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Refreshed Lynn ready to lead Warriors charge Page 50

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 354

WEEK ENDING july 16, 2017

Joint Services in desperate bid to recapture escapees Guyana Prison Revolt

- Govt to set up Board of Governance tasked with oversight of prison system See stories inside

Police Commissioner; Seelall Persaud, Director of Prisons (ag); Gladwin Samuels and Public Security Minister; Khemraj Ramjattan briefing the media on Thursday on the current prison crisis.

Young author of Guyanese heritage featured on American TV show Page 30

Amaila Falls Hydro Project

Jagdeo takes Jordan to task over recent comments Page 24

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WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

Govt moving to establish board Rebuilding assistance for flood affected Region 7 and 8 of governance tasked with farmers ongoing oversight of prison system

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armers in Regions Seven and Eight continue to receive assistance, in the aftermath of the recent flooding in the two regions.

Minister of the Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock told the media that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and his ministry “have been sending in chainsaws, tarpaulin, buckets, and agricultural tools.”

The tools are to help in the rebuilding of the homes damaged during the floods. They are also to enable farmers to restart cultivation on the hundreds of acres of farmlands that went under, as a result of heavy rainfall in the Hinterland regions in May. “We continue to gather ma-

terials, some of the farms, some are within another year before they would be able to have their own farm going again. So we’re trying our best to see how we can help them to cope with that situation,” the Minister said.

Heavy rains initially began in Region Eight on May 17 and continued over a period of approximately five days resulting in severe flooding in the two regions. Over 1000 residents were affected by the flood waters in Region Seven and 3000 in Region Eight.

In addition to the damages to several homes, the heavy rainfall also resulted in the loss of food security for residents. The farms in the two regions were flooded and many completely destroyed.

When asked if any measures were being put in place to prevent such a disastrous situation in the future, the minister said that, “As much as we cannot control the weather, a better understanding and reading of weather patterns can help farmers to prepare in the future.” (DPI)

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ased on recommendations made for the modernisation of the Guyana Prisons Service, the government will be moving to establish a board of governance to have oversight of the local prison system.

The consultancy service for the modernisation of the prison system was awarded to Jamaican experts Trevor Hamilton and Associates, International Management Consultants and is an IDB-funded project.

According to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, the firm recommended several options to the Guyana Government for better management of the local prison services.

“The first question that was asked was in relation to selecting one from five options: whether we privatise the prison system, whether we regionalise it, a combination of both or whether we kept it in State hands with a board of governance. We opted for the governance structure to be in State hands with a board of governance… We’ve now even further that government structure along with amendments that this new governance structure will cater for, and Mr Duke Pollard is the lawyer that is working towards getting the amendment of the Prisons Act to accommodate the mordernisation of the GPS” Ramjattan said.

These proposed amendments, the minister said, are to be completed by the end of this month.

The Public Security Minister sought to use the opportunity to respond to critics who accused his

administration of not implementing any of the reforms put forward following the March 2016 Prison riots.

He said that while certain aspects of these recommendations were implemented, the majority of them incur huge costs and will have to be done on a phased basis.

Meanwhile, in light of it being published in several sections of the media that 300 prisoners have been released from the “walled area” of the Lusignan Prison, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan on Thursday deemed this “a mistake.”

According to Ramjattan, he could recall being asked by a reporter recently “how many people have been removed from the Lusignan and other places” and as such, he had indicated that it was about 300 persons.

The Minister explained on Thursday that of the over 1000 prisoners taken to Lusignan, 83 were transferred to the Mazaruni Prison, 90 to the New Amsterdam Prison, 48 to the Timehri Prison and 151 were placed into the Lusignan Prison itself.

In addition, utilising his power under the Prison Act, Ramjattan said that he approved the early release of 57 prisoners. Also, the Magistrates have granted a total of 34 persons bail.

As such, approximately 463 prisoners are presently being held in the walled area of the Lusignan Prison.

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EDITORIAL

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Instead of the traditional Independence cake, the Argentine Embassy, on Wednesday evening, honoured President David Granger with a birthday cake. The President will be celebrating his birthday on Saturday.

In photo, the President Granger cuts the cake with the First Lady Sandra Granger as Ambassador Martino, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon look on. President Granger used the occasion of the reception to mark the of the 201st anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Argentine Republic at the Marriott Hotel, to celebrate the close and cordial ties between Guyana and that country since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties on October 6, 1972.

Why not just prison reform Workers as farmers can turn

n the aftermath of the latest conflagration at the Camp Street Prison, there are once again calls for “prison reform” — this time, bound by the exigency of having to either replace the structures that were completely razed. However, these calls cannot be addressed in isolation and outside the need for broader criminal justice reform.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) advises, “It is of utmost importance that prison reform is not regarded in isolation from broader criminal justice reform. UNODC believes that effective prison reform is dependent on the improvement and rationalisation of criminal justice policies, including crime prevention and sentencing policies, and on the care and treatment made available to vulnerable groups in the community. Reform of the prison system should therefore always take into account the needs relating to the reform of the criminal justice system as a whole, and employ an integrated multi-disciplinary strategy to achieve sustainable impact. Thus reform initiatives will usually need to also encompass criminal justice institutions other than the prison service; such as the judiciary, prosecution and police service, as relevant.”

But there is a prior question that must be answered: what is the purpose of incarcerating persons convicted of crimes?

Traditionally these were four: punishment, incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation. The greatest confusion lies in a disagreement on what constitutes “punishment”. Most persons still hold that, after conviction of a crime against society, the person placed in jail must then be “punished”. Incarceration is thus seen as depriving the inmate of all his/her human rights. It is because of this view that the harsh treatment of prisoners by wardens and prisoners are excused, and calls for more humane treatment are derided as demanding “hotel accommodations”.

But as the UNOCD has stated, “A sentence of imprisonment constitutes only a deprivation of the basic right to liberty. It does not entail the restriction of other human rights, with the exception of those which are naturally restricted by the very fact of being in prison. Prison reform is necessary to ensure that this principle is respected, the human rights of prisoners protected, and their prospects for social reintegration increased in compliance with relevant international standards and norms.”

In other words, we must understand that the removal of the convicted from society IS the punishment. Depriving criminals of their freedom is the way of making them pay a debt to society for their crimes. This is the “retribution” – not starving them, or forcing them to sleep in the stench of their urine, etc.

As such, the question as to whether individuals on remand should be housed in the same facilities with convicted prisoners should not even be raised. These individuals have not been tried; and one would have thought it obvious that they should be detained only if they do not pose a risk to society, and when they are, the conditions of detention must reflect the presumption that they are innocent.

It was very disconcerting to discover that half of the inmates at Camp Street were on remand, and that one day after the blaze, dozens of them were freed by a magistrate. Why could this not have been done in the first instance? It is obvious that sentencing guidelines have to be completely revamped. There have been calls for whatever facility is constructed at Camp St to be designated to house individuals on remand, who can be brought to the nearby courts more expeditiously.

We understand that Guyana is still a poor country, with limited resources; but surely, the removal of criminals from society — so that they can no longer harm innocent people (incapacitation) — should be enough of a deterrence to prevent the commission of future crimes. Combined with a programme of rehabilitation, this should help reintegrate them into society, and prove less costly than the present astronomical rate of recidivism.

For the incorrigible criminals, we will just have to create facilities to incarcerate them for life.

around Guyana’s sugar industry

By Vishnu Bisram

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n country after country, sugar production in the hands of private cane farmers has shown to be very profitable. It has been so demonstrated in India, Guyana, Trinidad, and in several African and Asian countries, etc. My father and other cane farmers had high productivity, though flooding and drought were serious challenges, on the land because they were motivated to work hard as all the produce belonged to them and not the state. The farmers moved out of cane and rice only after Burnham cheated them of prices and refused to provide support against drought and floods. Sugar workers can make cultivation profitable if they are in charge of their own crops and run the industry. The sugar workers can transform sugar production if given ownership.

As my Political Science professor on Soviet Union used to say, socialist workers will not go to the farm at five in the morning to cultivate potatoes or milk the cow, and even when they showed up at the farm late they will not work efficiently. But they will tend to farm before five in the morning if they own the land and or the produce.

That was amply demonstrated in Guyana and Trinidad where I did research on cane production during the 1980s and 1990.

Private cane farming was more efficiently managed than state farming virtually everywhere.

In India, for example, where cane is privately produced, it is most profitable -- no part of the cane is wasted and every part of the cane brings in money. Billionaires have been created from cane farming. The sugar product alone results in a huge profit with all the other by products (including liquor, cardboard, stockfeeds, energy, ethanol, etc) adding to profitability.

Indian sugar companies and workers know how to maximize productivity; they are the experts in sugar production, but Guyana was not interested in Indian companies preferring Chinese instead. It is no won-

der that several African, and even some Asian countries, where cultivation was losing money, have turned to Indian sugar companies and workers to manage or run and to work in their sugar industries. All of the Indian managed or Indian owned sugar companies in Africa and Asia have been running at a huge profit and the workers share in the profits; they get bonuses which serve as an incentive to maximize productivity. And off course, in India, where virtually all sugar cultivation is privately owned, the farmers have a high rate of return on their investment.

The farmers mill their own cane selling it to factories for a profit.

In Guyana and in Trinidad, private cane farming was profitable; government mismanagement and corruption undermined the industry in both countries. Politicians viewed the sugar industry as a cash cow to enrich themselves at the expense of workers. The Trinidad PNM government, for political reasons, closed down the industry. The same is being done in Guyana by the PNC led government.

But sugar does not have to be closed especially when tens of thousands will lose work with no alternative form of employment. Government is courting social disaster as I found in my research among sugar workers in Wales Estate.

Sugar cultivation has shown to be profitable when in private hands while under state production it was losing money. In Trinidad, myself and several others suggested that the 80K acres of land be distributed to the sugar workers for cooperative farming in cane or other agro products. But government (not PNM and not UNC) was not interested -- sugar workers were taken for a ride, only to be used to build political careers of self seekers.

In 2001, Prime Minister Basdeo Panday (a man who built his career off the backs of sugar workers), moved to sell the sugar estate for about TT6M to his friend Lawrence Duprey (Clico). He did not

want to give it to the workers.

We joined the sugar workers in protest. The Attorney General Ramesh Maharaj refused to sign the documents authorizing the sale saying it reeked of corruption.

Maharaj said the estate was worth a hundred times that amount and called for it to be offered to the workers as a co-op at that bargain price.

Panday said no. Maharaj was fired and replaced by Kamla Persaud Bissessar who would become Prime Minister almost a decade later. Maharaj and two other MPs, Trevor Sudama and Ralph Maraj, came out publicly in 2001 and said they will oppose the sugar industry sale in parliament. Before the sale document could be signed by the new AG, Panday unwisely dissolved the parliament and called elections which he lost never to lead a government again -- all because he did not want sugar workers to own the industry. A similar fate seems to have befallen the PPP. In Guyana, Ravi Dev and a few of us recognized that sugar cultivation would not be profitable under state ownership.

We implored the PPP government to give parcels of the land to workers to form co-ops which we surmised would be financially lucrative. Sugar workers would maximize production and the industry would be profitable.

Ravi Dev carried the battle almost single handedly like Ramesh and Sudama did in Trinidad. But the PPP government, like the UNC government in Trinidad, both of which depended on sugar workers to get into and remain in office, was not interested. The PPP government did not want to create a new kulak class of workers, and Panday wanted Clico to be recipient of Caroni estate.

Dev and others were lambasted similar to how Maharaj and Sudama were reviled even by the very sugar workers they fought for. Patrick Manning and the PNM government closed Caroni in 2002 rendering the workers jobless and for over a decade they were denied continued on page 16

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WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jagdeo finalising 3rd GECOM list

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he Opposition has commenced the process of preparing a third list of nominees for the post of Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to be submitted to President David Granger. At least ten persons have been shortlisted so far, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has revealed.

Jagdeo told media operatives on Wednesday that the list will be further reduced to six before it is submitted, but hinted that there might be some difficulty finalising that list. According to him, one of the ten persons shortlisted has already indicated a reluctance to be nominated, because of fear of public humiliation.

“So I will now have to talk one-on-one with those people. So, over the course of the next few days, I will do that,” Jagdeo said, explaining that he could not say definitively whether the list would be submitted to the President anytime soon, because he would need to give the proposed nominees some time to think things over.

“I have to go through the process, meet people and talk to them.

File: Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger at a previous engagement

Some of them say to me, ‘We have to talk to our family’. So, I can’t say, ‘I need a word from you immediately,’ or call you to a meeting and say, ‘Will you agree to your name going on the list?’

They would say, ‘Can I get a few days to meet and talk with my family?’ It’s not a process you could almost short cut,” he stated.

Asked whether names from the previous two lists could be included in the third one to be submitted to the President, Jagdeo confirmed that this would most likely not happen.

“If I do, then that could be another excuse by the

President to say, ‘Look, he is being provocative’,” the Opposition Leader added.

President Granger had rejected the second list of nominees on the basis that it was “unacceptable” in accordance with Article 161 (2) of the Constitution. The first list submitted by the Opposition was also rejected on that very basis, but with no detailed reason given.

The six nominees for the second list were: retired Justice of Appeal BS Roy, retired Justice William Ramlall, Attorney and former Magistrate Oneidge Walrond-Allicock,

Attorney Kashir Khan, Attorney Nadia Sagar, and Captain Gerald Gouveia.

Jagdeo had, in respect to the now rejected list of nominees, posited that “one (1) is a former Judge of the Court of Appeal of Guyana; one (1) is a former Judge of the High Court of Guyana; three (3) are Attorneys-at-law with over ten (10) years of good standing at the Guyana Bar; and one(1) is a former Magistrate, and therefore qualified to be Judges of a Court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in Guyana, in accordance with the

Constitution of Guyana; and one (1) is a former Captain of the Guyana Defence Force, a Pilot, and a Businessman and Entrepreneur.”

The first list included names like: Governance and Conflict Resolution Specialist Lawrence Lachmansingh; Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram; businesswoman and former broadcast executive Rhyaan Shah; Retired Major General Norman Mc Lean; Business Executive Ramesh Dookhoo, and History Professor James Rose.

The President’s interpretation adumbrated that a current or sitting judge or someone eligible to be a judge in Guyana or the Commonwealth Caribbean is preferred to be appointed as Chairman of the electoral body.

The Opposition’s contention, however, is that the Constitution clearly contemplates two categories of persons for the post: “Firstly, a High Court judge or an Appellate Court judge; a former High Court or Appellate Court judge, or a person qualified to be a High Court or an Appellate Court judge. Secondly, or (disjunctive), any “fit

and proper” person.

The President subsequently amended his position to include his ‘criteria’ that the GECOM Chairman must not only be a Judge, but must not be an activist or member of any political party, among many other provisions.

Following the rejection of the second list, a consultation was held between Jagdeo, Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, former Attorney-General Anil Nandlall and PPP/C Parliamentarian Irfaan Ali. It was agreed that in the event that the third list is rejected by the President, a high-level team would be established, representing the President and the Opposition Leader, to begin working instantaneously on exploring modalities to bring a resolution to the matter.

However, there has been no word on this team.

GECOM has been without a Chairman since February 28, 2017, when Dr Steve Surujbally stepped down after 15 years at the helm. (Samuel Sukhnandan)

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Prison Service staff and Joint Services must be commended for safely relocating over 1000 prisoners Dear Editor, Safely relocating just over 1000 prisoners during the raging inferno that reduced the central prison on Camp Street, in Georgetown, to cinder borders on the miraculous.

While a final accounting for all prisoners awaits a search of the cooling compound, the Prison Service staff and the Joint Services who worked with them along with inmates, deserve the highest commendation.

This commendation is additionally merited, in light of the provocation of the prison officers club being set alight allegedly by some inmates while being held there as a temporary measure. Statements from President David Granger and Public Security e Minister Khemraj Ramjattan indicate an intention that these levels of humanitarian concern will carry over to the make-shift accommodation in Lusignan, on the East Coast of Demerara, especially given the current heavy rains.

Judging from their performance last night (Sunday), lessons have been learnt by the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) and the Joint Services from last year’s fire in which 17 prisoners perished.

The spotlight needs to move fairly quickly to an assessment of other aspects of this tragedy.

Last year’s Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report, asked three questions: what happened? What happened that should not have happened, and what did not happen that ought to have happened.

The first section dealt with the facts: who did what and to whom and what were the consequences. The second part encompassed Standing Orders, their adequacy and other aspects of the general administration of the prison. The third part: ‘What did not happen that ought to have happened’ looked at the role of supporting agencies – the most vital of which is the Judiciary, which controls how many prisoners are sent to Camp Street prison.

The prison population as of yesterday (Sunday), according to Prison Director (ag) Gladwin Samuels stood at 1018 in a prison built originally to accommodate 300-400 inmates. The prison has to take all who are sent by the courts. The central complaint leading to last year’s fire came from remand prisoners who spend long periods awaiting trial. The Minister of Public Security reported last night that this figure still constitutes

half of all inmates – some 500 men who are still to be convicted or released as innocent.

The CoI Report alluded to the following causes of overcrowding which one way or another fall within the purview of the administration of justice.

They include refusal of bail in bailable cases, inability to pay bail, a dearth of Magistrates, slowness of the High Court, lack of alternative sentences and absence of a sentencing policy leading to bizarre discrepancies in sentences.

Following a temporary introduction of night courts and appeals to Magistrates to use their common sense and be even-handed in bail matters, over-crowding has assumed a lower profile.

An initiative to develop alternative penalties has reportedly been developed but its effects are not yet evident in the courts.

Equally disturbing is the lack of sustained interest from the legal profession in bringing pressure to keep prison reform front and centre of public concern. Similarly, the other key institution nominally responsible for the welfare and safety of prisoners, namely the Parole Board, has powers to ensure that time spent productively while in prison will result in positive and timely recommendations for parole.

It is the safety valve all prisons require to incentivise good behaviour. More attention to the role of the Guyana Parole Board is needed to ensure public accountability and greater vitality.

By contrast, the GPS has shown imagination and leadership on over-crowding by rewarding prisoners who work without compensation in the prisons. Acting Prison Director Samuels is reported as stating that “It’s a form of reward for daily contribution to the prisons. They work in the tailor shops, farms, kitchens, clean the yards, transport self-support meals. At the end of the month, we calculate the value of that labour. So, as a form of compensation, they receive Special Remission, which is reduced time on their sentences. Last year a total of 8743 days were taken off from the sentences.

In the past, it was seven to 28 days, but this time we started from 14 to 21, to 28 days. Many of them are well behaved and go beyond the call of duty of what is required. Some 486 prisoners have benefited from this scheme to date.”

Sincerely, Guyana Human Rights Association

Govt should build two prisons outside of Georgetown Dear Editor, The Indian Action Committee (IAC) is shocked and horrified at the deliberate destruction of the Camp Street jail, which was destroyed by fire on Sunday, July 9, 2017; set simultaneously in several buildings in the compound by dangerous prisoners – many of whom are on death row or serving life sentences for murder.

The IAC understands that the now destroyed prison was insanely overcrowded, with at least twice the safe capacity for housing both convicted criminals and those on remand prior to their trials.

The IAC is calling on the Government, which now has an ideal opportunity to construct two new prisons outside of the city of Georgetown: one for the remand detainees in the vicinity of Timehri and a second for dangerous convicted criminals somewhere in the remote interior of the country, such as within the New River Triangle.

The IAC further calls upon

the Government to implement speedy trials for those on remand so that their constitutional rights under Article 144 can be protected and this can be facilitated by the allocation of sufficient funds into the now being prepared 2018 National Budget, given the recent statement made by the Public Security Minister that there is not enough money available for the reduction of this backlog of cases.

The IAC wishes to express its deepest condolences to the family and relatives of the slain Prison Officer, Odinga Wickham, who was brutally murdered by prisoners and the organisation wishes a speedy recovery to the other wounded prison officers.

The IAC also understands that hundreds of prisoners have been taken to Lusignan where the facility there cannot accommodate them and that these prisoners are being kept in the open exposed to the elements in an inhumane manner and, therefore, this unsafe situation presents a

clear danger to the inhabitants of the villages nearby.

The IAC calls upon the Guyanese citizens to take all possible safety precautions because several very dangerous criminals have not yet been recaptured and these persons have the ability to create a grave crisis similar to what occurred after the 2002 Mashramani Day prison break from the same facility which led to the crime wave that lasted from then until 2009.

The IAC recommends that no new prison be rebuilt at Camp Street and that the land be put to other use, whether publicly or privately.

The IAC also recommends that as the economy deteriorates and unemployment rises with a concomitant worsening of the crime situation, that Government take a tough line on crime.

Yours cooperatively, Indian Action Committee

Guyana Govt pursuing policies that are taking us to dictatorial rule Dear Editor, Over the last two years, the APNU regime has changed the course that our country was on: open, free and democratic; and has been pursuing policies that are taking us to dictatorial rule.

We have travelled that path before — during the post-Independence period, particularly in the 1970s; therefore, we are easily able to detect the signs and recognize the policies and ploys as we rapidly descend into authoritarianism.

The case involving the former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs is the most recent, albeit clearest, indication of the rot taking place in the democratic fabric of the society. Indeed, this regime is taking a non-issue and trying to create the impression that some gross criminal act has been committed — a total and malicious fabrication! And why?

Simply, in my view, to silence, intimidate, and drive fear in the minds of those who dare speak out in criticism of this Government.

After the November, 2011 General and Regional Elections, Mr. Anil Nandlall was offered, and accepted, the position of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

Before he accepted the appointment, he informed me that he had been subscribing to the Law Reports of the Commonwealth since 2003, and his subscription used to be paid from his private law practice.

He expressed a desire to continue the subscription, and asked if the Government would pay this subscription fee, since he would no longer be in private practice.

As President, I agreed to Mr. Nandlall’s request.

Indeed, it was not a big decision, since all ministers had a budget from which they subscribed to many periodicals or purchased books or reading materials relating to their work and for general knowledge. Indeed, at the Office of the President, I inherited the same type of arrangement, which I am sure that President Granger now enjoys.

I read former Prime Minister Sam Hinds’s writing in the press and learned that he enjoyed similar facilities during all his years at the bauxite company, both under foreign and local ownership.

The books or periodicals acquired under those arrangements were always considered the property of persons for whom they were intended.

Now we see this Government taking the petty position that those books are the property of the State.

Even publishers of the reports, Lexis Nexis, confirmed that Mr. Nandlall was the subscriber, and never the Government of Guyana.

Despite all of this, Mr. Nandlall was charged and dragged before the court. He pleaded not guilty, and the case is presently on-going in the Magistrate’s Court. So far, two witnesses were called and gave evidence.

In order to prevent SOCU from seizing his property, Nandlall applied for, and obtained, a conservatory order from the Chief Justice (ag) of the High Court, restraining members of the Police Force, including SOCU, from seizing his books.

One would have thought that the Police Force would

now stand down and await the outcome of the case. Not so with this vindictive regime.

Even though the court order is still in effect, the Police again applied for, and obtained, a search warrant for those very books in Mr. Nandlall’s possession.

The ground that they used is laughable, and would have really been comical had it not been so tragic. They claimed that they are looking for fourteen (14) ‘Law Reports of the Commonwealth’, and not fifteen (15) ‘Commonwealth Law Reports’ for the years 2012 to 2015, as is stated on the conservatory order which restrained the Police from entering and taking Nandlall’s property.

Can you imagine the effort, costs and resources this no-case is expending? At the same time, this very APNU regime has given scholarships to two of its ministers, costing taxpayers millions of dollars while paying the ministers full salaries; they pay half million each as rentals of mansions with swimming pools for junior ministers to live in.

The personnel in the regime lack shame, and are displaying a viciousness known to be associated with small-minded persons and petty dictators.

It is a shame that members of the Police Force would allow their professionalism and integrity to be compromised to such a state that they acquiesce with the regime in such a manner. It is obvious that they have succumbed to political control and manipulation.

Donald Ramotar Former President

WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Barbados PM given ultimatum to ease tax squeeze or face national shutdown

Members of the island’s largest trade unions attended the march, carrying sign bearing messages for the Freundel Stuart administration. (Photo credit: Barbados Today)

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arbados is facing the possibility of a nationwide shutdown led by the island’s leading trade unions.

The Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) yesterday gave Prime Minister Freundel Stuart 48 hours to respond positively to their demands for a reprieve from the austerity measures announced in the May 30 Budget, or they would take that action.

The threat came after the leaders of the four unions had earlier aborted an attempt to hand-deliver their request in writing to the Prime Minister.

“We will give the Government 48 hours to respond to the request that we made and if we don’t have a favourable response we will do what we have to do as a trade union movement,” NUPW President Akanni McDowall told Barbados Today after addressing a gathering of members of the unions at Independence Square.

Earlier, an estimated 400 shop stewards and other members joined McDowall, BSTU President Mary Redman, BUT President Pedro Shepherd and BWU General Secretary Toni Moore in a walk from Queen’s Park, The City, to Independent Square.

From there, the four leaders made the trek to Parliament, where they expected to present Stuart, along with Opposition Leader Mia Mottley and Independent Members of Parliament Owen Arthur and Dr Maria Agard, with copies of the

letter containing their demands.

The Prime Minister initially refused to meet with all four trade union leaders, advising them through a police officer that he was prepared to meet just one, McDowall said, describing the Prime Minister’s action as an act of disrespect.

“We tried to deliver the letter to the Prime Minister first as a sign of respect. He sent an officer to us saying that he would allow the letter to be delivered but only by one leader. All of us said ‘no’. We were going to stay together. It is either that the Prime Minister accepts that all four leaders would have to deliver the letter or we would just leave the letter with the reception,” he reported.

Having decided to move on, the four met with Mottley and were on their way out when the officer returned to advise that the Prime Minister was prepared to meet them all.

However, McDowall said by then they “could not meet with the Prime Minister because we definitely could not leave our members there [Independence Square].

“So, we left his letter along with those of the two Independent MPs [who were absent from Parliament] at reception,” he explained.

Despite shouts from the members gathered at Independence Square for their labour representatives to “up the thing” – a call for tougher action – the BWU’s Toni Moore refused to be drawn into revealing details of the unions’ next move, saying the executives of the four unions had been discussing a number of possible scenarios and she “would not want to speak out of turn.

“I think that what happens now is, as we

agreed before, that we would regroup immediately after what took place because we could not anticipate the response – what exactly the response would have been,” she said.

“We also would not want to be previous because we see it as very necessary for us to allow that 48 hours to really have meaning and we are still . . . hopeful that there will be a favourable response, that we really would not have to ‘up de ting’ as is being called for.”

The unions had previously demanded that Government either rescind the steep increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), which climbed from two per cent to ten per cent as of July 1, or give workers a coping subsidy. However, at a meeting with shop stewards last week, they backed down somewhat, stating they were prepared to live with the NSRL at five per cent.

This prompted some to accuse the trade unions of “selling out”, a charge Moore today rejected as unfounded.

She was adamant the unions were “really committed to positive responses in the interest of Barbadians . . . who [are] suffering . . . cannot endure the taxes, Barbadians who can’t take any more of what is being meted out to them.

“We are hoping that reasonableness [and] caring would prevail, but in the interim we will meet amongst ourselves, amongst our combined executives and so on, we will formulate a plan and we are confident that our shop stewards are with us to execute whatever we feel is the next step,” the BWU leader said.

(Adapted from Barbados Today)

news 7

WANTED BULLETIN issued by the GPF for prison escapees on the run.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Double murder Weight limits will result in suspect recaptured exorbitant services – MP Deplorable state of interior roads

…was found at home disguised in women’s clothing

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Shamedeen Mohamed

esidents in the community of Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo are on guard against possible suspects roaming the area who are on remand for a double murder committed on an elderly couple in the community last year. This renewed fear followed the escape and subsequent recapture of murder suspect Shamedeen Mohamed, who was found draped in women’s apparel at his Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, residence on Monday night.

His escape was facilitated by Sunday afternoon’s Camp Street Prison inferno, which was believed to be a distraction organised by high-profile prisoner, Mark Royden Williams who remains on the run.

A source close to the investigation in Essequibo revealed that Mohamed was briefly roaming free in the Tuschen environs near his residence but persons in the area could not recognise his conventional features

as he was disguised in a hijab and gown which are traditionally worn by women of the Muslim faith.

This newspaper was told Mohamed was found just after 21:00h dressed in the garments. “We wait until place get dark and he was captured after 9pm. He was lying down on his mother’s bed wearing a hijab; he and his mother together in the bed,” the investigator revealed.

It was suggested that even though his disguise appeared to be convincing, he was recognised by officers in the Police

Station. Despite his apprehension, residents are unnerved at the thought that the murder suspect casually returned to the area.

“Residents [didn’t] recognise him but they are afraid because they are saying that there [was] no publication as to who [exactly] escaped from prison,” this newspaper was told.

It was also contended that if completely publicised, members of the public would able to better identify the escapees if they came into contact with them. As such, they are calling for law en-

Mohamed and Jamilla Munir were killed last year

patrol which was actively searching through the areas after the prison break.

“He believed that people wouldn’t have recognised him,” the Police source added.

Mohamed’s mother was arrested and taken into custody, reportedly at the Leonora Police

forcement entities to be clear on identifying all of the prison escapees.

“The community members worried because when they heard he was arrested, they are looking out for others because they suspect that others could be in the community also. continued on page 10

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he complaints from truckers about the deplorable state of interior roads preceded Government’s declaration that weight limits would be imposed on vehicles traversing the interior.

The announcement is being greeted by worry that the additional cost would be passed onto customers.

Speaking specifically about the situation in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Opposition Member of Parliament, Alister Charlie acknowledged that the roads were in a sorry state and trucks were one contributory factor.

“We’re looking at the roads specifically,” he said in an interview with this newspaper while in Region Nine. “Lethem is a beautiful place, but minus the roads. Our roads at this time are in a deplorable state. Trucks traversing along the roads in hinterland regions is one contributing factor to the deterioration of the roads.”

But noting Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson’s recent utterances that a weight limit will be imposed on all trucks traversing these roads, Charlie expressed worry that the measure would hamper the delivery of goods and services to those in need.

“Because we will see the escalation of prices, prices start to rise and everything goes with it. When we were in Government, we did road maintenance across this region, inclusive of the Lethem-Linden roads.

We did road maintenance two times annual-

The state of the Hinterland roads requires urgent attention (Irfaan Ali photo)

ly – one before the rainy season and one after.”

“We did not wait until the road was in such a deplorable state and then we go to fix it. The Minister (had) alluded that in August some road work would be done, but at this time it would not be feasible. So, we are facing a problem that might take us to yearend.”

Declaring that overweight trucks were chiefly responsible for wreaking havoc on interior roads in Guyana, Government had announced that moves would be made to amend the relevant laws in order to enforce weight limits on the roadways.

In fact, the legislative instrument to enable the change in the law is currently with the Chambers of the Attorney General for vetting. Three heavy-duty scales have already been procured, and Government will be moving to have them installed at key locations shortly.

Of the G$2.3 billion allocated to the Public Infrastructure Ministry for use on hinterland roads, some 82 per cent of those funds has been

committed to contracts, with 43 per cent of the money committed to contracts having already been disbursed to contractors.

Patterson, who made his announcement at the beginning of the 67th Sitting of the National Assembly, was responding to People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Juan Edghill, who queried what measures were being put in place to address the plight of truckers moving goods and providing services to interior locations using roads such as the Linden-Lethem road link.

In presenting an update to members of the National Assembly, Patterson elucidated the damage done by overweight trucks traversing the interior roads, and pointed out that the pontoon at the Puruni crossing in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was only recently damaged by a truck.

He explained that the limit for drums on a truck is 50, but that truck that damaged the pontoon at the time was carrying 130 drums of diesel.

Suspected ‘terror gang’ member on trial for murder

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asil Morgan who was believed to have been part and parcel of a gang that carried out several terror-related crimes almost nine years ago has finally appeared in the High Court for trial.

Among the crimes the gang allegedly carried out was setting fire to a public building – the Supreme Court of Judicature’s Registry department. However, State Prosecutors opted to institute a murder charge only relative to the demise of Woddet Roberts, called “Buck Man”, who was killed during the course of a robbery be-

tween November 3 and November 4, 2009.

When the accused, Morgan appeared before Justice James Bovell-Drakes on Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty to murdering Roberts. As such, a 12-member jury was empanelled to hear the case which is being led

by Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy for the State.

Police said Morgan was part of the gang that robbed the now deceased man and stole a Toyota Tacoma vehicle along the LindenSoesdyke highway.

Morgan’s alleged accomplices, David Anthony Watson, called “Tupac”, Randy Mars,

known as “Ratty”, and Jafar Simpson, were sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment in April 2017 after pleading guilty to manslaughter for Roberts’ killing.

They were additionally sentenced for other terror-related crimes.

Meanwhile, gang leader Colin Jones admitted guilt for the 2009 terror acts and was sentenced to 80 years’ imprisonment for the offences he inflicted between 2009 and 2010.

Morgan’s trial continues before Justice Bovell-Drakes. He is represented by defence counsel Lyndon Amsterdam.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

T&T prison officers group fears jailbreak similar to Guyana’s

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resident of the Prisons Officers Association, Ceron Richards, fears that Sunday’s jailbreak in Guyana is a disaster waiting to happen at the Portof-Spain State Prison.

Attorney Israel Khan SC also described it as a minefield and a ticking time bomb.

Richard said two things that could trigger a standoff and jailbreak at this prison were lack of security measures and the city’s ageing facility.

He was commenting on the stand-off between armed inmates and prison officers in Guyana’s Georgetown Prison, which left one prison officer killed, seven others injured and four prisoners escaping.

Chaos broke out at the prison after armed inmates took control of the facility, setting it on fire.

Asked if the Port-ofSpain State Prison, which was built in 1812 could face a similar situation, Richards said yes.

“But of course, we had a jail break in July of 2015 which resulted in the death of three individuals.

Of course, it is extremely worrying. It is not farfetched in our country. And if that is any indication as to what can happen in the service, that question goes without saying. We have to look at these things as serious trends. When anything happens in the Caribbean and Central America it could have a domino effect.

It can spread to other countries. We have to be mindful of that.”

Richards said things had to be implemented at this prison to secure and monitor its 700 inmates some of whom were considered dangerous.

“Over the years we have been clamouring for a number of security implementation…all those things have fallen on deaf ears. If not most of them.

We have always stated that the Port-of- Spain Prison is faced with health and safety challenges.”

While the structure had been deteriorating, Richard said, things could be done to improve the building’s internal system and make it OSH compliant for its 200 prison officers.

He said the association had asked for additional CCTV cameras to be installed at the nation’s prisons.

“You cannot have high security establishments and don’t have basic security equipment.

“No Government so far is up to the challenge of having that type of facility built. When we had the money to build the prison it was not done. Now we have no money we are faced with

all sorts of excuses, he said” Richards was not in support of the capital city prison being shut down since there was no alternate location.

He said moving the prisons to an already overcrowded Maximum Security Prison was not an option, since the facility did not have a proper alarm system.

In going forward, Richard said the association would enlighten the public on its growing challenges this month.

Weighing in on the issue, Khan said prisoners did not need guns and ammunition to have a jail break. “All that is required is a box of matches which is so accessible in prison and easy to conceal,” he said.

Faced with massive overcrowding and inhumane conditions, Khan said a few frustrated prisoners “might just lose it and all hell would break lose. They cannot get a day in trial. Everything might come to a climax. Don’t think they are not looking on to the 52 part heard matters that are pending and then going to court and can’t get a trial.

“Trinidadians have a tendency to copycat, what happened in Guyana might very well be patterned here,” Khan said.

Khan said the fact that prisoners were still relieving themselves in pails and toilet paper was not readily available meant “this could be a disaster waiting to happen. It’s a ticking time bomb.”

Former inspector of prisons, Daniel Khan concurred with Richards.

“When your neighbour’s house is on fire you should wet yours.”

Khan said within recent times every minister in charge of prisons had recommended “the shutdown of the Port-of-Spain Prison. I supported this recommendation every time it was made and documented such in my 2012 report.”

In that report, Khan stated that the extent of upgrades were needed in order to bring it to a standard in which humane, hygienic and sanitary conditions prevail would make it economically infeasible to continue its operations.

“It is also recommended that an engineering team be established that would visit each prison with a view to determining its current state of each prison and give recommendations on improving the structure of such buildings.”

Calls to acting Commissioner of Prisons Williams Alexander’s cellphone yesterday went unanswered.

(Trinidad Guardian)

Guyana’s private sector roasts Govt over slow pace of prison reform

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n wake of Sunday’s inferno that gutted the wooden Camp Street Prison, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has criticised the slow pace of prison reform that allowed the catastrophe to occur. In addition, the body made it clear that it holds the Government accountable.

According to the PSC, prison reform in its entirety should be a top priority of the Government.

It noted that much of the recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into a fire at the same facility last year were not implemented.

The PSC also expressed disappointment that there are monies allocated by the Finance Ministry (almost G$30 billion) towards the Public Security Ministry that remain unspent. In view of this, it called for Government to operate more quickly. But the Commission also had recommendations of its own.

It called for the immediate fast-track of the Mazaruni Prison modification and that the facilities in Georgetown be only for prisoners awaiting trial. In addition, the business representative body called for the Judiciary to be pushed harder to clear up backlogs.

“Ensure more civil society leaders are placed on prison related boards,” the PSC urged. “And consider privatising the prison system. (Also) review proposals for the establishment of a half-way house in the rehabilitative process… and immediately look at working conditions for prison officers.”

“We are sure that the responsible Minister is aware of what else should

PSC Chairman, Eddie Boyer

be done. We need to get it done faster. We urge the Government of Guyana to ensure that by the re-capturing of the dangerous prisoners that are on the loose, that the stability of our society is ensured.”

Urging Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, his Ministry and the Cabinet to do more, the PSC also called on citizens to report any suspicious incidents to the Guyana Police Force.

“The re-occurrences of Sunday must not be repeated. It could have been much worse. The PSC holds the Government of Guyana accountable and ask that top priority be given to the entire process of prison reform.”

According to the PSC, it has observed with disappointment over the years the slow pace of implementing measures to mitigate the “results of a slow court system, the mixing of remand and other prisoners with serious crime prisoners and other causal factors that have placed us where we are with regards to prison management.”

The Commission said that enough attention was not paid by Government to the deterioration of the prison system. It noted that efforts to speed up the Judiciary were not enough, resulting in the

overcrowding and general decay of the system. Last year March, a fire had raged through the Camp Street Prison and claimed the lives of 17 prisoners.

Afterwards, a CoI which cost the Treasury some G$13 million was ordered by President David Granger. According to the report compiled by the Commissioners, the combination of overcrowded, uncomfortable and unhygienic confinement are all ideal conditions for epidemics, for gangs to prosper and to propagate discontent.

Moreover, the CoI found that reducing numbers in prison to manageable levels is the single

originally built to house half that number.

Meanwhile, the PSC also urged the Government to fully declare the identities of persons being granted bail. It also called for the histories and other information of those prisoners to be released, while urging the Police to monitor these persons, wherever possible.

“We urge the authorities to publish the true and accurate count of prisoners held prior to the incident, the amount transferred and the unaccounted prisoners. The lack of accurate official information has created much room for specula-

What is left of the Camp Street Prison

most important priority for establishing safe, humane and purposeful prisons.

It was further noted that repeat offenders have increased by over 100 per cent, “indicating not only a waste of taxpayer dollars but also the need for a more comprehensive and structured partnership within the wider justice system.”

But despite these recommendations, Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels himself confirmed that at the time of the fire, over 1000 prisoners were being housed at the prison – a prison

tion and is fuelling fear in our society.”

PSC also expressed disagreement with the utterances of Ramjattan, who at a press conference after the fire had said that he could grant remissions to prisoners serving a jail term; once they are classified as prisoners with good behaviour.

“The PSC, having sought legal advice is of the view that the Minister is not empowered to do so and that this statement should be corrected,” the Private Sector body elucidated.

10 news

WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Saved by God’s grace’

…kidnapped taxi driver recalls harrowing ordeal at hands of escapees

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wenty-two-year-old Matthew Shivtahal who was abducted by four high-profile murderers following the jailbreak at the Camp Street Penitentiary on Sunday evening said he begged for his life as he recounted the harrowing ordeal.

The traumatised father of one, who was scared for his life, trotted though thick vegetation, swamps, trenches and several hives as soon as he was given the green light to go by wanted fugitive Mark Royden Durant, also called “Mark Williams” and “Smallie”.

Although Durant’s cohorts were against the idea of releasing the young man, the alleged mastermind behind the prison break directed Shivtahal through a path that would lead to his freedom. After following that path, he finally saw light and ended up at the back of Annandale, East Coast Demerara on Monday evening at about 22:00h.

There, the muddied and shaken man requested a telephone call from a shop owner but in turn, the proprietor enquired the reason for the telephone call and during his explanation, he was overheard by an off-duty Police rank, who subsequently escorted him to the Vigilance Police Station where he was questioned and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital to seek medical attention.

Just after 05:00h on Tuesday, Shivtahal was reunited with his wife and one year-old son.

Speaking at his home on Tuesday morning, the man explained that on Sunday he went to pick up a customer and her children at Industry, East Coast of Demerara and on his way to the East Bank of Demerara, he drove through the city.

In the vicinity of Broad and Camp Streets, he was confronted by the four armed men who pushed the woman and her children out of the vehicle but as he was about to exit the vehicle, the men shoved him back in the car, held him at gunpoint and ordered him to drive.

According to the still visibly shaken man, the armed men instructed him to drive to South Ruimveldt, Georgetown where they abandoned the car and ran into the backlands. Since then, it was crossing trenches and swamps until they reached the 7-Door Sluice at Land of Canaan on the East Bank of Demerara.

“When we reach deh, we supposed to go over the big trench and I can’t swim so, they said instead for me to slow them down is best they kill me. I deh begging them and tell them that I get a one-year-old son and that I wouldn’t like he to grow up without a father and it was the Rasta one who say just because I tell them that, they go let me go,” he stated.

However, he recalled that during the ordeal, he was kept at bay as they made their telephone

Released taxi driver, Matthew Shivtahal

calls but he overheard them speaking about heading to the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

Nevertheless, he further stated that only two of the men were armed with suspected pistols. In addition, he noted that during the trekking in the backlands, they had nothing to eat or drink while confirming that none of the men were injured, as was suspected following the jail break.

While they were discrete in their interactions among each other, Shivtahal explained that the men did not seem fearful of being recaptured while noting that at no point did the men speak about their involvement in the fire at the Camp Street Prison.

“When we were walking down, they see the fire because it was so big and they said look it done deh.

They did talking stuff that they don’t want me to hear so they were keeping it on low,” the man recalled.

In a more relaxed condition, he stated that it was while at the Vigilance Police Station he was told that the men set the prison on fire and there was a shootout at the jail while noting that upon his abduction, he was not aware that there was a situation at the Camp Street Prison.

Meanwhile, Shivtahal noted that upon reaching the Vigilance Police Station, he was given a bottle of water and something to eat by a Sergeant, who later transported him to the Brickdam Police Station. Now that he is at home with his family, the young man said “it’s an overwhelming joy… honestly to go through what I went through and come out alive is just God’s grace, honestly.”

He nevertheless has to report to the Brickdam Police Station to be further questioned. It is believed that the four men who held the taxi driver captive are Mark Durant; Uree Varswyck, also known as “Malcolm Gordon”; Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander and “Nasta Man”.

When contacted, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud told this newspaper that he sees no reason for the young man to be given Police protection, adding that if the fugitives wanted him dead, they would have done so since he was abducted.

More efforts needed to improve talents of Guyanese entrepreneurs - Gouveia

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hile addressing the gathering at the launch of the University of Guyana’s School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) on Friday last, local entrepreneur, Captain Gerald Gouveia said the Private Sector currently existing in Guyana is one that is relatively new, and hence there is need for more efforts to refine the talents of local entrepreneurs.

In his statement, the mastermind of several tourism and hospitality entities revisited Guyana’s economic standings in the late 1900’s and thereby pointed out the difference in the privately operated portions of the country when compared to what is happening now.

It was on that note Gouveia highlighted the need for further efforts to refine the talents and approaches of local business owners, so as to capitalise on the market – both at home and abroad, while adequately catering for the country’s human resources.

Captain Gouveia conveyed that, “A lot of us knew a time when 95 per cent of our economy was controlled by the State and then under (former President) Desmond Hoyte we saw a reversal of that and the Private Sector became alive again.” As such, “our Private Sector today is actually a very new Private Sector,” Gouveia said.

Adding to the already disproportionate balance between public and private management of the country, Gouveia went on to point out the undesirable conditions which plagued the Private Sector in the past years.

The pilot revisited an early moment in his career which led in him in the service of the late Forbes Burnham, during which he relayed the former President’s visions of

Captain Gerald Gouveia

a more nurturing environment for businesses, and their proprietors, to thrive.

“They were faced with a Private Sector in Guyana with a bunch of entrepreneurs that were extremely unkind to their workers back in the 1950’s. They were working for low salaries, in bad working conditions and long hours; women were not working for equal pay,” Gouveia outlined.

He went on to say that, “I sat there and listened to him (Burnham) talk about a Guyana I did not recognise because I did not know it back then. But it was a Guyana we were all dreaming for, where never again do we have to face what they had to face… a Private Sector that was not kind to their workers.”

With that, Gouveia welcomed the evolution which saw the emergence of a more balanced economy, presenting a conducive state for growth and success. However, even as the businessman celebrated the accomplishments of the “new Private Sector,” he was inclined to indicate several aspects which are still lacking, even in present day.

“But in the (new) Private Sector, it needs education.

It is a Private Sector that needs money. This is also

a Private Sector that needs the Government to understand that for entrepreneurs to succeed, the enabling environment needs to be in place,” he posited.

Moreover, Gouveia, while addressing a more individual approach to the development of the Guyanese Private Sector, indicated that entrepreneurs have a part to play in steering the success of the local economy. It was then that he posited that entrepreneurs must be passionate and primitive.

“The best entrepreneurs are hungry entrepreneurs…

I believe that entrepreneurship is almost like a talent, you find some people who got it naturally but even people who are born with it still have a lot to learn.”

With that, he questioned, “How do you teach a carpenter to become a contractor? How do you teacher a lawyer to operate their own law firm?”

It was against that background that Gouveia laid out, “We have many famers but we don’t have a lot of people who understand the business of farming.

Every afternoon I have a plane, a 767 that leaves here with 10 tons of empty belly space that can be taking fresh fruits and vegetables to New York to feed the New York market but our farmers haven’t yet understood the requirements of the phytosanitary systems to meet those U.S. systems.”

As such, he alluded to the establishment of a tertiary level school of business and entrepreneurship in Guyana as a bold step forward in addressing the several shortcomings such as policymaking, critical thinking, experimental learning and corporate social responsibility, all of which are objectives of SEBI.

Double murder...

Everybody is alert at this time and the community is on the alert to look out for them,” this publication was further informed.

Mohamed and four others – Sanjay George, called “Coolie Boy”; Jason Howard, called “Smelly”; Joel Blair called “Joey” – were charged in December last year for allegedly murdering rice farmers Mohamed and Jamilla Munir who were burnt to death after their house was set alight. The fire followed a foiled robbery attempt on April 17, 2016.

In an alleged confession the suspects had given to Police, the attempted robbery was hatched after information was received that the couple had a large sum of money in their home.

Reports were that when the

thieves arrived at the Good Hope home of the elderly couple, they were asleep and had been awakened by noises and later ordered out of their bedroom by the men.

However, it was reported the couple had not complied and as such one of the suspects reportedly set a sofa in the home alight, after which he tossed a fuel cylinder into the fire which caused a huge explosion.

The bandits fled but the fire trapped the aged couple and they were heard and seen screaming for help from a grilled window of their home. Neighbours had been unsuccessful in their attempts to save them. Their charred remains were discovered together after the blaze was doused.

One of the suspects,

from page 8

Jason Howard, was also charged with five additional counts of robbery under arms. He, along with another, Curtis Vasconcellos, was charged with another count of robbery under arms and attempted murder.

Vasconcellos and his twin brother Kurt, were nabbed on Tuesday in connection with a robbery under arms committed on the East Coast of Demerara. They were caught at Mc Doom, Greater Georgetown, near the scene of another robbery which left a route 32 minibus driver dead after he was shot in the back.

It has been confirmed by prison authorities that eight prisoners are on the run; 4 of whom are yet to be identified. (Shemuel Fanfair)

news 11

WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

ExxonMobil to ‘It’s very hard’ of slain prison officer recounts relocate onshore base …mother hearing dreadful news of son’s death from T&T to Guyana

Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman

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he recently appointed Country Manager of ExxonMobil in Guyana, Rod Henson, has announced that that company will be relocating to Guyana its onshore operations — used for support services — from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, where they are currently based.

Henson made the announcement over the weekend during an outreach in Corriverton, Berbice as part of Guyana’s application process to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) based in Oslo, Norway.

Henson was at the time engaging a Berbice businessman who was looking to query what, if any, interest ExxonMobil held in Crab Island in light of word that an onshore base would be established there.

According to the businessman, with sugar facing its demise locally, young people were looking to the emerging oil-and-gas sector in hope of acquiring jobs, but were unclear as to what exactly is being proposed for that island.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has indicated that Government is examining the possibility of establishing on Crab Island an onshore base costing some US$500M, but Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has repeatedly dismissed the claim as a fallacy; and while ExxonMobil had publicly declared its disinterest in building such a facility, Henson had indicated a route the company could use

to establish a shore base for support services in Guyana.

Henson had, however, been quick to point out, “Our development is offshore; that’s where we have a lease from the Government, and that’s where we are developing.” Nevertheless, he had also said: “We require shore bases.”

He had explained that some amount of development requires support services onshore, but had also stated that the company’s facilities are currently located in Trinidad and Tobago.

He had told participants it was not a case wherein ExxonMobil would be looking to build a facility for its support services, but would rather put out tenders and anyone interested in providing the shore base services could present a proposal.

In relation to the Crab Island proposals, Henson explained that ExxonMobil would not, in any way, dictate where the base should be located in Guyana; but insisted that the “next shore base has to be in Guyana.”

The ExxonMobil Country Manager indicated, “We will put out our requirements and we will let the Guyanese (people) compete, and if it’s in Berbice, great!

We (are) not dictating where; that is, it’s an open and transparent tender process.”

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman had, in 2016, announced that Cabinet had given its ‘no objection’ to the establishment of the onshore industrial site in the area of Crab Island,

Berbice. He had said it would be forged through the joint efforts of the ministries of Natural Resources, Public Infrastructure and Business. Construction was announced for early this year, and the investments from the private sector and Government’s infrastructural work and support were to be equivalent to US$500M; but this has never materialised.

According to information released this March by the Government’s Department of Information (DPI), the construction of an onshore oil-and-gas facility at Crab Island seeks to cater to the expansion of exploration and subsequent production of oil in Guyana. Crab Island is located in the Berbice River.

That report had said Government would be investing US$500M to construct the onshore facility during the course of this year, and that the facility would serve as a logistics and supply base to the offshore production.

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Department has been advertising leasehold interest in close proximity to Crab Island.

The facility touted by Government is said to create some 600 jobs, and could consist of components which include maintenance, fabrication, warehousing, spares, housing, and spares handling among others.

ExxonMobil has, in recent months, been advertising for onshore service providers.

John Fernandes Limited (JFL) and Muneshwer’s Limited were among the shortlisted companies. These companies have port facilities along Water Street.

ExxonMobil and its partners found oil in commercial quantities in the Liza Field back in May 2015, and have since accelerated development activities in preparation for commercial production in 2020.

Additionally, several other companies have been issued licences to explore Guyana’s deep waters. Those companies include Repsol, Tullow Oil, CGX, JHI, Eco Atlantic and Ratio Oil.

Dead prison officer Odinga Wickham

Annette Wickham, the heartbroken mother

Grieving fiancée Tony Brandon

hirty-threeyear-old Odinga Wickham, the prison officer who succumbed after he was shot multiple times during the Camp Street Prison unrest on Sunday, was the sole breadwinner for his family.

This is according to Annette Wickham, the mother of the dead officer, who broke down in tears as she spoke about her son to media operatives on Monday. “…is meh eldest child… He’s 33, ah mind him without [his] father.

It’s hard, it’s hard. I keep asking the guards, I keep asking his colleagues, did he hit the prisoner?

[Colleague]

said “no ma’am, we gonna get down to the story”…Who’s gonna look after me? Who is gonna look after his daughter?” the grieving mother cried on Monday.

According to the heartbroken mother, at about 16:30h on Sunday, she received information that the Camp Street Prison was on fire and recalled calling her son but those calls went unanswered. She said she immediately prepared to head the Georgetown Public Hospital as news of prison officers being injured spread.

However, shortly before leaving home, a family member, who worked at the Georgetown Public

Hospital, called her and informed her that her son was injured.

“When I went down there, I spend a long time outside. The guards wouldn’t allow me to go in. I seh I have my ID card, do you want me to show my ID card? I’m the mother of Odinga Wickham and then a female guard said ‘come’ and she put me in a corner of the hospital to stand up, and I stood there. By the time a receptionist came and she took me into the doctor. The doctor seh “Ms Wickham, how are you?

What can I say to you?

Your son got four gunshot wounds…two to

T

continued on page 14

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WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Granger admits prison blaze “was an accident waiting to happen”

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overnment will be going back to the drawing board to consider a new structure to house prisoners at the Camp Street penitentiary, President David Granger has said.

The Head of state said the condition of the facility has rendered it inadequate, noting that the fire on Sunday was an “accident waiting to happen”.

Granger made the remarks moments after leaving the Camp Street premises which were gutted on Sunday by fire, allegedly started by death row inmate Royden Mark Durant, also known as Mark Williams and “Smallie”.

The President, along with his team of Cabinet members, visited the facility to get a first-hand view of the aftermath.

According to President Granger, Government will have to go back to the drawing board to determine whether it is appropriate to have a facility such as the Prison at the centre of the city.

“The three major prisons were constructed by the British in Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo. This was adequate maybe 120 years ago, certainly it is not adequate now, so we will definitely have to go back to the drawing board to decide whatever facility we’ll need. But we are not going to have the same type of facility here again,” the Head of State said outside the gates of the Prison ruins.

He said the devastation was “almost total” and there were no intentions of rebuilding it as it

were before.

Asked whether Government was disappointed that better security measures were not taken to prevent such a recurrence, President Granger said the Administration was aware of the situation and was acting on the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

He said Government knew that it needed to strengthen Mazaruni, since money was provided and the Administration was in the process of expanding the facility at Mazaruni when the incident occurred.

“This is an accident waiting to happen,” the President said, continuing that the New Amsterdam penitentiary was also in a fragile

President David Granger; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo along with fire and prison service officials on Tuesday at the flattened Georgetown Prison

state.

“So we are working as quickly as we could with the limited resources and we can assure you that at the end of it, the Ministry of Public Security will have a more secured prison that is not susceptible to this

cycle of breakouts. This is the last breakout,” he said.

“We are aware of the fragile structures that were erected over 100 years ago, and we have done our best in the circumstances.”

Among the recommendations of the CoI following the deadly prison fire in 2016 was the automatic release of prisoners, who were on remand once the time served equalled the sentence which the offence attracted. Further, maximum limits for the time inmates were on remand was also under consideration.

It was also suggested that the high number of prisoners on remand was responsible for overcrowding in the prison system.

Other recommendations to ensure reduction of overcrowding included the resolution of legal issues required, the abolishing of Preliminary Inquiries (PIs) as an urgent priority of the Judiciary; a robust programme of community-based sentencing alternatives and a piloting of alternative and community-based sentences with women and juvenile offenders.

Sophia man denies killing fiancée’s estranged husband 15, 2013 at Lamaha S p r i n g s , Georgetown.

Police had said that the deceased man had called the Jones home to speak with the child that he shared with his estranged wife. However, Jones was said to have refused the man’s request, which angered Garnett who then armed himself with a cutlass and conDeceased: Carl Garnett fronted Jones at his home in man who alLamaha Springs. legedly killed An altercation enthe estranged sued during which husband of his fiancée appeared before a Garnett ended up dead chop wounds.

High Court judge on with Jones, however, denies Tuesday. that he murdered the At his arraignman.

A jury was emment, murder accused Aniki Jones of Sophia, panelled on Tuesday Greater Georgetown to hear the case, which being presented pleaded not guilty to is by State Prosecutors the charge instituted for the chopping death Siand Dhurjon and Austin. of forklift operator Shawnette The trial continues beCarl Garnett of Section fore Justice Nareshwar B, Sophia. The killing occurred on December Harnanan.

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Prison Riot: ‘It’s not my fault’ – Ramjattan Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

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ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has dismissed calls for his resignation following the jailbreak and conflagration at the Camp Street Prison on Sunday evening, and cited the state of the sugar industry and its annual bailouts as among the reasons Government is yet to make a heavy capital investment in the penitentiary.

Ramjattan was at the time addressing mem-

bers of the media at an emergency press conference live at the National Communications Network (NCN) studio after the fire.

Chief Prison Officer, Gladwyn Samuels had earlier in the evening lamented the lack of capital investments in the Georgetown Prison, but when asked by this newspaper, Ramjattan responded saying, “it’s because there is a lack of monies for these investments, we have to bail

out sugar, we have to do so many other things.”

According to the Public Security Minister, “that is what is cramping our style in relation to what we have to do for other sectors.” He told media operatives “it’s G$6 billion minimum to construct a new prison and that will take about three years.”

Asked about his resignation in light of the fire last year, which claimed the life of 17 prisoners, coupled with Sunday’s incident, Ramjattan said that decision will have to be made by the President.

According to Ramjattan, “If there is a fault on my part; well, the President can do that… I would have resigned if it was a fault on my part.” However, in dismissing calls for his resignation, Ramjattan questioned how fault can

be laid at his feet.

Reminded of the Commission of Inquiry last year, couple with the fact that recommendations – including the need for substantial capital investments were never implemented – the Public Security Minister responded saying “we understand that indeed all of those little things (recommendations) were done.”

The Public Security Minister was adamant a number of the recommendations were in fact

implemented and yielded success. He drew reference to several prison wardens that were caught attempting to transport illicit materials into the Georgetown Prison.

According to Minister Ramjattan, the small recommendations such as the installation of better close circuit television cameras were in fact installed.

“Most of the recommendations that we could have afforded have been implemented but we still have problems,” Ramjattan said.

Asked about his representation to Cabinet when it meets in light of the fire, Ramjattan said

“I will make my case again just like I did last year.”

He posited however, “because of the crisis situation we will need more monies now for the prison system.”

The Public Security Minister indicated that the Camp Street Prison will have to be rehabilitated in an urgent manner and funds will be required to bring the facility to a level where prisoners can again be housed. According to Ramjattan, the Camp Street location notwithstanding the fire still holds the best base/foundation in order to rebuild a prison.

‘It’s very...

from page 11

the chest”…He said he [Wickham] is doing a surgery straight away and I cannot see him now, come back tomorrow morning at eight o’clock,” the distressed woman recalled.

She noted that the doctor sought to comfort her, and she “took his words for granted” and left the hospital with the intention of returning the following morning.

However, as soon as the man’s mother arrived home, she was greeted by neighbours who gave her their sympathies while revealing to her that news entities were reporting that her son had died.

She added that this information was later confirmed by two nurses.

In tears, the dead man’s mother disclosed that Wickham is the father of a four-year-old

and is also engaged.

Tony Brandon, Wickham’s fiancée, was unable to speak with media operatives as she was still in a state of disbelief.

Following the attack by prisoners at the Camp Street Prison, Wickham was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital with gunshot injuries and died while in the emergency theatre.

He was one of several prison officers hospitalised from shots fired from the marauding inmates.

The prison warden was described as a very hard working and friendly man.

The unrest resulted in the Camp Street Prison being burnt to the ground and the escape of four hardcore murderers.

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ExxonMobil commits to transparency …promises to make all payments to Govt public

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ountry Manager of ExxonMobil, Rod Henson, has committed the company – gearing for commercial oil production in 2020 – to the principles of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) which its headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

Henson was at the time addressing participants at first ever Guyana EITI outreach workshop held in Corriverton, Berbice, on Saturday at the City Inn Hotel.

According to the ExxonMobil Country Representative, Guyana’s participation as an EITI member will promulgate greater transparency and accountability

in the oil sector, since the full payments made to Government by ExxonMobil will have to be made public.

Government under the EITI mechanism will also be responsible for making its revenue received from ExxonMobil public in order to be verified by international third party auditors.

According to the ExxonMobil Country representative, Guyana being an EITI member will hold oil companies operating in Guyana accountable and in fact encourages a level playing field among the competitors.

Henson was at the time addressing members the Berbice Community including its Mayor and Deputy

Exxon Mobil Country Manager, Rod Henson

Mayor, Members of the Upper Corentyne Chambers of Commerce, Orealla/Siparuta Toshao and other members of the business community.

According to the ExxonMobil Country Manager, the core of the EITI mechanism is the

reporting of revenues paid and received coupled with reconciliation by international third party assessors.

He conceded “that’s what most people want to know, where the money going.”

According to Henson,

the EITI initiative is good since it encourages transparency and facilitates a better dialogue with civil society, since the public would be in possession of information in relation to payments by the oil companies and monies received

by Government – information that can be trusted.

Speaking to the benefits of such an initiative, the Country Manager told participants all countries rich and poor requires investments and being a member of an EITI country bodes well since it sends a signal to investors that the country is committed to the principles of transparency and accountability.

He said too the EITI initiative in fact “lowers our industry risk in this area.”

Henson used the occasion to remind that the extractive industry is in fact very capital intensive, with large sums of money being invested hence companies engaged in such activities would require long-term stability.

“EITI improves Government accountability and revenues to State… it can be an anti-corruption tool… in general it raises the standard of business.”

The ExxonMobil Country Representative

was quick to point out that the EITI forum is not where the dialogue between civil society begins since it only supplies factual information that can be trusted, “so that society can use the information to have a dialogue.”

Henson also used the occasion during an interactive session to concede the heightened interest in the oil and gas sector but declined to dictate in anyway how the money will be managed by the country since Guyana is a sovereign country.

“What will be done with the money, as a company I can’t tell the Government what to do,” according to the ExxonMobil Country Manager.

He was quick to point out that ExxonMobil is interested in what obtains since “our reputation depend on it… We know that the oil curse, Dutch disease is a real thing… we don’t want it, we don’t want to look back 20 years on and say Guyana is another example.”

Government representative on the GYEITI Multistakeholder Group, Gillian Pollard, in her contribution to the outreach sought to impress on the participants the level of contribution of the extractive industry to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product.

Workers as ... land promised to them.

It was Ramesh who went to court and successfully got the land for them although the workers remained ungrateful refusing to support him politically against Panday who did virtually nothing for them.

And in Guyana, the coalition has closed Wales and plan to shut down other estates. The workers are jobless and their families are suffering. This could have been avoided if the PPP government had simply listened to those of us who advocated for the sugar workers and who had foreseen what was going to happen to the sugar industry once PPP lost power. Even if PPP had remained in office, sugar would not have been profitable as a state owned industry. Sugar supports from the EU under the Lome Protocol had ended. Sugar production was losing money. The incentive to work efficiently and maximize productivity was/is missing among state workers. They would not put in their best performance

from page 4

for a socialist owned company especially when government was ill-treating them. Private ownership must be considered as an alternative to turn around the industry.

Government, therefore, should move to distribute the cane lands to the sugar workers to grow cane. Government can start on an experimental basis with Wales Estate giving the land (10-15 acres) to the former sugar workers to form co-ops or individually to grow cane to feed a revived modernized mill.

Since government wants to divest itself of sugar, the government can invite interested companies or investors to take over and run the closed mill. The prospective investors can also be offered lease land to grow cane; many jobs will be created for the surrounding unemployed. The industry will be turned around under this proposed scheme. In fact, this method is successfully utilized in India and several Asian countries.

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Thomson Foundation launches search for best Young Journalist 2017

By Thomson Foundation

T

homson Foundation, in partnership with the UK Foreign Press Association (FPA), is inviting young journalists from around the world to submit their most compelling stories.

Now leading into its fifth year, the Young Journalist Award is Thomson Foundation’s annual journalism competition, dedicated to finding and inspiring ambitious and emerging journalistic talent from across the globe.

Previous winners have each possessed the most important traits necessary to be successful in journalism: a unique voice, a fresh perspective and a strong passion not only for their subjects, but also for their craft.

Loyal supporters of the foundation — the world’s longest established international media development organisation — will already know how the award works, but here’s the lowdown for newcomers.

The competition is open to journalists aged 30 or under from countries with a gross national income per capita of less than $20,000. Those who meet the criteria are welcome to submit a portfolio of three published pieces of work produced in the 12 months preceding the deadline for submissions, which is Friday 18 August, 2017. They can be in any format — print, audio, video, multimedia or a combination of all four.

An esteemed panel from the foundation — all highly experienced journalists within their own right — will tackle the substantial, scouring through hundreds of entries from young journalists from across the globe which, in

previous years, have included Africa, the Indian subcontinent, China, South America, parts of Central Asia and the Middle East, for stories that are revelatory, prompt public debate and have led to, or have the potential to lead to, positive change in society.

We draw up the shortlist of 12 then leave the final decisions to our international supreme court. Last year, we welcomed three independent FPA judges from Italy, Switzerland and Australia.

While only three finalists can make it to London to attend the prestigious gala awards night in November, along with a host of other potential award winners and leading figures from the world of journalism, there is space to salute the longer shortlist of 12 on the Thomson Foundation website and social media channels.

“This is the start of a fascinating period for the foundation because we are privileged to get access to a rich mix of compelling stories from across the world,” says Thomson Foundation chief executive, Nigel Baker.

“Previous winners have moved on and up in their careers, won other distinguished awards and continued to unearth news that has had a serious impact on their communities and countries. We look forward to assessing the latest tranche of submissions.”

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WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Involvement of cops in foiled bank robbery disappointing, says Ramjattan

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Dead bandit: Elton Wray

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) will be moving to clamp down on unprofessional behaviour by its ranks, following the discovery that two junior ranks were involved in the recent foiled robbery at Republic Bank Limited.

The two officers, a Police Constable and a Rural Constable, were seen on closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage talking to the three young men, who attempted to rob the bank’s Water Street branch last Tuesday.

This newspaper understands the two ranks confessed that they helped plan the robbery.

This act, however, has been condemned by the top brass of the security sector. On Saturday, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan told reporters it is disappointing to know that ranks from the country’s premier law enforcement agency got themselves involved in criminal activities.

“It comes as disappointing news, very disappointing news,” the Minister stressed. He pointed out that despite the many efforts of the Police Force to eradicate rogue elements, there are still some who remain.

“It’s always gonna be a difficult thing to know that your Police Force still has an element or two that are doing the very rotten things of associating with masterminds for bank robberies. But we have to work on it, it’s always gonna be a work in progress,” he stated.

Nevertheless, the Public Security Minister noted that this disappointing news has reinforced the need for enhance efforts in tackling such behaviour and attitudes among officers. To this end, he posited that such efforts will have to begin at the level of the community.

“It will begin at the recruiting stage, it will

begin at the community stage too because it’s from the community that we get Policemen to come into the Force. And the value system has to be changed also – parenting. It’s a huge complex social thing that will have to be done… because the Police Force is but a microcosm of the society and that is what we will have to do – better the society and better your recruits; the better your society the better your Police Force,” Ramjattan remarked.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud noted that the Force has been treated with unprofessional behaviour from the top to the bottom of the organisation and this recent case of Police involvement in such a crime, which he described as undesirable, is a major concern.

On this note, he outlined that the programmes such as residential training for recruits are geared at changing their attitude and behaviour. The Top Cop continued that the Force’s disciplinary system runs right down to first line supervision to management, as well serves to refresh professional rules and behaviour among ranks.

H o w e v e r , Commissioner Persaud recognises that in spite of the steps undertaken by the Force, there is only so much they can do.

He added that the GPF does a lot of training to resist those temptations.

Furthermore, Persaud rubbished comments that the low salary grade of Police officers pushed them into criminal activities and corruption.

“If poor people, because of the little that they get, resort to crime we won’t have been surviving here ‘cause we live in a country with a lot of poor people; check what percentage of them are criminals,” the Top Cop stated.

Of recent, there has been a heightened involvement of ranks from the various law enforcement agencies in illegal activities and/or corrupt practices.

This is despite regular training programmes to reinforce the commitment of the ranks within the Joint Services, which is made up of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Prison Service.

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Vendor charged for attempted murder gets G$150,000 bail

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vendor was on Wednesday granted bail in the sum of G$150,000 when he made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the indictable charge of attempted murder.

Curt Joseph, of 116 Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, was not allowed to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge against him alleges that on June 18, 2017 while in Tucville, Georgetown , he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Tavel December with the in-

tent to murder him.

On the day of the incident, Joseph, along with the Virtual Complainant (VC), were said to be playing football at the Tucville ball field when an argument ensued between the two.

The prosecution revealed that the argument became heated, which resulted in the defendant taking out a knife that was on his person and stabbing the VC to his chest.

December was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he underwent surgery and upon recovery was released.

Attorney Michael Summersault successfully petitioned for bail to be granted to the accused on the ground that he was not previously convicted of any crime. He also stated that his client was not a flight risk.

Bail was granted on the conditions that the defendant must not go within 50 feet of the VC. He is also required to make weekly reports to the East La Penitence Police Station.

Joseph is scheduled to make his next court appearance on August 7, 2017.

Guyanese journalists benefit from training on crime reporting

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n an effort to bridge the communication gap between the media and the justice system of Guyana, the International Justice Education Society in collaboration with the Guyana Press Association, facilitated a seminar on Saturday aimed towards “effective reporting for the public good” by engaging members of the media, judicial arm and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in discussions directed towards efficient reporting on criminal investigations and court cases.

Local journalists from various media houses across Guyana benefited from a detailed and comprehensive presentation from Canadian journalist Kim Bolan, who highlighted the challenges and opportunities in working with the Police, building mutual trust and developing sources while engaging reporters in group discussions and question and answer segments.

The Canadian journalist encouraged journalist not to isolate their reporting to Guyana but rather link same with international issues, as to have a broader understanding as to what is happening on the outside.

The workshop, which was hosted at the Guyana Police Force Training Centre, Camp Street, Georgetown, served as a reminder that the media has an important role to play in a democratic society by exposing injustices, making public institutions accountable by covering events fairly and thoroughly while it is important to bridge the gap between media and Police in the collaborative efforts to decrease crime and violence in society.

It was established that the media plays a vital role in reporting on crime and the court system by raising the awareness of criminal activities in society thereby enabling persons to exercise caution while enabling the Government of the day to put in place policies for future planning and to arrive with alternatives to reduce the level of crime in the event that is prevalent.

The media was also reminded of its important role in educating the public about the justice system by keeping the audience up to date with court proceedings by publicising certain penalties attached to specific crimes in the effort to prevent occurrences. Daily reports of dispensing sentences to heinous crimes may help persons to feel secure there-

by developing confidence and trust in the judiciary.

At the workshop reporters raised instances where Police evade media personnel and in the event that they are gotten a hold of, they are often reluctant to comment on or disclose information in a timely manner. One of the issues raised by the media personnel is that if this disparity exists, how can the media be able to effectively report on cases, thereby building public trust in the Police Force? This was aired in light of other events which saw the viral circulation of videos of intoxicated Police Officers harassing citizens and even fellow officers which may serve as a means of undermining Police authority.

Attending the seminar was Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, Magistrate Clive Nurse and Chief Justice Roxanne George along with officials of the Guyana Police Force who interacted with media, sensitising them on practices that can compromise court cases and criminal investigations or harm the public good, particularly in relation to certain types of offences while discussing systems that the Police have in place for engagement with the media.

The importance of reliable information sourcing and correct reporting was highlighted, the defiance of which can cause damage to reputation of both the defendant and the plaintiff (complainant).

Representative is from the GPF encouraged media operatives to be mindful of where their information is sourced by paying keen attention and verifying information before it is published.

As journalists once again raised the difficulties in securing information from Police, they were reminded of the heavy responsibility of investigating and analysing information lies on the Police as they were asked not to put “too much pressure on the Police”.

One journalist shared a scenario where they were provided an invalid email address and timely attempts to contact Police proved futile, while highlighting that Police lags in sending out official releases to the media thereby causing persons to publicise information without official confirmation in the case of the recent Republic Bank robbery.

(Paula Gomes)

Berbice teen remanded for killing taxi driver

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The murder accused

15-year-old school drop-out from Corentyne, Berbice has been remanded for stabbing a taxi driver to death.

The teen appeared at the Whim Magistrate’s Court on Monday to answer to the capital offence.

It is alleged that on July 5, 2017, at Crabwood Creek public road, the teen murdered 37-year-old Deonarine Laljit of Number 72 Village, Corentyne.

The matter has been transferred to the

Skeldon Magistrate’s Court and is awaiting a Police report.

The school drop-out was not required to plea when the charge was read to him.

As he stood in the dock, the teenager seemed scared and unaware of the legal implications during the proceedings.

During the hearing, most of the time he focused on his father who was in the courtroom.

Attorney Chandra Sohan is representing the accused.

It was reported on Wednesday last that the teenager entered Laljit’s car in the vicinity of the Number 69 Village, Corentyne and was reportedly heading to Baul Street, Corriverton. He reportedly had the murder weapon, a knife, stashed in a haversack he was carrying at the time. This newspaper was told that the teen waited until he was alone in the car with the driver, after

Murdered: Deonarine Laljit

which he stabbed the man unexpectedly in his neck.

Residents of Linepath had stated that they saw Laljit’s car stop at Baul Street, Line Path ‘E’, Corriverton at around 12:30h. However, subsequently, they saw a teen rushing out of the car, after which they saw the driver exiting the said car with blood gushing from his neck.

Laljit was pronounced dead on arrival at the Skeldon Public Hospital.

(Andrew Carmichael)

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Oil profits could be used to fill gaps in Govt’s budget, says financial expert

By Samuel Sukhnanan

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ith production set to begin in mid to late 2020, Guyana is poised to make huge profits from the oil industry, with the country projected to produce an estimated 100,000 barrels of oil per day.

Annual profits, based on an average price of US$50 per barrel, could reach some G$45 billion annually, says overseas-based Guyanese financial analyst and columnist, Sasenarine Singh.

Singh said this figure was based on his assessment of the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) report on Guyana, which stated that the revenue-sharing agreement sets the Government’s share at 50 per cent of “profit oil”.

The IMF has further stated that 75 per cent of total oil revenues will initially be allocated for cost recovery, and the Government’s share will be 12.5 per cent. Singh said based on his understanding of how the oil recovery mechanism would work, this can be the status quo for approximately 10 years.

While admitting that it may be difficult to pre-

dict what the price for oil would be in the next 10 years, Singh told this newspaper that based on demand and supply trends, the price of oil would not change significantly unless there was a major war, for example in Syria or Korea, in which the United States put boots on the ground.

At present, the supply of oil remains high even with the recent cuts by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

However, the potential supply of oil is not under threat because of the current expansion in the fracking industry in the United States, Singh said.

He acknowledged that the demand for oil was stagnant and was expected to decline, because most of the developed countries were now moving towards converting from petrol-fuelled motor vehicles to hybrids. In fact, many countries, particularly in Europe, have set serious targets to convert to hybrids starting from 2019.

Singh, a former executive member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), also noted that the demand for fossil fu-

els in general was stagnant. “So, this is why I am convinced that the price for oil at US$50 is not an alien price albeit it is difficult to predict the price for oil 10 years from now….”

However, he also stressed that the law of demand and supply dictated that the price for oil would not return to US$100 in a long time.

But Singh says while Guyana will profit from this new sector, he is convinced that Guyana may not be able to use those funds effectively based on several factors.

“So, if all of our traditional sectors, or as we call it the six sisters, were working as per normal, then that would have been a bonanza for Guyana. But the mere fact that by the end of 2020, the sugar industry is going to bring in less than US$40 million to the Treasury compared to the US$148 million it brought in, in 2007 illustrates that this gap of over US$100 million that has to be plugged,” he added.

“In 2014, rice brought in US$250 million; this year it will be about US$175 million. Again, this gap of US$75 million has to be filled. Luckily,

Sasenarine Singh

gold has been very stable, but it has now plateaued so there will not be much additional help from those quarters going forward, unless the Granger Administration break its investment jinx and bring some new investors into the sector or any sector for that matter.”

Filling gaps

On that note, Singh criticised the coalition Government for its inability to expand and bring any new value-added investment to these traditional sectors such as new distilleries, ethanol factories and so on. If these were happening, Singh said, the oil money would have been a real back-up for the down times. But be-

cause of the alleged mismanagement of the economy by the Government, these oil funds will have to be depleted from day one to fill the gaps in future budgets.

He said when the Government speaks of a Sovereign Wealth Fund, it is just an academic proposition, because the administration is unclear on many issues with respect to managing any oil funds.

Further, he said that the coalition Government “is making a huge mistake in not bringing stability and expansion to the traditional sectors and the emerging economy”.

Clarity

Guyanese have been paying keen attention

to the discussions about the oil sector. Singh said there must be some clarity on the issue from the Natural Resources Ministry so that the normal Guyanese man and woman could understand what Guyana would gain and what the company would gain from the oil industry.

He emphasised that based on the agreement signed between Government and ExxonMobil, the US oil giant would recover its investment upfront. In fact, there are two sets of funds that will be taken out of the oil revenues before Guyana can actually get its share – “the depreciation cost for the initial investments and the current operating cost for rigs”.

“All that money has to be fully recovered by ExxonMobil by something called a depreciation model,” Singh said.

According to the IMF 2017 Staff Report, 75 per cent of total oil revenues will be extracted

by ExxonMobil for those costs. Of the 25 per cent left for distribution, based on the 50/50 sharing agreement, Exxon will get 12.5 per cent and Government 12.5 per cent.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

PPP/C MP critises Disaster Risk Management Govt’s plan to establish team challenged to develop Special Purpose Unit national drainage plan

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overnment has come under severe criticism from the Opposition for requesting G$130 million to be used as a subsidy for the establishment of a Special Purpose Unit at the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) — to assist with the divestment of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill has opined that the purpose of establishing this unit is to create employment for special people who are already earmarked for these jobs, and it is only a matter of time before the Government names those people who will take up the top positions.

Edghill recalled asking Finance Minister Winston Jordan, on Friday in Parliament, why the extra-budgetary agency NICIL would be allowed to receive funds for such an activity, when in fact the unit is being set up within NICIL. The excuse proffered was that NICIL does not have the finances to create the unit.

Edghill has described the unit as basically a “clearing house” to sell off GuySuCo’s assets. He told Guyana Times International that he doesn’t see the need to have a special services unit, because there is already the Privatization Unit within NICIL, and NICIL is a legally established company.

“But I suspect what would have happened is that they have gone so much after NICIL while in Opposition that they are now ashamed to have NICIL used as the tool for privatization, divestment, and alternative investments as well as private-public partnerships,” he opined.

Setting up a unit within NICIL, which is basically NICIL, Edghill said, doesn’t make any logical sense.

Government has revealed that three top positions would be created within this unit, and an audit firm would be hired.

Edghill, however, has pointed out that NICIL already has a chief executive officer and a deputy chief executive officer, whose skills could have been utilised.

“NICIL already has a structure, but if they use NICIL’s structure they can’t employ their top friends and pay them huge amounts of money, because if 60 percent goes towards employment, that’s G$18 million,” he said, adding that each of the three top people would be paid in excess of G$1 million per month. “(They are) creating these positions to give jobs to their friends; so G$60 million is also earmarked for professional fees, which will be used to pay an international auditing firm. Some 20 vehicles will be purchased for the unit, and G$2 million (will be expended) to fix office space in GuySuCo facility.”

The former minister opined that creating a unit of NICIL to be housed at GuySuCo is another issue that must be explained.

“The question was already asked: if GuySuCo does not have the facility to do its own divestment.

But this venue for the Special

- Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh and Dr. Carl Niamatali to provide expertise

M

Former Junior Finance Minister, Juan Edghill

Service Unit is to hide the true intent of what they want to do,” he claimed.

Reference was also made to the controversial Durban Park Project which has cost Government millions of dollars.

Edghill reminded that the finance for that project was disbursed from the Public Infrastructure Ministry. He said a comparison could be drawn between the unit at GuySuCo and the new department that is being opened at the Ministry of the Presidency on innovation and education reform.

That unit is expected to have a director who will be paid G$750,000, far more than what is being paid to the Chief Education Officer (CEO) at the Education Ministry. The deputy director, on the other hand, will receive a monthly salary of G$500,000.

Minister Jordan had explained that the purpose of the Special Purpose Unit under the rubric of NICIL will be for the divestment and privatisation of certain parts of GuySuCo. “This is a Special Purpose Unit designed purely for what I indicated… the focus of this Unit is privatisation and divestment of identified assets, one of which is Skeldon Estate; that is their top priority,” he explained.

The Finance Minister told the House that other identified properties will soon be transferred to the Special Purpose Unit for divestment by that outfit.

GuySuCo, he said, would identify the lands or assets to be divested, after which those lands or assets would be transferred to the Special Purpose Unit.

The Finance Minister has insisted that all transactions would be above board, and in fact would be subjected to a public tendering process. The Minister has reminded that Government is unable at this time to speak specifically to the level of revenues to be raised, since the valuations are yet to be completed.

He, however, assured that the proceeds emanating from the sale of GuySuCo’s assets would be pumped back into the industry.

According to the Finance Minister, the revenues emanating from the sale of these assets would go to GuySuCo, and would be used to defray its debts, finance the costs associated with divestments, and used to operate the entity.

inister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, on Wednesday, announced during the quarterly meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinating Committee, held at the headquarters of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), that Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh, at the request of President David Granger will join that body, given his wealth of knowledge and experience in disaster risk management, according to a government release.

Dr. Carl Niamatali was also introduced as a new member, who has offered his services at the disposal of the CDC. Noting that both men bring a wealth of experience to the table, the Minister challenged the team to look at developing a strategic national drainage and irrigation plan, which will result in a more efficiently managed drainage network countrywide, since though the individual systems are interconnected, they are currently managed by separate agencies, the release added.

The Minister discussed with the committee sever-

Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon and Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, Colonel (ret'd) Chabilall Ramsarup during the quarterly meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction Coordination Committee

al pertinent issues related to natural disasters, particularly the risk of flooding countrywide, which likely due to the effects of climate change, is affecting all the administrative regions. “We have to organise ourselves as a platform and all of the structures which fall beneath the platform to ensure that we can, if not prevent these things from happening, at least do some type of amelioration when they occur,” Minister Harmon said.

Minister Harmon said too that the President has

mandated him to carefully look at the country’s preparedness and to determine if more national resources need to be allocated to adequately address incidences of natural disasters.

Representatives from the Ministry of Social Protection, the Ministry of Communities, the University of Guyana, the Hydro meteorological Office, the United Nations, the Environmental Protection Agency and several others were present at the meeting.

T&T mother beaten to death

H

er killer used a heavy piece of wood, likely a two-by-four, to beat Kelly Ann Clarke to death.

Forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov said yesterday the assault was so brutal that Clarke’s face and cheek bones were crushed.

Clarke, 23, was a mother of one.

Her body was found behind a hardware along Guapo/Cap De Ville Road,

Kelly Ann Clarke

Point Fortin, on Tuesday.

She was found clad in a shirt and no ­undergarments.

Alexandrov said there were no signs she had been sexually assaulted.

Her mother, who did not want to be named, said her daughter used marijuana.

The mother said the last time she saw Clarke, she was in the hospital.

Police said Clarke had pending cases in court for marijuana possession and obscene language. (Trinidad Express)

UG launches School of Entrepreneurship, Business Innovation

T

he University of Guyana has launched its School of Entrepreneur and Business Innovation (SEBI) which seeks to educate and devel-

op entrepreneurial, innovative leaders and managers with the needed skill.

SEBI will contribute to the development of an entrepreneurial and inno-

vative culture in Guyana, through its training, lecture series, research and outreach efforts.

The school’s procontinued on page 24

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Amaila Falls Hydro Project

Jagdeo takes Jordan to task over recent comments

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pposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has taken Finance Minister, Winston Jordan to task over comments he made at a recent public event about the Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity Project (AFHP), which he says lacks veracity and does not confirm logical reasons for halting the project.

While Jagdeo admitted that the coalition Government’s intention not to pursue the AFHP has been made known before, he accused Jordan of providing insubstantial evidence and reasoning as to why the now Government has decided not to continue with the projects full implementation.

The opposition leader was making reference to Jordan’s speech made at a recent

on the switch and hydro power would have flowed through the country,” he said.

No debt

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

Guyana Manufacturing Association (GMA) event.

While many people were frowning over the speech, according to Jagdeo, policy wise, it lacked substance and vision. “Not a single attempt to address any of the concerns of the manufacturing sector and the services sector in

a tangible way, just platitudes,” he added.

The AFHP which formed part of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) was the brainchild of Jagdeo, which was commissioned in 2009. And having taken up office in 2015, the now Government had re-

peatedly stated its disapproval to resurrecting the project.

But the former president believes that the coalition has killed the project, although it was set to provide Guyana with massive source of electricity. “This is the year we would have turned

He reminded that arrangements under the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government would have guaranteed that the Government would not have incurred any debt for this project.

In fact, part of the financing was expected to come from a Norwegian grant to buy equity into the project. The remainder of the project would have been privately funded by the contractors who were expected to sell power to Government, some through equity and some through a loan.

Jagdeo said, “But we would have bought power at half of the price that we were generating power at 2012 because of the price of oil at that time which was about 20 cents per kilowatt an hour…we would have bought power at 10 cents per kilowatt an hour.”

Although there were concerns about some technical issues with the project, Jagdeo explained that these were dealt with. An evaluation found that a reservoir could have been constructed to facilitate the continuous flow of power,

in the event the dry season stepped in.

Addressing the issue of alleged corruption associated with the AFHP, which Jordan sought to address during the private sector event, Jagdeo said although there were some concerns raised about the then contract associated with Fip Motilall, he has repeatedly called on the Government to release the evaluation report done by a technical team when the bids were received.

“They have a copy of the report and you would see that the politicians had no role in evaluating the bid. We gave it to the lowest tender and I saw some pictures of the road, the roads done by that contract are holding up strongly,” Jagdeo further added.

The PPP/C Government seeking financing for the project through multilateral banks is untrue, Jagdeo said, explaining that his Government never approached any multilateral financial institutions except the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for some equity but not on a major scale. He said most funds were expected to come from the private sector.

UG launches School of Entrepreneurship, Business... from page 23

grammes will facilitate significant cross-discipline collaboration, allowing students in other areas to participate in studies and projects on agro-processing, healthcare management, creative arts management, and environmental management, just to name a few.

SEBI’s student philosophy is built around developing students with high standards of professionalism, academics, character, engagement and services.

Speaking at the launch, Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Ivelaw Griffith said the launch of SEBI is a historic event not only for the University but for the nation.

“This is not only historic for the University but for the nation and the world at large. What we are doing here with the community, with the policymakers, with people in the region and beyond is creating opportunity for not only entrepreneurship in thinking, not only entre-

preneurship in dreaming but entrepreneurship in doing,” Griffith said.

The new programme sought to embrace a wider community by providing a place for students of the Caribbean to also study at the facility.

However, the school has gone beyond the Caribbean Community and even met the ears of the Ambassador of Mexico to Guyana, Ivan Medel who delivered congratulatory remarks.

“From its inception, it was a step in the right direction in the moving efforts to jump start Guyana’s economic development and as it brings together academia and the Private Sector, Georgetown and the hinterland, overseas-based Guyanese and the many friends that Guyana has in the Region and indeed around the world,” Medel congratulated.

Following other congratulatory remarks, the banner of SEBI was unveiled declaring the school officially open.

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I

Clara Ramdeholl (1909-1939)

n 1915, the Canadian Mission established the Berbice High School in New Amsterdam, British Guiana as a school for boys. Five years later, in 1920 a separate building was erected on the site of the current Berbice High School, as a school for girls.

In its first year, Clara Ramdeholl was one of the 10 girls to first attend the “girls’ school”. She graduated in 1925 at age 16 and began teaching there until 1932 when, at 23-years-old, she left the colony for England to study law.

Admitted to the Inn at Middle Temple in England on Oct. 12, 1932, Clara was called to the Bar Nov. 17, 1939. At the time, she would be only the third qualified female barrister from British Guiana after Gladys Sarran (1930) and Iris DeFreitas (1897).

Her call to the Bar would be in absentia however, as Clara and her brother Cecil, who had become a doctor, had already left England Nov. 14, 1939 to embark on the steam ship “S.S. Simon Bolivar”, to travel to Amsterdam, Holland en route to British Guiana.

Clara had not seen her parents since she had left, and her father had not long earlier passed away. With her brother Cecil on six months leave, she took the opportunity to return with him to British Guiana.

However, on Nov. 18, 1939, the “S.S. Simon Bolivar” was sunk by German magnetic mines.

Despite surviving the sinking ship, Clara lost her life after the lifeboat

they had managed to reach capsized and she was forced to endure the frigid waters of the North Sea, despite desperate attempts by her brother to keep her alive.

Her body was declared lost at sea.

Not long after, the Canadian Mission asked her mother for permission to dedicate a church they planned to build within the school’s compound, in Clara’s memory. It would come to be in memory of both Clara and her father, Robert Ramdeholl.

The tragedy of the Ramdeholl family sadly did not end there. Clara had apparently planned her return as a surprise for her mother, Mary Ramdeholl. Discovering that Clara was aboard the “S.S. Simon Bolivar” and did not survive led to illness from which she never recovered. Mary died within months of Clara’s death, and indeed her husband’s.

The newly built church was formally named the Ramdeholl Memorial Guyana Presbyterian Church, and was dedicated at a service on April 15, 1940.

The church building remained in the school’s compound until Guyana became independent and there was a mandatory separation of church and state. It was then moved across the street to its current Lot 22 Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam location.

With the building showing signs of its age, the Ramdeholl family abroad began a fundraising effort for its restoration. On Dec 28, 2014, rehabilitation works were completed and a re-dedication ceremony was conducted at the church.

The Ramdeholl Memorial Church is featured in the New Amsterdam Heritage Trail, a 2015 publication by the National Trust of Guyana that hopes to enrich future generations with knowledge of their Guyanese heritage.

(Photos: ramdehollmemorialchurch.wordpress. com)

The renovated Ramdeholl Memorial Church

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Anaya Lee Willabus

t the tender age of eight, Anaya Lee Willabus penned her first book.

Now at 10 years old, she is an award-win-

ning author, poet and visionary. Notably, she was recently featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – an American late-night

talk show.

Anaya was born and raised in Brooklyn, US, where she resides with her Guyanese parents and two siblings.

Her first book, “The Day Mohan Found His Confidence”, was written after her inaugural trip to her parents’ homeland, Guyana, in April 2014. Anaya's second book, “A Bully's Disguise”, was launched on June 24, 2016 at the Brooklyn Borough Hall, US. In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Anaya said she has completed her third book, but because of the editing process and other stages of publishing, it is not out as yet. She hopes to launch it by the “end of the sum-

Anaya (far left) on The Tonight Show

mer in time for the new school year”.

In explaining how she ended up being on The Tonight Show, Anaya said she was featured on Hollywood actress and comedian Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls social media site. Amy heard about Anaya after Anaya published her first book two years ago.

“Amy’s initiative was to highlight young girls who are following their dreams and not allowing age or any other factors to stop them!

Additionally, Amy started up a non-profit to further promote her idea.

She was appearing on The Tonight Show to promote Smart Girls and her new movie, so it all worked out perfect knowing she mentioned me as an inspiration,” Anaya recalled.

Many other celebrities, such as singer Debra Cox; singer Kelly Rowland from Destiny’s Child; actress Zoe Saldana and others, have featured

Anaya’s books on their websites. The young author also had the opportunity to meet singer/actress Zendaya, from The Disney Channel, who also appeared on The Tonight Show - the same night with Anaya.

The Tonight Show segment, “Are You Smarter Than A Smart Girl?” featured Anaya, Amy, Jimmy, his other host, Steve Higgins, and another ‘Smart Girl’, Maya.

Relating her experience on the show, Anaya said: “It was a surreal experience! I had my own dressing room with my name on the door.

Also, the dressing room was filled with snacks, drinks and gifts from the host, Jimmy Fallon, and The Tonight Show’s band drummer, Quest Love. My mom, sister and I all received tshirts, as well. Being on The Tonight Show is an experience of which I will treasure forever. I do know it is one of countless great things to

come! I have a few other upcoming shows and campaigns.”

Anaya added that she had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy Fallon.

She said he is as “funny as he appears on his show”. She met him on set of the show before it was aired. They chatted and shook hands.

Talking about meeting Amy Poehler, Anaya mentioned that she is honoured that Amy chose her as one of the ‘Smart Girls’.

“There are so many children who are doing great things to make our world better and she selected me. I do not take these opportunities lightly. It is my belief that we all have a purpose and this is another experience to confirm what I do as an author is contagious and not limited to anyone, including celebrities to use as inspiration,” she declared.

Anaya said before the show Amy and her chatcontinued on page 33

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Rachel Abraham and her baby

Residents relaxing under a tree near Orinduik Falls

I

magine being lulled to sleep by the cascading waters of Orinduik Falls, and then waking up to such a magnificent sight. Well, for the residents living in the vicinity of the Falls, every day is a ‘getaway’.

Orinduik is located on the Ireng River in the Potaro-Siparuni Region (Region Eight) of Guyana.

Sunday Times Magazine visited the natural wonder and interviewed Rachel Abraham, a 36-year-old mother of six (the eldest being 17 years old) who spoke about living at Orinduik.

She revealed that the few families living at the Falls farm, fish, and sell crafts/cassareep to visitors.

“When we have to get goods/supplies, we walk to Brazil, which takes two days to get there and two days to return home. We make this trip about every three months. I grew up at Orinduik, but would now venture to nearby village, Kamana, to take my children to school. When school reopens we stay in Kamana, but when it is closes for the holidays we come back to Orinduik. Life at Orinduik is amazing, although it gets boring sometimes.

We swim and mostly stay indoors. I enjoy being here because when I go to other villages they do not have water and we have so much here. I will continue to live here for as long as I can,” she declared.

Facts on Orinduik

Orinduik is at a point where the Ireng River thunders over steps and terraces of red jasper, at the border of Guyana and Brazil, before merging with the Takutu River and into Brazil to join the Amazon River. Although jasper comes in many colours, including yellow, green and greyish blue, at Orinduik, the rocks are red.

The Orinduik Falls is a wide, multitiered series of cascades, which makes it an ideal waterfall for swimming, unlike many others. The name of the falls, Orinduik, is derived from the Amerindian (Patamona) word, Orin, which is the name given to an aquatic plant found in these falls. The Orinduik Falls in all its glory is approximately 25m tall and more than 150m wide.

The Falls was discovered by C. Barrington Brown, who also discovered Kaieteur and Kuribrong Falls.

There are frequent flights from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport (Ogle Airport), and most tours to Orinduik are combined with a trip to the Kaieteur Falls.

The Ireng River (or Maú River) forms part of Guyana’s western border with Brazil. It flows through the valleys of the Pakaraima Mountains for most of its length. It is the only major river in Guyana that flows from North to South, and it is one of the northernmost tributaries of the Amazon River system.

The larger part of the Ireng River basin forms the frontier between Brazil and Guyana. The Ireng’s main branches are the Uailan and Canã rivers on Brazil side and the Cacó, Dacã and Socobi rivers on the Guyana side.

Orinduik is sheltered by the hills of the magnificent Pakaraima Mountains.

Thanks to the airstrip next to the Falls, visitors get a chance to experience Orinduik, which has become a popular tourist destination, meet the residents, listen to their stories and learn about their way of life.

Pay a visit to the Falls and be sure to greet the residents and support them by purchasing the delicious cassareep, and skilfully made artistic crafts.

Tourists' meeting point before embarking on an exciting tour of the Falls

Breathtaking view of a section of the Falls (Yogendra Callender photo)

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shares a light moment with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) after the latter arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv on July 4, 2017. (Haim Zach/GPO/Flash90)

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ccording to CNN, only a select few world leaders receive Israel's grand reception. Leaders such as the President of the United States, the Pope, and more recently, India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

Modi’s recent threeday visit to Israel was considered "monumental" as he is said to be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country.

The Indian PM visit was aimed at furthering the two countries’ embrace in terms of economic, cultural and security ties. The trip marked the first visit to Israel by an Indian Prime Minister after 25 years of diplomatic relations.

The trip covered the

breadth of Israeli industry from agricultural and water management to tech startups and commerce.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ushered Modi to meetings with business leaders and students from the two countries, and established an India-Israel CEO forum to create a hub for trade and commerce.

Seven major agreements were signed, dealing with water, agriculture and space technology. The two countries have also created a US$40 million dollar research and development fund for joint innovation.

"Israel is among the leading nations in the fields of innovation, water, and agriculture tech-

nologies - these are also among the priority areas in India's development," Modi told reporters during his visit, as he stood next to Netanyahu.

"We are making history together," Netanyahu said. "I have a feeling that India and Israel are changing our world."

One of the crucial meetings for Modi and Netanyahu was with members of India's Jewish diaspora, a community of more than 80 thousand Jews now living in Israel who can trace their roots back to the subcontinent.

Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu and Narendra Modi visit the water desalination plant at Olga Beach in Haifa, Israel, July 6, 2017. (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

large number of groups who had come from outside the country’s modern territorial borders and made India their home.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Ezekiel I Malekar, the Rabbi (head priest) of the Synagogue Judah Hyam Hall in Delhi, India, who

has been the head secretary and caretaker of the synagogue since 1980 without any form of remuneration, claims that for the Jews in India, they are Indians first and Jews second.

Looking back at the long history of association between Jews and Indians, he said India is

the most tolerant country in the world and one of the only places where Jews did not have to experience anti-Semitism (hostility, prejudice, or discrimination directed against Jews as a group).

(Information on Modi’s visit to Israel excerpted from CNN)

Jews in India

India has always been a place of respite for the Jews who have emigrated from Israel.

The Jewish community in India is one among a

Young Author of Guyanese Heritage Featured ...

from page 30

ted, which was when she told Amy about her parents being Guyanese and about Guyana. Upon watching the show, you will hear Amy mentioning that Anaya is from “South America”.

Apart from writing, Anaya enjoys creating duct tape craft. She said there was a club at her school that offered as a “fun concept” to showcase how creative one can be with something as simple as duct tape. Anaya stated that she wanted to challenge herself “to find out what I can possibly make out of it”. The duct tape bag Anaya made for her mother was featured on The Tonight Show.

Anaya would like to advise fellow youths in Guyana to “stay focused in school and participate in the betterment of their communities”. She said she understands that “it may not be an easy path, but it is so important to the future”.

Additionally, Anaya encouraged youths to participate in local clean-up campaigns and other initiatives that will improve their communities. She pointed out that “when your neighbourhood is clean and safe, it makes for an overall better way of life for everyone”.

“During my two trips to Guyana, I had the opportunity to visit Berbice, Linden and Georgetown. Each gathering of children was special in different ways, but two things I observed that were similar: the desire to be better

PM Modi (left) speaks during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (The New Indian Express)

On the set of The Tonight Show

and eyes filled with hope,” she remembered.

The young author said that her father would always say to her: “There is no substitute for an education.” Hence, she is “determined to continue to work hard in school and otherwise”.

Anaya’s future plans are to continue to do excellent in school, contribute to her community (volunteering, author readings, writing more books/poems, etc.) and improve in her favourite sport, soccer. She also works on “being a better Christian”.

For more information, visit Anaya The Author on Facebook.

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Postcard cover reads: “Botanic Gardens, Georgetown, British Guiana”. On its reverse states: “Botanical Gardens, Georgetown, British Guiana. Central Drive and Gate from the Botanical Gardens, which are large and beautiful.”

“Kaieteur Rapids & Gorge, British Guiana”. On the reverse reads: “A scene on the Potaro River. The Gorge approaching the Kaieteur Fall, which is seen in the distance.”

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s the only British colonial territory in South America, British Guiana was probably better known to the outside world than it appears today. Every effort was made by the-then Colonial Office and government to promote British Guiana abroad.

Guiana’s industries as they were - timber, mining, forest products and, of course, sugar - added to the rich diversity of exotic flora and rare species of fauna and the anthropology and artefacts of the colony’s aboriginal peoples, made a worthy showcase of the colony’s resources.

The Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society (RACS) was founded in 1844 by planters and men

London exhibition was the Giant Water Lily or the Victoria amazonica, which was discovered in Guiana

by Robert Schomburgk in 1837.

The year 1851 coincided with the first year of Queen Victoria’s reign and the newly discovered water lily was aptly named the Victoria Regia. The water lily was described in the catalogue as “Queen of the Aquatics” and it became the perfect emblem for the Monarch whose domain extended over the oceans the ‘Flower of the Empire’.

The successor to the 1851 Hyde Park exhibition was the International Exhibition in London in 1862, where once again British Guiana made an appearance. This was

Policy of British Guiana were keen for the representation and placed an item of $2,000 on the supplementary estimates to defray the expenses connected with the exhibition.

The RACS Committee did everything in its power to forward exhibits to Calcutta, so as to bring the colony of British Guiana and its mode of tilling the land, vividly before the people of Calcutta.

British Guiana also made its mark in the United States, first at the International Exhibition in Nashville Tennessee in May 1887 and then at the World’s Columbian Commission Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

John Quelch, the curator at the British Guiana

Cover and reverse of one of the postcards

of influence in British Guiana. The Society was instrumental in procuring and facilitating these world events through the RACS Committee of Correspondence. It prepared the official descriptive catalogues for the British Guiana exhibits and even sent representatives abroad to manage the exposition stands.

In 1851, London hosted the Great Exhibition of Arts and Industries of All Nations, the brainchild of Prince Albert opened in Hyde Park, Kensington.

The event drew in nearly six million visitors. One of the star exhibits at the

followed by the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867.

“Exposition universelle [d'art et d'industrie], for which a British Guiana Catalogue of contributions was published, and again in Paris 1900, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, where 5,000 sq. ft. were designated for the British Guiana stand.”

Eastward to India, British Guiana was represented by Mr. Henry Kirke, the then Commissioner for British Guiana, at the International Exhibition held at Calcutta in December 1883.

The Governor and Court of

Museum, went to Chicago as the British Guiana Commissioner. A set of “TIMEHRI” journals and the “Scientific Journal of Guiana” appeared as one of the prize winning exhibits from British Guiana.

The exhibit won a diploma and medal awarded by the Board of International Judges.

The British Empire Exhibition, which was held in Wembley, London in 1924, was one of the last shop windows to show off British Guiana at its best.

The British Guiana fully illustrated descriptive catalogue and guide to the exhibition, a tome of 126

pages, encapsulates the essence of the colony, its history, geography, places of interest, people and natural resources.

The concluding paragraph of 1924 Wembley catalogue sums up what British Guiana had to offer the nations of the world, and it is still relevant to Guyana today: “Altogether British Guiana presents a rich field of possibilities and probabilities, and not a few certainties to the enterprising capitalist. Unlike most of the West Indian Islands, it is as yet undeveloped save on the coastal belt, the source of the famous Demerara Sugar.

There is vast scope in its mineral wealth, in tropical agriculture of various kinds - Sugar, coffee, coconut, rubber and other plantations - in domestic industries, as yet almost nonexistent, and in the task of improving its means of communication.

There is room for millions of new population. When the people come in their numbers, as they must

come sooner or later as the other empty spaces of the world fill up, British Guiana will quickly establish a just claim to the title that is at present little more than a pious aspiration – the ‘Magnificent Province’.”

Featured today are some of the postcards said to be “specially taken for the British Empire Exhibition 1924”. They are artistic work done by Alfred De Breanski Jr., a British artist, and pub-

lished by Raphael Tuck & Sons of England, who were referred to as the “world’s largest postcard publisher” and as “art publishers to their Majesties the King and Queen”. The postcards are called “oilettes”, a term used by Raphael Tuck & Sons to refer to a particular style of postcard production. The oilettes often looked like oil painting, with noticeable brush strokes. (Text by Wayne McWatt. Photos from https://tuckdb.org)

Reverse of postcard describes the scene on its cover: “Kaieteur Fall, British Guiana, a beautiful view from the foot. Vertical drop of fall 740 ft.”

“War Memorial & Georgetown Club, British Guiana”. Reverse states: “The War Memorial stands at the head of Main Street. At the back of it is seen the chief Club of the City, and also the General Post Office.”

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The Legend of the Victoria Regia

By Odeen Ishmael

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any years ago, there was a little forest village on the bank of a wide river in southern Guyana.

All of the inhabitants were very happy as they always reaped good crops from their gardens, and wild animals they hunted for meat were abundant in the forests on both sides of the river.

In this forest village lived twelve teenage girls who always gathered in the evenings under a tall mora tree on the riverside to sing songs their mothers had taught them. After their singing, as the moon rose from beneath the horizon and the stars twinkled in the dark sky, the girls would stare in awe at these beautiful heavenly bodies.

They became particularly interested in these attractive objects since there was a general belief in those days of long ago that anyone who touched a beautiful object would acquire some of its beauty.

“The moon and the stars are so lovely,” said Neca, one of the girls in the group. “I wish we could touch them so we can acquire some of their beauty, but they are so far away.”

“We must find a way to touch them,” replied another girl in the group.

“Maybe, we should climb to the top of the mountain, and from there we will be able to touch them.”

So every evening after their singing session, they stared at the moon and the stars and contemplated various ways they could attempt to touch them.

Of all the girls, Neca was more inter-

Victoria Regia (Photo by Nicholas Laughlin)

ested in touching the Moon, and in the evening she spent long hours just staring at it as it moved slowly across the night sky.

“I know what I will do,” she declared to her friends one evening. “I will climb to the top of this tall mora tree and try to touch the moon.”

“Well, you may climb to the top of the tree, but I think we can touch the moon and the stars if we go to the top of the mountain,” one of her friends explained. This view seemed to be more popular, and all except Neca decided that they would do exactly that.

One night when the full moon was rising in the sky, Neca climbed to the

top of the mora tree and stretched out her hands towards the shining orb. But, clearly, the moon was too far away for her to accomplish this feat. In great disappointment, she descended and tearfully went home to sleep.

Meanwhile, that same night her friends walked through the forest to the high mountain some distance away from the village. After reaching the peak, they stretched out their hands towards the moon and the stars, but they, too, failed to attain their objective. With long, sad faces, they wearily walked back home realising that they could never acquire the beauty of those distant objects.

But Neca never gave up. The following night, when her friends had all gone to sleep, she walked along the river bank once again and stared at the big golden moon as it rose above the trees.

Then she looked into the calm water of the river and there she observed the moon’s glowing reflection.

“Now, this is how I can touch the moon,” she reasoned. And with that, she plunged into the river and reached out to the reflection. But she soon disappeared beneath the deep still water and was never seen again.

But the moon goddess did see Neca as she made that fateful plunge.

“I truly pity her,” she sighed. “Neca always wanted to become more beautiful than ever, so I’ll ensure that people will admire that beauty for all times.”

So, the moon goddess, from the depths of the river, brought up Neca’s body which she transformed into a large majestic pink water lily in the water near the river bank. From that day, people everywhere became fascinated with this most gorgeous flower growing beside its large circular lily pad. Today, that stately and attractive water lily is widely known as the Victoria Regia.

Story, published with permission from author, is taken from “Guyana Legends – Folktales of the Indigenous Amerindians” by Odeen Ishmael, published 2012. Ishmael is a veteran retired Guyanese diplomat. He retired from the diplomatic service in June 2014. He last served as Guyana's ambassador to Kuwait, taking up that post in January 2011.

A review by Petamber Persaud

“T

he long and short of it” is a well-used expression meaning to get/give the gist of something.

However, this new book “The Indentured Servants from Bengal to Bush Lot to Belize” has a long and short, a long, and a very long of it.

The long and short of this historical novel is a family saga covering three generations originating in India moving to Guyana and then Belize, recording the “struggles and resilience in a desperate effort to stay afloat and, for some, to soar”.

The ‘short of it’ is the inspiring story of Mattai, born in Bengal, kidnapped in and transported across the Kala Pani from Calcutta to Bush Lot village on the Essequibo Coast of Guyana as an indentured labourer. He served there for three periods of indentureship lasting 14 years, during which time he attempted to escape the harshness of plantation life.

Having failed in his bid to escape, he served out his contract, struggling as a free labourer and doing slightly better

than when he was bonded. During that time, he started a family, which later became an extended one. Family members dispersed to various parts of the world, to “greener pastures”, some making good in life. One of Mattai’s descendants called Chines/Karan moved to Belize to continue the family odyssey.

The ‘long of it’ is the strength of the book where the reader becomes a first-hand witness to each setting in the narrative: the lay of the land, the smell and taste of it, feel the heat and dust, squelching of mud in the rice field at the time of sowing, attitude of people in various disciplines and occupations, household matters, diversions and hobbies, conveyances and travel, architecture, food, clothing, beliefs, morality, politics, class divisions, religious norms, laws and disorder, disease, death and funeral rites.

For instance, this is the recreation of Calcutta in 1893: “[t] he humid tropical climate was unbearably hot with temperatures over one hundred de-

grees Fahrenheit. Even so, the narrow streets were jam-packed with people going about their daily activities. Most of them were walking, while many were pushing handcarts or riding larger carts pulled by pairs of yoked oxen. The wealthier ones were under the canopies of rickshaws pulled by sinewy, barefooted, half-naked men who, despite the appearance of being frail, jogged on tirelessly. Amid them, cyclists were skillfully negotiating their way, carrying huge bundles of belongings precariously on their handlebars and heads. As they proceeded, they carefully avoided squatting cows which sat nonchalantly, pensively chewing their cud with their heads raised in a seemingly defiant demeanor as if aware of their sacred position of prominence”. This quality of descriptive movement in the narrative is seen again in reference to Bush Lot (Essequibo, Guyana) and Belize (Central America).

The ‘very long of it’ lies in the slowing down the pace of the narrative with sometimes incongruous insertions of il-

lustrations and lengthy explanations of items that have become extinct or rarely used today (a glossary would have served the purpose better). Although the illustrations/explanations are of interest to archaeologist and like-

minded people, bringing nostalgia to others, such would have been more suited to an essay or dissertation; it did not work well for a book of this nature touted as “historical fiction” – the author did not leave much to the imagina-

tion. Take away some of those distractions and the book would be a very good read. As it is, the writer falls prey to the pitfalls of writing a first novel. However, there are redeeming qualities found for instance in chapters dealing with ‘wedding’, ‘schooling’, rice, funeral etc. These chapters are integral to the story, moving the narrative/plot forward with colour and flavour and verve.

Another redeeming factor is humour which acts as a touchstone to serious issues like in the use of language where the stage is set for misinterpretation and misunderstanding as portrayed in the use of Standard English versus Creolese.

A big plus for the book is that the author succeeds in bringing the past to life, helping the reader to re-evaluate the past. And very important, the author tells his story with authority; this is what defines the book (and will market it and make it sell well).

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo. com

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T

he town of New Amsterdam developed as a settlement beside Fort Nassau, some 55 miles up the Berbice River. Around 1784, as a result of the fluctuating fortunes of Fort Nassau, the Dutch relocated the town to its present site at the confluence of the Berbice and Canje Rivers.

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

Between 1785 and 1790, New Amsterdam was established as the seat of Government for Berbice. At that time the town was little more than a forest settlement, with a house here and a house there, no roads, no drains.

By the resolutions of an Ordinance dated January 11, 1791, plots of land were awarded to settlers along the river front. In 1776, George Pinkhard described the town as that of a wild country, only just opening into cultivation.

It comprised an extent of wood and water, with small patches of land breaking into incipient tillage.

In May 1825, an Ordinance to establish a Board of Management for the town was passed.

Subsequent ordinances in

October 1825 and September 1838 resulted in the establishment of a ‘Board of Policy’ to be responsible for the affairs of the town. In 1844, a Board of Superintendence was established for this purpose.

Under their guidance the town grew.

The Board of

Superintendence lasted until September 1, 1891, when legislation was enacted to incorporate the town into a municipality.

The membership of this council consisted of members who had served on the Board of Superintendents and Mr. Neil Ross McKinnon, K.C., who was

president of that Board, was appointed as the town’s first mayor.

Sunday Times Magazine features today cherished photos of the old New Amsterdam, British Guiana. (Text and photos by National Trust of Guyana, http://nationaltrust.gov.gy)

WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The buck stops…

T

…with the Minister

he Public Security Minister – right now Khemraj Ramjattan – always has INDIVIDUAL ministerial responsibility for the prisons and the Prison Service of Guyana. Under the conventions and traditions of our Westminster system of governance, the Minister resigns when disasters of the magnitude of the Camp Street inferno occur. Plain and simple. There have now been two of these disasters – AT THE SAME PLACE AND FOR THE SAME CAUSES – in two years, but Ramjattan is still there. Why? OK…even though he’d been there for a whole year when the first fire was set by prisoners, we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was a bit slow on the uptake to learn about his responsibilities. But there was the usual CoI after the first fire. And the CoI set out WHAT HAD TO BE DONE in the most excruciating detail. And the Chairman didn’t mince any words in insisting on the URGENCY of implementing the recommendations.

Now, all Guyanese know the recommendations couldn’t all be implemented immediately. But what all Guyanese EXPECT – and so should the President – was that Minister Ramjattan should’ve established a team tasked with the responsibility of prioritising and sequencing the tasks into a plan with timelines.

Did he at least take this elementary step? NO! And for this negligence he has to take responsibility and fall on his sword.

Take the recommendations on the reduction of jail terms by the Judiciary or them using noncustodial sentencing to a greater degree. Ramjattan is a lawyer who would’ve pleaded for hundreds of clients on the matter of sentencing. He would know that so often these sentences are arbitrary and have the opposite effect on the incarcerated than reforming them. He would know about the astronomic recidivism rate in our prisons. But did he even jot down a note on his pad to start the process to engage the Judiciary on this recommendation?

No! Ramjattan expressed such disgust at the conditions in the Camp Street jail when he and his AG Basil Williams visited the facility after 17 prisoners perished in that fire. Did he initiate any action to improve those conditions? These were human beings, he said. Did he even suggest that food be served on time? Did he even revisit to check on the conditions subsequently? Let’s say he was busy…did he send any subordinate to visit?

Dear Reader…you can tell by now your Eyewitness can’t even parody this Minister’s abdication of his job. We cannot allow him to do this – and still draw his fat salary.

If Roopnaraine was demoted for lack of reforms in education, Ramjattan has to be fired!! …at the PNC The WPA has been excusing itself for remaining in the PNC-led coalition called APNU by claiming they always believed in “coalitions”. And that, in fact, Rodney has proposed a Government of National Unity and Reconstruction (GNUR) back in 1979 is pursuit of this commitment to coalitions.

But that’s not the whole story, is it? And because it’s not, it reveals that there are other reasons for the WPA to keep on taking the humiliations being doled out daily to it.

Back in 1979, when the WPA proposed the GNUR, it did so in contradistinction to the PPP’s National Front Government – put out in 1977.

The major reason for the WPA’s proposal was they refused to include the PNC in any such “unity” government – even though the PPP insisted on that condition!! Imagine that!! How the world has changed!!

The WPA should reveal whether – after its present bitter experiences – whether the PNC had changed any since Rodney’s rejection of the PNC in ’79. …with UG unions Your Eyewitness salutes the UG unions for following his lead and correctly labelling the VC’s Big Bash “investiture” – disguised as a Diaspora Engagement Conference – as a “Coronation”.

Let’s see some pickets against the bow-tied poseur!!!

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Déjà vu… …all over again at Camp Street!

The authorities must be only people in Guyana who’re surprised at the weekend conflagration at the Camp Street jail.

Everyone else – from their own bitter experience living in Guyana – knows if you close your eyes and pretend reality will change, you’re living in a fool’s paradise.

And so said, so done at Camp Street!

On March 3, 2016, we witnessed the horror of 17 inmates incinerated in the facility. Seventeen human lives snuffed out! The Government’s CoI (obligatory for every misstep) announced two months later that basically the Camp Street explosion was just waiting to happen.

What else to expect when 900+ men – including hardened killers on death row – are shoehorned into facilities meant to hold only half that number at best?

And that’s overlooking the fact that each person’s space is about one thirds of what’s considered passable internationally!

Combine this with a judicial system that consigned at least a hundred men in the facility who’re only on “remand” – that is, waiting for their trials – for years. And getting the same treatment like the hardened

criminals! That’s what was the spark then – and now!

The only difference is there were less lives lost and more property destroyed now.

The BIG question, of course, is whatever happened to the recommendations of the CoI? The Government’s spin doctors, of course, have already boasted about all the plans they’d crafted.

While this may be true, plans should have timelines… and they would’ve told the people of Guyana if the Government was serious.

How is it they were able to refurbish Jubilee park – AFTER the last jail tragedy – but not get the proposed Mazaruni Prison expansion started immediately?? It was more than a year later (April 2017) that Cabinet approved a measly G$58 million for the latter project.

And imagine they spent over G$1 billion of Jubilee Park!!

What we’re witnessing here is more than the typical lassitude enveloping every venture governments embark on. This is a reflection of the class bias that’s redolent in our society: lumpen elements are the dregs of society and their lives aren’t worth anything. The problem, of course, is who knows when any one of us could be consigned to Prison? What will we say then?

Way back in 2004, the Disciplined Forces Commission (DFC) had taken proposals not only to reform the Police and Army – but also the Prison Service – and the jails. Everything in last year’s CoI on the Camp Street conflagration was already in that DFC’s Report.

But no action.

The only silver lining

from this latest tragedy is a new prison will now HAVE TO BE BUILT! …on the Lisa find Your Eyewitness noticed the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA) has joined the line with all those (like your Eyewitness and the WPA) who’ve been complaining about the information Black Hole the Government created around the contract their Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has signed with ExxonMobil.

The latter, for what

it’s worth, announced out in Berbice they’ll be very open about what they’ll be paying the Government – once the oil starts flowing.

Fat lot of good that’ll do us by then. The boat (with our oil) would have already “gone a watah”! Now you don’t have to be a genius to understand the only reason the Government has clammed up is because they have things to hide from the people of Guyana.

Things like what will be the rate of taxation Exxon will be paying on their

profits. Surely the lawyerly Minister, who undertook to negotiate for us against Exxon’s battery of lawyers, didn’t give that mega company a tax break?

Or did he? …on gas Still on the Lisa find, some are enquiring about the gas that’ll be pumped out with the oil. But that’s no mystery, is it?

Exxon has already said the Government has accepted the gas will be pumped back into the seabed!!

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WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Legitimacy vs legality of Parliament’s amendment power

By Ravi Dev

W

ith our Court of Appeal granting the application of the Government to refer its previous decision on the Richardson case to the CCJ, I resubmit an intervention I made when former Chancellor and AG, Keith Massiah, wrote “in respectful concurrence with Justice Duke Pollard’s crystalline analysis of the issues bearing on the question of the presidential term limit.”

In doing so, however, Justice Massiah reveals, unfortunately, his concern that Justice Pollard was solely about “presidential term limit”, and not even the three other categories of citizens that were removed from consideration as presidential candidates to the citizenry by Act 17 of 2001. Most significantly, they give short shrift to the real issue of the limits of the amendment power in reference to the basic structure of the constitution in general, and of the “democratic sovereignty” of the Guyanese people in particular.

But in supporting Justice Pollard’s focus on an exegesis of “associated words on statutory terms… that articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution refer to “a unified political entity” and not to “constitutional entitlements of the people”, Chancellor Massiah reveals their common source of confusion.

Our Constitution emphasises at its very beginning: “We the people do adopt (the constitution)”. It then declared the Guyanese people possessing the “constituting power” created by “THE STATE AND THE CONSTITUTION”, including Art 1: “Guyana is an indivisible, secular, democratic sovereign state…and Art 8: “The constitution is the supreme law of Guyana”. The Constitution therefore possesses “constituted power” that is superior to the state, but subordinate to the “constituent power” of the people.

Under the next heading, “PRINCIPLES AND BASES OF THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SYSTEM”, Art 9 reaffirms one aspect of the “constituting power” of the people by affirming, “Sovereignty belongs to the people”. And they “exercise it through their representatives and the democratic organs established by or under this

Constitution.” The latter have constitutive power.

Chancellor Massiah ignores the distinction between “constituent power”, which resides in the people, and “constituted power”, which is delegated to the Constitution and the people’s representatives.

The constituent power is exercised by the people to create their constitution, and not vice versa for the constitution to specify “entitlements” of the people, as the Court of Appeal claims.

In Guyana, while the people have delegated the power of amending the constitution to their representatives (Art 164), this is inevitably a substantively and procedurally limited power.

Procedurally because it is to be exercised according to specified increasing levels of difficulty, which end with the ultimate possibility of a referendum of the people.

The latter is a simulation of the exercise of their constituent power by acclamation, and is absent in the Indian and Belizean constitutions, which Justice Pollard and (by implication) Chancellor Massiah ignored.

The other use of the distinction between “constituent” and “constituted” power is to delineate the limits of the substantive amendment power by the representatives of the people: the latter, we emphasise, being constitutive and limited, cannot alter what was dubbed the “basic structure” by the Indian Supreme Court and encapsulated in our Arts 1 and 9. This delineation created the distinction between the “legality” of an amendment and its “legitimacy”. It raises the possibility — as has occurred by Art 17 of 2001 — that an amendment may be legal (according to the constituted delegated rules of Art 164) but illegitimate, based on its constricting the foundational principles emanating from the constituent power of the people.

The latter imposes “implied limitations” on the delegated amendment power, and illustrates the distinction made by Carl Schmitt between the “Constitution” (substantive) as stressed by CJ (ag) Chang (rtd) and the Appellate Court and “Constitutional law” (procedural”) relied on by Justice Pollard and Chancellor Massiah.

In sum, CJ (ag) Chang and the Appellate Court hold that the Constitution

specifies the ontological, unalterable basic structure produced by the constituting power (“dubbed “eternity laws” by some), which cannot be restricted in Guyana unless approved by a referendum of the people in a simulation of their constituent power.

Art 17 of 2001 sought to create an “unconstitutional constitutional amendment”.

With constitutional reform possibly on the horizon, determining the necessary basic structure of a constitution for Guyana might hopefully be informed by the debate.

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EYEWITNESS

Diddling or fiddling?

…US at G20?

To most observers, it had to happen sooner rather than later; but none of them thought the dominance of the US in the corridors of world power would be abdicated, rather than dwindle away — as England’s had been after WWI. But at the latest G-20 meeting in Germany, Donald Trump clearly had no inclination to step up to the plate on the dominant issues on the agenda: trade and climate change.

On trade matters, with the US pulling out of the mega blocks like TPP — which his predecessor had worked for years to cobble together — China, Europe and Russia rushed in to fill the vacuum with such alacrity you could hear the “whooshing” sound even across the Atlantic. Isolationism might sell in the rust belt of the Midwest, but the other members of G20 were obviously taken aback by the knownothing obduracy of Trump. Even if America were to get its manufacturing mojo back, does Trump really believe it can afford to neglect the burgeoning markets in the rest of the world?

On Climate Change, even the host Angela Merkel had to publicly call out the US for abandoning the Paris Accord, while Macron pointedly proposed that France will host another conclave so that G19 can move on.

Trump failed to grasp that the response to “Climate Change” isn’t tied to whether “the science” is right or wrong. It will now lead to the spawning of industries that will eclipse most of the dominant players in the energy field, for one.

The US will now indubitably fall further behind in the race for ‘renewables”, where China and India are rubbing their hands with glee. Both those countries have committed to powering their cars in the next three decades with electricity by going the way of Volvo, which just announced it will stop making the internal combustion engine!! Maybe Trump should’ve taken a hint from the company his Secretary of State Tillerson so recently headed – Exxon, which has recently plunged into the production of algae bio-fuels.

On a personal level, if one thing epitomised

the new power reality, it was a picture of Trump sitting alone at his seat while all around him G20 leaders were locked in animated conversations.

Trump didn’t help his cause – or that of the US — when he had his daughter fill in for him at the G20 roundtable while he was engaged in a bi-lateral with Indonesia.

Ivanka might be easy on the eyes and a good businesswoman, but she had no official standing to represent the President of the US – especially in such a gathering.

While some may enjoy the diminished US presence on the world stage…it could lead to instability. …at Caricom Your Eyewitness had taken Prezzie at his word when, some time ago, he mentioned on his Public Interest show that he’d be raising the aborted officially designated “Jagdeo Initiative” — which since 2003 had been placed on Caricom’s agenda — to effectuate our Common Agricultural Policy. The Initiative, spearheaded

by Jagdeo, has spelled out chapter and verse as to how the 10 constraints that prevented us from feeding ourselves, and even export food, could be overcome.

But imagine, this is all Pressie could say on the subject last week: “The Community has the land, the labour, the talent, and the capital to guarantee food security for its citizens. The Community’s annual food import bill, which exceeds US$4B, is a notorious indictment of its ability to promote investment and stimulate intra-regional trade in agricultural commodities.

“Non-tariff barriers continue to constrain trade in food. The Community needs to reexamine how it can dismantle the non-tariff barriers to trade in agricultural products while generating employment for its citizens.”

“Non-tarriff barriers”? Was it the name “Jagdeo” that stuck in his throat? Sad. …on the oil contract Your Eyewitness knows Trotman will ignore his calls to reveal the details of the deal he’s made with Exxon on OUR oil.

But to ignore his coalition partner WPA? Oi vey!

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The ‘Tree of Heaven’

WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Coconut water is said to have numerous health benefits

he coconut is described as the 'Tree of Heaven' because almost every part of the crop, from the roots, to the bark, to the fruit, has been of some economic value to the locals long before the Europeans ever knew about the tree.

Also called "the tree which provides all the

necessities of life" in India, and "the tree of a thousand uses" in Malay, the coconut’s flowers, husk, shell, water, milk, leaves, sap, bud, and the white, fleshy part of the seed- the coconut ‘meat’, are all used up by the inhabitants of the tropics.

Almost everywhere you look in Guyana

and the Caribbean you must see a coconut tree. Once there is a yard or an open field, there will be at least one coconut tree standing.

But very few, if any, consider where the coconut came from, taking it for granted that it is ‘native’ to the Caribbean and Guyana.

The actual origin of the coconut is still uncertain, with the term “Botanical Romance” being used derisively in 1910 to describe some claims of the origin of this ordinary fruit.

Some authorities suggest South Asia while others claim that it originated in the part of Gondwanaland that is now South America. Some insist it was carried while others insist on the possibility of dispersal by ocean currents.

Fossil records suggest that New Zealand

and parts of India bore similar ‘coconut-like’ but smaller plants more than 10 million years ago.

According to some scientists, when Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World he did not find coconuts, and the Portuguese travelled the length of Africa to the Cape of Storms (Cape of Good Hope) without finding any.

Vasco da Gama had to reach the Indian Ocean in 1498 before "coquos" were recognised.

It was during the age of exploration, or the “Nautical period” that the coconut gained popularity for its nu-

uralist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist, and biologist, would write about the coconut palm in the Amazon region, "It is in a foreign land. It flourishes . . . but no part of it is applied to any useful purpose, the fruit only being consumed as an occasional luxury. In the towns and larger villages where the Portuguese have settled it has been planted, but among the Indians of the interior it is still quite unknown.”

According to one historical account, in 1869 “The King coconut was introduced to Jamaica from Ceylon (via Kew Gardens). It

Picking coconuts in Guyana (Photo from Rusty Travel Trunk)

merous beneficial uses to the European seafaring explorers -from providing uncontaminated drinking water to caulking leaks (ensuring its worldwide distribution and confusing those who ask the "did it float or was it carried?"question).

A letter written in 1836 noted that the coconut was seen as an invaluable for extensive cultivation in the African and West Indian colonies especially for the coconut oil, which burned “smoke-free.”

In 1853, A.R. Wallace, British nat-

cannot now be traced.”

But it is reported that in 1962 “Brazil had ten million dwarf King Coconut palms, all of which were the offspring since 1942 of two palms that had survived importation from Ceylon in 1925.” Another account claims that foreign coconut varieties were introduced to the British West Indies in 1921 and 1923.

The next time you stop at the coconut vendor and ask for coconut water, remember the history of the common coconut.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Paediatrics: Take 2

Anu Dev

N

ow that I’m in Year 5, I’m having my second go at Paediatrics. One would think that, this time around, we’d be more prepared and comfortable in the rotation. Well, the senior doctors certainly assume we are; they keep saying things like, “Well, you should’ve read that book from cover to cover back in Year 4.” To that I usually shift guiltily in my shoes and try to avoid making eye contact, because I never did get around to finishing that textbook!

Another new development, since we’re now in our final year, is that we keep getting the same speech from everyone: “When are you graduating?

In a few months, right? This time next year, you will be the new interns.”

But apart from having my heart stop beating every time someone mentions “exams” and

S

atiricus was shocked when he read of the attempted heist at Republic Bank. He was shaken to his core by this expansion of the criminal fraternity into the bosom of respectable families – like his! All his life, he’d been taught that if you go to school, study hard, pass your exams and get a job, you were well on your way to climbing the ladder of social success. Jeez!

He’d have to look at his kids a little closer now, wouldn’t he?

“But wha’ mek yuh suh shack, Sato?” asked Bungi at the Back Street Bar, where they were ensconced as usual.

“Well, look how they were all educated,” said Satiricus, sounding a little surprised at the question.

“Suh yuh t’ink only people like me who na gat educa-shan, ah rab bank?” Bungi asked carefully, as Hari watched on with interest.

“Well, up to now

“graduation”, things actually are a bit better this time around. Slowly but surely, it’s dawning we might be becoming real doctors. The other day my friends and I saw a patient in the Paediatric Emergency Department, and we did the whole 9 yards: took the patient’s history, did a full exam, reviewed the case with a senior doctor, and sent the patient off with a stamped prescription. Sure, it was a simple case that didn’t require the patient to be hospitalized; and yeah, the 5 of us collectively made up 1 doctor, but we still did feel quite pleased with ourselves.

And it really does feel like the things we’re learning now we’re learning for life. I’ve been grilled so many times about the management of an “acute exacerbation of asthma” that I’m having dreams about being chased by oxygen masks and nebulizer equipment. But, on a serious note, asthma is one of those things you’re guaranteed to see at least a couple of kids come in with every day, so it makes sense that we should really know about the management of asthma.

And before patients are discharged from the hospital, they usually have to be counselled about how they’re going to manage their asthma when they’re home. They’re advised about avoiding triggers, to prevent setting off another asthma attack — things like cigarette smoke, pets, dust, and mould. The parents are advised to avoid having carpets and heavy drapes around the home, because those might trap dust. When taking a paediatric patient’s history, we usually ask if anyone smokes around the child.

And fairly frequently, I get the response, “Well their _____ smokes, but he/she doesn’t smoke inside the house or around the child.”

But that still counts as exposing the child to cigarette smoke. Because cigarette smoke clings to smokers: it clings to their hair, to their clothes, to their breath, to their skin.

So there’s a chance your cigarette smoking could still act as a trigger for an asthmatic child.

For a lot of kids, their first symptom of asthma is a cough that just won’t go away. Many parents go to their local pharmacist and they’re recommended an

School and bank robbers that’s been the case, right?” said Satiricus firmly.

“Not exactly,” interjected Hari before Bungi could respond.

“That guy Blackie, whose gang robbed that Essequibo bank, was a GDF soldier who had a good education, you know. Special Forces!”

“And dem fifteen chap who rab dem two bank in Berbice, when dem shoot up de PPCEE people, na bin gat educa-shan?” asked Bungi more pointedly.

“OK…OK. Fellas. I see what you’re getting at!” said Satiricus. “But those bandits had education with guns.

These young men didn’t. They just had book education.”

“Suh yuh t’ink me guh rab bank?” asked Bungi pointedly. “Me na gat jab, yuh know. An me nah gat book educashan.”

“Well, I don’t think you’re bank robber material,” admitted Satiricus.

“And that’s the point, right Sato?”

said Hari. “There are some people who are “bank robber” material – whether they have education or not.”

“An’ dat “material’ a mek a house!” said Bungi emphatically. “Na school!!”

expectorant for the cough.

Some doctors may also prescribe an expectorant for the cough. But if the child actually does have asthma, an expectorant won’t be a good long-term solution. Expectorants are “mucolytics”– they ‘break up’ mucus that builds up in the airways. They don’t treat the underlying

problems of asthma that cause that mucus build-up in the first place.

For the long-term management of asthma, drugs like inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators have been shown to be very effective.

For each child with asthma, an asthma action plan should be agreed upon,

with options that work best for that child. And I don’t think paediatrics is as bad as George Clooney says it is: “After doing “One Fine Day” and playing a paediatrician on ER, I’ll never have kids. I’m going to have a vasectomy.”

He was just acting… the real thing is more satisfying!

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Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli in New York on much needed break

A

nushka Sharma and Virat Kohli are one couple from the Bollywood and cricket world who have never failed to make a relationship statement whenever together. Now, the two are chilling in New York where Virat has flown to spend the much needed time with his girlfriend Anushka, who is there to attend IIFA 2017. And as happened before, Virat dropped the first selfie from their time together captioning the picture as, “much needed break with my love.” Well, the picture definitely makes us say, ‘aww so cute.’

It was not very long back when Virat began sharing photos and posts confirming his relationship with Anushka.

Often he has stated how important the actor is in his life. While Anushka has remained tight lipped and has never really expressed anything about Virat over social media, her confidence while making an appearance with him on any red carpet events shows her love. It is in-

teresting how Bollywood and cricket have always blended well.

Hazel Keech – Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Geeta Basra are married while Zaheer Khan and Chak De girl Sagarika Ghagte also made their relationship official recently.

Now, we are thinking

when Virat and Anushka will take their relationship to next level.

Anushka will be attending IIFA 2017, which will happen at MetLife Stadium in New York on July 14-15, and July 16 will witness a closing party of Bollywood’s biggest event.

As we spot Anusha and Virat together, we wish to see them walking down the Green Carpet of the IIFA 2017, hand in hand too, just like Anushka accompanies him at the stadiums.

On the work front, Anushka is busy in the promotions of Jab Harry Met Sejal and has started working on her next project as a producer called PARI. (Indian Express)

‘Game of Thrones’ actor Sophie Turner is frightened of show’s ending

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ame of Thrones’ star Sophie Turner is terrified of HBO’s epic fantasy show’s upcoming end. She says she will be “an emotional wreck for a year”. The 21-year-old British actress, who plays Sansa Stark in the HBO hit, opened up in an interview with W Magazine about how she is bracing herself for life after the fantasy drama, reports dailymail.co.uk.

She said, “I’ve been trying to wrap my head around it. It’s not like I’m brushing it under the car-

pet; I am fully aware that it is coming to an end, but I don’t think I’ll be ready until I shoot my final scene, and then I think I will be completely an emotional wreck for the next year or so of my life. I’m really not looking forward to it. It is terrifying.”

‘Game of Thrones’ was created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO. The first season premiered on April 17, 2011.

It is about to enter its seventh season, which will be its second to last.

The show is scheduled to end after eight seasons in total. The seventh season will debut on July 16 in the US. It will premiere in India on Star World and Star World HD on July 18.

Sophie Turner was a teenager when she auditioned for the role of Sansa, and since then, she said, she has spent years developing two identities: her own, and her character’s.

Her character, Sansa Stark, has seen incredible character development from a passive sufferer to a woman who knows how to play the Game of Thrones.

(Indian Express)

Rannvijay Singh on Sunny Leone: We love working with each other

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annvijay Singh will be back again hosting the 10th season of reality show ‘Splitsvilla’ on MTV. The popular TV host, who will co-host the show with actor Sunny Leone, says they always look forward to working together.

“This time we shot in Jim Corbett (National Park) and enjoyed very much there… As we have now become friends and share a good understanding, so we always look forward to working together,” said Rannvijay said.

Talking about the new season of ‘Splitsvilla’, Rannvijay said, “This time, it’s a new experiment.

Nowadays science and technology has entered real life dating so we want to know if there is science in love or not.”

He added, “There are 20 contestants on the show, 10 girls and 10 boys but there is ideal match of only 7 (pairs). The contestants have to find out their matches by various tasks, activities and meeting dates. The game is of the heart but is to be played by the brain.”

‘Splitsvilla’ is a reality show for singles who are tasked to find their perfect match while competing for the title of king and queen of the show.

Sunny and Rannvijay have been playing impor-

tant roles in the show as they guide the contestants on their romantic relationships.

Rannvijay, who shares a lovely bond with his wife Priyanka with whom he also has a daughter, says that a successful relationship works on understanding and clarity in communication and a will to spend time with each other.

The 34-year-old actor and host who gained popularity with his stint in MTV Roadies says, “Yes, it is true that reality shows have become a platform to reach the film industry… but unless there is talent, one cannot succeed. Many contestants continue after winning to try their luck on screen, many don’t.

‘Splitsvilla 10’ will be aired on MTV on July 23.

Anil Kapoor: We want Arjun Kapoor to get married

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eteran actor Anil Kapoor, who is gearing up for the release of ‘Mubarakan’, said that they chose the wedding theme for the film as they want actor Arjun Kapoor to get married and they will at least try to get him married first in the family. “We have taken wedding theme in this film purposely because we want Arjun to get married and now he is the one who will get married first,” Anil said.

“At least we will try,” added the actor, who was present on the sets of singing based reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs here. To this, Arjun responded, “Yes, definitely!

July 28 is my wedding. You all can visit your nearby cinema hall to attend my wedding (referring to his film ‘Mubarakan’), which is happening twice with two different girls. So come and check, who is marrying whom.”

This is the first time that Arjun and Anil are sharing screen space to-

gether. Asked about his excitement and nervousness ahead the release of his film, Arjun said, “I am not nervous or excited as it’s too early.

At the moment I am enjoying this phase a lot because though I will continue spending my time with him (Anil), to spend time with you all (media) and with him together, is something which will remain forever in my memory and I will cherish these moments lifetime.”

The 32-year-old says for him all the “moments and bytes, are very important which I would love to cherish”.

Speaking about the film, Anil said, “Mubarakan is a family film. Arjun, Ileana and Athiya are doing some mad things and confusion in the film so it is going to get appreciated by youth and because of that, youth will have to watch me as well.”

Directed by Anees Bazmi, Mubarakan is releasing on July 28.

‘MOM’ actor Sajal Ali says that Bollywood was never her dream

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akistani actor Sajal Ali, who played a rape survivor in her Bollywood debut ‘Mom’, says she had never dreamed of acting in the Indian film industry.

Speaking about her role as Arya in the Sridevistarrer, Sajal said, “It was definitely a challenging role… I mean any character you play, you have to really commit to it and kind of naturally become like that, at least that’s how I function. I think the most challenging part was performing with Sridevi ma’am.

Like my very first scene in the movie is me sitting at a dining table across from her and misbehaving with her — it was terrifying!” Dawn quoted her as saying on Wednesday.

“We had to shoot in Georgia and it was freezing cold… So yeah, that was pretty tough too,” Sajal said. Sajal said, “Bollywood was never my dream, in all honesty. I was happy working here and that was not something I was working towards but this story moved

me. I always knew that if I worked in Bollywood, I have certain limitations and boundaries that I would not want to cross and this movie was about a sensitive topic, everything was handled so tastefully.”

The actor is all praise for her co-star Sridevi, who plays her mother in the movie. “She’s just the sweetest person. Even now, she keeps calling me and reminding me that I’m in her thoughts. Sajal said she had three film contracts with Boney Kapoor, Sridevi’s husband and a producer in Bollywood. But now I don’t know what’s in the near future. They handed me the complete package on a silver platter: a meaty character, an excellent cast, the best of the best and for that, I’m forever grateful… Everyone’s sending me messages telling me they’re proud of me, it’s just the best feeling, knowing everyone appreciates your work, including critics from across the border.” (Indian Express)

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‘Moonlight’ director to adapt James Baldwin’s ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’

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ilmmaker Barry Jenkins, best known for directing Academy Award winning film ‘Moonlight’, has been roped in to direct James Baldwin’s popular novel ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’.

The movie tells the story of Tish, a newly engaged Harlem woman who races against the clock to prove her lover’s innocence in a rape case while carrying their first born child, reports variety.com. It is a celebration of love told through the story of a young couple, their families and their lives, trying to bring about justice through love, for love and the promise of the American dream. The title ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ is the reference to classic 1916 song ‘Beale Street Blues’ written by W.C. Handy Production on the film is expected to start in October. Jenkins, who wanted to make the film for many years, wrote the screenplay during the same time in 2013 when he penned ‘Moonlight’.

Since then, Jenkins has been working with the Baldwin Estate.

‘Moonlight’ won three academy awards in Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay categories. ‘Moonlight’ created history also by the first LGBT themed film to grab the Best Picture academy award. It was also the film with the first all-black cast to win the same award. (Indian Express)

Christopher Nolan would do a James Bond film if it needed reinvention

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irector Christopher Nolan, known for the Dark Knight trilogy and Inception, has been in talks with the James Bond producers over the years and could be in line to direct the next film.

James Bond is a spy character who was created by writer Ian Fleming in 1953.

Asked if he would ever tackle a James Bond movie, Nolan told Playboy magazine: “A Bond movie, definitely. I’ve spoken to the producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson over the years. I deeply love the character

and I’m always excited to see what they do with it.

“Maybe one day that would work out. You would have to be needed, if you know what I mean.

It has to need reinvention; it has to need you. And they are getting along very well,” Christopher Nolan said.

Nolan is no stranger to reinvention and has considerable experience in reinventing characters with his trilogy of ‘Batman Begins’, ‘The Dark Knight’, and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’. He would also feel completely at home with the action.

In 2015, Daniel Craig,

who currently plays the English spy, was asked if he would be back again after finishing a difficult Spectre shoot and he had replied he would rather “slash his wrists”, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

The last two Bond movies ‘Spectre’ and ‘Skyfall’ were directed by Sam Mendes and he has made clear that he will not return.

James Bond will likely need a reboot with new actors, and Christopher Nolan, with his experience of directing films with practical effects is more than up to the job. (Indian Express)

Priyanka Chopra bonds with Rebel Wilson on the sets of ‘Isn’t it Romantic’

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riyanka Chopra is all set to go big in Hollywood.

After landing the lead role in ABC TV series ‘Quantico’, she worked in ‘Baywatch’ alongside Dwayne Johnson which was her Hollywood debut.

Piggy Chops has two big releases lined up in the next two years.

One is ‘A Kid Like Jake’ with Jim Parsons and Claire Danes, and the second Hollywood project Priyanka Chopra is working on is ‘Isn’t It Romantic’ alongside Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth and Adam Devine. The latter has just begun shooting.

New Line Cinema

has announced the start of principal photography for the romantic comedy, being directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson.

Priyanka will be seen in the role of yoga ambassador, Isabella, while Wilson will play an architect Natalie from New York City. Liam Hemsworth stars as Blake in the film, a handsome client with Adam Devine as Wilson’s earnest best friend, Josh. In the film, Natalie works hard to get noticed at her job, but is more likely to be asked to deliver coffee and bagels than to design the city’s next skyscraper. As the details about PeeCee’s new project makes us excited, pic-

tures of Priyanka with Rebel Wilson are doing the rounds of fan pages from the film’s set.

The photos of the shoot are out and Priyanka Chopra seems to have established a special rapport with Australian actor Rebel Wilson known for Pitch Perfect musical comedy series of films. She was seen happily chatting with Wilson on the sets of the romantic comedy film. There were also a few shots of Priyanka with Adam Levine.

‘Isn’t It Romantic’ is directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson. It is set for a Valentine’s Day release in 2019. (Indian Express)

‘Wonder Woman’ continues success at box office

Ji-Tu Cumbuka, ‘Roots’ and ‘Harlem Nights’ actor, dies

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ctor Ji-Tu Cumbuka, who appeared on TV series ‘Roots’ and films like ‘Bound for Glory’, ‘Brewster’s Millions’ and ‘Harlem Nights’, has died.

Cumbuka died on Tuesday in Atlanta after a long illness, his niece, Amber Holifield, announced on Facebook, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Cumbuka portrayed the slave Wrestler on the landmark 1977 ABC miniseries ‘Roots’ and played opposite Richard Pryor in ‘Brewster’s Millions’ (1985), ‘Moving’ (1988) and, as the character Toothless Gambler, in ‘Harlem Nights’ (1989).

Born in Helena, Alabama, Ji-Tu Cumbuka died at the age of 77. Apart from his work in the ABC miniseries ‘Roots’, Cumbuka also worked in Daniel Boone, Young Dan’l Boone, Knots Landing, The A-Team, The Dukes of

Hazzard, Walker, Texas Ranger, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Sanford and Son, and In the Heat of the Night.

The 6-foot-5 actor had a recurring role as Torque, a man with a detachable hand, on the shortlived 1979 NBC series A Man Called Sloane, starring Robert Conrad, and he also appeared on the small screen in Brian’s Song, The Six Million Dollar Man, Ironside, Kung Fu, Sanford and Son, Knight Rider, Hunter, Knots Landing and CSI. In 2011, Ji-Tu Cumbuka had published his autobiography-cum-memoir ‘A Giant to Remember: The Black Actor in Hollywood’.

An Alabama native, Cumbuka’s prominent work in films include the likes of Change of Habit (1969), Blacula (1972), Trader Horn (1973), Lost in the Stars (1974), Mandingo (1975), Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976), Bound for Glory (1976), The Jericho Mile (1979), Doin’ Time (1985), Brewster’s Millions (1985), Volunteers (1985), Out of Bounds (1986), Moving (1988) and Caged In Paradiso (1990) and also appearances in many other films.

(Indian Express)

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s ‘Wonder Woman’ goes on inexorably, relentlessly breaking box office records, the count of her admirers is increasing day by day. Now even ‘Deadpool’ aka Ryan Reynolds has become one. The official account of the superhero (?) posted a picture of Deadpool’s typical hands joined together in heart’s shape and between them was a Wonder Woman necklace! Who knew the Merc also had a touch of humility inside him? “The Merc may be filthier, but her B.O. is stronger. Congrats #WonderWoman,”the tweet said. It was retweeted by Ryan Reynolds themself.

‘Wonder Woman’, starring Israeli actor Gal Gadot; the film which might yet revive the floundering ship that is DC Extended Universe, has managed to take the superhero filmdom by

storm. The commercial success is not such a surprise – Warner Bros and DC’s marketing team always does their job well – but what was surprising was its critical success.

Critics, after a lukewarm response to ‘Man of Steel’, had panned the following DC Extended Universe films ‘Batman vs Superman’ and ‘Suicide Squad’. But ‘Wonder Woman’, the film on which nobody, and that includes Warner Bros and DC themselves, had put much hopes, is likely to become DCEU’s redemption.

Patty Jenkins, director of ‘Wonder Woman’, and Gal Gadot, replied in the same spirit. The superheroes might be separated by a chasm of being in different universes altogether but that does not mean they cannot give credit where it is due. (Indian Express)

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Refreshed Lynn ready to lead Warriors charge

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ynamic top order batsman Chris Lynn is eager to display more carnage with the bat in hand for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Lynn was the team’s best batsman last year, scoring 454 runs at a remarkable average of 45.4, and recording a highest score of 86 from his 12 matches. Those stats helped the threetime runners-up reach the final against eventual winners Jamaica Tallawahs.

Despite the undisputed talent the player possesses, his international career for his native Australia has been curtailed by injuries just when he seemed to be in top form.

His participation at this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders saw him sustaining a shoulder injury while fielding. He had started that tournament in blazing form, cracking a 41-ball 93 which included eight sixes and six fours against the Gujarat Lions in his first match.

“My personal preparation is going really

Refreshed Lynn ready for CPL action (CPL photo)

well. As I said, I've had time to freshen up, and now I'm starting my training campaign for the CPL. The body is feeling really well after my shoulder concerns.

I've worked my backside off to get back to where I want to be,” the player disclosed in an interview with Guyana Times Sport.

He added, “After a couple of weeks’ break from the IPL and ICC Champions Trophy, I'm feeling refreshed and

can't wait to get back to Guyana.”

According to ‘Lynny’, as he is called by teammates, the plan is the same as in previous years: score runs and help win matches.

“My goal this year is to back up my season last year and to be leading run scorer again.

Traditionally, scores are fairly low at Guyana, so to be leading run-scorer with four home games there, I thought was a great achievement. So

the goal is to back that up and go one better as a team this year,” he said.

Though Lynn is becoming an important international name in T20 Cricket, he admitted to having a sense of pride in wearing the Amazon Warriors’ jersey.

He explained, “Playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors is a bloody wonderful privilege. The pride when the players put on that jersey is something that has stood out to me

T&T PM fears for Windies relegation as CWI fiddle

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rinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has warned that West Indies could face relegation from the top tier of international cricket if the regional game continues in its current state of crisis.

Laying the current demise at the feet of Cricket West Indies, Rowley said nothing proactive was being done to salvage the situation but rather, administrators were simply hoping for a “miracle” in order to turn things around.

“My perspective is that West Indies cricket is in dire trouble, in crisis, and if we are not careful, something is likely to happen in the not too distant future even though it is not being spoken about now,” Rowley told I-Sports radio programme here at the weekend.

“I don't know that the ICC (International Cricket Council) will continue to put this substandard West Indies team to play against the top five or six teams going forward into many more years.

“What I am frighten of is that somewhere in the not too distant future common sense will

T&T Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley

prevail at the ICC and they will create some kind of a premier league and a second division and West Indies cricket will end up in the second division because of the standard we are displaying and we will end up playing cricket against Ireland, Scotland, Kenya and Afghanistan and that is where we're headed.”

Rowley was speaking against the backdrop of the CARICOM Head of Government summit in Grenada last week when West Indies cricket emerged as one of the hot topics.

CARICOM chair-

man, Grenada's Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, used his opening speech to outline the challenges facing the sport regionally and to urge fellow leaders to find consensus on the way forward.

Rowley agreed with Mitchell that CARICOM had a vital role to play in helping to overhaul the sport especially since CWI seemed unable to find solutions to the current crisis.

“They believe that some miracle will take place and some superstar like Brian Lara or Andy Roberts will appear from the crowd and pull us back from this brink,” Rowley said candidly.

“But in the meantime we are handling large sums of money from the ICC, unearned money, and those monies are used to strengthen people who are in office, who literally dominate the game, not on the field but in their boardrooms.”

The debate over West Indies cricket also appears to have caused a rift in CARICOM with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne openly disagreeing with the regional na-

tion grouping's position on the “immediate dissolution” of CWI. In a statement last week, Browne said: “Antigua and Barbuda as a matter of principle does not interfere in the internal affairs of institutions, and governments that are governed by democratically elected officials.”

But in dismissing that argument, Rowley said Browne seemed to have “anchored his position on some discussion about democracy.”

“We here in Trinidad and Tobago know that does not apply and that's what in the court in Trinidad about the absence of democracy in the selection of leadership,” Rowley stressed.

He, however, conceded there was disunity among CARICOM on the contentious topic.

“I think there is tremendous confusion about the way forward,” said Rowley.

“What is happening at the level of heads at CARICOM should make it clear to the other people that the game is now and the management and the situation is threatening to destroy CARICOM itself.”

(CMC)

and for me personally.

Playing in Guyana is the total opposite conditions to what I have been brought up on, so I have really enjoyed taking up that challenge to do well.”

Commenting on the composition of the squad, the Queenslander said he is happy that the core remains the same.

“Not too many changes, which is always a good sign. Obviously, I lose my best mate, ‘Zamps’ [Adam Zampa]. But in saying that, I am looking forward to playing with Rashid Khan,” he explained.

Responding to a question on how to break the jinx of not winning the title, the right-handed batsman said he feels there is not much to change. “I don't think I'll be doing much different to last year; we had a very successful campaign. At the start of the tournament, if you said that we would have come second, I think nearly everyone would take that. We lost our way in the final, but that happens in the game of T20 cricket; so, hopefully, the luck of the bounce goes our way this year.”

In his deep Aussie

accent Lynn added, “We are a very driven team and are led by some quality coaches, but the best thing is that we had a lot of fun along the way, and grew as cricketers, but mainly as men.”

The cricketer is also looking to return to Florida, where Guyana won both of their matches last year against the Barbados Tridents. He’s hoping that history can spur them to start their campaign on a winning note when they play Chris Gayle-led St. Kitts and Nevis’ Patriots on August 5 at the Central Broward County Regional Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.

The fifth edition of the league will run from August 4 to September 9, and the Warriors will have four home matches between August 17 and 22 at Providence.

On the 17th, they play defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs; after which they play arch-rivals Trinbago Knight Riders two days later. The Warriors then clash with the Barbados Tridents on the 20th, and then have their final home match against the St Lucia Stars on the 22nd.

IAAF World U-18 Championships

Williams qualifies for 400m semi-finals

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Young sprint prodigy Daniel Williams

oung sprint prodigy Daniel Williams has continued his impressive performances both home and away by qualifying for today’s (Thursday) 400M semi-finals at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World U-18 Championships being held in Nairobi, Kenya.

Williams clocked a personal best of 47.41 to finish second in heat two behind Ethiopia’s Melkamu Assefu (47.23s) and ahead of Panama’s Antonio Grant (47.54s).

The South American Youth Championship Silver medallist will en-

ter the second semi-final heat with the third fastest time. Jamaica’s Anthony Cox (46.53s) who will be running out of Lane and David Sanayek (47.29s) in Lane 3 have faster qualifying times.

It means the Guyanese will have to make good use of his Lane six assignment since the top two finishers and fastest thirdplaced times will advance to the final slated for Friday at 12:10 hrs.

The other Guyanese athlete at the Games is Chantoba Bright who will be participating in the Long Jump Final on Sunday from 08:35 hrs.

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6 for ITF U-12 Championships

CPL 2017: “I'm ready to show my worth” – says Warriors latest recruit; Keemo Paul

By Akeem Greene

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The six players took time out from a busy training schedule yesterday for a photo opportunity. From left to right: Devine Jeremiah Kalekyezi, Wayne Baker, Vadeanand Resaul, Amba Persaud, Reshida Hardy and Akilah Sekai Jones

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ix tennis players will embark on a national quest at the International Tennis Federation Under-12 Championships in Trinidad from Monday July 17 to Saturday July 22.

The six who are heading to the championships are; Amba Persaud, Akilah Sekai Jones, Reshida Hardy, Devine Jeremiah Kalekyezi, Vadeanand Resaul and Wayne Baker.

The ITF annual event is usually a singles and doubles event where the top six players (three males, three females) from countries in the Caribbean and Central America compete amongst each other.

However, this time around the Davis Cup Format will be attached and there will be two singles tie and a dou-

ble tie.

The top two teams will then progress to the masters segment which will be held in Mexico in August.

The national team commenced training immediately after the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Tennis Open concluded last month under the watchful eyes of Shelly DalyRamdyhan and has so far endured three weeks of intense training at the National Racquet Centre.

Daly-Ramdyhan expressed satisfaction with each player’s ability but stressed that she would have loved to work with them for a longer period.

The team is scheduled to wing out on Sunday and will start competing on Monday.

uyana Amazon Warriors newest recruit Keemo Mandela Angus Paul is ecstatic about his latest accomplishment.

He confessed being more than willing to seize the opportunity with both hands after replacing Shimron Hetmyer, who will be on West Indies senior team duty.

“Definitely there is going be a lot of pressure playing in front such big crowds since I never did before, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity since I see it as a challenge and I will use it to help me gain confidence”, he told Guyana Times International Sport in an interview on Wednesday.

Paul who was Hetmyer’s deputy when the West Indies Under-19 team won the Youth World Cup in 2016 made his List A debut in January 2015 playing for the West Indies Under-19s in Tobago.

Since then he grew from strength to strength, making an impressionable debut season for the Guyana Jaguars.

In fact, one his highlights was having a match haul of 9 for 64 against the Windward Islands at Providence to help the three-peat in titles for his team.

“It was a very joyful feeling to be a part of the CPL and if given the opportunity I just want to go out and preform, show my worth and do my best for Guyana”.

Though being a part

Keemo Paul’s power hitting along with his nippy mediumpace will be vital assets in the Warriors’ title endeavours

of previous training camps with the Warriors, the cricketer is eager to learn from the international players.

“Chris Lynn and martin Guptill are guys who hit the ball very clean and I want to learn from them about power hitting and also there is the experience of Sohail Tanveer with the ball and I just want to learn as much as possible from them”, the Essequibo cricketer added.

Given his all-round exploits, Paul said he is confident he can execute attributes such as ‘death bowling’ and being a late-order power hitter.

The player’s selection would bring a great smile to CPL’s Chief Operating Officer Pete Russell who had told this publication that he was seeking to develop a Test cricketer from the hinterland. Though former Warriors’, now Trinbago Knight Riders fast bowler also Ronsford Beaton also hails from Essequibo, Paul comes from Saxacalli, a village deep in the heart of the Essequibo River.

With matches now

being held in Florida, a venue where Paul has never plied his trade, he is optimistic of doing well once he adapts to the conditions.

The Warriors have reached three of the four finals to date but have not been able to walk away with the silverware. However, the young cricketer is known to be a ‘lucky charm’ after helping Guyana dominate youth cricket from 2014 to 2016 and added to the icing on the cake with a Youth World Cup win.

Paul is hopeful that he can bring the same fortunes to the Warriors this year.

“I have been training hard and I just want to go and perform and I think we can go one step further this year. I will definitely be doing my best” the right handed batsmen disclosed.

The Warriors will begin their preparation with a one week camp commencing on July 25 before their first match against St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Florida on August 5.

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CWI agrees truce with star players over availability

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he biggest names in Caribbean cricket could be about to return to the West Indies team after significant progress was made in negotiations between players and the board.

Not only has a resolution been agreed to the Darren Bravo impasse, but the likes of Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle are also available for selection for the ODI side after an amnesty was proposed by WIPA, the players' union.

That means they could be available for the limitedovers section of the tour to England that starts in a few weeks.

Gayle, who marked his international return after 15 months during the oneoff Twenty20 International against India in Kingston last week, said during an event in Bengaluru on Thursday that "things have been steadily improving" and playing for the 2019 World Cup, for which West Indies may have to qualify, is still a burning desire.

"The fans were happy to see me back on the field representing West Indies.

Hopefully, things can get better. Hopefully I can play a few more games. I definitely want to play the 2019 World Cup," Gayle said.

"Things are beginning to open up a little more now

between players and the board. It's looking good, and we've to try and build from this to get the best players out on the field."

The key to the resolution has been Cricket West Indies abandoning its contentious policy regarding player availability for regional cricket. Whereas, in recent years, CWI policy dictated that players would only be eligible for West Indies selection if they had played in the corresponding format in regional cricket, the board is now in the process of softening that hardline stance.

It is anticipated it will be formally relaxed when the new round of central contracts are introduced in

October, with a new range of white-ball contracts also adding to the players' security and flexibility.

Both Jimmy Adams, Director Of Cricket, and Johnny Grave, CWI CEO, have previously intimated their desire to change the policy, with Adams labelling it "unsustainable".

In the meantime, though, an amnesty has been proposed to those who have not been involved in regional cricket, giving them the chance to represent West Indies again. The likes of Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Darren Sammy and, once his WADA ban is served, Andre Russell could be other beneficiaries.

While the amnesty has

yet to be ratified by the board of CWI, ESPNcricinfo understands a conference call will take place before the end of the week where it is hoped the proposal will be accepted.

Darren Bravo, who has been suspended since November 2016 when he was sent home from the tour of Zimbabwe following his Twitter condemnation of board president, Dave Cameron, is also set to return.

With both parties Cameron and Bravo - expected to release a statement amounting to something approaching an apology, the tweet will be deleted with no admission of liability and without

prejudice to the pursuit of any claim for damages. That will not only allow Bravo to take a full part in the forthcoming CPL season but render him eligible for West Indies selection once more.

Having not played much red ball cricket of late, he is not thought to be a realistic candidate for the Test tour of England. He could well feature in the ODI team, though.

That method of solution had been suggested as far back as February. But Bravo instead pursued legal action against the board, claiming lost earnings. It seems that action is on-going despite the apparent thawing in relations, though it is understood no damages have been paid to date.

It all amounts to encouraging news for long-suffering West Indies supporters. With the side having slipped to 9th in the ODI rankings (they are 8th in the Test rankings and 5th in T20), it is almost impossible for them to qualify automatically for the 2019 World Cup ahead of the ODI rankings qualification cutoff date in September.

The availability of some familiar faces is a significant step in the right direction. (ESPNCricinfo) George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo

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WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING JULY 16, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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