Sunday june 24

LOOK INSIDE !

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3603

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Jagdeo to have formal role in next PPP Govt guyanatimesgy.com

PRICE

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Domino competition turns deadly P2

Page 3

…father of 3 succumbs to head injuries

...will continue to lead struggle as General Secretary regardless of CCJ's ruling $200M lawsuit

“I will not be intimidated, silenced” – Edghill

Page 9

$120 vat included

Bartica woman busted with cocaine, ganja in bedroom

Panama rice deal

Rice Board P11 violating laws with 6-month contract – GRMA head

Page 8

Cabinet to P15 deliberate on teachers’ salary increases – Education Minister

…says decision within a month

Motorists decry condition of Parfaite P14 Harmonie access road

Despite the prolonged rains which started in mid-April, some animals still have to journey for long distances to graze. In this Andrew Carmichael photo, a flock of sheep walked along an Alness Village, Corentyne dam on Saturday in search of greener pastures

Essequibo Coast man accuses Police of brutality …nursing broken knee at GPHC Page 12

Lusignan P7 prisoner disarmed of knife, cutlass by fellow inmate …ranks seize more ganja at NA Prison

2 news Domino competition turns deadly SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

…father of 3 succumbs to head injuries …suspect in hiding

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hirty-eight-year-old John Choong of Lot 197 Singh Street, Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD) took his last breath at the West Demerara Regional Hospital on Tuesday and relatives are still trying to come to

terms with the loss.

Choong sustained head injuries during an altercation with a fellow player at a domino competition on Father’s Day. The suspect, said to be in his early 20s, has gone into hiding after he heard of the hire car

driver’s passing. Up to late Saturday, he remained at large, Police confirmed.

Choong, a father of three – ages 18, 13 and 7 – and a former Wales Estate worker, would often play dominoes at Sideline Dam, Sisters Village on the weekends.

Reports are that sometime after midnight into Father’s Day, Choong and the suspect got into an argument. The suspect reportedly pushed the father of three, causing him to fall into a nearby drain where he hit his head.

Choong’s brother-in-law, Faroz Rafiek, told Guyana Times that following the incident, a report was made at the Wales Police Station.

He added that Choong was treated and received 10 stiches to his head before being released from the West Demerara Regional Hospital the very Sunday.

According to the brother-in-law, Choong went back to hospital on Monday, June 18, to clean the wound.

However, on Tuesday June 19, when he went again to clean the wound he was admitted to the hospital.

It was disclosed that Choong’s wife, Zaheeda, was with him up to Tuesday afternoon. The woman has

Deceased father of three John Choong

since indicated that her husband started to behave delirious before succumbing later that evening.

Relatives, who are hope-

ful for action into the matter, gave a statement to Wales Police, informing ranks of Choong’s death.

They also claimed that after

making arrangements with them to go the mortuary on Wednesday, no Police Officer from Wales turned up to the post-mortem examination.

Relatives however requested and later acquired a rank from Vreed-en-Hoop, who witnessed the autopsy. This publication learnt that the father died from trauma and cerebral haemorrhage.

A Police source has since told this publication that Choong and the suspect had settled the matter before Choong’s wound turned septic. A probe has since been launched.

Choong’s spouse is a housewife and it was said that she is very distressed over her family’s future. The couple celebrated 19 years of marriage earlier this month.

Accused firearm licence fraudster on bail

A

Charlotte Street, Georgetown resident, who was arraigned for pretending that he was in a position to grant a firearm licence, was on Friday released on $80,000 bail when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Lawrence Gittens, 48, denied the charge that was read to him by Magistrate Leron Daly.

According to facts presented to the court, between May 15 and 28, 2018, Gittens obtained $250,000 from Andre Ash with the intent to defraud by falsely pretending he could obtain a firearm licence.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh informed the court that investigations into the matter are incomplete and made no objections to bail being granted.

Lawrence Gittens hid his face as he The matter will continue on July 20 left the courtroom

3 Jagdeo to have formal role in next PPP Govt news

SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, June 24 – a night retraction from 02:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Monday, June 25 – a night retraction from 03:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, June 24 – 14:00h-15:30h and Monday, June 25 – 14:45h-16:15h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

...will continue to lead struggle as General Secretary regardless of CCJ's ruling

WEATHER TODAY Thundery rain showers can be expected throughout the day and into the evening, will temperatures ranging between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South Easterly to Easterly and East Northeasterly to North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 01:32h and 14:01h reaching a maximum height of 2.39 metres and 2.33 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 07:34h and 19:50h reaching minimum heights of 0.82 metre and 0.87 metre.

Former President and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

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SATURDAY, June 23, 2018

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urrent People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, has signalled his interest in returning to Government in a formal capacity should his party return to the seats of power.

This was communicated by a statement on Saturday.

“Unlike the 2011-2015 period, where I played no formal part in the PPP Administration, I intend to be a formal part of the next PPP Government as we resume the implementation of plans to build a better country of which all our people can feel proud,” Jagdeo related in his release.

He added that the PPP is a party not built on personalities “but on policies, all designed to create a better life for our people, and forge racial, ethnic and class unity,” he continued. “I remain committed to these policies and causes and will continue to struggle with the Party to achieve them. I remain absolutely humbled at the over-whelming confidence which the Guyanese people have continued to place in me and I remain eternally grateful for their continued support.”

Jagdeo’s statement comes just days before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is expected to deliver a ruling in the case of Attorney General of Guyana v Cedric Richardson. This case will have major ramifications for Guyana.

Last year, Government had decided to have the case heard in the CCJ after the Appeal Court in Guyana had dismissed its appeal against the ruling of former Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang – which had stated that in Guyana, sovereignty resides in the people, and not in the Parliament.

Justice Chang’s ruling meant that certain fundamental clauses in the Constitution, which serve to define its substantive na-

ture, could only be altered by a referendum of the people. According to Jagdeo, whatever the outcome of the ruling, he would remain on the political scene.

“Multitudes of supporters of the PPP/C and even across the political divide have made contact with me. Many concerns were raised, including the public statements of those in Government in respect of a particular outcome,” Jagdeo related. “As a result, I am moved to publicly assure that whatever the ruling is, I am and will remain the General Secretary of the PPP,” Jagdeo said on Saturday.

“In that capacity, I will continue to spearhead the Party’s struggle for a better life for all Guyanese, especially the working people, the poor and the under-privileged, for racial and national unity and for victory at the polls at the next Local Government, Regional and National Elections.”

The challenge

The constitutional challenge case brought by Georgetown resident Cedric Richardson in February 2015 had sought the court’s interpretation of the National Assembly’s changes to Article 90, as those related to four restraints on the freedom of choice by citizens at national elections.

Richardson argued, through his lawyers, Emily Dodson and Shawn Allicock, that the amendment – Article 17 of 2000 – unconstitutionally curtails and restricts his sovereign and democratic right and freedom as a qualified elector to elect a specific person of his choice as the Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Richardson had also contended that the limit was unconstitutional and il-

legal. He sought the court’s interpretation to determine whether a referendum on the amendment should not have been held, instead of the two-third majority in the National Assembly having the power to decide the limit on the number of terms.

Justice Chang had ruled in July 2015 that the alteration of Article 90 by the Act No 17 of 2000, in substance and effect, undoubtedly diminishes the democratic

choice.

As such, while the Constitution provides for representative democracy, such representative democracy cannot encroach on popular sovereignty from which it derives and which is entrenched by the requirement of the referendum.

However, the High Court’s decision was appealed by the Attorney General’s Chambers and former Speaker of the

The Caribbean Court of Justice

rights of the electorate in electing a person of their own choice as President.

The former acting Chief Justice noted that such an amendment needs a referendum and is invalid and without legal effect for reason of non-compliance.

He further ruled that Act 17 of 2000 seeks to dilute the pre-existing democratic rights of the electorate to elect a President of their

House Raphael Trotman; both of whom were named as respondents in the court action. They asked that the ruling be “wholly set aside”.

The outcome of this matter could also be a deciding factor as to whether Jagdeo will be the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate in the 2020 General Elections. (Jarryl Bryan)

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, june 24, 2018

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Guyana: People, not parliamentary, sovereignty

W

e have been informed that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will, on Tuesday, pronounce on what the rest of the media insist on sensationalising as the “third term case”.

The Richardson case, as decided by our High and Appellate Courts, goes to the heart of the constitutional foundation of the “rule of law” -- contraposed to the always precarious “rule of men” -- to govern ourselves, by stating clearly that sovereignty resides ultimately in the Guyanese people; and that this sovereignty cannot be transferred to even the Legislative representatives of the people without their explicit consent in a referendum.

Sovereignty, of course, is a foundational concept in our inherited British notion of the rule of law, since it had to do with where ultimate power was located, starting from the Monarch (“Sovereign”), who originally had absolute power. The famous statement of Louis XIV, “I am the state!”, exemplifies this latter condition. It was no different in Britain.

The history of sovereignty is one of a gradual whittling down of that power, starting from the 13th century, when the nobility forced King John to accept the Magna Carta to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, after which the Earl of Shaftesbury could declare, “The Parliament of England is that supreme and absolute power which gives life and motion to the English Government.” Sovereignty was in the representatives of the people, not in the people in Britain.

A century later, however, when the US was launched, its founding fathers explicitly declared that sovereignty resided in the people, with aspects of it -- as specified in a written constitution -- delegated to the organs of the state, including the Government. Some think it is because Britain does not have a written constitution that Parliament is supreme, but the conventions that govern its present workings could easily have been broadened to further devolve sovereignty.

When Guyana, and most of the former colonies, became independent, they were given, or enacted, Constitutions that followed the US view of the locus of sovereignty: it resided in “the people”. Unlike the case in Britain, where the court cannot overturn an act of Parliament, here in Guyana, with its delegated sovereignty from the people as co-equal to Parliament, this can be done under the principle of Judicial Review, if the Act violates the Constitution.

In the past, this application was confined to specific stipulations of the Constitution that purported to spell out areas of national life with which the executive could not transgress: negative freedoms. More recently, however, the Supreme Court of India, and several others in former British colonies, such as Belize, insisted that the Legislature could not pass amendments to the Constitution that affected its “basic structure”. This encompassed fundamental doctrines laid down by the people in a Constituent Assembly, such as the locus of sovereignty; fundamental rights of the people; separation of powers. Such changes should be ratified by the people in referenda, since those doctrines are fundamental to the ethos of the Constitution as a whole.

It was from this perspective that Justice Ian Chang determined our Parliament cannot restrict the choices available to the sovereign people as to whom they may chose as their president; as Article 90, by Act No. 17 of 2001, which it passed, did. He ruled that the people themselves should make such a decision via a referendum.

In Britain, however, where Parliament is supreme, as their doyen of Constitutional law summarised, Parliament had “the right to make or unmake any law whatever; and, further, that no person or body is recognised by the law of England as having a right to override or set aside the legislation of Parliament”.

But while Britain has centuries of tradition that make them comfortable with that state of affairs, our history in the short half a century since independence should disabuse us of being sanguine with placing all powers in the hands of our representatives.

We do not want a repetition of what happened between 1968 and 1992.

The Giant Anteater, the world’s largest anteater, lives in the grasslands, savannahs, and open tropical rainforests of South and Central America. The Giant Anteater has a long, tubular snout; a small, pencil-sized mouth, and a 2-foot- long tongue. Its uniqueness lies in its ability to eat extremely small living insects very accurately. The Giant Anteater grows to about 4 feet in length, and has a tail that is about 3 feet long. Giant Anteaters walk on their knuckles; their claws are used to dig for food and for defending themselves.

This animal catches insects by using its long tongue, which it flicks in and out of its mouth up to 160 times each minute.

In this photo, the Giant Anteater is seen roaming carelessly in the Rupununi Savannahs while a cowboy looks on. (Photo by Ian Craddock for Visit Rupununi)

Weren’t charges against Singh, Brassington also meant to embarrass, humiliate?

Dear Editor, I was utterly flabbergasted when I read that the Finance Minister is now suing Member of Parliament Juan Edghill, claiming damages in the sum of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) for “Malicious Prosecution of the Offence of Misconduct in Public Office” and other damages.

Jordan, in his application to the court, stated that private criminal charges filed by the Opposition Parliamentarian were intended to “embarrass, humiliate, and cause him to suffer public odium and contempt”. If that is the case, then we can also argue, and reasonably conclude, that the charges against Dr Ashni Singh and Mr Brassington are also meant to “embarrass, humiliate, and cause them to suffer public odium and contempt”.

This must be so concluded, since the sale of the land and properties were duly

authorised by Cabinet in the same manner in which Jordan claimed that the payment of $906 million to Homestretch Development Incorporated was approved by the National Assembly.

Similarly, “no reasonable person can conclude, or even draw an inference,” that Dr Singh and Mr Brassington are guilty of the offence of ‘misconduct in public office’.

Mr Jordan should, however, know that it is for the courts to conclude on guilt.

But while the DPP has allowed the justice system to act -- albeit unjustly so -- in the case of the former, the DPP has failed to administer the same quota of justice in Jordan’s case, citing that complaints should have been made to the Police.

However, political dictates will never allow such an occurrence!

It is clear that the PNC influence in our judicial system is getting stronger!

Having said that, I wish to inform Mr Jordan that he

holds a public office and he should expect that he would be subjected to vigorous public scrutiny at all times.

In this case, Mr Edghill, as a Member of Parliament, has the right to demand that transactions which are questionable are brought to the public domain.

In the case of the D’Urban Park Project, there is a complete lack of data on how the monies were spent, and records are not available. On May 22nd this year, it was reported that the Office of the Auditor General was probing deeper into the project, and that “several questions still linger”, even though some records were submitted by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI).

Moreover, there was no budgetary allocation made in either the 2015 or 2016 Budgets; and despite complaints by the Opposition to the Public Procurement Commission, nothing was done. The Minister of Public

Infrastructure was simply instructed by the President to take over the project.

So let the ‘reasonable man’ decide whether or not the private criminal charges brought by Mr Edghill were justified or not. The public needed answers, and Mr Edghill attempted to provide those answers by using the only recourse he has -- our legal system! Will our legal system now fail him?

It is a shame that this Coalition Government, instead of providing answers to corruption charges, would seek to clamp down, stifle and kill those voices which agonisingly cry against the myriad corrupt practices being perpetrated against this nation in just three years!

This is no surprise, since the PNC colour flies above Guyana!

Your sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor, Region Six

M&CC treatment of Kitty Market vendors Dear Editor, Permit me some space in your letters column to express my profound disappointment and anxiety at the heartless and cruel manner in which the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown has been treating the vendors of the Kitty Market.

In the first place, it should be noted that it is not the vendors, nor the citizens of Georgetown, nor Central Government that had left the Kitty Market to go to rot and ruin; but rather, the City Council that did so. The vendors paid their stall rents, and the citizens of Kitty and

beyond paid their property rates.

It was the Council that chose to waste these monies on luxurious foreign travel, retreats to local resorts etc, rather than on maintaining the market. So the attempt by some municipal officials to cast blame on others, rather than on themselves, is dishonest and is absolute poppycock.

The repair job which was touted to take three to five months is still not completed three years on; but, strangely, civil society, the relevant NGOs, and private sector agencies have not come out in support of the small vendors,

who are being taken advantage of.

Is the completely toothless Guyana Market Vendors Union (GMVU) still awaiting recognition by the Council?

Quite shockingly, these small vendors have been made to pay their stall rents every month although the market has been closed for repairs; and they are now being told that they are not guaranteed repossession of the same spaces and/or stalls. This is preposterous!

There needs to be a Commission of Inquiry set up to determine not only the reasons for the protracted delay,

but whether there was transparency and accountability for the monies spent on the project. Clearly, no proper plan or quantity survey was done prior to the commencement of the project, as the real cost has far outstripped the estimated costs several times over, and continues to climb further.

I am disappointed at Central Government for injecting large sums into this project on at least two occasions without demanding that an audit of the expenditure by the Council be done prior. continued on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

SunDAY, june 24, 2018

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

Guyana Chronicle hatch-job on Jagdeo a shameless attempt to influence the CCJ third-term decision Dear Editor, In the Chronicle’s editorial of June 22, the editor proceeded to do a hatch-job on the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo. Not content with what Khemraj Ramjattan, Basil Williams and others have been pontificating that the CCJ will rule against Jagdeo, it appears that the government is shamelessly using the Guyana Chronicle to make a last-ditch effort to adversely influence the third term decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which will be announced on Tuesday. In any event, even if the CCJ disallows a third term, Bharrat Jagdeo will remain the Party’s General Secretary to ensure a PPP victory at the polls in 2020, and will play an active role in the next government.

The irony is, that after more than three (3) years into this APNU/AFC Administration, the People’s Progressive Party is still being blamed for everything that goes wrong in Guyana.

During the run-up to the 2015 general and regional elections, Guyanese were asked to vote for the Coalition because they will fix everything that was wrong with the country. The APNU/AFC campaigned on getting rid of corruption; restoring accountability and transparency. They promised to improve the economy and to create jobs for our young people. They also promised to reduce crime and to get rid of the drug trade.

But most importantly, they promised every Guyanese the “good life”. They have failed miserably.

In his address to the National Assembly almost two years ago, President Granger said his government “entered a depressing financial landscape in May 2015…

Economic mismanagement was accompanied by huge debts for unpaid international obligations and court judgements.” He added that the absence of a policy to provide employment opportunities for youth and to reduce extreme poverty and the failure to energise the manufacturing sector helped to weaken the economy (Guyana Times, October 14, 2016).

But compared to the bankrupt economy the PPP inherited from his party, the PNC in 1992, the APNU+AFC inherited US$670 million (G$134 Billion) in Foreign Exchange Reserves from the PPP/C in May of 2015 (source: theGlobalEconomy.com).

This amount is in addition to the approximately $150 Billions this government inherited in recurring revenues and the $35 Billion from semi-autonomous agencies. In addition, Granger inherited an economy with the lowest debt payment in the entire Caribbean with only 4 percent as compared to 153 percent of revenue that went to service foreign debt in 1992.

The new government inherited an economy that was growing on an average of 4.5 percent for the preceding eight years.

Our President was being less than truthful in his address when he claimed to have inherited a “depressing financial landscape”. For in fact, the APNU/AFC inherited a buoyant economy; good international reserves; a big revenue base; small debt-servicing; and an inflow of foreign direct investments of about US$400 million a year with ExonMobile spending hundreds of millions already; and from the two new gold mines that have already started large scale production. The APNU/AFC coalition is yet to attract a single foreign investor.

The economic crisis facing the nation and all Guyanese has nothing to do with the PPP, it is the economic mismanagement of the Granger Administration, led by a runaway spending that is responsible.

In his campaign speech to the people of Berbice, Khemraj Ramjattan said, “The propaganda you are hearing that the APNU/ AFC coalition is going to ground both industries (rice and sugar) to the dirt is all lies. We are not going to in any way, close the sugar industry.” Now that the APNU/ AFC government has indeed closed four sugar estates putting an estimated 12,000 sugar workers and their families on the bread-line, the Chronicle editorial shamelessly blames Jagdeo for causing the “demise” of GUYSUCO. The Guyana Chronicle editorial made reference to an article that appeared earlier in the Kaieteur News, accusing Jagdeo of evading media questions “as to sums of money that oil companies had paid to the state for oil-exploration activities, prior to 2015.” The editorial asks, “How can Jagdeo still refer to the $18MU.S. signing bonus, as among his “bigger concerns’’ when this government has already accounted for such sum? In typical Jagdeo evasive style, he deprecates the sums paid to his former administration, inferring that they are small sums in comparison. Again, Jagdeo should be reminded that accountability is about every sum, of any amount, that is paid into the state’s coffers, and that includes the sums paid to the PPP/C under his stewardship, by those oil and gas companies as reported.”

Well, the US$18 million is still not deposited in the consolidated funds, and senior government ministers denied receiving it for over a year until the lie was exposed. In comparison, Bharrat Jagdeo made it clear that every cent of the estimated US$100,000 his government received as licensing fees from the oil companies, was accounted for, and this information could be found at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. The Guyana Chronicle should stop parroting the government’s propaganda and do some investigative journalism to determine the facts before publication.

Was the PPP responsible for the 50%-

100% pay raise President Granger approved for his Ministers? Did the PPP increase the amount of Government Ministers from 17 under the Ramotar Administration to the 26 Ministers now in government?

Was the PPP responsible for setting up new ministries at an enormous financial burden to the Guyanese taxpayers?

And could anyone in their right mind hold the PPP responsible for the astronomical amounts of $500,000 and $1.5 million that this government pays to accommodate Ministers? And what about the $12.5 million it’s costing taxpayers every month to rent a drug bond from a PNC financier?

Remember, had it not been for the PPP, these APNU/AFC scandals and corruptions would never be known to the Guyanese people. So much for transparency and accountability.

But this “blame Jagdeo and the PPP” syndrome is not only propagated by the government, it is aided and abetted by a few Jagdeo-haters, the likes of Dr. David Hinds; Dr Eric Phillips; Lincoln Lewis; Freddie Kissoon; and Adam Harris. All of whom have their own ax to grind with the former President and the People’s Progressive Party.

You would never hear them giving credit to Jagdeo and the PPP for all the good they have done for Guyana and the Guyanese people.

David Hinds and Eric Philips were both cut from the same bolt of cloth. They are only interested in the welfare of certain Guyanese, and brands the PPP as a racist party. Adam Harris is frustrated and feels betrayed by the many failures of the incompetent government he supports. Yet he can hardly write a critical editorial of this government without some comparison to the PPP/C that suggests the PPP/C may have done the same thing or worst. And the Dem Boys Seh column in the Kaieteur News can hardly mention Jagdeo’s name without the words “that scamp” preceding it.

Lincoln Lewis is a known Jagdeo-hater.

His venom came about years ago when he took a personal loan of over US20,000 from the bauxite company Omai, to buy a car at the time he, as head of the bauxite union, was representing the interest of the bauxite workers at Linden. When his duty free concession for the car was cancelled, he blamed it on Jagdeo who was at the Ministry of Finance at that time.

Everyone knows Freddie Kissoon has his own selfish motive for hating Jagdeo and the PPP. He blames the PPP for his dismissal at UG. But the truth is, at the time of his dismissal, he had passed the age of retirement, and never published anything of substance to keep his job, a basic requirement of an academic.

Kissoon also blames the PPP for the “dismissal” of his wife from Go-Invest. In fact,

Beware the limitations of performance appraisals Dear Editor, I have previously written on reports about the processes used for the selection of the Deputy Chief Elections Officer. Among these processes was the use of the performance appraisal system.

There is no doubt that a good performance appraisal system could make significant inputs in the processes of staff selection and promotion. However, the difficulties, constraints, human frailties and foibles which almost ‘naturally’ impinge upon the ‘reliability’ of any performance appraisal system must not be overlooked.

There is general merit, at least conceptually, in the proposition that “past performance is a good indica-

tor of future performance”; but that depends largely on the relevance, similarity and transferability of the relevant skills/competencies/ other demands of the respective jobs. And these are not always on all fours.

Would you, for example, promote to become a supervisor John, an employee who is an excellent, experienced accounting clerk but who is taciturn, prefers to be left alone to do his work, and does not relate well with peers; as opposed to Tom who, while not necessarily as good a clerk, is empathetic and has good interpersonal skills?

There is also the variability of the competence and ‘motivation’ of the ‘apprais-

ers’ to do a good job of conducting and reporting on the staff appraisal.

Performance appraisal is retrospective, while staff selection is prospective and anticipative. Although it can be helpful in staff selection, performance appraisal is essentially intended to support a number of other management processes, including: • Formal ‘motivational feedback’ between supervisors and supervisees.

• A formal record of the level of performance and demonstrated potential of the employee during the appraisal period • Formal counselling and merit increments in organisations that award performance-related salary in-

creases.

The foregoing are some of the reasons for my indicating as strongly as I did in my recent letter in the media on the subject: “Effective Staff Selection involves more than Qualifications & Experience eg: oral and written communication, interpersonal skills, motivation, supervision and management”; these must be formally assessed and tested through appropriate selection exercises.

Leaders, managers, administrators, CEOs are all urged to be mindful of these universal management advice and practices.

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

Freddie’s wife served well into the Jagdeo tenure, and took an early retirement from her government job with full honours and gratuities after that agency was restructured.

Freddie Kissoon despises former President Bharrat Jagdeo for revoking his privilege from swimming at the Castellani swimming pool. But this was only done after it was discovered that Kissoon was using the venue to eavesdrop on the conversations of other pool guests, and was using the information he was getting clandestinely to write his Freddie Kissoon columns in the Kaieteur News.

Some time ago, Kissoon complained that after a meeting with the former President to discuss getting duty-free concession for a car, Jagdeo was so harsh with him that he lost his sight temporarily when he went out on the road.

But despite his known hatred for Jagdeo, Freddie Kissoon always had access to the former President: In the swimming pool at Castellani, and in his office to ask for duty-free concession. I wonder how much access he has now with a President he helped put in office.

No one mentions about the positive things the PPP has done to bring about economic growth and prosperity in Guyana from a bankrupt nation in 1992, but the “blame Jagdeo and the PPP” syndrome continues.

Jagdeo was accused of giving away land to the owner of the Two-Brothers gas station. That is, until the businessman Shiraz Ali himself refuted this claim as preposterous, as he was never friendly with the PPP Administration given his well-known support of the People’s National Congress (PNC) long before Jagdeo even held a ministerial position.

Jagdeo was accused of giving away 11 radio licences to “family, friends and cronies of the PPP”, but no one mentions the names of the others that were given radio licenses.

Jagdeo again was accused of giving away all of Guyana’s forest and off-shore oil blocks until those too were proven to be lies. Yet no one in the government has the decency to apologise to the Leader of the Opposition.

It is time that the Granger Administration accept responsibility for the management of our nation. They can no longer blame Bharrat Jagdeo nor the PPP for their incompetence, ineptitude, and the sufferings of the Guyanese people. They are in government now. Whatever needs fixing, they must fix it now before their remaining two years run out.

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

M&CC treatment of...

What has happened to the grand plan to have the bottom flat of the reconstructed Kitty Market outfitted with air conditioning units; extractor fans; an automatic switchover generator, to cater for power outages; and installation of refrigeration facilities in the meat and fish section of the market? Was this just another trip into La La Land by the administration of the Council?

And what of the new wing that was to be added to the western side of the market to accommodate 100 new applications from vendors?

Projects like the Kitty Market can best be described as a black hole:

from page 4

where materials can be bought in the name of the project but diverted elsewhere; where friends and relatives can be recruited to do the plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry and masonry whilst the workers within the Council are not allowed to do these jobs.

How could a municipality be taken seriously and be expected to manage, maintain and expand a city under their charge when they lack the administrative, technical and other capabilities to maintain and rehabilitate a single building?

Sincerely, Shanta Singh

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SUnDAY, june 24, 2018

Page

Ashley Anthony

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verywhere we turn, we are greeted by dress codes.

Dress codes are simply rules which people are expected to follow, and may vary based on the place, occasion and reason for attendance. Some events are incredibly formal, for example, that of the Royal Ascot, which has issued a 36-page dress code; with males in the Royal enclosure being mandated to wear top hats. However, most dress codes are not that specific, and can lead to much subjectivity in their enforcement.

Specifically, in Guyana, the main issue with dress codes are the fact that whoever made these dress codes seems to have never lived a day in Guyana themselves. In a country where we are constantly being faced with hot temperatures, our formal dress codes insist that we must be attired in sleeved shirts and long pants/dresses.

There are numerous instances of people being refused entry

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation to Government buildings on the grounds of a sleeve being too short, or a dress being above the knees. Now, I understand that dress codes serve a purpose. They help to maintain a standard, and create a particular aesthetic. There is nothing wrong with an employer wanting their employees to look professional, but is there any reason that professional dress must also be uncomfortable? Is there any reason that a person in a professional looking armless blouse should be turned away from work?

Whilst I was in school, the enforcement of the dress code drove me insane. One of the things that I found incredibly peculiar was the school’s ability to decide what a person should do with their hair. I don’t mean in terms of styling, (I have nothing against schools asking students to tie their hair up in a professional manner), but I mean in terms of how long it should be, and what colours are acceptable. Boys were not allowed to grow their hair out, even if they had intentions to comb it back or tie it up. Why? To what end? It’s not as if in the work place men are policed for the length of their hair. If a girl had dyed her hair, even if it was a shade of brown (or some

other colour which would be considered ‘natural’), she would be forced to re-dye her hair. Why? Which employer cares about such things?

We spend so much time policing what people wear, and to what end? Who sees a Queen’s College student and cares whether or not they are wearing a ribbon? Yet in the school, this is incredibly important. I myself, was once told I could not enter a lab because I was not properly attired (missing a ribbon), and I have seen students being told to wear a strip of a black plastic bag on their hair in the place of a ribbon.

Subjectivity comes into play usually in dress codes directed to the public. People are turned away from Government buildings because their wear is too short, or deemed otherwise inappropriate by some person. The admission of someone to a building depends on the discretion of whoever is on duty at the time. That subjectivity is dangerous, and can lead to discrimination. In the United States, where many public schools do not have a uniform, there have been complaints that girls are ‘coded’ more frequently than boys, even though both break the rules of the dress code. There are also allegations

that people of different races are treated differently with regards to the dress code. What is deemed appropriate for one race is deemed inappropriate for another.

I don’t believe we need to do away with dress codes completely, but I do believe we need to reexamine the existing

ones that we have. We need to readjust our standards to cater for Guyana being a tropical country.

Professional and sleeveless clothes are not mutually exclusive.

That being said, the National Dress Code Committee (which apparently exists) has embarked on a survey to determine whether or not there should be

a dress code for persons entering public service and Government agencies. If you have ever had a complaint about how you were treated entering one of these places of business, make your voice heard by placing your vote.

If this changes, maybe businesses and schools will begin to reassess their dress codes as well.

Women’s Advisory Committee (WAC) Vice Chairperson Deborah Short-Parker, Public Relations Officer (PRO) Bearl Charles, and Trustee Hazel Pyle-Lewis with the hampers to be distributed to the women and elders

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he Women’s Advisory Committee (WAC) of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) will be hosting a number of activities to mark the 78th anniversary of its existence.

The anniversary is officially on June 25, and observance activities will be held under the theme “Celebrating and Empowering Women in Leadership”.

The WAC represents the interests of all the women in the GTU. Its General Council

is made up of representatives of GTU branches countrywide.

WAC Public Relations Officer Bearl Charles told the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Friday that the activities will be officially launched with a church service on Sunday, June 24, at the Miracle Tabernacle Ministry on the West Coast of Berbice.

Four retired West Coast Berbice teachers, one male included, will be honoured

with food hampers. Tokens will also be distributed to residents of the Archer’s Senior Citizens’ Home, while all the members of the WAC will receive tokens of appreciation.

Charles added that the WAC has also started promoting its works through appearances on several television stations, in order to build awareness about the role the committee has played in women’s empowerment.

Deborah Short-Parker, WAC Vice-Chairperson, added that the WAC, throughout its 78 years, has been steadily empowering teachers and other women through various programmes.

Hazel Pyle-Lewis, WAC’s Trustee, said that even as women continue to take up leadership roles in our society, the committee will continue to empower women throughout Guyana. She is advising female teachers to get involved in the committees within their region, and make full use of the opportunities presented to them.

GTU Field Officer Lancelot Baptise spoke of the committee’s significant contribution to the GTU’s existence. He said the women played their roles and must be recognised for that.

Among activities to be executed by the end of 2018 are: the professional development of women, which includes how they should conduct themselves in and out of schools, their involvement in a conflict resolution programme, their preparedness for didasters, and symposiums dealing with first aid.

It was explained that teachers would also be honoured during the annual Teacher’s Day activity.

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SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Lusignan prisoner disarmed of knife, cutlass by fellow inmate …ranks seize more ganja at NA Prison

The cutlass and knife that were taken away from an inmate at the Lusignan Prison

A

uthorities at the Lusignan Prison, on the East Coast of Demerara, are currently investigating the circumstances under which a prisoner came into possession of a knife and a cutlass, as well as another attempt to throw contraband into the facility.

Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels said on Saturday that the two blades were seen earlier in the day in the possession of the suspect, who was immediately disarmed by another inmate. The weapons were then thrown out of the holding bay and the matter was reported to the officers on duty at the facility.

A search was subsequently carried out and the items were found outside the North-eastern fence of the holding bay. Following

the discovery, Samuels said the Police were called in and an investigation has since been launched.

Meanwhile, at about 15:30h again on Saturday, ranks from the Prisons Service and the Police Force stationed at the New Amsterdam penitentiary, observed a civilian outside the prison preparing to throw suspected contraband into the facility. The officers intercepted the man, however, he managed to escape but dropped several parcels in the process.

Upon examination, the officers found that the parcels, which had “Bless up” written on them, were packets of seeds, leaves and stems suspected to be marijuana. There was also a box of ‘Bambu’, which is a paper used to wrap the illicit drug

for smoking.

The Prison Director has reiterated pleas to the public to cease such acts.

“I wish to encourage members of the public to desist from introducing contraband into the prison as it is a criminal offence that can lead to imprisonment and it also affects the security of the prison,” he appealed.

This incident comes on the heels of ranks of the Joint Services unearthing a quantity of illicit items including a ganja plant and over 30 improvised weapons during a three-hour routine search at the East Coast Demerara penitentiary on Monday.

In addition to the ganja plant and the 31 improvised weapons, the other prohibited items found during the prison raid in-

cluded eight cellphones; 10 cellphone batteries; five cellphone chargers; two sim cards; two memory cards; 11 pieces of metal pipes; nine pieces of wood; seven phone cards; one tattoo machine, along with ink; three ziplock bags with cannabis; one small bottle of cannabis seeds; one packet of cigarettes, and a quantity of ziplock bags.

Only two weeks ago, ranks from the Lusignan Prison intercepted an attempt to smuggle contraband items. It was reported that just after midnight on June 11, 2018, Police and prison ranks stationed at the eastern towers of the Lusignan Prison spotted a male clad in a hoodie emerging from the bushes nearby.

A “warning shot” was

The parcels that were found when ranks intercepted a civilian outside the New Amsterdam Prison

fired causing the suspect to flee back into the thick vegetation. The area was immediately combed but the man was nowhere to be found.

Nevertheless, the ranks discovered a bag containing a number of illicit items such as a lighter and cellphones along with accessories.

The smuggling of contraband items remains a perennial problem within the prisons system and while authorities have been working to curb the practice, several prison officers have been caught facilitating the illegal trade, which is said to be a “big business”.

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SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Bartica woman busted with cocaine, ganja in bedroom

P

olice ranks in Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) swooped down on the home of a 59-year-old woman, where a large quantity of cocaine and marijuana was unearthed.

Reports are at about 01:00h on Saturday morning, ranks acting on information, raided the house located at the Bartica Old Housing Scheme.

During the search, 2555 grams of cannabis and 1451 grams of cocaine – which were concealed in a box and a bucket – were found under a bed in her bedroom.

According to Police reports, the housewife was arrested and taken to the Bartica Police Station.

It was alleged that she later informed the officers that someone had given her the drugs for safe keeping.

An investigation has been launched into the matter.

Might is right…

T

The drugs which were found during the raid

Robbery suspect on bail

...previously charged, accomplice remanded

R

aymond Rodrigues and Patrick Smith, previously remanded on two counts of armed robbery, were on Friday again before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly in connection with the same charges.

The duo had initially pleaded not guilty to either charge when those were read to them at their first appearance in May. The 60-year-old Raymond Rodrigues, a father of eight who resides at Lot 6 River View, Ruimveldt Georgetown, has been placed on $200,000 bail. His attorney, in a bail

application, told the court that Rodrigues is a taxi driver who, at time of the robbery, was on duty.

Conditions governing his being placed on bail are that he must report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters every Monday until completion of the matter, and he has been ordered to lodge his passport and other travel documents with the Police.

His alleged accomplice, 47-year-old Patrick Smith of Albouystown, Georgetown, has been further remanded to prison, having previously

been charged for offences of a similar nature.

Their matters have been adjourned until July 13, 2018.

RECAP

The Prosecution is contending that on May 9, 2018, at about 07:00h, the two men, armed with a gun, invaded a Princes Street, Georgetown property and relieved Bidinauth Sooklall of $500,000, one DVR, one mobile phone, two Seiko watches, and one laptop computer.

On the same day, according to the Prosecution’s contention, the two defendants

robbed Giselle Ramos of three gold chains, one gold earring, one gold IPhone, and one suitcase of cosmetics. The value of the booty from both robberies has been estimated at close to $2 million.

The prosecution is alleging that the couple were in their bedroom when the two armed men confronted them at gunpoint, binding and robbing their victims before fleeing the scene. The perpetrators were, however, subsequently arrested, and positively identified by the victims during an identification parade.

“Land sale” lands accused fraudster in court

N

eil Benjamin was on Friday slapped with two counts of fraud and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Benjamin admitted to one of the charges but denied the other after it was read to him by Magistrate

Leron Daly.

The prosecution is contending that on April 27, 2018, while in the vicinity of Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, he falsely obtained $250,000 from Shelly-Ann Peters by falsely pretending that he could acquire a plot of land for her.

To this charge he admitted.

The other charge stated that on April 24, 2018, also in the vicinity of Vlissengen Road, he again falsely obtained $253,000 from the said Peters for the same purpose. He however denied this charge.

In answering the guilty

plea, Benjamin told the Magistrate that the “money was not for the purchase of a land.”

As such, a not guilty plea was entered. He was granted bail in the sum of $60,000 on each charge.

The matter will continue on July 20.

…with migrants

he shameful treatment by the Trump Administration of “illegal” immigrants continue to plumb what’s evidently the infinite depths of man’s inhumanity to man. What makes it even more shameful is the patent hypocrisy that undergirds the issue – not only in the US but also in Europe. On World Migration Day, 34,361 migrants from the impoverished South – read Africa – were said to’ve died since the early 1990s, trying to enter Europe.

Some folks will protest your Eyewitness’ use of scare quotes on the word “illegal” and insist the people facing Trump’s ire ARE in fact, illegal…and deserve what they’re getting. But – even ignoring the non sequitur – they should take a step backwards and ask how come folks are only trying to get into the US and Europe from their shithole countries to enjoy their ‘good life”??

And that’s the rub, ain’t it? How come the US and Europe are living high off the hog and African and Latin America are mired in shit? Are the two conditions related?

Well, they damn well are, and you should know this even if you have the skimpiest exposure to history. Where did all the wealth of the US and Europe come from? As Julie Andrews advised in the “Sound of Music”, we should start at the very beginning!

And that was when, after Columbus’ ‘discovery” of the Americas is 1492, the ancestors of those folks trying every which was to get into America through the Mexican border were virtually wiped out by “Guns, germs and steel” of the Europeans who then occupied the land and raped it something fierce. Did you hear about the Cherokees who were herded from their lands in the Carolinas and forcibly marched into the Midwest? And the Americans have the gall to romanticise Pocahontas as loving the usurper of her lands!!

Africa? You can read all about it in Rodney’s How Europe underdeveloped Africa! But the plot is simple: define the inhabitants as “sub human”, ship millions and millions of their able-bodied men and women as slaves in the Americas – and then ensure that no industry is developed there in the following centuries!! For good measure, in the 20th century, set up vicious dictators in Latin America and Africa who’d toe the imperial line – but make the statements about being “uncivilised” into a selffulfilling prophesy!

And that’s why there are scare quotes over “illegal” immigrants! If there was any justice in this world, the US and Europe should be overrun by the folks whose blood turned them into paradise.

By that’s coming. By 2100, the populations of the US and Europe would’ve shrunken and Africa will have 40 per cent of the world population!!

…on the right to rebel

One columnist from SN got her knickers into a knot about the Opposition Leader’s response to the PNC preparations for 2020 elections rigging – that his party won’t take it lying down. She asked, “…aren’t we supposed to be worried when anyone threatens our peace? Have we forgotten what peace looked and felt like under Jagdeo’s Administration?” Well this Eyewitness certainly did…so why not start at the very beginning??

And that’s right after the December 1997 elections when Desmond Hoyte launched massive protests marches in Georgetown about “elections rigging”! His supporters burnt “Janet” dolls as they “wuk pon she”. When that didn’t kill her, they beat anyone who looked like “PPP supporters” – read Guyanese Indians – in Georgetown while the Police looked on.

After arson, killings, and calling on his “kith and kin” in the armed forces, Hoyte forced Janet Jagan to truncate her term of office by two years and hold a forensic audit of the elections. Which showed no rigging!!

When Jagdeo assumed office in 1999, Hoyte launched “slow fyaah; mo fyaah”!! Destroying any hope for peace!!

…on rice credit

The PNC Government took credit for finding new markets for rice in places like Panama – after they nixed the Venezuelan market.

So why not take credit for millers not being paid? Such modesty!!

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

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SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

SOCU prosecutions

Opposition Leader calls for release of forensic reports …Minister says businessmen among those implicated

Q

uestioning the need for secrecy with the forensic audits the Government commissioned, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is challenging the Administration to release, unredacted, remaining reports.

Jagdeo issued this challenge during his recent press conference. He made reference to the ongoing Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) case. The

Opposition Leader reminded that the defendants were being charged without the opportunity to even see the forensic audit report that allegedly incriminated them.

“They should release all the forensic audit reports. Look at the case they built against some of our Members of Parliament using ostensibly, a forensic audit report into the Guyana Rice Development Board and then they are refusing

to give it to the defence.”

“The defence had to go to court to order a copy and that is fair… but then they redacted most of the report.

What is so secret about these audits? What do you have to redact? If you find corruption, then you find it. It is as simple as that… Make all the forensic audit reports public. We have been saying this for a while. And then people will see how shoddy some of these works are.”

$200M lawsuit

“I will not be intimidated, silenced” – Edghill

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

O

pposition Member of Parliament Juan Edghill has said that the multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed against him by Finance Minister Winston Jordan is a move to intimidate him but he will not be silenced and will continue to speak out against the wrongdoings of the coalition Government.

Minister Jordan is claiming damages in the sum of $200 million for “malicious prosecution” over the private criminal charge of misconduct in public office that was filed by Edghill back in April regarding the construction of the controversial D’Urban Park Project.

The Finance Minister and Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson were jointly charged with misconduct and abuse of public trust for authorising the payment of $906 million to Homestretch Development Inc, while Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who was a Director of the company, was charged with alleged misconduct and the abuse of public trust for receiving the money as Director of the company while serving as a Minister in Government.

However, those charges were subsequently discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack. But despite this, Jordan moved to the court, saying in his application that the private criminal charge was intended to embarrass, humili-

“The Minister is part of a Government that has taken former Finance Minister Ashni Singh and former NICIL’s CEO Winston Brassington to court for their conduct in public office when all they were doing was carrying out decisions of the Cabinet; decisions of a Board of NICIL. It looks like the Minister would like to have it both ways” – Edghill

ate, and cause him to suffer public odium and contempt.

“I have suffered significant harm to my reputation and integrity as a direct result of the institution of the criminal proceeding by the respondent against me,” Jordan said in the court document.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Saturday, Edghill said he is yet to receive the court documents from the legal action filed, but noted that he will be vindicated in court during the proceedings.

“This lawsuit is intended to intimate me and I would say they have failed miserably in seeking to intimate me. I will continue to confront wrongdoings, injustices, corruption, cronyism, and all forms of Government’s manipulation of processes that benefit individuals… I will be vindicated when I have my day in court because that lawsuit that was filed is an abuse of the process of the court.”

He noted that he also feels that the lawsuit is “all about damage control, that’s what the Minister is trying to do right now – use

Opposition MP Juan Edghill

the courts to do some damage control because… he knows that he is being held accountable and by his own admission, when he travels internationally, people are inquiring from him what’s really going on in Guyana and how the State is being managed in such a way. Well I’m not going to be intimidated, I will not be silent and I will continue to represent the people of Guyana as I did when I filed these criminal charges against members of the Government,” Edghill asserted.

According to the Opposition MP, it appears as though the Finance Minister is not benefiting from the best legal advice, since he filed a malicious prosecution lawsuit when the private criminal charges of ‘Misconduct in Public Office’ was never prosecuted in the first place.

“There must be a prosecution – this case was not prosecuted, it was null pros by the DPP. Secondly, if there was a prosecution the case would have had to be determined in [Jordan’s] favour. There was no determination of this matter because it was discontinued by the DPP, there is no finding of facts that the Minister is not guilty of the allegations that are conveyed in the charge because the matter was not prosecuted and it was not defended in court,” he told this newspaper. turn to page 12

Jagdeo went on to question whether the reluctance to release the remaining audits may have something to do with the quality of work.

There have been cases where officials who were subject to specific audits raised this very concern.

But when contacted, Minister within the Finance Ministry, Jaipaul Sharma, questioned Jagdeo’s calls for the audits in the first place.

According to Sharma, releasing the audits would give those implicated a heads up. And those implicated run the gamut from Public to Private Sector.

“The forensic audits (implicated) other people.

Business people… the forensic audits will have names of business people,” Sharma explained. “We don’t know if they’re guilty or not. I don’t personally think we should do that (release reports).

The Police also don’t think we should share it, because it’s currently under active investigation.”

Since coming to office, the coalition Government has initiated forensic audits into a number of Government entities. Over $130 million has been spent on these audits, which total 50. Having been completed by a number of local audit firms, they were handed over to the Police for investigations and prosecution.

None have resulted in convictions. In fact, one resulted in an acquittal. That is the audit into the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).

In a previous interview with this publication in September of last year, Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) head,

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Minister within the Finance Ministry, Jaipaul Sharma

Assistant Commissioner of Police Sydney James, had made mention of cases being delayed. He had revealed that since being handed over 20 forensic audit reports, the Unit had managed to complete investigations into three of these matters.

Those matters were their investigations into Pradoville 2, the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited, and the Commonwealth Reports for which former Attorney General Anil Nandlall was charged.

James had noted that SOCU’s other investigations were still a work in progress. He had revealed that in some cases, they were awaiting legal advice. Pressed on the delay, James questioned whether he had the authority to find out reasons for the delay from the Police Force’s Legal Advisor.

Following last year’s appointment of the Unit’s special advisor, UK specialist Sam Sittlington, SOCU in a bold move had arrested and questioned a number of top officials from the previous Government. These ar-

rests were in connection to property purchased at the Sparendaam seawall area on the East Coast that is commonly known as “Pradoville 2”.

While the current Administration contends that the transaction is a criminal act because of the belief that the land was sold below market value, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had argued that subsidised housing has always been a part of the legacy of the PPP, and that countless Guyanese have benefited from lands sold below market value. No further action was ever pursued against these former officials and the arrests prompted resounding cries of ‘witch-hunting’.

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SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Strict monitoring of food labelling starts – GA-FDD head …defiance will lead to prosecution

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oth locally manufactured and imported food products are now under the microscope by the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) as it relates to the informative content that is available to consumers.

This was revealed by the Director of the GA-FDD Marlan Cole on Saturday, who informed Guyana Times that the agency is currently on a mission to eliminate all food items which are incorrectly labelled or in some cases, labelled in a foreign language.

“As long as these items are not in compliance as it relates to composition or the labelling requirement or their erroneous misleading as in terms of the label, they would be refused entry into the country,” Cole stated.

Cole explained that while the organisation is not responsible for the number of foreign products which are imported in Guyana, they can impose a ban on a product which is not to the expected standards. These standards are there to ensure that the consumers are aware of the expiry and manufactured dates, the manufacturer and ingredients among other details

GA-FDD Director Marlan Cole

which will ensure that quality products are bought and consumed.

“We’re not concerned about foreign imported or locally manufactured food.

We’re not a protective agency for industries. We’re here to facilitate trade and to protect the consumers so as long as foreign imported goods reach our labelling requirement composition and they’re not false or misleading and have adequate amount of information for the consumers, they would be allowed into the country.”

Furthermore, he noted that all retail and wholesale entities are found supplying food items which are expired or incorrectly labelled in relation to the Food and

Drugs Act will be subjected to prosecution.

“Going forward now, anybody that is found on the other side of the law where food is concerned will submit to prosecution. In locally manufactured and imported products, the requisite standards would be subjected to our regulatory oversight,” the GAFDD Director informed.

This decision comes in light of the fact that many businesses, both small and large, were found with food items that are below the regulated standards. In the recent times, some items such as Ovaltine and confection were banned from entering the country because of their labelling.

Last week, the Food

Safety Department (FSD) also announced the launch of a campaign to discontinue the ongoing epidemic of expired products from entering Guyanese households.

One local businessman has since been charged for selling expired, foreign-labelled items.

The Chief Meat and Food Inspector of the Food Safety Department (FSD), Onika Blackman had explained that many persons are unaware of the dangers expired food items can cause to humans once consumed. She noted that in many instances, vendors are warned that expired products are not to be sold but many are still found with these items.

Stalls at the Stabroek Bazaar were raided in search for expired products from officials of the FSD. In this scenario, many vendors were found in possession of goods that are deemed unfit for consumption as they would’ve surpassed the expiry date. The items were seized and destroyed. In some cases, the consumer information was printed in a different language while in others, the dates were removed. The expiry of some products dated back to 2017.

The public is advised to notify the department of any cases where expired products are sold so that there can be some intervention to prevent the scourge of selling expired products.

No room for divisive elements?

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atiricus walked towards the Back Street Bar with a bounce to his steps. After all the gloom-and-doom news about the political divisions in the country, he was happy as a kiskadee that the ERC – which he and his friends pronounced “erk”, rhyming with “jerk” – was up and running once again. His excitement bubbled over as soon as he took his first swig of beer.

“These people on “erk” represent every group in Guyana,” Satiricus enthused. “They’ll solve all our ‘usand-them’ problems!”

“But yuh bin tell abee de KFC woulda do de same t’ing w’en yuh jine up wid dem!” said Bungi. “Wha’ happen?”

“Let’s not go there,” said Satiricus rather crossly. “You know the Trotter fell out with Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat, and the KFC became split along racial lines.”

“But if ‘erk” suh good, wha’ mek ayuh na tek de problem to dem?” asked Cappo earnestly.

“Well, if you go to ‘erk’, you have to point out the racial or ethnic bias,” interjected Hari on behalf of Satiricus, who was signalling the waitress for another round. He was buying.

“Well, rememba de time de KFC seh Nagga Man mus tu’n Speakah and Grain-Ja pick de Trotter?” pointed out Bungi. “Da na racial bias?”

“The ‘erk’ don’t deal with political problems,” said Satiricus with growing annoyance. The gyaaf wasn’t going the way he’d planned. “The people on ‘erk’ are above politics.”

“Me na know ‘bout da!” said Cappo. “Dis GECON case na political?”

“But I have another question for Sato,” interjected Hari. “What you mean the folks on ‘erk’ are above politics?”

“Well, take the chairman, who’s the most important member of ‘erk’,” said Satiricus. “He’s a big-time pastor and has all races in his flock! He won’t take sides.”

“Budday!” interrupted Bungi. “How laang ‘e bin a preach to ‘e flack?”

“Over thirty years!” boasted Satiricus.

“Suh if ‘e na salve de race problem in ‘e church in 30 year,” asked Bungi. “How ‘e guh salve abee race praablem in politics in one month?”

Satiricus said, “Let’s drink our beer.”

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SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Panama rice deal

Rice Board violating laws with 6-month contract – GRMA head

By Shemuel Fanfair

How to rig an election

By Ryhaan Shah

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o one disputes that the People’s National Congress (PNC) plan – the Nassau Plan? – to fix themselves a victory at the polls in 2020 is in full play. The dictator Forbes Burnham employed no subtlety about his rigging. He had no need to. It wasn’t just that he had the full support of the US and UK Governments but that he had created an Army – the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) – to ensure his security against any revolt, and the Army was itself pivotal to the rigging. GDF soldiers were deployed to seize legal ballot boxes which were dumped and replaced by fake ballots and the Ballot Box Martyrs Bholanath Parmanand and Jagan Ramessar were killed by soldiers in 1973 while defending the sanctity of the ballots.

Burnham’s successor, Desmond Hoyte, outdid his comrade leader and gave himself over 80 per cent of the votes. It was reported that when Hoyte’s boxes were opened for the count, the fake ballots were still held together by rubber bands!

The dead voted during that time and Burnham had also introduced overseas voting as a rigging strategy. A British documentary had exposed the scam by showing addresses of “voters” that were nothing more than vacant lots. But the PNC never cared. Their power was indomitable and Caricom leaders looked the other way whether through racial solidarity or through fear of intimidation by the US Government.

This fraud continued until the fall of the Berlin Wall, brought about a change to US foreign policy. The first free and fair elections in nearly three decades in 1992 gave the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) a convincing win.

It is Guyana’s ongoing tragedy that there has been no move by either of the major political parties to create an inclusive/ shared system of Government where all groups, races, and ethnicities would have equitable representation. To do that would require accepting that the country’s most egregious issue is its ethnic/racial divide. Our politicians are still to get there. They prefer the untruth that their respective party represents a cross section of the populace and that lie, more than any other, continues to destroy our country.

Each side wants the spoils for themselves and this selfishness makes us vulnerable to political meddling from powerful international players. Thus, the PNC was leveraged into power in 2015 through the creation of the AFC which garnered enough Indian votes to give the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition a win.

The AFC has lost all support but the PNC is to be kept in place and rather than engaging in good-faith dialogue to secure a shared/inclusive Government, fraud and unlawfulness continue to be the PNC’s preferred modus operandi even as all religious tenets and natural laws bear out that no good is ever built on a rotten core.

The PNC’s last dictatorship was evidence of that and their current plan was in play from the instant Granger took office. Creating the Ministry of Citizenship was the first step.

The green, fortress-like walls that have gone up around the Ministry of the Presidency where that Ministry is housed might be consciousness of the skulduggery that is afoot within.

The Opposition raised questions in Parliament about the sudden jump in the number of Haitians currently in the country, the figure increasing from several hundred arrivals and departures in recent years to 6660 arrivals as of April 2018 with some 5485 Haitians now in Guyana.

Minister Nicolette Henry’s attempt at a red herring when she pointed to a 30 per cent non-departure rate for Bangladeshi arrivals was rightly pilloried. The number of arrivals and departures for Indians and Bangladeshis are in the hundreds and the raw numbers are not comparable to the thousands of recent arrivals from Haiti.

In a letter to the press, PPP MP Gail Teixeira noted reports that Haitians are met at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, escorted to waiting vehicles and are given “safe passage” through Guyana after being furnished with Guyanese documents – birth certificates, ID cards, etc – which are left here. They are kept at the Ministry of Citizenship for future use?

But the plot thickens even more. PPP/C Guyana Elecions Commission (GECOM) Commissioner Bibi Shadick reported to the press that during a statutory meeting, GECOM Chair James Patterson said that a pie chart showing the ethnic composition of GECOM’s staff was provided by “a source” outside of GECOM raising concerns that the integrity of GECOM’s data is compromised and is being made available to agencies outside of GECOM. For what purpose?

While Burnham and Hoyte were rather crude with their systems of rigging, Granger seems intent on providing a more sophisticated take on how to rig an election.

H

ead of the Guyana Rice Millers Association (GRMA) Leekha Rambrich is accusing the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) of violating laws that govern the sector, with particular focus on its delayed payments to millers under the Panama rice deal. To date, many farmers from Wakenaam, Essequibo Islands and other producers say their livelihood is stalled as millers are not forthcoming with payments.

Millers are contending that the GRDB is not paying them for the rice obtained since the last crop in 2017. However, Government has sought to absolve itself from the issue with the Department of Public Information (DPI) recently reporting that Government was not responsible for farmers being owed for rice shipped to Panama as it was buyers in that country, which owe for rice shipped there. In fact,

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder said last week that “millers should desist from using the farmers as a bank.”

However, speaking with Guyana Times on Sunday, GRMA head Rambrich posited that the GRDB, which is supposed to upkeep the relevant stipulations is in fact, “breaking the law”. He explained that with the signing of the Panama contract, the GRDB “is committing itself to a six-month payment plan” whereby rice would be obtained, and payments would come six months after. This arrangement, the official contends, would be tantalum to withholding payments from farmers for more than 42 days which is a violation of the Rice Factories (Amendment) Act of 2009.

“Where will millers get money to pay the farmers from; why is it the Minister doesn’t let the GRDB pay the millers, so they could pay the farmers. GRDB is the exporter and they are buying the

GRMA head Leekha Rambrich

rice from millers and they are setting precedent and breaking the law; you cannot sign agreements to pay millers after six months; the Minister is contradicting himself,” Rambrich stressed on Sunday.

The law stipulates that farmers need not wait longer than the mandatory 42 days before being paid for their

paddy.

According to the Act, the manufacturer (miller) is required to pay the paddy producer (farmer) half the amount due that farmer within two weeks of receiving that farmer’s paddy and the remainder of the liability must be liquidated within 42 days of the parties signing the agreement of sale for the paddy.

He reiterated that the GRMA’s position that millers are signing agreements with GRDB which has a Government to Government arrangement with Panama.

As such, Rambrich says that GRDB has an obligation to pay millers.

“How can the Board, which is supposed to police the Act, buy rice from the millers and sign contracts for six months?” he queried. The representative further related that millers are hesitant to sell their produce in Panama and are opting for markets in Mexico and Cuba to sell to Panama. turn to page 16

12 news Essequibo Coast man accuses Police of brutality SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

…nursing broken knee at GPHC

T

wenty-nine-year-old Junior Courtman of Queenstown village, Essequibo Coast, Region Two is calling for justice after he allegedly was beaten by Police ranks in ‘G’ Division, and is now left with a broken knee.

The father of three told Guyana Times that, on June 20, he was out with three of his friends at a wash bay when, at about 23:00h, a vanload of Police ranks approached them and conducted a search of their persons.

According to him, nothing was found in their possession, and the ranks ordered them to go home.

Courtman said he and his friends left the wash bay; and when he got about

50 feet away from the location, he recalled leaving his phone at the wash bay, and he returned for it.

“So I went back to get my phone, but they were still there where we were; and when I went back, one of them jump out de vehicle and come and hold me and push me off my bike... So I told them I going for my phone, and he start pushing me and chucking me, and cuff me in my eye,” the injured man related.

He admitted to this newspaper that after the Police had done this, he and the rank became engaged in a scuffle. He said two others left the vehicle with a baton and a gun and started to attack him.

“When they done beat-

ing me, they throw me in de vehicle, because I couldn’t ah get up to walk.

And then they took me to the (Anna Regina Police) Station. And when I reach there, they told me to get up and come out de vehicle, but I couldn’t ah get up; so they drag me into the station and put me on a bench to sit down,” Courtman detailed.

He said the Police took away all of his belongings and were about to place him in the lockups. They prepared a statement for him to sign, but he did not sign it, given that the occurrences Police documented therein were not accurate.

He said a female officer then advised that he

be taken to the hospital, and the ranks took him to the Suddie Hospital, from where he was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) on Thursday.

He remains a patient there, and is expected to undergo a surgery in the coming week.

When contacted, ‘G’ Division Commander Khali Pareshram said he is aware of one such case in the division, which to his knowledge is being investigated by the GPF’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

He was, however, unable to say whether Courtman’s case is the one being investigated.

Junior Courtman on a GPHC bed

“I will not be intimidated...

Edghill went on to point out too that one of the grounds that Minister Jordan cited in his application was that he was merely carrying out the decision of the National Assembly, which had approved the $906 million for the D’Urban Park project. To this end, Edghill, who is a former Junior Finance Minister under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/Civic) regime, called out Jordan for the Administration’s double standards.

“The Minister is part of a Government that has taken former Finance Minister Ashni Singh and former NICIL’s CEO Winston Brassington to court for their conduct in public office when all they were doing was carrying out decisions of the Cabinet, decisions of a

Board of NICIL. It looks like the Minister would like to have it both ways,” Edghill said.

Nevertheless, the Opposition parliamentarian posited that he is awaiting the commencement of proceedings into this $200 million lawsuit since he will be able to defend his private criminal charges, which were dismissed.

“While the charges may have been discontinued in the lower court, the fact that [Jordan] has now taken this matter to the higher court, the matter will be discussed there and the nation will be able to see if he really misconducted himself or not; so thanks to the Minister for engaging [me] so that these matter could be further ventilated in the High Court,” the PPP MP stated.

from page 9

Edghill’s private criminal charges where the second set of charges filed by the Opposition that the DPP had thrown out. She also discontinued previous charges against Government Ministers Volda Lawrence and George Norton over the sole sourcing of over $600 million in drugs and other pharmaceuticals for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and the rental of a house in Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown to be utilised as a drug bond at a cost of $12 million monthly respectively.

The Opposition has since appealed the DDP’s discontinuation of the private criminal charges and the matter is currently being heard in the High Court.

(Vahnu Manikchand)

13 37 Linden youths graduate from First Lady’s ICT workshop F news

SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Indians in the armed forces

L

ast week, I discussed the exacerbation of the “Indian Ethnic Security Dilemma” – originally formed by Indian Guyanese’ majority numbers catapulting them into office, but then checkmated by the 90 per cent dominated Armed Forces – with the loss of its majority since 2012. The PNC, as Desmond Hoyte did after 1997, when he brought its supporters into violent street protests which then segued into the “slow fyaah; mo fyaah” strategy, could always count on its “kith and kin” in the armed forces, as its Georgetown street elements rampaged against Indian Guyanese.

A friend wrote that while he appreciated the point, “if Indians were to enter the armed forces, especially from Berbice, he was worried about the impact on their culture.” In truth, he was really talking about Hindu culture – so this will be the premise Ravi Dev in in this piece. I found his concern to be a rather ahistorical, since he knew no culture is ever static. To begin with, the 165,000 Indians who decided to remain in Guyana, were removed from their cultural moorings and tossed into sugar plantations, which, for good very reasons, was called a “total institution” – like mental hospitals, for instance – designed to reshape their inmates’ identity into prefigured forms: here, servility.

While Indians like to believe they “recreated” village India in Guyana, the reality is much more nuanced. Let’s look at their presence in the Police Force, for instance. In India, the Army and Police formed by the British to rule the 300-million populace were comprised of Indians from all castes…just like the ones brought here. For instance, in 1894, the agriculture caste, Kurmis, of Lucknow protested new regulations that reduced their numbers in the Police Force. Today, India has the second largest standing Army in the world and no one has complained about its effects on Indian culture.

In Guyana, way back in 1855, a number of Indians were recruited en block into the Police Force – which has been formed in 1839 – and they performed very credibly. The governor, however, felt the massive number of Indians on the sugar plantations with cutlasses represented a threat that would be exacerbated by having their “kith and kin” in charge of maintaining order. It was for this reason that in the beginning, Bajan immigrants were preferentially recruited into the force, to quell expected revolts by the newly freed slaves. Physical requirements like chest measurement and height, etc, were afterwards used to discriminate against Indians into the 1970’s – by which time Indians were convinced policing “was not their thing”.

But back to “Indian culture” in the total institution where the immigrant was expected to be “in the fields, in jail or in the hospital”. Take religion: since Hindus only got Sunday off, they started going to their Mandirs on that day…and initiated congregational worship, which was not the practice in village India. Rum drinking became standard because rum shops were allowed to be set up opposite the pay offices, so that the labourers would fritter away their earnings on Saturdays and needed to show up for work on Mondays. Rum drinking wasn’t part of Indian village culture – ganja, as “Bhang”, was. In 19th century village India, even during the famines, the suicide rate was 6.3 per 100,000 but jumped to 100 per 100,000 during Indentureship. Not part of “Indian Culture” – even with all the noise made by the West about “Suttee”, which is more akin to “honour” like the suicides of the Japanese Samurai warrior caste.

The point my friend should have made, was how could the Police Force, as an institution, been made more receptive to the culture of Indian Guyanese. Training centres were opened up in Berbice and Essequibo and the menus were supposed to be tailored to those recruits who had specific dietary requirements. Even though the congregation in Mandirs are 90 per cent women, we are sure that the armed forces wouldn’t look askance of Pandits – like Chaplains – are requested. Was the request ever made?

Finally, there is the duty of Indian Guyanese to play an equal role to defend their country and to assist in keeping law and order. We are sure if they are reminded regularly that Vishnu took incarnation in the ‘soldier” caste, maybe they will appreciate that being in the Police and Army are also part of Indian culture.

irst Lady Sandra Granger attended the closing ceremony of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Training programme in Linden, Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region Ten), which saw 37 youths receiving certificates accredited by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

In brief remarks, the First Lady said the programme is aimed at providing young people with skills necessary for the world of work. She also praised the participants for completing the five-week programme.

The programme, spearheaded by the Office of the First Lady, provides young adults with training in the areas of Information Communication Technology (ICT), literacy and numeracy, entrepreneurship, sexual reproductive health, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, micromanagement development; and soft skills, including ethics and time management.

First Lady Sandra Granger shares a photo moment with the graduating batch and officials conducting the ICT programme

Similar workshops are slated to be held throughout the country.

Director of Community Development and Social Management of the National Data Management Centre, Phillip Walcott, who delivered the feature address to the graduates, urged them to achieve all that they can as life progresses, and aspire to be innovative and motivated.

“The people who will innovate are the people who are determined they will not be mediocre; they will not just be part of the crowd, but they will stand out.

Do not be content to run with someone else’s vision; stand out! You are at a great starting point,” he said, as he noted that the programme is expected to be expanded.

14 news

SUnDAY, june 24, 2018| guyanatimesgy.com

Motorists decry condition of Parfaite Harmonie access road

This pothole runs straight across the Parfaite Harmonie access road

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otorists and residents utilising the La Parfaite Harmonie access road at Schoonord on the West Bank of Demerara, are calling on the relevant authorities to execute urgent repairs on certain sections of the road since it is plagued by large potholes.

The residents are contending that the pothole-riddled road causes severe mechanical damages to their vehicles, which amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs. In addition to the deplorable state of the road, the 3.5-kilometer stretch of road is yet to be outfitted with streetlights. According to road users, traversing the road is dangerous at nights because of the potholes, no lighting and the presence of cows.

Motorcyclist, Andrew Camacho told Guyana Times that approximately three weeks ago, he unexpectedly slipped into a pothole, which

threw him off his bike resulting in minor injuries.

"Me and my wife was coming home from (George)town and because we live at Last Bridge (Westminster) we does use this road to go home and that was around 7:30 (19:00h) when I missed that hole and slip in it. The bike fall on my wife foot and sprain she ankle and me get some bruise," the man related.

He added that he would have had to spend over $20,000 to get his bike fixed and is hoping that the road is fixed before a more serious accident occurs.

The road was constructed to the tune of over $604 million and commissioned in September 2014 – BK International and Gaico Construction undertook the project.

Since the commissioning, the road has rapidly deteriorated as a result of the high volume of heavy-duty vehi-

cles that traverse the road carting building materials, among other things, as the scheme rapidly develops. Just last year, Gaico Construction Company’s workmen were fixing potholes along the road and following a deadly accident early this year, it was outfitted with several speed humps.

However, residents are contending that the speed

being through Independence Street, La Grange and Canal Number One. A hire car driver, Andy Singh, told Guyana Times that he operates from the housing scheme to Vreeden-Hoop and because of the road’s close location to his destination point, it is ideal for him to use. The man said his vehicle is being damaged on a regular basis and is pleading

Another pothole just in front of a speed hump

humps do little or nothing to curb the speeding issue along the road. Additionally, they are claiming that the potholes are appearing overnight which is indicative of substandard construction of the access road.

Presently, the Schoonord access road serves as one of three access points to the La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme, with the other two

with the authorities to have the road fixed.

“Bai what me go tell yuh?

Is every other month I got to change me tyres on this car because is not just this road that bad. If you go round this scheme you go see more bad road than good one but nobody nah do nothing,” he said.

The Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme is laden with deplorable roads and residents have been repeatedly calling on the Government to address their concerns. In addition to roads, the condition of the Parfaite Harmonie Health Centre leaves much to be desired while the sides of the road serve as a hiding spot for petty thieves.

Government’s response

On Saturday, Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) Project Director Omar Narine told this publication that they are aware of the condition of the roads and that measures are being put in place to address the issue.

He said the CH&PA is working with the Public Infrastructure Ministry to develop an estimate to have the main access road fixed.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has said Government is addressing the issue, and pointed out that “contracts are out for (its) repair and maintenance.”

Meanwhile, Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valarie Adams-Yearwood had earlier this year promised that the roads in the area would be upgraded.

“We are doing road upgrades at Parfaite Harmonie and Westminster and those works will commence in about two weeks; and through the reformulated [InterDevelopment Bank] IDB loan in 2018, we are going to spend over $500 million to do upgrade works in Parfaite,” the Minister had said.

“I know they (residents) have been complaining about the state of the roads. We are paying attention, and we are listening to people; and while we can’t deal with everything immediately, we are paying attention to the ones that are more critical,” AdamsYearwood added.

Plastic conversations continue

Dear readers, We’re now at the end of June, which has historically been a special month for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Not only are three environmental days -including arguably the grandest in World Environment Day (WED) -- celebrated in June, but the EPA also celebrates its anniversary in June. Moreover, this year, with the WED theme being ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, the EPA continued to influence our country’s transforming to a green, sustainable society.

As the theme highlighted the dangers of single-use plastics, the EPA executed a National Conversation on Single-use Plastics, which attracted representatives from the Government, Private Sector, manufacturing entities, nongovernmental organisations, conservation societies and entrepreneurs, creating the opportunity to share views on how Guyana can put an end to plastic pollution. This event was a success, as was evidenced by the many ideas that emerged to nurture the movement against plastic pollution and to find solutions to this pesky issue.

According to a study done in 2016 by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, 10% of the waste stream from Georgetown comprises single-use plastic products. What this essentially amounts to is more than 7,000 tonnes of single-use plastic products being taken to the Haags Bosch landfill annually. Considering that these figures relate only to Georgetown, we can only imagine what the figures for the entire country would be, and where those plastic products are ending up.

The improper disposal of plastic products has various effects: drains are clogged, marine life and human health is endangered, and the economy is affected. It is against this backdrop that the Department of Environment and the EPA will continue to host conversations on single-use plastics.

As such, the plastic conversation will continue in Bartica, Region 7, and in Linden, Region 10, as listed in the table

Through these Conversations, we aim to garner as many comments from the public as possible, so that an effective solution (s) can be found. As such, we invite all interested parties to participate in these events. There is also the opportunity to submit comments to the Agency via the EPA’s social media pages, email and letter. We look forward to hearing from you!

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail. com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cabinet to deliberate on teachers’ salary increase – Education Minister Symptoms of a currency crisis? (Part 2) In continuation of the topical discussion for today, it must be stated that it would have been much more meaningful if this particular topic could have been examined by considering more recent data for example, export and import figures for at least the end of the first quarter in 2018, total stock of external debt among other key macroeconomic indicators. By doing so, this columnist would have been able to demonstrate a much more clearer and accurate picture in this analysis but unfortunately, for some reason or the other, the Finance Ministry seemingly stopped making its usual monthly economic bulletin report available on its website. The last such report is available for April 2017, whether this is intentional or not, that’s a whole different matter altogether.

Notwithstanding, empirical evidences support the view that, in general, a deterioration in economic fundamentals and pursuit of lax monetary policy can contribute to currency crisis. Emerging market economies or developing economies suffer more than developed economies if they pursue lax fiscal and monetary policies, though both economies appear to be equally affected by political considerations (IMF Working Paper, 2005). During 1968-2001, the growth rate of domestic credit, the rate of inflation, and the growth rate of money all contributed in a more significant way in developing economies in determining currency crisis. Further, it should be noted that an effective warning system for currency crisis should take into consideration a broad variety of indicators, and, as such crises are usually preceded by symptoms that arise in a number of areas.

To that end, proven indicators that are particularly useful in anticipating crisis include the behaviour of international reserves, the real exchange rate, domestic credit, credit to the Public Sector, and domestic inflation. While other indicators include the trade balance/balance of payment, export performance, money growth, real GDP growth and fiscal deficit.

It was previously noted that foreign reserves held with the Bank of Guyana declined from US$825.2 million in 2012 to US$506.8 million as at the end of the first quarter in 2018, representing a depletion in the reserve of US$318.4 million over this period or 38.5 per cent. In a previous column it was established that the minimum target for the international reserves held with the Central Bank is usually bench-marked to three months of import cover – that is, the equivalent of the country’s total import bill of goods and services from the rest of the world, for three months. In this regard, Guyana’s total import figure over the last decade reached a high of US$1.97 billion in 2012 and a low of US$1.14 billion in 2009, giving rise to an average annual import figure of US$1.5 billion. Therefore, using the highest import figure of US$1.97 billion; three months import cover is equivalent to: US$1.97 billion/12 (months) x three (months) = US$492.5 million.

Thus, rounded to the nearest hundred, the minimum reserve target for the central bank should be US$500 million.

It is also worthwhile to examine the trend in the balance of payment account – another important indicator – given that it serves as an indicator of the changing international economic or financial position of a country. It also helps in formulation of a country’s monetary, fiscal and trade policies. As can be observed from the data above, over the last six years, Guyana’s trade balance recorded deficit balances in each year with a high of US$119.5 million in 2013 and then fell to US$69 million in 2017; while the exchange rate, using the average market rates for over the last seven years, depreciated by almost five per cent against the US dollar from G$204–US$1 in 2012 to G$208–US$1 in 2017. (To be continued next week).

(For comments, questions and responses on articles featured in this column, readers can reach the author at jbinsights@outlook.com).

… says decision within a month

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egotiations that were done during a meeting with the high-level task force some time ago to determine whether or not teachers will be entitled to an increase in their salaries is now at the hands of Cabinet.

This was according to Education Minister Nicolette Henry, who earlier this week informed media operatives that recommendations were made during the discussion and these were submitted to her for initial evaluation.

However, the final resolution will be made after the matter is debated at the level of Cabinet.

“The High-Level Task Force of Public Education met and they would’ve made some recommendations in so far as emoluments are related to teachers. That was one

of the many issues that was discussed, and they would’ve submitted to me a document which I have reviewed and which I will have to discuss with my Cabinet colleagues as the subject Minister.

She explained that other factors surrounding the increase were also raised and were therefore considered before the initial document was crafted.

“Prior to that discussion of course, we had to look at the feasibility based on what was proposed and so there were several instances of back and forth with the High-Level Task Force. Cabinet, I suppose, will be able to make an announcement which many will be able to benefit from in a month’s time. ” She noted that while the increase in wages was an

important aspect of the discussion, several other issues were highlighted, and recommendations were accordingly made. Again, it was recorded that a response will be made within the period of a month.

“It’s much more than salary issues. Coming out of that process, there would be a number of recommendations that we would’ve found favour with and so we intend to move with that in the shortest possible time. Speaking in terms of relativeness, I will say we will see something in about a month’s time or thereabout.”

Earlier in April, the HighLevel Task Force was engaged in a meeting, whereby the factors affecting teachers were discussed, with the possibility of them receiving an increase in their monthly

Education Minister Nicolette Henry

salaries. However, in May, it was revealed that the matter was within the remit of the Finance Ministry.

The original proposal suggested by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) called for a 50 per cent increase for 2018 and the next two years.

Teenage mothers

Multi-sectorial collaboration needed for reintegration into schools

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o successfully facilitate adolescent mothers into a formal school setting, there must be partnerships among Ministries and the Private Sector for additional benefits. This was among one of the recommendations made by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) after the completion of the Policy for the Reintegration of Adolescent Mothers into the Formal School System.

While the policy was documented with the necessary information to address the idea of young mothers, the statement called for collaborations with the Education Ministry, the Public Health Ministry and the Social Protection Ministry with Private Sector entities.

“There is need for highly coordinated operational partnerships among the relevant Government agencies and Private Sector organisations providing support services to adolescent parents and their children. Clear operational procedures for programme delivery to include social welfare programmes, referral and tracking shall be established. This will maximise efficiency and impartiality in the delivery of programmes.”

According to the findings, increase emphasis should be placed on Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) since little attention is given to those areas.

“A strong recommendation is being made for the teaching of HFLE in schools, with the inclusion of an ASRH component in the curriculum for Grades Nine and 10. To achieve this, the concern of teacher and parental resistance to addressing ASRH issues in schools needs to be addressed.”

Meanwhile, it was recommended by the research-

ers that the counselling programme be strengthened in

the school’s system and annual programme be provided to

these teachers.

turn to page 17

16 news

SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

Zimbabwe's President survives apparent bomb attack Rally blast kills at least 3,

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imbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa has survived an apparent bomb attack at a rally in the city of Bulawayo.

Mnangagwa said an object "exploded a few inches away from me - but it is not my time".

Video footage from White City Stadium shows an explosion happening close to

Mnangagwa as he leaves the stage after addressing supporters.

Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said 15 people were injured, three of them seriously.

The exact number of people hurt by the blast remains unclear - and reports suggest it may be significantly higher.

The president was in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city and an opposition stronghold, to campaign for his ZanuPF party ahead of nationwide elections taking place on 30 July.

He is favourite to win the poll, but analysts say he also has enemies - both for overthrowing his former mentor,

Robert Mugabe, and for being a previous enforcer of the Mugabe regime.

A spokesman for Mnangagwa said that while the president was unhurt, Vice-President Kembo Mohadi suffered a leg injury. Another vice-president, Constantino Chiwenga, received bruises to his face. (BBC)

wounds 160 in Ethiopian capital

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bomb blast at a mass rally in the Ethiopian capital killed at least three people and wounded some 164 others on Saturday, according to eyewitnesses and the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.

Red Cross officials told Xinhua that the bomb attack hit as more than 3 million people gathered in Addis Ababa's Meskel Square to

support Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

According to eyewitnesses, the explosion occurred near a police vehicle as millions of participants were about to wrap up their demonstration.

They also revealed that at least three people have died as a result of the bomb attack, which also left some others injured. (Xinhua)

Rice Board violating...

Meanwhile, millers have also been observing Minister Holder’s remarks on the industry. Guyana Times was told that many millers are currently operating in overdraft.

Information disclosed that banks requested a payment schedule in which millers outlined how they would pay back the funds. Reports are that GRDB promised to pay millers since September last year but revised the payment deadline to April 30, 2018.

“Since September last year they promised to pay us and they keep telling us that we would get paid by the end of April... it’s not that millers are using farmers as bank.

Most millers have been asking GRDB when they will get their money; we are close to end of June and nothing as yet,” a miller disclosed on Saturday.

An industry insider told this newspaper that the GRDB has been in discussions with Minister Holder for him to release funds to pay the

from page 11

millers, as the GRDB reportedly has reserves in its coffers. It was disclosed that the GRDB has been disbursing small percentages of the payments over the last two weeks to millers. This followed recent reports carried in this newspaper.

GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan told DPI last week that “the Board is not in possession of the funds and is currently working with officials in Panama to ensure that the outstanding balance will be made available for payment at the earliest possible time.” The General Manager further told Government’s official media outlet that millers are aware that when they supply the Panamanian market, they will receive payments from the GRDB when it is received from Panama.

He admitted that millers are owed for the two-contracted supply – the last contract for 2017 and the first contract for 2018 and not for contracts for any previous years.

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SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana lacks clear small business developmental policy – SBDF head

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anaging Director of the Small Business Development Finance Trust (SBDFT), Manjula Brijmohan has said in order for small businesses to truly develop and reach their true potentials, the Government needs to construct and implement a policy to steer small business owners.

Brijmohan made the comment during an interview with Guyana Times where she discussed the development of small businesses.

Currently, the SBDFT has over 600 micro and small business owners as clients and are providing both technical and financial support to them.

She explained that there is no doubt that small and micro enterprises are the backbone of any economy, but added that the backbone needs to be supported.

“Majority of the developing economies and developed economies including USA and India, the bulk of the employment comes from the smaller scale sector. But difference is there the enabling environment is more. Here in Guyana we don’t have the protection policies to enable the environment for small and micro businesses even though we are in [Caribbean Community] Caricom where other Caricom countries have the serious protective policies,” she noted.

Managing Director Manjula Brijmohan

She further explained that larger businesses have always been there but they were in specialised fields but now ev-

Multi-sectorial collaboration...

They suggested that, “All education-sector staff, but in particular those responsible for the counselling and support of pregnant school girls and adolescent parents should be benevolent, empathic, accepting, competent and self-motivated.

Designated teacher-counsellor should be trained to provide special guidance and support to those who are most at risk, troubled and vulnerable.”

Additionally, while there have been modifications in the legislative framework for the protection of children and their rights, the study reveals that there is still a disconnection that lies be-

tween law and practice.

“Notwithstanding these achievements in legislative reform, there is still a disconnection between law and practice which needs to be addressed if the reintegration policy is to be successfully implemented,” UNICEF stated.

Suggestions were also made for the policy to be reviewed every four years to coincide with the Education Strategic Plan. There, reviews and recommendations would be made for the application and administration of the policy to a reintegration committee, which will be spearheaded by the Education Ministry.

from page 15

Less than a week ago, the newly introduced policy was handed over to the Ministry after the one-year study was completed by representatives from UNICEF. This was in light of the fact that in 2015, studies indicate that some 3712 girls were reported pregnant while in 2016, a total of 3032 were recorded. In both cases, the age range was between 15 to19 years.

That accounts to more than 6000 cases in just two years, which placed Guyana at second ranking on the list of the teenage pregnancy cases in the Caribbean and Latin America.

ery business is branching into the traditional small business fields, hence making the competition tougher. In addition, there are foreign entities coming to Guyana and establishing empires of medium-scale businesses, making the competition even more difficult.

“Many of the small vendors are finding it difficult to compete… that is a serious problem… when they buy wholesale from the Chinese and then the Chinese sells at a cheaper price on the road and these are the things that I think the Government and the bigger Private Sector need to work on,” Brijmohan opined.

Hammering the need for a small business development policy, Brijmohan said both Guyana and Trinidad produce honey but Guyana cannot export to Trinidad since it is on their blacklist, ultimately protecting their producers.

Additionally, she explained

that even if honey is transiting through Trinidad to another destination, the authorities there do not allow it and it had to return and be rerouted.

“These are things the Government and Caricom Secretariat should take forward to ensure Guyanese get their fair share in trade.

There is no policy to help the business. It doesn’t need a lot of money but what it needs is a clear vision and thinking of what and where we want to be and that is lacking,” she explained.

Brijmohan added that in addition to the lack of a proper policy direction, consistency, sustainability and support are also missing; explaining that leadership is not only about making speeches, but rather is about putting the dollar where one’s mouth is.

The SBDFT head said small businesses are often disadvantaged because of the lack

of market and technological knowledge coupled with little or no finances.

“These are some of the reasons why businesses are not able to sustain. We do not have a very clear-cut strategy and policy for the future of this sector. We have no target planning and that affects both the producers and sustainable suppliers. It has always been our efforts to try to network with Government, local and overseas institutions and everybody but the bottom line is the one institution cannot do everything and we do need substantial support from the Public Sector and Private Sector…,” Brijmohan noted.

She also urged businesses to position themselves to take advantage of the impending oil economy by positioning themselves to be able to provide the goods and services required. (Lakhram Bhagirat)

18

news

SUnDAY, june 24, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

28 months later, woman still suffering from post-Op infection

By Lakhram Bhagirat

W

hat was supposed to be a simple appendicitis surgery for 37-year-old Candacie Sardina turned out to be one of the most horrifying experiences she has ever had, with her still suffering the consequences.

Twenty-eight months ago, Sardina of Middle Street, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, underwent surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) for suspected appendicitis; however, following the surgery, doctors told the woman that she had a ruptured bowel, which they “fixed.”

Nevertheless, since then the woman has not been able to recover fully. She has to visit the hospital to have dressing done on a daily basis.

“About three years before I had the surgery I used to have bad belly pain and vomiting and diarrhoea.

I used to go to the doctor steady but them say them nah know what happen to me and in February 2016, them tell me that is my appendix and I have to do a surgery. I do the surgery and then them doctor make a mistake and cut me intestines and them tell me them stitch it up,” she said.

“After the surgery, I was

Candacie Sardina

still in pain and so and then me condition get bad. Them move me to the HDU (High Dependency Unit) and then the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and then them tell me that I get malnutrition and send me home,” Sardina added.

The woman related that after she was discharged from the hospital, her complications began to worsen. She still could not eat and had chronic abdominal pains. In addition, the incision was not healing and became infected, resulting in her returning to the hospital. She further related that the doctors then ignored her for quite some time before corrective surgery was done in September 2016.

However, the surgery seemed to cause more damage than it fixed. Sardina explained that now she has to wear a colostomy bag and the incision is still infected.

“I can’t bathe properly and when the cut leaking is all thing coming out. Most of the time is my mess (faecal matter) and the pain is worse than making a baby,” the mother of two related.

The visibly pale woman related that her youngest child is in Suriname with her husband, who is a Surinamese national. “I can’t travel. People scorn me because of how I does smell sometimes and the doctors nah do nothing. I want to see my son. He is eight years old and I haven’t seen him in so long. His father does work and they don’t have time to come over here. I am a poor woman and I have to work but this situation them doctors put me in here make I can’t work,” Sardina said.

She further stated that she has to visit the West Demerara Regional Hospital on a daily basis to dress the wound and after it was reported that it is showing no signs of healing, she was given a referral to the GPHC for yet another operation.

According to the refer-

ral letter, seen by Guyana Times, doctors at the WDRH think Sardina has Crohn’s disease (an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of your digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition) but no definitive diagnosis was given. Another corrective sur-

gery was scheduled in for March 16, 2018 at 07:00h but to date, it is yet to be performed.

“Them nurses and doctors at Georgetown Hospital does treat you like dogs.

Today (Thursday) I go for a dressing and see the doctor then them holler up on me because I tell them I’m in pain. I just want them to fix

me up so I can get on with me life. Them got me so. I can’t work or see my children or anything. I have to depend on people and that is stressing me out,” she said.

The woman is appealing to the relevant authorities to have some sort of corrective actions taken so she could go back to her normal life.

Father seeking assistance to care for young children

A

25-year-old is now seeking the public’s assistance in helping him care for his three young children. The man is presently unable to work owing to an accident he encountered almost a month ago in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The young man, Travis Jacobis, of Lot 118 Wismar Housing Scheme, Linden, who is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), said he was attacked by two dogs on May 28, 2018 at about 22:00h while on his way home on his motorcycle.

Jacobis said after the dogs rushed at him, he lost control of his bike and fell.

“I was riding going home on my motorbike and two dogs approach the front wheel and I mashed the front brakes and the bike slide. I try to save meh injury that ah had on meh lower left foot and I end up breaking my right hip…is wring I wring me body now to try and save this foot from breaking back and end up breaking my hip,” the distraught father said.

The young man, who has been hospitalised since the accident, said his father visited the owner of the dogs who was reluctant to offer assistance. “Since I in de hospital, no owner of de dogs never like come to see what happen to me or assist me with anything or assist my family with anything,” he contended.

While explaining his situation to Guyana Times, Jacobis said, “I am till from Linden and I am presently admitted to the Georgetown Hospital. I got to wait like only a weekend when my father come fuh bring a change of clothes. Otherwise than that I

Travis Jacobis in his hospital bed

got to try to maintain myself within the hospital.”

Due his immobility, he is seeking help to care for his three young children, especially since he does not know when he will be discharged from the health institution.

The man’s youngest child is two years old.

He is expected to undergo another operation to rectify his medical situation and is hoping and praying for a speedy recovery to be able to return to his job as a boat captain, so he can care of his children. Jacobis is the sole breadwinner for his family.

sunDAY, june 24, 2018

19

INTERNATIONAL WC – BELGIUM VS TUNISIA

Belgium romp past Tunisia with Hazard and Lukaku doubles

T

here are far bigger tests to come for Belgium, starting with England in Kaliningrad on Thursday, but Roberto Martínez’s players have signalled their intent, racking up maximum points from their opening two matches, scoring freely and looking like a team who plan to live up to their billing as one of the leading contenders for the World Cup. Belgium scored five but it is no exaggeration to say the goal count could easily have ended up in double figures on a day when Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard grabbed two apiece and Michy Batshuayi, on as a substitute for the Chelsea playmaker, contrived to miss a hat-trick of simple chances before he finally converted. Cue the loudest cheer of the afternoon.

For Lukaku, who ended the game as the tournament’s jointleading scorer with Cristiano Ronaldo, it was a landmark day.

At the age of 25 Lukaku has more goals in major tournaments than any other Belgian and he also became the first player to score two or more in successive World Cup games since Diego Maradona in 1986. Presumably this is what Lukaku had in mind when he said on the eve of the tournament: “I’m going to remember to have fun this time.”

Belgium look a team who are having fun full stop. With their slick passing and fluid movement, they are a joy to watch going forward. Lukaku, who is blessed with so much creativity around him, would surely have ended up with a hat-trick had he not been withdrawn with half an hour remaining, after Martínez decided to take no chances with an ankle injury that the Manchester United striker picked up just before the interval.

Belgium were 4-1 up by the time Lukaku departed, playing with a swagger and, inspired by the mercurial Hazard, threatening to open up Tunisia every time they ventured into their opponents’ half. Hazard, on this evidence, is determined to show a wider audience why he deserves to be recognised among the most distinguished players in world football. His spot-kick in the fifth minute opened the scoring and there was a touch of class about the way he took his second, expertly sidestepping Farouk Ben Mustapha, the Tunisia goalkeeper, before slotting home. The statistics – 10 goals and 12 assists in his past 20 appearances for Belgium – highlight just how influential Hazard has become to this side.

There is, however, quite a supporting cast behind him and Lukaku. Dries Mertens, who scored a splendid goal in the opening game against Panama, set up Lukaku’s first. Thomas Meunier was a rampaging presence on the right, and then there is Kevin De Bruyne, who makes everything tick at the base of the Belgium midfield alongside Axel Witsel.

Romelu Lukaku clips his second goal past Farouk Ben Mustapha of Tunisia to join Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of

the goalscoring charts. It is a measure of just how free-flowing Belgium were here that Batshuayi, who came on for Hazard, had so many chances during his 22 minutes on the pitch. Youri Tielemans, another substitute, delivered the cross that Batshuayi eventually converted, after seeing one shot cleared off the line, another come back off the bar and Ben Mustapha deny him with a point-blank save.

Belgium, in other words, were rampant and it would be fair to say Tunisia gave them a helping hand with some dreadful defending. To their credit Tunisia never gave up and they will take some comfort – as may England – from the fact that they managed to score twice against Belgium.

Dylan Bronn got the first, before leaving the pitch in tears six minutes later with what Romelu Lukaku scores appeared to be a serious knee his second goal injury, and Wahbi Khazri, impressive throughout, scored the second in injury time.

Although Belgium are mathematically not through to the last 16, it would take a bizarre and almost unthinkable set of results for Martínez and his players to miss out on a place in the next phase. Tunisia will be eliminated if Gareth Southgate’s side avoid defeat by Panama on Sunday.

The expectation was that Tunisia would try to frustrate Belgium in the same way they did England for long periods but that gameplan went out the window inside six minutes.

Syam Ben Youssef made a reckless challenge on Hazard that prompted Jair Marrufo, the referee, to point to the spot. After a slight delay while the video assistant referee checked whether contact was made inside the area, Hazard calmly rolled in his penalty.

In the blink of an eye it was 2-0. Mertens, capitalising on a heavy first touch by Ali Maâloul, the Tunisia left-back, carried the ball forward before releasing Lukaku, who steadied himself before shooting low across Ben Mustapha. What fol-

Eden Hazard

lowed was not in the script as Tunisia pulled a goal back within two minutes. Khazri delivered an inswinging free-kick that Bronn, who plays his football in Belgium for Gent, headed past Thibaut Courtois.

Lukaku then restored Belgium’s two-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time with a lovely finish from Meunier’s terrific pass. Ben Mustapha had dashed from his line, trying to narrow the angle, but Lukaku deftly lifted the ball over him. Belgium did not have to wait long for their fourth, which owed much to the vision of Toby Alderweireld, who picked out Hazard’s intelligent run in behind the square Tunisia defence.

Then came that flurry of missed chances for Batshuayi, prompting gasps of amazement in the stands, before finally he made it 5-1. Even then Tunisia kept trying to attack, and their admirable perseverance was rewarded when Khazri, who spent last season on loan at Rennes from Sunderland, completed the scoring with a first-time shot.

INTERNATIONAL WC – MEXICO VS SOUTH KOREA

Mexico hold off South Korea as Hernández brings up his 50

M

exico must secure a point in their final group stage match against Sweden to ensure they reach the last 16 for a seventh straight World Cup after they eased to victory over South Korea in Rostov. Having shocked the world champions, Germany, in their opening Group F game, Mexico secured a 2-1 win as Carlos Vela tucked home a firsthalf penalty before Javier Hernández clinched the points with his 50th international goal.

South Korea, who pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Son Heung-min, are all but out after enduring a second narrow defeat. But after Germany’s late victory over Sweden, Mexico face a nervous showdown in Ekaterinburg on Wednesday as they bid to get past the last 16 for the first time since hosting the finals in 1986.

“We came to Russia with a lot of criticism but we’re working hard and have a lot of talent. We have humility but we beat Germany and South Korea and now we have to play against Sweden and stay cool and calm,” Hernández said.

“We cannot afford to get caught up in all this, we have to continue our job and stay humble. Of course we should enjoy this but tomorrow we start working again,” he added after he equalled Luis Hernández’s record of four goals at World Cup finals for Mexico.

South Korea were guilty of committing a number of fouls throughout the match, leading the Mexico coach, Juan Carlos Osorio, to complain his players had not been given enough protection.

Javier Hernandez fires in the second

“Usually, I don’t like to talk about referees but there was something I didn’t like and that was that there were 24 fouls against us,” said Osorio. “It’s very easy to analyse who committed them. For the good of football, I hope they take the necessary precautions and measures.”

Osorio, who is hoping to break Mexico’s run of six successive last-16 World Cup eliminations, said he spent a lot of time making sure complacency did not creep in after their win over Germany.

“What often happens against teams with less history is

that the human being tends to relax but we dedicated all week to making sure we did not let that happen and fortunately the message didn’t get lost among all the praise the team has received,” he said.

“Football is about opinions, it’s very subjective and it changes all the time. The analysis is more about the result so the most appropriate thing for us is to keep preparing and not get carried out. We must prepare for the next game as if it is the last and get as far in the World Cup as we can.”.

Mexico needed only 26 minutes to take the lead after Hirving Lozano initially failed to turn home a low cross. They were awarded a penalty as Jang Hyun-soo was penalised for handball – referee Milorad Mazic not needing to use VAR to point to the spot. Vela stepped up and coolly sent Cho Hyunwoo the wrong way to mark his 70th cap with the opening goal.

The second half began more equally but it was Cho who was once again called into action just before the hour, neatly tipping a deflected Andrés Guardado effort behind for a corner.

Vela angled a curling strike just over the bar before Hernández made sure of the win with a landmark goal.

With time running out, Son scored South Korea’s first goal of the finals and it was one worth waiting for as the Tottenham forward bent a 20-yard strike out of the reach of Ochoa and into the corner – but it proved too little, too late.

Juan Carlos Osorio’s side now face a final group game against Sweden in Ekaterinburg on Wednesday, while South Korea take on Germany in Kazan. (The Guardian)

20

guyanatimesGY.com

SUnDAY, june 24, 2018

INTERNATIONAL WC – GERMANY VS SWEDEN

Kroos brings off late miracle for Germany to stun Sweden J

oachim Löw had been asked about the curse of world champions past. Three of the previous four World Cup winners had exited at the group phase – France (2002), Italy (2010), Spain (2014) – and the Germany manager knew that his team stood to be the next. It added yet another layer to his country’s angst, after the debacle that was the defeat against Mexico in the opening Group F tie.

This was pretty much win or bust for Germany, a team groping with unfamiliar uncertainties, and they threw everything they had at Sweden during a wild night by the Black Sea in what was arguably the game of the tournament.

The game looked up for Löw and his players when Jérôme Boateng leapt into a reckless tackle on Marcus Berg as the clock ticked down to incur a second yellow card. It was one of many glaring examples of Germany’s indiscipline at the back.

But the 10 men refused to wilt and, after the substitute Julian Brandt had rattled the post from distance, Toni Kroos summoned a stunning late twist when he bent a free-kick that had been touched back to him by Marco Reus into the far corner. Sweden were broken at the end. They had led through Ola Toivonen and called the tune in the first half. But the second half belonged to Germany and they squeezed home in the most dramatic of style.

The pressure was on Germany and it was ratcheted up a couple of extra notches when Mexico defeated South Korea earlier in the day.

Another defeat was unthinkable and, at kick-off time, the prospect of a draw did not feel much better.

With his back pressed to the wall and after days of savage criticism, Löw made four changes – two of them particularly eye-catching.

Out went Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil, in came the defensive-minded midfielder Sebastian Rudy and Marco Reus. Rudy would be forced off on the half-hour after he was caught in the face by a trailing boot from Toivonen.

Germany had stepped on to the front foot at the outset, squeezing up the field, with their full-backs pinned high. They took an early grip on possession, with one statistic showing they made 122 passes in the opening 10 minutes to Sweden’s six.

The worry for Löw was how threatening Sweden came to look on the counterattack and how easily they carved apart his team. It was extraordinary to see a German defence in such open and obliging mood. It was no exaggeration to say the game could have been over at the interval.

Ola Toivonen puts Sweden ahead with a dazzling chipped finish.

First, there was controversy when Berg ran clean through and, if he appeared to take a heavy touch, he still reached the ball before the advancing Manuel Neuer. Boateng gave chase and, as Berg shaped to shoot inside the area, the defender shoved him in the back.

Boateng also looked to trip him. The referee, Szymon Marciniak, ruled it was no penalty, which was a baffling decision, and nor was there any intervention from the video assistants. Don’t mention the VAR. Sweden could feel aggrieved. Janne Andersson’s team took the lead

Toni Kroos

Germany’s Toni Kroos (8) celebrates scoring their dramatic winner against Sweden with his teammates

after Kroos gave the ball away to Berg and, when he worked it wide, Viktor Claesson crossed for Toivonen.

The striker took an excellent first touch on his chest and the second was even better – a glorious lob that gave Neuer no chance.

Swedish belief soared; the Germans looked fraught.

Emil Forsberg, who had earlier streaked through only to be crowded out, looked up and could see two yellow shirts in glorious positions. Where were the defenders? He picked out Claesson but he decided against the first?time shot, which was a bad move. Jonas Hector got across to tackle.

There was also the moment in first?half injury

er.

time when Berg’s glancing header from Sebastian Larsson’s free-kick was bound for the far corner. Neuer saved.

Germany had gone close in the early running when Julian Draxler and Hector had close-range shots blocked but, apart from a deflected effort from Rudy’s replacement, Ilkay Gündogan, which extended Robin Olsen – Thomas Müller could not force home the rebound – Germany offered little.

The question was whether Sweden would live to regret their failure to punish Germany in the first half and they felt the sucker-punch at the beginning of the second.

Löw had tweaked again, sending on the big No 9 Mario Gomez and demanding greater intensity from his players.

Müller would push up as a second strik-

The difference between how they finished the first period and began the second was marked. Timo Werner, who was moved to the left, set up the equaliser with a low cross and, after Müller could not make contact, Reus bundled home in slightly untidy fashion in front of Ludwig Augustinsson.

It was breathless stuff and it was all Germany.

They laid siege to the Swedish goal, with their attacking intent reflected by Hector’s sorties into an inside-forward position on the left. (The Guardian)

FRENCH GRAND PRIX

Hamilton on pole position for French Grand Prix

L

ewis Hamilton won a battle with Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas for pole position at the first French Grand Prix for 10 years.

Hamilton beat Bottas by 0.118 seconds in a top-10 shootout interrupted by a red flag following a crash by Haas driver Romain Grosjean.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was third, ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

And there was a starring performance from rookie Charles Leclerc, who put the Sauber in eighth place on the grid.

Mercedes dominated the final session and Hamilton was ahead of Bottas by just Young Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc surprised many by putting his Sauber into the final 0.095secs after their first runs. top 10 shoot out Grosjean then crashed at the fast-entry Beausset double right-hander, bringing the session to a halt while the Haas was removed.

The Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were fourth and fifth, ahead of On the final laps, Bottas beat Hamilton’s earlier time, but the world champion edged the second Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen. back ahead shortly afterwards.

Raikkonen’s qualifying was a story that has become all too familiar. A mistake in qualiIt gives Hamilton a good opportunity to reclaim the championship lead from title rival fying when it mattered - for the fourth time in eight races this year - on a day when a man Vettel, who is one point ahead following his win in Canada last time out. widely tipped to be replacing him next year excelled.

Hamilton was further ahead in the first two sessions but found his advantage cut on the Leclerc, a 20-year-old from Monaco and the reigning Formula 2 champion, is a Ferrari final runs. young driver who is at Sauber this year so he can learn the ropes.

Mercedes’ first one-two on the grid since the Spanish Grand Prix came on a weekend He has been increasingly impressive but never more so than at the Circuit Paul Ricard when the team introduced an upgraded engine. It had been scheduled for the last race in on Saturday.

He beat team-mate Marcus Ericsson by 0.8secs in second qualifying and once Canada, where the other three manufacturers all had upgrades, but a reliability concern into the top 10 also edged out the Haas of Kevin Magnussen to take eighth, the best startled to a delay. ing position of his career.

Mercedes said the two-week delay had allowed them to introduce further reliability and Ferrari are already known to be considering promoting him to become Vettel’s teamperformance. mate as early as next year and this can only have made those chances greater.

It may not have made the difference between pole and not, but it was certainly a relief Leclerc was just behind Carlos Sainz, impressive in the Renault in seventh place and after a rare - if brief - moment of fallibility from the company that has dominated the turfive places ahead of team-mate Nico Hulkenberg. (BBC Sport) bo hybrid era of F1.

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21

Grant-Stuart still short of Netherlands expenses

C

hampion Paramodation, meals, transcyclist Walter portation around the Grant-Stuart is Netherlands, and regisstill daring to dream of tration for the competicompeting at the 2020 tion, the total expense for Summer Para-Olympics him to realise his dream to be held in Tokyo, currently sits at one milJapan; but in order to lion, two hundred and do so, the next hurdle fifty-seven thousand, he must cross is being five hundred Guyana able to compete in the dollars (Gy$1,257,500), UCI Para-Cycling Road the equivalent of roughWorld Cup, which will ly US$5,850. At the mobe hosted in Emmen, the ment, Grant-Stuart has Netherlands, from July only Gy$320,000 -- a 6 to July 8, 2018, and sum that is woefully inthat is a mere two weeks adequate to enable him away. to make the historic trip.

Last April, Grant- Grant-Stuart (C) after receiving his gold medal in Canada As such, family memStuart rode his way to bers and friends of this a gold medal in the UCI promising Para-Cyclist Para-Cycling Road Race and time trials at Circuit Gilles- are appealing to the private sector, the Guyanese diaspora, Villenueve in Montreal, Canada; and it is generally consid- and any Good Samaritan out there for monetary assistance ered that he is eminently poised to medal, or even record a IN ANY AMOUNT in order to make Grant-Stuart’s dream win, at this international competition. become a reality.

This differently-abled cyclist, who lost his arm in an acThe National Sports Commission and its Director, cident some years ago, even competes against abled-bodied Christopher Jones, have solemnly promised to contribute cyclists and demolishes the competition by miles. to Grant-Stuart’s Netherlands trip, although the amount of However, every dream has its attendant obstacles, and that support is as yet unknown. in Grant-Stuart’s case, the obstacle is financing. The air fare Grant-Stuart can be contacted on Tel # 684-6625 or 611to the Netherlands for him alone is well over half a mil- 9102. He is counting on your support to help him realise his lion Guyana dollars; and with the added expenses of accom- dream.

Ramdhanis among WOD doubles’ champs

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he Badminton fraternity served off a grand Open Doubles competition on Friday, June 22, at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue. It acted as a celebration of World Olympic Day 2018.

With a typically good turnout, the competition saw the usual dominators vying for prizes and bragging rights.

The opening night of the competition saw action in the Men’s Open Doubles, Ladies Open Round Robin Doubles, and the Men’s Open Consolation Doubles tournaments. In the Ladies Open Round Robin segment, National Ladies Junior Champion Priyanna Ramdhani found herself on the badminton court right after her graduation ceremony, teaming up with Greer Jackson to pummel each pair that dared to oppose them. They eased their way to victories against Christina Kumar & Shivannie Persaud 21-9, 21-8; Jayde DaSilva & Stephanie Sagar 21-14, 21-5; and Ayanna Wickham-Watson & Emily Ramdhani 21-8, 21-7 to cop the title of Ladies Doubles Champions.

Meanwhile, Shivannie Persaud & Christina Kumar, whose only defeat came from the champions, went on to beat out Jayde DaSilva & Stephine Sagar 21-13, 21-15; and Ayanna Wickham-Watson and Emily Ramdhani 21-16, 2220 for the second place spot. Ayanna Wickham-Watson & Emily Ramdhani managed to cop third place, after their win over Jayde DaSilva & Stephanie Sagar 21-3, 21-7.

The Men’s Doubles category saw a little more action, as some of the more experienced players took to the courts.

In round one, Javid Rahaman & Easa Sanichara defeated Sekhar Mallampati & Mahendra Sharma 21-7, 219; Ronald Chang Yuen & Akili Haynes overcame Johann Waldron & Isaac Mallampati 21-10, 21-15; and Marlon Chung & Darrell Carpenay defeated upcoming junior stars Matthew Beharry & Vikash Mootoo 21-6, 21-4.

National Champion Narayan Ramdhani joined forces with Jonathan Mangra to defeat veterans Dr. Nicholas Waldron & Gokarn Ramdhani 21-10, 21-8. Luck was later in their favour, as they gained a walkover owing to Javid Rahaman’s ankle injury, which left himself and his partner Easa Sanichara out of the remainder of the competition.

In the other semi-final match, Marlon Chung & Darrell Carpenay overpowered Ronald Chang Yuen & Akil Haynes 21-16, 21-15.

In an expected turnout, Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra beat out Marlon Chung & Darrell Carpenay for the Men’s Doubles championships.

Other matches played in the consolation rounds were: Gokarn Ramdhani & Dr. Nicholas Waldron defeating Sekhar Mallampati & Mahendra Sharma 21-14, 21-7; and Johann Waldron & Isaac Mallampati overcoming Matthew Beharry & Vikash Mootoo 21-14, 21-18.

Olympic Day is annually celebrated worldwide on June 23rd under the pillars “Move, Learn, Discover”.

Federer reaches final with win over Denis Kudla

R

oger Federer extended his grass-court winning streak to 20 matches as he beat Denis Kudla in straight sets to reach the final of the Halle

Open.

The Swiss, who needs to win a 10th title at the German event to retain his world number one ranking, won 7-6 (7-1) 7-5 against the American qualifier.

Federer saved five break points in the second set before breaking in the 11th game.

He will face Croatia’s Borna Coric in Sunday’s final.

Coric’s semi-final opponent, Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, retired injured when leading 3-2 in the first set of their semi-final on Saturday after he slipped on the grass.

Federer, who skipped the clay-court season including the French Open, began his grass season last week Roger Federer is through to his 12th final at the Halle Open by winning the title in Stuttgart.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion’s form going “I’m very happy, I’ve never played back-to-back finals on into Wimbledon is ominous for any player thinking they can grass in the Wimbledon run-up,” Federer said. stop him from claiming a ninth title at the All England Club.

“This is a first for me.”

22

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, june 24, 2018

Berbice Zone Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’

Opening night yields capacity crowd

Part of the action on opening night of the 2018 Berbice Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ soccer competition

A

capacity crowd that included even New Amsterdam Mayor Winifred Haywood, besides Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, Berbice Branch Manager Joshua Torrezao, and GT Beer Brand Manager Jeoff Clement, among others, witnessed the opening night of the Berbice Zone Guinness Greatest of the Streets soccer competition, which is being played at the New Amsterdam Stelling.

Commencement followed a short break after the conclusion of the East Coast Zone, but the increasingly popular street phenomenon once again enjoyed massive support from fans; and the teams that battled for Round of 16 spots did not disappoint, as they produced some exciting matches to crown a wonderful restart to this competition.

With a chance to compete in the national playoffs, and with prize money totalling in excess of $700,000 up for grabs, fans were treated to a sizzling exhibition of skill in the shorter version of the game of soccer.

Among the early winners were Hopetown, Dam Boys, Trafalgar, Tucber Giants, and Street Knights.

The competition was set to resume last evening with more action at the same ven- New Amsterdam Mayor Winifred Haywood doing the ceremonial kick-off ue, where anoth- to signal the start of competition on Friday evening er large crowd is anticipated.

Below are the night’s full results: Guinness Goal-(GG)-2 Goals

Game 1

-19th; John Lyte (GG) -18th Xavier Fraser - 5th Rawle Caesar - 14th

No5 ‘A’ vs Young Strikers ‘A’ Young Strikers ‘A’ won via walkover

Game 7

Hopetown: 2, vs Young Strikers: 1 Hopetown Scorers: Cedric Osbourne - 4th, Darren Douglas - 15th; Young Strikers Scorer: Andrew Chisholm - 8th

Game 8

Game 2

Street Knights: 3, vs Ol Skool: 0 Kevin Dey (GG) - 18th Reshawn Pilgrim - 6th Young Squad vs Platinum Squad Platinum won via walkover

Game 3

Game 9

Game 4

Game 10

Game 5

Game 11

Game 6

Game 12

Canje: 0, vs Dam Boys: 0 Dam Boys won 1-0 on penalty kicks

City Ville: 0, vs Top-7: 0 Top-7 won 1-0 on penalty kicks

Goal-Last United vs Soccer Ville Soccer Ville won via walkover

Prison: 0, vs Twenties: 1 Kevon Williams - 7th

Trafalgar: 2, vs Tucber Stars: 1 Trafalgar Scorer: Adrian Price (GG) - 19th Tucber Scorer: Colin Bowry - 5th

Lichfield United: 0, vs Big Ballers: 0 Lichfield won 2-1 on sudden death penalty kicks

Rose Hall Town: 0, vs Tucber Giants: 8 Graham Thomas - 7th, 13th and (GG)

Orealla Falcons: 3, vs NA Constabulary: 2

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, june 24, 2018

23

2018 CWI Regional Women’s Super-50

Matthews spurs Barbados to 6-wicket win over Guyana

H

ayley Matthews scored a rapid 84 Friday’s second round of the Cricket For the second time in almost a the Guyanese bowlers, as her 84 required Matthews’s innings allowed Barbados Guyanese, finishing on 149-4 in a mere Danielle Small, who scored 27, and the evIt was a tough outing for the bowlPark Ground in Spanish Town, Jamaica; Mandy Mangru and Akaze Thompson The Guyanese were again indebted to ing run-scorer for Guyana who, despite help and a fighting 19 from Grimmond, played Campbell’s effort was in vain, but it conshe seems to be continuing her ‘purple Barbados had a decent bowling outing, to emerge best bowler with returns of 2-30. and there was a wicket each from Captain Meanwhile, hosts Jamaica beat Nation’s all-round performance, hitting 72 The Windwards posted 156 all out, with and Juliana Nero was again among the Trinidad & Tobago then hammered hit 54 and Shania Abdool 45. Leewards ing 6-56, but Trinidad won in the end after combined to take seven wickets to help de-

Opener Hayley Matthews smashed a match-winning 84 for Barbados

Botha, Griffith appointed Coach, Asst Coach for Guyana Amazon Warriors

T

he Guyana Amazon Warriors have appointed South African Johan Botha as their Head Coach and current Guyana and West Indies ‘A’ Team Manager Rayon Griffith as Assistant Coach.

Botha has had previous coaching experience with Islamabad United and Multan Sultans at the Pakistan Super League.

Botha has also played at the Hero CPL, winning the title with the Trinbago Knight Riders in 2015.

As a player, Botha represented South Africa in Tests, ODIs and T20 country.

T e a m ments, cur-

WI VS SRI LANKA

Lakmal gives Sri Lanka perfect start

Rayon Griffith (L) and Esaun Crandon share a light moment

Internationals, claiming 126 wickets for his Griffith has represented the Guyana National and the West Indies B side in regional tournaand has had a very successful stint as the rent Assistant Coach/Manager of the Guyana Jaguars, contributing to them winning the West Indies Four-Day Professional League for four consecutive years.

In speaking about his appointment, Botha expressed excitement at the challenge ahead. “I really enjoyed my time with the Hero CPL as a player, and I can’t wait to get underway as a coach. The squad that the Amazon Warriors have put together for this year is really impressive, and I am sure we will be challenging for the title at the end of the season,” he declared.

Team and Operations Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Omar Khan, expressed optimism on Botha’s and Griffith’s appointments. He said: “The management of the franchise puts in continuous effort to do things differently with the aim of winning the title.

After getting so close over the years, we are delighted to have Johan and Rayon at the helm of our coaching staff this year. They are both very professional, are very much involved in cricket coaching and development, and are expected to bring new ideas and initiatives to the team set-up.”

The new coaches will take charge for the 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League from 8th August to 16th September.

Johan Botha

to pilot Barbados past Guyana by 6 wickets in West Indies (CWI) Regional Women’s Super50. week, the Windies star all-rounder has flayed just 60 balls, and included 11 boundaries. to easily chase their target of 142 set by the 23-odd overs. The opener got some help from er-consistent Kycia Knight, who scored 26. ing-strong Guyanese team at the Chedwin as Sheneta Grimmond toiled for her 2-43, and chipped in with just one wicket apiece. their skipper Shemaine Campbell, the leadfrom Tremayne Smartt (22*), Thompson (21), the best knock, stroking 48, with five fours. tinued to press a case for a Windies’ recall, as patch’ with the bat. with Matthews showing her skill with the ball Windies player Deandra Dottin grabbed 2-31, Shakera Selman, Shamilia Connell and Small.

Windwards by 7 wickets, thanks to Chedean and bagging 2-19. Stafanie Taylor scored 40.

Captain Stacy-Ann Adams leading with 43, runs, with 29.

Leewards by 188 runs, after Stacy-Ann King bowler Amanda Edwards bagged an amazKarishma Ramharack and Kamara Ragoobar fend their runs.

Kraigg Braithwaite walks off amid jubilation

W

indies were rattled early in the first session of the third and final Test on Day 1 as they slipped to 46 for 4 in Barbados on Saturday (June 23). Only 21 overs of play was possible after rain took a chunk out of the session and forcing the officials to extend play for half an hour before Tea. Surprisingly, Jason Holder opted to bat first on a lively, green surface against the depleted Sri Lankan side. With Dinesh Chandimal suspended the leadership responsibilities were handed to Suranga Lakmal while Rangana Herath failed to recover in time to walk into the XI. Visitors included Dilruwan Perera while the hosts went in unchanged.

Things went pear-shaped pretty quickly for Windies as they wobbled to 8 for 3 inside six overs before the heavens opened up. Lakmal struck twice, sending back Devon Smith in the first over and then Kraigg Brathwaite in the fifth. Lahiru Kumara acTOTAL 61-5 (27 Overs, RR: 2.27) West Indies 1st Innings counted for Kieran Powell as Yet to bat: D Bishoo, ML BATSMEN the Windies top three failed Cummins, KAJ Roach, ST Gabriel KC Brathwaite c to find a way past some tight Fall of wickets: 1-3 (DS Smith, Gunathilaka b Lakmal 2 bowling and movement off 0.6 ov), 2-8 (KC Brathwaite, DS Smith c de Silva b Lakmal 2 the deck.

4.3 ov), 3-8 (KOA Powell, 5.2 KOA Powell c Mendis b Kumara 4 Roston Chase and Shai ov), 4-24 (RL Chase, 13.4 ov), Hope tried to steady the in- SD Hope c Mendis b Rajitha 11 5-53 (SD Hope, 23.1 ov) nings but the former fell just RL Chase b Rajitha 14 BOWLING: RAS Lakmal (11before Tea as the hosts went SO Dowrich † not out 25 4-28-2), CBRLS Kumara (8-411-1), CAK Rajitha (7-1-22-2), into the break with the pres- JO Holder (c) not out 3 MDK Perera (1-1-0-0) sure squarely on them.

Extras 0

SCOREBOARD

SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

WI VS SRI LANKA

Pg 23

Lakmal gives Sri Lanka perfect start

2018 CWI Regional Women’s Super-50

Matthews spurs Barbados to 6-wicket win over Guyana Pg 23

Guyana Women’s Captain Shemaine Campbell played another top innings for her country

Kasun Rajitha celebrates after he bowled Roston Chase

INTERNATIONAL WC – GERMANY VS SWEDEN

Kroos brings off late miracle for Germany to stun Sweden Pg 20

Germany’s Toni Kroos whipped a potential shot ‘goalwards’

… and scored their second goal past Sweden’s Robin Olsen

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

JUNE 24, 2018

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2 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 24, 2018

Feature

W

e quite often dream of the day we can be truly independent and be our own boss, but in order for us to become successful business owners there are some key traits one must possess.

Among those traits are determination, commitment and hard word.

Apart from possessing the three fundamen-

tal traits, there must be a complete understanding of the field of business one decides to enter and that is where the Small Business Development Finance Trust Inc (SBDF) comes in. The SBDF was formed with the main objective of providing financial and technical assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises.

Managing Director of the

SBDF, Manjula Brijmohan, says the focus is mainly on those enterprises which are unable to meet the complicated demands of commercial banks so that they can develop their businesses and transform into sustainable entities.

“We work as small financiers to the people who need it urgently and badly to take a step to move up.

Always finance remains the key factor and that is where we are trying to fill in the gap and deal with these people and provide the financial assistance, guidance and technical assistance so that they should be able to graduate to a level where they can go to bigger institutions,” she said.

Since its establishment in 2002, the Small Business Development Finance has been able to assist over six hundred small and micro businesses develop their true potential and remain sustainable to this date.

The intention of the SBDF is to have the business owners transition from micro and small status to medium-scale or even larger. Additionally, the Trust also provides training for their clients in every field of managing and developing their businesses and according to Brijmohan, education is paramount towards development since it positions one to make more informed choices.

“When a person says I want to do a business, particularly a young person, then that person must read a lot and acquire the knowledge they need to have about the field that interests them. Then they

have to acquire the right technology and get a practical feel of the field they want to enter in because what they may think they will encounter will not be exactly what they encounter when they go out into the field,” Brijmohan advises.

“Confidence, determination and knowledge is essential for running a successful business. Also’ one condition for a successful business is not to just make money but aim to be successful and the money will just be a byproduct,” she added.

With over 30 years in the financial field, Brijmohan says an inquisitive mind is great for business.

The facilities provided

by SBDF can be classified into two categories; financial and business services. The financial aspect includes retail micro lending, where all retail loan products are specifically designed to facilitate urban enterprises, rural small farmers and non-farm enterprises to take advantages of the economic opportunities and try to participate in the environment of increasing competitiveness.

Additionally, the development finance aspect

is generally geared to suit the requirements of the small and medium size enterprise. These innovative products are based upon the principle that successful businesses need more than money.

Meanwhile, the SBDF also provides professional guidance and personalised investment advice to entrepreneurs in making sound decisions. They also provide technical training in the areas of business management, record-keeping, entrepreneurial skills, and marketing and product packaging.

SBDF tries to cover a wide spectrum of economic activities, which are suitable in the Guyanese environment, but limited to the following areas of (a) agriculture – small farming , fishing, poultry, dairy and ornamented fish for export; agro-processing activities; manufacturing and processing; (b) craft – traditional and modern among other things.

Brijmohan advises everyone to capitalise and realise their full potential while being cognisant of the fundamental principles for managing a successful enterprise.

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 24, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

By Lakhram Bhagirat

N

ot everyone wants to grow up, we just want to enjoy the perks of being a grown up. We want the nice things and privileges and not the responsibilities, but what do we do when we are a mere teenager and life reveals how ugly it can be, leaving us virtually alone. We adapt, right?

Being 15, for many of us, means a life where our mothers coddle us and fathers take care of our every need or even our grandparents spoil us rotten, but the case is very different for Sharon Coylasar of Aishalton in Region Nine.

You see, it has only been a few months since Sharon’s mother, Marina Browne, passed away but even before that, the

teenager has always been independent and a self-starter.

Sharon is a Fourth Form student of the Aishalton Secondary School in Deep South Rupununi and she is an inspiration to everyone in the small Amerindian community and even those afar. But what makes Sharon so unique? She is not your average teenager.

She lives by herself and runs a small grocery shop to maintain the home and send her to school.

As we learned earlier, Sharon’s mother died in March of this year and since then she has been left to fend for herself, since her brother died last year and her sister is a doctor in Georgetown. She explains that her father has been out of her life for over a decade and since the death of her mother, an

Some of the items in Sharon’s shop

aunt that lives nearby would “check-in” with her at night.

Sharon is preparing to transition from Fourth to Fifth Form where she is expected to sit eight subjects at the 2019 Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examination. Filled with teenaged giggles, she explains that her number one passion is business and it is only fitting that she sit the core business subjects at the upcoming CSEC exams.

“I want to be an independent woman, a selfemployed woman, a business woman so that I can show people what I am made of. I am strong, Indigenous and proud.

Our village (of Aishalton) is small, everyone looks out for everyone, and that is why I want to stay here and work

and develop this village. I want the other young ladies to see what they can do and what we can do together,” Sharon says.

Not knowing how to speak to someone about the loss of the only parental figure in their life, I casually asked Sharon “how has she been coping since her mother’s passing,” and the answer was one that surprised me; not because of how gutwrenching it was, but rather it was the level of maturity it was delivered with.

“Since my mother passed, it has been hard. She used to run the shop and I would make snacks like puri and pulorie and so and take to school and sell because of a programme we were doing but all of that I had to stop. I couldn’t cope with all of that. I had experienced the loss of a close person when my brother died but when my mother died, it was like everything stopped. I realised I was alone and had to take care of myself so I started to plan every day and adjust. It is a bit easier now but I miss her every day. But now I can cope with school and the shop,” she explained.

Quite frankly, even as an adult it is tough to imagine a life where mommy is not there and for a mere teenager to come to terms and understand the role of stepping up to the proverbial plate is not only commendable, but inspiring.

Growing up for Sharon has been fun and even though she does not have much spare time now, she spends whatever time she can get with her school friends and like any teenager, browsing social media sites.

She enjoys a good movie but now with the pressures of completing labs work for her Integrated Science School Based Assessment (SBA), coupled with SBAs for every other subject, she cannot remember the last time she saw a good movie.

Sharon wakes up every morning at the crack of dawn, makes breakfast and opens the shop for about three hours before venturing to school. At school, she explains it is hard to focus since managing a household and studies takes its toll at times. After school, she would hurry home and open the shop for another few hours because that is the only source of income she has.

“I have been trying ever since and I’m still maintaining the grades despite the struggles I have on a daily basis, which is no mom around to talk to,” she noted.

Now, whenever Sharon receives a good grade or any commendation from her teachers, she just taps herself on the back and says good work

a

s

Sharon Coylasar

her mother would have done.

Sharon has the drive to forge ahead despite the obstacles. She sees herself expanding her business to that of a general store and furthering her studies in the field of Business Management and Accounting. She aspires to develop her community and make her mark.

“I like challenges. Plenty people ask me how I do it but at the end of the day, I have to do it. Sometimes I do wish that I can just be like the other girls but then I am thankful for the experience. I like to be independent and I want to remain that way until I die,” Sharon said amidst giggles.

Fellow villager Immaculata Casimero describes Sharon as an “inspiration”, adding that the village of Aishalton is proud of her.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 24, 2018

Feature

edd's Dollar Wings and Kingdom Style Family Entertainment are quickly becoming household names in the Linden community, associated with friendly customer service and tasty dishes. These businesses are owned and operated by young and enterprising businessman Kellon Nedd, a Lindener, and his wife Sharalin Nedd, who hails from St Lucia.

For the couple, the venture into the business world started in 2017 with 'Dollar Wings', selling delicious fried chicken wings underneath a tent on the Mackenzie River wall.

Kingdom Style Family Entertainment Restaurant Hall and Theatre in the Toucan Mall also", the businessman related. “On Mother's day we dedicated the restaurant and it was active from Mother's day until the official opening", he continued.

The restaurant can be considered a touch of class and elegance, with a beautifully designed space and professionally dressed staff. Many have agreed that the service offered is also quite exceptional. At the Theatre, which also operates out of the Toucan Mall at Amelia's Ward, Linden movie lovers can catch affordable movies

As the name suggests, the chicken wings are sold at just $100 a piece, which many deem as quite affordable.

The business later grew as another Dollar Wings outlet was quickly set up in the community, and earlier this month the couple launched the Kingdom Style Family Entertainment Restaurant Hall and Theatre.

This was marked by a grand opening ceremony on June 10 with numerous officials in attendance. “We have started the Nedd's Dollar Wings at the Crescent River wall last year July and we branched off at Amelia's Ward Toucan Mall in November. Now, we have this restaurant-

in 3D from Thursdays to Sundays each week from 16:00hr to 22:00 hr.

"Every 4 0'clock (16:00hr) we show a movie for the kids and then we continue with adults stuff for the next 2 movies", Kellon said.

Meanwhile, the restaurant caters for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday and dinner on Sunday evenings. Its space is also available for rental to accommodate events such as conferences, birthdays, anniversaries, showers, proms and weddings. The couple noted that they will eventually cater for dinner and a movie. Apart from the Theatre and restaurant, fast

By Utamu Belle

N

food lovers can also catch the delectable fried chicken wings from the Dollar Wings outlet situated just next door.

The response to both businesses have so far been positive in the community, owing to the affordability of the services offered. In reflecting on his achievements, the young businessman who initially operated a mini taxi service and worked in construction said he is quite thankful to God since his dream in life was to become a successful businessman with no less than 20 employees. In addition, he is certainly living out his dreams with scores of employees in his employ, contributing greatly to Linden's employment

sector.

The businessman, whose parents were also successful entrepreneurs said he took a page out of their book as his dream was to one day follow in their footsteps.

The idea for 'Dollar Wings', he explained was birthed when he travelled to St Lucia. It was there that he met his wife Sharalin who later joined him here in Guyana. The young couple has since decided to pursue their dreams in business together, venturing down a successful path of entrepreneurship.

In addition, the couple also lives up to their corporate social responsibility by beautifying the community and helping those in need.

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 24, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

C

hoosing the right shade of foundation, the perfect lipstick or even eyeshadow palette is a task many underestimate. It requires the help of some who not only knows the product but also understands the importance of the “perfect match” and for the past year Robert Hiscock and Tamera DaSilva created that space when the launched the Little Make-up Bag. Robert is a 28 year old Englishman but because of his love for Guyana and the fact that he spent most of his time here, it was only right that he became a Guyanese national and that he did in 2010. Meanwhile, Tamera is what we describe at the born and bred Guyanese millennial. Robert is the holder of a degree in Business and Caribbean Studies from the London Metropolitan University and was previously a Beverage Marketing Manager with Caribbean beverage giant- AnsaMcAL. Tamera is just 21 years old but has a passion for being independent and hence the reason for undertaking this joint venture with Robert. She has also worked several jobs in retain and marketing but never felt the level of comfort she now feels “I believe strongly in self-empowerment and being your own source of happiness. Perhaps the latter is the main reason why I chose this particular industry to get involved in,” she says.

Both Robert and Tameka strongly believes in Guyana's potential for growth over the next few years and thought that becoming entrepreneurs, "throwing out ya belly" as some may say, was the best way for then to benefit from this growth. Further, the duo says owning your own business is in many ways a stepping stone in life towards independence, like buying your first car or first house.

“Striving for this independence and to ensure we, as Guyanese, make the most of what our country has to offer, was key to our decision to open our own business.”

Little Make-up Bag is located at 129A Duncan Street, Bel-Air Park, Georgetown and retails cosmetics and skin care products. For the owners, seeing the smiles on customer's faces when they open their new eyeshadow pallet or try on a new shade of lipstick is

second to none.

“With this said, the focus on our customers, and thus our customer service and marketing initiatives geared towards giving back to those who give to us, is what sets us apart from others in the industry. At Little Make-up Bag, not only can a consumer expect the best variety and prices, but the homely nature of our business allows us to give our customers the time and attention they deserve.”

Unlike most stores that offer cosmetics in Guyana, make-up and skin care is not just a component at the Little Make-up Bag rather it is the entire focus of the business. As such, Tameka and Robert spends significant time testing products before they hit the shelves in order to ensure that they are satisfied with their quality and that customers will have the best experience possible.

“We also offer a wide variety of leading cosmetic brands and don't just focus on one particular portfolio.

This helps us to ensure that when customers come to Little Make-up Bag they stand a good chance of finding exactly what they're looking for.”

With cosmetics being a relatively new industry in Guyana, it leaves a lot of opportunity for young entrepreneurs to really capitalize.

For Tamera and Robert age is just a number that does not really affects the possibility of launching a successful venture. Their challenges, like many others, were the same. Finding the capital to launch their business

was among the major challenge, but for them starting small is not a problem and they did start small.

Over the past year they have grown as individuals, business partners and so did the Little Make-up Bag. “We started as a small door to door retailer with a minimal investment. From there we continued to grow and re-invest whatever we earned. This, with support from our parents allowed us to open a physical location (but this is only the beginning). Another challenge associated with starting a venture is commitment. Everything that can go wrong will! It will never be a walk in the park and there will be many sleepless nights if you want to get it right. However, pushing through and keeping your thoughts fixated on your overall objective will help you to remember why you started this journey in the first place,” they advised.

Managing your own business will also be tough at first especially if you came from conventional employment where you typically served one function of the business. Running your own show means getting familiar with all aspects of an operational business from accounting to inventory management and marketing.

Time is also a challenge. Start-ups very rarely become profitable right away. Research the industry you want to get involved in, ensure there is real opportunity to be exploited and know that Guyana has so much opportunity. Think outside the box and don't hesitate to come out of your comfort zone.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 24, 2018

Feature

Aishalton Self Reliance Youth Group

By Lakhram Bhagirat

I

t was Apple’s co-founder, Steve Jobs, who famously said, “great things in business are never done by one person, they are done by a team of people,” and knowing the value of teamwork was what led five Amerindian young women to forming the Aishalton Self Reliance Youth Group, which began the journey of feeding visitors and the people of Aishalton.

Aishalton is a titled Amerindian community located in Deep South Rupununi Region 9 (UpperTakutuUpper Essequibo). It has a land mass of 430.92 square miles and has a population of over 1,000 consisting mostly of the Wapichan nation and is approximately 60 miles Southeast of Lethem.

The Village has access to its own hospital, police station, sports

ground, community centers, local electricity grid and the internet.

It is considered the hub for other Amerindian Villages in located in the Deep South Area and is accessible by road and air. It takes approximately 18 hours to drive, and one and a half hours to fly from Georgetown to Aishalton.

Now that we know some facts about the village, let us get back to the five heroines of Aishalton.

After being a part of the first batch of the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) students, Carmen Ritchie, Sonita Ernest, Mary Realine, Francelyn Francis and Adena Robertson pooled together their financial grants and started a Snackette.

“We decided after we finished the theory part of the HEYS training, the five of us from the village decided to pool the grants and we start the Aishalton Self

“Food is about love and we out that in our food so when the customers eat it they can say ‘this taste just like my mommy own’ and that makes us happy.”

Reliance Youth Group. After the group, we took the money and start building the Snackette and we open in June last year. Now is just two members active, me and Sunita, the rest of them move to town and doing other things,” Carmen said.

Since establishing the Snackette last year, the Group has had nothing but challenges but would have it no other way. They put in hard work and are determine to make it a successful venture.

Carmen explained that after three of the founding members left, the work intensified and sales began decreasing. The decrease is due to the fact that because of their location, the accessibility to goods is hampered resulting in them not being able to meet the demands of their customers.

Carmen says the Snackette is

different from all others because of the variety afforded as well as the price. Now the Snackette serves traditional Amerindian cuisines such as the pepperpot, tuma pot, cassava bread and farine.

Additionally, there is the fusion of other cultures with food such as fried rice, cook-up, pasta, curries and pastries.

When the idea of the Snackette was for birthed, the group said the market demand was there and the people of Aishalton was hungry for variety without the hassle of travelling to Lethem. However, the initial demand has since decreased and now they are left to think about new ways of diversifying the products they offer to appeal to the villagers.

“We have trouble getting

materials we need to get the business developed more. But we are trying and not giving up. We will make it. Now we are looking at how we can make it better because business slow down,” Carmen said.

Carmen now focuses most of her time in developing the business and according to her, it is just a year now but the plan is to keep the Snackette open as long as possible. She describes their food as the best because of the level of love they put into the preparation, making each dish as homemade as possible.

“Food is about love and we out that in our food so when the customers eat it they can say ‘this taste just like my mommy own’ and that makes us happy.”

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 24, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Literary Corner

Preserving our Literary Heritage

by

Petamber Persaud

(E

xtract of interview with Desiree Edghill, Georgetown, Guyana, November 2016. Edghill is Director of Artiste in Direct Support, a versatile theatre personality, a health activist and educator. Edghill was recently awarded a Medal of Service.)

PP: We cannot divorce the drama from theatre in Guyana because the history of theatre in Guyana is characterized mainly by highs [high drama] and lows [low gravy].

There is a school of thought that views the fortunes of theatre as a reflection of the state of country’s fortunes.

Theatre in Guyana started with the Coffee House Theatre and the Minor Theatre and the Theatre Royal, all the while evolving until the concerted effort that resulted in the founding of the Theatre Guild Playhouse in 1957. But just before that movement, there were other efforts like the Sugar Estate Drama Festival and the British Guiana Dramatic Society among others…

As we’re on highs and lows of theatre in Guyana, what period did you start theatre?

DE: I started theatre in 1979 with the Guyana Stores Group – the PEWITT (People Working in Total Togetherness); I was working with Guyana Stores at that time and I was asked to join the group. I didn’t think I was a dramatist at that time but I was having an altercation on the floor when the PR passed and heard me extolling myself and he turned to me saying that they were putting on a play and he would like me to play a part. Of course, I replied that I was not an actress to which he said that I didn’t know that I was acting with that attitude and that was the same attitude he was looking for to fill the part…so that was where it all started.

PP: What was the state of theatre then and the state of the country at that time?

DE: Well, at that time theatre was not an important part of my life – I was a mother, a single mother, looking for a job so I was not a part of theatre when I started. I became a part of the theatre in 1982 at Theatre Guild when our group used to perform there. Also at that time we had Rolland Phillips

who was part of our group while he was working at the radio station.

Allan

Cooper was part of the PEEWITT group, Sydney Benjamin was our choreographer and there was Leon Saul who was one of our directors…

PP: Ras Leon Saul has being around theatre quite a while!

DE: Yes, he has.

The chairman of theatre Guild at that time was John Rawlins and he came and saw a production I did in 1981 at St. Rose’s – we used to perform at the St. Rose’s High School which had a beautiful auditorium – and the production was the ‘Porknocker’ wherein I played the prostitute….So John Rawlings came and saw me. At the end, he called me to say there was a reading for a play at the Theatre Guild – ‘Juno and the Peacock’. At that time there was Anthony Stewart, Ulita Anthony, G. Walcott, Godfrey Naughton, Howard Lorimar – they were the people in that production.

So when John Rawlings invited me to do the reading, I said I was not into acting to which he responded that I suited the part for I looked like Anthony Stewart’s daughter who was brownskinned with bonnie long hair and I had lovely long plaits.

PP: We’d return to that later but I’d like for us to expand on the fact that a number of corporate entities were hosting their own little, in-house drama groups….

Drama DE: Guysuco Group, City Hall …

PP: Ian Valz…

DE: Yes, he was from the City Hall group and he was the one who did ‘House of Pressure’ with others from that group first performing ‘House of Pressure’.

Yes, there were many little drama groups around apart from the Theatre Guild but it was at the Theatre

Guild where you really got your training to learn the stage craft.

I remember when I went to do production there; I had to become a member of the Theatre Guild workshop which was held every Monday evening ….

PP: You had to be a rounded person – theatre personality …

DE: …Yes, you had to be – you couldn’t just jump on the stage. We rehearsed for that play for over three months which means you had to take time to get to that point - into character.

I don’t think we do long rehearsals now…

PP: it shows …And in contemporary theatre – missed lines, missed cues, lighting off-cue, long blackouts….

Let’s dwell a bit more on that training.

DE: That training was my foundation….But that wasn’t all; you also had to learn backstage, stage management, lights, sounds, you also had to learn front of house apart from cleaning the theatre…you had to clean your house – that’s how it was presented to us.

PP: By doing all these things, theatre was getting into your blood.

DE: Yes! You became a part of the theatre and theatre became a part of you.

We never got paid when we did Theatre Guild workshop productions, that was our give-back in return for been trained in the arts.

When we do a workshop production is when we gave back and importantly that’s when directors came and scouted for actors and actresses … so that’s another reason you gave of your best because that is how you will get cast.

I remember just after I did ‘Juno and the Peacock’, I went on to do ‘House of pressure’; right away Ian Valz cast me in ‘House of Pressure’ playing the girl friend to the Pressure Family’s daughter.

At the time though when I entered theatre at the Guild, local theatre was now becoming vibrant – we were having writers, Paloma Mohamed, Ian Valz, Ronald Hollingsworth, Harold Bascom, Mr Lloyd Grannum – a whole lot of people started to write local theatre, a lot of people was now gravitating towards local theatre….

Remember at the Guild, we were doing English and American plays where you had to speak the Queen ’s English.

PP: We’ll examine that change in a bit but let’s go back to something you

said earlier. You said at the Theatre Guild, you were not performing for monetary gains.

DE: In my time, we use to have Theatre Guild awards every year and that was our reward for performing. Now it’s monetary and I see nothing wrong with that. My concern is that the numbers of plays that people are in at the same time. In our days, if you’re in a production, you give your all to it. If you are in six productions in the Drama Festival, you can’t give your all; how much of you can you give to any one production.

For me, I think quality will be jeopardized.

I remember I had done, once in my life, three plays in one month – performed the first one at the beginning of the month, that means, I was not rehearsing for that play in that particular month. I did one in the middle and I did one in the end. I rehearsed for the two simultaneously; one was for the Theatre Guild and one for the National Cultural Centre. I begged Kwesi Oginga to take me out of the one for Theatre Guild because I felt I wasn’t [present] there enough to rehearse with the others so I felt it was unfair and unjust to the rest of the cast but he wanted me to do the lead role so badly that he made them rehearse without me by putting a stand-in and I was not happy with this because I feel you owe it to the people you working on stage with to give them the vibes….

PP: You touched on one important aspect of working together. What other things come out of working together as a team?

DE: We all became one so there is no small role because the lead depends on someone even with one line for the progression of the play; you become family – this play is us, this is not me or you. So that togetherness, that gelling really speaks volume and once you gel on stage, that gelling is thrown to the audience because the audience sees the family – we worked well together because we rehearse together. But once I was done with NCC, I gave all of my time to the production at the Theatre Guild, working in the day and working in the night.

At that time, I had quit my day job and went into acting professionally that was 1986....

PP: Wow, that was a concerted move because you knew or you had to know what you were getting into …

DE: I did know like I said earlier local theatre was

Notice to Readers

just becoming popular and I was been asked to do a lot of plays and I couldn’t learn my lines while I was at work so I made a conscious decision to leave my job at Guyana Stores; my manager saying something like this D if you don’t make it, come back – you are a good staff and I said to her that there was no turning back…I am going to do theatre; I am going to act, I am going to write, I am going to direct, I am going into this wholly. Let me know wood [knocking the table] I am still there because that’s what I wanted, I found my first love in theatre and that’s where I

wanted to be. So I continue in that same vein, when I came off the job, I remember I did ‘House of Pressure’ the second time when I played Mrs Pressure….

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s Happening: The eleventh conference of the Guyana Institute of Historical Research is set for June 30, 2018; for further information please contact Hazel Woolford at 2204759/644-8877

Flowers die when winter comes, Stems curling and wilting into nothing But shriveled masses that exist, Yet don't, as if they are bluffing.

Many flames have snuffed out these past years; Friendships have died and dissipated Like those flowers in winter, Whose deaths were fated.

The landscape of my life, Was torn apart at the base by death That completely reshaped the environment Like winter's icy breath.

Nostalgia tears at me on these quiet days, When there is not an overload of work; The quiet seems to encourage Nostalgic memories to lurk.

There is no reigning them back in, Though, the moments that have fallen apart Like chalk on sidewalk, Children's favorite art.

I am young, but my youth Left a long time ago; I thought it was a river That would steadily flow.

I have missed out on so much, I claw at these wishes as time goes on; For my age is accumulating, And "young" is only a temporary term to don.

By Cody Henatt

If you have a poem and/or short story you would like to publish on our Literary Corner page, please email to timessundaymag@gmail.com. Kindly include your correct name and a contact number in your email. If you have any questions, please call 223-7230 or 223-7231.

8 Sunday Times Magazine

JUNE 24, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Travel and Tourism

A glimpse of the village

S

anta Aratak is the only indigenous settlement in Region 3 (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and is located some 22 miles from the capital Georgetown. The community is the closest indigenous settlement to the capital city and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

With a population of approximately three thousand persons, the small village is located on the bank of the Camuni Creek with logging, farming and handicraft production being the main economic activities.

This small, yet dynamic community covers approximately 84 square miles of forest in Region Three. Founded in 1858, this village is populated mainly by the Arawak tribe and like other communities has benefited from significant investments. These include a health centre that provides improved medical care to villagers, nursery and primary schools, a community library and a craft centre.

A traditional benab

Notwithstanding the many challenges, this Village is ideally set for further economic growth with its abundance of forests and agricultural resources.

One of the most successful ventures undertaken in the area is the production of handicrafts through which a craft centre was established by a collaborative effort by the community, Government and its partners. This initiative now provides employment for a number of persons; particularly the women and residents are optimistic that more opportunities will be available with future expansion.

Santa Aratak with its sandy landscape surrounded by the Camuni River and dense forest is famed for its handicraft products.There is also a village monument representing the former Toshaos, a famous silk-cotton tree, and the Camuni Women Craft shop, where tourists can purchase a wide range of Indigenous Art and Craft at affordable prices.

Just recently, the community had its elections where it elected a young a vibrant Village Council. The newly elected Toshao is Hilton Williams and according to residents, he is all ready to breathe new life into the village. (Photos from Santa Aratak Villagers, MoIPA)

Locally produced craft Taking a plunge The newly sworn in village council of Santa / Aratack Amerindian Reservation, Essequibo Islands West Demerara. From Left - Clifford Barker, Merly Campo, Irving Daniels, Toshao Hilton Williams, Harold Newton, Winston Smith and Zwantje De Cambra.

A typical Santa Aratak house

The Village monument

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 24, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine

9

10 Sunday Times Magazine

JUNE 24, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Feature

A

pplying make-up is not only about taking a brush and dabbing a little powder on one’s face rather it entails finding your shade, products that work for your skin tone, applying foundation, contouring and baking, eyeshadow, blush, highlight and a whole host of other things in order to enhance your features.

It takes someone with the love for the craft to venture into the field and make a career of it because of the amount of patience and time it requires.

F o r Natasha Persaud, applying make-up to enhance her features or cover a pimple was something she always had a knack for at a very young age. She has the patience to stand, cower and contour for

hours just to achieve the desired look.

It was that love for everything makeup that led the single mother towards becoming a make-up artist. Natasha is 27 years old; mother to a four-year-old daughter and the need to provide the best possible life for her daughter is what drives her to achieve perfection.

“I am a strong, independent woman and about a year ago I opened my studio after years of doing house calls. Business is tough but you have to persevere and everything will fall in place,” she said.

Natasha’s studio, Tasha’s Touch of Elegance, is located in Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara and she explains that the journey to that

accomplishment is one that was filled with challenges. She added that the misconception with Make-Up Artists is that they are too expensive but clients do not consider the costs of make-up, brushes and labour.

Natasha, a professionally trained make-up artist, says there is much more to make-up than what meets the eye. To achieve the desired look, one would have to start with the basics. Since some products absorbs the natural moisture and oils our bodies produce, one would have to first moisturize the area make-up is to be applied to. After moisturizing, then comes the application of primer followed by foundation and concealer. Once concealing is finished, the artist then moves to the brows and gives the face time to bake which is letting translucent powder sit on your face for five to 10 minutes, which allows the heat from your face to set your base foundation and concealer, and then dusting it off your face, leaving you with a creaseless, flawless finish.

Once baking is completed then comes the highlighting, application of blush, eyeshadow and lipstick.

Sounds like a lot right? Yes! As Natasha puts it, the application of make-up is a lengthy process that requires commitment and knowledge of both the product and desired look.

“When I am finished with my clients, I want them to look good and feel good. Makeup shouldn’t be too much that it overpowers the person but it should be just enough to accentuate the client,” she says.

As a relatively young person now establishing a

business, Natasha says the challenges are many and they range from accessing the right product, equipment and getting clients to pay the correct amount without complaining.

For now, Natasha is focused on building her brand and expanding her reach. She is currently offering make-up classes for anyone who has the drive and passion.

Natasha and her daughter

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 24, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

W

hether it is your home, your business or your office space, interior design always matters. Your psychological and physiological environment defines your lifestyle. This is why you should always invest to give your interior designs a little extra oomph. beauty may lie in the eye of the beholder, but that is only one part of the perspective when it comes to living holistically. The benefits of interior design not only determine your quality of life but how you perceive spaces as a whole. So here are some tips to make your home more holistic.

Let the sun shine in

Ideally, window dressings should be functional and elegant: Think sheers paired with full-length panels. If your room gets a lot of sun, opt for light colors that won't fade. The most recommended lightweight fabrics for panels are cotton, linen, and silk blends because they tend to hang well.

Barra

1 lb. flour 1/4 tsp sugar 1 tsp salt 1 tsp yeast 1 tbsp baking powder 1/2 tsp saffron powder (turmeric) 1 3/4 - 2 cups water 1 tbsp olive oil Oil for frying

Start with your colour scheme

For a head to toe makeover the first step is creating a palette. The colour scheme sets the tone for the entire house making it more unique while highlighting the prominent features and creating that personalized look.

Give outdated finishes the Cinderella treatment

Got dated fixtures?

Reinvent them with spray paint and inexpensive refinishing kits. Even outdated kitchen cabinets benefit from a few coats of white paint and new hardware.

Hang at least one mirror in every room

Mirrors can make a space feel brighter because they bounce the light around the room but placing one in the wrong spot can be almost as bad as not having one at all. Put mirrors on walls perpendicular to windows, not directly across from them. Hanging a mirror directly opposite a window can actually bounce the light right back out the window.

Channa

1 lb. channa - soaked overnight

METHOD:

Mix all dry ingredients.

Add water and knead until smooth.

Pour oil over the dough.

Tightly cover with foil and let rest for 1 hour.

Grease a pan and your hands liberally.

Divide dough balls into 1 1/2 inch balls.

Heat oil to 350°F. Spread barra as thinly as you can.

Fry on both sides for 6-8 seconds.

Channa

Add channa and water to a pot and put to boil.

After 30 mins add baking soda.

8 cups water 2 tsp baking soda 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp curry powder 1 tsp geera powder 1 tsp masala powder 4 cloves garlic - minced 1/3 cup onion - finely chopped 10 leaves chadon beni (bandanya) - finely chopped 2 tsp scotch bonnet pepper – fine chopped Salt to taste 1/2 tsp black pepper Continue to boil for 30 mins.

Set aside.

Heat oil over med heat.

Mix curry, geera and masala in 1/4 cup of water and add to pot.

Then add onion and garlic.

Sauté until golden and curry has dried down. 5-6 minutes.

Add channa and scotch bonnet, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 15 minutes.

Pour enough water to cover channa if needed.

After 15 minutes add chadon beni and mash a few channa to thicken sauce.

Add salt and black pepper Fix doubles to your liking with various chutneys and sauces.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 24, 2018

Puzzles

ACROSS

1 Ottoman VIP

6 Prized instr.

11 Wine label info

15 Entice

20 Kate's sitcom friend

21 Betel nut source 22 Farewell

24 Like a caterpillar

25 Image, in combos 26 Shy

27 La Scala city

28 Up and about

29 Piece of pasta

31 Nobelist from Egypt

33 Technical word

34 Ditto (2 wds.)

35 Woodpeckers

37 Raised cattle

39 Miners dig it 41 Almost-grads 42 Lax

43 "-- be surprised!"

44 Quench

46 California's -- Woods

50 ABA member

51 Whining noise 52 Telegram

53 Pakistan language

57 Mr. Vivaldi 59 Cat's-paw

60 Hitched, as oxen

61 Drought ender

62 Babylonian goddess of love

63 Type of survivor

64 Fixed a squeak

65 Beatty of films 66 Coach

67 "Nutcracker" wear

68 Upscale cooks

69 Verging on (2 wds.)

72 Early U-235 regulator

73 Container weight

74 Emulates Galen

75 Fat fiddle, briefly 76 Dormant

79 Disguise item

80 Took a break

84 Film composer -- Zimmer

85 Nurse's concern

86 Sleek sled

87 Passing grade

88 Checks for fraud

91 -- fatale

92 -- au rhum 93 Dough

95 1101, in old Rome

96 Speech problems 97 Grant

98 Temporary wheels

99 Canute's foe

101 Attics

102 Elmer -- of toons

103 "Hello!" (2 wds.)

104 Demolish

105 Makes a choice

106 Be in harmony

107 Huge racket 108 Ex-superpower

109 Cardiff natives

111 "Smallville" girl

112 Bevy of wives

114 Ski lodge instructor

117 Moo goo -- pan

118 -- colada 119 Castles 124 Crowd

126 Hill's opposite 128 Minimum

130 Bedouin's domain 131 Woodwinds 132 Glorify

134 Big-band name 136 Mallet 137 Doctrine

138 Interior design

139 Filmmakers Joel and Ethan

140 Go to the polls

141 Some bouquets 142 Fresh 143 Equivocate

144 Hits the hammock

DOWN

1 Special effort

2 Aluminum company

3 Single-masted boat

4 Harts' mates

5 Wind god

6 Posed for an artist

7 Cut in thirds 8 Comment

9 Metal eaters

10 1920s art form

11 Sweet potato

12 Polished, as text

13 Felt under par

14 "-- Window"

15 Oxford's river 16 Leisure

17 Hands, slangily

18 Abbot's underling 19 Novices

23 Adrift

30 Cream puff

81

32 Juicy steak (hyph.)

82

36 Green Hornet's aide

83

38 Toupee, slangily 85

40 Wished undone

86

43 "Holy cow!"

88 44 Embankments

89

45 Where to find Port.

90

46 Fruity cocktail (2 wds.)

91

47 Invisible, maybe

92

48 Ulysses' home

93

49 Campus mil. gp.

94

51 Bantu people

96

52 Eats fast 54 Diatribe

55 Reduced in calories 56 Disentangle

58 "Not a chance!"

59 Lavish affection on

60 Bond return

63 Positive

64 Chicago airport

67 Hebrew T's

68 -- and desist 69 Good-natured

70 Help-wanted abbr.

71 Really big tees

73 Cookie sheets 74 Tillers

75 First-magnitude star

77 T'ai -- ch'uan

78 Edge a doily

79 Speed inhibitors

80 Cartoonist -- Goldberg

Tea biscuits Conger catchers More beloved Nuisances Alan or Cheryl Love, to Claudius NCAA Bruins Cameron -- of films 20 percent "Adam --" Witticism Waikiki setting Off-balance

97 Fidel's country

98 Cosmetic buys

100 Less than many

101 Albright or Montez

102 Semester ender

103 Trumpeter Al - 106 Snowy mo.

107 Flitting about 110 Discharges

111 Stay hidden (2 wds.)

112 Emceed

113 Barely adequate 114 Snapshot

115 In judge's garb

116 Maine campus town

118 Location

119 Danish islands

120 Fossil rock 121 Conserves 122 Build

123 De-ices the roads

125 Moose or elk

127 Used a hatchet

129 Per person

133 Experiment with

135 Vane dir.

See Solution on Pg 13

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- FRAZZLED (FRAZZLED: FRAZ-uld: Exhausted physically and emotionally.)

Average mark 23 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 29 or more

fade fare faze fear feral flare

flea fled rale raze read real

words in FRAZZLED?

adze alder zeal lade lard laze

lead leaf earl dale dare daze

dazzle dazzler deaf deal dear

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

Lungs Trachea Pharynx Vocal cords

Nasal passage Epiglottis Larynx Diaphragm

Bronchi Alveoli Pneumonia Chronic

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 24, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

A

mazon's digital assistant Alexa will be installed in some US Marriottowned hotels, following a partnership between the two firms. Its functions will include ordering room service, housekeeping and providing concierge advice, the firm said.

The Wynn Resorts chain in Las Vegas installed the Amazon Echo in around 5,000 hotel suites in 2016. Marriott is reported to have considered both Alexa and Apple's Siri.

A spokesperson told the Financial Times the deal with Amazon was not exclusive.

"This was not a direct comparison with Siri," said Tracey Schroeder, Marriott's vice-president of global consumer public relations.

In 2016 Aloft Hotels, which is owned by

Marriott, introduced voice-activated hotel rooms controlled via Siri, and a custombuilt app on an iPad. "Today's early adopter, hyperconnected global traveller wants a level of personalisation unlike ever before, and that means being able to control their hotel experience with the sound of their voice," said global brand leader Brian McGuinness at the time.

However the latest news was not welcomed by all.

"I will pay a premium for any hotel room that does not have one of these devices in it," tweeted journalist Kate Allen.

"Alexa. Can you err leave the room?" responded Natalie de Freitas. (BBC)

T

esla chief executive Elon Musk has accused an employee of carrying out "extensive and damaging sabotage" at the electric carmaker.

In an email to staff, Mr Musk said an unnamed employee made unspecified coding changes to its manufacturing operating system and sent sensitive data to unnamed third parties. The company did not comment and the allegations have not been verified.

The matter will be investigated, Mr Musk said.

"The full extent of his actions are not yet clear, but what he has admitted so far is pretty bad," he said in the email.

"His stated motivation is that he wanted a promotion that he did not receive. As you know there are a long list of organisations that want Tesla to die," he added, citing Wall Street short-sellers, oil and gas companies and rival carmakers as being among them.

In a separate email to staff, Mr Musk said there had been a small fire at a Tesla factory on Sunday. It was quickly extinguished and did not cause any injuries or significant damage, he added. The factory fire followed a video tweeted by US actress Mary McCormack of a fire in a Tesla car driven by her husband, British TV director Michael Morris, in Los Angeles.

Tesla said the car fire was an "extraordinarily unusual occurrence".

Last week, Mr Musk said 9% of Tesla's workforce would be cut as part of a restructuring of the carmaker, which has not made an annual profit since it was created nearly 15 years ago. After reporting a record quarterly loss of almost $710m in the first three months of the year, Mr Musk came in for criticism after he vetoed "boring" questions from analysts. (BBC)

Apple fined $6.6 million after iPhones and iPads stopped working because they had third-party parts

T

-Mobile and Sprint filed public interest statements to the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday.

The 700-page filing is part of the companies’ bid to merge, which they say will help them deploy a nationwide 5G network through a $40 billion investment.

Highly anticipated, 5G is the next generation of wireless technology that many tech companies are already working on. This version of 5G that both companies are discussing will be built on top of existing LTE networks, and it won’t be a standalone 5G network, which is still yet to come. Without the merger, both companies agree that they’ll eventually deliver 5G internet, but that the speed

A of development will be much slower.

The merger would combine T-Mobile’s 5G plan to use the 600MHz band of spectrum and Sprint’s plan

Crossword Solution

to use the 2.5GHz band to build a 5G network that the companies claim is both broad and thorough.

T-Mobile states in a blog post: “We believe that no one else — not Verizon, not AT&T, not Dish, not Comcast, not Charter — will have the breadth AND depth we can bring together with Sprint.”

T-Mobile argues that the US needs to beat other countries to the punch when it comes to deploying a 5G network, echoing the nationalistic sentiments that the Trump administration has shared before. The carrier says, “If we don’t take decisive, positive action, we risk ceding global leadership in both 5G AND the entire next wave of technology to a country other than America.

We cannot relinquish our leadership here.”

Authorities still need to weigh in on the merger, which if approved, will be finalized in the first half of next year. (The Verge)

n Australian court has fined Apple $9 million AUD (about $6.6 million USD) for its refusal to fix iPhones and iPads that had previously been repaired with third-party parts. Users reached out to Apple for help when their phones were bricked by “Error 53,” a software update that made phones repaired by outside parties inoperable.

Apple says it misled at least 275 Australian customers whose devices were affected by telling them they were not eligible for repairs. The company has since reached out to 5,000 affected customers,

T

CL’s BlackBerry Key2 now has a release date: it’ll be available on July 13th in the United States starting at $649.99 ($100 more than the KeyOne cost at launch), with preorders set to start at Amazon and Best Buy on June 29th.

The Key2 is an upgraded version of the KeyOne. TCL has updated the design a bit, slimming down the bezels and making the iconic physical keyboard slightly larger. But this isn’t a radical redesign. Specs have also been boosted since the KeyOne: there’s a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chip (versus the 625 from the KeyOne), and both RAM and internal storage have been doubled from the previous model to 6GB of memory and either 64GB or 128GB of space.

The front-facing camera is still an 8-megapixel shooter, but the rear camera is a new dual 12-megapixel camera system that’s become all the rage in the smartphone space these days. Other things haven’t been changed at all, like the 4.5-inch LCD screen (with a 3:2 aspect ratio because you have to

according to Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission.

Apple told The Verge in 2016 — when the error first showed up — that it was the result of “security checks” to make sure a legitimate Touch ID sensor was being used.

“If iOS finds a mismatch, the check fails and Touch ID, including for Apple Pay use, is disabled.” Essentially, the errors showed up due to a link disruption between Touch ID and the company’s Secure Enclave — although the whole device was affected, not just the touch sensor. Apple later issued its own fix for the problem. (The Verge)

have space for that keyboard, after all) and the beefy 3,500mAh battery.

Both Amazon and Best Buy will be offering the Key2 unlocked (although TCL and BlackBerry say that the phone is optimized for GSM carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile) in silver and black options.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

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Bollywood/Hollywood

R

apper XXXTentacion was shot and killed during an apparent robbery Monday in Broward County, Florida, police said.

The 20-year-old rapper, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was leaving a motorsports store shortly before 4 p.m. when two men in a dark colored SUV shot and killed him in an apparent robbery, said Keyla Concepción, Broward County sheriff department public information officer.

Broward County deputies are actively looking for the two men and asking anyone who witnessed the shooting to come forward, Concepción said.

XXXTentacion, a Plantation, Florida, native, rocketed to fame after his song "Look at Me" went viral on social media and audio distribution platform

SoundCloud in 2016 according to CNN affiliate WSVNTV. He went on to be featured in XXL magazine's 2017 Freshman Class alongside other up-and-coming artists.

His latest album "?" pre-

B

A

ctress Kajol has lent her voice to the character of Helen Parr, Elastigirl, for the Hindi version of 'Incredibles 2'. "'Incredibles 2' brings to us a heartwarming tale of a family that is like us. But yet they are different. There were so many moments in the story that I could relate with and I knew I had to join the fun," Kajol said in a statement.

The sequel picks up right after the 2004 original, with Craig T. Nelson returning as the voice of Bob Parr, Holly Hunter as Elastigirl and Samuel L. Jackson as Frozone.

Brad Bird, who voices fashion designer Edna Mode, is back to direct the project.

The sequel again deals with the Parr family attempting balance having a normal life with their superhero powers.

"I am really excited to be a part of the family of Supers and contribute to this fun

miered at No. 1 when it was released in March, according to Billboard's website. The album's single "Sad!" peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 15 weeks on the charts, according to Billboard.

At the time of his death, he was awaiting trial for a domestic violence incident, court documents said. He was accused of punching his pregnant girlfriend "to where both eyes became shut and victim could not see," according to a police report.

And he had been under house arrest for a time while he awaited trial on battery and harassment charges.

The house arrest was lifted in March, according to MiamiDade court documents. He had pleaded not guilty to multiple felony counts, including witness tampering. (CNN)

eyoncé is back with another world-stopping surprise album — and this time she brought her husband, Jay-Z, along for the ride.

With no advance

feature in my own special way," added Kajol.

On getting Kajol on board, Bikram Duggal, head of the company's India division, said: "The wonderful stories and lovable characters from Disney.Pixar have always held a special place in the hearts of millions of Indian fans. With Kajol as Helen aka Elastigirl, 'Incredibles 2' will definitely appeal to newer audiences and families-at-large."

The film is slated released in India on June 22 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

W

A

ctress Priyanka Chopra is writing a memoir, titled 'Unfinished', which will be published simultaneously in India, the US and Britain next year. In the memoir, Priyanka said, she is ready to write about her feelings during the course of what has been a fascinating journey.

"The flavour of the book will be honest, funny, spirited, bold, and rebellious, just like me," said Priyanka, whose foray into the entertainment industry began at the age of 17 when she won Miss India and went on to win Miss World the following year.

"I have always been a private person, I've never spoken about my feelings during my journey but I am ready to do so now. I was raised to be fearless when it came to opinions, and I would like to tell my story in the hopes of inspiring people -- especially women -- to change the conversation, to shatter glass ceilings.

"Women are always told we can't have everything. I want everything, and I believe anyone else can have it too. I'm proof of it," she added. The surprise announcement was made late on Monday by leading publishing house, which recently announced the publication of A.R Rahman's authorized biography.

UK and Commonwealth (including India) rights were acquired at auction from Siobhan O'Neill and Fiona Baird, on behalf of Mel Berger, of William Morris Endeavor.

Meru Gokhale, Editor-in-Chief of a leading publishing house, said, "I met Priyanka Chopra for the first time when she delivered the Penguin Annual Lecture in New Delhi in 2017, and was amazed at the way people in the audience, and especially young women, responded to her words, her provocation and her rallying cry. (Times of India)

warning or promotion beyond their ability to grab international headlines with every move, popular culture’s first couple — billed here as The Carters — released its long-rumored and teased collaborative album evening following a concert in London. In what has become something of a familiar ritual, the sudden release immediately sent fans and the industry into a tizzy. Beyoncé first posted news about the record to Instagram and Twitter. As the couple’s show at London Stadium concluded Saturday night, a large sign announced: “ALBUM OUT NOW.” A representative for Jay-Z said “Everything Is Love” was being released by the artists’ labels,

ith Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s secret wedding last year and Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja’s low key nuptials last month, Bollywood weddings seems to be in vogue. Now, everyone is eagerly waiting to see when will Ranveer Singh and his beau Deepika Padukone will finally take the plunge and it looks like it might just be this year.

According to reports, November 10 is the date that has been decided by both families to host the wedding. As for where the grand event will take place, speculations are rife that it could be either Bangalore or Italy or perhaps both. That’s not it, there are rumours doing the rounds that the roka was actually done long back and that the only hold up was due to the fixing of the date.

Apparently, the two stars wanted it to be perfect and settled on November 10 as it is the time when both can be free from their

Parkwood and Roc Nation, in tandem.

The album also came with a video for the song “Apes**t” directed by Ricky Saiz, shot on location at the Louvre in Paris last month, representatives for the couple said.

Beyoncé pioneered this brand of musical ambush on the widest of scales with her 2013 self-titled album, which included videos for each track. The singer upped the ante in April 2016 with the semi-surprise release of “Lemonade,” debuting the music via a big-budget, hourlong film that premiered on HBO. That album, a staggering if carefully orchestrated confession about marital discord and black womanhood, also in-

troduced a new chapter for Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who have increasingly mined public perception (and rumors) about their life together in art and performance. (NY Times)

professional commitments. Well, it seems like a really exciting prospect overall if it turns out to be true.

Apparently, Ranveer and Deepika were considering July to make their relationship official but owing to their work commitments, they had to push it back to November.

Recently there were even reports that Deepika is trying to keep her calendar free by not signing any films. However, these rumours were later denied by a close source to the actress.

There hasn't been any official announcement made about the wedding date as of yet. Initially, during an interview, Ranveer Singh had admitted that marriage was on his mind, but the actor later confirmed that the wedding rumours are all speculated and if he plans to get married this year then he will shout from the rooftops. (Times of India)

C

omedian Pete Davidson has confirmed he is engaged to Ariana Grande, adding: "I feel like I won a contest."

The couple started dating in May and there was speculation earlier this month they were planning to get married.

Speaking on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Pete - best known for his role on US comedy show SNL - confirmed they were engaged, adding: "It's lit."

He said one fan even came up to him and said: "You gave me hope".

It's the first time either of the pair have spoken publicly about their engagement - although Ariana appeared to confirm the news earlier this month when replying to fans on social media. On The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon jokingly told Pete that he "didn't have to get engaged to Ariana Grande to come on our show".

When asked how he was handling it all, the comedian said that men were walking past him and tipping their hat as a sign of respect.

"Some dude came up to me and was like: 'Yo man, you gave me hope'. I didn't know I was that ugly."

On Saturday, Pete shared a photo on Instagram which appeared to show Ariana wearing an engagement ring. It included the caption: "You know what you'd dream it be like? It's better than that."

The couple have both recently come out of other relationships. Ariana was dating rapper Mac Miller, while Pete was in a relationship with Cazzie David, whose dad is comedian Larry David. The singer recently spoke about her recently ended relationship with Mac Miller, calling it "toxic".

"I am not a babysitter or a mother and no woman should feel that they need to be," she said.

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JUNE 24, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 24, 2018

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES (March 21April 19)

A physical challenge will get you moving, but if you cross a line and overdo it, you'll face injury or loss.

Gauge what is and isn't possible carefully.

If things aren't running TAURUS smoothly at home or in your (April 20- personal life, take a breather May 20) and visit you can trust to offer doable solutions and help you achieve your goal.

Tidy up and get your GEMINI place in order. Host a small (MAY 28- gathering or visit someone June 20) who makes you feel special.

Don't let a physical challenge daunt you. Go with the flow, not against it.

If you take part in something that interests you, it (June 21- will change your life. The July 22) people you encounter and the information you receive will give you a new perspective on things.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

Don't let your high energy lead to distress, accidents or mishaps. Control your angst and tuck your emotions away to avoid discord. Look inward and focus on self-improvement and romance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

If you listen to other people's perspectives on life, it will raise questions about your own. A proposition looks inviting, and a change will do you good.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Look for the positive and concentrate on how you can be your best, instead of focusing on what others do or say -- or wasting your time trying to change others.

It's OK if someone doesn't SCORPIO (Oct. 24- like the way you do things or Nov. 22) what you are up to. Don't give up on your plans, and keep doing your own thing.

SAGITTARIUS Touching base with some(Nov. 23- one from your past will bring Dec. 21) back memories and spark enthusiasm for something you used to enjoy. Romance is featured and will improve your outlook.

Calvin and Hobbes

Your involvement in a CAPRICORN cause or an intellectual con(Dec. 22- tribution you make will enJan. 19) courage you to make a positive change at home or to your lifestyle.

Don't give up on love.

AQUARIUS Relationships take work, (Jan. 20- and being realistic and willFeb. 19) ing to put in the time and effort to get along with others will be well worth your while.

Money or a gift will be a PISCES (Feb. 20- welcome surprise. Paying Mar. 20) off debt or collecting money owed to you should be a priority. Personal stability is within reach.