Guyana Times International

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

for FRee distribution guyanatimesinternational.com

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com

Fire Chief says cause of Gafoors’ fire believed to be accidental ISSUE NO. 293

WEEK ENDING May 15, 2016

See story on page 5

Members of the Outreach Aid to the Americas (OAA) Mission who are currently in Guyana to explore investment opportunities took time off for a tour of the One Guyana Media Group on Thursday.

Our nation’s future depends …says President Granger in special address to National Assembly on deeper social cohesion

Page 3

2

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Our nation’s future depends on deeper social cohesion ‌says President Granger in special address to National Assembly

I

n light of Guyana celebrating 50 years of Independence this year, President David Granger during a special address to the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon said the coming of Independence was a necessity, and the country was able to make rapid progress in post independent years.

The President used the opportunity to reflect on the state of Guyana during the pre-independent and post-independent eras, stating that the first 50 years was spent on overcoming an economically hostile environment.

The Head-of-State pleaded with the National Assembly to use this year's Independence

Members of the National Assembly await the arrival of President David Granger

for strengthening national unity and social cohesion in the country.

According to President Granger, Guyanese can be proud

of what they have achieved in the first 50 years of Independence,

since this feat offered the nation a new beginning; the opportunity to work

together, heal divisions, and more importantly, an opportunity for national unity.

"But that national unity has been elusive for most of the past 5 decades...it has led to political and economic fatigue, trickle of people migrating...the National Assembly must take the first steps on the long road to social cohesion... our nation's future depends on deeper social cohesion," he declared.

The President also declared that the leaders of the nation can construct a cohesive society by doing more to eradicate poverty, ensuring equal access to education for everyone, employment and fighting discrimination and more.

4 views

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

New York Office 106-15 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica NY 11435 Email: guyanatimesnyint@gmail.com Tel no: 718-658-6804 Fax no: 718-849-2286 Preferred method of contact via EMAIL Guyana Office Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana.

Tel no: (592) 227-0704, 227-0709.

Fax (592) 225-8696, 227-0685 Email: guyanatimesint@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

P

Energy Security

resident David Granger represented Guyana at the 2nd USCaribbean-Central American Energy Summit, hosted by Vice President Joe Biden in Washington on May 3-4.

The first Summit last year emphasised the need for energy security through the substitution of renewables for petroleum products for energy development.

Even with current low oil prices, electricity prices in Guyana – as in the rest of the Caribbean – average over US$0.25 per kWh, about three to four times more than what is paid in the US or other developed countries. This high cost of energy for manufacturing and other uses has acted as a fetter on Guyana and the region’s efforts to produce more value-added products competitively.

Following the previous Summit, several Caricom countries embarked on projects to reduce energy costs and petroleum dependency. Jamaica moved ahead in renewables with a 36 MW wind farm that received US$63 million in funding from the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation and other donors.

Exploratory drilling and preparatory work has been initiated in Dominica, Grenada, Monserrat, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines to harness geo-thermal energy to generate electricity.

In Guyana, however, efforts have lagged even though this country launched a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) in 2009, which had the generation of clean, renewable energy at its core.

The Amaila Falls Hydro-Electric Power (AFHEP) project was a flagship vehicle for renewable energy generation designed to replace the present generating capacity of 165 MW through petroleum products. Unfortunately, even though funding had been secured with US$80M committed by Norway from its GRIF contribution and the remaining funding had been secured though the China Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the developer Sithe Global, the government which was then in opposition, derailed the project through its obdurate resistance.

President Granger returned from Washington an evidently disappointed man since the US committed only US$10M grant to seed the efforts of the entire Latin America and the Caribbean to move into renewables. His comment, “That’s not serious money.

Guyana will put in a bid… but that is not enough seed money for the magnitude of project that we are envisioning” must be evaluated against the recent moves by the US to encourage the region away from the Venezuelan-initiated PetroCaribe energy facility.

Back in June 2014 US Vice President Joseph Biden had launched with great fanfare, the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative (CSEI) at a meeting with Caribbean leaders in the Dominical Republic.

Biden emphasised US commitment to Caribbean energy security.

Six months later, in January 2015 this was followed up with the US-Caribbean Energy Security Summit (CESS) in Washington DC. CESS was supposed to lay the groundwork to enable countries to build the fiscal and legal frameworks necessary for the Caribbean’s wider adoption of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. But as one Think Tank pointed out after the meeting, the US needed “to help the region address the three elephants barely mentioned in that ever-so-diplomatic room on January 26: the continuing erosion of the Venezuelan economy and its credit support for so many of the regions’ key energy consumers; the serious barriers to entry of private capital to power generation in so many Caribbean economies; and the need to formulate a serious response to the Caribbean Community’s (Caricom) request for more rapid access to volumes of US LNG and CNG.” When in April of 2015 US President Barack Obama met leaders of the Caribbean in Kingston, Jamaica, he committed to providing “early-stage funding” for clean energy projects in the Caribbean.

And also to establish a Task Force to examine the future of clean energy development in the Caribbean and Central America. And now just US$10M. President Granger is correct. We cannot depend on aid for our energy security. AFHEP must be returned to the front burner.

As Guyana observed National Social Cohesion Day on Wednesday, Courts Guyana in collaboration with the Education Ministry hosted ‘Unity Day Light-Up’ at Main Street, Georgetown. At the event, persons were given the opportunity to answer questions about symbols of Guyana’s nationhood, and won themselves souvenirs and tokens

The Coalition Government’s first year in office

I

refer to the article “NO WAVERING – acting President Moses Nagamootoo” in the Guyana Chronicle (May 2, 2016). In its 2015 electoral campaign, the APNU+AFC coalition issued several promises to the Guyanese voters, varying from security, constitutional reforms, and poverty reduction to salary increases. Now, at the end of its first year in office, the incidence of violent crimes has increased on a daily basis, more than thirty five percent of Guyanese are below the poverty line, constitutional reforms are pending, and salary increases are conditional upon the report of the Commissioner of Inquiry (CoI).

The issue boils down to how committed is the coalition government in its delivery of promises to its electorate or is it wavering on its promises? Let us revisit the promise made to the sugar workers about the closing of the Wales sugar estate. According to the CoI, there shall be no closing of the sugar estates over the next three years unless the privatization process is complete.

Instead, the coalition government reneged on its promise and announced the closure of the Wales sugar estate at the end of year 2016, displacing some 1700 workers with no planned alternative employment choices. Such a shift in policy is an act of wavering especially by acting President Moses Nagamootoo who publicly declared that agricultural land is “ancestral” and that the sugar industry should not be jeopardized. If the coalition government acted contrary to the CoI in the case of the sugar workers, then why should the Public Servant believe that more than G$ 50 billion will be disbursed to them when the CoI report is released?

Let us assume that the coalition government approves the disbursement of 20 percent salary increases to the public sector. More wages and salaries are always preferred to less but on what basis? Is the justification base on productivity, inflation rates, living wage or simply electoral promises to procure votes?

According to President Granger, the increase of 20% to the disciplined forces (Police) will serve as an incentive to curb violent crimes.

In other words, Guyanese will continue to live in fear, armed robberies, and invasion of homes and businesses unless the Police are given 20% increase in salary.

Furthermore to the salary increases, the co-

alition government intends to release additional incentives of housing, land and related benefits to the public sector. In the meantime, the sugar workers who contributed to the earnings of scarce foreign currency to the economy are not expected to receive any salary increases but declared redundant after serving GUYSUCO their entire life.

Since the coalition government in office, the size of the public has grown unreasonably high as evident from the issuing of public contracts to friends and party supporters, the additional layers of Ministries within the Ministry and the Office of the Presidency (Minister of State).

Such a move contradicts the promise to create a transparent and effective government; a reminder of PNC renewed form of party paramountcy through APNU. A classic case of wavering with no accountability to Parliament and the Office of the Presidency is the super Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. According to President David Granger, Mr. Harmon presents an unusual situation and his case should be addressed by the PNC steering committee, the establishment behind APNU. Even the post local government election is evidentiary of more centralization of power for the Ministry of Communities in Georgetown.

Elected councilors and NDC chairs are unable to fulfil the needs of the local communities because budget allocations and spending are controlled in Georgetown. The intent of creating NDCs and township was never to develop the local communities but to maintain administrative control (Article 7); another act of the coalition government to waver its promise to empower the local communities such as Linden Town Council which continues to be bankrupt.

Its spending exceedsrevenue earnings by more than $G200 million.

So, the coalition government has more reasons to celebrate its acts of wavering promises than concrete strategic plans to build a great Guyana again. Thus, the daily violent crime under this coalition government has reduced the country into a state of fear to live even in one’s own home, to invest in businesses, and freely move as one would expect since independence in May 26, 1966, some fifty years ago.

Yours truly, Dr. Dev Rawana

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Timehri murder suspect still at large

L

akeram Sankar, 21, the security guard who allegedly stabbed his drinking buddy to death during an argument on Sunday evening, is still on the run.

Sankar was accused of stabbing Kawall Persaud, 54, of Lot 17 Timehri, East Bank Demerara once to his abdomen with a broken bottle.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times International that Police ranks visited the suspect’s home, but he was not there. Several other areas were also searched, but the ranks came up empty handed.

Investigators are working with members of the community with the aim of apprehending the suspect.

The incident reportedly took place on Sunday evening at a popular drinking spot in the vicinity of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Persaud succumbed to his injuries a few hours later while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

It was reported that the two drinking buddies were at the shop, but after it closed to business they remained on one of the benches and continued to drink. During the drinking spree, an argument ensued between the two men which turned into a scuffle.

It was during that time Sankar broke a beer bottle and inflicted the fatal wound on Persaud. The injured man fell onto the sandy ground, but was subsequently picked up and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, from where he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Fire Chief says cause of Gafoors’ fire believed to be accidental

The damaged Gafoors Houston Complex

T

he massive blaze which destroyed a major section of the Gafoors Houston Complex storage bonds earlier this week, resulting in the company losing billions of dollars, is believed to have started accidentally.

According to Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, investigations into the origin of the fire are still on-going, but at present it would appear as if the fire may have been accidental in nature and not the work of arsonist/s.

Gentle told a section of the media that the probe by the Guyana Fire

Service (GFS) is almost completed and at this point in time investigators are narrowing down the evidence which points in the direction of the fire being an ‘accident’.

Meanwhile, while staffers of the Gafoors Complex have been allowed to enter the damaged building to assist in removing debris, one specific area is still off limits at present.

Guyana Times International also understands that the firefighters who received injuries during their battle with the raging fire on Monday, last, are recovering at a good pace.

Even though the massive blaze started on Monday, fire service ranks up to noon on Tuesday were still trying to extinguish pockets of fire at the location.

Guyana Times International understands that the massive fire which resulted in over 500 employees being uncertain about their future, had eased around 02:00 hrs the day after it begun, but flared up again sometime after which led to the main entrance of the building being further damaged by the flames.

6

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

What exactly are we celebrating?

Dear Editor, In reading and observing all the pomp and planned celebration for Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary one often ponder and struggle to understand exactly why are we celebrating.

Guyana gained independence in 1966 with the PNC at the helm. May 26, 1966 marked a new beginning, positive optimism for many and a long march through a gauntlet of hopelessness, oppression, degradation and exclusion from the national dialogue for many. It marked the beginning of a process of mass migration making Guyana (relatively) one of the most exited countries in modern history. We can reference very few nations with such a record. Yet many nations have gone through major convulsions and are today beacons of hope for their people.

Between 1966 and 1992, Guyana was taken from a stable budding nation with a sound economy and decent social fabric to the brink of abyss. The economy collapsed, the physical infrastructure crumbled, the social structure was decimated.

Strife and mistrust grew, families thrown in disarray as they split up and rushed helter-skelter to other countries seeking refuge.

Many females sought the path of early marriage as a means to exit the nation, forgoing higher education and their dreams.

Many men rushed through dangerous back-track means to find a way out of Guyana. Social and moral decay set in.

Between 1992 and 2015 the economy and physical infrastructure was rebuilt.

However, continued fear and uncertainty prevailed as politically inspired ethnic violence, strife and mistrust ensured no let-up in migration. The brashness of criminal gangs ensured no one lived without fear.

For a small nation like Guyana, politicians can hardly agree on anything as everything becomes mired in one-up-man-ship.

The heroics of our leaders seem to be etched on successfully stymying and thwarting the agendas of each other at the expense of the nation’s interest.

Since May 2015, we see more of the same. The much touted “Change” government ascended to power and immediately embarked on a process of discrimination, ethnic cleansing of the civil service ranks and political gimmicks. They immediately voted them-

selves massive salary increases drawing a caution from international lenders.

The current government was voted in on a platform of change, transparency and people first.

However, instead they immediately embarked on an agenda of “me-first” ensuring the good life for themselves.

The masses, on all sides, watched in dismay united only in their mutual distrust of each other, while their leaders “laugh all the way to the bank”.

Furthermore, the much feared and suspect historic alliance between the political and military establishment reared its ugly head again. If there was hope in May 2015, it was shattered this time around in the shortest of orders ever since May 1966.

In 50 years, looking at the rest of the world, many nations went to hell and back while Guyana continues to languish in political purgatory by a government who say what you want to hear but do what they want to do.

Migration remains high, crime is out of control, corruption is rife, Guyana has the “gold medal” in suicides, ethnic divisions and mistrust remains as it was prior to 1966. The economy is again teetering on the brink while politicians go about their business as usual. Looking back over the past 50 years, Guyana seems stuck in quick sands of change with progress stymied by political partisanship. Even the 50th anniversary “stadium” seems a disgrace with the quality and workmanship that could only be described as laughable if it was not for such a waste of precious resources. Is this the best of Guyana after 50 years?

Guyana continues to straddle between measured hope and hopelessness. This is emblematic by the fact that the educated, progressive, and ambitious youths continue to cast their eyes upward but outward.

In looking, one is forced to ask, what are we celebrating, apart from the passage of time? What is needed at 50 is some serious national therapy, political reconciliation and soul searching by the leadership on all sides as to what type of nation they want to build and how to get there.

Not a big celebration of show and tell of nothingness and waste of the nation’s resources.

Sincerely, HS Gautam Naraine, NY, USA

Street vending has added vibrancy to urban life in our capital city Dear Editor, Witnessing the condescending manner in which Georgetown’s Town Clerk Royston King spoke to vendors at a meeting he held recently under a tent in the forecourt of City Hall, speaks volumes of the contempt and disregard the administration of the city has for these small-businesspersons.

It wasn’t just King’s s tone of voice, but what he said and how he said it. The language he used, the way he constructed sentences, the sound of his words and personality, the way he gesticulated, suggested that he thought the vendors were not as clever or important as he was.

King spoke as though he was some imperial overlord addressing his subjects, all of whom had no choice but to accept his tough talk, his twisted logic, and his new-found vision for Georgetown, even though he worked at the municipality for over 30 years.

Even though he was using a microphone, under a tent in a relatively cramped area, King shouted at his audience until he was hoarse. It was not a di-

alogue but rather a belligerent monologue, in which King was lecturing and scolding these persons, like they were some wayward children. Listening to him, one got the impression that the municipality was faultless and blameless in the vending situation. He paid no heed to vending as a socio-economic phenomenon. He seemed unaware that street vendors are an integral part of urban economies around the world, offering easy access to a wide range of goods and services in public spaces. He was only preoccupied with rounding up over 300 vendors and squeezing them into a space that could hardly accommodate 100 persons.

King in his presentation sought to cast blame on the previous central government for the vending situation which is both dishonest and disingenuous.

It is no secret that many businessmen encouraged the vendors for reasons best known to themselves. But more importantly and King is old enough to know, it was Hamilton Green the former Mayor who encouraged street vendors to encroach

on the pavements of store owners. This was done since in the 1980s.

In fact he went further than that, encouraging people to squat on lands that did not belong to them such as the case aback of the Botanic Gardens, a site owned by continental agencies, designated for the construction of a hotel.

Does King realise that most street vendors provide the main source of income for their households, bringing food to their families and paying school fees for their children? These informal workers have strong linkages to the formal economy. Most of them source the goods they sell from formal enterprises in Georgetown.

Street vendors create jobs, not only for themselves but for porters, transport operators, storage providers, and others.

Street vending has added vibrancy to urban life in our capital and can be considered a cornerstone of our historical and cultural heritage.

Sincerely, Deodarie Putulall

Govt has become indifferent to the needs of the people Dear Editor, In a news article of May 3, it was reported that prolonged flooding of a large section of eastern Queenstown, Georgetown, due to heavy rainfall on April 30/ May 1 was avoided as a result of intervention by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) and City Hall to clear blocked culverts in Queenstown one of which was under Peter Rose Street discharging into a drainage channel immediately west of Vlissengen Road.

An accompanying photo showed the channel completely blocked with weed and debris with a worker supervised by three Inspectors clearing the outlet of one of the clogged culverts. The Georgetown drainage network is an integrated system and therefore it is inconceivable that given the poor state of the Peter Rose Street drainage channel which the photo clearly showed, that flood water from the Demerara Cricket ground and parts of eastern Queenstown could have receded speedily as claimed since the clogged channel with silt and overgrown weeds could not have discharged its load quickly into the Lamaha Street Canal and thence to the Kingston Sluice.

A few weeks ago, MPI and the city Engineer assured City Residents that Georgetown’s drainage system was prepared to respond quickly to any flooding from heavy rainfall. However, the evidence suggests otherwise as much work remains to be done to the channels and sluices’ outfalls to release/accommodate the heavy rainfalls which usually

cause flooding of large areas of the City.

The comprehensive executable drainage plan under preparation by the National Task Force Commission was initiated by MPI last year for the rehabilitation of the drainage of Georgetown but it is still awaiting completion, review and execution.

A Dutch Risk Reduction Team (DRRT) which visited Guyana at the invitation of MPI last year made recommendations to improve Georgetown’s drainage system but few if any of them have been implemented.

In doing little or nothing, MPI claims to be waiting for a follow-up visit by DRRT to map Georgetown’s drainage system to identify the bottlenecks responsible for the City’s yearly flooding. It expects this mapping to become the blueprint for future interventions to solve the City’s drainage problems which unfortunately, would not be ready for this rainy season nor the next.

MPI claims that the existing drainage network for the City can only accommodate 2.4 inches of rainfall during a 24-hour period before flooding starts. The ministry has no data to support this fallacious claim and unless measured correlations are made between rainfalls and discharges into the river over 24-hour periods with simultaneous observations of water levels within the City’s boundaries, the claim thus made is just a guesstimate.

However, assuming this claim could be supported, what has MPI/City Engineer done to get rid of excess rainfall during

the 24-hour period to prevent flooding of the City? Are channels being widened and deepened to store rainfall before overtopping starts and/or pumps being installed to assist the sluices get rid of the excess water when their doors are closed, or the City could expect much of the same?

Finally, after a year in office the APNU+AFC Government has become indifferent to the needs of the people, created confusion, and is groping in the dark to resolve the drainage problems of Georgetown and low-lying coastal areas as no comprehensive development plan has been prepared while a plethora of agencies (NDIA, MPI, M&CC, Prime Minister’s Office, Conservancies’ Boards, Sea Defence Board, NDCs) some with and without statutory responsibilities have been dabbling with drainage problems as the necessity arise.

President Granger should be aware that many of these agencies do not have the expertise, technical know-how and financial resources to deal with complex drainage problems and unless he brings order to deal with the flooding of coastal lowlands, including Georgetown, in a comprehensive and knowledgeable way, rainy seasons will continue to wreak havoc to farmlands and homesteads as poor families suffer from flood losses of the little they have as the government inconsiderately seeks their patience, understanding and cooperation.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

news 7

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Dr Nigel Harris installed Guyana observes inaugural as new UG Chancellor Social Cohesion Day

T

Professor Nigel Harris receives his Mace of Authority following his installation on Wednesday

he University of Guyana (UG) is set to achieve a greater level of resonance following the installation of its ninth Chancellor, renowned educator, Dr Eon Nigel Harris.

The George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT), of the Turkeyen Campus, was home to pomp and ceremony Wednesday evening when President David Granger, Ministers of the Government, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of other local, re-

education throughout the Caribbean.

“It is his leadership which saw an unprecedented enrolment in the University of the West Indies, from 29,000 students to 50,000 students…he was the Vice Chancellor who established the fourth campus and the newest campus, so that the University could better serve the needs of the Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean and to also engage in online and distance education.”

Professor Harris was very earnest in his plea

found changes in the world, it is imperative that all understand the need to participate in the global revolution. And the University must be a critical participant in the change.

And it must be done between two narratives of Guyana, one where the World Bank had recorded the country as having low income, low life expectancy, with poor schooling and the other, from an infomercial published by Forbes Magazine, which spoke of the country’s magnificent natural resources.

gional and international institutions gathered to witness the inauguration of Professor Harris, who colleagues said has a remarkable record of service as a researcher, administrator and an accomplished university leader.

Harris has occupied the seat of Chancellor, replacing Dr Compton Bourne, whose two-year term ended back in 2011.

He recently demitted office as Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), after serving for some 11 years.

Principal and Pro Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Professor Clement Sankat said UG has inherited a “remarkable human being”, who has been instrumental in transforming the status quo at UWI, expanding the scope of tertiary

for support from all stakeholders and interested partners to work together to raise the standard of Guyana’s premier tertiary institution.

He said while UG has been able to prosper over the last 50 years, it is important that Guyanese reflect on the developments and advancements around the world.

He spoke of the astounding global events that have transformed the world, noting that Guyana and its university need to come up to standard.

He said that while Guyana should not shy away from celebrating its achievements, the most optimistic must see that progress has been insufficient and that considerable work needs to be done to change the prospects.

According to Dr Harris, given the pro-

“It is for us to decide which Guyana we want – one that is the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere with relatively low life expectancy and average income compared to our neighbours, or one that celebrates and sustainably capitalises on our vast forests and biodiversities.”

He said the change can only occur if university academics and administrators, Private Sector representatives and leaders of Government create a vibrant alliance to transform the institution.

Dr Harris, while as Vice Chancellor of the University of UWI, held many other leadership posts. He served as Chairman of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) and was elected Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

A

President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo along with their spouses writing their personal commitments to the promotion of social cohesion on white helium-filled balloons, which were later released up into the sky (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

s Guyana marked its first Social Cohesion Day with a national prayer ceremony at D’Urban Park on Monday, President David Granger has charged Guyanese with building the nation through national unity as the country is at the peak of celebrating its Golden Jubilee Anniversary.

In the presence of a number of diplomats, members of the Government, religious leaders and citizens, Granger reminded that in order for Guyana to be advanced, there needed to be inclusiveness in society.

In his address, the President explained the significance of Social Cohesion Day and its impact on reforming Guyana and its productivity as part of the Independence celebrations.

He said the day would serve as an opportunity for Guyanese to put aside their segregation tactics and focus primarily on having an all-inclusive Guyana, which

would be more conducive to the country’s growth.

“Social Cohesion Day is celebrated in appreciation of people with different backgrounds, their circumstances. This day recognises that this nation is now and always will be multireligious, multiethnic and multicultural. This nation is forever,” the President told the gathering.

He said that a nation that is socially cohesive will stand a better chance of eradicating poverty, inequality, discrimination, improving accessibility to education and promoting greater participation and inclusion at a political level.

Members of all the religious groups in Guyana were present at the event and made their contribution to the programme. There were also a number of cultural performances.

The national prayer ceremony was observed in all ten administrative regions with similar programmes.

8 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Gafoors says no worker will be sent home - some to be relocated, others to be paid 50 per cent while off job

F

ollowing the blaze at the Gafoors Houston Complex on Monday, the company on Wednesday commenced the relocation of workers to its other branches.

The calamitous fire left over 530 employees with questions as to whether or not they would have to seek alternative employment, but the company’s Executive Chairman Sattaur Gafoor after the meeting with the workers as well as the company’s Board members on Wednesday, came to a decision that the employees, who live within close proximity of the Parika, East Bank Essequibo; and Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara branches would be temporarily relocated to those locations.

He related that repair works will soon commence at of the Houston Complex. However; it was noted that efforts to create temporary working facilities for some staff are already underway.

The damaged Gafoors Houston Complex

He further announced that those workers who were directly affected by the blaze and those that would not be relocated will be given 50 per cent of their salaries during the period that they would be off the job.

According to the Executive Chairman, those workers’ contact information have been gathered and recorded, and they have been guaranteed half of their salaries.

“Those persons who

were affected by the fire, we are taking their names, telephone numbers and we are guaranteeing them a percentage of their salary not less than 50 per cent for the period of time that they are off,” Gafoors said on Wednesday.

He also related that as soon as the company receives the word from the fire department that they can commence repairs on the destroyed sections, the work will begin to have the Complex

ready for operations once again.

“As soon as we get permission from the fire department that we can go and clean up, they will be coming back which should be in about a week’s time.”

Meanwhile, workers have voiced their appreciation for the decision taken by management about their employment.

One porter explained that he was unsure about whether or not he would be relieved of duty due

to the immense losses that his employer incurred. “Man, the boss is a good man. He does only want good for the workers but in this situation we wasn’t too sure what woulda happen. I mean ah sure he wouldn’t ah want fire we but with the amount of damage and the money that he lose, we didn’t too sure where we stand,” he stated.

Another worker explained that he too is relieved with the news of the temporary transfer.

“I glad man, it ain’t easy to find wuk these days so is a worries off ah me now that we know we still got a wuk,” he explained.

A sales representative also related that she is quite thankful that Sattaur Gafoor has taken his employee’s wellbeing into consideration when making his decisions.

“We knew he would ensure that we are not left to wonder what next to do. They assured me that I would be moved to another branch until they begin working here again so I am very happy,” she said.

The popular Gafoors Shopping Complex located at Houston, Greater Georgetown, went up in flames on Monday afternoon as workers were leaving work for the day.

Reports are that the fire started about 15:00h in Bond Number Three, which contained fishing equipment. Despite attempts by firefighters from the Guyana Fire Service to contain the blaze, the fire quickly engulfed the building.

Rodney Report up for deliberation in National Assembly soon

W

hile still not accepting its findings, Government handed over the controversial Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland on Wednesday morning and it will soon be up for deliberation in the National Assembly.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, accompanied by Public Security

Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, handed over Report within the parliamentary chambers.

The document was finally presented just one day before Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira was scheduled to bring a motion to the National Assembly for Government to stop delaying and release the report.

The report compiled the findings of a CoI that was established by for-

mer President Donald Ramotar to probe the circumstances surrounding the death of renowned Guyanese and Leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr Walter Rodney, who was killed when a bomb exploded in his lap while he sat in his car on June 13, 1980, during a time of intense political activism.

The document was first presented to the Government in February

Attorney General Basil Williams, in the company of Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, handed over the Rodney CoI Report to House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland

after close to two years of public hearings.

Addressing the media shortly after handing over the Report, the Attorney General expressed concerns about the “flawed” contents of the report.

“We must recognise that a lot of injustice has been done to certain persons who would have been named during that process and really were not afforded the opportunity during the currency of the inquiry, to give evidence,” he posited, maintaining that there was obviously a clear agenda ahead of the commencement of the public hearings.

Williams also disclosed that in light of the fact that the report

implicates the People’s National Congress (PNC) in the assassination of Dr Rodney, the party will soon be calling a press conference to publicly comment on those findings.

The Rodney Report confirmed the age-old belief that Dr Walter Rodney was indeed a victim of a State organised and politically orchestrated conspiracy under what is commonly referred to as the “Burnham Dictatorship”.

A great debate has since erupted over the purpose these revelations really serve, with many contending that millions of taxpayers’ dollars were wasted to uncovered a truth all continued on page 9

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

$50 note, 2 commemorative coins launched in observance of Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary

By Rennella Bourne

T

he Bank of Guyana launched its $50 banknote and two commemorative coins on Wednesday in honour of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebration.

The Governor of Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga disclosed that the Bank usually issues commemorative coins to mark significant events and achievements.

“The first commemorative coin was issued in 1970 to mark the country becoming a republic and this coin was issued as a circulation coin, at a face value of $1, this popularly known as “The Cuffy dollar”.

The second commemorative coin issued in

rated coin is produced in silver and plated in gold, and will be packaged in a box and sold at a cost of $8000 per coin. Governor Ganga noted that the issue is limited to 1000 coins. The $2000 denomination coin is plated in gold and produced in a metallic alloy. It will be sold at a cost of $2500 and is limited to 3000 coins.

The $50 note will be issued together with circulation notes along with existing notes.

“The note was inspired by our national symbols, the front of the note is consistent with the design of our bank note family. The note also carries the 50th anniversary logo,” Ganga noted.

The two commemorative coins

The $50 note

1976 marked the country 10th independence anniversary; this was followed by a number of commemorative issues between 1979 and 2015.

According to Governor Ganga, the two commemorative coins are designed with the 50thanniversary logo on the reverse depicting elegance, artistry and cooperativeness of the people, while the obverse bears the jaguar that represents power, strength and valor of our multiethnic society.

The $5000 commemo-

Meanwhile, speaking at the launching ceremony, Finance Minister Winston Jordan disclosed that 50 years as an independent state is indeed a significant milestone for Guyana and should be commemorated in unique ways, hence the launch of the new note to commemorate Guyana’s Independence Anniversary.

Minister Jordan noted that the circulation of the $50 bank note will not impact the volume of currency in circulation, and will not lead to high

Rodney Report up for deliberation ...

from page 8

Guyanese already knew.

Others, however, argued that the contents of the report equates to justice finally being served.

WPA Executive Member David Hinds had blogged that the findings – though they revealed nothing new – make a huge difference, in having the details of-

ficially documented.

“We have been vindicated. Walter Rodney lives anew,” Hinds had stated.

Meanwhile, copies of the report were dispatched to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and Dr Rodney’s family, as well as members of the coalition Administration.

The Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga and Finance Minister Winston Jordan unveil the $50 banknote and two commemorative coins on Wednesday in honour of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebration

inflation.

He added that even though technology has delivered alternative methods of payment,

Guyana remains a cashbased economy in which the majority of economic transactions are conducted using cash.

Also present at the launching was Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry. Both Henry and

Jordon were presented with the souvenirs of the new note by Governor Ganga.

10 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MAY 15 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Berbice man who chopped wife to Pensioner robbed death had threatened to kill her minutes after withdrawing money several times before – relative

T

he Rose Hall, Corentyne woman who was hacked to death by her reputed husband endured years of abuse at the hands of the man she once loved.

Bhagwattie Etwaru, 50, was murdered on Monday evening during an argument with her husband about his alcohol consumption habits.

Speaking with Guyana Times International on Tuesday, the woman’s youngest daughter, Natasha Etwaru, said that over the past five years, the dead woman’s reputed husband Desmond Gordon had made several threats to kill her mother. The couple had been living together for some eight years.

“I see he beat she couple well times,” she told this publication.

The couple was living alone at Mangrove Street, Rose Hall. This newspaper was told that Etwaru made frequent visits to the Rose Hall Police Outpost with reports of domestic violence.

According to Natasha, her mother

The couple in happier times

would on many occasions report her beatings to the Police and then return saying that she did not want to proceed with the charges.

On other occasions when she was physically abused, she would leave home and stay with relatives. “Sometimes she does come by we and den after two, three days, he gon come and bribe she back,” the now dead woman’s youngest daughter related.

The dead woman’s sister-in-law, Babita, said for the first three years of the relation-

ship, everything between the couple seemed fine but then suddenly, things changed. She said that the couple got together in 2008.

Meanwhile, on the day of the fateful incident, relatives recalled that the couple was consuming alcohol together. According to an eyewitness, who is a friend of the couple, “Gordon beat she one time and she get a cut on she face”.

“I tell him before you beat the lady, why you don’t left the lady and leh she go long she

way, an while gaffing with he, she jump down from the verandah, and he come down and bruck a wood a start beat she again and I walk out the yard.”

The eyewitness recalled that another neighbour then telephoned the Rose Hall Police Outpost and was told that it was a “man and woman matter.”

He said a short while after, Gordon walked out of the yard and approached him. “He tell me he kill the woman and he going an hang heself. So I try fuh gaff with he. I tell he wait, ah going an buy this thing and then neighbours collect him and tell the Police, but when the Police come she already dead.”

According to the dead woman’s sister-in-law, only last month a restraining order was taken out against Gordon and he was also placed on a bond to keep the peace for six months.

She said Etwaru would frequently hang out with friends and on some occasions, would be away from home for up to four days before returning. She referred to Gordon as an abusive husband who Etwaru kept running back to.

Etwaru leaves to mourn seven children.

The couple did not have any children together.

Gordon is in Police custody as investigations continue.

from city bank

M

inutes after making a withdrawal from a Robb Street, Georgetown bank, a Charlestown pensioner was pounced upon by a lone gunman on Wednesday and relieved of the bag containing the money and other personal items.

According to information received, Ron Ramkarran, 75, withdrew Gy$200,000 from the bank and while

he was walking along Regent Street, the lone gunman attacked him.

The pensioner put up a fight, but the gunman gun-butted the elderly man to his head resulting in him receiving injuries.

Upon seeing this, a businessman who was in the vicinity discharged four rounds from his licensed firearm into the air to ward off the bandit, but instead the gunman pulled away the bag and escaped in a motor car.

From all indications, the gunman might have trailed Ramkarran from the bank to Regent Street where he carried out the attack.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed the

robbery occurred, and noted that the Police are in possession of the registration number of the getaway car and are continuing their investigations.

Two Mondays ago, a businessman and his wife withdrew Gy$2.9 million from the same bank and were robbed at La Penitence after being tailed by two gunmen in a white Toyota Corona motor car.

It was reported that on the day in question, the man and his wife had stopped to make a purchase at a grocery store near Ruimveldt Police Station when the robbery was executed.

One of the gunmen reportedly held the businessman at gunpoint and relieved him of the bag containing the money.

The three men were nabbed last Saturday after they were found tailing another businessman from a city bank. Reports are that the businessman observed that a vehicle was travelling behind him for a prolonged period and phoned the Police, who dispatched a patrol immediately. As the Police were about to intercept the vehicle, the occupants attempted to exit and join a minibus, but were captured.

Queens Atlantic Group offers support to Gafoors

T

he Queens Atlantic Investment Incorporated has offered its support to the management and staff of Gafoors Huston Complex, which was destroyed by fire on Monday.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Queens Atlantic said Gafoors, both as a company and its owners Mr and Mrs Sattaur Gafoor have, for decades, stood out like a beacon in the business community in terms of their commitment

to the development of the country, private business and to principled business practices.

“As a company we offer our support in the rebuilding of Gafoors in whatever way we can,” stated Chairman of the QA companies, Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop.

The QAII group is one of the largest conglomerates in Guyana.

NEWS 11

WEEK ENDING MAY 15 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Assets recovery unit to get legislative basis soon – AG Williams

Attorney General, Basil Williams

L

egislations will soon be enacted to govern the operations of the controversial State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), which was established by the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change ( A P N U / A F C ) Administration to hunt for assets that initially belonged to the State but are now in the hands of private individuals.

Though without legal authority, SARU has been deeply involved in its operations which included investigations into alleged incidents of corruption and making recommendations for charges to be laid accordingly.

During an interview with media operatives on Wednesday, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams said the draft legislation is currently with the World Bank for review.

“It is almost out of the pipelines,” he said.

A team of specialists from the World Bank’s Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) had agreed to assist SARU in its operations. StAR is a partnership between the World Bank Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) that supports international efforts to end safe havens for corrupt funds.

StAR works with developing countries and financial centres to prevent laundering of the proceeds of corruption and to facilitate more systematic

and timely return of such assets.

According to the Attorney General, the international body is currently concluding its examination of the draft bill. While he could not pronounce on a timeframe, Williams said the legislation will be effected soon.

In a previous interview with Guyana Times International, British High Commissioner Greg Quinn had emphasised that SARU needs a “proper” legislative backing as it carries out the mandate given

by Government.

The High Commissioner, whose office is lending assistance to SARU in various areas including legislation, said the Unit needs the appropriate and relevant legislation so that it can operate within the confines of the law.

So far, SARU, which is headed by renowned Economist, Dr Clive Thomas, has recommended that the relevant authority

Economist, Dr Clive Thomas

consider laying charges against several People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Members of Parliament over allegations they were all involved in obtaining State lands at an undervalued market price.

The Unit has also dealt with controversial matters including the National Industrial Commercial and Investment Limited (NICIL) case; BaiShanLin case; among others.

Reports indicate that once the legislation is passed, SARU will be renamed the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA).

One year on: President satisfied with achievements …but says more focus should have been placed on cheaper electricity, job creation

W

hile many have reviewed the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Administration’s first year in office following the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections, looking back, President David Granger said there were some areas on which he wished he had placed more emphasis.

Speaking during an early broadcast of the weekly televised programme “The Public Interest”, the Head of State, when asked about what his Administration should have done that was not done over the past year, said that more priority should have been given to cheap and clean electricity and the creation of jobs for young people as well as the education sector.

“I would have, at the start, paid a lot more attention to the environment and the need to generate cheap electricity. I would have done that a year ago, rather than trying to do it now.

Secondly, I will pay more attention to getting children to stay in school, and thirdly, would be job creation,” he stated.

According to Granger, the economy has not been able to produce sufficient jobs to reduce the country’s unemployment rate, especially among youths. In this vein, the President said that the investors must allow micro-enterprises to flourish, in particular in agroprocessing.

President David Granger

“I believe that there is a lot more scope for getting women and young folk into agro-processing and micro-enterprise.

That is the way forward, when young people can look forward to employment in that (area),” he stated. “I would have liked to engage the Private Sector to create funds for micro-enterprises.”

These funds, he opined, can be used to give entrepreneurs a start and enable them to take off with whatever venture they are interested in. Nevertheless, the President pointed out that in order for young people to get the jobs they want, they need to stay in school to better qualify themselves.

On this note, he highlighted his desire to get more children into schools and keep them there.

“We want to keep our children in school and I think that is something that I haven’t fully accomplished. I’d like to do

much more,” he stated.

According to the Head of State, the process he has adopted – that is, the distribution of school buses and bicycles, as well as the ‘hot meals’ initiative, is slow, but he remained optimistic that it would gain momentum in attracting more children to attend school, so that they can get a higher standard of education.

On the issue of generating cheaper electricity, Granger posited that Government has to lead the way in terms of ensuring a ‘Green Economy’, a policy which his Administration has employed.

In acknowledging the effect the high cost of energy has on the local manufacturing sector and the deterrent it is to foreign investors, the President outlined that there needed to be more wind farms, more solar farms, more hydro projects and more bio-mass so that every community can have access to cheaper energy.

“You cannot get very far without cheaper energy… You cannot have competitive manufacturing out there without cheap energy and that has been a big problem.

The way I put it is that we have an oil addiction and any time somebody wants to use power, the first talk is about gasoline or diesel,” the Head of State stressed.

President Granger, nonetheless, assured that Government intended to change this practice and rely more on

sustainable energy. He further urged the manufacturing sector to adopt new technology in order to utilise clean energy.

Going forward, the President said more focus would be placed on these three priority areas to have more done in developing them.

Meanwhile, the Guyanese Head of State said he was very positive about the achievements of his Administration, stating that it was able to cover a lot of ground” over the past year. He mentioned his “very muscular” Cabinet of 15 Ministries, noting that he was convinced the Ministers know their roles and have been performing their duties “exceptionally.”

Furthermore, President Granger went on to highlight that under his Administration, the security sector has been strengthened in some areas while adding that more work needed to be done in others.

“We’ve made a lot of progress in trying to reduce crime; for example, piracy is almost unheard of now. There is a lot of interpersonal violence, but generally we have been able to bring the murder rate down apart from the domestic violence crimes,” he stated.

The President also mentioned the fact that within its first year in office, his Administration had managed to host Local Government Elections after more than 20 years without such elections.

12 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Prisoners responsible for own deaths, says Attorney Pieters

Members of the Commission: Dale Erskine, Chairman Retired Justice James Patterson and Merle Mendonca

By Shemuel Fanfair

O

n the final day of hearings at the Commission of Inquiry into the deadly Camp Street prison riot, the Attorney representing the Joint Services, Selwyn Pieters posited that those who perished during the unrest were responsible for their own deaths.

These views were expressed in his closing arguments to the Commission and he also maintained that prison officers and Guyana Fire Service members acted within the Standard Operating Procedures and were not negligent at any point in time.

Pieters pointed to the testimony of one of the Assistant Superintendents

The one-man CoI protest on Monday

of Prisons who was “pained” in giving his testimony to the CoI as he “could not make sense of it”.

“Why people with any sort of rational thought of thinking would block a door to their rescue and continue to light fires … the inmates are the ones that lit that fire and continued to poke the officers [and] assault the officers in their efforts to get them out of there and to extract them from that unit.

They significantly played a role in their death,” Pieters stated.

He also noted that if the Prison Service had the resources and adequate fire prevention equipment, perhaps the lives of the prisoners could have been saved.

“If they had the equipment, the resources and the manpower to dominate that living unit, perhaps they could have gone in; it would have been a hand-to-hand battle with inmates… but with what they had, they did the best that they could under those circumstances,” the Attorney observed.

Pieters also told the Commission that Government should invest in the construction of a new prison, since many sections of the present structure

were “historic relics”.

“Those wooden buildings had their place… [and] are not places to house prisoners. Governments do not want to hear that they need to pump money into prisons … but it is appropriate that Government pump money into the prison,” the Joint Services Attorney further observed.

Earlier, Pieters pointed to several challenges that exist within the prison system. He observed that inadequate facilities, rising gangs and organised crime, overcrowding and slothfulness in prison sentencing were all contributory factors to the events that caused the rioting.

He postulated that it was the extraction of prisoner Collis Collinson that led to much of the violence surrounding the fatal fire. He pointed out to the Commission that Collinson’s testimony should be discredited as he failed to admit that he did possess a mobile phone despite confirming that he regularly updated an active social media account.

The Attorney also petitioned Commissioners to observe the fact that while inmate Desmond James confessed that prisoners did light the mattresses, he also noted that he did not see lighters, cigarettes or matches. Pieters reasoned that this was sufficient basis for the credibility of this witness to be damaged.

While referencing that Deputy Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels noted contraband was a “multimillion-dollar business” at the prison, the Attorney said special attention should be paid to Officer-in-Charge of the Georgetown Prison, Superintendent Kevin Pilgrim who testified that the old structure “allows for items to be hidden”. Pilgrim was the officer who had noted that “intimidation” was the order of the day as prisoners became more aggressive and continued to threaten wardens after the riots had concluded.

Pieters also pointed out that on the day of the fire, prison officers did observe the stipulations in the Fire Prevention Act, but that officers needed breathing apparatus and other firefighting equipment. He noted that the hole inmates created at Capital B was a “fatal funnel” since it would have been a “suicide mission” for prison officers to enter.

Before thanking the Commission for allowing him to participate, Pieters told Commissioners that it was necessary for prison officers to be paid better salaries and allowances. The hearing ended without presentations from the Attorneys who represented the interest of the inmates as they were all absent.

The Commission has until the end of this month to submit the report on its findings.

Tributes pour in for legendary cricket commentator Tony Cozier and in 1978 wrote the acclaimed book, The West Indies: 50 Years of Test Cricket. In 2011, the MCC awarded Cozier life membership for his services to the game.

It was estimated that Cozier was among the most prolific watchers of Test cricket anywhere. Wisden in 2003 reported that he had watched 266 Tests in his 40-odd years of covering the game up to that point.

Sambit Bal, ESPNcricinfo’s editorin-chief, said Cozier was one of the most credible voices in West Indies cricket. “To say Tony loved cricket would be somewhat shallow: cricket was his life, and it was a life of great distinction. He cared for the game deeply and absolutely, and his heart bled for West Indian cricket, which he served as a broadcaster, writer and conscience-keeper for five decades. His was the most credible voice from the region and, in the last decade-and-a-half, an anguished one. He gave the game as much as he got from it and it can safely be said that he will be impossible to replace, on ESPNcricinfo and elsewhere.”

Cozier is survived by wife Jillian, his daughter Natalie and his son Craig, who had returned from India where he was working as a television producer for the IPL to be with his father.

(ESPNcricinfo)

Tony Cozier JULY 10, 1940 - MAY 11, 2016

T

ony Cozier, the West Indian cricket writer, commentator and journalist, has died in his home country, Barbados, at the age of 75 after an illness. He had been admitted to hospital on May 3 for tests related to infections in the neck and legs.

Cozier began writing on cricket as a teenager in 1958 and, despite never having played the game, he became one of its most distinguished voices. His last column on these pages was published on May 1.

“Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Tony Cozier today,” the ICC said on Twitter.

“One of the truly great voices of cricket. A huge loss for the cricket community.”

The WICB’s tribute hailed Cozier’s service to the game: “The lifelong work of Tony Cozier centred around West Indies cricket and he made a lasting contribution to the game. He ensured that West Indies cricket fans all around the world received information and knowledge about their beloved team and their

favourite players. His life was dedicated to the game in the Caribbean and we salute him for his outstanding work.

“He was not just a great journalist, but also a great ambassador. He represented West Indies wherever he went. He educated people around the world about our cricket, our people, our culture and who we are.

His voice was strong and echoed around the cricket world. He enjoyed West Indies victories and shared the pain when we lost. He gave a lifetime of dedicated service and will be remembered by all who came into contact with him.”

Cozier, whose father Jimmy was also a cricket writer, began his commentary career during Australia’s tour of West Indies in 1965. Over five decades, Cozier grew into an accomplished media professional across mediums all over the world.

He worked in radio and television, wrote books, and was published in newspapers, magazines and on the internet.

He edited the West Indies Cricket Annual between 1970 and 1991,

T&T forex problems put CPL bid in doubt (Trinidad Guardian)

A

decision on where the finals of the 2016 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament will be played will be made this week and T&T’s foreign exchange situation remains a major factor in the equation.

CPL officials are demanding US $1M in US currency but the T&T Government is adamant that all contributions will be paid in T&T dollars because of the country’s short supply of US dollars.

The government also wants its contribution to pay as many local bills as possible, so that less money will leave the country. It is understood that CPL is asking for US$4.5M to award the finals weekend to any of the Caribbean countries.

Negotiations are continuing but there is a strong possibility that the organisers will reject the T&T currency and play the finals at another venue.

Guyana is still in the mix as is Fort Lauderdale, where the last round of matches will be played.

Sources say the organisers could easily ask the final four qualifiers to stay on for a few extra days in Broward to play the finals. A source close to the situation told Guardian Media that a decision has to be made by the end of this week.

According to the source: “The government is trying all that is reasonable to bring the finals to T&T but at the same time they want to make sure they do the right thing and use the opportunity of staging the finals to assist the local economy even if it is for a short time.”

Initially Guyana was named as the venue for the finals as part of their 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations.

However, the T&T Government asked the CPL owners for a chance to make a revised bid. Last year, T&T paid US$3.5M to host the event for the second time in the three-year history (the other venue being St Kitts and Nevis). Initially T&T refused to pay US$4.5M to host the matches and instead, offered US$1.5M which was turned down.

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

13

14 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Rift deepens as Ogle Airport renamed

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

C

hairman of the newly rebranded Eugene F. Correia Airport Michael Correia on Monday delivered a feral blast at Director of the Roraima Group of Companies Captain Gerald Gouveia over his stern and persistent objections against the renaming of the Ogle International Airport, in recognition of Guyana’s first Public Transport Minister, whose surname coincides with that of those individuals who own majority of shares in the company.

The proceedings commenced with a fiery speech by the Airport’s Chairman, who used the opportunity to set the record straight by lashing out at Gouveia and all the other operators who opposed the renaming.

The newly rebranded Eugene F Correia Airport

Correia made it pellucid that no member of his family had in any way suggested to President David Granger that the Airport be renamed “Correia”; nonetheless, he expressed gratitude

that the administration went ahead with the initiative despite the protests mounted by the National Aircraft Transport Association (NATA), an organisation consisting of nine of the

ten aircraft operators working out of the now Correia Airport.

The Airport Chairman argued that Roraima Airways and all the other operators who are contesting the

renaming have contributed little or nothing to its development but are yet cashing in on the investment he and his family have made.

“Roraima Airways, to use as an example, has recently expanded its building and its fleet of aircraft with a report-

ed investment of US$2.5 million. But what has Roraima Airways contributed to the investment in the Airport?

The total private investment of Roraima Airways in this Airport is US$83,000 by comparison, or 2.2 per cent of the total equity in the Airport,” he disclosed in portraying that Gouveia and the others have no right to make an objection.

He went on to highlight that Gouveia, in his cries, is simply ridiculing a decision taken by two of the most accomplished aviators: former Director of Civil Aviation Anthony Mekdeci and former Chief Pilot of Guyana Airways Corporation Malcolm Chan–a–Sue, both of whom are senior managers of the Airport.

“Why is Gouveia trying to tear down the good name, and damage the continued on page 21

2014 robbery accused jailed for 5 years

A

trio will now spend the next five years in prison for a 2014 robbery under arms charge, which Magistrate Judy Latchman found them guilty of when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.

The alleged mastermind Alana Taylor, 36, a mother of three, broke down in tears when the Magistrate made her ruling. Taylor, along with her two accomplices: Amunike Rogers, 21, and Peter McKenzie, 25, looked dazed as she stood and listened to the final ruling on the case.

They are convicted of robbing Elizabeth Hendricks on March 2, 2014, at her Light Street, Georgetown home at gunpoint of a number of articles, including one laptop and a gold ring, all valued Gy$341,000.

During Magistrate Latchman’s ruling, she made mention of the Prosecutor’s facts which stated that Taylor allegedly befriended the Virtual Complainant, after which she conspired with the other two defendants to rob Hendricks. They claimed to know Hendricks, but she, however, denied having ever seen them before.

On the day in question, Taylor made contact with Hendricks to go over to her house to ‘black her hair’, but Hendricks told her she was not feeling well; however, Taylor insisted and said she was still coming over.

Upon Taylor’s arrival, Hendricks’s daughter

Randell Douglas

opened the gate and the two other accomplices took the opportunity to enter the yard to carry out the crime.

It is alleged that Taylor sat quietly throughout the entire ordeal looking on, without rendering any assistance to Hendricks while she was being assaulted by both McKenzie and Rogers.

Magistrate Latchman noted that a breach of trust was created on the part of Taylor as she was Hendricks’ friend.

Also damning was the fact that the plan was carefully hatched, the crime was well thought-out and organised, and the three knew exactly how they were going to execute it.

The Magistrate’s decision was, however, challenged by Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd, who indicated that he would be filing an appeal.

“I spoke with the three defendants ... and they are still maintaining their innocence,” Todd said, maintaining that justice should and would be served, especially given the fact that none of his clients have prior brushes with the law.

NEWS 15

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ex-Policeman fatally shot while fleeing from police ranks Georgetown, his relatives were reluctant to offer a comment. One group of young ladies explained that they were not related to the ex-Po-

A

The mangled car in the trench after the accident surrounded by Police

n ex-Police Officer, who was accused of robbery on Monday morning made attempts to escape from custody, but was shot by former colleagues while driving away.

After he was shot, he continued to drive and crashed his motor car into a trench at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Ryan Vaux, 36, of Norton Street, Lodge. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to information received, at 01:10h, ranks of a mobile Police patrol along Broad Street, Montrose, East Coast Demerara recognised a man running behind a motor vehicle with registration number PSS 6835. He was reportedly shouting that he had been robbed of a sum of money by persons in the vehicle.

The Police subsequently intercepted the motor vehicle with one man at the steering wheel and a male passenger. A search was conducted on the men and Gy$21,000 in cash was found.

The male passenger and the robbery victim, Deryck Persaud, 46, of Cummings Lodge, ECD, were placed in the Police vehicle and the motor vehicle driven by Vaux was escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station.

While on their way there, Persaud informed the Police that he had been robbed by the two men who were armed with a handgun and a knife.

Upon arrival at the Police Station, the ranks approached Vaux, but he brandished a firearm and drove off in the vehicle in an attempt to escape during which the Police discharged a round hitting him to the body.

Still bent on escaping, Vaux continued driving for a short while before crashing in the vicinity of Vryheid’s Lust Access Road, ECD. Police have since retrieved a pellet gun from the mangled car. The other suspect is in Police custody assisting with the investigations.

When Guyana Times International visited the dead man’s home at Lot 80 Norton Street,

lice rank and directed media operatives to another house.

While this publication was there, a woman was on her mobile phone

relating the incident to the person on the other end of the line, but she refused to give a comment.

She, too, directed me-

dia operatives to another house claiming that the dead man’s wife would be there, but it turned out not to be so.

16

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

17

18 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ali slams Govt for ignoring recommendations of Economic Services Committee

P

eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) point man on the parliamentary Economic Services Committee (ESC), Irfaan Ali, said Government has not been adhering to any recommendation made by the Committee regarding the issue at the Wales Sugar Estate.

On Sunday, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder told Guyana Times International that Government was still awaiting an assessment of the Economic Services Committee, where the report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sugar industry was sent in January of this year.

It is hoped that the report would provide some guidelines so that a deci-

sion could be made about the future of the more than 1700 workers of the Wales Sugar Estate.

Holder said too that there seems to be some amount of carelessness by the Opposition PPP, which is part of the Committee, to make known its recommendations. The Party is represented by Ali, who is also a Member of Parliament.

Ali, however, on Monday said the Committee has been having countless meetings with numerous recommendations being passed onto Government.

However, those recommendations are not being accepted, he said, adding that the Committee has issues with the way Government has been

operating, since, instead of taking the recommendations, it has been acting on its own and implementing the ideas of outside sources.

He said Government has been acting “wantonly” and that includes the very closure of Wales Estate. According to him, if Government wants any recommendation from the Committee, it must ease on its closure of estates.

Following the announcement of the Wales Estate closure, Government had sent the final report of the CoI into the sugar industry to the special parliamentary committee for review. It is still awaiting that report. According to Holder, the committee

Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder

has been in existence for far too long and should have already carried out most of the work required.

He said by now, the Committee should have

already had discussions with persons who participated in the Inquiry, among other matters.

He said the Committee was, however, expected to meet on Wednesday, May 11, and hoped that some developments could be had in this regard. Holder noted that the future of the sugar workers continued to hang in the balance.

Government, in January of this year, confirmed that the Estate would be closed in December after Guyana Times broke the story.

The announcement had sparked a series of outraged protests over the months following.

Workers and their families said they were unsure of what the future held for them, especially since they knew no other form of work.

On Friday last, the High Court issued an interim injunction barring GuySuCo from dismissing or redeploying hundreds of sugar

workers attached to the Wales Sugar Estate, without first consulting with their unions, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).

The action was brought after GuySuCo began discussions with individual employees of Wales Estate to negotiate severance packages, without informing or involving the unions.

GuySuCo on Monday said it was still to receive the necessary legal documents regarding the interim injunction that was granted by Justices William Ramlall and Diana Insanally in the Full Court of the High Court.

The unions are represented by Attorneys Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Euclin Gomes, Sase Gunraj, Manoj Narayan and Sasha Mahadeo.

Former cop placed on Gy$200,000 bail for stealing gun

A

former Police Constable was on Wednesday placed on Gy$200,000 bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a felony charge.

Macurty Simpson, 23, of Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice, pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge which stated that on September 11, 2015, at Georgetown, he

produce any form of identification and, as such, asked the accused to lodge the firearm at the TSU until he returned from the interior.

Simpson failed to lodge the weapon and instead kept it in his possession.

After he was questioned by Police, the defendant admitted to having the gun at his home.

An investigation was carried out, and legal advice was sought before

stole one Browning semiautomatic pistol, property of George Edwards.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the Court that on the day in question, the Virtual Complainant, a licensed firearm holder, went to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) to have his firearm licence renewed when Simpson, while still being a serving member of the Guyana Police Force, was assigned to assist him.

However, at the time, Edwards was unable to

Simpson was charged.

The defendant told the Court that it was his negligence that he failed to lodge the weapon, but it was his intention to return the weapon to Edwards.

However, the weapon is still to be recovered.

Defence Attorney Darren Wade requested reasonable bail, telling the court that his client was anxious to prove his innocence.

The father of one will return to court on June 2, 2016 for statements.

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

19

20 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

T&T father accused of stabbing son to death and he say ‘Mammy ah sorry.’”

(Trinidad Guardian)

O

ver a decade of physical and verbal confrontations between father and son came to an end on Sunday night when Sham Siewnarine was stabbed to death, as his mother told T&T Guardian, by his father.

The distraught woman was an eyewitness to the tragic confrontation that occurred in the home she shared with both men.

She said that Siewnarine, 28, was stabbed once in the chest. He died at his Gopee Trace, Penal home while she frantically awaited the arrival of an ambulance.

His father is a 60-year-old retiree.

Flora Siewnarine, 57, recounted the events leading up to her only son’s death during an interview with the T&T Guardian at her home yesterday.

She said she had celebrated Mother’s Day at her daughter’s Enterprise, Chaguanas home and returned to Penal around 9.30 pm, together with the older man.

“Both of us went by my daughter for the day and when we come home, he (Sham) was not home, he had gone out drinking all day with his friends,” Flora said.

“We went to sleep and Sham come home a little while later and start cussing

Tragic end

Flora Siewnarine, right, recounts the incident which led to the death of her son, Sham, at her home in Gopee Trace, Penal

and banging on the door.”

Fearful that her son would beat her and her husband for yet another time, Flora begged him not to answer to Sham’s taunts.

“I keep telling him ‘Boy don’t go outside, he will beat you again.’”

Eventually the father did go outside as Flora said Sham’s antics became too much to bear.

“Sham started playing the radio real loud and he (his father) went outside and take it off, when he came back to bed, Sham put back on the radio more loud.”

The man went outside a

second time, bringing the radio into his bedroom.

“He bring it and put it on a chair and that is when Sham come in the room and start beating him. He was kicking him and using his foot to squeeze his neck and stop his breathing. I was begging him not to do it, I thought (he) was going to die.”

She was able to calm her son enough to get him away from his father and take him into the kitchen.

“I was asking him why he getting on and he tell me we lock him out the house. But I carry him in the kitchen and show him the door was open

At that point, unknown to Flora, the man had taken up a knife and come into the kitchen.

“He make one lil’ swipe across Sham throat, but it just scrape him and then I push him away. But Sham kick the man and he fall down, when he get back up, he just rush him and stab him.”

Flora said when Sham fell, she was able to put him onto a table in the kitchen, while the other man ran off in shock.

“Sham was saying, ‘Mammy, he stab me’ and I make him lie down on the table, I was using one hand to block the wound and the other to pump his chest and help him breathe.”

Flora said the older man panicked and took off the breakers in the panel box, leaving her and her dying son in the dark.

“I try to put it on back but I didn’t know what to do and the whole place was dark. I couldn’t see to do anything so I run by Sham cousin to get somebody to put back on the lights for me.

“When we come back, he was already gasping for breath and all he say was ‘Water’, I give him some to drink and then he hand just

drop from mine…and that was it. It didn’t even take five minutes for him to die.”

But Flora said although she loved her son, he kept his parents “living in hell” for years.

“I fed up make report at the Penal Police, every time they just come and talk to him and leave, they never lock him up or anything.

Sham used to beat us all the time, when he was sober he was a real nice person, but anytime he drink it was like living in hell.”

“He was always threatening to kill us and beating me and the man up.”

She said that now she is alone, she does not know how she will cope without the men in her life.

“One dead and the other one lock up…I don’t know how to cope with this, I really don’t know what I will do.”

The older man was taken to the Siparia Health Facility on Sunday night after being held by officers of the Penal Police Station, and was treated and discharged.

He remains in police custody.

Officers at the Penal Police Station confirmed that he had made several reports about Sham Siewnarine in the past.

The officers further confirmed to the Guardian that the father of the dead man is the only suspect in the case.

NEWS 21

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

HISTORIC…Bartica can now set the stage for other municipalities to follow - President

Still no trace of missing US$5M payment for GTT shares – Granger

S

President David Granger and Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall unveiled the plaque

D

rumrolls sounded and the crowd grew wild with excitement as the march pass began, signalling the commencement of the grand celebrations of the official township status declaration for Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni Mazaruni) on Saturday.

Usually a quiet ambiance, the mining community was colourfully decorated in the colours of the Golden Arrowhead and erupted into cheers and applause as families came out in huge numbers to join in the festivities.

Despite the light drizzles, residents lined the streets with smartphones in hand to capture photos and videos of this historic moment.

The march pass suavely made its way to the Bartica Stelling, where President David Granger, Regional Chairman Gordan Bradford and Mayor Gifford Marshall were awaiting.

The ceremony started off with prayers by several religious groups, after which President Granger delivered the feature address.

The Head of State, who is deeply connected to Bartica, was overjoyed that this day has finally arrived. He noted that Bartica has been awaiting its township status for over 100 years,

since the ordinance was passed to make Bartica a town in 1887.

With having gained its official township status, Bartica can now set the stage for other municipalities to follow.

According to President Granger, Bartica can lead the way in becoming a green town, a town that attracts investors from all across the Caribbean, and a town that is a magnet for economic growth.

“Bartica has to lead the way, become our first green town… Solar energy, electrical vehicles, wind energy, solid waste management, recycling…

Bartica is going to become a laboratory for Guyana’s green economy,” he stated.

Amid the pomp and ceremony, the plaque was unveiled and President Granger officially declared Bartica a town, much to the delight of residents.

The celebrations continued into the evening with a blast of cultural extravaganza.

Among those present for the celebrations were First Lady Sandra Granger, State Minister Joseph Harmon, Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally, Health Minister Dr George Norton, and others.

Rift deepens as Ogle ...

from page 14

reputation of these national icons, who have helped to make him in his career, and who have made Ogle International Airport the envy of the Caribbean,” Correia stated.

Subtly taking a swing at those operators who objected to the name change, he contended that “self-interest”, “greed” and “jealousy” appear to rule the day.

No dictatorship

President David Granger in his address, also made it clear that he was not lobbied for the Airport to be renamed but rather, it was a genuine decision he took to recognise the contributions of great Guyanese to the development of the country. “I was not coerced, I was not lobbied. It was simply to recognise the character of the man,” he said.

Granger also made it clear that his adminis-

tration’s decision to ignore the calls for a reversal of the decision is not a show of dictatorship since the Airport’s Board already granted permission for the undertaking.

Further justifying his decision, the President chronicled extensively the sterling contributions and achievements made by Correia.

Moreover, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson described Correia as a son of the soil whose record every Guyanese should be proud of.

Addressing concerns over the name change, Patterson once again assured that the Airport’s functions and operations will remain the same.

“This airport will still provide a means for those in hinterland communities to bolster economic activity; this airport will still provide a link for access to key services; this airport will

still impact lives in big ways,” he stated.

The operators who opposed the renaming of the Airport complained that this act will give an unfair advantage to the Correias.

In November last, the operators vented frustration over the anti-competitive nature at the facility being practised by the company that runs the airport.

“The Correia Group controls the Airport and has increased the cost of fuel; monopolised ground handling and other services and arbitrarily terminated tenancy contracts with the apparent aim of forcing us out,” the operators had expressed.

Against this backdrop, the operators are now fearful that the renaming of the Airport to “Correia” will only add to the long list of problems they endure on a daily basis.

ome two weeks after it was disclosed that Chinese company, Datang Telecom Technology and Industry Group had already paid the outstanding US$5 million for shares in GTT, local authorities are still trying to trace the money.

During this week’s TV airing of The Public Interest programme, President David Granger when asked said the money is yet to be located.

“I don’t know where (the money) is, I would like to find out but the money went missing under the previous administration and it is certainly missing and that’s what Harmon’s (trip to China) was about. We’re trying to find out ourselves,” he stated.

In 2012, the Chinese company had purchase Government’s 20 per cent shares in the local telephone company at the cost of US$30 million from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

However, based on an agreement with the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC) administration, the company paid US$25 million and had two years to make the outstanding payment.

Datang failed to pay the outstanding amount within the agreed time and upon its assumption to Office, the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) regime undertook to recoup the money, hence

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

the Minister of State’s trip to China. During the trip, Harmon was accompanied by NICIL’s Legal Counsel, Natalia Seepersaud.

However, at the postCabinet briefing on April 20, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman disclosed that the Minister of State was able to retrieve some documents which show the US$5 million was paid and as such, efforts were launched to track down to whom, how, where and when the payment was made, since no record of it was made.

While, the government spokesperson did not provide any details about the information given to it by the Chinese company, he did hint that the payment was made under the previous administration when he said “that was before

May 16, 2015”.

However, the PPP/C administration had long maintained that the US$5 million was still outstanding to Guyana.

In fact, when contacted shortly after Trotman’s revelation last month, former President Donald Ramotar, under whose leadership the transaction was conducted, told Guyana Times International he is not aware of Datang making a payment on the outstanding amount.

However, he noted that if any such payment was made it would have been paid to NICIL, with whom Datang had the transaction.

Meanwhile, at a press conference late last week, former Head of NICIL Winston Brassington stated that efforts were afoot to recoup the monies.

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Rohee rejects rumours of CI Primary students launch power struggle within PPP anti-litter campaign

By Devina Samaroo

P

eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee erupted in anger at his Monday morning press conference as he once again rejected rumours of an immense power struggle within his party, following the publication of a contemptuous article exposing an apparent “major clash” among the party leadership over the next presidential candidate.

Rohee contended that robust debates are encouraged on a variety of issues and therefore such internal deliberations should not be considered “infighting”, as was reported by Stabroek News on Monday under the headline “PPP executives jockeying for top position.”

The General Secretary said he is disgusted with the “misleading” story which is riddled with pure conjecture: “If this is what the Stabroek News interprets as ‘infighting’ then, they can’t be helped since they chose to stay in their own echo chamber believing they have latched onto something when in fact it is sheer

PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee

gossip, conjecture and rumour,” he stated.

The article stated that there was a rift among senior executives over who should be the presidential candidate for the next General and Regional Elections, with the information credited to a “source”; with some members rooting for former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali while others are backing former Culture Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony.

The article also pointed out that former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has his mind set on serving a third term as president after former Chief Justice Ian Chang (AG) ruled that the two-term presidential term-limit is unconstitutional.

It is also rumoured that Rohee has presidential aspirations; however when prompted on this during the press conference, the General Secretary refused to comment.

According to the Party’s Constitution, a General Congress is to be held this year during which party members will be afforded the opportunity to discuss a number of issues as well as nominate and elect new leaders.

However, there has been no word yet on a date for the congress and reports suggest that the gathering will be postponed owing to the alleged internal conflicts.

Nonetheless, Rohee maintained that the PPP has always been and will always be a strong and united political force.

He argued that rumours of this nature are certainly not new and the peddling of such misinformation is being done for mischievous reasons.

In this regard, the General Secretary declared that the media “behaves like a stray dog going by the smell of things, and rummaging the Freedom House neighbourhood for new (or old) juicy inaccuracies and speculations.”

A

Students pose with their posters

s schools throughout Guyana step up their campaign to have a clean and healthy environment, the Grade Six students of the Cornelia Ida (C.I) Primary School are sending a strong message to their community in the form of an anti-littering poster.

With the help of the United States (US) Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV), Michelle Weekly, the children were able to design beautifully illustrated posters featuring a coconut tree named “Coco Man” and the message which reads “Don’t Pollute His Home.”

This newspaper understands that the Grade Six students worked tirelessly in brainstorming various ideas in order to execute the project to the best of their abilities and managed to come up with the design and illustrations for the posters.

On Friday, last, with posters in hand, a small group of these students visited businesses along the West

Coast Demerara (WCD) Public Road to ask that they display the posters where they could be easily viewed by the general public.

“Every business, that we approached, was very supportive and welcoming of the idea. They immediately looked for a place where they could display the poster,” related PCV Michelle Weekly.

It must be noted that these posters are laminated so they can brave the elements.

The students would like to thank the following businesses for graciously embracing the idea: Good Life Supermarket, Karen’s Bargain Sales, Computer Resources, F. Hussain and Son’s, Beavon Johnson, Temptations, and Michelle’s Supermarket.

These young minds are of the hope that the posters will remind people that a “trash-free Guyana” is both healthy and attractive.

NEWS 23

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

President says “media frenzy” making persons believe crime on the increase

I

n light of the recent spate of crimes in Guyana, President David Granger said crime is actually on the decline but the media frenzy is making it appear otherwise.

Speaking on the weekly televised programme – The Public Interest, the Guyanese Head of State pointed out that contrary to the media frenzy, the country’s current crime situation is not in such a bad state as is being portrayed.

“I do regret that the media frenzy seems to have bowled people over, they feel that things are getting worst but things are actually getting better,” the President said.

Granger explained that while he and his Administration are concerned about the frequent occurrence of criminal activities in the country, some of them are entirely out of their control.

“If a woman hires a hitman to kill her father or if a man hires a hitman to kill his wife, these are interpersonal disputes which the State cannot be held responsible for… If a security guard at a gas station or

a hotel allows persons to come in and conduct a robbery, it is difficult to blame the State and asking what is the State doing about it,” he pointed out.

Nevertheless, the Head of State noted that his Administration is doing its best to have crime under control and has since taken a series of actions such as training of investigators and increased deployment of ranks especially in the hinterland region.

He remarked that Commander of the hinterland division (F Division – Interior locations), Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budhram, who has responsibility of Regions One (BarimaWaini), Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takatu-

Upper Essequibo), is now stationed in Bartica as opposed to being at Police Headquarters, in Eve Leary, Georgetown; thus being able to more efficiently police the division.

He also mentioned plans to have those divisions further sub-divided so that there are strong Police divisional commanders in each one of the administrative regions.

The President went on to talk about the increased deployment of Police in Region Nine, particularly the Rupununi area. He added too that plans are afoot to augment the strength of the Police Force overall, which is currently said to be some 20 per cent under strength.

In addition, he noted

that the strength of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has been boosted, so there are now more and better trained detectives, highlighting the fact that a lot of serious crimes are not only being solved but being solved more quickly than ever before.

Another measure the Head of State said was put in place by his Administration to curb crime is aerial patrols on the coastland, which he noted has contributed significantly in protecting the country’s fishermen from piracy attacks.

“There have been small incremental changes and… so all of these measures have been introduced over the last seven months and they are supplementing Operation Dragnet, which will continue to

June 1st at the end of the 50th anniversary celebrations,” Granger said, while noting that even though these measures are in place, it may be too early to see any results.

Furthermore, the President reminded that when his Administration came into office almost a year ago, it inherited a certain situation throughout the security sector. This, he added, has affected what is happening in the prisons, the Force’s ability to investigate crimes and it has even affected the upsurge in crime of recent.

Over the past weeks, there has been an alarming increase in the number of murders and armed robberies occurring throughout the country, causing stakeholders such as the Private

Sector Commission (PSC) as well as business owners and farmers, who seemed to be targets in most of the cases, calling on the Administration to strengthen its crime fighting strategy.

Only Thursday last, former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, faced off with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan in the National Assembly over the crime situation. Rohee had tabled an emergency motion on the issue.

However, the Guyana Police Force earlier this week released the monthly statistics for April 2016, in which it stated that crime is actually down by 19 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

According to the figures given for last April, there were 50 murders, 23 robberies, 188 robberies with firearms, 111 robberies with the use of other weapons other than a gun, 28 robberies with violence, 20 robberies with aggravation, 72 burglaries, 437 breaking and enter and larceny cases, 37 larceny from persons, 63 cases of statutory rape and 22 forcible rapes cases.

24 news

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ali calls on Govt to re-engage Venezuela over rice export M

ore than one year after the historic PetroCaribe rice-foroil Guyana-Venezuela deal collapsed, Shadow Finance Minister Irfaan Ali has moved a motion in the National Assembly urging Government to immediately reopen negotiations with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the rice and paddy trade.

Ali made several other recommendations in support of the rice industry, including the immediate removal of all forms of taxes and duties on fuel for the industry, removal of all taxes and duties on inputs for the industry, including machinery, equipment and spares and to suspend payment of land leases and drainage and irrigation charges.

The former min-

ister noted that failure on the part of the Administration to provide the necessary critical support to rice farmers and the rice industry as a whole will have far reaching and detrimental effects on the country’s economy.

Last year, Venezuela abruptly halted the importation of rice from Guyana under the PetroCaribe arrangement. At that time, the PetroCaribe deal was to remain functional until it expired in November of that year, but owing to certain circumstances, Venezuela terminated the rice deal before the official end date.

Since the collapse of the arrangement, Guyana has not clinched similar rice deals with other countries.

H o w e v e r , Government had announced in March that

PPP/C MP, Irfaan Ali

the Spanish-speaking nation may still be purchasing Guyana’s rice, albeit through neighbouring Suriname.

The PetroCaribe

deal was sealed by then President Bharrat Jagdeo with then Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez several years ago, which saw

Guyana receiving oil in exchange for rice at premium rates.

Under the PetroCaribe deal, Guyana was required to pay upfront a percentage of the cost of fuel acquired from Venezuela, with the balance, which was placed in the PetroCaribe Fund at the Bank of Guyana, being treated as a loan repayable over 23 years, with a two-year grace period and two per cent interest.

Each deposit into the Fund was treated as a loan to the country with the same concessionary terms. This resulted in Guyana being able to defer its payments, which were at concessionary rates, over a longer period of time.

During his presentation to the National Assembly, Ali also called on the Government to

Opposition wants probe into drugs, medical supplies shortage I

n light of the recent shortage of drugs and medical supplies within the public health system, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will be tabling a motion this Thursday in the National Assembly for an investigation to be launched into the situation.

On that day, the House will be dealing with private members’ business, referred to as Opposition Day, and Opposition parliamentarian, Dr Frank Anthony will be moving the motion titled “The persistent shortage of drugs and medical supplies in the Public Health Care Delivery System”.

According to the Order Paper issued by Parliament on Friday, Dr Anthony wants “… that this National Assembly calls on the Minister of Public Health to launch an immediate investigation into which drugs and medical supplies are not in supply and those that in short supply (name of the items and the quantities by region) in the public health care delivery system.”

Furthermore, the Opposition member is asking that Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton report to the National Assembly within one month on which drugs and medical supplies are in short supply or non-existent and the reasons for the shortages of drugs in the public health care delivery system.

He also wants the

PPP/C MP, Dr Frank Anthony

Minister to say what measures have been, and are being taken to rectify this ongoing crisis; the projected timelines for an improvement in the delivery system across the country; and the budgetary implications of these emergency measures, if any; as well as to report on the measures put in place to prevent such a reoccurrence.

Dr Anthony pointed out, in his grounds for the motion, that his crisis of the drugs and medical supplies shortage is putting the lives of thousands at risk as the Public Health Ministry and the Government continues to drag its feet and take no emergency interventions to correct the situation. “… at the present time, there appears to have been

no response to this growing crisis with no procurement of large quantities of these medicines and medical supplies dating back to latter half of 2015, despite on-going and persistent reports of the shortages of medicines, including basic and essential drugs, reagents and x-rays supplies across the country, and most noticeably at its tertiary care and referral hospital, the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Gy$2.8 billion of its Gy$7.2 billion budgetary allocation is for the procurement of medicines and medical supplies,” the Opposition MP outlined in the motion.

The medical doctor further underscored that it is the fundamental right of every citizen to have free med-

ical attention and for the Public Health Ministry to ensure that citizens have access to medicines and medical supplies in sufficient quality and quantity on a timely manner. He noted access to health care is a right and not a privilege granted

by Government.

Moreover, the Member of Parliament pointed out that Gy$5.19 billion was appropriated in the 2015 Budget and this was tripled this year with Gy$19 billion being budgeted, of which some Gy$5 billion has been allocated for the procurement and distribution of medicines and medical supplies to all hospitals, health centres and health posts throughout the country.

He further added that last year over Gy$600 million of the allocated monies for the procurement of medicines and medical supplies were not utilised.

Over the past few months, patients across Guyana continue to face stumbling blocks as access to some basic forms of medical care remains limited, especially at publicly-run health institutions. Some of the most hard hit areas includes Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

However, the Government through the Public Health Ministry has been denying that there is any such shortages in the country.

commence discussions with all the commercial banks that lend to the industry to review terms and conditions of loans taking into account the low prices farmers are getting in order to ‘soften’ repayment conditions.

Following the collapse of the PetroCaribe deal and the hardships that were thrust upon rice farmers across the country, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had proposed a plan to the Government to aid in reviving the industry; however, the Administration never paid it any heed.

Government has staunchly maintained the rice industry falls within the realm of the Private Sector and, therefore, those affected by the prevailing problems should not depend on Government for solutions.

200 acres of cassava fields being destroyed by caterpillars – NAREI providing assistance to farmers

T

he National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) is currently providing assistance to farmers in riverine areas desperately battling caterpillar infestation.

According to a statement from the NAREI, extension officers in Region Two (Pomeroon Supenaam) were informed on May 4 about the infestation in the riverine communities and an assessment was subsequently done to determine the gravity of the situation.

It was discovered that over 200 acres of cassava farms were infested.

Extension officers were immediately dispatched and are assisting farmers in Wakapoa, Curimaru, Myrie and Yarrashirima who are affected by the infestation.

NAREI is assisting the farmers with chemicals (best-tac, fast-tac, or alpha-cypermethrin) to combat the pest. These chemicals are available on the local market.

Extension officers will also be conducting informal training sessions to educate farmers about the safe and effective use of the chemicals for optimal result.

In addition, NAREI will be working closely with the Toshaos and Village Councils to ensure all affected farms are treated.

The statement noted that NAREI is very cognisant of the devastating effects caterpillar infestation would have on crops and by extension the communities.

As such, farmers are asked to be watchful and report any abnormalities to extension officers immediately.

NEWS 25

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Tariff reduction on renewable energy equipment forthcoming – President

I

n an effort to encourage the establishment of renewable energy sources, government will soon be moving to reduce the tariffs on the importation of key materials utilised to create greener energy.

President David Granger has hightlighted the importance of having a greener economy; lessening the country’s addiction to fossil fuel, and moving into a new world with huge wind and solar farms, and hydropower systems.

In order to advance to that stage, President Granger said his government will introduce legislation to allow for the reduction of tariffs on the importation of all equipment used to generate renewable energy.

He was at the time fielding questions on his weekly programme, “The Public Interest”.

In outlining the immediate steps he will soon embark upon to achieve a green economy, the President noted that the

tariff reduction is of critical importance in this process.

“We did this when we were embarking on the information technology revolution, we just reduced tariffs on computer equipment and we must do the same now for power generating equipment,” he stated.

However, the President said the most important aspect would be to educate and expose stakeholders, including children, about the whole concept of a greener country.

“Mainly it is, first of all, providing the sort of education and exposure to students, to teachers, to other operators within the public and private sector so that they will know what is available, have exhibitions, that sort of thing,” he stated.

Thirdly, the President said government must lead the way in rolling out renewable energy systems: “We must take the lead, in government buildings, apartment buildings, uni-

versity and so on, we must take the lead in actually converting these premises into buildings which use renewable energy, within the next 24 months.”

Asked about any particular project of this nature, President Granger said the main initiative at

this moment is to transform Bartica into a model green town, displaying all aspects and measures for implementing sustainable renewable energy.

In fact, he disclosed that there is a plan outlining how government will embark upon converting

Bartica into a green town.

On the matter of funding for these lucrative undertakings, the Head of State made it clear that the country under his rule will not be seeking any handouts from other countries or international organisations.

According to Granger, Guyana must learn to become dependent on its own resources and take responsibility of its own projects.

However, he did not dismiss the idea of forming partnerships with international bodies to work on projects of this nature.

26

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

27

28 news

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt yet to table Telecoms Bill Twelve-year-old gives birth in T&T, E cops probing ven as Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) and Digicel, Guyana’s main mobile service providers, roll out the long-awaited 4G internet service, government is yet to table the Telecommunications Bill which will see the liberalisation of the telecoms sector.

However, when contacted, Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes told Guyana Times International the Bill is currently with the Attorney General’s Chambers for legal vetting. She added that she is hoping to get the piece of legislation to Parliament before the end of this month.

“The bill is receiving the attention of the Attorney General’s Chambers. It is my hope that it will come to the parliament before the end of May,” she stressed. GTT currently holds a 20-plus year monopoly over the sector and stakeholders, particularly Digicel, has long been calling for this monopoly to be broken.

The Telecoms Bill, which was first introduced in 2011 and revised

Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes

in 2013, was with a Special Select Committee in the 10th Parliament and was near conclusion when parliament was prorogued in 2014. It is among 12 other Bills that were recalled in the 11th Parliament.

Meanwhile, under the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration, the Bill underwent a new set of consultations with the two main players in mobile service and other stake-

holders including the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and several nongovernmental organisations before it was submitted to Cabinet.

Government had even appointed two overseas consultants Janice Brendman and Geeta Ragubir to complete the work on the Bill. The Telecommunications Bill seeks to create a competitive regime in the telecommunications sector. It provides for an open, liberalised and competitive sector that will be attractive to new market entrants and investors, while preserving the activities of the current participants.

By creating this competitive environment for telecommunications, the Bill is expected to result in greater choice, better quality of service and lower prices to consumers.

The Bill also specifically addresses the expansion of telecommunication networks and services into unserved and under-served areas, through the institution of a new universal access/universal service programme, in an effort to further national, regional, social and economic development.

(Trinidad Guardian)

P

olice have opened an investigation into who was responsible for the sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl who recently gave birth to a baby boy at the San Fernando General Hospital.

The probe is, however, being complicated by the fact that the police now have two different reports of how the Form One student came to be impregnated. One of them is that she became pregnant by one of two family members who were sexually abusing her. The other is that she was raped by a man who had gone to their home to conduct repairs.

The incident has been confirmed by hospital officials and officers from the Children’s Protection Unit of T&T Police Service.

The T&T Guardian was told that when the girl became impregnated she was living with her mother, who is nursing a medical condition, and father. But after giving birth to a baby boy at the hospital on April 23, she and her baby moved in with other relatives.

The police were tipped off that the child had for several months been a victim of sexual abuse by two male relatives, but her family tried to cover it up.

She was reportedly taken out of school and arrangements were made for her to have a home delivery. However, the child developed complications at home and had to be rushed to the hospital, officers were told. In keeping with hospital’s policy, officials contacted the police because the girl is a minor.

But when the child was interviewed last week by Children Protection Unit officers she related a totally different story about her pregnancy, one which involved sexual assault.

The child told them that sometime ago, a stranger pulled up in front their house with a car. She was alone at home. The man, she said, told her he came to check the meter box. However, he soon dragged her inside the house and raped her. She told the investigators he threatened to kill her if she said anything. The girl said she told no one she was pregnant until she was in her third trimester.

Detectives are investigating all angles,

including the veracity of her second story, as they continue their investigations. Contacted yesterday TTPS Victim and Witness Support Unit head Margaret Sampson-Brown said she was aware of the report, having been informed via the media a few days ago.

“I did seek to have a conversation with the Victim Support officer and the matter has been referred to the Children’s Protection Unit and the Children’s Authority.”

She said she was not aware of the details, but

she said her organisation was standing by and ready to provide any assistance requested.

Meanwhile, the T&T Guardian was also told another investigation has been launched into a report that a 14-yearold girl gave birth at the same hospital three weeks ago.

Last week the Children’s Protection Unit head, Supt Odette Lewis, said there had been 358 cases before the courts arising out of 1,709 reports of child abuse between May last year to February.

Although the required staff for the unit is 216, inclusive of ten civilians, she said the current staff was 99 with one civilian.

Complaining further about staff shortage, a police officer said: “The units are seriously understaffed and it is affecting our ability to do our work efficiently. They passed a cabinet note so long for us to get 35 SRPs to assist throughout the country, but so far nothing doing with that.

“Additionally, SRPs don’t investigate serious crimes so they won’t be doing investigations and they work 40 hours a month so when they complete their hours they will be staying home and the shifts will still be short.”

The officer appealed to the powers to urgently address the situation.

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

H

osororo Falls, located in the Mabaruma sub-region (Region One), is a scenic series of rapids running down a steep hill shaded by trees growing along the banks of Falls creek.

‘Hosororo’ means “running water” in an indigenous dialect; this is aptly represented by the Hosororo Falls.

Water gathers at the ‘foot’ of the Falls, forming a pool used for swimming and bathing purposes. It then cascades down a steep hill into another pool laden with boulders.

A resident pointed out a relic that still exists at the A section of the 'pool' laden with boulders

Water flows from the Falls into a 'pool' filled with boulders. This photo also shows long pipes that were used at the hydro-station years ago

'Low end' of the Falls where it is used by residents of the area for bathing and washing purposes

travel & tourism 29

Water cascades over a rock wall

Falls – a hydro-station. This, he said, was used to provide water to the residents of Hosororo Hill, a hilly community with spectacular views, years ago.

The picturesque location is also good for exploring, where tourists might get an opportunity to spot various animals and birds endemic to the area.

Sunday Times Magazine extends gratitude to Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley for Region One for the opportunity to visit the Hosororo Falls. (Photos by Venessa Low-A-Chee) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

30 feature The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Father of Indo-Guyanese Novel’

Peter Kempadoo, born 1926

By Petamber Persaud

W

hen Peter Kempadoo decided to self-publish his novel “Guiana Boy” in 1960, he brought issuesto the front burner that had plagued and continue to afflict the writing by Guyanese of Indian ancestry.

That publication marked 122 years since the first batch of Indians were transported from India to Guyana. And it was a May Day call for help. It was a May Day call for help that has gone unheeded, then and since.

Indians in Guyana have made and continue to make tremendous strides in every walk of life but their contribution to literature is grudgingly acknowledged.

Why this is so?

Preparing this around May Day 2016, I asked myself what has changed since then and how far the IndoGuyanese novel writing tradition has come to date.

With the publication of “Guiana Boy”, Kempadoo became the first Guyanese writer of Indian ancestry to publish a novel, and one of the first Indo-Caribbean writers to do so, setting into train a number of issues that would have wide ranging impact on the literature of this country and the literature of the region.

This act has earned Kempadoo the distinction ‘Father of Indo-Guyanese Novel Writing Tradition’.

When we talk about a presence in the world of literature, Kempadoo ex-

emplifies this. That novel, “Guiana Boy”, was reissued in 2002 by Peepal Tree Press as “Guyana Boy” – the theme and issues explored in the novel are still relevant.

In 2006, Kempadoo selfpublished a scaled down version of that novel, specially prepared for children and appearing under the title, “The Growingup of Lilboy” – the coming of age story of the protagonist, Lilboy. All in keeping with Kempadoo’s philosophy: caring for the welfare of all even unto the most deprived.

It is Kempadoo’s desire to make that classic Caribbean novel readily and easily available to all and sundry. How? Printing it on newsprint just to get the word out; nothing fancy…

Peter Kempadoo was born into a Christian home that was still steeped in Tamil traditions; the two sets of customs enriching his cosmopolitan outlook.

Kempadoo for most of his life was a self-taught, selfmade man. But he benefited from early formal education and agriculture classes.

Passing both the Junior and Senior Cambridge examinations, Kempadoo started teaching as a pupil teacher at Port Mourant.

At 17, he became a certified teacher. Moving to Georgetown, he was

trained as a male nurse at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

From this base, he reported on hospital matters for the Argosy newspaper until the editor of the periodical, Fred Seal Coon, invited him to join the staff.

From this other base, he prepared news bulletins for the radio and was later invited by Rafeek Khan to read those items.

As a reporter, he was quite visible covering the Venn Commission. That and the events of the politically charged 1953, influenced the migration of Kempadoo and family to England.

In England, Kempadoo worked for the BBC. It was while living here, he wrote and published “Guiana Boy” because all his colleagues (mainly writers) were writing and publishing.

This first novel was well received. But his second novel, “Old Thom’s Harvest”, also set on the Corentyne Coast of Guyana, was scoffed at because of his exploration of the Indian man and African woman relationship at a time when society was not ready to accept miscegenation from the other end of the spectrum.

“Old Thom’s Harvest”was partially autobiographical:he was married to the stunningly beautiful and brilliant Bishop’s High School student, Rosemary Read.

This second novel Kempadoo wrote while living in Trinidad, with the call of home becoming distinctly clearer. The transition period was filled with his work of supplying Caribbean material to a Canadian publishing house. Kempadoo took that opportunity to produce a mountain of educational material.

In 1970, Kempadoo with family returned to Guyana, settling in Golden Grove.

Kempadoo returned to radio, producing local programmes like “Rural Life Guyana”, “We the People”, “Our Kind of Folk” and “Jarai”.

Peter Kempadoo fathered two female writers one of whomis Oonya Kempadoo of “Buxton Spice” fame.

His third novel is due out soon. (Kempadoo said that his third novel is actually the first book he wrote.)

Despite all the literature he has produced, Kempadoo still refers to himself as an accidental writer. And he remains the ‘Father of IndoGuyanese novel writing tradition’, a forerunner to writers like David Dabydeen, Cyril Dabydeen, Oonya Kempadoo, Ryhaan Shah, Betty Lewis, Narmala Shewcharan, Sasenarine

Cover of “Guyana Boy” a Peepal Press reissue of Kempadoo’s “Guiana Boy”

Persaud, Churaumanie Bissundyal, Jan Lowe Shinebourne, Raywat Deonandan, Gokarran Sukhdeo, Harischandra Khemraj, Rueben Lachmansingh and others.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s happening: Coming Soon: “Made in Guyana” by Petamber Persaud. It is a pocketbook bursting with a wealth of information and pictures on people, places and events, and on things made in Guyana. Look out also for “… History of Cricket in Guyana, 18651897” by Clem Seecharan; “Children of Watooka” by Steve Connolly; “History of Plaisance” by Beryl Haynes Adams, and “Guyana at 50”, among others.

feature 31

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

S

unday Times Magazine , for this special Mother’s Day feature, interviewed overseas-based Guyanese star footballer Christopher Nurse, who spoke about his late mother, a significant contributor to his successes, and his Guyanese upbringing.

Christopher’s grandmother, Mildred Giddings, was from Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, and his grandfather, Dorrell Nurse, was from Providence/ Diamond, East Bank Demerara. They met in Mackenzie, Linden, where Christopher’s father, Gilbert Nurse, was born in 1949. Four years later, they moved to Georgetown where Christopher’s father attended Broad Street Government School.

In 1962, Christopher’s grandparents migrated

Overseas-based Guyanese footballer, Christopher Nurse

in an exclusive interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Christopher has played professional football for almost 14 years.

He noted that possessing discipline and commitment are necessary to endure in the sport, as it requires “tremendous dedication”.

“Connecting with my roots and culture gave me a greater understanding of my parents and grandparents. The humility, work ethic and discipline that my parents instilled in me, along with my religion – my mother was a serious Seventh Day Adventist – have been the platform for my career. Once I retire from playing, it will only be right for me to give back to Guyana football. I fight for the country on the field, and you will see me still when I am no His late mother, Patricia longer playing, but in a different capacto the United Kingdom ity,” the star footballer and took his father with declared.

Currently playing them. At this time, many Caribbean families were for Puerto Rico FC, a migrating to the UK af- team owned by NBA star ter the Second World Carmelo Anthony that War with hopes of earn- competes in the North ing “better money”, and American Soccer League, disclosed education for their chil- Christopher that “players come for dren.

“My dad would spend one or two years, but it a lot of time between takes a lot to really stay Guyana and London. He there. It is really not as would do a little bit of ev- easy as you think. There erything, but his trained are millions of people profession was an elec- ready and willing to take trician. He recently re- your job at the drop of a tired and moved back hat. You have to make to Guyana and back to your time count.”

A notable career moPlaisance. When I was eight, my parents di- ment he identified was vorced and I lived with defeating LA Galaxy 4-1 my mother. But my fa- in LA when he played ther still remained pres- for Puerto Rico Islanders ent in my life. Growing in 2010. LA Galaxy had up in London, there Landon Donovan, David is only one sport that Beckham and a host counts and that is foot- of other football stars, ball. It is life and death. and for a team from the It really is that serious. Islands to knock them It is far more than just out of the CONCACAF a sport. It is every kid’s Champions League was dream to make it to the a special moment for the premier league and be a Guyanese footballer.

“Defeating Trinidad professional footballer,” Christopher expressed at Providence Stadium

for Guyana National Team in 2011 was also a great moment. The rivalry between the two nations is incredible and there was not an empty space in the stadium, the atmosphere was incredible and the win was extremely sweet. Then of course to play in Estadio Azteca in front of 85,000 Mexicans in world cup qualification was an amazing story. The history of the stadium and the opposition made for amazing times,” he recalled.

The footballer credits his late mother, Patricia Valerie McGill-Nurse, a Jamaican who worked as a midwife, for his successes. During a point in his life, he was uncertain of being able to make it as a professional footballer; however, his mother was always confident he would.

His mother passed away May 10, 2004, three days after his 20th birthday.

“I remember my birthday well that year.

My mother was in the hospital and my friend had given me a bottle of expensive champagne, which I shared with my mother. She took one sip, spat it out and reached for the mango that was sitting on her dresser.

I watched my mother fight breast cancer for two years. The suffering and pain, the chemotherapy and radiography, I watched my mother fight for all of us, not just for her. She didn't want the pain of her death to affect us; witnessing her

determination, made me stronger. My mother never quit, even in her last days, so there’s no chance I will ever quit,” he affirmed.

Inspired by his moth-

er, Christopher works tirelessly with breast cancer foundations raising awareness and funds.

“I am very passionate about this part of my job.

I take it very seriously for obvious reasons. If it wasn't for my mother I would be nothing. My advice to youths is that life will always throw continued on page 42

32 feature

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The National Trust of Guyana 1972 - 2016

T

he National Trust of Guyana on Tuesday launched its Heritage Exhibition, in observance of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary,at the National Trust building on Carmichael Street.

The exhibition, which runs until May 31, comprises printed screens, models and historic items or artefacts. The screens showcase the architectural, archaeological, historical, social and cultural heritage of Guyana, while models on display include the 1763 Monument.

Many historical objects on exhibition, such as old cookware and even a Puma glass bottle, were borrowed from various museums, including the private museum on the West Coast Demerara.

At the ceremony, Lennox J Hernandez, Chairman of the National Trust of Guyana,spoke of the work of the Trust over the years, its mandate and the theme of the exhibition.Following is an edited version of his speech.

“Originally established on September 23, 1972, and amended in 1975, the National Trust of Guyana is in force for

A section of the Trust Annual Exhibition (2015) at the Technical and Vocational Training Centre, Mahaicony

almost 44 years. Today, I take the liberty of using the words of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee theme – Reflection, Celebration and Inspiration – in looking at the work of the National Trust over the years up to Guyana’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.

As we reflect on the work of the National Trust over these forty plus years, we must realize that such early intent to preserve our heritage must have been strong in Guyana, as the National Trust Act was passed just before the world-wide convention of UNESCO termed the World

Heritage Convention, which was adopted on November 16, 1972.

Further evidence of Guyana’s early desire to protect its heritage is that this country was one of the earliest to ratify the World Heritage Convention, doing so on June 20, 1977.

Unfortunately, we have not kept up with that initial momentum and sometime in the 1980s the National Trust experienced some slacking in its activities because of adverse economic circumstances.

In July 1992 the Trust was revived, but it was not until after the late

1990s that the institution was firmly established and advanced.

Under its general function of “promoting the permanent preservation for the benefit of the nation of property of beauty or historic interest,” the Trust has many important activities. One such is the designation of especially important structures and objects as National Monuments, an action which would allow for greater protection of these items.

This is an expensive and challenging activity: expensive, as it involves much research and documentation of the monument/site/object, including surveying and drawing; challenging, as some private building owners feel that the Trust will be taking away their buildings and we have to convince them otherwise.

Designation as National Monuments is a necessity, however, and the process will continue.

Another important activity of the National Trust is making the public aware of the importance and of the details of our various heritage sites. One aspect of this activity is signage of the monument. These interpretive heritage markers are placed at several heritages sites throughout Guyana to help educate visitors about the importance of the site.

Cover of the biennial Heritage Guyana Magazine (Issue # 2, 2014)

The Trust has also continued to advance cultural heritage education and the tourism sector with its many information booklets and printed materials. These include pamphlets on various items of heritage – archaeological, commemorative monuments, buildings and historic sites, for example.

Major publications include Akawaio Basketry, Cannons in Guyana, Georgetown Heritage Trail, New Amsterdam Heritage Trail (2015) and,launched just last month (on April 18) the Linden Heritage Trail. The Trust also has a Heritage Guyana Magazine, which was launched in 2011 and continues as abiennial publication to promote various aspects of the built heritage in Guyana.

Another initiative started in 2011 is the now annual Children’s Heritage Awareness Programme to expose and educate the younger generation on Guyana’s heritage and culture.

Finally, the Trust is developing a database on heritage sites in Guyana in the form of a register

of monuments and a mini library facility to aid researchers and visitors.

These diverse national monuments and sites are what we have to celebrate. Over the years, the Trust worked on various heritage sites, supporting their promotion and preservation through donations, signage, publications, assessments, documentations, certificates of appreciation and recognition.

The Trust has several historic sites in its direct care, the most important of these are the Dutch sites in the Essequibo and Berbice Rivers: Fort Kykover-al on a small island of the same name, Fort Zeelandia and the Court of Policy Building on Fort Island, in Essequibo, and Fort Nassau in Berbice.

In addition, there are those monuments and sites that are not under the direct care of the National Trust, but which, because of their importance to our history and culture, form part of our heritage and need both protection and preservation.

The National Trust continued on page 47

A section of the 2016 Trust Exhibition (Guyana Golden Jubilee)

33

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Star of the week

Demerara, Land of Trenches (n.d.) (Photo credit- Edward Boyer)

N

Market boats at Georgetown stelling (n.d.)

uriyyih Kamal Gerrard is a 24-year-old award winning actress, radio personality and director of NG Communications. The Miss World Guyana 2016 hopeful is currently representing Region Eight and has been actively engaged in raising awareness on Mental Health through her NGO - One Act Foundation. Nuriyyih grew up in Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, and attended Annandale Secondary School, then on to the University of Guyana and National School of Theatre Arts and Drama. Nuriyyih’s accomplishments include award for Best Actress at the National Schools Drama Festival (2008); lead role in the film “Shattered Hopes and Dreams”, CARIFESTA X (2008); award for Best Actress “Ensnared” National Drama Festival (2011); part cast of Link Show (2012-2014); hosted the CADVA and One Billion Rising “Let the Women Speak” concert (2014); official spokesmodel for Southland International’s “Moussy Colour Your Life” promotion (2014-2015); award for Best Actress “Crack Jokes” National Drama Festival, (2015); Best Female Radio Personality Hits and Jams Mash awards (2015) – just to name a few. Go to PotaroSiparuni on Facebook to learn more about Nuriyyih’s work in the Miss World Guyana pageant.

34 news

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

1st year in office - Gaskin gives Coalition Gov’t ‘good’ rating

B

usiness Minister Dominic Gaskin has described the first year for the APNU+AFC coalition government as a good one. He stated that investors are regaining confidence in Guyana.

Minister Gaskin was quoted by GINA as saying that it has been a good year, but added that the work has just begun. “We are a government that has been elected for a five-year term, and it will indeed take us five years to significantly improve what we have inherited.’

It is against this background that the Ministry of Business has set out its commitment towards improving the “ease of doing business” in Guyana and is currently in the final stages of developing the ministry’s five-year strategic plan.

“We have been placing a lot of emphasis on improving the ease of doing business in Guyana. As most people, especially business people will know, we have not

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

done very well on the Global ease

of doing business index over the years,” Gaskin said.

The Minister pointed out that the Ministry has recently received aid from a World Bank team in identifying multi-sectoral issues that affect Guyana’s ranking on the “Ease of doing Business” index.

In addition to this, the ministry has received Cabinet’s approval for the implementation of a single windows automated processing system (SWAPS). This is a trade facilitation programme where companies can transact business with Government agencies through a single electronic window. It allows a submission to be automatically processed by a number of different agencies.

Minister Gaskin noted that all of the sub-agencies and boards under the Ministry of Business have benefited from improved leadership and changes, and there is improved performance from these agencies.

On names…

…of places hat does naming a place mean? Well, there’s the obvious one of folks being able to know what they’re actually talking about. Not in the ontological sense of “knowing” what the “thing” REALLY is, but simply to “reference” it. But “referencing” something – let’s say, a chair – implies you know what the qualities of “chairs” are.

So with all that extended clearing of underbrush, can we examine what does calling Bartica a “town” mean? If Bartica on the day before wasn’t a “town”, what does the baptism mean? Towns, we know, are larger than villages and have larger populations.

When, for instance, Anna Regina was made a “town” back in 1970, the Government cobbled together several villages with the village of Anna Regina to take care of that requirement. Any villages around for Bartica Town to annex?

The commercial activities in a town are much more diversified and extensive than in a village – but as far as we can tell, Bartica will still be depending on mining. But if the mining is extensive enough, it can be a “mining” town – like Linden. But then Barticians better watch out, since Bartica’s existence will be dependent on that one (precarious) activity.

And that’s where the main function of a town comes in: the Mayor and Town Council elected to run the “town” has to now actively plan and execute programmes to diversify its economy. So let’s all hold our breaths as we look at what the new executives of Bartica Town will be doing. “Go Green”, we’re told!

Then there’s the “renaming” drive. What does renaming a place mean? Well, for one, the name could be objectionable for one reason or another. For instance, “Murray St” named after the Lt Governor during the 1823 Rebellion, was renamed “Quamina St” after one of the slaves who was beheaded for participating in the rebellion.

Then we may want to honour a respected figure.

The folks at Mackenzie and Wismar decided to rename their town “Linden” after PM Forbes Linden Sampson Burnham. The PPP decided it wanted to similarly honour President Cheddi Jagan by renaming Timehri Airport after him. But President Granger seems to have a special liking for renaming places. He startled everyone when he named the Convention Centre after the first President Arthur Chung, since he didn’t seem to have consulted anyone.

But there wasn’t any fuss since Chung was, after all, a notable figure in Guyana’s history. But now that he’s decided to rename Ogle Airport after EF Correia, he’s being challenged.

Both procedurally, on who decides these things in a democracy and substantively, as to why Correia.

Guyanese want to know what’s in the name! …and huckstering With all this talk of “arrivals” we can’t help but remember that this “vendor” situation isn’t new. Even before the abolition of slavery, it was slave women who planted the “provision grounds” and some went on to sell their excess produce on Sunday in what became markets. Markets were more than a place of exchange and like the ones they would’ve known in West Africa were centres of cultural sharing and transmission. After slavery this activity intensified throughout the Caribbean mostly by women called “hucksters” here and “higglers” in Jamaica.

But when women tried to go from vegetables into other products, the British Merchants who controlled the import trade gave priority to the newly-arrived Portuguese who had finished their indentureship and entered the retail trade. The African female-dominated hucksters were practically driven out and left in the margins.

The Government in 2016 has an obligation to finally bring them back into the mainstream. …and “fat cats” Back in 2012, Moses Nagamootoo, man of words as he fancies himself, dubbed the PPP Ministers and those aligned with them as “fat cats” who had become “playful, prime and plump”.

With the “marginal” $200,000 he added to the $1.5M monthly salary, what has he become?

W

35

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

One year later: The 100 days manifesto rag needs a bath, please

By Lomarsh Roopnarine

W

ithout a doubt, the worse piece of propaganda dished out to the Guyanese people occurred in 1966, when Guyana was given independence. The Guyanese people were told repeatedly that independence would give Guyanese the opportunity to rule Guyana by Guyanese in the interest of Guyanese. Look at what has happened fifty years later, not only a continuation of the above figment of imagination but also a palpitation of propaganda.

Any doubts I had about what was said in 1966 were erased when I spoke to the late black Guyanese scholar Oscar Dathorne in 2007. For the unfamiliar, Dathorne was a Professor of English at various universities in Africa and the United States who wrote extensively on the black experience in the developing world. Our conversations had always taken twists and turns but I was taken aback when he asked me where was I in 1966. I said I was too little in 1966 to understand anything.

Dathorne told me he was invited by Forbes Burnham to celebrate Guyana’s independence in 1966 in much the same way what is going right now, that is,

to make a positive impression and every expense would be on the state. During the celebration, Dathorne told Burnham to consider the poor people when spending so much money on future celebrations. That was that between Burnham and Dathorne.

No more invitations.

The point here is that Burnham is the man who started these wild celebrations in Guyana soon after Independence which continued during his reign until God took him out, not the self-proclaimed resistance revolutionaries of 1970s and 1980s. The celebrations were, of course, to hide the dirty side of the dictatorship and divineness of his defunct socialism policies and to feed the Guyanese people, especially the African loyalists, with his propaganda medicine.

The result was more love for Fatboy, his aka in some quarters in Georgetown.

Fast forward to 2015 and I believe the 100 days manifesto from the current regime is the wickedest propaganda dished out to Guyanese in the history of Guyana. No other government in Guyana and the English-speaking Caribbean has ever lied so blatantly to the people in the first year in power than the current coalition regime.

The hard copy of the 100 days manifesto was handed to me by a fellow who attended my presentation at Caribbean Studies Association (May 2015) in New Orleans, Louisiana. I thanked him and said this. If the coalition can meet 15 per cent of what is written in the manifesto in 1000, not 100 days, it would floor Guyana.

I am still waiting for things to happen and the politicians need to rinse themselves from this national lie, come clean, and deliver.

There is a growing consensus even to the most distant outsider that the current regime is incompetent, self-centred, unskilled and intellectually lazy.

Whatever this regime and its supporters are trying to convey, its actions, on close scrutiny, reveal that it continues to lie to the Guyanese people.

It is not difficult to understand why this position is taken. A majority of the current leaders were moulded under one of the most notorious dictatorships in Caribbean. Their so-called larger than life political personality, according to some, was nourished and nurtured during the darkest period of Guyana’s political history. The defectors in coalition are still mad while the junior leaders are simply decorative.

William Shakespeare, I think, once said show me your company/ friends and I will tell who you are.

I say show your political company and training and I will tell you who you are.

Arguably, the current crop of politicians are guided not by the duties of leadership but by the rights of leadership. Political office is used for personal gains.

What is troubling is that the Guyanese people lose and the politicians win, and if this is the regime we look forward to growth and development for the next four years, then expect a march towards decadence and despair.

But there has to be some options for the deprived to express themselves now rather than to wait for four years at the polls.

From a philosophical point of view, there is something called Remedial Rights. When a group or territory of people has enough evidence to prove violation of human rights and persistent violation of agreements and promises, then holding the government accountable is seen as a moral justification.

Before we move to this point, let us give the current regime an opportunity to give the 100 days manifesto rag a bath (lomarsh. roopnarine@jsums.edu).

36

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Starting over…

This week's Crossword I

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

…in rice rfaan Ali’s one of the rising profiles in the PPP and showed his creativity by introducing a motion calling on the Government to re-open negotiations with Venezuela on the Petro-Caribe “oil for rice” deal. Some might say, why must there even be a motion? As the lawyers say, “res ipsa loquitur” – the thing speaks for itself.

When we were exporting rice and paddy to Venezuela – 200,000+ tonnes annually – we were smiling all the way to the bank. Coming and going.

Here it was, we were getting oil on a long-term repayment plan – once the price was over US$50/ barrel. But the sweetness didn’t stop there. We then shipped rice to them at US$780/ tonne – almost twice the world market price for the oil. Our farmers also grinned all the way to the bank.

But the good times didn’t stop there. We could then pay our farmers in Guyana dollars – which we can print at will – and not worry whether our money is plunging or anything. Can’t beat that, can you?

Well, the APNU/AFC must’ve thought they could.

Why else would they not even make an attempt to save that market for 30% of our exports of rice?

Surely, it wasn’t because most rice farmers didn’t vote for them, was it? Naaaah!

They probably thought they could bag replacement markets with a snap of their fingers.

Not long after, Moses Nagamootoo, in charge of Information, jetted out to Mexico to attend the “Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit”. Pushing “transparency”, “no State control of Government media” and other such things Nagamootoo’s expert on. When he returned and announced he’d clinched mega contracts for our paddy in Mexico, farmers were ecstatic. It was like Nagamootoo put in his thumb and pulled out a plum!!

Well, farmers are presumably still waiting for the deal to be sealed – after all, since then, rice prices have continued to wallow in the doldrums.

Those in the know (meaning those who know the “Bluff Master”) weren’t holding their breath. So Ali’s intervention comes like a breath of fresh air. Surely we can match Suriname’s prices – and then our shipping costs ought to be less, nuh?

The lone sticking point might be the Venezuelans raising the temperature on their border controversy in the wake of EXXON’s discovery of oil off Essequibo.

But the old hands in the PNC would know Maduro has to play to the gallery so as not to be outflanked on that issue by his Opposition.

What’d we have to lose? If the Americans can resume trading with Cuba, without compensation for nationalisations why can’t we ship rice and save our farmers? …in security It’s clear the Government doesn’t realise how much damage has been inflicted by its insistence on fighting crime through statistics. They can massage the numbers all they want, but the experience of citizens up to now has been “there’s lies, damned lies…and statistics!”

The bottom line is, it’s true there was crime in the country. But it’s also true that one of the major reasons the coalition pipped the PPP at the elections was they convinced folks they’d do better than what prevailed. Ramjattan went on and on and on about what a maven he was on security. So for him, who went out of his way to hound Rohee about “crime rates” – even moving a “no confidence motion” against him – to now harp and carp about “statistics” to excuse his ineptitude is just too much.

If Prezzie won’t listen to the PPP, can’t he at least take notice of his squaddie Col Gomes’ plea to dump Ramjattan? …with vendors With 500 vendors to shoehorn into 136 “spots” at the new, temporary location, why don’t the mandarins at City Hall take a stroll through Stabroek Market?

There’re at least 50 empty stalls that can be rented to those who had to vacate their pavement spots.

feature 37

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The border community that sees a bright future despite constraints

W

hite Water village is a community in Region One (BarimaWaini) just a few minutes from the border with Venezuela.

The community was established in the 1970s by a group of farming families from the Warrau tribe who had been living on the border. Its founding members included Phelomina David, Theresa David, Paul David, Paul Daniels, Nash Thompson and Leonard Cyrus.

The first Toshao, or what was known as Captain at that time, was Lewis Salvador.

The current Toshao is Cleveland DeSouza.

The families used the settlement as a secondary inland base where they farmed, selling their produce to the Venezuelans. The crops cultivated in those days included paddy and corn, but the residents have since diversified their activities. After the community grew in size, they decided to take up permanent residence in White Water, which is named after the creek

that flows through it.

In those days, there were no roads connecting the residents to the other satellite communities throughout the region, so boats were used to get around and transport produce through the forest terrain.

The village in its early days had a population of approximately 150 people, but has since grown to 1,300 according to a census.

Farming is still the main occupation for the community members. Today, they farm cassava, ginger, corn, yam and peanuts, while some fish and hunt wild meat. Their livelihood is pursued on a level just above subsistence, since they sell their goods to Kumaka market - some 21 miles from the village.

There is a large playground at the centre of the main area of White Water where the primary and nursery schools and community centre are located. There is also a pavilion at the front of the playground.

The playground is encircled by houses with large gaps between them.

Sport is the major recreation of the village.

Weekly games of cricket and football are organised within the community. Both male and female teams participate in events hosted

by White Water. Teams from other communities are usually invited to play White Water teams.

The most popular sports are cricket and football.

Christianity is the only religion practised in the community. White Water has a health centre that offers basic services, but for major ailments, people are required to travel to Mabaruma Hospital some 22 miles from the village. Cell service is available, but landline telephones are not.

The tranquil village is known for being crimefree and is described as “thriving with a bright future”.

When Sunday Times Magazine visited the area for the launch of Region One (BarimaWaini) ambassador Divya Yabindranauth’s Beauty with a Purpose Campaign (a contestant in the Miss World

Making cassava bread

Students stand in front of White Water Primary school

The village's toshao Cleveland DeSouza at a welcoming ceremony for Miss BarimaWaini Divya Yabindranauth, a contestant in the Miss World Guyana pageant

Guyana 2016 pageant), residents rolled out a warm welcome.

Speaking to this publication, they expressed the need for more school supplies, as they lack essential resources for students. It was disclosed that parents would hold

food sales to raise funds to purchase stationery and other necessary materials. Additionally, the need for better roads was also voiced. This, residents say, hinders economic activities.

Although faced with challenges, residents of

White Water remain optimistic that their village will one day be a thriving community. (The village’s history was provided by its secretary and schoolteacher Venus Jordon.) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Village's sports ground

38 art & culture

W

inston Strick’s artistic talents and dedication to his passion for art have made him a notable artist whose mastery in creating distinguished artwork has been celebrated, as some of his pieces are a permanent fixture in the National Collection housed at Castellani House.

His painting “Silver Moon; Walk on Water”, part of the National Collection, is a beautiful, evocative painting.

It is one of the few, not well-known paintings by Strick. This is because Strick is best known for his superb work in leather. “Silver Moon; Walk on Water” shows that he is an equally excellent painter. In fact, he had pursued painting at the Brooklyn Museum Art School, New York, from 1972-1973. In 1974, he returned to Guyana at a time of nationalistic fervour, when artists of African heritage were returning to their roots.

"Habitat" 1989 (Oil)

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Strick’s oeuvre is large and varied. He has won many awards and prizes for his leatherwork, but his paintings have also been recognised - as in 1985 when he won the Brewmasters Competition Painting category.

His artwork “Woman”, also part of the National Collection, is an example of Strick’s artistry in leather. While there are Guyanese who use local leather to make an array of footwear, handbags and crafts items, most of them have not ventured beyond these. Strick’s use of this medium for creative, artistic pieces is unprecedented.

In addition to this, he displays an astonishing level of artistry and inventiveness in the pieces he has produced. He uses various kinds of leather of different thicknesses, and incorporate seeds, pieces of metal and other objects and materials to produce works that are truly pieces of fine art.

Indeed, he has won numerous awards for his work.

Strick discovered leather around 1975 and began creating remarkable pieces of sculptural, decorative and even

Artist Winston Strick with his National Collection piece "Morning Breeze"

wearable art in this medium. He became associated with the Roots and Culture Gallery, which opened in 1983. The grassroots orientation of this gallery gave Strick an excellent context to explore local materials and develop his art.

In 1991, for his sterling contributions to the field of art in Guyana, Strick was bestowed the Medal of Service by former President of Guyana, the late Hugh Desmond Hoyte.

(Information on Strick’s artwork taken from “Panorama: A Portrait of Guyana”. Photos courtesy of Castellani House) "Morning Breeze" 1990 (Leather)

"Silver Moon; Walk on Water" n.d. (Acrylic)

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

news 39

Brazil Senate puts Rousseff on trial, ending 13 years of leftist rule B

R A S I L I A , (Reuters) – Brazil’s Senate voted today to put leftist President Dilma Rousseff on trial in a historic decision brought on by a deep recession and a corruption scandal that will now confront her successor, Vice President Michel Temer.

With Rousseff to be suspended during the Senate trial for allegedly breaking budget rules, the centrist Temer will take the helm of a country that again finds itself mired in political and economic volatility after a recent decade of prosperity.

The 55-22 vote ends more than 13 years of rule by the left-wing Workers Party, which rose from Brazil’s labour movement and helped pull millions of people out of poverty before seeing many of its leaders tainted by corruption investigations.

Fireworks rang out in cities across Brazil after the vote at the end of a 20-hour session in the Senate. Police had briefly clashed with proRousseff demonstrators in Brasilia yesterday, exchanging volleys of tear gas and rocks.

Rousseff, a 68-yearold economist and former Marxist guerrilla who was Brazil’s first female president, is unlikely to be acquitted in a trial that could last as long as six months.

A two-thirds majority is needed in the Senate to convict her but the scale of her defeat on Thursday showed that the opposition already has the support it needs.

“Impeachment is a tragedy for the country … It is a bitter though necessary medicine,” opposition Senator Jose Serra, tipped to become foreign minister under Temer, said during the debate. “But having the Rousseff government continue would be a bigger tragedy. Brazil’s situation would be unbearable.”

The impeachment process began in the lower house of Congress in December. Rousseff has denied any wrongdoing and called her impeachment a “coup”.

Temer, a 75-year-old centrist and constitutional scholar who spent decades in Brazil’s Congress, now faces the challenge of restoring economic growth and calm at a time when

er. “I fear that those who come after her will erase all that has been done for the poor.”

Rousseff’s government made a last-ditch effort to annul her impeachment but it was rejected by the Supreme Court yesterday.

Senate Speaker Renan Calheiros said Rousseff will be notified of the upper house’s decision this morning and will have to leave Brasilia’s Planalto presidential palace, though she can continue to live in her official residence, have a staff and use an Air Force plane as suspended head of state. continued on page 47

Members of Brazil’s Senate react after a vote to impeach President Dilma Rousseff for breaking budget laws in Brasilia, Brazil, May 12, 2016.

(REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino)

Brazilians, increasingly polarized, are questioning whether their institutions can deliver on his promise of stability.

In addition to a towering budget deficit, equal to more than 10 percent of its annual economic output, Brazil is suffering from rising unemployment, plummeting investment and a projected economic contraction of more than 3 percent this year.

“Only major reforms can keep Brazil from moving from crisis to crisis,” says Eduardo Giannetti da Fonseca, an economist and author in São Paulo who has written extensively about the country’s socioeconomic problems.

But those changes, including an overhaul of pension, tax and labor laws and a political reform to streamline fragmented parties in a mercenary Congress, could remain elusive at a time of turmoil.

While opposition supporters celebrated in the central Paulista Avenue of Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paulo, many Brazilians are concerned that the end of Workers Party rule could bring back bad times for the poor, who have made great strides in the last decade.

“Has Dilma made mistakes? Of course.

But the Workers Party has done so much for us, for the people,” said Benedito Polongo, a 63-year-old janitor outside a shiny Brasilia business center, who said he had no job or bank account before the party came to pow-

40 history

T

he Linden Heritage Trail is a route that highlights historic buildings, landmarks and places of interest in the town of Linden, Region 10.

Derived from the recently published booklet “Linden Heritage Trail” by theGuyana National Trust, recognition of the trail aims to inform and educate persons about Linden’s architectural and social heritage, in the hope that it encourages preservation, as well as provide a guide to points of interest for visitors.

Also included in the Trust’s booklet are build-

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

ings that are no longer standing in Linden but remain significant to the history of the town.

Forty-two sites and monuments are featured in the Heritage Trail, including those long gone.

The trail begins with Amelia’s Ward and winds through Mackenzie, Wismar and Christiansburg, ending at Wisroc, where its Blue Lakes and White Sands are also featured.

Brief history of its origins

Linden is an amalgam of several early settlements, named after European settlers of the

Cover of the Guyana National Trust publication, “Linden Heritage Trail”

time, as well as post-independence constructions.

In the 19th century, Christianburg was the first settlement on the west bank of the Demerara River.

A Dutch settlement, it was known first as Stabroek, where balata was harvested, and later, sugar cane cultivated.

It was later named Christianburg by then Governor Christian Finette, who would combine his first name with his wife’s maiden name ‘Burg’, to rename the settlement.

During the 1830 -1840 German migration to British Guiana after emancipation, many died along the coast; those who remained moved up the Demerara River to settle in a place they named Wismar.

In later years, Wismar would become a hub for porknockers, as well as the headquarters of a once thriving Sprotson’s Limited, which, among other things, operated a steamer “ferry” service, ferrying passengers from Georgetown to Wismar.

Then in 1916, bauxite was discovered on the east bank of the Demerara River by the Europeans –by one particular European in fact,called George Bain Mackenzie, after whom the ward is named.

A geologist, Mackenzie found bauxite deposits and, it is said, realizing the financial windfall of his discovery, bought out large tracts of mining land which he

View across the Demerara River in Linden

claimed then were for cultivating oranges.

Mackenzie quickly developed into a mining area and, as people migrated for jobs, a settlement; by 1918 it was a thriving bauxite region, run by the Demerara Bauxite Company Limited (DEMBA), owned by the Aluminium Company of Canada (ALCAN).

In 1918, the settlements of Christianburg and Wismar merged to be governed as one area. In 1926 it was given Country District status, and village status in 1956. In 1967, Wismar, Christianburg and Mackenzie were merged and the area named Marmacburg.

In April 1970, Marmacburg was granted town status andrenamed Lindenafter then Prime Minister of Guyana, Linden Forbes Burnham; it encompasses some 89km2(34.36 square miles).

Amelia’s Ward was constructed in the 1970s, as a self-help housing settlement in Linden. Divided by the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, which was declared open in 1968, it is among the youngest settlements in Linden.

The trail

Arriving

first

at

Amelia’s Ward off the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, many of the buildings, monuments, landmarks and sites on the trail are mid - late 20th century constructs, reflecting the young history of Linden.

Included in the trail are schools, churches, cinemas and government buildings; neighbourhood communities and recreational areas, as well as obsolete and antiquated industrial buildings and machinery, and ruins.

The Amelia’s Ward 1970s clay brick and timber windows primary school construction, the Wismar-Christianburg

Multilateral School, opened in 1963; the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Churchin Mackenzie, completed in 1951 and rehabilitated over the years, as well as Wismar Market and the Mackenzie Wismar Bridge are some such sites.

At the end of the booklet, a map of the trail details places described in its previous pages.

The town of Linden today bears a tumultuous history and constantly struggles to maintain an economic foothold.

However, it remains one of the most populated areas in the country.

The Christianburg waterwheel, part of an historic 1855 hydro-powered sawmill, is one of the earliest examples of industrial engineering in the area

The official Cenotaph of Linden. Constructed of aluminium with a concrete base, the monument was built in the late 1980s, replacing an earlier cenotaph at a different location erected in 1968 to honour the soldiers of World War 1 and II

feature 41

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese aromatherapist immortalises mother’s passion for helping others

Z

ena Hallam is a Florida-based certified aromatherapist, reflexologist, and modernday alchemist. She first experienced the power of natural therapies as a girl in Guyana, watching her mother “heal” the people of her village, including her grandmother, who would have lost her leg and then her life to diabetes, if not for Zena mother’s knowledge of herbal medicine.

A few of Tazeka's products

Watching others heal and thrive was a truly transformative experience for Zena. She decided to formally study natural methods of healing, including reflexology, but when she immersed herself in the world of essential oils, she knew she was on to something special.

She studied aromatherapy in the US, England, and France, and earned certification as a clinical aroma-

therapist.

Essential oils helped Zena through some of the lowest points of her life.

Taking so many oils on her travels was hardly practical, so she began to blend them. She created blends to keep her spirits up, keep her body balanced and keep her mind from going in circles. Soon she was creating blends for friends and family too.

To share these posi-

tive healing experiences and make aromatherapy convenient for modern lifestyles, she created the Tazeka roll-on applicator, which is not only easy to apply, but has an attractive protective case, allowing quick identification and preventing leaks if you are carrying it around in your pocket or handbag.

Armed with 17 individual blends, Tazeka ranges from ‘motivation’ to ‘slim sorter’ to ‘wise woman’.

Each Tazeka blend comes with its own simple set of instructions, but all of the oils are designed to be rolled right on your skin.

A need to immortalize her mother’s passion for “healing”, Zena came up with ‘Tazeka’ – an acronym of her mother’s name (Tazmoon) and hers (Zena).

“My mum, sadly, passed away some 18 years ago. She was an amazing, gifted, natural healer who gave selflessly, and as a young girl, I watched her give, always from her heart, to anyone who reached out to her. She always wanted her daugh-

Zena Hallam

ters to learn and take an interest in what she was doing, and used all-natural remedies. Needless to say, we weren’t even remotely interested. It was only when I got to my early forties that I realized I had a love and passion for natural healing,” Zena recalled.

Zena added that Tazeka is sharing her mother’s story and the knowledge she passed down to her so that she too may now reach out to others, from her heart, to share the gift of healing.

According to Zena, research into aromatherapy has made great strides in recent years, and the future of aromatherapy is looking brighter than ever.

The aromatherapist added that aromatherapy is now being used in care homes, hospices and clinics as a complementary

therapy in the UK, the US and other countries.

“A dear friend and aromatherapist colleague is working with pharmaceutical companies to develop products to manage the side effects of cancer and its treatment, which will hopefully be used within the NHS. Research can now prove that there is real science behind essential oils. Studies have shown, for example, that tea tree oil may be effective against MRSA. There is a wealth of valuable information and ongoing research on numerous essential oils, as well as active components of essential oils, in support of aromatherapy,” she noted.

Visit www.tazekaaromatherapy.com for more information on Zena’s healing blends. (http:// guyanesegirlsrock.org)

42 feature

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Remembering mom on Mother’s... obstacles and make dreams seem unachievable, but believe in your dreams and stay true to yourself. Stay focused and ignore the negative voice of others, even if they are of close relation. Anything can be achieved if you truly dedicate yourself to the process with action and more than just talks,” Christopher encouraged.

May 7 is Christopher’s birthday, Mother’s Day is May 8, and his mother’s death anniversary is May 10. He revealed that this month for him is “always very tough” as he deals with different emotions remembering his beloved mother.

from page 31

The footballer (second from left) and colleagues support breast cancer foundations to raise awareness and funds

Christopher (left) showcases his skills on field

43

The Conflict about the Conflict W WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Ravi Dev

e all know that we are in a crisis in Guyana – never mind us whistling in the dark about “Jubilee”. With murders and mayhem committed right next to police stations, business activity plunging by at least 30%, businessmen not investing, and fear enveloping the land, I wonder what else we could call it if not a crisis.

And behind it all is the “politics as war by other means” declared back in the sixties.

While the politicians will deny it, the question then arises as to why we haven’t been able to end this war. One of the major reasons is that our politicians have studiously avoided identifying the nature of

the war and so for almost half a century have been shadow boxing without offering us a chance of peace.

Our problem in Guyana is a political problem and it must have a political solution.

The currency of politics is power, and politics is ultimately concerned with the competition of groups within a given society to capture and secure State power.

There is nothing sinister about this struggle for power: the question is what would the power holder do with the power and would the power holder be given the legitimacy to use the power by the citizens of the country?

The composition of the competing groups varies with the nature of the divisions or cleavages in the society:

all societies are split economically, most ethnically and some racially. The nature of the political competition depends to a large extent on which of the cleavages emerge and remain as the most salient.

In Guyana, we all know our political competition is based on the ethnicity/race (they are synonymous in Guyana) dominant cleavage and it not only suffuses politics but most of our other social interactions.

But yet a powerful norm has emerged that rejects the public acknowledgement of this fact. In fact, if one dares to raise the issue in open discourse, apart from the distaste aroused, you are immediately branded a “racist”.

The main culprits who have purveyed this obtuseness have been the early politicians who have, by and large, dominated the politics of Guyana into the modern era.

Their Marxist-Leninist ideological premises evidently compelled each of them to deny that when it came to protecting their political interests, Guyanese divided themselves on ethnic lines.

Every day of the year, these same citizens run around the country announcing strenuously we are all “one” – “Guyanese”. But when they went individually behind the blinds of the voting booths, they divided themselves as if they were all wired to some ethnic headquarters.

And it was not

because they were “bad” but because of deep-seated, structural insecurities and fears coalescing around ethnic identity. And because these insecurities would be exploited by the same politicians who would sanctimoniously deny ethnicity’s centrality and spout the “all awe is one” mantra.

But there was another piece of evidence, proving the politicians knew very well of the ethnic selfidentification by the people. Before ROAR, all of the parties in Guyana defined themselves as “multiracial” parties.

The parties thus conceded that to be seen as legitimate, they had to try to convince the voters they had representatives from all the ethnic groups in their midst and were then

competent to represent all their interests. Yet since the elections of 1957, all elections have been more or less ethnic censuses where the Indians voted for the PPP and Africans voted for the PNC. Other groups had to make their choice. Yet the parties insisted that they were multiethnic through the transparent subterfuge of “ethnic window dressing”.

But with all ethnic groups now “minorities” in Guyana, the uniethnic parties cannot even pretend to be wearing “multiethnic clothes” – read “tokens”.

This the PNC evidently did in 2015 by overtly coalescing with the AFC for its “Indian” 11%. Is the conflict over the conflict over?

Will the PPP follow suit analogously?

Several injured as hotel building collapses in Jamaica er joined in the search and rescue. Doctors, other medical officials and Jamaica Defence Force soldiers were also on location.

Workers said the project was originally

K

i n g s t o n , Jamaica - The collapse yesterday of a section of the Blue Diamond Royalton Hotel currently under construction in Negril, Hanover, forced Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie to have the parish council issue a 30-day stop order on the project, while he named a three-member team headed by National Works Agency boss EG Hunter to investigate the incident.

Hunter’s team will include Kingston and St Andrew Corporation City Engineer Norman Shand, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Chief Technical Director Dwight Wilson.

Five men who were working at the hotel site when the building gave way were rescued by the Jamaica Fire Brigade Emergency Medical

Services (EMS). Three of the five remained in hospital last night, with one suffering from a serious injury to the eye. “… So far, information confirmed is that five people were taken to hospital. Two persons were treated and released and there are three others, one of whom was due to be transferred to the Cornwall Regional Hospital with a severe eye injury,” said Daryl Vaz, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.

Vaz, who yesterday spoke with the press following a tour of the hotel construction site, expressed condolence to the family of those injured.

Workmen said they were working overnight, pouring concrete, when about 5:13 am a section of the roof of the three-

storey building collapsed onto the second floor.

“Mi hear di man dem under the building a bawl fi help and nobody a help because they (emergency crew) only have the thing dem a push, push through the thing (rubble). Wi (workers) needed to go over there go help the youth dem because wi black brother dem over there a dead,” one construction worker pleaded to police and firefighters who had sealed off the scene.

Other workers joined the plea, and the police eventually allowed about 20 people onto the property to assist with the search and rescue efforts.

Superintendent Gary Morgan, who is in charge of the EMS, said approximately 25 emergency workers and firefighters responded, while another three from the Ministry of Health lat-

schedule to be completed over a four-year period. However, they alleged that the owners were trying to complete it in 18 months, hence the pouring of concrete at nights with poor vis-

ibility.

The more than 500room all-inclusive resort was planning to open for business between later this year and next year, one of the workers said.

(Jamaica Observer)

44

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

45

46

T

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Gender relations and indentureship Anu Dev

he shortage of women on the plantations during and immediately after Indentureship, because the recruiters in India couldn’t secure even the one-third quota, had a great impact in reshaping social relations in the new community they would form in Guyana.

It played a major role in breaking down the caste and even religious distinctions that were so powerful in India. The low status given to widows or women with children there was also reversed as they were so in demand.

Coming from a rather patriarchal society, but who could now work independently, it forced a rethinking of the role of women since they now seized greater agency in choosing their companions or remaining with them.

I will illustrate these points with examples from my own fam-

ily history. My paternal great-great grandfather Rambishun (b1869) left a wife and baby son in Ishmailpur, Bihar and arrived in British Guiana in 1888 where he “married” Sanichari (b1873), who already had a son, Rambharose. Not long after, Sanichari’s widowed mother married a Muslim man. Her oldest son, brought up as a Muslim, was younger than his nephew, my great grandfather.

Interestingly, Sanichari separated from Bishun in his later years and raised her grandson from her firstborn, Rambharose, who had passed away.

Whether fact or fiction, the story is told in my family of one of Rambishun’s seven brothers arriving in Demerara to look for him, but upon discovering the latter had married a local woman outside his caste, returned to India without even seeing Rambishun.

If true, Rambishun and Sanichari would have been one of the few Hindus whose marriage was registered to have been checked in the immigration depot’s records. “Marriage” was a rather fluid relationship to the early indentureds, and

even the ones performed by the Hindu or Muslim rites were not recognised by the authorities.

Remarkably, however, towards the end of Indentureship with an increase in the number of women from local births, the immigrants began to recreate the communities they had left behind in India. And to reintroduce in inevitably altered forms, some of the old social relationships.

The religions of Hinduism and Islam, which the immigrants had brought with them in their practices, provided the framework for this change, but it played out within the plantation environment. My paternal great grandfather Ramlagan (b1896) living at De Willem on the West Coast Demerara, for instance, was betrothed to a girl in Leguan at the age of eight in 1904. She was identified through “Jahaji” relations.

Ramlagan was expected to bring her to his home when he “became a man”, most likely between 14 and16 but never did. He had learnt to read Hindi, considered himself “modern” and was determined

to select his own bride. As a young man, he was the driver (foreman) of a female weeding gang and there saw and courted his future bride, my great grandmother, Kaamoda (b1901) sometime around 1918. She boasted that while he had his way with “many girls” she withstood his charms until marriage!

However while she was famously very strong willed and independent, Kaamoda was typical of the women from that time onwards who allowed their husbands to strut on the stage as “the man” but behind the scenes was an equal when it came to running the house and making major family decisions. She worked from the age of six in the “backdam” and after marriage, also helped with the 3-acre “farm” Rambishun had acquired in exchange for his return passage to India.

It was on the site of the old factory at De Willem which has been abandoned and had to be laboriously cleared and levelled. She would also plant, cut and thresh paddy from the land she and Ramlagan rented.

All of Kaamoda’s first four children – sons – died young and it was not until 1929 that my grandmother Surujdai was born, followed by her sister in 1939. Kaamoda would have then been 38 years old – practically middle aged. She worked in the cane fields until she was sixty and then, along with Ramlagan, worked the farm and rice “bed” full time. They raised my father from the age of six.

Power drunkenness

S

atiricus was appalled at the ugly catfight going on between the WAPA and KFC partners in the Coalition. And while like most catfights – what’s with all the hair pulling, scratching, biting and such like – it was good theatre for those in need of political titillation, it was very infra dig for fellas who were supposed to be running the country.

Satiricus didn’t like it one bit since it involved his two favourite politicians – Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man. “But what bothers me most,” complained Satiricus to his friend Cappo as they downed a few at the Back Street Bar, “is this so-called supporter of the KFC writes a letter to the press saying it’s not a case of “power drunkenness” by the KFC leaders.”

“Wha’ wraang wid da?” asked Cappo as his eyebrows arched. “Dat is de man feeling.”

“Well, even though the fella made some good points, why did he have to bring up “drunkenness” when he’s talking about Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man?” replied Satiricus morosely.

“De man talking about “power”, Sato… NOT bush rum!” smiled Cappo. “I don’t know about that,” replied Satiricus. “I think it’s a Freudian slip.”

“Me na care if a third slip or square leg,” said Cappo as he took a swig, “Me think dat Hynes chap mek wan good pint. KFC get buy-out by Pee-anSee!” “But what about what the letter writer said?” sniffed Satiricus, “WAPA get bigger buy-out, but Hynes don’t talk about that!”

“Well, let abee ‘gree wid dat,” said Cappo placatingly. “Wha’ me think is de two a dem a behave like when wan man gat two wife. An’ dem a fight fuh get ‘e attention! Cat fight!”

“C’mon, Cappo!” exclaimed Satiricus. “These are big men in the society. They have principles, you know. And they have to stand up for their principles.”

“Principles?!” scoffed Cappo. “Budday…all a dem jine up Pee-an-See fuh throw out PPCEE an’ get big jaab and big money and big cyaar.”

“Well…that comes with the job, you know,” said Satiricus sheepishly.

“Really?” said Cappo with his eyebrows touching his hairline. “Why me think dem give de self de big money and big cyaar?”

“OK…OK..But what about this “power drunkenness”? asked Satiricus in desperation.

“Well, Sato, me friend. Wha’ you seh when wan big PRIME Moocher threaten wan lil’ reporter because he write wha he t’ink?”

47

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Organisation highlights female Brazil Senate puts Rousseff on trial... Guyanese accomplishments from page 39

Rousseff will make a statement at 10 a.m. local (1300 GMT), aides said, and will then depart Planalto to address a rally of supporters accompanied by her mentor, Workers Party founder and former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The Official Gazette on Thursday showed that Rousseff dismissed her cabinet, including the sports minister, who is in final preparations for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August.

The central bank governor, who has ministerial rank, was not included in the decree.

The move was designed to frustrate a smooth transition for Temer, whom Rousseff deems a traitor because of his efforts, as leader of the party that was her main ally in Congress, to unravel that coalition and force party colleagues to resign from government posts.

Temer plans to swear in new ministers this afternoon and is promising pro-market policies to bring Brazil’s budget deficit under control, rein in inflation and get the economy growing again.

Brazilian markets have for weeks rallied as investors welcomed the likely dismissal of a president they believe crippled the economy, were largely unchanged on Wednesday.

Wild cards remain for Temer himself, including still-pending investigations by an electoral court into financing for his and Rousseff’s 2014 re-election campaign.

Then there is the far-reaching kickback probe around state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, which

has ensnared dozens of corporate and political chieftains and fueled the discontent that led to Rousseff’s impeachment.

Rousseff, energy minister and chief of staff to her predecessor before taking office in 2011, was chairwoman of Petrobras at the time when much of the graft occurred.

She has not been accused of corruption, but the scandal at Petrobras encouraged opposition lawmakers to oust her for disguising the size of the government’s budget deficit in the lead-up to her reelection.

Temer has not been accused of wrongdoing in the scandal either, but some of his allies and party colleagues have. Prosecutors say they are far from finished with the probe.

Though many lawmakers have expressed their desire to join forces and get on with a recovery upon Rousseff’s exit, dozens of parties are jockeying for power in the Temer government and angling to position themselves for new elections in 2018.

Temer has indicated he will not run for president in 2018. A recent survey from polling group Datafolha showed just 1 percent of those surveyed would vote for him, and other polls show around 60 percent of Brazilians want him impeached too.

“Temer may have a honeymoon, but let’s not forget this was a shotgun wedding,” said Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. “Reforms aren’t easy at the best of times and these are for sure not the easiest.”

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Presents first scholarship award

G

uyanese Girls Rock (GGR), a non-profit organisation created to empower, inspire, motivate and celebrate the accomplishments of Guyanese women and girls across the globe, recently awarded its first scholarship to an outstanding Guyanese individual.

On April 10, 2016, the first Guyanese Girls Rock scholarship award was presented to Kelly Hyles at the “Bridging the Gap” Millennial Conference in Brooklyn, New York.

Kelly, a high school senior, was accepted to the top eight Ivy League schools in the United States and was honoured for academic excellence. She was presented with the Guyanese Girls Rock Certificate of Scholarship and a new Apple MacBook laptop computer by GGR’s founder, Cloyette HarrisStoute.

Kelly was born in Guyana in 2000, but later migrated to the United States with her family. In 2012, Kelly was accepted to the High School for Math, Science and Engineering - one of the nine specialised high schools in New York. Her school has provided her with multiple opportunities to explore her un-

GGR's founder (center) proudly talks about Kelly (right) at the organisation's inaugural scholarship award event

wavering curiosity.

As a junior, her love for the Sciences grew as she enrolled in a biotechnology class at Mount Sinai Hospital. Later on, she interned at the Garcia-Ocana laboratory of Mount Sinai’s Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism Institute, where she researched the importance of the inactivity of the PRKCZ gene on beta cell growth in vivo. Biochemistry is the perfect blend of her interests, since it possesses the unique ability to both quench and ignite her curiosity. Kelly’s goal is to become a neurosurgeon.

The event, which was hosted by the Women of

Mission International (WOMI) organisation, served as an opportunity to honour Guyanese women who have achieved success, and who have made significant contributions to their communities.

Kelly was one of four honourees recognised at the event.

Each honouree received a plaque from WOMI, and was also presented with a Certificate of Recognition by New York State Senator, Roxanne Persaud (another outstanding Guyanese woman).

The Guyanese Girls Rock scholarship fund will supply college-bound young women who are of

‘Reflection, celebration... has provided assistance to a number of these monuments and sites over the years, including St George’s Cathedral, Mission Chapel Church, Providence Mandir, Promenade Gardens, Damon Monument, the Linden Water Wheel, Red House, Public Buildings, Georgetown City Hall, New Amsterdam Town Hall, and the Cumberland Open-air Mosque.

Specifically, the Trust refurbished the fountain of the 1763 Monument in 2011.

The Trust also collaborated in 2008 with the Government of Canada and the Guyanese Canadian Society to increase awareness of Guyanese heritage and important figures in the diaspora with the erecting of a monument to Sir James Douglas at Helena, Mahaica.

This Guyanese-born figure rose to prominence in Canadian history as the first Governor of the province of British Columbia.

The statue was donated by the

Guyanese heritage with new laptop computers.

Applicants will be selected based on a number of criteria including, academic accomplishments and financial needs. In addition to recognising Kelly, the presentation provided a platform for the audience to learn more about the Guyanese Girls Rock organisation and the GGR scholarship award.

GGR’s founder extends special thanks go to Dr. Alisha Griffith and Renne Paris, who organised the event, and WOMI’s president, Linda Felix-Johnson, Vice-President, Ismay Griffith for their support.

from page 32

Some exhibits at the Dutch Heritage Museum (2007), Fort Island

Guyanese Canadian Society.

This brief overview only introduces the activities of the Trust from 1972 to present, but it gives you an idea of our diverse activities in the area of cultural heritage.

The National Trust seeks your support and welcomes you to visit us often at our office here in Carmichael Street, as well as at the various National Trust historic sites.

We hope that our exhibition inspires you to remember and endeavour to pursue our mot-

to: “Safeguarding and Promoting our Heritage.”

Finally, the National Trust is proud to advise the public that our efforts have not gone unrecognized.

Regionally, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation & TravelMole awarded the National Trust (of Guyana) with its Heritage Protection Award in 2013, “in recognition of extensive efforts to protect Guyana’s unique cultural heritage – a major part of its sustainable tourism product.”

More recently, just

last month, we have been advised that the Trust is the Winner of a 2016 International Green Apple Award for Built Environment & Architectural Heritage, from the Green Organisation in the United Kingdom.

Our entry was the Dutch Heritage Museum located in the 18th century Dutch Court of Policy building on Fort Island, Essequibo River. We will know the level of win – Gold, Silver, or Bronze – at the awards ceremony (in the United Kingdom) in August.”

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Amitabh Bachchan starrer ‘Zanjeer’ clocks 43

Shakti Kapoor, Jackie Shroff to throw party for ‘Baaghi’ success

M

e g a s t a r A m i t a b h Bachchan starrer “Zanjeer” has completed 43 years of its release in the Hindi film industry and he seems shocked on “how time has passed”.

The action film revolves around Vijay, an inspector who is suspended from duty, sets out to find his parents’ murderers. With the help of a street-wise girl and a foe-turned-friend, he plans his revenge.

The 73-year-old actor took to Twitter to express his happiness.

“43 years…My goodness how time has passed…” he tweeted.

On the silver screen, the National Award winner will be seen in Ribhu Dasgupta’s upcoming thriller “TE3N”. It also

stars Vidya Balan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui and is slated to release on June 10. The cineicon will also be seen in Shoojit Sircar’s film “Pink”. (Indian Express)

I will work with Kangana only if I wish to be a heroine, says a sarcastic Irrfan Khan

K

angana Ranaut’s stupendous success in her professional career- courtesy women oriented roles- seems to have made the actress jittery about playing heroine

to actors even as internationally renowned as Irrfan Khan.

The Queen actress was initially approached by director Sai Kabir to play the female lead in his movie

Divine Lovers opposite Irrfan Khan. But the actress apparently declined the offer stating she is interested only in solo leads.

When Irrfan was asked about losing an opportunity of teaming up with Kangana, the actor sarcastically remarked, “Kangana has gone so out of reach that I will work with her only if I wish to be a heroine. So if a script comes along wherein she plays the hero and I the heroine, I will do it.”

(Indian Express)

‘Baaghi 2’ will go on the floors in 2017 in Shanghai, confirms producer Sajid Nadiadwala

T

iger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor’s latest release Baaghi has enjoyed a superb response from the audience.

With the immense success and box office collections of over Rs 70 crore, the film’s producer Sajid Nadiadwala has confirmed speculations about its sequel.

Nadiadwala is planning to turn ‘Baaghi’ into

a franchise, and has apparently even been invited by the Chinese government to shoot the sequel in the country. Nadiadwala said, “Yes it’s true. It’s been a great experience working with Sabbir, Tiger and Shraddha and the story of Baaghi needs to be taken ahead. We plan on commencing the shoot in Shanghai in 2017.”

Further, director

Sabbir Khan concurring with Nadiadwala said, “It was a great experience shooting with Sajid Bhai and I’m very excited to start work on Baaghi 2. As a producer, Sajid bhai stays in the backdrop and yet he lets his director achieve everything that you imagine. If something is needed for the betterment of a project, he will ensure it is made available.”

It is also heard that Tiger Shroff, who is a natural when it comes to action-oriented films, may even be trained by expert martial arts trainers from China. Adding his voice to the expected sequel, Shroff said: “I’m really looking forward to taking ‘Baaghi’ to the next level with the sequel.” (Indian Express)

A

fter the success of the film “Baaghi” starring actors Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor, their parents have planned a small celebration for their children along with producer Sajid Nadiadwala and his wife.

Shraddha is the daughter of actor Shakti Kapoor and Tiger is the son of actor Jackie Shroff. Both their parents are extremely proud of their achievement and also of their mentor Sajid Nadiadwala.

The film has been a super hit at the

box office, collecting Rs. 70 crores net across India in just 10 days.

“It’s surely going to be a proud moment for Tiger and Shraddha’s parents,” Nadiadwala said in a statement.

The producer also shared that the success of the film calls for a celebration. “Their constant hard work has definitely paid off only showing more and more promise in both actors. With so much of love and success that the film has received from across it only calls for pure celebration!” he added.

(Indian Express)

Embracing new character high for an actor: Taapsee Pannu

A

ctress Taapsee Pannu, who is gearing up for her next film “Tadka”, says embracing a new

character is the biggest high for an actor. “Leaving a look n style behind to embrace a new character is the biggest high for an actor. Undergoing it as you read this. Bye ‘Pink’ hello ‘Tadka'” Taapsee tweeted.

Directed by Prakash Raj, “Tadka” also stars Shriya Saran, Nana Patekar and Ali Fazal.

The film is a remake of Malayalam film “Salt N’ Pepper”, and Prakash Raj was the actor and director of the Tamil, Telugu and Kannada versions and had also produced it. (Indian Express)

Prachi Desai in awe of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ judges

A

ctress Prachi Desai promoted her forthcoming film “Azhar” on “So You Think You Can Dance ‘Ab India Ki Baari’”.

She says she is in awe of Bollywood’s dancing diva Madhuri DixitNene and ace choreographers Bosco Martis and Terence Lewis, who are seen as judges on the dance reality show. “’So You Think You Can Dance’ is India’s biggest dance platform. I am in awe of

the judges of the show. I hope that the journey of the contestants are fruitful and wish them all the very best,” Prachi said in a statement.

Prachi appeared on

the show along with her “Azhar” co-stars Emraan Hashmi and Nargis Fakhri. The film is slated to release on Friday.

(Indian Express)

Amy Jackson wants Nawazuddin Siddiqui to teach her Hindi

A

ctress Amy Jackson wants to take her “Ali” co-star Nawazuddin Siddiqui to a lonely planet so that he can quickly teach her Hindi.

Asked at the fifth Lonely Planet Magazine Awards if there is anyone whom she wants to take to a lonely plan-

et, Amy said: “Probably Nawaz (Nawazuddin) because I’ll learn my Hindi quickly then. I just finished a film with him so I’ll take him to learn Hindi quicker.”

“Ali” is directed by Sohail Khan and is a romantic comedy where Nawazuddin plays the title character and reportedly will shake a leg with Amy in the

film.

Talking about her other projects, she said: “My next film is ‘2.0’ which is with Rajinikanth sir for which we are shooting currently”.

Amy’s last Hindi film was “Singh Is Bliing” opposite Akshay Kumar. (Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Dwayne Johnson to honour Robin Williams in ‘Jumanji’reboot

W

WE wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson has vowed to honour the original film’s star in the Jumanji reboot. Johnson, 44, and his production company, Seven Bucks Productions, are working with director Jake Kasdan on the remake of the 1995 classic, in which Williams played one of his most memorable characters – a man trapped in a board game for 26 years, reported ET online.

“The love and respect I have for this man is boundless. You have my word, we will honor his name and the character of Alan Parrish will stand alone and

be forever immortalized in the world of Jumanji in an earnest and cool way.

“I have an idea of what to do and I think his family will be proud,” Johnson wrote in an Instagram post.

He also teased that “cool casting announcements” should follow later this week.

“In the original movie there were three big roles. In our new story there’s now five. Been so damn cool to see all my actor buddies push their projects aside so hopefully they can come play in our world,” he wrote. (Indian Express)

Josh Hartnett feels alive after fatherhood

‘P

earl Harbor’ star Josh Hartnett feels like he’s “actually living life for the first time” after becoming a father.

The 37-year-old actor and girlfriend Tamsin Egerton welcomed a daughter, the first child for both, last year.

The pair are doing their best to keep details about their baby private, but Hartnett opened up about fatherhood in an interview on television show “Good Morning Britain”.

“It changes everything,” Hartnett said of becoming a father.

“What can you say, it’s where the rubber finally meets the road and everything you’ve done beforehand is a preamble and suddenly you’re actually living your life for the first time.

Because everything matters a bit more, doesn’t it?”. (Indian Express)

Chloe Grace Moretz confirms dating Brooklyn Beckham

A

ctress Chloe Grace Moretz has confirmed her relationship with Brooklyn, son of Victoria and David Beckham.

The 19-year-old ‘Neighbors 2’ star made the revelation on ‘Watch What Happens Live!’.

“I think the more I don’t make it mysterious the more people don’t care, so yes we’re in a relationship,” Moretz said.

The actress also praised famous parents of her 17-year-old boyfriend.

“He’s a great dad,

she’s a great mother.

They genuinely are very good parents that’s what matters most, they made a pretty son,” she said.

Brooklyn has been sharing adorable pho-

Tom Hardy to make cameo in ‘Star Wars Episode VIII’

“M

ad Max: Fury Road” star Tom Hardy is reportedly set to make a cameo in “Star Wars Episode VIII”.

According to MakingStarWars.net, the 38-year-old actor will star as a First Order stormtrooper in the sequel to “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”.

Hardy’s character will reportedly run into Finn a.k.a. FN-2187 (John Boyega), whom he surprisingly lets go after a comical sequence of events.

If the rumour is true, Hardy will follow in the

footsteps of fellow British actor Daniel Craig.

The “Spectre” actor appeared briefly in “The Force Awakens” as a stormtrooper, but never took off his helmet. Simon Pegg provided his voice for the junk-

R

was born on April 29 at 8:03 am at Providence St John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

Amada, which means “beloved” in Spanish, sounds familiar because it’s the middle name of their first born, Esmeralda Amada Gosling. It happens

yard alien Unkar Platt, while comedians Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz voiced BB-8. “Star Wars Episode VIII” is set to be released in the US on December 15, 2017.

(Indian Express)

James Norton joins ‘Flatliners’ remake with Ellen Page

Eva Mendes, Ryan Gosling welcome second child yan Gosling and partner Eva Mendes have welcomed their second child, a daughter, just days after the rumour that the couple was expecting a baby surfaced.

In mid-April, Mendes was spotted leaving a building in LA with a large

tos of his girlfriend even calling Moretz his “bae”.

The dating speculations first started back in 2014 when they were spotted hanging out together.

(Indian Express)

‘H

appy Valley’ star James Norton will star opposite Ellen Page in the “Flatliners” remake.

Norton will play an aspiring doctor tempted to play God in ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’

director Niels Arden Oplev’s update of the 1990 Kiefer Sutherland and Julia Roberts hit, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Norton, Page, Diego Luna and ‘The Vampire Diaries’ actress Nina Dobrev have been cast

as medical students who conduct strange experiments into the after-life – and soon learn they shouldn’t meddle with the dead.

The original ‘Flatliners’ – directed by the Batman franchise’s Joel Schumacher and produced by Michael Douglas – has developed a strong cult following over the last 26 years.

Norton is coming off breakthrough TV roles in ‘Happy Valley’ and ‘War & Peace’, and has also earned rave reviews for his appearances in the films ‘Belle’ and ‘Mr Turner’. (Indian Express)

Jean-Pierre Leaud to get honorary Palme d’Or

F

bag to cover her baby bump.

The 42-year-old managed to keep her second pregnancy under the radar and gave birth to the child last month.

A birth certificate, obtained by TMZ, revealed about the baby, who has been named Amada Lee Gosling.

The document stated that she

to be Mendes’ grandmother’s name and the character she played in 2007’s ‘We Own the Night’.

Mendes and Gosling, 35, fell in love while filming ‘The Place Beyond the Pines’. They welcomed their first child together in September 2014, also a daughter. (Indian Express)

rench cinema icon Jean-Pierre Leaud will be awarded with the honorary Palme d’Or for his contribution to cinema.

The award, which has previously gone to cinema legends like Agnes Varda, Clint Eastwood, Manoel de Oliveira, Woody Allen and Bernardo Bertolucci, will be given to Leaud during the closing ceremony of the festival on May 22.

Leaud was discovered by Francois Truffaut, who cast him in his first film “Les 400 Coups”. The comedian made

his first appearance on the Croisette in 1959 as a 14-year-old.

French New Wave cinema directors Antoine Doinel and François Truffaut continued to support him with “Antoine et Colette”, “Baisers voles”, “Domicile conjugal” and “L’Amour en fuite”.

He also worked with Jean-Luc Godard, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Jerzy Skolimowski and Bernardo Bertolucci.

Cannes will also host a special screening of Albert Serra’s “The Death of Louis XIV”, featuring Leaud. (Indian Express)

50 sport

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana ready for round one of Tri-Nation Series

I

n less than four weeks, the Providence Stadium in Guyana will be the venue for the first round of the upcoming 2016 One Day International Tri-Nation series with Australia, South Africa and home team, West Indies.

Three matches have been scheduled for Guyana, before the series moves to St. Kitts and then the final in Barbados. “This has come at a great time for Guyana as we have

not hosted any international matches in two years; and we are celebrating 50 years of independence,” said Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) Secretary, Anand Sanasie.

Sanasie, who is also a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Director, said “tremendous work has been put in to host an entire month of celebrations in May. The wicket at Providence is in great shape with excellent grass growth as many of our regional

teams would have observed during the just concluded regional fourday. Accommodation is ready and the other requirements are falling into place.”

He added that “the GCB has the capacity to host and we take pride in our execution. We have already established the necessary committees and the point persons have experience with hosting international cricket events. There is collaboration between all entities to ensure that

we are all on the same page.”

The Director said that the GCB has the full support of the Sport and Tourism ministries, and because of the Independence celebrations, “we expect great crowd support.”

On winning the awards from the National Sports Commission, Sanasie thinks the development programme instituted three years is reaping benefits. Credit has been given to the new franchise setup of the WICB “which I think has enhanced our work with the Academy and will provide a secure pathway for youngsters serious about taking up cricket as a career.

Anand Sanasie

Despite the many challenges we were able to forge ahead and, given the current environment, I am hoping that things will get better.”

Sanasie is sure

Guyana will continue to dominate the region in all categories and formats as there is a comprehensive plan of action in place. He also stated that in three years he is hoping for the franchise system to be at a level where all teams are fully sponsored and local franchise players can earn a decent living.

He also wants more nationals in the WI elite squad. “In three years we should be in a much better position than we are now,” he added.

The matches slated for Guyana will be played on June 3rd, 5th and 7th, after which matches move to St. Kitts and Nevis and then Barbados for the finals.

Jeffrey, Ming cop podium finishes at Barbados Speed Festival

International cricket is set to return to the National Stadium after some two years

D

Kristian Jeffrey (centre) along with his father Kevin Jeffrey (left) and a member of top power racing (Top Power Racing Photo)

espite a rough outing during the qualifying rounds, the Guyanese duo of Kristian Jeffrey and Calvin Ming Jnr still managed to achieve podium finishes at the end of the Suzuki challenge series SR3 radical cup on Sunday at the Barbados Festival of Speed.

Jeffrey, a two-time Caribbean Motor Racing Champion (CMRC), used all his experience to churn out a second place finish in his debut in series while young Ming rebounded from mechanical failures to place third.

Speaking to Guyana Times International Sport, a team member of Top Power Racing, a team of which Jeffrey is attached, explained that “on Saturday, the qualifying did not go well, as the radiator broke and leaked out all the water in qualifying and he only got one lap in qualifying and ended up at 7th on the grid for Sunday’s race”.

During his first race Jeffery started in seventh but quickly fought his way into fifth position as he quickly caught the Radical test driver of Jeff Abbot but Kristian made a move to pass him on the outside of corner two and Abbot pushed him wide and into the gravel trap.

In giving further details of the Jeffrey’s performance, the team member explained that “Kristian rejoined the race in last position and the race ended with him in last but Race two was a reverse of the grid and he start-

ed in position two on the grid”.

It is understood that the tack was damp in places and the race started with Abbot in the lead, Jeffery in second and Mark Maloney in third positions. The pair of Jeffery and Maloney were in a heated battle, with both drivers swapping positions a few times.

Maloney eventually took second from Jeffery, as the Guyanese was fighting a faulty car which was set for dry conditions and the track was damp in certain parts.

Maloney eventually ran-off the track which allowed Jeffery to regain second place while Ming for the most part was not in the top three, finished in third.

Ming, who is also a F1 and F4 series driver, revealed to this publication that it was a tough weekend at the festival of speed in Barbados.

“Following up from car problems in qualifying as well as in race 1 we made the switch back to the 2012 model radical. Starting from the back of the grid due to the car change we were able to put our heads down to make some amazing passes to secure the final spot on the podium”, he explained.

The main attraction on Sunday surely was the trill three-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton who gave the fans at Bushy Park an exhibition drive, in his very own Mercedes Benz (18,000 RPM). (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

sport 51

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Three Guyanese athletes already qualified for Rio

T

hree Guyanese have already qualified to participate in the 2016 Olympics games, the world’s largest stage for sports, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Athletes must reach the qualifying standards for their respective disciplines to participate in the Olympic Games from August 5 to 21.

Chef de Mission, Garfield Wiltshire of

and Vanessa Thompson in the 100 metres females.”

However, Wiltshire pointed out that no athlete has qualified for any swimming events.

In such a case, the International Olympic Committee in collaboration with the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) makes provisions for countries which have not met the

the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), was quoted by GINA as saying that several athletes have qualified for the Rio games. Chef de Mission is a term used to refer to the team manager of a major sporting event.

Wiltshire said that, “Currently there are three track and field athletes who have qualified mainly, Winston George in the 400 metres race, Troy Doris in the triple jump males,

qualifying standards.

Wiltshire explained that “they allow one male and one female from each country who did not qualify to attend the Olympic Games, but the athlete must have participated in the previous FINA world championship.”

Only one of the males can be selected from the three qualifying athletes, he said.

In addition, Wiltshire noted that there is still an opportunity for

track and field athletes to try to qualify for the Olympic Games at the Aliann Pompey invitational meet set to take place in June. “This is an IAAF sanctioned meet which means that once you make the qualifying times at this meet, you will be eligible to participate at the Olympic Games,” he stated.

The meet will see a number of overseas and local athletes competing to make the qualifying times for their respective disciplines.

The athletes are being funded strictly by the Olympic Committee of Guyana and the International Olympic Committee.

The Olympic Games began in 1896 on April 6 to 15 in Greece. To date, there have been 49 games and Guyana has only participated in 16, capturing only one bronze medal in boxing.

This was won by Michael Anthony in 1980.

Wiltshire is hopeful that Guyana will be able to capture a few medals in the upcoming 2o16 Olympic Games.

Ramdhani awarded 5-year academic scholarship to Canada

N

a r a y a n Ramdhani’s career just got better. The 2015 national Junior Sportsman of the Year has been awarded a five-year scholarship to Vancouver, Canada, and the badminton star’s rise has captured the attention of Vishnu Persaud and Associates.

In an effort to aid his studies, the company recently presented a Lenovo laptop to the teenager, as he prepares to embark on the scholarship in September.

Ramdhani, who is the Caribbean highest ranked junior player, was offered the scholarship by Shuttle Sport Badminton Academy.

Ramdhani said while he is joyful about receiving the scholarship, he is now even motivated to give of his best during the next five years in Canada.

The Guyana Badminton Association, the local governing body for the sport, said it is grateful for the donation by Vishnu Panday and Associates, as it is a clear indica-

Bibi Narine, the Executive Assistant of Vishnu Panday and Associates Inc makes the presentation of a laptop to badminton star Narayan Ramdhani

tion of their recognition for the achievements of

the country’s sportsmen and women.

52

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

53

54 sport

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Cricket Australia releases independent review into death of Phillip Hughes T

Tony Cozier’s passing: CPL expresses sincere condolences to his wife, children, family and friends

C

ricket Australia will make it compulsory for players to wear helmets when facing fast- and mediumpaced bowling in games and at training after the independent review into the death of Phillip Hughes was released on Wednesday.

Helmets must also be worn by wicketkeepers standing up to the stumps and fielders within seven metres of the batsman on strike, but players fielding behind square of the wicket on the off side are excepted.

The review, conducted by Melbourne-based barrister David Curtain QC, has also found the now mandated British Standard helmet would not have protected Hughes from the blow to the back of the neck that claimed his life in November 2014.

Phillip Hughes died after being struck by a cricket ball on the back of his head.

CA is also looking at introducing a concussion substitute for players in all male and female domestic competition.

The 62-page report found that there was limited scientific evidence that the current neck guards on helmets will prevent a similar tragedy, and need further evaluations before they are mandated.

It also said the treatment

Phillip Hughes died after being struck by a cricket ball on the back of his head (Photo: foxsports.com).

Hughes received after being struck was appropriate.

"The global cricket community was deeply saddened by the tragic death of Phillip Hughes and the great loss his family suffered," CA chief James Sutherland said.

"We received Mr Curtain's review last season and since that time we have been considering his recommendations and discussing with relevant bodies as to how we best make changes necessary to prevent an accident of this nature happening again.

"While there will always be

a small risk we believe that the measures we have already taken and will enact following this review will reduce that risk even further."

CA said it will cooperate fully with the coronial inquest into Phillip Hughes' death, likely to be scheduled to take place in Sydney in October this year.

"We have had ongoing open dialogue with the New South Wales Crown Solicitor and have indicated that we will be as cooperative as possible with any coronial inquest," Mr Sutherland said. (Andrew Wu/smh.com.au)

ony Cozier, one of the most revered and iconic voices in international cricket commentary, died on Wednesday morning following a long illness.

Cozier, 75, who has covered almost every West Indies series since 1962, is the most respected cricket writer, broadcaster and historian to have come out of the Caribbean.

Following is the full text of a statement issued by the HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on the passing of this great son of the Caribbean: It is with deep regret that the HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) learned of the passing of world-renowned West Indies commentator Tony Cozier on Wednesday following a long illness.

Cozier, 75, covered almost every West Indies series since 1962, and is the most respected cricket writer, broadcaster and historian to have come out of the Caribbean.

Commenting on the sad news, Damien O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer of the CPL said: “It was with great sadness that we learned of Tony’s sad passing.

To many fans across the Caribbean and beyond he was quite simply the voice of West Indies cricket. His love of cricket was a positive influence in telling the story across a golden era for West Indies cricket and he was hugely respected and loved, in equal measure, by fans of the game.

For more than 50 years Tony’s voice has resonated through television, radio or the written word in homes across the cricketing world and he was admired internationally for his passion, insight and enthusiasm.

Most recently Tony was kind enough to share some of his hopes and thoughts on the forthcoming CPL in a way that was typically Tony; full of insight, forthright opinion and, above all, humour. He spoke at length about his beloved Barbados, St. Kitts & Nevis and the soon to be published Jamaica. Though this series will now remain unfinished, like his legacy, they will live on and no doubt endure for all time.

On behalf of the CPL I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his wife Jillian, children Craig and Natalie and his family and friends at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.

WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

55