Guyana Times International

India willing to help bailout GuySuCo

– says technical, financial assistance available

As the Government of Guyana tries desperately to get the local sugar industry back on its feet, the Indian Government has extended a lending hand to aid in resuscitating the ailing sector.

Speaking to Guyana Times International on Wednesday, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Ventakachalam Mahalingham, said they have indicated this to the David Granger Administration and are awaiting a proposal to determine the nature of

the assistance needed.

“As of now I cannot say what will be the nature of assistance but we have already committed when former President (Donald) Ramotar visited India and met with our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), that we would help the Government of Guyana to upgrade the sugar industry in whatever way that they want but we are waiting for the proposal from the Government. It could be technical, it could be LOC (line of credit), it could be both depending on Government’s request,” he explained.

Only Tuesday, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo disclosed that as Government contemplates the way forward to revitalise the industry, they are in discussions with overseas counterparts, including India.

Earlier this month, former Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation continued on page 8

US-based Guyanese attacked, robbed at gun point

AUS-based Guyanese woman who returned to Guyana to visit her family in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara was greeted with a tragic arrival when she was attacked and robbed at gun point, hours after landing at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.

Seerajie Shivram, 56 years old of Florida, was attacked and robbed by two gunmen as she was making her way into her house at Lot 2 Mon Repos on Wednesday morning around 02:00h.

The woman was attacked and robbed of over US$3000, her asthmatic medication, her United States (US) passport, and US identification card and driver’s licence, among other important documents.

In addition, Shivram’s sister and brother-in-law, who were with her at the time, were also robbed of their valuables, including Gy$25,000.

The woman’s son, Vishal Shivram, told the Guyana Times International that his aunt and uncle went to the airport to pick his mother up, and they were all travelling back to the Mon Repos home. Upon arriving at the home, it was then that the two men rushed into the yard, held his father at gunpoint and robbed the women of their belongings. They then escaped via a motor vehicle that was waiting some distance from the house.

“Everything happened so fast. When my dad came to open

the gate so the car could drive in, my mum and aunt came out and the two men just ran in. They pointed a gun to my dad and took away my mum’s hand luggage and my aunt’s stuff. They then ran away and jumped in a car that was waiting around by the market side,” the son related.

The incident was immediately reported to the Beterverwagting Police Station, where the Police there have launched an investigation.

The family said a nearby Chinese restaurant has a surveillance camera which may have captured the incident on tape and it will soon be submitted to the Police to assist with the investigations.

Shivram, who had intended to stay two weeks in Guyana, will now have to exhaust her time with back and forth trips to the United States Embassy in Georgetown in an effort to obtain a new US passport and other personal documents which were stolen in the robbery.

Her husband, Naresh Shivram told this publication that his wife has thus far been greeted with great cooperation from the US Embassy and the airline (Caribbean Airline).

“Everything is going smooth. We went today (Wednesday) at the US Embassy and everything went smooth. We went to the airline and they told us once we get the Police report everything will be okay,” he said.

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Conflict of interest

It is very unfortunate that in spite of the many objections raised by political parties and other civil society groups, the APNU+AFC Government has proceeded with contracting former Auditor General under the PNC Administration Anand Goolsarran and known anti-PPP/C critic Christopher Ram to carry out audits on major projects/financial transactions undertaken by the previous Government.

Minister within the Ministry of Finance Jaipaul Sharma had disclosed that the audit for the NICIL is being undertaken by Goolsarran, while the GGMC and GGB audits are currently being conducted by Ram and his team at Ram and McRae.

When it was first disclosed that these two individuals would have had a prominent role in carrying out these audits, we thought that it was not a ‘done deal’, and perhaps taking into consideration the many opposing views being expressed, the administration would have reconsidered the personnel that were being selected to carry out this important and massive undertaken.

The PPP/C leaders are not against any forensic audit being conducted, but rather it is the personnel themselves which are of concern to the party. And the party has every reason to believe that the key players involved, Ram and Goolsarran, will be biased in their work.

Where audits of that nature are being carried out, especially when it involves public money, persons who are well respected across the political and social divides are considered, not party loyalists or persons who are connected in some way to the group/ organization initiating the audit.

Having careful thought and consideration for the selection of the right personnel to carry out such a task is important because at the end of such exercise, it is expected that the findings would be acceptable by all parties involved since the persons who would have conducted the audit could not be accused of having an axe to grind.

We do not understand the rationale behind contracting Ram and Goolsarran to conduct these audits. These gentlemen have openly criticized the PPP/C and praised the coalition before and more so during the recent elections campaigns.

Just a few days ago, we carried the views of an accredited chartered accountant who said that it was wholly inappropriate for Ram and Goolsarran to audit some of the entities given their public criticisms of these agencies.

The accountant had warned that going ahead with the former government critics could destroy the credibility of the audits and had urged the accountants to walk away from the contracts and follow the principles of their profession.

A quick Google search would show that Goolsarran had publicly commented on NICIL operations numerous times in the local newspapers.

For example, on October 2, 2012 he was quoted in Stabroek News under the caption: “Goolsarran exposes raft of breaches involving NICIL”. It was revealed that the former Auditor General had claimed a raft of breaches of the law by the government through NICIL and said there should be a judicial review of the entity’s operations should government continue to defend its action and not take remedial measures.

In another article in the same newspaper on October 4, 2012 headlined, “Goolsarran: NICIL not a public corporation, state property cannot be vested in it”, Goolsarran was quoted as saying that NICIL is not a public corporation as Government purports and therefore moveable and immoveable property cannot be vested in it.

Ram for his part was the lawyer representing former WPA MP Desmond Trotman who had moved to the courts blocking a Gy$3B loan agreement between GGMC and the CHPA. Ram and Goolsarran again were cited in a Stabroek News article on February 17, 2014 saying that GGMC has been running a parallel treasury to circumvent parliamentary scrutiny.

The evidence is there for everyone to see. Ram and Goolsarran present a clear case of a conflict of interest. It would be difficult for these two individuals to carry out their duties in a professional, effective and decent manner given their previous stance on the matters at hand.

The Limacol CPL cheerleaders enjoying part of the action during a match in last year's CPL T20 tournament.

Deliberate attempt by Venezuela to retard Guyana’s economic development

Dear Editor, Guyanese must stand firm behind President David Granger against Venezuela’s false claims of Guyana’s Essequibo territory. It takes us back in the years from 1835 to 1841 when the demarcation of the boundary between Venezuela and British Guiana was done by Sir Robert Schombrugk.

1895 saw the genesis of the boundary dispute between Venezuela and Guyana (then British Guiana). It must be noted that this controversy goes back to over hundreds of years. It was intertwined with abstract dealings of the metropolitan countries with their colonies – on the one hand it was Guyana under the British, and on the other hand, Venezuela under Spain.

The dispute arose about the boundary and President Cleveland of the USA intervened in the matter. Britain was accused of violating the Monroe Doctrine and was persuaded to determine the issue in favour of the independent Republic of Venezuela.

To meet USA demands, Britain decided to arbitrate with the great American republic on the position of the disputed boundary.

After prolonged diplomatic exchanges between the governments of Venezuela and Britain between the years 1880 to 1885, the border dispute concerning the western boundary of Guiana with Venezuela could not be resolved.

As a result, the Venezuelan government found itself in great diplomatic bitterness and frustration with Britain around 1887.

According to the Venezuelan version of the matter, 50,000 square miles of territory are involved in the dispute. Venezuela claimed this territory by virtue of being the successors to the territory once occupied by Spain.

On the other hand, Britain

claimed the territory by reason of being the conquerors of the Dutch, who in turn had the rights to the land through their occupation of territories, Guyana included.

The arbitration tribunal settled the border dispute between the republic of Venezuela and Britian on October 3, 1899 and it was signed by the arbitrators in Paris on that date when they made the award.

The arbitration award was subsequently ratified by the Venezuelan congress and executive, as well as by the British government, and was accepted as bringing to finality the border dispute between the two countries.

All seemed settled until the year 1949. Later a tremendous amount of pressure was brought by the people of Venezuela and their leaders upon the Venezuelan government, demanding that action be taken to reclaim the Essequibo territory under dispute.

And on the announcement that Guiana was to gain its independence in 1966, a joint communiqué was issued dated December 9 and 10 of 1965 on ministerial discussions held in London between Britian and Venezuela.

Subsequently, the agreement signed on the February 17, 1966 by Britain, in consultation with the government of British Guiana and Venezuela to resolve the controversy over

the border dispute.

In 1970, the two countries signed a treaty by which the dispute would rest in cold storage for a period of 12 years until 1982.

This treaty is known as the Port-of-Spain protocol, having being signed in the Trinidad and Tobago capital by representatives of Great Britain, Guyana and Venezuela. The treaty which seemed to infer acknowledgement on both sides of the existence of a dispute was not ratified by the Venezuelan congress, and so the dispute remains unresolved.

On June 15, 1968, the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs placed an advertisement in the Times of London stating that the Essequibo region of Guyana belonged to Venezuela, and that the Venezuelan government would not in consequence recognize concessions granted over Essequibo by the Guyana government.

We, the Guyanese, people view this as a deliberate attempt by the government of Venezuela though intimidation to retard the economic development which Guyana is exploring oil in her territorial.

The people and government of Guyana consider this intimidation to be repugnant to our territorial sovereignty and a violation of international law.

Mohamed Khan

Prison officers and inmates injured in Trinidad prison confrontation

PORT OF SPAIN,

Trinidad – Five prison officers and seven prisoners were stabbed and beaten in a violent confrontation on Wednesday morning in circumstances that are now under investigation.

The incident in the remand section of the Golden Grove Prison occurred around 6 a.m. when breakfast was being delivered to inmates, but there are conflicting reports about which group started the brawl.

Prison officers said they were ambushed by a group of prisoners brandishing makeshift weapons – sharpened tooth brushes and metal objects – who kicked, cuffed, and stabbed them hours after a search by officials uncovered a stash of contraband.

Commissioner of Prisons Sterling Stewart

said he has launched an internal investigation into the incident and is expecting a preliminary report soon.

“My officers were attacked,” he told the Trinidad Express.

“Because of the information that we had — certain contraband were in a particular area of the remand prison — we sent in a squad to do a special search [Tuesday] night. The inmates said they were not taking anything like that, and they start attacking the officers with their pails and their buckets and whatever. There were a few inmates who attempted to obstruct officers from carrying out their search, but improvised weapons, cellular phones and other contraband items were found and confiscated.”

“Then [yesterday] morning, from what I was told, as officers were carrying out their duties they were taken hostage, if you will, at a particular wing in the prison. Inmates were armed with a number of knives and blades,” Stewart added.

Inmates, meantime, claimed the prison officials attacked them. They alleged that a group of mostly Muslim prisoners were also beaten in the raid by officers the night before.

Social Cohesion Minister promises to bring healing to racial division in Guyana

Guyana’s long standing ethnic divide is set for some measure of healing if the newly established Social Cohesion Ministry gets a handle of the situation. This is according to Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally, who related that the much-needed Ministry is the first of its kind worldwide.

Leading up to the May 11 General and Regional Elections, the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change coalition had campaigned on a platform of “ a government of national unity”, promising that it will work assiduously in ensuring that the county can truly live up to its motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” Immediately after, President David Granger was sworn in; he had vowed to live up to these promises since he wanted to see the end of racial discrimination in the country.

This led to the establishment of the Social Cohesion Ministry with Amna Ally being placed at the helm in an effort to find ways and methods in which such discrimination can be tackled. According to Ally, the mandate which has been given to her is one which she is determined to fulfil.

Although the concept of social cohesion remains relatively new to Guyanese, and it now has a Ministry to represent it, Minister Ally has asserted the relevance of her Ministry and its mandate

in the face of Guyana being a racially divided country.

“First of all, as you would know this is a brand new Ministry and it’s the first of its kind, not only in Guyana but in the Caribbean and even the world at large. We believe that it is a very important Ministry. In Guyana, we are racially divided,” Ally related.

As she made the admission that the country was at present, racially divided and segregated, she was however adamant that this goal set by the new Administration can be achieved with felt changes of ethnic unity becoming visible as time elapses.

Minister Ally explained that the mandate of her Ministry would be to follow wide consultations with stakeholders from civil society, including religious organisations, the private Sector, and even political parties.

She noted that the goal of the David Granger Administration by constituting the Social Cohesion Ministry is to bridge the divides that exist in Guyana. She alluded to President Granger’s address to the nation on June 10, when the 11th Parliament was reconvened and which featured an ambitious mandate of his Administration to a “One Nation Policy” running through to year 2020, noting that this must become a reality.

When asked what measures will be undertaken in the Social Cohesion Ministry to achieve its cause, Minister Ally disclosed that a meeting with stakeholders is currently in progress with hopes that on August 27, there will be a “Summit or a Roundtable at the Convention Centre, where the stakeholders and the people generally will help to develop a five-year strategic plan.”

This round table discussion she related will see persons advising and making suggestions on the best way forward in tackling the issue and once feasible, implementation will be done.

“Whether it’s at the community level or the level of the National Assembly, if we have to pass Bills or Motions, we will do so,” Ally said.

Attacks on PPP/C supporters evident around the country

Dear Editor,

The derogatory bashing a majority of PPP/C supporters are receiving around the country is downright appalling.

The vitriolic attacks on the PPP/C by both the APNU Government and APNU supporters are evident around the nation and most of it is directed one way.

Perhaps, they feel that by PPP/C supporters exercising their democratic right by voting for the PPP/C, they are deserving of such treatment?

It seems that the me-

dia bashing, that is, the letter columns, social media and other blogs aim their derogatory attacks against PPP/C supporters, suggesting that they have all benefited from a PPP/C government and that “APNU” people did not.

This is totally wrong and if it persists will alienate large sections of the population.

Guyana seems to have reverted back to the 1960s where we heard so much about racism. The ABC countries appear to be silent on the mat-

ter, having apparently rejoiced that the PPP/C is no longer in power.

We will stand up to our beliefs that we are all equal citizens of Guyana. We will continue to be the economic building block for our nation, despite who is governing, and will robustly challenge any racism.

I am a proud Guyanese, I am proud of my Indian ancestry. I denounce racism from wherever it might come and firmly believe that Guyana is for all of us.

Dr Peter R Ramsaroop

A Ramadaan message to my brothers and sisters

Dear Editor,

All should join in celebrating the fasting month of Ramadaan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, which is prescribed by the Quran as dictated by the Holy Prophet (peace be on to him).

Being part of a Muslim family relationship, of which my mother was a Muslim, and all my cousins, aunts and uncles were Muslims in Guyana, I used to enjoy this period.

I (Hindu) used to join them some days in fasting. I will wake up early in the morning, have my breakfast before 6:00h, fast until 18.00h, then have dinner.

After the last day of fasting, the day of Eid, all of us, brothers and sisters, will march to all our relatives in the evening, going around to each home and enjoying their sweet food and their relationship.

They did not give us meat because we do not eat beef. Those days are now memories.

It is believed that the first revelation to the Holy Prophet was sent down during the month of Ramadaan and is that which was revealed, the Quran, is a guidance for mankind and for right and wrong.

The name of Ramadaan came to light by the Prophet (peace be onto him) to remind people of the world of this glorious month.

The spiritual significance of fasting is being forgotten today as man is losing contact with his inner being. Nevertheless,

the science of fasting, as preserved in the Vedas and Shastras in ancient times, is a method of purification, which can aid man in his mundane and spiritual life.

These ancient texts are inherited from our ancestors who understood and were in tune with the law of nature and man. The systems they devised came from their profound knowledge and enabled man to raise his consciousness into the higher realms.

It has been scientifically proven that fasting makes the mind calm and serene. In yogic terminology, this is known as the sattvic (pure) element.

Because the mind becomes predominantly sattvic and more receptive, the scriptures advise the worship of certain deities during these fasting period.

Today, fasting and yogaism through the Vedic Yajurvade are used scientifically, and studies are carried out by medical institutions throughout the world to help human beings.

In Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism), the meaning of daan is very important, as it forms the basic of the principle of sacrifice. Daan means offering one’s possessions, money or other useful items, to others, unconditionally.

An important point is that we should give only those items we have earned. Further, giving should be in the name of God, as if it is His grace (Prasad, sacrifice) and the giver is only a me-

Who determines what is necessary from what is not?

Dear Editor, Today, I ask an important question: could what took place in Guyana be allowed in one of the developed countries?

I again ask: could there have been an election in the USA, Canada or Britain with all the known irregularities and in the end no verification of the results? Could that party of persons be declared winners?

We all know the answer: it cannot happen because they stand for democracy in their countries; they have a zero tolerance policy for undemocratic forms and practices.

They would not in the least entertain the thought that at any time an election could suddenly become a selection. That the people’s wishes could be overturned in such shameless fashion and that process deemed democratic. What is going on!

To think that we are in the 21st century and an election was held with no verification of the results. Unbelievable! When a simple, legitimate request is made, let us have a recount we get answers from the very same fraudsters that this is not necessary.

Who determines what is necessary from what is not? Yes it is necessary, yes it is important, because we have a party which has a historical record of rigging, and that same party has been declared winners in a false electoral process.

dium for delivering it to the end beneficiary.

As in this sense, His Grace is rama, henceforth it is called “Ramadaan” – give in the name of God.

It is understood that in Sanskrit, “rama-dhyana” means to meditate on Lord Rama.

In pre-Islamic times, Ramdaan became a pagan, tribal ritual and was practised and celebrated by the pagans and tribal Arabians with the same feature and characteristic as the Islamic Ramadaan.

Historically, Ramadaan or fasting is millions of years old, and originated from the Vedic teaching of Sanatan Dharma and was taken by people that migrated throughout the world from Bharata (India) over a period of time.

Historically, this was proven that around 400 BC, Ashoka Murya, of the great Muryan Empire sent out his trained monks to educate the world on spiritual teaching. History showed that all faith practiced fasting in some form or the other.

Everyone regardless of faith should take part in the month of Ramadaan. Scientifically, it is for your good and for your health and will be beneficial to society.

I call on all religious organizations to make this event an international one through the UN, similar to that of the international yoga event. Eid-Mubarak.

S N Singh

When the aggrieved party in all of this mess calls for a recount, they turn out to be bad losers. And to add insult to injury, the major internationals in my country are ordering us to accept the result. Accept what result?

There were no results to accept, because we do not know what election results they are talking about. The election results we know to be true are the ones we have, which shows a clear winner of the May 2011 elections.

There is no question about that. We can only accept results when the evidence can be ascertained and those results have been denied us all this time.

It is not a situation where we are so dogmatic that we would not accept the results, but all we are asking is for the tangible proof, or show us the evidence to support your claim of a win, and in our case proof that we have lost.

So, continuing in the same vein, why can’t we practise those same high standards here in Guyana?

Why can’t we have those same principles instituted here in our country? It is an insult to our intelligence for those nations to, in theory preach democracy to us and in practice do something else. It is a sin to say one thing when in practice you are demonstrating quite the opposite.

As developed countries we look up to you as exemplars in matters of democracy and good governance. We look up to you for guidance on issues of fairness, equity and accountability.

The May 11 election was neither free nor fair, nor was it free from fear. You know it, everyone knows it, so why are you pretending that it did not happen? Why are you looking the other way? Why are you people supporting an illegitimate government?

Neil Adams

A clear case of witch-hunting and political victimisation

Dear Editor, Former Toshao and Chairman of the National Toshao Council (NTC) Yvonne Pearson has been fired from her job by the Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs Sydney Allicock.

At the time of her job termination, Pearson was an advisor on indigenous people’s issues at the Ministry of Indigenous People Affairs (MOIPA), formerly the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MOAA).

But this is a clear case of witch hunting and political victimization by the current Government, which is glibly and in hypocrisy speaking about social cohesion and national unity in Guyana.

In this connection, it is fitting that “political victimization and witch-hunting” should have been Number One on the first 100 days plan by the APNU+AFC Government.

Yvonne Pearson is an expert on indigenous people’s issues and her service

at the Ministry was of exceptionally high standard, which contributed significantly to the social and economic development of Guyana’s indigenous communities. The Amerindian communities that heard of Pearson’s job termination are highly disturbed and want to know if this is the “change” the APNU+AFC coalition was preaching about on its campaign trail.

Further they asked, “Is this the way the APNU+AFC coalition Government is respecting the rights of Amerindians, which is a violation of our Constitution and the United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)?”

Jean La Rose of the APA and a candidate for the APNU+AFC coalition on its top-up list (Number 47) at the May elections and is very busy at the Ministry. Is she now the advisor to Minister Allicock? And could as well be pushing the APA’s “land agenda”, which cannot work in Guyana’s multi-ethnic society.

Peter Persaud

The man who cried wolf

Dear Editor, I am continuously baffled about the Minister of State Mr Joe Harmon. Just about every single day this guy is finding some discrepancy in the handling of finance by the former government. He unscrupulously tries to distort any findings to his fancy, further spreading political propaganda.

Crying wolf seems to be his egocentric agenda. Which credible, competent person would cry foul without first doing research into any allegation? All required financial info is at the hands of this Minister, but he refuses to look into further detail into the matter.

Is it because he is not capable? His in-

competence is always being corrected by others. It is the same story over and over for the PNC/APNU government. They should get a prize for holding a nation hostage with their barrages of deceit. Is it not odd that no one is questioning his spending?

The former government was and is being scrutinized for every penny spent under their administration. Is it ok if Harmon wants to use special firms to uncover PNC manipulated delusions? Anybody complaining about the money that’s going to be spent on the auditors?

Double standards and media manipulation at its finest!

V Apana

Govt ditches Specialty Hospital project

…

Nandlall says move unfortunate

The David Granger-led Government has announced plans to scrap the Specialty Hospital project and is hoping to utilise the remaining US$14 million given to Guyana from the Indian Exim Bank for the construction of the Specialty Hospital on primary health care services.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon, on Wednesday said that before this is done, however, there must be a comprehensive report prepared by a consultancy group. Finance Minister Winston Jordan has been tasked with engaging officials of Exim Bank. Harmon said Guyana’s primary healthcare system is in a serious state of degradation, adding that the health of citizens here far outweighs the plan for any health tourism.

“Cabinet looked at the possibility in relation to Exim Bank for the spending of the

balance of the loan ($14 million)… Cabinet mandated the Finance Minister to continue the conversation with Exim Bank with a view to having a comprehensive report on the project prepared by a consultancy group after which, based on the recommendation, the

Government will decide on a way forward,” Harmon said.

The construction of the Specialty Hospital was part of an agreement between the Government of Guyana and India, for Guyana to use US$18 million through a line of credit to build the hospital which was aimed at cater-

ing for complicated surgeries, ranging from heart operations, organ transplants to cosmetic surgeries. The idea had come in for heavy criticism by the current Administration which was on the opposition side of the House during the 10th Parliament. The coalition had cut the Gy$1.25 billion that had been budgeted for the hospital in 2013. The previous administration had only escaped with Gy$34.4 million as supplementary funding for the hospital in the 10th Parliament only by the absence of the coalition’s Member of Parliament (MP) Volda Lawrence when a vote had been taken for the fund.

Unfortunate situation

Meanwhile, former Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who was involved in the legal battle with the contractor of the project, described as “unfortunate” the current Administration’s move. He said “Guyana and its

people will lose a glorious opportunity to, for the first time, enjoy and be exposed to the quality of specialised health care that such an institution was designed to provide”.

He said under the agreement with the Indian Government and Exim Bank, very highly trained medical personnel with specialist training in very modern sophisticated medical procedure would have been employed. Added to that, he said the plan was to have those specialists train local health professionals.

“All of that is being tossed aside without any consideration of the benefits that are expected from such a unique and vital medical institution. Whether one is an APNU, AFC, or PPP, whether rich or poor, irrespective of your ethnic background, every sensible Guyanese would want proper medical care for themselves and family”.

Roopnaraine says more money will be allocated to UG

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has declared that more money will be allocated to the University of Guyana (UG) to ensure that the overall level of education in Guyana rises to be the envy of the Caribbean.

In a release from the Education Ministry, it was noted that Minister

the UG Council for several years. Basically, Minister Roopnaraine told the young people gathered at the GNYC event that UG is in a “mess.”

This is in line with the wide cries for radical changes at the university from both students and lecturers, not to mention the wider

Vice Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi provided the requested changes for both the students and the lecturers.

Several changes on campus, in particular the furnishings in and outside the university has been praised by students and lecturers both. A compromise was also reached regarding the

Roopnaraine made this declaration at a recent Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) event. He said his Ministry will be working to ensure that more money is allotted to the university to assist with its long list of ailments.

The Minister acknowledged that the state of affairs at the university has been appalling for quite a number of years. He stated that he has had firsthand knowledge of the struggles of the students of the university, having been a member of

Guyanese society.

The University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) and the two labour unions for the university had protested vehemently only months ago about the conditions at the university. Students particularly had come forward to widely criticise the university’s Administration for what seemed like its total disregard for the progress of the younger generation and the part lecturers play in this.

Nevertheless, a compromise was reached where the university’s

wages of the university’s staff.

However, the release stated that Minister Roopnaraine will not be tolerating lecturers with only one degree. It was stated that he wants “to ensure we have people there with academic and professional experience.”

The release detailed that this is to ensure that the university gets the best cadre of lecturers and teachers to deliver the best education possible to students.

Minister Roopnaraine explained to the young people at GNYC’s event

that this can only be possible with experienced lecturers who can guide students smoothly towards their chosen paths.

Also, he noted that the university has to compete internationally to attract the type of

well trained and experienced persons needed to lift the quality of education beyond everyone’s expectations. “We must settle for nothing less,” he stated.

This complaint of lecturers with only a one degree qualification was made by Vice Chancellor Opadeyi, who wanted to terminate such staff earlier in the year. He had explained that such lecturers, particularly parttime lecturers took away from the development of the university than add to it.

PPP/C talks up management of Guyana’s economy …says country at its strongest

Though it is no longer in Government, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) continues to take pride in its management of the country over the past 23 years, declaring that Guyana’s economy is at its strongest ever.

In a media release, the PPP/C highlighted that Guyana recorded positive growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year from 2006 to 2014 at an average of more than 4.5 per annum – nine years of uninterrupted growth in the history of independent Guyana.

These achievements began under the Presidency of Bharrat Jagdeo and continued with the Donald Ramotar Administration.

In fact, the economy has doubled in size, with current market prices being US$3.1 billion in 2014, when in 2006 it was only US$1.4 billion.

The Gross International Reserves at the Bank of Guyana was a recorded US$665.6 million at the end of 2014, when in 2005 it was US$251.4 million.

The PPP/C also highlighted that the total public debt of the country has dropped considerably from 2004 to now.

Total assets of Gy$421.8 billion at the commercial banks at the end of 2014 can be compared to that at the end of 2005 which shows Gy$162.7 billion.

Total credit of Gy$202 billion by the banking system to the Private Sector is compared with Gy$52.4 billion at end

of 2005. Also, the PPP/C pointed out that Guyana dollar to US dollar exchange rate of Gy$206.5 at the end of 2014 is now matched with Gy$200.25 at the end of 2005.

Another indicator that the PPP/C succeed-

ed in building a strong Guyanese economy is that of the weighted average commercial bank lending rate. At the end of 2014, it was 10.86 per cent when in 2005, it was 13.5 per cent.

Moving on, the PPP/C highlighted that the country secured several highly concessional external financing which assisted with national development, ultimately furthering Guyana’s economic growth.

There were the European Union (EU) budget support grants totalling €25.9 million, of which €20.2 million related to the sugar programme; the climate payments totalling €250 million under the Guyana/ Norway partnership on climate financing, of which US$190 million has already been earned and only US$40 million disbursed to projects. The PPP/C also mentioned the US$130 million from China Eximbank to construct a new international air-

port; US$66.2 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to fund a road network upgrade and expansion project; US$64.6 million from the IDB and EU to fund a power utility upgrade programme; US$50 million from India Eximbank to fund the East Coast to East Bank bypass road; US$34.4 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to fund the West Coast Demerara highway upgrade; US$31.7 million from IDB and EU to fund a water and sanitation infrastructure improvement project; US$15 million from the IDB for a new citizen security project; and US$7.5 million from CDB to fund a sugar industry mechanism project.

In addition, Guyana received US$12 million for flood risk management; US$10 million for a new secondary school education improvement project and another US$10 million for the

UG science and technology support project – all from the World Bank. Aside from the funds for those developmental projects, it was under the PPP/C regime that major foreign investment companies recognised Guyana as a lucrative economy to invest in.

There are the major oil exploration companies including Repsol, CGX and ExxonMobil. There are the major gold mining companies including Guyana Gold Fields Limited, ETK/ Sandsprings and Troy Resources.

There have also been investments in the telecommunications sector with call centres like Qualfon and Teleperformance. “All of these developments provide ample testimony to the excellent stewardship of the Guyanese economy, discharged by the PPP/C Government, and the strong position of the economy as the PPP/C demits office,” the party noted.

India willing to help...

(GuySuCo), Dr Raj Singh announced that the company does not

have funds to pay workers and renewed request for a Gy$16 billion bailout sum. The request was first made earlier this year.

The new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government has since indicated that they will inject a sum of money to assist the Sugar Corporation and was meeting with stakeholders on the amount and where to secure funding from. However, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, on Wednesday confirmed that Government has agreed to invest some Gy$3.8 billion in the sector. However, they will have to go to the National Assembly to secure the monies.

Experts

On this note, the High Commissioner was asked by this newspaper, given his country’s expertise in the sugar industry, what steps the Government should take to ensure the recov-

ery of the sector. He posited that he is unable to comment on this matter since he is not familiar with the root of the problems that the local sugar industry is facing.

“I need to know what are the major problems and understand the complete working of GuySuCo and the sugar industry as a whole in Guyana. So I don’t think I’m competent now to comment on that,” he noted, while adding, however, there are Indian consultants available with expertise in crop production, sugar technology and upgrading of factories.

Mahalingham pointed out that the previous Government had discussions with some Indian experts during the former President’s visit in January this year.

“What happened was, the sugar industry experts gave a briefing to the former President about what they could do for Guyana,” he stated.

Jamaica soon to hear whether national park makes UNESCO World Heritage list

KINGSTON, Jamaica –Jamaica will soon know whether its Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park will be on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) list of World Heritage Sites.

An announcement is scheduled to be made during the 39th Session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, from June 28 to July 8, in Bonn, Germany.

Oil for rice pact with Venezuela near expiration

…Govt cautiously seeking renewal

With the PetroCaribe agreement between Venezuela and Guyana slated to end sometime this year, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said Government is cautiously trying to push for an extension of the arrangement.

larly considering the ongoing territorial dispute between the two nations regarding the Atlantic Ocean off of the Essequibo Coast where the US oil giant ExxonMobil has its operations.

“This is the first mixed site recommended in the region and, if inscribed, will be among only 32 other such sites around the world,” she said. A mixed site showcases both natural and cultural values considered to be of outstanding universal value, based on criteria for World Heritage Status.

The Blue and John Crow Mountains

Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna, who will lead a delegation to that meeting, said World Heritage inscription would be a “phenomenal achievement” for Jamaica.

National Park spans sections of the southeastern parishes of St. Andrew, St. Thomas, and Portland in the northeast. It is the largest contiguous area of natural forest in Jamaica, protecting 193 acres of forest on mountain slopes, comprising 10 watershed management units spanning four parishes.

The area is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, being home to the Maroons, whose traditions are recognized by UNESCO as masterpieces of world culture.

Cop busted with Gy$50,000 in bribery sting

APolice Sergeant was on Tuesday arrested with Gy$50,000 in his possession which he had demanded from a businessman in order to settle a matter of threatening behaviour involving the use of a firearm.

According to a Police release, the sting operation was coordinated between the Police Office of Professional Responsibility and Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters. Bribery among Police Officers has become a sore issue in society and the Force has been criticised over the years for not doing enough to curb the illegal practice. Only recently the newly appointed Public Security Minister, Khemaj Rhamjattan, stated that there will be a zero tolerance policy against any wrong doings by law enforcement officers as he vows to put an end to harassment by the Police.

“I want the Police Force out there to know that there will be zero tolerance for any harassment of any sexual type, harassment of people’s rights (and) harassment to the extent of bullyism,” Ramjattan had told reporters.

Over the years, persons have been complaining about the unprofessionalism of some Police Officers in dealing with citizens. Most of the complaints surround the fervent harassment by certain officers. On his appointment as top cop in March, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud had stated that the Force is trying to prevent the routine “traffic stops” in order to put an end to the frequent complaints of harassment.

“So ranks are instructed not to make traffic stops unless they would have seen an offence being committed; so no more routine stops for traffic,” he said, but added that the Police will continue the routine checks as it relates to crime.

Persaud was questioned about his plans to address those reported incidents of Police brutality, the top cop pointed out that since he assumed the post last year he has been working on this issue. He had disclosed that the Office of Professional Responsibility is now doing unannounced visits to Police Stations to check what is happening, give feedbacks and take actions as needed.

Ramjattan went on to say that while he is ousting such characters from the Police Force, his Ministry will simultaneously work on improving the relationship between the public and the Police Force, so that the Police can benefit from public cooperation. “I have seen over the years that members of the public do not trust the Guyana Police Force.

How do we win back support? How the Police Force is going to do the things necessary for them to win back respect by members of the public? That publicPolice relationship is vital to moving and advancing this Police Force.

If we were just to see one of them as a bully and the other as a subject rather than a citizen, we are not going to go anywhere. We have to see them as partners looking after our interests,” the Minister highlighted.

This disclosure was made during a post-Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday. Harmon noted that the Government of Guyana is currently engaging the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on a bilateral basis to determine if it is possible to extend the agreement so that Venezuela can continue buying rice from and supplying oil to Guyana.

These discussions are being led by Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, Harmon stated.

Under the current trade agreement, Guyana is expected to supply approximately 210,000 tonnes of paddy and polished rice annually to Venezuela. The value of this supply amounts to US$130 million.

Recently, Harmon declared that the PetroCaribe Fund is empty, alleging that the mismanagement of the former People’s

Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Administration is to be blamed.

However, the PPP/C is arguing that the Fund was never meant to be a vault to keep money but rather, the money was used to pay rice farmers and millers.

Nonetheless, Harmon indicated that the PetroCaribe deal is extremely beneficial to Guyana and therefore, the Government is hoping that the agreement can be extended.

He also disclosed that there are other South American countries which are pushing to penetrate and possibly take over the rice market in Venezuela.

The likelihood of Venezuela dropping Guyana as a supplier of rice is uncertain, particu-

ExxonMobil recently announced that it detected an indication of oil and an assessment is currently ongoing to determine if the lucrative resource is indeed in commercial quantities. If so, in time, Guyana will no longer have to depend on other countries for oil.

But, in spite of these factors, Harmon said the government was optimistic that the rice deal will be extended.

In February, Guyana’s former Ambassador to Venezuela Dr Odeen Ishmael wrote an article suggesting that the countries signed onto the PetroCaribe agreement should no longer place much reliance on it.

The article asserted that Venezuela would be unable to sustain the programme of providing concessionary oil to countries signatory of the PetroCaribe agreement due to its current economic crisis and the recent drop in international oil prices.

Guyana, US agree to boost narco trafficking fight

Guyana and the United States (US) have agreed to bolster their bilateral ties and fight the spiralling drug trafficking trade, which has dogged this country’s development over the years.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, on Tuesday, met with US Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson, during which the two sides agreed on the steps. According to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, this was the highest level of contact between the two countries since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government entered office.

The statement read that the meeting also agreed on deepening Guyana’s democratic processes, noting that Greenidge underscored the new Government’s determination to “improve the climate for business and investment” as well as to pursue cooperation in energy and security.

“The two officials also pledged to work to promote regional

peace, security and stability in the wake of a new territorial claim by Venezuela, following the recent discovery of oil in Guyana’s maritime area by the ExxonMobil corporation”, the statement added. Greenidge also expressed his belief that the two countries are set for a “much more coop-

erative and productive phase in their bilateral relationship”.

Greenidge is currently in the US to attend the 46th General Assembly of the Organisation of American States. During his stay in Washington, he also met with Guyanese individuals there.

President attends remembrance service for late Bishop Moss

Head of State David Granger, on Tuesday, attended a remembrance service for the late Anglican Bishop of Guyana, Reverend Cornell Moss at the St George’s Cathedral in Georgetown.

The service which honoured the life and work of Bishop Moss was attended by many as he was described as a man who touched the lives of countless individuals during his stint in Guyana. Hymns were sung and prayers offered in remembrance of the late Bishop.

Moss died on May 30 in Miami, Florida where he was recuperating from heart surgery, reports suggest.

The retired Reverend Moss, who is a native of The Bahamas, died mid afternoon after suffering a relapse. He had been the Bishop of Guyana since December 2009.

He was born on December 31, 1959, and educated at Codrington College, Barbados and Nashotah House, Wisconsin. Moss was ordained a Deacon on January 5, 1983, and

Priest on January 5, 1984 by Bishop Michael Hartley Eldon, the 11th Bishop of Nassau and The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. He was appointed Curate at Christ the King Parish, Ridgeland Park, Nassau, Bahamas, and Rector of St John the Baptist Parish on Marsh Harbour, Abaco in September, 1986.

After six-and-a-half years, he was appointed the second Rector of the Church of the Ascension, Freeport in March 1992.

In 2000, he became Archdeacon of the Northern Bahamas and was elected Bishop in August, 2009. Shortly after his death, a Book of Condolence was opened at the Austin’s House in Kingstown, Georgetown, which was once home to the late, Anglican Bishop. Among the first to sign the book, was Head of State David Granger. Describing Reverend Moss as “a breath of fresh air in the Diocese of Guyana,” the President said he departed far too soon. (GINA)

Haitians fear deportation from Dominican Republic as deadline looms

Hundreds of thousands of Haitian migrants and Dominicans of Haitian descent faced the risk of deportation from the Dominican Republic as a deadline for enforcement of a new immigration law approached.

Dominican officials say anyone lacking identity documents or who has not registered for a so-called “regularization” program before the Wednesday night deadline could face deportation.

The Dominican government says the changes to its nationality and immigration laws aim to tackle illegal migration from neighboring Haiti. Human rights groups say the move is rooted in longstanding racism and xenophobia in the Dominican Republic towards darkerskinned Haitians.

Over the last century an untold number of Haitians have crossed into the more prosperous Dominican Republic to escape political violence or seek a better life, many working as sugar cane cutters, house cleaners or babysitters.

Human rights groups say the new law could impact hundreds of thousands of these migrants and a smaller number of Dominican-born people of Haitian descent who lost citizenship after a constitutional court ruling in 2013 that has faced international criticism. That ruling reversed the right of citizenship for foreigners born in the Dominican Republic, stripping children of Haitian migrants of their Dominican nationality, human rights groups say.

Dominican President Danilo Medina has said there will be no mass deportations. But undocumented Haitian migrants can be deported within 48 hours of the deadline, government officials have said. Those who register under the regularization program will have 45 days dur-

ing which their applications are verified.

The government says more than 210,000 people have registered under the program. Those deemed eligible could earn a two year temporary migrant status.

The Dominican army has 2,000 troops ready to help coordinate the removal of people who fail to meet legal requirements to remain in the country. Four “Welcome Centers” are being set up to receive undocumented people, the government said.

Local media have reported the government has dozens of buses on standby to transport undocumented people to the Haiti border.

For the last few weeks long lines of Haitian migrants and DominicanHaitians have formed outside a government office in the capital seeking to register under the regularization program, as police in riot gear stand guard.

Amnesty International said it was concerned many Dominican-born people with a legitimate right to stay could be removed because they lack documentation. (Reuters)

GECOM's head blames illiteracy for 4043 rejected ballots

…Nandlall says it is no coincidence

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally believes that the alarmingly high number of rejected ballots recorded in the 2015 General and Regional Elections is owed to the illiteracy level in the country.

The 2015 election results, as officially gazetted by GECOM on June 5, 2015, states that there is a sum of 4043 rejected ballots, with Region 4 (DemeraraMahaica) having the highest at 1305. However, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) believes that this is no sheer coincidence.

PPP/C Executive Anil Nandlall, during an interview with the Guyana Times International on Tuesday made it clear that, without

conceding that the PPP/C was defeated at those elections and while maintaining that there were many irregularities which tainted the electoral process, one of those irregularities was the high number of rejected ballots.

He posited that while he conceded that the figures may have dropped from previous years, the fact remains that the 4043 rejected ballot corresponds to the narrow difference between the votes gained by the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition and the PPP/C. The elections results disclosed by GECOM shows that the PPP/C gained 202,694 votes while the APNU/AFC gained 207, 200 – a difference of 4506 votes.

Nandlall emphasised that

these results are inaccurate because of the several irregularities which the PPP/C have publicly highlighted, one being the high number of rejected ballots. “What is significant about the 2015 Elections is that we are dealing with a situation where the marginal difference between the two major political parties coincides with the number of rejected ballots,” he stated.

However, Surujbally, when asked what could have been the cause for the 4043 rejected ballots, the GECOM Chairman suggested that it was owed to the illiteracy rates in the country. “I have a take on the matter… you find that you may try to give a person a seven digit number, that person will ask you more than once to repeat the number,”

Security sector to benefit from capacity building through Canadian partnership

High commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles (second left), and her team

Outgoing

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr Nicole Giles, along with a team on Monday, paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Second Vice President and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, at the Ministry of Public Security in Brickdam, Georgetown.

During this meeting, the two officials discussed a number of areas of mutual interest that could see possible collaboration between the two countries. According to the Minister, among several issues discussed were training and capacity building for Guyana Police Force Officers.

“Better training from the Royal Mounted Branch, also the Police College out of Canada, it has to do with mentoring our Police men and women,” said the Minister.

This, he added, will be done in five areas: gender violence, women in police leadership, human rights, crime scene management and public corruption. Dr Giles pointed out that funds will be available through

a grant of CAN$750,000 (close to G$126 million) to help develop the justice system in Guyana. This money is a part of a project with the Justice Education Society of British Columbia, a Canadian Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), which aims at strengthening the justice system. It is expected to be spent on legislative drafting, improving the administrative department of the courts, and the training of lawyers and judges, along with capacity building for police officers. The Security Minister also noted that crime scene management will be a major focus under this training programme because “here in Guyana, it is believed that almost anybody can go on the scene. It is not done properly, and then evidence and a whole lot of other things are tampered with negligently, and sometimes deliberately.”

He also reiterated that “we feel, with this type of training that we are going to implement in the Police Force, we will get better results

Surujbally justified.

This explanation is even as there were several voter education programmes from civil society including Blue Caps, the Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) and GECOM itself. Surujbally said GECOM went overboard

with its campaign because it was realised that a significant amount of the constituency was not aware of how they should vote. According to Surujbally’s reasoning, despite these efforts, a significant amount of the population still legitimately failed to vote correctly.

Nandlall, while conceding that a lack of voters’ education may have contributed to some of the rejected ballots, believes the major attributing factor occurred within GECOM itself. “I believe that a major factor was that either the personnel in the polling station through ignorance or intentionally rejected valid ballots wrongly. That, I believe, is a major reason for such a high number,” Nandlall posited.

and far more deterring effects… we feel that it can have direct influence in impunity rates.”

Minister Ramjattan stated, “I believe we are on a good road here in bringing more success in the security sector.”

Surujbally refuses to budge

…after

calls

by Opposition

for his resignation

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Dr Steve Surujbally says he is “not going anywhere” in face of calls by the main opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), for his resignation.

In an invited comment to the Guyana Times International on Tuesday, the GECOM official said his job is simply to preside over the operations of the commission and that the most recent call by the PPP/C for his resignation holds no water.

The commission’s head when asked for a response to the PPP/C’s position told this publication that he is not in-

volved in the complexities of the operations of the commission. His job is simply to overlook and chair the board of the commission. The brunt of the work, in

his explanation falls in the arms of the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield. He said he could not understand the haste to unseat him.

On Monday, People’s

Progressive Party/ Civic General Secretary Clement Rohee declared that his Party will not be participating in the long overdue Local Government Elections now scheduled for later this year, if the GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, remains at its helm.

Since the announcement of the results of the 2015 General and Regional Elections, the Party has been calling for the immediate resignation of Surujbally. The call was mounted particularly because of his failure to acquiesce to the Party’s request for a total recount of the ballots, as it contended that the elections were rigged.

Rohee made it clear that the PPP/C’s position remains that Dr Surujbally must give up his position, telling journalists that the PPP/C has been calling for Surujbally’s immediate resignation. He stated that any other changes the Party will be seeking regarding the operations of the election body will be relayed in the petition that will be filed in the High Court.

In an earlier statement the PPP/C had said that, prior to the May 11 General and Regional Elections, it raised concerns both publicly and privately with GECOM’s Chairman, Commission

and Secretariat, the advance assessment teams of the United Nations, Commonwealth and the Carter Centre, the diplomatic community, and subsequently with the International Observer Missions with regards to the partiality of the GECOM machinery.

The Party had charged that the recruitment of polling staff connected to the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition was known, and the PPPC consistently raised its concerns months before and during the recruitment and training periods.

New Govt to rotate ambassadors in keeping with int’l practices –Minister Greenidge

Foreign Affairs

Minister Carl Greenidge said that his decision to recall the previously appointed diplomatic Heads of Guyana Missions is in keeping with international best practices.

The Minister said that it is the view of the new Government that various Heads of Missions should not be in-situ for 20 years or more. The normal practice is a two to four-year rotation, and this, the Minister said, will be restored.

The intention is also for politicians who are not career diplomats and were given posts by the President, to bring their term of employment to an end when the President leaves office. He stressed that this has to be the case with Guyana. “There is nothing special about the PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) politicians who are wearing the hat of diplomats today. They have to recognise that they served

the President that appointed them, then they have to step down; there is nothing peculiar about it,” Minister Greenidge told the Government Information Agency. It was pointed out that the rules of the Foreign Office allow those serving overseas to spend an extra two months to “wind up” their operations, Minister Greenidge highlighted. The established protocol is that when a new Government takes office, the various Heads of Mission report to the new President. He said that it is obvious that a President has to appoint those persons that he trusts, that he has faith in, and who know and understand his initiatives. It is nothing to do with a person having a right to a position as a diplomat. There is no such right, he stressed. The Foreign Ministry expects all of the Heads of Mission, to return to Guyana, unless otherwise instructed by the President.

Digicel wins Avaya’s Best Project Award

Digicel Business Solutions Director, martin Keogh, explains to acting QEH cEo, louise Bobb, and QEH It manager, cameron connolly, how the avaya-powered Unified Communication platform will benefit the medical and administrative staff while Digicel Barbados Strategic Business Development Director, oliver Haynes, looks on

Digicel, the region’s leading Business Solutions provider, recently won the highly coveted, Avaya Caribbean-wide Project of the Year award thanks to its ICT and Unified Communication platform deployed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Barbados.

Digicel Business’ winning project involved upgrading the entire network at the hospital, utilising Avaya’s solution which ensured a faultless migration from the hospital’s legacy network to the stateof-the-art Avaya plat-

form. According to a release from Digicel the product has greatly improved communications at the hospital, provided a high level of redundancy and reducing the hospital’s costs. In addition, the new system provides doctors with the ability to access the hospital’s PACS (Patient Archiving and Communication System) for patient information so that they can make critical decisions in a timelier manner.

Dr Dexter James, CEO of the QEH, said, “We want to thank Digicel Business and Avaya for providing us

Cummingsburg Accord violations: Nagamootoo gets only Information portfolio

…returns to where he was in 1992 with

PPP/C

Promised a range of high-profile cabinet responsibilities as per the Cummingsburg Accord between the APNU/AFC, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has only been handed the portfolio of information now that the dust has been settled on the division of responsibilities following the coalition’s victory at the May 11 polls.

with a high quality product that will ultimately meet all of our needs.” He further stated that the switch from our old system to the new Digicel Business solution was seamless with zero downtime. We expect to see a continuous and marked improvement in our communications across the hospital among medical and administrative staff as a result. The solution delivers reliability and peace of mind, ensuring that we can continue to focus on providing the best medical care for our patients.

Ruling on presidential term limit case deferred

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang has deferred his much-anticipated ruling on the motion filed to challenge the presidential two-term limit.

A civilian, Cedric Richardson had filed the motion in February, challenging the constitutionality of the twoterm limit which was imposed on Guyanese Presidents since 2001. Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman were named defendants in the matter.

Following responses filed by attorneys representing the plaintiff and the defendants, the parties had to lay over written submissions. Attorney Shaun Allicock, who is representing Richardson; Deputy Solicitor General from the AG Office, Prithima Kissoon and Attorney Roysdale Forde for Trotman, have submitted written arguments on the matter.

Following the last session in the Chief Justice’s Chamber, Kissoon told reporters that the matter was

adjourned for May 12, when Justice Chang was expected to make a ruling. However, given the post-election tension, the matter was not heard. It was then called up on Friday last, when Justice Chang further deferred ruling. He is expected to issue a notice to the parties on the next hearing of the matter, when he is expected to hand down a ruling.

In the writ filed on February 2, by 50-yearold Richardson, of Lot 4 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, it is contended that Act No 17 of

2001, passed by a twothird majority of members of the National Assembly that altered Article 90 of the Constitution “curtails and restricts the sovereign and democratic rights and freedom as a qualified elector to elect the person of former President (Bharrat) Jagdeo as the Executive President of Guyana”.

Richardson further contends that the Act diminishes and reduces the level of democracy enjoyed by the electorate prior to the alteration and, therefore, required for its legal validity, the holding of a referendum of the people for such alteration. Guyana’s Constitution, upon passing of the Act, states that a person elected as President after the year 2000 is eligible for re-election only once.

The Constitution further states that a person who acceded to the presidency after 2000 and served therein for a single occasion for not less than such a period as may be determined by the National Assembly is eligible for election as President only once.

According to his gazetted appointment Nagamootoo as Minister of Information will oversee the Government Information Agency; National Communications Network, Guyana Chronicle, National Frequency Management Unit and the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority. This is the identically portfolio he was handed in1992 when as a member of the PPP/C government that was just installed.

However, he was promised under the Cummingsburg Accord responsibilities for domestic national affairs and chairing the cabinet; recommending ministerial appointments and providing the organisational structures of ministries for the appointment of the president.” None of these is listed in Nagamootoo’s gazetted appointment.

Only last week former Foreign Affairs Minister and political commentator, Dr Henry Jeffrey and social activist Ramon Gaskin called on the new Government to offer an explanation to the Guyanese people on the breaches of the Accord. Dr Jeffrey, in an invited comment related that despite the fact that the Prime Minister has indicated that he was not bothered by the deviation, the fact of the matter was that there were changes from the agreement which was penned by the two parties. He explained that the AFC must now go to the people and explain why it is that there is a deviation.

The political commentator further pointed out that while the Constitution requires that the President chair Cabinet, the Accord had stated that such a task will be delegated to the Prime Minister and as such, the le-

gal minds in the coalition should have known that this could not be. “They should have known this before. They cannot say they did not know this before,” Jeffrey intoned.

According to Jeffrey, a deviation is a violation of the agreement and as such, there is now a need for the parties to sit down and explain to the Guyanese society why it is so since Guyanese would have judged them and voted for the coalition based on what the document was premised.

“People voted for them based on the agreement so they really need to explain that. Also, from my point of view, I understand that conditions can change, but they cannot unilaterally change. We need to have an explanation,” he opined.

President David Granger for his part when asked to comment on the deviation expressed that the coalition was presently working on a review of the document. He admitted that to effectuate some of the stipulations of the Accord will be unconstitutional and as such, he will be awaiting the constitutional reform so that the agreement can be followed.

More must be done to assist small businesses – Minister Gaskin

New Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, has promised to push small business development even as he emphasised that to attract more investors, there needs to be a more transparent business sector and a level playing field.

“Transparency, fairness, the whole idea of levelling the playing field is needed so that the competition is fair, so that you don’t have players in the same areas that are favoured and not disadvantaged because of perhaps concessions that are offered to their competitors.

Those are the things that we need, because of course investors are attracted by safeguards and security for their investments.”

He added that, “like the prospective profits also, we have to make Guyana a venue for investors and, to that extent, we need to understand the various sectors that we want to attract investors in and try to understand the constraints in those sectors.” The Minister pointed out that a lot of the investments in the country, primarily in the local category, go towards the retail sector.

Investors tend to stay away from the extractive and manufacturing sectors because there is a need for more competitiveness.

This, the Minister explained, can be reversed “by the creation of an environment that is more competitive based on efficiency and quality…rather than on connections and securing an unfair advantage.”

This, however, is only one of the areas that can be improved to change the climate of business in Guyana, Minister Gaskin added.

GO-Invest

The Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) was established under the Public Corporations Act in 1994 as a semi-autonomous body whose Head answers to a Board of Directors, which is composed of representatives of the private and public sectors.

On Minister Gaskin’s request, Cabinet approved the establishment of a Board of Directors to manage the affairs of the investment agency as the Government works towards making it an in-

dependent body, which will function without political interference and hopefully maximise its potential.

This board will be tasked with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the entity and dealing with all agreements that require approval.

The Minister pointed out that the fact that GO-Invest was housed under Office of the President (now Ministry of the Presidency), and from indications seems to have had a lot of political interference in its operations, this new administration will have to relook at the Acts that govern the entity and ensure that it is operating within its mandate.

He said, “we want GO-Invest to function in the way it was designed to … if there are flaws in its design, then those will have to be corrected… but the biggest problem was political interference.”

Another area that requires focus in the business sector is that of entrepreneurship and small business development. The Business Minister said that more must be done to encourage entrepreneurship and support such businesses.

He explained that to support small businesses is not only about money, but about being strategic as well. “What I mean by support is not subsidy, but to ensure that there is a mechanism by which they can access financing,” said the Minister.

Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry to prioritise technical, vocational training

Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister

Sydney Allicock, in outlining some of his Ministry’s plans for the hinterland regions, said that technical and vocational studies are to be prioritised.

Minister Allicock said while equipment is there, maintenance remains a big issue. In this vein, the Minister said training in technical areas is needed.

He was referring to the equipment and machinery given to Amerindian villages to aid their development.

“We have a number of wonderful equipment, like tractors; we have solar systems, solar panel; we have buses; but then when they are broken we go back to ask for new ones and here is where education comes in, here is where training comes in,” the Minister said.

Minister Allicock said that technical training centres are needed in the regions and districts where there is a very high youth popu-

lation. Areas to be explored would include agriculture and home economic institutes, the Minister highlighted. These areas will be upgraded since a major focus will be on ecotourism and tourism in general.

“…All these other areas are related in tourism, we see everything relating to transportation; to get people food, so you need agriculture; people to know what plants to grow. And here is where you need persons with the ability to cater, hav-

ing balanced diets or understanding customers’ needs.”

These too, the Minister said, would add to the social and economic upliftment of communities. In addition, emphasis will be placed on women and children’s issues as these also play a critical role in society.

Minister Allicock said women and children play a very critical role in keeping their culture alive, which is something his Ministry will work hard to achieve. “We believe that more than ever, women can make us survive; have our identity out there, but they have to be given the opportunity.”

The cultural aspect of any society is also necessary, the Minster said, as it aids in producing more rounded individuals. Going forward, Mr Allicock said that more opportunities will be made available to youths in the hinterland, so as to equip them with more skills to meet the needs of their communities.

No state money was used for NY trip – Harmon

The recent visit by Ministers of the Government to the United States (US) to participate in a victory rally for the ruling A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change coalition was paid for by the organisers of the event, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has said.

Harmon, who was himself part of the delegation which travelled to the New York based celebration over the last weekend told journalists on Wednesday that no state fund was used to cover the expenditure.

“The visit of Minister Trotman and the other officials were paid for by the organisers of the event. Airline tickets, accommodation and trans-

portation on the ground; not a cent from the public purse was spent on that visit,” Harmon told reporters at the Ministry of the Presidency

The Minister said that the President did not go to the US for any medical reasons, but was a private visit instead. “Like all Presidents do from time to time, they have to take time off to look after some personal issues because the matters of State can consume you if you do not take time to look after some personal things.”

He joked about one deciding to have a change in his “wardrobe”, “you might need to buy some fresh stuff, everybody does that, and the President is no different to anybody”.

Rice farmers call for restructuring of rice board …say

millers owe hundreds of farmers since March

Saying that hundreds of them have not been paid for paddy supplied to millers, Region Two (SupenaamPomeroon) rice farmers are calling for a radical restructuring of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), while urging the new Administration to seek out new markets for Guyana’s rice.

The farmers are also urging the new Administration to avoid a repeat of what occurred under the PetroCaribe Fund, under the previous Government. Last week, it was revealed that money from the fund was used on other projects. Naithram (only name), Tage Shewcharran, Bhim Singh and Karan Chand of the Essequibo Paddy Farmers Association made the comments during an interview aired live on the National Communications Network Sunday.

Naithram observed that hundreds of farmers on the Essequibo Coast have not been paid since March which has seen them going to the bank to continue their business, which is not the best way out. Shewcharran observed that former President Bharat Jagdeo had promised that the funds would have been filtered down directly to

the farmers. The farmers stated that the Fund never worked for them, and called for a better system to be put in place in wake of the failure of the Fund.

Naithram expressed hope that Government would step in and help the rice farmers. He asked for a special revolving fund to be set up which was what the PetroCaribe Fund should have been, so they could be paid on time.

On June 11, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had announced that the Fund was empty and that US$15 million was needed to pay rice farmers. The PetroCaribe Fund was set up as part of Guyana’s arrangement with Venezuela, to pay local famers supplying rice to the neighbouring country under a concessionary fuel supply agreement. Thus far, the Fund should have contained sums amount-

Guyana’s national soccer player busted with cocaine at JFK

Guyanese footballer Manasseh

“Ziggy” Primo was busted at the John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York, after it was discovered he had ingested a quantity of cocaine pellets.

ing to hundreds of millions of US dollars.

However, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in a statement said that contrary to Harmon no money whatsoever is missing from the PetroCaribe Fund, and even if it was that the Fund has a limited balance, that does not mean in any way that any money is missing from it.

Reform of GRDB

Meanwhile, in calling for the reform of the GRDB and the removal of its head, Naithram said: “I am appealing to the Minister and the new Government that the GRDB Board must go.”

Naithram contended that the GRDB was working for millers and shortchanging the farmers, on a number of issues including paddy prices, in terms of fertilisers and the grading of the paddy.

TT cops under probe over suspected ganja found at PM’s residence

The police are already probing themselves but now, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has launched its own investigation to determine whether there was any criminal misconduct by police officers in the alleged discovery of marijuana at Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar’s Phillipine home more than two years ago.

On Tuesday, acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams ordered a police investigation into the discovery of “five grammes of a plantlike material resembling that of marijuana” at Persad-Bissessar’s private

residence on April 19, 2013.

The police probe was ordered following receipt of a signed report at 2 p.m. on Tuesday by Williams, from the operational head of the Special Branch, Snr Supt Gary Gould, confirming the discovery.

The Sunday Express this week published an article written by investigative journalist Denyse Renne, headlined “Smokeout”, which focused on an affidavit by Chaguanas West MP and leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Jack Warner, in which he admitted he was part of a plan in 2013 to ensure there was no criminal probe into the discovery of marijuana at the private home of Persad-Bissessar.

Warner, a former FIFA vice-president who is wanted by the United States on charges of corruption, said two years ago he was informed by then deputy police commissioner Mervyn Richardson about the marijuana find at Persad-Bissessar’s home.

He said Richardson, PersadBissessar’s former security adviser Gary Griffith and Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal were all part of a plan to ensure there was no criminal probe into the alleged marijuana discovery.

Griffith has denied it, Moonilal has said he could not recall the incident and Richardson has no comment to make. (Trinidad Express)

According to reports, the 25-year-old travelled to the United States last week and while being interrogated by law enforcement officials, it was discovered that he had swallowed the illicit substance.

Primo reportedly told immigration officials at the JFK that he was there to participate in a football tournament as well as visit relatives. However, the agents did not believe the sportsman and further questioned him.

It was during this that the young man admitted to ingesting a quantity of cocaine pellets. He was taken into custody over the weekend and excreted approximately 51 pellets, which amounted to some 740 grams of the illegal narcotic.

He has since appeared in court and is currently being held at the Brooklyn Metro Detention Centre.

Primo played for the Georgetown-based Alpha United club.

Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh, confirmed for Guyana Times International that he received information on Primo’s arrest.

This incident comes less than one month after National Power Lifting Champion Colin Aubrey Chesney, of Linden, was arrested at the said airport after he admitted to swallowing cocaine pellets.

The national athlete was busted on May 24, moments after disembarking a Caribbean Airlines flight from Guyana during a routine search by customs offi-

cials. Chesney was seen acting in a nervous manner which drew the attention of a few customs officers.

He was subsequently escorted to a private room where he was questioned, during which he started to sweat profusely. The athlete admitted to customs officials that he had swallowed “foreign bodies”, thus he was taken for an X-ray and the objects were detected. He was taken to a medical facility where he excreted 33 pellets containing a whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine. The actual weight has not been released.

CANU said that they are assisting with the investigations in the hope of finding the source of the drugs in Guyana. A senior official stated that Chesney remains in a medical facility under guard.

Several sports figures have been arrested over the years for cocaine trafficking. Some years ago national footballer Marlon Hendricks died in Barbados after he swallowed a quantity of cocaine pellets, which burst in his stomach.

We will take up our seats at the appropriate time – Rohee

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee, on Monday said that there is no wrong in any political party boycotting Parliament, as it is something that was done by the Desmond Hoyte-led People’s National Congress (PNC) back in 1992.

Rohee made the statement when questioned about his party’s plans for the eleventh Parliament. The former ruling party was absent when the sitting of the 11th Parliament was convened last Wednesday. It was instead picketing the office of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), calling for the immediate resignation of the GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally.

Rohee said his party’s action is nothing strange in Guyana’s political history. “It should be recalled that in 1997, Mr Hoyte and his team boycotted the Parliament for almost two years. They did not go there until a final settlement was reached in the context of the Herdmanston Accord. There have been many times in the previous years when the PPP/C boycotted Parliament. A historical review of the PPP/C participating or not participating in the past, the PNC had such experience like the PPP/C,” Rohee said.

He related that the party is currently approaching the issue at its own pace and not by what any “diplomat might have said”. Currently, the party’s executive body has been meeting for discus-

sions on the selection of Regional Councillors. Upon completion, it will move into the selection of Members of Parliament (MPs).

The PPP/C has come under criticism from persons within and outside the party for failing to represent the more than 200,000 electorate who voted in its favour on May 11. “These are our seats to which we were granted as a result of the votes we got in these elections. They will be taken up at the appropriate time when the party considers it necessary to do so,” Rohee said.

He noted that anybody could talk about the “PPP/C going into Parliament like Ramkarran (Ralph) and the High

Commissioner,” but according to him, “that’s an internal matter for the PPP/C”. He said the 49.3 per cent of the persons who voted for the party has told officials their views, their very strong views.

Although convened with pump and splendour, President David Granger gave a stirring presentation to MPs from the Government’s side as the PPP/C made a no show. The Head of State had also used the forum to again invite the Opposition for talks toward inclusivity in governance. But neither the party nor its leader, former President Donald Ramotar, was present.

The party has seen many criticisms in this regard, as well as calls mounted for it to take its rightful post in the legislative chamber to represent the interests of the people.

The results of the 2015 General and Regional Elections show that the ruling A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition acquired a total of 207,200 votes, with the PPP/C running close behind with 202,694 votes. On the other hand, the coalition also led the way in the Regional Elections with a total of 205,001 votes, 2733 more votes than the PPP/C. Based on the figures, the winning party secured some 33 seats in the National Assembly, while the PPP/C acquired a total of 32 seats. This placed the former ruling party on the opposite side of the House after more than 20 years.

Sugar workers draw out credit union savings …

as GAWU, GuySuCo sort out Gy$154M debt

By Jillicia Pinder

Sugar workers turned up in their numbers on Monday to withdraw their savings from the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) Credit Union, weeks after the union had suspended operations due to a hundreds of millions owed to it by the cashstrapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

The sugar workers said that they were not leaving anything to chance and opted to quit the credit union scheme and withdraw their funds. Earlier this month, GAWU was forced to suspend its Cooperative Credit Union Society Limited due to GuySuCo’s failure to remit over Gy$154 million of workers’ contributions. GuySuCo had said that the amount is not accurate.

Due to the suspension of the credit union, it is now unable to continue to facilitate savers’ withdrawals in light of the non-payment of the workers’ savings by the Corporation. The Credit Union is also now unable to secure further loans to satisfy savers’ withdrawals. Komal Chand, President of GAWU, told Guyana Times International Monday that the overflow of persons to hastily withdraw their money is very understandable, given the current situation. Concurrently, with its suspension, the Credit Union had also advised GuySuCo to cease deductions from workers’ earnings, Credit Union continued on page 20

NGSA results: Aspiring Paediatrician tops Region 5

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Lallchan Gajadhar, the top National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) student of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), from Rosignol Primary, is to be rewarded for his excellent performance at the examinations with a trip to Disneyland after scoring 522 points and earning a place at Queen’s College, the country’s premier secondary institution.

Speaking to Guyana Times International, the lad related that while there is some disappointment in the fact that he could not achieve his dream of topping the country, he is comforted that he has managed to come out on top in his region.

Gajadhar, who hails from Blairmont Village, said that in his pursuit for success, he was forced to give up video games along with his tablet, the two things he is most fond of.

The only child of a teacher and an engineer says he received excellent support from his parents as he prepared for the examinations.

“My mother and father assisted me with my work by providing additional examples for diffi-

cult problems.”

Apart from that, the top student went to lessons at his school from 07:45h every morning and also took additional lessons, administered by his class teacher, after school.

The lad related that this was a necessity since left on his own, studies would never have been undertaken. “I would never revise until midnight like some of the other children because by 8:30 [20:30h] I get knock out and fall asleep.”

The ambitious young man disclosed to Guyana Times that he has his eyes set on becoming either a Paediatrician or a scientist. Questioned on his choices, the young man, even at such a tender age, related that he

has a passion for children. “I like to help children. I could teach, but I don’t like that because a teacher has to teach them all day,” Gajadhar said.

Given the distance between Berbice and Georgetown, Gajadhar is not likely to take up his place at Queen’s College and will attend one of the senior secondary schools in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

In brief comments to this publication, the boy’s parents indicated that his performance came as no surprise since he has been topping his class ever since he entered primary school with averages in the upper 90s.

Meanwhile, it was a disappointment for one of the number two students in the region as he

watched the live broadcast on a cellular phone of the NGSA results.

According to Anthony Sukra of Blairmont Primary, who secured 521 marks at the examinations, it was his fervent hope that he would have been among the top performers in the country and was disappointed when his name was not called among the top 10.

Sukra too said that he was comforted, however, when he placed second in the region.

The son of a cane transporter, Sukra credited his hardworking parents for the success he was able to achieve at the examinations which were written on April 1 and 2.

The young man, who is so far undecided on a

future career, indicated to this publication that he too will not be taking up the offer of Queen’s College and will most likely remain in Berbice.

Suraj Singh, of Novar Primary, also placed second with 521 marks, and is one of the two students of that school in the region’s top 10.

The fourth spot went jointly to two students Abishai Molaha and Vihdydevi Lalchand of Bath Primary, who both scored 517 marks.

Molaha, of Number Nine Village, West Coast Berbice, aspires to become a surgeon. His father, a Pastor, had promised that if Molaha did well at the NGSA, he would get a trip to Splashmins, a stay at the Princess Hotel and a computer. According

to Molaha, he fully intends to hold his parents to their promises. He expressed his appreciation for their guidance and support during the period leading up to the examinations.

Meanwhile, Lalchand wants to become a teacher. “Since I was small I have always admired teachers and how they go about their job and how they help the youths to become better. I want to make my country better.”

According to her, the help he received from both her parents along with her teachers paved the way for her success. “I think it is very important for parents to do that, because if they did not do it, I would not have reached this level,” Lalchand said.

Conference approves work programme, budget for FAO

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) governing Conference last week approved the agency’s biennial programme of work and budget and sent a strong signal of support for continuing the strategic direction charted out by Director General José Graziano da Silva.

The Conference, which saw record attendance, formally approved a regular budget of US$1035.7 million for delivery of FAO’s programme of work over the period 2016-2017. Graziano da Silva in his closing statement to the Conference outlined FAO’s priorities for the coming years, in particular the eradication of hunger, raising levels of nutrition and addressing climate change. “If FAO’s main mission is to end hunger and malnutrition, then FAO needs to offer holistic support, needs to support sustainable production and management of natural resources, needs to be able to offer support in social protection to reduce rural poverty, needs to improve access to markets by family farmers and needs to help build resilience in

rural populations,” he said.

The need to eradicate hunger was also underscored by Pope Francis when he met participants to the Conference during a special audience at the Vatican earlier in the week. In particular, the Pontiff urged the creation of a sense of global solidarity to ensure food security for all people, the importance of reducing food waste and the provision of education on nutrition issues.

In its final report, the Conference “expressed … support for the Director General’s vision” and underlined “the importance of continuity in the strategic direction of the Organisation in the Medium Term Plan 2014-2017”. FAO’s next Programme of Work and Budget “will consolidate our work on the (five) strategic objectives and will add emphasis to climate change and nutrition”, Graziano da Silva told Conference participants. He also said that FAO would continue with its efforts to support South-South Cooperation – the sharing of experiences, policies, technology and resources between and among developing coun-

tries.

The final Conference report also stressed the importance of consolidating decentralisation efforts “on a region-specific basis”. Graziano da Silva said that he would press ahead with the process of change, including reinforcing FAO’s sub-regional offices “to improve our support in regions such as West Africa, Central Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Caribbean”.

“I want to assure you that we will continue to do this without weakening the technical and normative capacity at Headquarters,” the FAO Director General added. “This is not magic, it is the result of streamlining administrative procedures, of cutting red tape so that we can do

more and better with less,” he said. The Conference session began on June 6 with the overwhelming re-election of Graziano da Silva to a second term in office which will run from July 31, 2015 through July 2019. The sole candidate, he received a total 177 votes, which represents the highest number of favourable votes ever garnered by a candidate for the Organisation’s top post. Setting another record, this year’s meeting of the biennial Conference was attended by 191 delegations, the highest level of participation in the Organisation’s history. These included 16 Heads of State and Government and 116 Ministers. A total of 1700 delegates attended the Conference. The Conference awarded in a special ceremony 72 countries for having achieved the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of halving the proportion of hungry people. Of these, 29 have also met the more stringent goal to halve the number of hungry people as laid out by Governments when they met in Rome at the World Food Summit (WFS) in 1996.

Sugar workers draw out credit...

savings, with effect from May 30, 2015. The suspension is said to remain intact until the money is returned or a payment system is arranged and agreed to by both parties.

Chand stated that though the workers had never showed up in such large numbers before, he understands their frustration and apprehension, and is trying to accommodate them all to put their minds at ease.

The GAWU President stated that in anticipation of such a situation arising, they had borrowed money from several commercial banks to maintain a great relationship with the workers while other matters were being sorted out otherwise. He also mentioned that he did not want the workers to be disappoint-

ed after having assured them that the union is sound and under control. With respect to the credit union savings, Chand mentioned that he is looking forward to dialogue with the new administration of GuySuCo to have assurance in keeping with their agreement that the workers get what is rightfully theirs and that the matter can be placed behind them to resume credit union services as is depended on by many. With respect to the outstanding sum, Chand stated that an agreement must be met to sort out how the debt will be repaid in the near future. He noted that the Corporation has found itself in a deep financial crisis and they need to do better and prioritise.

Guyana to get Indian loan to fund road bypass, ferry

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, has confirmed that Guyana will be receiving the Line of Credit (LOC) from the Indian Exim Bank for the construction of East Coast/East Bank bypass road and the purchase of a ferry.

During a visit to India in January, former President Donald Ramotar secured a Line of Credit to build a bypass road linking East Coast Demerara to the East Bank via Ogle to Eccles, respectively. The agreement was tied up between former President Ramotar and India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, during a meeting held on the sidelines of 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at Gandhinagar, India. The LOC was to the tune of US$50 million.

In addition, Modi also agreed to provide a

“concessional credit” of US$80 million to supply a passenger ferry to help Guyana overcome transportation problems. Furthermore, the Indian Government indicated that it will be setting up its first Information Technology Centre of Excellence in Guyana. The securing of the loan, was a major success of the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration.

However the LOC to Guyana was in limbo after India’s External Affairs Ministry’s budget was cut. The Telegraph in Calcutta, India, had reported in May that documents from the Ministry shows several overseas projects as “curtailed” since this year’s total foreign office budget for aid to Latin American countries is only approximately US$5.1 million.

The Indian paper stated, “… the Prime Minister’s promises also deepened the problem

of managing India’s foreign policy budget because the commitments far outstrip the resources at the foreign office’s disposal.” Nevertheless, during a courtesy call on newly appointed Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana assured the Minister that the funds are still available to the country.

A release from the Ministry detailed that they discussed issues of bilateral interest in the infrastructure sector including the LOC. “Mr Mahalingam also updated the Ministers on Exim Bank’s Government of India Line of Credit offer of US$50 million for the East Bank/East Coast road linkages. Mr Mahalingam said India was ready to partner with the Ministry to develop works which will stimulate growth in the economy,” the release outlined.

Army takes control of soldier accused of raping elderly woman

Investigating Police ranks in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have handed over a soldier to authorities at Camp Ayanganna as they continue their investigation into the raping of a 75-yearold woman in New Amsterdam. The soldier had initially eluded Police when they made efforts to arrest him after the incident was first reported on May 24. Contact was then made with their counterparts at Army Headquarters, Camp Ayanganna, and the 30-year-old Private was held when he showed up for work.

He was subsequently handed over to investigators at Central Police Station in New Amsterdam. According to a source close to the investigation, the soldier was taken back to Camp Ayanganna as the investigation continues. The source said regulations stipulated that he would have had to be placed on station bail as they continue to investigate. According to the source, when the investigation is completed, Police will make a request for the Guyana Defence Force to hand over the soldier. It had been reported in the media that the offence was alleg -

edly committed in New Amsterdam at the woman’s home. According to sources close to the Police, a relative of the pensioner made the report after the elderly woman had confided the abuse. The source said that the victim is suffering from a stroke and was sexually abused numerous times by the same perpetrator. The woman said that she was afraid to come forward and make a report, because she was threatened that if she did, she would be killed. Each time, the offence was committed, the threats were made. The investigation continues.

Operations of Scrap Metal Unit can stand scrutiny - Ali slams

Former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali has rubbished a Kaieteur News article which sought to cast aspersions on the management of the Scrap Metal Unit and its financial transactions.

In the article captioned: Gy$200M frozen…Ramotar Cabinet moves $$$ millions from BoG to private bank”, the newspaper reported that the Ministry of Communities has launched a major investigation into the operations of the Government-run Scrap Metal Unit and a bank account containing almost Gy$200 million

KN’s attempt to mislead

that was under the control of Ali.

According to KN, the Unit, once controlled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Commerce, was placed under the Ministry of Housing during the tenure of the previous administration. It was tasked with collecting fees and monitoring the scrap metal industry.

KN also quoted Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott saying that an investigation was underway along with an audit into the Unit’s bank account which contained millions. “I found it weird that the former

Cabinet removed the Scrap Metal Unit from another Ministry and placed it, under strange circumstances, under the authority of the Minister and one other person. We are investigating this and a number of other things that appear irregular like the operations of the bank account. We are talking about a very large sum of the taxpayers’ monies,” Scott reportedly said.

No mystery

However, Ali in a swift response said after examining the article it was obvious that the newspaper was “try -

Crum-Ewing’s father optimistic about justice

The Courtney Crum-Ewing file has not yet been looked at by the new Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, but the slain anti-government protester’s father is optimistic that justice will be served in due time.

Crum-Ewing would have celebrated his 41st birthday on Wednesday last, but on March 10, 2015, the former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank died in a hail of bullets as he walked the streets of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, urging persons to go out and vote in the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

Three months later, Police are yet to make an arrest or a pronouncement on who may be responsible for the killing of the father of three. Last month, A Division (Georgetown) Commander Clifton Hicken stated that the three men held in connection with the crime were later released owing to the lack of evidence.

However, Crum-Ewing’s father is optimistic that despite the sloth, justice will be served. “Justice seems to be a little slow but we are hoping

Slain ex-soldier, courtney crum-Ewing

that it will be served. We are also doing our personal work to try to find out who might have done this to him. I wouldn’t rest until I have found who have done this to him,” the senior Crum-Ewing related.

Public Security Minister Ramjattan, who had said that some cold cases will be reopened under his watch, was questioned by reporters on Wednesday for a report on the Crum-Ewing murder case.

“There is no progress. I haven’t picked up that file as yet, because I have other, more important matters at hand,” he said.

However, this publication has learnt that the top brass of the Guyana Police Force have been asked to delve deeper into the murder of Crum-Ewing and other such cases by the Minister.

The international human rights group, Amnesty International had called for a full and thorough probe into his execution, adding that the Guyanese authorities should guarantee a favourable context and peaceful atmosphere for the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression, association and assembly and other civil and political rights. Then President Donald Ramotar and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had made just such a call for the Police to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly act directly after the killing, while the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Unity coalition, on the campaign trail promised justice to his family.

Let us reflect and learn from the Enmore Martyrs – PPP/C tells rally

“Sixty-seven years after, the PPP leadership and members continue to observe this important hallmark that is engraved in the history and struggle of this party. The wounds and the pains are fresh in our minds and it shall remain so for all time for as Martin Carter said in his poem, ‘too soon too soon’ our banners draped for our comrades.”

Those were the sentiments expressed by key speakers including Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) President Komal Chand and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executives

Donald Ramotar and Clement Rohee as they addressed the sizeable crowd that gathered in the vicinity of the Enmore Martyrs’ Monument to commemorate the struggles of Guyana’s heroic sugar workers.

In a bittersweet environment, friends and families joined in harmony to pay tribute to those fallen heroes whose pain and tears paved the way for a better life for all today. Chand, whose union

was at the helm of the struggle at the time, reflected on the painful experiences Guyana and its people endured.

“Persons like Dr Jagan, like Janet Jagan and other leaders of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) supported the strike… Cheddi would come and address workers, his wife would assist in the soup kitchen. They played a leading role in ensuring that the ordinary people would understand what is going on in the sugar industry,” Chand urged Guyanese to always remember.

The GAWU President who has always been a part of the struggle for sugar workers, was insistent that Guyanese never forget their history. At the rally, he elaborated extensively, leaving no stones unturned, as he related the struggles and the victory of the people, its leaders and the ordinary sugar workers, who effected change in Guyana in more ways than they would have ever imagined.

The five sugar workers – Lallabagee Kissoon, Pooran, Rambarran, Dookhie and Harry – were

killed cold-bloodedly on June 16 while they were standing up for their rights for better working conditions.

The strike went on for

The colonial Policemen tried to push back the crowd, but after this effort failed, they opened fire; five workers were killed and 14 others were injured.

The five workers, thereon, became known as the Enmore Martyrs and a monument was subsequently established in their honour and unveiled by past President Forbes Burnham on June 16, 1977.

As all of Guyana reflects and observes Enmore Martyr’s Day, the PPP/C, whose support base is embedded in the sugar workers, used the

months under the guidance of Dr Cheddi Jagan and his wife Janet Jagan, who played a pivotal role in the struggle for a better life for Guyanese.

On June 16, early in the morning, a crowd of some 400 workers gathered outside the factory at Enmore for a protest and picketing exercise. By 10:00h, the crowd had grown to between 500 and 600 persons. Several persons managed to enter the compound at the rear of the factory.

400 million can’t access essential health services – WHO report

AWorld Health Organisation (WHO) and World Bank Group report launched last week shows that 400 million people do not have access to essential health services and six per cent of people in low- and middle-income countries are tipped into or pushed further into extreme poverty because of health spending.

“This report is a wakeup call: It shows that we’re a long way from achieving universal health coverage. We must expand access to health and protect the poorest from health expenses that are causing them severe financial hardship,” says Dr Tim Evans, Senior Director of Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank Group.

The report, Tracking Universal Health Coverage, is the first of its kind to measure health service coverage and financial protection to assess countries’ progress towards universal health coverage. The report looked at global access to essential health services –including family planning, antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, child immunisation, antiretroviral therapy, tuberculosis treatment, and access to clean water and sanitation –in 2013, and found that at least 400 million people lacked access to at least one of these services.

US$2/day, 17 per cent of people in these countries were impoverished, or further impoverished, by health expenses.

“These high levels of impoverishment, which happen when poor people have to pay out of pocket for their own emergency health care, pose a major threat to the goal of eliminating extreme poverty,” says Dr Kaushik Basu, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at the World Bank Group. “As we transition to a post-2015 development era, we must act on these findings, or the world’s poor risk being left behind.”

Universal health coverage WHO and the World Bank Group recommend that countries pursuing universal health coverage aim to achieve a minimum of 80 per cent population coverage of essential health services, and that everyone everywhere should be protected from catastrophic and impoverishing health payments.

opportunity on stage before a generous crowd to reiterate that democracy is under threat and that the gains earned by the struggle of these sugar works are slowly slipping away.

Ramotar, under whose stewardship the party contested the General and Regional Election, declared that the election was rigged and rolled out the familiar series of events that took place before, on and after May 11 which led to this conclusion.

“The world’s most disadvantaged people are missing out on even the most basic services,” says Dr MariePaule Kieny, Assistant Director-General, Health Systems and Innovation, at the WHO. “A commitment to equity is at the heart of universal health coverage. Health policies and programmes should focus on providing quality health services for the poorest people, women and children, people living in rural areas and those from minority groups.”

The report also found that across 37 countries, six per cent of the population was tipped or pushed further into extreme poverty (US$1.25/ day) because they had to pay for health services out of their own pockets. When the study factored in a poverty measure of

“As more countries make commitments to universal health coverage, one of the major challenges they face is how to track progress,” says Dr Ties Boerma, Director of the Department of Health Statistics and Information Systems at the WHO. “The report shows that it is possible to quantify universal health coverage and track progress towards its key goals, both in terms of health services and financial protection coverage.”

This is the first in a series of annual reports that WHO and the World Bank Group will produce on tracking progress towards universal health coverage across countries. “As the saying goes, ‘what gets measured, gets done’. With countries around the world taking steps to provide universal health coverage, the ability to identify gaps and effectively measure progress will add critical momentum to this global movement,” says Michael Myers, Managing Director at The Rockefeller Foundation. “This is an important tool for countries to achieve universal health coverage and build more resilient health systems,” he said.

Gaskin wants Opposition to be on Go-Invest BOD

– reviewing concessions not on immediate agenda

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin is currently reviewing a list of possible men and women to fill the role of Board of Directors (BOD) for GO-Invest for the remainder of the year. He stated that he would be considering a member from the political Opposition to fill a seat on the seven member board.

In a telephone interview Saturday evening, Minister Gaskin told this publication that he is planning to make the investing and exporting agency work to regulations, and the installation of the new BOD will enable this.

The Minister stated that the seven members of the board will be selected from the Ministry of Business, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Tourism Ministry, Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, and the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

He detailed that members from the political Opposition, as well as the Diaspora, will also be given seats to ensure balance.

Minister Gaskin stated that he does not have

a shortlist of persons that he is considering at the moment; however, he posited that he would like a balanced representation and having a member of the Opposition on the team will facilitate this. Nevertheless, the Minister stated that he shall be making the appointments based on the criteria that have already been established for the positions.

It should be noted that GO-Invest is a government agency that was established to provide advice and concessions, when needed, to investors who are looking for the best way to start a business in Guyana. The agency also acts as a go

between for business persons wanting to be a part of the local economy.

Recently in the media, Go-Invest has been criticised as being quite prejudiced in its dealings with some of its clients, particularly foreign companies. The Minister said that such instances are a thing of the past, stating that the new board will ensure that the agency “work and make it work along Government’s policies.”

The President of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Persaud, told this publication that such companies appear to benefit more from investment opportunities or concessions that were given earlier than the locally based companies. He expressed his hope that this changes soon.

Meanwhile, though there have been calls for the reviewing of concessions, Minister Gaskin stated that this not on his agenda at the moment. He stated that he is opting to look forward, and with the improvements made to Go-Invest through the BOD, such cries of favouritism will not be made.

State audit exercise: Govt defies conflict of interest warning …Goolsarran to audit NICIL, Ram GGMC,

Gold Board

Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma has disclosed that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) is the only state entity which is currently undergoing forensic audit even as the administration continues to defy warning over possible conflict of interest in handing some of the contracts to accountants who had publicly criticised the running of the entities they would be auditing.

For NICIL, Sharma disclosed that the audit is being undertaken by former Auditor General under the first PNC administration, Anand Goolsarran, while the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) are currently being conducted by Christopher Ram and his team at Ram and McRae. He noted that the others have not yet begun since the accounting firms were in the process of acquiring the records of the agencies.

An accredited chartered accountant had

told this newspaper that it was wholly inappropriate for Ram and Goolsarran to audit some of the entities given their public criticisms of these agencies. The accountant had warned that going ahead with the former government critics could destroy the credibility of the audits and had urged the accountants to walk away from the contracts and follow the principles of their profession.

A quick google check shows that Goolsarran had publicly commented on NICIL operations numerous times in local newspapers. On October 2, 2012 he was quoted

in Stabroek News under the caption: “Goolsarran exposes raft of breaches involving NICIL”. In the article it was revealed that the former auditor general has claimed a raft of breaches of the law by the government through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and said there should be a judicial review of the entity’s operations should government continue to defend its action and not take remedial measures. In another article in the same newspaper on October 4, 2012

4 Guyanese students secure scholarships from United World Colleges

Four students have impressed representatives of the international school, United World Colleges (UWC), thus earning themselves full scholarships to study at various universities across the globe. They were chosen by The National Committee of UWC (Guyana) from a shortlist of 16 students.

The committee was established in Guyana in 2014 for the specific purpose of selecting three students to study at their universities in China, Canada and the United States (US). However, Ellie Price, who is on the National Committee shared that they worked really hard with the various universities for a fourth scholarship to be made available as they had an interesting turnout.

The students chosen are Stephon Roberts, Saif Panday, Merissa

Peterson from Diamond Secondary School and Kyle Joseph from Queen’s College. They will be studying at universities in Singapore, China, US and Canada, respectively.

Guyana Times International spoke with Joseph recently and he explained that UWC “is the only international school which brings children from around the world from different countries irrespective of their backgrounds”. He said that the schools do so with the specific purpose of bringing cultures together to enable the concepts of peace and unity. This publication understands that the young man is quite into his own Amerindian heritage, having taken part in several events where he performed. Regarding the six courses being offered to the awardees of the two year program, he praised

the Sciences as he aims to become a Medical Doctor (MD), stating that the advance course in these are most welcomed.

The up and coming MD stated that he was quite appreciative of the university and what it offers. He stated that his current financial status would not have allowed him to be able to study overseas, especially with the two year cost being

equal to more than Gy$9 million. Joseph said he is “happy for being given this opportunity and is not going to waste it.”

Peterson said that she was quite happy to have gotten the opportunity as well. She will be going to the UWC University in Las Vegas, New Mexico, US. She said that they are expected to be there for August as they have orientation which involves

a range of activities like volunteering and getting acquainted with the university and the city.

She said that her family is quite excited for her, especially her mother. Peterson said the fact that the scholarship is a full scholarship was a great inducement to her applying as her mother is a single parent and thus would not be able to finance such an opportunity for her. At the moment Peterson and her family only need to take care of her visa application.

Ellie Price, who is on the Selective Committee, recently sat down with this publication and was able to lay out the finer points of UWC. She said that students with low incomes were their target as they wanted to give an opportunity and let them make the best of it. She stated that the “world had been torn apart by war and misun-

derstanding and the idea was if we educate the world’s future leaders together so that the same class growing up alongside people from all different countries, there’s not going to be anymore war as we understand each other.”

Price said the academics was not the main point of the selection of the four students as the interview with them was oriented based on their interpersonal skills, their personalities and their parts in extra -curricular activities.

With its main office based in Wales, United Kingdom, the UWC has 14 schools around the world including Swaziland, India and the United States of America. The school was founded in 1962 in order to bring students together who saw each other as being too different to have anything in common.

CARIFESTA XII Committee set up

- Canterbury, chair; Ruel Johnson, member

The Committee to select the local acts that will represent Guyana at CARIFESTA XII, the Caribbean’s premier festival of arts, which will be held in Haiti, August 21-30, has finally been set up, but not without controversy.

Prior to the establishment of the Selection Committee, headed by Lennox Canterbury, a long-time member of Guyana’s CARIFESTA machinery, concerns had been raised over the secretiveness surrounding its set-up.

When contacted, Canterbury requested that contact be made on Monday for a comment on the issue.

One of the persons who had raised concerns over the purported surreptitious manner in which the Committee was being

formalised was commentator and two-time winner of the Guyana Prize for Literature, Ruel Johnson, who chastised the new Government for failing to publicly announce the members of the CARIFESTA Selection Committee.

Johnson is now a member of the Committee and will be functioning as an advisory ex-officio member tasked with being part of the process to determine which individuals will form the delegation to represent Guyana in Haiti.

In a letter, Johnson, who has been a staunch critic of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, indicated that it would seem that while there is a new Government, the same corrupt systems seem to be in place, or in

fact have worsened.

As such, the activist in the letter called on the newly appointed Ministers responsible for culture, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Junior Minister Nicolette Henry to publicly introduce the members of the “nebulous” CARIFESTA Selection Committee and have them explain to the public what their plan is for ensuring that there is transparency and accountability in the selection of Guyana’s delegation.

Johnson said the aforementioned letter he had written was not intended to seek an invitation to join the Committee, but to highlight the issue of a lack of transparency in previous selections.

He reflected on his personal experience of wanting to be a part of

the official delegation but always being sidelined, with no reason giv-

en. As such, when he was offered the position on

the Committee, Johnson explained that he happily accepted.

Kwame McCoy sent packing

By Michael younge

Press and Publicity Officer at-

tached to the Office of the President now Ministry of the Presidency, Kwame McCoy has been dismissed by Government even though the officer is still on medical leave after receiving serious injuries from an attack which occurred on Election Day, May 11 this year.

This followed McCoy having to be rescued by then Opposition Leader, now President David Granger and Minister of State Joseph Harmon from a belligerent mob at a polling station at St Sidwell’s Primary School in Georgetown while he was performing his duties on behalf of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Election Day. After the two A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) officials left the scene and Mc Coy was being driven away, missiles were thrown by supporters of APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC) coalition at McCoy which connected with his mouth and other parts of his face. He suffered lacerations and serious injuries to those body parts, and is now wearing a metal bracer in his mouth. He was hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital and his injuries were clear in a photo published in this newspaper.

The letter, written and signed by Harmon, who is also Head of the Presidential Secretariat, was dated June 8, 2015.

It stated that McCoy was being dismissed for not reporting for duty since May 12, 2015.

“Your dismissal will take effect from 31 May 2015. As a result of your dismissal, all of your emoluments are for-

feited,” the correspondence said.

“Vexatious”

McCoy in response to Harmon’s letter acknowledged its receipt, but reminded the Minister that he was injured and hospitalised since May 11, 2015.

“…and a message about my hospitalisation was communicated to the Office of the President and subsequently two weeks’ sick leave certificates were delivered to the Personnel Department covering an initial seven days and a subsequent 28 days,” McCoy said.

He also advised Harmon that his sick leave ends on June 16, 2015.

“I, therefore, ask that you review your position as my circumstances do make me eligible for benefits,” McCoy appealed in his response.

He also advised Harmon that he was sending a copy of his response to the Head of the PPP/C Transition Group.

When contacted by Guyana Times International on Friday, McCoy said that he felt that he was being targeted and victimised.

Manickchand “pleased” with results of 2015 NGSA exam

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand has expressed her satisfaction with the performance of the 15,000 plus students at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examination.

On April 1 and 2, 15,225 students from primary schools across Guyana wrote the assessment examination. Solomon Cherai of Success Elementary topped the country after he secured a total of 530 marks out of 535.

Speaking with this publication, Manickchand said, “I am very pleased with the improvements that were seen in this year’s (NGSA) results.” The former Minister noted that these were as a direct result of certain initiatives and programmes implemented to enhance the performances of not only students but teachers as well.

“I’m also happy that these improved results evidence the equity with which investments were made; the natural and happy consequence being that more students from all across Guyana are doing well,” she highlighted.

On this note, Manickchand disclosed

her satisfaction with the performance of Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), which was dubbed the most improved region.

According to the former Education Minister, this was something that was expected as a result of conscious investments made in the education system there.

She explained that, in addition to more teachers in the region being trained, the programme entails the provision of text books and meals as well as, and more importantly, the involvement of parents in the academic curriculum of their children.

“So you see this is something we expected and we are not utter-

ly surprised,” she stated. Manickchand further remarked that she is pleased to see the continuation of certain programmes and initiatives implemented by her being continued under the new Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, specifically referring to the live broadcast of the NGSA results.

The former Minister pointed out that she has extended her support to Dr Roopnaraine when the need arises. “I don’t want to see the Ministry and all the work it’s done over the years come crashing down, so I have offered to help in whatever way to ensure that these programmes and the people continue to excel and provide benefits,” she added.

PPP/C lashes back at Govt

- says all PetroCaribe funds accounted for

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has lashed back at the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s statements that the PetroCaribe Fund was left bankrupt, calling it a clear misrepresentation of the truth.

According to the former administration, contrary to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon’s misrepresentation, no money whatsoever is missing from the PetroCaribe Fund. Even if it was, the fund has limited balances in it, and that does not mean in any way that any money is missing from it.

“As his colleague in the Finance Ministry can no doubt tell him, detailed records exist and can be made public on every single inflow into the Fund and every single outflow from the Fund. These details will account fully for the operations of the fund and can withstand any degree of scrutiny. Put simply, monies are deposited into the fund when Guyana imports oil from Venezuela under the PetroCaribe Arrangement. Those monies are managed by the Bank of Guyana. The mon-

ies are utilised for only two purposes; firstly, to fund projects that are included in the National Budget and submitted to Parliament for approval,” the Party said.

It noted that over the years these projects have included the new Guyana Power and Light power plants at Kingston in Georgetown and Vreed-en-Hoop on the West Coast of Demerara, and the Hope Canal on the East Coast of Demerara, while the funds were utilised to purchase rice and paddy for ex-

port to Venezuela under the PetroCaribe Arrangement.

“At any time, the balance available in the fund is the total of all inflows deposited from oil imports, minus sums disbursed on projects and sums disbursed to GRDB (Guyana Rice Development Board) for rice and paddy purchases. In addition, periodically, Guyana and Venezuela conclude a debt reduction agreement under which Venezuela cancels an amount of PetroCaribe debt previously owed by Guyana and equivalent to the value of rice and paddy shipped in the immediately preceding period,” the previous administration explained.

The Party posited that while this is indeed clear for all Guyanese to see, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has “deliberately set about to create a misleading impression that somehow, something untoward may have occurred in the management of the fund.”

The PPP/C posited that the plain and simple truth is that “for years the inflows and outflows of the fund were managed optimally and transparently by the PPP/C Government, and within one month the APNU/AFC Government has displayed its incompetence in

Govt fires over 50 officials...

from his post as Director for the Caribbean at the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), and Guyana’s Ambassador to Mexico Bayney Karran and Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil Merlin Udho were recalled from their posts.

Several other professional individuals were either dismissed or forced to render their services at their respective posts. Most of them were not even allowed to receive their legally due benefits. The PPP/C has noted that these actions are clear evidence that an undemocratic Government is taking effect.

Referring specifically to the situation with the former Director for the Caribbean at the IDB, the PPP/C said “Mr Ally occupies this position having been nominated by Guyana and endorsed by the Governments of the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. His track record at the Bank is nothing short of outstanding, with the Caribbean being elevated to a position of prominence in the Bank’s decision making architecture as a result of his efforts,” the PPP/C said in a release.

The PPP/C went on to slam the new Government for not adhering to its words of conducting an assessment of Ally’s performance before deciding on whether or not he should continue his tenure for the remainder of the year.

“Finance Minister Winston Jordan performed no assessment whatsoever, communi-

cated no findings and shortcomings arising out of this assessment, and instead summarily recalled Mr Ally and installed a retired friend of his who has not lived or worked in Guyana for over 24 years as Mr Ally’s replacement,” the Party highlighted, noting that this is a clear case of racism, cronyism and nepotism.

The PPP/C added that Ally’s replacement does not even serve in the best interest of the country. “The Caribbean Chair in the IDB will be represented by someone who has no knowledge or experience of the workings of the Bank, the Board of Executive Directors or, for that matter, Guyana for the past 20 years, and will not be eligible to chair any committees for the one year he will serve as the Executive Director,” the Party noted. The PPP/C pointed this decision will only diminish the Constituency’s influence in the Bank and will be a major concern of other member coun-

being unable to manage the fund’s operations properly, resulting in hardship to the rice farmers and millers.”

The statement comes on the backdrop of Minister Harmon stating that the PetroCaribe Fund, which was in place for rice farmers, is bankrupt and the Government will now have to source some US$15 million to pay off rice farmers. According to Harmon, while the current Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, had indicated that the states’ funds were vastly misused, it was an un-

tries of the Caribbean.

Further, the PPP/C lambasted the new Government for recalling the ambassadors from their posts without any rational reasoning behind the decision. ”By what measure can Bayney Karran not be deemed a professional diplomat? He is a qualified lawyer of highly respected standing who has served at the ambassadorial level with distinction for 20 years in two of Guyana’s most important diplomatic posts…By what measure can Merlin Udho not be deemed a professional diplomatic, having worked for a number of years in the international system even outside of the Government of Guyana and prior to her ambassadorial appointment?”

Recently, PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee had urged those who were wronged to come forth and, by all means, fight for justice to at least ensure they receive their benefits. Rohee said the PPP/C will also be taking its role seriously in representing these “victimised” individuals by writing letters and holding press conferences to raise awareness of the ill-treatment being administered by the Granger-led administration.

The General Secretary added that the PPP/C has been receiving floods of reports indicating that a significant portion of employees within the public service are consumed with “intimidation, fear, distress and uneasiness” owed to the purported discriminatory sacking of employees.

derstatement.

To this end, he had noted that the fund was used for projects such as the Hope Canal and others which it should not have been. The Minister noted that the fund was for rice and rice farmers but yet monies, which were not even there, were used leading to the current state of bankruptcy of that fund.

PetroCaribe is an agreement which is intended to promote trade among member countries, and Guyana has been supplying rice to Venezuela under the initiative. Under the current trade agreement, Guyana is expected to supply 210,000 tons of paddy and polished rice annually to Venezuela. The value of this supply amounts to US$130 million.

In the meantime, Harmon disclosed that the Cabinet has decided to commission a subcommittee which will be tasked at looking at and sourcing markets to accommodate the level of production which is being recorded. “The money has to be found because we don’t believe that there is no fault on our farmers, but it has to do with the way the previous administration managed that fund.

State audit exercise: Govt defies conflict...

“Goolsarran: NICIL not a public corporation, state property cannot be vested in it” In the article he said the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) is not a public corporation as Government purports and therefore moveable and immoveable property cannot be vested in it.

Ram for his part was the lawyer representing former WPA MP, Desmond Trotman who had moved to the courts blocking a Gy$3b loan agreement between GGMC and the Central Housing and Planning Authority. Ram and Goolsarran again were cited in a Stabroek News article on February 17, 2014 saying that GGMC has been running parallel treasury to circumvent parliament scrutiny.

In the meantime, Sharma has played down reports that the involvement of Ram and Goolsarran present a conflict of interest in the financial accounting. According to Sharma, he was more than confident that despite the previous stance of the men, that they will be able to remain “professional” and carry out their duties effectively. The junior Finance Minister further noted that the fact that the men have an understanding of what is being looked for and knew what the aims of the forensic accounting are, the work will now be easier.

“A conflict of interest

from page 23

is when Ashni Singh was Finance Minister and his wife was Auditor, this isn’t a conflict of interest. Not because they have been critical of the government means they cannot do their work… I had been critical of the previous government too, does that mean I can’t be the minister?” asked the junior Minister. Sharma shared that while the audits were being done to some extent to satisfy and assure the international community that the government was serious about transparency, it was also being done to ensure that the agencies are not misusing funds and that they can be trusted with taxpayers’ monies.

US-based Guyanese is hairstylist to Hollywood’s biggest stars

Born in Georgetown, Guyana, and raised in California’s Silicon Valley, U.S., hairstylist Marcia Hamilton is known for her ability to mesh old school beauty with up to the minute trends and techniques.

She discovered her passion for art and style at an early age, but against her mother’s predictions, Hamilton had ambitions of becoming an auto mechanic. After a series of life changing events, destiny led her to the inevitable path of a career in hair care.

Hamilton began her hair care education under strict training from the Pivot Point Academy Program in the U.S. and later continued her advanced education at the Vidal Sassoon Academy, Redken International and Toni & Guy Academy. From there, she moved to Los Angeles and began assisting various celebrity hairstylists.

She forged a name for herself while collaborating with stylists by applying

her knowledge and skill in hair colour to create unique styles for international stars like Brandy, Eve, Kelly Roland

and Serena Williams. With fierce determination and a curiosity for the unknown, Hamilton started venturing to New York where she was mentored by hair industry giants Orlando Pita, Guido Palau, and Teddy Charles.

The hairstylist has worked on numerous fashion shows for Oscar De La Renta, Tom Ford, Caroline Herrera, Derek Lam, Marc Jacobs and Dian Von Furstenburg. She draws her inspiration from these experiences, which is evident in her uninhibited approach when creating iconic looks for clients and innovative projects.

When Hamilton is not coiffing in her private studio, at the Juan Juan Center in Beverly Hills, she can be found on sets, creating magic from Los Angeles to New York. She divides her time between cities working in beauty, print, film, music video, runway and advertising. Her artistic creations frequently appear in publications like Teen Vogue, Nylon, Shape, Essence, Vanity Fair and W magazines.

Hamilton has created the

looks for epic music videos like Willow Smith’s (actor Will Smith’s daughter) “Whip My Hair” and Usher’s “OMG”. She has also coined iconic looks for major celebs, advertising campaigns and hit television shows. Her list of collaborators includes Pink, Jada PinkettSmith, Cindy Crawford, Zoe Kravitz, Target, Pravana, Macadamia Oil, Disney, TNT and many more.

For more information on Marcia Hamilton, visit www.marciahamilton. com (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Sickle cell disease and thalassaemia are inherited blood diseases that affect how oxygen is carried in the body.

Sickle Cell disease

Sickle cell anaemia is the most common form of the sickle cell disorder, it is where the body makes sickle shaped (crescent shaped) red blood cells rather than normal oval cells that move easily through blood vessels.

Anaemia is the condition in which a person’s blood has a lower than normal number of red blood cells.

“It’s weak blood where the white blood cell eats out the red”; “…it is contagious”; “…it can only be contracted from the maternal line”; “…only persons of African descent have sickle cell…” These common misconceptions have led members of the Guyana Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Association (GSCTA) to call for greater awareness of the disease.

“Due to these misconceptions we heard while travelling [for a community outreach programme] we realised that there is a dire need to create public aware-

ness,” Errol London, president of GSCTA told the Guyana Times Sunday Magazine

Normal blood cells contain an iron rich protein called haemoglobin that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Sickle cells on the other hand contain abnormal haemoglobin called sickle haemoglobin or Haemoglobin S.

Moreover, red blood cells are made in the spongy marrow inside the larger bones of the body and bone marrow is always making new red blood cells to replace old ones. Normal red blood cells live about 120 days in the bloodstream and

then die.

They carry oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from your body, while in sickle cell anaemia the abnormal sickle cells usually die after only about 10 to 20 days. The bone marrow cannot make new red blood cells fast enough to replace the dying ones.

“Because of this rapid destruction of the red blood cells, people with sickle cell are sustained in an anaemic state,” London pointed out.

Sickle cells are stiff and sticky, which cause a blockage in blood vessels in the limbs and organs resulting in pain, organ damage and/ a high risk of infection in sickle cell patients. An inherited lifelong disorder, it is found in persons who inherit two genes of sickle haemoglobin -- that is, one from each parent.

Persons who inherit a sickle haemoglobin gene from one parent and a normal gene from the other have what is called a ‘sickle cell trait’. Persons with the sickle cell trait do not have the disorder; nonetheless, they can pass the sickle haemoglobin gene to their children.

“Both parents must either have the trait, an AS haemoglobin [normal haemoglobin + sickle haemoglobin] or the disorder, a SS gene [sickle haemoglobin + sickle haemoglobin]. But they are many instances where it can occur, it is either AS + AS or AS + SS and so forth and of course there is a one

symptoms. “Of course there are a host of complications,” London noted. “Just to name a few: there is jaundice, paleness, tiredness, painful episodes or crises, ischemic strokes, a high risk of contracting communicable diseases and infections and cases of infertility and priapism.”

should keep hydrated, use folic acid, have a balanced diet, exercise moderately, avoid communicable diseases and infections, visit the doctor regularly, and “of course be informed about the condition”.

London found the motivation to speak out about sickle cell after having to take his son,

in four chance a child is conceived with the sickle cell condition,” London explained.

The probability stands that the child can be born with a normal gene AA, be a carrier AS or have the sickle cell condition, SS.

There is no widely available cure for the blood disorder. In some

London noted that there are some commonalities in the condition, although largely “it is also very individualistic”.

“This individuality can be demonstrated in the triggers for each crises from individual to individual. This means that at the end of the day, the individual has

who has the blood disorder, to the hospital on numerous occasions.

“I have seen many parents at the hospital with children, many of whom were clueless as to the condition affecting their children, which led to frustration. It is in these experiences, not being equipped with the knowledge to un-

cases, blood and marrow stem cell transplant has been known to cure a small number of people, nevertheless, treatments to improve anaemia and lower complications can help with

to understand himself or herself and take necessary precautions to avoid going into crises,” he mentioned.

As for commonalities, London noted that persons with sickle cell

derstand, that drove me to join the association to spread awareness,” London disclosed. Registered under the Friendly Societies Act, on December 13,

The Dharm Shala houSe

When visiting the Dharm Shala in Albouystown, Georgetown, it is difficult to miss the colonial wooden structure on the opposite side of the road.

A quaint folk Victorian style house, characterised by its two and a half storeys, shuttered stained glass windows, gothic carpentry details and square symmetrical shape, it is a white and brown residential property that has been standing for more than 80 years.

Built in 1932 by humanitarian Pandit Ramsaroop Maraj, the building has been in the family for three generations and counting; it has remained the same with no structural alterations during its 83 years of existence.

However, planks of wood have been replaced over the years for the maintenance and preservation of the structure, Stella Ramsaroop, Maraj’s granddaughter who currently resides on the property, explained to Guyana Times Sunday Magazine

“Because it’s a wooden building, ever so often

you find wood ants and such, and we would have to replace the wood; but the structure is just the same, it hasn’t changedand we wouldn’t change it,” she declared.

According to Ramsaroop, they have had good luck over the years because renovations were not “necessary very often” because the building was built with “excellent wood cured for many years”.

Built with planks of Mora, the family sprays the house quarterly for

wood-destroying pests, and regularly cleans it to keep it in the best shape possible.

“It is a family house, but we use it for Dharm Shala as well; we use it as a reception area and for meeting purposes,” stated Ramsaroop. She added that her grandfather built the house to keep “nearby” to his work, that is, his charity work at Dharm Shala, located opposite the house, which he founded in the early 1920s.

With what is described as ‘two and onehalf’ storeys by modern architecture, the first two floors have a square symmetrical shape. The smaller top flat, found just above an eave (an edge roof projecting beyond the building for both practical and decorative functions), has a front gable (a triangular formed sloping roof) with carpenter gothic details (gingerbread trim/intricate wooden designs).

Such houses, folk Victorian, are often characterised by aligned hor-

pairing and repainting it,” Ramsaroop recalled.

With the bottom floor used mainly as a storeroom and the very top as living quarters (mostly bedrooms), the middle flat is generally used as a reception area, a boardroom for volunteer meetings, and the operations office of the Dharm Shala.

Even around the

yard, one can find antiquities. There is a towering tank, presumably a vacuum pan, acquired by Maraj from a sugar estate (used as a water tank to this day), a small Lord Shiva mandir, and the St Francis Chapel (an old Anglican church); all present since the construction of the building. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

izontally and vertically symmetrical windows in rows, which can also be clearly seen on the house along with the added colonial features of stained glass and wooden shutters.

After Ramsaroop’s grandfather died in 1950, the house was passed on to her late father, Harisaran Ramsaroop, who dutifully cared for it for 63 years until he died in 2013, passing it on to his children.

“My father was very efficient and conscious of things around him, he was an extraordinary person, so he kept re-

Art classes to be held during the August school holidays, at the University of Guyana, aim to provide an opportunity for children to express themselves through art.

Michael Khan, art lecturer at the University of Guyana (UG) and host of the classes, called the Emeritus Professor Doris Rogers art programme, told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine that the classes look to help children express themselves and develop their creative abilities.

Some of the classes offered in the programmes are art making/painting, craft, drama and photography. The programme

starts July 13 and ends July 24 when an exhibition of the participants’ creative work would be on display to the public.

Registration forms are available at the School of Education and Humanities, University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus. Cost for the complete programme is only GYD10,000. Sessions are for ages 4 to 17. For further information, call 647-8245 or 668-9831.

About Emeritus Professor Doris Rogers

The title of Emeritus Professor is conferred on retired members of the academic communi-

ty who attained the rank of professor; achieved the distinction of personal chairs; honourably distinguished themselves in the service to UG, in the pursuit of scholarship and in the administration of the affairs of the institution.

The Emeritus Professor Doris Rogers art programme is a dedication to Doris E. Rogers for her significant contribution to the Department of Arts. Prof Rogers has been the lighthouse for arts in Guyana and rejuvenated art at UG; she was instrumental in the creation of a degree programme in art, prior to that, one did not exist.

Prof Rogers, TTC

(Guyana, 1964), Dip. Art Teaching (South Australia, 1969), BFA (Painting; Howard, 1974), MA Art Education (Howard, 1975), PhD, Art Education (Penn. State, 1980), committed

service to the University of Guyana covered a period from 1988 until her retirement in 2008.

Her unique contribution to the development of the university includes her design and introduc-

tion of the BA Degree Programme in Fine Arts in 1990, and the important establishment of the Art Education component on both the Turkeyen and Berbice Campuses while she was coordinator in the Division of Creative Arts from 1988 to 2003.

The external image of the university was advanced and the quality of its graduates deepened by Prof Rogers’ initiation of the ‘summer’ attachment of final year art students at Toogeloo College, Mississippi, for exhibitions and workshops, as well as the annual public Exhibition of Art by University staff and students.

Prof Rogers’ value to the institution was also enhanced by the fact that she is an exceptional painter, celebrated among the foremost national artists of Guyana, who has researched the art and its techniques in Nigeria, and has exhibited extensively in India, Nigeria and North America Honoris causa (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Our extra lessons culture

By Anu Dev

“If you want to grow a giant redwood, you need to make sure the seeds are ok, nurture the sapling, and work out what might potentially stop it from growing all the way along. Anything that breaks it at any point stops that growth” – Elon Musk.

By the time I hit high school, the extra-lessons culture was already inextricably tied to the school system. I decidedly stayed away from taking any extra lesson throughout my high school life.

And no, it was absolutely not because the syllabus was covered during the school hours by my teachers. I think any student would have a hearty chuckle at the suggestion that our teachers ever actually covered all the material in class.

Not to bash our teachers too much though. Because given the system they’re teaching in where so many other teachers are making so much dough off extra lessons, it would be ludicrous to expect that they wouldn’t want to do the same.

How could a teacher be motivated to give 100 per cent to their class when other teachers are giving 20 per cent to their class during class hours and are being paid the same?

And tack onto that the fact that those 20 per cent teachers are making three times the salary of the 100 per cent teacher after school hours courtesy of their extra lessons, even someone with an actual passion for teaching would get discouraged. The question of distributive justice arises.

But I absolutely understood why my classmates were taking extra lessons. We simply were not being taught enough in school.

And since many of the extra lessons were given by our regular teachers, it raised the question of whether those teachers were deliberately not teaching enough so that students would have no choice but to take their extra lessons. You’ve got to create enough demand for the product you’re supplying, right?

Now I should take a moment to clarify something. At the CSEC level, it’s understood that we should be taught most of the syllabus but at the CAPE level, going in, we’re told that we’re expected to do 80 per cent of the work on our own. And I respected that. CAPE is a whole different ballgame from CSEC, and it’s supposed to prep us for University where we’d be expected to do the bulk of the work on our own.

Since I was already accustomed to having to do the bulk of the syllabus outside of the school system, on my own, CAPE didn’t seem all that different from CSEC and once again I decided against any extra lessons.

Most of my classmates went ahead with extra lessons, same deal with CSEC, except this time our in-class teachers weren’t expected to cover the material in class, we’re supposed to do the work on our own.

But here’s my problem with these extra lesson, especially at the CAPE level. CAPE is that step before university.

University – that glorious place where you can skip as many lectures as you like without the lecturer caring one whit whether you show up or not.

University – that place where lecturers lecture, not teach – they paint a big picture of the concept, painting it with broad strokes and swipes with the understanding that you’ll hit the books till the sun comes up, to fill in the minute details.

University – the places where there are no extra lessons to spoon-feed you what you need to know, to keep you on track or to prep you specifically for the exam. It’s all you and your self-discipline- not some external force to keep you disciplined.

If you forego lessons at least at the CAPE level, you’ll get a chance to cultivate that self-discipline that’ll serve you so well for university and the rest of your life, basically. University won’t be such a shock to the system.

It’s not my purpose with this article to convince anyone to give up their extra-lessons. Everyone is different – we’re all individuals who need different things to keep us going. But I just want to put it out there in this atmosphere of extra-lessons being an absolute necessity that it’s possible to do it without the extra-lessons.

You’re not going to fail without extra-lessons, in fact, you could excel once you put in the work. And you’ll come out of the experience with stellar grades and a killer work ethic.

Our new Minister of Education (old Queens boy, eh?) is continuing the long, drawn out (Sisyphean?) war to crack down on these extra lessons. I wish him well.

Times Notebook Stop playing political football with rice farmers

The rice industry succeeded in getting the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News to give headline stories about breaking another production record during the first crop of 2015.

This announcement was made way before the May 11 General Election, but other than the Guyana Times, no one gave prominence to the story. At the time, one week before the election, then Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy announced that with about 95 per cent harvesting completed, Guyana had surpassed production of 350,000 tons of rice for the first crop of 2015.

This represented the largest ever single-crop production. By May 11, with 98 per cent harvesting, production was at about 358,000 tons of rice.

APNU+AFC, in opposition at the time, condemned the PPP/C government for emphasizing production. Their response to yet another record-setting production was that production did not matter, that market was important.

They never acknowledged that in 2014 Guyana marketed more than 503,000 tons of paddy and rice and by March 2015 all of the production of 2014 and the carryover from 2013 were sold on the local and international markets at prices above world market prices.

Instead of congratulating the farmers, APNU+AFC and their collaborators at Stabroek News and Kaieteur News found every reason to attack the PPP/C Government. Record production then was greeted with criticism about prices farmers were getting and about timely payments to farmers.

APNU+AFC and both Stabroek and Kaieteur News made it appear that the PPP/C Government was responsible for low and untimely payments to farmers. Now, they are trying to take credit for record production, and they ignore payment issues that farmers face today.

Since the first crop of 2012, new production and export records were established for seven successive crops. Guyana surpassed 500,000 tons for the first time in 2013 and 600,000 tons for the

first time in 2014 and set the stage for 700,000 tons in 2015.

Export reached 395,000 tons in 2013 and 503,000 tons in 2014. By End of April 2015, Guyana had exported almost 200,000 tons of export, the highest at this point in the year ever for any single year.

This growth came about for several reasons. One was better farming technology and techniques by the farmers, led by the Burma Research Center and the GRDB’s Field Schools.

The second is the research that led to better and more high-yielding rice varieties. The third is new markets, like the Venezuelan and Panama and other Central American markets.

The fourth is the PPP/C Government support, particularly in providing advance payments so that farmers could get paid.

Fifthly is the PPP/C Government’s subsidy for fertilizer.

For the entire period since 2011, APNU+AFC

and their media collaborators downplayed the achievement of the rice industry and found many other reasons to be critical of the industry.

They even criticized the PPP/C Government for giving “handouts” to the rice industry.

The present Minister of Foreign Affairs claimed that it was a private sector business and the PPP/C Government should give no support.

During the 2015 elections they claimed that they would give the farmers Gy$9,000 per bag of paddy if they were to get into government. The rice farmers in Regions Two to Six cannot forget so quickly that various senior members and those who were advisors of APNU+AFC promised farmers that they deserved to be paid Gy$9,000 per bag of paddy.

Now they occupy the seat of Government and the time is now to deliver on their promise. They claim that the market must be found for Guyana’s rice.

One of those, Mr Turhane Doerga, a prominent advisor and member of APNU+AFC during the election campaign, who was almost daily on TV and in the newspaper promising the Gy$9,000 per bag, now warns that farmers cannot expect more than Gy$2,000 per bag. As for APNU+AFC who promised the higher prices for paddy and immediate payment, they now are making many excuses. One of their excuses is that the PetroCaribe funds are exhausted.

The Petro-Caribe is now only accounting for about 40 per cent of Guyana’s export market and so payments cannot be based on only the Petro-Caribe Funds. Also, the PPP/C Government worked with Venezuela to devise a programme that was aimed at ensuring Guyana’s access to a lucrative market, a market that in 2010 was almost 70 per cent of Guyana’s production.

Stop playing political football...

APNU+AFC is trying to walk away from its promise of higher prices and immediate payments to farmers.

But it was the advisors of APNU+AFC who told the rice farmers in Essequibo and Berbice that there were more than one trillion dollars in the Petro-Caribe funds that could be used to pay farmers. There never was a trillion dollar in the fund. The Petro-Caribe deal was originally an oil deal. The agreement catered for Guyana to buy oil from Venezuela and to pay a certain percentage of the oil bill cash at the time of purchase.

The remaining part was to be a loan used in national development. The Guyana and Venezuelan Governments agreed on the projects, which included support to GPL and the construction of the Hope Canal. This was not a grant, but a loan. Payment for rice was never a part of the original deal.

In 2009, in an agreement worked out by Presidents Bharat Jagdeo and Hugo Chavez, Guyana agreed to export rice to Venezuela and use the unpaid amount from oil

purchase (the loan part) to pay to millers for paddy and rice.

Almost the full amount of the agreed price went as payments to millers and farmers, with only a small amount retained for logistical purposes. How much rice Guyana can supply was agreed to and had to be in keeping with the amount of oil Guyana purchased from Venezuela.

The consequence is very little of the payment Guyana had to make for oil could be kept as a loan. Most of the oil payments to Venezuela went to pay for rice, which

Improving on Cheddi

Satiricus was so proud of the Naga Man to show the nation what a classy guy he was. Before he had become Prime Minister, some folks used to make fun of him because he showed “tough love” to his grandkids.

If his President could boast about six lashes on the posterior never hurt anybody, what was objectionabłe about screaming “shut yuh so-andso mouth” to grandkids?

But now he was elevated to the second highest office in the land, here was his chance to really show what a mensch he was. “And boy did he show them!” thought Satiricus.

When the reporter asked why he hadn’t moved into the PM’s office, Naga Man, eyebrows arched upwards as he pointed out, “The office don’t even have curtains much less a desk!!”

amounted to more than US$110M (G$22B) per year.

Oil purchase for this year from Venezuela has been very low and unless Guyana purchases more oil from Venezuela, our ability to export rice to Venezuela will be restricted.

The PPP/C worked with millers to mobilize a robust market that included the export of almost 200,000 tons of paddy and rice to Venezuela. Guyana will destroy this market, our most lucrative export market, if we do not ensure we preserve it.

The lie that APNU+AFC and their advisors told the farmers and the people cannot be erased by trying to mislead the people about Petro-Caribe and who pays the farmers.

Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times.notebook@gmail. com.

1999, the Guyana Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Association’s primary function is to provide support to those affected directly and indirectly with sickle cell and Thalassaemia.

The primary goal of the association was to initially raise awareness and lend support to persons living with sickle cell anaemia.

Thalassaemia

However, in the last year, the association’s mandate has extended to include persons living with Thalassaemia. According to London, this decision was made because of the close link in the two disorders, which are both subjected to anaemic conditions.

Persons living with Thalassaemia are often thought to be worse off than sickle cell patients are. Thalassaemia patients cannot produce

“But your predecessor worked from a boardroom with a large table he used to spread his papers on,” said the reporter. Naga Man contemptuously educated the reporter, “Desk is to work on and table is to eat and drink from! And when I sit down at that big table I will want to eat and drink.”

“And the old PM liked to have the windows open without curtains so he could enjoy the breeze in the old colonial structure,” continued the reporter.

Naga Man curtly replied, “I does only work in air-conditioned offices with heavy curtains to keep out the sun and wind.” But what really showed Satiricus that Naga Man had class was when he complained he couldn’t even move in the PM’s residence to live because “there were two rats in the oven”.

Now Satiricus thought folks were unfair to Naga Man, in saying he was insulting the old PM’s wife for not keeping a clean kitchen. But a classy guy like Naga Man would NEVER do that!!

What he did was put those uppity Trinis in their place by calling the MANICOU – which had been prepared for some a visiting delegation from Trinidad – “rats”!!

“That’ll show them, now that we have oil!” gloated Satiricus.

And as the clincher for staying at his own home (to which the road has been resurfaced) Naga Man pointed out that there was plastic stapled onto the ceiling of the PM’s residence to keep it from leaking. “But Jagan, your idol, used to keep buckets on the floor to collect the water!” replied the reporter.

“According to the dialectics, Comrade, dis time na Lang time, and dis time na Jagan time!” concluded the Naga Man.

red blood cells, resulting in monthly blood transfusions, while there are those with sickle cell who can live without blood transfusions.

“At the end of the day they both have haemoglobinopathies [red blood cell disorders], so we thought it necessary to give support to both groups,” stated London.

GSCTA provides a support group to persons living with sickle cell and Thalassaemia.

The association has also conducted numerous outreach programmes to sensitise the public about these conditions: what to look for when procreating, promoting productive living among clients and collaborating with the Ministry of Health for national recognition and strategies for these conditions.

“We would like to have regular program-

ming, travel further afield in our outreach programmes. We have not been able to touch places like the interior and even areas along the coast due to financial constraints. We hope that through awareness, a greater public voice can be raised where there can be a call to action that the Ministry of Health, and by extension the Government of Guyana, can address this condition nationwide,” London declared.

The GSCTA meets monthly every second Saturday at the Guyana Nurses Association on Charlotte and Alexander Streets. These meetings provide opportunities for persons with sickle cell disease to share experiences, information and give support. For more information, call 2272188. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine) from

One of the priceless publications available to the public for reading and research purposes is “Views in the Interior of Guiana” by Sir Robert Schomburgk.

The book contains a series of views of the interior of British Guiana by Charles Bentley, executed as illustrations for Schomburgk's work in the region.

When the book was first published in 1840 by Ackerman and Company, it was regarded as a “technologically advanced work because it combined intaglio, woodblock and innovations in colour lithography”.

The book’s foreword states that the “powerful pictorial representations of the interior, rescued Guiana from relative obscurity to one of relative importance in the minds of the colonialists”.

It added that the selected “twelve views”

is not only interesting because it forms the boundary between the British and Dutch possessions in Guiana, but on account of its magnitude and length, it being one of the most considerable rivers between the Amazon and Orinoco…After we had passed a turn…we observed several hills on both sides: half an hour’s further progress and we found ourselves in apparently a large basin, surrounded by hills from sixty to one hundred feet high. The river was now broken up into torrents, the white flakes of foam, which came floating down as if to give us welcome, the thundering noise of the falling waters, and a cloud of mist hung over the southern hills, all told in an intelligible voice that some great scene of nature was before us. This basin was the furthest extent of our ascent up the river Corentyn in

impeded its course: but the most splendid object was a cascade on the opposite side of the chasm. The rocks, over which the water fell, were clothed with a species of Lacis, a water-plant, the pendulous branches of which

seem to empower the viewer and transport them to the magnificent, lush tropical landscape. The book allows readers to get a clear visual sense of these landmark sites, their geographical coordinates and position on the map.

The ‘River Corentyn’

A section of the book, which is an interesting read, is Schomburgk’s account of “The Great Cataracts of the River Corentyn”, now spelt ‘Corentyne’. Below is Schomburgk’s narrative on the area:

“The river Corentyn

boats; for the Caribs, who formed our crew, refused to go further…

I followed a party of Indians who appeared acquainted with this place, and after some labour and wading, reached a branch of the river which divided itself into two channels. The western branch formed a fall, and the opening prospect on reaching its head was indeed beautiful; the water rushed, at an angle of sixty degrees, into a valley formed by gigantic piles of rocks; at our feet foamed the turbulent water, dashing its spray against the rocks that

were often five and six feet long, and the whole resembled a rich carpet: the various tints of green, the strong contrast of its flowers, and the foam of the water which rushed over it, made the scene exceedingly beautiful. We estimated the height of the fall at twenty-five feet, and that, on the top of which we stood, at thirty feet; they are almost opposite to each other, but a third, more voluminous, is formed by three channels of the river uniting at the head of the cataract, and at their junction, their further progress being observed by a huge block of granite, the water forces a passage for itself, and thence precipitates head long into a chasm full forty feet below. A large rock stands out in relief, and has been fancifully compared by the Indians to a thigh-bone and from this resemblance it has received the name Wotetotobo.

The westernmost cataract is on a grander scale. Some of our party having visited it, and being quite enthusiastic

in its description, we resolved to proceed thither; and after climbing over and crawling round numerous blocks of granite, we stood at the head of the largest fall I had before seen in Guiana. The huge mass of water, and the velocity with which it precipitates itself over the ledge of rocks to a depth of upwards of thirty perpendicular feet, causes the spray to form the cloud we had observed. I stood surprised – the sight of the foaming waters below, the unceasing noise of the cataract, which made every attempt fruitless to communicate my feelings to my companions, rendered the impression of this scene powerful almost to oppression. I became giddy, and retired quickly to prevent myself

from joining the dance of the whirling, white-crested billows. I have stood in much more perilous situations without ever feeling the slightest sensation of vertigo, and I ascribe it in the present instance to those masses of water unceasingly rolling in the abyss below, which seemed to urge me to follow them, a feeling which the same sort of scene had likewise communicated to my companion Mr. Reiss. I was anxious to see the fall from below and as we could not reach it in any other way, we had to climb piles of rocks, or to seek a path across chasms, the trunk of a fallen tree serving us frequently as a bridge, while at other times we let ourselves down to the next ledge

of rocks by means of lianas. Under our feet we heard the rolling of the streams, which forced a way through summer shower, and the constant moisture thus produced, covered rocks and trunks of trees with a luxuriant vegetation…Before I reached the foot of the fall I was wet as if I had been in heavy rain, but the view from that situation richly recompensed me for this trifling inconvenience…

The Indians named this cataract Wanarewono-tobo; we called it after General Sir James Carmichael Smyth, the late much lamented Governor of British Guiana, who always took the liveliest interest in these exploring expeditions, and whose kindness and attention, during the time he presided over the colony as representative of his Sovereign, have been registered with gratitude in my heart. On the eastern cataract which I have described, we bestowed the name Sir John Barrow, President of the Geographical Society of London.” Close to 200 years later, Schomburgk’s book “Views in the Interior of Guiana” remains significant to all Guyanese. For more information on the publication by Sir Robert Schomburgk, call National Archives of Guyana on 226-3852. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

This week's Crossword

This

week's Puzzle

One love…

…in Brooklyn

African Guyanese ended up in Brooklyn because of historical reasons: that’s where the other West Indians who preceded them settled.

For reasons no one’s been able to explain up to now, when the Indian Guyanese tidal wave of immigration landed on American shores, they all washed up in Queens.

And if these house-proud, Johnnies-come-lately to the American Dream think they’re the first ones who cleaned up neighborhoods and brought them back from the precipice, they ought to read the story of Prospect Park and other Brooklyn “hoods”. Black West Indians’ been there, done that!

But while the two Boroughs actually about each other – they’re literally worlds apart in the American popular imagination. And from what we saw at the APNU/AFC victory rally, looks like the two sets of Guyanese in New York are studiously following in that tradition, where “the twain shall never meet”.

One can blame the political centrifugal forces that’re unleashed at election time for keeping the groups apart at the local celebrations – like at the stadium.

But what’s the excuse in the land of the free and the home of the brave? Wasn’t even winter when snow can be an excuse. When your Eyewitness looked at the parade, he was challenged (and defeated) to find any evidence of the “unity” that’s being trumpeted at home.

The Minister of the Presidency was obviously so struck with the same dissonant vision that he felt compelled to say he’ll have to mosey down over to Queens to check out the brothers in that neck of the woods.

There’s been all sorts of speculation why the President didn’t show up at the parade even though he’d been slated to. Some say he didn’t like the folks who bought his ticket. Others claim he actually went for a medical check-up since all the carryings on at his age might’ve worn him down.

But he didn’t looked bushed when he handed over the baton to Nagamootoo at the airport, so this Eyewitness will nix that theory.

Then there’s the claim that he actually went down to Washington to be briefed as to what’s actually going down with the Venezuelans and the oil and decree and all that. After Wikileaks you just can’t have too much traffic over the internet, can you?

But your Eyewitness will scratch that speculation also. He prefers to always go with the simpler explanation.

When the President realized that all those contributors to the coalition war chest from Queens hadn’t shown up in Brooklyn, he had to meet them. That’s all.

While love’s OK…it doesn’t make the world go around. Especially the political world.

…(temporarily) in Enmore

Did you realize the PNC built the Enmore Martyrs’ Monument? Yes!! During a temporary lull in the long running feud with its arch rival –the PPP. In 1976, the PPP had supported the PNC’s nationalization of the sugar industry and there was probably a warm glow still in the air.

The PNC, for its part, had finally recognized GAWU as the bargaining agent for sugar workers. All was well and bonhomie reigned on June 16, 1977 when the Monument, designed by Dennis Williams, was unveiled.

However all hell broke loose a couple of months later when GAWU called what became the longest strike in the history of the country – 135 days.

What happened? Well the union said the government reneged on profit sharing they’d won after great struggle – just because profits had jumped sky high. The government said the strike was political because they’d rejected a National Front Government with the PPP.

And soldiers, including a young David Granger, had to cut cane! One love gone!

…not in Aussie cricket

So the Aussies rolled over the West Indies like a groundsman doing his job on the grass at Lords.

Could Chanderpaul’ve passed Brian Charles?

We’ll never know, will we?

‘Bridging the Gap’, an exclusive fashion event by designer Sonia Noel, was recently launched in the U.S. with much pageantry.

The event, which was launched in celebration of CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month (June 2015), is testimony of Noel’s passion to display local and regional fashion talents to the world.

The event features designers from the French, Dutch and English-speaking Caribbean to the world.

This week, Guyana Times Sunday Magazine presents fashionable pieces from designers participating in the event.

Robert Young is the founder and principal designer of the fashion house The Cloth, which has been a staple

of the Trinidadian fashion scene since 1986. Robert’s work embodies elements of Caribbean folk traditions, the spirit of revolution existing in the region and an interest in restoration of the social ecology and integration of community for public change. Between Heaven and Hudson is a lifestyle brand founded in 2013 by Niya Savage, Shari Cargill, and Geneve Powell. The founders grew up together in a small town within the Hudson Valley of New York. After college, the trio sought out to discover a brand that would offer an experience through service and product.

For more information on the event, call 226-3099 or email soniaenoel@gmail.com

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

According to the historical website silvertorch.com, during colonial times, “company path” was the name given to a road used by the propertied class as an access road from the river to their lands.

It is said too that company paths were “strips of common land between two plantations”, also known as “dams”.

In Georgetown, the company path extended from the side of the

Demerara River along the path on which the Bank of Guyana was built and eastwards beyond the Avenue of the Republic. Itledto plantation La Bourgade (now known as Cummingsburg).

Inderjeet Beharry,

in a presentation to Heritage Lodge at the Scarborough Masonic Temple, Canada on Jan 29, 2005, stated that the first and oldest Masonic buildingin Guyana is situated at Company Path.

It is said to have been in use certainly by 1816. The building was repaired in 1856 and, thoughthe tower was dismantled in the 1950s, retained most of its renovated structure today.

In 1870, the entrance to St. George’s Cathedral, along with the entire width of Company Path was handed over by government to the Mayor and Town Council.

The cathedral, its third and last construction, was completed in 1899. It was built as early as 1810, not far from its present location but grew too small for its congregation.

The second structure

was completed in 1842 and became the first cathedral. However, structural faults rendered the building dangerous and it was dismantled.

The Company Path Gardens, located between Church Street and North Road, was established in 1908 whenpart of the land was enclosed by an iron rail and planted as a garden.

Today, several wellknown edifices and structures have also been built along Company Path.

Within the Company Path Gardens stands the Non-Aligned Monument. It commemorates the 1972 Conference of Foreign Ministers of Non-Aligned Countries held in Guyana August 8-11 of that same year.

The Bank of Guyana building, now located in what was once company path, wascompleted Oct 11, 1965 and was official-

ly opened Oct15, 1965 to serve the then soon-to-be independent Guyana.

The Guyana National Museum is today located on Company Path after a short history of disasters that led to loss of priceless documentation and exhibits in various locations in the city. Eventually, a new collection was assembled in 1946 and permanently housed at its current North Street, Company Path location from July 1951.

According to the National Trust of Guyana, within the museum’s compound lies the remains of the Company Path well and lily pond, said to have been constructed with the bricks of the first British fort to be constructed at the mouth of the Demerara River, Fort William Frederick. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Sand Creek is an Amerindian village located in stunning natural settings in the savannahs, under the shadow of the Kanuku Mountains, with a large river winding around the community.

Only a few miles from the mountainous Guyana rainforest environment, Sand Creek itself is set within a vast expanse of grassy and sandy savannah. As the name indicates, this village is quite sandy but also very green and lush.

Located in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region, Region Nine, Sand Creek is just four hours away from Lethem.(Photos by Suresh V. Kandaswamy; www.sureshvk.com)

The Shaping of guyaneSe LiTeraTure

By PetamBer Persaud

The theme of the most recent edition of The Guyana Annual Magazine is “the passage of time and anniversaries”. This 2014-2015 issue of the magazine is dedicated to A. J. Seymour, whose birth centenary (Jan 12, 2014), was celebrated by the National Library with a breath-taking production of ‘See More Poetry’ at the Theatre Guild Playhouse.

Other activities commemorating the occasion includedmounting aplaque on the house where he lived at 23 North Road, Bourda, and finally, the induction of the writer into the National Library Hall of Fame for the Literary Arts.

With reference to the life and work of Seymour, there is information on the books he wrote like “Growing up in Guyana”; publications he edited like Kyk-over-Al, and anthologies he published like “Treasury of Guyanese Poetry”.There are also tributes by Ian McDonald, Seymour’s daughter, Joan, and Seymour’s niece, Jacqueline de Weever, all first-hand encounters with the writer.

Poet, literary critic, radio programmer/broadcaster, anthologist, ‘nativist publisher’ and cultural historian, A. J. Seymour was born Jan 12, 1914 and grew up in

Georgetown but spent many delightful August school holidays in New Amsterdam, in the neighbourhood of N. E. Cameron, Jan Carew, Wilson Harris, the Abbensetts and Edgar Mittelholzer. Seymour died Dec 25, 1989.

This Guyana Annual Magazine issue also highlights the anniversaries of important dates, events and organizations in our history. These include the 1823Demerara Revolt, the 1838 Emancipation and the start of indentureship, the centenary of aviation in Guyana, the centenary of the Everest Cricket Club, the centenary of the Rose Hall Massacre, anniversary of the University of Guyana, anniversary of the Theatre Guild, and the 50th anniversary of Michael Ford Bookstore.

The features in this issue include the proverbs of Guyana according to Alan Fenty; photography and copyright by Michael Lam;From Newfoundland to Guyana by Stephanie McKenzie, an article tracing the trade of salt fish for rum and molasses between the West Indies/Guyana and Newfoundland/Labrador.

There is also tribute Sheila King titled Sheila – King of Children’sLiterature. King is a longstanding contributor of children literature to the magazine and is Guyana’s oldest living writer.

In addition to its objective of making space available for emerging writers of poetry and short fiction, the magazine has provided material for young adults and has highlighted the writings of young writers.

Founded in December 1915 bearing the title, Chronicle Christmas Annual, the magazine has outlived many other such publications, undergoing numerous modifications to meet the needs of its readership and to carry out its mandate, which is to preserve our identity and cultural integrity.

The most noticeable change to the book over the years was its name; begun

as the Chronicle Christmas Annual, it was renamed the Guyana Christmas Annual and, in the new millennium, it was labelled The Guyana Annual, becoming a truly national magazine instead of a year-end, Christmas-oriented publication.

The main rival of ‘The Annual’ was The Christmas Tide, which folded in 1950. The Christmas Tide was produced by the Argosy newspaper. The Caribia, produced by B. G. Lithographic, didn’t survive for very long.

However, we cannot diminish the significant contribution these magazines made to Guyanese literature, where a

nation needs a literature for self-identity, self-expression and self-propagation.

More importantly, those magazines served to preserve our literary heritage. It is amazing the quality of writing and quantity of information to be found in their pages, notwithstanding, the authors of those pieces who were or who eventually became prominent members of society.

The magazine is now published by Guyenterprise Ltd., with support from Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh and corporate sponsors without whose help the publication would fold like so many others.

Dr Singh resuscitated the magazine in 1998 when he discovered that such a fun source of family entertainment and education had gone dormant for a few years. The magazine is now available from Guyenterprise at Lance Gibbs Drive and Irving Street, Queenstown.

Yours truly, Petamber Persaud, in my editorial, closed with the following thought: “time spent reminiscing [with ‘The Annual’] is time redeemed.”

A centenary souvenir edition is under production.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

Shafted…

…or not?

There’s quite a torrid discussion going on (going down?) about whether Moses Nagamootoo and the AFC have been shafted out of the promises laid out in the “Cummingsburg Accord”.

The major concern when the discussions on a “unity slate” opened up, were graphically stated by AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan: his party would become “dead meat” if that were to occur.

The AFC would be seen by its support base as “selling out” to the PNC/APNU because it’s being “swallowed up” and spit out by the larger party. To address this concern when he gave in to the negotiations, Ramjattan insisted the coalition’s Presidential candidate be from the AFC in the person of Moses Nagamootoo.

The signal he was sending to assuage his supporters’ concerns was that with the powerful Guyanese Presidency in their hands, the AFC would be able to stave off being neutered.

When the agreement was announced after a month of negotiations, it was called an “Accord” – usually given to solemn agreements between countries or established entities – to denote its binding import. The agreement conceded the Presidential candidacy to David Granger but taking into cognisance the fears of the AFC as articulated by Ramjattan, specified the following clauses:

“The President will delegate the following responsibilities to the Prime Minister:

1. Domestic national affairs and chairing Cabinet;

2. Recommending ministerial appointments and providing the organizational structures of ministries for the approval of the President;

3. Appointment of heads of agencies and nonconstitutional commissions with the required and agreed democratic mechanisms of consultation and appoint.”

When the Accord was announced at the Georgetown Club, reporters immediately pointed out the AFC’s evident retreat. But Ramjattan claimed: “In view of the fact that there has been a tremendous climb as to the powers of the Prime Minister, we feel that it was an acceptable proposal.”

When asked about the Constitution tasking the President with the chairing of Cabinet, Granger replied conclusively that while the Constitution gave the President that “prerogative”, he could “delegate” it to his PM.

And it’s the nonchalant manner in which the present breaking of the Accord has been treated by Nagamootoo and Ramjattan – who dismiss Granger’s chairing of Cabinet meetings is “no big thing” – that’s troubling their supporters and other well-meaning Guyanese.

Why did they negotiate it, then? These folks voted for the AFC because of what they were promised.

For their leaders to now say, “Ooops! We have to review the Accord”, is to insult their intelligence. There was no “shafting”, just dissembling.

The manoeuvre confirms the common Guyanese view that in Guyana, politics is too often practiced as “politricks”.

…or for whom the bell tolls?

When old John Donne posed the question back in the 16th century, he was far ahead of his time to apprehend that we’re all interconnected. The funeral bells signalling that someone in the community had passed away, in a sense, tolled for all of us.

He, of course, also went on to remind us in the same poem that “no man is an island”.

Ernest Hemingway chose the phrase for his book on the Spanish Civil War when many intellectuals of conscience placed their lives on the line because they believe that fascism must be fought to secure a democratic future.

And after it took WWII to do away with fascism, Pastor Martin Niemöller had to remind us: “First they came for the Jews/and I did not speak out/because I was not a Jew.”

The clincher, was the denouement: “Then they came for me/and there was no one left to speak out for me.”

Let’s remember “for whom the bell tolls” as the firings of “the PPP/C” people inexorably proceed without comment from the chatterati.

…at NGSA

So once again we ask, “Whither the 10,000 kids that couldn’t pass English or Maths?” Will they get remedial classes before they enter high school? NGSA is an ASSESSMENT, no?

Haiti promises “biggest, best” ever Carifesta

Under the theme “Our Roots, Our Culture, Our Common Future,” the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) is set to be held from August 21-30, in Haiti, and according to a top Haitian official, his country and its people are preparing to make this celebration one of the biggest and best there ever was.

Ambassador of the host country, Peterson Noel, at a press conference held on Tuesday stated that his country is fervently dedicated to hosting this year’s event. He stated that the Government has managed to raise US$7 million and members of the Private Sector are graciously willing to contribute to make this event spectacular. He stated that the Haitian

Government is very enthusiastic about the celebrations and noted that though the country is still in recovery after the 2010 earthquake that caused major tragedy to its people, they are all gradually coming around. He also welcomes the interests from other Caribbean countries on ways to better the experience and their dedication for regional integration.

The Ambassador mentioned that the celebrations will take place in five different cities over the two-week period in Haiti. These cities each represent certain popularity within the country or holds significant historical representation. He mentioned knowing that travelling within regions can be expensive and was pleased to announce that

the Haitian Tourism Ministry and the Finance Ministry are making arrangement with airlines such as Insel Air and Liat to work out a special price arrangement for CARIFESTA participants.

Head of the Culture Department of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Dr Hilary Browne, noted that this year’s celebration in Haiti

is the country’s reintegration into the Caribbean Community. She also stated that CARIFESTA is now being restructured as it is now celebrated every two years instead of four years, so that it can play a greater catalytic role in stimulating the Region’s cultural and creative industries.

Browne said that the new CARIFESTA model that is being pursued seeks to ensure that the celebration is more dynamic, economically viable and meets the expectations of the regional and international community.

She also pointed out that the committee has recognised that the festival needs to be received and appreciated by a much wider audiences and urged media operatives to play their part.

Opposition leader says Budget is pure torture for Barbadians

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados –Opposition Leader Mia Mottley on Tuesday declared that the Budget delivered by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler was nothing short of torture for Barbadians and the current administration was not fit to lead.

In her rebuttal to the presentation Sinckler delivered on Monday evening, Mottley said

it outlined no strategy to encourage growth, no initiatives to create new jobs, no relief for the most vulnerable, and Barbadians were being punished by the Freundel Stuart administration’s own failure to “get it right”.

She said the imposition of BDS$200 million (US$100 million) in taxes on citizens comes at a time when “people are not in a state to accom-

modate any further extraction from their pockets” and was done “with a spirit of callousness”.

Crying shame on Sinckler for forcing those covered by the Profession, Trade and Business Registration Act to produce a valid tax clearance certificate in order to renew their licences and therefore do business, Mottley continued: “This minister glories in the fact

that if anybody owes any back taxes they will not be allowed to work in Barbados to pay off any back taxes in the absence of a tax clearance certificate.”

She added that while the minister was patting himself on the back for what he claimed were improvements in the economy, his other hand was “deep in your pocket taking out money by stealth”.

‘Let your anger give birth to your miracle’ Marcia Shury pens trials and triumphs of hearing loss

The book “Silent Hearer” chronicles the story of Marcia S. Shury as her happy childhood was turned upside down by the onset of sudden partial hearing loss. The book de-

stacles and frustrations she encountered in school, in her career and relationships as she resolved to live a normal life.

Shury is Guyanaborn, but spent a large

Bermuda. A voracious reader, she began writing poetry and prose at just 11 years old. Although examined by several specialists in their field of ear, nose and throat over the years, it has never been conclusively stated that she is deaf.

“The first moment that I realized that something was wrong was when I could no longer hear my elementary school teacher in class,” Shury shared. “She would be speaking and I had no clue as to what she was saying.”

From Queenstown, Essequibo, although most of her childhood life was spent in James Street, Albouystown, Shury first attended the-then Collin Morris Nursery School on Smyth Street, then went on to St. Philips Primary and later Dolphin Primary, where she wrote ‘Common Entrance’ and gained a place at St. Rose’s High School.

From St. Rose’s High, Shury enrolled at Guyana Technical Institute and left there with a diploma in commerce. She decided to enter the workforce and

not go onward to university because of her hearing issues and the many challenges she was already facing.

“I just did not want to endure any more years of lecturers and borrowing notes in order to make it through the educational system,” she disclosed.

Shury is now a selftaught website designer and graphic artist, and the owner of Kingdom Alliance Management Consultants, which was birthed from her original company SoulStriders. The main purpose of the company is to help business owners worldwide find avenues to build and grow their businesses from the ground up. Shury currently does freelance advertising and marketing consultant jobs for clients in Bermuda.

“Growing up as a hearing challenged person was tough, but I told myself that if anyone who can hear 100 per cent can do something, I can and I will do it better; and I knew I couldn’t be alone. Many persons have asked me how come I remain so strong in the midst of so many chal-

lenges. I would laugh and say when life gives me lemons I take some sugar and make lemonade and drink it,” Shury declared.

In 2001 Shury felt it was time to share her story, but it was too painful to recount certain events so she shelved it with just a few pages written.

Then in 2012, she started to write short pieces about various trials and her triumphs over them, but never knew how or where to start writing her personal story again until one Sunday in church her pastor said to her, “Let

your anger give birth to your miracle.”

In the subsequent two hours of his sermon, “Silent Hearer” was born and completed in less than three months; entirely handwritten from start to finish.

“Silent Hearer” is currently available via Tate Publishing in the paperback and downloadable e-book format.

Shury’s goals are to first and foremost hit the bestseller list, and to publish an additional four books; two of which have already been completed and the other two are works-in-progress. She also wants to continue to inspire people through her writing.

The author’s advice to young women/girls and anyone who is afflicted with hearing loss is to never give up on themselves or their dreams no matter what challenges they face in life. When not working or writing, Shury enjoys taking nature walks or jogging through the trails of Bermuda where she currently resides with her daughter Fidelia. (http://guyanesegirlsrock.com)

President's scholarship scheme to be revamped

The new administration is reviewing the President's Scholarship Award Programme due to several "issues" surrounding its functioning, says Minister of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon.

In addition to looking at opportunities for young Guyanese scholarships abroad, the Education Minister, he said, has been tasked with reviewing the programme to incorporate increased opportunities for Guyanese at home to study at the University of Guyana (UG) on scholarships.

The Ministry of Public Service, whose operations have now been absorbed by the Ministry of the Presidency, had been running a programme where persons were afforded scholarships to study at UG, and were given jobs upon graduating.

These developments

were shared with members of the press by Harmon during his postCabinet briefing this week.

In 2014, the former administration offered the top CXC performers opportunities to study in China, Cuba, or in Guyana at the University of Guyana (UG) though these students were initially promised the opportunity to study at any university they would choose. Harmon said that the

parents of all the offerees rejected the scholarships, and recalled that one girl even went public.

Former Queens College student, Elisa Hamilton, topped the country last year by attaining 19 Grade Ones ad 1 Grade Two in the CSEC examinations. Pursuant to the former administration's promise, she opted to pursue studies in medicine at the University of Yale in the United States of America. Suffice to say, the offer of pursuing studies in Cuba, China or at UG would have been more than disappointing.

The former administration had suggested that these offers were the result of insufficient funds which resulted from the fact that there is no budget has been passed for 2015.

Harmon though, says that "Cabinet has taken the position that the

fact that a commitment was given (the new administration) would honor the obligation to these awardees up to the year 2015. Thereafter, Cabinet has mandated the Education Minister to examine the programme carefully and come up with firm recommendations."

Harmon also said that Cabinet gave "guidance to the Minister of education that in looking at conditions for awards that he also considers scholarships for people in Guyana at the University of Guyana (UG)."

The President's Scholarship Award Programme commenced in 2012. It was intended to avail scholarships to the most exemplary performers in both the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificates (CSEC) Examination.

Stringer rejects South Ozone juvenile house contract

South Ozone Park residents and members of the South Ozone Park Civic Association West on Tuesday erupted with applause when they heard the news that city Comptroller Scott Stringer rejected the con-

Crossings…

…over border

This border issue with Venezuela is clearly heating up. Why? Or perhaps more pertinently, “Why at this time?” Well, there’s clearly good, old Exxon striking oil off the Essequibo Coast and maybe the Venezuelans are suffering from an attack of the green-eyed monster?

But Venezuela’s practically sloshing around over the largest oil deposits in the world…what’s a billion barrel more or less to them?

Another suggestion is that it might be that it’s Exxon that’s going to benefit from the old strike –and relations between Exxon and Venezuela haven’t been exactly hunky-dory of late.

After a court battle, our cash-strapped neighbour had to shell out almost US$2 billion to the oil giant last year. And as we know these lawyers can really egg on clients in these cases. More fees for these bottom-feeders.

Then, of course, there’s the theory that the US wants to take out the pesky Maduro and his lefties so that access to the aforementioned oil deposits could be a little more assured in the hands of the friendlier Venezuelan Opposition.

So that the Exxon drilling’s merely a stalking horse for the US decades-long effort to bring back Venezuela into it’s orbit. In this scenario, the US, a la the Clint Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” persona, is daring Maduro, “Make my day!!”

Allied to this theory is the other one which points out that Maduro’s being pressured internally by the aforementioned US-friendly Opposition that he’s not only “soft” on Guyana but actually colluding with us to give away Venezuela’s “birthright”.

tract for a proposed juvenile detention center on a residential block in the community.

A spokesman for the Comptroller said the contract was sent back to the city Administration for Children's Services (ACS) on Friday, June 12, due to "inconsistencies in the contract."

Councilman Ruben Wills (D-South Jamaica), who announced the news to the civic at their meeting on Tuesday, called Stringer's move "a huge step" in the community's fight against the facility that seeks to hold 18 juvenile offenders at 133-23 127 St.

"I think that a lot of the work the community has put into this is finally paying off and I think that the city is finally listening," Wills said.

Wills has been at the forefront of the fight against the placement of the center, created under the state's "Close to Home" program.

An attorney at the councilman's office is representing the civic and three residents in a pending lawsuit seeking to block the placement of the facility.

Anthony Gellineau, the civic president, said he spoke with Stringer at a Community Board 10 meeting in February. Stringer had made a surprise visit to the panel back then. "He assured me he'd look into it," said Gellineau, a CB 10 member.

Meaning, of course, our Essequibo. In this local version of the “Great Game” the US is playing both sides against the middle – which is what all big powers will do. Remember the old adage… There are no permanent enemies or friends – just permanent interests.

So what do we do? Just sit back and be tossed back and forth like a bargaining chip? This Eyewitness does believe that the new government’s doing the right thing to ask the UN Secretary General that the matter be passed on to the ICJ for a full and final Judicial Settlement.

The Geneva Agreement has “judicial settlement” as one of options (in addition to his present, exhausted “Good Offices”) he can chose.

But there’s a point that Guyanese need to remember. Guyana’s position – unlike Venezuela’s – is that the only matter is whether there was procedural fraud in the Arbitral Award of 1899. This is the “controversy” the Venezuelans introduced .

We have never agreed – nor should ever agree – to reopen the substantive aspects of the Arbitral Award.

…on NGSA

Our esteemed Minister of Education announced he’ll “see” the top 1% of the latest NGSA batch. “See” as in granting an audience to perchance give the Queens College bound lucky devils a pep talk or something.

Now we know the Minister means well…and as a former 1-percenter he’s sure to be full of advice to impart to those tabula rasas.

But with over 15,000 cherubs taking the NGSA, shouldn’t he be also meeting with the BOTTOM one per cent?? Let’s face the truth. Those kids heading to Queens already have it “made in the shade”.

Their worst challenge will be whether they want to take lessons in EVERY subject – or cherry pick a few. Most of the bottom one per cent on the other hand are most likely to become school dropouts –sooner than later.

And creating problems for a whole lot of government agencies – starting from school welfare and ending, almost inevitably, with the Guyana Police Force and Prison Service.

…cross dressers?

The British High Commish was all decked out in his Scottish skirt on the occasion of his Queen’s birthday. The Police didn’t arrest him for “cross dressing” because he called it a “kilt”. So what happens if those queens around St George’s Cathedral say they’re also wearing “kilts”?? Still bun dem?

New Maths

Satiricus was always sulky when the NGSA scores came out. Just as he’d been back in the day when it was called the “Common Entrance”. His days. Excepting that there was absolutely nothing “common” about the tests.

Satiricus always whined to his parents about why he had to learn about things like “as white as snow” when he’d never ever seen snow. How come he couldn’t say “as white as soursop inside”?

But his kids had told him that nowadays they were teaching more local stuff in English and sure enough his last son (who looked just like his dear old Dad!) had gotten into a “town school”, thank you.

The boy was BRIGHT: he was studying on his computer all day and night. His wife didn’t know what she was talking when she accused the angel that he was playing games on the computer! How the heck could you play cricket on a computer?

But there was that Maths that use to scare the young Satiricus more than horror movies. You might wet yourself at horror movies, but at least you didn’t get whipped on the behind like in Maths.

Satiricus spent more time as a kid plotting ways to get rid of Mrs Gravesande, his Maths teacher, than actually learning to add and subtract. Just thinking about it again made Satiricus’ blood boil.

But he felt like things were changing and his son getting into a town school proved that. The boy told him they were introducing “new Maths” which was based on real world things that actually existed in Guyana. Like in English.

Satiricus was pleased because it was the kind of Maths he always did as a kid – but they always told him his answers were wrong. Like when Mrs Gravesande asked him if you add one cow to another cow how may would you get?

How could the answer “three” be wrong? At their farm two cows meant a cow and a bull and if you add them they get a calf. It made no sense to add two cows.

Anyhow since the new government came in, he saw in action the new Maths his son was talking about.

Take the 40 per cent Ministers the KFC was supposed to get. If there were 28 Ministers, that would mean 11, no? No! Because the 28 Minister were not all Ministers! 13 of them were JUNIOR ministers, which meant they were not Ministers! That made sense to Satiricus. It was the kind of answer he used to give in school.

The new Maths answer that Satiricus liked best was the answer to the question, “If the coalition wins 33 seats to Parliament, how many seats do they get in Parliament?”

33?? Wrong!! The answer is 36…Three are “technocrats”!

Satiricus just loved this new Maths! It was Guyanese Maths! Quick now: If you go on a TIP raid and arrest 20 girls, how many TIP arrests did you make?

Ask Minister Simona “I is” Broomes!

St. Kitts PM: More transparency needed in region’s Citizenship by Investment Programme

BASSETERRE, St.

Kitts – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris says if the Caribbean’s Citizenship by Investment Programme is going to be successful and survive, it will need greater transparency and integrity.

Addressing the inaugural two-day Caribbean Region Citizenship by Investment Programme meeting which began on Tuesday, he said the industry is “remarkably rewarding” and posed to grow and benefit many, but “opportunity and responsibility must be partners in this enterprise”.

“We need greater transparency, good corporate governance, efficiency, integrity and exclusivity,” he said.

“We have to invest the time, energy and resources necessary to restore confidence locally and trust internationally in our programme. I am a definite supporter of this programme, and I will not apologize because I know its poten-

KINGSTON, Jamaica - We just can’t afford it! That’s the message Minister of Finance Dr. Peter Phillips sent to public sector workers who are demanding a pay increase higher than the seven per cent hike being offered by government.

He urged them to see the wider picture, cautioning that a bigger pay hike would have a negative impact on Jamaica’s economic reform programme which is being undertaken with assistance from the International Monetary Fund.

“There are still many of us who do not make the link between the reduction of the debt and the public sector wage bill, and the ability of the government to provide the social services and capital investments which will allow the country to progress, and improve the quality of life of all Jamaicans. As a result, some continue to express the view that we should seek to borrow more money in order to pay wage increases,” he said in an address to the nation Tuesday night.

“What the government has offered in the wage negotiations is

tial for transformative development, for empowering our people and supporting our economic resilience and prosperity agenda.”

The Citizenship by Investment Programme allows foreigners to qualify for citizenship by investing a minimum amount of money in a country – with amounts varying depending on the country offering it.

These programmes have come under scrutiny, with some critics suggesting that they not only undermine the integrity of national passports but have security risks.

Jamaica government says it can’t afford bigger public sector pay hike

what we can afford at this time. While we appreciate the demand for a higher rate of wage increases, at this time we simply cannot afford it.”

Last year, the government spent 31 cents out of every dollar it earned to pay public sector wages and salaries, as a result of meeting payments for all outstanding wage agreements. That was 10 cents more than five years ago.

Sofia Vergara, Joe Manganiello celebrate first anniversary

“Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara celebrated the first anniversary of being together with her fiance Joe Manganiello.

The 42-year-old actress took to Instagram to mark their anniversary by sharing a photo of the couple, reported Ace Showbiz.

In the photo, Vergara donned a yellow printed dress while Manganiello sported a printed black shirt.

The “Hot Pursuit” actress wrapped her hands on her beau shoulder, while the “Magic Mike XXL” actor wrapped his hands on her waist.

“Happy 1st

Anniversary love of my life!!! Never been so happy!!#lucky @joemanganiello,” she wrote along with heart emojis.

Just last week, Vergara revealed that her wedding to Manganiello would happen soon.

Vergara and

Christian Bale to star in ‘The Promise’

Hollywood star Christian Bale will star in historical romance “The Promise” to be directed by “Hotel Rwanda” director Terry George.

The film, set in the last days of the Ottoman Empire, centers on the relationships between Michael (Isaac), a brilliant medical student; the beautiful and sophisticated Ana; and Chris (Bale), who is a renowned American journalist

Manganiello, who got engaged on Christmas Day in 2014, celebrated their engagement with family and friends at the Soho House in West Hollywood in early May.

At that time, Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a toast to the couple.

(Indian Express)

Kristen Stewart’s mother denies daughter’s dating rumours

Kristen Stewart‘s mother Jules has denied a story published by a British celebrity gossip site that she confirmed her daughter was in a relationship with her personal assistant Alicia Cargile.

Jules said she never discussed her daughter’s love life during the Mirror interview with Sharon Feinstein, reported Us magazine.

“I spoke to Sharon Feinstein about my film K-11 that has been put on display in the Hollywood Museum. It’s currently there under the LGBT banner on the third floor.

“She also asked me about my views on gay rights, which I was happy to express. Then we talked briefly about the fundraiser I am hosting for TheWolfConnection. org. Never ever did we discuss Kristen!,” she said.

After noting that she is a “huge supporter of gay rights,” she was asked if she knew Alicia whom the site claimed is Kristen’s girlfriend.

“I said, ‘Yes, she’s a lovely girl,'” Jules recalled.

Previously, the Mirror reported that Jules “has given her blessing” to Kristen and Alicia’s alleged romance which began two years after her split from Robert Pattinson.

However, Sharon tweeted that she stood by her story and planned on releasing an audio from the interview with Jules. (Indian Express)

Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer dance at Gay Pride Parade

The Los Angeles Gay Pride parade got a dose of “Magic Mike” stars Channing Tatum and Matthew Bomer. The actors rode the moviethemed float in West Hollywood and danced to Ginuwine’s hit “Pony” to support the event and

promote “Magic Mike XXL” which is due July 1, reported Ace Showbiz. Both the actors dressed casually in white t-shirts and shorts. Tatum completed his look with a rainbow bandana and handband. They were joined by Adam Rodriguez and

several shirtless men, who showed off some dance moves on the stage. Last week, Tatum, 35, made a surprise appearance at a racy Las Vegas show at Caesars Palace and showed off his “Magic Mike” moves. (Indian Express)

based in Paris, said The Hollywood Reporter.

Bale, 41, along with rest of the cast will shoot in Southern Europe including Portugal and the Canary Islands. Mike Medavoy, Eric Esrailian, Ralph Winter and William Horberg are on board as producers. The “Batman” triology star was last seen in “Exodus: Gods and Kings”. His upcoming films include Terrence Malick’s “Knight of Cups”, “The Big Short” with Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling and Malick’s “Weightless”. (Indian Express)

Actress Lindsay Lohan says she is ready to move past her legal troubles and start a family.

The 28-year-old star, who was officially taken off probation related to a 2012 reckless driving case last month, said she is now looking to her future and wants to focus on a family.

“I want kids. I want to settle down with some-

“Jurassic World” star Chris Pratt credits his successful career to God’s blessings and his fate.

The 35-year-old star, who is married to actress Anna Faris, with whom he has a two-year-old son, Jack, has attributed much of his career success to events that are outside of his control.

Asked whether his recent success feels like fate, Pratt said, “It does.

one. I want a family,” Lohan said in an interview to London’s Sunday Times.

The “Mean Girls” star is reportedly dating an Italian businessman called Mathia Milani, she, however, said she is “undecided” when asked if he was her “man.” Lohan turns 29 next month. (Indian Express)

I want to have kids: Lindsay Lohan I’m favoured by God: Chris Pratt

It feels just like that. I believe that it is. Things like that happen a lot. It feels like that happens a lot. I’m definitely very favoured by God and fate.

“But also I do a lot of stupid bits. I could pretty much do any movie and there’s a chance I’ve done some crap bit pertaining to it at some point.” (Indian Express)

Cameron Diaz, Benji Madden plan to shift from LA

Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz and her husband Benji Madden are reportedly planning to get “away from the daily grind”.

The 42-year-old actress tied the knot with the 36-year-old Good Charlotte rocker at her Beverly Hills home in January.

And it’s now claimed the couple are moving away from Los Angeles to a more rural part of California, reported

OK magazine.

“They’re ready for a change of pace and love the idea of raising their kids in a serene setting that’s still close enough to the city but far enough away from the daily grind,” a source said.

Apparently Madden and Diaz are looking at investing in a property around the Big Sur, Napa Valley or Ojai regions of California. (Indian Express)

Fergie, Josh Duhamel planning to adopt child

Celebrity couple Fergie and Josh Duhamel are in talks to adopt their second child.

The couple, who already have 22-month-old son Axl Jack together, are believed to be considering going down the adoption route for their second child, reported OK! magazine.

“They think it’s the right time to expand their family,” a source said.

Meanwhile, an insider previously claimed that 40-year-old Fergie’s

“obsession” with the gym was halting any plans for her and Duhamel to have a baby.

Even Duhamel has made no secret of the fact he wants a brother or sis-

ter for little Axl.

“We’ve got to be very strategic in our planning for it. But the plan was to always have at least two,” he said. (Indian Express)

Ishita Dutta talented and focussed: Ajay

Devgn

Actor Ajay Devgn, who is awaiting the release of his upcoming film “Drishyam”, says his costar Ishita Dutta is “talented and focussed”.

Ishita, who is making her Bollywood debut with the film, plays Ajay’s elder daughter. The actress was picked up for this film within two days of auditioning.

“Ishita is quite talented and focused. She has acted very well in ‘Drishyam’. I wish her all the best in her future endeavours,” Ajay said in a statement.

Speaking about her experience, Ishita, who is the younger sister of actress Tanushree Dutta, said: “I consider myself lucky to work with a National Award winning actor like Ajay

sir. As a newcomer, I’ve learnt a lot while working with him.”

Ajay’s only release in 2015 will witness him in an all-new avatar as Vijay Salgaonkar, a common man working as a cable operator who challenges the system when his family is threatened.

Tabu will be seen playing the role of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Meera Deshmukh in the film. A tough policewoman and known to be me-

Aticulous in her investigation, her prime suspect is Salgaonkar.

“Drishyam” also features Shriya Saran as Vijay’s wife along with the talented Rajat Kapoor.

A Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Panorama Studios Production, “Drishyam”, a Hindi remake of an eponymous Malayalam film, is directed by Nishikant Kamat and releases on July 31.

calls

ctress Parineeti Chopra is apparently missing her “Daawat-eIshq” co-star Aditya Roy Kapur, whom she considers a “cutie”.

The 26-year-old actress has shared a throwback image on photo-sharing website Instagram. The image features Parineeti and Aditya looking towards the camera and laughing.

“Throwback to my favourite! Miss this cutie :) #AdityaRoyKapur,” Parineeti tweeted.

On the big screen, Parineeti was last seen in the 2014 film “Kill Dil”. (Indian Express)

It’s a lovely phase to spend time with grandchildren: Amitabh Bachchan

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he is relishing the “lovely” phase of being able to spend time with his grandchildren.

Bachchan, who has three grandchildren — Aaradhya, Navya Naveli and Agstya, will be seen playing a superhero in the upcoming animated TV series “Astra Force”.

“When you are 73 these are the kinds of people you meet… You meet kids, they are the happiest persons. We pass the age of youth, study, university, girls, marriage, wife, children… Now is the age of grandchildren,” Bachchan told PTI.

“It is a lovely phase, a lot of people say the best phase of an individual’s life is when he spends time with grandchildren. I will endorse that… Therefore this (playing superhero ‘Astra’) fitted into my mind…,” he added.

In “Astra Force”, the “Piku” star plays a grandfather with great powers and strength.

“There are two children (in the show) who are twins and they are like

Shah Rukh Khan’s chemistry with Kajol ‘flows with such ease’ …in the picture shared by him

Apicture speaks a thousand words and some just don’t need any of them. What they need is a li’l music, or so says the picture posted by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Twitter.

Taken on the sets of Rohit Shetty’s ‘Dilwale’, the picture shows one of the most romantic and celebrated on-screen couples in the history of Indian cinema – Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol –in a candid conversation. True to what SRK captioned this picture – And it flows with such ease, the chemistry between the two superstars just flows and enchants.

SRK, who is in Bulgaria to shoot for upcoming film ‘Dilwale’

with one of his most compatible on-screen loves, Kajol, seems to be getting quite nostalgic as he keeps sharing pictures and collages with the actress.

Recently, only Shah Rukh Khan uploaded a collage of pictures from their big hits togeth-

er including ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham’ and ‘My Name is Khan’. “Some days it’s good to ponder over the journey…as you embark upon a new destination,” the actor captioned the picture. (Indian Express)

Taking grandson in my hand a moment of nostalgia: Dharmendra

Veteran actor Dharmendra says carrying his daughter Ahana’s newborn in his arms reminded him of the time he first took his own children in his hands.

29-year-old Ahana, one of the two children of Dharmendra with wife actress-MP Hema Malini,

my grandchildren. I love being in their company,” he said.

Aaradhya has yet not seen the picture of her grandfather as an animated hero.

“She has not seen yet… It is too early to show her,” he said.

Bachchan revealed that Aaradhya has her set of favourite cartoons, but he is not aware about them.

“I don’t know (about her favourite cartoon) as she goes so rapidly on IPad watching them that it is difficult to catch up. But it (superhero ‘Astra’ to be played by him) will be a great incentive for her to have her lunch, dinner, breakfast, because unless she sees something on television she won’t eat anything,” he said.

“It is becoming a universal practice with all kids. She likes to see all these cartoons and hopefully we will come soon with it (“Astra Force” series),” he said.

Whenever Aaradhya sees her grandfather on the big screen, she is happy about it. (Indian Express)

welcomed a baby boy on June 11 with her husband Vaibhav Vohra.

This the couple’s first child.

“Taking him (Ahana’s baby) in my hands it did remind me of the time when I had taken my children in my hands for the first time,” said Dharmendra, whose oth-

er child with Hema is actress Esha Deol, while actors Sunny and Bobby Deol are his children from first marriage.

The 79-year-old star said he just wants good energies around the baby.

“We are extremely happy. I can’t say who does he look like. I would say keep him in your prayers. He should lead a happy, healthy and prosperous life. We just want good wishes for him,” Dharmendra said.

When asked what name they have given to the newborn baby boy, the actor said, “We haven’t thought of it yet… There is still some time for it.”

(Indian Express)

I want to do complex stories now: Deepak Dobriyal

Deepak Dobriyal has emerged as a wizard of comedy with impeccable comic timing and sharp sense of humour, but the “Tanu Weds Manu Returns” actor says he’s not just a funny guy. He says he wants to explore “complex stories” too as he doesn’t want to fade away in the comic sphere.

The actor, whose character Pappi Singh from Aanand L. Rai’s directorial, has turned out to be quite an attraction, is also inclined towards film direction.

“I want to do something offbeat. I want to do complex stories, which have not been tried till now. It can be romantic, drama, based on relationships or on a real

life incident or a biopic. We have to do something different or else we will disappear in comedy,” Deepak told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

The actor also expounded over his oscillating interest towards the art of narrating tales through camera.

“I have one or two topics in mind. But I’m confused whether I should act in or direct them. This is the reason I have not come to a decision about them yet,” he said, adding that he “will direct offbeat films keeping Indian audience’s sensibilities in mind”.

The actor made his way into the heart of audience as a sweet and affable wingman guiding R. Madhavan’s love life

while finding his ladylove in the sequel of the film “Tanu Weds Manu”. It’s not only Kangana Ranaut or R. Madhavan who have come out as the stars of the film. Deepak too has left an imprint with his witty one-liners. The sudden surge in popularity has left Deepak overwhelmed. He says he has “no clue about how Pappi Singh became so huge. (Indian Express)

Hero CPL 2015: Vettori wants to go out with a bang!

New Zealand great Daniel Vettori will finish his magnificent cricketing career at the 2015 Caribbean Premier League when he represents the Jamaica Tallawahs.

The 36-year-old, who will go down as one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time, retires after the CPL, and he hopes to bow out of playing the sport he loves by getting his hands on the trophy.

We caught up with Daniel to find out how excited he is by his swansong at the Biggest Party In Sport…

“We’re a strong team and there are expectations to do well” – Daniel Vettori

Q How much are you looking forward to the CPL this year?

A I am looking forward to it a lot, I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the tournament last year. I thought it was done exceptionally well. I’ve said to a few people it’s one of the few T20 tournaments that bowlers have really thrived in. That’s what I really enjoyed last year – as a bowler you can actually contribute to the game and I think

that’s because the wickets at times offered a bit of assistance. It was a lot of fun last year and I’m looking forward to contributing again for Jamaica.

Q Spinners have prospered in the CPL – is that different to other T20 tournaments?

A You saw a lot of spinners actually spin the ball quite a bit throughout the tournament. The nature of the wickets emboldened the spin bowlers to be a bit more adventurous and try to be a bit more ag-

gressive and it seemed to work. Myself and Nikita Miller worked really well in tandem last year and you saw Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine be near the top of the wickets and economy rates so that bodes well for this year hopefully.

Q How does the CPL differ to other tournaments?

A Jamaica is a unique team last year in that all our local players were actually from Jamaica. You’re actually playing for a country, the four foreign guys walked into a team that had real na-

tionalistic pride about it and we fell into that really quickly and really enjoyed being part of that. You don’t often get that in T20 teams around the world because generally you are playing for domestic sides and they are made up from players from all over that country. For our team, personally, it felt like we were playing for Jamaica and trying to do really well for them. That’s one of the main attractions to come back this year and do well for them.

Q They call it the biggest sport – is that true?

A Like most tournaments round the world you come together with some guys you’ve never met before and some-

times the easiest way to get to know guys is to go out and have a bit of a good time with them. That’s certainly the way the tournament felt –the guys were desperate to do well but they also wanted to enjoy themselves as well.

Q You got to the semis last year – have you got the squad to go one better?

A We started so well last year and then we lost the last game – we could have been first but we ended up fourth and that really affected our chances of progress in the tournament so I don’t think we want to put ourselves in that situation again. The team is a really strong one and if anything it’s improved with

the additions of Mahela Jayawardena, Chris Lynn and Krishmar Santokie. There’s some expectations on the side to do well.

Q What’s it like playing in a side led by Chris Gayle?

A I’ve played with Chris for a number of years in the IPL so I’ve been round him for a long time and probably people misinterpret him around his desire to do well –he’s desperate to perform and I think that rubs off on a lot of the guys as well. They have high expectations of their own performance and that’s led by Chris. It’s nice to walk into a team where he’s so determined to win and I think everyone follows that attitude.

Q He calls himself the World Boss – is that a justified title do you think?!

A I think he’s obviously got a pretty impressive social media campaign going on but he’s a pretty relaxed guy around us. He’s enjoyable company. All my dealings with Chris haven’t involved the World Boss they’ve just involved Chris.

Q Andre Russell is in there too – he had a brilliant IPL – how good is he?

A He had an amazing tournament for us last year as well. I think that was probably the start

Global broadcasters announced for Hero cPl

– tournament to be beamed into 200 million-plus households around the world

With less than a week to go before the start of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the global broadcasters for the 2015 tournament have been announced, ensuring that the “Biggest Party in Sport” will be beamed into over 200 million households across the world.

Big-name broadcasters such as Sony Six (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives); BT Sport (UK); Guardian Group (Caribbean); ESPN (USA and Caribbean); Fox Sports (Australia); SuperSport (South Africa) and Sky (New Zealand) have all signed deals to carry live coverage of this year’s tournament, with a broadcaster in Pakistan and Bangladesh expected to be confirmed before the tournament starts.

Last year’s compe-

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

Hero CPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Damien O’Donohoe said: “Our global viewing figures almost doubled last year, from 35 million to 65 million, as word spread about the “Biggest Party in Sport”. This year’s competition promises to be bigger and better than ever before, and we’re confident that we will continue to increase our global reach in partnership

with some of the world’s most prominent broadcasters.”

At the Hero CPL, global superstars including Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis and Shahid Afridi will join the Caribbean’s finest cricketers, like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, as well as exciting up-andcoming local talent. The competition will feature 33 matches, and kicks off with a repeat of last year’s final, with defending champions, Barbados Tridents, hosting Guyana Amazon Warriors, at Kensington Oval, on June 20. The final, at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, will take place on July 26.

Hero CPL 2015: Vettori wants to go... El Dorado renews sponsorship of Guyana Amazon Warriors

of this upward curve he’s had for this last 18-months when he’s been one of the best allrounders in world cricket and T20 cricket and one of the most reliable. You’d be hard pressed to find a more dangerous batsman around, particularly his bowling in the Caribbean can be a huge asset, coupled with the fact you can put him in the top three or four best fielders in the world as well. It’s a package that not many people can bring to that table and that’s why he’s one of the best players going around.

Q How big a deal is CPL in New Zealand given there are a few Kiwis involved?

A I think people keep an eye on it but the time zones do make it difficult to follow. It’s growing in people’s popularity and people’s cricketing landscape. I think they put it all together with tournaments around the world and want to keep an interest in how guys are going. The more New Zealand guys that play will only advance that, we’ve got a few this year so and hopefully it will continue.

Q How has spin evolved since the introduction of T20?

A I think you quickly learnt that batsmen are going to be as aggressive as possible and you had to find a way to coun-

ter that. I think that’s what the good spin bowlers have done – they’ve found ways to stop batsmen and that’s why spin bowling has been so successful in T20. The spin bowlers have adapted so quickly and realised they’ve got a big part to play. While you may bowl defensively, normally most spinners are trying to be aggressive and take wickets during those middle stages.

Q How long can you play for? A This is my last playing commitment – it’ll be a really nice way to finish up to be back with the Jamaican team and hopefully be successful. I retired from everything after the World Cup and this was on the radar and I had a lot of fun last year so I thought it’d be a great way to finish up and get a chance to play in the CPL again.

Q Has T20 changed the game drastically – even England are playing a dynamic brand of cricket now?!

A I don’t think you’ve got a choice these days. Every team’s just going out there and, not necessarily whacking it, but trying to play an aggressive form of cricket and you can get left behind. Every team wants to play that way and you find the players that can fit into that. If you look round the world that’s what every good team is buying into. (CPL.com)

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has once again thrown its support behind the Guyana Amazon Warriors and El Dorado as the official spirit partner for the second consecutive year. This year, the beverage giant has widened its support to include Gatorade being the official sports drink of the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

DDL is already a Major Partner of the CPL T20, with El Dorado Rum being the official spirit of the tournament.

At the formal sign-

ing ceremony CPL OPCO Team Operations Manager, Omar Khan, said that the Guyana Amazon Warriors were delighted to partner with DDL and more so El Dorado which is one of Guyana’s best known products, both regionally and internationally.

Sharda VeerenChand, Marketing Director of Demerara Distillers Limited, noted that El Dorado is already a major partner of the Hero CPL T20. “CPL T20 continues to grow as one of the largest cricketing events on our calen-

dar. The CPL T20 captures the spirit of who we are as a Caribbean people. We get an opportunity to see some of the world’s greatest players competing in what is now the world’s Biggest Party in Sport. We could not miss this opportunity to join the celebration with the world’s best rum, El Dorado.”

The CPL T20 tournament opens in Barbados on June 20 with the Guyana Amazon Warriors going up against the Barbados Tridents. The Warriors then play against the

St. Lucia Zouks in St Lucia. The games come to Guyana from July 1521 and tickets are already on sale at the CPL Middle Street office in Georgetown. This year El Dorado is giving fans an opportunity to join the celebration by winning tickets to all local matches by scratching the back label of any El Dorado 750ml product. Two lucky winners will also win a trip to Trinidad and Tobago to see the final on July 26. There are also hundreds of other El Dorado prizes to be won.

Amazon Warriors off to hunt CPL glory

Determined to go one step further and clinch the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title for the first time, a confident Guyana Amazon Warriors squad, minus a few of the international players, left Guyana on Wednesday for Barbados for the start of the competition on Saturday.

Under the leadership of Head Coach

Carl Hooper and Team Operations Manager

Omar Khan, the localbased players, along with Australian Brad Hodge and Trinidad and Tobago pair Lendl Simmons and Sunil Narine, departed for the island from the Ogle International Airport via a LIAT flight. The other international and West Indies players will join the squad in Barbados for

this Saturday’s opening match of the tournament against defending champions Barbados Tridents. Khan, in an invited comment, said the current inclement weather has limited the Amazon Warriors preparations, but noted that the players will use the next few days to whip themselves into shape for Saturday’s highly anticipated showdown.

“We have a couple days before the first game- and put in some good work in the practice session we have scheduled. At the end of the day, it’s all about us coming together as a team and identifying what is required as a team to achieve success,” Khan said.

The squad will undergo some changes during the tournament with Sri Lankan all-rounders Tillekaratne Dilshan and Thisara Perera available for the first four games, and their compatriot, fast bowler Lasith Malinga out of the tournament with an injury.

The promising South African speedster Merchant De Lange has been named as Malinga’s replacement and will feature from the start of the competition, while another South African, all-rounder David Wiese, and the flambouyant Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal will come in for Dilshan and Perera, when they depart the Caribbean for international duty on July 5.

Khan said he is con-

“At the end of the day, players come in, players go. This is the nature of franchise cricket, and we

continued on page 52

CPL Ticketing Centre opens in Georgetown

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Tickets for the Guyana leg of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have gone on sale, and fans are being urged to grab their permit to the venue and avoid the lastminute rush.

The CPL OPCO office on Middle Street opened its door on Monday morning, allowing patrons the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Guyana leg, exactly a month before the tournament reaches South America.

The office will be open from 08:00h to 16:00h Mondays to Saturdays, while tickets are also available at Courts outlets from 08:30h

to 17:00h Mondays to Saturdays. Of point to note, persons will not be given physical tickets at the Courts locations, but vouchers, which will have to be redeemed at the Middle Street location.

When this newspaper visited the OPCO office on Monday, several persons had turned up to take advantage of copping their tickets early, and avoiding the anticipated long queues in the coming weeks.

Patrons wishing to purchase tickets will be allowed a maximum of 10 tickets per person for each game, and where possible they may be allowed to purchase tickets with the seats of their choice in their preferred

Stand, depending on availability.

This year the organisers have put in place many security features to prevent counterfeiting and unlike the other venues, tickets for the Guyana National Stadium are numbered to match the seat number, which will eliminate the possibility of overcrowding.

Tickets for the Red and Green Stands are priced at G$4,000 or US$20 each, while entry to the Orange Stand is G$3,000 or US$15. Tickets for the Grass Mound cost G$2,000 or US$10.

The National Stadium at Providence will host four games in July with the Guyana Amazon Warriors involved in all the matches, against 2013 champions Jamaica Tallawahs on the 15th at 18:00h, St Lucia Zouks on the 17th at 20:00h, defending champions Barbados Tridents on the 18th at 16:00h and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on the 21st at 18:00h.

The Hero CPL will run from June 20 to July 26 with six franchises battling for supremacy. Further information on tickets for the Guyana leg can be obtained by calling the CPL OPCO Guyana Inc. office on 223-1437.

Amazon Warriors off to...

from page 51

have young Merchant De Lange who is joining the team in place of Malinga, and he is very excited about coming to play in the CPL. He’s very excited about joining the Amazon Warriors. These players [the replacements] are quality players. These are players that have been performing all over the world, they’re professionals so we expect them to come and fit in and use their professional experience

to help the team,” Khan asserted.

Meanwhile, exciting Guyana and West Indies Under-19 opener Shimron Hetmyer is travelling with the team as part of CPL’s plan to develop young Caribbean cricketers. Under the rules this year, each franchise is required to select one youth player from the training camp to form part of the squad. Hetmyer was part of a group of four Under-19

National programme must continue, says Shabazz

Although Guyana’s Golden Jaguars’ campaign in the qualification phase of the 2018 Russia World Cup has come to a premature end, Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz is adamant the national programme must continue to gain traction to ensure the development of local football does not stagnate.

The Jaguars were booted at the second round of qualification on Sunday evening, following a high-scoring 4-4 draw against St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The away game ended 2-2 on Wednesday last, and based on the calculations for points on home and away goals, the Vincentians had a superior record, thereby guaranteeing their spot in the next round.

Speaking at the postmatch press conference, a clearly disappointed Shabazz, who blamed the outcome of the home game on poor defence, said the development of football at the national level must continue.

“For sure, we’re not going to the World Cup, but for sure we have a

players who participated in the Amazon Warriors one-week training camp. The others were Akshaya Persaud, Sherfane Rutherford and Keemo Paul.

Khan said Hetmyer satisfied the criteria that were set out. “It’s about performance, overall attitude in the camp, [and] how they gel and so on. It’s about overall development and seeing that they have a future, so we will give them the opportunity to mix with the international players and be part of the playing squad. They can also be on the final XI.”

The Guyana Amazon Warriors are looking to go one step further and win the competition for the first time this year after finishing as runner-up the previous two years, in 2013 against Jamaica Tallawahs and last year against the Barbados Tridents.

The other participating franchises are St Lucia Zouks, newcomers St Kitts Patriots and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

“For

programme to build, and if you know me, I’m not weak in heart. We have a lot of youngsters on the fringe, we have FIFA dates coming up and I think it’s necessary for us to play on all those FIFA dates, and not let the football do what it did two and a half years and remain dormant. Football is to be played, and now we’ve got to build a product,” Shabazz asserted.

Prior to the instalment of the Clinton Urling-led FIFAappointed Normalisation Committee, the national senior men’s team had become dysfunc-

tional, and it was only in February when Shabazz was re-appointed for a third stint that the players had re-assembled.

“I think this is critical because we didn’t lose the game [on Sunday], we lost the opportunity and this is a good lesson for us because it’s good sometimes that the whole nation have this feeling, and for this 90 minutes we saw everybody with this one feeling. This is an aspect [of human life] that only sport can do, and we have now got to continue building the programme,” he explained.

Shabazz called for support from all concerned to help move the Golden Jaguars forward, as well as expose younger players to high-level, competitive football. The Head Coach chose to dwell on the positives going forward.

“It’s a very, very difficult situation when you don’t achieve your objectives, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. And the blows that don’t break our backs will certainly strengthen us,” Shabazz reckoned.

Lumumba outlines reasons for Golden Jags’ loss

Alpha United Club

President Odinga Lumumba outlined the possible reasons Guyana could not pull off a win in order to move on in the World Cup qualifiers when the Golden Jaguars drew with St Vincent and the Grenadines 4-4 on Sunday. The locals had less away goals that the “Vincy Heat” team.

“I think the problem there is a couple issues, there is not enough football being played, we don’t have match readiness nor fitness and our players are not up to par,” Lumumba highlighted at a press briefing at his office on Monday.

In addition, Lumumba has no issues with having foreign players on the team, since at this juncture it makes the team better. “I don’t deal with overseas and local players once they’re Guyanese and could play, why not? If our lo-

odinga lumumba

cal guys are not ready and don’t have match fitness and these guys who have more games and better credentials than most of the locals they should play … everyone else does it,” Lumumba stated.

However, Lumumba said that Guyana’s biggest problem locally is player development, “We have to look at development, we need to bring them in around 12 years old and have national tournaments and

spot the talent and then develop it: Neymar and Messi and those guys have been training at a really early age,” he noted. Lumumba also pointed out that investment in the players and coaching staff is critical to success since he believes that “volunteering services is a thing of the past”. Meanwhile, with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) elections supposedly set for September, Lumumba noted that he has not made a decision on whether or not he was interested in running for President of the Federation, but highlighted that he was willing to work with a group of people. “It is not an individual thing, I’m willing to work with a group of people who want betterment for the sport and would be willing to invest in the sport,” Lumumba stated.

Hero CPL: Smith fires warning to CPL challengers!

On Saturday 20 June, the 2015 Caribbean Premier League will kick off in style with a rematch of the 2014 final, with champions Barbados Tridents hosting Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Kensington Oval.

mean for you to be able to start the tournament at home in front of your home fans?

A: I always love playing at home, but it’s going to be normal for me. I don’t worry too much about the fans, I worry about my team. Once I perform with my team I know the fans will come. But I look to perform for myself and my team first, then anyone else comes after. But everyone loves to play at home because you’re more confident,

the West Indies women’s team as well. But Pollard, he is the person who I cling to from the start just because we have the same mind-set. Over the years he has matured so much, I know people don’t always see it but he has matured so much as a cricketer and now as a captain and as a person. I have learned so much from him that I have put into my life outside of cricket and in cricket as well. He is a good person, he means good and

Dwayne Smith proved to be one of the most important cogs in the Tridents’ success last season, scoring 353 runs at an average of 44, including smashing two of the tournament’s four centuries.

With the Biggest Party in Sport ready for relaunch, we caught up the explosive batsmen to gauge the mood in Barbados ahead of the opening match…

Q: You were part of the winning Tridents team last year, how confident are you of retaining the title this year?

A: Well I’m very confident. We’ve had strong additions to our team. We have some more experienced guys that have played through the IPL, so I’m sure that we can put up a good fight. Once we get some luck going and we play some good cricket, I am sure we are going to be victorious again.

Q. Have you got many thoughts ahead of the opening game against Guyana? With everything that went on around the final last year, do you think that’s the best way to open up the tournament?

A: Yeah I think it is. To our advantage we are playing at home, last time they played us there they beat us, but I’m sure we can come out victorious this time. I know it’s going to be a serious match, it’s going to be a grudge match I would say, because we all know how the final ended last year, not our fault even though everyone blamed us. We are ready to go, I’m ready for sure. And I’m sure that our guys are ready to start off with a win.

“I just want to go out there mainly to see my daughter in the stands smiling” – Dwayne Smith

Q. What does it

your family is there, we have more backing, and hopefully we can put on a good show.

Q. As a wider point what are you looking forward to most in this year’s competition? What gets you really excited about the CPL?

A: Every game that we play in T20 gets me excited so I just want to get there and I know that the crowds are going to come out because they love the format of the game. I just want to get out there mainly to see my daughter in the stands smiling, knowing her father has just performed out there and the team has just performed because I know she won’t back another team for sure. It’s her dad’s team or no one’s team. I just want to get out there and play because I know the crowds are ready for the T20 cricket. I just want get out there and put in some performances for sure.

Q. What’s it like playing with Kieron Pollard, what does he bring to the Tridents as the captain of the franchise?

A: First of all the experience, he’s been captain of the team for two years now so he knows most of the players and also very positive going about the team. Having said that, working alongside him is Robin Singh. He has helped us win games, the record and the improvement is there to see. We have added Vasbert Drakes, who we know is going to do a good job as well, especially with the bowlers he has been doing it for the last two or three years now. We have seen that it has paid off with

ers that have changed my life in cricket. He helped me to understand myself. Even when I’m doing something now I pick it up really easily instead of someone having to tell me. For example when I play on pitches that keep low, he taught me to watch the ball much longer and just trying to stay as still as possible, to me he just made it so easy.

Q. For someone coming to Barbados for the start of the tournament, what three things you recommend they go and do?

A: Go to the beach as number one. I’ve picked up a new sport now in golf, I think it’s the best games I’ve played and there are plenty of great courses on the island. Then just the nightlife anywhere.

Q. You mentioned the nightlife, so if you score a century, whose buying the drinks?

that is why a lot of good falls upon him. He wins almost every competition he plays in. So he has the luck, he is a winner, and that is something that affects us. I’m sure that he knows that and everyone in the team knows that. He has our full backing, the team have a lot of respect for him and I love to see that.

“T20 cricket is one of the best games that was ever created” – Dwayne Smith

Q. You mentioned Robin Singh, is he the best coach you have worked under?

A: Robin changed my whole cricket career, especially when it comes to batting. He is one person that I will never ever forget along with a few oth-

A: I don’t think we have a particular person, we all buy drinks. Sometimes someone will just go ahead and do it but there’s nothing that we worry about, we don’t worry about that too much.

Q. Finally, for someone who might be attending the CPL for the first time this summer what should they expect to see?

A: To sell T20 cricket is easy, because the cricket is great. You get to have fun, have a few beers and watch cricket. What more could you want? In the CPL you can watch big hits, wickets, amazing players. It’s a lovely family feel and I’m sure that the locals will love to have a drink with you. It’s one of the best games that was ever created. (CPL.com)

Lucky CPL fan could win US$1M

– ‘Catch a Million’ will be the biggest sports promotion ever in the Caribbean

Caribbean Premier League (CPL) fans have been given one million reasons to get their tickets for this year’s competition, with the launch of ‘Catch a Million’, in association with CPL sponsor, Guardian Group.

‘Catch a Million’ will be the biggest ever sports promotion in the Caribbean. If a fan is the first to catch a six one-handed at a CPL game they will automatically win US$1000 and a chance to win a trip to Trinidad for the finals.

The public will vote on the best catches online at CPL’s official Facebook page to decide who makes the trip to Trinidad. If selected and the feat is repeated at the final, the fan could win the incredible sum of US$1 million. Full terms and conditions can be found at www.cplt20.com.

There were 387 sixes smashed during 30 matches in the 2014 Caribbean Premier League, with Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons topping the charts, after blasting 24 maximums each. With the likes of Shahid Afridi and Kevin Pietersen joining the ranks this year, fans can expect plenty more opportunities to win their prize at CPL 2015.

Damien O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer of the Hero CPL, said, “Tickets are already selling out fast as excitement ramps up ahead of CPL 2015, and there definitely won’t be many left when fans find out about the chance to win US$1 million. ‘Catch a Million’ is absolutely massive for the Caribbean, and we’re so thankful to Guardian Group for making this once in a lifetime prize possible.”

Larry Olton, Group Vice President- Integrated Marketing Communications of Guardian Group, said, “We’re thrilled to be supporting the CPL to introduce ‘Catch a Million’, and we wish all the fans the best of luck during the tournament. The League is all about fun and excitement, and ‘Catch a Million’ is going to take that excitement to whole new level.”

At the Hero CPL, global superstars including Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis and Shahid Afridi will join the Caribbean’s finest cricketers, like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, and exciting up-and-coming local talent.

Last year’s tournament attracted a global audience in excess of 65 million, and this year is set to be even higher as fans across the world continue to be drawn to the high quality action on the pitch and the unique party atmosphere off it. Hero CPL 2015 kicks off with a repeat of last year’s final, with defending champions, Barbados Tridents, hosting Guyana Amazon Warriors, at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday.