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Jagdeo warns ‘economy could hit rock bottom’ ISSUE NO. 296

WEEK ENDING June 5, 2016

- says Gov’t failing to address needs of citizens

See story on page 3

Mahaica woman Guyanese hacked to death teen killed in by jealous NY apartment husband

Page 9

Page 8

told cops who shooter was …moments before she died

Dead: Shemel Mercurius

Amazon Warriors among big winners in Independence Float Parade Page 37

Candacy Pitt and the murder suspect, Athlone Pitt

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NEWS 3

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Jagdeo warns ‘economy could hit rock bottom’

… says Govt must focus on well planned out approach urgently

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has warned the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Government that Guyana’s economy could soon hit rock bottom – a situation that would affect every citizen – and that a well planned out approach is urgently needed to keep this from happening.

He made this pronouncement on Wednesday, even as he called on the Administration to “wake up” and acknowledge the problem so that a remedy could be derived.

Jagdeo was at the time addressing journalists at the Party’s head office on Robb Street.

According to the former President, with the current state of affairs,

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

Government is failing to address the needs of the people.

“Things are going to get worse, because we have a Government that is not acknowledging the problem. And if

they don’t acknowledge it, they can’t fix it,” the Opposition Leader said.

He said there is no doubt the economy will slide further “if these people do not wake up.

They can wake up”, he

said, continuing that it is not just supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) that are hurting, “all Guyanese are hurting. People are losing their cars, they cannot pay their monthly installments for their cars and homes etc. It’s not a partisan thing, everybody will be affected,” he stressed.

Jagdeo reminded of Government’s promise that the just concluded jubilee celebration would have seen a boom in the economy. However, there has been no indication of this.

“My argument is that they can arrest this, they can change this, they can change the narrative around the economy. They can change the policies that would promote investments etc. It is within their hands to send the

right signal that would say to everybody that it is time that we spend our money,” the former President posited.

Jagdeo said he could not understand the logic behind the recent pronouncement by the Finance Minister that there is now a slowdown in the economy because there has been a slowdown in the flow of “drug money”.

“I saw the central bank trying to talk up the economy a little bit, maybe following directions from the Minister.

But this Minister is confused. Once he says there must be a slowdown, this must be a PPP propaganda. But what slowdown is he talking about?”

Then a week later after he was fed some excuse that it is drug money, that it’s got to be about drug money.

So he’s moving from there’s no slowdown to that there is a slowdown, but with drug money.”

He said this assertion has caused the President to say recently that most of the huge buildings under construction have some link to illegal proceeds.

“So people come to me and I say to them hold on to your money if you have money, because we don’t know where this is going… I would say to businessmen, do not put up another building in the city, because every time you do that and the President drives by, he will think that it is coming from drug money or illegal proceeds, then [Special Organised Crime Unit] SOCU might visit you,” Jagdeo said.

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EDITORIAL

Repaying UG Student Loans

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he audit of the UG Student Loan Facility did not provide any surprises save exposing the names of several prominent members of our society who contributed to the Gy$13.6 billion in principal and interest outstanding as of December 31, 2014.

Back in 2014, the then Minister of Finance Ashni Singh, while announcing the moderate increase in fees at UG, had pointed out the unwillingness of students to repay their loans even though many were in a position to do so. He hoped the delinquent defaulters would respond to moral suasion and “do the right thing”.

Almost two years and a new administration later, it is clear that the moral argument did not find any takers. And it is in this fact lies the future of the Student Loan Agreement, which is issued by the University of Guyana Student Loan Facility and funded by the Finance Ministry.

There has to be a robust system put into place immediately to ensure that loans issued pursuant to written agreements are repaid, or else penalties are applied. As it stands now with both entities being responsible but neither taking responsibility, they merely resort to the usual bureaucratic response: pointing fingers at the other.

But there is another question of the UG loan programme: what is its purpose when most of the graduates are specialising in fields which Guyana do not need in such abundance? How can we possibly absorb thousands of specialists in International Relations and Sociology? Why not use the loans to steer students towards engineering, for instance.

With the US forced to cope with US$1.26 trillion in delinquent student loans, they are rethinking their underwriting of programmes that will have no impact in reviving their exhausted economy. We should do no less, since we are not even on the development point they achieved in 1776.

Another noteworthy point is if the individuals identified – all graduates of the highest institution of learning in the land – did not feel their written promise to repay money meant anything, should we be surprised that tax evasion is also rampant in that same cohort? This is the mentality that has kept us mired in poverty and underdevelopment for the past 50 years. We are all consumed with our “right” to an education, but spare not a thought at our “duty” to fulfil our obligations.

What has developed in Guyana is a culture in which individuals who are supposed to be exemplars on the civic responsibility of citizens actually dodge and weave from those responsibilities. As illustrated by the names of those in the judiciary who are delinquent in paying their obligations, these are the very persons who are remanding and sentencing transgressors of far lesser crimes to Camp Street Prison. There are also the politicians promising to “develop” the country even as they ignore that it will take money to bring about that development: money they used but refuse to repay.

And we are not talking about just a handful of persons.

The figures show that while 25,335 persons secured loans for programmes at UG between 1994 and 2014, just 1776 persons paid off their loans, including interest. Some 17,562 or 69.4 per cent were delinquent and this does not include the recent graduates and those who are merely late with their payments.

A statistic that was not mentioned in the audit was data provided by the World Bank that 89 per cent of Guyanese tertiary graduates have emigrated. So it is not that 69 per cent of UG graduates are free riders, but most of them have also absconded with their qualifications to develop other jurisdictions.

If today we accept “there are no free lunches”, then there is certainly no “free education”: it all is eventually paid for by the Guyana people. It is patently unfair for them to have doled out over Gy$9 billion to “educate” tens of thousands of persons who were not even educated to accept their moral responsibilities.

Beating the weather: One innovative Guyanese stays dry on his covered bicycle (Dexter Sears)

There is need for neutral third party to push for constitutional reform

Dear Editor, Constitutional reform in Guyana is not likely to happen anytime soon and if it does, it will not be anything substantial. One night in 2012 after my TV programme at Channel 9, I was invited by a group of PNC stalwarts to have a drink at the shop across the road from the TV station. (I drank Vita Malts). The conversation revolved around the 1980 (Burnham) Constitution.

The general consensus that night from the PNCites was that nothing was wrong with the Constitution but rather, those who were managing the Constitution. PPP was in power at the time.

Those calling for constitutional reform need to understand the powers vested in the purveyors of the Constitution at any given time. The Guyana Constitution is unlike any other constitution.

Not even the international, developed countries have such an autocratically constructed Constitution. Our Constitution is so flawed, that the only time any of the politicians have any problems with it is when they are not in power. The Constitution is designed to benefit the Administration in power. When those PNC comrades told me that nothing was wrong with the Constitution, they were very critical of how the PPP was using it.

It would be just a couple years after that conversation that President Donald Ramotar would find a clause in the (Burnham) Constitution that allowed him to sidestep a No-Confidence Motion and prorogue the Parliament. His gamble did not pay off and he lost power. Now the custodians of the Constitution are largely the students and underlings of the author of the Constitution.

And to many of these people, ‘Fat Boy’ was a god. The spoken and unspoken position of these Burnhamites is that you do not tamper with the writings of a god.

One can then imagine the herculean bravery that would have to be summoned for one Burnhamite to suggest to the other Burnhamites that the ‘word of God’ needed to be adjusted. First he’d be ignored.

Then he’d be laughed at. Then he’d be fought tooth and nail.

Then he’ll lose.

Has anyone ever heard a PNCite articulate any inconsistency of any of the Kabaka’s policies? It will not happen.

Try as you might, using any amount of logical and intelligent formula, you will not get a Burnhamite to acquiesce to any failed policies of President Burnham. You would faster get President Jagdeo to release his financial statements than get a student of Burnham to find a single fault in his administrative behaviours.

And for that single reason, no PNC insider – no matter how high up the pecking order – would dare initiate a discussion suggesting an amendment to the (Burnham) Constitution.

Such an admission emanating from anyone under the shade of the Palm Tree would amount to blasphemy, disrespect or even sacrilege.

It was this Constitution that kept the PNC in power for 28 long years and it is this selfsame Constitution that kept the PPP in power for 23 long years. Now the PNC (largely) are back in the saddle. Why would any autocratic-leaning leader, from any party, in his or her right mind, tamper with such a substantial document?

Why weaken the powers that are legally available to you, when you don’t have to?

If the AFC had remained objective and independent, the next big thing in the scope of things, after the fall of the PPP, would have been constitutional reform. One would remember that this was the AFC’s clarion cry when they were independent and free. Now that they have merged with the APNU with big brother PNC running the show, they have either gotten quiet on the issue, or someone is shouting other things a lot louder than they are calling for this needed reform. We hear Nigel Hughes shouting for change, but sometimes your voice fails when you alone are doing the shouting.

One would also note that the PPP is very silent on the issue of constitutional reform. That is because they have studied and internalised the (Burnham) Constitution and had laid very comfortably on it for 23 years.

They knew it so well that when the Burnhamites thought they had brought down the PPP Government with their AFC-sponsored No Confidence Motion, the PPP whipped out a prorogual clause that send shivers down the collective spines of the PNCites. I bet that the PPP is au fait with quite a lot more manoeuvres that are hidden between the lines of that (Burnham) Constitution. So don’t expect any hurray from them on constitutional reform.

Rather, they would love to get their hands back on that selfsame Constitution and govern with it ‘as is’.

Therefore, any reform to the Constitution will be long in coming and if it does come, it will be only negligible. The presidential executive powers will not be reduced.

The presidential non-subjectability to the courts will refrom page 6

NEWS 5

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Crime on the high seas: 3 fishermen still missing 5 days after they were thrown overboard

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ome five days after a fishing vessel was attacked and its occupants thrown overboard by pirates in the Corentyne River, three of the fishermen remain missing.

The three m i s s i n g fishermen – Dochan Missing: Dochan Sukra S u k r a , During the 54, called “Butcher”, of first attack, the Captain, Number 55 hapless Village; Dhanpaul S e e p e r s a u d 43, Rampaul, of Persaud, Corriverton, Number 67 Village; of was and Munish Berbice, Churman, 26, thrown overboard called “Boyo”, of five miles offshore Number 60 Village but was rescued by – were thrown other fishermen afoverboard in the ter swimming for Corentyne River on three hours.

The pirates also Saturday and are still missing while threw Hemchand their colleagues Sookdeo, 45, and and relatives con- the remaining men tinue to search for into the water after beating him. them.

On Friday last, Sookdeo’s body was five pirates car- found by other fishried out attacks on ermen as they were three boats in the pulling up their Corentyne River. continued on page 22

President urged to quickly implement recommendations of Prison inquiry

who are put into corrections facilities do not feel that this a lifetime occupation,” he pointed out.

By Shemuel Fanfair

T

he report on the findings of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly Camp Street Prison riots was finally handed over to President David Granger on Wednesday.

This comes one day after the May 31 deadline.

At the handing over ceremony at the Ministry of the Presidency, retired Justice James Patterson, who served as Chairman for the CoI, expressed gratitude at being a part of the Commission and urged the Government to quickly implement the recommendations.

“We should proceed along our journey with the hope that those efforts would bear fruit in a timely manner… and I would urge your Excellency with the due diligence that you always deploy, look at the recommendations that we have made. It is hoped that they will be executed in a timely manner because they deserve to be executed,” the retired Justice opined.

President Granger thanked the Commissioners for their efforts in executing their tasks.

“I am grateful, the Republic and the Ministry of Public Security are grateful to the Commission of

Opposition position

President David Granger receives a copy of the CoI report from Chairman of the Commission, retired Justice James Patterson on Wednesday at the Ministry of the Presidency

Inquiry for doing its work,” he noted.

The President described the disturbances at the Camp Street penitentiary as “the worst prison riot” in the history of the country and brushed aside the criticisms the Inquiry has garnered.

“I was a little startled by the criticisms of the Commission even before it got started, even before it took evidence… people were asking why a Commission [but] I wanted to find out what happened [and] how it happened,” the Head of State noted, adding that he does not want a recurrence of such an incident.

To this end, it was explained that reforms are needed to improve the conditions of the country’s pris-

on system, as many of the nations penitentiaries were built in the nineteenth century, during the reign of Queen Victoria, a former monarch of British Guiana.

He further said that the Camp Street Prison will be assessed as it lies in the heart of Georgetown with many schools, residents and business places in the surrounding environs. The President noted that over the last three months, all of the meetings of the National Security Committee, of which he is Chairman, have included prison reform discussions on its agenda.

“The National Security Committee (on Wednesday) was in session examining prison reform…we want to make Guyana safe but we want to ensure that persons

On the other hand, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at a press conference on Wednesday condemned the negotiations with prisoners and noted that the CoI should have looked at other factors.

“The Commission of Inquiry should have predated the negotiations.

I don’t agree with the Government’s policy in relation to the prisons and the management of prisons,” he noted.

The former President also expressed that Government has been found “wanting” on security matters. “Seventeen persons lost their lives there and someone has to bear responsibility, including the Minister,” he posited.

President Granger had ordered the inquiry into the events after inmates met with Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Public Security Minister Kemraj Ramjattan. This came after two days of rioting at the Camp Street penitentiary where 17 inmates died after a fire was reportedly started by inmates. The Capital A Block on March 3 was engulfed with many prisoners locked inside.

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Diplomats should have WPO celebrates 63 years pressured GECOM to of women empowerment undertake recount

Dear Editor, There is a sharp contrast in election officials’ response to a request for a ballot recount in the United States and Guyana. In the state of Kentucky, Senator Bernie Sanders requested a recount of the ballots in Democratic presidential primary held on May 17 in his contest against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the party’s Presidential nomination. The final unofficial result had Clinton winning the contest by 1911 votes. Sanders immediately asked for a recount of all the state’s ballots and it was granted right away in all of the polling places.

There have been requests for recounts in other states’ Democratic and Republican primaries which were held as part of the process of choosing the party’s nominee for the general elections on November 8. These requests were routinely granted in the interest of fair play and to quell rumours of fraud. At times, it took over a week to declare official results because of the closeness of some contests.

In Kentucky, the recount took over a week with Clinton winning by about the same margin as was initially unofficially declared.

The response of election officials in the US to requests for ballot recount differs with a similar request for a recount of ballots in Guyana in the May 2015 general elections.

The PPP requested a recount in the ballots in one region where the unofficial count had the PPP losing by one vote with some 50 so called “spoilt” votes almost all of which, it was reported, was overwhelmingly in favour of the PPP. The acting US Ambassador at the time is reported to have said he was opposed to a recount. It could not be understood why the US official was opposed to a recounting of ballots since

it is customary practice and the law in America for recounts when requested even if the margin is huge.

Gecom reversed its position on the PPP request for a recount after having initially consented to one. In my doctoral studies of comparative politics, in elections around the globe (particularly US, Canada, UK), when outcomes are close, it is the general rule that recounts are automatically done even if not requested.

In Kentucky, as in all elections (local, state, national), there was an automatic recount because of the razor thin margin of Clinton’s victory.

Sanders then requested a final recount since the outcome was so close and it was granted; no expense was spared for the recount.

In India in elections earlier this year, there were recounts when the outcome involved a difference of thousands of ballots in several seats.

In Guyana, the difference was one ballot and Gecom refused to undertake a recount. The national difference was some 5000 votes and Gecom refused the recount. There should have been a recount of ballots in Guyana, especially that there were so many controversies and irregularities relating to the election.

The Ambassador of US, High Commissioners Canada, UK and other democratic countries should have pressured Gecom to have a final recount of the ballots.

If Gecom had nothing to hide it would have carried out a recount.

Separately, it cannot be understood why the court in Guyana is unable to address the election petition regarding irregularities when other countries dispose of election petitions within weeks.

Guyana’s petition us going past a year.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

GPSU responds to President’s ‘lazy man pay’ comment Dear Editor, The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) notes with a mixture of puzzlement and surprise, the comments attributed to His Excellency, the President, and seemingly directed to public servants which state in part that “If they want to be lazy, they will get a lazy person’s remuneration.”

The GPSU is a firm believer in the principle that reward, in whatever field of endeavour, should be associated with effort.

We hasten to add that with regard to public servants as a whole, this category of workers is richly deserving of far greater reward than they receive at this time.

We humbly submit too that the phenomenon of unequal effort among various workers is not unique to the public service. Indeed, it has been our experience that that deficiency is also to be found in other critical areas of public service where the transgression never seems to attract threats of remuneration commensurate with effort.

The point should be made, too,

that what in the instance of the public service, might be construed as laziness may well, in effect, and insofar as it exists, be consequences of a protracted experience of being under-resourced and inadequately incentivised.

Indeed, we believe that some of the findings of the recently concluded report of the Commission of Inquiry into the public service bear out our position. Nor can the Union pretend to be unaware of the nexus between the timing of His Excellency’s comment and what, we hope, is the imminent announcement of a date for the commencement of negotiations on wages and salaries.

Indeed, we hasten to express the hope that while that may not be the substantive intention, His Excellency’s comments do not, inadvertently, serve to guide or prejudice the focus and direction of the forthcoming engagement on wages and salaries.

Sincerely, GPSU Public Relations

Dear Editor, Many of you may not know this, but 63 years ago on 27 May, 1953, Janet Jagan and others founded the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO). The WPO was the first mass political women’s organisation in Guyana that introduced women to politics.

Several years before the formation of WPO, the Women’s Political and Economic Organisation (WPEO) was formed on 9 July, 1946. This organisation advocated for women to attend meetings and participate in political discourses, for better working conditions for working women, especially domestics. It also advocated for better living conditions for women and for the girl child to be sent to school.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was formed on 1 January, 1950 and it immediately began to struggle for the following: Universal adult suffrage (the right of everyone to one vote). Prior to 1953, the voter had to own property and certain amount of money in the bank.

For the girl child to be sent to school.

Workers’ rights: for improved working and living conditions of workers.

Independence from Great Britain.

The first elections held under universal adult suffrage in April, 1953 saw PPP winning 18 out of 24 seats in the Legislative Council. For the first time in the then British Guiana, underprivileged peasant workers had a voice.

For the first time in the country’s history, three women entered the Legislative Council (Parliament) to speak for and represent all women countrywide. They were Janet Jagan, Jane Phillips-Gay and Jessie Burnham.

As History would have it, 133 days later, the British Empire suspended the constitution and fired the legitimately elected government of the PPP and restricted all its Leaders from entering villages and sugar estates. Due

Blatant omission in National Awards

Dear Editor, I would like to extend my congratulations to all those persons who were bestowed National Awards on the Flag Raising occasion on the eve of our 50th Independence Celebrations.

It is always good for a nation to acknowledge and honour citizens who have contributed to the development of the country. Unfortunately I have to express my utter disappointment in the omission to have at least honored one person who would have contributed to the development of sports.

There are many deserving persons who over the decades have served sports well in the spheres of the actual sports or in administration or both and for there to have been this woeful omission is most unfortunate. Are persons in sports only good for photo opportunities?

Say what you want about former Director of Sports Neil Kumar, he ensured that in every National Award there was at least one sporting personality honoured. I trust that this omission will not re-occur!’

Sincerely, KA Juman-Yassin

to this Dr Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan were jailed for six months each.

Other PPP leaders were harassed.

On 27 May, 1953, Janet Jagan, Jane Phillips-Gay, Jessie Burnham, Jessica Huntley and several other women formed the WPO. This organisation produced thousands of political women over the years, most of whom are grassroots’ women. However, many of the WPO leaders emerged as powerful national leaders and they were advisors to presidents, ministers of government, members of boards, etc.

The WPO provided support to the PPP over the years in advocating for women’s rights, for the girl child to be educated, and to have the right to work.

The WPO has participated meaningfully in activities that were aimed at building and strengthening democracy, especially during the 28 years of PNC dictatorial rule. In the struggles for the restoration of democracy women marched and demonstrated for the return of basic foodstuff that were banned, drugs for the hospital, etc.

Over the past six decades, the WPO participated and held membership in several international organisations.

The WPO is proud of its record as a political organisation when it looks at the journey it travelled with the women of this country to get to the place they are today. Today women are seen in every position available, every strata of society. Women are no longer the silent bystander. They speak when they are spoken to and they stand out in every crowd and no longer look on but participate.

The leadership of the WPO salutes every woman who has been part of and made this journey possible. We are proud of who we are and what we have contributed to.

Yours truly, The People’s Progressive Party

There is need for neutral third...

from page 4

main. The provision that prohibits the coalition of political parties, after an election, will stay. After all, these are the juicy parts of the Constitution, which allow for the complete domination of one party over the other and which sanction the inexcusable behaviour of the President, whenever he or she feels like.

That is why folks were excited about the AFC when they started making those logical arguments about constitutional reform.

That is why they were awarded seats in Parliament. The masses saw light in what they were proposing. They would have been the ones to pressure the bigger, power-hungry parties to make these commonsensical adjustments to this archaic, autocratic, oppressive document. But alas, the AFC has frizzled and has now become silent on this matter.

Editor, I wonder if it is not time for another independent party to follow where the AFC was leading? Maybe it’s time for a third party to enter the stage and pledge to never merge with any of the larger parties.

A third party would be able to hold the Parliament accountable to the Guyanese people and have them institute changes to the Constitution that we all know are reasonable and needed. I believe that only when there is a third party, Guyanese will see any substantial reform made to the (Burnham) Constitution.

Yours faithfully, Pastor Wendell Jeffrey

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 5, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

PPP stages another picket Woman jumps to death from exercise outside GECOM Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge …says Chairman should be dismissed

G

eneral Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Clement Rohee, led a protest in front of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Tuesday, with the aim of having the GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally removed from office.

With placards calling for Surujbally’s dismissal, Rohee and his PPP/C followers walked in circles in front of GECOM chanting “Surujbally must go!”

Speaking on behalf of the Party, Rohee, indicated that the protest is intended to bring about change, commencing with the removal of the Chairman of GECOM. “We are here to achieve something strategic. That is, election reforms, for new changes to take place in terms of GECOM Chairman, the GECOM machinery and the whole question of free and fair elections,” Rohee voiced.

The General Secretary highlighted that the reason why these requests for changes are being posed is because they have lost confidence in GECOM and they have expectations that there will be accomplishments in terms of

reforms, on a long-term basis.

Rohee added that the implementation of modernised “house to house” registrations, E-registrations, E-voting and E-tabulation towards tallying of election results, are some of the changes that they want to see implemented by GECOM. He posited that if the changes are not made, there are many plans and measures to be taken, besides “the regular picketing exercises”, pointing out that the Party has all intentions of continuing to rally, until these conditions are met.

Rohee voiced that there was a great amount of optimism towards being able to achieve the changes they are seeking from GECOM. He highlighted that since they (PPP/C) had protested and achieved change in 1992, it is not impossible for changes to be made again.

“We’ve achieved the objectives in 1992 and we believe that we will be able to achieve the objectives in the same way that we would have achieved the objectives and electoral reforms in 1992,” said Rohee.

Leonora Cottage Hospital facing drug shortage

T

he Leonora Cottage Hospital, on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) is battling a drug shortage, however; regional officials have failed to notify the Public Health Ministry of the issue.

The health institution has been without much needed medication for several months, sources at the facility told Guyana Times International.

This publication was told that doctors have to issue prescriptions to patients so that they can purchase medication which would normally be issued by the hospital’s pharmacy. It was indicated that the hospital is out of basic medications, such as Panadol and antibiotics.

Earlier this year, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Chairman Julius Faerber voiced concerns over the drug shortage in the re-

gion. He related that similar issues are plaguing the West Demerara Regional Hospital and health centres across the region. However, when questioned about the issue as it relates to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Dennis Jaikarran denied having any knowledge of the issue.

Meanwhile, Dr George Norton on Wednesday alleged that regional officials failed to notify him of the shortage that is plaguing the Hospital.

“I just had a meeting with my Permanent Secretary with the regional authorities; that is the Chairman, the REO and the Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region Three, and in that meeting I made it known in no uncertain terms that I am not impressed with what is taking place on the region-

al level. While they have been saying to me that there is no shortage… on the ground, that might not be the case,” he related.

The Minister said he was not prepared to deny the claims that there was a drug shortage at the medical facility at Leonora, since similar situations exist across the country.

Earlier this week, Norton indicated that the change in the procurement system is probably the likely cause for the drug shortages being experienced at certain public health facilities across Guyana.

Meanwhile, addressing the issue of patients having to purchase medication, Dr Norton explained that it is not the duty of the patient to procure the necessary medication, but rather, the responsibility of the Hospital administrator.

A

young woman ended her life by jumping off the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge, Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) shortly before 09:00h on Tuesday.

According to reports, the woman identified as 24-year-old Tabhita Small of South Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, was earlier seen at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

A Police source in Linden confirmed that the woman was diagnosed with tuberculosis approximately two years ago and was admitted to the LHC around 15:10h on Monday after experiencing a series of fainting spells.

This newspaper understands that she was discharged from the Hospital at approximately 08:30h on Tuesday and went straight to the Bridge.

An employee attached to the Bridge told this newspaper that she saw the young woman approaching the western end of the Bridge several times, as she paced back and forth from the eastern to the western end.

Upon approaching the western end of the bridge, for the final time, before she made the fatal jump, she was reportedly engaged in an altercation with another young wom-

The Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge from which the woman leaped

an whom she reportedly unexpectedly walked up to and began hitting.

According to an eyewitness, Small approached a shop located a few yards away from the Bridge and was chased away by the occupants. The woman who operates the shop told this newspaper that Small walked up to her daughter who was preparing to leave the shop for work at the time and landed a “cuff” to her face, to which she retaliated by hitting her. According to the woman, the suicide victim appeared troubled.

“She (my daughter) bend to pick up her bag to go to work and she just give she one cuff. She never see the girl, we don’t know the girl, but when I was sitting at the hospital shed, I see this girl pass…

She was barefoot and she hair was untidy…When you looked at the girl’s face, she pretty young; I average she to be 20 or lil’ bit over 20. But I nev-

er see this girl before…she walked, she go through the train line then she turned back, then she go over the bridge and when she meet in the middle she jump overboard,” the shop owner stated.

Following that incident, an eyewitness disclosed that the woman made a failed attempt to jump overboard when the bridge’s barrier was removed, before finally venturing further to the middle where she made the fatal plunge. The eyewitness stated that after the woman went overboard, several persons rushed to the scene in their speedboats; however, they were unsuccessful in rescuing her or retrieving the body.

“When I look down, I see she hand go up two times. When I reach down (further down the bridge) the body had already gone down…

Everybody saying they never see she,” the eyewitness stated.

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Mahaica woman hacked to death by jealous husband R esidents in Chelsea village, Mahaica, have plunged into a state of mourning and are still in disbelief after learning of the details leading up to the gruesome murder of 31-year-old Candacy Pitt who died at the hands of her husband.

For the past 13 years Candacy and her now 41-year-old husband, Athlone Pitt, had their shares of 'ups and downs' like any other married couple but as time passed the intensity of their arguments escalated. This eventually led to Athlone publicly insulting his wife and even telling neighbours and family members that he would kill her, Candacy’s relatives told this publication.

On Wednesday night, Candacy, a security guard who was on duty at the Bygeval Primary School, left her parents home without knowing that this would be the last occasion on which they would see her alive.

Evonne Andrews, the mother of the deceased woman, told this publication that on Wednesday evening Athlone came home and was calling for his wife but Evonne had instructed her not to answer him since he was highly intoxicated.

Candacy and Athlone lived in the house next door to the young woman’s family and they all shared the same yard.

Eventually Athlone began calling for his mother-in-law and she

Former PM representative slapped with dangerous driving charge Abel Seetaram at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday

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Evonne Andrews, the mother of the deceased and another sister (of the dead woman)

too chose not to answer his calls. When he retired to his own home Candacy’s father escorted her to her workplace where she was scheduled to work with an older female relative, Brenda Thomas.

Shortly after the two women begun their duties, Athlone is alleged to have gone to the school compound’s gate asking to see his wife but was denied access

by Thomas who saw him armed with a cutlass.

“He went to the guard house and attacked them and he chop Brenda first with one long cut on her belly and one long cut on her back...he chop her finger and all. Then he start on Candy, chopping her and then turn her over and chop her neck, foot and hand,"

the distraught woman lamented.

Athlone then reportedly covered his face, picked up his bicycle and went to the police station where he confessed to the murder.

According to Athlone’s mother-inlaw, he is an alcoholic who would usually consume ‘high wine’.

As such he chose not to earn an income and therefore could not maintain his wife or himself and this forced Candacy to secure a job to take care of them both.

“He drinking his rum and didn’t want to work and he up and down on the road telling everyone to talk to her to leave the work.

He not working and giving her anything so how will she maintain herself? Yesterday morn-

ing he told her it was the last morning she would be working and he always threaten her, we urge her to make reports at stations but she was afraid,” Evonne explained.

Other relatives told this publication that Athlone recently begun telling persons that he “caught her with another man” but they refuted such claims stating that if the young woman had been involved with someone else then she would have left Athlone and not have had to find a job to support them.

Meanwhile, Athlone is still in the lockups at the Mahaica Police Station, where police ranks are presently conducting further investigations into the matter. He is expected to be charged soon.

ne day after having his services terminated as Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Regional Representative of the Office of the Prime Minister, controversial Member of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Abel Seetaram made his first court appearance on Tuesday to face dangerous driving charges.

The matter was called on Monday at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court but Seetaram did not make an appearance.

He had not appeared on either of the two previous occasions the matter was called.

However one day after he was fired as the Prime Ministerial Representative to Region Five, he went to court.

Seetaram has been charged with dangerous driving, breach of insurance and being an unlicensed driver. He is still to answer to those charges.

On May 8 around 21:00h, Seetaram allegedly lost control of the Government vehicle he was driving and ripped through the Bushlot Market fence, damaging a

section of a nearby building.

It was also alleged that at the time of the accident, he was under the influence of alcohol.

D i v i s i o n a l Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam had told the media that the Police were experiencing some difficulty in getting his alcoholic level tested following the accident.

While the Police are still investigating the case, no charges have been brought against Seetaram for driving while allegedly being under the influence of alcohol.

Police officers on the West Coast of Berbice have reported that on several occasions, the AFC official appeared to be under the influence.

On September 14, 2015, Seetaram was appointed as Special Representatives for the Prime Minister in the region. He was tasked with the responsibility of working with the public on issues which could be addressed through the Office of the Prime Minister.

Linden man remanded for attempted murder

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South Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) man was on Monday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after being charged with intent to commit murder.

Miner Samuel Boucher, 27, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on May 24, 2016 at Cuyuni River, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Shanell Rodrigues with intent to commit murder.

Bail was objected to by Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, who told the Court Rodrigues was still hospitalised.

According to Jeffers, Rodrigues, who is known to Boucher, is the owner

Samuel Boucher

of a shop in the interior.

The altercation between the men stemmed from an argument between the two over money owed to Rodrigues.

Boucher will make his next court appearance on June 15 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

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Guyanese teen killed in NY apartment told cops who shooter was …moments before she died her final breath, police sources said Wednesday.

A barely conscious Shemel Mercurius, lying on a toy car in her family’s Brooklyn apartment in New York, died from gunshot wounds shortly after fingering her killer, the New York Daily News reported.

Cops withheld the suspect’s name as a video surfaced showing a man armed with an assault rifle coercing his way inside the home where the 16-year-old was babysitting her nephew.

The manhunt for the fugitive suspect is continuing, with cops saying the rifle-toting man wore a black hoodie and red

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Dead: Shemel Mercurius

b l e e d i n g Guyanese-born Brooklyn baby-sit-

ter shared the first name of her cold-blooded killer with cops before taking

Dharamlall will be asked to provide “solid explanation” about shooting allegations

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PPP/C MP, Nigel Dharamlall

n light of the Police investigation into allegations against People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament Nigel Dharamlall that he threatened to shoot an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) official, the hierarchy of the Party said they are expecting “solid explanations” from the parliamentarian.

Dharamlall recently came into the lime light after a report was made that he allegedly whipped out his gun and threatened to shoot the official after the individual was seen communicating with his (Dharamlall’s) ex-wife.

The Police have confirmed the report and has since launched an investigation. The case file was subsequently sent to the Director of Public

Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers on May 27 for advice on the way forward and has not been returned to date.

In a statement late Monday night, Dharamlall’s Attorney Glenn Hanoman explained that his client was advised not to comment on the issue, as to not cause interference with or prejudice the investigation.

The Attorney further noted that given the sensational speculations and inaccurate information in the public domain, it must be made clear that his client is “unequivocally” denying any involvement in any criminal act.

Nevertheless, on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo told a news conference that “clearly he has to give solid explanations, believable explanations to the Executive of the Party and to us. He has to give those because it is a serious matter, the allegations are serious.”

According to the Opposition Leader, the PPP’s Executive meeting is coming up this Friday and it is expected that members would be briefed by General Secretary Clement Rohee as to the nature of the conversation with Dharamlall.

sweatpants with black stripes.

For the Mercurius family who resides in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, their lives can and will never be the same again after the life of Shemel Mercurius was taken in their once lively and warm apartment.

Four years ago, Shemel had moved from her homeland, Guyana, to reside in East Flatbush with her aunt and cousin and other relatives.

The 16-year-old girl had been babysitting her three-year-old cousin, Josia, inside of the apartment she shared with her external family when the murder took

place.

According to initial reports, she had been trying to prevent a gun-toting assailant and his female companion from entering her home.

The NY Daily News stated that a video camera caught the man trying to force his way into the apartment around 18:00hrs on the day in question before Shemel finally opened the door and let him and the woman enter.

It was reported that the intruders were seen on video fleeing the sixth-floor apartment after the young female was mortally wounded as her tiny cousin cried loudly.

Police officers said the dead girl’s boyfriend was “a person of interest” in the shooting. She was shot twice — once in each bicep — with one of the bullets punching through her arm and into her chest, police said.

The girl’s aunt, Latoya Price, took Shemel in four years ago when the girl immigrated with her dad from Guyana. The family was hoping she would attend college in the U.S. Mercurius, a junior at Edward R. Murrow High School, died Tuesday night at Kings County Hospital.

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Opposition wants Gov’t Approximately Gy$3billion to provide details on needed to run city efficiently presidential pardons

- Georgetown Mayor

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pposition Member of Parliament (MP) and former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has taken Government to task, requesting that the Ministry of Public Security provide details on the names of persons President David Granger intends to have released from prison.

President Granger on Saturday evening had told Guyana Times International that he intended to release some more prisoners, particularly women who are mothers and who have committed minor offences. The Head of State has so far released some 71 prisoners, both male and female since coming to office.

Nandlall said it was imperative that Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, make known in the National Assembly the list of names of these selected prisoners, their dates of birth, offences which they have committed and what they are being pardoned from, their criminal records and the length of the sentence that was served at the time when the pardon was granted.

He is also requesting that the minister declare publicly the process and criteria used by President Granger or any authority who was acting on his behalf to determine prisoners’ eligibility for presidential pardoning.

In addition, Nandlall is also seeking an answer as to under what statutory or constitutional provision, if any, did the President act in granting these pardons for the convicts.

Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is requesting to be informed of the “approximate number

PPP/C MP, Anil Nandlall

of pardons” the president is likely to select on an annual basis.

Recently, President Granger announced that steps are being taken to release another batch of convicts, most likely comprising of women with the exception of those who committed murder and manslaughter.

President Granger explained: “There are certain criteria. It is not a reckless process. Persons who have been involved in crimes of violence – manslaughter or murder – will not be eligible and we are looking at persons who might have been convicted for short periods for what we call non-lethal offences”.

In recent reports, President Granger urged Guyanese not to be worried with his decision to pardon more prisoners for the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary, pointing out that he is acting in accordance with the law.

The news of pardoning of convicts has created tension among citizens, recalling the recent riot at the Camp Street Prison, which claimed the lives of 17 inmates.

Georgetown Mayor, Patricia Chase Green

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n light of the recent claims that City Hall is bankrupt, the Mayor, Patricia Chase Green on Tuesday confirmed that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has indeed run short on funds.

In a telephone interview with this newspaper, Chase Green said that for the M&CC to be able to run the city efficiently and cater for all the modern developments, it would require approximately Gy$3 billion

annually.

Chase Green said that since many persons do not pay their taxes on time and the M&CC does not collect enough funds, deficits are encountered annually.

“There has not been a time that the Council has not had a loss. The city has always been broke. The Council does not collect enough rates and taxes to meet all the demands financially to run this city and so being short of cash is no new news. We’ve always been. It would take like Gy$3 billion a year to run the city of Georgetown if you want to develop it into a modern city.

And when taxpayers don’t pay their monies on time, we will have shortages in payment, but the city has always been short of money,” the Mayor said.

With regard to when payments would be provided to the city workers, including garbage collectors and contractors, the Public Relations Officer of the M&CC, Debra Lewis indicated that “preparations are being made to ensure those workers are paid as soon as possible”.

Last week, it was highlighted that City Hall was short on funds and was unable to pay staff their Independence month’s wages. The Council, however, indicated that the matter was expected to be resolved in 48 hours, highlighting the need for taxpayers to pay all outstanding dues as soon as possible.

Education Minister plugs ‘green classrooms’

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n keeping with the President’s vision of promoting a “green Guyana”, Minister of Education Rupert Roopnaraine has proposed the introduction of “green classrooms” which would bring the country closer to achieving its goals by placing more emphasis on climate change within the school curriculum.

The minister was at the time delivering remarks at an awards ceremony for outstanding educators at the National Cultural Centre on Monday.

While noting that the ministry is mulling a review of the curriculum offered in Guyana, Roopnaraine informed that it is their aim to not only focus on the central activities offered in schools but rather to integrate environmental learning.

Since climate change and greening the environment is one of the more topical issues currently trending worldwide, being that its effects are not limited to specific countries only, Roopnaraine called for much thought to be given in introducing green

Minister of Education, Rupert Roopnaraine

classroom learning.

This he believes would place Guyana at a better point of accomplishing its vision of having a country that is more sustainable and green through initiatives for this cause.

Nothing that classroom learning is fundamental to effecting changes in a nation since education is the gateway to development, Roopnaraine mentioned that this would be a step forward for the country as it relates to educating the population about safe environmental habits.

“President Granger talks about a green economy and greening

Guyana and we know to create a green Guyana we have to green our classrooms, which means that we have to elevate climate change, climate literacy, and environmental literacy” the minister stated.

He added that work has already began to this effect as the ministry is aiming to have climate change education become a more crucial part of the national curriculum as they believe this would be a valuable method of relaying information that would bring about transformation.

Alluding to recent programmes by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) known as the Climate Change Education for Sustainable D e v e l o p m e n t , Roopnaraine called for Guyana to take pattern of this since it would ensure a more central role of the environment in classroom teaching.

This, he said, would also make the topic more crucial as part of the country’s global response to climate change.

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A clear case of ‘ineptitude, Rohee denies Top Cop’s claim incompetence or inexperience’ that he hindered …Rohee says of alleged ‘mistreatment’ at Flag Raising ceremony Police training

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Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud

e n e r a l Secretary (GS) of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Clement Rohee, on Monday debunked accusations by Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud that during his tenure as Minister of Home Affairs he hindered the training process of police ranks.

Rohee during a press conference, vehemently denied the Commissioner’s claims that he hindered the processing of applications for overseas training of police ranks by ‘ducking’ the documents.

According to the GS, during his tenure as Minister, a number of ranks were sent abroad to receive training; however, these were poorly publicised.

“It’s totally inaccurate and I debunked it and I said it is a falsehood because we were sending a lot of people abroad. I turned one day to the Permanent Secretary and said, ‘you know, we’re sending all these people abroad and we’re not publicising it’.

And we agreed that every time a police rank or a group of Police ranks travel abroad to participate in scholarships or whatever the case might be, we would publicise it.

And this is what we were doing… issuing press statement after press statement and some were appearing while some were not appearing because some media houses didn’t want the PPP to look good. They were not publishing it, they suffocated it. But if you go back, you’ll find a lot of press statements revealing police ranks going abroad for training by the Ministry,” he stated.

He said a review of publications and Police records would prove there were numerous occasions when police

ranks were sent abroad for training. He urged the Commissioner to prove his allegations, saying the allegations are ‘total falsehood’.

“If Mr Persaud is serious about what he is saying, he should go into the records of the force headquarters and publish all of those fully funded scholarships that were ‘ducked’ at the Ministry of Home Affairs. So it’s not true, it’s a total falsehood,” Rohee related.

The former minister also explained that on several occasions, the slothfulness of Police officials in responding to invitations for training, and sending them to the Ministry for processing resulted in the invitations being processed too late.

“Sometimes, the invitation would come late to the Police, then they have to select a person, and sometimes they would ‘sit’ on the invitation. In either of the two cases, the information would come late to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ministry would now have to prepare a Cabinet paper to go to Cabinet for approval…. as no public servant can leave the country without Cabinet approval. And it’s also a question of the advances that has to be given to them in order to facilitate their travel. In the case where it’s fully funded, the Cabinet still approves some money for them to leave the country, and these things take time. And if the invitation came late, it would obviously get caught up in that situation,” Rohee pointed out.

He also rubbished claims that he ducked the invitations and applications because he had a personal dislike of the ranks whose names were submitted for training.

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) remains steadfast in its claims that the apology and explanation offered by Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry about the poor seating arrangements in the VIP section during the flag-raising ceremony for the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary were inaccurate.

The Party is also adamant that the treatment meted out to its members, who all hold constitutional posts, was a breach of protocol and swore that had the PPP/C been in Government, the Opposition would not have faced such humiliation.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee told a news conference on Monday that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Government is seeking to paint a picture that the Opposition was uncooperative; however, this was not the case.

He gave a detailed explanation of what transpired on the evening of May 25, at D’Urban Park, stating that all the instructions and directions that were decided upon in Parliament were adhered to. However, things obviously took a wrong turn.

“We are saying that there was a breach of the protocols and the arrangements of the promises that were made to

Disappointed PPP members leaving D'Urban Park on the eve of Independence Day

us,” the Party’s General Secretary stated, continuing, “It would not have happened if we were in Government with the then Opposition. It clearly was a case of ineptitude, incompetence or inexperience, or it was designed like that,” he posited.

He said Members of Parliament were told in Parliament that there were seats allocated to the 32 Opposition MPs, and they all left the Office of the Leader of the Opposition that evening, with the understanding that seats would have been available for them.

According to Rohee, the planning and execution of the event were chaotic and this has been the views expressed by a number of persons.

“A number of commentators have all criticised the event and the action and the disrespect,” he told Journalists.

He maintained that the Leader of the Opposition is holding constitutional office, and so are the MPs. “They are not stray dogs,” he said.

“When we go to Parliament, the Speaker expects us to act in a particular way. So how come it is good for one location and bad for another location?” he questioned.

Rohee explained that the claim that there was a clash in arrivals was untrue as MPs were already present, long before the arrival of both the Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and President David Granger.

“We went there before the Prime Minister and the President. We went there before people start pouring in the place. We went there before Ministers arrived,” the General Secretary said.

On the night of the

incident, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo expressed disappointment that his Party was left embarrassed when members turned up at the D’Urban Park arena to be part of the activities, but could not because most of the MPs were left standing without any seats.

He said an effort was made to correct the situation, but after some 30 minutes standing, nothing was done. They all dubbed the situation disrespectful, and the group, led by Jagdeo, walked out of the event.

But on Friday, Minister Henry, who had responsibility for the staging of the event, said the parliamentary Opposition was invited to all State events and confirmed its attendance to the flag-raising ceremony.

She said after accepting the invitation, continued on page 14

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Corruption more rampant outside of Government – President Granger P

resident David Granger, in an effort to exculpate his Government, has said that corruption in Guyana was more rampant outside of Government and as such, the usual anti-corruption critics of his Government should focus more on the Private Sector and non-State organisations, where he believed the scourge was raging.

He said the real contributors to corruption were those who committed crimes of tax evasion, smuggling, narcotics trafficking, trafficking in persons and money laundering, none of which really emanate from within Government, but rather, benefit the Private Sector, offshore banks and tax havens.

“It is my view that corruption in Guyana is most widespread outside of Government,” the President declared on Saturday evening while addressing the launch of former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran’s book “Governance, Transparency and Accountability.”

He cautioned Guyanese against believing that corruption was confined to law enforcement agents and public servants, adding that while persons must remain vigilant against the abuse of power by the Government, they must also look at “the abuse of trust by the Private Sector”.

Granger said that his Government remained committed to eradicating

corruption, but stressed the need for the Private Sector and other nonState players to help fight the scourge.

“We also need the support of the Private Sector to remove corruption in the Private Sector among businessmen, among smugglers, traffickers, gun-runners, money launderers so maybe criticising the Government does not ensure the absence of corruption,” Granger said.

He added that often critics overlook the real culprits in corruption, such as gold and diamond smugglers, conspirators of importers, exporters of illegal drugs, builders of fuel smuggling vessels, back-trackers and those who dodge National Insurance Scheme and

Income Tax payments.

The President believes that the practice of good governance, transparency and accountability are more than the antidote for corruption in Government.

“They are also a remedy for ridding the disease of corruption in the Private Sector, in professional organisations, in civil society and also in international organisations,” he stated.

The Guyanese leader said that while institutions such as the Public Procurement Commission, Integrity Commission and the Public Service Commission would help in the fight against corruption, they would also protect the country from being relegated to a

rogue state.

Granger said he was interested in good governance, accountability and transparency, effective government policies, a regulatory framework, political stability and a representative democracy.

He said corruption weakened enforcement of the law, democratic values, accountability, transparency, public trust in governance and institutions of government.

Despite these assertions by the Head of State, his one-yearold Government has already had its fair share of corruption allegations levelled against it, including from the United States Department of State.

In April 2016, the US Department of State said that corruption continued to be among the leading human rights problems facing Guyana.

“There remained a widespread public perception of corruption involving officials at all levels, including the Police and the judiciary,” the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

for 2015, released by the Department, said.

It noted, however, that the Government responded to the report, but did not elaborate.

The report also stated that while the law required public officials to declare their assets to the Integrity Commission, the Commission has not been constituted.

It added that the law set out both criminal and administrative sanctions for nondisclosure to the Commission by public officials, but, no such publication or convictions occurred during the year.

Closer to home, local anti-corruption body, Transparency Institute (Guyana) Inc (TIGI) went on public record as criticising the Administration, citing Junior Minister of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes for conflict of interest.

Broomes was accused of conflict of interest because of her significant mining interests, while having ministerial oversight of the mining sector.

She has since denied any wrongdoing.

A clear case of ‘ineptitude, incompetence...

from page 11

the Opposition was briefed by her on Tuesday, May 24, on the time of arrival, entrance to be used and seating arrangements.

Based on the arrangement, the Opposition Leader was expected to be seated in the Presidential Section with all other past Presidents and Prime Ministers. All other PPP members were to be seated in the other VIP section.

According to Henry, the Opposition Leader did arrive, but not at the time he was expected to. Explaining the details of what transpired on Wednesday evening, Minister Henry said Jagdeo arrived at 21:55h and approached the south-western entrance (Hadfield Street).

She said had it not been for the Police’s insistence that the group use the north-western entrance, the Opposition and President David Granger would have arrived on the tarmac at the same time.

According to her, the other members remained standing in the passageway and had indicated that they would only sit when they could be assigned seats togeth-

PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee

er. However, according to her, this was not told to the usher.

But, the Minister’s account is being disputed.

Several independent commentators have all deemed the flag-raising ceremony “chaotic” as they revealed that ushers in the VIP section were running all over the place as confusion abound as to whom should be seated where.

There were also claims that a number of unauthorised person were seated in the VIP box, one of the fact which may have been responsible for the lack of adequate seating for the opposition MPs.

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Individuals involved in multimillion-dollar Global Fund fraud to be sanctioned – Dr Norton viewed, the VCS administrative employee denied passing instructions for the figures to be inflated.

The report also stated that the former VCS Director claimed he never gave instructions to inflate the figures or fabricate the documents.

The report noted that there was an analysis of over 46,000 individual names and signatures on the bed net distribution activity sheets to assess if the activity sheets

By Devina Samaroo

G

overnment is under pressure to find some G$15 million to recompense the Global Fund International Organisation, after an investigation into its local malaria programme unearthed massive corruption.

Public Health Minister Dr George Norton during an interview with the media on Sunday said the international organisation had demanded that the Government of Guyana repay the amount that was found to be swindled under the programme.

Reports indicate that these irregularities affected expenditures totalling US$72,973.

“It is quite a large sum of US dollars and it is aimed directly against the government,” Norton remarked, noting that sanctions are very well underway for culpable persons.

However, Dr Norton said government will be launching its own investigation into the fraud findings before any further action is taken.

Following complaints of incessant irregularities in the Global Fund malaria grant in Guyana, the organisation commenced an investigation into the matter, covering the period January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015.

According to the investigation findings, there were complaints of fabricated data in relation to the distribution of bed nets, malaria surveillance activities and associated fraudulent expenditures, including ‘per diems’ and fuel for programmatic work that allegedly did not take place.

The irregularities were facilitated by the inadequate management of

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

the Global Fund malaria programme by the Vector Control Services (VCS) of the Public Health Ministry, which included poor record-keeping and a failure to respond to Global Fund Secretariat Management Actions.

During the period under investigation, Dr Reyaud Rahman was Director of VCS. He resigned in December 2015.

Dr Norton said it “speaks volumes” that Dr Rahman along with four senior officers resigned from their positions upon completion of the investigation.

The minister had previously indicated that with an allegation of corruption and fraud of such magnitude being levied against the government, an investigation will have to be launched to confirm the validity of the information and determine the best course of action to be taken in addressing this messy situation.

He had also expressed concerns that this situation might blacklist Guyana from receiving funding in the future.

“At this point in time, paying any debt of that nature would certainly not be in the best interest of the economy of the country. We cannot af-

ford to do that. It is unfortunate that this had to happen, we are definitely in need of such funding and we are just hoping that this will not affect us in the future to access such funding,” he expressed.

Meanwhile, the report said the investigation found evidence that VCS employees inflated the number of long-lasting insecticide impregnated mosquito nets reported as distributed and had fabricated underlying bed net distribution documents to support the inflated figures.

Additionally, the report said VCS employees also fabricated documentation for another surveillance activity relating to the operation of malaria committees.

The report further stated that two VCS malaria supervisors responsible for distributing bed nets in the regions confessed that they had inflated bed net distribution figures in the Semester Reports and that they had fabricated underlying documentation to support the figures.

The two individuals claimed that an administrative employee had instructed them to inflate the figures.

However, when inter-

contained indicators that bed nets had not been distributed to beneficiaries, and upon completion of this exercise, it found that it could not obtain reasonable assurance that 20,981 bed nets, representing 45.2 per cent of the total reviewed, had been delivered to beneficiaries, on the basis of anomalies found in the bed net distribution activity sheets.

This figure did not include bed nets where it appeared that a sin-

gle individual, such as a community health worker, mining camp leader or a family member, had signed legitimately on behalf of a group of individuals.

The investigation also found that the average incidence of signature anomalies across the regions and periods under review was similar; indicating that the fabrication of underlying bed net distribution documentation was systematic.

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Trial date set for woman accused of threatening President Granger

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he trial date has been set for the East Bank Essequibo (EBE) woman, Bibi Safora Salim, who is charged for using Facebook to issue threatening and derogatory statements against President David Granger.

The date was set by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when Salim, who was charged for attempting to excite hostility on the grounds of race contrary to Section 2 (1) (C) of the Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23:01 of the Criminal Offences Act, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The trial has been set for June 15, 2016.

In April 2016, Salim pleaded not guilty to the charge and was placed on Gy$200,000 bail.

The 52-year-old mother of three, who hails from Vergenoegen, EBE, was taken into Police custody for questioning following her Facebook post about shooting the President.

She was represented by Attorney Euclin Gomes, who told the Court that his client was “technologically challenged”.

This claim was, however, challenged by

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50 Guyanese educators awarded for role in nation’s development The awardees along with Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and other officials

Bibi Safora Salim

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers who strongly objected to bail and told the Court that Salim admitted in a statement to the Police to being the owner of the laptop from which she used a password to access the said account.

He also objected to bail on the grounds of the serious nature of the offence, threats posed, and the racial remarks that were used on social media against the President.

Salim reportedly sent two photos via whatsapp messenger to her son, which shared similar sentiments.

According to Prosecutor Jeffers, the case files are completed and some 14 witnesses are slated to testify in the trial, which should have commenced since May 11.

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s Guyana continues with its calendar of activities marking the Golden Jubilee anniversary, 50 past and present educators were on Monday rewarded with trophies and certificates for their outstanding contributions to the education sector over the past 50 years.

During the elaborate award ceremony at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) which saw the attendance of hundreds of education officials and students from across the country, these educators were bestowed with awards for their dedication towards the development of the nation academically.

The initiative was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education and the School of the Nations as they recognised the need of rewarding teachers for their work as well as to stimulate other educators to pattern themselves after those being awarded.

The ceremony was held under the theme “Improving performance through teacher recognition and rewards” spoke exactly to the theme of celebrating the achievement of the educators as their roles have been crucial in the development of the country’s education sector.

Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, emphasised the essential role of educators and its direct link to the general advancement of the country.

Emphasising that teachers are the first persons who

offer formal education to children, Sam affirmed that their tasks and role should not be underrated.

“I have referred to teachers as both agents of nation building and soldiers for national transformation.

In some, the faith of our nation rests on the shoulders of the dedicated educators spread across this country”, Sam cited.

In saluting educators across the country, he reminded that they are the persons responsible for classroom development, that of the community and the entire nation.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine spoke passionately about the magnitude of the educator’s input to the general growth of the country, while noting that they are not rewarded to the extent of their contributions.

Roopnaraine admitted that he is aware of the inadequate salary and other benefits that these teachers are in receipt of despite their critical role in the education sector. He disclosed that the Education Ministry has had discussions with the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) on the topic of the insufficient wages paid to educators.

The educators awarded were selected from the ten administrative regions of Guyana for their devoted work in the teaching profession.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 5, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Draft Code of Conduct for public officials handed over to PM

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overnment is hoping to have the long awaited Ministerial Code of Conduct drafted into the existing Integrity Commission legislation, but will await the advice of the Chief Parliamentary Council before taking this route.

The announcement was made on Monday, when Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo received the revised draft Code of Conduct from Minster of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman at Office of the Prime Minister.

Trotman, along with a small committee, was tasked with reviewing the draft code of conduct. The team which comprised two representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister, along with two lawyers from the Guyana Bar Association, met several times during May, examining best practices in places such as Tanzania and other African countries and several Caribbean countries, seeking to ascertain their applicability to the Guyana scenario.

The Prime Minister, speaking to the media following the handing over, said Government felt the subject matter was critically important to the public and therefore moved to have a special committee set up by Minister Trotman.

“We are aware that all over the Commonwealth where we belong, there is a great need for emphasis on persons in public life… The committee was set up to have the matter reopened for recommendation”, he said.

He said since the Integrity Commission Act provides for the declaration and justification of assets of persons who hold public offices, along with their spouses and children, the recommendation was made that the integrity legislation include the prescription for the Code of Conduct.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, the purpose of the Code

Region 2 Chairman calls on Govt to focus on rice cereal factory

By Indrawattie Natram

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Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

of Conduct is to assist Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) and public office holders in the discharge of their obligations to their constituents and the public at large.

It provides guidance on the values – the moral qualities – that should govern the conduct of Ministers and MPs in discharging their parliamentary and public duties. It is also meant to reinforce public confidence in the way in which Ministers and public office holders perform those duties.

Ministers, by virtue of the Oath or Affirmation of allegiance taken when they are elected, have a duty to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, according to law.

The Code states that public office holders also have a duty to uphold the law, including the general law against discrimination and sexual harassment, and to act with propriety on all occasions in accordance with the public trust and confidence placed in them.

They also have a general duty to act in the interests of the nation as a whole and owe a special duty of care to their constituents, and citizens.

ith the troubles the rice industry is currently experiencing in the agriculture region of Pomeroon-Supenaam, Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt is calling on Government to put the rice cereal factory, located at Anna Regina, in operation.

Ramdatt made this request at the Flag Raising Ceremony held on May 25, 2016, in the region to mark Guyana’s 50th Anniversary.

During his address, Ramdatt noted that unemployment is the major challenge affecting the region, coupled with the low prices offered for paddy. He therefore urged the government to put the factory in operation at the shortest possible time, adding that it will create employment for over 200 persons, and positively impact the rice industry.

Ramdatt said he is clueless as to why such a beneficial project has not yet materialised

The rice cereal factory in Region Two

even though the facility was constructed under the previous administration. The chairman said even as Guyana celebrated its 50th Jubilee Anniversary it must be recognised that the economy is struggling and Region Two must not be forgotten.

He explained that a careful assessment of the rice industry and timely interventions by government of subsidies on fuel, fertilisers, pesticides, timely payment, rescheduling of loans should be given attention. He told attendees

that rice farmers are crying out daily; and pointed to the over 80 per cent of Region Two population who rely on the rice industry one way or the other.

“Give priority to our farmers, do not invest in parks without meaningful consultations with our people. If we cannot maintain play grounds, how are we going to sustain these parks? Evidence of deterioration at these Parks is already here with us, farmers need help” Ramdatt reiterated.

Hugo Chávez Homeless Shelter gets “thumbs up” for its services

Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez

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he Hugo Chávez Homeless Shelter, located at Onverwagt Village, West Coast Berbice, has received a “thumbs up” for helping homeless persons to be reunited with their families.

The multimillion-dollar shelter, a gift from late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, has as its objective, assisting in the social and physical welfare of persons who may have found themselves out of a home.

The centre, which has separate dorms for males and females; a kitchen; recreational, medical, training, dining facilities and conference rooms, has the capacity to hold 200 males and 100 females and sits on 7.30 acres of land.

Some of the land has been set aside for residents to engage in agriculture.

Counselling is also offered at the centre.

Consultant of the shelter Carol Joseph speaking with Guyana Times International disclosed that many residents at the shelter are of sound mind but would have encountered disputes with their families that caused them to choose the streets over their homes.

“What we do at the shelter here is to contact their families and work on a solution upon their behalf so they can return to their families” said Joseph.

According to Joseph: “When they leave here, we do not forget about them but we do a continuous follow-up on them. So far, all of the persons we have integrated with their families are doing well and keeping up their end of the bargain.”

Enterprising residents of the shelter have engaged themselves in several agricultural activities.

Even though the shelter has the capacity for housing approximately 300 residents, it has never reached half of its capacity. The current population is 55 residents.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Protection in collaboration with Project Restore Guyana (PRG) has been working to clear the pavements of homeless people.

Lennox Lee, speaking with Guyana Times International, disclosed that PRG is working to remove homeless people and place them in various shelters: “They were collected and taken to the hospital and then placed in shelters. Some are still in the hospital but as soon as they are well they will be placed in shelters.”

Lee noted the removal of the vagrants is not a temporary action but will be a continuous activity to keep the streets cleared and place the people in better conditions.

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Hinds gives Govt ‘mixed review’ on state of education sector

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olitical commentator and educator, Dr David Hinds has lamented the state of Guyana’s education sector, stressing that after a year in Government, the new Administration still has a lot of work to do.

Speaking to Guyana Times International recently, Hinds, a University Professor, said there was no doubt that the education sector in Guyana was in bad shape.

He said while he applauded Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and some of the initiatives the Ministry has taken, he still believed that the question of illiteracy in society and the underpreparedness of young people in school required more than “bringing back music”.

“It is more of a fundamental issue,” Dr Hinds said, noting that the WPA has always spoken of a “state of emergency” in the education sector, meaning that “shock treatment” should be administered to the sector.

“So, in the final analysis, I would give the Government more of a mixed review. More positive than negative, but still feel that some of the negatives… [it] could have been signalled what it would do about them,” he noted.

The Education Minister has always maintained that the education sector was indeed in need of reform. This need, he said, had led to the establishment of a

University Professor, Dr David Hinds

Commission of Inquiry, which upon completion, it is hoped, would give the much needed answers and order that would take the sector forward.

Dr Roopnaraine did say that the reform would not happen overnight as it required time to be implemented and enforced.

“Based on everything we hear in the Commission, based on the audit findings we have on our desks, based on all of these things, we will be able to design an education reform process in the key areas that need to be addressed,” the Minister had said recently.

Dr Roopnaraine pointed out that the education reform process could not be designed out of ideas but experiences and evidence, which would be gathered through the Inquiry.

“We can’t design an educational reform process out of our heads.

That’s something, I think, that really has to be based on the ex-

perience of people and the evidence that the Commission of Inquiry gets,” he stated.

However, the Minister pointed out that the Commission did not have a narrow focus. Dr Roopnaraine reiterated his dissatisfaction with the fact that the schools and classrooms were almost exclusively devoted to academic instruction, noting that he wanted to see far more rounded education in the schools.

“So, all of this will encompass the Inquiry.

To what extent we believe that bringing music back into the school will produce a more rounded child, to what extent we believe that enhancing physical education and encouraging sports is going to result in a better educated person,” he pointed out.

Another phenomenon that needs to be addressed, the Minister had stated, is the gender imbalance in the school system.

“The young women are really outstripping the boys… by really quite a large margin. I think this is a problem for sociologists. I think we need to subject it [to] serious investigations and as I say, we must not run away with the idea that this is only affecting us here in Guyana. This is a global and regional phenomenon and we need to look at it in all its dimensions. It’s a complex issue and certainly one that deserves a lot of attention,” Dr Roopnaraine had declared.

Scott admits minimum wage low, but says ‘Govt can only do so much’

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inister with Responsibility for Labour Keith Scott has admitted the need for minimum wage to be raised, but said government can only do as much with what it has available.

The minister, speaking to Guyana Times International last Friday explained that the current state of the economy has somehow influenced the state of affairs as it relates to salary increases and more particularly the raising of the minimum wage for public servants.

“We are cognizant that we need to go up, but we can only go as far as the size of the pie allows us”, he noted.

Scott said it is important to note that at the end of the day the country’s economy cannot be compared to the Gross Domestic Product

Minister Keith Scott

(GDP) of other developed countries like the United States of America (USA).

He said government is aware wages have to be increased, and it is for this reason that the mining industry has undertaken a survey to re-examine the role of the sector and its contribution to the economy.

He said however government, over its one year in office, has been able to make some prog-

ress in this regard: “It’s not just wages, but the living standards of our people. We have been making life easier for the pensioner and children, providing them with buses, bicycles and boats”, Scott noted.

He said government is hoping that with the offset of oil and other industries, things will begin looking up for all Guyanese.

Meanwhile, the minister acknowledged that investors have already indicated their interest in Guyana, and this is another positive for the economy.

Asked about government’s plan to lower the unemployment rate in Guyana, Scott said things are in the pipeline to help in this regard. He said government has accepted that Guyana has unemployment and the rate needs to come down.

GTT offering free access to websites, social media

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GTT Chief Commercial Officer Gert Post (right), Permanent Secretary of the Telecommunications Ministry Derrick Cummings (second right) along with GTT models at the launch

ith the local telecommunication sector on the verge of becoming liberalised, GTT has already kicked up its game with the launch its 4G Internet service. The company is now taking it a notch further with more exciting deals for customers.

On Wednesday, the company rolled out its “Free Basic 4G Services” initiative that will see customers getting free 4G access to more than 20 local and international sites, including Wikipedia, Yahoo, google.gy, education.org, guyanalearningchannel.com, gina.gov.gy and the major local media entities.

This service is now exclusively available to all GTT mobile users in the country, even those without data plans. All persons need is a data capable phone feature or smartphone.

According to the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, Gert Post, this new feature allows customers to be informed. He noted that with 4G now available in Guyana, GTT wants to ensure that everyone can freely benefit from this new technology by being able to use the web for education, information, check the weather and to access the information of the Government of Guyana.

Post said this is part of the company’s commitment of doing more for developing Guyana. “All the information on the Internet is very valuable for

kids to do their homework, for men and women to check the news, to check the weather and to do all kinds of things which enrich our lives and makes us better informed people,” he stated.

Moreover, the local telecoms giant also announced free and unmetered Facebook and Whatsapp services with all data plans. This means customers can use the two popular social media apps without having their data depleted and even when the data balance is finished, customers can continue to use WhatsApp and Facebook until their data plan expires.

In addition, the company is offering 48 hours of free facebook access to all its customers who top up $500 or more.

The “Free Basic 4G Services” initiative is a collaborative effort between GTT and the Government of Guyana.

Against this backdrop, Permanent Secretary of the Telecommunications Ministry, Derrick Cummings, noted that this initiative provides immeasurable benefits to the country and its people.

“The free websites offered by GTT helps Guyanese who are not yet connected to the Internet to discover the value of connectivity and expand their access to knowledge and growth. This is part of our commitment to bridging the digital divide and the reason why the Government of Guyana supports it wholeheartedly,” Cummings stated.

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Stop ‘giving lip service and lay tobacco bill urgently’ - Dr Anthony

Shadow Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

By Devina Samaroo

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hadow Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony is urging government to stop pussyfooting and act expeditiously to bring the draft Tobacco Control Bill to the National Assembly.

Guyana joins the rest of the world in observing ‘World No Tobacco Day’ today, however the parliamentary opposition spokesperson on health believes that the country in lagging behind in its efforts to prevent and reduce tobacco smoking.

In an official statement on Monday, Dr Anthony expressed that the government should stop giving lip service to the need to introduce stricter legislation to clamp

down on tobacco usage.

“Do tangible things to address this public health concern. We would like to know: what is government’s strategy for the prevention and reduction of tobacco smoking in Guyana? When would the draft Tobacco Bill, already drafted by the previous Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration, be brought to parliament?” he stated.

World No Tobacco Day 2016 is being observed under the theme: “Get ready for plain packaging”; and is aimed towards highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to

reduce tobacco consumption.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on countries to get ready for plain (standardised) packaging of tobacco products, a method which restricts use of tobacco packaging as a form of tobacco advertising and promotion, limits misleading packaging and labelling, and increases the effectiveness of health warnings.

In this regard, Dr Anthony is urging government to comply with Article II (Packaging and Labelling of Tobacco Products) and Article 13 (Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship) of the WHO Framework Convention

on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) which recommended the adoption of plain packaging of tobacco and tobacco products.

The draft legislation seeks to make all enclosed spaces, public places, work place and public transportation smoke-free areas; ban tobacco promotion and sponsorship; ensure clear graphic warnings on all tobacco products with the warning picture being 50 per cent of the cigarette package; and ban selling cigarettes by and to minors.

Recommendations have also been made for there to be increased taxes on the product.

World No Tobacco Day 2016 was observed under the theme: “Get ready for plain packaging”

from page 5

Crime on the high seas: 3 fishermen...

seine, however; the other three remain missing. The three missing men were tied to anchors and then thrown overboard. Details of what transpired during the attack was related by Persaud who indicated that the Missing: Dhanpaul four crew memRampaul bers were held tained a confession captive and led implito two other boats statement to steal their catch. cating the five susMeanwhile, the pects in the attack. five suspects who One of the suspects, were arrested on during interrogaSaturday remain in tion, detailed how custody. Divisional they placed anchors C o m m a n d e r , on three of the fishA s s i s t a n t ermen and threw Commissioner Ian them overboard.

On Friday, Amsterdam revealed that the a team of local investigaPolice were suc- Police cessful in obtain- tors, led by Deputy ing permission to Commander Senior detain the sus- S u p e r i n t e n d e n t pects beyond the Errol Watts, left neighbouring stipulated 72-hour for detention period. Suriname to meet However, he had with their counin reearlier indicat- terparts ed that the Police lation to the atwere facing diffi- tack. Amsterdam culty implementing also indicated that charges against the a file on the case has been prepared five suspects.

I n v e s t i g a t o r s and sent to the have already ob- Director of Public Prosecutions.

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Caribbean urged to Location still to be decided for Deep Water brace for more hurricane activity this year Harbour – President

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resident David Granger has promised that the project to see a deep-water harbour being established in Guyana is still on the cards and could become a reality as soon as funding is available and logistics worked out.

The Head of State said Government is currently examining the possible location for the project.

“We are looking at the entire Public Infrastructure networks; and it is certainly still on the cards. We are

tal, social and financial studies required to prepare the road-link and deep-water port project for eventual financing through a public/private partnership, according to the IDB. The study by the Chinese company was said to be a follow-up on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered between the Government of Guyana and the company.

Throughout the years, there have been talks about the vast economic potential and op-

In putting things into perspective, CGX Energy Inc Co-Chairman, Professor Suresh Narine had explained that a deep-water harbour in Guyana can actually take the strain off oil exploration companies which depend on the Port of Chaguaramas as the primary source of raw materials for their operations.

The Port of Chaguaramas is some 450 miles from Guyana.

If this economic activity is transferred to a closer port – in Berbice,

currently looking at the highway from Linden to Lethem… a deep-water harbour is a logical destination for that highway because it is meant to bring goods from Lethem. So the actual location has not been determined, but once the highway is funded, we will be able to announce what the destination will be”, the Head of State told Guyana Times International.

Back in early 2015, before the General and Regional Elections, the then Government had indicated that a Chinese company was moving ahead to carry out its own feasibility study for the possible location of a deep-water harbour at the mouth of the Berbice River. The then government had advised that if a deep-water port on a BOOT (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer) basis was to appear to be feasible, it would proceed by way of an open invitation for proposals.

In 2013 however, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) had approved a US$1.5 million to fund a study to prepare a road link to Brazil and a deep-water port project to be financed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).

The funding was expected to cover all engineering, environmen-

portunities that would be made available with a deep-water port in operation.

Already, the Berbice Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the idea, saying the county, though not as developed as Demerara, is ready for the significant transformation that would accompany a deep-water harbour.

Deep-water harbours are essential points of transit for incoming people and goods. Primarily, deep-water harbours are fundamental to the movement of exports and imports of a country.

The Port of Shanghai, in China, which started off as a small port of transit, is now the highest volume port in the world and receives approximately 30 million 20-foot equivalent units per year.

In the Caribbean, the Port of Bridgetown in Barbados has immensely increased trade activities in the island and drastically boosted the tourism sector.

Barbados’ deep-water harbour now acts as a home port for many of the British-based Cruise Ship lines operating in the Caribbean region, directly impacting the tourism sector and ultimately the economy, owing to the revenue generated from tourists who are willing to spend.

it can significantly cut the expenses endured by these oil giants.

Also, with the availability of a cheaper option, it may likely attract more exploration companies to search for the oil in Guyana’s waters, which can further contribute to the economic development of the country.

Former President Donald Ramotar had repeatedly spoken about the expansion of the Panama Canal and how this project will soon start to impact the economic activities in Guyana.

The Panama Canal Expansion Project is intended to double the capacity of the Panama Canal by creating a new lane of traffic and allowing more and larger ships to transit.

Industry experts believe that the expansion of the Panama Canal will open a new phase for the trans-shipment in the Caribbean.

If Guyana is not up to par with the rest of the countries in the Caribbean, it is possible that the international economic activities will dwindle due to the fact that the country does not have the port to facilitate the new phase for trans-shipment of more and larger ships.

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O S E A U , D o m i n i c a (CMC) — A twoday Caribbean Regional Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) began here yesterday with the region being told to brace itself for a wetter than usual season and chances of more hurricane activity this year than in the past five years.

Climatologist with the Dominica Meteorologist Service (DMS) Annie CarretteJospeh, who presented the Wet/Hurricane Season Outlook for 2016, said that between the period June and August, there would also be a gradual drought alleviation across the region and that “surface water reservoirs will recharge, there will be soil moisture replenishment and an increase in river flow”.

She predicted that water shortage-related problems in agriculture will disappear in many places and that “where it

has not already started, the wet season may start abruptly in June”.

The outlook noted that the second half of the wet season will be wetter or unusual in countries like Belize and the Leeward Islands with Carrette-Joseph warning that “moist conditions may favour mosquito breeding”.

The outlook, which was prepared by the DMS in collaboration with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), also warned of extremely wet spells occurring with “serious potential for flash flooding and landslides”.

In addition, the period September to November will be wetter than usual and there will also be chances of more hurricane activity than in the past five years.

There are predictions for 12 named storms this year with US-based scientists Klotzbach and

Gray indicating the region may have to deal with at least one major storm in the category of either three, four or five.

There is also the forecast that the temperature during the next six months will be above normal and that “both nights and days will be warm”.

The implications, as a result, will be enhanced health risk from heat exposure and higher than usual energy costs for cooling.

The DMS climatologist said that La Niña increases chances of a wetter dry season and that “this could be similar to the dry season of 2011, where some said there was no dry season”.

The outlook for the Caribbean was presented at the conference where delegates are discussing how Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) can build resilience to extreme weather and climate events, with a focus on the pivotal role that national and regional health and disaster risk management agencies play in building a climate resilient Caribbean.

The two-day event is organised by the CIMH in collaboration with the DMS and other stakeholders including the United States Agency for International Development.

1 dead in Port Mourant accident A

Rose Hall man is now dead after he reportedly crashed into a horse before losing control of his motorcycle at Port Mourant, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Dead is Michael Anthony Leitch, 28, of Lot 55 Beharry Street, Rose Hall Town, Berbice.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times International, the father of one had borrowed his friend’s motorcycle on Thursday evening to go to purchase food a short distance from where he lives. This newspaper was told however that Leitch reportedly made a stop at a popular hangout bar in the area known as “Wash Bay” where he met up with friends and was allegedly seen imbibing.

Reports indicate that a woman identified as “Soldier”, who had been among the group of friends, requested Leitch to take her on a “ride”. It was during the joy ride that he met his demise.

The now dead man was reportedly speeding when he collided with the horse. His female companion was pitched a few feet away from the point of collision but escaped with minor injuries.

Leitch was then taken to the Port

Dead: Michael Anthony Leitch

Mourant Hospital moments after the accident where he was pronounced dead on arrival. According to the dead man’s mother, Sandra Bascom, her son suffered severe injuries.

“When I see my son, his head was beat in, his chest part was short, one of his hands twist up and behind his head was dented in,” the emotional traumatised woman related.

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Former airport employees fined in excess of Gy$17M, get 4 years in prison ‌in bid to smuggle cocaine in rum

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wo former Air Conditioning (AC) technicians of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) were on Monday jailed for four years and fined in excess

court on June 1, 2015 along with the alleged mastermind of the crime, Kean Brewster, all charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking .

They had a total of

Jailed: Lorrick Williams (gray shirt) and Chris Douglas (yellow shirt)

of Gy$17 million each by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, after they were found guilty in relation to a 2015 drug bust at the Airport.

The men, Lorrick Williams, 25, and Chris Douglas had attempted to export three bottles of El Dorado 5year rum laced with cocaine on May 29, 2015.

They first appeared in

6.304 kilograms of cocaine.

At the time of the bust, both Williams and Douglas worked at the Airport as AC technicians.

It is reported that they gave Brewster three bottles of El Dorado 5 year rum laced with cocaine to take to the United States of America. The transaction had allegedly taken place in the washroom area of the Airport.

During check-in, Brewster was searched when the rum looked unusually thick.

The contents of the bottles were tested and found to be cocaine.

Brewster subsequently admitted that he intended to traffic the illegal substance to the US, before he pointed out the other two accused, as the persons who gave him the bottles.

The prosecution further informed the Court that footage from the Airport’s security cameras showed the three men entering the washroom. It was also stated that the defendants ad-

mitted they were paid various sums of cash to play their part in the drug deal.

Both Williams and Douglas maintained their innocence, up until their sentencing.

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Better infrastructure coming for Region 2 – Patterson B y : I ndrawattie N atram

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u b l i c Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has promised residents of Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) better infrastructure, noting that poor infrastructure in any given area can stymie development.

Patterson was at the time speaking at the Flag Raising Ceremony held on Wednesday 25 May by the Region Two administration to commemorate the country’s Independence Jubilee.

During his address, the minister said last year his ministry constructed, rehabilitated and maintained roads across the country, adding that 8500 meters of roads were completed within the region with over Gy$146 million expended in

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and the Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt taking the salute

projects.

He said for this year, residents in Region Two will continue to see development along the roadway, noting that in the 2016 Budget Gy$2.6B

was allocated for roadworks and Region Two will receive a slice of the pie. For bridges he noted nearly Gy$294 million will be provided for rehabilitation and repairs.

Through improved roadways there will be an expansion of farmto-market access with the aim of stimulating microfarms and smallscale agro-processing.

“Better roadways

and bridges mean increased commercial activities, which in turn will lead to greater income and financial security for the people of Region Two” the minister said.

Emphasis will also be placed on reducing road fatalities through the installation of traffic lights, street lights, road markings and signage.

In addition, Patterson noted that government’s focus will be on improving the connection among Essequibo Coast and riverine areas…

Government is therefore looking towards upgrading stellings (wharves) to facilitate the new vessels.

According to the minister, preparations are already in train not only to upgrade but reconstruct facilities throughout the country. For Region Two a state-of-the-art waterfront facility will be established in Supenaam.

The project will focus on boardwalks; modernised ramps for ferries and water taxis;

a dockyard for yachts and recreational areas.

I will also generate income through tourism for the region as well as create spin-off economic opportunities for small businesses.

The residents and current users will be given first option to jobs and concessions for the project, Patterson said.

New river transport vessels

Patterson highlighted that the government in addressing the connection issues of the riverine areas will be providing new river transport vessels. According to him, Government has recognised how much adequate river transport networks stymies the development of the Coast and its people.

The minister explained that a major focus is needed to improve the ferry services as well as to upgrade the aging fleet. He said the current vessels are approaching the end of their usefulness and government is working to acquire new vessels.

WHO advises 8 weeks of safe sex after return from Zika areas

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E N E V A , (Reuters) – People returning from areas where the Zika virus is found should follow safe sex practices or abstain from sex for at least eight weeks rather than just four, the World Health

Zika-affected areas,” he said. “The previous recommendation suggested a period of at least four weeks, so we’re upping (it).”

The new guidelines “reflect what we have learned about Zika disease and its complica-

Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

The recommendation, which doubles the abstinence period the WHO had previously advised, comes after scientists found the virus lingers longer than previously thought in blood or other body fluids, spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a news briefing.

If the male partner in a couple planning pregnancy has symptoms of the Zika virus, the period of safe abstinence should be six months, he added.

“People should practise safer sex or abstain for at least eight weeks if they are returning from

tions,” he added.

Asked if this new advice amounted to an effective ban on pregnancies in Brazil, where the virus first appeared a year ago, Lindmeier said: “The guidance is to delay or consider delaying pregnancy, certainly recognising that this is tough for some populations.”

The spokesman said scientists are still investigating how long the virus can be traced in saliva but these tests have so far been inconclusive.

“All this is being studied to see where else we find the virus and how long it sustains there,” he said.

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Scenic photo of March sunset in Hague, West Coast Demerara

By Enoek Alves

G

irendra Persaud, a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science (Faculty of Natural Sciences) at the University of Guyana, is a gifted photographer on a mission – to preserve “moments and emotions through the still image”. His applauded photos are thought-provoking, stirring up emotions and nostalgia.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Persaud gave tips on being a “good photographer” and why he considers photography as a form of art.

Sunday Times

Magazine: What sparked your interest in photography?

Girendra Persaud: As long as I can remember I always had a passion for the camera. In early 2000 I acquired my first digital camera and I began a series of upgrades over the years from pointand-shoot to now professional DSLRs. The spark I guess would be that photography allows you to preserve the moment.

Sunday Times Magazine: Is photography a hobby?

Girendra Persaud: It’s a hobby and a passion.

Professionally, I am a lec-

turer at the University of Guyana, and I am the owner of a web development company called GxMedia (gxmediagy. com) Sunday Times Magazine: What do you enjoy photographing?

Girendra Persaud: Anything of interest – sunsets, sunrises, places, fruits, animals, boats, plants, insects, flowers, birds.

Sunday Times Magazine: What is your focus while taking photos?

Girendra Persaud: My aim is to preserve the moment and the emotions through the still image. I think about how it makes

me feel when I look at the frame, and the fact that now I am able to share that feeling with the people who will see the image.

Sunday Times Magazine: Is ‘good’ photography dependent on a camera or an artistic mind?

Girendra Persaud: I believe you have to like what you are doing and have a true passion for it. If there are any other motives, then it is not going to bloom naturally - it would be a steep uphill

UG lecturer and photographer Girendra Persaud

climb.

Good photography depends more on the artistic mental facet of the person behind the camera. You can have a good camera, but if you don’t know where to point it then your images won’t be good.

I consider photography as an art as it allows me to express what I see through the images.

There are no hard rules –

Photographing the 'joys of childhood' in Yupukari village, Rupununi

it is an expression, an art.

Sunday Times Magazine: Any projects you are currently working on?

Girendra Persaud: I am working on a personal project of capturing things and places in Guyana.

The project started in early 2014, and at the moment, I have over 4,000 high quality digital images. Evidence of my efforts can be found by my daily postings on my personal Facebook page. Just check for my name.

I am also in the process of populating my online portfolio at http://girendrapersaud.zenfolio. com/ People can purchase prints, download, order greeting cards, apparel, specialty and much more.

At the moment you will find a healthy selection of images on the website.

Photography is a hobby, one that I like very much, so I’m just enjoying it. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

feature 31

WEEK ENDING JUNE 5, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

D’Urban Park immortalised in folk tales birds, which were thrown into confusion, many dying from shock and from flying into each other. Three of the birds fell in front of the Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces, who was on the balcony of the Centre. Rima did not want this to happen again, so she made a plan. On the day for dress rehearsal, she flew unto the shoulder of the Commander and

By Petamber Persaud

A

s we celebrate the jubilee of our independence, various things at various times during this period are arising, some unexpectedly, to evoke memories and conjure images of the first flag-raising and subsequent independence celebrations.

As I watched the practice sessions for the fireworks blossoming from the new location (D’Urban Park), some stories came to mind, stories written a long time, stories that still resonate with today’s realities.

Two of those stories are from the anthology: The Lure of the Mermaid and other Children’s Stories edited by Janet Jagan, published by Dido Press, UK, 2002. In this book, there are 13 stories written by eleven Guyanese authors.

The second story, “Samaan”, written by Doris Harper-Wills some 50 years ago, is structured to include our folkloric characters like Ole Higue and Baccoo, Ole Man Papee and Fowl Mamma.

It is set on D’Urban Park under the huge Samaan Tree from where we, as children, had picnics and watched horse races, especially the endings, as the raging animals stormed down the homestretch (now Homestretch Avenue, which may be renamed later).

The tree (yes, the tree was not an inanimate character) and folk characters were witnessing Guyana Day celebration, as steel band trampers came all the way from Berbice moving through Demerara on its way to Essequibo, where El Dorado, Nugget King lived. El Dorado promised the people of

Janet Jagan

Doris Harper-Wills

Guyana a great fortune if they reached him as one people without quarrelling or fighting among themselves – “you see, these people had of late grown into the habit of bickering over little things and the big things were being left undone. El Dorado felt that this was very bad.

It would be nice thought El Dorado if these people would drop their silly notions about their past and start planning for the future”.

The other story was written by Janet Jagan in the 90s and set around the National Cultural Centre, D’Urban Park, about the time of our 13th independence.

That story, “Rima – the Singing Bird”, is a well-crafted magical tale for children that is entertaining and instructional. It is instructional to both children (inheritors of the legacy we leave) and adults (the custodians of our beautiful ‘Green Land of Guyana’). The message of the story is about care for the environment and its inhabitants – the birds and bees and the trees…

The story tells of a bird that lived aback the Botanical Gardens, in the vicinity of the National Cultural Centre and Homestretch Avenue and D’Urban Park. Her name was Rima, a bird who lived

with thousands of her companions, going through the daily routine of flying to the seashore to feed, and flying back to the gardens to nest and rest. Rima was different from her companions in that she loved music – the music of the sea, the symphony of the sea, music of feeding birds – the clicking of their beaks, the beating of their wings, and the song of the wind.

So she was not always on schedule. On many occasions, she would return to her nesting ground sooner than companions in order to listen to the music coming from the Cultural Centre. One day, she flew across and hid herself on stage, witnessing two children singing and dancing to the music from the piano. After a while, she was able to join in the practice sessions. The children loved her attempts, and encouraged her as her chirps were enlarged and started to harmonize with their voices and the piano music. Eventually, she became part of the act and people flocked the National Cultural Centre to hear her sing.

However, on the 13th anniversary of Guyana’s independence, Rima remembered what happened the previous year – the fireworks exploded near the nesting place of the

'The Lure of the Mermaid and other Children’s Stories' edited by Janet Jagan

started to sing like she never sung before, hoping the man would understand her plea. The man who “loved nature and all its creatures” understood, and immediately ordered the fireworks be removed to another location, away from disturbing nature.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

What’s happening: It’s here, and available at Austin’s, the National Library, Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the author, “Made in Guyana” by Petamber Persaud is a pocketbook bursting with a wealth of information and pictures on people, places, events and things made in Guyana. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

32 Feature

W

riting in his book “Twentyfive years in British Guiana”, Henry Kirke observed, “[Horse] Racing is the most popular amusement amongst all classes” and was always well attended by “white, black, coloured, Hindoo, Chinese, Portuguese...” who arrived to enjoy an exciting day of races wherever they were held.

This popularity led to the establishment of a racing course by then Governor of British Guiana, Sir Benjamin D’Urban, a keen horse racing fan, who gave the site in 1829, and af-

ter whom the course was named. The formal grant of the land however, was not made until September 15, 1838.

In addition to the D’Urban Race Course – and even before – horse races were also held in several different parts of the colony, including near Capoey Lake in Essequibo; Belfield on the East Coast Demerara; Hague Dam on the West Coast; Wakenaam Island, and the Long Dam beyond the Canje River in Berbice.

The historian James Rodway, in his book “The Story of Georgetown”,

WEEK ENDING JUNE 5, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

mentions that there were many contests on the Kitty course – there is even a story of a racing match between an English mare, backed by ten bags of cotton, and a Virginia horse backed by twenty five bags of coffee, racing from the Block House to the Kitty, (“Cotton” won.) There were also races held on the Houston and Rome dam, where there was nothing but “banks of turf” with little or no traffic.

The D’Urban Race Course stood on what was to Rodway, “the backlands of the old town of Stabroek,” and

The Duchess of Kent (left) and C. L. Luckhoo (center) upon their arrival before the start of a one-day horse race at D’Urban Park on May 26, 1966

Old map of Georgetown shows the location of the D'Urban Race Course (Department of Public Information photo)

which Kirke called “just outside the limits of Georgetown,” then an area of dense bush that had to be cleared away and the surface prepared for racing. At the time money was raised by subscription after the Governor had granted the land.

Kirke described the course as “...an oval, one mile and ninety-six yards in circumference... perfectly flat...with some sharp curves.”

The first meeting for the D’Urban Race Course subscribers was held September 28, 1829 with Sir D’Urban presiding and a Dr McTurk as chairman; a committee was then formed that was tasked to start the club off and organise all races.

The first races to be held at the racecourse were on November 3 and 4, 1829 and there were two meetings each year in May and November, where in addition to a cup valued £50, some £1500 was given in prize money. The Colony Cup was established in the same year, and in 1852 the Durban Course Cup was established.

Describing the atmosphere at the races, Kirke noted, “Gambling, cheating, drinking, and fighting go on in a most cheerful way, and no one seemed the worse for it.”

Excitement, he notes, was always more intense when horses from Barbados and Trinidad arrived to fuel colonial rivalry.

Even though the two days on which the races fell were not official holidays, it appeared that way since most businesses closed their doors. Later, according to Rodway, the course was opened as a prom-

enade on February 1, 1878, and a Militia Band played every Friday for a brief period.

This facilitated the elite who used the course for more leisurely horse riding activities during the early hours of the morning and afternoon (5-9 am and 3-6:30 pm). According to Brian L. Moore in his book, ‘Cultural Power, Resistance, and Pluralism: Colonial Guyana, 1838-1900’, a new road, now known as Vlissengen Road, was built from Thomas Lands to Brickdam to accommodate the riders.

Although the horse race meet was staged twice annually, between 1842 and 1845 according to Kirke, (though later historians put it as 18431850) races were temporarily halted because of financial difficulties.

The grants for the upkeep of the course could not be made, and in 1846 it was actually removed because of the economic hardship brought on by the 1846 Sugar Duties Act. Races would eventually resume by 1851 despite the lack of grants, but was always susceptible to the economic climate afterward.

Reminiscing about the racecourse almost a century after, Lloyd Luckhoo, a race horse owner and avid horse racing fan, recalled driving down Homestretch Avenue (now a public roadway named after the two furlong and 100 yard homestretch) and looking at the government building which once accommodated the grandstand and commentator’s box of the D’Urban Race Course. Today that building no longer exists, having been destroyed

by fire in 2001.

Still, over the years many older folks have reminisced in memoirs, conversations, and newspaper or online articles about the “good old days” of horse racing in “D’Urban Park”, Georgetown. In 2002 Bernard Heydorn (‘The golden age of Georgetown characters 1930-1960’) recalled, “Horse racing at Durban Park would not be complete without the appearance of ‘Pele’ an East Indian man who walked around, dressed up in a suit, smoking two cigarettes at the same time! He gave a running commentary on the races and every other subject imaginable...”

Some of the memorable events would also include the Royal Race Meets of 1920 when the Prince of Wales attended; February 1966 when the Queen visited Guyana just before the country gained its independence (the dilapidated Grand Stand, a victim of the economy, was restored in time for the Royal races when the queen attended), and the Independence Race Meets in May of the same year when the Duke and Duchess of Kent arrived for independence celebrations. The country’s first Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham also attended the independence meetings which ran May 26, 28, and 30.

After attempts at holding Christmas and Easter race meetings failed (Luckhoo blamed this on Guyanese preferring their traditional Christmas and Easter festivities), Sunday meetings were introduced with better success. Sunday races at continued on page 42

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 5, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

T

he CEIBA B i o l o g i c a l Centre is proud of its participation in the global effort to understand, interpret, and preserve the Earth’s natural biological diversity through leadership and excellence in scientific research, education and conservation.

Established in January 1993, as a collaboration among three families, Drs. Godfrey and Carol Bourne (USA), Gary and Amy

William Beebe (1922) established the first biological research station in South America.

CEIBA is now a nonprofit publicly supported research, education, and conservation organization, incorporated in Missouri, US, but with its facilities and programs in Guyana.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Dr Bourne said that the fundamentals of biology, conservation, and ecology are best taught

fers formal immersion, hands-on research driven ecological courses to serve the needs of students from the University of Guyana (UG), University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE), St. Louis University (SLU), and Washington University (WU), Guyanese high school CXC and A-levels, and middle and high school participants from North Broward

Bourne (left) talks to students about CEIBA's work

Komlos (USA), and two local charcoal producers, the late Martin and Gloria Younge (Guyana), CEIBA (Guyana) serves the broader education, conservation, and scientific communities.

Since 1989, G. R. Bourne, Executive Director of CEIBA, has been taking students from Florida Atlantic University to Guyana during ‘spring break’ as part of a human ecology course he developed entitled, “Tropical Resource Ecology”.

The location they spent most of their time was a ‘farm’ owned by Bourne’s family friends, Nari and the late Farouk Kalamadeen. Bourne was struck by how much this accessible area on the Madewini, just 40 km south of Georgetown the capital, and 20 minutes from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri, looked and felt like the more remote Karrau (Region Seven), which was initially considered as the site for CEIBA. Karrow is near Kartabo where

at biological field stations, and for more than 100 years, biological field stations have provided opportunities for education and research to students and scientists.

However, recently, funding for field biology has become constrained, pristine habitats are rapidly disappearing, and the need for the services that biological field stations provide is increasing.

Bourne further mentioned that in Guyana everyone cannot use Iwokrama as an educational and a research site, because of economical and logistical constraints.

More accessible sites like CEIBA, offering a mix of wet savannah and seasonal and flooded primary rainforest habitats, are more conducive to providing education and research opportunities, because of the typical small biological research budgets being currently awarded by governments, foundations, and other granting agencies.

CEIBA therefore of-

Preparatory School.

“More recently, visiting scientists from several institutions, me and many of my graduate students and several UG students have been conducting ecological course projects, senior and masters’ theses, and dissertation research at CEIBA,” Bourne pointed out.

Data collected from CEIBA is converted into senior, masters and doctoral theses.

Many course projects are published as posters and entered in state Science Fair posters or manuscripts, or submitted to local and regional university symposia. Also, research projects are published in high quality scientific journals and reprints deposited at the Guyana EPA and UG Biodiversity Centre.

In its 23 years of operation, CEIBA has provided educational, research training, and research opportunities to about 2,045 international and local participants, including 430 from the University of Guyana, 475 Guyanese high

Entrance to CEIBA

school students, 60 middle and high school students from North Broward Preparatory School, 301 Florida Atlantic University and University of Missouri-St. Louis students, 40 from Wesleyan University, and 713 British high school students.

In addition, 31 researchers with postgraduate degrees from the U.S.A., Belgium, Canada, England and Venezuela, and four Guyanese, have utilized the research facilities and contributed to increasing local capacity.

Overall, CEIBA provides safe and unique opportunities for scientists and students to engage in ecological, evolutionary, and conservation research in a region with diverse and complex species assemblages influenced by both natural and anthropogenic selection pressures.

The Honourable Ronald D. Godard (retired Ambassador of the US Embassy in Georgetown) had this to say about CEIBA’s contribution to Guyana: “I have visited CEIBA Biological Centre on two occasions to meet with graduate and undergraduate researchers from UMSL and to bird watch. In the area where CEIBA Biological Centre is located, the dry seasonal forests and flooded mora forests are progressively being cut and burned.

Without protection, this habitat will probably eventually be destroyed. CEIBA is attempting to modernize their laboratory-classroom, kitchen-dining, transportation, and electricity generating facilities, minimize biodiversity erosion and preserve a representative sample of white sand forests… I am impressed

by CEIBA’s programs in education, research, and conservation, and by the physical appearance of CEIBA, which

reminds one of being in a ‘typical’ Guyanese Amerindian village.

CEIBA’s free training of Guyanese high school and University of Guyana students in field biology and conservation is commendable.

Furthermore, their weekly program to improve the literacy of children living within an 8-mile radius of CEIBA demonstrates that this research, education, and conservation NGO cares about more than just habitat, animals, and plants. It is also prepared to help out its impoverished neighbours.”

Over the next year or so, Bourne proposes several facilities’ improvements that will increase benefits to Guyana. The broad-

in both training and research.

He also stated that the proposed improvements will enhance capacity building by attracting an increasing number of students and researchers to conduct research in Guyana, who in turn will provide opportunities for Guyanese to develop the research capacity to effectively conserve their country’s biodiversity heritage.

Research projects and educational activities at CEIBA have been covered by the national media, including video productions.

“We anticipate that with the improvements, international media coverage will follow. Now that I’m in phased retirement

At CEIBA, some very interesting creatures are found

er impacts of the proposed improvements include increased capacity for conducting important ecological research, communication (Internet links to other field stations and to the general public), access to online acquisition of data and library resources, improved enrichment opportunities for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students

from my academic position at UMSL, I will be devoting more time training Guyanese high school and UG students, and resuscitating our Reading is Essential literacy program for kids living within an 8-mile radius of CEIBA,” Bourne declared.

For more information, visit CEIBA Biological Centre on Facebook.

34

By Ralph Tamesh

The Indo-Caribbean Federation will proudly present its 31st Annual Celebration in commem-

WEEK ENDING JUNE 5, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

oration of the 178th Year of East Indian Arrival in the Americas. The program will include various categories of Indian arts and culture: Female

Singing Competition, Male Singing Competition, Female Dancing, Fashion Show, and for the first time Qaseeda Singing.

Nirvana Humanitarian Foundation

Aliana Dance Group

The Nirvana H u m a n i t a r i a n Foundation will perform a skit on the plight of the first indentured laborers, as they attempted to acclimatize and acculturate themselves in their "new world".

The show will be staged at the centrally located Smokey Oval Park at 127th Street and Atlantic Avenue, Richmond Hill, Queens, New York, on Sunday, June 5, 2016, commencing at 1:00 P.M. Music for the occasion will be supplied by the renown Sansar Sangeet Orchestra led by the musical maestro, Anoop Dhanpat. This orchestra has entertained music fans at concert in major cities of the United States and the Caribbean Islands.

The Indo-Caribbean Federation is an organization that works to keep alive the memory of the sacrifices made by our forefathers, and the hardship they bore.

Because of their selfless acts of courage and determination, today we, their offspring’s can enjoy a life of easy and relative comfort. The indentured laborers were content in absorbing the harshness of their lives in order to pave the way for a better life for their children and grandchildren.

I myself grew up on a sugar estate -Rose Hall Sugar Estate- in Canje, Berbice. My parents and relatives, like the rest of the community labored long hours in the fields in blazing sun and drenching rain. My dad and Mom did not complain. They gladly did what they had to do in order to provide for their young children. It was the same withal the rest of the families on the estate, and on the other estates, I am sure.

Today the children of these mostly illiterate folks are lawyers, and doctors, and teachers, and nurses, and engineers, and other respectful professionals.

We have the tradesmen: the electricians, the mechanics, the builders. Etc. It is because of the encouragement of their foreparents they are driven to success. The motivation was instilled in them by their predecessors. I per-

sonally can vouch to this.

I was the first of my family lineage to attend High School. My Dad worked from early morning to late in the night. But, he always found the time to sit with me and advise me. I can still hear his voice echoing in my ear, "son, study hard, tek you education, tek you education".

In addition to this annual cultural show, the ICF is involved in other activities in its observance of Arrival Day each year. The organization outfits a Phagwah Float and takes part in the annual Richmond Hill Phagwah celebrations. A cricket match is played each year with a Guyana XI taking on an International XI. Various community leaders are invited to give "talks" and advise to the attendees.

The ICF is engaged on a daily basis in numerous philanthropic endeavors. We have printed a magazine which will be given out, free of charge, on the day of the show. In it we have described fully the work of the organization.

Many aspiring performers, singers and dancers, who have appeared in ICF's pageants in the past, have gone on to greater "things". They are performing as single artists or in groups at various functions around New York City. I am sure some have gone on to greater heights.

Don't be "left out in the cold" as they say.

Make plans with friends and family to come out to Smokey Park and enjoy a fun-filled family day.

Meet old friends and rekindle your friendships.

Meet some new friends and expand your circle of friendship. I have gone to several of these celebrations put on by the ICF. I have always had a great time.

Date: Sunday, June 5th; 1:00. P.M. the fun begins and takes you in to the evening. A day you will cherish. So come on out.

feature 35

WEEK ENDING JUNE 5, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Zoe Cadore, an overseas professional of Guyanese heritage, proudly represents Guyana at upcoming Houston Caribbean Queen Pageant

J

Proudly representing Guyana

udith Zoe Cadore is a proud Houstonian of Guyanese and Grenadian descent.

The 26-year-old attorney holds a B.A. from Spelman College and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC).

Cadore was crowned Miss Houston in 2013 and represented the city at the Miss Texas Pageant where she received awards for talent, interview and community service. Her many accomplishments include the UHLC Faculty Distinguished Service Award; being published in the Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy; and on June 25, 2013 she was recognised

by Mayor Annise Parker and Council-member Larry Green with “Zoe Cadore Day”.

The young professional continues to be active

in a variety of service organisations throughout Houston including the Black Heritage Rodeo Committee, the District D Advisory Council and the Houston Young Lawyers Association. She will represent Guyana in the Houston Caribbean Queen Pageant on July 10, 2016.

Cadore’s family is from Georgetown: her grandfather was a gold miner and her grandmother took care of Cadore’s father and his siblings.

She currently works for a civil litigation firm on commercial litigation and Qui Tam cases.

Additionally, she teaches dance and work on political campaigns.

“When I was in high school I volunteered with the Matagorda County Teen Court, an alternative program overseen by a Municipal Court judge, where young offenders

were given the opportunity for constructive punishment and sentencing by their peers. The goal of the program was to deter future unlawful behavior and provide students a chance to gain positive experience in the justice system. I was very successful in the program and won several state awards, including best attorney. This experience, along with the movie ‘Legally Blonde’, encouraged me to become a lawyer after years of thinking that I would graduate high school and move to New York to become a Broadway Star. I ultimately graduated from Spelman College with a B.A. in drama/dance and political science. I have remained involved in the dance community, choreographing and performing, while simultaneously practicing law,” she explained.

Cadore (left) is passionate about her humanitarian work

Cadore pointed out that her parents; grandparents; aunt Gail; Congresswomen Barbra Jordan and Sheila J. Lee; Prima Ballerina Lauren Anderson, and her pageant coach/dance teacher Sheila Milner have all deeply influenced the person she is today.

“I’m motivated by my family and the people who have sacrificed for me to have an education and a successful life. I’m also motivated by the determination to always reach new heights. I am excited about my future and the ability to impact lives and change the world through the practice of law,” she noted.

According to the young professional, her biggest accomplishment is passing the Texas Bar Exam.

Her advice to young women: “Do not take for granted the opportunity to receive an education. Always carry yourself with class and grace.

Never let anyone underestimate your beauty,

Judith Zoe Cadore

ability or strength. Be authentic, love yourself and love your life. Most importantly, seek God first in everything you do.”

Cadore mentioned she looks forward to traveling the world and focusing on her career. She would like to also move to Washington D.C. to do “energy policy”, and then return to Houston to start

her own firm and continue being a leader in the community.

In her spare time, Cadore enjoys dancing, choreographing, cooking, swimming, Zumba, cycling, shopping, traveling and public speaking. (http://guyanesegirlsrock.org) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

36

WEEK ENDING JUNE 5, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

When will...

D …the Code be ready

uring the election campaign, the APNU/ AFC coalition were all hot and sweaty about their “Code of Conduct” that would guide them on the “straight and narrow” if they got into office. Speaking scornfully of the PPP that was guided by the official “Integrity Legislation” which the Opposition refused to sign on to, they promised their Code within the “First 100 days”.

Ministers who broke the Code would be forced to “demit” office!

Well, 365 days later…and counting…the fourth draft has just been presented to Prime Minister Nagamootoo. The first one (Draft I) was presented to Raphael Trotman last November when he had the “governance” portfolio. He put it in a website and asked for “public input” – he got three. Later when the Prime Minister was handed the “governance” Ministry – because it had been promised to him in the first place in the Cummingsburg Accord – he was given Draft II AND HE also pleaded for more public input.

He now reported that he received “twelve” and then added these to Draft III and passed it on to a Committee to compare with other Commonwealth Jurisdictions. And it is this Committee that’s handed over Draft IV back to the PM. So can we expect the finished Code soon? After all, Moses received the Code that’s guided Jews and Christians for over 2000 years from behind a burning bush in a matter of hours.

And those were carved in stone which had to’ve taken time!

But the PM now advises an expectant nation he can’t really say when the finished product’s gonna be ready. Seems he’s now going to pass on Draft IV to the “Parliamentary Counsel” to get his advice on how to integrate the Code with the “Integrity Legislation” they’d rejected for years!

You ask what’s going on, Dear Reader? Well, the Chronic gave us a clue in its report of the last handing over ceremony. The head of the Committee – according to the “paper of the people” (your Eyewitness isn’t sure whether it’s also “for the people”…but he’s certain it’s not put out “by the people”!! – Britton lauded the efforts of the sub-committee, which sought to “cover the gambit of what public life and ministerial duties entail”.

So now we know the Code has been nothing but a “gambit” of the APNU/AFC coalition. Just a ploy to get them some votes at the last elections.

More likely than not, it’ll never see the light of an enactment in this Parliament.

But that’s politics, nuh? Who’ll want to sign their own “go to jail card” after what they’ve been doing after just one year in office? …feeding the poor end?

It made headlines in all the papers and no one thought it shameful: “Food For The Poor celebrates 25 years in Guyana”. Imagine that!

After 25 years we still need folks from “outside” to feed us – even as we spent $1 billion to ALSO celebrate 50 years of Independence!! You say it’s “only $300M”, Dear Reader? Well…that’s what was budgeted…wait till you see the Supplementals for the final bill!! Not to even mention the political investments”…ummm…”donations” that were made.

So what’s going on? Nothing really, according to one school of thought. For them, the poor will always be with us. The poor, you see, performs a host of functions to keep society stable. They do the grunge work on the cheap; they give us somebody to look down on; they produce all the good music which we polish up; they provide jobs for people who “feed the poor”; or conversely, can sell the poor substandard goods.

But, more importantly, the poor provides votes to politicians who’ll promise them anything! …the rains end?

Let’s give Jack his jacket, shall we? The rain’s been pouring cats and dogs and even rats…but Georgetown hasn’t been flooded.

So with all the brickbats for Jubilee SNAFUS, here’s a bouquet for the Administration.

WEEK ENDING JUNE 5, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

G

eorgetown, Guyana: Two-time finalists of the Caribbean Premiere League (CPL) T20 Cricket, the Guyana Amazon Warriors team was named first place winner in the ‘Semi-Costume’ category of Guyana’s Float and Costume Band Parade which was held on May 26, 2016 as part of activities to celebrate the country’s 50th year of Independence.

The Ministry of Education, on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, announced the winners of various categories of the national event which saw twenty–nine groups participating.

With two fully loaded trucks on the road, hundreds of cricket fans and supporters flaunted their Amazon Warriors branded jerseys, flags, hats and other merchandises as they gyrated to the beat of the popular theme song: Calling All Warriors!

The crowd grew wild with excitement on seeing their favourite players parading on the road, joining them in the grand festivities, just ahead of the much anticipated CPL tournament.

True cricket fanatics made use of the opportunity to greet and rub shoulders with their heroes, soliciting autographs and snapping selfies. Fifty autograph cricket balls were also given to excited fans along the parade route.

Among the players who were in the parade were Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Christopher Barnwell, Stephen Jacobs, Assad Fudadin, Paul Wintz and Anthony Bramble. Coach Roger Harper, Assistant Coach Esuan Crandon along with Team Manager Omar Khan were also in the parade.

In this year’s tournament, the team will come out under new Captain, New Zealand’s destructive top order batsman Martin Guptil, who has been with the Amazon Warriors since the inaugural tournament in 2013.

The team will include regional powerhouses: Dwayne Smith, Orlando Peters, Stephen Katwaroo, Muhammad Ahsan Ali Khan, Jason Mohammed, and Rayad Emrit.

NEWS 37

The team will be boosted by international players with the likes of Pakistani fast bowler Sohail Tanvir; Australian duo, Chris Lynn, the explosive all-rounder and spinning phenomenon Adam Zampa; both of whom had exceptional runs in this year’s Indian Premiere League (IPL).

The core of the squad comprises local superstars including Captain of the West Indies Under-19 Worldcup Champions Shimron Hetmyer; spin twins Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo; allrounders Christopher Barnwell and Stephen Jacobs; fast bowler Paul Wintz as well as specialist top order batsman Assad Fudadin and wicket keeper Anthony Bramble.

The Amazon Warriors will be hosting the inaugural winners Jamaica Tallawahs on July 7 (7pm), the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (12 midday), defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders (7pm) and the St Lucia Zouks (7pm) at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

38 feature

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Long-time secrets

The George Greene mystery

I

n 1955, US freelance oil pipeline engineer George Jefferson Greene arrived in British Guiana, to obtain from Guyana a lease for oil from the British government, according to his son John Greene who aged 20 at the time had accompanied him.

Guyana was undergoing political turmoil that included living under the 1953 suspension of the constitution, and independence activisms.

Undeterred by political events however, the Texan capitalised on his geological background – and his task for the British government – to hunt for his own treasure: gold. Greene was no stranger to treasure hunts or controversy.

In 1953 Greene is said to have taken photos of Noah’s Ark at the top of Mount Ararat while in a helicopter looking for the best route to lay an oil pipeline from Iran to Turkey. Proponents of the ark on Mount Ararat have relied heavily on this to prove their theory. However, John Greene claims that his father was given the photos sometime in the early 1950s. These photos, which a few have since

George Greene

claimed to have seen, are no longer available; why remains part of the mystery.

Then in 1955, though he is said to have spent only a few weeks, Greene was a member of a team accompanied by a reporter for Canadian radio station CBC that arrived at Oak Island’s Mahoney Bayin Nova Scotia, Canada, hunting for the “Money Pit”, a legendary treasure on the island said to be at the bottom of a hole – though no one is sure what the treasure is: Peruvian gold, a pirate’s hoard, ancient manuscripts, Knights Templar treasure…

The pit has frustrat-

ed many treasure hunters and claimed several lives.

Oak Island legend speaks of a curse on those who attempt to explore its depths, foretelling that there are to be seven deaths before its riches are revealed.

It appears to have an ingenious booby-trap – every time anyone digs deep enough, two well-engineered tunnels would flood the main shaft, undoing any digging done and sealing the supposed treasure off under floodwaters.

Greene had earlier also been to Peru, and while little has been said of his activities there except that it was an adventure where no white man had gone before, it had been stated that he believed the Oak Island treasure to be of 16th century Spanish South American origin.

When Greene arrived in British Guiana, he met H. Howard Humphrey, the owner of Hotel Tower

where he was staying, and learnt of a mine Humphrey owned that was closed years earlier as a result of a cavein that had killed six Chinese miners.

Since almost three decades had passed since the incident, the authorities of the day were agreeable to reopening it and Greene obtained a lease from Humphrey to work the mine. He hired a bulldozer and began digging.

It wasn’t long before he found a vein and his potential treasure.

However, running low on supplies, he stopped at Christmas time to return to the city and pur-

planations included that he died from a heart attack or was at the balcony of his room, which overlooked the pool, had a cerebral haemorrhage and fell over the rails into the pool. The letter also stated that investigations showed that he was already dead when he went into the water and there were no signs of violence.

A report according to the US medical examiner (his family had his body flown back for burial) stated that Greene died by blunt trauma to the back of his head and there was no water in his lungs, while his face bore cuts and scrapes.

of the briefcase were.

There may have been two assailants, and he may have known at least one whom he was speaking with while the other struck him from behind.

His door was locked from the inside as the manager had to open it from the outside after his body was discovered.

According to Mary Irwin in her book, “The Unsolved Mystery of Noah’s Ark” (2012), somewhere in Guyana a murderer remains at large or went to his death with murder on his conscience.

For the legend of Oak Island to which Greene had promised to return,

Guyana’s treasure: Mining for gold in Guyana

chase supplies, planning on returning to the mine a couple of days later.

But in the early morning of Dec. 26, 1962,George Greene was found dead, floating in the Tower Hotel pool.

According to a letter by local priest Fr. McCaffrey, dated Oct. 20, 1972, locally there was no talk of murder or robbery, and the ex-

It is surmised that sometime in the night he was apparently struck at the back of his head and his body dragged and thrown over the balcony. All his personal belongings, including cash, were undisturbed, although his briefcase was empty, rendering his death even more shadowy. No one seems to know what the contents

his demisewas the seventh, but some say it has nothing to do with the curse. As for the photos of the ark, though it is believed Greene didn’t bring them to Guyana, having no known reason to do so, they have never been seen since his death more than half a century ago. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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D

esigner Rishma Persaud is no stranger to the fashion scene, since she has been designing for over 15 years.

Under her label, RP Couture, the designer has been part of numerous fashion events, such as Guyana’s Fashion Week, Carifesta, Miss Guyana Universe, and Style Mission.

Recently, she launched her newest collection “Fusion”, which was displayed at the Fashion Extravaganza show held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre in celebration of Guyana’s 50th independence anniversary.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Persaud said she “presented a collection that was inspired by a fusion of traditional styles that meet a modern flare”. Her collection was created using saffron, satin and embroidered materials.

“I felt proud of my new line as it was an expression of all the things that inspire me,” she declared.

(Sean Charles photography) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Designer Rishma Persaud

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Diane McTurk with her beloved otters at Karanambu Lodge

H

oney Pond, located in Region Nine, is known for its rich biodiversity.

Teeming with various species of birds, fish and other animals, like the magnificent black caiman, Honey Pond is a highlight location when visiting Karanambu Lodge.

Karanambu encompasses approximately 110-square miles of savannah, marshy ponds, riparian forest, and a 30-mile stretch of the Rupununi River. The Lodge provides guests with the opportunity to

experience the wildlife of Karanambu.

Settled in 1927 by Tiny McTurk, Karanambu was once a working cattle ranch and Balata collection station.

It is now an eco-tourist destination known as Karanambu Lodge.

With a bird list of over 600 species, Karanambu is a birdwatcher's paradise. The lodge also provides excellent viewing opportunities of giant river otters, giant black caiman and giant anteaters.

Karanambu is also the home of Diane

McTurk, conservationist and world-renowned expert on giant otters.

Diane's legendary hospitality is extended to every guest, even when Diane is not at home.

The Karanambu Trust was set up in 1997 to fulfil Diane's vision of establishing Karanambu as a protected area.

Karanambu is a nature lover’s paradise. It is where you will experience untouched natural beauty in this remote corner of South America.

An evening ritual of watching the giant water lily, Victoria amazonica, open at Honey Pond is a memorable experience. The lodge provides this unforgettable experience, along with other trips to view the wildlife at the pond.

Not only will you enjoy an exciting trip to the pond, but you will get to see Diane work with her beloved otters – a mesmerising experience.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Smaller black caiman hanging out among the Victoria amazonica lilies (Photo by sjr8545 on Flickr)

Relax at the rustic, award-wining Karanambu Lodge in the vicinity of Honey Pond

Dramatic emergence of a black caiman in the pond (Photo by inyathi on Flickr)

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 5, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com from page 32

D’Urban Park became a tradition from 1967 until the last race meet which Luckhoo traced to Sunday June 6, 1971.

In 1971 the government took over the D’Urban Park race course and converted its existing structures to ministries, offering a lease of land in Timehri to the racing club in its place. Unfortunately however, the location proved to be unsuitable due to its distance from Georgetown, and the club was unable to afford the cost of constructing a new complex there.

Horse racing at D’Urban Park will never return; recent discussions on the area, now overrun once more with bush and grass, focus on either developing shopping and recreational complexes, or government buildings.

However, most Sundays (depending on whether the road is clear of police patrols) the age-old sport of horse racing returns to the old D’Urban Park race course area in a Guyanese form of chariot races known as horse cart racing.

Horse carts, a common

sight in the city where they are used to transport anything a customer pays for, gather at the head of Homestretch and Vlissengen roads, and after bets are laid with much wrangling, the event, illegal yes, is called, and the clop, clop of horses’ hooves on asphalt can be heard across the fields onto Hadfield Street, prompting the older residents to recall the glorious days of horse racing at, what it’s now called, D’Urban Park (behind the Square of the Revolution).(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

D'Urban Park in February 2016 when it was being prepared for the Jubilee celebrations (GINA photo)

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But is it democracy?

By Ryhaan Shah

W

e are a democracy, we are told. We go through the process of free, fair and transparent elections which is supposed to translate into good governance that reflects the will of the people. This, says the developed world, is the best possible way.

However, I recently witnessed an election at a committee level that left me asking the question: But is it democracy?

A representative for a state body had to be elected so the stakeholders, Indian- and African-Guyanese, met in a room to vote. They were mostly educated professionals. Before the vote was taken, they all chatted with each other and there was a genuine air of camaraderie among them.

Then came the vote.

You need not have bothered.

You could have done the “ethnic arithmetic” as President David Granger called it and decided the outcome.

The votes were cast along racial lines. There was no crossover, no deviation, and had there been international observers there, they would have pronounced the elections free, fair and transparent,

ie, democratic.

Directly after the announcement of the winner, everyone fell back into chatting with each other. They had participated in the democratic process and they accepted the outcome.

However, it is obvious that the camaraderie displayed is a thin veil that lies just above the surface of the race divide. It’s no surprise that it comes apart on occasion to spill over into political/ethnic violence.

Was democracy ever intended to legitimize racial voting patterns? The system was developed in homogenous societies with minority groups where it works fairly well.

These countries now insist that it is the best way and it is exported to the world as a one-size-fitsall solution when it hardly helps our situation, for instance.

Democratic voting norms and a Westminster style of government actually work to widen our political divide by providing a legitimate façade for race-based voting.

Here, democracy means that the largest ethnic minority, Indians, most likely wins unless, as happened last May, there is a coalition that allows

the next largest ethnic bloc, Africans, to get enough crossover votes for a majority.

Elections are never about issues and because there can only be one winner in a race-based battle, it is not surprising that ethnic unity is all that matters in the political fight. AfricanGuyanese justify the political skullduggery of the 1960s against Premier Cheddi Jagan that brought Forbes Burnham to power and, even today, excuse Burnham’s electoral rigging as being necessary to holding that power.

In the race/political struggle, the Indian supporters of the PPP continue to face physical and cultural violence and Jagan himself, perhaps unwittingly, aided and abetted the idea of Indian invisibility when he gave credence to the view, as far back as the 1960s, that Indians needed to subsume their identity for the national good.

This fitted well with his belief in Marxist ideology which placed class rather than race as the most contentious social and political issue.

In this, Jagan was, ironically, acting as an ethnic leader. He could only have addressed such terms of nationhood to

his supporters. It was Burnham who could have asked the same of his, Africans. And he never did. In fact, as the kabaka, Burnham appeared before them as their African king.

He was always a proud African whereas Jagan continued to take the line of dismissing his Indianess as unimportant in favour of his utopian view of the world as classless and raceless.

What has happened since to the Indian psyche is at best confusion and, at worst, shame and selfhatred. Even today, it is the self-hating Indian, the ones that dismiss their Indian identity, who finds social and political acceptance.

Their apologetic stand about their ethnic identity plays well to the AfricanGuyanese struggle for political power, and the appeasement policy of the PPP towards AfricanGuyanese is based on that self-same apologetic stance.

It is clear that democracy as it works in homogenous societies cannot work here. It cannot be transposed whole onto our situation where two major race groups are contesting for a win that would always allow one to be dominant over the other. Cosmetic accommodations of cohesion, as decided by whichever race group is in power, can never address the deep-seated fears that have arisen on both sides of the divide.

After 50 years of independence, we should be matured enough to want to create a style of governance that gives equitable representation to every ethnic group. This is the only accommodation that will deliver a fair and just political system that will work for Guyana.

State of the Dinner

S

atiricus couldn’t get over the snobbishness, snootiness and snottiness of some people.

Here it was… Guyana was celebrating 50 years of wrenching Independence from England.

And let’s not fool ourselves, England it was: Scotland, Ireland and Wales were just as colonised as us in the boons. And these folks still felt we had to slavishly imitate the English in the way we celebrated. What colonial mindsets!

“So we should serve cucumber sandwiches at the Stadium during our 20/20 Cricket matches?” fumed Satiricus to his buddy Cappo. “Over my dead body! Chicken and roti it is!”

“Ah wha’ badda yuh dis time, Sato?” Cappo said solicitously, as he nursed his beer.

“Didn’t you read how some stiff-necked people criticising the government because some fellas “pope” the VIP stand?” Satiricus asked.

“Wha wraang wid people poping? De expect people fuh stand in line fuh siddown an’ watch flag raise?” Cappo was incredulous. “Dis ah Guyana!”

“Well, in England they stand in line for hours to even get into a bus, without complaining,” explained Satiricus . “They call it queueing.”

“Well, dem shoulda come fuh catch bus

by Stabroek Market!!” started out Cappo belligerently, and then suddenly caught himself.

“Aha!! Suh dat wha mek dem move de bus fram Stabroek Market… Dem na want dem fariner fuh see abee nah “Q”!” Abee does “P”, but abee na “Q”!”

“That’s what I’m saying..They want us not only to be like England…but England 50 years ago when we got Independence!” moaned Satiricus.

“Like dem na see football game in England, nowadays,” grinned Cappo. “Mo bottles and fight dan de ole Bourda!”

“But what bother me most is the complaint that Prezzie use plastic plate and spoon at de Gala Dinner,” said Satiricus.

“Ah wha’ wraang wid plastic plate and spoon?”

Cappo asked in astonishment. “Dem fancy plate cyaan hold peppa pat.”

“With their colonial mentality that’s exactly what they want,” said Satiricus. “And porcelain tea cups they have to stick their pinkie out to hold.”

“Dem want me stick out anadda finga pan dem!” snorted Cappo. “If abee independent we gat fuh do ting abee way. Me prouda Prezzie.”

“Yep!” snorted Satiricus. “Everybody had to line up an hour for their food! Real Guyanese, boy!”

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CTO launches 30 days of Caribbean Romance campaign

True Blue Guyanese

S

atiricus is a true blue Guyanese. His navel string is buried in Guyana. He drinks black creek water whenever he gets a chance.

So of course he had to be at the Independence Float Parade. His cousin Georgie from New York was visiting for the Jubilee Bash and was at the Stabroek Square for the Independence Day Parade.

Satiricus and Cappo had accompanied him and had gone for a snack.

“De New Yawk man look like ‘e prappa vex,” said Cappo sarcastically as they espied Georgie.

The three had all grown up in the same village and they felt Georgie was now putting on airs.

“But guys, when you left to buy the Salara, you promised to come back “just now”l” Georgie whined at the sweating Satiricus and Cappo. They were holding a brown paper bag with some soggy Salara . “Isn’t that so? Isn’t that so?”

“Bai Georgie, ah na only last year yuh lef fuh New Yark?” pointed out Cappo. “Like yuh fo’get wha “jus’ now” mean ya-suh in Guyana.”

“All I know is “just now” mean almost right away,” said Georgie with a glare.

“Cuz…this Guyana, Cappo didn’t say we coming back “just now”.” said Satiricus placatingly. “He said “jus’ now”. And in your motherland of Guyana “jus’ now” could be anytime between one minute and one week!”

“So when this Float will depart for Jubilee Stadium?” queried Georgie. “We’ve already been here two hours.”

Cappo looked at Georgie right in the face.

“Depart?? Jus’ now!” he smiled.

Georgie rolled his eyes. “So tell me guys.

How come the Stabroek Market is so clean?

What happen to all the vendors? They used to lend so much character to the place.”

Cappo looked at him carefully, “Bai, na you bin get raab right near dat big clack!?”

“And you screamed “Wha’ alyu Mudda suhan-suh ah do??!!! Gie me back me gol’ chain?” pointed out Satiricus.

“I forget about that,” replied Georgie, a bit sheepishly. “But it did remind me of Times Square.”

“Me na su’prise,” said Cappo quickly, “Me hear you bin get raab da side too!”

Georgie was now quite flustered. “Ah when dis blasted float gon tek aff?? Alyu tek you raas an’ pass me, na? Gi’e me de blasted Salara!”

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

A

month-long campaign in observance of the Caribbean Year of Romance got underway yesterday, June 1, 2016.

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), which declared 2016 the Year of Romance, has launched a social media campaign dubbed, 30 Days of Caribbean Romance.

Each day during the month of June, Caribbean destinations and tourism stakeholders, visitors, friends of the Caribbean and anyone interested in the region are being encouraged to share their Caribbean romance stories in pictures, videos or plain text, on social media using the hashtags #30DaysOfCaribbeanRomance and #MyCaribbeanRomance.

“People come to the Caribbean with romantic notions, they come to the Caribbean for romance, they see the Caribbean as an exotic romantic locale, people want to come to renew their vows, they’re look-

ing for the most imaginative places in the Caribbean to get married and we are happy about that,” CTO secretary general Hugh Riley said.

“One of the most exciting things is that every member country of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation can be involved in

this.”

CTO member countries and partners have been organising programmes in observance of the Year of Romance, including the Bahamas, which is trying to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the most underwater weddings. (Caribbean360.com)

48 Bollywood

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Kiran Rao turns producer for Aamir Khan Production’s next venture

D

T

he much-awaited trailer of Varun Dhawan, John Abraham and Jacqueline Fernandez’s action adventure film Dishoom is out now. The film has been directed by Varun’s brother Rohit Dhawan.

Actor Varun Dhawan took to Twitter to unveil the trailer with the caption: HERE WE GO #dishoom http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=DU6IdS2gVog … #rohitdhawan #sajidnadiadwala #dhawanandabraham.

The trailer opens with a powerful voice over by actor Akshaye Khanna who will be seen on screen after a gap of four years. ‘Mere Dad Ki Maruti’ star Saqib Saleem is seen portraying India’s top batsman Viraj Sharma who goes missing in the Middle East, 36 hours before a major India vs Pakistan match. John as Kabir Shergill of spe-

cial task force and Varun as Junaid Ansari team up to find the missing player.

Jacqueline is seen with two identities named Pakeezah and Parvati who also accompanies the actors in the task.

Varun and John are seen dancing and romancing with the actress, along with doing a number of stunts and actions.

The kidnapper is played by Akshaye whose character is named as Wagah.

The film also stars Nargis Fakhri in a cameo appearance. Majorly shot in the UAE, the film seems to be power-packed with action, suspense and drama. The Sajid Nadiadwala produced film is made under his banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment.

The film opens up in theaters on July 29. (Indian Express)

i r e c t o r - p r o d u cer Kiran Rao will be donning the hat of an executive producer with Aamir Khan Production’s (AKP) next venture. The untitled film will be directed by Aamir Khan’s former manager Advait Chandan which also marks his debut in direction.

The work has started in full swing and Kiran Rao, who is occupied with the pre-production of the film, has been traveling to and fro to Baroda and Gujarat where the film is currently being shot.

When contacted, her spokesperson said, “Kiran has started work on Advait’s debut film which is currently being shot at Baroda and Gujarat. And so she is required to travel to and fro and overlook the ‘ongoings’ of the project.”

Advait Chandan, who shared a great working relationship with

A

mitabh Bachchan doesn’t get rattled ever by criticism even when it is derogatory. The legendary actor feels that as a public figure it is natural for people to criticise him.

Speaking to Indian Express.com, Amitabh said, “There are times when many things written are derogatory but that is the challenge that all creative people face. If you are in a cat-

T

he Khans and the Bachchans have always been on good terms with each other and are often seen sharing candid moments together. And it is quite evident from their recent gathering.

We stumbled upon a group picture of Shah Rukh Khan, wife Gauri, daughter Suhana and her grandmother with megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s daughter Shweta Nanda and her daughter Navya Naveli having a wonderful time together.

Recently, the two big parivaar’s were also seen sharing an emotional and proud moment together during their kids’ graduation ceremony.

Shah Rukh Khan’s elder son Aryan

and Amitabh Bachchan’s granddaughter Navya, who were studying in the same school, completed their graduation from the Sevenoaks School in London. While the doting father Shah Rukh Khan along with his wife Gauri and daughter Suhana joined Aryan at his school to celebrate his big day, Navya Nanda, who is good friends with Aryan, was accompanied by her mother Shweta Bachchan during the convocation ceremony.

Later, the two families were also seen partying with filmmaker Karan Johar, who hosted a celebration on the occasion of his 44th birthday on May 26 in London. (Indian Express)

Aamir and handled his work for five years, has put forward his story to Aamir. “When narrated, the ‘Dangal’ actor fell in love with the subject so much so that he decided to produce the film under his banner Aamir Khan Production,” said the spokesperson.

Reportedly, the makers are looking for a fresh face and someone who can sing as well, as the film will require her to be comfortable while she lip syncs. “It’s a beauti-

ful story of an adolescent girl who aspires to be a singer. The cast has yet not been finalized, while the hunt for the lead actors in still on,” the spokesperson of the film said. While his fans is awaiting to see Aamir Khan in his wrestler avatar in his upcoming film ‘Dangal’, which is releasing this Christmas, his character in his yet to be titled film is surely going to create enough buzz.

(Indian Express)

egory which is called a public figure then you are bound to be facing all this. You have to reconcile to all these things.

You can’t call yourself a public figure and expect the public to not react. When they shout, scream and praise you take that well but when they throw brick bats at you, you say, ‘Patthar mat pheko yaar.’ How can you do that? It’s not right or expected either.

You should listen to criticism because that voice is not often heard.

That is how I look at it.

I feel it is essential that you should be pointed out your mistakes because it gives you an opportunity to learn.”

Elaborating on how he himself has been at the receiving end of criticism many times, Amitabh said, “It’s very natural to criticise me. Every day you get criticised for what you do, what you wear, what you say and other things. I think that’s the freedom that people have. I take criticisms well. It is important for us to know. If you keep hearing only good things about yourself, you will be a destroyed person.

Nobody is perfect. We all have our flaws.” (Indian Express)

we take for granted…

Health,” she wrote on Twitter.

The former Miss

India was last seen in education drama “Chalk n Duster”.

(Indian Express)

A

ctress Juhi Chawla visited a city-based cancer hospital for kids to raise awareness about health.

The 48-year-old mother of two met and spoke to the children, who are battling with the disease.

She chose the unique way to mark the World No Tobacco Day. “Today is the day to destroy the habit that destroys you… Went to meet Little kids.. Cancer patients… Makes you wonder about life. And gratitude for the big gifts

Hollywood 49

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c t r e s s S a l m a Hayek’s marriage is her “biggest accomplishment”.

The “Everly” star tied the knot with businessman François-Henri Pinault in 2009 and is thrilled her marriage is “full

R

olling Stones’ Ronnie Wood has become a father again at 68.

The rocker’s wife Sally, who is 30 years younger to him, gave birth to their twin daughters named Gracie Jane and Alice Rose on May 30, his publicist has confirmed.

“Ronnie and Sally Wood are delighted to announce the birth of their twins Gracie Jane (6lbs) and Alice Rose (5.7lbs),” the publicist said in a state-

A

ctress Cameron Diaz says she understands that people choose to opt for botox because it makes them feel better about themselves and she will never judge someone for it.

“I have absolutely no judgement on

A

ctor Liam Hemsworth says though he and brother Chris Hemsworth always fought and argued as

kids, they have also been the best of friends throughout life.

Liam, 26, also revealed that as both he

of love”. “A good marriage, full of love, is my biggest accomplishment.

Home is where my husband is. He is home. Everything outside of the family nucleus is an adventure that you’re living together (as a couple).” (Indian Express)

ment, adding, “The girls arrived on May 30 at 22:30 and all are doing brilliantly. The babies are perfect.”

Sally also took to Twitter to share her excitement about being a new mother. “Thank you all so much. Can’t believe our babies are a day old already. They are wonderful,” she tweeted. Wood and Sally, the owner of a theater production company, got married on December 21, 2012. (Indian Express)

what makes people feel good about themselves.

(Those procedures) are there to help people feel a little bit better about themselves.

“If they do feel better about themselves, then those procedures have worked. I have no problem with that. And

and the “Thor” star are similar in nature they used to indulge in fights during childhood, reported Female First.

“Chris and I have

similar personalities; we are both very stubborn. It wasn’t until I started high school that we stopped arguing and

[in] a lot of instances, it does make you look like you’ve taken a nap … or that you might be a little younger than you looked maybe the day before.”

The 43-year-old actress, however, also stressed the importance of good health in making people look better.

Speaking on the Oprah Winfrey Network show, Diaz said, “The places that the botox doesn’t reach are still ageing.

So, it’s very, very important to know what happens to your cells (and), if you really want to age well, how you can manage that ageing on a cellular level through the five pillars of well-being.” (Indian Express)

fighting. But I always looked up to him. He was my best friend,” Liam said.

Speaking about rivalry with Chris, who beat him to the role of “Thor” in the Marvel franchise, Liam said, “I know there was a competitive nature between us, but it was always a supportive one. I think it was initially just to not be stuck on our parents’ couch years down the track. We successfully got off of that due to the support of one another.”

(Indian Express)

O

scar-winning actress Julia Roberts will be named the Woman of the Decade at the Spike Guys Choice Awards next month.

The 48-year-old “Pretty Woman” star will receive the award at the 10th annual event which will take place in Culver City, Los Angeles, reported Female First.

In the past, the award show has honoured winners based on one year, but for its 10th edition, Spike Guys Choice is widening its scope and looking over the whole decade.

Others, who will receive awards at the ceremony include “Pitch Perfect’s Anna Kendrick, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. (Indian Express)

Jackson Rathbone welcomes daughter Presley Bowie

F

ormer “Twilight” star Jackson Rathbone has become a father again. The actor, 31, and his wife Sheila Hafsadi welcomed their second child, a baby girl, on May 31, he announced on social media.

Daughter Presley Bowie Rathbone weighed in at 8 lbs, 2 oz.

“Today!! Our daughter is born!! Welcomed into the world at 8:38 am with love & joy,” Rathbone tweeted along with a photo of the proud parents moments after their newborn’s arrival.

In March, Rathbone

announced there was another baby on the way when he posted a blackand-white throwback photo of his wife during her first pregnancy on Instagram. In the

H

ollywood star Ryan Gosling has revealed “Blade Runner” sequel is an “extension” of the first film. The actor, 35, said the new movie will not be a remake of the 1982 scifi, reported Digital Spy. “I can say that we start shooting in July,

sweet snap, his wife is all smiles as she shows off her baby belly in a bikini while sitting at a table across from the actor.

(Indian Express)

Harrison will be in and it’s not a remake of the story, more an extension. I’m really excited because “I’m a huge fan of the original – I think that, aside from Alien, it’s one of the more important science fiction films ever.”

(Indian Express)

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Hero Moto Corp extends Tri-nation series: CPL title sponsorship Finch says spinner to another 3 years Narine is major threat

Sunil Narine

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ustralian opener Aaron Finch has described West Indian offspinner Sunil Narine as a major threat in the Tri-nation series which also involves South Africa.

The batsman was quizzed by media operatives on Wednesday on the impact the mystery spinner can have on the series in conditions that should be conducive to spin bowling.

“Absolutely, any guy who can spin the ball both ways at good pace as well, is going to be a handful”, Finch said.

He added, “we have seen him in all formats of the game in the past and so he is someone we will put a lot of work into and make sure we are well prepared as we can to play him; but there are are also other guys who are quality

players, so it is not just about concentrating on one player and you forget the others”.

Narine, who was banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for an illegal action in November last year has remodel his action, which has seen him take eleven scalps playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL).

The off-spinner has enjoyed considerable success against the men from “down under”, as in the ten One Day Internationals (ODIs) he has played against them; the bowler has taken 16 wickets at an impressive average of 20.81.

His record against the Australians in the Caribbean is even more impressive with 11 wickets from just five matches at an average of 14.45 runs per wicket; which was taken at economy rate of under 3.4, when they last toured in 2012.

The Australians will be in action on Sunday against the West Indians, while their final match in the Guyana leg will be against South Africa, before the series moves to St. Kitts and wraps up in Barbados.

The Tri-nation series bowls off on Friday with hosts West Indies taking on the number three ranked South Africa in a day/night match at Providence.

The entire series of 10 matches will be day/night fixtures, the first such instance in the Caribbean.

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The “Biggest Party in Sport” will now benefit from an extended contract with the motorcycle company

ero Moto Corp Ltd, headquartered in India, announced earlier this week that it is extending its title sponsorship of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) by another three years.

The tournament, to be played between June 29 – August 7, will continue to be called the ‘Hero Caribbean Premier League’ until the 2018 season, a statement from the organisers said.

Hero Moto Corp is considered the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer in terms of unit volumes sold by a single company in a calendar year.

“The extension of our Title Sponsorship of the Hero CPL is also in keeping with the increasing global presence of Brand Hero, which is now present in 30 countries across Asia, Africa and South and Central America,” said Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Managing Director & CEO, Hero Moto Corp Ltd. “The Hero CPL is now set to become one of the important events in Hero’s annual global sporting calendar.”

Last year’s tournament attracted a global audience in excess of 90 million, officials have said.

This year the CPL T20 is set to break new ground with the first set of matches to be played in the USA. “Following the successes of the West Indies Men’s, Women’s and Under-19 teams on the international circuit over the last few months, we are excited about this year’s competition which will once again see the best Caribbean and international talent project their skills to a growing local and international audience,” said Richard Bevan, Chairman of the Hero CPL. “This year the CPL will be breaking new ground with the first foray for professional cricket into the USA, and we are delighted that Hero Moto Corp will be joining us on this journey.”

The Hero CPL 2016 will be played at venues across seven territories – Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago, and Fort Lauderdale in the USA. (CMC)

Anderson becomes No. 1 Test bowler J

ames Anderson has leapfrogged his England new-ball partner Stuart Broad to become the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings. This is the first time Anderson has occupied the top of the table in his Test career, which began in 2003.

Anderson has picked up 18 wickets in the first two Tests of the ongoing home series against Sri Lanka, collecting 79 points in that period and gaining four spots in the rankings. His figures of 3 for 36 and 5 for 58 in the second Test in Chesterle-Street gave him 30 points, and moved him above Broad and India offspinner R Ashwin.

Anderson's match haul of eight wickets helped him become the sixth bowler to pass 450 wickets in Tests. Broad, who took five wickets in the second Test, dropped

England fast bowler James Anderson, who has taken 18 wickets in the first two Tests against Sri Lanka, has become the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings.

three points and slipped behind Ashwin to third place.

Moeen Ali, who scored a career-best unbeaten 155 in England's first innings, achieved his highest batting rank-

ing, jumping 12 places to No. 35. He has also moved to sixth on the allrounders' list, and sits a point behind his teammate Ben Stokes. (ESPN Sports Media Ltd).

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Hero Caribbean Premier League 2016…

Zampa views CPL as an “exciting tournament”

By Akeem Greene

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ustralian Legspinner Adam Zampa has viewed the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as exciting and is eager to showcase his talent for his franchise, the Guyana Amazon Warriors when the tournament bowls off on June 29.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International Sport at the Guyana Marriot Hotel on Wednesday, the 24 yearold who was bought by the Warriors at the draft for US $ 60,000, revealed that the top ranked players participating makes the tournament exciting.

“The amount of players that will be playing in the competition, the class of AB de Villers and guys like that; in my team we have got [Martin] Guptil, [Chris Lynn] and those type of players too, so it’s an exciting tournament”, the player posited.

Zampa, along with Captain Martin Guptil, Sohail Tanvir and

Australian team mate Chris Lynn will be the international quartet in the Warriors’ camp but Zampa posits that Dwayne Smith could be the team’s trump card.

“I think our trump card is definitely going to be Dwayne Smith, the way he has played in the IPL [Indian Premier League], he is probably going to lead the way with bat and ball in the middle overs with me; but you got strike power like Guptil and Lynn, who have been amazing in twenty20 cricket recently; twenty20 is one of those formats where it can come off for you and I think we have gotten those players who are strike players and can win games for us”.

Zampa said.

The leg-spinner revealed that his main goal is to contribute as much as possible to the team for its success.

“I will try and use my experience for the CPL but it definitely makes the job a lot easi-

er if you can help out the team, the other players, for success in the tournament; if you don’t do well in a tournament like that, it can drag out, so success is pretty vital to your enjoyment”, the player revealed.

The player had a successful stint with the Pune Rising Super Giants in the recently concluded Indian Premier League where he took a remarkable 6 for 18 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in just his second match.

He as was quizzed on if he feels a pressure to perform in conditions that will be favourable to him.

“I’m not too sure, I don’t really think about the pressure, I keep my plans pretty simple, as I always said, what I do is fairly simple, so if all of that works and it helps the team and if not, it’s something I’m doing wrong” he responded.

From thirty-nine twenty20 matches, the bowler has taken 45

Adam Zampa

wickets at an economy rate of 7.08 and will have his first experience on Caribbean pitches when he participates in the Tri- Nation series which involves the West Indies and South Africa.

The Warriors will open the home series of matches with an evening clash against Jamaica Tallawahs on Thursday, 7 July.

On the weekend of 9 and 10 July they will then host St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Trinbago Knight Riders before completing the block of matches with a final home game against St. Lucia Zouks on Tuesday, 12 July.

Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad: Sohail Tanvir, Martin Guptill, Dwayne Smith,

Chris Lynn, Rayad Emrit, Adam Zampa, Jason Mohammed, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Orlando Peters, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Paul Wintz, Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Ali Khan, Shimron Hetmyer. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com).

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