in this regard.

He was at the time delivering brief remarks at the Annual Media Brunch, hosted at State House on Sunday morning.

This annual event is aimed at improving the relationship between the media and the State, as well as enhancing relationships within the local media fraternity.

The Head of State, in his address just before brunch was served, explained that the media was very important to governance in Guyana, and charged media operatives to stay strict to three principles of professionalism in the execution of their duties.

Firstly, the President noted that education was a critical element in succeeding in any line of work, including journalism.

“I believe journalists should be trained

and should have the expertise and have experience,” he stated.

At last year’s media brunch, the President had promised “hard money” to the Guyana Press Association (GPA) to support training of the local media personnel.

However, owing to some issues with the GPA, including lacking legal status and irregularities with its bank account, the organisation was unable to receive the funds.

But GPA President Neil Marks announced that those issues have been ironed out and the body was now in a position to accept the grant.

The President promised to continue to support the GPA, without interference, to conduct media education.

“You have my word for it, and I know I don’t break my word,” he stated.

On the matter of media education, the Head of State pointed out that journalists have the power to shape public perceptions and in this regard, he encouraged that this power be righteously employed.

“In other jurisdic-

tions, you see the danger of false news; you see the danger of the media interfering in the democratic process.

That is why it is important that people who are media operatives are trained in the usage of this powerful tool because we can break down Governments and raise up imposters strictly by propagating falsehoods,” he explained.

The second pillar is the media workers’ social responsibility and in speaking on this, President Granger urged that the truth always be told. He also encouraged that stories be balanced in order to keep readers well informed.

“If media is moulding public opinion, they have to speak the truth,” President Granger stated.

The third principle, he said, is that of solidarity.

He explained that each member of the media come from a community in which each person exercises influence on each other. He urged that everyone be aware of the power of these influences and urged that they stay positive.

Constable chopped by irate vendor during confrontation

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Constable attached to the City Constabulary was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, nursing a wound to his head after he was chopped by an irate vendor along Water Street, Georgetown.

Injured is 38-year-old Satish Boodhoo.

Based on reports received, the vendor reportedly stepped on Boodhoo’s feet and the Constable demanded an apology, but the vendor became abusive.

The vendor continued to verbally abuse the Constable, who cautioned that if he continued, he could be ar-

rested and charged. By this time, other vendors flocked the Constable and a heated argument ensued as they attempted to defend their colleague.

However, the argument continued and as Boodhoo attempted to arrest the vendor, he whipped out a sharp object and dealt him one blow to the head. The Constable fell unconscious to the roadway.

His colleagues, also on foot patrol, rushed to his assistance and arrived just in time as the irate vendor was attempting to disarm him.

Upon their arrival, the suspect fled the scene.

The injured Constable was picked up and taken to the Hospital where he was admitted.

Guyana Times International understands that the now injured Constable and three of his colleagues were on patrol in the area. The other Constables were reportedly a short distance away when Boodhoo was attacked and injured, and upon hearing the commotion, they turned around and responded before the matter could have gotten worse. The incident was reported to the Police and an investigation has been launched.

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Court heard “Fineman” 3 hinterland airstrips set for gang orchestrated Bartica, rehabilitation Lusignan, Lindo Creek attacks

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One of Guyana's hinterland airstrips

ome G$170 million has been budgeted this year for rehabilitation works to be conducted at three hinterland airstrips.

This was revealed by Aerodromes Inspector Alphonso Mangah at the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s performance review last week.

The three aerodromes identified are located at Baramita, Region One (BarimaWaini) on which G$80 million will be spent; Ekereku Bottom, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) – G$40 million, and Chi Chi (West) Region Seven –G$50 million.

According to Mangah, these airstrips were chosen based on several criteria, including the number of flights over the past 10 years, aviation safety for aircraft operation and the number of beneficiaries.

In addition, the Aerodromes Inspector noted that some G$60.7 million has been set aside for the maintenance of 50 airstrips across the country over the course of 2017.

Currently, there are 57 licensed Government airstrips in Guyana, of which 47 are maintained by the Aerodrome Department of the Public Infrastructure Ministry. The remaining 11 airstrips are being maintained by the villagers in their respective locations; however, inspections are carried out on a regular basis to ensure that they comply with standards, as outlined by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Among the beneficiaries for the respective airstrips are miners, loggers, farmers, tourists and residents.

The Aerodromes Inspector outlined that last year some G$56.6 million was budgeted for the upkeep of the 47 airstrips under the Department’s control. The airstrips which

saw repairs and maintenance works were those at: Port Kaituma (G$1.45 million); Mabaruma (G$1.43 million); Imbaimadai (G$1.95 million); Kaieteur (G$1.73 million); Aishalton (G$4.72 million); Anna Regina (G$1.19 million); Lethem (G$1.65 million); Paramakatoi (G$1.13 million); Kamarang (G$1.91 million); Ekereku Bottom (G$1.7 million); Bartica (G$1.17 million); Mahdia (G$1.86 million) and Annai (G$3.9 million).

Among the works completed were potholes patching; painting of visual aids; painting of pyramid-type cone markers; changing of wind socks; weeding of runway and runway strips, and removal of all shrubs; bush clearing of approach and take-off areas of the aerodromes, and repairs to perimeter fences.

Meanwhile, another G$351.5 million was allocated under the 2016 Capital Budget for the rehabilitation of another nine airstrips. These are the airstrips at Annai to the tune of G$56.9 million; Paramakatoi, G$39.9 million; Kurupung, G$28.9 million; Kato, G$65.9 million; Kopinang, G$38.7 million; Monkey Mountain, G$23.8 million; Iwokrama/ Fairview, G$154.7 million, Kaikan, G$70 million and Eteringbang, G$76.6 million.

Mangah noted that the contracts for the rehabilitation of these airstrips were awarded and the contractors received a ‘mobilisation advance’ to commence works.

He added that only the Monkey Mountain and Iwokrama/Fairview airstrips have been completed to date and are currently in the defective liability period. The rehabilitation of the other seven airstrips is scheduled to wrap up by June 2017.

State witness who testified in the Bartica Massacre trial has implicated the co-accused as being part of the “Fineman” gang, which carried out the 2008 massacres at Bartica, Lusignan and Lindo Creek.

Dwane Williams, who was a 15-year-old gang member at the time of the February 17, 2008 Bartica attack, told the 12-member jury at the Demerara High Court on Tuesday that co-accused Dennis “Anaconda” Williams and Mark Royden Williams, called “Smallie”, were both involved in not only the Bartica matter, but the Lusignan and Lindo Creek attacks as well.

His revelation comes just days after self-confessed Bartica Massacre boat driver Clebert Reece confirmed that co-accused Dennis Williams and Mark Williams were accomplices in the Bartica attack.

Dwane, known as “Small Friend”, testified that he camped out in the Buxton, East Coast Demerara backlands before being taken to Bartica by Reece, called “Chi-Chi”. He told the court that he, along with several other individuals, had worked for “Fineman”’s gang.

These gang members included: “Papa Willie”; “Saint John” or “Johneye”; “Mud-up”; “Chung Boy”; “Smallie” (Mark Williams); “Kapone” (Michael Caesar) and

himself.

The State witness related that four weeks after camping out in the Buxton backlands, “John-eye” was shot, and about two weeks after, the men left for the seawall where they were eventually transported to Bartica.

Led by State Prosecutor Stacey Goodings, Dwane revealed that he had known Mark Williams and Rondel “Fineman” Rawlins for about five years before they all joined the boat en route to Bartica. He added that he would see Mark on his way to school and further told the court that he worked for “Fineman”.

Under cross-examination, the witness revealed that at one point he lived with “Fineman”.

Dwane also told the 12-member jury that he had never seen “Anaconda” before the boat ride, but confirmed that “Chi-Chi” was the boat driver.

He recounted to the 12-member jury that after hearing “rapid gunshots” as several gang members carried out the Bartica attack, they returned, and “Fineman” shot five men at the BarticaStelling using a hand gun, while one man was allowed to go free.

The surprise witness also recalled that the criminal gang had been camping out for several months before he was finally caught by Police.

The camping areas in-

Rondell "Fineman" Rawlins

cluded Linden, Ituni, Christmas Falls and Kwakwani.

The court heard that the gang members were taken in an “open-back” Jeep to Linden. Dwane also recalled that during these stints, safes were opened and money, gold, diamonds and keys were all retrieved which corroborated Reece’s account of what transpired when the safes were opened. He told the jury that sometime during his stay at the Ituni camp, the members had left for Georgetown.

Sometime after, the camp was ambushed, “Mud-up” was shot and the other members escaped and fled through the trail and Dwane was caught by Police on the 10th day when he had hitched a ride with a “truck man” who had assisted the gang. Dwane also told the court that he remained in Police custody.

Under cross-examination by Mark Williams’ Attorney, Roger Yearwood, Dwane

explained that he gave two statements to Police.

He stated that the gang was separated for one day only, and noted that he was afraid despite being trained “very well” in the use of AK-47s.

He also noted that he knew that persons had been killed at all three of the locations and even pointed out that he knew people would have been hurt before the Bartica attack was carried out.

He stated that a total of 36 persons were killed in the attacks at Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo Creek.

Yearwood later grilled the witness over the statements he gave to Police following his 2008 capture, and asked if anyone has promised him any reward to testify against the other accused.

A visibly agitated Dwane responded that all information was given voluntarily and noted: “When I gave statements, I told them about Bartica, Lusignan and Lindo Creek. Nobody promised me anything.”

Earlier in the day, the cross-examination of Reece concluded and he claimed that he never saw co-accused Roger Simon at the time of the attack. Meanwhile, he also claimed that even though fellow gang-member Dennis Williams tried to “poison him”, that is not the reason why he gave evidence.

Man accused of killing reputed wife eight years ago finally captured …charged with murder

Murder accused: Charles “Frenchie” Chapman

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harles “Frenchie” Chapman, who was caught after eight years on the run, on Wednesday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan charged with murder.

The 61-year-old, of Corentyne, Berbice, is accused of killing his reputed wife,Savitrie Arjune on March 12, 2009 at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The man was remanded to prison until February 3.

Reports are at the time of the incident, Chapman was a minibus operator. It is alleged that on March 12, 2009 about 06:15h, Arjune, called “Savi”, who was 34 at the time, was heading to work when she was ambushed and stabbed multiple times a short distance from where she lived.

Reports are that the mother of two was in the vicinity of Rum Shop Road and the EBD Public Road when Chapman, who was allegedly hiding near his bus, pounced and stabbed her repeatedly.

The woman collapsed and died on the spot and a post-mortem examinationrevealed that she sustained a stab wound to

Dead: Savitrie Arjune

her heart.

Persons who knew the couple had told the media then that the woman had endured eight years of abuse before the killing.

When captured, the defendant was sporting a heavy beard.

He was said to be living with a friend for the past three years in Corentyne, Berbice where he was a farmer.

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Tug-of-war continues over Red House …Granger wants all presidents to be recognised

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s the tug-of-war continues between the coalition Government and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) over the High Street, Kingston Red House (Kamana Court) property, which houses the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Incorporated (CJRCI), President David Granger is adamant that he will not be giving up State lands.

Instead, the Head of State noted that he wanted to see the State-owned property used for public good, pointing out that there have been attempts by his Administration to have engagements in this regard, to no avail.

“People are becoming vile talking about contamination, so I’m not going to give up State property. I’m going to participate in ensuring that the children of this country will recognise for all time all the presidents starting from Arthur Chung right down to David Granger,” the President said while addressing members of the local media fraternity at a brunch on Sunday.

He was at the time referring to a statement issued by the PPP back in November 2015, when Government initially indicated intentions to transform the Red House into a facility in memory of all past Guyanese Presidents after it found that the prime land (Lots 65, 66, and 67) on which Red House sits was leased to the CJRCI for 99 years for only G$12,000 per year.

The coalition Government had strongly objected to this and had consequently announced its intention to review the lease agreement.

The PPP, in a subsequent statement, which President Granger quoted on Sunday, said, “To associate Red House with Burnham, Hoyte and perhaps later Granger would be a his-

torical misnomer and contrary to the progressive anti-colonial and anti-imperialist ideas, thoughts and memories associated with Cheddi Jagan…

It would be anathema to disperse, integrate and to contaminate all that Jagan stood for and fought for with the reactionary pro-imperialist, repressive and oppressive praxis of the Burnham/ Hoyte regime.”

The Head of State further outlined that the PPP statement went on to say that it was not going to have past presidents from other parties under the same roof as DrJagan.

“Such an act can be characterised as the epiphany of surrealism and consequently, abhorrent and distasteful to the hundreds of thousands of members and supporters of the PPP in particular, and all decent-minded Guyanese in general,” the Head of State quoted from the PPP statement.

Offence

According to President Granger, he was offended by these comments, reflecting that the first thing he did in May 2015 when he took office was to put up portraits of all nine Presidents in the Cabinet room. He noted that he wanted to remind not only the staff at the Ministry of the Presidency, but thousands of children who visit his office of all nine Presidents and not just one; but then there were people talking about contaminating the memory of former President Cheddi Jagan.

“It is not a question of law; it is now a question of right. This is the mentality which is driving the battle for Kamana Court. Somebody is accusing persons who do not belong to one party, of contamination – I find that offensive,” posited the President.

Two weeks ago, President Granger revoked the lease of the Red House, based on advice from his Attorney General, Basil Williams, that the

agreement was invalid. Williams had argued in a detailed statement the day before that the lease held by the CJRCI was invalid on several grounds, including that there was no evidence that the President of the day had sanctioned it.

However, quick action by the PPPbacked Management Committee of CJRCI saw legal action taken to reverse the President’s decision, with the court ordering that the property of the CJRCI “not be interfered with or removed until further ordered”.

In the meantime, workers from the Ministry of the Presidency had hammered down the hallmark sign of the Red House, resulting in a standoff outside the High Street premises. PPP members had rushed to the scene to defend the legacy of the Party’s founding member.

The workmen attempted to transport the wooden sign bearing the words “Cheddi Jagan Research Centre”, but fierce opposition from the PPP members and stewards of the Red House prevented them from doing so. The men eventually drove off in a canter and the PPP members worked together with others on the scene to re-hoist the sign on the building.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who was on site during the standoff with the Government officers, noted that the attacks against Dr Jagan and his legacy were the height of indecency and callousness by the Government.

“This is heinous, reprehensible act on the part of this government. They have so many things to deal with in this country than to come and do what they did here today (last Friday) to forcibly eject the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre from this building,” Jagdeo posited.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

2 inmates injured in NA Prison brawl

T

wo inmates of the New Amsterdam Prison were rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital after a gang fight erupted in the prison on Sunday.

The injured men are murder accused Asif Hamid, of Corriverton, and Davenand Dhadhari, called “Kevin”, of Betsy Ground, East Canje.

Hamid, 22, was admitted in critical condition, while Dhadhari, 19, was treated and sent away. Hamid is awaiting trial for the killing of Henry “Beminal” Lalman, 78, of Number 36 Village, Corentyne, while Dhadhari is on remand for the April 17, 2016 murder of OmeshSeelall. Reports are that on Sunday morning, Hamid and Tamishwar Jagmohan, who was also remanded

Tamishwar Jagmohan Injured: Asif Hamid

22, 2016 at Kokerite Creek Savannah, they murdered Pawan Chandradeo, 37, called “Suresh” and “Jug Up”; his son, Jaikarran Chandradeo, 16, called “Kevin”; and his brotherin-law Naresh Rooplall, 35, called “TeekaBai” and “Mice”.

Reports reaching Guyana Times International indicated

Ramnarine Jagmohan (left) and Neshan Jagmohan

for murder, were involved in a fight over a cellular phone.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Hamid punched Jagmohan several times to the face and took possession of the cellular phone.

Jagmohan is one of five persons on trial for the triple Black Bush Polder murder. It is alleged that between July 21 and July

that on Sunday, Jagmohan and two of his brothers, who are both remanded for two other murders, took revenge on Hamid.

Police confirmed that Hamid was stabbed and chopped by the Jagmohan brothers – Tamishwar along with Ramnarine and Neshan Jagmohan.

This publication understands that Ramnarine Jagmohan 28, of Belvedere

Squatting Area, Corentyne and his brother, Neshan Jagmohan, 23, a cane harvester, are both indicted for the October 7, 2013 murder of Corentyne businessman Devindra Deodat, 34, called “Dave”, of Hampshire Squatting Area.

The trio allegedly went to Hamid who was at the time sitting at a table in the remand auditorium and used improvised weapons to injure him. They also injured Dhadhari, who was at the time sitting next to Hamid.

According to a hospital source, Hamid is currently a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital. His condition is listed as critical.

B (Berbice) Division Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam said the weapons used in the attack were confiscated. However, he said the Police did not conduct a search at the prison for other illegal objects which inmates may have.

It is not clear whether prison authorities carried out such a search on Sunday.

This publication was informed that prison authorities have promised to separate and isolate the Jagmohans, while Dhadhari is to be placed in the infirmary until he fully recovers.

Teen accused of murdering labourer to face court soon A fter two days on the run, the Police have arrested the 16-yearold boy who reportedly stabbed a labourer to death at Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD), on Monday during a drinking spree.

Dead is 37-yearold Kawal Shivnauth, also called “Rupee”, of Wine Bush,Leonora.

The teenage suspect was reportedly hiding in Matthew’s Ridge, North West District, Region One (BarimaWaini), where he resides and was preparing to travel further into the interior when the Police swooped down on him.

Reports are the now dead man was stabbed in the heart and also sustained slashes to his lower abdomen and hand.

It was reported that Shivnauth and the suspect were consuming alcohol when an argument ensued between them after the teenager accused the now dead man of “troubling” his sister. During the argument, Shivnauth collected a bottle and struck the teenager to his forehead.

The teenager reportedly walked away but after he realised that he was bleeding, he confronted Shivnauth and it was at this time, he whipped out a knife and

Dead: Kawall Shivnauth

stabbed him. The injured man was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

At the scene, persons related that the teenager was new to the community and was never involved in fights with anyone.

One man reported that he was running along the sea dam when he heard an argument and upon checking, he saw the two men arguing. The argument, he recounted, was about the now dead man

troubling the suspect’s sister.

He said soon after, the argument escalated. It was Shivnauth who threw the first blow and after the young man realised he was injured, he stabbed the victim and ran from the scene, the eyewitness related.

However, Police acting on information received, contacted their colleagues in Matthew’s Ridge and the teenager was arrested. He is expected to be charged with murder.

10 homeless after jilted man sets Sophia apartments ablaze

A

late night fire in Sophia, Greater Georgetown has left ten persons homeless and more than G$10 million in losses after it completely destroyed an apartment building.

According to reports, the fire, which is suspected to be the work of a known arsonist, started around 23:10h.

Guyana Times International understands that the apartments were owned

by Yonnette Roberts, her daughters Deon and Kenesha Roberts, and her sonin-law Sherwin Charles.

This publication was told that three families were at home at the time of the incident and two of the four occupants also owned businesses which were destroyed in the flames.

The fire was reportedly started by an enraged man with whom Yonette Roberts allegedly refused to pursue a relationship.

She told this publication that she was at the National Park, Georgetown when she received a call from a friend who informed her that her home was on fire.

The woman said that when she arrived at the scene, the building was already burnt flat and nothing was saved.

Roberts divulged that the arson sus-

pect, who was nowhere to be found after the fire, had made several threats to the families residing in the apartment building. “He does always make a lot of threats to me, but we never took him seriously, but he was the only one that was in my apartment, so he set the fire and then escaped because he cannot be found since the incident occurred,” she explained.

Charles, who was at home at the time of the fire, said that he heard noises coming from the adjoining apartment and called out to the alleged arsonist, who is

known to them.

He relayed that the man told him that the noise was coming from some puppies that were owned by the families.

He further explained that he continued about his business and was about to go to bed when he received a call from his sister-in-law, in another apartment, informing him that the building was on fire.

“So after she called me, I ran out to see if I could try to prevent the fire from spreading, but it was already very big, so I just ran back inside to attempt to save

some stuff from inside of my apartment,” Charles said.

He added that he was unable to save much, as the fire spread quickly, consuming the building.

An angry neighbour told this publication that some of the children from the apartments could have died if not for persons who assisted in getting them out of the burning building.

“I saw when the building started to burn, and these people were inside and unaware of what was happening and I started to make noise to alert them. All of them children were inside the house and all of them could’ve died in that fire.”

According to the families, the apartments were fully furnished with every necessity. One of the business owners told this publication that she had only recently restocked her business and could not believe that now she was left “with only this clothes that I have on”.

The Fire Service was called to the scene, but was unable to lend much assistance.

The matter was reported to the Police and a manhunt has since been launched for the suspect.

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h i l e Government has held consultative talks with the relevant agencies and stakeholders, no decision has yet been made on the future of the ailing sugar industry.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on Friday said Government was seeking to give all stakeholders and relevant agencies a fair opportunity to peruse details of documents put forward regarding the fu-

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Decision on future of Guyana’s sugar industry pending – Govt

ture of the industry.

The meeting, held on December 31, 2016, saw representatives from the parliamentary Opposition, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE). Also present were representatives of various estates across the country.

The meeting, according to Harmon, came out

of a Cabinet decision, after they would have considered some options and found that it was in the best interest that all stakeholders be part of a meaningful process of consultation. He said Government’s side provided information relating to the state of the industry and the possible options regarding the future of GuySuCo. The information was shared with the stakeholders and it was agreed that they be given an opportunity to peruse the documents and that another meeting would be held.

“I wanted to make it clear that Government has not arrived at a decision on the matter and we expect that through these negotiations and consultations, we would arrive at a decision that

is in the best interest of everyone”.

Harmon said the sugar industry has been in existence for over a century and many families depend on it. He said those were all factors that could not be taken lightly.

“So it was important that all the relevant documents be shared with the stakeholders,” he said.

The Opposition team was led by then General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee and included Irfaan Ali, Dharamkumar Seeraj and Juan Edghill. GAWU and NAACIE were represented by their heads, Komal Chand and Kenneth Joseph, respectively. Representatives from the various sugar estates including Wales,

Albion, Skeldon, Enmore and Uitvlugt were also present.

The Government team was led by Vice President and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan and included Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Agriculture Minister Noel Holder; Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence; Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman; Business Minister Dominic Gaskin and Minister within the Finance Ministry, Jaipaul Sharma.

The end-of-year consultations were held on the very day that sugar operations at Wales ceased.

GuySuCo’s Finance Director, Paul Bhim had explained that some 100 of 1000 workers were identified for the con-

version plans and noted that ploughing of land and husbandry practices – weeding and cleaning of canals were being done. Bhim had also shut down claims of weed overgrowth at lands prepared by the Sugar Corporation, but Komal Chand acting on reports he received, noted that only 35 out of 480 acres, were levelled off.

The Wales Sugar Estate is the oldest of the country’s estates and the shutting down of sugar operations were only confirmed after the story broke in a Guyana Times International report last year January.

The closure has affected over 1000 workers directly and thousands more in the Wales area and surrounding communities.

Lindener nabbed with ganja, stolen items

P

olice ranks in E Division (LindenKwakwani) on Saturday evening arrested a 59-year-old shoemaker following a search conducted at his premises.

According to Police reports, during the search at the Mackenzie, Linden home of the suspect, three kilograms of cannabis and several items suspected to have been stolen from a telephone company last year

were unearthed by the ranks.

“Ranks, acting on information received, conducted a search of the two-storey house about 18:30h and found the illegal substance in one of the rooms, as well as the suspected stolen articles,” a release from the Police’s Public Relations Officer detailed.

The suspect has since been taken into custody.

He is assisting with further investigations.

Mother of 5 on fraud charge A mother of five was not too happy about being brought before the courts of law after she was caught being fraudulent.

Damiana Newton Armstrong, of 373 Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD), pleaded not guilty to the charge when Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read it to her.

The charge stated that between September 5, 2015 and July 22, 2016, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she presented a document which showed her to have the power

to sell, convert, transfer, or mortgage a certificate which belongs to Michelle Newton, knowing same to be false.

She was represented by Attorney-at-Law Colin Moore, who requested reasonable bail.

His application was successful, and bail was granted in the sum of G$75,000.

However, Magistrate McLennan requested that the woman lodge her passport at the Court Registry.

She is scheduled to make her next court appearance on January 13, 2017.

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Huge task ahead to prepare party for victory …says new PPP General Secretary his “valuable contributions” to the PPP during his tenure as General Secretary.

Speaking on the possibility of him emerging as the next presidential candidate of the PPP, the Opposition Leader said the matter will be decided when the time is right.

However Rohee, in an interview with media operatives, who were staking out Freedom House for hours, expressed

uphold the tradition of the PPP as a working class Party that supports the struggle of the working people.

Support However, a young member of the Party’s Executive, who was at Saturday’s election, expressed disappointment that Rohee would go to the media to discuss an issue that was discussed at the Party’s highest level.

According to the source, during

some comments as to the outcome of the election, contending that a youthful face should have been given the opportunity to take the lead of the PPP. Rohee explained nonetheless that this is all the “vagaries of politics”.

Asked if he will support Jagdeo unconditionally as the new General Secretary of the Party, Rohee stated “We’re all in the PPP, we work as a collective. That’s the most I can say to that.

Rohee expects Jagdeo to

Saturday’s proceedings, Rohee dropped out of the race knowing fully well that he is not magnanimous and as such, did not have and would not receive enough youth support. As such, he threw his support behind Dr Anthony.

On the issue of youthful faces, the source pointed out that both Jagdeo and Dr Anthony are of the same age group – with Jagdeo being 52 and Anthony, 51, and as such, could not comprehend why a par-

Disappointed

Bharrat Jagdeo speaking to media operatives following his election as the new PPP General Secretary

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was on Saturday voted in as the new General Secretary of the country’s longest standing political force, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) – replacing Clement Rohee who held the position for the last five years.

Jagdeo was nominated by Dr Roger Luncheon and his nomination was supported by Irfaan Ali. His contender was Dr Frank Anthony, who was nominated by Rohee and supported by former President Donald Ramotar.

In accordance with the Party’s Constitution, the PPP held its first post-Congress Central Committee meeting during which an election held by secret ballot to determine a new General Secretary.

Challenging

Jagdeo was positive that his role as both Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary would not be too challenging since being a President for 12 years was much more demanding.

Nonetheless, he did not undermine the work cut out for him, noting that the PPP will have to work hard towards a re-

Clement Rohee sharing his thoughts on the new PPP General Secretary

sounding victory in 2020.

“The task ahead of us is to prepare this Party to win the next elections and I’ve made it clear about what this Party will focus on over the next few years. We want to reiterate the message that this Party is open to people of every race.

That was our founding principle and we remain faithful to that,” he expressed.

Jagdeo noted too that the Party will continue to work robustly in its stronghold areas and will intensify its outreach to those in the strongholds of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) communities.

“We have a progressive message to take to those communities. This is not a Party for 50 per cent of the people, or 49 per cent who they claim voted for us. We are the Opposition for everyone in Guyana,” he emphasised.

In further outlining his vision for the PPP, with the new General Secretary explaining that the Party will have to give priority to the creation and development of young leaders.

“You will see young leaders being given more responsibilities in the managing of our Party,” he stated.

On another note, Jagdeo lauded Rohee for

ty stalwart would make such a public statement.

The source disclosed that of the 11 votes received by Dr Anthony for the General Secretary position, most were from the older party stalwarts in their 60’s and early 70’s. Jagdeo received 24 votes.

The young Executive Member also pointed out that at the recently concluded 31st Congress of the Party, the youth party members threw their support behind Jagdeo.

New Executive

Meanwhile, the PPP also elected some new faces to the Party’s 15-seat Executive Committee – the highest decision-making forum of the PPP. The new Executive Committee comprises Anil Nandlall (28 votes), Clement Rohee (26 votes), Irfaan Ali (25 votes), Dr Roger Luncheon (25 votes), Gail Teixeira (25 votes), Zulfikar Mustapha (24 votes), Donald Ramotar (23 votes), Frank

Anthony (22 votes), Neil Kumar (22 votes), Shyam Nokta (22 votes), Clinton Collymore (21 votes), Collin Croal (21 votes), Dharam kumarSeeraj (21 votes), Pauline Sukhai (21 votes) and Bheri Ramsaran (20 votes).

The Executive Committee also comprises of three candidate members who are void of voting powers.

These persons are Nigel Dharamlall, Vickram Bharat and Fizal

Jaffarally.

Additionally, the Central Committee also elected the following Secretaries: Zulfikar Mustapha – Executive Secretary; Irfaan Ali – Finance Secretary; Anil Nandlall – Public Relations; Hydar Ally – Education; Bheri Ramsarran – International Relations; Gail Teixeira – Mass Organisation; Rick Ramraj – Organising Secretary; and Nigel Dharamlall – Trade Union.

Fly AllWays Suriname to cease operations on January 15 – source

S

uriname airline Fly AllWays will cease operations on January 15 of this year, reliable sources have confirmed.

Fly AllWays officially started operations about a year ago on January 10, 2016, with the launch of its inaugural domestic flight. Its first commercial flight took place on January 22, 2016, to Barbados and later in February 2016, flights followed to Curacao and St Maarten.

Following years of setbacks towards certification to fly, with creditors awaiting payments, poor payloads and one of its two Fokker 70 aircraft being used as a source of spare parts to keep the other plane flying, Fly AllWays has been facing an alarming financial future.

The airline’s financial situation did

not reportedly allow the carrier to keep its second aircraft flying.

“Fly AllWays’ request for an extension of maintenance time on major components of its aircraft, such as the overhaul of the landing gear was not approved by the aviation authority of Suriname,” said a source. “This has led

to the grounding of one aircraft, which is now being used as a source for parts of their sole flying Fokker 70.”

The closest place in the Caribbean where the Fokker can be serviced is Curacao; however, there were unconfirmed reports that neither of the two Fokkers went to Curacao for mainte-

nance.

“After two years of sitting in Suriname, the two Fokkers haven’t been to a maintenance hangar. Fly AllWays still does not have an approved maintenance base,” the source said.

“The load factor between Suriname, Guyana and Barbados is below 30 per cent. Between Barbados and Guyana an average of 20 seats are occupied.

Plans to commence service to Haiti have been cancelled,” confirmed a second source.

Just last month, Fly AllWays was granted a permit to operate scheduled flights between Guyana, Barbados and Suriname to Antigua, where it customarily stops for refuelling on its way to Haiti. (Caribbean News Now)

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By Kendra Seignoret

W

hen we travel the typical way, spending a few days here and a few days there, at best we see the superficial. A day is only so long and there is only so much one can see and do in that period of time.

Therefore, if a deeper understanding of an area is wanted, you have to do slow travel. And to be able to do slow travel, you have to be creative

coconut oil. I’ve always found it funny how we North Americans pay lots of money for things like coconut oil products when there are others who can make it for free in their own backyards.

Coconut oil can be used in many things including food, medicine, and other various products. It is high in saturated fats but apparently, the saturated fat of coconut oil is not the “bad” kind that can lead

machete to reveal the white flesh.

Step Three: Find a coconut scraper tool, place it on a bench, and sit on it. Scrape out the white flesh of the coconuts into a bowl.

Step Four: Add water to the bowl. Once the flesh has soaked for a bit, stir with your hands and start squeezing the coconut bits to get out the “milk”. Strain the liquid into a pot. Let the liquid sit overnight.

When it is ready the liquid will become clear

Step Five: The next day, you will see that the liquid has separated into two parts. Using a spoon, scoop out the top layer into a cast iron pot.

Step Six: Build an outdoor fire for your cast iron pot.

Step Seven: Place your pot over the fire and stir periodically.

You will know when it is ready when the liquid has become clear.

Step Eight: Strain

the liquid into a jar.

Close tightly until ready to use.

Kendra Seignoret considers herself to be a cubicle escape artist: she tries to find ways to keep her job (which is in a cubicle) while also trying to escape it as often as possible. When she travels, she's generally that solo female you see wandering with a camera firmly clutched to her face as she traipses around

while narrowly avoiding being hit by some form of local transportation.

Kendra is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, but currently lives in Canada. You can find more of her adventures on her blog Rusty Travel Trunk (www.rustytraveltrunk.com) or on Instagram @rustytraveltrunk (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Cleaning the outer layer of the coconut

Strain the liquid into a jar. Close tightly until ready to use Strain liquid into a pot and let sit overnight

especially since not all of us are lucky enough to be the offspring of people like Sir Richard Branson.

So as much as I’m not exactly enamoured with my employment, it does allow me to do things like take three months off.

This is how I was able to volunteer with Youth Challenge International in Guyana. I chose Guyana partly because some of my family history is Guyanese and also because the Guyanese landscape looked really beautiful. I really enjoyed my time in Guyana and look forward to returning one day soon.

Being in Guyana for three months allowed me to experience Guyanese life; especially life in an Amerindian (Lokono) village.

One of the many things I learned while there was how to make

to chronic diseases.

So while you still want to exercise moderation, it isn’t as if you’re consuming other kinds of oils and butter. The benefits of coconut oil are numerous – many people call it a “superfood”, saying it can do everything from strengthen your immune system to help encourage weight loss.

If applied on the body, it can help with skin and hair problems, including dryness.

So, in honour of learning random things which is possible through slow travel, here is a pictorial guide on how to make coconut oil: Step One: Find a coconut tree and knock down several coconuts.

Step Two: Once down, use a machete to remove the outer shell until you have the seed part (brown and fuzzy).

Chop that open with the

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A section of present day New Amsterdam

ew Amsterdam is located about five miles from the mouth of the Berbice River on its eastern bank and is situated at the confluence of the Berbice and Canje Rivers. It is connected by a national highway to Rose Hall, Corriverton and Crabwood Creek.

About 1733, the name New Amsterdam was given to a little village, which sprang up around Fort Nassau several miles up the Berbice River. In 1785 it was decided to abandon Fort Nassau and move to the neighbourhood of Fort St. Andries, lower down the river at the confluence of the Berbice River and its tributary the Canje River, which is now the site of present day New Amsterdam.

The original ‘Nieuw Amsterdam’ grew up being Fort Nassau some 55 miles up the Berbice River during the first half of the 18th century.

It was a small township with buildings mostly strung out parallel to the river bank. The inhabitants of the Town were required to pay a fixed sum annually to the Dutch Reformed Church

and the Hospital, and were required to keep the public paths and the dividing land between their lots free of bushes and grass.

At some point after 1784, the Dutch decided to move the seat of Government downstream to the confluence of the Berbice and Canje Rivers, and the town of New Amsterdam was born. This site was selected because it provided a natural outlet for a very extensive and productive hinterland.

The name ‘New Amsterdam’ was chosen because most of the shareholders were from the province of Amsterdam in Holland.

The first Ordinance on record relating to this new town was dated January 11, 1791.

Under the terms of this Ordinance, lots were to be given out along the river front, each owner being required to empolder his land and provide drainage.

George Pinkhard, in a “Letter from Guyana” describing New Amsterdam, about 1806, indicated that at the end of the Town, close to the Canje Creek, was

New Amsterdam ferry stelling

the imposing edifice of Government Housing which was built of brick in the ‘European Style’.

Along the [stet] covered with troolie or plantain leaves, other with shingles.

In 1812 a Commissary was appointed to plan and carry out the construction of the roads and bridges and work out a proper drainage system. A special Department of Works, the Winkel Department, was set up to deal with all repair works required by the residents. The workmen were originally slaves who were housed in one of the older parts of New Amsterdam.

They were given their freedom in 1831, three years before slavery was abolished throughout the British West Indies.

The newly freed slaves were allowed to keep their houses in Winkel Village and in 1890 their descendants petitioned the Combined Court of British Guiana for the grant land on which the houses stood. This land passed into ownership of Winkel heirs. Winkel has been preserved as a ward of the Town.

In May 1825, an

Ordinance was enacted to establish a Board of Management for the Town. There were two subsequent Ordinances: one in October 1825 and the other in September 1830. In 1838, a “Board of Police” was established and this was responsible for the Town’s affairs until 1844 when a “Board of Superintendence” was established. During this period the following came into being: the Town Hall of the Tudor architecture with a tower approximately 75 feet; the New Amsterdam Market sited below the Town Hall occupying an area of 26,400 sq. ft.; the Supreme Court which was housed in the Colony House; the Canje Swing Bridge built by an English Engineer; The Mission Chapel Church and School; All Saints Scots Church and School; The Water Work; introduction of electricity; the Botanic Gardens.

The Board of Superintendence functioned until September

Neil Ross McKinnon, K.C. (Mayor); John Downer (Senior Councillor); Clement Phillip Gaskin (Councillor); Isaac Edward Adrian Patoir (Councillor); Hanoel de Mendonca (Councillor); Henry Rynveldt (Councillor); and Bruce Harvey Stephens (Councillor) With Officers of the Council being Town Superintendent, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, Clerk of the Market, and the Sanitary Inspector.

Religion, too, has had a tremendous influence on the way of life in New Amsterdam. Christian work in Berbice started with the Lutherans who built the first church in New Amsterdam in 1803. This religious body was also credited with the establishment of the Geneva Academy, which was the first industrial school in the colony. The next Christian Movement centered around the Anglicans.

Anglican work in New

site.

In 1911 the I n d e p e n d e n t Congregational Church was established after a rift between Reverend Robert T. Frank and the Congregational Union.

This Church was renamed Frank Memorial Church after the death of Reverend Robert T. Frank.

Another major Christian denomination which was established was the Roman Catholic Church. Today, there are several other religious organisations in New Amsterdam, such as the Episcopal, Bahai, Muslim, Hindu and Hare Krishna. All these religions and churches have equal status in law.

The Electric Lighting Order of 1900 gave the electricity undertaking legal status as an entity owned and controlled by the New Amsterdam Town Council. As a utility, the Council was able to satisfy its citizenry with an essential service while at the same time

Main Road, South, New Amsterdam, British Guiana n.d.

1, 1891 when legislation was enacted to incorporate the Town into a Municipality.

The membership of the Council was drawn from the defunct Board of Superintendence and Neil Ross McKinnon, K.C., who was president of this Board, became the Town’s first Mayor.

McKinnon framed the Town Council Ordinance and was also the financial representative for New Amsterdam for a number of years.

He took a deep interest in the welfare of his constituents and was one of the sons of New Amsterdam of whom the citizens were very proud.

His successors continued to consolidate and develop the Town by putting various infrastructural works in place.

The first Council composed all the members of the former Board of Superintendence were:

Amsterdam began in 1811, and at first their services were held on alternate Sundays in the Lutheran Church and after in the Colony church (Scots Church, Vryheid Street). After this,the Scots Church was erected in 1820 with help from the Public Treasury.

Eventually the Anglicans acquired their own building 1838. About 1848 the Methodists started evangelism in New Amsterdam.

Seven years after the Anglicans arrived in New Amsterdam, Rev. John Wray, an Englishman, used his personal funds to purchase a part of Lot 12 Chapel Street for the erection of the Mission Chapel Congregational Church. Before the construction of this building, services were conducted under a tamarind tree, which was close by the proposed Church

earning a fair amount of revenue, which was ploughed back into other capital works of the Town, and to keep the levying of rates at a minimum. However, due to a world crisis in October 1973 interims of the availability and sudden rise in the price of fuel oil and subsequently on spare parts and services, it became uneconomical for Power Stations within close proximity to operate independently.

Consequently, in keeping with the economic policy of the Government, the New Amsterdam Power System was absorbed into the larger system of that of the Guyana Electricity Corporation on the September 1, 1979.

New Amsterdam had been the centre of culture and music also.

Some of the outstandcontinued on page 34

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ONDOOR is a four-year program designed to train citizens of Guyana in obstetrics and gynaecology, launched at the end of May 2012 and led by Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, director of Cleveland, USA University Hospitals’ WONDOOR Global Health Program.In collaboration with the Guyanese Ministry of Health, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and the University of Guyana, WONDOOR selected six Guyanese residents to participate in a four-year OB/GYN residency.As part of the WONDOOR Global Health initiative, University Hospitals sends physicians to the program’s partner countries, both to instruct and train, but also to experience the health care challenges being faced in these low-resource communities.

"I'm going to squeeze

outweigh providers, training and education swiftly go by the board.

Drawing blood, running to the lab and making quick health decisions becomes more important than medicine’s dearly held tradition of teaching. So when University Hospitals MacDonald Women’s Hospital physicians joined morning rounds one day in January, the young doctor and her colleagues enthusiastically squeezed in as much case-based learning as they could.

Cleveland, Ohio, and Georgetown, Guyana, have little in common.

One is in the Northern Hemisphere, the other, in the Southern.

One is inland and has four seasons, the other is on the coast and has two seasons: rainy and dry. Unlike Cleveland, Guyana also suffers from an acute shortage of Ob/Gyn specialists, which is reflected

Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD (right), and Tia Melton, MD, listen as a needs assessment is completed at Georgetown Public Hospital in January 2012. Drs. Larkins-Pettigrew and Melton started the Women, Neonates, Diversity, Outreach, Opportunities and Research program (known as WONDOOR and pronounced one door) at UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital to train Ob/Gyn residents in global health

you like a lime!" says the freshly minted medical student who has returned to her native Guyana to become a general medical officer at Georgetown Public Hospital in Georgetown.

After years of studying medicine in Cuba – nearly 2,000 miles away from her home on the northeast coast of South America -- the medical student has returned to be trained in a variety of departments before selecting a specialty.

She is eager to learn, to work and to take care of the people in her home country, but her intentions are lost on the throng of patients needing care from a handful of trained physicians.

When patients far

in the statistics: a maternal mortality ratio of 470 deaths per 100,000 live births, and an infant mortality ratio of 45 deaths per 1,000 live births.

But the cities are connected by bonds formed several years ago among obstetrician and gynaecologists Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, and Tia Melton, MD, from University Hospitals (UH) and physicians at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Now, UH and GPH are creating a joint residency program to educate bright, motivated general physicians to meet the need for highly trained physicians in Guyana.

Drs. Larkins-

Pettigrew and Melton began the Women, Neonates, Diversity, Outreach, Opportunities and Research program (known as WONDOOR and pronounced "one door") at UH MacDonald Women's Hospital in May 2012 to train their Ob/Gyn residents in global health. The program, which has eight resident trainees, is actively involved in coursework and experiential training in global health, and is leading the initiative in Guyana.

“A large part of the WONDOOR program is educating our residents to be better global health providers, recognizing that many problems encountered by women in resource-poor countries also are faced by women in our own backyards,” Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew said. “All women should have the same access to quality health care, regardless of which door they enter.”

UH will send attending physicians to Guyana for one week each month to instruct the residents. Each attending will teach a themed module and train physicians about his or her medical specialty or interest. For example, Chenits Pettigrew, PhD, and Martin Wieczorek, MD, lectured on humanism, professionalism, cultural competency and TeamSTEPPS (an internationally recognized approach to enhance team effort, promoting patient-centred medicine and patient safety) during the May trip.

Dr. Pettigrew is an assistant dean for Student Affairs and Director of Diversity Programs at the University of Pittsburgh’s school of medicine. Dr. Wieczorek is an Ob/Gyn who directs obstetrical education at UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital and is an assistant professor at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.

WONDOOR is a sustainable education program aimed at decreasing the "brain drain" phenomena that drains Georgetown of its best and brightest physicians, who establish practices elsewhere. “We face this same challenge here in Cleveland,” Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew said.

“Funding sustainable education programs enables qualified facul-

Rachel Pope, MD (right), inserts an IV line in a patient at Georgetown Public Hospital in Georgetown, Guyana, in January 2012 as part of the four-year WONDOOR program. Dr. Pope is an Ob/Gyn resident at UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital

ty to provide academic excellence and support to residents, midwives, medical students and nursing staff in the form of experiential training.

It’s not an opportunity cloaked in medical tourism.”

The Guyanese trainees will graduate as full-fledged Obstetrics and Gynaecology consultants after training for four years, completing all modules and passing qualification exams. In exchange, they will keep a promise to serve their country for four more years.

Simultaneously, residents from UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital will travel to Guyana to gain global health experience and expand their skills as practitioners by meet-

ing their host country’s medical challenges. Malaria, HIV and other infectious diseases, for example, are encountered more often in Guyana than in Northeast Ohio.

All of the residents will collaborate on research projects and public health interventions. Eventually, the Guyanese consultants will teach their country’s medical students, and UH will continue to support and partner with Georgetown Public Hospital so it can stand on its own to lead the way in women's health care.

Building the capacity of physicians in Guyana will elevate the health and well-being of the entire country.

As women receive pri-

ority and a high-standard of care, they may be better able to serve their families and communities – a philosophy in which UH takes pride. “Our residents, students, faculty and staff benefit by becoming better global health providers focused on humanism, and therefore better human beings,” Larkins-Pettigrew said.

(Reprinted from an article byRachel J. Pope, MD, MPH. Photos by: Mary Frances Haerr, MD. http://www.uhhospitals.org/macdonald/education/ wondoor-global-healthprogram/notes-fromthe-field/building-womens-health-bridgesin-guyana) More on the program in a subsequent edition Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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ndigenous designers made their debut at the Guyana Fashion Week 2016 with chic collections of clothing inspired by nature and their culture. One of the designers is Vanda Allicock-Calistro. “I was motivated by my father who encouraged myself and nephew to take up designing after he saw some of our shirts we had done.

Our pieces are inspired by nature and indigenous culture and are hand painted. Being able to showcase our talent at Guyana Fashion Week 2016 was an honour,� Vanda said in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

The designer hopes to expand her collection and showcase them on fashion runways.

For more information, call 6705038. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Debut designer Vanda Allicock-Castro

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Luke M. Hill, M. Inst. C.E.

G

eorgetown, the capital of British Guiana, was first established by the Dutch on the Second Island, some miles up the Demerara River, whence it was transferred to Stabroek in 1782.

Stabroek was a government reservation lying between Plantations Vlissengen and Werken-Rust, allotted for government offices and residences for the chief officials and leading colonists; and now forms a central ward of the City of Georgetown, which gradually spread itself right and left along the river facades of the adjoining plantations of Vlissengen, La Bourgade and Eve Leary to the north, and Werk-en-Rust

and Le Repentir to the south, extending nearly two miles along the river front by a depth of about one mile, the town being symmetrically laid out in wide streets forming rectangular blocks of building lots.

Georgetown was so named in the year 1812, under the Regency; and some 25 years later, with the creation of a Bishopric of Guiana and of the Cathedral of St. George's, it was constituted a city; the city corporation of Mayor and Town Council being established by Ordinance in 1837 under the Governorship of His Excellency Sir James Carmichael Smyth.

No census has been taken since 1891 when the population was returned at 53,176; but the present population of the

High Street, Georgetown circa 1909: Law Courts and Town Hall

city and environs is estimated to be over 60,000.

The entrance to the Port of Georgetown is commanded by the guns of Fort William Frederick. This Fort mounts 21 muzzle load-

Playing lawn tennis at the GCC circa 1910

View of City Hall and Law Courts circa 1916

ers, now used for saluting purposes but also has a few modern quick-firing guns, capable of more effective work.

The Demerara Lightship (which also forms a pilot station) is anchored some ten miles beyond the Fort in five fathoms of water, from which the fairway shallows to 19 feet on the bar at high water of spring tides, the only available channel for large vessels being marked by buoys.

A short distance inside the Fort is the Lighthouse, a brick building painted red and white in vertical stripes, 103 feet high, exhibiting a strong revolving white light, flashing once every minute, and said to be visible on a clear night for a distance of over 20 miles.

A stranger's first impression of Georgetown as he enters the Port with its fast-running mud-laden current, is not a favourable one; all he sees is an unattractive row of galvanized iron roofs, covering store-buildings projecting out over the mud-flat

forming the river foreshore, with wharves or wooden stellings, alongside of which steamers, ships and lighters discharge their cargoes; and it is not until he lands in Water street, the leading business thoroughfare, that he realizes that he is in a real live city, provided with all modern conveniences, attractive shops and business places.

The tropical beauty of Georgetown is revealed as he crosses east into High, Main and other streets of private residences with their glowing wealth of colour and luxuriant growth of vegetation in the surrounding gardens of the detached residences: many of the principal streets have large canals or water reservoirs running down the centre, covered with luxuriant Victoria Regia and Lotus lilies, and flowering trees of several varieties line the sides of the roadways.

The site of the city of Georgetown, in common with all the coast-lands of the colony, is an alluvial flat, the mean level

of the surface being four feet under the high water of spring tides, the sea being kept out by a massive sea-wall, forming a breezy esplanade on the sea front, and by river and wharf walls along the river bank.

The buildings of Georgetown with but few exceptions are substantially framed in the celebrated hardwoods of the colony such as greenheart, wallaba, mora, crabwood, bullet- tree, etc., many are handsome structures and not without some architectural pretensions.

As is fitting in a wooden built city, special precautions have to be taken in order to prevent the spread of fire, and therefore spaces are generally allowed between buildings, so that continuous rows of houses are rarely seen on the streets; and almost all private residences stand isolated in their own compounds or gardens. (Source: Handbook of British Guiana, 1909.

Pg. 173) Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Carmichael Street, Georgetown (no date): Large, central canal filled with water and stocked with fish

34 feature

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A History of New... ing personalities in this field are Edith Pieters, Norma Romalho, Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljee, Moses Telford and Rosemary Ramdeholl – to name a few. There were also the highly acclaimed ‘Lads and Lassies’ and ‘New Amsterdam Music Society’, choirs trained

by Edith Pieters and Ruby McGregor, respectively. Other outstanding musicians include Sammy Nicholas, Millicent Joseph and Edith Ferdinand. Today, however, the best choirs are to be found in churches like (the) Adventists, the Salvation Army and Grace Temple.

Pop music was provided by bands like the Living Ends and S.T. Groovers. There were also the exciting Soul Riot Concerts and Viking Choir with a repertoire of classes and calypsos. Names like Chuck Gerrard and Errol Wong (Wongie) must go down to posterity.

The citizens of New Amsterdam were also entertained at open-air concerts at the Old Band Stand at Esplanade Ground. Major Henwood and the B.G. Police Force Band and “Randolph Bennett and his boys” were regular there, especially on moonlight

nights.

Today, although this Band Stand still stands there, the area is earmarked for recreational facilities and a Botanical Gardens. In the early 90s, the Mayor and Town Council and the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam worked together to develop Esplanade. In the late 90s, the Mayor of New Amsterdam, along with his Council, decided to work assiduously to develop the ground.

The area now houses a Kiddies Corner that was sponsored by Courts Guyana Ltd. The ground had been renamed the Esplanade Recreational Park and Botanical Gardens. It has a pavilion in a corner overlooking what is now called the Midland Ball Field on the basis of a twinning between the City of Midland, Texas, U.S.A. and the New Amsterdam Town Council (19981999).

Various organisations too influenced the ways of life of youths in New Amsterdam. The Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A., Girls Guides, Boys Scouts, the Red Cross Society, the Catholic Men’s Club, the New Amsterdam Community Council, the New Amsterdam Dramatic

from page 30

New Amsterdam Arch

Society, and the Berbice Branch of the B.G. Extra Mural Association, U.W.I., all helped to create a tremendous impact on the development of the youths of the Town.

The British Council was in New Amsterdam for a while and treated the town folks to film shows and recorded music. The New Amsterdam Branch of the Public Free Library was established in 1953, with Miss Edith Pieters as Librarian-inCharge.

Great importance was attached to the educa-

tion of New Amsterdam citizens. The work of outstanding teachers like J.Z. Peters, J.A. Ralph, Arthur Thomas, Robert Charles, Miss Austin, C.B. Giddings, A.E. Crawford, Doris Cooper, Sonny Rodway, Harold Scarder, John N. Rollings, and J. N. Harper must be recorded in any history of New Amsterdam. As a result of its high educational standards and dedicated teachers at the primary and secondary levels, New Amsterdam has been able to produce outstanding sons and daughters like Viola Burnham, Gavin Kennard, Sir ShridathRamphal, Dr.Ewart Thomas, W.O.R. Kendall, the Luckhoos, J.O.B. Haynes, Edgar Mittelholzer, Jan Carew, Charles Fung-AFat, Clifford Baburam, the Hanomans, Joseph Eleazer, P.A. Cummings, and many others.

In the commercial sector firms like Diyaljees, the Ganpatsinghs, E.A.

Chapman, Rohlehrs, Carews, Hanomans, Hughes, Chois, S. Davsons and Sons, and S.G. Wreford and Company have contributed to the economic development of the Town and its environs.

In the field of building and construction there were private individuals like the elder Chapman (who built the New Amsterdam Stelling); S.G. Wiltshire; Charlie Hancock; and Lyndon La Bennett.

A living testimonial of Charlie Hancock’s work is the Horse Shoe Table, which adorns the Council Chamber of the Town. The chairs around the table, however, were made by the Lutheran Church, which at one time operated a Woodwork Center. At the other end of the spectrum there were firms like H.C. Alphonso and Sons and Nabbi Brothers who undertook major construction works in the Town.

New Amsterdam has a very colourful past.

Today, the Mayor and Town Council is appealing for total cooperation and support of the entire community.

New Amsterdam covers about 13.7 sq.kilometerswith an estimated population of approximately 35,000.

The Town is bounded – North of Canje Bridge; South of Doe Park; West of the Berbice River and East of Caracas (Angoy’s Avenue).

The current Mayor of New Amsterdam is Kirt Anthony Solomon Wynter.

For more information on projects geared towards the development of New Amsterdam, visitCouncil of Friends of New Amsterdam on www.cofona.org (Information from the Mayor and Town Council of New Amsterdam, Berbice, Guyana; September, 2010) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

“Crab Man” remanded over brutal cutlass attack on ex-girlfriend, mother

T

he accused in the Number 70 Village Christmas Eve chopping incident made an appearance at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on Monday, and was refused bail.

Shamar Mohamed Ali, also known as “Crab Man”, 44, a taxi driver of Number 70 Village and also of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, was slapped with two counts of attempted murder and one assault charge.

It is alleged that on December 24, at Number 70 Village, Corentyne, he attempted to murder Bhartie Udho, 23. It is also alleged that on the same day the accused attempted to murder her mother, AmikaUdho, 42.

Ali was not required to plead to the charges.

A third charge stated that on Christmas Eve, he assaulted Alexis Udho.

He pleaded not guilty to that charge.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Bernard Browne told the court that the accused was on the run since committing the act, and as such should not be granted bail. Browne told the court that Ali escaped when the

Police went to arrest him.

The man’s Attorney, Chandra Sohan, argued that Ali did not know the Police were after him, and he went to work in the Canje River and was not in hiding.

Asked whether he saw news releases which indicated that the Police were on the hunt for him, Ali said he did not know how to read and did not watch television. When asked about notices on social media, he told the court that he did not have a cellular phone.

Browne refuted Sohan’s claims that both victims were out of hospital, and pointed to information which indicated that the victims were not yet out of danger.

M a g i s t r a t e Rabindranauth Singh refused bail and instructed that Ali returned to court on January 26 when the Police were expected to present a report on their readiness to commence the trial.

On Christmas Eve night, Bhartie Udho, and her mother Amika, along with three other family members, had left home to go to Corriverton for a Christmas Eve walk when

Accused: Shamar Mohamed Ali

the accused attacked the two, houses away from their home with a cutlass.

Bhartie and the accused allegedly shared a relationship.

The accused’s wife, Nalline Devi Paresar, 39, told Guyana Times Internationalthat she broke up with Ali because of his extramarital affair.

The woman said after three months, she returned to Guyana and reunited with her husband, hoping that things would have changed. She said her two children were her main focus and she was still trying to have a relationship with her husband Paresar broke down when Ali emerged from the Police vehicle to be taken to court. (Andrew Carmichael)

GPL offers support to relatives of employee who fell to his death

From left to right: Lisa and Rayon Clifford, the dead man’s children, along with his wife, Mohani Devi Clifford with GPL Chief Executive Officer Renford Homer; Divisional Director (Human Resources) Bal Parsaud and GPL Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Technical) Elwyn Marshall

T

he Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc on Saturday evening hosted a “Night of Reflection” to pay homage to Brian Clifford, an employee who lost his life on Tuesday last when he fell from a utility pole while in the process of correcting a distribution network issue.

The event was held at his home located at Lot 414 Bush Lot Village, Corentyne, East Coast Berbice.

GPL’s executive management, during their visit to the bereaved family, offered their condolences and support.

The visit was described by GPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Renford Homer as one that was sombre and extremely emotional.

Clifford, who had been working with the company for over 25 years, was employed as a Network Technician 1 and was attached to the Transmission and Distribution Department – Number 53 Outpost on the East Coast of Berbice.

His body was laid to rest on Sunday at the New Amsterdam, Stanleytown Cemetery.

On the day of his demise, Clifford,

47, was reconnecting a wire at Belvedere Squatting Area, Corentyne when the utility pole which he was on came crashing down.

According to reports, an excavator which was clearing a canal in the area caused an electrical wire to burst and as such, Clifford, who was on duty at the time, was sent to have the issue rectified.

However, the man was unaware that the utility post was rotten when he climbed it and was in the process of having the wire reconnected when it came crashing to the ground.

Eyewitnesses related that the post fell first and then Clifford, who was vigorously trying to release his straps, fell unto the post.

He was picked up and rushed to the Anamayah Memorial Hospital where doctors battled to save his life, but failed.

Clifford leaves to mourn his wife and two children, along with other relatives and friends.

Back to School (again)

A

lthough it feels like the Christmas vacation just started, here we are almost to its end. So are you ready (those of you who have to return) to go back to school?

Going back to school usually takes a lot of mental preparation for me. I don’t know about everyone else, but during the vacation (especially Christmas), I tend to go into a “vacation” mode. This means that I’m just not in the frame of mind to do work. So I tend to put off any holiday assignments for the last week of the vacation. However, that becomes a problem when you begin to realise the volume of work that you’ve been assigned to do, ultimately inducing a “last-minute” panic.

Putting that aside, it’s good to welcome the new school term with optimism. Set some achievable goals,

and work towards them. If you’re like me, in Sixth Form, CAPE is right around the corner, so start planning how you’re going to pass those exams. Maybe you want to get more involved in school events, or you have a highly anticipated club activity coming up.

Either way, these are all reasons you should look forward to the new term. It is a chance to improve you. So why not make a plan to help accomplish this?

Remember though, that this plan will not always go exactly as you expect. You have to be lenient sometimes, and understand that there are often unavoidable obstacles that will set you back. You shouldn’t pressure yourself to do everything perfectly.

If it doesn’t work right this term, then there’s always another one.

Use those difficult times constructively, and let them help you develop. If you fall out

news 35

Ashley Anthony

with a close friend, use that experience to teach you how you should interact with persons in the future.

If a teacher gives you a “hard” time, then use that to build resilience.

Things aren’t going to get easier in college or the work place, so it’s better to learn now. And if something unethical occurs, learn from now how to appropriately report such incidents. It could help you in an even more dangerous situation in the future.

So it’s time to get prepared. Paper those books, buy some new stationery, and resolve to do well this term.

We can do this! Even if we complain, about it deep down we know that high school will be one of the fondest times of our lives.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

Crying wolf…

A

…on Russia?

fter Donald Trump was briefed by his intelligence agencies about their claims that the Russians had influenced the US elections through hacking and other nefarious methods, the President-elect was underwhelmed. As you’d be too if you were to read the report that was made available to the public and is circulating on the web.

It reminded many US commentators, they confessed ruefully, about the same agencies providing “intel” to justify President Bush’s claim there were “Weapons of Mass Destruction” in Iraq – and that the country should be invaded as General Colin Powell argued to the world.

But Trump then, perhaps like the kid who pointed out the Emperor had no clothes, asked a very interesting question – as usual on Twitter! – “Why is having a good relationship with Russia a bad thing? Only ‘stupid’ people, or fools, would think it is bad! We have enough problems around the world without yet another one.” Now mull over that a while, will you Dear Reader? “Why is having a good relationship a bad thing?”

Well, the US intelligence agencies, for one, may say, they have intelligence the dastardly Russians are up to no good as far as the US is concerned and you can’t trust them. But if the US intelligence community’s reports are any guide of the kind of proof they collect, Trump is bang on to refuse retaliatory strikes. They’re in the same category as the “forensic audits” conducted in Guyana that are yet to lead to a single indictment, much less any conviction!

Imagine a huge chunk of the report has to do with the broadcasts of the Russian Show “Russia Today”, which showed a huge preference for Trump, rather than Clinton being the next President! The question Trump must’ve answered was “How in the world can a show broadcast inside of Russia influence the US elections??”

In the end, the agencies said, “Putin publicly indicated a preference for President-elect Trump’s stated policy to work with Russia, and pro-Kremlin figures spoke highly about what they saw as his Russia-friendly positions on Syria and Ukraine. Putin publicly contrasted the President-elect’s approach to Russia with Secretary Clinton’s ‘aggressive rhetoric’.”

So, what’s wrong with this? But the question must be asked is why are these intelligence agencies making these claims? Some cynics insist that they are simply trying to justify their mega secret budgets. Is it because the Russians are the successors of the big, bad USSR? But the US relationship with China show that countries can change their stripes, doesn’t it?

This Eyewitness may have some deep issues with Trump’s stance on race, but to tell the truth, he gets full marks for pushing peace with Russia. …on GECOM nominees Yesterday, your Eyewitness expanded on one gambit the PNC’s making to ensure BharratJagdeo doesn’t get back into the Office of the Presidency.

That ploy had to do with loading the judicial dice to prevent him from running for a third term. Your Eyewitness predicted the effort would be a sustained one – but even his jaded mind didn’t figure the next move would come so fast. Prezzie rejected ALL SIX nominees submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for him to pick the next Chairman of GECOM. Imagine that! Your Eyewitness kinda figured Prezzie was headed in that direction when he requested “résumés” – an unprecedented request! But he went out on a limb when he offered his rationale: “none of the candidates was a former judge or someone eligible to be appointed as a judge.”

Now this is but one criteria for making the choice; the other being they just should be “fit and proper”.

Shouldn’t Prezzie also say why the six were “unfit and improper??? …on underground economy For the longest while Clive Thomas has been preaching about an “underground economy” here. But it’s only yesterday he decided to take an inventory of “tall buildings” as proof. So he was guessing up to now?

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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38 Art & Culture

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

“Kitty seawall” circa 1948

By Clive W. McWatt

R

ichard Gui Pennington Sharples, better known as R. G. Sharples, was a man of extraordinary ability who demonstrated a wealth of talents. Alongside his legal career, Sharples is recognised equally for his artistic legacy and his contribution to the devel-

opment of a ‘local style’ in the history of fine art in Guyana.

Sharples was born in Georgetown on May 1, 1906. He was the youngest son of Mary Johanna (née Scott) and John Bradshaw Sharples, the famous architect and builder.

He began his early education at the Ursuline Convent and Queen’s

“Kitty seawall” circa 1948

College. He later studied law in London.

On his return to Guyana, he practised as a solicitor. He became Treasurer of the British Guiana Law Society in 1943. Sharples’ career as a Magistrate became inextricably linked with Guyana’s political history.

Sharples became

president of the British Guiana Arts & Crafts Society, formed in 1931, which later becamethe Guyanese Art Group in 1945. He was actively involved in the main current of art in those decades. His art circle included a nucleus of talented local artists like Vivian Antrobus, Reginald Phang, E. R. Burrowes, Basil Hinds, Denis Williams and Hubert Moshett, who worked primarily in landscape and portraiture.

The art group set out to foster the appreciation of art and set goals for assisting the young upcoming generation of artists who later pursued their art studies in Europe: Aubrey Williams, Stanley Greaves, and Marjorie Broodhagen, along with Burrowes.

Sharples was also a member of the RA&CS Exhibition Committee up to 1956.

From an early age, Sharples displayed a flair for painting and continued his hobby when he returned to Guyana after law studies in England.

His sheer spontaneity is expressed in his pencil sketching done in situto producea finished watercolour painting.This technique became his preferred medium of expression.

His subject matter was primarily scenery with trees and human figures. Trees became an important feature in all his watercolour landscapes – sturdy gnarled trunks crowned with feathery foliage and lithe abstract figures conveying a sense of belonging to the landscapes in which they appear.

Some of Sharples’ earliest work appeared in the “Centenary History and Handbook of British Guiana 1831-1931” by A.R.F. Webber published in 1931. The watercolour plates he produced for the

R. G. Sharples as a young man

book brought Sharples’ name to prominence.

The six watercolour plates vividly portray local themes and locations which are evocative of Guyana’s coastal topography - the wonderful opalescent atmosphere of the tropical landscape is captured in scenes with ordinary men and women working amidst lush green foliage and scarlet blooms; reflected light from azure skies on waterways and rivers.

Besides his watercolour painting, Sharples readily turned his creative skills to other design activities included hand-painted dresses for his wife and daughters.

In the mid-1940s he paintedthe scenery on the pivoting panels of the stage wings in the auditorium at the Ursuline Convent; he also made and painted the large ‘SERVIAM’ shield (the emblem and motto of St Rose’s High School) which hung at the back of the auditorium.

Rev. Richard Lester Guilly, S.J. was appointed Catholic Bishop of Georgetown in February 1956; Sharples wasasked to design a coat of arms for the newly enthroned Bishop.

In the early 1950s, Sharples won astamp design competition. One of the chosendesigns was the 72 cents stamp in a carmine and emerald illustration of the Arapaima fish. This 1954 stamp set, released on December 1, 1954 was the first British Guiana stamp to carry the profile of Queen Elizabeth II. Although Sharples re-

“Buxton East Coast” circa 1950

mained an amateur artist, he secured sales for his paintings at local exhibitions. In the 1950s, Alcan Aluminium of Canada put on a travelling exhibition of West Indian art and several of his watercolours were chosen for this.

In 1953, his work was exhibited at the Guyanese Art Group exhibition. In June 1957, a posthumous exhibition of his paintings was held in the RA&CS Reading Rooms in Georgetown.

The Joint Art Committee of the RA&CS (1944-1948), which was set up for the purpose of forming a nucleus of the British Guiana National Art Collection, purchased three of Sharples’ paintings for the Nation – “The Quarry”(1947), “Bartica Afternoon”(1946), a backyard scene in soft pastel watercolours of muted greens and browns, whichare in the National Gallery, Castellani House; and “The Tamarind”(1947), housed in the Guyana National Museum, a landscape in warm russet tones in which relaxed figures rest beneath the shade of a tamarind tree.

Sharples’ untimely death on August 26, 1956 at the age of 50 was a shock to his family and friends.Besides his legal career and love of painting, he had the capacity to enjoy the good life to the full - even as the Bohemian artist. He is to be remembered for his charismatic personality and outstanding quality as a magistrate, artist and citizen. Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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39

The hope that unites us

T

he reaction to President David Granger’s attempt to seize Red House and evict the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre signals that there is still hope for Guyana.

Criticisms about the highhanded manner in which the move was done have come from across party and ethnic lines and signify that there is still a body of decency among the common citizenry. The thuggery and hooliganism that accompanied the revocation of the lease agreement reminded too many of us who lived through the Burnham era of that dark past; and that many are willing to state their positions fearlessly in the press, bears out that there is an active civil society who will not let Guyana return to that darkness. Not without a fight anyway and this should give Granger and the People’s National Congress (PNC) pause.

Attorney and former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executive Member Ralph Ramkarran branded the attempted seizure of the Red House property “the height of executive lawlessness”. This was a major component of Burnham’s style of conducting State business when party paramountcy prevailed over every facet of our lives.

Political commentator Ramon Gaskin stated that the tearing down of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre sign took us back to “the bullysim of the PNC”.

Stabroek News’ columnist Allan Fenty in a letter to the media appraised the move by Granger as being more “political than legal” and, in another letter to the press, accountant Nigel Hinds condemned the attempted seizure and stated that the Granger Government is acting “as if we are two nations with two destinies”.

Crises can act as a consolidatory force to bring opposing sides together and the reaction to the Red House move, if the revocation was intended to test the waters, should place the Granger Government on notice that Guyanese across the board are not going to allow our country to be dragged back to a Burnhamist past.

The Burnham era was a product of the Cold War. He was kept in power because it suited America’s interests and in these international power plays it mattered little that our country

Ryhaan Shah was destroyed in the process. Guyana has not yet recovered from that period of executive lawlessness, mismanagement, corruption, racism and wholesale destruction because in its 23-year governance, the PPP/C made its own grave missteps and became as haughty and arrogant.

Because the PPP/C has lost the moral high ground, the current crop of PNC parliamentarians and sycophants like to use their wrongs as justification for their own wrongdoings. There is that old saying that two wrongs never make a right and it sums up the impasse that currently obtains with parties and politicians who refuse to use their good offices to lift Guyana out of its morass.

More than being an issue about the rule of law, the attempted seizure of Red House hit many of us at an emotional level and came with the realisation that if someone as heroic as CheddiJagan can be treated with such scant regard, there is little hope for the rest of us.

The impending closure of the historic sugar industry and the disregard for the sugar workers’ plight is a case in point; and the Burnhamist tactics used by Granger in the attempted seizure brought to the forefears about his Government’s intent to return Guyana to the darkest period of that era.

That Granger could pick up Burnham’s legacy at the point where he had accepted the failure of his policies and had reached out to Cheddi Jagan to establish a national front government.

Tragically, Burnham died before this new level of political maturity could have been realised and no subsequent leader of either party has ever revisited this idea in any of their efforts at uniting our country. Putting the failed Public Health Minister at the head of the Social Cohesion department could be viewed as a Freudian slip:

even Granger himself admits that this State programme is nothing but a fraud.

Social cohesion can never be mandated by a Government that parades its racism openly. It could become a reality, however, through an organic movement from the people themselves that are driven by a common cause and an adherence to decency.

The Red House fiasco has brought with it an element of hope that we can still stand united when the cause is just. It is always the straw that breaks the camel’s back and that this can be the catalyst that will finally bring us together to settle our historical hurts and help us to move forward might be a hope too soon.

But the promise is there.

40 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

2-year-old eye cancer patient returns home after successful surgery T

he two-year-old who was flown out of Guyana to Cuba in order to undergo treatment for eye cancer has returned and according to his mother, Cassandra Persaud, his surgery was a successful one.

According to Persaud, who returned home with the boy, Omkar Persaud, on Friday, their success was as a result of the support from Roraima Airways, the Public Health Ministry and the SHEA Foundation, who

came forward to assist her son.

She also pointed to the contribution of Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed, who she disclosed remained supportive throughout the period of her son’s treat-

ment in Cuba.

The treatment, which was estimated to cost US$20,000, was only made possible by the abovementioned donors.

The lad and his mother departed Guyana for Cuba via Roraima

Omkar Persaud and his mother, Cassandra Persaud

Airways on December 15, 2016, in order for him to undergo treatment in the hope of saving his right eye, after his left eye was removed in 2016 after deterioration brought on by retinoblastoma (a rare, malignant tumour of the retina).

The lad was also diagnosed with retinoblastoma in his right eye, and was in need of urgent treatment.

After his mother’s public pleas for assistance, a number of organisations came for-

ward to support her.

One significant contributor was the owner of Roraima Airways, Gerry Gouveia who presented the lad with two airline tickets to Cuba for him to undergo his surgery.

The Guyana Pandits’ Council and the Radha Krishna Mandir also made a donation of G$315,000 towards the child’s care.

The journey is not yet over as Persaud is yet to undergo additional treatment in Guyana.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

“Indian Guyanese sensitivities” I note the intervention of my friend, Dr David Hinds, in the matter of Red House that has transfixed the nation. So as not to misrepresent his views I quote his letter extensively: “As a student of ethnicity and ethnic politics, I allow for certain normatives in ethnically polarised societies. I am not torn up by ethnic voting nor am I condemnatory of appeals to ethnic solidarity – I see these as normal developments that are products of the logic of ethnic polarisation. One just has to live with them and try to utilise them in positive ways. But what MrJagdeo is doing is going out of his way to create an atmosphere of ethnic tension when there need not be one.

This Red House issue is not one of disrespecting Jagan or Indian Guyanese sensitivities.”

“As a student of ethnic politics”, however, I hope Dr Hinds would concede the salience of the identity of “the leader” in such politics, which, for good reason, is also labelled “identity politics”. The identity of the follower is bound up with that of the group and it is widely conceded by “students of ethnic politics” that the desire to be ruled by “one’s own leader” is one of the driving forces of such politics.

In Guyana, this holds true for both DrJagan and Mr Burnham who have come to symbolise “leadership” in their respective IndianGuyanese and AfricanGuyanese followings.

Those who mobilised in those communities “from within”, so to speak, outside those leaders’ umbrellas, were seen by most in the group as “betraying the cause”. As a self-identified “Rodneyite”, Dr Hinds would have experienced such opprobrium from within the group he situates his political praxis.

The point is that neither Dr Hinds nor anyone else can arbitrarily decide “This Red House issue is not one of disrespecting Jagan or Indian Guyanese sensitivities”. “Sensitivities” are subjectivities which, by definition, are generated by the subject. Unless Dr Hinds is implying ethnic followers have no agency and are merely reflexively following the music of the pied piper of their group.

Let me assure him “this Red House issue” has

affected “the sensitivities” of Indian Guyanese such as no other since the January 12 1998 ethnic violence directed against them for presumably being followers of the PPP. Outside of anything MrJagdeo may have said.

As such, it is quite inconsistent for Dr Hinds to define “the issue” for the Indian Guyanese since he promised to “allow for certain normatives in ethnically polarised societies”. It reminds me of the instance in October 1992 when Dr Clive Thomas, as leader of the WPA, and Dr Hinds, as of the foot soldiers, did not allow for the “normatives” of African Guyanese and defined “the issue” then, as fulfilling Dr Rodney’s mission to “remove the PNC dictatorship”. They paid the price as I did in 2001, when I misread the “sensitivities” of Indian Guyanese.

In supporting the PNC in its present incarnation, I assumed Drs Thomas and Hind et al, had worked out a modus vivendi with the “sensitivities” of African Guyanese for “cleaving” to the signifier of their group’s leadership. And would have accepted the Indian Guyanese analogous movement.

But I would like to share with Dr Hinds and the other partisans of the Government’s Red House gambit a more specific reason for the Indian Guyanese “sensitivities”. I invoke JL Austin’s proposition of the “speech act” implicit in the Government giving the CJRC two days’ notice to vacate the premises with all of the records of DrJagan’s life’s work. When one writes or makes a statement, there are the words – in this case “move out since your lease is invalid” – which can be analysed for their sense and reference (the locutionary aspect). But there’s also simultaneously the “point”, or one may say, the “move” that was intended by the Government – the illocutionary aspect of the statement – called “speech acts” by JL Austin.

If “the move” was to undo an alleged illegality, the conundrum arises to Indian Guyanese as to how that “illegality” would have been cured by including “the papers of other presidents” as Dr Hinds said approvingly of the Government’s offer.

But speech acts have

By Ravi Dev a third, “perlocutionary” dimension – “what we bring about or achieve by saying something”. And this is where Indians feel the Government was out to humiliate the memory of DrJagan – especially when the summary verbal expulsion was confirmed by Ministry of the Presidency’s employees breaking down the sign of CJRC and throwing it on the ground.

41

42 feature

By Petamber Persaud

A

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

Nelle Harper Lee ( 1926-2017)

s we say goodbye to 2017, we ought to spare a thought for the literary luminaries we lost during the year. This is not so much to mourn the loss but rather to commemorate it and take comfort in the legacy of the work those writers left behind; some of those books changed the world.

It is that time of the year when we do stocktaking in every sphere of human and non-human endeavour. And it is also the time of awards, spectacular, mostly, and mundane affairs. Somehow literature is side-lined into the mundane category instead of being elevated to its rightful place at the top of human endeavour. Woe betide us when we fail to ac-

knowledge our custodians of words and creators of ideas who value us in words while they are alive and kicking and after they have departed this life, we tumble over ourselves in order to shower praise and commendation.

Below are some writers who were fortunate to be given due recognition while they were alive and were able to savour the moment/s.

Michael Abbensetts (1938 – 2017)

ity for herself or the novel since 1964”. For more than 50 years this book has kept the conversation on racial justice alive and will continue to make an impact on hu-

man understanding for as long as the book is in print.

Umberto Eco

Italian novelist and philosopher, Umberto Eco, also

man condition in plays like “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “The Zoo Story”.

I watched the movie “Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?” recently, mainly for two reasons; the actors - Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and George Segal, and that the play was among other outstanding plays gifted to me

by John Stevenson.

Harper Lee

Harper Lee, who died Feb. 19, 2017 gave us the evergreen high school staple and modern classic “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Labelled a ‘reclusive author’, Lee did respond to the impact of the novel although “she had refused any personal public-

Ras Michael Jeune makes a presentation at Moray House in 2014 (Photo: Moray House Trust)

lomat, Edward Ricardo Braithwaite was born in 1912 in Guyana. He died in the USA on December 12, 2017 at 104-years-old.

Some of the works of the above writers effected change in certain communities and also helped in the

Michael Abbensetts

Umberto Eco (1932 -2017)

died on February 19. “The Name of the Rose” is his most famous book which is considered “an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in fiction, biblical analysis, medieval studies and literary theory”. I was introduced to this author/book courtesy of John and Sally Stevenson while they were on a sojourn in Guyana doing voluntary work at NGOs dealing with children welfare. John died Sept.

27, 2017. I am indebted to them both leaving me boxes of children’s literature, and plays including “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?” by Edward Albee.

Ras Michael Jeune

Proud Buxtonian and Guyanese, Ras Michael Jeune was a columnist, playwright, cultural activist and poet practicing dubpoetry long before it became popular in Guyana. He was also an artist at heart and at large, who imparted his knowledge gracefully, teaching short story writing, drama and storytelling. Ras Michael Jeune died April 20.

Born in Guyana, Michael Abbensetts died in the UK on November 24. Abbensetts was noted for his play “Sweet Talk” but more so for opening the way for black playwrights in the UK; through his writing he led the way for black to be portrayed in a different light. The lead for his TV drama series “Empire Road” was the late Guyanese actor Norman Beaton and the lead for His “Black Christmas” was another Guyanese actor, Carmen Monroe.

E R Braithwaite

Better known for his evergreen book translated into more than 25 languages, “To Sir with Love” will maintain the focus on racial injustice and other forms of discrimination for as long as it is in print. His other books include “Paid Servant” (1962), “A Kind of Homecoming” (1962), “A Choice of Straws” (1965), “Reluctant Neighbours” (1972), and “Honorary White” (1975).

Writer, teacher and dip-

ER Braithwaite (Photo taken in 1962)

shaping of Guyanese imagination and literature.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s happening: Under production: a compilation of biographies of Indo-Guyanese writers.

Under production: an anthology of IndoCaribbean poetry.

For further information, please see the aforementioned contacts. Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Edward Albee

In 1991, Albee told The New York Times, “All of my plays are about people missing the boat, closing down too young, coming to the end of their lives with regret at things not done, as opposed to things done”. Edward Albee died September 16 but not before he was able to display his opinion on hu-

Edward Albee (1928 -2017)

news 43

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana to get own law school …under public/private partnership

G

Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams

uyanese law students will no longer have the opportunity to pursue their Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and Tobago as the agreement with the Council of Legal Education to facilitate this arrangement comes to an end next year.

However a law school, to be named the JOF Haynes Law School of the Americas (JHLSA), will soon be established locally to accommodate students desirous of furthering their studies in the field of law.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) and Law College of the Americas (LCA) to open a law school in Guyana, hopefully by 2018.

The undertaking will be in the form of a public private partnership, with Government holding 30 per cent interest and the private partners 70 per cent.

Regarding financing, the Attorney General said Government’s contribution will primarily be to provide the land needed for the development of the school.

The law school will be operating under the Council of Legal Education and will therefore be open to students all across the Region.

The campus will most likely be at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown but other locations are being explored. The school is expected to accommodate up to 400 students.

The Minister guaranteed that the costs for studying at the local law school will be significantly less than what students pay at Hugh Wooding and other law schools in the Region.

It was pointed out that the cost would be incred-

ibly cheaper given that students factored in living expenses in addition to their tuition when they were studying abroad.

The Attorney General assured that the law school will be accredited and its programme recognised throughout the Region.

Assurances were also given that the lecturers contracted will be of high standards to ensure that the students are offered quality legal education.

It is also the vision of the partners involved for the school to go beyond training students to be called to the bar.

Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Dr Barbara Reynolds expressed hopes that the law school will broaden the horizons for students studying law.

“I think it is time that we engaged in studying other areas of the law that are so essential to our national development agenda and our regional development agenda. I hope the law school goes beyond just getting people out with an LEC to be admitted to the bar to go not just on Croal Street, Church Street, etcetera, to stand before the courts as noble as it is to do so,” she stated.

Dr Reynolds stressed that there is not sufficient study of the law from an academic perspective as opposed to a practical perspective. The UG will be working closely with the Government on this venture.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who was present during the signing of the MoU, underscored the importance of this watershed moment in the advancement of education in Guyana.

He emphasised that education is the backbone to development and if education fails, then everything else will fail.

UCC Executive Chancellor, Professor Dennis Gayle, during his

UG Deputy VC,Dr Barbara Reynolds

remarks at the simple ceremony, alluded to the benefits Guyanese students will reap from the initiative.

“This partnership will surely help to bridge the significant gap between

the demand for legal education in the Region and the provision for such education. One of the advantages of the new JOF Haynes Law School is that it will increase access to more students to

UCC Executive Chancellor, Professor Dennis Gayle

have the opportunity to study given the challenge of space availability and the very long waiting list that we have observed in the provision for legal education in the Region,” he explained.

Before any physical construction gets underway, a feasibility study will have to be conducted to determine the best route of implementing this project.

44 Star of the week

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

M

adonna Ghanie, a resilient entrepreneur and model, is always eager to help others in need. Many might remember her from the Miss Universe Guyana 2011 pageant, where, although she did not win, her presence was felt as she was noted for her eloquence and demeanour. She also competed in Miss Guyana Talented Teen and placed first runner-up in Face of Shabeau competition held in Barbados. Although she enjoyed pageantry, the 25-year-old’s passion is modelling. She recalled ever since childhood she loved dressing up and modelling in her room. This ‘passion’ motivated her to join the fashion scene as a model, walking the runway for notable designers such as Sidney Francois, Rishma Persaud, Randy Madray, Roger Gary, Keisha Edwards - just to name a few. Madonna credits Pamela Dillon, a veteran beauty consultant, who helped her achieve her dream of becoming a model. Madonna mentioned her current focus is on expanding her business and modelling career, and helping her community. Her advice is: “Life is full of negativity as we all have bad days, but put all the negative thoughts aside and think positive things. There is so much more to life than we think.”

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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46 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt gets tough with squatters

One people…

O

J

The Department of Housing of the Communities Ministry, Brickdam

unior Communities Minister Valerie Sharpe-Patterson has sounded a warning to persons who continue to squat on Government land, even though they were granted house lots by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

The Minister, who has responsibility for the housing sector, told a Tuesday morning news conference that Government will be taking strict actions against those persons – actions as extreme as breaking down the squatters’ houses.

She explained that some persons opted to rent out their legal house lots and live in squatter settlements.

“There are a number of squatters who already have an allocation of a house lot, some of them built on it and is renting and they are squatting, so they are squatting and they are collecting rent.

We are going to deal with those persons. We are going to break them down (squatter houses) if they don’t move,” the Minister said, noting that notices have already been served to the respective squatters.

Low-cost homes M e a n w h i l e , Government will be building low-cost houses for some 700 squatters who currently reside in Sophia, East Ruimveldt and West Ruimveldt.

Over the years, the programme will be expanded to provide housing solutions to squatters in different locations across the country.

“We can’t deal with all the areas, as we continue along the year, we are going to clean up,” Patterson said.

The CH&PA has already identified a location for the construction of the low-cost wooden houses to accommodate the squatters from the central Georgetown locations first.

Minister SharpePatterson made it clear that the houses will not be given away free of cost.

“We are knowledgeable of the fact that some of these persons have applications in our systems for years, they say ‘I have applied formally but I haven’t received an allocation of a house lot, but I have to find somewhere to live’. Those arguments have been advanced and I quite understand, I don’t say that has given you a reason to squat, you can go rent but I don’t believe you should break those people houses down and leave them on the road,” the Minister explained as one of the main reasons why they have decided to construct alternative living arrangements for squatters.

However, she said if the squatters still refuse to move even after being offered the alternative arrangement, then Government will have no other choice but to remove them from the squatting areas.

“We have to restore order to the city,” she stressed.

Regularise

While Government has been successful in regularising some of the squatting areas, Minister Sharpe-Patterson noted that it is impossible to regularise all the areas where persons have illegally taken up residence.

“You cannot regularise some of the squatting areas, some of the areas you cannot put any infrastructural work,” she explained.

Furthermore, the Minister highlighted that squatting poses major environmental and health issues to the squatters, as well as persons who live in surrounding areas.

Last year, the CH&PA regularised 221 squatters which fell below the annual target of 400.

…with Diaspora?

ne of the most significant outcomes of the first PNC regime was to inflate our Diaspora, where North America became “Region 11” with probably as many persons of Guyanese living there as “back home”. Seeing the important roles other diasporas played in the development of their countries of origin, successive regimes have attempted to duplicate that success here. Without much success.

What gives? With the change of Government in 1992, a horde of ex-pats turned up to “help”. However, unlike other diasporas, they didn’t return with capital that’d be harnessed to their newfound knowledge base to launch industries. Yet this is the role the PPP Government wanted them to play. The diasporans insisted wanted to “help” with their skills in various capacities in local institutions. In other words they wanted jobs – but wouldn’t say so. This created considerable resentment – and a backlash among locals who wanted to know why jobs would go to those who’d “fled”.

This background is invoked as the PNC-led Government that in turn replaced the PPP is evidently working out the details of a “diaspora policy”. But from what your Eyewitness has glimpsed, the fundamental clash of perspectives that bedevilled the previous Administration is still a sticking point. There’s no question this new Government received great support – material and otherwise – from the Diaspora in their efforts to unseat the PPP. And (reading between the lines) from some letters in the press, they expected local jobs. Even government jobs. Not totally some locals who’d made “political investments”!!

But from Prezzie’s comments, he – like Dr Jagan back in the 1990’s – expected investments from them – which isn’t evidently as significantly as he’d envisaged. What to do? Well in its “diaspora policy” the government will still be focusing on getting the Diaspora to shell out their cash to develop Guyana – pointing out, of course, they’d also benefit. Information will be made accessible via the Internet to prospective overseas Guyanese investors, then “entrepreneurs” will be identified to activate a pilot project etc…

Now while the jury may be out as to whether the Government beating the bushes for diasporan investors will succeed, it is certain to intensify the angst of the vociferous “diasporans” who’ll complain of being seen as just “cash cows”. While they may not be so bold (or honest) to link their demands for local jobs as a “return on political investments” as one Minister described a local instance, this is the bottom line.

But since the diasporans insist on taking the “patriotic line”, maybe Prezzie can take a leaf from Cheddi Jagan’s book and offer them $1 annual salaries!

This ought to separate the wheat from the chaff, nuh? …on taxes Very quietly, the value of gold mined and not declared to the authorities in Colombia and Peru has surpassed cocaine! Gold’s now the criminal activity of choice in those countries. While early in the day, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman made some astounding claims as to the value of gold “smuggled” out of Guyana – as much as what’s legally “declared” – he quickly backed off.

But while he focused on the smuggling of the gold, the Latin Americans have made the point if the miners who sell their production to the smugglers don’t declare it to the officials (here the Gold Board) then they’re also committing a crime!! And what was found was this criminal miner had no compunction about mercury pollution.

Now, our miners just raised a big stink because they were asked to “keep books” on their operations. For taxation purposes.

But how about the Government “keep their eyes” on miners who don’t declare their gold? Wouldn’t that bring in more revenues? …but Special Prosecutors It does pay to be under the thumb of the government’s Propaganda shill. The Stabber declared the names of the Special Prosecutors (for the coming Inquisition?) on the Pradoville 2 vendetta was a “secret”.

The Chronic, on the other hand, named all six!

Strategic move…

T

…against Jagdeo

he PNC-led coalition Government didn’t need the PPP to hold a Congress, or elections for the Central Committee, or for the General Secretary of the party that Bharat Jagdeo would emerge as the leader of the PPP by being the Opposition Leader and its General Secretary. The moment they filed their appeal in July 2015 to the “third term” ruling of Justice Ian Chang, the cat was out of the bag. They were running scared Jagdeo would run again!

But they didn’t need political geniuses to figure that out. Why would the PPP overlook a man who already had 12 years under his belt as President of the country; is a trained economist who was able to generate impressive growth rates when the rest of Caricom languished in the doldrums, and most importantly was able to take on and defeat an armed insurrection against the State – and was still only 52 years old?? They’d had to have a death wish!!

So now the PPP’s officially conferred on Jagdeo the authority to lead it into the 21st Century, we return to the PNC’s fears! Simultaneously, (coincidentally?) we get news that the appeal filed by now AG Williams and Trotman is going to be heard by the Court of Appeal starting this Friday.

And as the plot thickens, we discern the hand of the PNC rising out of the fog.

The Court of Appeal, after all, is comprised of the Chancellor, the Chief Justice and one or more other Appellate judges. Now, do you still think your Eyewitness was paranoid when last week he questioned the two-step tango played by a letter writer Edwards and the Chronic? First, Edwards informed the nation that the Chancellor reaches retirement age at the end of February and since he has three weeks leave outstanding, he should proceed on “pre-retirement leave” at the end of this month!!

That’s right! And if you think this revelation came “out of the blue” then it REALLY was Santa who was kissing Mommy under the Christmas tree!! Then Edwards, made his main point – “…no Judge soon to vacate his office ought to commence hearing a new or fresh case, for in all probability it would be a partheard case when he/she vacates office.” The Chronic then piggybacked on this to posit that “concerns” were raised about the Chancellor’s “impending” retirement and he shouldn’t take “new cases”!!

All of this simply means the PNC wants to ensure the Appellate Court rules against a “third term” – and don’t trust the incumbent Chancellor to go along.

But what does this say about their assessment of the new Chief Justice, who was just given silk? …on silk The PNC’s ploy on the Chief Justice – for which they had to take a lot of flak from the legal community on awarding silk to a sitting judge – might now be understood, but it evokes some sad memories from the first PNC regime. The present generation mightn’t remember when the PNC moved a case against a PPP activist from Berbice for a crime allegedly committed in Berbice to Georgetown to be tried by “a jury of his peers”!! It was one of Rodney’s finest moment when he asked what this implied about the PNC’s assessment of “African Guyanese”.

But the silk award raised several other nettlesome issues. One lawyer trotted out his credentials in the press and brought to the fore the question of what criteria was used to make the selection.

Another suggested that the title of “Senior Counsel” might now be passé in our Republic – in setting up invidious distinctions.

But your Eyewitness is worried that addressing all and sundry as “Comrade” might be the next step! …on vendors?

Since the vendors were allowed to return to the Stabroek Market environs, was the expulsion more tactical than strategic?

And what about all those pious platitudes uttered at the time of expulsion by the Town Clerk about “restoring Georgetown’s beauty”?

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Arrival Day

S

atiricus was feeling very chipper. After all, in addition to all the goodies that were usually circulated during the Christmas season, there were always the slew of Holidays. Which, this go around, had been increased by one extra day. He and the fellas were seated at their usual table at the back of the Back Street Bar, valiantly trying to counter the rain that just wouldn’t stop.

“If people fight fire with fire,” he’d explained to Hari and Bungi when he’d suggested this retreat, “why not fight water with water – which is what beer really is, isn’t it?!!” There was no answer to that logic, and so her they were.

“So…what you think about Prezzie giving us one new holiday in January?” asked Hari.

“New haliday?” said Bungi, shaking his head. “Me na hear ‘bout da.”

“I did read he said Jan 12 would be ‘Chinese Arrival Day’,” Satiricus agreed. “But I don’t think he made it into a public holiday.”

“So, we don’t get off another day?” complained Hari querulously. “That’s terrible! I need a rest after all those Holidays in December!”

“I wonder why Pressie didn’t make it into a public holiday?” said Satiricus as he finished off his beer.

“Me t’ink me know why,” said Bungi, with a big grin plastered over his face. “Chinese people a wuksuh hard, demna want de halliday!”

“But I don’t understand something,” interjected Hari. “If May 5th is “Arrival Day for all immigrants, now that we have Jan 12 for Chinese Arrival, are we going to have an Arrival Day for the Portuguese too?”

“Me na mind,” said Bungi quickly.

“Well, Indian Guyanese always called May 5, “Indian Arrival Day’,” Satiricus pointed out.

“You think maybe Nagga Man asked Pressie to make it official?” ”Budday! Lehabeenta’k about Nagga man an’ Indian!” smiled Bungi. “Me know he a yuhleadah!”

“Naah…Sato don’t mind,” Hari assured Bungi. “Since Pressie didn’t give Nagga Man any real work, every day is a holiday for him!!”

Even Satiricus had to smile as they clinked bottles all around.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Nostalgia and movies

47

“HakunaMatata, ain’tno passing craze. It means no worries for the rest of your days” – Timon and Pumba, The Lion King Anu Dev

W

e all have heroes and heroines from movies we saw as kids. Some of these movies we can re-watch and they take us back, even just for two hours, to that time, when things were so much simpler. Much of the appeal of those movies comes from the nostalgia accompanying our memories of when we first saw them, and what things were like back then.

Movies and songs can be really powerful in the way they evoke certain emotions from us.

For me, ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ are some of the movies from my childhood that manage to take me right back to the first couple of times I saw those movies. And I still cheer when I see Shahrukh running towards Camp Sunshine with Raghupati Ragav playing in

the background. Shahrukh has clearly mastered those dramatic running sequences.

These movies still make me laugh, cry, sigh and singalong.

And I can’t help but reflect on how Indian movies have changed since the days of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. I know this may make me seem like an old fudfy-duddy but honestly, I really don’t enjoy most of the newer Indian movies. Maybe some might call the older movies cheesy, even I quickly lose patience with the seemingly never-ending ‘runningaround-trees-while-singing sequences’, but at least they didn’t have the actors ‘getting down’ to Raghupati Ragav in a club like Hritik and Priyanka did in Krissh 3.

That’s not on my nostalgic memory lane.

I finally got to see ‘Rogue One’ a couple of weeks ago, when I was back home and I was thrilled it managed to

inspire the same sense of awe as the original Star Wars movies. In itself, the movie was wonderfully crafted and paced and while the central characters were completely new to the series, it was not just the self-references to the previous episodes, but the central message of sacrifice for a greater cause that evoked the nostalgia.

And imagine there was not a single make-out scene in a modern movie that continues to break box office records! Good narratives still matter.

So it’s nice that there are still movies that you can enjoy that can take you back to your childhood days. I know we should be moving forward, forging onwards, setting goals and trying to achieve those goals. But life also needs some constants and most of what is evoked nostalgically is centred around the particular constants formed in our early

years. They will never get old because they’ve become part of who you are.

For me, and perhaps many people my age, we’re in the throes of adjusting to adulthood. Getting used to living on our own, doing our own grocery, driving ourselves around and doing you know, ‘adult-things’. And a few years from now we’ll be responsible for keeping our patients alive, defending our clients in court or keeping our business afloat.

So with our futures quickly hurtling towards us, it’s nice to escape for a few hours into a nice movie that makes us connect to our younger selves. In a sense, were are completing our narratives.

So what movies take you back to your childhood?

When last did you look at those movies? I can guarantee that those movies will be the ones that can cheer you up when you’re having a bad day.

I am having a nightmare and please do not wake me

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was having this dream that authoritarianism was about to be resurrected in my dear land of Guyana and I suddenly woke up. I am upset because I have to imagine what the full dream would have been, as opposed to just relying on memory. I am also upset because the leadership of the Coalition regime has penetrated my consciousness even when I am resting. But I have drawn solace from this dream because most of Guyana is suffering from a national nightmare analogous to what I have dreamt. This sort of experience should occur in a nosocomial environment and not during the day at home.

I do not mean to start the New Year this way, but what the Guyanese public has experienced for the past year has been a nightmare of nightmares which arguably will be repeated this year. I say this because ever since this regime stumbled into power, there have been pantheons of pathological problems which have taxed the very will of even the toughest Guyanese to survive. While some sections of the population have applied a wait and watch approach to this regime, other sections have not been so sympathetic and have used labels like corruption, cronyism, mismanagement, criminality, highhandedness, incompetence and witchhunting to describe the APNU/AFC coalition.

These labels have become so common to many households that satirically speaking, the national motto has now been transformed from one nation, one destiny to omniaparatus – you jump, I jump. What a way to live!

Like so many, I was sceptical when the regime assumed power about 20 months ago and argued in the letter columns of the dailies that its actions were inglorious, lacking substance and reminded the public not to expect much then. I repeat, do not expect much this year either.

My declaration emerged from the assessment of the 100 days manifesto and the appointed Government Ministers. I argued that if the Coalition delivered 20 per cent of what was promised in the manifesto then Guyanese would be floored. I also declared that most Government Ministers lacked political métier and those with experience – the old heads, their nicknames in Guyana – have shown little acumen and determination that they would deliver, other than grabbing the State coffers for themselves.

Guyana’s national treasury has become a political feeding trough.

How else can one describe Government Ministers grabbing State scholarships for themselves and their families? How else can one describe the handing out of Government’s contracts to favourites with a limited

transparent tendering process?

Am I way off to say that the regime has dished out so much rhetoric to the Guyanese public that the nation has reached a tipping point to which the regime refuses to admit?

I do not think so, and if you disagree I point to the extremists, propagandists, the die-hard supporters, spokespersons, the activists, the mouthpieces of this regime to support my viewpoints in so far as they are now reeling every day from disappointments with the regime’s failure to deliver. These individuals and outlets have taken an about turn chastising this regime for failed promises.

I understand their position.

I say welcome abroad and I do hope your reality is not as traumatised as my nightmare.

I am not going to belabour the obvious, but ask readers to just take a cursory look at the many available sources on the performance of this regime and they will see nothing majorly impressive but incompetence and irreversible corruption, such as sole-sourcing in the inner inviolable sanctum of the Government.

There is, too, this fear that the Government is moving with supersonic speed to bring back or rebuild the images of the former Forbes Burnhamled PNC. The regime seems

unshackled by old loyalties.

Fair minded individuals, Indians and non-Indians, communists and noncommunists, and friends and foes in and out of Guyana, I argue, they will find it difficult to distance themselves from the thought that the Red House fiasco is an attempt to physically destroy and desensitise the legacy of CheddiJagan?

If this action is a misjudgement from the regime, I say give the regime a second chance to redeem itself by using Guyana’s system of law and order to resolve what it believes to be a national dishonesty from the PPP to house Jagan’s history at Red House, a State-owned property. I will be proud of this action.

If the regime remains stoic to its action, I think we are embarking on a journey that would lead to more ethnic divisiveness and distrust that would eventually dissipate the lip service of any lingering hope of social cohesion in an already ethnically divided nation. I do hope I am wrong. (lomarsh.roopnarine@ jsums.edu)

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Priyanka Chopra bids farewell to Barack Obama’s ‘incredible legacy’

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S President Barack Obama’s farewell speech left most of the world a little bit emotional.

Priyanka Chopra was no exception. The actor took to her official Instagram account to share what she felt during Obama’s speech, calling his presidential rule as an “incredible legacy.” The actor had the honour to meet Barack Obama last year.

Along with a lot of celebrities, Priyanka Chopra was invited to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2016. After the dinner, she took to social media to share her experience of meeting the Obamas.

She wrote, “Lovely to meet the very funny and charming @barackobama and the beautiful @michelleobama. Thank you for a lovely evening.

Cannot wait to start working on your girls education program.”

Back then, the actor was shooting for her Hollywood debut, Baywatch. But now, Priyanka will soon start promoting her film, which is scheduled for May 26, 2017 release.

The 34-year-old actor plays the character of Victoria Leeds, who is villain of the piece. She also presented an award at the Golden Globes 2017.

In the recent

Baywatch trailer launched by the filmmakers, Priyanka makes for a convincing villain, confidently pointing a gun at the Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock. Baywatch has been adapted for the big screen by Seth Gordon. Dwayne stars as Mitch Buchannon and ZacEfron plays his yummy sidekick Matt Brody.

The film is in the vein of 21 Jump Street minus the latter’s perfectlytimed satire.

The film also stars Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, Jon Bass, Hannibal Buress, and Rob Huebel. The film releases May 26, 2016. (Indian Express)

When Shah Rukh Khan asked Dangal girl Sanya Malhotra to teach him Mitwa step

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anya Malhotra is riding high on the success of her debut release Dangal, but adding to her happiness is Shah Rukh Khan’s wish to learn a hook step from one of his

hit songs, Mitwa from Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna.

Sanya had dubbed Shah Rukh’s song in a video. She posted it on Instagram, which was later shared on Twitter.

Now, when a tweet has Shah Rukh Khan’s mention, how would his fans rest? One of the fan pages was quick enough to retweet it and coincidentally, SRK took notice.

Shah Rukh replied to the post saying, “Sanya Malhotra, will have to relearn from u. Fantastic.”

Of course, Sanya was thrilled with his reply and wrote, “Sir, meratoh Happy new year hoga-

ya,” signalling at a great beginning to 2017.

The Dangal girls bonded really well while shooting for their film with Aamir Khan. Their friendship can be seen on their Instagram account where they have posted quite a lot of pictures and videos. Even on Karan Johar’s chat show, the girls spoke about how people around

them thought they were dating each other because they were always spotted together.

Recently, on the occasion of Fatima’s birthday, Sanya shared a short video from the

birthday celebration and even a picture with a caption that read ‘Chal Geeta,’ one of the dialogues from Dangal.

The girls have become no less than a star ever since their debut.

While we are keen to know their next project, the girls’ are keeping us busy by being socially active. (Indian Express)

Actor Sonali Raut’s fat-to-fit transformation will leave you shocked

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odel and a c t o r Sonali Raut started her career with modelling, appeared in the annual Kingfisher calendar and starred in the Bollywood film, The Xposé.

However, it was as a contestant on Salman Khanhosted show, Bigg Boss season 8, that she found real fame. However, this time she is in the news for her fat-to-fit transformation and her journey is truly mind-boggling.

Sonali is very active on Instagram and keeps sharing her sizzling pics on and off. She has now shared thenand-now pictures of hers and we are in complete awe of this lady’s journey.

A lot of actors have earlier shared the hard work that went into making them what they are and it seems Sonali had to work hard to reach where she is today as well.

Sonali had dropped a Kannada film titled 99% Useless Fellows for Bigg

Boss 8, which angered its director SK Basheed. She was last seen in 2016 film Great Grand Masti in which she played Shiney, a domestic help. She was also seen in the song of the film ‘Lipstick LagaKe’.

Sonali’sBigg Boss 8 stint was rather memorable. But a shocker and truly inspirational transformation that she shared, makes it hard to believe that she is the same girl in the two pics. Sonali Raut shared the image with the caption: “#TuesdayTransformationThis is my journey from fat to fit. But in the end it’s all about loving yourself. #LoveYourself #FatToFit” (Indian Express)

Karan Johar replies to all ‘haters’

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aran Johar has never explicitly come out about his sexuality. Even in his biography, An Unsuitable Boy, Karan drops broad hints without saying it in so many words. Even as brickbats come his way for being coy, it is probably people like ‘Indian Sherlock’ — and our regressive laws — which have made the ace director wary. Moments after Karan tweeted that it was “one of those mornings where you crave for silence…..and all you’re surrounded by is baseless noise…..,” he was forced to deal with a tweeple who again brought his sexuality in question.

Calling himself Indian Sherlock, the man tweeted Johar saying, “Are you a gay? I’m ready to lay if you launch me.” An incensed Karan answered back, “Listen Sherlock!!! First solve the mystery of your existence???

The prize will be to LAUNCH a missile up your arse!!!”

However, this reply did not faze the man who went on tweeting to Johar and replying to comments on the tweet. It is not a long time back when the AeDilHaiMushkil director spoke about his sexuality in excerpts of biography co-authored by PoonamSaxena.

The Twitter rant of this guy did not stop here. With Karan not replying to his distasteful and publicity-hungry tweets, he started conversing with people who were commenting on the thread. His tweets look like an elaborate publicity stunt. “Yes, I can understand. A gay can only feel comfortable with gay. That’s why SRK compliments him,” he wrote.

Interestingly, in the biography, Karan revealed how he looks up to SRK and how it really bothered him that people thought he and the star were in a relationship. Here are excerpts from The Unsuitable Boy…

On his sexuality

“Everybody knows what my sexual orientation is. I don’t need to scream it out. If I need to spell it out, I won’t only because I live in a country where I could possibly be jailed for saying this… The reason I don’t say it out aloud is simply that I don’t want to be dealing with the FIRs. I’m very sorry. I have a job, I have a commitment to my company, to

my people who work for me; there are over a hundred people that I’m answerable to. I’m not going to sit in the courts because of ridiculous, completely bigoted individuals who have no education, no intelligence.”

On homophobia

“I have become like the poster boy of homosexuality in this country. But honestly, I have no problem with people saying what they want about me.

Twitter has the most abuse. I wake up to at least 200 hate posts saying, ‘Get out, you’re polluting our nation, you’re dirtying society’ or ‘Shove [IPC Section] 377 up your arse.’ I get this on a daily basis and I’ve learned to laugh it off. One man came up to me once very cockily at Heathrow airport and said, ‘Is it true that you are a homo?’ He was with his wife and child, and he asked me this. I looked at him and said, ‘Why, are you interested?’ And he said, ‘Hey, what-what what!’ And I said, ‘Don’t what-what me.’ And I walked out.”

On Shah Rukh Khan

“For heaven’s sake, for years there were rumours about Shah Rukh and me. And I was traumatized by it. I was on a show on a Hindi channel, and I was asked about Shah Rukh.’Yehanokharishtahaiaapka,’ the interviewer said. He worded it in such a way that I got really angry. I said, ‘If I asked you if you are sleeping with your brother, how will you feel?’

So he said, ‘What do you mean? How can you ask me this question?’ I said, ‘How could you ask me this question?

For me, no matter what ups and downs Shah Rukh and I have been through, he is a father figure, an older brother to me. For me to look at him in that way or be subjected to those rumours was just ridiculous.” (Indian Express)

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Eva Mendes’ clever reply Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt to Ryan Gosling’s praise reach agreement to

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ctor Ryan Gosling made it sure to give special mention to wife Eva Mendes in his Golden Globes acceptance speech and the actress has reverted back to the praise with a clever message. The 42-year-old actress took to Instagram to pass on the message to the 36-year-old actor, who had credited his win at the Globes as best actor in a motion picture – musical or comedy to her.

Mendes shared the picture of her friend, singer Janelle Monae

from the Globes red carpet. “Obviously this wasn’t my favourite moment of the night… But it was definitely my favourite style moment of the night. The stunning and talented @janellemonae is killing me with this look. So soso beautiful #goldenglobes,” she wrote.

The La La Land star had said that while he was shooting for the Damien Chazelle film, Mendes was at home raising their daughter, pregnant with their second, and supporting her

brother in his fight with cancer. Gosling added, “If she hadn’t taken all that on so that I could have this experience, it would surely be someone else other than me up here today. So sweetheart, thank you.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Gosling paid tribute to late actor Debbie Reynolds at the Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala. The event took place on Monday, reports eonline.com.

Gosling’s La La Land was honoured with the Vanguard Award at the annual ceremony. As he picked up the prize alongside director Damien Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz, he thanked Reynolds for inspiring his work on the movie with her performance in iconic film Singing in the Rain. (Indian Express)

Hollywood star Jamie Foxx allegedly attacked and kicked out of a restaurant for being ‘too loud’

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ctor Jamie Foxx was allegedly assaulted while having dinner at a restaurant when a patron approached his table and complained to him and his friends about being too loud. They were later thrown out of the restaurant.

The incident took place at Catch Restaurant on January 7, reports tmz.com. The person reportedly yelled: “You don’t want to mess with me. I’m from New York.” A comedian who came with Foxx fired back and said: “F**k you, I’m from Oakland.”

Jamie Foxx took to Instagram with a video statement of his own. He wrote, “Gotta set the record straight.

Can’t we all just get along? East coast west coast! Remember when they push and shove it’s only love! #icecubevoice

handle divorce privately

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ormer star couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have decided to handle their divorce privately and work together to reunify their family. The actors have released a joint statement stating that they have reached an agreement to handle their divorce in a private forum and will keep future details of their divorce confidential by utilizing a private judge, reported People magazine.

“The parties and their counsels have signed agreements to preserve the privacy rights of their children and family by keeping all court documents confidential and

engaging a private judge to make any necessary legal decisions and to facilitate the expeditious resolution of any remaining issues.

“The parents are committed to act as a united front to effectuate recovery and reunification,” the statement reads. Since the beginning of their divorce proceedings, Pitt, 53, and Jolie, 41, had been trading harsh accusations in filings in Los Angeles Superior Court, but recently both agreed to seal sensitive records relating to their six children.

Pitt and Jolie, who are parents to Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 11,

Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, eight — have a voluntary temporary custody agreement in place that allows the actor supervised visitation with the children.

Earlier, Brad Pitt fired back in his bitter custody battle with his estranged wife Angelina Jolie over their six children by requesting to have their divorce proceedings sealed. Pitt’s team in California Superior Court papers have accused Jolie of releasing details of their temporary custody agreement through her recent court filings in the case.

They claim Jolie “exposed” the star couple’s six children “by making public the names of their therapists and other mental health professionals” and allege she “has no self-regulating mechanism to preclude sensitive information from being placed in the public record”. (Indian Express)

Sunny Pawar the Little Prince of Golden Globes

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#backonmyfunnyshit #sleepless this Friday the 13th!”

That further angered the complaining person before he came charging at Foxx. Some witnesses said that Foxx fought back, put the random person in a choke hold and took him down, tmz.com reported. Both parties were eventually thrown out of the restaurant for the ruckus.

There were several celebrities, including Jerry Bruckheimer, Cuba Gooding Jr,

Michael Bay and Nicole Murphy, who witnessed the commotion.

Jamie Foxx has done several popular Hollywood movies. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, for the 2004 biographical film Ray. His other prominent movies include Jarhead, Django Unchained and Miami Vice. (Indian Express)

ion child star Sunny Pawar gave the 74th Golden Globe awards it cutest moment when he appeared on stage with costar Dev Patel to introduce their film.

Lion revolves around the life of SarooBrierley, a man searching for his birth mother in India.

The eight-year-old plays young Saroo, while Patel is in the grown-up version in the Garth Davisdirected movie.

After Patel spoke of the film about a man who finds his long-lost family in India using Google Earth, he lifted thelittle actor to deliver the final line, “This is our mov-

ie, Lion. To which, Patel said, “Yes”.

Sunny has already charmed Patel, who has been profusely praising the young actor’s performance.

“In the first part we have wonderful electrical Sunny Pawar, who has never been in front of the camera before and leads more than half of the film. I take on the more mature portions…,” Patel told PTI in an interview ahead of Golden Globes.

Chrissy Teigen tweeted her appreciation for the little presenter from inside the theatre.

“SUNNY YESSSSS,” she captioned the picture

of the young actor.

“I could have taken about 5, 20, 60 more minutes of Dev Patel in a tux plus Sunny Pawar,” journalist Mark Harris tweeted.

Another journalist Tim Teeman wrote, “If you thought Sunny Pawar looked adorable at #GoldenGlobes just now, and you haven’t seen Lion, pls see it. His is the standout performance.”

Stand-up comic posted, “The way Dev Patel just said “yes!” to Sunny Pawar made me tear up. #GoldenGlobes”.(Indian Express)

Beauty and the Beast new poster: Emma Watson film gives ‘human’ touch to its characters

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elancholic, surreal and delightful, Beauty and the Beast’s new poster is a perfect prelude to spring.

Awash with grey-blue, the colour of winter, the poster has Emma Watson and Dan Stevens buried deep in cogitation. Even though Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale, one can find hints of looming darkness in this poster which is so palpable.

The enchanted castle with all its towers and turrets or the brooding eyes of Dan Stevens, lend a subtle grey character to this otherwise happy-cry tale.

The significance of red rose in the

hands of Emma Watson is too visible. It symbolises the beauty present in all of us. But will we find it? Will we be courageous enough to reach out and touch that rose with all the dangers

and battles lying in the path? Or could it be the desire to find true love? We can go on and on.

This live-action remake of 1991 animated movie lifts our hopes. We can’t wait to see a riot

of colours and romance swirling on screen. Unlike the original animated movie, this poster suggests a remarkable inventive approach by its makers. As we all know that all the characters of the original movie weren’t humans. In fact, it takes a long time after we discover and relish, as non-living things take human forms. Here, all characters are graced with a human face and spirit. We do remember how the talking characters – the wardrobe, the teacup, the teapot and the clock amused us with their never-dying hope for seeing their master find love. And how Belle’s

arrival brings a light of its own in that gloomy castle. We must say, the happy faces of all characters on the poster do invite us to visit this old tale. Dressed in impeccable costumes, these characters remind us of simpler days when reading a bedtime story was so much fun.

Disney also released a fresh video having some new scenes.

One, that stands out is Emma crooning on a hilltop and we can’t thank the makers enough for giving such a breathtaking shot. For sure, one can’t wait for Beauty and the Beast to get released on March 17. (Indian Express)

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WICB/Regional Super50:

Fudadin hoping to be top run-scorer for tournament

By Akeem Greene

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uyana Jaguars top-order batsman Assad Fudadin has set his eyes on an illustrious goal in the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Super50 tournament.

The elegant batsman, who once gets going usually plays an array of shots pleasing to the eye is donning the idea of being able to achieve the feat of leading run-scorer at the end of the tournament which runs from January 24 to February 18 in Barbados and Antigua.

Last year, the Guyanese was the second leading batsman in the entire tournament with 259 runs from seven matches at an average of 51.80 with a high score of 103 not out against the Combined Colleges and Campuses Marooners and was instrumental in Guyana reaching the semi-finals against host Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

Now, the batsman

Hard at work! Assad Fudadin bats in the nets during a practice session on Monday at the National Stadium, Providence (Marceano Narine photo)

who played three Tests for West Indies is seeking to go one better and lead the charts but is expected to undergo the process match by match.

“I will try to take it game by game, I don’t want to set myself too many goals but I would love to be top run scorer in the Caribbean at the end of the tournament, I will try to take it game by game and do well for the team and then worry about personal perfor-

mance,” the former West Indies under-19 player stated.

He added, “Cricket is something you can’t take for granted, I was the top run scorer for Guyana last year, I did well but this year is a new year and I have to come with the same mentality and be even more positive so I can do better.”

Fudadin, who toured with the West Indies A team to Sri Lanka in October 2016 played

Guyana’s Shaquille Williams following dreams at UWI

By Delvon Mc Ewan

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ormer national junior captain Shaquille Williams is fulfilling two dreams simultaneously as he reads for his Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Financing at the University of West Indies Cave Hill Campus in Barbados as well as develop his cricket skills with hope of playing at the Regional First Class level.

Williams departed Guyana in September, 2014, on a scholarship which offered him an opportunity to equip himself with a degree and play cricket.

Prior to his departure, the second year student was among the top local players contesting for a place in the national limited over squad.

He is currently a member of the elite team (top team) at UWI, where he is also vying to play at the Regional level as part of the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) team.

However, he believes he narrowly missed out on selection for this year Super50 tournament but will be working hard to make the team in the near future.

According to Williams, he was optimistic of play-

Shaquille Williams (right) with South African spinner Imran Tahir

ing in this year’s Super 50 tournament but the selectors had other plans.

Nevertheless, he sees disappointments as a means to change dissatisfaction into a positive energy, which is exactly what he plans to do this year.

Focus more on his game and work towards making the CCC team next season.

The Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) player, who was a former U-15 and U-17 skipper, said his game has develop since he started training at UWI but there is still room for improvement. The allrounder, who bats in the middle and lower order and bowls off-spin, has done some technical work on his batting but seldom

bowls in the UWI team.

Although his cricket is moving ahead, Williams said he is equally enthusiastic about his studies. He is by no means in a rush to return home to try and break into the Guyana Jaguars team, but if he is fortunate enough to be given an opportunity he will accept.

Subsequent to completion of his bachelor’s degree, the 22 year old will immediately seek to enter the master’s programme in his area of study before returning home.

To date CCC have already given Williams opportunities to play warm up matches against West Indies and English County sides Hamsphire and Nottinghamshire.

three One-day matches and garnered 71 runs, including a high score of 57, is still looking to resurrect his international playing career considering the amount of activity the regional side has this year both at home and away.

“I would say West Indies cricket have not being doing their best and some spots are up for grabs but when you do well for your country that process will

take care of itself” he revealed.

The Port Mourant born player has been around senior regional cricket since 2003, where he made his List A debut playing for the West Indies Under-19s, is now one of the most experienced players in the team and plans to do what is required of himself to bring success to the side.

The 31 year-old explained, “I see myself as one of the experience players in the team and 50 overs is allot of balls, so whatever is the team plan I will do it, so if it is to bat through the innings, give more positive starts, I will do my best for the team”.

He further explained that “generally I will be looking to be positive but positive does not mean you play reckless, you can look for quick singles to keep the strike rotating but doing well means the team will benefit.”

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club player was part of the

last Guyana side to win a 50-over title when they defeated Barbados in a rain-affected match at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Bourda in fading light.

Cognisant of the title jinx, Fudadin says his himself and teammates are well aware of what is at stake this year.

“I was apart of the team when we won the KFC Cup in 2005 and since then no titles but we had a meeting and everyone knows the length of time we have not won this tournament and we will be striving to achieve that in this year,” he disclosed.

With Guyana being based in Barbados for their preliminary matches against teams such as Barbados Pride, Jamaica Scorpions, CCC Marooners and ICC Americas, Fudadin will have an opportunity to add to his lone century and seven fifties at this level on pitches which should aid in more positive stroke-play.

WICB names Johnny Grave as new CEO

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he West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has appointed Johnny Grave as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a rigorous recruitment process led

by Pricewater house Coopers, Barbados.

Johnny joins the organisation with a wealth of experience from both the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) in the UK, where he has been the Commercial Director for the past 9 years and Surrey County Cricket Club, where he held several senior leadership roles. During his time at the PCA, Johnny has significantly grown commercial revenue streams, as well as building excellent relationships and partnerships between the players, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and a wide range of commercial organisations.

Among the new CEO’s tasks will be developing and delivering the WICB’s strategic plans, and building on the existing framework started by former CEO, Michael Muirhead. The

Johnny Grave

top priorities for the new CEO will be the management and oversight of the WICB’s US$40 million budget, the creation of new commercial opportunities, helping to drive revenue into the whole game, along with an increased focus on player relations and improved performances on and off the field.

President of the WICB, Dave Cameron welcomes the new CEO to the team commenting, “Johnny has a proven track record of success in his career to date and a huge amount of

relevant experience and will add exceptional value to the organisation. Johnny was the unanimous choice of the interview panel and clearly shares our vision for the future of West Indies Cricket.”

Johnny commented, “I am delighted to have been given the honour of becoming the new CEO of the WICB. I am genuinely excited by the opportunity of improving cricket at all levels within the region and am looking forward to working with the many stakeholders who are committed to the long-term development of West Indies Cricket.”

Johnny holds an Executive MBA from the Cass Business School in London and is a graduate from the University of Leeds.

He will be fulfilling his contractual responsibilities at the PCA and is unavailable for further media comment until he officially begins his role with the WICB in February.

He will be based in Antigua at the WICB headquarters.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana to host three WI vs Pakistan ODIs

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est Indies will host Pakistan for a sevenweek tour beginning at the end of March, comprising two T20Is, three ODIs and three Tests spread across five venues in the Caribbean. It is the first Pakistan tour of the West Indies since 2013 - when Pakistan won a five-match ODI series 3-1 and swept a pair of T20Is - and their first Test series in the Caribbean since a drawn two-match series in 2011.

However, there was no announcement regarding any agreement for West Indies to travel to Pakistan to play a pair of T20Is in midMarch, despite recent discussions being held between the WICB and PCB regarding a possible visit to Lahore. Such an agreement would need approval from the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) as well as a security clear-

ance, something that may be problematic after a report issued by FICA regarding player safety and security strongly discouraged players from going to Lahore for the Pakistan Super League final, confirmed for March 5.

The Pakistan tour begins in Trinidad & Tobago, where the pair of T20Is will be played at Queen's Park Oval from March 31. According to multiple sources, the WICB had explored the possibility of staging the T20Is at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, the same Florida venue where West Indies played a pair of T20Is against India in August. Central Broward Regional Park officials confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that they had been contacted by the WICB regarding availability for dates toward the end of March but in the end the WICB opted to keep all match-

When West Indies and Pakistan last played at Providence in front of a packed house in 2013

es for Pakistan's tour at Caribbean venues.

Guyana will be the host country for all three ODIs beginning on April 7. The ODIs will be crucial heading into the September 2017 cutoff date for 2019 ICC World Cup qualification.

Pakistan are currently ranked eighth on the

GTTA seeking Pan Am Juniors qualification

Kaysan Ninvalle

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he Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) will host the Caribbean Junior and Cadet table tennis Championships from April 14-19 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue Georgetown and that competition will be used as the qualification event for the second Pan American Junior and cadet table tennis Championships to be held in the United States of America in September.

The top four teams from the Caribbean will join the top four teams from Central and South America to compete at the Pan Am event.

“The GTTA will be gauging the players’ progress over the coming months to arrive at the best possible team to compete at the championships,” stated a release from the association.

According to the GTTA release, in an effort to enhance the training of the junior and cadet players, the GTTA will have the senior play-

ers train with members of the junior team in an effort to reinforce the fundamentals of the players and increase their technical and tactical awareness.

According to the GTTA all the top countries in the region are expected to descend on Georgetown since the

Junior Pan American Championships.

The junior boys team boasts a formidable line up with the likes of Miguel Wong, Elishaba Johnson, Kyle Edghill, Sheldon Atherley, Nicholas Romain, Tyriq Saunders, Jamaal Nicholas, Terrence Rausche, Yeudister Persuad, Kaysan Ninvalle, Brandon Jaikarran, Navindra Persaud, Jeremey Singh Isaiah Layne, Nryron Bissu, Khalil Ninvalle, Jonathan Van Lange and Ty Dixon.

Priscilla Greaves is expected to lead the female challenge, with support from Neveah Clarkston, Selenas

Elishaba Johnson

qualification event is compulsory.

The Caribbean tournament will provide opportunities for 32 of Guyana’s top junior athletes to compete against the region’s best for regional honours.

Last year the Guyana junior boys team secured silver medal in a threeway tie between host and eventual winners the Dominican Republic whom Guyana defeated by a 3-2 margin in Trinidad and Tobago.

This year the locals will look to use the home advantage to go one better and win the regional tournament which will qualify them for the prestigious

Priscilla Greaves

Jackman, Abigale Martin, Onieka Philips, Davona Bess, Thuraia Thomas and Kristie Lopes.

The categories to be contested are boys singles and doubles, girls singles and doubles and the mixed doubles events.

ICC ODI rankings table, the last automatic-qualification spot, with 89 points while West Indies are three points behind them in ninth position with 86 points.

If West Indies fail to get into the top eight spots by September, they must participate in the 2018 ICC World Cup Qualifier.

That tournament is currently scheduled to be held in Bangladesh, although that may change if Bangladesh - currently ranked seventh with 91 points - gains an automatic qualification.

Pakistan will have a three-day warmup match at Trelawny Stadium in Jamaica starting on April 15 before the first of three Tests begins at Sabina Park on April 22. There

is a three-day gap before the second Test begins at Kensington Oval in Barbados on April 30, while the final Test is scheduled to be played at Windsor Park in Dominica starting on May 10. As per the ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP), four Tests had been originally slated for this series.

Pakistan defeated West Indies in all three formats last year on West Indies' tour of the UAE. West Indies were in turmoil from the start of the tour after coach Phil Simmons was sacked on the eve of the team's departure to Dubai. Pakistan went on to sweep both the T20I and ODI series by identical 3-0 scorelines before taking the Test series 2-1. It was

KraiggBrathwaite's 142 not out followed by a 60 not out that helped West Indies to a five-wicket win in the final Test in Sharjah.

Schedule: Pakistan tour of WI 2017 1st T20I, March 31, Port of Spain 2nd T20I, April 2, Port of Spain 1st ODI, April 7, Providence 2nd ODI, April 9, Providence 3rd ODI, April 11, Providence Tour game, April 1517, Trelawny 1st Test, April 22-26, Kingston 2nd Test, April 30May 4, Bridgetown 3rd Test, May 10-14, Roseau (ESPNCricinfo)

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Sri Lanka in South Africa 2016-17

Du Plessis only has eyes for a whitewash T here are ways of saying things and then there is the Faf du Plessis way of saying things. It's considered rather than clichĂŠd and direct without being dismissive, an especially important quality in a series like this.

South Africa have dominated to the extent that Dale Steyn's "quietly confident," pre-series prediction that a 3-0 whitewash could be on the cards now seems a certainty. Apart from the first day of the first Test, Sri Lanka have failed to put up a concerted challenge to South Africa in any department and the sting of this series has long left the bee.

Despite that, du Plessis did not disrespect the opposition and offered a measured explanation for their lack of fight. "We don't see them as weak, we just see them as not being as good in our own conditions as we are," he said.

At the Wanderers, that will only be highlighted more.

Even though the groundsman Bethuel Buthelezi, has said, "there won't be as much in the wicket as there was for Stuart Broad last year," he has promised bounce and carry and Sri Lanka's bats-

Faf du Plessis

men will need to find a way to cope.

Du Plessis' advice to Sri Lanka is to be patient, because that is the only way to prosper on seamer-friendly surfaces. "In the batting department, they just haven't had guys anchoring the crease and applying themselves for long enough. We also find the conditions challenging but we've just been more patient in waiting for the bowler to make a mistake," he said.

Sri Lanka's pace pack, though, could have more to look forward to. Du Plessis remains wary of an attack that have barred their teeth on occasion and that he thinks are not far away from biting. "They've got the seam bowlers in these conditions to challenge us, but they just haven't done it consistently. If they start doing that then they can do exactly what we've done with them," he said.

South Africa's aim is

a whitewash, which they were not able to achieve in Australia as Australia showed up well to win the floodlit Test in Adelaide by seven wickets.

"You don't get opportunities like this very often so for me that becomes the focus - to try and make sure that we dominate a team we are on top of at the moment," du Plessis said.

"We had an opportunity in Australia, we didn't take it - the pink ball is something the Australian

team are quite successful with - but it's another opportunity for us to try and go 3-0."

Apart from the unknown of a first daynight Test, South Africa's quest for 3-0 Down Under was derailed by the distraction surrounding du Plessis' ball-tampering hearing and ultimate conviction. Then, du Plessis was disappointed that took away from the team's achievements.

A similar thing has happened now, with Kolpak signings making the headlines and South Africa's series win relegated to inside pages.

Du Plessis has admitted he does not enjoy seeing performances brushed aside for bigger issues and would like to try and bring the actual cricket to the forefront again.

"In this series, once again, we've played amazing cricket, we're 2-0 up, dominating a team and there's other stuff that influences and takes the shine off the performances and that is draining. In a perfect world, you don't want that," he said.

"But it is what it is.

We respect Kyle's decisions. It's now time for us to focus on this next Test match and look forward to how we can build a new bowling unit and see who

are going to be the guys who will lead our attack in the next five years."

Wayne Parnell has been confirmed as Abbott's replacement and du Plessis is looking forward to seeing his progression first-hand but he is also excited about the prospect of Knights' quick Duanne Olivier, who may have to wait to make his debut but who is definitely in the longterm plans.

"I'm excited to see how much Wayne's game has improved. He played one Test for us last time and did really well, and I think he's a better player than he was then," du Plessis said.

"Today was the first time I faced Duanne and there is just something there. I really like what I see. I also like a guy coming to the nets, picking up an old ball and starting to bowl with it. Generally you get guys wanting a new ball - obviously you want to impress - but he took an old ball straight away and was just getting stuck into his areas. It's nice that he is 24 as well, there's a future there.

I am excited about the talent." (ESPNCricinfo) doseMoonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

GFF aiming to give players more overseas exposure

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GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood; Mark Wronge, GFF President Wayne Forde, and Akeem Bollers

ith a wealth of young talented football players in Guyana, the governing federation will be implementing a strategic approach in which they allow these players to be exposed to foreign teams, this is according to President of the GFF Wayne Forde.

Forde spoke to the media and explained, “The Technical Director [Ian Greenwood] has what he terms an exit strategy for players, his vision is that we need to do a bit more and his concern is that we don’t want to expose players to teams that the likelihood of them making the cut is remote.” Forde is of the view that these players should be exposed to teams that they have a realistic chance of being signed.

“It is better to expose players to teams that are likely to make the cut, he [Technical Director] is deliberate in how we identify these players and how we expose these players and it needs to be a structured programme” he stated.

However, the President will not stop private citizens who wish to provide opportunities for player signings but the process must go hand in hand with the vision of the Technical Director.

Recently, Mark Wronge and Akeem Bollers, managed to gain acceptance to participate in a student athlete soccer tryout in South Carolina and Louisiana, United States of America, on January 21 and February 18-19 respectively.

This tryout is part of a process to achieve a student athlete scholarship.

The tryout will be held at the Anderson University Athletic Campus (South Carolina) and Mike Getman Soccer Camp (Louisiana).

Bollers is from Cougars FC and Wronge plays for Rosignol United FC and both are expected to depart on January 17, 2017.

This opportunity was made possible through ReelaSmc and done on invitation. ReellaSmc is a non-profit organization based in Lawrenceville Georgia.

The purpose of the organization is to offer opportunities for student athletes to try-out for academic/sports scholarships in the USA. Fruta Conquerors’ Jeremy Garrett is also another young player who managed to gain the attention of top Portuguese club, Sporting Clube de Portugal.

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