Guyanatimes 12 january 2018

Dynamic passengers P to be refunded 11

…from US$200,000 bond lodged by defunct airline Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, January 12, 2018

Issue No. 3448

PRICE

Dismissed sugar workers

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt’s plot to mislead nation exposed – GAWU

Cummingsburg Accord discussion still in limbo P7 – as no set date given for APNU/ AFC meeting P14

Page 3

...Agri Minister still in "la la land" – Chand …demands his resignation over dishonesty, lack of integrity

“We believe in ‘Vaasudev Kutumbakam’ – the world is one”

Oil contract

UK envoy urges transparency for public contracts

– PM Modi tells MPs of Indian origin Page 2

IAC holds interfaith gathering, discussion on ethnic relations

…at National Library today P10 Police search house in Lodge

Unlicensed .32 pistol, submachine P10 gun, ammo found Some 141 Indian origin MPs and Mayors from 23 countries accepted the invitation to attend the prestigious Pravasi Bharatya conference in India, called to boost ties between India and the countries where the MPs are domiciled. In photo above, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj are seen with members of the Guyana delegation led by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

16 injured in Trial halted as Rupert Craig accused in double Highway accident granny murder faints …minibus driver critical

…3 females in custody

Drama in the Magistrates' Courts Page 18

Page 15

Suspected P10 motorcycle bandit arrested for robbing cop

2 News

friDAY, january 12, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

“We believe in ‘Vaasudev Kutumbakam’ – the world is one”

– PM Modi tells MPs of Indian origin

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and some members of the delegation from Guyana who attended the prestigious Pravasi Bharatya conference in New Delhi, India with India’s Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj

I

ndian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Shrimati Sushma-Swaraj told Guyanese and other parliamentarians of Indian origin at a world gathering on Tuesday, January 9, that the ancestral homeland was proud of their achievements.

Some 141 MPs and Mayors (chairs of regional bodies) were invited to a con-

ference and reception in New Delhi, India. The conference was held at the Pravasi Bharatya Kendra, which was built for overseas Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).

The meeting was organised by the External Affairs Ministry under the leadership of Shrimati SushmaSwaraj and inaugurated by PM Modi. Attendees included Government Ministers,

the Vice President of India, Ambassadors in Delhi and other dignitaries.

There are some 280 PIOs sitting in Parliaments of various countries, many of whom are Ministers or Heads of Governments. The present PMs of Portugal, Ireland and Mauritius are PIOs. Only sitting MPs and Mayors were invited to the Delhi meet.

Some 141 Indian origin MPs and Mayors from 23 countries accepted the invitation to attend the conference called to boost ties between India and the countries where the MPs are domiciled. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was among some 24 who attended from Guyana. The cost was borne

by India.

The forum allows the

MPs to connect with their past in India and contribute to the growth of ‘new India’.

Besides, it will also help India have more friends in foreign countries rooting for its interest. The Indian Government believes that increasing engagement with the MPs will help India with having more advocates for its cause on various issues on the global stage. The Diaspora has been a very active and strong advocate of India’s cause.

It was noted, for example, that the Indian Diaspora has played an important role in pushing for Indiacentric policies in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

Modi told the MPs: “Your achievements (as legislators in your countries) are a point of pride for us. Even when you are nominated for political office anywhere, we are very happy.

You affect geo-politics and the world and frame laws.

Indians watching these developments are very happy to hear about your achievements.

“No matter where you are, I believe your ancestors will be very happy to see you all here. Everywhere Indians go, they integrate into the Diaspora. They take up the culture, sports and the other everyday things of their surrounding environment,” Modi added.

He added: “Whenever I travel, I like to meet people of Indian origin. I have met many of you like this. The reason is that you are permanent ambassadors of the country. My government has tried to connect to Indians overseas and solve their problems. Earlier, we had

different schemes and ministries, but now it is all integrated under the External Affairs Ministry. Sushma Swaraj is working for you constantly. Overseas residents can help us in many ways. You send remittances and we are thankful for that.

You can also invest in India.

We know your experience is important for the betterment of India. You can take India to the world. We want to be with you when you succeed.”

He reminded the gathering of the greatness of Indian culture.

“We believe in ‘Vaasudev Kutumbakam’ – the world is one. The values of Indian culture and civilisation can guide a world gripped in increasing instability. On my suggestion, World Yoga Day (adopted by the UN) was celebrated on such a large scale.”

And on aiding the world, the PM informed the gathering that India was among the first responders in a crisis. In Yemen, we saved not just our citizens but also people from 48 other countries by lifting them out of the war-torn country. Indian soldiers laid down their lives in World War I and World War II even though the country did not have any economic interest in the wars. Our relationship with a country is not based on give and take, it is based on humanity.”

Modi thanked the MPs for taking time out of their busy schedule and coming to the conference. He said that he hoped to meet them again next year at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD).

Before the PM spoke, the External Affairs Minister also showered praises on the MPs. (Vishnu Bisram)

“Your achievements (as legislators in your countries) are a point of pride for us.” – Modi told the MPs from around the world

Unemployed man arrested for illegal gun

…found in house he was hiding in

A

The unlicensed Taurus pistol with four live rounds

unemployed 23-yearold Soesdyke, Linden Highway resident was on Wednesday night arrested following the discovery of an unlicensed firearm in an East Ruimveldt, Georgetown house where the man was reportedly hiding.

According to a Police release, the weapon’s discovery was made at around 20:15h by ranks on a mobile

patrol commanded by an Assistant Superintendent.

The press statement said acting on information, the ranks conducted a search in a house located at Self Help Square, East Ruimveldt, and the unlicensed Taurus pistol with four live rounds were found.

The suspect was also found hiding and taken into custody. Investigations are continuing.

news

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friDAY, january 12, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Dismissed sugar workers

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

Friday, January 12 – a night retraction at 01:00h and a day retraction from 14:00h-15:30h and Saturday, January 13 – a night retraction at 01:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, January 12 – 13:40h-15:10h and Saturday, January 13 – 14:20h-15:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery and heavy showers can be expected throughout the morning, with lighter rain to thundery showers expected in the afternoon and throughout the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 00:57h and 13:19h reaching maximum height of 2.19 metres and 2.29 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 06:49h and 19:24h reaching minimum heights of 1.02 metres and 0.92 metre respectively.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

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Thursday, January 11, 2018 DAILY MILLIONS 03 09 10 17 20 LUCKY 3 5 3 0 Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

Govt’s plot to mislead nation exposed – GAWU ...Agri Minister still in "la la land" – Chand …demands his resignation over dishonesty, lack of integrity

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systemic and deliberate plot by the Government of Guyana -- through its Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and Department of Public Information (DPI) -- to deliberately mislead Guyanese about the administration’s handling of the dismissal of thousands of sugar workers has been exposed by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Wednesday.

Speaking during an interview with the Guyana Times, Komal Chand, GAWU General Secretary, said union representatives and sugar workers were on Tuesday shocked and taken aback by statements attributed to Agriculture Minister Noel Holder which were printed and broadcast in the media.

Holder is quoted by the DPI as saying that the Government managed to save close to 5,000 jobs in the sugar industry while preventing some 9,000 persons from being retrenched or laid off. The Minister is also quoted extensively in the DPI release as arguing that this was done through an assimilation plan which incorporated the workers in the public service.

Minister Holder is reported to have made those statements to the Central Corentyne Chambers of Commerce (CCC) at a meeting held at Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, in Region Six. He also claimed that sugar workers were the highest paid category of workers in Guyana, pocketing an easy $200,000 or more monthly in wages and salaries.

Chand insists that the picture painted by the Minister was purely “fictional” in nature and was “devoid of facts”.

He said if there was any truth

GAWU Head Komal Chand

to the statements purportedly made by Holder, then the Government needs to explain why it kept this so called assimilation plan a top secret.

The GAWU Head further reasoned that the Minister also needs to explain why the Government has been in defensive mode ever since issuing retrenchment and dismissal letters to thousands of workers before closing several East Demerara estates.

“Why wasn’t this defence proffered earlier?” he asked. “And why did the Government accept the figures presented by GuySuCo and endorsed by our union about those who will be actually retrenched or affected?” the Union Head quizzed.

Asked specifically if the closure of the East Demerara estates and the Commission of Inquiry Report on the State of the Sugar Industry were discussed as substantive issues in the National Assembly, as alleged by Holder, Chand responded in the negative.

“That is an untruth.

The records are there…

Something is wrong with the Minister… Two years ago, he provided the Commission of Inquiry Report to the Parliament, but it was never

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

discussed,” Chand contended, as he reminded that when an attempt was made to discuss those issues at the level of the Economic Services Committee, the attempt was blocked by Committee Chairman Jaipaul Sharma, who said that Parliament had not given approval for the referral of the CoI Report to the committee to be discussed.

Chand insisted that GuySuCo’s former Chief Executive Officer, Errol Hanoman, who, according to the longstanding union representative, should not have been on the job in the first place, had informed the Granger Cabinet back in October 2016 that the total number of workers to be affected by downsizing the industry was 7, 800, including the Wales Estate workers.

“…here, the Minister is giving 9,000, excluding Wales’ workers,” Chand declared, as he insisted that a deliberate attempt was being made to rewrite the facts surrounding the Government’s hasty and politically-inspired move.

The GAWU Head also denied Holder’s statements that the workers attached to community and health centres which served GuySuCo were transferred and absorbed into the staff of the ministries of Communities and Public Health. He said the large amount of workers Holder was referring to are merely 46 attached to the health centres and 27 attached to the community centres.

“It is not a reality that these health and community centers’ workers have been transferred,” Chand said, before remarking, “If this is so, then it’s a highly secretive move and deal, and the people in those centres as well as GAWU have not been made aware of this, as they are still being paid by GuySuCo…”.

Delivering what might be termed another feral blast at the Agriculture Minister’s credibility and integrity, Chand said a mere 68 workers from the Wales Estate had been transferred to Uitvlugt, while arguing that it was totally untrue that a large portion had been transferred. turn to page 7

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friDAY, january 12, 2018

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Saving our girls and women

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iolence against women is reaching alarming levels across the world and it seems as though enough is not being done at the national level, in some of the most affected countries, to cause an immediate reduction in the scourge. Also, enough financial and human resources are not being allocated to campaigns and community initiatives that are aimed at protecting our vulnerable women and girls who are now being considered as endangered species.

Research shows that one in every three women worldwide experience either physical and/or sexual violence at the hands of their intimate partners or male family members during their lifetime.

According to UN Statistics released in 2012, 38 per cent of all murders of women were committed by males but this figure climbed to a staggering 50 per cent by 2016.

Closer to home, statistics released by the World Bank and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) point to a disturbing trend which proves that Caribbean nations and islands have higher rates of sexual violence and a murder rate that is four times higher than the world average.

Approximately 30 per cent of women surveyed in Trinidad and Tobago experienced domestic violence; 67 per cent of women in Suriname have experienced violence in a cohabiting relationship and 30 per cent of adult women in Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados have experienced some form of domestic abuse.

And Caricom’s Advocate for Gender Justice, Dr Rosina Wiltshire believes while a lot of gains are being made by Caribbean countries, there is need for a redoubling of efforts to ensure that initiatives and campaigns that work and achieve lasting results are sustained.

She also urged policyholders to look at the indisputable link between societal violence and domestic violence while noting that solving the latter is dependent on the adoption of pragmatic approaches to curbing the first through behavioural change.

Dr Wiltshire said it was time for countries to speak about new policies but ensure that they are properly implemented as the consequences of non-action and prevention could be result in a marked increase in homicide rates linked to instances of gender based and domestic violence. She remarked that a process of healing and behavioural change was necessary particularly to change the “macho” culture that encourages our boys that being kind is soft and expressing pent up emotions through crying is feminine. The more we fail to properly educate the boy child, the more likely he is to perpetuate violence.

Dr Wiltshire’s statements are food for thought and exposes the levels of weaknesses facing Guyana’s campaign against gender-based violence. In fact, it sheds light on the Government’s failure at policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. It is therefore not strange that our women and girls are being killed at an unprecedented level over the past decade.

In Guyana, one in every four women is likely to have been or become victims of sexual and physical violence perpetrated by males.

The situation is made complex when one digests the fact that in 2017 alone, at least two women were killed for every month by their spouses, family members or male counterparts. And these figures relate to those instances that actually reached the mass media.

There are untold stories and underreported murders linked to domestic abuse in the hinterland and other parts of this country, yet the justice system remains slow and justice in general for many women is denied because of all sorts of failure of the security forces to properly apprehend and investigate reports of domestic violence and homicides linked to the scourge.

The truth is, officials are too busy attending white and blue collar events while our women are dying each month and others locked in relationships where their bodies are not worshiped as vessels of procreation but torched by mostly poor, uneducated and jealous males who sometimes have witnessed first-hand the abuse meted out to a female relative or who themselves have been victims of childhood violence.

The coalition Government has not for the past two years done anything different than its predecessor in office. It has not introduced a single new campaign or even implemented more practical approaches towards tackling domestic abuse and violence. This is despite an impassioned call by its Prime Minister for women to be respected during the 16 days of activism against violence held last year.

And the “no nonsense approach” that Head of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit, Akila Doris spoke about remains a concept in policy and not reality. The situation is sickening on the ground and the Government has to adopt a more direct and practical approach to fighting domestic abuse. It must reform the People’s Progressive Party’s strategies, introduce new campaigns and take coercive policy decisions that discourage men from becoming victims of the “beat and kill” women culture that is still so pervasive in our society. Our community centres must be revamped to have welfare and social workers who are tackling and report actual instances and figures. Unless an evidence-based approach is rolled out here and statistics are recorded nationally and shared, progress while be slow while we lose our women at a fast rate.

If our heroes cannot be men then the women must fill the slack and they must do all that is necessary to save their women folk.

Three silky sharks cruise in the waters of Jardines de la Reina, or Gardens of the Queen, a national marine park in Cuba. The park covers 850 square miles, and remains one of the best protected areas in the Caribbean (Photograph By Fabrice Dudenhofer, National Geographic Your Shot)

IMC needed to manage Georgetown Dear Editor, I believe it is time for President David Granger to establish an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to manage the city of Georgetown and to investigate the management of City Hall.

The longer this process takes, the more embarrassing it will become. The Town Clerk seems to be making ‘fly by night’ decisions without fully giving any proper thought or consideration to the people he and the Council serve.

I also firmly believe the

Mayor may have had good intentions before the high responsibility was given to her by the people, but may have lost her way therein, giving up the hard battle of dealing with the host of corruption that seems to permeate the M&CC.

Installing an IMC may be the best solution to fix the many challenges the M&CC now experience.

Sincerely, Ivan Bentham Regional Councillor, Region Four

A disservice done to Justice Carl Singh Dear Editor, I note that after the meeting between the President and the Leader of the Opposition on the appointment of Justice Benjamin as Chancellor, Minister Harmon is reported to have said that the President was generous to give the Leader of the Opposition a month to do his due diligence.

I was really taken back by this choice of words as I knew the Constitution stipulated that the President must get the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.

The President has not been given the authority to make such a decision in his own deliberate judgement. One can only be generous when one has something which he is willing to share with others.

If being given a month is an act of generosity, then what would one call the 12 years given to previous Opposition Leaders for their agreements?

Justice Carl Singh, who acted as Chancellor from April 2005 to February 2017, was nominated by both past Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar; all the then Opposition leaders, including David Granger, never offered their agreement to Justice Singh’s appointment. Clearly President Jagdeo and President Ramotar were very, very magnanimous in the past. But this has more to it than persons being generous. For me, there is the issue of appointing from what is here and there is the issue of trust and confidence

building measures.

The two honourable Justices who are currently performing the duties as Chancellor and Chief Justice should be nominated, they have performed and they have the confidence of their peers.

In our divided society, trust and confidence building are still paramount. This has been one of the hallmarks of the mantras from the diplomatic community and international organisations. Thus, the changes made to the Constitution and the election laws and the billions invested by the last government in ‘depressed communities programmes’ and ‘social cohesion programmes’. What was done with the appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana

Elections Commission was a serious blow to trust and confidence.

I have seen one precipitous act of generosity by this Administration and this was the ‘Hamilton Green Pension Act’. Hamilton Green served for seven years as Prime Minister – five of those years were after rigged elections and two were on an extension generously agreed to by the Opposition.

A person acting for 12 years could not have been an issue of competence. What was done – whatever the reason for non-consenting was mean to Justice Carl Singh.

Sincerely, Manzoor Nadir

Let’s struggle to conquer our divides

Dear Editor, My very educated and learned friend Zamal usually shares some great, well-constructed pieces with me. I am glad that I have such a friend who also sees the deeper side of things and thinks out of the box.

Today, I will attempt to discuss hate, but before I start, I would like to express “sincere thanks” to the print media houses for affording us the opportunity to share our views and thoughts on contemporary issues.

James Baldwin said, “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain”.

We believe that we must stand against oppression, seek justice and be tolerant. When we study history marked by prejudice, lies and hate, we see destruction and pain of unimaginable proportions.

As it turns out, we do live in these times. We are living

and experiencing a fraught moment in which it is impossible to stay neutral. In 20 years, the young children of today will want to know, where did we stand? What did we do to combat hate?

How did we seek justice?

Were we tolerant of others?

Examples of hate and intolerance are numerous.

Just look around our world.

The past hundred years has been catastrophic. Conflicts and devastation unmatched, suffering unspeakable, hate and intolerance have gone

into overdrive and sadly our leaders, our politicians are propelling it.

I have experienced and witnessed intolerance in Guyana with my neighbour, in the streets of Georgetown, in the Mosque, in the Church and Temple, the Parliament of Guyana and various public places.

Once I had a meeting with the mother of a poor child I was sponsoring to attend a private secondary school. continued on page 5

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

Utter shamelessness, absolute disgrace and more betrayal – pay the full severance

Dear Editor, Having been exposed again that they had no intention of paying the more than 4000 sugar workers who were terminated their legally-guaranteed severance this month as promised, President Granger had the self-proclaimed "champion" of the sugar workers read a message in Parliament that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) will provide a 50 per cent severance payment by the end of the month. The announcement comes with another promise that the remaining 50 per cent will be provided in six months’ time.

This is a total breach of the law and in no way is a reflection of the generosity of the Government, as they want people to think.

The Minister with responsibility for labour, Keith Scott, must know that this announcement means the APNU/AFC stands indicted as breaching the labour laws of Guyana. He must act in defence of the workers. A crime is openly being committed against the workers of Guyana by their own Government.

The Agriculture Minister had promised that the sugar workers whose jobs were taken away by APNU/AFC would be paid their severance before the end of January. The sugar workers themselves doubted that he was speaking the truth. Many of us believed the sugar workers had reasonable doubts that APNU/AFC had no intention of keeping that promise and we raised our voices. In an article earli-

er this week, I expressed my doubt that the APNU/AFC had any intention to stand by the Minister's promise.

Now Moses Nagamootoo in Parliament this afternoon has confirmed that the Agriculture Minister was not telling workers the truth and that, indeed, APNU/AFC had no intention to keep their promise.

In his pompous style, the PM presented his confirmation in such a way that he and the APNU/AFC were doing the workers a favour by turning the broken promise into a kind of half-truth.

This is nothing but utter shamelessness, an absolute disgrace and another callous, cruel betrayal of the sugar workers. The termination of the sugar workers were done suddenly and without any consultation with the unions or with the workers themselves.

The severance payment to the terminated sugar workers is not an option for the Guyana Sugar Corporation and APNU/AFC. It is a legal requirement. The payments are due immediately, not in accordance with a timetable established by Government. To first promise the sugar workers that they would be paid in January and then announcing that Budget 2018 did not cater for such payments is an insult to the workers, but also a breach of the labour laws of Guyana.

Hopefully, the 50 per cent payment being promised now is not another empty promise announced only to buy more time and avoid the enormous pressure from the workers and their families and from

Let’s struggle to...

My blood reached to my brain so fast and my heart spoke, “abort the sponsorship” immediately; but a voice rose deep inside of me and whispered, “You are not doing this sponsorship for her, you are doing it for God All Mighty”.

Today, that child is a model student, she completed her B.S.C and is pursuing her M.B.A. I did not allow anger, hate and intolerance to get the better of me.

This to my mind is how the men and women in authority should approach issues of individual and national interests. Such forms of hate, anger and intolerance that we see in society today will take roots into our schools and ultimately will be transferred to the next generation. This is so frightening, good people must take a stand now. The geopolitics of the world must

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attract positive change in attitudes. The world is broken and we desperately need to get along, work with and respect one another. The era of fighting and intolerance should be over for the rivers of bloodshed are overflowing.

As we embark on the New Year, we simply cannot continue down the path of intolerance; do not cling to your hates and old prejudice practices.

Let’s struggle to conquer our divides. Presidents and governments will come and go. But, the long process that truly change our lives are still there and they are not always the things that people are expecting or discussing.

Let us all try to leave a legacy that future generations can emulate.

Yours truly, Nazar Mohamed

decent Guyanese. Personally, I do not believe APNU/AFC will honour this promise until it actually takes place. The problem sugar workers face is there is no way they can survive on this 50 per cent payment and there is no way they can be confident that the other 50 per cent will ever be paid.

There are still sugar workers from Wales Estate who lost their jobs and are still awaiting their severance payments, more than a year after.

The boast that APNU/ AFC is providing $100 million for loans to sugar workers is even more shameful. With the loss of almost 6000 jobs since January 2017 and more to come in the coming months, this means that APNU/AFC is making available a paltry $20,000 per worker as a loan, a measly sum that the worker will need to repay to the Government. PM Nagamootoo should have been ashamed to read that statement. Did he not ask why the statement could not have been issued directly from the Office of the President? He was chosen to read the statement because both the President and the Minister of the Presidency know the hypocrisy and shamelessness of the announcement.

Place the $100 million loan promise in perspective with other recent actions of the Government. They did not have to scrape to give a $68 million handout to an organisation linked to APNU. Budget 2018 provides for $68 million to be given as a grant to this organisation through the Office of the President. In the meanwhile, the Government will spend close to $100 million to pay two lawyers from Barbados to represent the AG in court in the challenge to the

appointment of the GECOM chair. The Ministers will spend more than $100 million in entertainment payments in 2018 at the various hangouts, including the Marriott, where they daily spend taxpayers money to have a good time.

Having terminated the sugar workers, they must pay the full severance now. The payment is due upon termination and that is not negotiable.

The workers are now owed interest on this payment. The failure to pay severance is a

severe breach of the law and the APNU/AFC must not feel that it is doing a favour for the sugar workers by promising a 50 per cent payment soon and the rest six months later. They should all hang their heads in shame.

The self-proclaimed "champions of the sugar workers”, Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan and their fellow MP from Region Six, Charandass, must go and face the sugar workers and explain why they have allowed them-

selves to become the "hatchet" men in this ultimate betrayal of the workers.

Nagamootoo did not appreciate that he publicly and arrogantly in the hallow chambers of our Parliament confirmed APNU/AFC intends to break the laws of Guyana. He announced a crime that he and the APNU/AFC Government has committed.

Yours truly, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

I salute Dr Bibi Jabar

Dear Editor, I recently learnt of the transfer of one of the Essequibo Islands/West Demerara’s best medical practitioners, both at the administrative level and attending to patients, to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). It is indeed sad to know that the Public Health Ministry took such a stance from my viewpoint.

However, it can also be viewed as a tactical move to strengthen the compliment at GPHC since Dr Jabar has a track record of putting a smile on patients' faces even in times of uncertainty.

I recall back in 2015 when my grandmother-inlaw required medical attention at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) and was facing a difficult time. I remember making strong representation on her behalf and wanted to speak to the senior doctor. I was given contact details for the Medical Superintendent and when Dr Jabar came to me, she listened to my case and dealt with it with full profes-

sionalism.

I remember in 2016 when another family member fell ill and was given maximum attention by Dr Jabar with detailed advice on how to handle the medical complications and there are two other circumstances of a similar nature.

In 2017, I was reassigned duties from the Communities Ministry to the regional administration of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

In performing my duties as Regional Information Officer, I personally had the opportunity to witness Dr Jabar coordinate four, yes four medical outreaches at Parika, East Bank Essequibo; Wakenaam and Leguan, Essequibo River; and at Wales, West Bank Demerara. The outreaches were coordinated when she acted as Regional Health Officer in the space of just a couple of months (two I believe to be exact).

Doctors from Georgetown and WDRH had the opportunity to assist more

than one thousand persons from these rural communities and I know Ministers Volda Lawrence and Karen Cummings were extremely happy since the outreaches were in keeping with Public Health Ministry’s mission which is to provide quality health care to all.

I believe the most admirable quality of Dr Jabar is her ability to communicate effectively and her charismatic approach to situations. She always holds a smile and never complained even though the difficult circumstances and limited resources can often times send you crazy. She is a mentally strong woman and I hope that replacement is as good as her or even better; if not Region Three will lose big time.

I salute you Dr Jabar and wish you tons of luck.

Continue to be humble and as you told me before, peace of mind is the best medication to have best health.

Yours sincerely, Ganesh Mahipaul

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Foundation make a diagnosis or prescribe treatment, only to administer a questionnaire and give a referral to an appropriate healthcare provider (such as a mother's primary care provider or a mental health professional or clinic) and then follow up with the mother.

Several screening tools are available online

Paediatricians have the power to improve moms’ mental health

for free. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire are the two used most often. Both are brief, easy to administer, and simple to score and interpret. Most importantly, they give paediatricians a powerful tool to improve the health of the whole family.

(psychologytoday.com)

4 things every – research shows that well-child visits are a prime time for helping mothers parent should stop doing right now

By Christiane Manzella, Phd and Deena Blanchard, MD

P

erinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), such as postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, are some of the most common pregnancy-related complications, affecting as many as 1 in 5 new mothers (and those numbers are significantly higher among mothers with low socioeconomic status). At the Seleni Institute in Manhattan, we see women daily for these treatable conditions.

PMADs are more common than many other pregnancy-related health problems, including gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia.

However, unlike those conditions – for which women are regularly screened, diagnosed and treated – PMADs are widely unrecognised and under-diagnosed. The reasons are numerous – including little public awareness of PMADs and entrenched mental health stigma – but one critical element is lack of screening in opportune healthcare settings.

A study published in Paediatrics last fall showed the potential impact of post-

partum mental health screening. Researchers in the Netherlands studied 3000 postpartum women receiving well-child care.

Of the total, 1200 participated in standard visits without formal mental health screening, and 1800 were screened for postpartum depression at the one, three, and six-month visits. Those who screened positive for major or minor depression (meaning further evaluation is necessary) received treatment advice and/or referrals to a primary care or mental health provider.

All the women were evaluated for depression at their child's nine-month visit.

The women in the screening group were 60 per cent less likely to have the condition than those in the control group. They also showed improvement in their anxiety symptoms, confidence as a parent, and general mental health functioning. These findings support the efficacy of standardised screening for postpartum depression at well-child visits.

After a woman’s routine six-week postpartum checkup, her child's paediatrician becomes her primary health

contact. Many mothers will see him or her at least eight times in the two years after birth – during the period when symptoms for postnatal mood and anxiety disorders peak.

That time frame gives paediatricians a unique – and powerful – opportunity to screen women for PMADs at multiple times in the postpartum period and to monitor their children for possible negative effects.

Paediatricians routinely ask mothers about risk factors to children's health in the home environment, such as lead exposure, smoking, and car seat use. Untreated PMADs are a risk factor for negative health outcomes in children as well. They increase the likelihood that a child will have impairment

of early brain development or cognitive, behavioural or physical health problems.

Additionally, mothers experiencing an untreated PMAD are less likely to take their children to all preventative healthcare visits or take preventative health measures such as using car seats.

But when a mother's well-being improves after effective treatment for a PMAD, there is a reduction in her child's risk of mental and behavioural health disorders. That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that paediatricians screen mothers for postpartum depression at routine well-child visits.

Screening does not require paediatricians to

W

hile parenting practices differ across cultures and certainly from one family to the next, there are some actions that parents engage in that researchers, psychologists and child development experts agree are outdated, inadvisable or even downright dangerous. Here are four such parenting practices that parents should commit to abandoning right now:

Not prioritising sleep

Far too often, parents minimise the importance of sleep. Whether due to a lax attitude about bedtime or because of the demands of overscheduling, nothing should get in the way of a child getting enough rest.

Getting by on a few hours of sleep won't "toughen up" a child, nor is it an indicator of resilience. Insufficient sleep has a negative impact on behaviour; it also compromises mental function, and is correlated with weight gain over time. The National Sleep Foundation recommends a minimum 8 ½ hours of sleep for teens, and a range of 11-12 hours for younger children between the ages of 5 and 12. In real terms, this means that a 15-year-old who must be awake by 7am should be in bed no later than 10:30pm, while a 10-year-old child needs to be in bed by 8pm to be well-rested enough for a 7am rising.

The fix: Create a schedule with your child, one that takes commute time, “down time”, homework time, chores and extracurricular activities into account. If you see that your child’s current obligations are cutting into her sleep time, you must help

her to make a tough choice – eliminating an activity in order to buy back some time for sleep.

Eating most meals away from home

Eating out often is bad for family bonding, bad for getting good nutrition, and bad for maintaining a healthy weight. Restaurant environments, especially fast food establishments, often have distractions that compromise conversations and other relationship-building opportunities. And, if the word “food” is rightly defined as a nutritious substance absorbed to maintain life and growth, some of the items on children's menus at restaurants barely meet that bar.

Research tells us that compared to meals prepared at restaurants, meals cooked at home are higher in nutrition, which is good for weight management and health.

The fix: An already-prepared dinner will avert the detour parents often make to casual restaurants or fast food establishments before going home. All you need is a two to four hour block every weekend to prep or fully cook 4 or 5 meals to serve during the week. Make a meal plan, make sure the items you need for each dish are available in your kitchen beforehand, and build cooking and prepping time into your weekend calendar. You can build cooking into your routine on Sundays in between relaxing or watching sports on TV. Be sure to stick to your plan each week, and refrigerate or freeze the meals you cook in advance to keep them fresh. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

to be continued

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friDAY, january 12, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cummingsburg Accord discussion still in limbo – as no set date given for APNU/AFC meeting

By Samuel Sukhnandan

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ith just a few more weeks left before the deadline for the review of the agreement between the two major parties of the governing coalition, there seems to be no concrete plan for members to meet and discuss this process.

High ranking members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) do not appear to be prepared to meet with their partners in Government, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to discuss the long-awaited review of the Cummingsburg Accord.

Despite the AFC setting a deadline by February 14 to

come up with a review plan, leader of the party, Raphael Trotman could not provide a definite time in which both parties could meet to start the discussion.

He told Guyana Times that, “The AFC continues to meet and discuss it and yes we will meet with them before the milestone date coming up, and we will have discussions. That’s all I can say at this point.”

This newspaper also spoke with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo at Parliament on Wednesday, who could not provide an answer on the matter either.

Incidentally, Nagamootoo seemed unaware of any

planned meetings. He said, “I think you will have to put that question to Leader of the AFC. I’m the elder, I advise. I don’t pronounce.”

In mid-November 2017, the top leadership of the AFC had decided to revise its governing agreement with coalition partner, APNU. This decision was taken after the AFC – the smaller of the two factions forming the Government – was accused of being coerced by its large partner.

However, Trotman had committed to write to meet with the APNU to initiate discussions with regards to the revision of the Accord, which was signed before the

last General and Regional Election.

But several months have passed and Trotman is yet to write the APNU. This was made clear by Secretary of APNU, Joseph Harmon, who said recently that to date, no correspondence was received.

There have been reports that the AFC was not too comfortable with the current Cummingsburg Accord which sets how the two coalition partners would divide up the Ministries.

In one of his weekly columns, former House Speaker Ralph Ramkarran said the inability of the AFC to successfully push for constitu-

Govt’s plot to mislead nation...

From page 3

Doling out more statistics not presented by Holder, Chand declared that only 225 workers attached to the Rose Hall Estate were “retained” to do drainage and security works; and he insisted that they have not been given permanent employment or transferred to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

While Chand admitted that some 708 Rose Hall workers were “earmarked” to be transferred to Albion and Blairmont Estates, he said they had not been transferred as yet, as no discussion on working conditions, salaries and employment status have been undertaken with the unions or workers.

Chand again insisted that the Minister was dishonest

when he gave the impression that Government had saved jobs at Enmore and Skeldon; because, he said, only 128 workers from Enmore and 100 from Skeldon were given seasonal drainage work and maintenance duties related to the power house facilities there.

“Who can believe the Minister said that they (Government) were unaware about the situation at GuySuCo when they made a commitment in their manifesto… The magistrate would tell you that ignorance of the law is no excuse… They are aware of the GuySuCo situation there… In fact, in 2014, the Opposition members of the Economic Services Committee grilled GuySuCo on its debt… In fact, Paul Bhim was also then the

Finance Director….and it’s unacceptable that they are now saying that they are unaware… It’s foolish, as far as I am concerned….” an irate Chand said.

The GAWU Head also denied that an average worker had pocketed $200,000 per month. He said that if this sum is calculated by 16,000 workers, then the GuySuCo wage bill would be in the vicinity of $3.2 billion per month.

“Here, again, something is wrong with the Minister,” Chand insisted, while also denying that the Corporation had made US$90 billion per year but still fell short on its financial responsibilities.

He said Guyanese understand fully that the Granger Administration had acted recklessly and political-

ly when it sent the workers packing without an impact assessment plan or plan for reintegrating the workers into the world of work, even if it meant retraining and retooling them in order for them to be rehired.

“So it’s a lot of false information that he peddled in defending the irrational decision to miniaturise the industry and put thousands of people on the breadline and hurt this country…

And since he spoke about redundant workers, I think the time has come -- and it should not be delayed -- the Minister himself should be made redundant…,” the GAWU Head posited.

(Michael Younge)

AFC Leader Raphael Trotman

APNU Secretary Joseph Harmon

tional reform, a platform on which the party campaigned, has seriously damaged its credibility; and in order to restore some of its integrity, the AFC must resign from Government.

He said the lack of success in this aspect would leave the party’s credibility in tatters, and its Members of Parliament (MPs) would be far more influential and respected for leaving the coalition Government. This move, he said, would put the AFC in a stronger position to demand that APNU fulfill its campaign promises.

Prior to joining hands with the APNU, the AFC was seen as the ‘third force’, the party of integrity, with support coming from across the ethnic divides.

“So when the party negotiated with APNU the Cummingsburg Accord in 2015 to contest the General Election, it was the support from the “Guyanese Indians” that enabled the APNU/AFC coalition to become successful, Ramkarran said.

President David Granger, who leads the APNU, said

the AFC is within its right to request the review and noted that he is willing to facilitate discussions regarding this review process.

Under the current configuration of Government, the AFC has received the portfolios of the Prime Minister, Public Security Ministry, Public Infrastructure Ministry, and the Agriculture Ministry, among others.

The party named a Cummingsburg Accord Review Committee (CARC) of eight members – Dr Vincent Adams, Dr Rohan Somar, Marlon Williams, David Patterson, Joel Edmond, Sherod Duncan and one representative each from the party’s Women For Change and Youth For Change.

The AFC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has mandated the party leadership to formally write to APNU with regard to review and revision of the Cummingsburg Accord.

This process must be completed by the third anniversary of the signing of the Accord, February 14, 2018.

50% severance pay

Govt in flagrant breach of labour laws – Union ...more protests likely

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A scene from the protests earlier this week

cknowledging receipt of information that Government is getting ready to pay 50 per cent of the severance due retrenched sugar workers, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has expressed disappointment with the Government’s continued refusal to pay redundant sugar workers their full severance due.

Speaking to this publication on Thursday, GAWU President, Komal Chand, took the Government to task for the continued deferment of full payment in this regard. He argued that the decision breaches the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act.

“They ought, in the first place, to have a month’s notice after the issue would have been discussed with (the workers’) union,” Chand said, reading from the legislation. “Having reached that point, they (have to) provide the employees with their notices. They ought to get, at the end of the notice, their severance pay. Those people that GuySuCo paid severance to so far, that has been complied with,” he explained.

“But this large number (4000), they have not complied with that stipulation.

The notice expired on the 29 December, and they were expected to be paid by then. But the most fundamental point is that the payment ought to

be done altogether. In fact, it is due since December,” Chand furthered.

Chand explained that the severance pay for each worker is approximately $1 million, with differences in the sum according to work description. He noted that with this full sum, workers caught unprepared by the closure of estates would have been cushioned and empowered to get back on their feet.

Chand said the payment of half the sum due the workers is unacceptable, and is an “eye-pass” to the workers. He also said that even the $100 million set aside for training workers is inadequate, as it works out to approximately $25,000 per worker. turn to page 18

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friDAY, january 12, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

The “troubles”…

T

…of Jan 12, 1998 oday is “Chinese Arrival Day” – as declared by President Granger last year. Guyana, of course, is a land of immigrants; brought here to join the Indigenous Peoples – but more specifically, to work on the sugar plantations after the abolition of slavery in 1834. The first batch of Chinese were dropped off on January 12, 1853, and because they were all male, soon they developed liaisons with freed Africans. By that time, the Portuguese (1835), West Indian freed Africans (1835); intercepted slave ships Africans (1835) and Indians (1838) had already formed a “polyglot society”.

The Portuguese quickly decamped the plantations and within a couple of decades, established themselves as the premier immigrant entrepreneurs. That led to tensions between them and the freed slaves and there were at least two riots in which Africans assaulted them and torched their shops. The Chinese never precipitated that kind of hostility – most likely because of their high rate of intermarriage.

By and large, there were no major outbreaks of violence between Indians and Africans – and most folks figure this might be due to the former remaining stubbornly rural and the latter, gravitating to the towns. This, of course, also led them into different noncompetitive occupations. The beginning of the modern period saw the equation change dramatically – and more dangerously – ironically, with the spread of democracy and the universal franchise.

Now, the question wasn’t only who pushed ahead economically, but also who’d take over the Government when the British departed. This was now a question of “when”, not “if”. Democracy means counting noses and the leaders with the most noses become the head honchos of the state. With the descendants of African slaves and Indian indentureds being the two largest groups, their noses counted the most (pun intended!) and set the seeds of political competition.

That competition lead to ethnic/racial disturbances in the 1960’s – with more than a little help from the anti-communist USA and their CIA – and with the genie out of the bottle, relations were never quite the same again. Politics literally became “war by other means”.

And we arrive at the period of “troubles” (as labelled by President Granger) following ethnic riots on January 12, 1998 in Georgetown. Then, hundreds of Indian-Guyanese were beaten and assaulted by fellow African-Guyanese citizens, following PNC protests over the 1997 elections.

The following decade can be described as nothing less than political madness as armed gunmen challenged the State by attacking Policemen and Indian-Guyanese, and “vigilante” squads became judge, jury and executioners of “bandits” – generally African-Guyanese youths.

There have been several calls to investigate our political violence. Let’s begin with January 12, 1998.

…being incited Imran Khan, the Director of Public Information (DPI) is Prime Minister Nagamootoo’s “shill” and “water boy”.

As a creature of the PM, he doesn’t even purr, much less bark unless he gets Nagamootoo’s instruction.

Not “permission” – instruction. And it’s against this background, you, dear reader, have to evaluate Khan’s petulant and incendiary incitement against the Indian High Commissioner.

Khan (really Nagamootoo) is peeved the Indian Government only invited MP’s – but no Minister of Government on their all-expense paid trip to India.

Nagamootoo knows how extravagantly the Indians pamper their guests – he’s been there at least six times before! And he’s upset the delegation’s packed with PPP MPs. His “mouth water” is leaking copiously for some Indian pampering!

But he could have changed all that. Since he was given absolutely no PM’s responsibilities – as was promised by the Cummingsburg Accord, why didn’t he revert to what he really is? Just another MP. And fly off to India – all expenses paid!!

But then he would lose that pension! Decisions, Decisions!!

…for sugar workers After sugar workers marched in silence – Police permission for loudspeakers was denied – they’re going to be paid HALF of their severance.

Imagine if they’d blocked a bridge and stopped trucks from crossing – like in Linden – what they’d have gotten!!

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

News

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friDAY, january 12, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

PIO MPs India conference

Director of Public Information blasted for ‘distasteful’ statement – Resident Indian High Commissioner fires back

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irector of Public Information at the Office of the Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has been upbraided for what was described as a ‘distasteful’ comment directed at the resident Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, His Excellency Mr Mahalingam Venkatachalam, regarding the selection of Members of Parliament for a conference in India.

Khan, a member of the Alliance for Change (AFC) component of the Coalition APNU-AFC Administration, took to social media to call out High Commissioner Venkatachalam on the issue of several sitting MPs of Indian origin – from both the Government and parliamentary Opposition benches -attending the first-ever PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Parliamentarian Conference in India.

“Something smells. And it ain’t parfum. Is the Indian High Commission in Guyana interfering in Guyana’s internal affairs and attempting to engage in destabilisation of the Coalition Government?” Khan questioned, while tagging the Indian diplomat in his personalised comment.

Khan went a bit further, asking whether any of the Indo-Guyanese ministers of Government and sitting MPs were invited to the conference currently ongoing in India? “Or did the High Commission only and deliberately invite three Coalition Government backbench parliamentarians while specifically ignoring ministers? If so, on what basis was this decision made?” Khan further questioned.

Khan also questioned whether it was true that 23 Guyanese MPs were invited in this regard, and that 20 of the invitees are Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) MPs while a mere three are Government MPs. While there were several arguments pertaining to whether Khan should be asking these questions, or

Mustapha, Ganga Persaud, Neendkumar, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, Nigel Dharamlall, Bhagmattie Veerasammy and Vickram Bharrat.

The coalition members are Rajcoomarie Bancroft, Charrandass Persaud and Haimraj Rajkumar.

Corriverton

Mayor Krishnand Jaichand, Anna Regina Mayor Rabindranauth Mohan and Rose Hall Town Mayor Vijay Ramoo are also in attendance at the conference.

A total of 141 public representatives from various countries participated in the conference, with some 124 MPs coming from the UK, Canada, Fiji, Kenya,

Mauritius, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and other countries.

The purpose of the conference was to help to establish a network with leaders of Indian origin in various countries, and get a feedback on the direction in which Indian engagement with the Diaspora should proceed.

The trip is being funded by the Indian Government.

Armed bandits rob cashier at C&F Mall Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mahalingam Venkatachalam

whether it was a direct attack on the Indian High Commissioner, several people found it strange that Khan, a public office bearer, would raise these concerns with a foreign mission in such a forum.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence also took umbrage at the statement made by Khan, and expressed her displeasure by saying, “Imran Khan, this is distasteful and not in keeping with how this Government treats their guests. Please remove this post.”

Venkatachalam, on the other hand, later responded to the post by stating that many persons in the top hierarchy of the Guyana Government and the Guyana High Commission in New Delhi are aware of the invitations from the Government of India for 23 MPs and 3 Mayors of Guyana, and of the rationale behind inviting only those Persons of Indian Origin MPs who are not Ministers.

“Hence reckless comments on such a serious issue on social media with the clear intention to mislead the general public by none other than Director of Public Information is unfortunate, irresponsible, unprofessional; and to say the least, mischievous, given the excellent bilateral relations being enjoyed by both India and Guyana and the ongoing friendly cooperation in var-

Director of Public Information, Imran Khan

ious multilateral fora,” the High Commissioner chided.

Meanwhile, in response to posts on social media and in sections of the mainstream media criticising the PPP for sending a total of 17 Parliamentarians to a conference in India, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira responded that her party had received invitations and accepted them.

She claimed that soon after, in December, preparations were put in place for the selected individuals to attend the event, which is being hosted by India. This, she said, affected the attendance of those Opposition MPs in Parliament on Wednesday.

The Opposition Chief Whip also rebuffed criticisms at the selection of Opposition Parliamentarian Clement Rohee to form part of the delegation attending the conference. She said Rohee is of Indian origin, as his name suggests, and his parentage background is also Indian.

Among the Guyana delegation to attend the conference are three MPs from the Coalition Government and three mayors. The trip is being funded by the Indian Government.

The PPP delegation is led by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, and includes Clement Rohee, Irfaan Ali, Anil Nandlall, Dr. Frank Anthony, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Indranie Chandarpal, Colin Croal, Dr Bheri Ramsarran, Zulfikar

…suspected getaway car abandoned in Agricola backdam

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olice are investigating a robbery under arms committed on a 22-year-old cashier at the C&F Mall located at Bagotstown Public Road, East Bank Demerara, by two males, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

An investigation revealed that at about 10:25h on Thursday morning, the victim was in the cashier cage of the Western Union section of the supermarket which is located on the upper flat of the two-story building, when she was approached by the suspects,

one of whom pointed a gun at her and demanded cash.

She complied and handed over an undisclosed amount of cash, after which the men exited the building.

The victim immediately made an alarm and the owner of the business who was in a nearby office and is a licensed firearm holder responded and gave chase after the bandits who entered a waiting motor car, which sped through Water Street, Bagotstown.

During the chase, the licensed firearm holder discharged several rounds in

the bandits’ direction. It is not known at this time if the bandits were injured.

Investigators have since impounded what is suspected to be the getaway car and are currently processing a vehicle. Police said the vehicle, which was found abandoned in Agricola Backdam, carries a hire car registration number and has several suspected bullet holes at the rear.

The Police in a statement said stringent efforts are being made to have the perpetrators arrested and brought to justice.

10 news

friDAY, january 12, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

IAC holds inter-faith gathering, Aviation Authority to construct HQ at Providence discussion on ethnic relations new – 10 acres of land secured …at National Library today

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he Indian Action Committee (IAC) will be hosting an inter-faith gathering and discussion on the current state of ethnic relations in Guyana at the National Library today starting at 16:30h.

The IAC, in an advisory, said it recognises that ethnic relations in Guyana has been characterised by suspicion, mistrust, and even bouts of politically instigated violence. The aftermath of the 1997 General Election was one such horrific event in the form of the January 12, 1998 acts of violence and arson targeting mainly Indo-Guyanese; perceived supporters of the then victorious People’s Progressive Party/Civic party.

The IAC said it also understands that society can either choose the path of hate or of reconciliation. The IAC chooses the path of reconciliation.

The IAC is of the stron-

gest opinion that this continuing state of affairs will eventually destroy Guyana and so the organisation is taking this initiative to foster dialogue towards the goal of reconciliation in the context of social cohesion and national unity.

This event is intended to shed light on the urgent need to tackle ethnic unity and tolerance in our society.

It is expected to be an occasion of fostering dialogue and deep reflection on the need for all stakeholders to work in the interest of national unity and prevent terrible events such as January 12, 1998, from recurring.

Organisations which have been invited to today’s event include the Social Cohesion Ministry, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, the InterReligious Organisation, the African Cultural and Development Association, the Amerindian People’s

Association, the National Toshaos’ Council, the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, the Viraat Sabha of Guyana, the Guyana Central Arya Samaj, the Hindus for Selfless Service, the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Lions’ Clubs and SASOD. According to the organisers, following prayers from the three major religions and a brief welcome from an executive member of the IAC, a panel of learned individuals will deliver brief remarks and then the floor will be opened to the members of the public to ask questions of the panellists.

The IAC is inviting the general public to participate in the discussion.

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he Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is now closer to the construction of its new headquarters after having secured 10 acres of land at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

GCAA Director General, Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Egbert Field said “that was the only area we could get that quantity of land and I find the land adequate and I find it strategic for the headquarters to be placed in Providence. We’re not too far from Timehri or Ogle and both aerodromes are international aerodromes at this time”.

Field is positive construction will commence in May this year; however, the project is currently at the procurement stage after which a contractor will be secured to clear the land to begin preparation for construction.

GCAA Director General, Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Egbert Field

Outlining the aesthetic of the new headquarters, the Director General explained that it will be a four-story building, capable of housing more facilities than the current building with adequate parking space. The Department of Public Information said Field also disclosed that a section

of the GCAA’s training school will be roomed in the new headquarters. Additionally, the new location will provide more convenience for the majority of the Authority’s staff who reside in communities along the EBD. “We have been moving from place to place; we moved from Wight's Lane to Prashad Nagar then to Colgrain House, then from there, Duke Street and now we’re at High Street Kingston, so having a permanent location we can call home is what we’re looking for,” Field posited.

The Head of the GCAA emphasised that with the new headquarters in place, the Authority will be able to maximise efficiency and the day-to-day operations, especially in light of the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the bourgeoning oil and gas sector in the country.

Suspected motorcycle bandit arrested for robbing cop

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rompt response by ranks of the Sparendaam Police Station has resulted in the arrest of one of two motorcycle bandits who reportedly attacked and robbed an interior police constable of a gold chain valued $220,000 at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara on Wednesday night.

According to a police report, the victim resides at Victoria Road, Plaisance,

East Coast Demerara, and was on the road conversing with a relative when the two suspects approached on a motorcycle.

Reportedly brandishing a handgun, the pillion rider dismounted and gun-butted the victim to his head be-

fore relieving him of his jewellery. The bandits then fled the scene on the motorcycle, but the matter was reported and one of the suspects was arrested shortly after in the Plaisance community.

And although positively identified by the victim, the

suspect is reportedly denying the allegation. Moreover, neither the stolen property nor the firearm allegedly used has been recovered.

The accomplice and the motorcycle used in the crime are being sought, as investigations continue.

Police search house in Lodge

Unlicensed .32 pistol, sub-machine gun, ammo found …3 females in custody

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Guyana Police Force report has detailed that ranks conducting an intelligence-led operation on a house at D’Urban Street, Lodge -- on Wednesday, at about 18:30h – have unearthed an unlicensed .32 pistol with 3 rounds and a sub-machine gun with 6 rounds.

Three female occupants of the house have been taken into custody, and are assisting with the investigation.

S RAIGHT The impact of higher oil prices on Guyanese economy

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euters reported that oil prices edged up on January 10, 2018 to a near two-and-a-half year high after data showed strong demand for crude imports in China and increased US refining activity that drew more crude from inventories.

The current price of WTI crude oil was US$66.15 per barrel.

Pipeline outages in Libya and the North Sea seem to be the main culprit this time as OPEC production cuts seemed to be compensated smoothly by an expansion in US shale oil production.

In the final analysis, the current market conditions and the nearterm outlook for oil reflect the interplay of production, stocks and consumption as the graph below illustrate, but it all points to creeping increases in oil prices. What’s next, US$70 oil in 2018?

Higher oil prices affect Guyana’s economy through a variety of channels: 1. There will be a transfer of income from oil consumers (like Guyana) to oil producers (like the USA). The negative growth effects of higher oil prices have proven in Guyana’s case to be substantial and are expected to eat as much as 0.5 per cent to one per cent of the GDP during 2018 if this trend continues towards US$70 per barrel of oil.

2. There will be a rise in the cost of production of goods and services in the Guyanese economy. Given our dependency on fuel as a source of energy, we must expect a less competitive productive sector in 2018 as the price of oil increases. This exposes how “dotish” the Granger regime’s policy remains with regards to rejecting the only sure low-cost and reliable energy source that is bankable at this time – the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

3. There will be greater inflation leading to price levels for every shopper climbing in an environment of declining real income as the Granger regime stingily deny workers a living wage. In their quest to starve the workers so that they can feed their greed machine for their friends and family in the Granger cabal, the ordinary man will find life more challenging financially because of the increase in oil prices. As an example, transportation costs will go up and who rides the minibuses in Guyana? Also, the merchants will have no other choice but to recover lost profit by way of increased prices. These responses can create a situation of social stress (reckless living in hopelessness).

The Granger regime clearly has not worked out a game plan to deal with the reality that Guyana has a low per capita income but a high level of oil imports relative to GDP. Such a situation is like an economic Molotov cocktail where our current account deficit is expected to further deteriorate, our debt will climb and the access to global capital will wither. More expensive oil imports is not the solution President Granger; Amaila Falls Hydro is.

The fundamentals of running an economy always lead back to how you are influencing aggregate demand. If more of the income from the nation is diverted to purchasing more expensive fuel and that situation is supplemented by an inefficiently run Public Sector that is taxing the Private Sector more to pay for its inefficiencies, then less will be left to drive domestic demand and that is why Minister Jordan will have the unenviable duty in 2018 to revise his growth projection downwards.

I was in Guyana and what I saw was a rapid deterioration of the private real estate in many parts of Georgetown and even worst deterioration in rural areas. Guyana is in financial crisis and listening to President Granger’s New Year’s message clearly exposed that he is a man who has taken the role of a proverbial ostrich in a mental bubble all by himself.

If this situation with this creeping increase in oil prices continues at this rate, Guyana can expect a sustained annual decrease of GDP about 0.5 per cent to one per cent annually and it can be more as the productive sector further deteriorates. So let us be clear, sugar production and oil prices are intimately connected, only the decision makers in the Granger regime seems unaware of this fact.

The adverse financial impact on the lives of the ordinary people will be quite severe in 2018. In an environment of policy paralysis from the Cabinet of President Granger, the experiences for the ordinary people will be brutal. A wise President would ask for help and stop being aloftshare and this clueless.

Please your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

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friDAY, january 12, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Dynamic passengers to be refunded …from US$200,000 bond lodged by defunct airline

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he Public Infrastructure Ministry says it has initiated the process to access a bond for the sum of US$200,000 which was lodged by Dynamic International Airways, LLC, in collaboration with their local handling agent, Roraima Airways Inc. According to the Ministry, “the funds will be used to refund passengers in Guyana who purchased tickets to travel on the now defunct Dynamic Airways, provided that they have not been able to use the whole or part of same to travel.”

Guyana Times was informed that Roraima Airways Inc has submitted to the Public Infrastructure Ministry a list of 609 passengers who are eligible for refund.

The Ministry says it will publish the names of the eligible passengers in the local

press, and details for these individuals to uplift their refunds.

Moreover, the Ministry in a released statement assured the affected passengers that it is working assiduously to have the process expedited.

“Passengers eligible for a refund whose names are not published are asked to contact Roraima Airways Inc to access same,” said the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

Dynamic Airways sus-

pended its operations on October 3, 2017, to facilitate its reorganisation of its Chapter 11 case under which the airline filed for bankruptcy.

In an issued statement, the airline had said that it remained committed to honouring all outstanding financial obligations whether to passengers, airport authorities or the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

The voluntary Chapter

11 petition was filed by Dynamic Airways with the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Middle District of North Carolina.

This chapter of the Bankruptcy Code generally provides for reorganisation.

Moreover, Chapter 11 allows a debtor to propose a plan of reorganisation to keep its business alive and pay creditors over time.

This includes the lawsuits from Hajj flights that Dynamic operated in 2014 for Air India, and an arbitration award against Dynamic Int’l, finding that the airline was in breach of contract by failing to pay commissions to BKP Enterprises in connection with the Hajj flights.

Just a month after filing for bankruptcy, one of the airline’s creditors had moved to the courts to force the airline to liquidate its assists after Dynamic owed some US$1.19 million.

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Oil contract

UK envoy urges transparency for public contracts

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hile the release of the ExxonMobil contract is a good gesture, United Kingdom High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregory Quinn is advising that a more transparent posture is generally needed when contracts of a public nature are inked.

Quinn was at the time speaking to Guyana Times on the sidelines after reintroducing UK’s Advisor to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Sam Sittlington, to the media. He noted the importance of a transparency first approach to disseminating information.

According to the diplomat, a government ought to prioritise what it can release, versus what it cannot.

“I’ve talked generally on (releasing contracts) and not just oil. Parking meters, for example; you should be as

transparent as possible, in releasing whatever you can.

And this is one of the reasons we have released the terms of reference for what Sam’s doing.”

“There are some things, be it commercially sensitive or national security purposes that can never be released,” Quinn acknowledged. “But the starting point must be what we can release and what should we release, as opposed to what can’t be released. So any move to increase transparency and increase the information that is out there for public use, I think is good.”

The oil contract Guyana has with ExxonMobil was released last month by the Government. Before that, officials from the Government had argued against releasing the contract owing to national security considerations.

Head of Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI), Dr Troy Thomas

Preceding the release of the contract, leaked documents had revealed that Guyana received a signing bonus from ExxonMobil.

This, too, is surrounded by controversy as the money is being held in a Government

bank account and not the Consolidated Fund.

The transaction first came to light in a leaked correspondence dated September 20, 2016 and addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana with this subject: “Signing bonus granted

by ExxonMobil – Request to open bank account”.

It showed that Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts, had requested that a foreign currency account be opened at the Bank in order to receive a deposit in the form of a ‘signing bonus’ to be given by ExxonMobil.

The letter stated, “This account should not be treated as part of the Bank’s reserves. Instead, the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit, that is United States dollars, and invested in secured inter-

est-bearing securities.”

Amid criticism, Government officials have defended the secrecy by saying the money would be used to pay legal fees in defence of Guyana’s sovereignty, should its case with Venezuela reach the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

A court action was filed by the head of Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI), Dr Troy Thomas, in which he sought the transfer of the monies to the Consolidated Fund. When questioned about the case on Wednesday, several officials, including Attorney General Basil Williams, were unaware a case existed against the state.

In court documents seen by this publication, Thomas, via his Attorney, claims that the non-disclosure of the funds and the non-trans-

ferral of the bonus have breached several sections of the Financial Management and Accountability Act, including Section 38 (1) which states that “all public monies raised and received by the Government shall be credited fully and promptly to the Consolidated Fund, except (a) monies credited to an extra budgetary fund as stipulated in the enabling legislation establishing that fund, (b) monies credited to a Deposit Fund, and (c) as stipulated in the Constitution”.

In his affidavit, Thomas claimed that he was advised that the monies were not reflected as part of the 2016, 2017 or 2018 national estimates. He wants the courts to issue orders to correct this and several financial missteps taken by the Government in relation to the bonus.

GRA donates 2 boats, engines Minister Harmon hands over to hinterland residents computers to Aranaputa Village

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esidents in riverain and far-flung hinterland communities will soon benefit from two boats and engines which were donated to the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry to assist in meeting the residents’ transportation needs.

The 250-foot long vessels and 70 horsepower outboard engines were presented to Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock, by the Guyana Revenue Authority on Wednesday at the Marine Police wharf, Ruimveldt.

The donated vessels will be distributed to those Indigenous communities that have pressing transportation issues. “…We intend to make good use of this equipment, of course after we would have had a discussion with the most needed communities in those areas and we know that transportation is of great importance

M

The two vessels donated by the Guyana Revenue Authority

to our hinterland communities,” Minister Allicock said.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Minister said consideration will also be given to residents in communities along the Berbice and Demerara Rivers and Region One (Barima-Waini) who are in dire need of assistance to transport their produce from the farms to the markets.

This is the first of several transport vessels that will be handed over to hinterland communities in 2018. Some six villages will receive outboard engines and 10 villages will receive grants to build boats. Moreover, four ATVs will be bought in 2018 to serve communities in Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Elections for City Mayor, Deputy slated for March 15

…Chase Green expected to seek re-election

P

ursuant to the Municipal and Districts Councils Act Chapter 28:01, Section 10, elections for Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the City of Georgetown will be held on March 15. Current Mayor Patricia Chase Green, refused to comment on whether she would be seeking re-election while Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikaran, has expressed his interest in possible re-election.

“The term of the Office of the Mayor and that of the Deputy Mayor shall, subject to this Act, be one year, commencing on the first day of the month following upon their election but, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor shall, notwithstanding the expiry of his term of office, continue to hold office

until his successor enters upon office and thereupon he shall retire,” the Municipal and Districts Councils Act Chapter 28:01, Section 10 states.

The last election for Mayor and Deputy Mayor were held in December 2016, which Chase Green contested without any opposition. However, since her election, there have been several calls for her to resign and be replaced for the policies that were implemented along with the perceived notion of corruption.

Chase Green, who served as Deputy Mayor for a number of years under former Mayor Hamilton Green, is accused of being unsympathetic to the cause of the Council’s workers since she and teams of officers

and Councillors would travel frequently while the workers protest for the payment of their salaries.

Additionally, it was under Chase Green’s stewardship that the highly flawed and controversial parking metre project came into being.

The M&CC had entered into a contract with Smart City Solutions Inc on May 13, 2016, for parking metres to be implemented in Georgetown but this was followed by intense protests by citizens.

Meanwhile, Jaikaran did not confirm nor deny whether he would challenge Chase Green for the mayoral chair but indicated that he would be running for office. (Lakhram Bhagirat)

inister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday handed over computer supplies to the village Chairman of Aranaputa Village, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Adon Jacobus.

The handover took place at the Minister’s office, Ministry of the Presidency, in Georgetown.

According to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, Harmon handed over three Lenovo laptop computers, one Lenovo desktop computer, and one Hewlett Packard (HP) printer. The computer supplies will be used to aid the work, specifically record-keeping, of the Aranaputa Village Council.

Minister Joseph Harmon handing over computer supplies to Aranaputa Village Chairman Adon Jacobus

The supplies were given to the Aranaputa Village Council after Village Chairman Jacobus made a request to President David Granger at Lethem Town

Day last October. The Village Chairman, on behalf of the Council, thanked Minister Harmon for answering their call so promptly.

news

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Govt’s pittance is sugar workers’ death knell – Dr Ramsaroop

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resident David Granger has this week demonstrated his most callous disregard for sugar workers in Berbice when, in response to the laying off of more than four thousand, it was announced that those would receive half of their severance pay in January, with a promise of receiving the other half by the end of the year.

Even worse, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, in making the announcement, said the Administration has set aside $100 million as a sort of revolving fund for the cane cutters and others who are now jobless to start up their own businesses.

Economic Advisor to the Opposition Leader, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, made these damning statements in response to the announcement made by Moses Nagamootoo on Wednesday as the National Assembly met.

According to the Business Economist, “This is a blatant demonstration of the unconscionable, authoritarian nature of the current Administration, now full on display; and things are about to get worse. The writing is already on the wall:

sugar workers have effectively been left in the wayside.”

Dr Ramsaroop said it is now clear that this Government intends to get out of sugar altogether, and has now “washed its hands on the thousands that have been laid off… “They will be given a pittance to hush (them) for a few days; but what happens when that runs out?” he asked.

In making the observation this past week, Dr Ramsaroop told this publication that the coalition APNU-AFC (A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change) Administration’s callous disregard for those not considered its constituents must not be taken lightly.

Dr Ramsaroop’s statements were made in relation to the four thousand sugar workers laid off in the sugar belt. Juxtaposing this figure with the slim margin of votes with which the coalition had won the last general elections, he said: “Having alienated a large section of its own voters, the David Granger-led Administration has demonstrated that it holds no qualms about putting over four thousand sugar workers on the breadline.

Dr Peter Ramsaroop

“I have warned on several occasions last year, the writing is on the wall, and it is now clearer than ever in 2018.”

The financial analyst was adamant that 2018 will in fact prove to be one of the most difficult years for middle and low income Guyanese, as well as the business class, since the policies of the Administration have been ad hoc and deleterious at best.

“Remember: Jordan had to back-pedal on VAT on education,” he reminded.

In sounding alarm bells over the hardships to be experienced in the coming

year, Dr Ramsaroop pointed out that Guyana is not expected to receive any money from oil until 2020. “But what happens this year?” he asked. “The economy is still contracting,” he answered his rhetorical question.

Pointing to the dangerous consequences of such massive layoffs as obtained at the start of this year, the Economic Advisor said there will be a documented increase in not only robberies and other such criminal acts, but personal and domestic violence.

“People are already frustrated over the nonsense this Government is doing now. Imagine: four thousand persons now jobless!” he declared.

Dr Ramsaroop told this publication that persons must be careful to ensure they “do not lose sight of the bigger picture: Granger is showing his hand -- that he is not interested in votes to get back into office.”

The Economic Advisor has predicted that during the course of this year, taxation will stifle businesses further, and will remove even more disposable income.

“But this does not worry Granger…I am sure they

are planning to rig the elections. We all, as citizens, have to be diligent and prevent this,” he admonished.

Dr Ramsaroop has also cautioned that the loss of four thousand jobs in one section of Guyana alone – Berbice -- can only inevitably lead to an uptick in desperation and other untoward consequences; and that the Administration will resort to violence.

He recalled a recent sitting of the National Assembly wherein Police were called in to remove a Member of Parliament for standing his ground on a position taken – which stand he described as nothing illegal.

Dr Ramsaroop recalled, too, the heavily armed ranks that accosted protestors recently in Berbice as agitation begun building over the wanton dismissals.

“This Government has been arming its Police Force and soldiers -- known loyalists of the current Administration -- and they will use that firepower against the citizens of this country (who) dare to speak out against the atrocities,” Dr Ramsaroop has predicted.

He insists that this

Administration’s contempt was again on full display when Agriculture Minister Noel Holder told sugar workers over the weekend that 9,000 persons could have been fired instead of 4,000.

“Imagine, he tells them nothing about a plan for jobs. The Special Purpose Unit was supposed to be responsible for finding alternative forms of employment.

They have now taken possession of four estates, all with the intention (to) put on sale.”

Dr Ramsaroop confidently predicts that in the elections’ years ahead -- Local Government Elections in 2019 and General Elections in 2020 -- the Administration intends to raid the treasury in a bid to entice some voters; while its control of the elections machinery will be abused with the intention of rigging the elections in a bid to secure control over Guyana’s short-term oil destiny.

According to the analyst, next year and 2020 will get worse. “But the writing is already on the wall for this year…. In 2018, Guyanese will be reminded of the economic hardships that a PNC Government brings.”

Amelia's Ward house gutted by fire 16 injured in Rupert Craig Highway accident

The aftermath of the fire

By Utamu Belle

A

Linden resident is now counting his losses following a fire which took place at Amelia's Ward, Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) on Thursday afternoon. The fire, which completely gutted the wooden house at Lot 744 South Amelia's Ward, also partially damaged another house situated in the same yard.

At the time of the incident, none of the occupants of the two houses were at home.

However, according to Brian Williams, the fire started at approximately 13:30h after a man who had been weeding the yard proceeded to light a fire to discard of cut grass.

Williams noted that while he is not an occupant of either of the homes, he was working along with the weeder at the time the fire started.

“We light a fire and after we out it down, it start back.

When we thought it out, it didn't really finish," Williams related. He added that firefighters arrived on the scene at approximately 14:30h, but

by then, the wooden house had already collapsed as a result of the fire.

"They didn't really get to out it, because when they come the house already fall down," he explained.

Kenneth Alexander, who has been residing at the premises which was completely gutted, said he lost everything, including all of his household appliances. He noted that he has been residing there for approximately two years.

"Everything, everything lost... two chair sets, fridge, wall divider, music set, bedroom set, everything..." a despondent Alexander indicated.

Guyana Times understands that the second house that was partially damaged is concrete and is owned by persons who reside overseas.

A female caretaker, who explained that she has been living at the house for years, was at the scene following the fire, along with another occupant. The Linden Fire Station has since launched an investigation into the matter.

…minibus driver critical

T

The mangled minibus after it was pulled from the accident site

he driver of a Route 44 (GeorgetownMahaica) minibus is now critical, while his 15 passengers all sustained injuries after the minibus they were travelling in reportedly collided with a canter truck at the intersection of Sheriff Street and the Rupert Craig Highway.

According to the conduc-

tor of the minibus, 26-yearold Ryan Meusa, they were approaching the traffic light at the intersection when a truck, which was allegedly coming at a fast pace in the opposite direction collided with the bus.

Meusa said that the impact caused the minibus to topple several times before coming to a halt in a near-

by drain.

However, Guyana Times was also told that the bus driver was reportedly speeding along Sheriff Street and tried to run the traffic light at the intersection.

It was reported that one of the passengers was pinned under the bus and had to receive assistance while the driver of the minibus, identified as Eusus Gentle, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was reportedly picked up out of a nearby drain.

The Hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Mitzy Campbell confirmed that there were no deaths and that some of the patients had to be transferred to the High Dependency Unit (HDU), since there were some reports of persons receiving broken bones and fractured limbs.

Cocaine in hammocks

Woman jailed for 3 years, 9 months for trafficking 6.7kg

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iffani Collison, the mother of one who was implicated for attempting to ship four hammocks laced with cocaine to the United States of America, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, after being found guilty of drug trafficking. She was also slapped with an $18.2 million fine for her crime.

The sentence was handed down by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday,

who found that the prosecution provided enough evidence against the accused. According to the facts of the matter, Collison tried to traffic 6.742 kilograms of cocaine to the US on September 20, 2017, under her mother’s identity via DHL Shipping service.

Police said the 26-yearold mother from Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, posted a box containing the cocaine-laced hammocks at DHL Express in

Alberttown, Georgetown. Her plan was however foiled after the narcotics were discovered by a CANU rank at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

As such, a wanted bulletin was issued for Collison, who subsequently surrendered to CANU with her attorney. Collison was represented by Attorney Stanley Moore.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

Tiffani Collison, left, and the four hammocks laced with 6.742kg of cocaine

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Drama in the Magistrates’ Courts

Trial halted as accused in double granny murder faints

By Shemuel Fanfair

I

t was high drama in Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman’s Court on Thursday as Phillip Suffrein, one of three persons accused of killing two elderly women at their residence in South Road, Bourda, Georgetown, fainted while evidence was being offered in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

Eighty-seven-year-old Constance Fraser and her 75-year-old niece, Phyllis Caesar, were brutally murdered between October 2 and 3 last year during the course of a robbery at their home.

As the PI into their ghastly deaths commenced, proceedings were forced to a halt and the matter had to be adjourned as Suffrein suddenly collapsed while a witness was testifying before the court.

In the moments prior to his sudden and dramatic fall, the accused disrupted the court, had a brief exchange with another accused, and declared his innocence even though he was not required to plead at that stage of the proceedings.

All the while, church members who knew the murdered women were reading biblical scriptures as the drama unfolded.

After the fall, court operatives swiftly called paramedics to the court to remove the 23-year-old. The ambulance arrived shortly afterwards, and Suffrein, with much assistance, was later transported to a hospital in the city under heavy police security.

Recap

The lifeless bodies of Sunday school teachers and Full Gospel Church members Constance Fraser and Phyllis Caesar were found in their South Road and Albert

Murdered: 87-year-old Constance Fraser

Murdered: 75-yearold Phyllis Caesar

Co-accused Steven Andrews and the reported mastermind, Imran Khan

Street home back in October 2017. The women’s lifeless bodies were found on their beds in their respective bedrooms in the upper flat of the home. Caesar’s hands and legs were bound, and a piece of cloth was stuffed in her mouth.

A post mortem done on the bodies of the two women determined that they died as a result of asphyxiation due to suffocation and manual strangulation, compounded by trauma to the head. The house was ransacked, and several of the women’s belongings were missing.

Police were able to confirm that the murders stemmed from a robbery. It had also been determined that the perpetrators gained entry to the home via the western door.

According to reports,

Caesar did not report to her place of worship as was customary, and this prompted several attempts to contact the duo, all of which were to no avail. A congregation member then alerted the Police, and together they ventured into the home and discovered the two women dead.

Guyana Times has been informed that, on multiple occasions, bandits had broken into the home of the two defenceless elderly women.

The 25-year-old alleged mastermind of the robbery/ murder, Imran Khan, also called Christopher Khan, along with Suffrein and 26-year-old Steven Andrews, was arrested after police were assisted by nearby security cameras.

The matter continues before Magistrate Latchman.

Govt in flagrant breach...

“The law ought to be respected, and (no less a person than) the President ought to respect the law. He is the President, and this is a bad example (he is setting). You set a bad precedent for other Government agencies to do the same, and private employers could follow suit and delay workers’ entitlement, like severance pay, for longer periods. So we hope that more people will come out and speak. It’s an important principle, and it’s a legal entitlement,” Chand declared.

According to Chand, the GAWU does not buy Government’s argument that it cannot find the money to pay workers their full due. He posited that a bank loan could be obtained, and noted that once the Government guarantees a bank loan, then an entity (in this case GuySuCo) would have no difficulty in securing a bank loan.

Protests

Chand also noted the likelihood of further protests even after the announcement of half payments of severance. According to Chand, the workers on the ground are themselves pushing for more protests in order to get their due. “I came from Berbice this morning. There was a large turnout of workers, and they were very much dismayed, having heard the President’s statement yesterday. And they asked us, ‘Let us go back and have more protests!

“And they (said they) would get their children and their spouses to come out.

(They said) that they just can’t accept this. And so the mood is now developing for stronger protests over this issue.”

Government announced on Wednesday that it would pay 50 per cent of the severance benefits to dismissed sugar workers by the end of

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this month. This commitment represents more than $2 billion in severance payments.

This announcement was made in the National Assembly by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who read a statement from President David Granger. The remainder of the severance would be paid in the second half of the year.

This move comes one day after disgruntled workers attached to the former Rose Hall Sugar Estate protested for their severance payment as they demanded that the Government get its act together.

Eight hundred and fifty workers, whose last day of employment was December 29, on Tuesday protested the non-payment of millions of dollars which are collectively owed to them by the David Granger Administration and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

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friDAY, january 12, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

19

ARCHIE

A little extra cash appears

ARIES to be heading in your direction.

(March 21- Invest in something that will April 19) improve your life. A promise or commitment to someone you love is favored.

An insincere gesture should

TAURUS be handled cautiously. Don’t (April 20- feel obligated to pay for someMay 20) one else’s mistake or misfor-

dilbert

tune. Offer suggestions and hands-on help, but not a cash donation.

Keep your emotions in GEMINI check when dealing with pro(May 21fessional matters or situaJune 20) tions that concern people you must deal with daily. Don’t offer false hope or believe everything you hear.

Follow through if you make

CANCER a promise. Ask questions if you (June 21- feel someone isn’t being comJuly 22) pletely up-front with you. Being

Peanuts

frank will help you avoid distress. Partnerships are favored.

Be realistic and willing to LEO work hard to keep the peace (July 23- and live within your means.

Aug. 22) Don’t share personal information or lend or borrow money or possessions. Resist temptation.

Listen to complaints careVIRGO fully. You’ll discover some(Aug. 23thing about someone that will Sept. 22) help you make the changes you know you should be putting into play. Personal improvement is favored.

Calvin and Hobbes

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Don’t let anyone confuse you or make decisions for you.

It’s important to take better care of your health and to base the choices you make on what’s best for you in the long term.

Speak up, share your SCORPIO feelings and make sugges(Oct. 24tions that will bring about a Nov. 22) lifestyle change that you’ve wanted to make for some time. Embrace the future.

Romance is highlighted.

You’ll tend to be emotional SAGITTARIUS today, making you an easy tar(Nov. 23get for someone who wants to Dec. 21) take advantage of you. Be on guard and don’t offer any information that might incriminate you.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Take an innovative apCAPRICORN proach to old ideas to come (Dec. 22up with a winning combinaJan. 19) tion that will help you resolve past issues and conquer new quests. Romance is highlighted.

Go somewhere that you AQUARIUS find peaceful. Evaluate your (Jan. 20current lifestyle and conFeb. 19) sider how best to make improvements. Health and happiness should be your priorities.

A realistic view of what’s PISCES going on around you will (Feb. 20March 20) help you avoid uncertainty or bad choices. Someone will tempt you using false information. Show discipline and say no.

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CWI/Digicel 4-Day Championship 2017/18

Jaguars' late stumble brings Pride back into fray – Hemraj misses out on maiden ton

B

arbados Pride and Guyana Jaguars are locked in an intriguing battle after their first day of their ninth round clash in the 2017/18 Cricket West Indies/ Digicel 4-day Championship at the Kensington Oval on Thursday.

Pride fielding a start-studded team won the toss and inserted the visitors who reached stumps at 184-5 in the 66 overs possible on the rain- affected day. Veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Test player Raymon Reifer were at the crease on three and one respectively when umpires called off play due to bad light.

The truncated day belonged to opener Chandrapaul Hemraj whose attractive and positive stroke-play brought him on the cusp of recording his maiden FirstClass century after 15 matches.

The left-hander fell for a

Chandrapaul Hemraj

well-composed 90 just three overs before the tea interval, gloving a short-ball down the leg-side to the keeper which gave former Windies under-19 pacer Chamar Holder his first wicket at his level.

His knock composed contained ten fours and two maximums and also shared in a threatening 148 –run partnership for the second wicket with captain Leon Johnson.

When play began at 10:40 due to a rain-delay, speedster Kemar Roach struck with the second ball of the day via steaming yorker which up-rooted the middle-stump of Tagenarine Chandrapaul.

Hemraj on 25 and Johnson on 23 took the four-time champions to lunch on 58-1 and the second session is where the 24 year-old Hemraj grew in stature with his immaculate shot selection.

The session saw 97 runs be-

ing added and Hemraj the only casualty as the skipper progressed to 48 and Vishaul Singh now starting his innings on two. The score was now 155-2.

It was the final session of the day where the pendulum swung in favour of the hosts as Johnson was dismissed by Holder for 56 after battling to his 33rd FirstClass half-century. The Test batsman faced 207 deliveries and stroked just nine boundaries.

Singh could only add nine to his team-time score and the inform Anthony Bramble fell for just four, bringing Pride right back into the heated contest.

Should the rain vacate today, it promises to be a hive action when play resumes at 09:30 hrs.

Hero CPL global audience continues to increase

Leon Johnson

SCOREBOARD Guyana Jaguars 1st innings T Chanderpaul b Roach 0 C Hemraj c Dowrich+ b Holder 90 L Johnson* c Brooks* b Holder 56 V Singh c Cummins b Greav es 11 S Chanderpaul not out 3 A Bramble+ lbw Roach 4 R Reifer not out 1 Extras: (b 4, lb 3, w 3, nb 9) 19 Total: 184/5 (66.0 Overs) Yet to bat: K Paul, S Rutherford,

V Permaul, R Shepherd FoW: 1-0(T Chanderpaul 0.2 ov), 2 - 148(C Hemraj, 51.1 ov), 3 - 175(V Singh, 62.5 ov), 4 - 177(L Johnson, 63.4 ov), 5 - 182(A Bramble, 64.6 ov) Bowling: Roach 12-6-222, Cummins 11-3-27-0, Holder 12-2-31-2, Greaves 11-1-26-1, Chase 12-3-320, Warrican 8-1-39-0 Barbados Pride XI: K Brathwaite, S Moseley, S Brooks*, R Chase, J Carter, S Dowrich+, J Greaves, J Warrican, K Roach, C Holder, M Cummins

Pollard, Gayle

T

The Caribbean is not the only area watching in large numbers

he Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has continued its fantastic growth during the 2017 season with combined broadcast and digital viewership of almost 200 million. This represents an increase of 25% on last season, further cementing the Hero CPL as one of the fastest growing cricket tournaments in the world.

The largest audience share was in India where broadcast viewership increased by 19% to more than 97million. The next largest broadcast market was the Caribbean where there was a total viewership figure of 48million for the tournament that took place between 4 August and 9

September 2017.

As well as success in India and the Caribbean there was also a significant increase in the USA where there was more than a 100% lift in viewership on the figures from the 2016 Hero CPL. There was also a further increase in the digital viewership for the tournament, with 25% of the total audience coming through various digital channels, which is testament to the innovative nature of the Hero CPL’s online offerings.

Damien O’Donohoe, the Chief Executive Officer of Hero CPL, said: “With continued year-on-year growth the Hero CPL goes into the 2018 sea-

son with momentum to secure an even larger audience for the next edition of the tournament. We are delighted to see the Biggest Party in Sport being watched by more people than ever before and expect that trend to continue next year.”

First started in 2013, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere. Combining broadcast and digital viewership over 197 million fans watched the 2017 season to make it one of the fastest growing leagues in world cricket.

set low IPL auction prices W

indies stars Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard have reportedly set their prices at Rs. 2 crores (US$312,597) in anticipation of being picked up by new clubs at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction set for later this month.

The big-hitting Gayle was not among three players retained by the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who opted to selected Indian captain Virat Kohli, South Africa's AB de Villiers and young Sarfaraz Khan. Pollard found himself on the auction block after the Mumbai Indians decided to retain Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah.

Both Gayle and Pollard could be re-selected by their respective teams under the Right to Match (RTM) clause, but while the option seems a real possibility for Pollard it is less likely for Gayle who has struggled with injury and form in recent times.

Gayle scored 146 runs from just 69 balls. It was an innings glittered with 18 sixes, a world record for the number of sixes in a T20 match. (Sportsmax)

sports

FRIDAY, january 12, 2018 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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– singlet rule to be relaxed for novices GAPLF will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, January 27 at the Kuru-Kuru Co-operative College in Durban Backlands from 09:00h.

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The GAPLF’s 2018 season will begin with the Novices/Juniors Championship on February 4

T

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at 07:00h while the lifting will start at 09:00h sharp.

At this competition it is understood that the GAPLF will “relax only the Singlet rule for Novice men and Novice women.”

Sponsorship for the meet has so far come from the ever present Fitness Express and Buddy’s Gym. Before the Novices/Juniors meet the

Last year’s overall winners were as follows: Female Unequipped – Cavis Rodney (84+kg) Male Junior Equipped – Kevin Briglall (59kg) Male Junior Unequipped – Romario Gonsalves (59kg) Male Novice Equipped – Thristan Kamal (Male Open 66kg) Male Unequipped – Marley Vyphuis (93kg)

AAG targeting nontraditional events in 2018

T

his weekend will see the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) sprinting out of 2018’s blocks with a packed weekend as they get their calendar of activities underway.

On Saturday Police athletics coach Lyndon Wilson has volunteered his skills to host a Coaching clinic which will target non-traditional events such as the Steeplechase, hurdles, hammer throw and possibly the pole vault.

These are events in which Guyanese athletes have not been exposed to for decades; just last year at the South American U-20 Championships which was hosted by the AAG at the National Track and Field Centre (NTAFC), Leonora; the Guyanese were hard pressed to find athletes for those events.

However Guyana was able

AAG President Aubrey Hutson

to field athletes in the steeple chase and the hurdle events.

Come Saturday, the session will be held at the NTAFC at Leonora and all clubs are invited to send out their athletes.

On the next day, Sunday January 14, there will be a developmental meet at the same venue; this will be just one of three such meets

to be held this month. It is already shaping up to be a packed year for the AAG. This year the association will host five Senior Grand Prix meets as they seek to include and focus on the senior athletes to keep a balance with the juniors; this comes after a highly successful 2017 at the junior level, that success however came with much criticism from different sectors who pointed out that the seniors were being left in the cold.

Late last year in an interview with Guyana Times Sport, AAG boss Aubrey Hutson had revealed that the respective meets would be held primarily in the evenings and would be only for a few hours as each meet would focus on a specific set of events; for example one meet would focus on the sprint events while another would target middle

distance events.

Apart from giving the seniors more competition the meets also are aimed at putting some cash in the pockets of the athletes.

The first two meets have been set for April 14 and 28, mere weeks before the South American Games in Cochabamba, Bolivia which will run off on May 17.

For the younger athletes, the first major event of the year will be the CARIFTA Games set for the Bahamas from March 31 to April 2.

Ahead of the games, the AAG will organize CARIFTA/Senior Camp from February 2 to 4 while the trials will run off on February 11, 18 and 24-25.

Following those trials, the qualified athletes will take part in another CARIFTA Camp is set for March 10 and 11.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, january 12, 2018

“Beggars can’t be choosers”

– GRFU President National Parks Commission (NPC) and the National Sports resident of the Guyana Commission (NSC).

Rugby Football Union “Beggars can’t be choosers and (GRFU) Peter Green has I understand that since I was the voiced his frustration over what person that started that arrangehe deems a slothful progress to ment. The contractor volunteered the upgrade of their playfield in to carry the mud there, he volunthe National Park which is being teered to level the field and I don’t done through a collabo- know what the arrangement at rative effort be- this moment is but I really feel tween t h e frustrated for my players since we have to use the athletics field. We are really frustrated with what is happening with the national park playing field for rugby at this moment”, those were the words of a disgruntled Green in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport on Thursday.

Green’s frustration stems from the fact that since the playfield was taken over by NSC in July 2017 for upgrades to commence; but based on the current state, the process seems to be at a stalemate.

He feels the upgrade needs to finish soonest since it prevents the Director of Sport Christopher Jones country from

By Akeem Greene

P

…expresses frustration on progress of rugby field upgrade

bidding to host international tournaments.

“Is the game too rough for the policy makers or they want something that will paper attractive?

But if you don’t do something about that field this year we will continue having to travel overseas every year because we are unable to bid to hold championships for lack of playing facilities and that in turn is a bad effect on tourism”, the outgoing GRFU head contended.

He further stated “I am in the dark; I am wondering exactly if it is something against me but it is just that rugby is always pushed one side, we are not being taken seriously”.

However, this publication contacted Director of Sport Christopher Jones and he explained that the President should be well aware of the state of the project since members from the GRFU are a part of the committee overseeing the works.

“They are executive members of the ruby board that are part of the committee that actually meet in the national park as it relates to the work. Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento, John Lewis and two other members meet with the engineers when we discussed what we were doing with the rehabilitation of the ground.” Jones clarified.

Jones also indicated the in-

clement weather and sourcing of additional soil has hampered the process but they will be resuming soon.

“We encountered two problems, getting sufficient soil to continue to raise the ground and we ran into bad weather. There is an engineer who is providing pro-bono service with all his equipment. MPI [Ministry of Public Infrastructure] was kind of enough to provide several loads of soil to us but it was not sufficient so are currently waiting for them to identify a new site where we can get more soil and we are now seeing the clearance of the weather”.

The Director of Sport was further questioned on the regularity of updates between him and the GRFU and his response was, “I have been communicating with members of the union along with the engineer Komal Singh; I don’t know where Peter Green was in all of this since he is president of the union

T

he inner circuit of the National Park will come to life on Saturday, January 27 when National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed's 2018 racing calendar begins with the 25th Annual Ricks & Sari 11-race programme.

The crème-la-crème of Guyana’s cy-

clists will converge at the inner circuit after an extended break over the holidays and will be rearing to pedal their way to the bragging rights of having won the first cycling meet of 2018.

Among the top contenders will be Jamual John, Paul DeNobrega and Geron Williams while Alanzo Ambrose

GRFU President Peter Green

Ambrose couldn't watch struggling Windies

New champion to be crowned at 25th Ricks & Sari Cycling meet

A new champion will be crowned at the 25th Annual Ricks & Sari Cycling meet on January 27 in the National Park

and should be aware of what is happening. Executives of GRFU are a part of the committee and we are in discussions since the work started”.

Upon completion of the ground, it will be outfitted with adequate lighting and bleachers for spectators.

will surely be in contention as well.

John has already started his rigorous training routine and will look to start 2018 on all cylinders, however the other cyclists will no doubt have resumed training as well and will be looking to topple John’s monopoly in cycling areana.

Last year saw high octane competition between John, DeNobrega and Williams; the latter returned to Guyana for the last half of 2017 and the spoils were shared almost on an even basis.

John will want to prove that his victories ahead of Williams were no fluke while the latter will want to reestablish himself as the top dog.

The Ricks & Sari feature 35-lap Schoolboys Invitational title is vacant and will see a new champion as last year’s winner Alanzo Greaves is currently serving a two-year WADA ban.

The last seven winners of the event include Paul DeNobrega (2011), Alanzo Greaves (2012,2017), Raynauth “Obeah Man” Jeffrey (2013), Marlon “Fishy” Williams (2014, 2015) and Michael Anthony in 2016.

Following the Ricks and Sari meet, the cyclists will turn their attention to the Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) first “Points” race of 2018 the very next day (Sunday, January 28).

West Indies legend Sir Curtly Ambrose

W

est Indies legend Curtly Ambrose is hopeful the team will be able to bounce back from a disastrous tour of New Zealand that saw it embarrassingly swept across all formats.

The regional team proved to be very little competition for the Black Caps losing two Test matches, three One Days Internationals and three T20s. The series ended on a particularly sour note when the Windies the World T20 champions were beaten by 119 runs. The fast bowling legend has admitted the matches were difficult to watch.

“I didn’t watch much of it. It is too painful to watch,” he said when asked about West Indies’ recent tour of New Zealand.

“It’s been a disastrous tour and nothing really went well. I’m just hoping that the players and the coaching staff can go back to the drawing board, do some soul searching and figure out a way to start winning,” he said.

Ambrose believes that a part of the reason for the team’s struggles has been the poorly prepared pitches around the region.

“We need to get back to the days when we were the best team in the world where we had good cricket pitches, where there is a little bit in it for the fast-bowlers, a bit for the spinners and if you’re a good enough batsman, you can score runs.” (Sportsmax)

friDAY, january 12, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana could still bid to

23

host CPL finals

…we will be discussing options with Government – Russell

By Akeem Greene

G

uyana’s chances of hosting this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League finals still have a strong lifeline should the government make a bid.

Despite an article appearing in a Trinidad and Tobago media outlet which stated “T&T will be hosting the finals of the 2018 Digicel Caribbean Premier League (CPL. There will be no bidding process for the championship weekend, as this country has already locked that in

CPL Chief Operating Officer Pete Russell

since last year. T&T hosted a successful CPL T20 2017 finals at the Lara Stadium in Tarouba and during the negotiations one of the conditions was that they got the rights to host the finals this year as well”.

However, CPL Chief Operating Officer (COO) Pete Russell in an exclusive interview w i t h

Guyana Times Sport on Wednesday rubbished those claims and explained that the finals is still open for bids.

“We are still in discussions. There is an article I saw in Trinidad which suggested the finals were in Trinidad this year but those discussions have not been concluded.

Should the government be successful at the bidding process, it opens the door for possibly eight matches this year since the COO had already said the country will have five matches (three at the beginning and two in the latter stages).

“We are very lucky to have a good relationship with the Guyanese government so we will be discussing options with them and let’s see. We have always said it would be great to host it here whether it is just the play-off game or the finals, at least a series of matches that are meaningful at the end of the tournament”.

On a financial front, the league continues to grow in Guyana with

the organisers recently revealing that the home of the Amazon Warriors reaped in 2017 some US$14 million or 2.8 Billion Guyana The fan base dollars, is always fully figures supporting their which favourite team are expected to continue grow.

Previous player-drafts were held in the

Caribbean, this year may see the March 1 draft taking place in London. While Russell did They come in all not fully consizes and ages to firm London as support the Guyana the final destiAmazon Warriors and nation he was in India upbeat, stating and the other parts that the London of Asia where there are time is prime for most audiences especially likely to have a lot of eyein Australia, New Zealand balls.

w

This year’s CPL is set to bowl off early in August and will run up until September, the same window period that was used in 2017.

FRIDAY, january 12, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Guyana could still bid to

host CPL finals Pg 23

The National Stadium at Providence has always seen packed audiences when the matches come to Guyana

“Beggars can’t be choosers”– GRFU President

…expresses frustration on progress of rugby field upgrade The current state of the National Park Rugby Field

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