Guyana Times Daily - March 5, 2015

Govt mulls judicial settlement for finality

thursday, march 5, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy

Govt mulls judicial settlement for finality

The Guyana Government said it was considering initiating judicial proceedings to settle the decades-old border controversy with its western neighbour Venezuela over the mineral-rich Essequibo.

Although no firm decision has been made on the issue as yet, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon said that the Administration has already determined that the United Nations Good Offices process has yielded little over the years and it was about time they explore other options.

The revival of talks to settle the border controversy has taken on greater significance in light of Venezuela’s recent warning to US oil gi-

ant ExxonMobil to desist from proceeding on planned oil exploration activities in the Stabroek Block off Guyana’s Essequibo Coast – an area the Spanish-

speaking nation claimed was hers despite an 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which was declared as the full and final settlement of the boundary between the two South American nations.

Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, Dr Luncheon said: "What is really obvious is not only to Guyana, but also to the UN Secretary General and our partner, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic that we are not really getting very far with the Good Offices process and its facility.

"Indeed, I follow the line that we have pretty much exhausted what could indeed come from the Good Offices.”

In an invited comment

on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett had expressed similar sentiments about the Good Offices process. “We are, therefore, looking at the other options under the Geneva Agreement,” she added, suggesting that the Good Offices process suits Venezuela.

The Good Offices and mediation are roles taken up by the UN Secretary-General in the prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes, as enshrined in the UN Charter. These roles can be set in motion at the Secretary-General’s own initiative, in response to a request from one or more of the parties to a dispute, or as a result of a request from the Security Council or the General Assembly.

“The other options – either of them – will have to be exercised by the UN Secretary General. Indeed prior to [Good Officer] Professor [Norman] Girvan’s death, he was given just a six-months extension, which is a sign that the UN was also weary of no solution,” Rodrigues-Birkett said.

According to the UN, the role of the Secretary-General as an important peacemaking actor has evolved through extensive practice.

The range of activities carried out by the SecretaryGeneral has included Good Offices, mediation, facilitation, dialogue processes and even arbitration.

Venezuelan experts have reportedly insisted that their Government sticks to the current mechanism.

Venezuelan newspaper El Universal has quoted the Retired Colonel Pompeyo Torrealba, the head of the Essequibo Advisory Unit of the Venezuelan Foreign Office as saying, “Venezuela should continue the procedure of the Good Offices because it enables us to hold a direct negotiation, without middlemen.”

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Rashleigh Jackson

said the recent move by the Venezuelan Government was nothing more than an “act of provocation and aggression”, primarily because the Venezuelan Government was fully aware of the facts. “I can’t see it any other way,” Jackson told the Guyana Times on Monday, pointing out that the move “must be dismissed out rightly”.

Jackson, like many other Guyanese, is quite peeved about the recent move by Venezuela, which is seeking to prevent the US oil and gas company ExxonMobil from drilling in what it contends is within its territorial border.

The company, which is expected to commence the drilling activity by the middle of this month, has already brought in its oil rig, which is currently moored some 110 miles north of Port Georgetown.

The recent action by the Spanish-speaking oil-rich nation is not the first of its kind in recent times. Back in October 2013, the Bolivarian Republic seized a US hired oil survey ship RV Teknik Perdana with its 36-member crew, which was carrying out seismic surveys in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Essequibo River. The Panama-flagged Teknik Perdana was carrying out a seabed survey for Texas-based Anadarko in collaboration with Guyanese authorities when Venezuela’s navy boarded it and escorted it to Margarita Island. Venezuela had accused the ship of violating its maritime territory.

That move had also sparked condemnation from the Donald Ramotar Administration and the main Opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

Ramsammy receiving medical treatment in US

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon on Wednesday confirmed that Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy’s failing health could impact his work as a minister.

Ramsammy, who was also Guyana’s Health Minister, has been suffering from a heart condition which saw a pacemaker being implanted.

Luncheon said the Minister has been absent from his office for close to a month and has indicated to his colleagues that he would be seeking medical assistance in the United States of America.

While there are no truth to rumours that the Health Minister may be resigning from politics due to his ill health, Luncheon agreed that his current condition will make a “decisive im-

pact on his availability to carry out his functions as a Minister of Government”. Ramsammy has a pre-existing heart condition and, several years ago, had suffered an almost fatal attack and underwent triple bypass surgery overseas. Back in 2013, Ramsammy was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after complaining of feeling dizzy.

FERRY SCHEDULE

WEATHER TODAY

High

Exxon begins drilling today

...ignores Venezuelan sword rattling

By Alexis Rodney

United Statesbased oil company ExxonMobil’s oil exploration ship, the Deep Water Champion is in position in the Stabroek Block off Guyana’s Essequibo Coast and will commence its US$200 million exploration project today, Country Manager Jeff Simons has said.

The company is locked in what could be a possible showdown with Venezuelan authorities who have warned it not to proceed with the drilling, which was sanctioned by the Guyana Government.

Venezuela has repeatedly laid claim to the area to be explored, ignoring an 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which was declared as the full and final settlement of the boundary between the two South American nations. With Venezuela’s obdurate insistence on its position, Guyana is considering

carrying out its work in an area of the Stabroek Block known as Liza.

Her note was in response to Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, Delcy Rodriguez Gomez, saying to ExxonMobil:

ver, a hostile violation of the Venezuela territorial space,” Gomez told Simon in her letter.

She also cautioned that Venezuela would not recognise any law or contractual obligations by third states,

judicial settlement of the boundary.

Following Venezuela’s warning to the oil company, Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, dispatched a diplomatic note to her Venezuelan counterpart, warning against any action to prevent the oil rig from

“The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela wishes to express its strongest protest against this serious situation and, accordingly, I take this opportunity to request the cessation of such activities as they will not be acknowledged or accepted under any such circumstances, since this will constitute, moreo-

agencies, international financial institutions or private corporations that engages “Guyana over the sovereignty or existing resources on the seafront of the Essequibo”.

Gomez also expressed concerns that the drilling of oil at such depths could cause untold environmental damage.

“The drilling in the mentioned sea area involves a major impact on the environment, given that the intervention in such significant depths could cause unacceptable environmental disturbances, which are prohibited by our legal framework and international agreements on environmental protection,” the Venezuela Foreign Minister stated. “Guyana has no valid land titles on the territory of Essequibo, including the seafront, which entitles such country to carry out projects of this magnitude.”

Guyana has asked Venezuela to desist from taking any actions that would stymie this country’s development.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela desist from taking any actions that could only result in the stymieing of the development of Guyana and its people and that would be in contravention of international law,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Ramjattan and the Cummingsburg Accord

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a last ditch effort to convince his partners in the United States that they must demand more from Iran as talks continue with the aim of curtailing the latter’s alleged nuclear ambitions and aggression in the Middle East.

He said in his speech to the US Congress, that “for over a year, we've been told that no deal is better than a bad deal. Well, this is a bad deal. It's a very bad deal. We're better off without it”.

Netanyahu’s last comments are no doubt applicable to the situation that the AFC and APNU have found themselves in when one examines both the content and thrust of the Cummingsburg Accord, which they hope will lead to the formation of a Government of national unity.

This sharply conflicts with the principles backing the ideology of former President Cheddi Jagan who believed in building genuine and long lasting alliances on the basis of trust, mutual respect and compromise.

The Accord can never aim to promote inclusionary democracy if did not involve the PPP/C from the onset, labour unions and their constituents, key civil society stakeholders, and non-governmental stakeholders.

It was negotiated by a few persons, and signed and ratified by a few on behalf of a majority because the grassroots supporters of both parties never saw the blueprint, or what was the opportunity cost incurred in return for the coalition.

Consequently, the statements attributed to AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan recently proved that the alliance was brokered on the basis of convenience and to save both the careers and political ambitions of leaders within the AFC. He was quoted as saying that not joining the coalition with APNU could have meant “death” for his party and the loss of a lot of African support.

He went further by saying that the AFC after tough negotiations got a good deal because whether coalition wins or loses it is guaranteed 12 seats in Parliament, and if they win, they will end up with two Vice Presidents and a an empowered Prime Minister.

Ramjattan expressed fear that the AFC alone may have to wait for a long time before it could become the main Opposition and then Government, so it ceased the opportunity to maximize the open invitation of APNU and the suspected weakness of the PPP/C.

Ramjattan admitted that the AFC put aside the dark and troubling past of the PNC which is the lead APNU partner, its rigging of elections and its excesses, rationalizing that it was time to move on.

He spoke of mechanisms in place to safeguard the spoils of the deal and the AFCs’ rights acknowledging again that the AFC would deliver the numbers and votes the APNU needs to form a majority Government.

All of those reasons put forward by Ramjattan for joining the coalition prove that Mathematics was the only foundation upon which the Accord was brokered. His statements disregard every single position and policy articulated by the AFC back in 2006 when it contested those elections.

Ramjattan has exposed the hypocrisy in the alliance, as no Government of national unity can be formed without proper discussions taking place on the policies that will drive the change desired in society to further transform its developmental path, remove the lack of trust between ethnic groups, and enhance healing and reconciliation through the reorganization and redistribution of socioeconomic wealth.

AFC and APNU have not learnt from the experiences of administration of Kamla Persaud Bissessar in Trinidad and Tobago and the political crises that it has found itself in because a lot of consideration was not given to issues that the people want addressed.

Guyanese cannot become united and benefit from the deals which are designed for a few and their ambitions. In the words of Netanyahu “no deal is better than a bad deal. Well, this is a bad deal. It's a very bad deal”.

The Guyana Prize for Literature needs to be a prize worth winning

Dear Editor, Someone dubbed the recent exchange between myself and Ruel Johnson as “the duel with Ruel”.

The duel was good in that it uncovered the Guyana Prize as a mediocre and corrupt award that needs to be scrapped and/ or reconstituted as a prize worth winning, and that writers should not be writing in order to win a prize.

It also uncovered that Johnson’s criticisms of the current Government is not based on a principled stand that all Governments must be held accountable, since he expects to become part of the establishment if his party wins at the polls. But, all in all, it was a good exchange.

About any public policy, cultural or otherwise, the history of our Governments

since independence is one in which policy statements are nice words on paper that are meaningless, since successive Governments have used their office to marginalize and disempower whole groups, including their own supporters, appease their detractors and, during a period of authoritarianism and victimization, imprison, brutalize and even kill their critics.

If the public has a healthy distrust of public officials promoting their lovely policies, this is as it should be. Johnson dispatched himself very well during the duel and given what is expected of a public functionary in Guyana, he has proven himself worthy of such a position if his party wins. I wish him well.

Ryhaan Shah

Guyana today is by far more developed, more prosperous, more respected

Dear Editor, I can give a hundred reasons why I support President Ramotar and the PPP/C, but the letter would be much too long for publication and no Editor would carry it.

Guyana today is by far more developed, more prosperous and more respected than it ever was under previous PNC Administrations. The quality of life that Guyanese now enjoy and take for granted was only made possible through the brilliant financial management of our nation’s resources.

In 1992 when the PPP/C took office, not even Dr Cheddi Jagan knew just how bankrupt the country was, and the vast sums of monies owing to foreign Governments and financial institutions.

Corruption within the former PNC Government was commonplace, but no one dared speak up against it, not even Freddie Kissoon who now uses the freedom of speech guaranteed under the Constitution to criticize the very PPP/C Government that protects his rights to do so. According to a columnist in another section of the press: “An Integrity Commission Act was first

passed under the Desmond Hoyte (PNC) regime in 1991 following concerns about pervasive corruption under the PNC regime.

“In those days, things moved within sections of the bureaucracy in relation to the amount of grease applied. For almost all public services, there were underhand dealings believed to be taking place.

“In the face of concerns that reining in excesses by public officials with access to the public purse was fast becoming impossible, the Hoyte regime passed an Integrity Commission Act. This Bill was however seen as tepid and unable to curb the excesses taking place. It never did. No one was ever indicted, sanctioned, investigated or prosecuted under that Act.”

Many of the major actors of that regime are still active members of the Opposition PNC-APNU. The main culprit, whose policies left Guyana’s economy devastated in 1992, PNC-APNU Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge will return as the PNC-APNU-AFC Finance Minister if (God forbid) that party wins the election... that is a frightening thought indeed.

We’ve come too far to go back now. Under the PNC, most Guyanese lived below the poverty line. There was no foreign exchange to import anything. Parents kept their children home from school to stand in long lines to buy a loaf of bread, a pint of cooking oil, or two rolls of toilet paper whenever these items were available.

And if you were one of the fortunate few that owned a vehicle, you were restricted to a few gallons when gas was available, but only after waiting for hours in long lines at the gas station.

New tyres and spare parts for cars were impossible to get on the local market. Everything was rationed by the PNC Government, and the daily shortages of food supply and spare parts gave birth of the Traders.

Today, almost anything you need and in any quantity is readily available in stores and supermarkets. Almost anything you can get in New York is available right here in Guyana, often a lot cheaper. Guyanese now travel freely to other countries without the hassle of having to waste the entire day at the Inland Revenue Department to get an income-tax clearance before

they were allowed to travel. And Guyanese are free to buy any amount of the readily available US dollars under US$10,000 without Government interference.

In the dark days of the PNC, Guyanese were only allowed to leave the country with the equivalent of US$100.

In Guyana today, more families own a car, a home or house lot, something they never thought was possible before. Today, regardless of ethnicity or political affiation, any contractor can secure a contract with Government as long as the criteria are met as advertised. The integrity of the bidding process is protected by public scrutiny through advertising, very different from the days when only supporters of the PNC Government were given contracts without public knowledge.

There was never a period during the entire 28-year reign of the PNC when contracts were awarded with the frequency they’re being done now. Of course, in those days, there was hardly any money in the treasury to build anything, and I cannot recall seeing advertising in the local media for projects up for tender.

Guyanese in chowtaal sammelan in Queens

Dear Editor,

An annual Chowtaal Sammelan was initiated last Sunday at the Prem Bhakti Mandir. A dozen chowtaal groups from the city partook in the singing which ushers in the Hindu celebration of Phagwah or Holi. Participants and the congregation were decked in traditional garb.

The observance of Phagwah was introduced in the West by indentured Indian laborers after 1838. Phagwah was first observed in Guyana and then spread to other colonial territories. The celebration of the Phagwah festival was transplanted to the United States and Canada by immigrants from Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname.

Chowtaal is folk singing that is central to the celebration and in New York on weekends mandirs host chowtaal singing. Chowtaal is a cultural practice of the northern Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where most indentured laborers were recruited.

Sunday’s Chowtaal Samellan was organized by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, USA Prant. The organizers had planned to host a chowtaal singing competition, but they changed plan and made it a sammelan (singing variety presentation). There was also bhajan singing and classical dancing related to Holi by several youngsters.

Guyana

Dave Thakordeen, one of the key organizers, formerly of Tain, described it as a success for attracting over a dozen Chowtaal gaols (singing groups) to entertain the large gathering. He lauded the participants of all age groups, both males and females.

He said it was encouraging to see so many youngsters (from Prem Bhakti, Sanatan Mandir, and Shanti Bhavan Mandir engaged in chowtaal singing in America. Separately, Dr Satish Prakash expounded on the meaning of Holi during his updesh on Sunday. The lone Indo-Caribbean radio station in the city aired Phagwah songs and local chowtaal over the last several days.

Weekend TV programmes also focused on the festival with Bollywood filmi clippings on Phagwah. Indo-Caribbean newspapers carry special stories on the festival and businesses sponsored ads with Phagwah Greetings as is the custom in Guyana.

On Liberty Avenue, stores are heavily stacked with talc powder. Outside are displays of water guns and stacks of powdered abeer and gulal of varied colors. The stores aired loud chowtaal music to attract shoppers.

Even Chinese and Korean vegetable and fruit markets aired Phagwah related music. People shopped

today is by...

Isn’t it hilarious that Greenidge is the one now crying foul, and demanding transparency in the bidding process? How many Indian businessmen do you believe got lucrative contracts from the PNC Government in those days? I don’t know of any. In fact, if a Guyanese did not have a PNC party card, he/she was very unlikely to get a job in the public sector, much less be given Government contracts.

Guyana is fortunate to have a leader like Donald Ramotar at this moment in our nation’s history. Contrary to the image the Opposition paints of him, this man does not have one gram of racist blood running through his veins. He is truly a man of the people who is constantly working to improve race relations and to mold us all as one people, one nation.

I’ve said before, and will repeat it here again... AfroGuyanese in traditional PNC strongholds have benefitted a lot more from PPP/C Administrations than they ever did under the PNC, and that’s an undisputed fact.

What have David Granger and the APNU done

for new items and white clothing for the festival. Certain seasonal foods are prepared for the occasion.

The official observance of Holi is Thursday in the West and Friday in India because of the positioning of the full moon. Holi is observed on the full moon generally in the month of March.

Although primarily a Hindu festival, it is observed by non-Indians and non-Hindus in multi-ethnic, multi-religious New York and New Jersey. Members of other ethnic groups always get involved in the public celebration – even if it is to just watch and admire as those participating douse each other with abeer, powder and gulal.

Each of the individual mandirs will celebrate Phagwah on Wednesday evening with Holika Dahan (burning of the effigy of the evil Holika) as well as on Thursday.

Phagwah will be celebrated at the Trimurthi Mandir in the nearby Woodhaven by a group of mandirs on Saturday afternoon.

It will also be observed in New York on Saturday with a sammelan in Richmond Hill and parades in the Bronx and Jersey City on Saturday and Sunday. The following Sunday, March 15, will be the big parade on Liberty Avenue.

Vishnu Bisram

Opposition is only trying to create a facade of national unity

Dear Editor, The People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/Civic) is amused by a full page advertisement published on March 3. The advertisement which read, "Guyana is ready for a Government of National Unity", has no political brand name even though from all appearance it seems to be the work of the APNU/ AFC merger.

As to why the APNU/AFC coalition would seek to conceal their identity is most bewildering and speaks more to their shadowy nature, rather to any genuine concern for national unity.

Indeed, it was the PNC, now APNU that spurned all reasonable attempts by the PPP/C during the 1960s and during the entire period of authoritarian to forge a Government of national uity on the spurious ground that the PNC was the “Bolshevik”

or “majority” party, and the PPP/C the “Menchevik” or “minority” party, and therefore could not negotiate on equal terms. And is it not the same PNC, now APNU, that kicked out its junior coalition partner from the PNC-UF coalition Government after just a mere three years into the life of the coalition?

So much for Granger's and his APNU-AFC national unity credentials, which is nothing short of an attempt to deceive the Guyanese people about its newly found commitment to a Government of national unity. The fact of the matter is that the APNU is only trying to create a facade of national unity by cosmetic means when in actuality it is simply a case of old wine in new bottle.

This attempt by APNU to reconstruct its image will not succeed especially when seen against past experiences of

the PNC on the question of a national unity Government. The PPP/C calls on the PNC to explain why it refused to enter into a Government of national unity with the PPP during the 1960s and again in the 1970s when it refused to become party to a National Front Government proposed by the PPP.

Merely talking about a Government of national unity, but doing everything possible to undermine and stand in the way of unity and reconciliation will not sell as the advertisement is attempting to do. The PPP/C remains committed to a Government in which there is genuine partnership of all those who subscribe to the ideals of a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Guyana.

People's Progressive Party/Civic Freedom House

The PNC Government ruled Guyana with an iron fist

Dear Editor, The PNC/APNU and AFC because of their lust for power deliberately cheated the PPP/C Government of its five-year term of office.

for Black people in Guyana and specifically those who voted PNC-APNU last election? Nothing!

All the cheap electricity his supporters enjoy in Linden is subsidized by this Government. Linden has new roads, new reliable water supply, new schools, new sports facilities, and thousands of Black families all over Guyana now own homes and house lots…a dream that was once Forbes Burnham’s, but now a reality under this PPP/C Government.

There are more Blacks working in Government Ministries than any other race. Yet if you believe the rhetoric spewed by the Opposition, Black people are being denied jobs.

I frankly expect to be accused of race-baiting by some in the Opposition, but

it is time someone has the courage to tell it like it is without having to be politically correct for fear of hurting someone’s feelings.

The truth is, most Blacks enjoy a better quality of life under this PPP/C Government but the younger generation doesn’t see it

that way. They are constantly demanding more.

Perhaps if they knew from whence we came – the tremendous sufferings of the Guyanese people under the dictatorial PNC, and the atrocities committed by that regime, the youths of today would be less demanding and more appreciative of having the good fortune of growing up under the PPP/C.

It is imperative that President Ramotar and the PPP/C be re-elected to continue the modernization of Guyana, and to regain our leadership role in the Caribbean. But if there is one reason why women in particular should turn out in droves to re-elect the PPP/C regardless of their political affiliation, it is because the PPP/C has passed laws with teeth to protect women and their children from the scourge of abuse, and to empower them in the work force.

I am confident that our next Prime Minister Elizabeth Harper, a strong and dynamic woman, will ensure this trend continues!

Harry Gill

The PPP/C Government has only served for three years with actually two more years remaining as a result of the November 2011 elections. But this is the dirty work of the PNC/ APNU and AFC in the 10th Parliament where in combination they misused and abused their one-seat majority. But come May 11, there will be General and Regional elections and I am appealing to all Guyanese in our 10 administrative regions to let Guyana’s development agenda continue under the PPP/C Government, for it is better to be safe than sorry. The people of Guyana must therefore know that prior to and on elections day that a vote for the AFC is a vote for the PNC/APNU. In this regard, the AFC-PNC/APNU alliance of power hungry seekers must be rejected at the upcoming elections so as to stop Guyana from being placed in the wrong hands.

So my fellow Guyanese, it is important for us not to forget the past, or else we shall be condemned to repeat it.

Can you remember when the illegal PNC Government ruled Guyana with an iron fist? When many of our people were starved to death because basic food items were banned and long lines all over the country just to purchase soap, rice, sugar, salt and fuel, etc?

Can you remember when we were jailed by the Police when they found wheaten flour, split peas, English potatoes, sardines, etc in our homes? Can you remember the ugly days when the members of Opposition political parties were murdered and killed, such as Dr Walter Rodney, a nationally and internationally known historian and politician? Do

you want Guyana’s horrible past to return to our beautiful country? Let us all as patriotic Guyanese say no to the AFC-PNC/APNU coalition on elections day. Let us therefore cast this alliance into the dustbin of Guyana’s political history.

But what is important to note is that the AFC leaders in their power hungry habit have betrayed their Berbice supporters. They

boasted that the votes of their Berbice supporters will be handed over to the PNC/ APNU. The question here is would the AFC Berbice supporters give their votes to the AFC-PNC/APNU alliance? I hope not, for it is better to be safe than sorry. The PPP/C is currently on course to a landslide victory.

Peter Persaud

Page Foundation

All joy and no fun: Why modern parenting is so hard

In 2010, I was pregnant with my first child when New York magazine published a cover story by contributing editor Jennifer Senior titled, “All Joy and No Fun: Why Parents Hate Parenting.” In the story, Senior posited that there’s a huge difference between loving your children and loving the day-to-day grind of parenting, described as a “highcost/low-reward activity.”

When I first read Senior’s story, I thought to myself, “C’mon! Surely it’s not that tough to be a parent.” But today, four years and two children later, I cede her point. No matter how much you adore your offspring, it’s hard not to wonder, exhaustedly: “Why is this so dang hard? I don’t remember my own parents being this stressed.”

Senior’s story touched a nerve, and she turned it into a book by the same name, All Joy and No Fun, out today. I recently spoke with Senior about the history of childrearing, why modern parenting is so crazy, and why we all need to stop trying to prepare our children for the future.

There’s a perception that parenting should be this life-enhancing, joyful experience; we literally refer to babies as “bundles of joy.” And then there’s a shock when it’s not all we’ve imagined. Why are we so attached to this notion of parenthood and happiness being intertwined?

Senior: Children have

this privileged place in our universe, and then it turns out that they’re very hard work. If you’re middle class and have a college education, then you’ve likely deferred childrearing for some time. You’ve had a long time to think about having a child, and the kid becomes kind of a capstone to your life. Rather than owning a house, having a career, or getting married, having a kid is the end goal, almost like finding a husband in a Jane Austen novel.

Not to mention, with anything that requires the kind of gargantuan emotional and financial investment that children require, the stakes are raised. Research shows that if parents learn how much they’re spending on their children (and the numbers are staggering), they will say they find raising children more meaningful than if they haven’t read those numbers. The more they’re aware of the investment, the more emotionally invested they are. They have to justify it to themselves.

And women were not in the workforce then in the numbers that they are today!

So what changed?

The word “parent” started becoming commonly used as a verb in the 1970s. It went from being something that one was

Why does parenting seem “harder” – or at least more demanding of our time and energy—to today’s parents compared to earlier generations?

It is harder. Our parents did not spend as much time with us as we do with our children today. Mothers in the 1960s spent less time intensively playing with their children and engaging with them as we do now.

to something that one did. Yet modern parenthood hasn’t been defined. Being a parent used to mean that you fed your children, you sheltered them, and in exchange they worked for your family. You might have also grown their food, sewn their clothes, educated them.

ter. And if you don’t, then you’re failing your children. But no one knows how to do it right.

There’s a deeply internalised fear response: The pie is shrinking, my children won’t have a chance unless I do their homework with them, and do flashcards,

and sign them up for 20 extra-curricular.

loved their children, there weren’t so many expectations.

Then gradually, all the things parents did got outsourced. So what is there left to do? Well, we have to prepare them for the future. Okay: What does that mean? No one knows.

Exactly. It feels like parenting is this task that one is somehow expected to mas-

Children kind of just “were” and parents just “were.” You didn’t think about this relationship as something to nurture. And people weren’t as sentimental about their children. People had a lot of children, and a lot of them didn’t live until adulthood. You had children so that they could be economically advantageous to you. Parents still

I think the status aspect exists, but it’s overrated. You go into any one community, or let’s say a classroom of 25 parents. There are two or three parents who are status-obsessed and really annoying. And the rest are just trying really, really hard. But those two or three parents really distort how things look, because they’re so over the top, they are like an outlandish version of the norm. Most people are just doing their best and trying to figure out a way to give their children the best chance in the world.

The book also focuses on the less-than-fair division of labor in many households when it comes to taking care of the children. We’ve come a long way in the past generation with regards to dads getting more involved (or even staying home full-time), but moms still feel like they’re doing more.

The future is so rapidly evolving; it’s not like you’re preparing your child to inherit your farm. It’s open season on what this thing is, and what might potentially be the best way to go about cultivating your child. We haven’t the faintest idea how to prepare them for the future, not to mention how to ensure that they’re happy and self-confident, too. Does status-seeking play a role in this, too? Part of dragging your eight-year-old to Mandarin lessons, or becoming a Pinterest-perfect crafter is about showing the world that you’re a wonderful parent with stellar children.

There is tons of pressure on women to intensively mother. Women tend to pour a lot of psychological energy into thinking about our children. And we believe that children need nurturing, and as a compensatory measure for working, women spend a lot of time with their children.

Men, on the other hand, have the luxury of having not had impossible standards preceding them. An involved dad will be applauded of anything because he’s doing so much more than his own dad did. He’s so unencumbered by societal and internal expectations.

Yet there’s something to be learned from the male style of parenting, which is slightly more forgiving. Cut yourself some slack. In the book, there’s one father who simply says, “I am the standard.” He’s not comparing himself to other dads, he’s not reading BabyCentre message boards. This dad has confidence in his ability to do things well, and that’s that.

The book is not prescriptive: There’s no easy formula for becoming a relaxed, happy parent. But is there anything we can do to at least make it a little less stressful?

I think the best thing you can do is to let go of any idea of what it means to be a “good” parent, and just do your best day to day. Stop worrying so much about how today’s decisions will affect your child’s future.

(www.communitytable.com)

Neesa’s alleged killers to know fate today –

prosecution urges jury not to be swayed by “fake emotions” of accused

Mother of 16-year-old Neesa Gopaul and her stepfather will know their fate today when the jury will be sent to deliberate before delivering a verdict in the Neesa Gopaul Murder Trial.

Bibi Sharima Gopaul called “Nari” and her former lover Jarvis Small called “Barry” are being accused of killing the teen sometime between September 23 and October 2, 2010 at the Emerald Tower Resort, Madewini Linden/ Soesdyke Highway.

The trial began on February 2, before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member mixed jury panel at the High Court in Georgetown. According to the State’s case, the duo took the teen up to the highway, where Small strangled her before bashing her head with a piece of wood. It is alleged that they then returned to Leonora, West Coast Demerara, with the body in the car trunk.

The State is further claiming, through its star witness Simone De Nobrega, who Gopaul had reportedly confessed to while at the East La Penitence Police Station lockups, that the following night the duo returned to the deserted resort where they wrapped the teenager’s body in a sheet before putting it in a suitcase. Small then took the bag into the creek and used a pair of dumbbells and a piece of red rope to anchor the suitcase.

After calling some 27 witnesses to testify in the matter, lead Prosecutrix, State Counsel Diana Kaulesar closed her case on Friday. She along with State Counsels Mercedes

Thompson and Stacy Gooding presented the case on the State’s behalf.

Attorney Glenn Hanoman along with Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam and Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos are representing Small while Attorney George Thomas is representing Sharima Gopaul.

The defence attorneys did their closing address to the jury on Tuesday and the prosecution addressed the panel the following day. During her address on Wednesday, Kaulesar asked the jury to hold both accused responsible for the “coldblooded” murder of Neesa Gopaul.

The prosecutrix began her presentation addressing the unsworn statement given by Small on Monday. She said that everything he said “was a complete lie” as he was trying to mislead them. She pointed out that the man said the relationship between him and his co-accused was over but yet after the teen went missing, they were found in a hotel room by the Police.

Kaulesar told the jurors that Small claims to be a

Exxon begins...

Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar, along with Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud visited the ExxonMobil’s head office located on New Market Street on Wednesday, where they were given a tour of the facility and briefed on the scope of its operations by the company’s Country Manager.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, ExxonMobil, the largest public traded international company in the world, is an industry giant that has the leading inventory of oil and gas projects, and the world’s largest refiner of petroleum products. It has a long history of using science and innovation to find safer and cleaner ways of bringing energy to the world.

The total area allotted to Exxon for exploration (the Liza Area of the Stabroek Block) covers 26, 806 square kilometres. The company intends to drill at a depth of 1750 metres.

According to GINA, President Ramotar, who was impressed with the size of the company’s operations, described the exploratory staging area as a “small village”, noting that it ought to take a lot of effort to manage and execute all logistics. “I’m quite impressed with what is taking place, and looking forward to going out myself,” the President noted.

Additionally, Minister Persaud urged the company to ensure that the activities envi-

“family man, a father, a husband and brother,” but that was only to distract them. She asked how such a “soft spoken, gentle family man” can be accused of child molestation, domestic violence and murder.

She then went onto address the lengthy unsworn statement given by Gopaul. According to the prosecution, Gopaul was never afraid of Small, contending that “they were in this together along.”

Kaulesar said although Gopaul claimed she was afraid of Small, she spent an extensive period with him in a hotel room and was later seen with him in a car by a senior Police officer. If Gopaul was so afraid of “big bad Barry” why he was in the front seat of the car, she further asked.

The prosecutrix also told the jury that it was strange that the accused could not confirm whether the body she saw was that of her daughter’s because it was partially covered. “How can a mother not recognise the bodily features of her daughter whom she brought up for 16 years?”

Additionally, she said Gopaul claimed to be a “caring” mother to her two daughters but yet the night she found Neesa and Small in a compro-

mising position, the teenager became her competition, hence she picked up a knife, which Neesa was cut with. “She had more than one motive to get rid of the girl,” the prosecutrix said.

Furthermore, Kaulesar said that when the accused

put a razor in De Nobrega’s food at the prison, it was not to kill her but to cut her tongue because she had “snitched” and told the Police about the confession.

She told the jury that the woman’s statement was inconsistent. “She can’t keep her story straight. Why? Because she is lying, that’s why!” She asked that the jury disregard their statements, which were “riddled with fake emotions.”

“Well let’s believe family man here and mother dearest,” she said sarcastically, while telling the jurors that the defence did not present any evidence to support any of their claims.

On the other hand, Kaulesar went onto address the defences’ case. She informed the panel that the Police do not need evidence to make an arrest, explaining that the law allows them to arrest a person on suspicions. It was further explained that it was on suspicions that Gopaul was arrested.

Kaulesar noted that the defence claimed that the body is not Neesa’s, yet the grandfather, Kayum Mohammed, identified it both to the Police and the pathologist. She added that even the forensic analyst found that there is a 99.98 probability that the sample from the body was the female off spring of Shairma Gopaul. “We can safely conclude that it was Neesa Gopaul and she was dead,” she said.

The prosecutor further outlined to the jurors that the defence claimed that it was “far-fetched” that the two accused would risked bringing back the body to Leonora when they have to passed all of

those Police stations and possible road blocks but yet they did not find it “far-fetched” when they suggested that the teenager could have been killed outside of Guyana and her body brought back here through the borders.

Kaulesar concluded her two hours plus address by telling the panel “the State is asking you to find that both accused were actively involved. They cold-heartedly murdered Neesa Gopaul.”

When the matter resumes today, Justice Singh will sum up all the evidence presented during the course of the trial and direct the jury on the rules of law they need to adhere in arriving at a decision. The panel will then retire into the jury room to deliberate on a verdict.

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sioned are within the specified timeframe. Persaud also stated that “all Government agencies are fully mobilised for an efficient and effective exploration”.

The project is expected to be executed over a 10-year period divided into three sections including two phases in each section which lasts for one to two years. The scope of operations include a drillship, with approximately 200 crew and contractors; helicopter support, with two from Ogle including a utility and a Search and Rescue at all times; four support vessels and two shore bases running from Georgetown and Trinidad, and a waste treatment facility at the John Fernandes Site at Houston, Greater Georgetown.

Guyana has been receiving sustained international attention from huge companies, especially in the oil sector.

The US Geological Survey said in 2000 that the GuyanaSuriname Basin has the second largest unexplored oil potential in the world after Greenland. Guyana first struck oil in the 1980s in the Takutu Basin, and there is much optimism that oil will be found in commercial quantities.

ExxonMobil will now join other investors such as CGX Energy, Repsol, Anadarko Guyana Co, and Gas and Nabi Oil and Gas in exploring oil in Guyana’s offshore Atlantic basin.

Duo remanded for drug trafficking

...accomplice in Kerry Gold drug trafficking case named again

Two residents of East Coast Demerara were remanded on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for attempting to smuggle 2.56 kilograms (kg) of cocaine out of the country.

With the rise in persons being nabbed at Guyana’s international airports for narcotics trafficking, the brave souls still keep coming. Twenty-seven-yearold, Amarnie Persaud and 25-year-old Mark Sauers are apparently such brave souls.

It is alleged that on Sunday, Persaud was travelling to New York via a Fly Jamaica flight when Customs Officers became suspicious when the luggage scanner was unable to read a package that was in her laptop case.

The report stated that the case was then searched and the 2.56 kg of cocaine was found. She was subsequently arrested and charged.

Reports indicate that the defendant was questioned and she revealed that she was approached

by Sauers to smuggle the cocaine for him.

Her Attorney Jed Vasconcellos told the court that his client was indeed approached by Sauers to smuggle cocaine. He said his client has been friends with him for some time.

Attorney Vasconcellos said Sauers had made arrangements with his client for her passport to be updated, the laptop and also gave her $50,000 around February 2.

He informed the Court that she is a single mother of a seven-year-old boy, works at a shop and has one main address at 82 Second Street, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

For Sauers’ case, his Attorney Pamela De Santos stated that there are special circumstances in the case. She told the court that her client was fast asleep at home when Police came knocking around 02:00h. She said they kicked down the defendant’s door, searched his home and came up empty handed.

Attorney De Santos stated that the Police came

For the second time in just over a year, Mark Sauers faces imprisonment for his involvement with a drug trafficker

again and searched the defendant’s home but found nothing. She said that officials from the airport and the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) had stated that they had gotten information from Persaud about supposed drugs at her client’s home.

Also, the Attorney stated that her client was not friends with Persaud. She said that Persaud was actually a friend of her client’s wife instead. She said

her client is 25 years old, married with one child and lives at Eleventh Street, Dazzle Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara.

Nevertheless, in quite a suspicious twist Sauers has been identified as the resident from Kwakwani Village, Berbice, Beterverwagting and Mon Repos East Coast Demerara who was wanted for a similar charge of aiding and abetting trafficking of narcotics in January 2014.

In a previous article in Guyana Times reported that Sauers was named by another drug smuggler, Jermaine Lowe who stated that the defendant had arranged for him to smuggle 4.09 kg of cocaine in several packets of Kerry Gold milk. Lowe had stated that Sauers had even driven him to the airport.

However, it does appear that Sauers was never charged for his involvement with Lowe in that matter. The trial for both Sauers and Persaud is slated to start on March 9 at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

Woman accused of unlawful, malicious wounding on self bail

Awoman was released on her own recognisance on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for wounding the Virtual Complainant (VC) Maryanne Lewis.

Onika Romalho was on

Thursday brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in Court One for unlawfully and maliciously wounding VC.

She told the court that she was not guilty of the charge as the VC was

fighting with her.

Also Romalho informed that she has had prior trouble with the law, but currently there are no pending matters against her.

Magistrate SewnarineBeharry released the young lady on self bail and placed her on a bond to keep the peace. Her case was transferred to Court Eleven to be heard later the same day.

In Court Eleven the matter was given a trial date for March 11.

Eyew tness

To be or not to be...

..."dead meat"

This Eyewitness does think some folks go out of their way to get back at him maybe for some of his frank opinions about them? Like Carl Greenidge and Ramjattan. They know yours truly has to plough through the dailies to earn his pittance... and they deliberately carry on and on in reams and reams of newspaper space. Have you ever seen a letter from Greenidge with less than 2000 words??

And now comes an interview with Ramjattan covering two whole pages in the Stabber!! That's cruel and inhuman punishment banned by several Geneva Conventions. But then, since Ramjattan's sworn not to speak to this newspaper save his trademark "haul yuh ass! - maybe he has a lot of things on his chest. Whatever it is, it gushed out like verbal diarrhoea a few lumps in the flow of meaningless words.

The biggest lump was his confession about why he "changed his mouth" and urged a merger with PNC/ APNU. It seemed to most Guyanese like a replay of Saul's conversion on the way to Damascus. After all, just the week before, he'd declared he'll be "dead meat" if such a union were ever to be consummated! His Indian Berbician supporters, he confessed, would desert him like the proverbial rats from the sinking ship!

But now, according to Ramjattan, if he hadn't hitched up with Granger, "You could have had even the AfroGuyanese leaders leaving it (the AFC) and so it could have been the death knell in another way.” So there you have it, direct from the horse's (not ass's) mouth: join PNC/APNU and Indians would make him "dead meat"... don't join PNC/APNU and Afros would make him "dead meat".

But this just exposes Ramjattan for the racial hypocrite he is. Is he so Neanderthal to think that Indian and African Guyanese can't see real leadership beyond race? So if Indian Berbicians will now desert him for sure...how's he ever going to deliver that 11 per cent of the vote his hand-picked representative Nagamootoo promised Granger as his "dowry"? And on bringing in African votes to PNC/APNU:.isn't this like hauling coals to Newcastle??

But Ramjattan has an answer for that too. He says he's now in a win-win situation: the coalition loses... he gets 12 seats; the coalition wins, he gets 40 per cent of the Cabinet. And whatever happens, there's nothing Granger can do to him. He'll play footsies with the PPP/C, if Granger steps out of line!

But does he think Granger's THAT naive? Remember what happens to "smart flies"....?

...fudging figures

This "projection" of what's on people's minds onto others (otherwise known more elegantly as "daubing your doo-doo on other people's bamzees) can be a bitch. And we're not even talking about the stench. What it does is to reveal what's on your mind. And from the AFC's Mr and Mrs. Nigel Highes and Ramjattan's rant about the PPP/C and their use of the "treasury", it's very clear these are terrified folks caught with their hands in the till.

And we're not talking about the Hughes' financial incest with Sithe Global....the guilt all over their faces comes from the revelations of cooking the books of the party. According to the top level member who quit in disgust, millions and millions of dollars are missing ...even after sleights of hand like illegally applying "depreciation" on rentals.

Now we know why a financial statement required by the AFC's Constitution wasn't presented at the last Congress.

And we also know why they call two of them "criminal lawyers"...and the third, "criminal liar"!!

...PNC or PPP/C

Clinton Urling says he hasn't made up his mind whether to join the PPP/C or the PNC/APNU/AFC can coalition. Ahhh...the dilemma of a Cow-Heel Hamlet!!

But isn't the question really, which party will want him??

Police pursue 2 other suspects in GGMC employee’s execution

The Police have now stepped on the accelerator and are pursing two other men suspected to have been involved in the execution of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission engineer Trevor Abrams on Friday last in Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

A senior Police rank told the Guyana Times on Wednesday that after grilling a Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident in connection with the execution, they have managed to get the identities of two other men who were allegedly occupants of the car from which the engineer was fired upon.

He stated that the Police were working on other leads and investigators remained confident that they would bring the matter to a close soon. Police are now working on the theory that the incident might have been a botched robbery.

Guyana Times understands that Abrams might have gone to a bank in Diamond, EBD, moments prior to his death, where he reportedly carried out a transaction and might have been tailed from the bank.

The suspect who was arrested on Sunday at his home was released on Tuesday evening, but the

Police have instructed him not to leave the jurisdiction and more so, ordered him to report to the Diamond Police Station on a daily basis.

Car impounded At the time of his arrest, a false number plate was found in a drum which he claimed was placed there by someone. The car suspected to be the one used by Abrams’ killers was also found on the premises. However, the suspect told investigators it was rented to someone on Friday and was returned in the evening.

The car had damage consistent with a vehicular ac-

cident. The suspect further told investigators that the person who rented the car claimed that it was involved in an accident and he was willing to pay for the repair. The car was seized and was impounded at the Police station.

Abrams, 31, of Lot 129 Samatta Point, Grove, EBD, was executed on Friday while driving along the Little Diamond Public Road, EBD.

According to information received, the young man was driving his Silver Grey Toyota Allion bearing registration number PSS 6855 when another car pulled up alongside him. Several gunshots were reportedly heard as the two cars sped away.

From all indications, Abrams attempted to escape and accelerated, but crashed into a utility pole and ended up in a nearby canal. The man was pulled from his vehicle by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the East Demerara Regional Hospital (Diamond Diagnostic Centre) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police have since confirmed that a high powered assault rifle was used to carry out the attack on the Government employee. Police are continuing their investigations.

Police reach dead end in probe into South Road execution

Despite several leads at their disposal, the Police have reached a dead end in their investigation into the death of South Road vulcanising shop owner, Randolph Singh, who was gunned down at his business place more than three weeks ago.

Police sources claimed that while the investigation is continuing, no arrest has been made in connection with the murder. They had detained several persons including employees of the vulcanising shop during their investigation, but there was no evidence to prosecute.

The senior Police rank stated that there was no clear surveillance footage of the shooting incident hence finding the perpetrator might be more challenging than expected. Speaking to Guyana Times on Wednesday, the official reiterated that from all indication, the shooting stemmed from a business deal that went sour since there were no other possible motives for the murder.

During the investigation, he recalled family members claiming that the now dead

Randolph Singh

man had some issues with one of his associates in connection with the sale of a building. He, however, noted that statements were taken from Dilbert Mohamed, an employee who was shot with a stray bullet.

Based on the statement, Mohamed did not have a clear vision of the person who pulled the trigger. He was shot and was admitted at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) but was subsequently discharged.

On the day in question, at about 22:00h, Singh, 41 of Lot 207 Charlotte Street,

Providence fatal shooting gang related – Police

As the Police continue their manhunt for the main suspect in the execution of Ryan Sooklall, and the suspect’s aunt, a senior rank has confirmed that the act was committed as a form of revenge.

He stated that based on reports gathered by the Police, the now dead young man, 19 of Lot 27 Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), went to the house of the suspect’s aunt, Tessa, and threw an improvised bomb at the home and that upset the family. The official went on to say that the teenager was part of a gang which often got into trouble.

“The gang at Bagotstown and the one at Providence are always fighting between themselves and they have been under Police radar for quite some time,” she added

One day after the incident, the main eyewitness, Brenda Robe, rubbished that accusation claiming that Sooklall was in the company of her nephew all night on Saturday. They were reportedly at the Bollywood Bar, Providence, EBD. Robe also stated that her nephew and Sooklall were very good friends and they would “move” together.

However, Shamaz Ali, the mother of the dead man, admitted that her son was a wayward child, but stressed that he was never a part of

any criminal gang. She stated that her son lived as any young man would live, noting the “boys must be boys”.

“He had he lil’ friend here and there, but you know the saying, show me your friends and I will tell you who you are … but he never rob or kill anybody,” Ali stated.

According to information received, Sooklall was shot twice in his back around 18:35h. Reports revealed that the teen was in a shop in Parker Street, Providence, with some friends when a man suspected to be in his 20s stormed into the yard and opened fire.

Manhunt

Sooklall ran behind the shop to hide, but was shot twice from behind. He re-

portedly ran some distance before collapsing. An eyewitness had identified the shooter as a Bagotstown, EBD resident.

She told this newspaper that the young man had accused Sooklall of throwing an improvised bomb on his aunt’s house in Bagotstown. The woman recalled that she saw the young man armed with a gun heading towards the yard, but before she could have raised an alarm, he started to shoot indiscriminately hitting the front of the shop with the first bullet.

She related that the teenager ran to save his life, but the man discharged two bullets in his direction. The suspect, she said, escaped on a pedal cycle.

The young man was found dead aback the house by members of a search party. His body bore two gunshot wounds to the back. He was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Police have since launched a manhunt for the main suspect, Jermaine Simon, also called “Lapsy”, and his aunt who have since disappeared. Police visited the home of the suspects, but it was empty. Investigators believe that they are in Guyana and have not absconded to neighbouring Suriname.

Georgetown was riddled with bullets while in the company of two employees.

According to information received, as the men sat opposite the vulcanising shop, a man, who was armed with a firearm, approached them and discharged several rounds in their direction before escaping on a motorcycle.

From all indication, Singh was the target and would have received the blunt of the attack while Mohamed, 33 was shot on his right elbow. Both men were rushed to GPHC where Singh was pronounced dead on arrival and Mohamed was treated and sent away.

A senior Police rank had told this newspaper that investigators have ruled out robbery and they are now trying to ascertain whether Singh had any enemies.

The rank added that based on reports received, the businessman had returned from the United States (US) less than a week ago after seeking medical attention. His relative remained tightlipped about the shooting incident.

PPP/C consulting civil society on manifesto

The incumbent Peoples Progress Party Civic (PPP/C) says it continues to consult a wide cross section of Guyanese as it finalises its plans for the advancement of Guyana, should the party be re-elected on Many 11, 2015.

An executive within the party told Guyana Times that these consultations include the views, ideas and considerations of members and non-members of the PPP/C. “The ongoing interactions with various sectors of society will ensure the document reflect the aspirations of the people,” the

PPP/C executive explained adding that the intent is to have the document available for release at the official launch of its campaign.

Themed ‘working together for a better Guyana’, the party’s 2011 manifesto was premised on continuity of social and economic progress. “Focused on realising the vision to which we have committed ourselves, the next PPP/Civic Government will build on the foundation laid, expand on the substantial progress already achieved, and implement a comprehensive agenda of policies and programmes aimed at achieving the objectives set,” read the 2011 manifesto. It boasted of the efforts in the past decade at maintaining macroeconomic stability and then committed to continued intent to ‘manage the economy prudently and soundly, with the principal aims being accelerated real economic growth, preservation of debt sustainability by ensuring a steady decline in the fiscal deficit and prudent incurrence of new debt, and maintaining external sustainability by promoting rapid growth in exports and reduced dependence on im-

ported inputs especially fossil fuels and food items.’

Describing the document as a contract with Guyanese, Presidential Candidate then, Donald Ramotar stated that it spelt out a number of policies and projects which we intend to pursue to achieve the objective of a diversified, modern, competitive and resilient economy. Amongst the many initiatives which we will complete are the development of hydroelectricity, a new fibre optic cable and the construction of a

deep water harbour, an allweather road to Brazil and a bridge to Suriname.

According to observers, many major projects under the PPP/C 2011 manifesto that needed opposition support in the National Assembly were unable to be realized. This is as a consequence of the one set majority that the combined opposition held in the 11th Parliament, which has largely been considered a failure.

One such project is the Amaila Falls Hydropower initiative, which ended after the investor opted out because of political and media opposition in instances. President Ramotar had committed to finding other investors.

That year the PPP/C lost the majority it held since 1992. Today, despite the fact that the two main opposition parties have coalesced, it is confident that it will regain that power. It is the only contending political party to field a female Prime Ministerial Candidate in the person of former Director General of the Foreign Minister Elizabeth Harper and commits to unveiling more surprises as the elections campaign heats up.

De Mook give Adumb a long tongue lashin

Most people who know Adumb believe he is a easy goin man. He don’t really trouble no body. He does wuk hard although he gettin on in years and lookin so.

Every body who know Adumb know that he does tell lies fuh a livin. Adumb mek a career, a life time and a livin from lyin. Adumb got de Mook enjoyin livin just by lyin.

Whah people can’t understand is how a man like Adumb could tek so mucha lashin all he life. From Burnt Ham to de Heights Man and now to de Mook. By now Adumb get used to tekkin a good lash.

Burnt Ham and de Heights Man lash Adumb over and over. But de Mook is a warp man, so he does wanna lash Adumb over and under. When yuh lash some body both ways is never a good ting. Dem does feel used and abused.

Ask Lil Johnny and he gon tell yuh every ting bout how he get lash both ways. Uncle Rafeel know too. After all that lashin, Uncle Rafeel use de court to lash Lil Johnny.

At least wid Burnt Ham, Adumb done tek he share of lashin. But Burnt Ham dead and gone. Heights Man never use a whip to lash like Burnt Ham, but Heights Man had a big stick to lash Adumb. Thank God fuh Adumb, Heights Man dead and gone too.

When it come to de Mook, all de lashin gone over every ting and under every ting. Every body who know Adumb seh as big man he should never tek that kinda lashin, especially from de Mook.

A lil gyal who wukkin pun Saffon Street seh even though other people leff de Mook, Adumb gon never leff de Mook. She seh Adumb navel string and some ting below de navel bury deep inside de Mook.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Adumb is no mook, but when de Mook give he a long tongue lashin de other day, he end up feelin worse than a mook!

Rodney CoI extended 'Last chance'

The Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry has been extended for a final round, and according to the Government, surviving PNC officials who had served under the Linden Forbes Sampson administration, are being offered a final opportunity to face investigators.

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon on Wednesday informed reporters of government’s decision to extend the life of the commission for a four month duration.

This round, which comes to an end on March 31, has been extended to July 31 later this year.

This is the fifth extension of the commission which was established in April of last year, and which seeks to ascertain who was responsible for the death of founding member of the WPA, Dr Walter Rodney.

The Cabinet Secretary said with this extension, government would expect surviving members the then People’s National Congress (PNC) government to come forward with their testimonies.

“So far the witnesses have confirmed strongly held suspicion about the then PNC role in his death. The remaining gaps are so visible that Guyanese must be wondering why in the face of openness of this inquiry; the proceeding so far has not addressed those glaring gaps”, Luncheon said.

Fingers have always been pointed in the direction

of the PNC government as the mastermind in the death of Rodney, who met his demise when a bomb, said to have been planted in a walkie talkie exploded in his lap.

“Why have those surviving PNC government personnel of that era not risen to the occasion and volunteer to testify as yet. What is so preventing them from doing so?”, Luncheon questioned Luncheon said the current crop of opposition members is very much aware of the occurrences back then.

“Mr. Corbin, Mr. Harmon, Mr. Granger have apparently declined participation even in the face of what appears to be testimony of their involvement attested to by previous witnesses”

According to the Cabinet Secretary, the proceeding so far has been “illuminating,” and the body of “evidence that points squarely to the role of the then Burnhamite PNC Government in Dr Rodney’s assassination in 1980.”

Rodney, a Historian and one of the major players in the establishment of the Working People’s Alliance, died at the age of 38 on the evening of June 13, 1980. At the time of his death he was in the company of his younger brother Donald, who had moments before collected the walkie-talkie; a device Dr Rodney reportedly had a growing interest in.

The brother has testified that before the Commission that the walkie-talkie was handed over to him by former Army Sergeant and Electronics Expert William Gregory Smith. Smith was said to have been used by the PNC government to carry out the act.

Granger, who was at the time commander of the Guyana Defense Force had made it clear that he, nor the PNC would not be cooperating with the CoI and expressed several reasons including concerns about the Terms of Reference (TOR).

He maintained that he was not afraid of the truth, pointing out that the commission, set up by President Donald Ramotar, has its political motives.

Joseph Harmon had said if the Commission found it necessary to summon himself or any other PNC member, it would.

The three-member Commission, headed by Barbadian Queens Counsel Richard Cheltenham, includes Jamaica Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline Samuels Brown and Trinidad Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam.

NIS extends data entry exercise to capture missing contributions

In excess of one million unverified contributions will be rectified, as the National Insurance Scheme’s (NIS) Data Entry and Verification Project has been extended for a minimum of three-four months, with guidance from Cabinet.

This announcement was made on Wednesday by Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, at his weekly post- Cabinet media briefing at the Office of the President. Dr. Luncheon pointed out that the NIS’ board, with guidance from Cabinet, has approved further project activities, by which the 1.1million unverified contributions will now be verified and credited to the currently unknown contributors.

This will take effect by extended project activities which comprise two components, one of which is an

in house element, which sees the placement of experienced NIS staff, addressing queries at local offices, where the bulk of the unverified contributions occurred. The second component is a public awareness initiative, which the scheme, under Cabinet’s guidance, will undertake, commencing on April 1, and will be providing information to the public, particularly in communities, where unverified contributors (area of employment) arose, allowing for prospective contributors to be identified. Specifically these exercises will provide to the public, the dates on which these contributions were received by NIS, as well as they will identify the employers, and areas of the local offices, where they were received. Further, the HPS reiterated that it is anticipated, that armed with that infor-

An APNU-AFC Gov’t will focus on STEM for education improvement – Granger

Presidential Candidate and of A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance for Change (APNUAFC), David Granger says the coalition, if elected, plans to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in education.

During a telephone interview on with Guyana Times on Wednesday, Granger said the coalition feels there are too few graduates in these four subjects in Guyana, which are proven to be the bedrock of development.

“As we open up Guyana, we believe that there will be a great need for persons in those subject areas, as such we see the need for persons to pursue studies in those areas,’ Granger said.

The aim of the newly formed coalition is to ensure that every young person has a fulfilling future while living in Guyana, Granger explained. To do this, those delivering education must be highly compensated.

“We need to attract the best teachers into the school system and as such we will ensure teachers are the best paid in the public servant system. They are the backbone of the development of our young people and they should be treated as such,” Granger posited.

This he expressed will motivate teachers to not

only remain on the job but also take pride in their jobs, thus solving many of Guyana’s social problems.

Meanwhile, Granger said the Government of National Unity will guarantee graduates of the University of Guyana with ‘favourable grades’ a job within twelve months of graduation, among the many other initiatives it intends to undertake to improve the conditions of the country’s premier tertiary institution.

Only this week, staff of the university returned from more than 5 weeks of strike for better pay and improved conditions. Granger had told media operatives that government funds to the institution need to be quadrupled, a commitment he intends to fulfill when in office. “If we could find money from GGMC for housing, we could find money for ed-

ucation,” he reasoned then.

Additionally, an APNUAFC government will employ the top-down approach to strengthening the education system with emphasis on the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) as well.

“Once we correct the problem from the top and ensure that we produce well –educated teachers, they will in turn be able to correct the faults lower down.”

STEM has not been the most accomplished subject areas in Guyana for many years as the country continues to record low performances at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC).

Nonetheless, Guyana has produced the top students for the Caribbean at CSEC exams in the past three years.

mation, identified contributors will be able to advance their credentials of ownership of those contributions, at the appropriate local offices. This means that in cases where there are multiple claimants, the issue will be resolved around the adequacy of the credentials presented. After this extended period meets it cut off point, with the information obtained, the contributors will be notified if they have been deemed eligible to become the owner of the unverified contributions.

The NIS was directed by Cabinet to proceed with the electronic data project which ran from June 2014 to December 2014. In February, Dr Luncheon reported that the final report of the NIS Data entry project was completed. It revealed that 1,115,720 contribution records were not verified by December 31, 2014.

thursday, march 5, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

19 road fatalities recorded in 3 months

The Guyana Police Force has disclosed there has been a total of 19 road fatalities for the year thus far, a similar figure to what obtained over the corresponding period last year.

In addition, the Police release stated that an eightyear-old girl of Freeman Street, East La Penitence was presently hospitalised following an accident. The driver who allegedly sped away from the scene was subsequently charged and placed before the court.

The Guyana Police Force is urging motorists to exhibit more care and caution when traversing roadways that are being used simultaneously by children.

The Police stated that they have charged 615 motorists for speeding for the period February 22 to February 28. Another 34 were charged for driving under the influence of alcohol; 47 were found culpable of breaching their road service licence and 14 were charged for careless driving.

The Police also stat-

ed that 11 motorists were placed before the court for dangerous driving while nine were charged for failing to wear a safety helmet and 41 for failing to wear seat belts. In addition, charges were made against 16 motorists for using mobile phones, and six persons for touting.

The charges are being laid as Police continue their campaign on Guyana’s roadway, as they attempt to curb the number of fatal accidents.

GuySuCo to release lands to meet housing demands – Dr Luncheon

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has committed to release more lands to the Ministry of Housing’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) in an effort to meet the growing demands for housing across the country.

Congress Place shooter turns up at APNU/AFC campaign launch

APrimo had reportedly fired a single shot into the air during the conference which sent attendees scampering for cover. He was later arrested and charged with threatening behaviour; however, was later freed after his accuser, Alieshaw Barker, failed to show up to testify against him at court.

According to Police, the woman had alleged that she had gone to the auditorium at Congress Place when Primo whipped out a gun from his waist and pointed it in her direction and allegedly discharged a round.

Wednesday.

This would then enable it to discharge the housing drive and obligations, across the whole of Guyana, including the hinterland.

Even with the One Stop Shops, he explained, there is a backlog “in no mean order and land is necessary for a developmental task, that is unquestionably benefitting Guyanese from all walks of life.”

With the efforts of the administration’s response to the housing drive, he explained that whilst GuySuCo has available lands, this could be made available for the CH&PA.

This was revealed by Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon on Wednesday during his weekly media briefing at the Office of the President. The HPS pointed out that whilst there are many development achievements by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration over its years in office, none can touch its achievement in the housing development. Nevertheless, the CH&PA has made it clear, that whilst access to land is not threatening the housing drive, the needs are unmet. “Every day there are complaints: we have applied and we are waiting,” the HPS noted.

The reach out to GuySuCo is a means to obtain available lands for consideration so that the CH&PA would meet its obligation in this issue, the HPS declared. Under the PPP/C Administration about 100,000 Guyanese families have received houselots in several regions including Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight and Ten. On these areas developed for housing purposes, the government has spent huge amounts of money for infrastructural development, and the lots are also subsidised.

Zeelugt resident gets 7 months in jail for damaging property

A30-year-old man from 437 Zeelugt North, East Bank Essequibo, was sentenced to seven months imprisonment on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for stealing and damaging the belongings of the Virtual Complainant (VC) Amanda Rafeek.

The defendant, Michael Hansraj, was noticea-

bly upset when Presiding Magistrate Annette Singh sentenced him to three months in jail for the charge of simple larceny and four months for malicious damage to property in Court Eleven.

The charge alleged that Hansraj had broken the back window of the VC’s Toyota NZE motorcar and stolen her purse. The VC’s

purse was valued at $15,000 while her damaged car window was priced at $18,000. Constable Julius Caesar had uplifted the defendant’s brown handbag with a screwdriver that was found on the defendant from the Brickdam Police Station to the court as evidence against the defendant. He was found with the screwdriver and the bag on him.

Man takes 'heat' for cross charges of assault

Amale partner on Wednesday took the brunt of the cross charges of assault that both parties had lodged against each other. At the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, he refused to give evidence against his girlfriend and pleaded guilty to assaulting her.

Twenty-eight-yearold Andrew Davis from

4036 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, had a change of heart on Thursday in Court Eleven when he told the court that he had nothing to say against his 26-yearold girlfriend, Charlene Cameron although he had reported that she had assaulted him on February 28. However, he pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting Cameron on the

day in question.

Presiding Magistrate Annette Singh fined him $10,000 and dismissed the case against Cameron. However, they were both placed on a six month bond, which if breached, they will each face one month imprisonment. Also, Magistrate Singh advised the couple to seek counselling.

pproximately seven months after the shooting incident at Congress Place during the final day of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) 18th Biennial Congress, the perpetrator Linden Primo was seen at the launch of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) campaign at the Pegasus Hotel on

Several days after the shooting, which took place on July 27, 2014, Leader of the Opposition, David Granger had adamantly stated that the person involved in the incident was in no way connected to the PNCR. Party Chairman Basil Williams had also told reporters that the shooter was not affiliated with the PNCR Administration.

PNCR leaders had said that Primo was part of the security detail of the Returning Officer for the elections and he had fired to prevent a stampede caused by delegates of Linden, who claimed that they were disenfranchised at the Congress.

He was nabbed moments before boarding a Caribbean Airlines Flight destined for the John F Kennedy International Airport.

Guyana's Parliament to observe Commonwealth Day

The Guyana Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will join with the rest of the Commonwealth countries to commemorate Commonwealth Day 2015 on Monday, March 9, under the theme: “A Young Commonwealth”.

In keeping with this year’s theme, which aptly exemplifies one of the Commonwealth’s greatest principles – youth involvement, the Guyana Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will organise a sitting of a Youth Parliament on Monday, March 9, at 08:30h in the Parliament Chamber, Public Building, Brickdam.

According to a release from the Parliament Office,

it is hoped that this activity will involve the participation of 35 youths between the ages of 14 and 17 from secondary schools across the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana. Students will be brought to the capital city, Georgetown, two days prior to the debate and will attend training sessions on parliamentary etiquette and decorum, the democratic process, parliamentary procedures, etcetera. Former Members of Parliament and staff of the Parliament Office will serve as mentors for the students and will assist them in developing supporting or opposing arguments on the motion. The participants will assume the roles of Speaker, Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Prime Minister, Leader of the

Opposition, Ministers of Government and Private Members of the Opposition and Government. The debate will be judged and prizes will be awarded to all participants.

In order to ensure wide participation and to avoid accusations of “unequal participation” as it relates to the geographic composition, three participants were selected from each Region with the exception of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) which will have the opportunity to select eight participants due to its geographic location. Additionally, five teachers were identified to accompany these students to the training prior to the sitting, and to the sitting.

Two co-workers friendship was saved from the brink on Wednesday when Magistrate Annette Singh dismissed charges of assault that they had lodged against each other.

It is alleged that 40-year-old Manoj Amaraj from Anandale, East Coast Demerara, had told colleagues of his that he had slept with Suresh Jagnarine’s 41-year-old wife. Once Jagnarine heard of this, he confront-

ed Amaraj about this at the East Coast bus park and a fight ensued where the former sustained injuries.

Jagnarine reported the matter at the Brickdam Police Station and had Amaraj arrested and charged. However, Amaraj, feeling he has been wronged as well, lodged a charge against Jagnarine for assault.

The men showed up in court on Thursday and stated that they were ready and willing to drop the

charges against each party, adding that they were not forced or threatened to drop the charges. However, Jagnarine asked the court to give Amaraj a warning that he does not repeat such statements about his wife.

Magistrate Singh dismissed the matter and placed the men on a one year bond. She told them that a breach of the bond would gain them one month imprisonment.

Granger claims Guyana “unhappy”

…Moses promises “deliverance” amid accusations of race politics

By Gomatie GanGadin

The newly formed

A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNUAFC) coalition had its official elections campaign launch on Wednesday at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.

Presidential Candidate, Opposition Leader Brigadier David Granger told the gathering the country was suffering from severe “unhappiness” and this must be addressed since it would lead to social crises.

out of the need for the country to reach its potential, noting that a government of national unity would serve all Guyanese across the country.

“We assure you today that the Cummingsburg Accord is not a crass, shortterm, office-sharing bargain. It is a visionary initiative, it’s actually a public covenant between the combined majority and the people to create a just society, a stable political environment with a prosperous economy,” the Opposition Leader said Prime Ministerial candi-

The Presidential hopeful told the crowded room of supporters and media operatives that the state of unhappiness in the country was seen in the number of suicides recorded every year.

“The People’s Progressive Party/Civic has dragged us to the very pit of the human development index.

"The record rates of arson, armed robbery, murders, suicides, road fatalities, illiteracy, and unemployment, trafficking in persons and trafficking in narcotics have made our country a pariah state in this hemisphere,” Granger told the gathering.

He noted that it was out of this situation that the coalition was formed, as the time has come for the change that the country so needed, adding that it has the potential to change the landscape of several of the country’s systems including those in the health, education and social services sectors.

“The APNU-AFC coalition is the boldest step taken in six decades to replace political hostility with unity, confrontation with cooperation, dictatorship with democracy. The coalition has chosen hope over despair and faith over fear.

"The coalition will give Guyanese an education system that will produce citizens of quality who will be happy, employment opportunities, a security policy that protects our citizens and our territory,” he said.

Granger stated that the APNU-AFC would ensure a “real Government of national unity and democratic renewal” if it wins the elections.

He added that the formation of the partnership between the two parties was not to be mistaken for the fulfilment of the self-interest of any one person, but rather it was an agreement born

date of the coalition Moses Nagamootoo, in alluding to his biblical namesake, declared May 11, the date for General and Regional Elections in Guyana as the day of deliverance for the country proclaiming that the country has experienced enough at the hands of the incumbent party.

“As we prepare to take office, we note how utterly depraved this Government has become by shamelessly misusing public funds. Our alliance has said it is enough!

"There will be and must be a stop to this madness! A new day must come and it will come, in the words of Martin Carter, 'inevitably and inexorably'. May 11 is deliverance day!” he declared.

Nagamootoo also issued a call to all Guyanese to turn up at the polling stations on Election Day and to cast their votes without hesitation.

According to Nagamootoo, there is nothing to fear in giving the coalition a vote since it will be making a giant step towards national reconciliation, national unity and a better living standard. He told the gathering that “we shall defeat the monster of racism".

Both men expressed confidence that the people of Guyana will vote for change.

Race politics

However, many observers have been particularly vocal over the last few weeks with respect to the race-based politics of the APNU-AFC coalition, and are calling on both parties to move away from the established fundamentals and scour for new ground.

Many persons have noticeably taken to social media to express frustration at this

method, calling for a change in the modus operandi.

One event that kept taking centre stage in the online discussions and is still being referenced is the APNU rally at Square of the Revolution. It was noted that the AFC took a decision to send only Afro-Guyanese to mount APNU’s platform.

Additionally, the AFC refused to join the APNU protests which followed the rally.

Despite these concerns being ventilated on social media, the AFC was adamant that this was not the case.

More recently, claiming that APNU will easily win 40 per cent of the votes at the upcoming elections, the AFC has gone on record as promising that it could give the APNU-AFC coalition the other 11 per cent (of Indian

votes) it needs to clinch a majority.

This was disclosed by Nagamootoo when he tried to sell the proposed pro-democracy alliance between the two parties just prior to the announcement of their union on February 14.

Ramjattan had arbitrarily jettisoned the AFC’s “presidential candidate rotation principle” to se-

Conceding that the AFC cannot compare itself with APNU in terms of its electoral strength, Nagamootoo was hand-selected as Presidential Candidate by AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan.

lect Nagamootoo over the Chairman Nigel Hughes. At one time, the AFC had been afraid to coalesce with APNU, fearing the backlash from its constituency who have not forgotten the muck and stain of the People’s National Congress (PNC) track record in Government.

Brutal murder of 14-year-old student draws condemnation from Jamaica Govt

The Jamaica Government has condemned the brutal murder of a 14-year-old student who was hacked to death and her mutilated body dumped a few metres from her home on Tuesday.

Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna in condemning the murder, said such attacks have no place in “our society” and is calling on residents in the community to share any information they may have with the security forces.

“The Ministry of Youth and Culture, condemns in the strongest possible terms the level of violence brought against this innocent child as she got ready for school. There can be no justification for such unspeakable savagery against a 14-year-old.”

Police reports indicate that Kayalicia Simpson, a grade eight student from the farming community of Newlands, went outside her house as she prepared for school. But her body was found half an hour after she left the house in bushes close to the one-room wood-

en structure in which she lived.

Education Minister Ronald Thwaites said that the community must assist in bringing Kayalicia’s killers to justice, and Opposition Leader Andrew Holness urged the Government to “move quickly” to address the spate of attacks against women and children.

“We cannot continue in a situation where so many of our children, especially young girls, are the victims of these gruesome acts. We have seen too many.

“This is not just a matter for the police as we, as Jamaicans, must play our role in turning in all the criminals, especially those that prey on our women and children. The Government is failing in its role to protect our children as it seems, instead of getting better, the situation is getting worse,” Holness said.

In a statement, the Child Development Agency (CDA) said that the murder comes a short period after the killing of several youngsters since the start of 2015. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Colombia detains Cuba-bound Chinese ship carrying arms

Colombian officials have detained the captain of a Chinese ship bound for Cuba for illegally carrying explosives and other arms. The ship was stopped over the weekend in the Caribbean port of Cartagena, the attorney general’s office said. About 100 tonnes of gunpowder, almost three million detonators and some 3000 cannon shells were found on board the Da Dan Xia, officials said. But according to the ship’s records, it was carrying grain products.

“The documentation that the captain had in regards to the merchandise that was being transported did not correspond to what we found,” said Luis Gonzalez, National Director of the Colombian Attorney General’s Office.

Wu Hong, the Chinese Captain, would be charged with weapons trafficking, he added. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the Captain had not violated any international rules.

“It is completely normal military trade cooperation,” she said. Ms Hua said China was “communicating with the parties on this matter”. The Da Dan Xia is operated by China’s largest shipping company, Cosco Shipping.

It was impounded and searched for 48 hours before the order to arrest the Captain was given. Colombian media reported that the ship was also carrying pipes used in mining and had stopped in Cartagena to unload them.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Google submits communication to Trinidad Police on “emailgate” scandal

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) says it has received communication from the Internet service provider, Google, as investigations continue into allegations that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and some of her senior Government Ministers were involved in a sinister plot to undermine the judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the media.

Opposition Leader, Dr Keith Rowley had in 2013 told legislators that he had

received in December 2012, a total of 31 emails, from a “whistle blower” indicating how operatives within the Government had sought to undermine those institutions. He said he had passed them on to the Office of the President.

The Government has denied the allegations and in some instances sought legal remedies. The TTPS in a statement said that it had received the Google communication through the Central Authority of Trinidad and Tobago and that “the information con-

tained in the communication is voluminous in nature and the alleged emails are being analysed by the TTPS to determine their authenticity.

“Commissioner of Police (Ag), Stephen Williams, has given the assurance the outcome of the investigation will be made public in due course. “The Commissioner of Police recognises the importance of the issue to the general public and accordingly advises that the matter is being treated with the level of urgency required and expected,” the release said. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Former Aristide Security Chief and key witness assassinated in Haiti

Oriel Jean, the former Security Chief of ex-president JeanBertrand Aristide and a key witness in murder allegations against him, was assassinated in Haiti on Monday afternoon. Jean had constantly been the subject of death threats from individuals close to Aristide, whom he had accused of ordering the murder in 2000 of prominent Haitian journalist and political commentator, Jean Leopold Dominique.

On Tuesday, the Secretariat of SOS Journalistes and the Independent Commission to Support Investigations into Murders of Journalists (CIAPEAJ) condemned in the strongest terms what was described as “the obviously planned assassination of a key witness” in the murder on April 3, 2000, of Dominique.

The death threats were so direct that SOS Journalistes and the CIAPEAJ had to in-

tervene with relevant authorities to seek and obtain special protection for Jean, who had always expressed its willingness and commitment to testify in criminal court in the trial of Dominique’s case.

As a former security chief of ex-president Aristide, in the wake of the expiration of his first presidential term and during his second term

between 2001 and 2003, Jean claimed to be in possession of important information about the behaviour of Aristide and the orders the latter gave to former senator, Mirlande Libérus, to make sure that all measures were taken to “silence Jean Dominique” whose bitter and virulent criticisms were increasingly directed to Aristide, who was preparing to run for another presidential term.

The murder, which is added to other eliminations determined and unwanted witnesses in the Dominique case, is a blow to the case that is being examined by the Supreme Court, after some close allies of Aristide –including Mirlande Libérus – ruled to be over a year ago by judge Ivickel Dabrézil as the intellectual or material authors of the crime – have challenged all the judges in the Court of Appeal, as a delaying tactic. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Brazil politicians in huge oil 'kickback' probe

Brazil’s Chief Prosecutor has asked the Supreme Court to investigate 54 people, including politicians, for alleged involvement in a huge kickback scheme at the state-run oil firm Petrobras. Investigators allege firms paid inflated prices for Petrobras contracts and money was funnelled to the ruling Workers Party (PT) and its allies. This has been denied by the party and

President Dilma Rousseff.

The politicians’ names were not released by Prosecutor Rodrigo Janot. The move takes Brazil’s biggest corruption scandal, which has so far focussed on companies, into the political sphere. The scandal has led Petrobras’ shares to drop and the company has lost about US$100 billion (£65 billion) in value since September, with the crisis casting a long shadow

in South America’s biggest country, the BBC’s Julia Carneiro reports from Rio de Janeiro.

Janot asked for 28 separate inquiries to be opened into the activities of politicians who allegedly benefitted from the alleged scheme. “Those who must pay will pay. We’re going to investigate. This will be a long process, we’re just now beginning,” he told reporters. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Venezuelans fret Maduro measures may slow US visas

Queuing in their hundreds from dawn then often waiting for hours in the sun, Venezuelans seeking US visas fear their gGvernment’s order to slash American embassy staff to less than a fifth of current levels may snarl the process far more.

In his latest spat with the

United States, socialist President Nicolas Maduro has accused Washington of promoting a coup against him and announced a series of reprisal measures, including the order to downsize the enormous US mission in Caracas from 100 to 17 staff within two weeks.

That will inevitably hit the con-

sular section, which in 2014 processed some 232,500 applications. Given the interruptions last year when three consular staff were expelled, the lines could well be longer in 2015.

“It’s an organised cue, it flowed, but it’s still been a really tiring process,” said Yajara Ovalle, 35,

who arrived at 06:00h on a recent morning and left at midday with a prized visa to take her children to Disneyland in Florida.

“Now imagine this with fewer staff for so many people. It would be chaos, far slower, maybe impossible. I think it’s crazy, this decision,” she said, as scores of

Venezuelans waited in the street or under trees outside the hilltop embassy.

The US visa system in Venezuela seems relatively efficient, with payments and applications made in advance on the internet, before appointments are scheduled. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Around the World

US, Iran ignore Netanyahu; press on with talks

The United States and Iranian Foreign Ministers have wrapped up three days of talks over Iran’s nuclear programme, ignoring a passionate plea by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ditch their negotiations.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday that he and Iranian counterpart

Mohammad Jawad Zarif made some progress during their talks in the Swiss lakeside town of Montreux and would resume them on March 15.

Kerry aides said many obstacles remained before a late March deadline for an outline accord between Iran and six world powers.

“There are still significant gaps and important choices that need to be

First human discovered in Ethiopia

Scientists have unearthed the jawbone of what they claim is one of the very first humans.

The 2.8 million-yearold specimen is 400,000 years older than researchers thought that our kind first emerged. The discovery in Ethiopia suggests climate change spurred the transition from tree dweller to upright walker.

The head of the research team told BBC News that the find gives the first insight into “the most important transitions in human evolution”.

Professor Brian Villmoare of the University of Nevada in Las Vegas said the discovery makes a clear link between an iconic 3.2 million-year-old hominin (human-like primate) discovered in the same area in

1974, called “Lucy”.

Could Lucy’s kind –which belonged to the species Australopithecus afarensis – have evolved into the very first primitive humans?

“That’s what we are arguing,” said Professor Villmoare.

But the fossil record between the time period when Lucy and her kin were alive and the emergence of Homo erectus (with its relatively large brain and humanlike body proportions) two million years ago is sparse.

The 2.8 million-year-old lower jawbone was found in the Ledi-Geraru research area, Afar Regional State, by Ethiopian student Chalachew Seyoum. He told BBC News that he was “stunned” when he saw the fossil. (Excerpt from BBC News)

made,” Kerry told reporters.

Kerry said politics and external factors would not distract from the talks, which aim to constrain Iran with intrusive UN access and verification of its nuclear activity and lengthen the “break-out” time needed for it to build any nuclear weapon.

“No one has presented a more viable, lasting alternative for how you actually

prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. So folks, simply demanding that Iran capitulate is not a plan. And nor would any of our P5+1 partners support us in that position.”

Asked if he thought they had made progress, Zarif told reporters: “We have, but a lot of work remains”.

Kerry will also hold talks on Iran’s nuclear programme with his French, German and British counterparts on Saturday in Paris, a US official said on Wednesday.

However, Netanyahu’s controversial speech to the US Congress on Tuesday, where he harshly criticised the diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute, may make it harder for the Obama administration to sell the potential deal back home.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

US clears Policeman in Ferguson shooting

The US Department of Justice has cleared Ferguson, Missouri, Police Officer Darren Wilson of civil rights violations in the August shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.

Federal officials concluded there was no evidence to disprove Wilson’s testimony that he feared for his safety, nor was there reliable evidence that Michael Brown had his hands up when he was shot.

The decision in the August 9 shooting had been expected, in part because of the high legal standard needed for a federal civil rights prosecution.

“Federal statutes require the Government to prove that Officer Wilson used unreasonable force when he

shot Michael Brown and that he did so wilfully, that is, he shot Brown knowing it was wrong and against the law to do so,” the Justice Department said in a statement on Wednesday.

“After a careful and deliberative review of all of the evidence, the Department has determined that the evidence does not establish that Darren Wilson violated the applicable federal criminal civil rights statute.”

Wilson was cleared in November by a grand jury in the death of Brown — a shooting that touched off protests in the streets and became part of a national conversation about race relations and police departments that patrol minority neighbourhoods. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Delhi gang rapist interview: Minister promises inquiry

ndian Home Minister

IRajnath Singh has promised an inquiry into how a TV crew gained permission to interview one of the Delhi gang rapists on death row.

He criticised the film in Parliament, saying it should not be shown in India. A Delhi court has already blocked the film, made for the BBC and NDTV.

Film-maker Leslee Udwin said the jail and Home Ministry had given her permission to conduct the interview.

She spoke to one of four men sentenced to death over the 2012 rape and murder. The killing of the 23-yearold student on a bus in Delhi caused shock and revulsion

around the world. Udwin interviewed one of the rapists for “India’s Daughter”, a BBC Storyville documentary which was due

to be broadcast on March 8, International Women’s Day. It is now being shown in the UK on Wednesday night.

Dozens dead in Ukraine mine blast

At least 33 miners have died following an explosion at a coal mine in the rebel-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

The blast took place at Zasyadko mine, near the city’s war-wrecked airport early on Wednesday.

According to Kiev-backed officials of Donetsk who have relocated to Mariupol since the city fell into rebel hands, some 230 miners were on shift, of whom 198 escaped the blast.

The Chairman of Ukraine’s Parliament, Volodymyr Groysman, had initially announced 32 miners were killed in what he called a “terrible tragedy”.

“There are victims, currently numbering 32,” Groysman told the assembly, calling on lawmakers to observe a minute’s silence.

Mine officials said the explosion was most likely caused by gas and not linked to fighting at the

nearby frontline in the war between pro-Moscow rebels and Ukraine Government forces.

Nevertheless, Kiev suggested the war had made the disaster worse, accusing the separatists of holding up a rescue effort by restricting access.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said rescue workers had been dispatched by the central authorities, “but the Russian terrorists did not let them reach the scene of the accident”, he said, using a term commonly used by Kiev to describe the separatists.

Separatist authorities in Donetsk said in a statement that the blast occurred at a depth of more than 1000 metres.

The statement said the explosion was caused by a mixture of gas and air – a common cause of industrial mining accidents. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Boston Marathon bombing trial begins

DRapist Mukesh Singh, who along with the three others is facing the death penalty, expressed no remorse in the interview, and blamed the victim for fighting back. Rajnath Singh told Parliament that his Government would “not allow any venture that seeks to benefit from this [the Delhi rape] for commercial gain”.

He said the film-makers were asked not to release or screen it until it was approved by the Indian authorities. Police in Delhi said they had gained an injunction against the film because the rapist’s remarks were “creating an atmosphere of fear and tension”..

(Excerpt from BBC News)

zokhar Tsarnaev, suspected of carrying out the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, has gone on trial in the biggest domestic terrorism case in the United States since the Oklahoma City bombing nearly 20 years ago.

Tsarnaev, 21, appeared before the US District Court in Boston on Wednesday –and his lawyer immediately told the jury he was guilty of taking part in the bombing.

“It was him,” Defence Attorney Judy Clarke said of Tsarnaev.

Laying out an argument clearly aimed at saving Tsarnaev from the death penalty, Clarke said the defence will not try to “sidestep” his guilt.

“The evidence will not establish and we will not argue that Tamerlan put a gun to Dzhokhar’s head or that he forced him to join in the plan, but you will hear evidence about the kind of in-

fluence that this older brother had,” she said.

Tamerlan died in a shootout with Police days after the bombings.

About two dozen victims took up the entire left side of the courtroom. Also in the group were Denise and Bill Richard, parents of eightyear-old Martin Richard, who died.

Three people were killed and more than 260 were hurt when two pressurecooker bombs exploded near the finish line seconds apart on April 15, 2013.

Prosecutors say Dzhokhar was an equal participant who acted of his own free will.

He faces 30 charges in the bombings and the shooting death days later of a Police officer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Seventeen of the charges carry the possibility of the death penalty. (Excerpt from

news

thursday, march 5, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana not required to attend FATF plenary review

– successfully completes 1st round of AML/ CFT compliance process

Guyana has satisfied the first round of the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) on-going Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance process. This was announced by Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon, during a media briefing, at the Office of the President on Wednesday.

As part of its on-going review of compliance with the AML/CFT standards, the FATF had identified a number of countries, including Guyana, which have strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. Guyana, for its part, had failed to achieved Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s (CFATF) and FATF’s anti money laundering legislation, following the opposition’s non-support for the legislation in parliament.

The country however, avoided blacklisting, after government committed to developing and implementing an action plan with the FATF, towards becoming complaint. In the plan, which was adopted in FATF’s October 2014 plenary, Guyana committed to undertaking a series of measures, dealing primarily with the non-legislative aspects of compliance.

Dr Luncheon explained, however, that at the FATF February 2015 plenary held in Paris, during which a report was tendered by the CFATF on Guyana’s implementation of its action plan, it was noted that Guyana was no longer asked to attend. Dr Luncheon explained that it was agreed that Guyana would not need to attend the February plenary, because in its report to CFATF, the American Areas Review Group, which was overseeing Guyana’s performance of its

action plan, reported that the country was successful in advancing the case for its completion of those actions that were due by February.

“What that means today, post-February is that the next evaluation period for the action plan is May 2015, and again there are specific measures, that Guyana has committed to be implemented and completed by that date,” Dr Luncheon explained. “It is May that we will confront the next hurdle in completing the entire targeted review process,” he said, recalling as well, that September 2015 is essentially the “drop dead date.”

This is the date that Guyana has committed to have enacted FATF compliant anti-money laundering legislation. Dr Luncheon said that this is a commitment that the PPP/C government made to FATF, and one that it will pursue in the 11th Parliament.

Ruimveldt resident remanded for narcotics trafficking

A37-year-old resident of 3029 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was remanded on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for trying to traffic 235 grams of cannabis (marijuana).

Presiding Magistrate Annette Singh told court that the defendant, Oswald Moses, was found in possession of the cannabis in an unspecified location in Georgetown on March 3. Additionally, the Magistrate stated that the defendant had intention of trafficking the drugs. He was thus ar-

rested and charged for possession of the narcotics and with intention to traffic.

The file for the matter was not completed for the prosecution to provide the court with the details of the defendant’s arrest. However, Magistrate Singh adjourned the matter to March 9.

Police Band at Botanical Gardens today

The Guyana Police Force Military Band, MS, will be holding a Band Concert today in the Botanical Gardens from 16:45 to 1745h. The public is invited.

Holi Hai!!!

By: Devika Rajkissoon

Holi, the festival of colours, is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and vibrant of Hindu festivals.

It waves goodbye to winter and marks the beginning of spring in the Hindu calendar. Holi is celebrated during the full moon in early March, but most importantly, it signifies “the triumph of good over evil.”

Some 40 days ago, Holika was planted. This evening, on the eve of Holi, Hindus all across Guyana will be celebrating Holika Dahan, the burning of Holika.

This bonfire (Holika) is a castor oil plant made up of twigs, dried leaves and tree branches. The ritual of Holika Dahan comprises of Hawan, chowtal singing, chanting of

prayers and dhoons at various mandirs, and the lighting of the bonfire.

It is said that this day is celebrated in the memory of Prahlad’s victory and the defeat of his aunt Holika.

Legend has it that there once lived a mighty demon king by the name of Hiranyakashipu who wished that everyone in his kingdom should worship him, however, his son, Prahlad became a follower of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu instructed his sister, Holika, to sit in the burning fire with Prahlad in her lap as she was blessed with a boon, as a result of which no fire could burn her. But the opposite happened, Prahlad survived and Holika was charred to death. Thus Holi is celebrated to commemorate the victory of

good over evil.

It is because of this event, Holika (a bonfire) is burnt every year on Holi and the burning of the effigy of Holika is called Holika Dahan.

On the day after Holika is burnt, excitement fills the air, as Holi is celebrated with a kaleidoscope of colours. People spend the day smearing coloured powder, abeer and abrack on each other, singing chowtal and dancing. Delicious “sweet meats” are also distributed among families and friends.

Holi is not only celebrated by Hindus, but also by nonHindus across Guyana and all around the world. It symbolises the vanishing of hatred and jealousy, and promotes friendship, brotherhood and togetherness.

6 fined for drunk driving

The Guyana Police Force has continued its anti drinking and driving campaign which aims to name and shame offenders, releasing the names and pictures of another six men prosecuted for

driving under the influence of alcohol.

The six were all fined after being nabbed along the Madewini Public Road, Soesdyke/Linden Highway following their failing a breathalyser test between February 8 and 10. The first four were stopped by Police on February 8 and on February 11, appeared at the Providence Magistrate’s Court where they pleaded guilty to the charge of driving

under the influence of alcohol and each paid $7500 in fines. They are as follows: Timothy Bhagwandin, of Lot 59 Surap Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who was stopped while driving motor vehicle GPP 908; Davindra Sigore, of Lot 647

Eight Street, Cummings Lodge, ECD, who was driving motor vehicle PPP 4477; Michael Burnett, of Lot 71 Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, who was stopped while driving motor vehicle PSS 7617; and Quincy Shepherd of Mahaicony, ECD, who was stopped while driving motor vehicle PPP 2800. Meanwhile, Jacquy

9 while driving mo-

tor vehicle

He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of alcohol consumption and charged. He appeared at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on February 13 when he pleaded guilty and was fined $10,000.

Godfrey Wilson, of Lot 201 Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on February 10 while driving motor vehicle PNN 66. He also appeared at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on February 13 when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.

Medical assistance to Govt officials has occurred over decades – HPS

The recent revelations that over $200 million was refunded to ministers for health related services is simply an occurrence, that has been essentially happening over decades, according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat, and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon.

Speaking at his weekly press briefing, Dr. Luncheon explained that it is a condition of service, which unfortunately is not written, of Cabinet members when appointed, to “take care of their health expenses.”

It is applicable to public officers and government representatives abroad, he added, but noted the difference, in the conditions of service, in that the expense of Cabinet members is not rulebased.

He admitted that a rulebased system is a better option, rather than what has prevailed over the decades, and “Not the PPP/C administration of Guyana, and these benefits, these conditions indeed have extended beyond members of Cabinet, to all and sundry, particularly MPs, particularly members of the opposition.”

The Cabinet Secretary also challenged any opposition parliamentarian to say that the same facility has not been extended to “legions of parliamentarians, their families for health and other emergency considerations. We have even extended it to benefit members, who even in parliament, and are not the holders of constitutional posts.”

He added that while he did not want to engage in selective name calling, unlike some media houses, as the evidence exists to back up his statement, as “We can produce from the beginning of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration, every single recipient, who has enjoyed access to this facility.” He emphasised that the process is discretionary and not rule-based.

On Sunday the Health Ministry said it was peeved at the release of information on the medical assistance given to Government officials – one of whom received as much as $2 million for dental services. In a statement the Ministry voiced what it described as its “absolute consternation at the unethical and disingenuous

exposure of private medical details, concerning selected Government officials”.

According to the Ministry, certain media outlets and personnel, in taking ‘cheap shots’ for political mileage, have revealed not only their political biases, but also an insensitive and inimical culture of journalism, towards the Government of Guyana and the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

“The Ministry of Health notes that it is well established that private details, particularly those dealing with the health and finance

of citizens, are not normally exposed, except under certain ‘extreme’ conditions, and even so, not in a manner to besmirch people’s character, nor negatively sway public opinion against any person or group.”

The Ministry said it should be recalled that in May 2009, Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan did enquire about the then People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Leader Robert Corbin’s medical expenses being offset by the Government, stating that a substantial amount of taxpayers’ dollars has been spent, and “there must be a balance between that and accountability”.

However, at the time, he was met with silence concerning the nature of Corbin’s health issues and the sum of the expense incurred, the Ministry said in its statement.

“In this vein, the Ministry of Health highlights that it is not ‘decent’ to expose these sensitive issues, as they can redound to both medical and impecunious embarrassment. However, some media operatives went this route, clearly targeting a select few

from the ruling party, and in so doing have engendered unease among the family members and other concerned relatives and friends.

“The Health Ministry once again condemns the behaviour of those responsible for the report, and deems their actions as ‘vendetta for no known reason’.” The

Health Ministry also sees the reportage as intentionally skewed with portions being mischievously selected or incomplete, with ulterior and sinister motives. “Also, it should be emphasised that the Ministry of Health em-

braces and practises a policy, to render assistance indiscriminately and in a holistic manner, depending upon the nature of the medical condition and the financial needs of those seeking to obtain same.”

Last Friday, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) registered concern over the Ministry of Health spending approximately $361 million in health benefits with more than half of that amount being given to several of Government Ministers and officials.

According to APNU Executive Basil Williams, the National Assembly were unaware of the spending, further pointing out that there was obscurity when it came to the basis of the Ministers and other officials qualifying for the amount of monies spent on healthcare.

“We do not know about such spending. Such spending does not come to the House. What we know is that we, the Members of Parliament, do not get and have never gotten any medical benefits. I don’t know that there is a lawful regime governing those expenditure,” Williams said.

Coalition partners say down with "winner takes all" politics

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC)

National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance For Change’s youth arms also shared that they are sup-

officially sealed its pre-election coalition on Wednesday morning with a glitzy media launch at the Pegasus Hotel.

In the Savannah Suites of the Pegasus Hotel, a sea of green and yellow was used as the official launch was conducted in style, with steel pan music and a blend of tassa and African drumming.

The smaller parties making up the coalition which included the Guyana Action Party (GAP), the National Front Alliance (NFA), and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), in separate speeches by their respective youth arms, all indicated that they have welcomed the coalition. The People’s

porting the coalition.

Addressing the gathering first on behalf of the People’s National Congress, Malika Ramsay related that her party, which is the largest partner in the coalition, is happy that the alliance has become a reality, nothing that it signalled the achievement of the dreams of the past leaders of that party.

“This coalition is the realisation of the aspiration of leaders of our party to establish a government of national unity, inclusive of all stakeholders and to bring an end to winner takes all politics in Guyana,” she said. According to her, the coalition represented a new be-

ginning and a new era for the country.

Allan Fernandez, representing the AFC said the newly formed political movement is committed to ensuring change is achieved in Guyana.

“As a party, we are of the view that the AFC needed to lead by demonstrating to the nation, in a tangible and meaningful way, that it was steadfast in its commitment to advancing the causes of the Guyanese people”, he said.

Meanwhile, Cleveland Hutson who spoke on behalf of the National Front Alliance, while welcoming the AFC on board the coalition, expressed that he is of the strong belief that a new day will break in Guyana come May 11.

He noted that the Guyanese people were tired and ‘fed up’ of feeling insecure in their homes, with low quality education, with a Government that was not putting people first and with a justice system which continued to fail the citizens. The people are tired! Change is coming!” Hutson said.

Giving the speech on behalf of the Working People’s Alliance Party, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley said that it was the WPA’s view that the coalition was on a path to achieving its ultimate goal – a country of national uni-

ty. “Guyana is firmly set on a path of a national unity… the dream which has elud-

that this was the time for Guyanese to come out and extend their support to the

ed us for 60 years is now becoming a reality. The coalition is a threshold for greater things to come, it will bring a brighter future for the young people. We need a people’s victory for a prosperous and democratic nation,” SaraboHalley told the crowd.

She noted that Guyana will be “reborn” on May 11 but for this to happen however, the coalition will have to be supported by the people of Guyana who wanted to see change.

The Guyana Action Party, through its member Sydney Allicock related that they had full confidence in the coalition and was fully committed to extending its support. Allicock said

coalition since Guyana was crying out for a change.

“This is the time when all Guyanese should ral-

ly around the coalition to bring the change for a better life for all. Constitutional reform, a revision of the Amerindian’s People’s Act to the Indigenous People’s Act,” he said.

Geoffrey Sankies of the Justice For All Party, said that his party has always been a champion for the poor and they have supported the coalition since they believe this will be a priority under the coalition government. He noted too that the party had joined hands with the coalition since it wanted the current ruling party out so that a new Guyana can be built. To this end, he said that his party will back the coalition to the end and will ensure that every one of its members does the same.

Man shot during robbery in Mahaica; Police nab 2 suspected bandits

Aman is now nursing a gunshot wound after four armed men attacked and robbed him on Wednesday evening in Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

The man, who was only identified as “Greens Man”, was accosted around 21:00h.

Information about the incident is sketchy, but the

Guyana Times understands that Police in that division responded promptly to reports of the robbery, which led to the capture of two of the bandits.

The two other men escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. An unlicensed firearm was also reportedly recovered.

Clarke says ODI triple century possible

Abatsman could soon score 300 in a one-day international, according to Australia captain Michael Clarke.

David Warner hit 178 in Australia’s record 275-run win over Afghanistan in the World Cup in Perth on Wednesday.

Rohit Sharma’s 264 for India is the highest ODI score, but three of the top 10 individual World Cup scores of all time have come during this tournament.

“Someone like Davey, or Chris Gayle or AB de Villierson a smaller ground they possibly could,” said Clarke.

“In this game, at the moment who knows? We are seeing so many different shots, different deliveries, so much power.

“There is a handful of players round the world who probably could.

“You probably have to open the batting so you have the full 50 overs.”

Gayle became the fifth player in history to make an ODI double century when he hit 215 for West Indies against Zimbabwe on February 24.

South Africa captain De Villiers smashed 162 not out off only 66 balls in the win over West Indies three days later.

Warner struck 19 fours and five sixes in his 133-ball innings against Afghanistan, and there were more than 12.3 overs of the Australia innings remaining when he was dismissed.

Rohit, who made 264 off 173 balls against Sri Lanka at Kolkata in November, is the only batsman to score two ODI double centuries. (BBC Sport)

Tendulkar calls for 25-team World Cup

Sachin Tendulkar has called the ICC’s decision to reduce the number of teams in the 2019 World Cup “a backward step” in the global expansion of cricket and described the lack of consistent matches available to Associate sides as “unfair”.

Tendulkar, an ambassador for the World Cup on behalf of the ICC, told an audience at an exclusive dinner in Sydney that the ICC should instead be exploring ways to expand the next World Cup to as many as 25 teams.

He also suggested Full Member nations should regularly play their ‘A’ sides against Associates and strive to provide a “fair platform” for smaller cricketing countries.

“I found out the next World Cup would only be ten teams,” said Tendulkar. “Which is slightly disappointing because as a cricketer I want the game to be globalised as much as possible and, according to me, this is a backwards step. We’ve got to find ways of encouraging the lesser teams.”

Contradicting views

Tendulkar also contradicted the views of ICC chief executive David Richardson, who defended the planned reduction of teams from 14 to 10, by suggesting, “The World Cup itself, the premium event, without excep-

tion should be played between teams that are evenly matched and competitive.”

Richardson’s statement has been widely challenged, with only one match so far between Full Member nations - New Zealand’s onewicket victory over Australia - considered to be competitive. In stark contrast, some of the matches between Associates have provided the most keenly fought contests, Ireland scored a notable result by defeating West Indies and Afghanistan capped off their remarkable rise in qualifying for the World Cup by overcoming Scotland in a final-over thriller.

“The lesser teams have, in each and every World Cup, they always surprise top teams,” Tendulkar said. “And they can do it on a consistent basis only if they’re given a fair platform to express their talent.

“Right now, they get up after four years on the cricket world’s biggest platform and they’re expected to play and compete with the likes of Australia, South Africa, India, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, so many top sides. It’s unfair to them.”

Level playing field

Since the 2011 World Cup, Ireland has played only 11 ODIs against Full Member nations and their captain William Porterfield

has been joined by his Scotland counterpartPreston Mommsen - as well as a host of players and officials from both Associate and Full Member sides, in calling for a “level playing field”.

An online petition asking the ICC to reverse the decision to cut the number of World Cup teams has, at the time of writing, gathered more than 15,000 signatures.

Tendulkar said he believes cricket’s global fan base will only grow if the Associates improve to the level where they can be consistently competitive and he believes the first step is to schedule regular matches against second-string sides from the Full Members nations.

“Why not get Australia A, England A, New Zealand A, South Africa A, New Zealand A, India A, everyone, to go and visit these countries and play them on a regular basis,” Tendulkar said. “And see, not just 14 teams, but how can we get to 25 teams participating in the next World Cup?”

“It is not just about the top six or seven sides. If we are to globalise this game we have to get more and more people excited about cricket and the fan following only follows the result.

“If the results are good then you have more fans, so it’s important that they play good cricket consistently for a longer period, not just one good performance and then suddenly they go underground for four years and

then turn up if they do well in those qualifying rounds.

“So I would say it’s something the ICC needs to look into and I hope they look into it.”

Split innings

While calling for an expansion of the World Cup, Tendulkar also spoke about his concerns for the 50-over format and said he had suggested to the ICC about splitting ODIs into two 25over innings.

“I think Test cricket definitely will survive and T20 is definitely going to survive,” he said. “There is a big question mark over one-day cricket because I think it is getting monotonous. I have sort of casually suggested to the ICC that they need to look at the format. Can we change the format a little bit so that it’s not predictable?

“Right now when it comes to batting from the 15th over onwards to the 35th over you know exactly how the batters are going to bat and that is something that is possibly boring the spectators.

“Can we change that? Can we look to introduce something that is not quite as predictable, which is slightly out of the box?”

Tendulkar proposed a split-innings format, which he said could encourage more exciting matches and fairer results when games were interrupted by rain. It is the type of format that

was trialled during the 2010-11 Australian domestic season when the 45-over Ryobi Cup was split into two innings although the experiment only lasted one season after it was determined the international game would remain at 50 overs.

“I suggested that it be 25 overs and then the other side comes in and they bat 25 overs and then you go back again and bat 25 overs and then you finish the game with 25 overs but in the entire match you have only ten wickets,” he said.

“I felt there was a huge disadvantage in certain venues when the sides had to go in second because there is so much dew. Spinners are virtually out of the game and fast bowlers don’t get any movement.

“They’re bowling straight and the batters are thinking, well, where am I going to hit the next boundary? The game doesn’t go ahead like this. We need to find the right balance.”

“It just adds to the excitement, whether you want to lose seven wickets in the first 25 overs and score 270 runs because it’s going to rain later, or have wickets in hand because later on there’s going to be dew and batting’s going to be easy and you can attack the bowlers.” When asked about the reaction of the ICC, Tendulkar replied, “They haven’t reacted. I’m still waiting.” (Cricinfo)

Australia

v

Afghanistan, Group A, Perth...

Warner 178 loads it up, Maxwell 88 blows it up

David Warner had passed hundred in the 25th over. He breezed past 150 in the 30th. It appeared like he was on cruise control. He might have looked his usual belligerent self when compared to Steven Smith’s 98-ball 95, but looked downright tame when Glenn Maxwell came out with reverse sweeps, scoops, flicks blazing.

Afghanistan were left to run down the highest total in World Cup history – 417 for 6. They were bowled out 142 and lost by 275 runs –the largest margin of defeat in World Cups. Mitchell Johnson’s bouncers were unfriendly reminders to the batsmen that they were playing on one of the fastest pitches in the world. And it was Afghanistan’s first time at the WACA. Mitchell Starc hooped inswinging yorkers onto the base of the stumps and simply grinned. He knew better batsmen than Najibullah Zadran and Dawlat Zadran would have succumbed to that. If facing up to fast bowlers that topple Full Members was hard enough, the Australian fielding outfit put a big, bright spotlight on the gulf between the two teams. Afghanistan were slow to react to the ball, cut angles better to stop singles, or throw the stumps down direct when a run-out opportunity presented itself; the expected kind of indiscipline from an inexperi-

enced team. But they would rue not utilising the new ball well and a batting lineup that extended to No. 10 made them pay.

The foundation is what captains and coaches talk about most and Warner built Australia one that was immensely sturdy. It might well have been the higher priority when his team was put in, but Afghanistan strayed with the new ball,

allowed him to wear a strike rate more suited to his reputation. Five of his first seven fours came off pulls and none of them lacked for authority. The 10th over from Hamid Hassan brought him three boundaries – one over square leg, one through midoff and one back over the bowler’s head – and Warner was away.

His 178 off 133 balls is an Australian record in World

David Warner made Australia’s highest individual score in a

bowling short and slipping either side of the wicket. Cashing in on their mistakes was the most sensible thing Warner could do.

The innings began sedately enough – 19 off 27 in the seventh over – but as the day wore and the bowlers tired from the Perth heat, Warner’s star shone brighter and brighter. Frequent and appetising short balls

Cups, his 260-run partnership with Smith is the highest for his country for any wicket.

Afghanistan resorted to spin in the 11th over in the hopes of tripping Australia up, but Smith and Warner would not be lulled by their own momentum. Singles were sought after, especially down the ground and a brief spell of calm – there

were only 43 runs between the 13th and 22nd overs –was established. The problem though was Smith was able to work himself into stability and Warner decided he had spent enough time in the middle to start taking liberties. The 10 overs between the 20th and 30th leaked 82 runs capped off by a 23-run over from Dawlat. The next set of 10 cost 96 and the final set bled 118. Cashing in was also what Maxwell did, although his methods were far flashier. Yet, you’re allowed to play outrageous shots behind the wicket off genuine fast bowlers when you walk in at 274 for 2 in the 38th over.

A wide and low full toss from Shapoor Zadran was reverse flicked to the third man boundary and left his captain Michael Clarke open-mouthed in the dressing room. An almost-yorker was whipped over square leg and the lack of footwork actually helped the shot. If those lengths were dispatched with such disdain, imagine what he would have done to the spinners who bowled in the slot? Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi was clattered for a couple of sixes in the third over Maxwell faced and suffered the same fate in the 46th over as well.

In spite of such breathtaking strokes, Maxwell still couldn’t break his century duck and was out for 88 off 39 balls.

It is refreshing, though,

Pakistan v UAE, World Cup 2015, Group B, Napier...

that whenever Afghanistan sensed trouble the yorker wasn’t too far away. At least the attempt for one. These bowlers haven’t played

ing for a six before a single, Afghanistan eventually worked out the virtues of change of pace. Warner’s innings ended on 178 off a

SCOREBOARD

Australia innings Warner c Nabi b S Zadran 178

Finch c Mangal b D Zadran 4 Smith c N Zadran

b S Zadran 95

Maxwell c Nabi b D Zadran 88 Faulkner b Hassan 7

M Marsh c N Zadran

b Mangal 8 Haddin not out 20

Extras: (3-nb, 7-w, 1-b, 6-lb) 17

Total: (for 6 wickets; 50 overs) 417 Bowling: D Zadran 10-1-1012, S Zadran 10-0-89-2, Hassan 10-0-70-1, Nabi 10-0-84-0, Shenwari 5-0-34-0, Ahmadi

4-0-18-0, Mangal 1-0-14-1

Fall of wickets: 14 (Finch), 274 (Warner), 339 (Smith), 382 (Faulkner), 390 (Maxwell), 417 (M Marsh) Afghanistan innings Ahmadi c Clarke b Hazlewood 13

enough cricket to worry about slower balls of various lengths and varieties. They do have pace and the WACA enables that form of attack as Shapoor, Hamid and Dawlat occasionally discovered. However, Warner, Smith and Maxwel walloping them when they missed their lengths was far more frequent than ball beating bat. With batsmen look-

(1-nb, 10-w, 4-b, 5-lb)20

3-0-25-0,

mistimed swipe at a crossseamed delivery that arrived slower than he expected, Smith went for a club a tad too early as well and holed out at mid-off, and even Maxwell’s histrionics could not best the ball off the back of the hand. The trouble though, as is the case when an inexperienced team faces up to an ODI giant, was that the consistency was lacking. (Cricinfo)

Pakistan batsmen craft huge win

Pakistan primed their fans for either startling exhilaration or further frustration by first clobbering 339 in mostly efficient style, before damning

surge as that which won the 1992 World Cup will be momentarily boosted by the 129-run victory, but a truer test awaits them at Eden Park on Saturday.

er teams surpass 300 at the tournament. They survived at the start, sailed through the middle overs, then savaged the death bowling, reaping 143 from the final

the UAE chase by the end of their mandatory Powerplay. Hopes that this Pakistan team is capable of as dramatic and irrepressible a

Another single-figure failure from Nasir Jamshed suggested more batting woe, before Pakistan adopted the blueprint that has seen oth-

12 to heap punishment on a wasteful UAE fielding effort, and an attack that was toothless after their own mandatory Powerplay.

Pakistan will be pleased that their total was not wrapped around a talismanic innings, but forged with wit and purpose by a top order pulling together for the first time in the tournament. Ahmed Shehzad’s 93 from 105 led the way and Haris Sohail also hit a fifty as the pair’s 160-run stand became the substance upon which more flamboyant innings would be built. Coming in with a mandate to attack, for the first time in the World Cup, Misbahul-Haq hit a 49-ball 65, and Sohaib Maqsood and Shahid Afridi launched salvos at either end of the death overs.

Shaiman Anwar’s 62 from 88 balls was the best of UAE’s response - though for much of their innings, they did not even attempt Pakistan’s total. With that score, Anwar became the tournament’s top run-scorer, two runs clear of Kumar Sangakkara. UAE would reach 210 for 8, thanks in

large part to some fun but futile late-order hitting, as Pakistan’s attack grew complacent. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan innings

Jamshed c Khurram Khan

b Guruge 4

Shehzad run out (Anwar) 93

Haris Sohail c Anwar b Naveed 70

Maqsood c Mustafa

b Guruge 45

Misbah-ul-Haq c Mustafa

b Guruge 65

U Akmal c Amjad Ali

b Guruge 19

Shahid Afridi not out 21

Riaz not out 6

Extras: (1-nb, 12-w, 3-lb) 16

Total:(for 6 wicket; 50 overs) 339

Bowling: Naveed 10-0-50-1, Guruge 8-0-56-4, Javed 9-0-760, Tauqir 10-0-52-0, Khurram Khan 3-0-21-0, Chandran 8-0-58-0, Mustafa 2-0-23-0

Fall of wickets: 10 (Jamshed), 170 (Haris Sohail), 176 (Shehzad), 251 (Maqsood), 312 (U Akmal), 312 (Misbah-ul-Haq)

United Arab Emirates innings Amjad Ali b Rahat Ali 14

Berenger c U Akmal b Sohail Khan 2 Chandran c U Akmal

b Sohail Khan 0

Khurram Khan c Riaz

b Maqsood 43

Anwar c Jamshed

b Shahid Afridi 62

Patil b Riaz 36

Mustafa c Shehzad b Shahid Afridi 0

Javed c Sohail Khan b Riaz 40

Naveed not out 0

Tauqir not out 0

Extras: (12-w, 1-lb) 13

Total:(for 8 wickets; 50 overs) 210

Bowling: Irfan 3-1-2-0, Sohail Khan 9-2-54-2, Rahat Ali 100-30-1, Riaz 10-1-54-2, Shahid Afridi 10-1-35-2, Maqsood 5-016-1, Haris Sohail 3-0-18-0

Fall of wickets: 19 (Amjad Ali), 19 (Berenger), 25 (Chandran), 108 (Khurram Khan), 140 (Anwar), 140 (Mustafa), 208 (Javed), 210 (Patil)

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Phelps may be reinstated for Russia World Championships

Michael Phelps, the 18-time Olympic gold medallist, may be allowed to compete at the World Championships in Russia after originally being banned.

The American, 29, was given a six-month competitive ban plus exclusion from the Worlds later this year after being convicted of drinkdriving.

USA Swimming director Chuck Wielgus told ESPN: “It’s complicated, but there are ways in which it could happen.

“There’s a pathway for things to be reconsideredor considered.”

Phelps is expected to make his comeback at the US Grand Prix in Arizona in April when his suspension ends.

He announced he was quitting the sport after London 2012, but changed

his mind and is preparing for the 2016 Olympics in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

He has already qualified for the American team for the World Championships in the 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 200m medley and would probably be included in three relays.

The championships are being held in Kazan from 24 July to 9 August.

Phelps was given a oneyear suspended prison term and sentenced to 18 months of probation by the courts following a drink-driving incident in his home town of Baltimore in September 2014.

Chelsea stretch lead on top of Premier League

Chelsea stayed five points clear at the top of the Premier League as a hard-fought 1-0 win at West Ham kept them on course for a first title in five years.

Eden Hazard headed the visitors ahead from Ramires’s right-wing cross.

wayward finishing ensured the visitors survived a nervy second half to hold on to another crucial victory.

Manchester City’s win at home to Leicester means there is no change at the top of the Premier League and, with a game in hand, the title is Chelsea’s to lose.

6 months bearing, grafted cherry plant, sour sop & sapodil -

Ramires shot against the post for the visitors after the break before having a header brilliantly saved by Adrian.

West Ham troubled Chelsea throughout but

Gayle

“Some of the guys have been away from home for four months now. It has been tough. They played a Test series in South Africa and they leave from South Africa and come straight here . It is going to take a toll on your body. It is a tricky one.”

Solution

According to Gayle, if the WICB administrators were serious, there was a way out: sit with the players, communicate and find a solution. Gayle suggested adopting a rotation system for certain players would prove to be useful.

“May be the board can come down and talk to players,” he said. “Have confidence in players to be able

They were made to fight all the way for the three points, especially in a frenetic second half that saw the Hammers squander a host of opportunities.

Chelsea’s League Cup fi-

to talk honestly about how they feel. If a player says, listen they want a break, don’t take it personally. You can give a player a break. You can do the rotations system as well. I think Australia do that in some formats with their bowlers. We can look into that as well. Give the guys a chance by telling them they won’t lose their place. Because a player says he wants to take a rest it doesn’t mean he thinks he is bigger than the game.”

It remains to be seen whether the West Indies selectors and director of cricket Richard Pybus would be open for discussions. Pybus’ vision statement, approved by the WICB last year, included the crucial “West

nal win over Tottenham on Sunday was their first trophy since Jose Mourinho’s return as manager in 2013, and they will hope there are more to come this campaign. With only one defeat in their last 11 Premier League games, they looked on track again as, after dominating possession for 20 minutes, Hazard headed home Ramires’s pinpoint cross, although West Ham felt the Belgian was offside. (BBC Sport)

Indies first” point, which was put to test for the first time when Narine was omitted for the home Test series against New Zealand. The reason: the off-spinner had failed to make it to the squad’s mandatory training camp because he had to play the IPL final for Kolkata Knight Riders last May. West Indies’ home season includes the visits of England and then a two-Test series against Australia in June. Gayle is likely to put his IPL commitments above playing against England, since he is not contracted to the WICB, but may wish to feature against Australia after playing a full season for Royal Challengers Bangalore. (Cricinfo)

Guyana Jaguars announce contract adjustments

Following Leon Johnson being awarded a central contract with the West Indies Cricket Board, there has been a shift in the various levels of con-

tracts for some Guyana Jaguars Franchise players.

All-rounder Narsingh Deonarine has moved from a B Contract to an A; wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble has moved from a C to a B; and opener Shemron Hetmyer from Academy to a C contract.

In the Academy list, allrounder Jonathan Foo has

filled the vacancy left by Hetmyer, and wicketkeeper/batsman Dexter Solomon has replaced Jason Sinclair, who failed to report for training during the month of February.

The new Academy players signed their contracts on Tuesday and commenced training immediately after.

Players occupying the various contracts are as follow: A Contracts: Raymon Reifer, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, and Narsingh Deonarine. B Contracts: Christopher

Barnwell, Rossford Beaton, Rajendra Chandrika, Keon Joseph, and Anthony Bramble. C Contracts: Trevon Griffith, Paul Wintz, Tagenarine Chanderpaul,

Vishaul Singh, and Shemron Hetmyer. Academy Contracts: Gudakesh Motie, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Jonathan Foo, Raun Johnson, Dexter Solomon, Ricardo Adams, Keemo Paul, Raj Nannan, Steven Sankar, Robin Bacchus, Kemol Savory and Kevon Boodie.

ECCC urges raffle winners to uplift prizes

The Enmore Community Centre Council (ECCC) is urging winners of its recently held raffle drawing to uplift their prizes. The ECCC held a fund-raising raffle, which was drawn on Mashramani Day at the Enmore Community Centre ground, East Coast Demerara.

Ticket #3184 has won the first prize of a trip for two to the majestic Kaieteur Falls, compliments of Air Services Limited, while ticket #8215 has won the second prize of a gold plated cricket band, sponsored by King’s Jewellery World.

The third prize of a microwave, sponsored by Smart Choice Variety Store,

will go ticket holder #3187, while a DVD Player and a Blender have been won by ticket holders 4969 and 4020 respectively. Those two prizes have been sponsored by Broadway Fashion and Payless Variety Store.

Five consolation prizes of two bicycles, a food hamper, a tool kit and a cosmetics set have been won by ticket #s

2650, 5342, 4758, 4496 and 4722. The consolation prizes have been put up by the ECCC, Mohamed’s Grocery Store, Silvie’s General Store and Roy’s Pharmacy.

Winners are advised to contact ECCC members Shameer Shahib on 6241100 or Desmond Mohamed on 623-9829 to uplift their prizes.

Webb set to continue as head of CONCACAF

High-profile CONCACAF

President Jeff Webb is set to be elected unopposed for his first full term as leader of the confederation.

CONCACAF, the continental governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean, confirmed Tuesday that Webb would have no challengers for the post when elections were held at next month’s Ordinary Congress.

Once elected, he will lead the confederation until 2019.

Webb, a Caymanian banker, took over at the helm of the confederation in 2012 in the wake of the cash-for-votes scandal which rocked Caribbean football, and resulted in the resignation of then president, Trinidadian Jack Warner.

With his election to the

Jeffrey Webb

top post, Webb completed Warner’s term which had started in 2010. He has since pushed through considerable reforms in the confederation, relating to ethics, governance and finance, in an attempt to re-

build CONCACAF’s image, tarnished by the scandal.

“This is a new era for CONCACAF, a new chapter based on building a powerful structure of integrity, transparency and accountability to allow our region to

KMTC post-Phagwah horse race… Registration closes on Sunday – organisers

Registration for the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) Phagwah horse-race meet will close on Sunday, and according to president of the KMTC, retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard, no late entries will be accepted.

The meet was rescheduled for March 15 at the club’s track at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne.

The rescheduling of the meet was to facilitate the People’s Progressive Party’s annual ceremony to celebrate the lives of PPP co-founders and late Presidents Cheddi and Janet Jagan slated for this Sunday at Babu John, Port Pourant.

Six races are slated for the day, and as usual, there will be lots of excitement for turfites and lucrative prize packages for top horse owners.

Several changes have been made from the original programme with the D3 Maiden and E and F Lower being removed to facilitate the D3 and Lower animals. The winning tag remains at $400,000.

The race for K and Lower handicap horses has replaced by the J3 and Lower. Further, Kennard stated that the top prize for the feature A1 and Lower race has been increased to $1M, providing that six or more horses enter for the race.

The prizes for the second, third and fourth place finishers in the seven fur-

longs race will also depend on the amount of entries. The other seven furlongs race is the G1 and Lower for a winning prize of $300,000.

The remaining four races will all run over five furlongs. The K1 and Lower and D3 and Lower races will see the owner of the winning horses taking home $120,000 each. The final race for J1 and Lower has a top prize of $180,000. Race time is 12:30h, and admission to the venue is $1,200, while children will pay half that amount. Access to the car park is $500, while programmes cost $300 each.

Horse owners can register their animals through Roopnarine Matadial on 325-3192, Ivan Dipnarine on 331-0316, Cecil Kennard on 226-1399, 2254818 or 623-7609, Isabella Beaton on 693-7812, Dennis Deroop on 6099143 or Compton Sancho on 690-0569.

Raphael blasts...

from back page

grow,” Webb said recently.

“We have gained the trust required to attain the contribution that creates a strong organisation like the one we are envisioning.”

Over the last two years, Webb’s stock has risen quickly, with many in the football arena already tapping him as a future president of football’s world governing body, FIFA.

Only weeks ago, he was forced to quell speculation linking him to a run against incumbent FIFA president Sepp Blatter at the upcoming elections in May.

Meanwhile, CONCACAF vice-president Captain Horace Burrell of Jamaica, is also poised to be re-elected unopposed.

The Jamaica Football Federation president will be joined by fellow vice-president Justino Compeán of Mexico, who will also have no challengers for his post.

During an exclusive interview with this publication, Raphael continued, “All in all, I would say Cameron is not a suitable candidate; he had his chance and I think he has blown it terrible so we need to move on. I am of the opinion also that the WICB deliberately sidelined Clive Lloyd and make him Chairman of Selectors when he should have been one of the contenders for the post as WICB president.”

Cameron and his vicepresident Emmanuel Nanthan are both in their first terms as President and Vice-president, but their tenure has been tainted by the recent fallout with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), over the aborted tour.

There have been calls for Cameron to step down,

including from the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves.

The embattled WICB President was also heavily criticised when he retweeted a call from a fan to pension off star opener Chris Gayle.

“Gayle goes. Can’t buy a run. Let’s give him a retirement package. Can’t fail repeatedly and still front up based on reputation,” was the post retweeted by Cameron. He subsequently apologised for his blunder, tweeting, “No offense intended. Full apologies extended. Rally round the West Indies.”

Garner’s running mate is Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Director, Baldath Mahabir.

Shabazz, Dover appointed to top posts

Trinidad and Tobago national Jamaal Shabazz and Guyanese Wayne “Wiggy” Dover have been appointed by the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to two substantive posts for the next two years.

At a press briefing on Wednesday at the GFF office in Campbellville, Chairman of the Normalisation Committee, Clinton Urling, announced that Shabazz has been appointed Head Coach, while Dover is his Assistant. Both officials will preside over the senior national Men’s team and the national Under-23s.

They have both been given contracts for two years, according to Urling.

Shabazz and Dover were in charge of the Golden Jaguars- Guyana’s senior national Men’s teamfirst game for 2015 against

Barbados, which ended 2-2 in February, and according to Urling, the pair was given a long-term contract

based on their performance.

Shabazz, who has been appointed for a third time, after previously serving as

WICB PCL 4-Day cricket… Fudadin back in Guyana Jaguars squad for Jamaica clash

West Indies middle-order batsman Assad Fudadin is now fit and ready to join the Guyana Jaguars squad for the eighth round of the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day match against Jamaica, starting on Friday.

The match will be played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, and will be the first for Fudadin for 2015 after picking up an injury to his hand on the

West Indies tour of South Africa late last year.

Fudadin replaces fellow left-hander and Berbician, Shemron Hetmyer in the Guyana Jaguars’ 13-man squad.

At the completion of seven rounds in the competition, Guyana Jaguars lead the points standing with 107, followed by Barbados Pride (82), Windward Islands Volcanoes (80), Jamaica (60), Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (47) and Leeward Islands Hurricanes (17).

The Guyana Jaguars team reads: Rajendra Chandrika, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Vishaul Singh, Raymon Reifer, Christopher Barnwell, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Keon Joseph and Ronsford Beaton.

The Coach is Esaun Crandon, while the Assistant Coach/Manager is Rayon Griffith

Technical Director in two separate stints, said it is an “exciting time to pick up a new challenge.” The national footballers have a busy year with several regional and international engagements, key among them the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, starting in June.

Shabazz said while is proud of the achievements of the Golden Jaguars in the past, the time has come to move on and aim for

higher heights. Shabazz, in the company of Dover, was at the helm of the technical team when Guyana reach the third round of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers for the first time.

“Let’s stop basking in the past and create new achievements” was Shabazz’s message to football’s stakeholders, as he called for a united approach to move the game forward.

Dover, who is the Head

Coach of Alpha United, the country’s leading football club, thanked the Normalisation Committee for another opportunity to serve his country. He promised to work in the best interest of the development of the game.

Meanwhile, with the Normalisation Committee’s tenure set to end in September, Urling noted that should the new governing executives of the GFF wish to replace the two officials, they must follow the Terms of Contract, and their decision must be based on performance and merit.

He noted that should the Normalisation Committee not be satisfied with the performance with the duo or either of the two, it will terminate their services based on what is contained in the Terms of Contract. Urling also noted that while the GFF is “broke”, it has “just enough” in the coffers to honour what is stipulated in the contracts of the two officials.

He later revealed that the GFF has received a US$300,000 bonus from FIFA, the world governing body, from which two officials will be paid.

Gayle admits possibility of Test retirement

West Indies open-

er Chris Gayle has raised the possibility of retiring from Test cricket if his fragile back cannot cope with the increasing workload in a crammed cricket calendar. Despite previous comments on the format, Gayle made clear that he was still passionate about playing Tests, but said that he would assess his future immediately after the World Cup, when he sits down with WICB officials.

“I do [feel passionate about playing Test cricket], to be honest with you,” Gayle said in an interview with Digicel Cricket, in Perth on Tuesday. “It is just that lately this back problem has kind of pushed me away a bit from Test cricket. To be able to go five days, it has been tough. I haven’t sorted my situation yet, which is the back problem. That is another concern ... because I’ve been playing cricket straight on the road and really didn’t get a chance to spend the time and give the

back as much time to heal.”

Gayle then spoke about his reluctance to go under the blade. “People say surgery, but they say once you have surgery on your back basically your career can be over,” Gayle said. “It would never be the same as well. Lot of thinking then.”

Asked if there was a chance of him retiring before West Indies’ next Test engagement – a three-Test series at home against England in April – Gayle did not rule that out. “It is a possibility. You never know,” he said. But Gayle stressed that he would not take a big call like that in a hurry. “After the World Cup we will see what happens. Where Chris Gayle will actually head. Or you can sit and discuss and work out how we go about playing for West Indies cricket.”

Not surprising

At 35, it is no surprise that Gayle is taking stock of the situation. As far back as 2009, he mentioned the possibility of curtailing his

Test career. Having arrived in England for a Test series on the back of a season in the IPL, Gayle - West Indies captain at the timesaid he “wouldn’t be so sad” if the five-day format died out in, although he later played down the comments. He subsequently went

on to become the ninth West Indian to have played 100 Tests, although he has not featured consistently in the format.

Since March 2010, West Indies have played 41 Tests, but Gayle took part in only 18. In the last two years he has played eight of 15

Tests, with his last match being at home against Zimbabwe in September. He could not finish that series owing to the lower back injury which also ruled him out of the Test series in South Africa preceding the World Cup.

Recently Gayle and

Sunil Narine declined the retainer offered by WICB. It did not surprise many considering both players are much sought after by domestic Twenty20 franchises around the world. But Gayle admitted that having a heavily packed cricket calendar in the long run cannot be beneficial for players. He agreed that having free time to spend with family and friends was crucial, something administrators had to pay attention to.

“That is important. That is something they can look into for sure, to give people a bit of time back home,” he said. “This is our livelihood. This is our bread and butter still. At the same time you are going to drain yourself, you are not going to get the performances that you will normally see over the years consistently.”

As an example he cited some of the West Indies players who played a whole tour of South Africa before arriving for the World Cup.

Raphael blasts Cameron’s leadership

– has destroyed West Indies cricket, should not be re-elected

be

IWest Indies cricketer, Joel “Big Bird” Garner, when 12 delegates are shown the way to the voting station in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday.

The winner will lead the administrative charge of West Indies cricket for the next two years.

From the look of things, Cameron remains the frontrunner to confirm a second two-term reign, based on the voting pattern that is expected on Saturday. But

even if he wins, many believe the challenges of West Indies cricket will remain, as he does not have the capability or the approach to deal with them.

The Windward Islands, Leeward Islands, Guyana and Jamaica seem to be supporting Cameron’s re-election bid, while the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) and the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) have backed the legendary former West Indies fast bowler.

However, former Director of the WICB, Claude Raphael, has blasted Cameron’s leadership, saying the Jamaican executive has shown a lot of “immaturity” and “incompetence” during his tenure. Raphael, a former Chairman of Selectors of the Guyana Cricket Board, is of the opinion that Cameron has destroyed West Indies cricket and should not be re-elected as head of the regional body.

The outspoken Raphael stated, “Cameron has shown a lot of immaturity and incompetence in dealing with matters, and [his] decision making leaves a lot to be concerned. In general, he has not attempted to address the WICB in a structured way and go for the main problem in development within West Indies cricket. He has destroyed West Indies cricket and should not be re-elected as head of the regional entity.”