GuyanaTimes International October 05 2018

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Guyana’s teachers could hit the streets again ISSUE NO. 418

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7, 2018

Page 12

...as Govt refuses to budge over arbitration chair

Guyanese woman pleads guilty to illegally reentering US after deportation

Page 7

…faces up to 10 years jail

Following along with 2018 Young Leaders of the Americas After attending a two-day skill-building conference in Detroit, Michigan, the Guyana YLAIers and their 250 counterparts from all over South America and the Caribbean went to work with a fellowship host company in one of 20 cities across the United States.

Chosen to represent Guyana this year are: Jaianan Hirai, co-founder of the A+ Computer Training Cen-ter, Evie Kanhai-Gurchuran, co-founder and CEO of Java Coffee Bar, an artisanal coffee shop in Georgetown and Nigel Anthony Peters, founder of Arcadia Agri, a cultivator of organic fruits and vege-tables in Guyana. The participants are currently developing specific action plans to accelerate their businesses’ success upon returning to Guyana, and building networks and lasting partnerships to sup-port their entrepreneurial ventures. After four weeks, the Fellows will spend time in Washington, DC to engage with entrepreneurs and U.S. government officials before returning to Guyana. (US

NY Governor announces US$13B plan to upgrade JFK Airport

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4 Guyanese facing drug trafficking charges in NY

Embassy photo)

…after being busted with cocaine at JFK

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NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Businessman tells CoI he lost almost G$30M …due to ‘incompetence’ of City Hall

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n operating restaurant franchise in Guyana has reportedly lost close to G$30 million in just over three years after several proposals were not responded to by City Hall, which they said could have be easily resolved if a bribe was given.

Chief Executive Officer of Camex R e s t a u r a n t s Incorporated, Terence Campbell, testified on Wednes-day at the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into several applications that were submitted to the City Engineer’s Department at the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) as it relates to properties in Georgetown.

However, one issue that was questionable was in respect to a property at Croal Street,

Stabroek, which previously housed the Sino fast food restaurant.

Campbell indicated that the intention was to establish another branch of the popular Church’s Chicken in 2016.

After agreements were signed with Sino fast food to take over the company and documents

were fi-nalised with the owner of the property to obtain a long-term lease, the CEO stated that the M&CC heard of the operations and he was visited by Town Clerk Royston King, Mayor Patricia Chase Green, and City Engineer Colvern Venture less than a week after. The

businessman was told he had no per-mission to operate, even though that is not the standard procedures set out when obtaining a busi-ness place.

“The Mayor, the Town Clerk and the City Engineer turned up immediately to say that the building which pre-

viously operated as Sino fast food for over two years had no permission to operate.

What I find very strange is that for two years, this building operated as a restaurant but from the moment they heard that Church’s was going there, they turned up saying that you have no permission to oper-ate,” said the businessman.

As per what he was told, Campbell proceeded to submit applications to the City Engineer’s Depart-ment, which were neither approved not acknowledged.

Consequently, the Central Housing and Plan-ning Authority (CH&PA) was engaged and permission was given.

He noted that works would been done at the fast food joint to up-

grade the facilities as well as a monthly rent of over G$1.2 million was paid. One year of rent was paid and the business was never opened since no permission was given by the Council.

Management was later forced to terminate the lease and was also sued

by Sino fast food.

“We didn’t even operate for a day and I lost G$20 million.”

‘Pure incompetence’ and ‘gross negligence’ were the words of the businessman as he commented on the operations at the Council. He noted that some businessmen in the city are also working in collusion with the M&CC to stifle other businesses which may pose competition. turn to page 5

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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EDITORIAL

Guarding against electoral fraud

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lections are one of the crucial institutions to ensure the existence – not to mention the functioning — of democracy.

Guyanese know this (or should know this) to their cost, since our country was actually birthed through electoral “fiddling” by the British when independence was in sight. The winner of the 1961 elections was supposed to lead an independent Guyana, but when the PPP fulfilled that condi-tion, with pressure from the then US administration of JF Kennedy, the British changed the electoral system to ensure a coalition between the PNC and UF acceded to power.

Thus while all accept democracy is “rule by the people”, the method for choosing the representatives of “the people” has continued to pose a challenge to Guyana. The PNC’s blatant rigging of elections in 1968, 1973, 1978 (a referendum), 1980 and 1985 through various subterfuges, as verified by a plethora of international institutions and governments, alerted Guyanese to the importance of controlling the electoral mechanism, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The return of “free and fair” elections in 1992 was necessarily accompanied by changes in the composi-tion of that body; its selection and its powers to oversee the elections process; the conduct of elec-tions, and the counting of the ballots. While both the PPP and PNC questioned several aspects of the operations; during the next 23 years, while the PPP remained in office, by and large, the process worked.

With the change of Government in 2015, by the PNC as “APNU”, and in coalition with the AFC, howev-er, a series of manoeuvres were immediately unleashed by the Government, led

by President David Granger, to “game” the operations of GECOM. First there was a long and acrimonious debate between him, the Opposition and the Judiciary on the interpretation of the clause “…a judge or any other fit person”, specifically inserted in 1992 to select the Chairman of GECOM. Obdurately refusing to accept the Chief Justice’s ruling that the person does not have to be a Judge, Granger unilaterally appointed ex-Justice James Patterson to the position, which has a casting vote in the Commission’s decisions.

Since then, Patterson has consistently voted, when the occasion arose, with the Government’s Com-missioners against the PPP’s, such as for the Deputy CEO of GECOM. The second move concerned the composition of the staff of the GECOM Secretariat, which actually executes the operations of the Commission. One PPP commissioner claimed that the staff was over-whelmingly African Guyanese, which was due to skewed hiring practices; and this condition under-mined the confidence of the Guyanese voters in the necessary impartiality of the institution.

Granger’s hand-picked Chairman immediately vouchsafed that the staff was chosen on the basis of “merit,” without any investigation.

The matter has since been filed with the Ethnic Relations Commission.

The scheduled Local Government Elections (LGE) in November has raised several other concerns about the fairness of the electoral process, especially since the LGE is widely seen as a precursor to national elections in 2020. First was the Ministry of Communities, under which the Local Government fall, of creating a new township and “gerrymandering” the boundaries of several constituencies to re-duce PPP seats in some NDCs, while simultaneously increasing the latter’s number by eight and LAAs from 71 to 80. This matter is also now before the courts.

Finally, we have the critical matter of the procedure for nominating local Councillors by the participat-ing entities in the LGE. This was severely compromised, with the AFC being accused by the PPP of us-ing the names of dead individuals; forging the signatures of some, and tricking others to be “backers” of candidates. But more alarmingly has been the refusal of some Returning Officers (RO) to remove the names of candidates lacking the requisite number of backers, and the subsequent sequestering by the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) so as not to instruct those ROs to perform their duties.

All of this is depressingly reminiscent of previous electoral shenanigans, and raise serious concerns about the integrity of the LGE and the 2020 General Elections.

Cassava bread making — in Saint Cuthberts Mission, Mahaica-Berbice, Guyana. (Photo by DPI)

The burden of alcohol abuse

By Jainarine Deonauth MA

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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 comprehen-sive 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, alcohol-induced violence and abuse, and a multitude of diseases and disorders. Men account for more than three quarters of alcohol-related deaths.

The report explains that alcohol drinking is linked to more than 200 health conditions, including cirrho-sis of the liver and some cancers.

Alcohol abuse also makes people more susceptible to infectious dis-eases, such as tuberculosis, HIV and pneumonia.

For young people, the num-

bers are even more alarming, with a full 13.5 per cent of all deaths among 20-to-29-yearolds 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 ac-counted 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.

In Guyana, like in other countries, 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 inactivi-ty, 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 communi-ties in any way.

WHO Chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was quoted in the media as saying that far too many peo-ple, 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 address-ing 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 Governments, 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 on our populations.

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

PPP takes GECOM to Court over ‘fraudulent’ LGE list

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) through one of its constituency candidates in Berbice has filed legal proceedings against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and another individual to have the names fraudulently affixed to the backer’s lists for Local Government Elections (LGE) in the An-cient County removed.

The court document seen by this publication

“illegality and fraud.” It also noted that Persaud’s refusal happened before the expired deadline on September 26, 2018.

In a sworn affidavit, Beekham, who is a registered elector on the Official List of Electors for Constituen-cy Number 3 in the Whim/Bloomfield Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) said he and others were “deliberately deceived into signing a document by an Alliance

said on be-coming aware of the fraud perpetuated against him and other electors, he immediately demanded that their names be withdrawn or deleted from the AFC lists.

He recalled that he and the other electors had affidavits to withdraw their names and support for the AFC candidate on the lists submitted. On Tuesday, September 25, 2018, Beekham and other elec-

names Shafraz Beekham as the applicant, along with the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and Orlando Christopher Persaud as the respondents. The document outlines that the challenge is seeking to have the names of 49 other electors appearing on list of backers in support of the Alliance For Change (AFC) constituency candidates removed.

It noted that the submission was made to Persaud on September 21, 2018, in Whim Bloomfield, Ber-bice Local Authority Area (LAA), for the LGE 2018.

The PPP is challenging on the grounds that the said decision is unlawful, illegal, and unreasonable and is in violation of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act. The document also cites Persaud’s alleged refusal to withdraw the applicant’s name and the names of 49 other electors. It said unless the names are withdrawn, the election in the LAA would be tainted with

For Change representative who he claimed fraudulently represented that she was employed by GECOM and that he needed to sign a document to confirm that his name was on the voter’s list.

“I am informed and do verily believe by the other electors in the community that they were told that they would benefit from better roads, jobs, better pension and rehabilitated playgrounds and were also deceived into signing,” he stated in court documents.

He said too that it was only after Nomination Day on September 21, 2018, that he learnt that the signa-ture which was taken from him was unauthorisedly used as a nominator backing the AFC candidate in constituency Number 3.

According to him, at no time whatsoever was he or the other residents informed, or did they know that they were in fact signing a list of backers in support of the AFC candidate(s).

Persaud

tors visited Persaud’s office in Whim to submit the affidavits to have their names withdrawn.

According to his court document, “The first named respondent was not in office and there was no other representative present who would accept our withdrawals.

I returned to the first named re-spondent’s office at 2:00pm (14:00h) on September 26, 2018, with the other electors to submit our withdrawals. It was made clear to Persaud that we did not knowingly or intentionally submit or affix our signatures to any lists in support of AFC candidates. The first named respondent initially refused to accept our withdrawals erroneously, stating that the time has expired for us to do so.”

The PPP candi-date said he did not leave and persisted to demand that his name be removed from the list. He re-called making contact with PPP GECOM Commissioner and Attorney Bibi Shadick and sought her

Businessman tells CoI...

“I have been told by other businessmen that the matter can be easily resolved and they’re willing to take me to functionaries so that the matter can be resolved…. I would rather lose G$30 million than pay a cent in a bribe.”

He further stated that since the new Council was elected with Colvern Venture serving as the City En-gineer, none of his proposals

were approved. He has been told that the matters could easily be fixed with a bribe, which he will never pay.

“I don’t believe that since Colvern Venture has become the City Engineer that we’ve had any permis-sion for any work whatsoever…”

Interventions were taken by the then Deputy Mayor, Lionel Jaikaran, and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce

from page 3

but there has been no resolution to the matter.

Some of the other proposals which were never approved include application for a South Ruimveldt property to commence construction, permission to extend an existing building on Camp Street and the documents for works on a residential property in Crown Street and Lamaha Gardens.

inter-vention and advice.

He was informed that at a meeting between GECOM Commissioners on September 25, 2018, it was confirmed that the deadline for the submission of the statutory affidavits was on 23:55h on Septem-ber 26, 2018.

“The statutory affidavits to withdraw the names of electors from the lists could be submitted by the representative (head of the list) or deputy representative or in person by the elector. If the elector appeared in person, a letter addressed to the first named respondent would have sufficed to effect a withdrawal. The statutory affidavits were legal documents which the first named respondent would be duty bound to accept,” he added.

However, after 14:30h on September 26,

the CEO was out of touch and was not in his office and could not be reached personally or by telephone to give any directions to Persaud. In the absence of the CEO, the Deputy CEO, Roxanne Myers, was contacted in her office and indicated that she could not give any instructions to Persaud without first conferring with the CEO of GECOM who she was also un-able to contact.

Subsequently, Persaud informed Beekham that he will accept the statutory affidavits from him and the other electors only if the electors desirous of withdrawing (including himself) were present in person. Beekham and 49 other electors presented themselves to Persaud the same day.

But he later advised that “a confrontation had

to be done between us and the AFC candidates” and further that the AFC candidates would be given time to rebut the allegations being made and fixed 10:00pm (22:00h) as the deadline after which a decision would be made.

When the time had reached, Beekham said that he and the 49 other electors were all present. The AFC candidates were not present.

Persaud then proceeded to accept all of the affidavits and in his presence signed and issued an acknowledgement of receipt to the representative of the PPP Himatee Latchman.

Beekham learnt on Friday, September 28, that Persaud had refused to withdraw his name and that of the 49 other electors from the lists submitted by the AFC. The proceedings were served on Wednesday. The matter is fixed for hearing before Justice Navindra Singh on October 11.

The attorneys representing Beekham are Adrian Anamayah, Ian Anamayah and Anil Nandlall.

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Guyanese village reunions in New York have helped to recreate ties Dear Editor, During the summer that just ended, Guyanese-Americans organised community events specifically designed to reunite kinfolks from a particular village and surrounding area in Guyana. These have be-come annual rituals that constitute a remembrance and celebration of life in that village and of the presence and achievements of those villagers and their descendants settled in America. Recreating ties among those spread across different areas in America, transmitting kin-based connections to off-spring, is one of the objectives behind these joyous village reunions.

Over the last two decades, Indo-Guyanese village and school reunions have become an annual ritual in New

York City. They have institutionalised people (or those Americans who trace their roots) from every Indo-Guyanese village imaginable at gatherings (reunions) this past summer; and in fact have been so doing for many years – at the Flushing Park, Cunningham Park, Baysley Park, or Roy Wilkins Park, all of which also host cricket.

And these reunions carried their own distinct labels, like Port Mourant Day, or Albion Day, or Rose Hall Day, or Canal Day, or Lesbeholden Day, etc. These reunions were organised by volunteers. The reun-ions attracted hundreds every Saturday and Sunday from the first weekend in July through end of September. The largest gatherings were usually Port Mourant, Albion,

Enmore, Canal, Windsor Forest, Uitvlugt, Wales, Rose Hall Canje, Black Bush, etc. Non-villagers (from surrounding villages) also attend the reunions. I attended several to observe proceedings from a journalistic and academic perspective.

All the school and village reunions tend to bring together people from back home in a fraternity. These reunions had a plethora of fun activities, including cricket, volleyball, track and field (bag racing, needle threading), dancing, and of course liquor drinking and a lot of eating.

They saw each other and talked about those who lost hair, gained bellies, used reading glasses, etc.

They showed off old photos of themselves, children, grandchildren and neighbours.

Large music box-

es tend to entertain the crowds with Indian and chatney songs, and occasionally there is a live band. Karaoke from well-known artistes is also part of the entertainment.

These social events have meaning. The reunion is used as a fundraising drive to improve the village back in the old country. Raffles are held, participants also donate money; collected proceeds are sent home or used to organise next year’s activities. The money is given to some worthy project in Guyana – fixing a school; helping poor families; honouring outstanding Guyanese from that area – recognition.

For older folks and those in poor health, a reunion presents a chance to see people whom they had not seen

for a long time, and may also be seeing for the last time. The gatherings are also a way to cel-ebrate shared heritage and culture; to exchange stories, and to honor the memories of those who have passed on.

Participants disclose that it is a wonderful opportunity to be with village folks. The reunions allow members of a village to re-engage in faceto-face interaction that would keep alive memories of vil-lage life and to reminisce and celebrate their families and personalities. The holding of a village reunion also gives youngsters born in that village and migrated, as well as Americanborn of parents from those villages, a chance to meet and get to know their ancestral villagers, and anyone else who is from that village;

and by extension from Guyana. It is amazing to hear youngsters born in America say they are from Port Mourant, or Anna Regina, or Berbice, or Guyana. The reunions are a welcome activity – a re-enactment of nostalgia back to a time and place that formed an important part of Guyanese life.

They help people catch up with the past after a long period, serve a therapeutic effect on the old, feeble and lonely.

There is much consoling over losses, and gratification and joy at meeting again. The con-nections, shared values and common experiences re-unite them all once again, until another summer, when they hope to meet again.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Efforts must be Very little done by PNC to made to strengthen expand political base since laws to prevent in government electoral fraud in Guyana Dear Editor, Electoral fraud is the illegal interference with the process of an election. It can occur at any stage of the electoral cycle, sometimes even in the pre-electoral stages, where some Governments interfere with the planning process of the elections.

In a narrow election, a small amount of fraud may be enough to change the election results. Even if the outcome is not affected, the revelation of fraud can have a damaging effect if not punished, as it can reduce voters’ confidence in democracy.

At a recent press conference, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Bharrat Jagdeo, emphasised the importance of strengthening electoral laws to prevent electoral fraud from political parties and GECOM. The deterrence of such practices can be achieved through consistent and effec-tive prosecution.

Elections can help despots shore up their grip on power.

Holding flawed polls can enable embattled Governments to secure access to valuable economic re-sources, like foreign aid, oil deals etc.

While the APNU/AFC

Coalition Government appears to be in their death throes, they would use the ballot box to re-establish their political dominance. That is when the facade of democracy is going to be turned into a tool of oppression to satisfy this Govern-ment.

As Guyanese, we cannot allow the Government and GECOM to undermine the ideals of democracy and turn elections into empty rituals wherein the Government always win, as was evident before 1992, the PNC era of rigged elections in Guyana.

As the electorate, we must insist that the APNU/ AFC Government, the Opposition, and GECOM move immediately to ensure that electoral laws are being strengthened and implemented, so that persons in the electoral cycles must be held accountable for any electoral fraud in Guyana.

The fiasco of Lowenfield’s disappearance recently, the Returning Officers’ disappearance, fake statements of poll etc, must never recur.

Sincerely, Zamal Hussain

Dear Editor, Now that the PNC have had a chance to declare their results from their Congress, the confirmed re-sults were astonishing. Astonishing for the fact that the PNC, although they are in Government, they have done very little political work to expand their political base.

Being in Government should have caused an influx of youths, women and non-traditional supporters (East Indians and Amerindians) into their Central Executive Committee (CEC), because a governing party is expected to have more support compared to when it was an opposition party.

But when one looks at the new members of the CEC, this is the same old set of senior citizens, with a major invasion of the military kind. The table below highlights the changes in the PNC leadership from the 2016 Congress to the 2018 Congress.

The evidence clearly reveals that the PNC, now fronting themselves as the APNU, are like a political party on another planet. In this day and age, when the millennials are the dominant force in all 10 Regions, you would have expected an expansion in the youthful members on the CEC, but the re-

verse has happened.

I personally would like to celebrate the elevation of Volda Lawrence as the first female Chairman of the PNC, but when you drill down, you find that the devil is in the details, and the details speak to a different reality.

In 2016, there were 10 women and 5 youths in that 20-member leadership body. To-day, the women’s group and the youth group have lost 2 places each. What is even more shocking is that the leadership of the party seems to be getting older and older, as the number of geriatrics in the leadership increased from 10 to 12 between 2016 and 2018.

Can you imagine 8 percent of Guyana is classified as geriatrics but 80 percent of the PNC leadership are geriatrics? With no disrespect to my elders, clearly the mix in the PNC does not represent Guyana.

When I look at the PPP LGE candidates, I am overwhelmed with how young, ethnically diverse, and gender-balanced the distribution is.

When you look at the PNC candidates, you see dominating the scene people like Patricia Chase Green, an “has been”, washed-out politician who has many

allega-tions of corruption against her, and is right now under investigation.

Is Dr Norton the best Amerindian candidate? Someone with so many questions around his compe-tence as a Minister and with serious allegation of financial foolishness against his character has no place in the leadership of any political party, much less a governing one.

Unfortunately, it is my consid-ered view, the PNC made a major mistake by pushing Dr. Norton in light of the formation of an Amerindian party soon.

When it comes to the Indo-Guyanese leaders, well there is nothing to say. The PNC continue to certify themselves as a black party with little space for them in their leadership, notwithstanding the fact that 39 percent of the population is from that group.

What is clear is that the powerful in the PNC have de-clared their intent: to hell with social cohesion and national unity in the PNC; it will not happen.

Who lost their seats?

James Bond, who campaigned hard for Volda Lawrence, lost his seat; which translates to the fact that his support was irrelevant to her victory.

Then there is the po-

litical shocker – Basil Williams. He will have to be co-opted, as the most senior lawyer in the PNC. Joe Harmon has been knocking at the door, but it is clear the PNC members do not trust him.

These results clearly establish that the members do not think Basil Williams or Joe Harmon can be the next leader of the party.

However, if we understand the PNC well, what the membership wants is not what they will get, because the cabal that controls Congress Place may very well impose a leader on their members to circumvent the members’ choice – Volda Lawrence.

That said, we all, as Guyanese, must celebrate the fact that Volda Lawrence created history by becom-ing the first female PNC Chairman.

It is a good thing for Guyana that she won.

Her victory created a unique challenge for the PPP. My only advice to Ms Lawrence is: beware of the political charlatans, like James Bond who is feeding off of your work; and the geriatric ex-Generals, who are only there to do two things – undermine your work and advance their own cause.

Regards, Alex Duncan

news 7

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese woman pleads guilty to illegally reentering US after deportation …faces up to 10 years jail

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news release from the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of New York, has stated that a Guyanese woman, who was deported from the United States just over 20 years ago, is now facing up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty

to illegally re-entering the country.

The Department of Justice has identified the woman as Indrawattie Sookram, 40, who returned to the United States in the very next year after she had been jailed and deported back to Guyana.

According to informa-

tion reaching this publication, the woman pleaded guilty to the crime on Monday.

According to the release, Sookram was arrested in the US Virgin Islands in February, 1999. In August, 1999, she was convicted in the United States District Court of the District of

the Virgin Islands for using a false passport, a false visa and a false identity to enter the United States.

She was subsequently removed from the United States to Guyana on September 3rd, 1999, after serving six months in jail.

However, on May 17th, 2018, Sookram was arrested by a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Agent in Schenectady, New York.

A fingerprint check of Sookram resulted in the discovery of her prior conviction and removal under the name Maryan Husain. Sookram admitted that in 2000, following her removal to Guyana, she returned to the United States without permission.

The release revealed that Sookram faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to US$250,000 when she is sentenced

by Senior United States

Judge Fredrick J. Scullin, Jr. on May 20th, 2019.

A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors, the release added.

This case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.

Albion Estate workers protest Opposition MP calls for audit 75% wage reduction of ‘wasteful spending’ at DPI

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Workers protesting at Albion on Wednesday, following GuySuCo’s decision to cut their wages

group of enraged workers attached to the Albion Sugar Estate in Berbice on Wednesday protested their employer, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), for its decision to reduce their earnings for canal cleaning by some 75 per cent. The workers expressed great frustration over the wages, having observed that to clean a four-foot canal, they are being paid G$56 to clean each rod.

One of the operators, Gopaul Singh, told Guyana Times International that the workers are being offered less money even though they are cleaning wider canals.

“The rate before was G$225 per rod and somebody came from the office in Georgetown and set that rate down. They cut it by 75 per cent without saying one word to us that they paying you that; no con-sultation,” Singh high-lighted.

Singh added that management at the Estate promised that there would be full consultation in the fu-ture.

However, the workers staged a two-day strike on Monday and Tuesday and when they informed management that they were going to resume work on Wednesday; they were reportedly told that the Estate had no work for them.

“We are contending that they should pay the G$225 until they have such matters resolved as to a rate they want to pay,” Singh stressed.

Another worker, Nazir Hussain told this publication that what was done to workers was us unfair.

“They did not ask us anything. They just came to a conclusion at G$56, which is wrong and we and management tried to discuss it but it going in a circle,” he said.

Meanwhile, security at the Albion Estate called in the Police when this publication met with the ag-grieved workers.

The security personnel also allegedly threatened a private poultry farmer that they will stop him from using the estate dam if he allowed this news entity to use his private land to access the area.

The sugar industry has been encountering significant challenges over the last several years with Euro-pean markets having shelved preferential payments for sugar. Government after assuming office has implemented several austerity measures including the closure of several estates – Wales, East Deme-rara, Skeldon and Rose Hall. However, many of thousands of workers who lost employment say they have been finding great diffi-

culty in garnering alternative employment.

For those who remain, they have been complaining about not seeing wage increases or Annual Pro-duction Incentives (API). The three estates that remain in operation are Uitvlugt, Albion and Blairmont. The others which were closed over the last two years have ceased operations to attract investors.

eeks after calls were made for a presidential probe into the operations and spending at the Department of Public Information (DPI), Opposition Member of Parliament and former Junior Finance Minister, Juan Edghill, is calling for the Auditor General to investigate the entity’s spending.

Concerns were raised by staff at the DPI about spending practices and the hiring of persons affiliated to political operatives. The staffers who requested anonymity told sections of the press that monies were being spent wastefully on regular retreats and other unnecessary things.

In describing DPI as an interesting outfit, the MP told Guyana Times International that although staffers are hiding in the shadows due to fear of victimisation, they have called for a presidential probe but he

Head of DPI Imran Khan

feels such a probe would not yield any success and things could remain the same.

An important observation made by the Opposition MP was the fact that DPI should have been serving the entire Government.

However, the President does not rely on DPI for

his public relations and press, but has an office staffed by people to work with his press and publicity unit.

“So the people of Guyana are paying for DPI and the President who doesn’t trust DPI because it is headed by the Alliance turn to page 9

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Contraband in Prisons: Two more officers in hot water

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ays after it was revealed that some 28 prison officers have been dismissed so far this year for their involvement in contraband smuggling, two more ranks have now found themselves in hot water, fol-lowing the discovery of illegal items at three prison facilities.

In Berbice, 1032 grams of suspected marijuana and 39 packs of cigarettes were found in the New Am-sterdam Prison.

Acting Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels disclosed on Wednesday that a prison officer is being in-vestigated with regards to his involvement.

“From video evidence, he was seen in possession of the parcels that came over the prison fence.

He then conspired with prisoners to secure same in the prison kitchen,” Samuels said.

The Prisons Director noted that the discovery was made after a middle manager, acted on information received, caused a search to be conducted during which the items were discovered.

“In my telephone interview with the suspect, he admitted his involvement. According to him, the items were to be delivered to a specific prisoner,” he further stated.

The officer has been handed over to the Police along with the contraband found.

Meanwhile, another prison officer at the Timehri Prison was tak-

en into custody after he was implicat-ed by an inmate regarding the presence of 584 grams of marijuana in the compound.

It was reported that ranks of the Guyana Police Force, acting on information received, went to the East Bank Demerara penitentiary on Wednesday morning, where a white 10kg butter bucket containing a quantity of ziplock plastic bags, two plastic juice bottles all contained a quantity of leave, seeds and stems suspected to cannabis were handed over.

The narcotics were allegedly found in possession of a 42-year-old inmate and former prison orderly, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for buggery and rape. The prisoner was observed in the prison compound at about 08:40h with the said bucket and when questioned by prison officials, he indicated that he received the cannabis from a prison officer, who is stationed at the said facility.

The inmate then took the officers to a storeroom, under the stairs of the Administrative Building where two plastic bottles containing cannabis were seen. The prison officer in question has since de-nied any knowledge of the cannabis; nevertheless he was taken into Police custody pending further investigations.

On the other hand,

prison officers stationed at the Georgetown prison on Wednesday at about 08:38h, discovered a white bulky plastic bag handing on the barb wire of the southern fence of the compound.

The bag was retrieved and upon examination, a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems sus-pected to be cannabis, two packs of transparent zip-lock bags, two packs of bamboo and a quantity of leaves were found.

The suspected cannabis was weighed 104 grams and has since been lodged.

Contraband smuggling has long been a pe-

rennial problem within the prison system and this com-pounded by the fact that both prison and police officers are facilitating the illegal trade, which is said to be a “big business”.

While the authorities have been struggling to curb the illegal practice, there has been a breakthrough on the apparent network among rogue prison officers. In fact, only last week, four prison officers were arrested after they smuggled a bottle of rum and a pack of cigarettes into the Lusignan Prison the weekend prior. These officers were subsequently

charged and interdicted from duty.

Furthermore, five other prison officers were relieved of their duties back in July after they were fin-gered in an incident whereby a parcel containing cannabis had been thrown into the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay area.

Addressing a thanksgiving ceremony to commemorate the 35th Prisons Service Week on Sunday, Samuels disclosed that so far for the year some 28 prison officers have been dismissed. He explained that 11 of those ranks were dismissed for facil-

itating or directly smuggling contraband into the prison system. The Prisons Director added that there are 12 ranks currently interdicted from duty, nine of whom have been charged either departmentally or criminally for trafficking-related activities.

At that event, both Samuels and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan decried rouge elements within the prison service, who contribute to contraband smuggling within the system and called for ranks to speak out against wrongdoings by their colleagues.

Home of USA-based Guyanese goes up in flames

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n unoccupied house located in Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), went up in flames early Wednesday morning.

The fire started about 05:00h at the Lot 34 Canal Dam, Ann’s Grove residence.

According to reports, the house belonged to an 80-year-old pensioner, Elaine Pollard, who is currently in the United States of America (USA). Her two-storey wood and concrete home was left in the care of a fellow villager, Safraz Baksh.

The 42-year-old vendor of Main Street, Ann’s Grove, said he was awakened about 05:30h, by a neigh-bour who in-formed him of the fire. He immediately went to the house, but upon arrival at the scene, he saw the entire building engulfed in flames.

The ravaged house at Ann’s Grove

At the time, the fire tenders from the Mahaica fire Station were there trying to douse the flames. However, they were unable to do so before the building was destroyed.

So far, the estimated losses are

unknown, and it is unclear as to whether the house was insured.

The owner has since been informed. Meanwhile, investigators from the Guyana Fire Service are currently looking into the fire, trying to determine its origin.

Errant broadcasters likely to face sanctions

…as Broadcasting authority begins clamp down in Guyana

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he Guyana N a t i o n a l Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has begun hauling in broadcasters for perceived breaches to the law and the Authority’s guidelines; with two of them being referred to the governing board for possible sanctions.

It is understood that the Special Investigative Committee of the GNBA conducted preliminary hearings with six delinquent broadcasters.

According to a statement from GNBA, they were in breach of the Broadcasting Act of 2011 and published guidelines.

It is understood that the broadcasters flouted rules concerning good taste and decency and the broad-cast of obscene language in songs during prime-time hours.

Since the passage of the Broadcast Amendment bill, GNBA has been vocal in warning broadcasters to become compliant

with the law.

The Act empowers GNBA to pursue fines of up to G$1million and prison terms of one year for breach-es of the law.

In its release, GNBA also warned that the Special Investigative Committee would contin-ue its crackdown on errant broadcasters.

Besides recourse to the courts, the Authority in of itself has the power to cancel or suspend broadcast licences when necessary.

“The Authority stands vigorously against fundamental breaches of the broadcasting legislation, in an effort to ensure the national airwaves are reflective of local and international best practices in broad-casting, with due sensitivity to those vulnerable groups in our society and more so, adherence to our legal and social obligations.

The Authority’s Special Investigative Committee is poised to deliver on its mandate,

and will continue to address these matters, in an assiduous manner,” the Authority warned.

“It is important to note that the power is vested in the Authority, through the Broadcasting Act of 2011, to suspend or cancel broadcast licences, as the Authority deems appropriate, following the nec-essary inquiries.

GNBA wishes to emphasise the fact that the Broadcasting Act, Section 30, provides recourse for broadcasters.

Importantly, “a person aggrieved by a decision of the Authority, made un-der Section 28 and 29, may appeal in the same manner as if it were an order of a Magistrate, except that the appeal shall be made to the full Court of the High Court.”

Part two of the Act sets out that broadcast agencies would be mandated to broadcast public service programmes for a total of up to one hour daily. Broadcast agencies

The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority

will be airing these public service programmes free of cost and as requested by the Government between 06:00h and 22:00h.

The Bill also states that the GNBA reserves the right to direct a broadcasting agency to broadcast emergency notices or disaster warnings for any length of time, and regularly during peak or prime ad-vertising time periods, depending on the

nature of the emergency and having regard to public safety.

A broadcaster will have the right to file a complaint with the GNBA within 24 hours of being asked to broadcast a programme free of cost if, in the agency’s judgement, it is not considered a public service broadcast programme.

But there is a warning for broadcasters daring

to oppose the legislation: the Bill states that any broad-caster the GNBA finds to have “arbitrarily refused” to broadcast a public service broadcast programme without lodging a complaint has committed an offence.

The Act also mandates that any licensed entity carrying out broadcast services immediately before the Act went into effect will have no choice but to reapply within 30 days for a licence in accordance with the amended law. Failing to reapply means a cessation of service.

On the other hand, failing to cease operations if not granted a new licence by the GNBA will, on sum-mary conviction, earn that broadcaster a fine of G$1 million and imprisonment of one year.

In addition, all machinery and equipment used for broadcasting by the entity can be seized.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ramjattan promises to lobby for salary increases for prison officers wages be-ing received by not only prison officers, but Police Officers in Guyana.

According to that body, the low income

being received by these Government workers, contributes to them participating in illicit acts to earn an extra dollar.

It was recently reported that some 28 prison officers were dismissed after being involved in the smuggling of contraband at

the various prisons. A number of illegal weapons and substances have been dis-covered in recent days.

Juvenile courts to be established throughout Guyana Acting Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels

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t a time where smuggling of contraband has peaked to its highest in recent days, Public Security Min-ister Khemraj Ramjattan has given his word to increase the salaries of prison officers, in an effort to stamp out corruption in the prisons.

The Minister gave this applauded assurance at a recent ceremony at the heels of comments emanat-ing from the Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels.

According to Samuels, prison officers are being dis-respected.

“For too long the prison officers have not been given the respect they deserve, while the present re-muneration package which can do with some improvement, honourable Minister, I thank Almighty God daily for all the good purpose-driven officers in our midst who continue to work against all

odds,” he said.

When Minister Ramjattan took to the podium, he said he will make sure the issue of a proper remu-neration for prison officers is raised with his fellow lawmakers in Parliament.

“There is a lobby, yes we can do with a little bit more with salaries, that’s a big lobby and I will behave like a politician here and say ‘yes I promise that will be done’. I must say that it’s (the prison service) probably the most difficult of jobs, especially in the context of salaries that you get.

It is difficult…and rest assured, I will, I as Minister am going to make the lobby at the relevant places, Office of the Presi-dency and especially Minister of Finance, that we have a better day,” he said.

His statements come at a time where only recently, the PSC raised concerns about the low

G

overnment has plans to construct courts throughout Guyana that will specialise in juvenile justice, with one likely to be set up in Georgetown and another next year in either Berbice or Essequibo.

This is according to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who was the keynote speaker at a sensitisation workshop on the Juvenile Justice Bill on Monday.

Ramjattan noted that an analysis of the cost involved will have to be done. But the plan is to have these special courts spread throughout Guyana, but in a phased manner.

“We want a special kind of Magistrates’ Court where you’re going to have the children dealt with. And so you can’t go and build courts all over the place. And so we starting with Georgetown, then next year, more likely than not we’re going to have in Berbice or Essequibo, and then we’ll have one in Lin-den and probably one in Lethem.”

“So it must take a phased implementation. That takes money.

Opposition MP calls for...

For Change (AFC) and staffed mostly by AFC supporters. The Auditor General should go into DPI and audit their books,” he asserted.

“Don’t let a politician investigate a politician from the same party or grouping. Look at what happened to the Sussex Street Bond. A sub-Cabinet committee investigated and said that it’s a bad deal, they had continued paying G$14 million per month for the controversial drug bond.

Edghill noted that these are all tactics done to appease supporters but in the end, the conclusion is al-ready known. “The Lindo Creek CoI is another example. You can see through this Government… what is needed is an independent office which is not controlled by the politics of the day to go in there, get the facts and make it public,” he added.

In a letter to the media, DPI staff said, “We believe that the DPI is

being badly mismanaged, and this has led to staff either resigning, being suspended, and the DPI being severely understaffed, and failing to attract newcomers, who, we believe, have gotten wind of the manner in which the DPI is being run. One of the main issues involves friends hiring friends of friends.”

Wastage

In addition to that, monies are said to be wasted on several retreats to at least two resorts, to discuss issues pertaining to the operations of DPI. It has been reported that one of those retreats saw some 20 staffers, with transportation costing some G$12,000 for each staffer attending.

“We believe there has also been serious wastage of financial resources on the printing of several pub-lications, which are sent to various regions.

This has added to the

From page 7

massive workload of DPI staffers, many of whom work practically every day, without a day off,” staff highlighted.

Only recently, General Manager of the Guyana Chronicle newspaper, Sherod Duncan was sent on ad-ministrative leave one day after he decided to fire a senior member of staff, Finance Controller Moshamie Maraj-Ramotar, following the leaking of details on excess spending.

A full investigation was ordered into Duncan’s excessive spending and the circumstances of MarajRamotar’s dismissal. Some G$5 million was reportedly spent

by Duncan in less than three months of his probationary period.

Duncan was appointed General Manager from June 1, 2018, just before the life of the Board of Directors expired.

Duncan is an Executive of the AFC.

And then the staffing of the courts, be-cause the Judiciary will say fine we need some more monies in view of this paradigm shift… so all of these things are so important to see the actual realisation of the juvenile justice regime.

Four Magistrates, including Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, had attended a study tour in another ju-risdiction to observe the operations of their Children’s Court back in 2017. The tour was intended to show the best practices and the pitfalls to ensure that Guyana’s system is efficient and adheres to in-ternational standards.

Currently, all matters involving juveniles are held in camera. Thus, members of the public are not al-lowed in the chambers. In addition, strict rules govern the publication of information that relate to ju-veniles.

In February, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonnette Cummings-Edwards had disclosed that various agencies including non-governmental organisations were consulted last year to share their thoughts on how these effectively these matters were being handled.

“We have to see the situation from all angles, so we have had courses… the Magistrates do their best but they are some persons who come to court and say they have made up with the perpetrator and they do not wish to proceed and that is their right.”

She had also said training was ongoing for Magistrates since the bulk of the domestic violence cases are dealt with in the Magistrate’s Court.

However, those that result in felonious wounding, murder or manslaughter are handled at

the High Court.

Further, the acting Chancellor had alluded to the fact that having specialised courts to deal with juve-niles, sexual offences, domestic violence and other sensitive matters will eliminate re-victimisation and trauma for victims, as well as the speedy disposal of the cases.

She said as an example, in any given session of the November 2017 established Sexual Offences Court there are over 100 cases to be tried coming from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

“There is also a component which comes through the Ministry of Social Protection and we are working with them in that regard for a Victim Support Unit and we are working with all stakeholders in relation to the Sexual Offences Court,” she added.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘No excuse for committing such a despicable act’

Guyana, China commit to strengthening economic relations

…Judge sentences man to life imprisonment for child rape

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man who claimed that he was heavily intoxicated when he raped a child under 16 in 2015 was on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment by High Court Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, who termed his crime “the worst of the worst”.

The offender, David Alexander was 31 years old at the time he committed the offence. The girl, who was eight at the time, was left in his care on February 24, 2015 in the county of Essequibo.

Alexander, who entered a guilty plea upon presentation of the indictment by Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs, said he was very sorry for his actions and noted that he has been “suffering” on remand for the last three years. Justice Barlow, however, sentenced him to life, saying that she could see no mitigating factors as Alexander’s crime was among the worst the court has seen.

Jailed: David Alexander (centre)

The Judge also ordered that he be exposed to counselling sessions and sessions to assist with his alco-holism.

Justice Barlow said too that Alexander’s exces-

sive alcohol use was “no excuse” for committing such acts, as one should be able to control his or her faculties when imbibing. She further noted that the evidence in this particular case was overwhelming.

Alexander, through his attorney, Clyde Forde, said that he did not know what he was doing as he was drinking for most of the day in question. The court, however, considered that the girl needed surgery after the offender raped her.

In the girl’s impact statement, read by counsellor Ira Ali, she said she felt hurt, sad and afraid of Alexander as she believed he was going to return and kill her.

“I felt frightened he would come back,” the now pre-teen girl said in her statement.

State Counsels Tiffini Lyken and Seeta Bishundial also appeared for the prosecution.

P

President David Granger shares a light moment and a toast with Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, at the Chinese National Day celebrations on Monday

resident David Granger on Monday evening said Guyana shares a common desire with China to deepen and strengthen economic relations and trade, as he noted that China plays a key role in the country’s development.

The Head of State was at the time speaking at a reception held at the New Thriving Restaurant in Providence to honour the

Guyana to send new shipment of rice to Panama

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ays after reports surfaced that Panama had rejected some 20 containers of rice from Guyana, another shipment is expected to leave these shores soon for that country.

This was related to Guyana Times International by President of the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association (GREMA), Rajindra Persaud, following a meeting with rice millers held at the John Fernandes head office on Water Street, Georgetown.

Persaud said that in approximately two weeks’ time, Guyana would be required to resend some 20 containers of rice to Panama, since the last shipment had failed to meet the specification.

Guyana’s rice was rejected on arrival in Panama since it did not meet the stipulated specification as was outlined by that country.

“The containers are being reshipped to Guyana…the contract was for white rice, and parboiled was shipped;

GREMA President Rajindra Persaud

that is the issue,” Persaud explained.

He pointed out that, as of now, the impact of the faulty rice being shipped does not seem to be detrimental to the relationship between the countries, but he did say that this will be determined in another two weeks, when the rice arrives.

“I don’t think there is any concern there… we just have to replace the stuff,” he noted.

Several calls made by this publication to the Managing Director of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Nizam Hassan, went unanswered. He was, however, reported in sec-

tions of the media as saying that the matter was being addressed by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), since it is unclear what actually had transpired in Panama.

The GRBD has come in for some harsh criticism from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Alesie Group of Companies, Turhane Doerga, who questioned the rationale for shipping the rice to Guyana’s most lucrative market without an inspection being done.

Back in 2014, Guyana had signed a five-year agreement with Panama, under the previous admin-

istration, to have its product marketed.

With the collapse of the lucrative PetroCaribe (rice for oil) Venezuela market in 2015, the challenges faced within the rice industry have been significant.

The PetroCaribe deal was set to expire in November 2015, but Venezuela axed the rice deal months before the official due date.

However, Government had said that the Spanish-speaking nation may still be purchasing Guyana’s rice, but through neighbouring Suriname.

The PetroCaribe deal was sealed by then President Bharrat Jagdeo and late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. Under this deal, Guyana was required to pay upfront a percentage of the cost of fuel acquired from Venezuela, with the balance, which was placed in the PetroCaribe Fund at the Bank of Guyana, being treated as a loan repayable over 23 years with a two-year grace period and two per cent interest.

Chinese National Day. In his remarks, President Granger said that since Guyana and China established diplomatic relations in June 1972, the two states have maintained mutually beneficial, high-level and friendly relations for forty-six years, based on mutual respect, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and cooperation for mutual benefit.

“Guyana recalls its principled support for United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of October 1971, which recognised the representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of China as “the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations.” Relations have been cemented through continuous cooperation in culture, defence, education, energy, health, infrastructure, medicine, mining and other fields.

This was most evident during the recent visit of His Excellency Wang Yi, State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs. During that visit, Guyana and China seized the opportunity to strengthen our programme of cooperation for the mutual benefit of both states,” he said.

The President noted that Chinese grant resources support teachers’ training, it’s assistance to the nation’s ICT sector will improve national telecommunications, and Chinese materiel has helped the recapitalisation of the Defence and Police Forces.

“The Belt and Road Initiative is a strong indicator of China’s transformative vision for the world. Guyana signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate within the framework of the Initiative.

We welcome increased Chinese investment. We are committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for all investors.

International environmental cooperation in the context of the threats posed by climate change and natural disasters is an urgent necessity. We look forward to learning from China’s experience in protecting the environment and in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.

Guyana and China have much to celebrate,” the Head of State said.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, in his remarks, echoed similar sentiments as he noted that the relationship between Guyana and China is characterised by friendship and mutual goals. He noted that, over the past year, much success has been achieved between the two nations, and he therefore looks forward to forging stronger ties.

“The relationship between Guyana and China has entered a new chapter. The Chinese Embassy stands ready and willing to provide more and more opportunities for China-Guyana cooperation and greater achievements. With our concerted efforts, the China-Guyana relationship will be even brighter in the new era,” he said.

The event was also attended by First Lady Sandra Granger; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Mrs Sita Nagamootoo; Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who is performing the functions of Minister of Foreign Affairs; members of the Cabinet; former President Donald Ramotar and Mrs Ramotar, and members of the diplomatic corps, among others.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Corriverton businesses facing tough times …due to Closure of Skeldon Sugar Estate

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he closure of the Skeldon Sugar Estate has taken a toll on the business community in the bordering town of Corriverton, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Nine months after the estate was closed, businesses are recording very low sales and many of them are operating at a loss.

Following the closure of four sugar factories last year, and the displacing of almost 5000 workers, sev-eral com-

Inside the Corriverton Market, where some vendors have chosen to close their businesses

munities recognised a slowdown in commercial activity.

Last year, 1851 workers were sacked from the Skeldon Sugar Estate, 1181 from the Rose Hall Estate, 1480 from the East Demerara Sugar Estate and 251 from the Wales Sugar Estate.

The impact on Corriverton as a result of the Skeldon closure is being referred to as great.

During a visit to the market area by Guyana Times International, business persons com-

plained about the low sales as they struggle to keep their heads above water.

“The reality is that income has been slashed by more than 50 per cent so that the business can contin-ue to keep its doors open,” this newspaper was told by one business person.

Additionally, some persons reported that they were forced to reduce their staff while others have given staff reduced working hours.

The town, in which

the estate once operated, is used to being a hive of activity but now the only movement is mainly due to the town’s geographical location in relation to Suriname – this keeps the commercial activity going in Corriverton.

In the market, the reality is evident. Some stalls were closed.

Vendors reported that it is not profitable to operate every day. The market was in the past the busiest part of the town but now shows a dra-matic change owing

to the closure of the sugar estate.

Many of the operators there told Guyana Times International that some days they record no sales. Fish vendors claim they are now spending more money on ice than they spend on purchasing fish. This, they explained, is so because of the length of time it takes to sell the fish they buy.

Another one said since the estate closed, the Corriverton market has become very slow.

There have also been reports of persons in communities being barely able to provide one meal per day for their families and cannot find even meager jobs.

According to one businessman, despite the reality which the people on the Upper Corentyne are be-ing faced with, attempts are not being made by the Government to put a comprehensive programme in place to assist the community.

(Andrew Carmichael)

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New teachers’ strike Too many youths committing crimes – Ramjattan looms in Guyana

…as Govt refuses to budge over …says system for Juvenile Justice Bill still a work in progress arbitration Chair

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GTU’s President Mark Lyte along with union executives during a press conference on Wednesday

he Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) on Wednesday called on its members to be on standby as it gears for another round of strike action; this time on a larger scale, if the imposed chairman for the arbitra-tion panel – for the wages dispute between Government and the Union – is not withdrawn. The Chairman of the arbitration panel is Dr Leyland Lucas of the University of Guyana. He was named arbi-trator last week and according to the GTU, they did not agree to the nomination but rather Lucas was imposed on them by the Labour Department.

According to the Union, it is also prepared to take the Education Ministry, and more so, the Government to court, if any action is taken against teachers who will be going on strike.

This was related by the President of the Union, Mark Lyte. He told media operatives that he believes the ministers – both Education and Labour – have literacy issues, since at all times, in the Memoran-dum of Understanding (MoU) the Education Ministry has made reference to, the word “nominate”.

Additionally, Lyte also said the Union has not taken lightly the threat by the Education Ministry to pe-nalise teachers, who are prepared to strike.

He was at the time making reference to the threat issued by the Ministry, after the Union announced its plans to

head to industrial action for a second time.

The Ministry pointed to the section of that agreement which stated, “during the consideration of the matter in dispute under the grievance procedure, 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 inter-ference with the Ministry’s operations by the Union, nor shall there be any lock out or any other form of interference by the Ministry. Both parties shall endeavour to maintain a state of normal industrial relations”. This agreement was signed back in July 1983.

No breach

However, Lyte on Wednesday explained, “we do not see any breach as being committed if we call our members out because as far as we’re concerned, the arbitration panel and the Terms of Reference are the first two steps to setting arbitration… but arbitration, in our view, hasn’t started as yet so if that is to happen, the GTU would have no other course but to walk the steps of the court with them (Edu-cation Ministry) because we are prepared to ensure that our members do not suffer in any way, so we will be prepared to go to court as well”.

The Union on Wednesday gave the Ministry seven days to withdraw Lucas as the Chairman of the arbi-tration panel.

Lyte also noted that he

believes Government has no intentions to address the issue at hand. It is because of this, he promised that this round of strike action would be much “bigger”, due to the support of its sister Unions, who sat beside them in Wednesday’s meeting.

The Union’s head said it believes Government has sinister plans, as it remains reluctant to appoint a neutral Chairman to head the arbitration panel.

“I am of the view that there is some sinister plan afoot to thwart the process and not to allow fairness and equity to prevail… we take note of the fact that strike action is always a last resort and we thought having given the Administration an ultimatum of seven days that we would have had a favourable response instead the Minister with responsibility for Labour would have issued appointment letters to the nominee from the Ministry of Education and the Chairperson in the form of Dr Leyland Lucas,” Lyte said.

‘Imposed’ Chairman

Last Tuesday, Labour Minister Keith Scott, who is still currently acting in the capacity of a conciliator, took it upon himself to introduce the Chairman for the arbitration panel to address the ongoing teachers’ salary impasse.

The move was highly condemned by the Union as they did not get a chance to introduce their nomi-nee for a Chairman to the panel.

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Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is of the view that too many juveniles are beginning delinquent careers at a young age, before continuing to offend as they grow older. And their activities may start from the time that some adults enable them to consume alcohol.

Ramjattan was a keynote speaker at a sensitisation workshop for the Juvenile Justice Bill at the Marriott Hotel on Monday. He then related the observation he made when visiting the prison that many of the inmates started out as juvenile offenders.

“When we go into the prisons, we see that a lot of the prisoners were people who committed crimes early,” Ramjattan noted. “And they continued into adulthood. So if we start nipping it in the bud, prevention is obviously going to be a cure for adulthood. That’s why we want to start it, too many continue offending into their adult lives.

“Because of that, they damage their own lives.

They cause destruction, harm, and distress. So, we want to see this Act reflecting that modern philosophy of juvenile justice and strengthening the justice system

Grove man murdered, dumped outside Magistrates’ Courts

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olice in A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) are investigating the murder of an East Bank Demerara (EBD) carpenter whose body was dumped in a gutter outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Dead is 28-year-old Shafiyq Forrester of Lot 197 Sarran Street, Grove Squatting Area, EBD. According to Public

Relations Officer, Jairam Ramlakhan, Forrester’s body was discovered in a drain outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts about 07:00h on Sunday. His body was subsequently identified by relatives.

While details surrounding Forrester’s death are unclear, a post-mortem examination conducted on Wednesday morning by State Pathologist,

Dr Nehaul Singh revealed that victim died from asphyxiation due to drowning, compounded by compression injuries to the neck and blunt trauma to the head.

The Police said a ‘person of interest’ is currently being sought for questioning into the carpenter’s death.

Meanwhile, relatives of the now dead man were too distraught to speak in

detail with reporters but managed to relate that Forrester was last seen on Saturday. Guyana Times International understands that after the man did not return home that night, they became worried and begun to search for him on Sunday morning.

Forrester leaves to morn his wife of one year, who is currently five months pregnant with their first child.

to ensure they do not go to jail. I don’t want our young people to constitute a jailhouse nation,” he said, noting the need to reduce crime through smart measures.

But when it comes to implementing the Juvenile Justice Bill, the Minister revealed that the Government was yet to appoint a director of the Juvenile Justice Committee or acquire facilities for remanded juveniles. In addition, he confirmed that the commencement order has not been issued for the Bill.

The Juvenile Justice Bill was passed in the National Assembly earlier this year. It would repeal the 1931 Juvenile Offenders Act and the Training Schools Act, abolishing offences like truancy and wandering.

The draft bill was conceived in 2004 under the former Administration, with the support and input of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). In fact, UNICEF representative Sylvie Fouet was one of several stakeholders present at the workshop.

She noted the important role that the media plays in disseminating information and sensitising the public on juvenile justice. In her address to the gathering, Guyana Press Association President Nazima Raghubir also called on the media to be responsible when reporting on matters involving juveniles.

Rehabilitation

It has been touted that the Bill will provide timely intervention that reinforces the link between the offending behaviour and its consequences; inform and involve parents of juveniles in measures or proceedings, and ensure

that victims are provided with information about the proceedings and are given an opportunity to participate and be heard and, wherever possible, contribute to the rehabilitation and reintegration of the juveniles.

Moreover, in accordance with the Act, the application of measures taken against juveniles who commit offences will reinforce respect for societal values; ensure fair and proportionate accountability; encourage the repair of harm done to victims and the community; and where appropriate, involve the parents, the extended family, the community and social or other agencies in the juvenile’s rehabilitation, education and reintegration.

Depending on the nature of the offence, the Juvenile Justice Bill 2018 provides “Diversions”, which are considered to “often [be] the most appropriate and effective way to address juvenile crime allowing “for effective and timely interventions focused on correcting offending behaviour.

Diversion measures, according to the Bill, shall not be exploitative, harmful or hazardous to the physical or mental health of the juvenile, shall be appropriate to the age and maturity of the juvenile, and shall not interfere with the education of the juvenile.

Some of the examples of “diversion measures” provided by the Bill include “an oral or written apology to a specified person or institution”, “placement by the court under the supervision and guidance of the Chief Probation Officer” or “referral by the court to counselling or therapy for a specified period”.

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Brooklyn-based Guyanese charged for throwing brother from building

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onths before he allegedly threw his four-yearold brother to his death off a Brooklyn roof, Shawn Smith had been showing signs of trouble.

According to a report in the New York Daily News, Smith, 20, was planning to immigrate to New York with his family last December, but mental health issues had forced him to stay at a hospital in Guyana before he was able to join the rest of his family.

According to the NY Daily News, months after arriving in New York, Smith broke down a heavy door in his family’s Flatlands apartment, prompting his frightened mother to call 911. He landed in Kings County Hospital for more psychiatric treatment.

“He spent three weeks there, and when he come back he was okay,” mother Odessa Frith, 39, said Sunday.

“Everything was okay,” she was quoted as saying by the NY Daily News.

But other relatives could tell something remained seriously wrong with Smith.

“You could see in his eyes he was deteriorating,” said Robin

Charged: Shawn Smith

Frith, who is married to Smith’s grandfather. “He was a sick person, you could see it!”

On Saturday, Smith finally snapped.

He flagged down cops near his family’s home around 3:30 a.m., and led them to little Shimron Smith’s broken body in the courtyard of their seven-storey building on Nostrand Ave. near Avenue K. Authorities say he calmly told the cops he had tossed his brother from the roof about 45 minutes earlier. He confessed to the shocking crime a second time while in Police custody, according to Police sources.

“I’ve finally become a criminal!” Smith told

reporters as he was walked out of the 70th Precinct stationhouse on Saturday night in a Tyvek suit.

Little Shimron had just started pre-K at Public School 119 Amersfort a few weeks ago. A heartbreaking photo shared with the Daily News shows him on his first day proudly holding a pint-sized gray-and-green backpack.

“It’s a shock. I didn’t brush my teeth for two days,” his grief-stricken grandfather Keith Frith told the Daily News Sunday. “I didn’t shower for two days. I just get up, And I’m numb.”

The boy, playful and cheery as always, had last visited their home

a few weeks ago. Robin Frith was cooking chowmein that day.

“He came to me and he says to me, ‘I’m hungry, Auntie’,” Robin Frith recalled. “He ended up leaving before dinner was completed,” she said. “That will stay in my head all the time, because that’s the last thing we had spoken about, that he wanted to eat the food.”

The tot was inseparable from his 5-year-old brother Steven — and often acted like the older sibling.

“Shimron acted like the grown up. Shimron would engage Steven and he would tell him what to do,” Robin Frith chuckled. “He was a special character . . .

Shimron was a smart kid.” Now Steven is trying to comprehend he’ll never see his little brother again.

“He know what happened, but he still doesn’t understand,” mother Odessa Frith said. “He want to know when Shimron comes back, why he’s taking so long.”

“My baby was just a joy,” Odessa said of little Shimron. “He touched everyone’s hearts.”

Dead: Shimron Smith

Relatives said Smith often refused to take the medication he was prescribed when he was discharged from the hospital after breaking the door, because he believed it was poison.

“If you’re schizophrenic, you’re hearing voices and (they’re) telling you what to do,” Robin Frith said. “There were people (from the hospital) who were visiting the house and he wasn’t speaking to them.” Despite his struggles, he worked a parttime job with his cousin

doing demolition work.

His mother was baffled about what could drive him to commit such unspeakable horror.

“I don’t know. I ask myself,” she said. “Even the night before it happened, all of us, we sit here on the chair over here, we’re sitting and laughing and laughing.”

Smith was charged with murder after his arrest.

His arraignment was postponed on Sunday while he was evaluated at Bellevue Hospital.

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Guyana’s Opposition promises to reverse ‘tax burden’ if returned to office W

ith 23 years in office that saw massive economic growth and development across all regions in Guyana, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says it is prepared to do that again, and even more, as it launched its campaign for the Local Government Elections (LGE) in Bartica, Region Seven.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo told a large crowd in the mining town on Sunday that all Guyanese now have a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the policy direction of the PPP, especially when compared to the current Government and their perceived mismanagement.

“We changed this country without oil money, and we can change it faster and better,” Jagdeo said to cheering supporters in the background. But more importantly, the current Opposition Leader pointed to areas where the current Government has performed poorly.

He spared no effort in criticising the Coalition

pay an increased fee for licences of small boats.

This amounts to some G$40,000 per year.

Borrowing

People’s Progressive Party General Secretary and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo greets these youngsters during a visit to Bartica and its environs, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

Administration for its tax policy. Jagdeo informed the gathering that the coalition collects G$60 billion more in taxes than the PPP. “That is why, when you go to the market or walk down this Avenue, things are so slow. So G$60 billion that were in people’s pockets are now with Government, and they are using it on these useless things,” he explained, noting

that no one is spared the Government’s increased taxes.

In pointing to an example where the increased taxation is being felt, Jagdeo said Region One (Barima-Waini) is a prime example, as that region is now paying G$1.5 million more in taxes.

“We used to allow goods coming in from Brazil up to Kurupukari for free, because the cost

of living is high for hinterland people… We did the same for goods coming from Venezuela. Now they (Government) gone to the borders to institute taxes,” he added.

The Opposition Leader told supporters that he was told by residents in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), especially those living in remote and riverine villages, that they have to

Guyanese fishermen rescued after boat wreck in Atlantic Ocean

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Andrew Beaton

ive fishermen from Corentyne, Berbice have been rescued and are now safe after the vessel in which they had been travelling encountered a storm and sank in the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday evening.

The fishermen were tossed into the ocean and remained in the water. Two were rescued on Sunday morning, while the other three were rescued on Monday.

The men are: Rondell Vanderstoop, 27, and Nuris Dundas 18, two brothers of Epsom Village Corentyne; Andrew Beaton, 22, and Steve McBean 20, of the same village; and Rodwell Captain, 21,

Nuris Dundas

Rodwell Captain

of Brighton Village.

Reports are that the men left Nickerie, Suriname on Saturday for a 14-day fishing expedition, but by 21:00h the same evening, they were hit by the storm.

According to reports, the rough waters caused the boat to split and then submerge. They were all tossed into the water, and initially kept contact by periodically calling on each other.

Following the mishap, Beaton and Captain were picked up in the ocean by another fisherman, but it took almost two days before they found the other three.

Mc Bean’s wife, Kerry Mayers, 19, said she was able to

Steve McBean

speak with her husband Steve McBean, 22, after he was rescued. She said initial reports were that the boat sank and two were rescued.

She explained that she was told three crew members were missing, and that information did not change until Monday morning.

“The boy said that the Captain called him outside, and when he went the boat was already filled with water, and a wave just come and the two of them grab lifejackets and then they get separated in the water, and eventually they get back together and jump on the ice box; and then they separate again, but they

Aside from the heavy taxes, Jagdeo argued that the Government is also involved in useless consumption and borrowing. This includes running down the reserve to the new borrowing policy, and causing an overdraft of over G$100 billion in addition to other issues.

After 23 years in office, the PPP left the country in G$1.2 billion in debt. The PPP is worried that after the term of this Government, this amount could be exceeded. Jagdeo said, “It takes us right back to Burnhamhite era, where they borrowed in the 70s and 80s and left the country in ruins.

“They are hollowing out our country again.

If we don’t get them out, this country is on its way to getting back to the past. We have to ensure we work hard not to allow that to happen,” he said.

Jagdeo said if the PPP is returned to office,

they will reverse most of these taxes, so as to give people more disposable income and allow the economy to grow and flourish.

He also promised to reintroduce the environment and fiscal regime that was in place for mining, and which to a large extent lent support to miners. “We will ensure that will happen,” he added.

Over 3000 candidates have been put forward by the PPP to contest local elections in all 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs).

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

Jagdeo noted that 70 of the 71 areas were contested in 2016. According to him, this time around, some 80 areas were created through gerrymandering. But Jagdeo made it clear that, this time around, the PPP would contest every single area, including the areas that were newly created.

Drunken Cop slapped with causing death charge

Rondell Vanderstoop

did not reach up with the others until today [Monday].”

The men were eventually rescued at about 08:30h on Sunday. On Monday morning, the same boat returned to sea in search of the three missing men.

Meanwhile, Leroy Vanderstoop said his 27-year-old brother Rondell was the captain of the fishing vessel.

Vanderstoop had been going to sea for more than a decade, while his brother Nuris has been a fisherman for two years.

It was the first year at sea for the other three.

The rescued men all returned to Guyana on Monday afternoon.

(Andrew Carmichael)

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olice Constable Ryan Persaud who reportedly struck down a motorcyclist while driving under the influence was on Monday slapped with a causing death by dangerous driving charge and appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that on September 1, about 23:40h on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, he drove Guyana Police Force minibus PVV 4652 in a manner dangerous to the public whereby causing the death of Akemo Anthony Bristol.

He was previously charged for driving under the influence, but had denied that charge.

For that offence, he was released on G$25,000 bail.

Police Constable Ryan Persaud

On Monday, the Police Prosecutor made no objections to bail.

Magistrate Fabayo Azore released Persaud on G$250,000 bail, and the case was adjourned to October 12, 2018.

Guyana Times International previously reported that the Police Constable and Bristol were both travelling along Mandela Avenue when the collision occurred.

The impact reportedly tossed Bristol into a nearby drain while his mangled motorcycle ended up under the minibus.

Bristol was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he subsequently died while receiving medical attention.

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Guyana records another mining death

…Minister orders immediate enforcement operation to address mining issues

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Dead: Lennox Douglas

nother miner died in Guyana’s interior after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Is-sano Backdam, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Dead is Lennox Douglas, 33, of Canvas City Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Speaking with Guyana Times International on Tuesday, the miner’s younger brother, Jermaine Doug-las, said his brother recently started working at the location and was self-employed.

He said the family received sketchy information about what transpired from the Police.

According to the young

man, the Police said they are questioning other persons who were also working at the loca-tion when the tragedy occurred.

Jermaine said he was told that while working, “very hard mud” fell on his brother, which pinned him to the ground. The younger Douglas further related that his brother was later taken for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival.

“At this time, we don’t have much information.

We are still wait-ing on the young men to come out of the lockups to say what really transpired,” he this newspaper. He added that his brother has three children.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Natural Resources Ministry said it has taken note of this most recent mining tragedy. It added that Minister Raphael Trotman has ordered an immediate enforcement opera-tion to be conducted jointly by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Ministry’s Compliance Division’s Corp of Wardens, to address problems of this nature in the mining areas where there has been an increase in legal and illegal mining activities

and accidents. The agencies are expected to provide a report upon completion of the operation, the Ministry added.

In September, two miners lost their lives after they were covered by mud when a pit in which they were working caved in at the Mowasi Backdam, Konawaruk, Potaro, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Dead are Deon Sproston, called “Jersey Joe”, 36, of Lot 133 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and a miner only known as “Shawn”. The incident occurred at about 20:00h on September 17.

This publication understands the two men and other persons were working the walls of the pit with metal detectors searching for gold while it was raining heavily.

While working, a large portion of the pit wall suddenly broke off and fell on both men, covering them alive.

In January, 23-yearold Handel Payne, also called “Daggie”, of Kaneville Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) died after the mining pit in which he was working at 35 Miles, Konawaruk Backdam collapsed.

Information reaching this publication re-

vealed that Payne and others were working in the mining pit when a piece of the mud wall collapsed behind them, striking Payne in the mid-section. He reportedly fell unconscious by which time the water be-

One month later, in May, Ken Ranny, 20, a resident of Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni River, died after he was covered by mud after the wall of a mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Pepper Camp Backdam,

dirt and rubble but seven managed to escape alive with varying injuries.

The others remained trapped under the dirt where they perished.

The 10 miners were Leyland Jones, Jason

A mining pit in Guyana’s interior

gan to rise rapidly. He was submerged and subsequently drowned. He was later pulled out and rushed to the Mahdia Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

In April, a miner named Kevin Adams, 25, of Linden, Region 10 died at Chinese Creek Backdam, Maza-runi River, after a pit caved in and buried him alive.

Upper Mazaruni River.

Again, one month later, in June, miner Elmo Adams died after he too was covered alive after the walls of a pit in which he was working caved at Imbaimadai, Upper Mazaruni.

Back in 2015, 10 persons died in a mining pit in the Konawaruk area after it collapsed. The incident saw 17 miners being buried under a pile of

Trotman, Vick Bernard, Frank Bernard, Desmond Martins, Raymond August, Brian Bank, Trevon Phillips, Nanmore Kurt and another man identified only as “Michael”.

The deaths were blamed on heavy rains in the area, improper mining design and poor safety practices at the mining camp.

Four Guyanese facing drug trafficking charges in New York …after being busted with cocaine at JFK

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everal Guyanese are facing drug trafficking charges after they were separately busted at the John F Kennedy (JKF) Airport in New York, United States with cocaine over the past few days.

This week, Guyanese business owner Luke Kendall, was nabbed with cocaine pellets in his stomach upon his arrival on September 20, 2018, in the United States.

According to reports, Kendall arrived on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana and was subjected to a routine search by immigration agents at the airport. He was reportedly visiting the United Stated to purchase items for a business that he usually operates for his mother.

However, when the man was asked by the agents to provide names and contact numbers for the per-sons he was visiting, those persons indicated that they had no idea Kendall was visiting. By this time, the ranks ordered the man to undergo an X-ray examination after which it was revealed that he had ingested cocaine pellets.

Further examinations showed that the drug mule had more than 200 pellets containing the illegal drug, which he

swallowed. He later admitted to swallowing more than three pounds of the substance.

Kendall was charged and arraigned with the offence on September 24, 2018, before Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione. His preliminary hearing is set for October 8.

Meanwhile, a young mother of Ituni, Upper Demerara River, is similarly facing drug trafficking charges after she was apprehended at with some 200 cocaine pellets in her stomach two Saturdays ago. The woman, Odessa Edmondson, who travelling with her baby, was intercepted by US Customs and Bor-der agents.

Agents observed Edmondson perspiring and

Cocaine pellets

acting in a suspicious manner which led agents to ques-tion her further. It was then that

Odessa Edmondson

the young woman reportedly admitted to ingesting the pellets, re-vealing that she was going to be paid some US$6000 to smuggle the drugs into the United States. Ed-mondson reportedly excreted the pellets weighing over three pounds.

As such, charges have since been filed against her.

Guyanese Kurt and Maria Bruney were recently nabbed in similar circumstances when they were both busted by US Customs and Border officers at the JFK Airport. The couple allegedly attempted to smuggle hundreds of cocaine pellets into the US, after arriving

Kurt and Maria Bruney

in New York on a flight from Guyana on Sep-tember 23.

The husband was reportedly approached by officers to do an X-ray and just then, his partner in life and crime reportedly spilled the beans that they had ingested cocaine pellets. The East Coast Demerara couple both cumulatively had well over 200 cocaine pellets in their systems, with the contents of an excreted pellet testing positive for cocaine.

Reports indicate that a sum of US$6000 was promised for his efforts, which was a similar amount to that of the suspected Linden mule.

These individuals follow in the footsteps of several locals who were busted in the US attempting to smuggle drugs. The majority of the mules have been identified as women and they would often blame their economic and single-parent status for drug smuggling. However, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Deputy Head Lesley Ramlall recently outlined that one’s economic circumstances is no excuse for drug smuggling. As reported in sections of the media, CANU is working closely with the US immigra-tion unit to probe the “cocaine ring”.

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Several high-profile cases set for Demerara October Assizes

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, in the process of inspecting the guard of honour at the South Road entrance of the High Court in Georgetown (Adam Baksh photo)

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he judicial backlog is slated to see a reduction as the October Criminal Assizes opened at the Deme-rara High Court on Tuesday with traditional horsemen and marching policemen.

It is expected that several high-profile cases currently before the court could come up for hearing.

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, the High Court’s most senior judge, was on hand to take the sa-lute and to inspect the guard of honour at the final opening of the Demerara Criminal Assizes for 2018. Justice Sandil Kissoon is sitting once again in the Demerara High Court, while Justices Jo-Ann Barlow and James BovellDrakes have been also placed at the October session.

Several high-profile matters are pending, including the case of former Bishops’ High School teacher Coen Jackson and popular transgender personality Otis “Otisha” Pearson who were separately com-mitted to

stand trial for separate charges of sexual activity with a child under 16.

In the case of Jackson, the Virtual Complainant is female while Pearson’s accuser is male.

Another pending case relates to that of La Parfaite Harmonie pastor Joseph Persaud, who was accused of allegedly raping one of his female church members.

High-profile death row inmate for the 2008 Bartica massacre, Mark RoydenWilliams, called Smallie, also has to be tried for his alleged involvement in the murder of Kumar Singh, known as “Mango Man”, who met his demise in August 2007.

It was reported that four gunmen terrorised his Craig Milne, Cove and John, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home and shot at the man and nine other family members. This case was scheduled to be heard at previous sessions, but was frequently delayed owing to pre-trial matters.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s Opposition very concerned about rising national debt

Opposition Leader and PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo

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he Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has long complained about the coalition Government’s excessive borrowing, and has said repeatedly that if the David Grangerled Administration does not curb this practice, serious repercussions could result to the local economy.

This point has been further emphasised by PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo when he said recently that Guyana’s debt is a major con-

cern for his party. An economist by profession, Jagdeo has said that from all indications, the coalition does not seem to be taking seriously calls for it to lessen its borrowing.

Guyana has recently signed a US$20 million loan agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), and another US$36.7 million loan agreement with China for the broadband expansion project. This is in addition to other sums this Government has borrowed.

Asked to comment on these new loan agreements, Jagdeo said his concern is how well the Government would be able to manage debt, although he is not against Guyana borrowing from its bilateral partners, like China. However, he said, the focus must be on transparent management of the loan monies.

“My concern is how they manage our debt, so we have to look at the conditions of the loans. I know Chinese loans are very concessional, so when you look at the grant element, it tends to be very high. Once those are met and the projects are good, we will support them,” he added.

The former Guyanese Head of State has said the PPP is of the firm view that it must

leasing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with China.

But Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, has defended the coalition Government’s position on debt. When this newspaper questioned the Minister recently as to whether he feels that Guyana’s debt is being properly managed, Harmon responded by saying that it is managed well by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

“I believe that our public debt is really well managed by our Minister of Finance,” Minister Harmon posited, while noting that Minister Jordan is very prudent in the management of the country’s financial resources. “Usually, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon he will not step out and sign embrace China and the de- agreements and sign docuveloping world as partners. ments that add to our public According to him, the United debt without some form of acStates of America is a long tion plan in how we are going vested partner of Guyana, and to deal with it,” he stated. will remain so. “It does not Harmon also emphasised have to be one at the expense that, before a loan is taken, of the other,” he explained. deliberations occur at severThe Opposition Leader al tiers before the green light has advised that Government is given. “The Minister himshould look out for Guyana’s self does not go out on his own best interest. He said, “If and sign these documents; there is anything in those they are the subject of deliberloans that is not in our best ation before the Cabinet, and interest, then we have to ad- the Minister is given the mandress it.” He therefore be- date to proceed to sign any lieves that Government should commitment which was made not have any difficulty re- between the Government of

Leading Mexican agency shares best practices in oil sector

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he Embassy of Mexico, in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, is hosting a two and a halfday workshop. This will see the Mexican Agency for Safety, Energy and the Environment (ASEA) sharing lessons learnt and regulatory insights for Guyana’s extractive sector, specifically in the areas of the oil and gas.

The training will give participants an overview of empirical findings regarding industrial safety and environmental regulation of the oil and gas industry based on a Risk Management Model developed by ASEA, the main regulator of the Mexican oil industry.

Executive Director Carlos de Regules said that with the management of over 300 oil platforms, six refineries, above 60,000km of pipeline, over 100 oil and gas storage facilities, and four years of experience in the sector, there is a lot Guyana can learn from Mexico.

Since commencing operations, de Regules said, 107 contracts have been awarded, US$200 billion committed for future investment, and 74 companies from over 20 countries have visited Mexico to seek investment opportunities.

“Our lesson four years later is that regulatory certain-

Executive Director of Mexican ASEA, Carlos de Regules

ty is a good deal for the industry. This is what we have found out, and we have been working closely with different stakeholders to build these regulations,” he noted.

ASEA has worked with the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada and other major oil producing countries, and adopted many best practices.

Dr Mark Bynoe, Head of the Department of Energy, described the exchange of information as timely, as Guyana works to build capacity in terms of predictability and regulations in the emerging sector.

“It is important that as we go forward, while we cannot eradicate risks, we develop

the framework in which (they) can be managed,” he pointed out.

Also delivering remarks was Head of the Department of Environment, Ndibi Schwiers, who noted that the workshop is important to building South-South Cooperation, and would enable Guyana to better understand the environmental safeguards and regulatory regime that Mexico has incorporated in advancing the industry, “even as we [Guyana] work towards developing our capacity to regulate and to monitor the sector.”

The workshop was declared open by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, and remarks were also given by the newly appointed Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Vincent Adams.

Some 35 participants from the Ministry of the Presidency, Natural Resources Ministry, EPA, Department of Environment, Department of Energy, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GL&SC), the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL), Conservation International, University of Guyana (UG), and the private sector are taking part in the sessions.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Guyana and either a bilateral party,” he explained.

However, based on the recently released Bank of Guyana Quarterly Report and Statistical Bulletin, public debt is on the rise, and it has been revealed that external debt repayments are also on the rise. The report pegged the hike in public debt at US$19 million. The report divided this debt into external and domestic. External debt increased by 1.5 per cent -from a December position of US$1.241 billion to US$1.265 billion currently.

Govt, Church must become partners to address social ills – Minister Harmon

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon speaking at the Restoration and Life Ministries (RLM) special service held in observance of the church’s 11th anniversary on Sunday evening

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inister of State, Joseph Harmon last Sunday evening sounded a call for the Church and other faith-based organisations to partner with the Government to address social ills, noting that the two entities share common goals and a vision of a good life for citizens.

The Minister of State was at the time addressing the congregation of the Restoration and Life Ministries (RLM) in South Ruimveldt at a special service held in observance of the church’s 11th anniversary, which was held under the theme, “Striving for Perfection.”

He noted that the Government and the Church must work together to build social cohesion, moral rearmament, human dignity, and equal opportunity for all Guyanese.

This, he said, therefore makes the Government and faith-based organisations natural partners in the fight against racial and ethnic division, discrimination, poverty, crime, and all other social ills that plague society.

“Like your church, the Government strives every day to improve its approach to policy-making and implementation. This is

never easily achieved. However, it is important that we keep trying.

Our efforts are certainly made easier with the input of faith-based organisations such as yours. The Government is cognisant of the fact that this church serves the community and provides spiritual succour and important relief for the members and community. I am inspired by the leadership and the work of the church,” he said.

Referencing President David Granger’s speech at the Solomon’s Temple in Berbice in August 2017, Minister Harmon said that the Church must play a greater role in fostering social cohesion and national unity.

He, therefore, called for a concerted effort to be undertaken even as the country prepared for the new oil and gas industry, which he said would bring even more spiritual and technical challenges.

Meanwhile, Founder and Senior Pastor of the RLM, Wade Ridley said that the church “had small beginnings”, but has now grown to provide spiritual guidance and community service to hundreds.

22 NEWS

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PPP Commissioners allege lack of transparency at GECOM T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) commissioners at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are unhappy with the lack of accountability at that entity; and this is especially since there are just 43 days to go before Local Government Elections are held.

Those commissioners, in an interview with this publication, made it clear that there are times when requests for information get them nowhere.

One problem identified

by Commissioner Sase Gunraj is the manner in which meetings are held.

“You’ve heard in the media us complaining and saying things recently about the quality of the meetings, the discussions, the timing of the meetings; and those statements are not very complimentary of GECOM,” he said.

“Because the meetings are truncated in terms of time, the discussions, sometimes even though they may be long-winded, do not end in implementable decisions,” Gunraj said. “And generally, at the commission level, it’s as though you have to squeeze blood out of stone to get what is happening.”

According to Gunraj, those commissioners per-

The publication of the nominator lists, according to the commissioners, is a necessity

ceive the operations at the commission level are running on a need-toknow basis.

Elaborating on the way meetings are held, PPP Commissioner Bibi Shadick compared what obtains now to the days of former Chairman Steve Surujbally, who demitted office in 2017.

“Statutory meetings are held on Tuesdays and are supposed to start at one o’clock. From the first day, the Chairman announces that he’s not

going beyond certain hours. First it was five o’clock. Then it came up to four o’clock. Then, if something is being discussed and the Chairman doesn’t (want to stay), he gets up,” she explained.

“This has happened on more than one occasion. The thing about it is the commission under Surujbally was long hours, but at least we didn’t have a chairman that used to get up and walk out. This now is happening,” she declared.

Retired Justice James Patterson was appointed GECOM Chairman late last year. The commission would be holding Local Government elections on November 12. Already, much controversy has surrounded the elections, including political parties accusing each other of submitting fraudulent lists on Nomination Day.

Lists

Meanwhile, Gunraj also addressed concerns about the pub-

lication of the candidates and backers’ lists.

While Government officials have suggested that this should not have been done at all, Gunraj has insisted that the law makes it necessary.

“All that is done for elections are a statutory process. Included in that process is that, upon receipt of the lists by the Returning Officer on Nomination Day within the specified period, they are required by law to post that list in a con-

spicuous place outside the RO office. That was done,” he said.

“In fact, myself and other commissioners looked at this exercise at various RO offices throughout the Coast.

I was on the East Coast; I know Commissioner Shadick was on the East Bank. I was also at Critchlow Labour College, where it was attended by a large media contingent (and) in person by the Minister of Communities and the Chairman of GECOM.” Gunraj noted that all those officials had observed the process, and he denied claims that the lists were published because of the PPP Commissioners.

At a recent Alliance for Change (AFC) press conference, it was reported that that party’s Campaign Manager, David Patterson, had compared publicising of the lists to opening a can of worms. But according to Gunraj, the transparency it afforded highlighted electoral fraud.

“It is an outcome of the viewing of these lists that all these issues have now arisen. People started to complain that they never signed lists. People started to complain that they did sign lists, but were duped into so doing,” he said.

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Pensioner Prominent Guyanese law firm positions charged for to benefit from oil and gas sector forging US T currency

A

70-year-old man found himself before the court last week for forging Guyana and United States monies.

Dennis Harris of Cooper Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charges which stated that on September 27, 2018, at America Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud the public, he had in his possession one forged US$100 bill, a forged US$50 bill and a forged GY$1000 bill. The pensioner denied the charges when it was read to him.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh objected to bail being granted on the grounds that the pensioner was a repeat offender. He informed the court that this is not the first time Harris is being charged for the offence.

Harris’s lawyer, Paul Fung-A-Fat in his bail application told the court that his client was charged a long time ago and that charge has nothing to do with the present charge.

Magistrate Daly granted Harris G$100,000 bail and adjourned the case to October 26.

he prominent Guyanese law firm of Hughes, Fields and Stoby has opened a law office in the United States oil capital, Houston, Texas, to tap into opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

Among the services that will be provided to oil and gas companies operating in Guyana, or planning to do so, are incorporations; labour advice; investment advice; provision of webinars on doing business in Guyana; expatriate orientation, and direct business-to-Government contact.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that clients would also have access to the publication of a high quality, well-researched e-magazine titled ‘Guyana Oil and Gas Report’ that would provide all subscribers with critical information to guide their investment decisions.

The launch of the Hughes, Fields and Stoby USA PLLC in Houston, Texas, took place last evening at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.

Managing Partner of the law firm, Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes, explained that long before a potential investor even arrives in Guyana, the law offices of Hughes, Fields and Stoby would be on hand in Houston to guide clients and potential clients through what will be a complex process of establishing business relationships in Guyana.

“From legal representation right through to assistance with the appropriate business protocols and linkage to a network of

Hughes, Fields and Stoby’s American partner Greg Clark speaking at the launch of the Hughes, Fields and Stoby Houston, Texas, USA PLLC at the Guyana Marriott Hotel

officials in the public and private sectors, a client’s every need is attended to in ensuring the doors to doing business in Guyana are easily and readily open,” Hughes said.

Hughes noted that the Houston operation affords the firm an opportunity to present a new image of Guyana as the preferred destination for investment in the oil and gas industry.

“We, collectively, all of us Guyanese, get an opportunity to positively change the image of our dear Guyana. It is not often that the horizons of a country can change so dramatically in a positive sense overnight,” he said.

The law firm’s American partner, Greg Clark, will lead the Hughes, Fields and Stoby team in Texas. Clark is a former US Marine who had also

worked for oil and gas companies ExxonMobil and Occidental Petroleum.

Clark commended the law firm for abiding by required ethical standards and having an impeccable reputation. He said the goal is to expedite and encourage the coming to Guyana of not only additional oil companies or oil-related service companies, but hopefully the firm can be the portal for new industries, new companies coming to Texas beyond the oil and gas sector.

“I like to call it ‘legislative watchman’, that the firm will keep their eyes out for every law, rule, regulation or policy that could impact our clients,” Clark explained. He said the firm will provide a draft of that document, along with a memorandum summarising the potential impact that new legislation can have on

the company.

Hughes, Fields & Stoby, in partnership with Access Point, is the first local legal and business protocol firm to establish a presence in Houston, Texas in recognition of the emerging important relationship between the American energy capital and Guyana, as an emerging energy powerhouse.

Also attending last evening’s event were the Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, wife of Attorney-atLaw Nigel Hughes; and Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson; Head of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe; United States (US) Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway; other members of the diplomatic corps, and members of the private sector.

24 news

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D’ Urban Park: Edghill says no amount of investment can justify “corrupt transaction”

GAC continues to promote airline despite challenges G

A

Two of the banners erected in the vicinity of Bourda

lthough the management of the Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) is battling with the Deeds and Commercial Registry to keep its initial name, the airline has been moving full steam ahead in promoting the company.

Only recently, the airline mounted several banners across Georgetown demonstrating the company’s determination that it is here to stay.

The company has so far hired 120 Guyanese and has a robust hiring programme for local youths as flight attendants.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Colin Abrams, in a brief comment, told Guyana Times International that as the company sought to sort out the name of the airline, it was moving ahead with promotional work since that went a long way in telling the Guyanese people that the airline was soon to commence operations.

He noted too that he was working with an intelligent group of Guyanese to see the operations become a reality.

However, after the request for the name change, it was explained to the airline that the name it proposed to use coincided with another carrier’s and as such, it was urged to quickly de-regis-

ter.

“Fast forward two years, they illegally and lawlessly unregistered my company just like that, without prior notification,” Dr Abrams stated in a recent release to the media.

He has since questioned whether the competitors were fearful of Guyana Airways Corporation Inc entering the market. He noted that the airline was made up of Guyanese, and moreover, planned to offer affordable rates.

“The legacy carriers do not have an AB Initio pilot programme offering our local pilots an opportunity of advancement flying heavy jets. The legacy carriers do not have a hiring programme for our local youth as flight attendants; and also, (there is) nothing for Aircraft Dispatchers, Aircraft Engineers or Air Marshals. We do. We have so far hired 120 Guyanese citizens, with more interviews and hiring to come in all of the above categories,” Dr Abrams explained.

The airline, about a month ago, held an open day wherein it was announced that operations are expected to commence in October, with several Caribbean destinations and ultimately the United States of America being targeted.

overnment has recently announced plans to develop the controversial D’Urban Park into a user-friendly facility that could be the venue for various types of sporting activities, but Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill has said he is totally against the idea, because, from day one, the project has been a corrupt deal.

A former Junior Finance Minister, Edghill told Guyana Times International in an interview that the idea being proposed

by Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, is aimed at trying to bring some semblance of justification to the existence of the D’Urban Park as a facility that could become viable.

It was reported by the Department of Public Information (DPI) in early September that the D’Urban Park was due to undergo a massive upgrade in 2019 as a proposal made by the National Sports Commission (NSC), to be included in the National Budget for 2019.

Jones’s proposal involves enhancing the D’Urban Park with fencing, and paving a significant portion of its inner space to make it more user-friendly.

Opposition MP Juan Edghill

ception. “No amount of spending money -- fence it, hard court, etc -- could make it one free of corruption. Where are the bills? Where is the evidence of who donated in cash and kind? Why are the documents not with the Auditor General?” he questioned.

“So, even if you try to put a clean sheet on this bed, it doesn’t make anybody believe that the bed is clean. The sheet might be clean with the novel ideas that Jones is coming up with, but the D’Urban Park project is a corrupt transaction; it is calling for investigation,” the Opposition MP explained.

As a matter of fact, Edghill had written the Public Procurement

ty study contract award.

The matter was in fact investigated, and a report was handed over to the MP. “I would like to remind the PPC that a complaint and request is still on their desk,” he added.

Debate surrounded the construction of the Park after it was revealed, in 2016, that most of the stands had significant defects. After embarrassing disclosures about the poor construction work on the stands, President David Granger had announced that the Ministry of the Presidency would take over responsibility for completion of the first phase of the project.

An audit subsequently found that the

The multimillion-dollar D’Urban Park facility

“We recognise (that) in the afternoons and in the mornings it is heavily used by the public. We want to encourage that, but, of course, we want to ensure that the venue of itself is protected, and the persons who use the space between those times are comfortable,” he told the DPI. Edghill, however, has said no amount of spending at D’Urban Park can justify the fact that it has been a corrupt transaction from its in-

Commission (PPC), calling for an investigation into D’Urban Park. Apart from receiving a letter of acknowledgment, the MP is yet to hear from the Commission. However, he remains hopeful that something will be done.

He noted that his letter of complaint was sent at about the same time when his colleague, MP Gail Teixeira, had written the PPC on the controversial Demerara River Bridge feasibili-

D’Urban Park had cost some G$1.37 billion.

Despite the enormous cost to build and continually repair the facility, it has been grossly underutilised, with mostly vagrants using it for shelter, apart from some recreational activities ongoing there in the afternoons.

During the Mashramani celebrations, almost G$6 million had been spent to do repairs on the D’Urban Park facility.

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WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Lakhram Bhagirat

E

very teacher has his or her goals when they join the profession, the aim to mould and impart knowledge to make their students worthy citizens and that has been the goal of Lloyd Thomas from the beginning Born and raised in Kwakwani, Berbice River, Thomas is a 29-year-old Spanish, Theatre and Performing Arts teacher at the St Joseph High School.

Education is and has always been a priority to Thomas and his family as, he explains, education is viewed as the gateway out of poverty.

He notes that his childhood was filled with lots of fond memories and childhood experiences that taught him lessons while developing his true potential to be functional in society.

After completing his formal secondary education at the Kwakwani Secondary and the Linden Foundation High, the boisterous young man joined the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).

In 2012, he graduated from CPCE and in 2014, he completed a Diploma in Theatre Arts and Drama at the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama. In 2015, he graduated with a Certificate in Dance from the National School of Dance.

“I grew up in a middle-class family who saw education as a means of change and upward mobility. So my late grandmother, Mrs Margaret Thomas ensured that she did everything in her power to send us to school and invest in our education with the help of our immediate and far-fetched families. Her main goal was for me to have an education and develop myself in an attempt to decrease the instance of poverty,” Thomas said.

His teaching career formally began after he completed CPCE when he joined the St Joseph

High School where he teaches students from Grades 8 through 12.

“I perform the roles and responsibility of teaching while executing the task of Assistant Examiner with the Caribbean Examination Council. My first day of teaching was quite interesting. The classroom and its environs were so different from what was inculcated in college and I had to adapt quickly.

The adaptation allowed me to exercise and develop new strategies to meet the needs of my learners while linking the classroom to society,” he explained.

However, the profession has evolved into one of great importance over the years as he has taken the career as a personal achievement that has moulded him to develop the minds of the future generation.

Thomas’s students, over the years, have shown great interest in their work and presented positive energies that motivate him every day to continue within the profession.

“Their behaviours are no different from that of an adolescent and so I am unbothered by it because my sense of humour, professionalism and approach reduce the instances of frustration or an uncontrollable classroom. I see myself as continuing in the path of a great educator with my goals clearly aligned and the targets achievable. Hence,

I will continue to do my best to ensure that quality education is delivered to all my students so as to eradicate instances of illiteracy and by extension build my nation.

“However, staying in the classroom for a lifetime is uncertain because it is my greatest desire to serve on the panel of policy makers in the education sector.

This will definitely assist me in achieving my ultimate goal of bridging the gap between education and culture in Guyana,” he adds.

Teaching is not the only career Thomas focuses on as in his spare time, he runs a performing arts company – Lloyd N De Arts Production.

This company was established in 2016. The main goal is to develop youths across Guyana in the field of performing arts while showcasing their talents. As a company, Lloyd N De Arts

Production has successfully hosted a number of productions, including "Culturama 2" with a tribute to local theatre icon Desiree Edghill.

“My philosophy is to

FEATURE 29

educate every child to the best of their ability with all the resources available to me, so that he or she may function beyond the classroom and become meaning-

ful citizens in Guyana,” Thomas says.

(Times Sunday Magazine)

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The name is…

T

…“Bond”, not “Loan”

his story on the “Bond” issued by the SPU for GuySuCo is getting “curiouser and curiouser”.

If it weren’t for the tragedy of 7000 fired sugar workers and their families going starving in the streets, your Eyewitness would swear the “Mad Hatter” would be making his appearance any minute!! But then it could be the Mad Hatter has taken the form of the SPU’s Heath-London, since the latter insists on making the same kind of short, nonsensical remarks and riddles as the former!

Facing sharp criticisms from the Minister of Agriculture, the CEO of GuySuCo, Opposition Leader (imagine that!) and every first-year finance student, Heath- London called a press conference to announce that the four sugar estates on the block would be sold by “early next year”!! He says he has 14 prospective buyers; but, for some reason, the ones from India and further afield from the previously announced “78 buyers” appear to have dropped out. We only have Trinis, Guyanese, Canadians!

Your Eyewitness wonders what made the others balk. Feting the 14 hot prospects at the newly refurbished LBI staff compound (without a paying bar, however!!) Heath-London confessed: “The potential bidders questioned whether they are being asked to buy essentially scrap metal”!!

Well!! So how did the aptly named fella from the expensive accounting firm of Price Waterhouse – Baghaloo, who’d done the valuations — respond?

He said he understood the concern of the bidders on factories that has been closed for a long time.

But, obviously, the Government that had closed those factories never did!!

Baghaloo explained that Government was now turning cartwheels to have the factories up and running again!! How bumbling can this PNC Government be? Their own CoI had advised to keep the entire operation going, and then put the factories on the block…and now they’ve come a full circle!! All because they wanted to teach PPP supporters in the industry a “lesson”! But most of the riddles were on the “bond”.

First of all, why even issue a bond when the factories will be sold in a matter of months?

And they will still have to pay interest for five years!! Secondly, was it a “bond” or “loan”? Very few bonds are so short-term, for starters. Then secondly, unlike loans, once you sell bonds, there are no conditions bondholders can invoke. All you gotta do is pay the interest on time, and at the end, pay off the principal! So, what’s all this about a bondholder protesting GuySuCo using the funds to pay off interest on other loans??

And how much is it costing the SPU to “have the closed factories” running again??

And is it coming from the bond funds? …“Operation Restore Order” It was right out of the Police playbook from the days of the “Freedom Fighters”. A massive force of 220 Police ranks swooped down on Agricola and Upper Bourda in the wee hours of the morning, as the cock was crowing thrice. They arrested 29 persons while seizing several motorcycles, phones, drugs and “gun parts”. Seems that the shakeup in the Police top brass has directly led to this shakedown in the “hood”.

But was there “probable cause”? Like the citizens of these ‘hoods — and the PNC then in Opposition — your Eyewitness is very upset at the violation of the rights of these citizens, who no doubt were mostly choir boys. That’s what Granger said when he attended the funeral of one young man who’d been killed when Police returned fire during a raid they conducted in Agricola, after they were tipped off about a robbery being planned.

Your Eyewitness demands a CoI into this assault on the civil rights of Guyanese citizens!

Right, bannuhs? …famous last words Cautioning the Government about borrowing like there was no tomorrow, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was told there is “Nothing to worry about!” by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

Eerily reminiscent of the response by the captain of the Titanic when warned about an iceberg ahead!!

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along the r i v e r h a d i t s

By Lakhram Bhagirat

Q

uite often the struggles of a teacher go unnoticed despite them making so many sacrifices in order to educate the nation’s children. Over the past decade, Modern Languages teacher Anurama Ramgobin has been indomitable.

Ramgobin is now in the prime of his life and says he is very much proud of all he has accomplished so far, noting that the road does not end here but rather there are so many more miles to go. For the past 10 years he has been teaching Spanish and Portuguese at President’s College, his alma mater.

Ramgobin is just 32 years old and holds teaching close to his heart, but says the system is crippling.

“I’m going to be honest; I don't see myself continuing teaching. I have my personal reasons. I love teaching, but I just dislike the system that I’m teaching in,” he tells me.

Ramgobin’s childhood was one that was filled with excitement and adventure. He was born and raised in the Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and is the third of four children. Growing up

perks and one of them was him learning to swim before he was five years old.

“We had lots of animals: ducks, chickens, cows and goats along with a vibrant kitchen garden back then.

After-school activities for us entailed feeding the ducks and fowls, sweeping goat pen, cutting grass for cows, the occasional search for a goat or cow when they go missing.

And between all of that, we still found time for the occasional game of cricket and ‘ketcha’ in the river. But it wasn't all fun,” he remembers.

At the age of eight, Ramgobin had a minor accident that caused him to damage the sight in his left eye and as a result, miss a lot of his classes at the Charity Primary School. He explained that he hardly attended classes while in Grade Three owing to the constant travel to Georgetown to visit the Eye Clinic. He would later have surgery to try to correct his vision.

Tragedy would strike once again on February 23, 1997 while he was on a fishing trip with his brothers: Ramgobin broke his left leg, just a few weeks before he sat the then Common

Entrance Examination.

“I recall my foot being in cast and my father fetching me up the school steps to write the exams and then fetching me back home. In spite of that, I topped my class that year at the Common Entrance Exam.”

He was awarded a place President’s College. After graduating from PC, he then moved on to pursue a Diploma in Agriculture at the Guyana School of Agriculture from 2002 to 2004 after which he joined the staff at President's College as a Livestock Supervisor.

In 2010, Ramgobin was part of the first batch of students at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) to pursue an Associate Degree in Education majoring in Modern Languages.

“I’m well known amongst the Modern Language teachers as I am constantly trying to change the face of how Modern Languages are being taught in Guyana.

I began teaching 10 years ago at President's College as a Spanish teacher. Before that I was self-employed doing some agriculture in Essequibo. I recalled seeing the ad for a Spanish teacher at my alma mater and decided to apply for the position, since I was fluent in the language.”

For Ramgobin, joining the teaching service was his way of giving back to the school that

gave him so much. He said had it been another school advertising, he would not have applied for the job.

“Being a teacher for only 10 years I have certainly grown personally and professionally.

There is so much more than just delivering a curriculum in being a teacher. We are mothers, fathers, doctors and nurses.

Counsellors, judge and most of all, we become the best economists,” Ramgobin said.

“Teachers are often constrained to the chalk and talk method of teaching because of the lack of upgraded resources being available to them. However, I think our teachers here in Guyana are the best because we produce with limited resources and support from both parents and adminis-

feature 33

tration.”

Over the years in the teaching profession, he has seen a slow move to improve the methodology of teaching and as a language teacher he has been striving to ensure that the language learning process is holistic. Every year, he, would take his students on language immersion trips where they are exposed to not only the use of the language but also to the cultural aspects of the language.

The students would go to Panama for the Spanish Immersion Trip, Brazil for Portuguese and Martinique for French.

“What I find different today from when I started teaching is that our children are coming to school with less respect for their adults and there is no single source to be blamed for

this. There is more indiscipline in the schools today and as such, teachers have to evolve in order to deal with this ever-growing problem,” he notes.

Ramgobin thoroughly enjoys teaching and tries to make his classes as interactive as possible. Apart from teaching, he also enjoys protecting the environment. He is an avid beekeeper and a foodie by definition.

When asked what is his philosophy, Ramgobin’s answer was one that included all he loves doing.

“My philosophy in life is simple: work, save, travel, eat and enjoy, for money and time spent gaining experience is way better than spending it on material gains.” (Times Sunday Magazine)

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By Lakhram Bhagirat

W

e all have that one teacher who made an indelible mark on our lives and for Keisha Rose that teacher was her “stern” Grade Six teacher. The mark was made when her teacher explained the principles of long division in great detail, and that moment led her to the light of teaching.

“At that very moment the light bulb went on for me not to say that I had an idea, but I found my passion, and from that day onwards I told myself that I wanted to be a teacher...,” she said.

Davis started her teaching career at the Port Mourant Secondary School in 2005 and according to her, the knowledge and experience that she gained over the past 12 years have definitely helped her to develop as a teacher in all aspects of teaching. She said that the passion for teaching was one that was too intense to quell.

“Teaching is a noble profession. I feel overwhelmed when I see my students after completing school in military uniforms, or in the nursing outfit. It makes me feel proud – proud to know that I have contributed towards making another individual functional towards society. That feeling makes me want to go on. My passion has not yet died, nor do I see it doing so before I reach age 55. I hope, however, that situations in the future do not hamper me from staying,” she says.

Davis’s life has always been centred on the upliftment of herself and she applies that to her teaching style.

She believes that every new day is a day to learn and she is currently a student of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus reading for a Bachelor of Education in Social Studies.

The 31-year-old teacher remembers herself as a very quiet student who despite knowing the answers to questions would dare not speak up in class. She would later come out of that shell and become a bit too vocal which quite often led to her being on the receiving end of the teacher’s whip.

The Corentyne native attended the Winifred Gaskin Memorial School and upon completion attempted to join the nursing profession. However, fate had other plans for her and she never got a response from the nursing school.

“It was during the first quarter of 2005 my mom came home and told me to write an application and go to Port Mourant Community High School to the then Deputy Head Teacher, Miss Georgina Sinclair – a Home Economics teacher. I was told that ‘two teachers were expected to migrate shortly and a replacement was needed’. Ms Sinclair then wrote a letter stating that the school will be in need of a Home Economics teacher to replace two teachers who were scheduled to leave.

On the 23rd June, 2005, I was appointed at the said school with a TQM status, where I taught mainly the Home Economics subjects, and other subjects as well to fulfil the needs of the school at time.”

In 2008, she enrolled at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute where she completed the Basic and Intermediate Programmes in Computer Studies. In June 2009, she successfully completed the Mathematics and English upgrading programme for teachers, which gave her the opportunity to enter the Cyril

Potter College of Education (CPCE) Rose Hall/Johns Centre. Three years later during the summer of 2012, she completed her trained Teachers’ Certificate.

After completing CPCE, she immediately enrolled in the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) at New Amsterdam and completed studies in Industrial Relations and Management.

“My interest to do this was because I was acting [Head of Department] HOD, Home Economics, at Port Mourant Secondary. I knew that I needed the knowledge and skills to be a great leader for the teachers under my charge. I was determined to be the best HOD there, so I sought the necessary help I needed to be able to provide the necessary guidance and leadership for the teachers to guide a successful programme.

“I think what sets me apart from other teachers is the fact that I am compassionate about the students in my charge and the fact that I love what I am doing (teaching) and that I genuinely love children and I want to help them to develop their full potential,” she adds.

Davis tries to understand the individual child rather than categorising them as a group. She identifies personalities and qualities in order to help her students develop their full potential. She is always there to go the extra mile to ensure that her students are the best version of themselves.

She said that her almost 13 years of teaching has exposed her to a variety of personalities and she used that as reference to deal with similar personalities.

“I have many philosophies, but my two favourites are never give up on an opportunity to have an education – it is the stepping stone towards achieving greatness, and never let anyone’s opinion(s) of you define you or say who you are going to be: show them that you can be victorious.”

Davis tries to use her past experiences as a child to mould her students into the best versions of themselves.

(Times Sunday Magazine)

NEWS 35

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Hundreds flock St Cuthbert’s Mission Heritage celebration

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Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe

s the monthlong Indigenous Heritage celebration culminated, hundreds of patrons from all walks of life were yesterday treated to the sights, tastes and sounds of the rich Indigenous culture at St Cuthbert’s Mission in the Mahaica river.

According to the Department of Public Information, activities commenced at the vil-

ditions from various cultural groups within the only Indigenous settlement in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); and all of those activities depicted the way of life of Guyana’s first peoples. There were also live demonstrations of the process of making cassava bread.

In brief remarks made at the opening ceremony, Minister within the

Garrido-Lowe, reflected on what ‘heritage’ means to the people of Guyana.

The Minister said that while the Indigenous peoples use the month to showcase their culture, “it is more than that; it is a month of reflection and celebration of how far we have come as a people.”

Minister GarridoLowe reminded that the entire process had commenced with the late Stephen Campbell, Guyana’s first Indigenous parliamentarian, who had led the fight for land rights for the first peoples.

“We have much to celebrate. We have come through a lot through the centuries, and we have emerged strong,” she declared.

She commended all those in the village who have been preserving their Indigenous identity through teaching of the Arawak language.

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, called on the

Cassava bread-making

champion,’ even as the community continues to lead the way in preserving the Arawak language.

“I recognise that time has had its effects on

pion similar to that of St. Cuthbert’s Mission; for we know a connection to our language and identity is not just about an indigenous issue, it is a human issue.”

teachers, doctors, nurses and Medexes, and successful sportsmen and women.

Clenkian said the village is proud of these achievements, and she

A cultural group performing a dance

Patrons at the St Cuthbert’s Mission Heritage celebrations

lage benab with poems, dances, songs and ren-

Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie

Living…

T

…high on sugar workers’ blood

he sordid story of this PNC-led Government’s slow strangulation of the sugar industry and its workers continues to reveal levels of depravity that just boggles the mind. But then it’s said, “man’s inhumanity to man knows no bounds”.

The latest episode in this serial, which began in December 2016 with the closing of Wales Estate, illustrates the sick mindset behind the tragedy.

Over in Skeldon last week, workers who’d been fired over a year ago were marching in the brutal sun to protest the remainder of their “severance pay” not being forked over. They’d only been paid half – even though the law demands payment in full. In the meantime, with no jobs on the horizon in an economy that’s moribund, they and their families were staring at starvation and hunger.

Over in Georgetown, on the other hand, the PRO of GuySuCo had halted the SPU — which was just supposed to sell off the four shuttered estates — from opening a Sports Bar at the LBI GuySuCo Headquarters!! Yes, dear reader, you didn’t have a

entire community to become a ‘language

the various aspects of the Indigenous culture of this country, and particularly that of our language. I want to call all of you to action, to become a language cham-

sudden attack of dementia, you did read that right: A SPORTS BAR!!!

Last week, your Eyewitness had passed on info from a Chronic report on the very first spending the SPU had made from the G$30 billion bind they’d floated to “turn around” GuySuCo: The SPU proudly announced it had “refurbished the LBI Estate lounge with a bar, tennis court, a pool, and other attractions”!! The swimming pool shown in the accompanying pic – costing millions and millions — was immaculately terraced to match anything Sandals could offer!! The Article explained that “the facility will be open to… the SPU, as well as for staff of various ministries”!! Now, if that splurging wasn’t outrageous enough when workers’ severance couldn’t be paid, we now hear of a “SPORTS BAR”??

What manner of persons are these? This is worse than Nero fiddling while Rome burnt!! This is Nero “sporting” in luxury by dipping from the blood of sugar workers, while those workers can’t even put food on the table. Back in the day when the much maligned ‘white man’ was ruling, sugar workers could only gaze through the fence in wonder at the extravagance of the senior staff in their gated compound. Today, forty years after nationalisation “on behalf of the people”, it’s clear the hand-picked appointees of the PNC-Government see themselves as the “new Massas”, to lord it over sugar workers.

And, dear reader, don’t pay any heed to the GuySuCo PRO sniping at the SPU: they all planned and built their special luxury getaway.

Toshao Beverley Clenkian highlighted some of the achievements of the village over the past years. She noted that the village has produced many trained

urged the residents to use the event to recognise those persons who would have made the village proud.

It was only when the SPU didn’t share the G$30 billion they balked!! …in Nagga (la la) land Your Eyewitness could’ve been knocked over with a feather when he read the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) – with pic with Nagamootoo smirking, naturally! — had forked over G$5 million to UG to fund “constitutional reform education”.

If this isn’t rich, what is??!! The AFC’s biggest manifesto item had been “constitutional reform”, but they didn’t do squat on that front during the last three years!! And now they want UG to teach the subject to students??!

With their (in)actions, the AFC and Nagamootoo have already taught Guyanese all they need to know about “constitutional reform” — which is: it’s a great subject to TALK about when you’re in opposition, but it’s VERBOTEN once you sidle into Government! But the irony is: Nagamootoo himself is the biggest loser from the constipation on constitutional reform.

One of the PNC’s promises to inveigle Nagamootoo and the AFC into bed was that the OPM was going to be strengthened and given a host of powers that presently reside with the president.

But the mouth is muzzled…isn’t it?! …on the edge of the margins One vendor says she was thrown off her spot after giving evidence against the Town Clerk. But sadly, most of her comrades will still rally for Chase Green in her bid to return as Mayor.

Georgetown syndrome?

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Revenue body gets tough on fuel smuggling

…over 17,000 gallons of smuggled fuel seized

A

captain and members of his crew are currently in custody following the discovery of more than 80,000 litres (17, 597.5 gallons) of smuggled fuel in their vessel.

The discovery was made by officers from the Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The officers recently intercepted MV Plumrose with a quantity of liquid that was later tested and confirmed to be hydrocarbons in the form of diesel fuel.

During a search of the vessel, the officers discovered that even though the intended use of the vessel was for “fishing purposes”, MV Plumrose was converted for fuel transport.

The Captain and crew are assisting the GRA with the ongoing investigations, and charges are expected to be laid shortly. Meanwhile, representatives of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) were contacted by the

GRA, and the two agencies were now collaborating on the investigation.

On the other hand, the revenue collection body said that it has seen a rise in fuel smuggling over the past few weeks, with the interception of more vessels, which will lead to a substantial amount of revenue being recovered.

In April, authorities had detained shipping vessel Jubilee after it was discovered with over 200,000 gal-lons of suspected smuggled fuel, when it entered the Georgetown port and its officials failed to disclose that it had fuel to customs officials until checks were made. The company struck a deal with the GRA to pay G$36 million in taxes.

Meanwhile, the GEA in April had said that it has seized in excess of 9000 gallons of gasoline and diesel in the first quarter of the year with its inspectors having visited 3191 sites and collected 8339 fuel samples.

As it relates to fuel smuggling statistics in 2017, a total of 11,000 gallons of illegal gasoline and diesel were seized in 29 discoveries in 2017 following 12,882 site visits and 33,891 samples collected. This re-sulted in six convictions, while compensation was ac-

cepted from four individuals in the sum of G$1,237,000.

The Authority said it has taken a relentless approach against smuggling and will be working in close col-laboration with its sister agencies to minimise these activities.

Over the past year, the GRA has recouped billions of dollars in taxes from seizures and auctions not only from illegal fuel, but also from breaches in motor vehicle concessions and IDA’s, and commonly smuggled items which include alcohol, foreign

imported chicken, and mosquito coils.

The GRA wishes to advise persons to cease and desist from smuggling activities, failing which, instead of accepting fines, the relevant charges will be instituted in a court of law.

Preserving our literary heritage

Three Singles to Adventure by Gerald Durrell T he phrase ‘procreative expletive’ in the book Three Singles to Adventure’ by India-born British naturalist, zookeeper, and conservationist Gerald Durrell hooked my attention, in the first instance, due to a local video that had gone viral recently leading to the courts, and I further say not on that matter.

That phrase was there when I first read the book in the late 1960s (macaw on cover; there were umpteen cover designs by various publishing houses issued down the ages) as it was present when the book was first published in 1954, and in subsequent reprinting down the years into the new millennium, even when it was translated into various languages.

There are many other phrases that begged my attention during this current reading, some of which I will share herein. For instance, on one of their sorties, the group came upon a flock of tiny birds which raised the question of species to which the author replied, ‘Tanagra Violacea’ and received this from the questioner, ‘I can’t understand why you zoologists insist on burdening creatures with such awful names’. At the end of the book, there is an index of animals with their popular and zoological names like agouti – dasyprocta; electric ell – electrophros electricus; jaguar – felis onca; piranha – serrasalmo etc.

The other reason why I latched onto that phrase is because it is characteristic of Durrell’s writing which is ‘powerfully descriptive’ and humor-

ous (and satirical) poking fun at himself and life around him, drawing you into the narrative.

The other major and significant dimension of his writing was that his books written as potboilers to fund his zoological adventures and conservationist ventures. In other words, he had fun writing, sharing the fun with readers, all for a worthy cause.

Of the scores of books Durrell authored and collaborated on, Three Singles to Adventure seems to be the only one set in Guyana. During 1950, Durrell with his partner, Kenneth Smith, came to Guyana to take back to England ‘for various zoological gardens in this country, a living collection of birds, mammals, reptiles and fish’. This is that account of them teaming up with and assisted by many others to fulfil that obligation, names including Robert Lowes, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dowding, Vincent Roth, Ram Singh, Mr. and Mrs. McTurk.

This is how the book came by its name. While the trio was deliberating on where would be their base for their first ‘animal-collecting trip to the interior’, they happened on a place with the ‘provocative name’ - Adventure. To get there, they went down to the quay in Georgetown where the author bought three singles to Adventure which would allow them to ride on ‘a large and ugly ferryboat’ from Stabroek to Vreed-en-Hoop then to join the train which would take them to Parika where they would join a steamer to take them to

and ginger beer’.

Even in Georgetown, they ran into adventure while hunting for toads which ‘strongly objected to the torch being flashed on them, and so did the courting couples’ whom they tripped over, and on another adventure, having to apology to the ‘night-watchman’ at the slaughterhouse for having rouse him from his sleep.

Saying goodbye to Guyana – the land of many waters – was sort of bittersweet because they were headed to ‘the grey and gloomy docks of Liverpool, England – the ‘Land of Perpetual Downpour’.

Three Singles to Adventure is an adventure in reading for the language is educational yet not pedantic and highly entertaining. ‘Gerald Durrell was first and foremost a storyteller, and millions of his readers would probably never have taken an interest in wildlife or its conservation were it not for his books,’ writes John A. Burton in the obituaries column of the Independent.

Gerald Durrell, born in India in January 1925 died in Jersey in January 1995.

Adventure on the Essequibo Coast. What a smooth transition in those days!

However, buying the ticket was not that smooth for according to the author in his inherent style there was a ‘delicate question of class’ to be settled which one of his travelling companions explained that one travelling on ‘second class’ ticket ‘was herded somewhere down in the bilges of the ferry’ while a ‘first

class’ ticket afforded you the privilege of sitting ... on the top deck...and even get lunch’.

Their venture took them along the Essequibo Coast from Adventure to Charity to Pomeroon – ‘the last outpost of civilisation’ – then to the interior (Karanambo Ranch) and back to Georgetown in a tiny bar (perhaps, the same bar in which first plans were made) in the back streets ‘drinking rum

WHAT’S HAPPENING: New Arrivals: Monsoon on the Fingers of God (poetry)

by Sasenarine Persaud; Red Hibiscus (novel) by Scott TingA-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

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

37

38 FEATURE

By Lakhram Bhagirat

“A

re teachers born or are teachers made? I think we are made … I certainly was made into a teacher. It was never what I wanted, but it’s something that I can’t imagine myself now not being a part of. I am an advocate of education and I love what I do. Passing new knowledge to my students and sharing my experiences with them has become a passion,” says Ron Ghanie.

Ghanie is a teacher attached to the Three Miles Secondary School in the town of Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni). The 37-yearold is passionate about imparting knowledge, but still thinks about

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

what life would have been if he had pursued his dream of becoming a cardiologist.

“I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge over the 18 years I have been a part of this noble profession. I use what I know to now help and guide my students. My students look up to me. I have earned their respect… past, present and my hope the future ones too,” he said.

Ghanie received his education at the Bartica Secondary School. He gained his Trained Teacher’s Certificate from the Cyril Potter College of Education in 2004. He is currently reading for his Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology and Computing at the University of Guyana.

Reflecting on his childhood, Ghanie said growing up was an experience he would not trade for anything. He said his childhood dream was to become a doctor.

He spent his boyhood days playing by the river, swimming and playing in the streets with the other children. He enjoyed the simplicity of life back then, explaining that telephones, television and so on were all luxuries he was not privy to, but, all the same, never needed.

“After high school my dream of becoming that doctor was fast becoming something farfetched. I quickly entered into the world of work as a clerk at a pharmacy, then at a timber company in my area.

Working became the way of life and I did that for about three years. After

that, I started to work at a stationery shop. I was a month in to that job when the Regional Education Officer at the time – Mr Reginald Hoppie – came into the shop one day and asked me what I was doing there and told me to come see him the following day. I did and a week after that I reported for duty at my new job as a teacher at the St Anthony’s Primary – my old primary school,” he said.

He started teaching on October 17, 2000 at just 19 years old.

After one year of teaching at the St Anthony’s Primary he went off to the Cyril Potter College of Education, where he trained to be a Secondary Classroom Teacher with a Major in Science – Chemistry, Biology and Physics. He graduated with credit in 2004 as a Class One Grade One Secondary Teacher.

Over the years, Ghanie has seen the teaching system as well as the students evolve.

He said that morals and values have slipped away to some extent.

“Back then students were answerable to their parents for their failing grades. Now… I am.

The right to an education and the right to be taught, but somewhere there someone who tend to the other part … that

they are responsible for their own learning. But like I said I am hopeful.

I give of my best every day I am on the job.”

He thoroughly enjoys moulding the future generation of Guyana. He said that his love for education is what sets him apart from other teachers. He sees his students as individuals who all have the ability to learn.

The students may not all shine at the same time, but in the end they will all shine with the right kind of guidance and that is exactly what he is there to provide.

“I always seek to encourage my students and try to make them never to give up on their aspirations. To be relentless

in the pursuit of their goals,” he noted.

Ghanie is not all work though; he enjoys swimming, biking, hiking, travelling and taking photographs.

“My philosophy is student centred. I believe that every student is different with an individual way of learning and their own set of needs and gifts that are brought to the classroom. It is my responsibility as a teacher to expound on their gifts and provide an environment that will foster maximum learning and meet each of their individual needs,” he says.

Ghanie notes that every student is unique and learns at their own

pace and time. As a teacher, he believes that it is important to teach in a way that employs a variety of teaching strategies. The students should learn from each other and learn to work together through cooperative learning.

The students should be active learners exploring concepts through handson learning. The students should also learn to be able to apply the concepts at high-order thinking levels. I will do my utmost as their guide to excite them about learning.

Learning needs to be fun.

Teaching is a challenge and a joy. It is also a lifelong process of reflecting and making necessary adjustments. To be a good teacher, one has to love teaching.

Ghanie says he loves the uniqueness of every day and every child and is very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the lives of students as they grow intellectually, socially, and physically. It is a great joy and privilege to impact the lives of children in these ways, he notes. (Times Sunday Magazine)

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A

s a young child, we all have dreams and we plan our lives around those dreams but as we grow older and reality kicks in, we are forced to accept that our dreams are sometimes too farfetched.

That was the same dil e m ma Rajkumarie Lall found herself in when she was ready to enter into the world of work a few decades ago.

The 48-year-old teacher has been attached to the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School for over two and a half decades but has been teaching for over 30 years. For someone who has been in a profession for so long, one would think that they always dreamed of doing just that but that was not the case of Miss Radha, as she is popularly known.

Miss Radha has always dreamt of becoming a lawyer to lift herself and family out of poverty. She explains that while growing up on the Island of Wakenaam in the Essequibo River her family was extremely poor but saw education as a way of breaking the cycle of poverty.

“My father always encouraged us to do good in school and focus on our education since he saw that as the way of getting us out of poverty.

So we did just that and because of our situation I could not follow my dreams of becoming a lawyer and I had to take the first job that was offered to me and that was teaching,” she said.

After being a part of the profession for so long, Miss Radha has come to love it and cannot see herself doing anything else. She says that the level of excitement she experiences when her students excel and not only exams but at life, in general, is far too great to measure.

She would have received her secondary education in part at the Essequibo Island Secondary School and completed at the North Georgetown Secondary and subsequently joined the staff at the North Georgetown in October of 1987.

She attended the Cyril Potter College of Education from 1988 to 1991 and graduated as a trained teacher in the Pre-Vocational Studies programme. In 1991 she was transferred to her alma mater, Essequibo Island Secondary on her

home Island where she taught for three years. She would later get married and moved to the Essequibo Coast which caused her to be transferred ARMS in 1994 where she remains a teacher to date.

“However, for 4 of those years, I was seconded to Queen’s College in order to attend the University of Guyana in 2012.

My experience at the University of Guyana was very rewarding and because of my age and experience I graduated in 2016 as the Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Education and Humanities.”

During that time she also received several awards with two being the closest to her hear. She received the ViceChancellor Special Awards and the Guyana Teachers Union Award.

During her years of teaching, she has seen her students and the sector evolve beyond expectations.

She notes that every student comes to school with different abilities and to tap into that is the teacher’s responsibility. The teacher is there to nurture and provide the right kind of guidance to that student so that they can become the best version of themselves which ultimately aids the progression of development.

However, Miss Radha is not all about sugarcoating things for her students rather she likes to give them doses of reality in order to better prepare them for the world ahead. She is not focused on producing students who are only good on paper but also students who can function in the capacities they ought to.

“My love and empathy towards my students, especially the underprivileged, is my strong point.

Their issues are my issues and their successes are my successes. I create a special bond with my students so that they trust me to con-

fide in me so we can get over obstacles together and become the individuals we were destined to become,” she says.

Her philosophy is finding the joy in the simplest things in life

FEATURE 39

Miss Radha with her husband and two sons

since life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful. (Times Sunday Magazine)

40

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FEATURE 41

Teachers protesting

A

s cliché as it sounds, teaching is really the mother of all professions but our teachers are more than often given the short end of the proverbial straw. In most counties throughout the world, teachers are overworked and underpaid.

We recently saw the power of teachers, in Guyana, when the 20182019 school year commenced. Schools had to be closed down and students sent away because the majority of the teachers decided to take to the streets demanding better working conditions, benefits as well as increased salaries.

This move came about after almost three years of failed negotiations between the Education Ministry and the Guyana Teachers Union.

The threat of another strike, on a larger scale, hangs overhead since the government is being accused of strong-arming the Union. However, the teachers are not going down without a fight. They are prepared to close the classrooms and take to the streets once more to have their cries and pleas for a better life heard.

Before we get into the actual strike and the impending strike action, let us looks at the factors that would have led to the teachers making

such a drastic move. In 2015, the multiyear salary and benefits agreement with the previous administration came to an end and the GTU then went to the bargaining table with the government to negotiate another one.

Bear in mind, the APNU-AFC government during it's 2015 General Elections campaign promised to make teachers the highest paid public servants.

When the time came to negotiate all of the proposals by the GTU were basically shot down but the government which caused President David Granger to order the establishment of a task force to deal with the issue. The task force made a number of recommendations, which are yet to be acted upon by the government.

Following the recommendations, the GTU went back to the table with MOE and proposed a 40 per cent increase in 2016, 45 per cent in 2017 and 50 per cent in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

However, they compromised during the negotiation phase and agreed to accept a 40 per cent to serve as a base from 2016 with 5 per cent incremental increase for the remaining years.

MOE once again shot down almost all of the requests by the Union which led to the

Empty classroom during the strike

strike at the commencement of the 2018-2019 school year. The teachers handed over keys to the schools during the week leading up to the opening of school on September 3. They went out in their numbers on the street and picketed the various Regional Education Departments.

The demonstrations lasted for four days and were called off when the government agreed to take the negotiations to arbitration.

Now that the issue is at the arbitration level, the government is still set in their ways to “bully the GTU”. The government selected the Chair of the Arbitration Panel without the consultation of the GTU and rejected their proposals for the Chair.

This has led to the threat of another strike since the GTU feels the Junior Social Protection Minister, Keith Scott, who had earlier referred to the striking teachers as “selfish and uncaring”, is bullying it.

The teachers are ready to go on the streets again if the need arises.

Teachers over the years have given selflessly to the development of the nation’s children. They do not ever stop working because they are weighed down by so many records that need to be completed on a daily basis. Lesson

Salary negotiations

plans are a major “headache” to teachers since they are required to write one for every class they teach.

Additionally, teachers are tasked with bab-

ysitting the children and ensuring that they are safe while on the school’s compound. They also have weekly, monthly, termly and annual journals to write up. They

have to get classrooms ready and they do that quite often by delving into their own pockets.

(Times Sunday Magazine)

42 NEWS

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Jamaica: Family mourns loss of sixyear-old boy swept away by flood

T

ears flowed down Candice Chambers’ cheeks yesterday and with a weak wave of the hand, she signalled to the Gleaner team to talk to her mother at their home in Oliver Gardens, May Pen, Clarendon.

She was inconsolable as she tried to process the death of her six-year-old son, Dajohne Pennant, who was washed away in a canal in the Mount Claire area of May Pen, Clarendon, on Monday.

He was being escorted home by his cousin when the tragedy occurred.

On Monday, heavy rains dumped huge amounts of water on the town leaving streets in-

undated.

The May Pen police say about 3 p.m., Dajohne was on his way home from school with a 13-year-old cousin, when they reportedly attempted to cross a flooded channel and were swept away by the wa-ter.

The teen managed to pull herself from the water, but Dajohne was swept further downstream by the strong current.

Annette Williams, Pennant’s grandmother, could not hold back the tears, as she shared the last few hours she spent with him.

“He slept with me the Sunday night part-time and a first him ever hug me so tight. Him hug me

tight, him hug me tight, and mi kiss him on him forehead and tell him to go sleep,” were her emotional words.

Recounting her last interaction with her grandson, Williams said she had to go on the road Monday morning, but before she left, she asked his aunt if he was going school and was told no.

She said she told Dajohne that she would soon be back and he responded “Grandma, every day you gone.

“I told him, ‘Mi soon come, Daddy, mi soon come’,” she said, almost breaking down again.

‘WATER TOOK AWAY DAJOHNE’ Williams said she returned from Spanish

Town and, upon inquiring about Dajohne’s whereabouts, was told he had gone to school after all. With the rainfall getting heavier, she asked his mother to call a taxi to pick him up.

“After she called the taxi, the driver said the taxi was stuck,” she said.

Not long after that phone call, her granddaughter called just after 3 p.m. to say that “water took away Dajohne”.

As the grandmother relived the moment, it proved too much for her, and she gave in to the tears.

Behind her, the faces of her daughters, her granddaughter and community members who came to the home to give support told their own stories.

The question ‘why’ hung in the air with no answers. And especially not for his cousin who was carrying him home.

She sat staring off into space, and, according to Williams, has not been herself since Mon-day when she got home and ran into her arms crying out, “Grandma, sorry, sorry, Grandma!”

With just the mem-

ories to console them, Williams spoke about her grandson.

“He was a pleasant child, ever smiling, and he would come to me and say, ‘Grandma, gi mi a money nuh. He was a bright, a promising student, jovial. It rough, it rough, it rough. I don’t know if I can man-age to go through this,” she said, to keep her emotions under control.

(JAMAICA GLEANER)

Bar lime in Trinidad ends with bloodshed

This screenshot from the security camera footage shows Shivan Ramdhanie taking cover moments before his death

A

BARRACKPORE man was gunned down at a bar in Debe on Tuesday night.

Shivan Ramdhanie, of Khanhai Road North, never saw his killer/s coming as he was shot multiple times at point blank range.

Another man was shot in the leg.

The killers took nothing and escaped in a white Nissan Tiida that was found abandoned in Tulsa Trace, Penal.

Around midnight when Ramdhanie and three men were drinking at Trooper’s Bar at Sanahee Trace, Mohess Road.

A CCTV video shows Ramdhanie and the men

sitting in an outside verandah drinking beers.

The gunmen, wearing dark clothing, approached from behind Ramdhanie and opened gunfire at the group.

Ramdhanie was crouched in his seat and covered his head with his hands when his killer shot him at least four times in the back.

Ramdhanie died at the scene, while the other man was taken to hospital and warded.

Officers of the Homicide Region III and San Fernando CID responded. Police returned on Wednesday to the crime scene for clues and are seeking a motive for the killing. (TRINIDAD EXPRESS)

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

43

44 NEWS

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NY Governor announces US$13 Billion plan to upgrade JFK Airport

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ew York G o v e r n o r Andrew M. Cuomo has announced an historic US$13 billion plan to transform John F. Kennedy International Airport into a modern 21st century airport anchored by two new world-class international terminal complexes on the airport's north and south sides.

According to a release from the Governor’s Office, this record investment — including US$12 billion in private funding — advances the Governor's vision for a unified and interconnected airport system with best-in-class passenger amenities, centralized ground transportation options and vastly improved roadways that collectively will increase the airport's capacity by at least 15 million passengers a year.

"While leaders in Washington talk about investing in infrastructure, we're actually doing it at historic levels and the transformation of JFK Airport into a 21st century transportation hub will ensure New York remains the

nation's front door to the world," Governor Cuomo said.

"This historic investment to modernize JFK Airport and the surrounding transportation network will not only ease travel through this major hub, but it will ensure JFK joins the ranks as one of the finest airports in the world," Cuomo said.

The Governor's JFK Vision Plan, initially unveiled in January 2017 and based on the recommendations from the Governor's Airport Advisory Panel, calls for an overhaul of the airport's hodgepodge of eight disparate terminal sites into one unified JFK Airport by demolishing old terminals, utilizing vacant space, and modernizing on-airport infrastructure, while incorporating the latest in passenger amenities and technological innovations. The Vision Plan also calls for increasing the number and size of gates, improving parking availability, an array of airside taxiway improvements to allow for bigger planes and reduced gate congestion, upgrading the AirTrain JFK system to

handle increased passenger capacity, and enhanced roadways on and off the airport. This includes better access to JFK from regional roadways, particularly the Van Wyck Expressway and the Grand Central Parkway, including the Kew Gar-dens Interchange.

The announcement follows the selection in September 2017 of a master planning team for the rede-velopment of the airport, led by Mott MacDonald and Grimshaw Architects, and whose portfolio of prior master planning and redevelopment projects includes airports in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia.

Starting late last year, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees JFK Airport, embarked on an extensive and rigorous process with the airport's existing six terminal operators—each of which operates under a long-term lease agreement—seeking proposals from each of them to modernize, expand and/or replace

their facilities. These proposals were in turn evaluated by a formal comparative analysis team, comprised of seasoned experts, against a set of established criteria to de-termine the best combination of developments that would achieve the core master plan objectives, as well as fully leverage the Port Authority's previously approved US$1 billion capital plan commitment. The plans for the two terminals announced will now be submitted to the Port Authority's Board of Commissioners.

Once lease terms are finalized, the leases will be subject to final Board approval.

Addi-tional discussions with multiple other airlines and terminal operators remain ongoing to further ad-vance the goals of the Vision Plan.

The new passenger facilities will feature significantly larger waiting areas with high ceilings, natural light and modern architecture coupled with interior green space, exhibits and art featuring iconic New York landmarks and local artists. World-class retail, restaurants and bars will include local-

ly-based restaura-teurs, craft beverage options and Taste NY stores.

Free, high-speed WiFi and an abundance of charg-ing stations throughout the terminals will enable passengers to stay connected at each step of their journey.

State-of-the-art technological improvements will be part of the terminal upgrades, with security en-hancements - such as radiation detection and next-generation identification of unattended packages.

At the center of the airport, the Port Authority will seek proposals to develop the new Kennedy Cen-tral hub, issuing a Request for Information in the coming months to determine the most effective and functional way to leverage this blank canvas in a fashion that will complement and add value to airport experience. Options might include, but aren't limited to, public open and recreational space, confer-ence centers, cultural uses and other amenities for the traveling public and the airport's workforce.

Two new centrally-

located JFK Welcome Centers will serve as convenient access points for taxis, bus-es, for-hire vehicles and parking, the Governor said.

Construction is expected to begin in 2020 with the first new gates opening in 2023 and substantial completion expected in 2025.

An additional US$2 billion in private nonPort Authority funding will be allocated to an array of critical infrastructure upgrades laying the foundation for these world-class new terminals.

JFK Airport is one of the region's most powerful economic engines, supporting roughly 300,000 jobs that pay US$16.2 billion in wages annually while generating US$45.7 billion in yearly sales. The airport set a record with nearly 60 million passengers in 2017 and is projected to eclipse 75 million passengers by 2030. Together, the new terminals are estimated to create over 9,600 direct jobs, including construction jobs and over 15,000 total jobs over the life of the project, added the release.

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

45

46 news

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese businesses taking steps to capitalise on opportunities from oil and gas sector

From left: CLBD Project Director Patrick Henry; Chief Executive Officer of Guysons, Faizul Khan; and ExxonMobil’s Operation Manager Mike Ryan pose with a portrait of the ISO certification that the company recently acquired

A

s the time draws closer to first oil in 2020, the need for critical services in this sector continues to increase daily. As such, local companies are tapping into the industry and are making strides to have their businesses meet international standards.

One such company

making headway in preparing itself for the new industry is Guysons Group, which has received in-ternational certification of quality for the services they offer.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guysons, Faizul Khan spoke about this at a simple ceremony to celebrate the achievement on Wednesday at

ExxonMobil’s Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD).

Khan was elated to share with the small audience of mostly business executives and managers that Guysons Oil and Gas Services and Guysons Engineering have met the stringent ISO 9001:2015 certification require-

ments by the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) having received the first ISO 9001:2015 global certification from the ISO. The CEO reflected on the rigorous procedures they went through before acquiring certification. According to him, the process took some six months to complete and cost the company well over G$10 million.

“In the opinion of the Guysons executives, meeting ISO requirements was an achievement well worth the investment of time, effort and funds because it has cemented the companies’ standing as internationally approved suppliers of goods and services,” the company said.

Khan said he plans to travel soon to the United States to seal a deal with a company in a joint venture opportunity. “For the first time, because

of our quality management systems are tendering for internationallybased tenders so we are currently going through tenders for companies in Brazil and in Trinidad and Tobago,” he added.

Faizul encouraged other local companies that are interesting in providing services to oil companies, to get certified so that it may be given the opportunities to lend its support.

M e a n w h i l e , ExxonMobil’s Operation Manager Mike Ryan congratulated the company for its achievements and said this is a positive story coming out of the Local Business Development Centre.

The achievement means that the group is internationally recognised as being able to deliver products and services to meet customers’ expectations.

They Guysons companies are now officially

qualified to be suppliers to extraction companies in Guyana’s oil and gas sector, and are on record as well as being well equipped to meet complex data integration and ecommerce needs of such customers.

CLBD Project Director Patrick Henry also joined others in commending Guysons and revealed that four other compa-nies have signed up to go through the process of acquiring ISO certification.

Guyson’s engineering, which is located in West Ruimveldt Georgetown, was established about 32 years ago and of-fered a large and diverse range of products and services.

Though its new company focused on oil and gas activities, Guysons will now provide services such as freight forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing facilities, and ship chandlery, among others.

Guyana’s First lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger was in New York for the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly recently. While there, she attended an event organised by the Business Council for International Understanding (BICU) of the United States of America, which was held at the Sofitel New York Hotel on September 26, 2018. (In this DPI photo, the First Lady is seen interacting with guests at the event.

47

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Addressing gender inequalities

Earning…

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…Nagga’s keep

agamootoo’s sure been singing a lot recently in his Chronic column; but then his “supper” — starting with his super salary, SUVs with outriders, foreign travel etc — demands commensurate singing!! But in his latest, claiming the PPP “has resorted to old political tricks and terror tactics” in Berbice during the ongoing LGE campaign, he’s oblivious that he’s revealing what an old fake he is.

He had the gall to write, “Sita (his wife, also called “Mary”) and I received in the prime minister’s YARD several persons from our home villages, who confided that they have been threatened by PPP hacks.” Isn’t he ashamed he didn’t take his village folks INTO his house?? Or was he worried they’d freeze in the air conditioning he insisted be installed before he moved into the PM’s residence? Or these “fisher folks” might’ve dragged mud into his living room? But he’d know – and didn’t give a damn — how insulting it is for village folks not to be invited into one’s house when visiting!

Nagamootoo illustrated his claimed PPP’s “old political tricks and terror tactics” with these words: “Party supporters were told not to attend the jhandis of “PNC pundits” (who were dubbed “bandits”); not to attend their weddings, birthdays, nine-days; not even their funerals.”

But where was Moses Nagamootoo – who insists he joined the party in 1964 – when all of this was going on? Can he deny he rose in the party because he was one of the most vicious against those suspected of being “PNC”??

He went on to hypocritically bemoan, “It seemed that we are back to the old days when it was par for the political course to oppose, expose and depose.”

Surely, he hasn’t forgotten this phrase was initially used by Raphael Trotman, when he was in the PNC, to describe what ought to be the PNC’s strategy against the PPP?? This strategy later burst into action as “mo’ fyaah; slow fyaah” with such deadly and horrendous consequences. Yet Nagamootoo teamed up with Trotman, leader of the AFC, to eventually “depose” the PPP, and bring the country into the morass in which it now finds itself.

Nagamootoo’s written a book of fiction, and it’s clear he can’t stop fictionalising his life!! He used to carry on that Jagan promised, on a campaign stage in the Rupununi, that he (Nagamootoo) would lead the PPP after his (Jagan’s) death! Trouble was… no one else heard this!! Now he’s come up with another whopper to explain why Jagan made him Local Government Minister in 1995: “during a brief conversation at the National Park on May Day, that I should just follow what my father had done for his people”!!

The man’s lying on both his “Pas”!!! …a liar’s reputation Nagamootoo doesn’t seem to realise, in the age of Google, how easy it is to prove what a liar he is when he sings so oleaginously to the PNC for his supper. While he excoriated the PPP of Jagan as practising terror against who weren’t with the PPP, back in 2006, he’d boasted, “In Cheddi Jagan’s house, (the PPP) there is and must always be room for all races, all ethnicities, all cultures, all beliefs.

In Cheddi Jagan’s house, there is room for all shades of opinions, different views and critical analyses”!!

So when was he lying, then or now??

In every utterance Nagamootoo makes in his columns, he attacks Jagdeo as the epitome of evil; yet, in that same 2006 speech, he vouchsafed, “I have watched Bharrat Jagdeo with unbiased eyes.

I see in him a good person, who loves his country dearly, who portrays love of all races, love of children and our youth, and concern for the elderly.

Moreover, I see in him a leader with an agenda to push development.”

What changed, Nagamootoo? …the President’s ire or approval?

A few months back, President Granger excoriated some PNC supporters for liming and hanging out at “Guinness Bars”.

What says he now that the SPU has built a bar at the LBI GuySuCo Staff Club to hang out??

CDB hands over curriculum, training kit to UWI S uccessfully addressing gender inequalities in the Region will require incorporating gender strategies in the educational system, especially at the early childhood level.

Research has shown that children start to develop and exhibit stereotypical behaviour and perceptions from as early as five years old.

These are not biological, but rather, socially constructed, and form the foundation for attitudes and behaviours throughout later life.

To address the issue, in 2015, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), partnered with the University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Education, Cave Hill to develop the curriculum for a module entitled Introduction to Gender Socialisation in Early Childhood Education.

On Tuesday, September 25, 2018, Daniel Best, Director of Projects at CDB, officially handed over the curriculum to Professor Joel Warrican, Director, School of Education, UWI, Cave Hill.

“Gender equality is a cross-cutting theme across all of CDB’s work. We are particularly pleased to have been

T

he U.S. Army cadets who were recently in Guyana under the CULP (Cultural Understanding Leader-ship Program) completed their program last month.

According to the US Embassy in Georgetown, during the recent program, U.S. cadets lived,

part of this project, as we recognise that gender can impact teaching and learning outcomes in the classroom. It is our hope that the curriculum, along with accompanying training kit, will create awareness, knowledge, skills and a behavioural shift among early childhood practitioners when it comes to gender socialisation among our young citizens,” said Best in a CDB statement.

A 2015 survey of early childhood development practitioners in the Eastern Caribbean revealed that while 43 percent had obtained high school level education, only 13 percent have certification in early

childhood development, revealing a need for targeted gender training.

The module introduces practitioners to gender issues in the classroom and provides guidelines on how to create gender-sensitive learning environments and instructional material. A complementary training kit contains practical tools and resources.

The module and training kit have been incorporated as part of UWI Cave Hill’s ongoing Bachelor of Education Programme in Early Childhood Education and Care.

The development of the curriculum and training kit was done through through CDB’s Basic Needs Trust Fund

Programme (BNTF). The curriculum was piloted in a number of public and private daycare centres, preschools and primary grades across the Caribbean, with a focus on facilities supported by the BNTF, CDB’s flagship poverty reduction programme.

Additionally, UWI will oversee the adoption of the curriculum within relevant teacher education pro-grammes in the Eastern Caribbean at the certificate, undergraduate and graduate levels. The training kit will also be distributed across the Region, to early childhood development practitioners and educa-tion specialists.

worked, and enjoyed cultural exchanges with fellow GDF cadets.

Activities included humanitarian service with local populations, military-to-military training, and education on the social, cultural, and historical as-pects of the communities where the cadets lived and served.

Though they were only in Guyana for slightly under a month, the cadets made it to many places in Guyana: Takama, Timehri, Mahdia, Pamela Landing, Amatuk, Tukeit, Kaieteur, Fairview and Santa Mission Reservation.

The U.S. Army recognizes the need for young

leaders to develop cultural awareness and foreign lan-guage proficiency skills. CULP seeks to build a foundation to support understanding, cohesion, and meaningful partnerships between the upcoming generations of American and Guyanese military of-ficers. (US Embassy photo)

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas visit Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur

B

ollywood superstar Salman Khan has wished good luck to Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone for his upcoming film Creed II and hopes that it becomes as big as Rocky, Rambo and Expendables.

Salman on Tuesday shared the poster of Creed 2 on his Twitter account and cap-tioned, “Heard that Creed II is to release soon. Hope this franchise goes on to become as big as Rocky, Rambo and Expendables.

Keep punching, Sylvester Stallone.”

Creed II is a sports drama film directed by Steven Caple Jr.

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n the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary and to mark four years of the national cleanliness campaign Swachh Bharat, Shah Rukh Khan has asked his many followers to come forward and fulfil the dream of a Clean India. In a series of videos that the actor has shared on his official Twitter handle, he can be heard talking about the hazards of open def-

P

It is a sequel to Creed and the eighth installment in the Rocky film series and it stars Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Dolph Lundgren, Florian Munteanu, Phylicia Rashad, Andre Ward, Wood Harris, Brigitte

ecation, health risks of unclean toilets and benefits of waste management.

T h e f i r s t video, with t h e c a p t i o n “Milkar karein a p n e

Nielsen and Milo Ventimiglia.

The film follows Adonis Creed’s training in order to defeat the son of Ivan Drago, the powerful athlete who killed his father in the ring more than 30 years ago. (Indian

riyanka Chopra and fiancé Nick Jonas landed in Jodhpur on Tuesday morning and visited the Mehrangarh Fort there.

While it is unclear why the couple is in the tourist city, some reports claim it could either be for their wedding destination or marriage shopping.

Priyanka wrapped up her hit American show Quantico a few months

back. Soon after news of her rumoured relationship with American singer Nick Jonas began doing the rounds. The speculations ended when ultimately on August 18 this year, Priyanka and Nick got engaged in Mumbai. The roka ceremony was a close-knit affair with only close friends and family present.

While their wedding date has still not

Raashtrapita aur apne Pradhan Mantriji ke ek #SwachhBharat ke sapne ko saakaar (come together to fulfil the dream of a Clean India seen by the Father of the Nation and your Prime Minister)”, has him talking about the effects of

open defecation on human health and the diseases caused by it.

Sharing the second video, the Zero actor has written, “Ek kadam swachhata ki oar… @SwachhBharatGov @ P M O I n d i a #MyCleanIndia #SwachhBharat.” Here the actor emphasises on the importance of cleanliness of toilets. He appeals people to clean the floor and toilet seat after use.

In the last video, Shah Rukh suggests throwing the wet and dry waste separately. He tweeted, “Kyunki desh humse hai aur hum desh se…@SwachhBharatGov @ P M O I n d i a #SwachhBharat #MyCleanIndia.”

Not just Shah Rukh, other Bollywood actors have also come out to support the cause. Helicopter Eela actor Kajol tweeted, “More Gandhiji always said, be the change

Ex-press)

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K

ajol is busy with promotions of her upcoming film Helicopter Eela. The actor recently promoted the film on the sets of Indian Idol Season 10, judged by Anu Malik, Neha Kakkar and Vishal Dadlani. Along with Kajol, it was Ajay Devgn who marked his pres-ence on the music reality show.

The couple seemed to have had a lot of fun while shooting for this promotional episode as we saw Kajol breaking into dance, teasing Ajay Devgn, pulling the leg of contestants and so on.

Helicopter Eela is about Eela (Kajol) who is a single parent and an aspiring singer. It is a story about motherhood and how one can reinvent parenthood.

Directed by Pradeep Sarkar, the film has been produced by Devgn. It will hit screens on October 12.

(Indian Express)

adhika Apte, Ayushmann Khuranna and Tabu starrer Andhadhun is set to release on October 5. The Sriram Raghavan directorial will depict a thrilling tale of a blind man, who finds himself caught in a murder mystery. Indianexpress.com recently sat down with Radhika Apte for an exclusive chat where she spoke about Andhadhun, on being categorised and her future projects.

Radhika shared that she doesn’t want to give out any spoilers and so wouldn’t reveal much about the film. “It’s a thriller so I won’t talk much. But I am playing the love inter-est of Ayushmann. For a change, I am playing this happy sunshine person. And trust me, it was fun to do it. There are a few difficult scenes also but overall it’s something really different. But the prime reason for taking up the film was Sriram. I love being on the sets and working with him,” said the Sacred Games actor.

Talking about her co-stars, Radhika said, “It was amazing to work with Ayushmann. He is really talented and made some brave choices in the kind of films that he has done. As for Tabu,

I am personally a massive fan of hers. I just wish I had more scenes with her.”

Not many know that Radhika is a trained dancer. She confessed that she misses danc-ing and would love to resume it soon.

And when asked why we haven’t seen her shak-ing a leg in films, Radhika smiled to say, “I haven’t been offered anything that would interest me. Sometimes I really feel that I have been categorised.

And I am definitely not fine with it. But as a society, we like to put people into boxes and label them.”

So what kind of films Radhika

been announced, reports claim that it might take place by the end of this year.

Nick was a few days back also spotted locking horns with former Indian skipper MS Dhoni at a friendly football match in Mumbai. Bollywood stars like Aditya Roy Kapur, Ishaan Khatter, Kunal Khemu and Dino Morea also donned their football jerseys for the same match.

(Indian

Express)

you want to see. This Gandhi Jayanti let’s remember what he stood for. #SwachhataHiSeva #MyCleanIndia.”

Anil Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu, Swara Bhasker and others took to their social media ac-counts and remembered the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. (Indian Express)

would enjoy doing? “I really don’t know how to catego-rise films.

It all depends on the script, the character and director. These need to be real-ly good. Rest, I would enjoy doing a commercial mainstream film as much as a serious festival project,” replied the 35-year-old actor.

On being asked whether there are enough roles for women in Bollywood today, Radhika opined, “It is changing. Today, none of the women is only running around trees in films. I can just hope that it changes faster. Out of 10 films that are being made, let’s at least have five that revolve around women characters.”

The actor has been on a roll this year. After the success of her web projects Sacred Games and Ghoul, she will have another release Baazaar later this month.

Quiz her whether this is the best time in her career and Radhika said with a laugh, “No! I hope there are better times coming.”

She concluded the conversation saying that she has two foreign films up next. Radhi-ka also added that she will terribly miss not being in the next season of Sacred Games. (Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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he Nun, a Corin Hardy directorial that released earlier this month, has become the biggest film in the Conjuring universe.

It has grossed over 330 million dollars worldwide, eclipsing the previ-ous record-holder The Conjuring 2’s 320.39 million dollars.

A spinoff of The Conjuring franchise,

The Nun stars Taissa Farmiga and Demian Bichir in lead roles. The Nun is based on the demon that was first seen in The Conjuring 2. It is set in a ‘clois-tered abbey’ in Romania in 1952 and its plot kicks off when a nun commits suicide. A priest and a novitiate investigate her suicide and the film promises the abbey will

become a “horrific battle-ground between the living and the damned.”

The Nun was made on a budget of 22 million dollars. It has already earned a humongous profit, and continues the legacy of the Conjuring franchise that began with The Conjuring in 2013. Even negative reviews did not affect the

V

enom is Sony’s attempt at building a superhero universe of its own in the wake of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Directed by Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland), the film stars Tom Hardy,

S

ylvester Stallone started shooting for Rambo 5 on Tuesday. The 72-year-old actor, who reprises his role as troubled Vietnam War veteran John Rambo in the fifth part of the action franchise, made the announcement on Instagram. He also shared his first look from the film dressed as a cowboy.

“Tonight we start filming…” Stallone wrote in one post. “Comes a Horseman Wild and Free. @rambomovie #rambo5,” he wrote in another. The film will be directed by Adrian Grunberg and scripted by Matthew Cirulnick.

In May, Stallone confirmed that Rambo 5 is slated to be released next autumn.

The Hollywood action star will next be seen in Creed 2, reprising arguably his most famous role of boxing legend Rocky Balboa.

The sequel, featuring Michael B Jordan as Adonis Creed, will hit theatres November 21.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan had recently wished good luck to Sylvester Stallone for Creed 2, hoping that it becomes as big as Rocky, Rambo, and Expendables.

Salman on Tuesday shared the poster of Creed 2 on his Twitter account and captioned, “Heard that Creed II is to release soon. Hope this franchise goes on to become as big as Rocky, Rambo, and Expendables.

Keep punching, Sylvester Stallone.” (Indian Express)

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film’s performance.

It received 27% at Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads, “The Nun boasts strong performances, spooky atmospherics, and a couple de-cent set-pieces, but its sins include inconsistent logic and narrative slackness.”

The Indian Express’ Shalini Langer also gave the film a negative

review.

She wrote, “Hell, dam-nation, heaven, evil, dark ages, blood of Christ are just words of normal conversation once the duo make their way to the abbey — escorted by a Frenchman (Bloquet), who is there to be just there.

And where sane people would dread to step in (a door helpfully

Michelle Williams and Riz Ahmed. The film is a part of Sony’s cinematic universe, which con-tains supporting characters of Marvel’s Spider-Man. The synopsis states, “One of Marvel’s most

enigmatic, complex and badass characters comes to the big screen, starring Academy Awardnominated actor Tom Hardy as the lethal protector Venom.”

Here are all the trailers and clips of Venom.

aron Egerton is looking like a very good Elton John in the Rocketman teaser.

Egerton, known for Kingsman series of films, stars as the legendary British singer-songwriter in the film.

A couple of days ago Paramount Pictures had outed the actor’s look in the role, which showed him wear-ing his trademark glittering glasses.

The one minute teaser suggests that the film will trace John’s rise to stardom, and is a sort of bio-pic despite makers claiming otherwise. Called an epic musical fantasy film, the film nevertheless looks biographical in nature.

The title of the movie is based on the

song “Rocket Man”, released with the 1972 album Honky Château.

Dexter Fletcher, who replaced Bryan Singer as the director

o

f

says, ‘God ends here’), the two proceed to have some wine and dinner in an abandoned convent next to a graveyard, next to the abbey.

Soon it’s pouring nuns from all corners, gliding, whispering, bleeding, crack-ing, praying, screaming. Exactly why, no one is sure.”

(Indian Express)

This teaser trailer released in February and disappointed many fans who said why was there no Venom in a trailer for the movie Venom.

Venom releases on October 5.” (Indian Express)

Bohemian Rhapsody midway, will helm the Paramount project.

Egerton had previously said about the role, “We are making a movie called Rocketman about El-ton John’s formative years.

Everyone thinks it’s a biopic. It isn’t. It’s a fantasy musical so it’s ac-tually his songs used to express important beats in his life at emotional moments.

He’s not the only character that sings. It’s going to be fun.”

Egerton must have taken inputs to play the role from John himself on the sets of Kingsman: The Golden Circle, second film in the series. Elton John had a major cameo on in the Egerton starrer.

Rocket Man will release in May 2019.

(Indian Express)

50 SPORT

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Pouderoyen, Police promise nail-biting Limacol final A

fter making their way into this year’s Limacol Knockout Football final, both Police and Pouderoyen FC have promised that they would play hard enough to make this year’s final one to remember. With both teams netting just one goal to make it past the semi-final round and into their most crucial match, both teams are confident that they have what it takes to take home the win, given that they have put in the right amount of work.

Speaking to Guyana Times International Sport, Pouderoyen Captain Marvin Griffith stated that his team was happy with their performance, and also stressed on the fact that they did not concede any goals.

“We all are happy; we planned for this and we executed our plan,” Griffith proudly stated.

But Pouderoyen were also aware that they would have to go to the drawing board to identify and im-prove their weak areas.

“I can’t really say right now, but when we go back for our recovery, the coach and the management body will decide that based on how they saw the team play,” Griffith said.

Meanwhile, Police Coach Dwayne Bobb has already pointed out the areas that would need work in order to overcome their opponents.

“Well, when I watched them, I saw them moving the ball quite well and we would really have to work at practice. Practising the moves, getting behind the defenders, strikers coming forward with the ball, you know, disrupt them a bit because they’re looking sound,” he explained.

In talking strategy for his side, Griffith boasted that his team were ready for the final.

He noted that they were not afraid or intimidated by their opponents, and the team’s focus was set on bringing home the

grand prize.

“We don’t watch face when we’re playing football: whoever challenges us, that’s how we play.

We put our best foot forward in hoping for a big victory.”

Expressing similar

sentiments, Bobb is also keen on walking away with the G$600,000 cash prize that is reserved for this year’s winner.

“Come Friday’s finals, we have to definitely put in the work ‘cause tonight’s game could

have been better for us, but as I will say again we have to come and put out the work. Because we always try to get the players to work together, so that the games will be better,” Bobb said.

Beaton, Ramkissoon among top karatekas at GKF senior national championships

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he Guyana Karate Federation (GKF) concluded a successful Senior National Championships this past Sunday as Keith Beaton, Roger Peroune and others shined during the day-long competition.

The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) came alive with top performances by the fighters in the two cat-egories – Kata (forms) and Kumite (sparring). The competition commenced with the Kata, which saw exceptional performances as Jayanti Ram emerged winner in the Female 14-17 Kata, earning herself the first place, with Jessica Callender and Rehuma Holder placing second and third respectively.

Karatekas of the 2018 National Senior Championships pose following a successful tournament

In the Male 14-17 Kata, John McGrath copped the first place as Roy De Younge and Trevon Miller came in second and third. In the Female 18 and Over Kata, Wanda Agdomar came out on top, while Kristine Ramkissoon and Aolione Griffith placed second and third respectively.

The Male 18 and Over Kata saw the match for the coveted first place between last year’s finalist and 2017 champ Peroune and Malcolm Francis (2017 runnerup). Peroune brought his A-game and earned the first-place spot once again, Francis placed second and Otho Harris placed third.

First place in the

Female Team Kata went to Team Association do Shotokan KarateGuyana (ASK-G) comprising Agdomar, Ramkissoon and Griffith.

Second place was taken by Team Guyana Karate Col-lege (GKC) – Genoveva Buelna, Ram and Nalini Rampersaud.

Male Team Kata saw Team ASK-G comprising Peroune, Francis and Avinash Ramgolam coming out vic-torious; earning second was National Martial Arts Association (NMAA) with members Rodwell Alleyne, Ryan Alleyne and Dillon Hyman and Team Berbice Shotokan Karate Dojo (BSKD) with members Ma-hadeo Ramotar, Shemar Parkinson and D’Andre DaSilva placed

third.

The Female 14-17 Kumite saw Callender gaining first place and Reheima Holder placing second. In the Male 1417 Under 68kg Kumite, Shakeem Walcott earned first place, Kevin Bradford second and Roy DeYounge third.

The Male 14-17 68kg and Over category saw Mark Wong placing first, Trevon Miller and Jerral Barker earning the second and third positions respectively. The Female 18 and Over minus 61kg Kumite saw Ram placing first in this division and Buelna earning the second place. The Female 18 and Over minus 76kg Kumite saw Griffith placing and Agdomar earning second.

In the Female 18 and Over, 76kg and Over Kumite, Ramkissoon earned first place and Rampersaud second. In the Male 18 and Over, Under 67kg category, Ryan Alleyne won first place, Ramgolam sec-ond and Harris third.

The Male 18 and Over, Under 84kg Kumite saw Parkinson win first place, Angelo Harris second and Rodwell Alleyne third. In the Male 18 and Over, 84kg and Over contest, Beaton won first place against Dillon Hyman who came in second (the two athletes have met in the finals of the senior nationals on numerous occasions) with Samuel Monroe earning third.

In Female Team Kumite, first place went to

Team ASK-G comprising Agdomar, Ramkissoon and Grif-fith, and second place was taken by Team GKC – Buelna, Ram and Rampersaud.

Male Team Kumite saw Team NMAA featuring Rodwell Alleyne, Ryan Alleyne and Hyman came out victorious, earning second was Team ASK-G, with Beaton, Parkinson and Ramgolam.

Meanwhile, the organisers extended gracious and heartfelt thanks to the National Sports Commission (NSC) for all the assistance it offered leading up to this exceptional competition and thanked the vol-unteers, athletes, and the public as well.

SPORT 51

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Young West Indians 'eager to play Test cricket' - Jason Holder E ven with the longawaited Test championship now taking some sort of shape, there continues to be doubt around the future of five-day cricket.

With a T20 league happening virtually every month of the year, with franchises willing to pay obscene sums for allround talent, the fears of players choosing club over country are no longer rooted in a subterranean reality. West Indies perhaps struggle with this the most, but their captain Jason Holder has seen positive signs from the next generation.

"Just a couple of days ago, we were sitting down in the dressing room to chat as part of a group. For me personally, it is a thing of joy and pride to play Test cricket," Holder said at the pre-match press conference in Rajkot.

"Of all three formats, Test is my favourite format and it was shocking for me but it was really good to see most if

not everyone saying the same thing. And in recent chats as well around the CPL and even prior to the CPL, the amount of young players who are eager to play Test cricket is remarkable.

"There's been a craze that Test cricket is dead around the world but if you have young players coming through such as the ones in the Caribbean who are really looking forward and really want to play a Test match for West Indies, if that goes around the world, I'm sure Test cricket will be here for a very very long time. Personally again, it's the best format. It's a test of character and to be successful on this stage, it says a lot of your character and it says a lot about yourself as a person."

That desire will be useful as West Indies, ranked ranked No. 8, take on India, who are at the top of the table and are experts at winning at home. Holder felt there were ways to bridge that gap and has high hopes

of his team doing so, if they followed a few simple steps.

"All our batters have to have a gameplan and know how you're looking to score, and how you're looking to make runs against this quality attack in their own backyard. One of the things I spoke about is patience. We've got to be patient but not only that, we have to capitalise on any loose delivery or any opportunity to score. I think looking to score is evident and should be one of our main gameplans. Whenever you play any game of crick-

Three uncapped players in England's Women's World T20 squad

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ngland have named three uncapped players in their squad of 15 for the Women's World T20 in the Caribbean next month, as they look to add the 20-over title to the 50over crown that they won in memorable circumstances on home soil last year.

Nottinghamshire's Kirstie Gordon and Sussex's Linsey Smith - both left-arm spinners with Loughborough Lightning in the Kia Super League - have been named for the first time, while the 20-year-old batsman and legspinner Sophia Dunkley is also included after impressing this season for Middlesex and Surrey Stars.

Smith was a breakthrough player for Southern Vipers when they won the inaugural Kia Super League in 2016, and has continued to star for Loughborough Lightning this year, alongside Gordon, who was regularly in the wickets as they reached this year's final.

"It's always an exciting time when any England squad is announced but especially when there are three newcomers included," said Mark Robinson, England's head coach.

"Sophia, Kirstie and Linsey have all had outstanding summers domestically and impressed when

they have been in and around the group. All three will bring something different to the squad.

"Everyone is looking forward to the challenges ahead and we can't wait to get out there and get started."

England will travel to the Caribbean without the services of Sarah Taylor, their world-class wicketkeep-er-batsman, who was withdrawn from consideration last week in the ongoing management of her anxiety condition.

Amy Jones has been named as the squad's firstchoice wicketkeeper in Taylor's absence, and may vye with Lauren Winfield for an opener's berth alongside Tammy Beaumont and Danielle Wyatt.

England WWT20 squad

Heather Knight (Berkshire, capt), Tammy Beaumont (Kent), Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire), Sophia Dunkley (Middlesex), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Tash Farrant (Kent), Kirstie Gordon (Notting-hamshire), Jenny Gunn (Warwickshire), Dani Hazell (Yorkshire), Amy Jones (Warwickshire, wk), Nat Sciver (Surrey), Linsey Smith (Sussex), Anya Shrubsole (Somerset), Lauren Winfield (Yorkshire), Dan-ni Wyatt (Sussex)

et, you have to be positive and get runs on the board. Not being reckless but you've got to have a clear gameplan about how you'll go about facing the Indian attack."

West Indies come to India on the back of a successful home season - they beat Bangladesh 2-0 and drew with Sri Lanka 1-1 - but the last time they won a series here was in 1983. Holder stressed that their biggest focus was on playing good cricket - "because that is the only thing in our control" - but he did put the onus on his batting line-up to do what

needs to done.

And in that sense the likes of Kraigg Brathwaite, who is among the top five rungetting openers in the last two years, Shai Hope, who helped pull off one of West Indies' greatest ever Test wins last year at Headingley, and Roston Chase, who defied India in 2016 and almost did the same to Pakistan last year, become crucial.

"These are the guys we'll be looking to carry our batting," Holder said. "Guys like Kraigg Brathwaite who's been around for a long time and has had success as well and I'm sure Roston and Shai, they've probably had an up-and-down period the last couple of months, but they'll be looking to turn things around. We'll lean on them and myself and Shane Dowrich, who's been doing well too, to get us through."

Only five members of the West Indies squad have played Test cricket in India - Brathwaite,

Kieran Powell, Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach and Devendra Bishoo and one of them is out of contention for Rajkot.

But Holder felt there was a way to overcome that disadvantage.

"I'm sure many of the guys have had random conversations with players who've toured here before. Not only past West Indian players but players around the world in general. The luxury we have is that we've just had the CPL which obviously has international players. From the Barbados Tridents team we had Steven Smith and I'm sure at some point the players leaned on them for some guidance and expertise on how to be successful playing in Indian conditions. It's about sharing as much information as possible. We obviously watch a lot of footage in this day and age as well and it's just about picking the bits and pieces that we require to make a complete gameplan."

(ESPNCricinfo)

Smith named in PSL draft; Warner turns down offer

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anned Australia captain Steven Smith is among the 500 players to be named in the draft for the fourth edition of Pakistan Super League. Smith has been classified as a Platinum Player - the highest-paid category alongside the retired South Africa batsman AB de Villiers.

ESPNcricinfo understands that David Warner had turned down PSL's management request to participate in the league.

Smith and Warner, who had been banned from playing international and domestic cricket for 12 months by Cricket Australia for their roles in the Newlands ball-tampering incident, have been playing T20 leagues across the globe. The duo featured in the Global T20 in Canada and the Caribbean Premier League before they turned out in grade cricket in Sydney.

De Villiers, who retired from all international cricket in May, had confirmed his participation with a tweet in September.

Australia's limited-overs specialist Chris Lynn, who had missed the previous season after dislocating his shoulder, has been retained in Lahore Qalandars' roster, while Islamabad United have held on to JP Duminy and Andre Russell - although it is unlikely they will be a part of the tournament due to their domestic

Steven Smith (Photo courtesy: eurosport.com)

and national commitments.

No official decision has been made yet on Brendon McCullum, a platinum-category player and Lahore Qalnadars' captain for the past two years. ESPNcricinfo understands he could be released from the roster, with the Qalandars' sights set on Smith or de Villiers. Qalandars have finished bottom of the league in each of the previous three PSL seasons.

Afghanistan's ace spinner Rashid Khan, who is also in the platinum category on Quetta Gladiators' ros-ter, had missed the last season for the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

His availability this year depends on Afghanistan Cricket Board's nod.

The retention and trade window in PSL is expected to close in the second week of October, after which all the released players go into the draft.

Each squad will need to have at least 16 players apart from four places which are reserved for young and emerging talent.

The fourth edition of PSL set to begin on February 14 in Dubai. The last eight games will be held in Paki-stan with Karachi set to host the final for the second consecutive year.

(ESPNCricinfo)

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CWI issues new retainer contracts – Lewis denies white ball offer

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ricket West Indies (CWI) has confirmed that central contracts for Windies Men and Women players for the 2018/2019 year have been issued.

The previous contracts expired on September 30th 2018, but the new contracts will be backdated to July 1st 2018 and run until June 30, 2019, as CWI aligns all players on the same contract period (Franchise contracts used to expire on July 31st and WINDIES contracts on September30th).

Cricket West Indies’ Chief Executive Officer Johnny Grave says “All Windies and Franchise players are now contracted from the 1st of July to the 30th of June, with their performances assessed from the 1st of April to the 31st of March. This will allow for a more efficient pro-

c e s s of reviewing, renewing, and awarding contracts within West

Indies professional cricket, and give everyone at least three months

to plan for the season ahead.

“Our season will

start each year with the Caribbean Premier League, followed by the Super50 Cup, and finish on the 4-Day competition.”

The decision to offer all-format, red and white ball contracts, according to Chairman of Selectors Courtney Browne, “allows for the better management of players as it relates to their development. At the time of recommending contracts in June, some players would have developed in different formats after the process had finished, so their recent performances can’t be considered until the next contract cycle.”

The full contracts list is: All Format Retainers – Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph and Kemar Roach Red Ball Retainers — Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg

Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer and Kieran Powell.

Development Retainers – Sunil Ambris, Keemo Paul and Raymon Reifer White Ball Retainers – Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse and Rovman Powell Evin Lewis was offered a white ball contract, but declined.

New players on retainers are Kemar Roach, Sunil Ambris, Keemo Paul and Raymon Reifer Windies Women – Merissa Aguilleira, Raniece Boyce, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Akeira Peters, Shakera Selman and Stafanie Taylor

CONCACAF Men’s U20 C/ships…

Guyana prepare for clash against Guatemala on Nov. 2 in Florida

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s Guyana prepare for their first match of the CONCACAF Men’s U20 Championship — against Guatemala on November 2 in Florida

— Head Coach Wayne Dover has said the side’s main goal is to advance to the next round.

A 26-man provisional squad has already been announced, and

training, which began a week ago, is focused firstly on the squad’s physical evaluation.

Dover had this to say about the training session, “The week be-

gan with physical evaluation of the players, to test the level of fitness of players. Our aim, as staff, is to qualify; and we made it clear to the players (as to) the level of discipline, dedication, commitment and hard work that is required to achieve the objective. The teams in the group are very tough on paper, but

er were selected from players who had participated in the recentlyconcluded Indigenous Heritage Games.

“During the Indigenous Heritage Sports, we did some scouting, and identified two talents which add strength to the U20 national programme,” Dover confided. Neston Brown and David

and (Chris) Bourne did with distinction.

Coates, on the other hand, has demonstrated qualities as a forward which can match the talent we have seen in the past, such as Gregory Richardson.

We will nurture them to realise their potential,” Head Coach Dover declared.

Commenting on the

The Under20 Jags team during training

we all know that the matches are played on the field, and every team has a chance to win and qualify once they apply themselves.”

The squad in training consists of Guyanabased players, and is comprised of four goalkeepers, seven defenders, 11 midfielders and four forwards. A forward and a defend-

Coates, both from the Rupununi FA, will join the team in the new week.

“Brown is a left full back, a position which has slowly become a dying breed in Guyana.

He possesses qualities which, once harnessed properly, can see him become a senior national player who can perform as (Walter) Moore

physical evaluation of players conducted, the National U20 Coach Developer & Head of Sports Science, Wilson Toledo, said the group has done fairly well over the past week.

Guyana’s match schedule in the first round will see them take on Guatemala, Cayman Islands, Curacao and El Salvador.

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Mixed fortunes for Chess Olympiad team

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The Guyanese chess team in Batumi, Georgia

he Guyanese contingent at the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia continues to experi-ence mixed fortunes as both the male and female teams struggle to hold on to some consistency.

The teams have now completed eight rounds of games and although they looked promising in the sixth recording their first win, the chess players continue to drift between wins and losses.

After a bleak showing in the earlier rounds, the Guyanese team surprised their opponents in the form of Rwanda with a scintillating victory. Guyana’s highest ranking male Anthony Drayton continues to excel at the competition, as he led the charge in the ground-breaking win.

Drayton executed the Guic-co Piano on his opponent Fidele Mutabazi.

Control of the game went back and forth between the players, but it was the higher ranked Drayton who had better tactics.

The experienced Taffin Khan also got a taste of the sweet as he brought in Guyana’s second win. The Guyanese candidate master capitalised quickly on a number of his opponent’s Maxence Murara’s falters to secure the game.

New to the international team is Glenford Corlette who made an impressive showing for himself. Cor-lette pressured Alain Niyibizi into making silly moves after a lethal attack on his castled king. Corlette went as far as sacrificing his queen, and his match was seen as one of Guyana’s best.

Despite not being able to clinch the win, Loris Nathoo settled for a draw against Urwintwari Murara, paving the way

Guyana close out...

The first set was Ortiz’s 11-4, but the second went to the Guyanese 14-12. The match became intense when Ortiz took two sets 11-5, 11-4, but Lowe struck back with two of her own, 11-8, 11-5. Lowe almost tasted victory, but narrowly missed the last set, losing 11-13 to the eventual winner.

Edghill was pitted against another strong Dominican Republic player and suffered the same fate as her countrywoman losing 9-11, 3-11, 6-11, 2-11. Edghill’s bronze will add to her well-deserved Under-21 gold medal.

Over in the male singles, another Dominican

for Guyana’s 3.5 -.5 win.

The women showed similar grit in their encounter with Tanzania.

With no less expected of her, Wom-an FIDE Master (WFM) Maria

Varona Thomas conjured a Sicilian defence that demolished the oppos-ing Asha Kondo.

With the young Nellisha Johnson and Sasha Shariff going down

to Zahabiyah Ebrahim and Alapati Nav-ini Choudary respectively, it was up to the experienced Sheriffa Ali to save face for the Guyanese women. Her lengthy encounter with Bertha Samson resulted in a stalemate, giving the women a 2-2 draw.

In the next round, the positions were switched for the Guyanese as the women won and the men missed out.

In their 3-1 win over the Mauritius team, Johnson showed her true potential after coming back from the edge to take her opponent’s queen. Ali had similar luck, taking apart Essoo’s Scandinavian defence for the win. Shockingly, Varona Thomas was unable to get past her lower ranked adversary, thus set-tling for a draw. The youngest, Shariff also copped a draw resulting in their 3-1 win.

The men’s figures looked similar, but this time they were on the lesser side, losing to Malta 3-1.

Khan, Nathoo and Corlette all lost to their rivals from Malta, and it was Drayton who clinched Guyana’s only point in the game.

Drayton with the Sicilian Defence in his corner took control of the game.

The eighth round held more promising prospects for Guyana’s men as they met Tanzania.

Both Dray-ton and Khan recorded wins against Yusuf Mdoe and Albert Njau respectively. Nathoo and Corlette had better rounds than their previous, settling for draws against Hemed Mlawa and Nurdin Hassuji, resulting in their 3-1 win.

However, the eighth round was not as good for the women who went down 5.3-.5 to Kenya.

Playing against Joyce Ndirangu, Varona Thomas was the only player to salvage a half point for Guyana, as the other ladies Ali, Shariff and Johnson lost.

The Guyanese team have three more rounds of play remaining.

Lindeners urged to support ICC Women’s World T20

from page 54

Republic athlete was the one to stop Guyana in their tracks as Samuel Galvez edged past Franklin 9-11, 10-12, 9-11, 5-11. Despite the loss, Franklin played brilliantly to push his opponent to four sets.

At the senior Caribbean Championships, Guyana won two silver medals in the male and female teams categories, two bronzes in the women’s doubles, three bronzes in the men’s and women’s singles and the highlight of the tournament for the locals was the gold medals from Shemar Britton and Chelsea Edghill in the male and female Under-21 category.

W

Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira holding the cricket bat and posing with students who will be attending the ICC Women's World T20 games here in Guyana

ith the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World T20 slated to commence in Guyana next month, Lindeners were on Tuesday urged to be part of the action as a cricket sensitisation outreach headed to the mining town in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The World T20 which is themed, “Watch this”, will bowl off from November 9 to 24, with the top 10 teams facing off in the first-ever stand-alone Women’s World Cup. Media facilitator John Ramsingh, who was part of the activity, said the aim was to sensitise the public to make residents aware that the tournament was headed to Guyana and to encourage attendance.

He noted that the tournament

was a very significant one, with lots of players who are now kickstarting their careers on the international scene, while others are looking to end theirs on a high note.

The sensitisation, he said, aims at ensuring persons from all walks of life across the country get an opportunity to be part of the games. “It’s the first time that the Women’s World Cup would be played by itself. Previously, it used to be played alongside the men’s tournament…so, it is the first time it will be a stand-alone tournament.

Windies are the defending champions and it is an opportunity for them to defend their title at home. Guyana is going to be a very important venue, because … we have matches here – we have the opening matches that are very

important. We’re going to get off on a winning note before we move off to St Lucia and Antigua where the finals will be,” he explained.

Ramsingh said tickets for the matches were currently on sale online and would be physically on sale from October 29. The tickets, he pointed out, are being sold at the affordable cost of G$500, as he noted that this is another reason why persons should show support.

During the activity, the sensitisation team handed out flyers and met with persons in the community. Residents were also afforded the opportunity of taking photos with the ICC Cricket Bat. The team also met with staff of Republic Bank, which is a major sponsor of the game in the Caribbean.

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Guyana close out Caribbean Championship with bronze

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Chelsea Edghill in action

fter an amazing week at the 60th Caribbean Table Tennis Federation (CTTF) Senior Championships in Jamaica, the Guyanese team ended their 2018 run on a high note, copping three bronze medals.

National men’s champion Christopher Franklin, Trenace Lowe and Chelsea Edghill were the only Guyanese who made it into

the semi-finals of the senior singles round and although they did not make it into the final, the trio played their matches valiantly to clinch the bronze.

In the semis, Lowe suffered a loss to the dominant Dominican Republic’s Yasiris Ortiz 3-4. Ortiz eventu-ally went on to take the gold medal in the women’s singles. turn to page 53

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