GuyanaTimes International 28th 2018

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2018

ISSUE NO. 417

Political parties, politicians must be held accountable for electoral offences - Jagdeo LGE 2018:

...as names of 51 backers who said they never signed AFC’s list removed Guyana in bracket of countries that misallocate public funds- IDB report finds Page 29

Page 11

Two young beautiful residents of Shulinab Village at this year’s Rupununi Regional Heritage celebrations, that was held at the St. Ignatius Village Benab

Teachers’ salary impasse: Union mulling further strike action as arbritration talks breakdown Page 39

Governor Cuomo hails Obama’s vision in realization of US, Cuba venture for cancer treatment research Page 5

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WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

LGE 2018:

Political parties, politicians must be held accountable for electoral offences - Jagdeo

... as names of 51 backers who said they never signed AFC’s list removed

… over 151 disputed names still remain as deadline for changing passes

T

here must be some electoral offence committed by people, political parties or politicians if they use the names of others without their authorization, fraudulently or with intent to mislead them.

These were the remarks uttered by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo at his weekly press briefing on Thursday, when he addressed the issue of the names of backers for candidates contesting Local Government Elections (LGE) being placed on various voters’ lists for parties that they do not support.

Some of the persons who turned up on Wednesday night to have their names removed from the list

At Whim Village in Berbice on Wednesday evening, persons who

were disputing that they signed their names on the Alliance For Change

(AFC) list were invited to a meeting at 22:00h with the Returning Officer

(RO) for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Also invited to that meeting was AFC representatives in the area who took the signatures.

They failed to show up at the meeting. As such, 51 persons who turned up with their sworn affidavits to have their names removed were allowed to have their names removed from the list.

Speaking with Guyana Times International, a resident said that an AFC official went around the village asking for signatures saying that he wanted to become a Justice of Peace and needed their support. According to

the resident, that is how many persons signed the list not knowing that it would be used for LGE purposes.

However, some 151 persons from Crabwood Creek, Corriverton and Number 63, Berbice were unable to have their names removed from both the AFC and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) lists since the ROs claimed that they received no instructions from CEO of GECOM Keith Lowenfield.

It was outlined that Persons whose names appeared on lists for LGE but had no knowlcontinued on page 14

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WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

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

Tel no: (592) 223-7230/1, 225-7761.

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

EDITORIAL

Alcohol abuse O

ver the past week, the issue of alcohol and the massively damaging effects it is having on individuals and communities has once again been brought to the fore. It was reported in the media a few days ago that, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), alcohol kills a whopping three million people worldwide each year — more than AIDS, violence and road accidents combined. It was stated that men are particularly at risk.

WHO’s Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2018, published recently, presents a comprehensive picture of alcohol consumption and the disease burden attributable to alcohol worldwide. It also describes what countries are doing to reduce this burden. And for those that are lagging, it explains what could be done to discourage the use of alcohol and possibly reduce the huge negative impact it is having on countries.

According to the WHO, alcohol causes more than one in 20 deaths globally each year, including through drunk driving, alcoholinduced violence and abuse, and a multitude of diseases and disorders. Men account for more than three quarters of alcoholrelated deaths.

The report explains that alcohol drinking is linked to more than 200 health conditions, including cirrhosis of the liver and some cancers. Alcohol abuse also makes people more susceptible to infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, HIV and pneumonia.

For young people, the numbers are even more alarming, with a full 13.5 per cent of all deaths among 20-to-29-year-olds considered to be alcohol-related, the study found.

In comparison, HIV/AIDS was responsible for 1.8 per cent of global deaths in 2016; road injuries accounted for 2.5 per cent, and violence for 0.8 per cent. Globally, an estimated 237 million men and 46 million women suffer from alcohol use disorders, WHO said.

Here, in Guyana, there are many social ills affecting citizens, and alcohol abuse is seen as one of the contributing factors. According to the WHO, the alcohol death rate for Guyana is 5.95 per 100,000 (globally ranked 70). This is still quite high, and urgent action must be taken to further reduce this figure.

Due to poor lifestyle choices, such as alcohol abuse, tobacco use, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity, NCDs have resulted in large numbers of our young people dying. Another significant number have also fallen ill, and therefore cannot contribute to their families or the development of their communities in any way.

WHO Chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was quoted in the media as saying that far too many people, their families and communities suffer the consequences of the harmful use of alcohol through violence, injuries, mental health problems, and diseases like cancer and stroke.

According to The Caribbean Voice, an organisation that has been engaged in research etc in this field, alcohol is a trigger for abuse, especially gender-based, child and sexual abuse. It explains that some abusers rely on substance use (and abuse) as an excuse for becoming violent. Alcohol allows the abuser to justify his abusive behaviour as a result of the alcohol. Alcohol affects the user’s ability to perceive, integrate, and process information. Further, the organisation points to other substantial costs to society, including property damage, job loss, and health service costs.

WHO is urging countries to do more to counter harmful drinking, and to reach a goal of cutting global consumption by 10 percent between 2010 and 2025.

It is also urging countries to tax alcohol, and ban advertising of such beverages to reduce consumption. However, this is not enough, there is need to push for a change in attitude and lifestyle changes in general, especially among the younger segment of our population.

While the Government must play a crucial role in designing the relevant programmes and policies, and putting in place the necessary legislative framework and other support mechanisms aimed at addressing the harmful use of alcohol, this burden must also be shared by other stakeholders; such as religious groups, the private sector, and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) etc.

It is hoped that the Government here, international development partners and other stakeholders would use this most recent WHO Report on Alcohol as a wakeup call to take urgent action aimed at addressing the harmful use of alcohol in this country.

Shell Beach, located on the Atlantic coast of Guyana in the Barima-Waini Region, near the Venezuelan border, is a nesting site for four of the eight sea turtle species - the Green, Hawksbill turtleill, Leatherback and the Olive Ridley.

Determining the outcome of Arbitration

S

ince 2015 when the multi-year agreement that Government signed with teachers, for their salaries and other benefits expired, teachers have been facing the short end of the stick trying to negotiate for a better package that would include a better living wage and benefits.

After years of back and forth with the incumbent Administration leading nowhere, the last proverbial straw on the camel’s back broke; leading to the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) - the representative body for over 7000 teachers- calling them out to take to the streets for their betterment.

On September 3, when the new school term opened in Guyana, over 4000 teachers across the country supported their Union and did just as they asked.

The decisive action on the part of the teachers and the Union resulted in Government engaging in conciliation talks with the latter.

Those talks evidently amounted to nothing, as the Union stood firm in its position that it was seeking, inter alia, a 40 per cent increase in salaries for teachers under a multi-year arrangement up to 2020, while Government on the other side said that it just could not afford to pay that amount, instead offering a debunching payoff of $200 million for 2018/19 and $700 million for salary increases for 2018 only.

With the political opposition and stakeholders arguing that the monies could be easily found if Government would cut back on its lavish and wasteful spending, the GTU argued further that their demands for a 40 per cent increase was not unreasonable, given that when the APNU/ AFC assented into office the Ministers, within the ballooning Ministries, conferred upon themselves a salary increase of 50 per cent.

Moreover, the Union had said that it would have negotiated for less than 40 per cent, had Government’s offer been acceptable.

Brushing off the teachers concerns and demands as unrealistic, Government refused to budge on its position resulting in more industrial action taking place.

This eventually led to the two parties agreeing to Arbitration, a move that was requested by the Union.

In Arbitration the Union and Government are expected to put forth evidence, to an impartial third party, to justify their causes and the decision made would be final and binding.

Questions as to why the Administration would play hardball with such an important voting constituency, even with local Government Elections (LGE) scheduled for November of 2018, stuck out like a sore thumb.

The answer however, may be envisaged in the current tactic being employed by Government to ensure that what they intend to give the teach-

ers, might very well be what is actually given.

The tactic being referred to here is the glaring move by Government to determine the outcome of Arbitration by appointing someone from their camp to Chair the Arbitration panel.

A perception which, can clearly be argued, was also the impetus for the unilateral appointment of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman.

Part of the process leading up to Arbitration requires that both parties meet and agree on the persons nominated for the Arbitration panel.

Those meetings have however, been unfruitful with Government rejecting the candidates nominated by the Union and the Union also responding in kind, citing a conflict of interest in that the persons the Administration appointed were Government functionaries.

Government subsequently appointed University of Guyana lecturer, Dr Leyland Lucas to Chair proceedings, a decision the Union decried, citing that at its most recent meeting with Government it came with the intention of submitting another name for consensus to Chair the panel but were told that the Chair had already been appointed.

Government’s unilateral appointment has since been criticized, with the most recent body being the Guyana’s Trade Union Congress (GTUC), which cited that the appointment, to voluntary arbitration, has no basis in law.

“The extant agreement expressly states, ‘A chairperson [be] agreed to by the employer and the GTU.’ The 1990 GTU and MoE Memorandum of Understanding stipulated that where there isn’t agreement between the parties on an arbitration chair, the Ministry of Labour will be asked to “nominate” one. A nomination is not tantamount to an appointment” said the GTUC. Further the GTUC argued, Collective Bargaining, where trade union exists, is a right under Article 147 of the Guyana Constitution.

“This right was fought for and secured with the workers’ lives, blood, sweat and tears. That it is so enshrined no employer has the right to disregard it. More so Government as custodian of the nation’s Laws should be setting the tone by ensuring its protection. Developing and fostering adversarial relations with citizens/workers will undermine any government’s legitimacy to govern.”

With GTU rejecting the appointment of the Chair and promising further strike action if the matter is not amicably resolved, it would seem that the teachers- the architects of tomorrows educated generation- will have continue to put the improvement of their standard of living on hold as they continue the struggle for betterment.

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Aquatic species are Governor Cuomo hails Obama’s vision being affected by in realization of US, Cuba venture high mercury levels for cancer treatment research in Kaituma River

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ive months after water supply was sourced from alternative means for affected residents, an investigation into mercury contamination of the Kaituma River, North West District (NWD) has confirmed the preliminary test that the mercury levels were too high for consumption.

In the final report submitted by Environmental Officer, Tamara Gilhuys, it was recommended that complaint officers ensure sample points at and

vealed a variety of organisms live in or come into contact with bed sediments and therefore the sediments act as an important route of exposure to aquatic organisms which in turn has implications for human health. “Sediment mercury, therefore, is an indicator of the recreational safety and ecological health of a water source as it relates to wildlife and human health,” the reported observed.

The report stated that the drinking water standard for arsenic is

These samples were delivered to the laboratory on July 28, 2018

near pump station are included in their routine water quality monitoring. The report further outlined that the environmental division should “lead investigations to ascertain the status of rivers or creeks within mining districts” where Guyana Water Inc pump stations are located and where contamination from mining operations poses an imminent threat to the community.

Eleven river water samples were submitted but only 10 were analysed due to leakage of Sample ID ‘10’ during shipment by Kaizen Environmental Services Inc. In the analysis, it was found that at all sample points, the concentrations were within the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

Despite the generally low readings, it was however found that in Sample 4 at 125m upstream Pump Creek, there was 0.000219 mg/L of mercury. Meanwhile, the lowest concentration of 0.000016 mg/L was found in Sample 2 which was located on the Kaituma Canal downstream section of Pump Creek. The WHO guideline is 0.006 mg/L. It was explained that mercury is easily transported to bed sediments from the water column due to its high affinity for organic ligands.

The investigation re-

0.010 mg/L as outlined

by WHO and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs).

“The USEPA MCLs reflect the level at which no adverse health effects are likely to occur within a margin of safety and are set as close as possible to health goals considering cost, benefits and the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies,” the section of the document noted.

With respect to cadmium, the report found that all samples were found to be below the limits. The Port Kaituma survey also showed that the samples were within the WHO guidelines for lead which is 0.01 mg/L. The results of five samples sent for further analysis at ActLabs are expected to be available on September 30.

It was in July that GWI’s Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles told reporters that mercury levels of 0.016mg/L was shown which was higher that WHO standard of 0.006mg/L . It was on July 26, 2018, that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission dispatched a joint team that included the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the matter.

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Buffalo, NY- Governor Andrew Cuomo announces initial results from the first North American clinical study of CIMAvax-EGF as a cancer treatment (Flickr image)

ew York (NY) State Governor Andrew Cuomo hailed the direction of former President Barrack Obama to engage with diplomatic relations with Cuba- after decades of that country facing an economic blockade from the United States over its leftist ideological paradigm- as the impetus that led to 2015 Trade Mission to Cuba, which recently resulted in the Governor announcing that Buffalo-based Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has formed the Innovative Immunotherapy Alliance S.A., the first-ever biotech venture between the US and Cuba.

It was outlined that the Alliance will advance the research and development of new cancer medicines that may prolong and enhance survival for thousands of US patients.

According to Governor Cuomo, President Obama said, "we want to open up trade with Cuba," nobody knew what that meant.

But I said, "well we should be the first one's there."

And they said, "Why? What is there?" I said, "I don't know what is there.

But maybe something is there. I don't know but nobody knows so why don't we go find out."

Explaining that there was reluctance on the part of his staff and the press in general over the move to engage with Cuba, Cuomo posited that he was advised that Cuba's doing great work on cancer research and development and prevention. As such, he and team of doctors from Roswell made a trip to Cuba to facilitate discussions on the topic at hand.

With the research pact between the two countries now moving forward, the NY Governor expounded that “Roswell is going to make history and be at the forefront of slaying this dreaded dragon called cancer. You

have saved lives. You are in the business of saving lives and you literally have done that not as a rhetorical device or to be overly dramatic. You have saved lives but you have more lives to save and you have more work to do. This cancer is a scourge on society and until you have met the beast or the beast has visited your home, it's hard to appreciate how devastating cancer is. Once cancer visits an individual it's not really about the individual, it visits the family and once cancer is in your home, it never leaves. It's always in the shadows.

It's always in the shadows of your mind. You'll always have that fear that possible expectation that god forbid it comes back, god forbid the next test.”

Outlining that there is no higher pursuit in life than to help humanity and to help each other, Governor Cuomo said that “I believe that Roswell's history is going to be the foundation for an exciting future and I believe you will all doing a great service to humanity and I believe this is a step down that path and I'm honored to be part of it.”

After facing decades of

sanctions by the United States under successive Presidents, President Obama during his tenure met with his then counterpart Raul Castro in an unprecedented move that saw the normalizing of bilateral relations between the two countries.

However, those relations have since been constrained again when President Donald Trump assented to the oval office.

He has since reversed some measures taken by the Obama administration to soften trade and diplomacy, while hinting that the US might further roll back ties.

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Woefully inadequate Oversight of NGOs needed working hours, conditions and salaries for Doctors must be addressed Dear Editor, The public health system has been plagued with a plethora of problems, ranging from shortages of drugs and medical supplies to prolonged waiting time for patients at outpatient and even emergency departments. Very often, patients’ frustration, disappointment and anger are usually directed at the doctors and nursing staff, many of whom are not responsible for the mismanagement that occurs on a daily basis.

The doctors themselves are frustrated with the system, and have made known their concerns about drug shortages, equipment failure, and inadequate and untimely laboratory results -- all of which have a severe impact on clinical management of patients.

At some departments in the GPHC, it is the norm for doctors to work 96 hours per week.

This happens when doctors work “on call” every three days.

In extreme instances, some departments require doctors to work from Saturday morning at 8 am to Monday at 4 pm, a total of 56 hours continuously, in addition to the average work week.

It should be noted that GPHC is regarded as the best staffed public hospital; one can only imagine how many more hours doctors at the regional and district hospitals across Guyana have to work.

Many of the doctors believe they would be able to provide a better quality of service if the public health system adopts the European Standards of Work for Physicians in Guyana.

When physicians are “on call,” they are required to be physically present in the hospital compound. This is to ensure that, if needed, they would be immediately available. The public hospitals would usually designate an area wherein these “on call” doctors can be found, if needed. The basic requirements are a secure room, with toilet and bath, a cot, table and chair. These basic requirements are not met by most of the institutions, forcing doctors to sleep on the corridors or in their cars.

At the GPHC, for example, both male and female doctors are required to share the same room, with few beds and limited toilet facilities being available.

Many Government Medical Officers are unhappy with their remuneration, especially the younger doctors. A firstyear GMO at GPHC receives a salary of $181,808. A second year GMO at GPHC gets a salary of $218,169. A third-year GMO at GPHC gets a salary of $261,802. Many of these

doctors have complained that these salaries are wholly inadequate, especially with the increased cost of living.

The allowances that a doctor receives across the public health system vary. The doctors at GPHC would get a monthly housing allowance of $20,000, but most of them complain that they are unable to rent a house in or around Georgetown for this sum of money. They also receive a meal allowance of $500 per call, which is far less than what an actual meal would cost. If a doctor decides to buy a real meal while “on call”, s/he would often end up spending more than $1000.

Doctors are given a $3000-per-month cell phone allowance, to be used when on call to get in contact with their registrars or consultants. Most young doctors complain that this sum is inadequate, and they are seeking an increase in this allowance.

Doctors are required to work ‘’on call” -- that is, for extended periods after their regular 8-hour shift -- during the work week, from 4 pm to 8 am Monday to Friday, and on weekends from 8 am to 8 pm Saturday, Sunday and holidays. For each on-call session, the doctor is paid $2500 as an “On Call” allowance, which the PPP/C Government had agreed would not be taxed. The APNU/ AFC has now imposed a tax on this “On Call” allowance.

Many doctors in the public health sector are contending that the Granger Administration is rewarding party loyalty over medical competence and meritocracy. Many young doctors are complaining that scholarships for further training have not been properly advertised, panels are not balanced, and results are often skewed. They feel efforts must be made to have an open and transparent system wherein persons are promoted based on their assessed competence, or sent for postgraduate training based on merit.

Our medical doctors deserve better. They should earn better salaries and allowances, have reduced working hours to improve patient outcomes, experience better working conditions in the hospitals, and be subjected to a fair and equitable system that would allow for promotion based on merit, rather than a party card.

As the Government prepares to lay the next budget in Parliament, I hope the many concerns that doctors and other medical staff have raised about their remuneration and conditions of work would be considered.

Sincerely, Dr Frank Anthony, MP

Dear Editor, According to a recent letter in the local media, “people of questionable character are forming NGOs and going around the world under false pretence, professing to be doing all kinds of good service in Guyana when in reality no one in Guyana is benefiting from these entities”. In some cases, they have never been heard of here. Many of these institutions are collecting millions of dollars from members, donors, foreign and local governments, but there is no accounting of how this money is being spent.

Many NGOs in Guyana do not comply with either their own constitutions or the Friendly Societies Act which governs their operations.

The Caribbean Voice is a New Yorkregistered NGO and not-for-profit organisation with almost two decades of experience in activism. And from the very inception, collaboration has been the pivot on which we have been operating. Thus we have collaborated with the New York City Department of Education to sponsor an essay context for students; with NBC TV and the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry to raise funds for Caribbean hurricane victims; have held highly successful business and international awards; have published The Caribbean Voice magazine and newspaper for over a decade; have helped other Caribbean NGOs in the diaspora in myriad ways, including mediating internal problems and collaborating with other NGOs on social issues activism, especially abuse and suicide.

Thus when we decided to launch our Suicide Prevention campaign in Guyana, we used the collaborative approach with the National Suicide Prevention and Related Issues Conference held in August 15 in Georgetown, and this was attended by over 75 stakeholders nationally. We have since collaborated with numerous entities, NGOs, faith-based and community-based organisations, local and regional governments, mass-based and special-interest groups, and fellow diaspora NGOs. All NGOs we have worked with are manned by volunteers who are caring, passionate and dedicated; who give so much of their time, effort and resources to make a difference every which way; and who are generally transparent with respect to both their work and the funds generated for such work.

So while there may be “People of questionable character professing to be doing all kinds

of good service in Guyana when in reality no one in Guyana is benefiting,” TCV has no experience of such. If the letter writer is aware of such, we urge that he reports them so they can be brought to task before creating significant harm.

However, we are aware of entities registered as businesses but are promoting themselves as NGOs, and of a handful of individuals for whom social activism is a fashion statement and an ego-boosting excursion.

Also, we are aware that the cumbersome and burdensome Friendly Societies Act has brought a number of NGOs to a standstill, while impeding the work of others. So we believe that the regulations governing NGOs need to be simplified, and the registration process made easier and less demanding. Thus three persons should be sufficient for registration purpose, instead of the stipulated minimum of seven.

As well, the process should easily facilitate not-for-profit and tax-exempt status, which is currently not the case. And there should be a simple procedure to facilitate diaspora-based NGOs to operate in Guyana as well as to set up local branches of their organisations.

Currently, over 100 diaspora-based NGOs operate at some level in Guyana.

TCV also suggests there should be oversight to ensure registered businesses do not project themselves as NGOs, or fundraise as such. In fact, we also suggest establishing a data base/ registry of NGOs, so all NGOs can be easily tracked and monitored and so that stakeholders’ collaboration can easily be built for any aspect of activism, such as suicide or abuse prevention, for example. This database/registry should be available to the public.

All NGOs should also lodge copies of their constitutions with the relevant Ministry, and user-friendly mechanism should be set to facilitate complaints and quick and conclusive investigations. While we do absolutely agree that transparency and accountability must be in place, we suggest that monitoring be standardised, so as not to be onerous and breathing- down-the-neck demanding. As well, anyone who supports charitable work and social activism via any NGO should not only have the right to demand accountability, but should be able to access same via the database/registry.

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

Who is willing to stand up and speak out against this injustice?

Dear Editor, It is awful to see, on a daily basis, the vicious assault on sugar workers. This assault started almost immediately after the May 2015 elections. APNU/AFC promised "change", and among the changes they promised was that greater security and respect would be extended to sugar workers, including an annual 20 percent increase in wages and benefits. Some sugar workers, though skeptical, placed their destiny in Moses Nagamootoo, Ramjattan, and others in Region Six and Five, and provided some of the critical votes that APNU/ AFC needed to take over Government. They exercised their democratic right and opted for "change”. They have been betrayed; and, today, sugar workers are the poster child for betrayal.

The thing is that as the assault continues unabated since May 2015, their champions, like Nagamootoo and Ramjattan, are AWOL, missing in action.

The latest assault on sugar workers is the now frequent late payment of their wages. Last week, sugar workers were paid four days late, without an apology and without an explanation. The vast majority of these workers live from paycheck to paycheck. Any delay in receiving their paychecks poses unconscionable difficulties for their families.

The media continue to expose this egregious violation of the labour laws of Guyana. Every time wage payments have been delayed, senior officials of GuySuCo have confirmed the late payments, but only off-the-record and unofficially. GuySuCo refuses formally to communicate with workers, or with anyone.

GAWU has confirmed that late payment of wages to sugar workers has become a norm these days. Late payment of wages to the sugar workers is not just unacceptable, it is illegal.

The President, who recently declared that paying severance to sugar workers whose

jobs were ripped from them is hemorrhaging the treasury, is silent about late payment of wages to workers. The prime minister, who bombastically deemed himself the champion of sugar workers, is silent; even though he went to his home village of Whim to launch the AFC's LGE campaign. The Agriculture Minister is, as usual, not just silent, but nowhere to be found. He continues to behave as if he has no role to play.

The Finance Minister may still be out of the country, having found it necessary to be carnivalling in Brooklyn earlier this month. The Social Protection Minister and her junior minister responsible for labour appear not to know or not to care.

Khemraj Ramjattan simply does not want to talk to sugar workers anymore.

More than 7,000 sugar workers have lost their jobs, and most of them have either received none or only part of continued on page 7

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WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Minister of State in South Rupununi ahead of meeting with Brazilian Army M

inister of State, Joseph Harmon, on Thursday led a team to the South Rupununi, Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) to conduct a reconnaissance of the roads and other facilities, as the region gets ready to welcome members of the Brazilian Army, who will begin the drilling of eight wells in eight villages from October 4, 2018.

Artesian wells will be drilled in the villages of Aishalton, Chukrikednau, Shea, Maruranawa, A w a r u w a u n a u , Karaudanawa, Achiwib and Bashraidrun and will have a depth of 100 metres or 300 feet deep.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has commenced road works to facilitate the smooth transportation of the vehicles and equipment from Brazil through Lethem to the targeted communities.

According to Brazilian Military Attaché to Guyana, Colonel Deni Da Silva, the equipment and support vehicles, which are 23 in total, are expected to arrive in Guyana on October 1, 2018. It is the intention of the Brazilian team to have the wells handed over to the Guyanese authorities on November 28, 2018.

In an invited comment, Minister Harmon

Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon (third from right) and members of the reconnaissance team inspect this site along the Karaudanawa trail, where works have begun for the construction of a culvert.

said the visit was necessary as it identified areas in which works would have to be done and are ongoing. He noted that the Agreement for the drilling of the wells was signed at the highest levels with the two Heads of State (President David Granger and Brazil’s President Michel Temer) and therefore, it is incumbent on the Government to ensure that all systems are in place and working effectively to ensure a smooth flow of personnel and equipment from Brazil to the identified areas.

“I am here to inspect the works that are being done on the roads in South Rupununi in preparations for a mas-

Who is willing...

from page 6

their severance. It is more than nine months since that severance was due for many, and some have been owed now for almost two years.

Severance is due to an employee at the time his job is taken away because of closure or down-sizing. This is Guyana's law, and it is also international law. There is no room for prevarication on this matter. The only word from the President is that the severance is a drain on the national treasury; no word on whether GuySuCo, a Government public entity, will pay soon, and whether the workers will be paid with interest.

Those who are lucky to still be working are now subjected to late and deferred payments for wages earned. They have worked without a pay increase for three years (2015, 2016 and 2017), and it is unlikely that there will be an increase in 2018, making it an unprecedent-

ed four straight years.

Their annual production incentives have essentially been dumped.

In 2015 it was reduced, and none has since been negotiated. Land which was promised to them is being taken up by the Government, or being offered for sale to private investors.

Guyana made the list of shameful countries because of how we treat prisoners. Guyana deserves being on the list because of how we treat sugar workers.

The silence of this Government is shameful, a disgrace, and makes them complicit in another illegal assault on sugar workers. GAWU has spoken up. Will FITUG and the GTUC speak up?

Will the Guyana Human Rights advocates stand up and speak out? Who is willing to stand up and speak out against this injustice?

Sincerely, Leslie Ramsammy

sive well drilling exercise that will take place, utilising the Brazilian engineers and the Brazilian well drilling teams. I want to ensure that all of the preparations here are in place to receive the teams when they come and to ensure that once they get here, they can commence work without any hindrance,” he stated.

Further, the Minister of State said Government has undertaken efforts to fulfill its promise of a good life for all Guyanese and the drilling of the artesian wells is aimed at providing ease to the residents of the South Rupununi who often suffer from excessive flooding and droughts.

“It is important to these communities to ensure that they have a regular supply of potable water year round. We are aware that during

dry season, there are droughts and during the wet season, there is flooding and we have to ensure that we do not have these communities subjected to the vagaries of the weather. [We must] put systems in place to ensure that this is addressed. I am satisfied with what I have seen and I satisfied that all of the work necessary to receive the team has been done,” said Minister Harmon.

Community sensitisations have also been done and the Village Councils will be given a final briefing next week before the drilling begins.

During the drilling phase, there will be technology transfer and capacity building, which will benefit several agencies including the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana

Water Incorporated (GWI), the Hydrometeorological Office (HydroMet), Ministry of Public Infrastructure as well as representatives from the eight villages.

Minister Harmon was accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, Director of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Colonel Gary Beaton, Commander of the Engineering Corps of the GDF and engineers from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

This project follows President David Granger’s State visit to Brazil in December 2017, where the Complementary Agreement to the Basic Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Federative Republic

of Brazil for the Implementation of the Project Technologies to Reduce the Effects of the Drought in Region Nine was inked.

The Complementary Agreement states that the Government of Brazil shall undertake to “promote the transfer of Brazilian knowledge and experience related to mitigation of the effects of drought; provide the means for implementation of activities foreseen in the Project, send consultants and experts to implement activities to be carried out in Guyana, support the development of the Guyanese technical team’s capacity to drill artesian wells and monitor and evaluate Project implementation.”

Meanwhile, the Government of Guyana, as prescribed in the Agreement, shall undertake to “take responsibility for the maintenance of the artesian wells that will be drilled during the practical operations on the ground; appoint a technical team to monitor and participate in activities to be implemented, provide the technical team sent by the Government of Federative Republic of Brazil with the logistical support required to implement activities of their responsibility and to take measures to ensure that activities implemented by professionals sent by the Brazilian Government will be continued by professionals from the Guyanese implementing institution.”

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WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Greenidge calls for renewed commitment to the UN’s disarmament agenda in New York

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inister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, speaking on Thursday at the Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, noted that the event was timely given the multiple emerging challenges to international peace and security.

Minister Greenidge told the meeting, “for this reason, Guyana endorses the prudence of recognising the importance at this juncture in harnessing and enhancing multilateralism to respond effectively to the myriad challenges we face, especially within the framework of international law.”

The Minister said, for Guyana, as a small, developing country with wellknown security challenges, the multilateral recourse has been an automatic instinct and an imperative.

The country’s close reliance on the Charter of the United Nations and the NAM principles as the peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for the territorial integrity of States, non-interference in the internal affairs of States and solidarity with other States, has served Guyana well, the Minister stated.

The Foreign Affairs Minister made mention of four specific aspects he believes will lend to accelerated progress towards a culture of peace. He called for a renewal of faith in multilateralism built on the foundation of dialogue, engagement and compromise.

“The challenges we face at the current juncture require us to act in concert to generate real solutions and my hope is that we will work together for the triumph of multilateralism,” Minister Greenidge noted.

Sovereignty, territorial integri-

ty, and political independence, the Minister listed as important elements, making known Guyana’s abhorrence of attempts to infringe on the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States. He urged the Movement to be unrelenting in its protest against every action that seeks to compromise these principles.

“Guyana affirms that respect for the inherent dignity, equality and inalienable rights of all members of the human family remains the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. One of the principal tenets on which a culture of peace must be based is full respect for and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the Minister posited.

Peace and development are intertwined and inter-dependent, the Minister told the gathering while calling for the collective confronting of the elements that produce insecurity in member countries and the world at large.

“I, therefore, urge all of us to renew our commitment to the UN’s disarmament agenda and not in word only but more importantly by requisite action as together we work for development, peace and security.”

Minister Greenidge added that progress towards a culture of peace will entail the reshaping of the collective mindset towards values, attitudes, traditions and modes of behaviour, and ways of life that are conducive to peace.

Guyana’s commitment to the aims of the Movement was restated.

The Meeting was hosted under the theme, “Upholding the UN charter and the purposes and principles of the NonAligned Movement: towards a culture of peace.” (DPI)

8 years jail for Mc Doom man found guilty of chopping another

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he Mc Doom man who attacked and chopped an acquaintance who owed him $5000 was on Thursday jailed for 8 years by Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Georgetown High Court.

Toney Marcus, 45, who had initially pleaded not guilty to the offence changed his plea after a psychological evaluation proved that he was fit to stand trial.

It was reported that he on July 4, 2014, feloniously wounded Etwaru Narine with intention of causing him grievous bodily harm or to maim, disfigure or disable him.

The Virtual Complainant (VC) was imbibing at a shop when the accused asked him for money. An argument ensued, and Marcus allegedly chopped him several times.

Marcus who had a stable upbringing was said to have suffered mental health issues linked to abuse of narcotics.

Toney Marcus

He was unrepresented while Attorney Tiffini Lyken prosecuted the case.

Despite $30B bond, new GuySuCo Chair says capital injection needed to increase production

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GuySuCo Chairman John Dow

ith sugar production reaching its lowest in decades since the downsizing of the industry and with the closure of three estates, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is now in dire need of capital to bring the level of production to an improved mark.

This point was made by newly-appointed Chairman of GuySuCo Board, John Dow, who told Guyana Times International in an interview on Wednesday that the aim is to improve infrastructure and purchase new equipment that will aid in increasing the industry’s performance.

“The estates have been starved of capital.

There have been a lot of deterioration of the infrastructure at these estates…the dams, bridges, timber revetment…

It’s a chicken and egg situation. We need to put some money in getting the infrastructure up to scratch before you can expect these increases in production,” he explained.

Dow, an agriculture expert and a member of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that looked into the state of the industry, said apart from that, people cannot expect three estates to produce what eight were doing. “So, obviously there is a reduction in the quantity of sugar that can be produced,” Dow explained, adding that there are other fac-

tors too.

At present, GuySuCo is working to improve the sugarcane yields to beyond 70 tonnes of cane per hectare. He said if improvements in this area take place, then there are chances that this too can add to an overall improvement in the production by the Corporation.

“Also the replacement of equipment is important… You have tractors that are very old and the availability time of those units… 15 years old cannot be the same as a new tractor,” he added. Dow said a replacement programme should have been in place to ensure that a certain percentage of vehicle are replaced annually so as to guarantee efficiency.

“However, because of the unavailability of capital over the last 10 years or so, you are in a bit of a bind… So, you cannot get increases in production without spending money in getting that infrastructure and equipment up to scratch,” he asserted.

President David Granger said recently that the Government’s vision is to revamp the Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt sugar estates.

He said the intention is to employ some 10,000 people to maximise the profitability of the local sugar industry.

In declaring that GuySuCo is important to Government, the Guyanese Head of State said the plan is to pro-

duce about 147-150,000 tonnes of sugar with the 10,000 work force. This is about 7000 less workers than when the coalition Government took office in 2015.

GuySuCo has produced a dismal 34,450 tonnes of sugar for the first crop in 2018, out of a low production target of 36,105 which was set.

The figure will likely be the lowest ever first crop for the industry which has seen four of its estates taken out of production in the last two years. Sugar production at one time in Guyana was around 300,000 tonnes.

Last year, GuySuCo fell short of the projected figure for its first crop by some 24,566 tonnes.

The Corporation had set a target of 74,172 tonnes of sugar but was only able to produce 49,606 tonnes. This year’s first crop is a further decline of 15,000 tonnes.

Over the years, GuySuCo has also complained about the poor attendance figures of the harvesters for their respective estates. It has called on communities to encourage the workers to turn out to assist with the harvesting and production. But Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) President Komal Chand has repeatedly said that the underperformance can be credited to a lack of motivation among the workers.

A few months ago, the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) secured a syndicated bond worth $30 billion to assist with the revitalisation of the cash-strapped GuySuCo. It was reported that almost $2 billion has been disbursed to GuySuCo for operational expenses of its three estates.

Only this week, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited has made known several of its concerns with how the $30 billion bond that was loaned to NICIL is being spent.

The $30 billion bond arrangement with the bank is aimed at helping to finance capital works for three GuySuCo estates – Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt.

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 9

City Hall was micromanaged Police actively seeking husband who allegedly by communities murdered wife in Berbice Minister – CoI hears Maxwell Edwards, who is the spouse of Councillor Noelle ChowChee.

Rented bus parks

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Town Clerk Royston King

s the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) unfolds into the operations at the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor and former Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan took the stand, declaring that the Town Clerk is incapable of performing his duties which has led to much interference from the Communities Minister.

Duncan stood before Justice Cecil Kennard as he made his testaments under oath, shedding some light into the activities which have been occurring at the Council under the leadership of Mayor Patricia ChaseGreene and the Town Clerk, Royston King.

He indicated that Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan has taken the liberty to interfere into the works at City Hall and in some cases, King was notified via letters that his decisions were not approved

by Central Government.

According to Duncan, it seems as though Bulkan “has taken up residence” at City Hall to look at all activities under a microscope.

“The city is being micromanaged by the Minister of Communities when you should have a competent Town Clerk who understands what he is doing and the Minister is writing to the Town Clerk reprimanding him. It boggles my mind,” he further added.

On one occasion, King was engaged by the Minister in relation to the dismissal of two officers who were attached to the City Constabulary. One of the officers had provided evidence of wrongdoing against another officer. However, King dismissed both of them even after the committee was asked to address the incident. He was later addressed by Bulkan for the way this matter was dealt with.

According to Duncan, he is under the impression the Mayor has relinquished all of her superiority into the hands of the Town Clerk and as such, he has been misusing his authorities and power. Duncan indicated that on many occasions, the Councillors were not briefed on the allocation of monies for contracts that were been awarded. An instance is the $125 million contract that was allocat-

Meanwhile, Cecelia Richards, who represented the University of Guyana’s branch of the United Minibus Union (UMU), testified to the CoI that a decision that was taken by the Town Clerk to collect monies from nine specific drivers of the Route 44 (Industry) route.

She testified that King was collecting a monthly rental of $3000 from each of the drivers to occupy a stretch of the roadway that spans from the Avenue of the Republic to Hinck Street.

Consequently, some 45 drivers are left to fend for themselves as the area remains occupied by the said drivers.

Prior to that, city Police Officers would arrive at the park every day to collect $200 from each of the drivers.

When confronted, offi-

Justice Cecil Kennard

ed towards the restoration of the Le Repentir Cemetery which was finalised after a unilateral decision.

When asked by Justice Cecil Kennard as to what would have been the outcome of the No-Confidence Motion that was filed against the Town Clerk if it was approved, Duncan explained that early interventions would have been taken by the Local Government Commission (LGC).

“One of the consequences of the motion would’ve been the registering or displeasure in the conduct of the Town Clerk and then following that subsequently, [actions on behalf of] the Local Government Commission.”

The motion was filed earlier this year but was disallowed by the Mayor after seeking legal advice from Attorney

cials at City Hall denied implementing such a regulation. Efforts were made to reach the Town Clerk, but the affected drivers were prohibited from meeting with him.

“It was hard for us to provide for our families. We just stay there all day at the back of the line,” said Richards.

The inquiry is expected to conclude on October 31, where the necessary recommendations will be submitted after all evidence is presented before the Commission.

Justice Kennard sought to point out that letters in the media will not be taken in account as testimonies. Hence, persons would have to take the stand under oath to submit their evidence.

Since September 21, 2018, the Town Clerk was instructed to proceed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

By Andrew Carmichael

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olice in Berbice have launched a manhunt for the husband of Chandrawattie Williams, also called “Geeta”, whose body was found in her home on Tuesday evening by her 13-year-old son.

Reports are that Williams’ body was found at about 18:00h with suspected stab wounds in her Bath Squatting Area, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) home.

The dead woman’s brother Dharampaul Mohan on Wednesday told Guyana Times International that his 13-year-old nephew received a phone call from his father who reportedly told him to go to the house and turn on the lights. It was then that he made the discovery. Having found his mother’s body, the teen raised an alarm and subsequently saw his father approaching him with a cutlass in his hand. According to Mohan, his nephew ran over to his aunt’s house to seek refuge.

According to Mohan, the father then went into hiding.

“The body already swell up so we don’t know if it is a day before or two days before she died” he related.

Another relative told this publication that Williams’ husband on several occasions threatened to give her poison to kill her. “He tell she that so much time he beating she and she aint deading and that he gon beat she and then give she poison.”

Neighbours said that the woman endured the abusive relationship for almost 20 years.

Court records show that Ugan Kumal Williams, also called “Shahrukh

Dead: Chandrawattie Williams, called “Geeta”

Khan” has been charged with assault of Chandrawattie Williams with the most recent charges being implemented last week. However, when the matters were called in court, his wife had declined to give evidence.

The suspect had been before the court for allegedly for burning the house they once shared.

Chandrawattie’s mother, Baijmattie Mohan, said she was always fearful that her daughter would be killed by her husband.

According to the 63-year-old woman, on many occasions her daughter would go to her home for refuge but after a few days, she would return to her husband.

Back in July, Chandrawattie spent one month with her mother after two of her fingers were fractured and one broken by her husband.

The grieving mother said on numerous occasions, she pleaded with her daughter to end the relationship.

Villagers said they last saw the suspect on Tuesday evening in the village.

Police are continuing the hunt for the suspect.

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WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Almost 1 year Death of Lindener in viral rape video of teen now treated on Govt actively looking to have as murder, not suicide

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he autopsy conducted on the body of 41-yearold Sherwin Apple, whose body was found at the Kitty Seawall one day after leaked videos went viral of him and another man allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl, has revealed that he was murdered and did not commit suicide as was earlier reported.

Apple, also known as “Yellow”, was found lying face down in the mud in the vicinity of Selena Resort on Tuesday morning. It was suspected that the clothes vendor, formerly of William Street, Kitty; and Silver Town, Wismar, Linden, had ingested carbon tablets after the videos went viral on Monday.

However, an autopsy conducted on Wednesday morning by State Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh on Apple gave the cause of death as asphyxiation (strangulation) with compression injuries to the neck.

The PME findings have confirmed the worst fears of Apple’s family, who have since revealed that no trace of poison was found in Apple’s system.

In an interview with Guyana Times International on Wednesday, family members noted that they were doubtful that he would commit suicide and are furthermore of the belief that the circulation of the video and its backlash

Dead: Sherwin Apple

continued on page 11

GRA says over $5B collected in tax amnesty as deadline draws closer

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s the deadline for the second and final phase of the tax amnesty granted by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) draws closer, GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia has disclosed that billions of dollars have been collected as of the end of August.

Speaking with reporters at the sideline of an event on Wednesday, the tax chief said the GRA has managed to collect over $5 billion so far and this figure may increase.

He also reminded that this is the last extension that will be granted to the amnesty, while encouraging defaulters to pay.

“Persons had an opportunity to pay their outstanding taxes in the first six months and it was extended for a second time for three months, so why should we continue to extend this? There is a limit to tax amnesty. Tax amnesty should not be given on a yearly basis,” he added.

Statia noted that the GRA is waiving the interest and penalties and not the tax. While he expressed some level of satisfaction with the response from the general public, Statia said he is dissatisfied about the limited amount of persons who have come forward and voluntarily filed their returns.

“What I am dissatisfied about is not the pay-

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

ment of the arrears, but I am sure that there are more persons who should have come forward and voluntarily filed their tax returns. We have not seen a great number of person doing that but those who have done so have made sizable payments.”

The GRA head also asserted that paying taxes is an investment in one country’s progress. He said many persons who have failed to pay their taxes here, pay overseas.

According to him, developed countries are now introducing programmes such as Domestic Resources Mobilisation, where once a person can mobilise their resources by paying their taxes, the countries don’t mind if the individuals invest the rest of the tax income in their countries.

“They are doing so simply because they want to reduce aid to these countries and that is why there is a drive for people to pay their taxes in their home country instead of sending all oversees. You not paying your taxes means you are not patriotic, because taxation is a social contract.”

Statia further argued that while people are always complaining that Government is not providing efficient public services, many of those who complain are not paying their rightful taxes.

“Where would the Government get the funding to provide those services like healthcare, pay teachers, roads and hospitals? We give little and demand much. That is unfortunate in this country,” Statia added, explaining further the importance of taxation to

the country.

GRA had announced in January that it would be providing a period of amnesty for delinquent taxpayers. This move by the Authority was in keeping with the measures announced

by Finance Minister Winston Jordan in his Budget 2018 speech last year.

Jordan had said that the period of amnesty for taxpayers, both corporate and individual, would ensure they are able to get in order, the filing of true and correct tax returns and payment of their true and correct taxes. The amnesty is applicable to taxpayers who have principal taxes outstanding; non-filers such as persons who are delinquent in the filing and payment.

The Minister said taxpayers who file and pay all principal taxes on or before June 30, 2018 will have all interest and penalties waived, while those who file and pay all principal taxes between July 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018 will have 50 per cent of interest and penalties waived.

At the end of the last amnesty which ended in June 2018, it was announced that $3 billion was raked in, but this number has since climbed. The final amnesty ends September 30.

JSC reconstituted

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lmost a year after the life of the last Commission came to an end, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon is of the belief that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will soon be reconstituted.

The Minister spoke about the Commission during a post-Cabinet press briefing. According to Harmon, it is something that Government is actively looking to have reconstituted.

“That is something that is receiving active consideration,” Harmon revealed, when asked about the JSC. “As you know we only recently appointed some persons who will serve on the Commission.”

“The Public Service Commission, the Chairman of that Commission actually serves on the Judicial Service Commission as well. And I believe very shortly we’ll get that done,” he said.

This is a reference to Patrick Yarde, who was sworn in last year as the acting Public Service Commission Chairman.

Other ex-officio members of the JSC had included acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, as well as Justices Prem Persaud and Lennox Perry.

One of the most important functions of the JSC is making recommendations to fill vacancies within the Judiciary.

In February 2016, the then JSC had recommended that High Court Judges, Justices Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory be appointed to the Court of Appeal.

It also recommended that Attorneys Sandil Kissoon and Damone Younge be appointed Puisne Judges.

In July, Rishi Persaud was elevated to serve in the Court of Appeal. Attorneys Simone Morris-Ramlall, Younge, Kissoon and Gino Persaud were appointed Puisne Judges.

Article 128 (1) of the Constitution provides that Judges, other than the Chancellor and Chief Justice, are appointed by the President “who shall act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.”

Article 128 (2) also provides that “the President shall act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission and appoint a person to act in the of-

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

fice of Justice of Appeal or Puisne Judge, as the case may be.”

There is leeway for the President, however, in Article 111 (1), which states: “In the exercise of his functions under this Constitution or any other law, the President shall act in accordance with his own deliberate judgement except in cases where, by this Constitution or by any other law, he is required to act in accordance with the advice or on the recommendation of any person or authority.”

Subsection two states, “Whereby this Constitution the President is directed to exercise any function on the advice or recommendation of any person or authority, he may, in accordance with his own deliberate judgement, once refer any such advice or recommendation back for reconsideration by the person or authority concerned.”

It goes on to state that “if that person or authority, having reconsidered the original advice or recommendation, substitutes therefor a different advice or recommendation, as the case may be, the President shall act in accordance therewith; but save as aforesaid he shall act in accordance with the original advice or recommendation.”

The last JSC expired on September 30, 2017 and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has been critical of the impasse. In a post on social media, he had stated: “Once again, the burden is mine to remind them that there is currently no properly constituted Judicial Service Commission. This position has obtained for several months now. So, as result of this constitutional vacuum, no judges or magistrate can be appointed.”

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WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Death of Lindener... from page 10

led to his demise. As such, they are calling for justice.

Apple's sister, Shonette, said she spoke with her brother on Monday in relation to the viral video, noting that he did not feel good about it and had cried as he was saddened over the situation. She said it was the last time she heard from him.

She explained that her brother had also told a friend and his uncle that he was receiving threats over the video. The woman noted that he promised to talk with them concerning this; however, he went missing on Monday evening.

“On Monday, after five (pm) was the last time that I spoke to him… He said to me, 'Sis, the video is not now, it's over a year'.

At the time he used to work in the interior, and he said that (incident) happened at that time. His phone was lost, so he didn't get to delete anything out of the phone. He was saying too that it's not a

young girl,” the sister related.

Shonette further stated that one of Apple's friends recalled seeing him sometime after 21:30h on Monday, shortly after he left his home after receiving repeated calls on his cellphone.

Apple's sister continued that while she does not condone what happened in the video, her brother did not deserve to be killed, but rather should have been handled by the law.

On the other hand, Police have since arrested another male suspect from Linden who also appeared in the video with the teen.

It is alleged that the two engaged in sexual activity with the teen against her will. The man, who was arrested on Tuesday, remains in custody as investigations by the Child Care and Protection Agency and the Guyana Police Force continues.

The teen has since denied that it was her in the video.

American Airlines, Travelspan partnering for NYC/Guyana flights

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r a v e l s p a n Vacations has announced a new sales agreement with United States carrier, American Airlines (AA), for the new North America to Guyana routes.

The travel agency said on Tuesday this

Travelspan brings 25 years of extensive experience and sales knowledge serving the Guyana markets, with multiple offices in Brooklyn and Queens, NY, USA; as well as in Georgetown, Berbice, and West Coast Demerara in Guyana; and Trinidad.

Government announced that approval was given to American Airlines to commence flights between the Miami International Airport (MIA) and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in November, with four flights per week.

approximately 350 destinations in more than 50 countries.

This airline is coming to this country at a time when, for the first time in its aviation history, Guyana will be hosting the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO’s) Air Transport

agreement will bridge the gap by supplying more seats and another option for travel in the market. American Airlines is set to commence operations in Guyana from November 15.

The Airlines’ new non-stop service between Miami and Georgetown will offer easy connections from many American cities such as New York, Atlanta, Washington, North Carolina, Houston and Canada.

“This is a much-needed service for Guyana, the ease for passengers to connect from most US cities, Canada and Europe will be a major boast to Guyana’s economy,” stated Travelspan CEO Nohar Singh.

Travelspan has set itself in a prime position with its sales and distribution offices, and commitment to providing its customers with the best options possible for quality air service into Guyana.

Last month,

The carrier, which is scheduling to have daily flights from June 2019, has indicated that it will first ply the GeorgetownMiami route before possibly extending to other destinations. The Airline will use an Airbus 319 with capacity for 120 passengers to fly to Guyana from Miami four times per week departing from Miami at 18:00h and arriving in Georgetown at 22:40h.

American Airlines offers an average of nearly 6700 flights per day to

Meeting, which will attract delegates from many of the ICAO’s 192-member states.

AA had earlier this year expressed interest in operating flights in Guyana. Then the Fort Worth Texas-based carrier later announced that it would begin offering seats on the route from December 20, 2018, with tickets going on sale from April 2. However, that was before any permission was actually sought from the GCAA for the operations.

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WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Avoiding single source procurement will curb wastage of public funds, says IDB

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key InterA m e r i c a n Development report (IDB) has 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.

The feasibility study for the new Demerara River Bridge, now marred in controversy and being investigated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), was a sole-sourced contract.

Among IDB’s recommendations for countries in the region are 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.

“Use competitive and efficient tendering and limit the use of exceptions and single source procurement,” the report states. “Use open tendering as the default method

The feasibility study for the new Demerara River bridge was a sole sourced contract

and modern tools (such as) framework agreements, electronic catalogues and reverse auctions for standardised products.”

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.

“Publishing annual procurement plans increases accountability of contracting authorities, as they need to justify diverging from the plan,” the report points out, at-

tributing this piece of advice to the European Commission.

The report also advises that all stages of public procurement, including all Government personnel involved in the process, be brought under a centralised procurement agency. And while Guyana does have a National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), the report also advises that this agency oversee and promote training of personnel.

Over the past few years, Guyana has been plagued with instanc-

es of single sourced contracts. One instance in particular is the above mentioned contract for which Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson sought permission from Cabinet to single source.

The contract was awarded to Dutch company, LievenseCSO, for a feasibility study into the new Demerara River Bridge. The parliamentary Opposition had requested that the Public Procurement Commission investigate the award of the $148 million sole sourced contract.

In its report on the matter, the Commission flagged Minister Patterson for requesting from Cabinet that the contract be sole sourced… instead of being processed through the Procurement Board, as stipulated by law.

Then there is the sole sourced Sussex Street bond. Earlier this year, questions on notice from the parliamentary Opposition in the National Assembly revealed that the State has paid out over $250 million in rental fees for the Sussex Street drug bond.

In the response tabled by

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, it was stated that this sum was paid from July 2016 to March 2018 to Linden Holdings Incorporated.

When it comes to action being taken to end the arrangement, Lawrence revealed that a Notice of Quit dated October 31, 2016, was sent by the then Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry, Trevor Thomas.

Further, current Permanent Secretary Colette Adams had sent a reminder dated October 3, 2017.

The transaction first came to light in 2016 during consideration of Financial Papers, when it was discovered that Government had in fact entered a contract to pay a VAT-excluded $12.5 million monthly rental to Linden Holdings Inc for the storage of drugs and medical supplies.

It was also discovered that $25 million was already spent as a security deposit, in addition to $12.5 million, representing monthly rentals from August to December 2016. Government has since announced that the rental arrangement has ended.

Republic Bank registers complaint with how $30B GuySuCo bond being spent- SPU head confirms

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ead of the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Colvin HeathLondon has confirmed that the Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited has registered a complaint of its concerns with how the $30 billion bond loaned to the Unit to be utilized on the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is being spent.

Heath-London told Guyana Times International on Tuesday that while he cannot comment extensively on the issue, he did say the Bank had registered an official complaint and asked that some of the matters be corrected with some level of urgency. “They registered a complaint. I cannot comment further, because those things are presently being dealt with,” he added.

The SPU head was at first reluctant to state whether indeed the issue raised by the Bank as reported in sections of the media were true. However, Heath-

London later admitted that everything alluded to in the news report was accurate and captures most of what was raised, but clarified that “Republic Bank has not suspended any funding to NICIL.” The $30 billion bond arrangement with the Bank is aimed at helping to finance capital works for three Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) estates. These include: Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt.

But it has been reported that Managing Director of Republic Bank, Richard Sammy wrote to General Manager of the Hand-inHand Trust Corporation, Maurice John, over GuySuCo reportedly using part of the bond proceeds to repay interest on another debt at a bank. The Bank also called for a full explanation as to the apparent breach of the terms of the Trust Deed.

Hand-in-Hand had written to Republic Bank requesting that the purpose of the Trust Deed be changed regarding how the proceeds of

SPU Head Colvin Heath-London

the bond shall be applied. While Republic Bank has stated it’s no objection to the proposed changes to the Trust Deed, it said it remained disappointed that proceeds from the bond were utilised for a purpose other than what was approved.

The SPU has not taken lightly the criticisms, which seek to suggest that the bond would be wasted and that it was

acquired at an unreasonable rate.

In fact, the SPU had said it should be noted that, as standard for any debt financing, security is required to secure payments to bondholders.

The terms of the bond are five years, since it is expected that the proceeds of the land sale for GuySuCo would be used to repay the facility, and NICIL wanted to secure

the lowest possible interest rate. The NICIL bond was later issued at 4.75 per cent interest.

In August, it was reported that almost $2 billion has been disbursed to GuySuCo for operational expenses of its three estates. Prior to that, GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Harold Davis, Jr, told sections of the media that GuySuCo was slated to receive proceeds from the initial $17 billion the SPU has secured from the $30 billion bond facility.

Davis claimed that GuySuCo had requested a substantial amount to advance its strategic plans, but monies received so far have catered only for wages and fuel expenses; and no other monies have been received.

The SPU later said the monies from the bond facility will be used to purchase equipment for production of plantation white sugar, including the purchase of nine tractors, and to address the co-generation plants’ operational expenses.

“The monies ob-

tained from the bond facility were not obtained to facilitate the payment of debt, as was ventilated time and again by the Minister of Finance and stakeholders,” the SPU has said.

Since 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 towards restructuring the industry while keeping all of the estates open and GuySuCo’s workforce employed and engaged.

Some 5700 workers from Skeldon, East Demerara (Enmore) and Rose Hall Estates were dismissed after GuySuCo had terminated their employment in 2017. Before then, over 1000 Wales Estate workers were similarly dismissed when the entity officially ceased operation in December 2016. These moves were in keeping with what Government has said were “cost-cutting measures”.

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Political parties, politicians must... edge of it were given the opportunity to have it corrected before the end of Wednesday, August 26, 2018.

This decision was made at the statutory meeting held at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Tuesday, when all Commissioners, including those nominated by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) were present.

However, on Wednesday when some of these persons turned up to have the issue rectified at the various GECOM facilities in their communities, they were blocked from doing so.

PPP GECOM Commissioner Robeson Benn told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that all assurances were given by GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield that once affidavits for each individual was produced, it would be corrected.

But Benn said that when these persons showed up to make the necessary changes they were told by the respective Returning Officers (RO) at the various polling stations that this could only be done if the

The AFC list has a signature for Dhanraj Deonat, who cannot read or write

head of a list could visit the polling station with a signed affidavit or the aggrieved person appeared in person, not one individual submitting for a group.

When this information was fed to the Opposition PPP, Benn said that attempts were made to contact Lowenfield but to no avail. He said this was bearing in mind that the deadline was 23:59h Wednesday and beyond that, no changes could be made to any list.

“All the staff of GECOM are reportedly unreachable at this point in time while, the ROs are refusing to have persons correct the ‘fraudulent’ inclusion of their name. We have tried to contact the CEO for … hours, but we haven’t

managed to get him,” he explained.

Further, Benn said that in some cases, persons have reported being called and threatened not to make any changes if their names appear on the list. He is of the opinion that this is allowing for a situation where persons who never wanted their names on a list or a certain list having no avenue in which their names could be withdrawn.

“For us, it’s a problem, because it goes against an agreement and secondly, it goes against the wishes of persons who have listed themselves as nominators for particular parties or groups or persons who they want to support,” he lamented.

The GECOM Commissioner said re-

ports have surfaced in areas such as: Crabwood Creek, Corriverton, Fifty One Good Hope, Whim, Bloomfield, Number 63, Berbice; and La Grange, La Jalousie and Canal Polder, West Bank Demerara.

Meanwhile, PPP GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shaddick claimed that the Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers had issued instructions to the ROs that the persons should bring the affidavits in person, contrary to what was discussed.

“Today (Wednesday) at La Grange, an RO was refusing to accept an affidavit from a Leader of a list and the CEO intervened, when he was contacted by her, and instructed that once the Leader or Deputy Leader of the list brings in an affidavit, they have to accept.”

She also stated that “the CEO never wrote to the RO, informing them of the procedure and it was the DCEO who is conveying the wrong message to the ROs”.

“The CEO was gone, and I tried calling him and he is not answering and I called the DCEO and she informed me that they are only collecting documents which

from page 3

are defective and that the persons must bring it themselves. I informed her that that was not the decision taken and that she should email all the ROs informing them of the decision. The DCEO said she will consult with the CEO and then she will send the email.”

According to Shaddick, an attorney, the DCEO was also asked to copy the PPP nominated Commissioners in the email. “This is GECOM assisted fraud,” Shaddick argued.

Jagdeo on Thursday said that “This is very concerning to us because this is precisely what happened in 2015 when the PPP asked for a recount in Region 4 and we were told that we were premature in our request, that the declaration has not been made by the RO as yet and that once that declaration is made then you can put in your request for a recount. We said fine the declaration was made we found some discrepancies and sought to put in a request for a recount of a few boxes, now we had up to noon of the following day for declaration of results. The following morning when there the RO for Region 4 shut her office and disappeared

totally, so our request for the recount could not get in there in the statutory period as provided for by law.”

Moreover, the Party General Secretary lamenting the disappearance of key officials said “mow imagine GECOM is saying is that if they persist with this interpretation, they are saying that you as an individual in this country protected by our constitution and our laws, if someone fraudulently uses your name to support their candidature and you seek to have your name removed because you missed some deadline on Tuesday, you can’t have your name removed, you have to back that person. So this is encouraging politicians to fraudently use people’s names as their backers.”

On Nomination Day, dozens of lists of names and signatures, purporting to be backers of candidates, were palpably defective because of forgeries. These lists contained the names of deceased persons, persons who never existed and persons whose names were placed there without their knowledge and authority or through some fraudulent means.

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LGE 2018:

PPP will not increase property taxes in areas won- Party GS

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

W

ith countrywide property valuations on the horizon, People’s Progressive Party General Secretary (GS) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has promised that no increases in rates would be implemented in areas his party wins at the Local Government Elections (LGE).

Jagdeo made this announcement at a press conference he held with PPP

candidates from across the country.

His commitment would correlate with Government promising that rate hikes would be up to local officials after the valuations are over.

The PPP General Secretary was critical of the exercise and the fact that it would result in more burden on the taxpayer.

He pointed out that Central Government has already been collecting increased taxes from the populace.

“We have been in opposition to increasing the rates and taxes across the country. We believe this government has increased too many taxes. So, we are opposed to any new burden on people’s backs. There is a surreptitious move on the part of this government to increase valuations.

“They’ve hired a company from abroad to do this countrywide evaluation,” Jagdeo observed. “There can be only one purpose to this. To increase valuation of property means your taxes are going up. Any area the PPP wins, we will not increase rates and taxes, because that’s a local issue. So people who vote APNU will be voting to increase their taxes.”

Romel Roopnarine, representa-

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

tive of the Herstelling, Little Diamond area, noted that there were fears about the impending valuation of properties, particularly on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

He noted that this fear was especially pervasive in the newly-created housing schemes. In addition, he noted that residents were concerned about

More drugs, improvised weapons unearthed at Lusignan Prison Holding Bay areas

overlooked services to their communities.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, a Canadian firm, was contracted by the Government for approximately $330 million to assist with the exercise. The project is expected to last until next year.

The initiative was supposed to review existing property rate structures, to raise more money at the regional level. According to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan in a recent interview with the media, work on the contract will conclude in 2019.

Besides the valuations and revaluations, Bulkan noted that the project would also produce an inventory of properties.

Bulkan hailed this as an opportunity for councils to be less dependent on Central Government.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation does property evaluations for the state of Ontario and other jurisdictions. Its work spans Canada and other countries.

It was only last year that City Hall announced that property rates would go up by 10 per cent.

Car ploughs into rice field after swerving from cow in airport run

A O

ne week after a number of prohibited items were discovered in the Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara, yet another set of contraband items was unearthed following a raid on Monday.

Reports are prison authorities raided the Lusignan facility between 12:02h and 14:50h on Monday which led to the discovery of 14 cellphones, 15 SIM cards, one tattoo machine, five pairs of scissors, 48 improvised weapons, 85 grams of cannabis, $3040 in cash, a quantity of chargers, one knife, one chopper, and a quantity of razor blades. These items were found in Holding Bay Two, while three cellphones, nine improvised weapons, one tattoo machine, one pair of scissors, one cable and one earpiece were found in Holding Bay Three.

Meanwhile, in Holding Bay One, three improvised weapons, four lighters, one cellphone The illegal drug found by Police in the Lusignan Prison and one earpiece were unearthed.

This find comes exactly seven days after two nail clips, a quantity of ziplock bags, six bottles ranks attached to the very prison seized contraband items including 45 improvised weapons, six of pepper sauce, one pack of cards, three bottles of lighters, one metal foil, 36 razor blades, three cell- medicine, four bottles of oil with sus-pected cannaphone chargers, one white cellphone, a quantity of bis seeds, one memory card and three mirrors were empty ziplock bags, one tattoo machine, a quantity of found.

The smuggling of contraband items into prisnails, two headphones, three broken pieces of metal ons remains a perennial problem within the system. and a quantity of pallet wood.

Authorities have been working assiduously to curb That search lasted for a few hours.

Earlier in the month, a raid was conducted at the the practice, and these efforts have resulted in severGeorgetown Prison at Camp Street during which 19 al prison officers being caught facilitating the illegal cellular phones, five phone chargers, one flash drive, trade, which is said to be “big business”.

In fact, back in July, Director of Prisons, Gladwin 15 cigarette lighters, two packs of cigarettes, five Samuels had disclosed during a press conference that pairs of scissors, sev-en improvised weapons, and 774 several prison officers had been relieved of their dugrams of cannabis were found.

Prior to that raid, another raid was carried out at ties after they were found to be working in collusion Lusignan Prison. There again razor blades, 17 phone with each other in order to facilitate the movement chargers, 24 lighters, a quantity of wires, eight met- of suspected contraband into the Lusignan Prison al spoons, two pairs of scissors, one plastic knife, Holding Bay area.

P a r f a i t h Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) man is lucky to be alive when he ended up in a rice field after he swerved from a cow in the area on Thursday morning.

The man, David Carrington was re-

portedly returning from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in the wee hours of Thursday when the accident occurred.

This publication was informed that Carrington was proceeding home when a cow dashed across the road and ended up in his path.

In an attempt to avoid a collision, the man swerved but ended up toppling several times before coming to a halt on a nearly rice field.

Carrington explained that he fell unconscious following the incident.

After he regained consciousness, he said he

struggled to exit his motorcar, bearing registration number PXX 1192, and immediately contacted his sister Denisa Romain, who in turn summoned the Police to the scene.

A breathalyzer test conducted on Carrington showed no sign of alcohol

on his breath. The cow that reportedly caused the accident could not be found.

Another similar incident was reported in May of this year at the said location. In that incident, an Evening News Video Editor, Aggrey Halley was proceeding along the roadway on his motorcycle when he almost collided with a cow.

Residents of the area have made several reports to the Police regarding the cows that roam on the roadway but nothing has been done to correct the situation.

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Entirely new GuySuCo Board appointed from the one advertised, gazetted

M

onths after Special Purpose Unit (SPU) Head Colvin HeathLondon was tipped to become the new Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and subsequent to a notice published in the media naming him and several other persons as members of the new Board, those names have been discarded for an entirely new board.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon announced officially the new members of the Board for the now downsized Corporation.

Harmon told the media earlier this week at his post-Cabinet press briefing that Cabinet recently granted its approval of a new Board of Directors for GuySuCo which will be chaired

by agriculturalist John Dow. Other persons appointed to the new GuySuCo Board include: John Browman, Richard Cumberbatch, Paul Cheong, Fritz McLean, Vishnu Panday, Ramesh Persaud, Nowrang Persaud, Roy Hanoman, Claude Housty and ex-officio member Harold Davis Jr. The Board’s tenure is two years and it will expire on August 31, 2020.

Subsequent to the White Paper on Sugar being laid in the National Assembly, it was announced that Finance Minister Winston Jordan and his Ministry would take over responsibility for the sugar industry and the divestment process. continued on page 21

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Several Guyanese women using economic situation as reason for drug trafficking …but CANU says financial situation no reason for doing so

I

n the last few weeks, several women have been either remanded or jailed for drug smuggling.

When grilled by Police investigators after the busts, many of the self-confessed mules have blamed their economic circumstances as being responsible for their choices. However, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Deputy Head Lesley Ramlall has opined that financial difficulty was no excuse for breaking the laws on trafficking narcotics.

Karen Stuffle, Alicia Coppin, Shellon Barrow, Christine Griffith and Ruth Caniff are among the women implicated in drug smuggling in September alone. On the sidelines of this year’s annual CANU staff training, Ramlall indicated that the drug-fighting agency was working on awareness programmes especially to enlighten current and potential traffickers that earnings from the illegal practice could be forfeited.

“We want to start sensitising the general public about the dangers of not only being involved in narcotics, but the losing of assets. We have to make not only women but the general population aware,” he stressed last week.

“As it relates to women, a lot of them are in single-parent families and a lot of them are using that as a reason for being involved in the nar-

These women have all been recently implicated in drug smuggling

co trade. In fact, most of the women we’ve arrested that is the reason given – that ‘I’m a single-parent person, there are challenges for me getting an income, so I just decided to take a chance’. But is this a reason for you to be involved in narco trade? Certainly not,” the CANU Deputy Head added.

During last week’s staff training, inter-agency collaboration was emphasised as being integral to tackling the multibillion-dollar illegal industry. In fact, it is expected that CANU will forge advanced cooperation with the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to curb money laundering practices linked to the drug trade.

Guyana Times International understands that based on CANU’s tar-

gets, operatives attached to SOCU will join in key operations where evidence of laundered money is involved. After CANU seizes narcotics, SOCU and, at times, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will gather evidence as they intensify anti-money laundering efforts.

CANU officials contend that it has been challenging to garner successful prosecution of the very large narcotics dealers owing to well-established networks. Guyana Times International was, however, told that tax evasion investigations could be a key force in dismantling the narcotics empire which was “growing every day”.

On September 13, 48-yearold Guyanese hairdresser Karen Stuffle was sentenced to four years in prison and fined

G$2.3 million for attempting to smuggle cocaine at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). When CANU ranks searched the woman on September 9, they unearthed 100 cocaine pellets totalling 1.42 kilograms which was stashed in her vagina and stomach. She had said that she was paid airfare and some US$400 to traffic the narcotic.

Another woman, Alicia Coppin was subjected to a search by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) upon her arrival at the JFK International Airport in New York. According to reports, Coppin was seen acting suspiciously and when DEA Agents questioned her, she admitted to inserting the illegal drug into her vaginal cavity. In similar fashion to Stuffle, several cocaine pellets were also

stashed in Coppin’s stomach.

Also in September, Shellon Barrow and her friend, Christine Griffith, were remanded to prison following another cocaine bust at the CJIA. The duo was charged for trafficking 1.638 kilograms of cocaine and aiding the trafficking of narcotics respectively. Both women, however, denied their involvement though Barrow’s suitcase contained the illicit drug. Police outlined that Griffith delivered that said suitcase.

They return to the Georgetown Magistrates’

CANU Deputy Head Lesley Ramlall

Courts on October 8, 2018.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

Guyana to host pre-qualifiers Entirely new GuySuCo ... for robot competition in 2019

from page 20

S

These two young lads exploring their technical skills

TEMGuyana has signed an agreement with the International Youth Robot Association to be the prequalifying body responsible for organising the annual qualifier national robot competition among Guyanese primary and secondary school-aged student teams to represent Guyana at the International Youth Robotics Competition (IYRC).

STEMGuyana will work with public and private local partners to host the IYRC league pre-qualifier competition in Guyana in 2019. The competition is expected to attract more than 100 teams from schools, community centre clubs, and other civil society organisations in the 7-12 years, 13-17 years and open categories of competition. Participation in the IYRC means

that Guyana now participates in two global competitions, including the First Global competition to which Guyana has sent two teams to represent the country in 2017 and 2018.

The 2018 IYRC will be held November 30 to December 3, at Chulalongkorn University. Bangkok, Thailand while the location of the 2019 competition in which Guyana will compete has not yet been announced. For the young people participating in the robotics league, the annual competition will be the culmination of months of preparation which will see students develop their technical skills while strengthening their communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills.

Jordan said in April that contrary to the paid full-page advertisements about a new board headed by HeathLondon and a Cabinet subcommittee’s decision, there was no new board for GuySuCo and consequently, no new Chairman.

According to the advertisement, which was published on March 14, 2018, the new Board was approved by Cabinet on February 26, 2018, and the appointments were supposed to take effect on March 1. There had long been rumours of a split at the executive level over the decision, however.

The old Board of Directors had comprised economist, Dr Clive Thomas as the Chairman and Frederick Singh as the Secretary. The Directors were: Louise Bouyea, Fritz McLean, John Browman, Nigel Cumberbatch, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, Nazim Ali, and George Jervis.

A list of the next proposed Board was circulated in sections of the media.

On that list were Komal Singh, Verna Adrian, Fritz McLean, Rosh Khan Jr, George Jervis, Arianne McLean, Vishnu Panday, Annette ArjoonMartins, and two GuySuCo executives.

Jordan later denied there was a political split between the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on the issue.

He acknowledged, however, that the subcommittee’s decision died a swift death when the full Cabinet overturned the proposed appointments.

Stressing that this was within the Cabinet’s right, Jordan related that the full Cabinet deferred the decision until it could get more information on

the nominees and thus rendered the appointments null and void.

President David Granger had said he wanted the new members to be experts, so they could effectively lead the now downsized industry into profitability. And just last month, Government announced the appointment of Davis Jr as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GuySuCo. Nevertheless, the coalition Administration has taken considerable flak from various stakeholders for its indecisiveness in setting up the new Board and also for the operation of GuySuCo in general.

Last year, Government announced plans to downsize the local sugar industry and divest the Corporation’s assets.

To this end, SPU, which falls under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), was set up to oversee the divestment plans by way of either selling off or restarting factories with minimal staff to attract investors – both domestic and foreign.

The SPU is currently managing the now closed Skeldon; East Demerara (Enmore); Rose Hall and Wales estates.

However, there have been reports of an apparent tug-of-war within the coalition of recent over the sugar industry, parts of which are now under the control of the SPU for the divestment process.

In fact, reports had surfaced about disagreements allegedly between Ministers from the two coalition parties regarding the chairmanship and members of the GuySuCo Board.

The last GuySuCo Board expired back in February.

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Loan agreement with China

Major ICT upgrades for Guyana

By Jarryl Bryan

A

greements signed last Saturday with the People’s Republic of China would allow for concessional funding for the Information Communication Technology (ICT) and other sectors, as Guyana hosted the Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister on a State Visit.

The signing took place at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre following brief bilateral talks with Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. While one agreement was for a concessional loan between the two governments, another was for “economic and technical cooperation”.

Speaking on the agreements, Greenidge noted that proposals would now have to be evaluated to receive funding.

“During the meeting, we discussed how the two countries would move forward with the cooperation areas identified,” Greenidge explained.

“While the MoU includes broad areas of trade and people-to-people exchange, we must now identify specific proposals that can be evaluated at the technical level.

“We are committed to utilising the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as existing bilateral mechanisms to channel support to critical

Foreign Affairs Ministers of Guyana and China, Carl Greenidge and Wang Yi respectively

sectors, mainly infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy, health and ICT, in order to bring direct benefits to the citizens,” Greenidge explained.

He further explained that one of the projects signed into place was to implement the Guyana National Broadband Project, to upgrade networks for delivering services in the education, health and security sectors. The project for technical and economic cooperation, he explained, would also include funding for the Public Sector College.

Those aside, Greenidge revealed, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has commenced discussions with other Government agencies in order to get their input, assess their needs, and identify their priority areas for funding.

“These agencies are represented here, and we are committed to utilising this new framework of the Belt and

Road Initiative as well as existing bilateral mechanisms to channel support to critical sectors, namely infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy, health, and ICT inter alia, in order to bring direct benefits to our citizens,” he noted.

“You also witnessed this morning the official handing over of China’s contribution towards our hosting of the Seventeenth Session of the Committee for the Review and Implementation of the Convention, CRIC 17, of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, (to be held) in January of 2019. I believe that it is the first occasion on which the Government of China has contributed cash to this very important undertaking,” Greenidge said.

In his address, delivered through an interpreter, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hailed the bond existing between the two states,

and acknowledged Guyana’s status as one of the most influential in the Caribbean.

In fact, Minister Yi was optimistic that Guyana could play a part in China’s cooperation with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

“Today we covered much ground on our bilateral cooperation agenda. Also, we talked of future priorities for cooperation, including construction, fisheries, agriculture, renewable energy sources, ICT, education, sports and public health,” he declared.

“We will continue to do what we can to assist Guyana, our old friend. We would be happy to see our friend Guyana, another developing country, achieve faster progress and prosperity,” Minister Yi said.

Benefits

In an interview with the media following the signing, Chairman of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Floyd Levi, gave some more details in regard to the funding secured for the ICT sector.

“You’ve seen the signing today for the National Broadcast Network expansion. You may be aware that some of the towers we use with the e-governance network are all around Georgetown and the coast.

Now, there are some gaps, and the signing today is meant to address those gaps,” he explained.

“In terms of tangibles, we’ll have improvements in our data centre… improvements in the capacity of our network.

Our network includes fibre optic cables and microwave technology. We’ll improve all of those, and we’ll also have solutions geared towards the security sector that will focus on more cameras, (and) better location of the cameras; for instance, at points of entry and exit for Guyana. We’ll be improving the smart classrooms,” he promised.

Levi described some other aspects of the plans, some tangible benefits of which will include enhancements in Government’s data centre, and platforms for doctors to have sessions with patients remotely. The broadband project, he noted, costs some US$37.6 million.

When speaking of Chinese assistance to developing countries, the Belt and Road Initiative, or the Silk Road Economic Belt, is often cited. The project aims to connect the disparate regions in China’s near and distant neighbourhoods through a massive programme of infrastructure building.

Guyana became part of the initiative when Greenidge and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July of this year.

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Guyana Govt should push for better trade deal with T&T - Ramkarran

A

mid heavy criticism of the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, there are now calls for the coalition Government to ensure that it takes a stand to ensure that Guyana gets a better deal on trade with that small island state.

In his weekly Conversation Tree column, former Speaker of the National Assembly and Attorney-at-Law, Ralph Ramkarran reflected on the long relationship between the two countries, stating that it has been a cordial one and to some extent, of mutual benefit.

Ramkarran, however, reminded that at one time after the twin-island republic gained independence, measures were put in place to protect the island’s economy. As such, it became difficult for Guyanese professionals to get jobs there and for Guyanese business people to invest.

He also recalled that in the mid to late 1970s, Guyanese flooded into T&T to live and work, mainly illegally, because Guyana’s

economy began to contract dramatically. At this time also, numerous Guyanese entered the business of ‘suitcase trading’ – a phenomenon which would endure for nearly two decades, he said.

The former House Speaker reasoned that in recent years, the economy of T&T has been undergoing severe stress because of the fall in price for natural gas.

In 2005, the price for natural gas was US$10 per MMBtu. Today, it is just about US$3. And as a major oil-producing nation, Trinidad is now facing the full brunt of this.

“A T&T economy that cannot generate enough foreign exchange to feed investment has sent many Trinidadian business people with capital to Guyana, seeking investment opportunities. Trinidadians have been flooding Guyana for about two years and have been investing and Guyanese business people have become wary and sometimes resentful,” he observed.

According to Ramkarran, the visit of Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has been seen with bitterness as expressed in criti-

Former House Speaker Ralph Ramkarran

cisms about the alleged one-sidedness of the MoU. He thinks that the Guyana Government did not appear to have taken the opportunity to raise with the T&T Government administrative obstructions that it has placed on the entry of Guyana’s exports.

“If that assessment is correct, Guyana lost a golden opportunity to open up T&T’s economy to Guyana’s goods,” he explained in his column.

Trojan Horse

Ramkarran referred to a letter published in sections of the media that written by

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) and former Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Minister Clement Rohee, who detailed the difficulty Guyana faced with T&T regarding trade during his years as Minister.

Rohee, in his letter, described the MoU as a ‘Trojan Horse’, referencing the past when he as Minister tried persuading Trinidad to give Guyana greater market access for its rice by removing a number of non-tariff barriers which it had unilaterally imposed without the consent of Caricom’s

Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).

“I led several official/Private Sector missions to Port of Spain.

The Trinidadians never budged. They found fault with the colour, length and smell of the Guyanese rice grain and claimed that they had to impose the non-tariff barriers for the sake of consumer protection,” he recalled.

Rohee said the issues with T&T were not limited to rice, but also extended to Guyana’s sugar and beef exports.

“Guyanese potential exporters of beef like their counterparts in the rice and sugar industries were frustrated. So much for free trade within Caricom and small wonder why the Single Market and Economy is floundering,” he added.

Ramkarran, therefore, believes that this and other reasons appear to be the basis of the criticisms of the MoU. Nevertheless, he opined that the MoU was an opportunity between the two Governments to enhance cooperation, noting that T&T has the capacity and expertise to assist Guyana, which is in dire need of such

assistance.

“T&T business people should also be encouraged to invest in Guyana, subject to any local content laws which may be implemented, much as T&T did, enabling its business people to flourish during the oil years and much of its wealth to remain in T&T,” he added.

However, he said with opportunities now opening up owing to Guyana’s advantageous position, Government should begin pressing T&T to remove its artificial barriers to trade.

He observed too that the Guyana Government raised the issue of T&T’s recent reluctance to maintain its full support for Guyana in the border controversy with Venezuela, which was a significant departure from the island’s previous full support for Guyana’s case.

“Prime Minister Rowley’s change of posture and full endorsement of Guyana’s position is now welcome.

Demarcation of maritime boundaries to eliminate overlaps appears to have to await further discussion,” the prominent Attorney noted in his weekly column.

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WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Same rules must be applied to all parties …Edghill says Govt ministers should also face heat over actions

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u b l i c Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has reportedly submitted documents, including a written statement, to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) as part of investigations into the contract award of the controversial feasibility study for a new bridge over the Demerara River, but calls are being made for him to officially visit the offices of SOCU. Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill told Guyana Times International on Sunday that the minister should not be given any special treatment, but must be made to face the proverbial music for his actions. He expressed concerns that Patterson is yet to appear before investigators at SOCU, whereas members of the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Cabinet were called in there for questioning in regard to the sale of land at Sparendaam (Pardoville 2), East Coast Demerara.

“It’s not that I want to see people go to jail, or this person become a criminal or be charged or convicted; I want to ensure that there is accountability and transparency, and the same rule that you are using against the previous Administration must

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

also be used for you. The same measure (with which) you judge others you must also be judged.

So Minister Patterson should not be escaping or sending in a statement; he must face the music,” the MP asserted.

The contract in question was awarded to Dutch company LievenseCSO for a feasibility study into the new Demerara River Bridge. The Opposition had requested that the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) investigate the award of the G$148 million solesourced contract.

In its report on the matter, the PPC had flagged Patterson for requesting from Cabinet that the contract be sole-

Tricked!

S

upporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) are claiming that they were tricked into signing forms which put them as candidates for the A Partnership for National Unity team to contest the November 12 Local Government Elections (LGE).

Seven persons have reported this to the party’s regional office in New Amsterdam.

According to them, the incident occurred at the Plegtanker/ Koortbradt NDC on the East Bank of Berbice.

Omesh Kumar is one such person. According to him, he did sign a form to indicate that he will be a candidate for the PPP but on Nomination Day, his name also appeared on the A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) list of candidates.

M e a n w h i l e , Tulapersaud Heeman Kumar claims that he was tricked into signing a second form. He told Guyana Times

International that following a consultation meeting which the PPP held last week, he was nominated to be one of its representatives.

However, the following day, a prominent villager who once supported the PPP, and whom he later learnt now supports APNU, went to his home and gave him a similar form to sign. According to him, the man told him that there was a mistake on the form he had signed for the PPP and he had to sign it again.

sourced, instead of being processed through the Procurement Board as the law says should be done. It was subsequently announced that SOCU would be investigating.

The shadow Public Infrastructure Minister in an Opposition cabinet, Edghill told this publication that the contract was a mere “underhand arrangement,” especially given the fact that an unsolicited bid reached the desk of the minister.

“That was corruption in itself. How could this company know that the Government was searching for a contractor if somebody didn’t leak some information, or if somebody didn’t meet somebody in a private room, or (if) there was

no underhand arrangement?” he questioned.

The Opposition MP said everyone in law enforcement must understand exactly what was done, and the precedent that was set must apply in this matter.

“If not, this nation will be witnessing what is called double standards, and it would be conforming that all of the actions being taken

by SOCU are politically directed as a witch hunt against political opponents,” he added.

“But this case with Minister Patterson is a real live case, you don’t have to go dig up for the facts. The Procurement Commission has already issued a report, which is public, and they (SOCU) said they are acting on it.

We expect that the same rules of engagement that SOCU has taken as it related to the previous Government would be taken as it relates to Minister Patterson and the cabinet,” he said.

Report

The PPC completed its investigation into the award of the contract for a feasibility study on a new Demerara River Bridge, and handed its report over on August 7, 2018. The report noted that several companies had bid for the project to do the feasibility study and design for the new Demerara River Bridge,

Opposition Member of Parliament Juan Edghill

and 12 companies had been shortlisted. The report added that only two of the 12 companies had made proposals. As such, the bidding process was annulled. It added that on November 12, 2016, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) approved the move for the project to be re-tendered. The project was not re-tendered; instead, Dutch company LivenseCSO was engaged by the Public Infrastructure Ministry to do the work. Page 7 of the report noted that the bid from LivenseCSO was “unsolicited,” but Patterson took the company’s proposal to Cabinet for approval, and Cabinet granted its

approval for the company to be engaged.

The report, on page 7, stated that monies to be spent on the project were taken from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (Asphalt Plant Accounts).

Besides the LievenseCSO contract, a probe has been requested by Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, and Opposition parliamentarian Juan Edghill had also written to the PPC to request probes into the D’Urban Park project and the Sussex Street drug bond. In a letter to the Commission’s Chairperson, Carol Corbin, Edghill had identified aspects of the project about which the party is most concerned.

…PPP Berbice supporters claim they were fooled into signing APNU LGE forms

Heeman Kumar said he was unaware that the second form he was signing was going to be taken to APNU. Other persons from the community also gave this publication similar stories.

The persons have since signed affidavits indicating their choice of party they wish to support. The PPP is expected to present this alleged fraud to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) SOON. While the LGE Nomination Day process

went smoothly in several parts of Guyana, in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) there were several hiccups.

At the Plegtanker/ Kortberaadt NDC on the East Bank of Berbice – one of two new NDCs in the region – the PPP is contending it had arrived at the NDC with its list since 20:00h on Thursday, but the security guard there reserved a place for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which arrived

sometime after 05:30h on Friday – the same time at which the returning officer arrived – and the Returning Officer allegedly allowed APNU to submit its list first, which according to PPP Member of Parliament, Adrian Anamayah, is an act that has raised concerns for his party.

According to Anamayah, APNU members had fooled persons and had caused them to sign documents which APNU members used to indicate that those per-

sons were APNU candidates. He said that had his party been allowed to be the first to submit its documents, as should rightly have been the case, some of those names would not have been allowed on the APNU list.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the region, a similar situation played out, wherein the PPP said it was at the office first and was given the number one tag, but the Returning Officer asked for APNU to be first to submit its list after members of that party began to behave unruly in the GECOM compound.

Again, Anamayah is contending the PPP was denied its right to be the first to submit its list and he is alleging that GECOM already is acting in a seemingly biased manner.

According to the parliamentarian, the PPP will be challenging the actions of the Returning Officer in court. (Andrew Carmichael)

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Over 3000 candidates reflective of Guyana to contest LGE for the PPP

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has revealed that they have put forward over 3000 candidates for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) scheduled to be held in November of this year.

Moreover, the Party outlined, via its General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, that it will be contesting in all 80 of the Local Authority Areas (LAAs) with candidates who are reflective of Guyana.

During a press briefing where representatives from across Guyana were present, Jagdeo explained that a special effort was made to have a list that reflected ethnic, class and gender balance.

“We said we want the list to reflect a balance between PPP members and members of civil society … retired teachers, Policemen, retired headmasters, other prominent individuals in the community, people who committed to do social work,” he posited.

“We have many who are active in local government bodies but who are not members of our parties. They may be sympathisers but not members of the Party. And we wanted them included on our list, because they have a great contribution to make in the development of their communities.

That was the first principle we established.”

The second principle, ac-

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo (centre) with a segment of candidates from across the country. To his immediate left is Campaign Manager Zulficar Mustapha and to his right, parliamentary Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

cording to Jagdeo, was that the list must reflect Guyana.

The General Secretary noted that everyone from the intellectual to the fisherman has a role to play in developing their communities. Thus, efforts to include them were also made.

“So, we insisted on ethnic balance. We wanted youth and experience. And you’ll see that reflected in our candidates. We wanted more women on our lists. We wanted religious and class balance” the General Secretary expounded.

“Were we perfect in this situation? No. We sought as far as possible to observe these principles. In many areas, after selecting 3000 candidates, it’s a

very difficult process. And so many communities, we’ve had multiple names. And some we accommodated on the PR [Proportional Representation] and constituency component.”

Besides the thousands of candidates, the General Secretary related that there were approximately 20,000 backers – demonstrative of the enormous task before the Party.

According to Jagdeo, the Party will contest all Local Authority Area, even the ones whose creation caused PPP to launch court challenges.

Jagdeo noted that 70 of the 71 areas were contested in 2016. According to the General

Secretary, this time around some 80 areas were created through gerrymandering. But Jagdeo made it clear that this time around the Party would contest every single area, including the areas that were newly created.

“You know of our concerns about the creation of new local government bodies…that matter is before the courts now, but you’ll recall APNU said we’re worried about contesting in these areas, that is why we went to the courts. We went to the courts to uphold the Constitution and the laws of Guyana. Because it seems that only the PPP as a political party has the mandate now

to do this.”

“No other political party is defending the citizens’ rights.

And we’re defending the right of citizens to be consulted when you alter their boundaries. Notwithstanding that, we are contesting the LGE in all 80 areas, including the areas that were newly created,” Jagdeo said.

Nomination Day was held on September 21 and the three parties, coupled with independents, submitted their list of candidates. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is in receipt of 61 symbols from these entities, all having thrown their hats into the ring.

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India’s PM visit to see commissioning of Palmyra Monument M inister of State, Joseph Harmon has confirmed that the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is expected to visit Guyana in December, which will also mark the commissioning of the Indian Indentureship Monument in Palmyra on the Corentyne, Berbice.

This announcement was made during Harmon’s post-Cabinet briefing where it was highlighted that Prime Minister Modi will be embarking on his firstever visit to Guyana.

tract in the sum of $38,015,000 [was] awarded,” said the Minister of State.

The monument was designed and constructed in India at a cost of US$150,000, and was gifted to Guyana by the Government of India to symbolise the country’s cultural celebration.

However, in April 2017, the base for the structure came crashing down which prompted the Indian Government to request a report. It was later related that it offered to send skilled crafts-

Sections of the monument after it came crashing down

“I know he’s coming sometime early in December and that, of course, the Indian Monument at Palmyra, we’re working very seriously to ensure that that monument is completed and not only in the original format in which it came, but we’re doing some extensive work to ensure that it is something that is fitting for the Prime Minister to come and see when he gets here.”

The 12 feet by 12 feet Indian Indentureship Monument is being completed with extended works ongoing.

Minister Harmon indicated that additional works included a visitors’ gallery and security hut which would be constructed to the tune of $38 million.

“For the construction of a visitors’ gallery and security hut at the Indian Immigration Monument…a con-

men to rebuild it.

Earlier this year, the Public Infrastructure Ministry had also indicated that over $63 million in contracts was awarded for the construction of a supporting structure which included works on the base.

I n f o r m a t i o n from the Public Infrastructure Ministry indicated that the works commenced on August 14, and are expected to be completed by October 31.

The construction is divided into eight lots and involves the creation of a base and podium for the monument, periph-eral structures such as a perimeter walkway and parking area, internal and external landscaping, roadway and drain-age, lighting and the visitor’s gallery, fencing and the security hut.

Guyana in bracket of countries that misallocate public funds- IDB report finds

A

A graph showing efficiency scores of some LAC countries including Guyana

recent report from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) has found that Guyana falls into the bracket of countries that misallocate public funds, particularly in the health sector, when smarter budgeting could provide better services for citizens at no extra cost.

The report is titled “Better spending for better lives: How Latin America and the Caribbean can do more with less”. It found that several countries could improve their health sector indicators by making their spending policies more in tune with international efficiency standards.

“Countries on the efficiency frontier are considered the most efficient for their level of health spending… however, 22 of 27 Latin American and Caribbean [LAC] countries are in the bottom half of the average efficiency rankings and 12 are in the bottom 25 per cent,” the report states, adding that Guyana is one such underperformer.

“Among low spenders, efficiency bottlenecks in health outcomes achieved are clearly the main issue in Guyana,” the report adds.

“The analysis suggests that several Latin American and Caribbean countries could substantially improve health output indicators while keeping their current health budget stable.”

The report notes that life expectancy could be extended by

four years for the Region. In several countries, including Guyana, the gain in life expectancy could be more than seven years.

The publication, which is part of the IDB’s flagship studies series Development in the Americas, also argues against across-theboard cuts. It looks at several areas, including whether countries spend too much or too little on different priorities, whether the investments are adequate to ensure a better future, and whether those expendi-tures make inequality better or worse.

Last year, Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings had revealed that NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs) were laying a heavy burden on the budgetary allocation to the Public Health Ministry.

Dr Cummings had explained that the Chronic Disease Unit (CDU) has been addressing the top four causes of premature death in Guyana: cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.

According to Minister Cummings, NCDs carry a huge cost for families and caregivers of those suffering from the diseases as well as Government.

“Currently, about 70 per cent of the Ministry’s budget is being spent on NCDs. Therefore, it is imperative that we develop healthy lifestyle choices and practices early so as to avoid falling

prey to NCDs,” she stressed.

The Minister outlined that the Unit performed creditably in 2016 when compared to previous years.

She said there was much optimism that the New Year would bring additional achievements that would further promote the work of the Unit.

In collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Guyana Country Office, the Unit had completed the first leg of the implementation plan for the years 2016-2018 in sync with the Integrated Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Disease Strategic Plan 2013-2020.

Dr Cummings had said the Unit continued to ensure that capacity building occurred in the regional facilities. In 2016, 10 new providers were trained and placed in the health-care sector to ensure that screening for cervical cancer continued. The training also produced a new provider in the Charity area, signalling the launching of a new site for VIA screening.

As of early last year, there were 20 sites located across Guyana with a total of 33 VIA certified providers. A new cohort of 17 doctors and nurses from all six regions of the country where there are Regional Diabetic Foot Centres were trained in Diabetic Foot Care and Management.

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Illegality of child labour, begging must not be proliferated- CCPA

D

irector of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA), Ann Greene has warned that persons who support the illegality of child labour and children begging on the streets are contributing to the sustenance of that culture in Guyana.

Speaking at the Agency’s head office on Charles and Broad Streets, Georgetown during one of the initial events being hosted to observe Child Protection Week, Greene posited that “When you purchase from a child that is vending, you are part of the problem, and you are part of the exploitation of that child and if you throw a dollar in a child’s outstretched hand, you are part of the problem, you are part of his exploitation.”

Her statements came after being questioned by Guyana Times International about the recent increase in children vending water and other items at traffic lights.

According to the Director, such activities should not be condoned by sympathetic persons, since it will only result in the action being continued rather than being resolved.

She said too that it only supported the exploitation of the child, since many times those monies were taken away from the children by their parents.

“People should not (buy from those children), what people should do is link them to the services (CCPA), like talk with them, find out what is happening and tell them where they can come…if you stop (giving or buying from them) you become part of the solution and not problem…but don’t keep giving children money or purchase from children who are vending. We would never get it to stop,” she informed.

CCPA Director Ann Greene

Greene reminded that child vending was illegal as was child begging, and they ought not to be on the streets but in school. She explained that children who were on the streets become vulnerable since they endanger their lives while running to a person’s vehicle, in an attempt to help their parents or guardians put food on the table.

According to her, such matters should be reported to the CCPA, which can result in action being taken against the parents or guardians as have happened before.

She said the purpose of the CCPA was to investigate matters such as these and help children who are in need. Greene added while she understood poverty was a sore issue which often resulted in these activities, it was not a child’s duty to help parents earn an income.

This newspaper was told that on various streets in the city of Georgetown, children have been running to vehi-cles to sell water and other beverages, especially at stoplights. They have also found themselves at these very stoplights wiping windshields for an extra dollar in their pockets.

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Digging…

W

…the credit hole

hen then President, Jagdeo had visited Kuwait and some other countries in the Middle East, back in 2010, to secure development funding – and this was in the pre-oil era, mind you. The PNC and AFC screamed hysterically that he was being adventurous. The AFC shrieked, “We warn that the high wire act being performed by Mr Jagdeo could lead to our becoming embroiled in a dangerous game being played out in a larger arena, and one in which we could find ourselves impaled on the horns of an axis of death and destruction”!!

We wonder why they’re deafeningly silent now that Finance Minister Jordan is following in Jagdeo’s tracks and trying to capitalise on the goodwill he and President Ramotar had engendered in the years since, by asking Kuwait that their US$70 million debt be forgiven. Whatever happened to “the horns of an axis of death and destruction”??? Hypocrites!!

The other benefit the PNC-led Government’s benefiting from out of the PPP courting of the Islamic world is its membership of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), which led in Dec 2017 to “a resource envelope” of US$900 million being potentially available over the next four years – once suitable projects are identified.

Now, loans from the IsDB are based on “Islamic principles” based on the Sharia, or Muslim law, which include -- as your Eyewitness pointed out at the time -Mudarabah (Profit sharing and loss bearing), Wadiah (safekeeping), Musharaka (joint venture), Murabahah (cost plus), and Ijara (leasing).. Islamic Banking, for instance, forbids riba, or usury, which would include interest on interest. For instance, we actually borrowed from Kuwait only US$10 million, but since then, the interest on the interest has increased the debt to US$70 million!! This would be forbidden, as riba, if Kuwait applied Islamic banking principles.

Jordan certainly didn’t know about this angle, to raise when he “begged” the Kuwaitis for debt forgiveness. After all, even though he secured the US$900 million resource envelope almost a year ago, it was only AFTER he received the first drawdown of US$20 million to fund GPL’s technical line loss that he confessed sheepishly, “Over the next few days, my team and I will be involved in activities that will bring a greater and deeper appreciation for the principles and practices of Islamic banking.”

Imagine that!! Guyana became a member of IsDB because it has a Muslim population of over 10 percent, yet Jordan didn’t think to consult them about Islamic Banking”!! But he should at least know that Islamic Banking practices don’t encourage theft. And when Jordan uses the IsDB money to reduce only line loss (14 percent) and ignore electricity theft (15 percent), that’s haraam.

Jordan would do well to consult Local Islamic jurists specialising in fiqh al-muamalat -- Islamic commercial jurisprudence. …into Reverse Linkage In addition to the LOAN from the IsDB, Guyana received a US$900,000 GRANT from the institution to support the rice sector. Minister Winston Jordan displayed his ignorance of a seminal innovation of the IsDB to Islamic Banking when, in signing for GRANT, he baldly just mentioned it as a “Reverse Linkage” that would assist in updating Guyana’s expertise and technology in rice production.

If he’d taken the time to get a briefing on Reverse Linkage”, he’d know that this is the IsDB’s effort to remove development initiatives away from the Western institutions that have dominated the field for the last sixty years. In so doing, they steered “development” in pathways that benefited THEIR commercial institutions more than the supposed “beneficiaries”.

Take, for instance, their new rice varieties. All of them depend for their success on increasing amounts of fertilisers -- which THEY produce. Or genetically modified crops, where companies like Monsanto control the supply of seeds.

“Reverse linkages” link South-South institutions.

That’s revolutionary!! …for Health answers We were informed that, at last, the Ministry of Public Health has moved out from the bottom-house “warehouse” it paid for and rented from its campaign contributor for $300 million.

So where’s it storing the free CT scanner received for Bartica Hospital two years ago??

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f you have ever met David Dewar and had a conversation with him or even heard him perform, I am sure you could never forget him. He has a presence that is larger than

stand the intricacies of a musical instrument or use your voice to take people to a faraway land is, in my book, one of the greatest accomplishments.

Recently I sat down with Dewar as he was teaching music to a

life, a voice that emanates from his core and the uncanny ability to make you forget your issues.

Dewar is not your average 70-year-old; he is full of life and enjoys the simplest things in life. He is one of the most versatile persons in Guyana and could easily switch between engineering and music. It may not seem as much of a feat for everyone but to under-

Queen’s College student and his passion for the art was one that filled the room.

He could continue a conversation with me while he taught her about the intricacies of reading musical notes.

I am a fan of music across genres but as much as I have tried, I cannot read music. And just sitting with Dewar and his student I was able to identify some notes after our conver-

By L akhram Bhagirat

I

sation.

He explains that music has always been a part of his life and he considers it running through his veins.

Dewar is the elder of Lucille and Hilton Dewar’s two children.

His mother was a music teacher and always attempted to get him to learn how to play the piano.

“I grew up hearing notes and I was a very bad student and I gave her a very rough time or I would have been fluent. A fluent pianist like my wife,” he tells me.

Dewar attended St Sidwell’s Anglican School and he later went to the Wedgewood Private School. He received his secondary education at Central High School. He then went on to the Government Technical Institute where he studied electrical engineering. He would complete his engineering degree at the University of Guyana and later gained employment at the then Georgetown Sewerage and Water Commission (now Guyana Water Inc (GWI)) where he remained all his working life. He is now the Vice Chairman of the GWI Board of Directors and enjoys serving there.

His achievements, academically, are a lot in the fields of business and engineering but his passion is music. He is forever trying to keep up with the evolution of music but still believes

feature 33

David Dewar and one of his student

in a firm background in classical music.

“The music never left. It was always there and I always was doing something in the field even when I was deep in studying engineering. I joined the Woodside Choir when I was about 20 years old and now I am 70, so I have been with them for 50 years and it was there that I discovered my instrument.

My voice. I was taken under the wings of famous composer/conductor (Billy) Pilgrim.”

Now, Dewar is the Chairman of the Woodside Choir and can still belt his classical tunes. He developed his voice continuously and was an outstanding student while he completed the Grade Eight level singing examination of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).

Moving back to his family life, Dewar got married to music teacher, Marilyn, some 45 years ago and their marriage bore three children. He said that their family is quite a musical one, with all their children knowing an instrument or two.

“Music was always there. Mrs Dewar (his wife) always taught

music throughout the year and there was piano in the house and that is how we got a daughter in law. My youngest boy would put a stool for his wife and so when they were younger and we observed.”

“Even when Mrs Dewar and I got married it was a big thing because she was from a musical family and I was from a musical family. Her mother was a music teacher and the Secretary of the Guyana Music Teachers Association and my mother was a member. It was a very big thing. My mother-in-law is still alive and she is 94 years old and may very well be the oldest member of the Association and now Mrs Dewar is the Secretary having followed in her mother’s footsteps,” he tells me.

Now that he is retired, Dewar spends his time teaching at the music school founded by his wife and also teaches theoretical music at the Success Elementary School. He is also quite active in advising the engineers at the GWI. He said now music has moved from just a hobby to his purpose in life since he has started living on “borrowed time.”

“I feel and Mrs

Dewar feels the same way that we are living on borrowed time because the Bible says that your allotted life is 70 years. So we feel that we should help out and we are doing that by teaching music until our borrowed time comes to an end and we are perfectly happy doing that,” Dewar shared.

When I asked him what are his thoughts on how we can develop the local music industry, he said that first our musicians should be trained. He said that classical training is important because they would be better able to read and understand music. He also said that music should become a bigger focus here with it being more widely taught.

“We want more people studying music and more people funding it. We have been doing ABRSM examinations in Guyana for over 100 years and yet we only have like 100 students writing those exams every year. Over in Trinidad, it is far more and we have to strive to have a more musically inclined population.

Music is continuous and always there.” (Times Sunday Magazine)

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B y L akhram B hagirat

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obility is the fundamental principle of the teaching profession and teachers are epitomes of nobleness. They are the ones who take in a stranger’s child and instill knowledge beyond bounds and encourages that child to aim for beyond the skies. Teachers are the ones who teach us to define ourselves and make our mark and that is exactly what Kamal Persaud has been doing for over 36 years.

It is surprising that she can make such a commitment to caring for a stranger’s child as she would her own. During her lifetime Miss Kamal has nurtured thousands of minds, solved millions of conflicts as well as assist in potty training hundreds of children. But, how can she do that when she is the mother of only one child?

Miss Kamal is an

Miss Kamal with her sister

extraordinary teacher who has been a moth-

er to all her students.

She is well respect-

ed by her peers and well loved by her students. Miss Kamal formally ended her teaching career on April 1, 2017, when she retired as Head of the Vreed en Hoop Secondary School, West Coast Demerara. She has given 36 years of her life to helping the children of Guyana realize their true potentials.

Many of her students as co-workers just knew the stern but fair woman. They just knew that she was professional and expected the same conduct from them, for some this will be the first time they are going to get personal with her. They are going to know the story that made this strong, independent woman who she really is.

She was born and brought up in a small village called Blankenburg on the West Coast of Demerara. Growing up was an experience for her as she remembered that academics played an integral role in her life. She was destined to succeed and was always someone who aimed for beyond what was expected of her. She attended the Blankenburg Primary School and when she sat the Common Entrance Examination Miss Kamal was awarded a place at Stewartville Secondary.

In Secondary School, she was laser-focused on being the best version of herself and her teachers consistently pushed her to do exactly that. In 1979, Miss Kamal wrote the General Certificate of Education (GCE) examination but was undecided as to what career she wanted to pursue.

“Back in that time, we had very little choices. It was either you become a nurse or a teacher but not a lot of people wanted to do that because you had to do some time with the National Service. It was only for three weeks but then it would end up as six weeks or even three months sometime. It was very rough so I was home for a little time before I decided to go out and pursue a career,” she explained.

Miss Kamal joined the teaching staff at

the Leonora Nursery School as an acting teacher in 1981 and later moved to the Meten Meer Zorg Primary in 1987. After she moved over to Primary, Miss Kamal then took the Teacher’s Examination and gained entry into the Cyril Potter College of Education in 1990.

She graduated CPCE in 1992 and was placed at the Uitvlugt Secondary School where she stayed for two decades. During her time at Utivlugt Secondary, Miss Kamal graduated from the University of Guyana with a Degree in Reading-a rarely specialized field. She taught English and was one of the most and still remains one of the most respected teachers at the school.

In 1999, she became Head of the English Department and eventually rose through the ranks. Miss Kamal is a teacher that not only saw her students as mere students rather she threw her all in the classroom and dedicated her time to help them become well rounded human beings.

“Once you are a teacher, you always remain a teacher. I believe that a teacher should be there for their student as a parent is and that is all I wanted to be for my children. I believe that children develop the best when they have given the help they need,” Miss Kamal said.

In 2012, Miss

Kamal was transferred to the Vreed en Hoop Secondary School where she was eventually promoted to the position of Head Teacher in 2014. She remained in that position until she retired in 2017.

The 56-year-old said that her personal life is not much to talk about since she now spends time with her daughter, who is also a teacher, and her grandchild. She explains that while she enjoys travelling, her personal life is always entwined with her professional life since she is yet to find the switch to turn off being a teacher.

“Teaching made me more uplifted, morally and spiritually.

It is one profession it makes you. You have to work in and out and it keeps you abreast with whatever is going on. You have to know what is going on. Even though people may try to smart you, you know what is what and it has helped me to build my life because being a teacher is a noble profession.”

Now she teaches Literacy at the CPCE and continues to adjust to not getting up early in the morning and head to school. She is adjusting to not seeing hundreds of students every day and chatting with them. She misses her classrooms filled with children who are eager to learn and those who are not so eager. (Times Sunday Magazine)

NEWS 35

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City Hall CoI hears of alleged infractions made by Town Clerk

at the cost of $625,000 per year.

Initially, the company had sent a letter to National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) on September 6, 2016, which requested permission to rent the piece of land.

It has been insinuated that the Town Clerk did not submit the lease document to the entire Council for deliberations.

This is supposed to be done d for all contracts which pass through City Hall.

Prior to the announcement by the Local Government Commission (LGC) to launch a CoI into the operations at City Hall, the Town Clerk was sent on administra-

tive leave.

Representing the Commission were Everton Singh-Lammy and Sherwin Benjamin.

Both King and the Mayor, Patricia ChaseGreene are expected to testify at later hearings.

Witnesses on Monday included 59-year-old Kenrick Hamilton, who shared his concerns as it relates to accumulating no benefits after serving for over 20 years.

He was placed to work as an ‘unfixed’ employee which means that he would receive no benefits after the age of 65.

Fixed employees are expected to retire at the age of 55, with benefits.

Hamilton told the Commission he would have engaged several Ministries on this matter and a response from the Labour Department of the Social Protection Ministry led to a meeting which the Council did not attend.

“Every time we call Labour, City Council make an excuse. We end up now taking it on our own and write the President of Guyana,” he said.

Also testifying at the CoI was Julian Orjester, who claimed that he served in the position of assistant Town Clerk,

but was never paid an increase.

According to Orjester, he was asked to serve as the assistant Town Clerk in 2013 on two occasions.

The man indicated that he summoned King on numerous occasions as it related to his money but would only get to speak with the Town Clerk if he was in “a good mood”.

On one occasion, the man said that King told him, “Julian, I cannot help you.”

Retired employees also gave their statements, primarily as it relates to monies that were owed to them after various salary increases.

Jardine Hope and Allison Collins testified as former employees who

did not receive increases that were granted by the Government.

Collins related that she was owed money since 2015 and 2016 and was told, “He (Royston King) said he don’t have money to pay us our back pay, nor my gratuity. I would like to have my money from the Mayor and City Council.”

The Inquiry is expected to conclude on October 31, 2018, when the necessary recommendations will be submitted after all evidence is presented before the Commission.

Justice Kennard sought to point out that letters in the media will not be taken into account as testimony. Hence, persons would have to take

the stand under oath to submit their evidence.

The CoI comes just months away from the Local Government Elections (LGE) after which a new executive body will be elected to oversee the activities of the Council.

However, it was claimed that this was necessary since numerous complaints were made by staffers of the Council and other agencies regarding the expenditure and decisions which were made by the Council.

On September 21, 2018, the Town Clerk was instructed to proceed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

horizon.

"We have so much oil and is a good thing I can listen to the news. I am very happy about how the country will develop from all the oil money. I am following it very closely and it will be nice when we start getting that money," the Archer's Home resident

said.

Gilkes is the third, of four, children to Ruby and Hubert Gilkes of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara. He remembers his mother working as a cook for the workers at the Uitvlugt Estate while his father worked at the Atkinson Air Force Base-now the Cheddie Jagan International Airport.

He said that his childhood was quite a memorable one and to this day some of his experiences are etched in his memory. He remembers the long afternoons of swimming in the trench and the games of cricket with the boys. He also remembers the hard work and helping around the home.

Education also played an integral role in Gilkes' life but due to circumstances, he could not further his education. He always had a knack for engineering and remembers making and breaking things while a young student at the Uitvlugt Government School.

When he finished school,

at the age of 16 he then joined the workforce at the Versailles Estate.

"I was a Fill and Press Chute Operator," he said. I probed deeper to understand the role he played in the operations of the estate.

"Well you know when they grind the cane and all the muck settle at the bottom, well part of my job was to make sure that the much did not become part sugar making process."

After the estate closed its operations, Gilkes went into the interior to work as a miner. He said at that time he was a diver and had some issues adjusting as a miner at first.

"After a little time, I get accustomed to diving for gold and so. Looking back now it is something that I enjoyed doing and I would do it again if I was younger," Gilkes noted.

Moving over to the personal side of his life, with a smile on his face, Gilkes said that he is the father of five beautiful children. He got mar-

ried in the early 1970s to Norma Gilkes and their union bore two girls.

“Norma was a beautiful woman and very nice.

We lived together for a long time and but then we grew apart. I don’t know how but sometimes people just grow apart and that is what happened to us. Around 1991 we separated but we remained cordial because of our children.”

Over the years he would father three additional children but never remarried. He notes that one marriage is more than enough for him.

In 1992, in search of better employment Gilkes moved to the island of Barbados where he stayed for 16 years.

During that time he worked several jobs and speaks of the level of indifference he experienced during his time on the island.

He worked for a construction company and did some amount of landscaping as well. Like every Guyanese in a foreign country Gilkes “hustled hard” and saved most of

the money he earned. He would work three to four jobs at once to support his children back home as well as live a comfortable life.

“Sometimes I would be working three work at the same time. I was a construction worker and did everything in the trade. I also used to do landscaping and paint in my spare time too. It was more hard because the people there always used to feel that Guyanese come to take away all them work and money… it was hard to get work sometime but not all the people was bad. I made some very good friends too.”

When he moved back to Guyana, Gilkes spent some time adjusting and getting back into a routine. For the past 7 years, he has been a resident at the Archer's Home.

“Now is all about living a comfortable life.

The days of hard work are over and I now relax. Life is about making yourself happy and I am doing that.”(Times Sunday Magazine)

BY RUPADAI SEENARAINE

C

urrent and former employees of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) appeared in their numbers at the Critchlow Labour College on Monday to testify on the first day of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that was launched into the non-payment of benefits and issues surrounding other financial resources at City Hall.

Headed by Retired Justice Cecil Kennard, the CoI is seeking to investigate the nonpayment of benefits, a rejected no-confidence motion that was filed against Town Clerk Royston King

by Councillor Sherod Duncan, contracts that were awarded and the mismanagement of funds among other areas.

At Monday’s session, the issue of King distributing lease documents for a plot of land which is not owned by the Council to a shipping carrier came under scrutiny.

While the matter has not yet been addressed by the Commission, Guyana Times International understands that Quick Shipping Inc was given permission to operate on a piece of land at Lot 1 Mudflat, Lombard Street

By Lakhram Bhagirat

A

t 72, Charles Gilkes now he spends his days reminiscing on the golden days of his youth and keeping up with the current affairs of the country. He explains that he is particularly interested in the developmental boom that is on Guyana’s

Town Clerk Royston King

An employee of City Hall testifying at the CoI on Monday.Also in photo at far right is retired Justice Cecil Kennard

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Mouth pried open

S

atiricus was grinning from ear to ear as he ambled towards the Back Street Bar. For sure time was longer than twine! Look how long this Clown Clerk had been throwing his weight around. If he’d been a tag-team wrestler, he could’ve held the world championship by now! Anyhow, justice was being done and no one would be able to pick on him today.

“So what do you fellas think about the Clown Clerk and the COI?” asked Satiricus as soon as he sat down and reached for a beer. “When Cow deh a pasture he nah remember dat dog and butcher deh, till he see am. “Eh! Eh! Sato, like yuh bin a ta’k to yuh Nanie, or wha’?” said Cappo, with a smile.

“But de only t’ing, Sato,” interrupted Bungi, before Satiricus could answer.

“Dis cow bin know ‘bout de daag an’ butcha wha’ wait fuh am!”

“But this is justice being done at long last!” protested Satiricus. “Look how we found out he leased that wharf that didn’t even belong to the city!!”

“But didn’t he lease so many other lands before that he also had no author-

ity to do?” asked Hari. “How come a COI only now.”

“Yes!” said Cappo. “Pick sense fram nansense!”

“What’re you fellas talking about?” asked Satiricus in a desperate voice.

“Aren’t you happy the Clown Clerk might be going to jail?”

“Me bet yuh ‘e na get none jail-time,” said Bungi. “Sato dis a wan set up!”

“What do you mean?” asked Satiricus in a worried voice.

“Sato, it’s only because the Municipal Elections are due,” said Hari. “The Pee an’ See need a scapegoat to show the people they’re changing the thiefin’ old guard!”

“Yuh na see de Ma’re a run again fun May-ya?” asked Bungi. “But na she an’ de Crown Clerk bin do ev’ryt’ing like batty and poe?”

“As soon as de election ova, de Crown clerk guh get wan nice posi-shan some place,” said Cappo firmly.

“So that’s why my KFC didn’t oppose the Ma’re?” said Satiricus, slowly. “Let’s take a drink.”

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38 FEATURE

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WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com Humble living on a grand landscape. These two youngsters enjoying a donkey ride in Annai. (Photo: Rocky Vanlong)

A beautiful dragon fly at the water edge of Rewa Eco Lodge. (Photo: The Jungle Blog)

he Rupununi is one of the most picturesque places in Guyana. it is filled with lush grasslands, exotic animals, beautiful mountains and wonderful people. The Rupununi is mostly inhabited by the Indigenous tribes and way of life remains almost the same. The name Rupununi originates from the word rapon in Makushi which is a black-bellied whistling duck found along the river.

The Rupununi River is one of the main tributaries of the Essequibo River and is located in southern Guyana.

The river originates in the Kanuku Mountains, which are located in the Upper Takutu-Essequibo region. The Rupununi River flows near the Guyana-Brazil border, and eventually leads into the Essequibo River.

Here are some of the everyday sights that people living in the Rupununi experiences. The images were taken from The Rupununi Experience Facebook Page.

(Times Sunday Magazine)

The Kanuku Mountains watches over pristine grassland (Photo: Darrel Carpenay)

A sunny day at Surama, Surama Eco-Lodge. (Photo: Vitor Colin Edwards) Children enjoying an after school game of cricket in Sawariwa Village, South Central. (Photo: Polo Junior) Eta juice, Boiled fish, and farine.

Aunty Ann parching farine for family use, Awarewauna Village, South Rupununi.

(Photo: Aaliyah Anthony)

NEWS 39

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Teachers’ salary impasse: Rejecting Govt appointed Arbitrator, Union mulling further strike action

By Davina Ramdass

T

he Guyana T e a c h e r s ’ Union (GTU) on Wednesday did not turn up at a meeting with the Education Ministry, as the teachers’ saga continued for a fourth week, with the Union now threatening to resume strike action in seven days’ time should the matter regarding the arbitration chairman not be resolved.

But the Education

any sort of background information about the person who was selected to chair the panel.

The person introduced at that meeting as the chairman was a University Professor, Leyland Lucas.

McDonald went on to say that she believes Minister Keith Scott, who functions in the Labour Department under the Social Protection Ministry, is “confused” about the laws as the

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald

Ministry is fighting back, promising to take legal action should teachers return to the streets.

The General Secretary of the Union, Coretta McDonald, spoke with media operatives after boycotting Wednesday’s meeting where she informed, “The Union has indicated that we are giving a seven days’ notice for us to regularise this situation, if not we will be forced to resume industrial action”.

It was explained by her that during the previous meeting between the two parties on Tuesday, the GTU executives were introduced to the chairman for the arbitration panel, much to their surprise, since according to her, the Union was just about to present their nominee for the arbitration panel.

“We were told ‘I would have to interrupt this meeting (by Minister Keith Scott) but I must do it at this stage because I have to introduce to you the chairperson for the arbitration panel… it was not the meeting for us to be introduced to any person. As a matter of fact, when we would have identified the three persons I think it would have been official then to introduce to the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union our panel for the arbitration tribunal,” she said.

According to her, the members of the Union expressed their dissatisfaction with what was done during that meeting, especially since they were not provided with

GTU will not fall prey to anything but voluntary arbitration.

It was reported that the Union feels as though it is being bullied by the Government into accepting the Labour Department’s choice for an arbitrator, who they feel is likely to make biased representations.

She went on to explain that the Union has not yet received a response from Government although they are patiently awaiting one.

McDonald however stood her ground as she explained the Union is not willing to accept someone to chair the arbitration panel who works with Government.

“I am wondering why is this Administration, why is the Department of Labour, why is the Ministry of Education, why are they so fearful about having somebody independent?” she questioned.

The General Secretary nonetheless pointed out that the GTU will not issue the name of its nominee for the chairman, until Minister Scott comes to the realisation that it is not his place to appoint, but nominate a chairman for the arbitration panel, since this decision mutually lies in the hands of the Education Ministry and the GTU. However, in response to the GTU’s statement where it threatened strike action, the Education Ministry fired back, outlining that the signed agreement between the two parties which stated “…there shall be no strike, stoppage of work whether of

a partial or general nature, go slow, boycott, picketing, retardation of production or any other interference with the Ministry’s operations by the Union…”. This agreement was signed back in July 1983.

The Ministry went further to say that it will ensure that appropriate consequences ensue, should teachers disregard the agreement, since their actions will be deemed “illegal”.

The Union quipped however, that it was unbothered by the approach to the Ministry’s statement as the General Secretary disclosed, “The Ministry would always issue statements of threats to teachers… they have to do what they have to do and the GTU will do what the GTU has got to do”.

She further said that teachers will not be intimidated by the Ministry’s threats since “you can’t put threats on the table for your children”.

McDonald reminded too of the ripple effect the strike action would

take should teachers return to the streets. She cautioned that should the Union be forced to resume industrial action, the numbers would be multiplied significantly as various trade unions which are tied to other unions have expressed

their support in a call for better wages and working conditions.

“If you recognise what has been happening from 2015 to now, we’ve been having one May Day Rally so that should say something to you”.

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NEWS 41

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Two companies contracted for India-funded US$18M North-West ferry

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Lady North Cote which currently plies the Georgetown-North West route

ollowing much anticipation by residents of Region One (Barima-Waini) for more accessible water-based transport, Government earlier this week announced that two companies have been identified to construct a ferry to ply the Georgetown-North West route, Region one, Barima Waini.

For the past several months, Government has been engaging in lengthy discussions with two India-based companies to finalise details for constructing of an oceangoing vessel that residents would utilise.

The two companies were announced as Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) and SHOFT Ship-yard

Pvt Ltd. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon updated members of the media, revealing that the vessel’s construction was closer to reality as the company has already been identified.

“It takes a little bit of time from actual conceptualisation of a project to funding for it, so it would have gone through several phases and now a company has been identified to construct the ferry,” Harmon noted.

The new vessel will be an addition to MV Barima and Lady North Cote which ply the route.

These vessels date back to Guyana’s colonial pre-1966 era but MV Barima was recently refurbished.

The Indian Government has com-

mitted US$18 million for the ferry.

Of this amount, US$8 million will be a grant, while the remaining $10 million will be a line of credit to be repaid within 20 years, with a fiveyear grace period.

Over the years, residents have been complaining about the negative impact of the ferry service on their lives and livelihoods.

Back in January 2015, former President Donald Ramotar had secured the funding while attending the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Guj-rat, India. He had a meeting on the sidelines with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which the commitment was made. Modi will soon visit Guyana.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam told reporters in March that Government was working to finalise the specifications of the ferry.

“They have to finalise the specifications of the ferry, and then one of the companies will be given the bid to manu-facture the ocean-going vessel,” the Indian diplomat explained.

It was in January 2012 that two Chinesemade vessels were handed over to Guyana to ply various routes in Essequibo.

Region 3 RDC commissions $77M education complex

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The newly-constructed education complex, Vreed-en-Hoop, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara)

he Region Three Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Tuesday commissioned a $77 million education complex at Vreed-enHoop, West Bank Demerara.

The cost takes into consideration the $43 million building; a $17 million cold storage; a $12 million generator room (with generator installed and configured) and the driveway and open bond for $5 million.

The new complex replaces the old education building which was gutted by fire in 2009. As a result of the blaze, many documents were destroyed, and offices displaced.

Speaking at Tuesday’s commissioning ceremony, Senior Project Officer, Communities Ministry, Karen Roopchand spoke on behalf of Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan. Roopchand said the coalition Administration recognising the urgency and importance of such a facility to

the region and by extension, the country, prioritised the reconstruction of the education department building.

She underscored some of the benefits. “To our parents, you can rest assured that issues regarding the region’s children will be dealt with in a more comfortable, spacious and private environment. To you the teachers, the resource centre will be returned to its original use where you can develop general and annual schemes, produce teaching aids and engage with each other. To the community, you now have your full library,” Roopchand is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

Regional Education Officer Annesta Douglas noted that the project is a significant achievement for the education department. She expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the existence of the facility.

42 NEWS

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Kathoon DeNobrega relaxes in her home now

By Lakhram Bhagirat

S

he stands just above five feet tall, yet her personality towers over my five foot eight-inch frame. At 81 years old, she is by all means the embodiment of the cliché – small but powerful -- and I was taken aback by the wisdom she had to share. I felt an instant connection when I saw Kathoon DeNobrega as I saw her peeking out of the door while I made my way up the stairs.

“Good morning and what will you be asking me today,” she greeted me in a soft but steady voice.

Before I could respond, her little soft hands took mine into hers, flashed me the broadest smile one can think of and led me to her plush couch where we had our formal introduction and begun our conversation. Kathoon tells me that she was born and raised in Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara and now she resides in Wales with her daughter.

At her age, she has very little complications but advised me that she would be speaking softer than usual due of a cyst growing in her nose, which is inoperable due to her constant high blood pressure. Apart from that “small” complication, she has very little medical issues and still enjoys travelling.

Going back to the early days, Kathoon explains that she is the youngest of four children and remembers her childhood as one that was mixed with hard work and fun. She never knew her father but her mother, Jumratan, worked tirelessly as a “weeder” attached to the Wales Estate.

A younger Kathoon

Khatoon gained her education at the Wales Government School but was forced to drop out when she was in Standard Five.

“It was my mother alone working and I was very bright in school but when I was in Fifth Standard my mother told me that I would have to leave school. The headmaster spoke to her and asked her why she was taking me out of school and she told him that she could not afford to send me to school and buy the textbooks too,” she said.

She dropped out of school and remained at home taking care of the household. She would cook for the family while her brothers worked at the Wales Factory. When she turned 22, Kathoon gained employment with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) as a Switchboard Operator.

“I was so excited when I got the job because I was happy to go out and work. I always wanted to work and to have that

dream come through was the best. I started working and it was so fulfilling. As a Switchboard Operator I was responsible for making sure that all the calls that came through went to the person it was designated to.”

She explained that she enjoyed every moment working as a Switchboard Operator as they had a “powerful team.” The team consisted of four members who worked round the clock to ensure that every call was answered and directed where it should be.

The team worked shifts from 06:00h to 14:00h; 14:00h to 22:00h; and 22:00h to 06:00h.

“I enjoyed working with GuySuCo. I trained in switchboard and we would work in the office two days every week doing envelope cash. We used to monitor and transfer the calls to the managers and so on. We get the calls from all over the country and they would talk to us first.”

Kathoon spent 22 years as a Switchboard Operator and rose through the ranks at GuySuCo. She retired at the age of 60 and remembers that she was never ready to retire. Until now she has that kick in her step and feels that she could conquer the world.

She explains that the idea of earning a little and making the most of it was instilled at an early age since she had very little growing up. She tells me that when she started working at GuySuCo, her salary was $15 per week and gradually increased over the years.

Kathoon and her two children Angelina and Hubert Jr.

Prior to her retirement, Kathoon said the entire Switchboard System was upgraded and they had to get accustomed to the new system. The new system grew on her and she was so excited to continue working with the new system but because of the limitations, she had to retire.

Moving over to her family life, Kathoon said that unlike many girls, marriage was not something she was dreaming of. Rather she did not get married until she was 35 years old and her marriage had to be arranged.

“I was focused on my career and wasn’t like them other girls and my husband, Hubert DeNobrega, was a mechanic and he lived in South Ruimveldt. I didn’t know him but one of my friends lived next to him and she brought the match. So I had a match wedding when I was 35 years,” she tells me.

When she got married to Hubert, Kathoon moved from Sisters Village to Rahaman’s Park, Houston, Greater Georgetown. Every day she would travel from Houston to Wales to work as a Switchboard Operator. Their marriage bore two children, Angelina and Hubert Jr and in 1992, Hubert Snr passed away.

Kathoon packed up her family and moved back to her home village and focused on ensuring that her children were well taken care of. She tells me that she never thought about remarrying and dove deeper in her career.

As I prepared to end our conversation, Kathoon began talking about how she felt after

she learned about the closure of the Wales Estate.

Her eyes welled up as she began talking about how she was able to build her entire life from the money she earned working at the Wales Estate.

“That money I earned from working at Wales helped me to buy this house and land. I repaired this house, I painted the house, I put on light and water and everything I did was through the estate,” she told me amid tears.

She said the day she heard of the estate closure, she sat down in her couch and the tears just kept flowing.

“I felt so bad that I started to just cry. I cried for everybody that was working there because they would have achieved so much working there. The guard that still working there tell me that they have old people that does go by the office and sit down and cry for the estate.

I understand why they would cry for the estate because we all built so much from there.”

The tears started to flow and I was taken aback by the level of emotions and hurt she still

feels. I tried to concole her as I ended my conversation with her. I then asked her to see some photographs from her younger days and was amazed by how quickly her frown turned upside down. She brought over 200 photographs to show me. Some as old as 80 years and in pristine condition.

Her daughter, Angelina, tells me that her mother cherishes those photos and does not allow anyone to touch them. Kathoon excitedly started to go through the photos with me, identifying her late husband, her parents and her children.

These days her life consists of travelling and reminiscing. Her best friend is the comb as she likes her hair neatly combed at all times. I asked her for one piece of advice before I left and she told me “live the life that you want and not the life that is expected of you. Do great things and do them honestly and you will achieve true happiness.”

I left with a smile on my face and a promise to visit her again. (Times Sunday Magazine)

Kathoon and her husband Hubert on their Wedding Day

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44 NEWS

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

New Flights to Bring Thousands of Visitors to Jamaica K

I N G S T O N , J a m a i c a , Wednesday September 26, 2018 – Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica is poised to increase airlift into the island for a third consecutive year.

He says thousands of additional seats have been negotiated for the 2018/2019 winter tourist season. These include 38,000 more seats out of the United States; a record 42,400 additional seats out of Canada; 12,000 more seats from Continental Europe; and 7,455 more seats out of the United Kingdom (UK) and Northern Europe.

Minister Bartlett told tourism stakeholders at the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) on Monday that starting in October, several new flights will be coming directly out of Eastern Europe to the Sangster International Airport.

These include Pegas Fly and Nordwind.

“We are also expecting LATAM Airlines to commence early next year, and that will be a huge connection for us out of Lima (Peru), which is a major gateway in South America,” he added.

Bartlett noted that Canada’s newest lowcost carrier, Swoop, a subsidiary of Westjet,

will commence twiceweekly non-stop flights between the city of Hamilton in Ontario and Montego Bay, starting December 16.

Sunwing will begin once-weekly non-stop flights between the city of Sudbury in Ontario and Montego Bay, starting this December and ending in April next year.

“We are also going to be increasing connectivity with France. In fact, we are going to France very soon to tie up an arrangement to ensure that there will be air connectivity from Paris into Montego Bay, Jamaica,” Bartlett said.

“Additionally, on

Canada’s newest low-cost carrier, Swoop, is among the airlines that will be flying to Jamaica for the first time or increasing flights over the course of the coming weeks to months.

October 26, the first flight from Russia with love – a Dreamliner with 414 passengers – will come back to Montego Bay. They told me they had to increase the number of rooms in a certain Negril hotel because the flight was selling so well.”

JAPEX is the premier trade event for the travel industry locally and is a collaborative initiative between the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).

Staged annually, the three-day trade show

provides the forum for leading suppliers in Jamaica’s tourism industry to negotiate, network, and meet with tour operators, travel wholesalers and other tourism partners from across the globe.

(Caribbean360. com)

Panama rejects containers Holness reassures of substandard rice Diaspora in NY on crime shipments from Guyana reduction strategies

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File photo: Guyana’s rice being prepped for shipment to Mexico

ome 20 containers of rice shipped to Panama under a Government to Government arrangement with Guyana have reportedly been refused.

According to reports, the containers of what was expected to be packaged white rice were rejected over the last six weeks as a result of substandard quality.

It is being reported that the Panamanian authorities are complaining that the samples sent were not in keeping with the contractual agreement with Guyana.

That agreement saw Guyana through the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) packaging quality rice for better than normal prices than what currently prevails on the international market.

Some 50,000 tonnes of rice were shipped to the Panamanian market for the year 2018 thus far.

GRDB Managing Director, Nizam Hassan was quoted in other sections of the media saying that he is currently looking into the issue as it is unclear what actually

transpired.

However, GRBD came in for harsh criticisms by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Alesie Group of Companies, Turhane Doerga, who questioned how such a shipment was sent to Guyana’s most lucrative market without inspections.

This rejection by Panama will reportedly weigh heavily on the rice industry.

The lucrative rice deal was brokered under the previous Administration in 2014.

I N G S T O N , Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness recently reassured Jamaicans living in New York City in the United States of America, that the strategies in place to deal with the island's crime issue are bearing fruit.

The prime minister, who is in New York to attend and participate in the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), met with the Diaspora in keeping with his mission to update Jamaicans overseas and discuss matters involving Jamaica.

"I want to assure you that the Government has put in place several crime-fighting strategies but more than that we have put in place several national security strategies that are all working to improve the safety and security of Jamaicans. It is not something that is going to change overnight; it will not change by the snap of a finger or the flip of a switch. It will take some time to return Jamaica to the point where our murder rate was below 500 murders per year," Holness was quoted as saying in a release from the Office of the Prime Minister.

He further explained that the state of public emergency (SOE) in sections of Jamaica is not a "panic" reaction but a strategic measure to re-

Prime Minister Andrew Holness recently engaged Jamaicans living in New York City in the United States of America

store confidence in the state.

"Normally when people hear SOE, immediately there is a state of panic but in utilising the state of emergency we've also done something to restore trust and confidence and faith in the Jamaican state because for the first time people see that the Jamaican state can use force without abuse," said Holness.

Meanwhile, he also assured that the Government is committed to ensuring that Jamaica remains attractive for investment opportunities, which includes "breaking the eco-system of crime that has taken over many of our communities in Jamaica".

"As Jamaicans thinking about your country, you can feel proud

to know that the security forces that come from the people are acting in the defence of the people and it will take some time for the citizens to acknowledge this point but once the acknowledgement is done, then you have a greater level of information sharing, a greater level of trust and once that happens the state becomes stronger and the dons become illegitimate,” said the prime minister.

Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Senator Matthew Samuda, as well as Trudy Deans, Consul General to New York were also in attendance at the meeting. (Jamaica Observer)

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Preserving our literary heritage

Petamber Persaud

by

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he book ‘Jungle Cowboy’ first published in 1972 was in 1999 reissued as ‘All the Cowboys were Indians’, a title that sits well with the current celebration of Amerindian Heritage Month in Guyana, an annual event held during the month of September initiated by President Cheddi Jagan in the late 1990s, setting aside a whole month to honour the contributions of our indigenous people. Apart from the adventures of Brock, ‘All the Cowboys were Indians’ celebrates the indomitable spirit, skill and knowledge of the ‘Indians’ – in this instance, mainly the WaiWai and Macushi nations, to survive in the wilds by living in accord with nature.

‘Jungle Cowboy’ was set in Guyana, South America. To be precise, it was set mainly on the Dadanawa Ranch in the Rupununi during the

earl y 1950s and late 1960s.

Stanley E. Brock, the author of ‘Jungle Cowboy’ and two other books – ‘Leemo’ and ‘More about Leemo’ set on the above ranch passed away in Rockford, Tennessee, on August 29, 2018 at the age of 82. He died at the RAM Headquarters - his signature legacy to Guyana, America and the world. The idea for RAM - Remote Area Medical - came to him while on the ranch suffering from a nasty injury with the nearest healthcare weeks away.

Brock was born in 1936 in Preston, Lancashire, England.

His school days were not enjoyable, confessing he was ‘a prisoner of the establishment …herded like a convict carrying armfuls of Chaucer, Homer, Henry VIII and the Holy Bible…’

Ironically, the location of the school was his saving grace, ‘set in the beautiful countryside of southern England’ where he developed a love for

nature – ‘for gurgling streams, leaping salmon, birds, butterflies, bats, squirrels, the elusive stoat and the artful fox’.

That love for nature was fired by tales of ‘boundless animal wonders’ in Guyana told to him by his father who had worked there on the installation of a new communications system.

Brock came to Guyana in August 1953, according to the book, at the age of 17, ‘stepping out alone into the world for the first time, with nothing’ but ten pounds in his pocket and ‘a thirst for adventure’.

And adventure was his name. Brock in the first chapter of the book, labelled, ‘I suddenly met a new way of life’, said while walking the streets of Georgetown, he chanced upon the head office of the Dadanawa Ranch: Rupununi Development, Co., Ltd. where he was hired on the spot to work some ‘350 miles’ away.

An intense narrative follows filled excitement and entertainment. More than that it was a narrative filled with many touching love stories, love stories with animals, wild animals.

More than that it was filled with busted myths and living recipes on survival in the wilds – recipes like making farine, curare, roping longhorns, healing wounds without medicine etc. But the main thread and thrust of the narrative was rounding up cattle from the expansive savannahs of the Rupununi,

corralling and sorting the animals and driving and swimming them to market in Georgetown by way of crossing the Berbice River by ferry and final trip by train from Rosignol to the abattoir in the city, a gruelling venture taking its

toll on man, animal and the environment.

A sort of secondary thread in the narrative was according to the book’s blurb ‘Brock’s observations on South American’s wildlife, and collection of study material for the Royal Ontario

Museum and the United States National Museum have been significant contribution to natural history knowledge’, resulting in at least one species of bats named in his honour, ‘Vampyressa Brocki’.

Adventure was his middle name and that’s how the book ended with a chapter titled ‘New Horizons’ wherein Brock was offered to do television on a popular show in the United States ‘Wild Kingdom’.

The closing paragraph is worth quoting: ‘Nothing much had changed since August of 1953. On that day a schoolboy had come. Now it was time for a cowboy to leave the Dadanawa’.

W H A T ’ S HAPPENING: New Arrivals: Monsoon on the Fingers of God (poetry) by Sasenarine Persaud; Red Hibiscus (novel) by Scott Ting-A-Kee; Aftermath of Empire: The Novels of Roy A. K. Heath (literary criticism) by Ameena Gafoor.

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

Barber accused of assaulting, mocking differently abled man charged

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24-year-old barber was on Monday hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on charges of assaulting and making mockery of a man who is differently abled.

Kevin Sugrim stood before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman and denied that he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm on Colin Sett-Mayer while in the vicinity of Kitty, Georgetown on April 22, 2018.

Another charge read to Sugrim stated that also on April 22, 2018 at the same location, he also un-lawfully wounded Jeremiah Williams with intention to cause him actual bodily

harm.

The prosecution is contending that on the day in question about 11:30h the victims were walking among others when the defendant made fun of his disabilities. It is alleged that the defendant then dealt the virtual complainant several punches and kicks about the body, which resulted in him receiving lacerations to the left side of his abdomen.

Sugrim was only recently arrested for the offences.

He was released on $180,000 bail for the offences. The case will continue on October 15, 2018.

Elderly pedestrian killed in Cornelia Ida accident

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olice are investigating a fatal accident on the Cornelia Ida Public Road on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) which claimed the life of a 71-yearold pedestrian.

Dead is Realino Santiago.

Reports are the accident occurred about 08:45h on Monday as a motorcar bearing registra-

tion number PVV 982 was proceeding along the northern carriageway of the road.

The security guard was reportedly crossing the road from South to North when he was struck down.

He was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital by the 21-year-old driver and succumbed shortly after while receiving

treatment. His body is presently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

According to Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Superintendent, Jairam Ramlakhan, the driver who passed a breathalyser test is in custody assisting with the investigation.

47

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Trust…

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…versus thrust in politics

or sure, EB John, that old HR specialist out of Bookers isn’t anti-government. So one would hope they’d give a hearing to the homilies he delivers ever so often in the letters pages.

His latest one was on the importance of “trust” between individuals and institutions for effective performance. It was very timely since he took pains to mention the lack of trust between citizens and government.

Against a background of heightened concerns from a fuming populace of repeating Burnham’s saddling the country with unsustainable debt, the Granger administration just signed an MOU with China and committed themselves to participate in the latter’s Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI). The latter, of course, is a source of funding for infrastructural projects in poor countries at very generous terms.

So why the concerns?

Well, as Burnham found out: ‘Wha’ does sweeten mout’ does hu’t backside”!! Unfortunately it was the collective backside of the Guyanese peoples that ended up in a sling! The point, of course, is that even generous loans have to be repaid … and no matter how small the interest, when it Is compounded over the years, the payback can be more than a bitch! And that’s why the secrecy over the terms of the MOU with the Chinese is very unsettling and certainly not improving the trust deficit this administration suffers from.

Today, we found out almost accidentally that the funding for the Lethem-Linden Highway is on the MOU!! Now this is a mega deal that’s been on the cards since the 1970’s - by that same debt accumulator Burnham. Last year, a 321 km highway to be built and funded by the Chinese in Zambia - connecting their mining areas to their southern region abutting Congo – came in at US$1.2Billion!!

The distance between Linden to Lethem is at least 100 KM more.

So why wasn’t the highway not built since the 1970’s?? For the simple reason that prospective funders – from Brazil to the World Bank to the IDB – didn’t see where the moneys would be coming from to service the loan! Tolls like in Zambia?? Even there, citizens are protesting. At one time there was talk of shipping goods from landlocked Manaus to the Atlantic via the road. But that ship has looong sailed!!

And we return to the issue of trust. This PNC-led government is counting on the coming oil revenues – such as it is! – to pay off all the debt it’s racking up.

With this ploy, they expect to bypass the scrutiny that might be placed on the Sovereign Wealth Fund, into which the oil funds were to be placed.

Another knife thrust into “trust” between government and citizens! Deadly! …in sugar Board?

This PNC government sure knows how to do thing half-a55ed backwards. Take their long-awaited appointment of a new BOARD for Guysuco. Looking at the names, the only question that arises in the mind of any halfway knowledgeable individual about the industry is: WHY DIDN’T THEY DO THIS FROM THE BEGINNING???

But your Eyewitness will tell you why. Since these gentlemen all have some experience with sugar, and several were on the COI into the industry, THEY WOULDN’T HAVE SHUT IT DOWN!! Instead, as they recommended in their COI Report, they’d have done the rational thing and injected much less that the $30Billion the SPU borrowed; fixed up all the estates and brought the entire corporation to a point of sale!

But that couldn’t be allowed, could it? That move wouldn’t have allowed 7000 sugar workers – most loyal to the PPP - to be fired! So what’s this Board supposed to do?? Fetch water with the basket that was handed to them??

The first thing they should do is demand control over the $30Billion Bond! …and doctors After reading Frank Anthony’s letter revealing the abysmal conditions under which doctors work at GPHC – and for wages (NOT salaries!!) that would make the cleaners balk – your Eyewitness finally understands why government official go ABROAD for medical treatment!!

Vivekananda in Chicago, 2018

By Ravi Dev

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o h a n d a s Karamchand Gandhi left India for South Africa in April 1893, and made quite a name for himself after he evolved the technique of “satyagraha”, or peaceful civil disobedience, from Hindu principles and took it back to India. But a month later in that same year, another young man who had made as great an impact in his native land as Gandhi left India for Chicago, USA. His name was Swami Vivekananda, and the name for himself and for Hinduism at the Parliament of Religions at Chicago on Sept 11, 1893 was such that, upon his return to India in 1897, he was feted from one end of his country as the epitome of a new, vibrant India, with the tenets of its ancient Sanaatan Dharma at its core. The World Hindu Congress in Chicago commemorated the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s speech at the Parliament of Religions, and vowed to spread it worldwide – beyond the 60 countries represented.

Vivekananda’s words instilled in the nationalist and political leaders of the time — of all stripes, from the spiritual Aurobindo to the socialist Nehru — a sense

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of self-respect and sincere pride for India and its heritage. His vision of a resurgent and rejuvenated India, coupled with the lofty, ennobling ideas grounded in Hindi Dharma, percolated, agitated, and spurred them into action to free their motherland. In 1901, Gandhi, an unknown delegate to the Congress meeting at Calcutta, visited Belur Math to see the great Swami, but he was not there. Vivekananda was to pass away the following year at the age of thirty-nine. Twenty years later, Gandhi was to visit again, during his agitation for nascent struggle for independence, and confessed that after studying the life of Vivekananda, his love for India “grew a thousand-fold”.

What was this message of Vivekananda that was being commemorated? His opening speech, after his “Sisters and brothers of America” spontaneously received two minutes of standing applause, summarised a position that the world sorely needs today, more than ever.

“I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.

“We believe not only in universal toleration,

atiricus was so disconsolate he hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep after the CPL Finals. He was trudging towards the Back Street Bar to drown his sorrows with the fellas. How many times would he have his hopes raised, and then dashed on the rocks to be shattered into shards? He knew he was getting a bit dramatic, but he couldn’t help himself. For the fourth time in six seasons, his beloved Warriors had reached the finals, only to go down in defeat.

“Wha’ wraang wid yuh black tong, bai?” was how Cappo greeted him as he took his seat slowly at the table.

“Yeah maan, yuh always tell abee dat when yuh put yuh black tong pan something, ‘e gat fuh happen!” said Bungi accusingly.

“Well, it did up to now, hasn’t it?” said Satiricus defensively.

“OK fellas, don’t blame Sato for the Warriors’ loss,” said Hari. “There were a lot of other reasons for that disaster!’

“Me ‘gree wid yuh,” said Cappo. “When me look a de game, me seh dis na de same

but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered, and is still fostering, the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: “As the different streams having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.”

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: “Whosoever comes to Me, through whatso-

ever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me.”

Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth.

They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now.

But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.”

And it was this call for universal acceptance for diversity that resounded at Chicago in Sept 2018.

team wha’ me see in Guyana!”

“Yes!” interjected Bungi. “Me know dem seh de groun’ na gi’e big score. But fram de beg’ning, me t’ink dem need about 170 runs.”

“But even when the wickets started to fall, I thought Tanvir would stabilise the innings,” said Hari. “That was a very irresponsible shot he played to get out.”

“And it’s not just his batting,” complained Satiricus. “Look at his fielding and bowling!!”

“Dem na shou’d bring he back nex’ year,” said Cappo firmly. “Like he get too ole!”

“Me see wan letta seh dem shou’d fyaah de maninja,” pointed out Bungi. “Me ‘gree!”

“Well, I think a serious shake- up has to happen,” said Satiricus. “But don’t forget that we still got into the finals!”

“I know that, Sato,” said Hari. “But we can’t accept the tag of being ‘chokers’. ” “Suh leh abee na t’row out de baby wid de dutty wata,” concluded Cappo.

They all drank to that and “cheered”: “Wait till nex’ year!”

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Shahid Kapoor on Arjun Reddy remake: The character is very fascinating for me as an actor

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ollywood star Shahid Kapoor, who will play the title role in the Hindi remake of Telugu blockbuster Arjun Reddy, says he was both curious and excited about the movie.

“I wanted to try this part and see what I can do with this. I was curious enough to take it on and excited enough to not let it go.”

The Batti Gul Meter Chalu actor said he thoroughly enjoyed Arjun Reddy as a viewer.

“I usually don’t watch too many films in Telugu and it surprised me with its tonality, rawness, simplicity and the fact that it was so real and believable. The character is very fascinating for me as an actor because the emotional arc… is very original. I loved it and Vijay Deverakonda, who played Arjun, did it so well,” Shahid said.

Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the remake will go on floors next month.

The original film, starring Vijay and Shalini Pandey in the lead, revolves around a medical student who falls in love with his junior and how their relationship evolves.

Shahid, who is the son of veteran actors Pankaj Kapoor and Neelima Azeem, has done many romantic films in his career. He made his acting debut in 2003 with Ishq Vishk, after which he featured in movies like Vivah, Jab We Met, Kaminey, Phata Poster Nikhla Hero, R… Rajkumar”, Haider, Udta Punjab and Padmaavat.

There are always a lot of hopes riding on actors today.

Asked if this adds to the pressure, Shahid said: “My own hopes are rid-

ing on me. I have been doing this for 15 years. Now I am a professional at it and understand what comes with it. There is a drive from within to always do your best.

“Once you really give a lot of time to what you do, and if you are passionate about it and have that need to improve upon yourself all the time — which is very intrinsic to anybody who is successful…

That need and desire must be there to improve, rediscover and keep doing new stuff… Then it comes naturally.”

Ultimately, to him, it does not feel like pressure.

“You want to do your best, and I always feel like that,” said Shahid, who agrees that attaining stardom comes with a price tag attached to it.

“I live by the beach and I can’t really go there as often as I would want to… My family and friends have to deal with a certain amount of attention which they might not necessarily be comfortable with. So, of course, there are things that come with the job.

I love this job. So, it’s okay.”

The 37-year-old actor has just welcomed his second child Zain, a son, with wife Mira Rajput, whom he married in 2015. The two also have a daughter named Misha.

How does he balance his busy work and home life?

“It does require a lot of effort.

Sometimes, you don’t have time for yourself… but here you have to choose the time between your work and family. That is something I do it very consciously,” Shahid said during a chat on the sidelines of a fashion event here.

(Indian Express)

Alia Bhatt on Brahmastra: This film will take cinema to another level

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lia Bhatt said her upcoming fantasyadventure trilogy Brahamastra will be a step ahead in terms of filmmaking. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the series is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.

“We are very excited for the film. It is a step ahead. This will take cinema to another level. I am excited for next year,” Alia told reporters at an event on Tuesday.

The film also features megastar Amitabh Bachchan and will see Ranbir Kapoor playing a character with special powers. Alia will also be seen working with father Mahesh Bhatt in Sadak 2, which co-stars Sanjay Dutt, Pooja Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur.

Talking about collaborating with

Mahesh Bhatt for the first time, the actor said, “It’s beautiful, it’s amazing.

It’s a dream come true. My father is directing me. One can’t ask for anything better. It’s going to be very special,” she said.

While the first part of Brahmastra is slated to be released on August 15 next year, Sadak 2 will hit the screens March 25, 2020.

In Sadak, Alia will be seen with Pooja Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur and Sanjay Dutt.

Apart from these two films, Alia Bhatt will also be seen in Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy where she stars alongside Ranveer Singh.

G u l l y Boy releases in 2019. Alia Bhatt is also working on Dharma Productions’ two period dramas, Kalank and Takht. (Indian Express)

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mitabh Bachchan is all set to start working on director Nagraj Manjule’s film Jhund, from November. The actor will embark on the film with a non-stop schedule in Nagpur, after wrapping up his ongoing game show, Kaun Banega Crorepati.

In Jhund, Bachchan plays a professor who builds a soccer team with street kids.

“I chose the city of Nagpur because the story is based there. I wanted the look and feel to be as authentic as possible and Nagpur has its own unique charm, feel and locales, different from Mumbai and Pune. The language of the film would be best showcased in Nagpur, hence I chose the lanes of that city,” Manjule said in a statement.

The director said teaming up with Bachchan is a “dream come true”.

“He has always been my favourite legend and there was nobody other than him who fit the role perfectly and to do justice to this particular character. In fact, the other people in the film are all new and since I have been known to work with fresh talent, I think the combination of Mr Bachchan with this young team will be something to watch out for,” Manjule added.

The total shoot duration is of 7080 days, where Bachchan will shoot for 45 days straight in Nagpur.

The children, who are now trained, will meet the actor and rehearse with him for two-three days before the shoot.

Jhund is produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series, Savita Raj Hiremath, Nagraj Manjule under the banner of T-Series Films, Taandav Films Entertainment Ltd. (Indian Express)

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ollywood actor Sunny Leone is all set to give her first live performance at a concert in Bengaluru later this year. And, proKannada activists seem to be already up in arms against her event.

A day after newspapers in the city reported the upcoming event, Kannada activists announced that they will hold a massive protest across the state demanding a total ban on the Bollywood star. However, now they have softened their stance, allowing Sunny to perform in the city but with one condition.

“We are not opposed to Sunny Leone performing in the city. She is free to come to the city and perform but we are insisting that in November, Kannada should be promoted,” Praveen Shetty, the chief of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, told The News Minute.

Last year, pro-Kannada and other fringe groups in Karnataka opposed Sunny’s New Year night performance in Bengaluru accusing her of being a potential threat to Kannada culture.

The controversy also found validation from the government. Then Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy even directed the police department to stop the actor from giving the performance.

“They have taken permission to conduct a programme. Let them

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ctor Sonu Sood has been honoured with the Doctorate Degree of Taekwondo. The 45-yearold actor, who is known for leading a healthy lifestyle over the years, was felicitated with the honour for his outstanding contribution and support towards taekwondo.

He was honoured in the presence of Prabhat Sharma, secretary general of Taekwondo Federation of India at the opening ceremony of 107 International Kyorugi Referee Seminar/121st International Kyorugi Referee Refresher Course and 40th International Poomsae Referee Seminar.

“It feels good to see everybody so fit out here, all thanks to the event organ-

hold cultural activities like music, or Bharatanatyam not this (Sunny’s performance),” Ramalinga Reddy had said.

Eventually, the controversy forced Sunny to back off, leading to the cancellation of the entire show.

Almost a year later, the same organizers have scheduled Sunny Leone’s performance in Bengaluru at the same venue. The event will take place on November 3 at the White Orchid hotel in Manyata Tech Park on Outer Ring Road. The organizers have revealed that the concert will be mainly led by musician Raghu Dixit’s performance and Sunny will give three dance performances, including one on a Kannada song. (Indian Express)

isers who have managed to get the taekwondo experts all over the country on the same platform and created the Taekwondo Federation,” Sonu said in a statement.

“It’s great to know that people across all age groups are interested in taekwondo sport and they want to create awareness regarding the same and inspire others. Felicitating these experts would certainly inspire them and others to take up the sport as also a fitness initiative. I really hope such good fitness initiatives inspire the people and help us make a healthy India,” he added.

On the work front, Sonu will be next seen in Rohit Shetty’s Simmba, alongside Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan.

(Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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argot Robbie who stars in the upcoming DC comicbook film Birds of Prey has got a release date. The film will hit screens on February 7, 2020. ChineseAmerican filmmaker Cathy Yan is directing the film, and Christina Hodson,

that the makers of Birds of Prey are testing various female actors for the main roles. Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jurnee Smolett-Bell and Janelle Monae are in the running for Black Canary.

Margaret Qualley, Mary Elizabeth and Cristin Milioti are under consideration

These Avengers Infinity War Hindi clips are too good to be missed

A who has also written the upcoming Transformers spinoff Bumblebee, is writing the script. Margot Robbie will reprise her Harley Quinn role in the film.

Birds of Prey is basically a team of DC superheroines that currently (in comics) consists of Barbara Gordon or Batgirl, Black Canary and Huntress. It is not clear if Barbara Gordon will be a part of Birds of Prey. Her own standalone movie is also in development.

Recently The Hollywood Reporter said

for Huntress.

2018 is a tame year for DC films.

Only one movie, Aquaman, will release this year. The next year, though, looks eventful. After Shazam, a standalone Joker movie, starring Joaquin Phoenix, and Wonder Woman 1984 will hit cinema halls. While the past few DC films, with a single exception of Wonder Woman, have failed to impress critics, the future slate looks promising, particularly under a new leadership. (Indian Express)

Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz passes away at 78

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tar Wars producer Gary Kurtz is dead. He was 78.

Kurtz died of cancer on Sunday, his family said in a statement, reports variety.com.

Kurtz had also produced American Graffiti and The Dark Crystal.

His career was closely aligned with that of filmmaker George Lucas, but the two parted ways after the troubled production of The Empire Strikes Back.

Kurtz had championed Star Wars through multiple drafts and helped Lucas navigate 20th Century Fox’s lack of enthusiasm for a movie they dismissed as a B-picture.

After Star Wars stunned everyone by turning into a massive hit, Lucas and Kurtz set about crafting a sequel. Lucas handed the reins over to director Irvin Kershner, but production went over schedule and Lucas was forced to dip into his o w n

pocket to complete the movie.

Kurtz stepped in to direct second-unit work on the film. When it was time to make Return of the Jedi, Kurtz was replaced by Howard Kazanjian as producer.

Kurtz got his start as an assistant director on Monte Hellman’s Ride in the Whirlwind, a lowbudget 1966 Western that starred a then-unknown Jack Nicholson.

“Gary was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, colleague, and mentor, whose work and talent spanned filmmaking, photography, music, and cinema history. He was a Marine, a world traveller, an outdoorsman, and a kind, compassionate human being.” “… Gary was a magnificent man, who will be hugely missed.

His whole family thanks you for your loving thoughts,” his family statement read.

(Indian Express)

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vengers Infinity War was a phenomenon all over the world and Indian fans were way ahead of the curve when it came to showing their love for this MCU film. Avengers Infinity War did great business in India and Marvel is now presenting us with the re-release of the Hindi version of Avengers Infinity War. The dubbed version was released in April as well but now it being re-released in cinema halls on October 2.

Avengers Infinity War had its share of fun moments but watching those in Hindi is all the more hilarious.

Tom Holland’s Spider-man addresses Doctor Strange as ‘Jadugar’ (magi-

new trailer of Bumblebee, which is the sixth film in the Transformers franchise and a prequel to the main series, is out. Unlike other Transformers films, Michael Bay is not directing this spinoff. Instead Kubo and the Two Strings director Travis Knight is helming this low-budget project.

The trailer begins with Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld) buying a rundown Beetle from a junkyard, only to realise later that it is a Transformer called Bumblebee.

Soon, Bumblebee and Charlie find themselves hunted by John Cena’s Agent Burns led government agency. Optimus Prime makes

cian) and calls Iron Man his ‘Gurudev’ (Teacher).

Avengers Infinity War had all the Marvel superheroes coming together in a battle against Thanos.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the film starred Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Pratt and Scarlett Johansson among others. This was the 19th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Marvel’s Avengers Infinity War rereleases in Hindi on October 2. (Indian Express)

an appearance to apprise Bumblebee of his mission.

One of the most popular autobots, Bumblebee is the embodiment of the adage, “Size doesn’t matter.”

Bumblebee is set in the 1980s and stars Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena. The film seems to have a much smaller scale considering it is still a Transformers film.

Looking at the quality of recent films in the franchise, this may be a blessing in disguise.

The synopsis of the film reads, “On the run in the year 1987,

Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battlescarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.”

Bumblebee will release on December 21 this year. (Indian Express)

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he final trailer of Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law and Johnny Depp starrer Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is here and it looks every bit as magical and epic as one would have hoped.

The trailer begins with Jude Law’s Dumbledore handing out an address to Eddie Redmayne’s Newt Scamander. “A safe house in Paris,” Dumbledore informs Newt as the latter asks, “Why would I need a safe house in Paris?” And you know things are about to go down in the most deliciously dangerous fashion if the finest wizard

to have ever lived hints that your life is in danger.

Johnny Depp’s menacing Grindelwald soon takes over the screen and says that the clock is ticking and those who do not join his dark army will only have one option left, to sleep forever. The trailer is replete

with fantastical images and dramatic dialogues, as it should be. And oh, Potterheads, here’s some interesting news for you, remember Nagini? Yes, Voldemort’s snake pet and constant companion Nagini, she makes her entry in a grand manner.

Flying chariots, beautiful beasts and lovely

effects and cinematography make this promo a complete visual treat for fans. This time, Newt is the chosen one, not Harry Potter, but that shouldn’t deter you from checking out this fresh trailer from the mesmerising world of writer JK Rowling.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Jude Law and Johnny Depp in significant roles.

The film will release on November 16, 2018.

(Indian Express)

50 SPORT

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

T10 League: Guyana’s Rutherford, Sports Minister receives among Gayle, Sammy, Russell autographed as named Windies players

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ower-hitting all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford is the lone Guyanese and one of several West Indies players recently named in the players draft for the second edition T10 League, which bowls off at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, in the United Arab Emirates, from November 23 and December 2.

The Guyana Jaguars left-hander was among the rising stars responsible for the team’s success in the last regional season. He later went to Canada as part of the T20 tourney where he smoked 134 off just 66 balls to put West Indies B into the final of the tournament in Toronto against the Vancouver Knights with the likes of Andre Russell, Sheldon Cottrell, Fawad Ahmed, Chris Gayle and Tim Southee.

Rutherford then continued his form at the 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. He played a number of breath-taking knocks and was a main man behind his team’s journey to the final.

The 20-year-old Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) all-rounder will represent the Bengal Tigers along with his Warriors teammate Rayad Emrit, Icon Player Sunil Narine, England opener Jason Roy, Afghan spin sensation Mujeeb Ur Rahman and former South African pacer Morne Morkel among others.

The second season of the T10 league also received a massive boost of star power with Chris Gayle, Rashid Khan, Andre Russell, Shahid Afridi and many more joining the rosters of the eight participating teams.

The preliminary phase will be contested in two groups with Sherfane Group A comprising Kerala Rutherford Kings, Karachians, Pakhtoons and Rajputs and Group B featuring Punjabi Legends, Bengal Tigers, Maratha Arabians, and Northern Warriors. (Clifton Ross) Kerala Kings: Eoin Morgan (Icon Player, Captain, England); Sohail Tanvir (Pakistan); Kieron Pollard (WI); Paul Stirling (Ire); Dasun Shanaka (SL); Chris Gayle (WI); Junaid Khan (Pak); Sandeep Lamichhane (Nep); Tom Curran (Eng); Fabian Allen (WI); Niroshan Dickwella (SL); Imran Nazir (Pak); Benny Howell (Eng). Coach: Daniel Vettori Pakhtoons: Shahid Afridi (Icon Player, Pak); Mohammad Irfan (Pak); Liam Dawson (Eng); Colin Ingram (SA); David Willey (Eng); Colin Munro (NZ); Andre Fletcher (WI); Sohail Khan (Pak); Sharafuddin Ashraf (Afg); Chadwick Walton (WI); Shapoor Zadran

(Afg); Gulbadin Naib (Afg); Cameron Delport (SA).

Coach: Dean Jones Maratha Arabians: Rashid Khan (Icon Player, Afg); Kamran Akmal (Pak); Alex Hales (Eng); Dwayne Bravo (WI); James Faulkner (Aus); Lasith Malinga (SL); Liam Livingstone (Eng); James Vince (Eng); Brendan Taylor (Zim); Adam Lyth (Eng); Roelof van der Merwe (Ned); Najibullah Zadran (Afg); Richard Gleeson (Eng).

Coach: Wasim Akram Bengal Tigers: Sunil Narine (Icon Player, WI); Jason Roy (Eng); Asif Ali (Pak); Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afg); Sam Billings (Eng); Morne Morkel (SA); Aamer Yamin (Pak); Mohammad Nabi (Afg); Kusal Perera (SL); Sherfane Rutherford (WI); Kevon Cooper (WI); Rayad Emrit (WI); Ali Khan (US). Coach: Stephen Flemming Rajputs: Brendon McCullum (Icon Player, NZ); Chris Lynn (Aus); Rilee Rossouw (SA); Mohammad Shahzad (Afg); Mohammad Hafeez (Pak); Tymal Mills (Eng); Carlos Brathwaite (WI); Rahat Ali (Pak); Samit Patel (Eng); Qais Ahmad (Afg); Ben Dunk (Aus); Shan Masood (Pak); Peter Trego (Eng). Coach: Herschelle Gibbs Northern Warriors: Darren Sammy (Icon Player, WI); Wahab Riaz (Pak); Nicolas Pooran (WI); Andre Russell (WI); Dwayne Smith (WI); Ravi Bopara (Eng); Rovman Powell (WI); Harry Gurney (Eng); Chris Green (Aus); Obed McCoy; Lendl Simmons (WI); Khary Pierre (WI); Kennar Lewis (WI).

Coach: Robin Singh Punjabi Legends: Shoaib Malik (Icon Player, Pak); Chris Jordan (Eng); Luke Ronchi (NZ); Liam Plunkett (Eng); Evin Lewis (WI); Mohammad Sami (Pak); Zahir Khan (Afg); Umar Akmal (Pak); Mitchell McClenaghan (NZ); Tom Moores (Eng); Anwar Ali (Pak); Jade Dernbach (Eng); Hassan Khan (Pak). Coach: Mushtaq Ahmed Karachians: Shane Watson (Icon Player); Anton Devcich (NZ); Ben Laughlin (Aus); Jofra Archer (Eng); Colin de Grandhomme (NZ); Ben Cutting (Aus); Mohammad Nawaz (Pak); Dawid Malan (Eng); Fawad Ahmed (Aus); Isuru Udana (SL); Joe Clarke (Eng); Samiullah Shenwari (Afg); Mohammad Irfan (Pak). Coach: Tom Moody

bat from Amazon Warriors

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anager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team, Omar Khan recently made the formal presentation of an autographed bat to Dr George Norton, Minister of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for culture, youth and sport.

This was done at the Minister’s office on Main and Quamina Streets, Georgetown.

Khan expressed gratitude to Minister Norton for the support given to the team throughout their CPL journey.

The Team Manager added that even though Guyana did not win the usually anticipated tournament, the games did enable significant expo-

sure to young, vibrant Guyanese players.

Minister Norton agreed, noting that the Guyana Amazon Warriors did play extremely well throughout the tournament, making Guyana very proud.

It was only recently announced that one of the Warriors, all-rounder, Sherfane Rutherford is the lone Guyanese cricketer recruited for the T10 Cricket League competition by the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East.

Rutherford, age 20, was reportedly drafted by the Bengal Tigers to play in the tournament which is scheduled to take place from November 23 to December 2, 2018.

CAL aiding KFC Goodwill tournament during hectic Christmas season

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ravelling in the Christmas season is always a hassle and in order to participate in the firstever KFC Goodwill tournament, that’s exactly what the Shiva Boys’ Hindu College will have to do.

Despite being months away, the KFC Goodwill tournament has received a much-needed boost in operations, thanks to Caribbean Airlines (CAL).

Playing into their stronghold, Caribbean Airlines will be easing the Petra Organisation’s headache of getting the Shiva Boys’ Hindu College team in and out of Guyana during the busy Christmas season.

Detailing the turn of events, the Trinidad

Caribbean Airlines’ Dion Innis hands over the sponsorship cheque to Jackie Boodie in the presence of Petra member Mark Alleyne (left) and Co-Director Troy Mendonca

and Tobago school team are scheduled to arrive in Guyana on December 15, to stay one week to participate in the highly- anticipated competi-

tion and then leave on December 24. As such Co-Director of Petra, Troy Mendonca, highlighted the importance of Caribbean Airlines’

contribution.

“You would understand how difficult it is to get seats around that time and I think with the support of

Caribbean Airlines, they would make it happen for us. And whatever other contribution they make to this tournament, we’re very happy to be associated with Caribbean Airlines for the hosting of this tournament,” Mendonca said.

On Caribbean Airlines’ behalf, Sales Executive responsible for Suriname and Guyana, Dion Innis disclosed that the sponsorship decision was an easy one, given Petra’s stellar track record in sport and social issues.

“I think this decision was quite an easy one for us. We’ve obviously observed the work that the organisation has been doing in the promotion of sports at the junior level. The organisation has, over

the years, not only been promoting sport but highlight in a very good way, a number of issues that have been plaguing our society. And that in particular is one of the reasons we decided to come on board in this tournament,” Innis stated.

The KFC Goodwill tournament is a collaborative effort with the Petra Organisation and will include four teams, one of which will be an overseas team in the form of the Shiva Boys’ Hindu College. The local teams will comprise Annai Secondary and the top two finishers in the upcoming Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers tournament.

The competition will run from December 16 to December 23.

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Rich display of sporting talent exhibited at Indigenous Heritage Games

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ith the annual Indigenous Heritage Games culminated on Sunday evening, the finals of various sporting disciplines played at the Everest Cricket Club Ground revealed a rich vein of undiscovered talent.

The annual event began on Friday morning with some 600 athletes participating in cricket, football, volleyball, archery and swimming.

After two days filled with activities, the way was paved for the highly anticipated finals of several games to take place on Sunday.

Archery Archery saw a commendable turnout, with enough participants to make the competition interesting. In the Under-12 category, the younger archers, given opportunity to exhibit their skills, Ranillo Khanhai excelled in the male category, followed by runners-up Nelon Lucas and Stephon Pearson.

For the females, Athena Stanley emerged victorious over Isabelle Ramjohn, and among the 13-17 females Alliyah LeCruz trumped Sereena Clenkian and Rochelle

Pariuma and Gladiators FC fight for ball possession

Mabaruma new Male Volleyball Champions

Dondas.

Michael Hing took the accolade in the male 13-17 category, while Elroy Jacobs and Joshua Sandweller occupied second and third positions.

In the 18-and-over category, competition was fierce among these more experienced archers, but Ivor Williams emerged victorious for the males, followed by Daniel Leacock and Ronnie Lewis in second and third positions respectively.

Brenette Gordon dominated the females, with Michelle Schumen and Joanna Samuels in second and third positions respectively.

Football

Sunset brought heightened excitement at the Everest Cricket Ground, with spectators and players alike anticipating action in the biggest event of the night — the male and female football finals.

The extremely vocal crowd was openly voicing its expectations, and it was no secret that most persons were backing the Pariuma ladies of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) to win this tournament.

In the female final, defending champions Pariuma came up

against Gladiators FC of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) in a rollercoaster match that saw the defending champs down by a goal at half-time.

Pariuma seemed calm and collected even as they missed good scoring opportunities; and despite equalising, found themselves with a 2-1 deficit near the end of regulation time.

Somehow, they found it in themselves to produce a last minute goal that sent the game into overtime; and within the first three minutes of overtime play, struck again, to which Gladiators soon replied, positioning both teams at 3-3.

At the penalty line, Gladiators seemed flustered, while Pariuma used their experience to register a flurry of 4 penalties to Gladiators’ 2. Thus the now three-time champions were able to lift the trophy once again.

In the male category, Gold Rush Saints — one of many teams hailing from Region Nine — took on 2017 winners, the very best of Region One (Barima Waini): Port Kaituma.

When the starting

Laluni new Male Cricket Champions

whistle sounded, the players from both sides were already gunning for the goal; and judging from style and tactics displayed, it was clear that either side had immense talent.

Spectators were shocked when Gold Rush scored early, moving the score to 1-0. That goal placed the defending champions Port Kaituma

the Volleyball competition for males and females, wherein defending champions Morcua (males) and Waramuri (females) set out to retain their titles.

Things did not go as planned this year, as neither of the two was able to secure a spot in the final, and the way was made for new contenders.

In the male final, Mabaruma (Region 1)

way with the female category being played first.

Defending champions St Cuthbert’s (Region 4) were playing against young talent, the Kartabo (Region 7) side.

Sent in to bat, Kartabo, with lusty blows of pure power, made a whopping 90-2 off their allotted 8 overs.

In the chase, St Cuthbert’s lost two ear-

and Bartica (Region 7), competed in a round of three, with the former displaying their intentions upfront. The match lasted a mere two rounds, which Mabaruma won 15-13 and 15-8 to claim the title for Region 1, as Vance Harding picked up the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.

After that electrifying matchup, the females competed, with Moruca (Region 1) and St Cuthbert’s (Region 4) vying for the title and bragging rights. In the end, Moruca prevailed 15-6 and 15-11 to lift the trophy, with Annalisa Vincente at the forefront.

Crowd jubilation could not be contained after Region One had swept both categories of this competition.

ly wickets, but Christina (80 not out) and Melanie (5) led them to a resounding win.

Region 4 supporters swamped the field when the winning runs were hit, ecstatic that St Cuthbert’s had successfully defended their title to become twotime champions in that sport.

The male final between defending champions Mahdia (Region 8) and Laluni saw a new champ being crowned.

Mahdia asserted their dominance early to restrict Laluni to 29-5 in their allotted five overs.

With 30 needed to win, it seemed a sure victory for Mahdia, but the Laluni bowlers so handled their business that they were able to defend the total and secure a 10-run win over Mahdia, who folded at 19-7 when their overs expired.

Port Kaituma and Saints Gold Rush in battle

in the awkward position of having to defend their goal while looking for score-levelling opportunities.

Half-time passed quickly, and although Port Kaituma had several opportunities at goal, they were unable to convert those opportunities; thus they were dethroned.

Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, speaking at conclusion of the Games, declared them successful, given the motives.

“Heritage Games is a great component of nation-building. This is what I would call bringing the hinterland to the coast. And….our capacity and our skills….could make a contribution to the Games generally, nationally, and even internationally,” he said.

Volleyball

The day started with

Cricket

The finals of the cricket competition got under-

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LA Lakers move for basketball, not movies, says NBA star

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eBron James says his move to Los Angeles Lakers was for basketball reasons - and nothing to do with his Hollywood career.

The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player joined the Lakers in July on a four-year deal worth $154m (£116m).

James, 33, is involved in various television and film projects and at a media day on Monday he was asked if that had influenced his decision.

"My decision was based solely on my family and t h e Lakers," James said.

"I'm a basketball

player. I play ball. That's what I do. As far as my business is concerned, that stuff has been taking care of itself long before I came out here."

His SpringHill Entertainment production company is involved with several projects, while James has also won a starring role in the forthcoming Space Jam movie.

'I'm humbled & excited'

The Lakers have been starved of success in recent seasons - despite boasting the talents of 18-time All Star Kobe Bryant - and he is just one of the former greats James said made him "excited" to join the franchise.

Magic Johnson, Kareem AbdulJabbar and Shaquille O'Neal are just some of those to have worn the yellow shirt of the Lakers.

"I think we all know this has been a historical franchise in this league for years," James said. "You talk about the championships, the players that have come through this franchise, that have worn this uniform, that's an excitement in its own right.

"It's always humbling for me to be a part of something special." (BBC Sport) LeBron James says his outside interests will not be a distraction to his basketball

Riddim Squad, Police secure semi-final spots in Limacol Knockout Tournament

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he Georgetown Football Club (GFC) and Beacon FC went home with their heads hanging low on Tuesday evening, as their opponents trampled over them to make their way into the Limacol tournament semi-final.

The first quarter-final match on Tuesday got underway with Riddim Squad and Beacon both aiming to get one step closer to the tournament spoils.

The encounter took a long while to heat up, but was blazing within the click of a finger as Christopher Garraway netted a goal for Beacon in the 55th minute, then Wendell Joseph made a quick reply for Riddim Squad two minutes later. As such, both teams knew that they could no longer sit comfortable.

To the delight of the spectators, the match remained locked on one-all until the end of extra time, resulting in a penalty shootout. Beacon were first to take their shot and connected while Riddim Squad’s first striker fumbled the goal. Beacon managed to connect another penalty, but the hype seemed to get the better of them as they missed two consecutive shots, while Riddim Squad placed their final four perfectly for the win.

Riddim Squad’s goal scorer Ron Liverpool noted that while they were happy for the win, there were still aspects that they needed to work on.

“Most definitely, we need to improve on the finishing as you could see that we had some clear-cut goals and we squandered them. Tomorrow in the

practice Coach definitely will work on the finishing with us,” Liverpool said.

The player went on to note that the team believed it was a privilege to have gotten this far and were focused on winning.

“It’s a privilege you know to go and represent your community and all your fans and bring home the cup. It’s just time to bring it home.”

The excitement from the first match did not wear off, as the second proved to be more thrilling. After some sharp striking upfront, Rondel Peters was the first to secure a goal for GFC in the 15th minute. However, Police were quick on the rebound with Manasah Primo picking up one in the 16th minute. The celebration of the equaliser was short-lived owing to Marcus Wilson, who struck in the 18th minute giving the GFC a much-needed advantage.

After the first three goals went in like lightning, a great part of the match saw no goals. However, both teams displayed excellent qualities with the GFC focusing on their defence and Police coming uncomfortably close to the goal thanks to excellent striking. The law enforcement team soon got their breakthrough from Lerone Charles, who found one for the officers in the back end of the game, sending it into overtime.

The first half of overtime passed very similarly to the middle of regulation time, but the second half proved fruitful for Police as Charles and Anthio Wallace added two more to their total for a 4-2 win over the GFC.

Windies Head Coach Law resigns T he Windies’ Senior Men’s Team will be searching for a new coach, because Stuart Law has resigned from his position as Head Coach to take on a new role at Middlesex Cricket Club in January 2019.

Law, who took over as Head Coach in February 2017, vacates his post after guiding the Test team to series wins against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, and the ODI Team through the ICC World Cup Qualifiers and into the 2019 Cricket World Cup. The former Australia batsman also oversaw the first Windies Test Match win in England for 17 years, when they beat the hosts by five wickets at Headingly.

Law would however continue in his role for the upcoming away series against India and Bangladesh, but will leave to take up his new responsibilities in the new year.

Law has stated, “I have had to make the difficult decision to leave my role of Head Coach with CWI. It has been very enjoyable, and I believe we have made tremendous strides forward as a team during the past 2 years. I would like to thank the players, staff and the

fans for their support over this period, I have appreciated it greatly. I will be taking a role with Middlesex CCC, which will keep me close to my family whilst continuing within the cricket family.

I wish the players and staff of CWI every success in the future.”

Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, said: “While I regret his leaving and the timing of it, I fully understand his reasons; and along with everyone at Cricket West Indies (CWI), I want to thank him for his dedication and commitment whilst in the role, and wish him the very best of luck at Middlesex.”

CWI’s Chief Executive Johnny Grave commented, “I am disappointed that Stuart is leaving, as I believe that we have made real progress under his leadership. I know it was a difficult decision for him, and that ultimately the opportunity to work in England, where his family is now based, was a major factor in his decision. We will start the process to appoint a new Head Coach immediately.”

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