GuyanaTimes International 19 October 2018

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

‘Bring the evidence’

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21, 2018

ISSUE NO. 420

…Jagdeo takes Minister Jordan to task over “drug economy” statement

See story on page 8

On Thursday, the PPP/C joined hundreds of sugar workers in protest outside Parliament calling on the APNU+AFC Government to pay the workers their severance. The government, through Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan requested supplementary finances in the sum of G$2.4B to pay the second half of severance due to the more than 3,000 workers made redundant following the re-organisation of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Guyana’s Court of Appeal Merrill Lynch eyes Guyana’s oil upholds appointment and gas sector of GECOM Chairman Page 9

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Up to 475,000 immigrant New Yorkers could be harmed by Trump's "Public Charge" proposal – NY Mayor

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s Court of Appeal upholds appointment of GECOM Chairman

T

he appeal case filed by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha challenging the unilateral appointment of retired Justice James Patterson as Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman has been dismissed by two of the three judges presiding over the case.

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards and fellow Appeal Court Justices Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud presided over the matter.

The PPP was seeking to have the Court reverse the June 2018 High Court ruling by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, who upheld Justice Patterson’s unilateral appointment.

In October last year, the PPP’s Executive

File: Retired Justice James Patterson taking the oath of office as Chairman of GECOM before President David Granger

Secretary filed the injunction to have the

court rescind Justice Patterson’s appointment

which came days after his appointment.

However, George on

Justice June 8,

2018, ruled that the Constitution of Guyana allows for the President to unilaterally appoint someone to fill the position of GECOM Chair.

The PPP had argued that the retired Judge was unqualified for the post, and had petitioned the court to order the President to choose a person from the 18 names submitted by the Leader of the Opposition Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.

The acting Chief Justice, in her ruling, had, however, stated that there was nothing before the court to support a finding that the President had acted unlawfully or irrationally in resorting to the proviso to Article 161(2); and there is nothing to rebut the presumption that Justice Patterson is qualified to be appointed to the post of Chairman of GECOM. continued on page 7

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

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EDITORIAL

Culture and alcohol

T

he number one producer of alcoholic beverages in Guyana, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), recently launched a “drink responsibly” campaign. This is quite commendable in view of the tremendous damage wreaked in our society by alcohol abuse. While alcoholism exists in all communities, like that other social pathology, suicide, it is particularly prevalent among Indian Guyanese, with both arising from their indentureship experience. That origin also helped shape their reaction to alcohol consumption, which – a fact not widely known – is always socially constructed. This should be taken into consideration by DDL in its programme.

Provided alcohol by the plantation administration sometimes in lieu of payment, and facilitated later by permitting rum shops to be established outside “pay offices”, Indians expressed their frustrations with plantation life by venting their anger violently on each other. Violence – especially against wives and children — and alcoholism became a feature of Indian plantation life that continues into the present.

The epidemiological literature on alcohol consumption in New York makes an important relevant point for us in Guyana: in measuring drinking problems, there were “clear cut, significant and persistent group differences…the groups with the lowest incidence of alcohol abuse, the Jews and Italians, have (a) the lowest abstinence rates among these groups, and (b) (especially the Italians) the highest consumption rates.” Alcohol abuse is a sociological problem.

Counterintuitively, then, the groups that drink the most and have the least number of members that abstain from alcohol have the least problems with alcohol abuse. One study of IrishAmericans in Boston over a 40-year period found that they were “7 times as likely to develop alcohol dependence as Italian-Americans — this despite the Irish-Americans having a substantially higher abstinence rate.” What is going on? If nothing else, alcohol abuse is not an individual idiosyncrasy, and socio-cultural factors are as crucial as physiological and psychological ones.

“Ways of drinking and of thinking about drinking are learned by individuals within the context in which they learn ways of doing other things and of thinking about them. That is, whatever else drinking may be, it is an aspect of culture about which patterns of belief and behaviour are modelled by a combination of examples, exhortation, rewards, punishments, and the many other means, both formal and informal, that societies use for communicating norms, attitudes, and values.”

Another counterintuitive finding of anthropological studies is that aggression is not ineluctably linked to alcohol consumption.

“Worldwide, however, such (aggressive) behaviour is typically quite rare, even among people who drink a great deal. Numerous anthropological studies demonstrate that alcohol-related violence is a learned behaviour, not an inevitable result of alcohol consumption.”

“The way people comport themselves when they are drunk is determined not by alcohol’s toxic assault upon the seat of moral judgment, conscience, or the like, but by what their society makes of and imparts to them concerning the state of drunkenness.”

“Cross-cultural evidence from diverse populations around the world shows that some have habitual drunkenness with little aggression, others show aggression only in specific drinking contexts, or against selected categories of drinking companions, and so forth. Such widespread and diverse variation contradicts the view — shared by both `common sense’ and much scientific writing — that characterises alcohol as having a relatively direct pharmaconeurological effect in triggering aggression.”

What has also been shown to be true is that cultures into which alcohol was forcibly introduced as a measure of control within a very compressed time had no time to evolve positive drinking norms, and in fact imbibed the foisted notion that the alcohol was a precursor to “letting off steam”. This was the case with Indians in the Caribbean. “The major colonial powers exported to those areas of the globe that fell under their control not only models of drunken behaviour but also a host of beliefs about the effects of alcohol on human beings. It may be that the widespread belief in alcohol as a disinhibitor is nothing but an ethnocentric European folk belief foisted on subject peoples around the world during the heyday of colonialism.”

Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon was paid a courtesy call by Ambassadors and High Commissioners of European countries to Guyana, who are currently conducting the Sixth Round of the European Union (EU)-Guyana Political Dialogue under the framework of the African Caribbean Pacific States (ACP)-EU Cotonou Agreement. The delegation was headed by EU Ambassador, Mr. Jernej Videtic. (MotP photo)

Guyana’s prison system needs better management T

he situation within Guyana’s prison system appears to be getting from bad to worse despite the assurances given by top security and ministerial officials that more will be done to make the country safer and more secure by improving the quality of law enforcement and beefing up the conditions and security of various penitentiaries across the country.

On Monday, Guyanese were informed that three more men managed to escape from the Lusignan Prison by scaling a fence there. Officials again assured the public that the men would be caught and the prison officers had everything under control.

Later that same day, prisoners began a riot in protest over the reportedly “inhumane” conditions that they are forced to endure at the Lusignan Prison. This newspaper, like other sections of the media, was told that the rioters also cited the type and quality of food being offered to the prisoners. Chaos broke out, and the prison officers went into “riot mode” using pellets, tear gas, and other methods to calm the prisoners and restore order.

Both Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and the acting Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels visited the scene of the unrest.

It was also reported that the Commissioner of Police, Leslie James is working along with the Prison Service to resolve some of the problems there.

Over the next few days, the executive will no doubt attempt to give a plausible explanation for what took place at Lusignan. Guyanese can expect the same type of tone and rhetoric from officials within the prison system akin to what was said after the Camp Street Prison fire and unrest, which left 17 dead and over 20 injured.

It is most unfortunate that there have been little or no real improvements in the Prison Service despite the assurances given from all sides that more would be done. It is even more unfortunate that the Lusignan unrest occurred on the same day when there was a security breach and the escape of prisoners. What is also appalling is the fact that a Commission of Inquiry was established by the executive following the 2017 events, but half of the recommendations contained in the final report remain unim-

tine searches and raids of the prison facilities. Government must also look at the integrity of the officers serving within the prison system and the relationships that exist between wardens and hardened criminals. Both parties must be read the riot act, and special emphasis must be placed on shaking up the establishment in order to make way for Government, Police and intelligence informants to enter the system and work as undercover agents or double agents in order to understand how the smuggling of

plemented, according to wellplaced sources.

Also the smuggling of contraband, narcotics and other illegal items into the prisons has not declined, but has taken on a shameful if not shocking story line of its own with prison officers themselves being discovered with the booty or facilitating the trafficking of these items.

If Minister Ramjattan is interested in his tenure and the reputation of the Government, he should also consider transferring top prison officials and perhaps even asking for the resignation of the current head of the establishment to allow for the appointment of newer and more independent leadership.

A robust civil society effort must be led which will see stakeholders from all sides of the divide conducting more rou-

contraband takes place.

If any other disaster breaks out, Minister Ramjattan may find it necessary to tender his own resignation. Integrity would demand it, because it would appear that he is unable to grasp the importance of his portfolio and the fact that he will be judged by the number of policy initiatives that would have been successfully piloted and implemented within the Prison Service which in turn lead to measurable benefits and reform.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) should retable the spate of reforms, which was presented by PPP/C parliamentarian Clement Rohee when he served as Home Affairs Minister, only to be rejected by this very same Administration utilising its one-seat majority while in opposition.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Up to 475,000 immigrant New Yorkers could be harmed by Trump's "Public Charge" proposal

– NY Mayor

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ayor Bill de Blasio has announced the results of a preliminary analysis showing that, if enacted, the Trump Administration’s “public charge” proposal could harm up to 475,000 immigrant New Yorkers.

“This proposal is another perversion of our most basic values,” said Mayor de Blasio. “It is un-American to punish families for seeking help, plain and simple.

As a parent myself, I could never imagine the gut wrenching decision of choosing between food on the table and the possibility of not being able to get a green card in the future. On behalf of the ultimate city of immigrants, we will fight this tooth and nail,” the Mayor was quoted in a release issued by his office as saying.

The analysis, jointly conducted by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Department of Social Services, and the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity, also found that hundreds of thousands additional New Yorkers could be harmed as well, including U.S. citizen children, as families might

withdraw from or forgo enrolling in critical social safety net programs based on misinformation and fears of immigration consequences.

In addition, the analysis shows that the overall economic consequences for New York City could be severe, with at least a US$420 million hit to the city’s economy annually. The de Blasio Administration is firmly opposed to this “public charge” proposal, and will continue to share information with New Yorkers about its possible impacts.

“We will fight back against any attempt to threaten the well-being of hundreds of thousands of middle and working class immigrant families, including their U.S. citizen children,” said Bitta Mostofi, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

“Immigrant New Yorkers are the backbone of our economy and the Trump Administration’s latest proposal would undercut our progress to make NYC the fairest big city in the country. We wholly oppose this proposal and we’ll continue to

Mayor Bill de Blasio

share the most up-todate information on how it could impact our fellow New Yorkers.”

“This proposed rule from the Trump Administration is a direct attack on our City’s core values and the lifelines that millions of hard-working New Yorkers rely upon every day. We will not stand for it,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “We at DSS remain committed to connecting all New Yorkers in need to the benefits for which they are eligible, ensuring they

Soesdyke man remanded for allegedly exposing genitals to woman Mark Phillips

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Yarrowkabra man found himself answerable to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday and was remanded to prison after he reportedly exposed his genitals to a woman.

Mark Phillips, 46, is however denying the allegation put to him by the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

It is being alleged that on October 13, at said Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway he exposed himself to the woman.

According to the facts of the matter, Phillips is reportedly in the habit of making sexual advances to the Virtual Complainant (VC).

He allegedly groped her and on two occasions

broke into her apartment.

However, Phillips is claiming that the accusations being made against him are all false and that the story being told to the Court by the VC is made up.

McLennan however, remanded him to prison.

He is scheduled to return on November 6, 2018.

can put food on the table and make ends meet, no matter where they’ve come from,” he added.

“The Trump Administration’s misguided proposal would harm immigrants as well as the broader New York City community – the friends, family members and neighbors who benefit from the contributions that immigrants of all backgrounds and circumstances make to the economic, social and civic life of the city,” said Matthew Klein, Executive Director of

the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity.

“New York City is a place that welcomes newcomers from all walks of life, and we are better for it. It is in all of our interests for residents to access the resources, support and opportunities that they need to fulfill their full potential and continue to drive New York City forward,” he added.

However, New Yorkers are being reminded that this proposal has not yet gone into effect as yet.

The Mayor has stated that the Trump Administration’s proposed expansion of “public charge” rules would harm immigrant families and threaten NYC’s economy. Under previous federal administrations, an applicant for a green card or certain types of visas could be barred based on a determination that they are a “public charge” if deemed likely to rely primarily on cash assistance or long-term care from the government for survival.

Under the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security seeks to expand their discretion to deny such applications based on an immigrant’s age, family size, income, and assets, as well as based on whether they have utilized certain cash or non-cash public benefits or programs they are legally entitled to use. By law, several categories of immigrants — including refugees and asylees — are not subject to the public charge test in their immigration applications.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana described as next big global oil beast without meaningful benefits

Dear Editor, Mr Robin Mills, a guru in the oil industry, writing for “The National”, an online and print media platform, posted on October 8, 2018 that – “Guyana may be the next big beast in Global Oil”; Mills foresees the country emerging as the top per capita oil producer.

It is noteworthy that Mr Mills of The National ignored the robber baron 2 per cent royalty in the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between Exxon’s Esso two partners, Hess & Nexen, and the Government of Guyana, which is so blatantly minuscule, odious and obnoxious.

Guyana, after being referred to as a Frontier State by international energy research firm “Wood McKenzie”, and now an oil beast by The National”, has indeed suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Our economic straits have now housed us as a global oil nation, without remedying the abysmal 2 per cent royalty that enchains us.

Many are inclined to focus on the shadowy and smoky 50/50 “profit sharing” post expense contract stipulation; it is more a contrivance than a condition of any value, that should be ignored due to its subjectivity in the treatment of capital and current costs, and what could be deducted and setoff from the profit share remnants, if any; with special emphasis on the mysterious, coreless and fungible pre– contract costs.

The will of the Guyanese who seek and strive to obtain a fair share of our oil resources by having the incomparable, incongruous and incompatible 2 per cent royalty renegotiated is undiluted. Whether we have one billion or fifteen billion barrels of oil; whether we are governed by PPP/C or PNCR, we must benefit meaningfully from our resources.

Every Guyanese politician, non– governmental organisation, private sector executive, some local commentators, and international organisa-

tion such as Chatham House, Natural Resource Government Institution, among others, try to treat us as myopics and encourage us to focus on the terms of post oil contracts. The attempted Segway is an oily herring that is a form of glad-handing with the handlers.

The global oil giant ExxonMobil currently controls Guyana’s Stabroek Block contract, a block that represent 100 per cent of commercial oil discovered in Guyana’s offshore as at September 30, 2018.

Yet, we have some analysts and commentators twisting themselves into pretzels by seeking to have Guyanese focus on other oil contracts that the Government of Guyana has with Repsol, Tullow, Mid-Atlantic and Total, among others; though these companies have discovered zero oil in Guyana’s offshore. Let us focus our energies on revising the contract with Exxon’s Esso and their partners.

Some of our learned and “objective” oil aficionados have made a stormy fuss about the difference between one per cent and two per cent, while overlooking the depraved nature of the beastly contract that has so far accounted for over five billion barrels of known oil recoverable reserves, carrying plundering 2 per cent royalty. The specialists compute the value of 1 per cent of zero; while the exploitative 2 per cent contract with Exxon’s Esso is not mentioned or made invisible to the general public, even as it is covered in sanctity and sanity by overlooking its morass contract terms.

Let us not endorse and make a reality of the words of Sophocles, the greatest of the Greek tragedians, who said, “The greatest grief are those we cause ourselves.”

Yank and revise the 2016 PSA, as consistently requested by Christopher Ram, Melinda Janki and Ramon Gaskin.

Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

APNU/AFC rejected in Berbice Dear Editor, The Regional Democratic Council of Region Six raised several issues of concern in order to hold the APNU/AFC coalition Government accountable to the Guyanese people, especially the residents of Region Six. The East Bank Berbice Public Road Project is being executed by the Works Services Group of the MoPI, and, to date, residents are still at a loss, since this project seems to be a “top secret “for the APNU/AFC Government. Nothing is being given to the RDC, or even being made public pertaining to the design, bill of quantities, cost etc. Who is the oversight body to ensure there is value for money? This project would be another fiasco, like the Indian Monument Site at Palmyra.

The RDC would be grateful if the IDB could make a copy of the initial contract design available, so as to have transparency and to hold the Minister of Public Infrastructure accountable to his words that this project would be the same as the IDB design and would cost less than the actual cost of the IDB. It is critical to get hold of this information quickly, because millions of dollars intended for the Local Government Elections campaign are being diverted elsewhere — even in people’s personal pockets.

The Minister of Public Security and the Minister of Public Infrastructure were at a meeting in New Amsterdam to launch the AFC LGE campaign. Lo and behold, only thirty-three persons were in attendance. And what was even more shocking is that both ministers were boasting about street lights’ installation when, directly above the location and beyond, about eight streetlights have not been functioning for over a year. This is the actual reality of the Government ministers, in that they are out of touch with the actual reality of the problems Guyanese confront across the entire country.

The President visited Rose Hall Town to launch the APNU LGE campaign in Region Six, and was greeted by protesters, whom he tried to engage but was actually shunned because of his inability to help Guyanese to enjoy the good life. Only because children were given bicycles were their parents forced to be at the President’s meetings, but despite that, the meetings were poorly attended.

The good lifestyle that was given to Guyanese people by PPP administration before 2015 is being snatched by this Granger Administration.

Regards, Zamal Hussain

Balance, objectivity and fairness are the foundation of good journalism Dear Editor, I have noted the expressed and implied attack on me on Monday, the 15th October 2018 in a front page article headed “Transparency body sees “Major” conflict of interest for Hugheses over oil.”

I wish not to dwell upon the motives for the publication, but merely to provide to the general public information which is, and was at all times, available to the general public on the most cursory of inquiries.

On the day of July 4, 2018, I submitted my declaration of assets and interest to the Integrity Commission.

I am aware that the contents of my declaration are confidential, but I will disclose that included in my declaration was a clear statement of my marriage to the Managing Partner of Hughes, Fields and Stoby, and his interest in the firm.

Following my submission to the Integrity Commission on the 9th day of October 2018, I repeated my disclosure to the Cabinet about my husband’s position as Managing Partner of Hughes, Fields and Stoby, as well as the firm’s intention to establish an office in Houston.

I also, prior to the publication of the article, sought legal advice on the disclosure and compliance requirements set out in the Laws of Guyana.

I am aware that, despite their previous experience to the contrary, it must have been very difficult for the Stabroek News to contact me over the week. My phone records have not disclosed any attempts to solicit any comments from me. This is interesting, since, for many years now, the publication has been in possession of my contact numbers, and, in the past, has contacted me on several occasions, including after hours and on weekends.

It continues to be my fervent hope that, in their efforts to express their views on activities of Ministers of the Government, Stabroek News would at least conduct the most rudimentary of inquiries prior to publication, to ensure balance, objectivity and fairness, which still are the foundation of good journalism.

Sincerely, Catherine Hughes, MP Minister of Telecommunications

Public

What betterment is the AFC talking about?

Dear Editor, On October 15, in a section of the media, the attention of the GAWU was drawn to a report which stated that Vice President, Minister of Public Security, and Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, in his address to a meeting in New Amsterdam on October 13, among other things, spoke to the sugar industry.

Based on the report, the public meeting, described as the launching of the AFC’s LGE 2018 campaign, attracted some 30 persons, and we gathered that the Vice President told those in attendance “…good governments, when confronted with hard decisions,

the Treasury’s assistance to the sugar industry, told his audience “…wah you go take all the money from the Treasury now and just give one section”? We wish to remind the Minister that in the life of the APNU/AFC Government, allocations to sugar represented 3.98 per cent of the G$968 billion that have been approved for spending across the four (4) budgets of the Coalition Government. Certainly, when one looks at the tens of thousands of Guyanese who depend on the sugar industry; or the services the industry provided to the nation, which the Finance Minister lamented in his

make them while considering the betterment of the entire country, not just one sector…”.

We ask what betterment has the socalled “hard decisions” brought about?

It is putting people out from paying jobs on to the breadline? Is it denying persons adequate and healthy meals?

Is it preventing people from being able to pay their bills? Is it to curtail the education of children? Is it increased anti-social behaviour? Is it family breakups and separation?

We are at a loss to find this “betterment” the AFC Chairman refers to. It seems more like increased impoverishment to us. We recall that the Minister has several foot-in-the-mouth episodes to his credit, and this seems to add to an ever-expanding list of such occurrences.

The Vice President, referring to

letter to the media last week that the State must now foot; or the economic activity generated by the industry; or the foreign exchange the industry garnered; the loss of thousands of workers’ contributions to the NIS and the GRA, apart from the other social factors, the Treasury’s investment was more than worthwhile.

So, while Minister Ramjattan wants to pat himself on the back for a job well done, and offer quicksand-like defences for the Government’s callous approach to the sugar industry, there has been, as far as we see, no credible reason or any justification for the misery-filled life that the workers and their families now face.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Duo charged for trafficking ecstasy; granted G$150,000 bail each

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Accused: Kelder Roxana Halley and Samuel Bruce

woman and a taxi driver found themselves before the Chief Magistrate on Thursday jointly charged for allegedly trafficking ecstasy.

The duo, Kelder Halley, 21, of Gibson Street, Guyhoc Park, Georgetown and Samuel Bruce called Samie Waltz, 25, of Tucville, Georgetown both denied the allegation brought against them.

It is being alleged that they, on October 25, 2018, at Gibson Street, Guyhoc Park, had some 63 grams of ecstasy in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.

C u s t o m Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford told the Court that the duo were apprehended during a sting operation being carried out by the agency. disSandiford closed to the Court that the female accused is reportedly the mastermind of trafficking of the above mentioned drugs.

However attorney for defendant, Bernard DaSilva said his client had no narcotics in her possession nor does she know of any transaction to have same trafficked.

He is contesting that his client has no ties to Bruce with the exception

Guyana’s Court of Appeal... from page 3

According to the acting Chief Justice, the Opposition did not produce evidence to support the contention that Patterson was unqualified for the position.

She outlined in her ruling that the President should have given reasons for his rejection of the 18 nominees submitted by the Opposition Leader.

In their appeal, Attorney-at-law Anil Nandlall, on behalf of

his client, said that the learned Chief Justice misconstrued and misinterpreted the role of the Leader of the Opposition in Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and as such, was asking the court to overturn the High Court ruling.

The two appeal Judges Justice Gregory and Justice Persaud upheld the acting Chief Justice’s ruling.

of her giving his contact number to another.

In her bail application for her Bruce, his attorney Tiffany Jeffrey claimed that Bruce was given a package to drop off to a location but was however unaware as to what the said package contained.

Both defendants were granted G$150,000 bail each and were ordered to return to Court on November 9. Weekly reports are required to be made by both of them to the CANU Headquarters.

Gov Cuomo announces grand opening of Schenectady Train Station

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overnor Andrew M. Cuomo has a n n o u n c e d the grand opening of the US$23 million Schenectady Train Station—two weeks ahead of schedule.

According to a release from the Governor’s Office, the new, fully accessible, modern rail station connects travelers to New York City, Niagara Falls and other highly sought-after destinations. Inspired by the architecture and aesthetic of the former 1910 Union Station, which was located on the same site, the new train station is passenger friendly and highlights Schenectady's history.

"Schenectady is in the midst of a renaissance and is home to an increasing number of popular destinations, and it is critical that transpor-

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

tation to and from the area is convenient, affordable, and reliable," Governor Cuomo said.

"The new Schenectady Train Station is a smart investment for the Capital Region, and with modern amenities and historic touches, it will drive tourism and further support the Electric City's downtown revitalization," Cuomo added.

The new station on Erie Boulevard is a short distance from Rivers Casino, a popular Schenectady County destination. The station features comfortable waiting and ticketing areas and improved accessibility for people with disabilities. With historical touches that honor the former Union Station, the new facility also serves as a modern beacon within Schenectady's revitalized downtown,

with Proctors historic theater nearby, along with Schenectady County Community College, restaurants, taverns, shops, a movie theater and more.

New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Paul A. Karas said, "Governor Cuomo is rebuilding our upstate cities and our upstate transportation network — rail, roads and bridges alike — with unparalleled vision and investments. This new train station will only add to the resurgence of downtown Schenectady in the 21st century."

The station's concourse leads to a new platform accessible by a new elevator and stairs.

Parking and bicycle and pedestrian access have also been improved, as continued on page 9

8 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Bring the evidence’

Guyana seeking visa-free travel status to 26 …Jagdeo takes Minister Jordan to European countries task over "drug economy" statement

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

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oreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge has expressed his disappointment over the approach taken by representatives of the European Union in dealing with Guyana being left out from those Caribbean countries that have been granted visa-free entry status to the 26 countries in Europe that fall under the Schengen Area.

Back in 2015, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines joined Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados and St Kitts and Nevis as Caribbean countries granted visa-free travel to Schengen Member States and associated countries.

According to Minister Greenidge, this issue was a strong point made on Monday during the Sixth Round of EU-Guyana Political Dialogue under the framework of Article 8 of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP)EU Cotonou Agreement.

“We have expressed concern, if not alarm, about the treatment of Guyanese as regards the visa-free entry into Schengen … We believe this was discrimination,” the Minister posited during a press conference at the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday.

Moreover, he outlined that the EU has not put forward any reasons why Guyana was not given the same visa-free travel status.

“As a matter of fact, as far as we can see from the criteria they used, Guyana falls squarely amongst those countries that don’t pose a risk and, therefore, it shouldn’t be treated differently,” the Foreign Affairs Minister asserted.

On this note, Greenidge further expressed his dissatisfaction over the approach

adopted in addressing the issue.

“We heard from Miss [Federica] Mogherini, who is the High Representative of Foreign Affairs and the Vice President of the European Council, that they are not now going to look at Guyana until a new council comes into office. In other words, [they’re] kicking it down the road or kicking it into the tall grass, depending on how you look at it, which makes us extremely unhappy,” the Foreign Affairs Minister noted.

The 26 countries under the Schengen Area are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Minister also disclosed that during Monday’s meeting with the EU delegation, other consular matters were raised.

According to Greenidge, the EU is seeking the treatment of its mission in Guyana as an international agency as oppose to a foreign state as currently obtains.

“They are seeking additional concessions as regards treatment in that regard. We’ve indicated to them that we hear them, but we’re still looking at that matter,” Greenidge said.

As part of the Sixth Round of EU-Guyana Political Dialogue, which was headed by EU Ambassador Jernej Videti? and Ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden, the delegation is having talks with the various Government Ministries and key agencies.

The objectives of the Dialogue are to exchange information to foster mutual understanding and to facilitate the establishment of agreed priorities and shared agendas, in particular by recognising the existing links between the different aspects of the relations between the parties and the various areas of cooperation as laid down in the Cotonou Agreement.

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p p o s i t i o n Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has taken Finance Minister Winston Jordan to task over his statement about the economy pre-May 2015 being heavily based on proceeds of the drug trade, stating that it is just another excuse for Government’s poor performance.

Jagdeo told media operatives on Wednesday that Jordan’s statement is highly political and was expected, especially since it is the political season that leads to the upcoming Local Government Elections.

But the former President noted that the Minister’s statement is baseless.

“When has this Government seen them find a single case… so much money laundering and drug trafficking… Have you ever seen them charge a single money launderer or drug trafficking or illegal proceeds?” Jagdeo questioned, stating that there is no evidence to prove this.

On the other hand, Jagdeo said while the State Assets and Recovery Agency (SARA) is mandated to go after money launderers and other white collar criminals, they have not managed to do so. “SARA keeps saying they will

subject Minister posited that “we look forward to such a brief so that we could better understand the empirical evidence supporting your assertions.”

Pleased

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

do it, SOCU (Special Organised Crime Unit) still running behind Pradoville and a few of us,” Jagdeo referring to himself and his former Cabinet Ministers.

He questioned, “Where is this big set of money to keep the economy going?

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) said recently it has taken note of the statement by Minister Jordan on the impact of the proceeds of drugs on the economy.

The Private Sector body said in an effort to understand the “empirical evidence” relied upon by the Minister, the Commission said it has sought to obtain a briefing by the Minister and, to that end, they have

dispatched a letter to the Minister seeking an audience with him.

In the letter that was made public to the media, the PSC said it would be “grateful to be briefed by you on the assertions made that the economy pre May 2015 was heavily based on proceeds of the drug trade and that the current economy post May 2015 is no longer affected by such proceeds.”

Moreover, the Commission said “as businesses it is important for us to understand the underlying structure of the economy and the various elements that contribute or inhibit its growth.”

Outlining that it was awaiting a response, the PSC in its letter to the

In response to this, Jagdeo said he was pleased for the first time that the PSC is seeking such information. “I must thank the leadership of the Private Sector Commission for asking for details because if a minister of finance says drug proceeds and money laundering were the primary source of financing of many business in Guyana and the buoyance,” he added.

However, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary said that he is of the firm view that the Minister would not be able to give such an explanation because he has no such evidence.

“The buoyancy of the economy had to do with several things, a growing set of economic activities, a growing tax base, larger deposits and more people borrowing and investing. All of that led to the buoyancy we saw.

The conserve ills we see now…bad loans, new no investments,” Jagdeo said.

Jordan, since his continued on page 10

Convicted fraudster jailed for 30 years for raping woman A n eloquent convicted fraudster, Troy Webster, was on Wednesday afternoon handed a prison sentence of 30 years by Sexual Offences Court Judge Jo-Ann Barlow after a majority jury found him guilty of sexually penetrating a woman without her consent.

The jury produced the 11-1 verdict after a few hours of deliberation.

The rape survivor was 25 years old at the time of the attack, which was said to have occurred on November 21, 2015 at a community in the county of Demerara.

The prosecution contended that Webster had also tricked the woman into giving him money in addition to raping her. The offender, who was convicted multiple times for conning several women in the past, had pleaded not guilty when his matter came up for trial earlier this month. He was represented by Attorney Clyde Forde while Attorneys Seeta Bishundial, Tiffini Lyken and Abigail Gibbs prosecuted the case.

Although he had already been

Guilty: Troy Webster

committed to serve a prison sentence for a similar offence four years prior, the now convicted rapist was jailed for nine years

by Magistrate Judy Latchman in August 2017 after he pleaded guilty with explanation to six charges. He had admitted that be-

tween August 17 and 21, 2017, at Georgetown and with intent to defraud, he obtained from six women (names withheld) G$7000 each, pretending to be in a position to offer each of them a job.

It was revealed that he would pose as a businessman seeking females to work either in the Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) area or on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). He would request a sum of G$7000 along with a copy of their identification card, but would vanish after informing them that he would make contact with them to commence work.

In May 2013, he was jailed for three years after defrauding seven young women (names withheld) of their valuables.

He similarly collected G$7500 of a down payment from six of them for uniforms for employment. In that case, he had also been charged with fraudulent conversion, whereby he had taken a pair of gold earrings from one of his victims, claiming that this was for her employment.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 9

CAL looking at direct Merrill Lynch eyes Guyana’s flights from Guyana to oil and gas sector Toronto, Miami – new CEO U

F

ollowing some discomfort from locals over the lack of direct flights from Guyana to the United States and Canada, new Caribbean Airlines (CAL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Garvin Medera has committed to correcting this situation as he engaged with several stakeholders during his visit to Guyana.

In fact, the official told reporters at the Private Sector Commission (PSC) headquarters on Wednesday that the issue was the main challenge of the Trinidadian carrier.

“The number one challenge for us is the inability to originate flights from Guyana. Based on the regulations, we have to route our flights through Port-of-Spain (Trinidad and Tobago’s capital city) before we come to Guyana which ultimately means that there’s an in-transit experience, [which] we are aiming to improve, but it could be solved if we get the opportunity to start and end flights in Guyana which we want to do and it’s something that we have to make very clear,” he expressed.

The new CEO while noting that he was pleased that the PSC was on board with this plan, said that the company was working with the appropriate stakeholders to ensure that direct flights from Guyana became a reality. Medera’s engagement with aviation stakeholders and Government officials comes in light of other carriers signalling their intention to ply the Guyana route. These economic ventures come as oil production is expected for Guyana from 2020.

When asked by members of the press about reduced ticket prices in light of increased competition, Medera committed

Caribbean Airlines CEO Garvin Medera

to value for service.

“We are very open to the idea of a competitive market; and that’s one of the ways that the people of Guyana will get the value that they deserve,” he noted. The CEO, who was appointed just one year ago, said that the company has been embarking on initiatives that seek value for money such as improved fuel consumption. He noted too that the Caribbean Region was small and many logistics have to be ironed out as CAL moved to improve the services it offered travellers.

In any event, both the PSC Chairman, Desmond Sears and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) thanked the airline for its over 70 years of service to Guyana as the bodies expressed hope that this country’s culture could be showcased.

Medera also met with the National Airport Transport Association (NATA) President, Captain Gerry Gouveia, who raised issues of local content, with a view of securing more employment for Guyanese.

“We didn’t want you to continue being a Trinidadian carrier pos-

ing as a Caribbean carrier. We wanted you to truly be a Caribbean carrier... [For] services to Guyana, we want you to demonstrate not only in the back office of your operations, but in the front office: local content – Guyanese flight attendants and pilots,” Captain Gouveia stressed.

From January to March 2018, 142,781 persons were processed for Guyana flights, which was higher than the 126,340 for the same period in 2017 and many of those persons travel to the United States and Canada. It was only in September 2018 that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) commissioned a new terminal with boarding bridges and more space. The 4891-square metre terminal features 10 passport control booths, one elevator, one escalator, two functional boarding bridges, three baggage carousels, a spacious customs area, and a public greeting hall to welcome family and friends. (Shemuel Fanfair)

Gov Cuomo announces grand... from page 7

the parking lot has been reconstructed and the layout has been reconfigured. New sidewalks and lighting are in place and bike racks will be installed by the spring.

The total project cost of US$23 million is supported by US$17 million in state funding for construction costs and an additional US$2 million in state funding for engineering services and other project costs.

Amtrak contributed US$220,000 toward the Passenger Information Display System, and the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority contributed US$48,000 toward the improved parking lot. The Federal Railroad Administration provided US$3.6 million toward the new station building.

The new Schenectady Station replaces a smaller 1970s-era station that

was demolished in 2017 to make room for the new station.

Amtrak will own, operate and maintain the new station. Metroplex will continue to own and operate the station parking lot. Amtrak, Metroplex and the City of Schenectady worked cooperatively with New York State throughout the design and construction of the project, the Governor’s Office said.

nited States-based international merchant bank, Merrill Lynch, which operates under the auspices of Bank of America, has expressed interest in helping Guyana to set up its Sovereign Wealth Fund (SVF) to manage revenues earned from the emerging oil and gas sector for local development.

Affairs Ministry, he met with the bank and listened to them before channelling them to relevant stakeholder authorities in Guyana.

Minister Greenidge outlined that Merrill Lynch is not a stranger to Guyana and had previously done work with the Central Bank of Guyana under the Bank of America.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, disclosed that on the sidelines of the recently concluded United Nations (UN) General Assembly he met with a number of agencies including Merrill Lynch, during which they were briefed on the progress and process of oil and petroleum with the intention of determining where they can help.

“They were interested in our own development fund, which is equivalent to the Sovereign Wealth Fund, and they have a variety of issues in terms of their experience and the options for collaborations that they can offer to us,” the Minister posited.

According to Greenidge, as part of the functions of the Foreign

In preparation for first oil in 2020, Government in August laid the highly-anticipated ‘Green Paper’ for the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund in the National Assembly.

The Green Paper sets out preliminary proposals to stimulate discussion while also points to possible courses of action open to the SWF legislation.

Guyana is expected to earn as much as US$380 million annually from royalties in the first three years of oil production, which commences in two years’ time, at 120,000 barrels per day from ExxonMobil’s Liza Phase One. The US oil giant has forecast daily production at 500,000 barrels in another five years.

10 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Analyst says Govt should consider total buyout of Berbice Bridge

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mid the controversy surrounding the proposed increase in tolls at the Berbice River Bridge, outspoken political activist and former Presidential Advisor Ramon Gaskin is suggesting a total buyout of the bridge by Government so as to resolve the issue.

Gaskin on Wednesday said the situation has reached a point where the Government should seek to buy all the shares within the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) as opposed to allowing the company to impose massive increases on the travelling public, which they can ill afford at this point.

On Tuesday, the Chairman of the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI), Dr Surendra Persaud, who is also the Chairman for the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), announced steep increases to the current tolls at the facility.

Guyana Times International understands that NIS through its Chairman, was forced to push for the increase in tolls in order to protect its investment. NIS has majority voting rights on the BBCI Board of Directors.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Gaskin also suggested that an alternative can be for Government and the NIS to solely own the bridge, thus buying the shares from all the other shareholders.

“You don’t need to make a profit just cover maintenance and pay the NIS interest on their investment and you could lower the rate to where it was and it could go lower,” he advised.

On the other hand, Gaskin also suggested that NIS could put in for receivership. This is a remedy available to secured creditors to recover amounts outstanding under a secured loan in the event the company defaults on its loan payments.

“Put it into receivership and get rid of the rest of shareholders… by buying the shares out… but make it a Government owned bridge together with the NIS and reduce the rates. The bridge could be nationalised, and Government could buy it over in the interest of NIS,” he said.

Asked whether he believes the Government would make such a move, the political activist said while the Government could show some level

Political activist and former presidential advisor Ramon Gaskin

of reluctance but added that it is in the best interest of all parties involved and as such it should be done.

“The Government don’t understand any of these things... But they must look at protecting the interest of people. If they go ahead and buy the shares and take over the bridge it will be good for everyone,” he added.

Further, Gaskin said the Chairman of the BBCI, Dr Surendra Persaud should be questioned by the Police over the non-payment to the

NIS. He believes that Dr Persaud who chairs both the NIS and BCCI should be a matter of concern.

He is also a member of the Alliance For Change (AFC).

Shareholders' position

One of the shareholders told Guyana Times International that it recognises that the Berbice Bridge is in serious financial jeopardy given that debts have reached maturity and few options are available to stave off bankruptcy.

“The Government should sit down with

the bridge company and work out the appropriate subsidy with due reference to the financial model and or the Concession Agreement.

This is necessary as a result of Government’s refusal to allow incremental increases, or in other words, refusing to honour its contractual obligations as per the Concession Agreement,” the shareholder said.

Another noted that if an agreement cannot be reached, then it is recommended that the Government buy back the bridge and compensate investors in keeping with the financial model and other investment documents.

“Once the Government executes a buyback it will be able to lower tolls. If this is approached properly Government might still be able to preserve public private partnerships in Guyana,” the shareholder stated.

It added that the investors assumed significant risk to build the bridge. While the bridge has been de-risked for several years, following its successful opening, the ordinary shareholders are yet to receive a single cent in dividends.

“We recognise the efforts of the Directors of

the bridge company who has a fiduciary duty to preserve the financial integrity of the company in the context of the dire circumstances the company must be facing at this time. We also empathise with commuters who are caught in the middle,” a representative of a shareholder told this newspaper.

BBCI letter

In a letter sent from the BBCI to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson dated Monday, October 15, it stated that there have been four requests for the tolls to be adjusted but to no avail. It expressed disappointment having met with the Minister there was no positive outcome.

However, the company having sought legal advice was told that they have to consult with the Minister for the toll increases. “It is by under and virtue of the above provision that the Berbice Bridge Company Inc is consulting with you in relation to the proposals for an adjustment in tolls,” the missive stated while still declaring that the increases will take effect on November 12, , the same day as Local Government Elections.

Army ranks implicated in ‘Bring the Essequibo Coast rape-robbery fired evidence’...

from page 8

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wo Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks who were implicated in a rape and robbery on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), have been fired.

A source close to the investigation told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that the two were fired on Tuesday.

“Because of the nature of the allegations, it was in the best interest of the GDF to let them go,” the source said.

Meanwhile, a close relative of the rape victim told this publication that she remains traumatised by the incident, which occurred last Saturday at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

When contacted for an update on the case, Commander of G Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands), Khalid Pareshram, disclosed that the two men, both of whom were attached to the Sixth Infantry Battalion, Anna Regina, are still in custody, even as legal advice is being sought.

According to the Commander, the woman who was raped is in her 20s while her boyfriend is 18.

Reports are the couple was at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, which is close to the GDF base, for an event and at about 23:30h as they were enjoying an evening together, the two ranks attacked them.

Guyana Times International was told that the soldiers dealt the young man several blows about his body, took away his money and gold chain, and demanded that his girlfriend have sex with them or else they would rape him.

At first, this demand was shut down, but the two ranks severely beat the young man. They then allegedly took turns raping the woman as she wept bitterly and asked them to stop.

The young man had no choice but to watch his

girlfriend being sexually assaulted. After the ordeal, the couple reported the matter to the Police station.

At the Police station, the couple was told that there were no ranks available to search the area.

Family members then took it upon themselves to look for the two perpetrators. Upon seeing the angry mob of residents, the two men escaped. The couple was taken to hospital where the young lady was admitted. The Police subsequently took statements from the two traumatised young people and an investigation was launched.

An identification parade was done on Monday afternoon at the Suddie Police Station and the two perpetrators were positively identified by the victims.

This newspaper was told that while the ID parade was in progress, colleagues of the implicated ranks were heard shouting derogatory remarks towards the victims.

Guyana Times International understands that the young male victim is an acquaintance of both ranks. The GDF in a release on Monday stated that it would give the necessary support to the Guyana Police Force as investigations continue into the heinous crime.

Residents in the area said young people would usually “hang out” in the area and never expected something like this coming from workers in the respectable office. Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt recently penned a letter to this newspaper calling for urgent action to be taken by the relevant authorities to address the rape allegation.

“The entire region, known for its peace, is very much concerned about the allegations raised. The RDC further reiterates its call for all the relevant authorities and agencies to be involved in addressing these serious allegations, so that a timely, fair, and just process can be achieved,” Ramdatt said.

Government came to power in 2015, has made outlandish accusations, without proof, that the PPP Administration before him was able to reflect growth in the economy because it proliferated the trade of drugs.

In an interview in 2016, the Finance Minister attributed the reduction in consumer spending to a decrease in illegal activities, including narco-trafficking, which he said had created a parallel economy.

Most recently in a response to an editorial done by one of the leading dailies that waded into Minister Jordan’s handling of the financial sector, Jordan retorted, inter alia, “you must have forgotten, conveniently, the deformed and broken economy that our Government inherited in 2015. Lest we forget, too, that economy thrived on rampant drug trafficking, money laundering, and a banking sector in which a few institutions recklessly lent

funds for private white elephant projects.”

In July of this year, an article was published in the Stateowned Department of Public Information (DPI), where SARA’s Chief Executive Officer, Aubrey Heath-Retemyer is recorded saying that the SARA is working tirelessly with the Legal Affairs Ministry to retrieve over G$200 billion in State assets lost through corruption between 2010 to 2014.

“We have been losing between G$28 billion and G$35 billion every year between 2010 and 2014 by procurement fraud, in illicit capital flights-G$90 billion and in the underground economy (drugs) – about G$100 billion,” the SARA Chief had said.

However, the PPP has on multiple occasions called out the incumbent Administration for peddling what it said was “blatant lies” in an attempt to justify their “mismanagement” of the economy.

news 11

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Sleeping guards’ to face sanctions

…as hunt on for 3 prison escapees in Guyana

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ore than 12 hours after the disturbances at Lusignan Prison, the Public Security Ministry has finally issued a release, which confirmed that eight persons were shot and injured, but only six had to seek medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Those injured are Cleveland Williams, Lester Joseph, Teaive Cush, Raymond Jones, Corwyn Arthur, Anirudh Prashad, Lakeram Singh and Lexroy Rigby.

According to the Public Security Ministry, wardens resorted to discharging live rounds of ammunition of various calibres to calm the inmates after the rubber bullets did not work. At this time, the release stated, inmates were behaving in a riotous manner.

“The prisoners hurled hundreds of missiles directly at officers, damaged the inner Holding Bay fences and exited the confined area. They then focused their attention on gaining access to the gate that allows exit from the location by using several items to hit the gate, but they were unsuccessful in their attempt,” the Ministry stated.

It also confirmed that at the time of the incident, there were 558 prisoners in the facility along with 80 personnel from the Prisons Service, Guyana Police Force and the Fire Service.

The authorities are holding

Escapee: Sudesh Dyal

Escapee: Travis Evans

Escapee: Dexroy Pollard

out that several attempts were made by officers and ranks to enter the location with the use of shields, but the large number and size of the missiles hurled by prisoners caused them to retreat and run to safety.

However, as darkness approached, the prisoners reportedly continued to throw missiles thus damaging four perimeter lights.

The furious inmates who were reportedly protesting the conditions of the holding bays resorted to setting ablaze mattress and pallets which they placed along the inside of the fence. This, the authorities claimed, caused damage to the monitoring room which controls the CCTV cameras.

“After repeated attempts to have the prisoners desist

from their riotous behaviour failed, officers reverted to the use of rubber pellets. As this approach also failed, various calibres of live rounds were directed in the air,” the release added.

After some time, the inmates became calm and requested an audience with the acting Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels. During this engagement, Samuels was made aware that several prisoners did not receive their lunch.

Other issues such as the physical infrastructure of the facility, the length of imprisonment and the way some junior ranks delivered their duties were also raised by the inmates.

Nevertheless, the situation remained calm up until 23:00h

when prisoners from Holding Bay One and Two were seen breaking the inner fence. As such, the security presence was increased. The situation was under control just about 00:30h. Hours prior to the riot, three inmates escaped from the correctional facility.

The prisoners, 23-year-old Travis Evans of C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Sudesh Dyal, 23, of Wales Backdam, West Bank Demerara and Dexroy Pollard, 29, of Wales Village are still on the run with the Joint Services making every attempt to recapture them.

Of the three, Evans was incarcerated for murder while Pollard was convicted for breaking and entering and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and Dyal was

on remand for breaking and entering.

Prison authorities confirmed that the escapees scaled the fence between towers three and four which were equipped with security personnel about 04:30h.

The acting Director of Prisons told a media briefing on Monday afternoon that after reviewing the footage, he came to the conclusion that the ranks on duty were not alert.

Samuels explained that the three men took a considerable amount of time to make their way through the razor wire.

“It is clear, especially taking into consideration the close proximity of the two towers and the number of ranks deployed in those two towers that those ranks were not alert,” the acting Prisons Director stated.

Meanwhile, a source close to the investigation told Guyana Times International that disciplinary action would be taken against the guards who were sleeping when the men escaped.

The Lusignan Prison was used as a holding facility with several holding areas after the July 2017 fire at the Camp Street Prison. During that fire, several high-profile prisoners had escaped. The others were dispatched to correctional institutions across the country, including Lusignan.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The aim is to create Berbice man found dead after a level playing field dousing wife, children with gasoline for all investors in T oil sector – Dr Bynoe

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Energy Department Head, Dr Mark Bynoe

he Guyana Government has promised that no foreign company that plans to operate in the local oil and gas sector will be granted any special privilege or favour.

This commitment was made by Head of the Department of Energy in the Ministry of the Presidency, Dr Mark Bynoe, who addressed a delegation of Canadian businesses visiting Guyana.

At a special reception hosted at the Canadian High Commissioner’s residence on Monday, Dr Bynoe noted that the Energy Department will continue to honour its obligations, “but it will be firm and consistent with application of the requisite laws”.

He asserted that there would be no predictable guarantees for anyone or any business, or any special favours, but rather its aim was to create a level playing field for all. “And allow the Private Sector to take appropriate risk to garner acceptable rates of returns,” the Energy Department Head said while making reference to the need for predictability.

Dr Bynoe noted that the Department would not be rushing to take advice from experts unless there was sufficient evidence to prove the practicability of that advice.

“The Department is mindful that it will be receiving advice from many experts. It will not, however, be encouraging to Government or even the Private Sector to pursue such advice even if they may be well-intentioned. Our decisions will be based on evidence-based facts,” Dr Bynoe said to guests at the event.

He said that the oil and gas sector was focused on efficiency, transparency, predictability, balance and evidence-based decision-making.

Dr Bynoe also indicated that Government was interested in joint ventures to exploit midand downstream opportunities while raising local business standards.

Meanwhile, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin claimed that Government was not corrupt nor was the

Private Sector and the population was not docile with ordinary people not benefiting from the oil.

“I can assure you that situation does not exist in Guyana, and I believe it is important that I assure you of that, especially our guests who are visiting here. We don’t want foreign companies to come to Guyana believing that this is a free-for-all and that our entire country can be bought.”

In recent times, there have been concerns, particularly by the Private Sector about whether foreign countries and companies would be allowed to dominate the sector.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had expressed worry over the Energy Agreement that the Government signed with Trinidad and Tobago.

But both President David Granger and T&T Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley assured that there was no ‘takeover or sell-out’ of any sector by either side, but rather a sharing of information and ideas in the sector.

Guyana on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador Province. The agreement was inked between Newfoundland and Labrador Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady and Minister Gaskin at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The MoU provides for the two parties to facilitate economic cooperation and business opportunities in both countries. The agreement will be done by way of reciprocal visits to both jurisdictions by industry and Government representatives.

The agreement also speaks of establishing a Joint Working Committee that will be responsible for developing and coordinating an annual work plan, which will come into being within 30 days of the agreement being signed.

Annual review meetings will alternate between the two.

MoUs were signed between two local and Canadian companies to commence partnership.

he body of a Corentyne, Berbice, labourer was on Tuesday morning found in the backlands of Number 36 Village in what is suspected to be a case of suicide.

His death came hours after he threw gasoline on his reputed wife and three children before setting their Brighton Village, Berbice home on fire.

Dead is Michael Lewis, 34, of Brighton Village. Three cellular phones, his identification card along with one belonging to his wife and injection syringes were found next to his body.

On Monday, the man had initially attacked his wife with a hammer to end her life, but she was able to fight him off.

According to the traumatized woman, Candacie Khedaroo, 28, Lewis had accused her of infidelity. She said she returned home on Monday after an outing with relatives to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and was greeted with the accusations of infidelity.

She told this newspaper that Lewis approached her with a hammer in his hand and threatened to kill her in front of their seven-year-old daughter.

Khedaroo revealed that she was dragged from the house onto the street.

“When he bring me out there I run and go in my neighbour yard with my children and from there I left my two daughter with my neighbour and go and tell my mother.”

She said she and her mother returned to the house in an effort to uplift clothing and oth-

Candacie Khedaroo

Dead: Michael Lewis

er essentials for her children to go to school.

According to Khedaroo, her children were sent into the house to uplift their belongings.

“We didn’t know that he went inside the house and when they go inside he try to grab them and hear and I run inside. He hold on to them and tell me and me mother that he gon kill all ah we.”

She added that within seconds they were all soaked with gasoline and her husband tried to get a lighter out of his pocket but they managed to run out from the house.

Candacie’s mother, Bibi Khedaroo, 50, was temporarily blinded when the gasoline hit her eyes.

“I pull the shirt that he had on and wipe my face. When he scramble me I din lef him, I scramble on back on him and we fall down and had a scuffle on the ground and I see a stick and pick it up and lash him and then he run away and go and light the house on fire,” he ex-

plained.

According to her, Lewis remained in the burning building until the fire brigade arrived and then escaped into the backlands.

Meanwhile, the mother of three told Guyana Times International that at about 20:30h she took her children to their grandmother’s home at Tarlogy for the night after witnessing their home being flattened.

With tears settled in her eyes, the young mother said it is painful to learn of Lewis’ death.

“I have two children for him and I feel a way but it hurt me what he has done to me. He left me and my children without anything, it is neighbours who give me clothes for my daughters last night,” she said.

Neighbours said on many occasions they had to rescue the 28-year-old woman and her children. Relatives told this publication that Lewis and Khedaroo shared a rocky relationship for years.

Senior Cop granted G$250,000 bail for causing death of pensioner

D

eputy Superintendent of Police, 53-year-old Patrick Todd was on Tuesday morning charged for causing the death of 64-year-old, Hague, West Coast Demerara (WCD) resident, Conrad Alleyne on the Boerasirie Bridge on the East Bank of Essequibo (EBE) in September last.

Todd stood before Magistrate Roschelle Liverpool at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court where a second charged for driving under the influence was also read to him. He denied both charges.

The prosecution is contending that Todd on September 12, 2018, drove motorcar PTT 992 in a dangerous manner, causing the death of Alleyne.

It is also alleged that on the same date, at the same location, Todd’s breathalyser test showed he was 0.70 micrograms over the legal limit of alcohol consumption. His representing Attorneys Gordon Gilhuys and Dexter Todd informed the court that their client is a father of four children with another child on the way.

Additionally, the lawyers pointed out that the accident was an unfortunate incident. The lawyers pleaded for

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Patrick Todd leaving the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday

bail and Todd was released on G$250,000 bail. The case was adjourned to November 12.

Reports following the accident were that Alleyne died a few hours after he was struck while attempting to cross a bridge.

He was picked up and rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was treated and subsequently transferred

to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he succumbed while enroute.

After his arrest, Todd reportedly told Police that he was unaware that he had struck Alleyne as he only felt an impact and it was only upon inspections that he saw the man lying on the bridge.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana Govt ordered to pay G$25M to former High Commissioner over wrongful dismissal

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he Guyana Government, through Attorney General Basil Williams, has been ordered by the High Court to pay former Guyana High Commissioner to Canada, Harry Narine Nawbatt, some G$25 million in court costs.

Nawbatt’s appointment to that post commenced under the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government on February 9, 2015, three months before the May 2015 General and Regional Elections.

However, less than one month after being in office, the new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition Administration dismissed him.

The ruling on the statement of claim proceedings was handed down by Justice Diana Insanally on Monday.

Nawbatt, through his attorneys Anil Nandlall, Manoj Narayan and Rajendra Jaigobin, sued the Attorney General in April 2016, claiming that his contract of employment was not lawfully

terminated, thus he was seeking salaries, emoluments and other benefits owed to him.

Following the trial, Justice Insanally granted judgment to Nawbatt in the sum of G$24,295,104 for “special damages”. She also awarded G$500,000 for breach of contract, and court costs in the sum of G$50,000. Additionally, the court ordered that interest on the said sums be paid at the rate of 6 percent per annum from the date of filing to the date of judgment, and thereafter at the rate of 4 per cent per annum until fully paid.

Nawbatt, in his legal suit, was seeking over G$49 million for wrongful dismissal and a breach of contract. He stated that his firing was enshrined in a letter dated June 8, 2015 when the Director General (ag) of the Foreign Affairs Ministry wrongfully, and “in repudiatory breach” of the above-mentioned contract, purported to terminate his employment, and therefore wrongfully dismissed him.

Former Guyana High Commissioner to Canada, Harry Narine Nawbatt

This letter had stated that his appointment would end on August 31st, 2015 and that he should report to Georgetown.

The former ambassador had requested damages in excess of G$25 million for breach of

contract and “special” damage in the sum of G$24,295,104, the latter of which was awarded.

Nawbatt, in documents, had said he was tasked with performing the functions and duties of High Commissioner to Canada, and was be-

ing paid a monthly salary of G$773,801. His contract would have expired on February 9 of 2016.

According to the contract inked, the cost of education for Nawbatt’s children would have been paid by the Government, and he was also entitled to this and other allowances.

Nawbatt would have been allowed to terminate his services, provided that a written notice of three months was given. Likewise the Government would have had to give notice for the same time frame, or pay Nawbatt six months’ salary and station allowance if such notice was not given. According to Nawbatt, he was owed G$4.3 million for salary up to February 2016; G$5.7million in gratuity; payment of G$4 million for 158 days’ leave; G$4.8 million in station allowance; G$4.6 million in station allowance for leave for five months, and G$2million in business class return air passages, among other things.

Nawbatt had once served as a Government

Minister under the PPP/C Administration.

In a statement to the press on Monday, Anil Nandlall outlined that his legal team has filed many similar cases in 2015 and 2016. He, however, claimed that in all the cases, the plaintiffs sued for damages for wrongful dismissal or unlawful termination of their contracts of employment, and were awarded various sums as compensation, along with interest and costs.

He said that while the Attorney General was the defendant in all of these cases, and no appeal was filed against any of the decisions, the Attorney General has “consistently refused to honour these judgments, although we have made repeated written requests for him to do so”.

Nandlall concluded that “the relevant proceedings will be commenced shortly to commit the Minister of Finance to prison for non-payment of these judgments”.

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Guyana signs oil New procurement, debarment agreement with laws being drafted Canadian Province … Commission optimistic for year-end approval

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Business Minister Dominic Gaskin with Newfoundland and Labrador Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady after signing the agreement

By Jarryl Bryan

G

uyana on Monday cemented its diplomatic relations with Canada, following Newfoundland and Labrador Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady signing a business cooperation agreement with the Government.

The agreement was inked between Coady and Business Minister Dominic Gaskin at the Ministry of the Presidency.

After signing the agreement, Gaskin noted the importance of Guyana being able to benefit from the wisdom and expertise of oil-producing States.

“It’s important for Guyana; that we do develop long-term relations and partnerships with partner Governments, with partner organisations and as we explore the oil and gas sector, with which we are not too familiar, it’s, therefore, important that we benefit from the experiences of those who have done this before,” Gaskin said.

For her part, Minister Coady noted the opportunity her state has to share its experiences. According to Coady, Newfoundland and Labrador made it a mission to work with other countries in its early days of oil production. Now, she noted, they were doing their part to continue the cycle of knowledge transfer.

“We’re here today to work with you to give you the experiences that we have so that you can build and grow your opportunity here in Guyana,” the Minister, who arrived along with a 50-member trade delegation, said.

Guyana Times International was able to get a look at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which provides for the two parties to facilitate economic cooperation and business opportunities in both countries. This, the agreement notes, will be done by way of reciprocal visits to both jurisdictions by industry and Government representatives.

The agreement also speaks of establishing a Joint Working Committee that will be responsible for developing and coordinating an annual work plan, which will come into being within 30 days of the agreement being signed.

Annual review meetings will alternate between the two.

“Parties to this agreement will continue to have the abil-

ity to independently determine and pursue their own domestic objectives and priorities. Collaboration under this agreement and the work plan will be realised in accordance with the laws, regulation, and policies of each jurisdiction,” the MoU states.

Shared experiences

Later, Coady met with media operatives and shared how her province used its oil revenue to better the living standards of its citizens. She emphasised the need to ensure citizens benefit from the wealth that oil brings.

In her province’s context, this meant much of the money went to the people through avenues such as improved education. She noted at least three basic principles should be covered when it came to looking out for citizens.

“Regulations around safety and environmental regulations… that is very important; the people of Guyana will expect that. You’ll also want to ensure that you have a good system to ensure the benefits accrue to the people of the country. I know (Guyana) is working on those things.

“I would say, thirdly, ensuring that you have a good knowledge of where you want the development to go for your country. So, if I was to say, those would be the three things. Safety, security, environmental protection, ensuring the benefits and the royalties accrue to the people and how will you develop your industries,” she said.

At present, over a dozen Canadian companies are in Guyana as they look for opportunities to partner with local businesses. In fact, this publication was informed that at least two have concluded negotiations with locals in order to sign partnerships of their own.

With several Canadian companies already involved in oil and natural gas exploration activities in Guyana, the visit by the Newfoundland and Labrador Natural Resources Minister provides yet another indication of Canada’s interest in playing a pivotal role in Guyana’s oil and gas sector.

It was only recently that Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago signed a MoU on energy sector cooperation, which saw T&T Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley visiting Guyana for the first time with a delegation of Cabinet Ministers.

he Public Procurement Commission (PPC) is optimistic of having new procurement and debarment legislation approved by year end, after the conclusion of a report by a consultant who reviewed the draft laws.

This was communicated during a consultation exercise on Monday at Regency Suites, Georgetown. At the exercise, PPC Chairperson Carol Corbin provided an update on what the Commission has been up to.

She related that they were advised in May of 2018 that a consultant was appointed to review the Procurement Act, propose amendments and possibly construct a new act. In addition, she explained that the Commission was brought on board.

“The Commission was asked to collaborate with the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board and the Finance Ministry to make propositions to the panel and also the debarment regulations.”

She related that the amended regulations were provided to the consultant, who reviewed them and returned them to the Commission. It was further explained that the final report of that consultancy was concluded at the end of September 2018.

“The final report of that consultancy was concluded at the end of September 2018.

Thus, our current activities

PPC Chairperson Carol Corbin

will be conducting consultations on what we perceive to be the final draft of the debarment regulations.”

“The PPC is, therefore, back on schedule with its programme, starting with this set of consultations,” she said, adding that the goal for regulations to be approved by yearend was a viable one.

While there are references in the Procurement Act to the suspension and debarment of errant contractors, Corbin said the required regulations for the debarment process were not included.

“No action could have been taken over these years to actually debar or suspend contractors and suppliers, because the relevant supporting regulations do not exist at this time in terms of being approved and included in the legislation.”

The PPC is a crucial commission which, among oth-

er things, serves as a watchdog against procurement fraud and corruption. It is also supposed to oversee the awarding of public contracts, although Cabinet continues to give its no-objection to such.

The Commission, which elected Corbin as its Chairman during its first meeting, also includes Emily Dodson, Ivor English, Nandkishore Gopaul and Sukrishnalall Pasha.

A key Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report had recently recommended that countries in the Region, including Guyana, implement a number of measures aimed at improving public procurement.

The report, titled “Better spending for better lives: How Latin America and the Caribbean can do more with less”, has identified poor procurement practices as a contributor to wasted public funds.

Among its recommendations for countries in the Region is for Governments to avoid single sourced contracts and concentrate on competitive bidding. In fact, it was advised that open tendering be the default method of procurement.

In addition, the report advises that Governments in the Region publish annual procurement plans, as part of a comprehensive framework that would set out the Government’s goals and priority areas.

Taxi driver accused of murdering young teacher to face Judge, Jury

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Murder accused: Matthew Munroe

rincipal Magistrate Judy Latchman on Tuesday ruled that there was sufficient evidence for 48-year-old Matthew Munroe to stand trial for the November 7, 2017 murder of Richard Ismael School Teacher Kescia Branche. The Police’s case is that the young woman was dumped from the car belonging to Munroe.

This follows several months of witnesses offering evidence during the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Following the prosecution closing its case, Magistrate Latchman determined that there was enough evidence made out against the defendant. As such, she ob-

served that Monroe will have to face trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes.

Munroe had allegedly departed Guyana for the United States of America at some time in November last year, but after spending some time overseas, he returned to Guyana and presented himself to the Criminal Investigations Department in the company of his lawyer. The Police had said that during interrogation, Munroe could not provide information on his whereabouts on the night that Kescia Branche was brutally attacked; and that more so, he failed to give Police information on his missing car bumper.

Branche, who was a resident of Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was discovered lying at the corner of Princes Street and Louisa Row in Georgetown on the morning of November 5, 2017. She succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital two days after and a post-mortem examination performed on her body indicated that her death was due to brain haemorrhaging and blunt trauma to the head.

According to reports, Branche had left home for a night of partying. She had left

Murdered school teacher, Kescia Branche

her three-year-old son in the care of a friend, who revealed that Branche told her she had intended to go to Palm Court to meet a male friend.

The teacher had later returned home, but subsequently left again. She had told her friend that she would be home by 02:00h, but never returned.

She was last seen leaving a nightclub on Lamaha Street in the company of two Police ranks. The father of Branche’s child was also arrested after the teacher’s mobile phone had been found in his possession. He and four Cops were questioned about her death, but they were later released on station bail.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘An act of desperation by Coalition Gov’t’

…Opposition Leader says in response to proposed increase in Berbice Bridge tolls

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he move to increase tolls for the Berbice River Bridge has been dubbed a political gimmick

by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, which was orchestrated by the coalition Government.

Addressing his weekly press conference on Wednesday at his Church Street, Georgetown office, the Opposition Leader gave several key explanations for his argument.

According to him, the

toll increases seemed to have come as a result of collusion between Government and the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI).

He is of the firm view that this would most likely lead to the Government acting as the “knight in shining armour” who steps in and saves the day by blocking the increases.

Jagdeo said the Chairman of BBCI, Dr Surendra Persaud, who is also linked to the

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

The new toll structure

Alliance For Change (AFC), instigated the decision made by the Board.

“The Berbice Bridge Act in Section 3 under Toll Order states that the maximum amount of toll to be charged during concession periods and any increase requires the Minister’s intervention and the Minister implements it through a toll order,” he explained.

He went on to state that the toll order specifies the rates and must be signed by the Minister. It therefore means that an increase cannot take effect without the Government’s intervention.

“It’s easy for anyone who wants to get to the bottom of this matter to do so. This is purely a campaign gimmick. We know that for sure. It is all a strategy,” Jagdeo argued.

Referring to Dr Persaud, Jagdeo claimed that Government may have succeeded in getting him to announce an increase but to make it “so shocking that they will once again get a campaign issue.”

“It is criminal. This is an act of desperation on the part of the coalition Government… they can’t campaign on anything else so they are whipping up sentiments,”

the Opposition Leader claimed.

Jagdeo pointed to several reasons why the Government had to resort to this means in order to garner support, mainly the declining economy in the county.

He said health care has not improved in Berbice, the Ophthalmology Centre is inoperable and thousands were left without jobs, no major infrastructural work ongoing in the region.

“So, what do they do?

Well they have the toll majorly increased in order for them to act like they care for the people when they decrease it,” Jagdeo stated.

Transformational

Meanwhile, in shutting down suggestions that the construction of the bridge was a bad deal, Jagdeo, who also serves at the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), said it is and remains a proud decision he has made while serving as President of Guyana.

“I’m proud of the fact that I passed this law and signed an agreement and built the bridge

without burdening taxpayers. The toll was similar to what people were paying to cross on the ferry.”

“This bridge has been transformational for Berbice and I am being blamed. But I want to say that in my tenure, the airport was started, and the stadium was built in my tenure and the swimming pool, Convention Centre, many tactical institutions, Linden Hospital and water treatment plant, the Skeldon factory, the Leonora Track… contrast that with what they are doing, practically nothing.”

He reminded that the then People’s National Congress (PNC) Government had spoken about the idea of building that bridge but nothing was done until the PPP took up office.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader said the financial model which is an annex to the bridge’s contract, guides how the bridge is to be operated.

He noted that the financial projection shows a constant decrease, with the exception of two continued on page 23

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese pilot among 3 killed after plane crashes in NY Dead: Guyanese pilot, Munidat "Raj" Persaud

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Guyanese pilot who illegally flew two small aircraft out of the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle in 2016 was on Saturday killed in a plane crash off Long Island, New York.

Dead is 41-year-old Munidat “Raj” Persaud of Waterbury, USA. The twin-engine Piper PA-34 he was piloting crashed into the water around 11:10h on Saturday with three persons, including Persaud.

The first body was recovered soon after the crash, but the remaining bodies were found in the water on Sunday evening near the plane’s fuselage.

It was reported that the plane took off from Danbury Municipal Airport in Connecticut but its intended destination was unclear.

Moments after the two bodies were pulled from the water on Sunday, Persaud was

positively identified as the owner of the aircraft.

Based on a Newsday report, Persaud owned two companies that train pilots – Danbury Flight Training and Oxford Flight Training, according to Connecticut business records.

On the Oxford Flight Training website, Persaud describes himself as a commercial pilot and certified FAA maintenance inspector and technician, adding that he started the company in 2004. He previously worked as an airline flight engineer, employed

by Pan American World Airways as a technical representative and avionics tech.

In addition, the FAA records proved that Persaud owned another Piper PA-34 that crashed May 20 on Bald Mountain in Vermont.

The pilot in that crash died from his incontinued on page 21

news 21

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

No int’l, regional observers Guyana’s Opposition approved for LGE 2018 welcomes move

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s the clock counts down to Local Government Elections (LGE) 2018, it turns out that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has so far not approved any regional or international observers.

This was confirmed when Guyana Times International made contact with GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Warde. While she noted that advertisements were published calling for local observers, it is unclear whether any international and regional observers will be brought on board.

“The Commission has not approved the regional and international observers. We approved for local observers, hence the advertisements were specifically for local observers. I can’t say whether the Commission has completely ruled out the possibility of international and regional observers, but as of this point that is what they have approved… local observers.”

“I think in the past international groups would have expressed an interest, which was subject to the approval of the Commission. I can’t say whether the process was done by just a way of a letter or whether there was an advertisement,” Warde explained.

She related that an international observer has expressed an interest in the Local Government Elections. As such, she noted that there is the possibility that observers will ultimately be approved. Warde explained that GECOM will communicate the method that will be used to get these observers on board.

“If the Commission makes the determination on the possible inclusion of international observers, then I’m

to decriminalise attempted suicide

sure they will also provide guidance in terms of the methodology, whether they will advertise or they will write the international and regional groups to indicate their interest.”

The last time Local Government Elections were held in 2016, the US embassy and the British and Canadian High Commissions had fielded observer teams.

With LGEs expected to go down on November 12, the deadline for local observers to apply was October 11.

List of candidates in municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) have already been approved.

The Disciplined Services are expected to hit the polls on November 2, with the general population is scheduled to vote on November 12.

LGE

LGE will be held in all municipalities and NDCs in Guyana using a mixed electoral system of Proportional Representation (PR) and First Past the Post (FPTP).

The PR electoral system is one in which parties’ gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them in a municipality or NDC. For someone to be elected under the Proportional Representation system, they must be on a party list or voluntary group list. Individuals cannot contest as the PR system.

Meanwhile, the FPTP

Guyanese pilot ... juries and had received commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates just days before, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s website. The pilot had been flying back to Waterbury-Oxford Airport from Burlington International Airport — against the advice of an expert adviser, who was surprised to learn he had elected to fly in rainy and cloudy weather instead of waiting a day, according to the Safety Board’s report.

Further, two years ago, a student flying a Cessna plane that

system is one in which an individual gains control by the number of cast for him or her. These candidates can come from a party, voluntary group or as an independent.

Fifty per cent of Councillors for each municipality and NDC are elected through the Proportional Representation component, while the other half comes from FPTP component of the electoral system.

Under the FPTP system, an individual candidate can contest for only one seat in a single constituency in which he or she is registered and resides. Candidates can only be nominated for one group for the PR and FPTP list.

The People’s Progressive Party has already indicated that over 3000 candidates have been put forward by the Party to contest LGEs in all 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs). The other parties will be contesting on a smaller scale.

The A Partnership for National Unity will be contesting elections in 76 of the 80 LAAs, while the Alliance For Change (AFC) on Wednesday announced plans to contest only 38 LAAs at the upcoming November 12elections.

This announcement follows previous statements made by the party, where the AFC had initially said that the party planned to contest the elections in more than 50 LAAs.

from page 20

The crash site

Persaud owned suffered serious injuries after he crashed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, according to the NTSB, which cited pilot error.

Meanwhile, Persaud and an unnamed pilot in

June 2016 had flown out from the Ogle Airport without authorization, two Cessna 206 aircraft, which were the subject of High Court litigation in Guyana.

C

hapter 8: 01, Section 96 of the Criminal Law Offences Act outlines that persons found guilty of trying to take their own lives would face up to two years’ imprisonment. Government has recently signalled that this law could be amended, having announced that the law was among several others that were under review.

This disclosure followed a meeting with United Kingdom (UK) consultant Peter Pursglove under the Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme.

However, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Vindhya Persaud, while welcoming the move, questions why Government had struck down a similar motion she had brought to the National Assembly in 2016.

In an interview with Guyana Times International on Tuesday, she highlighted several of the measures that were enshrined in the motion she had fronted. She said her motion would have strengthened the systems needed to reduce incidents of suicide.

Dr Persaud remarked that attempted suicide should never have been criminalised.

“When people attempt suicide, it is a cry for help; and rather than penalising them, as is recommended by the current law, they should be offered a chance at rehabilitation, and perhaps be treated for other underlying causes that would have led to suicide, including depression and addiction,” the

PPP/C MP Dr Vindhya Persaud

MP stated.

Though there had been extensive debate on the matter, Government did not support Persaud’s motion on ground that her presentation was too politicised.

Two Members from the Government side — Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings — had notably supported the decriminalisation of suicide, but they later voted down the motion, in keeping with the decision of their colleagues.

Guyana had been ranked second in the world with the highest suicide rate per capita. Its ranking has since shifted to fourth place, but Dr Persaud is positing that more needs to be done to tackle mental health challenges.

The anti-suicide activist highlighted that, in 2016, health authorities were seeing more cases in which young people were taking their lives, primarily in Essequibo and Berbice, but not exclusively there.

“I think the conversation has started, as people are beginning to realise the importance of mental health, and the repercussions it can have in every sector, when you think of education and the work force, and how it can impact and burden the healthcare system,” she noted.

Persaud had called for more collaboration between local stakeholders and international agencies such as the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund

(UNICEF). Her motion had spoken to the need to have counsellors in the schools, with some teachers being trained to deal with the issues and being incentivised in this regard.

Persaud also told this newspaper that she had been pushing for control to be placed on access to poison by means of a two-key system being implemented.

The PPP/C Member of Parliament nevertheless pointed out that the review was long overdue, but she also questioned why Government waited to effect the change after meeting with the consultant.

“I wonder if this Government is not conscious of what is happening in the country?

Because these are not issues that are new, and someone has to come from somewhere and tell us about (it when) we are well aware of it?” she stressed.

This publication was unable to contact Junior Public Health Minister Dr Karen Cummings for comments on her position on the matter from a medical perspective. Activists against the law, meanwhile, say that criminalising offenders would not be an appropriate measure to tackle the issue as Guyana moves to reduce such deaths, which were recorded at 44 persons per 100,000 in 2012.

During the auspices of World Suicide Prevention Day in 2016, Senior Psychiatrist Dr Bhiro Harry disclosed that the Mental Health Ordinance was revised and was under review, but that draft legislation did not include penalties for attempting suicide.

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

4 lanes being considered for Ogle-Diamond bypass A

preliminary design report on the much-anticipated bypass road linking the East Bank to the East Coast of Demerara has found that a four-lane design is the most feasible option for the project. Public Infrastructure Ministry Technical Services Manager Nigel Erskine explained to Guyana Times International that having received the preliminary report from the consultancy firm, Indiabased Rites Limited, they now have an idea of what the final design would be.

“Based on their [preliminary] traffic analysis and studies, and their projection into the future, they’re saying that it is feasible to go with the four-lane road now for the main alignment.

So more than likely, the final report will be four lane for the main alignment with a 40 metres reserve [in the middle],” Erskine noted.

According to the Technical Services Manager, the Ministry is looking to use the reserve in the middle, sometime in the future, for a rapid rail that would run from

Public Infrastructure Ministry Technical Services Manager Nigel Erskine

the Timehri Airport to Ogle.

However, Erskine posited that while they now had an idea of what the design would be like, there was more work still remaining before the design was finalised.

The preliminary report has pegged the project cost at US$104 million.

This Diamond-Ogle Bypass project will see some 26 kilometres of roadway constructed linking two of the country’s main thorough-

fares – the East Bank Highway and East Coast highway. This new road link will also be connected to key communities in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara. These include Diamond, Mocha, Eccles – all on the East Bank – and South Ruimveldt (via Aubrey Barker Road) in Georgetown.

Back in 2016, Finance Minister Winston Jordan signed a US$50 million loan with the ExportImport (EXIM) Bank of

India for the construction of a 20-kilometre road from Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara, to Diamond.

Since the Indian Government is funding the project, it is required that the contracts be awarded to companies from that country and as such, the 10-month design consultancy project was awarded to RITES Limited.

Erskine pointed out that so far the Indiabased company has

met all of its deadlines.

Having submitted the preliminary design report, which has been approved, the consultancy firm will now have to work on a draft final report to submit at the end of January 2019.

Following that, the final report is expected in April 2019.

“So, by the end of April, we should be ready to proceed with the bidding process to get a contractor and that’s going to take about four to six months. So, definitely, we should have a contractor ready to mobilise and start works in the last quarter of next year,” the Technical Services Manager posited. However, during an interview earlier this year, Minister Jordan had told Guyana Times International that he did not foresee this project being fully completed before 2020.

“I don’t see the road becoming a reality before 2020, if I were to hazard a guess. I would love it to be there before, but based on how things go and based on the difficulties of communication and tendering and so on, because everything has

to come from India – the consultants and contractors… so they have to do tendering there and tendering here, so it will take some time (before it’s completed),” the Finance Minister opined.

In an effort to reduce traffic congestion for commuters on the East Bank of Demerara, which leads to the country’s main point of entry – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) regime was working on constructing an ‘East Coast to East Bank’ bypass road and sought funding from the Indian Government in 2015.

Meanwhile, the current coalition Administration is looking to extend the bypass road all the way to Soesdyke on the East Bank of Demerara.

This aspect will fall under a second phase of the project. Erskine noted that next year, the Public Infrastructure Ministry is hoping to move ahead with the design consultancy process.

NEWS 23

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘An act of Woman brutally stabbed by desperation by... mentally unstable boyfriend from page 17

in full view of public A

BBCI Chairman, Dr Surendra Persaud

years, of tolls until 2026 when the bridge is expected to be handed over to the State.

Currently, the revenue of the Berbice River Bridge is reportedly doing better than that in the financial model, as such; Jagdeo further questioned the shocking increase.

“All Government has to do is not sign the toll order. If they collude with the company to increase the toll, we are committed to decreasing rates back to same level if we regain power,” he added.

Furthermore, the Opposition Leader urged the Government to release documents to the public regarding to operations of the bridge.

“We urge the Minister to not sign toll order, if they persist in this which we believe is a ploy, PPP will reverse this. We believe that this is a part of a gimmick in the campaign season,” he said.

It was announced on Tuesday that to cross the bridge, cars and minibuses will now have to pay G$8040; small trucks, pickups and four-wheel drive vehicles G$14,600; medium trucks G$27,720; large trucks G$49,600; boats G$401,040; and freight G$1680.

The increases are expected to take effect on November 12, 2018, the same day as Local Government Elections.

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

mother of two was stabbed several times in the full view of the public by her mentally unstable boyfriend and left to die in a muddy drain at Crane Street Queenstown, Corriverton, Berbice.

The dead woman has been identified as Iransa Frank, 38, a waitress at the Crimson Light Bar located on the Corentyne. She formerly lived at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, the woman recently moved in with the suspect at his Lot 110 Crane Street, Queenstown, Corriverton home, after they had been seeing each other for just over a month. The suspect was reportedly deported from the United States of America about ten years ago.

At about 8:00h on Sunday, the now dead woman had headed home from work, but shortly after, she visited a nearby shop. Moments later, the woman was seen running up the street with the suspect in hot pursuit. He eventually caught up with the wom-

an.

Dead: Iransa Frank

The woman tried to fight him off, but her throat was reportedly slit in the process. The woman fell into a nearby drain, and was further stabbed four times to her neck.

“We could not go and help because he standing up right there with the knife in he hand, and he is a ‘mad man’,” one eyewitness told this publica-

tion.

Police arrived on the scene and arrested the suspect, as well as take the alleged murder weapon as evidence.

Upon his arrest, he reportedly screamed that he should not have listened to anyone.

Reports are that Frank was supposed to leave for Georgetown last Monday, and had already removed some

of her clothing. It is believed that the woman had gone to collect the remainder of her clothing when she met her demise.

Reports are that the suspect had been a patient at the National Psychiatric Hospital on three occasions. The last time he was reportedly admitted was earlier in this year, when he spent three months.

His neighbours claim he had threatened to kill them whenever he “trips”. Another neighbour recalled him threatening to kill her, her daughter and the dog.

“When he run off, he does start pelting up the place and behaving bad,” one resident explained.

Frank, who lost both of her parents while she was still a young girl, had lived with a relative while in Georgetown, by stayed at the Crimson Light Bar whenever she was in Berbice. The woman leaves to mourn her two children (ages 21 and 16). Her body was taken to the Skeldon Hospital Mortuary to await a post mortem.

24 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana needs foreign Enforcement of laws in Guyana help to develop oil and gas lacking – US State Dept sector, says Canadian envoy …points to complaints Foreign Direct Investment

W

hile a lot has been said about the need to develop local content in the nascent oil and gas sector, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Lillian Chatterjee said the country does not have enough capacity and would need foreign help in this regard.

Chatterjee said it is important for Guyanese to develop the skills to eventually be able to manage the oil and gas sector themselves, but noted that “the hard reality is, they don’t have the skills now” and it may take years before that is fully developed.

The Canadian envoy therefore believes that while it may be the political correct thing to preach local content, she noted that Guyana will have to learn from others. She noted that at one point, Canada sought expertise of other oil producing nations for their sector.

“So, you have to welcome others who have that expertise, who are willing to share it with you to learn from them.

And once you learn from them, then you are in a position to manage your own industry,” she told Guyana Times International in a recent interview.

The second review of the local content policy is expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin has said.

Government recently completed a terms of reference for a consultancy to complete the local content policy based on consultations and a draft, also an implementation plan.

Gaskin said it was important for the new legislation to be ‘balanced’, since a ‘too strongly national’ local content policy can jeopardise the efficiency or the viability of the company being relied on to harness the resource.

“There seems to be a reticent to accept foreign expertise and Guyana sorely needs it. I hope the citizens of Guyana understand that you accept it from those who are well meaning, who don’t have a hidden agenda,” Chatterjee added.

Further, she said Canada is not asking Guyana for a special deals in oil, but rather, the country is here to share its expertise with the Government. “Why? Because Guyana has always been a good solid partner of Canada.

about judicial delays

A

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Lilian Chatterjee

We have accompanied Guyana from its independence and we have this good strong history,” she noted.

Ownership

In recent times, there have been concerns, particularly by the private sector about whether foreign countries and their companies will be allowed to dominate the sector. The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had expressed worry over the Energy Agreement that the Government signed withTrinidad and Tobago (T&T).

According to the GCCI Head Deodat Indaar, Guyanese businesses are already being sidestepped and instead contracts have been awarded to foreign-based companies to benefit from the local oil sector. But the GCCI wants the local Private Sector to get its “piece of the pie” and the Government to create a level playing field for all.

As such, the GCCI has put together its own draft local content legislation which was sent to Government and the Opposition. As part of that proposal, it said Guyanese companies must have 51 per cent ownership, the holding of board meetings must be in Guyana, 70 per cent of the staff must be Guyanese and its head office must be located in Guyana.

The Chamber lamented over the fact that several of GCCI members had submitted expressions of interest and most of them to date have not received a response. The GCCI, he said, hopes that the Government accepts the document in good faith and puts mechanisms in place so that foreign companies are legally obligated to purchase locally.

M e a n w h i l e , the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has also come out stating that it is not against a T&T business presence in Guyana but believes that before oil agreements are signed with other countries, Guyana should have an established local content policy.

Minister Gaskin has however, warned that Guyanese would not be able to benefit from the local content policy if they were unable to meet the capacity of the oil and gas sector.

According to him, capacity development costs should be borne by the industry.

He advised that Guyanese should be willing to carry the burden of oil expenditure and not only seek to benefit from oil revenue. Gaskin said despite the fact that oil and gas will provide growth opportunities, persons should not only depend on job opportunities in the sector, but seek to make investments to be part of the industry.

The primary aim of the policy is ensuring the education, inclusion, and advancement of as many Guyanese as possible in the industry.

The draft local content policy has been criticised in recent months for lacking provisions which would safeguard against exploitation by companies, especially since there have been intensified reports of the local companies being bypassed for contracts and services with foreign companies being favoured. The document does not cater for issues such as how to avoid procurement fraud, conflict of interest and favouritism, among others.

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

recent report from the United States Economic Affairs Bureau has painted an unflattering picture of Guyana’s legal system and the way it doles out justice in contractual and civil matters. Among other things, the report cites complaints of sloth in the Judiciary as a factor in its analysis.

Guyana was among other countries that had their investment climates assessed by the US Department of State for 2018. The report makes it clear that the problem is not legislation; it’s the enforcement of said legislation.

“Sufficient legislation exists in Guyana to support foreign investment in the country, but implementation of relevant legislation continues to be inadequate. The objectives of the Investment Act of 2004 are to stimulate socio-economic development by attracting and facilitating foreign investment,” it states.

The Department noted that other relevant laws include the Income Tax Act, the Customs Act, the Procurement Act of 2003, the Companies Act of 1991, the Securities Act of 1998, and the Small Business Act. It was pointed out however, that the regulators are still required to act in order for much of these legislative measures to be implemented. And even though the State Department acknowledged that there is no known case of executive interference, it noted that the court systems are still perceived as lacking.

“The judicial system is generally perceived to be slow and ineffective

in enforcing legal contracts. The 2018 World Bank’s Doing Business Report states that it takes 581 days to enforce a contract in Guyana. Suspected corrupt practices and long delays make the courts an unattractive option for settling investment or contractual disputes, particularly for foreign investors unfamiliar with Guyana.”

“In order to redress this obstacle to investment, the Government of Guyana, with support from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), established a Commercial Court in June 2006. Given Guyana’s growth potential, there is need for expansion and strengthened capacity in the near future.”

In summing up, the State Department noted that implementing the legal framework remains inadequate as the judicial system is slow and ineffective in enforcing legal contracts.

The Department also noted that there have been no recent cases of expropriation. It went on to advise that all companies should conduct due diligence and seek appropriate legal counsel to have any concerns resolved prior to doing business in Guyana.

Persons have long complained about the sloth of the Judiciary. A recent case was Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who had noted back in June that more than three years after his party filed an election petition in the High Court, the matter continued to languish in the courts.

Wife, son held over suspicious death of retired cop …cause of death given as fractured spine, blunt trauma

P

olice in the Cinderella County are now investigating the death of one of their own after a post-mortem examination (PME) conducted on the body of retired Police Sergeant Parmanand Persaud revealed he died as a result of a fractured spine and blunt trauma to the neck.

G o v e r n m e n t Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh performed the PME on Tuesday and immediately after the findings, the dead man’s wife and son were taken into custody and are assisting with investigations.

Persaud, 56, of Lot 85 Anna Regina Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Suddie Public Hospital about 19:00h on October 12. Sergeant Persaud last worked as Station Sergeant at the Charity Police Station before proceeding on retirement.

A source close to the investigation told this publication that Persaud recently received a large

Retired Police Sergeant Parmanand Persaud

sum of cash as part of his gratuity.

The source stated that following Persaud’s death, relatives became suspicious and informed the Police of their suspi-

cions.

According to the source, the Police also had their suspicions, but waited on the PME results before taking any action.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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Congresswoman says gun trafficking affecting USA too Reprinted from Jamaica Observer

C

ongresswoman Yvette Clarke, who represents the Ninth Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, on Tuesday stopped short of saying there is no solution to stem the flow of guns from the United States to Jamaica.

Highlighting that the fight is ongoing in the US Congress and other areas of Government, she stressed that efforts are being made to tighten the flow through ports and elsewhere.

Clarke was responding to a statement from a member of the audience at Tuesday's Kiwanis Club of New Kingston Luncheon Talk at Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in which the member urged her to do all that she can to influence the laws and policies pertaining to gun control in her jurisdiction.

“I work on the ports and one of our biggest problems is that in the United States, you have no restrictions or very few restrictions on purchase of firearms, and that is a terrible scourge on this society... I beg you, see what you can do on the local level because we in Jamaica are having a terrible time with the importation of firearms. I'm asking you, please, to use your platform to see how best laws can be curbed or, better, restricted,” the member said.

Clarke said, too, that there is an ongoing struggle over the proliferation of guns across the US. “What is unique about our society is, for instance in a state like New York, we have extremely restrictive state laws.

Licensing to carry a firearm is very difficult to attain, but there are parts of the country where guns are as common as microwaves. It's a part of their culture

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke

and what we are trying to do right now is have a debate around how we license, how we track, how we register firearms — things of that nature,” the secondgeneration political leader from Brooklyn said.

She added: “It's a national issue because each state has different laws and, unfortunately, what happens is that those who have weak laws impact those who have restrictive laws.

The other side to it is the battle with special interests. There [are] special interests that are supporting gun manufacturers. Those gun manufacturers don't care [where guns go].”

One of the most divisive issues in American politics, the gun control debate has generated millions of dollars in campaign contributions and lobbying on both sides, with gun rights advocates sharply outspending groups advocating gun control.

US news network CNBC, citing the Center for Responsive Politics, reported that since 1989, gun rights interests have given approximately US$41.9 million in direct spending to candidates, parties and outside spending groups. It also said that nearly 90 cents of every dollar of that money went

to Republicans.

Most of the money has come from the US National Rifle Association, which has contributed nearly US$23 million in direct spending since 1989.

During the 2016 election cycle, it put up another US$54.3 million in outside expenditures, up from US$27 million during the 2014 cycle.

Other groups, including the National Association for Gun Rights, Gun Owners of America and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, have also spent millions promoting gun rights.

Clarke pointed out that gun trafficking was not exclusive

to the region or the island, noting that the US, too, struggles with the issue.

“Jamaica is having a hard time with gun trafficking; we are having the same problem within the borders of the United States and a state like New York.

Two weekends ago I went to the funeral of a young boy, and this is unfortunately very common in the United States — who was gunned down on the playground. A 16-year-old Nigerian immigrant gunned down by a 14-year-

old. How does a 14-year-old even access a gun in a state that is restricted?

It's gun trafficking; it's gun peddling.

“We are fighting it. We are hoping that we can get the political dynamic such that we can pass the best laws that we can to protect not only our nation, but those like Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean that, unfortunately, are besieged by the illegal arms trade,” Clarke stressed.

30 NEWS

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

T&T cops hunt female suspect in murder of Guyanese pastor A

(Trinidad Guardian)

s the in­ves­ti­ga­tions deep­en in­to the mur­der of Arch­bish­op Al­isa Ali, po­lice of­fi­cers have re­ceived crit­i­cal in­for­ma­tion that sug­ gests there is a sec­ond sus­pect in the case—a woman.It is be­ lieved the woman, who was said to be in the house at the time Ali was bru­tal­ly stabbed to death, fled the scene af­ter the at­tack. Po­lice al­so be­lieve the woman may have since fled to To­ba­go where she is be­ lieved to be in hid­ ing. Po­ lice al­so have in­for­ma­tion on an­ oth­er woman from the Bras­so area who was said to be “close­ ly con­nect­ed to the sus­pect in cus­tody.”

Ac­cord­ing to po­lice sourc­ es, the sus­pect, who is a bish­ op and a fa­ther of 13, has ex­ pressed re­ morse since his rest on Sun­ day night. He ar­ has re­port­ed­ly asked Ali’s fam­ i­ ly and mem­ bers of her Spir­i­tu­al Bap­tist Church— St Michael’s Di­ vine Heal­ ing Taber­na­cle—for for­give­ ness.How­ev­er, speak­ing with the T&T Guardian yes­ter­day, Ali’s daugh­ter, Kerdeisha, 25, called on the po­ lice to speed up their in­ves­ti­ga­tion in­to the mat­ter.“I want jus­tice for my moth­er be­cause she de­serves jus­tice and please for­give me but I can­not for­give him. That

man was a wicked man, not on­ ly to my moth­er but to me and

my sis­ter,” Kerdeisha said.She said her moth­er met the sus­

pect 13 years ago at a birth­day lime with some friends, be­

friend­ed him and got mar­ried to him on­ly four years ago.

“It was on­ly when the Arch­ bish­ op had a ner­ vous break­ down, then we got to know what was hap­ pen­ ing to her.

We were an­ gry and sad at the same time be­cause Arch­ bish­ op did not de­ serve this.

Now…God’s judg­ment will fall on that man for tak­ing her away from us.”Ali’s 10-yearold grand­ daugh­ ter, who wit­ nessed the in­ci­dent, was said to be still se­vere­ly trau­ma­tised and has not been sleep­ing, eat­ ing, drink­ing or talk­ing since the in­ci­dent.An au­top­sy per­ formed on Ali’s body yes­ter­day at the Foren­sic Sci­ence Cen­tre re­vealed she died from mul­ti­ ple stab wounds. The two most se­ vere wounds were to her throat and face, through the nose, the wound in which the knife re­ mained lodged when po­lice ar­rived at her home on Sat­ur­day night.Po­lice said just af­ter 7 pm, Ali was con­ front­ed while in the bed­room of her home at La­mo­ nt Street, Long­denville, Ch­agua­nas and stabbed mul­ti­ple times in full view of her grand­ daugh­ ter.

The sus­pect fled the scene via a wait­ing car. He was ar­rest­ ed hours lat­er at the home of a friend in San­gre Grande.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Bridge…

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…and Berbice votes

ow that the dust may be settling over the proposed toll increases for the Berbice River Bridge crossing by the BBCI, maybe we can begin to see a way out of the miasma.

But even before we get to that we’ve got to clear up some misconceptions on the financing and control of the Bridge. These have been thrown around in the past and may clouding some folks’ judgement.

For those of us who aren’t in the finance world, it might be useful to remember it’s the COMMON stockholders from five entities who own the bridge – with shares valued at G$400 million.

After the NIS bought out CLICO’s shares when they went belly-up, they became the largest common shareholder. But more pertinently, two years ago, after NICIL bought out the DDL subsidiary (DEC) which owned one block of shares, the Government through its various agencies – such as NIS and NICIL – assumed majority ownership of the bridge!!

As per the rules of the BBCI, the Board of Directors – to a maximum of eight – are in proportion to the number of shares owned – and as such, the governmental entities also have a majority on the Board!! Therefore, the Government cannot now plead surprise over whatever decision the Board has taken to propose that horrific increase in tolls. THE GOVERNMENT’S MAJORITY REPS HAD TO HAVE SUPPORTED THE MOVE…IF NOT SUGGESTED IT!!

So what’s really going on? As with everything else in Guyana, your Eyewitness figures politics is at the bottom! As to where the politics is coming from – you only have to read the “reactions” of the (AFC) Public Infrastructure Minister, James Patterson and the (AFC) DPI’s Op-ed in the Chronic to know. It’s all about the AFC trying to rile up Berbicians to not support the PPP at the LGE by blaming THEM for THEIR suggested toll hike!!

And after the Berbicians are riled up good and proper, the AFC will ride in like a knight in shining armour to “work something out”!! Ahhh… these fellas will walk over their mothers’ grave to get some votes to stave off their imminent decay from “dead” to “putrid” meat!! But in all of this Sturm und Drang, there may be a silver lining.

The biggest investor in the bridge is the NIS – with both common and preferred stocks. But as we read recently, the NIS isn’t getting a hefty enough return on their investments overall. So why don’t the PNC Government have NICIL buy out all the other common stock shareholders and run the bridge – so that the NIS can begin to get proper returns on all those preferred shares?

This way, it’ll be a win-win all around!! Save for the AFC!! …and Demerara votes Looks like the AFC thinks their salvation lies in bridges. While in Berbice – as we described above – they’re riling up folks, over in Demerara they’re promising salvation for the long-suffering folks over on the West Coast, who take a full hour to just CROSS their bridge! And once more it’s MPI Patterson in the thick of things.

Shrugging off the inquiry into his solesourcing the design for the new Demerara bridge crossing – for a whopping G$143 million and which design was promptly SCRAPPED after the Chinese Ambassador said it was “19th century!!

– Patterson’s now blithely promising construction of the bridge will star NEXT year!! Can you believe this guy?? He still hasn’t even received a bid on the new design – which he now concedes should be four rather than three lanes – nor settled on a financing model (BOOT? PPP?) and he’ll start in 2019?? What’s this guy smoking?

Or he means building an approach at Versailles on Stanley Ming’s “swing” land, is “starting” the bridge?! …to riches?

In addition to pumping oil in the North, according to the IDB, we could earn big bucks in the South if we start to raze more of our forests in our South!!

There’s REDD money and Carbon Credits in the offing!!

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Wuk pon she

S

atiricus was confused, which, his friend Harry had once assured him, was his default position so he shouldn’t worry.

But as he slouched towards the Back Street Bar, he wasn’t worried as much as he wanted to know what was going on. He’d just read about the indefatigable Attorney General Moustache Man “decriminalising” obeah and witchcraft.

“I didn’t even know “Obeah” was a crime,” said Satiricus to the fellas, the moment he’d taken his seat and grabbed his beer.

“Na Burnt Ham bin legalise obeah?” asked Cappo, with a grimace. “”E bin seh a dem W’ite Man mek Obeah wan wrang t’ing.”

“Obeah gat fuh be lega all de timel!” asserted Bungi stoutly, after he’s downed his beer.

“Why’d you say that?” asked Hari.

“Yuh na rememba when de PNC bin a stick wan w’ite dally wid pin in front a de court an’ chant “wuk pan she”?” asked Bungi.

“W’en dem want Janet fuh resign, na?” asked Cappo. “None a dem na get charge and lack up!”

“Well it looks like even though Burnt Ham said Obeah was OK, the law was still on the books,” said Satiricus.

“Fellas, Obeah is an African practice,” said Hari. “But every group have their own version, you know!’

“Like when da pries’ in Exorcis’ tek out wan devil fram da lil gyaal?” asked Bungi.

“Da Obeah, right?”

“Or when dem people a guh a pandit fuh “open book” pan dem enemy,” asked Cappo.

“Da gat fuh be obeah!!”

“But if it was illegal and now the Government makes it legal,” worried Satiricus. “Won’t this now encourage people to do more Obeah?”

“That’s a worry,” said Hari. “Maybe while WE didn’t know Obeah was illegal, those who practiced it kept low because they knew.”

“Well, wha’ me know,” said Cappo looking at Satiricus, “Dis elec-shan time me guh ‘wuk pan Nagga Man!!”

“E’ legal now!” grinned Bungi.

“My friends,” said Satiricus. “Didn’t you hear Nagga Man say he’s Madrassie? They have the biggest Obeah!!”

Rural Constable faces Court over teen’s murder R ural Constable Tony George, attached to the Community Policing Group (CPG) at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, on Monday found himself before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, facing a charge of murder committed on Ricardo Singh.

Murder accused: Tony GeorgeThe charge alleges that the 28-yearold George murdered the 15-year-old Singh of Diamond, East Bank Demerara on July 9, 2018, in the vicinity of the Soesdyke Public Road.

According to Police Prosecutor Simone Payne, the victim was with several friends at a wedding house at Soesdyke, EBD on July 9, when an altercation ensued.

Singh was subsequently arrested by George, and was later placed in the tray of the Police vehicle to be escorted to the Police Station. The Prosecution is contending that the accused and another male Rural Constable were on their way to the Police station when George allegedly stopped the vehi-

cle, exited with the teen, and reportedly told the driver to leave.

It was further alleged that, upon returning with several other officers, the Police driver found the teen with a stab wound to the abdomen, and George standing looking on in the presence of residents.

However, defence attorney for George, Dexter Todd, informed the court that according to one of his client’s statements, filed by the Police, George had acted lawfully as an enforcement officer.

George has been remanded to prison until October 23.

The body of 15-yearold Ricardo Singh, also called “Cardo”, was discovered in the wee hours of July 9 with several stab wounds, including one to his abdomen.

Based on reports received, the former Diamond Secondary School student and his friends had left their respective homes on that dreaded Sunday with the intention of “taking a lime” at the LindenSoesdyke Highway Junction, but had instead gone to the wedding house, which was

Murder accused: Tony George

Dead: Ricardo Singh

close by.

However, while there, a gang of men had allegedly attempted to relieve one of the teen’s friends of his gold chain and cash, resulting in the now dead teen intervening. His friend, whom he was helping, reportedly ran away leaving him behind.

The young man, who would have been celebrating his 16th birthday three days after that incident, was subsequently found in a nearby trench with his intestines protruding. He was picked up and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to Singh’s mother, her son had left home riding his pedal cycle just after noon that day with intention to meet his friends.

The grieving mother related that, as night fell, she called her son several times on his mobile phone, but her calls went unanswered.

His father had also attempted to call the young man, but to no avail. The devastated woman recalled her son’s friend visiting their home at about 08:00h and relating that the young man had been stabbed.

Upon receiving the news, the teen’s father had contacted the Police, and had subsequently visited the Lyken Funeral Home, where he had positively identified his son. The woman noted that the friend with whom her son had gone to the wedding house had later been taken into custody.

Meanwhile, this publication had reported that the young man had been misbehaving at the wedding house, and the Police had been called in to intervene. However, at the time, members of the Community Policing Group (CPG) had been patrolling the area, and as such, they had reportedly arrested the young man.

34 FEATURE A Review by Ryhaan Shah

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Our Journey Through The World

The Indian Caribbean: Migration and Identity in the Diaspora Professor Lomarsh Roopnarine

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ver since our Indian foreparents stepped aboard the ships that sailed across the kala pani and brought us to the New World, we have become world travellers. The most recent publication from Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine, Professor of Caribbean and Latin American history at Jackson State University, Mississippi, USA, follows our journeys since that initial embarkation which brought us from the known to the unknown with all the opportunities and advantages as well as the setbacks that came with colonialism and plantation life.

The main thrust of the study is to continue the story of our migration which has taken many forms: from the very first desertions from sugar plantations which were internal migrations

“based on the desire for freedom and the power to dictate one’s

expansion of world capitalism and the program of imperialism and colonialism.” While slave emanc i -

Professor Lomarsh Roopnarine

own time” to our current journeyings to North American cities such as New York and Toronto where, in a sense, we are still seeking that freedom.

Roopnarine places our current journeys within the historical context of the indentureship period and adds to the theory of the push and pull factors that spurred the initial migration the idea that “Indians also migrated because of an

pation created a labour shortage in the Caribbean there was a parallel labour surplus in India because peasants had been displaced from their lands and Roopnarine posits that the British colonials saw the benefits of channelling the labour from one area to the other: “For the capitalist class, indentured labour was mobile labour.”

His research investigates the reasons and

conditions that spurred internal migrations within Guyana, Surinam and Trinidad, as well as intraregional migrations from mainly Guyana to other Caribbean states, and Indian migration from the Caribbean to Europe and North America. Included in the study are the return of indentured laborers to India, the influx of NRIs to the Caribbean, and the settlement of smaller numbers of Indians on islands such as St Croix, St Lucia and the US Virgin Islands.

Because much of this movement is recent and ongoing, there is little recorded data from archival and secondary sources so Roopnarine relied “on the voices of migrants and other people” even though these are not always accurate because people “reveal lived experiences normally not found in written sources”.

This gives the study an immediacy and accessibility since it deals with patterns of migra-

Persaud, Beharry’s. “The rural-urban movement was based on economic success and individual aspirations …. although they had to compete with other ethnic groups which resulted in ethnic tensions,” Roopnarine writes.

Whereas he himself, a migrant to the US, refers to the ethnic tensions and impoverishment that resulted from the introduction of cooperative socialism, and mentions “Forbes Burnham’s racial politics”, he does not fully explore or interrogate this major factor of racialised politics which spurred the migration of Indians out of Guyana.

There are references to the varying degrees of ethnic tensions that exist in Guyana, Surinam and Trinidad, but the eruptions of open racial hostility and violence in Guyana from the 1960s onward are not included and the internal migration of thousands of Indians who fled as refugees from the Wismar/

tion that are familiar to us and have shaped the demographics of various Caribbean countries. The movement from plantations to settlements then to urban areas, for instance, is the pattern of many of our own family history and accounts for the large Indian family businesses headquartered in the city of Georgetown: Gafoors, Kissoons, Muneshwer’s, Toolsie

McKenzie area in May 1964 is overlooked.

Indians fled the arson, rape, assault and murder that occurred over three days and resettled in various villages along the country’s East Coast of Demerara. This experience of Indians being victims of what is today known as ethnic cleansing was never replicated elsewhere in the Caribbean and the threat of that violence

continues to spur Indian migration out of Guyana.

Serious academic study that would provide historical, economic, social and political analysis of this violence would be a vital component of any dialogue and discourse initiated with a view to resolving this issue and could themselves become the bases for meaningful discussions.

Ever since leaving India, we have continued to travel and to seek a permanence in the New World not only in the physical sense of having a home with the peace and stability the word connotes but also in a cultural and psychological sense as we continue to honour our heritage from India within the context of Western education, values, and lifestyles.

Roopnarine captures the restlessness that comes with such displacement and with the unsettled idea of who we are as a Caribbean people, an identity that is still in flux. He explores the concepts of creolization, coolitude and coolieology as various pathways to identity formation. Some Indians have assimilated into Caribbean or American culture; some are douglarised; and some maintain much of the cultural and religious norms of their foreparents, which are not viewed as being contrary to Western values and behaviours.

He writes: “Caribbean Indians have been shaped

by Indian subcontinent customs such as the Hindu religion, music, folklore, and Bollywood films.

Caribbean Indians have developed an inbetween status. They are not like Indians in India nor are they like Caribbean Creoles.

Instead, they have merged India and the Caribbean to produce a distinct and dynamic local entity.”

That first Indian footfall on May 5, 1838 at Plantation Highbury on the banks of the Berbice River had the romance of a beginning for all time.

The story of our journey through the world is still being written and Roopnarine’s book is an important chapter in that story.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

I

…charges by Nagamootoo t’s obvious Moses Nagamootoo’s lost whatever journalistic integrity Janet Jagan might have drilled into him when he’d served under her at the Mirror for donkey years. He’s now been reduced to a journeyman hack-apologist for the PNC Government he boasts he helped put into power. In his latest column in the Chronic, “TRUST AND THE TANGLED TIMES”, he predictably took the opportunity (created by him awarding himself a column while he yanked those of David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis!) to throw shade at Bharrat Jagdeo!

This time, it was about the Pradoville II allegations “where key PPP Government officials disgracefully and dishonestly helped themselves to posh residential State land”!! He didn’t mention that the other charges

by SOCU that have gone to trial, ALL four have been thrown out!! But why would he…his interest isn’t justice but REVENGE!! He’s happy as a ruminant digging his nose in swill. But more power to him – he has to earn his (very expensive) keep!

However, your Eyewitness thinks Nagamootoo crossed the line when he tried to illustrate “PPP corruption” with a section captioned “$20B EARNINGS”: “I would never forget the day when a young man, who was in the leadership of the PPP and had held a senior public service post, walked into my office to tell me that he was being investigated by the Police in relation to monies he had “earned”. “How much money are they looking at?” I asked him. Calmly, he answered: “$24 billion.”

Now this is a very nasty allegation to be digging up and phrasing unadulterated hearsay to make it appear the young PS admitted ‘earning’ $24 billion!!

Fact of the matter is that this was what SOCU claimed – against the PS’s public statement that it might’ve been the TOTAL REVENUES that passed through his account – but certainly wasn’t what had remained there as profits!

If Nagamootoo hadn’t read the reports in his Chronic (maybe he’s nauseated by his own propaganda?!), he definitely would’ve read the 2017 US State Department Report on human rights violations in Guyana issued last November. It stated that while there were accusations of the PS accumulating the billions from “money laundering and tax evasion” as of November “no legal case had been made”. That’s still the situation!

But it didn’t stop Nagamootoo from reviving it even as the only charge was for allegations that the young man hadn’t turned over documents to the Court! And was even allowed to proceed to Hugh Wooding to complete his law studies.

Maybe Nagamootoo would rather forget the Report because it repeated claims that he had directed that he had to “scrutinise” all Chronic’s headlines?

What a tangled web…! …and twisted reporting The Government’s scared stiff the GTU’s capitulation to their 12% offer versus their 40% demand might still be rejected since it has to be ratified by the membership. So, not surprisingly – since this is the PNC we’re dealing with – the attack dogs have been let loose at those they believe might question the “deal”.

But Nagamootoo’s Chronic was really reaching when it solicited a reaction from GTU’s Gen Secretary Coretta McDonald to a Muckraker’s CARTOON!! The cartoon had M Donald listening to the PPP while GTU President Mark Lyte frets that she wants to “strike” even though they got a good deal. Noting that she operates by strict labour principles McDonald stuck it to the Chronic: “Even if I’m aligned to a political party, what’s wrong with that? The Constitution gives us the right to associate and to be a part of, so I don’t know why all of this big fuss and fret and all this big glamour.”

But when Lyte was being firm, wasn’t he also accused of being “PPP”?? …or trump card?

While attacking McDonald for questioning the “deal”, Nagamootoo’s rag steered clear of former PNC MP Vanessa Kissoon, who explicitly questioned the “deal”.

She emphasised it ain’t over till it’s over!! Quo vadis, Nagamootoo?

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Auntie Netty in her natural element

By Lakhram Bhagirat

W

hile growing up I would always hear my grandmother, who was a vendor at the Bourda Market in Georgetown, talking about the bargains at the Parika Market, East Bank Essequibo. She would boast about the freshness of the produce, as well as the great bargains one would receive. I mean that alone was enough to grasp the attention of everyone she spoke to.

She, in my mind, was the unpaid spokesperson for the vendors operating at the Parika Market.

I remember my first visit to the Market. I was about 14 years old and I was amazed by the bountifulness of the produce as well as the vibrant colours.

With just over 4000 residents, Parika is a small community but a budding port since it serves as a gateway to Regions One, Two, and Seven. There is never a quiet day at Parika as it is always bustling with people from all over the world. If they are not there to get the fresh produce, they are coming from the Essequibo Coast or Bartica or some island in the mighty Essequibo River to transact business or do shopping.

It is always bargain galore at Parika Market and when I visited there on Thursday, I was overwhelmed by how little I would have to spend to get so much. However, it is not only the bargains that attract people to Parika but it is the spirit of the persons who operate there. You can never visit Parika and say that you would have had a bad experience or encounter with a vendor. They are truly the best set of people I have encountered in my travels around our beautiful Guyana.

Those familiar with the “Screaming Ladies Snackette” in the Stabroek Market would know what I mean when I say that the people of Parika have the sweetest tongues to make you want to shop more. You can always expect a topup on your vegetables or provisions.

According to the Regional Democratic Council, there are over 700 persons who own and operate stalls within the Parika and Hydronie Markets. That number excludes those who would set up shop on the shoulders of the road – they would often provide some of the best deals.

The busiest days for the vendors are Sundays and Fridays. Sunday Market at Parika is embedded in the rituals of thousands of West Siders as they would leave their

homes as early as 05:00h to get to the market in order to capitalise on the best deals. You can find almost everything at the market, from your daily groceries to haberdasheries, construction materials and even exotic animals. Parrots and macaws are the stars whenever it is mating season. You can get a stylish frock for as low as $500 from some vendors at the market and a shimmery pair of sandals to accessorise it starting at $350. I mean an entire outfit for under $1000. Now, isn’t that a sweet bargain?

When I visited the market on Thursday, I caught up with a few of the vendors. Almost everyone who is a regular knows Auntie Netty.

She has been selling fruits in the same spot for over 20 years. Prior to selling fruits, she – along with her husband, Gilbert DeSouza – used to vend ground provisions, but after he died that became tedious and she moved to fruits.

She would wake up early in the morning and travel to Georgetown to pick up her foreign fruits.

Sometimes she would also buy some local ones there as well and then travel back to Parika to vend.

She spends an average of 10 hours per day vending and at the age of 64 it is a feat not many can speak of.

She has no intentions of retiring soon since she feels that her active lifestyle is the reason she is not overcome with sickness.

“Business don’t be bright every day, but you got to make do.

Sometimes it up, sometimes it down, but I am able to save some money and feed myself so that is all that matters. I see this place change up so much, but it was better before because business was little more better, but it still good, man,” she tells me.

Her neighbour Angela who vends vegetables and ground provisions tells me that she has been at the market for over 30 years. She said as of recent there has been an increase in competition because the wholesalers would utilise the Hydronie Market for retailing as well and that affects the smaller man.

“We busy day here is Monday and Tuesday. Most days, it does be slow but that is how business is man,” she said.

The people at Parika remain resilient despite their challenges. So, if you have not had a chance to visit and interact with the people, I urge you to do so as soon as possible. Ciao. (Photos by Adam Baksh) (Times Sunday Magazine)

Angela serving a customer

As fresh as it gets- plantains being offloaded from a boat

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By Lakhram Bhagirat

I

f someone told Jason Lampley a few years ago, that he would give up his love for graphic designing and marketing to enter into the uncertain world of baking, then he would have definitely laughed at them. Now here he is, in a world where he is still trying to find his footing but is destined to leave his mark on the taste buds of every Guyanese and even those far afield.

Jason, along with his business partners Alan Ferreira and Roger Welch, recently opened Kupkake-inator Café located at Sheriff Street, Subryanville.

The name itself is one that would send English teachers into a frenzy, but rolls off the tongue perfectly and cements the business as a unique one. Jason says his former boss and marketing veteran, Alex Graham, was the one who came up with the name drawing inspiration from the movie “Cat in the Hat”.

The 34-year-old remembers how it all started in his small kitchen about four years ago. He said that a friend introduced him to baking and he quickly developed a liking for it, but never envisioned that he would make it his main source of income. At that time he was comfortable with being a graphics designer and building a career in marketing but his newfound hobby was too intense to ignore.

He would spend hours in his kitchen trying recipes and making his friends his guinea pigs. One of his close friends took the initiative of making a poster advertising cupcakes in his office and that resulted i n

his ent r y into the commercial baking

The Kupkake-inators, Jason (second left); Alan (centre) and Roger (right), with Nigel Hughes and Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes

world.

“He decided to create a flier and post it on his work place and sent me it and you have a sale and that I have to bake cupcakes to sell.

I told him that I never made anything to sell to anyone and I did it and it was very successful.

From then almost every week the Ministry of Health, particularly the Accounts Department, would order cupcakes and the business then took off from there,” he told me.

Jason said that they would have transitioned from just cupcakes to actual cakes and remembers visiting a friend in Trinidad who bakes cheesecakes on the side.

With no formal training in baking, Jason’s friend took him under her wing and taught him the art of making cheesecakes. With her recipes as the base, over the years, Jason would have improved and modified them to suit the Guyanese palette.

Guess what?

The cheesecakes at Kupkake-inator are to die for. They are light, fluffy and oh so satisfying. Jason experiments with the flavours, but my favourite is and remains the

Classic grilled chicken salad

cream liqueur flavoured ones.

“She never imagined I would caught on so well. There are times she came and helped me with sales and so. Most of the recipes are hers and I would have modified over the years and came up with my own flavour and the cheesecakes here are the best sellers and it is my favourite thing to bake,” he said.

Roger, over the years of their friendship, would have encouraged Jason to expand his business as his client list grew, but he was sceptical since it was a path he had not planned. Sometimes the hassle of balancing his full-time graphic designing job and his orders were so much that he would go to work late most days.

He tells me that there were days when it became so stressful that he wanted to throw in the proverbial towel and at one point he announced that his “ovens were closed”. It was a disappointing time for his clients, but they understood and after two months they begun asking him to do an order ever so often which resulted in him reopening his ovens.

Back to the idea of the café, Jason explains that Roger continued to encourage him and when a location was found for the business, he helped finance some of the equipment and aided in acquiring the space.

The Kupkakeinator Café officially opened its doors in September and is now a staple in people’s lives.

Every item available in the café is made from scratch with the finest ingredients available.

For Jason and his team, quality always surpasses quantity.

“Response has been great and over the years, I have built up a lot of clients and good customers who supported me and were excited for the café and it was overwhelming. Opening day, we were sold out and it is just a start. Our prices make us different, because you can get something made from scratch at a really affordable price.”

Jason’s other business partner, Alan is just 20 years old but a true master of the kitchen. He is the one that decides what comes out of the kitchen into the display case as well as how it is presented. He, like Jason, has no formal culinary training, but comes from a family of bakers.

He says from a young age he always was intrigued with creating things and would YouTube simple recipes and execute them. As time progressed so did the difficulty of the recipes. He did a stint at the Marriott as a cook and would have learnt various techniques and now incorporates them in his work at Kupkakeinator.

“Working with a chef I learned the tips and tricks of the trade there.

I like people critiquing my work and I am a bit of a perfectionist,” he said.

Kupkake-inator not only serves sweet treats but also classic breakfast, salads and sandwiches. But when you visit you cannot leave without a slice of cheesecake. Trust me when I say it is inexpensive, satisfying and totally worth the few extra ounces you’ll put on when you’re finished.

But hey you only live once, right? (Sunday Times Magazine)

The famous Cheesecake

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Sunset on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway

S

unrise and sunset has the ability to transport us from our worldly problems to a place where we become one with the rising or setting sun. The time we take to appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the sun is by far time well spent.

While describing the joys of looking at the setting sun John Sexton once said, "It is light that reveals, light that obscures, light that communicates. It is light I "listen" to. The light late in the day has a distinct quality, as it fades toward the darkness of evening. After sunset there is a gentle leaving of the light, the air begins to still, and a quiet descends. I see magic in the quiet

light of dusk. I feel quiet, yet intense energy in the natural elements of our habitat. A sense of magic prevails.

A sense of mystery. It is a time for contemplation, for listening - a time for making photographs.�

In Guyana we are exposed to a number of avenues to view either the rising sun or the setting sun and photographer Subhash Haimraj capitalizes on this. His shots of the sunrise and sunset are so intricately composed that even the minor details are not missed.

So let us take a journey through his lens and enjoy both the sunrise and sunset simultaneously. (Times Sunday Magazine) Bird flies into the sunset at Hague Backdam, West Coast Demerara.

Sunset at Perseverance Backdam, Essequibo Coast Sunset at Crane, West Coast Demerara

Demerara Sunset -Journey to Vreed en Hoop Stelling from Stabroek.

Sunrise on the Essequibo

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Roger Carry among some of his plants

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

he agriculture sector is dubbed as one of the most important sectors in any economy, given its ability to provide nourishment to us humans, yet the struggles of farmers are quite often downplayed. This is because many of us do not see the farmer rising before the crack of dawn or fighting

to ensure that the crops are well-irrigated or even coming up with the right methods to eradicate pests and maximise yields.

Since ancient times, humans have been planting and rearing what they eat and to date, this is a necessity in order to ensure our survival. Guyana has bountiful and fertile lands, and many people are taking

advantage of that. One of those persons is 46-yearold Roger Carryl.

Carryl grew up in a farming household in the village of Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara (WBD). Sugar cane is traditionally cultivated in the area, since the Wales Estate is located nearby. He remembers growing up in the village and going into the cane fields with his parents as they tend to the cane during the beginning and end of crops. He remembers playing in the trenches and ever so often, striking a few fishes.

Those are the memories of his childhood and he holds them dear.

When Carryl grew up, he decided that he too wanted to become a farmer and he began planting sugar cane at La Retraite, WBD. As the years went by, he acquired 25 acres of land and continued planting, taking his cane to the Wales Estate to be processed into sugar.

With the earnings

from his sugar cane farm, Carryl was able to start h i s

family and build a house where he now lives with his wife and four children.

“Growing up we had some cattle and so on, and you could develop yourself. From the cane money you could build a house and so, and that is what I do. But ever since they closed down Wales, things become really bad because we nah got no plan in place,” he said.

For Carryl, cash crop farming was the next avenue that was guaranteed to provide an income for him. He said he was literally forced by the circumstances to enter the cash crop arena because of the extreme lengths he had to go to, to ensure that his sugar cane reached the Uitvlugt Estate.

He explains that to transport one ton of cane from his farm to Uitvlugt cost $3000 and he would have t o

pay t h e harvester $2000 per ton. It requires 16 tonnes of cane to produce one ton of sugar for which he would be paid about $67,000. When added up, the expenses far outweighed the earnings, making sugar cane farming not feasible for him anymore.

“Before them man close the estate, the Government never come

Research & Extension Institute] people and t h e m just

Lettuce flourishing

and s i t down with we and let we get the dialogue on the way forward. Until now them never had a meeting with we farmers and we suffering here, but we got to survive and that is why plenty of them man ah convert them crop,” Carryl said.

He said that he only recently began converting his sugar cane farm into a cash crop farm, but could only afford to do five acres to date. He would have expended over $2 million for the conversion, which included purchasing new equipment and preparing his land.

“I had to grade down the land and plough and chip the place. I had to get mould and then buss

don’t c a r e and then them ah talk about green economy and grow you food.”

Apart from the lack of financial and technical assistance, Carryl said that they have to deal with animals damaging crops as well as the human factor. He explained that since he plants in the backdam persons would usually raid the farm in the night resulting in major losses and damage to the crops.

“To build a lil house there now is too much money. When was cane you didn’t have no problem. When you plant the cash crop, people thief it and then it also got the weather and so on. It hard to take care of the cash crop in this weather too,” he added.

Carryl plants lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, celery, parsley, pepper, ochro, bora, Roger’s and cabbage patch

the dam and put pipe to drain the land properly. All now I want to get a bulldozer and bulldoze the rest of the cane and plant rice, but money nah deh, bai. Nobody nah even come and say let we help you or this is how you can do it. NARI [National Agricultural

plantains in his former sugar cane fields. He has also converted the yard space at his home into a farm as well. He said that he enjoys farming and wishes people would appreciate the efforts of farmers, since they are the ones responsible for all the food. (Photos by Adam Baksh) (Sunday Times Magazine)

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…miniaturising sugar: Guyana’s historically largest

I

agricultural enterprise

ronically, just over a week ago, as “Agriculture Month” was launched, the nation had to grapple with the fact that all a mother could do was cry when her children woke in the middle of the night asking for some food. We heard that she would give them a cup of water because that is all she can afford to do, but she is just one of thousands of persons so affected and the common cause – the closure of several sugar estates without a contingency plan.

When the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNUAFC) coalition came into power in 2015 after promising sugar workers better conditions, it established a multimillion-dollar Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the state of the industry.

The report of the CoI was presented to the Government only to be

shelved along with several other reports.

In May of 2017, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder presented the White Paper on the future of the sugar industry and according to many, it was and still remains a gloomy future. The White Paper outlined a number of initiatives to “save the sugar industry” and among those initiatives was the closure of several estates over a period of time. However, the Government never rolled out a contingency plan to cushion the effects of the closures and the results have been borderline disastrous.

Last year, 1851 workers were sacked from the Skeldon Sugar Estate, 1181 from the Rose Hall Estate, 1480 from the East Demerara Sugar Estate and 251 from the Wales Sugar Estate in addition to the hundreds terminated in 2016. The closure of the four estates and

the displacement of the workers have had catastrophic impacts on the entire country, since many of the redundant workers are yet to be gainfully employed and their loss of purchasing power cascades in the economy.

The Government has been conducting some training with the sugar workers, but that training is very limited and still does not guarantee them a source of steady income. Some of those workers have received their severance packages, but there are some still waiting and fighting to get what remains of theirs.

Many of the workers have taken up odd jobs, working as labourers in stores for salaries way below what they are accustomed to. They work as security guards and as is the case of several of them from the Wales Estates, they are battling for their salaries from Sentinel Security

Cane cutting

Service. These men and women have no other choice than to work in whatever fields they can gain employment, since many of them do not have high school certificates nor are they literate.

The reality of the lack of employment opportunities does not seem to be settling in with the officials since we often hear speeches about efforts to cushion the effect and provide more jobs, but see very little action.

The White Paper identified that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) would offer the closed estates for sale while three estates would re-

Unit (SPU) which evaluated the viability of the closed estates and recommended that the estates remain operational in order to increase sale value. To accomplish this, the SPU negotiated a $30 billion bond facility with Republic Bank Limited.

But since the announcement of the bond, concerns have been raised about Government’s vision for the industry and the genuineness of its actions thus far, since that very $30 billion could have gone into restructuring the industry while keeping all of the estates open and GuySuCo’s workforce employed and engaged.

Ex sugar workers protesting for their severance pay

main operational since that would be more feasible.

“The process will result in improving the relationship with some cane cutters, estate staff and about 1710 private cane farmers. These adjustments mean that GuySuCo would be scaled-down into a more efficient entity that focuses on producing sugar to satisfy the domestic and foreign markets that provide preferential access to our sugar. This entails taking advantage of the opportunity to merge better performing lands to operate factories more efficiently,” Minister Holder said during his presentation in Parliament last year.

To handle the sale of the estates, the Government created the Special Purpose

The SPU is now in full control of the Wales, Skeldon, Rose Hall, and Enmore Estates.

Notwithstanding GuySuCo’s financial woes, some 14 companies hailing from as far as Canada and as near as Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana have expressed interest in purchasing the three sugar estates up for sale. A meeting with these investors and officials from the SPU was held on September 25, 2018. According to the Unit, they would have met with the executives to discuss taxes and permits, and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) is expecting that they would be able to sell the Rose Hall, Skeldon and East Demerara Estates by

next year.

The Unit is also accusing GuySuCo of misappropriating the monies released to it for the enhancement of its operations. The $30 billion syndicated bond with an interest rate of 4.75 per cent was intended to capitalise GuySuCo’s remaining estates. It subsequently emerged that part of the bond was used by GuySuCo to repay interest on another debt.

Despite this fiasco, GuySuCo claims it is well on its way towards achieving the modest targets set for second crop production. Yet, according to the Corporation, the Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates have achieved or exceeded weekly production targets less than half of the weeks they were in operation. The target per estate for the second crop is as follows: Uitvlugt – 10,780, Albion – 38,160 and Blairmont – 19,105 tonnes of sugar.

As the sugar industry continues to deteriorate, the people continue to suffer. Wales and Berbice continue to grapple with the reality of the closures.

Families there are very worried about where the next meal will come from and are living on measly earnings.

There are retrenched workers protesting for the remainder of their severance packages as promised.

There are families that continue to worry about the next meal, about where the next dollar will come from, about what will happen if disaster strikes. There are businesses that have to lay off workers because the sugar workers are not spending as they used to. The demand for goods is low while the supply is high. There are farmers who suffer losses because their cash crops spoil all because people cannot afford to buy food.

(Sunday Times Magazine)

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Pragmatic multiracial politics

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By Ravi Dev

W

N

…in cricket

o…your Eyewitness isn’t going into a tirade over the WI second loss to India in their twoTest series. He’s too dejected for that. It’s worse when they flatter to deceive; like when, in this second Test, they restricted India to a lead of just 56, and then collapsed for 127, giving their opponents a mere 72 runs to win the match and the series. It’s time once again to discuss whether we belong in Cricket Tests.

Contrast our performance with those in the shorter forms of the game – ODIs and T20 matches – and it’s clear that we don’t do too badly there. In fact, we’re downright competitive with any of the teams out there. So what is it about the long form of the game that makes us collapse like a house of cards? A while back, your Eyewitness suggested that Test cricket tests the players’ character…and he still believes this.

In his estimation then, for us to become competitive in Tests – or, yes, return to our glory days — West Indies cricket has to embark on building the character of its players, so as to enable them to stand up to the demands of a game that must be played across five days. So where do we begin?? We could do worse than return to playing 4-day matches under Test-like conditions between the several territories.

Time there was when each of the several regional teams was practically on par with the best Test teams in the world. It’s not a coincidence that it was the same time that we were ruling the roost in Test cricket.

But this was abandoned when the Franchise system was introduced into the 4-day competition in 2014, with glitzy team names like Guyana Jaguars and Barbados Pride. This was simply a not-toothinly disguised attempt to compete with CPL, and it should be no surprise that the “slam-bam-thank-youma’am” attitude permeates the now openly declared “Professional League” Test cricket takes a particular mindset… primarily the mental toughness to play each ball on its merit, and to bowl every ball to set up a batsman for that false stroke. This mindset isn’t suddenly going to manifest itself when we’re thrown into stadiums against teams that regularly play top quality domestic 5-day tournaments. India and its Ranji Cup has continued unchanged in its format since 1934, with only the teams increasing from 2 to the present 37!!

Sure, there will always be great Test players thrown up on sheer talent and innate good sense – like our present Jason Holder. But we can’t depend on this hit-or-miss approach, can we?

If we want to become better in Tests, as the Americans say in their inimitable style, we have to either “sh*t or get off the (Test) pot”! …on “Black is beautiful” When it comes to leading the way for us in the West Indies, when it comes to culture, you’ve got to hand it to the Jamaicans. From rebellions to reggae, to Rastafarianism, they have defined our unique civilisational world vision. We might have been colonised for a number of centuries, but we took the tools of the master to free ourselves, in the words of Brother Bob, “from mental slavery”.

So it was with more than a jolt of astonishment that your Eyewitness read about the recent survey which declared, “Skin bleaching shows that approximately 11 per cent of Jamaicans have bleached their skin.

The incidence of bleaching was higher among men, as 12.5 per cent bleached, compared to 8.8 per cent women.” And most pertinently, that skin bleaching was most prevalent in the 15-to-34-years-old age group! Meaning our future leaders!!

So what’s next? Caustic-soda hair straightening every Friday night? …at Mirror Nagamootoo learnt his journalism from Janet at the Mirror. So he knows opinions in columns – especially a satirical one like yours truly – aren’t the paper’s position.

But he claimed this on a story from the Muckraker your Eyewitness commented on!! As he does daily on the dailies!

Wanker!!

ith the funeral rites about to be read over the AFC at the LGE, there are once again calls for a “multiracial” party. Now, what is a “multi-racial” party?

Is it one in which the leaders are drawn from all or most of the various racial/ethnic blocs that constitute our polity? Is it one that has members drawn from all the various groups?

Do the proportions have to roughly mirror the population, or will any assorted agglomeration (like APNU/AFC) do?

Or does it mean that the interests of all the groups must be expressly articulated and represented? Should those interests be subsumed under some notion of a “national” interest?

Who defines that “national” interest? And so on.

In Guyana, all political parties before ROAR claimed they were “multiracial”. They took special pains to have individuals from the major race groups in their executive, and courted votes from across the spectrum. They constructed “national” manifestos. Yet, when it came to elections, the majority of the people invariably voted for one of the two major parties which were firmly identified with specific ethnic blocs – the PPP with Indians and the PNC with Africans. This even occurred with the

carefully crafted “multiracial” AFC in 2011 and 2015. So the question is posed again: “What is an “authentic” multiracial party?”

The question harks back to the roots of what constitutes “representation” in our “representative democracy”. The favoured approach from both the old Liberal and Marxist ideologies was the “representation of ideas”.

That is, once the interests of the group are articulated, then anyone could “speak” for the group. By constructing “national” platforms in personnel and content, the PPP, the PNC and the AFC claimed to be capable of speaking for “all”. Yet, based on the results of elections, it is obvious in some way that the people were getting “ethnic” signals as to which party better represented their interests.

ROAR’s precursor, Jaguar Committee for Democracy’s insertion into Guyanese politics occurred in the immediate pre-1992 years, and the free and fair elections of that year proved its thesis that “multiracial” voting remained the exception in Guyana. At that time, as articulated in our 1990 paper, “For a New Political Culture”, we proposed representative, professionalized, disciplined forces and temporary Shared Governance – segueing

into federalism – to address the ethnic concerns over control of state power. If the status quo were retained, our theory predicted ethnic violence, which unfortunately came to pass in 1997 and the following decade.

So how do we arrive at “multiracial” politics that can represent all the groups to their satisfaction? We thought it was self-evident that the parties that the various ethnic groups selected via their votes should come together and work on a programme that combined their several platforms.

We still believe that this is the way to begin, and then work towards a federal approach, which would need the trust engendered during a period of working together.

But a final piece of semantic confusion still remains, in addition to the need for political will. There still remains a distaste by the political parties to acknowledge they are “ethnically” based. The greatest irony is that this acknowledgement, coupled with the acceptance to work together, would result in “multiracial” governance, which, after all, is what they claim to be the goal of their politics. The “multiracial” party was supposed to only be a way-station to the “multiracial” government, wasn’t it?

A multiracial/mul-

tiethnic party must explicitly articulate the interests of the several constituent groups it purports to represent.

This can be done, as in the Democratic party in the US, by having specific “caucuses” for African and Hispanic voters.

There is no shame in this, or apologies to be made. It is now conceded that in addition to the old “representation of ideas,” there is the need for “representation by presence”, especially for those who have been excluded or have experienced unique defining experiences. Can’t we at least go this far in Guyana? We have quotas for women representatives.

“Representation by presence”, by its operation, has its own liberating potential. There are some who sincerely want to belong to “nonracial” parties, but I do not think we can create ever this unicorn in Guyana. Where has it been created? We have to work with the material we have: politics has to be pragmatic in the philosophical sense of the word.

Piece work for teachers

S

atiricus didn’t know how to react to the news about the teachers’ 12 per cent salary settlement. Like most Guyanese of a certain age, Satiricus had been a teacher for a while, right out of school. He had a soft spot for teachers from Brother Bob’s maxim, “Only he who feels it knows it”! He was headed to the Back Street Bar, and couldn’t wait to unload to the fellas.

“Budday, wha’ yuh worry ‘bout dem teacha fa?” asked Bungi to Satiricus’s question. “Dem bread done butta!”

“Yeah, Sato,” said Bungi in support. “Yuh t’ink dem care w’en all dem cane cutta get fiah?”

“The teachers are only trying to do what’s right for them,” observed Hari. “What’s wrong with that?”

“That’s right!” said Satiricus. “They need to make a decent living too, you know?”

“Not’ing na wrang wid da,” said Cappo. “But if de guvment can fin’ money fuh gi’e dem 12 per cent raise, how come dem cyaan fin’ money fuh pay cane cutta sev’rance?”

“Sato, 12 per cent na joke, yuh know! At

least dem teacha can buy food,” said Bungi heatedly. “But dem cane-cutta an’ dem family a sta’ve.”

“Why are you mixing the two situations, fellas?” said Hari. “Both are bad.”

“Bad? Bad?” Bungi almost shrieked. “Dem teacha get 12 per cent raise fuh wuk fram 9 to 3 anda shade!”

“An’ de bes’ abee get bin 5 per cent fuh piece wuk!” continued Cappo. “Wha’ mek dem na pay teacha fuh piece wuk?”

“Teachers’ piece work?” said Satiricus. “How would that work?”

“Budday, jus’ pay dem extra fuh how much mo’ pickney pass dem exam,” said Cappo.

“That’s interesting,” said Hari. “Like an incentive system. What you think Sato?”

“You guys don’t understand teaching,” replied Satiricus. “There are many intervening variables for kids passing their exams.”

“Budday, abee does call da ‘obstacle” in de cane fiel’,” said Bungi. “An’ dem does pay mo’ fuh clear obstacle.”

“Suh if some pickney dunce,” explained Cappo, “pay de teacha mo if dem pass dem exam.

Right now dem teacha guh keep de same dungke-dam attitude afta dem collec’ de 12 per cent!”

“That’s something to think about,” said Satiricus quietly.

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Shah Rukh Khan: I have never understood a script

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ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s script sense has been questioned several times in his more than two decade-long career. At an event on Tuesday evening, SRK said, “I never listen to scripts, I listen to the heartbeats of the people I work with.”

“At times, millennials chat with me and say things like why you let go of that script, that was such a great script.

Till date, I never understood a script.

And I can say this with confidence that I never understood the script but the script maker or the filmmaker,” the superstar added.

Shah Rukh spoke at the celebration of 20 years of his iconic romance Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Also present at the event were Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Karan Johar, Farida Jalal, Archana Puran Singh, Sana Saeed and many others from Bollywood.

Recalling the night when Karan

H

elicopter Eela actor Kajol, whose film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai completes 20 years today, recently appeared on Neha Dhupia’s chat show No Filter Neha. The second episode of the show had her getting all candid about her marriage to Ajay Devgn, her children not liking her movies and Karan Johar’s mini heart attack moment. What caught our attention was the revelation that not many approved of her wedding with Devgn, not even her father.

Kajol, who has been quite guarded about her personal life, said, “Nobody wanted us to get married besides his family and my family. My family also was iffy. My dad didn’t talk to me for a week when I told him I wanted to get married. It was because I wanted to

Johar narrated Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’s script to him, Shah Rukh Khan revealed he hated the story but said yes because he wanted to work with the filmmaker, who was making his debut with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. “Karan came and narrated an utterly nonsense crap story to me; which is certainly not the one that finally you people saw in the film. In his strange way Karan, the man with many words tried to impress me with his crap story,” Shah Rukh said as the audience erupted into laughter.

In hindsight, the Raees star feels it was better he didn’t understand the film’s script.

“So yes, I really did not understand the story when I signed in. and I am glad that I did not get into the story and just went ahead with the conviction of Karan,” Shah Rukh quipped.

(Indian Express)

get married. He was just like why do you want to get married, you’re so young and your career is doing so well and I was like but I want to get married. Ajay and I were very different people, so lots of people had reservations as to what we would be like as a couple and we were not very social even then. Not a lot of people had met us together or knew what we were like together.”

“We have survived because both of us have worked through it together and we have two kids. It’s almost like we have become like one person who have these two children like their arms,” she added.

Kajol and Ajay tied the knot on February 24, 1999. They were tagged as the most unusual couple of Bollywood as Ajay was shy and a quiet person and Kajol has always

been an outgoing person and the livewire of the Hindi film industry. The two now are the parents of daughter Nysa and son Yug. Further, in the chat, Kajol also mentioned how her children do not approve of her films and want her to act in a few ‘happy’ movies like Golmaal. “Both my children don’t like my movies. They don’t watch my movies. According to them, I cry too much in my films and I don’t do happy films so hence and therefore I should do more films like Golmaal,” said Kajol.

Adding to it, the actor also revealed how her fifteen-year-old daughter is very critical of her. She said, “According to her (Nysa), there are very few things I look good in.

Her taste is very classic so anything that is a little quirky or the things that I like – is a little quirky or a little loud.

She is like why can’t you watch this film quietly or why can’t you enjoy this film quietly, why do you have to cry, scream, clap or laugh.”

Kajol’s latest silver screen outing Helicopter Eela, also starring Neha Dhupia, didn’t manage to impress critics.

(Indian Express)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: There are so many misconceptions about cancer in our country

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ctor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who supported a Women’s Cancer Initiative (WCI) event here, says people generally need to be more aware about the disease as early detection can give them a better chance at a cure.

Aishwarya interacted with the media when she supported WCI’s Soul Stirrings event, hosted by Tata Memorial Hospital here on Tuesday.

The actor and former Miss World pointed out that there are many myths in the country about cancer as a disease.

“There are so many myths and misconceptions in our country that it is astonishing to realise and recognise that there are so many people even in this day and age who believe that a disease like cancer could possibly be contagious to us. That’s shocking, but to many it seems that’s a fact.

“That just boils down to lack of awareness, education, access to information, recognising what this disease is all about and the step you need to take as simple as early detection,” she

K

angana Ranaut says she has never got anything in her life without fighting for it, and she would not want her children to live the way she has. Kangana spoke to the media at the wrap-up party of her film “Manikarnika – The Queen of Jhansi” here on Monday.

Asked whether she feels there are any similarities in Rani Lakshmibai and in her own personality, the actress said: “I think her life was very tragic and she struggled a lot in her life. It’s not the kind of life which you will wish for somebody you like or you love at all.

“Similarly, I wouldn’t want my children to have the kind of life I have had.

I don’t know why but I had to fight lit-

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omanian model-actress Iulia Vantur, who is making her Hindi film debut with Radha Kyun Gori Main Kyun Kaala, says India as a country has a lot to offer and that the rising number of crimes against women in the nation is not what defines it.

Iulia was interacting with the media here at the poster launch of the film along with its director Prem R. Soni, producers Prerna Arora, Kashish Khan and Arjun N Kapoor and chief guest Raveena Tandon on Monday.

Radha Kyon Gori Main Kyon Kaala deals with the rape of a foreigner who visits India to know and understand Indian culture.

Since such incidents have happened

said.

Aishwarya said it is important to educate people and create awareness among them about cancer.

“Events such as these have come together to draw attention and raise awareness, increase dialogue, make information more accessible to people and have people coming for their regular check-ups for early detection because that in the course of action is referred to as a baby step, but it is the most important step to a possible cure of the disease when a patient has it.

“So, earlier detection gives you a higher chance at a cure and that’s a possibility that every person should humanly have a right to access. We hope this early detection of curable cancer in women will be an important component of the cancer control program in India.”

She applauded WCI’s event for supporting and taking care of various issues related to cancer, especially amongst underprivileged women.

(Indian Express)

erally for everything since I was born and that is the only similarity that I have with her (Rani Lakshmibai). I haven’t got anything without a fight in my life but I am neither proud nor ashamed of it.

“I am just okay with the way my life is, but if you ask me that do I want this for my children, then my answer would be ‘No’.”

Manikarnika – The Queen of Jhansi has faced a lot of trouble.

First, filmmaker Ketan Mehta claimed that the makers of Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi had hijacked his script, but his plea was dismissed.

Then, director Krish left the project. Kangana took over the director’s chair. Following that, actor Sonu Sood walked out of the film.

Reacting to all the difficulties faced during the film’s making, Kangana said: “Each film has its own journey and this film also had its journey. It is true that we faced some difficulties in the beginning while shooting the film but our team is so strong that we overcame those difficulties and that’s why we feel like doing celebration here.”

(Indian Express)

in real life, asked if Iulia ever had reservations about visiting India due to this reason, she said, “I was fascinated by India and its culture. I was really connected to it so, my love for India and its culture was much bigger than all these cases because India is much more than that.”

“These kind of cases are happening all over the world and unfortunately, in India they are happening more but that doesn’t define a nation. We don’t have to be scared of that. We have to fight against it by taking appropriate actions and this movie is also about taking action, doing something about it and not letting this kind of unfortunate incidents change your life completely.” (Indian Express)

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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atalie Portman has said the ongoing #MeToo movement forced her to rethink the definition of abuse. The 37-year-old actor hopes the campaign against sexual harassment, misconduct and assault will help prevent predatory behaviour.

“It was amazing how many things that I didn’t even categorise as abusive behaviour. I just thought it was (something that) made me really upset or made me uncomfortable. And now I think all of this reckoning has made me even be like, ‘Oh that wasn’t just a bad date, that was an abusive date’, ‘That wasn’t just an uncomfortable meet-

ing, that was an abusive meeting’…

“And has made me look at things differently and hopefully it’ll prevent this kind of behaviour when people are, men and women, are more aware of that,” Portman told Entertainment Tonight.

The Oscar-winning actor said she wants to help to build a better and different world for her children – Aleph, seven and Amalia, one.

“I have a girl and a boy, and I want both of them to grow up with different ideas of opportunity, of behaviour, of the options opened to them because both boys and girls are limited by a system that expects very, very specific things from boys and from girls.

Everyone’s options are limited because of this,” she said. (Indian Express)

N

icole Kidman says she had married Tom Cruise for love and tying the knot with the actor inadvertently shielded her from being sexually harassed in Hollywood.

The 51-yearold actor, who was married to Cruise for 11 years, said after their divorce in 2001, she had to start looking after herself.

“Being married to Tom Cruise at 22 is something I’m always reluctant to talk about, because I’m married now to the man who is my great love (Keith Urban), and it almost feels disrespectful.

“That said, I got married very young, but it definitely wasn’t power for me — it was protection. I married for love, but being married to an extremely powerful man kept me from being sexually harassed. I would work, but I was still very much cocooned. So

F

W

ill Smith, who came to India to attend an event and shoot a dance number in Karan Johar’s Student of The Year 2, visited Taj Mahal in Agra on Wednesday.

From the looks of it, the Hollywood star had great fun at the mausoleum.

He struck quite a few poses for the paparazzi and also clicked a photo with the security personnel there.

A few days back, Smith also posted a photo from the sets of Student Of The Year 2 where he could be seen doing a dance step with Tiger Shroff.

He captioned the image as, “On Set in Bollywood!! Shout out to the Cast & Crew of Student of the Year 2. Thanx for Letting Me Play. The female leads

A

ctor Rami Malek, who is playing the role of late singer Freddie Mercury in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, says it was a “gun-to-thehead” moment when he was offered the role.

Malek told The Guardian that he felt huge pressure upon realising that he would been offered the biggest role of his career so far.

“Kind of the gun-to-the-head moment, what do you do? And I like to think if it’s a fight or flight situation, I’m going to fight. The scariest endeavours that I’ve chosen to take in my life

Tara Sutaria and Ananya Pandey also shared a few behind the scene photos from the sets of the Punit Malhotra directorial.

Recently, at an event in New Delhi, Will Smith said at one point in his life, he had decided he never wanted to be broke again and set himself a goal to be the best movie star in the world.

On the big screen, Smith has regaled cinegoers with movies like Hitch, I am Legend, I, Robot, and Men in Black I, II, & III. He even featured in the recent Netflix film Bright. He has also worked on three biopics — Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness and Concussion.

(Indian Express)

have been the most fulfilling and rewarding. And this has proven to defend that equation.”

Malek also discussed whether the film tackles Freddie Mercury’s battle with AIDS, after critics feared that the film would “whitewash” the singer’s battle with the virus that eventually claimed his life.

He said: “What’s the nature of celebrating a life? Definitely not avoiding his death in any way, or what caused his death, which is the AIDS virus. But I think if you don’t celebrate his life, and his struggles, and how complicat-

Hollywood 49

when I came out of it at 32, 33, it’s almost like I had to grow up,” Kidman told The Cut magazine.

She touched upon the spread of the #MeToo movement but asserted that she does not want to name and shame her harassers.

“Of course I’ve had #MeToo moments — since I was little! But do I want to expose them in an article? No. Do they come out in my work?

Absolutely.

I’m open and raw. I want to have my well of experience and emotion tapped into, used — and I’m not just talking about sexual harassment. I’m talking about loss, death, the full array of life.

But it has to be by the right people so it’s not abused again,” Kidman said.

The actor revealed she is making a movie with Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie about Fox News honcho Roger Ailes, who became an adviser to the Donald Trump campaign in 2016 after he resigned from the media outlet amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

(Indian Express)

or the International Day of the Girl Child, which is on Thursday, Disney has launched a global video series offering advice and inspiration on achieving success for the next generation of leaders around the globe.

The #DreamBigPrincess video series, produced and directed by young women from the UN Foundation’s Girl Up initiative, shares the stories of 20 trailblazing women across technology, entertainment, medicine, law, sports, arts, science, fashion and politics to show the next generation what is possible if you dream big, read a statement.

“There’s a line in ‘Mary Poppins’., where she says anything is possible, even the impossible. I think that really symbolizes what dreaming big is all about, the idea if you want something big enough that the universe is going to conspire to give it to you,” said Emily Blunt.

“Dreaming big is one of the most important things any of us can do – to keep aiming higher,” says Kathleen

Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm, who was interviewed for the series by Maud Webster, age 16, from the UK. “The #DreamBigPrincess series is giving voice to a group of talented young women, helping them tell stories that kids can learn from, whatever their ambition.”

Each video will be shared across Disney’s global media platforms as part of a campaign to unlock up to a $1 million donation to Girl Up, an initiative of the UN Foundation to support girls’ leadership. Spanning a host of professions, accomplished women share their tips for success in the 20-part series.

Some of the names apart from Blunt and Kennedy are Asmaa Boujibar, Ashima Narain, Blanca Treviño, Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Jennifer Lee, Karen Walker and Martina Stoessel.

Through Disney’s collaboration with Girl Up, the #DreamBigPrincess campaign aims to make a tangible difference for girls who face challenges in achieving their dreams.

The initiative will run until November 20. (Indian Express)

ed he was, and how transformative he was – and wallow instead in the sadness of what he endured and his ultimate death – then that could be a disservice to the profound, vibrant, radiant nature of such an indelible hu-

man being.”

Based on the story of the band Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody will have its world premiere at London’s Wembley on October 23. (Indian Express)

50 SPORT

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Regional Super50 Tournament…

Jaguars sink Canada for 5th straight win – Windies B trounce Volcanoes

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aymon Reifer hit his second straight half-century to fortify the Guyana Jaguars’ hold on the top spot with a four-wicket victory over Canada at

the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Monday.

Reifer hit five fours and one six in an unbeaten 61 from 73 balls to collect his third half-century of the Tournament, as

the Jaguars successfully chased 206 for victory to log their fifth straight win.

Reifer shared a 79run partnership for the fifth wicket with wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble to get the Jags back on course, after they stumbled to 96 for four in the 20th over.

After Bramble, whose 44 came off 40 balls, and Ricardo Adams were dismissed in the space of seven balls, Reifer found Romario Shepherd a steady ally and they ushered the Jaguars to victory with 65 balls remaining.

Nitish Kumar led Canada’s batting with 51 off 72 balls and there were a handful of other batsmen who got starts without carrying on, as the North American side reached 205 for seven off their allocation of 50 overs.

The most stable period of play for Canada came when Dutta and his captain, David Jacobs added 62 for the seventh wicket.

Jacobs was not out on 34, Ravindu Gunasekera made 34, Dutta got 29 and Navneet Dhaliwal added 20.

Veerasammy Permaul took 2-26 from 10 overs to lead the Jags’ bowling.

Guyana’s Imlach stars for Windies B against Volcanoes

SCOREBOARD Windward Islands Innings (50 overs maximum) DS Smith b Charles 0 T Theophile c Smith b Holder 8 KA Edwards lbw b Joseph 2 KAR Hodge c Smith b Joseph 78 RO Cato c †Imlach b Smith 8 A Athanaze b Royal 2 EWJ Stewart † c †Imlach b Barnes 56 RD John c Kallicharan b Holder 44 S Shillingford (c) c †Imlach b Joseph 7 DE Johnson not out 2 LM Edwards not out 3 Extras (b 5, lb 4, nb 2, w 6) 17 TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 4.54)227/9 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (DS Smith, 0.5 ov), 2-10 (T Theophile, 5.1 ov), 3-10 (KA Edwards, 6.1 ov), 4-35 (RO Cato, 10.5 ov), 5-40 (A Athanaze, 11.2 ov), 6-135 (EWJ Stewart, 35.1 ov), 7-211 (KAR Hodge, 47.3 ov), 8-212 (RD John, 48.1 ov), 9-223 (S Shillingford, 49.2 ov) BOWLING: BNL Charles (102-30-1), CK Holder (8-2-372), AS Joseph (10-0-54-3), OF Smith (6-0-36-1), J Royal (100-30-1), BO Barnes (6-0-31-1)

West Indies B Innings (target: 228 runs from 50 overs) K Simmons c Athanaze b Johnson 0 K Melius c LM Edwards b Hodge 0 KA Kallicharan c †Stewart b Hodge 18 TA Imlach † not out 57 C Cooper c †Stewart b LM Edwards 10 BO Barnes c Shillingford b LM Edwards 8 OF Smith b LM Edwards 64 AS Joseph c Hodge b LM Edwards 15 J Royal not out 44 Extras (b 5, lb 2, w 6) 13 TOTAL (46.5 Overs, RR: 4.88) 229/7 Did not bat: CK Holder, BNL Charles (c) Fall of wickets: 1-0 (K Simmons, 0.6 ov), 2-0 (K Melius, 1.2 ov), 3-40 (KA Kallicharan, 11.4 ov), 4-62 (C Cooper, 21.2 ov), 5-80 (BO Barnes, 23.1 ov), 6-150 (OF Smith, 33.6 ov), 7-166 (AS Joseph, 37.3 ov) BOWLING: DE Johnson (6.5-2-45-1), KAR Hodge (10-3-15-2), T Theophile (8-1-49-0), LM Edwards (10-047-4), S Shillingford (5-0-35-0), A Athanaze (7-0-31-0)

Former West Indies Under-19 wicketkeeper/batsman Tevin Imlach scored an undefeated half century playing for the West Indies B team in this year’s Regional Super50.

Playing at historic Queen’s Park Oval, the defending champions, Windward Islands Volcanoes batting first managed only 227-9 in their 50 overs. The Volcanoes had a horrific start with the score on 40-5 in the 12th over. However, former West Indies Under-19 Captain Emmanuel Stewart, Windies B innings and dous bowling form pickRyan John and all- was once again in the ing up 4-47 in his allotrounder Kaveem Hodge thick of things as he was ted 10 overs and Kaveem offered resistance with involved in an unbroken Hodge, another left-arm scores of 56, 44, and 78 eight-wicket partner- spinner, bowled economrespectively. ship with Jeavor Royal. ically finishing with figSpeedsters Alzarri Imlach and Royal put on ures of 2-15 in 10 overs.

Joseph and Chemar 63 runs together to take The Windies B team Holder bowled brilliant- their team to victory with have managed their secly for the West Indies B 19 balls remaining in ond win in this Regional team, who were confi- the innings. Dependable Super50 while defending dent in chasing down the Imlach was not out on champions Windwards modest total set by the 57 from 110 deliveries have continued their defending champs. The with Royal being the oth- losing ways with their duo grabbed 3-54 from er not out batsman on 44 third successive defeat.

10 overs and 2-37 from 8 from 38 balls. Left-arm (Brandon Corlette) overs respectively. spinner Larry Edwards Chasing 228 for vic- continued his trementory, the West Indies B team lost young opening batsmen Keagan Simmons and Kimani Melius 26-2), R Adams (9-0-40-1) Canada Innings (50 for ducks in the overs maximum) Guyana Innings (target: first over of the NS Dhaliwal c Rutherford 206 runs from 50 overs) chase without a b Shepherd 20 TA Griffith run out (Brar) 9 run being scored.

R Gunasekera b Lewis 34 SE Rutherford b Heyliger 27 Windies B conNR Kumar c Johnson LR Johnson (c) c Gunasekera tinued to stumble b Permaul 51 b Dutta 37 as they were reBS Adhihetty b Permaul 2 CD Barnwell c Dhaliwal b Dutta 9 duced to 70-5 in H Thaker c †Bramble b Adams 15 RA Reifer not out 61 the 24th over as D Heyliger b Pestano 7 A Bramble † c Eranga the target seemed DJ Jacobs (c) † not out 34 b Dhaliwal 44 distant. With only five wickets in N Dutta run out (Barnwell) 29 R Adams b Dutta 1 the shed, Odean S Brar not out 1 R Shepherd not out 12 Smith, who is Extras (lb 5, w 7) 12 Extras (b 1, lb 3, nb 1, w 3) 8 more known for TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 4.1) 205-7 TOTAL (39.1 Overs, RR: 5.31) 208/6 his aggressive Did not bat: GDR Eranga, Did not bat: C Pestano, fast bowling, arSalman Nazar RA Lewis, V Permaul rived at the batFall of wickets: 1-38 (NS Fall of wickets: 1-16 (TA Griffith, ting crease with Dhaliwal, 10.6 ov), 2-86 (R 4.4 ov), 2-46 (SE Rutherford, Imlach as the Gunasekera, 23.6 ov), 3-89 10.6 ov), 3-79 (CD Barnwell, (BS Adhihetty, 24.5 ov), 15.2 ov), 4-96 (LR Johnson, 19.6 duo shared 80 4-127 (H Thaker, 35.1 ov), ov), 5-175 (A Bramble, 33.4 runs in a sixth5-131 (NR Kumar, 36.6 ov), ov), 6-178 (R Adams, 34.4 ov) wicket partner6-138 (D Heyliger, 40.1 ov), BOWLING: GDR Eranga (8-1-38ship. Smith bat7-200 (N Dutta, 48.5 ov) 0), NR Kumar (6-0-26-0), N Dutta ted with intent as BOWLING: C Pestano (10-1(10-0-41-3), D Heyliger (3-0-23he led the fight38-1), RA Reifer (5-0-23-0), RA 1), Salman Nazar (4-0-24-0), R back, scoring a Lewis (6-0-30-1), R Shepherd Gunasekera (1-0-9-0), S Brar (4belligerent 64.

(6-0-24-1), SE Rutherford (40-22-0), NS Dhaliwal (3.1-0-21-1) Imlach contin0-19-0), V Permaul (10-0ued to anchor the

SCOREBOARD

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Regional Super50 Tournament…

SPORT 51

Guyana Jaguars lead Super50 table – Dhaliwal, Pooran and Barnwell lead the runs

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ith 13 matches (semi-finals and final included) remaining in the Regional Super50 Tournament, the Guyana Jaguars are comfortably poised at the top of the table with 25 points in six matches, being victorious on five occasions with only one match lost.

Leading the batting chart with the most runs, Canada’s Navneet Dhaliwal has 271 runs in six innings with Nicholas Pooran in second position, scoring 258 runs in five innings with a staggering average of 51.60.

S e a s o n e d Guyanese allrounder Christopher Barnwell has been the shining light for the Jaguars scoring 256 runs at an outstanding average of 64. His highest score was the unbeaten 99. Jonathan Carter is fourth on the list with 243 runs, followed by Jamaican duo Jermaine Blackwood (241) and John Campbell (232).

Dependable Jaguars allrounder Raymon Reifer (217) and Guyanese opener Trevon Griffith (207) are the other top batsmen in

the Super50. There are five centuries in the Super50 thus far: Chris Gayle (122); Devon Smith (132); Chanderpaul Hemraj (103); Jermaine Blackwood (100) and GROUP A Marlon Samuels (103).

TEAM M W L T N/R PT NRR Nicholas Pooran and Christopher Barnwell have the Guyana 6 5 1 0 0 25 1.374 most sixes in the tournament with 11 and 10 respectively.

Trinidad & Tobago 5 4 1 0 0 18 0.656 Surprisingly, 5 2 2 0 1 10 -0.843 Canadian left arm West Indies B bowler Galkandage 6 1 4 0 1 7 -0.551 Don Romesh Eranga Windward Islands leads the bowling 6 1 5 0 0 4 -0.943 charts with 17 wick- Canada ets to his name with his best bowling figures being GROUP B 6-21 at an excellent economy rate TEAM of 4.38.

M W L T N/R PT NRR Larry Edwards has 6 4 1 0 1 21 0.646 Jamaica 13 wickets while the consistent Jaguars off-spinner, Ramaal Combined Campuses 5 3 2 0 0 15 0.853 Lewis has 12 wickets at an averand Colleges age of 15.16 with an economy rate 6 3 2 0 1 15 -0.036 of 3.91. Veteran left-arm Jamaican Barbados spinner Nikita Miller, along Leeward Islands 6 1 3 0 2 8 -0.75 with Guyanese pace ace Clinton 5 1 4 0 0 5 -0.733 United States of America Pestano, has 11 wickets each.

Pestano had an unforgettable game when he picked up a the Super50 have taken five-wicket hauls: 38); Leeward Islands’ Jeremiah Louis (5hat-trick against Trinidad and Eranga (6-21); USA’s Elmore Hutchinson 33) and Windward Islands youngster Alick Tobago Red Force. Five bowlers in (5-42); Barbados Pride’s Kevin Stoute (5- Athanaze (5-45). (Brandon Corlette)

Regional Super 50 Points Table

Hemraj’s century highlights Mayweather tells Enmore 100-Ball tournament Nurmagomedov "come into my world" T

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Khabib Nurmagomedov and Floyd Mayweather have both defeated Conor McGregor

oxer Floyd Mayweather has told UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov to "come into my world" and make a bout happen that he believes will earn him more than his fight with Conor McGregor.

The American, 41, beat McGregor in August 2017 in a fight that generated more than £450m and earned him £210m.

Nurmagomedov, after defeating the Irishman on his return to UFC, then called out Mayweather himself.

"When I face Khabib, of course I am getting a nine-figure payday," he said.

"More than the McGregor fight.

Probably $100m more - I'm going to say between $110m and $200m (more) guaranteed."

Nurmagomedov, 30, extended his unbeaten mixed martial arts record to 27-0 with his 6 October victory against McGregor, but former fiveweight world champion Mayweather (50-0) says any bout between the two

will happen in the boxing ring.

"We fighting," he told TMZ. "I'm my own boss, so I can't say what's going on at Khabib's end, but at my end we can make it happen.

"I'm Floyd Mayweather. I'm the A-side, you call me out you come into my world.

"I don't know no other fighter that has done the numbers I have done. I don't know any fighters that have made the money I have made, so he called me out - come into my world, make it happen."

However, Mayweather warned the Russian there must be no repeat of the melee that followed his defeat of McGregor in Las Vegas.

"Of course we know Vegas is the fighting capital, and after the fight you have to conduct yourself like a true professional," said Mayweather.

"Not just in the ring, but outside the ring also - you must conduct yourself like a professional." (BBC Sport)

he Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) 100-ball cricket tournament got off to a rousing start on Sunday with 10 games across five venues on the East Coast of Demerara.

In the preliminary games being played in a round-robin format across four groups, the highlight of day one’s action was Gobinraj Hemraj’s magnificent 111 (11x4 and 5x6) against Beehive SC at Strathavon Ground.

At Strathavon, the home side defeated Mahaica SC by 10 wickets.

Batting first, Mahaica SC made 31 all out (11.3 overs), with U-19 spinner Kevin Latif grabbing 4-4 off his allotted three overs. Strathavon SC then proceeded to chase down their target by scoring 37 without loss from their four overs.

In game two, Strathavon made 179 for 2 from their allotted 100 balls as they defeated Beehive SC by 93 runs.

Hemraj, brother of West Indies player Chanderpaul Hemraj, plundered triple figures while Mohan Ronaid was left unbeaten on 30.

Beehive SC were then restricted to 89 for 9 as Dinesh Vivikanand contributed 31 not out – he was the most substantial scorer. Hemraj and Ronald returned with the ball to grab three wickets apiece for 10 and 13 runs respectively.

Over at Fairfield, the hosts defeated Beehive by seven wickets. Beehive batted first and made 92-7 as H Samlall top-scored with 36 while Richard Chatura and Walter Byrne took two wickets apiece.

Fairfield then chased down the target and scored 97 for 3 (12 overs) with Chatura scoring 43.

Fairfield SC defeated Mahaica SC by seven wickets. Mahaica SC batting first, made an impressive 124 for six wickets (100 balls). Scoring for

Gobinraj Hemraj after he scored his century

them were Yeudister Persaud (43) and Darshan Persaud (40) not out as Chatura took three wickets for 17.

Fairfield SC then returned to make light work of the total set before them, as they made 126 for 3 (11.3 overs) with Wazim Mustapha scoring 51 and Yudister Persaud claiming 2-13 (2 overs).

In other results, Enterprise B defeated Enmore CCCC B by 6 wickets, then Enterprise A thrashed Paradise SC by 10 wickets. Lusignan A and B defeated Enterprise and LBI respectively.

At Enmore, the home side defeated Mahaica Cavaliers by nine runs; they then got past Lusignan East by 75 runs.

52 sport

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Evin Lewis pulls out of limited-overs leg of India tour

Hard work has paid off — Girlz Reprinted from Jamaica Observer

F

Evin Lewis (ESPNcricinfo)

O

pener Evin Lewis has withdrawn from the limited-overs leg of West Indies' tour of India, citing personal reasons. Kieran Powell will replace him in the ODI squad while Nicholas Pooran, who last played for West Indies in 2016, will take his place in the T20I squad.

Lewis' absence is a major blow to the ODI line-up that does not include Chris Gayle or Andre Russell. Gayle, who is currently playing in the Afghanistan Premier League and will join the T10 league after that, had made himself unavailable for selection for the India and Bangladesh tours. Russell was picked for the T20Is but not the ODIs because he "has been ruled out of all 50-over cricket due to injury".

Lewis had turned down a whiteball contract offered to him earlier this month, before being named in both the ODI and T20I squads for the India tour. Powell's ODI record, meanwhile, isn't encouraging: he has 901 runs in

38 innings at an average of 23.71 and a strike-rate of 78.27.

Left-arm quick Obed McCoy, who found a place in the T20I squad, has now been added to the ODI squad as well, as cover for Alzarri Joseph, who "remains under observation for his return to full fitness" according to a Cricket West Indies release. Joseph continues to recover from a stress fracture of the back suffered late last year.

McCoy's left-arm variety and slower cutters stood out even as the rest of the St Lucia Stars faded away in the CPL earlier this year. He played only seven games for Stars but ended as their joint-highest wicket-taker, with nine wickets at an economy rate of 7.8.

Pooran, Lewis' replacement in the T20I squad, had a productive CPL 2018 as well. He had scored 267 runs in 10 innings for Barbados Tridents at an average of 33.37 and a strike-rate of 144.32.

The limited-overs series begins with the first ODI in Guwahati on October 21.

RISCO, USA — After putting in many hours, arduous workouts and mind-cramping focus in an effort to qualify for the 2019 Fifa Women's World Cup, the Reggae Girlz have finally done it.

The dream was realised courtesy of a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over Panama in the Concacaf Women's Championship thirdplace play-off after both

we are now celebrating the reward of our labour.

“I would like to say congrats to my teammates, the coaches and everybody involved for what we have done for Jamaica and we hope this will have a big impact on the younger players coming up and even those around the world who are aspiring to achieve big things but are struggling at the moment,” Plummer told the Jamaica Observer.

loss for words.

“It hasn't hit me as yet as much as it should, but just being here and being a part of this entire cycle and seeing how we started and how we have improved in just about five months is amazing.

“It is just how much we have overcome and achieved in such a short time and for me and any soccer player this is the biggest accomplishment aside from actually winning the World Cup. Once we got through the

Reggae Girlz book ticket to World Cup (Photo: loopjamaica.com)

teams had played to a 2-2 stalemate in full and extra time on a cold and rainy night in Frisco, Texas, yesterday.

With the victory, the Jamaicans achieved their best-ever finish at the championships surpassing their previous best of fourth in 2006, and by extension became the first Caribbean team to qualify for the showpiece event in women's football.

Tears rolled down the cheeks of talented football players as they made their way back to the dressing room in celebration of their historic accomplishment.

Those tears of joy later gave way to jubilant cheers as they sang the National Anthem before skipping to the team anthem Strike Hard by the Marley brothers.

Captain Konya Plummer is hoping that their demonstration of commitment and patriotism to Jamaica will inspire others.

“The feeling is unbelievable; we went out and did what we had to do and created history, so I am just speechless right now. I am just extremely happy that after putting in the hard work we have accomplished what we set out to and

“We just have to refocus and get ourselves together to go to France because whatever we do there will also be a part of history, so we just want to go there and continue to write our destiny,” she added.

Twenty-seven-yearold Sashana Campbell, who recently made a return to the programme, was at a loss for words by the accomplishment, as, in an earlier interview, she had told this newspaper that this might be her last cycle with the team.

“To be honest, it hasn't really hit me just yet, it is like I am numb to it, so maybe when I wake up tomorrow it will really sink in that we really created history.

“This is everything that I have always dreamt about. It was my number one goal and to see it come to fruition is very huge because it is like the final piece of the puzzle for me in football, having played in college, professionally and now heading to the World Cup, what more could I ask for,” she asked.

Overseas-based Allyson Swaby, who along with her younger sister Chantelle, has played crucial roles in the team, was also at a

Caribbean phase I was all-in and I told myself that there is no turning back because it was all or nothing and I was confident that we could do it and here we are now celebrating history,” she noted.

For 25-year-old winger Ashleigh Shim, there was never a doubt that the team could achieve this feat.

“The Caribbean tournament was an important tool for us to mark ourselves as champions.

We knew we were capable but we also needed to show Jamaica — both the average Jamaican, who isn't familiar with women's football and corporate Jamaica — that we were committed to seeing our qualification through to the World Cup. “So it is an amazing feeling right now; this tournament helped catch the attention we need to be fully supported; we have shown that we have a real product that we can use to market Jamaican football. We are grateful to all those who supported us and everyone who played a role in making this tournament successful for us,” Shim stated.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

UAE to play their first T20I against Australia in Abu Dhabi U

AE will play their first T20I against Australia, by hosting them in Abu Dhabi on October 22.

It precedes Australia's three-T20I series against Pakistan in the UAE that starts from October 24.

The game was handed T20I status after both Cricket Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board sanctioned the move. It will start at 2pm local time at the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium (Oval 1) ground, with free entry to the ground.

"We are delighted to be in a position to announce this fixture and we are extremely grateful to the ICC for their support in accrediting the Abu Dhabi Oval for T20 international cricket at such short notice," Zayed Abbas, Emirates Cricket Board spokesperson said. "Our thanks also go out to Cricket

Australia for approaching this opportunity so positively, and especially to the Pakistan Cricket Board for permitting this match during their home tour in the UAE with Australia. It has been an incredible effort from

RHTY&SC congratulate Pestano

T

he Patron, P r e s i d e n t , Executives and Members of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC), MS, wishes to congratulate club member Clinton Pestano on his remarkable achievement of taking a hat-trick for Guyana versus Trinidad.

Pestano’s hat-trick changed the course of the match for Guyana and was made even more special and memorable as it featured a trio of West Indies batsmen.

Lendl Simmons, Keiron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo are three of the biggest names in West Indies cricket.

Pestano’s success for Guyana at the senior level has been a long while in the making. Clinton has been a very regular performer for the Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets First Division Team over the years with both bat and ball. There have been moments of frustration and thoughts of quitting the game when he was not considered for selection, but he was always urged to keep his faith in God by Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, who serves as a mentor to him.

Pestano’s hat-trick is the first by a Berbician

fast bowler and is the start of a long and successful career for Guyana.

The entire membership of Guyana’s leading youth and sports club would like to reassure Pestano that he has their full support, unconditional love, and he is always in their prayers.

RHTY&SC’s formula for success is sheer hard work, honesty, belief in the work we do, faith in the God we serve and to always remain humble at all times and we would like to remind Pestano to continue following the formula that has brought huge success to him and the Club. We would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Farfan & Mendes Ltd, Bakewell, Pepsi, Gizmos & Gadgets in the career of Pestano, and it is only a matter of time before our promising starts Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, and Junior Sinclair join him in the Guyana team.

The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would also like to extend best wishes to Captain Leon Johnson and the rest of the Guyana Team for a successful conclusion to the CWI Super50 Tournament.

Pestano would be honoured on his return to Guyana for his historic achievement.

all parties to bring this

match to fruition."

Waleed

Bukhatir,

UAE chief selector, said: "This match will provide an exceptionally good test for our players. We need them to be put under pressure and for them to focus more intently by being challenged by higher ranked, leading teams within our game. To do so it is vitally important for the Full member countries, and the ICC to support and provide the Associates with such opportunities."

UAE have played 26 T20 internationals with nine wins and 17 losses.

Their last T20I assignment was against PNG at home in April 2017, when they swept the series 3-0. (ESPNCricinfo)

54 Sport

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Fly Jamaica on board for GSCL Sprint king Bolt Inc Prime Minister’s Cup 2 rejects Malta football offer A

fter the first successful tournament, Fly Jamaica has thrown its support behind the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc as it prepares to stage the Prime Minister’s Cup 2, which is set to commence on October 19 in Georgetown.

At a simple ceremony on Monday at the entity’s office in Ogle, Fly Jamaica Ticket Office Marketing Coordinator Patricia Lewis presented the cheque to Mario Allicock of GSCL Inc, and stated that Fly Jamaica was always serious about its corporate responsibility and was happy to give back to society.

Lewis congratulated the GSCL Inc for their efforts and wished the teams well, while Allicock expressed gratitude on behalf of the GSCL to the company as the tournament promised to be exciting.

The tournament will be played with open and masters’ categories: in the open segment, the winning team will take home G$700,000 and runners-up G$100,000, while in the masters’ category, the champion team will be given G$600,000 and the runners-up will have to settle for

S

ydney , Australia (AFP) — Sprint superstar Usain Bolt has turned down a contract from Maltese champions Valletta and will remain in Australia to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer, his agent said.

The eight-time Olympic champion has been on trial with A-League club the Central Coast Mariners since arriving Down Under in

to Brisbane Roar. With no contract, Bolt is not eligible for selection.

Club chief executive Shaun Mielekamp said this week the Jamaican “will continue his indefinite training period ... until any further notice”.

Reports suggest the Mariners are waiting for governing body Football Federation Australia to decide whether it will contribute to a potential Aus$3 million (US$2.1 million) offer to the

Fly Jamaica Ticket Office Marketing Coordinator Patricia Lewis presents the cheque to Mario Allicock of GSCL Inc

G$100,000.

Some of the venues identified for the playing of preliminary matches are the GNIC SC, Muslim Youth Organisation, Gandhi Youth Organisation, Demerara Cricket Club, Malteenoes Sports Club, Eve Leary, and Everest.

Among the teams battling for supremacy in the open segment are Wales Challengers, Enterprise Rebel, Hill Foot Vipers, Farm All-stars, Speedboat, Success, Regal AllStars, Corriverton, Bartica

All-Stars, SVC and Booths XI. The masters’ category includes Albion Masters, Regal Masters, Mike’s Wellman, Enterprise Masters, Ontario Masters, Narine Masters, Florida Guyana, Tropical Spring Masters, Parika Defenders and Fishermen Masters.

Regal Masters and Speedboat (open) will be preparing to defend their championship titles. The tournament will culminate on October 21 at the Everest Cricket Club.

Usain Bolt (Photo: goal.com)

August.

He scored two goals in a pre-season friendly last Friday but is yet to be offered a deal, with cashedup Valletta dangling a two-year trial-free contract to entice him away earlier this week.

But Bolt's agent Ricky Simms said he had opted against a move to the Maltese Premier League team, which is backed by a group of investors from the Sanban Group in the United Arab Emirates.

“There is a lot of interest in Usain playing football,” he told ESPN. “We regularly receive similar approaches. I can confirm Usain does not wish to pursue this opportunity in Malta.”

Valletta chief executive Ghasston Slimen told the broadcaster: “We wish Usain Bolt all the best with his football career. The Valletta FC offer is always on the table.”

Australia's domestic A-League season starts this weekend, with the Mariners in action on Sunday away

100m world record holder.

Sydney's Daily Telegraph has reported Bolt and Mielekamp sat down for a coffee in the wake of the Malta offer for clarity on his future.

It said the 32-yearold, who regards Australia as a second home, might consider accepting less money if it means locking in a contract.

Mariners captain Matt Simon dismissed suggestions the chronicles of Bolt were distracting the squad ahead of their A-League opener.

“He's been here for a couple of months now, so everywhere we go with Usain, everyone's talking about him,” Simon told reporters.

“We've just been down to business, concentrating on the season and putting into practice what we've been doing at training for the last 12 weeks.”

Bolt, who retired from athletics last year, has previously tried out with clubs in Germany, South Africa and Norway to no avail.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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