Guyana Times International

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They deserve an “F”

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ISSUE NO. 333

WEEK ENDING February 19, 2017

…Jagdeo says of APNU/AFC Govt’s performance

See story on page 5

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CSME takes center-stage as 28th CARICOM Inter-Sessional Meeting opens in Georgetown The official photograph of the Heads of Government and Delegations, who are participating in the Twenty-Eighth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Georgetown, Guyana.

Cocaine in shoes at JFK: Guyanese man to face charges soon

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Richard David launches campaign for NYC Council District 28 Page 44

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

CSME takes center-stage as 28th CARICOM Inter-Sessional Meeting opens in Georgetown

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he Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM’s) continued inability to expedite meaningful integration, and effectively implement the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) is putting the future of the Caribbean economies in jeopardy, according to President David Granger.

The Head of State was at the time addressing the opening of the Twenty-Eighth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, at the Marriott Hotel on Thursday morning. morning.

According to GINA, President Granger, the current chairman of CARICOM, said that if the Caribbean is to escape the hazard of economic emasculation in today’s global environment, then it must expedite the full implementation of the CSME. “We face threats that include dampened demand for our goods and services, and distortions in our financial sectors caused by de-risking by international banks.The CSME has the potential to enhance private sector growth and competitiveness by providing access to a larger pool of resources, facilitating the movement of human capital, catalysing the establishment of regional businesses and encouraging the free movement of goods.

The CSME must not be allowed to become

a victim of equivocation and procrastination,” the President said.

Also addressing the opening of the conference, CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin La Rocque said that the CSME was the best vehicle to promote the region’s overall economic growth and development.

La Rocque noted that the majority of the regional member states have been grappling with low growth and as a con-

sequence, pressure ontheir fiscal position.

Further, the efforts to combat these challenges have been hampered by the foreign banks de-risking, and the continuing damaging effects of climatic events, La Rocque observed. He said that pursuing the course of action to emerge from that position is therefore of paramount importance. “I contend that dealing with those and other challenges demand that we work more than ever collectively and that we pool our

resources,” he said, reiterating the call for the full implementation of the CSME. In the past few years, the region has faced a mixed economic outlook. The vulnerability of the economies was exposed in 2016, as a new mosquito-borne virus, Zika, threatened tourism goals, and falling commodity prices impacted on the fortunes of exporters of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.

Regional integration has long been seen as a response to protect the economies of the Caribbean from the effects and challenges from globalization, and the emergence of trade blocs. Little progress however, has been achieved under the CSME which was established since 2006 to achieve this objective. The CSME was expected to support the free movement of goods, services, skills and cross border establishment of businesses.

The CSME, crime and security and correspondent banking are among the issues that will be discussed during the twoday CARICOM Inter-Sessional Heads of Government meeting.

The Heads of Government present at the meeting will be considering a comprehensive review of the CSME, particularly how the initiative has measured to intent and expectations, and how the shortcomings might be addressed.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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EDITORIAL

Guyanese Diaspora?

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he University of Guyana (UG) announced that it will host its inaugural “Diaspora Engagement Conference” from July 2328, 2017, under the theme ‘Dreaming Diaspora Engagement, Doing Diaspora Engagement’.

More specifically, it claims the Conference would provide the platform to develop a diaspora engagement strategy that would inform the work of the first “Caribbean Diaspora Engagement Centre” which will be launched during the conference.

But in that statement, there are several ambiguities that need to be clarified. While the conference claims to be an “inaugural” one, it followed several engagements initiated by the new Vice Chancellor (VC) Ivelaw Griffith that also invoked the ‘diaspora’ theme. One of these was a “Renaissance Weekend” last September in New York City, to which the VC flew up with a large delegation of 13 from UG to represent the “UG Renaissance” in order to “friend and fund raise”.

It would appear the idea of a “diaspora engagement” was already in the air since in the UG Magazine “Renaissance”, following the inaugural one, it was reported: “One of the bold objectives of this Renaissance project was to facilitate tangible Diaspora Support Engagement in four critical academic areas: Technology (Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering), Health Sciences (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Optometry, Medical Technology), Natural Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics), and Law.” On the team’s return, the VC dubbed the trip to the diaspora a “success”, especially as it related to the above mentioned assistance and what it foreshadowed: “The Renaissance weekend in New York has set the stage for considerable financial, human capital and technical assistance to our university by providing structure to Guyanese and other nationals in the diaspora to support critical areas of need.” However, when the financial details were revealed, it turned out that while G$2,019,950 was secured through contributions from the diaspora, G$4,366,024 was spent on the expenses of the team.

There were cries of protests from some staff, especially against the background of an increase in student fees and the presentation of UG’s largest budget ever – G$5.2 billion for financial year 2017, of which G$3.0 billion was earmarked for recurrent expenditure, versus G$2.2 billion for capital works.

The main reason for mentioning the previous expensive engagement to stimulate engagement with the diaspora is that the present “inaugural” Conference seems to have completely ignored the achievements mentioned above from the September 2016 engagement, since they relate to the core raison d’etre of UG. The attention of the VC appears to have expanded without consolidating the initial claimed gains: “the Conference will contribute to the development of diaspora policy and a framework to effectively attract direct diaspora investment and engage the diaspora in nation building.”

If the “success” of the first foray into “diaspora engagement” is anything to go by, one must be concerned about this expanded initiative with three components – an academic symposium, a business forum and community engagement.

This concern is heightened by the further ambiguity about exactly which “diaspora” the organisers have in mind, since the announcement speaks of establishing a “Caribbean Diaspora Engagement Centre”. The word “diaspora” means “to scatter about” and refers to people who leave their homeland and maintain some sort of identification with that homeland when they migrate, voluntarily or as in the paradigmatic Jewish instance, involuntarily to other lands.

The question that arises is whether UG and its VC are targeting the “Caribbean diaspora” or the “Guyanese diaspora”. If it is the former, is it the entire Caribbean diaspora as represented, say, by the nations of Caricom, or only the Anglophone Caribbean. And even if it is the latter, is it realistic to expect Jamaicans or Bajans to become part of a group intended to spur “engagement” in, for instance, the “community engagement” component of the Conference. This, the release claimed will, “focus on building relationships with key stakeholders, such as diaspora community leaders, governments and hometown associations.”

If we are not clear about our destination how will we ever get there?

A scene to behold: Sunrise in Yupukari, Yupukari Village, North Rupununi, Guyana.

Constitutional reform in Guyana should be taken seriously

Dear Editor, In welcoming the recent interest of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in constitutional reform, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) hopes that it will serve to revitalise domestic interest on the issue. As a civic organisation that emerged in response to the infamous Referendum of 1978, which sought to legitimise the current Constitution and, as an active participant in multiple subsequent coalitions and initiatives to redress its baleful effects, the GHRA has been disturbed by the seemingly ambivalent commitment of the APNU/AFC coalition Government to constitutional reform.

The overriding challenge to a successful constitutional reform process historically, has been the lack of political will on the part of the leadership of all major parties, rather than any substantive constitutional issue.

Despite a relationship characterised for decades by disagreements of every description, one area of enduring common ground between the two major parties has been their resistance to reforms which would democratise political power. In the context of this historical resistance, the want of purpose and lack of enthusiasm demonstrated in the APNU/AFC coalition’s statements on constitutional reform are discouraging.

Had reform of the Constitution not been stipulated in the Herdmanston Accord in 1998 it would not have taken place. The timid reform process of 1997 had settled the matter as far as the major parties were concerned. Even with this international mandate, however, the reform process of 1999-2000 was frustrated by

the major parties. A good public consultation process with strong civic involvement was subsequently decimated by the Parliamentary Oversight Committee, followed by unanimous approval of political parties too anxious to get to the next elections to even read the Bills properly. The Reynolds reforms to the electoral system were kicked into the long grass and a sensible approach to Human Rights side-lined in favour of the bizarre concoction of ‘Rights Commissions’ the country is now saddled with.

An important lesson for any future process of constitutional reform is to ensure that extra-Parliamentary influences – civic, business and faith-based – be sustained throughout the process. This recommendation is not unmindful of the need for Parliamentary approval as the final stage of the process, but is calling for imaginative ways of ring-fencing the process against any cynical party political manoeuvring.

Constitution-making in Guyana must address three issues: Nation-building, State-building, and Integritybuilding.

Nation-building encompasses, firstly, the rights of citizens and the values by which we want the State to be governed. The second part of Nation-building seeks to make socio-economic rights justiciable. Without this essential feature, the concept of all citizens having equal rights will always be frustrated by the limitations posed by majoritarian politics in ethnically diverse societies.

Justifiability, socio-economic rights are preferable as a response to ethnic diversity, than prioritising communal units above individual citizenship.

Rather than politicising ethnicity, the GHRA recommends an intensively partic-

ipatory approach that works towards acknowledging differences but accommodates them within an over-arching framework of being Guyanese. The constitutional reform process must start from the premise that, while respecting culture and language differences, we are all Guyanese who come to public affairs primarily as Guyanese citizens.

State-building needs to address institutional mechanisms by which the values established under Nation-building are to be delivered. Each institution – Parliament, the Judiciary and the Presidency – must be constantly reminded of their responsibilities to citizens.

Promoting Integrity and accountability of all those elected to public office is vital. In the past we have never paid sufficient attention to the destructive potential of corruption and have paid a price in terms of the low esteem in which politics and politicians are held.

Integrity must be emphasised to counter the ever present lure of corruption. For this reason, a strong code against corruption is a constitutional priority. For too long politicians have been motivated by greed, rather than service and this has to be eradicated.

The GHRA is requesting the APNU/AFC coalition to clear the air on what it hopes to achieve from the current constitutional reform initiative.

For our part, the GHRA strongly supports a broad-based, adequately-resourced consultative process under the management of a multi-stakeholder committee with a time-table that envisages implementation of major reforms.

Sincerely, Executive Committee Guyana HumanRights Association

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 5

They deserve an “F” …Jagdeo says of APNU/AFC Govt’s performance

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uesday marked the second anniversary of the formation of the coalition, but their performance in government is nothing worth celebrating, according to Opposition Leader BharratJagdeo who, on Monday, ridiculed President David Granger’s A Grade of his Administration.

Jagdeo said the President’s assessment was proof that he was trapped in a cocoon and completely out of touch with reality.

“They are increasingly growing aloof and out of touch with reality and that it’s permeated the entire Government all the way to the top, all the way to the presidency…in the face of all the evidence that his Government has underperformed, has failed in many areas, has demonstrated an unbelievable level of incompetence, he gives his Government the top grade,” he told media operatives during a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) press conference at Freedom House.

In relating his personal assessment of the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition’s performance over the past 19 months, Jagdeo contended that they deserve a “bold red F Grade” for failure in all aspects of managing the country.

According to the former President and now Opposition Leader, it appears that the coalition is more focused on politics than on doing what is best for the country and its citizenry.

Investments

Jagdeo noted that the President promised to provide jobs, but failed to secure investments that create these opportunities.

making it more challenging and bureaucratic for persons to complete transactions.

He argued that Government could not be lauded for the two per cent reduction in the Value Added Tax (VAT) because of the whole chain of VATable items they have introduced.

Crime

“The reason they don’t want to invest in Guyana is because of the policies of this Government. They’ve scared away not only current investors but future investors. The people do not want, based on the signals they are getting, to put their money at risk. They can’t do so with a capricious Government that changes its policies on a daily basis and has no long-term vision for the future of this country,” he explained, noting that the Government deserved a failing grade in the subject of investments and provision of jobs.

Taxes

The PPP General Secretary also reminded that the APNU/AFC campaigned on the promise of reducing the tax burden on the people of Guyana, but did the complete opposite after being elected to office.

He declared that they needed to be graded F for this as well.

In addition to increasing the tax burden tremendously, Jagdeo highlighted, the Government has increased the fees for basic transactions, which contributed significantly to the expenses endured by Guyanese.

Moreover, he noted that the administrative burdens have been increased,

Jagdeo also asserted that the coalition deserved an F Grade for its performance in the security sector.

“The crime as we know is ravaging the entire country and we have a minister who makes these unilateral pronouncements, a government totally at sea in how to address this growing cancer in our society,” he stated.

The former President said the most worrisome aspect was that there seemed to be no expression of sympathy or acceptance of responsibility for the countless people who have gotten murdered under their watch.

“It seems to be routine, the routine order of the day,” he said.

He noted too that the APNU/AFC’s performance was compounded by a long list of unbroken promises and countless instances of corruption.

In light of this bleak performance, Jagdeo found it amusing and worrying that President Granger was hopeful of a second term in office.

“He’s already talking about a second term…he probably knows something that we don’t know that would allow people, with this dismal performance, to ever vote for them again,” he stated.

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The APNU/AFC How can the Govt apply VAT on regime is driving private education in Guyana?

Guyana along the same destructive road the PNC took

Dear Editor, It appears that the Granger regime is determined to show that Burnham’s policies were correct and they could work in our country.

From the inception of this Government, it picked up from where the People’s National Congress (PNC) left off and has been hastily implementing many measures that are a throwback to the worst days of the PNC regime.

Last week, the Government finally admitted that there is a significant shortage of foreign currency in the market.

That, of course, has been known for a while and was repeatedly stated by the commercial banks and business people much earlier.

This was not a surprise.

What was surprising, however, was the announced measures to deal with the situation. The regime said it would put in place arrangements to regulate and control the foreign currency supply. Later, the Bank of Guyana directed the banks and cambios of the rates they must buy and sell for.

This immediately raised red flags of a time past when this was done and the consequences of such actions, which were very destructive. There was a time when persons travelling aboard had to seek permission from the Bank of Guyana to take foreign currency out of the country. A person was limited to US$15. That was then stamped at the back of one’s passport.

The control of foreign currency led to the creation of a parallel economy.

America Street became the place where a lot of buying and selling of foreign currency took place. The business was so ‘bright’ there that the street was renamed “Wall Street” by the public.

Of course, we have had many unpleasant incidents there. Police often raided the place to seize foreign currency. Vendors, and even stores were raided; clothing and other items were seized, because even if persons produced receipts for their purchase, they could not say where they got the foreign currency to make their purchases.

They, therefore, suffered many heavy losses.

Most of those items seized were sold at Guyana Stores, which was then Government-owned.

The foreign currency

seized went to the coffers of the regime.

Many business persons were charged and hauled before the courts. Many small vendors were jailed for having banned goods, for example, wheat flour, split peas, potatoes, etc.

Some were jailed for selling goods above the officially controlled price, sometimes, only by a small amount.

Even some lawyers who tried to send money out of the country to pay for their children’s education were hauled before the courts.

In these conditions, bribery and corruption became rampant.

Those persons old enough would also recall the long lines for very basic food and household items. One had to have had ‘contacts’ to get toilet paper among other essential items.

Production suffered greatly, too, as replacement parts for machinery and equipment were hard to come by.

In these difficult times, people suffered greatly, not only from the shortages and the high prices, but from the loss of dignity. People were made into criminals if they had bread and roti in their possession.

Extreme malnutrition resulted, as Guyana was visited by illnesses such as ‘beriberi’. This, of course, came about due to lack of nourishment.

Now, this regime, in its quest to prove Burnham right, is driving us along the same destructive road the PNC took.

Recall President Granger’s recent statement on the programme ‘Public Interest’. Responding to his Government’s poor record on job creation, he urged that people make pepper-sauce and cassava chips and sell!

This is the job creation policy of the regime? The results would not be different. Indeed, it cannot be different.

The Private Sector has already stated its opposition to this measure of Government controlling the flow of foreign currency. Other democratic forces in the society must also make their voices heard.

The PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity regime has clearly not learnt anything from their past mistakes. We must stop this decline now.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar

Dear Editor, The importance of education cannot be stressed enough. We know that education is the key to the future, the key to success and the key to this country’s growth. I can’t understand therefore how it is even possible to consider taxing such a crucial service, or indeed a service like private health care for that matter. Unfortunately the damage has already been done and I am concerned for my future and those of my colleagues who are in the private education system.

A merit good is one which has positive side effects when consumed and education is surely the epitome of such a good, indeed, it is the key. Those agencies that have this vision at heart and who provide supplementary opportunities for education should not have to bear the burden of this VAT. They need to be encouraged to continue and to expand their vision for it will only benefit the entire country when even more capable minds are sent into society.

Furthermore, the incidence of this tax on private education will be passed on to the consumers who are already making sacrifices to send their children to these private schools. I am fully aware that there is public education available but, without a doubt, it has many challenges.

Tens of Thousands of public education consumers are clearly not satisfied with public education alone since the majority of them send their children to private lessons. I understand that there are very fortunate people who send their children to private schools and can easily afford it but there are as many others who are humble and have hard-working parents, that I can tell you from first-hand experience, sacrifice a lot to give their child the best opportunities. This tax imposition does not cater for these people.

Economic theory states that if the price of a substitute goes up (private education fees rise due to taxation) the demand for the other good increases (more people demanding public education).

There will be an increase in demand for public education which may well outstrip the capacity of the already overburdened education sector, thereby causing poorer quality of education to all of our citizens. How will the Government be ready to deal with this? Private education provides quality, supplemental services which include quality computer laboratories, air conditioned class rooms, ample playground and yard space and, most importantly, excellent teaching. There are few public schools that meet some of these standards and, it can be argued, that the majority lack most of these traits of quality education.

Public education only offers Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) examinations. Some private schools give the important opportunity to write exams like GCE, ABE and SATs. These are all far more internationally preferred and recognised examinations that give students a better opportunity to compete on the international stage. Once this new VAT tax is applied, those middle class families that want their children to write these exclusive examinations will be confined to CXC/CAPE examinations.

I can only hope that my opinion is heard and valued by someone who has the power and vision to see beyond, short-term, Government revenue, and who understands and appreciates the crucial contribution that quality education can play in building a better Guyana.

Yours faithfully, Othniel Lewis Nations 6th Form College

In support of a referendum on Constitutional changes

Dear Editor, This has reference to a recent news item on the Privy Council Brexit ruling by the UK Supreme Court. In the UK, there was a referendum. The UK Supreme Court ruled that Parliamentary approval is also required for Brexit.

The Guyana Court of Appeals (led by the Chancellor) is expected to hand down its ruling on the government's appeal of the decision by the High Court (Judge Ian Chang, Ret’d) declaring presidential term limits unconstitutional.

The CJ ruled that changes to the constitution pertaining to rights must be done by referendum and not parliament alone; peoples rights are supreme. I am in favour of term limits. But I also firmly support the idea that the peoples’ rights are stronger and they should give their assent to any constitution or amendments to it.

The Burnham constitution was not approved by the people in a free and fair referendum. Why not grant the people that vote in a referendum as happened in England with Brexit or in Scotland? The country needs constitutional reform. But it must be done legally through a referendum.

The Burnham constitution was the product of a rigged referendum. Judge Chang made a wise ruling mandating a referendum on constitutional changes although I would have preferred a referen-

dum on the entire constitution. Chancellor Chang’s appeal court should empower the people by affirming that ruling.

Related to the Guyana case is the one recently engaged by the British Privy Council on the legality of the procedure “to Brexit”. There was a court challenge, filed ironically by a Guyanese Briton, on whether the UK can break from EU without parliamentary approval. The Highest Court ruled that parliament must give its assent also to what is known as the Brexit vote and cabinet approval.

Guyana's system of governance is different from the UK. In UK, the parliament is sovereign and supreme over the people unlike in Guyana. In Guyana, parliament cannot act alone in restricting people's rights or decide on how people will be governed. In the UK, the people choose representatives – under its first past the post representative democracy-- to govern them and act for them in a parliament. Thus, the members of parliament in UK can speak on behalf of the people because each represents a constituency.

In Guyana, the parliament is not sovereign and is not a representative body with constituent representatives; we have a PR system in which the party represents the people. Thus, the Members of Parliament cannot speak on behalf of the population on an important matter like restricting voters’ choices in an election. This must be done by referendum. The fact that the constitution was imposed on the population without their assent, a referendum becomes all the more imperative and moral.

It is about time that the politicians give voters an opportunity to voice their view on the Burnham constitution. The politicians say they are in favour of term limits and people empowerment. Instead of a court challenge to the Chief Judge’s ruling endorsing a referendum, why not put the Burnham constitution and all its amendments to a vote?

Better yet, why not ask the people to choose between the amended Burnham constitution and the independence constitution of 1966? Why are politicians afraid of the voices of the people?

Yours faithfully Vishnu Bisram

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

news 7

Relatives suspect foul play in Opposition moving to file death of Berbice cane harvester private criminal charges

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he body of a man was found on the shore of the Berbice River on Tuesday morning after he went missing Monday afternoon. Relatives suspect foul play.

Dead is Ramesh Seegolam, also called “Mickey”, 30, a cane harvester attached to the Rose Hall Sugar Estate, of Pepper Street, Heatburn, East Bank Berbice.

According to information, Seegolam had gone swimming on Monday afternoonwith a couple and a young child. When they returned to the community, without the man, the child and the couple allegedly gave different accounts of what happened at Heatburn.

The woman reported that Seegolam could not be found, and explained that he was last seen coming out of the water and heading into the bushes. However, when questioned, the primary school student told residents that Seegolam did not leave the water. She said the man plunged and was not seen again.

The child also reported seeing blood in the water.

Seegolam’s mother, Usha, confirmed that the couple returned

Dead: Ramesh Seegolam

without her son about 17:00h. She explained that Seegolam had been at home consuming alcoholic beverages with his father when the couple, who live a few houses away, passed and invited her son to go fishing and swimming with them. A few hours later, the woman returned to Seegolam’s home with his clothing and said his whereabouts were unknown.

The couple were taken into Police custody on Monday evening when a search for the missing man proved futile.

His body was discovered on the river bank on Tuesday.

One resident, Adesia Andrews said she was told two different stories, and was of the opinion there was foul play involved. She said the man

was an excellent swimmer. She also claimed that the female suspect allegedly told some residents that she was taking Seegolam as they passed on their way to the river.

There are also reports that Seegolam and the couple were involved in an argument last Saturday; that was confirmed by the dead man’s mother, although she could not say what it was about.

Villagers say Seegolam was accused of making advances to the woman. On Saturday, the male suspect accused Seegolam of having an affair with his wife. Seegolam was not married and had no children. Police are continuing with their investigations.

against Govt officials

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President Daivd Granger and his Cabinet

he Parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has signalled its intention to file private criminal charges against Government officials and is hoping that these charges will also test the immunity of the President.

This was announced by PPP General Secretary and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference on Monday morning at Freedom House, Robb Street.

He said these private criminal charges will include charges against Government officials who have enriched themselves from the exorbitant salary increases in 2015.

“The argument they are making about enrichment, the asset and enrichment. The basis for which they are looking at the Pradoville issue is that people illegally transferred assets to enrich themselves, then we can prove a case in court that they have taken financial assets of the State, based on a Cabinet decision to give themselves an

increase bigger than anyone else, that is enrichment also,” he explained.

He noted that this is why he has grave concerns about what will happen at the Integrity Commission.

“They have sent home all the staff and now they are in possession of all the returns so we know that many of them broke the law and did not file their returns and we are worried that they just stick these things in there and tamper with the records,” he stated.

Jagdeo argued that this should never be the case where a constitutional agency and their records fall under the control of the Executive.

Moreover, he said these criminal charges will also provide an opportunity to test the immunity of the President against prosecution.

Prompted for more details on the matter, the Opposition Leader declined to comment, however, he assured that the legal documents are currently being prepared.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Berbice domestic worker’s murder: 5 suspects remanded

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ive persons were remanded on Wednesday for the murder of a Corentyne domestic worker, Lilawatie Muhammed last week.

The five suspects: Oliver Permaul, 36, of Lot 100 Tain; his wife, Nazeema Permaul, 42, a businesswoman of the same address; Andre James, also called “Andy”, 26, a tattoo artist of Lot 46 A George Street, Rose Hall Town; Rohan Johnson, also called “Jamakie”, 38, a car-

Dead:Lilawatie Muhammed

Nazeema Permaul

Oliver Permaul

Rohan Johnson

Shabikie Alber

penter of Clardon Jamaica and Lot 107 Second Street, Rose Hall Town and his reputed wife Shabikie Alber, also called “Shabikie Thompson”, appeared at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court. They were jointly charged for the February 7, killing of Muhammed, 45, at her Lot 198 Sixth Street, Tain Settlement, Corentyne home and were not required to plead to theindictable charge.

The matter has been trans-

ferred to the Whim Magistrate’s Court for May 4.

Muhammed was shot dead last Tuesday night by two men who broke into her home at Tain.

It had been reported earlier that a tattoo artist and a Jamaican had confessed to being the hitmen. It was also reported that both gave confession statements to thePolice, stating that it was the Jamaican who pulled the trigger, killing the woman.

The now dead woman was

rumoured to have been involved in a relationship witha wealthy businessman, who operated a lumberyard on the East Bank of Berbiceand lived at Tain, in close proximity to where she lived.

The tattoo artist and the Jamaican living in Rose Hall Town, reportedly told Police that they were allegedly hired by a barber, who was said to have been in a secret relationship with the businessman’s wife, to make the hit.

When the woman was executed, the businessman’s wife was reportedly out of the country; she has since returned and Police are trying to ascertain her whereabouts. She reportedly contacted the Police through a lawyer claiming that her life was threatened and she was going to turn herself in. It is alleged that after his initial release from custody, the barber had made threats to the woman.

Ali says no informed decisions can be made without proper impact assessments

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espite recommendations to privatise the local sugar industry and expressions of interest from foreign investors, Opposition parliamentarian Irfaan Ali is of the view that no “informed” decision can be made on the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) without any impact assessments being carried out. To this end, Ali has written Second Vice President and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on the matter.

At one of its stakeholder consultation meetings earlier this

month when asked, the State’s delegation disclosed that no social or economic assessments were done before, particularly ahead of its decision to close the Wales Sugar Factory to ascertain the implications. It noted that Government officials felt there was no need for such assessments.

Hence, in his letter to Ramjattan which was seen by Guyana Times International, Ali asserted that the parliamentary Opposition believes that no proper analysis, decision or recommendation on this industry can be derived without a com-

Opposition parliamentarian, Irfaan Ali

plete social study and assessment of the impact on communities, regions and the country as a whole; a comprehensive economic study of the impact on communities,

regionsand the country as a whole, and full diversification study with feasibility study, market analysis and comprehensive assessment of each alternative area recommended.

“At our last stakeholder forum, you advised that these studies were not done. We made it clear to you that there is no way you can take an informed decision on this industry that will affect thousands of families, hundreds of communities and businesses and the national economy as a whole without these studies,” Ali outlined in the letter.

He went on to point out that moving forward without any of these analyses on the sugar industry would be like “shooting in the dark”. “We will never play with the livelihood of tens of thousands of Guyanese directly and indirectly and the health of Guyana’s economy in such manner.

I therefore propose that if these documents continue to be unavailable, the next meeting focuses on developing a plan of action to have these reports, studies, documents and assessment completed,” the Opposition parliamentarian said in this letter to Ramjattan.

According to the Caribbean Development Bank Mechanisation Report December 2014, “the sugar industry still contributes around five per cent of GDP; provides direct employment for approximately 16,000 (in 2013) (95 per cent male); supports over 300 ser-

Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder

Second Vice President, Khemraj Ramjattan

vices providers; and is the third largest contributor of foreign exchange.

It also plays a critical socio-economic and environmental role in the predominantly low-income coastal communities where cultivation and processingare concentrated.”

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder had explained in a subsequent interview with Guyana Times International that due to time constraints and the need to resolve the operating expenses at GuySuCo, Government could not conduct a social and economic impact assessment before closing down estates.

“Why wasn’t it done for 20 years? The PPP Government knew that sugar could not continue the way it was going.

The selling price (was low) and operating costs were too great… So the (coalition) Government came in and realised that the bailouts couldn’t continue. A study like that would take a long time.

It’s not something you can do overnight,” the Minister had stated.

According to the Minister, an impact assessment would take between nine months to a year to be completed.

The Minister stated that Government and the economy could not afford to maintain the system and the bailouts.

“So if the PPP wants to do an (assessment), they can go ahead and do it. But we don’t have the time, at this stage. We’re at crunch time now. It would take nine months to a year to do a proper study. So who is going to finance GuySuCo during that time? We had to make a decision,” he remarked.

However, President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), Komal Chand had stated that this move by Government was irresponsible. He explained that a social economic impact study should have been done, especially since Government will soon be making a decision on the beleaguered sugar industry.

“Having not done a study or assessment on an industry that has such a wide-spread effect is big and having not done any, they say they will not do one now… It does not show that they are a responsible Government and a Government that cares about the people,” Chand noted.

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Cops hold 3 for Contractor claims millions in Hope vigilante compensation from City Hall killing T A

third suspect has now joined an Alliance For Change Councillor and her father for the beating to death of a 22-yearold fisherman who was accused of attempting to snatch the bag of the regional Councillor.

Shereffudeen Nazamudeen, called “Sheriff”, of Lot 117 Ruby, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was tied and beaten to death on Tuesday at Hope, EBE. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times International the third suspect was arrested on Wednesday after detectives revisited the area to conduct further investigations. He noted that while charges are expected to be instituted, the Police are continuing their investigations.

It was reported that the young lady was cornered by the now dead man who snatched her bag and attempted to escape. However, the woman raised an alarm and residents went in hot pursuit of him.

He was caught in the ruins of a house that was

Dead: Shereffudeen Nazamudeen

set alight just last year, resulting in the deaths of an elderly couple. He was reportedly beaten by the Councillor and her father along with other persons in the area.

Following the beating, the man suffered severe injuries about his body and was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Three pieces of wood, suspected to have been used in the fatal beating, were recovered from the scene.

The Councillor and her father were arrested on Tuesday and are cooperating with the Police.

Acquitted murder accused remanded for attempted murder

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man who was previously found not guilty of murder was on Wednesday remanded to prison after he was slapped with an attempted murder charge and another for discharging a loaded firearm.

Leon Duncan, 27, of Festival City, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and had the charges read to him.

It is alleged that on January 8, 2017, at Main Street, he discharged a loaded firearm at SeonNedd. The second charge against Duncan stated that on September 26, 2016, at Oronoque and Forshaw Streets, he attempted to murder Geoffrey Pharrell.

Duncan’s Attorney, Mark Waldron told the court that since the defendant was previously found not guilty of the murder charge, the Police have since been pinning multiple other charges on his client with the intention of having him incarcerated.

However, while both

Accused: Leon Duncan

Virtual Complainants (VCs) in the matter failed to appear in court, Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that they were available. The Prosecutor added that the files on both charges were incomplete, so he requested time for their completion.

The matters were subsequently set down for February 27, 2017, and were transferred to Court Two before Magistrate Leron Daly.

Duncan was previously charged with the murder of Intaz Roopnarine at Cool Square.

he contractor who was sidelined in the parking meter project, Astroloble Technology Inc is engaging the courts to claim millions of dollars in compensation from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), for circumventing an agreement between the two parties for the implementation of a paid parking system in the city.

Completely ignoring a contract it had with the company since 2007, City Hall entered into an agreement with Smart City Solutions (SCS) for the rollout of metered parking in Georgetown.

Astroloble Technology Inc Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Saratu Phillips filed an injunction in the High Court last July, to block the M&CC from executing the project with SCS; however, the matter had its final hearing just last month and the injunction was denied.

According to Phillips, the outcome was “shockingly shocking”.

The CEO explained to Guyana Times Internationalthat his company was currently engaging with its lawyers to advance legal action, claiming millions of dollars in compensation.

The M&CC signed the contract on October 1, 2007; representing the company was its CEO and the Council was represented by then Town Clerk, Beulah Williams.

Present Town Clerk Royston King acknowledged the existence of the contract via a letter to Astroloble Technology dated October 6, 2015.

In the letter, which was seen by Guyana Times International, King provided guidelines for the com-

pany to begin rolling out the parking meter project.

The letter advised the company to visit its designed areas with a view to begin paid parking as a pilot project under the conditions of the contract.

However, Phillips subsequently learnt of the M&CC entering into a new contract with a company called National Parking System (NPS) – which was eventually usurped

by SCS. He said no one from the City Hall has since contacted him to explain the change of plans or why his contract was disregarded.

Phillips had explained to the media that his team worked with the M&CC since December 2006 until October 2007, when he obtained an exclusive contract, valid for 25 years, to design the parking system.

He explained that it was going to cost the City Council close to US$2 million to implement a simple parking system, but according to Phillips, City Hall did not have the funds at the time.

In the meantime, he was assembling investors and technology to put everything together.

However, Phillips decided that he would not start works until the municipality amended some of its by-laws.

Valid contract

“Back and forth we were debating the by-laws and I eventually decided that I would pay to get

them done in 2008. After I submitted the by-laws, the issue arose that the Government was not giving them the go-ahead to raise funds on their own.

We were then stuck at this point,” Phillips explained.

However, he said the understanding between the parties was that the contract remained valid and would continue as soon as permission was granted.

Unlike the existing contract with SCS, Phillips’ agreement was neither draconian nor oppressive.

In fact, the contract stipulates that certain vehicles would have been exempted from paying for parking – unlike the case with the current contract.

These categories of vehicles include those belonging to all Ministers of Government, all Members of Parliament, Doctors, priests and pastors as

well as two vehicles from each ministry, and all City Council vehicles.

The fees were also less abusive, at rates of G$60 for 30 minutes whereas high priority parking zones would have attracted a G$150 fee.

Special parking spaces would have been made available for two-wheel vehicles at G$50 per hour.

The charge to unclamp a vehicle was set at G$2500.

The city had given the company permission to conduct the paid public parking on Avenue of the Republic, Brickdam, South Road, North Road, Main Street, Church Road, Robb Street, Regent Street, America Street, Camp Street, Middle Street, Croal Street, Water Street, Thomas Street and Longden Street.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19 , 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

PPP slams Govt’s “highhanded approach” in dealing with Wales closure

Transparency institute slams PNC gang for corrupt parking meter deal

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T

The Wales Estate workers protesting in front of the Ministry of the Presidency earlier this week

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has again come to the defence of the hundreds of displaced cane harvesters of the Wales Sugar Estate, who over the past week have been clamouring for what they said are their well-deserved severance packages.

The party, in a statement issued on Tuesday, condemned the “high-handed approach of Government in its dealings with the sugar industry” and pointed to the rigorous economic toll it is taking on the country.

Alluding to the situation at the West Bank Demerara sugar factory, the PPP stressed that it does not support Government’s callous decisions.

“The cruelty of the Government is demonstrated by the treatment meted to the workers of Wales Estate. Having closed the industry without any consultations with the workers or their union, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change Government had refused to comply with the Severance Pay Act. This forced the union to approach the courts for an order compelling [Guyana Sugar Corporation] GuySuCo to negotiate with the union”.

The parliamentary Opposition said even after obtaining the order of the court, and following negotiations with the union, GuySuCo still refuses to pay the agreed severance packages to the workers, causing the current protest action.

“The PPP strongly supports the workers in their just demand that their severance package be paid immediately and accordance with the law,” the Party said in a release on Wednesday.

Misinformation Meanwhile, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has also lashed out at the Agriculture Ministry which on Monday stated that all redundant workers from Wales Estate were paid their severance payments.

“The Ministry’s assertion is plainly misleading and our Union wonders whether the Ministry is intently misinforming the public. So far, less than a hundred workers, who are GAWU members, have received their severance pay. Those payments were settled belatedly last September rather than, as was expected, in late April 2016.

As it regards the demand by the cane cutters and cane transport operators for their severance, GAWU is urging the Ministry and its advisers to acquaint themselves with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA). There, it said they will quickly see that the workers’ entitlement for severance is upheld.

“Moreover, we must reiterate that GuySuCo, in our Union’s presence, last December communicated to a number of workers that their jobs were

redundant and they were entitled to severance, if they chose not to go to Uitvlugt. Here, we must point out that those workers who were already severed declined GuySuCo’s offer of going to Uitvlugt and demanded their severance which the company rightly obliged. We ask then why is a different ‘yardstick’ being applied to the current contingent of workers?” the Union questioned.

GAWU said the Ministry and GuySuCo have also assured of the availability of company transportation for the workers. It said this is not a new idea since for decades now, sugar workers have been transported to work. Such a benefit, like others, came into being due to the struggles by workers in the past.

The Union said its workers are labelled as disingenuous; however, that label best fits GuySuCo and, seemingly, the Agriculture Ministry.

“There is no merger of Wales and Uitvlugt factory operations as asserted in the statement. The fact is that cane cultivation and sugar processing have ended at Wales and the estate is now sadly closed. No amount of semantics can wish away this depressing fact,” GAWU said.

The Union said workers were concerned about their job security, and expressly called for Wales not to be closed in order to save their main source of livelihood.

“They, at no time, promoted the transfer of their jobs some 22 miles away to Uitvlugt. Their call unfortunately fell on deaf ears and did not find favour with the Administration. Now, GuySuCo is seeking to rub salt in the deep wounds it inflicted by trampling on their right to severance pay and seeking to cover its insensitivity by resorting to hackneyed and old claim of ‘politically instigated”.

“The Ministry’s statement also exclaims that there is no option than for the workers to accept employment at Uitvlugt”. GAWU said it was clear that the Ministry and those in charge are at “sea” or they have been receiving bad advice from the Sugar Corporation.

“We urge that those in authority to note that Section 21(4) (b) of TESPA requires an employer to provide workers with their severance payments if the employer is unable to provide a similar job “at the same place of employment or within a radius of ten (10) miles therefrom under no less favourable conditions than those such employee enjoyed immediately prior to the termination”. The Sugar Corporation, by its actions, and the Ministry, by its insistence, are promoting positions that are contrary to law, apart from being unsympathetic to the workers’ welfare.

GAWU, at this time, stands solidly with the workers and is supportive of their just demand”.

ocal transparency watchdog Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI) has issued a scathing criticism of the People’s National Congress (PNC) officials, who have been exposed in the orchestration of the corrupt parking meter deal.

TIGI also warned of the grave repercussions for future generations if the authorities refuse to heed the calls of civil society to terminate the contract, which it said has bequeathed the city streets and its people

who would bear the burden of the poor governance and in this regard, condemned the Mayor as well as the Town Clerk for retaliating against the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM).

The body noted that these attacks by the Mayor and Town Clerk, while in poor taste, are unfortunately consistent with the alternative reality that explains the actions of the top echelons of the City Council.

“The MAPM has galvanised the people into action against sustained abuse and disregard. The

best interest of the population.

“It is significant that Central Government, including the President, Cabinet and the responsible Minister, invoked a non-interference stance even while the people were unable to access needed information about the deal,” TIGI explained.

Notably, Central Government had several opportunities where it could have prevented the deal from materialising, but yet failed to act accordingly.

Beginning from the initial review of the contract by the Finance Ministry and Attorney General’s Chambers to the signing off of the bylaws by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, Government could have stopped the project from commencing.

Flaws

TIGI encouraged citizens to always ensure their voices are heard, and to spare no effort to communicate their views to their leaders, within the law and the provisions of democracy

to Smart City Solutions (SCS).

In a detailed missive released on Wednesday, the organisation called out Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green and Town Clerk Royston King for their lead role in the creation of a contract riddled with terror clauses and their subsequent attacks on those who have stood up against it.

TIGI also recognised that other persons had a role to play in the disastrous negotiation, including Central Government which it lambasted for its initial laidback approach and failure to nip the project in its bud.

PNC gang

The signatories of the parking meter contract are Chase Green; King; City Hall’s Finance Committee Chairman and PNC General Secretary, Oscar Clarke and Clarke’s predecessor and Councillor, Junior Garrett.

TIGI noted, “The Mayor and Town Clerk are at the forefront of this onslaught, but have not monopolised this function.”

The body expressed that the “lack of transparency in the handling of the deal is a telling blow to good governance and the repercussions will visit future generations if the deal is not rescinded”.

TIGI pointed out that it was the ordinary man

Movement is based on the legal and governance issues of which the economic burden on citizens and the implementation maladies are merely symptomatic. The Movement is consistent with democratic principles and exemplifies free thinking that transcends social divides and political ideologies. This is predictably abhorred, opposed and denigrated by City Hall. The parking meters’ debacle and the civil action against the deal resulted from the poor governance of the M&CC,” the organisation explained.

According to the body, “equally damning is the sustained vilification of those who dare to stand up, including some Councillors”.

TIGI lamented that the collusion between City Hall and the contractor was such that boundaries have been obliterated as exemplified by a SCS Director (Ifa Cush) boldly, defiantly and repeatedly hurling derogatory remarks at citizens.

The organisation noted that the Director’s attacks were as a result of the security and immunity the contract provided to the contractor.

Central Government

TIGI also berated Central Government for its role in the development of this ordeal, which itself had recognised was not in the

TIGI reiterated that the problems with the parking meter deal were a combination of lack of transparency and secrecy surrounding the contract, violation of procurement laws, alignment of interests of the M&CC and the contractor in the trip to Mexico and the inaction of Central Government, given the Finance Ministry’s review of the contract as “a telling blow to transparency, accountability and good governance”.The body noted that the laundry list can be expanded to include the implementation of penalties prior to ratification of the bylaws necessary to support such actions, the exorbitant penalties for parking infringements and SCS’s absolution from responsibility for vehicles they take possession of.

In this regard, the transparency body lauded the efforts of those members of civil society as well as the contributions of the Councillors who stood up to defend the rights of the people even in the face of attacks by City Hall.

“The people have a right to know what the city is doing and given the circumstances, we believe that you have done your job…We commend the public on taking up its duty to reject unilateral impositions of such dire consequences.”

Further, TIGI encouraged citizens to always ensure their voices are heard, and to spare no effort to communicate their views to their leaders, within the law and the provisions of democracy.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Wasteful!

granting its no-objection when the PPC is ready to work; they have been advertising for staff for the Commission (and) those matters are well advanced.”

…Gaskin says of huge salaries being paid to inactive procurement commissioners

Responsibilities of the Commission

The Commissioners after they were sworn in last year posed with President David Granger. From left are Carol Corbin, Sukrishnalall Pasha, President Granger, Ivor English, Nanda Gopaul and Emily Dodson

C

ommissioners on the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) are in receipt of their salaries despite the Commission being inactive; this development is not going down well with sections of society.

This situation was on Tuesday described by political commentator Ramon Gaskin as “wasteful”. During an interview with Guyana Times International, Gaskin decried the level of unpreparedness exhibited by the Administration, which swore in the Commissioners before the requisite staff was even in place.

According to Gaskin, Government should have been more prepared before swearing in the Commissioners, knowing that they would need a fully staffed office.

“Wasteful! They waste the money. Hopefully they will get their act together quickly. They brought in someone from Jamaica to be the Chief Executive Officer. So we’ll have to wait and see how it works out. But they’re wasting a lot of money.”

“Because that’s what they are doing now. They are interviewing people and filling (vacancies), three months later,” Gaskin pointed out.

President David

Granger swore in the Commissioners – Carol Corbin, Nanda Gopaul, Emily Dodson, Ivor English, and Sukrishnalall Pasha – on October 28, 2016.

Though the PPC is not functioning, they have been collecting hefty salaries since then.

According to reports, Corbin is paid as much as G$1.3 million a month, while the other Commissioners are earning as much as G$900,000 monthly.

When questioned about this situation after announcing more contracts, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had stated that “Cabinet will stop

At present, Chapter 73:05 of the Procurement Act 2003 grants the Cabinet the right to review all procurement matters exceeding G$15 million. When the PPC came on stream, however, the legislation had catered for the phasing out of Cabinet and decentralisation of the process.

Amendment No 3 Act of 2001; 212 A (1) Constitutional amendment lists some of the PPC’s key functions as monitoring and reviewing the functioning of available procurement systems, to ensure that they are in accordance with the law and any policy guidelines that are determined by the National assembly.

It is also tasked with promoting awareness of the rules, procedures and the requirements of the procurement process, with regards to suppliers, contractors and public bodies. The responsibility to “safeguard the national interest in public procurement matters,

Political activist Ramon Gaskin

having due regard to any international obligations” is also vested with this body.

According to the Act, the PPC also has to “monitor the performance of procurement bodies with respect to adherence to regulations and efficiency in procuring goods and services and execution of works; approve of procedures for public procurement, disseminate rules and procedures for public procurement and recommend modifications thereto to the public procurement entities.”

It also has to “monitor and review all legislation, policies and measures for compliance with the objects and matters under its purview and report the need for any legislation to the National

Assembly; monitor and review the procurement procedures of the ministerial, regional, and national procurement entities as well as those of project execution units.”

The PPC is also empowered to investigate complaints from suppliers, contractors and public entities, in addition to cases of irregularity and mismanagement; the body then proposes remedial action.

The Commission also has the option to enlist the aid of experts to provide specialist advice if needed, in addition to consulting with and referring matters to the Guyana Police Force and the Auditor General.

Chief Justice defers ruling on presidential term limit case

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hancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Carl Singh has deferred his ruling on the presidential term limit case until February 21.

He was expected to rule on a State-sponsored appeal against former Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang’s ruling that the two-term presidential limit was unconstitutional.

Chang’s ruling was appealed by then Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman and current Attorney General, Basil Williams.

The constitutional challenge case was filed by Georgetown resident Cedric Richardson in February 2015, who had sought the court’s interpretation of the provisions in the Constitution regarding the two-term limit for Guyana’s presidency.

The case, which was filed by Attorneys Emily Dodson and Shawn Allicock, on behalf of Richardson, argued that Act 17 of 2001, which was passed by a twothird majority in the

Former Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang

National Assembly, unconstitutionally curtails and restricts his sovereign and democratic rights and freedom as a qualified elector to elect former President BharratJagdeo as the Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Richardson had contended that the limit was unconstitutional and illegal. He sought the court’s interpretation to determine whether the amendment with referendum should not have been held, instead of the two-third majority in the National Assembly having the powers to decide to limit the number of

terms.

Chang, in his written ruling, said that the purported alteration of Article 90 by the Act No 17 of 2001, in substance and effect, undoubtedly diminishes the democratic rights of the electorate in electing a person of their own choice as President.

The court views that Act 17 of 2001 needed a referendum and is invalid and without legal effect for reason of non-compliance, the ruling stated.

The acting Chief Justice further noted that Act 17 of 2001, which purports to alter Article 90 of the 1980 Constitution, seeks to dilute the pre-existing democratic rights of the electorate to elect a President of their choice.

As such, while the Constitution provides for representative democracy, such representative democracy cannot encroach on popular sovereignty from which it derives and which is entrenched by the requirement of the referendum.

Appeal But Trotman and

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Carl Singh

Williams, not satisfied with the Chief Justice’s interpretation of the Constitution, filed an appeal.

On August 7, 2015, the then Solicitor General SitaRamlall and Attorney Roysdale Forde filed the appeal on five grounds, including the fact that the Chief Justice blundered in law.

In the appeal, the Government, through Ramlall contended that, among other things: The Chief Justice misdirected himself in law when he ruled that the National Assembly, which passed Act No 17 of 2001 purporting to alter Article 90 of the Constitution by

way of a two-third majority vote of all members, was unconstitutional and of no effect as it failed to comply with Article 164(2a).

The appeal also opined that Justice Chang erred when he ruled that the purported alteration of Article 90 by Act No 17 of 2001 in substance and effect “diminishes the democratic rights of the electorate in electing a person of their own choice as President by excluding from presidential candidates citizens who have served for two terms as a President.”

It also argued that Justice Chang erred when he ruled that the proviso to Article 164 (2b) of the Constitution affected the purported amendment to Article 90 insofar as it seeks to “trench on and dilute” the pre-existing democratic right of the electorate to elect as President a person of their own choice and is invalid and without legal effect for reason of non-compliance with Article 162 (2a) and or repugnancy with Article 1 and Article

Attorney General Basil Williams

9, both of which require a referendum for the amendment for any alteration.

The appeal advanced the argument that Justice Chang erred when he ruled that while the Constitution provides for representative democracy, such representative democracy cannot encroach on popular sovereignty from which it derives and which is entrenched by the requirement of a referendum.

Additionally, it said Justice Chang erred in law in not satisfying himself that the court had jurisdiction to grant the reliefs sought by the plaintiff.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Another city fire leaves 11 homeless …2 buildings destroyed

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fire of unknown origin has completely destroyed two buildings on Bishop Street, between Princes and Norton Streets, Georgetown leaving at least 11 people homeless and millions of dollars in losses.

The fire reportedly started about 18:30h in the upper flat of the Lot 32 Bishop Street home and quickly spread to the other building.

ed that he was out and as he returned home, he saw heavy smoke in the air and upon enquiring, he was told that his house was on fire. The devastated man, who sat on his motorcycle helplessly, stated that everything that he worked for over the years went up in flames.

He noted that his most prized possession, his laptop computer was in the house. He could not say

The blazing fire at the Bishop Street homes on Wednesday evening

Based on reports received, the house in which the fire started was occupied by two families.

The first apartment was occupied by a deejay, Clifton Mosley, and his wife, Gloria Barry, while the other apartment was occupied by the couple’s grandchildren.

According to Barry, she left her apartment and went into the yard to fetch some water and within minutes, she saw smoke billowing from the upper flat of the apartment.

She immediately raised an alarm and ran to safety. Her grandchildren also made it to safety.

Speaking with Guyana Times International at the scene, Mosley relat-

what started the fire, but he was thankful that no one was injured.

One man who noticed the fire during its initial stage explained that he immediately went to assist several people who had already formed a bucket brigade, but owing to the dryness of the wood, the houses were quickly engulfed. He further explained that by the time the firefighters arrived at the scene, one of the houses was already unsalvageable and they concentrated on the nearby houses.

He is of the belief if the firefighters had used the Princes Street entrance, they could have saved the second building, but they used the Norton Street en-

trance.

At the scene, Divisional Operations Officer Compton Sparman told media operatives that the Guyana Fire Service received the call about 18:30h and deployed four units, including two bowsers with almost 4000 gallons of water.

Nevertheless, he noted that as the firefighters assessed the fire, they had to tap into a water source since there were no fire hydrants. He noted that the firefighters worked extremely hard to save the nearby buildings, adding that the area is known for its circle breeze effect.

On this note, he recalled that 13 buildings were destroyed in the same area as a result of the circle breeze effect and as such, commended the firefighters for their exemplary work to contain the blaze.

Meanwhile, at least two persons who occupied nearby buildings were rushed to the hospital.

Their conditions are listed as stable. Officials of the Guyana Fire Service have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire while members of the Guyana Police Force were seen taking statements from the occupants of the houses.

This is the third fire for the week. On Sunday, three people, including a one-year-old perished in a fire at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, after the house was purposely set ablaze. On Tuesday, another house was set alight by a jilted man at Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara.

GEA nabs suspected illegal fuel vessel

The barrels of fuel suspected to have been smuggled

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fficers attached to the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) nabbed a boat suspected to be smuggling illegal fuel from Venezuela, early Tuesday morning.

According to information reaching Guyana Times International, after the boat was spotted in thearea, concerned persons alerted the authorities,

who immediately launched an investigation. The boat was apprehended and after a search, a large quantity of illegal fuel was discovered.

When this newspaper visited the scene at Charity, many persons had converged. Although it is unclear at this point to whom the fuel belongs, the authorities are continuing with their investigations.

Wismar teen remanded for assault, robbery under arms

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17-year-old was remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a charge of assault and robbery under arms.

Teon February of Wismar, Linden, denied the charge which stated that on February 8, 2017, while being armed with a firearm, he robbed Lynette Richmond at Canvas City, Linden of a quantity of jewellery valued G$293,500.

The prosecution objected to bail based on the gravity of the offence

Teon February

and the fact that a weapon was used to commit the act. The teen was remanded to prison and

the case transferred to the Linden Magistrate’s Court for February 21.

Caricom boss says negotiations on Arrest Warrant Treaty, Assets Recovery progressing

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hile there is no guarantee that the legal instruments, the Arrest Warrant Treaty and the Assets Recovery programme will be adopted anytime soon, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) is very much advanced in getting this completed.

Caricom Secretary General IrwinLaRocque on Monday told journalists that some of these legal instruments require very careful examination.

Last week, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said Guyana will present the draft Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty for ratification at the 28th Intercessional Caricom Heads of Government meeting which will be held in Guyana on Thursday and Friday of this week.

He said the adoption of the

Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque

Treaty will simplify the procedures by which fugitives from justice are returned to participating Member States to face criminal prosecution or serve judicial sentences.

The Treaty is one of the regional security instruments that was formulated to enhance cooperation between Member States in the fight

against crime and to reduce the complexity, cost and delays in the existing extradition arrangements inherent in the Region.

Meanwhile,LaRocque said the Asset Recovery programme is a legal instrument that would allow for the recovery of assets that have been transferred to another country

by “ill-gotten means”.

He said it will first be a legal instrument of treaty and will have to be enacted in domestic legislations. He said negotiations are moving forward and it has received the attention of the Council for Crime and Security and the Legal Affairs Committee which comprises Attorneys General from across the Region.

Harmon had said last week that Guyana will give its approval on the return and sharing of assets at the two-day meeting.

The crime and security strategy was adopted at Caricom’s 24th Intercessional Meeting held in Haiti in October 2013. It included the utilisation of asset recovery as a tool in the fight against organised crime.

Meanwhile LaRocque, responding to questions on how

soon the legal instruments would be ratified, said once it gets the clearance of the Legal Affairs Committee, a recommendation will be made to the conference of Heads of Government that it is ready for adoption and that is where the signature will take place.

Guyana will also be recommending the signing of a draft agreement to establish the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy Efficiency (CCREE) at the Heads of Government meeting. “This agreement is geared at addressing several areas including energy security, energy access for production use and climate change mitigation,” Minister Harmon said.

Guyana’s green agenda will benefit substantially from this agreement by way of technical and financial support, the Minister of State noted.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jagdeo slams Govt for giving free pass to ‘burdensome’ parking meter project

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eoples Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Opposition Leader, BharratJagdeo has called out the Government for failing to nip the Parking Meter Project in its bud, as he rejected the sympathies now being expressed by President David Granger and his administration in relation to the corrupt initiative.

Jagdeo highlighted that the Central Government had more than enough opportunities to prevent the project from materialising, but refused to act based on the premise of not wanting to interfere with local government affairs.

But the Opposition

Leader finds it odd how Government suddenly changed itsviews full circle, after civil society reacted in uproar and demanded that the shady deal be scrapped.

Government was privy to the contract some five months ago, but yet allowed the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to grant the green light to the private investors, despite the contract consisting of clauses which allows the parking meter company to take full control of the capital.

Jagdeo highlighted that Government could have stopped the project from going forward right there, especially since they have major-

ity Councillors on the M&CC. “The ministry had an adverse review of the contract and yet

they proceed to support it and they can’t claim that they did not support this project,” the former President observed.

He noted too that the Government had another opportunity to terminate the deal when the By-laws came to the Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan for approval.

“So they not only had the contract, (they) had a review done of the contract, gone against their own review of the contract, but then they had one of their Cabinet ministers help to bring this

contract into being so who takes approval for that, is it not Granger himself,” he stated.

Jagdeo also argued that the concerns now being expressed by the Alliance For Change (AFC) arm of the coalition Government are not even genuine as its members were part and parcel in the process of supporting the controversial project.

The Opposition Leader also contended that a reduction in the rates of the paid parking will not solve the problem, as he reiterated calls for the entire initiative to be scrapped.

“There are so many other features of that contract that are unbelievably stacked in favour of the investor… they have now saddled us with unbelievable liabilities if this contract should be repudiated now… and we can only put the blame at the doorstep of this Government,” he emphasized.

Guyana seeking to expand turmeric production in Hinterland region

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Tumeric harvested in Guyana

s part of the spice programme expansion, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) is preparing to expand the cultivation of turmeric tubers from 20 to 40 acres in Region One (BarimaWaini).

Hinterland regions have been recognised as the most suitable areas for spice cultivation, hence the expansion, the Government Information Agency (GINA) stated in a press release.

Based on research information obtained by NAREI, spices including black pepperand ginger are produced in Guyana on a large scale.

However, more specifically, turmeric is currently produced on a semi-commercial scale.

A turmeric processing factory is expected to be commissioned in

Hosororo, Region One to manufacture fresh turmeric rhizomes. This project will at the same time, provide jobs for persons in the Region.

More than 50 farmers from turmeric-producing communities in Region One, namely Arukamai, Barima River, Aruka River, Hotoquai, Port Kaituma, Morawhanna, Hobodia, Yarakita, Aruau, Kobarimo, St Anselm, Kachi Kamo, Black Water, Kamwatta, Wauna and White Water have benefitted from planting materials, technical advice and training through NAREI. The spice project was re-introduced through a pilot programme which was rolled out in nine of the 10 Administrative Regions. Other spices are currently being explored for continued production in 2017.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Conspiracy charge dismissed against Dataram’s reputed wife

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he conspiracy and immigration charges against Anjanie Boodnarine, reputed wife of Barry Dataram, were on Monday dismissed as a result of lack of evidence by Magistrate Renita Singh.

Boodnarine, 22, was accused of conspiring with person/ persons to forge a Guyana passport, attempting to defeat the administration of the law and departing Guyana without presenting herself to an immigration officer.

She was charged with the offences in October 2016.

Magistrate Singh ruled that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence to convict Boodnarine, leaving the court in significant doubt as to whether the accused had directly or indirectly conspired to forge the said passport.

Additionally, the Magistrate, in handing down her decision, said that the evidence presented by the prosecution was inconsistent and contradictory, noting that the court was unclear whether the offence took place in 2015 or 2016 and as such, the matter was dismissed.

Boodnarine, along with Dataram, was arrested in 2016 by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks after a Police raid was conducted on a house at Lot 661 Fourth Avenue, Block X Diamond, East Bank Demerara. The

Anjanie Boodnarine

search led to the discovery of a large quantity of cocaine stuffed in frozen seafood. The couple were arraigned and charged with the offence. Dataram was found guilty of the offence and the charge against Boodnarine was dismissed.

Dataram had recently taken full responsibility for the possession of illegal ammunition, which was found in his home during the raid, leading to Boodnarine being acquitted of the charge.

The conspiracy and immigration charges arose after Boodnarine and Dataram fled the country before sentencing on the drug and related charges would be handed down. They were recaptured in Suriname and conspiracy and immigration charges were laid against them of which Dataram was found guilty.

The woman has pending matters before the courts.

Young soldier succumbs 11 days after ingesting poison

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19-year-old soldier, who was based at Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown died tragically after he consumed a quantity of poisonous substance.

According to information received, the now deceased Ramando Gouveia, who hailed from Marlbourgh in the Lower Pomeroon, allegedly consumed the substance following a heated argument with his girlfriend.

The teen reportedly ingested the substance on January 31, but succumbed at the Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital on Saturday, after bat-

tling for his life for 11 days.

His father, Paul Gouveia, explained that he overheard the couple’s argument and immediately after, his son went silent.

It was then he went to check on him and discovered him lying on the floor with a bottle not far away.

The young man was immediately rushed to the Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital, where he was admitted.

His body is presently at the Suddie Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

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16 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Parents plead for assistance for 5-monthold to undergo emergency surgery

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five-month-old baby is in dire need of a liver transplant after being diagnosed with liver disease in January 2017 by medical officials at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Her relatives are calling on members of the

public to provide financial donations towards her treatment, which can only be done abroad.

The baby, Zendya Kassim was initially admitted to the Hospital’s Paediatric Ward on December 16, 2016 by her parents, Zoelesia Shuman-Kassim and

Sameer Kassim of Lot 372 Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

“On admission, the parents referred that the infant was becoming increasingly jaundiced for approximately two months. Other complaints included one ep-

isode of fever hours before visit to the hospital and dark yellow urine,” the medical report dated January 24, 2017 from the Hospital stated.

According to the report, after a physical examination was conducted, “findings on admission included severe jaundice and a globulus abdomen”.

The baby was then admitted to undergo treatment which included intravenous fluids, and medication. She also underwent laboratory investigations including complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests; Hepatitis A, B, and C tests; TORCH screen; blood culture and an abdominal ultra-sonogram (USG).

“The laboratory findings included anaemia, leucocytosis, thrombocytosis and elevated liver enzymes. The abdominal USG revealed hepatomegaly and a contracted gall bladder. The toxoplasmosis was non-reactive and the Hepatitis panel was negative,” the medical document stated.

At that time, the results for the other tests were pending and so the infant was discharged

from the Hospital on December 20, 2016, with her next visit scheduled for the following week.

Upon that visit, another abdominal USG was conducted and the findings revealed “hepatomegaly, a well-distended gall bladder and a normal gall bladder wall thickness. The coagulation profile showed elevated INR (1.5), prothrombin (17.8) and partial thromboplastin time (4.4).”

Additionally, “the patient was evaluated by the Paediatric Surgery doctors upon request by the paediatric medial team and the decision was made to plan for a CT scan of the abdomen and correct the coagulopathy. The patient was clinically stable and was scheduled for admission the following week to execute the previously mentioned plan.”

On January 4, 2017, little Zendaya was re-admitted to the Paediatric Ward and the CT scan of the abdomen with IV Contrast was conducted. However, it was the CT scan, which was re-conducted on January 6, 2017, that disclosed “multiple intra-hepatic cysts along the biliary

Baby Zendaya is in dire need of a liver transplant

radicles at the hepatic hilum. Type V choledochal cyst (Todani classification) with associated biliary atresia.”

The child’s parents were then informed of the need to have a liver transplant done on their child. They were further advised that liver transplant and related services are presently not offered in Guyana and they would need to seek medical attention for their five-month-old daughter overseas.

The cost of the transplant is estimated to be approximately G$10 million. Anyone who would like to assist this family in saving the life of five-month-old Zendaya Kassim is asked to contact her parents on 592-602-6268, 592-6951189 and 592-216-1795.

(Ramona Luthi)

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

AFC slams Chase-Green over “unwarranted attacks” against Duncan A

nother rift seems to be developing between the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) after the minor political force – on the second anniversary of the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord – lambasted the APNUaligned Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green for her attacks against AFC Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan.

The AFC declared that it would not take lightly the “unwarranted attacks” meted out by the Mayor against Duncan, noting

that an attack against any member of the party was invariably an attack against the party itself.

Chase Green had accused Duncan of propagating misinformation on the parking meter project to the public and causing civil unrest.

“The party condemns, in the strongest possible terms, this unwarranted attack on Mr Duncan,” it said in a statement to the media on Tuesday.

In this regard, the AFC called on the Mayor to immediately withdraw her accusations, offer an unqualified apology and take

a more conciliatory approach towards resolving the issue of the widespread rejection of the “indecent and oppressive” parking meter contract.

In deepening the rift, the AFC belatedly criticised the APNU Mayor for her part in the shady deal, which practically sold out Georgetown to private investors.

“It is the view of the party that it is in fact the Mayor, along with the Town Clerk and those who were secretly involved in negotiating and signing off on this sordid contract, who must take responsibil-

ity rather than seek to cast blame elsewhere,” the AFC emphasised.

The party highlighted that it was unquestionably the initial and continued secrecy, lack of transparency surrounding the contract, the bad negotiating, lack of consultation with the people and poor implementation, which were the main reasons, among others, for the widespread rejection of the paid metered parking initiative.

The AFC further noted that while it remained committed to the coalition, it would not stand for the disrespect and attacks such as essayed by the APNU Mayor on its Councillors, leaders or members.

Hypocritical

Anti-parking meter protesters stood in solidarity before chaos ensued

However, AFC’s backing of Duncan’s position is viewed by many in the political realm and civil society as belated as the party is now attempting to make the issue a political football when it could have stood up for citizens from the inception of the project. One such person, who came out publicly swinging at the AFC for its belated position is People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green

Georgetown Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan

Member of Parliament (MP) Irfaan Ali, who called out the AFC over its hypocrisy as it did not support the parking meter motion which was tabled in the National Assembly.

The motion had called for a debate on the transparency of the project, method of procurement involved, terms and conditions of the contract, and the overall lack of consultation with stakeholders.

Ali, who had tabled the motion, contended that the AFC could not claim to be an innocent party, nor could it divorce itself from the collective decision by Government when the APNU-aligned Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan signed the by-laws for the project to be implemented.

“The Government, of which the AFC is a part, has the ability and power to suspend the project as the very Government has the majority of Councillors on the City Council,” the politician argued. He also

noted that notwithstanding the many appeals from the public and the parliamentary Opposition for an urgent intervention, the Government never budged in allowing a constructive re-evaluation of the “glaringly biased and detrimental” project.

To this end, Ali contended that the AFC must answer why it refused to support his motion, which was presented to the National Assembly, if it truly was concerned.

PNC-led gang

Meanwhile, the signatories of the parking meter contract, which was signed in secrecy, are Chase Green; Town Clerk Royston King; City Hall’s Finance Committee Chairman, Oscar Clarke and Clarke’s predecessor and Councillor, Junior Garrett. On the contract, which was seen by Guyana Times International, three other spaces intended for Councillors to sign as witnesses were left blank.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

10 advance to senior calypso competition finals

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Diana Chapman performing on Saturday

en competitors have advanced to the final round of this year’s senior adult Calypso Monarch competition, following the hosting of the semi-final round on Saturday evening, at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground in Linden.

The top 10 finalists in the Education Ministry’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sports event were selected by Judges from a total of 18 vying for the coveted title of Senior Calypso Monarch. The finalists are Lassell Duke (“The Mighty Duke”); Kenroy Fraser; Pearl Lewis (“Precious Pearl”); Diana

Chapman; 2015 Calypso Monarch Manoel Ferreira (“King Perai”); ‘Ras’ John Marcus; Dawn Edwards (“Lady D”); Roger Hinds (“Young Bill Rogers”); this year’s Junior Calypso Monarch T’ShannaCort and Wendell Walcott.

Hundreds of patrons, who came out to the venue, were treated to sizzling performances by the competitors, many of whom were obvious crowd pleasers, coupled with the bubbly personality of host Mondale Smith, who kept the audience lively throughout the evening.

Careful emphasis was placed on perform-

ers’ wardrobe, while some also opted to make their performances come alive with lively snippets of dramatic pieces. Some of the shortlisted songs include Chapman’s “Put Your House In Order”, Cort’s “Where The Innocence Gone?”, Lewis’ “Old Age”, Edwards’ “King Liar”, Duke’s “Deh Blaming” and Ferreira’s “Perai Justice”.

The competition will continue this Friday, February 17, at the Demerara Park, Georgetown, where the finalists will match their skills against the reigning monarch, Lester “De Professor” Charles.

news 19

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Young mother to face charges for attempting to kill children

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he Child Care Protection Agency (CPA) is moving to have the Bare Root, East Coast Demerara (ECD) woman, who fed her children a poisonous substance and attempted to kill herself, charged.

CPA Director Ann Greene told Guyana Times Internationalthat the matter is still being investigated, however, the Police are also looking to have the 26-year-old motherof three charged.

When contacted, Public Relation’s Officer (PRO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Mitzy Campbell said that the children and mother are all in a stable condition.

On Friday last, the woman mixed a snack with poisonous substance

and fed it her children.

She later ingested the poisonous substance.

This newspaper was told that a relative visited the woman’s Bare Root, ECD home and realised that something was amiss after he saw a number of household items broken and thrown out in the yard. Subsequently, the relative reported that he noticed the three children vomiting.

The relative subsequently questioned the children’s mother, who then allegedly revealed what she had done.

As such, an alarm was raised and the children, as well as their mother, were rushed to the hospital and immediately admitted.

Officials at the hospital reported that they were initially told that the

children started vomiting for no particular reason.

However, a hospital representative related that she noticed froth coming out of the children’s mouth and informed a Police officer who was in the hospital.

It was then that doctors realised that the children were poisoned and immediately rushed them to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Shortly afterwards, the mother of the children arrived with an-

other set of relatives and was also vomiting.

Meanwhile, on the woman’s social media page – Facebook – in a status dated February 9, 2017, she posted about being disheartened about her husband’s extramarital affair. Investigators are working on the theory that this might have been the basis on which the woman committed the act.

Investigations are continuing.

Caribbean/American leaders want strong stance against Trump’s immigration policy (CMC)

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aribbean/American and other elected officials and leaders in New York are calling for a very strong stance against the Donald Trump administration’s immigration policy in the United States.

Speaking at an immigration forum, New York City Council member Jumanne D Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, New York State Assembly member Rodneyse Bichette, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, Haitian District Leader Josue Pierre, and New York Senator Kevin S Parker, said the goal was to energise the Caribbean community to “take action, organise and learn how to survive during the next four years” of the Trump administration.

“We have to change how people feel about Trump and his attack on immigrants,” said Williams, who represents the largely Caribbean 45th Council District in Brooklyn.

“While some people are telling us to wait, I’m saying we have to resist from day one,” added Williams, stating that it’s, however, been “difficult to engage particularly Caribbean and African immigrants.

“Our Latino brothers and sisters have done a great job in getting involved, but I need everyone involved in the immigration discussion,” he said.

Bichotte, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, said the immigration forum was “very much needed, in particular, for the black immigrants” in her district, “who are never at the forefront in regard to the immigration issue.”

“Getting accurate information to people in the community is so critical, especially now, because things have been moving so quickly,” she said.

“I was glad to hear of the 9thCircuit Court of Appeals decision to continue to block the travel ban, but I know this is not the end, and we need to prepare people for what is to come.”

(L-R) Council Member Jumaane D Williams, Assembly Member RodneyseBichotte and Senator Kevin Parker (Photo: CMC)

Last Thursday, a United States federal appeals panel unanimously rejected Trump’s bid to reinstate his ban on travel into the US from seven Muslim countries, stating that the government showed that “no evidence” that anyone from the seven nations — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — had committed terrorist acts in the United States.

The ruling also rejected Trump’s claim that courts are powerless to review a president’s national security assessments, according to the New York Times.

The appeals court, however, acknowledged that Trump was owed deference on his immigration and national security policies, the Times said.

But the panel said Trump was claiming something more and that “national security concerns are unreviewable, even if those actions potentially contravene constitutional rights and protections.”

Shortly after the ruling, Trump angrily vowed to fight it.

Caribbean American Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke had condemned Trump’s travel ban, warning that it would eventually affect the Caribbean.

At the YMCA immigration forum, Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York (HALANY), a co-sponsor of the event, said that Trump’s executive order barring refugees and immigrants from select countries from entering the United States

is “both unconstitutional and unethical.”

“Make no mistake, this ban is only the beginning,” warned Ritha Pierre, HALANY’s president.

“If we do not take a stand now, the state of immigration in this country will only become worse and soon it will not just be refugees and people from a certain region getting barred; it will be everyone who does not fit the criteria of the Trump administration.

“I am here to say that we, as an organisation, stand in solidarity with our community in speaking out against this injustice. We stand in support of our immigrant brothers and sisters, and we vow, as a legal organisation, to be present and to take an active role in this issue.”

Parker, whose 21stSenatorial District in Brooklyn has a very high concentration of Caribbean immigrants, said he and his colleagues “will not allow the current presidential administration to create a culture of fear for residents of our districts.

“We will continue to come together, and keep everyone informed and aware of their rights, regardless of their immigration status.”

Undocumented immigrants, their lawyers and advocacy groups are bracing for heightened enforcement that Trump has advocated, as immigration raids have intensified, in recent days, across the US.

Cocaine in shoes at JFK: Guyanese man to face charges soon

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The cocaine that was found in the shoe

Guyanese man was arrested after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered cocaine valued US$67,000 hidden in footwear, at the John F Kennedy International Airport, New York.

He was subsequently turned over to Homeland Security.

According to the CBP agency, the man arrived on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana via Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on February 9, 2017and wasabout to ‘walk’ past officers, but was stopped.

During the course of the inspection, CBP officers discovered four

pairs of sneakers and two pairs of shoes in his luggage, which contained a white powder and which tested positive for cocaine.

“This latest seizure demonstrates the vigilance of our CBP officers, and their excellence in detecting those who would try to smuggle these illegal substances,” said Robert E Perez, New York Field Operations Director.

The Guyanese man now faces federal narcotics smuggling charges and will be prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office in the US Eastern District Court of New York.

Labourer killed in WBD accident

The deceased, Ricky Manikchand

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labourer was stuck down while walking along the Schoonard Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD) on Saturday evening.

The dead man has been identified as Ricky Manikchand, 50, of Lot 456 Belle West, WBD. Based on reports received, Manikchand was walking along theroadway when he was struck down by a car, bearing

registration plates PTT 7010, which was reportedly going at a fast pace.

At the time of the accident, the man was walking alone.

The labourer sustained severe injuries to his head and other parts of his body. The driver of the car fled the scene.

The injured man was subsequently rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the car was subsequently arrested and a breathalyser test was conducted; however, there was no trace of alcohol in his system.

He later told Police ranks that he drove away from the scene because he was scared. He remains in custody and charges are expected to be instituted shortly.

The Police are continuing their investigations.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

President says not satisfied with parking meter deal

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s the controversy surrounding the paid parking system continues to mount, Government has now come out saying it is not satisfied with the deal between theGeorgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and Smart City Solutions Incorporated (SCSI).

This pronouncement was made by President David Granger on the weekly televised programme – ‘The Public Interest’ – which aired on Friday evening. The declaration came on the heels of City Council returning to the discussion table; firstly, to iron out issues and concerns of civil society and secondly, to have renewed arrangements with SCS, the company contracted to implement the paid parking system in the country.

“Let me say that the

Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase Green

Government of Guyana is not satisfied with the general provisions of the Parking Meter Project.

The Government engaged with the municipality to have another look at the project and engage with civil society and the business community with a view of arriving at an outcome which is acceptable to both sides,” the President said to reporters during the programme.

There has been widespread public outcry against the Parking Meter Project over the past months with a movement staging protest actions against the “draconian” costs and penalties of the project. This cry for help from Central Government prompted a meeting between the President and M&CC last week.

Following that meeting, it was announced on Friday that the clamping of ve-

Town Clerk Royston King

The signatories to the original contract

hicles and institution of fines will be placed on hold pending talks to revise the parking fees as well as discussions with civil society.

According to the Head of State during the televised programme, his Administration believes that the rates are high and that there should have been certain parking exemptions from the inception, issues which he said have largely contributed to the troubles the

project is facing.

At the same time, he sought to address the concerns of businesses who are claiming that since the operation of the paid parking system in the city they have been experiencing a dip in their business activities. The President outlined that while he understands the predicament of the businesses, the City Council needs to generate revenues.

“Nobody likes paying

taxes but how will the city run… One of the leading protesters, I would even say an instigator, has actually wrote the City Council for waivers of taxes which are due. You are saying there must be no Parking Meter Project and on the other hand, you want waivers… Pay your taxes and let the city run properly and we won’t have to resort to these measures,” he stated.

However, Government

had initially maintained that it was not going to intervene into the matter as it was giving the M&CC its independence to run the city.

Governance Minister Raphael Trotman at a recent post-Cabinet press conference had said “No,” when asked if Government is likely to intervene, given the rejection and huge outcry by citizens on parking meters.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Georgetown Chamber says High Court rules in favour VAT on education, healthcare of Deputy Deeds Registrar not in nation’s interest

used as a pawn.

Williams appointed someone else as acting Deputy Registrar.

Williams indicated that “For the JSC’s appointment, they require three years’ experience in your private practice as a lawyer, or in any one of the registries. Ms Frank has none. She’s not a lawyer of three years, she is not even a lawyer of two years, but what I’m saying is that I’m sorry for her because she’s being used as a pawn.”

According to reports, when the Registrar of Deeds proceeded on annual leave at the end of July, the Attorney General appointed someone else to act as Registrar.

Allegations are that the Registry employees were instructed that this

W

ith the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) on services in the public utilities, education and health sectors, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) believes this will be detrimental to citizens and development in Guyana.

During a recent interview with Guyana Times International, GCCI President Vishnu Doerga had welcomed the overall reduction in VAT from 16 per cent to 14 per cent.

However, he decried the addition of VAT on basic services.

“The overall reduction in the rates is welcome. However, the imposition of VAT on very basic services like education and healthcare, we do not believe are in the best interests of the development of Guyana,” the businessman said.

Asked about Business Minister Dominic Gaskin’s recent pronouncements that VAT would not drive away investors, Doerga noted that it was true that companies had the option to pass off the expenses to consumers.

“So while investors have a way of making sure that they can reclaim VAT, consumers do not. So it’s not the investors who will be hurt in the first instance, it’s the consumers of this country,” Doerga observed.

He noted that consumers “will then consume less, meaning that the private sector (will earn less), and that further affects the revenue (due to) less taxes being paid by the private sector, which is the longer term effect.”

Director of the privately owned School of the Nations, Dr Brian O’Toole, is also one of the latest in a line of critics of the VAT on education fees. He recently expressed that this was not a move the Government should want to make in 2017, as the imposition of extra charges on school leavers and other disadvantaged youths might bring their valiant efforts to get an education to a halt.

Management of School of the Nations and its sixth form students have since launched a petition against the tax on their education, with the aim of showing just how unpopular the tax measures are.

Government had reduced VAT from 16 per cent to 14 per cent. It had also increased the VAT threshold from

GCCI President Vishnu Doerga

G$10 million to G$15 million. This means that it is not mandatory for certain businesses with an annual income lower than G$15 million to register for VAT. In an unprecedented move, however, the 14 per cent VAT was applied to those whose electricity consumption exceeded G$10,000 per month. The extra charges were also slapped on those whose water consumption exceeded G$1500 per month.

Except for the ones relating to exports and manufacturing, all items which were previously zero-rated were removed.

When he made his presentation last year, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had projected a rise in VAT collection of 1.7 per cent, amounting to G$36 billion.

The main Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), however, has long denounced the Government’s method of taxing its way to wealth generation. Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament, Irfaan Ali, has maintained that the expanded areas of taxation will increase the burden on Guyanese and local businesses.

Ali had observed that in relation to pharmaceutical and medical supplies, the cost of accessing private medical services will increase dramatically.

But that’s not all.

He had expressed that private medical staff, such as nurses, medics, laboratory technicians and others may face the risk of losing their jobs, since patients will now be forced to seek medical service from public hospitals, due to prohibitive costs.

All announced changes to VAT took effect from February 1, 2017.

SASOD lobbies for antidiscrimination law reform

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ocial Cohesion Minister Dr George Norton has committed to working with the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), in reforming the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997, to protect members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

A SASOD delegation met with the new Social Cohesion Minister at his Ministry of the Presidency Office to discuss their partnership in working to foster cohesiveness in society.

SASOD’s Managing Director Joel Simpson,

Social Change Coordinator Jairo Rodrigues and Advocacy and Communications Officer Schemel Patrick, attended the meeting to discuss the Ministry’s public education work, which is pivotal in the prevention of violence and discrimination and is at the heart of SASOD’s work with sexual and gender minorities.

In outlining SASOD’s approach to social cohesion, Simpson discussed a combination approach which gives a “sandwich effect” to achieve social cohesion.

Simpson described the top-down approach,

which includes law and policy reform, especially constitutional reform to protect minority groups from discrimination.

He stated that constitutional reform is paramount to sanction discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

He then described the bottom-up approach, which engages communities and educates citizens to curtail their prejudices. “SASOD believes that both approaches need to be taken together to achieve social cohesion in Guyana,” Simpson stated.

Patrick elaborated on the need for constitution-

H

Attorney General Basil Williams

igh Court Judge, Justice Brassington Reynolds, ruled that the appointment of Zanna Frank as the Deputy Deeds Registrar is lawful and constitutional – a ruling which flies in the face of the Attorney General Basil Williams who prevented her from performing her duties.

Justice Reynolds handed down his decision in the legal challenge which was filed by Frank against the Attorney General and the Deeds and Commercial Registry Authority.

He ordered that the Deeds and Commercial Authority permit Frank to discharge the functions of her office and to pay her all the salaries which were unlawfully withheld.

Frank, an Attorney-at-Law, was appointed early last year as Deputy Registrar by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), exercising powers conferred upon it via Article 119 of the Constitution.

But this appointment did not sit well with the Attorney General, who claimed that Frank did not meet the criteria for the position and was being

Deputy Deeds Registrar Zanna Frank

person must perform the functions of the Registrar of Deeds in her absence and not the appointee of the JSC. Reports were also that Frank was eventually prevented from preforming the functions of her office and her salary was withheld.

At wits end, Frank moved to the High Court to seek justice.

From left: SASOD Social Change Coordinator Jairo Rodrigues; Technical Officer in the Department of Social Cohesion Pamela Nauth; Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton; SASOD Managing Director Joel Simpson and SASOD Advocacy and Communication Officer Schemel Patrick

al and law reform, noting that sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) are not expressed grounds for discrimination in the Guyana Constitution. She also noted that with the absence of specific prohibitions against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and health status within the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons, as well as people living with HIV and other stigmatised illnesses,

are subject to discrimination with impunity in the labour sector.

Simpson also raised the issue of Guyana’s voting record at the recent 71st Plenary Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in an attempt to rescind the creation of the UN mandate of Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Social Cohesion Ministry is currently engaged in delivering

“Diversity and Inclusion” training education programmes to various communities across the country as part of their public education mandate.

Minister Norton expressed his delight to meet with the delegation and commitment to working with SASOD in achieving mutual objectives. He requested that SASOD prepare a Draft Amendment Bill to the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997 for his Ministry to consider.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Juice contract

AG to advise Govt on compensation for Topco – Harmon

A

ttorney General Basil Williams is expected to advise Government on the recommendation to compensate a local juice company, which was wronged in the Education Ministry’s awarding of a contract.

Tropical Orchard Products Company (Topco), a subsidiary of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), recently won its appeal to the Bid Protest Committee over the Government’s decision to award its supply contract to another company – from Suriname.

The Bid Protest Committee, which was established to facilitate appeals for the review of contracts, ruled that the Education Ministry did not follow the proper criteria in awarding its contract and that the local juice company therefore

needs to be compensated.

But Government is yet to make a decision based on the ruling made by the Bid Protest Committee.

According to Minister of State Joseph Harmon, the Attorney General is charged with advising the Government on all legal matters.

Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, had indicated that his Ministry is still reviewing the report compiled by the Committee.

Topco was a long-time supplier of juices to the Guyana Government for its national school feeding programme. That is until the Education Ministry, the procuring entity, deemed its bid for a continuation of the contract unsuitable, based on past performance.

According to the

Committee, which is based at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), the Education Ministry failed to make known that past performance was a criterion for selection beforehand.

The evaluation committee also observed that the Ministry used an “unlawful procedure to assess the bid of (Topco)”.

The evaluation committee has a specific remit from which it should not deviate. Firstly, it must only use the evaluation criteria that are in the tender documents to evaluate the bidders.

Secondly, using these criteria, it determines the lowest evaluated tender.

“Thirdly, it conveys its recommendation to

the procuring entity in a timely manner. No scope is given to the evaluation committee to use any criteria, other than what is set out in the tender.”

The Bid Protest Committee went on to rule that pursuant to Section 53 (5) of the Procurement Act, the procuring entity is ordered to compensate the Complainant for the cost of the preparation of its bid.

The bidding was done by restricted tendering.

The other six bidders were Caribbean International Distribution Inc, Guyana Beverage Inc, Banks DIH, Topco, ANSA McAL Trading Ltd and Continental Foods Inc. Topco’s bid, G$506.6 million, was the lowest one of all. Citing issues with performance, such as expiration dates being breached and spoilage, the Ministry wrote Topco a letter to inform the company that it had been unsuccessful.

Despite Topco responding and asking for its bid to be reviewed in accordance with the criteria set out in the bid documents, Government did not reply. This stance continued until Topco complained to the Bid Protest Committee.

After Topco lost its bid last year, Government awarded the contract to supply boxed juices locally to Caribbean International Distribution Inc (CIDI), a subsidiary of Rudisa Beverages Company of Suriname. It is a decision that was criticised as Topco was a local company providing employment to many, as it sources its raw materials for juice from local farmers.

This bid protest committee will complement the work of the Public Procurement Commission to further Government’s commitment to transparency in the public procurement process.

Teen drowns at Kingston foreshore

T

he parents and siblings of a 13-yearold boy are now in mourning after the lad drowned on Saturday afternoon at the Kingston, Georgetown foreshore.

Dead is Nicholas Sukulall of Lot 22 Ogle front, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and who attended the Plaisance Secondary School.

The young man reportedly went into the water with a friend after a game of cricket at the seawall but subsequently drowned.

Guyana Times International understands that the teenager and his friends were all playing cricket when their skin became muddied.

As such, Sukulall and another went into the water opposite the bandstand to rinse their skin but both began to struggle as the current was suspected to be very strong.

The struggle between the two continued but Sukulall lost the battle and went under the water; however his friend managed to climb ashore. An alarm was raised by the other teenager and Sukulall’s sister and others began to search the water for him.

His father was called to the scene and relayed to this publication what he discovered. According to him, he was a short

distance away from the seawall when he received a call which informed him that his son was involved in an incident.

“I went but I was not properly informed so I thought that he was involved in a fight or something like that,” the distraught man explained.

He added that when he arrived at the scene, he was met by his daughter who told him that her brother went into the water a while ago but failed to come ashore.

“So all of we went to look for him and then a big wave came and we spot his body so we pulled him out of the water.”

This newspaper was informed that a doctor as well as a member of the Red Cross Society was on the scene and both performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the ambulance arrived.

However, he was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

At the hospital, family members were seen consoling each other after receiving the news of the teen’s demise.

The boy’s mother resides overseas.

This publication was also informed that the other friends of the teenager were all taken to the Brickdam Police Station for questioning.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

UG student killed after Billion-dollar forensic lab to soon become operational crashing into fence

A

former student of Queen’s College and the University of Guyana was on Saturday morning killed after he reportedly lost control of his motorcar and crashed into a fence at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

Dead is 20-year-old Ryan Reynolds of Ogle, East Coast Demerara; the son of Justice Brassington Reynolds.

Reports are the young man was heading home when he reportedly lost control of his motorcar bearing registration number PJJ 2706, and slammed into a fence, toppling several times before ending up in a nearby trench.

Guyana Times International understands that the young

Dead: Ryan Reynolds

man was ejected from the vehicle while it was toppling, resulting in him receiving severe head injuries. He was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

When contacted, the dead man’s mother told

this publication that the family is in mourning and wished not to comment on the accident.

However, this newspaper was told that after the young man did not return home, his parents attempted to contact him but their calls went unanswered. It was not until the Police contacted them informing them about the accident that they became aware that their son was dead. It is unclear where the young man was coming from when he met his demise.

The Police have launched an investigation into the fatal accident. Messages of condolences to his parents have been flooding the young man’s facebook page.

The car at the scene

…as Govt seeks to settle debt with Barbados firm

T

The state-of-the-art forensic laboratory

he billion-dollar state-of-theart forensic laboratory will soon become operational, once Government honours its US$32,524 in outstanding payments to a Barbados Security Firm, IED, for the completion of the works.

Based on a request made by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Cabinet approved that the sum of money be paid to the company so it can complete its work on the forensic laboratory, which was commissioned since 2014, but is yet to be equipped with the necessary instruments to conduct basic DNA and gun residue testing which are internationally recognised.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon told media operatives on Friday, that once the payment is made, the company would be required to begin the upgrades which should be completed within a month of commencement.

The firm was responsible for installing the security system at the laboratory by way of a contract in 2012 and providing consultation oversight in 2013, during phase one of the project,

but this never materialised because of the outstandingpayments owed by Government.

The firm will therefore be required to complete its work on the laboratory, along with completing the training of persons who are going to operate the facility.

The technical and electrical issues that were discovered a while back will also be rectified as soon as the contractors return to work.

Questioned on whether any form of testing is being carried out at the laboratory currently, Minister Harmon said that he is not aware if testing of any sort is being done.

He explained that based on the information that Minister Ramjattan presented to Cabinet recently, for the laboratory to become fully operational and functional, the owed monies needed to be paid to the security firm so that they can complete the work.

The Forensic Laboratory, once completed, is expected to significantly boost the capability of the Guyana Police Force to solve crimes.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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Scenes from the opening of the Twenty-Eighth InterSessional Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A collaboration in research and conservation just the large animals that we are most familiar with.

It is home to more than 1,500 species of plants, over 400 species of fish, more than 300 species of reptiles and amphibians, over 400 bird species, more than 150 mammals, hundreds of thousands of species of insects, and many more waiting to be discovered.

A puma moves past the camera trap on Kusad Mountain near Saddle Mountain Ranch

By Matt Hallett

T

he Rupununi Wildlife Research Unit (RWRU) is a collaborative effort in research and conservation between myself, a PhD student at the University of Florida (U.S.A.), and a number of indigenous communities, private ranches and protected areas (Kanuku Mountains, Iwokrama) currently ongoing in the Rupununi (Region Nine).

These groups are using camera traps and other tools to understand

the world’s last ‘Frontier Forests’, with more than 75 percent of Guyana’s total land area covered by pristine, intact forest (~64,000 mi2). The Rupununi region of Guyana is actually an ancient rift valley which consists of unique mix of habitats, including ecologically significant cerrado savannah, gallery and savannah forests, rivers, creeks and seasonally flooded wetlands, bordered by large, undeveloped tracts of lowland and montane tropical deciduous and evergreen forests. Looking to every horizon during

Wildlife Research

The Rupununi region of Guyana hosts healthy populations of a diverse set of species, large tracts of undeveloped and intact Neotropical forests, rivers, wetlands and savannas, and low-density human populations interested in preserving traditional livelihoods, making the Rupununi an ideal laboratory for testing questions related to the effect of habitat and human-use variables on the distribution of large mammals at the landscape scale.

Data generated by this project will document the significant biodiversity

A herd of white-lipped peccaries encounter a camera trap in the Iwokrama forest

the distribution, abundance and activity patterns of large mammals – key pieces of information needed for effective management of wildlife.

As this information accumulates across time and space, trends related to the impact of factors like habitat type, hunting, logging, and in determining how many large mammals there are, where they live, and how they behave begin to emerge.

Engaging Rupununi stakeholders as equal partners in a shared learning process provides opportunities for training and employment, as well as providing the information needed for sustainable wildlife management.

Merging conservation and development objectives allows us to address the needs of both.

Why the Rupununi?

Guyana is situated in the heart of one of

a flight from Georgetown to Lethem will show you that these forests remain unbroken and in pristine condition, running to the east and south towards Suriname and Brazil.

Rupununi communities are composed of predominantly indigenous Makushi and Wapishana people, the majority of whom maintain traditional subsistence lifestyles.

The Rupununi is known as the “Land of Giants”, as it is home to healthy populations of large, charismatic species, including the jaguar, giant river otter, lowland tapir, Guianan red howler monkey, giant anteater, giant armadillo, jabiru stork, harpy eagle, black caiman, green anaconda, Amazon giant river turtle, Gladiator treefrog, arapaima, lau lau catfish, goliath bird-eating spider, and Amazon water lily.

But the biodiversity of the Rupununi is not limited to

present in the Rupununi, help identify and prioritize important wildlife areas, and generate data that can inform community wildlife management.

Partner villages have been full participants in the design of this project, identifying locally important conservation questions to address (human-jaguar conflict, unsustainable hunting) and important conflict and hunting areas where these questions can be tested.

Ecotones – areas where there is a transition between habitat types – are some of highest areas of biodiversity. The Rupununi region represents a large ecotone where forest meets savannah. And while much of the focus of conservation efforts in Guyana have been focused on its forest (and rightly so as forests host significant biodiversity and store a great deal of carbon), cerrado savan-

nahs are one of the rarest and least preserved habitats on the planet.

We are testing the impact of the natural habitat gradient that forms in the transition between savannah and forest habitat on the distribution and abundance of large mammals by placing camera traps in a grid along this gradient, using jaguar (large carnivore), ocelot (mesocarnivore), lowland tapir (large herbivore), white-lipped peccary (medium herbivore), paca (small herbivore) and giant anteater (naturally rare species) as indicator species representing mammal groups of interest.

Human activity can also effect the distribution and abundance of large mammals and an assessment of the impact of subsistence hunting, logging, and livestock will be layered on top of the effect of habitat in human use areas. Human populations in the Rupununi depend on domestic livestock and subsistence hunting to obtain protein and timber harvest is an important economic driver. Camera trap data will indicate the severity of the impact of human activity on wildlife. Shifts in distribution away from hunting and logging areas or towards livestock areas (in the case of carnivores) show the most severe impacts, as wildlife is either driven away or to local extinction in a given area.

More moderate impacts are indicated by declines in population density, as species remain but in lesser numbers as a result of a given human activity. In the case of the least severe impacts, species remain in consistent numbers, but shift towards more nocturnal behaviour to avoid coming in contact with people. In natural systems, each level of human impact has its own consequences on wildlife communities.

A giant anteater checks out a camera trap on Karanambu Ranch

RWRU team members from the Protected Areas Commission, the Iwokrama International Centre and Caiman House Research Station work together setting camera traps in the Kanuku Mountains

Capacity Building

While this project seeks to understand largescale trends in wildlife populations, we work with project partners to develop locally relevant research questions that will be addressed by data that these partners then collect themselves. Each research site is unique – with its own issues, interests, and expertise.

Developing research questions that answer local questions brings project partners into the process and creates value in the project’s results because they are relevant to everyday lives. Project participants are actively engaged and play a central role in decision making in every aspect of project development and execution.

Our ultimate goal is to support the development of project participants into conservation leaders who ultimately initiate resource management processes within their communities. Providing employment and training creates benefits for all in-

volved – we advance scientific understanding, support conservation, further resource management, and crate development opportunities for those that need them.

The project is in its third year and we are happy with our progress so far, but we are far from done.

Follow us online at Rupununi Wildlife Research Unit on Facebook, Instagram (rupununiwildlife), Twitter @RupWildlife, YouTube (Rupununi Wildlife).

Better yet, visit one of our project partners for yourself at Caiman House Research Station (Yupukari Village), Surama EcoLodge, Rupununi Trails (Dadanawa Ranch), the Iwokrama River Lodge, Rewa EcoLodge, Karanambu Ranch, Saddle Mountain Ranch, Golden Parakeet Lodge (Karasabai Village), the Cock of the Rock Lodge (Wowetta Village), or Rupununi River Drifters.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

G

uyana boasts an irresistible combination of fascinating and breath-taking natural beauty, pristine rainforests, immense waterfalls, and amazing wildlife blended with a vibrant indigenous culture and rich heritage.

Some are very honoured to see this natural beauty on a daily basis; one such person is Matt Hallett. Matt is a Wildlife Biologist, PhD candidate and Research Assistant at the University of Florida. He has been researching and exploring Guyana’s biodiversity for many years. He is also an affiliate of the Rupununi Learners Inc.

and has been volunteering his time and knowledge in giving back to indigenous villages.

His recent project is to document the number of jaguars that are in the Guyana’s Kanuku Mountains Protected Area.

This he does by setting up remotely triggered cameras in Guyana’s deep jungle.

Matt has also been photographing rarely visited scenic areas in the Rupununi region.

Sunday Times Magazine features a few of his breath-taking photos of lesser known waterfalls taken on his trips into Guyana’s jungles.

travel & Tourism 31

Crabwood Creek Falls

Lower Moco Moco Creek Falls (south branch)

Paima Creek Falls Mapuro Creek Falls Nappi Creek Falls

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Descendants of the Dragon’

in the Royal Air Force during World War II, and was a Draftsman and Botanist. His second marriage was to my mother, Jean Lee nee Mathias, and together they had two children – myself and John.

I am married to Christopher Richards and we have one child, Christian Alexander Richards.

Apparently the Lee family is inclined to be dentists, engineers, accountants, bankers, administrators, caterers, singers and musicians, and to die from heart attacks, high blood pres-

Amanda Richards

sure, angina, and strokes, as well as suffer from gall and kidney stones, ovarian cysts and myopia.

This information was extracted from a book titled "From the Middle Kingdom to the New World" written by my famous cousin, the late Margery Kirkpatrick nee Ting-A-Kee, daughter of my father's sister Cicely.

William Leslie Lee (left) and Jean Mathias (Amanda's parents)

By Amanda Richards (nee Lee)

M

y British Guiana family story started when 14-year-old Ham Smi (1846-1936) arrived from Canton, China, on the Lady Elma Bruce. She married Poon-A-Chin, converted to Christianity and they changed their names to Elizabeth and John Poon.

Their first child,

Polynan, was born on November 8, 1877 at Le Resouvenir and was known as Elizabeth after her mother. The baby was born in a cane field, and washed off in the punt trench, before being breastfed, and was left under a shady tree while her mother returned to work cutting cane.

Elizabeth Poon's youngest child, Eva, married William Adrian Lee.

Eva Poon

He was born on the West Bank of Demerara and became the first Chinese manager at Booker Provision Wholesale Department. They had ten children, nine of whom survived to adulthood, before he died of a heart attack at age 40.

William Lee and Eva

Poon are my paternal grandparents. They raised nine children - Stanley, Amy, Royce, Ruby, Percy, Cicely, William Leslie, Henry, and Pansy.

My father, William Leslie Lee, was the sexton of the Promenade Gardens and Le Repentir Cemetery. He served

William Adrian Lee

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Petamber Persaud

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

‘Scriptology’ rediscovered

Manu Samriti Chander, editor of “Egbert Martin: Scriptology” (Caribbean Press, 2014)

(Extract of an interview with Prof. David Dabydeen, Guyana, 2017. Dabydeen who migrated to the UK in 1969 is attached to University of Warwick, and is now a respected academic and prize-winning writer of poetry and fiction.) *PP David, you seem to have a knack for unearthing good literature. A few years ago, you brought us “The First Crossing” [THE FIRST CROSSING being the Diary of Theophilus Richmond, Ship’s Surgeon Aboard the Hesperus, 1837-8] which was the result of Richmond’s diary coming to light after one and three quarters of a century after it was written. And now you bring us “Scriptology”, a book that disappeared from public attention for over 125 years. “Scriptology” is the first collection of stories by a Guyanese.

For this and your other input, we must acknowledge your enormous contribution to Guyanese.

DD Thank you Petamber, you’re always very flattering to me. I am a literary person if not I’d be in the street doing something more nefarious. I’m holding in my hands the most important book published in Guyana in the 19th c. and without doubt, the most historic Guyanese text. It is a collection of short stories by a writer called Egbert Martin.

Egbert Martin died at the age of twenty-nine.

He was bedridden all his life, he was sick, he died of tuberculosis. He was using drugs all his life…

PP Medication…

DD Medication, yes.

Egbert Martin from his bed in 1883, published a substantial collection of poetry in England called “Leo’s Poetical Works” – he published under the name ‘Leo’: the lion; he was bedridden and emaciated and so on …

PP …but his imagination was at work…

DD ...yes, he had

an imaginative boldness.Then in 1886, he published “Leo’s Local Lyrics” …

PP …in response to criticism to his first work.

DD The first book was criticised because it was heavily Christian and pious; it was a set of pious effusions which is largely true because he was dying all the time so he was very concern about the nature of pain, the nature of suffering and he wrote about that in an abstract manner.

Some people criticised him. He then wrote about the landscape of Guyana – something more tactile and physical. And is the first Guyanese poet to describe the landscape of Guyana – the sorrel tree, the genip tree. Don’t forget up to the late 20thc Derek Walcott the Nobel Prize Winner said that he was a bit tentative about putting local fruit – mangoes and bananas – in his poetry because it was not poetic enough in the English Literary tradition. Egbert Martin was the first poet to name the Guyana landscape. He is also the first writer to publish more than two books and he is the first writer to publish a collection of prose.

Now this I’m holding in my hand is precious because it is a wonderful insight into Creole life in the 19th c. – it is witty, it is entertaining, it is poetic, it is erudite. He refers to a whole range of Victorian poetics. Although it is a very dense book, it is very expansive in its allusions to Victorian literature.

PP What about this book that makes it was really precious?

DD It was lost forever. From the time it was published in 1885, it was more or less lost.I went to New York libraries to check out Egbert Martin and couldn’t find “Scriptology”. But I found his poetry. So it was completely lost, completely lost – not a single copy in any British library or in the libraries of Guyana.

Then one day, sitting at my desk at University of Warwick, I got an email from Christopher Martin who is a direct descendant of Egbert Martin saying he found in a library in United States a copy of “Scriptology” and [if I] would I like to see it. Well, would I like to see it, you know?!Immediately, he came to Warwick with his family and he gave me a photocopy, which we looked at with great

“Scriptology” jacket by Caribbean Press (Guyana Classics Library )

reverence.

Then by coincidence, when I was in China, I received an email from an Indian American scholar, Manu Samriti Chander, who said that he was doing work on Egbert Martin; he was doing some work on Victorian poetry and wanted to include Egbert Martin in the cannon of Victorian poetry and said that he had discovered “Scriptology” – he had found the same copy in the same library so I put Christopher Martin in contact with Manu Samriti Chander and they worked together. And then Manu put together a lovely little introduction to “Scriptology” – he works at Rutgers University, a very serious scholar and then we published it in the Caribbean Press.

So “Scriptology” has been brought back to life. Egbert Martin bedridden, died in dreadful circumstances, has been brought back to life and so we recovered a founding text of Guyanese literature.

Egbert Martin was described in those days as a “mulatto” which means that he was a mixture of African and European; certainly German because his cousin had a German name which we found from the death records.

So he was African and German.

PP At that time, and having achieved so much in so short a life, we could easily [have] called Egbert Martin a superman of Guyanese literature.

DD His real tremendous achievement apart from being the first writer of the short fiction is that he named the landscape in poetry.

PP And that is saying a lot - giving credence to our heritage

and our environment, an issue we could explore another time....

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: Under production

a compilation of biographies of Guyanese Writers of Indian Ancestry and an anthology of Indo-Caribbean poetry.

For further information, please use the above contacts.

34 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Wales sugar workers take grievance over severance pay to President’s office

W

ith no favourable response yet from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and Government, cane harvesters of the now inoperable Wales Sugar Factory on Monday took their cries for severance pay to the Ministry of the Presidency.

The chants outside the office of the President were for the immediate release and payment of the severance package, which was promised to cane harvesters, priorto the shutting down of the Wales Factory late last year.

Close to 300 cane harvesters converged at the eastern gate of the Head of State’s office, continuing what they started last Monday in the West Bank Demerara (WBD) village of Wales.

According to the protesters, it would seem as if the officials of GuySuCo are forcing them to commence working at Uitvulgt Estate located on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD), which is around 40 miles from Wales. They say they prefer to be paid their severance and then make a decision whether or not they want to commute to Uitvulgt.

“The eighth of this

Free riders

S Former cane harvesters of Wales Estate protesting outside the Ministry of the Presidency on Monday

month they called us back for a meeting and the General Manager of Wales said that GuySuCo’s position is that they will keep us on the payroll at Wales, but they will transfer us to Uitvlugt,” said Romeo Charles, a cane harvester on the picket line. He said it was over 22 miles just to reach the Estate, while the worksite is another 15 miles into the Estate.

“So when I calculate from Wales to Uitvlugt, it is anything like about 40 miles to reach the worksite. I said when you leave home at 4’o clock in the morning and reach Uitvlugt at 10, what kind of work can you do to get a day’s pay?” he questioned.

Another protester, identified as Leonard, said: “We need our severance from Wales Estate

right now. The General Manager of Wales is victimising these Wales workers; we need our severance pay now.”

The cane harvesters are casting the blame squarely at the feet of the Wales Estate General Manager, Dave Kumar, who they said cheated them into this situation.

They said he went “behind their backs” and told GuySuCo that the workers were all prepared to move over to Uitvlugt.

Meanwhile, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) President Komal Chand, who was also at the protest, said Government was being unreasonable and needed to listen to the concerns of the cane harvesters.

In a statement, GAWU reiterated that the work-

ers’ demand for severance pay was based on their clear understanding that their jobs were now redundant, since cane growing and sugar processing have ended at Wales.

“Their right to severance pay is enshrined in the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA). It is apt to point out too, that GuySuCo, with our Union present, during engagements with the workers that begun December 15, 2016, advised the workers quite correctly that their jobs were to become redundant and they were entitled to severance pay if they decided not to go to Uitvlugt Estate. Already, a number of workers who opted not to take up work at Uitvlugt received their severance pay while the entitlements of some others are being processed,” the Union said in its release.

The public outcry for severance pay began with an equally large crowd at the Wales Estate last week. The frustrated workers demanded that their severance packages be paid immediately, which were promised to them since December of last year.

atiricus was grinning so widely, his pals feared he might just dislocate his jaw.

His editor had wanted some human interest pieces from the protests against the parking meters in Georgetown, and Satiricus was regaling the fellas with his findings. As usual, the debriefing was being conducted at their usual spot at the back of the Back Street Bar, where in his expansive mood, Satiricus was “standing” for the beer. His report was punctuated regularly with exclamations of “HE was there too?”

“I hope you fellas will stop giving me stick, now you see City Hall backing down on the parking fees!” Satiricus finally concluded.

“Wha’ mekabee gat fug gi’e you credit fuh da?” inquired Bungi, as he signalled for another round.

“Well, you all always criticising my leaders Nagga man and Rum Jhaat,” said Satiricus with a smirk. “And look how they solved the problem!”

“Solved the problem?!” Hari almost shrieked. “What the arse did they do? They weren’t even at the protest!”

“They didn’t HAVE to be at the protest,” said Satiricus. “They already did what they had to do!”

“Look Sato! Na play abna-babnawidabee,” Bungi said firmly, even though he knew he was threatening his uninterrupted supply of free beer, “how Nagga Man and Rum Jhaatstap de protes’?”

“Same thing I said: you never give them credit,” said Satiricus. “Didn’t you read the moment KFC said they don’t support the meters, the Government and City Hall buckled.”

“What??!!”Hari, did shriek this time. “Yuh run mad, Sato,” said Bungi soberly.

“Your KFC leaders only trying to make up with their youths who voted them out,” said Hari. “You think the Pee-an-See care what they say?”

“Budday, Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat just like dat man, Kamoudi who bring in de meter,” concluded Bungi. “Nobadynarespec’ dem!”

“How can you compare my leaders to that racist!?” demanded Satiricus indignantly.

“The man can’t possibly be a racist,” declared Hari. “He cuss both slaves and indentureds!”

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Six most outstanding men in British Guiana’s history

By Vincent Roth

I

t must be very nice to be the Editor of a magazine. When he wants an article on a particular subject he simply chooses someone who he imagines has the necessary qualifications and then, with smiling countenance and honeyed words, he approaches his victim and explains to him how happy his readers would be if he would oblige – by the end of September at latest. Just like approaching those ornate and noisy contraptions known as “juke boxes”, placing a coin in the slot, pressing a button and – presto – there’s the noise.

Although I do not pretend to any of the physical, vocal or mental qualities of a juke box, that was the impression I got when the Editor of “Kyk -over-al” approached me some weeks ago – without the juke-box coin however – and suggested I write an article on the Six Most Outstanding Men in British Guiana’s History.

There are in the pages of our history, both ancient and modern,

George Giglioli (Photo by L.J. Bruce-Chwatt, Wikipedia Commons)

many times six men of outstanding ability who, each in his own way, has left his mark on the history of the Colony. So whatever six I choose there will be readers who will not agree with my choice as a whole. Of this I am sure, for already I have tried my list out on some of my friends, not one of whom has seen eye to eye with me on my six. So, where angels fear to tread, I rush in. Here is my list: The first place I give to STORM VANS

S’ GRAVESANDE, the doughty founder of the colony of Demerary, the Dutch CommanderGeneral of the Two Rivers who, with his headquarters at Fort Zeelandia (Fort Island) had to vision to see the possibilities of the smaller but deeper river to the east of the old Colony of Essequibo. There is not the slightest doubt that to his encouragement, both private and official, was due the start and rapid development of the youngest of the three

Guiana colonies to the position of first importance in the subsequently combined British Guiana. But for him Demerara might possibly today be but another Mahaica or Mahaicony, a small settlement acting as a province of the principal area of the territory, Essequibo.

Next in order of merit I place SIR ROBERT HERMAN SCHOMBURGK, the famous German traveller and scientist who, first on behalf of the Royal Geographic Society and subsequently on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government explored and mapped the further recesses of British Guiana between the years 1835 and 1844.

It was mainly owing to Schomburgk’s work that British Guiana came off as well as it did at the subsequent arbitration proceedings with Venezuela and Brazil.

He it was who literally and figuratively put British Guiana “on the map.”

Next I choose WILLIAM PIERCY AUSTIN the first Bishop of Guiana, described by Queen Victoria as her youngest and handsomest bishop and by others as the Nestor of the Anglican Church. From the ecclesiastical point of view, he also put British Guiana on the map but his greatest claim to local fame was his exceptional humanness and spiritual qualities. It is recorded that at the consecration of St. George’s Cathedral when, just before his death he made his last appearance before his flock, the congregation wept unashamedly.

My fourth choice is WILLIAM RUSSELL for his driving energy in developing the

Bishop William Piercy Austin (1807 – 1892)

East and founding the West Demerara Conservancies without which there could have been no prosperity in the greatest and at that time only major industry – sugar growing.

My fifth choice is GEORGE GIGLIOLI M.D., because his work in this country as a malariologist is world famous and for being the guiding hand behind the D.D.T. campaign, the full effects which are not yet felt but which is easy to see will revolutionise general economic conditions in British Guiana.

My sixth and last choice is HUBERT N A T H A N I E L CRITCHLOW who has given the greater part of his life self-sacrificingly to introducing and encouraging Trade Unionism in this coun-

Indigenous men feeding swans in 1924 British Guiana

McKenzie, Linden in 1966

Memorial of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow

try, a task from which all classes of labour have benefited to a degree undreamt fifty years ago.

These then are the six men I personally would choose as having rendered the most outstanding service to the country. But, as I said in my opening remarks, I shall not be surprised to have my choice criticised. British Guiana has of course benefited greatly from the labours of other outstanding men such as FREDERICK GARDINER ROSE in leprosy, PATRICK DARGAN and A.R.F. WEBBER in political economy, WILLIAM BEEBE in zoology, WALTER E. ROTH in anthropology, JAMES RODWAY and GRAHAM CRUICKSHANK in history, BARON SICCAMA in hydraulic engineering, CESAR ROMITI and JOHN GRIERSON in surgery, FATHER SCOLES and CASTELLANI in architecture, Sir JOHN HARRISON in industrial chemistry and agriculture, BISHOPS GALTON and EDWARD PARRY in the humanities, DE SAFFON and TROTMAN in charity, EDWIN MCDAVID in finance and Sir GORDON LETHEM in red-tapeless administration.

Those who do not agree with my choice will no doubt substitute some of these names as amongst the six most meritorious men who have served British Guiana. (SOURCE: Vol. 2 Kyk-Over-al, Dec. 1948)

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Exposed…

This week's Crossword W

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

…venality ell… the gig’s finally up on the Gang of Four at City Hall. The contract the Mayoress and her henchmen signed with Smart City Solutions (SCS), which they tried to “deep six” for over a year has finally surfaced. No thanks to the government officials, of course! Like most dead bodies, the putrid gases released from the rotten carcass will eventually cause these kinds of shady deals to surface. It was just a matter of time – and that time has come!

In contract law, your Eyewitness was informed, there’s such a thing as an “unconscionable” contract… but it doesn’t even begin to describe the half of what this “Parking Meter” contract’s all about. Forget the “terror clause” that places the city in hock to the “Smartmen” group for two more Jubilees. Forget the eye-pass of the city getting 20 per cent of the cut, while the Smartmen walk away with everything, including the kitchen sink.

What about forbidding private parking garages being built by any Guyanese on his own land?!

What about death by a thousand cuts inflicted on our citizenry? Like the 50 City Constabulary being paid below the minimum wage to be the enforcers of the Smartmen?! Or City Hall committing to have all VAT and other taxes waived on the Smartmen’s revenues?!

In an unconscionable contract, it’s generally someone taking advantage of a child, moron or anyone in a very weak position, so that undue influence, duress makes the hapless victims sign away their firstborn. But in this contract, the Gang of Four – PNC officials all – wilfully inflicted a “ton of flesh” penalty on the Guyanese people. And they and all those who examined the contract – including Bulkan and the Attorney General – should be charged with Criminal Conspiracy – more specifically, Criminal Conspiracy to defraud.

All these officials knew from the beginning that any contract of this magnitude on behalf of the city had to be subject to a public bidding process. So, in conspiring to bypass that process – and not even having their illegal signing ratified by the full Council!

– and then extracting moneys from the public for parking on what remained public property, is fraud of the most heinous complexion.

The final nail in the coffin of these venal public officials is the revelation – and confirmation – of your Eyewitness’ description of both sides of the contract as “grifters” – that all the “non-slave and non-indentured” entrepreneurs and owners of Smart City Solutions from New York had been convicted at one time or another of various criminal actions – such as grand larceny and smuggling – that made them do jail time!!

Was it during one of these incarcerations they met and hatched the parking conspiracy? …widening militarisation The moment the PNC-led coalition Government was installed, the PNC announced it would be relaunching the Guyana Youth Corps (GYC). It didn’t just “announce” but plunged right into setting the stage by appointing Aubrey Norton as Presidential advisor on Youth Empowerment. He then established a “Guyana Youth Corps Inc” and began training about 50 specially selected youths to become the trainers of the organisation the President will launch in Jan 2018.

What Guyanese should know is the PNC’s simply recapitulating their history – which we all know was a disaster for all Guyanese. The GYC was launched in 1968 for the same reason as is being stated today – to instil “discipline” in unemployed youths – especially those who may’ve dropped out of school. But it failed and was converted to the Guyanese National Service – which was a fully militarised outfit.

But as far as its goals, THAT also failed, didn’t it? But not in its real purpose to feed the PNC enforcement machinery. …prod for children The Finance Minister insists that imposing VAT on private school fees is “a fiscal tool” on education.

But rather than using VAT as a prod, wouldn’t it be better to improve public schools so private schools become moot?

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

F

or Reshma Ramotar, art is a cathartic experience and a means of selfexpression. Though she was not “privileged” to pursue art at a tertiary level, Reshma continues developing her talent by constantly drawing/ painting.

“Since in secondary school (Mahaicony Secondary), I developed a love for art. I was even the top art student from years one to four in my secondary school. I always wanted to write art at CXC, but due to poverty I could not have done so. However, this has never stopped me from pursuing my passion for art. When I see my finished paintings/ drawings, I get even more inspired to continue. Art makes me feel completely different; it is empowering,” Reshma expressed in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Reshma said she al-

ways wanted to be an art teacher; however, she

art & culture 37

makes collages, doescalligraphy, ‘upcycle’ plastic straws, old flowers, brooms, popsicle sticks, just to name a few, to create h a n d crafted items.

could not pursue this dream due to financial difficulties. She recalled that as a child she could not afford to purchase paint so she improvised.

“I had an old blackboard and at side of it there were a lot of eddo plants growing. I would cut the stems and use these as chalk to draw on the blackboard. If I could say so myself, it looked really good, but of

Handcrafted paper hat

course the drawings disappeared because the air would dry it out, which made me sad,” she recalled, laughing.

Determined to never let poverty prevent her from dong what she loves, Reshma pressed on and kept developing her talent. Now she paints, does paper craft,

“When I gather these materials many consider as ‘garbage’, my sister and mother would question what my purpose is for them. But when they see my final creations using these simple materials, they always end up using the pieces,” she revealed.

Reshma also enjoys painting landscapes, cartoon characters, and would even make teaching aids for classrooms.

Additionally, her drawings of various Hindu deities found on the walls

Reshma Ramotar

of the Mandir in her yard are constantly commended by visitors.

The self-taught artist plans on getting as much practical experience in art as she can. Reshma disclosed she is not paid “a large sum” for what she does; however, her love for art propels her to continue to dedicate all her energies to her work.

“For me, art is not a way to earn a living.

But because I love art, I will continue giving 100 per cent to it. And this I try to communicate to youths who want to pursue art. Always find ways to do more in art, regardless if it is not an area that earns much. If it is what you love, then by all means continue,” she encouraged.

For more information on the artist, call 6628025 or 674-3317.

A house she made from popsicle Sticks

Drawing of cartoon character, Pooh

One of her paintings

A drawing of Hanuman, a Hindu God, on the Mandir's wall in Reshma's yard

38 feature

T

he mere mention of Regatta and the mind immediately flashes to Bartica, the home of Power Boat Racing and Easter thrills and excitement.

The Bartica Easter Regatta has been around for more than 60 years.

Initially beginning as a wager between two captains on what was then ‘grant boats’ to see whose engine was the fastest, it has grown over the years from solely boat racing, to a multi-entertainment extravaganza.

It now includes the Miss Regatta Pageant, the oldest Pageant in Guyana, and over the last 30 or so years, it has roped in sports such as cricket, football and dominoes, swimming and track races.

After the initial foray in its earliest stages in the early 50s, the Regatta basically consisted of the Power Boat Events and the Miss Regatta Pageant.

Back then, the boat races, even into the early 70’s, featured the then ‘grant boats’ with inbuilt Perkins engines and two large paddles on the

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

stern that were used for steering when navigating the dangerous rapids along the Essequibo, Mazaruni and Cuyuni Rivers.

among others.

Today, the event it is still one of the premier annual events that Barticians and other Guyanese, both at home

ficult, but the present Committee is committed to making it happen.

Over the years, companies such as Banks DIH, BK International,

Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture, along with the Regional Administration of Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

A scene from a previous edition of the Annual Bartica Regatta

Along with these boats, there were usually some canoe races and swimming, mainly from Kaow Island to Bartica.

In the late 50s going on to the early 60s, the Regatta was run by private businesses of Bartica; persons such as Oscar Smart, Godfrey De Freitas (Snr), Baldeo Singh and John Willems,

and abroad look forward to, with much anticipation at Easter time. No doubt there were years when the continuation of the event was in doubt, but through hard work, the Regatta was a success year after year.

With the recent contracting of the local economy, this has become much more dif-

AnsaMcal, Digicel, Scotia Bank, GBTI, Aruwai Group of Companies, and businessmen Ricky Ramnarine and NizamKassim have contributed much to make previous Regattas a success. This is in addition to support received from Government, mainly through the

This year’s event is being held under the theme “Honouring our Past; Visualising our Future” and the aim is to highlight the contributions of the early ancestors of Bartica, so that as the model ‘Green Town of Guyana’, the developing town can truly fulfil its potential of being the “Gateway to the

Interior”. It is especially historical since this will be the first Regatta since Bartica attained its township status, and so every effort will be made to make it a truly memorable one.

With this in mind, the Committee seeks to bring newer flavour to this annual event – exquisiteness and elegance for a green, serene and pristine town.

The Committee is currently reaching out to sponsors both at the local and national levels, so that the plans visualised can be realised.

“Our hope is that our sponsors will work with us to, not only promote the Regatta itself, but to showcase their own unique product and services, especially in the tourism and hospitality sector of Bartica.

After all, Regatta is all about sport bringing people together, and what better to promote our culture and history and hospitality than through a remarkable and historical activity such as this one,” the Committee urged.

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Husband accused of setting house on fire …after wife moved out 2 weeks ago

A

n allegedly abusive husband set his house on fire on Tuesday morning.

According to reports, the fire began at around 04:00h and completely destroyed the two-storey wooden building. The man’s wife had reportedly moved out from the home two weeks prior.

The suspect, Rampersaud Seepersaud, 52, of Lot 89 Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was reportedly home alone at the time and relatives, who reside next door, told Guyana Times Internationalthat after starting the fire, the man calmly stood in front of the yard and watched the building burn.

Shortly after, he began shouting for his sister-in-law who lived in the house next door, and informed her that he had set the house on fire.

The sister-in-law, Susan Mootoo, told this publication that by that time, the blaze had already engulfed the house and the fire threatened to spread to her own house.

“When he start shout Susan! Susan! I run out and the house was already burning. It came close to my house, see the windows break and the blinds scorch off,” Mootoo explained.

The woman said that

The house was completely engulfed in flames

she quickly informed the Guyana Fire Service, who responded promptly, but were still unable to save Seepersaud’s house.

Mootoo recalled that when the Police arrived, she heard Seepersaud telling them that an appliance in the home had caused the fire, however, she was certain this was not the case.

“When the Police come, I hear he saying something ‘bout a fan blow or something like that. But I know is he set the fire,” she said, while explaining that for quite some time, Seepersaud had been threatening to burn both their houses down.

The suspect’s sisterin-law explained that

Potaro man remanded on attempted murder charge

A

Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) miner was remanded to prison on a charge ofattempted murder when he faced Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.

Shawn Fillicene, 43, of Ewang Creek, Potaro, Region Eight, is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Manuel Dosantos with intent to murder him,

at EwangBackdam on February 11, 2017.

According to the prosecution’s case, the Virtual Complainant received multiple stab wounds to his neck. The court was also told that the VC was still hospitalised in a critical state.

As such, Fillicene was remanded to prison.

The case will continue on April 18 at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.

her sister has been married to the suspect for 15 years, and throughout it all, Seepersaud has always been abusive, in

addition to being an alcoholic.

“He does abuse her, beat her, drink, I don’t know if he does smoke

drugs all, but he threaten nuff times to bun down he own house and mine just because I does try protect her,” Mootoo disclosed.

This newspaper was informed that two weeks prior to this incident, Seepersaud had abused his wife to the point that she attempted to take her life.

“He wake she up in the night to cook, and while she cooking, he pelt out the spoon, and start cuss and abuse her, and she drink kerosene.”

As a result of this, Seepersaud’s wife was taken under the wings of the Human Rights Association, and she moved away to live in Diamond, EBD. The couple’s two children are presently living with rel-

atives.

Meanwhile, Mootoo stated that she had made many reports about her brother-in-law’s behaviour at the Providence Police station, but they were never taken seriously. She is contending that this fire could have been avoided if the Police had played their part.

“I meknuff reports at the Providence Police Station, but they never come and do anything.

They never told him anything. You know, like warn him or nothing so he would get frighten or scared. But [the morning of the fire] they come out in numbers!” she said.

Seepersaud was taken into Police custody to assist with investigations. (Ramona Luthi)

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Park the Meters!

By Rhyaan Shah

O

ur once bustling city centre has become a ghost town thanks to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC). Had they done any surveys to find out whose cars were parked on the city streets, they would have discovered that many of them belonged to the employees of the banks, insurance companies, offices and shops in Georgetown’s downtown area.

Georgetown grew up from a colonial port that was convenient for its location at the mouth of the Demerara River – and long before there was any vehicular traffic – to being a busy capital city. How much planning was done along the way to accommodate projected growth appears minimal and building codes in recent years seem to have become meaningless.

The parking meters, if you listen to the Mayor and the Councillors who support this travesty, would magically create order out of the chaos that has been indulged for decades.

There is the distinct feeling that the Municipality counted up all those lovely vehicles parked on the city streets and rubbed their hands with glee at the millions they were going to rake in from a parking meter contract that seems addled in corruption. They thought they had the people cornered. Well, the people have pushed back.

Some are now being dropped off at work or at shops. Some are parking on streets not metered and some are walking.

(We might have a fitter nation out of all this.) Some have parked their vehicles at home and are using bicycles and motorbikes to get around the city.

The protest is about the secret SCS contract itself, the outrageous parking fees, and about the arrogant manner in which the programme was foisted on the public.

City employees used the streets to park because most businesses do not have space to provide in-house parking. Their employees simply cannot now afford to pay upwards of G$30,000 each month to park their vehicle. Even if reduced by half, this would still be burdensome.

In other countries where parking meters are used in certain downtown areas, most businesses provide free parking spaces for their employees. Banks, shops and supermarkets are also required by planning regulations to

provide free parking for their customers.

This maintains order on the roadways, since many vehicles are parked away from any main thoroughfare. But the naked aggression used to break a bridge to a designated, off-road parking area for Teleperformance employees shows that the M&CC are not really interested in bringing order to the city’s streets.

If that was the case, they would encourage and support every business entity willing to find ways to provide similar employee parking.

However, M&CC’s Teleperformance performance revealed that the main, or sole objective of their parking meter scheme is to rake in money.

And for whom?

The Town Clerk, in his public pleas to the citizenry, assures us that the monies are needed to improve the Municipality’s services. He fails to acknowledge a basic human trait: people will not be fooled all the time.

The citizens of Georgetown are not only fed up of the M&CC’s inability to provide any proper services to keep the environment clean, tidy and healthy, but they are unconvinced that monies collected by the Municipality are being used prudently and in the city’s best interests.

Garbage collectors are never paid on time; drains and gutters continue to be clogged; canals are silted up and overgrown with bush; alleyways are left uncleaned; and the M&CC still fails to understand the simple concept of maintenance.

The Municipality always claims bankruptcy and the citizens are in the dark as to why. The M&CC would help their case tremendously if they welcomed a forensic audit of the Municipality’s accounts which would include a close look at the SCS parking meter contract and a list of those who have defaulted over the years on paying their rates and taxes.

Areas of weakness in their fiscal management could be identified and corrected, and the city’s business community might even partner with the Municipality to maintain vital services if the M&CC shows that they are genuinely cash-strapped.

However, the Municipality’s resistance to every request and effort to have an audit conducted – a resistance supported by the otherwise audit-happy PNC-led Government – only heightens suspicions

Ryhaan Shah that the citizenry’s monies are being misspent, misused and, perhaps, even personally pocketed.

For the M&CC to expect Georgetown citizens to simply trust them with millions, when they refuse to account for the millions that have been collected over the years is simply disingenuous. It’s time to park the meters and have a forensic audit of the Municipality’s books.

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news 43

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

City officials buckle under pressure …burdensome parking meter fees to be slashed by 50% ployees at the various commercial banks, the Mayor said these individuals will now be allowed to utilise their respective company’s parking lots; the banks will be required to submit the relevant information to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC). This means that they will also be facilitated with monthly parking permits at a lesser rate, Green added.

Moreover, the Town Clerk emphasised that conditions with regards to clamping and booting fees will also be revised.

The manner in which the Parking Meter Contract, signed in November 2015, was arranged with National Parking Solutions Inc (SCSI) has attracted heavy scrutiny in the

E

A parking meter

ven as the public outcry against the implementation of parking meters continues, City Hall officials have announced a 50 per cent reduction in the parking fees.

This announcement was made on Tuesday, during a meeting with City officials including the Town Clerk Royston King, City Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen andrepresentatives from the various commercial banks, including Republic Bank,

Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and Demerara Bank.

Mayor Chase-Green explained that the reduction would mean that persons will now pay $25 per 15 minutes of parking, along with 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT).

In addition, motor vehicle owners will also now be able to utilise unused time remaining on their cards at other parking spaces in the city.

With regards to the arrangement for em-

Trio jailed for possession of ecstasy

C

ity Magistrate Leron Daly on Monday handed down a three-year sentence to three persons who were busted with a quantity of ecstasy, commonly known as the “date rape drug” at Bourda, Georgetown.

The Magistrate found that Omalo Garraway, 24, of Norton Street, Georgetown; Chevaro Jubithana, 22, of Princes Street, Georgetown and Olivia Grimes, 23, of Durban Street, Georgetown were guilty of having in their possession 40 amphetamine tablets, amounting to 10.5 grams on June 16, 2016 at Charlotte Street,

Bourda.

The trio had initially denied the charges and were previously released on G$75,000 bail each upon their first court appearance.

The Magistrate on Monday ruled that sufficient evidence had been presented by the prosecution to prove them guilty.

Garraway stood unrepresented in the prisoner’s dock, while Jubithana and Grimes were absent from the court. The sentence was, nonetheless, handed down by the Magistrate and an arrest warrant was issued for the two absent co-accused.

press and has sparked public outrage.

The situation worsened when Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green, Town Clerk Royston King and City Councillors Oscar Clark and Junior Garrett left on a trip to Mexico to inspect the product – seven months after the agreement was inked.

Subsequently, the Finance Ministry and the Attorney General’s Chambers conducted reviews of the contract to determine its practicality and legality. In its reviews, the glaring absence of any financial analysis or feasibility study by the M&CC had been noted. One of the observations of the Finance Ministry had been that “the contract has given

complete monopoly power to SCSI over parking within Georgetown. This control could lead to exploitation of consumers as SCSI has the power to change fees arbitrarily and determine zones.”

Over the past few weeks, citizens and business owners have taken to the streets in protest against the “draconian” costs and penalties and their calls have intensified after the provisions in the Parking Meter Contract between City Hall and Smart City Solutions were made public. As such, many persons are still calling for the contract to be scrapped and are refusing to accept the recently announced rate reduction.

44 news

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Richard David launches campaign for NYC Council District 28

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ctivist and Community Board Member Richard David officially launched his campaign to be the Council Member in District 28 through a video released on social media today.

Richard, inspired

by President Barack Obama's call to action in 2008, got involved asmentor to boys and girls of colour in Southeast Queens.

Richard attended

Public Schools and started working at age 13; his first job was at the South Queens Boys & Girls Club(now known as BGC of Metro Queens) He graduated from Hunter College, where he organised student actions on campus as President of the WISE Club.

After working for a few years, he went back to school and earned his

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi

Master's degree from New York University. To pay for college, Richard held multiple jobs, developing a work ethic that has continued

to influence his life.

Richard was proud to graduate both cumlaude and debt free.

He maintained robust ties in the community even while working and going to school by engaging with religious, civic, and business associations. He was the youngest member of Community Board 9, where he remains ac-

tive nine years later.

Richard has over ten years of experience in government and will use this know how to improve his district.

His first fulltime job was at the NYC Economic Development Corporation where he became Vice President after eight years. In this role, Richard helped community organisations across the five boroughs to fundraiser and build modern space for residents including quality senior centers, sensitive cultural spaces, new job training facilities and nurturing afterschool centers for young people to thrive.

Richard then became Executive Director at the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, where he oversaw a citywide campaign to lower the cost of public transportation for working families.

Currently, he is Chief of Staff at a child welfare organisation protecting the most vulnerable, our kids. He does not remain on the sidelines when it comes to fighting for what's right; he jumps into the ring.

One of hisproudest ac-

complishments is cofounding a nonprofit in 2010 to bring resources into Southeast Queens.

Today, it's one of the leading social justice organisations in Council District 28 and in New York City.

Richard was raised by a single mother who is his role model. He is the youngest of three brothers.

“Local government has been virtually absent in my district for several years now. Our residents have been locked out of vital decisions, we do not have a respected voice fighting to bring more resources into the community and our quality of life has decreased. We need a fresh start with a Council Member who can make government work for all of us, with bright, new ideas. I have worked in government for over 10 years and I have been a leading advocate for the community foreven longer. I’m ready to work hard to deliverreal results.Now, more than ever, this is the kind of change we need”, says Richard David

T&T state witness slain hours before court appearance

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T&T to target fake news on social media

tate witness Samuel Rampersad was supposed to attend court yesterday, but hours before this appearance three armed men stormed his home and shot him dead in front of his family.

Rampersad, 44, a taxi driver, lived with his family at Coconut Drive, Green Acres, San Fernando, near the banks of the Cipero River.

He was accustomed to working the grave yard shift and was the victim of a kidnapping and robbery in December 2012.

Police said around 4 am while the family was asleep, the gunmen kicked open the door and entered the wooden house.

Demanding to know the whereabouts of Rampersad, who drove a silver Nissan B-15, the assailants entered the room where he and his family were asleep. Upon recognising him, they fired three shots, which struck him in the upper body, splattering blood on the walls and bed of the house.

A relative, who requested anonymity, said before going into the Rampersad’s residence, the assailants, who wore bandannas over their faces, mistakenly kicked

down the front door of a house next door looking for him.

“When they didn’t find him there they came over here. I was sleeping in the living room when I heard the commotion. I thought it was Rampersad coming home after working a late shift. Then I saw the glare and a man with a gun was standing over me,” the witness recalled.

He said one of the men again asked for the driver of the B-15 and when he realised the relative was in a confused state, he walked into the bedroom where Rampersad slept.

“I was so afraid I could not move. They killed him and then the men ran out of the house. They did not hurt anybody else,” he added.

Describing Samuel as a hardworking and respectable man, the relative said for over 28 years Rampersad had worked as a taxi driver. He said Rampersad often did private hired jobs for oilworkers from companies like Halliburton.

“He would take workers from Halliburton to Guayaguayare. He always had jobs and he used to come home all hours of the morn-

Samuel Rampersad

ing,” the relative said.

The killing left residents shaken and they are now calling on police to boost patrols in the residential community.

Police said Rampersad was kidnapped in 2012 by three men shortly after they robbed and beat a family from Green Acres. In a bid to escape, they kidnapped Rampersad, who later turned a State witness. Police yesterday detained three suspects in connection with his murder.

District Medical Officer Dr Rajkumar viewed the body yesterday and ordered it removed to the Forensic Science Centre where an autopsy will be done today (Thursday) . (Trinidad Guardian)

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ocial media users who post gory and irresponsible videos, comments and photographs to create sensation and instil fear and panic among T&T citizens beware!

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi will tomorrow (Friday) take to Cabinet an amended version of the Cybercrime Bill to deal with reckless users who are now out of control in sharing unverified information.

Once Cabinet gives the all clear, Al-Rawi says the bill will stop the abusers of social media in their tracks.

Al-Rawi revealed his plan yesterday as he responded to a question from a member of the public on how the Government intends to treat with social media users who “plaster things” on Facebook, many of which are untrue.

“It is very cruel and a waste of the State and nation’s time because of a false report that can circulate on social media within 15 minutes.

Is there something being put in place, so if someone creates a false report that they will be taken to the full task of the law… or face the highest level of punishment to discourage that?” the unidentified man asked the AG during a question and answer segment at the Association of Real Estate Agents’ breakfast meeting at the Government Campus Plaza, Port-ofSpain.

In response, Al-Rawi said, “Absolutely. There is the Cybercrime Bill which the LRC (Legislative Review Committee) has completed and which is going to Cabinet this Thursday.”

Al-Rawi said the reason why the Government choose the bill as a priority was to control the “Roman Colosseum phenomenon…the thirst for blood, scandal and imagery” now taking place online.

“Our society runs the risk of being deemed to be

very much, in lost measure…out of control. The irresponsibility that is exercised without any regard for the consequence of families…or to children or persons who are victims or to just create panic and fear.”

Al-Rawi’s plan comes in the wake of complaints by acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, that such posts, in the face of a spiralling murder rate, was creating a logistical headache for the police, who often have to go out to check the veracity of such postings.

Yesterday, the AG described some of the things put on social media as “astounding. So we focused on the Cybercrime Bill and we have made some very important changes in terms of the previous version that was in circulation. I think the country is going to be very pleased with the product.”

So far, Al-Rawi said there had been extensive consultations with the Media Association of T&T, Publishers Association, T&T Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA) and other entities on the matter.

“We are ready to rock and roll. This is a step in the right direction to control this kind of behaviour.”

Questioned by the media on how the bill will affect the content of social media and what sanctions will be imposed on those irresponsible users, Al-Rawi opted not to divulge any information, saying he preferred Cabinet to first give its approval.

“Then I would go into all of the particulars.

Suffice to say, it is a very robust piece of law on which there has been a significant amount of consultation and I believe it is in the right zone of operations. I don’t want to dilute what was said here today.”

The bill was first presented in Parliament in 2014 and later brought back to the House in 2015.

(Trinidad Guardian)

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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46 NEWS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Valentine’s Day and what it means

By Ashley Anthony

On Tuesday last, Guyana and the rest of the world were lit afire by the flames of Valentine’s Day. As the embers of the holiday remain burning, let us examine how this day became designated the day of lovers, and explore a little bit of history.

Valentine’s Day was originally based on a Roman holiday known as Lupercalia.

For those of you studying Julius Caesar for CSEC, this name might ring a bell.

It was a pagan holiday in which rites were done to increase fertility. However, as Christianity gained popularity, this tradition soon became outlawed, and the date, February 14, was designated as “St Valentine’s Day” by Pope Gelasius in the fifth

century.

However, the identity of Saint Valentine is not as straightforward as one would expect. There are three Saints recognised by the Catholic Church of the name Valentine, but it is widely believed that the day is the namesake of a priest from Roman times. In the legend, Roman Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage, because he believed that single men would make better soldiers. Valentine, who thought this to be an injustice, secretly continued carrying out marriage ceremonies.

When he was found out, he was sentenced to death. In other versions, Valentine is sentenced to jail for aiding Christian prisoners. Whilst his body was imprisoned, his heart was too, as he became enamoured with the daughter

of his jailor. It is fabled that right before his death, he sent her a love letter, signed “from your Valentine”, becoming the first of many Valentine’s Day greetings.

It is easy to see how the day has become one of a celebration of love, once we look at its history. But strangely enough, love did not become associated with the date until the Middle Ages. At that time, in France and England, it was thought that birds began their mating in mid-February, which just so happened to be coincidental with Valentine’s Day. This belief is perhaps why the day slowly became more adapted to suit “love birds”. And records of written Valentine’s begin to show up in the 1400s.

With time, romantic gestures have become more

Mout’ open…

Ashley Anthony

and more extravagant, with greeting cards, chocolates, flowers and even jewellery being exchanged. Today, 220 million roses are grown on average for the big day, and perhaps even more surprisingly, about six million couples are likely to get engaged. It’s interesting to see how Valentine’s Day has evolved through the years; and maybe it will continue to evolve. Whatever happens, at least we know that the day actually comes from a place of deep meaning, and the holiday isn’t as superficial as it seems to some.

…on AFC’s leadership betrayal t an extraordinary meeting of the City Council – moved by the suspension of their Standing Orders – the Mayoress was livid. “Look what you have done!!!” she shrieked at the Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, her face was contorted with rage.

Indeed… look what he’s done.

Duncan had been the AFC’s candidate for Mayor and, even though his party was in Coalition at the Central Government – he ran on a separate AFC ticket. He lost badly in that race – along with the independents like Benschop – to the PNC’s Georgetown machine; under whose tent most of the faithful had returned. But he won his seat and was awarded the Deputy Mayorship in a concession to the Coalition at the higher level, Duncan was expected to toe the line like his “leaders” Nagamootoo and Ramjattan.

And that he didn’t is the reason for the Mayoress, her PNC Gang of Four at City Hall and their handlers in Central Government, shrieking and pulling out their hair! If one wants to be objective about it – Duncan didn’t do much: he just kept pointing out the Gang of Four for not disclosing the terms of the Meter Contract to the rest of the City Council – much less have it debated.

But in the scheme of how things are done in (political) Guyana, it was like pulling a little bit of loose thread on a sleeve and eventually having the entire garment fall apart. Leaving the wearer stark naked! And how are things done in (political) Guyana? Well, we have the party leaders of the AFC who: “guaranteed” in the Coalition that they were negotiating with the PNC-led APNU, they would have the autonomy and have the power to speak their piece. Ironically, they announced their Cummingsburg Accord two “Valentine Days” ago.

So here you have the leaders of the party who’d “guaranteed” autonomy in the black and white Cummingsburg Accord – along with a mechanism for settling disputes – but yet stood mute as the country and its economy were raped and their promised powers ignominiously stripped. And this is the lesson that Guyanese should learn from the whole sordid cautionary tale still playing out at City Hall.

As the PNC Central Government leaders – all the way to the top – stood by their Mayoress (who’d been elevated to the Executive of the PNC in the meantime!) Nagamootoo, Ramjattan and all the other AFC leaders shamefully let Duncan swing in the wind. Until, of course, the Movement Against Parking Meters sprouted and came out into the streets.

It is but a foreshadowing of what faces the AFC, for sure, come 2020! …on big job Your Eyewitness’ heart bleeds for AnandGoolsarran. Earlier in the (political) game, he hitched his star to the APNU/AFC’s wagon. He was one of their “go to” guys if they wanted a quote in the Muckraker to drag the PPP and anyone associated with them, in the mud. Like most “born again” political acolytes, he wore his heart on his sleeve as he vouched for the purity of the new regime from his NGO platforms like Transparency International.

Corruption, he assured one and all, would disappear once those PPP types were ejected. All went well in the beginning as he was given some “forensic” audits to conduct. Goolsarran went after the PPP like a bull terrier – no subtleties here: he already KNEW the PPP was corrupt, so why even give their officials a hearing. He did mutter, however, that some who weren’t in the pack of early anti-PPP hounds were handed more audits than he.

So now he’s officially challenged why he wasn’t selected as the CEO for the Public Procurement Commission. He should know in these things, it’s not WHAT you know but WHO you know.

Poor Goolsarran isn’t a member of the Caricom club! Ouch!! …on Caricom Echoing John Lennon, the Caricom Secretary General wondered, “Imagine if there were no Caricom.”

Would anyone notice?

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Developing Young Leaders

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atiricus was thrown for a loop. And his friends could see it written all over his face. Even the evening out with his wife to the new, satisfyingly garish Chinese Restaurant for Valentine’s Day hadn’t cheered him up. And for a fella who viewed the consumption of roasted Peking duck as a sacrament, his friends knew this was serious. The Back Street Bar bunch had to do something – and quick.

“Suhwha’ baddayuh, Sato?”Bungi started out carefully, “Yuhna talk wan word since yuh come in.”

“Yeah,” continued Hari, “and you already polish off six beers!”

“Fellas! I still can’t believe this Parking Contract scandal,” Satiricus offered weakly. “I suspected it was bad… but nothing as bad as this.”

“Sato, me fr’en,” replied Bungi, “why yuht’ink dis set a palitishanwoulda be diff’ren’? All a dem does t’ief!”

“I don’t know about that, Bungi,” continued Satiricus, “my leader Nagga Man sat 50 years at the feet of the Great Leader, how come he let this thing happen?”

“And Rum Jhaat sat for 20 years,” said Hari with a straight face. “Maybe they shoulda been standing at the Great leader’s side rather than sitting at his feet?”

“But yuhleadahdemnadeh pan de City Council,” said Bungi in an effort to cheer up Satiricus. “Maybe demna know ‘bout de contract.”

“But it was our KFC boy Sher-Rod who stood up to expose the Gang of Four at City Hell,” confessed Satiricus. “And he woulda told Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat at the monthly meetings.”

“But maybe Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat trying to develop young leaders,” suggested Hari, getting with Bungi’sprogramme, “and so they let Sher-Rod take the lead.”

Satiricus cheered up visibly at that. “You know, fellas, you may have a point!” he exclaimed. “Another round of beers. It’s on me!”

“Lehabee drink to Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat,” said Bungi, as he polished off his beer.

“Yup!!” echoed Hari. “They really learnt how to develop young leaders at the feet of the Great leader!”

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Showing love everyday

47

The Eskimos had 52 names for snow because it was important to them: there ought to be as many for love - Margaret Atwood Anu Dev As a Canadian, Atwood would herself know more than a thing or two about snow: as a novelist and poet, she’s obviously thought much about love to have posed the question above. And yes… she did pose a question since every proposition (eg, “there ought to be as many words for love”) is an answer to a question!

To a great extent the movies have defined our notions of “romantic” lobe. Among my favourite is the “oldie” Casablanca, with the inimitable Rick and Ilsa. The theme there is love as “sacrifice” and this still rings true for me.

Remember when Rick insists that Ilsa leave him forever, he gently places his hand under her chin and raises it so their eyes meet, and he says, “Here’s looking at you, kid.” Still gets me!

So what is our post-

modern take on Valentine – which has become our trope for “love”? I’ve noticed that there are approximately four types of reactions to Valentine’s Day on social media: (1) lovey-dovey declarations of love from those in relationships, (2) singleand-proud statuses, (3) statuses declaring that food is their one true love, and (4) people who just go about their day like it was any other day.

But February the 14th doesn’t hold exclusive rights as the only date to show someone you care.

It’s just a date chosen in honour of St Valentine and became associated with romantic love in the 14th century. It could’ve been any other date or better yet, it doesn’t just have to be one date. Why can’t people show their love for the important people in their lives every day? Or rather, why don’t they? The persons you love should

be important enough to you that you would have no problem with showing them that you love them every day – whether you want to show your love by just saying ‘I love you’, or by showering them with gifts, it’s your prerogative.

Be spontaneous, show your love every day in all of the little ways that count much, much more than an elaborate show on Valentine’s Day. And love itself comes in so many, many forms – you could love your mom, your dad, brother, friends, boyfriend, girlfriend and all of the other people in your life. Let the people you care about always know and feel that you care about them. Sure people aren’t perfect, and someone is sure to step on your toes over time. But you don’t need to hold a grudge or put them in the doghouse – remember that you love them.

And I’m not saying

you need to go around loving everyone because no matter how many pink sunglasses we wear, we can’t fool ourselves that the world is as rosy as we would like it to be. There are always people who we will find decidedly unlovable, and that’s OK. You don’t need to love everyone and show everyone that you love them – that might be spreading yourself too thin (not to mention you’re also losing the plot of love being special and important).

You at least ought to show the important people in your life, the ones you care deeply about, that you love them because, hey, if you love them that much, that shouldn’t be much of a problem – right?

But OK, even though you should be showing your love every day, it IS a nice gesture to go that extra mile on Valentine’s Day. Chocolates anyone?

Who cares…

I

…for Wales?

n one of the (few) novels written about Guyana – then “British Guiana” – back in the 19th century, one kindly white lady commiserated over the drowning of several “poor souls” after a canoe they were travelling upriver, capsized. “Who were they?” her friend exclaimed in alarm. “Some coolies,” replied the kindly lady. “Oh!” replied her friend, as she nonchalantly continued munching on her sandwich, “Who cares?”

Your Eyewitness remembered this episode as he saw the different reactions by the media and the Georgetown crowd to the parking meter scam, versus the human tragedy unfolding over on the West Bank of Demerara. Who cares about the 1700 workers on Wales thrown on the breadline? Who cares for the cane farmers of Wales who supplied one-third of the cane to Wales?

It shouldn’t have to come down to comparing the suffering of different groups of Guyanese. But when the reactions are so different as we’re seeing, it compels comment. The protests in Georgetown are about a contract negotiated in secret by the City Hall cabal with the connivance of some in Central Government. It would’ve bled commuters in Georgetown for 20 years and enriched a few fat cats in City Hall. This must be protested.

But what’s different about what’s going on over at Wales? There’s an estate with 14,000 acres of drained and irrigated sugar cane fields that have been abandoned. Ditto with the factory and the 1700 workers – and their families – thrown under the tractors. Ditto for the 60,000 persons who subsists on the economy anchored by Wales Estate. Nobody lost their jobs in Georgetown; their pay packets would’ve been reduced – not eliminated. For Wales, the poverty will be intergenerational.

But what about the contract that’ll enrich a few fat cats in Georgetown, you ask, dear reader? Well, your Eyewitness said it right after the Wales closing was

conceded: a big one from the US is hovering in the wings to pick up all that prime agricultural real estate for a pittance. And why a pittance? Well, ‘cause half of THAT contract will be siphoned off into the pockets of a few big ones in the Government and GuySuCo. And they’ll justify the pittance by ensuring the lands revert to bush and the factory collapses into a heap of scrap iron! So why the disparate reactions?

We sadly have to accept, like most things in Guyana, it’s about race. But ironically, what most refuse to accept is over at Wales, those affected are almost equally Africans and Indian Guyanese.

Guess they’ll have to bring their plight to Georgetown and occupy all those empty parking spaces to be noticed. …on Valentine Day Your Eyewitness must confess he’s not big on this whole Valentine hoopla. And that’s exactly why – it’s just a hoopla, which, to make it worse, was manufactured by the folks that still bring you Hallmark cards and Cadbury chocolates. Of course, over the years, the diamond folks joined in on the Valentine Conga dance.

Now don’t get him wrong… your Eyewitness is as romantic as the other guy. It’s just the commercialisation of “love” on this day takes it to ridiculous depths. He recognises, for instance, the music industry’s also dominated by romantic songs and these are pushed by commercial entities. But somehow they’ve allowed the human, individual element to still shine through.

The NWA in “Straight outta Compton” could still tell it like it is about what went down in the ghetto.

Even Beyoncé is allowed to express herself on Jay Z’s stepping out.

But Valentine? It’s all packaged treacle! But what the heck… he’ll take his better half to dinner. But no red and whites! A line has to be drawn somewhere! …about the political angst?

Another thing your Eyewitness is cynical about is the political hypocrisy in his beloved country. After all the placards and posturings on the parking meters, those folks out in the streets will still cleave along racial lines come 2020.

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Booze, women and dirty jokes: Randhir Kapoor reveals all that the Kapoors talk about at family parties

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e began his Bollywood career as a child artist in 1955 movie Shree 420 and made his acting and directorial debut with Kal Aaj Aur Kal in 1971 which also featured his father Raj Kapoor and his grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor.

Coming from the Kapoor clan, Randhir Kapoor emerged as a successful actor and director in the 70s and the 80s.

His is a family that eats together, stays together and even parties together. The Kapoors do not need anyone from outside, to celebrate a special day, be it a birthday or a festival.

The actor who turned 70 on Wednesday, still looks as young and vibrant as he did in his yesteryears. The father of two beautiful daughters, Karishma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor, is a man who is high on life, booze and family fun on his special day.

Talking about his birthday plans, the actor told HT, “You don’t need preparations for a family gathering. We have one almost every night

F

where we meet, laugh, get drunk and come back home. We’re one family that’s happy among ourselves.”

Randhir Kapoor got candid in the conversation as he divulged the details about the muchanticipated Kapoor khandaan’s family gatherings. Talking about their general topics of discussion at the parties, Randhir said, “Booze, women, sex, dirty jokes… what else?”

The actor-director seems to be proud of belonging to a family that is too busy in itself to look in the outside world and

its futile controversies.

“We don’t do any bitching or back-biting about other people in the fraternity. We’re not even concerned about what anyone else is doing in life. We’re so busy among ourselves – too busy to bother about others,” Randhir replied on being asked about what does his family talk about on their get-togethers.

The Kapoors have always been the talk of the town, be it for their upcoming movies, rumoured relationships or of course their family outings. But how much does rumours about the

children of his family affect the veteran actor?

“We’re like the stock exchange — we know everything that’s happening in the family. Since our kids are in the same profession, we all know how they’re placed. As a joke, maybe, we discuss their girlfriends, boyfriends, marriage etc, but not with an intention of interfering,” said Randhir.

“We’re very united, we’re together all the time – to eat, drink, and sing, but we don’t interfere in each other’s business,” the actor added.

(Indian Express)

Iulia Vantur completely in awe of Salman Khan

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ulia Vantur is completely in awe of Salman Khan, who keeps inspiring his rumoured girlfriend time and again. This Romanian beauty, who has moved to India and is trying her luck as a singer, shared a special song on her Instagram. The track is a recreated version of “Main Hoon Hero Tera” which was originally sung by the Sultan actor himself. Iulia has recorded the number reportedly under Salman’s supervision.

Iulia shared the video with the caption, “Happy Valentine’s Day! My gift for u Sing it to

Mudassar Aziz confirms a sequel of Abhay Deol starrer ‘Happy Bhag Jayegi’

your Valentine, share it to whom deserves to know #happy #valentines #mainhoonherotera #song #hero #love #share #athyiashetty #soorajpancholi #.”

A few days back, Iulia also took to Instagram to share a picture where we see her flaunting a

Being Human necklace.

She wrote along with the picture, “The best thing to wear #everyday #love #share #care #joy #help #hope #beinghuman #tag #jeweleries #hot #trend #like #.”

Though there has been no confirmation from Salman about his

current relationship status, something has remained the much-talked about question in Bollywood for years now.

Most probably, Salman’s answer will be – ‘it is complicated.’

Lately, Romanian actor-model Iulia also performed on superstar Salman Khan’s hit song “Baby Ko Bass Pasand Hai” at an event. But this version of “Main Hoon Hero Tera” by Iulia is much more special.

What a special Valentine’s Day gift by Iulia. She has surely given many, relationship goals. (Indian Express)

Rekha to give 4th Yash Chopra Memorial Award to Shah Rukh Khan

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eteran actress Rekha will hand over superstar Shah Rukh Khan the fourth Yash Chopra Memorial Award during a ceremony later this month. Rekha along with Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao will give the award, instituted in the memory of the late Bollywood legend, to the Fan star on February 25 here, a press release issued by the organisers said.

Shah Rukh has featured in some of the biggest hits helmed by Chopra like Darr, Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Veer-Zaara and Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

The award commemorates the

director-producer by honouring excellence in various spheres of cinema like acting, music etc, it said.

Well it will be a big moment for Shah Rukh Khan as he has numerous times said that he has a childhood crush on senior actress

Rekha. In an award ceremony, SRK also proposed to the beauty. Known for his unmatchable sense of humor, he said that whenever he receives an award from Rekha, he proposes to her and is still waiting for her reply.

Rekha said that she has to discuss this matter with Gauri (SRK’s wife). The actor was quick to add, sure. Both of you have to finalize your respective bedrooms, right?’ Rekha was all smiling and shy when SRK made those comments. (Indian Express)

i l m m a k e r Mudassar Aziz has decided to make a sequel to Abhay Deol and Diana Penty-starrer Happy Bhag Jayegi.

The director says the overwhelming response motivated him to start working on the sequel of the cross-border comedy which also featured Ali Fazal and Jimmy Shergill.

“I wasn’t thinking of a sequel while making the first film, it was the encouraging feedback from the audience that set the ball rolling,” Mudassar said in a statement.

Eros International and Aanand L Rai’s Colour Yellow Productions’ Happy Bhag Jayegi released in August last year.

“I was working on another story when the idea of a sequel to “Happy..” struck me in September.

I discussed it with Rai saab who suggested I work on it and see what comes out. By Octoberend, I had a story which he really liked,” he said.

According to Mudassar, the essence of the film will remain the same but the makers are yet to zero down on the place Happy (Diana) will elope to this time.

“Besides her runway act, we also refer to the word ‘happy’ as a state of the mind which is not everlasting,” he added.

At the time of the release of Happy Bhag Jayegi back in August last year Mudassar wrote an open letter to Pakistan Censor Board asking it about a valid reason for banning his film from release. In the letter, he even mentioned about Pakistan being a wonderful place to visit. (Indian Express)

Kangana Ranaut reveals that she kissed Shahid Kapoor when he had a running nose

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angana Ranaut’s steamy scenes with Shahid Kapoor in Rangoon have become the talk of the town. But after learning about all that Kangana shared about her experience of shooting these kissing scenes, you may feel disgusted.

In a recent interview, Kangana admitted that kissing Shahid was not only a turnoff but even a tragedy.

According to a report in DNA. Kangana was quoted as saying, “I don’t like intimate scenes in a film.

They are the most difficult to shoot. You have a formal equation with someone and suddenly you are into each other’s mouth. That big moustache of Shahid is horrible. It was such a … Not a turn-off but a tragedy of different level! When I asked him about it, he said he applies wax and has a running nose!

Mera naak isme bah ke jaata hai.”

Kangana had previously passed on varied statements about her compatibility with

Shahid. She went on to say that while she was adjustive to the shoot locations, which weren’t urban at all, Shahid was the one who would look uneasy. She even found him suspicious at times.

Talking about her experience of shooting at unexplored locales of Arunachal Pradesh, Kangana said, “Initially, it was a bit taxing because I was suddenly taken from an urban location to an extremely remote location with no network. But, gradually, it became a lot easier since I am a mountain girl. But Shahid would often freak out.”

Recently, Kangana broke the internet with the news of being in a happy relationship. The actor said she wants to get married this year. Well, we just cannot wait for the great news. But meanwhile, we know every time we would watch her and Shahid kissing on-screen, this ‘running nose’ thought would disturb us for a moment.

(Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Wolverine’actor Hugh Jackman undergoes sixth surgery for cancer

Women’s protest march in US wasn’t only against Trump, but also injustice: Freida Pinto

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ugh Jackman’s battle against skin cancer continues as the Hollywood star has revealed that he is being treated for skin cancer again. With a bandage over his nose, the 48-year-old Sydneyborn actor shared with his fans on Twitter and Instagram that he’s undergoing another treatment for basal cell carcinoma. It’s the most common form of skin cancer, but it is rarely fatal.

“Another basal cell carcinoma. Thanks to frequent body checks and amazing doctors, all is well. Looks worse with the dressing on than off. I swear! #wearsunscreen,” Jackman posted alongside the photo.

Jackman has been open about his battle against skin cancer in recent years. He also posted a selfie of his bandaged nose in 2013 and showed up at a movie premiere the next year

two days after having a growth removed. He has had surgeries at least five times for skin cancer.

“It’s always a bit of a shock just hearing the word ‘cancer,'” Jackman had said earlier. “Being an Australian, it’s a very common thing. I never wore sunscreen growing up so I was a prime candidate for it.”

His first treatment for basal cell carcinoma was in November 2013 when his wife DeborraLee Furness told him to get a mole on his nose looked at by a doctor.

The recent diagnosis hasn’t slowed the actor down. “Logan,” the third instalment in the X-Men franchise’s Wolverine series is scheduled to open in movie theatres in March. He also stars as PT Barnum in the musical biopic “The Greatest Showman on Earth,” which is slated to open at the end of this year.

(Indian Express)

Tom Cruise mourns loss of his mother

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ctor Tom Cruise, who lost his mother, Mary Lee South, last week, has attended her memorial service at her local Church of Scientology.

The Mission: Impossible star’s mother died peacefully in her sleep after battling health issues at the age of 80.

Cruise, 54, was joined by his three sisters, Lee Ann DeVette, 57, Cass Mapother, 55, and Marian Henry, 52, as well as other family and friends, reported People magazine. South, who split from Tom’s father, Thomas Cruise Mapother III, in 1974, was using a walker and looked thinner than usual when she was last seen in Clearwater, Florida in

May 2016.

Cruise, along with his mom moved to New Jersey when he was 16, after she got married to John “Jack” South in 1978.

The actor had a close relationship with his mom as she often attended his premieres. The 54-year-old actor developed his passion for acting from his mom, who was a special-education teacher. Tom’s mother was supportive of his dreams to become an actor, with Mary previously explaining how he told her of his ambitions after he starred in a high-school production of ‘Guys and Dolls’.

She said: “After the show, Tom came home and said he wanted to have a talk with my husband and me. He asked for 10 years to give showbiz a try. And we both wholeheartedly agreed, because we both felt it was a God-given talent, and he should explore it because he was so enthused about it.” (Indian Express)

ndia-born internationally acclaimed actress Freida Pinto says the peaceful protest march on Donald Trump’s swearing in ceremony as the 45th US President, was not against him only but was a culmination of what many men, women, and children were feeling against widespread injustice in the country.

“One of the things that people grossly misunderstood is that the woman’s march was something that was against Trump only. It was the culmination of all things that men, women, and children have been feeling for such a long time — whether it comes to simple acts and freedom of deciding where they want to live and how they are going to live,” the 32-year-old, who is now based in Los Angeles, told IANS in an interview here.

Thousands of women across the US came together for a peaceful protest march on the day Trump was sworn in last month. Many celebrities also extended support to the march.

The Slumdog Millionaire actress, who has been vocal about women empowerment in the past and is also known for her humanitarian works, features in

a video “Why I March”, helmed by American director Nannette Burstein.

Trump has earned the ire of people from all quarters after his controversial executive order to temporarily bar entry into the US to refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations.

Freida says that nobody has the right to stop

people from legally going anywhere.

“If they are immigrants, they shouldn’t be banned from legally going to any place where they could possibly have or start leading a better life. Even for LGBT communities, your rights can not be taken away from you… So it was really a march to protest against all these injustices as opposed to one person that we were trying to protest against,” added the actress who was in the city to celebrate International Scotch Day last week with brand Diageo’s #LoveScotch initiative.

In a short span, Freida has carved out a niche of her own in world cinema through her roles in films like Miral, Day of the Falcon, Immortals, Desert Dancer along with Slumdog Millionaire that made her a household name. (Indian Express)

George Clooney, Amal Clooney casually mentioned pregnancy to Julie Chen

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resenter Julie Chen has said actor George Clooney and his lawyer wife Amal had “casually mentioned” the pregnancy news to her. The “Big Brother” host has revealed she came to know about the not-so-secret information when the couple lightly dropped the news on her, reported ET Online.

“Here’s the truth of the matter. My husband (Leslie Moonves) and I saw George and Amal about three weeks ago, and they causally mentioned that they were expecting twins. And we were all like, ‘Is it a secret?!” said Julie.

But the TV personality said George treat-

ed as if the news was no big deal and simply shrugged. However, Julie did not feel it was her place to break the news.

“We didn’t feel right telling anybody,” she said. Earlier, the actor’s mother, Nina Clooney had said that he will make a “great” dad.

George Clooney and his wife Amal are expecting twins, actor Matt Damon said, adding he was so thrilled for the high-profile couple that he “almost started crying” when he found out last fall. Damon told Entertainment Tonight Canada that Clooney, 55, told him the news while they were filming a

movie, and that his wife Amal Clooney, 39, was about eight weeks pregnant at the time.

“I’m like, ‘Are you out of your mind? Don’t tell anybody else, don’t tell anybody else, I mean, don’t you know the 12week rule?’ Of course, he doesn’t,” Damon said, laughing. “Then four weeks later, ‘I’m like,

‘We’re good right, we’re good,’ so I’m thrilled for him.”

People magazine reported that Amal “has let everyone in both families know quietly and they’re all very happy.”

Meanwhile, TMZ quoted sources as saying that it is going to be a baby boy and a baby girl. (Indian Express)

Justin Bieber to perform in Mumbai on May 10

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ustin Bieber will perform in Mumbai on May 10 as part of the Asia leg of his world tour. According to an official statement from Arjun Jain, director of White Fox India, the promoter of the tour, Bieber will perform at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Apart from Mumbai, the Asia leg of Bieber’s highlysuccessful ‘Purpose World Tour’ will cover Tel Aviv and Dubai. The tour has so far covered the USA, Canada and Japan.

“Justin Bieber will be bringing an extraordinarily epic show that India has not witnessed in recent times,” the statement read.

As part of the tour, the singer, who is currently performing in Mexico, will travel across South

America, Australia and New Zealand before proceeding to Asia, Africa and Europe.

According to IANS, the 22-yearold Canadian singer-songwriter will perform hits like “Where Are Ace Now”, “Boyfriend”, “Love Yourself”, “Company”, “As Long As You Love Me”, “What Do You Mean?”, “Baby” and “Purpose”,

at the DY Patil Stadium here on May 10.

“He enjoys over 80 per cent dedicated fan following in India and we envisage one of the biggest live events of the year,” Jain added.

The negotiations for bringing the Purpose Tour to India were on for six months.

“We are expecting a full house on May 10… This tour will place India on the global map and open up avenues for other artistes of the similar stature who may want to consider India as part of their touring roster,” Jain said. (Indian Express)

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

“Jaguars’ elimination a huge disappointment” – King

Reon King

By Ravi Madholall

G

uyana Jaguars’ elimination at the conclusion of the preliminary round in the ongoing Regional Super50 was a huge disappointment according to former West Indies quickie Reon King.

The lads from the South America-based franchise finished third with 16 points in Group B behind Barbados Pride with 33 points and Jamaica Scorpions on 28 points and King believes lack of consistency in every department denied the Jaguars combination further progress.

Guyana Jaguars inauspiciously began their quest for regional supremacy with consecutive defeats which set

the tone for the early exit. They first went down to hosts Barbados Pride losing by an emphatic 145-run margin and two days later lost to the Jamaica Scorpions by 41 runs.

King, who featured in 19 tests and 50 oneday internationals in the prestigious maroon colours pointed out that the Jaguars failed to compete and could have shown more zeal and determination to lift the championship, which has eluded them for 13 straight years.

“It was a total disappointment from the Guyana Jaguars team; they just did not live up to the expectations and based on what I have seen, they did not play to their full potential,” King related.

The 42-year-old King, who is now a MatchReferee, stated that he and probably a high percentage of Guyanese loyal supporters would have anticipated Guyana Jaguars reach at least the semi-final stage but this came about owing to the lack of consistency in every department of their game.

“We had to play hard

Raymon Reifer was the Jaguars best all-rounder in Barbados

and committed cricket from the beginning; they had batsmen with international exposure and that should have given them the confidence to make big scores and ultimately surge to victories,” the right-handed bowler King candidly declared.

One of Guyana’s most distinguished batsmen, 42 year old Shivnarine Chanderpaul utilized his mountainous experience emerging as one of the leading scorers and scored the Jaguars’ only century.

His captain Leon Johnson accumulated 237 runs from eight matches while Chanderpaul only appeared in 6 games to register 199 runs. Barbadian franchise player Raymon Reifer churned out some fine all-round performances tallying up 189 runs from eight games and grabbed 16 wickets.

“Apart from some outstanding, individual performances there wasn’t much to shout about; when you put it in a nutshell, the entire team did not play the standard of

cricket that was expected from them,” a dejected King commented.

Since the inauguration of the regional limited-over tournament in 1976, Guyana have not been able to make a steady impact and winning their last one-day trophy in 2005 under the captaincy of Chanderpaul, and King feels the team might have felt a little bit of pressure to end vulged it is that drought. vitally imT h e portant the f o r m e r youngsters G e o r g e to w n given the Cricket Club chance to first-division display player, who t h e i r played 95 firstabilities class games for o n c e his native counthe setry, reserved lectors special mena r e tion for some cogniof the young zant talents in the team. He is confident and optimistic that Shimron Hetmyer is a Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit the only bright proscentury by a Jaguars batsman pect and would have learnt a lot from this of their talent. big tournament. He di-

Reforming of WICB remains a concern of Caricom

Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque

By Akeem Greene

T

hough in recent times, there was no public constructive regional conversation on the current state of West Indies Cricket, CARICOM Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has stated that the indiscretions of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) are still on the radar of the regional body.

LaRocque speaking at press briefing on Monday in the lead up to the 28th Heads of Government Conference which will be held on Thursday and Friday at the Secretariat, made it

known that the board needs reforming.

“The position of the community is very clear on the need for modernizing and reforming the administration of West Indies cricket, that remains a concern, notwithstanding the instances where performances may have improved from time to time,” the Secretary General stated.

In July 2016, CARICOM reaffirmed its resolve to dissolve the WICB and said it would soon create another Prime Ministerial sub-committee that would have a wider say on cricket in the Caribbean.

A CARICOM cricket review panel had made the recommendation to dissolve the WICB in November 2015, in a report that termed the board’s governance structure as “antiquated,” “obsolete” and

“anachronistic”.

At the last the heads of government meeting, Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell had stated, “We will do everything possible to effect the decision”, adding that “We’re looking at legal options on the basis that cricket is a public good run by a private institution.”

More so, controversial WICB president, Dave Cameron is set to be returned unopposed when the embattled organisation stages its Annual General Meeting next month w h i c h sends a mes-

WICB President Dave Cameron (left) and some West Indian players have been at loggerheads over the years

sage that the paradigm with the board will not be shifted.

Prior to his re-election in 2015, Cameron came under fire from St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who branded the WICB president’s leadership as “poor” and “embarrassing”, while calling on him to resign.

In this regard, LaRocque, insisted that the members are still perusing avenues to ensure that the region’s cricket affairs is administered in a fair manner.

“By and large, there is a problem that

needs to be looked at and we continue to peruse that, the Heads of Government have established a mechanism for continuing to look at the issue and that will continue” the Dominican disclosed.

Over the last decade or more, West Indies cricket has plummeted due to appalling performances on the field and the constant infractions between players and officials.

In Tests, they are currently ranked in eighth-place just ahead of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Since 2009 across four captains, the regional side has played 57 Tests, losing 29, drawing 15 and win-

ning 13.

Judging by the numbers, in the One Day International (ODI), the regional side seem to struggle even more since across six different captains from the said time line, they have lost 57 of the 89 ODIs played while coming out victorious in only 28.

Three were tied and one ended as a no result.

The year 2016 returned some glory with the team winning their second Men’s World T20 title, the Women, winning their first and the Under-19s winning their maiden World Cup title, there is a long road ahead for the revival of West Indies cricket.

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Birmingham bids to include cricket Sparta at 2026 Commonwealth Games Boss draw M 1st blood –Millington, Jackie Chan score hat tricks

ed by the likes of Anthony “Kang” Sancho and Stanley Adams who scored two as well. Deon Charter and Marlon Josiah also chipped in with one goal apiece.

O w n e r of Hustlers, R i c h i e Ramdeholl, indicated that the match was played in unfamiliar surroundings but guaranteed a victory in Linden when Sparta Boss Devon Millington scored three goals for his side takes a tour in the mining he inaugutown. ral New Era Meanwhile, in the E n t e r t a i n m e n t / opening match of the Eyefull Entertainment’s night, Broad Street bulStag ‘Clash of lied Leopold Street into Champions’ got off to submission as they took a rocking start at the the game 4-3, while National Gymnasium, Tiger Bay played Gold is Mandela Avenue, as Money to a 2-2 stalemate Sparta Boss owned the at the end of regulation match against the visi- time, before heading into tors, Dave and Celena’s extra time where neither Hustlers, with the match team was able to break running late into Sunday the deadlock and forced morning. the game into apenalty The Stag-sponsored shootout, where Tiger tournament, though ini- Bay won 3-1. tially slated to begin Also in the acat 19:00h, did not com- tion were Bend Street mence until 21:00h, but who trashed a hapless nevertheless managed to Tucville team 7-2 to cap have five games being- off an exciting night. played.

Organiser of the tourIn the main event of nament, Frank Parris, the night, Georgetown extended thanks to those champions Sparta Boss who turned out in their notched up 11 goals, as numbers to show supHustlers only managed port for the game as they to score seven in a match definitely got their monwhich produced much ey’s worth. controversy, as well as The action resumes crowd pleasing enter- this Saturday when tainment.

Hustlers host Sparta Led brilliantly by Boss at the Mackenize their captain, Devon Sports Club Hard Court Millington, who scored tarmac for the final three goals for his side, showdown as much will Sparta Boss were on a be at stake as the tourdifferent level as they nament is a winner-takeentertained the crowd all style, who walks away who were fully support- with the G$200,000 prize ive of them. and bragging rights.

It will also feature Millington was well Magic Stars facing Good supported by local star, Fellas and Town Cars Gregory “Jackie Chan” (Georgetown taxi drivRichardson, who also se- ers) taking on Linden cured a hat trick of his bus (Linden bus drivers). own to see his side win The matches will be the first round. played on a six-a-side Hustlers found their basis, inclusive on five footing late into the con- players and a goal keeptest as Jermain “Brown er, using the large goal Boy” Scotland produced and run under the rules two goals to give his team of the Guyana Futsal a fighting chance. Brown Association.

Boy was well support-

T

en's cricket could return to the Commonwealth Games in 2026 if Birmingham wins the bid to be the host city.

While women's cricket will feature in the 2022 Games in Durban, men's cricket has appeared only once. On that occasion, in Malaysia in 1998, the format was 50 overs per side (South Africa defeated Australia in the final). This time it would be played in the T20 format.

Cricket is not currently one of the mandatory events incorporated into the Commonwealth Games but is on the list of optional sports that host cities have the power to add to their staging of the event as they see fit and with the support of the relevant sport's governing body.

While that cannot be guaranteed at this stage, the ICC agreed to the inclusion of women's cricket in 2022 and is already working with the Commonwealth Games Federation on the successful staging of the event. The ICC is understood to be open to dialogue over the 2026 Games.

Neil Snowball, the Warwickshire chief executive, is part of Birmingham's bid team and has confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that cricket would be of interest if they are successful.

Snowball was previously head of sports operations at the 2012 Olympics and chief operating officer of Rugby 2015, the organising committee behind the 2015 World Cup. The plan would be to stage the biggest games at Warwickshire's home ground of Edgbaston, which is only a mile or so from the centre of Birmingham. Other games could be played at Warwickshire's Portland Road ground (three miles from Edgbaston) and, perhaps, in neighbouring counties; Worcestershire's picturesque New Road ground is only 33 miles away.

Birmingham would also require ECB approval. But Andrew Strauss, the director of the England team, suggested the idea had his backing, though he did offer a note of caution.

"Yes, I would be very supportive of that," he said. "But it would not just be the ECB involved in such a decision."

That signals a change of heart from the ECB. The Commonwealth Games Federation invit-

ed the ICC to participate in the 2018 Games (to be staged in Gold Coast, Australia), but were rebuffed largely on the basis of the reluctance of individual boards - not least the ECB - to compromise their own lucrative schedules.

Sixteen teams entered the 1998 Commonwealth Games, but England did not send a team as the competition clashed with the end of the domestic season.

Seven of the then nine Test teams did, however, with Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and New Zealand among them. Scotland, Northern Ireland, Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda, Jamaica, Canada, Malaysia, Kenya and Zimbabwe were the other participants.

The current ECB management are more aware of the need to reengage the sport with a broader audience, however, and keen to spread the appeal of cricket both locally and globally.

The example of Rugby Sevens is intriguing. After featuring in the 1998 Commonwealth Games, the sport eventually progressed until it debuted in the 2016 Olympics. While many obstacles remain before cricket could be realistically considered for the Olympics, the ECB's change of heart would appear to have removed a substantial one and nudged the sport a little further in that direction.

Rome had signalled a desire to host cricket at the 2024 Olympics, but has withdrawn from the bidding process.

W h a t stance India will take on the issue remains unclear.

A n u r a g Thakur, the recently jettisoned president of the BCCI, had been seen as an impediment to cricket's reintroduction into the Olympics (it was played in the 1900 Paris Olympics; Great Britain beat France in the only match) but is also a vicepresident of the Indian Olympic Association and was recently elected as the Himachal Olympic Association president.

Other cities expected to bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games include Liverpool, Edmonton in Canada and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. A decision on whether Liverpool or Birmingham will be put forward as England's candidate will be made later this year. A final decision on the host venue is unlikely to be made before November 2019.

(ESPNCricinfo) George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Champions Red Force knocked out

CWI Regional Super50 2017 T

he Jamaica Scorpions are through to the final of the WICB Regional Super50 after a commanding performance against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the semi-final at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua today (Thursday).

On the way to a 292-

run victory, the Scorpions, through centuries from Chadwick Walton and Jermaine Blackwood, racked up 434, more runs than any Caribbean team in history.

Walton, who was disappointed when he got out at 117, started the ball brilliantly with Steven Taylor, who made 88.

The two shared in a 174-run opening stand that ended in the 22nd over. Blackwood would pick up the mantle, batting with Walton before the latter went with the score on 269 for two.

By that time, Walton had faced just 96 deliveries, while Taylor took 71 to get to his total.

Blackwood would then find a partner in Rovman Powell, who was just as keen to put his foot to the pedal, scoring 95 from 45 deliveries before he was bowled in the final over by Ravi Rampaul.

The Red Force pacer ended with figures of 2-83

while Gabriel had bowled nine wicketless overs that yielded 91 runs.

West Indies batsman, Blackwood ended unbeaten on 108 from 88 deliveries.

If it was possible to bat a team out of a game, the Scorpions had done just that, and by the time Jerome Taylor, 3-27, and Reynard Leveridge, 2-31, had made some inroads into the top order, the game was over.

When Powell, who came on to bowl later on in the T&T innings, started carrying over his arm, the momentum from his batting spilled over and he ended up with 5-36 on a pitch that it was assumed was good for batting.

Only Jason Mohammed showed some

– Powell, Walton, Blackwood record career bests

Chadwick Walton celebrates his maiden List A century. He also held five catches

fight, scoring a run-aball 62 with his captain, DeneshRamdin, hanging around for 35 deliveries to score 27. The game was over in the 27th over,

Chadwick Walton (left) and Steven Taylor muscled 174 for the first wicket to bat defending champions, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force out of the tournament

as Taylor took great pleasure in bowling Shannon Gabriel, who may want to forget this game as quickly as possible, for a duck.

The win is the Scorpions’ sixth on the trot in this year’s tournament and they will now await the winners of the other semifinal today between hosts the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Group B winners, Barbados Pride. The final is set for Saturday at the same venue when new champions will be crowned since two time champions, Red Force will not defend the title they won on home soil in 2015 and 2016.

(Sportsmax)

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R&R cycling returns to the National Park

T

he top wheelsmen in the country will take to the inner circuit of the National Park when it is transformed into the cyclist’s playground for the 26th R&R 11 race cycling event as the cycling season continues this Saturday.

Headlining the event of the day is the 35-lap featured school boys and invitational race while other categories are 12 to 14 years Open three Laps, BMX Boys 12 to 14 years old three laps, BMX Boys Open three Laps, BMX Boys 9 to 12 years old three Laps, BMX Boys 6 to 9 years old two Laps, BMX Girls 6 to 12 years old one Lap, Veterans Under 50 years old five Laps, Veteran Over 50 years old five Laps, Upright’s five Laps and Juveniles 10 Laps.

Despite what happened in the last race on Sunday where a poor turnout headlined the event, it is expected that this week’s 11-race programme will have a larger contingent of riders as their respective clubs seek to attain bragging rights and the riders looking to have the jump on the early events.

In the action last year it was Team Gillette Evolution’s Michael Anthony who stormed to victory in a time of one hour 15 minutes and 16 seconds

Flashback! Michael Anthony powers to victory in the 25th R&R cycling featured 35lap race in the National Park in 2016

while in the other events, John Niles won the BMX boys 6-9 years old twolap race ahead of Shay Sue-Hang and Antoine Vandenburg respectively. The BMX boys 9-12 years old three-lap race was won by Zad James. Second was Jeremiah Harrison and third was Sue-Hang. The BMX boys 12-14 years old three-lap race was won by Adealie Hodge who finished ahead of Taran Garbarran. Zamal Khan was the winner of the boys and girls 12-14 years three-lap race. Second was Toshawana Doris and finishing third was Whitney Poyer. Warren McKay was the winner of the five-lap race for veterans under 50 years of age. Second was Junior Niles and third was Stephen Fernandes.

Andrew Spencer won the five-lap race for veterans over 50 years of age, ahead of Shameer Baksh and Linden Blackman respectively, while Monty Parris won the five-lap race for veterans over 60 years of age. The five-lap race for mountain bikers was won by Nicholas Alphonso. Second was Sean Budhan and placing third was Keon Thomas.

The cyclists will be sent on their way in the first race at 09:00h.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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