Guyanatimes 10 september 2017

LOOK INSIDE !

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3328

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Sunday, September 10, 2017

PRICE

Private Sector wants stimulus package to kickstart economic growth Page 3

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt seizes assets P11 belonging to Guyanese terrorists

...says some sectors facing trouble Illegal aircraft

Detainee confesses to constructing airstrip in Rupununi Page 16

– 2 others in custody as Police hunt businessman

$120 vat included

City Hall audit

Missing, damaged documents stymie probe

Rice farmers operating at break- P12 even prices – region’s Chamber

Page 7

Suicide Prevention Day

Stop the P15 rhetoric, time for action – Dr Frank Anthony

Miss World Guyana 2017 Vena Mookram, in collaboration with the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), hosted a Diabetic Seminar at the Prabhu Sharan Orphanage at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara. Mookram shared information about her platform "Beauty with a Purpose, Sweet Vigor", and herself to all the participants along with both Vamandev Hiralall, CAPE's top student and Ravi Dev of HSS, who gave a detailed explanation of diabetes and preventative measures through diet, exercise (yoga) and lifestyle.

All those present were able to access free blood glucose and blood pressure testing and advice about how to prevent and treat diabetes by health-care professionals. Today, Mookram will be declaring open a Fitness Park at Diamond East Bank Demerara, which she has been integrally involved in making a reality

Hardships facing miners: Govt to review gold processing fees

Page 9

Upper Demerara Magisterial District improved services P13 applauded

Creditinfo signs data sharing contract with Commercial P7 Registry

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news

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, September 10 – 05:30h-07:00h and Monday, September 11 – 08:30h-10:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, September 10 – 06:55h-08:25h and Monday, September 11 – 07:45h-09:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, with sunny weather expected in the afternoon. Clear to light cloudy skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 07:04h and 19:21h reaching maximum heights of 2.73 metres and 2.72 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:36h and 12:56h reaching minimum heights of 0.41 metres and 0.54 metres respectively.

SATURDAY, september 9, 2017

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Private Sector wants stimulus package to kick-start economic growth ... says some sectors facing trouble

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he coalition A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government cannot continue with its ‘hodge-podge’ approach to managing the economy; it must present a stimulus for growth in the declining sectors of the economy, without abandoning traditional pillars of economic growth, since the oil industry is still a developing one.

The frank views were articulated by President of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar, this past week during an interview with members of the local media corps, where he called for a stimulus programme to be introduced by the sitting Government in order to kick-start growth in Guyana’s tradition industries.

Indar was at the time giving the Private Sector umbrella body’s views on the troubling figures released by Finance Minister Winston Jordan when he recently released the midyear report on the national spending expenditure, savings and earnings.

“We can’t have a ‘hodgepodge’ thing... We need something proper, something broad to look at all segments facing some level of downturn and to make sure we put stimulus in place to kick-start some of those things,” according to Indar.

The GCCI President told journalists gathered at the Georgetown Marriott for an Audit Office Capacity Building forum that “based on last numbers coming out of Central Bank, there are some sectors facing trouble... Our members are complaining.”

He pointed to the midyear report for 2017 and observed that while there was some good news for smaller sectors such as construction, other crops, and transportation, the traditional pillars of the economy in addition to other major contributors have been on a steady decline.

He noted that in addi-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

tion to the negative performances returned by sugar, timber and other sectors’ growth in some areas are being somewhat misconstrued.

According to the GCCI President, while growth is reflected in the manufacturing sector, this is only due to the performance of one commodity under that economic rubric, namely rice.

Indar told journalists that were the rice figures to be removed from the equation, then a non-rice manufacturing sector would reveal that the industry is in fact facing troubling times, since it would then reflect a negative growth.

According to Indar, the current state of affairs will inevitably lead to greater job losses which would in turn lead to reduced consumption.

The GCCI President pointed out that reduced consumption by a populace stricken by reduced or lost income will lead to reduced revenue companies and this would mean reduced taxes.

He warned that in such a situation where the tax base is reduced, it will ultimately lead to a budget deficit which means Government will either have to increase taxes or “have to borrow money to run the country.”

The GCCI President opined this to be an undesirable situation adding “we want to see the real sector kick-start.”

He noted that oil and gas sector is still in its developmental stage and the country already has well

GCCI President Deodat Indar

established sectors of the economy already.

Indar was firm in his conviction that these tradition sectors require urgent assistance on the part of the Administration in order to maintain economic gains until that time comes when there can be an influx of additional revenues from the oil and gas sector.

“We have some traditional sectors and we should not abandon them,” he cautioned. Meanwhile, as it relates to the imminent presentation of the budget for

the coming year, Indar told journalists the grouping has not yet met with the Minister but do look forward to an invitation to be consulted.

The mid-year report – which was released by the Minister before the National Assembly – went into recess had also highlighted Government’s continued failure at using its annual budget for the provision of services to the nation, this, even as the country’s export earnings continue to decline and gold joining the list of commodities on the decline.

In that report the Minister has also had to revise his overall projection for national growth downwards again.

Of note in the report is that while many of the traditional sectors, such as sugar and forestry, continue to perform poorly, the gold sector which has been credited with keeping the economy buoyant in recent years, has now also begun to decline in terms of production and earnings from sales on the international markets.

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Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

World Suicide Prevention Day

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oday has been designated World Suicide Prevention Day by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Over the last decade, the awareness of suicide as a major problem in Guyana rose exponentially when we earned the dubious distinction of having the highest per capita rate of suicide in the entire world: 44.2 per 100,000. As is their tradition, the organisers selected a theme for the day which highlights the need for interventions that can prevent, or at least reduce, suicide -- which takes the lives of some 800,000 persons worldwide.

This number is greater than the entire population of Guyana, and should offer a perspective on the enormity of the challenge in addressing the reduction of suicide.

If one is concerned about the destruction of human lives by war, suicides presently result in more deaths than all wars combined; while concentrated in the same demographic: the young. The theme for 2017 is ‘Take a minute, change a life,’ and it reminds us that since suicide is almost always caused by depression -- even if shortterm when events occur in the lives of those around us that may cause them to become depressed -- we should reach out and lend at least an ear to their problems.

In Guyana, we have all become sensitised to one type of suicide in the young -- when they believe their “true love” has been stymied. There is no question that parents especially should play a more sensitive role in listening and empathizing with their children who may be involved in relationships they consider “unsuitable” for one reason or another. Rather than berating the child, which is unfortunately the norm, parents should discuss openly and rationally the reasons for their stance. Rather than using categorically prohibitive language such as ultimatums, they should strive to look at the situation from their children’s viewpoint.

Very often, the children know the parents love them, but conclude they just do not (or do not want to) “understand” their situation. The suicidal act becomes an impulsive one, to hurt the parent in an attempt to get them to reach that understanding. Unfortunately, the suicide is not a case as when Tom Sawyer faked his death to seen how sorry his Aunt Polly would be to see him gone: death is final. The authorities have, for years now, conceded that suicide is a public health issue linked to depression but, sadly, they have not taken a holistic approach towards addressing it.

One gets the impression that, more than anything else, the Government has vacated the field to the NGOs that have sprung up over the last few years. These have staged more “walks” to bring “awareness” to suicide than contestants in the Boston marathon. They might have done some good work with their “walks” by “talking the talk” to raise awareness, but this is just the beginning. The Government cannot walk away from their responsibility in a Public Health crisis: it is time for them to “walk the walk” and initiate countrywide programmes.

Take, for example, the long promised councillors in educational institutions. This is not a “chicken and egg” question - the “egg” of training councillors comes first. Have the Government worked with the University of Guyana to introduce the requisite training in the Social Work degree the latter offers? So they can be hired in the schools? Then there is the “Gatekeepers Programme” which the previous administration had initiated, but has been allowed to die on the vine. This programme essentially trained locals in suicide-prone communities to be aware of suicidal “tell-tale” signs, and be available for offering counselling to persons who may be contemplating suicide. This programme was proven quite successful, and one wonders what has prevented its resuscitation.

The WHO reported that Guyana is no longer number one in its suicide rate, which has dropped quite significantly to 30.6. All hands must be on deck, including the Government’s, to intensify this trend.

A beautiful array of baskets, fans and decorations by Ruth’s Tibisin Group were on display at the Ramada Princess Hotel, at the launch of the Demerara-Mahaica Regional, Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition on Friday

Single mothers and the night shift

Dear Editor, I do not think that the proposal being advanced by the Social Protection Ministry, through its minister responsible for labour, is possible at this juncture.

The fact is that too many women need to work to supplement their families, as they are the sole bread-winners of their households.

It is the opinion of this writer that Keith Scott has moved with emotion, love and respect for our women.

It is known that at times emotionality can affect our judgement, but at the same time, it can lead to new and greater discoveries.

As I see it, the Minister is moved by particularly single-parent mothers working in the nights, and he has zeroed in on particularly security personnel. But in all fairness to the gentleman, in his introduction at the Meeting held at the Ministry of Labour with Private Security Firms on August 24, 2017, he gave evidence of nurses working at nights and the effects it has on their psyche and general demeanour.

I wish to state several points in response to the Honorable Minister. During the meeting, I suggested to the minister several divergent views which some viewed as sarcastic; but nevertheless, I know we have to face the reality and the existence of the situation in Guyana. The fact remains that there are Policewomen, nurses, soldiers, pilots, drivers and restaurant workers who are single mothers. So, while the concern and love is appreciated from the minister, to this writer it does not seem practical.

Indeed, I signed the document proposed by the Ministry for two reasons: out of respect, and for the principle of the idea. I also believe that he should appeal to the hospitals in Guyana to curtail the use of nurses at nights; his example to show the detriments to women’s health was based on nurses, so it would be pertinent for the Ministry to meet with the organizers of the hospital industry.

In my speech, I made a proposal to the Minister and his cabinet: that they can in-

sert a line item in the budget which would pay these single mothers to stay at home and to bring up very moral, educated and decent children. That would be the best way to go. Of course, the audience and the head table were very silent and paid rapt attention. The agreement will cause private security firms to become more conscious of the shifts and conditions women will work.

I am advising Government Ministers and employers of single mothers, who are thinking to limit women in this manner, to face reality and smell the odour of a brewing strong cup of coffee. In the words of an ‘old head’ in this industry: “Women are the backbone of the security industry, Police Force and the army. If they want to work, no one can tell them not to.”

Again, to be fair to Minister Scott, he did reiterate this point. In my view, all security employers of single mothers must provide proper training (inclusive of self-defence and profiling) and place them at safer locations. I wish to advise that

there are many Government locations without guard huts and toilets, and fences are dilapidated and useless. These issues need to be dealt with seriously if we are to help these security guards.

In Northern (United States and Canada) and European countries, women would have fought assiduously for many decades to have the right to be a part of the Police Force and army.

Therefore, if we place a restriction on single mothers and their working hours, critics will argue that this goes against the women’s liberation movements and gender discrimination activism.

I do not think that this initiative was studied enough for implementation to be forthcoming. I encourage the Government to review this decision, and address the concerns so that we understand the plans of the Government for single mothers and women in the future.

Yours sincerely, Roshan Khan Snr

Unfairly criticised by The Caribbean Voice (Pt One) Dear Editor, I would like to address several issues raised by The Caribbean Voice (TCV) regarding my recent letter, in late August, on suicide in Guyana.

TCV states as follows: “The Caribbean Voice wonders why Ms Baliram (whose letter was recently published in the local media) is casting doubt on the 2015 suicide rate for Guyana, which shows a reduction from 44.2 to 30.6 per 1000,000 [sic] inhabitants, and not all or any previous rates.”

I have always been skep-

tical about the WHO statistics on suicide, particularly for Guyana; where misclassification, under-reporting, poor data collection methods/procedures, and heavy corruption are serious problems skewing the data. Moreover, my skepticism has intensified since there has been a robust increase in the suicide rate in 2012 for males, females and both sexes, followed by a sharp decline in 2015 in spite that the primary triggers (root causes) arising out of the social, economic and political turmoil remain virtually unaddressed and that

interventions of any kind remain sparse. Such an increase in the 2012 data is only possible: (a) if something unusual had pushed almost twice the number of Guyanese into suicide (b) or if the data is of poor quality.

The latter is highly plausible, since there was nothing unusual in 2012. Obviously, the 2012 data obscures the consistent increase in the suicide rate and gives the false impression of a decline. Given this narrative, I do not see how, in good conscience, anyone can speak of a real reduction in suicide in this country.

TCV states as follows: “ A c c o r d i n g to Ms Baliram, a significant reduction in suicide can come about by addressing the abnormally high levels of stress arising out of the catastrophic social, economic and political conditions. Stress mechanistically drives suicide directly or indirectly by disrupting brain functions, thereby unleashing mental illness (e.g. depression, schizophrenia etc.) or substance abuse (e.g. alcoholism), or both.

Stress basically hijacks the brain in eliciting suicidal behaviours. continued on page 5

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

David Hinds’s jaundiced views in Land claims very flawed conflict with reality (Pt 1) Dear Editor, Last Thursday, September 7th, a section of the local media featured an article in which WPA Executive Member Dr David Hinds believes, “For the good of Guyana… PPP’s barrage has to be countered and stopped.”

In this article, Dr Hinds was quoted as saying, “The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has been peddling the perception that the APNU+AFC coalition is not only fraught with incompetent ministers, but (is) also virtually incapable of running the presidency effectively.”

He added that, since losing power in 2015, the PPP “has been relentless in its campaign to delegitimize the government, often without challenge from the governing parties.”

Like other WPA members of old, David Hinds was one of those who fearlessly fought the PNC in the trenches for a better Guyana. But like Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan of the AFC, he, too, has abandoned the noble goals of fighting for the downtrodden, and has now aligned himself with the oppressors for personal gains, much to the disgust of those who once admired him.

As a political commentator and civil rights advocate, Hinds’s jaundice views are often in conflict with reality and expose his biased preference for one ethnicity over another.

I admit that the PPP’s media blitz has indeed been relentless since losing power in 2015, but when we expose the remarkable inept-

itude and incompetence of the APNU+AFC coalition he supports, and accuses the Granger Administration as being “virtually incapable of running the presidency effectively” because of the high numbers of “incompetent ministers” in government, it is not a “perception”, it is factually correct.

And David Hinds knows it.

Perhaps he is making a pitch to take over the Government’s PR department, which has long been criticized by KN Peeping Tom as being hopeless. He argues, “The PPP’s barrage, in the context of weak responses from the coalition parties and basic errors of judgment by the government, has had the effect of casting doubt in the minds of Guyanese. The (PPP) party has also been able to successfully hitch its assault on the government to legitimate civil society concerns about protests against government policies such as the parking meter issue, the sugar impasse, the broadcast legislation, the vendors’ issue and the wages struggle. This has led to the PPP gaining sympathy in sections of the media establishment, the business sector and the brown middle-class.”

Did Hinds actually say that? Why is it that people like Eric Phillips and David Hinds always seem to view things through their ethnic eyes? Where were David Hinds and Eric Phillips, the black-rights activists, when the Government they protect and serve evicted 41 mostly black cash-crop farmers from their farms in Naarstigheid, West Coast Berbice, and took away their

Unfairly criticised by...

The limited characterization by Ms Baliram runs counter to the complete picture.”

(A) I am highly confident that I have advanced a fundamental hypothesis on suicide in this country. But it was unfairly criticized by TCV. I am convinced that unbearable stress drives the bulk of this problem, which causes Guyana’s suicide rate to stand above the global average. Even though TCV talks about copycatting and other secondary issues arising from stress (depression, anxiety, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, dysfunctional relationships, and divorce, etc) in impacting suicide, it obviously fails to see this connection. (b) TCV needs to know that stress in itself is a risk factor for suicide.

Additionally, it is the key player driving this problem in this country because it is chronic, abundantly high, and is unbearable. Moreover, stress has the ability to rewire the brain through alterations in its chemistry, its cellular structures, and gene expres-

from page 4

sions and functions (dubbed here as hijacked brain) in diminishing the ability to cope with life situations. (c) TCV also unreasonably complained that my explanation is limited. TCV needs to know that, as a research scientist, my job is to zero in on the crux of the problem, and this is precisely what I have done. I am not sure why TCV is unable to map the details to the key points I have outlined. TCV needs to know that it is expected of anyone working in the area of suicide to be able to do this. TCV needs to know that due to my academic training, I have no trouble elaborating on the intricate details in a forum which permits the publication of lengthy articles with complex diagrams, due to the complexity of suicide. In fact, I have created a model explaining suicide in this country with stress as the key player, and I hope to share this with the Guyanese people in the near future.

Sincerely, Annie Baliram

livelihood? The PPP did not do a colour-test, neither did we ask what shade of black or brown they were when the farmers asked for our assistance. It was the PPP who defended their rights in the courts, and I did not see David Hinds or Eric Phillips there.

But like some of his ilk, David Hinds is now an apologist for the Granger Administration. They have made campaigning for, and defending, this Government a profession. It is no longer about people’s rights, their interest is defending the perks they’re benefiting from. Like Nagamootoo and Ramjattan of the AFC, the WPA leaders have it good now. They’re the ones living the “good life” with the lucrative state jobs they now hold, doing basically nothing… just living off of the sweet. Dr Hinds is so willing to excuse the Government’s ineptitude as a learning curve that he describes the continuous scandals and corruption as “basic errors of judgment by the government.” Yet, under the PPP, basic administrative errors were described as “massive corruption”.

And after two years of exhaustive investigations by SOCU, there is still no evidence to prove massive PPP corruption and the raping of the treasury. These were all deliberate, fabricated lies and PNC propaganda designed to taint the PPP in government.

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

Dear Editor, Reference is made to report on the Land Commission of Inquiry (Guyana Times September 5). Legal experts and historians say land claims are unsubstantiated, worsening fragile race relations.

Transport and prescriptive (long, continuous use) rights are factors for land claim. And these were not provided at CoI. Some arguments and claims at the CoI are deeply flawed and, worse, comical.

If Africans, Indians, whites or Mixed bought land and have deed or prescriptive right, then the land belongs to them. If a racial group or its members sold land once possessed, then descendants cannot now make a claim to the land. Some Africanists are pursuing this illegitimate claim.

Proud Africanist Lincoln Lewis claims his family bought a village and wants all that land. If the land is his family’s, it must be physically in their possession and or titled to them -- there would be a deed or transport title. The British were good at giving deeds, and Lewis’s family would have the transport to support the claim.

But if parts of the land were sold or given to others, then making a claim for all of the original land would be illegal.

The law does not operate that way. Otherwise, all of us would make a claim for land we once owned and ceded to others.

As long as land was acquired legally and not forcefully, and evidence of ownership is provided, then the claimant is entitled to the land.

Africanist Eric Phillips, advisor to President Granger on land, makes a claim of 15,000 square miles for Africans. The claim is made on the basis of land development carried out by black slaves – a hundred million tons of earth moved in developing 20,000 acres for sugar. The sugar industry expanded rapidly during inden-

tureship, and Indians contributed to the development of the industry. Indians developed a further 100,000 acres, moving five times as much earth as the African slaves with the same technology. Deductively, Indians would have moved 500 million tons of earth. And logically they would be entitled to five times 15,000 (since they developed five times as many acres as the slaves) or 75,000 square miles. Using the Phillips argument, Africans and Indians would be entitled to a total of 90K square miles – a ridiculous argument, since Guyana only has 83K square miles, and it shows how idiotic the claim is.

Phillips completely misunderstands the concept of land development. Any economist or business graduate (MBA) knows that land is developed not with physical labour alone.

Other inputs, like technical (technology, engineers, surveyors, etc.) labour, as well as well as capital and equipment are essential for land development. It is established that the land belonged to the Amerindians. The blacks provided the labour. And the whites supplied the additional resources required for development, like technology and capital and whatever else that was required. What is certain is Africans alone cannot claim all entitlement for the development of the 20,000 acres. Similarly, Indians can’t claim exclusive credit for the additional 100,000 acres that they developed during inden-

tureship. It would seem that whites should be entitled to far more than the others, since they provided the capital resources which in modern economics is considered the most important input.

Logically, whites would be entitled to more than half of the 15K square miles. Or if blacks are entitled to 15K square miles, then whites must get significantly more, say around 20K square miles. Under the Phillips logic, Indians are entitled to about 75K square miles. But since whites provided the resources for Indian development of land, then whites would be entitled to much more land, say an additional 100K square miles on top of the 20K. Altogether, this would add up to a total of 210K square miles, far more than the 83K land size of Guyana. And then we have to also find, say, an additional 200K square miles for the Amerindians, since the land is theirs. We would have to intrude into Venezuela, Brazil and Suriname to get enough land for the four ethnic groups. And this does not include land claims for the Mixed races, Portuguese and Chinese, as they are also entitled to land for their contribution to development. Clearly, this shows how ridiculous and laughable is the ethnic claim for land.

Clearly, this whole issue of land claims at the CoI is flawed.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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Foundation Values for life

“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.”–C. S. Lewis

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Anu Dev

’ve been in school for 17 of the 21 years of my life, and would like to believe I have a fair idea of what different types of teachers could be like. Some go about their jobs like they truly love what they’re doing, others seem to go through the day like teaching is an obligation; and then there are those who clearly see it as an imposition.

But no matter what their personal teaching attitudes or stances are, we inevitably learn a lot from our teachers, even in the breach.

Teachers teach more than just Science and Math and all the other "subjects" on the curriculum; they teach ethics as well. In addition to, say, the weekly one hour of "Pastoral Care", they do this generally through the most powerful medium - not through words, but by their actions. Their behaviour impacts their students strongly. And, of course, since it’s

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always best to lead by example, we’re most likely to do as our teachers do, rather than as they say.

So, if the Education Ministry says it wants to produce “more rounded students”, then it would have to start producing more rounded teachers. Quite a bit of my personal values and sense of ethics, as to what might be the way to act in the public sphere, are a product of the influence of my school teachers. Of course, the major chunk of core values were directly instilled into me by my parents, who still remain my most influential “teachers” in the real meaning of the term. But at some level, we've all been influenced by our teachers in the formal public educational institutions.

My current value system, therefore, is a melange of what I’ve been taught at home and whatever modifications my experiences have forced me to make -with me spending such huge chunks of my time every day in school.

And I’ve realised how damaging it could’ve been if

I had teachers whose values and ethical standards were not that solid - especially in the early formative years.

What if I had teachers who threw things and screamed at their students, calling them names or belittling them? If a student doesn’t have a strong personal value system or positive role models, that student could easily accept that sort of behaviour as being okay, or acceptable. And that student might carry over that type of behaviour into adulthood, in their professional and personal life. The horror! The horror!

Our teachers, as a consequence, have great power in forming the “Guyanese nation” we all aspire to, as articulated in our national motto. More emphasis should probably be placed, when training teachers, on their role in moulding the values of their students.

Implicit values like work ethics are undermined when young students see their teachers “hold back” materials which are taught only in their “lessons”.

Explicit values like the

importance of confidentiality and the importance of privacy could be emphasized by the teachers, so that when the students leave the school system, they’ll be able to function like adults that are capable of respecting the autonomy of persons they interact with.

Other values, like the importance of accountability and punctuality, should all be established as being important from a young age.

Teachers that violate these tenets in their classes do damage beyond the details of the "subject" not being covered.

Our teachers, then, hold great sway over how we might turn out at the end of our tenure at school; they could be the difference between whether we become successful professionals or whether we go about our jobs in a very slipshod manner. We need a solid foundation in professionalism, and our teachers can give us that, hopefully by their actions, and not just their words.

When bad teachers happen to good students:

Communication is the key to change

By Bernice Fedestin

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'm sure teachers dream of the perfect student, but we students rarely demand straight A's of our teachers.

For us, the notion of perfection doesn't exist. Some teachers are outstanding and obviously love their work.

They motivate us, and through them we learn to not only master the material they present but also to love learning. These are the people who make school fun and with whom we may stay in touch for the rest of our lives.

Then there are the others. A painful few educators regularly appear bored with their subject material, lecture constantly instead of engaging students in intellectual conversation, or even seem to specialise in classroom putdowns. A friend of mine at another school, for instance, spends part of each day with a teacher who constantly shouts "Shut up!" at the class. The teachers at this end of the spectrum can be a huge problem, since even hardworking students who face ineffective instruction can end up unhappy in school and incapable of getting much out of their relatively short time in the classroom. True, some students are hard for even the best teachers to reach, but for children who are serious about their education, dealing with a mediocre teacher is nothing short of a survival skill.

We students actually have the power to overcome ineffective teaching. Trouble is, most of us don't realise it.

Even when we understand that we can and should make a bad teaching situation better, we are usually afraid to try. We may be worried about compromising a teacher's position or being seen as a snitch.

When I find myself stuck with a problematic teacher, I first try to communicate my frustration directly to him or her. Given all the pressures of our day, both teachers and students can lose sight of the importance of effective communication. There isn't anything wrong with a student talking to a teacher about problems in the classroom, but a lot depends on how you approach the matter. For example, talking with a teacher about classroom manner or methods while other students are present can make matters worse. It may seem like a public challenge to the teacher's intelligence and authority.

But sometimes communicating about a problem is not enough to solve it. No matter how tactful a student is, getting a teacher to change his or her style may not work.

In that case, it's time for school administrators and families to get involved. Students have to get past the idea that they are being a snitch. If we tune out the material in a course because we hate the way it's delivered, we can miss out on information that may affect our future.

To facilitate discussion, both administrators and families ought to privately ask students regularly how their classes are going. Ask us for specifics rather than generalities.

Query us about specific topics and instructors instead of asking an open-ended "How's it going?" This lets us know we have the support of other adults with the power to influence change.

It's incredibly frustrating to feel that nothing is being done, or will be done, to put an end to bleak teaching, and that we students are powerless to make change happen.

But that doesn't have to be the case. When it comes down to it, there are many more students than teachers in any school. Our collective voice can be loud, so we should be listened to. We can influence change. After all, where would teachers be without us? (www.edutopia.org)

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City Hall audit

Creditinfo signs data Missing, damaged documents stymie probe sharing contract with Commercial Registry

Auditor General Deodat Sharma

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he Auditor General’s audit of the Georgetown Mayor & City Council (M&CC) has been completed, and a final report is expected soon.

The process has not been smooth sailing, however, with reports emerging that auditors were stymied in their work by documents not being provided.

According to AuditorGeneral Deodat Sharma, there were many gaps that remained unfilled in the investigation. He noted that because of these missing and sometimes even damaged documents, there will be a number of pages in the final report that will carry disclaimers.

“Right now we’re preparing the report,” Sharma stated in a recent interview with this publication. “But we have not sent it to the Town Clerk yet, because they have not provided all the documents. So we may have to give a disclaimer,”

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green

he continued. “A lot of records were not presented.

Some were water soaked, so some of the years will definitely carry a disclaimer.”

Be that as it may, however, the Auditor General was optimistic of the report being completed within the next few weeks.

Audit

Despite being the ones who wrote to the Auditor General’s office requesting an audit, City Hall officials have reportedly not been as helpful as expected. In fact, the final phase of the audit was at one point stalled due to the lack of cooperation.

Things had reportedly reached a point necessitating a letter to be sent to Town Clerk Royston King over the undue delays being caused by City Hall officials not making the necessary documents available for the auditors.

There have been persistent calls for City Hall

Town Clerk Royston King

to be fully audited. Back in 2015, the Georgetown M&CC had received two grants under the Communities Ministry’s Capital Programme for the “Georgetown Restoration Programme”, in addition to the “Emergency Solid Waste Management of Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill”.

Each multi-million-dollar grant was based on Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Communities Ministry’s Permanent Secretary and the capital city’s Town Clerk. According to the Auditor General’s 2015 Report, there were several “discrepancies” in the way the allotted sums of money to the City Council were spent during the year.

According to reports, after examining 212 payment vouchers, many discrepancies were found, including hundreds of instances where there was no evidence of the payment vouchers being certified by

the accountant or another authorised officer.

Last year, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor Bishram Kuppen had written to the press a letter in which he had expressed dissatisfaction that the motions for an audit of the municipality’s affairs were denied.

In his letter, the PPP Councillor had cited the millions of dollars in revenue the city had collected, with important services still un-provided and financial difficulties being cited. Kuppen had also referred to the $8 million donation from the Chinese Government, intended to assist the clean-up campaign in Georgetown.

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green had denied all suggestions that she was stymieing attempts to conduct an audit into City Hall. In fact, she claimed she had been the one calling for an audit.

A

cting Registrar of Commerce, Nicole Prince and Chief Executive Officer, Creditinfo (Guyana) Inc, Judy Semple-Joseph, on Friday signed the agreement on behalf of the two bodies which is set out to facilitate further expansion of the breadth of data in the credit bureau database.

This understanding is expected to simplify and enable consistent and efficient flows of data on registered businesses and companies which in turn would enhance the quality of credit reports provided by the credit bureau.

The terms of the arrangement stipulates that this publicly available information will be shared

under strict protocols for inclusion in the credit bureau database, which principally serves the financial sector and other subscribers to the credit bureau.

In compliance with its directive to operate as a credit agency, Creditinfo has established high criterions of data requirements for its Credit Bureau System (CBS) database.

This means that the business and company data repository by the Commercial Registry is required to satisfy the requirements of data adequacy for this market, contributing directly to an advantageous assessment for Guyana on the World Bank Doing Business Index.

8 news

SunDAY, september 10, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

GDF driver trial commences for pensioner’s death

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he trial of Guyana Defence Force Lance Corporal Zamani Archibald for allegedly causing the death of Harry Persaud, called “Saw Doctor”, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, commenced on Friday before Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Archibald has been charged with the offence of causing death by dangerous driving. It is alleged that the 24-year-old Lance Corporal drove a motor pickup belonging to the GDF in a manner dangerous to the public in March of this year.

Archibald of East Berbice, Region Six, was granted $1 million bail when he initially appeared in court and denied the offence.

Archibald’s attorney, Leslie Sobers, on Friday requested the substantial amount of bail be reduced, as his client has remained incarcerated, having been unable to post the stipulated bail for his release pending trial.

Sobers deemed the amount of bail to be beyond the reach of his client,

Deceased: Harry Persaud, aka “Saw Doctor”

but Magistrate Latchman strongly maintained her position on bail, and adjourned the case until September 19.

During the trial, Balwatt Persaud,

son of the late pensioner, guided by Prosecutor Vishnu Hunte in his testimony, told the court that he visited the mortuary at the Georgetown Public Hospital following the accident, and there he identified the body of his father.

Guyana Times previously reported that on the fateful day of the accident, Persaud was giving his granddaughter a ride on his pedal cycle en route to the Rubis Service Station when a vehicle belonging to the GDF struck them off the cycle.

Persaud reportedly sustained injuries to his head and other parts of the body, while the infant suffered a fractured shoulder and lacerations to her hand and head.

According to reports, they both were rushed to the Diamond Regional Hospital by the same vehicle, and while Persaud was pronounced dead on arrival, his injured granddaughter was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) in a critical condition and admitted a patient there.

Upper Pomeroon labourer commits suicide

A

s Guyana joins the rest of the world in observing World Suicide Prevention Day, another Guyanese has been recorded as taking his life by his own hand.

A 47-year-old man of Dredge Creek, Upper Pomeroon River, Region Two, (PomeroonSupenaam) tragically end-

ed his life by consuming a poisonous substance. Dead is Jeorol Newsum.

Reports are Newsum was discovered by his wife Mordella Williams on September 5, 2017, at about 22:30h. Following the discovery, the labourer was immediately rushed to the Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital and later trans-

ferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the Suddie Public Hospital.

He battled for his life for several hours before succumbing on September 6.

According to information reaching this publication, Newsum was a habitual drinker and would often become abusive.

His body is presently at

the Suddie Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination. Suicide continues to plaque the PomeroonSupenaam region; however, several nonprofit organisations have come onboard to help curb the issues through various educational programmes in the region.

Bitter bile…

I

…against business acumen

t’s no secret the Muckraker’s owner, Mook Lall, is behind the sleazy attacks on a number of persons who bought land for development purposes at Providence. There was nothing secret about the massive development of the former cane fields by the PPP government following the successful construction of the Cricket Stadium there in 2007 for World Cup cricket. Anyone with business acumen would know the area would become prime real estate!

There was a planned, multi-use, Governmentsponsored development across the board, ranging from subsidised lots for the ordinary folks, turnkey homes for the same demographic; lots for young professionals and, yes, private developers to deal with the upscale market. The Government plugged the development, and land was available to all!! Guyana was developing a real estate market – common in the developed economies - after the destruction wrought by the PNC under Burnham between 1964 and 1992.

What seemed to’ve gotten the Muckraker owner’s bucka in a knot is that some individuals bought some of the land identified for development and turned around and sold it at a profit. This transaction is so common it’s called “flipping”. Now, exactly what’s wrong with this? In which contract was there restrictive covenants” stipulating the specific purchasers had to build the houses in the development? But none of this matters to Mook Lall, does it?

As always, when it comes to money, it’s about the man’s petty, vindictive jealousy towards a few persons whom he can’t stand, just because they stand head and shoulders over him in every which way.

The first person he went after on the Providence land sale was his cousin, Brian Tiwari, who sold the 100 acres he bought to the Chinese company Bai Shan Lin. That Tiwari quadrupled his US$2 million investment must’ve really stuck in the Mook’s craw! How many newspapers will he have to hawk to match that??!!

Now he’s gone after the manager of a private company who also had the business acumen to “flip” the land he bought for a profit. But it’s clear this manager was picked on because he manages a company owned by Bobby Ramroop - just giving the Mook the opportunity (if he ever needed one!) of gratuitously plastering Ramroop’s name and picture on his front page. How low can this fella filled with bile get?

Does he realise how the rich get richer? They don’t put their money in savings accounts; they INVEST in areas where they can make a big return. Did he hear about the executive from Banks who imported Cadbury into Guyana?

It takes guts - not bile - because of the risks. But the Mook lacks guts: bile’s in the liver!!

…against Cuba?

It might just be because it’s kinda early in the day (midday, Saturday) that your Eyewitness is writing this. But he’s perturbed at the paucity of reports on what happened to Cuba after Irma. After all, she slammed into the island with the full force of a category 5 hurricane - blasting winds and rains at 155mph. If Barbuda was flattened and inundated beyond description, surely Cuba couldn’t be spared.

But where are the reports?

All your Eyewitness can read about and see on TV are reports on what FLORIDA can expect. Now, don’t get your Eyewitness wrong, he cares about Floridians; he really does, since he has numerous relatives and friends living there. But he cares about humanity - and Cubans are humans, aren’t they? And even if you’re cold-blooded, look how much they’ve done for us over the years - just in the training of doctors!

Your Eyewitness sincerely hopes the anti-Cuban sentiment fostered by a succession of US Governments since 1960 hasn’t filled their media with bile.

…in pharma

Surely Minister Lawrence doesn’t mean what was reported: she’ll do it all over again if she had to oversee GHPC awarding another $632 million contract to ANSA. Without any open tender and bids?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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SunDAY, september 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hardships facing miners: Govt to review gold processing fees

… to also relook at mining regulations

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ollowing a high-level meeting with a number of mining organisations and syndicates, the Government has decided to take steps to review not only an unpopular hike in the gold processing fee, but the mining regulations as well.

The meeting, which saw Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman in attendance, was held on Friday at Cara Lodge. Present at the meeting were members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA), the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GMWO) and representatives from various mining syndicates.

It is understood that a number of concerns were raised, including issues of taxation, issues related to the functioning of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the state of interior roads, the Guyana Gold Board’s processing fee, revision of mining regulations, security for miners and mining lands for syndicates.

Present also at the meeting was Chairman of the Board of the Guyana Gold Board, G H K Lall.

According to a statement from the Ministry, it was agreed at the meeting that the gold processing fee would be reviewed, with

Trotman promising to find a rate that was reasonable at all levels of mining.

In addition, it was related that Trotman took a decision to resuscitate a committee headed by Natural Resources Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Joslyn McKenzie. The committee will also see members of the body of miners in attendance, who will propose reviews of the regulations. Trotman also committed to addressing some of the issues with his colleague Cabinet Ministers to bring them to a resolution.”

The mining industry has been beset by problems

tracted by four per cent during the first half of 2017. Gold production, it noted, fell by 1.7 per cent to 317,096 ounces, in the first half of 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.

It is understood that of the total gold declared, 65.7 per cent came from small- and medium-sized miners and dealers whose declarations were above projections, while Guyana’s two large gold companies – Guyana Goldfields and Troy Resources – were below projections.

such as the spike in taxes across the board implemented by the Government; in particular, the increase of the Tributors Tax from 10 to 20 per cent, Value Added Tax on heavy-duty mining equipment and the two per cent Withholding Tax.

the Opposition on Church Street, Georgetown.

The truckers had complained that some trips which formerly took those two days to complete were now taking triple that time. And while it wasn’t the only factor, the poor state of the roads was driving up their maintenance costs to the point where they cut back on their operations.

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

The state of some interior roads which have to be traversed by truckers carrying essential supplies to miners

Also in June, small miners had protested in front of the GGMC’S Brickdam office. The small miners had contended that they are being neglected by the GGMC and had accused the organisation of being corrupt.

They had called for the sacking of acting Commissioner, Newell Dennison and his Technical Adviser, Donald Singh. The miners had also alleged that they have been unable to mine for years since their applications are not being looked at.

Fees

It was recently revealed that all miners, including

Protesters in front of the GGMC a few months ago, calling for the heads of top officials

from a number of directions, leading up to a statistical review in the 2017 Mid-year report. According to the report, the mining and quarrying sector con-

previously just $1000 per ounce.

Had the GGDMA not intervened when a public notice announcing the hike first appeared in the daily newspapers, that fee would have been a whopping $4000 per ounce.

small- and medium-scale miners, will have to pay a hiked processing fee of $2500 per ounce of gold they declare to the Guyana Gold Board. The fee was

According to a missive from Avalon Jagnandan, the Administrative Manager at the GGDMA, the Association first became aware of the hike when a public notice appeared in the newspaper declaring that all miners and dealers selling gold to the Gold Board would have to pay the $4000 fee.

Taxes

For some time, miners have been raising issues

In addition, the Association had complained of not being able to benefit from the grant of duty-free concessions on mining equipment, vehicles and fuel, owing to the red tape experienced at the regulatory agencies involved.

Roads

In June, a group of truck operators made their grievances regarding the state of the interior roads known at the Office of the Leader of

GGMC protests

10 news

sunDAY, september 10, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Rice harvesting

Region 2 RDC dissatisfied with delay of upgrading of dams The wit and T wisdom of cricket he Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is deeply dissatisfied with the deplorable conditions of several dams leading to rice cultivation areas. The condition of the dams has added additional challenges to rice farmers as they are currently struggling to transport their harvest from the fields to the mills.

Rice farmers have reported that they were faced with additional burdens of having to use deteriorated dams during the last rainy season.

Many farmers have also incurred additional expenses having to do massive maintenance works on the dams.

This, they complained, is creating unnecessary expenditures even at a time when the price for paddy is low.

Region Two Regional

Devanand Ramdatt

Chairman Devanand Ramdatt during an interview with Guyana Times said at several RDC statutory meetings recommendations were repeatedly made for a maintenance schedules to be prepared so that upgrading works on roads and dams can be done on a timely and organised manner.

Noteably, Ramdatt said these decisions have not been implemented, and as such, farmers are feeling the negative impacts.

Ramdatt said the RDC

noted with concern that 15 of its machineries and equipment to aid in the maintenance of dams and roads are currently inoperable due to the lack of simple items, such as oil filters and seals, among others. Workers from the RDC requested in July of this year that these spares be purchased so that the machineries could be put back in operation for the harvesting season.

The RDC is therefore calling for an investigation to be launched by the relevant authorities to address the region’s consistent procurement delays and malpractices, since the REO as the region’s Accounting Officer is not proactive in managing the region’s budget. Based on a review of the RDC 2017 budget, he noted that adequate funds are available, adding that he is disappointed that the negligence of certain regional officers is creating challenges for the people of Region Two. (Indrawattie Natram)

S

atiricus was not feeling so hot. His favourite team, the Warriors -- on whom, not so incidentally, he had made quite a bit of pocket change -- had been knocked out of the tournament.

He didn’t go in for those professional betting services, and his circle didn’t care enough for the “outside” teams to bet on them. He was headed to the Back Street Bar for the inevitable post-mortem on the Warriors’ season.

“Well, it’s not whether you win or lose,” Satiricus ventured as he took his seat and took a refreshing swig of his beer. “It’s how you play the game. And our boys played well.”

“Wha’ yuh na haul yuh rass!” retorted Bungi.

“Whe’ yuh come fram?”

“Yeah Sato! Where?” chimed in Hari. “Even English players whom they say believe that crap don’t practise it! Did you see Broad carry on in the Test at Lords?”

“I was just testing you fellas,” grinned Satiricus.

“So why did you criticise Polly for his wide no ball?”

“Yuh still play yuh rass, Sato,” retorted Bungi.

“Yuh know, an’ Pollard know, and de worl’ know dem Bajan na cou’d win de game; ‘e jus’ mean!”

“And more than that: if Walton had scored the second fastest century,” complained Hari, “every time commentators mentioned that, CPL woulda get a mention!”

“An’ a CPL does sign Pollard check!” butted in Bungi. “Dem should dock ‘e pay!”

“OK…OK fellas, I get it!” grinned Satiricus, as he waved for another beer. “So who you backing tonight?”

“Me na back nobady,” said Bungi firmly. “Me jus’ na want dem Trini fuh win!”

“So what did the Trinis do to you?” asked Hari slyly.

“Well dem just like fuh t’row aroun’ dem money,” said Bungi. “Look how dem buy de final and none a dem come out fuh wa’ch de final.”

“Let’s drink to the Patriots then,” said Satiricus as he clinked beer bottle tops all around.

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SunDAY, september 10, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Govt seizes assets belonging to Guyanese ‘terrorists’

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Review of the mid-year report – the Fiscal Sector (Part V)

T

he overall balance of the non-financial public sector stood at $3.2 billion at the end of June 2017, while for the corresponding period in June 2016, this sector stood at $8.8 billion; representing a decline of $5.6 billion or 63.6 per cent. Non-financial public enterprises are engaged in commercial operations and are used by governments as instruments of public policy. These enterprises are by definition majority owned and/or controlled by Government, and thus questions are raised that must be considered in the broad context of the Government’s overall national economic policy; affecting growth, capital formation, employment, and the maintenance of prices which may effectively tax or subsidize particular groups or activities.

Apart from particular non-commercial objectives that they may be asked to pursue, they are of significance to governments because of the effects their magnitude or strategic position may have on macroeconomic objectives: bank credit, aggregate demand, inflation, borrowing abroad, and balance of payments.

Many non-financial enterprises may also represent a sizable investment of national resources at considerable opportunity cost. Resources may come predominantly from Government, rather than private investors. It is especially important, therefore, that governments be provided with adequate information for monitoring and evaluation, not only the non-financial public enterprises alone, but individual entities. For these reasons and purpose, a regular flow of current data on non-financial public enterprise operations is required.

With this in mind, I am not sure what structures and systems these enterprises have in place as outlined above. This may require some amount of deeper investigation on the part of this column eventually, but no concrete causation for this declined outcome was presented in the report. Obviously, it is not a good indicator from a macroeconomic standpoint, and though it was highlighted that this position is projected to improve by the end of 2017 -- on account of improved revenue collection by Central Government and public enterprises -- by $3.8 billion or 0.2 per cent, and $0.4 billion or 12.2 per cent respectively, nothing was said as regards the basis of this projection; at least on what assumptions. This limited macroeconomic strategic direction, or lack of a clear one, could only be interpreted on the basis of one logical presumption: there apparently is no clue on the part of Government as to what policy tools they need to employ to stimulate the economy, or if I may use the term, ‘jump-start the economy’. In the last two years, aside from oil, there is no significant new investment or developmental project being pursued; and this, for a developing economy and from a development economics perspective, is worrying.

Revenue collection increased to some $97.2 billion as at June 2017, or 13.1 per cent above the corresponding period in 2016.

It was reported that tax revenues represent 88.3 per cent of total revenue collection. This include increases in internal revenue collection by $5 billion, reaching $41.6 billion; withholding tax by $865.5 million, of which $191.9 million were arrears; collection of personal income tax increased by $265.3 million above the $10.6 billion collected for the corresponding period. Collection of customs and trade taxes increased by $5.6 billion compared to the corresponding period for the fiscal year 2016. Value added and excise taxes increased by $2.04 billion and $1.96 billion respectively.

Value added tax (VAT) from importation of goods grew by $1.2 billion, partly stemming from changes in budget 2017. VAT on domestic goods also increased by some $838.5 million on account of higher payments from telecommunication, wholesale and retail sectors.

Total non-tax revenue rose by $567.4 million to $11.3 billion during the first half of 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.

At the same time, rents and royalties declined by 32.3 per cent, reflecting lower gold declaration. On the expenditure side, Central Government’s non-interest recurrent expenditure totalled $77.5 billion, or 43.6 per cent of the budgeted amount, representing $4.2 billion or a 5.7 per cent increase over the corresponding period for 2016.

I pause here for now, next week I shall continue with this discussion, wherein I will examine how the increase in Central Government’s revenue impacted the macroeconomic framework; what were the effects, and so on. Same will be applied to the expenditure side of the equation. Importantly, we will examine what proportion of increased expenditure was diverted either indirectly or directly to developmental pursuits, if any; and overall, what are the effects of the increased tax measures presented in budget 2017 within the macroeconomic framework.

(For comments, questions and responses on articles featured in this column, readers can reach the author at jbinsights@outlook.com).

he Guyana Government has seized assets belonging to the two Guyanese accused of terrorism activities in the United States of America; namely a plot to bomb the JFK Airport.

The accused terrorists are Abdul Kadir and Abdel Nur. The move on the part of the Administration was made utilising the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Laws. The order was effected by Minister within the Finance Ministry, Jaipaul Sharma.

The Ministerial Order, which has since been officially gazette, is titled the ‘Targeted Financial Sanctions (Specified Persons) Order 2017.

Under that Ministerial Order, it was noted that the two specified persons were identified as a result of being targeted for financial sanctions in accordance with a United Nations Security Council Resolution #1373 and referred to under Guyana’s AML/CFT laws.

Kadir, a former People’s National Congress (PNC) Member of Parliament (MP), is currently incarcerated in a United States penitentiary in Pennsylvania, as inmate #64656-0533. He is also identified by the moniker “Aubrey Michael Seaforth”.

Nur, also known as “Compton Eversley”, is incarcerated in a North Carolina State Federal Correctional Institution.

The Order was made by Minister Sharma on August 29 last.

The 2007 John F Kennedy International Airport attack plot was an alleged Islamist terrorist plot to blow up a system of jet fuel supply tanks and pipelines that feed fuel to John F Kennedy International

Airport (JFK) in Queens, New York. These pipelines travel throughout the undergrounds of New York City in densely populated areas. The alleged plot was foiled when an undercover law enforcement official was recruited to the homegrown terrorist cell.

The main suspects in the terror plot were identified as Russell Defreitas, a Guyanese born naturialised United States citizen, and native of Guyana, who was suspected to be the alleged ringleader and was employed at the airport.

Kadir – the former PNC parliamentarian, was also found guilty along with Kareem Ibrahim, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and Abdel Nur, another Guyanese and uncle of former world welterweight boxing champion Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis.

Defreitas allegedly was clandestinely recorded telling an informant that "Anytime you hit Kennedy, it is the most hurtful thing to the United States. To hit John F Kennedy, wow – They love JFK – he's like the man. If you hit that, the whole country will be in mourning. It's like you can kill the man twice."

Defreitas had allegedly seen arms and missiles being shipped to Israel which he felt would be used to harm Muslims. The men are alleged to have named the plot "Chicken Farm". Extensive surveillance of the targets including the use of satellite photographs had been done and attempts had been made to reach out to another Islamist terrorist group. No explosives had been bought.

According to a Newsday report on the terror plot, New York investigators were probing a possible Iran connection to the plot because Abdul Kadir planned to vis-

it that country. In Trinidad, Police reportedly investigated whether Kareem Ibrahim had ties to Iraq and Iran.

According to US court documents, Kadir was the disciple of Mohsen Rabbani, an Iranian diplomat accused of being one of the masterminds behind the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires.

Defreitas was arrested in Brooklyn, New York. Kadir and Ibrahim were arrested in Trinidad on June 3, 2007.

Nur surrendered to Police two days later in Trinidad.

On June 25, 2008, Kareem Ibrahim, Abdel Nur and Abdul Kadir were extradited to the United States.

They pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to "cause greater destruction than in

the September 11 attacks".

The men were ordered held without bail pending a hearing scheduled for August 7.

Russell Defreitas is being held after an earlier not guilty plea. On June 29, the four men were indicted on charges with conspiring to "cause death, serious bodily injury and extensive destruction" at the airport and on August 6, a Judge ordered three of the alleged plotters extradited to the United States.

On August 2, 2010, Kadir and Defreitas were convicted in the JFK airport bomb plot while in 2011, Ibrahim was found guilty of the JFK Airport bomb plot, and in February 2012, Ibrahim was sentenced to life to prison.

12 news

SunDAY, september 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rice farmers operating at break-even prices – region’s Chamber … call for more lucrative markets to be secured for industry

T

he rice sector in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) is responsible for a significant proportion of Guyana’s rice production.

But according to business leaders in the region, farmers with no way out of the industry are predominantly operating at a break-even point.

According to the President of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Radesh Rameshwar, this situation was brought to his attention through complaints from rice farmers in the region.

He estimated that approximately 95 per cent of the farmers who would have been planting during the previous season, have returned to continue doing so. But he noted that the price they were getting per bag of paddy

President of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Radesh Rameshwar

continued to be a challenge.

“Obviously, we know that the price for rice has been a challenge for them,” he related, in a recent interview.

“And most of them are complaining that now many of

them have to work at a break even cost right now.”

“But what else can they do? So they’re trying their utmost best, hoping that the price will improve. And that (more) markets can be secured for them, so that they can be able to get better prices for their paddy.”

Traditionally, diplomatic envoys have been seen as the brokers of economic pacts with other countries. So much so that last year, President David Granger had charged new diplomats to strengthen their economic diplomacy and market Guyana’s products in a more forceful manner.

deal said to be worth some US$17 million (GY$3 billion), and 43,000 tonnes more will be shipped to the Central American country over the next few months.

However, the days of

tween $1800 and $2500, depending on location.

When Guyana Times interviewed farmers in July, their reluctance to engage in production this year was noted, but they took into

Markets

Last year, the Agriculture Ministry disclosed in July that 17,000 tonnes of paddy were shipped to Mexico in a

Region Three rice lands

farmers getting premium rates for their paddy crops have since passed, following the end of the PetroCaribe (rice-for-oil) deal which was cancelled by Venezuela in 2015. Under that arrangement, farmers accrued primum per bag of paddy, but this has been reduced to be-

consideration that some of them are owed for their produce. One miller who owes farmers millions of dollars had reportedly switched off his mobile phone and had refused to take telephone calls from farmers at that time.

This publication had also reported that a sim-

ilar situation of non-payment obtained on the island of Leguan, where numerous farmers there had also not been paid for their paddy.

State of the sector

Collectively, recent end of crop figures provided by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) showed that farmers harvested a total of 89,290 hectares or 23 per cent over the first crop 2016, resulting in a paddy production of 518,667 metric tonnes of paddy – 26 percent more than for the same period last year.

However, while there have been increases in production, the Rice Board has been grappling with a decrease in exports of rice and paddy for the first four months of the year. This is as a result of exports to the Panama market for the first crop not being realised.

For the first crop 2017, exports amounted to 239,442 metric tonnes, some 60,000 tonnes less that for the same period last year. Foreign exchange earnings from the export of rice and paddy amounted to US$92,026 million.

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SunDAY, september 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Upper Demerara Magisterial District improved services applauded Epistemic violence and our heritages

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s Guyana commemorates “Amerindian Heritage Month”, I reflected on the ironies in that name and the theme chosen: “Guyana’s first peoples; sustaining a rich cultural environment”. When the Spaniards “discovered” the “New World”, they found peoples with numerous cultures, each with its own perspectives, practices, and products – ways of life, if you will – histories, languages etc: but they were all dubbed “Indians”.

Red Indians, Indios, Amerindians but all, still “Indians” – a name they had originally imposed on the peoples of the land they were seeking – India.

“India”, was not so incidentally the name used originally by the ancient Greeks to label the land to the East of the river “Indus”, which is Ravi Dev Sanskrit, the language of the peoples was actually, “Sindhu”. Hindu is its Persian cognate but modern Europeans chose the Greek variant. Just as the present “Amerindian” leaders accepted being labelled as such and as “Guyana’s first peoples” (note the stubborn use of the lower case in “first peoples), India equivocated in their constitution: “India that is Bharat”!

And that act of naming is but one seemingly innocuous instance of the hegemony imposed on all of us in the nonEuropean world through the epistemic violence inflicted by the Europeans after their violent conquests of our lands.

Epistemic, of course, refers to knowledge and its measure of validation. Whose name? “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master – that’s all.” And that’s all: they were the masters and their words through the ages since the encounter has served to define us so completely that we have internalised them to believe whatever they are posited to mean. The European experience was now the measure of all things.

The power of naming is an aspect of the power to “other” us within Europe’s epistemic territory and means we have no say as to what aspect of our being or lives fits and is allowed to be incorporated into “modernity” and which is to be erased as “backward”. For instance, today, “Amerindian” land is being demarcated to define “ownership”, but under whose definition? When most Indigenous peoples refer to land, as one writer notes, “they do not mean a measurable or quantifiable extension of land, an object of geography and even less a commodity. (Land for them) exceeds the modern limit of reality in presence, it implies the past, heritage, memory. (It) has to be defended not for the sake of property but for the sake of protecting the ancestors, of preserving an origin that is both “past” and always already “present”. So today, the Indigenous Peoples’ claim to land can be dismissed by some people of African origin, who have been hegemonised like all of us were to a greater or lesser degree, under the European notion of ownership as “greedy”.

What is rather poignant is that the epistemic violence inflicted on peoples from Africa who were dragged from Africa to slave in the “New World” was the paradigmatic case of erasure in which the category called “race’ was invented

by Europe during a period they called “the Enlightenment”.

Africa was deemed a “dark Continent” from which nothing positive was ever created. In India, Macaulay explicitly presented a “Minute” to the Indian Parliament (run by Englishmen, of course) in which he declared Indians had also produced nothing of value and henceforth, all “knowledge” was to be disseminated in English and in English-run schools.

This, was in 1832, when the abolition of African slavery was being debated, and just in time for schools such as Queens College could be established to inflict the epistemic violence across the Empire.

Over the last month, I have been alluding to the attempt of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya to break out of the walls of the hegemony imposed by England in Indian politics. Because Deen Dayal recuperated part of the “traditional” world view of India, his work from 1965 was derided by most “educated Indians”. “Modernity” could only encompass the European experience, even if it was Greek “democracy” from 500 BC.

O

fficials in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) have expressed satisfaction over the improvement of services relative to the Upper Demerara Magisterial District Court, which was recently commissioned.

During the hosting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statumeeting, Regional tory Chairman Renis Morian reported that the new system of operation, especially as it relates to the swifter handling of court matters, has been approved by residents.

He noted that the court has since been functioning more efficiently.

Regional Councillor Sandra Adams also pointed out that, based on interactions she has had with officers of the Guyana Police Force as well as members of the public, there now seems to be a more effective management of the institution.

She explained that she re-

Linden Magistrate’s Court

cently had discussions with Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Honorable Madame Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, in relation to the court.

The 10th Magisterial District Court was last month commissioned with the aim of creating easier access to judicial services for people within Region 10. In his remarks during the commissioning of the institution, President David Granger had stressed that

access to justice is every citizen's expectation, and residents should not be made to travel long distances outside of their regions to access legal services.

Chancellor of the Judiciary, (ag) Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, at the commissioning had said it was a remarkable achievement for the Magistracy as well as residents of the district, as she noted that the need for such was great.

"It is no secret that, for many years, residents of the Upper Demerara River area had to travel to Vreeden-Hoop Magistrates Court to access certain basic legal services...Difficulties that we faced would be eased now, because the services... will now be accessed at this very magistrate’s court...," she had noted, as she stressed the costs attached to travelling for services incurred by residents as well as Police.

Apart from regular sittings, Cummings-Edwards had highlighted plans to introduce a Municipal Court, sittings of a Youth/Children's Court, diversionary programmes in relation to juvenile justice, Restorative Justice practices and a Mediation Centre in Linden.

In relation to video evidence, she had also noted that residents in far -flung areas within the Upper Demerara area will soon benefit from giving evidence via Skype.

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SunDAY, september 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Fifth Nereid’s yacht rally to be hosted in Guyana

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ome 12 yacht will soon begin arriving in Guyana sailing from Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and French Guiana for the fifth international Nereid’s rally.

The rally will be hosted at an official luncheon and welcome by Business Minister with responsibility for Tourism, Dominic Gaskin.

The cruisers, who will be spending some 10 days in Guyana offshore at the Hurakabra River Resort, will be sailing from the USA, Canada and Europe.

Regional Chairman of Bartica, Gordon Bradford, will be hosting the crew members to a day visit to explore the Baracara Falls.

The visit to Bartica, in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) will feature an exhibition and performance of our Indigenous culture in recognition of Amerindian Heritage Month.

Following that tour, the visiting yacht crews will be given the opportunity to visit

Younge’s Take

A failing coalition

O

Yachts at the Hurakabra Resort during the 2015 tour

Guyana’s Kaieteur Falls and other hinterland tourism attractions, as well as a day in Georgetown.

Hurakabra River Resort is organising three day trips to the Essequibo River beginning today, then on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17 to the resort during the rally via Fort Island to visit the Dutch Heritage Museum and including lunch

and games at the Resort.

The rally will depart Guyana on September 22 to its final destination, via Suriname, at Saint Laurent on the Maroni River in French Guiana for an elaborate welcome by the Mayor of the town, complete with Trinidad and Tobago steel band.

The Nereid’s Rally was born when Italian sailor, David Matelicani, in

sailing up the Essequibo River in 2011, met with Kit Nascimento, joint owner of Hurakabra River Resort with his wife Gem. Matelicani, who had already started a Marina in Saint Laurent, immediately saw the potential for developing a marina in the Essequibo River, and as such, work started to have the rally here in Guyana.

ver the past few weeks, Political Analysts Dr David Hinds, Ruel Johnson and Freddie Kissoon have been trying very hard to convince the populace that the opposition People’s Progressive Party should never be allowed to govern Guyana again. And while this has been the centerpiece and underlying theme of all of their writings since the 2015 elections, they appear convinced now more than ever that an electoral defeat may be looming for the coalition, unless it makes significant U-turn on key areas of public policy and development, especially where it is clear that the coalition is pursuing obvious politically and personally selfish objectives.

As a result, all three personalities have been using their various personal, professional, social media and political platforms to sway public opinion in favour of the coalition Government, which is panting for breath to stay alive in midst of several self-made Michael Younge disasters and catastrophes. We all know the individual histories of these writers, which have been dominated by their tales of discrimination and disenfranchisement allegedly ordered by the leaders of the PPP. We all know that their writings are informed not by reality or diverse socioeconomic history of this country, but by jealousy, vengeance, and hatred for personalities within the leadership of the PPP. So, in order to make sure that they settle personal scores with these individuals, the trio continues to fuel the ‘prosecute and jail’ narrative. They are also peddling the view that the coalition Government is ‘not as bad’ as the PPP, whom they alleged mismanaged Guyana for 23 years and stole almost everything that it could. These personalities have also gone to great lengths in their diatribe of writings to paint the PPP and its politicians as racist demigods who have only the interests of East Indian Guyanese at heart. And those who support the PPP publicly or privately on any issue fall prey to the wicked and dishonest ink flowing from their pens, unless they join the Government bandwagon or cease being a “slimey eel”.

Like many coalition converts and those who are currently on Government’s secret payroll (former media independents), they are quick to justify this Government’s wrongdoings while sympathizing with it principals, because apparently the PPP did worse, and the coalition will get it right after a few mistakes.

They also have developed the despicable pattern of using thirty per cent of their writings to purportedly criticise the coalition and give it advice while the seventy per cent is used to damage and defame the PPP in order to praise the Govt for doing what all Govts are supposed to do anyway.

One would have thought that their writings and heavily biased narratives would by now have convinced their large followings and the public that the PPP is evil, and cannot change while some personalities continue at its helm. Guyanese should be boycotting all opposition-sponsored events too, given the continuous venomous writings and criticisms of this trio, which supplements the dirty and less-than-factual work done by the Government’s Department of Public Information. Also, Guyanese are supposed to still feel ecstatic about President Granger’s ability to transform Guyana into the golden age with a modern economy. Guyanese, if they believed Freddie and David in particular, should be demanding action on Pradoville and the full implementation of all of the CoIs done to fix the broken institutions left and compromised by the PPP. But sadly, this is period of enlightenment. And Guyanese are intelligent politically. They see through the misguided and biased rants of personalities like Dr Hinds, Kissoon and Johnson.

They know the kind of Government they had under the PPP. They know what the APNU/AFC politicians promised, and the stark difference that they are seeing now. And try as hard as they may to cast blame for their missteps over the past 24 months, the people know that certain Government Ministers are incompetent. The people know, too, that the coalition is failing in every area that the PPP easily succeeded.

Also, Guyanese know that life is anything but good under President Granger’s fist. They see declining freedoms, jail breaks, poorly-thought-out laws, poorly performing and drunk Ministers and public officials, empty bread baskets, and increased taxation. They see the betrayal of those minority partners in the coalition. Oh, and they see the reward the AFC has reaped for selling its soul to the PNC. The truth is: unless this trio admits that there were merits associated with the PPP while it governed over 23 years, no one will take them seriously. The PPP did far more for Guyana than other post-independence party can claim. In fact, the APNU/ AFC coalition is benefiting from many of the PPP’s ideas and programmes left back in 2015.

The trio must end this futile attempt to ram the politics of the coalition down our throats. We want solutions to breadand-butter issues, the insufferable blackout situation, jobs, independent police reforms, and a judiciary that works. We care about national unity and ensuring that the party that has the best vision leads...the coalition appears to be strengthening the PPP’s appeal deliberately. Citizens are not fooled by the President’s sudden fascination with reforming the Police Force; refusal to appoint a GECOM Chair; purported manipulation of the army, and other deliberate acts. They will rally against any attempt to rig the 2020 elections.

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sunDAY, september 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Suicide Prevention Day

Stop the rhetoric, time for action – Dr Frank Anthony

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very year on September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day, there is an opportunity to raise awareness and reflect on what has been accomplished in the prevention of suicides in Guyana.

As such, Government has embraced a National Suicide Prevention Action Plan and established a Georgetown-based mental health unit to implement the plan.

However, People’s Progressive Party point person on health, Dr Frank Anthony, emphasised that notwithstanding this, 170 persons died by suicide in 2016, which is the third leading cause of death in persons ages 20 to 24, and the fourth leading cause of death in the 10 to 19 and 25 to 44 age groups. In 2016, like previous years, the vast majority of suicides occurred among persons of East Indian descent (accounting for 77.6 per cent of all cases), while smaller proportions were among persons of African, mixed and Amerindian descent.

Further, an analysis of the geographical distribution revealed that unlike previous years where Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was disproportionately affected, in 2016, Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) accounted for almost one-third of cases (28.8

Dr Frank Anthony

per cent) while Regions Two, Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) accounted for significant proportions of suicide cases.

According to Dr Anthony, these statistics paint a clear picture for need in policy development and public health action to target the particularly vulnerable East Indian population in the respective regions.

The Member of Parliament pointed out that Government’s response has been lacking in the most affected and susceptible regions; inferring misalignment between what Government is doing and what is needed.

One suggested area of intervention was the repeal or amendment of obsolete laws which criminalise attempted suicide (as set out in Section 96 of the Criminal Offences Act 8:01 and Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act Cap 8:02 Section 203) under the view that it is an “outdated approach”.

“Many persons who attempt suicide typically have symptoms of psychiatric illness or distress, indicating that the person needs medical assistance. If our laws were to be followed then those who need medical help would needlessly end up in jail. During a parliamentary debate on suicide, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan promised that he would bring the necessary amendments to repeal these obsolete sections of the law, suffice to say that nothing has happen,” Dr Anthony lamented.

Moreover, the National Suicide Prevention Action Plan indicated that 63.7 per cent of suicide cases were caused by the ingestion of a pesticide or herbicide.

In addition, Dr Anthony pointed out that countries with high numbers of self-poisonings have implemented a menu of measures referred to as the Hazard Reduction Model which

is emerging as one of the best practices around the world – a model which he suggests that Guyana should adopt instead of reinventing the wheel. For instance, Sri Lanka’s model, which include Legislative restriction on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHP) have caused a 50 per cent reduction of suicide cases in the country from 1996-2005.

Further questioning the effectiveness of the Customs Act Cap 82:01 Section 216 (ae), dealing with the penalty for evading customs laws regarding imported or exported goods, Anthony believes that there should be discussions in this regard, while proposing that perhaps it is time for an expert panel to review the list of HHP, to ensure that it is meeting the new public health objectives of preventing suicides.

Another important inter-

vention was highlighted as the improvement of health services in that there is need to train and equip health facilities to ensure competence in dealing with self-poisoning.

In the same breath, Dr Anthony believes that there is need to provide ongoing professional support to health personnel across Guyana to help in the management of poisoning, while suggesting that Government should move expeditiously to establish a national poison control centre which operates 24/7, to house a database with the name of all toxic chemicals, substances and medication and the recommended treatment protocols to be followed in the event that a person has been poisoned.

“As we mark another World Suicide Prevention Day, the occasion must not be used for empty rhetoric but to carefully scrutinised Government’s poli-

cy to see whether it is achieving the objectives, whether it is reaching those most susceptible to suicide, whether it has a footprint in the hot spot regions, whether the public health system has the capacity to treat cases of self-poisoning, whether it has repealed the attempted suicide law and amend other appropriate legislation, whether it has implemented a national hazard reduction model and whether it has established a national poison control centre,” he noted.

These, he added, are the yardsticks by which society should judge the Government’s prevention efforts. “Unfortunately, the Government has fallen woefully short in its effort. Let us hope that moving forward we will have less rhetoric and more tangible actions to prevent suicides”.

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SunDAY, september 10, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Illegal aircraft

Detainee confesses to constructing airstrip in Rupununi – 2 others in custody as Police hunt businessman

A

s the Guyana Police Force continues with its probe into the discovery of the illegal Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft and a makeshift airstrip that was found in the Upper Takutu region last month, one of the three men detained for questioning has admitted to constructing the airstrip.

Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Wendell Blanhum, confirmed to Guyana Times on Saturday that ranks from the CID Headquarters

contacted the suspect in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and during an interview, he admitted to his involvement in the construction and preparation of the said airstrip which facilitated the landing of the illegal aircraft discovered recently.

“As a result of the information received, the Police are currently pursuing one of the businessmen, who was previously held but was subsequently released on bail, for further question-

ing,” the Crime Chief disclosed.

It was also related to this publication that the two other persons are still in Police custody assisting with investigation as the probe continues.

On Monday last, acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine, told reporters that documents found in the Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft may have links to South American neighbours, Brazil and Colombia.

However, the acting Top Cop was unable to say who

the individuals were that brought the illegal aircraft into Guyana.

“I know some collaboration is being done with the Civil Aviation Authority and another agency but I don’t have the benefit of those details at this point in time… I know a few persons were in custody, and I think one or two brought to CID headquarters and interviewed, questioned and so on but I will await the outcome of the report,” the acting Police Commissioner had stated.

Just over three weeks ago, Police ranks in F Division (Interior Locations) went to an area in North Rupununi, where they discovered a 5400-foot long, 45foot wide airstrip. As they

were leaving the site, an aircraft landed and upon seeing the Police approaching, the occupants escaped into the nearby bushes.

In addition to the identification documents, several pieces of communication equipment, including cellular phones, flashlights, a quantity of dried ration and medical supplies were found aboard the aircraft.

Additionally, a search of the area unearthed three abandoned camps, in which canned food and other items were found along with containers of suspected aviation fuel.

An inter-agency probe has since been launched and it was unearthed that the aircraft, which initially had a Colombian registration

number, was actually registered to Brazil’s third largest banks, Banco Bradesco.

However, an official from the bank said that they do not own any planes but it is registered to them since the owner may have acquired a loan to purchase it. A mining company named Riwa SA Incorporated Investments and Participants operated the aircraft.

A history of the aircraft shows that it was owned by 11 companies in the past 27 years.

Nevertheless, Ramnarine said investigators are expected to wrap up the probe within the coming days.

This discovery has raised concerns within Government and during a recent visit to the Guyana Defence Force Base Camp Kanuku, located at the border town of Lethem, Region Nine, Commander in Chief, Brigadier David Granger, told Army officers to be vigilant at the country’s borders. He also called on various stakeholders in the region to work together to protect the borders against intruders.

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SunDAY, september 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Anna's

The Carl Parker case: Response to Red Thread’s President

I

t is with interest that I read Red Thread’s recent letter in the Guyana Times. Albeit the focus on my use of legal jargon that, considering the context in which I wrote my last column, is irrelevant, I believe the tone does warrant a response.

To begin with, while in my capacity as President of GEPAN, I made myself entirely available to the victim, and as recent as last Wednesday requested that any clarification, if necessary, be provided to rectify the information I would have received since the matter erupted last year, she has to date made no attempt in this direction. And whereas the court did not order the victim to procure a lawyer (the only technicality requiring clarification), the case was on the verge of being dropped due to reported inadequacies of the Anna Correia police prosecutor.

The letter claims that “the complainant [whom I referred to as the “victim”] had previously written to the leadership of her political party to report his assault, and it was this report to which Minister Amna Ally responded.” Social Protection Minister Amna Ally did meet with the victim on January 27, 2017, although the victim’s ordeal occurred in September 2016. However, it was omitted that the matter was reported to the police, the party, and by extension the Government, as early as November 2016.

Pursuant to the reports, inaction encouraged the victim to solicit President Granger’s intervention. In November, PNC Chairman and Attorney General Basil Williams also gathered knowledge of the matter in Lethem. Therefore, whatever plea for justice and help Ally might have responded to was definitely not the victim’s first, nor was her response of great assistance in moving forward.

Interestingly, I note the letter’s detailed and defensive account of what transpired at the Social Protection Ministry.

Yet, regardless of the nature of the meetings which unfolded between de Souza/Red Thread, Minister Ally, and the victim, no guarantees of commitment to justice or assistance from the Ministry were forthcoming.

Nevertheless, Red Thread mentioned being “totally supportive of the complainant throughout the process, from her reporting to the police to the present court hearing.” This is good news, since the victim must receive all the support she can get.

However, it has been almost a year since Parker was accused, and Red Thread’s public attempts to call out the Government on the anomalies surrounding the case to date probably resume to less than 5 published letters and articles in the press. And while accompanying the victim to court hearings is indeed a welcome and supportive gesture, it might be considered insufficient to valorise the organisation’s commitment. I am happy, nevertheless, to witness the organisation’s newfound vigour.

Meanwhile, GEPAN has been intensely vocal on this issue via several platforms, including the media, the organisation’s website, and social media. Additionally, the organisation petitioned, on behalf of the victim, both Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan and President Granger himself. Prior to this, the organisation petitioned the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples, to draw the attention of the international community on the violations of indigenous peoples’ rights in Region #9, which included complaints of sexual assault on women allegedly committed by Parker prior to the one for which he is currently being judged.

It must be understood that, beyond the legal advice which was provided to the victim, GEPAN has been relentless over the past months in its call for a lawyer to represent the victim gratuitously. It is with deep satisfaction that the organisation notes its efforts were not in vain, and that the Director of Public Prosecutions was informed during the course of this past week of the victim’s interest in having a lawyer represent her.

So, instead of sarcastically focusing on my personal “zeal” and use of legal jargon, perhaps Red Thread’s President should invest her energies in a more impacting campaign against Parker’s apparent status of impunity.

As she rightly stated, “This is the first time we know of that court proceedings relating to a sexual offence are ongoing against a prominent official of a ruling administration”. Consolidating efforts in civil society would therefore achieve much more than pettiness. De Souza must understand that this is not an individualistic competition for merit, but rather a move to set precedence in Guyana for all those who believe that abuse of power can go unpunished. GEPAN is committed to the people of the Rupununi who have suffered under Parker, and we welcome all cooperation, including from Red Thread.

And the Arrow will continue to share in this cause.

Contact sundayarrow@gmail.com

Guyana Gold Fields gives financial support to Heritage Month celebrations

T

he Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry cashed in on a generous donation as the Guyana Gold Fields Inc (GFF) pledged support to the ongoing nationwide celebration of Heritage Month 2017.

In doing so, the GFF plugged a sum of money into the preparation and successful hosting of this year’s Indigenous Heritage Village Day Celebrations set for St Cuthberts Mission, Region Four on Saturday. Adding to that, contributions were also made towards the commem-

GGF’s CSR Field Assistant Leon Roberts presenting the cheque to Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe

oration of the life and work of Stephen Campbell and other notable Indigenous

persons set for September 18; also tabled as a part of the month of activities.

Moreover, the village, also preferred to as Pakuri, benefited from a tangible donation for the construction of an eco-lodge which will be located in view of the Village landing, compliments of the GFF. Present at the handing over ceremony was the CSR Field Assistant, Leon Roberts, who made the presentation to Minister within the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry Valerie Garrido-Lowe, along with representatives from St Cuthberts Mission. turn to page 18

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sunday, september 10, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

NA Council says RDC must apply to extend schools, new bridges

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ice Chairman of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Dennis DeRoop, is accusing the New Amsterdam Town Council of using the Regional Administration conveniently. His comments came as he addressed the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) late last week.

DeRoop was at the time responding to a request by the New Amsterdam Town Council for the administration to apply to the Council for permission to undertake any work in the township.

He noted that recently there was a tree at the Esplanade Park where Africanised bees had begun building a hive.

“It is the responsibility of the municipality to deal with it,” he stated.

The Vice Chairman informed the RDC that the regional engineer had to write to the Town Council seeking permission to be able to get someone to capture the bees.

“They should be asking us to help but instead we had to write them to get

Regional Vice Chairman Denis DeRoop

permission to get rid of bees in the town… When the job was finished and the contractor cut down the tree and everything, the whole Municipality was there fighting down the contractor for the wood… they are using the region conveniently,” DeRoop said.

Earlier the New Amsterdam Municipality

had sought by way of a correspondence to impose that the Town Council be allowed to give approval for any work to be carried out in the town on infrastructure and Government buildings.

The Council is also seeking to have the regional administration pay an application fee when applying for permission.

According to the Vice Chairman, “If the municipality wants the region to assist with cleaning the drains and canals, they shouldn’t say it is our responsibility; they should write the region and ask for help.”

DeRoop noted that the municipality of Georgetown does not ask the Central Government to seek permission in writing before they carry out any developmental projects in the city.

“The Government has to write the Municipality of New Amsterdam to repair a road or to build a bridge in New Amsterdam or the Ministry of Education has to write the Municipality of New Amsterdam to get per-

mission to extend a school and have to pay money to get the plan passed. This is just a bottleneck hindering development.

This is a serious matter and we need to communicate directly with the PS [Permanent Secretary] on this issue to have it resolved and this will only hamper development and create further bottlenecks in the process.”

Regional Chairman David Armogan quoted

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, saying money is not being circulated and regional administrations need to spend the money which has been budgeted to them and award contracts.

Armogan explained that what the New Amsterdam Municipality is seeking to do is to stagnate development; a process which will see the administration not being able to execute all of the proposed contracts in the town of New Amsterdam.

According to DeRoop, what the municipality is attempting to do will further hamper any development in the New Amsterdam/ East Canje Area since $50 million which is paid as wages to Guyana Sugar Corporation employees will be taken away from the economy with the closure of the Rose Hall Estate.

“I foresee a major disaster when that happens,” the Vice Chairman added.

(Andrew Carmichael)

Hurricane Irma: Cuba hit with strong winds, heavy rain

Strong winds caused this destruction in Cuba

H

urricane Irma lashed Cuba with strong winds and heavy rain after devastating several Caribbean islands.

The hurricane made landfall on the Camaguey Archipelago, in Cuba's northeast, as a category five storm but has now weakened to a category three.

The Bahamas have largely been spared.

In Florida, 5.6 million people, or 25% of the US state's population, have been told to leave as the storm approaches. At least 20 people are known to have died so far across the Caribbean.

Irma hit the SabanaCamaguey Archipelago late on Friday, threatening nearby coastal towns and villages.

It was the first category five hurricane to hit Cuba in decades. It weakened to category three by Saturday

lunchtime but is expected to strengthen again as it approaches Florida. At 12:00 GMT, Irma had maximum sustained winds of 209km/h (130mph), the National Hurricane Center in the US said. It has brought vast amounts of rainfall to parts of Cuba, with extensive flooding reported in the fishing village of Caibarien.

Power lines have been brought down in several parts of the central province of Camaguey, and communication is becoming increasingly difficult with towns in more remote areas, the BBC's Will Grant in Havana reports.

Thousands of people have been evacuated but many others stayed to ride out the storm. Cuban officials reported "significant damage", without giving further details, but said there were

no confirmed casualties yet, AFP news agency reported.

Earlier, people tried to secure their roofs and move belongings from low-lying coastal areas to higher ground.

"There are really strong gusts of wind. It is pouring off and on, and the lights are out," Anaida Gonzalez, a retired nurse in the Camaguey province, told Reuters.

About 50,000 tourists are fleeing or have fled Cuba, with resorts on the north coast now empty, the news agency reports. Irma is expected to hit Florida on Sunday, but the outer bands are already affecting the south of the state and downtown Miami is being lashed by heavy rain.

About 25,000 people are currently without electricity, energy provider Florida Power and Light reported.

(BBC)

Guyana Gold Fields give...

While addressing the gathering, Roberts expressed delight on his company’s behalf to once again play their part in the commemoration for the first peoples of Guyana.

On the receiving end was Lenox Shuman, the Toshao of the St Cuthbert’s Mission. Shuman extended gratitude to the GGF for this significant donation which will not only aid in the execution of Heritage Day 2017 but also directed toward the development of his community.

“The community has enjoyed a very healthy relationship with Guyana Gold Fields and we appreciate it, they have provided a lot of tangible resources to the community and provided stability to families so we look forward to growing that relationship. We are

happy that Guyana Gold Fields has pledged some money towards that and I think this is just the first step in getting it right, and we look forward to that,” the Toshao stated.

According to the Toshao, the construction of the lodge is expected to begin immediately following the hosting of the Heritage Village Day celebration since some materials have already been procured.

Meanwhile, Minister Garrido-Lowe in thanking Guyana Gold Fields Inc for its continued support to the Indigenous communities noted that “They are good corporate citizens and I’m happy to have them on board and their continued support is needed. Thank you very much and we will continue to work together to build our country and our

from page 17

hinterland in a sustainable way.”

Back in 2016, Pakuri was selected to host the Village Day celebrations and as such, a number of critical works were undertaken including the sprucing up of a number of buildings as well as the construction of a new benab located in the centre of the village which will host the formal activities.

Security measures including cordoning off of the area close to the village landing is in place along with upgrades to the main thoroughfare into the village, with assistance from the Guyana Defence Force.

With all the works needed to ensure the successful execution of this year’s Heritage Month celebrations, the contribution by the GGF is a much welcomed one.

sunDAY, september 10, 2017

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Holder ‘would love’ Gayle in Test team, but happy without star names

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arren Bravo is set to return to the West Indies' Test team but captain Jason Holder does not expect an influx of star names in the format.

Jason Holder would welcome Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo back into t h e

Jason Holder

West Indies Test team with open arms, but is not expecting other star names to flood back.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) recently relaxed restrictions on selecting players who prioritised playing in foreign Twenty20 leagues over the domestic four-day competition.

Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard are some of the leading lights who had been linked with a return, or debut in Pollard's case, at Test level, but Holder says such an influx is unlikely.

Darren Bravo was unceremoniously dropped from the team in November 2016 amid a row with the WICB, but is expected to return after Kyle Hope ended the losing series in England

with a measly average of 6.83.

The return of Gayle in particular would bring stardust to a Windies side failing to live up to legendary predecessors from the 1970s and 80s, but Holder says he is happy with those currently at his disposal.

"Darren Bravo is a guy who has done well for us in the recent past," Holder said. "But apart from Darren I don't think there's anybody else who's interested in playing Test cricket that we can really call upon or the so-called big names people are looking for.

"Chris has probably hinted that he would like to play if he's fit enough. He's always said he would like to play. I spoke to him a while back. We would love to have a guy like Chris in our side.

He brings a lot.

"But apart from those two players I don't think there's anybody else we can

really look to."

Holder added: "I think we've got the best of the lot [playing] right now. I'm really, really happy with this squad to be honest. I enjoy playing cricket with this squad and I enjoy leading this squad. I wouldn't trade this squad for the world."

Chris Gayle last played a Test in 2014 at Sabina Park

CPL makes donation to Hurricane Irma relief efforts

I

n a release on Saturday, The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) stated, “we wish to send our best wishes to all those that have been affected by Hurricane Irma. It is heartbreaking to see parts of the Caribbean being impacted by such devastation and Hero CPL will be making a donation to the Pearl and Bunty Lara Foundation to help those that have been affected by Irma.

The hearts and minds of all those associated with Hero CPL are with those that have had their lives affected by the hurricane. Before tonight’s final there will

be a moment of silence for those that have lost their lives.

Hero CPL CEO, Damien O’Donohoe, said: “It is dreadful to see such damage and destruction happen to the region.

Everyone associated with the Hero CPL wishes all those who have had their lives impacted by this awful hurricane all the best over the days and weeks ahead. With Hurricane Jose also in the region we just hope that everyone stays safe.”

If people wish to make a donation to the relief efforts they can do so by visiting https://www.globalgiving.org

20

guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, september 10, 2017

Bounty Farm’s 15s Rugby…

Panthers destroy Falcons with 67-7 blitz P

anthers began the 2017 Bounty Rugby 15s season in empathic fashion when they obliterated Police Falcon in a 67-7 blitzkrieg on Saturday afternoon at the Athletic Track at the National Park in Georgetown.

Led by the youthful exuberance of Lloyd Anderson who managed to compile 18 points in the game, Panthers also received valuable support from Daniel Anderson in the form of three tries while national players Godfrey Broomes and Rondell McArthur also made their mark in the onslaught.

The lone Police try came from Akelo Jones, and was converted by Daniel De Abreu. The action will continue today at the same venue, when Caribs tackle Guyana Defence Force from 16:00 hrs. The tournament will run from September 9th to November 12th, with five teams playing two rounds of

Panthers’ Godfrey Broomes (with ball) attempts a break-away

matches. The teams, mainly men, will play 20 matches on the weekends -- Saturdays and Sundays -- for the title, while the females will play Sevens’ games starting before the men’s games.

The Sevens matches played by the women are part of the national preparation for the 2017 Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens, to be played in Mexico on November 25

and 26, 2017. All members of RAN, including associate members and regional development unions, are expected to participate.

This year’s international competition is a qualifier for the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO) Games, 2018 Hong Kong Sevens, Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018, and Commonwealth Games.

Stoke ends United’s perfect start M

anchester United dropped points for the first time this season as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's double helped Stoke City to a 2-2 draw.

Eric Maxim ChoupoMoting's double secured Stoke City a battling 2-2 draw at home to a wasteful Manchester United side that dropped points for the first time this season.

Jose Mourinho's men attracted plenty of admirers for their impressive start to the campaign, but they were not at their best in front of goal and Choupo-Moting inspired Stoke to a commendable point at the bet365 Stadium.

An entertaining first half saw both sides look a danger going forward, with United in particular guilty of wasting numerous chances to take the lead.

Eventually Stoke found the breakthrough in the 43rd minute through Choupo-Moting, but that only seemed to jolt United into life, as they restored parity shortly after in fortuitous circumstances when a Paul Pogba header deflected in off Marcus Rashford.

Romelu Lukaku put United ahead for the first time just before the hour,

but like with Stoke's opener, an equaliser followed soon after as Choupo-Moting doubled his tally.

United looked the more likely to steal a late winner, but Stoke defended valiantly and kept United's frontline at bay.

Stoke started the brighter of the teams and threatened twice in the opening 10 minutes, with ChoupoMoting and Jese Rodriguez both getting in behind the defence and going close.

United soon woke up and troubled their opposition in a similar fashion, as Lukaku latched on to Rashford's pass and crossed towards Pogba, whose backheeled effort was deflected behind.

The home side struggled to deal with the lively Rashford and he went close twice in quick succession just before the half-hour mark.

His first opportunity saw the forward race on to a through ball and test Jack Butland from 16 yards, before forcing an even better stop from the goalkeeper with a controlled effort which looked destined for the bottom-right corner.

Stoke took full advantage of those let-offs late in the half – Choupo-Moting slam-

ming in from close range after a fine Mame Biram Diouf cross.

Their joy was shortlived, though, as United levelled a few moments later as Pogba's header hit an oblivious Rashford following a Henrikh Mkhitaryan corner and found the net.

United completed the turnaround in the 57th minute and Mkhitaryan was at the centre of things again, slicing open the Stoke defence with an intricate pass for Lukaku, who found the net at the second time of asking after Butland saved his first effort.

But Stoke were level again shortly after.

David De Gea made a remarkable save to deny Jese initially, but from the resulting corner he was rendered helpless, as Choupo-Moting headed in at the back post after shaking off Phil Jones' weak challenge.

There was still time for United to almost snatch it with two late chances.

The first fell to Lukaku, who inexplicably turned Antonio Valencia's cross over from eight yards with nine minutes left, before Butland heroically got down to prevent Kurt Zouma from scoring an own goal deep into stoppage time.

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Warriors did not play to their true potential – Arjune F

ormer Guyana opening batsman Krishna Arjune firmly believes that the Guyana Amazon Warriors did not play to their true potential at the elimination stage of the tournament, and that is why they lost by six wickets to Trinibago Knight Riders (TKR) on Thursday evening at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Warriors posted a competitive 159-6 from their allotment of 20 overs, while the home team, in response, easily reached the target with 12 balls to spare. With the triumph, TKR was set to meet St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the 2017 HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 final at the same venue under lights on Saturday.

According to Arjune, had the Warriors’ boys shown more commitment in the fielding department, they could have played another CPL final on this occasion.

He also opined that poor captaincy may have contributed to the defeat.

“I think Guyana Amazon Warriors did play their game to one hundred per cent. The fielding was disappointing, while we could have scored more runs, which (would have added) more pressure (on) TKR. The captaincy of Reyad Emrit was also disappointing, he should have be more proactive up-front with the spinners and pacers,” the right-handed Arjune declared. The Guyana Amazon Warriors have, since inauguration of the CPLT20 in 2013, participated in three

Prime Minister’s Softball Cup set for gala launch today – registration forms will be available

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The tournament is expected to attract some top teams across Guyana

R

egistration forms for the country’s premier softball cup competition can be uplifted today at the conclusion of the official launching of the threeday tournament. The launch is scheduled for the pavilion at the Everest Cricket Club ground from 12:00hrs, and according to the organising committee, the captain of each local participating team is asked to be a part of the ceremony.

Named the ‘Prime Minister’s Cup’, the threeday tournament is billed for October 27, 28 and 29; and will be played in two categories -- the Masters and the All Stars. Entry is open to any number of teams interested in participating in the tournament. To date, a number of local teams have confirmed their participation.

To add some international flavour to the event, Toronto Cup Masters Softball Cricket tournament 2017 winners, SVC Mafia,

and New York Hustlers along with New York President’s X1 and Try State Masters, have all confirmed their participation.

Players must be over the age of 45 in order to play in the Masters category, while the All Stars format is open to all ages.

Teams registering for the Over-45 category must submit photo identification, preferably valid passports for every member of their 15man squad. The Over-45 category will make the champions $500,000 richer, while in the All Stars category, the winning team will collect $600,000. Entrance is free.

A number of top Government officials, including Minister of Social Cohesion, who assumed responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton; and Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, are among those expected to grace the event with their presence.

finals, but have never proven their superiority in this exciting tournament with the prestigious trophy on offer. The 35-year-old Arjune, who is currently plying his trade in Canada representing Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club in the Scarborough Cricket Association limited-over tournament, said the Guyana Amazon Warriors team was loaded with enough talented T20 players, but some of them failed to live up to expectations.

“Obviously, Guyana had a good team to reach this far.

The way they started off by losing the first few matches was also disappointing, but they bounced back with great determination; and beating defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs in the first Eliminator

Krishna Arjune

was very encouraging and promising that the team could have emerged victorious, but lack of application on their last outing cer-

tainly was responsible for them losing out again at the CPL,” Arjune opined.

Arjune said there were many outstanding performances, and felt those could have inspired the Warriors to be in the championship contest; but he thinks the guys have to be more disciplined in the field.

“In the last game, they dropped two catches off Colin Munro, who eventually went on to hit a match-winning unbeaten innings. It proved bad for the Warriors’ boys, because Munro capitalized on the opportunity to take TKR closer to winning the tournament,” Arjune, whose younger brother, Vishal Arjune, also represented Guyana at the youth level, said. (Ravi Madholall in Toronto)

16 teams vying for quarter-final spots in the Hamilton Green Cup K O tournament W

hen action in the Hamilton Green Knock-out tournament continues today with the first two of eight games at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden, it will all boil down to who hungers most for success with quarter-final berths at stake. In the first match, beginning at 19:00hrs, Winners Connection will clash with Kuru Kururu, and that game will be followed by Mile Rock vs Plaisance.

Teams from Georgetown, such as Santos, GFC, Police, Riddim Squad and Western Tigers, are all in the hunt for the trophy.

While GFC has a talented young squad that is more than capable of carrying them through to the finals, Western Tigers and arch rivals Police both have experi-

ence on their side.

Santos will be looking for their free scoring frontline to click as the tournament gets down to the business end of things.

The next matches in the tournament are also slated for the aforementioned venue, and will pit Silver Shattas against Riddim Squad on Friday, September 15 at 19:00hrs; and that game will be followed by Eagles United vs Soesdyke at 21:00hrs.

At stake is over $1 million in prizes, with the winner receiving $500,000 and the Minister of Citizenship’s Trophy, while the runner-up, third placed and fourth placed teams will receive $250,000, $150,000 and $100,000 respectively in that order.

Listed below are the up-

coming fixtures: Today’s matches MSC Ground, Linden19:00hrs Winners Connection VS Kururu 21:00hrs Mile Rock VS Plaisance Friday, September 15 MSC Ground Linden19:00hrs Silver Shattas VS Riddim Squad 21:00hrs Eagles United VS Soesdyke Sunday, September 17 Victoria Ground, ECD18:00hrs Mahaica VS Golden Grove 20:00hrs Ann’s Grove VS Buxton/ Bakewell Wednesday, September 20 GFC Ground, Georgetown19:00hrs Santos VS Uitvlugt 21:00hrs GFC VS Den Amstel

Horse racing extravaganza for Ryon Crawford Memorial Turf Club

B

erbicians will today be treated to a grand one-day meet at the Ryon Crawford Memorial Turf Club at Alness, Corentyne.

Eight races are carded for this exciting day, with more than four million dollars ($4m) in cash and other prizes up for grabs.

Well over 40 (forty) horses have registered for the event, the feature race being the Alness Classic over a distance of one mile. It carries a first prize of $600,000.

The runner-up will take

home $300,000, third place $150,000, and fourth $75,000.

The other events that are listed are the H Class and Lower for a distance of six furlongs, of which the winner will be taking home $200,000; the ThreeYear Old Guyana bred over six furlongs for a top prize of $160,000; K Class and Lower class also over six furlongs, which carry a winning purse of $140,000. The J Class and Lower, L Class and Lower and K Class and Lower for a winning prize

of $150,000, $100,000 and $60,000 in that order, will complete the day’s activities.

In a release to the media, club representatives informed that the track is in excellent condition and exciting action is anticipated. The list of sponsors for the event include Kanhai’s Electrical, F. Habibullah, Nand Persaud and Co. Ltd., A. Archer, Curtains and Drapery Interior Designs, Mr. R. Poonai – Attorneyat-Law, Kenrick Auto Sales, ANSA McAL and Jumbo Jet Auto Sales.

22 EBFA Ralph Green U-11 League Sizzling action expected Agricola begin tonight in Corona title defence on football semi-finals successful note – Rangers face GFC; Police tackle Tigers guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, september 10, 2017

– Grove, Diamond add to winners row

Police hope they will change their recent history with Western Tigers and book a spot in the final

I

t will, this evening, be Armageddon at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground at Bourda as the final four remaining teams engage in a battle of attrition to determine who progresses to the final of the Corona Invitational Football Tournament.

The youthful and unbeaten Northern Rangers will have a chance to carve their names in the history books should they dispose of home side GFC and for the first time ever reach a final in Georgetown Football; which by no means is an easy task.

Rangers have arrived at this stage after edging

Camptown 4-3 on penalty kicks following a match that ended in a goalless stalemate. This time, however, the likes of Sunil Logan, Anthony Sancho, Stephon Reynolds and Kwame Holder will all need to come to the party – and play crucial roles.

The GFC are chockfull of

experience. Talented striker Benjamin Opara has established himself as a ruthless finisher in front of goal, having scored in four successive games. And gunslingers Joel Humphrey and Dwayne Rebeiro are awesome when in da mood.

In the other fixture, Western Tigers will clash with arch rivals Guyana Police Force. Both teams have become used to playing each other in knock-out matches. The Tigers’ last lost to a posse of lawmen in 2016, but they have since been looking like a side hunting to climb the pedestal and be recognised as the topranked Georgetown team.

Small wonder, since Dellon Kells, Darren Benjamin and Jarel Tyrell have been roaring like lion kings.

The men in blue blew away the Tigers in 2016, but much will now be required of the experienced Dwain Jacobs and Quincy Holder, because the Tigers are snarling at blue.

The first semi-final gets cracking at 19:00 hrs, while the other starts at 21:00 hrs.

The four remaining teams are playing for a first place prize of one million dollars and championship trophy, while second to fourth place teams would respectively pocket $400,000, $200,000 and $100,000 and the corresponding accolades.

Agricola Red Triangle and Mocha Champs matching skills on Saturday at Grove Playfield

D

efending champions Agricola Red Triangle opened their defence of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA)/Ralph Green Under-11 title on a winning note on Saturday with a solid 3-0 win over Mocha Champs at the Grove Playfield.

Also notching wins on the day were Grove High Tech, which chalked up their second win in as many matches -a 6-0 thumping of Friendship to move to the top of Group B; while Diamond United also sit at the top of Group A after they were gifted three points following the no-show of Diamond Upsetters.

Agricola did not find the going easy against the Mocha boys, and had to wait until the final five minutes of the 30-minute encounter to get past the defence of those doughty lads from Mocha. Jaden Paul broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, and once that was achieved, Agricola fired in two more unanswered goals.

Terry Moore rocked the net in the 27th minute, and the third and final goal came on the stroke of full time off the boot of Jonathan Andries.

Home team Grove were once again in ripping form. Lead striker Jamal Cordis blasted a hat-trick to follow up his double against Mocha in their first match, which they won 5-0.

Cordis rocked the nets in the 2nd, 13th and 20th minutes; and Dwayne Cliffe in the 6th minute, Kevon Pluck (18th) and Jeremiah Henry in the (28th) minute added to Friendship’s woes. Matches continue at the same venue.

Following is the latest points standings.

Teams Diamond United Agricola Red Triangle Diamond Upsetters Herstelling Mocha Champs

P 2 1 1 0 2

Grove Hi Tech Samatta Point K/Ville Friendship All Stars Kuru Kururu Warriors Highway United

2 1 1 0 0

Group A W 2 1 0 0 0

L

D

0 0 1 0 2

0 0 0 0 0

Group B 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0

GF 4 3 0 0 0

11 0 0 0 0

GA GD Points 0 +4 6 0 +3 3 2 -2 0 0 0 0 5 -5 0

0 5 6 0 0

+11 -5 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 0

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, september 10, 2017

Anderson's career-best seals series for England E

ngland pace bowler James Anderson took a career best of seven for 42 on Saturday to destroy the West Indies’ batting on the third day of the third test at Lord’s and set up his team for a 2-1 series victory.

After West Indies had been dismissed for 177 in their second innings, England reached 107 for one to ensure they retained the Wisden trophy with more than two days’ play remaining in the final test of the English summer.

Anderson, who on Friday became the first England bowler to take 500 test wickets, captured the key wicket of Shai Hope for 62 immediately after lunch and two balls later bowled Devendra Bishoo for a duck.

He then bowled Kemar Roach for three to better his previous best of seven for 43 against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in Nottingham in 2008.

Bowling under clear skies on the third morning of a match in which 23 wickets fell on the first two days, Anderson, with two wickets already from day two, struck twice in the first hour.

Roston Chase was caught behind by Johnny Bairstow for three pushing

23

Shai Hope made an excellent halfcentury ©Getty Images

SCOREBOARD

Champagne corks ready to be popped as Joe Root lifts the trophy ©Getty Images

forward to the fourth delivery of the morning and Jermaine Blackwood fell in similar fashion for five.

England’s fielding was again fallible with Broad dropping Blackwood and failing to hold on to a stinging caught-and-bowled opportunity from wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich while Alastair Cook failed to take a catch at gully from West Indies’ captain Jason Holder off the last ball before lunch bowled by captain Joe Root. Hope, who scored a century in each innings of the second test at Headingley when West Indies squared the series,

batted throughout the opening session, playing one glorious cover drive to the boundary off Ben Stokes and brought up his half-century with an equally delightful push to the mid-wicket boundary.

But with his dismissal after nearly four hours at the crease, West Indies’ hopes of setting England any sort of challenging target disappeared. After Bishoo had dismissed Cook lbw for 17 with the leg-spinner’s first delivery of the match, Mark Stoneman (40 not out) and Tom Westley (44 not out), who both needed runs to press

their claims for a place in the England side to defend the Ashes in Australia at the end of the year, guided their side home to an untroubled victory. Stokes was named as the manof-the-match ahead of Anderson after taking six for 22 in West Indies’ first innings and then top-scoring with 60 in England’s reply. “To share the moment with guys I have played 100 tests with is very special,” Anderson said. “We set a target of not going for many runs this morning and we are just delighted with the result.” (Reuters)

West Indies 1st innings 123 England 1st innings 194 West Indies 2nd innings (Overnight: 93-3) K. Brathwaite b Anderson 4 K. Powell b Anderson 45 K. Hope lbw b Broad 1 S. Hope c Bairstow b Anderson 62 R. Chase c Bairstow b Anderson3 J. Blackwood c Bairstow b Anderson 5 S. Dowrich c Broad b Roland-Jon es 14 J. Holder c Anderson b Broad 23 D. Bishoo b Anderson 0 K. Roach b Anderson 3 S. Gabriel not out 0 Extras (lb-17) 17 Total (all out, 65.1 overs) 177 Fall of wickets: 1-6 K. Brathwaite,2-21 K. Hope,3-69 K. Powell,4-94 R. Chase,5-100 J. Blackwood,6-123 S.

Dowrich,7-155 S. Hope,8155 D. Bishoo,9-177 J. Holder,10-177 K. Roach Bowling: Anderson 20.1 - 5 42 – 7, Broad 19 - 9 - 35 – 2, Roland-Jones 11 - 4 - 31 -1, Stokes 12 - 3 - 41 – 0, Ali 2 0 - 6 – 0, Root 1 - 0 - 5 - 0 England 2nd innings (Target: 107 runs) A. Cook lbw b Bishoo 17 M. Stoneman not out 40 T. Westley not out 44 Extras (b-4 lb-1 w-1) 6 Total (for 1 wickets, 28 overs) 107 Fall of wickets: 1-35 A. Cook Did not bat: J. Root, D. Malan, B. Stokes, J. Bairstow, M. Ali, T. Roland-Jones, S. Broad, J. Anderson Bowling: Gabriel 5 - 0 - 22 – 0, Roach 1 - 0 - 4 – 0, Holder 6 - 1 - 16 - 0(w-1), Bishoo 11 - 2 - 35 -1, Chase 5 - 1 - 25 - 0

Moses upsets field to claim 17th Annual DeSinco 11race Cycling title

GISE/Star Party Rentals First Division 2-day Competition

George’s ton puts UG in charge after day 1 proceedings – TSC gain command over GDF

Devon George

By Delvon McEwan

D

evon George scored his maiden first division century to help the University of Guyana (UG) set a competitive first innings’ total of 272 on the first day of their two-day clash against Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO).

The right-handed George accounted for eight fours and five sixes in his

even 100, the team’s top score after winning the toss and deciding to take first strike.

He shared in two significant partnerships during his knock: first adding 69 for the second wicket with Melroy Stephenson (38), then 64 for the fourth wicket with Omesh Danram (40).

Ray Newton (26), Suresh Danhai (22) and Dennis Heywood (21) also contributed to their team’s total in the latter part of the innings.

Replying, GYO were in a spot of bother on 132-6, still trailing by 140 runs when the umpire called off play for the day at the Malteenoes Sports Club Ground in Georgetown.

GYO’s left arm orthodox spinner Trevon France, who finished with a 10-wicket match haul last weekend, claimed 6-87 from 22 overs, and was supported by K. Singh, who was responsible for two victims.

France then returned to hit 32 not out and saw his team to the end without any further hiccups. Resuming play with him tomorrow is Leon Griffin, who is on 18. Twelve-year-old Movindra Dindyal batted impressively for 36, while Devish Ramjattan played patiently for 22.

Kemuel Moses collecting his trophy from a DeSinco representative

K

Trevon France

Dwayne Dodson has so far collected two wickets for the students, who are well placed to claim first innings’ points. Meanwhile, in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) versus Transport Sports Club (TSC) clash at the military base at Camp Ayanganna, the visitors are in command after the first day’s proceedings.

TSC scored 214 all out, then limited the hosts to 74-9 before the day closed.

emuel Moses on Saturday produced one of the biggest cycling upsets in recent memory when he beat a field of the country’s top cyclists to claim the 17th Annual DeSinco Invitational 35-lap race title at the National Park circuit. Moses, who kept up with the peloton in the opening stages, made a remarkable breakaway in the final lap, and finished first ahead of Silvio Innis, who was second.

Defending champion Michael Anthony finished in third, while Raul Leal was fourth, Alanzo Ambrose fifth, and Shaquel Agard closed out in sixth.

Jamaul John and Paul DeNobrega, who are the number one and two ranked cyclists in Guyana, both fin-

ished outside of the top six.

In the Juveniles 10-lap race, Curtis Dey was first ahead of second placed Nigel Duiguid and Adealie Hodge, who was third. Dey won that race in a time of 25 minutes 9.50 seconds.

Nigel Jacobs came out on top in the 5-lap Mountain Bike category, while Shamuel Younge and Akram Singh were second and third respectively.

In the Veterans U-50 five-lap race, Junior Niles was first in 12 minutes 45.33s with Ian Jackson and Sean Greene finishing in second and third respectively. The event was conducted

by National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed, who noted that the event was incident-free and thanked the riders for coming out.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

guyanatimesgy.com

Anderson's career-best seals series for England

Pg 23

James Anderson took career-best 7 for 42 to lead England to a 2-1 series vicorty over West Indies at Lord’s © Getty Images

Bounty Farm’s 15s Rugby…

Panthers destroy Falcons with 67-7 blitz

Pg 20

The Police Falcons try desperately to break the shackles the Panthers had on the match

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September 10, 2017

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A pot that ‘A day to brings people together celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day 2017

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life, resilience and hope’

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Preserving the Arecuna culture Page 5

2 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Feature

World Suicide Prevention Day 2017

‘A day to celebrate life, resilience and hope’

T

oday we observe World Suicide Prevention Day under the theme, “Take a minute, change a life”.

As members of communities, it is our responsibility to look out for those who may be struggling, check in with them, and encourage them to tell their story in their own way and at their own pace. Offering a gentle word of support and listening in a non-judgemental way can make all the difference.

World Suicide Prevention Day was first recognised in 2003, as an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention and endorsed by the World Health Organization. World Suicide Prevention Day takes place each year on September 10.

Speaking on suicide in Guyana, Dr Caitlin Vieira, a psychologist and addiction specialist, said: “Today is an extremely special day.

Although many of you are grieving today, I encourage you to view this as a day to celebrate life, resilience and hope. Hope for those who have survived attempts and hope for their recovery. This is also a day to appreciate those survivors and all others who dedicate their lives to awareness and prevention.”

She added that the issue of suicide is not a sim-

Dr Caitlin Vieira

ple one to consider because we, as a culture, have difficulty broaching it. However, Caitlin mentioned that suicide is an inescapable public health issue - one that still holds undeniable stigma within our community.

She pointed out that every human being is vulnerable to mental illness and suicidal thoughts, so it is her hope to bring awareness, understanding and compassion, and to encourage persons to have the strength to engage in life-saving discussions and reach out for help.

Caitlin noted that suicidal feelings and behaviours

do not just affect depressed persons, but everyone around them. She said this issue [suicide] has been discriminated against for far too long.

Gathering statistical information from the World Health Organization, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and the Drug Information Network, the psychologist reported that the suicide rate in Guyana is 29 per 100,000 - well above the world average. She noted that before April 2017, Guyana had the highest suicide rate in the world at 44 per 100,000. Our nation is

now ranked 4th in the world behind Sri Lanka, Lithuania and Democratic People’s Republic (North) of Korea.

Still, approximately 200 people end their own lives every year in Guyana.

She went on to report that Region Two (Essequibo) and Region Six (Berbice) have the highest suicide rates in the country, adding that females attempt suicide up to four times more than males, but males are more successful in their attempt. Caitlin revealed that the majority (80%) of suicides happen within the Indo-Guyanese community. The most affected groups are between the ages of 20-49.

“While the suicide rate in Guyana has decreased, our awareness and prevention efforts should not. It is not the time to get confident or complacent, but rather a time to further our efforts as they have proven to be effective. Every child, student, parent, teacher, police officer, nurse, social worker and community member of any kind who has disseminated information throughout our country deserves congratulations and recognition.

Guyana’s declining suicide rate is your victory,” she declared.

that their death would have no impact. Nothing could be farther from the truth according to everyone I have ever spoken to who has lost a loved one to suicide,” Caitlin disclosed.

One of the testimonials submitted by Caitlin was written by Amy Young, who lost her aunt to suicide.

world.

“I was a typical 26-yearold living a completely contented life until one phone call changed it forever.

The devastating call came on January 31 at 11:55am bringing the news that my aunt Beda had died. Before even having a second to properly process this news, my heart was broken and my

Testimonial

The psychologist and advocate said she counsels suicidal individuals every day, and while she cannot understand everything they are feeling, she has a fair idea of what’s on their mind.

“I know that most feel like a burden on their families and that everyone around them would be happier if they were gone. They develop such feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, they come to genuinely believe they won’t be missed or

Amy Young, as a child, with her aunt Beda in happier times

This is an extract of Amy’s story: “Suicide is often talked about like an anomaly, a rare and extraordinary tragedy, yet, it’s incredibly common. However, I never thought it would be common for me. I never thought I would know anyone who would commit suicide or even think about it, let alone my favourite person in the

face wet… Aunt Beda, one of my mom’s youngest sisters, had been in my life for as long as I could remember.

She teased me, bought me treats, played with me, loved me and most of all made me feel so special… She tried every day to make me happy and keep me laughing…

“My aunt had trials and tribulations in her life, like every other person. I heard whispers that she wasn’t feeling well and that she was depressed, but I never saw it. Around me, she was always happy and spirited…

I don’t know what she was feeling, what pain she was carrying with her, or why she thought that suicide was the only way to be rid of it…

I wish I had paid more attention, maybe spent more time with her, then maybe I could’ve seen the signs and talk to her and show her that the world would not be the same without her.

“Sometimes you feel guilty for going on with life and laughing and having a good time. But not a day goes by that I don't wish she was here with me…

“I know suicide victims have much pain and sadness, but when they get rid of their pain and sadness, their family and friends get that pain and sadness too.

I have to live every day of my life without my aunt.

Her grandchildren can never get to meet her. My mother probably won't laugh as hard again without her.”

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

A

Inside a tuma pot

s we celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month, the ‘tuma pot’ will be a popular offer on many menus. Tuma pot is commonly known as a meal, but did you know it is also an actual pot (container)?

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Lokono Arawak archaeologist, George Simon, explained how the pot is made and the cuisines enjoyed from it.

Tuma pots are principally associated with the Rupununi savannah peoples, the Macushi in the north and Wapishana in the south. No doubt the tradition of pottery making once existed among coastal indigenous nations, but today it is difficult to find potters who still make ceramic pots. Sadly, the skill seems to have been lost.

In the south savannahs, however, among the Wapishana, the tradition is still very much alive, though not every

Wapishana village produces them. The Wapishana village of Waranau still produces these particular pots.

The Wai Wai also produces tuma pots. Villagers in the south savannahs would therefore access their pots from particular potters from other villages. Toka village in the north once boasted of a strong pottery making tradition, but the skill has been lost with the passing of their skilled potters. The younger generation of Machusi in that village has not upheld the pottery tradition.

The tuma pot is made from clay and is fired at low temperature in an ‘open fire’ system of pottery making. The potter would have collected the clay from a particular clay source, not found in most villages. The clay is processed and refined and sometimes ash, crushed pottery fragments, and fine sand are included in the clay to strengthen it. Once the base of the pot is established, the body of

the pot would be made, and from coils of clay, gradually building and fashioning the shape outwards towards the shoulder and then inwards to form the neck, which will then be developed outward to form the rim.

The base of the pot can be flat or oval. The oval pots are placed on the ground in a shallow hole and supported by three rocks. The flat based pots can rest on the ground or be placed on three rocks over the fire wood.

Tuma refers to something that is tasty, mouthwatering, hence tuma pot – “food that is delicious”.

Another Wapishana word is “damuriid”, which refers to tuma pot or pepperpot.

Most importantly, the tuma pot brings people together in villages. The making of the pot is a collaborative effort and the meal made in the pot is enjoyed as a group.

Indigenous cuisines

In prehistoric times, the indigenous people roamed about freely in the forests and savannahs as expert hunters, fishermen and tropical forest collectors.

Today, in Guyana, the nine indigenous nations live in different parts of the country, some in the rich alluvial swamp lands of the coastal plain, and others in the terra firm of the hinterland. These two environments bid fair for providing the inhabitants with adequate food resources, which are used in a sustainable manner.

The Arawaks, Caribs and Warraus live on the north/west and east coast swampy region of the country, the Arecuna, Akawaio and Wai Wai in the forest-

Tuma pots with stewed meats and other indigenous cuisines

ed and riverain region, the Patamona on the part forest/ part savannah Pakaraima Mountains, and the Macushi and Wapishana on the flat Rupununi savannahs. Each nation is a master of his environment.

In the wild coast of Guyana, the north/west region of the country has some 30 shell mounds.

These mounds attest to the magnitude of subsistence resources available to the first inhabitants in the region, such as the Carib, Warrau and Arawak, who still live there.

Archaeologists have excavated some of these mounds and marvelled at the remains found in them, as they revealed that the inhabitants consumed a variety of animals, birds and seafood, which included a variety of fish, shellfish, crab, oyster, lobster, shrimp, and snails. Vegetables, fruits and nuts gathered from the forest and reefs supplemented their diet.

The Upper Mazaruni is home to the Arecuna and Akawaio, the Pakaraima Mountains to the Patamona, and the Upper Essequibo to the Wai Wai. These four nations live in almost the

Cassava bread soaked in tuma pot soup and smoked meat (Photo from courtingtheglobe.blogspot.com)

same environmental situation and get their supply of food from the rivers and forest where there is an abundance of animals, fish and birds. The most popular game animals are the deer, wild cow, wild hogs, labba, acuri (agouti), sloth, manatee, capybara, alligator and all types of monkeys. They also hunt birds like the powis, marudi, maam, and pigeons. Frogs, maggots and insects, both land and river turtles and turtle eggs, vegetables and fruits are collected from the forest, and a variety of fishes and eels from rivers are all part of their diet.

For the Macushi people, who live in the north, and the Wapishana, to the south Rupununi savannah, their food supply originates from the savannahs, the Rupununi River and streams that drain the vast savannah. The Rupununi savannah and the Pakaraima Mountain region have an abundance of ants, armadillo, swamp birds, and savannah deer that add to their diet.

The tuma pot is used to cook all these succulent meats, which is served with delicious cassava bread.

(Information by George Simon)

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Sunday Times Magazine

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Feature

History of Education in Guyana A

s we observe Education Month (September), let’s take a look at the notable efforts of dedicated individuals who sought to ensure that all social classes have the right to equal academic opportunities.

Arrival of the missionaries

According to the Guyana Institute of Historical Research, the church was the largest private institution that contributed to the development of education, particularly at the primary level. The coming of the first missionary of the London Missionary Society (renamed the Congregational church) coincided with the abolition of the British participation in the African slave trade. During slavery, the missionaries concentrated on teaching the children of freed parents.

Hermanus Post, a Dutch planter on the East Coast of Demerara had invited the London Missionary Society to send a missionary to his plantation at Le Resouvenir to instruct his slaves.

Rev. John Wray was the first missionary to work among the slaves. He arrived in Demerara in 1808. In 1813, Wray was asked by the commissioners of the crown estates, who had about 1100 African slaves under their care, to start the Berbice mission. But many of the Dutch

Some of Guyana's first educators

planters were hostile to educating slaves.

During the early part of the 19th century, the other main missionary societies in Guiana were the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel; the Methodist Missionary Society; the Church Missionary Society, which worked specifically among the Amerindians from about 1827 to 1858, the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian); the Roman Catholic Church and the Moravians.

Rev. John Davies, a missionary of the London Missionary Society, had taught the “free children of Georgetown”. In 1810, he distributed copies of a small spelling book, called the “First Class Book”.

In 1824, there were two free schools – one for boys and the other for girls. It appears as if some churches gave aid to the free schools. In 1838, it was recorded in the minutes of the Kirk session of St. Andrews that a collection of 1,155 guilders was to be divided equally between the two free schools.

Rev. J. Bernau introduced the “normal” school idea to the Bartica community in 1835. He had a day and evening school, and later a boarding school-cumorphanage.

Colonial support

In 1840, the Combined Court voted $2,000.00 for the education of Amerindians. It had to be shared equally among the missions on Pomeroon, Essequibo, Demerara, Corentyne, and Berbice. During the 1840s, the Combined Court vacillated over whether they should continue to support the denominational schools for the Amerindians.

Between 1835 and 1845, the imperial government voted money for the education of the masses under the “Negro Education Grant”. The government offered 30,000 pounds per annum for five years, and gradually reduced the grant each year until it ended in 1845. The missionary societies, who were involved with the ex-slaves, were the beneficiaries of the funding. The missionaries, like the Colonial Office, were concerned that the children of the masses were taught moral and religious education. Priority was not given to secondary education and teacher training.

Almost all of the schools established during the apprenticeship period began with classes in church buildings. The teachers were either the minister or his wife, a catechist, or in very rare cases, someone with some experience of teaching.

In order to solve the problem of the shortage of teachers, the missionaries sought to establish “normal schools” where teachers could be trained to satisfy local needs. The bible was used for all instruction.

After 1845, some of the missions were forced to close their schools because of inadequate funding. There was also a widespread feeling that the Africans should finance their own education. However, the churches, which continued in the field of education, were generally supported by their headquarters.

Church’s role in education after emancipation

The Roman Catholics initially established schools for the Portuguese. In

1838, Dr. William Clancy, of the Roman Catholic Church, outlined his plan to send six ecclesiastics, three school masters and three school mistresses, for educating the population, and also to construct three school buildings in each county. By 1841, six nuns of the Sisters of Presentation arrived in the colony to open a day school and a boarding school.

In 1847, the Ursuline Convent School was established. By 1866, the Roman Catholic Church established St. Stanislaus College boys’ schools.

In 1897, the St. Joseph High school for girls was established by the Sisters of Mercy.

The Anglican Church also participated in the field of education.

In 1824, the St. George’s free school was established, under the aegis of the Anglican Church. The school was conducted separately for boys and girls. Another Anglican school, All Saints was established in New Amsterdam, Berbice, in 1829.

In 1851, Bishop’s College was launched with the support of the S.P.C.K. It was established for the training of theological students and the general training of teachers. The Methodists, Presbyterians, and the Anglicans established schools for the Indians.

The planter Quintin Hogg supported the Anglican Church in the erection of a series of buildings of a chapel-school combination in Essequibo and Demerara.

One such chapel-school building was erected at Bel Air, on the East Coast of Demerara in 1873.

“The school-house is built then to make you happy – to teach you to love God because He is your Father. I have and want you to listen every Sunday at 2 o’clock there will be school for the children. At 3 o’clock, there will be Service for the adults.

Every day there will be school for the children, and every Monday, at Half-past four, there will be a class for instruction in reading and writing in Hindustan and English,” Quintin Hogg is said to have commented.

Apart from the training institutes, estates’ schools, parochial schools and the orphan asylum, there were also private nursery schools, and special evening schools both in Demerara and Berbice.

There were evenings or night schools at Nismes on the West Bank of Demerara, at Lusignan, Annandale, Enmore and Clonbrook. In addition, Indian immigrants received instruction at the Kingston Coolie School, and at the Church of Scotland at Lochaber in Berbice.

Free education

By the second half of the 20th century, there were private individuals who established high schools for the poorer classes.

The Muslims and Hindus also established schools for the children of their followers. These individuals included Richard Ishmael, the Costello brothers, Sidney King, Hilton McAllister, Shruti Kant, Joseph Luck, Sir Homer, Walker Under Twelve, H.M. Pollard, and others too numerous to mention.

In 1976, private education was abandoned. The government introduced free education from nursery to university.

During the 1980s, private lessons were popular and were run by teachers such as Wilfred Success, Teacher Chandra, Sir Wahab, Mrs Alli, Sir Trotz, Mrs Edna Perry, Mrs Maureen McGowan and Sir Lee. In September 1992, private education returned to Guyana. The first private school was Mae’s (1992), then Marian Academy (1998) and School of the Nations (1995). (Submitted by the Guyana Institute of Historical Research)

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

D

In Washington, D.C.

olly Chambers belongs to one of the four founding families of her village, Paruima, who are said to be the only remaining families of the Arecuna nation.

The 18-year-old was born in Kamarang village, Region Seven. She attended Paruima Primary School, and then went on to Graham’s Hall Primary and St. Stanislaus College in Georgetown. She is of the Arecuna nation.

Brief history of Paruima

The tallest of our indigenous peoples, the Arecunas, who refer to themselves as “pemon” meaning “the people”, occupy upper and central Kamarang river since 1839. They are presently concentrated at Paruima, which is located on the Kamarang river in the Upper Mazaruni District.

Paruima was founded by four friends who settled in the area: Percy, Henrito, McNaughton and Chambers. Paruima got its name from the large plan-

tains called ‘paruru’ that are grown in the village.

Today, there are approximately 715 persons living in Paruima, a Seventhday Adventist community.

It is surrounded by forested mountain slopes. The village’s main economic activity is subsistence farming.

Interestingly, it is the only Arecuna village in Guyana.

forward, I was motivated to establish an indigenous museum in Guyana. Attending a traditional ‘Powwow’ was one which I certainly enjoyed. I danced and interacted with the Lakota tribe.

I was able to see the similarities and differences between the Arecunas and the Lakotas. I was very much impressed of the way indigenous culture is preserved in Rapid City. I realised that there is so much that we can do to preserve our culture,” she expressed.

Dolly added due to there being only one village in Guyana that is home to the Arecunas, she believes her project can help in the preservation of the Arecuna culture for future generations, “who may not practice the cultural heritage in the future due to the introduction of technology”.

“I am aware a museum cannot start in one day, so I decided to implement a cul-

In traditional wear at the Paruima Falls

Cultural Preservation Project

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Dolly said she was inspired to start her cultural preservation project after visiting the US in 2015, where she represented Guyana at the Youth Ambassadors’ Program along with four other [Guyanese] students, one mentor and 30 students from across the Caribbean.

Dolly noted that the programme impacted her life significantly.

“After experiencing the cultural riches of Rapid City, South Dakota, US, via museums and galleries that both preserved heritage and move artistic expressions

Cleaning cassava

“By early next year, I want to publish a story book and a recipe book. For my next project, I would like to compile a book on Arecuna medicines. However, I cannot do it alone. I’ve struggled through the past year alone.

Also, I would like to record and learn the steps for the four main dances. I would like to establish an indigDolly at her project launch

tural preservation project in my village, Paruima, as a start. I also plan on compiling a book of Arecuna recipes and a story book. I visited homes to gather information and made appointments with the elders so that I can record their stories. Many persons prepare their meals differently, so I had to collect several recipes used to prepare one meal and just record the most popular method. Currently, I am editing my recipe book so that the final draft can be submitted by September 15.

I need help with transportation to go back home to take photographs of the prepared traditional foods, since it is heritage month, and professional photographers to help me execute that,” she pointed out.

Dolly’s objectives are to increase awareness and appreciation of the culture and traditions of the Arecuna people, highlight aspects of the culture or traditions of the Arecuna nation that are threatened, and identify and recommend areas of preservation.

enous museum in Guyana as my long term goal. Times are changing and our children need to know about themselves and their ancestors. One year ago, I didn’t know a lot, but today I can say differently. I’ve learned a lot during the past month about my cultural heritage,” Dolly declared.

The aspiring architect is

currently a contestant in the Miss Indigenous Heritage Month Pageant 2017, which is scheduled for September 30 at the National Cultural Centre. She stated that winning the pageant will give her the “boost to continue initiating and executing cultural projects, because there is a budget allocated for that via the pageant”.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Literary Corner

Preserving our literary heritage

John Peter Bennett (1914-2011)

By Petamber Persaud

T

hough blind, John Peter Bennett continued to work on his typewriter to produce seminal work on the indigenous Arawak people. Bennett was a man who loved books, reading and writing; a man who rewarded good work with more work.

Bennett was a teacher, priest, educator, linguist, translator, writer and more.

He was the first indigenous person to be ordained as an Anglican priest in Guyana; the first indigenous person to be canonised in the Anglican Church of Guyana; and the first indigenous person to write and publish “An Arawak-English Dictionary”.

Early life

John Peter Bennett was born in 1914 in Kabakaburi on the Pomeroon River. He died in 2011, in the same village in which he was born, after living a fruitful life.

At an early age, Bennett knew something was wrong when students were flogged for speaking their native tongue. He knew something

John Peter Bennett

was wrong when speaking their native language in school was discouraged. He knew this was wrong since he learned much and understood more when his father spoke to him in Lokono – his first language. This realisation manifested itself in

making Bennett a linguist, translator and author.

Bennett’s formal education ended when he was about the age of 12. But he furthered his education through reading, perhaps encountering Mark Twain’s “[d]on’t let schooling interfere with your education”.

In this respect, the library of an Anglican priest, Reverend Martin B. Hirst was of enormous help to him.

One of his skill trainings came to his aid in a world where there were few opportunities available to a thinker and enterprising young man. As a tailor, Bennett knew how to cut his coat according to his cloth. He didn’t allow blindness and partial paralysis prevent him from doing his lifework as he tapped away long hours at his typewriter. And he didn’t miss out on reading; his grandchildren were ready and willing to read to him.

In 1940, Bennett married Clara James and the union produced a boy, Maurice, and a girl, Jennifer. Their first daughter died in infancy.

Even with a family to provide

for, he pursued his dreams in service to his people. For this, he had to equip himself with the necessary tools. He attended Codrington College in Barbados to train for the priesthood. After ordination, he served as priest in several parishes across Guyana.

Later, he was made canon of the Anglican Church.

In 1989, Bennett was awarded The Golden Arrow of Achievement (A.A.) by the Government of Guyana.

In September 2015, the National Art Gallery in collaboration with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs paid homage to Bennett by mounting an exhibition of artwork by indigenous artists.

A granddaughter’s memories

Below is an extract of an interview with Dr Viviane Baharally (VB), a granddaughter of John Peter Bennett, Georgetown, Guyana, October 2015: PP (Petamber Persaud): Concerning your grandfather, John Peter Bennett, there are a number of things you touched on – reading, writing, storytelling… His writing led to a significant pen pal relationship with Richard Hart, which resulted in the publication of the book “Kabethechino”.

Let’s, for a moment, look at his correspondence with Richard Hart.

VB: The most I know about those correspondences was me collecting bundles and bundles of letters from the school where there were left for us to retrieve. After a time, I use to leave my basket at the school because they were so many… But I must say I never really had a look at any.

This book is out of print, and now because of that, I will be encouraged to read them.

PP: I want to now raise something very important.

In this biography, it is said

he was puzzled by the fact that students were not allowed to use their first language in school. And this led him to work on the Arawak language, which resulted in another publication, “The Arawak English Dictionary”.

You did a lot of typing for him, so you are familiar with the contents of his writing…

VB: I just did the typing; I do not know Arawak…

PP: That’s why he wrote “‘The Arawak English Dictionary”…

VB: But, there is no excuse for not knowing. At that time of growing up, we didn’t see it as important…

PP: That is why you and your contemporaries, who now know of the impor-

tance of the work, should be responsible of passing this knowledge – a language is vital to a people and it should not be allowed to die.

Not long ago, Vernon Cheong performed his poetry, one of which decries the loss of the Amerindian way of life. And more than a decade ago, Uncle Basil [Basil Rodrigues] performed his poem, ‘A Merry Indian No More’…

What I’m getting at is that we are more enlightened now; that, coupled with advanced technology, would make it easy to continue the work of this remarkable man.

Some things I can’t get out of my mind about this remarkable man, like he was not only a consumer of books, but was also a producer of books.

There are many more things in the life of this remarkable man… he was an inspiration to anyone who knew him, especially to the people of Kabakaburi village… and we should remember him as a man who was not ashamed of his language and his culture…

VB: When I said I was ‘ashamed’, it was not of the language or the culture, it was of not knowing the language. There was no excuse for it…

PP: But it is never too late to do something to ensure the language isn’t lost.

The achievements of John Peter Bennett cannot be easily measured as his legacy lives on, inspiring others to safeguard our national patrimony.

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

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

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8 Sunday Times Magazine

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Travel & Tourism

mountains

C

Crumpled, ancient mountains

rumpled, ancient Potaro River mountains are a sight to behold when travelling to the Kaieteur National Park to view the magnificent Kaieteur Falls.

These mountains, made of sandstone conglomerate, are part of the Guiana Shield, one of the oldest rock formations in the world, stretching through Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia.

A tributary of the Essequibo River, the source of the Potaro is in the Mount Ayanganna area of the Pakaraima Mountains in the North Rupununi savannahs.

(Photos by David Johnstone) (Cover photo: The crystal clear waters of the Potaro river reflects the forested mountain ranges)

Magnificent mountains on the Potaro river, Kaieteur National Park

Potaro river rapids, downstream from Kaieteur Falls (Photo by Cody Hinchliff)

Mist descends eerily on the mountains

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September 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 9

10 Sunday Times Magazine

SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

Recipe of the week

Eggless Vanilla Cake Ingredients:

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 2tsp baking powder 1tsp baking soda ¼tsp salt 2tbsp sugar 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk 1 cup water 2tbsp vinegar 2tbsp vanilla extract ½ cup melted butter

&

Hacks to Wrangle All Those School Supplies

C

rayons, markers, paper — they’re everywhere! Organise all those school supplies with these adorable, budget-friendly hacks you can pull together in just a few minutes.

Method:

Preheat oven at 350F/180C for 15 minutes. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch pan and line it with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix in the sugar.

Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and stir in the wet ingredients one by one. Stir the mixture together using a whisk. Some lumps are okay.

Pour the batter in the prepared pan and tap the pan to even it out and break the air bubbles if any. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Insert toothpick in middle of cake; if it comes out clean, the cake is done.

Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and remove the cake after 15-20 minutes.

Place the cake on the rack for it to cool down completely before slicing.

Soursop Milkshake

Soap Boxes = Tiny Organisers: Keep crayons, knickknacks and snacks corralled in

colourful soap boxes. Kids will love outfitting them with their favourite stickers and taking them along in the car.

Ingredients:

14oz soursop pulp 2 cups vanilla ice cream 1 cup milk 6tbsp condensed milk Nutmeg Method:

Place soursop pulp, vanilla ice cream, milk and condensed milk in a blender and blend until smooth. Add a pinch of nutmeg and mix.

Pour into a glass and sprinkle a bit of nutmeg on top.

Note: Adjust the amount of condensed milk according to your liking.

(Recipe and photo from www.jehancancook.com)

P

Greatest Cooking Tips

Dish Drain = File Caddy: Organise your go-to documents in a repurposed dish drain.

Outfit the middle with pretty folders and colour-coordinated notebooks to keep it chic. And don’t forget to stock the utensil cup with plenty of pens and pencils.

roblems with cake sticking to tin? Place a thick, clean towel in the kitchen sink and pour a kettle of boiling hot water over the towel to heat it (don’t plug the sink to retain the water, allow it to drain out). Set the pan on the hot towel and leave it for a minute or two, the cake should turn out easily.

Once you start slicing cakes, the exposed or cut sides can dry out quickly. Here’s a way to keep things fresh: Wrap the leftover cake with a few slices of apple or cubes of sugar or a slice of fresh bread set inside the pan (or in the open space of the plate). Make sure to store it in an airtight container or wrapped well in plastic wrap.

T

Home Help

hread a needle with ease by dipping the end of the thread into colourless nail polish beforehand.

Wipe your shoelaces with a wet cloth after tying them. They will stay tied all day.

In an emergency, shampoo can be used in the place of shaving cream.

A thick paste made from baking soda and water will remove perspiration stains from clothing.

When postage stamps have stuck together, try placing them in the freezer for about 10 minutes – they should come apart without damaging the glue.

Revolving Spice Rack = Office Supply Organiser: The whole family will appreciate

a repurposed rotating spice rack. Everyone can easily find small items usually stuffed into junk drawers like thumbtacks, paperclips, rubber bands and batteries.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Puzzles

Crossword

ACROSS 1 Hiker’s trail 5 “In Cold Blood” writer 11 Perseus’ foe 17 Not sunnyside up 21 Drachma successor 22 Beaver State 23 Effective 24 Frost 25 Wax-coated cheese 26 Noisy sleeper 27 Saunter 28 Footnote abbr.

29 Marble, once 31 Welles or Bean 33 Hybrid citrus 35 Rough like a snake 36 TV deletion 37 City near Recife 38 Almost-grads 41 Law (abbr.)

42 Fundraisers, often 43 Aunts and uncles 44 PC message 48 Acquires knowledge 50 Was sick 51 Dancer -- Charisse 52 Like knit fabrics 53 “Devil With -- -- Dress On” 54 “Tiny Alice” penner 55 Some swingers 57 Desperado’s piece 58 -- Chomsky 59 Urged on 60 Dependent 61 Vine- -- cottages 62 Cat or turkey 63 Entreat 64 Car trunk item 2 wds.)

65 Good, to Juan 66 Arctic lander (hyph.)

68 Dude 69 -- Lingus 70 Cager Michael - 71 Dogpatch verb 72 Watch chain 73 AMA members 74 Pageant figures 75 Situated 78 Alley from Moo 79 Possesses 80 Bellicose chauvinism 84 -- up (in hiding) 85 Soften 87 Publisher of first

women’s magazine 88 LIII doubled 89 Interstate 90 Design 91 Rajahs’ spouses 92 -- van der Rohe 93 Kenya’s loc.

94 Flour grinders 95 Leaks 96 Get a whiff of 97 Hong Kong dwelling 99 Uh’s cousins 100 French clerics 101 Mariachi gig 102 German industrial center 103 Alts.

104 Train alternatives 105 Halloween decor

106 Writer Josephine - 107 Mineral deposits 109 Drilled 110 Vaccine 112 Spendthrift 115 Vows venue 116 Bubbly drink 120 Mine, to Yves (2 wds.)

121 1950 Ethel Waters sitcom 123 “Nel blu dipinto di blu” song 125 “Uptown Girl” artist 126 Rack and - 127 Under a roof 128 Runaway bride?

129 Kimono closers 130 Remnant 131 Part of TLC 132 Hinders 133 Vex DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 32 34 36 37 38 39 40 42 43 45 46 47 49 50 51 52 54 55 56 59 60 61 63 64 65 67 68 70 72 73 74

Potato skin German import Monorail Dens or burrows Hope and Crosby, often Action-movie name Many-petaled blossom Hideous monster Swimming pool tester Class attender, presumably Rumples Block, legally Filmdom’s Bruce or Laura Roswell crasher Harem head God in the Koran Paper-folding art Feeling Zatopek or Jannings Get new wallpaper Tea cake Auditioned Nobelist -- Bohr Made hay Seem likely (2 wds.)

Leans Reserve again Deli buy Taunted Roman drinking cups Went fishing Big lizard Lady Bird’s hubby Daiquiri need Pond scum Nabs PC monitor Go-between Earth, in combos Tolkien’s tree creature Large antelope Orbison or Acuff Souvenir Operated a ferry Round container Like a swamp Walked the floor Burrowing rodents Seymour and Fonda Nurtures Karate level Calf-length skirts

75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 85 86 87 90

Expression Veggie sponges (var.)

Waker-uppers Juice providers?

Sweetie-pie Davy or Casey -Most aloof Willowy Lose Nev. neighbor Capone foe Looks intently Lapel ornament

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD -- PAGEANTS (DIAGNOSE: PAJ-ents: Public dramatic presentations.)

Average mark 37 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 53 or more words in PAGEANTS?

paean pagan page pane pang pants past

pasta paste pate paten peasant peat pent

pest agape agate agent angst ante apnea

apse aspen gape gasp gate gnat east

nape neap neat nest tang tapa tape

saga sage sane sang sate seat sent

sept seta snag snap span spat spate

spent stag stage step

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

91 Ready for the bench 92 Jacques’ Mrs. 94 Country estate 95 Saw 96 Abs tightener (hyph.)

98 Raining hard 100 Mystique 101 Tractor owners 103 Curtis of cosmetics 104 Pester 105 Safari member 108 Red-ink entry 109 Sled runner

110 Figure 111 Paramount 112 Guardian’s charge 113 Chinese border river 114 Peau de - 115 “Put -- -- on it!”

116 Sour, as cream 117 Mongolian desert 118 Simon or Armstrong 119 Threat ender 122 Mil. branch 124 Bullring shout Solution on Pg 14

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14 Sunday Times Magazine

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Photographers beaten for taking Shilpa Shetty’s photos

T

wo photographers were beaten up late Thursday for clicking pictures of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra in Mumbai.

Shetty and Kundra were out on a date at Bastion restaurant in Bandra, Mumbai, and happily posed for the media. After the couple left, the restaurant bouncers got in a scuffle with the photographers and beat up two of them. According to an ABP report, the bouncers were clearing the way for Shilpa and Raj when they felt the photographers got a little too close to the couple.

Two restaurant bouncers have been arrested in the case, ANI reported Friday morning. The two photographers had to be hospitalised.

Shilpa Shetty has since criticised the manhandling of the photo journalists by bouncers.

“Oh my god! Appalled and disappointed at the way these photographers were

bashed... Really unnecessary... Feel bad for the paparazzi. They stand for hours sometimes for a shot...

They are part of my fraternity and no one needs to be beaten for doing his job.

Absolutely condemn what happened,” Shilpa posted on Instagram.

She added that she is saddened by the incident.

(ANI)

Meghan Markle opens up about Prince Harry for the first time

L

ast week, Meghan Markle touched down in the UK to support her boyfriend Prince Harry on the 20th anniversary of his mother Princess Diana's death and now, the “Suits” actress has spoken about her boyfriend for the first time.

Speaking to “Vanity Fair”, she said of her royal beau: “We’re a couple. We’re in love. I’m sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us.

It’s part of what makes it so special, that it’s just ours.

But we’re happy. Personally, I love a great love story.”

It's the first time that Meghan has opened up about her relationship with Prince Harry since the couple met in 2016.

Speaking about how her relationship has been affected by its high profile, she said: “It has its challenges, and it comes in waves - some days it can feel more challenging than others,” she said. “And right out of the gate it was surprising the way things changed. But I still have this support system all around me, and, of course, my boyfriend’s support.” (Glamour)

Crossword Solution

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Fun Times

Archie

Check online job opportuARIES nities. Update your resume (March 21- to reflect the type of posiApril 19) tion you want to apply for.

Someone you have studied or worked with will have a suggestion or proposal.

Travel,

socialize

or

do

TAURUS something constructive.

(April 20- Personal gains can be made if May 20) you engage in talks or events that will educate you about something you want to pursue.

You'll face discord if you GEMINI fall short on your promis(May 28- es. Take better care of your June 20) health, and don't give in to vices you vowed to quit.

Discipline will be required.

Share your experiences with someone equally interested in (June 21- the same things as you. A partJuly 22) nership will lead to unusual opportunities. Ideas and plans should be followed by actions.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

Think before you do or say something that may hurt someone's feelings. Emotions will be fragile, and being sympathetic and thoughtful will help you avoid upset and discord.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Communicate from the heart. Make your thoughts known and be open to reasonable suggestions. Change is heading your way, and preparation will ensure that you get the most out of the transition.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Protect your personal information, passwords and confidants. Your input will help deter outsiders from trying to take advantage of you or your loved ones.

If you care about someSCORPIO thing or someone, show how (Oct. 24- passionate you are. Be willNov. 22) ing to say what's on your mind and follow through with action to prove you mean business.

A trip or conversation SAGITTARIUS with a relative, neighbor or (Nov. 23peer will give you something Dec. 21) to think about. Verify what you've been told before you repeat or act on the information you've been given.

Calvin and Hobbes

Projects that add comfort CAPRICORN to your home or bring your (Dec. 22- family closer together should Jan. 19) be a priority. Personal gains can be made if you negotiate on your own behalf.

Emotional situations AQUARIUS will disrupt your life if you (Jan. 20- overreact or do something Feb. 19) you'll regret. Problems with a friend, sibling or relative should be handled carefully.

A peaceful solution is your best alternative.

PISCES Discuss your plans with (Feb. 20- someone you want to partMar. 20) ner with. Your charm and unique and imaginative way of presenting what you have to offer will lead to success.