Guyana TImes Daily

before next CFATF meeting in May

Guyaneseborn curator to present “Modern Guyana” at NY exhibition

“De Professor” retains calypso crown

Five excited couples in “The race to the altar”

Guyana participates in nuclear disarmament conference in Mexico

Three hospitalised in Buxton accident

APNU committed to passing antimoney laundering bill – Granger

… before next CFATF meeting in May

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) leader David Granger said the coalition remains committed to cleaning up the anti-money laundering bill and to have it approved by the House before the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) meets again in May.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Saturday, the opposition leader said work on the bill is ongoing at the special select committee, pointing out that the legislation is in its final stages.

He expressed optimism that the bill could be laid before the next House sitting scheduled for February 27, but noted that he has some level of uncertainty that it will receive the full support of the House.

Request for meeting

Granger noted that he has written President Donald Ramotar asking for a meeting to discuss the passage of the bill in the National Assembly. In an earlier letter to the president, Granger said the opposition will not support certain bills presented to the National Assembly unless the president affirms his signature on bills that were previously passed in the House.

In the letter, the opposition leader expressed dismay that the president had decided not to assent to several bills, namely, the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2012, the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2013, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2013, and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2012,

which were passed in the National Assembly.

Granger had also previously expressed concerns that the anti-money laundering bill would give too much power to ministers, who would be mandated to enforce the bill when passed in the House.

However, this claim was refuted by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, who opined that the powers extended to the persons delegated to enforce the law are the same powers that have been extended to their peers in other Caribbean countries that have already taken steps towards complete implementation of the anti-money laundering legislation.

The minister said he has worked on many of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) recommendations from which the bill was drafted with a view of reducing certain powers which were recommended to reside with ministers in the bill. Nandlall noted that the anti-money laundering bill itself is an extraordinary piece of legislation, which grants equally extraordinary powers to all officers and entities delegated to enforce it.

Last minute amendments

APNU last Sunday had proposed two last minute amendments to the bill, notably for a police or custom officer to seize from persons, a sum of $2 million, providing that there is a suspension of money laundering.

The coalition is also calling for the director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to be appointed by the House.

Government has described the amendments pro-

posed by the opposition as unreasonable and flawed.

The anti-money laundering bill has captured the attention of the regional and international community, with Caricom issuing a statement calling for the timely passage of the bill. Some locals also took to the streets at last Monday’s sitting of the National Assembly, calling on Parliament to pass the bill.

On Thursday, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) endorsed recommendations from CFATF to delay further sanctions against Guyana. The reprieve was granted on condition that a decision with regards to the bill will be made by Guyana’s lawmakers by the time CFATF meets again in May.

A Government Information Agency (GINA) release said Guyana has to file a report by February 28 to CFATF for the review and report to its entire membership in May 2014. The report will include Guyana’s plan of action to remedy the situation as it relates to the ongoing process to pass the bill.

“Guyana is expected to attach to that report the conclusions on the AML/CFT (amendment) Bill, bill number 22, 2013, which is before the parliamentary special select committee and a copy of the said enacted bill to be analysed, correlated to the deficiencies to provide the report to plenary in May 2014,” the release said.

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

Once again, the army is in the news. This time, Opposition Leader David Granger felt that the news of foreign drug cartels spanning Italy, Mexico and the United States having local linkages was enough for him to hold “consultations” with the chief-of-staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). He then called for the government to craft a new “National Drug Strategy Master Plan”, within which the army could have a structured role.

But it is our position that the government, which has already asked the GDF for a response plan, cannot be pulled hither and thither with every revealed or surmised contingency. The Guyana Police Force (the GPF) has already held a conclave with its top personnel to discuss the recommendations of the Disciplined Forces Commission (DFC), first submitted more than a decade ago in 2003.

Relevant army Truth

While the GPF has not yet revealed as to which recommendations are now on their front burner, it is heartening that they are proceeding with their reforms in a holistic and structured manner. We suggest that the GDF take a page from their sister organisation’s operational manual when they respond to the government.

The opposition leader also commented on the GDF’s post 2002 deployment during the attacks against the state by armed gangs that were holed up in Buxton. Granger reiterated his previously oft stated views that the said deployment was an error. This position is rather troubling since the ex-brigadier was a member of the aforementioned DFC. Maybe we should remind him and the rest of the country what that commission said, as far as the GDF being used as it was in Buxton and by extension other analogous situations.

In terms of “functions” of the GDF, the DFC quotes Section 5 of the Defence Act: “the force shall be charged with the defence of and maintenance of order in Guyana, and with such other duties as may from time to time be defined by the defence board.” It is therefore unquestioned that the GDF is charged with “maintaining order in Guyana”. The DFC, however, pointed out that the GDF was not conferred “the coercive public law, powers of arrest, detention and interrogation”.

As such, the commission recommended that “whenever it is deemed necessary to deploy the GDF to carry out this public function, there should be joint operations between the GDF and the GPF”.

Addressing the specific instance of GDF personnel deployed in Buxton refusing to arrest and apprehend lawbreakers, the commission specifically pointed out that the GPF is empowered by Section 18 of the Police Act to OBLIGATE any member of the public, including the GDF, to “become directly involved in preventing violations of the criminal law by simply calling upon them whenever the need arises”.

The leader of the opposition should be stressing this part of the DFC’s report rather than the “unsuitability” of the GDF in maintenance of civilian order.

More pointedly for the present, the DFC’s report declares: “For the removal of lingering perceptions of statutory impotence, the commission recommends that members of the GDF be conferred with powers of arrest and detention for the express purpose of maintaining order, thereby giving effect to the wisdom and foresight underlying the statutory imposition on the GDF of a public duty to maintain public order.”

In terms of the panic about “drug smuggling” from Guyana because of our extensive borders, the DFC made the following recommendations. For the Coast Guard, “(74) adequate inshore patrol vessels should be acquired to enable the suppression of illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking, gun running...and (75) adequate aerial and radar surveillance”.

For the Air Corps: “(84) There should be increased operational employment of aviation resources in coastal, maritime and border surveillance...(85) Reconnaissance/ surveillance aircraft should be acquired.”

Let us not try to reinvent the wheel. We advise both the GDF and its civilian overseers to revisit the DFC’s report.

Simply

the

Going to town

In 1973, I left Corentyne, Berbice, to go to the University of Guyana (UG). I was teaching then at the Port Mourant Anglican School. The fact that I was admitted into UNVERSITY OF GUYANA was stunning to me. At Corentyne High School (now J C Chandisingh Secondary), I was certainly not a good academic performer. Being admitted to UG came as a shock!

But I was admitted. My father, Haroon AlRashid Samad, was as pleased as could be. Joseph Chamberlain Chandisingh was equally pleased. My teachers – Parasram Singh, Sukree Sarjoo, Dhanesar Sukhoo, Somdat Sookhoo, John Fingal, Adam Ameer, and so on – were happy and proud. I was terrified.

I knew that I was not bright. I knew nothing about Georgetown, and I knew even less about what it means to be at university. This insecurity was compounded by the fact that I was from Berbice. Worse, I was from Corentyne! At that time, only a handful of people went from here to Turkeyen (therefore, Georgetown).

I was lucky, I think, to be admitted. I was lucky that I had family living in town. For the first month, I boarded and lodged with my first cousin. We called her Girlie. She passed away a few weeks ago. Girlie

lived behind Lee’s Funeral Parlour. I had bought a nice motorbike. Two attempts in two weeks were made to steal it. Georgetown had traffic lights!

One of the young men staying with Girlie was a bright boy named Navin Chanderpaul. Navin tried to make me feel comfortable at UG, but my fear stayed with me as close as my skin. The buildings were too big and well maintained, the lawns too well kept, the students too wellspoken, everyone was too polite.

And they all spoke “proper” English. My lecturers were dignified, humorous, serious about their work, but intelligent enough to avoid being selfserious. And they avoided pretention as if it were the plague.

My first semester was blessed. I had lecturers like Mrs (now Dr) Joyce Jonas, Mr (now Professor) John Rickford, Dr Ramnarine, and Mr Gobin Sarjoo. Dr Jonas changed my life – I changed my major from History to English. Professor Rickford changed my life. He showed by example what is meant by scholarly excellence.

Above all things, they were fair and just. They encouraged us to be critical, to ask questions, to come to their offices if things were unclear. Not once did I hear them be loud and aggressive. And

yet, I could not bring myself to speak with them outside of class. The awe!

Now, Joyce and John are friends. And more than 15 years ago, I joined John Rickford in his rank of full professor. The awe is no longer there. They never asked for that, never demanded it. The awe is gone. But my respect for them remains steadfast.

Separately, they visited the UG Berbice Campus (UGBC). Rickford from Stanford University! Jonas having given fabulous service to UG and Guyana for some 35 years!

They each expressed deep admiration for the work we were doing at UGBC, I was motivated to do better. And we did, after such high praise from such lofty people who know what universities ought to be and what they mean!

Many people have written about UG Turkeyen being dilapidated or dead. I cannot disagree. There are cracked walls, sagging roofs, clogged toilets, broken windows, rickety stairs, empty labs, peeling paint, black mould overwhelming paint, overgrown bushes, and so on. It is not the UG that I attended.

These things can be fixed with a bit of money and some initiative. What is not so easily fixed is the whole approach to university education and tertiary-level service that has

taken firm root at UG. The administrative structure is so old and irrelevant that it is wormridden. It recycles the same old failures, who are quite comfortable with things as they are. Things cannot and will not change (for the better) unless we know where we got university system from and how it has evolved in other places. We cannot see possibilities of the future unless we stop gazing at our belly buttons. And everyone is affected: students, lecturers, “administrators”, staff at all levels. Students of the future are also negatively affected and meaningful scholarly work dies along with everything else. I cannot identify a single lecturer at UG that I can look at and say: “This is the next John Rickford or Joyce Jonas or Jeffrey Robinson or Ian Robertson or Walter Edwards!” Not one!

There are a few good young lecturers, but they will succumb eventually to the disease that is all around them. Students pay for a service. We are not doing them favours.

AFC must demand the resignation of its chairman

Dear Editor, Faced with increasing public outrage over his alleged involvement in a property scam, the embattled chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Nigel Hughes is trying to extricate himself from the heat he is now confronted with by now clutching to the Colwyn Harding matter.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has observed that since the public revelation of the court action brought against him by the owner of a city private school, Hughes has been dodging the media and avoiding public appearances until recently, when he suddenly surfaced to announce a controversial “finding” in an external medical examination on Harding.

His ramblings on the Harding matter further brings his credibility into serious questioning, especially coming days after the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) reported that there was no evidence of sodomy in the matter.

The AFC chairman is attempting to reinvent himself as the “good guy” by clutching to this matter, which has already been publicly pronounced on and is being dealt with at the level of the director of public prosecutions (DPP).

In one of the most profoundly astonishing and self-serving comments of recent, the AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan publicly downplayed the plight of over 300 students whose education is at risk because of the current matter. Ramjattan’s comment was interpreted to suggest his party has not considered this matter to be important, much less to be considered.

The public is aware of the numerous scandals of corruption, lack of transparency, lack of accountability, unethical conduct and other improprieties implicating the leadership of that small political party.

Ongoing mass migration of members from the AFC continues to negatively impact that party’s existence. Several of the corruption scandals levelled against the AFC leadership came from among its membership as well, who observed the trend of a pervasive disregard for principles of transparency and accountability by that party’s leadership.

The striking irony is that while the AFC lectures Guyanese on the need for transparency and accountability as a country, its own house from deep within is infested with corruption. The PPP/C condemns the double-standards being exhibited by the AFC

and its cronies. The AFC is in no position to lecture any stakeholder in Guyana about rooting out corruption when it is unable to do the same within its rank and file.

The PPP/C remains concerned over the future of the students of Mae’s school, and increasingly so as they prepare to write Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations shortly.

Apart from this latest allegation, and the ongoing litigation on the matter, Hughes was involved in several other matters. Recall the allegations of conflict of interest when it was revealed that Hughes and his wife Cathy were in the employ of Sithe Global, the company which developed the Amaila Falls Hydro Project which the AFC rejected.

Hughes was also embroiled in another controversy surrounding his deliberate failure to disclose his relationship with the jury foreman in the Lusignan massacre trial, while representing one of the accused. The party recalls his alleged involvement in the removal of footage from the gas station where a citizen was gunned down at Buxton.

Again the PPP/C urges those citizens who may

have fallen prey to Hughes’ alleged racketeering acts to lodge a report with the Guyana Police Force, which should investigate all allegations keenly. Our party will never allow any politician to trample on the fun-

damental rights of ordinary citizens.

If the AFC has a shred of decency left, it must distance itself from Hughes and rebuke his actions. If the party has any integrity remaining, it must stop

dodging the issue surrounding the constant controversies involving Hughes and demand the resignation of its chairman.

PPP/C, Freedom House

Page Foundation

Anu Dev

Well, Republic Day’s coming up next Sunday and it really is an important day. I certainly wasn’t around way back in 1970, to know personally what it must have been like to live in a country still under the rule of another. Or even nominally under a governor general. But I do know that it feels better to be in control than to be controlled. And we won that right on Republic Day – to chart our own destiny. It’s like an ultimate version of becoming an adult.

Republic Day!

A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example. – Niccolo Machiavelli

My favourite hero in WI history was Toussaint L’Ouverture. To be a man – born a slave – take on the full might of one of the greatest European powers of the day, for the right to be free, was awe inspiring. He was indeed an “Opening”: the eventual independence of Haiti showed the path that every other colony had to walk.

So on Republic Day at least, we should make a point of being proud to be Guyanese. On that day we commemorate the earlier rebellion of our own Cuffy, in our own Berbice, for that same struggle to be free. Before l’Overture.

I know some people try to raise some Guyanese pride on Republic Day, but unfortunately for most, it’s just about the Mashramani pa-

rade.

Granted, everyone has different ways of celebrating, of showing joy. Some people express themselves by parading down the streets in various states of undress in honour of Republic Day. Other people have more de-

mure gatherings to celebrate the day.

But the problematic thing about it all is that most people don’t parade because of national pride. They parade to dress up (or undress) in costumes and ride on floats. Because it’s all about Mashramani – the jump-up and wine-down.

We’ve gotten so caught up with the festivities, that we’ve completely forgotten why we’re celebrating in the first place. Who thinks of the meaning of Cuffy or Toussaint in the definition of what ‘freedom’ means?

One of the aspects of being free means that we’re a democracy – we can elect our own government. I know I’m thrilled that I’m finally 18, so I can vote in the next election. Even though I just get one vote out of the thousands that are cast on Election’s Day, it still makes me feel like I have a say in who’ll be in charge of running our country.

And I’ll be thinking long and hard about which party has the best interests of the country at the top of their agenda before I cast my vote. Who’ll ensure most UG graduates don’t emigrate?

A healthy nation is a productive nation – which party will implement the best health-care programme for the country?

Our kids are the future of our country and they need to have a sound education to ensure that they can have successful careers to continue the development of Guyana. We still have so few scholarships that kids have to write over 20 subjects at CXC to try to grab either the regional prize or the two scholarships that Guyana gives out.

Why aren’t we giving out scholarships to children for the different streams, example, science, arts and busi-

ness? That’ll encourage children to be the best in their chosen field, instead of having to spread themselves too thin to write subjects from all of the streams.

So don’t just wait until it’s close to election’s time to think about whom you’ll vote for: start this Republic Day. Look at their actions during the year – what bills are they pushing (or

holding up) in Parliament? Are they the type of people you’d want representing you?

We’re a republic now. We have the right (and obligation) to vote for who governs our country. So let’s think long and hard and make the decision that’ll be best for Guyana. That’s us.

Happy Republic Day!

Region Three residents urged to be good ambassadors of LCDS

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy has called on Region Three residents to be good ambassadors of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), noting that they all should be proud of Guyana’s efforts in combating climate change.

Speaking at an LCDS awareness session at the West Demerara Secondary School, Region Three, hosted by the Office of Climate Change (OCC), Dr Ramsammy said Guyana has been at the forefront in addressing climate change.

“You and I, wherever we are in our country, wherever we are in the world, we must be proud to stand up and say that we, Guyana, may not be the reason for climate change, but we are victims of climate change, and we are proud that we have warned the world long before anybody became too conscious about it, and we are proud that not only are we aware, but we are doing something in our country, in our region, in our community and importantly in our homes,” the agriculture minister said.

He said Guyana has progressed in its achievement with regards to acknowledging and implementing measures to address climate change, and global warming.

“Guyanese should be extremely proud of the fact that Guyana is one of the few countries that not only talks about climate change, but is also doing something about climate change and is not waiting to see the im-

pact…we stand apart from many countries in being a progressive country with advanced ideas when it comes to climate change,” he said.

He noted that Guyana is one of the few countries in the world to have developed a formal strategy with regards to the issue.

“Some people talk about a low carbon strategy, but they have not developed it, Guyana talked about it, and we also developed it, but more importantly, we are implementing it, and we have a whole unit dedicated towards dealing with climate change and towards ensuring the implementation of strategies that would adapt Guyana in terms of our response,” he noted.

Forefront

Guyana took to the forefront while other powerful nations such as the U.S. are only now getting onboard. The minister noted that it is not new for Guyana to speak about global warming and climate change as the issue has been spoken of since the time of former President Cheddi Jagan.

During the session, the minister sought to bring home the reality of climate change, and in this regard pointed to the unusual and extreme weather conditions being experienced around the world and also here in Guyana.

Pointing to Guyana’s LCDS, the minister said that the strategy presents another reason Guyanese should be proud. “We are... one of the world’s largest pristine rainforest. Our forest

Guyanese-born curator to present “Modern Guyana” at NY exhibition

Last month Guyaneseborn curator Grace Ali was awarded a landmark curatorial fellowship by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, to research and present “Modern Guyana”, the first major New York City exhibition featuring Guyanese contemporary photography, in 2015.

This April, at New York Public Library’s Schomburg Centre for Research in Black Culture, she will host a discussion with some of the participating photographers. She will return to Guyana as part of her research for the project.

is not only important to us, it is important to the world, whether you live in Africa, India or America or any part of Guyana, Guyana’s forest is important to all of us and that was the brilliance of the Low Carbon Development Strategy,” he said.

He added: “I make that point because there are too many of our own people who think we are receiving a hand out from Norway. Guyana’s position is that we do not have our hands out begging. This is a service we are providing the people around the world, and we should be paid for that service,” he explained.

On June 8, 2009 former President Bharrat Jagdeo launched the LCDS that outlines Guyana’s vision to promote economic development, while at the same time combating climate change. A revised version was published on May 24, 2010 and subsequently the LCDS update was launched in March 2013 by President Donald Ramotar.

Over the past several years, Ali has been collecting and sharing scholarship about Guyana. In 2003, she leveraged a Fulbright scholarship to travel to India, excavating the transplanted roots of her Indian background.

As a “Young Global Shaper” at World Economic Forum’s 2013 annual meet-

ing, she participated in highlevel conversations focused on raising awareness of Guyana’s art and culture.

That same year, she wrote the cover story and curated a landmark issue of the Nueva Luz Journal featuring Guyanese photographers. She is, perhaps, the only individual doing this work, look-

ing at the artistic and cultural production from Guyana, a nation stereotyped by poverty and the People’s Temple suicide tragedy decades ago. Ali is also the founder and editorial director of OF NOTE, one of the first online magazines focused on global artists using the arts as catalysts for activism and social change. She is an adjunct professor of literature for the City University of New York. Ali currently hosts the Visually Speaking series at the Schomburg Centre, which examines the state of photojournalism through the lens of contemporary photographers and image-makers. Ali was born in Guyana and immigrated to the U.S. when she was 14 years old. Guyana continues to inform and influence her worldview. The artist can be reached on telephone number (646)4214283 or via e-mail at havelockn@gmail.com.

Caricom to host first Regional Interfaith Conference

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) will host its first Regional Interfaith Conference on Monday. The conference will be held in Antigua and Barbuda at the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa. It will be preceded by an Interfaith Service to be held on Sunday.

The event is targeted at religious leaders of all faiths practised through-out the community and in particular, the leaders of national and regional umbrella Faithbased Organisations (FBOs). The conference is being convened in response to a request from Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Dr Baldwin Spencer, that such an event take place prior to the 25th

inter-sessional meeting of the conference of heads to be held next month in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The purpose of the confer-

ence is to reignite the spirit of fellowship among the community’s religious leaders. It also aims to develop a framework for a regional consultative process to facilitate appropriate engagement of FBOs in the decision-making process in the community. It is hoped that the conference will help to contribute to the consultative process currently being undertaken to elaborate a strategic plan for Caricom and begin a process among FBOs aimed at transforming the social fabric of the community. Attendees at the conference are also expected to discuss the formation of an organisation to tackle hunger and poverty across the community.

Children's Mash parade rocks

The atmosphere was filled with excitement as scores of Guyanese lined the streets of Georgetown on Saturday to support the Annual Children’s Mash Parade.

The parade was a scene to behold – children of all ages, decked out in colourful costumes – danced, covered

in glitter and having lots of fun.

Guyana Times was at the parade and felt the excitement and joy as the children danced to popular soca and dancehall songs.

Some of the teachers who spoke with this newspaper said they were delighted to be part of the parade, more

so, seeing the children enjoy themselves.

The parade commenced at the Promenade Gardens, heading north along Camp Street, then proceeding east up Lamaha Street, turning north on Albert Street, and then to the National Park, where the schools and regions were judged on the

costumes, creativity and performance.

The children's Mash parade is one of many activities leading up to February 23, Mashramani Day, where hundreds of persons from across the country will gather to have a grand time, celebrating unity and birth of the republic.

Eyew tness Red (cash) Herring...

...from APNU

In the hounds’ pursuit of hares, they were sometimes deliberately distracted by the smell of the smoked (reddish) herring. And if you’re a regular working class Guyanese, you’d know what a pungent smell that is! We guess in the army, they’re taught to use similar diversions to blindside the enemy.

Harmon of APNU (and Granger’s aide de camp) deployed the tactic after the Attorney General exposed their brainless plan to have the police seize funds (including jewellery) in the possession of any citizen amounting to more than $2 million!!

Now like all red herrings, there’s some plausibility to the proposal. We’ve all complained about “people walking around with too much cash” and becoming easy targets for bandits. But the question is: “What the heck does cash on individuals have to do with money laundering??” The whole purpose of the “laundering” is to ensure that the origins of the money are untraceable. Money launderers don’t walk around with duffel bags of cash: they launder it!

Of course, there’s the fella who did walk in to buy a big store with $4 million (in U.S.!!) in a suitcase. But he was told to do that by his (silent) partner, The Mook, and now you know why he’s called “The Mook”. Some of his marbles are missing.

Anyhow back to Harmon and the Red Herring. APNU was exposed to the entire world – including one country assisting it to take over the government – how ambition can blind them to reason – with their obdurate stance on the AML/CFT Bill.

As a party that only was able to seize power with outside help, APNU was desperate to direct attention elsewhere. Hence the Red Herring to have police seize funds over $2 million. Because surely they couldn›t be so stupid to give the police legal powers to seize funds after the Berbice fiasco where they were accused of doing so illegally? While we know there are loads of honest policemen, this move would be like giving the fox the keys to the henhouse.

Sure, we'd all like a cashless society. But we're not there yet. Half the economic activity in the country would come to a halt – and crash to the ground with the APNU proposal. It›ll be like when Burnham banned foods without first arranging for substitutes.

But maybe they want to follow their hero even in the ruination of Guyana?

...on CLICO

Meanwhile, we’d like to know what kind of Red Herring’s being drawn across the trail of all that money CLICO owes us. Surely, Dear Reader, you haven’t forgotten that cool US$34 million (GY$7 billion) the local branch transferred to its Bahamian counterpart? The Chief Justice, in winding up CLICO Guyana, explicitly noted that the transfer was “illegal”. So how come no one’s been booked for the “illegality”?

Especially when the government had to step in and bail out some of the local CLICO clients. All of this came to mind when we read that the parent CLICO in Trinidad made TT$3.8 billion profits last month. Now the TT dollar is 6 to the U.S. 1 – so we’re talking about US$633 million here. That’s real money. Surely whoever’s following our claim ought to be telling us whether we can recoup a piece of our action.

There IS someone following up with our claim, isn’t there? And while we’re on it, didn’t the government of Bahamas also make some sort of guarantee on the CLICO debt?

Finally we do hope the Bank of Guyana’s keeping a sharp eye on these other insurance companies here. They seem to be the only ones bitten by the get-rich-at-anycost bug that brought the U.S. and EU to their knees.

...on baton

We wish the AFC wouldn’t use the unfortunate incident of the alleged baton-rape victim as a Red Herring on their leadership woes.

“De Professor” retains calypso crown

Lester “De Professor” Charles out of the mining town of Linden lived up to his name, teaching his rivals a lesson as he retains his calypso monarch title on Friday evening.

Performing before a huge crowd at the Demerara Park, De Professor for the second time in succession outshone his 10 competitors, leaving the judges with no difficulty in deciding who is the winner.

Taking full advantage of the stage, he belted out “The Truth”, creating a whirlwind among fans, who enjoyed every minute of his performance.

Coming in second for the second consecutive year was Roger Hinds also called “Young Bill Rogers”.

Decked out in a short trousers and jersey, he dished out “I Ain’t Singing About That” and in third spot was Kenroy “Mighty Believer” Fraser, who sang “Cant Tek The Government No More”.

Immediately after being crowned the 2014 calypso monarch, De Professor told Guyana Times that he was fully ready for competition night and did not expect to retain the title, claiming that every contestant brought their A Game. It was during and after his performance, he realised that based on the crowd’s reaction, he knew that he had

Chancellor requests resignation of Justice Sukul

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh has requested the immediate resignation of Justice Rabi Sukul, a Court of Appeal of Guyana judge, who was on February 3, disbarred by the Bar Council of England and Wales.

The Office of the Chancellor in a release said Justice Sukul last week applied for and was granted special leave “to attend to urgent personal matters in the United Kingdom”.

“Yesterday, (Friday 14, February, 2014) news of the disbarment came to the attention of the acting chancellor of the judiciary, who sought and obtained from Justice Sukul confirmation of his disbarment.

The acting chancellor has requested the immediate resignation of Justice Sukul who has undertaken to do so,” the release concluded.

According to Law Society Gazette, the bar’s disciplinary tribunal heard that Sukul, of Balham Chambers, London, drafted a document

to the Court of Appeal setting out initial grounds for an appeal against conviction on behalf of his client, “L”, who had been convicted of drugs-related offences.

The tribunal found he had created the document, knowing it to be false, with the intention of misleading L into believing he had grounds to appeal his conviction, when Sukul knew there were no grounds of appeal.

The five-person tribunal, chaired by Michael Baker, QC, found unanimously that Sukul had intentionally misled his client and engaged in conduct likely to bring the legal profession into disrepute. Sukul was ordered to be disbarred.

The decision is open to appeal. Sukul was called to the bar by Lincoln’s Inn in July 1988.

Head of professional conduct at the Bar Standards Board Sara Down said: “Our duty as a regulator is, first and foremost, to protect the public and safeguard the client.”

tunity to highlight the ills of society and did not agree when it was banned from local airwaves; hence, his tune “The Truth”.

Thanks

He, however, thanked the Almighty for giving him the strength to perform and be successful while praising his sponsors, manager and fans for supporting him.

His arch rival, Hinds, said his song had all the elements of an excellent calypso and thought that he did well on stage, but concurred that De Professor was better.

the edge over the others. De Professor said he respected his challengers and congratulated them for their performances during the competition.

He said he was happy to retain the title, but feels that calypso has been sidelined by the administration.

De Professor reiterated that calypso is an art form that gives artistes an oppor-

While, he was seemingly not too happy with the judges’ decision, he said the judges had their criteria to which they were guided. He felt that the judges should have paid more attention to topic, composition, melody, originality and compatibility rather than crowd reaction.

After the results were released, the “Mighty Believer” disappeared, thus

getting a reaction from him was futile.

Meanwhile, the competition started about 21:00h with Garfield “The Mighty Roots” Campbell performing modestly before the crowd.

There were also some exciting performances from Daria Barrow, who dished out “Vote Chiney Fuh Cup”; Dawn “Lady D” Edwards who sang “They Banned

who sang “Chinese Taking

Veteran journalist Enrico Woolford was the chief judge of the competition. He was ably assisted by several other judges, including Cecil Semple, Hugh Dembo, Sean Bhola, Margaret Lawrence, Tyrone Arjune and Sandra Hooper.

Five excited couples in “The race to the altar”

Wedding Expo 2014

“The Race to the Altar” kicked off on a romantic note on Friday with the five shortlisted couples being selected to vie for the grand prize of an all expense paid wedding.

With Friday being St Valentine’s Day, an occasion dedicated to lovers across the world, the couples were treated to an intimate dinner party at the Roraima Duke Lodge, Duke Street, Kingston.

The wedding expo is sponsored mainly by Roraima Airways with support from several other private sector companies.

The expo started years ago, but the race to the altar was launched only last year, with 15 couples. This year, 10 couples applied for the competition and five were shortlisted.

The couples will be challenged with a series of events for the remainder of the month, beginning on Saturday when they visited the Arrowpoint Nature Resort. Today they will be taken on an aerial tour of Georgetown.

During this period, the

couples would be interviewed at their homes and it will be aired on television for the public to see and have some view of the competitors.

Voting

The public will be given a chance to vote via social media, phone and other means for the couple of their choice. Based on the voting, the winner will be selected

on February 28, and the wedding will be held on March 29 at the Duke Lodge.

According to Roraima Group of Companies Chairman, Captain Gerry Gouviea, the aim of this competition is to find people who really want to be together, despite their challenges.

Couple number one is Felicity and Denzil, who have been together for almost five years. The couple hail

from Berbice and wanted to get married for a while, but could not due to financial constraints.

The second couple is Pride and Devina, who have known each other for 21 years and have been together for 16 years. This couple said that they have joined the competition because they are adventurous and like to be spontaneous.

Nigel and Fareeda are the third couple, who met over the phone and talked for six months before finally meeting. The couple decided to tie the knot after several years because they realised they want to spend their lives together after making it through many challenges.

Couple number four is Maria and Ryan, who met the day before Valentine’s Day, 10 years ago. This couple sees this competition as a way to boost their relationship.

The fifth couple, Romel and Nazeema have been together for four and a half years, and despite being in a long distance relationship, they have always been there for each other, keeping the love and affection burning.

Flouting

Satiricus was tired. He was tired of this Anti-Money Laundering Bill. It had dominated not only the newspapers but – more the (vexed) point – the daily briefings the Editor had with the news hounds. “I mean, how much can a fella take?” Satiricus had fretted to the boys at the back street dive. They were gathered there in their usual Friday night conclave, solving the world’s problems, while they wet their throats.

Cappo, the CaneCutter, pointed to the headline on the MuckrakerKN, “Yuh mean dis?” And he then read out laboriously, “Govt flouts new deadline ahead of CFATF review”.

“Flouts?” interjected Teacher Samad and then went on his classroom voice. “‘Flout’ is like when you break or ignore a law or rule or something and you don’t hide what you doing or showing any fear or shame.”

“Yeah!” agreed Suresh. “Is like when Cappo bin out with that dutty-skin ‘bad gyaal’ and he walk all around the village with she!”

“Ai!! Me bin drunk dat day!” Cappo replied hotly. “Wha you excuse when yuh jump around naked last week? Wha you bin flouting then?”

“That was “flaunting”, me friend,” retorted Suresh with a smile. “And ah had on me red buckta. Ah was gettin ready for Mash!”

“Hold it chaps,” said Satiricus firmly as he sat up with a start. It all now made sense to him. He’d been all confused before, but now his brain was suffused with a light. And he’s only had a dozen Banks. “I don’t care if the two of you flouncing yuh petticoat. But if the government “flout” the new deadline, it mean they know the bill no good, but yet they backing it. Just like what the Jhaat and GrainJa saying!”

“Budday, is dat I bin tellin’ you all dis time!” shouted Cappo. “If de government pass dis bill, is how de opposition guh survive?”

“That’s right,” agreed Teacher Damad. “Is who you think giving them all their funding? That is why they can tell the regular businessmen to “go to hell!” when they ask them to support the bill.”

“I now understand,” said Satiricus quietly. “And you know the most important thing in a democracy is to have an opposition.”

“Well, dat is why de MuckrakerKN saying de guvment flout de bill,” said Cappo disgustedly. “Dey know is only de drug dealers and de money launders keeping the opposition alive.”

“Take away that, and you have no opposition in Guyana!” Exclaimed Satiricus in wonder. “How brazen can this government be?”

“Dey not only brazen. Dey brigah too. Dey flout de bill,” concluded Cappo

Guyana participates in nuclear disarmament conference in Mexico

Guyana participated in the second conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons which concluded that it is necessary to establish new international standards and norms through legally binding instruments for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

“It is time to begin the diplomatic process leading to this goal” according to the final document which appeals to states possessing nuclear weapons (such as Russia, the U.S., France, UK, China), as well as those who have not signed the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (as India, Pakistan, North Korea) to join this dialogue and participate in the third conference to be held in Austria. The first conference took place in Oslo, Norway last year.

The second conference, held in Nayarit, Mexico, was attended by 146 countries, 119 representatives of civil society organisations, 10 international organisations, 35 national societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, as well as legislators and academics.

Since the end of the cold war, public opinion has be-

come unaware of the fact that there are still 17,000 nuclear weapons in the world, enough to wipe out mankind out of the face of Earth.

Under Mexico’s chairmanship, international experts explained the high cost of maintaining those weapons.

The risks they imply, including the danger of falling in to the hands of terrorists, the lethal, harmful and extremely long-term effects of an intentional or accidental detonation of any nuclear weapon on public health, damage to the environment, social and economic disruption, food security, and displacement of populations, among others.

The meeting was held on the 47th anniversary of the approval of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, the cornerstone of Latin America and the Caribbean contribution to the goal of nuclear disarmament, which established the first densely populated area free of nuclear weapons in the world. This achievement earned Mexican diplomat Alfonso Garcia Robles the Nobel Peace Prize in 1982. Other regions have followed, such as the South Pacific through the Treaty of Rarotonga.

sunDAY, FEBRuARY 16, 2014 | guYAnAtimEsgY.com

Two held in failed attempt to execute Alberttown businessman

The wife of popular businessman Deokarran 'Ram' Sanassie, who was shot three times during a failed execution on Friday evening, has been arrested after police reported receiving information that she might have planned the attack.

Patsy Sanassie of Lot 129 Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara, was taken into police on Saturday morning at the Alberttown Police Station, where she was interrogated in relation to the incident. Attempts to get a comment from the woman’s relatives proved futile.

Guyana Times understands that the owner of Ram’s Auto Spares at Fourth and Light streets, Alberttown, is in the intensive care unit of the Balwant Singh Hospital. He is said to be recovering well from the attack.

A police source revealed that based on information received from Deokarran at the hospital, there is suspicion that his wife was involved in planning the shooting. It is suspected that Patsy might have contracted the men to kill her husband. Another suspect late Friday evening was also taken into custody for questioning.

Police in a statement said that about 18:30h, on Friday, Sanassie was in the vicinity of his business place at Fourth and Light streets, Alberttown, when an armed man came up and discharged shots at him. He was struck to his left thigh and abdomen.

On the night of the shooting, the 58-year-old businessman, also called Ram, was reportedly hanging out with friends at Light and Fourth streets in front of the Hose and Bolt Store, when he was shot three times by two young men, once to his leg and twice to his abdomen.

Two warheads, which likely came from a revolver of unknown caliber, were recovered from the scene.

It was reported that after the businessman was shot, he attempted to run for cover as he held onto his abdomen as blood poured out from the gunshot wounds.

The injured man was subsequently placed in a vehicle and whisked away to the private medical institution.

It is not the first time the businessman was attacked

Link Show 30 for Parc Rayne next week

Link Show 30 is slated to open on Thursday with a gala event, including a cocktail reception before the show gets started at the Parc Rayne Entertainment Centre, Rahaman’s Park.

Apart from the opening night, there will be three other viewings scheduled for February 21, 22 and 24.

The first Link Show was held in 1981 and since then it has been staged annually, with interruptions in 1984, 2007 and 2008.

The show has become a staple in Guyana, attracting a following of over 10,000 fans. It has also been held in Canada and U.S.

The producers, The Theatre Company and GEMS Theatre Productions said patrons would enjoy the show equally as they have done at any other venue. The seating has been numbered and sections of the rear would be raised. The enclosed section of the building is fully air-conditioned while other parts have fans and open ventilation.

The actors at the show Henry Rodney, Rajan Tiwari, Michael Ignatius, Sonia Yarde, Sherry Ann Dyal, Leslyn Fraser, Mark Luke-Edwards, Kijana Lewis, Tashandra Inniss, Nirmala Narine, Mark Kazim, Sean Thompson and Nuriyyih Gerrard, among others are ready to entertain fans.

In addition to a belly of nightly laughter, there will be lots of prizes to be won.

There will be nightly giveaways of small home appliances from Lucky Dollar; gemstones from Kings Jewellery World; and gift vouchers and shopping bags from Bounty Supermarket and Germans Restaurant.

Other prizes are from Nigel’s Supermarket, Hurakabra River Resort, Arrowpoint Nature Resort and Splashmins Resort

Tickets for the show directed by Ron Robinson are already on sale at Giftland Office Max, Nigel’s Supermarket, Ashmins and Rent-A-Tent offices at $2000 and $1500.

and robbed in the same area, but this time, investigators have ruled out robbery. In 2012, Sanassie and his wife were relieved of jewellery while standing outside of the Edge Night club on Main Street.

Younge’s take

That Vanessa Kissoon demotion

The opposition’s ‘Iron Lady’ has resigned.

Deborah Backer’s departure from the front bench of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) will no doubt hurt the party, and has left it in between a rock and a hard place.

There is no doubt in the minds of Guyanese that the party was made more vulnerable to the politics of the ruling party with Backer’s departure. She was a very good Deputy Speaker, People’s National Congress (PNC) strong-woman and politician.

Backer brought a sense of upliftment to the debates in the National Assembly and is respected for the manner in which she articulated various positions, much to the discomfort of the government and its ministers.

She had charm and a moral conscience. The opposition Iron Lady was witty and knew how to keep some parliamentarians in check, especially when she was heckling.

Opposition Leader David Granger will have to look elsewhere for solid advice on the standing orders of the National Assembly and other issues with regard to the workings of Parliament.

Granger has expressed the view that her departure was a “serious blow” for his party but there could be no “serious blow” like the one he gave Vanessa Kissoon on Monday.

Kissoon turned up to the parliament at noon on

Monday to be told that she was made a backbencher. She was given no explanation. She was given no prior notice so that she could prepare for the shift. The leadership of APNU disrespected Kissoon in this instance and they know it.

Granger was rather parsimonious with the truth when he told media operatives this week that his decision to move the Member of Parliament (MP) to the backbench was “purely administrative”. We don’t buy it.

Kissoon herself said that the media should ask the APNU what was the “motive” behind the decision. Why wasn’t she moved laterally, as was the case with other MPs? Granger’s attempt to downplay the factionalism within his coalition has not fooled anyone.

He appeared peeved when he was questioned about Aubrey Norton and his association with Kissoon, as well as the party.

If it is true, that the party’s leadership had serious issues with Kissoon and her apparent relations with Norton, then the coalition is headed downhill.

Kissoon is not a ‘yes’ woman and never will be!

Some say she has serious reservations about some of the decisions being made by the coalition and how it is handling issues with respect to Linden and Region 10.

There appears to be a rift between Kissoon and the party’s Chief Whip Amna Ally,

who also played down the injustice they did to her. She appeared to be saying it was no big deal.

It is shameful that the APNU has chosen to make both of the representatives of Region 10 backbenchers when one considers the role the votes from that region played in creating the ‘new dispensation’.

Sooner or later the truth is bound to surface. The coalition has crippled the PNC Reform (PNCR), removing from it any political relevance in this era. It has sidelined men and women who were stalwarts in that movement.

Where is James McAllister, Dr Van West Charles, Aubrey Norton, Dr Faith Harding, Vincent Alexander and the others who dared to take unpopular positions within the PNC/APNU?

Granger, like most military officials, has surrounded himself with generals and sergeants who will comply with instructions and ask questions later. He has turned the PNC and APNU into paramilitary organisations, where he sits comfortably at the helm. This is a dangerous development for the two entities.

Kissoon’s demotion was a shock to many who believed that the coalition was starting to make a change in Region 10. It is a stab in the back.

Three hospitalised in Buxton accident

Three persons are nursing injuries after the car in which they were travelling in slammed into a reversing vehicle in Buxton, East Coast Demerara on Friday evening.

Phillip Armstrong and Delicia Britton, both in their mid 20s, of the mining town of Linden, along with another woman from Enterprise, East Coast Demerara were admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Armstrong’s condition is listed as critical since he

is also suffering from other medical complications while Britton and another woman are said to be in stable condition.

According to information received, Armstrong was the driver of the car and was heading to Enterprise to drop off a friend.

On the journey, while in the vicinity of Company Path Road, Buxton, a vehicle reversed into his path, causing the accident.

Hospital officials say Britton received injures to

the head and arms while the other female passenger suffered lacerations to the feet and face.

Armstrong reportedly received a concussion to his head and some cuts about the body.

Moments after the accident, the three were rushed to the hospital by publicspirited citizens.

The driver of the reversing vehicle is said to be in police custody at the Vigilance Police Station, assisting with investigations.

Enmore teen commits suicide

The lifeless body of an Enmore teenager was discovered hanging from the rafters in his bedroom on Saturday about 05:50h, leaving his parents baffled as to the reason for him committing suicide.

The body of Sawraj Camal Persaud, 13, of Lot 73 Enmore North, East Coast Demerara was discovered hanging by his five-year-old niece, who was sent to wake him up. His bed sheet was reportedly tied around his neck.

According to information received, the child was sent by her grandmother to check if Persaud was up and after a few minutes, she went back to her grandmother relating that she saw her uncle

Dead: Sawraj Camal Persaud

swinging from the section of the roof in his room.

Persaud’s older brother, Vicky, was still in a state of shock of what

happened, stating that he could not say what might have led to his brother committing suicide. He recalled that his brother never showed any sign of depression, was always jovial and had lots of friends. He was an ardent church member and was not someone who would miss school.

His sister, Nicola, recalled that her brother returned home on Friday afternoon from school and attended a church youth group meeting in the evening. He then had dinner and retired to bed.

She also confirmed that Sawraj had a temper and would sometimes get angry at her and her mother whenever he is not happy with something.

SUNday, febrUary 16, 2014| gUyaNatimeSgy.com

Seventh edition of Guyana Where and What booklet launched

The Tourism Ministry has recently launched the seventh edition of Guyana Where and What, a pocket book/ guide that was published and edited by Gem Madhoo-Nascimento, and which contains detailed information about local businesses, tourist attractions, and some bit of the country’s history.

This edition which is printed in English and translated into Portuguese, contains photographs showcasing various activities in Guyana. This is to allow the book to serve as a tour guide not only for English speaking tourists, but also Portuguese and to complement the growing number

of tourists and immigrants from Brazil.

Nascimento highlighted that she is considering the publication of the next edition in a variety of languages, including Spanish to aid in bridging the language gap.

The 140- page book is being widely circulated, both locally and internationally, and is also available on the Internet. It can be accessed at www.guyanawhereandwhat.com.

Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, said he was pleased with the undertaking by Madhoo-Nascimento over the past seven years, pointing out that she has helped to boost the tourism

industry through the promotion of what the country has to offer via the book.

The minister added that the idea of publishing the book in various languages is a good one, since the ministry has been working towards attracting tourists from different countries, and also on bridging the language barrier.

Ali also noted that the ministry is currently working on a “Dining Guide”, a similar book that will portray various cuisines and restaurants in Guyana.

The book is available for free distribution at hotels, airlines, restaurants, resorts and other entertainment locations.

Granger hails Sankar as an extraordinary businessman

Opposition Leader Brigadier David Granger has hailed late rice magnate Kayman Sankar as an extraordinary businessman, who through hard work, and sound business strategies, revolutionised the rice industry on the Essequibo Coast.

Sankar, who was once a parliamentary on the People’s National Congress (PNC) slate, started from a humble beginning, moving up the ladder, to become the most successful rice farmer in Guyana.

Granger told Guyana Times that the PNC always advocated for the development of the agriculture industry as the party sees it as a major sector of the country’s economy, and Sankar led by example in this regard.

The opposition leader said Sankar started at a “critical time” in the industry, introducing new dimensions in the business, pointing out that this positioned him as a standout player in the industry.

Industry

Rice Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj said Sankar has left his footprint in the industry.

Seeraj said Sankar as a parliamentarian represented all farmers and their interests.

Sankar was the agriculture spokesperson for farmers on the Essequibo Coast.

During his time as parliamentarian, Seeraj said Sankar represented farmers at the grass-roots level, raising all concerns affecting them.

He said Sankar had a special ability to interact with farmers and was trusted to lobby for their betterment.

As a member of the Rice Action Committee, the RPA general secretary said Sankar fought tirelessly for rice farmers.

Seeraj said despite Sankar being a representative for farmers, he had a passion for farming himself. The passion grew, prompting

him to invest millions of dollars in a rice mill.

Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager Jagnarine Singh noted that when one thinks of rice in Essequibo, they think of Kayman Sankar. Singh said Sankar went through some of the most trying times in the rice industry and despite his many challenges; he never wavered, always maintaining a high level of production.

The GRDB general manager said the businessman secured great markets and prices in Europe for farmers, and without doubt, was a trailblazer in the industry.

Speaking on the achievements of Sankar, Singh said when the rice industry was facing serious trouble in the 1970s-80s, Essequibo remained competitive despite the challenges, mainly because it was kept alive by a man named “Kayman Sankar!”

He said Sankar was a man with a vision, and the fact that the rice industry is now producing 500,000 thousand tonnes of rice, is because of the groundwork and contribution of Sankar.

Family struggle

According to Beni Sankar, son of the deceased, his father was a wise man and came from humble beginnings. Sankar, during his eulogy, related that his father emerged from being a simple farmer to a miller.

Kayman Sankar Rice Mill Limited is a household name for practically everyone on the Essequibo Coast.

Sankar was born on June 3, 1926 at Corneila Ida, West Coast Demerara to parents Sewsankar and Dooknie Sankar. He was the eldest of five siblings.

Beni said his father worked as a labourer on the Cornelia Ida Estate as a young boy after his parents could not have afforded to al-

low him to continue his primary education. He began farming between 1956 and 1965 at Dunleld/Perth and Bounty Hall on the Essequibo Coast.

After a few years of farming, Sankar partnered with his brother Mahadoe and nephew Nandalall Sankar and they purchased a large piece of land at Dunkeld/ Perth. The lands were cleared of bushes and converted into rice fields.

He related that initially, the family was not successful in cultivating rice; however, through courage and determination in 1966, the rice industry started to bloom after Sankar acquired 1556 acres of land at Hampton Court.

The family business started to develop in the year 1966. The first crop was cultivated in 1968 and all lands were fully developed in1968. The company was registered in 1975 and the second phase of expansion began soon after.

In 1984, two rice mills were built along with a rice sheller and length grader and Sankar was on his way to becoming the largest private rice miller in the country.

Expansion

In 1985, the company further expanded to include Sankar Air Division and in 1988, it established a drying and storage facility.

Over the years, Sankar employed a number of workers, many of whom he assisted in acquiring their own homes, especially from Hampton Court and neighbouring villages. Some of his rice lands were rented out to rice farmers throughout the coast.

The rice magnate passed away on Tuesday night at age 87. He had been ailing for some time. He is survived by his wife Seraji Sankar and their three children, Seeta, Beni and Sita.

PPP/C expresses support for Venezuelan govt

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has extended solidarity with the government of Venezuela in what appeared to be a well orchestrated attempt by the opposition parties with backing from local and overseas reactionary groups to destabilise the democratically-elected Maduro administration from office.

The ruling party in a statement said it has been following closely developments in that neighbouring state and wished to condemn in the strongest possible terms the loss of innocent lives by provocateurs, whose only objective is to reverse the clock of history and restore the old order, based on privileges for the wealthy class at the expense of the poor and the downtrodden.

The party said it applauds the enormous economic and social gains made by the Venezuelan government under the charismatic leadership of the late

President Hugo Chavez and now President Maduro on behalf of the Venezuelan people, in particular, the ordinary working people.

The PPP/C said the political opposition had hoped that with the passing of Chavez, the Bolivarian revolution would have lost momentum. However, much to their chagrin and disappointment, the aspirations and dreams of Simon Bolivar for a free, democratic and just order in Latin America is continuing unabated.

Contest

“The current unrest in Venezuela has to be seen in that context. The party calls on the opposition forces to respect the will and the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people and to desist from all attempts to incite violence and unrest in the society.

“The PPP/C empathises with the Venezuelan government in its attempt to raise the quality of life of the Venezuelan people in

the face of a hostile political opposition, a situation all too familiar with what is taking place in Guyana where the combined political opposition is using its one-seat majority to blackmail the country and thwart the developmental agenda of the PPP/C government,” the statement said.

The PPP/C said it is confident that the will of the Venezuelan people will prevail over the forces of backwardness and reaction.

Meanwhile, according to a BBC report on Saturday,

supporters and opponents of President Maduro have taken to the streets of the capital, Caracas, in rival marches. The demonstrations come at a time of growing political tension in Venezuela.

Three people were killed during anti-government protests on Wednesday, and some 100 students were arrested.

Maduro accused the opposition of stirring up trouble as part of a coup plot and urged his supporters to march for peace on

Saturday.

Government supporters began arriving at Venezuela Square, in central Caracas, in the morning.

They were dressed predominantly in red or in Venezuela’s national colours – blue, yellow and red.

Alarming reports

Hours later, Maduro addressed thousands of his supporters in Bolivar Avenue. The march was broadcast live on national television.

“I call all the people to the streets in order to defend peace,” he said.

He warned that his government would not give in to those he described as “fascists”, including former president of neighbouring Colombia, Alvaro Uribe.

“Alvaro Uribe is behind this, financing and directing these fascist movements.

“He intended to use a Venezuelan television channel [NTN24] to do the same they did on 11 April, 2002,” Maduro said, referring to a

failed military coup against President Chavez.

Uribe, a centre-right politician, was a fierce enemy of Chavez and accused the late president of supporting Colombia’s largest rebel group, the FARC.

Maduro said police had been looking for opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, accused of ordering “all these violent kids, which he trained, to destroy half of Caracas to then go into hiding”.

Lopez has not been seen in public since an arrest warrant was issued for him on Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, has issued a statement expressing concern over the rising tensions in Venezuela.

“We are particularly alarmed by reports that the Venezuelan government has arrested or detained scores of anti-government protesters and issued an arrest warrant for Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez,” read the statement.

sunday, february 16, 2014

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Guyanese boxers impressive in Goodwill tourney

The four-nation Goodwill Boxing Tournament punched off with a bang on Friday evening, with the local boxers out performing their Caribbean counterparts at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Imran Khan produced the deadliest win by knocking out Jamaica’s Patrick Sahadeo in the final round of his bout in the 60kg category.

Junior Henry (52kg)

topped Trinidad and Tobago’s Akmal Stroude on points; Clairmont Gibson (60kg) won via disqualification against Trinidad’s Michael Alexander; Bert Braithwaite (64kg) defeated Trinidad’s Jean Paul on points; Eon Bancroft (69kg) upstaged St Lucia’s Ron Bastien on points; and Dennis Thomas (75kg) outclassed St Lucian Arthur Langelier on points as well.

Meanwhile, Ron Smith

(69kg) was the only Guyanese boxer to lose in the opening leg of the tournament, falling to Trinidadian Akeil Outram by way of unanimous decision.

The tournament marked the first time in Guyana that amateur fighters fought without head gear under the new International Boxing Association (AIBA) rules, while it was also the first time that the computerized scoring system implemented by AIBA was used as well.

Basil Butcher assists four promising junior cricketers – hails

RHTY&SC as model club

“Members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) should consider themselves very fortunate, as no other cricket club in Guyana invests so heavily into their membership development, whether on the cricket field, in the classroom or personal development.”

Those were the words of West Indies cricket legend Basil Butcher as he presented cricket gear and educational materials to four promising Rose RHTY&SC members last weekend.

The occasion was the seventh presentation ceremony of the RHTY&SC’s Basil Butcher Trust Fund. The four awardees for 2014 are Azam Khan, Joel Pike, Keith Simpson and Justin Gobin. They received a set of personal cricket gear, including a bat and batting pads and a supply of educational materials.

Butcher, who played 44 test matches for the West Indies from 1958 to 1969, described the RHTY&SC as a role model organisation, which he is proud to be as-

sociated with, and urged the awardees to be proud ambassadors of their club.

Success on the cricket field, Butcher stated, is only achieved by hard work and advised the awardees to play cricket for the love of it and not for the financial rewards.

He expressed outrage at the current state of cricket in Guyana and said too many persons were involved in the administration of cricket who have no interest in the game.

Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RHTY&SC Hilbert Foster disclosed that Butcher has assisted young cricketers in Berbice over the last seven years to the cost of some $1.4M.

Foster hailed the cricketing legend as a true example of giving back to the game he loves dearly. Among the cricketers, the 80-year-old legend has assisted are Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Sheperd, Arif Chan, Shemaine Campbell, Shawn Pereira, Plaffina Millington, Loydel Lewis, Daniel Lewis and Vierendra Gooniah.

Foster told the four award-

ees to not only pay attention to playing the game of cricket, but to devote a lot of energy to obtaining an educational background.

He stated quite frankly that while sport is important to youths, the pursuit of an educated mind is the most important objective for any human being.

Foster said the club would continue to invest heavily in its membership to make sure that everyone of them fulfills their potential on the cricket field and in the classroom, In response, each of the awardees expressed gratitude to the RHTY&SC and Butcher for the investment in their future. An elated Khan stated that he felt it privilege to receive gear from a cricketing legend, whom he has heard a lot of. He promised on behalf of his fellow awardees to make his club and Butcher proud.

Six other members of the RHTY&SC will next month receive more assistance when the club hosts its annual Western Union Junior Cricketers Programme.

Queen’s baton headed for Guyana on March 3

– South American team finalized

By Treiston Joseph

The Queen’s baton will be in Guyana on March 2 as part of a world tour of the Commonwealth countries before the beginning of the Commonwealth Games on July 23.

At a press conference held on Saturday, President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K A Juman Yassin updated the media on the event, noting its importance to the country.

“The baton will be going through the streets of Georgetown, we have asked several schools to participate and they have accepted. The baton will touch places of significance and Guyana will have a chance to showcase its beauty,” Yassin said.

According to organizer of the event Dr Karen Pilgrim, the baton will carry the Queen’s message encased in a lattice frame, covered by a puzzle mechanism and a granite gem stone, with a wooden handle.

Further, Pilgrim pointed out that the baton embodies Glasgow and Scotland’s culture, history and innovation in its design and construction.

The baton is currently in South Africa and will head to the Caribbean after leaving Guyana on March 5.

Meanwhile, at the same press conference, Yassin updated the media on the South American Games in Chile, which begins on March 7.

The GOA will only be

GUMDAC Open Doubles Badminton Tournament

concludes

The quarter and semi-finals stages in the GUMDAC Open Doubles Badminton Tournament concluded at the Queen’s College courts on Friday afternoon.

In the women’s semi-finals, Althea McDavid and Abosaide Cadogan defeated Angelica DaSilva and Krystal Peters 21-10, 21-4.

On the distaff side, Narayan Ramdhani and Nicholas Ali defeated Raymond Khalil and JasonRay Khalil 21-6, 21-9, while

Christopher Persaud and Noel Shewjattan defeated Gokarn Ramdhani and Darrell Carpenay 21-16, 21-18 to reach the final.

In the men’s quarter finals, Narayan Ramdhani and Nicholas Ali defeated Ronald ChangYuen and William Holder 21-10, 21-10; Raymond Khalil and Jason-Ray Khalil defeated Jonathan Mangra and Avinash Odit 21-17, 21-19; Christopher Persaud and Noel Shewjattan defeated Joshua Singh and Hemraj Beharry 214, 21-8; and Gokarn Ramdhani

Lucrative Jumbo Jet horse race meet on today

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Over $11 million in cash and trophies will be at stake when the Jumbo Jet Business Enterprise stages its grand day of horse racing today at the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC).

Dubbed the New Year’s “Sweet Stakes” horse race meet, the one-day activity has attracted over 100 of the country’s top thoroughbreds.

Seven highly anticipated races are carded for the day with the D1 and Lower class listed as the marque event of the day, with the winner pocketing $1 million. Competitors will go head-tohead over a distance of 1500 metres.

The main supporting race is for Three-Year-old race for horses bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies. The race will be run over 1200 meters for a top prize of $600,000.

The Four-Year-Old Guyana and West Indies bred horses will gallop over 1500 metres for the $500,000 first prize on offer, while the same cash prize is at stake for the

champion horse in the E1 and Lower 1200- metre event.

The G1 Class horses will run also over 1200 metres and will see the champion horse taking home a winner’s purse of $400,000.

The I and Lower 1000-metre event has a winning prize of $250,000, while the other event is for animals classified J and Lower, which is a 1200-metre affair for a winner’s pocket of $200,000.

According to information emanating from the organising team, all systems are in place for a highly competitive day of racing, featuring the leading horses, jockeys and stables.

Reports out of Berbice are that the track is in excellent condition and participating stables from that part of the country have been working tirelessly over the past few weeks to get their animals in top shape for today’s highly anticipated showdown.

The race will be run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA). Race time is 12:30h and admission to the venue is $1500 per person.

GOA’s

participating in two sporting disciplines at the event, namely, boxing and athletics, as these are seen as having the best chance of gaining medals.

and Darrell Carpenay defeated Marcellos Bhagwandin and Amil Alli 21-11, 21-8. The tournament concluded Saturday with the finals for both categories. (See more results in the Monday’s edition of Guyana Times.)

Boxing will have four fighters in Imran Khan (52kg), Taressa London (75kg), Dennis Thomas (75kg) and Eon Bancroft (69kg), while the coach of the team will be Terrence Poole.

Fortune was reportedly asked to go to the games in place of distance athlete Alika Morgan, who declined the invitation to participate due to inadequate preparations and what was described as short notice by the GOA.

However, Morgan was in top form earlier in the year, winning a couple of 10ks in Suriname, and would have

Athletics will be taking Olympian Winston George (200, 400 metres), Cleveland Forde (1500, 5000 metres), Cleveland Thomas (800, 1500 metres), Wayne Harlequin (400, 800 metres) and Alisha Fortune (100, 200 metres).

had to know of her selection for the trip since last year, as the team was shortlisted in 2013. Meanwhile, it was understood, after speaking with the GOA president, that Fortune’s age and relevance to the Road to Rio plan were considered.

In addition, overseas athletes, such as Kadecia Baird and a few others, were unavailable, because the season in North America has just begun. Another faactor was school commitment.

Petra kicks off Milo tourney

By Treiston Joseph

The Petra Organization kicked off their Milo Football Tournament with a grand opening ceremony on Saturday at the Education Ministry ground.

Georgetown schools had no competition before it, so we wanted to give this for the Georgetown schools, and as you know Petra is all about developing the youths.

“When we looked back at the nationwide school tournament, we saw that the

After a colorful march past by Georgetown schools in the tournament, Director of Petra Organization Troy Mendonza related how the tournament, which is in its second year, was formed.

“The result last year was that the defending champions of this tournament

finished fourth in both nationwide tournaments last year,” Mendonza stated.

Another Director Marlon Cole revealed that five scholarships will be given away at the end of the tournament for the footballers who want to further their studies at the University of Guyana (UG).

Further, the Petra organization has partnered with the Health Ministry to spread the word on gender violence, as the captain for each team will have a snippet to read before each game is played.

Both Cole and Mendonza were thankful to Beepats and the Milo brand, as it was noted during the opening that Milo is the food drink of champions.

Meanwhile, the event kicked off with four games on Saturday and will continue today at the Education Ministry ground.

Barbados are NAGICO Super50 champions

Hosts Trinidad and Tobago were on Saturday night trampled in their own back yard as the boys from the land of the flying fish, Barbados, reaching 252 all out from 48.4 overs, defended their total excellently, restraining the twin island boys to 235 off 45.5 overs.

A capacity crowd watched as Barbados were crowned the new region-

al 50-over champion, after the defending champions, the Windward Islands, were knocked out of the tournament in the group stage.

T&T had won their semi-final in grand style, skittling out Jamaica for just 49 runs and proceeding to win by seven wickets. Barbados had won their semi-final match against Guyana by seven wickets.

On the night of the final, Barbados had won the toss against the hosts and elected to bat first. They opted for the same team that defeated Guyana in the semi-finals of the competition, while T&T made one change, playing Kjorn Ottley for Imran Khan.

T&T started bowling quite tightly, but when on 22, Dwayne Smith was put down by Evin Lewis at fine-leg, the local team

seemed to drop their heads and shoulders.

Smith took of advantage of the chance, smashing 83 runs from 77 balls, and hitting 10 fours and two sixes. The opening stand put on 127 runs before Kraigg Brathwaite was out for 36.

Jonathan Carter carried on where Smith left off, hitting 49 runs from 51 balls.

But Lendl Simmons started the comeback for T&T, removing both Brathwaite and Smith.

Kevon Cooper took 4-62 while Sunil Narine was quite economical, taking 2-18 from his 10 overs, as T&T fought back to dismiss Barbados inside their 50 overs.

Lewis, 27, showed some

fight early in the T&T innings, but it was left to Denesh Ramdin, 68, and Rayad Emrit, 27, who came together in a rearguard action and posed a strong challenge to the Barbados total. Jason Mohammed supported with 26 batting in the middle order.

Carlos Brathwaite was the pick of the bowlers for Barbados with 4-41 from his 10 overs. Jason Holder and Suleiman Benn picked up two wickets apiece.

The fact that T&T were only 18 runs from victory with more than four overs remaining would perhaps make them realize, all too late, that they lost wickets too early and at regular intervals during their chase.

lbw b Narine 5

Benn not out 22

b Cooper 1 Extras: (lb 7, w 11, nb 1) 19 Total: (all out; 48.4 overs) 252 Fall of wickets: 1-127 (KC Brathwaite, 22.3 ov), 2-132 (Smith, 24.5 ov), 3-195 (Carter, 37.1 ov), 4-206 (CR Brathwaite, 38.5 ov), 5-207 (Stoute, 40.1 ov), 6-210 (Dowrich, 40.6 ov), 7-210 (Williams, 41.1 ov), 8-218 (Holder, 43.3 ov), 9-241 (Nurse, 47.1 ov), 10252 (Edwards, 48.4 ov)

Bowling: DJ Bravo 5-0-40-0, R Rampaul 6-0-25-1, RR Emrit 5-041-0, SP Narine 10-2-18-2, KK Cooper 9.4-0-62-4, KYG Ottley 4-0-18-1, LMP Simmons 5-023-2, JN Mohammed 4-0-18-0 TRINIDAD & TOBAGO innings LMP