Guyana Times Daily - April 1, 2015

AFC scrambles to excuse nonexistent

wednesday, april 1, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Huge cocaine haul at Silver Hill

The Port Control Unit attached in collaboration with officers of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Tuesday afternoon intercepted 1400 bags of charcoal containing cocaine at Silver Hill along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

As a result, the shipper, Colin Prescod, 57, of Wismar, Linden was arrested. He is assisting Police with the investigation. According to information received, members of the PCU carried out a search on a 40-foot container about 14:00h as it was being loaded with the bags containing the charcoal.

During the search, the illegal substance was found in one of the bags and as a result, members of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Police were called in to assist in the investigation. A senior member of CANU told the Guyana Times that the actual weight of the cocaine has not been determined as

drug enforcement officials have to go through all 1400 bags. He added that the shipper was a well-known businessman, who has been in the charcoal business for quite some time. The shipment was destined for the United States of America, the official disclosed.

The Guyana Times understands that after the discovery was made at Silver

Hill, the entire shipment of charcoal was transported to a city wharf where it is being scanned. The PCU comprises members of CANU, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Meanwhile, in an official statement the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) said that officers of its Law Enforcement and

Investigation Division (LEID) and the PCU of the United Nations Office of Drug and Crime (UNODC) were late Tuesday afternoon seeking to ascertain the quantity, weight and estimated value of the cocaine detected in shipments of charcoal discovered at Silver Hill, Linden Highway. GRA said based on information received from the PCU, a joint examination was conducted on the shipment scheduled to be exported to the United States of America after it was flagged for 100 per cent examination on March 11, 2015. The shipment was scheduled for examination on March 13, at Silver Hill Linden Highway in the presence of the GRA’s Goods Examination Unit (GEU) and the PCU. However, the exporter did not present the consignment for examination on the scheduled date, indicating that he was experiencing some unforeseen difficulties.

As a result, the examination was rescheduled for March 30 and on the said day, a team consisting of Officers from LEID and the PCU proceeded to Silver Hill to conduct a 100 per cent examination of the consignment. During the examination, Officers observed four strange objects in one of the bags which did not confirm with the description of the charcoals that were declared for export. As the objects were probed, a white powdery substance emanated. A field test was carried out on the substance in the presence of the exporter and tested positive for cocaine.

The examination process was immediately halted and the exporter was cautioned and detained as a result of the findings. The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) was contacted and informed of the discovery. Upon arrival at Silver Hill CANU Officers then secured the goods and proceeded to investigate further. Approximately 2900 bags were secured in two 40-foot containers to be inspected due to the volume of goods and security concerns raised. Investigations are ongoing and the GRA will provide additional details as they unfold.

15,200 students to sit NGSA

exams today

Approximately 15,200 students from hundreds of schools and centres across the country will sit the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examination today and Thursday.

During the two-day examination period, the students will be assessed in four subject areas: English Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Today, the English Language and Science subjects will be administered while Mathematics and Social Studies will be administered on Thursday.

Each subject consists of Paper One which contains multiple-choice type questions and Paper Two which requires more detailed answers. Candidates are required to answer all questions in Paper One for English Language, Science, Mathematics and Social Studies, and only four questions in Paper Two for Science, Mathematics and Social Studies. However, for English Paper Two, candidates must answer only one question.

Parents and guardians of candidates are advised to ensure that students are on time and that they have their timetables with them. Candidates are also asked to read the instructions care-

fully and follow them.

NGSA is a placement examination offered at the end of the primary school cycle to determine which secondary school students will be placed. These candidates have already done the National Grade Four and Grade Two Assessments back in 2013 and 2011, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry in a recent release stated that Guyana has attained universal primary education, a Millennium Development Goal. “This means that all Guyanese boys and girls of primary school age can access primary education,” the Ministry said, while extending its best wishes for the 2015 NGSA candidates.

Last year, a total of 15,227 candidates were entered for this assessment. The highest possible standardised scores obtainable were Mathematics –136, English – 132, Social Studies – 137, and Science –135. The highest possible total score obtainable was 540.

The NGSA 2014 top student was Jorrel De Santos of the New Guyana School who scored 533 marks. Aliah Mohamed of School of the Nations came in second with 531 marks, while Westfield Prep student Ravi Singh scored 530 marks.

Welder used employer’s $23M for his own purpose – prosecution

A29-year-old welder accused of using over $23 million that he was entrusted with for his own purposes on Tuesday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Mohamed Feroze Ali, of 35 Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge of intent to commit a felony. It is alleged that be-

tween March 1, 2014 and March 31, 2014, he attempted to defraud Ashraf Ali of the money. According to the prosecution, the welder was given the sum of cash to construct a large steel shed, but converted the money to his personal use.

The prosecution requested that the matter be adjourned to a later date and bail was set at $150,000. Ali will make another court appearance on April 24.

wednesday, april 1, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, April 1, 2015 – 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, April 2, 2015 – 14:30h-16:00h

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

Wednesday, April 1, 2015 – 14:35h-16:05h and Thursday, April 2, 2015 – 15:15h-16:45h

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning with light rain showers giving way to sunny intervals in the afternoon. Partly cloudy conditions can be expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees.

Winds: East north-easterly between 4.02 metres and 5.81 metres per second.

High Tide: 02:46h and 15:04h reaching maximum heights of 2.35 metres and 2.42 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:39h and 20:57h reaching minimum heights of 0.84 metre and 0.77 metre respectively.

AFC scrambles to excuse non-existent 11%

...Ramjattan claims he saw “massive numbers of Indo-Guyanese” ...“delusional” says Irfaan Ali

The leadership of the AFC in the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition is now frantically making excuses for the poor turnout of Indo-Guyanese to the Opposition coalition’s rally which was held at Whim, Corentyne, Berbice on Sunday.

Whim Village is one of the many traditional strongholds of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) with an overwhelming majority of East Indian Guyanese residents. It is also a cultural hub for these Guyanese who use it as a transit point between the lower and upper Corentyne as far as business and recreation are concerned.

The coalition’s Presidential Candidate Moses Nagamootoo was born in Whim and represented it for more than a decade while he was a member of the ruling party. David Granger received his early childhood schooling in the community. But most importantly, the AFC had promised to deliver 11 per cent of IndoGuyanese support to the PNC-led coalition in exchange for 12 parliamentary seats in the legislature whether the coalition wins or loses the May 11 election.

Added to the 40 per cent of the votes that the PNC had traditionally received from its Afro-Guyanese constituency since the 1960s, this would have catapulted the coalition into power come May 11.

For the 11 per cent of the total vote to originate from the East Indian Guyanese constituency, the AFC would have to attract some 50,000 votes, with a majority coming from Berbice. Delivering that percentage of votes was also the AFC’s bargaining chip ahead of joining the coalition and Whim was expected to be the ultimate test of its ability to mobilise non-traditional and crossover votes for the APNU which has a strong traditional Afro-Guyanese support base.

The rally, which no doubt attracted thousands on Sunday, failed to achieve a multi-ethnic balance. There were only scores of East Indian Guyanese there, many of whom were bused in and driven in from far flung villages where the AFC still had some strong support. Even from the village of Whim from where AFC’s Member of Parliament Veerasammy Ramayya hails – and in front of whose house the rally was held – the Indian Guyanese refused to come out.

According to analysts, this must have come as a shock to the coalition, especially its leading component, the PNC-led APNU. Since Sunday, the coalition has been using its Facebook page to post selective photos of East Indian Guyanese at the rally. Almost all of the pictures selected from the rally to be posted had East Indians being modelled or on charade to hoodwink the public which had already seen a host of the images posted by others of the rally.

Seeing what did not exist

But AFC’s Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, is quoted in another section of the press as denying that there was a poor turnout of Indo-Guyanese at the rally. “There were massive amounts of East Indians in that crowd…I walked the crowd and I saw thousands of East Indians there. If you didn’t see that, I saw them,” he reportedly told an online news outlet.

“As an old criminal defence lawyer, Ramjattan must know that witnesses sometimes see what they want to see,” said Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, in an invited comment. “Ramjattan should look at the photographs, and stop deluding himself. More importantly, Granger and SPNU should

look at the pictures and decide whether they gave away the PNC store for some fancy promises from Nagamootoo and Ramjattan,” he concluded.

Ramjattan also told that news outlet wistfully that “We have seen for too long in this country that this division, ethnic cleavages are but a source for our disaster. We must ensure, brothers and sisters, that this comes to an end.”

Ramjattan had refused a few months ago to mount a platform with APNU when there was a public meeting held at the Square of the Revolution to protest President Donald Ramotar’s prorogation of Parliament. Ramjattan had said that mounting that platform would have violated his ethics as a politician, but many believe he was afraid of the party losing its appeal to many of their IndoGuyanese supporters who were anti-PNC at that time. He later said that if his AFC party coalesced with APNU, it would be “dead meat”.

However, AFC General Secretary David Patterson, speaking to the Guyana Times on Monday, supported his leader’s position and related that his party was quite pleased with the support it was able to muster at the rally.

According to Patterson, while some would feed fodder to “gossip mills” to say that the event was poorly attended by Indo-Guyanese, it was a lie. The AFC General Secretary noted that the rally was very well-attended but that the Governmentaligned media houses took selective pictures to show otherwise. To this end, Patterson related that while some may continue to live with the view that the Whim, Corentyne area is a PPP/C stronghold, this was not true.

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

The “It is time” campaign

The PNC-led APNU and AFC coalition is leaving no stone unturned to convince Guyanese to vote them into Government after being exiled to the wilderness of Opposition for more than two decades by the electorate.

The coalition has now launched the “It is time” campaign ahead of the upcoming General and Regional Elections, with the hope of doing massive public relations work on the image of its politicians and the policies they are articulating this year. The campaign started with much enthusiasm and is being headed by a group of former and current journalists, social media provocateurs and communications specialists.

These individuals have managed to put out much negative propaganda about the ruling PPP/C and its leaders, while literally concealing the true nature of the homosapiens within the Opposition coalition.

To their credit, they have managed to paint Moses Nagamootoo, David Granger, Winston Felix and Khemraj Ramjattan, to name a few, as men of the cloth who are born again and standing firmly with their honour intact and Guyana’s future at their heart.

The campaign is continuing every minute of the day with them flooding social media with photos only of the big meetings and unity rallies that they are having across the country and testimonials from youth about “moving forward” with the coalition.

The campaign had the ruling party on its back foot and was gaining momentum until the PPP/C decided to pull its plug and end its silence.

The return of Bharrat Jagdeo to the campaign trail played a key part in the PPP/C’s strategy, as the party knows that the presence of the former President in the elections race leads to fear, uneasiness and discomfort within the Opposition camp.

That aside, it would appear that the party’s strategy of calling out Granger, Nagamootoo and other born again leaders within the coalition to account for their past or involvement in rigging elections, pre and post elections violence, the proliferation of ethnic divisions and presiding over the worst forms of poverty and injustices as also placing the Opposition on its back foot.

While the PPP/C “Progress and Continuity”campaign is focused heavily on advising Guyanese against being lured into promises being made by the Bride and Groom who entered a marriage of convenience on Valentine’s Day, the “It is time” campaigners are making them anyway, everywhere and to anyone who can vote.

They have promised literally everything under the sun without even reaching policy agreements on critical areas of governance and development. The campaigners have their social media thugs railroading anyone who dares to post anything positive about the country, the PPP/C, the President or any campaign issue on social media.

They are engaging in all forms of cyber bullying, cyber attacks and hacking of people’s personal accounts. They are using other blogs to denigrate and attack the integrity of individuals who believe that it is not time for the PPP/C to go.

So desperate, the “It is time” campaigners have become, that they are now fetching and driving crowds from their stronghold areas in Georgetown to various parts of the country to paint a picture that there is unity, ethnic solidarity and acceptance of the APNU/AFC by the electorate to become the next majority Government.

But the campaigners are forgetting one thing, and that is the fact that Guyanese learn from the experiences they have lived and endure on a continuum. They have learnt that politicians, especially those who have a quick fix and solution, to every problem cannot be trusted.

No amount of window dressing, cyber bullying and fetching of crowds will fool Guyanese that their future is safe following the union of Moses and David.

“It is time” for the campaigners at Congress Place and Hadfield Street to realise that they must do more and lead a clean campaign if they want to out maneuvre the PPP/C which is moving slowly, quietly and wisely this time when compared to the noise it kept in 2011.

The audacity of Carl Greenidge

Dear Editor, Revelations lately in the press is worrisome! I shudder at the audacity of Carl Greenidge’s closeted act of obvious corruption as a Finance Minister. Imagine this man stands up and says nothing he did as Finance Minister was flagged by corrupt or suspicious actions or lacked accountability. Yet as the sitting Finance Minister, he bought a house owned by

the Government controlled and owned Guyana Stores Limited just when we were headed into elections in 1992! He says that all the due processes were followed – so I dare ask: which processes is he referring to?

Does Mr Greenidge seek to insult the intelligence of us voting people? He yells at the top of his voice that others are corrupt and their acquisition of wealth is due to

corrupt and non-transparent practices. But yet, in none of his recent ramblings did he ever prove that his “house” was purchased pursuant to an advertising process or public tender. His answer was that he was living there before – what a lie! He sits on his weekly pulpit of the Kaieteur News and essentially says that no supporter of the PPP/C is honest and hardworking because

their prosperity was the result of corrupt and nontransparent processes. Yet if someone were to accuse him of owning and driving a Hollywood style US millionaire car, he is offended because he claims that his fortune was the result of his hard work. Such hypocrisy!

Mahadeo Persaud

27 road fatalities so far this year

Dear Editor,

As the Police Force continues with its traffic enforcement, unto March 30, there has been a total of 27 road fatalities, compared to 28 for the corresponding period last year.

During the period March 22 to 28, a number of cases has been made against motorists for breaching the traffic laws.

These include speeding (560); driving under the influence (22); breach of condi-

tion of Road Service Licence (57); careless driving (15); dangerous driving (12); failure to wear safety helmet (six); fail to wear seat belt (39); prohibition of the use of hand held mobile phone (32); and failure to adhere to siren (32).

Twenty-four persons were charged for the soliciting of passengers (touting).

Ivelaw Whittaker Police Public Relations and Press Officer

Injustice suffered on a daily basis

Dear Editor, I read with interest, the news that the two men, who impersonated the Police and attacked and robbed innocent and hard-working Guyanese, were arrested.

It is interesting to note who the victims were. When one speaks about the injustices that Indians have to suffer on a daily basis in Guyana, he/she is called an Indian supremacist or racist.

When the former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Ravi Dev, Vishnu Bisram and others speak out against these injustices, they are attacked by every Tom, Dick and Harry.

The lives of Indians seem to be of a lower value than

others. There was a plethora of condemnation at the death of Crum-Ewing, yet not a voice is raised at the daily robberies and other injustices which are meted out to Indians. No one spoke about Sheema Mangar, or the GuySuCo workers who went missing while they were working in the cane fields aback of Buxton. Freddie Kissoon, David Hinds, the Guyana Human Rights Association, Asquith Rose (why is Rose's name always in the front of the coalition letters? Are the others puppets?) and his cronies and other so called human rights fighters are silent on the daily abuse that Indians

suffer. When elections are over, Indians won’t be able to walk in Georgetown for fear of being robbed, beaten and raped. The Opposition peddles the malicious lies that the PPP/C orchestrates these attacks. What nonsense! The PPP/C has never engaged in this practice. These hypocrites are working on the assumption that the more you tell a lie, it will be believed. But people are not so gullible! The truth is known. As the old people say, ‘when you s**t in water it will soon float and goat s**t only ah wait fuh breeze fuh blow to roll’. This is what these so called freedom fight-

ers are all about. Imagine Nagamootoo saying that he is not an Indian yet he wants to hand over 11 per cent of the Indian votes to APNU. What hyprocrisy! Like Kissoon, he must think that Indians are gullible and stupid. We are not for sale! We are not Nagamootoo's dowry! Nagamootoo and the AFC. thinks so little of Indians now (as pawns for their own power grab); imagine what will happen if they get power! I, like all of my comrades will not take that chance. Our votes are not so cheap! Rakesh Singh

A gross misrepresentation of views

Dear Editor, Moses Nagamootoo, in his attempt to justify he and his party's decision to coalesce with the APNU, has invoked the name of Dr Cheddi Jagan and has said that had Dr Jagan been alive today, he would have endorsed the merger of the APNU and the AFC for the purpose of contesting the elections.

This is a gross misrepresentation of the views of Dr Jagan who was very passionate on the question of national unity and who did everything possible to forge national unity in the country. However, all of his efforts fell on deaf ears as the PNC, both under Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte failed to accommodate the reasonable proposals advanced by him.

Dr Jagan wanted a government of national unity that truly represented our ethnic and cultural diversity but not simply for cosmetic purposes or for the sake of creating a facade of national unity. He strongly advocated for national unity but insisted that such unity must be built around an agreed programme, which at all times should put the interests of the Guyanese people ahead of any other interest.

I recommend for those who may wish to familiarise themselves with the think-

ing of Dr Jagan on this subject, that they read "For A National Front Government" which was published in 1977, at a time when the PNC were making overtures to the PPP to support it on its nationalisation programme. It would be recalled that the PNC took the bold decision to nationalise the sugar industry. A few years earlier, in the early 1970's the PNC regime nationalised the bauxite company which, along with other takeovers, made the state the single largest employer of labour.

But even as the PNC was making overtures to the PPP to win support for its nationalisation programme, it was doing everything possible to undermine national unity. It refused to hold free and free elections and in the 1973 'elections', it stole for itself, over 70 per cent of the votes.

The PPP, notwithstanding, was prepared to lend 'critical support' to the nationalisation programme even though it had serious reservations over the terms and conditions of the takeover. What emerged, as feared by the PPP, was state capitalism and a culture of political patronage and interference in the appointment of senior executives in the state run entities. At the political level,

a reign of terror followed, which saw the assassination of Dr Walter Rodney. The Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry set up by President Donald Ramotar is now bringing back to the fore, some of the atrocities committed against those who dared to stand up for democracy and human rights.

The Constitution was amended to give unlimited powers to the President. The PPP was dubbed the Minority Party and Dr Cheddi Jagan was referred to a 'Minority Leader' in Parliament even though the PPP was by far the largest political party in Guyana.

The PNC was never serious about forming a government of national unity except on their terms and always sought to miniaturise the role and influence of the PPP in the political life of the country.

To say that Dr Jagan would have endorsed what is being projected today a as 'unity talks' between the AFC and the APNU is an insult not only to his great legacy but to the entire Guyanese people who suffered from nearly three decades of minority and authoritarian rule.

Hydar Ally

Encounters at the Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre

Dear Editor,

On numerous occasions, I have accompanied my 16-year-old child to seek dental treatment at the Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre. I have had several encounters with a woman who is said to be the supervisor of the Paediatric department at the above mentioned institution, who is often addressed as (name given) by her staff.

This doctor has served this institution for a long period of time, but I must say that her attitude and behaviour exercised is not one of a good nature. she is quite in-

furiating, insultive and gets personal with her patients.

This institution is open to the public and I think she should maintain respect and professional cooperation while relating to her staff and patients.

I wish that the Health Ministry and the relevant authorities address this issue in a timely manner. The Paediatric department needs a doctor who is child friendly!

She should understand that standards of practice for her profession; recognise her limitations and appreciate

The truth will always emerge

Dear Editor, I have always said that the truth will always emerge no matter how hard you try to conceal it. This has definitely happened to Moses Nagamootoo.

Moses Nagamootoo has proven once again that he is a ‘namak haram’. He has proven to be a ‘namak haram’ to the PPP/C because he did not get the Presidential candidacy in 2011. The PPP/C Executives in the Central Committee did not vote for him because they knew him well and they know that he is only interested in power. This can be seen again as soon as he joined the AFC. He hustled to be Speaker of the House and was soundly kicked out by Granger.

The AFC then violated all of their Constitutional provisions and propelled him to Vice-Chairman, then to Presidential Candidate and before Granger granted him the Prime Ministerial candidacy.

I am wondering if the AFC had denied him his meteoric ascension to the top position in the AFC, if he would have still strongly supported the AFC? He was promised the Presidential candidacy by Ramjattan and that is the main reason why he joined the AFC. It is the same with Ralph Ramkarran; if he was offered the Presidential candidacy of the AFC he would

the part of being a true professional.

I strongly recommend that she takes an effective communication course, revise her code of ethics and change her behaviour towards the public or be removed from that department.

Patients’ personal life should be none of her concern. People are there to seek medical attention and she should proudly serve the citizens of her country.

D Persaud

Poor reception for APNU-AFC elections campaign

Dear Editor,

An APNU-AFC elections campaign team was recently in the Santa Rosa Amerindian village and its satellite communities in the Moruca subregion of Region One. It was rough sailing for the campaign team since the receptions they received from many of the satellite communities were miserably poor. Some of the communities refused them entry into their communities while others gave them one hour to be in their communities. The reason given for giving the APNUAFC campaign team very poor receptions were due to the bad performance of the APNU-AFC in the 10th Parliament according to the communities. But in this respect the communities can never be wrong.

The APNU-AFC campaign team comprised of Mary Williams, a former Regional Executive Officer (REO) of

Region One, Valerie GarridoLowe, a former AFC member of Parliament and Patsy Phillips, a former resident of Santa Rosa village.

At the Kumaka landing Mary Williams spoke at a public meeting which attracted about ten persons. Her speech dealth on financial corruption in the region and attacking the personal lives of young Amerindian females employed with the regional administration as well as attacking two Ministers of Government that belong to Santa Rosa village. But the villagers were not impressed at all with William’s speech and wanted to publicly ask her about the millions of dollars the former REO could not have accounted for during her tenure. Villagers wanted to know if this was the “regional corruption” she mentioned about in her speech. In relation to Valerie

Garrido-Lowe. Village residents are angered over her barefaced hypocrisy entering their community to beg for votes when she was the one including other Amerindian MPS of the APNU and AFC in the 10th Parliament slashed the 2012-2014 national budgets and voted down the $1.2 billon Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) which severely affected the development of the Amerindians communities.

But the reality is that the Amerindian communities in recognition of the hypocrisy of the PNC/APNU+AFC coalition are simply mocking at their elections campaigns in their communities. Onward to a landslide victory for the PPP/C at the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

Peter Persaud

have jumped across pronto! The problem is all these gentlemen want to be the President of Guyana. That is the motivating factor, not Guyana and the people of Guyana!

Then comes the next bombshell, this has made the nuclear bomb looks like a toy. The ex-Madrassi from Whim Village has declared to the world that, “I am not an Indian”. The man is now a ‘namak haram’ to his own race! Everyone knows that he became a ‘namak haram’ to the people of Guyana when he joined the PNC and denied the rigging by the PNC which he had vigorously exposed to the public throughout his life.

In 2001, during the PPP/C campaign he said that the letter ‘R’ in the PNC-R stood for ‘rigging’ and that the PNC only knows how to ‘rig’. Well, the man has now ‘changed’ because it’s not ‘time for change’ – he is no longer an Indian!

Now, there has to be reason why this man is denying his race. It is clear that he wants total acceptance by the Afro-Guyanese in the PNC so he feels that if he denies his race he will be fully accepted by that party. He wants to make the marriage complete and to show the world that he has sacrificed and compromised his ethnicity and race so that

the marriage lasts to gain unconditional acceptance as Granger’s bride. Why it is that Nagamootoo never made this statement when he was with the PPP/C? This man is an opportunist of the highest order and this latter part of his political career has clearly indicated this. I am in total agreement with Mr Neaz Subhan, the Chairman of the Indian Arrival Committee, when he said that, “If you love your culture, you will treat it with respect and then you will be able to entertain others cultures”. He went on to say that, “Nagamootoo has shown lack of respect, appreciation and acceptance for one’s culture… and that there is nothing wrong with any one of the races promoting their cultures, traditions and identity”.

This was also strongly supported by Dr Eric Phillips of the African Cultural Development Association who emphasised that, “there is nothing wrong with demonstrating proudness about one’s ethnicity or nationality… I am worried about politicians who are not comfortable with their culture because if they are not comfortable with their own cultures how can they be comfortable with someone else’s culture”.

turn to page 18

wednesday, april 1, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Cheddi and Janet Jagan memorial activities held in Region 8

The residents of Kato, Kopinang and Monkey Mountain this week held their annual Cheddi and Janet Jagan memorial march and wreath laying ceremony.

At all three locations, villagers said they were privileged and honoured to pay homage to the great leaders of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Delivering the feature address to the gathering, which numbered more than 200 persons at each location, was PPP/C Central Committee member and Regional Executive Officer Ronald Harsaywack.

Harsaywack spoke about the need to consolidate what Dr Jagan and his wife fought for all their lives, the need to embrace progress, and the need to emulate the qualities of humility and servitude like the Jagans.

He went on to detail the vision of Dr Jagan for the hinterland and what the PPP/C has achieved today. He referenced the inscription on the plaque at

Kopinang which read:

“Jagan Memorial Monument, Constructed by the People of Kopinang in recognition of the invaluable contribution of former President Cheddi and Janet Jagan towards the transformation of hinterland communities, promotion of democracy and the creation of a just and prosperous society for all. The village of Kopinang salutes the People’s Progressive Party March 1 2014.”

According to Harsaywack, while Dr Jagan walked with kings and presidents, he was always down to earth. He reminded the gathering of how Dr Jagan would conduct meetings with his Ministers while jogging in the National Park.

At Monkey Mountain and Kopinang, the Central Committee Member lambasted the Opposition for being the biggest hypocrite, since earlier they had told residents that the hinterland was underdeveloped because of the PPP.

Harsaywack said if it were not for the Jagans and

the PPP/C, the hinterland would have been a wasteland. “Look around you here today, tell me if you don't see progress in every single corner of your village, look at the homes – they are all lit up with solar systems, look at the schools and health centres, look at the hundreds of miles of upgraded roads, look at the opportunities available to your children that were unavailable to generations before.”

It is the same A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) who consecutively disapproved funding to hinterland and Amerindians in particular in the 10th Parliament, he said. .

Harsaywack reminded those in attendance that the PPP/C would always be guided by the philosophy and principles of Dr Cheddi Jagan. “Rest assured you have a friend called the PPP. Rest assured we will continue to fight for your rights and continue to work each day to make your lives better.’’

3-day workshop puts spotlight on science and technology

The Education Ministry on Tuesday opened a three-day Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) workshop, to examine the policy and indicators in Guyana. The workshop is being facilitated by experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Participants are drawn from a number of agencies which include UNESCO, Caricom, the University of Guyana, the Private Sector Commission, the Bureau of Statistics, Office of the President, the Environmental Protection Agency, Sterling Products, and the Public Works Ministry. It is being held at the Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand said while the workshop is dealing with indicators in

Guyana, the weakest part of most policies is monitoring and evaluating.

She said the workshop comes at a time in the Ministry’s structure, when every policy must include the ways by which it is measured. The Minister also pointed to the education of the population as a work in progress and which cannot depend on traditional ways. With Guyana taking the leadership role in science and technology to match the economic means under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) project, she indicated that the country’s scientific resources can be used to match the needs of the population.

Observing the call from persons outside of Guyana to access the LCDS policy, the Education Minister added that European countries are interested in Guyana because of the LCDS, as well as the input into the field of science and technology. She explained that this was not an accident, since the Government has focused and invested in science and technology in schools through a conscious strategic plan.

With the increase in the number of persons taking science exams, this has seen the challenge of setting up laboratories in schools, and which was augmented by setting up more schools in the hinterland. However, this was overcome through the use of micro science kits, which increased the learning of science.

The Minister also explained that through inputs from the World Bank, work would be focused on making the university better, by rehabilitating and rebuilding all the labs there. She also pointed out that while research grants are being given to persons in Guyana seeking answers from science, the curricula of the university is also being reviewed in the areas of sci-

ence and technology, as this is a focused policy position of the Government. With the draft of the fiveyear strategic plan completed, ‘science and technology’ has taken a large part of it. Further, she pointed out that Cabinet has approved the National Science and Technology innovation plan, and out of it, the national council was set up. This, she noted was done by the late Navin Chandarpal. Minister Manickchand pointed out that because Chandarpal lived on in these kinds of policies, “he will continue to live and we take the opportunity to thank him.” Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean with anything close to a draft policy that can be implemented, she added. Meanwhile, other speakers at the opening of the event included Martin Schaaper of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, and Ernesto Fernandes Polcuch of UNESCO, Montevideo. Schaaper noted that the whole range of indicators which can monitor science and technology has been recognised worldwide as being based on evidence. Polcuch said that the timely workshop will assist in garnering financial support.

He expects that during the workshop lots of ‘interruptions’ would occur to allow participants, as well as the trainers to learn. Secretary General of UNESCO’s Guyana Office, Ingee Nathoo pointed out that STIs are an impact indicator of the master plan for which a gap analysis on science and technology is needed. UNESCO has helped the Science Unit of NCERD in developing a National Science and Technology Policy and Master Plan for the Socio-Economic and Environmental Advancement of Guyana. The policy was recently reviewed and approved by the Government of Guyana.

Conflict of interest seen in Greenidge’s $4M house purchase

Shockwaves swept through Guyana last Saturday when former President Bharrat Jagdeo revealed that former Finance Minister under the People’s National Congress (PNC)

tion to buy the posh property – house and land – in the elite Bel Air Gardens area for a paltry $4 million with no tender.

However, a defiant Greenidge has refused to explain to the press what

Administration Carl Greenidge had entered into an alleged corrupt transac-

can be characterised a corrupt transaction, but instead has resorted to hurl-

ing angry insults and making unsubstantiated accusations at the former President who made the startling revelation.

There appears to be glaring conflict of interest in the manner in which Greenidge acquired a prime property. There are questions as to how the transport of property, purchased from the Guyana Stores Limited (GSL), when it was issued in 1993, named Greenidge as a Government Minister when at that time his was Government was already voted out of office.

Jagdeo has since challenged Greenidge to produce evidence of his accusations against him, insisting that the former PNC Finance Minister was clutching at straws and should explain to the Guyanese nation why under his tenure there was no Auditor General’s Report.

An openly outraged and embarrassed Greenidge stuttered helplessly through his explanation, which still failed to provide any reasonable or sensible explanation as to how he was able to acquire a house and land in the prestigious Bel Air Gardens, that was and is the residence of many prominent lawyers,

doctors and ambassadors.

According to the documents seen by this newspaper, Greenidge, whose occupation was identified as a Minister of Government, entered into an agreement of sale for the purchase of Lot 45 Bel Air Gardens for $4 million. Today, a property such as this one could easily sell for $150 million.

A trace of public tenders and transfers of properties in the 1990s in the same area revealed that properties were sold by Property Holdings Inc for prices ranging between $24 million to $56 million without renovations or repairs being conducted on the properties sold.

In his belligerent defiance, Greenidge challenged the former President to call the Police on him, still refusing to explain what process resulted in his purchasing the property.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has long referred to the PNCled A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) “finance guru” as the Finance Minister who obstructed the Auditor General from doing his work, and who blocked the Auditor General from auditing privatisation transactions.

There are now specula-

tions about what appears to be an ominous link between Greenidge’s now disclosed property purchase and the reported claims by former Auditor General

Goolsarran that he was prevented from auditing such transactions that occurred while he was the Auditor General.

Kissoon, other APNU members charged ...for disrupting PPP/C Linden meeting

Former Member of Parliament for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Vanessa Kissoon and three other Lindeners were on Tuesday slapped with a joint charge of provoking a breach of peace following their attack on a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) campaign meeting last week at Blueberry Hill, Linden.

The other persons charged are: Juliet Atwell, Alieshaw Barker, Leonie Alexander and Marcelle Williams.

In a statement, Kissoon, who has already been reprimanded by her party for allegedly disrupting meetings of the PPP/C, said her charge read: “that on Tuesday, 24th March 2015 at Blueberry Hill, Linden at a public meeting, [I] used insulting words to Joe Hamilton with intent to provoke a breach of the peace” contrary to Section 10 of the Public Order Act 16:03.”

She said the summons was served on Friday, March 27 “It is instructive to note this charge came after false media reports that I was arrested and released and statements made by APNU+AFC [Alliance For Change] and myself. The case has been put down until May 6th.”

According to Kissoon, the struggle for justice in Guyana continues to free the people of Guyana, and particular-

ly Linden/Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), which is under siege from Police excesses, from the Police state the country has become over the past few years. “Citizens are seeing some law enforcement agents instead of serving the citizens whose tax monies pay them, are operating in service to political masters.”

APNU rebuke

Last week, in the wake of Kissoon’s actions at the PPP/C meeting, the People’s National Congress (PNC)led APNU+AFC coalition in a statement “forthrightly condemned all acts of intimidation and aggression at all political meetings”. The coalition appealed to all its supporters and activists of all political parties to conduct themselves honourably and respectfully at all times when at political meetings or campaigning otherwise.

“APNU+AFC reiterates once again that it is fully committed to a clean campaign. APNU+AFC wishes to advise that it has internally addressed reports which have been brought to its attention relating to unfortunate actions of an official. Equally APNU+AFC calls on the PPP/C to take action against persons who have been aggressive towards APNU+AFC officials

and supporters at public meetings of the PPP/C.”

Kissoon, in the meantime, charged that nowhere in the PPP/C’s Opposition history would this Police harassment have been allowed without far-reaching consequences for the image of the Government. She might have been alluding to the disreputable reputation the PNC earned during the 1970s when their partisans heckled and violently broke up Opposition meetings.

“We in Linden remain concerned and alarmed at the double standards in society that some are willing to accept and silently condone. Even at this time of continued Police harassment/abuse of women in Linden, Linden

encourages the people of Guyana to take note that Mrs Elisabeth Harper, PPP Prime Ministerial Candidate, on the campaign platform spoke out about women’s rights. And new member of the PPP, Ms Africo Selman, in her testimony and advocacy, said verbal abuse leads to physical abuse. Linden has already seen this with the injuries of many and the deaths of Shemroy Bouyea, Allan Lewis and Ron Somerset in 2012 at the hands of the Police.”

Kissoon was referring to ex-APNU MP Africo Selman who had described her abuse by the leadership of APNU and their disrespect to women in general.

According to Kissoon, “in this society if you talk now, you are being charged. And if you talk and you are getting killed. Are the people of Linden the next Courtney Crum-Ewing? We in Linden say cowards die many times before their death and we are not afraid to stand up for what is right and just.”

She said cognisant of all the manipulations and possible outcomes, she remained cautiously optimistic that justice would be served.

“Linden/Region 10 thank those who stand with us during these dangerous times of PPP state Police oppression,” Kissoon added.

Mother of 1 sentenced to 14 months for fraud

Ayoung mother of a six-month-old child was sentenced to 14 months in jail on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for pretending to be a ministry official and obtaining money through false pretense.

The defendant, Keisha Outkirk was found guilty of two counts of fraud on Tuesday when she appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in Court 10. The allegation against the defendant stated that she pretended to be an official from

the Housing Ministry and obtained money from the Virtual Complainants (VC) with the promise that they would receive a house, knowing this to be false.

The case which started last year and was presided over by Magistrate Fabayo Azore, came to an end when the Magistrate stated that the prosecution satisfied her in their presentations that the accused had impersonated a Housing Ministry official and thus found her guilty of the charges.

For the latter charge of

fraud, the Magistrate stated that it was the prosecution’s job to prove that the defendant had intentions to defrauding the VCs. She used precedence to give her judgment, stating that “intention to defraud cannot be seen but inferred...” she continued by saying the accused needed to have knowledge that she was committing fraud. Magistrate Azore told the court that she believed Outkirk had such intent to defraud.

She explained that this conclusion was arrived at

from the prosecution’s evidence showing that the defendant lied about who she was and her actions; showcasing several houses to the VCs that she had no legal control over.

The Magistrate also mentioned that the defendant had received about $2.4 million from the VCs over a period of time and that the testimonies of the VCs were pertinent to the case, since they were quite able to recognise the accused as the woman who had promised them a house and job.

Eyew tness Selective memories...

...of Greenidge on debt

This is probably Carl Greenidge’s last hurrah...and he’s working overtime to clear his name – which became “mud” after he presided over the destruction of our economy as the PNC’s Finance Minister in the 1980s.

In addition to rehabilitating his image – he can’t do anything about his tarnished credentials!! – he’s also desperate to keep a toehold in the PNC where Granger’d rigged him out of the leadership.

So we understand the desperation and touch of hysteria with which he spoke about the debt situation of the country recently. Jagdeo, the fella who had to clean up the mess Greenidge left, recently recently brought up the PNC debt issue.

This has to be a sore point with Greenidge. It’s not every Finance Minister who’s forced to literally declare the “bankruptcy” of their country! But Greenidge only pushed his foot further into his mouth with his fulminations.

Jagdeo had merely pointed out that the PNC under Greenidge had contracted an unsustainable amount of debt. And what’s Greenidge excuse?? That the US$2.1 billion he left Guyana saddled with in 1992 wasn’t all actually “borrowed” – a good chunk of it was actually arrears. And he expects this to absolve him??!! What a loser!!

If he’d actually borrowed the money, at least it could’ve been spent to improve the country – assuming the PNC wouldn’t have embezzled it, of course.

But to admit the gargantuan “arrears” is to admit that even the “small” amount borrowed, the PNC couldn’t generate returns to service the repayment schedule!! Apart from stealing, the PNC frittered away the money on a host of failed projects – bicycle factory, glass factory, etc... none of which ever took off the ground. The classic one was the Hydro Project in the Mazaruni Basin – which gave the entire country “hydro” – but no electricity!! So Guyanese didn’t even get to enjoy the fruits of the debt!!

And for Greenidge to admit that Jagdeo and the PPP/C Administration have borrowed more that the PNC – but is able to comfortably service the debt – exposes his incompetence. A person or a country borrows what it can “afford” to service. It’s ridiculous to look at the absolute amount.

The head of Banks Brewery can borrow ten times the amount his employee on the bottling line could, without sweat – because he can service the debt. More power to Guyana that we actually received the benefits of the loans the PPP/C took – and can also pay it off without being declared “international dead beats”!

But we understand Greenidge had to “try a thing”, no. The curtain’s about to drop on his career!!

...on domestic violence

If Greenidge’s foot’s stuck in his mouth, Nagamootoo’s has gone way past his kneecaps. Imagine this uncouth lout (remember the “shut yuh so and so mouth” scream to his grandson?) had the gall to mock PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper’s championing of the victims of domestic violence!

He’s quoted as asking whether being a victim of domestic violence qualifies the good lady to become the PM.

And this is 2015!! Let’s not even get into the fact that Ms Harper ran a very large division of the Foreign Service and in this practical accomplishment, she far surpasses Nagamootoo’s short, abysmal stint at the Information Ministry.

But the short answer to Nagamootoo’s question is “Yes!!” Nagamootoo wouldn’t know, but development isn’t only about economic growth. If Ms Harper can get this country to deal more effectively with a problem that deeply and profoundly affects more than half of this country’s population – women – then yes – her background qualifies her for being PM. And it’s definitely a better qualification that being able to polish off a “large” during lunch!

...on PNC’s past

Folks might be wondering why PNC’s Howard Bulkan’s so bitterly anti-PPP/C. Just keeping up the tradition of his uncle Shahabuddeen - architect of Burnham’s 1980 Constitution.

Rohee questions Granger’s “lastminute” ‘dirty list’ claims

In what he said could be anticipation of defeat by the recentlyformed Opposition coalition, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee said the coalition’s Presidential Candidate, David Granger needs to make his intentions known over his statements about the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Rohee was speaking to the media at his weekly press briefing on Tuesday. His concerns surrounded the statements made by Granger, at a recent meeting with Guyanese in New York, that GECOM needed to clean up its “dirty” list.

Rohee contended that the A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) leader had bad timing, since the Claims and Objections period has already come to an end. More than that, he said Granger did not lay out the specifics of the list he has an issue with.

“Rather than hiding under the fig leaf of false statements and hasty generalisation, Granger should come clean and be specific as to exactly what his concerns are regarding the authenticity of the list. He should make his concerns known publicly regarding the voters list,

providing that the concerns are legitimate,” Rohee told journalists.

Sudden surge of concern

He said APNU had consistently expressed its satisfaction with the way things were progressing and more often than not showered praises on GECOM for its high degree of professionalism. He said the sudden surge of concern could be a clear indication of the defeat envisaged by the party at the upcoming May 11 polls.

“Could it be that Granger, in anticipation of a defeat at the upcoming polls, is already preparing the ground for his rejection of the poll, as the party has been noto-

rious for doing in the past?

The PPP/C calls on Granger to come clean on his intention and desist from making statements that could do harm to the elections process”.

“The PPP has noted with consternation, the remarks made by Granger that the voters list of the GECOM is “dirty”. What is noteworthy is that he opted to make the remarks to a North American audience, during a fundraising event,” Rohee lamented

He said also that the remarks made pose some interesting questions that are “mind boggling” and at worst are an indication of severe fissions developing in the APNU /AFC camp that

AFC scrambles to excuse...

The General Secretary said that based on the results of the previous elections and the turnout at the rally, the area has a huge support base for the AFC party.

Contradiction

However, he later contradicted himself and the basis of the AFC’s negotiating strategy with APNU by telling the Guyana Times that regardless of whether the event was attended by Indo-Guyanese or AfroGuyanese, the party has never seen race as a factor in voting or attracting support. According to him, the party judged their supporters “on the basis that they were Guyanese”. Nagamootoo had promised 11 per cent of the Indian Guyanese vote to APNU.

However, AFC friendly

columnist Freddie Kissoon apparently accepted that there was a poor turnout of Indo-Guyanese at the rally and reasoned that it was still early in the election season and they were still fearful of the PPP/C.

Meanwhile, former Foreign Affairs and Education Minister Henry Jeffrey, in an invited comment, told the Guyana Times that while he was not present at the rally and could not comment extensively on the matter, the AFC would need to analyse the percentage of Indian support it was able to draw to the rally, since this would signal whether it really stood a chance of winning that constituency at the General and Regional elections or not.

“That area has been traditionally seen as a PPP

could potentially injure the coalition’s political fortunes. He commented too that the statements were made after the coalition’s Prime Ministerial Candidate Moses Nagamootoo indicated that the AFC would walk away from the coalition, should things not work out the way its envisions. Of particular note was the deafening silence of Granger during the preparatory stages of the compilation of the voters’ list. Indeed, APNU consistently expressed satisfaction with the way things were progressing and more often than not showered praises on the elections body.

“So this about turn by Granger is not only disingenuous, but a slap in the face of GECOM and the entire staff and does not speak well for the integrity of the electoral process,” Rohee said.

More than that, he added, it raised concerns as to the true motives behind the declaration. He said while his party also has issues with the list, these would be raised at the appropriate time. “We are still assessing as we are doing with everything else. Our focus now is on voters’ education and public vetting. Will keep on pressing and hope that good sense will prevail,” the PPP/C General Secretary concluded.

from page 3

stronghold…If they were able to draw 10 per cent or 15 per cent of the IndoGuyanese from the area, they should be satisfied and know that they can win, but if they didn’t; well, then they’d have to examine things...,” Dr Jeffrey said.

Rejection

In addition, this newspaper understands from interviews conducted in the village that hundreds of residents from Whim and nearby villages which had supported the AFC were turned off by Nagamootoo’s assertion that he was “not an Indian”. They were hurt when the party decided to join the PNC-led APNU coalition, with some stating that they would never vote for the PNC in any shape or form. Additionally, villagers confirmed that they

Speeding, drunk driving cases still alarming – Police

As the Guyana Police Force continues with its traffic enforcement activities, it has been highlighted that speeding and drunk driving continues to be a major concern.

In a release, the Force’s Traffic Department highlighted that during the past week, that is, March 22 to 28, 560 cases of speeding and 22 cases of driving under the influence (DUI) were recorded. This is compared to 606 and 34 cases recorded respectively during the previous week.

Meanwhile, the Traffic Department has made out a number of cases against motorists for breaching other traffic laws during the past week as well. These include 15 cases for careless driving and another 12 cases for dangerous driving. Additionally, some 32 persons were also charged for failing to adhere to a siren.

Furthermore, the Police disclosed that some 24 persons were also charged for soliciting passengers (touting). In addition, as of Monday, March 30, the Police stated that there has been a total of 27 road fatalities compared to 28 for the corresponding period last year.

were equally turned off by Ramayya and his assertions about the entire political situation in the country on his programme “Alliance on the Move”. Analysts are watching to see whether in light of the demonstrated inability of the AFC to deliver on its 11 per cent promise whether APNU will re-evaluate its 40 per cent bequest of seats to the minor party.

Over the weekend, there were at least four fatalities on the country’s roadways. Just after midnight on Sunday, three persons were killed in a car crash at the Golden Grove Public Road, West Coast Berbice, after the driver of the car Devon Pydana, age 28, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into two parked trucks.

Tommy Thomas, 22, and Jaron James, 19, of New Amsterdam and a female

succumbed while the driver and five other occupants were hospitalised in critical condition. Then on Sunday evening, around 23:45h taxi driver Omadat Narine Singh was crossing the Zeeburg Public Road, West Coast Demerara, when he was struck by a motor car which sped away after.

Reports indicated that the driver of the motor car overtook another vehicle when it struck the 38-yearold taxi driver of Zeelught, East Bank Essequibo. The motor car was subsequently found abandoned and has been impounded by the Police.

According to the Force’s last monthly statistics report which was issued in early March, most accidents are found to be as a result of speeding and inattentiveness while driving. Speeding was said to be the major contributory factor to fatal accidents, having been the cause of seven of the 12 fatal accidents as of February.

Law enforcers also found that passengers in motor vehicles have been the main category of road users affected so far in road fatalities, with nine such persons losing their lives at the end of February. Up to that period, one pedal cyclist, six pedestrians and three drivers also lost their lives.

Traffic enforcement by the Police at the end of February has resulted in a total of 10,301 cases being made against errant motorists at the end of February 2015; of this, 3449 cases were for speeding, 253 for driving under the influence of alcohol, and 273 for failing to wear seat belts.

Nomination Day:

Parties briefed on protocols …two

“lightweights”

drop out of race

May 11, but many of them failed to turn up, or even indicate whether they were still interested or not.

Surujbally said the meeting updated the various political parties about the security concerns and the arrangements in place for Nomination Day.

He disclosed that political parties can only bring along a maximum of 20 members per party. He also said that the parties were informed that they should use the Republic Avenue entrance of the City Hall on

Nomination Day. In addition, Surujbally explained that these meetings aimed to educate the parties ahead of Nomination Day, so that they would be successful in meeting their requirements to become eligible to contest the elections.

As laid out by GECOM, each party wishing to contest the elections must present a List of Candidates that must be signed by not less than 150 and not more than 175 persons for each geographical constituency.

The Jhaat: not sleeping

Satiricus was very upset. He didn’t like how his Editor had announced that Rum Jhaat was “sleeping” when APANU leader GrainJa was speaking at the rally in Berbice. So what if they printed a picture?? So what if they say “a picture’s worth a thousand words”??

Satiricus just knew the Jhaat wasn’t sleeping. He was just reflecting on what was coming down on him as a member of Nagga Man’s “bariiat”.

By Devina Samaroo

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Tuesday briefed the political parties contesting the May 11 elections on the protocols and rules regarding Nomination Day, which is scheduled for next Tuesday at City Hall.

However, two of the minor political parties –National Democratic Party of Guyana (NDPOG), headed by former Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen, and the Guyana Youth Movement (GYM), headed by Robin Singh, have dropped out of

the race reducing the total number of parties contesting the polls to 10. At the meeting, GECOM addressed several important issues such as Nomination Day and the Official List of Electors (OLE), among others.

Speaking with the Guyana Times shortly after the meeting, GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally expressed his concerns that only six political parties showed up.

According to Surujbally, there were initially some 12 parties interested in contesting the upcoming General and Regional Elections on

Dropped out

Meanwhile, Holder-Allen of the NDPOG said her reason for backing out was based on her belief that the List of Electors was fraudulent and she, therefore, did not want to get involved “in matters of deceitful nature”. However, others may argue otherwise considering her party faced many hiccups since it was launched. Holder-Allen had stood almost alone when she announced to the media the party’s intention to contest the elections. Additionally, several lawyers she claimed were part of the party immediately had disassociated themselves from her.

On the other hand, Singh of the GYM, explained that his party was unable to meet the electoral body’s requirement and, therefore, made a “wise” decision to pull out. Singh admitted that it was difficult to garner the required support from the various regions in the little time the party had. Although he was disappointed that his party would not get a chance to gain a seat in Parliament, Singh said he would consider endorsing the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) leading up to the elections, as its policies were more outlined, while the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition’s policies appeared to be unrealistic promises.

The United Force

That aside, the other minor political parties are adamant about remaining in the race, despite the challenges they are facing. Leader of The United Force (TUF), Marissa Nadir revealed that her party is 90 per cent complete with its preparations for Nomination Day. She noted that since the announcement of elections, TUF has been working assiduously to get the relevant documentations in order.

United Republican Party

Likewise, the Leader of the United Republican Party (URP) Vishnu Bandhu said his party was also wrapping up its work for Nominations Day.

Satiricus hadn’t known too much about this “bariiat” business – he knew about “wedding processions”. But his wife reminded him that since it was Rum Jhaat who arranged the wedding between Nagga Man and GrainJa, he had to play his role. On the way up from Georgetown, she said, the Jhaat would have to drink rum, sing “wutless” Chutney songs about who want “de hammer” and such like, and also generally behave bad.

Satiricus figured none of this would be any trouble for the Jhaat, since this was how he behaved in any case. In or out of his office! Then when the bariiat landed in Berbice, his wife emphasised the Jhaat would have to drink some more with all the relatives.

The Jhaat was originally from Berbice and since he didn’t get that real, raw Bush-rum from the Whim foreshore when he was in Georgetown, this extra drinking also wasn’t any sweat for him. No problemo!! “Bring it on!!” said the Jhaat!

Then the Bride Nagga Man and the Groom GrainJa would have to say their vows on the stage in front of the Piss Doctor’s house. No problem for RumJhaat. By this time he would be “pissing drunk” in any case, and wouldn’t even mind imbibing any of that fluid!! Nagga Man would speak first - “ladies first” was the Berbice tradition. That was cool with the Jhaat.

But what made him close his eyes and think deeply was what would happen after GrainJa finished speaking. This is what made the Jhaat close his eyes. And not to sleep. It fact it was more like naked terror! His official role as the person who arranged the marriage was that he was the “Luck Knee”.

And after GrainJa spoke, the Luck-Knee would have to sleep this “first night” on the same bed – between GrainJa and Nagga Man. Since Berbicians were very traditional, the Bride Nagga Man couldn’t be touched. It was the Luck-Knee who had to fill in. Or be filled in. And this was why Rum Jhaat had closed his eyes and his face was all contorted. Ouch!!

Bandhu disclosed that the URP still had to visit four administrative regions, (namely Regions One (Barima-Waini); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), but he assured that it would get the signatures in time for Nomination Day.

The Independent Party The Independent Party (TIP), headed by Mark

Benschop, is also firm on not backing down. Speaking with this publication, TIP Campaign Manager Dianne Madray said the preparations were “going good” and assured that TIP will make it through Nomination Day. She added that Benschop’s main aim at the moment was not the presidency, but gaining at least one seat in Parliament.

PPP/C and APNU+AFC

Naturally, the two main political parties, the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC coalition are also well-prepared for Nomination Day. However, the Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNTP), headed by Alfred Park, is vying to coalesce with APNU+AFC, but the coalition has not yet responded with a decision. Nonetheless, the HTNTP will be contesting the Regional Elections. Nomination Day will be when all prospective political parties know whether or not they are eligible to contest the upcoming General and Regional Elections on May 11.

New country manager takes over at Scotiabank

– bank’s first quarter performance on par

Raymond Smith, a Trinidadian, has been appointed the new County Manager for Scotiabank Guyana, and has promised to deliver a leadership that will make Scotiabank Guyana the crown jewel in the bank’s Caribbean operations.

Smith was introduced at a reception held at the Pegasus Hotel on Monday. The event also served as a farewell party for outgoing Country Manager, Amanda St Aubyn. The reception saw Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh; Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga; and members of the Diplomatic Corps, in attendance.

Addressing the gathering, Smith stated that as a banker with goals and targets to meet, Guyana is the most opportune place to be since the country has experienced several years of consecutive economic growth which has benefited the banking sector. He disclosed that in the first quarter of this year, Scotiabank Guyana was the Best Performing Retail Bank in all of the international operations.

“Scotiabank Guyana is a world beater… My number one priority, therefore, is to ensure that Scotiabank Guyana continues to hold pride of place within Scotiabank as nothing else will be accepta-

ble. This can only be achieved if we deliver on our core purpose, which is to be the best at helping our customers become financially better off. As such, we will be more focused on our customers and be better organised to serve you. We will make it easier for you to do business with us, understanding your needs and providing the right advice and solutions,” he stated.

The new Country Manager further outlined that he has already begun working closely with the staff of the local entity to develop their leadership competencies and assist them in realising their career aspirations. Smith said too that he will also be placing major em-

phasis on the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). “It’s an opportunity for us to build better relationships with all our stakeholders by paying closer attention to how we fulfill our social, economic, environment, and ethical responsibilities,” he noted.

Smith joined Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago back in 1983 as a Management Trainee and has held senior roles in audit, branch management, small business banking and lending. Prior to his transfer to Guyana, he was the District General Manager of Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Country Manager said that

she is proud of her achievements during her tenure in Guyana. “I recall when I took this role, my vision for the bank’s success in Guyana was communicated as being assured once we delivered a consistent and exceptional experience to you our customers, at every touch point. That has certainly steered me and underpinned all our decision making, this I can assure you will not change in Scotiabank,” she noted.

She went onto highlight that there has been a 50 per cent growth in human resources as the bank continues to significantly invest in the future and focus on technology, which is consistent with the bank’s core focus on operational efficiencies.

St Aubyn assumed the post of the bank’s Country Manager in Guyana back in 2007. She joined Scotiabank 31 years ago as a Teller and has since made her way to the top. During her stint in Guyana, St Aubyn had given birth to several initiatives such as the Scotiabank Bright Future Programme, Mobile and Telephone banking, implementation of small business banking and expansion of two Georgetown branches. Additionally, the bank has won several awards and prizes for its excellent performance including Bank of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

IRO urges political parties to sign peace pact

Members of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) recently met with officials from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to discuss ways in which they can assist in ensuring a peaceful environment prior to the May 11 elections.

IRO’s Chairman, Reverend Ronald McGarrell led a team of six to the meeting which was held last Tuesday with GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally; the Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud; Legal Officer, Juanita Barker; and Public Relations Officer, Richard Francois among others.

It was during that meeting that the IRO indicated that it would like all the political parties contesting the General and Regional Elections to sign a peace pact. This move, by the organisation, is seen as a tactical effort to make certain that peaceful and responsible political campaigning and elections are held in Guyana.

Several other peace building initiatives, as well as its involvement in Civic and Voter Education, were also raised by the IRO.

GECOM, in a statement, said Dr Surujbally welcomed the initiatives outlined by the IRO, and promised that the commission will provide any help needed by the IRO, within a knowledge sharing framework on election processes and Civic and Voter Education issues.

Dr Surujbally also outlined the process for organisations

applying for and being granted Domestic Observer Status during the May 11 elections. In so doing, he carefully underscored some of the key areas to which potential domestic observers must adhere as they conduct their respective activities on Elections Day.

“GECOM recognises that violence has no place in democratic elections. Therefore, the commission would like to echo the call of the IRO in encouraging political parties and supporters alike to behave responsibly, to engage each other with mutual respect, and to refrain from all words and or actions which may have a tendency to incite, support or provoke any kind of violence before, during, or after the votes have been counted. Citizens have a responsibility and a right to keep the peace, no matter who wins,” the statement read.

Insufficient progress hindering Guyana from achieving MDGs – UNDP

While Guyana has maintained steady progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the pace of development may be insufficient to achieve some of the targets for 2015.

This is according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in a published overview on Guyana’s progress towards achieving its MDGs for 2015.

According to the document, Guyana has advanced in its efforts to reduce hunger, increase access to social services and benefits, improve enrollment in and completion of primary education, increase empowerment of women and achieve environmental sustainability.

But, due to the challenges in the political and civil atmosphere within the nation, Guyana is struggling in its quest to achieve the MDGs.

It was noted that the prospects of achieving all the MDGs can be vastly improved with the resumption of sustained economic growth and its effect on household income, revenue generation and public expenditure.

Improved data systems will also advance the capacity to measure the progress in future years.

Greater capital investment in the country is also encouraged, as it will eventually decrease the outward migration of professional and technical skilled.

The eight MDGs for 2015

are the eradication of extreme hunger and poverty; achievement of universal primary education; promotion of gender equality and women empowerment; reduction of child mortality; improvement of maternal health; combating HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and the establishment of a global partnership for development.

Extreme hunger and poverty

With regards to the eradication of extreme hunger and poverty, UNDP said Guyana has made significant progress.

Guyana successfully halved the proportion of people who suffer from hunger and has also improved its performance in the reduction of poverty and increasing employment. In order to meet the MDG target for poverty reeducation, the extreme poverty rate must be reduced by a further 4 per cent.

The fraction of the population living in extreme poverty has declined from 28.7 per cent in 1993 to 18.6 per cent in 2006.

There has also been a significant decline in the unemployment rate, with a recorded 11.7 per cent of overall unemployment in 1992 to 10.7 per cent in 2006.

The female unemployment rate declined from 18.1 per cent in 1992 to 13.9 per cent in 2006 and the percentage of youths who con-

stitute the employed labour force increased from 8.7 per cent to 15.8 per cent over the same period.

Universal primary education

Of recent, Government has been emphasising on the fact that Guyana has successfully achieved access to universal primary education and is well on its way to achieving universal secondary education.

According to the UNDP, Guyana is on track to meet the education target, ensuring that, by the end of 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. The total primary school enrollment rate has been above 95 per cent since 2000.

The UNDP report recognises that Government policies on primary education are focused on improving access for students in the hinterland communities and improving the inclusiveness of education with regard to students with learning disabilities.

General equality and women empowerment

Guyana has met the target of eliminating gender inequality in primary and secondary education since boys and girls are equally represented at these levels.

However, there is some imbalance at the tertiary level as there are twice as many females as there are males enrolled.

Additionally, women are well represented in public life and hold a variety of senior technical positions in

life, the Government is committed towards ensuring the implementation of proactive legislation and carious initiatives such as micro-credit schemes and training programmes.

Reduction of child mortality

As highlighted by the Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, the under-five mortality rate in Guyana has declined tremendously, resulting in early achievement of the MDG target.

The under-five mortality rate was reduced by twothirds by 2015 and the country aims to improve this record.

Despite public criticisms, Guyana has succeeded in reducing the number of maternal deaths and increasing the availability of skilled health personnel at births.

According to the UNDP, the country is currently assessed as having the poten-

get of achieving universal access to treatment for HIV/ AIDS for all those who need it.

There is also positive news for malaria control as well, with prevalence rates confirming that the country has succeeded in meeting the target of reducing the incidence of the disease.

Additionally, the prevalence of tuberculosis shows tentative signs of a decline, with reduced incidence over the 2008-2009 reporting period.

Environmental Sustainability

The UNDP report stated that Guyana has recorded multiple successes in ensuring environmental sustainability are achieved.

Guyana has satisfied the target of integrating the principles of sustainable development into the country policies and programmes and is committed to significantly reducing biodiversity

the public service. Female political representation in Parliament has increased substantially over the years. In 1992, there were 12 members and in 2009, the number increased to 20.

Today, Guyana is ranked 30th in the world for the number of women in Parliament and Cabinet, ahead of prominent countries like Trinidad and Tobago who ranked 36, Canada at 48 and the United Kingdom at 57.

To further promote equality of women in all spheres of

tial to meet the MDG target of reducing maternal mortality ratio by three-quarters.

Maternal mortality has been on a decreasing trend in recent years, with a ratio of 320 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1991 to 86 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2008.

Guyana has recorded steady progress in fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

The country shows signs of beginning to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, and is projected to meet the tar-

loss.

The MDG targets of halving the proportion of the population without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation have been met and there have been notable increases in the population’s access to adequate housing.

Targets to be met under this goal reflect commitments made by member states to strengthen cooperation in the areas of trade, official development assistance, external debt and access to medicines and technology.

Education Ministry honours Navin Chandarpal posthumously

The widow of Navin Chandarpal, Indranie Chandarpal, on Tuesday received a posthumous award for her late husband, a former Presidential Adviser on Science and Technology, for his contributions towards science, technology and innovation. Chandarpal passed away on October 28, 2014, after a two-year battle with cancer.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that Education Minister Priya Manickchand, in presenting the award, read the words on the plaque: “We extend this token of appreciation with our heartfelt gratitude for your outstanding and dedicated service so unselfishly given towards the development of science, technology and innovation in Guyana.”

Mrs Chandarpal thanked the Ministry for the award, noting that all persons who had the opportunity to interact with her husband knew of his passion for science and technology. She also expressed happiness that the National Science Policy has indeed become a reality, “because I know he started the process since 2008, and it is important that we have such a policy today.”

Minister Manickchand, who had mentioned Navin Chandarpal in her presentation previously, noted that “he lives in these kinds of policies”. She observed that he would continue to live on as Guyana continued to implement policies. He pioneered numerous national initiatives on sustainable development through his post as Adviser to the President on Energy, Natural Resources, Science, Technology and

Environment from 1992 to 2001. During the period 2001-2003, he served as Agriculture Minister and a Member of Parliament. Over the past 10 years, he reassumed the role of Adviser to the President on Sustainable Development, Science and Technology. For the 2010-2011 period, he served as Principal of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Labour College.

Father of 4 gets $60,000 bail for allegedly assaulting pregnant girlfriend

A21-year-old father of four was released on $60,000 bail on Tuesday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on an assault charge.

The defendant, Nicholas Tappin was brought before Magistrate Alex Moore in Court 10 to answer to the charge which stated that he allegedly beat the Virtual Complainant (VC) Yunnick Alexander, who is his girlfriend and who is six months pregnant. The incident occurred on March 21 at his resident at 259 Delph Street, South Ruimveldt,

Georgetown.

Police Prosecutor, Renatta Bentham told the court that the defendant and the VC have been in a relationship for the past eight months and on the day in question, it is alleged that he grabbed the VC by the neck while he was behind her and dealt her several cuffs about her body.

The VC stated that the cuffs landed on her stomach and her left side. She explained to the court that she has been in a relationship with the defendant for some time and is now carrying his child.

However, the defendant was quick to tell the court that the child is not his. He said he has four children, three girls and a boy.

Before releasing the defendant on $60,000 bail, Magistrate Moore told Tappin that he would not have released him had he believed that the VC was in danger. The defendant was also placed on a bond to keep the peace for the duration of the trial. He was told that if he breached the peace bond, he will be remanded.

The matter was adjourned until April 17.

Body of unidentified man found at Dochfour

The body of an unidentified man was discovered on Monday night on the Dochfour Public Road, East Coast Demerara. The discovery was made around 20:00h.

Police investigators believe that the man was killed in a hit-and-run accident. According to reports, a passerby noticed the body of the man lying in the corner of the road and immediately summoned the Police.

The deceased was clad in black jeans, green t-shirt and a pair of black Clarks boots. He was of East Indian descent, dark in complexion,

slimly built, appeared to be in his 30s and was about 5’4” tall. The body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour to await identification.

Residents in the area told the Guyana Times that they were unaware of any accidents and did not hear the sound of any vehicular impact on Monday night. One woman said that despite living in the front of the village, she only learnt about the body while visiting her mother in Anns Grove.

A popular minibus driver also related that when he began working early Tuesday morning, he saw several

Police officers at the scene; however, the body had been already removed. The man related that there was a blood stain on the ground and the Police were looking for a possible clue (such as an ID card) to aid in identifying the man. The driver related that he was told the man was seen earlier on Monday evening intoxicated and was walking around the area. However, no one knows his identity. Up to press time, according to the Police and the Lyken Funeral Home, no one had come forth to identify the man.

Prince William Street resurfaced

$82.3M

nursery school commissioned at No 77 Village

... caters for differently able children

Astate-of-the-art nursery school, built to Caricom standards at a cost of $82.3 million and equipped with ramps at the entrances and exits to cater for disabled children, was commissioned on Tuesday at Number 77 Village, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

The beautiful edifice, which was commissioned by Education Minister Priya Manickchand, was described by her as the most beautiful and modern nursery school in that part of the country. The structure was funded under the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF). The contract for the construction of the Number 77 Nursery School was signed in April 2014, and it was completed approximately seven months later.

Minister Manickchand highlighted the importance of early childhood education, noting that the early childhood years are recognised by psychologists, teachers and policymakers as being very important years in children’s lives. She said the Government has made no bones about prioritising education, noting that the education sector budget has moved from five per cent to 15 per cent of the national budget, and this is spent across the sector. She explained that the Administration has undertaken a programme, to en-

sure that all students are able to read and understand what they are reading by Grade Four. This project is expected to see results by 2020.

Manickchand pointed out that 85 per cent of nursery school aged children in Guyana were enrolled in schools. This, she noted, is the highest enrolment figure in the entire Commonwealth Caribbean, and was only possible because the Administration has created the required facilities. She also highlighted that the Number 77 Nursery School is the 57th such school in Region Six.

Vision

The Education Minister urged parents to give their children a jump start and do so early, so that they could do better than their parents. She said building schools was one thing, but having trained teachers to teach the children was another, as she highlighted that Government has also invested heavily in the training of teachers. She noted that 80 per cent of the nursery school teachers in Berbice were trained.

She related that many were applying to the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), but didn’t qualify in one of the core subjects, but today, the situation was different, as the People’s Progressive Party/Civic

(PPP/C) Administration has consciously been providing for teacher training. She cited Region Six as an example, highlighting that it has a ratio of about 12 nursery age children to a teacher.

More teachers

“We have now brought the number down so much …so a teacher can spend time with the children, so when you know a child is really good, you can give them extra work and when the child is slow, you can bring them up and that is what having smaller classrooms do… it didn’t happen simply because we desired it or we wanted it to happen. It happened because we had a vision that we want to see smaller classrooms, with trained teachers, with children who were graduating with skill, and we pursued that vision, we funded that vision that your children are benefiting from.”

Explaining how the Ministry was able to attract more teachers, Minister Manickchand said that the education system was doing well and more children are passing Maths and English and can go on and become teachers. In 1992, just eight per cent of students passed English, and 18 per cent passed Maths, whereas in 2014, 46 per cent passed English and 36 per cent passed Maths, which is similar to what obtains in the

Caribbean.

Also to allow a greater intake of students, children are entered into the formal education system in September at three years three months, six months earlier than what previously obtained. This age limit was implemented after an assessment and the children were taught basic things at home before starting school, Minister Manickchand explained. She said such a policy would not be reversed unless the parents called for it to be changed.

Further, with the Administration keen to support groups and parents, it has ensured that programmes are put in place to do so, hence the projects covering fortified snacks, hot

NA man guilty of raping 6-year-old

ABerbice court on Tuesday found a New Amsterdam (NA) man guilty of raping a sixyear-old girl back in 2013. Harold Naurayan, 45, of Coopers Lane, NA, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) was found guilty after a mixed jury returned an 11-1 verdict of guilty.

Between February 1, 2013 and April 27, 2013, Naurayan had sexual activity with a child, the court found. Justice Brassington Reynolds has, however, deferred sentencing until April 13 after the presentation of a probation report.

State Prosecutor Judith Mursalin in proving the case called five witnesses, including the victim and her mother. In her address to the jury, she said, “Out of the mouth of babes cometh forth truth. Her mother must be complimented after she was confronted with the fact that her six-year-old daughter was violated, by someone who should have protected her.”

In summing up the case, Justice Reynolds recounted the testimony given by the witnesses. He recalled that

the victim related the story to the court.

In a sworn statement from the witness stand, the defendant had said during the month of February, he was at sea, but returned home the following month. However, he recalled watching television when he heard a three-year-old boy speak-

ing to his mother.

Detective Police Corporal Dwayne Braithwaite in his testimony to the court said he was contacted about the matter and also learnt that the victim had told her brother to come and lie on top of her. That information the youngster later revealed to his mother.

A medical report, which was tendered as evidence, revealed that the hymen of the victim was not intact.

Dr Kester Persaud, who also gave evidence, explained to the court the findings of the medical certificate.

After the jury returned with its verdict, defence counsel Raymond Ali made a bail application. However, Mursalin objected to the defendant having his presentencing liberty on the grounds that he was no longer presumed innocent.

“Your Honour, as soon as he is found guilty he is supposed to be remanded. He is no longer presumed to be innocent. He is found guilty by the jurors of his peers,” she argued. “Mr Naurayan has been enjoying his liberty for the last two years. During this time, the victim and her family continue to agonise over the unfortunate incident. He must be made to suffer the penalties provided by the Act.”

Justice Reynolds overruled the application for bail and remanded Naurayan until April 13 when he will be sentenced.

meals, uniform assistance, free exercise and text books along with the new cash grant programme launched in 2014.

Meanwhile, the school was welcomed by the staff of the facility, especially the head teacher, and the residents.

BNTF representative Michael Singh said the school was equipped with sick bay, kitchen, administrative department and washroom facilities among other departments, and it has the capacity to house 120 students or 20 per classroom.

The BNTF is a Government of Guyana programme and is responsible for implementing projects and providing infrastructure for capacity building through funding from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The project undertaken falls into the

seventh and eighth BNTF cycle, which deal with education and human development. Under this aspect, US$2.7 million was collectively expended on the construction of the Diamond, Ithaca, Tuschen, and now the Number 77 village nursery schools among others, along with the refurbishing of others. The eighth cycle, which is currently ongoing, will see the injection of US$804 million into the education sector.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan lauded the education sector and the importance that Government has given to nursery education, which is the backbone of more intellectual development. He recognised that the Government was not only pushing nursery but all forms of education, with a special focus on technical and vocational areas.

Dismembered body identified, 21-yearold suspect arrested

The dismembered body which was found at the AnnandaleBuxton seawall, East Coast Demerara (ECD) last Thursday has been positively identified by relatives, and a 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the gruesome murder.

According to reports reaching the Guyana Times, members of the Police C (East Coast Demerara) Division, acting on information swooped down on a house at Buxton, ECD Tuesday evening and arrested the man, who is believed to have hailed from Berbice and to have orchestrated the murder.

Family members confirmed the identity of the woman upon viewing her body. However, up to press time, her name had not been released. It was, however, verified that she resided in

the area and was an overseas based Guyanese who had been missing for about one week prior to the discovery of her body at the seawall.

The woman’s body minus the head, feet and arms, was discovered around 06:30h last Thursday by a resident. An alarm was raised and scores of residents, including schoolchildren, flocked to the scene to get a glimpse of the body which bore signs of sexual assault.

The head of the woman, with the eyes neatly carved out, was later found after the tide had receded at the foreshore.

A religious artefact and a blood-stained rice bag were later discovered some distance away The Guyana Times will provide more details in its subsequent edition.

wednesday, april 1, 2015|

Essequibo lawmen get E-Day training

Members of the Joint services, including the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Defence Force in G Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands) were on Tuesday trained by the Guyana Elections Commission on how to execute their job on Election Day, May 11.

During an interactive session, held at Anna Regina, Ballot Officer from the Guyana Police Force, Roxanne Raamdhyan Lewis, told officers that security was important on the day. During her discourse, she

reminded ranks of their roles and responsibilities in ensuring a “fair” election.

Lewis said the session served to inform ranks of their role on Election Day and to answer questions about issues they had doubts about. The ranks were enlightened on the process used by the disciplined forces when voting.

She noted that ranks would be placed at the 137 polling stations throughout Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) as security officers to ensure that voting goes smoothly.

Ranks clarified concerns they had and gave their assurance to Ballot Officers that they would do their best on the day.

Other Ballot Officers attended the session and made presentations including Nardio Persaud from Guyana Prison Service and Joseph Giligous, from the Guyana Defence Force. The interactive session was also graced by the presence G Division Commander Kevin Adonis.

Similar sessions are being conducted throughout the administrative regions.

West Ruimveldt man released on bail for alleged assault

A29-year-old man was released on $30,000 bail on Tuesday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was charged for assaulting a man who reportedly asked him to have sex with him.

The defendant, Murtland Paul of 62 Lane Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was brought to Court One where Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry presided over the case.

The facts of the case alleged that the defendant unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm to the Virtual Complainant (VC) Devon Semple on Cross Street, Georgetown.

Police Prosecutor Birkett Grant elaborated that the defendant had approached the VC to ask his interest in buying cocaine from him. However, the VC refused and made a counter offer of sex with the defend-

ant instead. This angered the defendant who allegedly punched the VC to his right jaw. Police Prosecutor Grant told the court that the VC’s jaw was fractured.

The defendant told the court that he has never been in trouble with the law before, is a father of two and works as a labourer. He pleaded with the Magistrate for the bail to be reduced as the original bail had been $50,000, and this was granted.

Twenty-year-old Talesh Singh, a labourer from Charity Extension Scheme, in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) was on Tuesday remanded to prison for attempted murder. He made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge. It is alleged that on March 28, at a flat shop

name “Chico”, Singh allegedly brandished a knife and stabbed Roger Joseph in his stomach twice. It is further alleged that the victim was floored, stabbed and punched in his face during which time he lost three of his teeth.

The accused was arrested and the victim was taken to Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital then transfer to the Suddie Public Hospital where his condition remain critical. Singh was not rep-

GECOM to revamp Code of Conduct for political parties

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally has announced that the commission is working on revising the Code of Conduct for all political parties contesting the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

According to Dr Surujbally, this is a necessary move since the language and actions of some of the parties are very ‘unbecoming.’

“As Chairman of GECOM, I don’t like the idea of political parties going on a campaign and creating an uproar. In fact, at GECOM, we will be producing again, a Code of Conduct for all of the political parties.”

He explained that a draft Code was first done before it was further revised. He, however, disclosed that the parties would be furnished with a copy after Nomination Day which is set for April 7. The parties will subsequently be invited to make recommendations on how the commission could improve the document.

The Code of Conduct for political parties is a guide of expected behaviours in the lead up to the May 11 elections. Once political parties sign onto the Code of Conduct, it is expected that the parties will abide by the protocols documented in the code, all in the interest of free and fair General and Regional Elections. The advantage of having such an agreement in place, according to GECOM, relates to being able to guard against confrontational and vitriolic election campaign meetings or rallies and statements.

Contesting parties

signing the code are viewed as demonstrating their willingness to implement their respective election campaign strategies in ways that contribute to the maintenance of peace and tranquility throughout and beyond the elections.

However, attempts by Guyana Times to contact the General Secretaries of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Joseph Harmon; the Alliance for Change (AFC), David Patterson; and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Clement Rohee for a comment on the matter, proved futile.

It was only last week that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) raised concerns about the language employed on campaign platforms by political parties contesting the upcoming elections.

In a press statement, the body called for the “early adoption” of the political parties’ Code of Conduct to ensure that its tenets and philosophy resonate on the campaign trail stating that “the commission is deeply concerned about the current rhetoric being uttered by political campaigners from their platforms and strongly condemns all lan-

guage equivalent to incitement and breeding of hate amongst the citizens of our country. In this regard, the commission also calls upon all political parties to facilitate early adoption of the political parties’ Code of Conduct and comply with its tenets and intended philosophy.”

This response came immediately after some sections of the business community took offense to the statements which were made by Opposition Leader, David Granger at the opening ceremony of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) business conference some two weeks ago. Granger had said that “Guyana is a nation of jaguars led by jackasses.” He added that “people want development, people want to get out, they want to be rich, they want to be like other countries but they are led by jackasses.”

Rallies and public meetings, hosted by the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC coalition are in full swing. The two major political parties are expected to hit the campaign trail with greater intensity closer to Nomination Day.

Duo accused of narcotics possession for trafficking

Tresented by an attorney and told the court that he lives with his mother at Charity. Prosecutor Haimraj Ramsewack objected to bail stating that the victim is still hospitalised and the defendant may flee if granted bail. He also told the court that the offense is a serious and prevalent one. Singh was remanded and the matter was adjourned to April 20 for the commencement of the Preliminary Inquiry.

wo persons were brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday facing charges of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

The charges read that Keona Groves, a 26-yearold shoemaker of 28 Croal Street, Georgetown pleaded not guilty to the charges which read that on March 30 he was found in possession of 166 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking at the aforementioned address.

The facts further stated that Rocquel Ackra, 30, a

food vendor who resides at the said address also pleaded not guilty to the charges which stated that on March 30 she was found in possession of 39 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The defence argued that the narcotics could have belonged to anyone as it was a case of multiple occupancy of the said premises. The defence also requested bail for the defendants, telling the court that Ackra is a mother of one and neither of the defendants is a flight risk.

Police Prosecutor Birkett Grant refuted the defence’s statements claiming that on

the day in question, Police Officers acting on information received entered the premises with the intention to conduct a search where they saw the defendants in possession of a transparent plastic bag containing the narcotics. Upon searching the defendants another package of the illegal substance was discovered in Ackra’s possession. The two were then detained and taken into Police custody. Bail was denied and the matter was transferred to Court Three. The two are to appear again in court on April 2 at 10:00h.

PPP/C wants separate voters’ list for disciplined forces

...GECOM says it’s illegal

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to ensure that the names of the members of the disciplined forces are removed from the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE).

General Secretary of the party, Clement Rohee, at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, said that his party is “concerned” about the names of members of the disciplined forces appearing on the Official List of Electors (OLE) for the May 11 polls. The disciplined forces comprised of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).

According to him, it is the view of the party that the names of the persons in the disciplined forces

should be on a separate list and should be removed from the PLE, since the disciplined forces would usually vote one week before the holding of the General and Regional Elections.

“The party had raised concerns in 2011 concerning the names of discipline services’ members being on

the Official List of Electors for E-day. This obviously created confusion. The party insists that the names of the disciplined services should be on a separate list.”

Rohee noted that these concerns by the party continue to mount since failing to remove the names can open avenues for force members to cheat the system; that is, by having the chance to vote again at the May 11 polls after they would have voted one week earlier. However, when contacted by Guyana Times for a comment on the matter, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield related that while the PPP/C is entitled to raise its concerns, there is nothing that can be done by the commission to alter the list.

He noted that under the laws of the country, it

will be quite illegal for the elections body to remove the names from the PLE. According to Lowenfield, it is required by law that the name of each and every eligible person or electorate be placed on the list and as such, the body does not have the requisite power to

Bogus health inspector robs Delicious Restaurant employee

An employee of the Delicious Chinese Restaurant, located on Cummings Street, was robbed by a man claiming to be a health inspector on Tuesday afternoon at the business place.

Speaking to Guyana Times under anonymity, the employee related that a well-dressed man approached the restaurant claiming to be a health inspector, and demanded that she opened the door for him to do his job. However, she told him that the owners were not around and therefore she cannot comply. After creating a scene at the restaurant, the employee called the owner, who then requested to talk to the man.

Consequently, the employee handed him her Blackberry cellular phone

after which the impostor bolted away with the device. According to the employee, she immediately reported the matter to the Police. The employee told this publication that the entire incident was caught on surveillance cameras which the Police will be using to assist with their investigation.

Only last year, a waitress, attached to the Delicious Chinese Restaurant on D’Urban Street, Wortmanville, was shot dead during a robbery at the establishment.

Reports indicated that the two gunmen entered the restaurant as customers, ordered a chicken friedrice meal, and waited until it was prepared. As the waitress brought out the food, one of the men pulled out a gun and shot the woman.

Brazilians remanded for intent to traffic narcotics

– intercepted while trying to smuggle marijuana into Brazil

Atrio – two men and a woman – was remanded to jail on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for attempting to smuggle over 3300 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana) into Brazil.

The defendants are 52-year-old Pastor Malo DeSouza; a 28-year-old Mason, Marcio De Andro and 21-year-old housewife Jessica Ferriera. All three of the accused reside in Boa Vista, Brazil. They were officially charged with transporting 3300 grams of marijuana with the purpose of trafficking. Police reported that the defendant’s were in Lethem when they were intercepted with the illegal substance.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru elaborated on the details of the case. He stat-

ed that the Police were carrying out a routine search on the vehicle which bore registration plates HAJ 0085, that the defendants’ were travelling in when the cannabis was found. According to the Prosecutor, the illegal substance was found under the driver’s seat. At the time of the bust, De Andro was driving the car.

He continued by saying that the officers who made the bust found four black plastic bags with leaves and stems, while a substantial amount of money was found in the female defendant’s purse.

Prosecutor Mangru told the court that the defendants should not be granted bail as they have no ties to this country. Notwithstanding their frequent trips to Lethem, he

told the court that there is no assurance that they will remain to face the charges if granted bail.

However, their Attorney Latchmee Rahaman stated otherwise. She explained to the court that there is a special reason why bail should be granted. The defence Attorney told the court that her clients visit Lethem often to shop. She continued that on this visit when they returned to their vehicle they found that it was unlocked. However, they found nothing amiss thus they continued on their way home.

Attorney Rahaman continued by saying that when the Police Officers searched the vehicle and unearthed the drug, that was the first time her clients saw the cannabis that was hidden in their car. She said that the

remove any eligible person.

Meanwhile, the party said it continues to call for the public vetting of polling day staff and the proper training of those selected. Rohee said the party has been the lone advocate over the last three months for scrutiny and the involvement of the public for these persons to carry out their duties without prejudice, fear or favour.

He said voters’ education must become a priority to GECOM especially in rural communities because of the presence of many first time voters. It will also reduce the incidence of rejected ballots as was the case

in 2011 elections where 19 ballots cast at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) were rejected for not having a six digit stamp. “The party is of the view that a public awareness programme can serve to strengthen the transparency of the electoral process, and calls on GECOM to publish the roles and responsibilities of all polling day staff and candidates of the political parties so as to enlighten users of the do and don’ts.” This is the responsibility of the presiding officer who must ensure that the democratic rights of voters are not denied.

defendants did not even recognise the bag that was under the driver’s seat.

Rahaman asked the court to grant her clients bail. She said that De Souza is an upstanding resident of his community, having been a Pastor for several years and has never had any priors with the court.

She insisted that her clients have no plans to abscond and are very much willing to subject themselves to any conditions the court may deem fit.

However, after listening to the Prosecution’s argument as to why bail should be refused, Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry remanded the defendants to prison.

She transferred the case to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for June 1.

A71-year-old man appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday charged with using of threatening language and behaviour.

Ganga Kishna, commonly known as “Scientist” of 11 North Road, Bourda, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charges which stated that on November 25, 2014 he made use of threatening language against the Virtual Complainants (VC) Shivnarine Singh, Andrew Gilbert, Naresh Singh and John Pyneandy at a construction site on Robb and King Streets, Georgetown.

The prosecution stated that on the day in question, Shivnarine Singh, Andrew Gilbert and Naresh Singh who are all construction workers employed by Pyneandy were at the work site when at approximately 12:30 hrs they were approached by the defendant who told them in a violent manner that the building is his and unless they discontinued work on the building he would shoot them and then burn the building. He then commenced taking photographs of the men and the building before leaving.

“I was mixing cement when the man came up to the fence and tell me that the building is his own and ask me wuh I doin’ deh. He tell me to stop what I doing or he gon’ shoot me. He said that he burn the place down before and he gon’ burn it again”, Singh told the court in his statement. The two other construction workers gave testimonies similar to this and said they had not known Kishna before this incident.

Addressing the court, Pyneandy stated that his father is the owner of the building which was burnt down by arsonists some time last year. He informed the court that while investigations are

still on-going on that matter, Kishna has been named as a suspect by the Police. He further explained that on two previous occasions, Kishna has threatened him and also tried to break into the premises which led him to obtain a restraining order for the defendant. He said that on that incident, he discovered the defendant along with two men attempting to cut the chains and locks on the building and added that Kishna was in possession of a blowtorch.

Kishna, who decided to represent himself in the matter then began to cross examine the witnesses stating that on the day in question he did not threaten the VC’s but admitted to taking the photographs. He then claimed that upon taking the photographs, the VC’s began to assault him and attempted to relieve him of his camera. He also went on to inform the court that over 20 years ago, his brother shared a similar grievance with Pyneandy’s father whom he had a dispute with over ownership of the property. He claimed that five years ago Pyneandy’s father attempted to forcefully evict his daughter from her house claiming that it was his. In response to Pyneandy’s previous allegations Kishna claimed that he never had a blowtorch on the day of that incident, however, he did not deny the remaining allegations. The prosecution then cross examined the defendant and concluded that his allegations of assault were untrue stating that due to his previous grievances with the family he indeed made the threats in vengeance.

The Magistrate ruled the defendant guilty on all four counts. He was fined $10,000 on each charge. He was also made to sign a bond to keep the peace for two years and failure to do so would result in him spending three months in prison.

28 years of PNC misery in Guyana

Dear Editor, Reading Hydar Ally and Lal Balkaran's letters should be a must for all who suffered to never forget the historical facts – 28 years of thuggery, fraudulent and rigged elections, murder of Father Drake, Vincent Teekah, Dr Walter Rodney, the 1973 election killings in Berbice of Parmanand and Ramessar, ecetera, under the most notorious regime in the Caribbean.

This scourge was removed from Government not only by free and fair elections but with God answering the tears and cries for help by the Guyanese masses. The sufferings are not made up stories like the Spanish, British invaders calling the natives of the Americas savages, raping the women and killing the men. Anyone who thinks that a change of Government will bring betterment under the new PNC and AFC need a crash course in the history of Guyana 1964-1992; they are either mad, in a stupor or bribed to say such nonsense.

Let’s take a truthful analysis of the development in Guyana from 1992 to 2015. As far as one eyes can see, the transformation in all sectors of the economy education, health, transportation, agriculture, housing, banking, tourism and access to a variety of foodstuffs –there is no banning of essential commodities. The PPP/C in Government is the first national party in this hemisphere to recognise that the natives’ rights to their land claims must be respected and acknowledged with titles.

Further, I want to share with all readers that I was

denied the right to continue my studies at GTI by the PNC because I was a polling agent for the PPP in the 1973 elections. My first time of voting in Guyana in 1973 was a nightmare. I was denied the right to vote because they said I had voted already while a GDF soldier pushed his gun in my rib cage and demanded that I leave or I will be sorry. My co- polling agent at that time said to me that my life was more important than a vote. On my return to my polling station, the GDF soldiers grabbed all the boxes and denied us the right to travel with the ballot boxes.

I resigned from that job after gaining employment with GuySuCo’s Port Mourant Apprentice Training Centre. This was the institution under which I was trained. I remain thankful to the Administrative Manager of the Albion Estate for allowing me to continue my studies at NATI in New Amsterdam. This did not stop me from working with the PPP and my locality to further the struggles of the residents of Port MourantTain area for better services by the Local Authority.

I was elected a Regional Member for the PPP (Port Mourant-New Amsterdam) and had planned to raise my young family of a wife and four children in this locality. At the time, I was renting a house from someone living abroad. The hardships of sourcing and purchasing foodstuff added to the high renting cost would leave me a month behind in expenses. House lots were available for GuySuCo workers in the Tain South but the then Chairman, Harold Singh,

bluntly refused my application without an explanation. I found a house in Tain which was up for sale at the cost of $5000 but I was refused by the NBS when I applied for a loan. These repressive, undemocratic and inhumane actions by the PNC forced me to migrate to Canada in 1978.

From 2005 to 2015, I have visited Guyana 22 times and the transformation of Guyana towards a standard of living equivalent to the West is seen and felt wherever one travels in the country. The only Party that delivers positive improvement and services is the PPP/C. Do not allow anyone to fool you to vote for the APNU/AFC.

Let me give you a simple example: many so called Arab leaders were duped that they will have better lives if Saddam, Gadaffi and Ben Ali were removed but you can read everywhere that the Arabs are worst off today than they were previously. These countries were destroyed by coalition-led forces.

The proverb “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”. It’s better to have a certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing. May 11 General and Regional Elections is in your hands my fellow Guyanese brothers and sisters and make the Wise Decision –VOTE PPP/C

I humbly call on all Guyanese to use their eyes, their hearts and not their emotions and to give the PPP/C a solid majority in the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

Safdar Ally

Let education reign supreme –

A computer for every home

Dear Editor,

Guyana is the only country in the world where the Government gives a free computer to every home. I disputed this vociferously until I went and saw it for myself. Even the US, the undisputedly richest country in the known universe and inventor of the computer does not have a policy of this kind.

If I did not so strongly believe that technology is the wave of the future (some say that the future is already in Guyana), I would say the PPP/C Government is guilty of creating a welfare state. I did a search on the Internet and the only country in the world that came close to this was Uruguay. They have a policy of giving every student a computer. But just handing out a computer is not the PPP/ C’s way of doing business. In

light of this fact, I asked my friend’s son who is a graduate and scholar of UG, why is it that with his advanced skill of software and hardware that he is not starting a class for students. He said that that need is already being met. The PPP/C Government, he said is offering lessons to children of all ages and also adults, including the elderly. His two brothers and sister attended the RDC classes and got their certificates with even his mother, a recent retiree successfully completing the course. His father is too busy with work to attend. Their granddaughter who is three and half years old plays with a BlackBerry tablet.

The Opposition is using the same very tools, supplied by the PPP/C Government to undermine democracy. They are using Facebook to spread racist and mali-

NY Guyanese Hindus observe Navratri and Ram Naumi

Dear Editor, The Hindu festival of Navratri, nine nights of worshipping the Goddess Durga and her incarnations, was observed among the large Guyanese Hindu population at temples throughout the metropolitan area last week. There are some fifty Guyanese temples in the metro area and all of them observed the festival with special discourses from the sacred Ramayana and ‘Devi Puranas’.

The festival concluded over the weekend with the observance of the birth or appearance of Lord Rama or Ram Naumi, a holiday in India. Long lines were formed at the Mandirs to perform pujas for Ram Naumi and to partake in Kumari Puja to welcome the Lord. Hindus used the occasion to conduct special pujas at their home (raising jhandis), making it a busy season for the pandits.

According to pandits, Navratri is one of the most auspicious and holiest times in the Hindu calendar for puja and it involves fasting for cleansing and reinvigorating of the body. During Navratri, the pandits explained that the feminine aspects of God are worshipped

through Goddess Durga (Kali who offers protection), Laxmi (wealth) and Saraswati (wisdom and education).

The pandits urged devotees to model their lives after Durga who is merely one manifestation of God. Durga is the collective manifestation of Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer) as well as female incarnations. When people worship Durga, they seek protection, love and comfort. Durga offers divine protection to them and as the removal of disease.

Pandit Swasti Dubey of East Coast explained at the Maha Lakshmi Mandir on 101 Avenue, that it is good to fast during Navratri and to eat primarily fruits because it cleanses the body. He said those who stick to fruits have a tendency to escape the illnesses that come with the changing of the seasons. Since people begin the seasons with new inspiration and new enthusiasm and are often confronted with challenges and illnesses, they pay obeisance to the universal mother for healthy life, prosperity and protection in both Navratris.

During the Navratri, devotees held special prayers in

The truth will...

What Nagamootoo is in effect saying that, Indians should remove and obliterate all ties and connections to India and Indian culture; therefore, we should abolish the Indian Arrival Day; we should stop promoting events which are linked to our Indian culture and heritage; we should spend the rest of our lives negating and removing this ‘Indianess’ in us. We must stop watching Indian movies and we should stop eating ‘Indian foods’. This ‘Indianess’ will not allow us to become one with the other races of this country.

Indian?

It is clear that the ‘Naag’ (snake in Hindi) is now spewing venom against his own race since he feels that Indians owe him the Presidency. Furthermore, since Granger has embraced him, he should spurn and reject his race and ethnicity. This man is the greatest ‘namak haram’ of all times! This man must be totally rejected by the Indians of this country.

the mornings and in the evenings to pay obeisance to the universal mother. Also, as in Guyana, Hindus invited priests to conduct pujas in their homes and visited the temples where there was a nightly discourse from the Ramayana. Worshippers fasted for the entire period to maintain cleanliness. At prayer services, worshippers made offerings of prasadam, flowers, fruits, neem and bail leaves, and other paraphernalia. The poojas were accompanied by bhajan and kirtan singing, aartee and bhojan. As the Pandits explained, it is not enough to celebrate Navratri twice a year. People must celebrate and praise the lord daily viewing their own mothers and every female as the manifestation of the attributes of the universal mother. The Navratri fasting concluded with the celebration of the birth of Lord Rama on Saturday noon and with special prayers during the evening. This Saturday, Hindus will observe the birth Hanuman, the Messenger of Lord Rama.

Vishnu Bisram

from page 5

Government. They simply cannot handle this man’s acumen with regards to the socioeconomic climate in and out of Guyana and his innate ability to find and present solutions to a myriad of those social and economic problems.

There is also renewed obsession about his pension package and his house, which the Opposition constantly referred to as his ‘mansion’.

cious propaganda to destabilise the Government. Some PPP/C supporters are recommending that the favour be returned but such Nazi Goebbel-like tactics do not appeal to a democratically elected Government.

The PNC/AFC is claiming that this is going to be their “Arab Spring”. Jimmy Carter was there in 1992 and Guyana had its spring and summer all in one.

The PPP/C has to reach out to the providers of internet service and hosting sites to sanctions those who are promoting race hate bating and other malicious propaganda. The elections commission is the obvious starting point.

An educated consumer is our best citizen. Let the educated drink from a full cup.

Latchman Mohabir

What this ‘namak haram’ fails to understand is that our cultural and racial identity has nothing to do with the acceptance of the fact that we are Guyanese. No Indian has ever disputed the fact that they are Guyanese so it is purely for Nagamootoo’s own political ambition that he is denying his connection to his racial identity. This man believes that he is the ‘smartest fly’ around but there is an old Guyanese proverb which clearly spells out which part of the cow ‘the smart fly does end up’!

Why is it that the AfroGuyanese leaders like David Granger and David Hinds never made a statement that they are not African or AfroGuyanese? These people will not sell their own race for selfish political gains! What does Nagamootoo have against Indians? Why is he so bitter against Indians? Does he realise that he will fail to deliver the 11 per cent of the Indian votes to Granger and the PNC? Is this the ‘unity’ which Nagamootoo is promoting as Jagan’s legacy? Did Jagan in his lifetime, ever declared that he was not an

Indians must never forget the leading role which Nagamootoo and the AFC played in the Linden protest and the Agricola protest which targeted Indians. The protestors did not distinguish between Indians and Guyanese, they did not distinguish between Indians and AFC supporters and members, and they did not differentiate between Indians and whether they are PNC members and supporters. The protestors, who were Afro Guyanese, saw Indians and they attacked Indians, they did not ask whether the Indians were AFC, APNU or PNC. They did not ask for Party cards. They simply saw a different race and ethnicity.

They saw Indians, they beat Indians, they sexually molested Indians and they threatened Indians.

Now we have seen a renewed obsession with Jagdeo. The former has made it clear that he is not interested in any ‘statutory position’ within the government, yet the Opposition parties are behaving as though Jagdeo is running for a third term as President. But they are morbidly fearful of this man’s intelligence and brilliance and the fact that he is an invincible opponent to the Opposition, in and out of the

It must be recalled that before the 2011 Elections, Nagamootoo never attacked the President’s pension package since he thought that he would have been the PPP’s Presidential Candidate in 2011 and that those benefits would go to him eventually. It must be recalled that he voted for this pension package when he was a PPP Member of Parliament. The Hansard, which records parliamentary proceedings proved this although he had lied about and denied this.

Then, with regards to the man’s house, a man is entitled to live according to his station in life and a man is entitled to live according to the life style he can afford and live in a house he can afford. I have seen lots of houses in Guyana which are better and bigger than Jagdeo’s ‘mansion’.

I wonder if the AFC+APNU coalition should win the upcoming elections, whether they would reduce the President’s benefits and repeal that Act. I am wondering about the three Vice Presidents and their pension package, how will they reconcile this with Jagdeo’s pension?

I have made the analysis. I leave you the readers to draw the conclusions.

Haseef Yusuf

GAPLF sets dates for AGM, Clash of Champions

The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) will have its Annual General Meeting on Sunday, April 19 at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.

According to the body, annual reports for the year 2014, along with the election of new office bearers for 2015, will be the main features of the agenda, which will commence at 11:00h.

Meanwhile, local competitions continue with

the holding of the inaugural invitational threelift equipped Clash of Champions tournament on May 1, featuring the current top three ranked lifters in each weight class in the Open Categories (Male and Female).

There will also be a fourth lifter in reserve who will also be vying to make the qualifying marks for selection to the Pan American, as well as the South American Championships in Brazil in September.

“There will also be incentives for setting national records in those age categories listed apart from the Open. Current local and international records are being updated and will be made available at the AGM. Entry to this tournament is by invitation only,” the GAPLF announced.

The lifters listed in order of highest totals officially achieved to date, along with the best recorded fourthplace lifters in reserve are, therefore, requested to con-

FEMALES:

kgs.Britney Mack/99

kgsTacina D’aguiar/96

kgsNadinaTaharally/73

kgsShellonNicholaus/83

84.0 kgsKimberley Mars – Loncke/78

84.0 kgsTia Telford /

84.0 kgsTracy Shamsudeen / 94

84.0+ kgsDawn McCammon Barker /80

84.0+ kgsNatoya Robinson / 91

WGT CL.NAME

59.0 kgsKevin Brijlall / 96

59.0 kgs Leon Rupertie / 92

59.0 kgsAsadMahamad / 97

59.0 kgsNavendraTamesar /91

66.0 kgsVijai Rahim / 92

66.0 kgsTyrone Eusibio / 79

66.0kgsKelvin Lewis / 82

66.0 kgsDonnel Perry / 88

74.0 kgsWinston Stoby / 59

Mack /80

kgsPaul Adams / 86

kgsRandolph Morgan / 78

Blackmon / 92

/ 86

120.0 kgsJohn Edwards / 67

120.0 kgsDarren Ramoutar /91

Levi / 78

MALES:

firm participation by the date of, or at the AGM in order for a smooth registration and completion of the championships.

“Failure to confirm participation will see wildcards being drawn at the AGM to replace any of the top ranked lifters. Attractive prizes (including monetary stipends) await the victorious lifters,” the GAPLF said.

Below is a list of the top lifters in each of the categories.

ECB Chairman calls for 4-day Tests

Colin Graves, the incoming ECB chairman, has voiced his personal approval for fourday Test cricket in a move that signals nothing is sacred as he prepares his attempts to modernise professional cricket in England.

Graves chose to reveal all to one of the bastions of traditionalism - the MCC website - as he proposed the first of what will be several radical proposals which he believes will reinvigorate English cricket, make it more financially viable and put it more in tune with the culture of the times.

The suggestion of fourday Tests was floated in a wide-ranging ECB discussion document that was exclusively revealed by ESPNcricinfo last month, but this is the first time that Graves has admitted he personally supports what would be the biggest change to international cricket in modern times.

English Test crowds still remain relatively healthy, but increasingly there are disturbing signs that the virus of dwindling Test attendances is beginning to eat into Test attendances outside London.

Graves told the MCC website, lords.org: “Personally, I think we should look at four-day Test cricket and play 105 overs a day starting at 10.30 in the morning, and finish when you finish as all the grounds now have lights,” he said.

“Every Test match would start on a Thursday, with Thursday and Friday being corporate days and then Saturday and Sunday the family days.

“From a cost point of view you’d lose that fifth day, which would save a hell

of a lot of money from the ground’s point of view and the broadcasters. I would look at that. In reality, there’s not many people who turn up and watch it on the fifth day.”

Graves’ ambitions for 105 overs a day would lose only 30 overs on the current fiveday minimum of 450 overs, but they sound somewhat idealistic. Although a rate of less than 18 overs an hour in a six-hour day seems just about feasible, even for the modern game, Test matches routinely expand into overtime just to complete 90. An ODI, which pretty much feels as long as cricket can manage, stretches to 100.

A preponderance of pace bowlers, lengthy stoppages for tactical discussions, drinks breaks running overtime, donning of protective equipment on the field, and a generally dilatory approach all contribute to a Test over rate that has been around 15 overs an hour now for a generation.

The revelation that the ECB was even mooting fourday Tests from Test purists worldwide. But whether such a move would make Tests more profitable, and would receive a favourable reaction from a greater number of spectators, remains relatively unexplored.

Cricket would also lose one of its enduring charms: the gradual deterioration of a pitch that only really begins to turn sharply on the final two days.

Graves, whose five-year term begins on May 15, will begin to promote his views when he is a guest at the MCC World Cricket Committee, where he has been invited to speak this July.

His determination that cricket moves with the times, and does not become isolated from the culture of the nation, is also seen in his driving forward of discussions about a more high-profile Twenty20 tournament in England that would be a real competitor to the IPL and the Big Bash League in Australia.

“Let’s look forward, let’s look at what the public wants because we are in the entertainment business and that’s what we’ve got to remember,” he said. (Cricinfo)

Best of the Best Martial Arts School performs at local tourney

– to participate in Harpy Eagles International tournament on April 5

Best of the Best Martial Arts School had a good outing at the recently-held Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Association tournament at the National Gymnasium.

The club had eight competitors participating in the event, with most bagging medals.

In the six and under category, Todd Miguel Hunte took first place in the freestyle kata while finishing second in weapons.

Clubmate Cledwin Adams took the second spot in the under six category for the freestyle kata while finishing third in kumate.

The 7-9 category saw Roshanna Christopher placing first in weapons kata as well as first in freestyle kata.

Kimberly Baveghems finished second in freestyle kata in the 7-9 category while Colwin Adams finished second in the freestyle kata 12-15 category.

In the 16-19 category, Azhar Shaw finished second in both weapons kata

and kumate, while Trenton Coates finished first in the black belts’ weapons kata and third in kumate. Meanwhile, the founder

of the club, Grand Master Quacuy Baveghems will lead the Best of the Best to the Harpy Eagle International Martial Arts

Tournament on April 5 set for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with six countries in addition to Guyana expected to participate.

Digicel sportsmax, nBa strike multiyear broadcast partnership

Digicel and the National Basketball Association (NBA) of the United States announced on Tuesday a new multiyear partnership that will deliver live games and extensive NBA programming to more than 30 Caribbean territories and make Digicel the Official Partner of the NBA in the Region.

Digicel SportsMax will broadcast up to 48 NBA regular-season games and as many as eight playoff games each season. The sports channel will also offer fans content-rich programming including the highlights show “NBA Action”; NBA TV, the league’s 24-hour channel, and select classic games. The partnership will include NBA broadcasts in Spanish on the CDN SportsMax channel in the Dominican Republic.

By the 2015-16 NBA season, Digicel will launch NBA. com/Caribbean, the first offi-

cial NBA online destination for Caribbean fans, which will offer extensive and localised NBA editorial and video content. NBA.com/Caribbean will be the league’s 19th international web destination.

“We are thrilled to be announcing this deal with the NBA which is the perfect addition to our already top-class line-up of sports programming,” said Digicel SportsMax President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Olly McIntosh. “For fans, this is a real treat with Digicel SportsMax bringing a true Caribbean feel to the programming and basketball fans closer to courtside than ever before.”

As part of the deal, the NBA, in partnership with Digicel SportsMax parent company, Digicel Group will also establish a grassroots development programme in the Caribbean, beginning with a tip-off event in

2015. NBA coaches, players and legends will participate in the programme, sharing valuable lessons that are useful both on and off the court and teach the core NBA values to young fans of the sport. In addition, the programme will give aspiring young players the opportunity to get up close and personal with the big stars of the NBA with training clinics and games in the USA.

“We are excited to bring our passionate fans in the Caribbean more live games and content through this new strategic partnership with Digicel,” said NBA Senior Vice President Latin America Philippe Moggio. “Digicel is one of the Caribbean’s leading operators, and its extensive reach will give our fans more ways than ever to experience the excitement of our game.”

Since its launch in Jamaica in 2001, Digicel has

Milo Under-20 School Football tournament… Chase Academy hoist 1st championship

By TreisTon Joseph

time and again demonstrated its commitment to making sports and sport stars more accessible to its customers across the Region and further afield.

Digicel Play CEO, Caribbean John Suranyi said; “This landmark new partnership with the NBA, coupled with our acquisition of SportsMax last year – further cements Digicel’s position as the home of top sporting content in the Region – and marks a significant step in our evolution from a pure mobile operator to a total communications and entertainment provider.”

Along with the NBA rights, Digicel SportsMax is the regional rights holder of premium content such as Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, The Women’s Tennis Association, The Ashes, Australia and England cricket, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Grand Prix Meets and more.

The territories included in the NBA partnership are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Martin, St Maarten, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.

Chase Academy held on to defeat Dolphin Secondary School 2-1 when the final of the Milo Under-20 School Football Tournament was held on Tuesday evening at the Ministry of Education ground.

In front of a capacity crowd, Chase Academy came out with their regular attacking mentality as they looked to create goals always pushing Dolphin on the back foot.

However, a perfect through ball to landed on the boot of Isaiah Reddy who steered the ball in to the left bottom of the goal to give Dolphin a 1-nil advantage to end the first half.

On resumption it was much of the same story as Chase kept finding holes in the defence of Dolphin and continually exploited them but failed with their finishes while Dolphin never really seemed to find any attacking momentum.

Dolphin would find some life when mid way through the second half; one Chase defender was red carded.

However, Dolphin’s inability to capitalize with their wayward passes allowed Chase to let loose a shot that deflected off of Dolphin’s Amil Cosbert and into the goal for a 2-0 advantage for Chase while it was evident that Dolphin’s confidence had been snuffed out.

Nevertheless, Dolphin salvaged some respect with

a goal in the 85th minute from Aleim Murray after two other players were red carded, one each from Chase and Dolphin. Another player from Chase was red carded in the 90th minute that had little impact on the outcome of the game.

With the win, Chase Academy will receive $500,000 towards building a school project of their choice.

Meanwhile in the third place playoff, Lodge Secondary prevailed 2-1 over Morgan Learning Centre (MLC).

Kevin Boters struck in the 15th minute for Lodge while Vermont Munroe equalized in the 35th minute. Ryan Hackett notched the winning goal for Lodge in the 57th minute.

At the presentation ceremony held immediately after the final, Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca who thanked all the stakeholders involved, noted that the final lived up to expectation.

“This was a job well done, it was a very good final and even though I think we have a long way to go we can look back and say we have achieved something,” Mendonca noted.

Brand Manager of Milo stressed that the event showed “Guyana is improving in sport and Milo is proud to be a part of it”.

Reddy was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament at the presentation ceremony after the final.

YELLOW PAGES

wednesday, april 1, 2015

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Vettori retires from International Cricket

Daniel Vettori has confirmed his retirement from international cricket, declaring that the World Cup final against Australia was his last game for New Zealand. The New Zealand players landed in Auckland on Tuesday after Sunday's loss at the MCG and Vettori announced that his 18-year international career was over.

"It was my last game for New Zealand, in the final, so it was a lovely way to finish," Vettori told reporters at Auckland airport. "It would have been great to win, but I'm pretty proud of everyone, the way we've gone about things the last six weeks.

"To be able to finish in the final, albeit without a win, I'm just very grateful for the amount of support I had particularly from Brendon [McCullum] and Mike [Hesson]. To be able to get back from a number of injuries and to be here and to be part of it ... is something I'll always treasure."

The decision was no surprise, for it was widely expected that Vettori, 36, would farewell international

cricket after the World Cup. His departure marks the end of an era that began in February 1997, when at 18 Vettori became the youngest man ever to make his Test debut for New Zealand. His one-day debut arrived the following month.

Vettori leaves the game as New Zealand's all-time most-capped Test player, having appeared 112 times for his country - plus once for the ICC World XI. He is second only to Richard Hadlee on New Zealand's Test wicket tally with 361 victims at 34.15 and he is one of only

three men to have the double of 4000 Test runs and 300 Test wickets, along with Kapil Dev and Ian Botham.

In one-day international cricket, he is New Zealand's most-capped player and leading wicket-taker: his career tally including his World XI games is 305 wickets at 31.71 from 295 ODIs. He was also part of five World Cup squads: he did not play a game in 1999 but from 2003 to 2015 collected 36 wickets in 32 World Cup matches, including 15 victims this year.

Despite his fitness strug-

gles of recent years, Vettori remained a key player in helping New Zealand reach their first World Cup final over the past six weeks. He turned back the years with a leaping, one-handed catch on the boundary against West Indies in Wellington and was named in the ICC's official team of the tournament, one of five New Zealanders to make the XI.

A spinner who used his guile and mastery of dip, bounce and turn to deceive batsmen for nearly two decades, Vettori at his peak was also an especially valuable lower-order batsman who scored six Test centuries. His Test career appeared to have ended during 2012, but he made a surprise comeback for one last Test match against Pakistan in Sharjah last November as he built towards the World Cup.

The successor to Stephen Fleming as the country's captain in 2007, Vettori led New Zealand in 32 Test matches and 82 ODIs, before Ross Taylor took the reins in 2011. He also appeared in 34 T20 internationals and collected 38 wickets. (Cricinfo)

25th Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament...

Finalists to be decided tonight at Dcc

The finalists of the 25th annual Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament will be known this evening when the semi-finals are held at the Demerara Cricket Club Ground, Queenstown.

The teams are hoping to be in with a chance of copping the $2 million

There will also be a “scratch and win” competition with hundreds of prizes up for grabs during that promotion.

Stewart, in complimenting Demerara Distillers Limited for coming on board for the third edition, highlighted that Guyana has been a front-runner in CPL since its inception, making direct reference also to the input made by the title sponsor.

“El Dorado has always been a huge supporter of the CPL from even before the first ball was ever bowled. They have shared our vision for a uniquely Caribbean sports league that aims to captivate the world, and it is with absolute pleasure that we welcome them back again for this, the biggest year of Caribbean Premier League yet,” Stewart pointed out.

It was also announced that Guyana will host four games between July 15 and 21. Guyana Amazon Warriors will feature in all

first prize when the final is held on Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

In the first semi-final, ‘West Side’ champions Bakewell Slingerz will play Riddim Squad, and in the other, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship-bound

Alpha “The Hammer” United will collide with Pele.

Slingerz’s path to the semi-finals came through identical victories over Victoria Kings (2-1) and Fruta Conquerors (2-1), while Riddim Squad defeated New Amsterdam United 2-0 and Western Tigers 4-1 on penalty kicks. Pele gained their place in the final four after wins over Grove Hi-Tech (2-0) and Winner’s Connection (3-1), while Alpha United had tasted success over Agricola Red Triangle and Georgetown Football Club, winning 2-0 and 5-0 respectively.

four matches, as the organisers have opted to give each franchise four home games.

On July 15, Guyana Amazon Warriors will play 2013 champions Jamaica Tallawahs at 18:00h; on July 17 they will come up against St Lucia Zouks at 20:00h; on July 18 they will play defending champions Barbados Tridents at 16:00h; and on July 21, they will face Trinidad and Tobago Red

Steel from 18:00h. Unlike previous years when Guyana hosted matches earlier in the tournament, the South American nation will now stage the final round before the two eliminators and grand final in Trinidad and Tobago.

A total of 33 games are billed for this year’s tournament, which will be contested by Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Kitts Patriots, St Lucia Zouks, and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

St Kitts Patriots will make their maiden appearance in the tournament, replacing the Antigua Hawksbills, who played the first two editions.

St Kitts and Nevis will host 10 games, Trinidad and Tobago seven, while Barbados, St Lucia and Jamaica will be the venue for four matches each. Meanwhile, Guyana Amazon Warriors allrounder Christopher Barnwell, who also attended Tuesday’s ceremony, said he was eagerly looking forward to the tournament, noting his excitement that Guyana would be hosting four home games. Barnwell said that cricket fans have been enquiring about the games in Guyana, and he was pleased the country will once again host matches in the competition.

Barakat XI beat Young Warriors in nail-biting finish

Captained by former Guyana and West Indies skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan, hosts Meten-Meer-Zorg West/ Barakat XI pipped Young Warriors of Berbice by one wicket with one ball to spare in an exciting fundraising T20 match on Sunday last.

Meten-Meer-Zorg West/Barakat XI won the toss and chose to field, and quickly had the visitors in early trouble when opener Wahied Edwards was caught off Sheldon Alexander for four in the

first over. The Warriors struggled throughout the Powerplay and at the end of the six overs, they were 36-3.

Joemal LaFleur and Kevin Ramdeen put on 25 for the fifth wicket, with Ramdeen topscoring with a polished 41 (2x6s, 2x4s). He was well-supported by LaFleur, who scored 30, with five fours. Shawn Pereira scored 13 as the Warriors were all out for 123 in 19.5 overs.

Bowling for the hosts, Trevor Benn was the pick of

the bowlers with 4-26 and Alexander supported with 3-19. Sarwan also bowled three overs of testing legspin, conceding 13 runs.

In reply, Sarwan fell for two early in the innings, bowled by a delivery that kept low from LaFleur. Ricardo Adams lasted just three balls for his nine, which included a six, before Kemol Savory and Kevon Boodie put on 39 runs for the third wicket.

Boodie was bowled by the lively Niall Smith for 35, which included four

Hosein, Reynos shine at Parkites awards – Guyanese

Bell wins Senior Hockey player award in TT

Abeaming Akeal Hosein copped the coveted Queen’s Park Cricket Club 2014 Sport Personality award on Friday as the Parkites held their annual club dinner and presentation ceremony at the Century Ballroom, Oval, St Clair.

Hosein, a national cricket allrounder, beat fellow nominees Richard Hart (squash), Jerazeno Bell (hockey) and Benedict Barrett (football) for the coveted prize.

fours, as Barakat XI later slipped to 78-6, but the level-headed Savory batted brilliantly for his 50 not out (3x6s, 3x4s) to see his team to victory.

Savory copped the Manof-the-Match and the Best Batsman trophies, while Benn was awarded the Best Bowler prize. MetenMeer-Zorg West/Barakat XI collected $50,000 and the Odyssey Transport trophy, while Young Warriors had to settle for the runnerup prize of $15,000 and the Barakat Brothers trophy.

USA U-15s beat East Coast by 19 runs

The United States of America Under-15 team, currently touring Guyana for a series of matches, defeated an East Coast select side by 19 runs when the two teams clashed earlier this week. East Coast won the toss and chose to bowl first in the match, which was reduced to 35 overs per innings.

The visitors posted 149 all out off the allotted overs, with Sanjay Jonathon hitting 31 and Dauod Mohamed scoring 25, which included three fours.

Bowling for East Coast, Pradesh Balkissoon snared 3-26 from his seven overs, while Avin Gangadin captured 2-19 and Dambuka Nagando claimed 2-9.

East Coast, in reply, could only muster 130 all out in 31 overs, despite a fine knock of 71 (5x4s) from Robin Williams. Gangadin returned to score 16.

Bowling for the USA, Santosh Reddy bagged 3-21 from four overs, and Hamaz Baburkhan picked up 3-10 from 2.4 overs.

After the game, Williams was named Man of the Match; Gangadin, Best Batsman and Reddy, Best Bowler. They all received trophies, compliments of Tiger Sports of Enmore Old Road, East Coast Demerara.

Hosein, 21 years old, had five five-wicket hauls for Queen’s Park, taking 68 wickets. The left-hander bowled his way into the history books in a game against Caldrac, claiming two hat-tricks in the match — the first time that was ever achieved in this country at the Premiership level. He was not too shabby with the bat, either, scoring 453 runs with a highest score

Jordan Reynos who edged out Jeremy Solozano (cricket), Charlotte Knaggs (squash) and Jovan Marshall (football) for the accolade.Reynos, who joined the Parkites from SHAPE in 2011, made the national senior team last year, competing in the World League and the CAC Games where TT earned a silver medal. He helped Queen’s Park win the National Super Indoor Tournament and to a runner-sup position in the TT Hockey Board Outdoor League.

Also honoured at the awards were Queen’s Park members Issa Nicholas and Dr Gordon Naraynsingh who were National Award recipients in 2014.

The Kingston Trophy Award, meanwhile, went to George Wilcox.

Feature speaker, Ian McDonald, who describes

of 137 not out and an average of 35.4.

“It’s a great feeling. First time I’ve ever been Personality of the Year overall...It’s just good sign for me and I’m going to use this as motivation for years to come,” he said. Hosein, who had a breakout year on in his debut season for the Red Force in 2014, admitted though that the 2015 season was a letdown with TT finishing the four-day season second-tolast.

“I’m a bit disappointed. I haven’t done my best at all but I guess it’s one of those seasons where every player in his life goes through. You go through something sportsmen call a bad patch.

“I’m just getting some guidance from the coach, the captain, guys like Kieron Pollard who have my back. They’re just keeping me motivated and going strong. It’s easy to fall away when you’re not doing well or start thinking of negative things. He even spoke to me and said he went through the same process in 2013 and was having a bad season. He said ‘just train hard and try to relax your mind and keep focus and stick to the basics,” Hosein explained.

Winning the Junior Sport award was hockey player

himself as “Antiguan by ancestry, Trinidadian by birth, Guyanese by adoption and West Indian by conviction” reminisced about the glorious past of Queen’s Park and said he was privileged to be speaking at “one of the great clubs of the world.”

Mc Donald, a renowned Caribbean writer who played at Wimbledon in the 1950s and captained the Cambridge tennis team, also worked alongside former Jamaica Prime Minister PJ Patterson in formulating the littleheeded Patterson Report. Although hesitant to speak on the current affairs of the regional game, he reminded the audience of a part of the report which stated that West Indies cricket does not belong to the West Indies Cricket Board but to the West Indian people. He added that until the governance of the board reflects such, “we won’t get out of the mess we are in.”

Junior sport nominees - Jeremy Solozano (cricket), Charlotte Knaggs (squash), Jordan Reynos (hockey), Jovan Marshall (football).

Sport Personality nominees - Akeal Hosein (cricket), Richard Hart, (squash), Jerazeno Bell (hockey), Benedict Barrett (football). Kingston Trophy Award - George Wilcox. (TT Newsday)

CPL confirms 2015 schedule

Caribbean Premier League (CPL) fans are in for a treat when “The Biggest Party in Sport” returns with an action-packed schedule of 33 matches, played from June 20 to July 26, 2015.

The third edition of the CPL features an opening game to set the pulse racing as the reigning champions, the Barbados Tridents take on last year’s runnersup, the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Kensington Oval, Barbados. It will be the first of 29 games played under lights as the tournament returns to more night games and a schedule that sees games played almost every day.

All six teams play 10 games in the regular season, with two semi-finals and a final to decide who will be crowned 2015 champions. Record prize money is on offer, which has helped attract some of the world’s finest T20 players, with the draft held earlier this year seeing all the teams strengthening their squads.

The Jamaica Tallawahs will seek to reclaim the crown they won so dramatically in 2013 under the captaincy of Chris Gayle, welcoming Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene and New Zealand star Daniel Vettori, while the new floodlights at Sabina Park are sure to create an electric atmosphere.

The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots have seven games at Warner Park as they kick off their first CPL tournament with World Cup stars Shahid Afridi and Martin Guptill looking to impress.

The St Lucia Zouks share the opening week with Barbados and begin their campaign on June 21 against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel. Both teams made significant international signings during

gt&t partners with Petra for soft shoe football tourney

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company joined the growing number of organisations supporting the Petra-organised Soft Shoe Football Tournament slated to kick off on April 9.

At a press conference held on Tuesday, GT&T made it public that it would be injecting $300,000 into the tournament.

GT&T Senior Marketing Officer Anjani Hackett highlighted that Petra’s ability to have great tournaments was the impetus to sponsor the event.

“We are pleased to partner with Petra, they have consistently demonstrated excellent organisational skills and we believe that this tournament will be no different,” Hackett stated.

Petra Organisation Director Troy Mendonca was

grateful for the support from the telecommunications giant and noted that the relationship between the two or-

ganisations has always been fruitful.

The Tournament is set to begin on April 9 at three ven

the off-season, with Kevin Pietersen back with the Zouks and Jacques Kallis going to the Red Steel. All the West Indies stars will be on show as this year’s CPL promises to be the most dramatic yet.

Last year’s tournament attracted a global audience in excess of 65 million and this year, that figure is set to be even higher as fans across the world continue to be drawn to the high-quality action on the pitch and the unique party atmosphere off it.

Commenting on the schedule announcement, CPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Damien O’Donohoe, said, “You can sense the excitement is already building and I am thrilled that so many quality players from within the Caribbean and around the world have been attracted to play in the CPL this season. Now that the schedule has been revealed, fans can start to plan a summer of unrivalled entertainment with “The Biggest Party in Sport” taking centre stage. There will be something for everyone this year and the action will be non-stop from June 20 until the final on Sunday, July 26.

“Tickets go on sale online at www.cplt20.com from this Sunday, April 5 and in stores across the Region in the coming weeks. Full details on ticket dates and availability will be announced on our website, social media pages and in the press also in the coming weeks so we’re really encouraging fans to get their tickets early to avoid disappointment as we fully expect to be selling out stadiums across the Region again this year. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our CPL fans from around the Caribbean and the world to each of our great venues.” (CPL Release)

Demerara Distillers

in CPL’s corner again

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Bursting with excite-

ment after the success of the previous two editions, El Dorado Rum has sealed its partnership for the third staging of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) set to bowl off June 20 in Barbados and conclude on July 26 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dubbed “The Biggest Party in Sport”, the six-team franchise tournament will once again feature some of the world’s best T20 players competing in front of anticipated sold-out crowds and millions via their television sets across the globe.

At a simple ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday, officials of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), the makers of El Dorado Rum, were on hand to finalise their partnership with CPL, which was represented by Commercial Director Jamie Stewart. DDL Marketing Director Sharda Veeren-Chand spoke

again celebrate with the world’s best rum as they enjoy what has grown into the Biggest Party in Sport. This year, we promise an even greater engagement with our fans and you can expect that there will be new and exciting opportunities to engage with the brand,” Veeren-Chand said.

“Celebration Partner” With the partnership now sealed, El Dorado will remain the “Official Spirit” and “Celebration Partner” of the CPL. Veeren-Chand added that the company was enthused to once again be part of the CPL, given the positive feedback it received from customers and cricket fans. As has been the case over the first two years, the entity will provide several giveaways for fans, the biggest of which will be tickets for the final in Trinidad and Tobago.

once

Chase Academy hoist