Guyana Times International

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

for FRee distribution guyanatimesinternational.com

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 313

WEEK ENDING October 2, 2016

Every effort must be made to capture Dataram See story on page 18

...President Granger urges law enforcement officials

President David Granger

Barry Dataram

The newest batch of Police graduates earlier this week participated in the customary 'Passing out Parade' in the compound of the Felix Austin Police College in Georgetown. (Photo by Carl Croker)

Drug-addict father Governor Cuomo says commuters arrested over son’s should expect major delays to NYC brutal murder NJ train crash:

Page 3

Page 3

2 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

St Lucia reports flooding, power Bandits posing as cops beat, rob Herstelling family outages as storm impacts …escape with G$2M in cash and jewellery

By Ramona Luthi

A

t approximately 02:00hrs on Thursday, five bandits kicked down the door of a Herstelling, East Bank Demerara home proclaiming that they were police officers.

They proceeded to beat and rob the family members.

According to 43-yearold Esther Harinauth of lot 463 Fourth Street, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, she was at home with her 46-yearold husband, Anganauth Harinauth and their 22-year-old daughter, Vidyawattie Harinauth, when they were awoken to loud sounds of someone kicking on their door.

She said that upon inquiring as to who was at the door, the men identified themselves as the police.

The distraught woman told this newspaper that the family became confused and refused to

open the door. As such, the men kicked the door in and entered the home shouting "We is the police! Don't keep noise!

Give we your money and jewelry!"

Esther recalled that the men commanded that she and her daughter lie on the floor, while they proceeded to beat her husband.

They subsequently began asking for money again, to which Anganauth indicated that the valuables were in the upper flat of the home.

While four men accompanied him upstairs, the fifth man took the couple's daughter into a room and demanded that she disclose the cash.

After ransacking the home for an estimated 20 minutes, the gunmen fled the scene.

The family reportedly lost in excess of G$2M in cash and jewelry as well as ID cards and a motor car licence.

Not long after, police ranks from the Providence Police station arrived at the scene and lifted finger prints.

Additionally, the CCTV footage from a neighbouring home showed the bandits fleeing in two motor cars.

Investigations are ongoing.

Flooding was reported all across St. Lucia.

(Photo credit: KendelVerdley/ Facebook)

T

housands were without electricity in St. Lucia, rivers overflowed their banks, and several communities were flooded last night and into today (Thursday). And Tropical Storm Matthew which passed through the Windward Islands yesterday is to blame.

A tropical storm warning that was issued late yesterday morning after the storm developed was lifted, and the all clear given. The George F.L. Charles Airport was scheduled to reopen at 8 a.m., while the Hewanorra International Airport was set to resume operations two hours later.

However, residents have been urged

to be cautious.

“The threat from Matthew is diminished.

However, people still need to exercise caution.

Persons should still try to remain home. Small craft operators should not go out today,” the St. Lucia Meteorological Office advised.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, who is overseas, also appealed to citizens on local radio to stay off the roads and allow the emergency services to do their jobs.

Many bridges and roads were impassable because of flooding, as well as downed electricity poles and trees.

Officials had indicated early in the day that power would be restored to most areas by the end of the day.

There were also reports of landslides as well as water outages in some areas.

The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) said it would be conducting damage assessments today. (Caribbean360)

Woman fined for attempting to smuggle ganja into Police lockup

A

woman was on Wednesday fined for attempting to smuggle cannabis to her brother who is in the lock ups at the Brickdam Police Station.

Rachel McClair, 22, of Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded guilty to the charge when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that on September 27, 2016, at the Brickdam Police Station, she attempted to traffic two grams of cannabis.

The court heard that on the day in

question, the defendant approached a Police Constable and gave him a box of food to deliver to her brother.

However, when the box was checked, a transparent plastic was found with the cannabis hidden inside of the food. The defendant was told of the offence, arrested and charged.

She told the Magistrate that she was sorry and only carried out the act because she was ‘confused’.

She was fined G$15,000 and given four weeks community service.

Public Health Ministry to reduce gaps in delivery of service

T

he option of reintroducing Regional Health Authorities is being explored by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). The ministry is working to narrow gaps in healthcare delivery in Guyana and has noted that Regional Health Authorities are necessary if there is to be more control over financial resources.

Director of Regional Health Services (RHS) at the ministry, Dr Kay Shako, explained that re-introducing the health authorities can have a direct impact in rolling out efficient healthcare delivery in the regions. She said they would be responsible for the health sector in the various regions and help manage resources for the sector’s development. Dr Shako made these observations at the Regional Health Officials second meeting for 2016.

“We are thinking of not introducing but to some extent re-introducing Regional Health Authorities because it was first established in Region five and Region Six, so we think that if the Ministry of Health can have more control over its financial resources we can make a greater input in our healthcare,” Dr Shako said.

The RHS Director further explained that the Regional Health Authorities will also ensure that all the health facilities within respective regions are properly staffed with specialised healthcare professionals. This will reduce the number of referrals to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and other Regional hospitals, the Government Information Agency reported.

It would also see a decrease in the need for medical evacuations and surgical outreaches as patients’ needs would be ad-

dressed within the regions. This will save money that can be later be utilised in other areas of the health sector’s development, Shako pointed out.

“A very good example will be the Lethem hospital… by the end of this year the hospital will have the required specialists to function in terms of having the surgeries (done) so that we can reduce on our surgical outreaches and also our ‘medivacs’ that usually go to Georgetown Hospital,” she elaborated.

When the decision is finalised by the ministry, the reintroduction of the Regional Health Authorities, should address some of the inefficiencies in the present system where some health programmes are the responsibility of Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs).

The health authorities will also be directly responsible for the efficient delivery of drugs to the respective regions.

Expeditors responsible for the delivery of drugs and other medical supplies to hinterland regions are overburdened with duties assigned by the region. This contributes to the late delivery of health supplies causing unsatisfactory health service provision.

It has been noted that Regional officials are forced to prioritisesectoral projects and often, the health sector is not given priority in the delivery of drugs, staff provision and improved infrastructure.

However, the need for inter-agency collaboration remains important to the total healthcare delivery system. One example is the Public Health Ministry depending on the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Public Service to provide nurses and doctors to the Public Health system.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

NJ train crash: Governor Cuomo says commuters should expect major delays to NYC

T

he Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man who allegedly fatally stabbed his son during an altercation on Wednesday night has been arrested.

According to reports, the man dealt his son, Mahesh Chand, a porter of Annandale, ECD, two stab wounds.

This publication was told that around 23:30hrs on Wednesday, the father who is believed to be a drug addict,was harassing his wife for money to purchase cannabis. After hearing the commotion, the young man woke up and gave his mother G$200 to give his father.

According to reports reaching this newspaper, the father saw the mother and son in conversation and told the son he was always taking sides with his mother. As a result, an argument erupted and the father allegedly stabbed the young man twice.

The suspect then fled the scene

Mahesh Chand

but he was subsequently captured by the police.

The son was later rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The man is expected to be charged with murder as early as Friday.

Investigations are ongoing.

T

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

he following is a statement from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on the Train crash in Hoboken, New Jersey: “At approximately 8:45 a.m. this morning (Thursday), a New Jersey Transit train originating in Spring Valley, NY collided with the platform at the Hoboken Train Station in New Jersey. The train was carrying a large number of New Yorkers. While we are still learning more about the accident, recent reports indicate that at least 65 riders were injured and one person has been tragically killed.

“The state is working closely with New Jersey Transit and New Jersey authorities, as well as all local and federal partners to provide assistance and keep travelers safe. New York State Police, MTA, Metro North, Port Authority Police Department, Department of Health and emergency officials from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services are traveling to New Jersey to assist in ongoing response efforts in the aftermath of the crash. The NYS OEM Emergency Operations Center has been activated at the enhanced monitoring level and will continue to provide updates throughout the day.

“NJ Transit, PATH and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service at the Hoboken Train Station has been suspended until further notice. Ferry service to New York City from the nearby terminal has also been shut down.

Commuters should expect major delays to New York City.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who were hurt, and I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those whose loved ones were lost in the fatal accident.

The state continues to work around the clock to help those in need, and we will continue to provide the public with more information as it comes in.”

4 views

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

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

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

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

EDITORIAL

Battling against child abuse

C

hild Protection Week in Guyana came to a close recently.

During the Week, planned events, awareness programmes, exhibitions, lectures and fun activities were held across the country to sensitise the populace and to raise awareness about the causes and effects of child abuse, as well as preventative measures.

A call was made for the public to assist in reducing child abuse and child sexual abuse which, the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) said, are on the increase. Director of the Agency, Ann Greene reported that from January to July 2016, there were 2238 reports of child abuse and 441 cases of sexual abuse in Guyana. These numbers are alarming and confirm that we have a serious problem.

The head of the CCPA acknowledges that these figures are “really too much” and child abuse, in all of its forms, should be eradicated. What is even more worrisome is that these figures only represent the reported cases.

None of us need to be reminded that child abuse and neglect are serious problems that can have lasting harmful effects on its victims. The goal, both globally and nationally, in preventing child abuse and neglect is clear – to stop it from happening in the first place.

The provision of safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children and families can prevent abuse and help all children reach their full potential.

Towards this goal, local advocates are urging parents, caregivers and society at large to look for the signs and to be the voices of the voiceless.

Undoubtedly, these are complex problems rooted in unhealthy relationships and environments. Preventing child abuse and neglect requires a comprehensive approach that influences all levels of social ecology (including societal culture), community involvement, relationships among families and neighbours, and individual behaviours.

These strategies to stamp out child abuse range from a focus on individuals, families, and relationships, to broader community and societal change. This range of strategies is needed to better address the interplay between individual-family behaviour and broader neighbourhood, community, and cultural contexts.

Not only do children suffer acutely from the physical and mental cruelty of child abuse, research has found that they endure many long-term consequences, including delays in reaching developmental milestones, refusal to attend school and separation anxiety disorders. Other consequences include an increased likelihood of future substance abuse, aggressive behaviours, highrisk health behaviours, criminal activity, somatisation, depressive and affective disorders, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, schizophrenia and abuse of their own children and spouses. The vicious cycle seems never-ending.

The Social Protection Ministry, CCPA and other advocates are all on the right track. Every effort to rid society of this scourge is commendable and a positive one. Having acknowledged this, it is vital to also face the reality that the current efforts are not enough. Every week should be designated to fighting the battle against child abuse, in all forms. If this is not already a national emergency, then it should be considered as such. What is currently being done is merely a drop in the bucket.

During the week-long activities, much has been revealed about this issue, including important statistics, suggested preventative measures and the challenges facing the advocates. One of the major challenges, according to the head of the CCPA, is the law itself and the hurdles in the way of attaining justice for the abused and neglected.

Clearly, the authorities, advocates and policymakers need to re-examine the approach to the issues. Effective prevention strategies should focus on modifying policies, practices, and societal norms to create safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments. Again, it would be beneficial to examine what has been done elsewhere.

What remains important, in the wake of all efforts, is that action is being taken, education continues and that there is commitment to eradicating child abuse countrywide.

La Jalousie Sunset, West Coast Demerara, Guyana. (Photo by Girendra Persaud)

Gender-based violence in Guyana

T

he year 2016 began with a two-day seminar in Georgetown on tackling domestic violence in Guyana, organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Mark Guthrie, a Legal Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat reminded the participants that domestic violence was concerned about the rule of law: “It concerned equality before the law and human rights, and the right of victims of domestic abuse to be accorded respect and receive justice in the courts. It is the obligation of any state to secure the human rights of those who live within its borders.”

Participants ranged from judges to police officers and the discussions were led by a team of experts from a range of Commonwealth jurisdictions including England, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, India and Turks and Caicos Islands. Two decades before, following the Second World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993 and the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1994, the Domestic Violence Act (1996) had been enacted against a background of mind-numbing violence against females in Guyana, to provide the legislative framework for handling cases of domestic violence.

Violence against women jeopardises women’s lives, bodies, psychological integrity and freedom, and is known as ‘gender-based’ violence because it partly stems from women’s subordinate status in society.

Yet at the January 2016 conclave, a representative of Red Thread had to declare: “Let’s stop talking about causes and effects and let’s see what we can do to help women be independent and escape violence.

Women have the right to safe homes. That’s a line we need to push to our governments.”

A Domestic Violence Policy Unit had been created in Guyana’s Ministry of Human

Services and Social Security to oversee the implementation of the National Policy on Domestic Violence. The policy calls for the Government to provide temporary shelter services, counselling, social work services, and legal aid for victims, as well as training about domestic violence for healthcare workers, police, judges, magistrates, lawyers, and others.

However, back in 2010 the

a female’s hymen, ignores rape as the ultimate act of violence against females and illustrates the “attitude” her predecessor complained of.

Last Wednesday, there was another high-level forum to highlight the scourge, this one hosted by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Guyana at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel. The “wide cross-section of civil society stakeholders working in areas

then minister bemoaned that one of the greatest challenges Guyana faced in countering domestic violence, especially sexual violence, was in changing the attitudes of service providers – such as Police, magistrates, social workers, and healthcare providers – towards domestic violence and gender equality.

She should have also mentioned the “attitude” of those placed at the very top of the Governmental apparatus. This month, her successor Minister in the APNU/AFC coalition Government has continued to defend her use of the euphemism, “deflowering” rather than “rape” for the act that impregnates preteen girls, which she complained had become rampant in certain communities in Guyana.

The laws of Guyana defines intercourse with any person under sixteen as “statutory rape” and the Minister’s refusal to use the term, and to mask it as a “deflowering” which is merely the piercing of

of human rights and gender rights”, according to the EU Delegation, were sensitised via a skit performance on domestic abuse and an excerpt from a documentary film called “Six Days”.

The EU’s release emphasised that violence against women and children has tremendous costs to communities, nations and societies and can remain with women and children for a lifetime and can pass from one generation to another.

Representing the Ministry of Social Protection, Gender Specialist Adel Lilly pointed out: “Awareness-raising campaigns are critical to prevent gender-based violence, not only by raising awareness of what constitutes violence and its unacceptability, but also to challenge the underlying attitudes and behaviours which support it.”

Maybe she can have a discussion with her Minister about her “attitude”.

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Children with cancer UK recommits to sustainability being taught in of Guyana’s forestry sector hospital

T

he Ministry of Education is helping children suffering from cancer to continue their education.

Chief Education Officer (ag), Ministry of Education, Marcel Hudson, recently told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the Ministry, with support from the Perwinkle Club, provides two teachers who work with cancer patients in the Children Wards of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

This intervention is among several that the Ministry is undertaking to ensure children with special needs are educated, Hudson said.

According to Hudson there is a unit at the National Center for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) that addresses Special Education Needs (SEN). She said the unit provides testing for dyslexia. It also provides instructions on the needs of these students and on how the Ministry can support.

In addition, the Ministry has also been working with the Ministry of Health to screen students at an early age, for hearing and seeing disabilities that may hinder their performance in the

Chief Education Officer (ag), Ministry of Education, Marcel Hudson

school system. Hudson said that the ministry has been supplying the spectacles and hearing aids to children who need these aids.

The ministry has also provided the David Rose School for the disabled with a bus take the students to and from home to school.

Hudson explained that the Ministry has been working to ensure that children with various disabilities have equitable access to education. “These children have the potential, it is just that they have some mitigating circumstances.

That does not mean that an avenue or outlet should not be provided for them to be successful in life,” Hudson said.

The government has been working to reform the education system so as to better prepare them to play an active role in Guyana’s development.(GINA)

T

he United Kingdom has once again thrown its support behind the Natural Resources Ministry, signalling its commitment to the sustainability of the forestry sector and the management of its resources.

The commitment was given on Wednesday, at the opening of a three-day Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) workshop at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown.

Acting British High Commissioner to Guyana, Ron Rimmer said the UK was very much concerned about actions that led to forest degradation and has been working with Guyana on this, seeking out ways to help curb the growing incidence.

“The UK continues to be committed to help the country reinforce their forest governance

Participants of the EU-FLEGT workshop

and carrying out responsible trade and the FLEGT approach is the heart of such a commitment,” he said.

Government, in 2012, entered into a formal process of negotiating a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union under the auspices of the latter’s FLEGT Action Plan, which was developed in response to the problem of illegal logging and trade in associated timber products in many nations across the globe.

Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), James Singh reminded the workshop that over 85 per cent of Guyana’s land mass was covered in tropical forest, which supported the livelihood of Indigenous Guyanese and others who depend on logging and mining activities for their liveli-

hood.

The Georgetown FLEGT seminar is the second such event held in Guyana and is organised by the National Technical Working Group and the FLEGT Facilitation Support Office in collaboration with the GFC and the Iwokrama International Centre with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation, European Forestry Institute, European Commission, UK Department for International Development (DFID), Amerindian Peoples Association and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Guyanese National Technical Working Group (NTWG) has since spearheaded widespread consultations with Government agencies, civil society and Private Sector stakeholders throughout the country.

6

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

UN Chief may not rule on border controversy prior to leaving office in December Dear Editor, “Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, declared “I have to make an assessment by November” on the way forward with regard to the Venezuela border controversy with Guyana. This quote is taken from an article in the media, which had as its headline “Guyana/ Venezuela ControversyDecision in November – UN Chief.”

I am a bit confused by that headline since the Secretary General (SG) said “I have to make an assessment”. He did not say a decision. If an assessment on the way forward is in fact, or turns out to be a decision to, or not to refer this matter to the International Court of Justice, then the Secretary General would have fulfilled his responsibility. However, as I indicated in an earlier letter, I don’t expect the SG to rule on this matter prior to leaving office in December. So what will it mean for Guyana if there is no clear decision by the current SG? Based on an English translation of the speech

by Venezuela at the recent UN General Assembly, I see no reference in that speech to the controversy with Guyana.

The omission of any reference to the controversy in the Venezuelan UN speech must be examined from a public communication/public diplomacy perspective, as Guyana seeks to have this matter solved via judicial settlement. The absence of reference to the controversy must be seen as a strategy on the part of Venezuela to give the SG some comfort. It sends a signal to the international community that one of the parties to the controversy; and in this case the “aggrieved “ party, is in no hurry to have the SG act and that it is quite “reasonable” for him to have this issue passed on to his successor.

Guyana has been pushing through various channels in as dignified and diplomatically correct a way as possible to have Ban Ki-moon make a decision before leaving office, utilising bilateral and multilateral meetings, speeches etc. However, in my view – and I have expressed this view many times in the past – our failure has been in employing an effective public diplomacy/ outreach campaign designed to pressure the SG into making a deci-

sion. To use Guyanese parlance, “boat gone a falls” in terms of using such a strategy to have Ban Ki-moon make a decision before he leaves office. But we must embark now on this public diplomacy campaign so that his successor will be “obliged” to recognise that while Venezuela might not be urging resolution of its own claim, and while the international community may not be crying out for an end to this controversy, public opinion wants a resolution of this controversy so that a small, developing country could push ahead uninhibited with its development plans, including oil production in the area claimed by Venezuela.

To be able to have public opinion demonstrates its desire for the resolution of this matter and to influence a new SG accordingly, we need to have influential media in small and big countries devote attention to this issue ultimately, having editorials and columns written in favour of this matter being referred urgently to the international court; having reputable electronic media including radio and television air news and opinion pieces with documentary evidence as to how this controversy is thwarting investment in Guyana and negatively impacting our economic development; having international human rights, religious, indigenous peoples and other relevant organisations issue statements pointing to the need for resolution of the issue so that the people of Guyana, especially the poor, could aspire to a better quality of life.

If we are really serious about having a judicial settlement of the Venezuela claim, and I have no doubt we have, we should embark on such a campaign now as a matter of urgent national importance so as to have this referral to the world court early in the new SG’s tenure. It must be made to become an important issue on his/her agenda on the assumption of office.

And if, God forbid, a man becomes the next President of the United States, who knows what support Maduro might get, and how he might be emboldened if not empowered to act in violation of international law.

This is no joke.

Regards, Wesley Kirton

Govt must seek to protect local manufacturers Dear Editor, The recent announcement

by China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC) that it had signed a US$7.5 million contract with Suriname’s State-owned mining company, Grassalco, to supply some 300,000 tonnes of crushed stone over a 12-month period for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project – currently being executed by CHEC – has caused public outcry by local manufacturers/suppliers.

According to one local supplier, his company has been consistent with supplies of crushed stone for the CJIA project and has a more than adequate stockpile to ensure the timely completion of the project.

During a press conference last week, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, clearly stated that the Government is ‘powerless’ to stop the stone imports from Suriname by the contractor. He has since opted to blame the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration for this development, saying that it was the former Government that signed the original contract with CHEC. Minister Gaskin’s argument is that the arrangement under which CHEC has begun importing stone is a private one and the Government cannot reverse or terminate that contract.

Really Minister Gaskin?

The coalition Government, after taking office in May 2015, proceeded to halt, then amend the

US$150 million CJIA expansion project on the grounds that it was ‘unfavourable’ for Guyana.

Shouldn’t they have had the foresight to ensure that conditions were included to protect/support local suppliers of raw materials for this project?

The PPP/C Government had a fixed contract with CHEC. When the present Government amended the original contract, they in effect opened the proverbial doors for CHEC to have full autonomy to seek supplies from elsewhere, leaving our local suppliers unprotected.

It is fully understood that it was CHEC and not the Government that procured the stones from Suriname. Maybe this was done on the grounds of better pricing and regularity of supply.

If this was the case, why weren’t the local suppliers consulted before such action was taken?

Why were they not given an opportunity to adjust their prices and/or bring it to a level of the foreign supplier?

And how is it that barging 300,000 tonnes of stone all the way from Suriname could possibly be more cost effective than transporting local, better quality products from the quarry of one local supplier at St Mary’s, Essequibo?

As the subject Minister responsible for the monitoring of projects such as the CJIA expansion, Minister Gaskin has not justified his Government’s position on this

disturbing situation.

Instead, his statement that the Government is ‘powerless’ to do anything about it is a glaring contradiction of the fact that it was the very present-day Government that amended the terms of the contract upon assumption to office in 2015.

The Guyanese people are supposed to be a priority when it comes to development of the nation. And every effort should be made by the government of the day to ensure this is a sustained endeavour.

The local businesses plug their earnings back into the economy, creating more jobs for Guyanese and to the benefit of the CJIA project itself, our local stone have a higher engineering specification than other territories in the Region.

Designing, implementing and enforcing measures to protect local businesses and jobs should be paramount to trying to justify the anti-nationalistic actions of foreign entities.

Protect and promote our local businesses. The Guyanese people expect this of you and your administration Mr Gaskin.

Trying to shift the blame to the former PPP/C Administration will not resolve the situation. You are the government of the day. We expect you to do the right thing in the best interests of the nation.

Sincerely, Vanita Mahadeo

Housing development is held up because of prolong absence of one individual Dear Editor, It was mind-boggling from the very start why the Government of Guyana (GoG) in this era of cutting edge technology and modern information systems would seek to appoint so many senior citizens to very prominent and vital positions in the country at the expense of many young, bright and patriotic persons who are finding difficulty obtaining employment and who in many instances are forced to migrate to utilise their skills.

These old timers to whom I refer are from times past and are stuck in the past which is causing the country to be held back rather than moving along with the advancing world.

One classic example of this is

the appointment of the Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, who is an octogenarian that spends months at a time out of the country whilst much of the business of the CH&PA is held up because of his prolonged absence and the need for his signature on important documents.

The tragedy of this particular circumstance is that wellknown for his cantankerous, belligerent and devious behaviour, he ensured that he had run the Chief Executive Officer, a number of Engineers and other key staff members out before taking off and leaving the country, ensuring that the agency was left crippled.

Worse, he has begun populat-

ing the agency with many of his loyal goons who are unsuitable in every respect, but in whom he has absolute confidence of their allegiance and commitment to carry out all of his bidding without question.

The planning of the country’s housing and business development is much too important to be held to ransom by one wayward man who never thought it important enough to qualify himself in a profession or career, but who has dedicated a lifetime to destroying the livelihoods of others.

As a popular American political candidate would say “Get them out of here, get them out of here”.

Sincerely, Mark Roopan

Guyana could take in an acceptable amount of deportees Dear Editor, Our benign President David Granger, in his noble address recently to the United Nations Assembly, on the matter of the current migrant crisis, noted that the situation “if left unattended or unresolved, can escalate into regional and even global crises, which can threaten the existence of larger numbers of persons in wider areas, even beyond their

country’s borders.”

Most of us in Guyana today are descendant of migrants who were brought from Africa or India or China and even Portugal in challenging times and conditions to work for the British who had conquered and colonised this land from our indigenous Amerindians.

Some of us are even third generation migrants.

Guyana currently has less

than one million inhabitants in its eighty-three thousand squaremile; could it not accept an acceptable amount of those suffering humanity and demonstrate its good sense of magnanimity to a suffering humanity and the rest of the world?

I bet we can! So let’s do it!

Yours faithfully, Rooplall Dudhnath

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

news 7

Massive housing project Guyana’s eGovernment project picking up pace for State employees …Govt currently seeking private partners to develop lands

The Communities Ministry is gearing to develop several hundred acres of land for housing, including the building of homes and apartment buildings for State employees

T

he Government of Guyana, through the Communities Ministry, is gearing to develop several hundred acres of land for housing, including the building of homes and apartment buildings for State employees.

The slated developmental works are scheduled to be undertaken through a Public Private Partnership arrangement.

According to an advertisement in the Stateowned newspaper, the Government will be embarking on several projects emanating from its strategic objectives as it relates to housing for low-income and State employees.

The development is slated to be undertaken along the East Bank of Demerara, the East Coast of Demerara and Georgetown.

As such, expressions of interest are currently being invited.

The project is expected to be undertaken in three phases – Phase one will entail the executing of infrastructural works,

including land preparation, the construction of roads, drains, heavy duty bridges and the installation of a water distribution network.

The second phase, according to the Ministry’s invite, will be the construction of apartment buildings and single flat houses. The final phase will be the construction of social infrastructure, such as recreational facilities, commercial facilities, educational and health facilities.

The areas identified comprise of underdeveloped lands at Little and Great Diamond, Cummings Lodge and La Penitence. Some 150 acres of land has been identified for development in Diamond, which are said to have been lands previously used for sugarcane cultivation.

Lands identified in Cummings Lodge total 99.31 acres, while another 2.3 acres have been identified in La Penitence.

According to the invite, the Communities Ministry reserves the right to accept or reject

any or all expressions of interest submitted without assigning any reason.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) was established in 1948 through the Housing Act, to address the housing needs of the citizens of Guyana.

The Agency, which is under the purview of the Communities Ministry, has among its primary objectives, the divestment of Government land to eligible Guyanese for residential use; development of housing schemes and regularisation and upgrade of squatter settlements.

The move by Government comes even as it attempts to expedite the processing of applications for house lots.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, is on record saying that over the next five years, Government intends to build approximately 4000 houses in cohesive communities to benefit more than 4000 families and approximately 16,000 persons.

…over 100 institutions connected to network

T

he eGovernment Agency has completed the first phase of the Improving Digital Equity, Access and Learning (IDEAL) Programme, which has provided for 100 institutions to be connected to the eGovernment network along the Coast and Chief Executive Officer of the eGovernment Agency, Mr. Floyd Levi said that the Agency is now embarking on the second phase of this project.

Mr. Levi made these comments yesterday during a visit to Pomeroon-Supanaam (Region Two) during which the Agency sought to conduct assessments at the 11 institutions, which benefitted from the initiative in that Region. IDEAL includes the provision of a database for the creation of an interconnected e-government network within Ministries and their related agencies across the country, as well as the creation of ICT Hubs, within communities and the now completed educational institutions.

The Secondary Schools Internet Connectivity Project is the first Phase of IDEAL, and includes the installation of free WiFi Services in educational institutions in Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two), Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three), Demerara Mahaica (Region Four), Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five) and East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six). The installation of these institutions began in August took approximately one month to complete.

The institutions visited during yesterday’s trip are the Abram Zuil Secondary School, Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School, Charity Secondary School, Cotton Field Secondary School, Johanna Cecelia Secondary School, Aurora Secondary School, Essequibo Technical Institute, the Region Two

Regional Education Office (REDO), Eight of May Secondary School, Cyril Potter College of Education and New Opportunity Corps (NOC).

Agency officials met with the REDO, Ms. Baramdai Seepersaud who said that based on interactions with several of the schools, the service has since been working extremely well and will certainly aid in research and access to information. The trip also allowed for further recommendations to be made as to the expansion of phase one of the project in the Region.

During a visit to the NOC, the Agency was also able to commit to the provision of 15 computer systems for the institution’s Information Technology Laboratory. Mr. Levi said that the Agency will also fill in the gap created by a shortage of teachers to provide training for the juveniles, resident at the NOC. He stated that just like other students, the juveniles at the NOC deserve an equal opportunity. “These students need life skills that can serve them well in the future and these things form very much a part of that future. So they have to be prepared that when they leave here they can integrate well into society and can lead meaningful and productive lives,” he said.

The second phase of the IDEAL Programme also includes the establishment of Community ICT Hubs, which will see the provision of free internet services within identified communities. This project involves meeting with key stakeholders to identify communities and meeting with the community members, the installation of systems in identified locations that are accessible by all community members and engaging with the private sector collaborations for the equipping and furnishing of hubs, where needed.

(MOTP)

8 NEWS

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana Govt receives report Duo accused of murdering on the state of children Gafoor’s manager remanded and women

UNICEF Representative in Guyana, Ambassador Marianne Flach presenting the report to First Lady, Sandra Granger

A

report that analyses the state of children and women in Guyana was handed over to the government today. It was compiled by UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection.

U N I C E F Representative in Guyana, Ambassador Marianne Flach presented the report to First Lady, Sandra Granger and Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence.

Information for the report was gathered from all ten administrative regions in Guyana and will help guide social programmes up to 2021.

Minister Lawrence noted that the report comes at an opportune moment following the just concluded week of activities held in commemoration of child protection week. She said it will be critical in mapping strategies to enhance the wellbeing of women and children in Guyana.

“It focuses on the possible cause of the problem along with an assessment of the data and the bottleneck and barriers that have to be surmounted,” the Minister stated.

According to Lawrence, the situation analysis of

children and women sets the way forward for the development and implementation of strategic developmental plans and programmes for women and children. She said it would allow the Ministry of Social Protection to work with precision as it shows a vivid picture of what is taking place across the country.

“With this information and the demographics outlined therein we have directives that can give us and guide us to those areas that need to be emphasised in order to make significant inroads,” Lawrence explained.

The social protection minister is advocating for a multi-sectorial approach in order to effectively tackle the issues facing both women and children in Guyana. The Minister stated that, “the information in this document must be shared, disseminated and used by all stakeholders in collaboration … stamp out the ills that are in our society.”

Acknowledging that poverty and the absence of relevant policies and programmes contribute to the abuse of children and women, Lawrence said that for 2017, special focus

would be placed on domestic violence, child abuse, teenage pregnancies, child labour and juvenile rehabilitation.

“We have to reinforce our training and knowledge base, our curriculum and other alternative ways of dealing with our children who are in conflict with law,” the Minister stated.

First Lady Sandra Granger in thanking UNICEF for compiling the report noted the paucity of data on issues affecting human lives, particularly those of Guyanese women and children. “In this age of technology, Guyana cannot afford to lag behind not only in the compilations but also in the dissemination of data,” the First Lady said.

She added that the analysis will guide Guyana’s actions in seeking to address burning issues such as domestic violence and violence against the person, unemployment, health, trafficking in persons and suicide.

U N I C E F Representative, Marianne Flach said that the analysis would be used to guide UNICEF’s country programmes from 2017 to 2021. Safety and justice, lifelong learning and social inclusion and child right monitoring are among the areas of focus. “We will scale up our focus on child protection to ensure that violence, abuse and neglect of children are sufficiently addressed” Flach said.

According to Flach, over the next five years, UNICEF will continue to partnership with Guyana to support national strategy plans on equity, children with disability and the hinterland.(GINA)

T

David Outar and Patrick Ross

Dead: Terry Lackhan

he men accused of killing a Herstelling man in July were on Wednesday remanded to prison when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

David Outar, 24, of Lot 269 Foulis, East Coast Demerara; and Patrick Ross, 27, of Lot 107 First Street, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), were not required to plea to the charge which stated that on July 21, 2016, at Herstelling, EBD, they murdered Terry Lackhan during the course of a robbery.

They both appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. The prosecution informed the court that its file was still incomplete, and as such, the case was adjourned to October 25.

Reports are that the lifeless body of 55-year-old Lackhan was discovered by a neighbour on the night of July 21, 2016, shortly after a male was reportedly seen exiting the man’s Herstelling home with several bags. The father of one was a Manager at Gafsons Industries Limited.

Reports are that his lifeless body was found next to a wardrobe with rope tied around his neck. Several bottles of tablets and photographs of his family were also found close to him.

From all evidence, the duo was attempting to stage the scene to make it appear as if the victim took his own life.

They were later arrested and charged with the offence.

Labourer fined, jailed for narco trafficking

F

orty-nine-year-old Abel Simon,called “Jack” of Cotton Field Village, Essequibo Coast, was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined G$30,000 for the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

He made his appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded guilty to two trafficking charges.

Abel Simon

The contended

prosecution that on

September 26, 2016, detectives attached to the Anna Regina Police Station were on mobile patrol aback of Cotton Field Village when the defendant was seen walking and acting in a suspicious manner. As such, he was stopped and searched, and during the search, Police uncovered eight grams of cocaine and eight grams of cannabis in his trouser pocket. He was arrested and charged.

Guyana’s unemployment rate pegged at 12.5% – Census report

A

fter much speculation over the years about Guyana’s seemingly high unemployment rate, the Bureau of Statistics has published Compendium Three of the 2012 Census disclosing statistics on the country’s most recent unemployment rate.

In keeping with its commitment to disseminate four Compendiums in 2016, the revelation of the third Compendium has brought the Bureau closer to achieving its

self-imposed deadline.

The focus of this latest Compendium was the economic activity profile of the census. Economic activity focuses on the labour force component of the population profile, that is, the size and composition of the labour force, the level of employment and unemployment, types of economic activities undertaken within the economy and many other areas of interest. continued on page 9

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Bandits creating havoc at Vreed-en-Hoop …several businesses targeted over the past few weeks

R

Bandits made off with all of the mobile phones from Digicel’s Vreed-en-hoop outlet on Monday

esidents and business owners in and around Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD) are living in fear following an ongoing spate of robbery attacks with excessive violence.

Police on Tuesday confirmed that two bandits invaded the Players Bar at Crane Old Road, WCD, earlier that day around 09:00h and reportedly stole G$150,000 in cash from the business before making their escape on two red CG motorcycles.

The female shopkeeper told this publication that she attempted to escape, but she fell and was then grabbed by the bandits who made threats on her life. The proprietors were not present at the time of the brazen attack.

The shopkeeper, who is also a mother of one, added that it was only last week Sunday (September 18) that four bandits, two of whom were armed with guns, stormed the same bar. She said on that occasion her gold chain and mobile phone were also stolen. The sum of G$35,000 in cash was also stolen during the first robbery.

The shopkeeper explained that even though she fears for her life she still has to work in order to support her child.

Meanwhile, about 14:00h on Monday, Digicel’s Vreed-en-Hoop outlet was robbed by three gunmen, who escaped with the company’s mobile phones. Reports indicate that the men fled in a white Toyota Allion which was parked outside the establishment.

Guyana Times International understands that the men had pretended to be customers before pulling their weapons on a customer and staff, who they robbed of their valuables. When this newspaper visited the scene on Tuesday afternoon, the business was shut tight.

Shopkeepers in nearby establishments expressed great fear in conducting their business operations, with some even claiming that Police would sometimes be slow to respond to reports of such crimes.

Police investigations into all of the robberies are continuing.

Guyana Govt grants licences for importation of over 800,000 lbs chicken by year-end

…controversial GWI head, Van WestCharles, among those granted licence

T

he Guyana Government has granted several licences to import close to one million pounds of chicken for the latter half of 2016 and among the recipients are Managing Director of Guyana Water Inc, Dr Richard Van WestCharles and fired Debt Recovery Manager Lear Goring.

Guyana Development Associates is among the companies granted a licence to import chicken and is jointly owned by Van West-Charles and Goring.

That company was registered on July 27, 2015. Its address is registered as Lot 301 Meadowbrook Gardens, Georgetown. The company is among a list of 19 businesses/individuals who were recipients of the second batch of import licences to bring into the country some 884,000 pounds of chicken for 2016.

GWI’s Internal Auditing Department is currently investigating

Dr Van West-Charles over a litany of complaints and decisions, including the hiring of Goring in a position that he created.

Goring was employed

by Dr Van West-Charles, the son-in-law of former President Forbes Burnham, as a Debt Recovery Manager, and was paid a monthly salary G$263,000 in addition to a G$20,000 allowance.

Goring came to prominence recently when it was found that he and the entity’s Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles, were also both Directors of Atlantic Fuels Inc – an entity which was issued with a fuel licence.

Goring was also found to have been twice convicted of drug trafficking and was similarly deported on both occasions from the United States of America (USA).

He was fired after the Board of Directors decided that “Mr Goring’s credentials do not satisfy the requirements outlined for the position.”

Guyana’s unemployment rate...

from page 8

According to the Bureau, the findings of the 2012 Census puts Guyana’s unemployment rate at 12.5 per cent. It added that when further disaggregated by gender, the unemployment rate for males was recorded as 10.6 per cent and females at 16.7 per cent.

Prior to the Census, the most recent unemployment rate was 10.7 per cent from the 2006 Household Budget Survey (HBS), an intercensal survey.

Moreover, it was noted that Guyana has not executed a labour force Survey in recent times.

In all instances of executing a nation-wide survey, Cabinet’s approval has to be first given and requisite funding approved and disbursed.

As a consequence and as a second-best approach, labour force data has been sourced from intercensal Household Budget Surveys or Censuses since the Census of 1991.

Every Census and National Survey has therefore carried an economic activity module which has allowed on-going estimates and generation of key indicators on the labour force at intermittent periods over the past 25 years.

Recent media reports stating there has been no labour force data in the longest while and unemployment figures have been kept a secret are distinctly less than accurate.

However, steps are now in place to change and significantly improve this current dispensation by having a quarterly labour force survey which will commence in 2017.

In fact, the Bureau disclosed that its Survey Department with technical support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is currently in preparatory mode to execute this survey which as earlier indicated has not

been done in Guyana, as a unique subject-matter survey for more than two decades.

A local chicken farm

GWI Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles

Meanwhile, the importation of chicken has always been a controversial issue in Guyana as some importers have been very unscrupulous in the quality of chicken brought onto the local market. Only recently, the Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) seized millions of dollar worth of chicken, which was smuggled to Guyana via Suriname.

A number of local farmers are upset at the Government’s decision to grant chicken import licence citing the fact that they have adequate supplies for the local market demand. Some local producers queried exactly how 19 companies were granted licenses by the Government without any consultation with the local industry.

This publication was told that such a move by the Government will have devastating consequences on local chicken producers and the feed industry.

10

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 11

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

PPP stages another protest over delay in 2015 Election Petition hearing

S

upporters and members of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) turned out in their numbers to protest against the delay of the election petition in the High Court, calling also for GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally to be removed along with Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield.

PPP Member Ganga Persaud remonstrated that the petition was filed since June 2015 and it was yet to be heard in the court.

“What we are doing is

Scores of protesters picketed near GECOM’s building, calling for its Chairman and CEO to be removed

expressing our concerns that an elections petition that has been filed for many months now is still

to be heard by the High Court. There are many Guyanese who would like to know that this petition

Motorcyclist dies after slamming into utility pole

A

motorcyclist from Corriverton, Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne) died after he slammed into a utility pole on Saturday.

The man has been identified as Hemraj Sudama, 22, of Linepath, Corriverton.

Reports are that Sudama was riding motorcycle CF 5587 along Jumai Street, Number 78 Village, Corentyne, when the accident occurred.

This newspaper was informed that the young man rode into a pothole and lost control before slamming into a Guyana Power and Light power pole. At the time of the accident, Sudama was not wearing a helmet, and as a result sustained injuries to the head.

Dead: Hemraj Sudama

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) employee was taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Officer-in-charge of traffic in B Division (Berbice), Bhudnarine Persaud, said reports indicate that Sudama had

been consuming alcohol prior to the accident.

Sudama’s death pushed the road facility figure for Berbice to 13 for the year, compared with 14 for the corresponding period last year.

Persaud explained that Jumai Street is not one of the major roads in Corriverton. “They are leaving the major roads and now going into the back streets killing themselves. We can’t send officers there to Police the roads. No one is expected to be speeding in those small streets. But even with that, I am of the view that if he was wearing a helmet he might just have had some injuries but would have been alive,” Persaud said.

Venezuelan remanded on multiple charges A

30-year-old Venezuelan man was remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to charges of unlawful wounding and obtaining credit by false pretence.

Mark Williams pleaded not guilty to the charges which stated that on September 8, 2016, at Itabali landing, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Devon Leur.

The prosecution stated that the Virtual Complainant (VC) sustained abrasions to his left arm and a two centimetre laceration to his shoulder. It was stated that a pair of scissors was used to inflict the in-

juries.

The second charge stated that on the same day, Williams obtained from Leur eight cases of beer valued G$50,000 on credit by falsely pretending that he was in a position to pay.

The prosecution further objected to bail, not-

ing that the man was not a resident of Guyana, had no local address and if released, would not return to Guyana.

The defendant was refused bail and the matter was transferred to Kamarang Magistrate’s Court, to be called again on September 29, 2016.

is heard and a decision is made,” he said, noting that justice entailed a concern being echoed and addressed.

Therefore, he stat-

and has insisted that GECOM’s Chairman and CEO be dismissed.

The petition was filed on the grounds that there were voting by unregistered persons, multiple voting, unsealed or improperly sealed ballot boxes, PPP/C ballot attendants and counting agents prevented from accompanying ballot boxes and the counting of PPP/C votes in favour of the APNU/AFC coalition.

The petition also asked the court to order a recount of all the ballots cast on that day.

Persaud said that “the results that have

that something seems to be terribly amiss,” he contended.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee also called for the petition to be heard. However, he was more adamant that DrSurujbally should be removed from office, along with Lowenfield.

He said the picketing exercises would continue until there was reform in GECOM. Other protesters screamed that Lowenfield lied about the batteries and the pliers for which GECOM controversially overpaid.

Rohee argued that while

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee protesting in front of the High Court for the election petition to be expedited

ed that the holdup of the hearing did not bode well for the justice system.

He stated that the Chief Justice had to openly state what was preventing the case from being heard.

Persaud had filed the ex-parte application shortly after the PPP/C lost the May 2015 General and Regional Elections to the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition. The Party has since claimed that the elections were rigged by the present Government,

been derived from the process cannot be credibly deemed to represent accurately the will of the electorate.”

Surrounded by picketers, who were holding up placards saying that “justice should be served”, Persaud stated that the system, at this time, seemed to be extremely unresponsive to the call of the PPP/C and to what the Constitution dictated.

“This is an elections petition. Election matters ought to be given first preference in our country and for not doing

Lowenfield was contending that the batteries and pliers were tendered for under the PPP/C Administration, the evidence revealed that GECOM was the sole procurer of the equipment.

“There is no transparency and a lack of accountability, and so we hope that the audit that is currently being done will reveal all the facts and those who are found responsible will have to face the full brunt of the law in terms of whatever the audit recommends,” he said.

12

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

13

14 NEWS

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Natural Resources Minister announces lands, royalties will be set aside for veterans

N

atural Resources M i n i s t e r R a p h a e l Trotman on Monday stated that the Ministry has pledged support to the veterans of the security forces, including providing lands for housing, mining, or farming for them.

Trotman made this statement at the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the conditions and circumstances facing veterans of the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Peoples Militia and the Guyana National Service. He stated that he has recognised that the protectors and defenders of the national patrimony must be given an inheritance or parts of that

Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman

patrimony. “…they should be guaranteed specific portions that are set aside for this purpose. It may be land that is either in housing, mining, farming or forestry,” he said, pointing out to the Chairman of the CoI that: “as a means of both ensuring access to resources to veterans and for ensuring beneficial occupation of territory, persons may be assigned lands for settlements based on Company or Corps structure”.

He affirmed that in his opinion, service to one’s country is the highest and most important form of service and when that service involves protecting and advancing the values, ideals, symbols and patrimony of the State and people, then it is to be treasured and set apart for the highest commendation.

“It is selfless and sacrificial service that must be respected and rewarded,” he added, stating that these servicemen and women should be honoured for their service to the nation. He stated that the Ministry has several possible perspectives on how it can support the veterans.

Trotman said in terms of mining in particular, many veterans are engaged in obtaining lands; therefore, he opined that mining lands can be set aside for individual servicemen or women or for large groups structured around what is referred to as a syndicate.

Also, he stated, as Guyana develops the concept of generational transfers and sovereign wealth, and in the same way 20 per cent of royalties collected from mining within Amerindian titled villages is set

aside, it is proposed for consideration that a percentage of royalties earned be transferred to the Treasury for addition to veterans’ pensions.

The CoI is set up to investigate, examine, and report on the required support to enable the transition from service to civilian life for servicemen and women; the quality of welfare service that promotes independence, maintains dignity, and provides the required support after service; and the eligibility and adequacy of veterans’ benefits.

These benefits include “compensation for disabling injuries, psychological trauma, or a terminal disease resulting from his or her participation in service activities; dedicated counselling and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder or related conditions; honouring and memorialising of fallen veterans; education, training and skills’ development; facilitation of employment placement; facilitation of or advice on business opportunities; pension; access to healthcare; and housing”.

Retired Colonel Desmond Roberts was sworn in before Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman as the lone Commissioner to deliver, within two months, a report on the findings into those matters; and to inquire into all incidental consequential matters connected therewith, to report the findings and conclusions, and to advise the State on the conditions and circumstances facing the veterans”.

The report will be given to President David Granger.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Suspects in fatal Rio Nightclub shooting still at large

A

lthough Police are following several leads into the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Ryan Sergeant at the Rio Nightclub in Queenstown, Georgetown on Monday, the three suspects are still at large.

Information reaching Guyana Times International revealed that a former bodyguard of a well-known drug lord is among the three wanted by the Police for questioning into the murder.

Police sources confirmed that the three suspects were seen leaving the nightclub after they were reportedly thrown out after the initial altercation. They all had guns in their hands.

Moments later, the men were positively identified from the surveillance footage received; the Police went in pursuit of them, but came up empty- handed.

A source close to the investigation revealed that several popular spots that are frequented by the suspects were staked out, but the men never showed up.

Detectives also visited the home of one of the men but there were no signs of him.

The Police continue to collect every possible lead that can assist them in cracking the case. This publication understands that the surveillance footage is being reviewed with the hope of finding other leads.

A post-mortem conducted on Wednesday proved that the young man died from shock and haemorrhage due to a single gunshot wound to the head.

Sergeant, also known as “Harry”, of Lot 2530 Layon Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was shot dead, while another teenager remains in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The injured

Dead: Ryan Sergeant

teen is Jeffrey Ferrel of North Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown.

The shooting incident reportedly stemmed from an argument over money and “girls” at the popular nightclub in the wee hours of Monday.

Sergeant was shot once to the jaw during an exchange of gunfire.

After the shooting, Sergeant was picked up by his ‘gang members’ and dropped off at the Woodlands Hospital.

Upon seeing this, the staff of the hospital took him to the emergency room, but he was already dead.

While information remains sketchy about the shooting, it was also reported that the incident stemmed from a gambling spree within the nightclub.

Another version stated that Ferrel was involved in an altercation with one of the suspects, who in turn left the club with another friend and a female companion. Further reports stated that after the trio left, they were followed by Ferrel and the now dead man and the argument resumed.

During the argument, the suspect whipped out a gun and discharged several rounds, hitting Ferrel in the neck and shoulder. While attempting to rescue his shot friend, Sergeant was shot to the jaw. The suspects then fled the scene.

Linden man accused of stealing 2 Laptops remanded

R

omano Hamblin, 20, of One Mile Extension, Linden, in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was called upon to explain by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, why he stole two computers.

The man denied the allegation, and pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

It is alleged that on September 23, 2016, he entered the dwelling place of Lashana Richmond and stole one Compact Laptop valued G$136,000 and one Acer Laptop valued G$148,000.

Romano Hamblin

The details surrounding the allegation are not known, as the prosecution’s file was not presented in court.

The defendant was remanded and will make his next court appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on October 4, 2016.

NEWS 15

16

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

17

18 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Dataram’s flight from Guyana could have been avoided’ …President urges law enforcement officials to use every legitimate avenue to capture suspect

P

resident David Granger, on Thursday, urged members of the local law enforcement community to work with their counterparts in neighbouring countries and to use every possible legitimate avenue to locate and transport convicted drug lord, Mr. Barry Dataram back to Guyana, according to GINA. In an invited comment, President Granger said that while he will not lay blame at the feet of any agency or individual, Dataram’s flight from Guyana, was something, which could have been avoided.

“Mr. Dataram is a person of interest. He is a well-known character in Guyana and I would expect that even though the judicial branch is separate, there should be a greater level of alertness on the part of the Magistracy, in the Judiciary, in matters like this and I don’t regard it as a failing on the part of law enforcement agencies but it is definitely an error which ought to have been avoided. The danger posed in having somebody who is now a convict out there, out

of the jurisdiction is going to be harmful to our national interest so I would urge the law enforcement agencies to alert their counterparts in neighbouring states.

Even though Mr. Dataram might have a foreign passport, it might be a forged passport. I would urge all law enforcement agencies to use every legitimate measure to bring him back into this jurisdiction so that he can serve his sentence,” the President said in an invited comment.

According to GINA, in the recording of the Ministry of the Presidency’s weekly television programme, The Public Interest, President Granger told journalists that information suggests that Mr. Dataram is not a Guyanese and might have absconded using a passport not issued by the government of Guyana.

The President assured though that the Police Commissioner has been asked to make every effort to locate the suspect. “…so my information is that he is not travelling on a Guyanese passport. So after his disappearance, and we weren’t aware of his dis-

Barry Dataram

appearance, we continued to work with our partners in the Caribbean to bring him to justice. If he is in Suriname as is suspected, the Commissioner of Police has been instructed to try to ascertain his whereabouts in neighbouring countries but he is not using a Guyana passport that much we know,” the Head of State said.

The President observed that while more could have been done, it must be noted that the resources currently available to law enforcement agencies are not sufficient to patrol every kilometer of the country’s borders and ports. However, Government, cognizant of the need for additional resources, has begun to acquire the equipment necessary to aid the fight against narco- trafficking and other forms of illegal activity.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

19

20 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Dr Luncheon distances PPP/C Administration from GECOM radio sets purchase …says CEO headed evaluation committee

A

s controversy continues to deepen over a decision by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to purchase 50 defective high frequency radios from a city businessman for a whopping G$1.9 million each, leading to an audit over suspected corruption, former head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon distanced the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Cabinet from the scandal, making it clear that Cabinet’s role was limited to its “no objection”.

Dr Luncheon’s comment came in light of a claim by GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, who was quoted in the media as saying that GECOM had nothing to do with the actual procurement of the radio sets, but rather the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and the PPP/C Administration.

Lowenfield explained that his spending ceiling as CEO is G$249,999

and any amount over that has to go through NPTAB and Cabinet.

“Outside of that if it is over G$250,000 it goes to National Tender Board, which is the agency responsible for scrutiny and integrity of submissions made by agencies and contractors. We provide to them the contractors and who are shortlisted. Once we hand over to the Board the selection of the provider is with the Board,” he told reporters.

He also stated that prior to the 2015 General and Regional Elections, GECOM was still a budget agency with financial oversight by the Finance Ministry and Dr Luncheon played a pivotal role.

But, Dr Luncheon told this newspaper that despite Lowenfield’s claims, the procuring agency, in this case, GECOM was responsible for evaluating the bidders and then submitting the shortlisted bidders based on rankings to the NPTAB, thus the CEO could not exculpate himself.

Dr Roger Luncheon

“Cabinet has no original role to play in any procurement that is at Cabinet level – that’s over G$15 million; the original role is by the procurement entity, in this case GECOM,” Dr Luncheon explained.

In this case, the amount is close to G$100 million and according to the former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, the bids would have been opened at the NPTAB. He explained that the Tender Board would have sent all the bids after they were opened to GECOM for evaluation.

The procurement entity’s top brass, in GECOM’s case, probably the CEO, is assisted by one or two people appointed by the central Tender Board to be the evaluators and they evaluate those responses and then send them back with their recommendations to the central Tender Board. If the central Tender Board sees that the recommendations are consistent with the role and it is the least responsive tendering, they send it to Cabinet for its no objection, Dr Luncheon explained.

The former Head of the Presidential Secretariat was confident that Lowenfield headed the evaluation team that recommended Mobile Authority as the supplier of the radios.

“The evaluation committee I am certain was headed by the CEO. He headed the evaluation committee; he was responsible for submitting the evaluation to the central Tender Board,” Dr Luncheon declared.

He is also confident that the ongoing audit, when completed, will clarify a number of issues.

When contacted, Chief Executive Officer of the NPTAB, Donald De Clou declined to comment.

GECOM earlier this month was caught in a web of corruption allegations surrounding the purchase of the radios from Mobile Authority, a company owned by a Water Street, Georgetown businessman, while sidelining Barrett Communications, the manufacturer of the said

radio sets. Barrett subsequently distanced itself from the radio sets and highlighted that it had ceased production of that particular equipment since 2009, six years before they were purchased

by GECOM. Last week, PPP/C GECOM Commissioner Robeson Benn stated that corruption at the electoral body was deep-rooted, with key players at many levels of the organisation. He went on to describe the management of the organisation as “a national disgrace”.

In moving forward, the PPP/C Commissioner stated there needed to be some house cleaning and some heads must roll, the first being the Commission’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally.

Surujbally already distanced himself from the controversy, stating that he was not responsible for the financial affairs of the Commission, but rather the CEO. In March 2014, Lowenfield was appointed CEO.

NEWS 21

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese national among Jean La Rose quits as GNNL Board Chairperson 2 killed in T&T crash

A

Guyanese national was among two persons killed in an early morning accident along the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, Trinidad and Tobago, on Sunday.

He has been identified as 26-year-old Rajendra Persaud of Crane, West Coast Demerara. INews understands that the young man was living and working in Trinidad.

According to reports coming out of the country, the accident occurred sometime around 08:00h near Chase Village, along the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway.

A T&T online news report informed that two vehicles were proceeding north along the north-bound lane of the

Dead: Rajendra Persaud

highway when a black Toyota Hilux attempted to merge from the left lane to the right lane.

As a result, the driver of the pick-up came into contact with another truck, which was in the right lane at the time.

The two vehicles then hit the median and violently came to a stop.

The two passengers of the other truck, Persaud and a resident of Port of Spain, did not survive the accident.

Meanwhile, the online news report said that the Police and emergency health services were notified and the driver of the Hilux truck was detained after officers noticed the scent of alcohol on his breath.

Further reports revealed that the driver of the Hilux was taken into custody and administered a breathalyser test which he failed. He is currently being kept at the Freeport Police Station as investigations continue.

AFC setting itself up for ‘political death’, says Rohee

T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) may be no Police of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), but itcertainly is its prisoner. This is according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Clement Rohee, who is refusing to succumb to the idea that all is well within the coalition camp.

Rohee indicated that the AFC is setting itself up for a major downfall where there will be no escape, other than political death.

Political observers and other commentators have deduced that the AFC–arm has been shafted by the People’s National Congress (PNC)–led APNU following the coalition’s assumption to Executive Office and that a major conflict has been brewing between the two parties over a number of stark disagreements on several issues. But Business and Tourism Minister, Dominic Gaskin, during a recent news conference sought to assure the party’s supporters that the relationship between the AFC and APNU is not fractured as is being assumed by sections of society.

At the time he was speaking in the capacity of the AFC Treasurer at the Party’s bi-weekly press conference held at its Kitty Headquarters.

“I think we have a good working relationship with our coalition partners,” he stated in response to questions about the speculations of a rift between the two parties.

However, during

PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee

a news conference on Monday, Rohee ridiculed his response as he outlined several instances which prove that the AFC is powerless. “Everyone is seeing the reality where the AFC, they went to the PNC Congress and they made a lot of statements there which shows they are now being consumed into the warm embrace or the kiss of death of the PNC which is the major part of the APNU,” he expressed.

He pointed out also that the AFC’s attempts to “clip the wings” of Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, was an abysmal failure which eventually backfired. “Instead of them clipping the wings on Mr Joe Harmon or Joeshanlin, their wings were clipped instead,” Rohee stated.

Earlier this year, AFC Vice-chairperson and the country’s Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, publicly expressed his desire to have the powers entitled to Harmon be reduced.

Rohee also highlighted that the Cummingsburg Accord has many breaches which disadvantages the AFC. Previously, the PPP had observed that

Public Security Minister, KhemrajRamjattan, the AFC Leader, had a significant portion of his ministerial powers transferred to PNC’s Winston Felix, now the Citizenship Minister.

It was also observed that the AFC’s nominees to the Procurement C o m m i s s i o n , DrAnandGoolsarran and Christopher Ram, have been rejected by APNU in the Public Accounts Committee.

Battered economy

Rohee went on to criticise the Business Minister’s claims that the economy is performing excellently when he called on all Guyanese to gear up for increased economic growth.

“Where is the growth to come from when the productive sector is being stifled; the manufacturing sector is in a slump; the public service is demoralised; the global economic environment remains hostile and non-responsive; private sector investments remain frozen; foreign direct investment is now a thing of the past; the private sector/business community is battered, ostracised, neglected, pressured and heavily taxed compounded by untenable industrial relations; and social and political democracy are consistently trampled upon,” the PPP General Secretary announced.

In this regard, he noted that with government coming under pressure from the majority of stakeholders, it is a clear demonstration of the administration’s ineptitude.

GNNL Chairperson , Jean La Rose

G

uyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) Board of Directors Chairperson Jean La Rose has resignedwith effect from October 1, 2016.

In a letter to subject Minister, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, dated September 23, 2016, La Rose said, “at this point, I feel I am not contributing to the further development of the Board or the GNNL as I may have done if I had more time to dedicate towards fully understanding my role as Chair or as Director.”

La Rose is quoted by the Government Information Agency (GINA) as saying that since taking up office the new Government has provided more opportunities and space to work with and on behalf of indigenous communities in Guyana and “this has grown resulting in the expansion of my work commitments and less time to dedicate to issues of the GNNL”.

In his letter of acceptance, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said, “I accept your resignation with a heavy heart, but understand your rea-

sons for doing so. I thank you for having accepted the challenge to serve as Chairperson and express my appreciation of your efforts to resuscitate the GNNL as a national newspaper and to improve professionalism among its many staffers.”

Her resignation comes months after Imran Khan resigned from the National Communications Network (NCN) board.

La Rose was appointed chairperson of the GNNL Board on September 15, 2015.

Conductor killed after bus topples on muddy road

A

s the road carnage continues, a West Bank Demerara family has plunged into mourning following an accident that killed a minibus conductor Monday evening.

Dead is Roger “Jerry” Waldron, 30, of Lot 57 Good Intent, West Bank Demerara who died after the Route 31 minibus in which he was the conductor toppled at the Nismes Public Road, while negotiating through roadside mud on a turn.

The accident occurred in the vicinity of the GafoorsNismes Complex, WBD where the mud was temporarily moved to the roadside to facilitate ongoing drainage works.

Guyana Times International understands that the accident occurred around 19:00h.

When this publication arrived on the scene, the

The damaged minibus

minibus was still on its side with heavy mud on the wheels and in surrounding environs. This newspaper was told that public-spirited citizens assisted in rushing passengers to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

At the hospital, family members of the injured were anxiously awaiting word on their

The toppled bus

loved ones, while the family of the deceased conductor was trying to come to grips with the devastating news. As porters pushed the dead man’s body out to the mortuary, his mother broke down in tears exclaiming: “Why Jerry?

Ow meh baby.” She was consoled by her daughter and other family members.

Meanwhile, a family member of an injured teenager who was a passenger in the minibus told this publication that she had to be administered emergency oxygen as a result of irregular breathing.

Most passengers suffered minor injuries while the bus driver, sustained cuts and bruises to his hands. (Shemuel Fanfair)

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

City Hall to foot bill for former mayor’s security services …despite claims of being cash strapped

T

Patricia Chase Green

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says it finds it baffling that an entity which constantly cries of being bankrupt found it necessary to stand the security services expenses of a former employee.

Former Mayor Hamilton Green will continue to enjoy the protection of the City Constabulary at his D’Urban Backlands, Greater Georgetown residence after the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) voted in favour of the proposal.

This is despite the fact that not all Councillors were in agreement with this decision amid the claims that City Hall was cash strapped.

During a news conference on Monday, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee strongly

criticised the decision, explaining that it was illogical for the taxpayers to continue to pay for the security services of another citizen who was of no service to them. “(The Mayor Patricia Chase Green) has publicly stated that “without any apologies to anyone” ,she sees no reason why a bankrupt City Council should not continue to pay a security service to protect the residence of Hamilton Green, a former Mayor of Georgetown…,” Rohee outlined as he questioned how City Hall intended to continue to finance this venture.

He pointed out that the PPP Councillor had objected to the proposal on this very basis.

“He opposed the request on the ground that Green is now employed at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) and that Agency should take care of such expenses, since in any case, Georgetown citizens were told that the Council is broke. So where is the money to come from to finance the security for Green’s residence? How much is it costing taxpayers?” Rohee questioned.

The General Secretary argued that this decision

Former Mayor Hamilton Green

was another reflection of the lack of transparency and accountability with respect to the revenues, income and expenditure of City Council.

Chase Green had defended her decision to move the motion for continued security services on the grounds that her predecessor served in that capacity for some 20 years.

She also explained that in 1994 when Green was elected as Mayor of the city of Georgetown, he was then receiving security from the National Guard Service. She said an agreement was subsequently made between the then Commissioner of Police and the then Town Clerk that instead of being afforded the service of the national Police and City Council, he would just be afforded the services of one or the other.

Liza oil find in Guyana sparks regional rush S uriname’s State-controlled Staatsolie is in negotiations with six international oil companies for rights to a pair of new deepwater blocks after closing invitations to bid for the acreage, as the Liza oil find in Guyana sparks a regional land rush.

According to the US Upstream Oil and Gas Newspaper, Staatsolie created Block 59 in the north-west corner of the country’s maritime area along the border with Guyana, as well as a second block, Block 60, that lies east of Block 54, which had previously been the easternmost defined block off of Suriname.

Staatsolie has seen a rush of international explorers after the ExxonMobil-operated Liza find on the Stabroek block off of Guyana, which is now estimated to contain between 800 million and 1.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil.

“The Liza discovery (Guyana) and Zaedyus (French Guiana) are along the same trend line. Nobody has yet drilled a well in Suriname that actually applies the lessons of Liza.”

“Activity has been confined to the shelf, but we are now seeing more interest further out to the north,” said August Nelson, manager of the exploration division of Staatsolie.

The first proposal for new acreage was submitted in May from a company interested in the area that would become Block 59 in the north-west.

By August 16 this year, Staatsolie had received four proposals for acreage in the north-west and decided to close the “open door invitation for bids” for the area.

And by September 7, Staatsolie had also received two bids for acreage in the Block 60 area in the east-

ern portion of its offshore zone, and the Government decided to close bidding until September 2017.

Staatsolie is now in negotiations with the six companies that submitted proposals to agree on terms of a production sharing contract for each of the blocks.

The results are said to be a far cry from the last time Staatsolie offered acreage, when Apache was awarded Block 58 along the Guyana border in May 2015 after lacklustre interest in additional acreage from other operators.

Now Suriname has become the focus for operators looking to gain exposure to the Guyana-Suriname offshore basin due to a lack of available acreage off Guyana.

ExxonMobil and partners, Hess of the US and CNOOC subsidiary Nexen, control the massive Stabroek Block in Guyana. ExxonMobil recently took significant stakes and operator ships in the neighbouring Canje Block and the ultra-deep Kaieteur Block.

Repsol is understood to be favoured in the negotiations for Block C, an ultra-deepwater block on the Guyana side of the maritime border with Suriname.

The remaining ultra-deep block, Roraima, is controlled by Anadarko Petroleum, but remains under force majeure due to the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

Consequently, operators have looked to the continuation of the Liza trend into Suriname for access to the emerging play.

In May, Hess farmed in for a onethird interest in Block 42 off Suriname from partners Kosmos Energy and Chevron.

NEWS 23

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Defence Board to decide on new Chief-of-Staff soon – Deputy CoS George Lewis tipped as top contender

A

s the Chiefof-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Mark Phillips prepares for retirement, the Defence Board will soon be meeting to decide on his successor.

During a special edition of “The Public Interest” programme, taped in New York where President David Granger was attending the 71st General Assembly of the United Nations, the Head of State noted that upon his return to Guyana, the Defence Board would be meeting to make a final decision as to who would be appointed to head the country’s army.

“The Defence Board will meet when I return and make that choice…

The Defence Board will make the final decision,” he stated.

Nevertheless, President Granger noted that a succession plan was in place for when Brigadier Phillips officially retires.

“The next senior officer is going to take his place… that will be a smooth transition,” the Commander-in-Chief remarked.

When probed about the contenders for the position, President Granger posited that there were “about half a dozen of colonels” in the army for the Board to choose from, listing several: Deputy Chiefof-Staff, Colonel George

Outgoing Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips

Lewis; Adjutant General (AG), Colonel Nazrul Hussain; Quartermaster General, Colonel Paul Arthur and Colonel Khemraj Persaud.

“So, we have a wide range of choice,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Guyana Defence Force stated.

However, it has been reported that the Deputy Chief-of-Staff is set to take over command of Guyana’s military following the retirement of the current Chief-ofStaff early next month.

On October 3, a farewell parade will take place in honour of Brigadier Phillips. It was reported too that on the same day, Lewis will take control of the Guyana Defence Force, but prior to this day, President Granger will promote the Colonel to the rank of Brigadier.

Phillips, who hails from Linden where he at-

tended the Christianburg Primary School and the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (Multilateral School), joined the GDF in December 1980.

He is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom and has held several appointments, including Colonel (Administration and Quartering), and Colonel (General Staff) during his 30 years of military service.

He was also Guyana’s Head of Delegation to the Inter-American Defence Board from 2008 to 2009, and was up to 2011 Guyana’s non-resident Military Attaché to Venezuela.

He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier back in 2013 by then President Donald Ramotar before he took command of the GDF, succeeding Rear Admiral Gary Best.

Secretary General’s assessment of border controversy to be announced in November

U

nited Nations G e n e r a l Secretary Ban Ki-moon is set to make an assessment on the Guyana/Venezuela controversy by November, ahead of his demitting office on December 31.

The UN Secretary General made this declaration on Saturday during a meeting with the Guyanese Head of State David Granger at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of the Presidency, President Granger welcomed the schedule and pledged his commitment to provide any additional information, which will be required for the UN Secretary General to complete his assessment.

The President also expressed utmost gratitude to the world leader for his devoted interest in ensuring that the ongoing controversy is peacefully resolved.

“We have been very impressed with the seriousness with which you have approached the problem and your own sincerity…We have been personally convinced that you want to bring closure to this matter,” he said during the meeting with the UN Head.

In a brief invited comment, following the meeting, President Granger said he supports the process and is confident that it will lead to a conclusion that is satisfactory.

Also attending the meeting on behalf of Guyana were Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, Sir Shridath

President David Granger is greeted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon prior to their meeting on Saturday at the UN Headquarters, New York, to discuss the way forward on the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy

Ramphal, who was present at the signing of the Geneva Agreement in 1966 between the United Kingdom, on behalf of then British Guiana and Venezuela and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Audrey Waddell.

For decades, Venezuela has laid claims to nearly two/ thirds of Guyana’s landmass – the Essequibo. In fact, the border controversy, which was not on Venezuela’s front burner for several years after being first mooted in 1962, was recently reignited by the latter country when US oil giant ExxonMobil began exploratory works earlier this year in the Stabroek Block offshore the Essequibo Coast.

With Guyana on the verge of becoming a lucrative oil producing nation, President Maduro issued a decree claiming that the majority of Guyana waters now belongs to Venezuela.

The decree was seen as a “flagrant violation

of international law and is inconsistent with the principle that all states should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states”.

Consequently, in an effort to defend its sovereignty, Guyana made it clear to the Venezuelan Government that the Essequibo and its offshore waters belong to Guyana, and strengthened its push for judicial settlement of the issue, as the Good Officer process had yielded little result.

The border between the countries was set by an international tribunal in 1899, in an award the parties, including Venezuela, had agreed would be the final settlement.

Since the recent belligerence from Venezuela, moves have been made by the international community, including the United Nations Secretary General, to push for a peaceful resolution of the issue.

Linden mother East Ruimveldt man fined of 2 hangs self G$50,000 for stealing phone

A

Crystal Couchman

Linden family is now trying to come to grips with their loss following the suicide of a young mother of two. The body of Crystal Couchman, 30, was discovered hanging

in the bedroom of her home at Fair’s Rust, Mackenzie, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) around 18:00h on Saturday.

A relative of the deceased said the distraught family is uncertain as to what drove the woman to end her life but pointed out that she was recently separated from her child’s father.

Apart from that, the relative noted that Couchman, who was employed at the Esso Gas station in Linden had appeared normal and happy earlier on Saturday.

According to the relative, other family members went out, leaving the woman at home, but upon their return during the evening they made the gruesome discovery.

Couchman leaves to mourn her children, ages 1 and 5.

A

24-year-old East Ruimveldt man was fined G$50,000 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts by Magistrate Faith McGusty for theft.

Devon Baptiste pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on September 17, 2016, at Kitty, Georgetown, he stole one Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued G$110,000, property of Sanjay Ramdhall.

Baptiste explained to the court that he snatched the phone out of frustration, since he could not find a job. The accused added that while running with the phone, he had a change of heart and opted to return the phone to the

Virtual Complainant. He further explained that before he was successful in his remorseful act, he was apprehended.

The unrepresented defendant begged the

court for leniency, claiming that he has learnt his lesson and pointing to the fact that the phone was returned to the Virtual Complainant.

Magistrate McGusty

imposed the fine, noting that she considered the man’s age and the fact that the phone was recovered.

She cautioned him about irrational actions.

24 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Specialty Hospital Project: Guyana, India Foreign Ministers meet on the way forward

F

oreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge recently had a meeting with his Indian counterpart regarding the future of the Specialty Hospital Project. The meeting comes at a time when the Guyana Government is unsure it will move ahead with the project.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the recently concluded 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York. This was confirmed by Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingham.

“I understand that the Foreign Minister of Guyana spoke to our Minister of State, that is Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in New

York but we don’t know what the further developments (are)… but they talked about what is to be done,” the High Commissioner told Guyana Times International on Sunday.

Back in June, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had disclosed that the Government of India, which is funding the Project via an US$18 million Line of Credit, had indicated that it was ceasing worldwide business with Fedders Lloyd Corporation Limited, which was handpicked by the coalition Administration, after the company was blacklisted by the World Bank until 2020 over fraud and corruption practices.

The donor country

An artist’s impression of the Specialty Hospital

had also expressed preference for a fresh tendering process to be conducted to select a new Indian-base contractor to execute the project.

At the time, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Government said that it wanted to make

certain enquiries of the Indian Government before a definitive course of action was adopted on the Specialty Hospital Project, located at Lilendaal, Greater Georgetown.

However, Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton told this newspaper last month that the project has been “shelved” and contact has not been made with the Indian Government.

On Sunday, Norton confirmed that the project remains “shelved”.

He had previously explained that Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge was supposed to take the lead in that process since making contact with another country falls under his purview.

Meanwhile, in a previous interview the Public Health Minister had pointed out that the impending discussions with the Indian Government will determine whether Guyana will go ahead with the project using a new contractor or have it scrapped entirely, given all the troubles the project has faced.

“There is a chance it might come off the table because that Hospital Project is not doing well with how it started and what’s supposed to be…

The next step will now be for us to have direct contact with the Indian Government and decide whether it will continue with the loan or not,” Dr Norton had stated.

Moreover, the Public Health Minister had said too on a different occasion that because of the overcrowding situation at the Georgetown Public Hospital, government is exploring ways of addressing the problems. One such solution that came up was the expansion of the city hospital and Dr Norton disclosed that they were looking at potential sites including the land of the

Specialty Hospital.

“I am personally thinking about a maternal child hospital or an enhancement or annex to the Georgetown Hospital… (but) we have to look for another area, and we’re contemplating using the foundation of the Specialty Hospital that was supposed to be built,” he told this publication back in July.

On the other hand, last month the Minister was quoted in the State’s newspaper as saying that there are talks of constructing a Paediatric Hospital at the Specialty Hospital site and that the proposal was before Cabinet for consideration.

While in opposition, both the APNU and AFC had strongly opposed the US$18 million Specialty Hospital Project and upon its assumption to office last year, decided to scrap the project, which had already expended some US$4 million on some preliminary works.

Government had said that the remaining G$13.8 million would be better served if it is used to improve the country’s primary healthcare service by upgrading three hospitals across the country.

However, the Indian Government subsequently indicated that Guyana should go ahead with the Specialty Hospital and it will provide a separate loan for the primary healthcare project. The process is currently ongoing for government to acquire the second loan.

The three hospitals considered for upgrade are the Bartica Hospital, the West Demerara Regional Hospital and the Suddie Public Hospital. The project will see modernisation and rehabilitation at three major hospitals.

In 2012, the contract for the Specialty Hospital Project was awarded to Indiabased Company, Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited, which was tasked with designing and building the state-of-the-art facility.

However, citing instances of alleged fraud and delays, the Donald Ramotar Administration in 2014 announced that it had terminated the contract of the India-based Company and subsequently filed a lawsuit against it for failing to honour its obligations.

G$1 billion from the company.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

25

26

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

27

28 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

PPP says Govt’s crime Business Minister says investors’ fighting ‘strategy’ was meant incentives should be reviewed to fool the nation M

M

ore than a year after a new crime fighting strategy was introduced by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Administration, there is yet to be seen any amount of changes and/or reduction in the incidences of crime in Guyana.

According to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Clement Rohee, the crime plan implemented by President David Granger over a year ago was nothing more than a deception.

Weeks into office last year, President Granger had summoned his top security officials, including Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Brigadier Mark Phillips, Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and had laid out a five-point action plan that the security sector would use to battle the crime wave, which at that time, had been rising at an alarming rate. The plan, however, was more of a strategic nature than immediate actions to address the crime wave.

Together, the group had suggested the beefing up of security at borders across the country.

Coupled with that move was the resuscitation of the Police’s marine wing to provide Police officers with flexibility and greater access to inland waterways along with the use of animals, including horses and dogs, to go after criminals.

Focus was also to be placed on the Police administration itself and the requirement to identify criminal activities across all 10 regions of Guyana, to determine where the activities are being committed and to decide on the strategy to deal with them on a national basis.

The next element of that plan was to involve Police organisation and training and the way in which the Police Force is organised. A directive was given by the Public Security Minister that more Police officers needed to be put on the streets to carry out patrols to get out of the offices, where they were performing non-core functions.

Speaking on Monday at his party’s weekly Press Conference, Clement Rohee said the plans announced by government to tackle crime never really existed, but actually was being used to fool the public.

“First Granger called

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

for a crime plan. Then we were told the plan is with Ramjattan, then we were told that it was with the National Security Council which is chaired

by President Granger, then later we were told that it was with the Commissioner of Police, then we were later told that there was no plan,” Rohee told the media.

He said while that plan has seemingly failed, Government is again now announcing that there will soon be a security sector action plan.

According to him, there are more questions than answers about this new plan, including its financing, whether it would be coming from the Government coffers; the length of time for the plan and key components, and whether or not the plan will be made public.

inister of Business Dominic Gaskin is of the view that incentives offered to investors in Guyana, should be reviewed at least annually.

The minister was responding to questions posed by journalists when he appeared at the Alliance for Change (AFC) bi- weekly press conference on Friday.

Questions were posed about the amount of investors who have so far taken an interest in doing business in Guyana, since the coalition government came into office sixteen months ago. Minister Gaskin while not going into details, said that there have been a number of proposals in almost every sector, however, none have come through.

When questioned about government’s real plan on incentives for investors bringing their businesses here, especially in light of recent pronouncements my Finance Minister Winston Jordan that those incentives would be reduced, Minister Gaskins said it was his opinion that the incentives should be reviewed.

“I think there should be annual reviews of the concessions and incentives for investors have to be reviewed yearly”, he told the journalists.

He said prior to this government coming into office; there was no real mechanism in place for measuring the impact of incentives. He said government is now attempting to do that, so that an idea can be had about the amount of incentives that are given out for a specific period, also, the amount of jobs created and taxes received.

He said the issue with investors is that it is arguably that incentives are the only factor that attracts them.

“Investors look for profits and they look for predictability, certainty and stability. And what investors want to see is the fair application of whatever the incentives will be, so it must be across-the-board”.

According to Gaskin, Guyana’s laws do not provide for discrimination between local and foreign investors. What is more important than incentives, however, is how that regime is applied and whether or not it is ap-

Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin

plied across-the-board, whether it is enshrined in the laws and becomes an entitlement and not a discretionary incentive.

Asked if any major investors have taken interest in Guyana, since the coalition government took office, the Business Minister stated that the process takes time, as a large investor would not show up today and start doing business tomorrow.

“Since we have been in Government we have had numerous inquiries, approaches and proposals,” he added, pointing to several areas including energy, agroprocessing, mining and manufacturing, among a number of other proposals.

In May, President David Granger had stated that the Government was moving to reduce concessions to foreign investors in order to create a level playing field for local investors.

“We want to ensure that foreigners are not given concessions, waivers and rebates, to which other people are not entitled. In fact, we want to reduce the amount of these concessions so that we become more competitive,” he stated.

The President had said he was concerned that businesses would become too reliant on concessions and not do enough to develop their enterprises and resources.

Recently too, Minister of Finance Winston Jordon said these incentives for international investors will have to be cut.

feature 29

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

nana trees the fastest and reach the highest.

Their superstition revolves around the belief that each end of the banana contains a good side and a bad side. They believe that if you open a banana on the bad side you are inviting a bad omen into your life.

To avoid this, they have a culturally specific method to opening the banana. They twist the banana from the middle in order to negate the "bad" side of the banana.

A

son becomes ill and the only way of rescuing him or her is to cut the plant from which the banana came, to neutralise its eshahua, a common translation of Devil or spirit.

The Ese Ejja believe that animals and plants have eshahua and they can cause illness and death in humans, when they fail to observe the appropriate behaviour in relation to food.

Red bananas are considered to be low in calories and a good source of

through trade routes spread to other parts of the world, including East Africa and South America.

The rootstocks are said to have been packed onto a ship of Tomas de Berlanga, a Portuguese Franciscan monk, who brought them to the Caribbean island of Santo Domingo from the Canary Islands in 1516.

It is also said that de Berlanga may have met the bananas on the islands, introduced by Portuguese sailors from

The more familiar Guyanese red banana

rare fruit in today’s markets, though it is said to be somewhat found at Parika market, is the red banana or what Guyanese call “buck banana” and “red buck banana”; “buck” being the derogatory local word for an indigenous person.

The fruit has also been called “purple banana” and “Parika banana” here in Guyana.

To date there is no literature as to the etymology of the derogatory local name. Its official scientific name is “musa acuminate (AAA Group)”, belonging to the Cavendish group (AAA), a cultivar of the wild banana Musa acuminate.

It’s also known scientifically as several other names, including “Musa acuminate Colla (AAA Group) cv. 'Red'”.

Some persons suggest that the banana is

purple or rust coloured, not red. However, most scientists agree with its “red banana” description, though it does have a reddish-purple hue. From green, the skin starts off red and ripens to a deep purple colour. Some start to get hints of yellow in them as they ripen.

Walking around Georgetown markets reveals few vendors of the red bananas, with little certainty of a regular supplier. Its rarity has of course priced it higher than other banana types but no one can say for certain whether this is due solely to a lack of demand, or a lack of farmers who grow the red banana.

In Guyana there is neither evidence of official export of the red banana nor large scale cultivation of the fruit.

Across the world, red bananas come in vary-

Jamaican red banana blooming

ing shades of red, names and sizes. In Guyana it is described as being about the same size as the apple banana; there is the dwarf version (which is what we call the apple banana size) and its bigger counterpart – about the size of our cayenne bananas.

In Australia it is known as the Red Dacca banana; in various other regions it is known as the Red Spanish, Red Cuban, Colorado, Jamaican red banana, red Cavendish banana, or Lal kela, though its official English botanical name is Red Dacca.

The smaller type is known variously as Dwarf red and Dwarf Jamaican red also.

Red bananas are said to be native to India, where there are still wild species growing. Trade routes took them to the New World where Columbia and Ecuador are major South American exporters of the red banana today.

According to Lee Drummond in his paper “Structure and process in the interpretation of South American myth: The Arawak Dog Spirit People” (McGill University), the Guyana Arawak (Lokono) word for the red banana is ebiswadu.

It is called ebiswadu because it changes from green to red when ripe; biswana in Lokono means “changed” and refers to a person, while biswadu refers to a thing that changes in a dramatic way.

The Piro indigenous group in Peru has based one of their customs solely on the red banana.

According to one source, celebrations consist of giving red bananas as gifts. Additionally, young males in the Piro tribe compete to climb the ba-

Red banana on tree

Most of us peel the bananas from either end.

For the Ese Ejja indigenous community in Northern Bolivia, red bananas are considered the most dangerous fruit. It is associated with witchcraft, and the most common method of sorcery is to put a red banana (hueshe huo’o in their language, or guineo morado in Bolivian Spanish) on the path of the victim to step on, so that sorcery enters his or her feet.

Once the victim steps on the banana, the per-

fibre and potassium. In addition, they are high in Vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin C. Generally speaking, bananas have been modified over the years by humans where it is said they have crossed two varieties of African wild bananas, the Musa acuminate and the Musa baalbisiana, got rid of the many seeds, and improved the flavour and texture to its present soft and sweet flavour.

The banana spread to Southeast Asia, and

West Africa. It wasn't long before the banana became popular throughout the Caribbean as well as Central America.

Arabian slave traders are credited with giving the banana its common name, from banan Arabic for finger – which were the size of the banana type. However, the Guinean word for banana is banema suggesting an alternative name origin.

Some botanists believe the Spanish guineo morado hints at its Guinean origin.

There is a variety of banana cultivars (a plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding) in the world today

30 Fashion

R

ishma Persaud has been designing for more than 15 years under the brand RP couture. She is known for her eye catching evening gowns and cocktail dresses, and is also one of the

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

designers for the Miss India Guyana and Miss Universe Guyana pageant. These designs are from her newest collection, which are mostly evening attire. All the designs are custom made and can be

made to order within a week. Rishma's office is now located at 303 Church St, Queenstown, Georgetown. You can also find her on Facebook at RP couture.

feature 31

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Indigenous Heritage Month 2016

Part II

M

any of the indigenous ageold postnatal customs are fading due to new technologies and urbanization. However, research done on these customs still make for a good read, and may even encourage youths of today to learn more about their heritage.

Phyllis Jordan’s “Amerindians customs after birth”, a chapter found in the book “Focus on Amerindians” (May 1980), highlights some of these customs; the following are excerpts from her text.

In some indigenous nations, the father is required to spend most of his time caring for his child during this period of confinement, while the mother returns to her work on the farm. Among the Arekunas, the father of a young child should not destroy a wasp's nest, for this will cause the baby to have sores on his head. Neither should he blow the fire, sharpen a cutlass or do any kind of strenuous work,

C

for this will certainly affect the baby adversely.

If the father should blow the fire, blotches will appear all over the skin of his young child. Should he sharpen a cutlass, his child will have bloodshot eyes. Any kind of strenuous work will tend to cause the child to cry constantly.

Similar restrictions are imposed for the other Cariban nations.

However, the Arekunas seem to be more ardent followers of these practices. Their period of restriction lasts for three months, while among the Waraus, Patamunas, Akawaios and Makushis, the period of restriction is not more than a month.

There are differences in Arawakan and Cariban birth customs.

The Arawakan tribes do not believe that plant spirits are harmful to the soul of the child, and hence, the father may return to hunting after ten days. On his first hunting trip, he takes along a miniature bow and arrow and a sling in which the soul of the child is sup-

posed to recline. He may hunt and eat all species of wild life, but he may not use an axe or fell certain varieties of trees.

Also, if he goes fishing, he takes along with him a miniature canoe which serves the same purpose as the bow and arrow.

Both the father and mother of a young Cariban child must avoid attending or even going near a funeral within a year after the child's birth or the soul of the child will be captured by the spirit of the dead.

Ideally, all these restrictions should be adhered to in order to ensure good health for the child. However, it is an almost impossible task.

Therefore, indigenous nations have had to design an alternative way of ensuring that the babies remain unharmed by evil spirits. This is done by magical procedures. The most popular of these magical procedures is "blowing", or what the Cariban nation calls tareng. The same thing is nobaha in the Warau language. This ritual is normally per-

formed by the piaiman, or wisijatu, but in some tribes the father of the child may also do it. The magical procedures can be divided into three types: magical chanting or "blowing", magical acts, and magical objects. All three may be used together.

To further explain this let’s say an Akawaio father, after returning from a hunting trip, discovers that his child has fallen ill while he was away. He would immediately attribute this to interference by evil spirits, probably the spirit of a macaw which he had killed while out hunting.

In this case, he may decide to perform a magical act to chase the spirit away.

Taking a stone axe, he places it in the fire and heats it there for some time. Then he throws water over the axe, and as the steam rise he passes the sick child over it while continuously repeating a chant which may go like this, “Get cool, get cool, pu-pu, fever go away.”

This chanting is known

as "blowing" or tareng.

Among the Warau, the parents might take the child to a medicine man. He would, in turn, repeat certain chants while blowing tobacco smoke over the child.

He would also anoint the child with oil. This ritual or nobaha was supposed to restore the child to health.

The name given to these birth customs vary among indigenous nations. The Akawaio and Arekuna words are similar even as their cultural practices are. In Akawaio, these practices are called miree padapibee zeeruumang.

In

Arekuna and Patamuna they are called miree pata pipee eseumang. In Warau they are called etuwara.

These birth customs may seem very strange to non-indigenous people, however many of these ones have certain similar practices. The black band often worn around the wrist of an infant serves the same purpose as do some of these indigenous rituals. On the coast, many believe that the band will “ward off bad-eye”. There is a similar belief held by indigenous nations.

Parakari: a unique brew

assava is a primary food source for most indigenous peoples of Guyana. Many indigenous groups eat cassava in the form of cassava bread and farine,as well asregularly manufacture fermented cassava beverages.

According to Terry W. Henkel in his study “Parakari, an indigenous fermented beverage using amylolytic Rhizopus in Guyana”, most indigenous cassava fermentations involve prolonged cooking and exposure to salivary enzymes as the method of initially breaking down the starch to sugars (amylolysis), which subsequently are fermented to ethanol.

Parakari is a more complex cassava fermentation using an amylolytic mold in place of salivary amylolysis. In other words, instead of chewing, indigenous peoples utilise fungus to break down starch to sugars.

While fermented beverage production is nearly universal among indigenous Amazonians, parakari is unique among New World beverages because it involves the use of an amylolytic mold (Rhizopus sp., Mucoraceae, Zygomycota) followed by ethanol fermentation, he states.

Among the Wapishana of Aishalton village in the Rupununi whose fermentation process he studied, thirty steps were involved in parakari manufacture, and these he notes exhibited a high degree of sophistication, including the use of spe-

cific cassava varieties, control of culture temperature and boosting of Rhizopus inoculum potential with purified starch additives.

During the fermentation process, changes in glucose content, pH, flavour, odour and culture characteristics were associated with a desirable finished product.

Parakari is the only known example of an indigenous New World fermentation that uses an amylolytic mold, likely resulting from domestication of a wild Rhizopus species in the distant past.

Henkel states that only three of the tribes currently manufacture parakari: the Wapishana, Macushi and Patamona.

Production of parakari among the Wai Wai, who live to the south of the Wapishana in extreme southern Guyana, was noted early in the 20th century but now has ceased due to suppression by missionaries.

In his study Henkel finds that the origins of parakari fermentations are lost in antiquity. The overwhelming prevalence of fermented beverages throughout Mesoand South American indigenous cultures indicates a long-term, pre-Columbian practice.

Parakari production, with its exceptional degree of microbial manipulation, certainly has a long history. The Wapishana noted that the beverage has been around since the “beginning of time”; they have no cultural memory of a time without it.

Early stages in the preparation of parakari (Terry W.Henkel)

32 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

T&T man killed as he tries to saved family (Trinidad Guardian)

D

espite knowing that he could be shot dead, Krishna Maharaj sacrificed his life for his family when he coaxed a gunman into leaving their home together so his wife could have a chance to escape.

There was no happy ending to Maharaj’s heroics as he was shot in the head and later died on the surgeon’s table

at the San Fernando General Hospital.

According to reports, Maharaj, 37, a Cepep contractor, his wife Sabrina Khan, 28, and their nine-year-old son were at their Reform Village home around 8.30 pm Monday, when two men, one armed with a gun, stormed into the family’s home.

The family’s workman, Allescott Gaskill, who was in the apart-

ment watching television with Maharaj and Khan, told the Guardian yesterday that the men immediately began shouting, “Where the money is? Where the gold is?”

Gaskill said the gunmen turned to him and told him to look away, and then bound and gagged him with cloth and an electrical cord.

They then began slapping Maharaj and Khan, and demanded money

before ransacking the apartment.

He said they untied Khan, who went into a room and surrendered pieces of jewellery and a bag of coins. Still not satisfied, they began demanding more cash.

That was when Maharaj told the bandits that there was cash at Khan’s business in Gasparillo.

“He said he had cash by the spa and he asked them if he gave them

Krishna Maharaj

the money, if they would go away. They said yes, so he and the gunman left while the other one stayed. The other one had a knife that he took from the kitchen,” Gaskill said.

No one knew what happened at the spa, but Gaskill said that with the couple’s son and his mother-in-law, Zorina, asleep in the next apartment, Maharaj did not want them to wake up.

When the gunman returned, he said, the bandit and his accomplice had a private conversation and left.

At that point, Gaskill told Khan to untie him and he ran to the neighbour’s house to call the police. However, they found Maharaj bleeding in the front seat of his

Nissan Bluebird. He was taken to hospital by the police.

It was the second time the family was robbed as Zorina said that in 2015, bandits invaded their home and got away with cash and jewelry. She believes the bandits were targeting the family, and earlier around 7 pm she heard the neighbour’s dog barking at something in the bush at the back of the house.

“They knew what they were coming here for so this is so terrifying. They were real beating my daughter so he did that to save her. He was that kind of person to do whatever he could to assist. I had no problem with him,” Zorina said.

feature 33

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

T

he Hog Islandwindmill is the only known surviving brick windmill structure once used on sugar estates during colonial rulein Guyana.

The Hog Island windmill ruin is said to be located on a former Dutch plantation called Plantation Lyksburg on the eastern side of the 57 km² island.

Constructed on a sixfoot mound, the structure stands some 28 feet high, and is made of granite blocks and red brick; the brick being used primarily as facing for the big windows and archways.

After years of obscurity and neglect, the National Trust of Guyana conducted several trips and some field research to restore the structure as a historic heritage site and, in 2010, the Trust restored the windmill; italso erected a fence and constructed a footpath at the site.

Windmills were important for sugar production and widely used in British Guiana and across the Caribbean re-

gion to crush cane to extract the juice.The cut cane was brought to the mill by slaves, donkey or cart. Inside, more slaves fed the cane through rollers to extract the juice.

While there is no record of the date when

windmills were introduced into British Guiana, windmills were in use in the Caribbean by the latter half of the 17th century. There is no record of the age of the Hog Island windmill.

When the Dutch set-

Workers from the National Trust examine the interior of the Hog Island windmill before restoration (National Trust photo)

Map showing Hog Island on the Essequibo River

Restored Dutch windmill at Hog Island (Photo: National Trust 2013)

Lithograph of Georgetown, British Guiana by William Parrott after a drawing by Edward Angelo Goodall (1819-1908)

Lithograph of Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana, by William Parrot after a drawing by E. A. Goodall

tled on the island, they named it Varken Eiland, for the numerous wild hogs found on the island.

T

(Varken means “hog” or “pig” in Dutch, while eiland means “island”) After the colony came

he Round House is located on the seawall at Kingston in Georgetown. It stands on the site of what was once Camp House, the residence for the colony’s governor, which once included Sir Benjamin Durban. The residence was destroyed in the Great Kingston Flood of 1855.

Prior to this, Camp House was a storehouse and military headquarters for a while. It was erected for the senior officer-in-charge of the garrison troops around 1800-1805.

It had established the area as a military area, with barracks, a fort, hospital and parade square. Some of these buildings are still standing today.

After the 1855 flood, a plaque near the Round House at the sea wall states that the wall commenced at the battery in 1855 and completed to that point in 1860.

Constructed by the Dutch as a

under British rule in 1803, the English translation to “Hog Island” was adopted.

lookout point, the Round House was furnished with guns to protect Port Georgetown in the 19th century.

The area and the neglected Round House had earned a negative reputation since it had become home to vagrants, as well as an ambush point for thieves who lay in wait for visitors to the seawall who wandered too far from the more public areas.

It was repaired in 1995 after the Department of Culture began its “Round House Project”, which sought to declare that area a historical site for several reasons, including that it is considered the oldest section of Georgetown and has the oldest architecture in the city.

In addition, the site is described as the first “look out” point when Demerara became the main trading area, and is the beginning of the seawall we know today.

34 feature

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

A

lthough there is a vast amount of literature written on and about the indigenous peoples of Guyana, only a small handful of that corpus is written in English by the indigenous. However that small amount ‘amounts’ to an importantdegree of insight into the joys and heartrending tribulationsof a life,because that small corpus really goes to the heart of the issues of the indigenous.

This is not to say that the other writings do not address real issues, but the other writings cannot be substituted for “the real McCoy”. A non-indigenous cannot really understand or even imagine what encroachment means to a culture that has been ‘entrenched’ for eons, a non-indigenous writer cannot feel nor related to the damage caused by that encroachment, a non-indigenous writer cannot understand what marginalization means in the land of your birth – the land into which you breathe life.

This is not to say it is impossible for non-indigenous writers to mirror

David Campbell

some aspects of that society, mindfulthat the rendition by non-indigenous may be misleading and may even give credence to stereotyping.

The “real McCoy” comes from the likes of Basil Rodrigues when he cried out in his lamentation, “A Merry Indian no more”; David Campbell viewing the situation “Through Arawak Eyes”, and Stephanie Correia who, in “Arrows from the bow”, was on target, every time and even without taking aim at anyone: an indictment on the whole Guyanese society.

In Guyana, there were,

and are, some writers who have made, and continue to make, significant attempts to give more credence to the voice of the indigenous. These attempts go way back to Guyana’s first major poet, Egbert Martin, running thinly through the ages, until we come to another Martin, this time Martin Carter; and others likeWilson Harris,Henry Josiah, Sis. Rose Madeline, Odeen Ishmael, A J Seymour, Ian McDonald, Mark McWatt, R. Lal Singh and Walter MacArthur Lawrence.

So this exploration of the indigenous way of life covers a long period

of writing, spanning more than 130 years – and yet it falls short. Of course, it is difficult to jump into the skin of the indigenous, even for those writers who have lived among the indigenous for years, married to their ways,and issuingoffspring.

It would be useful at this point to see how the firstset of non-indigenous writers and the contemporary set of non-indigenous writers, a century later, viewed the indigenous.

Egbert Martin's “The Hammock Maker, An Indian Eclogue”, raises the issue of our elderly population: of men and women who have given their best years and are left with just memories of bygone days to tide them over while they await death.

Bowed with age and feebleness…

Crowned with locks all silvery white Eyes so dim and lustreless Slowly sinking in life’s night Crooning over bygone days…

Longing, longing to be dying…

Henry G. Dalton in “The Carib’scomplaint” laments the degradation and loss of the traditional ways.

Land of the jaguar, the parrot, and palm Land of the forest, savannah, and plain!

Where is the stillness, majestic and calm, Which once our Guiana saw peacefully reign?

Where the huntingground, where is the field.

For us and our children subsistence to yield?

But where are the

tribes …

Chasing the wild deer through its avenues green? …But where are the canoes, and the treefashion’d bark, Which once o’er these waters used swiftly to glide?

And where is the helmsman, and where is

…He should be with brothers, He should have died with jaguars and stars And wind rising in the trees…

We now have literature written by both indigenous and non-indigenous, both from thenand

Illustration by Stephanie Correia, from 'Your Music', in “Arrows from the Bow”, a collection of poetry

by Stephanie Correia (Red Thread 1988)

thecrew.

That fearless and calm through its cataracts flew?

But where is the arrow, and where is the bow…

But where is the marksman, and where is the hand…

But where is the fisher, whose cunning and art, As subtle and fleet as the sun’s flashing beam, Could follow and slay them, in spite of their speed, With bone-pointed barb, or the tube-hollow’d reed?

And finally, IanMcDonald, adds his piece on the difficult of integration.

All his life he knew forests, Forest and the great rivers.

Why bring him in town to die?

now, yet the full and true picture is still to be fleshed out. This could only happen if the indigenous are encouraged to write more about their way of life which is important to our future – as enunciated through the theme of Indigenous Heritage Month 2016 – “Our Culture, Earth’s Future Saving the Environment, Live the Indigenous Way”.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com W h a t ’ s happening:Now under production “An Anthology of Contemporary Indigenous Verse from Guyana”. For further information, please contact me at the abovementioned contacts.

news 35

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Stephen Campbell remembered for his contribution to Amerindian development

I

ndigenous Guyanese today have much to be thankful for, particularly the contributions of Guyana’s first Indigenous parliamentarian, Stephen Campbell.

The life of this renowned Guyanese, a descendant of the Arawak people, was celebrated on Monday at the Umana Yana as the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry prepared to wrap up its celebrations of Amerindian Heritage Month 2016.

Leading the discourse on his life and the significant role he played in making way for the freedom and opportunities afforded to Amerindians today, Minister within the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe recalled the struggles endured

by Campbell, particularly during the lead-up to Guyana’s Independence back in 1966.

Describing Campbell as a visionary, GarridoLowe said Indigenous Guyanese today, 50 years later, have a lot to be thankful for.

She said during the Independence struggles, Campbell had been attending meetings, Parliament and other places. “He wanted to make sure those Indigenous brothers and sisters were safe in their lands,” she said.

His quest for this took him to meet the Queen of England at the time.

“We must never forget the path Stephen Campbell paved in our lives as Indigenous people today. Today in the hinterland, of the 212 villages, many of us own our own lands.

So this whole process

Minister within the Indigenous People's Affairs Ministry Valerie Garrido-Lowe

of Indigenous having their lands is because of the brave and visionary Stephen Campbell,” Garrido-Lowe told fellow Amerindians.

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock said the great Stephen Campbell began the process of championing the rights of Amerindians. He said the Indigenous community seemed to have a shortcoming in celebrating its heroes.

“This is something we must correct. In honouring our heroes, we help the world better understand us and what we represent. We help to draw the world’s attention to the importance of our role in history. We record our own history, we become the heroes of our story,” such were the words of Stephen Campbell.

Campbell was the first Amerindian Member of Parliament in Guyana. He was elected to the Legislative Council of British Guiana on September 10, 1957.

Campbell was born in Moruca, a sub-district of the Barima-Waini Region, the northernmost part of Guyana,

on December 26, 1897.

His father was Tiburtio A Campbell, a boat builder, and his mother was Maria Dos Santos nee Osorio. Both parents died when he was very young and he was brought up by his grandmother whom he credited with teaching him the core principles of life: “religion and discipline”.

He was a student of the Santa Rosa Mission School.

Amerindians feared that after Independence, whatever rights they enjoyed would then be ignored and the lands on which they have lived for thousands of years would be expropriated.

Campbell travelled to London to present a petition and lobby the British Government for recognition of Amerindian land rights. On his return, he set up the Amerindian Association to mobilise Amerindian pressure on the Independence Commission to ensure that Amerindians’ interests were taken into account in the Independence negotiations. Thus when Guyana attained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966,

the legal ownership by Indigenous peoples of land and rights of occupancy were embodied in the Independence provisions.

Campbell died on May 12, 1966 – two weeks before British Guiana gained Independence from Britain. He is the main reason that Amerindian Heritage Day is celebrated on September 10 – this was the day he was elected to Parliament. He has spearheaded a historic change in bringing to the fore the vital and rightful place of the Amerindian in the mainstream of life in Guyana and its future development.

During the observance, some 18 Indigenous Guyanese were honoured for more than 25 years of service to the Indigenous community and Guyana in various areas. Among them were Rita Rebeiro, a teacher of Moruca Region One (BarimaWaini); the designer of the $10 coin, Ignatius; retired Army Captain John Flores; Trinidad-based Guyanese Journalist Miranda LaRose; the first Indigenous Priest Hannon Bennet (Posthumous) and Sculptor and University of Guyana lecturer, Winslow Craig.

Governance by…

O

…fait accompli

ne of Forbes Burnham’s famous sayings was the folk wisdom, “Back to back…belly to belly… we don’t give a damn…we done dead already!”

– meaning that if you know your goose is cooked…it doesn’t matter what the heck you do…so you might just do your worst.

This seems to be the guiding principle of this government – which isn’t so surprising since, Prezzie explained the PNC’s still guided by the philosophy of the Founder Leader.

The latest inexplicable action by the Government that has to’ve emanated from their “done dead already” resignation is their abandonment of the collective bargaining negotiation with the Teachers Union. They’ve already pissed off the Public Servants – who were responsible for them harvesting at least four seats. The teachers (who have spouses, mind you) also brought in at least that many seats. But who gives a damn when you’re part of the “Walking Dead”??

For years the Government workers – including teachers and public servants railed against the PPP Government refusing to do (the legally required) “right thing” – collective bargaining. They just gave them a flat 5% around Christmas time. Since this was retroactive to the previous January, it proved to be a clever ploy (for the PPP) since the workers couldn’t refuse the “bird in the hand” and be Scrooge to their families. But this just made them more resentful since they knew they were being “played”.

And boy did APNU and the AFC make hay out of this when they were in Opposition!! The PPP weren’t just “heartless bloodsuckers”‘ – they were “racist heartless bloodsuckers”!! So, now that the APNU/AFC has done a volte-face and doing exactly what the PPP did has to raise the schoolyard taunt: “if the PPP were continued on page 46

36

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

Public spectacle…

I

…or debate?

t’s become a US tradition during their election campaign…this “debate” between presidential candidates. As far back as Abraham Lincoln’s election of 1858, he had a famous debate with his Democratic rival Senator Stephen Douglas. But that was when a debate meant an exchange of views on issues.

It all changed a century later when JFK took on Republican Richard Nixon in 1960 on TV. In the dawning of the age of advertising and “packaging”, “image” pipped “substance”. After Nixon’s close loss to Kennedy, pundits put it down to his “5 o’clock shadow” on his jowls versus the debonair and young Bostonian’s clean-cut good looks. And since then, the “debate” has just careened further into the cesspool of bad taste.

Your Eyewitness is tempted to say it can’t possibly get worse than the first outing between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton…that’s how bad it was.

But knowing the thinking behind the candidates’ performances on stage, he’s sure they’ll find ways to plunge even further into slime. After all, absolutely no one watching the “debate” is doing so to find out the candidates’ stands on issues – on which they can be supported. No. This was pure theatre – akin to the reality shows that have transfixed America and which, in fact, gave Trump a platform for the run for the presidency.

So when you, Dear Reader, ask, “Who won?” remember the contest was just about what image each candidate wanted to “project” for him/herself and foist on the opponent. Hillary Clinton’s challenge is she’s probably the most disliked politician in America. She just comes across as so ambitious, she’ll walk over her mother to gain political leverage. So did she do anything to seem “warmer” during the “debate”.

Not really. Her snappy factoids just proved to viewers she was so determined to win at any cost, she took time off from the campaign to “prep” herself by cramming a welter of “facts”. Cold!! And it just reinforced her “winning at all cost” reputation. Her insistence on appearing “presidential” also didn’t do much for her…because once again it made her not connect to the average Jane and Joe out in the streets.

Trump? Well, there were some who wondered whether he’d present his recent “kinder, gentler” facade or the original pit bull persona that won him the Republican nomination. Guess he decided to go with what worked as he decided to go all out against Clinton. He turned her command of facts around by showing those “facts” weren’t worth squat in the real world where American lost ground – and jobs.

The “debate” convinced no one in the other camp! …by Rip van Bulkan After Town Clerk Royston King ran roughshod every which way he could over anyone who stood in his way following the Local Government Elections, folks were beginning to wonder who was his Godfather. Had to be someone with a whole lotta clout – since King became a law into himself answerable to no one. If Louis XIV could say “I am the state”, King acted as if he was absolute ruler of Georgetown!

But finally the man who appointed him to his position and to whom he supposedly reports – Minister of Local Communities Ronald Bulkan woke up from his Rip van Winkle-like sleep and announced that King was out of line. At least with throwing out the vendors from Bourda Market and not giving the time of the day to Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan.

Imagine that!

Now let’s see whether King will change his errant ways. Your Eyewitness advises that you don’t hold your breath, Dear Readers.

King has been sucking eggs too long! And his Godfather pips Bulkan! …at Demerara Bridge An irate commuter across the DemeraraHarbour Bridge described the arrogant behaviour of a “senior policeman” who insisted he had to be “uberalles”.

But why confine the boorishness to Policemen?

It’s exhibited everyday by anyone in “position”.

feature 37

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative awardee

W

2016 YLAI participant Shaunda Yarde

hen Shaunda Yarde of Golden Crunch Coconut Biscuits received the news that she was going to partake in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), she was “pretty excited”. Speaking to Sunday Times Magazine, Shaunda said that she “couldn’t believe it”; it was her “dream come

torship and experience [that] may not be available in Guyana.”

Looking forward to the exposure the initiative offers her, Shaunda stated that she most likely will be placed in a bakery setting to observe their daily practices and be exposed to how they approach their marketing of the product and how it can be applied in

business plan competition, in collaboration with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI)– but didn’t make it to the second round.

However, with her usual determination and her favourite words of inspiration from Nelson Mandela: 'the greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time we fall', she moved on; it was “back to business as usual” though she did have some good news: her biscuits were now being sold in supermarkets.

While she had begun making her biscuits in 2011, she registered her business in 2013, from which it took her took two years to get all the legal documents together and approved (manufacturing licence, approval from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) etc.) before she could begin to offer her products to supermarkets.

Looking back, she noted that “early years

Her coconut biscuits were among Moray House’s 2015 Christmas Parcel and Guyana’s 2016 Golden Jubilee welcome package

through”.

US President Obama’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Professional Fellows Program aims to develop entrepreneurial skills and enhance economic opportunities for young professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Of the nearly 4,000 applications for this Presidential program, Yarde was one of four Guyanese out of 250 selected business and social entrepreneurs representing 35 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Shaunda believes that this experience should grow her business in ways she never thought possible, as she will be “receiving men-

her setting. In addition, she would be offered time management classes to make her a more efficient person, to the benefit of her business.

The initiative is a five-week program that provides on-the-job learning and experience at the relevant startups, small businesses and non-governmental organizations in cities throughout the United States, and in partnership with community groups and American universities.

It took years of determination, effort and experience for Shaunda to even find the confidence to apply for the YLAI. She had only recently applied for a local business plan competition – the Scotiabank Vision Achiever LivePitch 2016

are hard as it seems progress is slow…” but she maintained that it was – and still is – an “excellent learning experience”.

She also took advantage of all the help she could get when she registered in the small business bureau; attended Guy Expo twice and took part in the Business Expo here in Guyana, to continuously promote her product.

She said that it is “humbling to think that my business provides employment and can somewhere, sometime help my community and by extension help my country”, because she feels that her product is something Guyana can share with the world.

“It is exciting and I

Shaunda (right) with customers at her Expo booth

am proud to know I may be able to make a biscuit and export, and everyone can know this is Guyana,” she added.

So far she is “pretty satisfied” with the direction and progress of her business. But she also pointed out that “you are never really satisfied, but you reach a point where you can say you have done your best for now, then you move on to improve your standards, and you progress.

I’ve improved my packaging – a better plastic, laser printed full colour labels…”

She is also looking to carry her product in more supermarkets but has to take time off from her local schedule to attend the YLAI program which is said to run from Oct. 5 to early Nov. this year.

Shaunda also wants to share her experiences

with future businesspersons.

“Whatever your idea and product, it is valuable and needed. It can and does impact the lives of others and your life. Your product has the ability to change your community and country,” she advised.

“Whatever business in the food industry – get all documentation so you can take your business to the furthest level of your ability.Don’t be content with a small stand or stall, get all necessary legal documentation, register with as many small business associations/ government- funded small business institutions so you are in a position to receive information on any seminar/ workshop/training relating to improving your business, and take advantage of these opportunities to improve your-

self and your business.

Remain determined: keep at it:persistence and patience, and over the years you would see a change…a difference,” she urged budding Guyanese entrepreneurs, especially youths.

Golden Crunch Coconut Biscuits are manufactured in Patentia on the West Bank Demerara and are baked daily for a fresh flavour.

Though she has approached other business places, the biscuits are currently available only at Bounty Supermarket in Kitty and The New Guyana Marketing Corporation, Robb and Alexander Streets, Georgetown.

For more information, contact Shaunda at 592-622-2290; on www. facebook.com/gccoconutbiscuit, or shaunda. yarde@gmail.com.

Shaunda waiting for patrons at the expo to promote her all-natural biscuits from her grandmother’s recipe

38 feature

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A 90th birth anniversary tribute Ayube Hamid:

The man with the golden voice in the golden age of broadcasting

In the history of broadcasting in Guyana, few people have made their mark as indelibly as Ayube Hamid Khan.

On the occasion of what would have been his 90th birthday on September 20, 2016, we take a look back at the life of this true son of the soil.

F

or 55 years, his mellow and mesmerizing voice made time stand still as he ushered in the country’s favourite programme, “Indian Memory Album” every Monday night at 8.30 p.m. Irrespective of cultural backgrounds, a hush would descend upon thousands of households in Guyana. A hush followed by mounting excitement as familiar strains of “Suhani Raat” and the distinctive voice of Ayube Hamid introduced his programme.

This awesome power was attributed to his arresting voice and impeccable delivery in English

and Urdu, which would make this programme become the longest running radio show in the Caribbean. It is probably safe to say that Uncle Ayube, as he was respectfully called, had created the second national anthem of the Caribbean in the song “Suhani Raat” even though it was sung

by Indian playback singer Mohammed Rafi.

His esteem grew as he single-handedly bridged the two divides of musical harmony with the programme “East Meets West”, adding informative fillers that took you down different and sometimes overlapping lanes of memory. Additionally, on Thursdays and Sundays, he brought the classical music genre to the fore.

Then came a programme that would become another staple – “The A.H. Show”. It began as Saturday night jamboree when for one hour on Saturday nights, partygoers would pause

spinning their popular vinyl discs to tune into big band music of the era, and making “Everybody loves Saturday Night” a signature tune of that programme.

With his wide audience for popular music secured, he turned his attention to the local music scene. Promoting, along with others, the homegrown, live talent programme – “Local Indian Performers”. That programme showcased gifted singers like Gobin Ram, Mohan Nandu, Bal Gangadhar Tillack, Davindra Pooran and Sudama, and helped encourage the musical aspirations of others down through the ages.

At the advent of the new millennium and the increasing television age in Guyana, Uncle Ayube reinvented himself as a TV host, finally giving his fans a view of the distinguished face behind that mesmerizing voice.

He introduced the tele-

Flashback: On air at Radio Demerara

vision version of Memory Album with Hindi film songs of yesteryear enhanced with film clips, along with an Islamic programme – “Reflections”.

Even with his success as a broadcaster and his ever increasing workload he found time to make invaluable contributions to the formation of the Gandhi Youth Organisation, the Muslim Youth Organisation, and the setting up of the Indian Monument Gardens on Merriman’s Mall.

Uncle Ayube, got his pioneering spirit from his grandfather, Mazahar, who came on the Plassey to British Guiana in 1882 from Meerut, India.

Uncle Ayube’s search in 1998 for his ancestral roots, which took him to the village of Somdut, and to actually meet his cousin still alive at 110 years old, was one of the greatest highlights of his life.A life that was started in 1926 in Danielstown on the Essequibo Coast of Guyana.

He grew up in a Muslim home and attended Madrasah at the local mosque where he learnt the fundamentals of Urdu and Arabic.

He excelled at St. Agnes Primary School and in 1937was awarded one of the two scholarships offered to that region, which took him to the revered Queen’s College in Georgetown.

Georgetown became the base for his many exploits when in 1952 he landed a job at the local radio station as an announcer. However, at that time there was another Khan (Rafiq) in residence, so with a few alterations of his middle name there evolved Ayube Hamid. A name that would begin a lifelong adventure in communication and into the annals of Guyanese broadcasting history.

His communications skills were noticed by his managers when in 1953 as a rookie, he was chosen to read on air, the proclamation from Government House when the Guyana Constitution was suspended. So it was no surprise when in that same year he was given control of “Indian Memory Album” at ZFY Radio on North Road (later moved to High Street and renamed Radio Demerara, (now defunct).

His first major event was representing Radio Demerara at the Queen’s visit to Guyana in 1966.

Ayube Hamid A.A. M.S. (September 20, 1926 – January 21, 2009)

From then on he was entrusted the role of official concert emcee when international Indian troupes visited Guyana, featuring superstars like Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey, Vyjayanthimala and Kishore Kumar.

His sterling contribution to our musical and multi-cultural heritage did not go unnoticed. He was the recipient of many awards: a Medal of Service (MS) and an Arrow of Achievement (AA) from the Government of Guyana for “Long and dedicated service of a consistently high standard as a broadcast journalist and for service in the social, cultural and religious fields.” At our country’s Independence in 1966, he was the recipient of a special Medal of Excellence.

In addition, Ayube Hamid Khan was honoured by the National Communications Network for his “consistent support to regional and international cricket”, the Muslim Youth Organisation, the Indian Commemoration Trust, the Indian Arrival Committee, the Guyana Cultural Association (New York) and the Queenstown Jama Masjid, where he served as a trustee and treasurer for more than sixty years.

He was also an avid tennis player and was closely associated with the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association, managing a Guyana tennis team to Boa Vista, Brazil in 1977.

Notwithstanding these awards and achievements to his credit, he declared that his

greatest honour was his marriage to Jinnette (d.1994), his helpmate for some 46 years, who graciously shared him with generations of countless Guyanese fans.

In January 2009, the man and the voice that caused time to stand still each week for more than50 years fell silent. Former president Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, who gave the eulogy at his funeral, said that there has never been and will never be again such a voice and force of personality to grace the airwaves of Guyana.

Over his distinguished radio career, he interviewed many famous personalities, and his last interview the day before he died, was with another notable radio broadcaster, Mr. Eshri Singh.

In his congratulatory 90th birthday message to Ayube, Mr. Singh wrote, “Ayube was my mentor in radio broadcasting on Radio Demerara. He selflessly shared his knowledge and expertise with me. Ayube and I had great respect for each other. He was a great son of Guyana. His voice and Indian Memory Album will forever linger in our hearts. To you my brother I salute you on your 90th birthday in heaven."

Throughout his broadcasting career, Ayube mentored numerous radio personalities some of whom are still in broadcasting today, not least of which is his daughter, Safi, who proudly continues his legacy over the airwaves of Radio Guyana Inc. 89.5 FM.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Claude Stevens. “Canje Bridge.” Acrylic on Canvas. 23 x 17 in.

By Celeste Hamilton Dennis

Y

ou can find him every day on the corner of the market entrance sandwiched between the currency exchange men. Women are on their way to the market to sell pink flip-flops or to buy freshly butchered chicken. Chutney music blares from dilapidated rum shops.

Claude Stevens stands on a crowded and dirty corner looking for the man who said he’d come back on Tuesday to buy his coconut tree painting. Stevens waits in the midst of the raucous hustling and transient bustling—quiet, patient, stolid.

You can find him every night on the corner

by Demico Quik Serve, the fast food place that specializes in soggy fries, cheap ice cream cones, and service with a scowl. The hustling on this street corner is for a different commodity: Sex. Boys wearing Sean John jerseys and sideways hats walk with a swagger and talk of dirty romance in hopes of securing a date for the next bootyfest party. The latest dub music blares from the trunks of cars in front of Chinese restaurants. Women with huge gold hoop earrings that read “SEXY” sell cigarettes. Little children scream with joy as they swing in the playground next door. In the midst of this menagerie of New Amsterdam residents and lively chatter, a bittersweet smell of rum and ice cream wafts over the spot where Stevens leans against the wall. He makes no movement except to adjust the painting he is holding with both hands.

Stevens has been standing in these same

two spots for nine years, struggling to sell his artwork. The name he shares with Claude Monet has not proven to be a source of luck.

But still he stands. And waits.

Claude Stevens was born in New Amsterdam, Guyana in 1948 and has lived there his entire life.

His mom, a housewife, and his dad, a mechanic, both disapproved of his interest in art while he was growing up. But his older brother was an artist, and he encouraged Stevens to pick up a paintbrush. Stevens entered numerous art competitions in school and won medals and money.

But he needed to make the money last. He started painting signs and advertisements—much like V.S. Naipaul’s character Mr. Biswas in the 1961 novel A House for Mr. Biswas—for various commercial businesses such as Pepsi, XM Rum and Banks Beer.

Soon, however, the fledgling art community in Guyana became an issue for him.

His native land leaves very little room for the art world and others like him. (In the entire country, in fact, there are only a handful of dedicated arts supplies stores.) “Art” in New Amsterdam is limited to replicas of Hindu goddesses and waterfall clocks. Now, at age 65, Stevens is trying his best to expand the consciousness of the Guyanese people, while also making a few dollars.

There is one problem.

Stevens is almost blind.

“I was very interested in selling my own work when I started looking around and seeing that a lot of walls here were very empty. I started building an interest in people by mov-

continued on page 46

Art & culture 39

40

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Is nativism the new racism?

By Ryhaan Shah

I

s nativism the new face of racism? This particular discrimination is sweeping through Europe and the United States with the Brexit vote and the rise of Trumpism being good examples of the nativist phenomenon, which is defined as discrimination against immigrants.

But this is a narrow or even evasive definition since it is the same mindset of holding one group superior to every other – the textbook definition of racism – that underlies the nativist trend. Many non-whites are unsurprised by the trend and feel that this particular reason for prejudice has only been dormant because it has not had reason to surface before. The Middle Eastern turmoil has, however, resulted in enough refugees and immigrants seeking asylum in Europe to change that.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is losing popularity because of her open-door refugee policy.

The Brexit vote was driven by similar sentiments against immigrants and asylum seekers. Even the mild-mannered Danes are now declaring themselves “racist” after more than 36,000

mostly Muslim refugees streamed into their country over the past two years.

The general feeling is that immigrants and refugees not only drain the respective countries’ resources and welfare systems but that they arrive with the intention of preserving their cultural heritage.

Nativism both defies and denies ethnic and cultural diversity within a bordered state.

At a national level, Britain and Europe give generous aid to undeveloped countries and, at a personal level, many Britons and Europeans also contribute to charitable organisations such as the Red Cross to help them with their work in war-torn and developing countries.

However, the rise in nativist sentiments does make it appear that their charity has a long arm that is intended to keep the suffering humanity to whom they are so giving away from their own doorstep.

But nativism is not isolated to Britain and Europe.

Republican

presidential candidate Donald Trump has tapped into the very same vein in America and his campaign message of making America great again is tied to a policy to keep immigrants – Mexicans and Muslims among others – out.

The irony is not lost on anyone that America and its greatness have been built by immigrant communities, and the nativism phenomenon does beg several questions including the one that asks: how many years or

generations does it take to belong anywhere?

The answer would have resonance for us in Guyana where the Indian population – even 100 years after the arrival of the last ship from India bearing indentured labourers – is still viewed by some as “latecomers”, “outsiders” and even “aliens”. From among the AfricanGuyanese leadership there is the view that the Africans’ earlier arrival gives them certain rights and entitlements.

Indians, having ar-

rived into a supposedly “formed” society, are subjected to the very discriminations being suffered by asylum seekers in Europe. In our case, the fact that we are English speaking and generally conform to Western dress and mannerisms, and to the laws that govern our Western society has not been enough.

The contentious issue is most likely that the Indian “immigrant” population grew to become the largest minority and, given Guyana’s ethnic politics, that the country’s political power resides with the “newcomers” and overrides the perceived entitlements of the African population who came earlier.

This fear of being swamped and overtaken by immigrant communities could be one of the reasons for the rise in nativism which seeks to keep groups of newcomers from even entering another’s territory.

There are Caribbean countries actually facing just such nativist issues. Several Guyanese, Jamaican and small-island Caribbean citizens have complained about the demeaning treatment they receive from

immigration officials at airports in Trinidad and Barbados. They are sometimes treated in the most inhumane manner and denied entry.

The Governments of Trinidad and Barbados feel, perhaps, that they are defending their respective territory from regional “visitors” who are often accused of gaining entry then working illegally. Their nativism is forwarded as a defence of their laws and their borders.

The concern for border security and preserving the national status quo has overtaken that of welcoming refugees and respecting diversity, and the rise of nativism could be an immediate and defensive reaction to a newly emergent world with its movement of large groups of people seeking security and a better life outside their homeland either as refugees or as economic migrants.

Nativism challenges our very humanity and our ideas of ourselves both at an individual and national level. Will that common humanity which respects ethnic and cultural diversity and has compassion for human suffering eventually triumph over nativist fears?

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ethno-Global Indian Identity

By Lomarsh Roopnarine

I

have now arrived at the last of my multipartite analyses of Indian identity which is ethnoglobal. Before I proceed, I think it is worthwhile to provide a brief discussion on globalisation with regard to culture since this process has significantly shaped Indian ethno-global identity in Guyana.

I see globalisation as a worldwide interconnectedness through the movement of resources, goods, services, capital, and information.

The main driving force behind globalisation is technology and as far as culture is concerned technology has intensified global relations linking local communities with distant and developed areas of the world and the other way around. In consequence, globalisation has brought about a culture of shared beliefs, social norms and fewer differences.

What has happened, however, in this process is that the impact of globalisation has not been uniform. Some cultures have experienced faster levels of integration into the world system while other cultures have lagged or been left behind. Some cultures have resisted globalisation and opted for localisation.

We can conclude then that globalisation can be a double-edged sword, that is, some cultures have experienced rapid growth and prosperity while other cultures have experienced changes that undermine long established institutions and identity.

Undoubtedly, the Guyanese Indian culture has experienced the above global trends. The question is how much of globalisation has led to or even affected Indian identity in Guyana.

I will show two ongoing trends of Indian global identity I believe have gone undetected by analysts.

The first is that Indian global identity has existed long before the impact of globalisation in the twentieth century. The second is that Indian global identity is more sound and solid than any other Indian identity because it is not loyal to the nation-state but to other communities worldwide.

European isms – imperialism, colonialism and capitalism – were directly responsible for the initial formation of Indian global identity. To meet the demands of the above isms, Indians were brought to the Caribbean following slave emancipation under a labour contact system commonly known as plantation indenture.

While the majority of these labourers probably

left their homeland willingly, there is little doubt that they were dislocated and displaced from their traditional settings. For a majority, it was the first time they ever ventured out beyond their villages.

Without realising it, these contract labourers were in the process of becoming global citizens.

They might not have become global citizens if the indenture system was restricted to Guyana but Indians were taken to other parts of the Caribbean, Mauritius, Fiji, and South Africa. They might not have become global citizens if the indenture system was merely cyclical but the changing dynamics of indenture led to these once contract labourers becoming settlers as well as majority populations where they were indentured.

What the indenture system did was that it transformed these once localised peasants from the local to the global, linking them with their departed and new found homeland.

These individuals were active agents of globalisation through which I label as primary indentured migration, long before the full blown impact of globalisation in the twentieth century.

Indians have also become global citizens mainly from the Second World War onwards through the globalisation of secondary migration.

The need for better job opportunities and better lifestyles have pushed them out of their homeland – either in India or in the indentured Diaspora or even from one developed region to another.

Unlike the initial movement during indenture which resulted in Indians forming majority populations in some countries, the secondary migration in the modern period has led to the formation of a minority population.

They are therefore exposed to the trappings of being a minority population in their new homeland.

In all, an estimated 20 million people of Indian origin have migrated and settled outside of India since the colonial period.

Indian global identity has formed and shaped precisely because of this world migration, specifically between India and the Indian Diaspora worldwide, which I believe, is always pushing for interconnectedness.

In this regard, an Indian global identity is not localised or regionalised. It is abstractive, it is mobile, and it is international.

Whenever and wherever Indians have called home, they do not see themselves belonging to that particular

locality, region or country.

Their homeland, their identity is linked to other communities across the globe that may or may not share similar characteristics, particularly with regard to Indian customs and the assimilation of western values.

Like so many immigration groups, Indians have drawn sustenance from diverse challenging conditions and while they have experienced some change in the process, some similarities to the original homeland have always been there.

You can take Indians out of India but you cannot take India out of Indians. To be continued. (Send comments to lomarsh.roopnarine@ jsums.edu).

41

42 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

5 Haitians fined, deported for illegal entry T

he five Haitians who were nabbed in Linden, Region 10 last Friday for illegal entry were on Tuesday fined G$20,000 each and ordered deported by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Fequiere Emmile, 27; Wilmar Jozly, 45; Pamel Mondasir, 24; Jeane Emmile, 25, and Robinson Thimodore, 19, all pleaded guilty to the charge which stated on September 23, 2016 at Springlands, Corentyne, they entered by sea and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that on the day in question, Police were doing a routine

search when a Route 94 (Lethem) bus was stopped at the Mackenzie Police Station and the five, who were passengers, were found with Haitian passports bearing no entry stamp of Guyana.

Jones added that the defendants travelled to Guyana in a small boat from Suriname and entered Guyana through Lawson creek.

The unrepresented defendants, who reside in Suriname, in their defence, noted that they were travelling to Brazil to see family and had no knowledge that it was illegal to enter Guyana by boat. Should they fail to pay the fine, they will serve two weeks in prison before being deported.

The men entered Guyana illegally through Springlands from Suriname

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

43

44 Travel & tourism

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

An island full of history

K

ijkoveral, meaning “See-over-all” is an island of about 1.5 acres, located in the Mazaruni River close to where it branches off from the Essequibo River and also close to the mouth of the Cuyuni River.

There is some doubt that it was the Dutch who arrived in what is now Guyana first – it may be the Spanish –but it is accepted that the Dutch settled on this island in 1616 (some say earlier in 1613).

However, by 1624, Essequibo had become the responsibility of the Zeeland Chamber of the Dutch West India Company. Though small, the island provided them with a great view and an early warning of any attack.

It remained the seat of government until 1718 when it became too small for operations and the number of inhabitants. They moved to a new settlement at the confluence of Cuyuni and Mazaruni, naming it Cartabo, this being the seat of government until 1739, when another move was made, this time to Fort Island closer to the mouth of the Essequibo.

Kijkoveral was largely demolished, and some of its bricks used elsewhere. All that remains there today are the foundations, including a brick revetment on the southern side of the island, and a brick archway.

The question is: “are these the remains of the first fort or of a later one?” We may never know. (Photos by LJH)

Looking up Mazaruni River, towards Essequibo River from Kykoveral Island

Kykoveral Island with Mazaruni River to the north

Fort sign and arch remains

Approaching Kykoveral Island Landing

Fort arch remains on Kykoveral Island

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

45

46 feature

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Mout’ open…

I

…on Govt audits

t could be just a matter of serendipity…but more folks would probably say “there is a God!!” Your Eyewitness is referring, of course, to the Muckraker finally accepting (and publishing!!) that the audit from the number one crusader for “transparency” – Chris Ram – was fatally flawed. For what? Lack of transparency!!! And in the same edition the Muckraker carries the umpteenth plea from David Hinds of the WPA – the accusation that the Government is dragging its feet on taking action (read “jailing”) against all the malfeasors – all PPP, of course.

Well, now Hinds and all those wondering why there haven’t been more prosecutions for bilking (and “siphoning”) billions and billions of dollars from the national treasury – as most of the ones given the task of conducting the audits claimed – have been offered ONE reason. THE AUDITS WERE GAMED TO BEGIN WITH!!!!

Take the revelation trumpeted by the Muckraker: Chris Ram was given the lucrative contract (part of the $153 million doled out!) to examine the books of the GNBA. Ram, however, failed to reveal one crucial fact – that one of his clients was the Stabber News which was one of the major players in the direct broadcasting arena!!

So – surprise! surprise! – Ram didn’t even mention SN in his “audit” and, therefore, most pertinently that the outfit avowed a whopping $25M!!! Now if a “big man” like Ram can play so fast and loose with his professional credentials and standards, imagine how low that nonentity vying for his 15 minutes in the limelight – Goolsarran— would sink!!

Maybe folks would now revisit Brassington’s exhaustive comments on Goolsarran’s “audit” of NICIL – none of which were incorporated in the “final” release.

Not even in a footnote though Goolsarran requested and received the comments!! Any impartial reviewer would conclude after reading both documents that Goolsarran was conducting a hatchet job on Brassington. But why should anyone be surprised? Didn’t Goolsarran and Ram – not to mention the Muckraker – use Brassington as a punching bag for years?

The question that should now be asked, is why did the Government give these accountants contracts to

audit firms and Government departments they’d been criticising for years? Isn’t such a selection process “outcome determinative”?? What did anyone expect these auditors to do? Reveal findings that showed they were full of it all along?

From the Chris Ram revelation, we can now understand the government’s coyness when it comes to charging anyone. Imagine the only persons before the court was because of a PPP official highlighting some discrepancies!

What we need is an audit of the audits!! But to prevent an infinite regression of audits, let’s bring in some foreigners. …and paddy selling?

A year ago, PM Nagamootoo assured beleaguered rice farmers – reeling from the loss of the 200,000 tonne Venezuelan RICE market – he’d secured new markets from Mexico. He reminded salivating farmers Mexico imports 1 MILLION tonnes of rice annually! Nagamootoo was so persuasive, the Mexicans presumably overlooked their NAFTA commitments to the USA – their major supplier – to “fast track” the necessary approval.

Well, your Eyewitness then hoped local farmers didn’t hold their breath. Because we were just informed that “PHYTOSANITARY certification” is still being “pursued”! But somehow everyone in governmental circles still ignores Mexico’s insistence that its eventual goal is not to find markets for our rice, but to “begin the commercialisation” of our production.

So what’s “commercialisation” of rice?? Well, that’s grist for another mill – or another Eyewitness exposé! But basically it’s just about advising us to get our (production) act together, domestically.

But isn’t this what GRDB was supposed to do with its annual $500M levy on rice exports? …on delegating power Your Eyewitness hopes Town Clerk King noted how graciously Prezzie passed his mace to PM Nagamootoo. And Minister of State Harmon didn’t boorishly deny him the privileges of the Presidency.

See how President Moses glowed when he met business leaders? Now could Sherod Duncan at least get one guard?

Governance by…

from page 35

bloodsuckers, what does that make you??!!” Well…we’ve already answered that…zombies!! Who’ve already resigned themselves to being booted out in 2020.

And their “don’t give a damn” behaviour isn’t confined to wage negotiations. Think about all their well-meaning supporters who bought the allegations of the PPP “siphoning off” billions and billions from the national treasury. Guess what those folks think when they see more than footsie being played “under the table” when contracts are being dictated?

Pharmagate… Petroimportationgate… Jamaicaricegate…

Jubilee stadiumgate…and the list (and beat) goes on!

But some folks don’t think it’s the “done dead already” syndrome, but it’s all about the supporters they’re taking for granted (read “doormats”). This theory proposes that their supporters hate the PPP so much they’ll never “cross the Xs”.

And even if they stay at home in 2020, the books are being cooked in so many ways – visas, election lists, birth certificates etc…etc. …ad hocism Another reason why the Government may assume their goose is cooked is their absolutely cluelessness on the economy. Your Eyewitness knows he’s mentioned this before (about dozens of times, you say?), but some things transfix you so that you’re just trapped in morbid fascination. Think of the latest utterance from the AFC excusing their senior partner APNU on the tanking of the economy. Realising that folks aren’t biting that “everything’s gonna be all right” line anymore, they’ve started on the “it really ain’t so bad” chant.

So, we’re told about Suriname’s meltdown, Trinidad’s oil rundown, and Barbados’ layoffs. And that our 2% growth rate is still better than their negative growth. Imagine that!

Wasn’t it only a year and a half ago, they were mocking the PPP for claiming that their 5-% growth rate was better than our neighbours’? Ahhhh! What a difference a switch of parliamentary benches can make!!

So the line on the economy is “Do wha’ you want – when you want – with me”!! …owning it For decades Berbicians had to grin and bear witless jokes about the “mad house” in their county. Now the Minister wants to “bulldoze” the old building, they insist the replacement must be there.

If you can’t beat it, might as well own it, nuh?

Claude Stevens’ Art for...

from page 39

ing from place to place and having discussions about art,” he says. “I found that people started developing an interest in art in Berbice.”

Three decades earlier, he was more likely to find people in Berbice, a region in the eastern part of Guyana and includes New Amsterdam, talking about the then declining sugar production than about surrealism.

At 40, Stevens gave up commercial art for art that was his own.

Walk into an internet café, private home, or Chinese restaurant in New Amsterdam and it’s likely you will see one of his paintings. They are quaint and evoke feelings of calm complacency. Filled with bright colours and thick, broad brushstrokes, the people and landscape of Guyana come alive through his work. Scenes of a single car traveling over the Canje Bridge, or the Essequibo River shimmering as if its waters were made of El Dorado gold, or a lone man carrying his cane down a coconut-tree-lined dirt road, or the majestic Kaieteur Falls—they all recall the rustic feel of 18th cen-

tury artists. His paintings highlight the natural beauty of Guyana as well as pay tribute to the struggles and successes of its people.

Stevens’ art has also become his bartering tool for his eyesight. He has advanced cataracts.

It costs [US] $800 to fix his eyes, a hefty price for Guyanese standards.

He diligently works during the day and fastidiously sells at night to save money for an operation. Although New Amsterdam’s interest in art is minimal, he describes the community’s response as “reasonable.”

Many people would like to buy more of his work, but because of Guyana’s troubled economic state, they are concerned about providing food on the table more than a painting on the wall.

As a result, Stevens has not been very successful at distributing his work and gaining greater acceptance in the small Guyanese art community. “I should say it’s very challenging. Because some of those things that I expect to achieve I haven’t achieved yet, I did a lot of art earlier that I found

not a lot of people were ready for. Society was not ready or prepared to accept it.”

One of those pieces, “True and False,” depicts reproductive organs and alludes to the harmony of sexual intercourse.

In Guyana, Muslims, Hindus, and Christians peacefully co-exist yet hesitate to speak of sex.

They found the piece controversial. It was mysteriously stolen after an exhibition and Stevens never found the culprit. Another two pieces, “Cooperation” and “Separation,” caused dissention due to the political content. Painted in 1973, just seven years after Guyana gained independence, “Cooperation” shows six links joined together; each link represents one of the six races in Guyana. “Separation,” painted a year later, shows divided links that resemble weaponry such as part of a gun or part of a blade to illustrate the post-colonial violent and divisive political climate. This one was rejected as well; it was too in their face, too truthful. Stevens was forced to hide it in his home.

Most of his work

Claude Stevens. “Essequibo River.” Acrylic on Canvas. 24 x 18 in.

is now sold to foreigners who are in Guyana temporarily, like Peace Corps volunteers or missionaries who are fascinated that a man his age with advanced cataracts can produce beautiful pieces of art.

When in 2000 Stevens was finally able to save enough money ($400 to be exact) to get an operation for one eye, the result on the canvas was work that showed a finer detail and more defined brushstrokes. Yet, Stevens still feels limited. He doesn’t have access to many tools such

as easels, different canvas mediums, art books, facilities, even paintbrushes and paint. The one store in Guyana that has these materials is in the capital city of Georgetown, too far for Stevens to travel, and very expensive.

“I’m not happy right now,” he admits. “I’m hoping to go into my area of art which I have more pleasure in doing. I like to do a lot of symbolic and abstract art but it’s not lucrative. I have to cater now for the people.”

Poverty traps Claude.

He has a strong desire to use his talent and open an art studio for children to teach them art techniques. But he has little money. He doesn’t have an art space. He is without books.

“Someday,” he says.

(From: Of Note (digital)Magazine.

Guyana Issue, Spring, 2012.

Celeste Hamilton Dennis is an editor, essayist, and fiction writer living in Portland, Oregon. She lived in New Amsterdam, Guyana as part of the Peace Corps from 20032005.)

47

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

www

The 5 R’s of motivation against cigarette smoking

Apartments

S

atiricus was chortling so heartily, his friend Cappo was worried he’d choke and croak on his beer. Outside the Back Street Bar, the crapauds were doing their own croaking now that it’s gotten dark. “Happy Hour” had become croaking hour!

“Wha’ suh funny, Sato?”Cappo asked as he signalled the waitress for another beer.

“It’s not “funny” funny,” Satiricus replied. “This news is more confirmation that our country is on the move and I’m just so happy,” “Wha’ news da?” inquired Cappo. “Me prappa need some good news.”

“Well, the Government is going to solve this housing shortage once and for all?” Satiricus announced.

“Me naundastaan something, Sato,” confided Cappo. “Dis country papulationna grow fuht’irt’y year, dem PPCEE guvmentgi’e out 60,000 house an’ lat, and abee still gat “housin’ shartage?”

“That’s always the problem with you Cappo,” said Satiricus sternly. “It’s not just a matter of “house”…It’s what kind of house.”

“Me naknowwha’ de arseyuha ta’k about,” replied Cappo, “Wan house na wan house?”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Cappo,” smiled Satiricus knowingly. “These are modern times – and Guyanese want modern houses!”

“An’ dis guvmentguhbuil’ modurn house?” asked Cappo in disbelief.

“That’s right!! And that’s why I was chuckling just now,” said Satiricus with a wide grin. “You didn’t read the Muckraker?”

“Na…me na read Muckraker namo’,” confessed Cappo. “Dem a jus’ cuss people too nasty!”

“Well, Minister Bull Kan said he’ll be building apartment buildings to house the poor,” gloatedSatiricus. “One apartment building will hold hundreds of poor people!”

“Really?” asked Cappo with raided eyebrows.

“Me see deykinda apartment fuh pore people in Brooklyn w’en me visit me buddy in NyuYark.”

“So what you think, boy? Guyana will become like New York, eh?!” Satiricus was almost beside himself with excitement.

“Yes…Jus’ like NyuYark,” said Cappo slowly.

“Dem pore people apartment buildin’ gat mo’ gyangdanabeesugah estate!”

“Gangs?” said a suddenly serious Satiricus.

“Eh he.NuffGyang! Dem young bais a kill an’ raab an’ rape an’ use dope all de time!” said Cappo, shaking his head. “De place tu’n like wan slum.”

“Come to think of it…I saw those apartments in the movies,” admitted Satiricus. “They call them “Projects”” “An’ now all de good people wan fuh own dem own house,” concluded Cappo. “Like wha’ de PPCEE use fuh help pore people buil’ yaa-suh.”

Satiricus became very quiet.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

L

Anu Dev

ast week I wrote about the 5 R’s of motivation to deal with alcoholism, this week I’d like to apply them to cigarette smoking. It’s an interesting quirk of history that our part of the world, the West Indies, first became important for producing both rum and tobacco, which are both now conceded to present severe health challenges.

As we try to motivate others to quit these two addictive products, we should be aware that the mega corporations that make billions in profits from their sales are spending commensurate sums to motivate the same people to INCREASE their usage.

Especially with cigarettes, as the developed countries became aware of the severe negative effect of cigarette on the human system and their governments began to take countermeasures, such as warning labels, the

producers shifted focus to developing countries such as the West Indies. We are at even greater risk than before.

And just to recap the 5 R’s: in trying to motivate a patient to make a change in their behaviour, it’s important to explain to them how the change is relevant to them personally, to talk about the risks of their current behaviour, to educate the patient about the potential rewards of change, and to address possible roadblocks they might encounter while trying to change. And the final R is repetitiondoctors should try to respectfully repeat the 5 R’s each visit to try to motivate their patients to make the changes to live a healthier life.

In terms of relevancy to the person, there should be a discussion about how quitting smoking would directly impact their life – it could save them money, improve their quality of life, and decrease the chances of heart attack, cancer or stroke. Quitting smoking would also improve the quality of life of the persons they live with – secondhand smoke

can be as dangerous as if you were smoking the cigarettes yourself.

Each person is different, and there will be different issues that are relevant to them and it is important for their doctor to discuss those issues with them in a respectful, nonconfrontational manner.

In terms of risks, there are long-term and shortterm risks of smoking.

In the short-term, risks include a reduction in taste and smell, a continuous cough and a weakened immune system.

In the long-term, heart disease, lung disease, lung cancer, throat cancer, stomach cancer, bladder cancer and a host of other cancers.

The discussion of risks isn’t meant to be a scaretactic, it’s supposed to be a frank discussion where the abuser is made aware of the risks and where their perception of those risks is explored.

In terms of rewards, there are all of the health rewards – add on more than a couple of years to your lifespan, regain your sense of smell and taste. And of course, there’s all of that money

that you can save. And for each patient, there are specific areas where their smoking is causing a problem, so there should be a discussion about how those problems might be ameliorated by cutting down the drinking.

And of course, change is never easy – if it was, they probably wouldn’t have had to come up with 5 R’s to motivate people.

But that brings us to the 4th R: roadblocks. There should be a discussion with the person about possible hurdles they’ll have to face on the road to change and the smoker and doctor should come up with strategies on how to handle those problems when they arise. They may suffer withdrawal symptoms, or they may live in an environment that encourages their smoking.

The final R is repetition. As I mentioned before, doctors should try to respectfully repeat the 5 R’s each visit to try to motivate the smoker to quit. Concerned friends and family should also do the same.

And doctors should also break the stereotypes of being high abusers of alcohol and cigarettes.

REAL ESTATE: BOUNDARY LINE DISPUTE

By Rakesh Rampertab, Esq.

I

magine owning a house but not being able to sell it because of a boundary-line dispute with a neighbor?

Or imagine paying property tax for your entire house lot, but not being able to use all of it, because of the placement of a neighbor’s fence causing a boundary-line dispute?

Boundary-line dispute or issue is quite common among owners of properties. When a homeowner discovers that there is a boundary-line dispute or issue, it should be addressed immediately. As expected, some homeowners with boundary-line issues are reluctant to litigate the issue in court and preserve their rights.

With land law as in life, failure to act in a timely manner often results in serious consequences. Later is simply not always the better option. Indeed, sometimes a neighbor does something in regards to our property and we make no meaningful objection, until when we do decide to act we are told that it is too late. By meaningful objection I mean at the very least, something in writing, and not idle or neighborly talk across the fence which occurs unrecorded.

When this happens, a trespassing neighbor is likely to stake a claim over what is your property. And although the law has been amended a few years ago by our legislatures, making it more difficult to take a neighbor’s property, this is not entirely impossible. The legal concept associated with this kind of activity is called adverse possession. It is a topic for another article.

Not to digress, to avoid boundary-line disputes, neighbors should have what is called a boundary line agreement. Simply put, it is a legal document which can help a homeowner avoid future problems regarding a house and its lot. There are some basic benefits one can get from having such an agreement.

The issue of ownership of a piece of land that may be or has the potential of creating a problem can be easily rectified. For example, say I own a house lot which has 15 inches outside a fence but which is still inside my boundary line. My neighbor has been using it for a number of years.

I never did anything. Now, I want to rebuild my fence on

the boundary line so I can use this piece of land. However, my neighbor objects and suddenly I have a boundary-line issue.

There is an issue of encroachment that may also occur. As a second example, a neighbor erects a fence on a house lot that belongs to someone else. Now that fence becomes an obstacle or encroachment to the owner of that house lot. If he or she politely ask the owner of the fence to remove it, and the request is refused, then he or she will be forced to seek a court’s assistance to get injunctive relief or have the fence removed.

Then there is the issue of defective title. If a homeowner decides to sell a house, there will be no problem finding a willing buyer if the seller can produce a boundary-line agreement to show he or she owns the entire lot associated with that house. But if there is a boundary-line dispute, a buyer is not likely to purchase the house because a title company will inform the buyer that there is a defect in the homeowner’s title.

In other words, to speak in more personal terms, thehouse and land you claim is yours to sell is not really yours. There is no guarantee that the size of the lot you claim to have is really as big as you say it is. The buyer will be told that it is not likely for any insurance policy to be issued to protect the title that the buyer will get from the seller. This is because an insurance provider will not invest in a house that has a problem.

It is not a coincidence that we have as a famous novel, V. S. Naipaul’s “A House for Mr. Biswas.” Land, however small, is important. A house on it makes it a greater accomplishment. As such, some neighbors are quite willing to take any land they can get freely. Because of this, land should be defended and protected. In doing so, one is preserving their rights as well as their investment.

Unfortunately, laws dealing with land disputes in New York State are old and complex, and therefore if there is no boundary-line agreement to turn to, a homeowner has to go to court when a neighbor tries to take his or her land. This article is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. For land disputes and related questions, you may contact this attorney at (917) 943-1336 or rrampertabesq@gmail.com.

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

character in ‘Rangoon’ is ‘I’m a selfie queen’ My very well-dressed: Saif Ali Khan - Kareena Kapoor S

A

ctress Kareena Kapoor Khan calls herself a “selfie queen” and says she is so obsessed with selfies that she takes them every 5-10 minutes. Kareena said this in the upcoming episode of “Vogue BFFs” show, where she was present along with her fashion designer friend Manish Malhotra.

When asked by show host Kamal Sidhu about the last picture took on her mobile phone, the actress said, “I am a selfie queen. So, I keep taking pictures of myself, so it’s probably every five-ten minutes.”

Kareena said though she never planned her

life, one thing she was sure since childhood was that she wanted to be a huge star.

“I have never planned anything and Manish is like a brother to me, so, he would know. I have never thought of anything, I just follow my heart. The only thing I pictured as a child was that I wanted to be a huge star,” the 36-yearold actress said.

Lavishing praise on Kareena, Manish said, “The first time I met her was when she was nine years old and I had gone to meet Karisma and her mother as I was going to style Karisma.

When I was speaking

to Karisma, this young girl (Kareena) with short hair was just listening to it with so much attention and like, ‘When am I going to be next’?”

“I knew it that day, the first time I saw her that this girl is going to be a huge star,” the designer added.

When Sidhu asked her about the most fake compliment she has received, Kareena said, “I hope the compliments I have gotten are not fake!

I don’t deserve fake compliments.”

The new episode of “Vogue BFFs” will be aired on Colors Infinity this Saturday. (Indian Express)

Force 2 poster: John Abraham and Sonakshi Sinha’s tough look is intriguing

T

his year has been quite ‘serious’ for John Abraham as the actor has done a series of action-packed films where he portrayed characters who were always stern and never smiled.

Whether it was the

special appearance in Wazir or his recent release Dishoom, the actor has mostly shared the screen space with guns but not heroines. And now, the action hero is back again with the sequel of 2011 hit, Force.

While the sequel retains John as the lead, this time it is Sonakshi Sinha who will be showcasing her new-found talent of kicking some butt in the film.

John took to his official Instagram account to release the first look of his upcoming Force 2 and he promised that this time, his character of ACP Yashwardhan is even tougher and more intense.

He shared the poster and

wrote alongside, “He’s Tough. He’s Intense & he’s back in action with Twice the Force! Presenting ACP Yashwardhan for @ Force2thefilm.”

The poster shows the ‘Dishoom’ star in a very rugged look with infuriated eyes. Written on the poster are ‘The R.A.W Truth’ and ‘A dead soldier is a martyr…a dead spy is a traitor,’ which hints to something very

exciting and electrifying coming up. Though the film is a sequel to the original version, starring Genelia Deshmukh, it has not been confirmed if the story will continue from where it left off five years ago or if it will be a

new beginning for John’s character named ACP Yashvardhan.

Earlier, Sonakshi was seen doing some mixedmartial arts in her recent release, Akira. The film is directed by Abhinay Deo, who helmed the original version as well and is produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah.

Force 2 will hit the theatres on November 18.

(Indian Express)

aif Ali Khan was easily the most effortlessly good looking man at the 8th edition of GQ Men of the Year awards on Tuesday evening. Wearing a classic formal suit and sporting a two-day stubble and neatly combed hair, Saif looked every bit the royal gentleman that he is. Unlike other celebs, the man didn’t shy away from answering our question on the brouhaha surrounding Pakistani artists in India.

Talking about his upcoming film ‘Rangoon’, which is a period drama directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, Saif told us, “The experience of working in Rangoon has been really very nice. I got a chance to dress up. It’s a period film set in the 1940s and my character is very well dressed so that was good fun.”

Rangoon is set in the backdrop of World War II and will see Saif essay the role of a film-

maker. The movie also stars Shahid Kapoor who plays a soldier and Kangana Ranaut who plays an actress.

Talking about his own sense of style, Saif said, “I like all kinds of clothes. I like Indian clothes, formal, casual.

I buy most of the things I like and leave them in my cupboard and just wear whatever I feel. I don’t actually shop that much.”

When asked who he

took inspiration from in matters of style, Saif said, “When it comes to style, I take inspiration all the way from Rudolph Valentino to Jackie Shroff.”

The actor also said that if given a chance to be a man that he admires the most, he would chose to be in the shoes of Alain Delon, the popular French-Swiss actorbusinessman.

(Indian Express)

career and Ranbir was a chubby, cute teenager. She was a Bollywood novice and he was years away from his Bollywood career. The film was Aa Ab Laut Chalein, which was the directorial debut of Rishi Kapoor and starred Akshaye Khanna.

No, Ranbir Kapoor

didn’t star in the film, he was an assistant director. And that was the time that this picture of Aishwarya and Ranbir was taken. Based on how people living abroad lose connect with their families back home, the film was shot in the US. (Indian Express)

R

a n b i r Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s slow burning number Bulleya from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has been our guilty pleasure ever since it landed. You can actually see the zzz of electricity every time they touch each other in the Karan Johar film.

The thing is, they have always looked great together and we have a throwback pic to prove it.

Go back 18 years when Aishwarya was a beauty queen just starting on her Bollywood

A

ctress Juhi Chawla today blasted item numbers for commericialising the beauty of women.

The actress, who was one of prominent leading ladies of Bollywood in 90s, said during her career even she had to be a part of songs with vulgar lyrics.

At a discussion on women empowerment, Juhi mentioned popular item numbers like “Munni Badnam Hui” and Chikni Chameli” questioning their relevance.

“Are we listening to the lyrics?

These lyrics were written by men and not women. Should we be listening to these songs? Should we be allowing it?” Juhi asked addressing the issue of commercialisation of women in the Hindi film industry.

She also hit out at the media saying when people voice against such songs, journalists start talking about freedom of speech and expression.

“Even I had to do one or two such songs. Do you think I was happy doing that? When I was dancing to ‘Jab Tak Rahega Samose mein aalu….’ do you think I was enjoying it?” the actress said.

The actress said dancing to such songs was a part of her work and being the only woman on set it was tough for her to raise her voice.

During her speech, Chawla also stressed on the need to bring Sanskrit back into vogue for the new generation.

(Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Priyanka Chopra rocking out with Hugh Jackman, wife at NYC Global Citizen Festival

P

riyanka Chopra’s recognition in Hollywood and her rise as a global icon does not seem to be slowing down any bit as she is seen connecting with more and more stars each day.

The 34-year-old actress, who co-hosted the annual New York City’s ‘Global Citizen Festival,’ posted on Instagram, a short clip of her having fun with ‘Wolverine’ actor, Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness.

The video was cap-

tioned “Backstage madness @thehughjackmanDeborra Lee.” The trio are seen backstage delightedly grooving to a song.

PeeCee co-hosted the event alongside popular TV host Seth Mayers, Salma Hayek Pinault and Neil Patrick Harris.

‘Global Citizen Festival’ is an annual music festival established in 2012 and created in 2015 to mark the establishment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 2016 festival, which was held on September 24 witnessed performances by hitmakers like Demi Lovato, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Major Lazer and Metallica as well as special guests Usher, Chris Martin, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, Ellie Goulding, Yandel and Yusuf / Cat Stevens.

Priyanka Chopra was recently on the news for presenting the Emmy Awards alongside The Avengers star Tom Hiddleston. She was spotted happily twirling her red robes on the red carpets of Emmy.

The American television show, Quantico, starring Priyanka Chopra finally will premiere its second season on Monday. (Indian Express)

‘Do the Right Thing’ actor Bill Nunn dies at 62

A

ctor Bill Nunn, known for his role in 1989 comedy-drama Do the Right Thing, has died. He was 62. Filmmaker Spike Lee, who directed Do The Right Thing, confirmed Nunn died yesterday, reported Us magazine.

“My Dear Friend, My Dear Morehouse Brother- Da Great Actor Bill Nunn As Most Of You Know Him As Radio Raheem Passed Away This Morning In His Hometown Of Pittsburgh,” Lee, 59, wrote via Instagram.

“Long Live Bill Nunn.

Radio Raheem is now resting in power. radioraheem will always be fighting da powers dat be. May God watch over Bill Nunn.”

Throughout Nunn’s career, he starred in several iconic films, including Sister Act, New Jack City and School Daze. He also famously played Joseph ‘Robbie’

I’m a survivor of sexual assault: Viola Davis

A

ctress Viola Davis revealed she faced sexual assault while growing up as she attended the Rape Foundation’s Annual Brunch. The 51-yearold actress told the assembled guests that she had been a victim of sexual abuse as a youngster and her own experiences led her to become an advocate for the group, reported Female First.

Detailing her experiences in a powerful speech she gave whilst being honoured at the gathering in Beverley Hills on Sunday, she said, “Myself, my mother, my sisters, my friend Rebecca, my friend from childhood, we all have one thing in common: we

are all survivors of sexual assault in some way, shape or form.

“When I was young, there were so many men in the neighbourhood who gave you money if they could touch you.

Going over to a friend’s house for a birthday party at the age of seven, there was always someone there who touched you,” she said.

The “How to Get Away With Murder” star explained how her sister Danielle was only eight years old when she was sexually assaulted in the aisles of a corner shop, with the shop owner simply saying the perpetrator “does that to all the little girls”.

Viola said she wants

to “redefine” the meaning of the word survivor, as her sibling Danielle turned to drugs to help her get through her ordeal. She also detailed how a friend of hers lost her daughter to a murderous attacker.

“My sister is now a heroin addict, she’s a prostitute. The friend of mine who’s a survivor, I call her a survivor because her seven-yearold daughter was taken from the backyard of her grandma’s house while playing in the middle of the day.

“They couldn’t find her for an entire day, and they finally found her sexually assaulted, strangled, dead. So her mom, she’s surviving. It’s just that when she’s surviving, when she’s alive just having a meal, she has flashbacks – post-traumatic stress disorder.”

For the “Suicide Squad’ actress, the biggest concern is the number of young people still falling victim to paedophiles and sexual predators. (Indian Express)

Getting ‘Scream Queens’ role best moment of Lea Michelle’s life

A Robertson in the SpiderMan trilogy directed by Sam Raimi.

Lee, who produced, wrote and directed Do the Right Thing, posted a second tribute to the late actor via Instagram, sharing one of Nunn’s character Radio Raheem’s most memorable quotes from the controversial 1989 film.

“Let me tell you the story of Right Hand, Left Hands. It’s a tale of good and evil,” the director wrote beforead-

ding, “Raheem I love you bruh.”

Radio Raheem famously wore “Love” and “Hate” brass knuckles in “Do the Right Thing” as he carried a boombox (playing Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power”) while walking around Brooklyn’s BedfordStuyvesant neighbourhood. Nunn is survived by his wife, Donna, and their two children. A cause of death has yet to be released. (Indian Express)

ctress Lea Michelle says getting a role in “Scream Queens” was one of the best moments of her

life.

The 30-year-old actress, who was not sure about her next project after her role on “Glee” came to an end, said she was thrilled to work with Ryan Murphy, reported Female First.

“I didn’t know I was playing Hester until the last season of ‘Glee’, and Ryan called me and it was one of the best moments of my life, because here I was thinking that ‘Glee’ was ending and not quite sure what was next.

“And to get that call saying, ‘I’m writing another part for you. You’re in a neck brace, and you’re going to work along with Jamie Lee Curtis and Emma Roberts,’ I pinched myself. I have so many things that I want to do, and getting to play a darker role like this was obviously on my list,” Michelle said.

The actress said she would always be grateful to Murphy, who is the creator of both the shows, for believing

she could tackle the role as Hester.

“There’s definitely a part of me that feels like this is something that I can do and do well, but the fact that Ryan saw this in me — I wear no make-up. I don’t even put a brush through my hair before playing this character.

“But I’m grateful for that because it’s helped me to grow so much. I would be happy to work with him for the rest of my life. To get another call saying, ‘This is what we’re doing’.” (Indian Express)

‘The Magnificent 7’ beats over feature cartoon film ‘Storks’

S

ony’s ‘The Magnificent 7’ beats over Warner Bros’ feature cartoon film ‘Storks’, leading weekend box office in North America.

Opening at 3,674 locations, The Magnificent 7 was predicted to sell about $35 million worth of tickets in the United States and Canada, and be the most popular movie in North America this weekend.

“The Magnificent Seven” delivered an “A-” from opening day audiences on CinemaScore and currently holds a 63 per cent positive critics on RottenTomatoes.

“Storks” opened in second with an estimate of $21.8 million in projected sales from 3,922 locations in North America. First-night moviegoers give “Storks” an “A-” rating and critics rate 63 per cent positive on it.

“Storks” debuted in 33 international markets this weekend and brought in an estimated $18.3 million, China, Mexico, Russia, Brazil and Australia are included in the screening countries. In China, “Storks” finished second with an estimated $5.2 million, just a half million behind “Hotel

Transylvania” in 2012.

And in third place, Sully was on track to deal $13.8 million in tickets this weekend, for a domestic running total of $92.4 million over three weeks.

The 10 most-popular movies this week were “Bridget Jones’s Baby” ($4.5 million), “Snowden” ($4.1 million), “Blair Witch” ($3.4 million), “Don’t Breathe” ($3.8 million), “Suicide Squad” ($3.1 million), “When The Bough Breaks” ($2.5 million) and “Kubo And The Two Strings” (1.1 million). (Indian Express)

50 sport

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

AB de Villiers ruled I was always confident, says debutant Williams out of Australia tour A S

outh Africa’s captain AB de Villiers has been ruled out of the home ODI series and away Test series against Australia because of a persistent elbow injury. He will have surgery early next week and will need eight to ten

weeks of recovery time.

“AB has failed to come through his fitness test this morning,” Mohammad Moosajee, SA team manager said.

“Although the physio strapped his elbow while he was batting and he did have some relief with some shots, the elbow pain has not gone away completely.

“When the initial injury was discovered, the issue was that he was hav-

ing impingement with certain shots. With that in mind, we advocated a period of rest, he has seen the physiotherapist for treatment, he received some bio-kinetics and rehab, and also saw an elbow specialist for the infiltration of cor-

tisone. In most cases, you get resolving of symptoms within six weeks. This did not take place, so we gave him an extra week to see if it would recover.

“This morning, he had a couple of throwdowns.

The elbow was strapped and he had some symptom relief. He probably felt about 80% better than without the strapping.

But knowing AB, the complete cricketer that he is, he wants to make sure none of his shots are restricted. With that in mind, we decided on surgery and to give him adequate time to recover so

he doesn’t hamper his career going forward.

“The recovery is anything between eight to ten weeks and we are hopeful he will recover for the Sri Lanka series in December.”

De Villiers will sit out the five home ODIs – beginning on September 30

BU DHABI—Fast bowler Kesrick Williams said making his international debut in a series West Indies had already lost, had

Kesrick Williams

– and the three Tests in Australia in November, one of which will be South Africa’s maiden day-night fixture. He also missed the two Tests against New Zealand in August and the one-off ODI against Ireland because of the injury.

Faf du Plessis, has been given the responsibility to lead the team in the One Day Internationals at home as the replacement to de Villiers.

no bearing on his approach.

Playing in the third and final Twenty20 International here Tuesday, the right-armer produced a superb spell, taking two for 15 from his four overs, as West Indies slumped to an eight-wicket defeat to suffer the embarrassment of a 3-0 whitewash in the series.

The right-armer said though West Indies had already surrendered the series, it was still important to make the most of the opportunity.

“I wouldn’t say it wasn’t an ideal time (to make my debut). Cricket is cricket so whenever you get a chance

it’s just about your time to execute,” the Vincentian told reporters.

“As long as you get that shot you have to grab it with both hands. I just went out there with my mind free, not thinking that we lost the series and just played positive cricket. I did it in CPL (Caribbean Premier League) and enjoyed myself playing CPL and that’s what I did here tonight.

“I didn’t look at it as I was playing against Pakistan, or against Sharjeel Khan or whatever. At the end of the day, it’s the same cricket. I look at it like I’m playing cricket at home, don’t try to overthink it and do what I do best—bowl and just execute.”

Sent in, West Indies stumbled to a hugely disappointing 103 for five off their 20 overs—their fourth lowest total in T20s.

In reply, Pakistan eased to their target in the 16th over to win their third straight game against the Windies, following back-to-back victories in Dubai last week.

Williams proved impressive, removing both openers to reduce Pakistan to 40 for two in the sixth over before Shoaib Malik’s unbeaten 43 saw the hosts home safely.

Despite the uphill task of defending such a small total, Williams said his confidence never wavered.

“They (Pakistan) were batting well all through the series. They have good players and it was just up to us to go out there and play hard cricket and give 100 per cent,” the 26-year-old noted. continued on page 51

sport 51

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

'Terribly embarrassing' if Windies don't get automatic WC qualification – Dujon

J

eff Dujon, the former West Indies wicketkeeper, has said it would be a "terrible embarrassment" if West Indies were unable to qualify automatically for the 2019 World Cup. West Indies are currently jostling with Pakistan for the final automatic qualification spot in the one-day rankings ahead of the series in UAE, which starts on Friday. If Pakistan can repeat their 3-0 scoreline from the T20 series in the ODIs, they will jump ahead of West Indies into eighth place.

The cut-off for qualification is September 30, 2017, with the ODI nations who sit outside the top eight then joining the qualifying tournament which is currently scheduled to take place in Bangladesh.

West Indies missed out on a place in next year's Champions Trophy after being pipped for the final berth by Pakistan and Bangladesh.

"It would be a terrible embarrassment for West Indies to not automatically qualify," Dujon, who played in the 1983 and 1987 World Cups, told ESPNcricinfo. "It would be damaging for any team who has tasted what it's like to be in the top echelon of world cricket.

"As someone who played in a very successful era, it's very embarrassing but it has to be an indication of exactly where we are at and something needs to be done. It hurts.

"We can't be fooled by the fact that we've just won two tournaments the World T20 and the U-19 World Cup - the fact we are still struggling to qualify shows we shouldn't get carried away with that."

On the eve of travelling to the UAE, Phil Simmons was sacked as coach - less than six months after West Indies won the World T20 - with the WICB citing "differences in culture and strategic approach." Dujon does not believe a satisfactory ex-

'It would be damaging for any team who has tasted what it's like to be in the top echelon of world cricket' - Jeff Dujon (right) (Photo: DigicelCricket.com/Brooks LaTouche Photography)

planation has been given for Simmons' departure, despite the strained relationship he had with the board following comments about one-day selection last year.

"The sacking of Phil Simmons was a surprise.

I'm not sure we have the real reasons, what we were given were a bit sketchy," he said during a visit to London for a Lord's Taverners event honouring wicketkeepers. "It's disappointing for me that we haven't been able to find a settled situation in the coaching area which would give the team some direction. It's a setback. Jason Holder as captain also still has a lot to prove so things are in a pretty unstable situation now."

Simmons' last engagement was the Test series against India where, although West Indies lost 2-0, there were moments of encouragement, particularly with Roston Chase's match-saving maiden Test century in Jamaica and the promising returns of young quicks Miguel Cummins and Alzarri Joseph.

"The talent is still there, it's a matter of who is going to work with them to help them develop," Dujon said.

"We are still in a situation where we are trying to solve the problem from the top down rather than

I was ...

from page 50

“Pakistan really, really played well … and coming into this series they showed they were about 100 per cent confident playing us.

Williams, a late callup to replace explosive all-rounder Andre Russell, conceded the series had been a difficult

one for the Caribbean side.

“It’s tough, it’s really tough … it’s really hot there and takes a while to get adapted to the conditions but we are tough cricketers and we always look to give our 110 per cent,” he pointed out.

(CMC)

the bottom.

"A promising move re-

cently is that it seems we are going to have more

A-team tours which are vital for development.

They are meaningful when you go and play in countries that are better than you, it gives you a better gauge of where you are at. That has to be focus, as expensive as it may be, and hopefully we'll have a better quality of player coming through to the top level in the next four or five years. Right now, some of the players who have come to the top level are not the complete article."

The Lord's Tavernersis the UK's leading youth cricket and disability sports charity whose objective is to give disadvantaged and disabled young people a sporting chance.

(ESPNcricinfo) Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo

52 sport

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Misbah: The future is day/night tests M

is b a h- ul- Ha q, the Pakistan Test captain, has urged the cricketing world to embrace the concept of day-night Test "quickly". Pakistan are set to play their first-ever pink-ball Test in Dubai against West Indies next month, from October 13 to 17.

Pakistan have also agreed to a day-night Test against Australia in Brisbane in December.

The debate around the pink ball and daynight Tests has been on for more than five years, and the PCB was perhaps the first board to show a keenness to host a day-night Test; it proposed to play one against Sri Lanka in the UAE in 2013. The proposal, however, was declined, citing lack of practice with the pink ball. Misbah said the only way to iron out all the issues with format was to play it more

Misbah-ul-Haq

often.

"Future belongs to night Tests and this should be played frequently," Misbah said.

"It's a good thing that PCB increased the number of [first-class] daynight games in domestic cricket, and each team will be getting two games or so this season. If future is with day-night Tests, then we have to

play it more often and we have to start embracing it quickly. Like we play one-day cricket with white ball, and this pattern had been adapted everywhere in domestic and even in club cricket...

"Meanwhile, there are problems, whether it's a pink or orange ball, for batsmen and fielders so far. These issues can

only sorted by playing more cricket under lights with pink balls. Since the game is played for the fans and for the audience, this night cricket is the future and it's definitely good for cricket.

The more frequently we play under lights, it will give more exposure and allow players to get used to it."

The ICC permitted

member boards to play day-night Tests from October 2012, but the onus remained on individual boards to decide on the feasibility of these matches in their bilateral agreements, and the precise brand, type and colour of ball to be used for the match. The PCB has been experimenting with day-night first-class cricket for the last six years, though it did not extend the experiment beyond a few games.

In 2010-11, the final of the domestic first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was played with an orange ball in Karachi, and the 2011-12 final was played with a pink ball. This year's final, between Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, who were led by Misbah, and United Bank, captained by Younis Khan, received mixed reactions relating to the visibility of the pink ball under

floodlights.

The PCB has also scheduled 10 day-night matches to be played with the pink ball in the forthcoming first-class season, which begins next week.

Regarding Pakistan's first day-night Test, Misbah said: "We will have six to seven days before the first Test, so we have to train maximum under lights with pink ball, and try to understand the conditions.

We have to adjust to the timing of the sessions, understand how the ball will travel under lights, how much the ball will swing under lights, and how much the dew factor will be affecting it. If you see, the major chunk of the Test is in night, so it basically isn't really a day-night Test. So we have to start working from scratch."

(Cricinfo)

Gambhir back in Test squad after 2 years – Ishant replaced due to prolonged illness

O

pening batsman Gautam Gambhir has returned to India’s Test set-up two years after playing his

previous international.

He was called up for the remaining home Tests against New Zealand in place of the injured KL

Rahul. Rahul had injured his right hamstring during the first Test in Kanpur, while running between the wickets.

Also, fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who missed the first Test with chikungunya, will not play the second Test either as he is yet to recover fully. Uncapped Haryana off spinner Jayant Yadav will replace Ishant in the squad for the second Test in Kolkata. The BCCI said in a release that it would “continue to monitor Ishant’s progress”.

Gambhir was picked after showing good form in the Duleep Trophy, the domestic first-class tournament featuring the top-performing players in the country. He scored 356 runs in the competition from five innings at 71.20, and was dismissed only once without getting to a halfcentury.

A BCCI insider said Gambhir was tough to ignore in the current situation given his form and experience. “Gambhir is definitely under consideration because he has been doing extremely well, and even the team management feels that with 12-13 Test matches coming up there needs to be some experience [at the top],” the official said.

Gambhir, 34, played his last Test in August 2014, on India’s tour to England. He aggregated 25 runs on that tour, from four innings, as India went from a 1-0 lead to losing the fivematch series 3-1. That series, too, was a comeback for him, as he was dropped in 2012 and

Gautam Gambhir

missed all India’s Tests in 2013 due to a sharp decline in form.

Before that, though, he was one half of India’s successful opening partnership with Virender Sehwag. The pair scored 4412 runs, the most by an opening pair for India in Tests. Overall, he has 4046 runs in 56 Tests at 42.58, with nine centuries, and was a regular in the Test team between 2008 and 2012.

Rahul was picked to play the Kanpur Test over the more experienced Shikhar Dhawan.

On the preceding tour to the West Indies, too, he had been picked over either Dhawan or M Vijay in three of the four Tests, scoring a fifty and a hundred in three innings.

Apart from his offspin, Jayant, 26, can also contribute runs down the order. He put in solid performances on India A’s recent tour of Australia, picking up seven wickets in the unofficial Tests at 22.57 apiece. In the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy he topped Haryana’s bowling charts with 33 wick-

ets, and in March this year he claimed a match haul of eight against Mumbai in the Irani Cup – a first-class match that pits the season’s Ranji champions against a Rest of India XI. He also has a first-class double-ton to his name

Jayant Yadav

and a record-breaking eighth-wicket stand of 392, scored in partnership with Amit Mishra in 2012. (ESPNcricinfo)

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

53

54 sport

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Racing champion Calvin Ming living his dream …aiming to become a Formula 1 racer

By Akeem Greene

T

he speed, the dashing turns, the smell of tyre burn, the popping of champagne after a trilling win are just some reasons that young Formula Four race car driver Calvin Ming (CM) is pursuing his dream of a life on the race track.

Just at the age of 19, Ming has been a constant finisher on the podiums in both the United States and South America and most recently secured a third place finish at the Circuit of the Americas in Central Texas.

The teenager, who is son of veteran racer Stanley Ming,who has to balance studying Civil Engineering at Florida International University and racing, took some time out from his busy schedule to speak to Guyana Times International Sport (GTS) on his experiences racing with team Pelfrey.

GTIS: How has it been racing in the F4 Series?

CM: Racing in the

Calvin Ming (centre) celebrates yet another podium finish

F1600 series has been such a great experience for me, I have been able to push myself to the limit racing against strong competitors and also I have been able to work

with such a great team of coaches and mechanics which has helped me to develop more as a driver.

GTIS: You have been getting a lot of podium finishes, what do you

Lowe gets maiden Reggae Boyz’ call-up

T

wenty-three-year-old defender Damion Lowe, son of former national representative Onandi Lowe, has received his maiden call up to the Jamaican national senior squad for the Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup qualifiers against Suriname and Guyana on October 5 and 11, respectively.

Lowe, a former Camperdown High and Hartford Hawk player, is currently on loan with Minnesota FC in the North America Soccer League (NASL).

Lowe, who has represented Jamaica at the Under 23 level, also represents an influx of young talent brought in from both local and overseas clubs including Omar Holness and Allan Ottey.

“We are trying to balance the overseas with local talent and what we will also try to do is put in some younger players and some more experienced players,” said team manager Roy Simpson of the 20-man squad that includes 12 players who ply their trade overseas. “Hopefully they can take us past these two games and then we strengthen for the final stage and for the Gold Cup next year.”

Other members of the new-look squad include goalkeeper Ryan Thompson of St. Louis FC, Kemar Lawrence of the New York Red Bulls, Dwayne Ambursely of Montego Bay United, Owayne Gordon of Indy Eleven, Dino Williams of Montego Bay United, Allan Ottey of Montego Bay United, JeVaughn Watson of the New England Revolution, Sean Francis of the San Jose Earthquakes, Michael Binns of the Wilmington Hammerheads, Corey Burke of the Bethlehem Steele, Darren Mattocks of the Portland Timbers,

think is the reason for your performances?

CM: I think it’s is due to some luck and making sure I don’t get in any accidents with the competition and also due to all

the training I have been doing both on and off the track.

GTIS: Obviously touring is a big part of racing, how difficult has been travelling to various countries on a regular basis?

CM: It has been really difficult and time consuming but you have to make sacrifices if u want to do the things you love.

GTIS: Explain the thrill of going over 180 miles per hour, is it not frightening?

CM: Well it is terrifying knowing that you can lose control at any given time. But I guess it’s just growing up I use to go at that speed quite a lot while racing in karting so I got use to it.

GTIS: What is your ultimate goal?

CM: My ultimate goal is to a paid professional driver, I’m very interested in F1 but I am also interested in Leman and Indy car racing.

GTIS: What keeps you motivated after the long hours of training, accidents and long air time?

Guyanese riders impress in Tobago

Dutchman Aron Van Der Zwet of team PSL is elated after winning the opening stanza

D

Damion Lowe

Ewan Grandison of Portmore United, Andrew Vanzie of Humble Lion FC, Andrew Holness of Real Salt Lake, Dicoy Williams of Arnett Gardens, Alvas Powell of the Portland Timbers, Ladale Richie of Montego Bay United, Rosario Harriott of Harbour View FC and Andre Blake of the Philadelphia Union.

The team will be coached by former Jamaica midfielder and Under 20 coach Theodore Whitmore who will be in charge of the national squad for the two matches in round three of the competition. Arnett Gardens coach Jerome Waite will be his assistant. (Sportsmax)

CM: It’s my love for racing; I just love the adrenaline and going fast. Also I love the mind games that go on in racing. It is kind of like chess trying and thinking ahead of your opponent so you can be the first to cross the finish line.

Ming who is grateful for the support of his parents grew up watching his father race super bikes which created the love for motorsport he now possesses.

Go-karts since age six, a competitive nature throughout his career in shifter karts, competing with friends to later becoming two-time Go-Kart Champion in Guyana, is in full force with his drive to one day become a Formula 1 racer.

This weekend, Ming will take the track at the Virginia International Raceway for the final round of the F1600 Championship after which he is expected undergo testing with INDYCAR for a new formula car next year.

espite representing various teams, Guyanese riders turned out exceptional performances in the opening stage of Tobago International Cycle Classic (TICC) Tour of Tobago on Wednesday in Tobago.

Team CocosRaynauth Jeffrey finished second in the under 25 years category in Division One while Jeban Crawford representing PSL Cycling team won the Division Two category ahead of his countryman Andrew Hicks also of PSL who was also the top under-19 rider.

Division One, which stretches a distance of 120km (10 laps) saw Dutchman Aron Van Der Zwet of PSL Cycling Club riding in first in a time of 2 hrs 25 min 50.68 sec followed by countryman Nick Stopler (PSL) in a time of 2:26.07.57.

Ishmael Sanchez of the Dominican Republic (Team Foundation) was third in a time of 2:26.09.50.

The Top T&T finisher was Adam Alexander (Team Foundation) was sixth.

In the Under 25 category, it was

SebatianCaicedo of Colombia who rode in ahead of Guyanese Raynauth Jeffrey and Trinidadian Tyler Cole in third.

Cole won the Division Two title in 2015.

Meanwhile, in Division Two which covered a distance of 60km over five laps, Guyanese Jeban Crawford (PSL) finished in a time of 1 hr 25 min 34.822 sec ahead of Andrew Hicks (Guyana/PSL) 1:25.35.898 and Jabari Whiteman (T&T/ Southclaine) 1:25.49.503.

In the Under-19 Category it was another Guyanese, Andrew Hicks (PSL) who rode in first followed by Romello Crawford (T&T/PSL) and Lorenzo Orosco (T&T/Breakaway) in second and third respectively.

The results of the other categories are; Top Under 17: Jabari Whiteman (T&T/Southclaine), 2nd Kyle Gill (Barbados/Team Massy), 3rd Enrique de Comarmond (T&T/Heatway Ladies Open: Desiree Ehler (Switzerland/Team Eleven), 2nd SofieMangertseder (Germany/Team Eleven), 3rd Christiane Farah (T&T/ PSL) Masters 40-49: 1st Mark Hosein (T&T/Breakaway), 2nd Brent hurdle (T&T/Breakaway), 3rd Marlon Choo Ying (T&T/PSL) Masters 50-59: 1st BirkTidd (T&T/ Knights FR), 2nd Stephen Aboud (T&T/ Team Pharmaco), 3rd Ronald Crooks (T&T/Team Foundation) Masters 60 plus: 1st Foster Francois (T&T/PSL), 2nd CodringtonJoefield (T&T/PSL) This is the 30th edition of the Tour of Tobago and the action will continue until Sunday.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

55