Guyana Times Daily - August 19, 2015

wednesday, august 19, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt drafting action plan for hinterland development

– NTC Secretary claims “plagiarism”

The Government will be introducing a 10-point action plan for hinterland development which is aimed at ensuring that Guyana’s indigenous communities become thriving economic units, President David Granger toldthe National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) at the opening ceremonyof its annual conference.

Granger told the Amerindian representatives Tuesday that the Administration was proposing a new partnership between the NTC which represented the 72,000 Amerindiansand the Central Government. “We propose to work together for the improvement of the quality of life for all indigenous Guyanese. Your Government is committed to the development of the hinterland and indigenous community,” the Head of State informed in his address.

He added that the plan was also aimed at eradicating extreme poverty, reducing youth unemployment and increasing prosperity.

Some of the plan’s compo-

nents include the establishing of the Hinterland Education Support Programme. The President mentioned that the single biggest problem which has dire implications for the

future wasthe broken public education system, which produces an increasing number of illiterate and non-numerate youths. He shared that his Administration’s priority

would be to ensure that everyone received a sound education. “We should ensure that every child is able to attend school. No child should be prevented from attending school because of parental poverty.”

He added that he would like to ensure that over the next fiveyears, every primary school child is transported to school by boat, bicycle or bus, have a nutritious breakfast when he/she arrives at school, and all families who keep their children in school are rewarded.

Granger added that protecting children was a national priority and Guyana could not be one nation, a nation in which everyone participated to the full, unless citizens protect our children.

“We want to ensure that every child in the hinterland has access to education and they are going forward with this initiative under the motto, Every Child in School (ECS).”

He shared that the Hinterland Education Support Programme would, therefore, support the goal of keeping children in school by providing meals, uniforms, books, transportation and when they graduated, scholarships to attend secondary school and higher levels.

Several other components of the Government’s action plan include the Hinterland Employment Community Service, Hinterland Language Culture and Sports Service and development of the Hinterland Tourism Programme.

However, newly-elected Secretary of the NTC, and Toshao of Batavia, Region Seven, Eyon Boyal stated: “To me it’s a full plagiarism, a full copy of what was already in place. They now bring it to the new Toshaos thinking they could fool them. But we who were there before know what’s going on and it’s just like if they’re taking the old Administration’s plan their plan.”

Granger shared that the Government was committed to the upgrade of the four hinterland regional administrative centres: Bartica in the Cuyuni-Mazuruni region, Mahdia in the PotaroSiparuni region, Mabaruma in the Barima-Waini region, and Lethem in the Rupununi.

He added that these would receive township status before Guyana celebrated its 50th Independence Anniversary. “These new towns are not meant to be ornamental. They are meant to have their own mayors and town councillors but we believe that these capital towns could be empowered to improve the provision of public services in their respective regions and their citizens”.

He mentioned that the hinterland faced a massive human development crisis. He said parts of the hinterland were considered to be lawless and dangerous plac-

es and the forest and pristine waterways were threatened with damage and contamination, as the physical infrastructure was inadequate for the vast territory.

“Its people for the most part are poor. Its small scattered population must bear the burden of the high cost of living,” the President stated. He sharedthat the Government would ensure that the livelihoods of the residents of the hinterland were sustained, the environment protected and a new approach to hinterland and regional administration. He mentioned that it was committed to preserving the cultural identity of the hinterland citizens to ensure social integration and to promote economic prosperity.

Under the previous Administration, actions were

taken to promote hinterland development in sectors of education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and business investments. Initiatives undertaken through the then Amerindian Affairs Ministry include a school feeding programme; distribution of school uniform material; distribution of the “Because We Care” vouchers; the construction of manual, solarpowered and mechanical water wells;installation of generators and solar panels in homes and construction of health centres in every Amerindian village.

Also, the Amerindian Land Titling Project, the Community Development Plans and annual Presidential Grant of $1 million to each village enabled villages to expand their asset base while securing their future livelihood.

Primary schools with nursery classes were also built in Amerindian villages, while all villages were equipped with vehicles to facilitate transportation of residents. Up to its recent termination, the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP) boosted youth employment by recruiting 1972 young Amerindians to provide technical and administrative support to their communities. Whether the Government will discontinue ongoing programmes or enhance them is yet to be determined.

wednesday, august 19, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, August 19 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, Aug 20 – 08:30h-10:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, August 19 – 06:35h-08:05h and Thursday, Aug 20 – 07:05h-08:35h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers can be expected throughout the morning with intervals of sunshine, while thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected in the afternoon. Clear skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Westerly to North North-westerly between 1.34 metres and 2.68 metres per second.

High Tide: 07:04h and 19:20h reaching maximum heights of 2.59 metres and 2.55 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:38h and 12:56h reaching minimum heights of 0.61 metre and 0.67 respectively.

As crime spirals out of control Move No-Confidence Motion against Ramjattan

… political analyst urges PPP

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is being called upon to use its position in the National Assembly to declare “no confidence” in Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and have him replaced by a more capable minister in the crucial area of national security.

The call was made by Associate Professor of Political Science at Nassau Community College, Dr Baytoram Ramharack, in his latest column in the Guyana Times. The New York University trained political scientist was involved in Guyanese politics for several decades and was one of the founding members of the Jaguar Committee for Democracy and the ROAR political party.

Dr Ramharack said the crime situation in Guyana, particularly in Berbice, has risen to unacceptable heights and believed that a change in management of the security sector may see a change for the better. Dr Ramharack hails from Berbice.

Using the statistics provided recently by the Guyana Police Force, Dr Ramharack showed a 10 per cent increase in criminal activities by the end of July compared to the same period last year. Murders, he said, increased from 80 to almost 100 within a year.

“It’s reported that 35 murders were committed in Georgetown/East Bank Demerara (A Division), 17 in East Coast Demerara (C Division)and 16 in Berbice(B Division), 12 in the Interior(F Division), and four each in West Bank Demerara/East Bank Essequibo(D Division) and Linden/Kwakwani(E Division), while six were recorded in Essequibo Coast/ Islands(G Division). Given our geographical population distribution, these figures indicate that murder is a national problem that oc-

curs throughout Guyana,” Dr Ramharack said.

According to him, there has also been an increase of 68 per cent in the number of rape cases, with 243 cases being reported at the end of July compared to 145 for the same period last year. This, he said, did not speak well for the Minister, or Government for that matter.

Fourth highest murder rate in Hemisphere Dr Ramharack said that while some believed that it may be too soon to critique the Government in this regard, having only being in office for just over three months, there was one inescapable conclusion: the coalition has failed Guyanese in the area of security and crime control.

According to him, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime lists Guyana’s homicide rate at about 17 per 100,000 people, the fourth highest murder rate in the South Hemisphere, three times higher than that of the United States.

“While wanton crime and murder rates are a symptom of the moral decay of society, no single issue is more germane to our physical ex-

istence and survival. Crime alters our behaviour, it creates a psychological fear in our minds, and it keeps away tourists and investors who are desperately needed to wax our international image and boost our flailing economy. The violent crime wave has taken a deadly toll as fear keeps Guyanese behind bolted doors. Guyanese abroad are unwilling to visit their loved ones at home. And even the US State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security has issued clear warnings on its website about “what to do” to citizens travelling to Guyana,” Dr Ramharack said in a statement.

He said criminal behaviour dates back to “choke and rob” crimes during the Forbes Burnham era and “kick-down-the-door” banditry under Desmond Hoyte.

“The crime wave took on a more ominous nature with the rise of the drug trade, an increasingly corrupt Police Force, coupled with the rise of “death squads” that can be linked to the Mash Day 2002 jailbreak during the PPP regime. Criminal acts became more bestial and brutal,” he noted.

Even with this, Dr Ramharack said, one of President David Granger’s first executive acts following his election, without any assessment of its impact on society, was to release 60 criminals from prison.

“One can ask what message Granger was sending based on this ill-conceived action in a society already riddled with crime.”

This move by President Granger had been widely criticised in Guyana and the jury is still out as to what would be the outcome of such an action on Guyana’s crime rate.

Crime prevention plan

Added to that, Dr Ramharack said, there is

no lack of suggestions from various interest groups in Guyana as to what a comprehensive crime prevention plan may constitute.

“This Government had promised to keep crime under control if elected to office, as every “Tom, Dick and Harmon” will tell you in Guyana. Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan’s latest announcement was to promote a gun amnesty, whereby criminals with illegal guns are financially compensated in exchange for turning in their weapons. Whether criminals would want to surrender their weapons remains to be seen. We hear of a SWAT team recently sent to Berbice, but, according to Berbicians, it’s nowhere in sight. And President Granger has indicated that army personnel will not engage in crime prevention patrols with the Police,” he said

The professor said Guyana represented a sounding board for criminologists interested in studies on the root causes of criminal behaviour, while sociologists argue that criminal behaviour was generally associated with people coming from broken homes, a bad gene pool, delinquency or drug use.

“Be that as it may, there is one inescapable fact that is being avoided in the public domain when it comes to a discussion on crime and punishment. There is no question that the majority of victims of the current violent crime wave are Indians. Indians are stereotypically perceived as hoarders of wealth and are less likely to put up a resistance. Ironically, either Khemraj Ramjattan or Prime Minister Nagamootoo have seen it fit to acknowledge the fact that the majority of the crime victims are Indians.

Editor (Ag): Michael Younge

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Editorial

Great Debates

Each time, a Finance Minister presents a new National Budget, the country comes to a halt as Guyanese pay avid attention to all of the socio-economic measures contained in that document, and how those measures will negatively or positively impact their livelihoods.

After the Minister is finished presenting his budget, it is time for the parliamentarians on both sides of the house to prepare their debates given their own analysis of the document, its context and the measures contained therein.

Public anticipation swells over the days leading up to the debates and the public’s interest is aroused as to the quality, type, and content of the speeches that will be delivered by parliamentarians on both sides of the house in defense and against key measures in the budget.

The Diaspora, local private sector and other international interests are also eager to hear the debates as it exposes the level of intellect of the speaker on particular subject matters, whether they are in sync with the views of grassroots and business constituencies, and whether they have a better vision that could advance the country’s overall economic development.

It appears, unfortunately that each year, the many spirited and boisterous deliveries that are made on the budget are often times misplaced, aimed at launching nonsensical political attacks to score points in this respect, and void of any real relevance to budget estimates which are to be considered for approval after serious debates.

Apart from the boredom and lackluster presentations of some parliamentarians, the repetitive, infantile and incoherent arguments are forced down the throats of the public who have no choice but to digest them without of achieving a later understanding of what really they meant to say.

English Language is slain, and many times, even the most basic of its constructs are abused by parliamentarians who could care less about their pronunciation, use of tone, posture or style as they attempt to communicate highly mathematical arguments and ideological positions related to the budget.

Even to this date, it appears that some Parliamentarians see the budget debates as an opportunity to dress up, hog the live airwaves, secure a slice of publicity in the media and appear important. For others, it is the only time, they will get to speak in Parliament or address any issue of national import during their entire parliamentary tenure.

This is a sad reoccurring development in Guyanese politics and the legacy of the National Assembly. Guyanese politicians have to adopt a different approach to debating especially in respect to such an important socio-economic document as the National Budget.

They need to do actual research and commence a practice of evidence based debating aimed at securing the confidence of the populace and proving that they actual deserve to be in Parliament.

Our politicians need to also depict higher levels of tact, decorum, respect and tolerance of the views of opposing sides while debating the budget. The distasteful, below-the-belt blows and personal attacks must stop as great debators understand how to achieve the same outcome with the use of sarcasm and other constructs in the English Language.

After all former World Leader, the late South African President Nelson Mandela said “a good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed”.

In international relations, there have been at least four great debates known to scholars that occurred around scholars on their views and interpretations of world events. These debates lasted commenced around 1930- 1940 and continued well into the early 1990’s but at the end of them all, the lives of citizens were better and the societies were stronger after benefiting from a myriad of views and solutions to problems.

Debates, therefore, cannot be aimless. Speakers must be witty, quick in rebuttals and must understand the art and ethics surrounding the art form. Debating is not about making jokes or taking jabs at each other but it is about critical analysis and prognosis of the issue at hand.

US Author Colin Powell also advised that “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand”.

It is time for the National Assembly and the Guyanese public by extension to benefit from a higher level of level headed, seasoned, tempered, researched and political sound debates on all future budgets starting with this year’s which coincidentally speaks about a fresh start.

Cultural conversations: DIFFERENT ORIGINS – Common future

Dear Editor,

On Freedom Day, Freddie Kissoon wrote a very important article entitled “What about a Black Guyanese Entrepreneurial Class?” in which he highlighted the historical discriminatory practises that have led to today’s economic inequality of the descendants of enslaved Africans in Guyana.

Ravi Dev provided a surprisingly fair response to Freddie in his analysis. Over the years, Ravi has written much about the Indian and African security dilemmas. However, this was his first article in which he described actual systemic African marginalisation and offered some solutions such as affirmative action. To be fair to Ravi, in 2014, he was very supportive in featuring African entrepreneurship in Guyana Times

Harry Hergash also wrote on this issue in a letter entitled “Granger addressed a matter of importance to all Guyanese”. Mr Hergash revealed that for the 175th anniversary of Indian Arrival, he had written “as a result of historical and cultural factors they [Indian Guyanese] have dominance (in terms of net worth and corporate control) in the Private Sector (in Guyana) where risks and rewards go hand-in-hand but are under-represented in the public service where job security is more valued.” Now that the new President has spoken, I hope his call will be heeded and we will see more African Guyanese becoming risk-takers and succeeding as entrepreneurs”.

Harry is wrong as history will show Africans have always been the most entre-

preneurial group in Guyana and have always been purposefully denied equal access and equal rights. Yet, they have made remarkable achievements in spite of these historical and current.

Harry knows it was racism on one hand and affirmative actions provided to Indians, the Portuguese and Chinese on the other hand.

The Village Movement Harry, was the greatest entrepreneurial event in the history of Guyana. Harry knows Africans have been the group that diversified both the public and private economies in Guyana.

Harry also knows enslaved Africans in Guyana were the most productive in the entire British slave system as witnessed by the 50 pounds awarded to slave owners in Guyana for each freed African compared to an average of 17 pounds in the rest of the colonies.

Harry should also understand the following historical facts about African entrepreneurship against all odds and should celebrate these achievements that have been hidden from the general public.

In business sustainability terms, for Village Movement revival to occur, President Granger also knows there are four additional prerequisites(1) an African owned bank (in partnership with a Bank in South Africa with access to BRICS funding) and for access to affordable capital; (2) appropriate technologies for international competitiveness of exports given Guyana’s small market; (3) the formation of clusters and cooperatives in the Villages for economies of scale and

to meet the large volumes of export demands; and (4) secure markets for the strategic agricultural products grown and harvested.

The success of any competitive entrepreneurial activity must of course be demand driven. One very recent example of this was reality was the 4Ps strategy: peanuts, peppers, pumpkins and pineapples. Market access was missing and resulted in failure.

One major threat to the re-establishment of village economies is the inevitability of climate change, the seawall, built by the sweat and blood of Africans now needs billions to fix. This means that for sustainability of the Village Movement the principle mentioned by the President will have to be created in some other land space and most appropriately, in reparatory justice land space.

The Guyana Reparations Committee has had many planning sessions on a sustainable African export based economy. Last November, this effort resulted in the formation of the African Business Expo and an awards dinner where Eddy Grant was awarded the Lifetime Business Award and where 14 other African entrepreneurs, male and female, received awards. An African Business Expo involving local businesses and African companies in 7 Caribbean countries was also on the table this year to be held on Marcus Garvey’s birthday. Unfortunately, there was the prorogation of Parliament and election on May 11 which resulted in a cancellation until 2016

and during Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary. The Amerindian Community has been granted reparations by Parliamentary approval of 14 per cent of Guyana as enshrined in the Amerindian act. This was based on their historical presence as the First People of Guyana. They too need further reparations beyond this as it is economic injustice for the minerals beneath their 14 per cent of Guyana to belong to the State. Of course the skeleton of Luzia found in Brazil (carbon dated 11,500 years ago) and the over 50 others found in Brazil and Colombia clearly prove Africans were first in the region, a region where there were no physical boundaries or nation states.

For those who still question why the Descendants of Africans should justly receive reparations, they should read how Israel became economically powerful because of reparations. The reason why Black South Africans are struggling today is because reparations were not granted to them by the Mandela/Mbeki Government.

Guyana has a new Government that has touted justice, rule of law, equitable treatment and social cohesion through a common Guyanese identity.

Reparations are due to Africans, not only from Europe as will be pursued through the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Reparations Commission but more fundamentally, reparations from Guyana are due to the descendants of Africans in Guyana.

turn to page 5

Poll: Mixed views on coalition budget

Dear Editor,

There are mixed views on the first budget presented by the coalition Government according to the findings of an opinion poll conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association. The population is divided in approval of the budget based largely on party affiliation. Almost every A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and most Alliance For Change (AFC) supporters approve of it, whereas virtually every People’s Progressive Party supporter and a large majority of the business community disapprove of it.

For the agricultural community (primarily rice farmers), they said the devil is in the details for the rice industry; they are looking forward for the higher end of the commitment (of between $6000 and $9000 for a bag of paddy) made to them by the coalition during the election campaign. Many fear they will not get $2000 for a bag of paddy based on the budget, saying the Government is reneging on its commitment.

The survey, conducted last week, interviewed 430

voters (41 per cent Indians, 31 per cent Africans, 18 per cent Mixed, nine per cent Amerindians, and one per cent other ethnic groups) to reflect the demographic composition of the population.

Asked if they approve of the budget, 42 per cent said ‘yes’, with 47 per cent saying ‘no’ and 11 per cent not offering a response. Many in the business community say there is nothing extraordinary in the budget to spur the economy that they say has been stalled since the election.

Asked if they support a planned increase in salary of Ministers, Members of Parliament and other Government officials, 96 per cent said ‘no’. However, they largely approve of salary increase for State workers. Some in the business community and among professionals feel Ministers should be paid a livable wage.

Asked if they approve of the cancellation of One Laptop Per Family programme, 94 per cent said no.

Asked if they approve of the cancellation of the $10,000 grant per school child, 99 per cent said no.

And almost every parent (mothers in particular) is upset with the Government over its delay of the $1500 per child school uniform grant. The delay in issuing the vouchers is hurting many shopkeepers who depend on it to boost back to school sales.

A large majority (67 per cent) also feels the Government should pay outstanding debt to BK Tiwari and other businesses and honour legitimate contracts made by its predecessor.

Almost everyone opposed the President’s pardon of the 60 criminals believing many of them could be behind the recent spike in crime and the ongoing spate of brutal robberies.

A near majority feel the APNU/AFC coalition Government should be given a chance to rule although a majority is not pleased with several of its undertakings describing them as discriminatory.

Some 57 per cent disapprove of the spate of firing of State employees.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

When do we say “enough”?

Dear Editor, We learnt lately that the life of another Guyanese, who happens to be the mother of a prominent politician was killed by a drunk driver. This story has become an all too familiar one for many Guyanese families and the question still remains of what must be done to eliminate drunk and reckless driving that has plagued this country for far too long?

Surely an astute observer can see that the situation today in Guyana where life is reduced to zero on the roadways is an amalgamation of years of mismanagement, corruption in the drivers licence system, lack of enforcement towards errant driving behaviours, poor road construction, and non-compliance of traffic and safety laws, along with moral degradation of our society and culture and disregard for human life.

Guyana is now in a fight for her life and some hard questions must be asked. As an average citizen, I am constantly traumatised by the experience of reckless driving on our streets, particularly by a minority of minibus drivers who unfortunately paint a bad image for the other law abiding drivers.

The issue however, is not

Dindyal’s dismissal due to mismanagement of GPL and not racially motivated political interference

Dear Editor,

It was reported in the media on August 17 that Bharat Dindyal, until recently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), was relieved of his duties by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson. Views were expressed that his dismissal was due to racially motivated political interference.

These sentiments are unfortunate in a rather polarised society as the circumstances for Dindyal’s demise suggest otherwise. Firstly, in most democratic countries, newly elected Governments more often than not usually change the heads of key departments at the start of their Administrations because they want to have qualified

people in key positions who share their ideals and can execute their policies. The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government is no different since they have to be answerable to the people who elected them and could be booted out of office as the PPP recently experienced if they fail to perform.

Further, those who are familiar with the administration of GPL are aware of the allegations of Dindyal’s incompetence in failing to provide the Guyanese people with a reliable and affordable source of electricity. Regular black-outs and brown-outs (load shedding) were the order of the day. Theft of electricity was at a high level. Alleged mismanagement would have resulted in an accounting sys-

tem in shambles, as some of the staff paid themselves hefty wages without Board approval, while subsidised electricity was given to selected groups as the utility accumulated heavy losses. High fuel costs was also a factor for these losses. Under his watch, the VreedEn-Hoop Power Plant allegedly chalked up large time and costs overruns. Any Guyanese who wanted a faulty meter replaced or a new power connection to his property experienced long waits for such a service but if he wanted to move things along quickly and had the resources to do so he had to, “grease the pole”. I could attest to that.

Dindyal seemed to have had scant notion what his staff was doing and how well they performed in executing

Cultural conversations: DIFFERENT ORIGINS...

Oil has been found in Guyana. Can we have a common identity if Africans will not be able to equally participate in the private sector wealth that will be created? The answer is no. Yet Chinese from China, Indians from India and Russians from Russia have arrived in Guyana and havehad more access to land than Africans who died for this country.

The last 23 years has been the greatest transfer of State wealth from a Government to an ethnic Group. Perhaps in the entire world. This continued historical, dramatic and unfair discriminato-

ry practice which has led to today’s historical inequality was practiced by the last People’s Progressive Party Government.

But sugar will be saved through billions of dollars and many African taxpayers will contribute their fair share. And lands will be given to sugar farmers to recover from the tragedy of our sugar industry.

As this happen, I hope Ravi Dev and Harry Hergash will raise their voices in support of a just society and for reparations for the descendants of Africans. These reparations will be managed

through a Sovereign Trust Fund similar to those established global for oil producing nations.We need a just society. A society in which democracy is redefined.

Guyana has a brilliant future especially with the youth talent that exists. Will we pander to racists who want to deny Africans descendants their just rewards? I do not think the APNU/ AFC Government will be influenced by entrepreneurial extremists and economic racists.

Yours truly, Dr Eric M Phillips

only on how to stop people from driving drunk but how to revamp a dysfunctional and antiquated public transport and transit system. It starts with serious enforcement action on drunken driving. It is my firm conviction that we cannot continue to find band-aid solutions to crippling and debilitating issues, it must be addressed holistically.

We certainly don’t need new laws; what we need is enforcement and boots on the ground, Police in cruisers on highways and byways “proactively” patrolling and looking for errant and illegal behaviour.

Editor, a driver or passenger without a seatbelt is a danger to everyone, not just the drunken driver and the severity of the law must apply for even the smallest infraction. Only then can we expect to see results.

As well Editor, I believe this revamp must look at road design and construction and we must insist that roads be built to international standard, visitors must feel safe to travel and have total freedom to do so if we are to attract people for business or tourism.

One can get to virtually any part of the US by road and each road is monitored and mapped. It understood that proper infrastructure is important to any economy.

We in Guyana find every opportunity to cut costs and corners at the expense of long-term goals and vision; corrupt road contractors and officials have made a mockery of the system which is now inundated with pay-offs and bribery.

Editor, driving in Guyana has become a health hazard. Unfortunately, I foresee a future where progress is slow and many more lives will be lost before we finally wake up.

At this rate, Guyana could become a country made up of mostly foreign born citizens, with Guyanese trying to leave the country, while the rest is affected by high accident and crime rates.

The cultural degradation of our nation for decades has also contributed to this problem we see today.

Sincerely,

D Persaud

their duties or for that matter how GPL should have been managed to provide the intended service reliably and efficiently.

Hopefully, the newly appointed CEO of GPL would be able to get the utility back on track to provide Guyanese with a reliable electricity supply at a reasonable cost.

Sincerely,

Charles Sohan

Page Foundation

By melissa WilleTs

Amom posts a video online blasting her teen daughter for posting racy photos to Facebook. Another mom takes advantage of a barber shop offering to give her son an “old man haircut” to teach him a lesson, then shares the photos on social media. These parents’ online child shaming acts are far from rare. Just search “child-shaming video” on YouTube, and you will find more than 30,000 matches.

Some people defend these types of videos as creative discipline. But Dr Gail Gross, PhD, EdD, M Ed, says it’s never okay for parents to shame a child.

“A parent that shames their child is violating all the basic tenants of what parenting is about,” she told Parenting.com. “Parents are supposed to be their safety net.”

Long-term effects

Shaming children violates their trust in their parents and can lead to permanent, lifelong problems for children, Dr Gross says.

“Every relationship is based on early childhood patterns,” she explains.

She says shaming can actually change a child’s development, putting undue stress on the brain. Anxiety and depression later in life can stem from a shaming incident during childhood. Some children even suffer post-traumatic stress disorder after being shamed by a

parent, or worse yet, commit suicide.

Short-term danger

Not only is shaming potentially damaging, it places children in danger. Child predators go online and look for insecure children with low self-esteem. A parent who publicly shames a child also makes him a target for bullies at school. After all, anyone can view what’s

who have tried other ways to curb bad behaviour.

“When a parent can’t think of anything else to do, they resort to shaming. They think they’ve done a dramatic enough discipline behaviour that will stop their child’s behaviour. By exposing them, they think they will control them,” she says.

But she says shaming is a loss of control and a dis-

shared online.

Why parents shame

“When parents do this, it was done to them,” says Dr Gross.

They are repeating a cycle of what she calls bullying, even abusive behaviour, that only serves to perpetuate more bad behaviour, as children take out their anger on others at school or at home.

Shaming is also often a last ditch effort for parents

play of immaturity for parents.

“It’s not really discipline at all. It’s reactive behaviour. They have created so many problems in the long-run,” Dr Gross says. Admittedly, it can be easy to react emotionally when dealing with a child’s ongoing behaviour problem.

“Parenting is stressful, and it’s constant,” she says, and some parents shame their children online to lower their own anxiety and

perhaps gain empathy.

The reality of shaming “Parenting is not a sprint; it’s a marathon,” Dr Gross says. Shaming may make a parent feel like they’ve won the battle, but the reality is, they’ve lost the war because humiliating a child erodes trust and a child’s sense of security permanently.

Dr Gross offers this final reminder: “A child is a child. They don’t have the coping skills we do.” Children are looking to their parents for guidance on how to solve their problems, not to draw attention to the areas in which they may be struggling.

More effective parenting Instead of shaming, Dr Gross offers these tips:

• Sit down and talk regularly with your children.

• Pick a neutral space, like the kitchen, instead of a bedroom, so everyone is on equal footing. Give everyone the same amount of time to speak.

• Actively listen to your child.

• Maintain eye contact during the discussion.

• Say how you feel; don’t defend.

Use positive reinforcement to praise good behaviour.

• Create consequences for bad behaviour.

• Don’t personalise your child’s bad behaviour.

(Parenting.com)

By Triffany Hammond

I’ve seen a lot of social media posts lately claiming that “children today don’t have any integrity or respect!”

I remember how hurtful it felt hearing statements like that said about my own generation when I was younger, especially when it was obvious that people chose to focus only on the bad, completely dismissing the good.

Now, parenting two teenagers of my own who are sometimes insightful and at other times angst, I completely understand how inciting their behaviour is at times. I rely on memories from my own youth (and my own spectrum of good to not-so-good behaviour) as a reminder that I can change the pattern of how I choose to view (and then either condemn or encourage) today’s youth.

That’s the thing – as adults, we get to choose what we focus on… and when we do, we perpetuate that focus on all the children we interact with –whether they’re our own or not. That “black and white, good/ bad” approach, in which we choose a hurtful story (“children have no respect”) over a helpful one (“children are still learning and often do show respect”), damages the relationship we have with our children beyond measure.

And this negative mindset is especially harmful when we compound it with “when we gave up the rod, we spoiled our children.” Which typically has a lot more to do with whether or

not children fear their elders, and has nothing at all to do with respect.

Fear is an extrinsic motivator. Meaning, it only creates the behaviour you desire when you’re present or they think they’ll get caught. The more room we give our children to act and feel intrinsically motivated by their own set of values and self-worth, the more impactful and longer lasting their thoughtful behaviour will be.

And here’s the hard part about parenting – children only develop intrinsic motivation from a long process of “getting it wrong” so they can course correct, come back to what they know is right, and solidify themselves in it. Slapping your child doesn’t help them learn, but an opportunity to practice does. Here’s how you can help them do so along the way:

1. Understand their developmental stage

There are various stages where children are inherently self-absorbed, as well as, times when pushing boundaries is healthy.

Not only are children’ brains under-developed, brain growth happens in spurts … and that cognitive electricity is haphazard and sloppy. As more mature wiring develops, the mind often defaults to relying on the amygdale first, which is emotional and impulsive. You may not think you’re expecting your child to exhibit adult-like behaviour, but when you get angry at them for not thinking of others, you’re not thinking of them. Thus, the hypocrisy you model shows your teen a false representation of how a mature “adult” behaves.

2. Meet them where they are While children probably aren’t juggling a million things outside of themselves (bills, inlaws, parenthood, etc), they are juggling a million things inside themselves. They’re in a quagmire of their own development and the pressure society places on them to always be good, smart and successful is so overwhelming that children live in a constant state of anxiety. They genuinely feel as though people lie in wait around every corner, just to catch them doing something wrong and judge them. It becomes an “always on” feeling, where they sense that peers, parents, siblings, teachers, clergy and strangers lurk in the shadows awaiting their screw ups – every misstep makes them an ambassador for their entire generation as a “lost cause.” Your child’s struggles are just as real as yours, they’re just different. Empathy and compassion for their struggle helps them trust you enough to at least talk about what’s going on in their world… and, if you’re lucky, they may even do a little listening, too. (Yahoo! News)

Let us all work to build Guyana

– Dr Clive Jagan echoes Dr Cheddi Jagan

Given that both the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) were notorious for scheming against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government during their years as the Opposition, PPP/C Member of Parliament Dr Clive Jagan appealed to all the members of the House to shy away from such practices and focus their energies towards the betterment of Guyana instead.

Dr Jagan, nephew of the late founder of the PPP, Dr Cheddi Jagan, expressed these inspiring sentiments as he made his maiden speech in the National Assembly during the 2015 Budget Debate on Tuesday. He was following his legendary uncle who made his maiden speech in the Assembly in 1947. In many ways, he reminded older observers of the first Dr Jagan.

Clive Jagan lamented the fact that politics in Guyana has reached a point where parties appear to merely “oppose for opposition’s sake” and blatantly disregard what serves as the best interest of the country and its citizenry.

He alluded to the combined

APNU/AFC Opposition and all their desperate attempts to block key developmental projects like Amaila Falls and the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill, pointing out to the House that those parties only opposed for opposition’s sake.

“It is perhaps for those members who were in this side who are now on that side to reflect and determine if it was in good conscience that they served Guyana, when they blocked and refused to support any number of important legislations from the then minority Government.

“Since before I was born

and all through my life growing up, I was told that Guyana needs cheap, clean energy if we are going to take advantage of our natural resources for our development. When we heard that we had great potential for hydropower, how much was done to actualise these words?” he challenged.

Dr Jagan explained that the previous Government had everything in place for the execution of this project, but it was blocked by the then APNU/ AFC majority opposition, resulting in time, money and energy being wasted.

He said it was the same situation with the PPP/C’s attempt to pass the AML/CFT Bill.

It was on this note that Jagan called on all to not oppose for opposition’s sake but work for a better Guyana.

APNU/AFC inherited a better Guyana

Moreover, the politician pointed out that the APNU/ AFC inherited a better Guyana than what the PPP/C did when it took over in 1992. He was alluding to the return of his uncle, Dr Cheddi Jagan to power after 28 years in the political wilderness because of rigged elec-

Brazilians feel Govt is xenophobic

In light of Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix’s comments during his 2015 Budget presentation on Monday that his Government will be seeking to cut back on the excessive numbers of work permits that are being issued to foreign nationals, many foreigner nationals are of the opinion that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration has displayed a case of xenophobia, especially against Brazilian nationals.

Felix outlined that while Guyana has experienced foreign nationals for various reasons, there is a buildup of such persons in the interior working in the mining sector, causing Guyanese to complain of not being given fair play as the lands are being occupied by foreigners. He was referring to the number of Brazilian nationals who were permitted to work in the country.

“We are not averse to visitors or having investments from foreigners (but) what we are saying Guyanese must have equal play… We don’t want a situation where our own people cannot have access to our lands to do what the foreigners are doing,” he pointed out. Furthermore, the Minister expressed his dismay that employment visas are being issued for jobs that Guyanese men and women can very well do, such as cooking.

When contacted, Guyana Times was told that the Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana is out of the country and the Chargé d’affaires, who was informed of the comments made, declined to comment on the matter, opting to await the return of the Ambassador to address the matter.

However, this newspaper managed to speak with a few Brazilians nationals, some of whom have been in Guyana

for a short time and others have become naturalised citizens. A prominent Brazilian businessman who requested not to be named condemned the statements made by Minister Felix.

He pointed out that not only are Brazilians coming to Guyana to work but many Guyanese also go to the neighbouring country to work. The businessman stated that he has been in Guyana for about a decade and has given employment to many Guyanese but at the same time, has brought in a few Brazilians to do work.

“Sometimes, while we do have Guyanese working for us, we prefer to have our own countrymen to work with us because they may have a better understanding of what we are trying to do or the services we are offering… While most of my staff are locals, they come and go a lot and sometimes it is hard getting Guyanese who want to do the work that we have available, so that’s why we have our own people, who we know will do the work, come here,” he explained.

According to the businessman, by curtailing the influx of Brazilian nationals, the Guyana Government will be taking a step that will yield consequences not favourable to the strong bilateral rela-

tions by the People’s National Congress (PNC).

According to the younger Dr Jagan, Guyana was thriving in the 1960s perhaps the envy of the Caribbean. He said it had a steadily growing economy, the best education system in the Caribbean, and the sugar, rice, timber, bauxite and gold industries were excelling.

However, he noted, from the time the PNC took over, Guyana’s economy began to decline.

“We had a shortened economy. The PNC had beaten the population into pessimism and pushed into immigration… By

the time, they were done we were a highly-indebted, low-income country with inflation of over 100 per cent,” Dr Jagan said, noting that PPP/C basically inherited a socioeconomic mess – a country where most parts were without water, electricity, with no freedom and no democracy.

But then following the “herculean” efforts by the PPP/C Government over the last 23 years, Guyana began to flourish once again and was in far better state than it was during the PNC rule.

Dr Jagan noted that Guyana now has an educa-

tion system that is once again considered one of the best in the Caribbean: more children are graduating from primary schools, more graduating with high grades in their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Exams; a stabilised exchange rate; rice production soaring at 600,000 tonnes a year; wider distribution of electricity and water; freedom and democracy.

“By any parameter, the country which is being handed over to the APNU/AFC is a better country than which the PPP/C inherited in 1992,” Dr Jagan posited.

Govt trying to muzzle PPP/C, Jagdeo in Parliament

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has condemned what it said is the well-orchestrated efforts by the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition to muzzle the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Members of Parliament from fully participating in the 2015 National Budget debate.

tions between the two neighbouring countries.

Moreover, Guyana Times spoke to a few Brazilian nationals, who have voiced their concerns about the statement Minister Felix made. One woman, Natalie Da Silva, related to this newspaper that she obtained a six-month work permit by the Guyana Government after she was invited to come join an acquaintance’s business.

The woman, who is a hairstylist by profession, said that for the two months she has been here, she got to opportunity to learn about the Guyanese culture and make new friends. “It’s not just about we coming here to work and make money, we come here too to learn about Guyana too, so it will be very sad if we Brazilians can’t come here,” she stated.

Meanwhile, another national from the Portuguese speaking country, Diego Gomes, pointed out that many Guyanese nationals are also in Brazil working so he does not see why Government would want to stop Brazilians from coming to Guyana, especially when there is work available.

According to the Citizenship Minister, in his presentation, in 2012 some 1050 persons received employment visas, with 991 being Brazilians and 24 were Chinese. The following year, he revealed, that another 462 Brazilians were granted permission to come work in Guyana, adding that the trend continued in 2014.

During this year, 744 employment visas were issued and a whopping 694 were given to Brazilian nationals, he stated. Highlighting the figures for thus far this year, Minister Felix stated that 304 employment visas were issued and 236 of them were given to nationals from the neighbouring Portuguese-speaking country.

The party in a press release late Tuesday evening said, they are not being offered any extension to their already reduced 15-minute time allocation. The statement was sent out minutes after the end of the second day of the debate.

The Party said that the Government’s Chief Whip is desirous of breaching entrenched parliamentary conventions and practices where the Leader of the Opposition closes the debate for the Opposition benches, immediately before the member of the Government closes the debate.

“This convention was respected throughout the 23 years of the PPP/C Administrations, whereby successive Leaders of the Opposition, Mr Desmond Hoyte, Mr Robert Corbin and Mr David Granger always spoke immediately before the Government Minister who closed the annual Budget de-

bate and where neither person was constrained by time limits”, the PPP said in its statement.

In fact, it reminded that in the 11th Parliament, with a one-seat majority, the then Opposition (APNU+AFC) wanted to place the Leader of the Opposition to speak before four Government speakers and not as the penultimate speaker, with a restriction of 45 minutes.

“The PPP calls on Guyanese to take note of the Government’s efforts to use these restrictions to prevent our MPs from exposing their uninspiring, recycled and underwhelming 2015 National Budget”, the Party said in its statement.

Ramjattan attempts to justify crime upsurge

– Rohee says Minister ‘not seeing straight’

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said he will give no credence to the comments made by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan that the rising crime situation in the country, is as a result of the bad example shown by the PPP.

During the first day of the 2015 National Budget debate on Monday, the Minister in a flip manner accused the Parliamentary Opposition of setting a bad example for the criminal elements here, by themselves stealing from the country.

He promised that he would see to it that the opposition members are jailed, as he heckled from the other side of the Parliamentary Chamber.

“Wait nah, wait, we gon jail alyuh as soon as we find everything.” “Thief, thief! Y’all is thief!” He made these

exclamations as former Minister Ganga Persaud spoke of the crime situation. These comments were out of character in most Parliaments that followed the Westminster System of governance.

Ramjattan’s contention was that the previous Administration “set a bad example,” he yelled, continuing “Y’all thief too much and is y’all de street bandits following.”

Commentators were appalled by Ramjattan’s statement, saying that he is in a way justifying the reasons “street bandits” commit unlawful acts. The Public Security Minister has already come under fire by many after there has been an upsurge in crime since he assumed office almost three months ago. There have also been called for the PPP to initiate a “no confidence” motion against Ramjattan, much as the now government had done against Rohee when

they were in Opposition.

Hide original message

Over the past few months, Guyanese have been crying out over the apparent rise in criminal activities in the country, with more murders and armed robberies occurring. After a 12 and four per cent decline in serious crime in January and February respectively, Guyana has since experience a hike in the number of serious crimes over the following months according to statistics released by the Guyana Police Force.

In March, the Police reported a six per cent hike in serious crimes, while in April a seven per cent increase was also recorded. At the end of May, serious crime in the country had gone up to 10 per cent, however in the following month, it had dropped to nine per cent. Records relating to the month of July are yet to be released.

However, last week, the Public Security Minister had point out to reporters that the very persons who are the most critical of the Guyana Police Force and their works, do not want to join the Force.

“They don’t want to come, they don’t want their families to join but they would call on the Policemen ‘please come I’m under fire’ but they don’t want to go and make the sacrifice,” he said.

According to the Minister, persons claim the salaries of Police Officers are too low and he agreed this is so, pledging to have something done about it; however, he stated that all Guyanese must play a role in getting the country’s crimes reduced.

“We sometimes out there know of the people who do the crime but they don’t want to give information and so all of that helps the rotten nature of our crime situation,” Ramjattan added.

Two critical patients left stranded at Supenaam in ambulance as ferry cruises away – neglected by staff

Two critical patients who were transferred from the Suddie Public Hospital to the Georgetown Public Hospital were left stranded at the Supenaam Stelling on Monday as the ferry cruised away.

The patients were left in the ambulance helpless as the Supervisor attached failed to give the ambulance priority.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the ferry was supposed to depart Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) at 05:00h on

Monday; however, the boat developed mechanical problems. A call was made by staff from Suddie Public Hospital that there was an emergency transfer and they were told by staff from the Stelling that they would communicate the time of the departure.

The driver of the ambulance, Guyana Times was reliably informed, reached Supenaam at 17:00 hours with the two critical patients. The driver of the ambulance then decided to drive towards the ramp with the intention of embarking

the ferry; however, he was not given the opportunity. The boat was already loaded and the staff from the ferry did not communicate with the hospital as promised about the departure time.

The ambulance had to turn back with the patients and necessary steps were taken by the matron regarding the transfer.

Relatives of one of the accident patients were very concerned over the matter and called for thorough investigations. The relatives related that they were worried some-

thing worse could have happened to the patient.

When contacted about the matter, Region Two Chairman Daveanand Ramdatt said several complaints were brought before him about the services being offered at the Supenaam Stelling. He said the operation would be reviewed and several recommendations would be made to the Public Works Ministry. Ramdatt said he was very concerned over the matter, as the ambulance should be given priority at all times.

Eyew tness Professionalising...

...Or feather bedding?

The Government just established another Commission of Inquiry (COI). No... not to pinpoint exactly how Nagamootoo was emasculated. Seems that was a mutual decision - "you scratch my back and you can cut off my family jewels"! This time, joining the scored of audits, probes, investigations and "snitching" (like at GPL) is a COI into the Public Service.

As we all know Public Servants were a key bloc that got APNU into office. While they would've voted for that party in any case, just to make sure... APNU promised them a 20% pay hike. Hey! When you're out on the hustings the rule is "promise them anything!!" However, claiming that "the treasury was empty", APNU reneged on its VOW and is now promising milk and honey in the hereafter. After the COI looks into "the condition of services, wages, training, salaries and other issues of public servants."

And this is a shame. Ever since Desmond Hoyte had gone on bended knees, hat in hand to the IMF in 1989 to bail out the PNC-induced implosion of the economy, they'd made him agree to "rationalising" the Public Service. This was because the PNC had made it so bloated to provide "jobs for the boys and girls" some radical surgery was necessary to trim the fat. And imagine this was on top of the 4000 public servants that has been "retrenched and redeployed" by Burnham in 1982. Hoyte was eventually to let go some 2000 additional Public Servants before he was voted out in 1992.

The PPP refused to continue Hoyte's policy of "retrenchment" but and continued with a fat, bloated and unresponsive Public Service. FAT LOT OF GOODWILL IT GOT THEM!!! Harold Lutchman, who literally wrote the book on the Guyana Public Service, is heading the COI. But even though he says the COI is looking at "revamping" the Public Service, based on his performance as the referee on the Cummingsburg Accord, this Eyewitness isn't going to hold his breath.

The fact of the matter is that Lutchman knows that the Public Service must be professionalised to serve the interest of the State rather than Governments that may come and go... just as he knew that the AFC should've gotten a real slice of the power pie, if the promised "ethnic" power sharing were to have any meaning. But he allowed the evisceration of the Berbice AFC leaders - on top of their neutering, without uttering a word.

But that's not true. He did say, "Not my job man!!" So we can expect the Public Service to be expanded with higher salaries and benefits - even while feather bedding becomes the name of the game.

That's when you just "mek wuk to give wuk"!

...Thievery

Khemraj Ramjattan just doesn't know when to keep his mouth closed. Apart from flies possibly entering that orifice, the seemingly unstoppable inanities that issue forth just exposes his as the charlatan and poseur he is. For years he's insisted on having intimate knowledge of the security field.

Finally his bluff was called when his outfit was swept into power as part of the the APNU combine. By now, all this Eyewitness can say is that Ramjattan's been proven to be the fraud insiders always knew he was. He wouldn't know “security" if it crept up and bit him on his behind. But the man WAS made Minister of National Security! And he has to say something, no?

First he made the astounding discovery that CRIME IS CAUSED By GREED!! Thence imposed the 2: am drinking curfew to stop crime in its tracks!! But the last one takes the cake.

The man justified to Parliament, the criminal actions of "de street bandits". Politicians, he insisted, set a bad example.

He was obviously looking in a mirror! Precipitously!

...Parliament

For six sessions the APNU/AFC coalition had the Parliament to themselves. Standards dropped precipitously. But with the PPP and Jagdeo back into the House, even Nagamootoo looked spiffy! No Mafia outfit!

Govt pledges to reduce youth unemployment

…in spite of firing some 2000 young people

n the wake of the arbi-

Itrary sacking of some 2000 young people since occupying Executive Office, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change administration said it was strongly committed to reducing the youth unemployment rate in the country.

Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry, during the 2015 Budget Debate in Parliament on Tuesday, pledged to drastically reduce the unemployment rate in Guyana.

But since the coalition occupied office, there have been numerous reports of mass firings of professionals within the public sector, some of whom are young people, ranging between the ages of 15 and 35.

Many have considered the firing of the 1972 Amerindian Community Support Officers (CSOs) as the most glaring disregard of youth and youth develop-

ment.

Nonetheless, Henry said the Government would address the issue of unemployment.

“A recent study by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has put youth unemploy-

ment in Guyana in the region of 40 per cent, a staggering percentage when it is considered that 6065 per cent of the population is aged 40 years and below…,” she said.

Henry went on to say that Government would focus its energies on youth development and the contributions to the long-term growth of the country.

“I want to say to our young people that we in this House are here to help you fashion the vision and develop the conviction to chart a course for your personal empowerment,” she promised.

Strategies

Government’s approach to youth development would include the development, modification and implementation of youth empowerment policies; development of programmes to economically empower youths; conduct developmental programmes for

young people; and create a platform that fosters consultation on youth related issues, recognition and youth participation in social and economic development.

“These strategies…certainly do not exhaust the list of initiatives that we have begun and will continue to embark upon,” she noted, giving the impression that these initiatives can address the issues of high unemployment rate, teenage pregnancy, poor wages, crime, usage of drugs, among other social illnesses.

Henry also stated that Government has crafted a draft National Youth Policy 2015 which aimed to build a nation where youth were safe and healthy, had equal access to opportunities, could participate in public life and were empowered to meaningfully contribute to Guyana’s sustainable development.

“This comprehensive document captures the Government’s

vision for the youths of Guyana. It caters for the needs of youth in the 15-35 age group cohorts, which is over 50 per cent of our population. Once accepted, a National Youth Policy Action Plan will be crafted and implemented,” she said. Moreover, the Minister said Government would review the existing youth development programmes in order to enhance the “employability of our youth”, while promoting new initiatives for social and economic advancement.

The upgrading of the facilities at the Sophia Training Centre and collaboration with the Private Sector to create job opportunities for the trainees are also onstream, according to the Minister. She added that the Government “will go a step further and design tracer studies to effectively monitor the employment of all trainees under national youth programmes”.

Domestic abuse and its role in suicide

– National Suicide Prevention Stakeholders’ Conference to address issue

Arguably, almost every single household in Guyana experiences some form of domestic abuse, whether it is verbal, physical or sexually, male or female inflicted.

The most glaring cases are the ones which make the news, but there are many more hidden away behind closed doors. The headlinegrabbing cases generally highlight abuse against women. Hardly ever do men speak out against domestic violence.

“Shot, hacked, beheaded, stabbed, burnt, strangled, drowned…That’s been the fate of 20 women within the past seven months,” said The Caribbean Voice, one of Guyana’s leading advocacy groups, which has been championing the fight against suicide and suiciderelated issues in the country.

According to the NonGovernmental Organisation

(NGO), the main reason individuals develop the desire to end their life was the problems experienced in their relationships and their inability to cope with those problems.

The organisation noted that the desire to end one’s life is not a sudden feeling, but a build-up of emotions which progressively get worse. The individual will often contemplate the idea of committing suicide while simultaneously searching for a reason to remain in a world where everything seems wrong. This is how domestic violence victims feel until eventually, the emotions become too overwhelming and the act of suicide is committed, the NGO said.

The National Suicide Prevention Stakeholders’ Conference, slated to be held on Friday at the Cara Lodge Hotel, will be addressing the issue of domestic abuse

“Shot, hacked, beheaded, stabbed, burnt, strangled, drowned… That’s been the fate of 20 women within the past seven months,” said The Caribbean Voice

and its relation to suicide. During the conference, stakeholders will share ideas surrounding this problem and propose initiatives and strategies that can help the situation.

Taboo

A poll conducted by The Caribbean Voice revealed that most people were willing to engage in suicide prevention, but were hesitant to intervene in domestic vi-

olence issues, as they believed it was a “personal problem” between man and woman.

“The reality also is that in Guyana, domestic violence continues to be seen as personal, private or a family matter. Its purpose and consequences are often hidden, and domestic violence is frequently portrayed as justified punishment or discipline in what is still a male-centric society,” the or-

ganisation said.

The Caribbean Voice noted that in order to reduce the soaring suicide rates in the country, every related issue needed to be addressed, including domestic abuse. This means that Guyanese need to shy away from the culture in which domestic violence is normal and adopt a new habit where they feel obligated to report cases of domestic disturbances.

Media reports place the domestic violence rate at between 50 and 60 per cent, but some activists argue that the rate could be even higher, since there are numerous unreported cases.

The Caribbean Voice reminded that domestic abuse also includes child abuse, noting that this is another delicate area which will be discussed during the major conference.

The National Suicide Prevention Conference will provide a platform for the

exchange of ideas to help decrease the country’s suicide rate. Special attendees will include US Chargé D’ Affaires Bryan Hunt and Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence who will be addressing the issue of suicide in Guyana.

Essequibo and Berbice, the two counties in Guyana where the suicide rates are soaring, will have representatives speaking on their behalf as it relates to the culture behind suicide in the respective counties.

In Guyana, most suicides are committed via the ingestion of a poisonous substance (usually agricultural-based substances like pesticides or herbicides). Given that Essequibo and Berbice are predominately agricultural areas, these poisonous substances are readily accessible, making it easier for individuals with suicidal thoughts to follow through with the act.

Rose Hall Sugar Estate cane harvesters on strike

– workers Rep told to go on early pension

About 300 field workers attached to the Rose Hall Sugar Estate in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) took strike action on Tuesday to push demands for management of the Estate to issue a letter for a worker’s representative to return to work.

Sohan Rabindranauth, the worker’s representative at the centre of this issue, says workers from ‘D’ gang all came out in support of him and scores of cane harvesters from other gangs attached to the Rose Hall Sugar Estate. Rabindranauth had earlier led a seven-day strike as the workers protested for better wages.

According to Rabindranauth, the workers were receiving $443 to cut each bed of cane, which has about 2100 roots. The workers were demanding $2000 per bed and took strike action in August when their demands were not met.

Following a field meeting with Rabindranauth and an estate official on August 9, an agreement was made to pay the workers $1043 per bed, the strike was called off and the workers returned to duty on August 11. However, two days later, Rabindranauth said he was called to the office to meet with General Manager Deodat Sookoo. He said

he was told to give a statement to the security regarding what transpired in the field on August 9. “We were in the field, me and the Foreman and we had an exchange of words and he use certain words to me and I use them back to him,” the worker’s representative told Guyana Times

According to Rabindranauth, he was subsequently told to sit in the factory compound and not return to the field. As workers learnt of the development, they started to mobilise and on Monday, Rabindranauth was informed that he could continue his job as a cane harvester. “They [manage-

ment] told me that is better I take an early pension rather than get dismissed,” the 58-year-old cane harvester told this publication.

Some of the workers are of the view that Rabindranauth will not be re-employed at the end of the crop and have joined him in protest, demand-

ing that management issue him a letter of resumption. Rabindranauth says that it was a verbal order for him not to go into the field but added that he needs something in writing from management stating that he could resume his duties.

Meanwhile, the General and Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) which represents sugar workers’ is not supporting the strike. The GAWU representative who was on the field on August 9 when there was an exchange of words between Rabindranauth and the Foreman, has since given a statement to the Guyana Sugar Corporation.

The workers are planning to continue their strike action.

Parliamentary wit

Satiricus just loved the Budget Debates. As a newspaper hack, this was an annual ritual that he always looked forward to with bated breath. Satiricus couldn't give a hoot about the numbers that were bandied about during these encounters. Satiricus became giddy with anything that had to do with math. Satiricus readily conceded that he suffered from Maths-o-Phobia.

What Satiricus went for was the rapier-like wit that was displayed by some of the more seasoned veterans of the House. Like Rum Jhaat. In the House and out of the House, you could count on Rum Jhaat to keep you gasping in amazement. Satiricus remembered fondly the times he would call Rum Jhaat for a comment on this or that matter, and Rum Jhaat would give him his patented legal answer: "Haul yuh Ass!"

"So Mr Jhaat, what do you say about Dr Rum Aya complaining you drawing a million dollar salary, while he getting Larwah?" Satiricus had asked the other day.

And quick as lightning came Rum Jhaat's answer, "Haul yuh ass!"

"He say that you gon become dead meat."

"Haul yuh ass!"

As a highly trained legal mind, Rum Jhaat couldn't help spouting these Latin turn of phrases like "sine qua non", "habeas corpus" and its related term "haul yuh ass".

Fellas who didn't know better might think Rum Jhaat was saying the same thing over and over again...but those people didn't know Latin. Latin was all about inflexion...which part of the phrase you stressed. Like if Rum Jhaat said "Haul yuh ASS!" with his voice rising into a scream, this meant he was getting to the BOTTOM of the matter.

So here was Satiricus in the Parliament Buildings ready to be entertained.

One young fella named Rum Son from the Opposition benches said, "We think young schoolchildren should get bigger school vouchers."

And just like that Rum Jhaat, came back, "Haul yuh ass! Alyuh teef!!"

Wow! Satiricus was amazed. A new Latin phrase! What a legal mind! What training! This man was a living testament to the imperative of supporting the Hugh Wooding Law School. He'd combined that Medieval Latin phrase with a Late Classical one!! A legal first!

"We think Feel Ix harassing Brazilians!" Piped up another backbencher.

"Haul yuh ass! Alyuh teef!!"

"We think there should be a stimulus to the economy"

"Haul yuh ass! Alyuh teef!!" Rum Jhaat was on a roll.

"Why are you giving Public Servants 5% and yourself 100% raise?"

"Haul yuh ass!! Ah gun jail yuh!!"

Another Latin phrase! Satiricus couldn't take this rapier-like wit any more. He was overwhelmed. He walked out of Parliament shaking his head at the wit and wisdom of Rum Jhaat.

Crafting business plans

Workshop launched to train rural entrepreneurs

Some 38 entrepreneurs will be participating in a three-day training workshop aimed at assisting rural enterprises in the development of a business plan which can enable them to access the necessary financing for their operations and ensure the viability and success of their business.

The comprehensive training programme is geared towards equipping entrepreneurs will the skills and knowledge to effectively create a business plan and to heighten their understanding of the market and its competitors.

The participants are drawn from various regions across Guyana and include disadvantaged women and youths who are involved in craft or agriculture.

Moreover, the programme will allow for selected entrepreneurs to be trained in basic business proposal development such as the compilation of business information, development strategies, description of products and services, contacting markets, deriving market plan, making projec-

tions among other areas.

The programme is a collaborative effort between the Government of Guyana and the Government of Chile through the Chile Fund against Hunger and Poverty and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

During the launch of the workshop at the Ocean View International Hotel, UNDP Resident Representative Khadija Musa explained that micro enterprises were known to always play a crucial role in Guyana’s development and were recognised as a catalyst in creating employment since in the 1990s.

She also pointed out that small businesses make up in excess of 50 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Since 1989 more than 200 small businesses have been established resulting in creation of more than 8000 jobs,” Musa said.

Chile’s Ambassador to Guyana, Claudio Rojas Rachel, during his brief remarks at the launching ceremony, urged all participants to take full advantage of the programme. He noted that since 1971, Guyana and Chile have had a good relationship and it was the intention of both governments to continue along this path

Visually-impaired lad secures 3 Grade Ones, 2 Grade Twos at CSEC

The Guyana Society for the Blind was proud to announce that students who sat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in May/June performed well, with one student excelling gaining three Grade Ones, two Grade Twos.

At a brief press conference on Tuesday, the Society’s Programme Coordinator, Ganesh Singh, expressed his satisfaction with the overall outcome of this year’s exams since the students had less time to prepare this year.

Last year, 10 visuallyimpaired students wrote the examinations through the association and this year the same number took up the opportunity. The organisation recorded an overall pass rate of 80 per cent, with 100 per cent passes in Office Administration, Principles

of Business and Social Studies; however, English Language and Human and Social Biology seemed to be the most challenging subjects for the students.

Venessa Lowachee who teaches Principles of Business and English Language, highlighted the challenges faced by the students this year. She said that most of these problems derived from the electronic devices that were used by the students, adding that had they solved these problems earlier, the organization would have received a 100 per cent pass rate. Nevertheless, she was satisfied with the performance of the students.

The top performers were Alwin Adams who secured three Grade Ones and two Grade Twos and Gillian Layne with three Grade Ones and two Grade Twos

as well, followed by Ceion Rollox with two Grade Ones, two Grade Twos and a Grade Three.

Adams, who is working towards getting accepted to the University of Guyana, would like to further his studies in the business field since his ultimate goal is to revolutionise the transportation industry by establishing a business that caters for blind and visually-impaired persons. He took the opportunity to thank Almighty God for making his dream come true, and he also thanked his teachers and fellow classmates for making his journey a special one.

The organisation is confident that next year it will have better results since it would have already begun preparing eight students and it hopes that more visually impaired students will take up this opportunity.

to find new ways to reach out to community based people to help with the alleviation of poverty and continued promotion of development.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, who delivered the feature address, also encouraged the participants to capitalise on the opportunity before them.

“Business proposals must be strategically planned out

and written precisely in order to yield the desired results, not just to get the financing but to actually ensure success and to ensure also ... improvement and lower cost of production and maximise profits,” he said.

Gaskin also noted, through the project, small businesses will receive funding of US$5000 each.

He added that although small businesses did not generate as much as large companies, they were a critical contributor to economies not only in Guyana but worldwide.

Gaskin said the Business Ministry would continue to assist in the development of small businesses through the establishment of a business development centre, a credit guarantee scheme, interest payment facility for micro loans and the 20 per

cent procurement initiative which states that of all state contracts, 20 per cent must be allocated to micro enterprises.

Meanwhile, at the launch, the Small Business Bureau used the opportunity to encourage businesses to get registered with them due to the various benefits one can receive by just being a member.

These include a better chance of securing a loan, lower interest rates, assistance with other key aspects of business operations such as printing of flyers and business cards, among others.

Additionally, from next year, the Small Business Bureau website will serve as a promotion medium for all businesses registered with them.

wednesday, august 19, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

As world oil prices tumble Govt resists lower gas prices at pump

Government is coming under immense pressure to lower the prices for fuel at the Guyoil Gas Stations across the country as world market oil prices continue to tumble, with US crude settling within range of a new six-and-a-half year low.

Chairman of the Trade and Investment Committee

are spending larger amounts on their gasoline and lessening their purchasing power on other essentials.

Dookhoo told Guyana Times that “unofficial sources” have reported that Government was currently working on lowering the prices.

“It will put more money into the economy and what

of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Dookhoo, pointed out that having cheaper fuel in Guyana can aid in the process of stimulating the economy, and as such, urged Government to work towards this.

Minister of Governance and Patrimony, Raphael Trotman already indicated that Government would consider slashing the prices for fuel at the Guyoil Gas Stations if the trend continued, but no action has been taken up to this time. Analysts speculate that the Government would hold off as long as it can so that the extra revenues it secures from Guyoil would swell its revenue stream. However, in the meantime, consumers

we need in this point in time, significantly lower the cost of living… it will mean more disposal income, people pay less for fuel and have more money to do other stuff and this is what we need at this point in time,” he related.

Former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, who also held the portfolio of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, during the 2015 Budget Debate on Monday, had already challenged the Government to slash oil prices, if it was truly committed to its promise to deliver “a good life” for all. “Budget 2015 is presented when the price of oil has tumbled yet we hear of no reduction in the electricity tariff for the ordinary Guyanese,” the former Tourism Minister de-

clared.

Recently, oil prices fell below US$42 per barrel, the lowest it has been since March 2009.

Oil has lost about a third of its value since June.

Experts have already predicted that this progressive trend will last until yearend, resulting in oil and gas exploration companies cutting back on spending and cheaper fuel at pump stations across the world. While Guyana has experienced ExxonMobil halting its oil exploration off the Essequibo Coast, the country has not experienced the price plunge in gasoline.

At Guyoil Gas Stations, the price for gasoline stands at $210 per litre, the price for diesel stands at $174.7 per litre. At Shell Gas Stations, the prices are currently $229 per litre of gasoline and $188.5 per litre of diesel. At the Rubis Gas Stations, the price currently stands at $225.9 per litre for gasoline and $187.9 per litre for diesel.

When oil prices had drastically fallen in January, gas stations across the country, amid public pressure, slashed the local prices for fuel by some 30 per cent.

However, this turned out to be a fleeting experience for consumers as prices began to slowly increase in midMarch.

International oil prices began to climb around May, but drastically fell again in July. Since then, prices have been fluctuating, although there have been no major increases or decreases until they crashed to below US$42 per barrel on Monday.

Keeping it real No Confidence in Ramjattan

The first hundred days of the APNU/ AFC ascension to power is over. Some will argue that not enough time has passed for a fair assessment of its accomplishments. But there’s one inescapable conclusion: the coalition has failed Guyanese in the area of security and crime control.

While wanton crime and murder rates are a symptom of the moral decay of society, no single issue is more germane to our physical existence and survival. Crime alters our behavior, it creates a psychological fear in our minds, and it keeps away tourists and investors who are desperately needed to wax our international image and boost our flailing economy. The violent crime wave has taken a deadly toll as fear keeps Guyanese behind bolted doors. Guyanese abroad are unwilling to visit their loved ones at home. And even the US State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security has issued clear warnings on its website about “what to do” to citizens travelling to Guyana.

Guyana is a small developing country with a population of 750,000. It is estimated that about 10,000 Guyanese leave the country yearly, with approximately 50006000 Guyanese legally migrating to the U.S alone. About 60% of the productive section of the population are between the ages of 15 to 54. Most of the criminal elements come from this age group.

Criminal behavior dates back to “choke and rob” crimes during the Burnham era and “kick down the door” banditry under Hoyte. The crime wave took on a more ominous nature with the rise of the drug trade, an increasingly corrupt police force, coupled with the rise of “death squads” that can be linked to the Mash Day 2002 jailbreak during the PPP regime. Criminal acts became more bestial and brutal. Yet one of President Granger’s first executive acts following his election, without any assessment of its impact on society, was to release 60 criminals from prison. One can ask what message Granger was sending based on this ill-conceived action in a society already riddled with crime.

Statistically, there’s been a 10% increase in criminal acts by the end of July compared to last year. Murders increased from 80 to almost 100 within a year. It’s reported that 35 murders were committed in Georgetown/East Bank Demerara, 17 in East Coast Demerara and 16 in Berbice, 12 in the Interior, and four each in West Bank Demerara/East Bank Essequibo and Linden/Kwakwani, while 6 were recorded in Essequibo Coast/Islands. Given our geographical population distribution, these figures indicate that murder is a national problem that occurs throughout Guyana.

There’s also been an increase of 68 % in the number of rape cases, with 243 cases being reported at the end of July compared to 145 for the same period last year. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime lists Guyana’s homicide rate at about 17 per 100,000 people, the fourth highest murder rate in South and three times higher than that of the United States.

There are no lack of suggestions from various interest groups in Guyana as to what a comprehensive crime prevention

plan may constitute. This Government had promised to keep crime under control if elected to office, as every “Tom, Dick and Harmon” will tell you in Guyana. Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan’s latest announcement was to promote a gun amnesty, whereby criminals with illegal guns are financially compensated in exchange for turning in their weapons. Whether criminals would want to surrender their weapons remains to be seen. We hear of a SWAT team recently sent to Berbice, but, according to Berbicians, it’s nowhere in sight. And President Granger has indicated that army personnel will not engage in crime prevention patrols with the police.

Guyana represents a sounding board for criminologists interested in studies on the root causes of criminal behavior. Sociologists argue that criminal behavior is generally associated with people coming from broken homes, a bad gene pool, delinquency or drug use. Be that as it may, there is one inescapable fact that is being avoided in the public domain when it comes to a discussion on crime and punishment. There is no question that the majority of victims of the current violent crime wave are Indians. Indians are stereotypically perceived as hoarders of wealth and are less likely to put up a resistance (the docile Indian). Ironically, neither Khemraj Ramjattan or Prime Minister Nagamootoo have seen it fit to acknowledge the fact that the majority of the crime victims are Indians.

Reversing this crime wave will not see the light of day, unless the Government implements comprehensive, rather than ad hoc plans, to address the spiraling crime wave. The PPP, now officially in Parliament, along with its supporters, should declare a “no confidence” in Ramjattan as the Public Security Minister and demand that he be replaced by a more capable minister. In addition, as an immediate action, the PPP should demand that the Granger Administration relax the laws to allow the business community access to weapons (with appropriate training) as a means to protect themselves and properties. Even the US Government has acknowledged that criminals in Guyana can obtain weapons “with ease” but “arduous licensing requirements” prevents access to weapons for self-defense by people with legitimate fears.

Dr Ramharack is an Associate Professor of Political Science (adj) at Nassau Community College. Send comments to BRamharack60@gmail.com

Ongoing border controversy….. Venezuela accuses Guyana of having hidden agenda

Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Minister Delcy Rodríguez has accused Guyana of having a “hidden agenda” since it has avoided seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict involving the Essequibo.

The Foreign Minister said the move is part of an agenda in line with corporate interests that seek to promote the disintegration of the region Latin American.

“We know that Guyana has a hidden agenda that is not explaining to the Caribbean and we have given details of what has been the behaviour of the new authorities in Guyana, in line with corporate interests, to create instability in the region and a disintegrating paper Latin American and Caribbean unity,” Rodríguez said.

The Foreign Minister arrived on Tuesday to The Dominican Republic, as part of a tour being conducted by Venezuelan authorities to ratify the peace diplomacy governing Venezuela’s claim over the Essequibo territory.

As part of the tour, the Chancellor said Monday’s meeting with Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, in which peace diplomacy being conducted by the Venezuelan Government to resolve the territorial dispute with Guyana was ratified.

Therefore, according to the news portal review AVN, Venezuela received an important endorsement by the Parliament of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), during a meeting in Uruguay, issuing an official statement of support.

“The Mercosur Parliament declares accompany the peace diplomacy carried out by the

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro, that within the framework of civilised dialogue a peaceful solution, accepted by both parties, to the territorial dispute between Venezuela is sought and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, which is why the latter is urged not to grant concessions in the disputed territory “, the letter posted on the Twitter account of the Embassy of Venezuela in Uruguay said.

A delegation of Venezuelan parliamentarians will be attending the 33rd Regular Meeting and Special Meeting of the Parliament of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) in Montevideo, Uruguay on Sunday where they will present a document concerning its claims against Guyana over the western Essequibo territory, in an effort to seek the full support of the regional body amid the decades-old border controversy.

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge was not clear on whether Guyana would be participating in the upcoming meeting. According to Greenidge, “Our colleagues in Latin America claim we have been invited to a meeting in August, but didn’t see it fit to ask us whether we’d be available, whether the time would be convenient, whether we’d be interested and so forth.”

However, former diplomats have urged the Guyanese Government to attend this important meeting, with the aim of dealing with the recently flared controversy over the illegal claims to the Essequibo.

Venezuelan parliamentarian Saúl Ortega said the delegation will, at the Mercosur meeting, explain

Waramadong Secondary School to be renamed for late Desrey Fox

President David Granger on Tuesday announced that his Government will be renaming the Waramadong Secondary School in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) in honour of late Education Minister Desrey Fox.

how Guyana’s Government plans to “take over” Essequibo – disregarding Venezuela’s sovereignty.

He added that his country expects a unanimous resolution in support of Venezuela. For generations, Venezuela has been claiming most of Guyana’s territory. The controversy surfaced again in May when US-oil giant ExxonMobil revealed it had found massive offshore oil and gas deposits.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a decree ratifying maritime sovereignty over waters within a 200-mile range.

Minister Fox died at 54 in a car accident in 2009 while serving her first term as Education Minister in the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

The school will soon be called the Desrey Fox Secondary School. President Granger made this announcement while addressing the 2015 National Toshaos Council Meeting, at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.

Granger posited in a statement that “education is important to everything that we do, and this morning, I wish to pay particular tribute to those who have been produced in our indig-

enous communities, but particularly I want to recognise one who has left an indelible mark on education, an indelible mark on the indigenous people in this country”.

Meanwhile, the son of the late Minister, Mensah Fox is quoted in another section of the media as saying that the announcement was a big step taken by the government.

“We are extremely proud

of her achievements and it brings us great happiness. I know there is a lot that she has done and a lot that she had in store to do, but this recognition is one that we appreciate” Fox said.

Noting that his mother was a student of the Waramadong Secondary School and a daughter of the community, Fox said that the tribute will also resonate well in Waramadong.

Ecuador’s Cotopaxi volcano may threaten 325,000 people

say it’s “discrimination” against Amerindians

Village Toshaos disappointed about sacked CSOs –

Several Amerindian leaders expressed their disappointment with the sacking of almost 2000 Amerindian Community Support Officers (CSOs) by the Government and admonished the administration about not sticking to its mandate as it relates to Guyana’s young people.

The David Granger-led Administration had recently terminated the services of the almost 2000 Amerindian youths who were employed as CSOs across the country by the previous Administration, saying their employment was political.

The CSOs received a monthly stipend of $30,000 each which amounted to some $60 million per month from the then Amerindian Affairs Ministry. This has had a huge impact on the village economies.

While trying to justify this action, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon stated that the programme has been in existence for over five years and was being used by the PPP/C Government for political purposes, hence their sacking was “justified”.

This act has been deemed by many as unjustified and has sparked the concern of citizens who fear that discrimination is at play.

Wakapoa Toshao Lloyd Perreira on Monday evening, during a telephone interview, told Guyana Times that he was very much disappointed with this move by the Government. Perreira added that the village of Wakapao had about 10 CSOs attached to primary and secondary schools assisting teachers, health centres and the guest house in the community.

He explained that many of these CSOs were young persons who had only recently written their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examina-

tions with very good grades and thought of being a CSO as their first step into the working world, which excited them. Many still question him about what their next move is to be and he cannot answer them, Perreira added. He stated that the disappointment cut deeper after the young men and women remembered that the Government had in its mandate many plans for youths. He added that these young men and women were not informed that they would be let go and their only source of income had just vanished.

Another Toshao, Douglas Casimero told this newspaper that the Government’s move was “totally disrespectful to Amerindians”. He added that the new Administration has no feeling or consideration for young people.

Recently-elected Chairman of the National Toshaos Council, Joel Fredericks, the Toshao of Mainstay, told Guyana Times that he thought that the government’s move to suspend the CSO Programme, especially the way that it went about the task, was ill done.

Toshao Eyon Boyal of Batavia, Region Seven, in his role as the newly elected Secretary of the NTC explained his incomprehension of what he describes

as being “racial discrimination”: “Why target us Amerindians? I feel bad to know that these people had the qualification and experience needed.”

Toshao Alexander David of Itabac in Region Eight explained that his village employed 15 CSOs but that he understood the CSO programme was just going to be continued: “I don’t know if it’s true or if he’s just fooling the Region” he stated, as he referred to the speech President Granger delivered at the NTC.

Fredericks stated that these young men and women were very active in their communities. He shared that in his village, Mainstay, these young persons were involved in tourism, agriculture, education and health within the community. He added that these individuals greatly assisted the Village Council members and now that their services have come to an end, the village councillors now have a greater burden to bear.

However, President David Granger on Tuesday announced that the Government planned to replace this programme, the Youth Entrepreneur and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP), with an initiative called the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service.

The President stated that the YEAP had come to an end in April 2015, and the Government of Guyana always had plans to set up a new scheme to further Amerindian youth development. Granger stated that the initiative will be launched on September 1, and will provide sustainable jobs for the indigenous young people. Granger added that the Government will ensure that although jobs are scarce, young “school leavers” will be provided with the skills to be employed around the country.

Haitian caught smuggling almost 20 pounds of cocaine into US

AHaitian man has been arrested in the United States after smuggling nearly 20 pounds of cocaine, hidden in the false lining of two suitcases, into the country.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said the 33-year-old man, whose name was not disclosed, arrived at Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport on a flight from Portau-Prince on July 26. The CBP only made the incident

public in a statement issued Monday.

The Haitian was selected for further examination after arriving at the airport. During the inspection, CBP officers noticed the suitcases were unusually heavy even after they were emptied.

“Anomalies appeared on the X-ray screen when scanning the suitcases and a subsequent examination of the lining revealed a white, powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine.

A total of approximately 19.6 pounds of cocaine was seized,” the CBP said.

The cocaine was hidden in the false lining of two suitcases.

Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport Port Director Jorge Roig said the drug seizure was another excellent example of the CBP officers’ expertise and vigilance in preventing dangerous drugs from entering the US.

(Caribbean360)

Hundreds of thousands of people living south of the Ecuadorean capital, Quito, could be at risk from an eruption of the Cotopaxi volcano, officials say.

The volcano, located about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the city, last erupted on Saturday, prompting President Rafael Correa to declare a state of emergency.

Risk Management Minister Maria del Pilar Cornejo said 325,000 people lived in areas that could lie in the path of mud and rock flows from the

Cotopaxi.

Its last major eruption was in 1877.

Cotopaxi is one of Ecuador’s most active volcanoes and, at 5897 metres (19,347 feet), its second-highest peak after the Chimborazo.

On Friday, it shot ash 12km (seven miles) into the air. Hundreds of people were evacuated from the slopes of the volcano.

President Correa also prohibited media from publishing any information about the Cotopaxi’s activities other than that from official sources.

Free-speech groups criticised the move, but Correa said it served to “guarantee citizens’ safety” by preventing panic spreading or people being lulled into a false sense of security.

Cornejo said the biggest risk to those living near the volcano would be from fast-moving mud and rock current.

During the 1877 eruption, such currents melted the ice cap covering the Cotopaxi’s peak. The resulting mudflow destroyed the nearby town of Latacunga.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Mexico missing students: Investigators denied access

The IACHR has been investigating the case of the missing students at the request of the victims’ families.

Regional rights activists investigating the case of 43 missing students in Mexico say they have been unable to interview military personnel.

They said soldiers who may have witnessed the students’ disappearance last September could only be questioned via a written questionnaire.

The team from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights chose not to do this.

It also said security

videos containing evidence may have been destroyed.

Mexico’s Interior Ministry declined to comment on the accusation. It said in a statement that Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio and IACHR members had met the victims’ families on Friday.

The students – trainee teachers – were arrested by Police in the southern city of Iguala and the Government says they were then handed over to a drug lord who had them killed and their bodies incinerated.

The remains of only one of the students have been identified.

Investigators from the IACHR want to question soldiers from the battalion in Iguala that responded to events at the time the students clashed with Police.

Relatives believe the soldiers may have failed to act as the Police opened fire on the students and later bundled them onto a bus.

Photos of Bangkok bombing suspect released amid manhunt

Thai authorities say they have the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage of a suspect who is thought to be behind a bomb attack in the capital, Bangkok, that killed 22 people, including nine foreigners.

Six Chinese tourists have been confirmed dead, Xinhua news agency reported.

National Police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang said on Tuesday that the suspect, who was wearing a yellow shirt, was seen in a first CCTV image with a backpack at a popular Hindu shrine where the bombing happened.

Authorities said he was without the bag in a later one, adding that he could be Thai or a foreigner, and that a manhunt was under way.

“That man was carrying a backpack and walked past the scene at the time of the incident. But we need to look at the before and after CCTV footage to see if there is a link,” Somyot told

A photo of the suspect released [Reuters]

a news conference.

Police earlier said they had not ruled out any group, including elements opposed to the military Government, for the bombing at the Erawan shrine on Monday evening.

However, the Thai army chief, General Udomdej Sitabutr, said the bombing “did not match the tactics” of Muslim rebels in the country’s south.

The rebels, who Thai

forces have been fighting for years, have rarely launched attacks outside their ethnic Malay heartland.

Thailand’s junta leader said the bombing was the “worst ever attack” on the kingdom.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha also referred to the man as a suspect without giving details, adding that there were “still anti-government groups out there”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Sri Lanka’s ruling party wins general election

Sri Lanka’s ruling

United National Party (UNP) has won the country’s parliamentary election, final results show, putting it in a position to form a stable government after eight months of minority rule.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s centreright party won 106 seats, seven short of a clear majority, election officials said on Tuesday. Still, he should be able to control Parliament

with the support of allies of President Maithripala Sirisena.

That was ahead of the 95 seats won by the Opposition alliance led by ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose attempt to stage a comeback came up short.

“I offer my grateful thanks to all parties and individuals who worked untiringly during the election period to ensure victory for the people,” Wickremesinghe, 66, said in a statement.

“Let us together build a civilised society, build a consensual government and create a new country.”

The outcome is a triumph for President Maithripala Sirisena, who beat his former ally Rajapaksa in a presidential vote in January and called early parliamentary polls to secure a stronger mandate for reforms. Rajapaksa was Sri Lanka’s President for nine years until his January 8 election defeat. (Al Jazeera)

Russia busts illegal cheesemaking ‘criminal

gang’

Russian Police have detained an “international criminal gang” that produced contraband cheese worth about US$30 million using banned Western ingredients.

Police in the Moscow region said on Tuesday that they have arrested six people for producing cheese using 470 kilograms of banned Western rennet, a substance containing enzymes used for cheese production.

Russian officials are currently waging a major crackdown against produce from the West prohibited under a year-old embargo introduced in retaliation for sanctions on Moscow over Ukraine. Authorities earlier this month started bulldozing piles of cheese, peaches and even frozen geese after President Vladimir Putin or-

Russia’s national agricultural oversight agency has been publicising the destruction of tonnes of contraband food [EPA]

dered the destruction of food smuggled in illegally.

Following the most recent crackdown, Police claim the cheese, which was sold under counterfeit labels, had made its way into grocery stores in St Petersburg, as well as in the Moscow and Leningrad regions.

Around the World

UN backs Syria peace plan amid continued regime attacks

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously approved a statement backing intensive preparatory talks on key issues to restore peace to Syria, as scores were killed in fresh Government air strikes on suburban of Damascus.

The development might be a sign of a deeper change in the UN’s most powerful body as it has been deeply divided over how to end the war which has killed more than 250,000 people.

The 15-member Council only adopts statements by consensus. The text was drafted by the five perma-

nent members, the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France, following a briefing by UN mediator Staffan de Mistura nearly three weeks ago.

De Mistura proposed inviting Syria’s warring parties to take part in four UNled working groups on how to implement a roadmap to peace, since the groups were not ready to hold formal peace talks.

The UN statement supports de Mistura’s plan to work towards “political negotiations and a political transition” based on the Geneva Communique, which was adopted in 2012 by the first

international conference on the issue and later endorsed by the Security Council. The Communique calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, with full executive powers and made up by members of the present Government and the Opposition and other groups, as part of agreed principles and guidelines for a Syrian-led political transition.

But Venezuela’s UN Ambassador, Rafael Ramirez, said that his country disagreed with some parts of the statement but reaffirmed its support for de Mistura’s efforts. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Islamic call on rich countries to end fossil fuel use

Islamic environmental and religious leaders have called on rich countries and oil producing nations to end fossil fuel use by 2050.

The Islamic Climate Declaration says that the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims have a religious duty to fight climate change.

It urges politicians to agree a new treaty to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius, “or preferably 1.5 degrees”.

The Declaration asks Muslims, in the words of the Quran, “not to strut arrogantly on the Earth”.

Drafted at an international symposium in

Istanbul, the Declaration calls for “all people, leaders and businesses ...to commit to 100 per cent renewable energy”.

It also argues for increased financial support for communities vulnerable to climate change.

The main focus though is on “well-off nations and oil-producing states,” who are urged to lead the way in phasing out greenhouse gases, no later than the middle of this century.

The Declaration calls on the rich countries, to recognise their “moral obligation to reduce consumption so that the poor may benefit from what is left of the

Earth’s non-renewable resources”.

“People need to be told and politicians need to stop misleading their people, in telling them they can go on increasing their standards of living forever and ever and ever,” Fazlun Khalid, a long-time Islamic environmentalist involved in drawing up the Declaration, told BBC News.

“Someone should be articulating this because it’s an impossibility, they can’t do it – and this applies not just to Muslim countries.” The call has been supported by religious leaders including the Grand Muftis of Uganda and Lebanon. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Tianjin residents accuse Government of negligence

DDuring the investigation, police raided 17 homes, warehouses and offices in the Moscow region, where they found 470 tonnes of the rennet product, equipment for making the counterfeit labels and documents confirming the illegal activity, the Police statement said.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ozens of angry residents whose homes were badly damaged by huge explosions last week in China’s north-eastern port city of Tianjin, have accused the Government of ignoring their plight and have demanded compensation.

Around 40 residents, holding signs that read “buy back (our homes)”, gathered outside a hotel on Tuesday where an official news conference was being held and demanded compensation after their residential apart-

ments were damaged by two huge blasts that ripped through an industrial zone late last Wednesday killing over 100 people.

“Estate management (people) kept saying that they are in negotiation. But now we think it’s all nonsense, they just lie to everyone,” said 35-year-old resident Fang Qi.

“We, the owners of the properties, went to the office of the letter and complaints bureau yesterday and found out the information that our commu-

nity had not been reported on, nobody knew it, so they treated it as a de-populated zone.”

The explosions sent massive fireballs into the sky and hurled burning debris across the industrial area at the world’s 10th-largest port, burning out buildings and shattering windows kilometres away.

More than 700 people were injured in the blast and 70 are still missing, most of them fire-fighters, the official Xinhua news agency said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

WEDnEsDay, august 19, 2015| guyanatimEsgy.com

NGO pickets Region Six RDC for Labour Officer to be removed

– Regional Chairman says not our responsibility

The Region Six administration has no jurisdiction over the Labour Officer of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). That is according to Regional Chairman David Armogan.

The Chairman made the comment on Tuesday as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), took its protest demonstration outside of the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) compound in Vrymen’s Erven, New Amsterdam, as it continued to call for the Regional Labour Officer (RLO), Ronald Bisondial to be removed from office, saying that he is corrupt and does not represent those who go to him seeking justice for allegedly being underpay by employers.

During the previous week, the Justice for the Unjust (JFU) organisation had picketed two supermarkets and a store selling clothing. The orga-

nization then staged a protest demonstration outside of the RLO’s office at the Social Protection Ministry on Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam. On Tuesday, the JFU picketed a

major hotel in the town saying that workers there were being underpaid.

According to Armogan, The RLO does not report to the regional administration. “He has no working re-

lationship with us. We do not know what he is doing. As a regional head, we need to know what is happening in all departments,” the Chairman said.

The Regional Chairman is calling for systems to be put in place under the Granger-led coalition Government to ensure that

all regional ministerial departments be accountable to the RDC. Armogan headed the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) RDC when the PPP/C was in power. Asked why it was not done during his Party’s tenure in office, the Chairman said efforts were being made back then and the issue had engaged the previous Administration. “We had on several occasions written to the then Minister of the Human Services and Social Security [now the Ministry of Social Protection] to have this done…”

The JFU took the demonstration the RDC in the hope that their demands would be met but were rather told by the Region Chairman who later met with them that they were seeking an audience in the wrong place. The Chairman has promised to take up the matter from a regional prospective.

The group says that the Labour Officer has been working with the Ministry for 44 years, while at the same time giving no assis-

tance to those who go in search of Government services. “The whole of Region Six has one Labour Officer. The man isn’t doing his work and poor people are suffering,” a representative of the group stated.

“We need new Labour Officers, about five or six… look how big this region is for one person to control. The problem is that he has developed a close relationship with the business community and the job is not being done because many persons have contacted us saying that they are being underpaid and that the Labour Department is not doing anything about it.”

Regional Labour Officer Ronald Bisondial said that he is above reproach and has not been involved in questionable activity. The JFU plans to continue its exercise by picketing in front of organisations which they have received information are underpaying their staff. They also plan to continue picketing exercises at Bisondial’s office.

Youth Seminar on sexual and reproductive health for today

The Youth Advocacy Movement of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (YAM-GRPA), in collaboration with the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), will today launch a youth interaction seminar on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and sustainable development goals . The seminar will be held in the Woodbine Room of Cara Lodge, Quamina Street from 09:00h.

In a release, the group stated that in Guyana young people are often denied access to information, services and support that could

enable them to make informed decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health.

The group shared that the one-day conference, dubbed “Youth Interaction”, will be used as an avenue to educate and empower young people on sexual and reproductive health and rights and how to achieve sustainable development goals. The event also aims to sensitise young men and women that Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) rights are sexual rights and therefore human rights; and encourage youth participation in the decision-making process. The anticipated

conference outcome document is a Youth Statement on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Guyana which will be presented to key stakeholders.

Guest speakers at this event are set to include Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman; Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence; United Nations Resident Coordinator Khadija Musa; United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Assistant Representative, Patrice La Fleur and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Senior Programme Advisor, Lucella Campbell.

River View flooded after koker jam

Ajammed sluice door at River View, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, has resulted in the residents of the area waking up to inches of water in the community on Tuesday morning. However, quick action by the authorities to remedy the situation resulted in the water being released into the Demerara River. According to the Public Infrastructure Ministry, the water was gone by

midday. The Ministry disclosed that there was a mishap with the Ruimveldt sluice door, which resulted in the flooding. In addition to River View, parts of Alexander Village were affected by flash flooding precipitated by the early morning high tide.

“The sluice was scheduled to close at 02:00h on August 18, ahead of the 05:45h high tide. However, the sluice door got stuck, causing the rising water to

inundate the two communities,” a statement from the ministry detailed.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry intervened along with the City Engineering Department and a pump was immediately activated. Following repair works, the sluice was reopened at 09:30h to expedite the draining off of the water. The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is investigating the matter.

Govt wants to bring back Mortgage Banks

Government has announced its plans to reintroduce the Mortgage Banks in Guyana, to assist the poorest Guyanese in securing their own home.

Mortgage Banks are state-licensed banking entities which provide mortgage loans directly to consumers .

They originate a loan and place it on a pre-established warehouse line of credit until the loan can be sold to an investor.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott, made the disclosure, while he delivered his speech at the budget debate in the National Assembly on Monday. His delivery, though often drowned by the Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), revealed Government’s plans for the housing sector, and its immediate benefits to the poor.

He said mortgages are important assets, however, in Guyana, the process can be very complicated. It should be reviewed and simple as is done overseas.

“In this budget, Mr Speaker, $1.9 billion has been allocated to the housing sector…. The new year we will unveil our new functions. $1.6 billion has been allocated to continue infrastructural work including roads, drains, structures and housing areas,” Scott told the House.

Scott said the banking sector has been very supportive of the Ministry’s effort to build houses for the nation, and encouraged them to support Government’s manifesto pledge of producing innovative financing for housing, including the development of mortgages, and mortgage

interest support for low and middle income homes.

Moving on in his presentation, Scott spoke to Government’s plans for squatter regularisation.

“We will embark on a serious squatting mechanisation initiative and every effort would be made to clear squatters in the East and West Ruimveldt areas. Squatters will have opportunities, through an increase in options. No longer will they be having exploitation from the housing sector. No longer will communities be set up without adequate and essential support amenities to support easy living,” the Junior Minister said to loud thumping from Government’s side.

He informed that Government has a five-year plan for the housing sector, and hoped to produce, by the end of its tenure in 2020, safe housing for citizens in need. He said all state sponsored housing communities will be provided with the ba-

South Region 2 residents complain over water shortage

Residents living within the environs of Cullen to Suddie in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have complained of not receiving water for the past three days from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

Housewives and small businesses are predominately affected by the lack of water. Many persons living in villages such as Golden Fleece and Perservance are forced to source water from nearby canals and trenches for domestic purposes.

The residents are using the “black trench water” for cooking and drinking purposes since the taps are empty.

According to one housewife from Golden Fleece, it’s a tedious task for her to fetch water because of the distance from her home to the canal. She said she was out of water

for some three days and described the situation as very frustrating. The housewife also complained about the pressure of the water whenever it did flow.

Residents said despite several complaints made to the GWI branch office, nothing has been done.

Meanwhile when this newspaper contacted the branch office at Anna Regina, a senior official said that the company was presently experiencing problems with the Cullen pump. He said this was affecting residents, preventing them from sourcing water. However, workers are on site trying to fix the problem. He also noted that the pump has developed an electrical problem. The official said the water supply should be restored to the areas by the end of today.

sic infrastructure and the housing project for the fiveyear period will focus on the allocation of lots.

“We shall ensure that all State-sponsored housing developments have the requisite recreational and sport facilities in addition to the basic infrastructural service such as electricity, telephone, roads and water supply. Construction of all kinds of houses will be accessible to all. We will cater for all levels, even if persons cannot afford a house, we will provide the house to suit the person’s pocket,” Scott promised.

Land settlement and land divestment will be pursued, Scott informed, noting that while the previous Administration had embarked on one of the onestop shop housing initiatives, immediately prior to the General and Regional Elections, nothing much has been accomplished.

“Two years from now, we will have new schemes which will have proper lights, schools and all infrastructure…. We shall create opportunities to help them to play a better role in society.”

He said as Government continues along, its work will be evidence-based. It will include the assistance of Habitat for Humanity and Food For The Poor, and other such community-based organisations.

He said by 2020, some 4000 houses will be delivered.

Hinterland Housing Pilot Project

Scott had earlier told Guyana Times that the Hinterland Housing Pilot Project will soon be ex-

panded as US$3.1 million has been obtained by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) to ensure the construction of 200 homes in the hinterland.

The project was a component under the Government of Guyana and InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) Second Low Income Settlement Programme.

Scott stated that the project profile was currently being finalised for approval by the IDB.

The housing project for the hinterland commenced under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration in 2009.

It is aimed at providing housing for vulnerable hinterland households through a community partnership approach, involving novel participatory approaches to project design and the actual provision of affordable housing.

The successes of the Hinterland Housing Project include: reduced overcrowding in hinterland homes, improved access to safe drinking water for hinterland households, and improved sanitary conditions for hinterland families.

It also included the increased social cohesion with participating communities.

“There is also the employment of over 100 persons in participatory communities, reduction in labour intensive work on women, overall improvement in improved housing conditions of hinterland households and, mutual learning between the implementing agency and beneficiary communities,” Minister Scott has said.

Guyana can be maritime gateway for South America – Granger

President David Granger has stated that Guyana can become a maritime gateway to South America and a gateway from South America to Caricom, at the commissioning Monday of a wharf and dredge facility, which he says will “open more opportunities” for the growth of the economy.

He said the new facility was a clear indication that the parent company, GAICO Construction and General Services Incorporated, was catering to the needs of the country in which it operates.

According to a Ministry of the Presidency press release, in addition to the construction of the new Wharf Facility and a Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge, at Nismes, West Bank Demerara (WBD), the company will develop packaging and manufacturing facilities in the upcoming months. These facilities will serve the WBD area and other surrounding communities further up the Demerara River.

“Our Government aims to give Guyanese a good life, but most of all we want a strong economy … and a strong economy requires that we catalyse our productive services and sector by linking our hinterland with the coastlands … an efficient maritime transport service and system is critical in the realisation of a strong economy,” the President stated.

He emphasised that the hinterland was a main repository for natural resources in the country, hence this initiative would provide

Linden happy with Budget 2015 — says coalition’s Regional MP

APartnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Member of Parliament (MP) and representative of Region 10 ,Audwyn Rutherford on Monday praised the 2015 National Budget, saying that it was one which has “lifted the people” of the mining community.

Rutherford was the final speaker on Day One of the National Budget Debate in the chambers of the National Assembly Monday evening, when he spoke extensively on the newfound hope felt by citizens of Region 10.

Rutherford told the House that while unemployment in the region remained at an alltime high, citizens there welcomed the decision to keep investors who would assist in upping the employment rate in the community.

Since the main economic activity in Linden is forestry, Rutherford said, it is hoped that the financial rebirth of Linden, which he claimed

was neglected by the previous People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration, would see the sector strengthened. He said following two years of negative growth beginning in 2011, the forestry sector recorded gain of more than 14 per cent in 2014.

“Our miners will benefit from this budget, as our small and medium-scale miners will benefit as well. Our forestry

sector will be attended to as well, Mr Speaker,” Rutherford told fellow parliamentarians.

Meanwhile, Rutherford said Government was holding to its promise of ensuring that the people of Guyana were among the healthiest in the Caribbean and Americas.

More specifically to his region, he said that this year’s budget has made significant inroads for citizens there. He said millions have been budgeted for the construction of health centres, furniture and medical equipment for these medical organisations.

“The budget has a place for the unborn to the deceased. Government is planning to ensure that the Guyanese people are among the healthiest in the Americas,” he stressed. Rutherford said too that the people of Linden look forward for the improved services and reopening of the Critchlow Labour College, particularly given the recent subvention which was allocated for the labour institution.

greater access, while providing additional services to riverine communities which depend heavily on the forestry and mining sectors. The Head of State noted that a sound economy would ensure that goods produced in these communities get to markets, because internal markets were small and there was need for the produce to get to larger markets.

According to the media release, President Granger also stated that over the years, the heavily silted Demerara River had a severe impact on the volume of goods that can be transported from hinterland areas, as larger ships were unable to access the river channels. As such, Guyana’s export capacity was impacted.

It was explained that initiatives such as “this one will open more opportunities” for the growth of the economy, since it would make it possible for larger ships to reach inland areas and for a wider range of economic activities for the local economy.

“More importantly with the dredging of the Demerara River and other main rivers Guyana can now become a maritime gateway to South America and a gateway from South America to Caricom,” the President said.

While at the commissioning ceremony, the Head of State was presented with a boat, which will be used to ferry schoolchildren from riverine communities to their learning institutions.

The boat, bearing the name “David G”, will be handed over to the Social Cohesion Minister, after which it would be formally presented to a selected community.

Granger said in ensuring that children have access to education, poverty would be reduced.

“Education remains the best means for the poor to graduate out of poverty. If we provide them with education, it is a means through which they can be qualified,” he added.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

A reward is in order for the work and time you’ve put in. Do something you enjoy with the people you care about the most. A day trip will do you good.

Mental and physical challenges will keep your body in shape and your mind sharp. Follow your passion, and don’t be deterred by negativity. Love and romance are highlighted.

Concentrate on your domestic situation and finding ways to cut corners. Ask for help if you need it, but don’t let others know the details of your financial status.

An unanticipated opportunity will come your way. Cast aside old ideas and methods and go after something new. Get out and promote yourself. Interacting with others will lead to your success.

Monetary matters will arise. Keep cash tucked away for emergencies. Family members and friends will offer helpful tips and strategies that will encourage greater personal profits and less financial stress.

Don’t count on others. You will be left in the lurch and end up looking bad. See all of your projects through to the end for the best results. You know what your strengths are, so figure out a way to maximize the use of your skills. Jumping from one project to another will result in frustration and unfinished business.

Don’t be afraid to reach for the stars. Know your true worth and act accordingly. If you sell yourself short, you won’t get the results, money or respect you deserve.

With your charm, you will gain favorable attention and make important connections. An idea you have previously disregarded will now prove to be a good and lucrative fit.

When it comes to private matters, the less said the better. Being too open will leave you subject to gossip, criticism and a tarnished reputation.

Love and romance are encouraged. Be prepared to go the extra mile, and plan to do something special for someone you love.

Don’t waste time reliving previous disappointments. You cannot change the past. To have a successful future, you need to put your efforts into what’s happening in the here and now.

Pooran eyes four-day return

Trinidad and Tobago wicket-keeper/batsman Nicholas Pooran has revealed that he has recovered from the worst aspects of his leg injury sustained in a car accident earlier this year and is looking forward to fighting for a place in the Red Force squad ahead of the 2015/16 WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL) season, which begins November 6.

Pooran’s talent turned heads during the inaugural edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in 2013 when he struck 54 off 24 balls for the TT Red Steel against the Guyana Amazon Warriors. His stupefying 143 not out versus Australia in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup convinced skeptics of his immense ability.

“I’m almost fully recovered, the worst of the injury is over since I took out the screws from my knees two weeks ago and some stitches out today [Monday]”, said the 19-year-old.

Having missed the Red Force Super50 triumph earlier this year and CPL 2015 with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Pooran stated that it has been difficult dealing with what has been the first serious cricket injury of his young career.

Nicholas Pooran

“It has been very tough because I wanted to play cricket. I thought I had a good chance of playing in the CPL, but physio [Oba Gulston] told me it would have been too much of a risk.

“I am not contracted for the PCL, so right now I hop-

ing to get back on the field by mid-September to get involved in some of the national team trial matches in order to make the team,” explained Pooran.

Meanwhile, national coach and former West Indies middle-order bats-

man Gus Logie noted while he is pleased with the progress Pooran is making regarding his injury, he won’t rush his transition back into national colours.

Logie also revealed that the Red Force training camp for the 2015/16 domestic season begins today and they plan to play at least three practice matches before the opening round.

“We started doing some individual work with players last week, but full practice with most of the players begins this week.

“The aim is to have trials in September with at least three practice [matches], involving Under-19 players, Tobago players and instead of having these matches solely at the National Cricket Centre, we hope to play them at different venues around the country,” explained Logie.

Red Force 2015/16 Contracted Players: Rayad Emrit (captain), Yannic Cariah, Kevon Cooper, Steven Katwaroo, Imran Khan, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Kjorn Ottley, Ravi Rampaul, Marlon Richards, Kyle Hope, Nkrumah Bonner, Akeal Hosein, Jeremy Solozano, Yannick Ottley. (Trinidad Newsday)

TRaymond Barton Davteerth Anandjit asked to contact Raymond Barton on 626-0223 or Davteerth Anandjit on 6178502.

he East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) sponsored Elizabeth Styles 40-over cricket tournament will resume this Sunday, according to a release from the ECCB.

The release further stated that the winning club will be the recipient of $350,000; while there will be prizes and trophies for the losing finalist and the player of the final.

Clubs listed below are asked to take note. For further information, teams are

ECCB academy commences Monday

Youth cricketers, male and female, along the East Coast corridor will convene at the Lusignan Community Centre next Monday at 08:00h when the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) launches the 15th edition of its annual cricket academy. Activities will be held under the theme “CricketProfessionalism and Healthy Lifestyle” and are for children 12-17 years of age. More than 50 aspiring cricketers, drawn from Ogle to Abary, are expected to participate in the programme.

Organisers have also revealed that participants will enjoy interaction with senior and former national cricketers who will grace the forum with their presence.

While there, the seniors will introduce the youngsters to the technicalities of the sport while sharing their experiences on the national field.

Several resource persons will entertain thought-provoking discussions on cricket related and other topics during the proceedings. They include a statistician, who will speak on the history of West Indies cricket.

National umpire Davteerth Anandjit will discuss the laws of cricket

and umpiring, while a qualified book scorer will deal with the intricacies of the scoring system.

Officers from the Cove and John Police Station will tutor the aspiring cricketers on road safety practices, while former executive of the Guyana Cricket Board, Ronald Williams, will dis-

cuss careers in cricket and discipline.

The participants will also receive tutoring in drugs and sports (by Darshanand Rampersaud) and Importance of Education (former school senior master Judister Rampersaud). Other topics will include Leadership

and Sportsmanship, HIV and Teenage Sex, Food and Nutrition, Social Etiquette/ Grooming and Discipline.

It must be noted the more than 23 participants, who have attended the ECCB annual academy over the years went on to represent Guyana with distinction.

Director of Sports, Christopher Jones is expected to deliver the feature address and consequently declare the proceedings open. Activities of the academy, which concludes on August 28, will be coordinated by Secretary of the ECCB, Judister Rampersaud.

Clubs, parents and guardians are asked to make contact via telephone as early as possible for the necessary information on registration. Judister Rampersaud (2590308), Raymond Barton (626-0223) or Davteerth Anandjit (617-8502) can be contacted for the relevant information.

Below are the upcoming fixtures.

On August 23: Buxton versus Mon Repos B at Buxton; Lusignan A versus Golden Grove at Lusignan; Better Hope A versus Ogle Red at Better Hope; Ogle Blue versus Lusignan Dev at Ogle. Helena 1-2 B versus Avish Auto Sales at Helena 1-2; Bravados versus Dundee at Strathavon; Novar versus Perseverance at Novar; and Enterprise Busta Sports Club asked to be excused because of the tour of Cosmos Cricket Club of Trinidad. Mon Repos A has drawn the bye.

On August 30: Buxton versus Mon Repos A at Buxton; Lusignan B versus Ogle Blue at Lusignan; Better Hope B versus Golden Grove at Better Hope; Ogle Red versus Lusignan Dev at Ogle; Helena 1-2 versus Avish Auto Sales at Helena 1-2; Strathavon versus Dundee at Strathavon; Novar versus Bravados at Novar; and Enterprise Busta Sports Club asked to be excused, handing Mon Repos B the bye.

September 6: Enterprise A versus Ogle Red at Enterprise; Buxton versus Better Hope B at Buxton; Lusignan Dev versus Golden Grove at Lusignan; Better Hope A versus Mon Repos A at Better Hope; Ogle Blue versus Enterprise B at Ogle; Helena 1-2 B versus Perseverance at Helena 1-2; Strathavon versus Helena A at Strathavon; and Novar versus Avish Auto Sales at Novar.

Port Mourant Cup 2015… Brilliant Pestano leads RHT Gizmos and Gadgets to title Lawrence joins Lady Jags as Conditioning Coach

Abrilliant and brutal innings of 121 off just 42 balls from former Guyana Under-19 and Berbice senior player Clinton Pestano led the Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets team to an easy victory over Ankerville in the final of 2015 Port Mourant Softball Cup.

Playing in front of a large crowd that filled the historic Port Mourant Cricket ground on Sunday to capacity, Pestano struck six massive

sixes and nine boundaries as he and Berbice senior player Jason Sinclair added 151 for the second wicket to propel Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets to an imposing 184-2 off the allotted 20 overs. Pestano’s century was the first in the five-year history of the tournament.

Winning the toss and batting first, Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets lost opener Oliver Giddings for eight at 23-1 in the fifth over, and Sinclair and Pestano struggled at first to get the ball away as the Ankerville bowlers bowled tightly.

Pestano then cut loose as he struck a hapless Wahied Edwards for 27 runs in the 10th over. After Pestano was dismissed in the 19th over, Sinclair (45*) and Eon Hooper (6*) ensured Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets ended strongly. Bowling for Ankerville, D. Singh and G. Dhanisar claimed one wicket each.

Needing to score 185 runs off 20 overs to win their first-ever Port Mourant Cup, Ankerville never looked like reaching the target as could only reach 131 all out from 17.4 overs. Motie (27), David Latchaya (20) and Adrian Sukhwa (21) batted well, but Port Mourant, spearheaded by S. Garnett (2-17), H. Jaipaul (2-13) and Yogindra Harrinarine (3-25) were brilliant in the field.

At the semi-final stage on Saturday, Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets on the strength of a brilliant 61 not out from Pestano defeated Albion by five wickets, while Ankerville upset Port Mourant by 80 runs.

The tournament started Friday with eight teams - Rose Hall Town, City Star, Ankerville, Tain, Belvedere, Port Mourant, Albion and Block Four. Rose Hall Town played unbeaten in their zone to head Zone A, while Ankerville created a huge upset to the Rose Hall Town

clinch third place award. Port Mourant amassed 159-9 off 20 overs as Loydel Lewis topscored with 56 and received support from D. Chalitar with 31. Gudakesh Motie (2-22) and Kandasammy Surujnarine (328) bowled well for Albion.

bowlers superbly and were backed up by brilliant fielding.

Apart from Berbice senior cricketer and former national junior player, Seon Hetmyer, who struck a composed 56 with four boundaries and a six, none of the remaining batsmen reached double figures as Ankerville was dismissed for 111 of 19 overs to lose by 73 runs. Bowling for Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets, Sunil Madramootoo took 2-19, Eon Hooper 2-17 and skipper John Percival 3-32.

Earlier in the day, the Port Mourant Cricket Club defeated Albion by 27 runs to

In reply, Albion defeated 2014 champions City Star to be the Zone A runner-up. In Zone B, Port Mourant also played undefeated to head the Zone, while Albion emerged as the runner-up. The highlight of the day was Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets, blasting 295-4 off 20 overs against Ankerville as Delbert Hicks (60), Eon Hooper (78*) and Pestano (70) mauled the bowling. Ankerville was bowled out for 113 in reply to lost by 182 runs.

At the presentation ceremony, organiser Roy Ramgoolam of New York expressed gratitude to the eight teams for their high level of discipline and congratulated the Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets for winning the

2015 championship after being the losing finalist last year.

Rose Hall Town received $400,000, the championship trophy and medals for each player, while Ankerville received $200,000, runner-up trophy and medals.

Port Mourant Cricket Club carried home $100,000 for third place, while Pestano received trophies and a combined $80,000 for being named Man-of-the-Final and best overall batsman of the tournament (270 runs).

John Percival of Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets, Yogindra Harrinarine of Port Mourant Cricket Club and Gudakesh Motie of Albion shared the $40 000.00 prize for being named best bowlers with 13 wickets each.

Three lucky spectators carried home $70,000 as gate prizes while a dancing competition was also organised with $60,000 shared out. The Port Mourant Cup is organised by Ramgoolam family as a gift to their former homeland.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is thankful to David Lawrence, Head Strength Coach of Michigan Elite Conditioning for Athletes (MECA) and Concordia University - Ann Arbor (CUAA), has agreed to work pro bono as the Conditioning Coach of the Guyana Women’s senior national team, the Lady Jags, as of August 1, 2015.

Coach Lawrence is responsible for the physical preparation and development of the team for the duration of its Olympic Qualifying tenure.

Since the Lady Jags’ departure from their camp in Guyana on July 18-26, Coach Lawrence has provided them with a stringent fitness programme that requires all players to follow at their respective locations and electronically report weekly on their progress.

This significantly helps the coaching staff to monitor and assess the fitness prog-

ress of the players between the camp and the first round games, which will assist in coaching decisions regarding starting line-ups and substitutions.

He has trained hundreds of athletes in multiple disciplines; some of his clients include players in the National Football League such as Nick Bellore and Frank Zombo and National Hockey League, in Aaron Palushaj.

At Concordia University, Coach Lawrence oversees the training of more than 300 athletes in 18 different sports and brings a vast amount of experience in getting the Lady Jags fit for their upcoming competition in the Dominican Republic.

Over the past year at Concordia, Coach Lawrence has worked directly with CUAA’s women’s soccer team and helped them reach an all time level of fitness. They are expected to compete on the national level for NAIA.

Rockers win NPG Packaging basketball tourney

Smithfield Rockers are the winners of the NPG Packaging basketball tournament for teams in Berbice. The Rockers won the inaugural basketball tourney with a 70-61 win over Canje Knights at the Smithfield Drop-in Centre Courts in New Amsterdam on Sunday. Despite a game-high 26 points by three-point specialist Steve Roopnarine, the Knights trailed throughout the exciting encounter and were in a seven-point deficit at the end of the first quarter (19-12).

Michael Bowen led the Rockers charge with 21 points, while Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jamal Felix dunked 12 points and to lend support to Jason Fraser with 16 points.

The Knights made a desperate attempt to take the game away in the closing moments of the first half after the Rockers had galloped to a 35-20 lead. Roopnarine registered a 3-pointer when Kevin Emanuel blocked a shot from Felix for the steal. Two more 3-pointers

brought the score line to 3529, but Emanuel scored two more for the Rockers to finish the session ahead at 3729. The next session did not do much justice for the boys from Canje as they were forced to enter the final session trailing 46-53. For the

Knights, Roopnarine was support by Jason Gladstone (17) and Devon Hunte (10).

President of the Berbice Basketball Association, Keith Myers, who handed over the winner’s trophy, congratulated both teams for reaching the final and for the competitiveness with which they played. “I will like to see a higher standard of basketball being played from both teams.”

The final of the tournament was delayed due to unfavourable weather, which

affected most of the courts in Berbice, and secondly because of the recently concluded Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) championship, which also featured several players from Berbice.

Meanwhile, at the presentation ceremony, tournament coordinator Vibert Garrett thanked the sponsor, NPG Packaging, and said that he is looking for their continued support for a similar tournament next year.

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Pre-World Championships camp a success, says technical leader

Despite the no-show of Usain Bolt, the very late arrival of the 15 MVP athletes and the injury to Kemar Bailey-Cole, Jamaica’s technical leader Maurice Wilson deemed a pre-championship the training camp in Japan a success.

“The camp was a success. The athletes and coaches developed good camaraderie, and athletes were able to train with coaches available at the track two sessions per day,” Wilson noted.

“The drawback was not being able to get in more effective relay practice sessions,” he added.

Wilson told the Jamaica Observer that their hosts in Tottori, Japan showered the team with “love and support”, and for that they are grateful.

The Jamaican delegation was expected in Beijing

on Tuesday for the 15th edition of the IAAF World Championships set to begin on August 22 and ending eight days later.

At the 2013 Moscow World Championship in Russia, Jamaica took home nine medals, inclusive of six gold, two silver and a bronze. Once again, expectations are high.

“We expect the team to give their best for their country and, by extension, represent themselves with distinction,” said Wilson.

Jamaica will have to do without their reigning Commonwealth Games 100m champion, BaileyCole, who tore his hamstring at the training camp in Japan. He was replaced by a most worthy competitor in Nesta Carter in the 100m.

But Bailey-Cole’s withdrawal from the

Championship is not expected to affect Jamaica’s hopes of surpassing the nine medals won in 2013.

Bolt is listed for the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay as he attempts a historic back-to-back gold medal treble, but his dominance is threatened by in-form American Justin Gatlin.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will seek the double in the 100m and the 4x100 m relay, having decided not to defend her 200m title. Still, Elaine Thompson, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Sherone Simpson are more than capable of getting medals for their team.

A look at the overall make-up of this 53-member Jamaican team indicates that the nine-medal haul in 2013 could be surpassed in Beijing. (Jamaica Observer)

Julio Rocha charged with money laundering

Prosecutors in Nicaragua say they have charged former Nicaraguan Football Federation chief Julio Rocha with money laundering and corruption.

He was one of seven senior FIFA officials detained in Switzerland in May over corruption allegations.

ry offered. Call for interview 2318344

Rocha, who is a Nicaraguan national, last week agreed to be extradited to his home country.

He is still in detention in Switzerland and can only be extradited if the U.S., which has also charged him, agrees.

Swiss justice officials said that in order for Rocha to be taken to Nicaragua, the U.S. would have to waive its extradition request, which predates the Nicaraguan one.

Prosecutors in Nicaragua said they had evidence suggesting Rocha received a $100,000 (£64,000) kickback from a company with which he had signed a broadcast rights agreement.

U.S. authorities have also requested the extradition

Rocha is one of 14 current and former FIFA officials and associates indicted by the U.S. authorities on charges of “rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted” corruption.

The U.S. Department of Justice said that the corruption was planned in the U.S., and that American banks were used to transfer money.

The U.S. investiga-

tion was initially sparked by the bidding process for the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups, but was widened to look back at the dealings of world football’s governing body over the past 20 years.

Rocha was FIFA’s development officer from 2012 and before that served on Nicaragua’s Olympic Committee.

So far, only one of those arrested in Switzerland has been extradited to the U.S. FIFA Vice-President Jeffrey Webb pleaded not guilty to accepting bribes worth millions of dollars in connection with the sale of marketing rights. He was placed under house arrest on $10m (£6.4m) bail by a New York judge.

The remaining officials wanted by the U.S. have so far not agreed to be extradited. They are all from Latin America or from the CONCACAF federation, which covers North America and the Caribbean. (BBC Sport)

Horse-racing has untapped potential, says Jones

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones believes that horseracing in Guyana has untapped potential, adding that the sport could definitely help to boost Guyana’s image as a tourist destination.

Horse racing, known as the ‘sport of kings’, is a popular sport in the Ancient County of Berbice as persons could be seen flooding the turfs whenever races are held.

However, Jones believes the sport has much more to offer.

“While horse-racing has

the potential to boost tourism, I believe that one of the most important aspects of the sport is that it holds cohesion, something the Government strongly believes in,” Jones said.

The Director of Sport added, “When you look at the Guyana Cup last Sunday, horse-racing brings people of all walks of life together, and also it’s an excellent tourism package.”

Further, Jones indicated the urgent need in putting the necessary legislation in place to support the sport.

“There is that urgent need to bring about the legislation, what I can assure

OSCL team eager to dominate at inaugural Toronto Cup

The Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) team is eager to dominate at the upcoming inaugural Toronto Cup, slated to be played early September under the auspices of the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Club (OMSCC).

On Saturday at Littles ground in Scarborough, the side began preparations under the watchful eyes of player/coach Ian Baldeo and manager Terry Mathura. Both gentlemen expressed deep confidence that the combination is capable of making a huge impact at this mini softball World Cup event.

Approximately 15 teams are expected to feature in both the Masters and Open categories and excitement galore is highly anticipated from September 4-6 across the Greater Toronto Area.

According to Mathura, who is the current VicePresident of the League and Chairman of Selectors, a captain will be named soon, while players were chosen based on performances and availability to participate.

Several teams playing in this year’s OSCL com-

petitions will also be taking part at the Toronto Cup and the players are opted to represent their respective clubs.

However, Baldeo and Mathura stated that they will continue to prepare energetically for the tournament with more practice sessions and warm-up matches as well.

They feel once the work ethics are great and the players show commitment, winning the championship would not be difficult, particularly on familiar soil.

“I think we have come up with the best team for this tournament; we are accustomed to play with the regular supreme ball, but this tournament will have the white balls which may be the only challenge; our players are capable of playing with it though,” Mathura related.

He further mentioned that a number of players have done tremendously well for the League over the years and this is a great chance for them to make a good representation on such a massive occasion.

“We just have to play positive cricket; the League is happy to have a side taking part and with the experienced players com-

ing out I think we have a great opportunity to prove our skills,” the still active softball player Mathura divulged.

Baldeo, a veteran softball player, is full of confidence that the League’s side is eager to perform against these top-ranked softball players from Guyana, Florida, New York and here in Canada.

He strongly believes that a wonderful turnout for the very first practice session is terrific encouragement and which will subsequently motivate the players to flourish.

Baldeo also echoed the Mathura’s statement and simultaneously said there was a great sense of cohesion already and that would

do a lot for the team’s morale as things progress in the few weeks.

“We will be playing as a unit and that is very important; we have a well-balanced side to compete; we will continue to focus a lot on the physical aspects of things because we have got to be ready both physically and mentally,” Baldeo commented.

President of the OSCL, Albert Ramcharran, was also in attendance and he wished the team best of luck and expects them to be the victorious side. He similarly mentioned that he admires the players’ willingness and commitment to represent the League on this predictably historical tournament.

Former Guyana fastbowler Trevon Garraway’s inclusion in the team is a huge boost as well, according to Ramcharran.

The full squad reads: Anand Gurdial, Travis Blyden, Sunil Ramkissoon, Richards Dias, Avinash Sookdeo, Rovendra Mandolall, Trevon Garraway, Harrinarine Chattergoon, Pradeep Singh, Ravendra Madholall, Walley Bacchus, Muniram Karran, Gavin Glasgow and Andy Persaud.

the administrators of the sport is that Minister Dr Nicolette Henry will meet with them in the near future to look at that draft legislation,” Jones concluded.

The lack of sufficient regulations to safeguard all those who participate in the multi-million dollar sport has resulted in the sport regressing. There has long been a call from both horse owners and administrators of the sport for the legislation to be enacted.

In fact, the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) had sent a draft legislation to the then Sports Minister Dr Frank Anthony

some years ago.

However, that legislation was never discussed or put into law, and unless there is legislation in place, various forms of indiscretions by many unscrupulous horse and stable owners will continue to plague the sport. Once the legislation is passed into law, the GHRA would have the authority to impose the necessary penalties on horse-owners, trainers, jockeys and even bettors and spectators. Meanwhile, President of the GHRA, Vic Oditt said that the authority remained resolute in taking the sport to new heights.

“Sustain and maintain...

Kumar also spoke of the PPP/C’s significant investment in refurbishing the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the National Gymnasium and the Albion ground, as well as sprucing up community grounds across the country.

Moving forward

Meanwhile, Minister within the Education Ministry with responsibility for sport, Dr Nicolette Henry, whose presentation preceded Kumar’s, said government remains committed to exercising sound judgment and adopting best practices in its mandate to move the country forward in sport development.

“Mr Speaker with that being said, the fresh approach will include greater emphasis being placed on sports in school, and re-establishment of the national school tournament. Guyanese will become more sports-oriented, gaining improved access to sport facilities and opportunities,” Dr Henry explained. She added, “We are also going to review our national sports policy, which would articulate a role for sports in national development planning and take account of the importance of sports in the health and education sectors.”

In an interview with this publication last weekend, Education Minister Dr

Rupert Roopnaraine clarified that the sport allocation for 2015 is included in the Ministry of Education’s budgetary allocation. Unlike the previous administration, which had sport as a separate ministry, sport is now a department within the Education Ministry.

“At the moment the money is included in that lump sum [for the Education Ministry], so it will be a question of how much of that money we access to carry out the sports programme,” Dr Roopnaraine mentioned. How the monies would be expended is yet to be determined, the minister pointed out. In the 2014 budget, the then- PPP/C government had allocated $960 million for the sport sector.

GFC, Junior Jags football camp underway

Over 30 young boys and girls from the city and its environs on Tuesday morning started a football training camp organised by the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) in association with the Junior Jags Football Academy.

Under the guidance of club executive and FIFA Agent Faizal Khan, the camp, which caters for the 5-11 years age group, will be held for the next week from 09:00h- 12:00h.

Khan told this newscast that the aim is to have the camp on an annual basis, as the club is keen on maintain a high-quality multiage football programme.

“The first Junior Jags football camp has started really well and I’m grateful to all the parents and staff that have supported us so tremendously. It’s the first time for GFC doing this project, but something I have had experience in managing for years via UK company 360 Sports Coaching, which I part own,” Khan said.

He added, “It’s great to see over 30 boys and girls aged between 5 and 11 enjoying themselves whilst being drip-fed the basics in football in a fun, safe and developmental environment. Hopefully holiday camps like this can be a regular event on the GFC

calendar. We are running each day this week and still have a few spaces available for anyone with children interested in coming and giving football a try.”

While developing lo-

cal talent is a big part of the club’s plans, Khan revealed that the North Road club is also looking to secure financing to refurbish its football pitch and club house later this year.

Ramdhani, Mangra to participate in CAREBACO U-19 championship

Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra will represent Guyana in the upcoming CAREBACO (Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation) International Under-19 championships to be held in Santo Domino, Dominican Republic, from August 2023.

Ramdhani, who completed a High Powered Training Camp at the Pan Am Junior Academy held in Tijuana, Mexico, recently, and Mangra departed Guyana on Monday to compete in the Under-19 Singles and Doubles Events. Both players are expected to gain higher world ranking points at the completion of the competition.

During round one in the Singles event, Ramdhani will play Bryan Anderson Castro of Dominican Republic, while Mangra will oppose Ariel Cine of Dominican Republic. In round one of the Doubles event, the Guyanese pair will play Omar CaraBallo and

Cameron embraces T20s at Olympics

President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dave Cameron says that he would love to see cricket in the T20 format make an appearance at the Olympic games. Speaking to the T&T Guardian, the Jamaican said: “I do support T20s in the Olympics, I think it will appeal to a global audience, so having it there will be great for the sport.

“Another benefit of having T20s on the Olympic set up is that the smaller countries have an opportunity to compete in the format.” While cricket was played at the Commonwealth Games some years ago, it has not found favour with the International Olympic Committee.

Even the so called big countries that play cricket, seem not interested in having the sport in the Olympics. According to Cameron: “It is very difficult to get in because even in the cricket environment, the other big countries will have to agree. Some of the bigger countries are not in favour so this makes it very hard.”

India and England are not in support of cricket going to the Olympics, as the only ‘big’ cricket country that is supporting the move is Australia. Cameron continued:”We have to start by getting cricket into the Pan Am Games and similar organisations first to see how well it fits in and then we can take it from there.”

Way back in 2010, T20’s

push to be part of the 2020 Olympics received a major fillip with news that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to have the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved. However, while cricket — along with power boating—can now bid to join the 2020 games the ICC currently has no imminent plans to have the format included.

“They are recognised federations by us, which now means that they can take part in IOC events,” said IOC director of communications Mark Adams during a meeting in Vancouver ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics. A cricket tournament, played as part of the 1900 Summer Olympics, took place on August 19 and 20 at the Vélodrome de Vincennes. The only match

of the tournament was played between teams representing Great Britain and France, and was won by 158 runs by Great Britain.

Originally, teams representing Belgium, France, Great Britain, and the Netherlands were scheduled to compete in the tournament. Belgium and the Netherlands pulled out of the competition, leaving Great Britain to play France. Neither team was nationally selected. The British side was a touring club, the Devon and Somerset Wanderers (alias Devon County Wanderers), while the French team, the French Athletic Club Union, comprised mainly British expatriates living in Paris.

The two-day game commenced on 19 August 1900. Great Britain batted first and scored 117, and bowled France out for 78. Great Britain then scored 145 for 5 in their second innings, setting the hosts a target of 185. The tourists bowled out France for 26 to win the match by 158 runs, a significant margin, but with only five minutes of the match remaining.

The Great Britain team was awarded silver medals and the French team bronze medals, together with miniature statues of the Eiffel Tower. The match was formally recognised as being an Olympic contest in 1912, and the medals were later reassigned as gold and silver. (Trinidad Guardian)

“Sustain

and maintain what you inherited”

– former DOS not impressed by government’s approach to

sport

Former Director of Sport Neil Kumar on Tuesday took a swipe at government’s approach to sport, noting that it is imperative the new administration “sustain and maintain” what it inherited from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government.

Delivering an animated presentation on day two of the 2015 National Budget Debates, Kumar, who served as Director of Sport from 1994 to the time of the PPP/C’s removal from office in May this year, also chided the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) for not announcing an allocation for sport.

Kumar said he and his colleagues in the opposition were shocked when Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s budget presentation ended on August 10 with no mention of an allotment for the sector.

Kumar, who presided over the National Sports Commission during the PPP/C tenure in office, told the house, “This de-facto government has put aside a mere $77 million for capital works in the budget for this year 2015, while in stark

contrast, the construction of several diverse sport facilities around the country over the last few years was indeed motivational, and a tangible manifestation of promises kept by the PPP/C.”

He added, “We in the

PPP/C are proud of our record and we want to assure you that we would like to see this de-facto government sustain and maintain what they inherited from the PPP/C administration.”

Kumar, now the shadow minister for sport, reflected that before the PPP/C took office in 1992, sport had been neglected and it seemed to be heading in the same direction again with no provisions made for the sector.

“Neither the colonial masters nor the PNC saw it fit to construct or improve on any proper sport facilities in Guyana. As a result, even the prestigious GCC became obsolete,” Kumar highlighted.

He continued, “Today, it is with extreme joy, a sense of pride and a great feeling of satisfaction that I must say thanks to a man with vision, a man of integrity, a leader with substance, the honourable Bharrat Jagdeo,

GFC, Junior Jags football camp underway

that the Guyana National Stadium at Providence was built. Guyanese can boast that we have the best cricket stadium in this part of the world.”

The parliamentarian also reminisced on the days when he took office, reflecting that the NSC was a rundown entity, one which the PPP/C revived during its 23

years in office.

“When I went to the department there was not even a chair for me to sit on and the late Mr Ken DeAbreu gave me a chair. Further, there was not even a bicycle in the department. There was one old bus with a driver doing nothing. Thanks to the caring and responsible PPP/C government, when my services were terminated, the NSC could boast that they now have two working 4x4 vehicles and two 26-seat buses. I must emphasise that I left the NSC with a new bus, only a few weeks old, not a re-conditioned bus,” Kumar stressed.

He highlighted some of the major projects the previous government was able to accomplish, among them the National Stadium, National Aquatic Centre, National Racquet Centre and Squash Courts and the Synthetic Track and Field Facility.