Guyana Times Daily

U.S. LEAD Project still in limbo

Canadian specialists to upgrade cardiac interventions

Ateam of cardiologists, headed by Professor Debra Isaacs, Director of Cardiac transplant of the Calgary University is scheduled to arrive in Guyana today.

The five-member team will focus on paediatric cardiac surgeries, and will be offering the capacity needed to conduct these surgeries locally. They will be looking at means of upgrading cardiac interventions, primarily in babies.

This group has over the past two years worked with the Georgetown Public

Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to establish the Guyana Paediatric Cardiology Steering Committee (GPCSC) which is solely responsible for the vetting of cardiac patients for further intervention.

Key members from the committee such as Paediatric Cardiologist Dr Frank Dicke of the Alberta Children’s hospital and Dr Isaacs, will be working to establish a cardiac programme in Guyana that will allow these surgeries to be conducted locally.

The committee has been

formed to oversee the development and ongoing management of accessible and modern paediatric cardiology at the GPHC, for the benefit of Guyanese children.

The clinic will include focus on education of paediatricians and nurses, provision of a database/ electronic medical records and evidence-based plans for monitoring and follow-up for paediatric patients with heart diseases.

Minister Ramsaran noted that this clinic should be up and running later in the year.

Earlier in the year, another team from the said university was in Guyana, and conducted a series of continuing medical education programmes on chronic kidney disease/transplant services in Guyana. They also met with Government officials on that aspect of medical health.

Guyana has thus far benefited tremendously from strategic partnerships, not only from the Calgary University, but several such universities and organisations.

Chronic kidney disease to receive greater attention

Heath Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said the Ministry will be embarking on several awareness programmes to increase awareness of chronic kidney disease.

The Ministry will be engaging non-governmental organisations, private providers and other institutions to take practical measures to promote awareness and protect

courage more healthful eating by using less salt, less sugar and less fat and be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day. I encourage you to cultivate active health seeking behaviours, that is, get to know your nearest health centre, join the clinic and have regular medical checkups.”

Guyana joined the international community in observing World Kidney Day on Thursday, March 13, under the theme “Chronic Kidney Disease and Aging”. World Kidney Day is celebrated every year across the globe and focuses primarily on raising awareness among common people and to reinforce that kidney diseases are preventable and curable.

In Guyana, there are incidence of chronic kidney disease among patients suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and other non-communicable diseases. This con-

against the illness

According to the Minister, in his World Kidney Day message, a strategic partnership has been developed with international universities and hospitals in a bid to tackle the disease.

“Just recent, a team of medical experts from the University of Calgary visited Guyana and engaged our local health professionals in a number of Continuous Medical Education (CME) sessions in the area of chronic kidney disease.

Such strategic relationships have not only allowed us to bring teams to give clinical care but to bring sustainability through training. We will continue to bring such initiative.”

Dr Ramsaran said as the Ministry strives to improve specialist care, the citizenry must know that healthy living comes from proper diet and exercise.

“In taking the first step to prevent chronic kidney disease, let’s pledge to en-

dition damages a person’s kidneys and decreases one’s ability to a live a healthy life.

The kidneys perform very varied and complex functions which are essential to preserve one’s health. Consequently, chronic kidney disease can in itself lead to high blood pressure, anaemia (low blood count), weak bones and poor nutritional health, among others. However, early detection and treatment can control the progress of chronic kidney disease.

When chronic kidney disease progresses, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, and may require dialysis or kidney transplant. Both are expensive and burdensome for the patients, caregivers and health budget.

There are two types of dialysis: haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Haemodialysis now dominates the public and private health sector. The Health Ministry intends to explore the option of peritoneal dialysis soon.

U.S. LEAD Project still in limbo

By Michael younge

Government and the U.S. Embassy are yet to meet to discuss concerns which the ruling administration has raised about the design and implementation of the controversial US$300 million Leadership Education and Democracy (LEAD) Project.

In fact, several meetings set for this month were cancelled because of the unavailability of either party to meet and iron out their concerns.

Speaking with this publication during an invited comment, Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Texiera, who is currently overseas, confirmed that no progress was made since the Government and U.S. agreed to meet.

She said U.S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt was out of the jurisdiction during a critical time when talks could have been held.

“Unfortunate circumstances that led to postponement of the meetings,” she contended.

Being implemented

Sources close to the Office of the President have confirmed that intelligence is being gathered on components of the project which the Government believes are still being implemented across the country before any further pronouncement is made, or meeting is set.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader David Granger has expressed disappointment that no progress has been made on the stalled implementation of the U.S. LEAD Project.

He said while the Opposition was not a key party to the discussions on the way forward, it remains supportive of the thrust of the LEAD Project and the role it could play in strengthening the local government system through enhanced public education.

The Opposition has also denied being part of meetings with the U.S. Embassy officials here to discuss components of the project.

“We have had no meetings with the U.S. Embassy or the IRI [International Republican Institute],” Granger said, dismissing as false any notion that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) was participating in the implementation of the halted project.

As a matter of fact, Granger claimed

that the since the Government’s decision to re-engage the U.S. Embassy, the APNU has not benefited from any updated information on the way forward as far as the project is concerned.

“I want to make it clear too that nothing is scheduled for the future,” Granger said when asked if the APNU was expected to meet the U.S. Embassy anytime soon on the project.

He said APNU wants a speedy resolution to the conflict between the Government and Opposition.

Last year, the Government rejected the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) project.

At the time, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon had explained that the proposal did not reflect the input of the Government of Guyana. Both the project and design were rejected.

Civic engagement

“The project that habitually and conventionally is an engagement between Guyana and its development partner USAID, this one in 2012 departed from the convention.

"Firstly, we were presented with an agreement to sign, over which we had zero contribution.

"Secondly, when we officially got the design, there was considerable objection, as far as the administration was concerned,” Dr Luncheon explained at the time.

The project was being implemented, according to the IRI, with the primary objective of supporting Guyanese stakeholders’ effort to promote effective and responsive democratic institutions. It claims that the project is designed to strengthen political and consensusbuilding processes and skills through programme components.

Further, the IRI believes that the project will, firstly, in a non-partisan manner, work jointly with all political parties in enhancing the functioning of the National Assembly as an effective, representative deliberative body.

However, Dr Luncheon has in the past reiterated government’s position that genuine engagement on the way forward cannot be with government negotiating under duress.

He has expressed the view that, if in the exchange, there is indeed across the table proposal and discussion in a mature bilateral spirit, then there is no reason the negotiation would not end in bilateral agreement.

The USAID project was not approved by Cabinet and this was formally indicated to the relevant authorities, but unconfirmed reports later indicated that USAID project activities were being implemented, despite the embassy being in receipt of the formal correspondence from Cabinet voicing its disapproval.

Sunday Times Editor: Tajeram Mohabir

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

Suicide on suicide?

It would appear that the department in the Health Ministry that had been tasked with the responsibility for tackling the scourge of suicide in the country has itself committed suicide. While Guyana always had a very high rate of suicide, after some sensitisation and studies on the issue at the turn of the century showed conclusively that Guyana had a consistent rate of around 200 (or 25 per 100,000) self inflicted deaths annually, the Health Ministry gradually became involved. A preponderant number of those persons were males from the rural, Indian-Guyanese communities.

A National Suicide Prevention Strategy was drafted in 2001 and several “counselling centres” were launched in Region Six. By 2007, the National Committee for Suicide Prevention was formed. Two years later, the Health Ministry in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) hosted a two-day workshop on the “Prevention and Control of Suicide Behaviour” in Georgetown. It included individuals from Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname that were working on the problem in their countries, which had similar demographics.

The then Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy was very candid. He pointed out that even though suicide was accepted as an urgent public health issue in the mental health area, there was no significant budgetary support both domestically and from the international agencies such as PAHO. He pointed out that over the past few years there had been “a string of workshops” and the time had come for less talk and more action towards a solution.

After his prompting, for the first time, a programme that involved the community – the “Gatekeepers Programme” –was launched. The Gatekeepers Programme broadened the suicide prevention effort beyond the counselling centres which presumed the potential victim would reach out and seek help. Individuals in the community were to be trained by qualified Health Ministry personnel as “gatekeepers” who could recognise signs of individuals contemplating ending their lives. The “Gatekeepers” would be known in the community.

Studies have shown that once potential suicide victims have been dissuaded away from the act, most of them do not attempt to repeat it. The “secret” of dealing with suicidal behaviour then, is to have the institutional capacity to counsel those that may be contemplating taking their lives, to desist. Statistics in the immediate years following the introduction of the programmes suggest that they may be having a salutary effect. In the last few years, however, the intervention programmes appeared to have died on the vine.

As we wrote last December, we have not heard anything from the National Committee on Suicide Prevention for years and wonder if it is still in existence. While there was news of another counselling centre being opened in Region Six last year, there has been no sustained programme to keep the others going or to inform the communities of their existence.

Reacting to the apparent abandonment of the Health Ministry's responsibilities towards the mental health issue of suicide, a plethora of private initiatives have recently sprung up in the wake of the rate, now accepted as one of the highest in the world. The latest one is a symposium that will be organised by the Indian Arrival Committee, which is salutary, since their constituents are than 75 per cent of the victims.

While these private initiatives are very welcome, they cannot substitute for concerted action by the Health Ministry: a national problem demands a national response. Last September, around the annual World Suicide Prevention Day, the major Opposition party suggested that suicide prevention should be higher on the agenda of health priorities in Guyana. We suggested then that the bi-partisan Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services convene an urgent meeting to craft proposals on how to fund and extend the Gatekeepers Programme.

But they only flattered to deceive and quickly returned to their war of attrition against the Government. The Health Ministry must rouse itself to act.

Potential pilots?

These beaming youngsters from the Blessed Children Playschool and Day Care of Enmore North, East Coast Demerara, on Friday paid a visit to the Ogle International Airport, where they were given a tour of the facility. Also in photo are teachers of the school and officials of Ogle International Airport

The denial by APNU, AFC resulted from the solidarity of sugar workers, stakeholders

Dear Editor

Now that the people have seen, heard and reacted to the ludicrous proposal of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) to close down the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and replace sugar with tilapia, these political parties have backed-off their proposal.

I would be relieved because closing down sugar would be a colossal mistake for Guyana. But I am worried because their denials are only smokescreens to hide the true intent of AFC and APNU.

The denial only resulted from the solidarity of sugar workers and other stakeholders. AFC and APNU made an about-turn because they fear the wrath of the people. But people will not forget that APNU and AFC hold close to their bosom a Guyana without sugar in the future.

They exposed their intent to close or reduce the sugar industry if given a chance to govern Guyana and are now stunned by the swiftness of the people’s response in rejecting their proposal to close the industry.

With nowhere to hide, both parties now are scrambling to find a way to extricate themselves from a position that is indefensible, which is insulting to people’s intelligence and which will set Guyana once again on the road to poverty, the only road APNU knows.

The 20,000 people that work with GuySuCo in one way or another and their families were threatened

and they made their voices heard. The denial of both APNU and AFC that they ever made a proposal to close the industry was motivated by the immediate rejection by people across the country.

My rejection of their proposal is not only my position as the Minister of Agriculture, it is my genuine belief. It is also a reflection of how sugar workers and their families feel and it is a reflection of how most people in Guyana feel.

Dastardly proposal

Both the AFC and APNU discovered the truth and now insult people’s intelligence by denying they made the dastardly proposal to close down GuySuCo.

The problem is that Anthony Vieira previously in a long letter that was prominently carried in the newspapers earlier had detailed the proposal to use the cane fields to cultivate tilapia. He had used figures to show that tilapia would be more profitable than sugar.

He was wrong on the figures and he was wrong to propose that tilapia replace sugar. Vieira repeated his position at an APNU media conference of APNU. He was presented by Joe Harmon at the conference as one of the experts in the agriculture cluster of APNU. Vieira referred the media to his website and to his position on sugar.

APNU can change their minds about the closure of sugar and replacement with tilapia. This is their right. But the truth is they did sig-

nal their intention to close the sugar industry. They made an argument that tilapia is more profitable than sugar. It was stated and it was a written proposal by Vieira.

He referred to his proposal at an official APNU media conference and no one told the media then that that was Vieira’s personal view. He was presenting APNU’s position on agriculture.

The media across Guyana heard Khemraj Ramjattan state very clearly that the AFC supports the position of APNU to close down GuySuCo. In supporting APNU’s position, Ramjattan stated that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) will not listen to a sound proposal because Cabinet Members are too “hard ears”.

The AFC’s denial now is only as a result of the backlash from sugar workers and their families and people across Guyana. It is one thing to find out you are wrong and admit it, but to lie to people and say you never proposed or say you never supported the closure of the sugar industry is not only insulting them, but it demonstrates total disregard for their welfare.

AFC in particular betrayed the sugar workers and their families and now are trying to rescue themselves from the wrath of the very people that claim they care about.

I do not have to convince anyone that APNU and AFC stood in unity to call for the closure of the sugar industry

and replace it with tilapia. The people of Guyana know the truth. Their predisposition and inclination to misrepresent facts and misinform people is legendary. People in Guyana and elsewhere expect that the AFC and APNU would knowingly twist the facts and misrepresent them to suit their callous intentions. For instance, APNU now states that the PPP/C Government should have given the Skeldon Sugar Factory construction contract to either a Brazilian or Indian company.

The PPP/C is well aware that there are credible Indian and Brazilian companies that would have been good candidates for the construction of the factory. But it is not up to Government to select any company just because we know they can do the job.

The construction project was advertised in a public tender, as are all our construction works, in accordance with the laws and regulations of Guyana. We are obligated to tender for any construction work, and in the case of this factory, we strictly followed the laws. In that tender, there was no Brazilian company that tendered. Therefore, APNU’s assertion that the construction should have been awarded to a Brazilian company would have been contrary to the law.

We could not then nor now award a contract to a handpicked company, particularly since the company did not even tender.

PPP/C commends rice farmers for dedication to industry

Dear Editor

The People’s Progressive Party/C (PPP/C) would like to recognise and commend the valiant efforts over the years of the Government and rice farmers across the country for returning the industry to respectability and profitability.

These efforts culminated in Guyana recording its highest figure in history when rice production surpassed target tons in 2013. This could not have been achieved without the enabling environment created by the Government since taking office in 1992 and the dedication and hard-work of the thousands of rice farmers who have shown confidence in the industry.

It must be recalled that rice was always a priority of the Administration even before Independence. The emphasis was and continues to be on the welfare of farmers and infrastructural development.

Further, the PPP/C would like to remind of how rice and those involved in its production were generally de-emphasised by the People’s National Congress (PNC) Administration so much so that many farmers were forced to abandon their lands and either migrated or sought alternative means to eke out their livelihoods.

In addition, many then were left at the mercy of financial lending institutions and were forced into bankruptcy driven by extremely and unimaginably high interest rates.

Thousands of acres of arable lands were forced out of cultivation as a result of the harsh policies and uncaring attitude of the PNC Administration. These situations not only resulted in farmers being demoralised with many losing their live-

lihoods, but precipitated the collapse of the infrastructure which is crucial to rice production and development.

With its working − class ideology, the PPP/C in 1992 embarked on its mission to rebuild Guyana. The party remained steadfast to this challenging endeavour having inherited a bankrupt nation, and today the positive transformation of the nation, especially the rice industry, continues to vindicate the PPP/C-led Government’s developmental thrust and policies.

The enabling environment created through the financial sector not only resulted in a vast reduction of interest rates, but provided mechanisms through which farmers were empowered and their confidence returned.

Commitment

This renewed enthusiasm of the farmers and the commitment of the PPP/C Government to rehabilitate and install new infrastructure across the rice – farming areas, have been the catalyst for the unprecedented development seen in the industry. This has served to return the sense of pride and respectability which were taken away from rice farmers during the previous administration.

This sustained development which has seen new factories, thousands of acres of new lands being cultivated, sustenance of traditional markets and new markets (Venezuela) also the Haiti market requires 100,000 metric tons of rice, negotiation on ongoing.

The Government and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) will be engaging Belize, Guatemala and Brazil in purchas-

ing rice from Guyana. The Agriculture Minister will be leaving shortly to Latin America to pursue markets in that region. We are hopeful that the situation in Venezuela becomes normal so exports to that country can commence.

Improved quality through a variety of value added products, have resulted in tremendous benefits to all. Being pivotal to the robust and a continuous growing economy, rice has now taken its rightful place in being a major contributor to the country’s gross domestic product.

Today, as a result of these efforts, Guyana’s rice product has become exemplary. Domestic and international consumers can have a variety of choices of a high quality rice product. The rice industry’s strong showing over the years has also tremendously improved the lives of farmers, their families, workers and the communities at large.

The support mechanisms provided by the Government through the creation of the enabling financial environment and scientific research are demonstrative of the PPP/C-led Government’s unflinching commitment to development of agriculture, in this case the rice industry. It is also indicative of the importance our party and the Government it leads have attached to the development of the rice industry.

Once again, our party commends the efforts of the committed and dedicated rice farmers and the Government for not only resuscitating the industry, but also ensuring that it continues along a path of development and modernisation.

Public Relations Unit

PPP/C Freedom House

The denial by APNU, AFC resulted...

There was a bid from an Indian company. But that bid was higher than the one from the Chinese company. Had we awarded the contract to the Indian company, we would have been accused by these same individuals of favouring that company.

People should know that the bids were evaluated by Booker-Tate experts and the recommendation for the Chinese company, which had the lowest price, was based on a technical evaluation that found the company had the technical qualifications for the award.

The PPP/C is bound to act in accordance with the law. APNU and AFC find any argument they can to misrepresent the truth and in this case APNU is dead wrong again. But this is another smokescreen to fool the Guyanese people. People are too intelligent for the

falsehoods and bogus positions of APNU and AFC.

The proposal to close down GuySuCo is a true reflection of their intentions, even if they now deny that they made such a proposal.

APNU’s main partner, the PNC, has a history of wanting to close the sugar industry.

Booker-Tate was hired to manage the industry in 1989, with a mandate to prepare it for privatisation and for the closing of the Demerara sugar estates. Had the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) won the elections in 1992, the Demerara sugar estates would not be operating today.

Throughout the 1990s, on several occasions, Members of Parliament from the PNCR, called for the closure of these estates. The present call to end sugar and replace

Many AFC members have resigned because of misappropriationmismanagement, of party funds

Dear Editor, I have never ceased to wonder at the tenacity of the leaders of the Alliance For Change (AFC) to fabricate and peddle lies to the public with the hope of getting through to a few of them. They are of the opinion that if you peddle a lie long enough then not only will people believe those lies, but you yourself will make those lies indelible in your psyche.

Leader of the AFC Khemraj Ramjattan once again was able to get away from the real issues at hand. I made it clear that I moved that motion in support of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Amendment Bill simply because I put my country first.

This Bill is too vital to play politics with. If members of the Opposition take some time to reflect on our National Pledge, they will understand where I was coming from.

But many persons cannot afford to think and act independently. I have done that. Is that a crime if I can show my blinded leaders the way forward? But alas those who are blinded by the greed for power cannot see the light!

The very first impression that came to my mind upon reading an article headlined, “Haseef Yusuf is a rogue AFC Councillor – Ramjattan”, was ‘look who’s talking!’ Does this man have the moral standing to condemn anyone who has taken such a position?

Is this man suffering from amnesia? How can he not recall that when he was kicked out of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), he clung to the Member of Parliament (MP) position for dear life! He cannot afford to lose the status, the money and the duty free perks!

I now want to address once again the lies in the article. I was never officially

it with tilapia is in the same vein.

The AFC recklessly supported APNU’s proposal. When I heard the proposal, I specifically called on Ramjattan to come out and either reject APNU’s proposal or state his support for that proposal. In less than 24 hours after my call, Ramjattan stated clearly that the AFC was in total support of APNU’s position on sugar.

Vieira’s position now that he never called for the closure of sugar and Moses Nagamootto’s denial that the AFC supported such a call are reprehensible. The better option for APNU and AFC would have been that on reflection the proposal to replace sugar with tilapia was a mistake.

Sincerely

Dr Leslie Ramsammy Agriculture Minister

expelled from the AFC, nor do I care. But he keeps saying publicly that I have failed to pay my subscriptions in years.

I had stated emphatically before that I paid my subscriptions up to 2012, or else I could not have attended the AFC Conference which was held in that same year. Then General Secretary Sixtus Edwards can vouch for this.

Furthermore, I have valid reasons for not paying subscriptions for 2013. At the AFC Conference in 2012, I presented a motion with regard to accountability within the party (this was after the issue with Dr Veersammy Ramayya).

Inter alia, I said that party groups should have bank accounts and all monies collected by way of fundraising and donations should be properly accounted for and deposited into a bank account.

Accountability

This motion was unanimously passed. Everyone agreed, including Ramjattan. Until now no such accounts have been opened in Berbice! How can I even pay a dollar to this party when there is a total lack of accountability?

Many top AFC members have since resigned because of this mismanagement and fraudulent misappropriation of party’s funds. These people want the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) in order to stop corruption, but are unwilling to establish accountability within their own political organisation.

The PPP/C Government is not against the establishment of such a commission, but the Opposition wants to behave as though they are in Government.

They must have all the powers. I have written exhaustively on the theft and misappropriation funds, but how can the leaders put sys-

tems in place when they themselves are guilty?

The AFC Constitution has provisions for the appointment of an auditor and audited statements. These have never been complied with. At the 2012 Conference, inaccurate and unaudited statements were foisted on the members, many of them having no clue as to what was going on.

Yet these AFC leaders are adamant about the PPC when they themselves within the AFC can procure without proper accountability. This is hypocrisy and shamelessness.

As for being a friend of the Attorney General Anil Nandlall, let me say this. This gentleman is one of the finest legal minds this country has ever produced. He is a statesman par excellence.

However, until this moment, I have never spoken to this gentleman or met him personally, but I will definitely be honoured to be his friend! Moreover, I have never sought any personal favour from any member of the PPP/C Government or the party, nor have I personally received any benefits from them.

I am a patriot who wants the economic prosperity of this nation to continue. I do not want the ‘dark age’ to return and I will never be a ‘chamar’ or a ‘namak haram’. People like Ramjattan will never be able to comprehend what it means to be a patriot!

Lastly, Ramjattan should start vigorously disposing of the garbage in the AFC, but I guess that means disposing of himself with that garbage as well! Ramjattan, next time get your facts straight before opening your mouth!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf AFC Councillor

Page Foundation

Anu Dev

"Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!"

Chief Sitting Bull

This year, for the first year ever in all my 18 years, I won’t be home to celebrate Phagwah with my family. So far I’ve been lucky enough to be able to fly home for my birthday, Diwali and our yearly pooja. But this time, med school is in full swing and there’s really no chance of flying home for the Phagwah weekend. So I guess I’ll have to experience a Trinidadian Phagwah this year. And I’ll probably try to make at least some GulabJamoon to have a few sweets for the Phagwah weekend.

So I can only imagine that things in Guyana will go on as usual with the females of the home busy in the morning, cooking all types of traditional Holi sweets like Gujiya, Gulgula, RasMilai, GulabJamoon and Thandai so that everyone will be free to go out and play Phagwah.

Phagwah commemorates the beginning of Spring, the triumph of good over evil and

Holi Re!

a time for new beginnings for everyone. It’s a story set many eons ago among a people called “Asuras” – traditionally opposed to the gods but incorrectly called ‘demons”. A young Asura prince named Prahalad – had the courage to stand up to his own father, King Hiranyakashipu who had started to challenge the gods. Because of a boon he received form Lord Bramha, he was

Vishnu. And his prayers didn’t go in vain. The king had his minions try every which way to kill his obstinate son but to no avail: the boy was protected by Lord Vishnu. This was even when his Aunt Holika, immune to fire, tried to burn him in a pyre.

Finally, Hiranyakashipu scornfully challenged Prahalad to prove that Lord Vishnu was indeed in eve-

nearly invincible and so filled with arrogance and pride. He demanded he be worshipped by his subjects.

To paraphrase Albus Dumbledore, “It takes great courage to stand up to our enemies but it takes even greater courage to stand up to our family (friends)”. And Prahalad had that courage. No matter how many times his father and teachers tried to convince him otherwise, Prahalad always kept his belief in Lord

rything and everyone. Lord Vishnu appeared out of a pillar as Narsimha – half manhalf lion. Hiranyakashipu’s boon was that he couldn’t be killed by man nor animal; not by hand nor by any weapon; not in the day nor in the night; not in a house outside nor on the ground nor in the air. Lord Narsimha killed Hiranyakashipu with his claws, on his knee, on the doorstep of the palace at exactly dusk. Prahalad was crowned

King.

The lesson, of course, is that anyone can be a Prahalad by standing up to the Hiranyakashipu in their life. Life isn’t about always being a passive person who doesn’t have opinions or who doesn’t stand up for their beliefs. That’s not to say you should always pick up cudgels whenever someone steps on your toes. But you should always let them know firmly, that you’re not just someone they can take advantage of.

The story of Prahalad will be told countless times this week as schools put on Phagwah shows incorporating the story as a skit or in mandirs and in homes.

The message of Phagwah is a very strong one. Stand up for what you believe in; don’t be a carpet that everyone walks over. Always remember Prahalad, a young boy who had the strength, the courage to stand up for his beliefs. Don’t just go along to get along.

Phagwah is also the harbinger of Spring – the time of rebirth and renewal. It’s a time for joy and merriment. So everyone, go out this Monday and have a wonderful, colourful Phagwah! Holi Re! Sadly, in Trinidad, it’s not a Public Holiday. Rub some abrac for me...

Four things your parents didn’t mean to teach you

By Beth h Macy

Parents do the best they can to raise you with the tools they have. Many parents would be shocked to know that their children were little sponges, soaking up every word and action and interpreting it in their own way. Since each brain and view of the surrounding world is so different, it is no wonder therapists have a constant flow of clients.

Although many thoughts, fears, reactions and actions get imprinted upon children at an early age, it is never too late to recognise where these things come from and decide whether or not you wish to continue to hold onto them. Here are four things, out of potentially many more, that your parents inadvertently taught you!

How to swear

Fathers are especially good at “teaching” this one. Ever been around your dad in his workshop when he hit his thumb with a hammer? Or how about when he came home from work and tripped over the cat? What about your mom’s reaction when the dog pooped on the floor? Or what your mother said when your father threw the baby up in the air and played catch?

There are many everyday situations that can cause a parent to inadvertently let loose a blue streak! How do you react to surprise, pain, fear or fatigue? What swear words are your children learning?

The White Lie

Ever overhear one of your parents calling in sick to work? “Cough, cough, cough, I seem to have caught a bug from one of the children. Can’t make it in today.” You look around the house to see which one of your siblings is sick. Then you wonder if it could be you who is sick! But when your parent comes into the room, he/she seems perfectly healthy. How confusing is that? In later years, you make a note to tell your therapist about it! What are some other white lies you overheard, and how does that affect your behaviour today? Are you a master at the “mental health day” phone call to work?

Fear of (spiders, mice, lightning, etc)

Parents tend to have different parenting styles here. Your father may have run around the house after a mouse with a shotgun de-

claring, “I’ve got it!” and your mother may have picked the mouse up by its tail and thrown it out. However, do you remember the reaction to a spider in the bathtub? Which parent screamed and ran away? And how was the offending critter taken care of? Was it squashed into a piece of toilet paper and flushed down the toilet, or trapped in a cup and let go free outside? Now, look at your reaction to these critters and events. Where did it come from? Is it a carbon copy of one of your parent’s reactions, or is it the exact opposite?

How to procrastinate It’s 21:00h on a school night and your mother is putting you to bed. You mention that you haven’t finished your big craft project for the science fair and it’s due tomorrow. Your mother lectures you on leaving something so late and then runs around the house gathering materials for your science project. The two of you sit for the next two hours at the kitchen table modelling a papier-mâché volcano, complete with a baking soda eruption. You proudly carry it to school the next day and get an “A” on your science project. When do parents enable self-learning and stickto-it behaviour and when do they, from fatigue and their own need to have some quiet time and get to bed at a decent hour, inadvertently encourage procrastination? Any attention can be good attention, even if children are being scolded by their parents

There are many ways parents – and you, yourself, as a parent – model less-than-desirable behaviour. When you internalise this behaviour, you can model it yourself or model the exact opposite behaviour – or even model a behaviour that stems from your own unique interpretation of that behaviour. Ever wonder how two siblings who grew up in the same household can have two entirely different interpretations of what went on in that household?

Everyone sees the world differently, and everyone chooses how to react to that world. Even years after the original incident that formed your behaviour has taken place, you can still choose to react differently. What behaviours do you have that you can trace back to your parents? How did you choose those behaviours, and do you still choose to keep them? (http://www. suindependent.com/)

Dr Ramsammy plans meeting with disgruntled rice farmers Subvention to National Archives inadequate – Payne

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said he will be meeting with Region Two rice farmers who are disgruntled over the current prices being offered for their paddy.

The farmers were paid between $3000 to $4500 per bag of paddy the last crop but are currently being offered $3100 as the highest price.

Speaking with Guyana Times, on Friday, the Minister related that he will be meeting with the farmers soon. However, he noted that he can only talk to them and hear what they have to say.

The Minister contended that he cannot force the millers to pay the farmers more for their paddy, but he can talk and urge them to be fair.

He said the millers can offer a better price and should not blame the situation squarely on the delay of the order from Venezuela for shipment.

“There is no reason for millers to pay less than they did at the last crop,” Dr Ramsammy said. Millers paid $3000-$4500 per bag of paddy then.

The Agriculture Minister then stated that the Venezuelan market is on target and his Ministry and Private Sector representatives are currently awaiting shipping instructions.

He explained that the current situation is in many ways similar to what happened during the last crop, pointing out that there was a lengthy delay as officials had to wait for documents to be processed.

On this note, the Minister added that because Guyana sells rice at a premium price, it is difficult to get new markets.

Tricky situation

However, he noted that “We can sell more than twice the current amount” but without the same profits from traditional markets.

Meanwhile, Guyana Rice Producers Association General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj had told Guyana Times that farmers need to understand the demand and supply theory.

He contended that not many are aware that as a result of a surplus crop, a price decrease will follow.

Research conducted by this publication revealed that a farmer would earn as much as $65,000 per acre of rice, with an expenditure of $3200 on harvest.

Earlier Friday, Region Two farmers staged anoth-

er protest over the decrease in paddy prices, calling on President Donald Ramotar and Minister Ramsammy to address the situation.

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor Naith Ram said a request was made for a meeting with the President and the Minister, but there has been no response.

Rice harvesting is well underway for the first crop of 2014 and over 4000 acres of rice has already been harvested across the country.

Prominent archivist Hugh Payne is calling for an increase in Government’s subvention for the National Archives to improve the operations of the entity.

Payne made the comment during a question and answer segment of a lecture he recently delivered on “Archival sources in Guyana and their significance” to a large audience, at Moray House, Camp and Quamina streets, Georgetown.

He also supported suggestions, that in accordance with the Archival Act, a copy of all publications and, documents on Guyana should be lodged in the National Archives.

The organisational structure, which was recommended by Payne has been implemented in the Walter Rodney Archives, with the appointment of two Cuban trained archivists and, a graduate of the History Department, as national archivist. The archives is now in a position to install a catalogue, to support the digitisation of the records.

Payne is a well-known archivist, who headed the

National Archives from 1970 to 1988 and served as consultant from 1988 to 1993. He was Consultant at the Caribbean Development Bank from 1994- 2007 and Vice President of the Caribbean Archives Association (CARBICA) from 1979 to 1992, and President from 1982 to 1985.

Payne served as

National Archivist during the Burnham administration.

He spoke about the institutional strengthening, during his period, the collaboration with the University of Guyana Library and, History Department, the acquisition of microforms and, the migration of documents from the United Kingdom.

Payne informed the audience that in his attempt to establish an Oral History Department, in the National Archives, he had met with resistance from the then Information Ministry.

He said the Archives is still attempting to forge a connection with the underutilised archives, that exist, such as the ecclesiastical archives, companies, banks, Fogarty’s, Guyana Stores, the various sugar estates, the bauxite companies and, the personal archives of prominent Guyanese.

GPSCCU looks to the future

The Guyana Public Service Co-operative Credit Union (GPSCCU) held a two-day sensitisation workshop for members in Linden on Wednesday and Thursday, as part of activities to mark its 50th anniversary.

The credit union was formed on March 2, 1964 as a result of industrial action of civil servants. The 50th anniversary is being observed under the theme “Moving forward resolutely to sustainable development”.

Eyew tness Bobbing and weaving...

...on ethnic question

Henry Jeffrey is an interesting fella. He appears interested in addressing the ethnic problem in Guyana. But like most people of his ilk and disposition, he plays ducks and drakes with the concrete observations he makes and the proposals he proffers. Refreshingly, he concedes Guyana is “ethnically bifurcated”. Unlike most with a Marxist past, he doesn’t tie himself into knots about whether ethnicity is “false consciousness” or other such piffle.

Youth Director Jermain Hermanstyne said the first day of the workshop targeted members above age 35, followed by the one for young workers the next day.

into a reputable institution now worth over $2 billion.

He said over the past 50 years, the credit union, which was born out of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), has evolved

“Persons can borrow as much as $500,000. We are not just satisfied with being a credit union with just borrowing or lending, we want to use the word ‘cooperative’ in every sense. So we are going out into the regions and meeting our members to hear what are their views. We’re listening to those recommendations and will formulate and incorporate it into one document and we will decide collectively on the way forward.”

He added: “The aim of the workshop is looking at succession plans... looking at where we are now and where we would like to see the credit unions in the future. Participants are getting the opportunity to know what the credit union is about,” he noted.

Role

Participants were drawn mainly from the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC). They were educated about the history of credit unions, the role of young workers in credit unions and the need for a succession plan for continuous growth.

Other topics discussed were leadership and democracy and the workings of credit union. There were also group discussions and recommendations on how young workers can contribute to the credit union’s development.

GPSCCU Co-ordinator Vera Naughton said the two-day workshop was geared at sensitising members on the roles and functions of credit co-operatives.

“We dealt with what is a co-operative, the philosophy and the principles and laws governing co-operatives. We had very good meaningful discussions on how the credit union could better serve its members,” she said.

Naughton related that while the credit union has been conducting educational programmes over the years, it was the first time such an extensive and interactive workshop was held.

But he just doesn’t follow through with the logic of his observation. Earlier this week he complimented Belgium for accepting its “ethnically bifurcated” society. He was arguing that in Guyana, there’s no need for trade union unity because, like Belgium, our working class don’t see their interests as common.

He proposes we should accept unions going in separate directions. In Belgium, Jeffrey claims the differences are religious, while ours are “racial”. The Flemish and Waloons also speak different languages, but we won’t cavil: the principle’s the thing, isn’t it?

So in particular industries, Belgium has separate unions for the different religious groups. In Guyana therefore, following Jeffrey’s logic, we should presumably have the “African Public Service Union” and an “Indian Public Service Worker Union” and perchance a “Mixed Public Service Union”, which would hopefully represent all Douglas, Buffianas and so on. The analogous principle would hold for GAWU, CCWU! NAACIE and so on.

Jeffrey contends that such an organising principle would actually help bring working class unity in a functional manner. For instance since the African, Indian and “Mixed” Public Service Unions would presumably all have the same objective – namely extorting more money from the Government – they would then transcend their ethnic differences when it came to bargaining with the Government. Evidently, according to Jeffrey, the arrangement works in Belgium.

But we wonder why Jeffrey balks at the same arrangement when it comes to national politics? Shouldn’t there be an Indian Political Party (they could call themselves the PPP, for instance), an African Political Party (to be creative, let’s call them PNC) and a Mixed Political Party (United Force, anyone?)? After all this, is the way it’s done in Belgium, isn’t it Jeffrey? And the parties can then come together and form a coalition Government – as in Belgium, no?

And hold it!!! Why not go the whole Belgian hog since maybe it’s the totality of their arrangements that makes them successfully run their “bifurcated society” so much more effectively than us. Let’s introduce Belgian style Federalism!!!

But whoa!!! Jeffrey draws the line here. His logic is only applied when he wants to protect the TUC’s turf.

...on Legal Education

Anil Nandlall’s more than interesting: he’s an earnest fella. Some complain he’s ambitious. Well...what’s wrong about that? If more Guyanese were ambitious we wouldn’t be in the fix we are today. Some complain about his sartorial splendour. But say nothing about Basil Williams’ efforts in this area...and Basil is supposed to be just his “shadow”. A shadow should be more monochromic, no? And then some think a fella from Enmore can’t be spiffy.

Anyhow we want to have a word about this now longrunning soap opera on entry to the UWI law programme. The point we want to make is: why should Guyanese (the top 25 or any number) get a free pass into UWI. UWI’s law places are open to all UG law graduates...once they pass UWI’s entrance exam. We don’t believe Nandlall ought to be begging for Guyanese to get a squeeze in. But there’s the question of total spaces.

The solution, as Nandlall implied, is to establish our own law “finishing” school, under the auspices of the CLE.

As Bahamas did in 1998.

...on AML condemned Senior business leader Yesu Persaud emerged from his well earned retirement to condemn the Opposition’s recalcitrance on the AML/CFT Bill. Apart from bobbing and weaving, the Opposition can run, but they can’t hide.

Opposition willing to meet Ramotar on AML Bill – Harmon

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) Executive Joseph Harmon said with the work of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CTF) Special Select Committee near completion, President Donald Ramotar should engage the Opposition to iron out issues that can hinder the passage of the critical bill.

At the last sitting of the Select Committee, Chief Parliamentary Council (CPC) Cecil Dhurjon submitted the drafted amendments tabled by APNU and counter amendments made by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

During the next meeting on March 26, the nine-member committee will be securitising the Opposition amendments to the AML/CTF Act of 2009.

Harmon said the CPC has done a good job in putting the coalition’s proposal into a legal framework, fitting “nicely” into the law. As a result, he contended that there should be no other reason for the non-passage of the bill, positing that President Ramotar should engage APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC) on the way forward.

“It is time now for the President to engage with the political parties, and deal with the issues we have on the table.”

Deadlock Meanwhile, AFC is calling on the Ramotar Administration to operationalise the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), stating clearly that the Commission must be given budgetary allocation to effectively execute its duties. APNU on the other hand is demanding that the President assents to bills passed in the National Assembly, including the Local Government Bill.

Tripartite talks on the

AML Bill were last held on February 26, but the meeting ended in deadlock with AFC collaborating with APNU, calling for the Opposition bills to receive the assent of the President. The PPP/C is arguing, however, that the Local Government Bill, which was amended by the Opposition, is unconstitutional.

The ruling PPP/C had long criticised the Opposition of delaying the passage of the AML/CFT Bill of 2013, but on Friday, APNU blamed the Government.

According to Opposition Leader David Granger, parliamentary Special Select Committee Chairperson Gail Teixeira, along with her

PPP/C colleagues deliberately delayed the process.

“All of February, all of March, the Government has been pushing back meetings, the Government is taking its own sweet time and they are not in hurry... they are talking about deadline but they are not trying to bring this matter to a closure,” Granger argued.

He said APNU is anxiously awaiting the closure of this matter, but emphasised the importance of having a strengthened AML/ CFT legislation.

The Opposition Leader claimed that it was the failures of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) which caused the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) to sanction Guyana in the first place.

“APNU was the only party that called for the strengthening of the Bill; because of the Government’s behaviour over the last 14 years, its delinquency and the fact that it attracted criticisms from CFATF, we needed to have a strong FIU,” the Opposition Leader posited. On this note, he said APNU will maintain it stone wall position on the Bill.

Dhall-Belly

Satiricus was pensive. Now this doesn’t mean he had a “pen”; just that, like Winnie the Pooh, he was at his “Thoughtful Spot”. Not under a tree in the woods, however, but on his toilet doing the first of his “3S’s” – sh*t, shave and shower. He was thinking of the fate of his fellow news hack, Baddam Harass. Or as he eventually became known – Baddam “Dhall-belly” Harass.

Now Satiricus had no illusions about his job... he was paid to write and write he did. But, he wondered as he hunkered down for another push, “Didn’t old Dhall-Belly have any self respect left?” Look how he was following his master’s orders to cuss down people who the old shallot-seller was just jealous of? And not your regular ‘buse out that Guyanese people would smile about, “But the nasty, low down ones women used to do when they hauled down their underwear and beat pots in the streets,” reminisced Satiricus.

Satiricus figured that a satirical column was all well and good, but how do you justify wishing for your master’s objects of envy to die? Now look at the latest harassment Dhall-belly Harass was conducting – cussing out Ah-Neel every day of the week and twice on Sundays. What did AhNeel ever do him? Ah-Neel even went to DhallBelly’s master’s birthday bash last year at the Princess to beg pardon. No luck.

But what teed off Satiricus more than anything was that he, Ah Neel and Badam Dhall-belly were all old boys of Queen’s. Did three pieces of silver make him forget his old school tie? How could he suggest that Ah Neel was too close to his friend Cliffy? Dhall-Belly Harass knew definitely that Ah Neel (like Satiricus) went to Queen’s when it had become co-ed. “Girls! Girls! Girls!” smiled Satiricus. Not like the all-boys days when Baddam was a student and he was the biggest practitioners of “boy’s fun”.

Satiricus figured everybody had to draw a line somewhere – but Dhall-belly was just too pathetic as he became the hatchet man for his master, Mook Lall. He didn’t know his limits. He reminded Satiricus of the old dog in front of the old time gramophone, prophetically named “His Master’s Voice”.

And just at that moment, with a mighty push, Satiricus had his motion. It was even better than APNU’s last motion against Rohee in Parliament.

But it only made him think once again of what his old Queen’s alumni had become.

Engagements with Opposition on AML Bill fruitless – Dr Singh

Calls continue to be made by citizens for Government and the Opposition to find common ground so as to expedite the passage of the already overdue Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) (AML/CFT) Bill.

However, the records will show that all efforts to get the Bill passed have thus far been one-sided.

At the national stakeholder consultation at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on Tuesday, there were a few calls for the President to work with the Opposition, to resolve the issue.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh responded that the President has been doing just that, and recalled that when consensus was reached on the Bill at the Select Committee on February 9, the President called Opposition Leader David Granger the following day asking for his support to pass the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF)approved Bill.

Further, he gave a commitment to engage the Opposition and domestic stakeholders on the amendments that they were proposing to the Principal Act. He assured that if it is found that their amendments do not collide with the interest of domestic stakeholders, and do not place the country in peril with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), then his Government will fully support the enactment of the said amendments.

This phone call was followed up with a letter later that same day reiterating his assurance and commitment, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Reasonable

“I do not believe that one could reasonably ask for a more reasonable proposal than what the President put to Mr Granger… he did not throw the APNU’s amendments out of the window, he simply said that while we are addressing the legitimate concerns of people, let us not put the country in jeopardy,” Minister Singh said. He lamented that despite that reaching-out, the Government is still unable get the support of the Opposition

amendments even though they are fully aware of the consequences.

The Bill, which has its genesis from a review conducted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), was tabled in the Parliament by the Government, so as to bring the country into compliance with international standards.

Dr Singh reminded that as it stands, the contents of the Bill in question are not the subject of any controversy as they were fully supported by both Opposition parties since February 9. Minister Singh said since consensus has been reached, there is no logical reason why the country is standing on the dangerous precipice on which it currently is.

“There is no reason why a responsible parliamentarian should not say let us approve this Bill to bring Guyana out of a perilous situation even as we continue to consult with other stakeholders on the Opposition’s amendments,” he said.

The Opposition proposed amendments are to the Principal Act which was unanimously passed in the National Assembly in 2009. They were since cautioned by no less an authority than CFATF of the dangers which their amendments pose to the country.

Contentious amendment

After several alterations, one of their amendments is now seeking to empower police, customs, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and other relevant agencies to seize cash in excess of $10 million if they have reason to believe the said cash is crime proceeds.

Minister Singh explained that money laundering is not only about drug trafficking or terrorism. The legal definition of money laundering is the laundering of the proceeds of crime. The word ‘crime’ on the other hand, has an extremely broad concept in the Act.

Apart from trafficking in narcotics, crime in this case also means: fraudulent conversion, tax evasion and a number of other illegal activities. This therefore means, that any officer authorised by the powers that the Opposition’s amendments will repose in them, can stop any citizen (anywhere in the country including their homes) on suspicion of fraudulent conversion or tax evasion and seize their currency.

“A police or customs officer can stop you and say I suspect that you have been committing tax evasion, you haven’t been filing tax returns and this money is money that should have been paid in taxes, so this money is the proceeds of crime that you are laundering… these are legitimate concerns,” the Minister illustrated.

Stakeholders at the forum echoed the call for other Guyanese of all strata of society to support the Bill’s passage, but these have since fallen on deaf ears.

sunDAY, mArch 16, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

Shot Fyrish woman recounts horrifying ordeal

The family of Patricia Samaroo, the Fyrish woman who was shot dead last Saturday has expressed security fears as one of the perpetrators is still on the lam.

Two persons have been arrested and charged for the incident which left Anette Samaroo, Patricia’s sister, in critical condition at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The injured woman has since been moved from the Intensive Care Unit to Ward Five of the hospital.

Speaking to Guyana Times on her hospital bed, Samaroo recounted the horrifying ordeal.

“After me get shot, me fall down, all me know is Popcan shoot me but me na know wha he shoot me fa,” she said.

Contrary to what her daughter Elizabeth Simon, 16, had told media operatives, Samaroo said the attacker never visited their homes.

She also told reporters that she had received a threat from two individuals late last year.

“Dem say dem go come shoot me… Popcan and Kuntoo…wan bai pan Canje, dem na tell me fa wha, me go and me report to the commanda and the CID… the CID say na worry with dem that dem na go do me nothing,” she recalled. The woman could not say whether the shooting to death of her sister was a case of mistaken identity.

“ Dem bin ah go shoot ev-

erybody, all meh children bin go get dem dead, but thank God for me son, he jump and kick ah door…ah door blam and ah gun fall down,” she said, explaining that her son then grabbed hold of an iron bar and the attackers on seeing him, jumped over the verandah. She said her son then threw a chair in the direction of the men, hitting one of them, causing his gun to fell out of his hand. The gun malfunctioned after the attacker picked it up to continue his rampage.

Suspicious Samaroo disclosed that in 2004, her late husband Gary Simon was murdered by a man she referred to as “Azimolla” at Hampshire Village.

The woman said she is the main witness in the case and the attack on her and her sister is very suspicious.

“When me bin ah deh at ICU wan nurse come and ask me if me know anyone name ‘Azimolla’, me tell sha nah, and she tell me that he say let me tell you ‘hello’,” the woman stated.

Samaroo, who is in much pain, said she was told that she would have to undergo six surgeries to remove the bullet from her abdomen.

Meantime, Dereck David, 21, the son of the injured woman said he can positively identify the getaway car used in the murder.

He related that the car was a white Toyota Allion, bearing registration number PPP 6437. The car has been identified as belonging to an individual from Canje knows as “Suresh”, who operates a car rental service.

The car was rented to Antonio Singh Balrup, an ex Police Constable of Lot 15 West Reliance, East Canje, who was on Wednesday charged with the capital offence, along with Solomon Milton, 23, also called “Devon”, of Lot 20, Nigg Settlement.

Police have intensified their investigations into the matter, and have been on constant lookout for Popcan, who real name is Deodat Seecaran. He resides in Canje.

Persaud participates in Environment Ministers’ forum

Natural Resources and Environment

Robert Persaud recently led a local delegation to the 19th meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in Los Cabos, Mexico.

The forum is held biannually and is the most representative and important political gathering on environmental policies at the regional level. It seeks to garner regional and international cooperation on key environmental and sustainable development issues important to the LAC region.

This 19th meeting of the forum hosted by the Government of Mexico, engaged experts and Environment Ministers of

LAC on some key environmental and sustainable development issues of interest to Guyana.

These included sustainable consumption and production (SCP), air pollution, chemicals, hazardous wastes, and in particular, the Minamata Convention on Mercury and Climate Change.

Minister Persaud underscored the importance of the international community in supporting countries in the process of eliminating the use of mercury, particularly in the small-scale gold mining sector.

He reiterated the importance of donor institutions like the Global Environment Fund (GEF) ensuring quick and effi -

cient mobilisation of financial and other resources to support countries in this regard.

The Minister reaffirmed the increased political will at the national and regional levels to promote and accelerate the climate agenda, and particularly Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). However, he noted that international commitments in support of mitigation and adaptation to climate change have been less than forthcoming; and urged the international community to address this as a matter of urgency.

The Ministers of LAC declared and resolved to ensure improved south-south cooperation among countries of LAC with regards to technical and information exchange, and capacity building in the areas of climate change, biodiversity, atmospheric pollution, and other key areas.

The Natural Resources and Environment Minister was accompanied by Technical Officer Ndibi Schwiers and Environmental Protection Agency, Compliance and Enforcement Manager Kemraj Parsram

Professor Misir’s book for overseas launch

University of Guyana Pro-Chancellor, Professor Prem Misir will launch his new book HIV and AIDS: Knowledge and stigma in Guyana at Guyana’s consulates in the U.S., Canada and England. The publication will be launched at the Guyana Consulate in Canada and York University, Canada on March 24 and 25; the Guyana Consulate in New York and York College/ CUNNY, U.S.A. on March 27 and 28; and the Guyana High Commission in London and the London South Bank University, England on April 9 and 10.

This cross-sectional study used a purposive sample of 379 high school students from 15 urban and rural high schools in Guyana and assessed their HIV and AIDS knowledge and stigma-related attitudes, and the relationships among gender, age, religion, and race/ethnicity and HIV and AIDS knowledge.

Most of the high school students displayed an overall moderate level of HIV and AIDS knowledge. The students understood the modes of HIV transmission; they recognised the symptoms of HIV and AIDS; nearly half of them believed that a blood donor was at risk of contracting HIV; and about one-fifth of the students embraced myths

and misconceptions surrounding HIV and AIDS. There was no statistically significant difference in the knowledge scores of male and female students. Knowledge scores, nevertheless, differed significantly between the 13 to 15 and 16 to 18 age groups, and among the religious and ethnic groups.

Stigma-related attitude scores did not differ significantly for gender and age, but differed significantly for religion and ethnicity among students. The study showed fissures in HIV/AIDS knowledge and substantial stigma-related attitudes.

Limited understanding of the myths and misconceptions of HIV and AIDS demands a new focus on how HIV is not transmitted through moving beyond conventional strategies toward a social constructivist approach.

This book is essential reading for medical professionals, policymakers and educators throughout the Caribbean region.

Anna Regina Community Centre Ground explodes in colours

By IndrawattIe natram

The Anna Regina Community Centre

Ground was the scene of colourful explosions when the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha Essequibo Praant hosted its annual Phagwah Mela and cultural programme on Saturday.

The programme commenced at 15:00h with a few folk dances, moving into chowtaal singing and skits before concluding with a reflection on the festival

President of the Sabha’s Essequibo praant, Kaydar Persaud said the mela fosters a spirit of togetherness, laughter, love and brotherhood.

Persaud was happy with the turn out at the event, which was held before the actual festival.

Rainbow colours

Persons met, socialised and smeared each out with sweet smelling abeer, abarack and powder. The entire ground was “fogged up” with a rainbow of colours.

Sweet meats such as gulgula, gulab jamoon, bara, channa, poulourie and seven curry were served to the celebrants free of cost. The event was sponsored by prominent Essequibo Coast businessman Parmaul Singh.

Meanwhile, temples

ing of the Hindu festivals and is celebrated in an atmosphere of absolute equality. Every barrier is removed and celebrants are virtually lost in the pomp and splendour which holi brings.

tions, it is the rituals that give a completely new defini

tion to it.

These rituals are the reflection of the eternal spirit of Holi celebrations. The rituals remind people of the eternal

Holi is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm throughout the county of Essequibo. The wave of joy and verve fills the entire atmosphere.

The preparation of the festival also begins months before the actual celebration with housewives cleaning their homes, temples, changing curtains, buying new out-

throughout the Essequibo Coast are preparing for the burning of the Holika on the eve of Phagwah.

Chowtaal singing is organised by groups from different temples. The chowtaal groups usually set the mood for the celebration of Phagwah in the Region Two.

Phagwah is the most excit-

fits as well as stocking up their kitchens with favourite Indian recipes. The festival is waited every year with a new zeal and fervour. After all, this is the only Indian festival with lots of scope for hullabaloo and enjoyment of the hidden crazy self.

Though the festival is a completely joyous celebra-

Simply the

Children, tours, buses

Iam told that some time ago (2007?), seven children died in a bus along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. They were on a tour.

Nine or 10 years ago, whilst returning from a tour to Georgetown from Corentyne, two of the tour buses – racing, I am told – side-swiped each other, one flipping over. This happened on the return trip while the speeding buses were in West Coast Berbice. Children were badly hurt.

Last week, on February 20 (three days before the Mash jump up), another tour. Children from Cotton Tree Primary School, returning from Georgetown, narrowly escaped being burnt alive in a tour bus. On the way back, the leading bus (a 30-seater with 55 children packed in) started to smoke. The door would not open and it took long minutes for the door to be forced open. The panicking children fled the bus.

Seconds after, the bus was engulfed in flames. The sheer horror of it! Children on a tour and the bus goes up in flames. We could argue foolishly about times and dates and circumstances – we are very good at futile arguments in this nation of ours – but there are a few simple things that we can do to avoid this kind of dangerous incident from happening again.

measures have been put in place? The Ministry could do this without fuss.

Second, the vehicles and drivers must be vetted with the help of the Guyana Police Force. One week before the tour, the bus operators must present a special safety inspection certificate endorsed by the police. The buses must be clean and equipped with first aid kits and at least one fire extinguisher.

be asked to monitor the progress of these buses that are fetching children.

Along the Skeldon-Fort Wellington route, there are police stations and outposts. The monitoring continues all the way to the tour destination and back. On the way back, at a random location, drivers will be subjected to at least one test for possible alcohol consumption.

Fourth, at least one teacher in each vehicle must be trained in first aid and emergency evacuation. In fact, every teacher-student at Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) should be given a short two-day course on first aid and emergency evacuation for every year of study.

Same for University of Guyana (UG) students in education or anyone else who happens into the teaching profession.

Holi messages and commemorate the culture and traditions that have been defined by Indian ancestors. The rituals are religiously followed every year with care and enthusiasm throughout the Essequibo Coast.

Traditional practice

Days before the actual festival begin, people start preparing for various rituals (burning of the Holika) – a traditional practice. The gathering of wooden logs at the intersection points of two roads (choraha) and the preparation of scrumptious snacks at the home, all form vital part of the Holi rituals.

At the eve of Holi, the ritual of Holika Dahan takes place. It is the burning of the effigy of the devil sister of demon King Hiranyakashyap, who tried to kill the devotee of Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakashyap’s son Prahlad. This ritual marks the beginning of holi celebrations. This also symbolises the victory of good over evil and victory of a true devotee. It is also known as Holi Bonfire.

On the day of Holi, there is no ritual of puja ceremony in the morning, as there is a lot fun during this period as persons drench each other with water while others sing Holi songs while parading through the streets on the Essequibo Coast.

First, all school tours must be planned six months ahead of the tour itself. These tours must be justified by heads of school to the Education Ministry in writing. I am not convinced that these tours (for which parents pay!) are of any educational value.

So, heads of schools must answer these questions: When is the tour scheduled? Where and how many children are to be taken? Why are they being taken to these places? What is the teacher/student ratio? What are the costs to parents and what security and safety

Third, the police must be informed of the date, time, and route of the tours. The police can then use their communication devices to monitor the time it took for a bus to go from Skeldon (say) to Fort Wellington on the West Coast of Berbice. It is not difficult to measure the time it would take to cover the distance doing the speed limit.

If the time is faster by any significant margin, then we know that the driver was speeding. He should be dragged off the road and charged with reckless endangerment of minors.

The police can make alternative arrangements to have the children return home safely.

Supervising teachers should also be penalised. But just in case, the police should

I am confident that the Health Ministry, the Guyana Fire Service, and the police would be happy to oblige. This is not penalty! This is preparedness. No whining, please.

Fifth, when something as traumatic as this happens, the Education Ministry must have counsellors immediately available to assist children to minimise the psychological impact that the incident would have had on them.

But just in case there are those out there who think these measures are draconian, let them think of the cost of NOT putting these measures in place. If I had a school-age child in Guyana, I would never permit him/ her to go on these tours. Not unless these measures are in place.

I cannot think of any caring parent or any true teacher who would object to any of this. Please let us not wait for more tragedy for us to awaken.

Latin America, Caribbean businesswomen are opportunity-driven

The new study WEGrow: Unlocking the Growth Potential of Women Entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean, finds that these entrepreneurs are opportunity-driven rather than necessity-driven, and that they mention economic independence, passion and creating jobs as their main reasons for launching their business ventures.

According to the study, 85 per cent of high-growth women entrepreneurs have the ambition to keep growing their business. These high-growth businesses belong to traditional or non-mature sectors such as food and the beverages and services, which tend to have lower rates of potential growth than sectors like software and Internet, which are preferred by high-growth men entrepreneurs.

The study commissioned by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) , member of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group and produced by Ernst & Young, analyses the profiles, challenges and needs of high-growth women entrepreneurs in nine countries in the region. Highgrowth women entrepreneurs are defined as women entrepreneurs whose businesses have experienced growth rates of more than 20 per cent for at least three years.

“These women can be an important source of growth because they create jobs, promote innovation and reduce the gender gap,” said Nancy Lee, General Manager of the MIF. “But until now, there has been very little research on who they are and how they see their successes and challenges. We believe that this study

will be very valuable in helping them grow their businesses, which will not only benefit women entrepreneurs themselves and their families, but will also have significant economic impact.”

According to the study, several barriers related to the sex of women entrepreneurs lessen or disappear as their businesses grow. Although many women mentioned that they had more difficulties than men when they started, 88 per cent of high-growth women entrepreneurs stated that being a woman was not an obstacle to growing a business.

Women entrepreneurs initially imagine their businesses to be more restricted in reach. However, once the business grows their ambitions match those of male entrepreneurs. Only 40 per cent of women’s businesses have international reach, while 71 per cent of men’s businesses cross borders.

“Although these results are very positive in terms of the advancement of women in the entrepreneurial world, there are still challenges,” said Susana García-Robles, Principal Investment Officer of the MIF.

“Their networks aren´t as extensive and diversified as those of men, since they tend to partner with friends and family. As a result, women entrepreneurs have difficulties in accessing finance, especially from angel networks and seed and venture capital funds.”

Younge’s take The Alliance For Change has piloted little change

The Alliance For Change (AFC) is on a terminal decline. This small party, when it first came on the scene in 2006, offered some hope that it could make a difference in the political landscape of this country.

Its principals at that time boasted that it was nothing like the People’s National Congress (PNC) or the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and severely criticised the “partisan” politics these two established political parties practised.

Admirably, the AFC initially took independent positions on matters and asserted itself as a force that could eventually, once it stayed its course, unseat the PPP/C from the seat of Government, while keeping the PNC comfortably in Opposition.

Less than a decade later, the AFC is struggling to keep its head above the murky waters, least it sinks further into the political quagmire that has been the primary cause of most of the divisions in our society during the pre and post-independence periods. The writing is on the wall. The party has managed to create and pilot little change and reform in the political arena over the last six years. It has not advanced workable policies or solutions that could resolve the hardships facing the working class people of this country, thereby cementing the notion that it is an alternative Government to the PNC and PPP/C.

Instead, the party has become the side kick of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition. Contrary to its promise, it has given up its independence and chosen to engage in politics of spite, hatred and revenge against the Government. The AFC has said one thing to its supporters and done another.

The AFC usually dismisses any suggestion that it has a pact with APNU, yet on most, if not every occasion, it has supported the political and Parliamentary work of APNU. The AFC has failed, surprisingly, to adopt nationalistic positions and to see past the political gains available, to put Guyana first.

APNU has found a handmaiden in the AFC

and despite the denial of the latter, Guyanese are questioning its independence. Were the APNU to be ‘Batman’, the AFC would undoubtedly be ‘Robin’ in the Parliament.

Another sign of the party’s decline is the continuous infighting that is taking place within its camp. Recall the rift between Khemraj Ramjattan and Raphael Trotman over the party’s leadership. Recall the reported treatment and betrayal of former AFC member Gomattie Singh for Chantelle Smith. Recall the Charrandass Persaud saga, and the ongoing Haseef Yusuf versus Dr Veerasammy Ramayah soap opera.

The most recent scandals reported in the media involved Nigel Hughes and allegations of conflict of interest, impropriety and fraud. The bottom line is the party has failed to keep its home in order. So if it cannot run a party, one wants to know how it can be expected to run a Government and country effectively.

The party has also become home to political deflectors. While it may have started out this way, it most likely will continue in this same vein. Recently, it has accepted Moses Nagamootoo and Valarie Garrido-Lowe into its ranks, making them parliamentarians at the expense of other longstanding and hard working AFC stalwarts.

If the AFC continues with this approach, it will not benefit from the thinking of persons who have not had bitter or bad political experiences with other forces.

The AFC must pull itself up before it’s too late. It must keep its initial vow to chart a course between the behemoth. It cannot allow itself to be seen as only supporting APNU and always against the Government.

The party must work side by side the Government to effect the change it wants to see in Guyana. Its leadership must end this facade and false sense of consciousness. The AFC has sadly morphed into all that it had criticised to justify its formation. The AFC has become part of Guyana’s 21st century political problem.

Venezuela says U.S. trying to stoke violence

Venezuela’s chief prosecutor has accused Washington of seeking to stoke violence in her country, after U.S. politicians called for funding for activist groups there.

“There’s no doubt that this is to fund the violent actions taking place in Venezuela,” Luisa Ortega Diaz told reporters in Geneva on Friday. Diaz said the money would be used to buy C4, a kind of explosive. She had said earlier that authorities had seized a kilo of C4, 200 firebombs and 25 firearms during a wave of protests in Venezuela.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Maduro said South Florida politicians are leading the U.S. into an extremist foreign policy against his country.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen are leading a “Miami lobby” trying to influence President Barack Obama, Maduro said in a televised news conference on Friday.

Rubio and Ros-Lehtinen

are co-sponsoring efforts in their respective chambers to impose sanctions on members of the Venezuelan Government tied to human rights abuses. “Obama can’t let himself be taken by the Miami lobby,” Maduro said. “I call on the United States to take it easy. They’re taking President Obama to an abyss and he’s going to end up crashing.” Daily antigovernment protests have rocked parts of the capital and other cities for weeks.

The Venezuelan Government says at least 25 people have died in the turmoil since February 12. After three people died in the central city of Valencia on Wednesday, Maduro said he was stepping up security operations and called on the National Guard to begin searching buildings in areas where violence erupts.

Since the start of the protests, the Government has accused the U.S. of trying to overthrow his Government. Last month, Venezuela ex-

Narendra Modi to contest from Varanasi, MM Joshi from Kanpur

The BJP confirmed on Saturday evening that its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would contest from Varanasi in the Lok Sabha elections. The Gujarat CM’s candidature from Varansi is significant because of AAP’s reported plan to pit Arvind Kejriwal against Modi if he chooses to contest from anywhere outside Gujarat.

The decision to have Modi contest from Varanasi has been driven by BJP’s calculation that his presence in the state arena will be a force multiplier for the party’s comeback bid in UP. The largest state, with its share of 80 seats in Lok Sabha, is crucial for Modi’s plans to become PM.

Saffron tacticians feel Modi’s presence in Varanasi will boost the prospects of BJP candidates in 28 Lok Sabha seats in eastern UP, of which

18 go to polls in the last phase. They feel Modi will be able to make a Somnath to Kashi Viswanath connect — a reference to the two revered pilgrim destinations of Somnath in Gujarat and Varanasi. Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, whose home Lok Sabha constituency is Varanasi will vacate it for Modi and will instead contest from Kanpur. Like Varanasi, Kanpur is also considered a safe seat for BJP.

Also, while declaring the names of the candidates, BJP leader Ananth Kumar said BJP President Rajnath Singh will contest from the Lucknow seat, while Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha will contest from Armitsar. Dr Harsh Vardhan, who was BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in the 2013 Delhi assembly election, will contest from Chandni Chowk constituency in Delhi. (Times of India)

pelled three U.S. diplomats, accusing them of organising students to participate in anti-government protests.

‘Murderer of the Venezuelan people’ Elias Jaua, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, echoed that theme on Friday, singling out Secretary of State John Kerry as a “murderer of the Venezuelan people”. “Each time we’re about to isolate and reduce the violence, out comes Kerry to speak”, and up go the barricades and the violence, Jaua said. Kerry told a congressional committee on Thursday that the U.S. was looking for a way to get Maduro to engage in dialogue with his own people and respect human rights.

Destabilising the Venezuelan Government would have “unbearable consequences” for the U.S., Maduro said. And if Venezuela were destabilised, it would bring “the worst period of political and economic instability in Latin America”.

The U.S. dismissed Maduro’s accusations that it was meddling in the country’s internal affairs by intervening in anti-government protests as “absurd”. “The solution to Venezuela’s problems lies in democratic dialogue among Venezuelans, not in repression or in hurling verbal brickbats at the United States,” a State Department official said on condition of anonymity. (Al Jazeera)

Around the World

Trinidad: PNMites want change

People’s National Movement (PNM) leadership contender Pennelope BecklesRobinson has hit out at a campaign of “bullying, intimidation and threatening” being waged by some quarters in the Opposition party’s internal election. She’s particularly expressed concern at criticisms levelled at her by PNM deputy leader Marlene McDonald at a Laventille West meeting in support of incumbent leader Dr Keith Rowley. “Just think of how Ms McDonald is speaking,” BecklesRobinson said Friday.

“This isn’t a campaign of bullying, threatening and intimidating people, but if you go to any of the constituencies, they’ll tell you this is how they’ve been operating. “They just don’t understand what democracy is about and the fact is they’re afraid of change and its consequences. But they need to wake up to the fact PNMites want change and this will take place, come May 18.”

Beckles-Robinson voiced concern Friday after filing her nomination papers at the party’s headquarters at Balisier House, Port of Spain, to contest the post of political leader against Rowley. Thirtyfour contestants filed nominations to contest the May 18 internal elections. They include six independents, but at least two of the inde-

pendents support Rowley.

Rowley is fielding a full slate for the 15 executive posts in contention, among them Port of Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee for treasurer and Diego Martin MP Colm Imbert for vice chairman. Beckles-Robinson’s side is fielding 13 candidates, including former Senate President Danny Montano for chairman and former Sangre Grande corporation chairman/attorney Ronald Boynes (brother of ex-MP Roger Boynes) for General Secretary. Beckles-Robinson said she would support whoever won the posts of treasurer and PRO.

A list issued by Balisier House after the exercise mixed up several names,

Ashton Ford (incumbent General Secretary on Rowley’s slate) confirmed. Some candidates from the Beckles-Robinson slate were wrongly listed on the Rowley slate and two independents were wrongly listed on Beckles-Robinson’s slate.

For Friday’s nomination exercise, some of Rowley’s supporters, including pan players, arrived early in maxi taxis. They gathered to the west, on Cipriani Boulevard, and, singing When the Saints Go Marching In, paraded behind Rowley up Tranquillity Street to Balisier House at 11:00h when he arrived to file his nomination. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Ukraine crisis: Russia isolated in UN Crimea vote

Russia has vetoed a draft UN resolution criticising Sunday’s secession referendum in Ukraine’s Crimea region –the only Security Council member to vote against the measure.

China, regarded as a Russian ally on the issue, abstained from the vote. Western powers criticised Russia’s veto over the referendum, which will ask Crimeans if they want to rejoin Russia. Meanwhile, Kiev has accused Russian forces of seizing a village just north

of Crimea and demanded they withdraw. Ukraine’s foreign ministry said 80 military personnel backed by four helicopter gunships and three armoured vehicles had taken the village of Strilkove.

An unnamed Russian official quoted by PravdaUkraine said they had taken action to protect a gas distribution station from “terrorist attacks”.

Russia intervened in the Crimean peninsula after the fall of Ukraine’s proMoscow President Viktor Yanukovych on February

22. Yanukovych had sparked months of unrest across Ukraine by pulling out of a deal on closer ties with the European Union, and later opting for closer ties with Russia. The Crimean region was part of Russia until 1954 and most of its residents are ethnic Russians, many of whom would prefer to be governed by Moscow rather than Kiev. Russia’s Black Sea fleet is also still housed in Crimea.

But Russia has signed agreements promising to uphold Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Crimea’s regional parliament instigated the secession referendum after MPs voted overwhelmingly to support rejoining Russia. But the national parliament in Kiev ruled the referendum unconstitutional, and earlier on Saturday voted to disband the regional assembly.

At the United Nations, 13 members of the Security Council backed a resolution that called for all nations to

respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemned the referendum as illegal. Western diplomats had expected Russia to veto the document, but got what they wanted when China abstained, says the BBC UN correspondent Nick Bryant. China and Russia usually work in tandem at the Security Council.

But Beijing is sensitive about issues of territorial integrity, because of fears it could send a message to its own restive regions of Tibet and Xinjiang, our correspondent says. America’s UN envoy Samantha Power said it was a “sad and remarkable moment” and labelled Russia “isolated, alone and wrong”. She said Sunday’s referendum was “illegal, unjustified and divisive” and would have no effect on the legal status of Crimea.

Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin said the referendum was necessary to fill the “legal vacuum” since Ukraine’s “coup d’etat” last month. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Port Kaituma arsonist habitually abused family – relatives

Linus La Cruz, the Port Kaituma, Region One man who set his home on fire on Friday night, burning his wife and children alive, has been described as a man who habitually abused his family.

Roxanne (only name given), a sister of the dead woman told Guyana Times that she was at home when she received a telephone call from another sister relating the horrific news. The depressed woman stated that the couple tied the knot about 14 years ago, but their relationship has been a rocky one.

She disclosed that her brother-in-law would frequently consume alcohol and is also a habitual user of cocaine.

“Whenever he drinks and smokes, he would strip off his

clothes and break anything in his way… right now we don’t know what triggered him to commit such an act but he would always beat Lurlene and sometimes the children.”

The distraught woman added that her sister never made a report to the police against her brother-inlaw because after they fight, he would pacify her. She also recalled that while her sister was pregnant with her last child, Linus beat her severely. Roxanne lived with the couple when they were staying on the West Bank of Demerara.

Guyana Times understands that the house that was set on fire belonged to a niece who resides in the city and only recently Linus was asked to vacate the building as the relative intends to return to the area.

The man was reportedly upset and was reluctant to move out of the house although his wife pleaded with him for them to find another place. Hours prior to the incident, the now dead woman reportedly telephoned her mother and tearfully complaind about her husband’s behaviour. She reportedly told her mother that she was ready to move on with her life.

The mother, who was sitting on a sofa, recalled that

of her children perished in the fire on Friday evening after her husband deliberately set alight their Main Road, Port Kaituma, North West District home during a heated argument.

The charred remains of Lurlene La Cruz, 39; Lea La Cruz, 14; Lavette La Cruz, three; Labron La Cruz, eight, and Levon La Cruz, one, were subsequently removed from among the debris on Saturday morning by police.

she visited her daughter last year and from all indications, she was not too happy. In tears, she said after receiving the news of the fire, she broke down and thought about her daughter and innocent grandchildren who met their demise in the most gruesome manner.

Lurlene La Cruz and four

responded to a report made by one of the woman’s daughter, who claimed that her parents were involved in

ing. Gentle added that while fighting the blaze, there were some challenges, not-

an argument and the her father had threatened to burn down the house.

The couple’s second daughter, Lisa La Cruz, 12, is the lone survivor.

Under guard

Linus, who attempted to escape after setting the house on fire, was subsequently taken into police custody and is presently under guard at the Port Kaituma Hospital. He sustained burns about the body.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that during the argument between the couple, Lisa managed to sneak out of the house and run to the police station where she made a report that her father threatened to burn down the house.

The police at that time did not pay any heed to the child until a woman breathlessly ran to the station and informed them that the house was on fire and that people were trapped inside.

In an attempt to clear the air on the matter, Police Spokesman Ivelaw Whittaker said about 20:45h on the fateful night, the police ranks at Port Kaituma

As the ranks were on their way to the scene, they recognised that the dwelling house was on fire and later learnt that persons were trapped inside. The ranks reportedly attempted to enter the building, but the entire house was fully grilled.

The police and residents in an effort to put out the blaze, formed a bucket brigade, but were unable to extinguish the fire. Linus is expected to be slapped with five counts of murder and arson in the coming week.

Need for fire station

When contacted for a comment, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle stated that while there are calls for a fire station to be established in Port Kaituma, there are a number of factors that have to be taken into consideration.

He said presently there are no regularised water systems that will allow firefighter to tap into a source unless they use the river. He said that the Guyana Fire Service started an auxiliary programme in the area, but it has to be developed.

On the tragic night, he explained that a number of residents rendered assistance to put out the blaze, but it was too overwhelm-

ing that several gas cylinders exploded as a result of the heat. He said at the end of the day, he is deeply touched since lives were lost as result of irresponsible behaviour.

Eyewitness account

Eyewitnesses say the scene was unbelievable. One eyewitness said he heard a loud explosion of gas bottles emanating from the house. After the loud sounds, persons rushed to the scene where they saw the house in flames. Residents desperately attempted to put out the blaze, but their efforts proved futile. One woman told this publication that the remains of the woman and her children were removed from the scene in wheelbarrows and buckets.

As the police recovered the charred bodied, persons were in tears.

Another witness, who was on the road at the time, related that when he saw the huge fire, he quickly shouted for neighbours, who scampered to the scene, but the blaze was too much, and the buckets of water were insufficient to put out the fire. Guyana Times understands that the woman was five months pregnant. The charred remains of the woman and her four children were taken to the Port Kaituma Hospital Mortuary.

Do not allow yourselves to be consumed – Ali

As Guyana joined the world on Friday, in celebrating World Consumer Rights Day 2014, under the theme “Fix our Phone Rights”, acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali urged consumers to better understand their rights so as to avoid being consumed by those providing services.

Minister Ail was among others including consumers, telephone providers and regulators, who gathered at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal, Greater Geogetown to commemorate the activity.

Also present were Competition and Consumer Affairs Chairman Ramesh Dookhoo, Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS)

Director Evadnie Ennis and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Radha Krishna Sharma.

Minister Ali noted that consumers have been allowing themselves to be consumed and noted that this is why, in the context of telephone services, providers have been spending such large budgets on marketing, and why they continue to change phone technology so rapidly.

“It is because they have seen the world over, the ability of the consumer to consume themselves in wanting a better phone every day, so they would launch iPhone 4 today, and six months after, iPhone 5,” the Minister said.

The Minister also pointed out that the consumers,

in addition to allowing themselves to be consumed, also allow themselves to lose redress in protecting themselves when they use the recognised and certified providers.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Make financial matters your priority. Scrutinise your paperwork to be sure that you have all the pertinent documents. You may uncover a new way to limit your expenses.

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

(Feb.20March 20)

You’ll experience an emotional tug-of-war. Take an unbiased look at your personal relationships. Perhaps someone isn’t as attentive as you’d like. Make your feelings known calmly and sincerely. You will need to tread lightly. You will face hypersensitive people looking for a battle. Busy yourself around the home, or find some solitary activity to keep you out of trouble.

(March 21-April 19)

If someone criticises you, consider why. You may want to begin again with a fresh attitude. Your reputation could be damaged if you aren’t giving your best.

(April 20May 20)

Strive to listen to any advice offered you. Although it may not be what you want to hear, give any suggestions a fair chance. The results could prove rewarding.

(May 21June 20)

Try to surround yourself with good friends and steadfast allies. You may be subject to criticism if you go against the grain. Honesty is your best recourse.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22)

You need to laugh more. Gather with good friends and family for some light entertainment. A card or board game will help keep your mind off your troubles.

(July 23Aug. 22)

Many learning tools are available to you. Travel or education will enable you to study different people and cultures. A trip to an exotic location will be enlightening.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. Deal with others in a nonconfrontational manner. Logic and reason will advance your cause more than harsh words or accusations.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You may feel a temptation to be a couch potato. Get together with a friend and do something active instead. Some fresh air and exercise will rouse your muscles and your mind.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Reckless spending and extravagant purchases will not win over the people you are dealing with. You can’t buy respect. Straight talk and direct action will make a far better impression. Interactions with family members will be difficult. Remove yourself from potential conflicts by getting together with friends. Given enough time, thorny issues will dissipate. Fruitless arguments will only compound the problem.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

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New GuySuCo Board on July 1

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy announced that from July 1, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) will be getting a new board, led by a new chairperson that has already been identified.

The life of the present board was extended to June. Subsequently, the matter was discussed at the level of the Cabinet and it was agreed that a new board will be established with several new members.

With regards to production, Minister Ramsammy said that as of a few days ago, production stood at an encouraging 22,500 tonnes. This is the result of about three weeks of good weather.

“This is very encouraging and I am looking forward for the continuation of the present good weather… if we can have eight to 10 weeks more of good weather, then I see GuySuCo

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said he is optimistic that the established target of 400,000 tonnes of sugar by 2020 is achievable

producing a very good first crop,” he posited.

The Minister maintains that in spite of its many challenges, the industry remains viable and will meet its 2014 target of 216,000 tonnes. He is also optimistic that the established target of 400,000 tonnes by 2020 will be reached.

The Government of Guyana’s continued support to GuySuCo is based on the con-

sideration that the company provides employment for about 16,000 people and indirectly benefits numerous Guyanese. This indirect benefit can be felt in the company’s provision of drainage and irrigation, not only for sugar, but for all other crops in all the areas in which GuySuCo operates. Its drainage and irrigation system also benefits many residential areas.

Man chopped to head discharged

Iqwaz Bacchus, 22, of Three Friends Village on the Essequibo Coast who was attacked and chopped several times to the head and face at Capoey backdam, was recently discharged from the Suddie Public Hospital.

The incident occurred on the evening of March 5 while Bacchus was riding home along in the backdam. He was discharged on March 7.

Relating the ordeal, Bacchus said he went to Capeoy Lake on the day to celebrate his friend’s birthday when he was attacked by three persons, all of whom he identified as friends.

Bacchus said earlier on the day of the incident, his attackers had an argument over a knife but he did not get involved as he was sitting at another table. The young men were insulting each other as they though the knife was stolen from a person he knew, and left the party soon

after.

He said as he was riding home, a tractor approached him and he rode at the corner of the road but the vehicle braced him, almost knocking him into a nearby trench.

Bacchus said the young men came out of the tractor and asked him what happened and when he showed them his foot was hurt; one

of them took out a cutlass and dealt him several chops to the head.

He said when the chopping stopped; the attackers took turns in punching him in the face, causing him to lose three teeth in the process.

The young man said when they finished, the drove away in the tractor, leaving him behind.

Bacchus said he managed to get up and with the help of a resident; he was taken to the Suddie Hospital. He received several stitches to the head, face and lip, and is still in pain.

The young man’s father is calling for justice, noting that the attackers are walking free.

Meanwhile, residents are calling for an increase in police patrol in the area. Many residents say that the road is usually dark and lonely in the night.

Do not allow yourselves...

He highlighted the instance of a customer engaging a little known dealer in unlocking a phone, but in so doing, is losing out on the rights and protection that would have been afforded him by purchasing or having the service provided by a recognised business.

Changes

“The time has come for us to regulate the sector and that would require changes at all levels, small cellphone shops around will have to subject themselves to scrutiny, the large company would have to subject themselves to scrutiny, and the consumers will have to subject themselves to scrutiny because when we speak of fair trade and fair play, it is fairness from every stakeholder to the transaction,” the Minister said.

The Minister’s address was not without highlight of several areas in which the providers seek to hide and infringe on the rights of the consumers. He spoke about transparency of the providers’ billing systems, the ef-

fectiveness of their consumer complaints mechanism and the issue of hidden cost embedded in contracts/service.

The issue of confidentiality of consumers’ personal information was also highlighted.

World Consumer Rights Day, is celebrated by consumer organisations the world over every year on March 15 and its sees the global consumer movement uniting for a day of action around one common campaign theme.

Dookhoo who also addressed the activity noted that the level of redress in consumer protection in Guyana has travelled a far way, from moral suasion to the heights of now having legislation capable of protecting a consumer.

He pointed to the pioneering Consumer Affairs Act of 2011 which in turn led to the formation of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) in 2006 and which the CCAC in 2012 would have begun disseminating in-

formation about in stores around Georgetown. The CCAC will be hosting its first seminar on the Act outside of Georgetown on March 18 to 20 in Berbice and will target other areas such as Linden, Anna Regina, Vreed-en-Hoop and Lethem during the year as it continues its sensitisation campaign, Dookhoo said.

The CCAC joined the World Consumer Rights Day campaign to ensure that consumers’ phone rights are protected by warranties, stores have a return policy and phone contracts are written in a fair manner without unfair contract terms.

He noted that across the world people need providers to provide consumers with their money’s worth, they also need providers to listen and respond to consumers’ complaints.

“The long lines are too much in Guyana, let us find ways to shorten those lines and let us develop specific customers’ charters for the telephone service,” he urged.

Lewis Hamilton on Australia pole, with Sebastian Vettel

down in 13th

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton grabbed a last-ditch pole position in a thrilling wet qualifying session at the Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton edged out Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo by 0.317 seconds with the very last lap of the session.

Ricciardo’s world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel was only 13th.

Hamilton’s team-mate Nico Rosberg took third ahead of an impressive debut from McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen in fourth and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso in fifth.

The Spaniard’s teammate Kimi Raikkonen was 12th after crashing in the second knock-out session shortly after completing a lap 1.6secs slower than Alonso.

It was an exhilarating way to start a new season that has seen the introduction of the biggest rule changes in F1 for a generation.

Red Bull’s recovery from a troubled pre-season programme has been impressive but Vettel was not the beneficiary.

The German, who has won the last four World Championships, had a scrappy qualifying session. It was the first time he had failed to make it into the top 10 shoot-out since the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix.

Vettel pitted towards the

end of the second session for a fresh set of intermediate tyres, hoping to benefit from their increased grip on the slippery track.

But while Ricciardo, who stayed out on track on his tyres, finished the session second fastest behind Rosberg, Vettel could not improve. As he walked back to the garage, the reigning world champion was booed by some fans in the crowd.

Sebastian Vettel failed to make it into the top 10 qualifying shoot-out for the first time since the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix, citing issues with “driveability” Vettel later said he had suffered an engine mapping software problem which affected the “driveability” of the car.

The final session produced a nail-biting conclusion as drivers tried to second-guess the ever-changing

conditions.

A heavy shower before it started led most to start the session on full wet tyres, but as the track dried drivers were split as to whether the intermediate would be a better choice for the final runs.

Ricciardo went for the intermediates while everyone else bar Williams’ Felipe Massa went for the full wets.

Hamilton went fastest initially, only to be beaten by Rosberg, who was then toppled by Ricciardo, before Hamilton grabbed top spot back with the very last lap of the session.

In doing so, Hamilton moved into sixth on the alltime list, equal with fellow Briton Nigel Mansell on 32 pole positions.

Lewis Hamilton secured his first pole position since last year’s Belgian Grand Prix. Daniel Ricciardo’s second place is a career best.(BBC Sport)

Brazil club champs coming to Guyana

SoaRaimundo Football club of Brazil, who are the current champions of the state of Roraima in the Portuguese-speaking nation, will be coming to Guyana for an April 5 encounter against Slingerz Football Club at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground.

With World Cup football being hosted in Brazil this year, the president of the Brazilian club Sergio Carvalho has guaranteed

the Guyanese football fan base a showing that will prove why Brazil is considered as the best football nation.

Slingerz, who had a rough showing in the recently concluded Vision Group Inter-Club Tournament will hope to rebound with the addition of a few overseas players,who were chosen for the friendly based on their performance in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA)/Banks

Beer Cup.

With the prize money set to be a hefty pay day for the teams, intense competition is expected during the friendly encounter.

Meanwhile, the Western Tiger Football Club will battle Santos Football Club in the pre-game match-up to whet the appetites of the fans in attendance with the games being organized by C and R Promotions Group and guided and facilitated by the GFA.

Amir Khan open to Floyd Mayweather undercard challenge

Former world champion Amir Khan says he is ready to be on Floyd Mayweather’s undercard in Las Vegas, but is unsure about his potential opponent.

Mayweather, considered the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer, fights 30-year-old Argentine Marcos Maidana in May.

Briton Khan, 27, thought he was in line for the welterweight unification bout, only for Mayweather to choose Maidana.

“I think it might be a good idea to fight on his undercard as chief support,” Khan told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“We put the fight to Adrien Broner - they don’t want it- so what do we do? Boxing’s a funny business.”

“Being in front of his face is kind of good because Floyd will always see me, plus he knows that he should have been fighting me instead of Maidana.”

After winning a fans’ poll to decide Mayweather’s next opponent, Khan signed a deal in December that he hoped would lead to a showdown with the 10-time world champion, who holds world titles at welterweight and light-middleweight.

However, Mayweather opted to take on Maidana, who Khan beat unanimously on points in 2010.

Mayweather then told Khan he would

agree to a fight if he defeated 24-year-old American Adrien Broner on the undercard of his Maidana bout - but Khan says Broner has rejected the match-up.

Although it remains unclear who Khan’s opponent at the MGM Arena would be, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist is confident ahead of what would be a first fight since his victory over Julio Diaz in April 2013 - and a bout with Mayweather remains the longterm ambition. (BBC Sport)

Permaul leads Guyana fightback...

Seamer Peters ended with 4-42 as Bramble fell for 35 and Bishoo added six to his overnight score.

Looking to give his side the best possible chance of bouncing back after losing first innings points for the third match in a row, Chanderpaul called on the Albion spin trio Permaul, Narsingh Deonarine and Devendra Bishoo and the move brought immediate returns with two wickets falling without a run on the board.

Devon Smith’s ineptitude against off-spin was again woefully exposed as Deonarine trapped him leg before in the first over without scoring, before Permaul lured opener Tyrone Theophile into edging to Bramble for nought.

It soon became 7-3 when Keddy Lesporis was caught and bowled by Deonarine for six after the ball had richocheted off the body of Assad Fudadin, stationed at shortleg.

Fudadin was again in action in the same position, snapping up a catch off the bat of debutant and first innings centurion Sunil Ambris (08) as Permaul claimed his second wicket at 23-4.

Liam Sebastian, who made 60 in the first innings, became Permaul’s third victim, caught by the alert

Fudadin as the islanders slipped to 37-5. Six runs later, Permaul tempted Lyndon James into a drive and the wicketkeeper succeeded only in finding the safe hands of Christopher Barnwell at slip, as the Guyanese fought back gallantly.

Romel Currency, batting at number five, then found a willing ally in Alston Bobb, as they set about repairing the early damage, adding a painstaking 38 for the seventh wicket.

However, just when the two seemed to have done all the hardwork, the Permaul/ Fudadin combination was at it again, coming together to

dismiss Bobb for 16 and sink the Windward Islands further into trouble at 81-7. Bobb’s wicket was Permaul’s fifth of the innings, the 10th time he has taken a five-wicket haul in his 62nd match.

With lights rapidly fading and the sprinkling of spectators cheering Permaul on, the former Guyana skipper delivered one last time before stumps, trapping Peters leg before for six at 95-8. Despite the innings crumbling around him, Currency remained firm, ending the day on a fighting 40, so far spanning 135 minutes and 98 balls.

Permaul will aim to add to his wickets tally on the final day- this is his second five-wicket haul this seasonand inspire a victory that his countrymen need so badly after crushing defeats in the first two games against Jamaica and Barbados.

Deonarine, who was surprisingly under bowled in the first two matches, has so far snared 2-28, while the other bowler used, Bishoo, has been accurate- his 10 overs leaking just 17 runs.

Today is the final day and play is expected to commence at 09:30 hrs to make up for the lost time on Sunday.

Bangladesh v Afghanistan, World T20, Group A, Mirpur...

Top order can afford to settle in – Mushfiqur

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim is willing to allow the top order batsmen to take their time in the middle in T20s, as long as they push harder after getting set. Mushfiqur had factored in the slow pitches in Bangladesh which do not always allow batsmen to go for their shots early.

“The top three batsmen usually set up the game in T20s,” Mushfiqur said ahead of Bangladesh’s opening qualifier against Afghanistan in Mirpur. “The No.4 also has to join in. I think these batsmen have a lot of responsibilities. The wicket wasn’t easy in the practice game against Ireland, making us to start slowly. We targeted 140-150, though Shakib [Al Hasan] and I took it further. If the openers give us a good start, the pressure lessens on the middle order. We would hope for such a start tomorrow, and then from the middle, we will finish it well.

“It was difficult to play shots from the word go in Fatullah, as the wicket was slow. We are willing to give batsmen time in the middle as long as they recover the scoring rate after getting set. The middle and lower order can do that recovery work but the top order can also do it after making a slow start.”

Either of Anamul Haque and Shamsur Rahman will be vying to open with Tamim Iqbal, with the former ahead due to a recent ODI centu-

ry against Pakistan and a half-century against India. However, Shamsur has opened for Bangladesh in their last six T20s. Shakib and Mushfiqur usually bat at three and four, but there has been talk of slotting in either Mominul Haque or Sabbir Rahman in the top order too. “If either of Sabbir and Mominul plays, we will try to accommodate them in the top order,” Mushfiqur said.

“We have enough batsmen and allrounders so we will take a decision on the team after taking a final look at the wicket. The decision will also depend on what balances our team, and in addition, we have a flexible batting line-up so we will be sending batsmen according to the situation.”

Putting Shakib and Mushfiqur just after the openers has worked for Bangladesh, but if there

has to be a choice between Mominul and Sabbir, it should be the latter. Sabbir has played just one T20 international, against Sri Lanka in Chittagong, but has been successful in domestic cricket in the last 12 months.

He also played a matchwinning innings for the Bangladesh side against Afghanistan in the 2010 Asian Games gold medal match, and has played similar sort of innings throughout his career. Although Mominul’s overall strikerate is higher than most in the Bangladesh team, he has only played four T20s.

Bangladesh’s line-up will become slightly more streamlined as Mushfiqur returns as wicketkeeper, having recovered from a finger injury. He kept against Ireland, and says that he missed captaining from behind the stumps. (Cricinfo)

Gayle hurt by ‘mercenary’ tag

Chris Gayle has criticised those who are labelling cricketers as T20 mercenaries. He believes that it is an unfair term to players and degrades their standing in the game, warning that harming players’ reputations with such labels was “distasteful and unwarranted”.

“I’ve had that said about me in the past and it’s hurtful, by my own fans in the Caribbean and some by others. But they need to know that it’s always a cricketer’s dream to wear his international colours. That term ‘mercenary’ will hurt cricket,” he said. “These same mercenaries are the ones who are representing all the countries in the World T20s who everyone will be supporting so why use that word?”

Gayle’s dispute with the WICB took him out the international frame in the past and he understood why the criticism came as he plied his trade in T20 tournaments globally, but he maintained that it was always his aim to return for West Indies.

“I had bills to pay and all cricketers have the same. We still do,” he said. “T20 is a good way of earning extra income to secure your future and your family’s. Many people don’t get that. I’m more comfortable financialwise now and I’m looking to play West Indies cricket for a few more years.”

“All I wanted to do was come back and play for the West Indies. When I wasn’t in the team, I had to play T20s to pay the bills and look at what happened in 2012. We won the World T20 and so many players like myself, [Dwayne] Bravo and Sunil

Narine gained from our IPL experiences. We have more West Indies players in the IPL now and it’s great for [Krishmar] Santokie and Jason Holder to get this experience. And make a living.”

Gayle’s view was backed by former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes who coached Barbados Tridents in last year’s Caribbean Premier League. “You know how hard it was for players like us back in the day to make money off cricket? We had to travel the world on tour and play away from our family for so long,” he said.

“Relationships, marriages and parenthood struggled. Some of us couldn’t see our newborns for a year. But we had to do it. Now, some players can make what we did in a lifetime in just one or two T20 tournaments.”

Gayle, now 34, has targeted at least another couple of years at Test level - fitness permitting - and insists

his drive to represent West Indies remains strong but added “the T20 label keeps sticking to me” before drawing again on the case of his friend Kevin Pietersen.

“You look at someone like KP,” he added. “He could have made money for years now playing T20s but he stuck with England. It’s national pride. Now, maybe he will be going out there and be playing more T20s and making big money but no one believes us when players like us say we always want to play for our country first and foremost.

“The game has changed and there’s a lot of cricket being played so T20s do clash with tours and such but we can iron and fix this out. Maybe it’s all about proper T20 windows, who knows? But I’m sure if England called KP up now he’d jump at the chance to play for his country. That’s across the board for players like us. We always would.” (Cricinfo)

Sri Lanka full strength but contracts unsigned

Sri Lanka Cricket will send its top team to the World T20, but player contracts remained unsigned on the eve of their departure to Bangladesh, with little indication the team will put pen to paper before they leave the country.* The players met late on Saturday to discuss their position, but it appears they remain unwilling to sign a contract that does not feature a percentage cut of the payment SLC receives for the team’s participation in global tournaments.

The team is set to meet at SLC in Colombo at 4am on Sunday for the customary departure ceremony, before boarding their flight to Dhaka, which departs at 7:30.

SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva confirmed the top side would travel to Bangladesh, but said the board had not received conclusive word on the players’ stance. “They haven’t indicated that they’re not going to sign it, but if they don’t sign it before they leave, I

suppose we will look at it again when they come back,” he said.

The board had earlier threatened to send a secondstring side to Bangladesh if the players did not sign, but have softened their outlook since. SLC stands to gain most if the team leaves for Bangladesh without signing the contract, as the board would then no longer be bound to pay the $500,000 flat fee, nor the two-tiered incentive payments it had offered as part of its revised offer, which was a partial sop to the players’ demand for 20 per cent of the gross sum received for tournament participation, by SLC. As had happened in 2012, when contracts were not signed until mid-July, the players may not even receive match fees or their regular salaries as long as the contracts remain unsigned. These funds are likely to be retroactively paid when the contracts are agreed to, however.

The players had also softened their demands, asking

for 12 per cent of the tournament fee on Saturday. The ICC is expected to pay SLC approximately $8.9 million for the World T20, meaning the figure the players are holding out for this tournament is in the region of $1.07 million. The difference between the guaranteed flat fee the board offered and the percentage sought by the players amounts to about

$570,000 for the tournament. Beyond those figures, the players’ objection to this proposal is largely driven by the belief they are due a percentage of the ICC payment, primarily as compensation for the use of their images in promotional material for global tournaments.

Sri Lanka’s players had received a cut of the ICC event fee from 2003 to 2012,

until the board struck that payment from player contracts last year. The players’ grievances are driven largely by the complaint that they are being made to pay for the board’s misuse of finances.

The board had run up debts of almost $70 million when they built two new stadia and renovated a third for the 2011 World Cup.

Player payment has caused strife at the beginning of every 12-month contracts cycle since then.

The present standoff is also believed to have caused conflict within the board. President Jayantha Dharmadasa had been sympathetic to the players’ concerns, but was outmuscled in the board room by an opposing faction. (Cricinfo)

Milo Football continues with final group stage matches

By Treiston Joseph

Bishop’s High School

trounced School of the Nation’s 5-1 when action continued in the Petra organized Milo under-12 Schools football championships at the Ministry of Education ground on Saturday.

The game started intensely with Bishop’s High wasting no time in attacking, drawing first blood in the second minute of action with a goal from Joel Morrison before School of the Nations struck with their first goal in the seventh with an equalizer from Lyndon Dorway.

Bishops then resorted to playing possession football with short passes in their back field and the midfield

before attacking and scoring in the 30th minute with a goal from David Chan, to end the first half on 2-1.

The second half was totally different as Bishop’s controlled the game with their pace, striking three times in succession with goals from Morrison in the 52nd for a double, Nathaniel King in the 54th and from Romario Gonsalves in the 59th to end the game emphatically.

Lodge Secondary had their way against St. Mary’s Secondary, walking away with a 3-0 victory over the school.

Lodge opened the game looking tentative before finding their groove quickly to score in the 15th minute with a quick left flank goal from Orlando Gravesande

that ended the first half 1-0, as both teams shared possessionl in the midfield.

On resumption of the second half, Lodge would score in the 45th minute with a goal from Tavel Janos , while Jarel Grannum would seal the deal in the 51st with a wonderful strike past the keeper.

Dolphin Secondary would then play down South Ruimveldt Secondary in a 2-0 win with goals from Dequan Matthews in the 15th and Lenroy Fordein the 52nd minute to win the game, while St. George’s Secondary and Queenstown Secondary would battle to a nil-all draw.

Meanwhile, the final day of group matches will continue today at the said ground with more thrilling action.

GCB Secretary donates gear to Wales

The Wales Community Centre Cricket Club received a quantity of cricket gear from Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Anand Sanasie, at a simple presentation ceremony last Saturday after Wales CDC defeated a team from St. Cuthbert’s Mission in an invitational match.

Sanasie, a West Indies

Cricket Board Director, urged the players to ensure they take good care of the equipment and gear presented, as cricket is an expensive game and good gear comes at a significant cost.

He also called on the senior players of the club to pass on their knowledge to the youngsters and to ensure that discipline and teamwork

SportEditor Letter to the Guyana’s

cricket: An expensive and slow train crash; one of the passengers, Ryan Ramdass

Even though the Georgetown to Rosignol public train service ended in 1972, we are witnessing a train crash very slowly in Guyana – the Guyana Cricket train. Ryan Ramdass, one of the thousands of passengers, is a useful yet common example of the majorly accepted notion among cricket enthusiasts in the Caribbean, that is, Guyana has the most talented cricketers – especially batsmen – in the Caribbean and possibly the world.

The list of cricketers who are or were competitive with the best players who have EVER played the game is impressive indeed: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Rohan Kanhai, Clive Lloyd, Colin Croft, Roy Fredericks, Lance Gibbs, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Alvin Kallicharran, Carl Hooper, etc.

This, I would respectfully submit, makes Guyana, on a per capita basis, one of the most successful countries in the world for producing exceptional cricketers.

Back to the emblematic Ryan Ramdass. Among cricket circles in Guyana, Ramdass is discussed as if he were a feared giant – as one of the best opening batsmen that Guyana has produced over the last 20 years.

After his three first-class centuries in one season, including two back-to-back centuries against Barbados, Ramdass was selected for the West Indies team in 2005.

Fate had it that he unfortunately sustained three consecutive injuries that left him sidelined for years - one shoulder, and both knees. Ramdass underwent surgery for all of those injuries and he has been 100 percent healthy for the last few years.

After his recovery, he refused

to let his talent die, so he continued training 1-3 times a day 5-6 days a week.

With virtually no cricket tournaments playing in Guyana over the last few years, Ramdass was forced to play cricket in Canada, the U.S.A. and Trinidad. In his last season in Canada, he was the second highest runscorer in their premier league which includes some of the best players, not only in Canada but other countries too.

Last season, in Trinidad’s premier league, he was the second highest run-scorer with three hundreds (a highest of 183 not out).

After being left out of the Guyana team recently, he returned to Trinidad where he is currently playing in their premier league. In the last six innings, he has scored over 400 runs including two centuries.

When there were trial games for the national one-day team, he and Chattergoon were the only openers to score a 50. At a bare minimum, there is no reason a healthy and in-form Ryan Ramdass should be left out of a Guyana four-day squad. Yet

still he was.

When I asked for an explanation, I was told he has to make runs in Guyana. But when I responded that there are no tournaments being played in Guyana, I received no appropriate response.

I use Ryan Ramdass as a symbol that represents the derailment of cricketing talent in Guyana – not by their own efforts or lack thereof, but at the will of selectors and the Guyana Cricket Board.

I often wonder to myself if the managers of Guyana’s cricket worked as hard as some of the cricketers for so little reward if they would still continue this endeavour and if Guyana’s cricket would remain on course for this tragedy.

Who are the passengers of this slow train crash - Guyanese cricketers and the Guyanese people. And the reason for this disaster is clear - the absence of proper management, structure, organisation, academies and execution of programmes.

It is definitely not for a lack of resources. For example, I am reliably advised from a senior West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) officer that every year the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) gets US$100,000 or $21 million to run cricket in Guyana.

In addition, for every fourday match that is currently being played in Guyana, the GCB receives US$35,000 or $7,350,000; there are three matches being played in Guyana, so that’s US$105,000 or approximately $22 million.

This will be the most expensive train crash in Guyana’s history.

Charles S Ramson Jr Attorney-at-Law

Road to Mecca semifinal set for tonight

BY TreisTon Joseph

Basketball history will be created when the first ever national club championships in basketball reach its semifinal stage on Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on the Road to Mecca.

are practised.

The club’s senior team captain, Ramesh Takur, thanked the West Demerara businessman for his interest in the youths’ development at Wales, assured him that the club values the timely presentation and he would personally ensure that the equipment are secured and cared properly.

With an expected 19:00h start, a Georgetown versus Linden final is expected as two Linden teams will square off in the first semi-final, while two Georgetown teams will battle each other in the second semi-final.

The first match-up will see the two Linden titans in the Retrieve Raiders and the Amelia’s Ward Jets doing battle in a game that is expected to be thrashed out in the post.

Both teams are accustomed to throwing the ball

to their respective big men and allowing them to go to work while having guards that are moderate from the outside.

The battle of this game will be won by the team who can dominate the glass along with who will have the least amount of turnovers during the game.

Shane Webster will be expected to dominate for the Amelia’s Ward Jets as he has been doing for the entire tournament with double-doubles; while Dwayne ‘Brown Suga’ Roberts will need to produce another stellar game for Retrieve Raiders for them to have a chance of winning.

Meanwhile, the game of the night will feature Dyna’s Ravens going up against Bounty Colts in a game that is expected to

bring the resurging basketball fan base to life. Both teams have dominant guards that can score, but the Ravens might hold the advantage with their ability to rebound the ball. However,the Colts’ ability to light it from beyond the arc could also prove crucial in the game that might decide the tournament winners.

Stephon Gillis will need to step up his game if the team is to win as both Ryan Stephney and Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai have been playing well in the tournament, along with Jermaine Slater who has rebounded the ball well.

Meanwhile, action is expected to start from 19:00h with the two Linden teams matching up first while the two Georgetown teams will face off in the final game.

Record-breaking Hinds wins Diamond Mineral Water cycling meet

By Avenash Ramzan

While some cyclists seemed uncomfortable riding in a heavy mid-morning shower followed by very overcast conditions, Linden’s Orville Hinds used it to his advantage, blazing to victory in the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race of the Diamond Mineral Water cycling meet at the inner circuit of the National Park on Saturday.

The event, staged for the ninth year in succession, attracted 25 starters for the main event, but it was Hinds who emerged the star, clocking an amazing one h, 14 minutes, 45 seconds (01h: 14m: 45 seconds).

Hinds’s time is a new record for the 35-lap event at the National Park, according to national coach and race organiser Hassan Mohamed and race official Joseph Britton. In addition to the record, he claimed six of the eight prime prizes on offer, leaving Raynauth Jeffrey and Godfrey Pollydore to settle for the other two.

The victory was also

In a heated sprint for the runner-up spot, Warren McKay outgunned Jeffrey, while youngster Andre Abdool took fourth, the experienced Robin Persaud fifth and veteran rider Stephen Fernandes sixth.

Hinds’s first at the National Park for 2014 after securing two second-place finishes and a third. Prior to Saturday’s win, the United Bikers Club rider had tasted success on the road, winning on the West Demerara and in Berbice this year.

Earlier in the day, Sherwin Sampson continued to rule the BMX 6-9 and 9-12 races, winning both comfortably. Jeremiah Harrison and Esau Jaisingh finished second and third respectively in the BMX 6-9, while Thuran Garbarran

was the other entrant in the BMX 9-12.

Rawle Small and Adrian Sharma won the BMX 12-14 and BMX Open respectively, while Christopher Griffith, Avish Ramkhellawan and Toshawanna Doris were 1-2-3 in the 12-14 Boys and Girls.

The Juveniles’ race was won by Michael Anthony, with Andre Green placing second and Alonzo Ambrose third, while Ozia McUally was the first to the line ahead of Clyde Jacobs and Wayne Nurse in the Mountain Bike.

In the veteran races, Junior Niles won the Under-50 event, Linden Blackman copped top honours in the Over-50 and 74-year-old Anthony Fariah was the lone competitor in the Over-60 category.

Speaking at the conclusion of the day’s activities, Mohamed lauded the riders for braving the weather and commended Hinds for his record-breaking performance. He also expressed gratitude to Demerara Distillers Limited for sponsoring the race for another year.

The company was represented by Marketing officials, including Larry Wills and Trishwantie Doodnauth.

Elizabeth Style continues support for U-21 cricket

Albion Community Centre will have the opportunity to defend the title they won last year when the inaugural Elizabeth Style Under-21 cricket competition is staged in the Ancient County.

Bissan’s Trading, the local distributor of the Elizabeth Style cosmetics line, confirmed its sponsorship of the event for the second year on Thursday last at a press conference in the studio of the National Communication Network (NCN) on Homestretch Avenue.

The tournament, which will bowl off shortly, will feature 16 teams battling for supremacy in a knockout format, according to Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Secretary, Bibi Alisa Moonsee.

The champion team will pocket $60,000 and a trophy, while the runner-up will receive half that amount.

“The main aims of the

Under-21 tournament are to assist our Under-19 players to make a successful transition to the senior level and also to keep out junior cricketers occupied, playing the game after their Under-19 careers are over,” Moonsee pointed out.

Among the teams vying for top honours will be Albion, Blairmont, Bush Lot, West Berbice, Bermine, Young Warriors, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Port Mourant, Upper Corentyne and Skeldon.

The competition will attract some bright prospects for Berbice and Guyana cricket, including West Indies Under-19 players Gudakesh Motie and Shemron Hetmyer, Kevin Ramdeen, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Brandon Prashad, Shawn Perreira, Shailendra Shameer, Linden Austin, Joemal Le Fluer and Joshua Ramsammy.

Moonsee said the BCB

is thankful for the support given by Elizabeth Style to not just the upcoming competition, but also to other events organised by the board.

“The company has already invested close to $500,000 for an Under-19 Inter-club tournament and a countrywide coaching programme for our elite junior players,” she highlighted.

Proprietor of Bissan’s Trading, Bissoondyal Singh, said apart from “investing heavily in Berbice”, Elizabeth Style has sponsored competitions on the East Coast of Demerara as well.

Singh, who is president of the East Coast Cricket Board, said Elizabeth Style has been impressed with the “professionalism” of the BCB executives and their “management of cricket”, hence the decision to renew sponsorship of the Under-21 competition for another year.

Grand horse race at PMTC today

The Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) will come alive today when the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) stages a grand oneday horse race meet.

The activity has attracted some of the country’s top thoroughbreds who will be competing for millions in cash and trophies from 13:00 hrs.

Seven highly anticipated races are carded for the day with the feature event being the D and Lower fetching the highest first prize of one million dollars and will cov-

er a mile and distance.

The main supporting race is for Three-year-old Guyana and West Indiesbred animals competing at 1300m for a top prize of $600,000.

The winner of the Fouryear-old Guyana and West Indies bred horses’ event at a mile and distance is guaranteed $500,000, while the same cash prize is at stake for the champion horse in the F and Lower (1500m).

According to information reaching this publication, 75 horses already registered and all systems are in place for a highly competitive day of racing, featuring the leading horses, jockeys and stables.

According to the organizers, the track is in excellent condition for today’s highly anticipated showdown.

Other races on the agenda are the G3 West Indies Maiden and Guyana Open (1200m/$400,000 first prize), I and Lower (1000m/$250,000 first prize) and the J and Lower (1200m/$200,000 first prize).

By Avenash Ramzan

Bowling: Pascal 10-5-19-1,

out; 90 overs) 213

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-36, 4-36, 5-117, 6-136, 7-136, 8-198, 9- 207, 10- 213

Record-breaking Hinds wins Diamond Mineral Water cycling