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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 299

WEEK ENDING June 26, 2016

Amid mounting concerns, Govt orders review of parking meters contract See story on page 8

Govt’s agriculture policy ‘backward’, says Jagdeo

Page 22

CPL matches to be aired live on ONE World Sports Network

Page 50

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo meeting with residents in flood-affected areas in Region Five

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

“Guyana is not in an Guyanese charged with economic crisis” – falsifying application for Minister of Business tells U.S. passport GMSA Business Luncheon

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin

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inister of Business Dominic Gaskin sought to address concerns about a sluggish economy when he addressed the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association annual Business Luncheon held at the Pegasus Hotel on Thursday, June 23rd.

In his address to the gathering of prominent Business per-

sons, the Minister pointed to positive indicators for Guyana, among them, continued positive growth rate, unlike neighbouring economies such as Brazil, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago which are in serious trouble and even crisis.

In addressing the Government’s vision for the economy, the Minister told the gathering, a green economy, powered with affordable and renewable energy, driven by foreign earnings derived from exports of a range of value-added goods and services is well within our means to achieve.

"So too is the sustainable growth of this economy and the sustainable exploitation of our natural resources so that generations of Guyanese to come can enjoy our rich patrimony which we ourselves were fortunate to inherit when we were born", Gaskin said.

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LKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Joseph Fedrick, 42, of Guyana, with falsifying an application for a United States passport, U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Fedrick executed an application for a United States passport in Berkeley County, West Virginia. Within the application, Fedrick attempted to use a false social security number with the intent to secure the passport fraudulently.

Fedrick is charged with one count of “False Statement in Application for Passport.”

He faces up to ten years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the ac-

tua l sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

The Department of the State Diplomatic Security Service and the United States

Department of Homeland Security are investigating.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

(United States Department of Justice)

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Warriors all the way!

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

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EDITORIAL

Liberal Democracy

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Managing Director of Image Model and Promotions Management, Ms Abena Fung (2nd left), along with emocracy at its core is intended to represent the interest of the many; it is an institutional configuration that allows the people models who will be cheering for the Guyana Amazon Warriors cricket team paid a courtesy call on Chairman of the Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. (QAII), Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop (centre) and Manager of a given country the freedom to elect leaders of their choice. of the team, Mr Omar Khan, on Thursday, at the QAII’s head office in Industrial Site, Georgetown.

Leaders who are then expected to govern in the interest of the masses.

According to political scientist Robert Dahl, the democratic ideal is based on two principles: “political participation and political contestation”. Political participation, he posits, requires that all the people who are eligible to vote can vote. Elections must be free, fair, and competitive.

“Political contestation”, however, refers to the ability of people to express their discontent through freedom of speech and the press.

People should have the ability to meet and discuss their views on political issues without fear of persecution from the state.

Democratic regimes that promulgate electoral freedoms and contestation are referred to as liberal democracies. nited Nations: Climate nomic and social consequences, timated at between $700 milScholars have articulated that for democracy to remain a credible change is expected to FAO emphasized. lion and $3.3 billion due to natmode of institutional governance, it has to be perceived to be increase the intensity This is particularly importural disasters associated with proliferating the interest of the people and the country. If it is perceived to be deleterious to the advancement of the populace and the and frequency of droughts in ant because most of Caribbean weather and climate events.

So far, the region has fodevelopment of the country, then eventually it will be discredited and the Caribbean, so countries in agriculture is rainfed. With irthe region must enhance their rigation use becoming more cused mainly on floods and another ideology of governance might take its place. One that might not necessarily promote the tenable rights and freedoms of free and capabilities to deal with this widespread in the region, coun- storms, and it currently lacks fair elections and speech. One such ideology is “electoral dictatorship”, and other extreme weather-re- tries’ fresh-water supply will effective governance, expertise, which some theorists have argued is exemplified in Russia. lated challenges to ensure food become an increasingly import- and financial resources to deal In order for a liberal democracy to maintain in parlance and be the security and hunger eradica- ant resource, FAO said. effectively with drought issues, institutional mode of governance preferred, key provisions have to be tion, the United Nations Food Small-scale, family farm- FAO stressed. met. Simply put, those include, but are certainly not limited to, the and Agriculture Organization ers, are particularly vulneraIt also has poor national economic growth/wealth generation of the country and as one would (FAO) has said in a new report. ble to drought – low rainfall coordination, policy-making, surmise, good governance.

The report, Drought threatens rainfed crops and and planning in place. While For liberal democracies to thrive, good governance is an essential Characteristics and low water levels result in in- many regional and national prerequisite for the maintenance of stability. While there is no Management in the Caribbean, creased production costs due to programmes have developed exact definition that can be prescribed to good governance, as its found that the Caribbean re- increased irrigation. responses to build resilience connotations differ from country to country, it can be quantified as gion faces significant challengExtensive droughts also against the impacts of drought, governance which promulgates human rights, economic prosperity for the masses and formidable provisions that ensure accountability es in terms of drought, FAO cause increased vulnerability the report found that too many said. in livestock as grazing areas of these are still only in a draftthrough checks and balances.

“Drought ranks as the sinchange in nutritional value, ing phase, or are poorly impleEmpirical research has proven that poor governance is often gle most common cause of sewith more low quality, drought mented and in need of review. attributed to high instances of corruption. A practice which is no Regional frameworks prostranger to Guyana’s governance. Both the A Partnership for National vere food shortages in develop- tolerant species dominating Unity (APNU) and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) have ing countries, so this is a key during such dry spells. In addi- vide a necessary first step issue for Caribbean food se- tion, the potential for livestock The FAO report noted that been accused of corruption on multiple occasions.

In fact, corruption is seen as a deterrent to democracy, since the curity,” said Deep Ford, FAO disease outbreaks also increas- the severity of the 2009-2010 drought – the worst in more citizenry over time becomes disillusioned with a government that Regional Coordinator in the es, FAO said. appropriates resources that would have otherwise been used to Caribbean.

Drought also often re- than 40 years – served as an increase their standard of living. This leads to resentment, with the The Caribbean region al- sults in food price increases. alarm bell for the Caribbean populace no longer trusting its government. The legitimacy of the ready experiences drought-like Expensive, desalinated water region.

Government and, more fundamentally, the legitimacy of democracy events every year, with low wa- resources are becoming more The event forced the reare then questioned. ter availability often impacting important in the Caribbean, ac- gion to consider, particularPolitical scholars have outlined that once the Government loses on agriculture and water re- counting for as much as 70 per ly in light of climate change the trust of the populace, especially in liberal democracies, chaos sources, and a significant num- cent in Antigua and Barbuda, projections, the need to introensues as the masses no longer have any reason to respect and obey ber of bush fires, FAO noted. and this can impact significant- duce more strategic planning the decrees, laws and judicial decisions that emerge from these core The region also experienc- ly on the ability of poor house- and management measures institutions. es intense dry seasons, particu- holds to afford food. to avert the potential disaster Guyana is a democratic country that utilises a mixture of the larly in years when El Niño cliRural communities can also that would result by end of the Parliamentary and Mixed Systems of Governance. Research has mate events are present.

FAO face a greater scarcity of drinkcentury from a drier Caribbean shown that countries that were once colonised and transitioned to democracy through Independence tend to struggle before they find said that the impacts of this ing water during droughts. In region, according to the report. are usually offset by the next such cases, children are at the FAO stressed, however, that their equilibrium. wet season, but wet seasons ofhighest risk from inadequate the most pressing need is for Guyana just recently celebrated its 50th year as an independent country, but is still being plagued with pervasive instances of corruption ten end early and dry seasons water supplies during drought. countries to develop strong nalast longer, with the result that New challenges posed by tional initiatives. According to from its governing bodies. the report, policy-making and In fact, one can argue that the previous Administration, the annual rainfall is less than ex- climate change PPP/C, which fared better with the economic and wealth-generating pected.

The most frequently occur- planning related to drought is aspects of governance, lost the trust of the masses through pervasive The Caribbean region ac- ring natural hazards in the hindered by weak governance, allegations of corruption, which were being levied on their modus of counts for seven of the world’s Caribbean are climate-related, lack of finance and poorly coorgovernance. This might have been a factor that contributed to their top 36 water-stressed coun- and their impacts may increase dinated land management. loss at the General Elections of 2015. tries, while one of them – due to climate change, FAO “These can be overcome by Serious allegations of corruption are now being levied at this one- Barbados – is in the top 10, ac- said. The region’s vulnerabil- strong political will that enyear-old APNU Administration. Infractions on the awarding of contracts cording to FAO. ity to climate related hazards courages participation in policy leading to the perception of cronyism, authoritarian dispositions Impacts of drought on agri- is manifested in loss of life and and planning processes by all and high-handed behaviour on the part of key governing figures; culture and food security annual economic and financial actors in the social strata, enflagrant disregard for the tendering process and lack of perceivable With droughts becoming losses that result from strong abling the sustainable developtransparency are some of the concerns being raised. more seasonal in nature in winds, flooding and drought. ment of water supplies to face Let us hope that the masses do not lose trust in their elected the Caribbean region, agriculBetween 1970 and 2000, the upcoming challenges,” Mr. government and become disillusioned to the point where our liberal ture is the most likely sector to the Caribbean region suffered Ford said. democracy becomes “illiberal”. be impacted, with serious eco- direct and indirect losses es-

Caribbean region must boost efforts to prepare for increased drought – UN report

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National Gender Policy being finalised

Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence

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he Ministry of Social Protection is in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and UN Women, which will be providing support to finalise Guyana’s first National Gender Policy.

This policy will steer the mainstreaming of gender issues in the public sector and offer guidance to the private sector. It will provide for greater opportunities to secure women’s independence, to study, to work and to excel.

During a recent

interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence explained that UNICEF and the UN women will be providing technical support to ensure that a comprehensive policy is realised.

Minister Lawrence noted that consultations will also be conducted in hinterland communities throughout the country, to ensure that the indigenous people have an input and are fully educated on the policy.

“We want to have an interaction and have the views of our citizenry in the hinterland locations.

So we are about to start the rounds in terms of getting people involved, and sharing with them our proposals,” Minister Lawrence said.

Consultations on the policy started in 2015, targeting persons on the coastland. The Ministry also merged the men’s and women’s affairs bureaus into one unit to address issues affecting both genders.

Additionally, in August 2015, a National Conference on Gender and Development Policy was held under the theme, “Equal rights for all-Be good to People.”

Issues including gender in governance, in productive resources and employment, in security and in information and communication technology were discussed, as well as gender-based violence.

The University of Guyana in collaboration with the Women and Gender Equality Commission also launched the first Gender Studies Unit (GSU) as part of the National Conference on Gender and Development Policy conference.

Father who hacked his three children to death sentenced to life imprisonment

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ive years after John Blanchard hacked three children to death in their Ivan Street, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara home, he pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the chance of parole after serving 30 years.

The sentence was handed down

by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow in the High Court on Wednesday.

Blanchard was represented by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay, while the State was represented

by Attorneys Siand Dhurjon and Shawnette Austin.

A tearful Blanchard told the Court that “I didn’t know what got into me” when he committed the offence.

Reports are that about 22:30hrs on October 31, 2011, Blanchard went berserk and chopped the three children to death – his four-year-old son, Daniel; his six-year-old daughter, Joy and his 10-year-old stepdaugh-

FLASHBACK: John Blanchard, his ex-wife and the three children he hacked to death

ter, Belika Blanchard Singh, who were all asleep at the time. Two of the children died on the spot, while the third was admitted to hospital in critical condition and died two days later.

It was reported that the man and his family moved to Soesdyke three months prior to the fatal assault. He was described as a dedicated worker who sold boiled corn at the Cheddi Jagan

International Airport (CJIA) and in the city to maintain his family.

Blanchard was also described by neighbours as a family-oriented man, although he seemed to have had frequent arguments with his wife, Onica Blanchard.

Before the incident, his wife left their Soesdyke home to go into the hinterland and he did not approve of her decision.

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Jubilee celebration in New York was marred by lack of inclusiveness Dear Editor, The Jubilee celebration commemorating our 50th anniversary held in New York City (NYC) was marred by a lack of inclusiveness which ought to be highlighted and addressed if we are to move our country forward.

Such a problem handicapped the nine-day celebratory event. Even a Mashramani style parade dubbed the “unity parade” which marked the conclusion of the celebration two Sundays ago turned out to be schismatic.

Indeed, a mere lack of inclusiveness at symposiums held as part of the celebration precludes answers to questions raised under the theme “Guyana at 50: “Who are we? What has been our journey? And what can we further become?” It is absolutely unrealistic to expect answers to such questions in the absence of our diverse people.

Organisers must take responsibility.

They have suppressed diversity by being narrow-minded and by conflating politics with a historic celebration, spawning only an inhospitable atmosphere.

Undoubtedly, this is a throwback to the Burnham days which is sad and unfortunate for our country.

Members of the Diaspora who were not backers of the APNU/PNC/ AFC coalition were largely kept in the dark about this event. I became aware of it when I stumbled upon a Facebook post originating from a coalition supporter.

To make a long story short, I browsed the Internet to learn more and I eventually ran into a website showcasing the event.

I immediately discovered a severe lack of inclusiveness among organisers. This was an instant turnoff, particularly since we are multiethnic. AfroGuyanese were overly represented with just a sprinkle of Indo-Guyanese. My discovery shed light on the troubling fact that the event was organised by a racially and a politically closed group of people.

Organisers could have easily informed members of the Diaspora about the celebration if they had wanted. There were plenty of options available, including Facebook as a potent and costless medium.

However, organisers were hell-bent on shutting out a significant part of the population. The organisers could have only traversed one path to achieve near racial homogeneity – a path of discrimination. This is

inexcusable, destructive and should never be tolerated. Every Guyanese needs to be vociferous on such dysfunction.

Even more appalling is the realisation that organisers largely reside in the USA and are people who have benefitted from American values which support and encourage diversity. Can the organisers be more hypocritical?

Overwhelming discrimination at the Jubilee celebration is not an isolated problem. In fact, it mirrors the rampant and widespread discrimination which has picked up steam under the coalition Government.

Indo-Guyanese are no doubt going through a rough time under the coalition Government. They are largely pushed out of the work force through discriminatory practices to the point that the workforce is heavily skewed in favour of the coalition supporters.

Such levels of discrimination have caused great suffering among IndoGuyanese. Many IndoGuyanese acting out of desperation trudge through streets wheeling pushcarts selling anything and everything to barely scrape a livelihood. Yet, they still face discrimination as if they are not suffering enough. Life in Guyana is much too painful to witness! Government needs to correct the racial disequilibrium in the workforce by phasing in Indo-Guyanese and others.

This is feasible and can be accomplished without hurting a single human being. Racial equilibration in the workforce will infuse growth into the “pie” and will make it bigger for the benefit of all Guyanese.

Government needs to act now.

I am highly concerned by the widespread discrimination, particularly among those managing our welfare. We must realise that discrimination induces a wide range of effects, but none of them good: it strips human dignity, it creates rancour and it divides people. In short, discrimination is destructive.

We need to understand this and move away from such unconstructive practices and vest our energy in diversity. Diversity is our strength. We must take advantage of it to rise above poverty as a nation. This means that we must engage all. And last, but not least, we must etch into our brains that “no man is an island”.

Sincerely, Dr Annie Baliram

Purpose of forensic audits was to reward cronies

Dear Editor, I could still hear the reverberations in my ear about the massive corrupt practices of the then PPP/C Government. The then Opposition was relentless in its pursuit of highlighting these practices in the media and along the Elections Campaign trail.

I could still recall vividly the ‘we gonna jail them’ mantra. It was sung with so much gusto and enthusiasm that the electorate was swayed in their direction. The ‘change’ was done and those from the electorate who voted for that change is now extremely disillusioned and bitter.

After one year, having spent millions of taxpayers’ monies on numerous forensic audits, the government has literally come up empty-handed.

These audits have come with administrative breaches rather than the stealing of monies.

Even the outgoing US Deputy Chief of Mission has to now conclude that the government is wise in not rushing to prosecute the matters in a court of law.

This would suggest that more evidences are needed to do so.

These findings just make spicy readings in the media.

The debatable question is: Will these evidences ever be secured by SOCU? I doubt it since

I do feel that the dual purpose of these audits has been served: to reward the cronies and to create the red herring to divert the attention of the public from the incompetence of the government while the economic downslide is in progress. It was maybe hoped that they will learn while this diversion is taking place.

However, what is apparent after one year in government is that the corruption level keeps climbing so that corrupt practices within the various regions are trying to keep abreast with the Central Government.

Region 6 seems to be heading the list with allegations of corruption taking its toll in the health sector as well as in the Tender Board.

There have been allegations of corruption at the Tender Board where contracts are given out to a few selected individuals while a leading and experienced contractor in the Region has been blown into oblivion.

He seemed to have lost favour among certain members of the board.

It is alleged that Tender Board members, at least three of them are given ‘kick backs’ in order to secure contracts and these members are said to be from both the Government side and

the Opposition’s. There are five members on the Tender Board.

What is most disturbing as well is the fact that some contracts are given outside of the tender process to cronies of some officials concerned. While some were done under the pretext of ‘emergency’, others were simply given as ‘consultations’ to projects which are yet to be budgeted for. It will not be too long from now when the Region 6 Budget 2016 will be completely exhausted and supplementary budget sums have to be sought from Central Government.

It is time that the Coalition Government does a timely intervention in these corrupt practices in Region 6. Trying to shut up the people who are exposing these corrupt practices will only serve to reinforce them and make them worse.

There needs to be a concerted political will to fight corruption and not merely trying to deflect it from the Opposition to the Government and vice-versa.

Corruption is eating our resources which should be used for social and economic development while only a few are being enriched!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

New Mayor of Georgetown very confused Dear Editor, The new Mayor of Georgetown is either very confused, ill-advised or ill-informed.

One day during an interview with a local newspaper she denies that City Hall is cashstrapped.

Chase-Green denied such claims, “saying that allegations of bankruptcy were untrue, and expressed an unawareness that the municipality was struggling to pay its mammoth monthly wage bill, its contractors’ fees and its statutory payments such as to the GRA and the NIS.” She further went on to say that she had not received any such reports which suggest that

City Hall was incapable of paying its debts, and, as such, she questioned the authenticity and reliability of the information that was published.

Then the very next day the Mayor made a 180 degree pivot and confirmed that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (MCC) had indeed run short on funds. In fact she said there has not been a time that she was aware of that the Council had not had a loss, claiming that the city has always been broke.

Her new claim was that the Council does not collect enough rates and taxes (general rates) to meet all the demands financially to run this city and so being

short of cash was no new news, suggesting that it would take like G$3 billion a year to run the city of Georgetown if it is to be developed into a modern city.

How could it be that on one day the Mayor was totally oblivious of the Council’s dire financial straits even though all of her staff, including those surrounding her, her security, drivers and secretarial staff were not paid, and then the next day do a complete back flip and indicate that for the last 21 years she was at the Council, the entity was always broke? Something has to be wrong.

Best regards, James Mc Onnell

Islam propagates peace and harmony amongst all human beings Dear Editor, The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) condemns passionately the murderous act of one individual that resulted in the deaths of 49 persons in Orlando, Florida.

The CIOG noted with dismay the several news reports, and statements made which insinuated that this act is sanctioned by our noble and great religion Islam.

This is totally rejected by all God fearing Muslims who believe in the true teachings of Islam, and practices the teachings of God’s words as stated in the Holy Quran.

CIOG maintains that the individual who perpetrated this act, cannot be deemed a Muslim, and cannot subscribe to the teachings of Islam and the laws that govern

the lives of Muslims (in) the Holy Quran. ISIS who later claimed responsibility for this reprehensible act are not Muslims and the CIOG and all true Muslims do not affiliate them with anything to do with Islam. For those who claim they believe in the Holy Quran and Islam they must be aware of the quotation from Almighty God in the Quran which states: “He who kills a soul unless it be (in legal punishment) for murder or for causing disorder and corruption on the earth will be as if he had killed all humankind; and he who saves a life will be as if he had saved the lives of all humankind.”

(The Qur’an, Al-Ma’idah, 5:32) Anyone defying this order cannot hold steadfast to the realms of Islam.

The CIOG will continue to advocate that all who practice Islam, and purport to be Muslims should hold strongly to the laws that govern our lives, propagate peace and harmony among all human beings and safeguard the sanctity of all life. Nothing physical or mentally can justify this gruesome act of terror that was inflicted on our fellow human kind.

The CIOG wishes to extend to the families and friends of those who lost their lives our deepest and sincere condolences, and pray that they will be granted patience and perseverance at this time as they mourn the loss of their loved ones.

Yours faithfully, CIOG (Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana)

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Public service wage talks: Govt proposes end to across-the-board hike

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ay one of talks between the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and Government on public servants’ wages and salaries for 2016 culminated with the Union agreeing to look at the State’s proposal to replace the ‘across-theboard’ increase.

According to a joint statement late Wednesday, following discussions, the two parties entered into the agreement.

“GPSU agrees to explore the Government’s proposal for the differentiated approach to replace the acrossthe-board percentage increase,” the release stated.

The parties also agreed that the negotiations were conducted in the spirit and obligations of’ the Memorandum of Agreement between the

GPSU and the Public Service Ministry for the avoidance and settlement of disputes.

The bargaining unit is to consist of persons employed under the Department of the Public Service (DPS) and Public Service Commission (PSC) including those on contract, the statement detailed, while adding that an agreement was made for a committee to be initiated, to make recommendations to the negotiating team on allowances for public servants as soon as possible.

The negotiating team is scheduled to meet again on June 27.

On the other hand, while talks were ongoing, Minister of State Joseph Harmon sought to respond to complaints by the Union that Government omitted allowance negotiations from the discussions,

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

that his Administration preferred a sequential process when engaging in these discussions.

Speaking at the post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, the Minister said the letter from the Union was received after the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting; however, he noted that the Government after 20 years of holding

these negotiations has to use a sequential process.

“We have indicated to the Union upon receipt of the letter which voiced their concerns and we have made known to them that we prefer a sequential process when engaging in these negotiations. We would not lump wages and salaries with allowances, our preference is to take it consecutively”.

The Minister of State disclosed that the Government wrote the Union explaining that they have no intention of omitting allowances.

“We did say that for over 20 years that allowances hadn’t been touched and therefore we could not now in our first year in Government say that we are not going to touch allowances, so we did communicate to the Union that wages, salaries and allowances

GPSU President, Patrick Yarde

will be dealt with but we prefer to deal with them one after the other”.

The GPSU on Tuesday in accepting an invitation from the Ministry of the Presidency to commence negations on public servants wages and salaries noted that they want discussions on allowances to be included on the agenda.

GPSU President Patrick Yarde had said that the invitation omitted negotiations on allowance, which the Union will not stand for.

Minister Harmon stated that the Union’s comments were however expected.

“I must say that I am not surprised that the Union has started off that way because usually that is how unions operate but we know that the atmosphere in which these negotiations take place, it is a friendly atmosphere where there is no antagonism between the Public Service Union and the Government side and therefore, both sides will negotiate and negotiate hard,” Harmon remarked.

He noted that Government was optimistic about the negotiations.

Alim Shah stores back on school uniform voucher list

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he Alim Shah Stores have been re-added to the list of entities for the school uniform voucher programme just in time as the distribution for the new school terms begins.

According to a business representative, the stores’ Regent Street, Georgetown; and Rose Hall, Berbice branches have received offi-

which the business is not listed as being on this year’s programme.

The proprietor, Alim Shah, was concerned at the omission and felt that it was reprisal from the Government for the columns that his daughter, Ryhaan Shah, writes for Guyana Times.

In an invited comment to this publication, he expressed relief

the Education Ministry immediately released a statement positing that the business was at fault.

The statement explained that the Ministry noted that it publicly advertised for ‘Expressions of Interest’ to participate in the Uniform Voucher programme in 2016 and that the business under the name Alim Shah never indicated any interest

Alim Shah store on Regent Street, Georgetown

cial notification from the Education Ministry that it “is pleased to be partnering” with the business in this year’s School Uniform Voucher programme.

The letter was signed

by Ms Patricia Stephen, Assistant Secretary to the Education Ministry.

Alim Shah Stores started to accept school uniform vouchers since last week after being assured by the Ministry’s chief accountant that the business continues to be on the official database despite the advertisements which have appeared in the press in

to have received the official notification since both stores had already ordered and started preparing their stock of school pants, shirts, underwear, haversacks, and other items for their back-to-school business.

He said that the business has built up a good working relationship with the Education Ministry over the years and he expects that the good relations will continue under the new Administration.

Interestingly, when Shah initially raised concerns of being dropped from the programme,

in participating in the programme, hence their name would not have been on the published 2016 list.

“They subsequently communicated with the Ministry, indicating that they erroneously assumed that since they were on the list in previous years they would have automatically been included,” the statement noted.

According to the Ministry, the matter has since been resolved with the entity.

Distribution of vouchers Meanwhile, the

Ministry is ready to distribute approximately 150,000 uniform vouchers to parents and guardians of children attending public schools in Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Three

(Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), 10 (Upper Demerara), Bartica, in Region Seven

(Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Georgetown, in Region Four.

Each voucher is valued G$2000 – an increase from G$1500 in previous years, and is valid until October 31, 2016.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Amid mounting concerns, Govt orders review of parking meters contract take,” the Minister stated.

Moreover, Minister Harmon outlined that Government will not be looking into other aspects of the project such as fees.

Since the signing of the contract for the Parking Meters Project, many persons, including Councilors, over the past weeks have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the deal, which they claim appears to be a shady one aimed at exploiting the local populace.

In fact, Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan

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Mayor Patricia Chase Green checking out one of the parking meters in the presence of Councillor Oscar Clarke while on a recent trip to Mexico

n light of mounting concerns over the controversial Parking Meters Project, Cabinet has ordered that the contract between the Georgetown Town Council and National Parking Systems (NPS)/Smart City Solutions (SCS) Inc be reviewed by the State.

This was disclosed

by Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who told reporters at the post-Cabinet briefing on Wednesday that Cabinet was briefed by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan about the project, which will see solar-powered parking meters being installed along selected streets in Georgetown.

Harmon explained that without overstepping the functions of the Town Council, Cabinet took a decision to have the contract reviewed.

“While Cabinet is committed to honouring its principle of respecting the independence and authority of our Municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), it nonetheless decided that given Georgetown is the capital city and that the decisions made by Town Council will affect all Guyanese who have to come into the city, a decision was made to have the contract reviewed by the Ministry of Finance and the AG’s (Attorney General’s) Chamber,” the Minister stated.

However, he pointed out that the Georgetown Council is “young” and must be given the opportunity to operate independently and as such, Government will not interfere with its functions.

Nevertheless, the Minister of State point-

ed out that Cabinet took the decision to review the contract in light of the growing concerns about transparency of the Parking Meters Project. He explained that should any evidence of illegality or any semblance of similarity to the complaints made be detected, then Government will be obligated to take appropriate action. However, he opted not to preempt what those actions will be.

“I would not want to presuppose what course of action we will take, but once we find that there is something illegal or unlawful, it doesn’t prevent the law enforcement arms of the State, the AG Chamber, the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) to look into it and to give advice to Government and Cabinet as to what course of action it should

had stated that he could not find proper information about the company or any record of it providing parking meter services in any other country.

However, the Guyanese-born Director of NPS and SCS, Kamau Cush, during an interview with Guyana Times International over a week ago, had insisted that his companies are legitimate and have been doing business on the international scene for a number of years.

He claimed that his companies have worked in Panama, Argentina,

Peru and Mexico City among others; however, checks by this publication in these locations turned up empty as there is no mention of either company.

On the other hand, following a visit to Mexico City, Mexico, and Panama last week, Mayor Patricia Chase Green on Monday announced that the Council will be going ahead with the project as they are satisfied after observing the services the company is offering in the two Central American cities.

Union says not being consulted on Wales Estate conversion plans

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ome six months after official confirmation that the sugar operations at Wales Estate will cease, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder has not given a definitive pronouncement on how the proposed conversion plans for the Estate will be implemented.

In February, the Minister told the National Assembly that the sugar factory would be converted into a business establishment that will see the rearing of poultry and other livestock.

While these plans will impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of sugar workers, there has been a lack of consultations with the relevant unions. This is the contention of President of the Guyana General and Agricultural Workers

GAWU President, Komal Chand

Union (GAWU), Komal Chand, who told Guyana Times International on Tuesday that neither the Agriculture Minister nor the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has given word on the future plans for the Estate.

“In January, they promised to inform us about the new venture, what they hoped to do with the land…we haven’t heard from them and GuySuCo hasn’t got back to us and neither have we heard from the Minister,” Chand noted.

He explained that while Government was not legally required to discuss the new venture as it was a policy position, the livelihood of workers at Wales was at stake; therefore, Government had to engage in discussions with the Union.

With regard to cane planters who are reluctant to transfer their cane to the Uitvlugt Estate, citing transportation costs and implausibility, Chand noted that Government had “a political responsibility” to assist planters in having their canes transferred to the factory on the West Coast of Demerara.

“They [Government] said that, ‘look we are

integrating the two estates’,” the GAWU President pointed out.

Chand further related that the 99 workers who have been denied severance pay continued to be unemployed, even though workers wrote GuySuCo earlier in June appealing for jobs while the High Court case on the matter was ongoing.

“GuySuCo has not yet responded to that letter in which the workers appealed to the Sugar Corporation to give them employment in the time which they are waiting to hear the severance case,” Chand said.

Meanwhile, this newspaper has learnt that the Sugar Corporation has filed an affidavit in response to the High Court litigation and GAWU’s legal team was working on its response.

This court action was first brought after GuySuCo began discussions with individual employees of the Wales Estate to negotiate severance packages without informing or involving the unions. At one point, workers were given a three-day ultimatum to make their decision, but GuySuCo subsequently folded these plans as information got out.

On June 7, Justice Roxanne George had granted the Sugar Corporation time to respond to the legal action, which was brought

by GAWU and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) on the deployment of Wales Estate workers. The case will continue in the High Court on June 28.

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Woman who strapped cocaine to body jailed, fined G$8.2M

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Angelica Forde

ngelica Forde, the woman who was intercepted at the Eugene F Correia International Airport with cocaine strapped to her body last week was on Tuesday jailed for four years and fined G$8.2 million, the estimated street value of the illicit drug.

The sentence was handed down by Magistrate Zamina Ally-Seepaul at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

The woman, who pleaded guilty to the offence on Monday, was being charged along with her husband, James Forde who pleaded not guilty.

They were both charged for the offence which stated that on June 15, 2016, at the Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara, they had in their possession three kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of traffick-

ing.

However, the husband told the Court on Monday that he was not involved.

His wife backed his claim, telling the Court on Monday: “I am really sorry. It’s my stuff. No one else was involved.”

However, he was denied bail and remanded to prison until July 15, 2016.

According to reports, the woman was scheduled to board a LIAT flight destined for Barbados and another to travel to the United States of America (USA).

The woman was seen acting in a suspicious manner and upon inspection was found with the narcotics on her person.

However, investigators believe that the woman’s husband, who is a taxi driver, was instrumental in encouraging her to carry the cocaine.

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Prison inquiry cost State G$13M – Harmon lished by the Government following the historic unrest at the Camp Street prison which resulted in the deaths of 17 inmates.

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The Camp Street Prison

he controversial Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly prison riot at the Camp Street Prison and the prison system in general has burnt up about G$13 million of taxpayers’ monies.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon made this disclosure during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday morning at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The financial cost to the COI comes in light of criticisms that the COI was a waste of time and resources, contending that the findings would be no different from previous recommendations made to bring about prison reform.

One of the critics of the COI, former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran had explained that many reports were previously compiled citing the same faults in the country’s prison system; however, the Government of the day never made any attempts to implement the said proposals. He believes that this will again be the case.

Corruption watchdog Transparency Institute of Guyana (TIGI) had also expressed that the prison CoI could be nothing more than window dressing.

The CoI report was handed over to the Government on May 9; however, it was yet to be officially released to the public.

According to a copy seen by Guyana Times International, several recommendations have been

made with the aim of relieving the constant problem of overcrowding in the prisons.

The report recommended that the Government move to abolish mandatory minimum sentences; decriminalise possession of minimum amounts of marijuana for personal use; establish and expand alternatives to incarceration for those charged with low-level drug offences; ensure proportionality in sentencing – distinguishing between: drug trafficking and other types of crime, low, medium and high-level drug offences, rank or position of the accused in drug-trafficking networks, and violent and non-violent offences; avoid preventive detention (remand) in the case of low-level, non-violent offenders; employ non-custodial sentences in all cases of possession – such as treatment, educational opportunities or community service – that are available to those involved in other types of offences; re-orient law enforcement efforts to target high-level drug-trafficking networks, rather than those at the bottom rung of the drug-trafficking ladder, such as consumers, small-scale farmers, low-level dealers and mules; and undertake periodically comprehensive prison censuses to upgrade and expand criminal justice data systems and ensure timely access to criminal justice information for policymakers and the public.

The CoI was estab-

More than 25 witnesses, including prisoners, prison officers, members of the Guyana Fire Service and mem-

bers of the Guyana Police Force, testified before the Commission.

Retired Justice James Patterson (Chairman);

human rights activist Merle Mendonca and former Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine were the Commissioners.

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Sophia man remanded for killing brother

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Dead: Dexter Jules

wenty-sevenyear-old Orin Jules was on Tuesday remanded to prison by Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court after he was arraigned for the murder of his younger brother.

Jules, of Lot 634 D Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on June 18, 2016 at Sophia, he murdered his brother, 23-year-old Dexter Jules.

The unrepresented man told the Magistrate that he had previously been charged with other criminal offences, including break and enter with larceny.

Prosecuting the case is Police

Prosecutor David Goodridge, who told the Court that the defendant had a history of threatening to kill his family members.

Goodridge noted that 27-year-old Jules was recently convicted before the same court for threatening to murder his mother and siblings.

According to the Prosecution, on the day in question, the defendant and his younger brother were involved in a heated argument at their Sophia home.

As a result, Orin Jules picked up a knife and stabbed his brother several times in his chest.

The younger Jules was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Following the incident, Orin Jules attempted to escape, but was apprehended by public-spirited persons who found him hiding in a clump of bushes nearby and handed over to the Police.

The case will continue on August 4.

Nandlall accuses Gov’t of taking ‘contradictory stance’ on death penalty issue

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ormer Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said Government has found itself between a rock and hard place, with its position on the death penalty in Guyana, as the recent passage of the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill showed that it otherwise supported the penalty.

Nandlall argued that Government, through Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, had inserted some 14 mandatory death penalty offences in the last AML/CFT Bill, which, incidentally was rushed through all three readings in Parliament, recently.

President David Granger last Thursday said that he, at this point, did not support the death penalty in Guyana. In fact, his words were that he had no intention of executing anyone.

Nandlall, a front bencher of the parliamentary Opposition, contends that the Government’s stance was rather contradictory.

During the debate, Nandlall argued that the death penalty was not a penal measure that the Financial Action Task

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall

Force (FATF) insisted upon. He argued too that many countries like France and the United Kingdom (that are FATF-compliant do not have the death penalty in their laws.

According to Nandlall, the 14 mandatory death penalty cases in a singular Bill will put Guyana in conflict with previous postures adopted at the United Nations and Organisation of American States.

He said he had enquired whether that was the posture the Government of Guyana wished to adopt on the death penalty in the year 2016, having regarded the international climate on this issue.

“Of course, my presentation was ignored. The Bill was passed and assented to by the President.

On the 22nd of May, 2016, the Guyana Times newspaper carried a bold headline which read ‘Guyana in a diplomatic dilemma over death penalty… FATF requirement vs UN commitment’. Exactly as I predicted. Today, the Guyana Times headline reads, ‘I have no intention of executing anyone’ – President Granger”.

This disclosure, he said, raises the following questions: whether the Attorney General did not consult with the President before he inserted 14 mandatory death penalty offences on this Bill, or whether the AG was “acting on a frolic of his own”, whether the President knew that he was assenting to a Bill that imposed mandatory death penalty for 14 differ-

ent offences, and whether the Attorney General was not advised that it was not open to the President to assent to Bills, make them into laws and then publicly declare that he will abdicate the responsibilities which those laws impose upon him. He said the situation is confusing.

Last week, the Head of State made his position clear on the death penalty in Guyana, noting that he has no intention of executing anyone.

Although the death penalty remained enshrined in Guyana’s laws, there has not been any execution for decades. According to the President, the death penalty remains on the statute books, but Government is yet to pronounce on whether it will be abolished or not.

“I don’t have any intentions of executing anyone. Some people feel that the death penalty is a deterrent; some feel that it is not, but I do not have any intentions of approving the execution of anyone.”

He said some people think that “it is best on the books as a last resort. There is a difference and there is no single statement out of the Government whether it will abolish the death penalty or not. In due course, we will arrive at a position…”

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Mining communities to get emergency response teams

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he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) will be creating systems in mining communities to be first responders in the event of mining related accidents, according to a GINA report.

The commission will be working with the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) of Regions Seven, Eight and Nine to create Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).

Deputy Director General of the

Husband, hitman further remanded for Babita Sarjou’s brutal murder

sources to go and help to remove the injured and try to take them to safe locations like the hospitals or medical facilities within the regions,” Craig was quoted as saying by GINA in a recent interview.

The CDC does not work directly with the mining sector, but Craig said, that training in risk reduction is provided to sector agencies such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

S CDC, Kester Craig noted that these are regions with mining concessions and the teams are part of the risk reduction efforts by the commission to respond to accidents. It is usually the region or the community which is the first to lend assistance in the event of an accident.

“If something like that happens, first and foremost you will have a team with the necessary equipment and re-

Further, the CDC shares all its plans and policies with these sector agencies “so that they can review and see how they can incorporate it in their programme and their mandate,” Craig added.

The CDC also assists the mining sector in developing proper responses to disaster, as well as advises the sector on resources that are needed to respond in the event of a disaster.

Babita Sarjou

haradananda Narine, called Anand, and his accomplice, Darel Pronton, called “Yankee”, both reappeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the murder of Narine’s reputed wife, Babita Sarjou.

Both men were further remanded until July 11 when the case was called on Tuesday.

The men are represented by Attorney-at-Law Peter Hugh.

After disappearing without a trace on November 4, 2010, Babita Sarjou was found dead. Her skeletal remains were unearthed by detectives in a shallow grave in her reputed husband’s backyard last month.

The gruesome discovery, played out before several shocked neighbours, brought an end to years of agony for Sarjou’s family, who had been wondering about her fate since she van-

ished.

In reportedly confessing to the crime, Narine stated that he was furious because he suspected that Sarjou was having an affair with a man at her workplace. He was also angry that she had taken him to court on allegations that he had posted online nude pictures of her.

It is alleged that he hired the unemployed Pronton, whom he had befriended, to kill Sarjou.

Pronton was allegedly paid G$50,000 and promised a trip to Trinidad.

The trip to Trinidad never materialised.

It is alleged that on Diwali night, November 4, 2010, Sarjou left her mother’s home at Timehri, East Coast Demerara, after making arrangements to meet Narine, who would take her to see the motorcade at the Kitty seawall.

She was also expected to meet her four-year-old son.

Unbeknownst to Sarjou, Narine and Pronton had already dug her grave in Narine’s Seaforth Street, Campbellville backyard, two days before.

Sarjou reportedly met her husband outside the National Cultural Centre and entered his car. Pronton, who was allegedly sitting in the back seat, then reportedly strangled Sarjou.

With the body covered with a blanket, the two men reportedly then drove to Narine’s residence.

Husband of Babita Sarjou, Sharadananda Narine

Narine reportedly reversed into the yard, and the men concealed the body in a section of the bottom house, and Pronton remained with the corpse. Around mid-

Alleged hitman: Darel Pronton

night, the two men then took the body to the backyard and threw it over a zinc fence and into the three-foot grave. It remained there for close to six years.

APNU/AFC Councillor face court over dangerous driving charge

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egion Two (SupenaamPomeroon) Regional Democratic Council member Hardat Narine was on Tuesday taken before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court charged for dangerous driving, failing to comply with Police direction and failing to produce a driver’s licence.

The 48-year-old A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Councillor, also known as “Sham”, pleaded not guilty to the charges which stated that on May 28, 2016 about 18:45h on the Anna Regina Public Road, he drove motor car PLL 4784 in a dangerous manner.

The prosecution is contending that when Police approached Narine and told him of the offence, he failed to abide by their instructions.

When the case was called on Tuesday, Narine was granted G$10,000 bail for the dangerous driving charge and released on his own recognisance for the other two charges.

Hardat Narine

The case will continue on June 28, 2016.

Police have since submitted the case file on another charge of using threatening language to a Police Officer for advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 26 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Police investigating criminal gang in New Amsterdam – residents report several robberies over past few days

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olice in Berbice are investigating a seven-man armed gang operating out of Mount Sinai, one of the suburbs of New Amsterdam, referred to as Angoy’s Avenue. One of the gang members was arrested on Friday 17 June.

On the morning of Sunday 18 June, the gang reportedly responded by attacking four homes, successfully entering two and terrorizing the families, as they took away cash and other valuables.

D i v i s i o n a l Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam is of the view that Sunday’s attack was in retaliation of the arrest of a gang member on Friday.

Veronica Balak, 69, of Lot 5 Mount Sinai, was reportedly beaten and robbed by the said gang. According to Balak who lives alone, at about 03:00h on Sunday she heard banging on her door and then four men appeared in her bedroom: “When them come in me tell them me na go holla, an they ask fo money and gold but I tell them that I is a pensioner.”

The elderly woman noted that of the four men,

Budhan’s Housing Scheme Veronica Balak was beaten and robbed of all her money

one was armed with a gun, one with a cutlass and one with a crowbar. The defenceless woman related: “When me tell them that me na get gold, them start beat me up, dem knock me all up in me head….”

She said that they ransacked her home and took all of the money she had which was less than G$20,000.

Within the hour, four other places were attacked: Budhan’s Housing Scheme, Mount Sinai, including a grocery store, and three houses.

Oliver Ross says his wife was assaulted and a shot fired at him as bandits entered his home. He said it was after 04:30 on

Father’s Day when three men entered his Lot 39 home while two remained under his house: “Two of them had guns and one was armed with a cutlass. By the time I heard strange sounds they were already in the house. They put the guns to our head and said bring all the money and the gold and everything that you got.”

Ross said he appealed to the thieves saying that he and his pregnant wife were only middle class and not wealthy but it made no difference as there were threats made to rape his wife: “He grab my wife and pulled her by her hair and I tried to stop him and then he fired a

shot at me.”

He said the men ransacked the home during the five minutes they spent and took what they could. It was reported to Police that the bandits relieved Ross of G$78,000, a cellular phone, a television set, a tablet and a laptop computer.

At Lot 31 Budhan’s Housing Scheme, Ingrid Soohan, 67, reported that bandits broke the padlock off of her gate and were attempting to get into the downstairs apartment. At the time, she was up already doing her morning chores and thought it was her downstairs tenant returning home. The elderly woman said she called out to her tenant, greeting him and that might have scared the bandits off.

Also at Lot 9 Budhan’s Housing Scheme, householders were alerted after two men with guns had wrenched open a kitchen window. They called out to a neighbour who reported that they were two others under the house. After the alarm was raised the men jumped over a fence at the front yard and ran further into the scheme.

According to Amsterdam, during last week Police officers were on patrol and in the vicinity of the Berbice River Bridge they intercepted a car and took the driver into custody after not being convinced that he was waiting for a passenger to return with his G$300 taxi fare.

However, the following day surveillance foot-

age revealed that a car fitting the description of the one that was parked at D’Edward Village was the car which dropped the men off before the robbery at D’Edward Village earlier that night.

Based on information provided by the driver of the alleged getaway car, Police arrested a suspected gang member on Friday.

The gang is also linked to a robbery of a New Amsterdam Market vendor at his New Street, East Canje home three weeks ago when G$1 million in cellular phone cards were stolen.

Meanwhile, two persons are in custody in connection with the Father’s Day robberies. (Andrew Carmichael)

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Union not informed of situation at Georgetown Hospital A&E Unit

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uyana Public Service Union (GPSU) General Secretary Kemton Alexander has disclosed that the Union was not informed of the unhealthy situation at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

His remarks came after he was questioned about concerns raised in sections of the media that patients with infectious diseases were being left in the A&E Unit for a numbers of days, as there was no space for them in the other wards.

According to the GPSU Secretary, while he was not informed of the current situation, he knows that in the past there were similar issues reported and those were dealt with. He also noted that the Union was going to look into the issue and

take swift action where necessary.

The Hospital’s CEO, Alan Johnson told the media; however, that measures were already being put in place to facilitate the patients.

Johnson was shown photographs of a patient who was visibly sick lying on the floor of the A&E Unit with a respirator on.

Medical professionals have said that this is an issue that has been ongoing for the past three weeks. They are fearful that some of the patients, especially those infected with Tuberculosis (TB), that are left in the Unit for a number of days, will infect other patients.

Sources have also said that the Hospital has been overcrowded with patients not being treated occupying the chairs, beds and floors in the ward.

General Secretary, Kemton Alexander

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, in an invited comment, admitted that the Ministry was aware of the ongoing issue at the Unit and had already begun to initiate projects to address this.

Noting that a longterm solution would only be derived after discussions at the level of Government, he said the Ministry had started to implement its shortterm projects, which

have gotten positive reviews from the public.

Dr Norton said the situation was generally triggered by a breakdown of other health facilities across the country. When patients visit these other health institutions and do not get the requisite medical treatment, they often end up at the country’s premier facility, the Georgetown Public Hospital. The patients are usually transferred

to the hospital late at nights.

Norton said that this contributed to the buildup of persons thus causing overcrowding.

Additionally, with there being a lack of beds at the institution, the problem is amplified to an extent that has become unbearable for the medical personnel at the facility.

According to Norton, the Government is trying everything in its power to have this issue addressed immediately.

While a feasible solution would be to extend the Unit, the Minister pointed out that there was little space to facilitate an extension. He did say, however, that a possible approach would be to create an annex to the hospital.

In the interim, the Health Minister said doctors and nurses were being trained to become more advanced in their response to emergency cases so that overcrowding at the Unit was reduced.

Nominees for Local Gov’t Commission to be known this week

By Shemuel Fanfair

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he management of local democratic organs will soon fall under the watchful eye of a Local Government Commission (LGC). This comes after months of delays, and repeated calls, for the body’s establishment as Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan will no longer issue directives on local government matters, rather, this will fall under the purview of the LGC. In light of his announcement that LGC will now be operationalised by early July, the Communities Minister told this publication Monday that nominees for the Government side will be known by Wednesday.

Bulkan however pointed out that he has not heard word from the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on their nominees for LGC posts: “We have not received a response from him (the Opposition leader) as yet.”

However, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo told this newspaper on Monday that the PPP/C nominees will soon be chosen. “I suspect this matter will be dealt with tomorrow or alternatively on Friday, our nominees will be selected.”

The opposition leader further related that he could not reveal the names of the nominees as the matter is under discussion among party members: “Once we discuss the matter conclusively, we will release the names.”

PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had earlier this month contended that although Minister Bulkan was “constantly reminded”, the Opposition Leader had not received a formal let-

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

ter.

“The Leader of Opposition by law, the President by law shall appoint a certain number of people. The Act talks about the minister responsible for local government triggering this. The Minister of Communities has to trigger the action to write the Leader of the Opposition to say according to section so and so of the Act, we require the following, I’ve raised this matter over and over again,” Teixeira had explained at a party press conference.

At that time, she noted that three sittings had passed but there were no moves on the matter: “There seems to be no haste on the government’s side to get the motion into the Parliament.”

It was after the return of Local Government Elections (LGE) that tensions and controversy surrounded the establishment of some of the local democratic organs.

Even before that ensued, government had promised that the LGC would be functioning from early 2016.

The commission will be tasked with monitoring and assessing the performance of the local government organs, administer disciplinary action, and implement policies such as tax collection.

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Gov’t receives US$206,000 Disorderly behaviour continued at prison months from IDB to fight Zika virus after riot ended – CoI report

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hough the riots at the Camp Street Prison lasted for three days in March, the terror of disorderly behaviour reigned until May where prisoners continued to threaten the lives of prison officers.

This was highlighted in the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report into the deadly prison riots which claimed the lives of 17 inmates.

Commissioners pointed out that during the March 2-4 riots, inmates were using “long heavy logs to break down the door” of a section of the Prison made of wood, which had housed the condemned and other prisoners.

“During this entire time, the prisoners were demanding that President Granger come to speak with them in the Prison Yard,” the report noted.

It was further pointed out that the Guyana Prison Service and Police Force attempted to control the situation but were unsuccessful in their attempts due to a “mass number of angry and violent inmates” who were threatening and advancing towards officers.

“Tear smoke was used by the Police to disperse

Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle

onwards, where the canisters were used.

The CoI report has also highlighted that instructions were indeed, given for the riot unit to use shotguns. Several rounds were discharged, “causing prisoners to be subdued”.

It was stated that this is what led to the end of the three-day standoff.

The CoI report continued: “The Police and Prison Officers then began taking control of the situation and started to lock the prisoners down back in the divisions and Holding Area. A physical check was made of all prisoners and the tally was found correct. During the incident a number of inmates were injured as well as officers and efforts were made to render med-

and retrieved the parcels. Many officers reported sick, making the prison vulnerable to major security breaches. An emergency Joint Services meeting was held by his Excellency, President Granger who directed that order must be maintained within the Georgetown Prison…normalcy was restored when a Joint Services Operation Restore Order was done to search the entire prison and transfer ringleaders on May 14, 2016.”

The Commission observed that “serious psycho-social trauma” can arise from the incidents surrounding the riots and have recommended grief counselling for staff, inmates and their families.

“From evidence from both prisoners and officers many were observed to be highly traumatised by the events of both March 3 & 4, 2016,” the CoI report noted.

When Chief Prison Officer Roddey Denhart testified on April 28, he disclosed that one prison officer was “chocked and robbed” in the compound of the Georgetown penitentiary. He had also testified that another inmate placed an improvised weapon, a spear, on the chest of another warden.

Camp Street penitentiary

the mob but same was picked up by the prisoners and thrown back to the riot unit. This dazed the ranks and they began to retreat causing the defence to be weak,” the report pointed out.

However, many prison officers in their testimonies to the CoI which ended on May 9, had denied ever seeing tear smoke being used during the ordeal.

When Fire Chief Marlon Gentle was under cross-examination by attorney Glen Hanoman, he was questioned to disclose his knowledge of tear smoke canisters and whether they are “flammable or pyrotechnic”.

Gentle had responded that, pyrotechnics were not his expertise. However, when he was later questioned by Commissioners, the Fire Chief had recalled incidents in the 1997 riots and

ical assistance to them.”

It was after these events that Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and Minister of State Joseph Harmon met with inmates at the Georgetown Prison Sports Club where a “gentleman’s agreement” was reached.

In the aftermath of the three-day riots, Commissioners observed that: “prisoner’s discipline” had become “out of control”.

“They literally took over the Prison Yard. A number of them were accused of walking with long sharpened instruments threatening officers, smoking marijuana openly and using their cell phones in officers’ presence,” an excerpt of the report revealed.

“Prison Officers were prevented from retrieving [mobile phones] as prisoners with sharpened instruments threatened them

A

s Guyana improves its strategic approach in combating the mosquito borne Zika Virus, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has received a sum of US$206,000 from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for this cause.

Although the number of persons who had fallen victim to the virus remains at a recorded 12, with other suspected unrecorded cases, the Health Ministry says it’s bent on ensuring that Zika does not become a pandemic in Guyana and that the figures are reduced.

During an interview with Minister of Health Dr George Norton, he related to Guyana Times International that his ministry is resolute in its goal of eliminating the Zika Virus from Guyana especially since the cases have not spiralled.

The Health Minister outlined that the money received will be used primarily on consumables and other treatments that can decrease the effects of the virus but not get rid of it completely, since there has been no found cure.

According to the Minister, the Health Ministry has already reserved US$50,000 for consumables while another US$50,000 is budgeted for

the treatment. Treatment he said will involve the dispensation of medications from overseas companies that specialise in the production of Zika virus drugs.

These drugs, he explained, are expensive to procure but highlighted that the IDB funds will aid significantly in the provision of the drugs.

Currently, when persons test positive for the virus, they are usually isolated and treated with basic drugs that doctors have found to be effective in reducing the symptoms.

Additionally, the use of fluids is prescribed.

Norton noted however, that when the treatment becomes available in the near future, a more comprehensive approach will be taken to systematically rid the virus from the victims. With the cure not yet discovered, doctors are trying to at least relieve victims from the symptoms.

According to the minister, at present, the status of the virus in the country has not changed much but each week five samples are sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing.

Thus far, all these have returned negative besides the 12 already recorded cases.

Dr Norton informed

that there has been a visible improvement in fighting the virus, “but the Ministry will not rest until it becomes dormant in Guyana.”

Meanwhile, he said that the standard strategic measures remain intact with fogging campaigns, distribution of mosquito repellents and nettings, and the use of media to disseminate information pertaining to the virus.

Furthermore, a number of medical personnel have been sent to Trinidad to be part of the training in Zika fighting, Dr Norton noted.

These persons will be trained specifically in the area of testing of samples in Guyana. The equipment for this has already been made available, according to the minister.

The first case of the virus was recorded in January of this year while at the same time, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added Guyana to the list of countries likely to face the severe impacts of the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

Due to the close proximity of Guyana and Brazil, which has been severely infected with the disease, a greater effort from the government was exerted into fighting the virus.

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt’s agriculture policy ‘backward’, says Jagdeo

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s many residents and farmers in Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica) continue to endure the floodwaters, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday visited the flood-affected communities and distributed basic necessities to villages in the Mahaicony area.

At Mora Point and Gordon’s Table, the Opposition Leader distributed food items and bottled water.

Residents of those villages as well as those in First Savannah – one mile from Gordon’s Table – complained that the flood situation began in April but could have been avoided if the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMAADA) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) had fixed damaged pumps and cleared clogged drains.

One female farmer at Mora’s

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo meeting with residents in flood-affected areas in Region Five

Point told the Opposition Leader that it was poor drainage that led to the flooding in her area; a situation that has affected her ability to earn a living. She and fellow community members want an “inside dam” to be constructed.

“I lost five to six crop of rice… they have high spots [on dam] but we block water from de landing side; one side dam mek but if yuh mek de inside dam, you could get a free flow,” the farmer explained.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo told the residents that the difficulties they are facing with respect to getting Government’s assistance are not unique to Region Five only, since it seems that the Administration wants to “disrupt” the PPP strongholds.

“The APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) has a plan to disrupt all of the areas that we control – we have seen the worst

manifestation in this region… this Government has a policy in relation to agriculture, that is backward and will harm the sectors that produce a significant part of the wealth of this country,” the former President noted.

In response to complaints by residents that Agriculture Minister Noel Holder was reluctant to visit the affected areas, Jagdeo surmised that blame should not fall on the subject Minister alone but the entire Administration.

“This Government has made it clear that agriculture is not high on their agenda… the Minister is aloof but it is not the Minister of Agriculture that can be blamed, we have to blame the Government because he takes his signal from Granger himself [who] has signalled that agriculture doesn’t matter to him (President Granger) too much,”

the Opposition Leader further pointed out. This was reference to the declaration that rice is a “private” enterprise for which Government should not get actively involved.

“There are many hardships in the country but they [Government] are living in a dream world, I call it a cocoon, they believe they are doing so well but they don’t see the devastation in people’s lives…they have still managed to survive and look fairly good because they still have a lot of resources that we left. They can find G$800 million to clean up Georgetown but they can’t clean a couple of canals here – to spend 10 million, to ensure that people can plant something,” Jagdeo expressed.

He also claimed that even supporters of Government are disappointed.

“This is the attitude of the

Government. I have never seen a bunch of incompetent people like this group – even their young supporters are disappointed because they are totally incompetent. They go to Parliament unprepared [and] clueless,” posited the former Head of State.

Regional Vice Chairman Rion Peters told Guyana Times International that residents and farmers in communities in addition to Moraikobai should be given assistance. He reasoned that this contributed to the PPP donating of the relief items.

Meanwhile, residents and farmers are hopeful that their plight is addressed. The team that visited the area including PPP Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali, former Health Minister Bheri Ramsarran and Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

CAL responds to Guyana Mobile Passport Control airport authorities in duty free App for Caribbean dumping row travellers expands at

American airports

- US says Mobile Passport helping airports to enhance travel experience

N Passengers and duty free concessionaires in Guyana have been complaining that duty free items are being dumped in Trinidad once they were bought in Guyana.

T

rinidad-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has responded to an ultimatum delivered by the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Guyana as it seeks to beat a deadline imposed by the South American country’s airport authorities.

CJIA has threatened to cancel its agreement with CAL unless the carrier rectifies a situation impacting passengers and duty free concessionaires over duty free items purchased in Guyana being dumped in Trinidad.

CAL has been given 21 days to “remedy the situation,” with the CJIA warning that it will be “at liberty to proceed to cancel the Air Carrier Agreement under Article 9.3.”

Passengers and duty free concessionaires in Guyana have been complaining that duty free items are being dumped in Trinidad once they were bought in Guyana, according to media reports.

In a conciliatory statement, CAL responded that Guyana is an important destination and the airline remains committed to “our loyal Guyanese customers whom we have consistently served with reliable service since our start in 2007.”

The Trinidad-based airline nevertheless noted that while it has been designated the carrier for Guyana for the Toronto and New York destinations, carrying over 350,000 passengers to and from Guyana annually, it must comply with all regulatory directives of the sovereign states into which it operates, as do all other international airlines.

It pointed out that one such regulatory body is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which governs the security processes and conducts audits for all carriers flying into the United States of America.

The airline added that in light of screening rules which are in accordance with TSA measures being applied at any Last Point of Departure (LPD) to the United States, and a recent TSA audit, a restriction on the entry of transit duty free into the sterile holding areas of all transit airports has been imposed.

“Consequently, customers departing from Guyana or any other Caribbean destination with duty free items who are connecting on flights to the United States on any airline cannot enter the sterile holding area of any airport through which they transit en route to the United States,” the airline indicated.

CAL noted that while it sought to balance its regulatory obligations “with our customers’ desire to make duty free purchases,” this proved to be challenging as it resulted in items remaining unclaimed at the final destination, as well as damage to fragile items.

“Customer comfort and convenience are top priorities of Caribbean Airlines and we continue to collaborate with stakeholders, including the Civil Aviation and Airport authorities, to achieve a workable solution to ensure we remain compliant with the TSA regulations and provide quality service to our valued customers,” the statement added.

Landmark being erected in Leguan A

45-foot Hanuman murti is under construction in Leguan, Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) at the Rama Krishna Mandir.

The Hindu deity statue is billed to be one of the biggest in Guyana.

The statue is being voluntarily built by sculpture Jainarine Prahalla owner of JP Sculpting with voluntary donations from the general public.

The statue is to be completed in August this year with a grand fourday celebration being held to commemorate the opening.

The almost complete structure

EW YORK, USA (CMC) — The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York and Newark Liberty International Airport (NLIA) in New Jersey have expanded, for arriving passengers from the Caribbean and other places, the Mobile Passport Control (MPC).

Last Friday, the CBP said that the MPC is the first authorised app to expedite a traveller’s arrival into the

est security standards,” he added.

With a record number of passengers travelling through the two airports, Thomas Bosco, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey aviation director, said the Port Authority is committed to enhancing its overall customer experience and investing in creative solutions to address the growing volumes of trade and travel.

“We are pleased that Newark Liberty and John F Kennedy international airports now offer Mobile Passport

port information and Customs declaration prior to arrival will surely increase the efficiency of the arrival process, and assist us in our mission to provide an enjoyable passenger experience for all travellers coming through Terminal 4.”

Much like Automated Passport Control (APC), the CBP said the app does not require pre-approval, is free to use, and does not collect any new information from travellers.

It said travellers opting to use the app will no longer have to

Ticketing area at JFK terminal 7

United States.

Eligible travellers will submit their passport information and customs declaration form to CBP via a smartphone or tablet app prior to arrival.

According to US CBP, android and iPhone users can download the Mobile Passport app for free from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

“CBP is proud to work with local stakeholders to offer Mobile Passport Control as an option to expedite travellers’ arrival to the United States,” said director of field operations in New York Robert E Perez.

“The CBP remains committed to making the international arrivals experience as traveller-friendly as possible through innovation and collaboration with stakeholders while maintaining the high-

Control — an innovative programme that helps expedite the entry process for international travellers — and we thank US Customs and Border Protection for working with us on this enhancement,” he said.

Now with 13 participating airports, the CBP said Mobile Passport is helping airports enhance the travel experience as the busy summer travel season continues.

“We are delighted to welcome Mobile Passport Control to JFK Airport’s Terminal 4, the premier gateway to New York City, said Gert-Jan de Graaff, president and chief executive officer of JFKIAT – the company which operates Terminal 4 at JFK. “Our terminal welcomes more than 70,000 passengers each day,” he added. “Giving these passengers the ability to submit their pass-

complete a paper customs declaration form.

As a result, the CBP said travellers will experience shorter wait times, less congestion and faster processing.

It added that the MPC pilot, launched in August 2014 for eligible travellers arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, is now available to passengers arriving at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Miami International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Fort LauderdaleH o l l y w o o d International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, JFK and NLIA The CBP said it is committed to expanding the programme to the 20 airports with the highest volumes of international travellers by the end of this year.

24 news

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

City parking meters project UG medical school set to regain should be shelved – PPP accreditation – Dr Cummings

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Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said it has joined with all Guyanese in rejecting the “selfish and anti-people measure by a few hard-nosed, hard-ears bureaucrats at City Council” to have parking meters installed in Georgetown. The Party said the plan must be shelved and be left to “rest in peace.”

The party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee said on Monday that the Council has been totally dismissive of the outright rejection by the overwhelming majority of citizens of Georgetown, and their representative organisations as well as members of City Council.

He said some members of the Council have become enthralled by the magic of the parking meters as a means of making money at the expense of citizens of Georgetown.

Rohee said that his party has also noted the total lack of transparency in the public bidding and tendering process of the choice of vendor of the parking meters: “The process is dripping with suspicion. More so, since the address of the head office of the vendor in Manhattan is non-existent, this smacks of the trail of the vanishing vendor.”

The party, he told the news conference, objects to the G$500 per hour parking fee and finds that an 08:00 to 16:00 hours Monday to Friday employee, who owns a car and works in the city, will have to foot a G$4000 per day or G$80,000 per month parking bill.

“The PPP finds this unacceptable and it must be rejected by all right-minded Guyanese.”

According to him, the Granger administration cannot escape responsibility for this “catastrophic debacle” on the part of their “satraps ensconced at City Hall.”

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change Government is being hypocritical in all of this, as it is now crying foul at the City Council, when it has been doing the very same thing.

He said the government, while in opposition, campaigned on the grounds that the PPP/C lacked transparency in its actions and that it was corrupt.

“They promised to do a better job and what we are seeing is a systematic violation of all of our tendering procedures and all the tenets of good governance,” Jagdeo said.

Victims of criminal gang accuse Police of giving them ‘royal run-around’

T

he victims of the notorious “Salt Fish” criminal gang are claiming that they have been given the royal run-around by the Police as they try to get information relating to their home invasion at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) last Sunday.

Michael Basdeo, the primary victim of the home invasion, indicated to this newspaper that they were being treated as if they were “the criminals”.

“On more than three occasions, I tried contacting the Police at the Vigilance Police Station to get information on the matter, but it seems as if they don’t want me to get justice,” Basdeo said.

He is fearful for his safety and that of his family as he believes the gang is capable of returning.

He indicated that the gang was well-known to the Police, and one officer who visited his home after the robbery was reported to have told him that “these man them does spin back”.

The distraught man went on to vent his frustration about the system of justice, saying he did not know why the Police were not telling him the names of the individuals who were in custody, what they looked like or

Robbery victim Michael Basdeo

even how many of them were arrested.

To make matters worse, Basdeo said that he was not informed of the proper date to attend court, resulting in him being absent when the case was called.

According to Basdeo, the exact date of the next hearing seems to be uncertain, as the date reported in local newspapers and the date they were told differed and when he tried contacting the Police, the officers hung up on him.

Basdeo is also puzzled as to why his stolen laptop was confiscated as evidence and his car, which happens to be significantly damaged, was not secured as evidence and its theft was only considered “simple larceny”.

The gang allegedly sneaked into the Lot 81 Good Hope, ECD

home around 02:30h and escaped with a quantity of cash and valuables, including Basdeo’s car. Basdeo retrieved his mangled car, which was found abandoned at Market Street, Annandale, ECD. The bandits had crashed his car into a stall and made good their escape.

Individuals around the area who had witnessed the accident described the occupants who exited the vehicle as the “notorious Salt Fish gang”, and pointed the Police and Basdeo in the direction of their home in Annandale.

Arrests were made as a result of finding a number of Basdeo’s stolen articles in the alleged bandits’ home.

This led to a mother and her two sons appearing before Magistrate Alisha George at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court on larceny charges. The woman, Mansoon Mohammed, was charged with unlawful possession, but pleaded not guilty and was placed on G$40,000 bail.

Her sons, Zaman and Hazihidiri Mohamed were also charged with seven counts of larceny and break and enter. They too pleaded not guilty, but the prosecution objected to bail.

They were remanded to prison.

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he University of Guyana is set to regain its medical accreditation beginning from the academic year 2016/2017.

This is according to Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr Emmanuel Cummings, who told Guyana Times International on Saturday that the school of medicine is working assiduously to correct the deficiencies of the past.

“We are looking at October when they will visit for evaluation of the evidence we have and I am certain that the kind of evidence that we have and what we are doing, accreditation to the medical school will be restored in the new academic year 2016-2017.”

The University Of Guyana’s School Of Medicine lost its accreditation in April 2014 and was served with provisional accreditation until 2015 by Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine (CAAEM).

The medical school was offered accreditation for the periods 2008 to 2009, 2009 to 2012 and 2014 to 2015. The medical school lost its full accreditation after a visit from the CAAEM revealed that a number

of recommendations to improve the institution were not adhered to.

“The School of Medicine was given G$33 million from the Government through the Education Ministry that is being used to upgrade the medical laboratories because that was one of the deficiencies that was highlighted by CAAEM,” said Dr Cummings.

In efforts to regain accreditation, the upcoming academic year 20162017 for the Medical School will be featuring refurbished laboratories and upgraded classrooms for the students.

According to Dr Cummings, “so far as I know the Ministry is at the stage of procuring equipment that we will definitely have in place for September and we are currently evaluating the physical facilities.”

Dr Cummings noted that all relevant docu-

ments have been submitted and the curriculum is being currently reviewed.

Meanwhile, Dr Cummings pointed out that the new Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, who took office only four days ago, has already engaged the Health Science faculty in two meetings.

“Restoring accreditation to the medical school is one of his main agendas. He is very concerned and supportive of all of the steps we are taking to ensure we are on the right path.”

“Definitely, we are getting everything in place. I am more than certain accreditation will be restored. Once CAAEM would have looked at the documents, the site date will be determined three months minimum and from then we can move on,” Dr Cummings reiterated.

15-year-old shot as gunmen storm mechanic shop – heist caught on surveillance cameras

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15-year-old boy was hospitalised after he was shot in the face by armed bandits last Sunday afternoon at a mechanic shop in South Ruimveldt Gardens, Greater Georgetown.

According to the Police, the robbery occurred about 14:00h.

The teenager identified as Jamal Lewis, of Wren Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, is an employee of the mechanic shop. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where

he was admitted in a “serious” condition.

According to Police spokesman Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, Lewis had scuffled with one of the bandits during the robbery and one round from the bandit’s firearm hit him in the face.

“The employees were robbed of cellular phones and a small amount of cash. The suspects escaped in a silver Spacio, registration number unknown,” the Police spokesman added.

The property, which

also houses a base of the Green Ice Taxi Service, has surveillance cameras which captured the entire robbery.

The video footage, which was handed over to the Police, revealed the car circled the area twice before its occupants pulled off the daring robbery.

Reports reaching this publication informed that the men upon exiting the vehicle ran into the mechanic shop and held its occupants at gunpoint, relieving them of their valuables.

According to persons at the mechanic shop, one of the men gun-butted Jamal, causing the weapon to discharge a round, which hit the teenager.

The men did not manage to cart off any cash from the business itself.

Police are continuing their hunt for the suspects.

NEWS 25

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Former X Factor Dance Troupe member killed in Houston accident know much about the accident and were looking for answers. During the brief telephone conversation, the aunt noted that the young woman might have left work and gone out with friends and was apparently heading home when the accident

Dead: Paulette Josiah

A

former member of the X Factor Dance Troupe was on Monday morning killed, while another person was injured following a vehicular accident in the vicinity of Houston, Greater Georgetown.

Dead is 21-year-old Paulette Josiah of Lot 127 CC Eccles, East Bank Demerara. The name of the injured person was not immediately available. He is reportedly a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to reports, Josiah was the pillion rider on a CG motorcycle when it was reportedly struck from behind by another vehicle.

The young woman sustained inju-

ries and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she died while receiving medical treatment.

While information remains sketchy about the fatal accident, Josiah’s aunt told Guyana Times International on Monday night that the woman left home on Sunday for work. She reportedly worked at an East Bank gas station.

The grieving aunt explained that she was at work when she received a telephone call from a relative informing her of the accident. She immediately rushed to the Hospital, but by that time, the young woman had died.

The family, Josiah’s aunt added, did not

occurred.

She noted that the family members have to revisit the police station today for an update as to what really transpired.

The woman related that family members were in a state of shock over the death of the young wom-

an. The mother of the dead woman, this newspaper understands, is devastated.

“Every time, she look at Paulette photo she faint… she staring at the walls as if she is lost,” a family friend related.

Josiah was the el-

dest of four children and was described as a hardworking and determined young lady. The Police have launched an investigation into the accident. It is not clear if anyone was in Police custody assisting with investigations.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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28 news

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Man gets 4 years jail for causing death of Nigel Hughes’ mother

By Kizzy Coleman

J

uliano Seunarine, the driver who was charged with causing the death of Christobel Hughes, the mother of former Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman, Attorney Nigel Hughes, was on Monday jailed for four years.

The sentence was handed down by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan following the conclusion of the trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

When he was charged in August 2015, Seunarine pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on August 15, 2015 at Pike and Lamaha Streets, Kitty, Georgetown, he drove motor pick-up PPP 4641 in a dangerous manner to the public thereby causing the death of Hughes.

In handing down her decision, Magistrate

Dead: Christobel Hughes

McLennan explained that at the time of the accident, the defendant, based on evidence presented, was under the influence of alcohol.

The Magistrate stated that the Court has concluded that Hughes died as a result of the accident.

As such, she added, the court is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the offence.

McLennan added

that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The defence in a plea of mitigation petitioned for leniency, pointing out that the defendant, who is 28 years old, is the sole provider for his family, including an ailing mother.

The Court heard that the defendant since the incident has spent two months in prison while being on remand.

After listening to the defence, Magistrate McLennan sentenced Seunarine to spend four years in prison. This decision was met with a loud outburst from his family and relatives who were present in court and began crying.

According to reports, on the day in question around 23:15h, the defendant drove motor vehicle PPP 4641 on Pike Street, and, as he approached Lamaha Street, he failed to stop,

By: Alexis Rodney

P

Juliano Seunarine

colliding with motor vehicle PMM 6763.

As a result of the impact, Hughes received multiple injuries to her body and died while being rushed to the hospital.

A breathalyser test was conducted on Seunarine by Police Officers, which revealed that his alcohol level was 161 micrograms when the legal limit is 35.

Sugar industry needs to be restructured in a systematic way – former U.S. Embassy official

By Shemuel Fanfair

S

ugar is a “problematic” enterprise and for it to be sustained, a substantial transition is needed if Government wants to discontinue awarding large subsidies. This is according to Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy, Brian Hunt, who in an interview with this publication noted that sugar production costs are much higher than what you can “reasonably expect to get” in return on the world market.

“The fact is that the cost of production is too high, the mechanisation is too low, the number of people that are being employed for the amount of crop produced is probably much too high; and there is going to have to be radical transformation or there is going to have to be some sort of social agreement that the government is going to continue to bail it out year after year, which becomes increasingly difficult economically over time,” the deputy chief observed.

He pointed out that the European Union (EU) has been pushing for some time for transformation of the sector but stated that he does not believe that the expected transformation was achieved.

“At the end of the day, I think the reality

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

is that there needs to be a much more systematic way in which the government goes about restructuring the industry… the new government did do a very comprehensive study of what was going to be needed and they are moving forward with some of those changes [but] it’s not to say any of this is going to be without pain,” the diplomat further explained.

Hunt pointed out that, “some degree of pain” will befall those who are employed in associated sectors of the sugar industry. He however posited that the industry should be mechanised more in line with neighbouring producer, Brazil: “I think overall you don’t have a whole lot of choices in sugar; the only way to get the price down so that you can sell competitively with large producers like Brazil is moving in the direction of mechani-

sation and streamlining the industry.”

When calls were made last month for another bailout to the cashstrapped sugar industry, Finance Minister Winston Jordan opined that the recent challenges have made sugar “not as sweet” as it used to be.

Jordan explained that to sustain what he deemed an “expensive industry” the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) would have to undergo “severe structural transformation[s]” for it to be sustained.

Cash-strapped GuySuCo has since the beginning of this year closed the Wales Sugar Estate on West Bank Demerara, putting some 1700 workers out of jobs, as the company does not have the finances to operate, much less refurbish the Wales facility.

The Agriculture Ministry had stated that there was a “gloomy outlook” for sugar prices in the foreseeable future and Wales Estate has been projected to make a loss of G$1.6 billion to G$1.9 billion this year.

The authorities are contending that this coupled with the extent of refurbishment needed renders this estate prohibitively costly to maintain.

GuySuCo said that it will be exploring the feasibility of alternative ventures utilising the Wales lands, while gov-

Death Penalty in Guyana: President says not in support of executing anyone

Former US Deputy Chief of Mission, Brian Hunt

ernment had outlined that “agricultural workers at Wales will be absorbed by Uitvlugt up to the extent of suitable vacancies on that location.

Surplus labour would have to be made redundant. The same principle would apply to the other departments.”

Additionally, the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Sugar Estate, East Coast Demerara, is expected to be closed within this year, possibly placing another 800 employees on the breadline. Some of those workers are expected to be absorbed by the Enmore Estate.

In reference to Wales Estate converting to dairy production, the Finance Minister had said that the government was petitioning the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for a loan to aid in agricultural development.

resident David Granger has made clear his position on the death penalty issue in Guyana, noting that he has no intention of executing anyone. The Head of State was speaking on his weekly televised programme “The Public Interest” on Thursday.

Although the death penalty remains enshrined in Guyana’s laws, there has not been any execution for many years. According to the President, the death penalty remains on the statute books but government is yet to pronounce on whether it will be abolished or not.

“I don’t have any intentions of executing anyone. Some people feel that the death penalty is a deterrent; some feel that it is not, but I do not have any intentions of approving the execution of anyone”.

He said some people think that, “it is best on the books as a last resort. There is a difference and there is no single statement out of the government whether it will abolish the death penalty or not. In due course, we will arrive at a position, but right now, no. I agree there are two points of view”.

Guyana has committed to join the worldwide efforts to abolish capital punishment, which is deemed inhumane and completely ineffective in deterring crime.

Guyana has not abolished the death penalty, but there is a moratorium on its use, despite the fact that criminals are still being sentenced to death.

Guyana’s last execution was in 1997.

More than 100 countries have already made significant strides in abolishing the death penalty, either by law or by practice. According to statistics from a report compiled by Amnesty International, 140 countries have abolished the death penalty in 2014, by law or practice.

This is significant given that when the organisation started its campaign against the death penalty in 1997, only 16 countries had abolished this punishment for all crimes. Seven countries that carried out executions in 2013 did not do so in 2014 – Bangladesh, Botswana, Indonesia, India, Kuwait, Nigeria and South Sudan.

Despite this remarkable progress, there was a recorded 28 per cent increase in the number of executions in 2014 when

President David Granger

compared with 2013.

There were 2466 death sentences in 55 countries in 2014, with a total of 607 executions. This figure excludes China, which executed more persons than the rest of the world combined.

The top five countries which still execute prisoners on death row are China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the USA. Additionally, seven other countries resumed executions – Belarus, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Jordan, Pakistan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

Three years ago, Guyana made a commitment to the United Nations to abolish the death penalty. Attorney General Basil Williams had recently recommitted Guyana to erasing capital punishment from its books.

Guyana’s laws state (without providing for alternatives) that an individual convicted of a capital offence “shall be liable to suffer death as a felon”.

In addition, legislation provides that murder and felony murder in the course of terrorism are “punishable by death”.

While this language is ambiguous, under Article 19 of the Criminal (Offences) Law, courts may not substitute punishments not specifically stated for death-eligible offences, so courts appear to have no discretion in sentencing.

Article 164 of the Criminal (Procedure) Law provides that when a person is convicted of an offence punishable by death, “the Court shall thereupon pronounce [the] sentence of death”.

The European Union and the United Kingdom are the world’s leading institutional actors in the fight against death penalty and its action in this area represents a key priority of its external human rights policy.

The EU and UK actively support the civil society organisations around the world campaigning for the abolition of capital punishment.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Building a Movement, Taking Our Seat A

fter being prompted by several political and community leaders, as well as family and friends, Richard David, community organizer, long-time Community Board 9 member, co-founder of the IndoCaribbean Alliance (ICA), and former Vice President of the NYC Economic Development Corporation, is strongly considering a run for office.

Richard’s years of work in Southeast Queens have garnered real results for diverse groups, particularly within the Indo-Caribbean community. Richard played an integral role in the 2010 U.S. Census, which led to the City publishing data to confirm a critical statistic that was already suspected – Guyanese and Trinidadians are the third largest immigrant group in NYC. Richard also helped to open the Indo-Caribbean Special Collection at Queens Library’s Lefferts branch – a collection that brings Indo-Caribbean history and culture to the fingertips of old and new generations alike, right in the heart of Little Guyana.

He mentored several students and helped them get jobs, internships, and finish school. He also organized the only effort to get better representation for the com-

L

munity when Resorts World Casino was opening up in South Ozone Park – an effort featured in not one, but two New York Times stories.

As a member of Community Board 9 for almost eight years, Richard has brought the concerns of IndoCaribbeans to the forefront. He is a familiar face at City Council hearings, where he testified for legislation that would collect data to more accurately target issues affecting the community including alcohol abuse, domestic violence, the lack of senior centers, and low graduation rates.

Richard’s community-mindedness also moved him to testify before the State and City Commissions during the last redistricting, ensuring district lines were drawn fairly.

At a private networking reception last week, various community members were chanting the same mantra, “I don’t usually get into politics, but Richard David would be the reason that I do.” History would reflect that Richard has his community’s interests at heart.

While managing over $1.2 billion worth of funding in neighborhoods across NYC, Richard saw the dearth

Leon (right) chatting with former President Bharrat Jagdeo on the welfare of persons with disabilities

eon Walcott is a devoted father, not only to his own children, but to people with disabilities, while, at the same time, coping with his disability.

Born in 1949 on Plantation Enmore, he spent the formative years of his life on Diamond Plantation. He can recall a brief period of his life without a disability until the age of six, which was when he was diagnosed with polio. Dealing with the sickness was tough, but Walcott said the people in his community were of great support.

He remembers being a “good runner”, but his sickness put an end to running. Due to a progressive degeneration of his muscles, he cannot walk, nor can he use his hands efficiently. He is confined to a scooter, which helps him to be mobile.

Walcott has three children: a 41-yearold son and 39-year-old daughter for his first marriage; and a 14-yearold son, Lukas, from his second marriage.

“My first wife died af-

ter 22 years of marriage, and my second wife, Denise, died last year due to breast cancer. My two eldest children are living abroad with families of their own, and my 14-year-old son lives with me and attends Queen’s College. As a person with disability, not being able to walk or use my hands efficiently, being a father is challenging, especially if you have a rambunctious teenager. This year will be the first Father’s Day without my wife Denise. Being the only parent really showed me how much a mother has to do. My son and I miss her tremendously,” Walcott expressed in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Walcott spoke fondly of his son Lukas as someone who is contented and intelligent. The father said that it takes added effort to deal with his son, because after all he is a typical teenager.

The devoted father mentioned it is a challenge for parents with disabilities dealing with teenagers. What has worked for him is to never “challenge” his teenager, and

to instill, from a very young age, morals, such as humility, to help mould him to become a future leader.

“I’m moulding a future leader, so I have to be careful the values I impart. I have come up with a system on how to deal with my teenager. My first son I could’ve physically handle him, but of course, being a typical teenager, my son Lukas knows I have to depend on him because of my disability and that can get challenging. But he cares for me, even pushes me to church because right now my scooter is giving me problems. I admire him because he’s a contented person and even saves his pocket money if he wants to purchase something. He’s very intelligent and enjoys talking about politics with me,” the single - parent noted.

Walcott’s advice to parents is to instill values at a very young age. But he focuses on parents who have children with disabilities.

He urges these parents to not keep the children

at home. He pointed out that there are several organisations that children with disabilities can be part of, such as the Guyana Society for the Blind, which has an applauded education programme, funded by the Ministry of Education.

There are also schools such as David Rose and Diamond Special Needs School which equip children with disabilities with the necessary skills for them to be effective individuals in society.

Walcott shoulders numerous other responsibilities. He is a project manager with more than ten years of experience in international development.

He has led multi-donor projects on social justice and inclusion issues, including disabilities and youth participation.

He specialises in developing and implementing advocacy strategies, and building capacities in policy and media campaigning, strategy planning, negotiation, and project implementation.

The social advocate holds a BA from the University of Guyana.

Having a deep understanding of, and practical experience in, inclusive development, Walcott is driven by a strong learning environment, innovative collaborations and results-oriented projects.

His specialities include strategy development for advocacy, fund development and organisation strengthening, partnership development and management, monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis and development, behaviour change communication, mainstreaming gender, disability and youth issues, organization diagnosis and change management, donor and grant management.

Notably, he has designed and conducted

of resources available to his own community. “Not a penny was coming to my own neighborhood,” Richard said.

“There was not a single nonprofit organization in the community that did regular programs. Every organization we found did events, usually once or twice a year. Nothing consistent or daily, and it rarely went beyond culture.”

Richard highlighted that even though most students were not graduating high school, after-school programming and tutoring services were sorely lacking. He also noted that while many complained about the problems afflicting the community, few were taking action to create solutions. This was an impetus giving rise to ICA. While Richard does not often speak about his childhood, it has informed much of his work and resonates with the people he would represent if elected. Richard David was born in Mahaicony on the East Coast of Demerara in Guyana. His parents arrived in NYC when Richard was just six years old. He and his two older brothers lived with their grandmother, aunts, and continued on page 32

Leon at his desk

training and coaching program for NGOs/CBOs on disability and youth on rights-based advocacy, strategy planning, negotiation, media communication, project management, and organization effectiveness.

Member of the Appraisal Committee of the National Commission on Disability, overseeing the approval and disbursement of a G$20 million disability grant from the PPP/C Government.

He previously held nu-

Lukas holding a trophy he received from school.

His father proudly looks on in the background

Additionally, he has provided technical and project management support, and monitoring and evaluation for community-led advocacy (It’s About Ability Project 2009 – 2011); elevated disability rights as a national development issue with advocacy materials; and developed research framework for baseline research on disability matters – mentored students studying for the Degree in Social Work at the University of Guyana.

In 2014 he was appointed Justice of the Peace and Commissioner of Oaths to Affidavits and

merous project management positions on projects funded by USAID/ Guyana as well as lecturing posts.

He is also the chairman of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities.

Although he has a number of responsibilities within the disability community, Walcott has always made it his priority to be first and foremost a ‘dad’. His responsibility as a father is further extended to all those who have disabilities.

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Building a... uncles, until Richard was 10. That was when he migrated from the Land of Many Waters to Jamaica, Queens in the dead of winter. He described his migration to the U.S. as a “great escape,” not because of the poverty he had been growing up in, but because he left Guyana just a few weeks before he would have had to take the “dreaded Common Entrance Exams.”

Upon his arrival, Richard lived with his mother and aunts, but after a prolonged custody dispute, he moved in with his father and stepmother. He finished the fifth grade at P.S. 63 and recalled taking the old green line buses, which were “notoriously late even

by Caribbean Standard Time.”

It would take Richard two hours on the Q41 to get from Jamaica, where he lived, to P.S. 63 in Ozone Park.

He recalled, “Except for drinking milk, I don’t think I ever ate at school.

I was really hungry, but I didn’t recognize the food at all. I also didn’t talk. Ever.

I just observed and absorbed everything. I don’t remember ever reading a complete book either – not even a children’s book.”

Richard’s life took a turn in junior high, when he grew more assimilated to American life. A once shy student, Richard took the stage to address his graduating class at Elizabeth Blackwell J.H.S. 210. He moved on to John Bowne High School in Flushing.

As a freshman in the gifted program, Richard was a self-described nerd – with braces, a side part, and a giant book bag. He reminisced about waking up at 5am to watch Pokemon before school.

Those days came to a close when he got a makeover his sophomore year; Richard began shopping at Jimmy Jazz, got his first beeper, and even his first girlfriend. For Richard, growing up in Jamaica wasn’t an easy task – drug raids, prostitution, and gang violence were commonplace.

Surroundings have an undeniable impact on a child’s academic performance; Richard’s grades slipped and he nearly didn’t graduate from high school.

With support from Upward Bound, a college preparatory program, Richard barely graduated after several attempts.

Nevertheless, his leadership capabilities shone through; he took part in student government, volunteered at the Special Olympics, and was selected for the prestigious Doshi Club.

His first job, at 13, was as a summer camp counselor for the Boys & Girls

from page 29

Club. Richard also had one foot planted in his heritage. As a teenager, Richard was an every-day reader of newspaper. He recalled being around 14 and practically forcing his mom and her partner to drive him to Washington D.C. to meet then Guyana ambassador, Dr. Odeen Ishmael.

In Southeast Queens, Richard loved to attend local meetings, and even worked on a local political campaign for Dr. Dhanpaul Narine. Today, Richard can be found in myriad forums – from attending civic events and cultural programs, to moderating political debates, to rallying on the steps of City Hall.

Richard David emerged from humble beginnings as a leader and advocate for IndoCaribbeans. He is a genuine individual who doesn't just talk the talk. Richard is even-tempered, yet a vocal activist; he is an attentive listener, but also an ideas man. Richard is versed on many of the issues facing Southeast Queens. He has expressed that among the most important are education, stopping the proliferation of homeless shelters and prisons in our community, as well as job creation.

While Richard has not officially declared that he is running for any particular seat, he is considering a few options including City Council District 28. A committee called “Friends for Richard David” has been created to assess how feasible his run and win for office would be.

Earlier this year, the New American Leaders Project (NALP) released a report showing that while certain minority groups face barriers to elected office, when they do decide to run, they often win.

For Sayu Bhojwani of NALP, “Every individual candidate matters to us, because each one helps to close the representation gap ... But the movement behind the candidate also matters.”

Stephanie Chang, the first Asian American woman elected to the Michigan legislature, stated, “We need to do a better job of continually asking people who are already leaders to think about taking that next step to run.”

What Richard needs right now is his entire community to stand beside him as he makes a decision to take the next logical step. We need to build a movement across generationsto support this leader who will echo our collective voices as an elected official.

Wecan’tafford to remain on the sidelines any longer.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Immigration: Should I renew my Green Card?

By Rakesh Rampertab, Esq.

A

P e r m a n e n t Resident Card or what is popularly known as a “Green Card,”is a document issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to a non-citizen immigrant who is authorized to live and work in the United States(US) as a lawful permanent resident.

It is generally valid for ten years, and is legitimate proof of an immigrant’s permanent residency status. A green card holder is expected to renew their green card within 6 months of that card expiring. Someone who comes to the US as a child and is given a green card will also have to renew upon celebrating their fourteenth birthday.

If a green card is not timely renewed, it does not mean that its holder will be deported from the US, or that such a person is now undocumented or an “illegal” immigrant.This is so because

once the US government grants someone lawful permanent residence status, it remains so until that person becomes a US citizen, or has been processed by the courts, stripped of their status, and will be deported.

In certain situations, a person is granted a “conditional” green card. This means that for some reason or another, the US government is not convinced yet that the usual 10-year green card should be is-

sued. Instead, they issue a “conditional” green card which is temporary and valid for two years.

Within ninety days of the 2-year anniversary, a petition to “remove” whatever condition exist, must be filed in order to transition to a 10-year green card.

An example of someone who gets a conditional green card is the spouse of a US citizen, who is sponsored within two years of their marriage. Because the US

government is concerned that such a marriage may have been fraudulently done (i.e., a kind of business marriage) simply for someone to get a green card, this husband and wife will have to convince the authorities their marriage over the 2 year “conditional” period was legitimate.

A green card is requiredto work, live, or travel to and from the US as a non-citizen immigrant, as well as within the US. It is very im-

portant for identification purposes, not only in our courts, or to make important purchases such as a house or insurance, but particularly when one is confronted by law enforcement officials. A valid green card is required to prove lawful residency status when a lawful permanent resident leaves the US and returns at an airport.

If a person is employed at the time their green card expires, it does not mean that such a person will lose that job. After all, the right to work is granted by the US government when someone initially enters the US as a lawful permanent resident.

The green card simply reflects that right, and can be produced to a potential employer. But if someone has applied for a new job, they should have a valid green card to produce to a potential employer.

Despite all of this, it is usual for a green card holder to apply for US citizenship after they have lived in the United

States for the required time period and meet other eligibility requirements. But what happens if someone's green card expires, and it is never renewed? Can such a person still apply for US citizenship? Yes. This is so because their lawful resident status is still valid, which allows them to live and work here. And, again, if they are eligible to file for US citizenship, then it may not be sensible to spend money for fees for a renewed green card and then do the same for citizenship.

So, to recap, one does not have to renew their expired, damaged, or lost green card and may instead file for US citizenship, assuming they meet all the eligibility requirements for citizenship. This article is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. For immigration-related questions, you may contact this attorney at (917) 943-1336 or rrampertabesq@gmail.com.

34 feature

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Politicising our classrooms

T

he inaugural Miss Independence Guyana Culture Queen 2016 is a brand new pageant that aims to showcase Guyana's rich cultural heritage, celebrate Guyana’s independence, and empower young women.

The pageant, founded in April 2015, is organised by former Miss Universe Guyana 2007, beauty ambassador and fashion designer Meleesa Payne, supported strongly by Kiswana Jeffers, a former Miss Universe Guyana representative.

Meleesa has been sending representatives to represent Guyana at the Miss Caribbean Culture Queen. Alicia Bess and Faydeha King both represented under her brand and guidance. The most recent to be crowned Miss Independence Guyana Culture Queen is Malika Russell.

According to its founder, Meleesa, the Miss Independence Guyana Culture Queen is a pageant that celebrates Guyana’s our independence and embraces the

Ryhaan Shah

P

Pageant founder Meleesa Payne

world a better place one day at a time”.

“I believe that our most priceless passion is our dreams. The pageant gives young women the opportunity of making dreams reality. We build confidence and encourage our beauties to not only dream, but to wake up and live that dream.

We give them platforms that will enable them to contribute to society and create positive change for them. They join sev-

Meleesa on the catwalk

nation’s rich and diverse heritage.

She explained that the pageant is a platform that acknowledges Guyanese who made a mark in our independence, and women who have contributed to charity and the unity of Guyanese. The pageant highlights a well-rounded ambassador that will represent Guyana internationally through talent, beauty, brains and charity – as they “make the

eral organisations that deal with social issues.

They were also part of the Beacon of Hope team where they got to give of their time to charitable acts. The training was more than positions and turns; the ladies had motivational speaker John Gibbions who dealt with some issues the girls faced. There were many other educational visits from past queens, and from choreographer Tyon Allyene. Chaperone

Ackeem Smith also worked with the girls on the importance of making a lasting impression,” Meleesa outlined in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

The winners of the Miss Independence Guyana Culture Queen pageant will be involved in a year of activities. This year’s winner, Malika Russell, will represent Guyana at Miss Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant 2016 to be held from July 31 to August 1, 2016 in St. Kitts Nevis.

The first runner-up goes to Miss Carnival in St. Vincent and the second runner-up goes to Miss Tourism in the Dominica Republic in October.

“The team and I plan to have the pageant every other year around our independence. So we are always prepared. The prize giving ceremony will be at the Explosion of the Arts 2, a production by Expressions Enterprise to raise funds for children who need school supplies,” Meleesa pointed out.

The pageant queen herself knows much about being a humanitarian. In 2012 she was named first runner-up in the Miss Humanity International pageant in Barbados. According to the Miss Humanity website, Meleesa was also awarded the prize for Best Talent.

The Miss Humanity International is the newest innovative pageant which promotes humanitarian causes worldwide.

It is also a pageant for young ladies who have a strong passion for community and humanitarian service. It serves as a platform to educate and promote tourism and cultural exchange among the participating beauty queens.

arents and guardians across the country need to be seriously concerned about the Granger Government’s move to use The Guyana Learning Channel (TGLC) for the promotion of Government and, possibly, party propaganda.

This marks a serious breach of trust between the Government and the nation’s parents and children whereby a television channel established with the sole mandate of educating our children is now being misused to disseminate G o v e r n m e n t “information”.

It is a new low for the Granger Government to take advantage of impressionable young minds and to use TGLC to push their propaganda.

There can be no countering argument that the material is unbiased since all governments have agendas and policies that are subject to opposing views.

Since fostering debate and critical thinking are important to a well-rounded education, as they are to the very notion of democracy, it is very dangerous for children to be given the idea that only one viewpoint exists – the Government’s – and that a government comprises only the ruling party with no oppositional voice.

The learning channel is not the place for the broadcasting of Government propaganda and Sahadeo Bates alerted the public to this new direction of TGLC in a letter to the press, as did a subsequent report in Guyana Times.

It has always been imperative that educational material be carefully worded and selected in order that the lessons presented are sensitive to and sensible about the world of diverse

values and belief systems that obtain in Guyana including the democratic values of fairness and justness.

Unlike most countries that have homogenous populations with pockets of minorities, Guyana is somewhat unique in having a population of six ethnic minorities. The idea of a national identity is, however, promoted as Afrocentric with token elements of Indian, Amerindian, Chinese, etc, thrown in for good measure, if at all.

The recent jubilee celebrations affirmed this prejudiced view of our nationhood and parents would be concerned that this idea will find its way on TGLC as “educational”.

Bates also wrote about his locally produced 3D animations being rejected by TGLC because of budgetary constraints. This is unfortunate since a vital part of any education is that the child gains a sense of self-worth by seeing themselves and their environment reflected in the words and pictures in their school books and programmes.

Even a basic m a t h e m a t i c s programme that counts mangoes instead of apples would present a child with images that are familiar and make them see their world as meritorious. The impact of VS Naipaul’s work on my generation was immeasurable. Miguel Street gave us a new sense of ourselves by placing us on par with Dickens’ characters, for instance. Naipaul reshaped world literature with our presence, language and humour.

Dave Martins’ song about the Caribbean alphabet falls into this category by refashioning the alphabet with images with which we readily identify.

While TGLC broadcasts many prepackaged educational programmes on science and mathematics that would not necessarily demand local

sensitivities, it makes little sense to have the hardware of the broadcast technology at our disposal if it is only used to transmit outdated programming produced for other countries’ classrooms.

Surely there should be a budget for locally produced programmes to supplement these especially since Government can find funds for lowpriority projects like refashioning Durban Park and Carifesta Avenue?

How much better for those funds to have been invested in our nation’s future, our children? How much would it take to have our children recite poems, tell a story, play games, and show off their talent? How much would it take for the significance of our national holidays – Diwali, Easter, Eid – to be explained even by the children themselves and to be appreciated by their friends?

Government talks incessantly about building social cohesion and there is no better place to start creating feelings of nationalism and pride based on mutual respect than in the classroom.

The learning channel can be an effective medium to promote social cohesion if the programmes are done correctly and with the right sensibilities towards the values, cultures and religions that make up the Guyanese nation.

It appears that the channel has fallen into the rut of mediocrity that is the standard for everything in Guyana including local television programming which, mostly, lacks imagination, creativity and even good production quality.

Now that the Granger Administration has chosen to air its political propaganda on a channel established for our children’s education, the innocence of our nation’s children is being seriously compromised along with any vision for their future possibilities.

FEATURE 35

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

Welcome to Guyana Part IV

By Petamber Persaud

(I

n Part III, we looked at an enormous book thatfocused on the interior of Guyana. Now we take a look at a slim publication, “Albion Wilds”, set on the wild coast of Guyana.)

I felt I stood upon some hallowed ground… it dawned on me/Christ trod the peaceful sands at Sixty-three! (‘On the Beach at No. 63’) The little village of Albion, located on the Corentyne Coast of Berbice, was immortalized in a slim, pocketbook size publication titled, “Albion Wilds”, written by J. W. Chinapen, published in 1961 and reprinted 2008, some fifty years after it first surfaced, speaking to its value in the past and its resonance in the new millennium.

Though small, this area produced many writers including Peter and Joseph Ruhomon, Peter Kempadoo, Cyril Madray Kanhai, and C. E. J. Ramcharitar-Lalla, all

distinguishing themselves in various genres of writing. For example Peter Kempadoo became the father of Indo-Guyanese novel and RamcharitarLalla the father of IndoGuyanese poetry.

The author of “Albion Wilds” is so moved and imbued by the beauty and healing qualities of his birthplaceand the creative power of such a climate that he dared to liken that little known place to a superpower, England, which was at one time called Albion. And he supported his emotions with tempering examples.

In the poem, “Invitation”, he invites us: ‘O come from the maddening strife/Here, here to gain freedom and concord and life’. These are his overriding themes throughout this collection – seeking and find peace, calm, harmony, freedom, living life to the fullest within the balm of nature.

Dear solitude/Where peace and concord dwell/ Whose smiling beauties quell/The soul’s inqui-

etude.

Under thy shade/Thy sanctuaries calm/The spirit knows no qualm/all fear and tumult fade.

What thoughts sublime/Thy pageantry calls forth This invitation is extended in other poems.

In the title poem, “Albion Wilds”, first published in 1934 in the first anthology of Indian poetry, the writer shares lessons he learned from nature taking us through cycle of day – morn, noon, eve and the cycle of life – birth, growth, decay, death, and rebirth.

Chinapen goes further than beckoning us to live life to the fullest; he announces that he will never die; we will never die, as long as nature is alive.

And ‘neath the stress and strain of mortal rite Gain glimpses of my immortality All of which is leading to reincarnation, the reincarnation of his forebears who came from South India.

Chinapen was born

A section of Kingston, Georgetown in 1970 (Andrew Jeffrey photo)

National Co-op Bank, Water Street, Georgetown, 1970 (Andrew Jeffrey photo)

in 1908.It must be noted that he entered a world controlled by a sugar plantation mentality, ruled by the English and influenced by the church.

However, he grew up at the tail end of indentureship (of Indians from India to British Guiana, 1838 - 1917).

This meant that he was greeted by a situation where ‘freed’ Indians were already making an impact on the society other than labouringin the field. Not that life was any easier for Indians, but being a resourceful people, they grabbed at slight concessions, creating opportunities for themselves.

And he is not finished – he wants to see a better Guyana, improving on the nature of life and nature itself, taking up ‘the challenge of the day – to fashion the Guyana of our dream’.

This Albion fashioned Chinapen into a human who is credited with many firsts in various endeavours as a teacher, educator, poet, and artist.

Chinapen started writing in 1931.

Four short years later, Chinapen’s poems were deemed good enough to be included in the first anthology of Indian poetry, “An Anthology of Local Indian Verse” edited by Charles Ebenezer James Ramcharitar-Lalla, 1934, featuring 5 Indian poets.

Chinapen’s published poems were steeped in local flavour but their form was influenced

by Wordsworth, Gray, Keats, and Mathew Arnold. His sonnets were well crafted, fit to set to music.

Some of his poems became so popular that about five were set to music and placed in the rep-

ertoire of national songs including ‘Crossing the Berbice one Evening’, ‘Guyana! Loved Guyana’ and ‘Arise Guyana’.

This is the Albion J. W. Chinapen invites us to enter into - to sit in nature’s lap, to enjoy ‘simple charms’, to savour the symphony of life, to marvel at ‘life’s secret scroll’, to live life to the fullest, to let our creativity flow…

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: “Made in Guyana” is now available at the National Library, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, bookstores and hotels.

Photo: Albion Estate Ground, Berbice (Photo

by Marco Farouk Basir; Panoramio)

36 hollywood

I always had a crush on Brad Pitt: Britney Spears

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Zayn Malik, Gigi Hadid take horse riding lessons together

S

inger Britney Spears says she has always had a crush on “By The Sea” star Brad Pitt.

The 34-year-old has joked that she has always carried a torch for the star, reported Female First.

When asked who is her celebrity crush, she said “Brad Pitt because he’s Brad Pitt.”

The “Piece of Me” hitmaker previously revealed she lost her mind when she got a chance to meet Brad, 52.

“The most starstruck I was with was probably Brad Pitt. I saw him probably 10 years ago at the Teen Choice Awards. He had

really long hair. I completely died.

“I ran! I was dressed in high heels (and I ran) towards him! Like an idiot, I ran to him and I was like, Oh my God, I’m the biggest fan. I kind of lost my mind for a second” she said.

“I was so uncool. It

was probably one of my most uncool moments … But he is just so sexy.

He was really nice but he’d probably dodge me, but I got a picture and an autograph.

I acted, like, four years old” she added.

(Indian Express)

“P

illowtalk” hitmaker Zayn Malik and his girlfriend Gigi Hadid are taking horse riding lessons together.

The 23-year-old singer has revealed that his model girlfriend is a natural equestrian whereas he spent their first lesson

thinking how “freaky” it is, reported Daily Mirror.

“My girlfriend rides a little bit. Actually, that’s an understatement. She rides very well, and she has since she was a kid.

She wants me to do it with her, and I’m not good. But I’m learning, and it’s fun.”

“My first lesson was on a really old horse that didn’t move very much, so it wasn’t that scary. She was on the other horse, the one that moved a lot more. She was jumping over hurdles and I just sat there like, ‘Ok, this is freaky,” he said. (Indian Express)

Kate Winslet to star in Woody Allen’s next project

A

ctress Kate Winslet is in final negotiations to star in veteran filmmak-

er Woody Allen’s next project.

Allen, 80, is writing, directing and producing

the untitled movie. The plot details are being kept under wraps, reported Variety.

Letty Aronson and Edward Walson are producing the film.

In her career spanning over two decades Winslet, 40, has never worked with Allen prior to this movie.

The actress has just wrapped up production on New Line’s “Collateral Beauty” opposite Will Smith and has recently joined the cast of “The Mountain Between Us,” which also stars Idris Elba.

(Indian Express)

Leonardo DiCaprio to produce action thriller “The Outlaw Ocean” for Netflix

A

ctor Leonardo DiCaprio is set to make an action thriller based on the reallife search for a fugitive fishing ship.

The 41-year-old actor will produce the movie, titled “The Outlaw Ocean” through his production company Appian Way for internet video streaming service Netflix.

The movie will tell the story of how a vigilante crew stalked a notorious fish poaching ship across 10,000 miles and three oceans, reported Female First.

DiCaprio, a committed environmental activist, had signed a deal with Netflix to produce nonfiction based films and documentaries about controversial environmental themes.

“There’s never been a more critical time for our planet or more of a need for gifted storytellers to help us all make sense of the issues we face,” he said.

(Indian Express)

‘N

ine Lives’, a film starring Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey as a man stuck inside a cat, will be making its way into Indian theatres on August 5.

The live action comedy is being released in India by PVR Pictures, said a statement.

Barry Sonnenfeld, known for Men in Black trilogy, is back this time with comedy film ‘Nine Lives’. The film also stars Jennifer Garner, Robbie Amell and Malina Weissman.

The story follows a ruthless busi-

ness tycoon Tom Brand (played by Spacey) whose workaholic lifestyle leaves him disconnected from his family.

In a pursuit to please his daughter, Brand plans to buy a pet cat for her and while on his way back from the mysterious pet shop, he meets with a freaky accident. Then Brand finds himself magically trapped inside the cat’s body.

Now, he has exactly a week to reconcile with his family or remain a cat for the rest of his life. (Indian Express)

Eddie Redmayne, Hannah Bagshawe welcome baby girl

E

ddie Redmayne and his wife, H a n n a h Bagshawe, have wel-

comed their first child together.

Bagshawe gave birth to daughter Iris Mary on

Wednesday (June 15).

The couple announced her birth in the UK newspaper The Times, reported E! online.

Redmayne and Bagshawe confirmed they were expecting at the Golden Globes in January.

The 34-year-old Danish Girl actor and the public relations executive tied the knot in December 2014, one month before he took home his first Academy Award for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.

(Indian Express)

bollywood 37

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Zareen Khan to miss India is home, and that’s never going to change: IIFA for mother

Z

areen Khan will miss the 17th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) award as her mother Praveen Khan is unwell.

Actress Zareen Khan will miss the 17th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) award as her mother Praveen Khan is unwell.

“Zareen had her visa in place but she decided to give the IIFA a miss and take care of her mother,” said a source close to the actress.

The source said her mother underwent a heart surgery recently and so

A

ctor Hrithik Roshan, whose “Mohenjo Daro” trailer has been lauded for its scale, is happy about getting a positive feedback for it from his fans.

“We all have worked very hard on this film

T

Deepika Padukone

A Zareen has been taking special care of her. Zareen has been hands on with her mother’s doctors, her diet and medication. (Indian Express)

and so we were super excited to present our trailer to the audiences. My fans mean the world to me and getting a thumbs up from them is all I ever aim for,” Hrithik said in a statement.

The “Bang Bang!” star says he is “tru-

he 17th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) — which celebrates the soft power of Bollywood in taking India to global audiences — is set to celebrate 60 years of India’s diplomatic relations with Spain here starting Thursday with close to 150 celebrities and over 20,000 fans in attendance.

Regarded as the football capital of the world, Madrid is the fourth European nation that IIFA is visiting after London, Yorkshire and Amsterdam. And the four-day gala which will conclude with a colourful and exuberant awards ceremony on Sunday, will play host to some of the most celebrated stars of the Indian film industry, notable guests, and dignitaries from India and the region along with Indian cinema fans from across the globe.

ly humbled with the response and all the lovely messages” that have come his way.

Hrithik shines in the trailer as Sarman, an indigo farmer in search of his association with the town of Mohenjo Daro.

His look and the attention given to the minute details like the skin tone and appearance have been appreciated by the audience.

Produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Sunita Gowariker, “Mohenjo Daro” is directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and is slated to release on August 12.

(Indian Express)

Not only this, the event also promises to present an amalgamation of two richly diverse countries and cultures.

The aim is to bring the magic of Indian cinema not only to Spain, but to Latin America as well, says Andre Timmins, director, Wizcraft International, the producers and creator of the IIFA. “We treat IIFA as India because ultimately, through the platform we are selling India,” Timmins told IANS in an interview.

Some celebrities who will be walking the ‘green carpet’ at the event will be Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Boman Irani, Kabir Khan, Ranveer Singh, Bipasha Basu, Huma Qureshi, Vivek Oberoi, Dia Mirza and Riteish Deshmukh.

(Indian Express)

ctress Deepika Padukone, who really missed her home while she was shooting for her upcoming Hollywood debut flick xXx: The Return of the Xander Cage, said India is my home and that’s never going to change. She recently returned to India after wrapping up the xXx shoot with Vin Diesel and other cast of the film in Toronto.

“India is home, and that’s never going to change,” Deepika said, who is trying to make up for all the time she was away from India.

“My roots are here, and at the end of the day, it’s about your roots. You can’t take India out of me. People go for holidays, but eventually, come back home.

So, no matter where I go in the world, this [India] is home, and that will never change,” she added.

Ask her about how different is working in Hollywood from Bollywood, she says, “It was the same in terms of every minute detail. That’s what made me feel at home; made me feel comfortable. Most importantly, like any other film, all of us were on a journey.”

Elaborating on her experience shooting in Hollywood with people of

different ethnicities, Deepika shared, “It was great fun. It was not about different people from different parts of the world coming together. We all came with our cultures to make a funfilled and interesting movie. I am sure that will translate on screen too.”

The Bajirao Mastani actress is currently in Madrid to attend one of Bollywood’s most extravagant annual award show IIFA 2016, where she will be seen performing on the Spanish stage. (Indian Express)

Feel proud that I’m selfmade: Anushka Sharma

A

nushka Sharma, who was brought up in an army family and transited from modelling to acting, feels she is self-made and is “very proud” of this.

“As an actress, I feel I have been given this life and I want to make the most of it. I don’t want to be seen everywhere. I am grateful for the fame. I

am self-made and I feel very proud of that. At the same time, I treat my work with a lot of respect so it’s like a gift for me,” Anushka, who has shared screen space with superstars like Shah Rukh Khan andAamir Khan, told IANS. “I never really worked towards it (working with the Khans of the film industry). For me, it’s always been about the script and the director. In my career, I feel fortunate I could work with them,” added the actress, now paired with Salman Khan in the forthcoming film “Sultan”.

What changes has she seen in showbiz as far as women are concerned?

She said: “I think it’s to do with things changing in the world. Ten years ago, on the film sets you would not find so many girls working. Nowadays, so many assistants… whether it’s costume or cinematography, so many assistants are women. I would say it’s a welcome change.” (Indian Express)

Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi team up for Milan Luthria’s film set in Emergency period

A

ctors Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi have teamed up again for Milan Luthria’s historical fiction Baadshaho, set against the backdrop of Emergency.

Apart from Ajay and Emraan, the film will also feature Ileana D’Cruz, Esha Gupta ad Vidyut Jamwal in prominent roles.

Co-produced by Milan and Bhushan Kumar and written by Rajat Aroraa, “Baadshaho” is a thriller set in the Emergency era of the 70s.

“This is a historical fiction film. We have used some facts, there is lot of stuff that was unusual and exciting. It (Emergency as subject) is a great backdrop for action and thrills. We have done extensive research on the subject,” Milan told PTI. In India, the ‘Emergency’ refers to a 21-month period in 1975–77 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi unilaterally had a state of emergency de-

clared across the country.

When asked if any of the actors would play real life characters, Milan said, “It’s a historical fiction film, all characters are grey.”

Ajay and Emraan played gangsters in Milan’s 2010 blockbuster “Once Upon A Time In Mumbai”. In “Baadshaho” they will sport a different look.

“Their (Ajay and Emraan) look will be completely different. It will be rustic…the look will be timeless,” Milan said.

The “Dirty Picture” helmer will collaborate with a foreign action director for “Baadshaho”. The music includes Rajasthani folk with a funky twist, composed by Ankit Tiwari.

The multi-starrer film is all set to go on floors this August with a 15-day schedule in Mumbai, followed by a two month schedule in Rajasthan. (Indian Express)

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Fears sweeping across the mud land: Are they real or imagined?

T

he late US President Franklin D Roosevelt once said that there is nothing to fear but fear itself.

Roosevelt was, of course, addressing the common economic and social difficulties that emerged out of the Great Depression in 1930 and was urging Americans to be strong in times of despair. The rest is now history.

In Guyana, we have our own fears which can be aptly labelled as Guyana postindependence depression since this regime wormed itself into power over a year ago. Unlike Roosevelt, there is no sound vision to put the people’s mind at ease.

Within one year, the once prosperous Berbice, for example, has become the most woe-begotten county in Guyana by a gang of despots and their loyal minions. These individuals have inflicted a blot on rural happiness by using their machete-wielding political mentality to cut the lifeline of agriculture that once fed Guyana and the wider Caribbean.

To recall, when the coalition regime was the opposition, it used a scissors to the budget.

Now, it is using a chainsaw

to the budget, especially in its non-supporting base. Undoubtedly and unfortunately, witch-hunting has become a norm for this regime.

The consequence is that Berbice and Amerindian communities, for example, have sadly become economic deserts. There is a real fear that the PNC style of dictatorship will return to this country not by creeping steadily through the night but by high-handedness in broad daylight. My hope is that this regime does not continue to pull wool over the eyes of Berbicians and Guyanese; it is already gloomy in Guyana.

Then there are political fears. At one level, the lives of President Granger as well as former President Jagdeo and members of the PPP/C Cabinet have been threatened on social media

by Indian fanatics.

At another level, ordinary persons, especially from opposition, are careful as to how they express their feelings and frustrations for fear of retaliation. There seems to be no in-between these extremes. You are with the regime or not. You do well or not. You receive decent treatment from the regime or not.

Then there is this media fear. The most extreme recently is the grenade

throwing incident at the Kaieteur News, Guyana’s national tabloid. I join everyone else and condemn this cowardly act. But let me ask this: Why would anyone want to attack a newspaper known for sensational and scandalous reporting?

Trouble is, the average Guyanese is not good at separating propaganda from responsible journalism.

Take a look at Guyana’s educational system if you do not believe me. It has hit rock bottom, the worst in the English-speaking Caribbean by any measurement.

There is a larger problem here, folks. Our Ministers are responsible for fears sweeping across Guyana and the maddeningly slow progress. I strongly believe that many Ministers were brought into the mantle of leadership without a clear understanding of the basic concepts of leadership, accountability and transparency. Some of them do not understand or refuse to understand what a conflict of interest is. I am not going to insult the Ministers. But I question their knowledge of Guyana’s constitution. I also question the ability of the lawyers in the current regime to pass the Bar examination in the United States.

For the unaware, the Bar Examination is a test

intended to determine whether a person is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction. I admire my lawyer Mirza Sahadat, my former classmate, and former Judge in Berbice, for passing the Bar exam. He is a rarity in Guyana.

The Ministers’ only credential they have to occupy the political positions they serve is party loyalty and affiliation. Many are simply intellectually lazy.

President Granger said lazy man work would receive lazy man pay. I say lazy Ministers must receive lazy salary. I know that the latter will not happen but the President must be reminded that there ought to be a uniform approach towards all public servants including his Cabinet and himself.

I am guided by the belief that government must deliver or step down.

Government should not only make promises but also produce in forms of progress and development during most difficult circumstances.

The current regime seems to be locked in the mode of promises while problems have surfaced in the month of June such as corruption and controversy within the Georgetown City Council, which has questioned the entire purpose of the local elections.

But if we have to look for some model to address our problems, a peek into what Roosevelt said nearly three quarters of century ago may be worthwhile rather than running/flying to various countries.

It is laughable to read that the Mayor of Georgetown and her clique went to Mexico to learn how to set up parking meters in the city. This act has revealed ineptitude rather than vision. ( l o m a rs h . ro o p n a r i n e @ jsums.edu).

Two former T&T soldiers charged with murder

Accused: Julius “Demo” Balondemu and Ross Russell hide their faces as they leave the Port of Spain Magistrate’s Court, yesterday.

(Photo: KERWIN PIERRE, Trinidad Express) (Trinidad Guardian)

T

wo former soldiers appeared in court yesterday charged with the murder of a Diego Martin man who was shot and left to die in a forested area in Chaguaramas earlier this month.

Ross Russell Jr and Balondemu Julius were remanded into custody by Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar after appearing before her in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court charged with murdering Selwyn Gaff on June 5.

Both men were also slapped with additional charges of possession of illegal guns and ammunition and for shooting Gaff’s friend, Jesse Quashie, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. They were charged alongside an unnamed man who is yet to be detained by police.

According to reports, on the day of his murder Gaff and Quashie accompanied three men to hike from Diego Martin to Chaguaramas.

The friend was reportedly ambushed by the three men while walking through a trail between Covigne and Macqueripe.

Quashie was shot but managed to run away and report the incident to police.

He directed police to the location but by the time Gaff was taken to St James Health Facility he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Russell Jr, the son of former national footballer Ross Russell Sr, and Julius were detained by the Defence Force and were handed over to homicide detectives after they were discharged from the organisation last Monday.

Russell Sr coached the Defence Force football team which won two Pro League titles before he retired last year.

His son was a member of the team. Russell Sr is the current coach of Pro League outfit North East Stars. The duo was represented by Criston J Williams and Karuna Bisramsingh. They will reappear in court on July 5.

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This week's Crossword

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 49

Fixing what’s broke… …in local govt rian Hunt, up to recently Deputy Head of Mission at the US Embassy, took the time to deliver some home truths to the political players in Guyana just as he departed our shores. As one who was involved in almost every political initiative during the three years…one can safely say his opinions were “informed”. In his sweeping desiderata for Guyana, he advised “decentralisation” of the powers of central government.

Was he…gasp!!…calling for “Federalism”?? Wasn’t that what those discredited troublemakers from ROAR were calling for until they were blue in the face? They’d sounded like the fella from yore who was crying in the wilderness for years about “one who was to come”. Was Brian that “one”?

After all, we’ve just had the first Local Government Elections in Guyana in 23 years. And this was what both sets of politicians (forget about the AFC – they’re dead as a Dodo) had been swearing would deliver “decentralisation”, nuh? So, surely Hunt couldn’t be talking about that arrangement, since he’d been intimately involved in getting that consummated.

Naaah! Even in the short time since the elections, Hunt had ample time to figure out that nothing substantive will change in the distribution of power under the present arrangements. Just look how Georgetown’s Town Clerk – a creature of the Minister of Communities – has been throwing his weight around. And all the ELECTED local councilmen and councilwomen’s opinion hasn’t been worth a bucket of warm spit! Notwithstanding his title, the Minister of “Communities” is still a part of CENTRAL Government – where ALL powers still reside.

Another clue on change would’ve been the “Local Govt Commission” that was supposed to change the locus of power away from the Minister of Communities into the hands of the members of the Commission. This is now supposed to be in place by next month. But what exactly will change?

The Minister of Communities is appointed by the President – and so will the MAJORITY of the members of the Local Government Commission! As we say in Guyana, it’s six of one or half a dozen of the other!!

So, we return to what looks like Hunt’s cryptic endorsement of Federalism for Guyana. You see, Hunt, like all Americans, understood “decentralisation” to mean “federalism” for 240 years. That is from America’s birth in 1776. Hunt knows that only in “federalism” are the powers of the local organs of Government enshrined in the Constitution. The Constitution spells out the specific powers of every level of government.

And if anyone from “above” tries to stick their nose where it doesn’t belong…the courts can cut it off!

Off with their noses!! …in education?

The Learning Channel was a wonderful innovation the last administration introduced to utilise modern telecommunications technology to deliver our education curriculum to our students in the farflung hinterland. And as a bonus to this on the coast.

The TV part wasn’t that new…but the transmission certainly was. “Uplinking” and “downlinking” signals made it seem as if we’d caught up with the Star Trek generation of “Beam me up, Scotty!”

But one thing the PPP didn’t do was to use the channel to peddle Government propaganda. And let’s not get into that tedious discussion to parse the difference between “propaganda” and “information”, bottom line is , the name “Learning Channel” describes perfectly what the initiative is all about. For our children to be assisted in “learning” their schoolwork.

Did the Minister of Education agree to this subversion of his responsibility to shape our youngsters’ pliant minds?

But more to the point, didn’t the Ministry of Information learn anything from their attempt at subverting the Chronic? …in governance The phrase “abolishing winner-takes-all politics” has been around even longer than this country’s been independent. So why hasn’t it been put into place yet?

Because some folks aren’t convinced they won’t then “lose corn and lose husk”!

B

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verything from landscapes to nudes to provocative storytelling: a group of Guyanese photographers will be exhibiting their art of photography at the upcoming VISIONS exhibition.

VISIONS, organised by Guyanese photographer Michael C. Lam, is the first curated exhibition organised through independent Guyanese photographers to exhibit works that present the unique and diverse people and landscapes of Guyana, while using the medium to address important social topics.

Photographer and curator of VISIONS, Karran Sahadeo explained what is meant by a ‘curated exhibition’: “Selecting photographs is only a part of curation. It also relates to how the photographs (series) work with each other, the overall story which unfolds as the viewer experiences the exhibition.

The design of the space, the position of

art works, the display aesthetics of the pieces all play a part in the user experience and those were the curated decisions which were made for VISIONS.” Sahadeo added that “to the best of our knowledge this is the first exhibition of its kind, featuring a total of 17 Guyanese artists who are presenting 47 of their works.”

Photographers were encouraged to submit up to five photographs that share a common theme or concept.

Whether it is landscape, architecture, culture, nature, wildlife, street, or people, close attention and focus were given to the composition and story being told.

The exhibition’s submission deadline was May 30, 2016, and was open to all Guyanese photographers – professional, amateur or hobbyist.

Meet the artists

Fidal Bassier is a professional photographer who enjoys taking photographs of people, and specialises in weddings and portraits. He is married with two young daughters and lives in Georgetown.

Kester Clarke specialises in wildlife photography when not working as an IT professional, and tends to focus

art & culture 43

on birds. He aims to document birds in their natural habitats in ways that are both aesthetically appealing and useful, for conservation efforts to raise awareness among citizens and policy makers Guyana.

Jermana de Freitas, an art student at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, uses photography as a medium to highlight the impending extinction of Guyana’s wooden architecture. In attracting awareness, she seeks to encourage preservation.

Ryan Dos Santos is a photographer at heart and co-owner of Oneirois’ Dreams Photography. He stated that his photography encompasses all of Guyanese life from old buildings, to people and everyday things, though his main interests are in landscapes and seascapes and of late street photography. His collection is called paralíes (Greek for ‘beached’) and is “meant to show the beauty of those boats on the

able to see a variety of birds and other wildlife on a daily basis, to witnessing the calm and treacherous rippling waves of the mighty river, setting nets and hauling a huge catch.”

Aisha Jones: “Photography has always been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, and black and white was always my favourite medium of expression, mainly because it forces me to feel and connect with the image.

Although I have only been exercising my passion professionally for a year, I have since made black and white photography my specialty. In these images, I tried to capture unusual and outstanding compositions of street activities.”

Michael C. Lam: “As a coastal dweller, the scenery, people and life in the interior of Guyana fascinates me.

On a recent trip into and through the Pakaraima Mountains, I took many photographs, but as I was traveling out

conservation education (as well as photography). My work has taken me to a variety of interior locations in Guyana and has exposed me to the disconnect between us Guyanese who live on the coast and the vast interior, its people and wildlife. ..Through my photographs, I hope to foster an interest in our interior and start a conversation among everyone about how we can maintain what we love.”

Nikhil Ramkarran: “My photography has always been, from my earliest recollection of giving thought to my ideals, directed to bringing, if not a chain, then at least a thread to the homeland for Guyanese who are not, by choice or not, away from their homeland. This takes many forms in a broader overview of my photography.”

Sharon Ramkarran is a social worker. In late 2011, she took up photography as a hobby and fell in love with it; she believes everything has its

seashore.”

Brian Gomes: “As a photographer, I always try to include my personality in my work. I am a very adventurous individual with a deep love and appreciation for the natural outdoors and the female form which, he states, allows him “to create nude/semi-nude photo-shoots in the beautiful and unique Guyanese scenes.”

Kenny Harrinaraine’s ‘Abandoned Guyana’ series, part of VISION’s exhibition, are architectural photographs that capture the intricate architectural history of our buildings.

“The photographs were taken from various locations across the country and are reflections of our colonial past...

The series is a reflection of our heritage, and reminds us of how much we have achieved as a nation and serves as an inspiration for future art and craftsmanship,” Kenny described.

Michael Jackson: “The concept of my entry is to showcase the beauty and struggles of a fisherman’s life - it is certainly not a life for everyone. Long hours, hard work and bad weather are enough to keep most people on land.

But there are untold beauties of being a fisherman, like watching the sunrise or sunset from a boat on the river, being

to Georgetown, my mind wandered to some I had taken and a selection began to form. Before I had travelled even half of the way back to town, I had pretty much set my mind on the ones I wanted to submit.”

Roshinee Latchana: “Growing up in the country side has allowed me the opportunity to see the phenomenal beauty of nature. Photography for me started out as a hobby but quickly became an integral part of my everyday life. It allowed me to escape from the routine reality of mundane living and revel in a new world of life, people and nature. My theme shows time evolving with the diminishing and mysterious nature where man-made modernisation is being born.”

Roshana Mahadeo: “I am a photographer by profession. When not working, I enjoy taking trips around the country just to enjoy Guyana’s beauty and to document it with my camera. My collection is called ‘Eos ki Astraeus’ It was named after the Greek goddess of dusk (Eos) and the Greek god of dawn (Astraeus). It is meant to show the supernatural look and feel of the magnificent sunrise and sunsets in Guyana.”

Mesach Pierre: “I am a young conservation biologist with a passion for

own unique beauty as she tries to capture it.

Taijrani Rampersaud: “My pictures are representative of the journey followed by the beliefs and values that were brought, the hard work that was done, the culture associated with Guyanese identity and finally, the fact that we, as a people, were able to rise from the ashes of our past to welcome a new life - like a phoenix.”

Salim October: “I consider myself an eternal learner committed to playing with light, exploring texture, making people comfortable and adaptive to any environment especially the outdoors. My love for things grunge and aged makes for compelling interface in a modern photographic world especially when juxtaposed with life forms and human elements. I tend to see beauty in the not so beautiful, age in the ageless and art in the artless. I especially love to photograph people and places, and have been doing so across the Caribbean for the last ten years.”

VISIONS Exhibition opens June 20, 2016 to June 30, 2016 at the Fitzgerald House on Hadfield Street, Georgetown, from 9am to 4pm Mondays to Fridays only. Admission is free. (Information submitted by Karran Sahadeo)

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feature 45

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G

uyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations were the latest in a history of ceremonies to mark important occasions. Let’s consider some of these historical events that tell of our rich history as a nation of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.

Since 1887, with the celebrations for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, governments of British Guiana and, later, the independent state of Guyana have funded or supported programs to celebrate key events. Among the objectives have been to

cies from the British Guiana Centenary celebrations was Reverend Hawley Bryant’s “Song of Guiana’s Children”.

Despite the ongoing economic crisis, the people of British Guiana commemorated the centenary of the abolition of slavery in 1934. This event was spearheaded by the Negro Progress Convention with marginal support from the state’s coffers. Within the limited means, a program of events was organized in each county. The emphasis was forward-looking.

As had been the practice since slavery, efforts at African mobilization in the colony were met with derision.

The editorial tone of the Daily Argosy sought to

highlights of the 1935 Silver Jubilee of the Coronation of King George V celebrations.

The Coronation of King George VI May 1937 marked the coronation of King George VI. From May 8 to 17, 1937, virtually every community in British Guiana held activities to celebrate the coronation.

Along with illuminated buildings, there were show window displays, a regatta at the Rowing Club, ceremonial parades, torchlight parades, religious services, fireworks displays, coronation balls, and new musical compositions.

By 1937, British Guiana’s broadcasting infrastructure had international connec-

Fogarty’s new store illuminated to celebrate the Silver Coronation Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary in 1935

promote and to encourage loyalty and patriotism.

Some of the events associated with these moments - the decorated and illuminated buildings, ceremonial parades, fireworks, and national exhibitions were refined during the 1930s and provided a template for the 20th century. That template was evident during the May 2016 events of the Jubilee year.

October 1931 marked the centenary of the union of the colonies of Demerara, Berbice, and Essequibo to form British Guiana.

Despite the economic conditions, an ambitious program was organized featuring decorated and illuminated buildings, the tableau British Guiana 1831−1931, the large model of the Kaieteur Falls at the British Guiana Centenary Exhibition and Fair, military displays, rallies for school children, the publishing of books, feeding programs for the poor, and balls.

Among the lega-

minimize African agency and efficacy in the struggle for the abolition of slavery and the emancipation of enslaved Africans in the colony.

The centenary of Georgetown in March 1937 was more upbeat. Despite the ongoing global economic depression and signs of rising military tensions in Europe, there were signs of optimism in the colony’s economic life. There were improvements in the rice industry as a result of reorganization and improvements in planting methods. The entrepreneur R. G. Humphrey donated $5,000 to launch the development of the Georgetown Pure Water Supply Scheme, which was estimated to cost $120,000. His donation represented the aim to raise the funds for the scheme through local subscriptions in the spirit of “assisting ourselves” that was being encouraged in the face of the persistent economic depression.

Illuminated buildings were among the

tivity, thus allowing the nation to hear the broadcast of the coronation ceremony from London’s Westminster Abbey live.

The program to cel-

Bookers Head Office, Water Street, illuminated to celebrate the Silver Coronation Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary in 1935

ebrate the centenary of East Indian immigration to British Guiana in 1938 was led by the primarily urban British Guiana East Indian Association. This event, like the centenary of the abolition of slavery, also received some state support. This program was also forward looking. In a speech to mark the moment, B.G.E.I.A. president C. R. Jacobs envisaged a future that was primarily rural, idyllic and bucolic—one that contributed to the building of a “greater India in British Guiana.”

So, by the end of the 1930s, British Guiana has established a framework for organizing the celebration of national moments. It is a framework dominated by an active state.

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was a colonial project that took place in June 1953, a pivotal year in Guyana’s post-World War II history. It was a high point in the strug-

gle for independence.

The first election under universal adult suffrage in British Guiana had been held in April 1953.

Like previous statesponsored events there were decorated and illuminated buildings.

But within the context of this political drama there emerged a movement that began to put the stamp of a home-grown sensibility on state-sponsored celebrations. The planners for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II would eventually morph into the National History and Culture Week Committee (1958).

This gave way to the National History and Arts Council; later the Department of Culture; followed by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport; and currently the Department of Culture, Youth, and Sport.

The post-independence years built upon this history of ceremonies. These moments

have on occasion given rise to decisions that have had significant consequences for Guyanese creativity. The meetings of Caribbean artists and intellectuals in 1966 (independence) and again in 1970 (republic) influenced Guyanese cultural policy. A policy that informed the organization of Carifesta ’72 gave rise to the Institute of Creative Arts, as well as Guyfesta. Carifesta X in 2008 and the launching of the Caribbean Press are other examples.

Clearly, Guyana’s Jubilee celebrations drew upon this history.

The national colours made for rich decorations, and the numerous locations that were illuminated were memorable. (Excerpted from text

by Vibert Cambridge; photographs courtesy Wayne McWatt. First published in Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. May 2016 newsletter)

& culture travel & tourism 46 art

A

ranaputa is located on the GeorgetownLethem road, some 380km south of Georgetown, 70km north of Lethem and 5km west of Annai.

The almost 600,000 residents in Aranaputa are mainly Makushi.

North Rupununi District Development Board website states that the name Aranaputa comes

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

from the Makushi for “burnt up� (as related in the Makushipe Komanto Iseru book).

It adds that on one of the Aranaputa Mountains, there are pots containing the bones of indigenous persons who lived in the valley before the forefathers of the current residents moved there. The bones have indigenous beads and decorations, and one contained a coin showing the head of Queen

Victoria.

Tourist attractions in Aranaputa include hiking the Clarence Mountain Nature Trail (1,600ft), overnighting at the Clarence Nature Trail Guest Cabin, touring the Aranaputa Peanut Butter Factory, birding and nature tours for wildlife viewing, and savannah horseback riding tours. (Photos thanks to Patrick Carpen;www.patrickcarpen.com)

Gas station in Aranaputa

Aranaputa Vally

House in Aranaputa

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An extinct landmark

J

ames Rodway's ‘Story of Georgetown’ describes the St. Barnabas Church as beginning as a Mission Chapel whose Anglican mission began in a circus tent.

The now-demolished church building was erected in 1884 at the corner of Orange Walk and Regent Street in Georgetown, for the Anglican congregation of the Bourda community.

Later years saw the addition of a tubular bell and a steeple, and the Chapel of Corpus Christi in 1926. The bell is said to have been dedicated in 1904 to the memory of Rev. John Greathead, its first curate, who was superintendent of the Methodists of the Mahaica Circuit, Wesleyan Mission in British Guiana.

According to “Missionary notices.

[Continued as] The Wesleyan missionary notices” by the Wesleyan Methodist missionary society, John Greathead was listed in Georgetown at the First Trinity in the British Guiana District in 1871.

On Sept. 27, 1882, the Reverend left the Wesleyan Society of the Methodist Church after his second marriage, when he converted to the Church of England, and on Dec. 20, 1882 became an Anglican minister; his first wife had died in 1881. Rev. Greathead died in 1898 and is said to have been buried at

View of St Barnabas from Regent Street and Orange Walk corner

St Philips Churchyard, La Penitence Church cemetery.

One report states that the funds used to construct the church were from compensation paid to the plantation owner, who was the father of the church’s Canon, Robert Wray, when slavery was abolished in Guyana. It added that Canon Wray felt that the compensation his family received should be used to benefit those abused by slavery.

Another report notes that a concert was held in 1883 at the Philharmonic Hall in

Georgetown, to raise funds for the construction of the church.

The church became important also for offering music education and training conducted by Canon Wray.

According to reports, the church allowed the urban working-classes a place to learn, train and perform in a wide area of music, becoming what was considered one of the most important institutions offering music education in the colony.

One famous Guyanese educated and trained at St Barnabas church is Percy Braithwaite,

The Regent Street entrance tower of St Barnabas

who studied voice and music theory there, tutored by Canon Wray and church organist George Lawrence.

The St Barnabas Anglican Church also began Cub Scouts in Guyana in 1926 under Braithwaite.

Former president of Guyana, the late Desmond Hoyte received his primary education at St Barnabas Anglican School, which was next to the church and is now a special needs institution.

The school was a primary level school, first privately established in 1887 by the Anglican Church, until 1985 when it was put under government management.

The church, which covered three lots, was sold and deconsecrated in 2011. It has since been demolished and a parking lot put in its place. Upon being demolished, church officials dug up the contents buried in its foundation stone since 1884 (a common practice at the time for posterity) which turned out to be damaged by water intrusion over the years. The items

St Barnabas from Orange Walk showing its glass windows

recovered in a bottle, whose seal was also damaged, included papers and coins.

It has been claimed that the church’s sale was the only recourse since the Anglican diocese did not have the financial resources to maintain the historic structure, which was deemed unsafe for use (its tower was also considered to be leaning dangerously), and its neglected state led to

vagrants occupying the premises. A dwindling membership and congregation is also said to have led to its sale.

In 2011, local photographer Michael C. Lam published a photographic book entitled, “A Last Look” Saint Barnabas' Anglican Church, Georgetown, Guyana” to document the historic edifice before it was demolished in July- August of that year.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Background to Constitutional revision

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By Ravi Dev

he philosopher Immanuel Kant succinctly posed the dilemma of organising a just state, two centuries ago, in these terms: “The problem of organizing a state, however hard it may seem, can be solved, even for a race of devils, if only they are intelligent. The problem is, given a multitude of rational beings requiring universal laws for their preservation, but each of them is sincerely

inclined to exempt himself from them, to establish a Constitution in such a way, although their private intentions conflict, they check each other, with the result that their public conduct is the same as if they had no such intentions.”

Kant’s concrete solution to the inevitable conflicts he identified in organised human societies was that institutions, as with all normative behaviour, would have to satisfy the “categorical imperative” to be moral and just. In one popular formulation, this categorical imperative states: act in accordance to rules that you would wish applied to everyone as if they were universal laws.

Most commentators who followed him agreed with his stricture that institutions constituting a state must be organised in accordance with the principle of justice, but his criterion of the categorical imperative, proved nettlesome in real life.

John Rawls, the most influential of modern liberal political philosophers, came up with another formulation to guide the formation of social institutions nearly two centuries later, in 1971. It had the great virtue of simplicity.

In the opening line of his first section in his magnum opus “A Theory of Justice”, Rawls boldly declared only the principle of “justice” would generate the broad acceptability for the establishment of institutions necessary for societal stability: “Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.”

Recognizing that Guyana probably does not even reach Rawls’ definition of a society as “a cooperative venture for mutual advantage, it is typically marked by a conflict as well as by an identity of interests,” his definition of “justice” is yet very pertinent to our effort to construct a democratic state in Guyana: “…a way of assigning rights and duties in the basic institutions of society and they define the appropriate distribution of the benefits and burdens of social cooperation.”

In Guyana we all have to appreciate that the

existence of the state itself is for the furtherance of the societal good – the public interest.

Ultimately we believe that all Guyanese are looking to be culturally authentic, politically secure and economically sound. In the furtherance of these “public goods”, the people promulgate a constitution through which the government directs the state through policies and programmes in consonance with the prime directives of the Constitution.

In modern democracies, under the liberal paradigm, equality of treatment and equality before the law of the citizens stands at the very top of the imperatives.

We have proposed that under a federalist state institutions will be created to implement the policies of Ethnic Impact Statements, multiculturalism, federal form of government, Government of National Reconciliation, Catalytic Economic State, Affirmative Action, etc in the fulfilment of the national goals.

However, because each individual citizen or group of citizens are situated differently (according to specific criteria) governmental policies and programmes will inevitably have a different impact on different citizens.

The task of the government is to ensure that their differential treatment is not arbitrary and capricious and irrational – and that they further some societal good. There should be a correlation between the classification and the purpose of the statute so that citizens can presume the impartiality of the legislators. Thus even those adversely impacted may consider it an acceptable cost of achieving a larger societal goal.

In Guyana we would have to derive our substantive principles of justice for ourselves based on our history and present realities. Out of our experiences during slavery and Indentureship where they were denied, the values of liberty and equality are central to what we desire for the “good life”. These values must be central to any institution that seeks to address any aspect of our national life.

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Teen Moms

“It’s about time we make the well-being of our young people more important than ideology and politics. As a country, we benefit from investing in their future by investing in teen pregnancy prevention.” – Jane Fonda

Laser-Parking

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atiricus was bemused at all the fuss being made about the parking meter installation offered to Georgetown. “This is such a typically Guyanese reaction!” snorted Satiricus to his friend Cappo. “We are so technologically backwards!” They had just settled in their seats at the Back Street Bar and ordered two beers.

“Wha’ mek yuh like cuss abee down, Sato?” asked Cappo plaintively. “Me bin visit me buddy in New Yark, you know. And me na see not’ing fancy wid dem parking meter.”

“Well, that’s what I’m talking about, Cappo,” Satiricus said exasperatedly. “The meter this overseas Guyanese fella Tush bringing to Georgetown isn’t those pieces of pipe in the ground where you have to put in coins.”

“So abee gon tu’n mo’ advance dan ‘merica?” said Cappo with his eyes opened wide. “But me hear Tush gon charge abee “advance” money too! $500 fuh wan hour parking!”

Satiricus slapped the table and nearly toppled Cappo’s beer bottle. “That’s the same thing I can’t understand with you Guyanese!’ he exclaimed. “Tush want to give us better than First World parking and you complaining.

Jeez!!”

“Suh if Tush na put pole wid meter in de ground, wha’ he gon do fuh abee park abee cyaar and tek abee “advance” money?” asked Cappo sarcastically.

“Budday, I’m glad you asked,” said Satiricus excitedly. He’d missed Cappo’s sarcasm. “Tush will install invisible laser beams that will intersect to create a parking space. No poles in the ground!”

“Like dem laser beam dat does guard dem bank night time?” queried Cappo with a raised eyebrow. “Me see dat in “Ocean 11″!”

“Yes! Yes!” continued Satiricus impatiently.

“And you will pay with your phone credit…or else an alarm will go off.”

“But wha’ gon happen if me stan’ up in waan-a-dem Tush parking place?” said Cappo, downing his beer.

“If you park you tail for an hour, then you’ll have to shell out $500!!” said Satiricus with satisfaction. “High tech cost money, boy!”

“But Sato, tell me somet’ing,” said Cappo softly. “If abee cyaan keep abee street light goin’; you t’ink abee gon keep laser light wukkin’?”

Satiricus became very quiet.

“Suh buy wan nex’ beer, na, Sato!” said Cappo slyly. “An’ tell me mo ‘bout Tush “advance” parkin’”

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

49

D

Anu Dev

uring the past three weeks in my Obstetrics and Gynaecology rotation, I’ve seen a lot of pregnant women. Some, first time mothers, excitedly asking us to record the sound of their baby’s heartbeat and others, mothers many times over, sighing to us, “This is the fifth one.”

I’ve also seen some very young mothers – teenagers – still in school.

Some of them with their family supporting them, others very much alone.

In Guyana, it was clear that I possibly lived a sheltered life since I remember being surprised when a few years ago (2013), I’d read that according to a report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Guyana had the second highest rate of adolescent pregnancy in both the Caribbean and South America: 97 out of every 1000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 were giving birth.

I hadn’t seen this either in my village or at QC. Recently, I read of a 17-year-old Guyanese girl giving birth to her third child!

But here at Port of Spain General Hospital, at least the teen age mother-to-be’s I was seeing were those that made it to clinic for their antenatal checkups. Going by the figures of teenage pregnancies, it would seem like there are so many more pregnant teens that never get to go to those checkups. Trinidad reported that they had 2500 teenage pregnancies in 2014, compared with our 3000 (with half of Trinidad’s population!) for 2013.

And missing those checkups is dangerous for both the mother and her baby. As I’d mentioned before, it’s incredibly important for pregnant women to have regular antenatal checkups so that the doctors will be able to deal with any of the myriad complications that can arise during pregnancy. And it’s doubly important for teenage mothers to get

those checkups because there are so many extra complications that can happen due to their age.

Pregnant teenagers are at a higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia, a condition with high blood pressure, kidney damage, liver damage and a host of other complications that can progress to eclamptic seizures. They are also more likely to go into pre-term labour and deliver premature babies. Since teens often become pregnant before their bones are finished growing, their pelvises (‘hips’) aren’t usually wide enough, and a c-section often becomes necessary.

One of the requirements for this rotation was for us to accompany a patient to the Medical Social Worker. And after our visit, it was patently obvious why it was necessary. It was eye-opening and it certainly put things into perspective for us: suddenly complaining about the trials and travails of medical school seemed petty compared to those of several of our patients.

We were forced to confront the harsh reality of abuse and incest that some young women have to face. And according to the social worker, those aren’t rare cases.

She explained to us that as doctors, we’re not just supposed to treat the patient and move on – we’re supposed to be advocates for our patients.

And in cases where the patient is a pregnant minor, we’re expected to call the Child Protective Unit right away. The state and nation must move away from the “blame the girl” syndrome and recognise its duty to protect its girls. They are people too.

The report cited above has some good advice for us in the Caribbean: it called for a “…new approach (which) must target the circumstances, conditions, norms, values, and structural forces that perpetuate adolescent pregnancies on the one hand and isolate and marginalise pregnant girls on the other.

Girls need to have access to both sexual and reproductive health services and to information.”

Influence… …or political distortions? here’s this tendency to import ideas from the natural sciences into the social sciences to give the latter, the hard-earned legitimacy of the former.

Look how Karl Marx huffed Newton’s “forces” of physics into his “dialectical materialism” that our independence leaders lapped up! This thought flashed into your humble Eyewitness’s mind as he pondered the role of the US IN Guyana’s affairs.

Wasn’t it Einstein who’d described the effect of massive bodies on others in their vicinity? Space-time’s distorted and the trajectory of smaller bodies are controlled without any effort on the part of the former.

And so it’s been with the US and us – all the US has to do is be there and we’re influenced. This came out clearly in the massive coverage in all the media of the departure of this fella from the US Embassy, Brian Hunt.

Hunt wasn’t even an Ambassador – he was the fella next in line and stepped into the gap while the US State Department took its sweet time to fill a vacancy in a country that’s obviously not too high on their diplomatic hit parade. After all, Brian Hunt’s previous stint was in Papua New Guinea with its 800 tribes and extant cannibalism.

The traditional view of International Relations is that the big powers influence little powers either by military might or by providing aid. In the case of the US after the 1960s and its CIA-facilitated ethnic riots, there haven’t been any military excursions here. So what was interesting about Hunt’s 15 minutes in the limelight was how little aid the US’s been providing and yet its influence was so massive that a second or third-level diplomat practically controlled our governments’ agendas.

Just going by memory, your Eyewitness can think of the US$135M Chinese loan for CJIA’s expansion, two ferries, a Convention Centre etc…India’s US$20M loan for the Cricket Stadium, US$18M for the in-limbo Specialty Hospital, US$50M for a bypass road. The height of

T

chutzpah was reached when Hunt advised that Guyana needs some help in IT and IGNORED that India had just provided US$1M to fund an IT Centre of Excellence!

But hey!! Under Hunt’s tenure, the US did provide more than 20,000 visitors visas in 2015 to Guyanese. Going by the US$150 fee, that has to be worth US$3,000,000!

The effect on regime change was just a bonus for the Guyanese people, nuh? …on corruption This phenomenon called “corruption” has been given a whole lot of play since independence. Even before then, the PPP’d been called out on some road to Bartica called Del Conte or something. The funny thing is what was normal practice by the British suddenly became “corruption” under the locals. You can’t blame some of the latter for being confused, when they got into office.

Take the award of contracts for Sea Defence or conservancies and such like…There was never any bidding, they were just handed out to British firms. Or the agencies for importing and selling to the Government everything from motor cars to sardines. These were just doled out to the locals who were willing to be the “compradors”.

Anyhow Prezzie accepts we should weed out corruption, but says it takes two to tango. But if he’s already paying his bureaucrats for doing their jobs, shouldn’t he fire THEM for demanding or taking bribes to do so? We also agree PPP Govt contracts shouldn’t be “state secrets” and should be made public.

So, how about suggesting to Min Bulkan that his Town Clerk should make the Meter Contract public? .. …peddlers According to the local rep of Fedders Lloyd, as soon as he heard his company had been blacklisted by the World Bank for bribery in 2010 in some African country, he resigned.

Shouldn’t those who facilitated Fedders Lloyd in that same time period here, also resign?

50 sport

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

CPL matches to be aired live on ONE World Sports Network

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NE World Sports, America’s Network for Global Sports, will air the Hero CPL, the franchisebased T20 cricket tournament that combines cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere, two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life.

ONE World Sports partnership with the Hero CPL marks the first time the league will air on U.S. television and all matches will be shown live in late afternoon or in primetime.

For the first time since the league’s 2013 inception, Hero CPL matches will also take place in the United States at the Central Broward Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from July 28-31. In a multiyear agreement, ONE World Sports will exclusively broadcast all 34 matches of the 2016 Hero CPL season, including the Florida dates, across all of its platforms.

The Hero CPL season starts on 29 June and continues through to 7 August.

“With a vast following around the world and a concerted effort by the Hero Caribbean Premier League to attract more U.S. fans with its upcoming matches in Fort Lauderdale, ONE World Sports is an ideal home for the league where we can present the sport to our viewers in a new and exciting way,” said Todd Myers, Vice President

Steven Taylor of the Barbados Tridents and Samuel Badree of the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at a baseball arena in the USA

Programming, Acquisitions & Development.

“The addition of the Hero CPL is a prime example of the evolution of ONE World Sports’ live and exclusive programming that emanates domestically as well as abroad and caters to a diverse, millennial audience interested in global sports.”

ONE World Sports, in conjunction with EverSport.tv, will also offer a digital sub-

scription service for Hero CPL fans to watch the entire tournament for $9.99. Interested viewers can access the subscription service at www.

OneWorldSports.com beginning Saturday, June 25.

Pete Russell, Chief Operations Officer of Hero CPL, said, “We are delighted to welcome ONE World Sports to our broadcast family and we believe that this announcement will help

showcase the CPL to our legions of followers across the USA. These six games in Fort Lauderdale from July 28-31, featuring the best cricketing talent from across the world, will mark a new chapter for CPL and we are hugely excited about staging these matches. We believe that through ONE World Sports we can enhance all that is special about CPL, the biggest party in sport, and help project all that is great about Caribbean cricket and culture across the USA.” ONE World Sports is America’s Network for Global Sports, producing best-inclass, captivating live sports content from around the world. With multi-platform capabilities and superior production quality, ONE World Sports is one of the fastest growing independent sports networks available throughout the United States.

Currently available to more than 30 million homes nationally on cable, telco and satellite, ONE World Sports delivers live and exclusive coverage of some of America’s most popular sports played professionally outside the USA — basketball, baseball, golf and ice hockey — plus sporting events with the largest global followings, including soccer and cricket. ONE World Sports is distributed through Verizon FiOS, DISH Network, Charter Communications,

Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Mediacom Communications, Google Fiber, Suddenlink, RCN and a growing number of systems through the NCTC. In addition, the network’s mobile app, Watch ONE World Sports, features a live stream of the network for authenticated subscribers and on-demand content for all users. More information on ONE World Sports and its availability in particular markets can be found at www.oneworldsports.com or consumers can call their television distributor. Watch ONE World Sports is available in the Apple and the Google Play stores.

The Hero CPL features the best T20 cricket stars from the Caribbean and around the world, including top names like Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Brendon McCullum, among others.

The League is comprised of six teams competing for the championship title including reigning champions Trinbago Knight Riders (formerly Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel), Jamaica Tallawahs, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Lucia Zouks, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots.

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), heralded as the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’, begins on June 29 at 21:00 Hrs ET.

‘We have a pretty good all-round squad’ - Warriors coach Harper

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uyana Amazon Warriors Coach Roger Harper has given an update ahead of the start of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign and said the squad are coming together ahead of the opener in away to St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots on 30 June.

The former off-spin all-rounder, who was capped 25 times at Test level (and claimed 46 wickets) also made 105 One-Day International appearances (taking 100 wickets) for the West Indies, and has returned to coach his native Guyana for a second spell.

Speaking on Tuesday as the training camp got underway in Georgetown, and with skipper Martin Guptill and Adam Zampa due to link up over the weekend, Harper said the squad are building towards their CPL opener.

“I think we have a pretty good all round squad. It’s a Twenty20 format and these guys have got the skills for the Twenty20 format, so it’s all about how well we can play collectively as a team and on each

Guyana Amazon Warriors Coach, Roger Harper

match day. After the camp we go straight off to St. Kitts for the competition!”

Guyana Amazon Warriors Home Fixtures (all times local): 7 July – Jamaica Tallawahs (7pm), 9 July – St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots (12 Midday), 10 July – Trinbago Knight Riders (7pm), 12 July – St. Lucia Zouks (7pm).

GUYANA AMAZON WARRIORS: Sohail Tanvir, Martin Guptill, Dwayne Smith,

Chris Lynn, Rayad Emrit, Adam Zampa, Devendra Bishoo, Jason Mohammed, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Orlando Peters, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Paul Wintz, Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Ali Khan, Shimron Hetmyer (cplt20) *Tickets for all CPL fixtures in the Caribbean and Fort Lauderdale are on sale now from www. cplt20.com.

WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

sport feature 51

Sangakkara hopes lightning can strike twice for the Tallawahs in CPL J

amaica Tallawahs star batsman Kumar Sangakkara has nothing but positive memories from his previous stint in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), but the Sri Lanka superstar is keen to create a new legacy when he links up with the Tallawahs squad for the fourth instalment of CPL. A legend of the modern game, Sangakkara is one of the most fluent batsmen in recent history across all three formats. An ICC World T20 champion in 2014, where his 52 not out earned him the man of the match award in the final victory over India, the lefthanded wicket-keeper batsman scored more than 28,016 international runs at an average of 57.40 (in 134 Tests), 41.98 (in 404 ODI’s) and 31.40 (in 56 T20I’s). He has also claimed 609 catches and a further 139 stumpings in international cricket.

The Tallawahs will start their CPL campaign with an away clash against St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots on Saturday, 2 July and Sangakkara knows that this will be one of the most competitive campaigns to date on all fronts as Chris Gayle’s men bid to wrestle the title back to Jamaican shores.

In an exclusive interview with www.cplt20.com, which is available for free download and editorial use, the Sri Lanka legend reflected on the 2013 campaign, why playing in the CPL is special, on why the CPL’s decision to play matches in USA is a “great thing” and his excitement about returning to the Tallawahs after a three-year hiatus.

On his memories from the 2013 CPL-winning campaign: “I remember going into the Tallawahs knowing that it was a great team with Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and (Chadwick) Walton all in there. We had some great overseas player in Murali (Muttiah Muralidaran) and a few others. And just going to the semis and the finals, and the business end of the tournament. So there’s no pressure on me to go out there and perform! I just remember getting to Trinidad, where the matches were, and just absorbing the atmosphere. It was exactly what you’d expect of a T20 tournament in the West Indies. It was just, you know, a lot of passionate followers, a lot of people having fun and West Indies followers know a lot about cricket. They know their cricket very, very well.

And it was just the most exciting atmosphere to play in. It helped that we won the semis and the final. Paul Nixon was coach at that time and it was a great dressing-room, a lot of fun, relaxed cricket but a lot of good cricket. So I’m really looking forward to going back.”

On his decision to return to the CPL: “It’s not really a question of you making a decision of going into CPL. You put your name into the auction and you wait to see whether they’re

actually interested in you and getting you over there. There were a lot of different reasons, starting from the fact that the Leagues around the world are quite lucrative. Then of course you have the fact that it’s T20 cricket and everyone loves playing T20 cricket. The fact that when you are a cricketer and you continuously compete, playing in these leagues gives you a lot of exposure, a lot of experience and you also play with a lot of different players in a lot of different set-ups. It also helps you grow as a crick-

could be an interesting over!’.

You know, you can’t write a script for an ending like that.

So, on the back of that, to get into the CPL with a lot of hype from the public from the support they have given the players and how it has been repaid with the World Cup, I think it will be another fantastic edition of the CPL.” On returning to play with the Jamaica Tallawahs: “I’ve very happy to be back at the Tallawahs. I have some great memories, like I said, and one of them was Gerard Butler

won us those two games, along with Chris in the finals, so you have a great core. You have Chadwick Walton, Shakib Al Hasan and you have Alex Ross from Adelaide coming in and Imad Wasim from Pakistan.

So, the squad of local and foreign players is a nice mixture.

But in any tournament, the real difference in the squad is made by the majority players who are the local players.

So from our left-arm spinners to our all-rounders, to the fast bowlers and to the great West Indians like Chris and Andre,

turning up in the dressingroom, getting a helmet and a pair of gloves on and swinging a bat, having a chat and a laugh with us. That was exciting! It was a bit surreal to see him in a cricket dressingroom rather than on screen.

But the entire mixture of that whole glitz and glamour of T20 cricket – when you have a tournament like that, the vindication of all that effort is the quality of cricket on the field.

And I think that’s what really stood out at the end of that entire tournament. Everyone had fun, everyone had a lot of non-cricketing stars that came along to watch the cricket, who had a love for the game.

And there was a lot of passion from the followers. But the stand-out was the cricket. In any tournament, if the cricket you put on the field is the best you can display, it goes a long way in establishing the tournament as a marquee event.”

On the makeup of the Tallawahs squad: “I think the rest of the squad is very good.

You have the ‘Universe Boss’ (Chris Gayle) playing for us so that helps! Andre Russell has been an amazing player in the shortest versions of the game.

He’s an unbelievable athlete and I remember in that semi-finals and final, when I did play, he was the defining player of the tournament. He

it’s going to be a very good collective effort if you’re going to get to the final and maybe win again. That’s the ambition and I’m sure everyone will have a great time trying to get there.”

On the Chris Gayle / Dale Steyn factor: “I actually think there are two players who will get plenty of attention. One is ‘Bullet’ Dale Steyn. The other is Chris Gayle. And with his book out I think it will be a great stage for Chris to really express himself, not just as a person and I don’t think he’s shy in doing that, but also as a cricketer. And I think Chris is a fantastic ambassador for the game, through the way he plays the game. Sometimes his character is something you have to get used to at times, but having played with Chris over the years I just think that he is who he is. And the way he plays his cricket is very honest.

He expresses himself fully and it’s a great joy to watch him on that field. He has a lot of fun playing the game, he’s funny, he’s humorous so it’s wonderful. And Dale Steyn is slightly different to Chris. (He has) An amazing cricketing ability and those abilities between the two of them are very similar, but a lot more quiet. He’s not larger than life, like Chris, but he’s just one of the nicest men I have ever met. Forget cricket, Dale Steyn would be one of

Kumar Sangakkara

eter and as a person. And the other point is that it’s the West Indies. It’s the Caribbean. It’s calypso cricket and the initial year of any tournament, in a franchise format, is a difficult one. And I think that the West Indies now, over the last three or four years, has built a fantastic brand in the CPL. And to have been involved in the initial stages is great. So there’s always a variety of reasons that you go and play and, for me, it was a mixture of all those reasons. I know the players quite well. Most of the West Indies guys I’ve played with are very easy to get on with. They’re fantastic natural cricketers in their own right, but also very good people. So it was always a ‘win-win’ coming to play in the CPL.” On the rise of West Indies cricket in recent months: “The West Indies won the ICC World T20 in 2012. We played them in the finals and lost.

Then to come back, having gone through some very troubled times, and to lift themselves in that unbelievable final. I was in Sky studios actually doing some work for the finals, and to get to that last over with 19 required.

You know, we were all seated around the TV and having a chat about what was about to happen. My comment was, ‘… if that first ball goes for six, it

my favourite people because he’s just a wonderful human being. I’ve had the privilege of knowing a lot of people, but Dale is a very special person.”

On the CPL’s decision to play fixtures in Lauderhill, Florida in this CPL: “I think it’s great. On the back of what’s happened in the last year and a half in the promotion of cricket in the United States, there’s a great opportunity to actually hammer that point through. I think the message should be a constant one to America as to what cricket is.

There’s a huge ex-pat community in America who already knows about the sport that came to watch the (Sachin) Tendulkar and (Shane) Warne series that we played last year. I played in Florida before in 2010 against New Zealand.

But just to get more and more people come and watch, to understand the sport and actually try to foster some kind of following and love for cricket will probably afford us the opportunity to break into America and really help cricket establish its strong roots there to be embraced by the general population. Let’s hope that this is another step in that direction.”

On the pressure on Jamaica to perform for a demanding fan-base: “The pressure to perform is the same. It doesn’t matter what label that you have, whether you are the favourites or the underdog, if you don’t perform the results don’t come. And to absorb that pressure is what you really get paid for. So everyone will understand that, will accept it and all they’ll try and do is have a lot of fun expressing themselves on that cricket field because if you get caught up too much on the fact that you have to deliver results, you forget to actually go through the processes of doing a good job; which is to play your best cricket, have a lot of fun doing it, support each other as a team and then, win or lose, to go out there and smile and walk on and off (the field) with your head held high. I don’t expect it to be any different.

The pressure won’t be less, the pressure won’t be more.” *Tickets for all CPL fixtures in the Caribbean and Fort Lauderdale are on sale now from www.cplt20.com.

Jamaica Tallawahs Home Fixtures (all times local): 15 July – Guyana Amazon Warriors (8pm), 16 July – St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (6pm), 18 July – Trinbago Knight Riders (8pm), 20 July – Barbados Tridents (8pm).

Jamaica Tallawahs: Chris Gayle, Kumar Sangakkara, Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Imad Wasim, Dale Steyn, Rovman Powell, Chadwick Walton, Jon-Russ Jaggesar, Andre McCarthy, Jonathan Foo, Alex Ross, Kesrick Williams, Nkrumah Bonner, Garey Mathurin, Timroy Allen, O’shane Thomas.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 26, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Zouks call up Ramsaran as permanent CPL replacement for Cottoy

Guyana national rugby team climbs world rankings

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he St. Lucia Zouks have been dealt a blow ahead of the start of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign as Keron Cottoy has been ruled out due to a knee injury.

Left-arm spinner Kristopher Ramsaran, who was due to join the squad after Denesh Ramdin’s West Indies Test commitments resume in July, will now link up with coach Stuart Williams’ squad with immediate effect.

Wicket-keeper Ramdin’s place will then be taken by Barbadosborn fast bowler Miguel Cummins, who has played one ODI to date for the West Indies (against Ireland, in February 2014). The 25-year-old, who has 116 first-class wickets to his name in 41 games, has previously featured in the CPL for both the Antigua Hawksbills and Trinbago Knight Riders (formerly Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel).

The Zouks will take on four opponents in a combination of day and night time games in a big month for the island with the hugely popular Lucian Carnival set to attract big numbers to

Claudius Butts of the Green Machine on the run in a recent game for Guyana

Kristopher Ramsaran

the island once more.

The opening match against the Patriots is sure to attract a large following and is one not to be missed as it will mark the launch of the newly re-named 12,400 capacity Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, previously known as the Beauséjour Stadium.

Fans will also get to be a part of history for the opening of the newly-renamed Johnson Charles Stand. *Tickets for all CPL fixtures in the Caribbean and Fort Lauderdale are on sale now from www. cplt20.com.

St. Lucia Zouks Home Fixtures (all times lo-

cal): 21 July – St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots (6pm), 23 July – Barbados Tridents (12 Midday), 24 July – Guyana Amazon Warriors (5pm), 26 July – Trinbago Knight Riders (6pm) St. Lucia Zouks: David Miller, Shane Watson, Darren Sammy (captain), Michael Hussey, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Morne Morkel, Denesh Ramdin (to be replaced

by Miguel Cummins after 11 July), Derone Davis, Eddie Leie, Kristopher Ramsaran, Shane Shillingford, Delorn Johnson, Kyle Mayers, Keddy Lesporis, Nitish Kumar, Gidron Pope

Official tournament App for CPL launched

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he Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) are delighted to launch its official App in time for the start of the fourth instalment of the biggest party in sport, which will take place between 29 June – 7 August across the Caribbean and Florida.

The CPL App, which is available to download now across all IOS and Android devices, includes a host of new and exciting features to keep the millions of fans across the world engaged and informed.

The CPL App will include all of the latest news and information from across all of the competing teams – Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, St. Lucia Zouks and Trinbago Knight Riders.

As the excitement builds, fans will have the opportunity to access exclusive Video footage and Highlights, as well as Fixtures, Results, a live

Match Centre, Tickets, Tournament statistics, Player and Team profiles as well as social Hub updates across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

CPL COO Pete Russell commented: “We are delighted to launch the Official CPL App which will keep fans engaged and informed in the build-up to, and during, the CPL this summer. I know that fans of CPL across the Caribbean and beyond will enjoy the various fix-

tures, while fans will also be able to purchase tickets across the seven territories, which of course includes the Central Broward Stadium in Lauderhill for the first time. So whether you’re at the matches, or watching from work, home or on the move, there’s no reason not to keep up with all the latest goings on in the CPL.” Tickets for CPL fixtures in the Caribbean and Fort Lauderdale are on sale now from www. cplt20.com

G

uyana’s ‘Green Machine’ are now ranked at 46th in the 15s world, following their 23-18 win over Trinidad and Tobago last weekend.

With winning the South Zone of the Rugby Americas North, the Guyanese national team have moved up seven places to achieve their highest-ever world ranking.

They are also ranked eighth in the

Americas up from 10th.

Guyana now await the winners of the North Zone, which will be decided on July 23 between Mexico and the Cayman Islands.

Should Mexico win, Guyana will have to travel to that country to contest the RAN overall title while if the Cayman Islands win, they will have to travel to Guyana.

Injured Holder in doubt for must-win game

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est Indies could be without captain Jason Holder for their must-win match against South Africa in Barbados on Friday after he injured his hamstring during the loss to Australia on Tuesday.

Holder was able to bowl only two overs before he left the field, which forced West Indies to use occasional legspinner Andre Fletcher and stand-in captain Kieron Pollard to make up the rest of his overs.

Chasing 283 to secure a place in the tri-series final, the Australians reached their target with eight balls to spare thanks in part to a stunning cameo of 46 not out from 26 deliveries from Glenn Maxwell. Friday's match between West Indies and South Africa now becomes a straight elimination game, with the winner to take on Australia in the final on Sunday.

"I've strained my left hamstring," Holder said after the match. "Hopefully I'll be ready for the game on Friday, still not sure at the moment. I think the bowlers made a very good attempt at trying to defend the runs. It was just unfortunate we were one bowler short.

"Fletcher came on and slipped in three tight overs. In hindsight he probably could have gone on for two more.

Having said that we fought right down to the end with a bowler short, so credit must go to the bowling unit."

West Indies were arguably a few runs short of par on a good batting pitch after being sent in by Steven Smith, although a 192-run stand between Denesh Ramdin and Marlon Samuels ensured a strong total after they slipped to be 31 for 3.

Samuels finished with 125, his first hundred against Australia in any format, and he was Man of the Match for the second consecutive game against Australia despite the losing cause.

There was plenty of chat between the two sides over the course of the match and Samuels said he had been spurred on by Australia's words.

"I've been saying that over the years," Samuels said. "Most times I come out to bat and nobody has anything to say, I don't perform that well.

WI Captain, Jason Holder

But when somebody has something to say, I want to stay out there longer and see how long they can talk.

"I've got a hundred against everybody in the world now [full ICC members]. It's very satisfying. Nevertheless, we still have a game on Friday and that game is very important for us to win."

Coach Phil Simmons said he was proud to see his team - which is ranked at No. 8 in ODIs - competing well with higher-ranked opposition. Even if they did not win on Tuesday, he said, they gained a lot out of the game.

"A loss is a loss but there are a lot of things we can take from it. When you're up against Australia and you're 30 for 3, to come back and make 280, you have to take that. Taking it to the second to last over, you have to take that, especially with our main bowler and captain missing. [And also] how well Shannon [Gabriel] bowled on his debut, to have someone in the 150s regularly, it's great to see.

"The work that the guys have put in over the past five or six weeks has been excellent. For us to be in a competition with No. 1 and No. 3 in the world, and still be in the competition and looking to be in the final in the last game, it's what we spoke about at the start of the tournament, that we need to make sure we are winning games against these top teams in order to be moving up the table." (ESPNCricinfo)

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