Guyana Times International

T&T prisons officer killed in suspected hit

Trinidad and Tobago - A suspected hit from behind the prisons walls may have been responsible for the killing of prisons superintendent David Millette.

The 50-year-old-officer, who had some 20 years service, was gunned down around 8.30 am as he entered his car which was parked in front his home at Cipriani Avenue, Second Caledonia.

Investigators said they were told by residents that shortly after Millette entered his car loud explosions were heard.

He was found slumped in the driver’s seat. The engine was still running and windshield wipers were on.

Millette was killed mere hours after three prisons officers were attacked by a knife-wielding inmate at the Maximum Security Prison on Sunday, resulting in prison officers describing the situation as “boiling point.”

And in light of the re-

cent attacks against prisons officers National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, in an interview, said he was considering giving prisons officers permission to carry firearms.

He said he was concerned that officers of the protective services who serve the country were apparently under attack from criminal elements.

In an immediate release, the Law Association condemned Millette’s killing, describing it as an attack not only on the Prisons Service but the Judicial Service as well.

A statement issued by the association yesterday, not only called on a thorough investigation into the slaying but also demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

The association also urged the police to bring a satisfactory level of control over the crime scourge sweeping the country.

(Trinidad Guardian)

Guyana-born New York Assemblywoman elected to State Senate

Guyana-born Legislator

Roxanne

Jacqueline Persaud, was elected to the New York Senate on November 3, 2015 after defeating her two challengers in the elections for the 19th Senatorial District. Back in November 2014, she became the first female, first black, first Guyanese to hold the position of assembly member for the 59th Assembly District in Brooklyn, New York.

Persaud, 49, polled 6,980 votes, or 88 per cent of the votes cast, while Jeffrey Ferretti, the Republic Party challenger, received 702 votes, or nine per cent; and Conservative Party opponent Elias Weir got 245 votes, or three per cent.

“Great! Great!” she told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) late Tuesday night. “Fabulous! I’m happy all

the waiting is over, so I can get to do the work,” added Persaud amid victory celebrations at the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club in Canarsie that had endorsed her.

“It shows hard work pays off,” said Persaud, who had migrated from Guyana with her parents and siblings, when she was 19 years old. She said she had no qualms

running for Sampson’s old seat.

Guyanese-American New York State Senator John L. Sampson was convicted in July of lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in a U.S. federal corruption case.

“I’m not happy with what’s happening, but you have to do what you have to do. When an opportunity presents itself,

you follow, and you do it. I know I can continue my work. As senator, I will work to bring all the communities together and to make sure they have equal representation.”

She said her dedication to serving her community motivated her to serve in various capacities. She was President of the 69th Precinct Community Council in Canarsie, member of Community Board 18 and Commissioner on the New York City Districting Commission. In addition, Persaud said she is a graduate of the New York Police Department (NYPD) Citizens Police Academy, as well as the New York City Office of Emergency ManagementCommunity Emergency Response Team. She is a “longtime advocate for her community and an avid volunteer.” (CMC)

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EDITORIAL

Rice as a political football

The news that the US rushed in to fill the shortfall in the rice imports of Venezuela occasioned by the latter’s interruption of shipments on the contract with our country must have come as a shock to many. However, this is simply an illustration on how the modern global trading system operates through a logic driven by countries weighing their economic interests and not reflexively reacting to political disputes.

The contretemps with Venezuela began after the new Government grounded the Venezuelan air carrier Conviasa Airlines in June due to an alleged non-payment of a bond to cover potentially stranded passengers. Forty passengers were stranded. Even though the airline had been flying for two years, it appeared that no bond had been demanded before. The carrier had only recently settled its landing and other ancillary fees. The Government then announced that Venezuela halted all shipments of rice and paddy on the 150,000 tonnes outstanding on the 200,000 tonne contract, which was not supposed to expire until the end of November. Two hundred and seventy containers of rice were said to be stranded on wharves between Guyana and Venezuela.

All of this occurred against the background of Venezuela placing its border controversy with Guyana on the front burner once again after the US oil giant ExxonMobil struck oil off the Essequibo coast. Venezuela had issued a maritime decree purporting to claim most of the waters off the Essequibo, but later had to amend this. In the meantime, the new Guyana Government accepted the previous Administration’s decision to quit the United Nations Secretary General Good Officer process that was overseeing the Geneva Agreement on the border controversy and requested a “juridical” settlement. This the Venezuelans refused.

The tit-for-tat increased its pace as Guyana took its case to the Caricom Heads of Government meeting in July and President David Granger’s statement that Guyana had to get rid of the “monkey on its back” – meaning the border controversy – was interpreted by President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela as a “racist” insult against Venezuela.

The Guyana Government accused the Venezuelans of using “economic pressure” to force concessions on the border controversy. Finance Minister Winston Jordan and a team from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) visited Caracas on the 15th Meeting of the Energy Ministerial Council of PetroCaribe, but never spoke to the Venezuelans directly and rather depended on “hints” from our Ambassador that the Venezuelans would not renew the contract. The Guyanese Agriculture Minister, however, by mid July admitted that Venezuela had never actually halted rice and paddy shipments, but simply had requested that the speeded up schedule by Guyana should be moderated for logistical reasons.

It was clear that there was no direct intervention by the Guyanese authorities in charge of our rice industry to make direct contact with the Venezuelans about the present contract and negotiating a possible future one for 2016. But from facts now gleaned, we can now see that Venezuela was not taking the increased tensions lightly. In addition to opening up negotiations with Suriname for a PetroCaribe rice/paddy deal – and clinching it by August – they started to purchase massive amounts of rice from the US.

The US has made no secret of its displeasure with the socialist Government of Hugo Chávez and his successor Maduro, and it is documented that it has supported the Opposition in various efforts to effectuate “regime change”. But through all of those actions, the US has worked assiduously to ensure that its economic interests in Venezuelan trade – oil, rice etc – were kept intact. In August and September while our Government refused to engage the Venezuelans in talks to keep the market that was giving us a US$200 premium for every tonne shipped, the US slipped in and delivered 150,000 tonnes of rice.

This newspaper believes that it is time that the Administration stop playing political football with rice, which had been one of the few bright spots on our economic horizon.

No new rice deal inked since PetroCaribe collapse

By Devina Samaroo

Since the collapse of the PetroCaribe deal with Venezuela in July, Guyana has not yet clinched a similar rice deal with any other country that would see local rice farmers exporting their rice at premium rates as they did with the “rice for oil deal” with the Spanish-speaking nation.

The historic rice deal was sealed by the previous People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government of President Bharrat Jagdeo with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela of President Hugo Chávez several years ago, which saw Guyana receiving oil in exchange for rice at premium rates.

Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Chairman Nizam Hassan told Guyana Times International during an interview that such arrangements, like the PetroCaribe deal, usually developed at the higher levels of Government.

Making reference to the Guyana-Venezuela rice deal, Hassan explained that the arrangement was born out of discussions between the two Heads of Government – Presidents Jagdeo and Chávez and then thereafter, the GRDB facilitated the trade.

While not aware of any arrangements of similar nature to the PetroCaribe deal, Hassan said the GRDB would welcome any such initiatives as it would inevitably be of great benefit to the rice sector. Nevertheless, he noted too that although no other rice deal appeared likely in the near future, the GRDB continued to work to expand the rice exports of the local farmers.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised on whether the Guyana Government intends to facilitate discussions with the Venezuelan Government to rescue the Venezuelan market either by initiating negotiations on renewing the PetroCaribe deal or forming another rice arrangement.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo had hinted that this was possible and had, on many occasions, encouraged President David Granger to discuss with Venezuelan President Nicolás

Maduro the possibility of resuming trade between the two nations, even amid the border controversy.

Venezuela has been by far the major market for Guyana’s rice and paddy, accounting for around 60 per cent of total exports in 2010. In 2014, exports to Venezuela accounted for approximately 38 per cent of total exports although the overall tonnage exported (150,000 tonnes of rice and 50,000 tonnes of paddy) far exceeded the 2013 export levels. Therefore, the loss of the Venezuelan rice market was indeed a significant blow to the rice farmers, the entire industry and by extension, the entire economy.

Under the PetroCaribe deal, Guyana was required to pay upfront a percentage of the cost of fuel acquired from Venezuela, with the balance, which was being placed in the PetroCaribe Fund at the Bank of Guyana, being treated as a loan repayable over 23 years, with a twoyear grace period and two per cent interest. Each deposit into the Fund was treated as a loan to the country on the same concessionary terms. This resulted in Guyana being able to defer its payments, which were at concessionary rates, over a longer period of time.

How the deal collapsed

The PetroCaribe deal was coming to an end in November 2015. According to the previous Administration, almost every year, Government would have had to negotiate with the Venezuelan Administration to renew the PetroCaribe deal. When the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration took office, it embarked upon such negotiations to renew the rice deal; however, it did not work out in Guyana’s favour.

According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, during the PetroCaribe Ministerial Council Meeting which was held in Venezuela in July, he was told by Guyana’s Ambassador that Venezuelan authorities indicated that they would not renew the agreement.

He noted that this was a result of the fact that Venezuela

would be taking rice from Suriname and as such, did not require the large amount which was currently being sent from Guyana. It was never made clear whether Minister Jordan even broached the issue of a new contract for 2016.

At that time, the PetroCaribe deal was to remain functional until it expired in November but due to certain circumstances, Venezuela halted the rice deal even before it was slated to end.

Based on reports, Venezuela had halted rice imports from Guyana since July 11. This was later confirmed by the Finance Minister who conceded that this development posed many challenges for the rice farmers.

However, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder explained that there was never any halting of shipments, but Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela told him that because Guyanese shippers were speeding up shipments, Venezuela wanted a slowdown for logistical purposes.

Speculation has since arisen over what prompted Venezuela to suddenly put an end to the PetroCaribe deal.

Future for farmers

Indeed, Venezuela paid the highest price for Guyana’s rice. In the last contract now being completed, Guyana received over US$200 per tonne over the world market prices. With the loss of this lucrative market, rice farmers grew concerned about their future.

Guyana Millers and Exporters Marketing Association Chairman, Dr Peter De Groot had asserted that the international prices for rice were almost half the price Venezuela was offering Guyana and, therefore, if Guyana was forced to depend on alternative markets, the rice industry may very well suffer.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder recently assured that there was “nothing to worry about” over the loss of the Venezuelan market. He was at the time announcing that Portugal and Panama would replace Venezuela as markets for Guyana’s rice.

However, former Agriculture

Swami Vidyanandaji gets emotional send-off …as thousands pay last respects

BY KRISTEN MACKLINGAM

Thousands of Hindu devotees, scores of prominent figures in society, members of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Government and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) turned up at the Cove and John Ashram to pay their final respects to the renowned spiritual leader Swami Vidyanandaji, where he was cremated on Wednesday.

President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindiya Persaud, told the gathering that she was very humbled to be asked to say a few words on a

man who has touched the lives of many and inspired many young fertile minds as he advocated the powerful message of education.

“We live in a country where like so many around the world, we face many challenges… but it is moments when we engage in spiritual pursuits and we surround ourselves with those who have good teachings, learning and wisdoms that we understand our purpose in life.

Swamiji’s legacy is a positive one, is a clear one that our people must remain educated, that our young people must be given all of the skills to develop their true and full potential and that we must continue to fos-

vanced but I believe so far that a lot of the things today are being taken for granted… When he was in his early period he helped to fight for the recognition of Hinduism, he had to fight to have the equality of religion in our country. But more than that he made an enormous contribution to the education field as well…. significant and important contributions of the development of society…,” the former Head of State declared.

ter understanding, respect and love for each

other, when we come on this earth we know that there is a cycle of birth and death but it is the message that we leave on our departure that remains most important and I believe that the many of you who sit here today [Wednesday] and the many of you who are not here today will continue to follow in the footsteps of a man whose life displayed humility, simplicity and inclusivity,” she said.

Former President Donald Ramotar, in his address stated that those

gathered at the Ashram had gone there for two purposes; to mourn the passing of the late Swami and also to celebrate his life contributions which he made.

He emphasised that the Swami started his journey from extremely humble backgrounds but elevated himself and as such persons in the country who wish to seek self development can use his life as an example.

“But he also made a wider contribution to the development of our country and we have ad-

He posited that the late Swami had fought for the equality of religion in Guyana when there was a period in which those who were not of the Christian faith could not have secured jobs in the teaching, nursing and other public service professions.

“All of that has changed substantially and he made an important contribution where he didn’t have to deny who he was to promote the equality of religion in our society. Today there are ominous signs in our society, things that can take us backwards…and we must use the example of the life of Swami to inspire us to ensure that continued on page 9

Ramjattan’s interference affects us all

Dear Editor,

I am sure that Public Security Minister Kemraj Ramjattan knows that his decision to change the calendar date of the Diwali holiday from November 11th to 10th disrupts plans made by businesses and individuals throughout the country.

The dates for public holidays are given out by the Public Security Ministry to printers each year at about this time as calendars are printed for the following year. I have calendars in my home from a local bank, supermarket, pharmacy and insurance company and all have this year’s Diwali holiday date as November 11th.

My big son, Ravin, is scheduled for a training course at the insurance company where he works for November 9th and 10th because the company, as all business places, plan their activities around the calendar holiday dates. The company booked a meeting room months ago for the course and is now undecided about how to proceed.

Ravin tells me they are frustrated and terribly upset since they never expected the Minister to change the date that was assigned for the Diwali holiday. The holiday dates that are stamped and signed each year by the Ministry are hardly ever changed and the Minister simply a month before gazettes the respective date to make the

holiday legal.

But this government is following a policy of upturning everything that was decided on by the PPP administration and even the Diwali holiday is to suffer this fate. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Minister Ramjattan’s insistence on changing the date is a purely political move.

I am shocked by the number of eminent Hindu leaders who are backing him. The last PNC government managed to split the Hindu community and it seems that this one has already succeeded in doing the same. All these leaders know that this is about politics pure and simple so now we have to look at them in a different light.

I will be going out with my family, friends and neighbours to watch the Diwali motorcade on the 10th. And even though it would have been nice to have the November 11th day as the holiday as we had planned, my family will still manage to celebrate this Diwali with all the foods and festivities as usual.

I want to give my full support to Dr Vindi Persaud and to tell her that many of us are standing firm with her. There were attempts to divide the Hindu community before and we survived and are stronger for it.

Shanie Jagessar

First Guyanese Swami will be forever remembered

Dear Editor,

It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of the great Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj of Cove and John and the United States. Vidyanandaji was a well-known spiritual leader and scholar in Hinduism held in high esteem by Hindus as well as non-Hindus in the United States, Canada, UK, India and Guyana. He was not much different from other Swamis we recently read about. But he has the distinction of being the first Guyanese Swami, perhaps first in the West Indies. He has made an invaluable contribution to Guyanese society in the fields of religion and education.

Trained in India, he influenced many young people in Guyana by providing them a high-quality education that allowed them to become successful in adult life in various professions; those who attended his school have become lawyers, doctors, engineers, and nurses.

Vidyanandaji had been among the most revered Hindu leaders in the US, attracting followers from various countries including Jamaica and India. He has left a worldwide following of students. Condolences have been pouring in from all corners of the globe, reflecting the huge popularity he enjoyed both in and out of the US and Guyana. Hundreds came to the wake at his Jamaica, NY Ashram on Wednesday and Thursday and at the viewing on Friday in Richmond Hill.

I had the occasion to interview Swami several times for articles I penned on varied subjects pertaining to Hinduism and the founding of the American Sevashram Sangha that he headed. He was a very simple man. He humbly did not consider himself a scholar although he was very learned. He was a man of faith in line with other Indian saints without courting

West Indies miss Chanderpaul in Sri Lanka

Dear Editor, The West Indies Cricket Board’s management needs to seriously engage in introspection of its own decision/selection on the team that it sent to Sri Lanka that suffered humiliating defeats in the just concluded two Tests series. Is there any regret over the exclusion of the dependable Shivnarine Chanderpaul? He could have made the difference in saving the team from ignoble defeats. With the team’s disastrous performance based on the selection of one of the weakest teams in recent history, should not the management and selection team consider resigning? A new board and selection team is urgently needed to select the best team and to turn around its economic fortunes.

The West Indies management has to stop “playing politics” with the game by disciplining critics; it must select the best team that can stand up to world class players and show the world we are competitive. The team needs the best players who can win games or save matches; it must not go after those with whom it has issues. It should not have excluded ‘Chanders’ just because he was on the verge of breaking a cricket record.

If performance is the selection criteria, most of those selected should not have been there. Many cricket lovers feel we are going back to the ethnic type cricket policy of the late 1970s thru early 1990s (with Lloyd and Richards) when Kanhai and Kallicharran were dropped. It is hoped this is not the direction of the management or selection panel. England, South Africa,

Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe all over multiethnic teams. It will be an anachronism if we return to the old ethnic team when the rest of the world is moving in a different direction. Unless there is improved performance and competitive cricket from our side, other nations will not be interested in playing us because they will lose money (TV rights, game attendance, sponsorship, etc). West Indies is no longer a TV draw as happened between 1980s through 1990s. TV audience is not interested in watching mediocre performances. And advertisers don’t want to buy time to broadcast or sponsor plays (and players) that are not exciting. Spectators and TV views want to see Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul, Samuel Badree, Kieron Pollard, etc.

It is noted that the team offered meek resistance in the first test and put in an even worse performance in its two batting attempts in the second test. The team could not score 240 runs to seal a victory and tie the series – pathetic performance. It is about time the team’s management reconsiders its decision to leave out Chanderpaul whose recent performance was not any worse than others selected for (played on) the Lankan tour or played against England and Australia. Chanderpaul has had a history of rescuing the team. His presence was sorely missed to save the team from its defeats. If the team is selected on performance, which one of the players deserves his place on the team?

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

controversy. At times, upon request, he attempted to settle differences (in Guyanese mandirs) in NYC, and there were/are many.

Swami-ji was a devoted Hindu, yet broad-minded not to condemn or disrespect other religions.

His extraordinary personality, his kindness, and his grasp of life issues attracted attention among Indians and non-Indians, Hindus and non-Hindus. Not surprisingly, many came to him for counselling and for assistance with education of their children especially when he was in Guyana. Several nonIndians worship at his ashram.

In Swami’s passing, we have lost a great son of Guyana and the Indian Diaspora who dedicated his entire life for the welfare of others. He was a peoples’ person during his lifetime and will be remembered as such even after death. He will be remembered for his establishment of the school in Cove and John that educated so many in spite of all the obstacles and adversities it faced by those unreligious forces determined to crush it; the school was confiscated by the PNC dictatorship. And Swami will be remembered by us in America for establishing the first and perhaps only Guyanese ashram in the US.

A lot of activities beneficial to the Guyanese Diaspora was held there. For example, memorial services were held there when Dr Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan passed away and the Ashram was made available for lessons and community meetings.

Swami Vidyanandaji will be missed, but his great work will continue through his loving disciples and teachings, and he will be forever remembered for his great selfless work and humanitarianism.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Guyana’s economic situation has reached stagnation

Dear Mr Editor,

No one can know the future (although many write and speculate as if they do) the best that can be done is to calculate probabilities that are based on past events and the current realities. Over the last five months, our new Government has consistently calculated low probabilities that this is a start of a recession in Guyana.

The economic situation is that the country has reached the stagnation point and the Government must move to stimulate commercial activities. Failure to do so will push the country further into negative territory. The Government cannot adopt a ‘wait and see’ approach, rather an aggressive ‘work and assess’ approach to rectify our situation. Government spending is an important aspect of the economy so it needs to accelerate the pace.

The new Government must understand that Bharrat Jagdeo and his associates (past Ministers and fired pub-

lic servants) have wide support among the Guyanese populace; it is detrimental to the economy to further humiliate them with wild rhetoric and baseless audits which will certainly create a further negative economic and social environment. It would be a good consideration to abort most of the audits. The present Government must turn its attention to creating a sense of confidence among the business class. I must confess and echo that tremendous fear and uncertainty surround the capital class.

Five days after the new Government came into power, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SUCO) started to investigate over 100 legitimate businessmen and women of a particular ethnic group. This most definitely is sending a fearful and wrong signal.

I call on the coalition Government to take serious steps to curb this situation before it becomes uncontrollable.

Yours respectfully, Businessman

No new rice deal inked since PetroCaribe...

Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy accused the Minister of downplaying the importance of the Venezuelan market and chided the entire APNU/AFC Administration for not making stronger attempts to revive the deal.

Further, he highlighted that Portugal and Panama could not possibly replace the Venezuelan market, since Guyana has already been exporting rice to those two nations.

Portugal, being one of the largest European importers of Guyana’s rice, has imported cargo rice from Guyana for a number of years. Dr Ramsammy high-

lighted that it was highly unlikely that in the existing trade arrangement of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) under which rice from developing countries enter freely into Europe can take up the extra 200,000 tonnes that Venezuela would not be taking from Guyana.

With respect to Panama, Dr Ramsammy disclosed that the small State has been buying small quantities of rice from Guyana – also for several years. Therefore, Panama is not a new market and the former Minister is contending that it could not absorb the loss of the Venezuelan market.

Belize PM Barrow wins record third consecutive term

BELIZE CITY –

According to a Reuter’s report, Belizean Prime Minister Dean Barrow won a record third term in a snap general election in the tiny English-speaking Central American country on Wednesday, after his party gained a clear majority in parliament.

Barrow, a 64-year-old lawyer, called the vote in late September more than a year ahead of schedule amid signs his political opponents were regrouping and fears generous Venezuelan aid crucial to his budget may be at risk.

With official results announced from 29 of the country’s 31 constituencies, Barrow’s United Democratic Party (UDP) won 19 while the main opposition People’s United Party (PUP) had taken 10, election official Jennevieve Gladden said.

“It is a magnificent victory,” Barrow said as he addressed party supporters in Belize City, who roared their approval. “The magnitude of this victory still hasn’t properly set in.”

Many voters in the country of about 350,000

people, which faces a push by neighboring Guatemala to absorb a large area of its territory, voiced apathy, seeing little scope for change whichever of the two main parties wins.

Some hoped the upstart Belize Progressive Party, which also fielded candidates, would win some seats in the national assembly.

“I’m for change. We need better people … Both of the two major parties are corrupt,” said retired teacher Lorraine Gomez, her index finger stained with purple ink after voting.

Belize’s $1.6 billion economy is highly dependent on tourism, as well as agricultural exports like sugar and bananas. It also relies heavily on PetroCaribe, a Venezuelan aid program that offers fuel at discounted prices.

Since 2012, Barrow has plowed the best part of 300 million Belize dollars ($151.52 million) in Venezuelan aid into infrastructure projects including 150 new paved roads in Belize City, the country’s commercial hub.

Road carnage continues - 4 dead in 2 days

Two teenagers were on Tuesday evening killed after the car in which they were travelling slammed into a concrete base at Number 75 Village “Welcome to Corriverton” arch, Berbice when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle.

Dead are 19-yearold Balram Nourang and 17-year-old Haresh Ramsaywack both of Number 69 Village Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). The two were the only occupants of the car and said to be best friends since they were young children.

According to reports, the accident occurred about 23:20h. Nourang and Ramsaywack were travelling in motor car PEE 6017 and were proceeding south along the eastern lane at a reportedly fast pace when the driver swerved west and lost control of the vehicle. This resulted in the car slamming into the Number 75 Arch located at the western corner of the Number 74 Public Road.

As a result, the driver, Nourang, was flung from the vehicle and Ramsaywack who was seated in the front passenger seat was pinned. Public-spirited citizens called the Fire Service and firemen had to prise open the car to get Ramsaywack out.

Guyana Times International was told that both teenagers suffered head injuries and were rushed to the Skeldon Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

Speaking with this newspaper, Nourang’s

uncle, Omchand, said his nephew borrowed his car about 20:00h on Tuesday and promised to return it the following morning. He said that he subsequently received a call about the accident and rushed to the scene where firemen and Police were cutting open the car to get Ramsaywack out.

According to the uncle, it took over 90 minutes before they managed to free Ramsaywack.

“The Fire Service used their hammer and crow bar and we had to tie a rope on the door and use manpower to pull it open and them take him out,” Omchand said.

Meanwhile, Ramsaywack’s mother, Linie, in tears told this publication that she did

not know where her son went. She said she last saw him about 16:00h on Tuesday when she returned home from selling in the market.

“I don’t know when he left, but his friend would always come and pick him up, because his friend has a car. The two of them were friends since they were small,” the single parent said.

Ramsaywack leaves to mourn his mother and two sisters, while Nourang leaves to mourn his parents and two brothers.

Tuesday night’s accident comes on the heels of another Corentyne smash-up which claimed the lives of two other persons and left three

others injured.

Those killed were Paula Kissoondial, age 53; and Akeem Harry, age 15, both of Rose Hall, Corentyne. Those injured are Jermiane Smartt, Winston Collins and Keith Ross, also of Rose Hall.

The accident occurred after the car in which they were travelling slammed into a fence at Number 43 Village, Corentyne Highway.

Kissoondial was pronounced dead at the Skeldon Hospital; Harry died while receiving medical attention at the same medical institution.

According to reports, the five were travelling in motor car PRR 164 which was being driven by Collins when the accident occurred at 11:30h. Guyana Times International was told that they were returning home after dropping a relative at the Canawaima Ferry Stelling [Guyana/ Suriname ferry crossing].

Reports further state that tragedy struck when the car suffered a tyre blowout, causing the driver to lose control. This resulted in the car slamming into a fence.

Govt Ministers for weekly face-off with miners

Government in a bid to better understand what is taking place in the mining sector, plans to meet with medium and small-scale miners weekly to address various issues affecting the industry, which contributes 10 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In making a commitment to enhance the mining sector, Minister within the Ministry of

Social Protection Simona Broomes, Governance Minister Raphael Trotman who has oversight of the mining sector and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) officials will be listening, investigating and promoting best practices to enhance the sector.

Broomes, who met with several miners at GGMC’s Brickdam Office

on Wednesday, said it was the opinion of small miners that the previous administration had entertained only largescale miners and neglected others.

She said she and the Governance Minister had agreed to set aside time to meet with those miners to listen to various issues affecting them and decide how government could assist.

Noting that documentation was done on all matters and each would be addressed on its own merit, Minister Broomes said government was committed to serving the people, as many issues had not been addressed under the previous administration.

“Persons with various issues will have them addressed within a specified timespan, and the way forward will be dealt with since we cannot operate as if we know it all,” she underscored. “When it is agreed upon, miners will know of a designated time and day that they can meet with the minister to have their concerns addressed.”

The minister, who is passionate about reducing and possibly eliminating social ills in the mining sector, said, there was a specific matter that was being addressed whereby a smallscale miner was being taken advantage of after

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection

Simona Broomes

following all procedures in conducting his business.

Noting that it was a case of landlordism, which is a practice whereby the holders of mining licences would rent their lands to smaller miners in return for a percentage of proceeds from the activities. However the regulations reportedly do not cater for such a practice.

“The small-scale min-

er received permission from GGMC to work lawfully on a plot of land, however, the Act does not make provision for persons who don’t have property and are working on someone else’s land.”

She explained that all the relevant stakeholders and ministries would be making representation to ensure advantage is not taken of small-scale miners.

In advancing the mining sector, government last month granted small and medium-scale miners fuel-tax concessions, for which they have been clamouring to keep their businesses afloat.

This came about through the signing of agreements in the Ministry of Finance’s boardroom between the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), the Finance Ministry and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA).

Guyana could only experience true development if there is cohesion – Amna Ally

Social Cohesion

Minister Amna Ally has called on citizens to work side by side with the government and

to forgo their political differences in an effort to transform the country –politically, socially and economically.

Minister Ally made this call last Sunday while meeting with residents at Mabaruma and Port Kaituma in Region 1 (Barima/Waini).

“Regardless of our political persuasions, we must unite and work as one for the development of our region,” she said, while noting that Guyana could only experience true development if there is cohesion and co-operation.

Addressing the large gatherings, first at the Mabaruma Primary School and subsequently at the Port Kaituma Community Centre, Minister Ally explained that the government through the Social Cohesion Ministry is engaging citizens at the community level in a national conversation in its quest to foster togetherness and national unity.

This, she explained, was one of the short-term recommendations coming out of the National

Roundtable, which was held on September 3, 2015 at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC).

“These principles serve as the touchstones of our social cohesion work-plan and are aimed at fostering greater cohesion within diverse communities and national unity between them and across the country,” Minister Ally asserted.

In outlining her plan for the achievement of cohesiveness in the country, she stated clearly that it cannot be achieved solely by the government.

She added: “You can make a positive change in our country…We recognise that behavioural change is a pillar of reconciliation in this country and we must all contribute to achieving the good life that we all want right here in Guyana.”

In capitalising on the opportunity, some of the residents raised several concerns, including the neglect of their roads, children and social welfare, which the minister promised to look into.

Pressure mounts on Ramjattan to review 2:00am curfew

By Devina Samaroo

As initially predicted by those heavily involved in the entertainment industry, the 2:00 am curfew is severely impacting night businesses, with many bars and nightclubs being faced with the threat of closure and downsizing of operations.

Rescinding its initial posture, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is now calling on the Government to revisit the 2:00am curfew imposed on bars and nightclubs located in the commercial districts and zones in the country, especially for those which comply with building codes that limit noise nuisance. But Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan made it profoundly clear that he would not budge on his decision.

“It will not be done. It’s 2 o’clock. I might very well bring it forward to 12:00 am. Didn’t you hear today what drinking is causing and how many deaths it is

causing…? You bother with them Private Sector people…,” he told media operatives after the launch of the National Road Safety Week on Wednesday.

But the PSC highlighted that there is no definitive study on the social impact of the later

closure on crime and accidents, concluding that the verdict appears notional.

Additionally, considering the highly festive Christmas season ahead, along with the upcoming 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, the PSC is at least

Swami Vidyanandaji ...

we do not have a reversal of those gains that we have made in this society and in that way we will be making a contribution to perpetuating his life. His work that is left here with us today and to ensure that the efforts that he made will not go in vain,” Ramotar added.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, in his tribute stated that he, like the rest of the country, has great respect for the late Swami and is sure that God will bless him because he has served not only those in his country but in other parts of the world as well.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo told those attending the crematoria service that although the spiritual leader was no longer alive, he will be born again in memories, in every student who has seen the light of knowledge and who has seen the light of spirituality and learning.

“He has given to us that touch that says we are not simply human, we are human beings with a consciousness that tells us that life is much more than material things, mansions and cars and palaces. And he had lived a life not of ostentatiousness, he has lived a life of simplicity and service without expectation of rewards… And when Sase Kowlessar, then Minister, invited me to come to the Ashram on one of those occasions of Maha Shiv Ratri, it was a great delight that I met the person for whom I had great admiration… and when I came again when the lotus temple was open and so on that occasion I felt the touch of his holiness when he asked me to sit beside him, not at his feet, he asked me to sit beside him and he knew that I was troubled then and I believe that leaving him that day I became firmer, I became resolved that there was nothing that I couldn’t overcome if I decided that I should put my mind to the task of service, selflessly and without rewards,” the Prime Minister said.

He related that during his recent trip to Mexico it was his “obsession” to secure funding for something that

was “lofty… something more intangible, stronger, more powerful, imperishable.” As such, he requested from the Spanish nation funding for the construction and establishment of a creative arts institute.

“I asked the authorities in Mexico if they could fund the building of an institute of fine or creative arts where you could have simultaneously the teaching of dancing, music, you could teach sculpture, you could teach languages; that they are all part and parcel of what is missing in our life. The finer side of our life, the creative side of our life, it would enhance our spirituality, it would make us perfect… and harmonise us with who we ought to be, not labourers alone but to tap the better angels of our souls and to become creative and to be whole as human beings. I pay this tribute today to all the relatives of the Swamiji, all those who have followed his example…,” he added.

Meanwhile, Former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, recalled the early days when he had met with the spiritual leader, describing him as a religious man who was peaceful, humble and lived a simple lifestyle while contributing to the development of Guyana.

According to Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, he met the late Swami when he had visited the Ashram years ago to create a film based on Shivratri.

“I want to say a little bit about what sitting with him, and talking to him meant. When I had finished my film on Shivratri I called it an experience of belief and by that I meant to say not only what the film was demonstrating was the experience of Hindus, but also about my own experience of their belief. And the Swami was extremely generous in his conversations with me. He knew that I was a skeptic to say the very least and he did not try to persuade me …but we sat there and emanated the kind of peace and sense of self,” the Education Minister said. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

asking that Government extends the 2:00 am decree to facilitate visitors.

“The PSC is, therefore, calling on the Minister of Public Security to rethink this strategy and its implications on business. We are strongly recommending that consideration be given for bars and nightclubs to be open until 4:00 am on Fridays, Saturdays and Public Holidays for those night clubs located in commercial districts and zones and those which comply with building codes that

limit noise nuisance,” the Commission stated in a media release.

Discrimination

Meanwhile, it was observed that while some nightspots are forced to comply with the curfew, others are being allowed to open until at least 4:00 am.

Partygoers have taken notice of this apparent “discrimination”, and insisted that the law enforcers look into the situation.

Businessman Jerry Bacchus, former owner of the Jerry’s restau-

rant franchise during an interview with Guyana Times International, had expressed concern about the 2:00am curfew only being adhered to by some nightclubs.

He had noted that if the Government wanted to impose the 2:00am curfew, it must ensure the law enforcers ensure everyone complies.

The economy Even amid immense public outrage, Ramjattan announced the 2:00 am close-off time for bars and nightclubs across the country, citing the high rates of crime and road accidents as reasons for this decision.

However, the local entertainment industry protested this verdict, contending that the 2:00 am curfew would not curtail the country’s crime rate, but rather it would severely impact businesses and Guyana’s nightlife tourism in a negative way.

Owners and managers of popular nightspots, including Gravity and Buddy’s Entertainment Complex, are not the only ones concerned about Government’s approach to the economy.

Concerns have already been raised over Government’s general approach towards the economy and its manner

continued on page 10

Mother fights off gun-toting bandit

ABerbician moth-

er faced off with a gunman who entered her home with his accomplice on Tuesday morning in an attempt to prevent them from hurting her two children.

The woman, identified as Miriam Hoosain of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, was brutalised by the perpetrators who invaded her house around 06:00h on the day in question.

The victim’s husband had just left for work around 05:30h, while their 11-year-old son and six-year-old daughter were upstairs in the house when the incident took place.

Reports are that Hoosain was in her hammock meditating when the two men arrived at her gate asking if her husband was at home. She related to Guyana Times International that she replied in the affirmative, stating that her husband was upstairs.

However, instead of walking away from her gate, the duo quickly rushed into her yard; one remained with her and the other signalled his intent to go into the upper flat of her house.

“They did it so fast. By the time I realised they were bandits, the one took out a gun and

I started to scream. He lashed me and the next thing I knew was that he had me in the kitchen,” she said.

According to Hoosain, she had “blacked out” briefly, but as soon as she regained consciousness, she began to shout for help. It was then that the gun-toting bandit who was standing guard over her smashed the weapon into her face while telling her to remain quiet.

“He threatened to shoot me…I heard the one upstairs opening drawers and asking the children where their mother’s bedroom is…So I get up after I catch myself again and I hold on to him and fight him and overpowered him,” the distraught mother told

this publication.

She explained that the gun-toting bandit was caught off-guard and thus, having the upper hand, she held onto the intruder with a firm grip, forcing him to call his partner for help.

Guyana Times International was told that it was at this moment Hoosain made the most out of the small timeframe she had to escape and ran out of her kitchen straight into her neighbour’s yard, while alerting them about the situation with shouts and screams.

This caused the two perpetrators to abort their mission and flee the woman’s house before they could be detained by anyone who might rush to her aid.

When asked why she made the daring move to wrestle with and fight off an armed man, she explained that while the blood was pouring down her face after being hit with the gun, all she could think of was her two children alone in the upper flat of the house with an armed bandit.

When this newspaper visited Hoosain on Tuesday, the woman could barely open her eyes. She had already sought medical attention and received two stitches on her face.

According to the injured woman, the bandits did not succeed in executing their daring attempt of a robbery, since they left empty handed.

Meanwhile, her husband, Feroze Hoosain told Guyana Times International that he was not allowed to leave his job and go home when he received information about his wife’s injuries and the attempted robbery at his house.

He stated that he received the information about what had occurred in his absence around 08:30h, but could not leave his work site until 14:00h. It must be noted that he is employed as a security guard at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Armed bandits rob America Street ‘money changers’

Gun toting bandits on CG motorcycles on Tuesday evening robbed three money changers on America Street, Georgetown.

The busy area turned into chaos at about 20:00h when the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately before snatching an undisclosed sum of foreign and local cash from the money changers.

Fortunately, no one was injured, although the area was crowded with commuters.

An eyewitness

told Guyana Times International that the money changers are lucky to be alive since the bandits opened fire without care.

According to the eyewitness, the gunmen were well organised, knew their targets and planned their escape route.

When this newspaper arrived at the scene, several Police Officers had already cordoned off the area and were picking up spent shells. Investigations are continuing.

Pressure mounts on Ramjattan to review...

in addressing the issues facing the economic sectors of the country especially rice and sugar.

Chairman of the Trade and Investment Committee of the PSC, Ramesh Dookhoo had contended that nightclubs and bars, particularly the high-end entertainment complexes, offer more than just a venue for alcohol consumption but an ideal environment for a family affair and these places were also world-class restaurants.

“People do not just go to these spots just to drink, they go for entertainment; it’s a whole experience,” he explained.

“Partygoers will still exit clubs highly intoxicated before 2:00 am and they can still contribute to road accidents, if that’s what the case may be. So it’s not a matter of what time the bar closes, it’s a matter of law enforcement.”

Furthermore, Dookhoo said many of these high-end businesses invested heavily in

creating full-blown entertainment establishments with a projected return on investments based on the existing conditions and therefore, changing the game plan by putting a deadline on the operations of the businesses will negatively impact them.

In addition, he predicted that the curfew would act as a disincentive to tourists who would have, under previous circumstances, visited Guyana to enjoy the exhilarating nightlife these entertainment complexes were able to provide.

In fact, the owners of these clubs have provided their own security for patrons coming into and exiting their clubs. Dookhoo noted that the nightclubs have proved to be safe places of entertainment, but now they were being penalised, when in fact other sectors of society needed to fulfil their obligations to the community by offering proper protection to the citizenry.

from page 9

Breach

Meanwhile, Ramjattan argued that the 2:00 am curfew was nothing new and was, in fact, a law which was constantly being breached.

According to the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act, the Minister is required to set a close-off time for businesses operating with liquor licences and in fact, the stipulated time on those licences read 2:00 am.

Ramjattan had stated that should liquor stores, bars and nightclubs dare to breach the stipulated curfew, he would not hesitate to let the law take its course.

“It is a legal requirement under the licensing arrangement that they bring a halt to their activities at 2:00 am … There are sanctions in the law and there will also be the ultimate sanction where we will close, suspend or revoke the licence,” he asserted.

(devinas@guyanatimesgy.com)

Bandits escape with over Gy$6M following Berbice robbery

Two armed bandits escaped with more than Gy$6 million in cash and jewellery following a brazen daylight robbery in Port Mourant, Corentyne.

According to reports, the two men went into Gobin’s Grocery Store at Port Mourant pretending to be customers but subsequently whipped out handguns and held the owners of the business hostage along with five staff members and 11 customers.

Co-owner of the store, Rhada Gobin told this publication that she was doing some administrative work when the bandits struck. She said a popular beverage company truck had just arrived at the store for routine delivery and she was in the process of paying Gy$1.1 million to the sales representative.

“Two boys walk in, well-dressed up, neat and ask ‘Aunty Rhada you have Heineken?,’ and Ah say no. So they turn to leave and them turn around and ask me if I have Guinness. They give me a Gy$1000 and say they want three

Guinness. Then they pull out a gun and put it on a lady head at the counter and say ‘nobody don’t move.’ Then tell we to lie down pun the ground.”

She said one of the bandits discharged a shot in the shop and demanded that she hand over cash and jewellery. One of the bandits also threw a bag at her and ordered her to pack the money and jewellery into the bag.

“He tell me open all the draw and take out all the money. So I open all the draw and take out all the money and full up in the bag. Then he start to cuss nasty, saying ‘go and bring all the so-and-

so millions what you get’ and Ah tell he that everything deh right here and he take the gun and hit me in the head and me fall own,” the traumatised woman related.”

The customers who were in the shop at the time were also robbed of their valuables including cash, jewellery and cellular phones.

Gobin said the men carried away about Gy$500,000 in jewellery from her collection, in addition to the cash.

According to her, the robbers used an overseas-based Guyanese who was in the shop at the time, as a human shield as they made their escape. “They put the gun at the lady neck and back to back to the road and jump on a motorbike and ride away.”

She said the men destroyed the surveillance footage from her CCTV cameras before leaving.

Shortly after, villagers went in search of the robbers but came up empty-handed.

The Police were called and have since taken one person into custody for questioning.

APNU/AFC does U-turn on campaign promises

… 60 is average age of most key appointments

As youths continue to feel sidelined with respect to their roles and involvement in the decision-making process of Guyana, Government is still to add ‘young blood’ to its leadership.

An examination of Cabinet members and recently appointed Regional Executive Officers (REO) has put the average age of the leadership of Guyana at 60.

This is despite the fact that 60 per cent of the voters at the May 2015 General and Regional Election were between the ages of 18 to 35.

During the election campaign 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) boasted on its intent to have youth involvement in its leadership once its wins the election.

However, having taken office, the youths of Guyana have been left dumbfounded, as there are yet to see this promise being realised. An examination of the recent handpicked REOs shows that Rupert Hopkinson (Region Two –Pomeroon-Supenaam) is 60, Dennis Jaikaran (Region Three –Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) is 55, and Veerasammy Ramayya (Region Six – East BerbiceCorentyne) is 68.

Hopkinson is the son of the first Regional Chairman of Region Two Kenneth “Baggie” Hopkinson who was appointed by the then People’s National Congress (PNC).

Jaikaran (Sr) is a member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) now APNU, and was in fact a

pallbearer at the funeral of former President Hugh Desmond Hoyte.

Ramayya is an Executive member of the AFC. Late August, Ramayya had threatened resignation from the AFC after he was not given a substantial Government job after the APNU/AFC took office.

With respect to the Cabinet, President David Granger is 70; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is 67; Khemraj Rmajattan, 54; Ronald Bulkan, 57; Basil Williams, 61; Noel Holder, 70; Amna Ally, 60; Winston Felix, 62; Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, 72; Carl Greenidge, 66; Dr George Norton, 58; Sydney Allicock, 60; Keith Scott, 73; Winston Jordon, 62; Valerie Garrido-Lowe, 55; Cathy Hughes, 52; Dominic Gaskin, 52; Karen Cummings, 52; and David Patterson is 50.

After taking office, the Administration replaced a number of Heads of Agencies, Board of Directors and also established several Commission of Inquiries (CoI), hand selecting those who are now governing those bodies.

Most notably is Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Hamilton Green, 80; Head of the State Asset

Recovery Unit (SARU)

Dr Clive Thomas, 77; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Dr Richard Van WestCharles, 66 and former CEO and current Director on the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s Board, Errol Hanoman who is 68.

James Bond, Christopher Jones and Trevor Williams; all of whom served the APNU and AFC during the 10th Parliament, led the APNU/AFC youth rallies and campaign.

As a matter of fact, the now ousted James Bond, who campaigned feverously for youth support to bring the APNU/AFC into Government, has since decried the noninvolvement of youths in the leadership of Guyana. Bond criticised the David Granger ledAdministration saying that he was disappointed with the composition of the APNU/AFC members for the 11th Parliament, adding that more youth should have been involved, given the fact that they played a major role, not only during the campaign but to place the APNU/AFC into Government.

During Budget presentation 2015, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Charles Ramson Jr, condemned the APNU/ AFC Government saying that they “rode the wave of youth to the

seat of power” but discarded the youths once they gained office.

He further criticised the Government’s decision to absolve the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry into the “Ministry of Education with a Department of Culture, Youth and Sport.”

The Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) has also joined in the call for Government to show respect to young people by including them in all levels of decisionmaking that will affect

their livelihoods and the future of the country which youths will inherent.

There is no doubt that under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) rule, there were a few persons over 60 in key positions. However, these were limited in number, with a range of younger persons also in leadership. Those over 60 were Dr Roger Luncheon, 66; Gail Teixeira, 63; Clement Rohee, 65 and former President Donald Ramotar, 65.

Slain taxi driver died from blunt trauma to the head

Apost mortem examination performed on slain taxi driver Sherland Dalloo proved he died as a result of shock and haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head. The autopsy was performed on Monday by Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary.

On Monday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told this newspaper that police have questioned several persons in connection with the disappearance and murder of the taxi driver and are following several leads.

Dead, Sherland Dalloo

out search parties to several locations including Linden, Mabaruma, Lethem, and Berbice.

The body of Dalloo, 33, of 55 Parika, East Bank Essequibo was discovered on Sunday morning at Onverwagt Backdam, West Coast Berbice. The young man went missing on October 26 after he left for work at the Parika Stelling area.

At the time of his disappearance he was driving a silver grey Toyota 212, with registration plate HB 8729. After days of searching, the man’s body was discovered by residents in the area who were heading to the backdam.

After Dalloo went missing, relatives sent

According to the dead man’s mother Bhanmatty Dalloo calls to her son went unanswered, arousing suspicion that something was wrong.

A missing person’s report was eventually made at the Parika Police Station.

Guyana Times International understands that following the discovery, Dalloo’s family was contacted and his brother travelled to Berbice where his worst fear was confirmed as he positively identified the battered body as that of his brother.

The slain taxi driver was laid to rest on Tuesday.

ElEctions PEtition casE

PM, US reps discuss Venezuelan trade embargo, aggression against Guyana

The recent visit to the Open Government Partnership Global Summit in Mexico City, Mexico, by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Governance Minister Raphael Trotman, was maximised to the greatest extent.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo ably addressed the forum and informed the many dignitaries about the Venezuela controversy and that the country has now refused to buy Guyana’s rice and sell fuel to this country (Guyana).

Bilateral talks

During the Summit, Nagamootoo had the opportunity to hold bilateral talks with Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the USA to the United Nations (UN). Major discussions focused on the GuyanaVenezuela border controversy.

Nagamootoo used the occasion of his address, and talks with Power to raise the threat Venezuela poses to Guyana. He explained that Venezuela has sought to reassert a false claim to five-eighths of Guyana, which includes all of the country’s forest and mineral resources as well its exclusive maritime zone.

He detailed that Venezuela has refused to buy the country’s rice and sell fuel to it. Along this line, the Prime Minister explained that Venezuela has even sought to block oil exploration off Guyana’s coast and gold extraction in its own territory, “all in clear violation of international law and treaty obligations;” a point that Samantha Power touched on in her address at the Summit.

The Venezuelan rice market, the PetroCaribe deal, is set for an official closing on November 16, as was relayed to the country when

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in July, visited Venezuela. At the time, the Minister was told that Venezuela will not be renewing the oil for rice barter under the PetroCaribe deal.

Venezuela in the meantime turned quickly to Suriname for a rice deal under the said PetroCaribe arrangement. The two Heads of State – Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and his Surinamese counterpart Desi Bouterse – just con-

cluded an agreement on the deal ‘in principle,’ and which will be finalised very soon. This news came right after Venezuela decided to stop buying Guyanese rice under a similar arrangement.

The 2015 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit just concluded in Mexico City. It was held under the theme, “An opening for all: Open Government as an Enabler of Sustainable Development.”

PPP/C advances GECOM’s case is wrong, misconceived

The preliminary hearings into the elections petition continued at the High Court on Monday when the People’s Progress Party/Civic (PPP/C) countered claims that material facts were missing to support the petition as was presented to the court by GECOM Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield’s lawyer Roysdale Forde during a previous hearing.

On Monday, the PPP/C lawyers were given three days to counterargue the claims made by Forde. Before starting the proceedings, Jamaican lawyer Abraham Joseph Dabdoub was admitted to the local bar before Justice Rishi Persaud and immediately after joined the PPP/C’s legal team for the petition case against GECOM.

PPP/C Executive Member and Attorney Anil Nandlall during an interview with Guyana Times International, explained the basis on the counter-arguments

which the PPP/C’s legal team will advance.

He said many authorities were relied upon by the lawyer of GECOM’s CEO emanating from India, Sri Lanka, Canada and other jurisdictions.

But the PPP/C, he said, were able to show that the statutory provisions in relations to an elections petition differed in those countries.

“We were able to show that in Guyana, like many Commonwealth countries, the jurisdiction which a court has to hear an elections petition is a special one, limited one, and exclusive one. It used to be exercised 200 years ago by parliament and it was conferred by special statute and has now received constitutional embrace conferred

to the high court… and the exercise of the jurisdiction carries its own peculiar rules,” Nandlall said.

He added that according to the rules a judge can only exercise powers in relation to an elections petition, which the election laws give to that judge.

Legal terminology aside, Nandlall not-

ed that the PPP/C is attempting to persuade the judge that the arguments advanced were wrong, misconceived, and that they contain and illustrate the lack of understanding of the relevant law and legal principle in relation to an elections petition.

Meanwhile, in addition to Lowenfield, Attorney General Basil Williams and Head of the APNU/AFC coalition’s List of Candidates Professor Harold Lutchman advanced summons to the Court to have the petition nullified.

However, the elections petition, which was filed by Nandlall on behalf of PPP/C Executive Member Ganga Persaud, puts the argument forward that the recently concluded elections on May 11 were seriously flawed to the extent that the entire outcome of the elections could have been different.

More than 20 grounds were cited to support the petition. These in-

clude valid ballots being wrongly deemed rejected; Statements of Poll (SoPs) used to ascertain the results contained arithmetic errors; multiple voting by persons and impersonation of persons; PPP/C ballot attendants and polling agents being prevented from accompanying the ballot boxes; and the fact that there were fraudulently concocted SoPs.

The petition is asking the Court to “determine and declare that the whole of the electoral process was so flawed, contained so many procedural errors and so many instances of fraudulent and/or suspicious actions that the results that have been derived from the process cannot be credibly deemed to represent accurately the will of the electorate”.

The matter is being heard in the High Court before Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang. At the end of the preliminary hearings, the substantive matter is expected to be heard.

President Granger expresses concern over “troubling” suicide rate

As suicide continues to rock Guyana, President David Granger said he was very concerned that many persons were resorting to such action.

The most recent act of suicide on the East Coast of Demerara on Monday rocked the country, when two teen -

agers chose to end their lives by consuming a poisonous substance on the Kingston Seawall.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, President Granger said he was very much concerned at the rate at which the social malady was taking over the country, particularly among the youth.

“It is very troubling that many young people are resorting so easily to suicide. Studies have been done recently in Mibicuri and it is a very difficult problem to overcome because it is a personal response,” the President said.

According to him, from the outlook of these incidents, the per -

sons making the choice to take their lives “are not poor people who are at a dead end because of poverty”. Some of these persons, he said, seem to be living comfortable lives so “something else has to be going on”.

Granger said, “Something else must be going on indeed since

happy people do not kill themselves.”

He said more needed to be done by both Government and local organisations, as there were many factors that were leading persons to commit suicide.

Asked if there was a plan to deal with the soaring suicide rate, the Head of State said, “You can’t have a plan to prevent suicide in all cases. It is not a matter of removing them from the chemical they use, because if you want to kill yourself, you jump off the Harbour Bridge and we cannot move the Harbour Bridge.”

He said many persons use pesticides as a means of suicide, while

others use other methods, but the idea was to get to the cause of such acts.

The President said he could not say he had all the answers, but what he knew for sure was that the local suicide rate was the highest in the hemisphere. He said it was a public health issue and Government was working on it through the Public Health Ministry.

On Monday, the bodies of 19-year-old Kavita Ackloo and her 18-year-old boyfriend Ramesh Beharry were discovered on the Kingston Seawall by joggers about 17:00h. They were found lying close to each other.

NY’s Independence Celebration Committee slams former AG for making “false claims”

The 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee (New York) has refuted claims that the volunteers, who comprise this team, are being paid

excessive sums by the Guyana Government to plan the country’s anniversary celebrations in New York City.

According to the Committee’s Director of Communications, Nevlon Duguid, the members are dismissing what they deem to be “false claims” made by former Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall in the Guyana Times November 2, 2015 Monday edition titled “Extravagant Govt spending outrageous –Nandlall.”

Former PM welcomes Hope Beach Wind Farm project

Former Prime Minister and Energy Minister Samuel Hinds is of the view that if and when a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is reached between the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), and Guyana Wind Farm Inc (GWFI), it is of utmost importance that GPL and customers are not put in a disadvantageous position.

“Our law requires that every PPA must be submitted to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for review and approval so that we, the consumers of electricity, should be no worse off,” Hinds said.

Guyana Times International understands that a decision as it regards the construction of the “farm” would await a PUC approved PPA.

The former Prime Minister explained that the Government of the day was putting the proposals for a wind farm through vigorous review before taking them to the PUC as it wanted to make sure that Hope Beach Wind Farm was going to be advantageous to both GPL and its customers.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has been reported as saying that “where GPL and GWF agrees to a PPA, and same is approved by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), a licence to GWF to sell the power to GPL may be granted by the Minister”.

Hinds went on to

say that “the wind farm needed to be studied fully: very detailed studies had begun which would have taken account of, amongst other things, the additional costs that GPL would have incurred to maintain stability in the grid. For example, the cost of maintaining a number of spinning reserves to meet the rising and falling of the varying speed of the wind which would have had to be discounted against the savings in heavy fuel oil purchases (avoided costs).

Based on reports, it has been established that the International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA),which is one of the investors in the Hope Wind Farm Project, expects the facility to reduce the country’s fuel bill by US$5 million (G$1 billion) annually.

As the current Administration continues to look into alternative energy, it is plugging away at projects where the vital ground work had already been laid by the previous Government. In this regard, it should be recalled that the Amaila Falls was identified in the 1980s as one of the very best locations to meet local electricity needs.

And most crucial, as Hinds reiterates, the construction of Amaila at this time would provide a huge fillip to national spirit and economic activity, making up for the downturn in gold and other sectors.

This newspaper understands that Rovin Rozario, a Guyanese Attorney in New York City is a member of the said Committee as well as a co-chair of a subcommittee, who is volunteering his legal services to the 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee (New York).

Duguid informed Guyana Times International on Tuesday that Rozario also has made a substantial monetary donation to the Committee, which has

attracted the attention, commitment and enthusiasm of a number of talented Guyanese, all of whom are volunteers.

In a letter to this publication, Duguid stated that the article published is replete with false information making reference to Nandlall’s expression of disgust that “The Guyana Government has hired New York law firm ‘Rozario and Associates’ to represent GuyaneseAmericans on a commemoration committee which was established for the purpose of planning” the 50th independence anniversary celebration in New York City from June 4th through June 12th, 2016.”

According to the Committee’s Director of Communications, Nandlall’s claims that the administration is “find-

ing money to spend on a grand inauguration ceremony and now they are spending millions locally on this independence commemoration activity. And coupled with that, we now learn that they retained the services of a law firm to plan commemoration services in North America” are neither sensible nor factual.

Guyana Times International was further told that the Committee has not retained, or seen the need to retain, any professional services company.

“Nandlall is a former AG and should, therefore, know that making unverified and intentionally false claims particularly about another member of the legal fraternity is not only unscrupulous but unethical and reprehensible,” the Committee

said in the statement. It added that Rozario’s “willingness to volunteer his professional services to his country should be commended and encouraged”.

In an interview with Guyana Times International, Nandlall had said that millions of taxpayers’ dollars are being drained from the treasury and pumped into making Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations locally and abroad as extravagant and exceptional as can be.

Nandlall slammed the current Administration for focusing on spending enormous sums of taxpayers’ monies on “parties” and “fetes”, while the economic sectors of the country continue to suffer tremendously.

Jagdeo attends ACP’s Eminent Persons Group Meeting in Brussels

BY EDWARD LAYNE

The Leader of the Opposition and former President Bharrat Jagdeo is among several internationally experienced and politically astute former Heads of State, Ambassadors, heads and members of international organisations and Heads of Government recently attended a meeting of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States’ Eminent Persons Group (EPG) in Brussels, Belgium, to finalise a report on the Future of the ACP post-2020, when the Partnership Agreement with the European Union known as Cotonou Agreement comes to an end, under the ACP’s Eminent persons.

The EPG, of which Jagdeo is a co-Vice Chair, will present the finalised report to Heads of State and Government of the ACP when they meet in the near future.

The EPG was established by the ACP in 2013 and was tasked with assessing the ACP’s performance, with the aim of proposing a fresh vision of the ACP as a contemporary international or-

ganisation in the lead up to and beyond 2020.

The group held comprehensive consultations in the Pacific, the Caribbean, West Africa, Eastern Africa, Southern and Central Africa, as well as meetings with European Union (EU) officials, ACP Ambassadors and the staff of the ACP Secretariat.

The ACP said on its website that in general, the views shared at the

EPG regional consultations have been optimistic, with an overwhelming belief that the ACP Group should remain –the question is, in what form, and in which focus areas.

South-South cooperation has been a popular proposal, according to the group, especially in terms of intra-ACP cooperation, involving the exchange of resources, knowledge, technology and experience between

Barbados and Guyana sign Third Joint Commission to foster cooperation … in tourism and other sectors

BRIDGETOWN, BarbadosBarbados and Guyana have signed a Third Joint Commission, which is intended to foster cooperation in tourism and other sectors.

or among developing countries, with the aim of fighting poverty and promoting sustainable development.

The final report is expected to include key recommendations for revamping the ACP Group – an international organisation encompassing 79 member countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific – to be more effective in delivering results to its populations.

It will also include recommendations on how to move forward after the ACP’s cornerstone partnership with the European Union, known as the Cotonou Agreement, comes to an end in 2020.

The EPG panel is chaired by former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and co-Chaired by Jagdeo and former Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez Reyna.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and the Guyana Tourism Authority; and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Barbados Port Inc. and the Guyana Port Authority, were signed recently in Barbados.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, which took place after a day of deliberations between Barbadian and Guyanese officials, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Maxine McClean explained that the talks gave both countries the opportunity to exchange ideas and assess the level of cooperation within the Joint Commission.

Adding that such a commission was intended to strengthen bilateral ties between the countries, Senator McClean noted that it would not only benefit the respective governments, but positively impact the principal economic sectors of each country.

“In 2007, we signed the first step of this initiative, and in 2013 we had a second meeting of the Joint Commission that allowed us to identify several critical areas of cooperation in tour-

ism, education and agriculture, and we sought to concretise efforts to increase trade,” she said.

“In my opinion, this exercise will not only benefit the respective governments but the principal economic sectors of our respective countries and I anticipate that building on what we have achieved [there will be a] mix of synergies which will allow sectors to grow.”

Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs in Guyana Carl Greenidge announced that he was satisfied with the progress made with the Joint Commission so far, which included an internship for Guyanese students at the Crane Beach Resort and scholarships provided by the Guyana School of Agriculture to Barbadian students.

He added that he was looking forward to deeper collaboration in the fisheries and maritime sectors, particularly planned exchanges of technical assistance and the development of related services.

Greenidge also highlighted a number of improvements that could be made to the agreements. He outlined a need for careful budgeting when projects were being implemented and suggested that more work needed to be done within the education system to encourage persons to be more fluent in other languages.

Unemployed Cuba-trained doctors started signing contracts

The situation which led to some 92 Cuba-trained Guyanese doctors being jobless over the past two months was either one where the officials responsible have been “dragging their feet”, or one of sheer “negligence”.

thing must be done to correct such instances from recurring.

“We have to do something… even if we have to change things to make the system work”, Norton told this publication during a telephone interview.

ployment.

Norton said this should not have been happening, especially with the new government in office. “We cannot allow our well trained doctors to be at home, never!” he told this publication.

This is according to Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton who told Guyana Times International on Sunday he was prepared to do everything in his power to have the 92 Cuba-trained Guyanese doctors on the job.

Even though some of the doctors have begun signing their contracts, the Minister said some-

Late last month, some of the new doctors, who graduated some two months ago, told this publication they were unsure of their future and had to be seeking other forms of income as they were being given the “royal runaround” by the Ministry of Health and the Public Service Ministry (PSM) when they sought to enquire about their em-

He reminded that he had assured the new doctors at their graduation back in August that Government was prepared to assist them through this phase, and was also opening avenues to have them further their studies in any particular field they may want to specialise in.

Meanwhile, the minister said that as far as he was aware, the doc-

tors have begun signing their contracts, and would soon be turning out to work. He said the information communicated to him by the PSM was that process has already begun; maintaining that the welfare of the doctors has always been under the ambit of the PSM, and could not understand what could have led to the “unfortunate situation”.

Norton however la-

mented he could not see why the doctors, whom he had already begun building a relationship with, could not have gone to him with the issue.

He said too that although they did not sign their contracts, they were free to begin working at their specified places of employment until their contracts were ready.

But the doctors who spoke with this publication earlier had ex-

plained that their only concern was the signing of a contract, which they said would seal their commitment to the Government and people of Guyana.

The doctors explained that if they did not sign a contract, they could not just simply show up at any medical institution to work. “It would be illegal,” they had told Guyana Times International.

Govt seeking to have all teachers professionally trained – Granger

Government is seeking to have all teachers in the public school system be professionally trained to carry out their functions, President David Granger has said.

Addressing hundreds of students last Thursday at the National Cultural Centre at the Education Ministry’s 19th annual prize-giving ceremony, the Head of State said it was necessary to have properly educated teachers in the system so as to ensure that each child has access to quality education.

“We hope that over the next 15 years, between 2015 and 2030 – during the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] –our teachers will have the opportunity of having a tertiary education,” he said.

The Head of State noted that during his tenure as President, Government would be working to ensure that every teacher was trained. Moreover, he stated it was necessary to have properly educated teachers if there were to be educated students. Teachers must also have the tools to do their jobs, he said.

Meanwhile, the President said that every secondary school must

also have a well-equipped science and computer laboratory.

According to him, ensuring that every secondary school is equipped will help reduce disparities in educational attainment between the coastland and the hinterland.

“Universal Secondary Education is the foundation on which Guyana can improve. If Guyana is to survive, it cannot be left behind the rest of the Caribbean and the rest of the world in education. It must at the minimum keep abreast with international standards. The performance of our students over the years in regional examinations testifies to the great value that our people have attached to education and the capacity of our students to excel,” he

said.

The issue of trained teachers was raised in the National Assembly during the 2015 Budget debates.

On Day Five, the final day of the 2015 Budget Debate presentations, former Education Minister Priya Manickchand and current Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, faced off as they addressed the education sector and all its achievements.

Manickchand highlighted the many areas that have seen major success under the PPP/C regime such as the number of trained teachers in the country. She disclosed that under her party, trained teachers increased from some 30 per cent to an astonishing 72 per cent of all teachers.

Miss Guyana Universe 2015 Pageant officially launched

T2015 Miss

was officially launched at the Princess Hotel’s Conference Room on Sunday evening at a simple ceremony.

The nine intelligent, beautiful and well-groomed delegates were unveiled to the public for the first time at the event by radio personality Feliz Robertson.

Addressing the gathering, franchise holder Odinga Lumumba thanked the sponsors for supporting the event and was particularly grateful to the management of the Princess Hotel for making the facility available for the occasion.

The coronation is also billed for the said venue on November 15. Lumumba stated that the winner of the local pageant will represent Guyana in Las Vegas on December 20, 2015, where she will be compet-

ing against 94 other delegates from around the globe.

He said that the local beauties would participate in a televised Intelligence Competition before pageant night during which they would be interviewed.

He also indicated that this year the calibre of contestants has improved, citing that Guyana has a better opportunity of placing at the international leg of the pageant.

After Lumumba’s address, each delegate introduced herself to the audience and mingled with the media and patrons with the hope of securing much-needed sponsorship.

Those competing for the coveted title this year are Shauna Ramdian, Zeena Bland, Najuma Nelson, Babita Seelall, Malike Russel, Tricia Quail, Diana Hamad, Kiswana Jefford and Melissa Defreitas.

Questions on Govt’s Inauguration spending met with more confusing answers – PPP

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

Making mat-

ters more confusing, the Finance Ministry’s parliamentary response to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) questions in relation to expenses incurred for the Presidential inauguration ceremonies have created far more questions than answers.

In August, the Opposition had submitted a list of questions about the inauguration spending to the Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs which were to be answered by the Finance Minister.

But in its written reply, the Finance Ministry provided no clarifications on the issues within the public domain regarding this concern. In fact, some of the responses provided completely contradicted what several government ministers had already publicly pronounced about the inauguration spending.

The PPP/C had asked government to provide a detailed list of all the costs incurred in relation to, and in preparation for, the Presidential Inauguration events held at Parliament Building, Independence Arch, National Stadium, Providence, Pegasus Hotel, and elsewhere, including the clean-up campaign that preceded those events.

The Ministry’s response was: “the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport was not required to provide any financial, technical, nor in-kind support in preparation for the Presidential Inauguration events held at Parliament Buildings, Independence Arch in Brickdam, Pegasus Hotel, and elsewhere, including the clean-up campaign that preceded those events.”

Firstly, analysts have observed that the Ministry has limited its answer to the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport though the PPP/C asked a general question regarding the spending.

Additionally, government’s reply is completely contrary to what was already disclosed by State Minister Joseph Harmon and Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry.

Minister Harmon had told the media on the sidelines of a post-

Cabinet press briefing that government contributed minimally to this event, noting that most of the costs were covered by donations from private individuals.

Subsequently, on the final day of the Budget Estimates, Minister Henry succumbed to pressure from questions sprung by PPP/C Member of Parliament Charles Ramson Jr and revealed that millions of dollars were spent on the ceremony at the National Stadium.

Ramson had asked the Minister about a particular allocation under “subsidies and contributions to local organisations” under “Cultural Preservation and Conservation” within the Education Ministry and she disclosed that the money was spent on the inauguration ceremony and the T20 matches held in Guyana.

Observers therefore have noted that the Finance Ministry’s answer indicates that Harmon and Henry were untruthful to the public or it can be considered an indication government is attempting to hide the total of taxpayers’ monies expended on the extravagant events.

Meanwhile, the PPP/C had also asked the Finance Ministry to indicate the source of funding to which the reply was: “No financial support was provided therefore no source of funding can be indicated”.

The Opposition had also requested a detailed list of the contributions made, inclusive of the nature and value but the Finance Ministry stated that the “Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport is not in possession of such a listing.”

Again, the Finance Ministry focused its answer on the Ministry of Education, Department

of Culture, Youth and Sport though this was not the question asked.

The PPP/C also asked the Minister to indicate when an audited statement of the expenditure incurred will be available and tabled in the National Assembly. The Finance Ministry responded: “The Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport is not in possession of any statement of expenditure, as no expenses were incurred for the stated activities. Additionally the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport is not in any position to audit and or table same in the National Assembly given its nonexistence.”

Jagdeo’s take

During an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo noted that the PPP/C, and by extension the public, is still not clear about how the inauguration ceremonies were financed.

“The Minister (Winston Jordan) gave an answer that is utterly disgraceful,” Jagdeo declared.

“The country needs to know how state activities are financed,” he added, noting that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/ AFC) coalition had campaigned on the issue of transparency but now in government, they are completely dismissive when pressed for clarity on matters of national concern.

Consequently, the Opposition Leader said he is mulling the idea of sending copies of the PPP/C-proposed questions and the Ministry’s response to international bodies like Transparency International; Canadian Embassy, US Embassy, British High Commission and United Nations.

Guyana hosts reception for NYPD Officers

Visiting members of the New York Police Department (NYPD) were guests at a special event organised by the Guyana Police Force last Saturday evening at the Police Officers Mess, Eve Leary.

The reception was organised by the hierarchy of the Force and was described as a historic event, since it was the first time such a function was held there for ranks of a foreign Police Department.

Welcome and opening remarks were made by President of the Mess Committee who is also A Division

(Georgetown/East Bank Demerara) Commander, Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud also gave a brief speech and conveyed the condolences of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to the visiting ranks for their fallen colleague.

The occasion was graced with the presence of Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

The NYPD Officers, most of whom have Guyanese roots, were extremely appreciative to the local Police Force for such an event.

Granger, Maduro likely to meet at Arab Summit

President David Granger and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro are likely to meet at the Fourth Summit of the South American and Arab Countries (ASPA), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 10-11.

This could make way for another opportunity for the two Heads of Government to engage in bilateral discussions aimed at resolving the decades old dispute surrounding Venezuela’s claim on two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass, and rebuilding a functional diplomatic relationship.

Following their initial meet with the United Nations (UN) General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon in New York in September, Granger and Maduro agreed to continue to engage in bilateral communication.

President Granger is yet to confirm his participation in the Summit whereas President Maduro has confirmed. According to media reports, Maduro said his visit to Saudi Arabia would be the ideal opportunity for him to “insist on the formula to set a strategy to defend the oil market.”

Maduro has claimed the United States of America is using the Guyana Government to destabilise his country through the operations of ExxonMobil in the dis-

puted waters. The border controversy was only revived following the US-oil giant’s find of oil in the Stabroek offshore waters. Subsequent to their announcement of the lucrative find, Maduro issued a decree laying claims on Guyana’s land thus reviving the decades-old issue.

Meanwhile, the Fourth ASPA will bring together world leaders of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Arab League. The aim of the forum is to ensure greater coordination between political leaders and civil society organisations in the Middle East and North Africa Region and South American countries. ASPA’s cooperation involves actions organised through five sectoral committees for economics, science and technology, environment, social, and cultural affairs.

Rescue rice market

A Granger/Maduro

meet at the upcoming Summit would be the ideal opportunity for Guyana to rescue the Venezuelan rice market. Opposition Leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo had urged President Granger to engage in talks with Maduro when they met in New York concerning the recent loss of the PetroCaribe deal. However, Granger insisted that his purpose was solely to address the Guyana/Venezuela issue. Nevertheless, the possible meet in Saudi Arabia can provide another opportunity for the two leaders to reopen negotiations.

Amid the border controversy, Jagdeo had noted that Guyana can aggressively pursue the integrity and sovereignty of its borders, whilst at the same time, maintain an open channel for dialogue, trade flows and functional cooperation between its neighbours.

Dull Christmas for sugar workers if strike resumes – GuySuCo

By Kristen MacKlingaM

If workers across the sugar belt pursue another strike action for the rest of the year, such a decision could result in a grim Christmas season for those sugar workers and their families.

This is according to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), which in a statement on Sunday stated that as a result of the latest three-day strike orchestrated by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), workers throughout the country have lost millions of dollars in basic wages and incentives.

Guyana Times International understands that at the recent meeting between representatives of GAWU and GuySuCo on Friday last, the sugar company’s Chief Executive Officer, Errol Hanoman explained to the Union that it was never the Corporation’s intention not to commence negotiations on the 2015 wage proposals.

Hanoman reportedly reiterated at the meeting that the Corporation was awaiting advice on the way forward for the industry after Government considered the report and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

This newspaper was told that he informed the Union that having received a bailout from the Government, a road map for the future of the industry was crucial and the CoI was expected to recommend a basis for such a plan.

Guyana Times International was further told that Hanoman

the three-day strike has resulted in the loss of millions of dollars in basic wages and incentives

was of the view that both GAWU and all sugar workers have a critical role to play in the question of the sugar industry’s survival and sustainability in Guyana.

GuySuCo lost more than Gy$222.6 million during the threeday strike action which saw the entire operations coming to a halt

According to GuySuCo, its CEO emphasised that there will be negotiations, but that presently there is a “chicken and egg” situation where the issue is whether to address wage negotiations before the road map or the road map before negotiations.

However, this publication was told that Hanoman promised the workers Union that both the creation of this road map and the wage negotiations would occur.

GuySuCo is urging both GAWU

and all its sugar workers not to be hasty, since there would be negotiations, “just not today”.

Hanoman also advised that negotiations would commence “as soon as GuySuCo is in a position to do so”.

Early last week, in a sneak preview of the CoI report, this newspaper broke the news that Inquiry has recommended chief among other things that the sugar company withhold salary increases for the hundreds of sugar workers employed at the various estates across the country.

Although Government is yet to officially release the contents of the report, the leakage of this information sparked much anger among sugar workers and reportedly led to them downing tools for the three consecutive days.

Rice crisis, economic downturn worrying Essequibians

– PPP/C urged to “take back the country” during outreach

Residents of Essequibo Coast (Region Two) have expressed grave concerns regarding the current stagnant and depressing state of the Guyanese economy, the plight of rice farmers and millers on the coast, as Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo led a delegation of Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) in a three-day outreach there last week.

The delegation which included Anil Nandlall, Irfaan Ali, Zulfikar Mustapha, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Dr Bheri Ramsarran and others, saw some forty community meetings held across the Essequibo Coast.

Rice crisis

During the outreach, which saw the team interacting with residents, the most prominent issue raised was that of the current state of uncertainty in the rice industry and the government’s failure to act judiciously to rescue the sector, which as recent as last crop was a flourishing one.

Many residents, the majority of whom are rice farmers or depend on the industry, explained that they are finding it extremely difficult to survive, since the industry is now unprofitable.

Many of them also explained that they owe the banks and cannot afford to pay.

In face of the collapsed Venezuelan rice deal which, in 2014, accounted for US$130 mil-

lion of Guyana’s US$250 million total rice exports, residents called on the Opposition Leader and his team to lobby for subsidies for them so they could go back to the fields.

Some residents also noted that they supported the APNU/AFC in the May 11 elections, but are sorely disappointed, especially since the promises made by leaders from the government, particularly in the rice industry, have not materialised.

During the campaign period, the APNU/AFC had promised farmers up to Gy$6000 per bag of paddy once elected. Now that the APNU/AFC has been elected and given the opportunity to prove themselves, rice farmers feel deceived since they are only receiving Gy$2000 and less per bag this crop.

In response, Jagdeo and delegation promised that the PPP/C will canvass the government for the immediate removal of all taxes on fuel, fertilizer and other materials used in the rice industry; stop the collection of all rents from government-leased lands; negotiate with the commercial banks to adjust and reschedule loans of rice farmers and millers; pay rice farmers a subsidy until normalcy is returned; and resume efforts to regain the Venezuelan market: as well as pursue new markets.

Jagdeo also claimed that Guyana can get back the Venezuela

Prepare for lucrative oil, gas – Trotman tells stakeholders

Minister of Governance and Patrimony

Raphael Trotman on Friday said Guyana’s prospects in the oil and gas sector is encouraging and all should be prepared for the transformative effects it will have.

Trotman was addressing a host of technicians, experts, environmental organisations and other stakeholders at the first oil and gas seminar under the new government at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Georgetown.

offer of the depth of resources available in the University of Calgary to guide the development of a Sovereign Wealth Fund; and the United States Government’s support through the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI).

“We are serious about utilizing our national patrimony in the best interest of the people of Guyana and this is demonstrated in steps being taken to strengthen our policy frameworks within the natural resources sector and our plans to set aside a meaningful percentage of everything earned from gold, diamond, forest, bauxite, water and oil for future generations”, he said.

According to him, the development of the oil and gas sector is notorious for the risks and threats it poses to economic, social and political stability, and the environment.

rice deal, and expressed his Party’s readiness to assist the government in this regard.

However he said, based on utterances by government, including the President and Minister of Agriculture, there seems to be no interest in reclaiming the deal or to assist the ailing industry.

Gloomy economy

Many Essequibians expressed frustration at the economic slowdown and the irresponsible manner in which the David Granger-led coalition government is managing the nation’s economic affairs.

Residents in the region said since the APNU/AFC took office just over five months ago, the business climate on the Coast has been very worrying. They explained that there has been a slowdown in the circulation of cash and less people are doing business.

Some say their daily sales have dropped by as much as 70 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader and his delegation explained to residents that the Granger administration seems to have an obsession with spending, but is failing miserably in creating jobs and other revenue-generating avenues.

He warned that if this trend continues, the country will face serious economic hardships in the not too distant future. Jagdeo also lamented the administration’s failure to create any economic stimulus to motivate investments.

The seminar comes months after US oil and gas exploration giant Exxon Mobil reported its discovery of oil in the Stabroek Offshore block, a find that was said is enough to put Guyana on the road to economic recovery.

Trotman told the gathering Guyana remains proactive in its approach to this emerging sector to ensure all mechanisms necessary for the effective management and the best outcomes for its people are in place even before the first barrel of oil is brought to the surface.

“Oil is coming; we must prepare and become adept of what is going to be bequeathed and placed into our hands. We must make the necessary efforts to ensure that in decades to come we have something to show for our sustainable utilization of our natural resources”, the Minister told the gathering.

According to him, government has demonstrated its willingness to take advice and support by embracing not only United Nations Development Programme, but also the Commonwealth Secretariat with its support in the development of the Draft National Upstream Oil and Gas Policy; the Canadian Government’s

According to him, the policies and regulations that are being sought will provide clear standards and expectations for actions to be taken by those subject to regulation as well as the regulator.

“This robust regulatory framework must be supported by a wellthought-out and open enforcement scheme in which regulation is applied consistently according to the criteria of a defined framework; all intended to ensure a transparent regulatory system of the sector”, he said, continuing that the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is one international mechanism that seeks to ensure transparency in the management of extractive industries and is currently at the top of governmental agenda to be pursued.

A focal point and group of stakeholders have already started to be engaged to take Guyana’s efforts forward in this regard. Another is the Open Government Partnership (OGP) that promotes similar ideals of transparency, and the sharing of information, he explained.

He said government has resolved against all opposition, whether foreign or otherwise: “We regard our responsibility as a sacred one entrusted into our hands to act as guardian and stewards over the affairs of state and the national patrimony of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Rockstone craves development – residents

While the annual Fish Festival provides a great opportunity to showcase the naturalistic side of this thriving remote farming community, residents of Rockstone, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice), believe that much more needs to be done in order to improve their livelihood. In fact, there are not much economic activities going on in the community, which has just over 300 residents, and for years now the situation has remained the same.

Speaking with residents recently on what they think are lacking in terms of bettering their lives this newspaper learnt that issues such as potable water, electricity, improved telecommunications, roads, educational, job opportunities, and tourism are matters they wish to see addressed.

Potable water

There are just a few households in this community which have access to potable water, and for those who do not, the question of “when” remain unanswered. One resident related that only recently was potable water made available, however since she remains a part of the residents without, she would like to see the issue addressed.

Electricity

There are only a few homes equipped with solar panels in Rockstone, and those who can afford generators. For the majority of residents there is no access to electricity.

“You know, sometimes we does want to watch TV and so on but we can’t. Even if you decide to rear chickens you have to get cold storage. Rockstone has been like this for the longest while and I think it’s about time we come out of this

zone”, a gentleman who said he grew up in the community said.

Tourism potential

“We have a lot of tourism potential but I think we need more investment in the industry”, a resident who was part of the Rockstone Tourism Association (RTA), related to Guyana Times International.

According to her, there are scores of visitors to the community all year round however, she said there is need for better marketing of tourism, apart from the Fish Festival in October.

“We got a lot of training from GTA (Guyana Tourism Association) and a lot of trained persons who have a lot of ideas about tourism but still things are stagnated. We have trained tour guides but they can’t work because not much is happening.” She explained that some members of the Association had left so there was a reduction in activities. She urged they reunite to assist in promoting Rockstone.

Telecommunications

Presently there is very limited telecommunication in Rockstone so residents continue to voice concerns over this. There is only one telephone booth in the area, which

is presently out of order. Usually residents have to be near the booth to receive cellular phone signals which is quite limited. Residents explained that in times of emergency it is difficult to maintain contact with relatives.

Roads

Residents are concerned over the deplorable state of the access road. According to a resident who owns a car, the experience is challenging since lots of money have to be spent on maintenance. Yet another stated that more roads should be developed in the community.

Opportunities

The main means of livelihood in the community is either farming or forestry. Many persons from the community leave the area to attend jobs at distant locations since there are not many opportunities for employment. A resident explained that forestry concessions provide some opportunities, however recently there haven’t been any in that regard. Lumbering is also done on a small scale and residents said they would like to see more industries such as mining developed.

American bird smuggler nabbed, fined

An American citizen was on Monday fined Gy$75,000 after she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan charged with attempting to smuggle exotic birds from Guyana.

Ramjit Singh Takerdeen, 27, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on October 31, 2015 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, without obtaining a permission, she attempted to smuggle 29 birds.

According to Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones

the American citizen was an outgoing passenger on Caribbean Airlines flight BW526 destined for the John F Kennedy Airport, New York The Prosecutor stated that at about 16:20h while passing through security, a search was conducted on her person and the birds found concealed in hair curlers in her hand bag. When questioned, the woman admitted ownership of the birds and was arrested. She was fined and her export and import licence was revoked for 12 months.

Hundreds attend final farewell for slain Guyanese NYPD cop

By Devina Samaroo

Mournful melodies, tears of sorrow and the soothing sound of light raindrops on an early Saturday morning, all marked the final farewell of Guyanese born NYPD Officer Randolph Holder Jr, 33, who met his demise in the line of duty, during the pursuit of a suspect in East Harlem, New York on October 20.

In a solemn and emotional atmosphere, NYPD Officers, neatly dressed in their navy blue uniforms, escorted the flag draped coffin of the slain Guyaneseborn officer into the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, more commonly known as the Brickdam Cathedral, as grief stricken family members and friends, all clothed in black, braved the early morning showers to pay their last respects to a fallen hero.

Distinguished dignitaries including President David Granger,

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, US Ambassador Perry Holloway, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud and Mayor Hamilton Green attended the funeral ceremony in honour of the slain officer.

Scores of curious onlookers also flocked the Brickdam Cathedral to bid farewell. One by one,

family, friends and coworkers took a stance at the florally decorated podium before the golden casket to expresse their deepest sentiments, reflected on his life, and paid their final tribute to the deceased.

In paying homage to his fallen colleague, Captain Reymundo Mundo, on behalf of the NYPD, noted that Holder

served with dignity and integrity and that his devotion to protecting the citizens of America will always be remembered.

Representatives of the Association of ExPresidential guards and Immigration Services Inc (APGI) of the Guyana Police Force and the exGDF Association of New York also expressed sympathies to the bereaved

family members as they recognised the outstanding performance and dedication of Holder as a Police Officer of the NYPD.

Family members and old friends also stood at the podium to bid their farewells.

Presenting the eulogy, Holder’s cousin Marciella Lovell reflected on her cousin’s life in Guyana and his life as an officer in New York.

Mayor Green also expressed deep condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the fallen officer. Green noted that the best way Guyanese can honour the late officer would be by ensuring all criminal elements that currently sully the country are eradicated.

When the last person uttered their goodbye, the formal funeral service began with the singing from the church choir united with voices of the attendees. The choir continued their hymns as NYPD Officers uniformly advanced towards the

casket to escort the coffin bearing Holder’s body out of the church.

His body was then taken to the Square of the Revolution where a huge crowd had already assembled, waiting to join the funeral procession to the Le Repentir Cemetery for his interment.

On the count of the 21-gun salute, extended family members and friends were asked to leave to allow the family a moment alone to perform their last rites.

Accompanied by relatives, friends and members of the NYPD, Holder’s body arrived from New York in Guyana at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport last Thursday evening.

Before his body departed the United States, Holder also had a ceremonial service in Queens, New York where thousands gathered to pay tribute to the fallen officer. (devinas@ guyanatimes.com)

PPP/C will fight privatisation of sugar industry – Jagdeo

– says new Govt in “back door” talks to sell GuySuCo to friends, supporters

In light of stirring reports that privatisation is one of the recommendations coming out of the recently concluded Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is adamant that this is not the best way forward to bring the industry back on its thriving feet.

Although Government is yet to officially release the findings of the probe, sources

have related to Guyana Times International that among the set of recommendations put forward by the team includes that the industry be privatized. This is to facilitate better outputs from the factories located at Blairmont, Skeldon, Albion, Rose Hall, Enmore/La Bonne Intention (LBI), Wales and Uitvulgt.

According to sources, the CoI report noted that the privatisation of the industry is the most viable and reasonable option if GuySuCo is ever

expected to make a profit. In an exclusive in-

terview with Guyana Times International, Opposition Leader

Bharrat Jagdeo pointed out that he is not at all surprised at this particular finding, since the Chairman had previously suggested privatisation, stating that it would be the only way to rescue the industry.

Jagdeo, who spoke extensively about the sector during some 50 outreach meetings held recently in both West and East Berbice, explained that if the industry is privatised and the estates continue to operate at a loss, then the private owners would want to shutdown the estates because they would not be able to sustain it. This, he noted, would further devastate not only the country’s economy but the thousands of persons whose livelihood are dependent upon it.

“Government does not want to put public funds into the industry, which it badly needs now, but it’s ok to keep subsidising electricity in Linden. So we spend billions of dollars on this

but we can’t help the sugar industry which had pumped billions of dollars into our economy decades ago and now it needs help, we can’t help the sugar industry,” he remarked.

Jagdeo recalled that when the PPP had assumed office back in 1992, the sugar levy alone was over 20 per cent of total revenue received by the State. Nevertheless, the Opposition Leader pointed out that while they were expecting this, the Party intends to take actions to ensure that the industry does not suffer a close down. “We made it clear, we’re going to fight the closure of any factory,” he posited. It has been reported in the media that the report does not make any recommendations for the closure of any of the remaining seven sugar factories; however, the issue of merging estates may be an alternative option suggested.

Moreover, Jagdeo further indicated that he was made to understand that Government is already having talks with prospective buyers. “I’ve heard that discussions have started with some private individuals – the friends and families syndrome that they (Government) talk about – about who is interested in buying into the industry. Those discussions have been taking place behind closed doors already,” he stated.

Guyana begins discussions with Mexico on commercialisation of paddy

As Guyana and Mexico continue to strengthen bilateral agreements, talks have begun on the commercialisation of Guyana’s paddy and crop diversification.

In a media release by the Embassy of Mexico on Friday, it was stated that Guyana’s Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and

group of operators taking control of the paddy industry in an effort to maximize output.

Guyana Times International understands the meeting took place when PM Nagamootoo visited Mexico City on Sunday last to carry out a bilateral programme as well as to attend the Open Government Partnership

“Guyana’s Prime Minister met with Mexico’s Minister of Agriculture Jose Calzada and the senior staff in charge of international trade of agricultural products… As a result of the meeting, a shortterm plan was devised to enhance dialogue with the private sector,” the release said.

Agriculture Minister of Mexico Jose Calzada met earlier this week where the above topics were priorities for discussion.

Commercialisation speaks of a Stage in product development process where the decision to order full-scale production and launch is made. In essence when one speaks of Commercialisation of paddy, they are seeking to maximize the level of production. In respect of the Guyana situation, it would mean that more work (either manual or machine) to achieve the necessary amount. This also hints at a sole or

Global Summit.

“In accordance with the three priorities set by President David Granger to the bilateral collaboration with Mexico, further developed at consultations by both Ministers of Foreign Affairs held on September 26, 2015 in New York, PM Nagamootoo’s activities in Mexico focused on food security, climate change, and regional security, as well as promoting capacity-building, business contacts, and commemoration of the 50thAnniversary of Guyana’s Independence in 2016.

This publication understands the Embassy of Mexico in Georgetown will be the facilitator in a process that includes direct conference calls between producers and Mexican importers.

Meanwhile, at Mexico’s National Institute for Statistics (INEGI), Guyana’s Prime Minister was informed of the successful execution of the Spatial Information System for the Caribbean cooperation project, as well as the delivery of state-ofthe-art equipment to Guyana.

This newspaper further understands that new avenues of cooperation were offered, such as on-site short-term training, visit(s) of experts to establish a survey on land use in Guyana, and the implementation of better information systems.

Also, a commitment was made to begin bilateral visits in the second quarter of 2016.

PI into sex worker’s murder underway

The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of male sex worker Nephi Luthers commenced last Thursday. The Prosecution has begun to present its case against Ron Andel Forde, who is accused of killing the sex worker.

Forty-two-year-old Forde, also called “Andel”, of Lot 19 Meadow Bank, Georgetown was slapped with the murder charge which alleged that on July 22, at Quamina Street, Georgetown, he murdered Luthers.

Luthers, 20, of ZZ Durban Street, Wortmanville, was shot once to his chest during an alleged confrontation with Forde and another suspect, Kanand Ojha of Lot 2 First Street, Meadow Bank.

A wanted bulletin has been issued for Ojha; however, Police are yet to find him.

It is alleged that on the night of the shooting, Ojha paid the sex worker in the vicinity of the St George’s Cathedral, Gy$5000 to perform a sex act. During the act, he was reportedly relieved of his personal belongings. After the act was completed, Ojha left in his motor car, but subsequently realised that his phone and cash were missing.

Ojha reportedly collected Forde and went back to the location where they confronted Luthers, but he denied doing business with Ojha, which resulted in an argument. During the argument, Ojha reportedly told Luthers, “You have to give back the thing”, but in response, the commercial sex worker said: “Me ain’t been with you”. Forde allegedly then pulled out the gun and pulled the trigger, shooting Luthers

to his chest. The sex worker fell to the roadway and the two men fled the scene. Luthers’ colleagues picked him up and rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

On the first day of the PI, the court heard the testimonies of two persons, the deceased’s mother and an eyewitness. The eyewitness testified to seeing the entire ordeal and positively identified the accused as the perpetrator.

The P.I was adjourned to November 2. The other witnesses have expressed some concern as the relatives of the accused have reportedly been recording their address during the court proceedings; a move they feel threatened by.

Guyana’s gas prices twice NY’s

…World low fuel prices not passed on to consumers

With the monumentally high fuel prices in the country even amid the prevailingly record-low worldmarket prices for crude oil, the Guyana Government and private oiled companies continue to hoard millions of dollars at the expense of taxpayers who are forced to pay exorbitant prices for fuel while the Administration enjoys the luxury of purchasing cheaper oil.

As would be expected, when crude oil prices slump on the international market, Government would instruct the state-owned service station Guyana Oil Company Ltd (Guyoil) to considerably lower its prices so that Guyanese can benefit.

In fact, this has been the case for almost every other State worldwide: consumers are paying significantly less as a direct result of the oil industry’s current downturn. Prices in New York are half that of the prices in Guyana, even though both are purchasing oil at the same price.

Crude oil prices have been hovering around US$40 per barrel yet Guyanese are forced to pay Gy$190 per litre while diesel will now be sold for Gy$161 per litre. This was the most recent reduction announced by government which took effect October 16. Prior to that, gas was being sold for Gy$199 per litre while diesel went for Gy$168 per litre.

Consumers are contending that this reduction is insignificant, given the incredibly low prices Government is paying for oil.

Guyoil was created to undercut the prices at the private gas stations, with the long-term objective of making the private service stations lowering its prices too in order to remain competitive.

At Rubis gas stations, prices are Gy$190 per litre for gas and Gy$162 per litre for diesel.

At Shell gas stations, prices are Gy$190.90 per litre for gas and Gy$162.90 per litre for diesel.

Economic impacts

According to the midyear economic report released by the Finance Ministry, Government has been raking in mega revenues as a result of the lower international oil prices and by not passing on the savings to consumers and businesses, as is being practised in other countries.

The report stated: “Public enterprises recorded a surplus of Gy$4 billion in the first half of 2015, compared to a deficit of Gy$2.5 billion recorded for the same period in 2014. This is mainly on account of improved performance by Guyoil which realised an overall surplus of Gy$1.7 billion for the period under review compared to a deficit of Gy$0.9 million reported in first half 2014.

The main contributory factor to the improved performance by Guyoil was the reduced cost of fuel. While there was a 16.7 per cent decrease in the sale of fuel products, this was compensated by a Gy$5.3 billion reduction in the payment to creditors as a result of a significant decrease in the acquisition costs of fuel in the first half of 2015.”

What this means is although less fuel was imported, Guyoil made a profit of Gy$1.7 billion as opposed to a loss of Gy$0.9 billion in the comparable half year of 2014. This means Guyoil took in Gy$2.6 billion that could have ended up in the pockets of Guyanese vehicle owners. This would have been pumped into the economy in consumer spending, creating a virtuous cycle as a stimulus for other business activities.

Additionally, Government increased the duties collected by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on the commodity while allowing Guyoil to make premium profits, in spite of the “reductions” it has imposed.

The Mid-Year report stated that while overall: “Customs and trade tax collections remained stable at Gy$5.9 billion, in the first half of 2015… Excise tax collections totalled Gy$15.2 billion, an increase of Gy$2.9 billion. This resulted from a Gy$3.2 billion increase from petroleum products.”

Jagdeo urges Govt’s support for Motion to declare MPs’ assets

With the motion for all Members of Parliament (MPs) to make public declarations of taxable incomes and all overseas assets likely to be debated on when Parliament resumes on November 12, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is calling on the government to “surprise me and support it”.

During an exclusive interview, Jagdeo said it is highly likely the government parliamentarians will reject the motion since its passage could eventually put them in a compromising situation.

Nevertheless, in keeping with the interest of transparency and accountability, Jagdeo is urging government to do the honourable thing and support the motion.

On more than one occasion Jagdeo had advocated for all Parliamentarians to declare their overseas asset and to make public their annual income tax returns to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

This proposal came in light of the many accusations against him and other People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) officials about having large sums of monies hidden in private accounts.

“I said to the President (David Granger) that since there have been lots of charges about people stashing money abroad… and since we are in this transparency mode, some of the things we can work on are, first of all, why don’t we get all of our Members of Parliament to make public, not just to the Integrity Commission, but to make public, their assets…” Jagdeo had stated.

The Opposition Leader asserted that if government is truly in favour of transparency, then it should not be opposed to these measures since

they enhance transparency.

However, Vice President and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had previously declared that government MPs need not publicly disclose their assets.

According to Ramjattan, Guyanese should not be interested in the wealth of the governing APNU/AFC parliamentarians but should rather focus on the PPP/C members.

Ramjattan argued that the idea of having an across-the-board public declaration of assets is “wholly outrageous”. He contended that APNU/AFC parliamentarians are not wealthy and the public should not focus on their assets.

“So it is not about us, the public has no reason to be interested in our wealth …,” Ramjattan insisted.

Nonetheless, the former President is of the view that such a move would augur well for Guyana’s development and the PPP/C was prepared to work with anyone on transparency related matters.

Bagotstown man wanted for Hamson’s Trading owner’s murder

Almost seven months after Farouk Ghanie was found murdered in his Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara home (EBD), the Police have issued a wanted bulletin

for another suspect.

Kemo Tyron Evans, 20, of Bagotstown, EBD and of Sophia, Greater

Georgetown, is wanted for questioning into the murder of the businessman who was found dead on April 16.

Subsequent to the murder, a handyman who confessed to clubbing the owner of Hamson’s Trading Limited to death, was charged for murder.

The suspect was arrested as he was making his way into the interior. He was subsequently taken to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, where he was interrogated and later confessed to the murder.

He also revealed the names of two other persons who were involved in the murder – one of whom was Evans. Ghanie, of Lot 97 Collingwood Avenue, Nandy Park, was found dead at his home with at least two stab wounds to his chest.

The businessman was found by his girlfriend Vanessa (only name given) who went to check on him after several calls to his phone went unanswered. The man, who

lived alone, was found lying on his back and might have been dead for more than 12 hours. The businessman was last seen dropping off a worker in Georgetown before heading home. Neighbours claimed that they did not see any strange movements or hear any unusual sounds, except that the man’s house was in darkness the night before the gruesome discovery. At that time, they thought that Ghanie was out of the country.

Located along the Mazaruni River, a tributary of the Essequibo River, is the cascading beauty Marshall Falls.

The Falls is within reach from Bartica by a boat, about 30 minutes of travel.

The boulders in the middle of the Mazaruni River create the effects of the Marshall Falls rapids. It is unbelievably scenic and exquisite, especially for nature lovers.

It has an immense amount of water falling to the wide pool below the Falls, creating a natural “Jacuzzi”of clean, cool water for a relaxing dip.

Marshall Falls is described as a “nature lover’s paradise”.

By Dmitri Allicock

Some of the greatest cities of old and modern times owe their rise and grandeur to their positions in the fork between great rivers, which gave them unrivalled advantages for defence and commerce.

Lyons of France, St Louis in the US and Belgrade of Serbia are three striking examples.

Bartica occupies such a unique natural location in north-central Guyana where the mighty Essequibo, Mazaruni, and Cuyuni rivers meet.

Bartica lies at a junction of the Essequibo River, 50 miles (80 km) inland from the Atlantic Ocean. The town has a population of about 15,000 and remains a launch pad for Guyana’s

gold and diamond miners.

There is no doubt that the bulk of Guyana’s precious gold and diamond reserves are embraced by that wide stretch of highland that is drained by the Essequibo, Cuyuni, the Mazaruni rivers and their tributaries.

The three rivers converge at the area called Bartica, and the vast flood of their united waters is carried by the mighty Essequibo, past her hundred isles, 21 miles wide at her mouth, into the basin of the Atlantic. Washed on two sides by the waters of the two great rivers, Bartica faces the Atlantic breeze, tempered by a passage of 50 miles of tropical verdure forest.

Bartica was originally granted for religious

uses, and was one of the earliest Anglican missionary settlements in the colony under British rule. The name 'Bartica' comes from an indigenous word meaning “red earth” – abundant in the area – and probably spawned from the belief, according to the ancient Babylonian Talmud text, that man originated from the earth.

The original site was about a mile to the west of Grove, where a grant of land was obtained from Governor Benjamin D’Urban. The mission was removed to its present position in 1837, where a grant of 560 acres was obtained from the Crown.

Under the fostering care of Rev. Thomas Youd, the mission obtained a certain amount

of success. It was visited by Bishop Coleridge of Barbados in 1838 and a church was built, dedicated to St John the Baptist, the evangelist of the desert, and consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Guiana on January 5,1843, in the presence of Governor Light and distinguished company.

Gold discovery

The major discovery of gold in the l850s, brought many from all over Guiana, including the Caribbean, and led to the formation of the British Guiana Mining Company, whose fortunes were sought in the rich gold and diamond fields of Guyana’s Highlands. It was found necessary to establish a town at the little settlement of Bartica on the Essequibo and an ordinance for that purpose was passed in 1887.

Bartica was chosen and founded as a central depot where the gold industry could be regulated, a place where labourers registered, where boats were inspected and licensed, where magistrates adjudicated upon gold disputes, where hospitals for the sick could

be established, a lock-up for the disorderly, where the dead could be buried and the living entertained.

Bartica's unparalleled natural location is one of the most intriguing sites for a city. To the north stretches a mass of fresh brown water fed by the three river and their tributaries, dotted in all directions with islands, varying in sizes from the huge Hogg Island called Varken Eiland by the early Dutch, to the lovely Sail Rock, the smallest of the islets. North of Bartica is the ruins of the Dutch fort KykOver-Al, former government seat for the County of Essequibo. Bartica is also close to Marshall Falls.

To the south stretches over two thousand miles of pristine rainforest and savannah, intersected by hills, mountains, deep

rivers and scores of massive and thundering falls and rapids; forest rich in invaluable hardwood, and lands with bountiful gold. An esteemed land associated with the lost city of Eldorado in 1595 by Sir Walter Raleigh, Captain of her Majesty's Guard, Lord Warden of the Stannaries, and her Highness' Lieutenant General of the County of Cornwall.

The great difficulty with gold mining lay with the tortuous and deadly journey from Bartica to the goldfields of the Guyana highlands. The rivers are filled with countless rapids and dangerous passes, where many lives were lost to the lust for gold. It seems that the ancient Amerindian legends were true where these rushing waters dragged down into their

“Entertainer Dwidth” surrenders to Canadian Police

Guyanese deejay, Dwidth Ferguson, who is also known as “Entertainer Dwidth”, has surrendered to Canadian Law Enforcement authorities who are conducting a probe into his possible involvement in a multinational drug trafficking and gun running ring.

A senior official attached to Guyana’s Customs Anti Narcotics Unit was quoted by

an online news agency as saying that Canadian Authorities on Wednesday night, informed their Guyanese counterparts that Ferguson turned himself in to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Wednesday in the company of an Attorney. Ferguson worked in Guyana with the Hits and Jams Entertainment company and the Fusion Sound System.

A wanted bulletin was issued for his arrest in October, when the RCMP arrested 12 persons from Canada, who were allegedly part of a drug trafficking and gun running enterprise that involved a number of countries including Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States and Canada. Several of those persons have since been charged and released on bail.

Head of University of Guyana Law Department dies

The Head of the University of Guyana’s Law Department, Sheldon Mc Donald died Wednesday night, several days after he was involved in a vehicular accident.

The Jamaica-born Mc Donald was one of the early architects of what is now the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Although his condition was listed as serious, students and fam-

ily members have been plunged into a state of shock and grief at the passing of Mc Donald, known for his outspoken and frank stance. He had sustained serious injuries and damage to one of his lungs after a car slammed into the vehicle he was driving. At the time of the accident, he was waiting to leave an area near a ‘drinking spot’ at Success, East Coast Demerara.

In February 1881, work began on the construction of a High Court for British Guiana, almost three years after its site at the corner of Croal Street and the Avenue of the Republic, in Georgetown, was first selected.

Several structural problems delayed the completion of the building until May 24, 1887 when it was formally declared open by Governor Henry Irving, and named the Victoria Law Courts. Today it is known as the High Court. The

the Public Works department, who did not live to see its completion.

The design is said to have completed by two architects during different periods of construction.Joseph Hadfield is credited with the ground floor design while Caesar Castellani designed the timbered upper floor.

Siccama’s original plan, according to historians, may have been re-designed due to the building’s earlier structural and foundation issues.

Despite the controversy and difficulty with its construction, it has been lauded for its European design specially adapted to the tropics.

Manners matter

US-based Guyanese teaches etiquette, receives honours

Meet Phillipa Morrish, a certified social protocol consultant and the founder of Etiquette Training International, New York. Since 1999, Phillipa has worked internationally with corporations, organizations, law enforcement officers and private clients to help them become leaders in their field. She also works extensively with teens, and has been an etiquette teacher at Fontbonne Hall Academy, Brooklyn, since 2003.

Phillipa’s desire to bring the same instruction to the students of Guyana has resulted in “finishing school” courses being taught annually to Guyanese high school students. She has conducted workshops since 1999 to clients in the United States and the Caribbean, ranging from the Office of the President, to hotel and restaurant staff in Guyana. From law enforcement officers in Trinidad to hospitality students in Jamaica, she specializes in fostering a greater comprehension of differences in North and South American protocols.

A graduate of the University of Guyana and Universidad di Aruba, Phillipa earned a degree in English in 1981. In 1998, she graduated from the Ophelia De Vore School

of Charm, New York City, winning the coveted Miss High Achiever trophy. In 2010 she obtained additional social protocol training at the prestigious Minding Manners in London.

Phillipa has been honoured for her community service by several civic and government organizations in New York City, including the US House of Representatives, the New York City Council, The American Council for Minority Women, and the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn for creating The Chrysalis Program, which she teaches to female inmates.

She has taught etiquette to military wives at the Fort Hamilton Military Base, Brooklyn, and has been honoured by the installation for her volunteer work on behalf of military families. In 2011 she was selected as one of

Brooklyn’s Outstanding Women by the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.

On October 26, 2015, the Merchants Association of Third Avenue Brooklyn honoured Phillipa with the Pioneer Civic Award. The Pioneer Award recognizes businesses that have remained true to the small town feel of Bay Ridge and to individuals who have worked on behalf of community-wide issues. The honours were handed out during at a cocktail reception at the Bay Ridge Manor in Brooklyn, New York.

Phillipa has also cohosted several ‘Monday Manners’ etiquette shows on Brooklyn Cable Access Television and currently writes a weekly column “Etiquette Boss” for the Home Reporter and Spectator newspapers in New York City. (http:// guyanesegirlsrock.com)

The first bridge across the Demerara River

By Dmitri Allicock

The rivers and creeks of Guyana are natural highways and links to all of the regions.The need to bridge them and to improve transport and travel are both difficult and expensive. The early bridges were primarily attached to industries, like the 1830 Canje Bridge across Canje Creek to facilitate the sugar industry. That bridge was later replaced by the Swing Bridge in 1895. Then there’s the Potaro 1933 Denham Suspension Bridge, also known as the Garraway Stream Bridge, which linked Mahdia to Bartica and served the mining industry.

The first bridge across the Demerara was associated with bauxite.

The Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA), in 1916, started production at Akyma on the Demerara River south of Mackenzie. Initially, bauxite was mined by pick axes and mule carts and then loaded in large barges and towed down the river to Georgetown to ships moored midstream off Georgetown’s harbour.

In 1922 the operation was expanded, and processing and shipping facilities were fully estab-

lished at Mackenzie, the head of ocean navigation in the Demerara River.

Those were the days of steam shovels digging bauxite where robust men loaded the precious ore by spade into orecars pulled by steam, and later diesel-powered lo-

called Hope, was established on the western bank of the river and a bridge had to be built to transport the ore to the bauxite plant at Mackenzie, located on the eastern shore. There was a railway already servicing the mines di-

generations recalled the bridge that brought activity and life to the river and the expansion of the town that became the second largest town in Guyana. In 1922, the population of the Mackenzie area was less than 1,000 persons. Employment

comotives on the rails.

The first bridging of the Demerara River would be established in this area later in 1939 to transport bauxite ore from the western bank from Hope Mines.

There was a slump in the bauxite industry between 1930 and 1936, but trade picked up just before 1939 and particularly during the Second World War when demand for aluminium was high.

The bauxite mines,

rectly across the river from Hope Mines.

This bridge, known as Hope Bridge, was constructed in 1939 to facilitate the transportation of bauxite from Hope on the western shore of the river to Akyma on the opposite side of the river. It was erected some 14 miles from the Mackenzie Plant and was fitted with railway tracks as bauxite was hauled by locomotives to be processed.

Many of the older

The Totalitarian Imperative…

…in governance

The totalitarian mindset arises, ironically, out of a desire to “improve” the lot of mankind. Some folks believe to their bones they know “what’s good for you”… and will do whatever it takes to “do it”. Even if they have to enslave or kill you to do so. It’s for your own good, ain’t it?

This Eyewitness remembers viewing a documentary years ago about Guyana when he was a student in “foreign”. Two things stood out: how suave Burnham sounded compared to Jagan, and at the same time how frightening. Asked what he’d do if his socialist experiment failed, Burnham replied it would continue to the last Guyanese standing.

was dependent on not only bauxite mining, but also the timber industry and some independent gold prospecting. The primary timber industry was located along the Essequibo River and transported by railway to the Demerara River by the Wismar to Rockstone Railway.

The 1939 Hope Bridge was the first to span the Demerara River. After bauxite was exhausted at Hope, the bridge lay unused for some time before it was dismantle and transported to Mackenzie where it was used in building the 1968 Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge.

This multipurpose bridge was also built by DEMBA, servicing the bauxite mines called Plumba at Christianburg, along with linking the town that became Linden in 1970. Today, the Linden Bridge connects the town and also serves as a pathway for traffic heading to Essequibo and Lethem.

Some metal piling and remnants of the old Hope Bridge were still in existence in the 1970s and was an important landmark, but it is said that it was uprooted and sold by scrap metal dealers, leaving nothing to mark the memory of the first bridge across the Demerara River.

Today, the 1978 majestic Demerara Harbour Bridge overshadows the earlier bridge further upstream. Then there are the spanking new 2008 Berbice Bridge and the 2009 Takutu Bridge, bringing comfort and connecting Guyana.

Perhaps, in remembering the Hope Bridge, new ideas will be thought of to preserve history and to connect the coming generations to the treasured past.

And this was not just an idiosyncrasy of Burnham, it’s a point of view that came out of the revolutionary era at the end of the 19th Century. Not only could folks lop off the heads of nasty rulers to create a new dawn, if they didn’t fall into line, so could the heads of ordinary slobs be rolling into the ditches. If they didn’t see “what’s good for them”.

So while the present rise of the totalitarian mindset might be catalysed by the presence in the new government of so many survivors of the Burnhamite “new order,” it goes deeper into some local wellspring of the impulse – to save us Guyanese from ourselves. The latest bit of evidence of the totalitarian mind at work is the announcement that government will now pass a law so that GRA will be able to look into what’s in your bank books.

Can you imagine those gestapos at the GRA with that sort of power? Here we were, trying desperately to convince folks to put their money in banks so that bandits wouldn’t routinely cart off millions in cash. This new law will certainly put a crimp on that initiative! Given a choice between their money ending up in the pockets of the GRA or of bandits, people will always pick “bandits”. Unlike the GRA, their depredations will be random!

The totalitarian mindset was exposed right from the very beginning with the enormous pomp and ceremony arranged for the inauguration –and hasn’t stopped since. It doesn’t matter what the event – opening a nursery? – out comes the marching bands and parachutist dropping from the sky! The model of course, is North Korea – from where Burnham had cogged his “mass games”: that facilitated the “masses” to shower their praises (“Founder leader”… “Father of the nation” …) on him.

Then the Venezuelan sable rattling precipitated relaunching the Cadet Corps, the People’s Militia, and doubling the size of the GDF.

The noble totalitarian experiment in “Disciplining” Guyanese society continues. …in taxes

Listen, this Eyewitness understands and agrees that people must pay their taxes. But it’s a little difficult to make them do so when they see how the very persons they put into government to look after their interests – and who criticized the previous government Ministers for not paying taxes – end up doing what they just did on salaries – and taxes. How can the president, who criticized the PPP incumbents, now not only grab the Gy$2M TAX FREE monthly salary, but take a 5% hike in it!!

And since every Minister and functionary –down to the REOs like Ramaya – got their DUTY FREE vehicle that denied the state millions (in the case of PM Nagamootoo’s LANDCRUISER – Gy$63M!!) how do they expect to motivate the small man to permit 33% of his HARD EARNED cash to be siphoned off from his bank accounts – into the pockets of the new overlords?

But that’s how the totalitarian mindset works –being “quality people”, (remember that?) soaring above the masses, the rules don’t hold for them.

It’s all for their good, they’re told. …in schools

So indiscipline’s breaking out in schools? So when are the totalitarians going to outlaw beating of children in schools?

What example about violence are they showing to the kids?

Guyana Christian Charities (Canada) inC.

The Guyana Christian Charities (Canada) Inc. celebrates almost three decades of service as a registered charity that has provided significantly to Guyana.

It all started in the late 1960s, when a group of past pupils and parents closely connected to the nuns who administer at St. Ann's Girls Orphanage in Georgetown and the St. John Bosco Boys Orphanage in Plaisance, learned that these two facilities were experiencing great difficulties obtaining funds to maintain their services and buildings.

To help cover some part of this deficit, a group of ladies organised and held a ‘Bring and Buy Sale’ in Canada. The proceeds assisted with Christmas parties for the orphans.

This became an annual feature and, with increasing support from the Guyanese community in Toronto, attendance rose. This increase ensured funding for additional special projects.

Following a further appeal from the Ursuline Sisters in 1977, the late Vera Lopes, along with Anne Marie Reigber formed an extended group that assumed the name The Alleluia Committee of Guyana.

These committed individuals expanded their efforts to raise and collect money for the maintenance of both the Georgetown and Plaisance Orphanages. Vera remained a dedicated supporter and benefactor up to her death.

In 1978, the group held what had become its Annual Bake Sale at

Remittances to the orphanages expanded to include items like food, clothing and school supplies.

Meanwhile, about 1980, another group of Guyanese, under the leadership of the late Mannie da Silva, was also busy organising. Mannie had received an urgent appeal from Fr. Harold Wong SJ for funds to replace the aging organ for the Brickdam Cathedral.

This new group was appropriately named The Organ Committee. Their first endeavour was a successful fundraising dance. This successful event became the forerunner of the very entertaining and popular Valentine Dance.

Eventually, these two groups, which comprised mostly of the same persons, decided they would be more effective if they merged. Out of this merger Guyana Christian Charities

(Canada) Inc. was created, with Desmond De Barros assuming the role of first president.

The organisation was established as a registered charitable organisation in 1987 and complies with the rules of the Canada Revenue Agency.

In 1985, due to the critical shortage of medical and other supplies in Guyana, the first Valentine's Dance was held in Canada. The funds raised paid for a much needed shipment of donated medical items that was sent to St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital.

This annual event continues to be well received and hence, very successful. Two additional dances have been added, one in May and another in September. The proceeds from the Spring and Fall Dances are utilised primarily for humanitarian health efforts.

The organisation’s Food and Bake Sale event, held annually in late October, has steadily grown in popularity since the early efforts. The locations have changed as the numbers of supporters have increased.

From the earliest days at Holy Spirit Parish Hall on Sheppard Avenue, Scarborough, the organisation moved to L’Amoreaux Community Centre in 1994. When this facility became inadequate, it again moved to the much larger and well-appointed facilities of Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Church Banquet Hall at Markham and Milner Avenue.

In an interview with Sunday Magazine, Dexter Gonsalves, treasurer, stated: “The man-

date of Guyana Christian Charities continues to be a commitment to help the needy and the sick in our beloved Guyana. The need remains as great or greater today as on our earliest days. Our efforts have attempted to keep up and to expand gradually. Assistance is being provided to an increasing number and variety of other charities and organisations.”

He further stated

that while the organisation’s name might suggest it is entirely focused on one segment of the community, this is not the case. The organisation’s assistance is totally transparent and reaches the neediest in the community and has no regard to religious affiliation. Its assistance extends to about 100 charities, with no regard to race or creed.

GCC was awarded

by the previous Guyana government (PPP/C) and the Guyana Consulate in Toronto, ON, with the following awards: Most Outstanding Contribution to the Flood Relief Effort (2005); Selfless Service to Guyana and the Guyanese Community in Canada for over three decades (2003); Longest Serving Guyanese Organization (2002); Support towards rebuilding the Health Care System (1995); Valuable Contribution to the Health Care System (1994).

“Some of our members and dedicated volunteers give generously of their time year-round sorting and packing the many donations of clothing for all ages, medical and other supplies, wheel-chairs, toys, shoes and much more. We welcome all and any help that is offered. The harvest is ready but, alas, the workers are too few,” Gonsalves declared.

For more information, visit Guyana Christian Charities Canada, Inc. on Facebook.

This week's Crossword

Spinning wheels…

…on rice

This Eyewitness believes you should never say “never”. But that doesn’t mean because an asteroid could just fall on your head if you step outdoors, you should become a hermit. You’ve got to look at the facts and weigh the probability of things happening. So let’s look at government officials assuring farmers that happy days are here again.

The Minister of Agri (what’s his name again?) tells us that Panama and Portugal will soon pick up the glut caused by the Venezuelans moving to the greener rice fields of Suriname. We won’t even get into what role the stiff-necked approach of our government towards negotiations for renewal of the Venezuelan market played in that disastrous (for us) move.

And it’s not just the assumption that Guyanese on the whole are daft, the government seems to think rice farmers in particular, must all be potential patients of that disreputable institution in Berbice. It’s not just a matter of “finding new markets”. If that’s the case we can have our own version of the US PL480 plan and ship rice free to countries as “aid”. To paraphrase an Americanism, “It’s the price, stupid!”

From the farmers’ standpoint, the price Venezuela paid for our rice was a “premium one” by any measure – and especially in a depressed world market situation that confronts us right now. But from our national accounts standpoint, we were able to offer Guyana dollars that we print to our farmers – and not have to get foreign currency! Trust this Eyewitness, our export performance in sugar, bauxite and gold, just don’t make getting foreign currency such a cinch it once was.

This week's Puzzle

So back to Portugal and Panama. What’s the nonsense that we’re shipping a “comparable” amount of rice to Portugal as we did to Venezuela??! In 2014 we shipped just under US$17M to Portugal compared to over US$100M to Venezuela!! The entire Portuguese market doesn’t amount to US$70M… so we’re going to displace Suriname – which just displaced us with Venezuela! Pleeeeease!!!

And what’s this bigger nonsense about Mexico? Mexico JUST re-imposed a 20% tariff on imported rice – to favour US rice which gets a free pass because of NAFTA! And as far as paddy’s concerned, Brazil just got a squeeze in. And they’re waaaay below us in prices. So that’s why the jet-setting Nagamootoo was forced to concede that all he could get from Mexico on rice was to “commercialise paddy”. Meaning Mexico advise on producing and marketing paddy!! With an extra 100,000 tonnes produced on top of the 200,000 tonnes sitting in silos because of the Venezuelan cancellation, farmers need that like a hole in their head!

…on economic growth

The good book cautions those of “little faith”. But history’s proven that homily has more to do with matters of the spirit than of the flesh. And when it comes to material matters such as revving up and economy and such like, the better maxim is “God helps those who help themselves”.

So this Eyewitness wonders just where Pressie’s getting the figures that give him such faith the economy will rebound to show an overall growth rate of 3.4% for the year. If the half-year growth was a pitiful 0.9%, it means that in the six months starting July 1, the economy will have to grow by 5.9%!!

Even if the Cabinet spends their 50% salary heist hike and all the inflated perks, it’s not going to deliver that kind of growth – with sugar, rice, gold, fisheries and bauxite tanking.

Word is, with the DEA finally establishing an office here, even the drug industry ain’t doing so well!

…on Divali Date

Was it a Freudian slip, a sly choice or a Printer’s Devil? The Muckraker gave top billing to a number of Hindu worthies who pushed their Diwali date of Nov 10.

The only problem was that the headline came out, “Guyana’s leading Hindu organisation’s say Divali date is NOV 11”!!!!

Villagers on their way home to Nappi along one of the innumerable walking trails that criss-cross the Rupununi

Pete Oxford, a British biologist, and his South African wife Reneé Bish have lived in Ecuador, South America since 1985 and 1992 respectively. Since childhood, Pete has known two things: he wanted to spend his life in nature and wanted to travel.

When Pete and Reneé met while he was working as a naturalist guide in the Amazon rainforest, it was immediately obvious that their combined wanderlust and passion for wildlife would stand them in great stead.

Pete began in tourism in 1987 while living in the Galapagos Islands where he worked as a naturalist guide for three years. He subsequently decided to travel around the world and, after sailing across the Pacific in a 10 meter yacht, he worked catching crocodiles for six months in Australia followed by croc work in India and Zimbabwe, (where he also did a stint in game capture).

He also worked on the high seas in the South Atlantic as an observer for the Falkland Islands Government fisheries, assigned to foreign flag vessels. Still fascinated by the country, he returned to Ecuador and began work in the Amazon rainforest.

It was in the forest that Pete and Reneé met and where they lived for

three years. Pete worked as a naturalist guide while Reneé set up community centres aimed at the local women.

The next stage in their lives was to begin work as an expedition team in the ecotourism adventure industry, both on ships and remote wildlife destinations on land. They have vast experience around the world where they worked repeatedly on all oceans and every continent, revisiting all continents every consecutive year for eight years.

It was during this time that their photography developed and they soon found that they were selling images and feature articles to a wealth of international magazines.

Pete and Reneé work as a team, and today photography has become

the vehicle by which they are able to spend their lives in the remaining wild places of the planet.

The couple first came to the northern Rupununi for six weeks during 2005. Several years later, Graham Watkins, author of “Rupununi – Rediscovering a Lost World” and a friend of the couple, invited them to collaborate on their second joint book project to provide photography for the book on the Rupununi. Pete and Reneé did not hesitate.

“During my subsequent extended visits in 2009 and 2010, my thoughts on the Rupununi matured. A relationship evolved. The area became intoxicating. I was drawn into its unexplainable and inextricable web, its infectious magnetism and allure. The spectacular

wildlife, extraordinary biodiversity, and incomparable scenery remain the same; jaguars, tapirs, giant river otters, macaws and black caimans are still readily seen,” he said in “Rupununi – Rediscovering a Lost World”.

With the help of a military helicopter and expert pilot, Pete and his wife were able to capture some amazing shots of the Rupununi landscape.

“I did so many interesting things: watching jaguars at night on the Iwokrama road, playing in the water with giant river otters with Diane McTurk in the Rupununi, catching and marking black caiman with Caiman House, underwater photography in the lakes in the Rupununi, rescuing a giant anteater from a well; took a trip up the Rewa River looking for jaguars, and seeing tapirs and giant anacondas, just a few to mention,”Pete recalled in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Not wanting to be sucked into the commercial side of the business,Pete and his wife’s mission is to approach photography from a solidly ethical standpoint and, through their images, let photography be the communicator of a story – a conservation message. Pete is, in fact, very proud to be one of the found-

ing members of the very prestigious International League of Conservation Photographers (www. ilcp.com) whose goal as a group is to further conservation through the use of photography.

“I was always impressed by the wildness of Guyana, its diversity and low population - a good recipe to be able to easily conserve the natural asset as long as there is political will. Guyana will, if allowed to, become a premier South American wildlife destination. I have no doubt and I can only hope that our book goes some way towards fulfilling that goal,” Pete expressed.

Pete’s images have been featured ten times in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards. He is published in many international magazines, includ-

ing National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, International Wildlife, GEO, Smithsonian, Nature’s Best, Airone and The Geographical, Terre Sauvage and Ranger Rick.

Together, Pete and his wife have published 12 books on mostly Ecuadorian subjects ranging from the indigenous rainforest Huaorani culture to the Galapagos Islands. They reside in the Andean city of Quito, but continue to travel exhaustively around the world in pursuit of stories to tell through imagery.

Pete Oxford can be contacted at pete@peteoxford.com or via his website at www.peteoxford.com, or travel with Pete and his partners at Focus Expeditions www. focusexpeditions.com

Nine-year-old Eliza Smith is using her talents for a better cause –spreading awareness on bullying

Eliza Smith was born in No. 58 Village in Berbice, Guyana but currently resides in Queens, New York. She will be starting fifth grade in the upcoming school year, and has been awarded student of the month on numerous occasions.

The current Little Miss United States, and the first one ever of West Indian heritage, spends

Eliza is also a model, dancer and actress. She currently attends the Ghungaroos Dance Academy where she is being trained by international dancer Dheeraj Gayaram. She also mod-

time promoting her platform of anti-bullying, “It Stops at Me”. This is a cause close to her heart since she has also been a victim of bullying.

els and has walked in both New York fashion week and New Jersey fashion week.

Her print work includes Alexandria Olivia, Alize Lavie magazine, Just 4 U kid’s magazine, Just Kid’s magazine and also Big City Kids. She has been on show like the “Leftovers”, “Team

Now, she wants to show children facing the same situation to never change who they are because “God made them to be different and who they are is beautiful”. She also wants to help children find the confidence to see that “beauty comes from within and not just on the outside”.

Umizoomi”, “What not to wear”, and her latest project a role on the Aziz Ansari project.

Eliza was the first child to win the Zoii award where she competed against 73 children. She was also the first child to receive a New York fashion award at the age of seven and also East Coast Actors’ Top Model.

She began modelling in a pageant and since then has been modelling and competing in pageants. She has already won the titles Little Miss American Beauty, American Nation Petite Princess, and Little Miss New York Ambassador.

When she is not in school, Eliza is giving back to her community by participating in charity shows and walks like the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk, walks for HIV/AIDS and many other charity events.

Additionally, Eliza’s goals for the future include pursuing a degree at Stanford University where she hopes to become a paediatric oncologist. She also wants to become a professional Bollywood dancer like her role models Nikita Gayaram and Dheeraj Gayaram.

Her advice to youths is to “always believe in you and never let anyone tell you that you’re not good enough”.

Follow Eliza’s activities on Little Miss New York United States 2015 Eliza Smith on Facebook. (www.guyanesegirlsrock. com)

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature Canon John Peter Bennett

By PetamBer Persaud

(An extract of an interview with Dr. Viviane Baharally, a granddaughter of Canon John Peter Bennett, Georgetown, Guyana; October 2015.)

PP John Peter Bennett

was a man of many parts –teacher, priest, educator, linguist, translator, writer and more. You knew him as all of the above and more – you knew him as a grandfather. Let’s talk about John Peter Bennett - the grandfather.

VB Let me see where to start – there is so much to speak about. He was a gentleman – I have never seen nor heard him scream, shout or quarrel. He was so jovial. He can be stern if he had to be. For instance, one such moment was when I asked him for a magazine, I said, Pappi –we call him Pappi, known by everyone in Kabakaburi as Pappi – I came home from school one

day and asked him for an old magazine to paper my books. And he said, no magazine is ever too old - for him reading was everything. And I have great respect for National Geographic, Reader’s Digest, Telegraph, Newsweek – these were some of his reading materials that I am familiar with, from which he learned a lot of things because from his biography we know he didn’t really go to school, he was more attracted to the books…

PP A very good attraction…

VB Yes, and this led him to work with the priest and the rest is history.

Yes, that was the sternest

thing he ever said to me – no magazine is ever too old.

PP I like that – no magazine is too old. I know for I have clippings and magazines from way back.So what did you do?

VB Well, I had to get greaseproof paper to cover the books and that is not as attractive as the magazines with colours or flowers and foods etc. I can’t remember any other time when he was in a scolding mood.

He spent a lot of time in the garden, reading, talking with his wife, telling us stories… and that was before we started high school and he was able to move because as I said before, I knew him when he was recover-

ing from his surgery which left him half paralyzed; so he was learning to use his left hand because he was right-handed, but he managed to do everything for himself.

I just see him as this cool, calm individual who has put so much meaning to life.

PP And he did that

VB Yes, he lived, he lived his life and enjoyed every day.

PP Long and fruitful life.

VB I wasn’t around when he eventually got blind in the 1990s, my older sister was telling me that that was very sad for him, you know what it would mean – no more reading. But he re

The ingenious fish traps

Before the fishing rod of today, indigenous people created ingenious fishing traps to sustain their daily lives. Some of these traps are extremely complex with one-way valves, bait chambers and floats, while others were primitively basic. Nevertheless, all fishing traps had one common trait - all evidently adapted to specific functions and ultimately different species of fish.

According to the late Denis Williams in his book“Prehistoric Guyana”, “the second great petroglyph tradition of the Northern Amazonia is represented by the Fish Trap Series…” which show the frequency and importance of fishing in indigenous communities.

Fishing was good in

those early times. As early as 2,000BC, small bands of “hunter-gatherers”, as Williams described them, would fish in pools, rivers and streams in the “productive rainforest” to trap their next meal.

The stratification of food refuse at the Pedra Pintada rock shelter on the Parima River in Region Nine shows occupation there to have lasted between 2,000 BC and1, 000 BC. This ‘refuse’ was said to indicate the heavy reliance on fish, fresh water snails and various small reptiles and mammals. This is further exemplified by the exploitation of the Kassikaityu River (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), as illustrated by the Kassikaityu petroglyphs, which indicated “four kinds of fish traps:

Historic Bartica...

dark depths all those who attempt passage without appeasement.

Many ideas were suggested to avoid loss of life and possessions including a light, narrow-gauge railway from Bartica, up the left bank of the Essequibo, bypassing the rapids to the smoother water up the Potaro and other gold bearing rivers and creeks. This railway would open the vast areas of valuable timber and a branch could be constructed up the right bank of the Mazaruni, past Calacoon, skirting the Marshall (Marechial) Falls, up to the Puruni gold fields and even connecting with a line from the Yuruari Valley, a branch of the Cuyuni River, bringing the wealth of that great district through the channels of Essequibo to the port of Georgetown.

the Maswah, Box Trap, Cylindrical Fall Trap and the Spring Basket Trap”.

Aside from selective harvesting, the different types of traps indicated location, design, and baiting procedure utilised by the indigenous community.

Fish trap locations also differed in accordance with various habitats. Certain traps were anchored on the river bed, while others were supported on the platform of the water current or just below the surface, and sometimes barriers across waterfalls.

Fish trap locations and designs were specific to particular water bodies, depending on the geographic area, surface shapes and features. Not to mention, the indigenous fish traps and bait-

ing procedure “evidenced by petrographic data” implies a “wide knowledge of the habits and haunts of various fish species and of their respective food preferences”.

Notably, the indigenous community was monitored in their fishing exhibitions to limit exploitation. According to Williams, “selective extraction was guaranteed by the imposition on a nearby rock exposure of a range of fish traps known to be effective in taking particular species of a given pool”.

Hence, choosing a fish trap for fishing was crucial to the hunt, the species caught and the amount taken home at the end of a given fishing trip. (Information taken from “Prehistoric Guiana” byDenis Williams)

Perhaps it was the Venezuelan’s border issue or more practicable reasons which might have led to an alternative plan, and a railway was indeed constructed in 1897, but from Wismar, Demerara River westward to Rockstone, Essequibo, forming a more direct route to Upper Essequibo and Potaro River, diminishing the prospects and importance of Bartica.

Bartica today

Today, Bartica remains a small town and is still associated with gold and diamond mining of Guyana highlands and timber extraction. Its small population consists of a harmonious mix of Guyanese. The central town is about one square mile and consists of seven avenues and nine streets. The avenues run

is flowing water such as the bottom of a waterfall

north to south and the streets east to west.

During the Easter weekend every year, Bartica hosts the famous Bartica Regatta with a growing variety of entertaining holiday activities including water sports, cricket boxing, soccer, talent shows, a street parade, and a Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant. There is also another regatta, which is held annually in August.

As fate and gold would determine the birth and destiny of Bartica, dreams of it becoming a more vibrant gateway to the interior and a larger city were not attained. Perhaps the natural wonder and fork in the river that is uniquely Bartica may yet still bear upon its full potentials and future.

Loss of Accreditation

Whoever was given the authority by the previous government to look after the affairs of the UG medical school, has absolutely failed our Medical Students, not to mention betraying their trust. And I hope there will be no one trying to slip through the cracks between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. The buck has to stop somewhere.

Medical School is no walk in the park. To say it’s a “gruelling” experience is about as understated as you can get. And I’m saying this while I’m just in my third year. By all accounts, (from the wizened veterans who survived to tell the tale) it gets so much more

“When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.” – Thomas Jefferson

strenuous in the years to come.

So I can’t even begin to imagine how it must feel to have finally pulled yourself through the fiveyear grind – to have done your part successfully –only to realize that you’ve been let down by the institution. “Ooops!! Sorry! We allowed your university’s medical school to lose its accreditation!!” Through no fault of their own, the students are left holding the short end of a long stick. And now our new government nonchalantly “promises” to regain accreditation by 2016.

First of all, how can they “promise” when the ultimate decision will depend on external evaluators? And June 2016? That’s a mere eight months from now. Isn’t that extremely optimistic given the massive overhaul demanded to regain accreditation? I hope that this is one promise they can deliver on and it doesn’t end up like the other dreams dashed in their ‘100 day plan’.

From where I stand,

reaccreditation’s not looking that hopeful though, since the powers that be seem to be missing the point. Imagine –leading off complaining about the cost of flying in and hosting the CAAMHP review team. Really? Is that what we should be focusing on right now? Not the plethora of problems plaguing the medical school?

I was especially dismayed to read that there hasn’t been a major curriculum review since 1994. 1994! That’s before I was even born! And this for a Medical School curriculum? Medicine is constantly evolving and the curricula of medical schools need to reflect those new developments for us to produce doctors that can keep up with advances in medicine.

Apart from the strictly medical aspects of the curriculum, courses in professionalism and ethics should be included in the curriculum. They’ve recently integrated a course called PECH (Professionalism, Ethics and Communication in

Health) into our curriculum here at UWI. And although I’ve whinged and whined ad nauseam about it, I’ve always realized somewhere deep down that this course will do far more good than bad.

We’ve all had bad experiences with medical professionals at some point or the other, whether it was with a doctor, a nurse or another professional. Everyone who goes through PECH won’t absorb everything and integrate it into their everyday lives when they become doctors, but at least the course opens up some sort of dialogue about treating your patients as people and not as their ailment, about ways to effectively communicate with your patient, and overall how to not just be some standoffish white-coat-clad figure.

The current situation with UG medical school’s loss of accreditation is a national embarrassment. And as for the progress in solving the issues over the past year apparently being slowed down to the “political climate”? That’s just shameful. It just goes to show how little our students seem to matter in the games of our politicians. And it’s sad, because those students, those future doctors, and the rest of the UG students as well, the future engineers and scientists and lawyers, they’re the future of our country. Stifle their progress and we stifle any hope of our country moving forward.

A tale of two fortunes

Satiricus felt a bit sad, but at the same time very proud. He was reading about TrotterMan running through the Great Hall of the People at Liliendaal shouting “Oil is coming!! Oil is coming”. And he was sad that Naga Man, who lived right here in Liliendaal had been sent out of the way to the City of Smog in Mexico.

Naga Man even had the road from his home to the Great Hall asphalted for this drive to herald the coming of oil. He didn’t even move into the Big Mansion in town so he could be on time to make this announcement. There had never really been any rats: that was just a tall tail tale. But here he was in Mexico sighing softly “paddy price gone down; paddy price gone down”. And Satiricus was proud that Naga Man was bearing all his humiliations with such grace.

But Satiricus, as a man who knew Naga Man for decades, knew that he, Naga Man, was hurting. This was the same TrotterMan who had been selected to become the Talker in the Public Buildings over him, M wasn’t he? And why? THEY said he was still smelling of curry and PPCEE.

And after he had taken long baths and dipped into the Atlantic – not to mention cussing out the PPCEE –he had joined with THEM. Then THEY had promised him to be FIRST AMONG MINISTERS – Optimus Prime. But when the fateful day OF THE CHOOSING came they gave him just the name – but not the claim to RESOURCES. That went to the TrotterMan. A fella did predict he would get “larwah”, but Naga Man didn’t give him much mind. Some said it was because TrotterMan was Pee an’ See …but Naga Man didn’t think so.

And so it came to pass THEY made him push paddy IN Mexico – just like when he used to kick paddy with his bare feet in Berbice as a lad. And TrotterMan got to cry “Oil is coming! Oil is coming!” – not because he was Pee an’ See but because he buy oil for his father’s car. He had even got to fly in a helicopter like his hero Forbes to see the Oil Rig. Naga Man soooo wanted to fly in a helicopter.

But because Naga Man was a patriot he did the best with what was given to him. And even though he didn’t get the Mexicans to buy any paddy, he did get their recipe for Spanish Rice and a bottle of tequila.

In the meantime he wished TrotterMan well for the Maserati he received for giving the speech to all the oil companies. “He knew how to fill up the Maserati with gas,” said Naga Man with a sob.

He was so happy for his country he could cry! And Satiricus was so proud of him. The bottle of tequila would make everything Ok.

By Ryhaan Shah

GLet there be light

uyana has been experiencing much darkness for decades. The cultural and social degradation that began during the Burnham era never stopped and any hope that the new administration would have ushered in positive change has already fled. We live in a cuss-down culture that manifests itself daily in all kinds of ways whether through littering, noise pollution, foul language, crime, violence, and abuse, or the vulgarities that culminates so “grandly” as Mashramani.

They are all linked and perhaps it is a sense of helplessness against the empowered that feeds the contempt and disregard we have for our environment, for others, and for ourselves. And these cut through every stratum of our society.

Within the new administration there are already open displays of contempt for the rule of law, disregard for accords and democratic processes, and also that marked inability of our politicians to conduct a civil discourse without resorting to personal attacks. Just this past week, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan inflicted such an attack. The discussion over the date for the Diwali holiday deteriorated when the minister made statements that were intended to demean the President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindhya Persaud.

Ramjattan dismissed Dr Persaud as a mere politician and added that she was neither a pandit nor swami, implying that her opinions were of no consequence to anyone. Now, Dr Persaud is not only the head of the largest Hindu organization

in Guyana, ie, the majority, but she is a medical doctor and a Member of Parliament. As a dancer, choreographer and one of the main organizers of the annual Diwali motorcade, she makes sure the artistic expressions of music and dance, and all the colour, glitter, and pageantry that go with Indian performances are continued, and continue to enrich our lives. She also hosts a regular television show on Hinduism that has been running for decades and which has probably educated more Hindus than our pandits and swamis put together.

In the western practice of Hinduism, Dr Persaud also plays an increasingly important role in the upkeep of the religion as a Hindu Mandir Executive. She carries on that valued tradition of Indian women in Guyana who work to ensure that the cultural values and religious beliefs brought here by our foreparents are taught to and learned by future generations.

Women like Dr Persaud are the unsung heroes of our community. It is their selfless work in our homes, mandirs, mosques and churches, that make us resilient and has carried us through a hundred years and more to this point where we continue to honour the beliefs and values that make us strong. They are the ones who keep us secure in that essential knowledge of self, culture, and heritage, without which we would be rootless and much weakened.

Whatever the disagreements with the Dharmic Sabha’s position regarding the holiday date, none of them warranted the personal belittling of Dr Persaud. Even without her many accomplishments, Ramjattan is aware of the respect that

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

is due her since, within Hinduism, women are considered the embodiment of the Universal Mother, Shakti.

His disrespect is, however, not out of place in a country where violence and abuse against women are daily occurrences. There has been no condemnation from anyone and his behaviour further exposes his government’s social cohesion policy as a fraud.

The Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally is also silent when this could be an opportune moment for her and her ministry to intervene and show that her government is serious about ensuring peace and unity in every community. All the talk about cohe-

sion is now unmasked as meaningless propaganda.

However, it is that it has fallen to a minister of government to pronounce on a religious holiday, Ramjattan appears to be taking full advantage of the situation to engage in a political power play. He has actively sowed unnecessary discord within a large section of society either because he is incapable of handling his ministerial responsibilities in a just manner or else his partisan behaviour is fully endorsed by this administration.

Since the Diwali date on every calendar to the general public is NOVEMBER 81 and since many have already

made plans accordingly, the peaceable solution would be to concede the date as it stands, and have the Hindu community agree to a wider consultation on future holidays as suggested by Swami Aksharananda.

I am not a Hindu but my research into this issue has left me rather disheartened when I discovered that it is the women, the Lackshmis, who will commemorate Diwali, and that mandir attendees are always over 90% women. Yet, it is a convening of Hindu men who are deciding on a change of date which will inconvenience the preparations that so many Hindu women make for their families and friends for this im-

portant festival. It is the women who decorate the homes, cook the many foods and delicacies, and ensure the diyas are prepared and lit.

Turning the issue of the holiday into an ugly confrontation is the kind of darkness that the lights of Diwali are intended to dispel and there is still time for Ramjattan to step up and take a conciliatory position in the interest of restoring calm and ensuring that this Diwali will be celebrated in unison as one of peace, light and harmony.

A gracious solution to this issue could show the way to shedding muchneeded light into other areas of darkness in Guyana.

Amitabh Bachchan to inaugurate Kolkata Film Festival

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will inaugurate the upcoming 21st edition of Kolkata Film Festival, which will screen 149 films from 61 countries.

The opening ceremony of the eight-day festival (NOVEMBER 84-21) at the Netaji Indoor Stadium will also be attended by Jaya Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, Moushumi Chatterjee and Vidya Balan, information and cultural secretary of the West Bengal government Atri Bhattacharya said on Tuesday.

West Bengal brand ambassador superstar Shah Rukh Khan will not be present at the festival “because he will be busy with his shooting commitments of Dilwale”, Bhattacharya added.

There is specula-

tion that Pakistani film Manto will be screened at the inaugural ceremony on NOVEMBER 84.

The film fest has been categorised into 15 sections with “India Unheard” as the new one.

With a budget of Rs eight crore, Bhattacharya said, the best film will be awarded with the Royal Bengal Trophy, bagging the cash of Rs 51 lakh while the best director will be rewarded with Rs

21 lakh.

The Best short film and the documentary will be awarded Rs one lakh each, he added.

Veteran actor Sharmila is the chairperson of the Jury consisting of famed film personalities including — Sri Lankan actress Swarna Mallawarachchi, Polish director Filip Macczewrk and Israeli filmmaker Samuel Muoz. (Indian Express)

Salman Khan to launch new ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ song in Delhi

Salman Khan has a treat for Delhiites.

The superstar has picked the capital to launch the next track of his forthcoming film “Prem Ratan Dhan Payo” (PRDP).

Bollywood’s “Dabangg” star will release the song titled “Aaj unse” along with his costar Sonam Kapoor here on Wednesday. The song in question features the lead pair of the film.

Yes, you heard it right. Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has approached Kangana Ranaut to play the role of an 85-year old woman in his untitled next.

Confirming the same to The Indian Express. com, Kangana Ranaut said, “Shekhar has approached me to play an 85-year old. It is a very challenging project. We are still in talks. It is a very challenging role.”

When asked if it’s ‘Paani’ in which she will be playing the 85-year old, Kangana said, “No it is not Paani. It’s a different project.”

The actress, who is known for being versatile, said that she is looking forward to playing older roles including motherly characters.

Shekhar Kapur has been a huge admirer of a Kangana Ranaut and had lavished praise for her work in Queen. ‘Queen has a fresh golden heart, at the centre of which lies a fluid consistent and convincing performance by Kangana Raut,’ Shekhar had tweeted. (Indian Express)

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who has worked in over 80 Bollywood films, is India’s biggest brand and is someone who even US President Barack Obama quotes in his speeches. Despite his huge global fame and acclaim, Shah Rukh Khan has never ever been offered any film from Hollywood.

The song launch event will be followed by a press conference addressed by the stars.

“Prem Ratan Dhan Payo” unfolds a new and royal chapter about love and family ties, paint-

Salman, who has reunited with Sooraj Barjatya after 16 years with the film, was keen to unveil the song in Delhi and so the makers incorporated the event during the team’s visit to the city, read a statement.

ed on a ‘larger than life’ canvas with music and dance weaving a ‘desi’ fantastical story. A family drama, PRDP also stars Anupam Kher and Neil Nitin Mukesh.

The movie is slated to release on NOVEMBER 82. (Indian Express)

When The Indian Express.com asked him if he would ever like to consider working in the West, SRK said, “I have never ever been offered any work in the West of any girth or value. I have always said that I want to make Indian films which will be watched internationally. People who are working in the West or Hollywood do really make sure that our name and Indianess is being spread there, which is very good for future generations to come and is very commendable. I am not looking down upon them. I also

Karan Johar: I will watch ‘Tamasha’ for Imtiaz Ali

While fans wait to see actors Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone return together onscreen with “Tamasha”, filmmaker Karan Johar says he will watch the forthcoming romantic drama film because of its director Imtiaz Ali.

“’Tamasha’ looks absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to watch Imtiaz’s movie. I am not watching it for Deepika and Ranbir, I am watching it for Imtiaz Ali,” Karan said in a statement.

Ranbir, who is currently shooting with the “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” director in London for “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”, earlier this week, joined Deepika via video conference to celebrate the success of the music of the film.

However, what came as a surprise was a spontaneous appearance by Karan on the frame, who joined Ranbir and addressed the “Tamasha” team virtually.

The trio previously worked together in 2013 film “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani”, which

Karan had produced under his banner Dharma Productions. Presented by UTV Motion pictures and Nadiawala Grandson Entertainment, and produced by Sajid Nadiawala, “Tamasha” will release on November 27. (Indian Express)

feel I’m not good enough to do something in the west, language being one issue.”

SRK also said that he would do a Hollywood project only if it’s a project that makes India proud.

“If I am offered something which makes me proud as an actor when I participate in it which in turn will make India proud, I will do it. The point is an Indian actor goes to the West and does a film which does not take away from the Indianess of the emotion. I would love to do such projects. But so far in 25 years I will be very honest and open to say that no one from Hollywood or the western world has offered me,” said SRK, who celebrated his birthday with the on media November 2.

The 50-year old actor is content with his journey in the Hindi film industry.

“The overall journey has been very good, it’s been wonderful, and not many people have the

life that I have. Last 25 years of work and before that also they have been good moments, sad moments, happy moments, frustrating moments but I guess that’s what life is… so I am happy with the life that I have. I won’t choose any other life if I got a chance,” he said.

Fans know Shah Rukh as ‘King Khan’, ‘Badshah of Bollywood’ and ‘King of Romance’ but SRK never thought he would ever be called by such names.

“I never thought someday I would be called King of Bollywood. This industry has showered me with so much love. I have got much more than what I had in. If tomorrow I am not remembered, it’s okay, but if my work is remembered, that’s enough for me,” he added.

SRK was flooded with birthday wishes from his friends and colleagues, including Salman Khan who hailed him as an “energetic and inspiring” actor. (Indian Express)

Will Smith’s sweet birthday message for daughter Willow

Hollywood star Will Smith’s daughter Willow turned 15 and the actor shared a sweet birthday message telling how special she is for him.

The 47-year-old posted the message on his Facebook page along with an adorable picture of himself carrying little Willow, reported People magazine.

“Happy Birthday, my Bean. 15 years old today!!” he wrote.

“When you were born it took about 2 seconds to realise that I was willing to die for you. Thank you for correcting my heart –and teaching me how to

love without constriction or condition,” he wrote.

The teenager became a pop sensation with the release of “Whip My Hair” at the age of 9 and

has recently signed a modelling contract with the agency that represents popular face like Kendall Jenner. (Indian Express)

Forest Whitaker joins ‘The Archbishop and the Antichrist’ cast

Actors Forest Whitaker and Vince Vaughn are all set to star in the post-apartheid drama “The Archbishop and the Antichrist”.

Based on the play of the same name by Michael Ashton, the film is a fiction-

alized account of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s meetings with Piet Blomfield, an assassin who wants redemption for the killing he has committed while

he serves a life sentence in prison in post-apartheid South Africa, reported Variety.

“The Killing Fields” helmer Roland Joffe will direct the project from a screenplay he co-wrote with Ashton. The project that has been in development for several years, with Whitaker attached, will start shooting early next year. 13 Films is handling international rights and will introduce the project to buyers at the American Film Market.

“Forest Whitaker brings a great sense of depth and power to all his performances and he is the perfect match for Tutu’s complex character. “Vince Vaughn continues to prove his wideranging acting skills following his more dramatic roles in ‘Into the Wild’ and the upcoming ‘Hacksaw Ridge’,” said Tannaz Anisi, president of 13 Films. (Indian Express)

Filmmaker Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” will be screened at London’s Royal Albert Hall, with Danny Elfman’s score being performed by a live orchestra and choir.

Royal Albert Hall announced that it will on December 12 offer a “Disney in Concert” event that will screen “Alice in Wonderland”, said The Hollywood Reporter.

The event is part of the venue’s popular “Live Score” series that screens films with the soundtrack being played live.

Its most recent such event was “Frozen: Live in Concert” last week. “This is a first for Alice in Wonderland,” a spokeswoman said.

The 2010 fantasy film was written by Linda Woolderton.

“X-Men: Apocalypse” is through with the production work, but the cast and crew of the film will start the reshoots and Hugh Jackman is expected to join them.

The 47-year-old actor, who essays the role of Wolverine in the franchise, will be flying to Montreal in January for the reshoot, reported Aceshowbiz quoting Le Journal de Montreal.

“It seems that Hugh Jackman will

be on hand,” the statement in the tabloid read.

In the upcoming film, Jennifer Lawrence’s Mystique, Nicholas Hoult as Beast and James McAvoy’s Professor X are teaming up to fight against the newly-unleashed enemy Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac).

Directed by Bryan Singer, “X-Men: Apocalypse” is scheduled for May, 2016 release. (Indian Express)

Don’t mind being called brat: Jennifer Lawrence

Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence is not worried about being called a “brat” if the term is used to explain her assertive behaviour.

The 25-year-old “Hunger Games” star, who is an advocate for equal rights for women in the film industry, is happy to be referred to by the derogatory term if it means she is “assertive and has a voice,” reported Female First.

“Even after I wrote it, I don’t remember the website, but they called it ‘Jennifer Lawrence’s bratty display.’ And I was like, ‘Thank you for completely making my point.’ If a woman speaks up, is assertive and has a voice, she’s going to be called ‘a brat.’ I don’t see a man being called ‘a brat’.”

It sees a 19-year-old Alice (Mia Wasikowska) return to the world she first entered as a child.

The film includes such beloved characters as the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen).

“This high-definition screening with live orchestral and choral accompaniment from the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, the Maida Vale Singers and the Cardinal Vaughan School Schola Cantorum, all conducted by John Mauceri, will bring the record-breaking film to life in an incredible feast for the eyes, ears and heart, captivating an audience of all ages,” the Royal Albert Hall said. (Indian Express)

Lawrence recently penned an essay about women’s rights. The actress said she only did it to address her “own fears” rather than make comments about the wider industry.

“I hoped to just write about my own fears of how am I going to be portrayed? Or how am I going to look? How will people judge me? Obviously the men in the movie don’t think that way.” (Indian Express)

James McAvoy to star in romantic thriller

‘Submergence’

AProductions, and Parisbased Backup Media will finance.

ctor James McAvoy has joined the cast of romantic thriller “Submergence” to be helmed by Wim Wenders. The 36-year-old Scottish actor will start shooting for the film in March in Europe and Africa, reported Deadline.

Erin Dignam has penned the script adapting from JM Ledgard’s 2011 novel of the same name. Cameron Lamb will produce the film through Lila 9th

The story revolves around two lovers, immersed in life or death situations and separated by thousands of miles, who find solace in memories of their intense romance the previous Christmas after a chance encounter on a beach on the Atlantic coast. One is enduring captivity by jihadist fighters in Somalia while the other is exploring the greatest depths of the ocean floor from her submersible. The novel was ranked second in New York Magazine’s The Best Ten Books of 2013. (Indian Express)

Reggae Girlz avoid USA, Mexico in CONCACAF U-20 draw

Jamaica avoided title-holders United States and perennial contenders Mexico at Wednesday’s group stage draw for the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship, scheduled for Honduras from December 3-13.

At the draw held at the Hotel Real Intercontinental in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the Young Reggae Girlz were placed in Group A alongside hosts Honduras, Caribbean rivals Trinidad & Tobago and Canada.

Group B comprises United States, Mexico, Panama and Caribbean champions Haiti.

Matches are scheduled to be contested at the Estadio Francisco Morazán and the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.

Under-20 women's Head Coach Hue Menzies and team manager Janine Mundell represented Jamaica at the draw.

Jamaica, United States and Mexico have advanced to all eight editions of the CONCACAF round of Under-20 women's football.

The Under-20 Reggae Girlz progressed to the CONCACAF stage of

World Cup qualifying after finishing second at the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Championship, where they lost 0-2 to host nation Haiti in October.

Trinidad & Tobago, who drew 2-2 with Jamaica during the CFU group stage, advanced courtesy of their thirdplace finish.

Jamaica and some of the other participants had weakened squads at the CFU tournament because key players were locked in school-related engagements in North America.

However, Menzies told the Jamaica Observer ahead of the draw that he is hoping to have most of his better players available for the CONCACAF round. A pre-tournament camp is also on the cards.

The top three teams at the tournament are set to qualify for the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup to be held in Papua New Guinea next year.

Jamaica have never qualified for a Women's World Cup.

Group A: Honduras, Canada, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica.

Group B: United States, Haiti, Panama, Mexico.

Rahaman brothers ready for November race meet

By Akeem Greene

The racing sibling duo of Ryan and Javid Rahaman are putting all systems in place for their vehicles to be in top shape as the 2015 Seaboard Marine race meet approaches later this month.

The younger of the two Javid is brimming with confidence as he puts his Toyota Vitz to the test in what will be his second race meet.

Speaking with Guyana Times International Sport at their garage in Sandy Babb Street, Javid revealed that it is key for him at this stage to be constantly racing as the more he learns his car the better the performances.

The young Rahaman explained that his car

needs to be striped and return to the conventional race model. He further explained that the mechanic is soon to arrive from Barbados and he will be looking to get as much speed from his 1500cc engine car in Group 1. Despite his inexperience, Javid looks

focused and eager to achieve success.

On the other hand, Ryan the elder brother is banking on his experience to allow him to push for a poll position. When quizzed about whether he is in position to finish in the top three spots, the driver responded “not yet” but said he will be looking to have as much fun possible.

Ryan who has over 15 years of experience at various race meets will be putting his Ford Escot to the test.

The two brothers come from a long line of racing experience as their father Rahaman, whose father Jad Rahaman, along with cousins and uncle Ray all have been involved in the sport for numerous years. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

“Silver Fox” headed to Guyana

While the younger generation might not be familiar with the white hair, beard and moustache, Hwang Jang Lee also known as “Silver Fox” was a top Chinese star in martial arts movies in the 90s.

Lee will now grace Guyana with his presence on Friday, NOVEMBER 83 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall as part of a training seminar and workshop organised by the Academy of Contemporary Martial Arts (Trinidad) and

the Harpy Eagles Martial Arts Academy (Guyana) in association with Maximum Sports Combat and Strength.

The general public is invited to watch the popular actor showcase his talent for the small price of Gy$1000, while martial artists around Guyana will have to pay an entrance fee of Gy$2000. Children under 10 will have to pay Gy$500. The event is set to start from 16:00h.

GVF names female teams for Confederation Cup

The Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) has selected two female teams to participate in the second leg of the Confederation Cup beach volleyball tournament in Uruguay from December 4-6.

The teams selected- Subrina Munroe with Odile Broomes and Iambie Cave with Daniella Collier- have started going through their paces at the National park on the beach court under the guidance of coach Ian Wills. They are expected to continue training, geared at familiarising themselves with what they are expected to come up against in the outdoor version of the game.

According to the coach, he is pleasantly surprised at how quickly the ladies adapted to the training, as he pointed out that everything from the rules to the basic movement on the sand surface is totally different to that of indoor volleyball.

Guyana qualified for the second leg of the tournament due to their participation at the first leg earlier this year in Brazil.

According to the manager of the team, Andrea Flores, who also managed the team that participated in the first leg, the level of the other countries that are made up of ladies who play on the international circuit all year round will be considerably higher than that of our local ladies.

Flores intends to ensure that enough is done to make her ladies comfortable during preparation so that they can give of their best during practice sessions in preparation for the tournament.

The training will eventually intensify, leading up to a series of exhibition games before the players wing out for Uruguay on December 2.

'Understand the importance of good governance'- FIFA official

With just over a week to go before D-Day, FIFA’s Technical Development Officer Anton Corneal believes that the incoming Executive Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), apart from having a holistic plan for the development of the game, must understand “the importance of proper governance.”

On NOVEMBER 84, eligible members of the GFF will head to the polls to vote in one of the two slates presented to contest the elections. Touted as ‘Team United’, Chairman of the Alliance for Change (AFC) and Attorney-At-Law Nigel Hughes will lead Odinga Lumumba, Mark Waldron, Aubrey Major, Troy Cadogan, Javid Ali, Robbie Rambarran, Carmel Williams and Faizal Khan to the polls.

President of the Fruta Conquerors Football Club and Businessman Wayne Forde will lead ‘Team Integrity’, which also has on its list of candidates Jullian Bruce Lovell, Rawlston Adams, Thandi McAllister, Dion Inniss, Magzene Stewart, Rayan Farias, and Keith O’Jeer.

Corneal, who is responsible for overseeing development in FIFA’s affiliates within the South East Caribbean area, spoke on a number of issues relating to the development of the game.

“Whichever slates gets into power, they have to understand the importance of proper governance because that is what is going to support the product, which is the game and the players and

its long overdue for Guyana, because Guyana has always produced decent teams, even in not so best times,” Corneal observed.

He added, “I think with a proper structure and long-term plan, you will get a better product, so hopefully whoever takes over, they will continue what the Normalisation Committee did because they’ve done a phenomenal job because remember that they were just in place for a little over a year and all that was accomplished within that year and now it’s time to pass on the baton.”

Corneal was high in praise for the GFF’s Normalisation Committee, whom he said laid a solid foundation for Guyana to

blossom and used the Stag Elite League as one such pillar.

“It’s the right pathway because the Normalisation Committee came in and did the job; Mr. [Clinton] Urling has guided that group and set a stage for a slate to come on board to really take over football and they got a template now to follow,” Corneal pointed out.

Having played an integral role in helping the GFF to establish the Stag Elite League, Corneal believes that Guyana is now on par with several of their regional counterparts whom he said have all ensured that they establish a national product that will help to bring more local players to the fore.

The GFF’s Technical Director Claude Bolton, according to Corneal, would have implemented several programmes, which will charter a pathway to development via ‘grass-roots’ football, catering for both male and female.

Corneal said that already, thanks to Bolton’s ‘Next Generation Project’, Guyana is leading some Caribbean countries with the implementation of several key areas of development and ensuring that more importantly, the coaches are certified under the GFF D-License.

“Guyana has to ensure that they stay on par with them [the other Caribbean countries] and also lead in a few areas as well, so it’s important for proper governance to take precedence,” Corneal noted. (gffonline)

Windies tamely concede series

- as Sri Lanka win second ODI by eight wickets

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - West Indies’ disappointing tour of Sri Lanka continued here yesterday when they plunged to an eightwicket loss in the second One-Day International to tamely concede the three-match series.

In another rain-affected encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium which was reduced to 38 overs per side, West Indies rallied to 214 all out off their allotted overs and watched helplessly as the hosts raced to their adjusted target of 225, with nine balls remaining.

Opener Kusal Perera put the tourists to the sword before falling agonisingly for 99 while Lahiru Thirimanne saw Sri Lanka over the line with an unbeaten 81.

The pair put on 156 in a busy second wicket stand which killed off West Indies’ hopes of levelling the series, after they had claimed dangerous opener Tillakaratne Dilshan cheaply for 17 with the score on 40 in the fifth over.

West Indies had been earlier bailed out by halfcenturies from opener Johnson Charles and stand-in captain Marlon Samuels, after enduring another poor start.

Charles blasted 83 off 70 deliveries while Samuels controlled the innings with 63 off 61 balls with left-hander Darren Bravo chipping in with 21.

Off-spinner Milinda Siriwardana was the best bowler with two for 27 while speedster Lasith Malinga snared two for 43.

West Indies lost Andre Fletcher to the second ball of the innings without scoring, edging a defensive push at Malinga behind with a single run on the board.

Jermaine Blackwood then failed to make any impression on his ODI debut, spending 15 balls over his nine before attempting to go over the top with off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake and being held by Siriwardana running backward at mid-on.

Tottering at 29 for two in the fifth over, the

Windies were rescued by Charles who put on 70 for the third wicket with Bravo and then another 40 runs for the fourth wicket with Samuels.

The right-hander struck seven fours and four sixes, playing with ease against both pace and spin.

He cleared long on with Senanayake in the seventh over for his first six and raised West Indies’ 50 in the following over by pulling pacer Suranga Lakmal to fine leg for four.

Charles brought up

his fourth ODI half-century in style in the 12th over, sweeping spinner Ajantha Mendis fine for four to move to 46 before lifting the next delivery over long-on for six.

Bravo had struck a single boundary off 33 deliveries when he picked out Dilshan at mid-wicket off Siriwardana at 99 for three in the 16th over and Charles was in sight of his third ODI century when he missed a sweep at the same bowler and perished lbw in the 24th over.

West Indies were then held up by a threehour rain break at 149 for four in the 27th over and when play resumed, they had all of 11 overs to give Sri Lanka a competitive total to chase.

They quickly lost Jonathan Carter for five and Jason Mohammed, in his first ODI in four years, fell for four, as the Windies stumbled to 169 for six in the 32nd.

Once Samuels was run out in a mix-up with Brathwaite at 211 for seven in the 37th over, the Windies wilted with the last four wickets going down for just three runs.

Sri Lanka then got a rollicking start through Perera and Dilshan before off-spinner Sunil Narine bemused Dilshan and bowled him. However, that was the last success West Indies would see for a while as Perera and Thirmanne dominated.

Perera faced 92 balls and struck six fours and four sixes while Thirimanne carved out five fours and a six off 95 deliveries.

The 25-year-old Perera was on the verge of this third ODI hundred when he mis-timed a pull at seamer Ravi Rampaul and was caught at short fine leg by Brathwaite in the 31st over. The final one-dayer is scheduled for Saturday in Pallekele.

Carlos Brathwaite blasted a four and a six in 17 off 13 balls but importantly, added 42 for the seventh wicket with Samuels who managed to reach his first halfcentury of the tour and the 26th of his ODI career.

Crandon gives squad vote of confidence – says squad focused on job ahead

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Guyana Jaguars Head Coach

Esaun Crandon said he was happy with the 13-man team selected and was optimistic about the players giving a good account of themselves when the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-Day Tournament bowls off on Friday.

Cricket Guy Inc (CGI) on Monday announced the squad for Guyana’s first game of the 2015-2016 season, with former West Indies Under-19 left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie the lone newcomer.

“Yes, we have put together a very good squad, and if you look at the 13, most of the guys have featured in the last tournament, so I am really happy with the bunch of guys we have.

The squad includes four players with Test experience, among them the Caribbean’s most capped Test batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

However, with the absence of spinners

Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul along with Test batsman

“I think we have a decent mix of experience and young players which I’m satisfied and prepared to work along with,” Crandon revealed on Tuesday during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International Sport.

Narsingh Deonarine, Crandon said they would be counting on the younger, less experienced players to put their hands up and make use of the golden opportunity.

“I’m confident they (the younger players) have the ability to fill those spots. We are banking on their ability. Some of them have been around a couple of years, but they don’t have the playing experience, so

it’s an opportunity for them to showcase what they have,” Crandon pointed out.

The Jaguars have been working hard over the past months and Crandon, a former national player himself, knows the worth and value of putting in the hard work, especially as time winds down to the start of the competition.

“We have placed a lot of emphasis on our

preparation: we want to do the things we expect our opposition to came against us with, so we want to prepare ourselves accordingly,” Crandon revealed.

The Guyana Jaguars will face off with the Windward Islands Volcanoes from Friday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, as they begin the journey to defend the title they won in the inaugural edition of the PCL.

The squad reads: Assad Fudadin;

Ronsford Beaton. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy.com)

Regal make clean sweep of Guyana Softball Cup

– Latiff, Narine voted MVPs

By avenash Ramzan

Regal made a clean sweep of the Open and Masters categories on Sunday when Guyana Softball Cup 5 concluded under floodlights at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Queenstown.

The Open final was cut short following New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) All Stars leaving the field after a confident appeal for a stumping was turned down by umpire Ava Barker at the halfway stage of the run-chase.

At that moment when the NYSCL All Stars wicketkeeper knocked over the stumps after Fazal Rafeek missed a delivery down the leg side, the game was brought into disrepute, as the NYSCL All Stars walked off the field in frustration after Barker ruled not out.

The NYSCL All Stars players openly displayed their disgust with the decision, and the wicketkeeper was flabbergasted, kicking the stumps and throwing his gloves to the ground.

40.

phy and Gy$200,000.

Latiff also received the MVP prize (101 runs and seven wickets), while Zaheer Haniff (Petama XI) was rewarded with a trophy for scoring a century.

Ricardo Adams of Hyde Park and Kelvin Orford of Petama XI were also rewarded for taking five-wicket hauls during the three-day tournament.

After a lengthy delay, and no consensus on the possibility of the match resuming, even after Rafeek decided to sacrifice his wicket in the interest of a restart, the umpires, Barker and Richard Albert, decided to award the match to Regal.

NYSCL President Eric Ferrier later apologised to the organising body, the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) and the spectators for the unceremonious end to the game, noting that it was not the NYSCL All Stars that lost, but the game of cricket.

At the point when the match ended, Regal were 65-1 in 9.3 overs, chasing 120. Richard Latiff, the eventual Most Valuable Player of the Open category, was unbeaten on

Earlier, NYSCL All Stars posted 119 all out in 18.2 overs, with Amar Singh and Hemendra Ramdial scoring 20 each and Wasim Haslim 18. Bowling for Regal, Amier Nizamudeen and Tyrone Sanasie claimed 3-10 and 3-23 respectively.

In the Masters final, defending champions Floodlights batted first and posted 160-9 with Uniss Yusuf scoring 31 (2x4s, 2x6s) and Wayne Jones 25 (4x4s). David Harper claimed 4-19, while Raymond Harper bagged 2-28.

Regal Masters responded with 161-4, with Eon Abel cracking an un-

beaten 80 with four fours and four sixes to lead the chase. Rudolph Baker chipped in with 42, as the match ended with a ball to spare.

At the presentation ceremony, Eon Abel was adjudged Man of the Match in the Masters final, while Regal pocketed a trophy and Gy$600,000 and Floodlight a trophy and Gy$150,000.

In the Masters category, Ramesh Narine collected the Most Valuable Player award (304 runs, including two centuries, and two wickets), while Kewal Tribena (Orlando Florida) and Narine received prizes for scoring centuries.

Latiff took the Manof-the-Match accolade in the Open final, while Regal grabbed a trophy and Gy$800,000. The runner-up, NYSCL All Stars, took home a tro-

In the female exhibition final, Mike’s Wellwoman defeated Karibee Girls to lift the winner’s trophy and Gy$50,000, while the losing team collected a trophy and Gy$25,000. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)

‘All Star Cricket’ comes to America this weekend

By VISHNU BISRAM

All Star Cricket comes to the US from this Saturday in three exhibition T20 matches featuring teams to be captained by legends Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne featuring players from Guyana, Trinidad, and the other major test playing nations. Cricket is very popular among immigrant communities from cricket playing nations like Guyana, India, etc.

The objective behind the exhibition matches is to further promote cricket in America. It is being organized by a professional public relations firm and has drawn millions of dollars in sponsors.

The matches will be played in New York Mets Stadium

(Nov 7), Houston Astros stadium (Nov 11) and Los Angeles Dodgers stadium (Nov 14).

Large number of South Asian and West Indian expats are settled in these areas and are expected to patronize the game to see Sachin in action; he is the star attraction with the rivalry between himself and Warner added to the action.

It is titled "Cricket AllStars Series 2015", featuring more than 28 retired greats (including Brian Lara) of the game. The exhibition is pitched as the Harlem Globetrotters.

Some of the players are: India - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Ajit Agarkar, Virendar Sehwag; AustraliaShane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Glenn

McGrath, Brad Haddin

South Africa - Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener, Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald

England - Graeme Swann, Michael Vaughan

West Indies - Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Carl Hooper

Sri Lanka- Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene

Pakistan- Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Moin Khan

New Zealand- Daniel Vettori.

News of the matches have made the American mainstream media in addition to the international sports, entertainment and news media.

The first two games are slated to be played in the daytime while the final game at Dodgers Stadium is scheduled to be played under the lights at the 56,000 capacity facility.

Warne told the Wall Street Journal that "To make history in America playing these cricket games, myself and Sachin walking out and tossing the coin in New York at Citi Field, will be a pretty epic moment".

The (old torn down) Mets stadium once before hosted an exhibition game in 1980 featuring Sunil Gavaskar, Max Walker, Dennis Lillee, Kapil

Dev, Vishwanath, Vengsarkar, Greg Chappelle and other greats). Other stadiums in America and sports fields also featured exhibition games of former greats including Rohan Kanhai and Alvin Kalicharran during the 1980s. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and other Guyanese cricketers recently played in American parks.

Warne encouraged fans to come to the game in NY where the weather is expected to be warm (unseasonal for this time of the year at the onset of the winter).

The ICC has sanctioned the three games and will receive a portion of the proceeds. The ICC fee will be used to promote the game in America. Each player will also get a significant fee for their participation.

Major corporations are sponsoring the games. TV and radio will be carrying the games.

New York hosted international cricket featuring India and Pakistan a dozen years ago in three one day internationals on Long Island that was broadcast live; Sachin played in those matches with Saurav Ganguly as captain. Two 20/20 Internationals were played in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida three years ago between New Zealand and West Indies.

Tickets are very pricey for the games with the lowest seat at $45; most of the seats have been sold out with each stadium holding about 50K spectators. West Indian fans are looking forward for the matches.