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“Rough ride” ahead

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ISSUE NO. 323

WEEK ENDING december 11, 2016

- Ram &Mc Rae says Guyanese expected to face tough times if Govt moves ahead with passage of Budget 2017

See story on page 3

Govt could be taken to court over GRA’s new powers- Jagdeo Page 5

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in discussion with a group of protestors on the first day of the Budget Debates in front of the National Assembly.

Relatives in Guyana claim NY murder suspect had threatened to kill wife before Page 7

Rajwantie Baldeo and Prem Ramperssud in New York days before she was killed

U.S. Congresswoman expresses concern over Trump’s deportation plan

Page 22

2 news

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Climate financing partnerships with Guyana are a global good - President Granger

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resident David Granger, on Wednesday evening, outlined three critical partnership areas for Guyana in support of climate financing in the international fight against the effects of climate change. These are improved coastal zone management, better drainage and water storage and supply systems and more modern hydro-meteorological services to improve weather forecasting. The Head of State made these remarks at concert organised by the European Union (EU) to mark the ratification of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. It was held at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston.

Emphasising the importance of working with the EU and other countries and international organisations, President Granger said that Guyana can develop an international partnership model that the rest of the world could emulate.

“The GuyanaEuropean Union partnership has remained relevant, resilient and responsive to the changing threats for over four decades. Guyana is grateful for the support

President David Granger and First Lady Mrs. Granger seem transported by the music as Ambassador Jernej Videtic's young daughter, Ms. Celeste Videtic performs 'Hark the Herald Angels' on violin. She is accompanied by professional violinist, Mrs. Chie Clarke.

it has received from the European Union and expects further, fruitful cooperation in the future, especially for climate adaptation…

Guyana is pursuing a low-carbon, low-emission, green trajectory of economic development. Guyana will become a ‘green state.’ Cooperation with Guyana is a global good,” he said.

The President noted that adaptation is necessary in order to build greater resilience against the effects of cli-

mate change. However, this could be extremely costly for a country like Guyana which he said, requires a level of financing that is beyond its slender resources. “Climate financing, in the context of the potential disruption to national development by climate change, must be viewed as an integral element of development financing,” he said.

The President spoke of his recent participation at the 22nd Meeting of the Conference of

Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Marrakesh, Morocco where he called for climate financing for adaptation for Small Island developing states (SIDs) and low-lying coastal states.

“The Caribbean, an archipelago of small island developing states and low-lying coastal states, is threatened by climate-induced threats… Guyana is a victim of climate change.

Its low-lying coastland

where the majority of its population lives is susceptible to droughts and floods which can have devastating consequences for the country’s agriculture. It is vulnerable, also, to over topping of its river defences and to land erosion and degradation, which can destroy infrastructure and damage arable lands.

Guyana, however, is also part of the solution to climate change,” the Head of State explained.

Meanwhile, EU Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Jernej Videtic informed that the EU has forged a strong alliance with the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States of which Guyana is a member and said that it plans to work with its partners to ensure implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The Ambassador also lauded the Government for its commitment to preserving its forests as a way of providing vital environmental and ecological services to the rest of the world.

“We acknowledge and welcome the Guyanese Government’s actions on climate change for example the Low Carbon Development Strategy and the green agenda

and of course Guyana’s early ratification of the Paris Agreement,” the Ambassador said.

He noted that the meeting in Marrakesh showed an increasing momentum internationally towards achieving the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as many of the EU’s partners indicated of their commitment to transition to a low carbon economy. “The Marrakesh conference proved once again our strength, when we work together.

The European Union has a most ambitious emissions target…Let us see the Paris Agreement and the low carbon transition for what it is, the growth engine for our economies,” the Ambassador said.

He also spoke of the EU’s support for its partners in the climate change fight. Last year the Union provided over €18B to help developing countries combat climate change. “This is a significant increase compared to the previous year and it is a clear sign that we are committed to doing our fair to meet the goal of delivering $100M per year by 2020.

France’s Ambassador continued on page 13

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

“Rough ride” ahead I

- Ram &Mc Rae says Guyanese expected to face tough times if Govt moves ahead with passage of Budget 2017

f the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government disregards the cry of the masses and its political opponent in the National Assembly and moves ahead with the passage of the G$250 billion budget, Guyana can look forward to a “rough ride” in 2017.

This is according to chartered accounting firm Ram and McRae, which via a statement following the presentation of the budget on November 28, gave a detailed analysis of Government’s fiscal plan for the country.

The entity said the budget measures, if implemented as they are proposed, will certain-

ly have a negative impact on the economy and growth. It said the achievement of the projected growth will be extremely difficult, if not impossible to achieve.

“If the measures are passed as proposed, we can expect a rough ride in 2017,” Ram and McRae said in the report.

According to the accounting firm, the budget’s measures are substantial, revolutionary and probably unprecedented.

“It is presented at a time when the Government has to defend itself against accusations of corruption and cronyism. The reception to this budget can strengthen the bond between the Government

Accountant Christopher Ram

and citizens but must mark the end of any honeymoon period for the APNU/AFC coalition Government.”

The accounting agency said while some of the “first 100 days” promises have been kept, there

has been widespread disappointment about the perception that the Government has been taking care of itself while ignoring matters like “significant salary increases” for Government workers and a code of conduct for parliamentarians, Ministers and others. Indeed, the agency, the President himself recently described the VAT reduction promises as hasty.

“The main take away from this budget may not be the wind farm initiatives, the infrastructural programmes or the increase in Police manpower. It is about the 57 tax measures set out in 30 pages of the speech.

In introducing his budget measures for 2017,

Minister Jordan said that “we are about to embark on a new generation of tax reform, starting from Budget 2017.”

It said the proposals in relation to VAT are substantial but represent a substantial rejection of the main principle of a VAT system.

Noting that items such as medical services and prescription drugs will now be subject to VAT, it is hard to believe that this is what was intended. The agency said the Minister only focused on water and electricity.

Testing the proposals, Ram and Mc Rae said it found them to cause an increase in prices, including on a most basic food item – bread. At the practical level, these pro-

posals will therefore be inflationary.

“The projected cost and revenue of the budget measures are in many cases not provided and where they are provided, they seem to be doubtful. The overall impact of budget agencies having to pay VAT makes comparisons with the prior year difficult and reduces the effectiveness of any analysis”.

The agency said some of the budget measures were inarticulately communicated or were misconceived. For example, the 40 per cent tax rate combined with the alternative personal allowance it said will lead to regressively and not progressivity in the tax syscontinued on page 5

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

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

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

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EDITORIAL

Guyana-China relations C

hina is the second largest trading partner of Latin America and the Caribbean, which is also a major destination for outbound Chinese investment, second only to Asia. China’s direct investment in Latin America and the Caribbean has exceeded US$150 billion.

According to a draft Policy paper by the Chinese Government, China sees itself as brining development opportunities to the rest of the world. It is estimated that in the next five years, China will import US$8 trillion of goods, invest US$750 billion overseas, and Chinese tourists will make 700 million outbound visits. All this will present an even bigger market, more capital, a greater variety of products and more valuable cooperation opportunities to countries around the world, including Guyana.

Very often we hear the saying that Guyana boasts great development potential. However, there is one huge potential which is widely ignored, the potential of strengthened economic ties with China. According to the Statistical Bulletin of China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment, China’s FDI stock to Guyana at the end of 2014 is only US$0.24 billion, less than 0.03 per cent of China’ global amount of that year.

In view of bilateral trade, if we check the statistics compiled by Guyana Bureau of Statistics, China, the soon-to-be largest market of the world, is not even on the list of top ten destinations of Guyana’s exports and the value of exports to China is tallied among “other countries”. Ironically, some local media still complain that Guyana had sold too much volume of commodities to China.

While enjoying deep diplomatic relations, China and Guyana hold similar views and have consistently echoed and supported each other’s positions, be it on key international issues such as UN reform, climate change, sustainable development, regional integration and cooperation between China and the Caribbean.

Guyana is the largest Caribbean country and one of the only two Caricom countries located on the South American continent. On the south of Guyana is Brazil, the largest economy in South America, also a member of BRIC countries. On the north is the whole Caribbean Basin toward the North American continent.

So geographically and culturally, Guyana plays a strategic role in bridging South America with the Caribbean and further north. This unique advantage, now becoming even more valuable due to the rising trade protectionism, can be taken off in service of Guyana’s economic development goal. The countries share in the benefits of the tremendous volume of goods, people and services which flow between South America and the Caribbean, via Guyana, only when certain infrastructure bottlenecks of land and sea transportation can be overcome, namely, when the highway and deep-water harbour projects are initiated. In pursuing connectivity of this magnitude, supporting industries like energy and telecommunication also need to be expanded and upgraded.

Based on the above analysis, four fields in the cooperation between China and Guyana could be identified and prioritised for further strengthening; these include infrastructure, energy, ICT technology application and capacity building. In tandem with other partners and stakeholders, the Chinese government and enterprises are willing and able to play a more active role in those fields in Guyana.

Over the years, Guyana has seen tangible benefits in a number of areas, particularly health, infrastructure and information technology.

The most recent projects include the Smart Guyana Project by Hauwei Technologies and a multimillion-dollar contract with China’s Exim Bank for the construction of roads in West Demerara.

Right after Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his state visits to Ecuador, Peru and Chile in November, the Chinese government issued its second Policy Paper on Latin America and Caribbean. The Policy paper aims at summarizing the development experience and elaborating new ideas, proposals and initiatives in guiding China’s cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean in various areas for the future. This is a “now or never” opportunity that both China and Guyana must grasp.

During his visit to Guyana last week, His Royal Highness Prince Harry visited several tourist sites including Surama Lodge, the Iwokrama International Conservation Centre (IICC) and the majestic Kaieteur Falls.

In photo: Prince Harry, and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, share a light moment at the Kaieteur Falls.

Despite progress, transparent and efficient government procurement rules remain a global challenge: WBG report

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ublic procurement rules and practices remain inefficient in large swathes of the world, despite government efforts towards efficiency in delivering better services to their citizens, says the latest edition of the World Bank Group’s Benchmarking Public Procurement (BPP) report.

Accessibility and transparency of public procurement rules and practices remain limited, depriving many small and medium firms of the opportunity to bid for service contracts for government and other public sector institutions, finds Benchmarking Public Procurement (BPP) 2017, which assesses public procurement regulatory systems in 180 economies.

The worldwide public procurement market is estimated at approximately US$9.5 trillion each year. Of this, developing countries spend an estimated $820 billion a year worth of citizens funds, about 50 percent or more of their total government expenditure, on procuring goods and services that range from food for welfare programs, to wiring for electrical grids that power homes and businesses. Government procurement can average as much as 16 percent of GDP in the European Union to 33 percent in Eritrea.

Public procurement markets, therefore, represent huge opportunities to boost competition and economic growth.

An e-procurement system, for example, benefits the private sector as well as governments by making procurement more transparent and fair.

However, the report finds that in 15 percent, or 25, of the economies measured by the report, an electronic portal dedicated to procurement does not even

exist. Moreover, in the economies that do have such portal, a wide gap exists between economies that have sophisticated e-procurement platforms offering a range of services and ones that only use the internet to publish basic information such as procurement laws.

Publicizing future procurement opportunities, electronic submission of bids and public announcements of tender awards are other best practices that could be more widely adopted, says the report.

Providing information such as procurement plans during the pre-tendering phase online, can help suppliers when planning their sales strategies and preparing their bids.

Only 74 economies publish procurement plans online.

More surprisingly, in only 24 of those does the law expressly mandate that such information be made available electronically.

“As large buyers, governments and the public sector are an important source of business for the private sector, which, in turn, is an important source of jobs for citizens. A fair and open government procurement process can be a vital stimulant for a well-functioning economy in which all stakeholders – governments, private enterprise and citizens – thrive,” says Augusto Lopez-Claros, Director of the World Bank’s Global Indicators Group, which produces the report.

Private sector firms wishing to participate in government contracting also face significant challenges on the financial aspects of the procurement process. Bid security is an essential element of the procurement process as they ensure serious offers. They are required in most economies measured.

While there is no clear good practice as to the amount that should be requested, there is agreement that it should not be set so high as to hinder participation or so low as to allow frivolous offers. In 31 economies, the amount of bid security requested from bidding firms is left completely to the discretion of the procuring entity, finds the report.

Payment delays by procuring entities are also common and constitute a major deterrent for small and medium enterprises to take part in the government procurement market.

The report finds that payments are timely in only one-third of the economies measured, and delays can range from 30 to more than 180 days.

An efficient procurement system should also include a well-functioning component to address complaints or challenges from bidders on any aspect of the procurement process, including final contract awards. The report finds that bungled complaint mechanisms remain prevalent across economies of all income groups and appeal costs are often prohibitive for bidders.

“As the data shows, governments around the world can do more to improve access to public procurement opportunities,” said Federica Saliola, lead author of the report. “By highlighting good practices as well as areas for improvement, we hope the evidence in this report will galvanize policymakers to effect the needed reforms and, thus, help their economies benefit from private sector growth and get better value for money in the procurement of goods and services. (World Bank Group)

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Bartica Massacre trial: Dennis Williams’ Police “Rough Caution Statement tendered as evidence ride” ahead... A from page 3

tem.

“Higher income tax payers will actually pay a lower rate than lower-middle income tax payers. In other words, instead of a progressive system, we will have one that is regressive. When combined with the changes in VAT, our tax system becomes totally regressive, which can hardly be what was intended”.

The report continued, “Some measures, such as the reversal of the minimum Corporation Tax into a maximum Corporation Tax for commercial companies, can hardly be described as feasible and we do not see any other choice for the Minister than a reversal of the proposals. Other proposals seem unnecessarily penal, disproportionate, and unfriendly and can drive some taxpayers underground at a time when the call is for a widening of the tax net.

t the resumption of the Bartica massacre trial at the High Court in Georgetown, Superintendent of Police Trevor Reid on Tuesday testified to writing the caution statement of murder accused Dennis Williams who reportedly admitted to being part of the heinous 2008 Bartica massacre.

The senior Police rank, who is currently attached to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), was then a Sergeant of Police at the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in 2008. Reid recalled that on November 8, 2008, at the CID, junior rank Corporal Singh and another Police rank, Sergeant Sarabo, accompanied murder accused Dennis ‘Anaconda’ Williams to Reid’s office where the murder allegations were put to him and he agreed for then Sergeant Reid to write his statement.

The 12-member jury heard that Williams was offered a seat and was told of his right to contact a friend, relative or lawyer present. Reid told the court that the murder accused was told of the Bartica massacre allegations after which Williams reportedly expressed to the Police rank: “Big man, I gon tell yo wah happen.”

Reid told the 12-member jury that after the statement was completed, Williams looked at it as if he was reading, said he understood and signed, with Sergeant Sarabo later signing as

Dennis “Anaconda” Williams, Mark Williams, and Roger Simon are the three standing trial for the brutal February 2008 slayings at Bartica

a witness. According to the caution statement, it was suggested that Williams and Celbert “Chi-Chi” Reece were in the boat throughout the duration of brutal slayings and that they heard the gunshots which lasted “for about 20 minutes”.

“Big man, me and Chi-Chi left wid the boat from the back ah the wharf at Kinston,” the statement noted. The caution statement further disclosed that Dennis Williams witnessed five or six men, who were armed with “nuff big guns”, shoot 5 men at the Bartica Stelling and noted that they also came back to the boat with two big canisters.

According to the caution statement, Williams also claimed that he never saw the armed men before and further noted that Chi-

Chi was the boat driver and that there was some engine trouble which Chi-Chi had to fix.

Williams was said to have confessed that after the boat was driven up the river side, it was abandoned but the canisters and guns were retained and taken into “the bush”.

“Me spend de night and the next morning, me and Chi-Chi beat out and we come to town.

Two days after me go up back deh and me meet Chi-Chi back at de camp wid them man… me collect me gold and the same day, me beat out to town,” Williams’ signed confession statement further noted.

Williams added that he was given 3 ounces of raw gold by ChiChi. According to the statement, the murder accused claimed that

he sold the gold underneath the clock at “big market” to a man who gave him G$200,000 cash.

The jury heard that from this payment, Williams purchased clothes, some of the money was spent on food “and other things”.

“Fine man and them man… ah Chi-Chi people. This is the truth big man. Me nah kill nobody, me nah had no gun. Them gee me the gold because me see wah happen. This ah the truth big man. Me vex about the whole itation,” Williams’ caution statement added.

Under cross-examination, Defence Attorney for Denis Williams, Shapheir Husain, suggested that Reid and his junior ranks shocked, kicked and slapped the accused, thereby forcing him to sign the confession statement. These assertions were however rejected by the Police witness.

Dennis “Anaconda” Williams, along with Mark Williams and Roger Simon are the three standing trial for the brutal February 2008 slayings which claimed the lives of twelve persons, including three Policemen and nine civilians. Celbert ‘Chi-Chi’ Reece, who pled guilty to manslaughter, was last month sentenced to 420 years imprisonment, and co-accused Michael Caesar who also pled guilty, will know his fate December 16.

Meanwhile, the trial of the three accused continues on Friday.

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

APNU/AFC Govt pressuring the poor and working class Dear Editor, When the Finance Minister in his 2017 Budget presentation announced that electricity and water bills will attract 14 per cent value-added tax (VAT) on the consumption of more than G$10,000 and G$1500, respectively, from the first dollar, all jaws, rich, poor and the in-between, dropped. It came as a bombshell. It was an unexpected tax, taking into consideration the current government’s much-touted talk of improving the quality of life of all Guyanese.

How could the quality of life improve when the two most basic necessities of any home; electricity and water, are being heavily taxed?

The Prime Minister and Finance Minister, in their post-budget press conference, disclosed that their statistics show that 80 per cent of the consuming public consumes less than G$10,000 of electricity per month, as such the implemented VAT will only affect the remaining 20 per cent, who presumably are the more affable of society.

By this disclosure, it is then implied that this government is advocating that the 80% consumers who consume less than G$10,000 per month should never aspire to move above their current level of life, where electricity and its use are concerned. This 80 per cent should not dream of having that additional TV in their home, never dream of having even an 8000 BTU air-conditioning or microwave unit, and never should hope of having a small fridge in their kitchen.

At the same press conference, the two government officials stated that the imposition of the tax on electricity is to encourage conservation. Are they advocating that citizens should take all their lights off in the night when bandits are marauding each and every village in this country?

Or should citizens use kerosene lamps instead?

How could the poor afford solar panels to substitute for GPL power? If one wants to see conservation at its best, pass the government houses in the night on Main Street, Georgetown. It’s as bright as Times Square, New York; not on solar power, but from GPL. Has anyone consid-

ered the domino effect of having 14% VAT imposed on electricity? The cost of manufacturing local goods and the retail prices in stores and shops for even zero-rated items will all be increased, and these increases will be passed onto the consumers, because most manufacturing entities and all shops and stores source electricity from the national grid.

In actual fact, the overall cost of living will be increased by 14%. Where is the, not only economics, but simple commonsense in the formulators of this budget?

Editor, I find it extremely distasteful for the current government to make heavy emphasis on the increase in the pensioners’ pay. The increase is G$800; yes 800 Guyana dollars. It is G$26 per day. Try giving a vagrant G$26 and see if he will accept it. Contrast the pensioners’ G$800 per month increase or total G$19,000 per month pension to the government’s parliamentary lobbying to pay another pensioner, who is close to them, G$1,750,000 per month, and visualise the government’s perception of equality.

If the government is sincerely desirous of improving the quality of life of all Guyanese, then their thinking and perceptions have to change.

They need to manage with reality and develop a more caring approach.

The draconian budgetary measures on the imposition of VAT on electricity and water, and removal of VAT exemptions from several basic foods such as milk, flour-based products and medications which were all previously VAT exempted, does not exhibit even an iota of care by this government. It’s shameless for the government to raise revenue to meet its expenses by pressuring the poor through taxes, rather than initiating avenues for foreign direct investment, stimulating investments by the local private sector, and encouraging entrepreneurship to generate growth and expansion in the economy.

The government is hiding behind too much statistics which are obscuring them from reality; from crime statistics to now statistics on power and water consumption.

Yours Sincerely, Selwyn Narinedatt

A city in crisis: An open letter to Councillors

Dear Editor, Permit me the space in your pages for an open letter to City councillors.

Eight months ago we assumed office as councillors of which a large part of our mandate is to consider the general welfare of the whole municipality, the Capital City, Georgetown.

We were already working in our various constituencies and sought to amplify our efforts by aligning with an organisation whose vision and mission closely resembled ours.

We, perhaps, had laboured with utopian hopes that with the added legitimacy a new dynamism would be affected in the communities we inhabit. But such hopes as we harboured remain unrealised, and as our national poet says ‘those miseries you cultivate as yours as well as mine’.

I am certain that you were surprised, as I was, the issues that should have found ventilation before the Council were decided on beforehand and little more than tacit acceptance was required of us, on other issues the body Council was entirely circumvented or ignored; public trust diminished.

What remains an anomaly is that we are a repository of so much talent, experience, and training as councillors that our City should have been on a growth path for success and excellence, less reliance on Central Government, yet

before us is a City in crisis on every front.

We have sat at Council in disbelief at what we saw transpiring before our eyes, we have spoken in corridors in hushed tones, or with words whispered in phone calls of the little interest expressed by those in command to chart a different course. Yet, time would have the final word, which brings us to this moment in the history of our Council, and a chance at something great.

As I said to my sons, Jon and Ethan, on the eve of LGE: “The services of a city are essential to its human dignity, whether infrastructure: roads, street lights, drains or essentials like health and fire services or police protection etc. They all have to work effectively and efficiently, geared toward the good life for the citizens who engage them.”

I was hopeful that by the time they grow up they would “appreciate that the things you now freely enjoy were bought these many years ago at a high cost and a long arduous struggle.”

I am afraid now that on our present trajectory your children and mine, your family and mine, the next generation of City councillors, and inhabitants, will only inherit all the struggles we now face. If you are in doubt ask yourself are we better off than we were in April?

My dream and my ardent hope for us as councillors is that we

have a greater say in the management of our constituencies, that we are given the tools; empowered to make the changes that are necessary.

My wish is for us to have a City administration that carries out the directives of the Council and for a leadership that listens to our voices; leadership that is both master and servant, transparent and accountable.

Moving forward, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana David Granger sets out his administration’s vision for capital towns as engines for economic development of the regions of which they are the nucleus. This is the framework for success that is worthy of our acceptance.

Finally, I call to your remembrance when His Excellency visited with us at City Hall he told us in no uncertain terms that we are not on the City Council to represent our political parties but to represent the people.

In all that is to come we have to represent the interests of the people of Georgetown and the quality of service and leadership we offer them.

There are hard choices ahead of us; we have difficult decisions to make but I have every confidence that when future generations of city residents look back they will say this was our finest hour.

Sherod Avery Duncan, Councillor

Guyana Times doing a good job at keeping Government accountable Dear Editor, Now that the PPP has been removed from office, all the other media houses, except for Guyana Times, have been dormant on the excesses of this present government. Oversized ministries, spiraling crime rates, unwarranted dismissal of public servants, (especially indo-Guyanese) because of their affiliation with the PPP and many other horrible mistakes of this government do not make

the pages of the any of the media houses, except for the Guyana Times.

This is what Guyana has become! In spite of the mistakes of the PPP, Guyana has never seen such a terrible spate of crimes under its watch. Nor has there been such vengeful politics as we’re having now. Keep up the awesome job Guyana Times. Without this paper, God knows what this country would have become!

Business in Berbice is really suffering. Imagine stores in Rose Hall closing at 3 pm instead of 6 pm, because of the deadly crime spree. I am fearful for my future under this Government!

In the meantime, except for Guyana Times, the other media houses are in a deep slumber, only waking to attack the PPP. Sincerely, Rakesh Singh

Let us embrace peace in this season of goodwill Dear Editor, At this time approaching the season of goodwill, I would like to ask all our leaders, at whatever level or persuasion they belong, to remember the following truism that I feel can provide the only avenue for lasting peace and progress in our country.

The prerequisite for peace, harmony and progress in any community is that all the parties that provide effective service are willing to forget differ-

ences, prepared to cooperate for the good of all its members, and disposed to forgetting their own preferences and to compromising to find solutions acceptable and beneficial to all.

We may be able to dupe ourselves for a time that we can generate progress by acting in a partisan manner but, as history has demonstrated over and over through the ages, it is only this earnest and selfless desire to join hands within any organ-

isation of whatever magnitude that will result in any real and permanent progress.

Please let us inculcate the spirit of this coming season into all our interactions, and move forward as one Guyana to face the future confidently and remove all obstacles to our advancement as a united nation.

Yours sincerely, Roy Paul

news 7

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Toilet paper Relatives in Guyana claim NY murder suspect had threatened to kill wife before thief jailed F for 2 years

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ahase Persaud was slapped with a two-year jail term when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Faith McGusty charged with two counts of breaking and entering and larceny.

He pleaded guilty to both charges when they were read to him.

He admitted that between November 28 and November 29, 2016, at the National School of Dance, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, he stole items amounting to G$432,000.

Also at the same location but between November 1 and December 1, 2016, he admitted that he stole one DVD Player, one surround sound stereo system, half a bale of toilet paper and other items.

According to the prosecution, the defendant confessed to the offences. When given a chance to speak, Persaud asked for a minimum sentence.

He was given 12 months each on both charges which are to be run concurrently.

ollowing the gruesome murder of the US-based Guyanese woman, allegedly by her husband, last Sunday in Queens, New York, one of the couple’s daughters residing in Guyana is claiming that her mother suffered years of abuse at the hands of the suspect.

According to Shalini Ramjiawan her parents have been together for over 30 years. However, she recalled that on numerous occasions her mother, Rajwantie Baldeo, was subjected to domestic abuse at the hands of her father, who had also threatened to kill her on numerous occasions before.

“My father is an alcoholic, and he is very ignorant.

When he drinks, he would beat my mother very bad,” Ramjaiwan said.

The grieving daughter

Dead: Rajwantie Baldeo

related to media operatives in Guyana that just before her mother had left Guyana in September to travel to New York, her father had stated that “he would kill her before she could leave”.

After leaving Guyana on a US Visitor’s Visa, Baldeo reportedly secured a job as a cook in Queens, New York, and was expected to return to her native country

in February 2017.

Baldeo’s daughter believes that her father, Prem Ramperssud, had planned the killing of her mother. Her conviction was premised on the reports from neighbours- in the village where her parents lived while in Guyana- that her father Rampersaud, had told them that he was going abroad to kill the woman.

According to Baldeo’s relatives, they were told that she [Baldeo] was attacked shortly after she finished her shift at a restaurant, and due to the many marks of violence about her body, speculations were that Baldeo was beaten severely before she was stabbed multiple times. Her neck was nearly decapitated, according to reports in New York media.

Guyana Times International was also told

Suspect: Prem Ramperssud

that the suspect was caught red handed by two persons, while he was in the process of sawing his wife's neck off.

Rampersaud had reportedly confronted Baldeo about an online relationship he suspected she was having.

The 50-year-old suspect was charged with murder and will face trial in New York soon.

Rift widens between former GPHC Chairman and Health Minister

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

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ormer Chairman of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Board of Directors, Dr Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman, has lashed out at Public Health Minister Dr George Norton, accusing him of wanting to micro-manage the corporation. However, in his defence, the Minister posited that he will not sit idly while nothing is being done to improve the public health sector.

The allegation against Dr Norton came one day after the former Chairman received a letter from Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry, Trevor Thomas, on Monday stating that the GPHC Board is dissolved as of November 30, 2016.

The letter was dated November29, 2016.

Speaking at a press conference from his Private Practice office on Brickdam on Tuesday, Dr Hanoman told reporters that he was initially appointed for a threeyear tenure, with each Board position up for renewal at the end of every November.

However, he stated that instead of his position being renewed, the

entire board was dissolved; a move which he said was made by the Health Minister in order to micro-manage the GHPC. “When I came to the Board, I thought it was an autonomous, independent board… (But) I realised overtime that the hospital corporation could not be autonomous and independent. The decision-making process was under the thumbs of the Minister of Health,” Hanoman posited.

According to the former chairman, the rift between him and Dr Norton came about after the Board, under his chairmanship, took a decision to reinstate GPHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Khan who was initially sent on administrative leave pending a probe at the medical facility. Khan is currently on a second bout of administrative leave which runs until July 2017.

Dr Hanoman explained that after receiving the findings of the investigations, the Board met with Christopher Ram, who conducted the probe, and it was noted that nothing substantively incriminating was found against Khan, hence the decision was taken to have him returned, something which he claimed the Health Minister was not in favour of.

The former chairman added that he reinstated Khan as CEO because the GPHC was without any good governance and that he also needed assistance with the University of Guyana medical accreditation process, which Khan

should make the appointment.

However, in response to the allegations made by the former GPHC Chairman, Dr Norton in a brief interview with this newspaper on Wednesday pointed out that he is not going to sit idly and wait for things to be done or actions to be taken.

Former GPHC Chairman, Dr Carl "Max" Hanoman

worked on facilitating under his direction.

However, in the end Dr Hanoman said the CEO was once again sent on administrative leave.

Moreover, the former GPHC Chairman went on to outline several other instances where the Minister would attempt to “micro-manage” the corporation. In fact, he rubbished reports that it was him who sent Director of Nursing Services (Matron), Collene Hicks, on administrative leave back in July. He disclosed that it was the Health Minister who gave the directive for that action to be taken.

On the other hand, the former GPHC Chairman accused Dr Norton of stalling the appointment process of Deputy CEO, for which the Board under his chairmanship had already shortlisted three candidates for the position and submitted same to the President and other Government Ministers.

Dr Hanoman claimed that the Minister wants to put his own people in the position, since he received a letter from Dr Norton last week saying that the new board

“We’ve got a five-year term to change things around and many times we have the same players around who don’t get things done. If I should sit in my office and hope that all the officers would perform the way I want them to, I might be disappointed.

Experience has told me that I’ve got to get up and do things,

and I won’t mind doing so if it means things will be get done,” he noted.

The Public Health Minister went on to explain that the board was not dissolved, but rather its life had come to an end. He sought to clarify that the term of the Board was one-year and not three as was suggested by Dr Hanoman.

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

DPP expected to write U.S. Bulkan announces establishment of Local Govt watchdog authorities in relation to Bisram’s extradition A

Murder accused: Marcus Bisram

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he Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack is expected to formally write the judicial office in New York, United States to have murder accused Marcus Brian Bisram extradited to Guyana to face trial.

Bisram, 27, was charged in absentia last month for the murder of 26-yearold Faiyaz Narinedatt, a carpenter, who was murdered on November 1, 2016, at Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Last month, the Guyana Police Force had issued a wanted bulletin for the suspect –giving his address as Lot 115 Section A Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Berbice and somewhere in the United States. However, the businessman had already fled the country and returned to the US. This prompted local law enforcement to contact its overseas counterparts and Interpol subsequently issued a wanted bulletin for Bisram. The Interpol red notice urged persons in the United States to contact the nearest Police Station or 911 once the wanted man is sighted.

Guyana Times International was told that Bisram has two stores in the Queens, New York area and one in Manhattan.

A senior officer at the helm of the investigations told this newspaper on Wednesday that the DPP would have to apply for the extradition and present evidence to prove that Bisram was in fact involved in the murder.

Following this, a hearing will then be set to determine whether the evi-

dence produced by the Guyanese authorities is sufficient to warrant an extradition. If the DPP is successful in proving the case against the US-based Guyanese businessman, then the extradition application will be granted.

The next step will be for the Guyana and US Governments to meet and decide on the details of the extradition agreement.

Bisram was the sixth person charged with the murder of the carpenter. He was charged along with his 39-year-old bodyguard Orlando Dickie of Stevedore Housing Scheme, Georgetown. A few days prior, four other persons were charged for the carpenter’s murder. They were 39-yearold Radesh Motie, an excavator operator, of Lot 124 Number 74 Village; 49-year-old Harripaul Parsram of Lot 164 Number 71 Village; 18-yearold Deodatt Dutt of Lot 98 Number 71 Village, and 37-year-old Nirone Yacoob, a hire car driver, of Lot 65 Number 67 Village.

Additionally, the businessman’s mother and her daughter were also charged and remanded to prison after they allegedly offered bribes to Police ranks to “duck the case”.

Shinella Indarally, 45, and Mary Anne Lionel, 25, both of Lot 171 Section B No 71 Village, Corentyne, were charged for deliberately attempting to obstruct the course of justice. It was reported that they offered a police corporal G$4 million to release the four men who were detained for the murder and to also cease efforts to apprehend Bisram.

Meanwhile, Bisram has since retained Attorneys-at-Law Mario Gallucci and John Ciurcina out of a New York law firm to represent him.

A statement from the lawyers on Tuesday detailed that they will be “handling (Bisram’s) American interests and work in conjunction with the foreign counsel.”

The statement further outlined that “Mr Bisram denies the rumours, lies and speculations that have been widely circulated throughout the Guyanese community…Mr Bisram is known in Guyana for his charitable work supporting education and law enforcement.

Mr Bisram regularly visits Guyana on his humanitarian missions.”

s the Budget debates continue in the National Assembly, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan on Wednesday announced the establishment of the National Regional Development Consultative Committee (NRDCC) which he said will be designed to improve and strengthen inter-regional consultations in Guyana.

This establishment comes in light of the creation of regional procurement units, the Communities Minister disclosed, adding that plans are moving apace to establish the NRDCC, which will seek to ensure transparency at the regional and local government levels with respect to the awarding of State contracts.

Bulkan further noted that these measures will also seek to encourage more participation from community members.

“Measures will be put in place to expand the number of contractors involved in executing Government contracts in the regions and to rebuild the village economy by deepening the opportunities for local content in the

Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan

delivery of projects and activities, promoting community participation and ownership,” he noted.

The Communities Minister also told the National Assembly that an entire section of the Budget was allocated to strengthen regional organs. Bulkan further outlined that within the NRDCC, inter-regional consultations will be done during the year.

The Minister stressed that at this level of consultations, a number of targets will be pursued.

To this end, Bulkan noted that it is expected that there will be improved implementation of policies, programmes and knowledge sharing at regional levels, while the promotion of “the green agenda” will be related to sustain-

able economic development.

Additionally under the NRDCC, there will also be “regional partnerships and collaboration” to resolve constrains and promote development within the priority areas. Bulkan stressed further that a platform will exist “to consolidate ideas and articulate and contribute to coherent policy discussions for development and for the coordination of local democratic organs.”

Speaking on the delayed establishment of the Local Government Commission (LGC), the Communities Minister told the House that while the LGC will have oversight over local democratic organs, it will not have “control” over the said organs.

The Local Government Commission, when established, will have oversight over the various local authority areas in the country. It would also be responsible for appointing officials in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and local authority areas, as well as the approval of budgets for the NDCs.

14-year-old is Guyana’s latest accident victim A teenager has become Guyana’s latest road fatality after he reportedly rode into the path of a minibus on Tuesday evening at Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Mark McCoy, 14, of Lot 561 Cinema Street, Diamond, EBD, was pronounced dead about an

Dead: Mark Mc Coy

hour after arriving at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

He reportedly sustained severe head injuries following the collision which occurred at about 18:30h.

Reports are a minibus bearing registration plates BVV 989 was heading to Timehri, EBD, whilst the pedal cyclist was proceeding in the opposite direction.

He was reportedly towing a male on the handle of the pedal cycle when he reportedlyswerved into the path of the minibus.

The other teenager, who was sitting on the handle managed to jump off before Mc Coy slammed into the minibus.

As a result of the impact, Mc Coy fell onto the roadway and was rushed

to the nearby medical facility in an unconscious state but died soon afterwards.

The driver of the minibus, a 46-year-old man of Kaneville, EBD, was taken into Police custody and a breathalyser test was conducted but there were no alcohol recorded in his system.

When Guyana Times Internationalvisited the teen’s home on Wednesday, his mother, Pamela Mc Coy was being comforted by relatives. She explained that she was at home when she received a telephone call informing her that the young man was involved in an accident.

She related as she rushed out to go to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, two Police ranks were at her door enquiring about the teen’s relatives. Again, she was informed by the ranks that her son was seriously injured following an accident. Without hesitation, she rushed to the medical facility where she saw her son laying on a stretcher.

“I see he on the stretcher and blood was coming out his mouth… soon after they tell me continued on page 9

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 9

Fire guts Canje home; Seven-storey car 3 homeless park for T&T

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hree persons are now homeless after a fire believed to be electrical in origin gutted a two-storey dwelling at East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Shortly before midday, smoke was seen coming from a wall close to a fuse box. At the time, Narsha Crandon was at home alone. Without attempting to tackle the fire, she called her husband, Garfield Fyffe, informed him of the situation and urged him to return quickly.

Crandon said she was in the kitchen when she saw smoke coming from the front of the house in the vicinity of the fuse box.

She then fled the house and crossed the road to her brother-in-law’s yard and waited for him to return from the shop.

Meanwhile, Fyffe, who operates a block-making business, said he had gone to purchase sand when he was told that there was smoke in the house. He told this publication that he instructed his wife to leave the house.

When he arrived, the house was engulfed.

After crossing the road, Crandon had called for her brother-in-law, Colin, who told Guyana Times International when he heard her cries, there was already thick smoke coming from the building.

The alarm raised was also heard by a next-door neighbour; Nita Basdeo.

She explained that the shouts did not

come from the burning house. “I went upstairs and I hearing she calling she brother-in-law; Colin; me hear she call hard and when me look, before me look at she, me see plenty smoke coming out from over there.”

Residents attempted to put out the blaze, but were unsuccessful. Basdeo said she then asked a neighbour to call the Police.

When the Guyana Fire Service arrived, the building was already engulfed. The fire department responded with three units and was successful in containing the fire to one building.

According to a source close to the New Amsterdam Fire Service, initial investigations revealed that residents formed a bucket brigade and attempted to douse the fire, but after realising that they could not handle it, called the professional firefighters.

The source said in such cases, it was better to initially sound an alarm then evacuate the building. Before attempts are made to extinguish the fire, the Fire Service should be alerted.

Meanwhile, the businessman estimated the damage at G$10 million; however, the building was insured against fire.

Neighbours were successful in moving Fyffe’s car to a safe location before he arrived. The building is owned by former Police Officer Patrick Fraser, who now resides in the USA. (Andrew Carmichael)

14-year-old is ...

from page 8

The bus that was involved in the accident

that he didn’t make it,” the woman added. She however recalled that her son left home to accompany a friend to take his grandmother’s dinner and that was the last time she saw him alive.

The aggrieved mother noted that her son attended the Dolphin Second School and was at school on Tuesday.

She said that he was a well-mannered and disciplinedchild who did not give her any trouble.

“I was at his school

today (Wednesday) and when I told them of his demise, they started to cry… the teachers and students and the people who he normally buys lunch from,” she cried.

The driver remains in Police custody and is assisting with the investigations. The teenager leaves to mourn his mother and three other siblings. His father passed away just over a year ago. (Bhisham Mohamed)

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n seven months, downtown Port of Spain will have 200 additional parking spaces.

The Nicholas Group of Companies, founded by Issa Nicholas, has invested $30 million to construct a seven-storey parking facility on Cha­con Street, Port of Spain, obliquely opposite Excellent City Centre.

During the sod-turning ceremony for the car park, on Wednesday, Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis said Government welcomed Nicholas’s investment, especially as parking remains a major issue in Port of Spain.

She said the facility was also coming at a time when Government’s focus was on revitalising the capital.

“As you know, Port of Spain, as our capital city has been a city, we are really of the firm view needs to be revitalised. On each occasion that Mr Nicholas and his team have made an input into changing the landscape of Port of Spain, it has been very effective and significant for Port of Spain,” she said.

Minister of Planning and Development Camille RobinsonRegis and Issa Nicholas, chairman of Nicholas Group of Companies, turn the sod during Wednesday’s ceremony for a new multistorey car park at Chacon Street, Port of Spain.

“We want to see the development of Port of Spain. We said so in our last incarnation. On this occasion, despite the fact that the fortunes are not as positive as they were on that occasion, our intention is to ensure that Port of Spain is revitalised and redeveloped,” she said.

Robinson-Regis pointed out Nicholas was able to construct his car park at a reduced cost, given the extension of tax concessions on the construction of multi-storey car parks.

“The Minister of Finance, in his first budget speech, had extended the tax credits for the building of car parks, particularly in the city, to 2025, and that is one of the incentives that have led to Mr Nicholas being able to construct his car park at that cost and within the city,” she stated.

During his short address, Nicholas said the car park will be his company’s fifth such facility to be constructed in the city.

He said he was proud of his investment in the heart of Port of Spain.

(Trinidad Express)

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Father of 2 found dead in coconut estate

North Rupununi students witness 2nd day of 2017 Budget Debates

- suicide suspected

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Dead: Ramdat Ramdular

amdat Ramdular, a joiner of Lot 113 Newtown Enmore, East Coast Demerara, was on Wednesday morning found dead in a coconut estate aback a Mosque in the village. It is suspected that he committed suicide since a bottle containing a poisonous substance was found close to his body.

The 25-year-old father of two was last seen by his wife and mother at about 16:00h on Tuesday afternoon.

Reports are the young man was at a house in the area with a female and spent the entire day before returning home in the evening. He was reportedly scolded by his mother for his behaviour but this did not deter him from visiting the young lady.

He left home on Tuesday evening but did not return. During a search

on Wednesday morning, his body was found aback a mosque in the coconut estate. Speaking with this newspaper, Rosalind Ramdular explained that she had reasonto visit the young lady’s home on Tuesday to look for her son.

During the visit, she was told that the young man was not there but as she forcefully entered the yard, she saw the pair of slippers that he was wearing when he left home. As she called out to her son, he subsequently came out of the house. At the time, he was carrying his computer and a charger to his mobile phone.

“He gave me the computer and charger and tell me let me go ahead, he will come… he eventually come but he left afterwards… I was told that he went back to the girl house then he went to a shop in the area,” the woman stated.

She went on to say that the girl’s mother later went to her home and apologised for what had occurred earlier in the day.

However, after the young man did not return home on Tuesday, the family went to the Police Station and made a report.

“I tell the Police that I suspect he at the same girl house, so they went but he was not there… we start searching for he and it was then we find he laying at the back of the mosque.”

The Police have confirmed that there are no visible marks of violence on the body and are treating the death as a suicide unless the post-mortem examination proves otherwise.

The man leaves to mourn his two children, wife and parents.

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The visiting students

hirty-five students and five teachers from the Bina Hill Institute Youth Learning Centre of Annai, North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Tuesday attended the second day of Budget debates as part of an ongoing United Nations (UN), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) project on Gender and Development, Good Governance and Leadership.

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock, addressing the National Assembly in relation to the students and teachers’ visit, said that the students were there to experience the process of decision-making which would touch their lives and those of all.

“It is my hope that (they) will leave here with a positive impression of us here in the National Assembly… at this, the highest decision-making forum in the land,” Minister Allicock said.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister explained to the National Assembly that the institute was birthed out of the need to fill the void created by the absence within the education system to provide for the technically inclined and for those who would not be able to benefit from a secondary education.

“There was an emergence of a spirit of volunteerism, fuelled by the passion, by the desire to see the full potential

of the Indigenous young people. The result was that in 2001 the institute came into being,” the Minister said.

Minister Allicock continued that the young people that were present in the Chamber of Parliament Building understood and appreciated the commitment and sacrifices of the institute’s pioneers, while they are equally aware of the significant support that the National Assembly has offered to the institution and its beneficiaries over the years. The Minister said that the students also recognised that support is flowing from both sides of the political divide of the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Bina Hill students in a letter to the National Assembly said that they are Indigenous youth from many different regions and communities in their second and final year in the institute.

The students are studying Gender Governance and Leadership as one of the courses, and the visit to Parliament was a practical component of the course which is supported by the FAO of the UN, and by the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry. The course includes Sustainable Forestry, Organic Agriculture, Environmental Management, Basic Business and EcoTourism, Traditional Skills, Craft and Music. The students also manage their own farms. Additionally, the students sang to the Members of Parliament in appreciation for hosting them.

Brazilian charged with murder of Guyanese miner

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24-year-old Brazilian was on Tuesday charged with murder and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Makail Jackson Da Silva, who appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, is accused of killing Ken Lewis, also known as “Kid” and “Kenny” at Dukwari Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Reports are Da Silva was arrested after the body of his North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) coworker was discovered in a mining pit at Dukwari Backdam.

It was alleged that between November 29 and 30, 2016, he murdered Lewis.

Police in F Division (Interior locations) arrested Da Silva on Thursday last after Lewis’s body was discovered on Wednesday last with multiple wounds.

According to Police reports, about 16:00h on Tuesday, the suspect and the deceased were seen leaving their mining camp; however the suspect returned alone later that evening.

The following day, November 29, at about 10:00h, the General Manager and a group of workers discovered Lewis’s body after they followed a trail of blood some distance away from the

Murder accused, Makail Jackson Da Silva

mining camp.

The matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court where Da Silva is scheduled to make an appearance on December 15.

news 11

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

President urges servicemen to exercise Labour Minister justifies Govt’s plan duties with passion and love for country to tackle ‘rampant …in defending sovereign territory tax evasion’ P

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inister within the Social Protection Ministry with responsibility for labour, Keith Scott has sought to defend the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s staunch stance on tackling tax evasion and tax avoidance, saying more could have been achieved over the years had it not been for the rampant mischief that is tax evasion.

Minister Scott was at the time giving his presentation in the debate on the 2017 National Estimates (Budget) – a Budget that has since seen Government being on the receiving end of severe criticisms over the proposed revised taxation system, inclusive of additional penalties and regulations.

According to Minister Scott, “It was established by reputable sources that tax evasion was more rampant then than ever, and I would not say that that situation is any way different today.”

Scott used the occasion to point out to the members of the National Assembly that the measures outlined in Budget 2017 are meant to tackle the scourge of tax avoidance and tax evasion head-on “by introducing a series of measures that will arrest this trend which will make available more dollars to the economy and thereby causing more jobs to be created for the benefit of all.”

He told the House that the levels of unemployment in Guyana could have been much lower “if there had been a more even distribution in the execution of our legal and moral responsibilities in the context of taxation, that is the payment of the various taxes, including income taxes, rates and taxes”.

Speaking to some of the relief measures announced by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, Scott also drew reference to the reduction in the corporation tax meant to benefit large businesses.

As such, he reported his pleasure at reiterating that the prayers of the business community had been answered when Minister Jordan announced a reduction in the Corporate Tax from 30 per cent to 27.5 per cent.

Government, he said, will be losing out on in

Minister within the Social Protection Ministry with responsibility for labour, Keith Scott

excess of G$750 million annually as a result of the concession offered to the business community.

Jobs created

Addressing his remit as Minister with responsibility for Labour, Scott told the House that at the beginning of this year the Ministry’s Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency had projected finding employment for some 3500 persons.

He told the House that the Ministry managed to achieve 89 per cent of its target by placing some 3122 individuals in gainful employment.

Speaking to the reduction in the income tax rate to be paid, calculated at 28 per cent instead of 30 per cent, Minister Scott said, “I am sure that this entire House would agree that these and other tax measures translates into a good life.”

Scott also used his presentation to laud several of the other measures of the 2017 Estimates announced by Minister Jordan, such as the accommodations for GRA tender compliance and the automatic issuance of temporary certificates.

According to Minister Scott, the measures are meant to create a more level playing field with regard to the tendering of contracts.

He noted too that the measures were intended to improve transparency and lead to a more equitable distribution of resources, as well as to make for good corporate citizenship.

Scott, in his presentation, contended, “This is truly a Christmas Budget… it has offered a gift to all sectors of our society and has left the traditional prophets of doom with no ammunition to attack us but to resort to lies and distortions.” (Gary Eleazar)

resident David Granger last Wednesday called on the servicemen of the country, particularly those posted in the Eteringbang, Region 7 (CuyuniMazaruni) and other western Guyana locations to not only be watchful and on guard, but also to endeavour, through their actions and encounters, to let the world know that the Guyana/Venezuela Border controversy was settled 117 years ago and that they are defending sovereign territory.

Speaking at the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) annual Christmas lunch at Eteringbang, the President said that as the persons responsible for the country’ security and territorial integrity, the Policemen and Soldiers must exercise their duties with passion and love of country.

“This Cuyuni River is important to us. It is the definition of our sovereignty and your duty as Soldiers and Policemen is to draw the line so that the world would know where Venezuela stops and where Guyana begins. This has been one of the most painful experiences of our history. Even as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary of Independence we have had to put up with 50 years of provocation.

Some people don’t understand how we feel about this river and about this territorial controversy. The Venezuelans have been preventing investors from coming here.

It has not been easy and I tell my colleagues in the other countries that it is like a bone is stuck in our throat, it is causing us pain, it is preventing us from developing this country to benefit the Guyanese

President David Granger serves lunch to some of the nearby villagers who were invited to the annual Christmas lunch at Eteringbang, Region Seven

people,” the President said.

The President noted that as far as Guyana is concerned, the matter had been settled 117 years ago with the signing of the Geneva Agreement. He noted too that Venezuela at that time had been awarded land space, which had originally been demarcated as part of British Guiana, yet it continues to claim even larger territory to this day.

The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces said that while Guyana is a peaceful and friendly country and is open to discussions, Venezuela too must understand that it is infringing and laying claims on territory which in no way belongs to that country.

“Guyana and Venezuela can live in peace. We live in peace with Brazil and we can live in peace with Venezuela, but people across the border must understand that this territory is ours. We cannot stop being vigilant because this

land belongs not only to us, because we are just the trustees. We have to give [this land to] our children and grandchildren. You [Soldiers, Policemen and civilians] are the eyes and ears at this western point of Guyana to keep us informed, to let us know if there is any breach of our territorial integrity. All of them must understand and respect our territorial integrity,” he said.

The President expressed gratitude to the servicemen for their commitment and dedication during the past year, noting that Guyana is grateful.

After serving lunch to the servicemen and villagers who were invited to the festivities on the base, the Head of State visited the Eteringbang Police Station to get a first-hand look at the facilities.

He was warmly received by the Policemen there who noted that this is the very first time that a President, sitting or otherwise, has visited that facility.

Canadian High Commission partners with Gov’t to tackle domestic violence

#OrangetheWorld: Participants in the Canadian High Commission’s 16 Days of Activism Against GenderBased Violence activities at the diplomatic headquarters before heading over to the seawall on Saturday

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he High Commission of Canada partnered with the Social Protection Ministry and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to organise a self-defence workshop as part of theHigh Commission’s observation of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Representatives from Government and non-governmental agencies gathered at the High Commission on Saturday before setting off for the bandstand at the Kingston seawall.

With the understanding that the 16 days of activism were also a call to action, the High Commission went a little further than the awareness raising campaign by organising a session in basic self-defence techniques.

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Pierre Giroux said that unequal treatment of women and girls was one of the main reasons they were unable to realise their basic human rights and was also a contributing factor to violence against them. He called for a change in attitude towards violence against women or anyone in society.

Instructors from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) volunteered their skills, demonstrating how to counter common attack methodologies and also responding to specific requests from attendees.

Many participants shared that they found the session so useful, they would like regular sessions on self-defence in the future.

The 16 Days of Activism

Against Gender-Based Violence campaign began on November 25 and ends on December 10, Human Rights Day. This year, the theme of the United Nations campaign to end violence against women is “Orange the World: Raise Money to End Violence against Women and Girls”.

Canada has been at the forefront of advocating for the elimination of violence against women for over 20 years. In 2015, through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), Canada supported the operationalisation of the Domestic Violence Unit at the Social Protection Ministry.

Through CFLI, Canada also supported groundwork for the launching of a Gender Studies course at the University of Guyana.

12 news

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Business Minister has 21 convicted failed to achieve anything Guyanese deported substantial, says Hamilton from U.S. B …to be monitored

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ocal law enforcement officials on Tuesday afternoon received some 21 Guyanese-born nationals who were deported from the United States after having served jail time for a range of offences.

Guyana Times International understands that the U.S. Government chartered a special flight to transport a group of convicts to Guyana and other

under tight security, where they were processed and registered, before being released.

These involuntary migrants had served time for offences ranging from homicide, robberies, possession of illegal firearms, drug trafficking and rape.

The Guyana Police Force is expected to monitor the convicted deportees. In fact, they were informed before being

Caribbean destinations.

The aircraft arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport sometime around 15:30h.

Upon landing at Timehri, the deportees deplaned and were handed over by US Government officials to ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Immigration Department. The group of convicted Guyanese was subsequently escorted to the Police Headquarters Eve Leary

freed that they would have to report to specific Police Stations on a regular basis, as part of the monitoring process.

Caribbean governments have complained bitterly over the years about nationals being deported to their country of birth without much information provided as to their medical and criminal backgrounds and even more importantly, some form of support regarding their smooth integration into their home countries.

In fact, President David Granger last month has expressed some level of concern with regards to Guyana’s ability to handle the influx of Guyanese convicted for serious and violent crimes being deported from the US and other countries.

The President was at the time engaging the local media on his weekly television programme— The Public Interest— and said that Government will be looking to work with its US security counterparts with a view of being notified when such persons are being deported to Guyana.

Granger conceded that there is still some degree of narco-trafficking in Guyana, in addition to execution-type murders and “we don’t want to have people coming back here who contribute to that form of criminality.”

“We want to be better prepared,” the President said, as he disclosed that the issue is something the Public Security Ministry is aware of.

According to President Granger, “we will have to put measures in place to ensure deportees do not try to perpetrate crimes when they get back here, but it is something we must prepare for.”

usiness Minister Dominic Gaskin and his shadow counterpart in the National Assembly, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Joe Hamilton, were the first to trade barbs as the first day of the debates on the 2017 Estimates got underway.

Minister Gaskin in his presentation spoke of the virtues of an early Budget being presented, while his shadow counterpart lamented the Business Minster’s failure to achieve anything substantial during his tenure.

Hamilton told the House that this was his view since the Minister from his inception in the portfolio, has only ever regaled about the things that he and his ministry ‘will do’, instead of what it has, in fact, accomplished.

Defending the more than G$1 billion allocated for the Business Ministry in 2017, Gaskin was adamant that with the early presentation of the estimates, Guyanese, including the business community, will now be able to plan for the upcoming year.

Government, he said, did not wish to skylark with such an important fiscal tool in the form of the Budget by waiting to present it for passage until April—as was the case under the PPP/C Administration.

Taking a swipe at one of the Opposition speakers who drew reference to the fact that the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Government had inherited consistent and sustained economic growth, Gaskin suggested that the decline had begun before the current Administration took office.

Green State

Responding to allegations of there being no comprehensive plan with regards President David Granger’s stated proposal of pursuing a Green State, Gaskin used the occasion to point to the G$1 billion allocation to pursue projects in alignment with the President’s vision.

He spoke of the tax concessions and holidays announced to benefit the sector.

Government has also been taking flack over its proposal on the green

Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin

energy front to provide concessions for the import of electric cars and charging stations, but according to Minister Gaskin, “we are looking at initial stages of developing the green economy.”

He sought to defend the Administration’s handling of the PetroCaribe fund, saying that his predecessor’s approach to utilising the fund was a flawed one, since it was Government taking a long-term debt to convert it into short-term payments for a sector that was in trouble—the rice industry.

Speaking to some of the developments for 2017 as it relates to the Business Ministry, Gaskin pointed to the refurbishment of the Guyana National Exhibition Centre which he said would serve to boost the venue with regards the hosting of business expositions.

The Minister spoke too of the continued pursuit of a single window processing system, in addition to upgrades at the Guyana Small Business Bureau and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, among other departments that fall within the purview of his Ministry.

According to Minister Gaskin, the Business Ministry is pursuing a five-year strategic plan germane to the acceleration of business development in Guyana, including reducing the barriers to doing business in the country.

Communicating a message directly to the business community, Minister Gaskin was adamant that Budget 2017 is “pro-business and pro-worker.”

However, Hamilton in rebutting the Minister’s presentation, was equally adamant that Budget 2017 is in fact ‘poisonous’ and can in fact be considered “the first death

announcement Budget” that will transition the nation from bad to worse—a Budget that is bad for all Guyanese with the exception of Government functionaries and their cronies.

Hamilton in his rebuttal of Minister Gaskin’s presentation, said he should have focused on employment and business opportunities instead of regaling the House with plans to refurbish the exhibition centre, the purchase of a vehicle and the rental of tents.

“Rum shop gaff”

Dismissing as “rum shop gaff”, Hamilton in making his presentation also took a swipe at the Government’s proposals to provide incentives for the import of charging stations for electrical cars, in addition to the cars themselves.

He lamented the current state of affairs of the electricity grid, saying that the substantive Minster, David Patterson, is hardpressed to keep the power flowing in order to ensure that the fish and chicken in the ordinary man’s fridge does not spoil.

Hamilton also seized the opportunity to call out the entire Government over the 2017 Estimates, drawing reference to the growing voices of opposition as against the very few Ministers that have gone into the public domain to speak in its defence, saying “like they themselves have a difficulty with the Budget and their measures.”

Hamilton concluded his presentation to the debate by saying, “all and sundry” have indicated their displeasure with the measures proposed in the Budget; and joined with his colleagues to call on the APNU/AFC Government to withdraw its Budget and work with the PPP/C to “come again”.

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Barbuda airport, Suriname drug trafficker Climate sentenced to eleven financing... seaport and from page 2

to Guyana, Mr. Michel Prom said that Caribbean countries, particularly Guyana is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. He noted, however, that a lot more needs to be done to reach the 2020 goals. He informed that France has committed to increasing its yearly funds for the climate from €3B to €5B in 2020.

The Paris Agreement was adopted on December 12, 2015 at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Paris and was signed on April 22, 2016 in New York. It provides the framework for accelerating the global transition to a climate resilient, low carbon future. Today, it has been ratified by 115 Parties, representing 79 percent of global emissions.

The formal part of the ceremony was followed by a concert performed by the Clemsville Music Ensemble, a local orchestra that specialises in classical chamber music. Stand up performers were Guyana’s Russel Lancaster, who delivered a stirring rendition of M.A. Cossou’s ‘My Native Land’, Mrs. Katusha Fraser, whose opera styled performance of Georges Bizet’s Habanera from Carmen was a high point of the evening and Mrs. Chie Clarke on the violin with J.E.F. Massenet’s Mediation de Thais. (MOTP)

airways in 2017 years in U.S. prison

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h e Government of Antigua & Barbuda has said that “by the first quarter” of 2017 it will begin inviting bids for a contract to construct a new international airport on the sister island of Barbuda.

According to Prime Minister Gaston Browne, the funding for the airport has so far come from private investors who have investments in Barbuda, the most recent being billionaire John Paul DeJoria and his partner John B Turbidy.

“One of the conditions we had set earlier when we first spoke to John B [Turbidy], two years ago, is that any major development must be preceded by an upfront payment of US $5 million…in order to pursue the [airport]…,” Browne said.

According to the prime minister, to date, the government had “a commitment from two other developers… in the region of US $9 million,” which when combined with DeJoria’s injection of US $5 million brought the sum up to US $14 million.

“Ambassador Brian Stuart Young can confirm that US $5 million was remitted to the Global Bank of Commerce,” Browne said, adding, “By the first quarter of next year we should be able to go to tender for the construction of a new airport…”

The prime minister was speaking at a ceremony, on Tuesday, at which Turbidy&DeJoria signed an agreement to undertake the US $259 million Peace Love & happiness project on Barbuda.(Antigua Observer)

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Surinamese man convicted of acting as the "right-hand man" to the son of the country's president as part of a scheme to send large amounts of cocaine to the United States was sentenced on Tuesday to 11-1/4 years in a US prison.

Edmund Muntslag, who was arrested after a US sting operation targeting Dino Bouterse, Suriname President Desi Bouterse's son, was sentenced by US District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan, Reuters reported.

He faced a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a maximum of life after a federal jury found Muntslag, 33, guilty in March of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States.

His conviction came a year after Dino Bouterse, 43, was sentenced to 161/4 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges that he tried to offer a home base to the Lebanese paramilitary group Hezbollah in

Edmund Muntslag is shown in this US Attorney's Office photo released on March 22, 2016

Suriname.

Prosecutors said that, in 2013, Bouterse and Muntslag sought to help people claiming to be Mexican drug cartel members, who were actually US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) informants, send millions of dollars worth of cocaine to the United States.

At the time, Bouterse was the head of a counter-terrorism unit in Suriname, and described Muntslag as his "right hand”.

In July 2013,

Muntslag shipped a test load of 10 kg (22 lb) of cocaine by a commercial flight from Suriname to Trinidad, understanding the drugs would be transported to New York for sale.

Bouterse had meanwhile agreed with the purported cartel members to discuss a weapons deal with Hezbollah.

During a meeting in Greece with an undercover agent and DEA source posing as Hezbollah members, Bouterse agreed to help the group establish a base in Suriname, located north of Brazil, in exchange for $2 million, prosecutors said.

Bouterse was arrested in August 2013 in Panama, where he was discussing the purported Hezbollah deal.

Muntslag was arrested days later in Trinidad, where he was waiting to take an undercover DEA agent posing as a Hezbollah agent to Suriname. He was extradited in August 2015.

(Caribbean News Now)

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Former teacher found not guilty of having sex with 15-yr-old

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former West Coast Demerara (WCD) teacher, who was before the courts for sexual activity with a child, was found not guilty by majority jury. Thirtythree-year-old Royden Rankin on Tuesday afternoon walked out arm in arm with his wife who was in tears of joy, after he was freed of the crime.

The former school teacher thanked the Almighty moments after an 11-1 jury found him not guilty of the offence of sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust.

The matter was said to have occurred in a closed room on January 30, 2013; the alleged victim was 15 years old at the time. Guyana Times International understands that during the hours-long deliberation,

Corentyne man remanded for killing friend

A Royden Rankin with his wife and another relative, moments after he became a free man

one male juror held out that the accused should have been found guilty, given the age of the victim.

After the 33-yearold teacher was freed, Presiding Judge Justice Jo-Ann Barlow told him that he did not draw the line between teacher and student and warned him that in future, he should draw the line as the adult.

The Judge further related

that 15 year olds cannot be blamed when they fall victim to such activities.

In April 2013, Rankin was charged for the offence and had spent time incarcerated as he awaited trial. He was represented by Defence Attorneys Lyndon Amsterdam and Latoya Roberts, while the State Prosecutors were Shawnette Austin and Siand Dhurjon.

Corentyne fisherman who reported to the Police that he and a friend had an altercation during which he “broadsided” him, was on Monday remanded to prison for murder.

Henry Trim, 28, also called ‘Buddy’ of Number 60 Village, Corentyne, Berbice was not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that on November 29, 2016, Trim murdered 25-yearold Ravi Kumar Sharma at Number 60 Village.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Phillip Sherriff told the court that the lifeless body of the

Dead: Ravi Kumar Sharma

Sharma was discovered lying in a pool of blood

beneath his home at about 6:00h by his mother on the day in question.

The matter was transferred to the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court and the trial will continue on February 24, 2017.

Trim gave investigators a confession statement claiming that he and Sharma had a fight over a portable DVD player.

Trim also reportedly confided to investigators that he was in a relationship with the dead man’s 57-year-old mother.

3 charged, remanded to prison for fish depot robbery

Accused bandit Marvin Blackman

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he three bandits who allegedly broke into Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot at Meadow Bank, Greater Georgetown were on Tuesday charged with robbery under-arms.

Marvin Blackman, 25, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Neesan Benny, 40, of Bushy Park, Parika, and Jason Brotherson of Garnett Street, Kitty, all appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It was alleged that on December 2, at Meadow Bank, Blackman, Brotherson and Benny, while being armed with a dangerous weapon, robbed Shane Robin of G$560,000 in cash and fishing equipment, a total value of G$2,560,000.

The trio pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Blackman and Benny were represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson, who made bail applications on their behalf, which were denied as the prosecution objected.

The defendants were remanded to prison and

ordered to return to court on January 6, 2017.

On the day in question, one bandit was shot while another was apprehended and a third made good his escape following the robbery.

The injured bandit was shot to both of his legs by Police ranks who responded to the report of a robbery at the fish depot about 00:45h. The bandit who was apprehended at the site was found hiding in the ceiling by the lawmen.

At the scene last Friday morning, an eyewitness explained that he was about to head to the front of the building when he heard a scream from the supervisor, Shane Robin, and as he looked around, he saw one of the bandits running towards the bushes with a bag he had collected from the two other bandits, who were already in the building.

Robin was reportedly gun butted and had to receive medical attention.

He immediately raised an alarm and the security guard rushed to the scene and without hesitation, contacted the Police. Within minutes, he noted, two Police Officers arrived.

An employee, who requested anonymity, told Guyana Times in an earlier report, that she was at home when she received a telephone call from the supervisor informing her that the depot had been robbed and the bandits were still in the building.

She explained that when she arrived, the Police had already shot one to the legs and they were trying to get one who was hiding in the ceiling. After some time, the Police managed to get him.

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Trinidad Opposition Leader proposes truce over election deadlock

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the final United National Congress (UNC) campaign rally before the local government elections on November 28

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olitical leader of the opposition United National Congress (UNC), Kamla PersadBissessar, has written to Trinidad and Tobago prime minister and political leader of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM), Dr Keith Rowley, proposing they meet and “resolve the crisis created by the potential deadlock of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation”.

The UNC leader’s statement follows the fiercely fought local government election in Trinidad on Monday, November 28, which saw the opposition party gaining ground and picking up six and a half corporations to the PNM’s seven and a half.

The PNM previously held eight corporations.

The UNC held five and part of what was also a deadlocked situation in the Chaguanas Borough Corporation that comprised aldermen shared with three political parties, with most coming from the UNC, but Jack Warner’s Independent Liberal Party (ILP) and the PNM also had aldermen sitting in what was generally regarded as a UNC stronghold.

Former FIFA vice president Warner broke ranks with the UNC and formed the ILP back in 2013, splitting the UNC base. His strength has since diminished, having been entrapped in inter-

national corruption scandals and being placed on INTERPOL’s list of the most wanted men in the world.

The Persad-Bissessarled People’s Partnership government changed the laws and introduced the Proportional Representation Act, which in the deadlock situation in the 2016 local election, gives neither party control of the corporation.

Political analyst Hamid Ghany told the media that both parties will have to meet and agree on a way forward.

Other suggestions made were for both parties to agree on a power sharing arrangement, which will see both UNC and PNM controlling the corporation for half a term each. This means in the first half of the threeyear-term, one party will appoint a chairman and in the other half, the other party will appoint a chairman.

The party that appoints a chairman controls the corporation.

While the PNM had been arguing that they have the popular vote in the Sangre Grande Corporation and as a consequence should control the corporation, the opposition argues that the law contradicts the PNM’s argument.

In her statement and proposal to the prime minister, the UNC leader, who is also the oppo-

Supenaam poultry farmer remanded for narcotics possession

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54-year-old poultry farmer of Supenaam village on the Essequibo Coast was on Tuesday remanded to prison for the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Latchman Paul, also called Lachi, made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

According to the facts, at 15:30h on November 3, 2016, Paul was apprehended by Police while in possession of 28 grams of cocaine in a car on the Rivertown Public

Road. He was heading to Supenaam from Lorna Scott’s Perseverance home.

Police, acting on information, stopped the car and subsequently made the discovery.

The man was told of the offence and was later taken to the Suddie Police Station. The substance was weighed and amounted to 28 grams of cocaine. The driver was also apprehended, but was later released.

Bail was refused, and the matter was postponed to December 24, 2016.

sition leader, said: “The results released by the EBC show that in the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation the people have chosen to give equal control of the Corporation to the PNM and the UNC through an equal number of councilors and aldermen.

“PNM spokesmen are wrong when they claim that they will take control of the Corporation despite the deadlock.

“There is no provision in the law to break the deadlock,” PersadBissessar explained.

The present dilemma may well have been created by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) after it announced UNC as the clear winner of the Sangre Grande Corporation on the night of the election: five seats for the UNC to the PNM’s

three seats and then announced a change in that result to a 4 – 4 tie, with UNC having the popular vote by over 500 votes.

The potential of that popular vote lead for the UNC in that corporation prompted the PNM government to ask the EBC for a recount. But even before the recount could take place, reporters were whispering among themselves later during the night of the elections about a plan by the PNM to call a news conference the next day to claim victory in the Sangre Grande Corporation.

Indeed, the Tuesday following the election at 11:00 am, the PNM hurried into a news conference and claimed the 500plus popular vote lead as its own, as if to challenge the EBC to say otherwise.

PNM chairman Franklin

Khan told the media that their present chairman will remain in place as they have 500-plus more votes in the Sangre Grande Corporation.

The UNC then called the PNM’s assumption of how they interpreted the law in this instance as false and nonsensical.

The EBC’s recount four days later saw the preliminary popular vote lead of 500-plus for the UNC flipped to a popular vote lead of 80-plus for the PNM, throwing the Corporation into even greater contention.

And now, in what seems to be a desire on the part of the opposition UNC to avoid the courts, the UNC leader argued in her letter to the prime minister that resolving the matter in the interest of the people of Sangre Grande is the bet-

ter option rather than a court battle and a political struggle.

“Now is not the time for a lengthy legal battle or political struggle – the deadlock situation must be resolved as soon as possible through mutual agreement of the parties. We need the Council to sit and use the powers of the Corporation to help those in need and especially those who are suffering due to the recent natural disaster that has hit Matelot and environs.

The political parties must work together to give effect to the will of the people through mutual agreement which would allow us to work together in the interest of all the people of the region and to serve the greater public good,” Persad-Bissessar said.

(Caribbean News Now)

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Govt roasted over plan to tax medical services, medical supplies …Anthony says 14% VAT on condoms is a tax on safe sex

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overnment has roundly rejected the avalanche of criticism against the proposed 2017 Budget measure to impose the Value Added Tax (VAT) on health services and medicines, saying that persons that opt to use private facilities and outlets have money to pay.

Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie SharpePatterson dropped that bombshell as she delivered her contribution to the debate over the 2017 expenditures.

She was at the time responding to People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, Dr Frank Anthony, whose shadow remit in the National Assembly involved the Public Health Ministry.

Dr Anthony had minutes earlier in his presentation lamented the Government’s move to apply VAT to basic medicines and services, and bemoaned the acute shortages of drugs that would plague the public health systems, forcing persons to seek treatment privately.

Minister SharpePatterson, in rebutting Dr Anthony, sought to point out that free med-

PPP/C MP, Dr Frank Anthony

ical services were provided by the Administration.

It was at this point in time the Minister told the House that if anybody wished to go to a private facility, it meant they had money and, as such, must pay VAT. Dr Anthony had been unrelenting in his criticism of the Administration’s intention to apply VAT to drugs, medical supplies and medical services.

The coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government is literally taxing the sick, and Dr Anthony appealed to Government to repeal the careless taxation measures or withdraw

the Budget in its entirety.

He told the House, “I am totally at a loss to describe this level of callousness that is being exhibited by this Government…Where is the compassion?”

Lamenting the state of affairs, Dr Anthony reminded the House that the World Health Organisation (WHO), in addition to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), has been advocating the world over to ensure that medicines and health-related services and supply did not attract taxes.

He told the House that for many years the Guyana Government has been compliant with this

regime, and the APNU/ AFC Administration was looking to reverse what obtains.

In an appeal to the conscience of the members of the Government, Dr Anthony questioned where was the compassion for the sick, elderly, poor and disabled.

According to Dr Anthony, the measures to impose taxes on the sick demonstrate the nature of the APNU/AFC Government.

He drew the attention of the House that Budget 2017 has brought with it 57 new tax measures, including the imposition of VAT on health services and medical services, and questioned whether Government had, in fact, undertaken an assessment of the impact of its decision.

Dr Anthony called on Government to provide its assessment of the number of jobs that would be lost at pharmacies, maternal and elderly care facilities and other related institutions.

The MP was adamant that the APNU/AFC policy of taxing medicines and health services would have a negative effect on the public health gains made over the years.

According to the former Government Minister, the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Guyana will suffer since the antiretrovirals will now be attracting VAT. Dr Anthony even told the House that condoms would now attract VAT, which effectively meant that Government had placed a 14 per cent tax on safe sex.

“I urge this Government to urgently repeal these exploitive tax measures,” he said.

Bemoaning the state of affairs proposed

by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, Dr Anthony noted that a visit to a medical practitioner would attract VAT. He said Government has been speaking laudably about the need for neonatal care and reducing infant mortality, but the very medicines and services required to ensure that there was a favourable outcome would be attracting 14 per cent VAT. “If you go to a nursing home to recuperate, its 14 per cent VAT,” Dr Anthony bellowed as he cited many of the other numerous services that would now attract the tax.

He was adamant that very often the public health facilities had inoperable equipment or with drug shortages, leaving persons with no choice but to resort to private pharmacies and services.

“If you are hospitalised, the meals that you eat will now attract 14 per cent VAT,” Dr Anthony said.

He too also used the occasion to remind that VAT was now being imposed on accessories required for differently abled persons, such as hearing aids and wheelchairs.

The former Minister lamented too that Government was even seeking to tax the partially blind since VAT was now applicable to spectacles.

“If you get diarrhoea”, according to Dr Anthony, the treatment for this too will attract VAT even as he sought to emphasise that this also obtained for the treatment of high blood pressure and headaches.

In withholding his support for the 2017 Budget, Dr Anthony described the proposal as visionless, ruthless and careless. (Gary Eleazar)

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Lethem re-elects Mayor, Deputy Mayor …as municipalities continue internal elections

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he Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) Municipality has re-elected its Mayor, Carlton Beckles, and Deputy Mayor, Maxine Welch, to serve another year after unanimous votes at the Council’s elections last Thursday.

The elections were held at the Lethem Town Hall.

According to Town Clerk Keisha Vincent, voting commenced at 09:30h and was completed by 10:30h.

So far, three of the nine municipalities have already concluded elections.

Internal elections at the Municipality of Anna Regina were held on November 29 with Mayor Rabindranauth Mohan, and Deputy Mayor Darshan Persaud being re-elected to their substantive positions.

At Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), former Deputy Mayor, Krishnand Jaichand emerged the new Mayor, replacing incumbent Ganesh Gangadin by a 9/6 voter ratio, while Councillor Jamna Ghamandi was elected Deputy.

The Municipalities of New Amsterdam and Mabaruma have scheduled their elections for December 14, with the Bartica Mayor and Town Council announcing its elections for December 15.

Meanwhile in Georgetown, Deputy Mayor Sherrod Duncan is expected to challenge Mayor Patricia Chase-Green for the position of Mayor.

All elections are expected to be completed by December 16, 2016, as stipulated by law.

Technocrat Ministers: PPP hoping for early date to hear appeal case

PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said it was anxiously awaiting its day in court against the two Government technocrat members sitting in the National Assembly.

The Party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee on Monday said the resolution of the legal disputes in relation to the composition of Parliament was central to democracy and a matter of paramount national importance.

Rohee, who was at the time speaking at the Party’s weekly press conference at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown, noted that the PPP welcomed the recent move by the Court of Appeal to have the case involving technocrat members Citizenship Minister Winston Felix and Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott heard.

“The Party notes that an early date is now fixed for the hearing of the appeal filed by the Attorney General. The

PPP anxiously awaits this date. It is our hope that the AG will not delay and stall this matter further as has been his strategy in relation to all political cases filed by us since May 2015,” Rohee said.

The matter involving the two Government Ministers came up for hearing on November 4 last, at which point Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh ordered that “immediate steps be taken towards the settling and preparation of the record of appeal”.

The obligation to settle and prepare the record of appeal is on the appellant: Attorney General Basil Williams.

Then acting Chief Justice Ian Chang in the High Court proceedings had ruled that the two MPs were unlawfully and unconstitutionally occupying seats in the National Assembly.

PPP executive Anil Nandlall said he had implored the Court to fix an early date for the hearing of the appeal since it concerned a matter of national importance.

PPP member Desmond Morian had moved to the court seeking to bar the Government Ministers from sitting in the National Assembly unless their names were extracted from their coalition’s list.

Felix, the Citizenship Minister and Scott, Minister with responsibility for labour, are sitting in the National Assembly as technocratic members of the Assembly.

Chief Justice (ag) Chang had handed down the decision during his pre-retirement and had declared that Felix and Scott, by virtue of their status as elected members of the National Assembly, cannot sit in Parliament as Technocrat Ministers.

Meanwhile, Rohee said the Party repeated its concerns regarding the delay of the hearing of the election petition filed concerning the May 2015 General and Regional Elections.

Minister Winston Felix

He said the latest bout of delay is being caused by the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield.

He said the CEO’s role was an impartial one as prescribed by the Constitution.

“In total disregard, he has filed proceedings to strike out the elections petition and even after his challenge was dismissed… filed an appeal to this. All of these things cause major setbacks to the hearing of the election petition.

This is clearly a travesty,” Rohee said.

Govt’s reaction to mounting concerns of Budget 2017 ‘disrespectful, arrogant’

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand during her presentation in the National Assembly

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nconscionable, a waste of time and an exercise in futility were the reaction to the 2017 National Estimates by former Education Minister Priya Manickchand, as she made her presentation on the annual debate which got underway Monday in the National Assembly.

Manickchand, a frontbencher in the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), in an impassioned presentation joined her colleague Parliamentarians in the Opposition benches, to call on Government to withdraw the Budget and craft a new one in keeping with the guidelines of the Constitution of Guyana.

She was in fact adamant that the reaction on the part of Government ministers to the growing voices of discontent is indicative of a disrespectful, arrogant and insensitive Administration which is simply being a bully.

The coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, according to Manickchand, “is being a bully.”

The former Government minister in the PPP/C Administration told the House that the 2017 Budget is the first such in recent history that has been so widely criticised by formal bodies, such as the Private Sector Commission (PSC), in addition to the citizenry.

Manickchand told the House that she would have been happy to be able to congratulate the Minister on an early Budget, had its contents been in keeping with the needs of the people.

She dismissed the 2017 Budget as a shortterm spending plan—a plan that does not define a trajectory for the nation over the next five or ten years.

The Budget instead lacks innovation since

there are no plans to promote growth, she said.

Manickchand told the debate that the Budget is also devoid of any measures that would tackle the constraints facing the private sector, such as unavailable human capital, high energy costs and lack of access to capital.

Reminding the House that as Opposition Members of Parliament, her colleagues are representing a vast section of the Guyanese population, Manickchand boldly asserted that the 2017 Budget is in fact useless and ill thought out.

Misleading

Speaking to some of the effects of the allocations and measures in the 2017 Budget, Manickchand used the occasion to rubbish the decision by Government to apply Value Added Tax (VAT) to all of the budget agencies.

According to Manickchand, this in itself defeats the arguments by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who had suggested that the spending on Education has been increased over the previous year.

Manickchand countered, saying that the Minister is being misleading since with the application of VAT at least G$1 billion has been slashed from the Ministry’s expenditures.

She suggested that the monies being taken back by Government could have in fact been invested to upgrade the infrastructure in the education system, but what obtains is that Government has in fact robbed the children of the nation.

A visibly livid Manickchand also railed against Government’s decision to apply VAT on education materials and queried if Government had seriously thought out the consequences of the collective Cabinet decision.

According to the for-

mer Education Minister, there are more than 15,000 students in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) alone that attend private schools and will now be subjected to paying fees that will now attract a 14 per cent VAT. Manickchand queried if Government was prepared to accommodate those students should they be unable to afford private schools.

Taxing the nation She lambasted the Administration’s inability to present a longterm developmental plan such as serious investments in the University of Guyana, a Deep Water Harbour, or investments in human capital.

“There is nothing new in this Budget, just an attempt to tax the nation… it is a waste of time, it’s useless, an exercise on futility, it is a waste of time in terms of developing this country,” according to Manickchand.

She stated that what Government is in fact focused on is taxes on just about everything, including educational and medical services and supplies.

“People now have to pay VAT on medical services, on medicines,” Manickchand said, and suggested that persons cannot even afford to get a headache now since medications will now be 14 per cent more expensive.

She lambasted too the imposition of VAT on accessories required by the differently abled.

Manickchand observed that in a year when the Finance Ministry boasts of a sign language interpreter for the presentation of the 2017 Budget, the Minister has instead slapped VAT on hearing aids.

The former Education Minister also lambasted the Administration over the proposed measure to remove items from the zero-rated list that would in fact drive up the cost of living for all.

“This is a brace-yourself budget…

Brace yourself Guyana for what is about to come,” Manickchand said, even as she sought to castigate the decision to apply VAT on the staple of any child’s education—play dough.

According to Manickchand, the promises of the APNU/AFC coalition were in fact big fat lies, and that Budget 2017 now only promises prosperity by taxation.

(Gary Eleazar)

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U.S. Congresswoman expresses concern EU partnering to restore deteriorating over Trump’s deportation plan

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aribbean American Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke has expressed deep concern about plans by the incoming Donald Trump administration to deport hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who have been allowed work permits under the Obama administration.

Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, said that she and 105 of her congressional colleagues have written President Obama, urging him to prevent the misuse of information involving participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme.

Since the programme was established in 2012, more than 740,000 young men and women have obtained Social Security numbers and work permits, and have been allowed to remain in the United States without the threat of deportation.

“DACA has allowed hundreds of thousands of young people who know this nation as their only home to remain here and pursue the American Dream, by completing their education, starting businesses, and gaining employment,” Clarke told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

“I am deeply concerned that the incoming presidential administration has verbally expressed contempt for this very vulnerable segment of our population and will attempt to misuse the information provided by DACA participants by literally following through on

U.S. Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke

threats of deportations,” she added.

Clarke said these young women and men have “increasingly become a significant part of the fabric of our community and are a vital part of our civil society, whose aspirations we should support.

“With their information and that of their families readily accessible to the incoming administration through the data that was collected in the administering of the DACA programme, it is imperative that all that can be done should be done to protect these young people from this looming threat,” she said.

“We call on President Obama to exercise his authority to protect the 740,000 people enrolled in DACA and prevent the exploitation of personal information that

was submitted to the Department of Homeland Security,” Clarke told CMC. With a crackdown on undocumented immigrants highly likely after President-elect Trump takes office in January, students from more than 80 universities across the United States last month staged class walkouts and engaged in campus sit-ins.

According to ThinkProgress, a publication of the Washingtonbased non-profit, Center for American Progress (CAP), the protesters were demanding that more universities and colleges become sanctuaries for undocumented students, and refuse access to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

The campuses where these protests took place ranged from New York’s Vassar College and Iowa State University to University of Texas San Antonio.

Trump has promised to eliminate the Obama-era DACA, which allows undocumented immigrants who entered the country before age 16 to get a renewable two-year work permit and an exemption from deportation, ThinkProgress said.

It warned that Trump could either dissolve existing permits when he dismantles the executive order, or let them expire on their own.

“It’s unclear which option Trump will take,” ThinkProgress said. “There is no policy that protects the safety of undocumented students.”

(CMC)

City Hall

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he European Union and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council have signed a contract that will facilitate a study for a comprehensive Restoration and Sustainable C o n s e r v a t i o n Management Plan for City Hall.

The contract which has been awarded to EURONET Consulting GEIE for GYD$64 million (EURO €279,196) is expected to be concluded by March/April 2017. The team will include experts from both Europe and Guyana, and the National Trust of Guyana and City Hall will be actively engaged during the period of consultancy.

The core of the assessment will involve conducting a condition assessment and evaluation of the physical and structural state of City Hall and the City Engineer’s Buildings; preparation and presentation of a comprehensive green restoration plan and a sustainable conservation management plan for City Hall and the City Engineer’s Buildings; and facili-

tating training sessions and strengthening capacity within the relevant stakeholder agencies.

EU Ambassador Jernej Videtiĉ highlighted that ”Georgetown’s iconic City Hall and the City Engineer’s Buildings built in 1889 are unquestionably among the most outstanding architectural, cultural and historically significant buildings in Guyana.”

Ambassador Videtiĉ added that, ”The EU was delighted to help by funding this study, which will hopefully lead to a process that will see City Hall returned to its former glory.” City Hall and the City Engineer’s Buildings are a part of Guyana’s tangible heritage and are considered important to the Nation’s historic fabric.

In a bid to preserve and promote its cultural heritage value internationally, Guyana became a signatory in 1977 to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the first Caribbean State to do so.

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

President Granger Prince Harry has no say in to Chair Caricom reparations matter – Eric Phillips from January 2017 I …to push regional security agenda

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resident David Granger will be pushing for more “intense” cooperation among Member States on regional security when he assumes chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in 2017.

Speaking on a special edition of ‘The Public Interest’ programme which was recorded in Barbados and aired locally on Friday, the Guyanese Leader pointed out that the issue of security in the region is important and no one State on its own can adequately tackle the issue.

He further noted that regional security should be looked at beyond crime fighting and illicit trade, adding that other areas such as emergency relief are fast becoming an integral matter that calls for cooperation among Member States. President Granger believes that together Caribbean countries can make the region a much safer place for its citizens.

“Without cooperation each individual State would be unable to fulfil their obligations adequately. When you consider what happened to Grenada with Hurricane Ivan, no one State can expect to get out of that type of disaster on its own.

Haiti right now depends on support; so I would say we need to have a more intensive programme for security cooperation because it goes into disasters and it goes into other areas,” the President posited.

According to the Head of State, security in the region does not only warrant cooperation with Britain, the United States or Canada, but there needs to be certain base level cooperation among Caribbean countries.

Moreover, the Guyanese Leader indicated that during his stint as chairman, there would have to be some introspection of Caricom to see where it is and where it wants to be, especially since next year the body will be 44 years old.

“Certainly (Caricom has) matured and we have to make some mature judgments. Is Caricom moving as quickly as we want it to move? Where is it going? And are we serving the citizens of our region the way they expect to be served? I would feel that the most important deliberation will be the consideration of the econo-

President David Granger

my. We have to be able to deliver a certain quality of life to our citizens and that quality of life will be based largely on ‘bread and butter’ issues,” he pointed out.

President Granger stressed that steps need to be taken to have the Single Market and Economy moving so that the wealth of the Caribbean can be used to develop countries in the region to benefit its people.

“Caricom has achieved a tremendous amount over the last 44 years and I feel that the task in 2017 will be to convert that cumulated knowledge into benefits for the people. In that regard, I believe that the promise of a Single Market and Economy is what will deliver a higher quality of life to our citizens,” he stated.

Furthermore, he noted that the region needs to ensure that the educational standards and the social obligations of governments are discharged to benefit their citizens.

Additionally he emphasised the importance of enhancing and increasing manufacturing, production and trade among Caribbean States.

“It is in those areas – production, manufacturing, trade and maybe even exploitation of our natural resources – we have not really kept abreast with the needs of our people and with the rest of the world. Other regions such as Asia and Europe are moving at a tremendous pace and we have to look at means to be competitive to keep up with those countries. Nobody is going to wait for us. Almost all of those preferential markets that we had have all disappeared so we need to look at the economy, and that is the direction I’m sure the Caribbean will take,” the Guyana Leader asserted.

President Granger will assume the Chair of Caricom from January 2017.

n light of a profound letter written by Chairperson of Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission, Dorbrene E O’Marde to Prince Harry, fifth in line to the throne of England, about the Caribbean’s call for reparations, Guyana’s Reparations Committee Chairman, Dr Eric Phillips highlighted that the Prince had no say in the matter.

Last week, during his visit to several Caribbean nations, including St Vincent and the Grenadines, nationals commenced a “Not My Prince” campaign, calling for reparations from Britain for the Caribbean countries.

That campaign preceded a letter written by the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Commission, which demanded that the Prince recognise fully the crimes against humanity that “your people have committed against us”.

After the Prince was greeted by a handful of protesters on coming to Guyana on December 2, Dr Phillips said the Guyana Reparation Committee chose not to address the issue with Prince Harry, “because he has no say in the matter”.

“As much as we understood what was said by (Dorbrene), we have our own agenda… We chose not to go down that line; we didn’t think it was necessary. You have to choose your battles,” Phillips said. He added that given where Britain was in dealing with Brexit and other things, “we really didn’t think it

Programme Manger Culture and Community Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr Hillary Brown accepts the Reparations Baton from Guyana Reparations Chairman, Dr Eric Phillips

was necessary”.

According to Phillips, the Prince was surely aware, however, of the reparations issue throughout his tour.

Phillips said the Reparations Committee, as part of the Caribbean Reparations Commission, was still in its fight for reparations, noting that a letter has already been written to former Prime Minister David Cameron by Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.

“We are firm in the sense that we are going through a process; the Third Convention on the Eradication of Discrimination (CERD) which all governments have signed on to. After negotiating with them on a diplomatic basis, if there is no response from England or Holland, then it will be taken to the International Court of Justice.” This, he said, will be done in a matter of three to five years.

Meanwhile, on the local scene, he said the

Guyana Reparations Committee was requesting lands from the Government, in the same way it has made such issue to the members of the indigenous community who were the first to settle in Guyana.

“We found that three of the indigenous groups came 400 years after us and we also pointed out that we were enslaved here for over 200 years and that 450,000 Africans died for Guyana”.

These groups include the WaiWais, Makushis and Wapishanas who, he said, came hundreds of years after the Africans arrived here.

Caribbean leaders in 2014 had approved a 10-point plan to seek reparations from the former slave-owning states of Europe.

These points include those countries providing diplomatic help to persuade countries, such as Ghana and Ethiopia, to offer citizenship to the children whose forepar-

ents were brought to the Caribbean to “return” to Africa; devising a developmental strategy to help improve the lives of poor communities in the Caribbean still devastated by the after-effects of slavery; supporting cultural exchanges between the Caribbean and West Africa to help Caribbean people of African descent rebuild their sense of history and identity; supporting literacy drives designed to improve education levels that are still low in many Caribbean communities; and providing medical assistance to the Region that is struggling with high levels of chronic diseases, such as hypertension and type two diabetes that the Caricom Reparations Commission linked to the fallout from slavery.

It has been reported that if the European powers fail to publicly apologise and refuse to come to the negotiating table, the Caricom nations will file a lawsuit against them at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Governments in the Caribbean have estimated that reparations for the slave trade could cost trillions of dollars and some have floated the idea of debt relief.

Some 46,000 British slave-owners, including a distant relative of former British Prime Minister David Cameron, were among those reportedly compensated at a current-day equivalent of £17 billion (US$36 billion) for “loss of human property” after the country emancipated its slaves in 1833.

No evidence found against Tagore teacher for alleged cannabis use

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n investigation into allegations that a teacher of Tagore Memorial Secondary School was smoking cannabis on the school’s premises has concluded that there is no evidence to substantiate the claim.

In October last, management of the school had denied the allegations when they first surfaced.

However, some teachers told this newspaper that the teacher has been smoking in the vicinity of the school and had offered the drug to students.

Following several media reports, the Department of Education had called for an investigation. Now that the investigation has been completed, there was nothing found against the teacher.

Head of the Regional Education Committee, Zamal Hussain, says the teacher has been found not guilty.

He explained that the enquiry

was conducted and there was not enough evidence to hold the teacher to any wrongdoing.

When the investigations were initiated, some teachers were of the view that the investigation would not bring out the truth because certain regional officials were involved.

According to one teacher, they risked the chance of being victimised if they were to say what has been taking place at Tagore

Memorial Secondary School.

However, Regional Education Officer Volika Jaikishoon had assured that the investigation would have been properly done.

She stated that all the necessary procedures were followed; which included having the Guyana Teachers Union there to represent the questionable teacher: “There was no person that came forward to give evidence.”

24 news

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Roraima Airways offers return flight to 2-year-old diagnosed with rare eye cancer A fter a mother pleaded for public assistance to take her two-year-old son to Cuba to receive medical treatment for a rare eye cancer, Roraima Airways responded by donating the air tickets. The tickets were handed over to Cassandra Persaud at Captain Gerry Gouveia’s office on Friday.

Omkar Persaud was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in the right eye and as such, needs to undergo urgent surgery to prevent him from going blind. His left eye has already been removed as a result of the same disease. However, the treatment will cost close to G$4 million of which the government pumped in a million. The family raised another G$1 mil-

Director of Roraima Airways, Gerry Gouveia with Omkar Persaud and his mother, Cassandra Persaud

lion and the public would have responded to the call and donated another G$2 million.

However, on mak-

ing the donation to the mother and son, Director of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia said he was made aware

of the situation only recently and he was pleased to contribute to the recovery and improvement of the child’s eyesight and overall good health.

“It is amazing to know how many Guyanese reached out to help in whatever way they could,” he stated.

He added that the offer to Persaud and her son is an extension of Roraima’s continued commitment to the medical evacuation service operated by his company.

Further, Gouveia expressed best wishes for successful treatment and recovery to the child on behalf of his family and company. The thankful mother accepted the tickets and expressed her

appreciation to the company while noting that she was pleased with the public’s response and generous assistance towards her son.

Roraima Airways since its establishment in 1992 has led the way in medical evacuation service, operating a 24hour Air Ambulance Evacuation Service in Guyana, providing a domestic and regional reliable response evacuation service.

The child along with his mother is expected to depart for the Republic of Cuba shortly.

Guard tied up, taped to hammock during robbery A security guard was bound and strapped to a hammock with duct tape by bandits who broke into a storeroom owned

by East Coast Berbice (ECB) farmer, Rohan Hanoman.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, shortly after midnight on Thursday three men confronted the guard, Suresh Narine, 70, also called “Manko” of Guava Bush, Albion, Berbice.

The man related that the men attacked him, cover-

ing his mouth with their hands before duct taping his mouth.

He recalled that his hands were tied together and then he was put to lie in a hammock, which the men also duct taped.

Narine added that the men then proceeded to break into a storeroom.

He explained that the thieves seemed to have known what they were after since they did not spend more than two minutes inside.

The bandits took six water blowers valued at some $700,000. The water blowers are used by rice farmers to distribute fertiliser and manure manually.

The guard noted that some time after the perpetrators went away, he managed to free himself and rushed to a nearby house to raise an alarm, before returning to the premises and contacting the owner to inform him of what had transpired.

The matter was since reported to the Police and an investigation has been launched. No arrests have been made thus far.

Woman crushed to death after wall collapses

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Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) woman was on Sunday night crushed to death after one of the walls in her home came crashing down.

Dead is 30-year-old Sherry Europe, of Little Diamond.

Guyana Times International understands that the house in which she lived was under construction and at the time of the incident, she was home alone.

Reports are her body was discovered about 22:00h by her uncle who went to check on her.

The uncle told this publication that he went to his niece’s home to check on her as was his custom because she lived alone.

However, after several calls and no response, he decided to enter the house through a window.

“When I came into the house, it was very dark, but I kept calling for her but still no response. But when I came to this corner and I looked into the bathroom, I saw the fallen wall so I told my friend that was with me to shine a light and when he did I saw her lying there under the wall with her hands trying to block it.”

Dead: Sherry Europe

From all indications, the woman was about to take a shower when one of the walls in the bathroom fell on her, breaking her neck.

“The wall was on her neck and it looked as if it broke her neck,” her uncle explained in distress.

The Police were summoned to the scene.

Europe was described as a very loving individual who mostly kept to herself.

“She is a very nice girl, very nice. You would find her on her phone most of the time and when she is not, she usually keeps to herself,” the uncle related.

This publication was told that the young woman was overseeing the construction of the house which belongs to her mother who resides overseas.

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Strong quake rocks T&T

Grocery items remain scattered on the floor of a supermarket in north Trinidad following yesterday’s 6.1 earthquake.

(Trinidad Guardian)

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6.1 magnitude earthquake yesterday rocked T&T, with aftershocks being experienced as far as St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The earthquake, which took place at 5.42 pm, was felt by citizens in Arima, Chaguanas, Port-of-Spain, Matelot, Chaguaramas, San Fernando, Penal and even neighbouring Tobago.

Although no one was reported injured, nor was there any infrastruc-

tural damage, food items on the shelves of several supermarkets across the country, including Xtra Foods and West Bees in Diego Martin, toppled over with the earthquake’s prolonged vibrations.

According to a Facebook post on the UWI Seismic Research Centre page, the earthquake’s location was 11.04 north latitude with 60.70 west longitude at a depth of 29 km.

Yesterday, many people took to Facebook afterwards, saying they were surprised by the

magnitude of the earthquake. Others admitted that the aftershocks felt even stronger.

A female employee of West Bees, who gave her name as Ms Johnson, said they had to close the supermarket after a large quantity of goods feel off shelves and scattered onto the isles.

“The supermarket is in a mess with items all over… some of them which were broken.

“We had to close our doors. Our staff are in the process of repacking the shelves, which would take a while. This was the last thing we were expecting,” Johnson said.

Customer service representative at Xtra Foods Grand Bazaar Sandra Khan said the entire supermarket shook, while a few items skated off the shelves.

“For a long time I had not experienced such a powerful earthquake. It was really frightening.”

She said some customers remained calm while others left in fear.

But Khan said they did not see the need to close the supermarket.

“A few of our workers picked up the goods that fell on the ground and place them back on the shelves. We continued with business as usual,” Khan said.

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt could be taken to court over GRA’s new powers T

he coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government could very well find itself before the courts shortly, if it insists on going ahead with granting the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) with extended powers, namely to garnish money from the private accounts of citizens and the prevention of persons from leaving the country should they be indebted to the tax authority.

The warning was sounded by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, when he met on Friday with members of the local media corps at his Church Street office to offer a post budget analysis.

Jagdeo told media operatives if Government is unwilling to heed the calls of the Opposition to withdraw certain proposals in the Budget, particularly as it relates to the GRA, then the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will have no choice but the challenge the matter in court given the voting strength of the Government in the National Assembly

which could see it approving its own budget without amendments.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan in his budget presentation on Monday last spoke to a range of measures including permitting the Revenue Authority to prevent persons from leaving the country should they be found to be indebted to the tax authority, in addition to the GRA accessing the private bank accounts of individuals in order to garnish monies it believed it is owed.

Jordan at the time said, “The provisions of section 102 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 81:01 will be revised to provide authority to the GRA to garnish funds from bank accounts held by taxpayers who have outstanding tax arrears. This provision would assist to improve compliance with demands issued by the GRA for outstanding payments.”

Challenge in court

According to Jagdeo, the matter of the garnishing of funds from taxpayers’ private bank accounts in something that the PPP/C will challenge in court if the Administration insists

on moving ahead as proposed.

“There are things we can challenge,” Jagdeo said but was quick to point out that the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity, water, educational and medical supplies is something that the political Opposition would be unable to challenge in court since it is a policy decision that the Government will use its slim one seat majority to pursue.

Jagdeo was adamant too that the proposal by Government to remove the courts from the process is what poses the problem.

He noted too that similarly, Government’s proposal to prevent persons from leaving the country is something that could also be challenged since the proposal in itself represents a breach of a person’s constitutionally protected rights.

He was speaking to the right to freedom of movement and used the occasion to recall that Government had last year attempted to institute a similar measure on University of Guyana students that had defaulted on their loans.

According to the Opposition Leader, he was happy to see that Government did not follow through on its threat but cautioned that it was looking to institute a similar regime under its new proposal.

The Opposition Leader was adamant that Government should not really need the Opposition’s input on the budget on simple things like whether to charge VAT on education and medical supplies.

“They don’t need the PPP to tell them not to tax educational services,” Jagdeo said, as he expressed similar sentiments on the Government’s proposal to place VAT on medicines and a doctor’s visit.

M e a n w h i l e , the Private Sector Commission (PSC) had also come out in condemnation of the Government’s proposal to garnish taxes from citizen’s private accounts as well as the prevention of persons believed to be indebted to the GRA to

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

be prevented from leaving the country.

Accessing accounts

Expanding on the proposal to empower the GRA to access the private accounts of taxpayers, Executive Member of the PSC described it as tantamount to a violation of civil liberties.

Chairperson of the PSCs Financial and Economic Services Committee Ramesh Persaud on Thursday reminded that the GRA currently holds the power to access a taxpayer’s bank account to garnish funds it is owed but this is done through a court order. Government has proposed to remove the courts from the process.

Persaud reminded

that previously, it is the court that decided on the propriety of GRA’s access to an account in addition to determining the amount to be recovered.

Under Government’s proposal, it is the GRA which will decide how much it is owed. This is dangerous, according to Persaud, who is adamant the GRA should not be able to do the work of the judiciary.

“Why is GRA dodging the judiciary, do they not have confidence in judiciary? Why is GRA not willing to go to court?”

Persaud questioned.

The official was unyielding in his position “if the court is slow, fix the court. Don’t get a short cut mechanism.”

Experts urge countries to end marketing of breast milk substitutes

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he United Nations human rights experts have called on member countries, including Guyana, to do more to protect and support breastfeeding as a human right and to end the “inappropriate marketing of breast milk substitutes and other foods intended for infants and young children”.

Emphasising the importance and benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child, the experts stated that they are concerned about the lack of progress made in improving breastfeeding rates globally and in providing women and their children with the support and protection they are entitled to.

However, their concerns focused more on the continued misleading marketing of breast milk substitutes and other foods intended for infants and young children. They pointed out that there is little corporate accountability for the adverse consequences of such marketing practices. They stated that this continues to undermine efforts to improve early and exclusive breastfeeding rates.

They added that marketing practices act as barriers for women to exercise their rights, as they often negatively affect the choice and ability of mothers to enjoy the many health benefits breastfeeding provides.

They posited that governments should do more, and emphasised that breastfeeding is a human rights issue for babies and mothers, and should be protected and promoted for the benefit of both.

They called on governments to recognise their core obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant UN human rights treaties to respect, protect and fulfil children’s right to life, survival and development; their right to safe and nutritious foods, and their right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health; and to ensure

that women’s rights are protected from harmful interference by non-State actors, in particular the business sector.

Governments were urged to act upon their obligations and take all necessary measures to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, and end the inappropriate promotion of breast milk substitutes and other foods intended for infants and young children up to the age of three years.

These measures include the adoption and enforcement of comprehensive legislation to end inappropriate marketing practices, provide adequate maternity protection, and protect women from discrimination linked to breastfeeding.

Currently, the Public Health Ministry and the Social Protection Ministry are looking to extend the months of maternity leave for women so as to promote the “golden standard” of breastfeeding. Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence has indicated that in 2017, her Ministry would install a facility so that mothers in the workplace of the Ministry can go to breastfeed their babies.

She hopes that this measure would be adopted in other Government buildings and also in the Private Sector community.

feature 29

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Essequebo & Demerary 1813 (1 stiver). Essequebo and Demerary were originally two of three Dutch colonies along the coast of present-day Guyana. They were seized by the British to avoid falling into French hands after the French invasion of the Netherlands. They remained in British control through the 1830s, when the Netherlands and Great Britain formally divided the region between them, the British taking over the western portion. This mixed colonial origin shows in the coinage: Though the portrait of the British monarch (King George III) is honoured on the obverse, the denominations are clearly Dutch. (coinfactswiki.com)

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s we today go about our daily chores and routines, so too did the people who came before us in an era vastly different in many ways to our times.

Past newspapers and gazettes are some of the earliest records of history that today are all that is left to offer us a glimpse of early Guyana.

This week, Sunday Times Magazine provides a look at a few notices from the “Essequebo and Demerary Royal Gazette 1812 December 05 Notices”, and advertisements of newspapers in the

1800s. These historical records highlight how far we’ve come over the centuries and proffer tantalizing clues and questions about lifetimes ago...

er in holy matrimony, must declare the same to The Rev. W. G. Straghan.

Demerary, Dec. 5, 1812.

coast - will please address the lowest terms to JOSEPH BEETE, q q James Baillie.

Columbia District, George Town, Dec. 3

Wedding Bells

Contractor wanted

Debtors and Creditors

Banns of Matrimony, [heading] BETWEEN [heading] Andrew Battlelia, born in the Island of St. Thomas, AND [centred] Mary Cornierlison, born in this Colony, With the consent of her Mother.

Any person knowing just cause why those persons should not be joined togeth-

'The Echo', established in 1884, was a four-page bi-weekly newspaper

ANY Person willing to contract for a LOGIE-FRAME, of best Greenheart, seventy-two feet long, twenty feet wide, and two stories high; with a gallery on each side, ten feet wide, and shingled with the best Walaba shingles, to be brought by the contractor, and erected on the Plantation Hope, on the east

H. C. WAHL, desires of Mr Scheepens to come and make a full settlement with him, for to put him in full power to settle with his creditors; or he will be obliged to take some other method, which he would be very sorry for and from this day, he takes his Power from Mr.Scheepens.

'The Liberal', established in 1891, was a tri-weekly newspaper

The Subscriber takes also the liberty to beg his Creditors to have a little patience, until he can be able to dispose of his timber which lays at Fort Island, and not to put him to expence, as he will pay with honour.

- Massaroony Post, Dec. 5, 1812.

Estate Notice

NOTICE. [heading] AT the request of Madelaine Hofstede, Executrix to the free coloured woman Jan Ball, deceased - All persons having any demands against the

estate of the deceased, are requested to render the same, properly attested, in the course of six weeks from date; and all those indebted to come forward with payment to the Executrix aforesaid, in order to liquidate said estate as soon as possible.

Secretary's Office, December 5, 1812.

C H A R L E S WILDAY, Sworn Clerk.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

30 art & culture

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Overseas-based Guyanese artist C. Aubrey McWatt is moved by an earnest, creative response to the human experience

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"Alternate Reality I". Acrylic on pressboard

ubrey McWatt’s work is influenced by a belief that the universe and everything in it, includ-

ing nature, thought and emotion, are inherently connected. Aubrey’s response to the human condition is influenced

by visits to more than 70 countries during an international business career of over 30 years.

The fine artist’s education includes general studies at Queen's College, British Guiana and undergraduate studies in business, with a concentration in marketing at Columbia University, New York.

His graduate education is from the Wharton School of Business in Executive Management and Finance. Aubrey also studied at the Seattle Academy of Fine Art and is fluent in Spanish and French.

He served on the boards of various art organizations, including the Seattle Academy of Fine Art and the Camano

Arts Association.

Additionally, he served as President of the Board of Trustees for a non-profit organization in Warrington, PA. Aubrey has lived and worked in England, North and South America and the Caribbean.

Aubreyhas taught art history and painting to both youths and adults and has presented his illustrated essays, including “The Artist’s Search for Reality”, “Art and Social Change” and “Postmodern Ideas on the Function of Art” to diverse groups in the U.S.A. and abroad.

The artist has organized and participated in various activities supporting the arts across the U.S. and Canada. He is also a poet and songwriter. His songs include “Where the Roses Grow” and “A Song of Life”.

Aubrey produced and acted in the play “Love Letters” and co-wrote his first play “A Place by the River”. He also penned his first book, “Painting and Poetry – Creating Connections”.

“Early in life I experienced a freedom that came from the pro-

Artist C Aubrey McWatt

cess of creating art, and from expressing an idea or emotion in a way that transcends traditional communication.

My creative process is triggered by the stimulus of a visual experience, a concept, an idea that urges me to make an artistic response, or simply following the direction in which the medium leads. Much of my art reflects nature in one form or another, and sometimes tells a story of one of the aspects of the lifecycle of humankind.

“The art I create is influenced by the belief that all elements in existence, tangible and intangible, are interconnected in an essential manner. This influence manifests itself as a desire to capture the spirit within every object, animate or inanimate, that is portrayed in my drawings, paintings, and sculptures.

The end product repre-

sents my interpretation of what the object ‘is’, not what it ‘appears to be’. My artistic goal is to reflect my inner reality, aesthetic relationships of form and color, and simplicity of composition. My continuing challenge is to harmonize these elements,” he said on his website www.mcwattfineart.net Aubrey recognizes the artists who were foremost influences in his artistic development as a painter, such as ER (Ted) Burrowes, Vincent Van Gogh, Piet Mondrian and Charles Emerson, his mentor and professor in color theory and practice at the Seattle Academy of Fine Art. These influencers pointed the direction in which Aubrey's own painting has flowed.

For more information on the artist, visit www.mcwattfineart.net (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine) "Lifecycle IV". Oil

"Kyoto Mist II". Oil

"Silent Space". Oil

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Petamber Persaud

This tribute, written

by Michelle Yaa Asantewa for this article, is a modified version of the one first posted on her blog http://waywivewordzspiritualcreative.blogspot. co.uk/2016/11/michaelabbensetts-june-8th-1938. html. Asantewa is a novelist and author of “Guyanese Komfa: The Ritual Art of Trance”

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

Georgetown into a middle class family and, as befitting this background, went to Queen’s College (19521956). His father, Neville John Abbensetts, was a doctor. His mother, Elaine, kept home. Both were very strict. His father didn’t like that Michael chose the economically precarious profession of writing over the supposedly financially

characters in programmes like “Coronation Street”.

By the time I met him he had written his best works but was still trying to write something edgy that some theatre would want to run. However, the curiosity of the British theatre goers about Caribbean people had not only waned it had changed. They expected to see stereotypes

Michael (background) with his parents and relatives

“T

he first time we met we disagreed about something… Rather than take offence that I disagreed with him, he later asked my tutor to invite me to a reading of one of his plays at the Tricycle Theatre. That was the beginning of my friendship with Michael Abbensetts.

I had never heard about him before that visit to my university (London Met) where he had been invited to be a writer in residence. He was part of that generation of Guyanese (and other Caribbean writers) who had arrived in the 50s/60s to make their contributions to the literary world here in the UK. He was born in

Michael and Michelle

sound choices of lawyer, doctor or architect. I think the dispute between them over it persisted throughout Michael’s life.

When he came to London in 1963 there weren’t many black playwrights. His first play, “Sweet Talk”, opened at the Royal Court in 1973.

His work was fresh and spoke to British theatre goers’ curiosities about black people. Due to the success of “Sweet Talk”, he didn’t struggle, in those days, to get his plays put on.

The TV drama series “Empire Road” ran on BBC2 from 1978 -79, the first of its kind, and one of few since that time. By having fully black cast, he was making a statement about the lack of black

– “yardies”, “babyfathers”, gangs, violence, drug pushers; maybe even mimicry of the dysfunctions we saw with white families on TV. Michael couldn’t keep up with the shift in expectations of what black identities should look like on screen, particularly to white people. He was used to writing strong, confident, independent and full of life, believable black characters- not the smiling, docile characters that prolong in programmes like “East Enders”. His characters were funny, feisty and aspiring as reflected in his mini-series “Little Napoleons” (Channel 4).

He remarked that many of the black characters on TV were not positive, and often their story lines weren’t durable because they were written as white characters by white writers in the first place and then cast as black.

The one-off drama “Black Christmas” (BBC 2, 1977) dealt with the issue of mental depression. The main character, played by Carmen Munroe, was trying to recreate a perfect Guyanese Christmas. The family had recently migrated to England. It was their first Christmas; she had made Christmas dinner including the cultural black cake, but something was wrong. Her sister-inlaw was depressed, which ran parallel to the pretence of keeping up the appearance of ‘Christmas’ and being somewhat ‘arrived’ in

the UK. Her sister-in-law’s depression was in part to do with adjusting to being in the UK but also having to deal with her husband’s infidelities with white women. “What I was really saying is it’s not just keeping up appearances, but that it’s a conscious act of will almost that you have to adapt somehow,” Michael told me.

In writing a TV drama about the issue of mental depression as experienced by black people and the taboos surrounding it, Michael was way ahead of his time. We’ve not seen anything near it on our screens. “We have no idea how many black people – even one born here – end up in psychiatric hospitals,” he told me. He wanted to deal with an issue that is still not adequately confronted within black communities.

I went to see him when he was writer in residence at my university just to chat and hear his old school Guyanese accent. A friendship flimsily built on our shared Guyanese heritage and my aspiration to write developed. In our later discussions, I could tell he was frustrated because he couldn’t come up with new writing material.

I had tried convincing him to take a fresh look at the world, perhaps by going back to Guyana. I also tried to get him to write an autobiography, but I didn’t fully realize the mental state he was in.

Alzheimer’s ran in his family, his mother and sister suffered with it and he became anxious that he too had inherited it. Some

feature 31

At a wedding

years ago he had disappeared and was found wondering the streets. Because he was losing track of himself, forgetting where he lived and who the people around him were, he was put in a home. When I visited him at this home, he tried to get me to bust him out; he thought it a prison where he was locked up for doing what he couldn’t understand. And still he walked around with pen and paper trying to write something.

The last time I saw him at the home he still seemed to recognise me. But he became upset when he heard us talking to the staff, who said he had become violent to the staff and other residents at the home. He was moved to another home where he received better care. He contracted a chest infection and passed away peacefully on November 24, 2016.

His last public appearance was in November 2012 when a tribute was organised for him by Errol

Lloyd and others at the Tricycle Theatre, which featured a reading of “Sweet Talk”. He was admired by contemporary black playwrights (like Oladipo Agboluaje and Kwame Kwei-Armah) for being one among the first to make that mark at the big theatres in the UK, and even by those actors whom he loved to write larger than life stories for, particularly Norman Beaton with whom he was lifelong friends. He will be missed for his fearlessness in a profession that continues to marginalise many black artists. He told me in that interview I did with him that he never was anxious about getting his work put on because “I decided I would get it on whatever it cost” and it’s with that spirit of feistiness I shall always remember him.”

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

32 fashion

A

t the recently concluded Guyana Fashion Week, designer Paul Burnette rolled out some of his chic designs for 2016.

The veteran Guyanese designer’s collection ‘Hidden Beauty’ was a show-stopper at the prestigious fashion event.

‘Hidden Beauty’ offers bespoke fashionable pieces for men and women. Every occasion – beach, elegant, casual, formal – is catered

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

for in this collection.

Over the years, Burnette is known for creating “sexy looks for women who dare to be different and make a statement whenever they go out” and “clothing that is cool, edgy and different for the fashionable man”.

For more information on the designer, visit Guyana Fashion Week on Facebook.

(Keno George Photography) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

feature 33

L

aurens Storm van Gravesande [regarded as “the doughty founder of the Colony of Demerary, the Dutch CommanderGeneral of the Two Rivers”]made the decision that agricultural development should move towards Demerara. The fertility of the soil and the depth of the river helped him to make this decision.

From 1746, Gravesande began to grant land on the banks of the Demerara River for sugar cultivation and within two years there were 18 plantations which were established.

Settlements were growing at such a rapid pace that Gravesande recommended to the directors of the Zeeland Chamber that a separate commander for the Demerara River should be appointed.

This recommendation was accepted, and in 1752, Gravesande himself was appointed DirectorGeneral of Essequibo and

Map of 'Demerary' (Demerara) 1759

Demerara, while his son Johnathan, was appointed Commander of Demerara.

Johnathan established the capital of Demerara on the island of Borsselen, located about 25 miles upriver. There, the Secretary's office, the Commander's house, a small fort and barracks for soldiers were built.

J o h n a t h a n

Gravesande had hoped to encourage settlements around Borsselen, but new English settlers, who came in relatively large numbers, opted to settle and cultivate lands the banks of the river near to the Atlantic coast. In 1748, Laurens Gravesande had erected a guard house, or brandwagt, near the mouth of

Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda, British Guiana (Wayne McWatt photo)

Junction of Camp and Church Streets looking east towards Church Street, 1950s (Wayne McWatt photo)

the river on its right bank (where Georgetown is today), and this provided protection to the settlements and plantations there. By 1763, English setters formed the majority of the population of Demerara and they owned roughly one-third of the existing plantations. They were also the first to introduce water-driven sugar mills which helped their plantations to show large profits.

By 1770, development in Demerara had far surpassed that in Essequibo.

Four years earlier, a Dutch bank in Amsterdam had started to provide credit finance to sugavr planters who seized the opportunity to increase their investments. The result was that while Essequibo's sugar plantations increased from 68 to 74, those of Demerara expanded from 93 to 130.

J o h n a t h a n Gravesande died in 1761. His brother-in-law, Laurens van Bercheyck, a land surveyor succeeded him to the post. He was credited in 1763,

during the Berbice Slave Rebellion, for establishing an alliance with the indigenous people of Demerara to prevent the rebelling Berbice slaves from crossing into Demerara.

He died in 1765 and his successor Cornelius van den Heuvel, a planter, proved to be very inefficient. Since he and the elder Gravesande were not

on friendly terms, the administration of Demerara suffered. When some of the Demerara planters suggested that the capital of Demerara should be moved from Borsselen Island to the junction of the Hoobaboo Creek and the Demerara River, he opposed it because he owned estates near to the island. Finally, in 1770 he resigned from the post and Paulus van Schuylenburg was appointed to the position. The planters tried to get him to move the capital, but he also refused.

Gravesande himself resigned as DirectorGeneral of EssequiboDemerara in 1772 and was succeeded by George Hendrik Trotz. Three years later, on August 14, 1775,Gravesande died at his plantation, Soesdyke.

Though it is believed that he was buried on Fort Island, his grave has not been found. (“The Guyana Story—From Earliest Times to Independence” by Odeen Ishmael) Drawing of Laurens Storm van Gravesande found in “Kyk-Over-Al”, Vol. 2, No. 7, December 1948

34 feature

I

Stacey Wray

n an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Stacey Wray, owner of Rae Monae Couture, recalled that from an early age she was interested in arts/craft, creating and drawing.

The single mother of one holds a Caribbean

certificate in needlework and did art/visual art at CXC. Stacey mentioned that she was able to develop her talent by “inspiration and practice” and observing fellow crafters creating.

“My motivation for creating/crafting came

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

from the fact that I’m a single mother and I’m faced with the challenge of my salary being inadequate. So, I had to look for avenues to generate more income for myself and my son. I decided to pull from an idea that I had at the age of 17 to supply hotels and other locations across the Caribbean with one-of-akind, personalized decor, bed sheet sets, drapes, cushions; anything that can be used to decorate hotels.I now create oneof-a-kind bow ties, hair accessories for adults and children, cushions, tote bags, clutch purses, soy wax candles and bed sheet sets,” the crafter outlined.

Stacey finds joy in her finished work, especially when something goes wrong during her creating process and she thinks it is “messed up”, but turns out to be a beautiful creation. She believes that when “you have a creative gift you have the ability to look at the most insignificant thing and change it into

something beautiful”.

The single mother pointed out that her “inspiration comes from God” and observing different elements in her surroundings, thenconceptualizing how she can incorporate that element into her creations.

One of Stacey’s most popular products is her soy candles. She decided to produce soy candles because “it is better for the environment”.

“Thus far, I have two scents: lavender and jasmine. But in a few weeks, I will be making four more scents that would be both seasonal and regular.The benefits of using soy wax candles are numerous.

Natural soy candles are made from soybeans - a natural, renewable, sustainable source; it burns cleaner; it is 100 percent vegetable, made from pure soybean oil; it is longer lasting; better scent; excellent fragrance-holding qualities; no soot that can blacken walls as well as releasing toxic carcinogens into the air; and best for the environment,” she noted.

Crafter Stacey Wray is determined to never allow life’s challenges deter her from fulfilling her dreams

Although faced with many challenges, Stacey looks to a brighter future. She plans to “work hard ensuring that Rae Monae becomes a household name in Guyana and internationally”.

Currently, she is in the process of creating Rae Monae’s “first line geared towards the simple, the funky and the elegant”. Additionally, for the festive season, she plans on producing Christmas cushions and candles, catering for the needs of her clientele.

“As a young entrepreneur, my major chal-

lenge is finance. Another challenge is the cost to bring in much needed supplies. Because a lot of the resources that are required to make my products cannot be found locally, I have to import them at a higher cost.

However, I overcome my challenges with assistance from other entrepreneurs in my field and with earnest prayer and trust in God,” she declared.

For more information on Stacey’s work, visit Rae Monae on Facebook.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Hair accessories for adults and children

Beautiful purses

Fashionable tote bags

35

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Star of the week

Field trips – why they’re important

A

s I prepare – quite last minute, I must admit – for my field trip to Trinidad, I decided to write about what I think the importance of field trips are.

Field trips are not a new concept. It is perhaps, one of the best ways for students to see the application of their knowledge in real life.

One of the biggest complaints students have is that they can’t understand how what they’re learning will apply to their lives. When will I use organic chemistry? What’s the purpose of learning about dialects and linguistics?

However, by going on relevant trips, students are able to see what they’ve been learning in practice. The can see organic chemistry principles being used in a pharmaceutical lab, or they can see the interaction of different dialects in a marketplace. It helps the students understand topics much more deeply, and gives them a perspec-

S

aida Caroline Smith was born in Suriname, but migrated to Guyana at the age of four. The 22-year-old enjoys singing, acting, dancing, modeling and the culinary arts, as she is regarded as a “great cook”. Motivated by her passion for modeling and appreciation for the fashion industry, Saida recently competed in the Guyana Fashion Week Model Image competition. Although she did not win the competition, the iridescent model is grateful for the opportunity to have participated in Guyana Fashion Week (GFW) 2016, cherishing friendships she made and life lessons learned. For Saida, one of the most exciting moments being part of GFW was singing at the event. Saida is willing to go “beyond the shores” to make her dream of becoming a professional model a reality. (Keno George Photography)

tive, which cannot be attained from just textbooks. They don’t just learn what, but they learn why. “Why is this important?” “How will this help me?” These are some of the questions that are answered by field trips. When students understand the answers to these questions, they are more likely to want to study.

Sometimes, field trips provide students with knowledge that they could not else have obtained. For example, in Caribbean countries such as Guyana, it is no hidden fact that all of our schools don’t have the best of resources. It is the reality. Sometimes there are concepts that need to be explained for the syllabuses that require equipment that the school may not have.

Rather than just learning the theory, it helps for the students to take a trip to a lab, or even to another school that does have the equipment so that they can see how it works. It is easier to remember something that

Ashley Anthony

you’ve done (or seen done) than something that you’ve just read about.

Finally, school trips help to build memories and character. Often times, school trips take us to places that we would not ordinarily go.

They push us out of our comfort zones and force us to interact with people of different cultures.

We learn how to spend extended time with persons who aren’t related to us, and we may even become more tolerant of other people’s behaviours, which will be incredibly useful in the future, especially in college and in the workplace. Students become closer friends with each other, and they make memories that may last for lifetimes.

So yes, while school trips, especially long ones, may take away from traditional teaching time and may be expensive, if done right, they are definitely worthwhile.

36

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

Old dreams…

J

…deferred?

ust around the time the PPP was launched in the early 1950’s in Guyana to agitate for the independence from Britain, over in the US, African Americans were once again questioning where exactly they figured in the “American Dream”.

After all, the American Republic had been founded on the promise “all men were created equal” with the “inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”! And blacks sure weren’t treated equally then. Now? The poet Langston Hughes asked the question in his poem “Harlem”, “What happens to a dream deferred?” And he wondered, “Does it dry up/Like a raisin in the sun?/ Or fester like a sore—/ And then run?/ Does it stink like rotten meat?/ Or crust and sugar over—/ like a syrupy sweet?/ Maybe it just sags/ like a heavy load./ Or does it explode?”

And here we are in Guyana, 50 years after we DID get “independence” and if we’re honest with ourselves – whether we’re supporters of the PNC, PPP or AFC – we must accept Langston Hughes’ question is still a valid one for us, the Guyanese people. Especially now that Budget 2017’s being presented. What happens to our dreams that’ve been deferred since 1966?

Because we did have dreams didn’t we? The British had raped us for 150 years…and before that the Dutch. We had been treated as chattel that had no rights…and as bonded labour that was supposed to have SOME rights that were respected in the breach more than anything else. So we dreamt of a time when we too could live with some measure of ease in dignity.

And those who we elected as our leaders to fight for those dreams to become reality promised us that was their mission. The latest lot that were put at the head of the Government – the PNC-led coalition Government – actually promised to deliver “the Good Life”. In capital letters. But the sad reality this budget exposes is those leaders only see the dream for themselves.

How else could the Cabinet give themselves a 50 per cent raise, but Government workers 10 per cent and sugar workers zero per cent? Isn’t that what the British used to do with one salary scale for themselves another (much lower one) for the “natives”? How could they impose hidden taxes on basic items for the poor via the ironically named “exempt” VAT category, when Prezzie’s $24 million annual salary is tax free?

So have our dreams dried up like raisins in the heat of official scorn and neglect? Or is like a festering sore that runs with pus?

Or maybe explode?

But for that to happen, we have to start thinking for ourselves, don’t we? …not relevant?

After our, so called “independence”, our own poet Bob Marley took notice of our “dreams deferred” and crooned his “Redemption Song”. He gave us – and our leaders – the historical background for our condition: “Old pirates, yes, they rob I,/ Sold I to the merchant ships.” But those pirates and ships were commissioned by the Queen who legalised that inaugural “human trafficking” by passing laws that said we weren’t human.

But today, in pursuit of our dream of equality, our leaders in Caricom have crafted a demand for reparations from Britain. When David Cameron, then PM of Britain, came to the Caribbean, some enlightened leaders warned us to “beware of Brits bearing gifts” – while denying us our just reparations claims.

But to our surprise, Harry, grandson of the Queen – head of the State of Britain and Church of England – visited here, the local leader of the Reparations Committee said “the ‘Prince’ has no say” in reparations so don’t bring up the matter.

He should, emancipate himself from mental slavery! …of El Dorado Back in the day, Queen Elizabeth I authorised Walter Raleigh to seek gold in our El Dorado. He failed and was beheaded.

So how come El Dorado’s been found but we’re still dirt poor? Should we behead someone?

feature 37

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s Floral Heritage

A

Providing shade on Thomas Street, Georgetown

ccording to the book “The Story of Georgetown” by James Rodway, the first attempt at tree planting in Georgetown was done prior to 1870. The book added that a great impetus was given to ornamental planting by the laying out of the Promenade Gardens in 1853.

One such ornamental tree is the Royal Poinciana (Delonixregia), also known as Flamboyant, Flame Tree

and Peacock Flower. It is one of most popular roadside trees to be found in Georgetown, East Coast and East Bank Demerara. Its strikingly beautiful flowers blossom in dense clusters, which make a solid picture of colour.

The Flamboyant Tree, as it is known in Guyana, is native to Madagascar, Africa. It has been widely planted in various regions for its large scarlet to orange flowers and its shade.

Delonixregia var. flavida is a rarer, yellow-flowered variety.

The tree is a rapid grower, attaining a height of over 6 to 12 metres (20 to 40 feet). Its elegant, wide-spreading, umbrella-like canopy can be even wider.It bears compound leaves that reach 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 feet) in length. The pod is a flat woody legume, more than 60 cm (2 feet) long.

Royal Poinciana was named for an 18th century governor of the French West Indies, M. de Poinci. In Spanish, it is sometimes referred to as Arbol de Fuego (Tree of Fire). In Mexico, Costa Rica and elsewhere in Central America it is referred to as Malinche after a beautiful young Indian woman of that name. Malinche is said to have been so beautiful that she persuaded Hernan Cortez, who fell in love with her, to spare her people from extermination at the hands of the conquistadors.

In some Caribbean countries, the pods are used for fuel and called "woman's tongue" because of the rattling noise they make when the wind blows them (a couple other species share this nickname for the same reason).

Royal Poinciana is a spectacular shade tree in tropical climates.

As a free standing specimen tree, it has no peers. It tolerates salty conditions, hard pruning and can be kept at a small size and even grown in a greenhouse.

The magnificent tree is consistently voted among the top five most beautiful flowering trees in the world. (Photos

by Clive W McWatt.) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine) Flambouyant seed pods

Adding a burst of colour at Promenade Garden Decorating Vlissengen Road

Vibrant colours of the tree

Neatly trimmed Flamboyant Trees on Camp Street, British Guiana

38 feature

A

iming to become one of Guyana’s first international indigenous bands, the Rupununi Rockers Band

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

man band.

Now the band has several members, including PauloJ., D.,PauloT.,MichelleJ.,

have never attended any music school or any special training. All members learn and practice by ear sound. This makes

Two of the band members performing

Residents of Aishalton Village eagerly await the band's cultural presentation

is rocking their way to stardom.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, the band’s founder Erwin Thompson, who is also the keyboardist and singer, said that the Rupununi Rockers Band was founded on December 1, 2012.

Initially, it was a one

Matthew Charles and Junior. The band is located in Lethem and enjoys performing traditional, soca, reggae and Brazilian songs. They have performed in the town of Bomfin, which is located near the border of Brazil and Guyana.

“We are an eclectic group of artistes. We

us unique because we have blended our culture and experiences over the years to entertain our fans,” he noted.

Thompson stated that the band members are Makushi and Wapishana.

“Being an indigenous band, I guess as it is for some other bands

in Guyana, we do face many challenges. Some are being able to purchase equipment. We are trying to raise funds to get modern equipment so that the band can perform better. We are also looking for assistance and sponsorship so that we can be exposed to different places and we can generate funds for the band to grow and be better,” Thompson disclosed.

Thompson suggests that in promoting indigenous musicians, a survey

should be done to gather information on the number of musicians who are indigenousand link them with music professional.

These professionals can also share their experiences and encourage the bands.

“We celebrate our indigenous heritage through our music. We like to celebrate and show our culture and talent and enjoy this with all our Guyanese brothers and sisters. All band members work, but we make time during week-

ends to do practice sessions. We are very passionate about our music and we hope to one day become an international band,” Thompson declared.

Thompson’s encouragement is for Guyanese to be more local minded and support local artistes just as they do for international ones.

For more information on the band visit Rupununi Rockers Band on Facebook or call 592667-9170 or 592-6682280.

Hector Archibald Joseph (1871-1936)

Officers of the YMCA in 1935. Hector seated front row, fifth from left

By Clive W McWatt

W

hen Hector Joseph (BA, LLB, K.C.) left for British Guiana in 1925 a Daily Gleaner columnist wrote: “One of the ablest and most talented sons of Jamaica departs from these shores to take up duties in British Guiana as Attorney General. Jamaica’s loss is Guiana’s gain.”

Hector Archibald Joseph was probably the first black barrister in Jamaica. He was born in 1871 and grew up in the Liguanea area. His father had a shop in Matilda’s Corner and owned land in Barbican, on which he grew

pineapples. Hector attended the Collegiate School in Kingston, then the top school in the island, and to York Castle School. In 1891, he won the Jamaica Scholarship, and went to Trinity Hall Cambridge and London Universities in England to study law. He read for the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn, London.

He returned to Jamaica in 1896 and soon became one of the most prominent barristers in the island. In 1911, he was made a King's Counsel, the first black Jamaican to achieve that status. At various times he acted as assistant to the Attorney General,

His professional portrait

and acted both as Attorney General and Puisne Judge in Jamaica.

In the 1920s, he arrived in British Guiana. In 1925, he was appointed Attorney General in British Guiana where he worked until 1936, establishing a solid reputation as a “fine lawyer”. Only his ill health prevented him from being appointed the Chief Justice in Guiana.

The most important aspects of Hector's career in British Guiana were those which involved his work in the courts, his drafting of legislation and advice to governors, and his participation in the legislative bodies of the colony. He was also a member of various committees and commissions which influenced the colony’s development.

In addition to his work as a lawyer, he also involved himself in many associations, both in Jamaica and British Guiana.

Organisations connected with sport and young people, such as the Boy Scouts; he was president of the YMCA in British Guiana in 1935.

Like the majority of prominent Jamaican men, of all ethnic origins,Hector was a Freemason. In 1914, he was installed as Master of the Kingston Lodge, though he seems to have given up that connection after his marriage to a de-

Hon. Hector A. Joseph as president of the British Guiana YMCA in 1935

vout Roman Catholic.

He retired from his post in British Guiana in 1936, returning to Jamaica with serious heart problems. He died later that year, and a large congregation, especially of members of the legal fraternity, attended his funeral at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

39

Humpty Dumpty had a fall but who will pick him up?

By Lomarsh Roopnarine

O

ne drawback from writing a weekly column is that so many events develop in the time period between submissions that choosing what to write on becomes a matter that depends largely on importance and timing. Put simply, the idea of writing newspaper columns is about what is going on and what deserves immediate attention.

Against this backdrop of events like the demise of Fidel Castro and the presentation of Guyana’s budget, a serious message from Minister Khemraj Ramjattan that cold cases would be reopened in Berbice and the exchange on the competence of Guyanese doctors trained in Cuba might have been drowned out.

As far as Castro is concerned, disappointment looms large on the write-ups on him, which arguably, have been hamstrung by love and loathe analyses.

Perhaps more forwardlooking would have been views from the layperson, however cryptic, of this man rather than what we already know of him. One person told me that if you live in Cuba and you are critical of Castro and you want to talk about him you are encouraged to use a sign language like this: open your palm and bring it to your jaw and then move up and down. That is Fidel’s beard.

Meanwhile, the budget from the APNU is a slap in the face insofar as where and when the working class is considered. The increase of taxes on electricity and water, the basic necessities of the poor, does not demand a rocket scientist to envisage that chaos will be unleashed on the working class.

Even anecdotal evidence much less voices from the opposition and private sector suggests that the budget will biff an already beleaguered working class and provide a feeding trough for politicians. The public is piped down once again by another budget from a callous coalition.

The delivery, if there is one, from our fussbudgety politicians, is marginally different from a catafalque to the living dead.

To return to my initial focus, I am moved

by Minister Ramjattan’s remarks on solving cold cases. I fully support this initiative and I suspect that it will provide

an opportunity for him to make up for falling behind. It is no secret that support for this regime dwindles daily in light of its continuous political fumbles and foibles. The most recent being the involvement of some politicians in the D’Urban Park predilection.

What would be the approach towards solving these cold cases is open to speculation but I encourage the Minister that the public must be a vital partner in this endeavour. This is an opportunity for the Police and community to reassess, rearrange and recommit themselves to crime fighting priorities so that a cooperative purpose can be formed to bring about best results. To do otherwise would not only be counterproductive but also urgent attention must be given to ongoing cases like the alleged mastermind, now escaped artist, hiding out for a heinous crime. The crime wave has cradled this nation rocking it to its own rhythm.

The exchanges on the competence of Guyanese doctors trained in Cuba have also produced its own rhapsodic rhythm.

The questions on how competent these doctors are, is as strong as the foundation on which this country sits.

What emerged, however, from the exchanges was disappointing.

It is not about one doctor or all doctors who engaged in malpractice.

That is petty bordering on paranoia. In the medical field, when you hurt one you hurt all even with sound procedures.

The medical situation in Guyana begs the question whether medical malpractice is caused by poor training or a lack of resources—or both.

What is unsettling about this conversation is the continued reliance from the political divide on providing healthcare to the public from Guyanese Cuba-trained doctors while the upper crust seeks medical care in developed countries.

For ordinary Guyanese, the former case is like playing Russian roulette.

The time has come to depart from ideological fishing (solidarity of international socialism, south-south relations, etc) based on frivolous thoughts to financing and furnishing Guyana’s own medical system. Guyana cannot afford to depend on Cuba to satisfy its medical needs. Cuba is in the throes of monumental

changes least of which will be to discontinue offering medical scholarships overseas.

I predict that Cuba will send its students to study medicine in the US. There is an inward hunger for this, given the years of starvation and strangulation perpetuated by the US. Guyana must accept the eventual and inevitable outcome that Cuba would someday no longer afford to offer medical scholarships and the country must prepare itself to chart its own future medical course to move beyond medical modicum and madness. Someday the country would even be in a position to offer medical training to Cubans in Guyana. (Send comments to: lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu)

40

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Police and the Crime Wave R

OAR was launched on January 17th 1999 asking citizens to, “Rise, Organise And Rally” against crime and violence. Twentyfive years later, what has changed? One of the points we made then was that while like all other societies Guyana had its share of people who will break the law and use violence, here, there was inevitably a political relation to aspects of that crime and violence. The “Choke-androb” of the sixties, the “kick-down-the door” banditry of the late seventies and eighties, the high-intensity violent “urban-guerrilla’ tactics in robberies and kidnapping of the nineties, the “African Resistance” and the Death Squads “Phantoms” of the millennium decade all sketch the increasingly open political nature of our crime and violence.

Many persons (then and later) resisted our linkage between politics, crime and violence even though we made what we thought was an elementary logical inference: if our politics had a nexus with race/ethnicity (and very few disputed this assertion) then inevitably the crime and violence would refract that connection, politically.

Many reacted emotionally to our analysis and saw us creating, “guilty races” who had some ontological connection to violence even though we had explicitly disavowed such a position.

The conclusion we drew then that, and we would like to repeat now, was that if one agrees with our premise then one would have to also accept that any attempt to deal with our escalating wave of crime and violence must have a political impact.

We cannot ignore the maxim that “a political problem must have a political solution.”

I have said previously that at independence we inherited a state but not a nation and that that circumstance had presented us with a host of problems. But the truth is that the authoritarian colonial state we inherited has posed as grave a set of (not necessarily unconnected) problems as the lack of a “national” identity.

Take the Guyana Police Force (GPF), which is the most visible (and coercive) arm

of the state to most citizens. All accept today that this institution must be changed but few are prepared to make the radical changes necessary to deal with our post-colonial situation.

When PPP presidents railed against the ineffectualness of the GPF to deal with the escalating violent crisis precipitated by the attacks against the state and innocent citizens, they missed the point: the Police Force itself was part of the problem.

The fact is, the GPF was founded as a pacification “force” for the colonial masters to deal with a post-slavery potentially restive population: nothing has been done to change its modus operandi since then.

In fact its authoritarian nature was exacerbated under the Burnham regime and continued with the Black Clothes unit under the PPP. The GPF will have to be completely revamped to become of any positive consequence now.

In 1999 we had called for the GPF to be professionalised by “streamlining it, decentralising it and balancing it”.

Essentially, this called for removing many extraneous tasks such as “vehicle fitness” and immigration that had little to do with police work; breaking the unified command and control structure that was intended to facilitate the colonial imperative for control and making it more responsive to local needs, and finally and most importantly, ensuring that the composition of the GPF reflect the general population breakdown of the country.

Radical decentralisation, of course, facilitates the last imperative, with the least disruption.

Interestingly, the Disciplined Forces Report, tabled in Parliament in May 2004 and approved in 2010, incorporates many recommendations that form an excellent starting point for a more effective GPF. The report has unfortunately, for all intent and purposes, been buried.

We also repeated our 1999 call for the top COP’s replacement to be from abroad – and not only to address concerns about modern know-how and competency. The nexus be-

By Ravi Dev tween politics and race/ ethnicity and crime mirrors the nexus between politics and race/ethnicity and almost all major activities and institutions in our country: and our Police Force is no exception.

Any serious effort to professionalise the GPF cannot sweep these facts under any rug.

41

42 news

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jamaica warns convicted scammers could also be extradited to United States T he Jamaica government says persons convicted here for lottery scamming could also be extradited to the United States to face additional charges after completing their jail term here.

“While the charges are similar in nature, there are other aspects to the crime why they would be wanted in the US,” Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, said.

“I think it is fair to say that the American authori-

ties would want to connect these lotto scammers with victims in the US. If the connection is made, then I could see the US wanting to extradite these criminals to face charges,” he added.

Chuck said that the Andrew Holness government is committed to eradicating lottery scamming, a type of advance-fee fraud which begins with an unexpected email notification, continued on page 46

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The eye-pass Budget I

t is not just that water and electricity supply is poor and intermittent throughout the country at best but to now have VAT applied to these utilities’ charges is plain eye-pass.

When Finance Minister Winston Jordan explained that VAT would be added to water and light bills to spur conservation efforts this was further eye-pass.

He knows full well that conservation is already enforced on taxpayers since, in some areas, there are more blackouts than power supply, and the low water pressure means there is no water in the pipes.

But the most worrying item of the 2017 Budget is the proposal to give GRA powers to access taxpayers’ bank accounts in order to garnish monies owed to the agency.

The Private Sector Commission is correct when it stated that this would scare people into closing their bank accounts. More money being kept at home will certainly aid and abet Guyana’s already thriving criminal enterprise.

At a time when

Government has been advocating the use of more plastic for financial transactions, this move would be counterproductive. It also creates more than a little uneasiness that Government intends to invest itself with the power to reach into privately held accounts and take whatever is owed them.

This is intrusive and is a move towards authoritarianism that must be resisted. If Government succeeds in establishing such rights over citizens, it would be the start down a slippery slope where every other right and freedom would be under threat.

Since the Granger Government is not shy about its racism and partisanship, it would appreciate the further fear that these powers could be used as a weapon to

wilfully harass and punish opponents.

Just recently, President David Granger addressed Lindeners, who continue to be favoured with a subsidised power supply, and spoke of the township becoming a manufacturing hub. To this end, the Budget proposes the infrastructural development of the Linden-Brazil highway.

This while the agricultural sector – a traditional Indian Guyanese labour base – is left to languish and die with no planned state intervention to rescue, retool or restrategize this once vital revenue-earning sector.

To the public eye, the racism is clear.

The purposeful neglect is shameful especially when Guyana once boasted of becoming the food-basket of

the Caribbean. There was much pride in being a nation of farmers and agriculturalists and when food is fast becoming a dwindling resource as the world population increases, Government’s de-emphasis of the agricultural sector is shortsighted. The skills, if lost, could harm Guyana’s future economic prospects.

The economy has shrunk with real GDP growth falling to 2.6% this year, down from 3% in 2015, and none of Government’s promised investments has materialised.

Guyana’s international reserves have also fallen and are now below the 4-month benchmark – the accepted global standard – to 3.9 months. If this trend continues this could result in restrictions being applied to imports be-

cause of limited foreign exchange reserves.

Glaringly absent from the Budget is any plan to build a hydroelectric plant, a green resource that should have been established long before it became fashionable; and waiting for oil to gush and save Guyana while the economy tanks appears both lazy and uncaring.

With the economy on a downward trajectory and traditional export earners like rice and sugar on the ropes, the Budget focuses heavily on gouging an already poor nation of every fee and tax possible. With all the corruptions that have come to light since the Granger Government came to power, this is the biggest eye-pass of all: that every ordinary citizen will have to pay up to provide the billions required for Cabinet’s supersize salaries and their high lifestyle gained by some through their exposed corrupt practices.

Whereas everyone expects Government to act positively to help turn around an ailing economy, this administration has no such sense of urgency and seems inca-

43

Ryhaan Shah pable of creating policies that would attract investors, create employment, and drive economic growth.

Instead, we will all be paying more for everything from passports and airport departure taxes to transferring a vehicle registration. Medicines and medical supplies and our internet and digital services will all cost more and the measly increase in old age pension along with the 2 per cent reduction in VAT are hardly compensatory.

Local manufacturers will also no longer be able to recoup the VAT paid on raw materials and these costs will now be carried over to the consumer who will have to pay higher prices for locally made products.

Imprisoned by Guyana’s continued sad state of affairs, even our bread and water will now be taxed.

44 travel & tourism Mt. Shiriri

S

hiriri Mountain is located in South Central Rupununi, Region Nine.

Picturesque landscape and pristine forest make Shiriri a natural wonderland.

According to Vaughn Duncan, whose grandparents live in Shiriri village, a place he considers his “second home”, Shiriri’s mountain has an interesting story to tell. Duncan said he met a village elder who knows of the many legends relating to Shiriri. These were passed down to the elder from his parents and grandparents.

“I sat and listen to him [village elder] as he educated me about this unique culture in Wapishana. Dad was the interpreter. This elderly villager told me the story of the rocks that were laid in an almost linear formation, which is found on a small hill on the eastern side of the mountains. These rocks represented the number of Wapishana fighters. I remember dad telling me of trib-

al wars that took place around this location. An old legend suggests that this was the last place of fighting between the Wapishanas and the Macushis. This conclusion came from the fact that Shulinab is the only Macushi village in the south Rupununi.

However, this elderly villager has another tale as to why fighting among various tribes took place in this location.

“The elder person tale goes like this.

A long time ago, the Indians [Amerindians] found salt on the plains of the nearby mountain.

The inhabitants call the place ‘Chiizzih baar’, the salty plains. Over time, the Indians began to fight to keep possession of the ‘salty plains’. To measure their strength, the Wapichan fighters each laid rocks on the hill located on the southern part of the Shiriri Mountain…”

Duncan recalled on his blog, https://vaughnduncan.wordpress.com (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Cattle heading towards the mountain (Photo by dandanmilner on Flickr)

Shiriri's peaks covered by rain clouds (Photo by James Broscombe)

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com Aerial view of Shiriri (Photo from www.airguyana.biz)

Distant view of Shiriri (Photo by Vaughn Nicholas Duncan)

Scenic view of the mountain (Photo by Vaughn Nicholas Duncan)

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Pie in the sky… Jamaica warns

I

…delusion or scam?

f you dig a hole and use the dirt to try to fill another much bigger hole, have you really achieved anything? While, as you know, your Eyewitness is a very practical guy and not given to philosophical navel gazing, this is the thought that flashed into his head when he read of Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s boast that “6000 jobs” will be created with the investment that’ll pour into our country next year through Go-Invest!!

Can you believe it? If this isn’t at best delusional or at worse, jerking off the electorate, what is? Here it is this Government hasn’t only refused to stimulate the economy in a meaningful way, but has made policy decisions that’ll throw thousands of persons from the sugar and rice industries into the streets and now talks about “creating” 6000 jobs? So what do those jobless persons do? Are they the ones that’ll be getting the “1327 jobs in Agriculture”? Are they going to be retrained in one year?

This is the same kind of theoretical BS that’s seen governments in two of the most developed countries in the world – the US and the UK – turned upside and their political leaders flushed down the sewer like used toilet paper. For years they’d convince their electorate that “outsourcing” was the logical extension of the “free trade” dogma that brought them unbelievable prosperity since the post-1780 industrial revolution.

They didn’t bother to mention that “free trade” only benefitted them during those long two hundred years, because they’d sucked raw materials from the colonies they’d conquered and done all the manufacturing “at home”. Now while “outsourcing” might be the logical conclusion of “free trade” it’s finally unmasked that the profits basically went to a tiny 1%…and the rest made do with what trickled down. Now the trickling down’s going into the pockets of peasants in China and the Far East!

So in Guyana, the PNC-led Coalition’s trying to

convince us that increased taxation is good for us, since in any case we’ll be getting jobs. But have you noticed even THEY couldn’t bring themselves to say the jobs will be created by their taxation binge?

They’re counting on “FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT” (FDI). Since we NEVER got those numbers of jobs from comparable FDI during the PPP years (if we did, there’d be no 27% unemployment problem!) maybe Go-Invest needs a forensic audit?

Be as it may…it’ll be an interesting test of “ethnic loyalties” when 2020 rolls around, after the economy crashes and burns like in the first PNC Government’s rule.

Will they still get their constituency’s 42% vote like in 1992? …”prudence” Another unbelievable announcement by Finance Minister Jordan was that in his budget he was practicing “prudence in public financial management”.

Prudence? Is he thinking about that girl named “Prudence” in his “Financial Management Unit”? If he is, then he’d better perish the thought right now.

The child’s dating a big hulking bouncer from South… and he’s not going to allow any “popish” behaviour!!

But is it possible he’s not thinking about any sweet young t’ing like that fella over at the GRA? Naah! He couldn’t possibly speculate that what he’s done with the national income and expenditure statement we call a “Budget” displayed “prudence” – as in “showing care and thought”, could he?? Or did he show “care” to’ve “thought” of ways to pi55 of everyone in the country?

In the history of horrible budgets – and the one

by Carl Greenidge in 1980 when he confessed the country was bankrupt, comes to mind – nothing has come even remotely close to Jordan’s.

Somebody better send a “sweet chariot” to send him home! …on City tax arrears The city’s owed G$16 billion in rates and taxes from all the services they’ve provided to its fair citizenry. After their amnesty, they announced they “raked in” G$42 million.

Shouldn’t that be “scraped up”??

convicted scammers...

from page 42

phone call, or mailing explaining that the person has won a large sum of money in a lottery.

US law enforcement authorities say the Jamaica lottery scam is one of the most pernicious scams around. It largely targets the elderly, because they have accumulated their money over a lifetime, are often isolated and lonely, and sometimes are suffering from dementia.

Chuck has promised that “no quarters or no shelter should be given to scammers,” describing them as a blight on society and should be ostracised and made to pay for ruining lives.

“They have been preying on the elderly… the sick and the vulnerable. I want to say, and in the strongest language possible, that I want them to be tried in the circuit courts where they can do long sentences, and then, follow-

ing that, we do everything to make them do even longer sentences in the US prisons,” he said.

Chuck said a significant amount of funds is being spent on upgrading and modernising the courts in order to improve the delivery of justice.

“Everything has to be results-oriented and that is what we are all about in the criminaljustice system. A lot of money has been spent in training.”

Chuck said he was heartened by the fact that Jamaica has some of the best judges, prosecutors and clerks of court, whom, he noted, “have been doing a very good job on the public’s behalf”.

“I am the first person to tell you that we still have a lot of work to be done. We have more courthouses to be rehabilitated and more work to ensure that cases are disposed of in a very timely manner,” he said.(CMC)

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

First crash

It’s only (our) money

S

atiricus was sick and tired of people digging up the past. And so he was in a grumpy mood as he and his buddies celebrated Thanksgiving. Even though he knew about this quaint American festival when they sacrificed the fattest turkey they could find and their entire family would pray over it, this was the first time he’d actually be participating.

“Bai Sato, me su’prise Capporemembaabee and sen’ somet’ing fuh abee celebrate T’anksgivin’!!” said Bungi. “Mus’ tell am me gi’et’anks to he.”

“I’m not surprised Bungi,” replied Satiricus.

“Cappo know how things brown in Guyana with us.”

“But it’s not brown for everyone,” interjected Hari. “You hear Edge Bill explain how much our Ministers will get just from their 50% raise?”

“Me hear,” nodded Bungi. “Edge Bill sehwaan Billiandallah. But how much a wan billiandallah?”

“Well, look at it this way,” explained Hari.

“You know how much that house you built last year cost you?”

“Budday!!Me had to tek out loan fuhbuil’ dat house!” exclaimed Bungi. “Four milliandalla!

Me na know w’en me guh pay da back!”

“Well, the $1B increase can build 250 houses like that!!!” said Hari in a disgusted voice. “And imagine that is only the RAISE! What about the rest?”

“An’ dem get DUTY-freecyaar an’ t’ing,” marveled Bungi. “Dem should really do dis T’anksgivin’ t’ing!”

“But hold it fellas!” interjected Satiricus.

“Don’t you think our Ministers deserve to live properly?”

“But nadem same Ministah bin a seh abee cyaan live in caddilac style in an dankeycyaa’tecanamy?” inquired Bungi.

“But you don’t understand,” replied Satiricus. “They’re just showing us how we will all live when we finish with the “dankeycyaart” economy.”

“But that’s putting the “dankey” before the “cyaart”, isn’t it?” grinned Hari. “And those donkeys will gallop away and leave us in the dirt!”

“Lehabee drink to Cappo,” suggested Bungi as he clinked his beer bottle to his buddies’. “At least he remembaabee!”

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

47

“It is the secret of the world that all things subsist and do not die, but retire a little from sight and afterwards return again.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

T

Anu Dev

here are those moments in medicine that really give you pause. Moments that make you stop, reflect, and really think. For me, that “moment” lasted one hour, fifty-seven minutes.

We were on our morning ward rounds and it was business as usual – asking the patient how they’re doing, checking their vitals and adjusting their management plan accordingly. On this particular day, one of our patients suddenly became unresponsive.

In our classes, our instructors tell us to try to stimulate the patient to determine if they’re actually unresponsive – shout their name, shake their shoulders, rub their chest. If they’re unresponsive, the next step is to check their pulse.

This patient didn’t have a pulse – she was in cardiac arrest.

We had to start CPR – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. For CPR, you start off with 30 compressions in the middle of the chest; well, ‘the lower half of the sternum’ to be exact. When a person goes into cardiac arrest, it means that their heart has stopped beating – it’s stopped pumping blood to the rest of the body.

Chest compressions do the heart’s job for it, to keep blood pumping around the body.

This wasn’t the first time I’ve seen a patient crash – where there was nothing more we could do to revive the patient and it wasn’t my first experience with CPR. But this was the time that really left an indelible impression on me. I think it was because this time I was there while her family members were coming to the bedside to say their goodbyes.

It’s impossible, I think, to be in that place

and not think about your own loved ones. It’s impossible to avoid reflecting on whether you’ve spent enough time showing the people you love that you love them while you still have them in your life.

I think by now we’re more or less aware that things don’t go actually down like we see on Grey’s Anatomy, but it’s still striking how different things are in real life. For one, there was no one yelling “Charge!” while holding “paddles” aloft waiting to jolt the patient back to life. Of the four heart rhythms you’re likely to see in a patient in cardiac arrest, only two of them are responsive to electric shock. For the other two rhythmic, like in this patient, you have to continue with CPR- cycles of 30 chest compressions to two breaths.

It was an experience like I said, I won’t soon forget, but sadly, it’s one that I’m sure I’ll be ex-

periencing many times over in the future. I know that death is an inevitable stage in life but there is yet a finality to it that forces one into deep introspection.

For all the exciting moments in medicine where you crack a difficult diagnosis or treat a patient successfully, there are also these moments where you have to come to grips with the fact that there is nothing more you can do. It’s a powerless feeling.

Today I left the hospital much wearier than usual. It feels like one of those nights where I need a long shower to wash away the day.

And I remember Martin Carter’s immortal words: “Now from the mourning vanguard moving on/ dear Comrade I salute you and I say/ Death will not find us that we die.”

And though I know it was written in a different context, it yet comforted me.

Ungrateful…

W

…Bajans

ith Barbados also celebrating the 50th Anniversary of their “independence” from Britain – but still revelling in their selfdesignation as “Little England” – not surprisingly Prince Harry was invited to represent his grandmother, the Queen of England. Barbados also retains the Queen as their Head of State and “Monarch”. Our Head of State and Executive President David Granger was invited and he showed up to also partake in the glow of Harry’s presence.

It was a bit surprising to your Eyewitness that President Granger wasn’t conferred with any honour

by Barbados since he’d awarded our Order of Roraima on THEIR Prime Minister at our Jubilee Independence bash.

Pressed to explain the anomaly Prezzie averred as to how the Bajan PM had stood up in our corner on the Border issue. But it seems that the help we gave to Barbados and Bajans have been interred with our forefathers bones.

So allow your humble but history-minded Eyewitness to set the record straight – which the Bajans insist on repressing.

At the abolition of slavery in 1834, unlike Guyana and Trinidad, their island had nowhere for the freed slaves to leave the plantations and be on their own.

They had to remain on the plantations and continue to do the same work as slaves – but for wages that left the worse off than when they were slaves!!

Meanwhile in Guyana, where our enterprising freed slaves told the planters to “stick it” and left in droves to form our historic “village movement”, guess who VOLUNTARILY came over to take their place? Go to the head of the class, dear reader, you’re right – the same Bajans who treated us so shabbily when we fell on hard times after the 1970s!!

Bajans started coming right from the start in 1835 – the same year as the first Portuguese from Madeira.

And while they and every other immigrant group like the Indians and Chinese – have been blamed for

undercutting the wages of our freed slaves – the Bajans have slipped under the radar. Fact of the matter is MORE Bajans came here to work in the sugar industry than the Portuguese!! They kept on coming as indentured servants up to 1928 – long after Portuguese emigration ended in 1882!!

Things were so hard with them in Barbados that they even were willing to undercut the wages of the Indian and Chinese indentureds! When the Police Force was formed in 1939, most of the recruits were Bajans because they sucked up to the British while the latter feared our local ex-slaves would rebel.

Guyana basically took the steam off Barbados by absorbing their excess population – But do we get any thanks?

Not from the way they dissed Prezzie! …City Hall Poor vendors of Georgetown. These individuals are direct descendants of those individuals who refused to accept the pittance offered to the freed slaves after “abolition” and gravitated to the towns to make an independent living. Their forbears were a hardy and pioneering lot and these qualities were passed in to our present generation.

The problem is that all the governments have failed to “regulatise” them in a fashion where they can go on to use their creativity and willingness to work long hours to break into a higher tier. A couple of decades ago, Dr Kenneth King had come up with a plan on behalf of ACDA but then it seemed to have died with its conceptualiser.

But the unkindest cut of all was applied by the City Council’s Gang of Four, which used them to harass the PPP’s Town Clerk but then dumped the ones from Stabroek Market Square into the garbage after the elections.

They were promised a new location – but three deadlines have passed and they’re still stuck in “limbo”.

That is, “on the edge of hell”. …Finance Minister This week, the Finance Minister will have his budget scrutinised by the Opposition.

If he has even a smidgen of shame, he should resign!

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Shah Rukh Khan on demonetisation: Things will genuinely get better

B

ollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan feels the after-effects of demonetisation will subside and things will get back to normal.

Speaking in the context of the business of films getting affected owing to the ban on Rs 500 and 1000 notes, SRK said, “I think things will generally get better as the execution of the system takes time and it should because it wouldn’t have happened overnight and we all accept that. So I think initially there must have been choices made by the people that entertainment can take a backseat. Certain luxuries would take a backseat when there is a cash crunch. But as we have been assured things will

A ease off. I think January and even a few days from now would be a good time. I have been made to understand with Dear Zindagi that there is a difference in terms of positivity to come and spend money for entertainment.”

Demonetisation, which came into effect from November 9,

caused huge losses to films that were released in the subsequent days.

Rock On 2 suffered the most with people queuing up outside banks rather than cinema halls. Subsequent films which released too suffered and the jinx was somewhat broken with Dear Zindagi. (Indian Express)

nushka Sharma says like any normal girl she would like to get married at some point in life, but is in no hurry to tie the knot.

The 28-year-old actress, who is having a golden run in her career, said she is not thinking about getting married right now.

“Marriage is on the cards, but I don’t know when it will happen. I haven’t thought about it yet. I have done everything in my life very normally. And marriage is definitely there on my agenda in life. But I don’t know when it will happen,” Anushka said during a session at Agenda AajTak here.

The “Sultan” star believes actresses now get meaty roles even after they start a family. “I feel things are chang-

ing now. Actresses are working at same pace even after getting married or having kids. This is an amazing time for women in industry. I also would like to continue things like a normal person (after marriage). It is important to be that way. I didn’t like when people said that actresses have shelf life,” she added.

On increasing number of splits in Bollywood, Anushka said divorce rate is increasing throughout the country.

The actress feels the fact that women are now the masters of their lives is probably one of the reasons for more divorce cases.

“I am a very basic person. I still believe marriage happens only once and you have to sustain it. But I guess divorce rate is increasing in the country because the woman is changing. Their thinking is changing, the equation they used to have with men is not same anymore.

“Women are financially independent and they are not looking for a life partner so that they can have a secure life. They want someone who is compatible to them. I feel one has to constantly work to sustain the marriage.

No relationship works without putting in efforts,” she said. (Indian express)

I am more of a television My father’s words made me personality now: Karan Johar lose weight: Adnan Sami

F

ilmmaker Karan Johar has started considering himself more of a television personality now, thanks to his stint on the small screen. The Ae Dil Hai Mushkilhelmer, who is all set to judge singing show DilHai Hindustani, said: “I don’t think there is anything left on television that I didn’t do.

From judging the dancing, hosting a show to now judging a singing show, I’ve covered it all.”

The ace Bollywood director claimed himself to be a television personality now, “I am more of a television personality now and films seem to be an incidental part of my personality.”

The Kapoor & Sons

producer who has served as a judge on the reality shows Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and India’s Got Talent added: “Wherever I go, people ask me more about talent shows or the talk show and it’s very embarrassing.

Sometimes, I have to tell them I am a filmmaker and a producer too.”

Karan however feels that the impact of the small screen is huge. “I think the impact of television is huge. It is important to know for us that three percent people of our country watch films whereas 25 percent people watch television.

It’s nine times more impactful,” he said. (Indian Express)

Yuvraj Singh, Hazel Keech’s first pictures after wedding are giving us the feels

Y

uvraj Singh-Hazel Keech’s wedding has been hogging the mind-space for the last few days. We saw their beautiful pre-wedding pictures, images from their Chandigarh ceremony and also the fun clicks from their Goa nuptials. To add even more star value to the wedding, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma made an appearance at their wedding and the two dancing to Gur NaalIshq went viral. And now, there is more from the wedding as we get you the first candid pics of Yuvraj and Hazel after the ceremonies are done as well as pics of their sangeet in Delhi.

Much-in-love couple

Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keechlook so beautiful as they spend some us-time after the ceremonies in three different states are done. We just cannot stop thanking Dream Diaries, the official wedding photographers of this wedding, who shared the pics.

Harper’s Bazaar Bride also shared a beautiful wedding video of Yuvi and Hazel.

The caption along the video reads as, “Love triumphs all. Cultures unite and all that you feel is love. @yuvisofficial& @hazelkeechofficial tied the knot for the second time in Goa.” And via this video we all became a part of the celebrations, wishing the gorgeous couple the best of everything always!

(Indian express)

A

dnan Sami recalls that his father’s words made him determined to lose weight, adding that weight loss involves 80 per cent psychological and 20 per cent physical effort.

“My father told me he doesn’t want me to die before him. That made me determined to lose weight. I shed 160 kg in six years,” the Pakistan-born singer, who is now an Indian citizen, said at a wellness event on Tuesday.

The 45-year-old said the greatest lesson he learnt in life was the journey he went through while losing weight.

Lahore-born Adnan recalled his father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1989.

“He fought cancer but finally succumbed in 2009. During one of those years, while in London for a check-up, he insisted I also get a check-up done.

After my check-up, the doctor pro-

nounced before my father I won’t survive for long given my weight.”

“My father then told me he won’t want me to die before him.”

Adnan said he was 230 kg at that time but worked hard to lose 160 kg in six years.

The singer also spoke about what made him opt for Indian citizenship. “I have lived in India for 17 years. India is my ‘karambhoomi’ (work field). I have lived in various countries but my heart was always in India due to the love showered on me by the people here. I had my ups and downs in getting the citizenship. But ultimately, I got it and I am happy about it, I like India. I am a proud Indian,” he added.

Adnan, who now lives in Mumbai, was granted Indian citizenship with effect from January 1, 2016, after he appealed to the Home Ministry on humanitarian grounds.(Indian express)

I miss Hindi films: Priyanka Chopra

I

ndian actress Priyanka Chopra, who is currently creating waves internationally with her stint in the American drama series Quantico, says she misses acting in Hindi films and cannot wait to do her next film.

Priyanka on Tuesday treated her fans with a question and answer session on Twitter, where a fan asked her if she is missing Bollywood.

“Yes, I miss Hindi films. Can’t wait to do my next one,” Priyanka tweeted.

Another fan asked her how she feels to be nominated at the People’s Choice Awards, second year in a row.

“I’m so grateful to be nominated in such an illustrious category with such august company,” she replied.

Quantico has also been nominated in the category of Favourite Network TV Drama. The other nominations in the category are Empire, Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Fire and How To Get Away With Murder for the People’s Choice Awards.

Last year, the former Miss World won the People’s Choice Award for her international acting debut as FBI agent Alex Parish in Quantico. She is

said to be the first South Asian actress to win the honour.

Another Twitter user asked what she aspired to be other than a Bollywood actress.

“Becoming an aeronautical engineer,” she responded.

The 34-year-old actress is currently gearing up for the release of her Hollywood film Baywatch, which stars Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.

In the film, which is slated to release on May 26 next year, Priyanka will play a negative role named Victoria Leeds. (Indian express)

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jimmy Kimmel to host 2017 Oscars – reports

U

S comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is to host the 2017 Oscars ceremony in February, Hollywood trade publications Variety and The Hollywood Reporter said on Monday.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars, could not immediately confirm or deny the report, first reported as an exclusive by Variety.

Kimmel, 49, who hosts ABC television’s “Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel,” would be a firsttime host of the Oscars, the most prestigious night in the movie industry. He previously hosted the 2016 Emmy Awards for television and is a past host of the American Music Awards show.

The 2017 Oscars ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on Feb. 26, and will be broadcast domestically on ABC. The Academy has been unusually late in announcing who will host the 2017 ceremony, a deal which is normally sewn up by November.

The job is one of the trickiest balancing acts in show business with competing goals of entertaining Hollywood elite at the venue, a worldwide TV audience and moving along presentations and speeches for some 20 awards.

If confirmed by the Academy, Kimmel would follow Chris Rock, a black comedian who hosted the 2016 Oscars amid a controversy over the allwhite acting nominee lineup and the wider lack of diversity in the industry. The show drew the lowest US television audience in eight years with just 34 million viewers.

Previous recent hosts have included TV star Neil Patrick Harris, comedian Ellen DeGeneres and “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane. (Indian Express)

Amanda Seyfried feared she wasn’t normal

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manda Seyfried decided to keep her ObsessiveCompulsive Disorder (OCD) to herself when she was younger because she worried she wasn't normal.

Actress Amanda Seyfried decided to keep her Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) to herself when she was younger because she worried she “wasn’t normal”.

She told W magazine: “I feel like there’s so much less stigma about everything, like mental health.

If I’d only known when I was obsessive-compulsive about stuff when I was 10, I would have shared it with my parents and not thought that I was crazy.

But I thought I was crazy.

You can’t step on this tile or … all those weird superstitions.

“You would share it with people and they would help you out and make you feel better about it. They’d say, ‘That’s really normal.

Don’t worry. That’s just your anxiety running high and trying to control it.’

That could have saved ten years of my life feeling that I wasn’t normal.

I really hope the younger generations are hopefully feeling safer in being who they are.”

And the 30-year-old had earlier opened up about how she uses antidepressant Lexapro to help her control it, reports

femalefirst.co.uk.

She said: “I’ve been on it since I was 19, so 11 years. I’m on the lowest dose. I don’t see the point of getting off of it.

Whether it’s placebo or not, I don’t want to risk it.

“And what are you fighting against? Just the stigma of using a tool? A mental illness is a thing that people cast in a different category (from other illnesses), but I don’t think it is. It should be taken as seriously as anything else.”

Amanda Seyfried, who is expecting her first child with fiance Thomas Sadoski, says she can “smell” electricity.

Seyfried has found that her senses have been heightened since getting pregnant, and she can’t bear to be around anyone with body odour, reports pagesix.com.

“The only thing that I can’t tolerate is body odour. Normally body odour is, ‘Uh, it’s alright.’

But I cannot tolerate it anymore. If someone has it, I have to leave. I have a hard time with that,” Seyfried told entertainment website Refinery29.

“I can smell electricity.

I swear to God I can smell the TV,” she added.

However, the 30-yearold insists she isn’t bothered by the change.

“I was looking forward to it. Nothing makes me sick,” she said. (Indian Express)

E

stranged Hollywood couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have agreed the actress will get sole custody of their children.

The estranged couple have been locked in a bitter war over their six children Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne since the beginning of September but, according to court documents, a judge has granted the 41-year-old actress sole legal guardianship of her kids, reports femalfeirst.co.uk.

According to the legal paperwork obtained by ‘Entertainment Tonight’, the 52-year-old Pitt will continue to have “therapeutic visitations” with the children, as previously agreed on October 2, but it’ll

be down to the family’s therapist – who “shall at all times consider the best interests of the minors” – whether the kids want to see him.

The judge has also made it mandatory for Pitt to participate in random drug and alcohol testing, something he previously volunteered to do on an ad hoc basis, as well as attend weekly individual and group therapy sessions with a counsellor.

“Originally, Pitt had volunteered to do the drug and alcohol testing himself. But now that a judge has signed off on these docs, it has become mandatory and cannot be reversed without another court filing,” said a source. (Indian Express)

Slumdog Millionaire role both a blessing and curse: Dev Patel

A

ctor Dev Patel says his role in the film Slumdog Millionaire was both a blessing and a curse.

The 26-year-old actor, who rose to fame with his lead role in the 2008 movie, says that while it put him on the map, he has to fight against it and prove he is more than that, reports variety.com “It’s a blessing and a curse, that film, for me.

It put me on the map and did great things, but you’re fighting against it. To lots of people, I’m the dude from ‘Slumdog’.

You have to go out there and earn your stripes and prove more than that,” he said.

Patel, who is fea-

turing in the film Lion, shared that he felt like he became a man when he acted in the Nicole Kidman starrer.

The film has received rave reviews and there is a lot of Oscar buzz surrounding the film. Speaking about the Oscar buzz, Patel

said: “It’s totally flattering, but I didn’t sign up for this role because I thought I was going to get an Oscar. That was the last thing on my mind.”

“When I read the script, I was a puddle of tears. I couldn’t believe this was a true story.

We were all in it because we loved these people, and we wanted to live in their skin for a year of our lives.”

Earlier, Patel said his experiences on set have made him wary of agreeing to star in blockbusters, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “I know what I’m afraid of playing: those big studio movies. After Slumdog, I did a film that was not well received at all (The Last Airbender).”

“The budget of Slumdog was like the budget of the craft services of this movie. And I completely felt overwhelmed by the experience. I felt like I wasn’t being heard,” he continued. (Indian Express)

‘Game of Thrones’ actor Peter Vaughan dies at 93

V

eteran British character actor Peter Vaughan, who played the enigmatic Maester Aemon in “Game of Thrones,” has died aged 93.

Vaughan’s agent Sally LongInnes says he died Tuesday, surrounded by his family. Vaughan’s face if not his name was familiar to generations of television viewers in Britain and around the world. His best-known roles included criminal Harry Grout in 1970s prison sitcom “Porridge.”

Film appearances included

“The Naked Runner,” opposite Frank Sinatra, and “The French Lieutenant’s Woman.”

Like many British actors, he gained wider fame through HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

Vaughan played blind scholar Maester Aemon on the hit fantasy series.

Born Peter Ohm in the central England county of Shropshire, Vaughan was married first to the late actress Billie Whitelaw, and then to Lillias Walker, who survives him. (Indian Express)

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Sammy’s Kings to contest final after easy semi-final win D

arren Sammy’s Rajshahi Kings booked their spot in Friday’s final of the Bangladesh Premier League when they produced a clinical performance to beat Khulna Titans by seven wickets in the semi-final on Wednesday.

In a lopsided affair at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Kings easily chased down a modest target of 126 to win their second game in two days following their emphatic three-wicket win over Chris Gayle’s Chittagong Vikings on Tuesday at the same venue.

The championship game will see Kings take on heavy favourites Dhaka Dynamites, who feature West Indies allrounders Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell.

Opting to bat first, Titans struggled from the outset and needed an unbeaten 32 from ArifulHaque in order to reach 125 for nine.

Darren Sammy

West Indies Twenty20 batsman Nicholas Pooran hammered a breezy 10-ball 22 which included two fours and two sixes. He put on 37 for the fourth wicket with Captain Mahmudullah who made 22.

Trinidadian allrounder Kevon Cooper failed with four down the order.

Vincentian seamer Kesrick Williams, who has played a single T20 International for West Indies, was once again excellent in his four overs, taking one for 18, while medium pacer Sammy claimed one for eight from two overs.

In reply, Kings were guided by Sabbir Rahman’s 43 not out and an unbeaten 30 from

New Zealander James Franklin as they reached their target with four balls to spare.

The pair put on a match-winning 62 in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand, which lifted the Kings from 67 for three in the 12th over.

Seamer Cooper finished with one for 32 from his four overs.

(CMC)

Tamar Lambert cops Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence

F

Tamar Lambert

ormer Jamaica cricket team captain Tamar Lambert is the recipient of the 2016 Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence.

The award was presented at the Terra Nova Hotel on Wednesday night.

"It is a great feeling to have received this award. It means a lot to me as it shows for the

hard work and dedication I have put in over years," Lambert told OBSERVER ONLINE. M e a n w h i l e , Jhevaughn Matherson from Kingston College and Satanya Wright from St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) took the male and female students' award, respectively.(Jamaica Observer)

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WI U-19 selectees, Persaud, Yadram ready for new chapter

Bhaskar Yadram (left) and Joshua Persaud featured in Guyana Jaguars practice session on Tuesday at Providence

By Delvon McEwan

I

n 2014 Joshua Persaud and Bhaskar Yadram, then two talented 14 year olds started a journey together, one which was skippered by the latter. That expedition was a success under coach Julian Moore, who led Guyana to their third Regional under-15 title and first in over a decade.

Ever since the pair of Persaud and Yadram have featured in most if not all of the youth teams that left Guyana to participate in Regional tournaments and on Friday they will start yet another journey together.

This time a bigger reality, they will be part of a 20 member West Indies U-19 training squad, who will be encamped in Grenada for close to two weeks starting on Friday December 9 and lasting until December 22.

The feat is important to the two 16 year old Guyanese players Persaud a wicket keeper batsman and Yadram a batting all-rounder - who have done themselves justice with their performance during Guyana’s successful campaign in the Regional U-19 tournament which was held in St. Vincent in JulyAugust this year.

According to Persaud, who last year represented the West Indies at the Under-16 level, it is the greatest feeling for a youngster who is aspiring to make a career out of the sport. While his colleague Yadram, who is enjoying an outstanding 2016 in local and Regional cricket, will be fulfilling a chapter of his life he worked tirelessly towards.

In the Regional U-19 tournament neither Persaud nor Yadram reached their goal they

set out prior to the tournament and they were shifted from their usual positions as openers to bat in the middle and lower order. Fortunately for them it somewhat worked in their favour because they are now in the mix at the pinnacle stage of their youth career.

In relation to the shift in batting position, Yadram clearly stated it worked for him because he was prepared for the change due to his knowledge on the game-where you have to always be ready to bat in various positions or circumstances based on the team’s composition- and due to that he was able to score runs in the middle.

Persaud on the other hand said he missed out on getting sufficient runs but since he returned home has done the necessary to improve his game, with both bat and gloves. He believes his stint with the West Indies U-16 team in the United Kingdom also contributed to his development and he will continue to execute what he has learnt to ensure he progresses in his game.

Meanwhile, Yadram’s objective is to make the final squad to participate in the Regional 50 over tournament which gets underway in January in Barbados and Antigua.

Yadram hails from the East Coast village of Enterprise where he also plays most of his cricket at the Community Development Centre Ground in the area or otherwise at the Everest Cricket Club in Georgetown and Rose Hall Town in Berbice.

Persaud lives in the city and represents Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC).

‘I Am Bolt’ will inspire through the ages, say fans M

any would have seen Usain Bolt’s rise to glory, but not his story.

They would have seen him live the life, but are unaware of the sacrifices.

That would have all been changed by now following the Jamaican premiere of the documentary film I Am Bolt, which opens a window to a never-before-seen look at the life of the world’s fastest man.

The glitzy red carpet affair hosted by Digicel had the National Indoor Sports Centre buzzing with excitement on Tuesday, as a number of sports and entertainment celebrities converged for an exclusive look at the critically acclaimed film.

Among those in attendance were Prime Minister Andrew Holness and wife Juliet, as well as Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Olivia Grange and other government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.

The movie, directed by English brothers Benjamin and Gabe Turner, which was first released last Monday in London, captures the career and chronicles the life of the nine-time Olympic gold medallist.

The film, which lasted approximately an hour and half, includes footage of Bolt’s numerous triumphs from the Beijing World Championships, Rio Olympics and London Olympics dates and back to his explosive 200m performance at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston.

A few hair-raising scenes of his determination and hard work to defy numerous battles with injury were also highlighted in the story to inspire generations.

Though known for his smooth, charismatic and jovial personality on the track, Bolt told the Jamaica Observer that it was not the same when first adjusting to the cameras behind the scenes.

“For me the first two months were a little bit rough because I didn’t know the directors well at that time, so it took me a while to get close to them, but after that we kind of got used to each other and it kind of became fun... it was a lot of laughter and it was a great feeling,” the decorated athlete noted.

“For me this documentary means a great deal, because I really want people to see what my life is like and I think this is one way for people to see and

Usain Bolt

understand what I went through over the years.

“The feedback has been good [and] I have gotten a lot of support, a lot of love... people have said a lot, so I am really happy with how it turned out and I am really happy that the producers came through for me,” he added.

Meanwhile, Olympian Hansel Parchment, who, along with Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Warren Weir, Ristananna Tracey and Elaine Thompson, was out in support, believes the film will be a great source of motivation.

“It was really great and funny... I never expected a documentary to be this funny [as] most people thought it would just be running and not really him talking through his journey.

So I think it is pretty

inspirational [and] they did a pretty good job in putting it together... people enjoyed it and we can really use it as something to keep us reminded that we can also do great things.

Usain is a down to earth, funny guy and that is what really drove the documentary, because it allowed fans to see what he is like outside of competition,” Parchment told the Jamaica Observer.

Other avid sports lovers and Bolt fans also welcomed the opportunity to get a peek into the life of the incomparable athlete outside of competition.

One such fan was Antoinette Phillips, who hailed the film as the clearest indication of what it takes to reap true success.

“What the movie did was to really show you how he did what he has accomplished, and a lot of people kind of thought that it was easy, but the movie kind of made us realise that it took a lot of hard work.

It basically just shows the human side of him, showing him in his natural state and preparing for these big events, so it was really good,” she said.

Rachel Christian echoed similar sentiments. “I thought the movie was excellent; it was very well produced

and it gave a detailed cover of his whole life and experience on the road to being champion. I think it surpassed the expectations of many people; it is very inspirational and it is very good as Jamaicans to inspire other Jamaicans coming up. It was excellent,” she noted.

Dominic Allen lauded the documentary as another great achievement from the legendary athlete.

“He is a very tremendous guy who has been a huge motivation to a lot of Jamaicans and he will continue to contribute to Jamaica’s status around the globe as being the greatest.

I have always had faith in him; he is the greatest man alive and if there was any man that could pull this off, it is Usain Bolt,” a beaming Allen said.

For Chenee Russell, the documentary was an eye-opener that highlighted the best of both worlds in the life of a world-class athlete.

“I love Bolt [and] I think the movie was great. I think it captured his journey on the road to being a champion. It captured his determination, his competitive nature and his love for the sport, and that he is the greatest ever,” she stated.

(Jamaica Observer)

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Australian revival may be exaggerated, survey suggests

A

ustralian cricket has been warned it may not be the grassroots participation powerhouse it thinks it is, via the release of the most comprehensive national survey yet of sport down under.

The Australian Sports Commission's inaugural AusPlay survey, released on Thursday, contradicted Cricket Australia's own assertion that the game is the No. 1 participation sport in the country, and by quite a margin. A more accurate description, according to the ASC's figures, would be to place it in mid-table.

While CA's own Australian Cricket Census had stated that the game can point to 1.31 million total participants, the ASC survey delivered a far lower tally 562,669 combined senior and junior club sport participants, placing crick-

et sixth out of the top 10 sports.

It was well behind soccer's 1,086,986 club participants, and also returned inferior figures to golf, AFL, netball and tennis.

Ironically, the survey's results were announced in a media event at the SCG on Thursday, with soccer's top brass trumpeting the outcome. CA's executive and directors were preoccupied with a board meeting at the game's Jolimont headquarters.

CA's own participation figures are weighted to include the schoolage Milo Into Cricket and Twenty20 Blast programs, with high female participation and increased engagement by diverse Australian communities cited as notable positives in recent years.

However the CA chief executive James Sutherland has admitted previously that there is a

need to ensure more junior participants graduate to club teams and a more formal relationship with the game. Interestingly, CA's own club participation figure for this year was 454,657 - lower than the ASC's.

"It's a lot about that experience and about creating a positive learning environment and a fun environment for kids to play the sport," Sutherland had said in August when CA's figures were released. "I think

that's where the T20 Blast has allowed kids to bridge between entry level programs and playing what some people might call 'real cricket'.

"We've seen success but also sustained participation through into the teenage years. Very pleasing in these results to see growth in that area for the first time in a couple of years."

Most major Australian sports have tended to downplay each other's participation figures, ar-

guing either that the numbers are too generously weighted towards junior programs or that the figures are gleaned through processes that are not sufficiently independent.

The AusPlay survey has been designed to provide a more definitive picture.

"The Australian Government's investment in AusPlay means we will now have a deeper understanding of the sport and physical activity behaviours of our nation," the ASC chairman John Wylie said. "The AusPlay survey will report every six months and provide up-to-date information about trends in sport and physical activity participation that will guide key decisions in this area."

Responding to the release of the survey, a CA spokesperson said: "The AusPlay survey fills a major gap in national sport and recreation data. We welcome the contribution this data

will make to drive the ambition we share with the Government to increase participation. "We welcome that the survey again affirms Cricket's place in the top tier of Australia's leading participation sports and look forward to using the insights it provides to further grow Cricket participation.

"However, it is important to note that school participation is presently omitted from the survey report. School participation is one of the key pillars of our participation framework and an area where Cricket has been enormously successful in recent years. We would welcome the inclusion of school participation in future AusPlay surveys to ensure it reflects an even broader participation footprint." (ESPNcricinfo) Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo.

National Elite Camp athletes selected

A

s the 56th National Schools’ Championship came to an end some student athletes were selected to be part of the National Elite Camp.

The two week-long camp should begin in January following finalization with stakeholders.

While 32 athletes were selected from taking part in Nationals, five did not, as the camp looks to have athletes prepared for the 2017 CARIFTA Games.

These athletes were identified by Commissioner on the National Sports Commission Edison Jefford who noted that the list will be sent to the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) for concurrence.

He informed that following a collaborative effort between hosts of the Schools’ Championships: Ministry of Education and Guyana Teachers’ Union and AAG to introduce The Fully Automatic Timing System (FATS) at Nationals, authentic times were produced for the athletes.

The Commissioner stated that he played a major role in facilitating the AAG that operated FATS at Nationals for the first time this year where discussions were held with AAG President, Aubrey Hutson about identifying potential athletes for national selection.

Kenisha Phillips

“It is hoped that the AAG, National Sports Commission and Government partner in a substantial way to facilitate the training and development of these athletes since they will form the core of a national team for the CARIFTA Games,” Jefford indicated.

Jefford said that all senior Coaches should be invited to assist in training the athletes; he named Wanda Richmond, Johnny Gravesande, Julian Edmonds, Mark Scott and Rawle Griffith among the possible candidates for the Coaches Panel.

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Digicel Regional 4-Day: Jaguars vs Pride…

Hooper back for home game - Bishoo strangely rested and Windward Islands of St. Kitts and St. Lucia respectively.

However, upon returning home, the defending champions opted for the slower bowler on the traditional spinfriendly Providence wicket.

Hooper did not take a wicket on debut but bowled economically and created pressure.

R

Devendra Bishoo

eigning champions Guyana Jaguars made one change to their squad for their fourth round day/ night home fixture against Barbados Pride in the Digicel Regional Four Day League starting at Providence on Friday.

Off-spinner, Eon Hooper, comes in for fast bowler Romario Shepherd is the lone change to the squad.

Hooper made his regional debut against Jamaica Scorpions in Round one and had to make way for pacer Romario Shepherd for the second and third rounds in the Leeward

He bowled 19 overs for 47 runs, including seven maidens and looked effective. No doubt he would be looking for a better outing in the match.

Missing from the squad is leg spinner Devendra Bishoo, who is yet to play a match this season. He missed the first three games due to international duties and

Eon Hooper

Guyana Jaguars spinners bowl to Rajendra Chandrika using the pink ball under the watchful eyes of Assistant Coach Rayon Griffith at Providence

will strangely be rested for this important clash.

The full squad reads: Rajendra Chandrika, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shimron Hetmyer, Leon Johnson (Captain), Vishaul Singh (Vice Captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Eon Hooper, Gudakesh Motie, Keon Joseph, and Christopher Barnwell.

The Coach is Esuan Crandon, the Assistant Coach/Manager is Rayon Griffith, and the Physio is Beverley Nelson. The fourth round match is a top of the table clash as Jaguars and Pride are neck-to-neck in the race. Jaguars are on 33.6 and Pride on 33.4. The Hurricanes are not far behind on 29.4, followed

by Scorpions on 28.6, then Red Force on 27 and Volcanoes on 17.6.

Cyclists’ efforts recognised at gala awards ceremony

C

“Thank you 2016, look out 2017,” was the message from local cyclists at their awards ceremony on Sunday night

yclists and friends of the sport rolled in to The Bunker 81 Sports Bar at Lime and Hadfield Streets for the cycling fraternity’s annual cycling awards ceremony.

The night was blessed with a healthy turnout and went according to the script. As expected, Junior Niles of team Cocos dismantled the Masters Under 45 category with 142 points and 17 wins to beat out Carlton Wheeler’s

Jaikarran Sukhai with 52 points and Roraima’s Warren McKay in that order to the top prize.

Geron Williams was named the Outstanding Cyclist in International races having eight wins including 1st Caribbean rider in Trinidad and Tobago as well as two seconds.

Claire Fraser-Green was named 2016 female cyclist of the year with two gold national championships while Christine Matheson,

with two silver national championships was judged runner up as Whitney Poyer was the 2016 improved female cyclist. Keon Thomas was the outstanding mountain bike cyclist of the year representing Guyana in the Caribbean Mountain Bike Championships.

In the open category, Orville Hinds raced away from the pack to be the best senior rider on points standing having amassed a total of

198 points during the season inclusive of 11 home wins. The Gillette Evolution rider was closely trailed by team mate, Michael Anthony with 169 points including seven wins.

Twenty-year-old Linden Bauxhall Flyer’s rider, Shaquel Agard, who also the National Three-Stage winner was crowned third overall with 160 points inclusive of three wins. Raul Leal of Evolution was in fourth with 154 points and seven wins while Evolution team mate Marlon Williams was in 5th.

Agard was also deemed to be the most improved cyclist of 2016 having jumped 104 points while Christopher Griffith was also another improved cyclist moving up 30 points.

On the other hand, We Stand United took command of the Junior division with Raphael Leung leading the way with 118 points inclusive of 11 wins and Berbician Andrew Hicks, who is the National Schools’ Cycling champion with 107 points inclusive of eight wins. Team

Evolution’s Christopher Cornelius is expected to round off the awardees in that category with 84 points. Raymond Newton was the Outstanding Masters’ Over 45 cyclist.

The organizers extended thanks to everyone who made it possible, namely Shameer Baksh of Universal Auto Spares & General Supplies, Robin and Juliet Persaud of Money Gram at LBI, Damian Persaud of Superbet also at LBI, Kurt Bunbury of Kurt and Carol Grocery, Turhan Harris of Money Gram, in New Amsterdam,

Jude Bentley Bike Shop at Robb Street, Terrence ‘Palm-fly’ Burnham of the USA, Nigel Anthony of Linden, Kamal Seebarran of Ray’s Auto Sales, Johnny Creavalle of USA, Alanzo Greaves, Cornel Greaves, Ronald Ferrier, Alex Mendes of Bunker 81 Sports Bar, Keith & Stephen Fernandes of Bounty Farm Limited, Sean Chin Chan of Chin Chan bike shop also of Robb Street, Natasha & Paul Chooweenam, Alvin Singh, Malcolm Sonaram and friends and supporters of cycling.

Shaquel Agard

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Rupununi FA official heads to Miami for XXIII CONCACAF Congress T

he Rupununi F o o t b a l l Association (RFA) through its Executive Committee Member Rayan Farias will, for the first time, participate in the XXIII CONCACAF

Extraordinary Congress scheduled for December 10, 2016 in Miami, Florida.

Farias who is also an Executive Committee Member of the Guyana Football Federation Inc.

(GFF) said he was elated at the opportunity afforded him by the GFF: ‘I’m happy to be participating in this Congress; it is the first time that the hinterland will be at this forum and it demonstrates that

the Rupununi Football Association is now being recognized as a fast, steady and growing organization; it’s history in the making.”

Farias said he will use the opportunity to highlight the work of his Association while exchanging knowledge and best practices among his CONCACAF colleagues.

“Basically I would like to listen to the other members of CONCACAF, learn from their best practices and impart that knowledge to football both in the Rupununi and Guyana in general. Additionally, I would like to highlight the work of the Rupununi Football Association and football development taking place in that region.”

The Executive who has been involved in football for approximately twenty-six (26) years is also a Football Coach and Teacher by profession. “I’ve been involved in football as a player at St. Ignatius Football Club (1985-2006); represented them at Kashif & Shanghai for two years (one year as a play-

er and the other as a coach) and has been an Executive Member of my Association for about a year. I was also the Coach of the St. Ignatius Male Football team in the 2004 – 2016 period.”

In his Association, he serves as the competitions coordinator, having managed the five (5) competitions executed by his Associations thus far including the RFA Tournament (Feb – June 2016), U-13 Male tournament (June 2016), U-15 Female tournament (Oct2016), G F F N A M I L C O Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 tournament and GFF’s Women’s Development League.

Speaking about the challenges experiences by the RFA, Farias said, “one of the biggest challenges is transportation.

The geographic landscape of the Rupununi is vast. More focus should be on addressing the issue of transportation so more football can be played throughout the region. The pitches in the Rupununi leave much to be desired.”

However, he is opti-

Rayan Farias

mistic about a change and is encouraged by the positive movement in the approach of the children to football in his region.

“Going back to two-anda-half years ago, at the school level, most children appeared to have been interested in other activities than football but a few colleagues and I decided to spend some time in football to counter-attack this move and it’s working; so it’s about winning young people back through football.”

The RFA has a total of fifteen (15) clubs as members under the Association, an increase from six at its establishment. “We just want to see football grow,” Farias added.

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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