Guyana Times Daily - August 1, 2015

Govt to award VPs and

Govt seizes control of Sectoral Committees from Opposition

RPA

saturday, august 1, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cops ignore his "death squad" and PM's "stake out" claims

Self-confessed death squad member Sean Hinds admitted that he refused to cooperate with Police during his 72-hour detention owing to the fact that they were only “shooting” questions based on his television interview and none about the “serious crime” he allegedly committed.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Friday, Hinds explained that he was yet to be told about the offences the Police claimed he committed over a period of time, including the most recent of staking out Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s residence.

He could not recall them questioning him about the alleged stakeout. His lawyer, Nigel Hughes, he added, was present during the interrogation and can attest to that.

“All they want to know is about who kill Waddell and

I bluntly tell them I will not say anything … they tell me I wanted for serious crimes, let them tell me about round one before moving to round two,” he declared.

He is now convinced that the Police have nothing on him and all they wanted to do was to frame him for the murder of Courtney CrumEwing.

“They wouldn’t pin me for that … I not in that and that is their intention all along… but after I went to the television station, they had nothing on me… I did not kill Crum-Ewing or was never a part of the plot to kill the man,” he stated. The ex-Police Officer was released on $100,000 bail and was asked to report to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters as requested by the Police.

Hinds told Guyana Times that since he was released on

Thursday evening, he was asked to report on Friday evening, and again nothing groundbreaking occurred and he was asked to return on Monday. When asked if he had the opportunity of meeting Regan Rodrigues also called “Grey Boy” during his stay at CID, he responded in the negative.

“I saw him on Thursday when I was about to leave and I only knew it was him when someone called out for “Grey Boy”. I have never seen him before,” he added.

“Grey Boy” was recently remanded to prison after he was charged with the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. While he was

on remand, the Police found out that the gun that was found in Rodrigues’s possession matched the one that killed Crum-Ewing.

Tight-lipped

He was questioned, but to date remained tight-lipped on the issue. As Police continue their investigations, they arrested Rajput Narine, a former bodyguard of the then Attorney General Anil Nandlall. Upon his arrest, Narine was questioned, but clearly denied any involvement in the murder of the political activist who was gunned down in Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara while encouraging residents to vote for the A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition.

Immediately after Narine’s arrest, his former boss, Nandlall also denied

his involvement in the heinous crime, since after the arrest and possible involvement of his former bodyguard, fingers were pointed in his direction.

Meanwhile, as Police continue their investigations into the murder of the ex-soldier, Hinds, also a former bodyguard of former acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba challenged them to find the real killers and stop making assumptions. He noted that in days to come, he will be releasing “more news” that will stun the nation. Ever since Hinds made several revelations during a television interview aired on HGPTV Nightly News, the Police had called for him to surrender claiming that he was wanted for serious crimes. One week later, Hinds turned himself in accompanied by his attorney, but was subsequently released three days later.

Former cop shot, left in drain at Tucville

An ex-Police Officer was shot twice and left to die at Turning Point Bridge, Tucville, Georgetown on Thursday evening following a gun attack allegedly by well-known gang members. The injured man was identified as 23-year-old Desmond McPherson of Lot 1 Meadowbrook Gardens, Georgetown.

According to information received, McPherson was shot and left in a drain at the Tucville sewerage plant. At approximately 23:00h, he was picked up by a public-spirited citizen who rushed him to the hospital where he was admitted.

Guyana Times understands that his condition has been listed as stable but serious. One of the bullets reportedly exited his body, but the other remained lodged inside him.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting are sketchy, but Police confirmed that an unlicensed .38 revolver with three matching rounds were recovered next to the injured man. Police are of the view that during the attack, McPherson might have attempted to shoot back, but did not have the time to do so. Attempts to contact the relatives of the injured man proved futile.

The former Police rank has been charged several times for robbery, discharging a loaded firearm during the course of a robbery, attempted robbery and break-and-enter.

In May last, Peter Mackenzie, a 22-year-old grass cutter of Meadow Brook Squatting Area, Georgetown, was charged and remanded to prison for discharging a loaded firearm with the intention to cause harm to McPherson.

According to reports, Mackenzie and McPherson had an old grievance and on the day in question, Mackenzie drove up to where his rival was, discharged several rounds at him and then drove off. McPherson claimed that Mackenzie then went and made a false allegation against him at the Police Station. Mackenzie was arrested and charged for the offence.

With respect to Thursday evening’s shooting, Police are trying ascertain whether or not the shooting might have stemmed from the previous incident.

saturday, august 1, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, August 1 – 05:30h-07:00h and Sunday, August 2 – 05:30h-07:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, August 1 – 17:00h-18:30h and Sunday, August 2 – 05:30h-07:00h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions can be expected throughout the early morning, with heavy rain showers expected in the afternoon. Cloudy skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-westerly to North-easterly between 0.89 metre and 3.12 metres per second.

High Tide: 05:00h and 17:26h reaching maximum heights of 2.84 metres and 2.77 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:59h and 23:18h reaching minimum heights of 0.37 metre and 0.43 metre respectively.

Govt to award VPs and 27

Ministers 100%+ salary increases

....while Public Servants may get 10% ...“reallocation of resources, APNU/AFC style” says PPP

The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) administration, despite having protested the “enormous” and “unreasonable” salary of previous government officials, is now about to announce massive salary increases for government officials.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan confirmed the assertion that had been swirling of social media to the Guyana Times. He said the matter is currently under consideration by the administration and the increase also extends to Members of Parliament (MPs) and basically all individuals who have a role in the House of Assembly. “The increase in Ministers salary is under consideration. All people that concern the House of Assembly, so that will include Chief Whip, the Opposition, Ministers, and Vice Presidents and so on,” he said.

Guyana Times understands that the increase would see the Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamootoo earning some $1.7M monthly an increase of over $200,000 monthly plus vacation benefits and perks that total more than another $500,000.The three other Vice Presidents - positions not existing under the previous administration - Sydney Alicock, Carl Greenidge, and Khemraj Ramjattan will earn some $1.3M more than double the $579,000 they would have earned as ministers. The vacations and other benefits are also one $500,000.

The fifteen Senior Ministers will earn now earn $1M -an increase of over $400,000 or 74% monthly. The 12 Junior Ministers will each earn $700,000 monthly and

like senior Ministers will be entitled to the $500,000 benefits. Therefore all the ministers- all 27 of them will also receive a duty allowance, an entertainment allowance, $45,000, housing allowance; chauffeur allowance of over $100,000 and annual vacation allowance of $420,000. The APNU and AFC, when in Opposition, had vigorously spoken out against the “abuse” of taxpayers’ money to fill the pockets of the “greedy” government officials and Carl Greenidge then shadow finance minister had written a letter in the Stabroek News just before the elections, complaining about the “lifestyle” of PPP/C ministers. He complained, “ PPP ministers have always paid themselves higher salaries than existed prior to their assumption of office...By 2014 the Minister of Finance was receiving $579,951,and today the PPP ministers’ vacation allowance at $420,000 is ten times the minimum wage.” Meanwhile, contacted on the issue, former Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali confirmed that all ministers under the PPP/C received smaller salaries including benefits. . Other Members of Parliament, who were not Ministers and of the Opposition, received a month-

ly salary of $166, 000 and a $20,000 Committee allowance. At this time, Guyana Times was unable to receive precise numbers for the increase in ordinary MP”/ salaried , excepting that it would be in the range of at least a 100% increase.

Public servants to get increase

Meanwhile, contrary to reports emanating from the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Opposition, Jordan said government is sticking to its promise to grant public servants’ salary increases, pension increases and VAT reductions. “I never said public servants salary increases will be put on hold. Public servants will be granted salary increase. It is in the budget, pensioners and public servants, there will be a VAT reduction in some consumer items,” he stated. However, it is unsure whether or not these increases will take effect this year or what will be the rate of increase. During the elections campaign the coalition had promised a 20 percent salary hike for all law enforcement officers and “significant” increase for public servants in the first year. This, the coalition said then was aimed at cracking down on white col-

lar crime. The starting salary of police constables is around $60,000.

However, when it assumed office Finance Minister, Winston Jordan had said that the new government was looking to increase public servants’ salaries by 10% who had also said that the administration also has to work on tempering expectations. Jordan said while it sounds good to have a 10% payout, it makes no sense if you have to spend more and “end up in a deeper hole.” He had said that although the figure is not definitive, he was working with his staff to come up with scenarios and costs for the achievement of the coalition’s 100-day plan. Jordan had said that people had the notion that whenever there is talk of an increase, “you have to find the money from doing something that will cost an increase in maybe inflation but no, it doesn’t have to be that all the way. There is a concept called reallocation of resources.” Former Minister of Tourism Ali, commented, “it is clear that the APNU-AFc government intends to ‘reallocate’ the country’s resources into the pockets of their bloated Ministerial portfolios. Even while stiffing the ordinary wage earners.”

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

Rekindling our past glory through Youth Innovation

If nothing else, the occasion of Emancipation Day always brings with it a degree of awakening among African youths – particularly those who live in traditional “black villages”, where some aspects of the culture are still alive and residents are not shy about their “Africaness”.

It is this euphoric feeling that Emancipation inspires that perhaps should be harnessed into more productive thinking and dreams that can be put to work in developing some of these villages and the people themselves. Enough is usually said around this time about the reasons for African Guyanese being economically dependent as a group and the countless claims of marginalisation bequeathed to us by our slave masters. But even after emerging from the horrific conditions of slavery, Africans were able to purchase villages and develop their economies through hard labour, persistence, and enterprise. It is this spirit of resilience that the occasion of Emancipation offers us African Guyanese again to retrace the steps of our ancestors and begin that journey as a liberated people.

This year’s Emancipation theme by the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) “Rekindling our past glory through Youth Innovation” is very apt, even as we witness another takeoff of black entrepreneurship. Although usually in small enterprises, there has been a greater willingness by young African Guyanese to take risks, invest in projects as well as a desire to own properties. However, the data clearly indicate the need for more black entrepreneurship if black Guyanese are to own businesses, generate revenues and create jobs in relative percentages that are more consistent with their demographic presence in this country.

Already there have been many examples in the mining sector, where young black men and women have invested and are now reaping the rewards. There are numerous other success stories in the agricultural and construction sectors and even the food industry where our African brothers and sisters have resisted the temptation of “eating their seed” and with purposeful planning have developed world-class businesses through the process of deferred gratification. It is, therefore, incumbent on these businessmen and women, along with the village leaders and our new Government, to create new paths for those to come by steering them in the right direction and providing the opportunities necessary for their success.

Another important avenue for increasing the pool of black entrepreneurs is to seek out young blacks who see themselves as “potential” entrepreneurs. On this note, the work of renowned economists Norris Krueger and Deborah V Brazeal (1994) as explained in a study “Entrepreneurial Attitudes and Knowledge of Black Youth” seems particularly relevant because they explain the importance of entrepreneurial potential and suggest how to develop potential entrepreneurs. They also emphasise according to the study that “a necessary pre-existing condition for an entrepreneurial event is the preparedness to accept an opportunity.

“Krueger and Brazeal note that preparation is a key element for creating potential entrepreneurs because “opportunities are seized by those who are prepared to seize them” They also stressed that perceptions about entrepreneurship are extremely important and set the foundation for becoming an entrepreneur long before an individual actually makes the decision to become one”. It has been said that those who wish to foster entrepreneurship must support and reinforce the perceptions that it is personally feasible and socially and personally desirable. As was said in this newspaper on numerous occasions, a significant avenue for achieving such impacts on potential entrepreneurs is through educational preparation. Entrepreneurship education is especially important because the idea of becoming an entrepreneur needs to be presented at an early age. It is against this background that the launch of Entrepreneurship as a subject at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) last year must be lauded, as it should give our children, particularly those of African descent some hope. We must, therefore, ensure that they seize the opportunity to empower themselves by acquiring the knowledge, skills and attitudes to achieve entrepreneurial success in a variety of settings. We believe that with the right conditions and preparation, we will witness in the not-too-distant future an expanded African business class, driven by the inspirations of those who have achieved success and with a burning desire to carry what the late Maya Angelou referred to as the “the hope and dream of the slave”.

Response to Complaint of Discrimination at Hugh Wooding Law School

Dear Editor,

The above captioned refers to the articles published in the Saturday, July 4, edition of the Kaieteur News and Monday, July 6 edition of the Guyana Times captioned “Guyanese Hugh Wooding Law students complain of discrimination” and “AG promises to address Hugh Wooding woes” respectively.

As a former Guyanese student of the Hugh Wooding Law School, while I empathise with my colleagues, I feel compelled to clear up some inaccuracies contained in the articles.

The HWLS is one of the three law schools governed under the council of Legal Education established under The Agreement Establishing the Council of Legal Education 1972 (Treaty). The Council of Legal Education (Council) per Article 1 of the Treaty consists of:

(i) The Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of the West Indies and another member of the faculty nominated by him;

(ii) The Principals of the Law Schools;

(iii) The Head of the Judiciary of each participating territory;

(iv) The Attorney-General of each participating territory; Under the Treaty every person who holds a University of the West Indies (UWI) LLB degree is eligible for admission to the Law Schools and every person who holds a degree of a University or Institution which is recognised by the Council as being equivalent to the University of the West Indies LLB degree is eligible for admission to the Law School, subject to the availability of places and to such conditions as the Council may require.

In the initial stages, the full Bachelors of Law degree (LLB) was not offered in Guyana but after deliberations and consultations,

Guyanese were permitted to do the full degree programme in Guyana. By the Agreement dated July 2, 1996 between UG and UWI, a framework for collaboration between UG and UWI was laid out. Essentially, it provided for collaboration between those two institutions in the University of Guyana LLB programme. However, while neither the Council nor the Executive Committee had considered the proposed terms, the Agreement sought to deal with Council of Legal Education matters. The Agreement provided:

2.2 That UG should not admit more than thirty-five (35) Guyanese nationals to the UG programme in law in any academic year.

2.3 That of these thirty-five (35) Guyanese nationals only twenty-five (25) shall be eligible for entry into the course of practical training at the Council of Legal Education in any academic year.

2.4 That the UG shall not cause to be submitted to the Council of Legal Education more than twenty-five (25) Guyanese for admission to the Council of Legal Education Law Schools in any academic year.

The revenue of the Council is derived from contributions from the Governments of the participating territories, from grants and donations, and from fees payable by persons admitted to the Law Schools. The fees payable by students admitted to the Law School, as referred to in Article 9 of the Treaty, mean the amount required to be paid by each student calculated on the basis of the per capita economic cost but shall be reduced based on the contribution of the respective Governments to the economic cost attributable to each student.

The regulation further provides that (b) “the economic cost shall not be fixed, but shall be

based on the per capita cost of maintaining each Law School for the budget year.

(c) The Council may from time to time increase the fees.”

Each student is required to pay all fees in full at the beginning of the academic year. However, under special circumstances the Registrar may permit fees to be paid in two instalments. Further, the Principal may extend the time for payment of fees in exceptional circumstances. It should however be noted that such contingencies and registration are at the discretion of the Registrar and Principal respectively and fall outside of the general regulation set out in Reg. 13 (2).

The total fees payable by students of the Law consist of the normal fees and the economic cost and vary based on the per capita cost of maintaining each Law School for the budget year (Reg. 13 (1)). This cost to the student is reduced where the territory from which the student hails contributes the economic cost as agreed in Article 9 of the Treaty. (For further reference see Reg. 13 (3) of the 2012 Regulations).

According to the Barnett Report Guyana was in arrears in contribution to the economic cost to the Council in the amount ofUS$252,706 as at 31st July, 1997. Guyana has since ceased to contribute the economic cost to the Council as agreed under the Treaty.

Consequently, Guyanese students are required to pay the economic cost along with the normal fees paid by those territories whose Governments contribute to the economic cost or are in arrears of less than 12 months or have approval for deferred payments such as Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Barbados.

I would also like to highlight that in the event a student of the Law School that

his/her interest is not adequately met or addressed, he/ she has recourse through the Student Association, namely the Student Representative Council (SRC) in accordance with Reg. 24 of the 2012 Regulations. He/she may register such concern with the Council in person or through his/her Group Representative or Year Representative. The SRC then interfaces with the Administration of the School to make representation on the student (s) behalf. Further, the school allows for students to evaluate the tutors and/or course directors at the end of each term in respect of the course content, manner of delivery, adequacy of materials and content of the manuals, effectiveness of the course and level of preparation for the course. Course Directors and Tutors are also available to meet with students, on appointment, to discuss and clarify areas of uncertainty.

In respect of assessments (assignments) and examinations, students are allowed to meet with the tutors or course directors, on appointment, to review same; and are also allowed to apply for an official review of grades awarded in accordance with Reg. 45 of the 2012 Regulations.

In light of all that is said above, the question must be asked “where is the evidence of the discrimination alleged by the students”? If the School’s administration is following the rules as set out in its Regulations as set out by the Council and applicable to all the Law Schools in the Caribbean, can they rightly be accused of discrimination on these grounds? All for your information and guidance.

Yours faithfully, Former Law Student Hugh Wooding Law School

The PPP gave away its ability to control violent crime

Dear Editor,

Ralph Ramkarran, in last Sunday’s column on the Sean Hinds saga reminded us about the problematic and dangerous nexus between violent crime and politics in Guyana. Ramkarran’s take on the crime wave from 1992 – 2008 and the so called “Buxton uprising” is based on two irrefutable facts: one, the crime took on a more violent and bestial form under successive PPP administrations, and, two, the violence associated with the “death squad” were intertwined with the endemic corruption within the Guyana Police Force.

Ramkarran must be credited for reminding us that there was an inherent ethnic element to the crime wave, a fact that seems to have gotten lost in the current revelations. Some counts put the death toll at 400 Africans who died in the killing spree. But Kissoon in a series of articles on the Buxton Insurgency as “Oceans 11” reminded us that “ the incontrovertible fact remains that a group of seasoned criminals with no scruples or remorse in raping innocent women, robbed and killed people savagely because of their ethnicity”, resulting in the murder of 29 Indian businessmen.

The one glaring gap missing in Ramkarran’s piece, as well as in the articles penned by Freddie Kissoon, is the lack of an analysis as to why the violent crimes escalated under successive PPP administrations. I wish to analyze this missing gap.

First, we cannot dismiss the fact that corruption is teleological, and if left unchecked, becomes endemic over time. Corruption is rooted in the Burnham/Hoyte dictatorial era. Choke and rob had evolved into kick down the door banditry, which has blossomed into the more violent crimes of the early 2000s. In the 1980s, many of the kickdown-the-door victims targeted were Indians, prompting elder statesman, Eusi Kwayana to refer to the latter crime wave as having “the flavour of ethnic genocide.”.

Second, when the PPP assumed power, police corruption that existed before 1992 was allowed to continue unabated, with Transparency International ranking Guyana at 124 (out of 175) in 2014, up from 116 in 2010. Cheddi Jagan in 1992, promising no recriminations, felt constrained that reforming the police force would have resulted in Africans branding the PPP as a racist government. Malcolm Harripaul, then a member of the PPP security detail, and a former officer of the GDF recounted that several members of the security forces had already “cleaned out their desks” but Cheddi refused to dismiss them. It was speculated then and later that the US might have extracted this inaction as a quid pro quo for brokering the transfer of power from the PNC.

Instead of making meaningful institutional changes - such as making the forces more representative of the populace - which would have placed greater confidence in law and order in the long term, the PPP’s response to crime and corruption was to place loyal and sympathetic supporters - some of them “bought” - to run these institutions. The result, after 23 years, as we have seen today, is that the police force became one of the most corrupt organizations in Guyana’s existence.

Third, the political violence that started with the Mash Day 2002 jailbreak gang of five dangerous criminals who set up residence in Buxton (it ended when Fineman was killed in 2008), was

related to two contributing factors. The first notable element was the expansion of the narcotrafficking trade. As the US State Department International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports have confirmed, while Guyana is not known for the proliferation of precursor drug- making chemicals, Guyana had grown as a transit country for marijuana and cocaine destined for the United States and other countries and is an emergent money-laundering site. The other related factor is the morphing of the criminal mentality with a political ideology. This was primarily done by the Buxton Resistance whose goal, according to Kissoon, was to let loose on Guyana “so that their crime spree could undermine social stability, weaken the government, create circumstances of non-rule and allow for the creation of an interim regime”. Kissoon admitted that “I have hard evidence that this was the plan. And figures in ACDA, the PNC and the WPA were solicited for advice and gave it”. Kissoon further argues that “the WPA leadership - Desmond Trotman, Clive Thomas, and Tacuma Ogunseye (who was essentially an advisor) - saw political usefulness in the Buxton factor.” He blamed the anti-Indian violence starting in February 2002 on four perceptions held by the “resistance”: Indians have taken Guyana from Blacks who built it, Indians are racists, Indians have all the wealth, and the Kean Gibson theory of a secret plan to exterminate Blacks in Guyana. Essentially, the politically-driven criminal escapees had adopted a cause to their crime plan, posing a severe challenge to the PPP, given their access to information, sophisticated weapons and growing support they received in Buxton. The PPP had proven impotent in preventing the slaughter of Indian businessmen, who found alternative (extra-judicial) means to protect themselves, with some looking to the death squad operatives for assistance. The PPP looked the other way and the business community greased the wheels.

Four, the intransigence, and the inability of the PPP to address the growing crime wave and corruption created a situation that further delegitimized the state. The PPP governed as if it was in office but not in power, with corruption, violence and the inability to stem the crime wave chipping away at its legitimacy, the government literally existed in a state of anarchy. Max Weber, the German sociologist defines the state as the entity which has the monopoly on the legitimate use of force. The state has to use its exclusive policing power to promote the general social welfare for the benefit of its citizens. When the state fails in this responsibility, and private citizens take it upon themselves to assume the right to use force, then the state becomes threatened with political anarchy. This was the situation with which the PPP government was faced after 1992.

After the Black Power rebellion in Trinidad in the 1970s, Prime Minister Eric Williams took actions to reform the military to create a balanced, as well as a professional force. The Discipline Forces Commission set up in 2003, of which David Granger was a member, made similar recommendations, among others. It is left to be seen whether the Granger administration will pursue these recommendations which are necessary in order to regain control of a runaway police department.

Sincerely

Baytoram Ramharack

The double standards of Government agents

Dear Editor, This letter is in response to Ralph Smith’s letter published in the Guyana Times of Saturday, July 25, captioned: “GEA exempt from forensic auditing”.

I agree that it seems as though President David Granger and APNU/AFC Government are hell-bent on giving the Guyanese people the false impression that they are committed to the building of a corruptionfree and transparent society since they entered Office. By such deception, the Granger Government is busily engaged in the forensic auditing of some 30 State agencies where their political cronies Christopher Ram and Anand Goolsarran, known opponents of the former PPP/C Government, have been appointed to do the job. But this double standard is vis-

ible mainly in the case of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) which has missed the Government’s forensic radar. Why is this so, and can the Coalition Government answer this question which makes a mockery of its forensic audits?

It is believed that since the head of the GEA is Mahender Sharma, the brother of Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma, the forensic audit is exempt for that organisation.

The APNU/AFC Government’s forensic audit exercise seems therefore to be just political hogwash aimed at deliberately targeting the former PPP/C Government which won the May 2015 elections, but was cheated not defeated.

The Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma, should be cautious in pre-

senting to the Guyanese people through the media, progress reports of the forensic audits of the 30 State agencies, since none is presented for the GEA. The Government seems to have forgotten that Christopher Ram was critical of the GEA not being a transparent entity prior to the May 2015 elections. What is his position now on the said GEA?

Is he silenced by the Government? This double standard is also applicable to Anand Goolsarran, Gino Persaud, Mike McCormack of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and others. However, the saying “do not bite the hands that feed you” and “who pays the piper calls the tune” seems to be quite relevant in this case.

Sincerely, Marlon Chase

Where is Latoya Smith?

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association has taken note of the decision of the Guyana Selectors to leave out Latoya Smith from its 14-player team to represent this country at the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Tournament next month in Trinidad and Tobago. With June Ogle opting out due to personal reasons, one thought that this would have been the ideal opportunity for Smith to come through.

It is a most surprising move, considering that this player has been improving steadily over the last couple years. The Guyana team returned from Dominica last

year where she only played one game and with nothing to do until the two Inter County games which Demerara played recently.

It would be interesting to know how the Selector came to this decision because there were no trial games.

With Smith being in and out of the Guyana team from the age of 15 and working so hard in the off seasons with Coach Orm Bailey and others due to no organised cricket tournament by the Demerara Cricket Board or the Guyana Cricket Board, one would have thought that at her present age of 20 years old, only a replacement for Ogle should have been sought.

This Association, her parents and supporters would be happy to know the reason she was treated this way, so that we can plan for the future. The criteria used for selecting this team would also be an asset to other teams if you published same in the media so that we can learn selection strategies. Please remember that Smith is the only player dropped from the squad that returned from Dominica after playing one game. Joan Vansertima suffered the same fate last year. We impatiently await a response.

Yours sincerely, GFSCA Organiser Wayne Jones

Stalled rice shipment to Venezuela stuck on city wharf

Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA)

General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj has reported that the shipments of rice destined for Venezuela which were left at the wharf were still there and now the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), which has full control of those shipments, was instructing millers to remove them.

“A miller told me that he is being asked by the Rice Board to take back the container that was legally under the control of the GRDB,” Seeraj told media operatives when prompted for an update on the situation.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder had reported that the shipments were to be resumed; however, according to Seeraj, the batches of rice were still sitting at the wharf.

Understanding that perhaps the best move is to find new markets for the rice, Seeraj’s contention is that the GRDB is responsible for the removal of the rice, not the millers.

“In the mind of the RPA this is not fair and it is also a strange action by the Rice Board, because, over the years, the Rice Board has always been at the forefront in terms of promoting the interest of the industry… it is not

a fair move of the GRDB to take custody of the rice and just because the markets have some difficulties to give it back to the millers,” he asserted.

Adding to his argument, Seeraj said the GRDB had to sign some documents with

the wharf authorities to authorise the removal of the containers and this action clearly demonstrates that it is the Board’s responsibility, not the millers, to have the rice removed.

He pointed out that millers will now be burdened with the expense of having to destuff the containers, repackage and find new markets for the rice when the GRDB should be assisting in this process. Moreover, Seeraj said this move by the GRDB may have some legal implications. On July 10, reports indicate that Venezuelan authorities had issued a directive for Guyana to halt all paddy and rice shipments to that country.

It was later clarified that Guyana had varied its schedule of shipments by increasing the rate of rice shipments which resulted in problems at the receiving end in Venezuela and Guyana was being asked to revert to the agreed schedule.

Bakery truck robbed; Police phone busy

Police in Berbice are investigating an alleged robbery of a sales/delivery truck attached to Ali’s Bakery amid allegations that telephones at the Whim Police Station remained engaged for more than 30 minutes.

While details are sketchy, initial reports are that about 15:30h an Ali’s Bakery canter went to make a delivery at a business at Bush Lot Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), when the incident occurred.

At the time, a salesman and a porter were travelling in the truck. Guyana Times understands that the salesman was out of the vehicle taking a customer’s order while the porter was in the vehicle when two masked men armed with guns ran towards them shouting and demanding that the salesman get into the truck. After he got in, one of the masked men raised a gun towards him and demanded that he hand over all of the money and phone cards that were in the canter.

This publication has been informed that $200,000 in cash and $500,000 in phone cards were handed over to the bandits. Not satisfied with

the booty, one of the men asked the salesman for his cellular phone, but he was reluctant to relinquish it. He then received a gun ‘lash’ to his head before the phone was pulled out of his hand. The men allegedly escaped in a waiting car.

The matter was reported to the Whim Police Station three hours after the alleged incident occurred. Police are baffled by the length of the delay between the alleged incident and the time the report was made to the Whim Police Station.

An eyewitness, Sunita Sadoo, the businesswoman who was at the time about to make a purchase when the incident occurred, confirmed that it did occur. She said about five minutes after the incident she tried to call the Whim Police Station, but her calls went unanswered. According to her, for 30 minutes she got a busy tone whenever she tried to call.

The matter was reported at the Number 51 Police Station by the salesman who was told that the matter had to be reported to the Whim Police Station. They arrived there three hours after the alleged incident. Police are investigating.

Republic Bank opens Surinamese subsidiary

Republic Bank Limited has welcomed a new territory into the expanding network of the regional financial Group.

Republic Bank (Suriname) NV will begin operations on Monday having been acquired as RBC Royal Bank (Suriname) NV from RBC Financial (Caribbean) Limited, through the purchase of Royal Overseas Holdings (St Lucia) Limited.

The transaction closed on Friday, Republic Bank said in a statement. The Suriname bank has a network of five branches in the capital of Paramaribo and one in Nickerie, and assets of approximately US$525 million (as at October 31, 2014). This brings the Republic Bank Group’s strategic expansion to nine territories, including Barbados, Cayman Islands, Cuba, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Guyana, and more recently, Ghana.

“We’re very excited about the opportunity to be part of the future development of Suriname and intend to hold true to our tradition of adding value to the countries in which we operate, both on a commercial and community level,” Republic Bank Managing Director David DulalWhiteway stated.

“Undoubtedly, at our core is a culture of providing excellent, innovative customer service. We believe in organic growth and have a well-established institutional track-record of successfully entering new territories, ensuring compliance and integrity, while investing in technology and the development of the country’s human resource capabilities.”

The Group’s regional corporate social investment programme, The Power to Make a Difference, focuses on strategically building successful societies through poverty alleviation, health care and youth development in the areas of sport, culture and education. The Group has already begun to look for new opportunities in Suriname.

Lutchman claims evidence lacking

…Court gives Party 14 days to respond

Representative of the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) List of Candidates, Dr Harold Lutchman filed a summons in the High Court seeking “further and better particulars” regarding the elections petition which was filed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) questioning the validity of the General and Regional Elections 2015.

The summons was filed some time last week and on Thursday, the Court gave the PPP/C 14 days in which to file an affidavit in answer to this summons.

Thereafter, Lutchman would have seven days in which to reply.

According to Lutchman, the petition lacks clarity and includes several statements that lack evidence. “We are seeking further clarification. Some of the claims made by the Party are not clear, let them clarify. You have to advance some explanations on it,” he told Guyana Times

One such example, Lutchman said, is the statement alluding to “huge

Dr Harold Lutchman

crowds” assembling outside polling stations disrupting the elections process.

“Where is the evidence of that?” he posited.

Asked for more statements that needed clarification, Lutchman said he could not remember them all “off the top of his head”.

The matter is being presided over in-chambers by acting Chief Justice Ian Chang and is expected to be called again on August 24. However, no date has yet been fixed for the hearing of

the petition, although more than a month has passed since it was filed in the High Court. The petition was filed by former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, on behalf of the applicant, PPP/C Executive Member Ganga Persaud.

Some of the grounds laid out in the elections petition include valid ballots being wrongly deemed rejected; Statements of Poll (SOP) used to ascertain the results contained arithmetic errors; multiple voting by persons and impersonation of persons; PPP/C ballot attendants and polling agents being prevented from accompanying the ballot boxes; and the fact that there were fraudulent SOPs. Another ground highlighted in the court document states that many of the SOPs used by GECOM and the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) to ascertain the results were not the Statements of Poll which emanated from the polling stations, but were fraudulently concocted and inserted into GECOM’s machinery.

Corentyne farmer found buried in shallow grave

Police in Berbice are investigating the death of a Corentyne cattle farmer whose body was discovered in a shallow grave at Skeldon, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) on Thursday afternoon.

Dead is Henry Lalman, 76, also called “Beminal” of Number 55 Village, Corentyne. The discovery of the body in a man’s yard was made as investigators probed a report of a missing person. According to the dead man’s son, Rabindra Lalman, his father went missing on Monday. He said his father would normally leave his Number 55 Village home about 07:30h and return before 17:00h daily; however, on Monday he did not return home.

“Lil before 7 o’clock in the night, the girl who does live with [him] call and say that he ain’t come home, an we start to call everybody.”

According to the younger Lalman, about 20:30h, they received information that his father had gone to Skeldon to collect money from one of his business associates. “The man does normally buy cow from he

… the man is a butcher. So when we call the man [Asif Hamid], he tell we that he an me father doing business and is not our business. Well, after that happen, I go to the Number 51 Police Station and make a report.”

Lalman said he journeyed to Skeldon on Tuesday morning to meet the butcher and was told the older Lalman had been there on Monday and collected $220,000. It was also reported that the cattle farmer had ordered some food and two pounds of beef from the butcher, but left

never to be seen again. That information was reported to the Police and a missing person advertisement was placed on two local television stations. The advertisement requested that persons with information call the Police. Lalman said that an old lady reportedly called saying that a man fitting the description in the advertisement had gone to the yard of the butcher and never left.

Sources close to the investigation say that the Police received a tip-off and went to the home of the butcher and discovered a shallow grave in the yard. The grave which was covered with a zinc sheet and dug under a mango tree was about three feet in depth. Lalman’s body was buried in it. This publication understands that the butcher was taken into custody and later confessed to killing Lalman. He reportedly strangled the Corentyne pensioner. It is still not clear why exactly he killed the elderly man, but Guyana Times understands that it was over money. Police are continuing to investigate.

saturday, august 1, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Farmer charged for torching Essequibo women to death

Twenty-four-year-old Darshan Sarwan was on Friday remanded to prison for setting the mother and grandmother of his common-law wife on fire.

He made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

Sarwan, a farmer, was not required to plead to the indictable charge of murder. He stood in the dock dressed in a yellow shirt and chequered trousers. He appeared to be at ease when the charge was read to him by Magistrate Scarce.

The charge was read to the accused that on Wednesday, July 29, 2015, he murdered Omrowtie Chammawatti, 74, aka “Bhohoo” and Chammawatti Caustury Persaud, 54, aka Reshmi, of 75 Huis t’Dieren

Public Road, Essequibo Coast.

He was then questioned by the Magistrate on how old he was, where he was living and if he was before the court for any other criminal offence. In response, he told the court he was 24 years old, from 19th Street,

Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, and it was the first time he was before the courts. He also told the court he was a farmer by profession and has been visiting the Essequibo Coast some two months now to conduct farming. He also told the court his wife Devika Persaud was pregnant.

According to the particulars presented by Police Prosecutor Haimraj Ramsewack, the accused was living with his commonlaw wife Devika Persaud along with her mother and grandmother at Huis t’ Dieren.

The details further stated that on July 28, around 17:00h the accused came home with a bottle of “Banko wine” when his spouse was frying potatoes on a kero-

sene stove ,and had an argument with her about him being hungry.

The now deceased women were sitting in the kitchen at the time of the argument and the accused grabbed the lit stove along with the hot oil and threw them on the women. The fire from the stove engulfed the women, burning them. They were rushed to Suddie Public Hospital where they succumbed to their injuries.

Autopsies conducted on the deceased revealed that they died from lung failure due to burning. The post-mortems were conducted on separate days by Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh. Sarwan was remanded to prison until August 13, 2015. He was not represented by an Attorneyat-Law.

Eyew tness

Emancipate your mind...

...from mental slavery

There’s a downside to some “catch-phrases”: they become so popular that folks forget what the “catch” was all about. Almost every Guyanese will hear Marley’s inimitable phrase that forms the title of this piece this weekend. But who thinks about the “mental slavery” that Brother Bob crooned about? Or whether some new mental chains have been forge since then?

In Guyana, we’ll be rightfully reminded that by Emancipation Day 1838, the freed slaves of Guyana saved their money earned during the previous 4 years of “Apprenticeship” and were in a position to purchase entire sugar plantations from owners, who’d abandoned them. Even though these planters had received a most generous “settlement” for their freed slaves, they took the money and ran.

Marley sang his song back in 1979. The original exhortation, along with the caution, “None but ourselves can free our minds”, was from one of the speeches of the great Marcus Garvey. But while Marley referred to the past...he was grounded in the present. Only the year before he’d brought together the bitter political rivals of Jamaican politics - Michael Manley and Edward Seaga - on the same stage in a massive “Peace Concert”.

Jamaica had become enmeshed in a bitter concoction of violent gang-cum political violence between the two parties that made our “2000-2008” gang warfare look like a Christmas party. As he held the two leaders’ hand aloft in his, he offered some advice that bears repetition this Emancipation Day.

“Just let me tell you something (yeah), to make everything come true, we gotta be together. (Yeah, yeah, yeah) and through the spirit of the Most High, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, we’re inviting a few leading people of the slaves to shake hands...

“To show the people that you love them right, to show the people that you gonna unite, show the people that you’re over bright, show the people that everything is all right. Watch, watch, watch, what you’re doing, because I wanna send a message right out there.

I mean, I’m not so good at talking but I hope you understand what I’m trying to say... I just want to shake hands and show the people that we’re gonna make it right, we’re gonna unite, we’re gonna make it right, we’ve got to unite.”

Sadly by the time Marley died three years later, the violence was even worse. The politicians hadn’t liberated their minds from the mental slavery that made them divide their people to the extent that they were willing to slaughter each other.

Will our politicians heed “Redemption Song”?

We need unity even more today.

...from only blaming

Your Eyewitness learnt in Sunday school that the Lord expressly said: “Vengeance is mine”. So it’s either the present Government believe that they’re the instrument of the said Lord, or they’re the Lord himself. Just look at the vengeance they’re exacting on anyone associated with the PPP. OK...we know Governments have to clean up messes and straighten out corruption and all that.

But surely that doesn’t exhaust the functions of Government? Apart from rooting out the “bad guys” (let’s give the government the benefit of the doubt) wasn’t there a Manifesto on which they were elected? Let’s not even dwell on the touchy topic of their “100 day plan”. How about rice...which has been in the news for all sorts of reasons? Their Manifesto they’d be “Exploring options for providing more appropriate levels of trade credit to farmers, millers and exporters.”

Even after one Banker suggested several initiatives on the above, can the Government point to ONE option they’ve explored?

But exacting vengeance is too sweet, no?

...from excusing criminality

Confronted with the explosion of armed robberies, there are those who “balance” it with white collar crime. Crime is crime.

Beat them all with the rod of correction.

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

GWMO hosts TIP awareness concert

The Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) on Thursday evening hosted a Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Edutainment Concert in commemoration of World Day Against Trafficking In Persons.

The concert was held at the Theatre Guild and Allison Butters-Grant, who is a member of GWMO, was the hostess for the event.

The event was attended by the Russian Ambassador to Guyana, Nikolay Smirnov; Chargé d’ Affaires of the British High Commission; representatives from the United States Embassy;

the Canadian High Commissioner Dr Nicole Giles; representatives from the European Union, and other members of the diplomatic community. The dignitaries were accompanied by Miss Guyana World 2015 Lisa Punch and representatives from Caribbean World Mission (CWM) who are visiting Guyana for a Youth Forum on Trafficking In Persons.

This year’s concert marks the second anniversary for World Day Against Trafficking In Persons and the GWMO plans to continue celebrating this specific day set out by the United Nations.

The concert was organ -

ised by Odessa Primus, who was one of the actresses at the event which featured performances by Kijana Lewis, Malika Edmonson, Keon Heywood, Mark Edwards, Melinda Harris and Colleen Humphrey. After the fun-filled concert, GWMO took time out to acknowledge its founder, Simona Broomes who started the organisation on January 25, 2012. The organisation issued a plaque to the Minister (in her absence) for her hard work and dedication throughout the years.

GWMO continues to call on victims to reach out and get its help. The contact number is 223-6978.

Govt confident new AML/CFT Bill fully compliant with int’l requirements

Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Basil Williams will be attending the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) conference scheduled for October this year, as Cabinet has approved his and other officers’ travel.

Minister of Governance and Patrimony, Raphael Trotman said he was confident that Guyana was in good and regular standing for the upcoming meeting.

“We received over the weekend an email, detailing a list of things that have to be addressed by the country; the regular list of things, compliance with [Financial Intelligence Unit] FIU and so on. From where we stand, it seems that we are on our way to restoration of credibility,” he told journalists recently.

Legal Affairs Minister Williams had said that Guyana would need to be in compliance by the time its delegation arrived at the FATF conference, or face being blacklisted. He said the country needed to move quickly because the American Regions Review Group (ARRG) had made some proposals which Guyana will have to incorporate into its version of the AML/CFT law.

Those recommendations he assured were entirely new, and were designed to

give a futuristic approach to the matter, noting that compliance with the passage of the Bill would have been the “crux” of the matter in satisfying FATF.

The AML/CFT Amendment Bill was first presented in the National Assembly on April 22, 2013. It was debated for the second time on May 10, 2013. Following its second reading, the Bill was committed to a Special Select Committee of the National Assembly for consideration. At a meeting held on August 2, 2013, the Special Select Committee agreed that the Bill could be presented to the National Assembly.

Amendments were made to Section 37 (A) and another section where the Director of the FIU was previously appointed by the Minister of Finance or the President. Describing the situation as “untenable”, the Attorney General had said that an independent authority will now be placed over the FIU with the National Assembly having oversight. This independent body would advertise for and scrutinise persons for the position of Director and Deputy Director of the Unit. The Bill was finally passed in the National Assembly on June 26 this year.

Guyana was referred by FATF to its Americas

Review Group in September 2014 and went before this body on two occasions, the most recent April 2015, to work on an agreed Action Plan with targets and six monthly reports to ensure targets were being achieved. These targets included legislative and nonlegislative interventions.

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had said that before its passage, the proposed Bill contained some provisions that have been rejected by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) as well as FATF and Government ran the risk of passing into a law a bill that may not be compliant with international requirements.

Meanwhile, Trotman said Government was still awaiting the presence of the Opposition in the National Assembly, so that the two political entities could work together for the establishment of the body that will appoint the new Director of FIU. Trotman said Government would not want to move ahead with this, excluding the Opposition. However, if the PPP/C does not show up during the required time, Government will have to go ahead and make the decision on its own. As it stands, the FIU remains the same.

On historical emancipation

Emancipation: the end of slavery

By Dr ODeen Ishmael

The campaign for the end of slavery gained momentum in Great Britain and it was expected that slaves in the British colonies would soon be set free.

Finally, on the 28 August 1833, the House of Commons in England approved the Emancipation Bill which was earlier introduced by Thomas Buxton.

The final Act, which would come into effect on 1 August 1834, stipulated that:

(1) Immediate and effective measures would be taken for the abolition of slavery throughout the British colonies.

(2) All children born under the passing of the Act, or under the age of six shall be free.

(3) All slaves over the age of six years would have to serve an apprenticeship of six years in the case of field slaves, and four years in the case of others.

(4) Apprentices should work for not more than 45 hours per week without pay, and any additional hours for pay.

(5) Apprentices should be provided with food and clothing by the plantation owner.

(6) Funds should be provided for an efficient stipendiary magistracy, and for the moral and religious education of the ex-slaves.

(7) Compensation in the form of a free gift of 20 million English pounds should be paid to the slave owners for

the loss of their slaves.

The Emancipation Act successfully ended one phase of a long and bitter struggle against a system which transformed people into beasts of labour with absolutely no human rights. Actually, slave society regarded the African slaves as mules and even referred to the offspring of a European and an African female slave as a "mulatto", meaning literally a "young mule".

As one phase of Guyana's colonial society came to an end, an equally difficult period began. The slaves were told of their forthcoming freedom and waited with eager joy to throw off their cruel chains and, in some cases, even more cruel masters.

It will be recalled that the East Coast Demerara rebellion of 1823, led by Quamina and implicating Rev. John Smith, was largely fuelled by the feeling that the planters were deliberately withholding news of the impending freedom of the slaves. In 1833, however, Governor James Carmichael Smyth did not make the same mistakes as John Murray did ten years earlier when he failed to make public a circular from Britain proposing certain improvements in the conditions under which slaves lived and worked in British colonies. It was this document which the slaves mistook at that time for the Emancipation Order, a mistake which precipitated the slave revolt of 1823.

Governor Smyth, however, had informed the slaves of the freedom date fixed by Britain even before that Act was published in the colony on 19 October 1833. However, he did not explain clearly to the slaves the implications of the apprenticeship system which was to succeed slavery.

There were some planters who were unwilling to comply with the Emancipation Act. Some Berbice planters announced their intention to remove their slaves immediately to Nickerie in Suriname before Emancipation Act came into force so as to avoid its ef-

fect. Suriname did not abolish slavery until 1863. It must be noted that attached to the Emancipation Act was the condition which bound most of the freed slaves to their former masters until 1840 and which required them to work on the masters' estates seven and a half hours each day for six days each week of the year. On news of their emancipation, the slaves were either too overjoyed to note this binding condition, or did not fully understand what it meant. Their masters, who were

generally bitter about it, and in opposition to emancipation, avoided all discussions and preparations for the changed status of the slaves on August 1, 1834.

The long-awaited day, Friday 1 August 1834, finally arrived. It was a public holiday and many Africans who were now Christians attended religious services. Others danced in their homes, in their yards and in the streets and the merry-making continued late into the night.

But a rude shock awaited all the ex-slaves early the following morning when they were ordered back to the fields and other workplaces. This caused great confusion since they failed to understand how they could have gained their freedom and still be forced to work in their detested old posts.

But this condition was part of the Emancipation Act - an Apprenticeship period of six years - where the freed slaves were compelled by law to serve their old masters just as they had done when they were slaves. The masters were required to provide moral and religious education for the exslaves, but the planters' hostility to the Emancipation Act as a whole really meant that they would treat this six year period as an extension of slavery, even though the working hours were greatly reduced to seven and a half hours a day instead of the nine and ten hours they formerly demanded of each slave.

There was disorder on the East Coast of Demerara and grumbling throughout the colony in this first week of August. The Governor appeared personally in various places to address workers and explain the obligations which now fell upon them.

The planters called for marital law, no doubt hoping to by-pass the Emancipation Act altogether. But Governor Carmichael Smyth refused this request.

Confusion and disorder broke out on the West Coast Demerara and on August 8 four women were sentenced to the treadmill for riotous behaviour and refusal to work. Five men were sentenced to two days each on the treadmill, and thirty-nine strokes with the cat-o'nine-tails.

The Governor visited West Coast Demerara and brought some amount of order and understanding to the workers. With the end of slavery, the plantation owners in Guyana received very high compensation from the British Government for the "loss" of their slaves. For each slave they received an average of 52 English pounds, which was the highest amount paid in any British colony. For a headman or driver, slave owners received as much as 230 English pounds. On the other hand, the ex-slaves, who had laboured to produce wealth for the planters and the colonial Government, received not a single cent in compensation.

Guyana gazettes Maritime Laws to delimit internal waters

The Government of Guyana has moved to enact the Maritime Zones in order to demarcate the country’s internal waters, provided for under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Addressing the National Assembly on Thursday, Second Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge disclosed that this was done on July 23, in compliance with UNCLOS and the Maritime Zones Act 2010 of Guyana.

The Maritime Zones (internal Waters and River Closing Baselines)

Regulation prescribes closing lines across the mouths of the three largest navigable rivers of Guyana – the Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice Rivers. Greenidge explained that the enactment of this legislation allows Guyana to “properly” safeguard its rights over the zones of jurisdiction through baselines.

tory to the internal waters, the seabed and the subsoil and airspace over the internal waters.

“Guyana has exclusive jurisdiction over its internal waters. Such authority encompasses complete access to and control of our resources, as well as full jurisdiction over all activities of both nationals and foreigners, and for all purposes including enforcement of its national laws and protection of the environment unless distributed by internal laws,” he remarked.

bouring country has remained resolute in its claims that the area which was recently found to have a very rich oil reserve belongs to it, and that the United States based oil drill ship operated by ExxonMobil was operating illegally.

send a delegation from the UN Secretariat to Guyana.

“The Secretary General stated his intent to dispatch UN Secretariat staffers to undertake a mission to both Guyana and Venezuela. He expressed his willingness to further discuss the issue with the Presidents of both countries on the basis of the mission’s recommendations,” the UN release stated.

a meeting held between the SG and President Maduro earlier this week, indicating his intention to diplomatically address the ongoing territorial controversy with Guyana.

Internal waters

According to the Second Vice President, Section 7 of Maritime Zones Act of 2010 enables the drawing of the baselines to delimit the internal waters of Guyana. Furthermore, he pointed to Section 8 which provides for Guyana’s sovereignty to extend beyond its land terri-

He went on to say that baselines establish the area where national jurisdiction is to be exercised. “Baselines constitute a fundamental aspect of the regime of zones of jurisdiction established by UNCLOS, since the breath of the maritime zones under national jurisdiction is to be measured from the baselines. The baseline is also the line which establishes the outer limit of internal waters in which the State exercises its full sovereignty,” the Minister stated.

In addition, Greenidge outlined that Section 9 of the Act empowers him as the Foreign Affairs Minister to prescribe by regulations closing lines to delimit Guyana’s internal waters. “It is in this regard that the Maritime Zones (Internal Waters and River Closing Baselines) Regulations of 2015 were enacted on July 23, 2015,” he stated.

Government’s action to delimit its internal waters comes in the face of renewed claims by Venezuela on more than half of Guyana’s Atlantic waters. The neigh-

President Nicolás Maduro had even issued a decree to this effect, but later withdrew it after it attracted much attention and pressure from the international community. Nevertheless, the Spanish-speaking country subsequently issued another decree, which purports to set all constitutional, legal and doctrinal elements, create the zone of integral defence and establish the Armed Forces’ tasks in all maritime areas of the country due and legally established.

On the other hand, talks continue between the United Nations Secretary General and President David Granger on resolving the controversy between the two countries. According to a release from the UN, the Secretary General telephoned the Guyanese President on Friday, informing him of his intention to

The telephone conversation comes on the heels of

While the neighbouring country is pressing for the UN to appoint a Good Officer to resolve the matter, Guyana is calling for the UN to let the historical controversy be once and for all determined by international law.

Two in custody after stealing boat and engine

Two men were apprehended in the Waini River, North West District (NWD) moments after they relieved a security guard attached to the Mabaruma Boat House of a boat and a 200 horsepower outboard engine.

Police stated that about 01:00h on Friday, the security guard on duty at the facility was confronted by two men who took away the boat and engine and made good their escape.

The Police were subsequently informed of the robbery and immediately solicited the assistance of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard. The two law enforcement groups went in pursuit of the vessel and found it along with the two men in the Waini River. The two men were taken back to Mabaruma where they were placed in custody. Charges are expected to be made shortly.

saturday, august 1, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt seizes control of Sectoral Committees from Opposition

The National Assembly on Thursday passed a motion for the Government, holding 33 of the 65 seats in Parliament, to be given the majority in the four Sectoral Committees.

Standing Order No 86 (1) makes provision for the appointment of the four Sectoral Committees, pursuant to Article 119B of the Constitution, as soon as possible after the beginning of each National Assembly. These are the Natural Resources Committee, the Economic Services Committee, the Committee of Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Social Services.

Furthermore, Standing Order No 86 (2) provides that each Sectoral Committee shall consist of seven members. The membership is usually proportionate according to the divi-

sion of seats in the National Assembly.

During the 10th Parliament, the Standing Order was amended to reflect the Opposition majority and Government’s minority, with Government having three representatives and the Opposition side having

four.

However, with the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition now elected a majority Government, the Standing Order will have to be amended again. Hence, Minister of Social Cohesion and Government’s Chief Whip, Amna Ally, moved the motion for Standing Order 86 (2) to be amended to now represent the majority of the new Government.

New reality

“It is proposed that each Sectoral Committee shall consist of seven members, four representing the Government and three representing the Opposition, to be nominated by the Committee of Selection. Further, Sir, that both the Government and Opposition shall be entitled to elect one alternate member for each

Sectoral Committee,” the Chief Whip stated.

Former Speaker and Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, stood in support of the motion introduced by his colleague Minister, stating that the reality of the new majority Government must be recognised. He added that this new amendment will reflect the original intention of the framers of the Standing Order.

“This motion commends itself…we are happy that it can be done without hamper, without interruption (and) without heckling,” he stated. The motion was carried with full support from the Government’s side as the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) continued to boycott Parliament.

After the 1997 elections were won by the PPP/C, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) used its

street power to bludgeon the Janet Jagan Government to its knees and extracted constitutional changes via the Herdmanston Accord to increase its powers as the parliamentary Opposition. A most significant innovation was the formation of four “Sectoral Committees”.

The Terms of Reference are: the Committees shall, in the discharge of their scrutinising role, examine all policies and administration, for each sector, to determine whether the execution of Government policy is in consonance with the principles of good governance and in the best interest of all the people of Guyana.

The Committees shall have the authority to: determine areas of Government activity for scrutiny or specific examination; request the Minister assigned responsibility for the sector to submit written or oral information, including Government documents and records about any specific area of Government policy and administration; re-

view existing legislation on Government policy and administration for any of the sectors; Summon persons to give evidence, scrutinise Government documents, papers and records; visit any Government activity or project in Guyana as agreed and arranged by the Committee and in the discharge of their mandate, utilise the services of experts, specialists and other sources of advice as they determine.”

The Chairperson and Deputy are from opposite sides of the Assembly. The Chairs, half of which are from Government and the other half from the Opposition, are rotated annually with Ministers of the Government barred from being members of the committees. In addition to their Member of Parliament (MP) salary, members of the Committees are paid a monthly stipend. The Sectoral Committees preclude the Opposition from claiming they are not au fait with Governmental actions in any particular area.

Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana still in Caracas

Almost a month after recalling his Ambassador to Guyana, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is still to announce whether or not she will return.

Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana, Reina Margarita Arratia Diaz travelled to her home country in early July, to hold consultations with President Maduro.

While sources at the Embassy here could not say when and if the Ambassador, who had been in Guyana for just a few years, would be returning, they confirmed that her departure was to meet with the President to have discussions over the territorial controversy brewing between the two countries.

Contacted on Friday, Embassy staff said they were unaware of the next move of the President regarding the presence of an Ambassador here.

In the absence of Arratia Diaz, the Embassy is be-

ing overlooked by Minister Consular Alonso Herrera. Early last month, President Maduro said he was calling in his country’s Ambassador for consultations amid an escalating squabble over oil exploration in Guyana’s waters. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) nation in June demanded that Guyana halt exploration activities being carried out by United States-based ExxonMobil off the coast of Essequibo, weeks after the company said it had discovered oil.

“It takes a lot of patience to process, digest and not vomit when one reads and hears the statements against Venezuela … by the current President of Guyana,” Maduro had said in a speech to his Parliament on the issue. He also ordered the Foreign Ministry to conduct a full review of bilateral relations.

Higher education will help develop Region – Granger tells UWI forum

President David Granger has emphasised the pivotal role higher education plays in unshackling citizens from the various societal scourges and opening the door for opportunities to have access to a good life in the Region.

He was at the time addressing the audience at the Ceremonial ToppingOff and Deed Handover of the University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine South Campus Penal-Debe on Friday at the campus site in south Trinidad. According to the President, his Administration is committed to the objective of securing a good life for all. “This, I believe, can be achieved by removing what I refer to as the four horsemen of the Guyana apocalypse: crime, disease, ignorance and pov-

erty… Investments in education, therefore, are investments in the good life.

Higher education in the Caribbean must be reconfigured to support greater innovativeness in architecture, agriculture, culture, manufacturing, medicine, engineering, the sciences and business,” he stated.

President Granger noted that tertiary education should contribute to the competitiveness of enterprises and make the Caribbean a zone of prosperity. As such, he remarked that access to higher education would not only be resolved for “the elite”, but for all. The Head of State pointed out education was the vehicle to achieving a good life and the Caribbean has sufficient talent and resources to ensure a good life for its

RPA complains about representation on GRDB, NDIA

The Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) is demanding an explanation from the Government over the lack of representation on the Board of Directors of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) – which is provided for in the Laws of Guyana.

The law stipulates specifically that the RPA must have three representatives on the GRDB and two representatives on the NDIA.

RPA President Leekah Rambrich, during a press conference on Friday, expressed utter dissatisfaction with the absence of the three representatives on the Board which has a critical role in the decision-making process that affects the rice sector.

“The RPA was shocked when the names of Directors of the GRDB and the NDIA were made public and not a single member nominee put forward by the Association was included on any of the two Boards,” Rambrich stated.

It was subsequently revealed, however, that only Rambrich’s name was included in the list of the new Directors of GRDB. Nonetheless, the RPA asserted that Rambrich was not even contacted by the Government on this development nor was he given the opportunity to accept or deny the position.

Government has appointed Claude Housty as the new Chairman of the GRBD, replacing Badri Persaud. Nizam Hassan is tipped to be the next General Manager.

The new members are Dr Peter De Groot; Rajindra Persaud; Jinnah Rahaman; Naithram; George Seales; Ricky Roopchand; Leekha Rambrich; Rajdai Jagernauth; Cecil Seepersaud; Dr O

people.

He added, “We need not be poor; we need not be ignorant; we need not suffer from debilitating lifestyle diseases; we should not be victims of violent crime.” Granger highlighted that in the Region, tertiary education was at the centre of regional integration and human development. On this note, he outlined that Caribbean states and their people must cooperate with each other and not compete

Homenauth; and John Tracey. The RPA noted that it would soon be engaging Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on the issue with the hopes of reversing or amending this decision. If however, the end results do not reflect the interests of the RPA, the Association made clear that it would not rule out seeking legal action.

The Agriculture Ministry, in response to these claims, pointed out that the GRDB Board of Directors had two RPA members: Rambrich and Roopchand. In addition, the Ministry noted that the representative of the Essequibo Rice Paddy Producers Association, Naithram; the representatives of the Millers Association, Dr Peter De Groot and Rajindra Persaud, and the representative of the Guyana Rice Action Committee, Jinnah Rahaman are all reputable persons who can make meaningful contributions to the industry.

In relation to the NDIA, the Ministry said the Board of Directors comprises representatives of the Water Users Association, rice farmers, cane farmers, the Finance Ministry, the Guyana Land and Surveys Commission, the Sea Defence and the Guyana Sugar Corporation. This, the Ministry noted, is in keeping with the laws of Guyana.

in order to achieve common goals.

Transformative education

“The Caribbean is a unique community. Our language, our location, our political culture and our diversity should be seen as assets, not liabilities. Higher education, in this context, must help the Caribbean people not merely to survive but to thrive in this place our foreparents made their home. We must be able to look beyond our painful past, our differences, the distances across the sea and even our current condition. We must develop the capacity to conceptualise a collective future made possible by a transformative education system,” the President stated.

The Head of State went on to say that change was essential and inevitable; hence, he urged that the higher educational systems be reformed to produce graduates who have the knowledge and skills to allow the Region’s industries and businesses to compete glob-

ally. He implored Caribbean nationals and students to be innovative and focus on long-term value creation, not short-term profit-making.

According to Granger, despite being a region of small states with a population of just about five million, the Caribbean has astonished the world by producing three Nobel Laureates, noting that larger States with more citizens were yet to produce a single Nobel Laureate.

“Caribbean men and women have distinguished themselves on the global stage. We have produced sons and daughters of eminence and excellence who are to be found in almost all professions in almost every country of the world. These persons are products of a culture of struggle which has traditionally attached great value to education,” he remarked.

Furthermore, the Guyanese Head of State said that the Region’s fore-parents saw education as the vehicle for self-emancipa-

tion, enhanced self-esteem, social equality, economic well-being and political representation. He added that they made untold sacrifices to secure a better education for their children than they themselves had.

In addition, Granger reiterated the UWI Vice Chancellor’s plea to the recent Caribbean Community Heads of Government Summit for education to be re-engineered so that the Region can be more competitive in the modern world. He was particularly forceful in advocating increased investment in science and technology in order to foster greater innovativeness. He concluded that all these elements will be brought together under a regional project to develop a world-class institution in the provision of higher educational services. This campus is a good augury for social and scientific education in the Caribbean, he noted while adding it will provide greater access for a greater number of our people.

Put the stakeholders first – Harmon tells GGMC

Joseph Harmon, Minister of State, with responsibility for the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), on Friday said that as the agency celebrates its 36th Anniversary, it must always put the country and its stakeholders first in its operations.

These comments were made even as he promised the organisation new and improved systems, which will be put in place to ensure that the Commission is effectively managed. Minister Harmon who as the time speaking to special invitees and staff of the Commission at the anniversary luncheon, at the Princess Hotel Guyana, said that the GGMC has the responsibility for the country’s natural resources and as such, should ensure that every action taken is in the interest of the country and its citizens.

According to a Ministry of the Presidency release, Harmon said President David Granger, during the course of the week,

met with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA) and several members of the GGMC, where it was expressed that there were many systems in place which were hampering the work and efficiency of the body and the mining sector as a whole. This, he related, included the increasing number of Court matters engaging the GGMC and the non-enforcement of existing laws governing the sector. “These are matters, which as a nation, we have to address because in the view of many, there are too many injunctions, tied up injunctions… So the whole systems seem to be tied up by injunctions … and this is something we will have to address.

He disclosed that the government has given its commitment to ensuring that the GGGMC operates in an environment which, “unshackles all of these archaic rules and regulations and injunctions that ‘tie up’ the Commission and make it an ineffective tool of the

State.” The new administration will be appointing a mining officer who will be responsible for dealing with regulatory issues. “Going to Court is wasting a lot of time and we were advised of the provision in the act for a Mining Officer, which is a particular magistrate who is assigned to deal with mining matters… We will explore that possibility to ensure that a particular magistrate is designated for that purpose even if it’s one day or two days a week to deal with mining matters so that these matters can be cleared up as quickly as possible…”, the minister said.

“We believe that the protection of our natural resources, the national patrimony, is a serious responsibility which we have to exercise as a Commission. It is the intention of the government to provide the GGMC with the resources necessary to carry out duties in a fair and fearless manner,” Minister Harmon said, to much applause from the audience.

Venezuelan Ambassador to...

He ruled out the possibility of armed conflict, but described recently elected President David Granger as a “hostage of ExxonMobil”.

Exxon, consulted about the issue in the past, had said its policy was to follow host countries’ and international law, and that border conflicts were a matter for Governments to resolve.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had also offered to help resolve the controversy.

Essequibo, a sparsely populated region of thick jungle, encompasses an area equivalent to around twothirds of Guyana.

Guyana has pointed out that Venezuela had agreed to accept as a final declaration on the border the ruling of an international tribunal, which in 1899 unanimously decided the border as it currently stands.

Venezuela says the 1899 ruling was unfair and insists the territory belongs to Venezuela, going as far as including it on its maps as the “reclamation zone”. The

Essequibo functions as part of Guyana and shows no discernible trace of Venezuelan influence.

At a meeting in Geneva on February 17, 1966, the Governments of British Guiana, the United Kingdom and Venezuela signed the “Agreement to resolve the controversy over the frontier between Venezuela and British Guiana”. The agreement established the regulatory framework to be followed by the parties in order to resolve the Venezuelan contention.

According to the treaty, a Mixed Commission was installed with the purpose of seeking satisfactory solutions for the practical settlement of the border controversy, but the parties never agreed to implement a solution within this Commission due to different interpretations of the treaty.

Guyana argued that prior to starting the negotiations over the border issue, Venezuela should prove that the Arbitral Award of 1899 was null and void. Guyana

from page 12

did not accept that the 1899 decision was invalid, and held that its participation on the Commission was only to resolve Venezuela’s assertions.

However, Venezuela argued that the Commission did not have a judicial nature or purpose, but a dealmaking one, so it should go ahead to find “a practical and satisfactory solution”. Venezuela also claimed that the nullity of the Arbitral Award of 1899 was implicit, or otherwise the existence of the treaty would be meaningless.

The fifth article of the Treaty of Geneva established the status of the territories. The provisions state that no acts or activities taking place on the territory in question while the Agreement is in force “shall constitute a basis for asserting, supporting or denying a claim to territorial sovereignty”. The Treaty also has a provision prohibiting both nations from pursuing the issue except through official inter-government channels.

Heritage Awareness Camp Completed

The National Trust of Guyana, in collaboration with the Education Ministry’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, on Friday concluded the fifth Annual Children’s Heritage Awareness Camp with 30 students successfully completing the programme.

The Camp had commenced last Monday and catered for children from 8 to 11 years old. The children shared that they learnt many things that they were not previously aware of, such as the many historical monuments and landmarks in Guyana, and enjoyed every day of this programme. However, some disappointment was expressed at the fact that they could not return the following year as the programme did not permit the participants to return, but the children that they would let their friends know about their experience in this programme.

The participants engaged in a quiz at the end of the programme based on what they would have learnt throughout the oneweek activity so that their

Tate and Lyle urges lowering of sugar production cost

The Government of Guyana-appointed Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sugar industry recently met with Tate and Lyle Sugars, one of the main buyers of sugar produced by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in an effort to gather information.

The Commission has been meeting with key stakeholders in the sector to forge the way forward for the sugar industry. In the meeting with Tate and Lyle Global Head of Commodity Trading Allan Wood; Vice President (Trading) Duncan Tate; and Vice President (International Relations) Mac McLachlan, several issues were raised by CoI Chairman Vibert Parvatan. These included: what factors would impact on sugar prices over the next three years; the probability of the levelling off of prices given the current world market price of 11.3 US cents per pound and the current European Union (EU) price for GuySuCo of about 15 US cents and what factors would influence such a move; Tate and Lyle’s view of its relationship with GuySuCo and how this relationship was seen in the future; whether the company would consider investing in the sugar industry; the areas, if any, where Tate and Lyle would be able to assist GuySuCo given its challenges. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, the Tate and Lyle officials reflected on their long productive association with Guyana and stated their continued interest in buying Guyana’s sugar. However, recent developments in Europe have made the sugar market very volatile and the primary

consideration is market price. With the removal of preferential prices which African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries like Guyana enjoyed, the developing situation dictates that producers have to be more efficient and that demands disciplined management. They noted that the price situation will become even more complex for Guyana when the cap on beet sugar production is deregulated.

They advised that the EU will be dominated by beet sugar, and cane sugar will have to compete with that. Even in countries that are major producers of cane sugar, some factories have been closing. They cited countries like India which is subsidising sugar production. Given these circumstances, they deemed the sugar market very complicated with too many variables to attempt predicting sugar prices. They emphasised that the cost of production must be brought down to be competitive.

Tate and Lyle officials indicated their willingness to provide technical advice to GuySuCo. All of the Commissioners were in attendance, including Professor Clive Thomas, the new Chairman of GuySuCo. GuySuCo’s top executives Errol Hanoman and Paul Bhim also attended the meeting.

On Monday, August 3, the Commission will be meeting with officials of the workers’ unions in the sugar industry – Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU); Guyana Labour Union (GLU); and National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).

grasp of the information could be evaluated.

Executive Officer Nirvana Persaud explained that the exercises the young individ-

uals experienced throughout the week were designed to test the children’s level of ingenuity and ability, as their projects included the development of sites from their perception as to what should be done to beautify and enhance the sites identified.

She shared that the programme’s objectives were to promote awareness and appreciation of Guyana’s heritage and the importance of its preservation.

The camp had also provided the participants with the opportunity to learn about monuments in various communities, heritage in our homes and daily lives, basics in model making, taxidermy in the Museum, basics in records preservation, and tours to important heritage sites in the city.

For their successful completion of the programme, the students received certificates of completion and other learning materials.

“Pretty Boy” facing murder charge

A28-year-old young man, commonly called “Pretty Boy”, was refused bail by Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday when he appeared before her on the capital charge of murder.

Edward Skeete, of 309 Independence Boulevard, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the charge when it was read to him. He is accused of killing Ryan Clementson between July 14 and July 24 while in Georgetown.

Edward Skeete, aka “Pretty Boy”

Clementson and another bystander were injured during a shooting incident near Arapaima and Jackson Streets, Tucville. They were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Clementson, who was shot in the thigh, succumbed.

Man remanded on armed robbery charge

An armed robbery suspect was remanded when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

Jermaine Wilson, 36, of 50 Front Road, West Ruimveldt, Greater Georgetown, was refused bail on Friday when his attorney failed to persuade the court to grant him his pre-trial liberty. His Attorney’s bail application revealed that Wilson has four children with his common-law wife and no weapons were found on his client or at his home, which

is near the Police Outpost. He added that Wilson was known to the Police as he lived nearby.

The Police are alleging that on June 12 at Front Road, West Ruimveldt, he stole a Samsung Galaxy cellular phone from David Whyte valued $840,000 while armed with a gun and a cutlass. Prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones elaborated on this. He objected to bail, stating that the offence committed was quite grave as was the penalty attached.

Wilson pleaded guilty to the charge.

UN chief: Small islands need partnerships to address

climate change, unique vulnerabilities

The global challenges facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like those in the Caribbean are the international community’s collective responsibility, the top United Nations official told the Security Council Thursday.

“Combating climate change, promoting sustainable development and addressing the vulnerabilities of SIDS will demand partnership, capacity and leadership,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told council members who were meeting for an unprecedent-

ed debate about the situation facing these countries.

According to a concept note provided by New Zealand, which holds the rotating Presidency of the Security Council for the month of July, SIDS face a range of peace and security challenges ranging from traditional armed conflict to transnational crime and piracy, illicit exploitation of natural resources, climate change and climaterelated natural disasters and uneven development.

Caribbean SIDS, for example, are

vulnerable to drug trafficking and gang-related violence, while unreported and unregulated fishing undermine local economies, noted the Secretary General.

“Taken together with the broader vulnerabilities faced by many of these states . . . these challenges can disproportionately affect national stability, fuel conflict across regions and ultimately have an impact on the maintenance of international peace and security,” added the Security Council concept note.(Excerpt from caribbean360)

Jack Warner ordered to pay nearly TT$900,000 for defaming Trinidad’s former AG

Comments embattled politician Jack Warner made almost two years ago could cost him almost TT$900,000 (US$141,748), after a High Court judge ruled that he pay compensation to former Cabinet colleague Anand Ramlogan for defaming him.

But attorneys for the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader say they will appeal the decision handed down by Justice Robin Mohammed Thursday.

A smiling Ramlogan emerged from the Hall of Justice in the capital after the Judge ordered Warner to pay him TT$600,000 (US$94,499) in general damages, TT$200,000 (US$31,499) in exemplary damages, and

TT$94,000 (US$14,804) in prescribed costs, for alleging on a political platform in October 2013 that the former Attorney General had corruptly obtained 51 properties. In a 57-page judgment, Justice Mohammed ruled that Warner had failed to provide proof of his allegation. Ramlogan had denied owning the properties.

During the trial, Warner, who is facing corruption charges – related to his role as Vice President of world football governing body FIFA – had told the court that what he said on the platform had been told to him by Ramlogan when they served together in Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Cabinet. He also claimed that he and Ramlogan had been good friends for two decades and what he said on the ILP platform was not intended to hurt his character or reputation.

But Justice Mohammed rejected Warner’s arguments, saying that the former United National Congress (UNC) deputy leader was seeking to gain political mileage ahead of Local Government Elections when he made the allegation. (Excerpt from caribbean360)

Caricom, the Vatican establish diplomatic relations; Haiti-DR situation already raised

There is now, for the first time ever, a Vatican Ambassador to Caricom. And already a suggestion has been made that the Vatican may be able to find a solution to the “looming crisis” of thousands of Dominicans of Haitian descent rendered stateless by the Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Court ruling on nationality.

The suggestion was made Thursday by Caricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque after he accepted the credentials of Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, Plenipotentiary Representative of the Holy See.

Ambassador LaRocque expressed “deep appreciation” for the work of religious bodies in Caricom’s development, particularly through education and for the social interventions that have largely been focused on the less privileged, adding that the accreditation of Girasoli provided an avenue for the Vatican and the regional grouping to work together on common issues of concern.

He further noted that Pope Francis’ emphasis on the issues of peace, equality, inclusion and responsibility resonated with Caricom which itself was striving “to build a secure, equitable and

viable community for all its people”.

It is against this background that he referred to the situation in the Dominican Republic, in which thousands of Dominicans born to undocumented Haitian immigrants, were being deported.

“What will become of these persons, many of whom have no ties whatsoever, social cultural or linguistic, to Haiti, to which they could well be deported?” LaRocque questioned, suggesting that there might be a role for the Vatican in finding a just solution to the crisis, given its strong influence in both countries. (Excerpt from caribbean360)

St Kitts tightens eligibility requirements for economic citizenship

Government is tightening eligibility requirements for the twin-island federation’s 30-year-old economic citizenship programme to block foreigners who have been involved in criminal activity from benefiting.

Parliament this week strengthened security and due diligence under the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme by passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2015.

Among other measures, the Act excludes people who

have been engaged in negative activities, such as terrorism and money laundering, from getting citizenship. It also provides for authorities to refuse citizenship in the interest of defence, public safety or public order.

Premier of Nevis and Senior Minister Vance Amory said the move was a step towards “reversing a bad situation”, referring to the concerns the United States, United Kingdom and Canada have expressed about the CBI.

“That situation came as a

result of a poor understanding of what the programme means to us, how it functions, and how it should be operated,” he said.

“We just need to look at these and get away from . . . not facing the reality of what existed and [what] now has to be done.”

Amory, who promoted St Kitts and Nevis’ CBI in Dubai, London and Singapore earlier this year, said the programme had benefited the country significantly. (Excerpt from caribbean360)

Man found guilty of raping 11-yearold child

A12-member mixed jury panel on Friday found a man guilty of raping an 11-year-old child, two years ago.

Forty-year-old Sherwin Sharpel, who gave his address as the “Interior”, was indicted with the offence of rape of a child under 16. According to the indictment, on July 10, 2013, Sharpel had sexually penetrated an 11-year-old female within the county of Demerara.

The trial was held incamera before Justice Dawn Gregory and the mixed jury panel. Sharpel

was represented by Attorney Leslie Sobers.

On Friday’s date, the presiding judge summed up all the evidence presented during the trial after which the panel retired into the jury room to deliberate on a verdict.

Some two hours later, the panel returned informing the court that they have arrived at an 11 to one verdict of guilty.

Justice Gregory deferred imposing the sentence pending the presentation of a Probation Report. This is fixed for August 6.

Ebola vaccine is ‘potential game-changer’

Avaccine against the deadly Ebola virus has led to 100 per cent protection and could transform the way Ebola is tackled, preliminary results suggest.

There were no proven drugs or vaccines against the virus at the start of the largest outbreak of Ebola in history, which began in Guinea in December 2013.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the findings, being published in the Lancet, could be a “game-changer”.

Experts said the results were “remarkable”.

This trial centred on the VSV-EBOV vaccine, which was started by the Public Health Agency of Canada and then developed by the pharmaceutical company Merck.

It combined a fragment

Palestinians bury baby killed in West Bank arson attack

Hundreds of mourners have attended the funeral of the 18-month old Palestinian baby, killed in an arson attack in the occupied West Bank, as Palestinian leaders condemned Israel’s policy on settlements and dubbed the attack as “war crimes”.

Family members buried Ali Saad Dawabsheh on Friday afternoon, as his four-year-old brother and their parents, both in extremely critical condition for major burns, are being treated at an Israeli hospital.

Clashes erupted in Hebron following the funeral, and one person was re-

portedly shot and wounded by Israeli troops.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyuhu’s settlement policy is to be blamed for the attacks in the West Bank.

“When the Israeli Government encourages settlements everywhere, they’re also encouraging these thugs to carry out these attacks. This is a war crime and a tragedy for all of us.”

“If the Israeli Government and the Israeli Army wanted to prevent the crime, they could have stopped the terrorists but

they chose not to.”

The Hamas Government in Gaza has also condemned the latest incident, and called for “a day of fury in response to the relentless Zionist assaults on Jerusalem and the murder of toddler Ali in Nablus”.

According to the United Nations, there had been at least 120 attacks by Israeli settlers since the beginning of 2015.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a rare telephone call to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, condemning the murder of the toddler and pledging a thorough investigation. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

of the Ebola virus with another safer virus in order to train the immune system to beat Ebola.

A unique clinical trial took place in Guinea. When

a patient was discovered, their friends, neighbours and family were vaccinated to create a “protective ring” of immunity.

One hundred patients

were identified in the trial between April and July and then close contacts were either vaccinated immediately, or three weeks later. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18 emancipation messages

saturday, august 1, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

GAWU’s Emancipation 2015 Message

GAWU, yet again joins in the national celebration marking the one hundred and seventy-seventh (177th) anniversary of the emancipation of the forefathers of our African Guyanese citizenry. This has become a joyful tradition and one which holds great significance for us. Freedom from physical bondage which brought on unspeakable brutality and exploitation spawned by colonialism/capitalism was undoubtedly a step along the way to our independence, the breaking of the colonial relationships and the forging of a Guyanese nation.

It must be noted that freedom in 1838 was won and attained from the heroic and self-sacrificing struggles

Cuffy

of the slaves. Today, we must not only embrace those struggles but they should inspire us as a people to jealously guard our independence and our general sovereignty in times when renewed efforts are being, more and more, seen to re-establish colonial relations in various regions of the world.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) recognizes the major contribution of the descendants of those freed African slaves in the continuous development of Guyana and in all areas of our country’s life – sport, culture, politics, security, foreign service. So many have received acclaim regionally and internationally too.

Not only our Afro-

Guyanese citizens but, indeed, our country has come a far way in these past 176 years. We overcame many hurdles, much of which have been rooted in the intrigues of the colonialists and their local collaborators. In our celebration, therefore, we should take pride in the progress made against all odds and let our achievements motivate us all to reach yet greater heights and record other sparkling achievements for our individual lives, our family and in our society as a whole. Though our times are serious and challenging, we can draw strength and heed the lessons from our forefathers – our hopes for a better life, society and world are realizable in our unity and principled struggles.

250 salutes Afro-Guyanese on

TEmancipation Day

he Cuffy 250 Committee joins with the rest of Guyana in saluting the African Guyanese community on the observance of the 177th anniversary of the formal abolition of slavery. We urge that as we celebrate we should not ignore the uncomfortable truth about the state of the African Guyanese community. African Guyanese communities have been persistent victims of discrimination, stereotyping, and state violence. Stripped of their

organizations, knowledge of and pride in their history and of their economic base, the African Guyanese community is in a worse state than it was in 1838.

In this regard, this year’s observances should serve as a reminder to all Guyanese, especially those charged with governance at all levels, of the Emancipation promise of liberty, freedom and equality. Cuffy 250 calls for a determined commitment, in word and deed, by government to make good on those promises;

a commitment that must go beyond festivities.

African Guyanese must also participate in the restoration of its equal standing in Guyana. We again urge African Guyanese begin to plan as a collective to lift itself. We in Cuffy 250 will set the ball rolling at our Third Annual State of the African Guyanese Forum to be held on Sunday, August 9 at 10:00h at the Critchlow Labour College where we intend to raise anew the quest for ethnic equality in Guyana.

Guyana Trades Union Congress

177 years ago the cry of freedom reverberated throughout the British Commonwealth. It was the cry of Africans, enslaved for hundreds of years in chattel slavery, now free! The achievement of emancipation, which was not without struggles, was among the first major accomplishment in a people’s march for self-determination. It is a march that has been paved with setbacks, challenges and achievements. Most importantly, this experience ought to serve as reminder that freedom was/is never free. Freedom requires eternal vigilance and sacrifices to preserve and defend gains, even

as achievements are marked along the way, and work is intensified to strengthen, deepen and advance the cause.

The United Nations Declaration fortifies the principle that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights….are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” This principle is safeguarded in the Constitution, notably, Title 1 that guarantees the ‘Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.’ These instruments serve as reminder that the struggle must not cease until attainment is achieved

for all. And though the African community has much to be proud of, there remain concerns that ought to be addressed. Among the accomplishments are the roles played in laying the foundation of modern Guyana such as the establishment of the Village, Cooperative and Labour movements. Among concerns are the community’s socio-economic status and treatment in the political order. Thus it means the struggle for equality and freedom must continue. As this generation marks the achievement of their ancestors 177 years ago may efforts be redoubled to safeguard and build on it.

FITUG’s Emancipation Message

The history of a nation is, essentially, the story of its people, “History” connotes past. And the past of a people – their arrivals, encounters, set-backs, challenges and achievements – must be recorded, remembered and studied in depth and objectively simply because people make nations.

Guyana is not one of the homogenous societies of this world. It is comprised of its indigenous people and descendants coming from Europe, Africa and Asia. These groups have had their varied and rich stories inter-woven into one tapestry titled “Guyana”. Against these brief reflections, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) shares sentiments

of observances and celebration with our Afro-Guyanese community on another anniversary of Emancipation from European slavery which dates back to 1838. We join with them and, indeed, the nation to reflect, and celebrate the outstanding achievements and encourage our brothers and sisters to plan constructively to pursue an even better future.

Every year, at this time, FITUG never tires in emphasizing the historical fact that it was the 1834-1838 freedom of slaves and their preparation for their liberty from sugar plantation bondage, which ushered in the arrival of those original groups from Madeira (Portugal), China, India and elsewhere. Therefore, no emancipation,

no arrival. Thus, it was this historic process that is largely responsible for us being here today as Guyana’s citizens. FITUG honours and respects the sacrifices and victories and contributions over the years of our forefathers to our national progress. The FITUG now recognizes the Afro-Guyanese sterling contributions in Mining, Construction, Fisheries, Arts and Craft sectors of the economy, Entertainment, Sport and indeed in the professions. Today, despite the advances made, our nation still face difficulties aggravated by a troubled world. FITUG sees the need for unity in these times, a main factor to help us face current challenges and score other victories.

GCB receives signed Amazon Warriors bat Junior hockey team off to T&T for Players Tournament

Team Operations Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Omar Khan, on Thursday evening presented an autographed cricket bat to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) during a simple cere -

mony in the main pavilion of the world-famous Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda.

The branded bat bears the signatures of the players who represented the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the just-con -

cluded Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which was won by the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel over last year’s champions Barbados Tridents last Sunday.

The Amazon Warriors finished in third spot overall, after losing the Eliminator clash against the eventual champions the day before.

Khan, in presenting the bat to GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie, said he was happy to do so, on behalf of the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise.

Sanasie, a Director of the West Indies Cricket Board, expressed gratitude to Khan and the Amazon Warriors franchise, adding that the bat will occupy a special space in the office of the GCB on Regent Street.

Also present at the simple handing over ceremony was GCB’s Assistant Administrator, Melinda Bishundyal Chaitram.

Guyana’s national junior men’s hockey team departed on Wednesday afternoon for Trinidad and Tobago to compete in the Players Tournament, which is scheduled for August 1-8.

This is the second phase in the Guyana Hockey Board’s three-year programme, which has received partial support from the Guyana Olympic Association through a team preparation grant.

The programme is designed to prepare a squad to represent Guyana at the Pan American Junior Championships, which takes place in Toronto, Canada, in June of 2016.

The players had their first intense training session on the artificial surface

on Thursday morning at the National Hockey Centre.

Although this will be the first time any of the players have been exposed to an international outdoor tournament of this level, the coaching staff have high expectations of the team which have shown steady improvement since their developmental tour in December

2014.

Their coaching staff explained that the team’s focus will be on efficient execution and adjusting to the speed and high level of intensity which the artificial turf provides for the international game. The side will rely heavily on the poise

NBA in Africa? ‘Stay tuned’ for regular – season game

The NBA is in Africa for an exhibition, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expects more important games to come.

“Stay tuned,” Silver said Thursday as 20 NBA stars, including Chris Paul and Luol Deng, prepare to play at a small arena in downtown Johannesburg — the first NBA game of any kind in Africa. “This is an experiment of sorts.”

Although he didn’t give an exact time frame, Silver said a preseason game and then a regular-season game on the continent was the logical progression for the NBA, which is on a “fast track” to build a brand in soccer-crazy Africa.

“Part of why I’m here is to continue to investigate new facilities,” Silver said. “We would want a larger, more modern arena for a regular or pre-season game here. And it’s also to test the response here. These things just take time, but I’m very confident that in the nottoo-distant future we will be playing, to begin with, a pre-season game on the continent of Africa.”

Having already explored possibilities in China and Europe, Africa’s next for the NBA, which

has brought some big names — coaches as well as players — to Johannesburg for Saturday’s exhibition game at Ellis Park Arena.

There’s Paul, an eight-time All Star, who will captain Team World. Deng, a two-time All Star, will lead a Team Africa. Pau and Marc Gasol have also made the trip, as has San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and coach of the year Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks. Also on the rosters are Al-Farouq Aminu and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who both have parents from Nigeria.

This game’s the next step in

the league’s links to Africa that began with the first-round draft of Hakeem Olajuwon by the Houston Rockets in 1984, Silver said. Olajuwon, who is from Nigeria and is part of this trip to South Africa as an NBA ambassador, went on to become a two-time NBA champion and 12-time All Star.

The NBA’s presence in Africa, and particularly southern Africa, is still comparatively small. On Saturday, the stars will play at an old, 4,000-seat arena, tiny for NBA standards. But it’s sold out and it’s a start, Silver told a small group of reporters at his hotel.

“What I’d like to see is a group of some of our very best players showcasing the game, demonstrating how fun and exciting the game is,” Silver said. “The players are bringing their talents direct to Johannesburg as opposed to people getting it off media.”

The low profile of the NBA in South Africa can also work in players’ favor for now, with some of the NBA’s top names walking around their hotel lobby in suburban Johannesburg unnoticed by locals.

Some of them will use the offseason trip to go on a safari and visit the foundation of late South

African president Nelson Mandela, Silver said, among other excursions. There will also be visits to museums, and coaching clinics in poorer neighborhoods around Johannesburg. Even Silver, who got married recently, said he was taking the opportunity for a honeymoon after the game. He and his wife will go to the Seychelles, off the east coast of Africa.

Silver said there was a large amount of “symbolism” to the NBA’s visit to Africa and its first game on the continent, comparing it in some ways to President Barack Obama’s recent trips to Kenya and Ethiopia.

“(It’s) so much more than just a game,” Silver said.

Adding to the symbolism, the Team World versus Team Africa exhibition will take place at the same stadium complex where the late Mandela famously wore a South African rugby jersey to a game in 1995 to help unite the country as it emerged from apartheid, the story told in Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus” movie.

The NBA players were aware of that connection, Silver said, after they attended talks this week by members of the league’s Africa office. (Digicel Sportsmax)

and experience of national senior players Andrew Stewart, Aroydy Branford and Captain Mark Sargeant since most of the team is young and inexperienced. The squad reads: Mark Sargeant (Captain); Medroy Scotland; Daniel Hooper; Kareem McKenzie; Keon McKenzie; Meshach Sargeant; Rosario Ramsammy; Eleomar Silva; Andrew Stewart; Aroydy Branford; Leon Bacchus; Stephon Sprosta; Deheron Wilkinson; Troy Hodge; Ato Greene; Hilton Chester; Paramanand Dindial and Shemar Boston. The Coaches are Dwayne Alleyne and Robert Fernandes, and the Manager is Devin Hooper.

responds to protest filed by GFF

The Fédération Internationale de Football Associations (FIFA) has responded to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) protest over the use of a player (James Garvin) by the St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVGFF) Football Federation.

The GFF on June 16 had requested FIFA’s investigation and adjudication on a possible violation of the FIFA rules by the SVGFF for fielding a player not in possession of a St Vincent and the Grenadines Passport during the World Cup Qualification match on June 14, 2015 at the Guyana National Stadium.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled that “after careful examination of all the requested information and documentation, it was considered that no further intervention was necessary in such context”.

The GFF is presently seeking legal advice on whether to appeal the ruling to the FIFA Appeals Committee.

Guyana has hidden talent despite Pan American performance

Guyana is not only the Land of Many Waters, but also proved to be the land of many talents during the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. The dynamic threeman Guyanese squash team proved to be a force to be reckoned with.

Players Sunil Seth, Kristian Jeffrey and Jason Ray Khalil entered the court with utmost determination and pride and displayed amazing sportsmanship qualities even through defeat.

The players competed in singles, doubles and of course as a team , with squash sensation Sunil Seth starting off the Men’s Singles with a win. Twenty-four-year-old Seth defeated Guatemala’s Mauricio’s Sedano 11-9, 119, 11-5.

“I felt relieved. Being seeded I was expected to win, so I felt there was pressure on me,” says Seth. It was evident that no matter what, win or lose they were a united team.

“The team fought hard! I’m so proud of Kristian and Jason. They gave 110 per cent. Kristian had gotten compartment syndrome in his leg and it’s very painful,” says Seth. “The next event is next month, August 16th in the Cayman Islands, it’s

the Caribbean Area Squash Championships. It’s going to be huge. Our top four players are ranked inside the top 200.”

However, it wasn’t the squash team alone that did Guyana proud. The Pan American Games also welcomed Guyanese athletes to compete in rugby, badminton, swimming and athletics. Super siblings Priyanna Ramdhani and Narayan Ramdhani played hard in both singles and doubles in

badminton. Although they didn’t walk away with a medal, their sportsmanship and hard work was a win on their own.

“I would say it was good exposure for me as a player to develop my game,” says Narayan Ramdhani. “My favourite memory was meeting new people and having fun.”

From land to water Guyanese athletes excelled. Eighteen-year-old Omar Adams made a splash as he gave memorable swimming

performances during the Men’s 50, 100 and 200 metres freestyle.

The audience at the Pan Am Sports Centre in Scarborough watched in awe as he took off. Swimmer Onika George also competed with courage, determination and tenacity throughout the Women’s 50 metre and 100 metre freestyle.

The rugby team also gave a commendable effort as they took on Canada, Argentina, Brazil, the United States, and

Chile and secured a win over Mexico.

Twenty-four-year-old Jenea McCammon left her opponents in the dust as she competed in the 400-metre hurdles at the York University Athletics Stadium in Toronto. Joining her in the field of athletics was Adam Harris running the 100 metres.

Twenty-eight-year-old Harris’s athletics past includes the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, 2011

Pan Am Games and the International Association of Athletics Federations world championships in 2009 and 2013.

However, it was Winston George during the Men’s 400 metres who had everyone on the edge of their seats as he dashed to the finish line and qualified for the 400 metre final on July 23. Although George did not win a medal, his performance was outstanding without a doubt.

The Pan Am Games were exhilarating yet taxing on all of the athletes that participated. Thanks to the Queen City Yacht Club, the athletes enjoyed a day out on Lake Ontario for a relaxing afternoon sail.

Brian Chung, Andy Gomez and Eon Anson who are all expats of Guyana made this beautiful outing possible. The athletes along with their delegation were invited to kick back and take in the beautiful Toronto’s skyline.

As the 2015 Pan Am Games came to a close in Toronto, we wish the Guyanese athletes the best of luck in their future endeavours and know they will continue to make their land proud. (Emily SinghCarib101 Media Corp)

Clive Gobin memorial

cricket starts August 9

The heat is beginning to intensify in the Cinderella County of Essequibo as the Zorg Commemoration Committee amplifies preparations to kickstart the Clive Gobin memorial cricket competition, organised by Forbes Daniels.

Spokesperson for the Committee, Raoul Ruplal, explained that the cricket competition will be played in a round-robin format via a points system, and will feature Under-15 teams from North, South and Central Essequibo, along with the Essequibo open female team.

These four teams will clash at the Zorg Sports

Club Ground in exciting 25over bouts commencing from August 9 and culminating on August 30 at the “Zorg Village Day” event hosted by the Zorg Commemoration Committee.

The two finalists will clash for the Clive Gobin memorial championship cup. According to Ruplal, the aim of the Zorg Commemoration Committee is to make the Clive Gobin memorial cricket competition an annual event, as tremendous support is anticipated.

“Business entrepreneurs around the area are very pleased thus far with the work of the Committee and the initiatives generat-

ed there from, and this is reflected by the large support the Committee has so far received from business in an effort to help make the Zorg Village Day, as well as the Clive Gobin memorial cricket competition a success,” a release from the organisers stated.

The Commemoration Committee would like to extend gratitude to all the sponsors onboard so far, especially Derrick Gobin Agri Spares.

“We would like to urge other businesses to come onboard with us so that we can have a successful cricket competition and by extension a successful village day,” the release concluded.

YELLOW PAGES

saturday, august 1, 2015

Need a car to rent? Then call 6111018 for the best cars at great prices.

SHALOM ENTERPRISE 2 CROAL STREET, STABROEK. INQUIRE ABOUT OUR DRIVING PACKAGE & INTERNATIONAL DRIVER'S PERMIT (JOIN US ON FACEBOOK) 2273869/622-8162/644-7052

Two bedroom upstairs apartment.

$60,000 monthly with parking. Couples preferable. Tel 233-2607 / 644-7089

Three Storey 75ft’x 30ft’ bldg, open floors, 2 offices, 2 washrooms, driveway. 25B Princess St, Charlestown. Tel : 223-0654, 225-0605

Two Self contained single bedroom furnished apartments for rental. Self contained 7 bedroom bungalow idea for family/ guests/ students local or overseas long/ short term rental. Contact # 622-7097 / 624-7111

eduCatIon One property Ogle, One property Anna Catherina, One property Good Hope. Contact: 222-3060/6735546/622-6448/679-0987

Property for Sale, big price drop at Leonora housing scheme. New house , 2 storey, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, double garage, tiled yard. From 30 m-25m. Tel: 651-3601/268-2277 PRIVATE CUSTOMS BROKERAGE TRAINING CERTIFICATE COURSE. 29 JUNE 2015; REGISTER NOW

Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

FOR SALE

Garden earth. Also excavating,

and

done. Call 6279977

sale by lot: Lot (1): 2 bath tubs, bathroom fittings and fixtures & toilet set; shower fittings - $150,000 and Lot (2): 1 Dell desktop computer and HP scanner - $25,000. Call 225-2676 or 601-5285.

House plans & estimates, weeding of grass and spraying done within 48hrs. Call: 216-0671; 622-0267; 692-8464

Khemraj & Son -landscaping & plant nursery. Lot 77 Independence Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara. Landscaping, planting grass, weeding, killing wood ants, killing roaches, rats & mealy bug, treat plants, coconut trees and flowers, cleaning ceiling, grafting coconut plants: 18 months bearing period,

&

Services We handle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc. Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates. Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca

Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva

Fraser-Pryce storms to 100m win, Cedenio stars in 400m

Jamaican star dipped below 11 seconds again as she captured the 100 metres while rising Trinidadian star Machel Cedenio won the 400 metres, at the Stockholm Diamond League meet here Thursday.

The 28-year-old FraserPryce clocked 10.93 to follow up her sub-11 clocking in Paris recently and continue her preparation for next month’s World Championship in Beijing where she is the defending champion in both sprints.

She easily beat American Tori Bowie who was timed at 11.05 seconds while Jamaican Natasha Morrison trailed in third in 11.22.

“I’m satisfied with the race. The time was not what I wanted but I’m grateful I came out here and did my best. Thank God,” FraserPryce said afterward. However, a day after

telling media she would once again consider defending the 200m at the World Championships after rul-

ing it out earlier this month, Fraser-Pryce said she definitely now wanted to focus only on the 100m.

“In Beijing, I’m not running the 200m. I’m telling my coach he has to change my mind,” she said.

“The 200m is too far and I’m set up for the 100m. Next I will go to Venice to prepare for Beijing.”

Cedenio, meanwhile, was timed at 44.97 as he beat Olympic silver medallist Luguelín Santos of the Dominican Republic into second.

Santos clocked 45.21 while Great Britain’s Martyn Rooney was third in a time of 45.41.

“The race felt good. It was a little bit slow but I’m so happy with the win and I think God for it,” Cedenio said.

Cuban Orlando Ortega won the men’s sprint hurdles in 13.18 seconds, beating World Champion David Oliver of the US into third spot. (CMC)

heavy rain washes out 2nd day between South Africa and Bangladesh

An entire day’s play was lost for the third time in this series as heavy rain, caused by cyclone Komen, forced the umpires to abandon the second day of the Mirpur Test at 12 pm. The South African and Bangladesh players had not even arrived at the Shere Bangla Stadium and will now contest what is effectively a four-day Test.

Surinamese spiritualist. Resolving all problems. Money, love, blockage etc. Call 223-6834/600-7719

Suriname’s Astrology, Palmist and Hindustani Spiritual Healer, solve all purpose problems, 100% confidential guaranteed. Phone: 602-8997 HEPHZIBAH MINISTRIES 24 hrs Prayer Line 322-5081,337-4510,3374259,337-4583,337-3070,337-5103. For healing, deliverance, financial difficulties, marriage issues call now. Jesus Cares.

Dutch spiritual healing in removing evil spirit, bad luck, evil sickness, spells, reuniting lovers and prosperity to business Call 612-6417, 6875653, 220-0708

GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 2257878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA NOAH; TOYOTA VOXY; TOYOTA IST (NEW SHAPE); SUZUKI SWIFT; DAIHATSU MOVE (660CC); MERCEDES BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; TOYOTA HIACE MINIBUS RZ; PITBULL-STYLE FREEZER VAN; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED 4WD EXTRACAB PICK-UP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER; 3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; NISSAN ATLAS 2 TONS OPEN TRAY TRUCK. PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

Bangladesh had ended the first day disappointingly after building a solid foundation with the bat, losing four wickets for 31 runs in the final session as Dale Steyn found substantial reverse swing. The hosts had squandered a good start that was marred only by Tamim Iqbal’s loose drive to become Steyn’s 400th Test wicket. Bangladesh will be concerned that none of their top or middle-order batsmen was able to convert a start into a century.

South Africa, on the other hand, came into their own as the first day progressed.

Hashim Amla made use of his part-time bowlers, all of who impressed and kept the frontline pack fresh for forceful bursts. Dean Elgar, in particular, found sharp turn on a surface that was predicted to become worse as the match went on.

Batting will likely become more difficult so Bangladesh’s first-innings runs could prove crucial and they will want to add as many as they can when play gets underway on Saturday. South Africa still have the second new ball at their disposal and will hope to finish Bangladesh’s innings quickly and aim to bat once to seal a series whose score line remains 0-0, thanks largely to the rain. (Cricinfo)

Drogba: I want to be ready, not a burden

Having not played since May 24, Didier Drogba has warned Montreal Impact fans they will have to wait to see him in action.

Montreal Impact striker Didier Drogba asked for patience on Thursday, as he begins the work required to be ready for his MLS debut.

Drogba has not played since Chelsea’s final match of the 2014-15 Premier League season and the 37-year-old knows it will take him time to get back to peak fitness, with the rest of Montreal’s squad having completed half of this year’s MLS campaign.

The Impact signed Drogba on Monday as part of a trade with Chicago Fire.

“It’s almost been two-anda-half months that I haven’t played,” Drogba said, accord-

ing to the MLS’s website.

“I’ll need time. We’ll see with the coach... I will eventually play but I want to be able to contribute to the team and not be kind of a burden. I need to get ready.”

The former Ivory Coast captain - who has played for Marseille, Chelsea and Galatasaray during his ca-

reer - also underlined the importance of Montreal’s multi-cultural nature in convincing him to join the Impact.

“This cultural diversity is important,” Drogba said.

“I quite simply felt like getting to know the city. I was won over by the project and by the work that the

president has already started with the club, looking to give back to the community through soccer. It’s a little bit like what I do with my foundation.

“My children are bilingual. I know there are superb schools here. It also went into my decision.” Impact president Joey Saputo claimed that Montreal’s run to the final of the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League had helped the club secure Drogba’s signature.

“Our past success in international competition has given the Montreal Impact some relevance outside of our country, opening doors to players like Didier to choose to play here,” he said.

Montreal’s next match is away to New York City on Saturday.

Jones touts multi-purpose centres for athletes

The construction of multi-purpose centres countrywide is high on the agenda of the new Administration, according to newly appointed Director of Sport, Christopher Jones.

Jones, speaking at the closing ceremony of the

West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional Under-15 competition on Thursday night, briefly told the gathering of the new Government’s plans for the sport sector.

“We are committed to the development of sports and, of course, we pledge our support to work with any association/organisation whose main objective is to see the advancement of sports,” he outlined.

Jones added, “Of course, it is my hope within the near future we can see several multi-purpose centres being established across the length and breadth of the country, which will cater for several disciplines at the same time.

Of course, cricket is way in advance of many of the other disciplines, but, of course, we will take cricket into account.”

The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue and the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue are currently the only two facilities in the country that can host competitive indoor and outdoor activities at the same time.

Jones highlighted that the multi-purpose centres will be spread across the country to ensure athletes have equal access to the same level of training, as well as bring forth new athletes.

“For those of you who are following the Digicel inter-school football tournament, every year we look forward to that tournament, and, of course, we see a team that comes all the way from Region Seven – Waramadong Secondary School. Waramadong in their location don’t have the same facilities as us on the coastline, so we now noting this, our intention is to ensure these multi-purpose centres are established throughout Guyana so that you can have young people participating in their various disciplines, so we can identify those talents that we have.”

The previous Government had embarked on a drive to build facilities and improve on existing ones. Among the notable ones that were built are the National Stadium, the National Aquatic Centre, the National Resource Centre and the Leonora Track and Field facility.

Windward Islands’ players...

His compatriots, Jahseon Alexander and Tajh Tavernier, copped the most wickets and most dismissals by a wicketkeeper awards respectively, while the other individual accolade – that of best all-rounder – was captured by Nyeem Young of Barbados.

“Firstly, let me extend my congratulations to the WICB, as well as the Guyana Cricket Board for organising yet another successful event. Of course, as mentioned before, there can only be one winner, but by virtue of the fact several countries are here in Guyana and the

in Guyana, and of course take it to the length and breadth of our country, and, of course, with associations like the Guyana Cricket Board and the West Indies Cricket Board lending their support in these initiatives to advance cricket, it aids us in advancing that,” Jones

The boys from the Flying Fish island of Barbados were adjudged the most disciplined team. The top two teams, Guyana and the Windward Islands, were also presented with their medals and trophies.

Prior to the presentation of accolades, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones delivered the feature address to the players, officials and special invitees.

young people are here, you are already winners because you are here representing your country,” Jones said.

He said the Guyana Government was happy to work along with stakeholders to promote the advancement of the various disciplines being played in the country.

“As Director of Sports, it is my responsibility to see the advancement of sports

stressed.

GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie, who chaired the proceedings, said while the tournament was severely affected by unfavourable weather, resulting in matches being abandoned and in some cases switched to other venues, it was generally a success.

He lauded all those who worked to ensure the tournament was held to the highest possible standard, es-

pecially the Umpires and Match Referees, who were all rewarded with medals. Sanasie also congratulated the Guyanese boys on their successful defence of the title won in Jamaica in 2014, and wished the other teams well going forward.

Sanasie, who is a Director of the WICB, also highlighted to the young players some of the possible careers that surround the game should they not make it as cricketers.

GCB President Drubahadur expressed gratitude to the WICB for displaying a high level of confidence in Guyana hosting another regional tournament, noting that his Board was determined to produce a successful product, despite the challenges with the weather.

The GCB head urged the young men not to give up on their dreams, adding that their aim should be to ultimately don West Indies colours.

Guyana had started Thursday’s final round of the competition five points behind rivals Windward Islands, and faced a mustwin situation if they were to lift the title. The Guyanese, led by 45 from Sachin Singh and a superb bowling performance of 5-32 from Kelvin Umroa, whipped the islanders by 98 runs at the National Stadium to cart off their second title in two years. It was Guyana’s fourth title in the history of competition, having also won backto-back titles in 1998 and 1999.

CJIA XI win Soesdyke Premier League tape-ball competition

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) cricket team pulled off a spectacular victory over Hillfoot XI to be crowned the inaugural champions of the Soesdyke Premier League tape-ball cricket competition last Saturday, culminating nine weeks of exciting and exhilarating matches.

The tournament was sponsored by Deokie Construction.

Winning the toss and batting first in the final, Hillfoot XI amassed a challenging 132-3 from the allotted 10 overs. L Hinds topscored with 71 not out, while Avinash contributed 26 not out.

In reply, CJIA XI started off forcefully, taking 22 off the first over. The batting nev-

er relented and the required score was knocked off in 8.3 overs, owing to a brilliant unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 107 between O Narine and A Sonwaru.

Narine led the scoring with an impressive 68, while Sonwaru scored an aggressive 48.

Earlier in the first semifinal, CJIA XI accumulated 109 in 10 overs and bowled out Laluni for 78, while in the second semi, Hillfoot XI restricted Gafoor XI to 79 and knocked off the required runs in 7.4 overs.

The competition started with 16 teams from the Upper East Bank Demerara area and was organised as part of the 60th birthday celebra-

tions of Charandalall Deokie of Deokie Construction.

In brief remarks after the final, CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir, thanked Deokie and his family for planning the competition, and for their continued commitment to the development of youths in the community through sports.

Deokie was thrilled by the response and support received from all the teams and pledged to make the event an annual one.

The opportunity was taken to recognise and thank the sponsors, C Deokie and Sons General Contracting Services and Camille’s Institute for Business and Science.

Moore praises Guyana’s team effort

– says team played within its strength

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Coach of the Guyana Under-15 squad, Julian Moore praised the team for the fantastic showing in the just-concluded West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Under-15 One-Day Tournament, which Guyana won to retain their title.

The Guyanese played outstanding cricket during the tournament to give Guyana its fourth regional title at this level.

Julian Moore

The tournament was affected by adverse weather, but it took the hosts only three games to come out on top.

The Guyanese registered wins against Jamaica, Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands, but their games against Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados were washed out.

“I am pleased with the performance with the team. I think the guys played good team cricket and they were confident throughout the tournament,” Moore said.

He added “The bowlers did a tremendously job as well as the batters. The fielding was a bit rusty upfront, but I think the guys bounced back quickly and took some decisive catches,

Experienced champions...

Coach of Chase Academy, Vurlon Mills highlighted that his team are under no pressure to win especially since this is the first time a Georgetown-based school has made the final since the inaugural year.

“The reason why we are under no pressure is because we are not holding the title, the title holders are always under pressure because they don’t want to lose it – we are coming for it,” Mills said.

Mills also believes that his team have the “passion” to go out and win, but the substitute players would be the deciding factor in the game.

“They say the best players come off the bench, because they are able to go out and correct the mistake on the field and in this game the subs will play a major role in who wins,” Mills stressed.

Meanwhile, three-time finalists Waramadong will play against Annai Secondary for the thirdplace position.

Both teams expressed their confidence in pulling off the win for third place.

Waramadong woes

Interestingly every time Waramadong has been

knocked out of the tournament it happened to be against Christianburg/ Wismar. Their semifinal losses in 2011 and 2015 were against the Linden side and all of their final losses from 2012 to 2014 were against the best side in the tournament to date.

Waramadong’s Coach Louie Thomas gave some insight into their shortfalls against their Linden foes.

“Christianburg is a great school and have the coaches and they play more football ... compared to us who just play around this time, we are not a team that has the elevated level of knowledge about the game and that is one of our problems.

“If the [Guyana Football Federation] GFF can help us by sending coaches to train us it will benefit us; the tactical side of the game is what we need,” Thomas pinpointed.

Coach of Annai, Kelly Brasch also shared the same opinion that the outlying areas were in need of tactical improvement in order for their games to grow.

The final is slated for the National Stadium, Providence, with the thirdplace game scheduled for a 16:00h start.

Guyana confirm...

David was the main aggressor, facing 11 balls and counting three fours, but was first to fall, and his dismissal saw Canada slide to 89 for seven in the 20th over.

The damage was done mainly by Ronaldo Alimohamed who finished with three for 25. He received support from fast bowlers Rutherford (2-16) and Paul (2-21), along with off-spinner Baldeo (2-26).

Vice-captain Miraj Patel resisted with a top score of 33 batting at number nine, putting on 26 runs for the eighth wicket with Abdul Haseeb (5) and 23 for the ninth wicket with Shlok Patel (2).

Guyana started their run chase shakily, stumbling to 19 for two in the fifth over af-

ter spinner Harsha Thaker, who finished with four for 38, removed both openers cheaply.

However, Paul and Baldeo pulled the innings around in a 73-run, third wicket stand that snuffed the life out of the Canadian attack.

Paul lashed four fours and three sixes off a mere 38 balls while Baldeo was patient in his 56-ball innings which included four fours.

Guyana lost three quick wickets for 12 runs in the space of 27 balls to slip to 104 for five in the 22nd but Rutherford settled the contest decisively with a quickfire knock that required just 21 balls and included three fours and two sixes. (CMC)

The first-place team will receive $1 million, second, $600,000; third, $400,000 and fourth, $350,000.

which I think was the most pleasing part of our game – that we were able to improve tremendously as a fielding unit.”

The former Guyana youth player said that while it was good to win, he was especially pleased with the emerging talents he witnessed throughout the tournament.

“It’s always nice to win, but as a coach it is important to look at the finer points, I saw some good talent emerging during the tournament. While it is hard to single out one particular player, I think the three pacers – Qumar Torrington, Haifa Walters and Alphius Bookie did a tremendous job for us, and if you look at the points standing, I thought the wickets they took made all the difference for us winning the tournament.

“The spinners – Kevlon Anderson, Ashmead Nedd and Kelvin Umroa – were also good talents throughout the tournament as well as Sachin Singh, Robin Williams and Junior Sinclair

performed exceptionally well with the bat, so surely

cricket is not short of talent,”

Digicel Nationwide School Football Finals

Experienced champions Christianburg/ Wismar ready for upstart Chase Academy

to play for 3rd place

By TreisTon Joseph

The final of Guyana’s biggest school football tournament is here once again and Christianburg/Wismar will aim to defend their title for a fourth consecutive year against a team that has probably posed the biggest of threats to the Linden’s side title hopes – Chase Academy.

On August 2, Christianburg/Wismar Secondary will meet Chase Academy in the final of the Digicel Nationwide School Football Tournament at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The final, which has the added flair of being Georgetown versus Linden, is already being touted as a possible classic between two sides that have been near flawless throughout the competition.

At the introductory press conference for the finalists on Friday at Digicel’s head office in Kingston, both

Windward Islands’ players dominate individual awards

teams expressed confidence in their ability to win.

Coach of the Lindenbased side, Anthony Stevens was quick to point out what separates his team from all the competition.

“I think we continue to set standards. Digicel has invested in us so what we try to do is set a standard because if we played mediocre football then we would be defeating the purpose of this entire programme which is to improve football at the grassroot level, so we continue to set a standard and if any team defeat us, then that means they would have to be at a certain standard which would only be a success for Digicel,” Stevens pointed out.

Nevertheless, Stevens stressed that his guys are looking forward to the game. “We just want to go out there and have fun, the guys are excited we are ready to play football, but we will have fun doing it and let God decide,” he stated.

turn to page 23

AvenAsh rAmzAn

By

Tal awards that were up for grabs on Thursday evening.

vidual prizes put up by the WICB.

Kimani Melius copped two awards: one for the most runs in the tournament and the other for scoring 79 against Jamaica, the highest individual score in the limited-over competition. WICB Regional U-15 tournament

he Windward Islands ended second overall to champions Guyana in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Under-15 50-over tournament, but their players dominated the individu-

The official closing ceremony was hosted by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) at the main pavilion of the world-famous Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda, and the islanders copped four of the five indi-

Guyana confirm place in final with easy win over Canada

Keemo Paul

Guyana confirmed their place in Sunday’s final of the Regional Under-19 Championship when they brushed aside minnows Canada by four wickets in their final round

game here Friday. Entering the contest on top of the standings, Guyana were quick to impose their superiority on the Canadians with incisive bowling, and in the end chased an uncomplicated 139 for victory at Manchester High School.

Keemo Paul led the run chase with an aggressive 51 while Sherfane Rutherford struck a cameo unbeaten 30 and Balchand Baldeo, 30.

Opting to bat first, Canada started well when Emmanuel David (16) and Thursaanth Anantharajah (9) putting on 29 off 24 balls for the first wicket.

turn to page 23