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Police constable charged for prisoner’s escape Body of Guyanese NYPD officer to arrive in Guyana for final farewell

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wednesday, october 28, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Body of Guyanese NYPD Officer to arrive in Guyana for final farewell

The body of slain Guyana-born New York Police Department Officer

Randolph Holder will arrive in Guyana on Thursday on Fly Jamaica for final burial rites. A large contingent including Holder’s family and members of the NYPD will accompany the remains on the flight.

Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners paid their respects on Tuesday to the slain Police Officer, while the man accused of killing him sat in handcuffs inside a Manhattan courthouse as a grand jury indicted him for murder.

A line of officers four blocks long formed at midday outside the Greater Allen AME Cathedral of New York in the city’s borough of Queens to view Holder’s body. Police Commissioner William Bratton was there and Mayor Bill de Blasio was expected to arrive later on Tuesday.

Holder, 33, was shot to

death on October 20 in the city’s East Harlem neighbourhood, becoming the fourth officer killed in the line of duty in the last year.

Tyrone Howard, 30, is accused of his murder.

Howard was at a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday, but did not enter the courtroom after his defence attorney waived his appearance.

Prosecutors filed a notice of indictment in court.

Howard will be formally arraigned on November 24.

“He should not be prejudged,” his lawyer, Michael Hurwitz, told reporters. “He denies the allegations.”

Holder’s funeral today is expected to draw more than 1000 Police Officers.

The Reverend Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights activist and frequent critic of the NYPD, said on Tuesday that he would not deliver the eulogy at Holder’s funeral, citing news reports in which his planned appearance had

been criticised. Sharpton said over the weekend that he had been invited to the funeral by Holder’s father, a former Police Officer in his native Guyana.

Sharpton’s announcement came hours after Holder’s fiancée was quoted in the New York Post as saying the Officer disliked Sharpton. In the Post story, Holder’s fiancée Mary Muhammad was quoted

as saying on Monday, “He didn’t like [Sharpton]. He wasn’t a fan. So I don’t know why [Sharpton] is speaking.”

Ed Mullins, President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, told the New York Daily News on Sunday that inviting Sharpton was “an ironic twist”.

“Maybe the family doesn’t understand his history with the NYPD,” Mullins said.

Sharpton said he was concerned that union leaders would turn the funeral into “some kind of confrontation”.

Union spokesman Jordan Bieber said on Tuesday that Mullins was only expressing surprise and that the union would never disrupt the funeral.

“This is one of our fallen brothers, and our focus is on Officer Holder and his family,” he said.

Sharpton’s reversal echoed a situation last year when he was initially ex-

pected to eulogise Akai Gurley, an unarmed black man killed in November by a Police Officer. He subsequently said he would not attend, citing a “dis-

pute” among members of Gurley’s family after reports that Gurley’s mother did not want him there. (New York Times)

Trinidadian medical team performs eye surgeries at GPHC

Ten patients recently benefited from followup eye surgeries, as a four-man team from “World Class Eye Surgeons” based in Port of Spain, Trinidad, conducted the operations at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

During the visit, Dr Ronnie Bhola, a Trinidadian Vitreo-Retinal Specialist and Head of World Class Eye Surgeons, was able to per-

the team’s visit, as this saved the Guyanese patients the effort of having to travel to Trinidad to have the surgeries done.

On October 23, the ophthalmologists were also involved in a Continued Medical Education (CME) Session, organised by Alcon Trinidad/ANSA McAL Group and GPHC. They delivered lectures on various eye conditions and were able to en-

form surgeries on patients who had earlier undergone retinal surgeries in Trinidad, but needed follow-up surgery, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Dr Adesh Maharaj, an Orbit and Oculoplasty Specialist, conducted operations on four children with strabismus (squint eye). The aim of strabismus surgery is to correct the misalignment of the eyes. The four children were operated under general anaesthesia.

After the surgeries on

hance the knowledge base of local ophthalmologists, optometrists, general physicians and students.

The World Class Eye Surgeons pointed out that they were extremely happy with this mission and they hoped to continue doing such charitable missions to Guyana in the future. The team comprised two ophthalmologists, one nurse and one assistant.

The patients were extremely grateful for the timely visit to Guyana.

Saturday morning, the children were excited about getting their eyes correctly aligned. Dr Lamy Badette, ophthalmologist, working in the Department of Ophthalmology at GPHC, also worked on these paediatric cases.

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton paid a visit to the hospital during the surgical procedures.

He was appreciative of

The GPHC’s Department of Ophthalmology, was extremely pleased to have been able to host the visiting team and to learn from the specialists.

Vitreo-Retinal Surgery was not available in Guyana for a number of years, and as such Dr Bhola has been operating in Trinidad on numerous Guyanese patients with retinal diseases of the eye, primarily diabetic patients.

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

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

Wednesday, October 28 – 16:35h-18:05h and Thursday, October 29 – 05:25h-06:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

High Tide: 04:45h and 16:59h reaching maximum height of 2.86 metres and 2.95 metres respectively.

Low

and 22:59h

Govt abandoned rice farmers – Opposition Leader

...PPP/C will support efforts to restore Venezuelan Market

By IndrawattIe natram

As the rice industry continues to deteriorate, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during a special meeting with rice farmers in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Tuesday evening said that from all indications the David Granger- led Administration has nothing for them.

He was at the time addressing the petrified farmers at the Rice Producers Association (RPA) Seed Paddy Complex, Anna Regina as part of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Region Two outreach programme. Jagdeo, accompanied by former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall are expected to address 42 meetings along the Essequibo Coast during the outreach.

At the meeting, rice farmers complained bitterly about the hardships they are now facing as a result of the deteriorating rice industry. The farmers also explained to the Opposition Leader that they were fearful for their future, as rice was the ‘backbone’ of the Region Two economy. The farmers further explained that now that the rice crop was over, they were very disappointed and dissatisfied with the prices they received, pointing out that some have not even cleared their expenses. The frustrated rice farmers lamented their lack of financing to restart the next crop, adding that they were heavily indebted to local banking institutions.

The farmers explained that they were so indebted that a large number of them have decided to abandon their rice lands for now. They admitted that they believed the promises that were highlighted to them by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) during the elections campaign but were now realising that they were “lied to”.

Jagdeo, in his address to the large gathering, said that the PPP/C was ready to support any effort to get back the Venezuelan rice

contract, but could only do so once the “Government of Guyana focuses on strengthening the bilateral arrangements with the neighbouring countries as oppose to sabotaging the relationship”.

He added that based on the many meetings he has had along the Essequibo Coast over the past two days many rice farmers were disgusted with the state of affairs in the industry.

Subsidies Jagdeo optimistically told the farmers that dur-

paddy to the Venezuelan market.

The former President said that the Venezuelan market was a lucrative one.

The Leader further explained that during the post-election period, the Venezuelan border came up and the PPP/C took the position to always protect the territorial area.

“Even though we had issues with our borders under our ruling, we make it clear that we are not going to compromise, we fix a strong position, we ensure that the border controver-

ing his tenure as Opposition Leader, he would advocate in Parliament for the present Government to pay more attention to farmers by moving a motion for subsidy for them to pursue more markets for rice, assist farmers with production costs and provide assistance in the form of seed paddy and fertilisers.

He said that the PPP/C has recognised the plight of rice farmers and could see that both the rice and sugar industries have changed from being “optimistic to negative”, noting that most of the sectors were “flat lining and investors lack confidence in the country’s economy after the elections”.

Explaining in detail to the farmers, Jagdeo said that over the years, rice production has increased significantly to close to 600,000 tonnes and in the past Guyana exported close to $130 million in rice and

sy between Suriname and Venezuela does not affect something that is vital functional and economical,” Jagdeo asserted.

He added that under the PPP/C rule, there was a good relationship between the countries.

“Relationship should have respect across the border, cultivated good attitudes with the neighbour so there can be joint economic activity for the benefit of the people. Under the PPP/C we had issues, but we secure the rice contract and we managed to maintain and have it grow to more tonnes in the production on supply,” the Opposition Leader said.

Jagdeo said that the manner in which the present Government responded to the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy was “inappropriate”.

“The wrong move was to send back the Venezuela airline and to force them to

pay US$200,000, that was the beginning of trouble,” the former President said. He explained that the diplomatic tone was “not conducive to good relationship hence it was worsened when they move to economic sanction”. He further added that the PPP/C was aware that the Venezuela contract was an annual one; as such, a good relationship had to be maintained at all times for its renewal.

Jagdeo said the problem in the industry was as a direct result of the loss of the Venezuelan rice contract, noting that from all indications the present Government did not want to use any of the PetroCaribe money to subsidise the industry as the PPP/C did previously.

“Imagine we lost a contract of $130 million, the sector in serious problems, PetroCaribe account and yet the Government saying the account don’t have no money.”

Sharing information on the PetroCaribe account to the rice farmers, Jagdeo said some of the money from that account was used to pay rice farmers, and reiterated that the account was usually credited every two weeks once oil was imported. He said part of the credit went into the account and as the rice was being shipped, the money in the account was accumulated.

Jagdeo said that if the present Government has doubts over the current PetroCaribe arrangement, he welcomed an international audit of the account. He also pointed out that the budget did not have anything for rice farmers.

He further added that the current Administration was treating the industry as “a private one but ... his Government spent huge sums of money investing in farm to market roads, negotiated with commercial banks in an effort to assist rice farmers”.

Jagdeo posited when the industry fell into difficult times the then Government assisted farmers in whatever viable arrangements that were possible.

Editor(ag): Michael Younge

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

Was the treasury indeed empty?

On the heels of the controversy of huge salary increases for Government Ministers, comes yet another salary increase for ‘the boys’. This time, for the Regional Executive Officers (REOs).

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo proudly announced on Wednesday that the newly appointed hand selected REOs will be receiving an enhanced remuneration package. Let’s for the sake of clarity examine this ‘enhanced’ package.

An REO under this new Administration will now receive non-taxable salary of $300,000; a non-taxable duty allowance of $70,000, and $10,000 as cellular phone allowance. They will also receive an additional $300,000 for payments of electricity bills, security service, and landline telephone service. Adding to this is a vacation allowance of the equivalent to one month’s non-taxable earnings, which in this case is $300,000. Taxing the public treasury further, they will also benefit from a duty-free concession – which would be worth at least $2-3 million annually – a Government assigned vehicle and the luxury of a driver. Unlike under the previous Administration where a REOs contract is renewed annually following an evaluation, the newly selected REOs will enjoy a three-year contract.

Under the previous Administration, REOs received a salary of $292,196 with a station allowance of $1500 and $500 entertainment allowance. The amenity of the non-taxable duty allowance was never a benefit enjoyed by REOs under that regime.

Having examined these comfortable concessions, one is left to wonder where are we going as a nation?

Several of these seven newly appointed REOs are either from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) national top up list from the last election or close associates of the party. Yet these officials are supposed to be "non-political" bureaucrats.

It is ironic that the APNU/AFC accused the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) of hiring its ‘hacks, cronies and close associates’ and now that they are in office, they intentionally do that which they accused the previous Administration of doing. As a matter of fact, it was the basis of this accusation that the APNU/AFC campaigned ‘Time for Change.’ They vowed to stamp out this phenomenon.

The APNU/AFC took office with much pomp and fanfare and hastily announced that the treasury was empty. They launched forensic audits into all state agencies and started a State Assets Recovery Unit, telling the Guyanese public that the country was ‘badly mismanaged.’ But low and behold, not even five fulfilling months in office, the Administration not only gave themselves a pay hike but ‘enhanced’ the salaries of their hand selected recruits.

The Government will now have to answer to all Guyanese, whether President David Granger and Finance Minister Winston Jordon lied to the populace when they announced that the treasury was empty.

The APNU/AFC will now have to explain their definition of ‘empty’, for it is a well-known fact that since taking to office, the country’s economy has been at a snail’s pace. Therefore, where is the Government generating the funds to give themselves and their associates such massive pay hikes?

It is time Guyanese demand the truth from the Government as to how much money they inherited from the PPP/C. From the preview of things, it seems that the treasury was bursting at the seams rather than empty as announced.

Educator Paul Erriah will be sorely missed

Dear Editor,

The Queens, New York Guyanese community mourns the passing of prominent educator Jainarine (Paul) Erriah. He hailed from Hampshire, Corentyne and taught at the Corentyne High School (CHS). He had a history in academia working at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and other universities. He also taught at Hillcrest High, Jamaica for over 20 years. He served the Guyanese community well in New York.

Paul, as we called him, was well known in Trinidad; Guyana; Montreal, Toronto; and New York. He taught at the Corentyne High School during the 1960s before leaving for college in Canada. He was a respected Journalist in Trinidad and taught Journalism; he also did occasional commentaries for community newspapers in New York. He also hosted community TV programmes in NY and a political programme in Trinidad during the 1980s. He was well known for his funny comments. He was witty and jovial.

Paul attended Corentyne High School excelling in GCE. He was called by then headmaster and school founder JC Chandisingh to teach at the same school during the 1960s before migrating to Montreal, Canada in early 1970s to pursue his undergraduate stud-

ies at Sir George Williams College/McGill University. He also completed three Masters degrees –Public Administration, Journalism and Political Science. He enrolled for the PhD in International Relations that he did not complete. He was fluent in French. At his wake, his former students paid tribute to him for helping them with grammar and writing.

My first encounter with Paul was at Mohabir’s Guyanese Ethnic Store on Eight Avenue and 39th Street in Manhattan around 1985. We exchanged thoughts on Guyana and Caribbean politics, and I sought his ideas as I was pursuing doctoral studies in International Politics. He called me frequently, applauding my writings on varied subjects; he never stopped talking when on the phone.

Paul was married to Shakuntala of Trinidad, a union that produced a daughter (living in Trinidad and a son (living in Australia), and he often spoke of the success of his children. He went to England and Australia to spend time with his children. He lived in Trinidad after university training socialising with politicians (Basdeo Panday, Winston Dookeran, Bhoe Tewarie, Lloyd Best, Brinsley Samaroo, Trevor Sudama, etc), academicians (Ramesh Deosaran,

Ramesh Ramsaran, etc), and journalists (Rhona Baptiste, etc) of various stripes. He reminisced with me a lot about his experiences in Trinidad especially how he used to “bush cook” with politicians and academics and about his life at CHS.

Paul worked as a research fellow for the Canadian Department of State in 1975. He also worked as a Cultural Affairs Specialist for the US Embassy in Trinidad. In NY, he wrote Quo Vadis: Perspective of the Caribbean from Colonial Times to Present – a critique of Caribbean economic development that I reviewed in 2012. He rebuked Burnhamism and was critical of the economic thought of the dominant left wing economists of the Region. He assailed those who destroyed the Guyanese economy with their idiotic racist, anti-Indian, anti-business policy.

Paul was an adjunct at St John University teaching Journalism; he was held in high esteem by students of journalism and he even offered some pointers to me when I edited Caribbean community publications as well as serving as a reporter and columnist for various other publications. He also taught for over 20 years at Hillcrest high where he was mentor to the Debate Team. We met several times at Pace University (downtown Manhattan) for

Lincoln Douglas debates when I coached the debate team of my school. Paul also taught at University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. And he taught political economy at UWI, Trinidad before migrating to NY to settle permanently. In NY, he worked briefly in real estate before he began teaching and writing in community papers. He also hosted a TV talk programme aired on the Indian TV network. He joined the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin serving as Secretary of the NY branch. He provided invaluable service to that organisation.

Paul served the Guyanese and Caribbean community with distinction in several capacities over the years until his passing. He possessed a wealth of knowledge and experience on varied issues impacting on the Guyanese, Caribbean and Indian Diaspora in America. He offered strong and pointed leadership at various levels of organisations throughout his illustrious career in America. Paul was widely respected by the Guyanese community, especially the Corentyne Hhigh School Diaspora. The Guyanese and Trini communities express gratitude to Paul Erriah for his contributions to the society. He will be sorely missed.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

Views of all must be considered for Diwali date

Dear Editor,

Some years ago, in his consultations with religious bodies in Guyana, former President Bharrat Jagdeo brought on board a large number of Hindu organisations – I was one to congratulate him on an enlightened decision. What we are experiencing now is a continuation of the same policy of consulting the widest possible cross section of the Hindu population on matters that affect us deeply. We should congratulate Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan for seeking to engage several Hindu organisations.

It is perhaps the first time since Diwali has been made a holiday that so many groups have been consulted by the Minister concerned. The best and most informed judgement on this and other issues can only be made when the views of all are examined. No single organisation should entertain the ambition of dominating the entire Hindu society. None should be given de facto monopoly.

India has a national calendar system called the Shaka Samvat, started in the year 78 CE, used for Government purposes. In

addition, there are several regional Samvats – epochs or eras – started at different times in history to mark special events. In this regard, there is a Tamil, a Gujarati, and a Bengali calendar. For all religious and cultural purposes, the regional calendars supersede the Indian National Calendar.

The Vikram Samvat –epoch or era – was founded by the legendary Emperor Vikramaditya in the year 57 BCE. This Samvat is widely used in the Hindi heartland. It is equally prevalent in the Bhojpuri areas from which our ancestors were transported, and is the source for the locally generated calendars. Whenever a Hindu priest in Guyana recites the sankalpa, the statement of intention, preceding any ritual, he makes reference to the Vikram Samvat. It is what we have been doing in Guyana since 1838.

The Hindu year has 12 lunar months of equal duration with each, including the Diwali month of Kartika, being divided into two pakshas, krishna and shukla, the “dark” and the “bright” halves. Each paksha records 15 phases of the moon called in Sanskrit tithis. These arenumbered one to 14, ex-

cepting the last tithis of the “dark” and “bright” halves which are known asamavasya (new moon) and purnima (full moon) respectively.

The public statements issued by all parties reveal four broad areas of agreement:

* Diwali – the lighting of the diya to dispel the darkness of ignorance and the performance of the Diwali Lakshmi Puja – has to be observed in the month of Kartika.

* Diwali must be celebrated in krishnapaksha, “dark half” or the waning half of the month.

* Diwali must be observed during the period of amavasya.

* The duration of Diwali comes to an end not later than 13.59 on Wednesday, November 11.

The Bhavani Shankar Panchang, the Kashi Vishvanath Panchang – several panchangas prepared in North America in English, for the benefit of Hindus in this hemisphere, and two reputable online panchangas, drikPanchang.com and myPanchang.com, all agree on the duration of amavasya in Guyana, with minor variations from 11:53h on Tuesday, November 10

to 13:47h on Wednesday, November 11. This being the case, it naturally follows that Diwali – Lighting of Diyas and Maha Lakshmi Puja –must be observed on the evening of Tuesday, November 10.

On the contrary, to agree that amavasya comes to an end, no later than 13:59h on Wednesday, November 11, as one of the organisations has done, and yet to insist that Diwali be observed four hours after on the evening of November 11, is clearly incomprehensible. To do so will result in the violation of the fundamental principles of panchang and an astronomical, and from all appearancesa deliberate and calculated blunder. It will mean celebrating Diwali in the shuklapaksha or bright half of the month.

It is important to keep in mind that every calculation of a tithi must be done with reference to one’s location. In India, even though there is an Indian Standard Time, the tithi varies considerably depending on the location. Dwarka in the West is separated from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh by more than 3000 kilometres. Obviously, the tithi for any event in Dwarka cannot be

the same for the said event in Itanagar.

If we look at the tithi for Diwali in New Delhi in 2015, we find that amavasya begins there at 21:23h on Tuesday, November 10 and extends to 23:17h on Wednesday November 11. Consequently, Diwali in New Delhi must be on November 11. However, if we make allowance for the 9.5 hours of time difference between Guyana and India, we will come back to the duration of amavasya in Georgetown, Guyana at from 11:53h on Tuesday, November 10 to 13:47h on Wednesday, November 11.

What one fears may have been happening, with at least one of the locally generated calendars now invoked as the authority, is the wholesale copying of Indian calendars and uncritically applying them to Guyana. Many Hindus have known for the longest while that this copy has been consistently off by an entire day on numerous occasions.

This time around there has been a significant departure from what prevailed in the past. Minister Ramjattan invited a wide cross section of Hindu leadership and sought their in-

put on the matter, and made a pronouncement for the purpose of the Official Gazette. Had Diwali not been a national holiday, the Minister would have had no need to consult any one and we Hindus would have gone on celebrating events as usual, one day before and one day after.

In going forward, I am proposing a National Calendar Committee for Hindus, at least for the two gazetted holidays, to be convened by a person of the stature of Dr Yesu Persaud and to be composed of learned representatives from various Hindu organisations. Since all of us claim to use the same panchangas and follow the same rules of interpretation and mathematical calculations, we should be able to resolve differences well in advance.

Our prayer is that when the heat that is currently being generated subsides, the light of Diwali that banishes darkness and ignorance will shine forth, and the clear stream of reason,to borrow from Tagore’s immortal Gitanjali, will resume its flow unimpeded.

Sincerely, Swami Aksharananda

Sharing power and critical support are no longer coalition goals

Dear Editor, The People’s National Congress (PNC)-led coalition will not last. The PNC’s track record of financial mismanagement of Guyana is legendary. Dr Walter Rodney’s famous description of that party’s Midas Touch syndrome has already found Guyana’s economy grinding to a halt. But Dr David Hinds – the sterling wisdom of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) in the KN of 10-26-15 insists that “The Government must call Opposition Leader Mr Bharrat Jagdeo’s bluff and let justice take its course.” Indeed, let justice take its course. Let freedom reign. All Dr Hinds’ loud fat talk of shared Government is nowadays completely dead. Only for now. Anyone knows why? No People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) witchhunting of the ousted PNC occurred after the 1992 elections. President Cheddi Jagan wanted to avoid any likely ensuing tit for tat acrimony. And get on with national development. Today’s born-again firebrands with their big hoses believe otherwise. When the African drums inevitably begin to beat for rescue shared Government, Nagamootoo’s fall would be more cataclysmic than the WPA’s Dr Rupert Roopnaraine. History will repeat itself. Most uncharacteristic of Dr Hinds is his hosing down of the raging fire of Guyanese outrage, boiling over from the PNC-led coalition’s 50 per cent pay increase. He believes that the outrage can simmer down

much more with his hose calibre. A fiery man putting out the fire, believes the loot what can be saved. But they are only temporary caretakers. The house of Guyana belongs to all. Cause of the fire?

Who was the political arsonist? Dr Hinds makes lemonade with the runoff water from his big hose. He has nothing but fulsome praise for Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo because “He acknowledged that there was a revolt against the Government action and he suggested that there was some merit in the revolt... As the (Prime) Minister of Information, he selflessly took responsibility for that error but that does not erase the fact that this was an A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC Cabinet) collective decision.” How true. “All are involved. All are consumed” makes our national poet Mr Martin Carter most prophetic. The way the Afrocentric militant portrays it, the coalition’s Prime Minister is now a hero. Fit for a monument maybe? Dr Hinds, like his political guru Eusi Kwayana’s diversion inquiry about PPP/C foreign policy, is in revved up damage control diversion. Nothing less. In its historic darkest hour, most inevitable, given the downturn of the country’s economy, the PNC was historically able to find quick easy rescue from the PPP. Prior to the 2006 elections, the PPP/C Government gave PNC Opposition Leader Robert Corbin a huge chunk

of taxpayers’ funds to shore up the PNC’s machinery for the elections. They paid all his personal medical bills. They also paid the AFC’s Nigel Hughes medical bills before the 2011 elections. The PNC did not share the funds with either the WPA or AFC to their chagrin. But “dis time na lang time”. Which PPP/C leader will bravely champion “critical support” in any calvary rescue when it previously wrecked their own party?

Come the Local Government Elections, the PNC coalition will meet its fate. The PNC maximum leader Forbes Burnham once described the WPA as the “Worst Political Alternative”. Many would disagree with him. But with Afro Guyanese in almost statistical unification to remove the PPP/C and made successful by the AFC’s 11 per cent crossover, what Afro Guyanese opposition exists to be their fallback catchment gooby? The certainty of the PPP/C complete sweeping the elections is not in doubt. Nada for sure.

Complete Guyanese race unity will come with the PPP/C despite the brilliance of the African supremacists all currently arrayed on the same side. Lookout for their recalibration. It’s enough to make the dead supporters of the PPP, Dr Rodney and others chuckle. Can you hear the riling of the thunder? It sure does raise hope to wonder.

However, Nagamootoo it was, whose ultimatum demanded justice because his pay was less than the Attorney General Basil

Williams. The absconded one time socialist refused to live in the same house vacated by former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds. Why? He found dead rats in the oven, many live roaches and “granny sugar” in it. Guyanese never knew their Prime Minister was living in such squalor. Which Prime Minister deserves more credit for selfsacrifice without filling his pocket? Anxious to save the coalition and keep political power, the PNC’s leadership caved to Nagamootoo’s de-

mands. Yet Dr Hinds expediency builds their Prime Minister as a hero fit for a monument. Call it WPA type “critical support” to understand their aggressive diversion so things do not completely fall apart. Dr Hinds advises his colleagues: “They have to go beyond leaking the alleged corruption of the previous Government.” Now we know the source of the media mudslinging against Guyana Sugar Corporation’s former Chief Executive Officer

(CEO), Dr Raj Singh. His replacement was the WPA’s Dr Clive Thomas. But if Dr Singh can be accused of incompetence, it must not be confused with corruption. The distinction is clear. The courts will decide if the CEO filled his pockets. Let justice take its course. Someone’s justice is often another man’s revenge and the electorate is now wiser. So who are they gonna call? Ghostbusters?

Regards, Sultan Mohamed

Page Foundation

9 rules to make joint child custody work

– We asked our experts for their best rules for making shared child custody work for you, your ex, and your children

BY KATE BAYLESS

Coordinating schedules. Divvying up holidays. Shuffling children between houses.

Sharing child custody isn’t always easy, especially when you’re trying to agree with someone you couldn’t stand being married to. The good news: “Studies show that shared-custody situations work best when both parents are cooperative, respectful, agree on shared custody, and manage their emotions,” says JoAnne Pedro-Carroll, PhD, Clinical Psychologist and author of Putting Children

First: Proven Parenting Strategies to Help Children Thrive Through Divorce

“These qualities make it more likely that parents will help their children adjust to family changes.”

We asked our experts for their best rules for making shared child custody work for you, your ex, and your children.

Rule #1: Speak no evil

Expert after expert (most of whom were divorced themselves) repeated this: Don’t speak poorly about your ex. “Badmouthing the ex will be internalised by the child because they are made up of both you and your ex,” says David Pisarra, fathers’ rights attorney at MensFamilyLaw.com and author of A Man’s Guide To Child Custody . “What you say about the ex is what the child will react to, and also think about themselves.” Even though you may be pissed at your ex, your child still loves him or her as a parent. Regardless of your feelings about your ex – justified or not – keep them to yourself.

Rule #2: It’s not about you

The divorce was about you, but custody is about the children. “Divorce causes emotional tunnel vision and people get so focused on their own hurts and needs that they lose sight of the goal of creating a good childhood,” Pisarra says. Custody is not about getting exactly what you want, or even demand ing equity at any cost. “The hardest part for co-parents is remembering that time with the child is not a prize to be won, but a gift to be cherished,” Pisarra says. Shared custody works best when both parents set aside their egos and realise that what is best for the child is not always what feels good for you as a par ent.”

Rule #3: Be realistic about your own schedule and commitments

“Often during a sep aration or divorce, par ents make unrealistic cus tody grabs based on fear or insecurity,” says Laura Wasser, a celebrity divorce attorney in Los Angeles and author of the new book It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way . Instead, look at custody as a business arrangement. Remove your emotions from the situation and look at the facts.

accommodates your children’s ages, activities, and needs

When deciding on a custody arrangement, you’ll want to take the following into consideration.

* Your children’s ages and personalities

* Your family schedule

* The career and social commitments of each par

Wednesday and Thursday with Dad, Friday through Sunday with Mom. Then the schedule flips: Monday and Tuesday with Dad, etc.

-2-2-5 plan Monday and Tuesday with Mom, Wednesday and Thursday with Dad, and then alternating Friday through

demic and extracurricular activities to which your children are committed

* Your child-care arrangements and the distance between the parents’ homes.

Rule #4: Choose a custody arrangement that

Here are three of the most common joint custody arrangements:

-2-2-3 plan Monday and Tuesday with Mom,

Mom, the next with Dad). This schedule often works better when children are older and have their own schedule of practices, play dates, and obligations.

- Alternate week plan week one with Mom, week two with Dad, and so on. Infants usually remain in primary care of the mothers, but toddlers and preschool-age children actually benefit from switch -

ing back and forth between households. “Generally, mental health practitioners who specialise in development recommend that for younger children, more frequent transitions actually are beneficial,” Wasser says. A 2-2-3 plan allows the child to see both parents regularly. As they get older, children can graduate to a 2-2-5 arrangement. Then, if it’s easier, parents can switch to an alternate week plan.”

Rule #5: A bad spouse doesn’t equal a bad parent

Your ex may have dropped the ball and driven you crazy, but Wasser reminds her clients that “even though he or she may not have been a good spouse, it is still possible for him or her to be a good parent.”

In most case, Wasser says, “it is unquestionably best for children to have frequent and continuous contact with both parents.” Your marriage may not have worked, but your parenting can still succeed.

“For good or bad, the child wants and needs to feel the love of both of parents,” Pisarra says. How to do that? Put the needs and well-being of your children first. “Remember that when the children are with your ex, they are with the one person in the world who loves and cares about them as much as you,” Wasser says.

Rule #6: Find an agreeable way to communicate

For joint child custody to work, communication is key. For the sake of your children (and your sanity), you need to find a method of communication that works for you and your ex. “These days we have so many tools with which to organise custody,” Wasser says. “There are Google calendars, icalendars, cellphones, texting, and emailing – all which provide parents with the ability to communicate with each other quickly.” Pisarra directs his clients to the website OurFamilyWizard. com, which offers joint calendars, expense logs, common document storage for things like a child’s immunisation record or school calendar, and a message board that keeps an accurate and non-modifiable record of your communications that can be admitted in court, if disagreements arise.

Rule #7: Pick your battles

Let’s be frank. Parenting is hard enough on its own, and co-parenting adds another layer of complexity. Prevent as many as conflicts as possible with your

ex by open communication, but when disagreements do arise, consider if the conflict is truly worth fighting over. “Try to be as rational about your positions as possible and remember that if a judge has to decide it, no one will like the decision most likely” Pisarra advises. “Fight only for the things that are worth fighting for. School choices, vacations, and parenting time are worth the fight. Things like food choices, unless there’s a known medical issue like diabetes or food allergies, are not worth the fight.” Save your energy and good will with your ex and the courts for those things that do matter.

Rule #8: Let your child feel heard

A child experiences lots of change during a divorce. Allowing the child to express feelings and confusions about the divorce and custody arrangement can help him feel a sense of control in the midst of all that change. “Children need to have input in the process, and depending on how old they are,” Pisarra says. “That can be a simple matter with preteens, or hard to discern with toddlers.” Involving your five-yearold might mean letting him choose which Lego sets he wants to bring to his dad’s house. Involving preteens and teenagers in creating a custody schedule can help ensure the schedule meshes with the teen’s extracurricular activities. Plus, a child who feels that his input was received is more likely to be agreeable to the schedule. But, says Wasser, “While it is important to listen to your children and hear their feelings, impressions and preferences, the child’s opinion is only one factor that goes into making child-custody decisions.” Let your children feel heard, but also make the best decision for their well being.

Rule #9: From time to time, review the arrangement and adjust as needed

Just as your children will grow and change over time, so should your custody arrangement. “Many parents find it helpful to review a custody agreement from time to time to assess how it is working for their children and to make adjustments, particularly as children grow and circumstances change,” says Dr Pedro-Carroll. You and your ex may change too. Says Wasser: “If you are hoping to eventually get to an equal time share arrangement but have not historically spent as much time parenting, gradual increases are recommended.” (Parents.com)

Sugar strike ends today

– bets off if GuySuCo does not negotiate

By Kristen MacKlingaM

Sugar workers from across the country who completely shutdown the industry over the past three days, will end their strike action today.

President of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand told Guyana Times on Tuesday that the workers, who had downed tools since Sunday will return to their respective sugar estates today, although the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is yet to meet with the Union to have dialogue.

He explained that GAWU has indicated to the sugar entity that it still wants to have an ‘early meeting’ to address the issue of the sugar workers’ wage increases for the year 2015.

With regards to the recent strike action being deemed ‘illegal’ by GuySuCo, Chand stated that it is the Sugar Corporation, which breached the law by not engaging with the Union in collective bargaining, despite claims made by GuySuCo that GAWU failed to give notice for the strike.

“Notice over what? We would give notice when we (both GAWU and GuySuCo) have reached an impasse… were we to discuss with them the increase that we are asking for and they said they can’t give us that increase, that they can give us half of it or none of it, and we don’t agree then we reach an impasse. Only if they are not moving and we are not moving and in this case, if this happened, were we to strike then, we would give

them notice,” maintained the GAWU President.

According to Chand, while GuySuCo charged that GAWU breached the recognition agreement by not giving 72-hour notice of the three-day strike, it was pointed out that GuySuCo did not meet with the Union and the question about the 72-hour notice did not arise because GuySuCo and GAWU did not reach an end to a dispute at negotiation.

“So that process has not gone through, so the requirement of notice does not arise. On the other hand, we pointed out that you are not meeting with us at collective bargaining and you are breaching the Trade Union Recognition Act (TURA). We are asking them, look you promised to meet with us and let us meet, and now you

from page 3

Govt abandoned rice...

Influence

Rice farmers during the meeting requested that Jagdeo use his influence to get back the Venezuelan contract. They are also calling for the removal of all taxes on fuel and agricultural machines and requested assistance in the form of fertiliser and seed paddy.

Meanwhile, RPA General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj told the farmers that he wrote the Agriculture Minister on a number of issues regarding the rice indus-

try. These included the issue of the removal of all taxes and duty on inputs such as chemicals, the establishment of a minimum export price for paddy and rice, reduction of the export commission and full recognition of the RPA, especially by Rice Board officials.

Earlier this month, Venezuela officially terminated Guyana’s PetroCaribe deal to see the exchange of fuel and rice at “favourable prices”, as the Spanish-speaking nation

teamed up with Suriname to pursue a similar agreement.

The agreement, signed between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his Surinamese counterpart Desi Bouterse, will allow Suriname to continue to receive favourable rates on oil in exchange for an agreement on rice exports.

President David Granger has recently distanced himself and his Government from the plight of rice farmers in Guyana. Echoing statements already made by Government

are shifting the goalpost and to say you want to meet with us after the Government considers the Commission of Inquiry’s (CoI’s) report and now say we want to act this way,” he said.

Guyana Times was further told that the Union had

officials, President Granger recently insisted that the crisis of the rice industry was not Government’s problem.

“It’s a private arrangement… Farmermiller-market… It’s not a Government arrangement,” he had stated.

The lack of action and unfavourable responses from the relevant authorities to inject funds into the indus-

represented in its claim earlier in March this year that it was seeking negotiations for a nine per cent wage increase for the sugar workers.

However, while GAWU was proposing this to GuySuCo, it is cognisant of the fact that the Sugar Corporation is in financial woes and cash-strapped and thus would welcome negotiations on this percentage.

“The nine per cent increase is for negotiation, we may accept far, far less when we reach with GuySuCo. We understand different issues so there is always room for compromise. That is what negotiations are about,” Chand added.

On Sunday morning, thousands of workers from across the sugar belt officially downed tools to push for higher wages from GuySuCo

try has only made matters worse.

Generally, in a crisis of this nature, the previous Administration would have released the necessary funds to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to pay the millers so they could pay the farmers. If it is a case where the millers actually have the money, but are refusing to settle their

with hopes that this latest action would result in their favour.

After announcing last week that all the sugar estates had exceeded their targets, GuySuCo would have been caught unawares by this industrial action. Operations at all sugar factories were adversely affected and will result in GuySuCo losing millions of dollars as a consequence of the workers’ decision to strike for the three-day period.

Guyana Times also understands the workers ‘retaliated’ after the Sugar Corporation failed to meet with representatives of GAWU to discuss an increase in wages for sugar workers for this year. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy. com)

debts with the farmers, the then Government would usually threaten to take the millers to court or have their licences revoked.

But the Granger-led Administration is taking a different approach — one which stakeholders have argued will see rice farmers continuing to suffer as the rice industry crumbles to ruins.

wednesday, october 28, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Johnny Welshman charged for fraud

– allegedly claimed to be a lawyer

The controversial Johnny Welshman was on Tuesday placed on $25,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Dylon Bess charged for obtaining money by false pretence.

It is alleged that on October 21, the 23-year-old obtained $40,000 from Alicia Fernandez by pretending to be a lawyer, knowing same to be false.

The prosecution is contending that Fernandez had a problem with her mother who has

custody of her children. She was advised to get advice from a lawyer on the process of obtaining full custody of her children.

It is alleged that the North Ruimveldt resident advised Fernandez that he was a learned lawyer and will take her case. The Virtual Complainant subsequently realised that Welshman was not a lawyer and reported the matter to the Police.

The case will continue on December 29.

Father jailed for cutlass-whipping 6-year-old

A42-year-old Richmond Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast man was on Tuesday sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment for beating his six-year-old daughter with a cutlass.

Jewan Lall appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court charged

with two counts of assault.

The labourer pleaded guilty to the charges which stated that on October 25 at Richmond Housing Scheme, he unlawfully assaulted Manesha Lall and Nalini Persaud.

According to the Prosecution’s case, on October 25 about 10:00h,

Lall was at home consuming alcohol with some friends and subsequently began verbally abusing his wife Nalini Persaud.

The Prosecution stated that Persaud began sweeping and the defendant dealt her two lashes on her shoulder with a broom. Later the same day, about 17:00h, he

took a cutlass and dealt his six-year-old daughter lashes to her back. Lall admitted that he lashed the child with the cutlass and was jailed for eight weeks.

He was also fined $15,000 with an alternative of one week’s imprisonment for lashing his wife with a broom.

Eyew tness Getting training…

…for open Government

For years while they were in the Opposition benches, APNU and AFC lambasted the PPP/C for not running an “open” Government. Now you’d think when you’re cussing out other folks for a moral or social failure, you’d have your house in order, no? Or you risk being accused of “hypocrisy” or needing to “pull the mote” from your own eyes and such like.

But when you’re in the Opposition, talk’s cheap. You can say whatever comes to your mind…on the theory you don’t have to do anything about it. Well, the chickens have finally come home to roost…after the dyspeptic duo hitched up with each other and won the elections. And that was the last we ever heard about “openness”.

Dare we ask them to take the mote out now? Or maybe even apologise to the PPP/C? After all, where was the “openness” in shafting Nagamootoo the goodies promised in the Cummingsburg Accord? Nagamootoo was as shocked as the rest of the folks who voted for the coalition. The Opposition and their supporters? They’d already been told that Nagamootoo would get “larwah” and the only surprise was the SIZE of the Larwah!!! Ouch!!!

Where was the openness in expanding the number of Ministries and re-naming them in such Orwellian language that folks are still trying to figure out what exactly does “Social Protection” have to do with hauling working girls out of Bartica. Didn’t they realise this drastic act could’ve affected the morale of our fighting men who had to go to Bartica to show those dastardly Venezuelans we mean business?

And let’s not get on the lack of openness on the whole salary increase fiasco that just seems to be picking up steam every day. That’s the road to madness! But suddenly there’s hope: PM Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman just flew off to Mexico to attend a forum on open governance. In fact, the group hosting them’s named “Open Government Partnership”… -and they’re having their Global Summit. Whenever you have a social or moral disorder – say like alcoholism or paedophilia or such like – the first step to a cure is admit you have a problem. It seems the fallout from salarygate has persuaded the coalition they’ve got to mend their ways. The second thing is to join a group of people who’re all wallowing in the same moral depravity.

And you then attend meetings and confess what bad things you’ve been covering up. And even though it’s been only five months – there’s a whole heap of confession that’ll be going on with APNU/AFC.

The two wankers didn’t even tell Guyanese they were leaving the country!!

…in astrology for war

Your Eyewitness is pleased that our Minister of National Security has taken up and mastered the arcane science and art of astronomy and astrology. He had to’ve done this for how else could he have so definitively pronounced on the Diwali date from the two sets of proposals sent to him.

But more power to the National Security Czar Ramjattan. And think of the “more power” Guyana now has at its disposal. The great savants who mastered Hindu astrology can predict future events to a “T”. Folks want to know whether their spouses have been messing around? Voila – the expert “opens his book” and tells you right away if he/she has actually been spending their nights working to comfort the homeless.

Right now…Ramjattan should be able to tell Prezzie precisely when and where and with what the Venezuelans will be attacking.

We’ll then be in a better position to know where to blow all that smoke that was created!

…astrology for Christmas

Now that Ramjattan has qualified in setting dates for religious holidays, could he tell us whether Christmas will fall on January 7 as per the Julian Calendar used when Jesus was born? Or on December 25 according to the Gregorian calendar from the 16th Century?

Readers

Govt waits for GRDB proposal – Agriculture Minister

By Kristen MacKlingaM

For many months, rice farmers throughout the country have been crying out for help from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, asking for the provision of some form of assistance to those adversely affected by low paddy prices, low-paying markets and other issues.

When the GuyanaVenezuela border controversy reignited and the country inevitably lost the PetroCaribe deal because of this, the Administration at that time had stated that there was no crisis.

As time passed, the rice farmers endured more difficulties and took protest actions to have their voices and concerns aired, hoping that this course of action would push the relevant authorities to assist them in their plight.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder maintained that the sourcing of markets for those in the rice industry was “private” and that the Government was not mandated/ obligated to assist in finding markets for these individuals.

With the rice industry crippled and the sugar industry now in chaos owing to recent strike action taken by the sugar workers,

the Minister has announced that the Ministry was awaiting the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to put forward ‘suggestions’ for the “betterment” of the rice industry.

Guyana Times was told on Monday by the Agriculture Minister that there were highly qualified persons placed on the Board of Directors for the GRDB and they were fully capable of putting forward recommendations for the development of the rice industry in Guyana.

Holder explained that he was “eagerly willing to further the development” of the country’s rice sector but that “not much can be done” if the industry was not stating what was required to continue with this development.

However, Guyana Times was reliably informed that the GRDB held its Board meeting during this week and there was no dialogue or talks about the current state of the rice industry and what should be done with regard to its survival.

According to a source, during this Board meeting, the main focus was on the agency’s budget preparations and what should be submitted to the Government for the 2016 budget.

“Nothing was being discussed about the future of the rice industry. In fact,

some of them wanted to just pass the budget without even getting into details on what the money was for and how it would be spent. These just seemed to want to put a figure and not properly say what it would be used for,” this newspaper was further told.

According to another source, the statement made by the Minister that his Ministry was awaiting recommendations from the GRDB comes a little too late since many months have passed since rice farmers began begging for help from the Government.

As such, the subject Minister should have met with the farmers personally and have discussions with them as to the way for-

ward and this would ensure that the rebuilding of the rice industry in the country s done with both the Administration’s input and those of the rice farmers themselves.

“The GRDB would only give theoretical suggestions and maybe some others which could work, but if the Minister gets on the ground and speaks to the farmers, millers and other leaders in the rice industry, he will get a better understanding. He would know what directly affects the farmers and the rice industry on the whole since it is the farmers who are exposed to it on a daily basis. The GRDB only knows about textbook applications but the farmers can give practical insight too and this would be good for the Minister to talk to the farmers also,” the source added.

Frustrated rice farmers in the two major rice producing regions had recently and repeatedly signalled their intentions to ‘rest’ their lands come the next crop, given the low prices and lack of Government intervention.

The lack of action and unfavourable responses from the relevant authorities to inject funds into the industry have only made matters worse for those affected. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy Guyana continues to push for juridical settlement – Greenidge

Foreign Affairs Minister and Vice President Carl Greenidge on Tuesday said Government remains committed to the judicial settlement of the Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy, and will be seeking the legal opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the 1899 arbitral award.

The Foreign Affairs Minister was updating the media on the ongoing work of the Secretary General of the United Nation (UN) and its involvement in working towards addressing the border controversy between the two neighbouring countries.

Venezuela remains fixed in its claims over portions of the Essequibo but has failed to show any evidence that the decision handed down more than a century ago by the United Nations is in fact illegitimate.

“There have been many discussions as regards the option that the Secretary General may choose. We have been calling for a judicial resolution of the problem because

Venezuela has been arguing that the 1899 award is null and void”, Greenidge said on Tuesday. According to him, Guyana has lived with this controversy for over 50 odd years and it was not because it could not have been resolved, “but because one party has no intention of facilitating a resolution unless they get what they want… it seems we are destined to relive 1899 many times over…”

Conditions for disbursement of EU support grants were met – former President

...disputes EU Ambassador’s remarks

B y K risten M ac K linga M

Former President Donald Ramotar has discredited the statement made by the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Guyana, Jernej Videti?, with regards to the withholding of budget support grants due to the EU’s suggestion that these grants were withheld because Guyana was not in compliance with the conditions required for disbursement.

According to Ramotar, he deems this “most regrettable”, adding that the Ambassador did not acquaint himself fully with the facts of this matter before pronouncing on it.

The former Head of State told Guyana Times on Tuesday that in January of this year, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration had publicised the communication between the EU and Guyana dated September 8, 2014 which clearly indicated that Guyana had met the eligibility criteria required to qualify for disbursements totalling

€25,858,025.

It was further stated that the same delegation had recommended disbursement of this sum to the EU Budget Support Steering Committee in Brussels, which was due to meet on September 17, 2014, Ramotar noted.

“At the time of making that release, my Government pointed out that the EU Delegation had stated in writing that the conditions were fulfilled and had further stated in writing that they were recommending the disbursement of €25.9 million on the basis of their satisfaction with fulfilment of the required conditions,” Ramotar said on Monday.

He added that the time the statement was issued by the EU was January 2015, adding that Parliament was not pro-

rogued until November 10, 2014. As such, the prorogation of Parliament could not possibly have been a basis for withholding a disbursement due since September 2014.

The former President added that Guyana had qualified for the grants and encountered the first delays in their disbursement as a result of concerns over the anti-money laundering legislation.

“I was advised that the reason for the delay was the impasse over the antimoney laundering legislation,” the former President explained.

He told Guyana Times that there was no mention about the prorogation of Parliament and this did not come as a surprise because the prorogation period occurred much later. Also, no mention was made about any conditions not being met.

“The sole matter mentioned was the delay in passage of the anti-money laundering legislation. The indisputable fact is that Guyana did meet the conditions required for disbursement, the technical officers at the EU Delegation and the EU's contracted technical experts were satisfied that these conditions were met, they confirmed this in writing to my Government at the time, but the disbursements were subsequently withheld with absolutely no legitimate basis. Indeed, with all that has transpired since, it is now evident that the withholding of these grants was an act of political interference,” Ramotar posited.

He told this newspaper that he reiterates the fact that Guyana had qualified for the budget support grants and that these were “unjustifiably and arbitrarily withheld,” by the EU.

The Ambassador speaks of European taxpayers’ money, Ramotar said, pointing out that perhaps the EU Ambassador needs to be reminded that much of the wealth accumulated by Europe was built on the backs of enslaved and bounded labour, and as a result of the worst crime ever committed against humanity, leading to the very justifiable recent calls for reparations. “In this regard, Walter Rodney's seminal book, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa , is instructive in understanding European exploitation of the developing world, including the Caribbean,” the former Head of State added. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

Diwali Date

Satiricus was sure there was a simple answer to all the fuss being made across the country. “No, not the salary raises,” he corrected himself quickly, “there’s no answer to that piece of political madness!” Or maybe it was just plain greed the Jhaat had said was the root of all crime? And that salary raise sure was a crime!”

Satiricus was actually thinking about the brouhaha around Diwali…which he’s always liked even though he wasn't a Hindu. It was always so peaceful yet kitsch with all those overdone lights. Satiricus always believes “more” was good! And when you can string lights on anything that's not moving…and in the Diwali motorcade, even what’s moving – that was like heaven!

Satiricus was thinking about Diwali because the Indian Ambassador had cleared up everything as to why Rum Jhaat had chosen November 10 over November 11 as the day to light up the lights. Satiricus hoped that everyone would now settle down and get on with preparing for the big day.

It had nothing to do with vaulting one set of people who the Jhaat knew could “deliver” the Hindu vote over another who’d been doing so for the past 41 years or so – to the “other side”. The Jhaat would never be so crass. He might every now and then let out a “haul yuh ass” to a pesky reporter, but beyond that, he was the epitome of propriety and panache. He only picked his nose in private.

“More to the point we’re discussing,” thought Satiricus, “the goodly Ambassador revealed that in South India Diwali is actually celebrated on November 10! And there you have it.” Naga Man was a South Indian – “Madrassee” as he was proud to say. He might deny he was “Indian” but “Madrasee”? Never. So it was to honour his old pal and lawyer protégé Naga Man that Ramjattan chose November 10! All the slights that Madrasee Naga Man wrote so poignantly about in his book – like having oily, greasy hair –was now going to be wiped out. And in spades!

All his tormentors would now have to celebrate Diwali on November 10!! The day HIS people celebrated Diwali over in India. But he WASN’T Indian. “What did it matter that the Accord didn't give me any power,” thought Naga Man. “THIS was power – the power to have revenge. And revenge is best served cold!”

“Let them put that into their hookah and smoke it!!” Concluded Naga Man as he took a swig of rum. “My very own holiday! Even Baseel with his tax-free salary doesn't have that!”

“It was a good thing that the Jhaat didn't go all the way, and changed the name to “Deepavali” like they did in South India,” thought Satiricus.

“Imagine the trouble Guyanese would have to pronounce one of their public holidays!”

Police Constable charged for prisoner’s escape

APolice Constable was on Tuesday placed on $40,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan, charged for allowing a prisoner to escape from lawful custody.

Noel Trotman of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that on September 17, 2015, the 54-year-old Constable who was stationed at Mahdia Police Station, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), through his negligence allowed prisoner David Peter to escape from custody.

According to the Prosecution’s case, Peter was charged with trafficking narcotics and was being

held at the Mahdia Police Station when he escaped. Trotman was represented by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson. In a bail application, Thompson told the court that his client was married with five children and has been a serving member of the Guyana Police Force for over 36 years.

The lawyer stated that it was unfortunate that his client was being charged for the offence since he was nearing retirement.

Meanwhile, Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones did not object to bail but requested that it be substantial.

The case will continue at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court on January 19, 2016.

Guyana explores green technology opportunities at Korea-Caribbean Forum

Governance Minister Raphael Trotman represented Guyana at a high-level meeting in Seoul, Korea to participate in the Fifth Korea-Caribbean High-Level Forum.

Hosted under the theme “Enhancing the KoreaCaribbean Partnership in the Field of New and Renewable Energy,” the meeting was set against the backdrop of the challenges posed by climate change and therefore focused primarily on opportunities for new and renewable energies that are made available by Korea to the Caribbean and Guyana.

According to Minister Trotman, who served as Guyana’s representative at the meeting, the timing of the forum was fortuitous for Guyana, as the country transitions into a green economy and looks elsewhere for good examples for adaptation. He noted, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA), that the Republic of Korea is

a noted developer and utiliser of alternative energy technologies and has signalled its strong commitment to working with individual Caribbean states – bilaterally, or through the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat, to bring these new technologies to the Caribbean.

to page 12

Local aeronautical engineering school assists RAM with rehabilitation of aircraft

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine met with the Board and Executives of the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School on Monday, to assist in the presentation of a repaired aircraft to Remote Area Medical’s representative, Dick Stoops.

Remote Area Medical (RAM) Volunteer Corps is a Knoxville, Tennessee, USbased non-profit, volunteer airborne medical relief corps that provides free health

care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of Guyana and around the world.

The organisation was founded by Stan Brock, after he was injured in Guyana while living with the Wapishana community, and had to endure a 26-day journey to access medical help. After this, he vowed to provide medical care to inaccessible regions all over the world.

The Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School’s students assisted in the complete refurbishing of the RAM aircraft under the guidance of engineers from both the school and RAM.

In his brief remarks, the Minister commended the two NGOs on the project. He took the opportunity to point out the invaluable work organizations, such as the Aeronautical Engineering School were engaged in, advancing specialist techni-

cal education, adding that “the Ministry is happy to be partners by ensuring that our young people are given the opportunity to access a rounded education, inclusive of a strong technical and vocational studies curriculum.”

In closing, the Minister also commended the input of the students involved in the effort, stressing that the initiative represented what he sees as the core goal of education, the application of knowledge in service to the greater good.

wednesday, october 28, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt using ‘double edged sword’ with sugar industry – GAWU’s President

BY KRISTEN MACKLINGAM

The A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition through its Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, has declared that there will be no political interference in the sugar industry and the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), hence the establishment of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) and a Board of Directors (BoD).

However, the future of the sugar industry and that of GuySuCo still lies in the hands of the Government politicians, since they will have the final say on the way forward after the recently submitted Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report is perused and deliberated on by the Cabinet.

In light of the recent strike action taken by sugar workers across the sugar belt on Sunday and Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, referring to the course of action as being ‘politically motivated’, President of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand on Tuesday declared that such a notion is “laughable.”

“We find that statement that this is political most laughable because for us to seek to have negotiation on wages there is nothing political about that,” Chan said, adding that unions in general have sought to have discussions on wages and other issues and that is their right.

“The Minister undoubtedly is totally unaware of industrial relations and prac-

tices and he should have been guided by the Board of GuySuCo and by the present management team that we (GAWU) are in order to seek to have this collective negotiations take place,” said the Union’s President.

According to Chand, the Agriculture Minister has declared GAWU’s decision to have its sugar workers strike as a political move and as such the Government will not intervene since it doesn’t want the sugar industry to be a ‘political football field’ yet the Minister and his Government are the only political individuals involved in the matter.

“The Minister is saying on one hand that he leaves the industry to be operated and administered by the Board and by the management. Then he is saying that he now wants to take this matter to the

political directors of this country for them to look at the report and then they are going to decide on what step forward. He is saying look I am leaving these things so that we won’t have political interference and yet he is saying he have to get political input from the directors of this country,” the GAWU President posited.

Chand reminded that the sugar workers are all employees of the State since they are employed with and work for an entity that is State owned and it is expected that the government of the day would be involved in its operations issues at one time or another.

He told this newspaper that as such if the State has taken decisions to be implemented to all of its employees such as salary and/or wage increases then the sugar workers should be recipients of this gesture as well.

“The State has given its employees increases since the budget had been approved. They give them increases and although you have a CoI into Public Service going on, you didn’t wait on that report. Why are you treating sugar workers differently?”

Guyana Times was also told that while the sugar workers will be resuming work today and the three-day strike would have officially ended GAWU has a “reasonable expectation” that GuySuCo will be engaging the Union to address the issue of collective bargaining. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

Guyana explores green technology...

The delegates included representatives from the Caricom Secretariat, Guyana, Suriname, Haiti, Jamaica, Antigua, Dominica, St Vincent, St Kitts and Nevis and The Bahamas and were afforded several opportunities to discuss policy matters on energy and climate change. In addition, they were able to interact with manufactures and stakeholders. Site visits were facilitated to several renewable energy generating sites including; a range from hydro to solar and bio-mass power genera-

tion. Minister Trotman also used the opportunity to hold one-on-one discussions with Korean Government officials and with executives of the manufacturing companies. This was done with a view to inviting a delegation to visit Guyana in the near future to advance opportunities for both Government and the Private Sector here.

Delegates at the inaugural Korea-Caribbean Forum, held in 2011 discussed a development strategy and international cooperation with

the Caribbean and KoreaCaribbean cooperation for green growth. The following year at the second forum e-Government, Marine Environment Management and New and Renewable Energy were discussed. The third forum sought practical and productive ways to increase cooperation between Korea and the Caribbean states and in particular to promote tourism cooperation. The fourth forum reviewed progress in Korea-Caribbean cooperation since 2012 and discussed avenues to further

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deepen and broaden the partnership.

This fifth forum revisited some topics previously discussed such as renewable energy and e-Government management, but also addressed the new and extremely vital topics of climate change and disaster management.

The meeting was jointly sponsored by the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Korea, the Korea Energy Agency and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).

Keeping it real

Indian-Guyanese intellectuals: “The Lost Boys of Guyana”

Afew years ago, a French filmmaker followed the journey of four “Lost Boys” in the acclaimed documentary “God Grew Tired Of Us” as they made their way from a camp in Kenya to take up refugee status in the US. The Lost Boys is the name given to Sudanese refugees, as well as the group of over 20,000 boys who were displaced by the civil war taking place in that country between 1983 and 2005. The conflict was “resolved” when South Sudan was carved out of territory that was once a part of greater Sudan in 2011.

Dr Baytoram Ramharack

It was not so much the gripping scenes that made for a compelling documentary. Rather, it was the shock of seeing people losing everything, including personal possessions, family, country and dignity. Alarmingly, there was a lack of an intellectual community that spoke out against the injustice in Sudan. Had such an intellectual community existed, it would probably have acted as a safeguard against such a tragedy and maybe it could have prevented the ethnic conflict that followed. This was not to be. In the Guyanese context, a letter writer raised a similar question in reference to the recent controversy regarding Diwali celebrations in Guyana by asking “Where are the Indian intellectuals?” In short, why are Indians not speaking out through a consensus voice and addressing issues germane to their physical existence. The deafening silence has led to two conclusions. One, there are few Indian intellectuals in Guyana who are capable of articulating a position on behalf of Indians. Two, Indian intellectuals are afraid to speak out because of the perception that they may be branded as “racists”. They will be accused of not being a “true Guyanese”.

Comparatively speaking, this problem does not exist within the African community, largely because their long history of oppression, as well as their historical experience has created shared values and common positions around national issues, be it racism against Africans, reparations, etc. Swami Aksharananda reminded us that within the African community (specifically, the PNC and WPA) “a significant number of African intellectuals, scholars, and activists …are quite vociferous when it comes to ethnic honour, and for whom the furtherance and defence of African Guyanese interests is an important plank in their political and public life”. He suggested that “this group of individuals seeks to connect ethnic interests with national interests” and that there is an “asymmetry in this position when it comes to Indians”. His conclusion was that the Indian ethnic interest “has been presented as diametrically opposed to national interest”.

So how exactly are Indian interests perceived in Guyana? Judging by the letter writers, the social blogs and social media platforms, there are some common trends that are visible when it comes to Indians. One, they are perceived as a backward, unsophisticated lot, a perception often linked to their Asian, rather than Western outlook. Two, the language used to describe Indians suggest that they are “interlopers”, “temporary migrants”, or as Eric Williams of Trinidad referred to them “a recalcitrant minority”. In sum, they are seen as non-patriotic and as antinationalist as they come. Third, as Swami Aksharananda has acknowledged, Indians who publicly speak about their concerns are seen as “parochial” because they cling to their “primordial” sentiments. If readers think these claims are artificial, one simply has to peruse the unfettered blogs where Guyanese, hiding behind anonymity, tell each other how they really feel. No one is claiming the Indians are saints. Unfortunately, the vitriol is reflected on both sides.

If a vociferous intellectual tradition existed within the Guyanese Indian community, it is probably like a needle lost in the hay. Had there been an intellectual tradition in Guyana, the current perceptions regarding Indians may not have gone unchallenged. One is hard-pressed to produce evidence that the PPP and its leadership has elevated Indians, its largest voting bloc, to the next plateau because that party is guilty of squelching any semblance of intellectualism within its core, a tradition that dates back to Cheddi Jagan.

Ironically, the Swami’s statements received vociferous castigations, not from Africans, many of whom I would venture to guess would agree with his assessment, but from a lone Indian, Freddie Kissoon, supposedly the “renaissance Guyanese” who even attacked the messenger as a “triumphalist”.

The clear lack of an intellectual tradition poses a number of problems for Indians. One, the Indian voice is slowly disappearing. Her concerns are not seen as legitimate, her causes are not worth struggling for, her rights need not be protected, she has no business being in politics, her feelings should not be expressed, and she should not make any claims to the national patrimony. It is much worse for Amerindians, who were here long before Africans and Indians were brought to this country when the colonial possession was still a swampland. Those who are part of the current government are unwilling to speak out because it would raise issues of disloyalty and rebuke from others. Their voices are drowned by a national culture that does not embrace the Indian culture as part of the national fabric of dear Guyana.

The Indian intellectual community, if there was one, has become like the Lost Boys of the Sudan.

Essequibo Criminal Assizes opens

– 22 cases for this session

By IndrawattIe natram

The ceremonial opening of the October 2015 criminal session of the Suddie High Court in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) attracted the usual pomp outside the Richard Faikall Police Training College at Suddie as many gathered to witness the opening parade.

Despite the pouring rain, Police ranks from G Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands) braved the weather dressed in their ceremonial clothing for the parade.

The 22-strong contingent marched off from the Suddie Police Station before proceeding in front of the High Court building.

Police Drum Corps

Corporal Ray Sparman and Orin Joseph put much energy into the drumming as Constable Colwin Nelson and Amin Edward charged the cornet.

Justice Brassington Reynolds, who will be presiding over the criminal session of the Suddie High Court, took the salute as he stood confidently on the dais. Deputy Commander Roger Pilgrim led the contingent in the impressive display. Judge Reynolds was accompanied by G Division Commander Kevin Adonis, along with Deputy Commander Pilgrim, to inspect the ranks.

At the end of the parade, Judge Reynolds met with the jurors in the courtroom of the Suddie High Court.

Meanwhile, 22 cases

are listed to be heard during the session. These include six murder cases, one manslaughter, one causing grievous bodily harm, one attempted murder, 10 rape cases, three sexual-activitywith-a-child cases.

Those to stand trial in this session are Rakesh Singh called Rack Singh; Elton Odwin; Raymond Charles called “Jabbo”; Akash Baldeo called “Lil Boy”; Arthur Taylor called “Bang”; Mark Royden Williams called “Smallie”; Clebert Reece; Dennis Williams; Michael Caesar and Roger Anthony Simon. In addition, Basdeo, also known as Papo, will stand trial for manslaughter,

Fowler for causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder and a second count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Eon Hendricks will stand trial for attempt to commit murder and wounding with intent. Standing trial for rape of a child under 16 years old are Hawkin Edwards, Wenwick Archibald, Clifford Christian, Travis Stoby and Arnold Gonsalves.

Standing trial for rape are Shawn David, Clinton Benjamin, Godwin Hubbard and Astil Paul. Standing trial for sexual activity with an underage family member are Joseph Mendoca and Assenth Henry.

Guyana continues to push for...

“The options available have all been tried… under one name or another and they have all been found wanting… at the end of the exercise, they left Guyana at a disadvantage.”

According to Greenidge, the opinion given by the ICJ could influence the settlement of the controversy, as that opinion could be used as the final word and a decision could be made without Venezuela’s input.

“The thing about an opinion in those circumstances –it is only advisory. The value of it to Guyana is the world will see that a legal exercise having been conducted on Venezuela’s claim is not supported,” he said.

He added, “Where they have leverage is that they can use military force or in the course of the exchanges, they can go and try to buy out opinions elsewhere so Venezuela’s explanation is not so much that they are opposed judicial pronouncements but in that in the case of the border they are not prepared to go to the courts for a resolution of this matter,” he said.

The two parties between themselves have not been

able to find a way to go forward, Greenidge stressed, noting that the controversy has been damaging to Guyana’s interest.

Venezuela, up until now, has not accepted the 1899 Award as a final settlement of the border dispute although it only made its contention international in 1945. In 1949, the US jurist Otto Schoenrich gave the Venezuelan Government a memorandum written by Severo Mallet-Prevost, the Official Secretary of the US-Venezuela delegation in the Tribunal of Arbitration, which was written in 1944 to be published only after his death.

Mallet-Prevost, one of the four lawyers who had appeared for Venezuela before the Arbitral Tribunal, surmised from the private behaviour of the judges that there had been a political deal between Great Britain and Russia and for the first time, attacked the Award. This memorandum led to Venezuela’s revival of its claim to Guyana’s territory.

In 1966 in Geneva, Switzerland, the Governments of British

from page 9

Guiana, the United Kingdom and Venezuela signed an agreement to resolve Venezuela’s contentions. Since the issue has sporadically flared up and has not been resolved.

The issue reignited in early March when the Government of Guyana granted access to the USbased oil exploration company ExxonMobil, allowing it to drill for oil in the Stabroek block offshore Essequibo.

The Venezuelan Government was peeved at this move and made direct contact with the oil company, urging it to discontinue its attempt to carry out drilling activities in the area. Saying it had no part in the territorial issue, the oil company went ahead with its drilling activity.

It recently reported the discovery of oil. Maduro later issued a decree on May 26, which purports to ratify maritime sovereignty over waters within 200 miles including the entire Atlantic Ocean off the Essequibo Coast as well as part of Suriname’s maritime territory and an area which is under dispute with Colombia.

Local LGBT activist’s death

Police treating death as suicide

– letters to family found

Pand Transgender (LGBT) activist Zenita Nicolson to fami-

ly members allegedly expressing her decision to take her life and as such, her death is

now being treated as a suicide.

This is according Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who told Guyana Times on Tuesday that investigators on Monday went to Nicolson’s home where they stumbled upon seven letters, purportedly written by the 37-yearold activist. According to the Crime Chief, the letters were addressed to family members along with a note to her partner, an overseas-based medical student studying in Guyana, with instructions on how to distribute the letters.

Guyana Times understands that Nicolson reportedly indicated in the letters that she cannot cope anymore with the “suffering”. Blanhum explained that they are currently examining the letters to ensure that they were indeed written by the woman but this process will take some time.

Nevertheless, the Crime Chief did note that investigators are currently treating the matter as a suicide, since there is no evidence to prove otherwise. However, he added that should anything suspicious show up in the postmortem examination, which is scheduled for today, then the Police will take the appropriate actions.

In the meanwhile, investigations are continuing and the Police have collected statements from relatives and friends of the activist.

Nicolson was rushed to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital on Monday morning around 02:00h after she reportedly admitted to ingesting 10 carbon tablets. She died several hours later. It has been reported that Nicolson was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her partner, a student of Texila University.

Her death has raised some questions, since the woman was ardent activist on various human rights issues, including gender-based violence. Persons have even questioned whether the woman drank the tablets used to kill rats, or was she forced to do so.

According to reports, the 29-year-old Mauritian nation-

al had accompanied the woman to the hospital and has stated he is unsure of what happened since he would have retired to bed earlier in the night, leaving the woman to work.

However, Nicolson’s longtime friend and Executive Member of the Society of Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Simpson, pointed out that up to mid last week, the couple had separated. He told this newspaper that on October 19, the 37-year-old mother of two confided in him that she was being abused by her partner.

Simpson said that the woman disclosed that the abuse was so serious that her partner would grab her hair and drag her around. He would also hit her but in such a way that no marks of violence is visible, the SASOD Executive related.

He went on to say that on the same day Nicolson confessed to him, he made arrangements for her to make a report at the Providence Police Station but was redirected to the Ruimveldt Police Station which has jurisdiction over D’Aguiar’s Park, where she was living with the medical student.

The SASOD Executive added that he is not sure whether the report was ever made at the other station but noted that he was assisting Nicolson to move from the house but the move was stalled after her former resi-

dence in South Ruimveldt was under renovation and she had to wait a week.

However, he stated that the young man was supposed to move out while she was there for the week. According to Simpson, he last spoke with Nicolson on October 21 and during their telephone conversation he was given the impression that her abusive partner had moved out and had no access to her.

Simpson noted that he has had several encounters with Nicolson’s partner and never really liked him because he always seemed to be under the influence of alcohol whenever they hung out. Asked whether the 37-year-old has showed any signs of depression in the days leading up to her death, the SASOD official explained Nicolson had shared several posts on her facebook page about a week ago on issues such as depression, mental illness and relations. He said that no one thought anything strange of this since there were reposted, which is common, and not written by her.

Moreover, Simpson pointed out that working along with Nicolson at SASOD and being her personal friend, her apparent suicide come as an absolute shock and devastated everyone who knew her. “I was personally devastated because this is not something anybody expected from Zenita,” he remarked somberly.

The SASOD Executive believes that Nicolson might have been ashamed of the fact that she was a victim of gender-based violence when she was an activist against the social ill, hence she may have decided to take her life. “It seemed as though she felt ashamed that she became a victim and there would be this discrimination and shame about it because of who she is – an activist,” he opined. Nicolson leaves to mourn her two children, Dmitri and Daria Nicholson, along with her mother, Kamanie Singh; brother, Andrew Temall, and countless relatives, colleagues and friends whose lives she touched.

Amid renewed US-Cuba ties, UN condemns embargo for 24th year

The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday condemned a US trade embargo on Cuba for the 24th year in a resolution that Washington voted against despite warming ties and a push by President Barack Obama to remove the economic restrictions.

The resolution was adopted by the 193-member General Assembly with 191 votes in favour. Israel joined its ally the United States in voting no. While such resolutions are nonbinding, they can carry political weight.

In July, the United States and Cuba restored

diplomatic relations after a 54-year break. Obama has taken steps to ease trade and travel restrictions on Cuba, but only the US Congress can lift the full trade embargo.

Obama told the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly last month he was “confident our Congress will inevitably lift an embargo that should not be in place anymore.”

The only change made to the resolution adopted on Tuesday was the addition of language welcoming the renewed ties and recognising “the expressed will” of Obama to end the embargo.

“The text falls short of reflecting the significant steps that have been taken and the spirit of engagement President Obama has championed,” Ronald Godard, US senior advisor for Western Hemisphere? affairs, said before the vote. “If Cuba thinks this exercise will help move things forward in the direction both governments have indicated they wish, it is mistaken,” Godard told the General Assembly, adding that the move was “unfortunate.” He said fully normalising relations will require years of persistence and dedication on both sides.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Around the world

Rescuers hunt for survivors of Afghan-Pakistan quake

Rescuers are rushing to deliver relief aid

to victims of a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that hit northern Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing more than 300 people over a wide swathe of mostly mountainous terrain.

Thousands spent the night outdoors in nearfreezing temperatures reluctant to go back inside for fear of aftershocks, Pakistani media reported on early on Tuesday.

“Rescue work is ongoing, and tents, blankets and sleeping mats are being provided,” Latif ur Rehman, a Pakistani disaster management official, told Reuters from the north-western city of Peshawar.

Pakistan’s military and civilian authorities dispatched several helicopters to affected areas to assess damage and run rescue

India’s biggest airline in initial share offering

Indian budget airline

IndiGo plans to conduct an initial share offering this week as it seeks to raise as much as 32.68 billion rupees (US$500 million), according to reports.

The share offering would be India’s largest since 2012.

Owned by InterGlobe Aviation, IndiGo is the country’s largest domestic airline by market share.

The public offer was set to open on Tuesday and close on Thursday.

It proposed to list on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.

Global coordinators of the share sale include JP Morgan, Barclays and UBS, according to the firm’s pre-

liminary prospectus filed in June.

The firm warned in its initial prospectus that there was “no assurance that the new routes which we expand into will be profitable or become profitable.”

IndiGo’s international destinations currently include Singapore, Dubai and Bangkok, and consultancy firm Centre of Aviation (CAPA) said it has been the only consistently profitable carrier in the country for the past seven years.

IndiGo said it may not be able to successfully implement its planned expansion of its route network “due to factors beyond our control” – including economic, political and business conditions. (Excerpt from BBC News)

operations, the National Disaster Management Authority said.

The total death toll stood at 375 with at least 260

people killed in Pakistan and at least 115 more in Afghanistan, according to official reports from the two countries. More than 2,000 people have been injured.

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Kabal Swat in the Swat Valley area, said rescue teams have been fanning out in the area to try to assess the extent of the damage following the quake.

At least 1900 homes and other buildings have been damaged.

“People are also trying to retrieve whatever they can from the rubble,” he said. More than 2000 tents have been distributed for the homeless. (Excerpt from Reuters)

South Carolina school video: Officer-pupil clash investigated

AUS sheriff’s department says it is investigating after a video emerged showing an officer throwing a female pupil across a classroom.

The footage posted online on Monday was said to be filmed in a school in Columbia, South Carolina.

US media said the pupil had refused to leave the classroom when asked. The school “resource officer” was called.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said there was “no justification” for the incident.

The officer is white and the female student, who was unharmed, is black, the sheriff’s office said.

The incident comes at a time of increased scrutiny of police and their use of force against African Americans.

“It’s very disturbing what happened today,” said Richard County Sheriff Leon Lott, who has requested a federal investigation on the incident.

In a video obtained by South Carolina’s WIS network, the officer, Ben Fields, is seen confronting the pupil, who is sitting at her desk. They then exchange words. Fields had been assigned to the school and was meant to protect students and faculty and promote anti-crime and anti-drug initiatives.

He then appears to restrain her around the neck, before quickly pulling her and her desk backwards to the floor.

The video shows him throwing the pupil a few metres across the classroom. She is then restrained. (Excerpt from Reuters)

European Parliament votes against net neutrality amendments

The rules have implications for how Internet companies are allowed to deliver data to customers

The European Parliament has voted against a set of rules intended to safeguard “net neutrality” in the European Union.

A series of amendments to a regulation on how Internet traffic is managed in Europe were all rejected by MEPs.

Proponents of net neutrality, who demand that web traffic be treated

equally by networks, have already criticised the move.

The existing legislation, which was accepted, will be developed into regulations.

Campaigners have said that provisions for protecting net neutrality in the existing text of the rules are too vague and many worry that it will be easy for Internet firms to strike deals with content providers which may not be ad-

vantageous for everyone.

For example, it is thought that so-called “zero rating” agreements, in which customers can access certain sites and services for free outside their data plans, might become more widespread.

While this could be beneficial for those who want to access content from those providers, others worry that it will stifle in -

China angry over passage of US ship near man-made islands

AUS guided-missile destroyer sailed close to one of China’s manmade islands in the South China Sea on Tuesday, drawing an angry rebuke from Beijing, which said it had tracked and warned the ship and called in the US Ambassador to protest.

The USS Lassen’s patrol was the most significant US challenge yet to the 12-nautical-mile territorial limits China claims around artificial islands it has built up in the Spratly archipelago as Beijing exercises its growing maritime power.

Washington’s move followed months of deliberation by the Administration of President Barack Obama and could ratchet up tension in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and increase strains in US-China relations.

A US defence official said the Lassen also went within 12-mile limits of features

in the disputed sea claimed by Vietnam and US treaty ally, the Philippines. They said such “freedom-of-navigation” patrols were expected to become more frequent.

The US destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef, an artificial island built up by China in the past year.

A Chinese guided-missile destroyer and a naval patrol ship shadowed and gave warnings to the US warship “according to law”, China’s Defence Ministry said. It said the military would take necessary steps to protect the country’s security.

The US patrol was a “coercive action that seeks to militarise the South China Sea region” and an “abuse” of freedom of navigation under international law, it added.

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter on Tuesday confirmed the patrol. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“Capitalism sucks!” South Africa’s radical left tells stock exchange

novation.

Although some campaigners had suggested there might be growing support for the amendments within the Parliament, all were voted down in large majorities.

It is thought that many MEPs would have been reluctant to begin a process of amending the regulation given that it might have delayed another aspect of the rules - the abolition of mobile data roaming charges.

The result is “hardly surprising” according to legal expert Chris Marsden at the University of Sussex, given that many of the major parties represented in the Parliament all supported the regulation text without amendments.

The Body of European Regulators (BEREC) would now have nine months to issue guidelines to bodies like Ofcom in the UK, he added. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Thousands of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) protested outside the Johannesburg stock exchange on Tuesday in pursuit of working class votes for the radical leftist party ahead of municipal elections next year.

The EFF, led by firebrand Julius Malema, is looking to use the momentum built from student demonstrations last week to increase the pressure on President Jacob Zuma’s African National Congress (ANC), the anti-apartheid party of Nelson Mandela.

Malema, a former ANC youth leader, says the ruling party under Zuma has allowed a black political elite to enrich themselves while most of the country’s wealth remains with the white minority, 20 years after the end of apartheid.

“Down with capitalism!

Down with the racist JSE (Johannesburg stock exchange)!” Malema told a cheering crowd of supporters dressed in red party T-shirts and waving “capitalism sucks” banners.

Only around 10 per cent of the JSE is owned by black South Africans, a statistic Malema cites as a prime example of the ANC’s failure to redistribute wealth concentrated in white hands during the apartheid era.

The EFF handed a list of demands to the JSE’s CEO, Nicky Newton-King, including that all listed companies be owned 51 per cent by workers and that a national minimum wage of 4500 rand (US$330) per month be implemented immediately.

“Comrade Malema, thanks for making the effort to come. South Africa has taken notice,” Newton-King said to jeers from the crowd.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Top award for Guyanaborn Professor

Guyana-born scholar, Dr Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith is set to receive the 2015 William J Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defence Education.

Dr Griffith, a specialist on Caribbean security, drugs and crime most recently held the office of the ninth President at Fort Valley State University of Georgia, USA.

He is being honoured for his years of service as a scholar, author and educational leader; his teaching and innovative research which has informed a generation of policy makers and practitioners and for advancing a cooperative international security environment among the nations of the Caribbean Basin.

These contributions reflect the highest ideals of the centre embodying the values set forth by the Perry Award.

Dr Griffith previously served as Professor of Political Science and provost and senior Vice President at York College of The City University of New York. Before becoming York’s provost in 2007, Griffith was Professor of Political Science

and Budget Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida International University (FIU), Dean of the Honours College at FIU, and provost at Radford University in Virginia.

Professor Griffith holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Guyana, a Master of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration from Long Island University, New York, and both a Master of Philosophy and a doctorate in political science from The City University of New York Graduate School. He also graduated from Harvard Graduate School of Education’s program in educational leadership and has published seven books and more than 50 scholarly articles.

Named after the cen-

tre’s founder and former US Secretary of Defence, Dr William J Perry, the award is presented to individuals and organisations in recognition of their significant contributions in the fields of security and defence education. Awardees are selected for their achievements and promoting education, research, and sharing knowledge in defence and security issues in the Western Hemisphere.

The William J Perry Award was first presented in 2007 as part of the Centre’s 10th anniversary celebration. Also being honoured alongside Dr Griffith is Mexico’s Admiral Vidal Francisco Soberon for his extensive experience in coastal counter narcotics operations.

Unemployment rate to climb in Caribbean, Latin America – as a result

In light of declining economic growth experienced within the Caribbean and Latin America during the year, labour indicators have estimated that urban unemployment rates will raise to some 6.6 per cent by the end of this year, compared to 6.0 per cent recorded in 2014. This is according to the new estimates released by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). On Tuesday, the United Nations (UN) organisations unveiled a new edition of their joint publication ‘The Employment Situation in Latin America and the Caribbean’, which is a twiceyearly report.

In the publication, they reviewed the evolution of the region’s job markets in the first semester of 2015 and indicated that the unfavourable growth prospects for this year – which forecast a negative 0.3 per cent contraction, according to ECLAC’s latest estimates – will likely be reflected in the persistent weakness of labour de-

of deceleration in economic growth

mand and salaried job creation.

The report confirms that during the first semester of 2015, the employment rate recorded a new decline with respect to the same period last year. An increase in the number of people looking for work began to negatively affect the unemployment rate, which rose to an average of 6.5 per cent in the first semester compared with 6.2 per cent during the same period last year.

ECLAC and ILO added that in the current macroeconomic and labour context, it could expect to see an expansion of informal jobs, and freelance work above all, in many countries to partially make up for the lack of productive and good-quality employment opportunities.

According to the document, the current regional trend towards economic deceleration is worrisome because it reduces room for making gains on the reduction of poverty and inequality, two of the region’s important achievements since the beginning of the last decade.

In the report, the two UN

organisations call for boosting investment aimed at a structural change that will lead economic growth potential towards a path of growing productivity.

“Only with clear productive development policies will the region be capable of overcoming the adverse context that currently hinders its expansion and of creating more and better jobs for the productive insertion of its labour force,” Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, and José Manuel Salazar, Director of the ILO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, stated in the publication’s prologue.

In this area, the report analyses if the progress made in the prior decade was structural enough to prevent the loss of those achievements in a less favourable economic context.

This edition of the report also compares the labour performance of different types of companies. It concludes that the positive evolution of job markets between 2003 and 2013 included both small and

large businesses. Specifically, in the first category the proportion of salaried employment and health insurance coverage rose. However, there continue to be marked gaps in terms of productivity and the quality of jobs between companies of different sizes.

ECLAC and ILO say that in the current, less favourable economic context, small companies as well as freelance jobs could once again play the role of creating the employment of last resort. Nevertheless, to prevent these jobs from being low in productivity and quality, the region must intensify efforts to remove hurdles and create an environment conducive to their growth and development, especially in the case of medium-sized companies.

The organisations add that the growth of these companies should be promoted through more incorporation of technology, access to adequate financing, greater innovation, better access to markets, and a more qualified labour force.

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

As the People’s National Congress led first by Forbes Burnham and then by Desmond Hoyte imposed party paramountcy and control of the commanding heights of the economy in the 1970s to 1992, they almost fatally injured the Private Sector. Guyana paid a terrible price of under-development and widespread poverty. The People’s National Congress now exists as A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) and the Private Sector is again its target.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

It has been less than six months in Government, but APNU/AFC, like the PNC before it, is building up quite an impressive anti-investment and anti-Private Sector resume. The anti-business posture of APNU/ AFC is as ugly and intimidating as that of the PNC when it made the Private Sector a mere frightened poodle.

The latest assault on the Private Sector is the recent amendment introduced in Parliament to amend the Guyana Revenue Act to force banks to give unfettered access to people’s bank accounts. This move is sure to lead to a run on the banks. It exposes the banks to rapid and heavy withdrawals and parking of significant financial resources outside of the local banking system. If there is anything that ruins a small economy like Guyana’s, this is one of them for certain.

The amendment to increase the intrusive powers of GRA with people’s banking information will affect the stability and lead to renewed devaluation of the Guyana dollar. For almost two decades, the PPP’s prudent economic management maintained the Guyana dollar at around $200 to US$1. Given the global economic and financial crises in the last 20 years and the inflationary impact of high oil prices that existed during several years, the stability of the Guyana dollar has been a remarkable story.

In one swift move, the Guyana dollar is being exposed and left vulnerable to a grave threat that could see it depreciate to the same extent as it did between 1985 and 1992. The financial status of many businesses and individuals will reel from the shock and we will see bankruptcies and poverty spiral out of control.

The move will also prompt a reluctance to invest in further expansion and in new businesses. There is already a “wait and see” posture by businesses and investors that already is impacting on the economy. Instead of seeking ways to end the “wait and see” and generate confidence, APNU/AFC continues to pursue policies that further create fear and uncertainty among businesses and investors. Even the ordinary citizens are holding on to cash while anticipating hard times to come.

As I travelled across Guyana in the last two weeks, businessmen saw no sound rationale but old-style intimidation by APNU as the only reason why they want the GRA to have complete and unrestricted access to people’s banking information.

What is the rationale and haste for APNU/AFC to want the GRA to have unfettered intrusive access to people’s banking information? For many business people and individuals, APNU/ AFC’s early move to legally invade the banking system is a move to strengthen political control and consolidate a dictatorship. Some may not be old enough, but everyone knows of the toxic abuse of the tax system by the PNC dictatorship to harass political opponents and those who would not acquiesce.

The GRA amendment presently in Parliament gives an early warning to people to give political support or face recrimination. APNU/AFC is building its armamentarium of instruments and fiscal weapons to ensure total control of people. They will wield such instruments in people’s face - cooperate or face harassment. The milieu for such harassment is being established by APNU/AFC and this amendment is a critical component.

Do not forget that the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Act 2015 includes a provision for any officer of the law, including Custom Officers, to invade people’s home, offices and other places and seize money and items valued at more than US$10,000 on the mere justification that there is suspicion as to the source of that money.

These are troubling moves to control the society. These moves and others will devastate the economy and people’s confidence in our country. Rather than focusing on these anti-business moves, the Government must urgently address the need to catalyse the economy. The moribund economy needs an urgent stimulation. With low commodity prices for sugar, rice and gold, a plummeting retail business and an anticipated dull Christmas, Guyana needs a government that will urgently introduce initiatives that will stimulate the economy, not initiatives that will suffocate and slow growth.

We need initiatives that will allow banks to provide lowinterest loans and mortgages, stimulate the housing and construction industries, a public infrastructure and large projects programme to create employment and public expenditure with a cash circulation that drives the retail business. But APNU/AFC has turned its back on this approach simply because it sees a PPP blueprint.

GPL hosts health awareness seminar for staff

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is continuing to educate its employees on chronic diseases and how to better manage their illnesses, as well as maintain healthier lifestyles by taking preventative actions to ensure their longevity.

This was done as the company hosted its annual Health and Wellness Seminar on Tuesday at the King Plaza Hotel, Main Street, Georgetown. The seminar was in collaboration with the Public Health Ministry and was attended mostly by GPL employees who are nearing retirement. The session focused predominantly on chronic diseases and preventative measures.

Addressing the gathering, interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the power company, Colin Welch, said without good health, one has nothing. He told his staff of the importance of knowing the state of their health, pointing out that a lot of advancement has been made in the medical field especially in the treatment of chronic diseases.

According to Welch, everyone can have a healthylife style if they take control of their behaviour and start making healthy choices. He also issued a challenge to his employees to ensure this. “Resist the urge of just feeling good and not doing what’s healthy. Sit back and evaluate your life style

and make healthy, productive choices,” he encouraged.

Meanwhile, Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings in her feature address commended GPL for showing interest in the health of its staff by educating them through seminars such as this. She focused mainly on chronic diseases and how simple everyday choices can prevent them.

The Minister noted that out of the 57 million deaths recorded worldwide in 2008, chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) accounted for over 36 million deaths. She added that the epidemic of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and asthma are the worst illnesses in the

Caribbean region. However, she noted that these diseases are preventable.

“Up to 80 per cent of heart diseases, stroke, type 2 diabetes and over onethird of cancers could be prevented by eliminating shared risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol,” she noted.

As it relates to Guyana, Dr Cummings highlighted that Guyana has observed a growing epidemic of NCDs in recent years, while adding that out of the $23 billion budgetary allocation to the Public Health Ministry, some 70 per cent went towards tackling NCDs.

In addition to preventable actions, the Junior

Lima Sands man remanded for attempted murder

A27-year-old labourer of Lima Sands, Essequibo Coast, was on Tuesday remanded to prison after he was charged for the offence of attempt to commit murder.

Wendell Mc Donald also known as “Brown” appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

The charge alleged that on October 23, 2015 at Lima Sands, with intent to commit murder, he injured Hafeez Majid.

Mc Donald was represented by Attorney Latchmin Dindyal, who in a bail application, stated that her client was willing to abide with any conditions the court wishes to

set in granting bail. The Prosecutor, however, objected to bail while informing the court that the Virtual Complainant was in critical condition at the Suddie Public Hospital.

As such, the bail application was denied and the labourer was remanded to prison. The case will continue on November 18.

ly detection of chronic diseases. “You don’t have to be sick to go to the doctor. I believe in knowing. That way, you can do something quickly before it reaches a far stage. Whilst effective treatment for NCDs is essential, early action and prevention are critical. Preventing the onset of chronic illness will ultimately save our Government valuable time and money, and often overstretch healthcare resources,” Dr Cummings remarked.

More over, the Minister outlined the need for public awareness of chronic diseases, disclosing that her Ministry intends to set up a health promotion unit that will be tasked with supporting awareness activities.

Additionally, she emphasised the need for regular medical check-ups, which she noted can led to early detection of any illness.

Furthermore, Dr Cummings urged the company to not only focus on employees who are nearing retirement but the younger ones as well. This way, she noted, they will be educated about chronic diseases and be conscious of their health.

During the seminar, there were presentations on topics such as hypertension (HTN), hypercholesterolemia, blood sugar and blood pressure testing, the benefits of physical exercise to good health and nutrition in relation to Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (DM/HTN).

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Stand up for yourself if someone is being too demanding. You will disappoint yourself if you do too much for others and leave no time for your own pursuits.

If you are feeling stressed, figure out what changes you can make to ease the pressure. Altering your lifestyle or where you live may be required to achieve peace of mind.

Become a leader. Your insightful ways of finding solutions will help you to make positive progress regardless of your goal. Help will be offered if you put in a request.

Don’t neglect your responsibilities or someone will bring it to your attention. To avoid confrontations be diplomatic and patient when dealing with overly emotional family members or friends.

Consider all your options. It’s time to make a change. Consult with people in positions that interest you and find out what prerequisites are necessary to get moving in a new direction.

Pick up a pet as a companion or start a new hobby. You have lots of talent, and with a little initiative you could start a lucrative side business. Temporary financial setbacks are apparent. Better times lie ahead if you set a budget that gives you better control over the money that comes in and goes out.

A romantic encounter is evident. Stop worrying about what others think and make the most of your time by following creative pursuits and enjoying a relaxing evening with someone you love.

Influential connections can be made if you attend industry functions. Don’t be shy, focus on your strengths and keep exaggeration to a minimum to ensure you get the best results.

Stave off boredom. Arrange a get-together with people who come from different backgrounds. Interaction in a recreational environment will help break down barriers and lead to improved communication and understanding.

Start the home improvements that you have been contemplating. Making your surroundings more comfortable and inviting will add to your relaxation at the end of a busy day.

Join forces with people who are heading in a similar direction. Group ventures look promising and will help you make positive changes to your workplace, your community or your personal life.

Night 2 filled with thrilling action

By TreisTon Joseph

The Banks Beer InterMinistry/Corporation

futsal tournament heated up as the goals began to flow on Night Two of the tournament which was held on Monday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The Health Ministry taught a lesson of cleanliness to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) with a 4-1 win in their bit of action in the tournament.

Stephan Garnett led the way for the men of health with a hat-trick in the 10th, 17th and 19th minutes, while Deshane Garnett scored the first goal for the Ministry in the eighth minute which was an equalising goal.

Dexter Beckles scored the game’s first goal for M&CC with a shot in the fifth minute.

Oasis Water opened the night’s proceedings with a dominating 6-1 performance against the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Gerald Gittens was the leading scorer for Oasis with a hat-trick in the sixth, seventh and eighth minutes to single-

handedly take the game away from the Government organisation. Eon Harry was also in hot form scoring a double in the second and fourth minutes of the game while Junior Padmore was the other scorer with a goal in the 10th minute.

Godfrey Powers scored Foreign Affairs’ lone goal in the sixth minute.

The Barber’s Association topped Courts Guyana Inc with a comfortable 5-nil win in an all-round showing by the barber men. Dave Waterman (8th); Devon Garrett (11th), Chris Galloway (15th), Travis Simon (18th) and Teon Joaquin (20th) were the scorers for the barbers.

Digicel Guyana easily topped Lands and Surveys 5-2 behind Devon Booker’s double which came in the third and 10th minutes.

Ryan Grant scored in the 18th minute for Digicel, while Juan Carlos Palacio and Juan Carlos Guzman scored in the 19th and 20th minute respectively to seal the deal.

Mark McCalman in the seventh and Adrian Ifill in the 12th minute were the scorers for Lands and Surveys.

The Guyana Fire Service cooled down Bounty Farm with a 3-1 win in their first game of the tournament.

Travis Charles had a double for the firemen in the seventh and 16th minutes, while Azuma Roberts scored in the 12th minute to help the firemen pull off the win. Kevin Collins scored Bounty Farm’s lone goal in the 20th minute.

The closest game of the evening came in the final match when Banks DIH scrapped by the media with a 2-1 win.

Phillip Rowley notched a double for Banks with goals in the 13th and 14th minutes, while Nicquan Nestor was the scorer for the media squad with a goal in the 16th minute.

The only draw of the evening came when the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) met with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission in a threeall finish. Customs gained the only walkover win of the evening against the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

Action in the tournament will continue on Thursday at the same venue. (josepht@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Parsun Outboard Inter-County softball…

Demerara

Afestive crowd was robbed of a riveting end to the final of the Parsun Outboard InterCounty softball tournament after bad light put an end to the contest between Demerara A and B teams at Everest Cricket Club.

Demerara B needed 13 to win off 11 balls with two wickets in hand when play was halted in fading light on Sunday, and both teams were declared joint winners by the organisers.

Batting first, Demerara A mustered 195-8 off their allotted 20 overs. Navin Singh struck a fluent 59, while Chien Gittens slammed 56. Vishnu Tammechandra claimed 2-25 and Azaad Azeez 2-28.

In reply, Demerara B suffered some early hiccups before Azeez and Mohamed Karim steadied the chase with level-headed batting. However, Sewchand Budhu kept Demerara A in the hunt with steady bowling.

The contest swung back and forth as wickets continued to tumble even though the runs kept flowing. Demerara B ended on 183-8 in 18.1 overs. Man-

Romel Richmond is the new President of the Sunburst Camptown Football Club after its elections were held on Saturday.

With the then President James Bond and Vice President Leon Muir being absent, Richmond was elected unopposed to the presidential post, while Jevon Lindie was elected as the new Vice President.

However, Akram Sabree, Carlica Pollydore and Aferya Denny returned to the posts of Secretary, Treasurer

and Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer respectively.

According to a press release, Sabree during his delivery at the AGM made mention of the struggles the team faced primarily in the year 2014 and also in 2015. This, he related, might have been due to the disruption in the football governing fraternity and also the governing of the club (in terms of the former executives).

Richmond stated his intentions for the Club and “not being seen as a mere figurehead but one that will

involve great teamwork and collaboration, dedication, commitment and most importantly – accomplishment of goals”.

Additionally, he mentioned that his team will be focusing on “infrastructural development, team bonding and building, and the generation of greater sponsorship”.

Also present were founders of the Club, Leroy Prescod and Rudy Bishop who both gave their blessings to the newly-appointed executives.

champs

each participating team received prizes. The competition, which was organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc, was sponsored by Crown Mining Supplies, the distributor of Parsun Outboard, ANSA McAL under the Stag Beer brand, and Digicel among others.

Do India need an ODI revamp?

ODI cricket, more than other formats, has been India’s pride. Before this year’s World Cup, they were the holders of the World Cup and Champions Trophy. At home they have been near invincible. Before this defeat to South Africa, they had lost only two series out of their last 16 at home. On both occasions - after defeats to Australia in 2009-10 and Pakistan in 2012-13 - they recovered quickly and went on to win the World Cup of 2011 and the Champions Trophy of 2013.

After the defeat to Australia, India didn’t change their personnel or plans too much. Zaheer Khan was the main addition to the team that lost to Australia.

After Pakistan, India changed their ODI cricket’s grammar. Out went Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh to herald a clean break from the previous era; in came younger legs, naturalised openers, and everything suddenly fell in place. New matchwinners appeared in R Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, in Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.

After this series defeat, those making decisions have to decide what kind of debacle this is: one where you keep calm and carry on or one where new match-winners and new ideas are needed. The utter helplessness during this series might sug-

gest the latter. The return of Ashwin and Shami from injury, for example, won’t address the problems that have existed for a while now.

The biggest of these has been the failure to adjust to constant rule changes. Just when India found out that being forced to attack with five bowlers was the best thing to happen for them, the ICC changed the rules. New regulations that have made hitting in the end more difficult call for more batting depth. More than four years after he ceased being a match-winner, India are still looking for a replacement for Yuvraj Singh. In

ODIs, Yuvraj was not just a big hitter, he could play long innings too, unlike Suresh Raina, the closest India have got to replicating Yuvraj. Yuvraj could also be counted upon as a bowler, which for some reason MS Dhoni is not doing as regularly with Raina as he used to.

That South Africa’s JP Duminy bowled 21 overs in three matches to Raina’s 14 in five was a huge difference between the sides. In five ODIs in England last year, Raina bowled 25. India kept craving that batsman at No. 7 who would free up the minds and muscles of those batting higher up, but

they didn’t ask more of their batsmen. Duminy is not that much better a bowler than Raina. Nor is Farhaan Behardien more deceptive than Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. Sneaking in overs from part-timers used to be MS Dhoni’s forte; with rule changes he seems to lost that touch.

It doesn’t help Dhoni that he is not sure of his main bowlers completing their quota. The disturbing trend of their being really good for just one season continues. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has not come back the same bowler after being bowled into the ground in England last year. Who knows what we will get of Shami after he played through pain and injury in the World Cup in Australia? Umesh Yadav has the fitness, but he has not shown he has evolved as a bowler. What Dhoni said of the pace bowlers in Bangladesh might have sounded harsh but is ringing painfully true.

The treatment of Ajinkya Rahane, though, is a bit harsh. Rahane would have seen Rohit and Raina get plenty of opportunities before him to cement their places. He, though, is already typecast in a rare case of the captain talking about a player’s limitations in press conferences. This has also brought about a rare instance of the selectors acknowledging the issue. Dhoni is more edgy than ever, criticising pitches and umpires, which he hardly ever did in public. He has never been in such little control of his team or the cricket it plays. And he likes control when he is on the field. During this series his fast bowlers were wayward, Harbhajan Singh and Axar Patel were nothing like Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja at their best, and the batting

match-winners didn’t quite complete their jobs.

When you walk into a dressing room, you want to look at match-winners. This team only really had two, Rohit and Kohli. Dhawan was out of form, although form hardly applies to him: he just starts scoring runs out of the blue. Bowlers know how to bowl to Dhoni now. They are not scared of him in the one-on-one scenarios of the final overs, where Dhoni has broken down the best of them. He did play what proved to be a match-winning innings, but when he batted India had nothing to lose and with the bat South Africa contributed generously to India’s cause.

Rahane still has some way to go before he can be looked at as a reliable matchwinner, but he deserves those chances. With current regulations Raina has to be asked to do more with the ball to accommodate someone such as Gurkeerat Singh, a hitter and a bowler of a few overs. ODI cricket might be leaving India behind, in that they don’t have

either a jack-in-the-box who can play around with fields or a big hitter they can call upon to hit from ball one. The one man who might be suited for the role wasn’t given a single game in a bumbling line-up.

It is rare that an Indian Test team looks more modern than the ODI one, but that is the case now, and it is not all about the captain or the captaincy. It is clear Indian ODI cricket needs regeneration. Their batsmen are too similar, their slow seamers are not fast enough, and their quick seamers are not smart enough. The captain is usually on a hiding to nothing in such scenarios, but this is also when the really good ones pull the side through. Dhoni has done that previously, and he keeps saying whatever he is doing now is with the next World Cup and Champions Trophy in mind, but the regeneration has to start with a question on Dhoni himself: will he be fit and good enough come the next World Cup? It’s a question India didn’t ask with Sachin Tendulkar. (Cricinfo)

Johnson's XI ahead by 60 runs over Bacchus' XI

Veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine

Chanderpaul stroked a solid fifty on Tuesday as Leon Johnson's XI took a 60-run lead over Robin Bacchus XI at stumps on day two of the Guyana Jaguars fourday warm-up match at the National Stadium.

Johnson's XI closed on 201-5 after Bacchus' XI maded 141, batting first.

Chanderpaul was his usual gritty self, ending the day on 53 not out from 124

balls,including four boundaries.

Raymond Reifer is unbeaten on seven.

Opener Assad Fudadin scored 47, while Vishaul Singh scored 34 from 119 balls during his fifty partnership stand with Chanderpaul.

Seamer Paul Wintz has been the most successful bowler with 2-22.

Bad light brought a premature end to the day's play. Action on day three will start at 09:30h today.

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Croft pays courtesy call on Sport Minister

Former West Indies fast bowler Colin Croft on Tuesday morning met with Sport Minister Nicolette Henry to discuss a number of issues related to cricket, and sports in general. The brief meeting took place at the Education Ministry’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport on Main Street in Georgetown.

During the interaction, they spoke on a number of areas, including the Ministry’s plans for the re-integration of sport into the school curriculum, talent spotting, and cricket development.

Croft also shared his experiences in cricket, which started at Central High School before moving on to represent the West Indies team of the 70s and 80s.

Minister Henry in turn shared the Administration’s vision for the development of sport in Guyana, noting that the integration of the Sport and Education Ministries was indicative of Government’s intention to seriously have sport more prevalent in schools across the country.

Colin Everton Hunte Croft, now 62, was a destruc-

tive fast bowler in his heyday, although his international career spanned just five years from 1977 to 1982. In that short time, he had opposition batsmen jumping around for safety, capturing 125 wickets from 27 Test matches at an outstanding average of 23. His careerbest 8-29 against Pakistan in Port-of-Spain is still the best by a West Indian fast bowler in Test cricket.

Arguably the greatest fast bowler to come out of Guyana, Croft became a qualified pilot after retirement and also a candid cricket commentator.

Guyana needs more clubs like RHTY&SC, says President

President David Granger on Sunday last hailed the outstanding work of Guyana’s leading youth and sport organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), stating to loud applause that Guyana needed more dynamic and visionary clubs like the RHTY&SC in every village.

The President, who was delivering the feature address at the Club’s Silver Jubilee Tribute to Heroes Programme at the St Francis Community Developers Youth Complex, also stated that the RHTY&SC was now a household name because its management had worked beyond the call of duty to make a positive difference and most importantly because it placed emphasis on others rather than self.

He spoke broadly on the themes of duty, discipline, responsibility, identity and integrity, and urged the Club to uphold its high standards in the future.

Club Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster, in providing a comprehensive report on the history of the Club, traced its humble birth with just 17 members to the dynamic organisation, which today undertakes a record 200 programmes/activities every year.

The long-serving Secretary/CEO also unveiled a long list of major activities/programmes that the RHTY&SC would be undertaking for the rest of 2015 and in 2016.

Among them are expansion of the Club’s junior cricket teams, construction of a recreational park for families in Rose Hall Town, hosting of a Christmas Village and a massive expansion of the Club’s highly successful Say No to Drugs, Crime and Suicide and Say Yes to Education and Sports Programme.

Foster also expressed gratitude to the RHTY&SC’s numerous donors for their support over the years and pledged that the Club would continue to work every day

to touch the lives of others. The 2010 National Sports Awardee also expressed the RHTY&SC’s willingness to share its vast experience of success with other clubs/organisations across Guyana.

Sport Minister Nicolette Henry also hailed the RHTY&SC as a role model organisation and congratulated the Club on achieving its Silver Jubilee Anniversary. She pointed out the Club’s numerous achievements, and stated that it would continue to receive support from the Sport Ministry.

Meanwhile, West Indies Test player Assad Fudadin headed the list of the Club’s top 27 players honoured for their outstanding performances over the last 25 years.

West Indies players Royston Crandon and Shemaine Campbelle, as well as Neil Williams and Major James Fraser, were the other players in the top five.

The other cricketers honoured were Abdel Fudadin, Khemraj Mahadeo, Shawn Grant, Inderpaul Mohan, Rajiv Ivan, Jason Sinclair, Troy Mathieson, Dominique Rikhi, Michael Hicks, Raymond Haniff, Erva Giddings, Desmond Fraser, Shawn Pereira, Eon Hooper, Ravi Narine, Esuan Crandon, Joseph Arokium, Michael Trim, Renwick Batson, Clinton Pestano, Andre Percival and Delbert

Hicks. Each of the awardees received a trophy and a medal. The Club also honoured 17 of its most hardworking executives for their contributions towards its development.

The awardees who were honoured under the RHTY&SC’s Tribute to Heroes Programme were Leon Wiggins, Keith Hicks, Neville Beaton, Ravindra Kissoonlall, Joyce Wiggins, Dawn Hicks, Raymond Haniff, Isabella Smartt, Bernadette King, Farouk Kudrath, Terry Pike, George Paddy, Moonish Singh, Elizabeth Brusch, Lucy Pike, Mark Papannah and Sohan Harry.

President Granger handed over the Tribute to Hero Certificate to each of the awardees and praised them for working hard to make a difference.

The RHTY&SC would like to express gratitude to the following sponsors for making the event a huge success: National Sports Commission, Sentinel Security, Caribbean Containers Inc, Guyana Cricket Board, Modern Optical Service, Chetram Singh, HA Snacks Company Limited, Gizmos and Gadgets, Gafoors, Bounty Farm Limited, Claude Raphael, Namilco, Farfan and Mendes Limited and the St Francis Community Developers.

BM Soat supports GSSF’s Costume Steel Challenge

The Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF) will be host-

ing the first Costume Steel Challenge Shooting Match on Halloween Day, Saturday, October 31 at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Timehri Range.

Guyana Softball Cup 5

Clear Waters to hydrate and outfit players and umpires

The heat will be on this weekend in Guyana Softball Cup 5, and Essential Supplies Inc, a subsidiary of International Pharmaceutical Agency, through its Clear Waters brand, is set to play a key role in the highly anticipated three-day tournament.

On Tuesday morning, the company made a strong commitment to hydrate the players at all the venues, while outfitting the umpires who have been contracted to officiate at the games.

During a simple ceremony to confirm its support for the tournament, Marketing, Sales and Distribution

Manager of the company, Narendra Lucknauth, expressed the entity’s elation at once again partnering with the organising body, the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA).

“We have been with them from the inception, and we’re once again proud to be part of the biggest softball tournament in Guyana,” Lucknauth said.

GFSCA President Ramchand Ragbeer said Clear Waters’ involvement in the tournament cannot be overlooked, as they are playing a key role in keeping the players refreshed on and off the field.

“Without their involvement, the Guyana Softball Cup would not be a success,” he outlined.

Meanwhile, GFSCA Vice President Ricky Deonarain said a prompt bowl-off of the tournament was in the making on Friday morning, as all the logistics have so far fallen into place.

He also used the opportunity to remind the participating teams and officials that a final briefing would be held on Thursday afternoon from 17:30h in the main pavilion of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda.

At that forum, the tournament rules and fixtures will be announced, while representatives of the GFSCA will be on hand to answer queries that may arise.

A total of 26 teams, 10 in the Open and 16 in the Masters, will compete for top honours when the tournament bowls off on Friday. It will conclude with the grand finals on Sunday under floodlights at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground in Queenstown.

Wolf’s Warriors are the defending champions of the Open category, while Floodlights won the Masters division in 2014.

The themed competition has been exclusively sponsored by BM Soat Auto Sales and is expected to be a keenly contested one. Participants invited are expected to compete, donning costumes of their liking.

Costumes can range from the very simple, such as funny hats, special shoes, to the more elaborate and even terrifying in keeping with the theme. The rules of the Steel Challenge Shooting Association, a sister body of the United States Practical Shooting Association, are expected to be adhered to along with safe firearm handling throughout.

This action-packed handgun shooting sport presented by the GSSF attracts Guyanese pistol shooters from all around the country on a regular basis and on Saturday it will be no differ-

Mohamed’s

ent as various “characters” will come out to participate.

“Steel Challenge Shooting is considered to be the fastest practical shooting competition in the world. The upcoming competition promises to be an exciting one. It will consist of three stages where competitors will shoot at five individual steel targets per stage,” the GSSF said in a release.

Shooters will be scored using an electronic timing device, penalties of added time are applied for any misses and the total time resultant is used for the score. Ultimately, the shooter with the lowest time recorded overall in the match will be declared the winner.

At the small ceremony at the showroom of BM Soat Auto Sales, located at Lot 9 Croal Street, Georgetown, GSSF President Vidushi

Persaud, in accepting the kind sponsorship, conveyed thanks to BM Soat Auto Sales Manager Priya Mohamed.

The Federation’s match organising committee reported that everything was all set for Saturday’s match.

Thanks to BM Soat Auto Sales, trophies have been secured for two SCSA Divisions: Wildcat and Limited. The prizes will be awarded to the top three overall in each division. Wildcat Division will see competitors using .32ACP and other calibre pistols lesser than 9mm, while those in the challenging Limited Division will shoot 9mm or higher calibre hand guns. More information can be found online at GSSF’s website- www. GuyanaSportShooting.com.

Enterprise supports InterMinistry/Corporation futsal tourney

Mohamed’s Enterprise continued its support of sport by sponsoring the Inter-Ministry/Corporation Futsal Tournament which is currently ongoing at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The sponsorship is to the tune of $100,000 which will be the prize money for the third-place finisher in the tournament.

At the simple handing-

over ceremony on Tuesday, Proprietor of Mohamed’s Enterprise, Nazar Mohamed wished the tournament success.

“As you are well aware, Mohamed’s Enterprise have been linked with sports and we are happy to be a part of this and to support this competition and we hope that the competition will run in good spirit… it’s not about who wins but about the ca-

maraderie and we want to wish the tournament success,” Mohamed stated.

Co-coordinator of the event, Otis James thanked Mohamed on behalf of the organising committee for the support not just for the futsal tournament but for sport as well.

The tournament’s next batch of matches will be on Thursday from 18:30h at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

ECDCA launches Banks Premium Beer T20

GCB/Banks DIH/Digicel NSSCL... Jeffers’ all-round performance crushes Windsor Forest Secondary

– Bush Lot cruise to victory over Fort Wellington

Leonora Secondary

Mark Jeffers’ superb effort with the bat and ball crushed Windsor Forest Secondary’s hopes of moving further in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) sponsored by Banks DIH Coca Cola and Rainforest Water along with Digicel.

Jeffers slammed 126 which included 15 boundaries and four maximums and Chukiram Outar stroked 84 (12x4s; 1x6) to propel Leonora to a mammoth 315 all out in their 30 overs.

Windsor Forest in reply was dismissed for a paltry 67 as Jeffers bundled 4-16 off just three overs. Also among the wickets was Kevin Christian who took 3-13. Leonora Secondary won by 248.

At Bush Lot Ground, Bush Lot crushed Fort Wellington by 10 wickets. Bush Lot won the toss and invited Fort Wellington to bat first. Fort Wellington posted a meagre 40 all out. The destroyers with the ball were Clinton Grant with 4-9, Bikram Mohan 3-6, and Nivendra Persad 2-9. Bush Lot Secondary made light work of their target as they raced to 43 without loss in 8.2 overs.

Action in the League continues tomorrow with Abrams Zuil Secondary versus Johanna Cecelia Secondary at the NOC Ground in Essequibo, Swami Secondary versus Zeeburg Secondary at Zeeburg Ground, and Ash Secondary versus Number Eight Secondary at the D’Edward Ground in Berbice. (GCB Release)

Banks DIH Limited, under its brand Premium Beer, in collaboration with the East Coast Demerara Cricket Association (ECDCA) last weekend launched a T20 knockout tournament at Enmore Community Centre.

A total of 18 teams will battle for supremacy from Sunday, with the winning team taking home a trophy and $200,000, the runners-up a trophy and $100,000 and the losing semi-finalists a trophy and $50,000 each. The Man of the Match and the player who is deemed to have created the Play-of-theDay in the final will pocket $20,000 and $5000 respectively.

ECDCA Chairman Tejnauth Jadunauth thanked the sponsors and encouraged the teams to maintain a high level of discipline. Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary

Anand Sanasie said he was happy to see cricket being played on a regular basis in the area, adding that the GCB was always willing to assist. He lauded Banks DIH Limited and congratulated the ECDCA on the partnership.

Also present at the launch was West Indies star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who spoke about discipline and urged the teams to respect the umpires’ decision. Chanderpaul gave some helpful tips to the captains present and wished them well.

Banks DIH Premium Beer Brand Manager Shameer Shahib stated that they were happy to be associated with the game in the area and would make the tournament an annual event.

Among the teams set to do battle are Tiger’s XI, Ogle, Strathavon, Enmore and Fairfield.