Guyana Times Daily - June 7, 2015

Budget preparations moving apace

By Alexis Rodney

inance Minister

FWinston Jordan assured that preparations for the 2015 National Budget is “coming along smoothly”, as the team is currently looking at the work of the new Ministries established under the new administration before moving ahead.

According to the Minister, who was speaking to Guyana Times in an invited comment on Friday, the budget is still at the preparatory stage, with the team still combing through reports of the money that was being spent before the General Elections.

Jordan said the team is currently accepting and going through the programmes and projects of Ministries to be undertaken by the Government, particularly those that have had a name change and were incorporated into other Ministries.

Ministries falling under this category include the Ministry of Business, which replaced the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Commerce; the Ministry of Social Protection, replacing the Ministry of Human Service and Social Security, and National Security Ministry, replacing the Home Affairs Ministry.

The Ministries of Social Cohesion, Citizenship and Governance are new offices that were introduced by President Granger.

Late last month Jordan had said that he had inherited some of the groundwork, which was already laid out by previous Minister Dr Ashni Singh. He had said the preparations then were made based on the previous Government’s priorities, but now the focus will be changed to reflect the agenda of the new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government.

Asked about Guyana’s economic performance for 2015, Minister Jordan noted that during a transitional meeting with his predecessor, he was informed that a growth of 3.9 to 4 per cent is expected. This figure was projected, taking into consideration a full financial year, the Minister said. “Seeing that we have some numbers now of the performance in the first almost half of the year, we need to

make some projections on what is it is going to be for the next half and come up with some new projections. That is what we are doing right now.”

As part of the efforts to craft a new structure for the Finance Ministry, Minister Jordan pointed out that a suitably qualified person has been found to head a “macroeconomic section” that he intended to set up. He said that this was because budgets were being produced without the over-arching framework, within which such major documents should be undertaken. Too often these frameworks have been developed outside of Guyana, he stated, “In other words, experts come in, mostly from the World Bank, IMF (International Monetary Fund) and so on. They come in for short periods and I want to really have the in-house capability to develop this, and to be discussing it with these teams when they come in for their annual visits.”

It would also be good to have this aforementioned background, in which to develop various projects which the new Government may wish to undertake. It will also help with the development of the administration’s strategic medium and longterm plan according to its manifesto, he added.

Moving ahead, Minister Jordan is looking forward to full cooperation from the agencies which come under the ambit of the Finance Ministry, and his Cabinet colleagues. He is asking for the general population to have patience. “I know they are clamouring for us to do a whole range of things. In

time, I know most, if not all, will be done. I’m asking that they give us this little time, as we begin to put things into place so that the promises that we made can be realised.”

The outside date for the National Budget’s presentation to the National Assembly is three months after the convening of the 11th Parliament, around the end of August 2015. The Finance Minister is optimistic, however, that this process will be completed long before then, given the implications for the following 2016 National Budget, the Guyana Information Agency reported.

APNU/AFC supporters in NY to host victory parade

Following its marginal win at the recent General and Regional Elections in Guyana, A Partnership for National Unity /Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) supporters in New York (NY) will be celebrating the coalition’s victory with a grand parade and rally.

The APNU/AFC party recorded a 4000 plus votes win over its main opponent, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), at the May 11 Elections. In light of this, the NY-based supporters have organised the event, which will be held on Sunday, June 14, from 11:00h in Brooklyn, New York.

A group of US-based Guyanese came together to host the parade and rally after much request from the Diaspora, who wanted to express their appreciation of the change in Government as well as celebrate Guyana’s achievement of 49 years of Independence.

They have already obtain approval from the New York City Police Department for the routes of the march, which will commence at at Bedford and Church Avenues, then proceed east along Church Avenue to Schenectady Avenue, where the grand rally will be held.

Chairperson of the organising group, Sharif Fraser, stated in a release that she had no choice but to bring the group together after businesswoman, Doris Rodney of the Hills Restaurant, floated the idea after watching the festivities that were streamed live from Guyana.

In the release, it was stated that the two part programme is set to feature speeches and remarks by a number of Federal, State and Local Politicians. The second phase will see Guyanese performers including Lisa Punch, Jenny Ferreira and Anthony Allene. The organising committee further extended a special invitation to the Minister of State within the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, along with other Senior Government officials to grace the occasion.

Additionally, the committee has also broached the idea of a similar reduced airfare with Fly Jamaica, for supporters from Guyana who have already indicated their interest to join in the North American celebrations, as they provide for persons who travelled from New York for the Independence Anniversary Celebrations.

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, June 7 – 07:30h-09:00h and Monday, June 8 – 08:25h-09:55h

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, June 7 – 08:30h-10:00h and Monday, June 8 – 09:30h-11:00h Parika and Supenaam departure Sunday, June 7 and Monday, June 8 – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

WEATHER TODAY FERRY SCHEDULE

Thundery showers with light intermittent rainfall can be expected in the morning, with thundery showers and heavy rainfall dominating throughout the afternoon. Light rainfall can be expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 07:44h and 20:21h reaching maximum heights of 2.60 metres and 2.47 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:16h and 13:49h reaching minimum heights of 0.72 metre and 0.62 metre respectively.

Crime spirals upwards...

Bandit shot dead, another hospitalised following Grove robbery

By Bhisham mohamed

Asuspected bandit was shot and killed while another is hospitalised following a shootout with a businessman at Grove, East Bank Demerara, on Saturday during a robbery. The incident occurred at about 14:30h.

The dead teenager was identified as 18-year-old Michael Grant of Agricola, Greater Georgetown, while the injured man is Curtis Castello, also of the same village. Two other bandits managed to make good their escape. Castello was reportedly shot to his neck and arm and is under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Based on reports gathered, the businessman, Neezam Khan, 40, was also shot to his arm and is receiving medical attention at a city hospital.

Guyana Times understands that Khan was standing in front of a snackette in the vicinity of Rasta’s Spare Parts store, Grove, East Bank Demerara when it is alleged that four men rode up on two motorcycles.

One of the men who was armed with a handgun reportedly held Khan at gunpoint and demanded that he hand over his valuables. Khan reportedly put up a fight and it was during this time, he was shot to his left arm after which the men relieved the businessman of his gold chain and finger rings.

Khan managed to whip out his licensed firearm and discharged a few rounds in the direction of the men. Grant was reportedly shot to his chest and fell to the ground while two others who may have received gunshot injuries managed to escape with the fourth

accomplice.

The police were reportedly summoned and road blocks were erected at various points which led to the arrest of Castello but the others successfully made good their escape.

A Police source told the Guyana Times that the suspected bandit who was shot is known to the Police but at the same time are receiving conflicting reports about the shooting incident.

This newspaper understands that the men might have mistaken Neezam Khan for his brother, Imran Khan, who owns a mining pit in Mahdia.

The men were not wearing masks at the time of the incident. Additional reports reaching Guyana Times also suggested that a few other persons at the snackette were also relived on their personal items.

Police in a release stated that they are investigating

the incident but confirmed that one of the bandits was shot dead while another is nursing gunshot wounds to his neck and arm. Police stated that the bandit who was shot to his chest was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Two other bandits, Police claimed, made good their escape. The businessman, the Police added, was shot and injured to his arm and was taken to private medical institution where he was admitted. One of the motorcycles that was left behind was taken into the possession of the Police.

Persons who witnessed the shooting told Guyana Times that Khan and another man believed to be a

Police rank were standing in front of a snackette, a short distance from his father’s business.

Suddenly, they saw the two motorcycles pull up and the men disembarked and walked towards the snackette. As they approached the businessman, one of them whipped out a gun and placed it to the businessman’s head and ordered him not to move and to hand over his jewellery. Soon after, one man recalled hearing a gunshot and as he looked closer, he saw blood running down Khan’s hand.

As the men attempted to jump on their motorcycles, Khan opened fire, hitting at least two of them. “One of them dropped to the ground and the others ride away but at least two more of them get shoot”, an eyewitness stated.

Within minutes, the Police from the Grove Police Station arrived at the scene and were heard contacting other stations to erect road blocks. The bandit who was left on the road was placed in the Police vehicle which sped away from the scene.

At the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, the relatives of the now dead teenager were seen but refused to give a moment to the media. The Police are continuing their investigation into the alleged robbery.

Sunday Editor: Michael Younge

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

Government housing

Without entering any polemics, few would honestly deny that the area of “housing” was quite a bright spot in the achievements of the last Administration of the PPP/C.

When the PPP/C took office in 1992, one of its central planks to return Guyana to its feet and hold its head high in the comity of nations, was to make house ownership accessible to every Guyanese family. Twenty-three years later, to a large extent, this goal has been translated into reality.

Starting in 1994, the Government launched a national housing scheme programme focusing on low-income citizens. By 2014, 91 settlements providing some 50,000 housing units were constructed. The Government had estimated that it should build 5200 homes per year for at least 10 years to meet the national housing need.

By 2015, over 18,000 squatting houses were also regularised and over 90,000 house lots had been distributed. Utilising a variety of mechanisms, the past Government more than exceeded its projected goal of 5200 houses annually.

Under the “Low-income Settlement Programmes”, poor households could apply to purchase house lots at subsidised prices. They had up to two years to complete payment to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) after which they received title/transport for the land.

They are then eligible to approach a commercial bank for a loan of up to $5 million (US$25,000) – recently raised to $8 million – at a concessionary low interest negotiated between the Government and bankers for this benefit.

The main prongs of the programme consisted of the construction of core houses and turnkey houses – by the CHPA, remigrant housing programme, and Mortgage Interest Relief (MIR).

In addition to these direct benefits, the CHPA took care of the infrastructure. It prepared the land for demarcation for house lots, roads and drainage in each Government housing scheme.

The CHPA/ Housing and Water Ministry built the roads and drainage (Guyana is flood prone), and brings in the basic infrastructure for water and electricity. The house lot owner pays for the connection to his home from the road or nearest connection point.

On completion of the scheme, the CHPA hands over the scheme to the local government authority – Neighbourhood Democratic Council or municipality. The house lot owner then pays annual rates and taxes to the relevant local government authority.

The subsidies for water and electricity – elderly persons can apply and access an annual waiver on their electricity and water bills once these bills are in their names.

Keith Scott, the new Minister of Communities, under which “housing” is now subsumed in one of his first announcements declared that the Ministry will be constructing 4000 houses in “cohesive communities”.

From his comments, it appears that the difference with the turnkey houses that the previous Administration launched with its pilot 1000-house project at Perseverance (behind Providence, East Bank Demerara) is that in addition to the physical infrastructure provided as described above by the CHPA/ Housing and Water Ministry, there will now be “social infrastructure such as daycare facilities and functioning playgrounds”, as well as ancillary services provided by “community centres, school, churches and pharmacies.”

While the new Minister is to be commended for keeping with his new mandate to cater for “communities” rather than “houses”, he would know that governments cannot build communities, but can only facilitate its creation by its residents.

In terms of “lower income”, housing he would do well to examine the experience of the turnkey houses at Perseverence – the first 150 houses were built and occupied earlier this year.

At that time it was announced that there were over 5000 applications for the remaining 850 houses.

If the Government is going to get into the business of building day care and community centres, etc, these will have to be coordinated with the new Ministry of Social Cohesion. One questions arising is whether the low interest mortgages to facilitate low-income homeowners will be abandoned in favour of direct transfers.

GuySuCo’s CEO replaced by two appointees whom the then Opposition attacked

Dear Editor,

The termination of the CEO of GuySuCo was not a shock to me. But the manner of the termination of Dr Rajendra Singh falls in the category of a witch hunt. Clearly, it makes no sense.

I feel a sense of vindication and a sense of loss at the same time. I believed that Dr Singh could have been given a chance until after the forensic study of GuySuCo, as promised by the new Government. At the same time, I wish Mr Hanoman and Mr Bhim the best.

Dr Singh has been replaced by two other appointees that were made by the PPP/C Government and two persons that were severely attacked by the Opposition then.

The then Opposition attacked their appointments and were severely critical of their performance. Now in Government, they have resorted to the same people that they mercilessly attacked when the PPP/C Government appointed them as CEO and during their tenures.

Mr Paul Bhim replaced

Mr Errol Hanoman as CEO of GuySuCo. Mr Bhim was later replaced by Dr Rajendra Singh. I worked closely with Mr Paul Bhim. I believed that Mr Bhim tried his best to stabilize the situation at GuySuCo.

As the Minister of Agriculture, given the situation that the sugar industry faced, I believed that Mr Hanoman and Mr Bhim did their best to overcome changing weather patterns, a difficult labour situation and an unfriendly international situation with falling sugar prices.

The PPP/C Government was criticized that these challenges were merely excuses for poor performances and management in the industry. Several calls were made for terminating these gentlemen. I was in the hot seat when such calls were made to me as Minister to terminate Mr Bhim.

My explanation that a difficult labour situation, inclement weather and falling international prices were major contributory factors for declining production and other problems in the indus-

try was rejected.

Dr Rajendra Singh faced the same situation and, indeed, a level of stabilization was achieved, recovering from the 2013 production which was the lowest in 20 years.

The industry recovered a reasonable level of production in 2014, surpassing the 2013 production by about 15 per cent. The first crop actual production in 2015 exceeded the first crop production of 2014 by more than 3,000 tons.

It is true that the first crop production failed to reach the first crop target for 2015 because the beginning of the crop and the end of the crop periods encountered inclement weather conditions that caused a loss of opportunity days.

While Skeldon continues to be a major challenge, Skeldon has shown some positive signals that it can recover and perform to what was expected of it.

Overall cane production improved in 2015 and there is enough cane in the fields to ensure that the 2015 target is reached.

Why not a recount?

Dear Editor, What would it take for a “recount”? An arm and a leg, lots of lungs, kidneys, hearts, liver and brains?

Media houses should ask the big ones if calling for and having a “recount” is illegal and or unconstitutional?

If you believe in democracy and transparency and the true will of the electorate, then open the ballot boxes and do a full and thorough recount. Everyone must be reminded that the X on all ballots is the DNA which does not lie.

Why are so many people, especially the big powers, afraid of a recount?

If Granger, Nagamoottoo and Ramjattan know they won for sure, then why are they all hiding behind the skirts of the big powers by

The industry requires Government support and the way forward is for everyone to work together. It would have made better sense for the government to complete its own audit and then decide on management changes. Both persons brought back could not have change things without the support of Government when they were at the helm. They will not be able to change the present situation without committed support from the present government.

Clearly, sugar remains an important part of our development story. Government support for GuySuCo and the sugar industry must not be something we think about. It has to be committed. Playing politics with the industry will cause its recovery to be more difficult.

I believe that the termination of Dr Raj Singh and the manner in which it has been done demonstrates a political response from the new administration, rather than one that is designed to help the industry.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

being silent.

If you win the elections, show the entire world you are truly the winner and prove to the world that the PPP/C are bitter losers, by having a recount.

T King

Half the population being governed

Dear Editor,

Half of the country seems to be at a virtual standstill, like it or not. One half seems excited that they got the edge due to the inconsistency of the counting of election results, while the other half feels cheated.

Claiming there is a majority government with less than 4000 votes more, which in itself is a controversial number given no recount was authorized, is appalling. I would consider it a statistical tie at this point until a recount happens.

Our economy is coming to a grinding halt as the administration attempts to gain credibility by ensuring their half of the country validates that everything the PPP/C did was bad and none of them benefited.

I believe in data and this approach is an emotional and political maneuvering by the new administration without any rational thinking in many areas. This will be a subject of intense debates for a long period to come.

There are already early indications, that many businesses are halting any new investments. Foreign di-

rect investors are weary of the change of Government, especially in light of potential border issues again with Venezuela, and the threat of the recount that can see the 2015 elections be deemed null and void, and new elections called.

Also, many of the APNU overseas supporters are arriving in country to see what they can get from the system, versus bringing in investments.

The international community in their earnest to justify their decision to call the election fair and free seems to have taken front and center stage in every aspect of governance.

Daily, one would see an Ambassador or a High Commissioner meeting with officials and promising money for process improvement activities even giving direction on how the government should operate and what they must do.

While all this is happening, the APNU/AFC ministers are taking the opportunity to say everything “is in bad shape” in order to sometime in the future be able to claim they were successful.

During this period, al-

though early, we have not heard of a single initiative that indicates any new macroeconomics improvements, no initiatives on what is on the forefront for Guyana, where will new revenues come from?

This is the same group that disapproved every single economic initiative in the 10th Parliament.

I support the PPP/C not going into Parliament, even for the life-cycle of this administration. The ABC countries have urged the new administration to put on their top priority list the passing of the AMLCFT Bill, and it is the same group of lawmakers that failed to pass it in the 10th Parliament.

The administration’s law makers had the majority in the 10th Parliament and refused to pass the same bills. Will the 11th Parliament talk about alternative energy, which Guyana badly needs?

One may ask why the PPP/C would want to be in Parliament to discuss these same issues that were disapproved before. What would have really changed? Let us think clearly about our future.

Dr Peter R Ramsaroop

Indian arrival being observed in NY

Dear Editor,

For the 30th consecutive year, the Indo Caribbean Federation is commemorating the arrival of Indians to Guyana and other parts of the Caribbean, and from there to the US, with a cultural variety show today.

The event is usually celebrated in mid May, but because of the experience of inclement weather in the recent past, it has been put back for the first weekend in June when the weather is expected to be warmer.

The free event will be held at the Smokey Park with a cultural variety concert featuring local artistes from the Indian diaspora. The public is invited. The location is at 125 Street and 95th Avenue, off Atlantic Avene where the Phagwah celebrations are usually held.

The concert begins at 14:00h and ends at 20:00h with the distributions of

prizes. The Police will be in attendance to enforce park rules.

The concert will feature singing, dancing, magic, speeches, and light refreshment. There will be a singing and dancing competition supported by live music band. Several Indians who made outstanding contributions to the community will be honored.

The organizers say the event is held to celebrate the achievements of the ancestors who overcame adversity to establish their presence in Guyana and the greater Caribbean region.

“We celebrate their arrival to recognize the hardships and sufferings they bore,” said Guyanese Ralph Tamesh, President of the ICF.

“Our forefathers brought their language, rich culture, and heritage and customs to this part of the world and

make us who we are today. They suffered and overcame many adversities.

We cherish their history during and after the voyage to Americas and the enormous contributions they made to the Caribbean, Americas and Europe.”

The organizers urge the public to join them in a day of celebration filled with festivities to glorify the ancestral culture.

Vishnu Bisram

Guyana owes us all a living, free from fear and humiliation

Dear Editor,

The UN Declaration on Human Rights has been specific in its call for the Freedom of expression, the Right to Public Assembly and the Right to Democracy found in Articles 19 to 21.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Simplified: (We all have the right to make up our own minds, to think what we like, to say what we think, and to share our ideas with other people.)

Article 20

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.(No one may be compelled to belong to an association. We all have the right to meet our friends and to work together in peace to defend our rights. Nobody can make us join a group if we don’t want to.)

Article 21

1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.

3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.(We all have the right to take part in the government of our country. Every grown-up should be allowed

to choose their own leaders).

It is my understanding that these clauses were formulated to be of guidance to all signatories. In like manner the ratification of this very important universal declaration is not for window dressing but rather it is the hall mark for human justification for their fundamental rights.

It is this very declaration that Leaders are known to cite frequently in their quest to champion their causes and claim to governance. I have no problem with the afore mentioned since it has always been said that workers are the most precious resources of any country.

However, over the past few days I have been questioning if this is really relevant in Guyana’s situation of recent.

One cannot help but notice that the APNU/AFC administration despite its pre elections promise of not becoming witch hunters if placed in government have summersaulted on this particular promise to all Guyana.

One would have expected that there would have been a more dignified and professional approach in the way the industrial relations aspect of our country would have been conducted.

Again, however this

seems not to be forthcoming but rather there has been not just the witch hunting act but there has been the acts of victimization and intimidation also.

There are those especially in the cases of junior employees who have suffered victimization because they merely followed instructions from their supervising officers. Had they not carried out their assignments they could have been cited as being insubordinate at that time. What job violations have they committed?

It seems that their loyalty to the old employer is now deemed as being disloyal to the new employer who was nowhere in the picture at the time. Hence, there was never a disloyal act committed. So why are they being penalized? My only answer is distrust on the path of the new employer.

Then there is the act of intimidation where those who dare to speak up in the process of representing themselves and defending their office, have been hurriedly sent off on administrative leave.

To my mind this is one way of cautioning any other who would want to express themselves in thus a manner. What violations have they committed?

turn to page 17

Dear Editor,

We, the executives and members of the 20 groups of the B1 Division Community Policing Group (CPG) along with Liaison Officer Mr Wheed Ishak extend heartfelt congratulations to the newly appointed Minister of Public Security Mr Khemraj Ramjattan

We pledge to diligently continue to lend our support as an extended arm of the Guyana Police Force to eradicate violence and maintain peace and order in our division.

It has been a privilege in the past working along and assisting the Guyana Police Force to protect and serve the citizens of Berbice (Abary to Ithaca) so that they can feel safe and secure in their communities.

Hence we can assure our support in performing to the best of our abilities under the newly appointed Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

Congratulations, Sir!

Executives of B1 Division CPG

Page Foundation

LAnu Dev

ast week I was reading an article titled, “Writing too many subjects at CSEC could be up for revision”. It made me groan in frustration as I do whenever someone floats the idea of limiting knowledge.

When I wrote my 15 CSEC subjects in 2011, there were people who asked me, “What was the point of

Limiting educational possibilities

writing so many subjects?”

And my answer was always the same – and the truth –“Because I was genuinely interested in all of those subjects.”

In Third Form at Queens College, we were exposed to all of the subjects we would have to choose from to eventually write at CSEC. And so, after a year of sampling, I discovered that I quite enjoyed most of the subjects we did and I was passionate enough about them to be able to handle doing them, never mind all of the timetable clashes.

My teachers allowed me to go ahead with my plan provided I kept up with the workload and maintained my grades.

But yes...I know there are lots of kids who write tons of subjects, not because they’re especially interested in the subjects per

se, but because they hope to earn that CSEC/UWI scholarship. And who can blame them?

In our year, there were no Government scholarships for top CSEC students – the CSEC/UWI scholarship was all we had to aim for. So one way to cut down the number of subjects being written individually is to fund more national scholarships.

Secondly, and more germanely, if there are more national scholarship options available at the CAPE level, maybe we won’t have students writing 70 subjects at CSEC in the hope of topping the Caribbean to get that scholarship.

Our present Education Minister should know in his time; the Guyana scholarship, which he won, was only given to the top A Level achievers. But the awards must be tied to our country’s

International Day for Yoga, June 21...

developmental skill needs. Going through the CAPE experience I can say that it was a quantum leap from CSEC. Going into Lower Six we were informed upfront that we’d be expected to cover 80 per cent of the work on our own, with our teachers there to cover the remaining 20 per cent.

Compared to CAPE, we were practically spoon fed at CSEC. And the level of the work at CAPE compared with CSEC is so much in depth. I never thought I would reach a point in my life when CSEC would seem as simple as Common Entrance, but then I did CAPE and well, I found myself wishing I was still back in Fifth Form.

But in terms of preparing me for university, CAPE did a much better job of preparing me for university than CSEC ever could – I learnt a

lot about how to use the resources around me to learn things on my own. But 15 CSECs did give me a breath of knowledge that made me much more rounded.

And of course, more national scholarships could hold the answer to our brain drain problem.

In Trinidad, The Bahamas, Jamaica and Barbados, all of their scholarship students are expected to return to their country to serve for a particular number of years. And I don’t think that that’s unfair. It makes sense; your country is paying for your education… of course you have to give back something to your people.

It’s a win-win for both our country and our students. We could send our top students abroad to get the highest quality education and then have them return

home to develop our country.

And hopefully we can get to a point where the development is so significant that our scholars will stay not just because they’re obligated to, but because they genuinely want to stay because of the great opportunities that they could have right at home.

But please, let’s not limit our students by fixing some arbitrary number of CSEC subjects as the limit. Students should be free to choose the number of subjects they want to write based on their capabilities. Guyana has churned out some of the brightest minds in the Caribbean.

How would they have been allowed to soar if someone had decided to clip their wings and shackle them to the ground?

Yoga sensation for the nation: Tip 4

Submitted by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh-Guyana (Hindus for Selfless Service)

examine your daily interactions with people and the sounds around you through a bird’s

Yoga and its subtle relationship with music

Since humans began traversing the Earth, musical rhythms have pulsed through their veins. One of the first musical instruments was the human voice, most likely imitating the natural sounds around, that of animals. It was used as an expression of territorialism or a way to communicate between tribes. Today, as we move through our complex times, a return to our natural rhythm seems more necessary than ever. Yoga provides the balance and grounding we need to juggle the challenging rhythms of life. If you should

eye, you would realize that you are inundated by sound. Furthermore, If you really listen, you will hear life’s musical soundtrack. Quite interestingly, the more you listen to your breath and to your own inner beat, the more connected you feel. As a result of this profound personal relationship with music, nostalgic reflections can be triggered during listening. It can bring a person to tears as well as put a smile on faces. Music can even calm the savage beast in us all. It is, undisputedly, the world’s purest universal language.

In recent years, music has

found its way into yoga classes and is becoming more and more common. Most studios today offer a wide selection of yoga classes, some of which feature music. It’s a very personal decision as to whether one enjoys practicing to music.

Depending on the style of yoga, however, music is not always accepted or appropriated. With Vinyasa and Anusara methods, music has become more prevalent, whereas with Iyengar classes, the only music you hear is the teacher’s instruction and the collective breath in the room. When music is used, the instructor’s selections can be helpful to the flow and sequence of the asanas.

When music is introduced in executing the different postures in the various asanas, the selection of rhythms and melodies are taken seriously. It is can be referred to as “digesting” movement in relation to our breath.

Another interesting thing that many of us don’t think about, or maybe aren’t even aware of, is that we humans are polyrhythmic beings –meaning, when we walk, we are moving not only our legs, but also our arms, our eyes, our breath, our head, our torso, our heartbeat. All these movements are working together in a mind/body rhythm.

But if you break it down rhythmically, you will notice that your legs are moving at a slightly different pace than your arms, and your breath is at yet another rhythm and your heart is beating at yet another rhythm. To explain this in music terms, you could say our various body parts and breath are moving in different time signatures.

Take for instance, the connection between music and one of our daily activities: eat-

owners feel it creates a lively atmosphere that attracts more customers.

Then notice how you feel when you eat at an establishment that offers calm, soothing music. You’ll probably eat slower, notice your food’s taste more and ultimately have a better time digesting. It’s very similar with moving your body. This can be regarded as being polyrhythmic.

Human beings are naturally built to absorb differ-

ing. Have you ever noticed how you feel at a restaurant that’s playing loud, aggressive music? They do this for one purpose—to get you to eat faster and have a quicker turnover. The restaurant

ent pulses and beats simultaneously. Now add to that the rhythms of asana practice and ujjayi breath (“victorious breath,” or diaphragmatic breath that make an “ocean” sound) and you can under-

stand how crucial the choice of music becomes.

Depending on what type of practice you are doing, music should accompany and support the various stages of your practice. An example would be as you are warming up and opening your bodies, the song selection should be somewhat slower in tempo, more gentle and soothing, but not sleepy. It should have an uplifting, positive feeling. As you get into standing poses and begin moving more, the rhythms and tones can be more exciting, a bit faster and energetic

As you cool down with more restorative postures, moving towards Savasana, Final Resting Pose, the musical accompaniment is more calming, with longer sustaining pedal tones, like gongs and harmonic vocalizations. With these softer textures, the music or musicians create a “sonic pillow” if you will, for the students to lie on while moving towards final relaxation.

It must also be noted that throughout a yoga class, the music is never louder than the teacher’s voice. It is accompanied with their instruction and support how they are leading the class. It all works together in harmony. It is no doubt that Yoga and music has a very subtle relationship.

GO-Invest investigations…

Business Ministry to end “political interference”

– but more people could be fired

With the Government’s ongoing investigation into the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Business Minister Dominic Gaskin said he is seeking to get rid of all political interference within the entity, even if it means sacking several employees at the managerial level.

Recently, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) had met with President David Granger to discuss several concerns and used to opportunity to call for a total reorganisation of GOInvest.

Gaskin, during a recent interview with the Guyana Times, disclosed that he is currently examining the organisation in order to understand the challenges it faces and how the new A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) administration can address those challenges. “There is a perception that GO-Invest is not functioning and I am currently in the process of examining that entity to determine whether this is actually real or whether it is just a perception…we are capable of solving the problems of GO-Invest, if that means we have to have new management of GO-Invest

then so be it…,” he noted.

Currently, Keith Burrowes is the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of GO- Invest. Burrowes, who is perceived as a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) appointee, was recently forced by the Government to resign as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), bad management of the sugar corporation cited as the reason for that decision to be made.

GO-Invest is responsible for the investment facilitation and promotion; and for the export promotion in Guyana. Gaskin admitted that he is unsure of the performance of the entity and whether or not it is effectively and efficiently fulfilling its mandate, hence the total examination of the GOInvest.

“I do not have enough information, outside of what has been speculated inside the media, to make an informed decision of what should be done…I recently heard that there has been an increase of about 20 per cent investments in 2014 against 2013, but that in itself is not bad progress. But because we don’t have reliable year to year data we really can’t establish whether

GO-Invest is working or not so we need to have access to a lot more information,” he explained.

Political interference

Gaskin said he strongly believes that there was heavy political interference in the functioning of GOInvest, which he assumes would have greatly contributed to the inadequate performance that is being reported of the entity. “There was a lot of political interference in the functioning of GO-Invest, and GO-Invest was rendered almost useless…In some cases, we hear GO-Invest has been sidelined and that they did not even seek some of the investments that the Government signed agreements with,” he said, but quickly added that these are just speculations and cannot be confirmed until Government’s probe into the entity is complete.

Gaskin said his vision for GO-Invest is simply to have systems in place that would ensure GO-Invest effectively and efficiently executives its mandate. “GO- Invest should do what GO- Invest is supposed to do,” he opined.

However, the new Minister of Business noted that he is not directly blaming GO-Invest not entirely for attracting investments into the country as there could be a number of other contributing factors.

He pointed out that deterrents to investment could stem from corruption or crime security; all of which the APNU/AFC Government said it intends to address. “We can’t just say that GOInvest is the problem. There may very well be a problem with GO-Invest but I think there needs to be an examination and that’s what we are prepared to do.”

Parents, teachers and students clean up Georgetown

Parents, teachers and students from the ISA Islamic School and the Winfer Gardens Primary School, East Street, Georgetown, braved the inclement weather to participate in a citywide cleanup campaign.

Though some were draped in raincoats while others were drenched with rain, they all displayed equal excitement as they took to the street to remove garbage, weed the drains and clean up their immediate surroundings.

Also in doing so, the coordinators expressed hopes that these countrywide cleanup campaigns will not just be a onetime event, but will be an initiative that persons will be enthusiastic about all year round.

ISA Islamic School Principal Akram Hussain, soaked from head to toe, took some time off from cleaning to express his sentiments to the Guyana Times. Hussain said he feels very proud to see young people demonstrate much eagerness to participate in these activities. While satisfied with the enthusiasm amongst the children, Hussain said he only hopes that the larger community, particularly businessmen, will soon join the cleanup campaign train. “We hope this will be a sustained effort. We’ve already spoken with business persons around this area to invite them to come onboard and support this effort of cleaning up our environment,” he said. Similarly, the

UGSS demands accountability for facilities fee

The University of Guyana’s Students’ Society is now calling for the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Professor Jacob Opadeyi, to account for the spending of the facilities fees which was introduced to the university last year, for improvements to be made on the campus. This is against the backdrop that Opadeyi had previously assured students that the use of the facilities fee will be transparent.

President of the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) Joshua Griffith, on Thursday said that the UGSS will be communicating its related discontent to the University’s Council. In an advisory to students, he noted that “it is with great disappointment that we are compelled to inform you, the student body, that the committee indicated to have the responsibility of managing the learning resource fees ($40,000 per student)…The majority of the recently imposed hefty facilities fee has not been properly convened to date, some nine months after the beginning of this academic year 2014/2015.”

The purpose of the learning resource fee is to cater to classroom resources among other programme delivery needs. It is therefore the role of the committee responsible for the fees to manage the spending and allocation of the facilities fee while ensuring accountability.

According to Griffith, the UGSS has been reliably informed that while the committee reportedly convened one meeting sometime last year, the student society was not invited. This development, Griffith said, resulted in numerous letters being inked to the UG’s administration over the past months, which only resulted in unfulfilled promises to properly convene the committee.

“We have witnessed small improvements to the learning resources of the campus (whiteboards, projects, etc), however these projects did not receive input or guidance of a convened committee, as was mandated by the University’s Council,” Griffith explained.

For this reason, he pointed out that, “…we are unable to state the true cost of these improvements and therefore how much of our money was actually spent; especially in this manner that blatantly disregards an established agreement and principle.”

Regarding the state of affairs as an affront, Griffith added that the trust and sacrifices made by students to pay increased fees must go on record as yet another deceitful and discourteous act by the University’s administration.

With the hike in the tuition fee implemented last year, students were required to pay a facilities fee amounting to a total of $50,000. Professor Opadeyi

had disclosed then that the fee would go towards the enhancement of the university’s facilities. He revealed that the fee would be managed by four committees, including one which will see input from student representatives, a measure that is expected to cater to accountability.

The then Registrar, Vincent Alexander, noted that transparency will be readily permitted on an individual basis as each student will be able to see online, as well as on his/her invoice, the specifics of the facilities fee. “It is broken down item by item on the invoice and online so that they (students) can see it,” said Alexander as he pointed out that there are a number of areas that committees will oversee.

One committee, according to him, will cover the general facilities fee, which will cater to classroom resources among other programme delivery needs. Other committees will direct focus to a sports fee, library deposit and students’ society dues, all of which are included in the facilities fee, Alexander said. The latter fee, he intimated, would understandably gain attention from the student body members.

However based on the disclosures of the UGSS President, who posted his concerns to his Facebook page, the process has not been as transparent as it was touted to be.

Headmistress of the Winfer Gardens Primary School, Nicola Agad, said these activities are great for children to be exposed to from an early age. She explained that the avenue where the children are cleaning up is an area which they often use. It is heart warming to know that they demonstrate such commitment towards keeping their surroundings clean, Agad went on to say.

Even the parents were overly excited to be sharing this moment with their children, creating fond memories of caring for the environment together.

The team came out since 07:00h on Saturday morning. They worked assiduously to clean up East Street within the boundaries of Church Street and Quamina Street.

"Creeping authoritarianism" of Govt worrying – PPP/C

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Saturday said it continues to view with deep concern the usurpation of functions of independent constitutional bodies, gross violations of the Constitution of Guyana and the trampling of workers’ rights by the new de-facto Administration.

The party in a statement to the media explained that dozens of workers in the Public Sector continue to be victimised, harassed, sanctioned and dismissed without due observance of natural justice, the rule of law and due process and they are being replaced by party hacks and cronies.

The PPP/C said that all of

these ordinary workers are being punished because of their perceived support for the PPP, as it explained that the workers have families to maintain and loans to pay, even as their livelihood and their homes are now put in jeopardy.

“One Minister has disclosed to his staff that he is executing political directions and that thousands of party faithfuls of the APNU have been promised jobs and therefore jobs have to be provided. Qualifications and meritocracy are therefore being sacrificed at the altar of political cronyism”, the statement posited.

Comparing the situation to “ethnic and political cleansing”, the PPP/C said that the

Government was failing to honour its promise to avoid embarking on witch-hunts.

“The Public Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, two important independent constitutional entities, are now openly and publicly being given political directions in terms of “who to hire and who to fire”. Two Ministers; Khemraj Ramjattan and Semona Broomes, are on record giving such directions”, the statement said.

The party said it was aware that the Public Service Commission only recently conducted interviews with a view of hiring qualified persons to fill certain vacancies in the Public Sector, including

the Director of Youth position but Trevor Williams, an AFC Executive member, was handpicked and appointed to this position.

“In the face of such authoritarianism, rampant discrimination, unconstitutionalities and vulgar violations of workers’ rights, we note the deafening silence of the Trade Union Movement, the Guyana Bar Association, the Guyana Women Lawyers Association, The Guyana Human Rights Association, Transparency International, Amnesty International, Red Thread and those who masquerade as champions of human rights, the rule of law and democracy”, the PPP/C noted.

Public Security Ministry to revive Forensic Lab

Newly appointed Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, will be working to enhancing the multimillion dollar Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory, which was commissioned in July of last year.

Ramjattan told media operatives on Thursday that, in the face of the Forensic Laboratory seeing a lot of difficulties, he intends to bring the facility up to par with international standards. The Minister further stated that in order to prevent the facility from becoming a “white elephant”, the upgrade will have to be done in stages.

According to Ramjattan, he was advised to start specialising documentary forensic testing such as forgery. He noted that this will set the base in ensuring the integrity of higher forensic operations, such as the preservation of exhibits, specimens and even the results.

“There would be nobody wanting to tamper with them

and put words into certain documents that are going to be part of a Court proceedings...All of that will have to be sorted out, and we have to have a culture that people are going to have confidence in the system.

If you don’t have confidence, no matter what you do, when the exhibits go to court and the court doesn’t have confidence, then it’s not going to make a difference,” the Minister outlined.

Furthermore, the newly appointed Minister highlighted that most of the issues the state of the art facility face are as a result of the lack of technical experts to fill the positions. He went on to explain that the implementation of the anticipated DNA testing is being hindered due to the absence of personnel and support staff to preserve the specimens and results with the high degree of integrity that is required.

“We have to build that culture in that department first.

That culture can be built from these first phases of what you can document, getting the culture of preservation going and understanding where the specimens must go and so on. That is what, I’m being told, is causing delays in the DNA section apart from not having the equipment as yet,” the Public Security Minister highlighted.

Ramjattan disclosed that he has been discussing the matter with the Chargé d Affaires of the United States Embassy, Bryan Hunt, who has indicated a willingness to lend assistance in this area. In addition, during a meeting with the Country Representative of the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the Minister was informed that DNA testing would no be available at the facility any time in the near future.

The first state-of-art forensic laboratory in Guyana was commissioned on July 14, 2014, to the tune of $1.49

billion. The two-storey building occupies an area of 12,000 square feet.

The ground floor contains the administrative offices, library and research area, conference room, security monitoring, evidence submission and washrooms. The top floor houses the chemistry, toxicology, documents and evidence trace departments. The laboratory is specialised in analysis of toxic substances, narcotic drugs, pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol and biological fluids and forged documents.

The construction of the facility came under the Citizen Security Programme, initiated by the Government and the Inter-American Development Bank.

This programme had three components: institutional modernisation of the Home Affairs Ministry, Community Action Component, and modernisation of the Guyana Police Force, which includes strengthening of its forensic capability.

Eyew tness

Spare the rod...

...and save the child?

The new Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, is a firm opponent of corporal punishment in schools. In fact, when the Special Select Committee of Parliament was reviewing the issue a few years ago, Minister Roopnaraine announced he was, “proud to be completely against corporal punishment in all its forms”.

He thinks corporal punishment actually pushes kids into violent behaviour and other ways have to be found to sanction children. For starters, counselling should be introduced in schools.

Now even before looking at the good Minister’s position, he himself might be interested in what his boss thinks about the subject. In a rather oleaginous interview in the new, presumably sanitised Chronicle, President Granger was asked about “caning” – whipping on the hands or buttocks with a three-foot, supple “wild cane” – during his days at Queens in the 60s.

Evidently, Granger with an ear to ear grin, said, “We took what they called six of the best, normally it was six strokes of the cane for misdemeanours; but we took it in our stride.” He said the occasional six strokes of the cane were not regarded as any form of cruel or corporal punishment.

“I don’t think we were psychologically damaged because of that,” said President Granger.” So it’s clear the President feels that corporal punishment is no big thing.

And when the previous Education Minister went around canvassing the country’s opinion most folks showing up at the hearing not only agreed with Granger, but actually said that corporal punishment was salutary when it comes to schoolchildren who broke the rules.

So the Bill that came out of the Committee kind of straddled the fence – it stipulated that discipline had to be imposed in line with the manual. But the manual doesn’t prohibit corporal punishment – even though the then Minister said she doesn’t “believe in” corporal punishment.

What to do? Well it looks like as with most things we’re on the issue that’s a case of “to each his own”. Each of the three persons cited above went to Queens College where caning was doled out regularly and yet the President differs with the others even though he appears to have been the only one who experienced the “cane”.

Guyana scholar Roopnaraine, who was three years ahead of Granger, and Manickchand it would seem have more of an “intellectual” bias against the “rod”.

Let the debate begin – once again. And let those who actually felt the cane of correction speak out this time!

...on Cummingsburg breaches?

Your humble Eyewitness is puzzled by how this Cummingsburg Accord between the AFC and APNU is supposed to work. Is it just a gentlemen’s agreement because the leader of the AFC Ramjattan said the leader of APNU was “an officer and a gentleman”?

But then there was a referee, so to speak, in the person of that respected academic Dr Harold Lutchman. He was supposed to settle any and all disputes.

But somehow no one seems willing to go to him even as supporters of the AFC – and even the APNU –are claiming that President Granger’s gone way beyond pushing the envelope on the Accord.

Take this last action where – in direct contravention of the agreement to have the Prime Minister chair the Cabinet – this was done on two occasions by President Granger. The first was excused as an informal, get-toknow-you muster of all 27 senior and junior Ministers.

But the second was a working session of the Cabinet. Yet the leader of the AFC says he’s OK with that because “he wanted to hear from the President”!

So what was the point of the Accord?

...on Wild West behaviour?

We know the Junior Minister of Social Cohesion used to work in the interior...which does have a “Wild West” flavour. But surely she should now take a look at her job title, no?

“Cohesion”?

Venezuela’s decree extends controversy to Essequibo waters

– Govt to “investigate authenticity” to formulate action

Just over a week after the discovery of oil was made in Guyana’s territorial waters by the US oil giant ExxonMobil, a new decree issued by the Venezuelan Government is purportedly claiming ownership of Guyana’s territorial waters in the Atlantic Ocean off of the Essequibo Coast.

This extension of the neighbouring country’s claim of Guyana’s continental shelf was reportedly issued by President Nicolás Maduro on May 27, 2015. It was made official in the presidential decree, No 1787, and published in the Ordinary Official Gazette No 40,669, dated May 27.

However, when contacted on the matter, newly appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge told Guyana Times that he was made aware of the decree and is looking at it to determine its authenticity.

“I was told about the decree and subsequently received something looking like it… As soon as we finish interpreting it, to see what is says and what it intends to do, we will act accordingly,” he explained.

The Foreign Affairs Minister further stated that he will also be contacting the Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Reina Margarita Arratia Diaz, to ascertain her Government’s intension behind this new extended decree.

Greenidge went on to highlight that the two countries currently have a process which they are supposed to use in dealing with any issues, territorial or otherwise, and it does not include arbitrary actions by one country

over the other.

The issue of this new decree was brought to the limelight by former Guyanese Ambassador to Venezuela, Odeen Ishmael, in an article published on his blog on Saturday.

According to the diplomat, the Maduro decree has extended the country’s claim on Guyana’s waters to include the entire territorial waters in the Atlantic Ocean off the Essequibo region.

“By this decree, the Venezuela Government has also created the so-called “Areas of Integral Defence of Marine Zones and Islands,” thus ratifying its maritime sovereignty over the waters of the parts of the Caribbean and off the coast of Guyana.

In doing so, it now claims sovereignty over the continental shelf and a projection of the Atlantic Ocean off the Essequibo region of Guyana, and even stretching into part of Suriname’s maritime space,” the former Guyanese Ambassador to Venezuela underscored.

A map to this effect indicates Venezuela’s sovereignty of all waters within the 200 miles range hence block-

Pomeroon coconut farmers meeting to discuss disease

Following numerous complaints made in the media about a disease that is affecting Pomeroon coconut farmers, the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) will be hosting meetings with farmers in the Lower Pomeroon area. According to Regional Agriculture Officer Khemraj Khandai, two meetings will be held with coconut farmers on June 9 and June 10 to ad-

ing Guyana’s access to resources in that area of the Atlantic Ocean. This is the second decree expressing a claim to Guyana’s territorial waters. The first was issued by President Raul Leoni, 47 years ago in July 1968, and claimed “sovereignty” over a 12-mile strip of Guyana’s continental shelf along the Essequibo Coast.

The Maduro decree was issued exactly one week following the discovery of oil in Guyana’s waters by ExxonMobil. Following the discovery of hydrocarbons,

Guyana.

Exxonmobil said the Liza1 well has encountered more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well is the first on the 6.6-million acre Stabroek Block and has been drilled to 17,825 feet. It was drilled by ExxonMobil local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd.

This latest action by the neighbouring country comes in the face of President Maduro’s discomfiture over oil exploration and concessions granted by Guyana to

the location where the drilling exercise is being conducted.

Earlier this year when ExxonMobil was about to drill an exploratory well in the area, neighbouring Venezuela objected, stating that the drilling area is part of its territorial sea. The Maduro Government wrote to the Executive of Exxonmobil to cease the drilling activities.

However, Exxon, backed by Guyana and its homebased country, as well as other international organisations, went ahead with the

the oil and gas company on May 20, reported the discovery of oil-bearing rock in the Stabroek Block offshore

the US oil and gas giant, to explore some 23,000 square kilometres of the Stabroek Block. The new decree covers

drilling. Guyana has since requested that Venezuela not interfere in its development activities, broadening the

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

The multibillion-dollar oil exploration project, which is expected to be executed over 10 years, got underway early last month. Guyana has been receiving sustained international attention from huge companies, especially in the oil sector, after the US Geological Survey said in 2000 that the GuyanaSuriname Basin has the second largest unexplored oil potential in the world after Greenland.

dress the Red Palm Mite disease. The disease has taken a toll on the industry affecting the growth of coconut plants in the Lower Pomeroon River, causing farmers to lose thousands of dollars in sales.

Khandai said the meeting on June 9 will be held from 13:00h at Friendship Cricket Ground, while on Wednesday June 10, the meeting will be held at Vilma Da Silva’s residence at Grant Beach Profit, both in Lower Pomeroon. Farmers are encouraged to attend those meetings. Technical advice will be given on how to treat the disease.

Secrecy shrouds GuySuCo bailout

– spending could be in breach of the law

There continues to be a cloud of secrecy over the form, scope and actual amount of money that was released to the cash strapped Guyana Sugar Corporation last week by the David Grangerled administration.

In a press release to the media on Saturday, the administration said that cabinet has approved “the release of monies” to keep the industry afloat.

The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government had also announced the establishment of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to run the affairs of the Corporation after sacking its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Rajendra Singh and the entire Board.

When contacted on Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo declined to divulge any details about the bailout package that was approved by cabinet for the industry.

He would only say that no one would be allowed to close down the industry and that Government would keep it supported.

Nagamootoo went to say

that Government had commenced a forensic audit of GuySuCo so as to arrive at more reliable figures as to where the industry was at as far its financial health was concerned.

Asked for a ball park figure of the approved amount, Nagamootoo declined, saying that the “competent” Agriculture Minister Noel Holder would make the necessary pronouncements when the time is right. He would not entertain any other questions from this newspaper on the matter and hung up his mobile phone.

Attempts by the Guyana Times to seek out Minister Holder for a comment were

unsuccessful. This newspaper was told that he was not available and would not be until next week.

Calls to the mobile phone of Finance Minister Winston Jordan were sent straight to voicemail.

Other key officials related to GuySuCo were also unreachable.

Meanwhile, President of Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand, in an invited comment on the matter, said that no one from Government or GuySuCo had contacted the union to share details about the bailout.

He appeared to be totally in the dark about the decisions that were being

made within the industry.

Former CEO Dr Singh had related that some 16B dollars was needed to keep the industry afloat before he was removed from the Corporation.

Given that there is no budget passed for the new administration, Government could not legally approve monies for a bailout for GuySuCo in that quantum necessary for rescuing GUYSUCO without breaching the existing Financial rules. In the absence of an approved budget a Ministry can only spend 1/12 of that which was approved for it in the preceding year.

Additionally, monies could have been diverted from other agencies such as the Privitisation Unit or NICIL to fund the bailout.

Government has also not been forthcoming on its plans for the industry since taking office and this in itself is creating tension and uneasiness among stakeholders in the sector.

Additionally, the US$22.4 million from the European Union (EU) to the Sugar Industry seems to be in limbo because of concerns about transparency and accountability. On Saturday, Guyana Times learnt that the monies may not be released to GuySuCo or the Government before the year is out, unless the concerns of the EU are addressed.

Meanwhile, the industry continues to limp along surviving day by day.

Cat fights in culture

Satiricus was so excited. Here it was that as a newspaper hack for two decades, up to now he’s had to report on the “culture wars” going on in other countries. And of course, these countries were also dubbed “developed”.

US has its culture wars between the conservatives (“gay is bad”) and the liberals (“down with Bruce Jenner...up with Caitlyn Jenner”!). Even those yahoos in Australia had culture wars - and they couldn’t even pronounce the word “mate”.

Why the heck couldn’t we have a culture war. Jeez...didn’t we feel strongly about anything cultural? Was politics and ethnic voting the alpha and omega of Guyanese existence? Seemed to Satiricus, in addition to the humiliation of being “just above Haiti” economically, even that country could boast about a “culture war”.

Between those aspiring to the pretensions of the “Grand Blancs” and of course, the Creoles. But now we had a full-fledged culture war...Satiricus could now stop hanging his head down in shame, like Tom Dooley.

And the war was between two Titans (with a capital “T”) of Guyanese culture - Gruel Johnson and Barry Braffit. Over the last decade Gruel had kinda eclipsed Barry on the culture scene. But Barry was more of a roots man and was involved in a bit of this and a bit of that so he was able to keep his head above water. Gruel, on the other hand, insisted on being a pen pusher and so was at the mercy of those who could print the aforementioned scribblings. Or more often, not.

His battles against the Press Baron were legendary...no quarter was shown. Barry on the other hand, was more measured. Being a couple of decades older than Gruel, maybe the result of experience....Or as Gruel claims...just plain old, selling out to the master?

So Barry pointed out that Gruel had also done his share of selling out and sucking up to the Baron. And Gruel countered that Barry was just sticking up for another culture club member who didn’t have the guts to come out into the open because she had been feeding big time at the Baron’s trough. And paying off Barry on the side.

If by now you think this is just an old cat fight between two ageing Queens, and where’s the “culture war”? you’d be wrong. Very wrong. In culture it’s all about words.

This seemingly petty mudslinging, more suitable for fishmongers, is called a “trope” by these members of the literati. What you see is just “signifying” very deep cultural concerns.

As you can tell by their allusions to words like “Cerberus”, “discourse”, “Brutus” and so on....

You mean you don’t know about those things, you from the great unwashed masses?

1-day CYEN climate change workshop successful

Aone-day workshop was held on Saturday by the Caribbean Youth Environmental Network (CYEN) at the Guyana Red Cross Association to educate the public about climate change.

According to Elon Mc’Curdy, who is the National Coordinator of the Caribbean Youth Environmental Network as well as the Project Manager of the World Wide Views on Climate and Energy, the workshop was also geared at garnering the views of persons as it relates to climate change.

She related that the information gathered will be forwarded to an international forum so as to facilitate negotiations which will be held in Paris for the replacement of the Kyoto Protocol.

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty, which extends the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gases emissions as to tackle climate change. The Kyoto

Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on December 11, 1997 and entered into force on February 16, 2005. There are currently 192 to the Protocol.

The Kyoto Protocol implemented the objective of the UNFCCC to fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to “a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”. The Protocol is based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities; it puts the obligation to reduce current emissions on developed countries on the basis that they are historically responsible for the current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

“In December there will be a new climate change deal where all countries around the world will participate in negotiations to set up a new climate change deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol,” Mc’Curdy stated.

She further revealed that the sessions mainly consist of videos and discussions on var-

ious topics related to climate change and at the end of each thematic session, participants of the workshop will vote to indicate their level of understanding on the issue.

The statistics and information gathered in Guyana will then be forwarded to the Negotiations Officer, who will be venturing to Germany next week to participate in the international forum. She also highlighted the need for measures to be put in place to familiarise persons on the issue.

Mc’Curdy said that one of the limitations of the project is the issue of getting persons in the Hinterland “in tuned” due to the geographical constraints as well as lack of interest.

Ja’asries Bishop, an Environmental Management student expressed his appreciation for the workshop. He said that it focuses on an important topic which affects us all. “This workshop looks at how we can adapt to these issues and how we can solve and mitigate the issue at hand,” Bishop related.

3 high-powered rifles found in 3 days City being beautified as West Bank under water

By ahreefa Bacchus

Residents of several areas on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) are calling for attention to be paid to their needs as it relates to community development.

Several issues are being raised in light of the recent flooding occurrences in areas which the residents say are not being addressed.

A resident of Walcott Street, Versailles, WBD, who chose to remain anonymous, related that the area has been flooded for over a week yet no measures have been taken by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council to assist the residents in any way. “Yesterday I saw a hymac working on the main road but that’s not helping us in here,” the woman related. She explained that a number of the drainage trenches are clogged and need to be cleared.

This is not the only area being affected by the stringent rainfall. A drive along the West Bank Public Road would reveal a number of yards under water, particularly in the Goed Fortuin area.

Dharam Mangal, a resident of Parika, related that while many measures are being taken to clean up the city to beautify it, the housing schemes and villages seem to be neglected.

“We see them (the Government) spending a whole lot of money and investing heavy man power into cleaning up the city; but for what? I understand you want to clean up the garbage and clear the drains, but attention needs to be paid to areas where people are living too. Why invest a set of money into beautifying the city while people punish with flood waters? A number of villages on the west side punish as soon as a little rain falls.

I am just saying that they need to pay attention to the needs of everyone. At least ensure that all of the areas have proper drainage systems in place because as even the market place and roads are under water recently,” the frustrated resident related.

In Parfaite Harmonie, which is one of the largest housing schemes in Guyana, residents are also complaining about the need for proper drainage in the area. Ms Singh (only name given), a home owner, related that she has been living in the area for over two years and, to date, proper measures have not been taken to improve the drainage system in the area.

“The land itself is uncommonly low. About a year ago I remember they dug drains but they weren’t deep enough nor did they lead to

any channels, so the water flow is usually stopped when you get to the end of the street,” she lamented.

The woman further related that the slightest rainfall would lead to the water in the drains overflowing into the yards and flooding. This, she says, causes mosquitoes to harbour and puts residents at risk of contracting water borne diseases.

As such, she is calling for those in higher authority to do something about it.

“Since last year I have been going to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council at Malgre Tout, WBD, to have these issues addressed. Up to this date nothing has been done”.

The issue of the need for proper road and streetlights in the area has also been highlighted, as the area is well known for robberies on the streets during the night.

In a telephone interview last Saturday, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkhan had promised to have issues such as these addressed stating that it is one of the Ministry’s most important goals.

“The Local Government was rendered incompetent under the previous administration,” Bulkhan stated, “Under this administration, the Local Government will be equipped and empowered to deal with these situations”

By Bhisham mohamed

APolice Constable attached to the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost is in hot water following the discovery of an AK-47 assault rifle and 32 matching rounds on Friday evening, during a Police roadblock at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

Orin Sergeant, 32, who has been a member of the Guyana Police Force for close to four years, was on his way to West Coast Berbice to drop off the gun and ammunition.

According to information received, the Police rank boarded a taxi that plies the Georgetown/ Berbice Route with other passengers in the vehicle.

On their journey, the car was stopped at a Police roadblock at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara during which the ranks requested for a search to be conducted on the vehicle.

Sergeant reportedly got nervous, but told the officers that the suitcase in the car’s truck was his and identified himself as a Police rank. Nevertheless, the officers at the roadblock insisted that a search be conducted on the suitcase and in so doing, the AK 47 assault rifle and 32 matching rounds of ammunition

was found.

During the interrogation, the man told investigators that he was given the suitcase by a man whose name he refused to divulge. His job was to drop off the suitcase at an address in West Coast Berbice.

The driver of the vehicle was also taken into Police custody, but was subsequently released after it was established that he could not have known the content of the suitcase.

Sergeant is expected to further be grilled and will soon be prosecuted.

This is the third high powered rifle to be found in three days. On Friday last, a Lugar Intratec .9mm submachine gun with eight spent shells was found in a septic tank along Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

Investigations revealed that the Police responded

to a report which suggested that a man was discharging a firearm along Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

As the Police approached, the suspect who had a firearm in his possession was seen running away, and eventually disposed of the firearm in a septic tank. He is expected to be charged shortly.

In addition, an Uzi sub-machine gun with 14 matching rounds of ammunition was found during a Police raid in a house at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown. The suspects were also found with one .38 revolver with six live rounds and 482 grams of cannabis.

Three persons were arrested and charged for possession of gun and ammunition and possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Beached whale partially cremated at Maria’s Lodge

By IndrawattIe natram

After intense excavation works done by the Region Two administration and the Public Works Department, the 56-foot whale which was beached at Maria’s Lodge, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has been partially cremated. The whale was discovered on May 31 by residents who visited the seashore for recreation.

Since its discovery, a stench from the decomposing

animal has spread throughout the community, affecting the health of scores of persons who reside in the immediate environs near where the mammal washed up.

Residents have had cause to visited the Suddie Public Hospital after many fell ill, complaining of headaches, nausea and reoccurring incidents of vomiting caused by the unbearable stench that is emanating from the dead mammal.

“We can’t sleep properly in

our house. I live two streets away in the back old road and still the smell affecting me. I can’t eat properly, my clothes smell like stink whale,” one resident related.

Another concerned resident, Susan Thomas, related that her children were rushed to Suddie Public Hospital because of excessive vomiting. “They just can’t take the smell. It’s like the smell follows you everywhere”.

According to an officer from the Public Health

Kitty residents complain about low water pressure

RDepartment, previous attempts to cremate the whale proved futile as the tide and other factors presented barriers from the successful execution of the activity.

However, the region’s administration remains committed to bring relief to residents in the area. On Saturday, two excavators along with several workmen were busy at the site repacking wood and tyres in an attempt to fully cremate the remains of the mammal.

esidents living in Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown, are complaining bitterly over the low water pressure they are receiving from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

Despite several complaints made to the Head Office over the past two weeks, now nothing has been to rectify the problem.

The low water pressure has caused great inconveniences to persons who are forced to fetch water from the lower flat of their homes to the upper.

“This process is very tiresome, you come home from work, you want to rest but you have to burden yourself to fetch water”.

Another resident added that those who are renting have to wait until the landlord fills his buckets, before they can access the water supply.

“In the night and we still fetching water… We are paying our bills just like everyone else, we really need this situation to be sorted out”, the resident said.

Housewives, workers, students and business personnel in Station Street, are mostly affected.

One resident explained that the water pressure is so low that he has to wait almost half of an hour for a small bucket to fill. The water is coming, he explained, but in drips.

New Code of Service signed by Ministers

– may have already been breached

Newly sworn in Ministers of the David Granger-led administration has signed a Code of Conduct or the Code of Service which has placed emphasis on accountability, dignity, integrity and transparency. When in opposition, both A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change had refused to sign on to rules the Integrity Commission had put in place by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration.

Granger, during the campaign season leading up to the May 11 General and Regional Elections, had promised that his administration will be one which would practice transparency and accountability, and all members of his Government will be required to sign the Code of Conduct. This will make them responsible for all of their actions once in their respective positions.

The document’s contents highlight words such as accountability, dignity, diligence, duty, honour, integrity, loyalty, objectivity, responsibility and transparency as what are some of the qualities expected from holders of such offices.

It said that Ministers are accountable for their actions and decision to the public, and must submit themselves to scrutiny that is appropriate to their of-

fice, they should be open as much as possible about all public decisions and actions that they take and explain their decisions when public interests clearly demands; should regard it as an honour to serve in the National Assembly and as such, preserve the reputation of the institution while displaying allegiance to the State and show concern for the wellbeing of the persons they were elected to serve.

According to the document, the Code of Service is meant to assist Ministers and Members of the National Assembly in the discharge of their obligations to their constituents and the public at large.

“It provides guidance on the values- the moral qualities- that should govern the conduct of Ministers and Members in discharging their parliamentary and public duties.

It is meant also, to reinforce public confidence in the way in which Ministers and Members perform those duties,” the document acquired by the Guyana Times , said. In the opinion of one member of civil society, the Code comes not a minute too soon since there have already been disturbing signs of new officials acting in a very high-handed fashion. According to the laws, Ministers, by virtue of the oath or affirmation of allegiance taken when they are

elected, have a duty to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Further, Ministers are bound by the Code in all aspects of their public life. It does not seek to regulate what Ministers do in their purely private and personal lives.

Ministers have a duty to uphold the law, including the general law against discrimination, and to act on all occasions in accordance with the public trust placed in them. Ministers have a general duty to act in the interests of the nation as a whole and owe a special duty to their constituents,” the document said.

There have been several Ministers who have been accused of acting outside the regulations of their office. For instance, Minister Ramjattan directly interceded in the operations of the Police Force when he placed a hold on decisions made by the Commissioner of Police.

The Government had, over the weeks, come in for criticisms from sections of society over their decision to rename and introduce new Ministries without any proper consultation with society even, as the Code of Service dictates such.

One Minister has already been accused of acting in an arrogant and haughty manner to officers in her Ministry.

Guyanese Friendship University graduates honoured

– Alumni Association to be established soon

The Russian Federation Embassy held a reception on Friday to honour the deepening of relations between Russia and Guyana and the Guyanese graduates of the People’s Friendship University of Russia (PFUR).

The Russian Embassy opened its doors to old graduates of one of its most distinguished universities, the FPUR where several Guyanese had the honour of attending. The graduates displayed their versatility in the Russian tongue as they conversed with Russians and reflected on the memories they were able to bring away from the country where they were educated.

Guyana Times was preview to the exuberance of one such graduate from the class of 1967. He shared that some of his best memories are from the country that blessed him with a great education, stating that he was able to experience not only the cultures of Russia but a variety of cultures and different peoples as students came from all across the world to study at FPUR.

A Guyanese Medical Doctor praised the universi-

ty’s lecturers, stating that it is due to their tutelage that he has become the man he is today in his field in medicine.

Russian Ambassador to Guyana, Nikolay Smirnov wished for the tradition, the exchange of students, to

opment through such relations.

Education Minister, Rupert Roopnaraine was also in attendance at the reception, honouring those who have enabled the improved relations between Russian and Guyana as

continue. He stated that it is an opportunity for views and cultures to be shared. He said that such continued contact between the universities will foster deeper relations between the countries involved, enabling devel-

well as giving his appreciation for what has been solidified between the countries recently.

This was also the hope of FPUR’s First Vice Rector, Evgeny Schesnyak. He was quite enthusiastic as he

spoke of all that his team has been able to accomplish here in Guyana within their stay. He mentioned the recently signed Cooperation Agreement where the University of Guyana (UG) will be playing a huge part of the relations between the countries now.

However, the Vice Rector expressed that he was disappointed that the Guyanese graduates of his university does not have an Alumni Association here in Guyana. He called for such an association to be possible and to be opened too where all graduates of FPUR may be welcomed whether they are from Guyana or not.

This wish of his was granted almost immediately as the Russian Ambassador shared that UNESCO’s representative to Guyana shall be overseeing the establishment of such an association here in Guyana. He stated that she heard of this lack and volunteered to make it possible.

Meanwhile, Rusal Representative, Vladimir Permyakov told this publication of the opportunities that students studying at the university have once they have finished their studies.

Rusal, the world’s largest aluminium company, only last year sponsored five students from Guyana to study at FPUR. He stated that once their studies have finished they will be able to work anywhere they so choose, whether it means remaining in Russia to work or coming back home.

Permyakov said that his company gives the students the opportunity to work for them once they have finished the studies, emphasising that it is in no way mandatory. He stressed this when he indicated that the students choose their area of studies.

Govt to “fix” Guyana-Norway micro development fund

The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s plan for creating sufficient access to micro financing for small businesses across Guyana is to improve on the existing Micro and Small Enterprise Development (MSED) fund.

The MSED project was launched under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) regime in 2013 and is funded under the Guyana-Norway partnership, through the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) which was established under Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The LCDS was launched by former President Bharrat Jagdeo

amid intense criticisms and lack of support from the then People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Opposition, which is now the major constituency of the APNU+AFC coalition.

During its campaigning speeches, the APNU+AFC coalition spoke extensively of creating numerous opportunities, where almost all small business owners can have hassle-free access to adequate financing.

During a recent interview with Guyana Times, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin said he intends to review the project and identify the necessary ways to improve it.

“I want to ensure that programme adequately addresses the problems of fi-

nancing for small and micro enterprises and if not, if it is found that the programme is not well designed for our particular culture, then maybe we can see how we can intervene to get it to respond to the needs of our own small businesses and micro enterprises,” he stated.

Gaskin highlighted that there currently seems to be a problem in the disbursals of funds and therefore, his Ministry intends to figure out the source of the issue and then develop and implement strategies that will address the hindrances within the system.

Funds from the project would be implemented in two phases, with an initial tranche of US$5 million for

Younge’s Take

Earth to Urling!

Earlier this week, businessman Clinton Urling mounted what might appear as damming criticisms of former President Bharrat Jagdeo and his leadership within the PPP/C.

Urling, having joined the PPP/C a mere two months ahead of the May 11 General and Regional Elections, sought to give a report card on the PPP/C’s brand of internal democracy, Jagdeo’s influence within the party’s hierarchy, and the manner in which he is viewed by his fellow comrades at the various levels of the party structure.

In criticizing Jagdeo, Urling said in essence that the former President must go if the PPP/C is move forward or regain its former legitimacy and political muscle in the eyes of its supporters.

Simply put, Urling, a newcomer to this party, has sought to paint himself as an independent aide, someone of principle and moral rectitude, and a future leader.

But wait, hold up! Is this opportunistic?

These “feelings” expressed by Urling could have not developed overnight or within the last two months. He simply did not have enough interaction with Jagdeo or the PPP/C to understand the party’s ideology or how its machinery works.

Surely, Urling, a very ambitious businessman, must have known that Jagdeo wields significant influence in the PPP/C because he is revered and respected for the role he played while being both Finance Minister and President in reshaping the socio-economic fortunes of poor Guyanese and mending a racially divided society during his tenure.

Urling must know that there is no other politician that connects with the masses in this country like Jagdeo, whether you are a supporter or not.

Over the last seven years, the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News have said everything that they could about Jagdeo and have written everything they could about his legacy in office, but this has not stopped the supporters of the PPP/C from loving this man or from yearning for his return, at some point, to the Executive as President.

The truth is, Jagdeo is assertive and he is not the kind of leader that will not share his views or opinions about how to develop this country or campaign with the aim of winning an election.

Many people are not willing to challenge Jagdeo within the PPP/C because they lack vision and the ability to present better ideas and plans to develop the country.

Within the PPP/C, democracy is always alive. Those who are dedicated to the party’s overall development have argued, debated and disagreed with Jagdeo on countless occasions.

Urling must understand that contrary to opposition propaganda and the bitter and vengeful views expressed by Ralph Ramkarran, Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo about Jagdeo, the PPP/C did not lose the May 11 General and Regional Elections because of Jagdeo and what came out of his mouth on the campaign trail.

The PPP/C was able to solidify its base and to convince half of the voting public that after 23 years, it is still the party that has the right vision to lead this country forward. Whether the party was cheated at the polls or not will be determined by the courts, but in the meantime Urling’s credibility is weaning.

the first phase, which is to be implemented over a period of two years. A total of US$10 million is injected into the project.

“US$10 million is a lot of money… It is very important that we try to figure out what’s not working with this programme and how to fix it so more small businesses can access financing,” he said.

Gaskin said the idea is to strengthen the MSED programme, perhaps via establishing a less rigid criterion, and also, to ensure persons call across Guyana can benefit.

Earlier this year, some 64 small businesses received over G$20 million in grants from the Tourism Ministry under the MSED project.

He should note that since he has made his statements about Jagdeo, the former President has not uttered a single word in his defense and no other Executive Member or staunch supporter of the PPP/c has come out to support Urling’s views.

Surely, if the PPP/C supporters were so hurt and jilted by Jagdeo, that they would have jumped ship and embraced Urling and Ramkarran’s positions. But within the PPP/C there is place for dissenting views as the leaders there appear to be trained to handle the likes of Urling.

But it would have been much better if Urling had vented his views to Jagdeo privately or the party’s executive.

Urling has misread Jagdeo and overrated his dominance within the party. Jagdeo is no ‘king’ within the PPP/C and enjoys no ‘special privileges or rights’ that cannot be earned by any other member or Executive.

But Jagdeo, like many other world leaders, has won the trust and love of a significant lot of the PPP/C die-hard supporters, including former Presidents Donald Ramotar, Samuel Hinds and (now deceased) Janet Jagan. Now that’s an extraordinary leader.

Earth to Urling: Bharrat Jagdeo will not be going anywhere, anytime soon and the PPP/C appears very happy with that reality.

Mother of one brutally beaten by GDF rank

Amother of one of New Amsterdam, Berbice was brutally beaten on Friday evening by a Lieutenant attached to the Guyana Defence Force with whom she shared a relationship that ended more than six months ago.

Tishauna Edwards, 24, is now nursing injuries to her head, laceration to her body and other bodily injuries that she received in the hands of Lieutenant Randy Lesfloris.

According to information received, the couple shared a relationship for about three years but after constant abuse, Edwards made a decision in January last to end the relationship- a decision that did not go down well with Lesfloris. Their union however, brought fort an 18-month-old daughter.

Edwards in a telephone interview on Saturday told the Guyana Times that the GDF rank is stationed on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, but would visit his daughter whenever he was in Berbice. She explained that despite her ending the relationship, the man would still “harass” her.

On Friday evening she recalled liming with a few friends when she saw him driving around in a car, but he did not stop. After sometime out, Edward’s mother requested for her drop something at her house. After stopping by her

mother, she returned to her car and the man standing bedside the vehicle asking to speak with her.

An argument ensured between the couple during which he opened the car’s door and sat in the front passenger’s seat. He then ordered her to drive, but she was reluctant.

She thought that by dropping him off wherever he wanted to go, she would get him off her back and complied. The argument continued, and escalated that even came a point in time when he nearly caused her to run off the Canje Bridge.

As Edwards came off the bridge, the woman explained that she saw a group of people standing on the roadway and stopped the vehicle. There, she ordered him out of the vehicle but Lesfloris was stubborn and did not heed her calls.

The mother of one then exited and walked towards the direction of a nearby restaurant, telephoning her mother and relating the ordeal while doing so.

Soon after, the Lieutenant called Edward’s cellular phone and instructed her to close her car door which he had left open. With a sigh of relief, she walked towards her car but he reappeared, grabbed her by her head and started to drag her into a dark street. By this time, the persons who were standing on the road ran to her rescue.

During the ordeal, he threatened to kill her stating that “if

he cannot get her nobody can”. Eventually, Lesfloris left and Edwards did not hesitate to lodge a complaint at the New Amsterdam Police Station. While doing so, the scared woman claimed that he turned up at the station and created a scene by calling all his “big contacts” to drop the story.

After giving the statement, the Police reportedly told her that they cannot charge him and that they will have to seek advice from their superiors. After informing the Police that she was afraid for her life, they eventually called him in and took a statement. She left and went to her mother’s place, where he subsequently showed up begging her not to go ahead with the matter.

Edwards claimed that this was not the first time she was abused by the soldier. She recalled in April she travelled to Linden for the Town Week celebration and he tracked her down. “He kicked opened the hotel room door and when he saw I was alone, he left…I had to pay an additional $20,000 to repair the door,” Edwards related.

There are other instances which contributed to her making up her mind to end the relationship. Edwards claimed that she never stopped him from seeing his daughter, but that will be the farthest the relationship will go. She is not interested in reconciliation, she added.

Family plugs $1M into Sacred Heart Church restoration

Aconcerned family has stepped forward to donate one million dollars towards the restoration of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, which is in dire need of additional funding for its completion.

The Narine family handed over the cheque to Chairman of the Sacred Heart Rebuilding and Fund Raising Committee, Ramsay Ali on Wednesday, June 3 in the compound of the church on Main Street, Georgetown.

Although the restoration work is 80 per cent complete, an additional $30 million is still needed to complete the work. The remaining work

has come to a standstill due to lack of funds and the church has been reaching out to the public at home and abroad for further assistance.

Matriarch of the family, Gloria Narine said it was a pleasure for the family to support the restoration of this historic building. Her husband, Noel Narine is a Managing Partner in the Barcellos Narine Company; an auditing firm.

Ali thanked the family for its generous contribution and expressed hope that the church will be able to acquire the additional funding needed for its completion.

The original wooden building

was completely destroyed by fire on December 25, 2004. Still to be completed is the floor, washroom facilities, caretaker’s quarters, landscaping, pews and other minor works. Persons desirous of making donations towards the completion of the church’s reconstruction are asked to do so through Republic Bank Guyana Limited account # 268496-7; Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited account # CIDA 802530; The New Building Society Ltd account #134769; Scotiabank Guyana account # 10006626; or visit the church online at: www.sacredheart.gy.

Another learning experience

B y R yhaan S hah

It is not yet a month, and the coalition government is facing criticisms about its highhandedness, its nepotism and cronyism, its lack of consultation with stakeholders, its bloated government, and the hollow ring of its “unity”.

The criticisms have merit and all the decent people who voted, or not, for the Coalition must be wondering what has happened to its former firm stand for the rule of law, and against all corruption. Is it a matter of: the more things change the more they remain the same?

Guyanese Author, Ryhaan Shah

Anyone who watched the triumphal display of the Coalition victors in the streets could not fail to notice that they were all African Guyanese.

Not an Indian anywhere. Even the Indians who voted for the Coalition now find themselves on the receiving end of racial abuse – all this to no condemnation from any Coalition leader.

The “Unity Train” has long derailed, and the rush of congratulations about unity and inclusivity – not since 1953, crowed the GHRA – pretends blindness to the fact that the emperor is wearing no clothes.

There is no unity, no inclusivity, and Indians have good reason to fear that their issues and concerns will go unrepresented at a parliamentary level; even by a government that has one minister for every 28,000 citizens. We might be the most overgoverned and micro-managed country in the world.

Many would say that the Coalition has not had time to prove itself. Fair enough. Thus far, however, its response to criticisms of what is being called the “Granger way” has not been to promise any reassessment or rethinking of their ad hoc moves or manner.

Instead, we are given implausible reasoning and no excuses for the sidestepping of proper procedures as in the handing around of national awards.

When the president defended his renaming of the ministries, for instance, he did not care to realize that it was not the renaming per se that is objectionable, but that he did it without any consultation. Because it called out the PPPC on all its highhandedness, the coalition appears even more arrogant for its volte-face.

And now there is Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo shunted off to one side and Granger chairing the first Cabinet meeting, a clear flouting of the Cummingsburg Accord!

It is not a good start and the new dispensation could have a bright silver lining for Guyana unless it steadies up and shows itself worthy of office. Well, many offices.

We have all learned enough from the PNC’s past to not ever let those dark days happen again. Hopefully, criticism will be allowed to flourish, the media will not be muzzled, and organized thuggery will not ever be used again to silence critics.

And whereas the PNC dictatorship ruled during a time when the geopolitics of the Cold War determined the fate of even small countries such as ours, that Cold War is over. This allows for more flexibility in international relationships and alliances, and what obtains today could well fall out of favour tomorrow.

Guyana’s development has suffered since independence because of its divisive race politics but, perhaps, we have matured enough and learned enough by now to accept that no one side can govern this country without the other. Perhaps, we are now ready for a real nationalist movement.

Such a movement would not be a repeat of the current farce of unity which, as we see yet again, falls apart because it is not grounded in reality. There are enough good and decent leaders on every side who recognize that unity must be realised through respect for each other, that each ethnic group must have space within a nationalist government to be, and to be heard.

The next five years could be yet another learning experience. We could learn, yet again, what we don’t want from a government. If this be the case, we must hope that we will, at last, know what we do want, and be grown-up enough to understand that we all have an equal stake in moving Guyana forward.

This could bring the country to a new frontier in its political development where Indians, Africans and Amerindians would find common ground and be able to come together, not as competitors for space and power, but as equals who will truly put country first.

With checks and balances in place, there could be an inbuilt opposition whereby no one group could overpower the others. Trust would be built from the ground up and we would all be the better for it. We could have, at last, a true Guyanese movement.

After presidential pardon of 60+ convicts…

Rehabilitation programme now being arranged

The 60-plus convicts who were pardoned by President David Granger as part of the Guyana’s 49th independence celebrations are expected to undergo a re-integration programme to make their transition back into society smooth.

Even though it has been repeatedly requested, the names of the prisoners to be released have not been made public nor as to how they were brought to the attention of the President to issue the pardon. It is assumed that because of the specific number chosen the President must have had some prior information that at least there were such a number of individuals who would qualify. While the Presidential Power to issue pardons for convicted citizens was copied from the prerogative of the British Monarchy, it was in modern times done through recommendations from a designated Commission.

According to Director of Prison, Welton Trotz, while no concrete decision was made on the rehabilitation programme, plans are nevertheless in progress. He explained that programme will allow those prisoners who are to be released, which comprised of both males and females convicted of non-violent crimes, to get gainful employment.

“They will undergo a six months to one year training and acquire various skills… We are working too on co-operating with some private agencies to provide jobs for these persons after they would have been trained,” he explained.

President Granger, in granting this gesture, has outlined that only those persons who are have met the criteria set out by him would be eligible for pardoning. The criteria include: prisoners who are facing short sentences, those who are incarcerated for petty, non-violent offences and those prisoners between the ages of 18 and 24. This pardoned gesture

applies to both female and male prisoners.

The president highlighted that the list will feature mostly youths and women who were locked away on short term sentences for petty, non-violent crimes.

“We shall allow them to leave prison to rejoin their families, to get back to school and to take their place in society as citizens, not as denizens of prisons,” he stated. Granger outlined that his amnesty gesture is aimed at providing the opportunity for young people to access higher education so that they can have the opportunity to acquire satisfactory jobs after school.

“Too many of them start at the Onderneeming Primary School then graduate to the Camp Street Secondary School and matriculate at the Mazaruni University. Their time and talent are wasted in the penal system instead of in gainful employment,” he declared.

This position was adopted by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who reiterated that the pardoning of these convicted persons reflects the policy of his administration which prefera young people not to be in jail but in school.

“We don’t want out young people to be in jail because it’s in jail that they become hardened criminals,” he pointed out.

Furthermore addressing the concerns of several section of society, particularly business owners, who are fearful that there may be an upsurge of criminal activities, Ramjattan said “those businessmen that feel well if we release them, they are going to be the bigger criminals, that’s not necessarily the case. What will be the case is that in there, if they start their associations with the bigger boys you are going to have bigger criminals in the three to eight months period,” the Minister posited.

The Security Minister added that if these persons

are taken out of the criminal system then they stand a chance to be rehabilitated and become better citizens. Hence, he underscored the importance of releasing those who have served short sentences at the fastest time possible.

According to Ramjattan, he has approved the time of the 69 persons to be released, noting that he was advised these persons have displayed good behaviour while in prison. While the Minister said the names were approved, the Prison authorities are yet to receive a copy of the list along with a formal declaration from the Government declaring the release of the pardoned convicts.

On the other hand, the Public Security Minister disclosed that he has had discussions with the British High Commissioner to set up programmes that will focus on rehabilitation of young people who were locked up for short periods. Addition, he revealed that he spoke with the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative with regards to Juvenile’s Justice.

Ramjattan said that the two bi-later partners have indicated their willingness to help with the abolishment of status offences such as wandering as well as rising the age of criminal responsibility. The Minister further pointed out that there should be other means in which young person’s can undergo corrective rehabilitation rather than being sent to jail.

“Providing what is called the diversionary options so that like when that man who said his son stole his mangoes brought the charges, if there was a diversionary option of the man in the court talking to his son and the magistrate being involved when the boy pleaded guilty or when he was found guilty, there was an immediate three years jail term… poor fella have to serve for stealing his dad’s mongoes,”

The Minister went onto say that had there been a diversionary option, there could have been some other solution to the problem such as a warning.

In addition, Ramjattan disclosed that his administration is also working on a large penal reform system that would see not only young people but older prisoners who have been imprisoned for a while. He noted that plans are in place to equip these persons will skills so that when they are released from prison, they can have the opportunity to be re-integrated into society.

Ramsaroop supports PPP/C not going to Parliament

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)

Candidate Dr Peter Ramsaroop, in a statement to the media just four days before the 11th Parliament is slated to be convened, threw his support behind the PPP/C in its decision to periodically participate in the Parliament.

Recently, PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee said the party will only be participating in the 11th Parliament when it is conducive for them to do so.

He explained that if a situation arises where the PPP/C’s constituency is being misrepresented, then the party will take up its 32 seats to fight for the rights of their supporters and for the best interests of the country.

Similarly, Ramsaroop said he strongly believes that half the country is being represented while the other half seems to be at a virtual standstill due to the new governing body. “One half seems excited that they got the edge due to the inconsistency of the counting of election results, while the other half feels cheated. Claiming there is a majority Government with less than 4000 votes more, which in itself is a controversial number given no recount was authorised is appalling. I would consider it a statistical tie at this point until a recount happens,” he stated.

Ramsaroop said the economy is coming to a grinding halt as the APNU/AFC Administration attempts to gain credibility by ensuring their half of the country validates that everything the PPP/C did was bad and none of them benefited.

“I believe in data and this approach is an emotional and political manoeuvring by the new Administration without any rational thinking in many areas. This will be a subject of intense debates for a long period to come. There are already early indications that many businesses are halting any new investments, foreign direct investors are weary of the change of Government, especially in light of potential border issues again with Venezuela, and the threat of the recount that can see the 2015 election be deemed null and void and new elections called while many of the APNU overseas supporters are arriving in the country to see what they can get from the system, versus bringing in investments,” he explained.

Further, the PPP/C Candidate said the international community, “in their earnest to justify their decision to call the election fair and free, seems to have taken front and centre stage in every aspect of governance.”

Ramsaroop said “one would see an Ambassador or a High Commissioner meeting with officials and promising money for process improvement activities, even giving direction on how the Government should operate and what they must do. While all this is happening, the APNU/AFC Ministers are taking the opportunity to say everything “is in bad shape” in order to sometime in the future be able to claim they were successful.”

Moreover, Ramsaroop pointed out that, though still early, the APNU/AFC Government did not yet announce a single initiative that indicates any new macroeconomics improvements, or initiatives on what is on the forefront for Guyana. He added that the APNU+AFC coalition is the same group that disapproved every single economic initiative in the 10th Parliament.

“The ABC countries have urged the new Administration to put on their top priority list, the passing of the money laundering law, and it is the same group of lawmakers that failed to pass it in the 10th Parliament. The Administration’s law makers had the majority in the 10th Parliament and refused to pass the same bills. Will the 11th Parliament talk about alternative energy, which Guyana badly needs. One may ask why the PPP/C would want to be in Parliament to discuss these same issues that were disapproved before. What would have really changed? Let us think clearly about our future,” he concluded.

Community-based feedback to be adopted to ensure better services

The Social Protection Ministry is to adopt a community based feedback bottom-up approach to best serve the people, according to subject Minister Volda Lawrence. The Minister was at the time speaking to the Government Information Agency (GINA) following the conclusion of a meeting with workers within the Ministry’s Department in Linden on Friday. Also present at the meeting was Minister within the Ministry Simona Broomes.

The Minister explained that the meeting centred on “getting to know the staff, getting them to understand the principles of the Ministers, and the pillars that we are hoping to build this new Ministry on”.

More important, it allowed for the Ministers to put forward what they heard from the regional officials, since in moving forward, there will be “a bottom up approach under my Ministry,” Minister Lawrence said.

She explained that she expects that the regional

officials will be, “the ones throwing up the ideas and programmes for the communities in which they work since they are best able to do so”.

Meanwhile, the Minister indicated that the meeting in Linden was also successful for the fact that the Ministers were fortunate to meet with the former defunct Legal Aid Committee and were given the good news that they have been able to locate a building, and with the furniture that they received from the Ministry sometime back, will soon be opening their doors.

“That is good for us, because that was one of our concerns, offering legal aid services to the people of Linden,” the Minister said.

The Ministers were also able to meet with the other stakeholders, including individuals from church, youth and school organisations which have been giving voluntary services. “So basically we have been able to turn this visit into one of networking and so position ourselves in terms of how we are go-

ing to go forward in taking the Linden community by storm, with the social issues that presently prevail in the community,” the Minister explained.

Meanwhile, Minister Broomes explained that the Ministry will be visiting the regions, and speaking with all the stakeholders, the officials and departments under the Ministry’s oversight. “What we are doing now is to get a good grip of everything, so we are doing the tours, compiling our reports, then we come up with our goals together, and then we set our goals going forward.”

She explained that as soon as the visits are completed that the goal is to sit down with the media. “We will say this is what we have out there and these are the changes we are going to want to put here and there, per year, per five years, but what I am sure about is that at the end of the five years, Guyanese and Guyana will benefit,” she said. (Excerpt from GINA)

Celebrity Clean-up gets radical with garbage in the “Garden City”

– hopes practice is mirrored at homes

Concerned citizens, young and old, made a stand against the pervasiveness of garbage that crowded what was once known as the “Garden City” on Saturday at the Celebrity Clean-up Campaign.

The Clean-up Campaign kicked off around 06:00h after several groups had assembled between Camp and Alexander Streets on Regent Street. The various groups were then divided into parties armed with cutlasses, shovels, wheelbarrows and garbage bags before dispersing to work in their assigned locations along Middle, Regent and Hadfield Streets.

The celebrity crews took their tasks quite seriously as Guyana Times saw several persons uprooting weeds by hand when a cutlass or a shovel was unavailable.

The Guyana Swimming Association (GSA) took particular interest in the clogged drains along Regent Street. They were seen using rakes

and stick handled fan covers to filter out plastics, debris and other articles that had long made the drains their homes.

President of the GSA Ivan Persaud was quite upset with several businesses along the street as he reasoned that it is their area of work and should therefore show more care for their surroundings by removing unsightly weeds that may grow outside their businesses or simply by providing bins.

Unicomer’s Consumer Service Representative, Alfred Crawford, was quite astonished when his cleanup team unearthed a long lost driveway on Alexander Street, south of Regent Street. His team had to remove several inches of dirt, garbage and weeds to reveal the driveway that can now be accessed by vehicles.

Crawford expressed his hope that it can be maintained. He stated that persons need to take stock of their en-

vironment and what they are doing to it because “if everybody just pick up their garbage, it will make a huge difference.”

Dawn Braithwaite, the Director of Training at Camex and Restaurants Inc, also shared her enthusiasm that Guyana is heading towards a turning point. She stated that she was quite impressed with the Clean-up Campaign. However, she acceded that education needs to play a part for any real change to be made.

She commented that several bystanders had asked about payment for being a part of such Clean-up Campaigns, however Braithwaite said persons need to recognise that their “payment will be in kind”.

The Cleanup Campaign was birthed by the Captain Clean, Sherod Duncan. Littering has always been a

sensitive issue for the journalist, but he was inspired to take up the mantle when the new administration launched an all out war against the habit.

Captain Clean stated that the turnout at the campaign was surprising, indicating that the day had not even started properly, at around 08:00h, when several groups had already been assigned tasks. Nevertheless, the captain hoped that aside from such cleaning activities, “persons can take responsibility for where they’re living, for their front yards and streets”.

Duncan also called for the businesses to step up and maintain “the litter free street (Regent Street)” that the campaign has basically gifted to them. Captain Clean is expected to be continuing his good work at Tiger Bay today, in collaboration with Courts.

Public Security Minister discusses policy matters with intl agencies

Khemraj Ramjattan, who was recently appointed Public Security Minister, has been engaged in a series of high level meetings with representatives from various international organisations on policy matters relating to the Public Security Ministry.

During the course of Thursday and Friday, Ramjattan met with the country’s representatives of the United Nation Children’s Fund and the United Nation Population Fund (UNICEF/ UNFPA); the Organisation of American States (OAS), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

In addition, the British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn also paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Minister.

On Thursday, he met with the representatives of UNICEF/ UNFPA and they reviewed the cooperation and support that was received by the Ministry over the past years as well as discuss the Ministry’s needs for future support from the organisation.

Some of the matters discussed include the need for additional work to be done by both parties in the area of Birth Registration; the full implementation of the Sexual Offences Act 2010 and the Domestic Violence Act 2006 by the completion and execution of the relevant Action Plans.

UNICEF also offered support to the Ministry in relation to the completion of the draft Juvenile Justice Bill, which will serve to correct a number of deficiencies in the current legislation. As it relates to the Juvenile Holding Centre, UNICEF undertook to assist the Ministry with uplifting the general standard of the facility.

He also met with the outgoing OAS Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Albert Ramdin, and the Director of

the local OAS office, Jean Ricot Dormeus. During the meeting, Ramjattan was briefed of OAS’s support of the Security Sector in Guyana.

The OAS representatives disclosed that the results of the schools’ survey on drugs in Guyana is completed and would be ready for public dissemination after certain administrative issues are sorted out. Support was also offered to Guyana to conduct of a general survey on drug use in the country and strengthening the cyber security unit of Guyana to advert cyber attacks against public offices.

Also on Thursday’s date, the Public Security Minister hosted bilateral discussions with the British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn.

Some of the issues raised at the meeting had to do with the provision of training for members of the Guyana Police Force in intelligence gathering in support of the fight against crime and drug trafficking; strengthening the marine capability of the Police Force to curb piracy and smuggling; the transformation of the Force into an organisation that is more acceptable to the public; and addressing youth and gender based violence as well as focusing on Youths at Risk.

Meanwhile on Friday, IDB country representative Sophie Makonnen, paid a courtesy call to Minister Ramjattan.

The discussions were centred on the current engagements between the IDB and the Ministry with regards to the US$15 million loan, which is expected to be used to improve citizen security in this country as well as placing significant emphasis on youths at risk; and the US$1.6 million Technical Cooperation Package, which is expected to benefit agencies that fall under the purview of the Ministry and facilitate skills training for young people.

Sport, Youth Director appointment breached protocol – Dr Anthony

With the recent appointment of Christopher Jones as Director of Sport and Trevor Williams as the new Director of Youth, several questions have been raised in relation to whether or not the correct procedures were undertaken when these appointment were made.

Jones, a member of A Partnership for National Unity, and Williams, who was a member of the 10th Parliament and served as the Alliance For Change’s Region 10 (Upper BerbiceDemerara) Representative and Youth Leader, were appointed this week and already persons are questioning their suitability for the positions.

stated that candidates were identified and they were interviewed so as to ascertain the most suitable individual for the position.

Former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony highlighted that while the appointment is supposed to be made by the Guyana Public Service Commission, the decisions were seemingly arbitrary as earlier in the year when the former administration was seeking to make an appointment to fill the position of Youth Director, several protocols were observed. He

He also raised questions as to whether or not the individuals are qualified to fill that position stating that it is mandatory that individuals taking up those said position must possess university qualifications.

On Friday, Jones told media operatives that as the new Sport Director he is aiming to establish relationships among many of the parties associated with

sports, claiming that under the previous administrations those relationships did not exist. He has also made several promises to make enhancements and improvements to sporting facilities that are currently in operation.

Williams has vowed to ensure that Guyana has a National Youth Policy, which is essential for the development of youth in the country. This policy he said will address youth issues and concerns such as education, housing, health services and economic opportunities.

A rigging reputation

Dear Editor,

A St Lucian teacher brought a report book that a child had changed the percentages in a number of subjects.

That teacher was furious because it was the first time something of that nature has taken place here, so you could imagine there was quite a stir amongst staff members. Where there were failures the report book suddenly showed huge passes, for example, 30 per cent made a huge jump to 80 per cent the three becoming an eight.

And so it went 14 per cent becoming 74 per cent and the like.

The falsification was tremendous because here we had a deadbeat student getting such whopping successes overnight something was definitely wrong here.

The falsified report showed that student passing a number of subjects where previously he had failed miserably. It was also shown that although the student changed the marks for the individual subjects he however made the cardinal sin in failing to adjust the final percentage tally to accurately reflect the passes shown in the individual subjects.

So here his transgressions showed up glaringly and the teacher in question was able to easily identify the fraud. The boy was good at changing figures but was poor in the math in getting the final percentage straight.

This glaring anomaly caused the teacher to blurt out «this child must have come from Guyana ... people from that country know how to fix figures».

And sure enough the child though being a St Lucian by birth does have roots in Guyana - his mother is from Georgetown. I was not the least surprised because I know the «nature of the Guyanese beast called rigging», and the endemic influence on its perpetrators, so I was not in the least offended.

The janitor who is from Berbice was offended by it and she pulled me aside to say this: «Look how people does mek we look shame eh», to which I smiled and walked away. Many days after that event folks here kept talking about the incident and its potential influence on other kids.

To somehow put things to rest or to mitigate the circumstances, I held a mini-session with the staff detailing this embarrassing piece of Guyanese history called rigging. To this day some are still baffled to know that something like this is taking place right here in the Caribbean.

As one teacher remarked, «I think these are things we hear of in far away places like Africa no Mr Adams we can›t believe it you are lying». But try as you may it is the naked truth.

It is an embarrassing to know that you are a Guyanese and have

to hear these low remarks, it really hurts. But such is the legacy we must carry all because there are despicable people the lot that we have at GECOM. The crap that passed for an election and all the shenanigans that went with it is a horrible legacy left to a people called Guyanese near and far.

You cannot tell me that - and this is according to them - that in a so called close election race a recount cannot be done? The most unmitigated crap for an excuse I get every day why a recount is not necessary is appalling. What is there to hide?

But I would answer that question like the boy in my school the figures cannot and will not add up. We know the confusion of their fake SOPs so we want to get into the boxes. Reasons being those votes have hidden security features which would tell the truth as to what went on May 11.

And from information gathered the results they are giving might very well be a prepared script from the 2011 elections. All of the above could be cleared up with a recount.

So, GECOM has done is solidify the onerous reputation of Guyanese being falsifiers of accounts, thieves and con artists.

In the rigging of Guyana›s election they have earned us an unenviable reputation way beyond the shores of Georgetown.

Neil Adams

Choices

Iwould rather be a simple farmer

Working the fields with measured labor,

Wiping the sweat from my brow

Singing the Lord’s Name as I toil, Embracing the earth in heart and soul

Seeing her changing moods as time rolls,

Each day some struggle or joy to recall Then to sound sleep when night do falls.

My heart cries for such a life

Rather than a wizard of numbers and analysis, Of endless charts and databases

With fingers married to keyboard; eyes to the screen,

A sedentary like, so woeful, so mean Slaves to devices, scarce talk to another being,

My heart recoils at such pitiful scenes

I give no value or weight to machines, When there is chance to relate to human beings.

I would rather be a carpenter or brick layer

Building a firm and sturdy foundation, With comfort and warmth to generations

Rather than a parasitical politician,

Guyana owes us all a living, free from...

Again it would seem that in an attempt to preserve the dignity of their office they are thus deemed as being insubordinate to their new employer and again the issue of distrust rears its head.

Are we then to conclude that every government officer who worked under the PPP/C administration is being singled out as a person not to be trusted? If this is so then we will soon witness a mass termination of public servants.

Is this the mechanism that is being used to fulfill the promise of making more jobs available for our youths, as indicated in the APNU/AFC 100-days action plan?

Well if this is so then this can be likened to the tale of Robin Hood who robbed the rich to give to the poor but in this case it is taking away jobs from the employed to give to the unemployed.

The witch hunting aspect

is more relevant in the situation of those senior public servants such as permanent secretaries and heads of Government agencies.

The APNU/AFC administration during the elections campaign did promise to serve their heads on a golden platter after May 11, and this promised they will not pass even though they did state also that no Public Servant had any need to worry about losing their jobs.

The rational given is that these persons were very active in politics during the lead up to the elections of May 11, 2015 of which they had no right to and that some even resigned to do so hence even though their resignations were withdrawn the APNU/ AFC administration will stay the resignations. What was the violation here? Expression of their right to choose a government

of their choice and openly associate themselves with the political party of their preference.

These issues when viewed in context levels down to one simple fact and that is that all of the affected persons are those who in all clarity sought to uphold their fundamental rights as written in Articles 19 to 21 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It must be noted also that these affected workers have been hand picked since it is known that there are others who in like manner are wearing similar shoes but have been speared the rod of damnation.

Why the preferential treatment? The seemingly pledge of allegiance. Hence once again we are left with the issue being one of trust.

While however, there is the issue of trust and alle-

giance wrangling between employer and employee where are the many labour and rights organizations in all of this. These organizations are very and sometimes overly visible and audible on other issues but somehow they have all gone missing in action both organizations and leadership.

I am beginning to sense the ‘fear factor frenzy’ or is it the ‘muzzle me maneuver’? Whichever it is there is the need for for quick and careful consideration on these matters. Where is the civil society?

Is it to be believed that no one cares, that there is a hip hip hooray situation going on here. What have become of the sweet whispered promises of job security. This is not the only election that will be held in Guyana. There will be others and politicians must be remind-

Sucking at the vitals of the nation.

I would rather be like Kabir, the gentle weaver

With light and wisdom to deliver,

Rather than a proud and arrogant scholar

Thirsting for fame and worldly power.

I would rather live in a simple dwelling

With songs, love and laughter resounding,

Than in a dazzling mansion

Filled with hate, strife and tension.

I would rather be among the poor and humble

Than among those who mock with contemptuous look,

Who are adept with the vulgar tongue

Their minds unwholesome thoughts abound.

I would rather still the mind

In the field of worldly actions Than retreating with mind still in turbulence

I would rather worship God From the recesses of my heart

Unencumbered by time or place Than be bound to empty rituals

Any time most propitious

To adore Govinda with chants melodious

Cecil Ramkirath

ed that it takes hundreds of thousands of citizens by way of their votes to make it possible for a party to win. It must be noted that for every victimized worker there is at least four other lives that are directly or indirectly affected.

The labour movement is some what luke warm during all of this. Workers’ rights are human rights as noted in Article 23 of the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights. A more democratic, humane and professional approached would have been welcomed rather than the heavy and high handed approach adapted.

There are those who would rush to defend but be reminded that not everyone is guilty of a transgression, for if this is the way of thinking, then it is surely as case of the innocent paying for the guilty, then to this I will re-

fer to the biblical text “ye who is without sin cast the first stone”.

The coalition promoted the “Unity Train” ticket on its campaign journey but it seems that these tickets are now in short supply and is only available to selective group of passengers, while there will those who will be left standing in line for the simple reason that they don’t belong.

Be it as it may, one must never forget that this dear land of Guyana belongs to all of us. Not one political party or one ethnic group and as Guyanese citizens we have a right to live and work here. Guyana owes us all a living, free from fear and humiliation. If this cannot be then we will need to change our motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.

Gillian Burton

Barcelona claims third Champions League title

Barcelona claimed their third Champions League in six years as the brilliance of their attacking trident proved too much for the brave challenge of Juventus in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

In a thrilling spectacle, and with both Barcelona and Juventus attempting to claim a treble after winning domestic league and cup competitions, it was Luis Enrique’s side that eventually came out on top.

Barcelona started as if they would romp to a comfortable victory when Ivan Rakitic capped the sort of passing move that has become their symbol to put them ahead inside five minutes.

Juventus, always a danger after ending notions of an “El Clasico” final by beating Real Madrid in the last four, showed fierce resilience and with veteran keeper Gianluigi Buffon defiant, held on for Alvaro Morata to scramble an equaliser before the hour.

Redemption time arrived for Suarez, the player who ended last summer’s World Cup in disgrace after biting Italy’s Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini, in the 68th minute when he showed a predator’s touch to pounce after Buffon failed to hold Lionel Messi’s shot.

Juventus could not mount another recovery and Brazil superstar Neymar wrapped up the win in what he described as the biggest

match of his life with the final kick of the game.

For all Barcelona’s brilliance, built around Neymar, Messi and Suarez, Juventus ran them every inch of a compelling encounter and were left with a hard luck story to tell as they were convinced they should have had a penalty when Paul Pogba tangled with Dani Alves seconds before Suarez scored.

In the end, however, Barcelona simply had that extra touch of fantasy that places them above the rest of Europe and Enrique’s side can put their names alongside those who brought the giant trophy back to Catalonia as they claimed their fifth triumph in the tournament.

As well as Suarez’s happier storyline, there were other sub-plots too as Neymar made up for his own World Cup heartbreak last summer, when he was injured before their 7-1 loss to Germany in the semi-final.

And for 35-year-old Barcelona legend Xavi, he was able to say farewell after a glittering career with another Champions League win before a move to Al Sadd in Qatar. It was the perfect ending as Andres Iniesta handed him the armband.

This was a wonderful antidote to the sour taste left after a week of corruption allegations levelled at Fifa, the world game’s governing body.

Barcelona’s opening goal could be offered up as an example of everything the club’s approach to the game is based on - and actually came after two early moments that hinted at vulnerability at the back as Juventus pressed.

Nine outfield players were involved but the decisive contributions came when Neymar played in Iniesta, who picked a perfect pass in a packed penalty box for Rakitic to beat Buffon.

Buffon has rightly assumed legendary status at Juventus and proved he is still among the elite bracket of goalkeepers as Barcelona pressed for a second, showing superb reflexes to deny Alves after originally being wrong-footed.

Juventus were left with little option other than to cling on and hope to fashion a rare opportunity and they lifted the spirits of their huge banks of supporters as Morata and Claudio Marchisio threatened with efforts that were narrowly off target.

It was impossible, however, to keep Barcelona at bay with Suarez facing a cluster of Juventus defenders in retreat before shooting inches wide then forcing a fine save from Buffon.

The pattern continued after the restart with Buffon again the man to thwart Suarez low at his near post before a thrilling interchange between Neymar, Suarez and Messi ended

with the Argentine wastefully shooting high and wide. Those missed chances came at a price, an expensive one, as Juventus broke the shackles to draw level after 55 minutes.

For all the appreciation heaped upon Barcelona’s artists, it was a brilliant piece of initiative from Juventus that created the goal. Marchisio’s backheel released Stephan Lichtsteiner and when Marc-Andre Ter Stegen could only turn away Carlos Tevez’s shot, Morata was on hand to slide in the finish.

Suddenly, the momentum was all with Juventus but they were left nursing a sense of injustice after a minute of action that saw the final swing back in Barcelona’s favour.

Juventus appealed in vain for a penalty after Pogba was wrestled to the ground by Alves but Barcelona broke away and when Buffon failed to hold Messi’s shot, Suarez was in position to drill high into the net before a joyous celebration.

Neymar thought he had added a third but saw his effort ruled out because he headed the ball on to his own arm before it evaded the grasp of the diving Buffon.

He found solace in the dying seconds when another Barcelona counter ended with an emphatic finish past Buffon. (BBC Sport)

Dravid to coach India A, Under-19s

Legendary batsman

Rahul Dravid has been given the responsibility of coaching India’s emerging stars.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that Rahul Dravid will be the new coach of the country’s Under-19 and A teams.

Master batsman Dravid, who earned the nickname ‘The Wall’ during his illustrious 164Test playing career due to his solidity at the crease, will be tasked with passing his vast knowledge on to India’s emerging players. His new role was an-

nounced just a few days after the formation of a BCCI Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Dravid’s legendary former team-mates Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.

Speaking at a press conference in Kolkata that followed a meeting of the committee, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said: “The good news is that Rahul Dravid has agreed to coach India A and India Under-19 in the future.”

Thakur also confirmed that Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman will have

an input into the appointment of India’s next coach, with Ravi Shastri having been appointed as director of the team for this month’s tour of Bangladesh.

“Until the time we don’t make any changes, the current set-up will continue. We have not shortlisted any names but in some time we will have a few names and the advisory committee meeting will be held,” said Thakur.

“We will be hiring a number of coaches, physios and trainers. We would like to have a pyramidlike structure where from top to bottom, similar

coaching and facilities are available to all.

“All three of them [the Advisory Committee members] agree that if need be, Sourav, Sachin and Laxman can spare some time to help the Indian cricketers.

“Our focus will be to play more and more overseas. The next meeting of legends committee will be held after the shortlist of new trainers and physios is decided.

“One important recommendation was to select a pool of 15 fast bowlers and 15 spinners and have specialist coaches for them.”

(Digicel Sportsmax)

Tanvir delighted at link-up with ‘legend’ Afridi

Sohail Tanvir was one of the stars of the 2014 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), setting the tournament alight by smashing the fastest half century of the tournament in 18 balls in the colours of St Lucia Zouks.

This year the explosive all-rounder returns to the Biggest Party in Sport, but he will be playing for a different franchise - the debutants, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

We caught up with the Pakistani international and he shared with us his hopes for the competition, his thoughts on playing with some of the game’s biggest stars and the emotional recent return of international cricket to his homeland.

Sohail Tanvir

On returning to the CPL in 2015…

I’m very excited. I’ve loved my time in the CPL so far. It’s a fantastic at-

good all-rounders. As long as we execute our skills we have a good chance.

On playing with Shahid Afridi at the Patriots…

He is a legend of the game. I’m really excited and happy that he is part of the team. I’ve played a lot of cricket with Shahid, he’s a game-changer with bat and ball and we needed someone like him.

“Nobody can describe the emotions and what it means to the people of Pakistan” - Sohail Tanvir

On Chris Gayle… It’s always lovely watching him play. He is Godgifted. Against Kent (for Somerset in the English T20 Blast), he was a oneman army. It was one of his great innings. Every six went out of the park. I don’t want to think about having to bowl at him in the CPL yet, I am just enjoying playing with him.

On Pakistan’s return

mosphere - the people are great and I really enjoy the lifestyle. The West Indians are the best T20 players in the world, even at domestic level, so the cricket is very competitive too.

“The West Indians are the best T20 players in the world” - Sohail Tanvir

On being picked by the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots…

I am excited to be part of the new team. I’ve done well in the past in the competition so there will be a bit of pressure on me to do well again this year.

On the Patriots title ambitions…

We should believe that we can do well and win the tournament. We have a good squad that is well balanced. We have good batters, some good bowlers and

to play international cricket at home…

It’s great. Nobody can describe the emotions and what it means to us as the people of Pakistan that we’ve played international cricket at home for the first time since 2009. It was really great watching the games on TV and I’m sure it was great for the players playing in front of their friends and family. I’m hoping this will continue and teams will play more series now. A message for the fans in Pakistan… Definitely support the Patriots when you see me and Afridi playing together. The people of Pakistan are a cricket-loving nation and it’s great to get all the messages of support from home.

(CPL.com)

Williams wins 20th Grand Slam

Serena Williams won a dramatic French Open final against Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova to claim her 20th Grand Slam title.

The American, ranked number one, needed two hours and one minute to win 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 at Roland Garros.

Safarova, playing her first Grand Slam final, led by a break in the decider but Williams won the last six games.

The 33-year-old becomes the third player - male or female - to win 20 major singles titles.

Only Germany’s Steffi Graf on 22 has won more since the open era began

in 1968, with Australia’s Margaret Court collecting 24 between 1960 and 1973. Victory at Wimbledon in July would see Williams hold all four major titles at once, having managed the feat already in 2003.

There had been doubts over whether the 2002 and 2013 French Open champion would even make it to court for Saturday’s final after a debilitating bout of sickness.

Williams had visibly struggled in Thursday’s semi-final, coughing and looking close to tears, and then cancelled all media commitments, only practising two hours before the final.

The rest appeared to

have had the desired effect as she took the first set with a break in game four and powered on in the second.

She had won all eight matches she had played against Safarova and, serving at 4-1, 40-15 in the second set, there appeared no possibility of the American faltering.

However, three double faults in the game brought Safarova unexpectedly back into the contest, and the Czech kept herself alive again four games later with a backhand winner.

Safarova, 28, was now much the sharper in terms of footwork and she dominated the tie-break before moving ahead with a break at the start of the decider.

Williams was now struggling to keep calm, screaming at herself after errors and picking up a warning for her language from the umpire, but she proved once again why she is the undisputed number one.

Safarova double-faulted for the first time in the match to bring Williams level at 2-2 and the top seed ratcheted up the pressure.

Another heavy return helped her break for 4-2 and a left-handed forehand followed in the next game as Williams reached for every shot in the book, sealing victory with her seventh break of the match. (BBC Sport)

IPL has improved standard of Indian umpires – Ravi

Aday after becoming only the second Indian umpire to be included in the ICC’s elite panel since its inception in 2002, S Ravi believes the “perception” of Indian umpires will now change. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo from his hometown Chennai, Ravi said his elevation would convince the cricketing world that “Indian umpires are capable enough to officiate in Test matches and ODIs and get on to the elite panel.”

“I was working hard for this,” Ravi said. “I was expecting it because I was on the emerging panel of ICC and after having a good World Cup I thought I should be there and I got the nod from the selectors.”

Last month, Ravi, 49, umpired in England for the first time in his six-Test international career, officiating in both games of New Zealand’s tour. He described the experience as “challenging” but rewarding.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “The conditions were very challenging for me. When you go to England, you have to expect tough weather conditions, the ball seams and swings throughout the game, it is a tough ask for us. I was prepared for that and I thought I did reasonably well.”

On the third day of the second Test in Leeds, Ravi gave an official warning to

England’s leading bowler James Anderson for running onto the pitch in New Zealand’s second innings. ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary noted at the time that “?Anderson isn’t impressed. Fuming is probably the correct term,” but Ravi said he had “no issues” with players from either side.

“I am just implementing the laws of the game, that’s all,” he said. “Whether it is X player or Y player, the law is the same. I am there to conduct the match within the framework of the laws. That’s it, very simple.”

Ravi is among four Indian umpires - Vineet Kulkarni, C Shamshuddin and Anil Chaudhary being the other three - who are serving on the ICC’s international panel of umpires, the level immediately below the elite panel. He is now convinced that more people can make the grade up, and credits the experience of officiating in the IPL over the last few years as the reason for improved umpiring standards.

“In the last five-six years, the standard of Indian umpires has gone up because of our umpires standing in the IPL, which is an international standard tournament,” he said. “They get to work with elite umpires and referees from different countries. They get to interact with international play-

Windies weren’t good enough, laments Ramdin

Captain Denesh Ramdin said Friday West Indies had been guilty of not capitalising on positions of strength, and had also failed to cope with the pressure Australia created during the opening Test at Windsor Park.

West Indies slumped to a nine-wicket loss here Friday after suffering yet another batting capitulation. Trailing by 170 runs on first innings, the Windies were 181 for three at one stage just prior to tea but lost seven wickets for 35 runs to be all out for 216 in their second innings.

Australia raced to their target of 47 in just five overs, for the loss of David Warner for 28, to complete victory inside three days.

“We’ll try and take the positives out of this game and move forward. As I said, they are a good unit and we need to play a lot tougher cricket,” Ramdin explained.

“When we are in positions of strength we need to carry that on. That partnership with Marlon (Samuels) and young (Shane) Dowrich, if they could have taken it to maybe 200 [that would have been good].

“It’s a very difficult pitch to start [but] guys who got starts went on. You saw Adam Voges, he got that start and he made a big hundred for his team.

“They swung the ball, they bowled good areas, they created pressure which they normally do and we didn’t handle that pressure as well as we could have.”

ers, coaches, support staff and other stakeholders. All these things have made Indian umpires better. I am sure in the near future at least one or two more will make it to the elite panel.

“A couple of them (Indian umpires) are now nominated for the World T20 qualifiers in Scotland and Ireland next month. That’s a big tournament for them. If they do well, they can get on to the emerging panel and

The day was highlighted by excellent half-centuries by Samuels who hit a top score of 74 and debu-

ed in 12 T20Is and 24 ODIs since 2011, including three matches in the recently-concluded World Cup. The experience gained from these high-profile assignments has made him realise that intense scrutiny comes with the territory.

“As umpires, who are umpiring at the highest

move up the ladder.”

Ravi has also officiat-

tant Dowrich, who stroked 70. They put on 144 for the fourth wicket to pull West Indies around from 37 for three inside the first hour, when Darren Bravo perished for five in the sixth over of the day.

Once Dowrich fell nine minutes before tea, however, the innings went into rapid decline with no other batsman getting past 12.

Ramdin pointed out that West Indies’ problems had stemmed from a poor first innings performance.

“It’s not the start that we wanted. We didn’t bat as well as we could’ve in the first innings. We made 148 on a good pitch and then we had them with nine wickets

by the media, the players, and the captains.” he said.

“We should be prepared for that. If you make an error, it will be highlighted, technology will expose you at some stage or the other. You should be prepared for that, learn from that error and move on. You can’t do much about it.”

Ravi credits former Australian umpire Simon Taufel, who has worked with him as an advisor and mentor to the BCCI’s elite panel of umpires, for his rise.

According to Ravi, Taufel, who was the ICC umpire of the year for five consecutive years from 2004 to 2008, has helped him understand the mindset needed to succeed in the job.

“I have been working very closely with Simon for the last three years almost,” he said. “I have learnt a lot from him; right from preparation to getting into the game, decision making, handling big players, match management skills, the man-management skills, how to get out of setbacks. All those skills have helped me to become a better umpire. I am very thankful to Simon, it is because of him that I have achieved this dream.”

level of the game, we are bound to be scrutinised

While Ravi says Taufel is his idol, the other umpire he

down [for 221] but that partnership for the last wicket (97 between Adam Voges and Josh Hazlewood) took it away from us,” he explained.

“Marlon Samuels and young Dowrich batted really well but that hour before and after the tea break is where we lost the game.”

Ramdin also batted away suggestions that West Indies should have bowled first.

“We decided once we won the toss we were going to bat. That was no excuse, we batted poorly. Our shot selection wasn’t up to standard.”

West Indies face Australia in the second Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica starting next Thursday. (CMC)

has a lot of “respect and regard” for is England’s David Shepherd, who passed away in 2009, having officiated 92 Tests and 172 ODIs over his two-decade career.

“He was a great umpire and great personality,” Ravi said. “The way he conducted himself and interacted with the players, had a good relationship with the players is something fantastic. “ A keen cricketer himself, Ravi represented Madras Universities and played in the senior division league in Chennai for many years. Umpiring, he explains was the best way to “keep in touch” with the game. But due to such commitments, he will now need more time off from his day job as Special Assistant at the Reserve Bank of India, where he has worked since 1989.

“The bank has been kind to me so far,” he chuckles when asked if they are happy to let him take time off to go on umpiring duties. He also says his family will “have to cope” with the additional travel required as part of the 12-man elite panel. And what about his dream assignment now that he finds himself among the world’s top umpires?

“An Ashes Test match at Lord’s.” (Cricinfo)

National Senior Championships… Perry sprint king once again

– Foster upsets George

By TreisTon Joseph

After a near ending career accident, Rupert Perry stands as Guyana’s sprint king once again after winning the men’s 100 metres on Saturday on the first day of the National Senior Athletics Championships at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora. Perry, two years ago was involved in a motorcycle ac-

Carifta 1500m bronze medalist, Andrea Foster ran the race of the day to upset, three-time Carifta gold medalist Cassey George in the women’s 1500 metres final. Chontelle Hinds finished third in the event.

In the women’s 100 metres final GDF’s Shanequa Powley ran her way to 100metres glory n a time of 12.0s to finish ahead of Onika Eastman and Tirana Mitchell in that order.

Running Brave ran away with the women’s 400 metres final in a time of 56.1s to finish ahead of climate Avon Samuels (56.75s) and Police’s tiffany Carto (1:01s).

In the male version of the event, Devon Barrington ran away with the event in 48.46s, finishing comfortably ahead of Arinze Chance (49.9s) and Quacy Simpson (50.46s).

In the field event action, Leslain Baird and Morris

cident that saw the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) sprinter athlete havinga knee injury that could have ended his career.

Yet two years later, Perry clocked 10.21s to win the men’s 100m ahead of Kevin Abbensetts (10.30s) and club mate Davin Fraser who clocked 10.41s.

The men’s 1500 metres also proved to be a thrilling race as Running Brave’s Cleveland Thomas held off Ornesto Thomas and Kevin Bailey to win the event.

Thomas clocked 4:02s to win the event ahead of O Thomas who finished second and Bailey, third.

Natricia Hooper of

Gibson were the standout performers. Baird threw 58.31m to win the men’s javelin while Gibson leapt an outstanding 6.77m to win in the men’s long jump.

The championships will continue today with the 200m, 800m, 3000m and the 5000m events. Action starts at noon.

Hamilton takes Canada pole position ahead of Nico Rosberg

Lewis Hamilton won a private fight for pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix with team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Hamilton put a messy final practice behind him, in which he was slowest of all, to take his sixth pole in seven races this year by 0.309 seconds.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was third as team-mate Sebastian Vettel was only 16th following a hybrid system failure.

It was a powerful statement from Hamilton after losing out on victory so cruelly in the last race in Monaco.

Hamilton leads Rosberg by 10 points in the drivers’ championship standings ahead of Sunday’s race at 19:00 BST.

A strategy error from his Mercedes team in the closing stages in Monaco dropped him from a dominant lead to third at the flag, and Hamilton has looked uncomfortable out on track in Canada.

Although fastest in both practice sessions on Friday, Hamilton also made several errors, including a crash in torrential rain.

The world champion also failed to set a representative lap time in final practice on Saturday morning after struggling to generate tyre temperature on both types

of tyre.

Djokovic beats Murray to reach final of French Open

Novak Djokovic saw off a thrilling fightback from Andy Murray to win their French Open semi-final in five sets.

The world number one resumed leading by two sets to one and with the match 3-3 in the fourth after a storm had halted play on Friday evening.

Murray took the fourth set on Saturday’s resumption but Djokovic came through 6-3 6-3 5-7 5-7 6-1.

The 28-year-old Serb will face Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in the final on Sunday.

Djokovic has now won 28 matches in a row, and another victory would make him only the eighth man to complete the set of all four Grand Slam titles.

His hopes were threatened for the first time on Friday evening as Murray launched a stirring comeback, and the top seed looked in real danger when the Briton grabbed the fourth set on Saturday.

“I’m very glad that I managed to finish this match as a winner,” said Djokovic.

“I was hoping I can do it before, but I don’t think I have done too much wrong, even today in the fourth. He just came up with some great shots, great points.”

Murray said: “Last night before we came off the crowd were really into it and it was a good atmosphere. I was obviously motivated to come out today and try to turn the match around.

“I played a loose game on

my serve the first game of the [final] set with the new balls. I missed I think three balls long in that game.

“Then I think Novak relaxed a little bit after that and he hit the ball extremely accurate.”

Both men had appeared nerveless as just one point went against serve in Saturday’s opening four games, but it was Djokovic who faltered first at 5-5 amid some brilliant, punishing baseline rallies.

Murray’s defensive skills began to draw errors and the Scot raised his fist in triumph after sealing the vital break, before closing the set out on serve.

The crowd, enjoying an unexpected bonus ahead of the women’s final, rose to acclaim his effort against a player who had seemed invincible for much of the tournament.

Djokovic has been ruthless when it has counted during his unbeaten

run, however, finishing off nine-time champion Rafael Nadal 6-1 in the quarter-finals, and with two love sets against Murray to his name this season.

Once again, the world number one powered away in the final stages.

A half-chance passed Murray by when he netted a regulation backhand at deuce in the opening game of the decider, and a poor service game of four errors then cost him dear.

Djokovic resumed the clinical display that had seen him through the first two sets on Friday, powering one rocket of a forehand down the line before breaking again to all but secure victory.

Murray had been on a 15-match winning run on clay coming into the match but in the closing stages could do nothing to avoid an eighth successive defeat by his rival since childhood. (BBC Sport)

less rear grip on the first set especially. But fair play to Lewis and in the race is tomorrow there are still some good chances so it is not over yet.”

Valtteri Bottas’s Williams was fifth from the Lotus of Romain Grosjean. It was by far Lotus’s

Lewis Hamilton

But he put his troubles behind him in qualifying. Neck and neck with Rosberg in the first and second sessions, he put in a strong lap on his first run in final qualifying to put himself out of reach of Rosberg. Neither man improved on their second laps.

“It felt amazing,” Hamilton said. “It wasn’t the easiest of days. P3 was quite tough. I didn’t get any laps, mostly my fault but I got the set-up where I wanted it to be.

“I won my first grand prix here and to come back and finally get another pole is very special.”

Rosberg said: “I was really on a roll, it felt really good and then the end did not come together at all. I had

best grid position of the year and the team’s strong performance was underlined by team-mate Pastor Maldonado, who starts right behind the Frenchman in sixth.

Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg made it six Mercedes-powered cars in the top seven, ahead of the Renault-engined Red Bulls of Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo and the German’s team-mate Sergio Perez.

McLaren’s Jenson

Button will start the race 19th after not taking part in qualifying following a hybrid system failure in final practice.

Only Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen will start behind Button. The Dutchman qualified 12th but has a 15-place grid penalty - 10 for using a fifth engine and five for crashing with Grosjean in Monaco at the last race.

He will also have to serve a 10-second penalty at a pit stop in the race to make up the balance of the penalty.

Verstappen’s penalty promotes Button’s teammate Fernando Alonso one place to 13th on a difficult weekend for McLaren. Alonso missed nearly all of final practice because he needed an engine change and is now on his fourth and final engine, with penalties inevitable later in the season.

Vettel, crippled by a lack of power, missed out on displacing McLaren’s Fernando Alonso for a place in the second part of qualifying by just over 0.3secs.

The four-time world champion was latterly handed a five-place grid penalty and given three penalty points on his licence for overtaking under red flags in final practice.

“It is what it is,” Vettel said. “We’ll see what we can do in the race.” (BBC Sport)

FA chief not interested in hosting 2018

and 2022 World Cups

The Football Association has no interest in hosting the 2018 or 2022 World Cups if they are taken away from respective hosts Russia and Qatar.

Swiss prosecutors are investigating the bids for the tournaments, although Fifa says there will be no rerun of the bidding process.

UK Culture Secretary John Whittingdale says England could step in as a ready-made replacement if asked.

But FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: “We are really not interested.”

Speaking to Sky News, Glenn added that the 2018 tournament “has gone to Russia in good faith”.

“They have not had a World Cup, why shouldn’t they play there? And 2022 was never going to be in Europe [under Fifa rules] so it should be outside of Europe,” he continued.

“So we support the World Cup being dispersed around the world, as the name suggests.”

In addition to the Swiss investigation, seven senior Fifa officials have been arrested among 14 indicted on corruption charges by the United States Department of Justice.

Despite subsequently being re-elected, Sepp Blatter has announced he is to quit as president of world football’s governing body.

“We are very pleased that there is going to be change at Fifa,” said Glenn.

“We will work with Uefa and Fifa to make sure there is progress. We need someone who is strong and will professionalise the set-up [as president].” (BBC Sport)

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Women’s basketball team leaves for CBC Championship

The Guyana’s women’s national basketball side departed Guyana on Saturday to participate in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships slated for June 8-12 in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The 11-member is touted as one of the best in a while with a mix of veterans as

well a youth than can help the squad be successful going forward.

President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds was optimistic of the team being able to do well along with developing as a unit.

Guyana who are in Group B of the tournament will

play their first game against host, BVI on June eighth before playing Jamaica on June ninth. Their final group match will be against Barbados on June 10th. The GABF also expressed thanks to Dr Roger Luncheon and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine who both played a role in funding the team to the BVI.

Former youth captain gives back to the game

In an act of benevolence, former national Under-19 captain Brian Sattaur recently presented brand new bats to two youngsters of the Lusignan Sports Club.

During a simple ceremony at the East Coast Demerara club, Sattaur, a pugnacious left-handed batsman, handed over the bats to Robin Williams and Gavin Budwah, both of whom represented Guyana at the youth level this year.

Williams and Budwah are both wicketkeeper/ batsman. Williams has represented Guyana at the Under-15 level, while Budwah has worn national colours at the Under-17 level.

Sattaur, who led Guyana to both the Three-day and 50-over titles in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional Under-19 tournament in Guyana last year, said he was pleased to give back to the young cricketers.

The recipients were grateful for the donation, stating they will use the piece of equipment to further enhance their game.

Zumba set for Wednesday

Genesis Fitness Express is set to stage their fourth annual Zumba workout on Wednesday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall under the theme 'Dance Out Racism'.

The workout is set for an 18:00h start and the orga-

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Scotiabank strengthens alliance with youth rugby

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

In a tangible demonstration of its commitment to youth development, Scotiabank on Saturday presented a cheque to the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) to aid the body’s youth programme, which is ongoing at the National Park rugby field.

Enthusiastic staff of the company’s Robb Street branch braved the early morning rain to present $770,000 to members of the GRFU at a simple ceremony on the periphery of the rugby field.

Relationship Officer, Karen Harris, said the entity was pleased to once again partner with the Rugby Union to create a pathway for youngsters to learn the intricacies of the contact sport.

“Scotiabank believes in giving back to the community. We believe in supporting our youths, so that they can achieve things in life, and so it’s with pleasure we always come out,” Harris mentioned.

She added, “The Rugby Union and Scotiabank we teamed up for several years and we decided to make it

an annual event, so that we can support them in helping the youths to keep them focus and help them to develop themselves, both academically and in sports. Sports can take you places and Scotiabank believes in giving a chance to youths and that’s why we’re here.”

Youth Development Officer of the Rugby Union, Troy Yhip, was on hand to receive the donation. He later explained how the funds would be utilised to further strengthen the existing youth programme.

“Through this donation, we will be launching our

GSA/Digicel Woodpecker Junior Championships… Wiltshire sisters to clash in final day showdown

– Joseph, Mekdeci could steal the show

rugby summer camp in July, from the 6th to the 10th, in the community of Buxton,” Yhip revealed.

Yhip, who is in charge of the GRFU’s Saturday Community Project at the National Park, where youngsters are edified on the basics of the sport, added that boys and girls from the Drop-in Centre and the Sophia Care Centre are currently part of the weekly programme.

According the Yhip, the programme is not about rugby only, as the youths are exposed to reading projects, educational tours and computer classes.

President of the GRFU, Peter Green, pointed out that the youth programme would have been just a blueprint had it not been for the support of Scotiabank.

“I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to Scotiabank for stepping up to the block and batting for the youths we have here today. From these youths we will have future international rugby stars and champions. We will also be able to take youths from an environment that many not be conducive to them and place them in an environment where they can be happy and enjoy childhood life playing rugby,” Green asserted.

Despite the heavy rainfall, the aspiring rugby players were not daunted, as they engaged in friendly games in the presence of Scotiabank staff.

Rugby is one of the most successful sports in Guyana, with the national senior men and women teams dominating the North American and Caribbean region over the past decade.

However, the Rugby Union has always faced an uphill task to secure funding to ensure national teams compete overseas, hence the significance of Scotiabank’s support for the youth programme.

The remaining matches in the Woodpecker Products Junior National Squash Championships will take place today at the Georgetown Club, where several exciting matches will determine the winners of each age category.

The tournament,

which was initially supposed to be concluded last Sunday, was postponed due to flooding in the city, but is finally set to reach its climax with several key encounters and exciting matches expected to bring down the curtain on the competition hosted by the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in collaboration with its corporate sponsor Digicel.

The youngest of the Wiltshire siblings, Shomari, will aim to continue his unbeaten run to take both the Under-13 and 15 categories.

Nyron Joseph is set to play Ben Mekdeci in what is expected to be a high octane encounter between two of the more rounded juniors currently on the local circuit, in a decisive under -17 game.

Meanwhile in what is expected to be the feature final match, two of the most experienced juniors in the Wiltshire sisters, Akeila and Larissa will battle for top honors.

The shot selection and composure of the older Akeila may give her a competitive edge, however with notable agility and athleticism the younger Larissa should

not be deemed as an underdog.

Both unbeaten during this tournament, the match will be an important one as the athletes prepare for the Junior Caribbean Amateur Squash Association (CASA) tournament in July.

Under-13 girls favorite Makeda Harding is set to play Abosaide Cadogan and Maya Collins while the improving Rebecca

Low plays her last game against Sarah Lewis. Brothers Anthony and Daniel Islam are also expected to produce an exciting match as the two developing players, who have shown impressive fight in their losses, meet to salvage some pride. The first match is expected to begin at 10:00h.

GFSCA upcoming softball tournament... Petama Enterprise, Motor Trend onboard as major sponsors

Petama Enterprise of 16 Delph Street, Campbellville, and Motor Trend Auto Sales, Spares and Repairs of Old Road, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, are the newest sponsors of the next Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) organised softball tournament, set to bowl off on June 28.

The competition was officially launched on Friday evening at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, Queenstown, where pertinent information on the format was made public.

Like all GFSCA promoted tournament, it will be played in three categories, namely Male and Female Open and Male Masters. For the Male Masters, players born 1970 or before are eligible to play. However, all

Master Teams can include a maximum of four players born 1971 or 1972 in their squad of 15 members.

Teams from across the country are invited to participate. The Essequibo zones will be handled by Khalid Baksh, who can be contacted on 618-1905, while the Berbice and Demerara zones will be coordinated by GFSCA Chief Organiser, Wayne Jones, who can be reached on 650-1790 or 685-6908.

The winning prize for the Male Open and Male Masters is $100,000 and trophy each, while the runner-up in both categories is assured of $25,000 and a trophy. In the female segment, the champion team will receive $50,000 and a trophy, with the losing finalist pocketing $20,000, plus a trophy.

fee of $15,000, while the female teams will be admitted free.

Petama Enterprise is the distributor for KYB Shocks, NPW Water Pump, Toyo Bearing, FIC Clutch and Brakes product. Petama Enterprise Managing Director Petamber Maharaj and Motor Trend Managing Director Jailall Deodass are very enthusiastic about sponsoring the tournament.

West Front Road...

However, the second half spelled danger as West Front Road ran an all out blitz on the defence of Manchester with Randolph Wagner scoring the half’s first goal in the 20th followed by a double from Darren Benjamin in the 23rd and 24th minutes before Michael Pedro drilled the nail in the coffin with a goal in the 27th minute to end the onslaught.

Game three of the night was a one sided show as well with Unruly Gang hammering West Side Ballers 4-nil to continue their progression in the three-day tournament.

Delroy Ferdinand led the way with a double in the sixth and ninth minutes while Kevin Joseph and Lee DePollitter scored in the 13th and 22nd minutes respectively.

The first game of the evening, saw North Ruimveldt outdueling Wisroc for a 4-1 win as Rickford Jones 9fourth and seventh) and Travis Grant 916th and 19th) scored doubles to win the game.

Omeion Wills scored a consolation for the Linden based side in the 26th minute.

Globe Yard and Showstoppers needled their

Jamaal Shabazz

The squad reads: Goalkeepers Akel Clarke and Derrick Carter; Defenders Matthew Briggs, Collin Nelson, Jamaal Smith, Adrian Butters, Samuel Cox and Dwain Jacobs;

Player-of-the-Series in all categories will receive a trophy and $10,000 each.

from back page

respective opponents with Leon Richardson 22nd minute goal winning the game for Globe Yard against Amelia’s Ward Russians while Anthony Sancho’s 17th minute goal was good enough to secure a win for Showstoppers against Beterverwagting-A.

Leopold Street was able to top Nabaclis 2-1 in the fifth game of the evening despite a slow start to the game.

Nabaclis had the edge early in the game with a goal from Rickford Morrision in the opening minute of the encounter.

However, Leopold Street quickly equalised with a goal from Akeem Rajkumar in the fourth minute before Dellon Davids’ 17th minute goal sealed the deal.

In the night’s only draw of the night Melanie-B was able to overcome Festival City 2-1 on sudden death kicks after a 1-1 draw. Ryan Seals scored for Melanie in the 16th minute while Daniel Favourite was the scorer for Festival City in the 23rd minute.

The tournament will continue over the course of the weekend with the final being on Sunday at Demerara Park.

Shabazz announces...

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Midfielders Vurlon Mills, Ricky Shakes, Brandon Beresford and Christopher Nurse (Captain), Kanata Manning, Trayon Bobb, Walter Moore, Eon Alleyne and Neil Danns; and Forwards Emery Welshman, Sheldon Holder, Marcel Barrington and Daniel Wilson. The Technical Team comprises Shabazz, Assistant Coach Wayne Dover, Goalkeeping Coach Andrew Hazel, Equipment Manager Trevor Burnett, Managers Mark Xavier and Faizal Khan, Trainer Anson Ambrose, and Physiotherapists Duane Saunders and Beverley Nelson.

The Player-of-the-Match in the finals will be the recipient of a trophy and $5,000. The category finals will be played on October 11. According to the tour -

nament rules, the balls to be used by the males are the white GFSCA/Trophy Stall balls, while the females will use the yellow Floodlight balls.

The Petama Enterprise/ Motor Trend softball competition will serve as

a build-up for the fifth GFSCA International Softball Tournament, dubbed “Guyana Softball Cup 5”, which will be held on October 30 to November 1. The male teams are required to pay an entrance

Apart from the two main sponsors, the competition has also received backing from Trophy Stall, Ariel Enterprise, Mike’s Pharmacy, Romeo Oil Seal, Rohan Auto Spares, Ramchand Auto Spares and Gain Mart, the producer of Powerline Battery Acid and Powerline Battery Waters.

Barcelona claims 3rd Champions League title

Golden Jaguars v St Vincent, World Cup Qualifier...

Shabazz announces 21-man travelling squad

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz on Saturday announced the 21-man squad that will travel on Monday to St Vincent and the Grenadines for their ‘away’ game in the CONCACAF Russia 2018 World Cup Qualifier. The Golden Jaguars will face the ‘Vincy Heat’ at the Arnos Vale Stadium from 15:30h on Wednesday to will kick off their Russia 2018 World Cup aspiration. On June 14, the Jaguars will play the return leg of

the home and away formatted qualifier at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

In a change to previous qualification tournaments, CONCACAF decided that the first three rounds will be played as knockout rounds, with both the fourth round and the final round (referred to as ‘The Hexagonal’) played as group stages.

Thirty-eight (38) players were called by Shabazz, and according to Golden Jaguars coach, coming up with the final squad to travel for the first leg, was a difficult task. Shabazz added that each player showed commitment and worked hard for the right to be selected.

Meanwhile, the Head Coach pointed out that midfield maestro Clive Nobrega, who had picked up a red card in Guyana’s 0-1 international friendly lost to Suriname in Paramaribo last month will miss the first leg of the qualifier due to the infrac

tion.

TreisTon Joseph

By

Sparta Boss and West Front Road-Goal is Money were the pick of the teams on the first night on action in the Nationwide Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Tournament,

ed Manchester Boys 6-nil as well

Sparta Boss was pure class in their attack on the defence of Patentia with Sheldon Shepherd leading the way with a double that got the ball rolling in the sixth and eight min-

Meanwhile West Front Road-Goal is Money in their matched steamrolled through Manchester, scoring four of their goals in the second half.

played on Friday evening at Pouderoyen.

Sparta Boss toppled Patentia Street Ballers 6-0 while West Front Road rout-

utes. Jerome Richardson scored in the 10th while Devon Millington, Roberto Osbourne and Dennis Edwards scored in the 16th, 19th and 20th minutes respectively to complete the dominant performance.

Michael Oie opened the scoring with a double in the second and fifth minutes to end a tough first half.